Alright, I gotta be honest—I showed up for this episode of The Rotten Horror Picture Show thinking we were gonna be talking about The Mothers. You know, Frank Zappa’s band? The weird, experimental, genre-bending legends? I figured Clay and Amanda were finally gonna dig into some real avant-garde madness. Maybe talk about Freak Out! or We’re Only In It for the Money. But no. No Zappa. No Mothers. Instead, we’re talking about The Others.

Don’t get me wrong, The Others is great. It’s a modern Gothic horror masterpiece, full of all the hallmarks of a great haunted house movie, like eerie atmosphere, whispering children, and Nicole Kidman wandering around a dark old house looking extremely stressed. It’s got a chilling slow burn, a fantastic twist, and some of the best ghostly suspense of the 2000s. Clay and Amanda are gonna get into all of it—the story, the scares, the themes of grief and isolation—but man… I was really hoping we were here to discuss a 17-minute live version of “Montana.”

I mean, I’ll stick around, obviously. The Others deserves attention, and honestly, it does have a kind of haunting, surreal quality—sort of like a Zappa album, if you think about it. But I just need to say, on the record: next time, maybe we could talk about The Mothers? Just a little? Maybe an episode on 200 Motels? No? Okay, fine. The Others it is. It’s probably a more rewarding experience than listening to Frank Zappa, anyway.

So, if you’re ready for ghostly suspense, chilling reveals, and a deep dive into one of the most effective horror films of the 2000s, stick with Clay and Amanda. Meanwhile, I’ll be in the corner, listening to Apostrophe (‘) and wondering what could have been.

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Okay, seriously—what is going on with *The Rotten Horror Picture Show* lately? First, Clay and Amanda talk about *House of Wax*. Then they dive into *Tourist Trap*, which is basically *House of Wax* but somehow weirder. THEN they spend their Patreon episode talking about the remake of House of Wax, which is also kind of a remake of Tourist Trap. And now? Now, when they SHOULD be discussing The Others, they’re going off script to discuss Blood and Black Lace, Mario Bava’s Giallo classic… and wouldn’t you know it, this one’s packed with mannequins too! Why? Why do we keep doing this?!  

Look, I get it—mannequins, wax figures, lifeless-yet-human-shaped things add to the eerie atmosphere. And *Blood and Black Lace* is a stylish, brutal murder mystery full of shadowy figures, high-fashion horror, and, yes, mannequins posed in unsettling ways. It’s one of the defining films of the Giallo genre, setting the stage for all the masked killers and elaborate murder sequences that would come after. Clay and Amanda are about to break it all down—the stunning cinematography, the iconic score, and how Bava turned a glamorous fashion house into a place of pure terror.  

But I have to ask… why do horror movies love mannequins so much? They’re not alive, but they *almost* look like they could be. Their empty eyes follow you. They stand there, silent, waiting. And somehow, *somehow*, this podcast keeps circling back to them like it’s some kind of cruel joke.  

So, if you’re brave enough to stare into the cold, plastic void, join Clay and Amanda for their deep dive into *Blood and Black Lace*. As for me, I’ll be listening with my back against the wall, just to make sure nothing *moves* behind me. And, for the love of all that is holy, can we please pick a movie next time that doesn’t involve mannequins?!

Well, folks, it’s time for another episode of *The Rotten Horror Picture Show Podcast*! This time, Clay and Amanda have used their wildcard spot to talk about the delightfully weird 1979 cult horror classic, *Tourist Trap*. If you’ve never seen it, you’re in for a treat—creepy mannequins, unsettling psychic powers, and a totally bonkers villain make this one a standout in the world of backroads horror. Clay and Amanda bring their usual charm and thoughtful analysis to this bizarre little gem, diving into everything from the eerie atmosphere to the practical effects and why this oddball deserves more love in the horror canon. Honestly, *Tourist Trap* is the kind of movie that sticks with you—and not just because those mannequins give you the stink eye.

If you’re wondering why Tourist Trap, and why now, well it all has to do with this year’s set of Patreon episodes, all about remakes and reboots! January’s film is House of Wax, and if you want to see how Tourist Trap figures into it, well head over to patreon.com/thepenskyfile and join the fun!

Now, I gotta tell ya, watching this movie hit a little close to home for me. See, I run a roadside attraction myself, and I just don’t get why people don’t stop here! I mean, I’ve got a *pristine* collection of old shoes with mismatched shoelaces. Every pair’s unique, every lace tells a story—what more could anyone want? But no, people zoom right by me for some fancy giant frying pan or, I don’t know, the world’s biggest paperclip. It’s enough to make a guy feel like a mannequin himself—just frozen, watching the world pass him by. 

So, tune in to hear Clay and Amanda break down *Tourist Trap* and its peculiar charms. And hey, next time you’re out on the road, maybe take a little detour to see my shoe collection. Sure, it’s no psychic mannequin nightmare, but it’s got heart! And laces! So many laces! Anyone? Please?

Alright, folks, listen up—because I need some help here. Clay and Amanda are back from their holiday break (finally!), and they’re kicking off 2025 on *The Rotten Horror Picture Show Podcast* with a deep dive into the Vincent Price classic *House of Wax*. A real gem of old-school horror, you know? The dripping wax, the sinister undertones, the undeniable charm of Vincent Price—what’s not to love? But here’s where things start to mess with my head: this movie is apparently tied to their Patreon theme for the year, which is all about reboots and remakes.  

And, uh… I have a confession. I don’t really get it. Like, what *is* the difference between a reboot and a remake? Are they the same thing? Does one have to be modern and the other stick to the original story? If you’re just redoing a movie from scratch, isn’t that… both? And what about *sequels that pretend the old ones don’t exist*? Is that something else entirely? My brain is melting like wax over here.  

Thankfully, Clay and Amanda are the pros we need to guide us through this tangled mess of terminology. In this episode, they’re revisiting *House of Wax* as a starting point to explore how films evolve when they’re brought back to life in new ways. And I gotta say, Vincent Price’s 1953 version is a hell of a way to kick things off—chilling, stylish, and just a little campy. It’s a *remake* of a 1933 film (*Mystery of the Wax Museum*, FYI), but what does that make the 2005 *House of Wax* with Paris Hilton? A reboot? A re-re-make? I don’t know!  

So, tune in as Clay and Amanda unravel the waxy mystery of this horror classic—and maybe clear up this whole reboot-remake nonsense for the rest of us.

patreon.com/thepenskyfile

Ho ho—hey, wait a minute. Where’s my sandwich? It was right here, next to my thermos of eggnog, and now it’s gone. *Gone!* I’ll bet anything one of those mischievous reindeer nabbed it again. They’ve got no boundaries! Dasher’s always sneaking into my lunchbox, and don’t even get me started on Prancer. But enough about my *sandwich drama*—let’s talk about something festive, spooky, and filled with far fewer hungry reindeer. 

This week, on a holly-jolly episode of *The Rotten Horror Picture Show Podcast*, Clay and Amanda are getting into the holiday spirit with the 2021 horror film *The Advent Calendar*. What’s that, you ask? A horror movie about one of those countdown calendars stuffed with chocolate? Not exactly. This one’s got curses, creepy little doors, and choices that’ll make you think twice before you start popping candy out of a festive box. It’s a chilling twist on holiday cheer, perfect for those of us who like our Christmas celebrations with a side of terror. 

Clay and Amanda, as always, bring the perfect mix of wit and insight to this yuletide horror gem. They’ll break down the film’s unique premise, its surprisingly emotional core, and whether an evil advent calendar is scarier than the family drama that usually accompanies the holidays. Spoiler: it might be.

So, grab your cocoa (but guard your snacks—trust me), and join Clay and Amanda for a festive fright fest that’s sure to deck the halls with screams and existential dread. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’ve got a very suspicious-looking Rudolph to interrogate. Seriously, who steals a Santa impersonator’s sandwich? That’s *not* in the holiday spirit. Anyway… enjoy the show!

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Ladies and gentlemen… step right up—if you *dare*—to the newest episode of *The Rotten Horror Picture Show*! But, uh… if it’s all the same to you, I’ll be keeping a *safe distance* because Clay and Amanda are diving into Tod Browning’s 1932 cult classic *Freaks*, and just hearing the word “circus” gives me chills. Why? Clowns. Yep, clowns. I’m not ashamed to admit it—they freak me out. Those painted-on smiles? The oversized shoes? The sinister laughter? Nope. Hard pass.

Sure, *Freaks* isn’t exactly about clowns, but it’s still set in a circus, and that’s close enough for me. Directed by the same man who gave us *Dracula*, Tod Browning’s film is infamous for its raw portrayal of carnival life and its controversial depiction of sideshow performers. Clay and Amanda are here to break down why this movie, banned in many places when it first came out, has become a cult classic over the years. They’ll explore the film’s themes of acceptance, betrayal, and what really makes someone a “freak.”

But, seriously, can we talk about how *Freaks* doesn’t need clowns to be unsettling? It’s haunting enough on its own! From its unforgettable cast of real-life sideshow performers to its chilling “one of us” scene, this movie digs under your skin in a way no grease-painted nightmare ever could. Clay and Amanda will take you behind the curtain to explore how Browning pulled a fast one, promising horror but delivering human drama, and in the process created something so unique that it still resonates to this day.

So, if you love cult horror and want to hear Clay and Amanda dissect a true classic, tune in. But if any clowns show up, I’m out. You’ve been warned. Enjoy the show… while I hide under the nearest blanket.

Welcome, horror fans, to another spooky installment of *The Rotten Horror Picture Show*! Now, before we dive into the blood-soaked, mask-wearing madness, I have to admit—I'm a little… well, *disoriented* by the *Halloween* franchise at this point. So much so, I’m starting to wonder if *Michael Myers* himself is the one messing with our heads.

Here’s the deal: in this special episode, Clay and Amanda have decided to *revisit* their original coverage of *Halloween 2018*—which, to be fair, is an *excellent* choice, because that movie is a big deal in the *Halloween* timeline... I think. You see, it’s the one where Laurie Strode (played by Jamie Lee Curtis) is back, fighting to survive after all these years. But wait—didn't they already fight back in *Halloween H20*? And wasn’t there another Laurie vs. Michael showdown in *Resurrection*? But *Halloween 2018* ignores *those*, right? And now we’re supposed to pretend *those* never happened? *But* isn’t there also this new *continuity* in the mix—where *Halloween Kills* comes right after *Halloween 2018* but… *not* after *Halloween 2*? And then there's the *whole* thing about *Halloween Ends*, which is definitely the end, but… I’m pretty sure they said that about the last one too.

So, anyway, Clay and Amanda are here to remind us how all this started by revisiting *Halloween 2018*. They’re giving us the rundown before they drop their *Halloween Kills* episode on Patreon later this month. But first—please, someone, for the love of sanity—help me figure out which timeline we’re in now. Is this the one with *Danny McBride*, or the one with *Busta Rhymes*?

I guess we’ll find out soon enough!

Head over to www.patreon.com/thepenskyfile to listen to all the other Halloween episodes!

Welcome, dear listeners, to a new—wait, no, not new—episode of *The Rotten Horror Picture Show*. But… haven’t we done this before? I’m getting this overwhelming sense that we’ve all been here, in this exact moment, with Clay and Amanda, talking about *Bram Stoker’s Dracula*. The Halloween vibes, the eerie atmosphere, the Tarot cards… it’s like a foggy memory hovering just out of reach, but it feels so *familiar*. Like a dream I can’t wake up from. Or maybe a nightmare?

So, yes, it’s Halloween, and Amanda is reading Clay’s Tarot cards, diving into his fate and perhaps seeing glimpses of his future—or is it the past? And then there’s Francis Ford Coppola’s *Dracula*, that lavish, gothic fever dream from 1992. You know the one, right? With Gary Oldman as the immortal count, a cursed soul searching for lost love through centuries, doomed to repeat the same tragic cycle again and again… kind of like how I feel about this episode. Have we already talked about Dracula’s Victorian decadence? The exquisite costumes? That eerie sense of impending doom? I could *swear* we have.

But maybe that’s what *Dracula* does to you. It haunts you, gets under your skin, makes you feel as though you’re eternally circling back to it, like the undead himself. This episode promises blood, horror, and that seductive Coppola flair, and I *know* Clay and Amanda have a lot to say. I think I remember their thoughts on Oldman’s Dracula, the wild accents, and Winona Ryder’s intense gaze, as if I’ve heard it all before.

So, if you, too, feel like you’ve been here before, listening to *The Rotten Horror Picture Show* under the spell of *Dracula*, maybe it’s fate. Or maybe, just maybe, *this* episode was always meant to happen… again.

Alright, everyone, welcome to a brand-new episode of *The Rotten Horror Picture Show*! But before we get into it, I just gotta ask—what’s the deal with this movie *Barbarian*? I mean, you hear that title, and your mind immediately goes to one of three things: historical barbarians with giant axes, Conan the Barbarian swinging his sword around, or at the very least, the WWF wrestler, The Barbarian, smashing skulls in the ring. So imagine my disappointment when Clay and Amanda tell me we’re covering the 2022 horror movie *Barbarian*, and… not a single one of those things is in the movie! Not one!

What kind of bait-and-switch is this? I was all hyped up for some gnarly, sword-wielding chaos. But no, instead, we’ve got a suspenseful, tense horror movie that’s more about a creepy house and sinister secrets than pillaging warriors or muscle-bound wrestlers. Now, don’t get me wrong—Clay and Amanda are going to dive into what makes *Barbarian* such an unsettling, effective horror movie. They’ll break down its twists and turns, the tension that builds throughout the film, and the way it subverts your expectations. (And trust me, my expectations were *definitely* subverted.)

The movie stars Georgina Campbell, Bill Skarsgård, and Justin Long, and let me tell you, it gets *wild*. The story starts off simple—someone books an Airbnb—but quickly spirals into something much darker and more disturbing. And while there may not be any actual barbarians rampaging through the plot, Clay and Amanda are here to help you navigate this twisty horror flick and figure out what makes it so terrifying.

So, tune in for the discussion, but be prepared—this *Barbarian* is way more psychological horror than axe-swinging action. And if you were hoping for a Conan cameo like I was… well, you might want to adjust your expectations.

Enjoy the show!

*sigh* Alright, folks, welcome to another episode of *The Rotten Horror Picture Show*… though, to be honest, I’m not really in the mood. See, Clay and Amanda are talking about the 2022 horror movie *Smile*, but you know who *isn't* smiling? Me. You want to know why? I just dropped my sandwich—*my perfect sandwich*—all over the floor. And it wasn’t just any sandwich, no. This was a big, expensive sandwich, packed with all the good stuff: deli meats, fancy cheeses, some artisanal mustard. Now it’s all just… gone. Just like that. And now I’ve got nothing for lunch. *Nothing.* So yeah, it’s a little hard to get excited about a movie called *Smile* when the universe is clearly out to ruin my day.

But hey, I guess Clay and Amanda are still smiling, and they’re ready to dive deep into this modern horror flick that’s been sending shivers down everyone’s spines. *Smile* is all about this cursed grin—no, seriously—that haunts people and drives them to madness. Kinda like how I’m *this* close to losing it after watching my lunch hit the floor in slow motion. They’ll talk about the creepy premise, the unsettling tension, and how the film uses something as innocent as a smile to create real, visceral fear.

You know, maybe I could use this movie right now. Something to distract me from the fact that I’m going to be hungry all afternoon, and I can't just walk out and get another sandwich because *those things aren’t cheap.* So yeah, if you’re in the mood for a movie that’ll make your skin crawl—and maybe make you question why something as simple as a smile can be so terrifying—tune in. As for me, I’m gonna try to pick the pieces of my life (and my sandwich) back up.

Enjoy the show.