The Rants Macabre

For this Lunch Hour Review we cover Karyn Kusama's suspense-driven ensemble piece The Invitation. In theaters April 8th, starring Logan Marshall-Green, Tammy Blanchard, John Carroll Lynch, and Jay Larson. The comedian and podcaster (cohost of The Crab Feast) was nice enough to do a phone interview with Darren to talk about his experience making the movie, and future projects (pssst, he's gonna be on Twin Peaks).

http://www.jaylarsoncomedy.com/ - http://www.thecrabfeast.com/

Saturday, May 21st Jay is in Nashville at Zanies Comedy Club with Nate Bargatze, Rory Scovel, and Nick Thune.

We go back to the turn of the century to explore the bloody theatrics of the original Grand Guignol. With research, original scripts, a performance, and movies set in the theatre, we show some love to the beginnings of 'Live Horror.' Throughout the discussion we cover Blood Fiend AKA Theatre of Dead (1967), Bloodsucking Freaks (1976), and The Theatre Bizarre (2011).

Inspired by St. Patrick's Day we did some homework and found a great cross section of Irish Horror. We give some history on Brahm Stoker, and explore tales of sea monsters with Grabbers, feral kids stalking the Citadel, ghosts haunting The Canal, and ancient vampires From The Dark.

We talk about Leprechaun: Origins... but because it's so bad, we also act out a short sketch that explains how it might have come into existence (pssst, Mindy plays Vince McMahon). Directed Zach Lipovsky, this mess isn't really worth watching, but we make the most of it with some actual Irish Leprechaun lore.

We take it to the unforgiving arctic to find out who is not who they say they are. Who Goes There? by John W. Campbell, Jr., The Thing From Another World by Howard Hawks, and John Carpenter's The Thing. We compare the social climate during each of these incarnations and explore the commonalities, and differences.

It's a week of catching up and comparing notes on Dark Was the Night (2014). Directed by Jack Heller, and starring the formidable Kevin Durand. We wrap up talking The Twilight Zone, X-Files, and The Walking Dead season 6 mid-season opener.

For this bloody, romantic affair we've picked three 90s classics- FEAR, Single/White/Female, and Misery. Join us for an exploration of love and obsession in the decade of grunge, vinyl and Marky Mark.

The Witch (2016) A New England Folktale... Written & Directed by Robert Eggers. Wide release February 19th with an early showing Feb 16th at BAM Rose Cinemas in Brooklyn as part of their Witches' Brew film series. Seriously, we loved it, and you should check it out as soon as you can!

Jason Bateman, Rebecca Hall, and Joel Edgerton team up to give us 2015's The Gift. In this Lunch Hour Review we unwrap the fantastic psychological thriller written, and directed by Edgerton. Check us out on iTunes, Stitcher (internet radio), and give us a review! Drop us a line [email protected] and check out http://www.therantsmacabre.com for more content.

Our 50th episode! We celebrated with some friends and shared some laughs at HORROR COMEDIES. Mindy's dad, Mark Learnard is back, and Sean and Charles of the Miskatonic Musings podcast join us for a conversation on the early horror comedy Abbott & Costello Meet Frankenstein... and the [far] superior Young Frankenstein by Mel Brooks.