In our second podcast of 2016, we cover a Japanese movie often held as a classic horror tale, Onibaba (1964).

–SHOW NOTES–

-WHAT WE’VE BEEN WATCHING-

* THE NAKED PREY

* INFINI

* CROWS NEST

* ASH VS EVIL DEAD

* TOMORROWLAND

* THE CHOSEN

* KURONEKO

* DIE HARD

* ROCKY 4

* JUPITER ASCENDING

-MAIN FEATURE-

ONIBABA

This film was commercially very successful internationally, with its exotic mix of sensuality, eye-catching cinematography, symbolism and sound design. Directed by Kineto Shindo, and featuring his regular group of performers, this was inspired by a Buddhist parable in which a mother used a mask to scare her daughter from going to the temple. The director was also a known socialist, and wish for the movie to be an allegory of both capitalism and war, and wished some of the makeup design to reflect injuries and symptoms of the victims of the Nagasaki and Hiroshima bombings.

-FEEDBACK-

This week, we have some Japanese TV Terror from Anthony Rotolo – A Japanese version of a classic H.P. Lovecraft story, SHADOW OVER INNSMOUTH, and Mark comments on Anthony’s segment from last week, HELTER SKELTER.

-OTHER PODCASTS-

As part of a continuing program, we will be focussing on a particular podcast each week. This week we focus on the Dark Discussions podcast, a podcast dedicated to horror movies and fiction. You can find them at http://www.darkdiscussions.com

 

We would love to hear any comments or feedback on ONIBABA or anything else horror related: just e-mail your written messages or recorded segments in MP3 format, to [email protected]. And be sure to come and join in the discussion on the Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/unofhorror. See you there!

They will make cemeteries their cathedrals and the cities will be your tombs.

In this week’s episode of the United Nations of Horror, Mike, Mark, Matt and M(B)ecky have a fun, pustulous time with Lamberto Bava’s Italian gore-fest DEMONS (1985). We also discuss Bava’s sequel, DEMONS 2, briefly. That’s how much we love you.

However, before we crack on with the main feature, we talk about the things we’ve caught this week. This includes an insight from UNH’s very own Grinch, aka the Master of the New Release, Mike, on the contentious Martyrs remake:

* ALL HALLOWS’ EVE

* MOTEL HELL

* SCREAMERS

* [Manga/Anime] ATTACK ON TITAN

* [Graphic novel] BATMAN: THE DOOM THAT CAME TO GOTHAM

* PROFONDO ROSSO

* MARTYRS (2016)

In addition, we have another couple of wonderful segments from Anthony and Dia. Anthony brings us another instalment of TV TERROR, looking at 1977’s THE POSSESSED, which interestingly features Harrison Ford before he was taken to a galaxy far, far away. Dia then gives us an insight into the release of DEMONS and DEMONS 2 in Germany with this week’s A VERY GERMAN POINT OF VIEW.

Matt introduces the podcast recommendation for this week: Scott Smith and Doug McConaghy’s THE LAST HORRORCAST. The podcast covers topics such as supermarket horror and 70s satanic horror, looking at a couple of films per episode. Our very own Dia also writes great reviews for the website. It really is a must if you haven’t heard it and you can check out their website and Facebook page below:

https://thelasthorrorcast.wordpress.com/

https://www.facebook.com/groups/thelasthorrorcast/

As usual, we would love to hear your thoughts on this film, or anything horror related. Please e-mail your messages in MP3 format to [email protected], or send us an email. You can also drop us a line in the comments below and we will be sure to include it in the next show.

Ciao for now!

Happy New Year and welcome back to the first episode of the United Nations of Horror. We kick off 2016 with the supernatural / psychological LAST SHIFT (2014), the most recent film from director Anthony di Blasi, who is definitely one to watch.

In addition, we talked about some of the things we’ve watched and received as gifts over the Christmas period.

Happy New Year and welcome back to the first episode of the United Nations of Horror. We kick off 2016 with the supernatural / psychological LAST SHIFT (2014), the most recent film from director Anthony di Blasi, who is definitely one to watch.

In addition, we talked about some of the things we’ve watched and received as gifts over the Christmas period, as well as related films and television series, including:

–SHOW NOTES–

-WHAT WE’VE BEEN WATCHING-

* SOCIETY

* HUSH HUSH SWEET CHARLOTTE

* MAKING A MURDERER

* DEAR ZACHARY: A LETTER FROM A FATHER TO HIS SON

* WEST OF MEMPHIS

* PARADISE LOST: THE CHILD MURDERS AT ROBIN HOOD HILLS

PARADISE LOST 2: REVELATIONS

PARADISE LOST 3: PURGATORY

* MARTHA, MARCY, MAY, MARLENE

* HOW THE GRINCH STOLE CHRISTMAS

* EVIDENCE

* THE FOREST

* SHERLOCK: THE ABOMINABLE BRIDE

* TAG (Viral trailer/opening scene: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8z4Y58DIATs)

* HELL AND BACK

* DREAD

* X-FILES

* GREMLINS

Discussion surrounding Joe Dante led us to talk about the website Trailers From Hell, a web series in which notable filmmakers discuss and promote individual films via commentary over their trailers. Though it emphasises horror, science fiction, fantasy, cult, and exploitation cinema, it covers a range of genres: http://trailersfromhell.com/

In addition to some great voicemail feedback from Matt Bailey on LAST SHIFT, as well as interesting comments from Kieran Fisher and Jeff Weir, we also have another fantastic TV TERROR segment from Anthony Rotolo. Anthony expands on the cult themes in LAST SHIFT by looking at HELTER SKELTER, the 1976 television film that was based on the 1974 true crime book by prosecutor Vincent Bugliosi and Curt Gentr. Based closely on the book, the film covers the Manson family murders and court cases. If interested, the book, HELTER SKELTER: THE TRUE STORY OF THE MANSON MURDERS, can be found here: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Helter-Skelter-Story-Manson-Murders/dp/1784751766

As well as the 2009 docudrama MANSON, which is narrated by Manson family member Linda Kasabian and a great complementary watch with HELTER SKELTER, we talked about the following podcasts linked to the Manson family:

The Last Podcast on the Left dedicates three episodes to Manson’s early years, the family, and the murders and court cases: http://podbay.fm/show/437299706/e/1424179022?autostart=1

You Must Remember This explores the murders and the Hollywood music and movie scene surrounding the Manson killings: http://www.vidiocy.com/youmustrememberthispodcastblog/2015/5/26/charles-mansons-hollywood-part-1-what-we-talk-about-when-we-talk-about-the-manson-murders

True Murder, hosted by journalist and author Dan Zupanksy, who interviews true crime authors about their books, invites Mark Hewitt onto the show to talk about his book, CHARLES MANSON BEHIND BARS, which covers Manson’s life and includes recent interviews with him in prison: http://podbay.fm/show/393525078/e/1406163600?autostart=1

 

We will also be recommending other podcasts on a regular basis, focussing on a particular podcast each week. First up is our very own Mark’s fantastic The Good, The Bad and The Odd podcast, in which hosts Mark and Sam, sometimes with guests, discuss films, TV, video games, books, comics, graphic novels,

Happy New Year everyone! We’re going to take you back to earlier this year before the United Nations of Horror existed to the first ever chat between Mark from The Good, The Bad and The Odd and Lucard on a short lived podcast known as Dracula’s Theatre. Here, we discuss Hammer Horror’s Dracula (1958) as well as a variety of related subjects such as the history of Hammer, Christopher Lee, Peter Cushing and much more.

Happy New Year everyone! We’re going to take you back to earlier this year before the United Nations of Horror existed to the first ever chat between Mark from The Good, The Bad and The Odd and Lucard on a short lived podcast known as Dracula’s Theatre. Here, we discuss Hammer Horror’s Dracula (1958) as well as a variety of related subjects such as the history of Hammer, Christopher Lee, Peter Cushing and much more.

PODCAST NOTES:

* A History of Horror with Mark Gatiss

* Original Dracula Trailer

* BFI Restored Dracula Trailer

Here’s a little Christmas gift from UNH Mansions – A one-off special covering Star Wars: The Force Awakens, with Star Wars fans Mark. Dia and Mike telling you many of the ways they love the new Star Wars movies – and some things they didn’t love.

We know it’s not horror, but Star Wars transcends genre.

It’s the most wonderful time of the year! So, how do we celebrate the holidays here at Castle UNH? With horror movies of course! For our last show of the year Dia and Matt join us for this very special episode to discuss Hellraiser 1-4, the comic books, the original novel and the general history of Clive Barker’s Hellraiser. Anthony brings us the gift of more Clive Barker in the form of Tales from the Darkside. You can’t get enough Hellraiser you say? Well, fear not for this is a two part special with the second part coming sometime in 2016. Until then, we wish all of you and your loved one’s a very Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays and a Happy New Year. We’ll see you all next year!

It’s the most wonderful time of the year! So, how do we celebrate the holidays here at Castle UNH? With horror movies of course! For our last show of the year Dia and Matt join us for this very special episode to discuss Hellraiser 1-4, the comic books, the original novel and the general history of Clive Barker’s Hellraiser. Anthony brings us the gift of more Clive Barker in the form of Tales from the Darkside. You can’t get enough Hellraiser you say? Well, fear not for this is a two part special with the second part coming sometime in 2016. Until then, we wish all of you and your loved one’s a very Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays and a Happy New Year. We’ll see you all next year!

All of us here at the United Nations of Horror wish you and yours a very Merry Christmas and a Happy Holiday! It’s the time of year when you break out the egg nog (and perhaps a little something extra to add). Between murderous Black Friday shopping and our third holiday meal with the family, we sit down to discuss 1974’s BLACK CHRISTMAS. The film follows a group of sorority sisters who are receiving threatening phone calls during the holiday season by a deranged murderer hiding in the attic of their sorority house. Surely only good things can happen here, right? Anthony Rotolo stops by to discuss Bob Clark and gives us the gift of TV. Terror with 1972’s HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS. Dia gives us the gift of a Very German Point of View featuring Mario Bava’s A Bay of Blood (Ecologia del delitto). So my friends, sit back with your favourite holiday dessert and join in the festivities. ‘Tis the season!

-SHOW NOTES-

-WHAT WE’VE BEEN WATCHING-

• Wait Until Dark (Mark)

• Rigor Mortis (Becky)

• Waxwork/Waxwork 2 (Mike)

• Two Evil Eyes (Mark)

• Playback (Becky)

• Dr. Who (Mark)

• Mine Games (Becky)

• Scouts Guide to the Zombie Apocalypse (Mike)

The “3 Types of Slashers” as stated by Mikel J Koven:

Film, Folklore and Urban Legends – Mikel J Koven

Koven identifies three types of slasher film:

1.

* The first is the “Scooby-Doo” film, named after the children’s television series, in which a gang of teenagers investigate a seemingly supernatural mystery, which is ultimately revealed to be nonsupernatural in nature.

* Usually, the supernatural element has been conjured by a criminal to distract others from discovering their illegal doings. In the slasher film, this trope has been reworked so that the killer, who is revealed to be very human, is using some form of killer legend to distract others from their motives.

* This type of slasher is thus a gory murder mystery/horror hybrid in which the audience can participate in the “game’” of hypothesising who is the killer from a set group of people.

* The Italian giallo films are very much a precursor to this type of film, which in turn were inspired by crime literature. Giallo is the Italian word for yellow and the terms comes from the series of cheap paperback crime fiction novels with bright yellow covers that were released in post-fascist Italy. The crime fiction novel was slow to catch on in Italy and most of the giallo paperbacks were British and American stories translated into Italian. Amongst these novels was Agatha Christie’s AND THEN THERE WERE NONE (1939), which was adapted into a film in 1945, directed by René Clair. The film, in which ten people are invited to a luxury mountaintop mansion, only to find that an unseen person is killing them one by one, is largely considered to be one of the initial “Scooby-Doo” slasher

* More modern examples of this type of slasher include: PROM NIGHT (1980); TERROR TRAIN (1980); SCREAM 1, 2 and 3 (1996, 1997 and 2000); URBAN LEGEND (2000) and CHERRY FALLS (2000).

2.

* Koven’s second type of slasher is the film in which the killer is known – to the audience and the filmic characters – from the outset.

* These films do not have the mystery element as the killer’s identity is known. The films are unlikely to allow for emotional identification – particularly with the killer.

* Examples include: HALLOWEEN (1980); FRIDAY THE 13TH (1980); and THE BURNING (1981).

* Koven doesn’t associate the NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET films with this type of slasher, as Freddy Kreuger possesses supernatural abilities. Like the “Scooby-Doo” film, despite their resilience, killers in this second category, such as Michael Myers and Pamela Voorhees,