Horror Movie Survival Guide

Karyn Kusama's 2015 film The Invitation focuses on Will, a troubled man who has suddenly been invited to a gathering at the house he shared with his ex-wife after 2 years of silence. It starts out uncomfortable and just goes downhill from there. A sharp script, good acting and some bloody twists make this one fun.  Support the show

We are so incredibly excited to have another special guest interview this week - with writer/director Michael Varrati ! Julia and Michael have been friends for years, so of course she and Teri were so thrilled to speak with him about Stuart Gordon's FROM BEYOND (1986)! Michael has his own podcast about queer horror Dead for Filth (check out his interview with Julia on that show here ), and ha...

This star studded 2003 film has all the makings of success - based on a novel by Stephen King, written by William Goldman, directed by Lawrence Kasdan - starring Morgan Freeman, Tom Sizemore, Timothy Olyphant, Thomas Jane, Damian Lewis and Jason Lee. And yet...doesn't quite hit the mark. Actually, is off the mark by a sizeable amount.  Support the show

This 1989 video store classic hinges on a cool premise - what if puppets could murder you? A group of psychics come together to get revenge on their evil nemesis that has crossed them, but they discover their colleague had more tricks up his sleeve than they thought - starting with being dead.  Support the show

In 2011, just before Mike Flanagan directed HMSG favorite Oculus, he directed this low budget film that he kickstarted and shot in his own apartment. The film uses its limited locations to the fullest and Flanagan creates a super spooky film, fraught with human interaction and relationships, angry dead and a hinted at evil underworld just lurking beneath it all.  Support the show

Just in time for Halloween Teri and Julia interviewed Martin himself, Mr. John Amplas!  In addition to starring as the title role in Romero's 1978 film, Martin, he also worked with the maestro on Dawn of the Dead, Day of the Dead, Creepshow and Knightriders, as well as acting in many other films and stage productions. Now teaching acting at Point Park University, HMSG got to talk to him about...

Nicolas Roeg's 1973 film Don't Look Now is a masterful film with outstanding performances that pinpoints a grief stricken Venetian gloomy atmosphere with fantastic precision. Julie Christie and Donald Sutherland shine as a a married couple living abroad after the accidental death of their daughter - their realism, honesty and love for one another truly comes through, and makes this a fil...

George Romero is best remembered for his Night/Dawn/Day of the Dead trilogy (and rightly so because they're masterpieces) but we'd like to take you deeper into his catalogue, to 1973's Season of the Witch. Romero's eye for cinema is always so keen, even when constrained by budgets, that his films are always a delight to watch, and he'll always focus on characters and a sto...

Edgar Wright' 2004 film is one of the most endearing love letters to horror cinema ever put to film. Simon Pegg's Shaun is the unlikely hero waging war against cannibalistic zombie hordes with his friends and family, and every line, every song, every location is cleverly fraught with meaning (and double meaning) with moments of genuine gore, genuine laughs and genuine tears - this movie...

David Robert Mitchell's break out 2015 smash It Follows feels like a quirky indie film, while delivering some serious scares and introducing a new kind of monster - one that's sexually transmitted and laser focused on finding you, wherever you are. Ambiguous time periods and ethereal lighting transposed with disturbing imagery made It Follows a unique new voice in horror.  Support the sh...

After interviewing the incredible Diane Franklin, we knew we needed to talk about one of her horror films, and TerrorVision (1986) is so much fun, we couldn't resist. A psychosexual -monster-movie-live-action-cartoon of sorts, with all of the actors cranked up to full (and there are so many great actors here to watch joyously chew the scenery!) It's a film made in the 80's, making f...

Diane Franklin is an actress, known for such cult classics as The Last American Virgin, Better Off Dead and Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure, as well as for her work in the horror films Amityville 2, The Amityville Murders and Terrorvision. Teri and Julia talk to Diane about her start in the business and her memories & experiences working on some of the most loved films of the 1980&apos...

Larry Cohen's 1985 creamsploitation film The Stuff wins for the most unlikely of killers in a horror film - delicious creamy dessert product!  Artwork by Pizza Party Printing Support the show

2018's Annihilation is smart, scary, beautiful, groundbreaking and criminally under seen. Natalie Portman, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Oscar Isaac, Tessa Thompson and Gina Rodriguez star in this incredible sci-fi horror thriller.  Support the show

"The Ultimate Cult Movie" stars William Shatner, Ernest Borgnine, Tom Skerritt, Ida Lupino and a pre-Carrie John Travolta and features the ultimate battle against good and evil taking place in a Western ghost town. Intrigued?  Artwork by Lou Rusconi Support the show

Rory Cochrane stars in this little seen but excellent indie thriller about a man trapped in Los Angeles when a dirty bomb strikes the city and chaos begins to break out. This film is so realistic and intense Julia almost left the theater upon first viewing - it was making her panic. More people need to see this cool, unsettling flick!  Support the show

1986 had it's fair share of teenage slasher flicks, and April Fool's Day has a little bit of fun with the whole genre. The film has a great cast (who are clearly having fun) playing a group of friends heading over to their wealthy friend Muffy St. John's remote, secluded island home. Horny drunk teenagers left alone on an island together over Spring Break - what could possibly go wr...

This 2014 film is one of Hammer's releases, and is set in Oxford 1974 where Sam Claflin's shy cameraman Brian gets roped into documenting a science experiment that's way over his head. Led by Jared Harris' sinister professor, who is very dubiously trying to cure Olivia Cooke's fragile Jane Harper of her mental illness - or perhaps possession? Analogue fun for everyone! Ter...

Brand spanking new, the is the most recent film we have ever spoken about on the podcast, and it's certainly a humdinger! This film twists and turns and keeps you on your toes until the very last second, and it's a wild ride! Allison Williams and Logan Browning give astonishing performances, and completely keep you guessing! A first watch for both!  This is the fourth and final film in T...

Julia had avoided this film since it's release because she is terrified of caves, and this film sure did it's job of reaffirming Julia's fears! Intense, gory, surprising and brutal, this film is so incredibly well made, with terrific performances all around. Plus, you gotta love a horror films that features almost entirely women! A first watch for both!  This is the third film in Te...

This 1987 film is Bill Condon's directorial debut, which takes place deep in the Louisiana bayou and stars Eric Stolz and Jennifer Jason Leigh. Steamy romances, fragile broken women, gators, revenge, voyeurism and lots and lots of secrets are involved! This film is from the original horror movie notebook!  Teri's first viewing!  This is the second film in Teri's month long round of...

JENNIFER'S BODY (2009) When you see the name Diablo Cody on a script, you know you're in for a whip smart, crackerjack, pop culture referencing good time, and Jennifer's Body is no exception! It's hard to convince people that your best friend is actually evil, and not just high school evil, when you live in a town called Devil's Kettle. Megan Fox and Amanda Seyfried have a...

SLITHER (2006) James Gunn 's 2006 film is like a half dozen sci-fi/horror classics all rolled into one - if you mashed up The Blob, The Fly, The Thing, Night of the Living Dead and Invasion of the Body Snatchers, and then ramped up the gore to 11, you'd get this madcap romp of a film. This film ends our round of movies neither Teri nor Julia have seen before.  Support the show

They Look Like People (2015) This 2015 low budget film uses what it has - a enigmatic storyline, good actors and a minimal script to tell the story of childhood friends brought back together in a way neither one of them expected. This film continues our round of movies neither Teri nor Julia have seen before.  Support the show

The Ritual (2017) - "You will kneel before it" This film is like a punch in the face, in the most glorious way. Intense, relentless, gory and honest, with one of the most creative monster designs we have ever seen, not to mention some mind blowingly amazing performances, this film delivers! This film continues our round of movies neither Teri nor Julia have seen before.  Support the show