Scream Scene Podcast

Happy Halloween, Creatures of the Night! Let us take you to Italy for L'ULTIMA PREDA DEL VAMPIRO aka THE PLAYGIRLS AND THE VAMPIRE (1960) from director Piero Regnoli! Is this mix of classic Universal tropes charming or old fashioned? Let's find out! Context setting 00:00; Synopsis 10:24; Discussion 18:40; Ranking 26:47

A domestic horror or a gothic melodrama? Why not both! It's THE HOUSEMAID (1960, Kim) aka HANYEO, Korea's first horror movie! Dealing with social commentary about Korea's changing class and addressing women's sexual desires, this is a one-of-a-kind movie. Context setting 00:00; Synopsis 38:45; Discussion 55:06; Ranking 1:21:07

And we're back! After an unexpected hiatus, we're excited to kick off our return with THE TWO FACES OF DR. JEKYLL (1960) directed by Terence Fisher and starring Paul Massie, Dawn Addams and Christopher Lee. Thank you for your patience! Context setting 00:00; Synopsis 50:56; Discussion 1:05:25; Ranking 1:44:58

Director Bert I. Gordon finally makes an appearance on the podcast with TORMENTED (1960)! Taking a break from his "Thing Big" schtick, Gordon takes on a ghost story that stars Richard Carlson, Juli Reding and Susan Gordon. Context setting 00:00; Synopsis 21:16; Discussion 34:28; Ranking 50:42

Let's meander down Skid Row for the horror adjacent Roger Corman flick THE LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS (1960)! Your hosts discuss this movie's placement in Corman's filmography, and the pros and cons of filming an entire movie over a weekend. Context setting 00:00; Synopsis 36:10; Discussion 48:48

Your hosts encounter the 1960 "erotic horror" film ET MOURIR DE PLAISIR (LE SANG ET LA ROSE) aka AND DIE OF PLEASURE (BLOOD AND ROSES) from director Roger Vadim! But where's the horror? More importantly, where's the eroticism?? Context setting 00:00; Synopsis 34:02; Discussion 44:20; Ranking 1:10:42

Your hosts encounter a film often overlooked... it's THE CITY OF THE DEAD (1960) aka HORROR HOTEL directed by John Llewellyn Moxey! Designed to compete with Hammer Horror, this proto-Amicus Productions film stars Christopher Lee, Patricia Jessel, Venetia Stevenson and Betta St. John. Context setting 00:00; Synopsis 17:02; Discussion 30:42; Ranking 55:04

From Italian director Giorgio Ferroni comes the Gothic film IL MULINO DELLE DONNE DI PIETRA aka MILL OF THE STONE WOMEN (1960)... in COLOUR! The film stars Pierre Brice, Scilla Gabel, Wolfgang Preiss and Herbert Bohme. Context setting 00:00; Synopsis 18:22; Discussion 29:57; Ranking 50:35

Continuing their time in Italy, your deadicated hosts encounter SEDDOK, L'EREDE DI SATANA aka ATOM AGE VAMPIRE (1960) from director Anton Giulio Majano! Designed to cash in on Mario Bava's success, this horror flick doesn't have much going for it...not to mention the gorilla on the loose! Context setting 00:00; Synopsis 8:28; Discussion 18:23; Ranking 32:41

Your deadicated hosts cover the directorial "debut" of Mario Bava, LA MASCHERA DEL DEMONIO aka THE MASK OF SATAN aka BLACK SUNDAY! Starring Barbara Steele and John Richardson, we detail the different screenplays and film releases available out there. Context setting 00:00; Synopsis 57:12; Discussion 1:15:05; Ranking 1:37:01

Your hosts peek through "Illusion-O" glasses to review 13 GHOSTS (1960) from William Castle! This spoopy children's horror stars Donald Woods, Charles Herbert and Martin Milner. Context setting 00:00; Synopsis 13:28; Discussion 27:33; Ranking 38:28

Celebrating episode 300, your deadicated hosts travel to Japan for Nobuo Nakagawa's masterpiece JIGOKU (1960)! The film stars Shigeru Amachi, Yoichi Numata and Utako Mitsuya. Your hosts discuss nihilism, Buddhism, gore and more in this landmark episode. Context setting 00:00; Synopsis 36:08; Discussion 49:48; Ranking 1:22:57

Universal tries to copy Roger Corman with THE LEECH WOMAN (1960) directed by Edward Dein and starring Coleen Grey, Grant Williams, Phillip Terry and Gloria Talbot. Context setting 00:00; Synopsis 14:00; Discussion 23:18; Ranking 36:28

Hammer Horror tries to strike Gothic gold again with THE BRIDES OF DRACULA (1960, Fisher)! With three different writers, the film's seams show despite the heavy lifting from stars Peter Cushing, Yvonne Monlaur and David Peel. Context setting 00:00; Synopsis 23:59; Discussion 33:47; Ranking 57:12

Give Roger Corman more money and time to make a movie, and he goes FULLY RESPECTABLE!! It's THE FALL OF THE HOUSE OF USHER (1960) starring Vincent Price, Mark Damon and Myrna Fahey! Context setting 00:00; Synopsis 35:22; Discussion 42:50; Ranking 1:06:40

Brick wall... Brick Wall... BRICK WALL!! This week we cover VILLAGE OF THE DAMNED (1960) from director Wolf Rilla! Adapted from the John Wyndham novel The Midwich Cuckoos, we discuss this evil children horror starring George Sanders, Barbara Shelley and Martin Stephens. Context setting 00:00; Synopsis 42:11; Discussion 50:41; Ranking 1:22:21

Anthony Perkins. Janet Leigh. Alfred Hitchcock. It's 1960's PSYCHO! In a nearly three hour long episode, your hosts dig into the novel, its film adaptation, and how everything changes after PSYCHO's release. General content warning for discussion of transphobia, violence against women, psychosis, serial killers and cannibalism. Context setting 00:00; Synopsis 40:23-44:30; Discussion 1:38:02; Ranki...

The Italians try their hand at combining horror and sex appeal... and win?! It's L'AMANTE DEL VAMPIRO (1960) aka THE VAMPIRE AND THE BALLERINA from director Renato Polselli! We got castles, we got vampires, we got toxic relationships -- it's a Gothic horror! Context setting 00:00; Synopsis 10:52; Discussion 21:44; Ranking 36:39

Your hosts travel to West Germany for EIN TOTER HING IM NETZ aka THE CORPSE IN THE WEB (1960) from director Fritz Böttger! This "nudie" horror film offers an early attempt at bridging sex appeal and horror, but is not necessarily successful at it. Context setting 00:00; Synopsis 11:00; Discussion 16:48; Ranking 31:05

Completing Anglo-Amalgamated Production's "Sadian trilogy," it's CIRCUS OF HORRORS (1960) from director Sidney Hayers! Starring Anton Diffring, Jane Hylton, Kenneth Griffith and Erika Remberg, this film makes your hosts wonder... what's up with circuses? Context setting 00:00; Synopsis 13:42; Discussion 24:01; Ranking 39:42

Your hosts take on CLUE (1985, Lynn) for their last monthly horror adjacent bonus episode - the movie based on the game based on old cozy mystery thrillers! We run down the stellar cast and explain the board game's history. Context setting 00:00; Synopsis 46:40; Discussion 56:15

Lasting less than a week in theatres when first released, it's PEEPING TOM (1960), a horror that nearly ruined its director Michael Powell's career! Written by Leo Marks and starring Carl Boehm, Anna Massey, Moira Shearer and Maxine Audley, the film digs into its themes of observation and voyeurism and doesn't let up. Context setting 00:00; Synopsis 42:27; Discussion 54:54; Ranking 1:28:16

Larry Talbot returns for LA CASA DEL TERROR (1960)! Lon Chaney Jr reprises a legally-distinct-from-Universal Wolf Man in this Mexican horror movie starring comedian Tin-Tan, Yolanda Varela, Rafael Estrada and Yerye Beirute, directed by Gilberto Martinez Solares. Context setting 00:00; Synopsis 11:54; Discussion 18:11; Ranking 27:14

It's been a long time since your hosts have travelled to France! This week we cover LES YEUX SANS VISAGE (1960) aka EYES WITHOUT A FACE from director Georges Franju! Based on the Jean Redon novel, the film stars Pierre Brasseur, Alida Valli and Édith Scob. It delivers French New Wave horror while keeping you at arm's length -- but will that work in its favour? Context setting 00:00; Synopsis 27:26...

For our 23rd horror adjacent episode, it's ZOMBIES ON BROADWAY (1945)! Directed by Gordon Douglas, the film stars the knock-off Abbott and Costello duo of Alan Carney and Wally Brown, and features a great performance from Bela Lugosi! Context setting 00:00; Synopsis 13:13; Discussion 19:24