Neon Brainiacs (A Retro Horror Movie Podcast)

We're coming at you in 3-D this week, maniacs, as we discuss the recent Vinegar Syndrome release Silent Madness from 1984! As we discuss all three dimensions in this film, we also discuss topics such as Dragon's Lair, the Howard Johnson hotel chain, and mixing Coca Cola and cereal.

We're starting this brand new year in flight, maniacs, as we discuss 1988's oft-forgotten sequel Fright Night Part II! As we revisit Charley Brewster and Peter Vincent, we also talk about topics such as symphony ticket scalpers, speed reading and Jon Gries' proclivity for playing a werewolf.

It's a miracle, maniacs! After an extensive hiatus, Action Movie Sunday makes its (semi-regular) return, and this time we're talking another buddy cop movie, the very funny Billy Crystal and Gregory Hines vehicle Running Scared from 1986. As we maneuver our way through Chicago's landscape, we discuss topics like NFL allegiances, rude kids, and recognizable horror locations.

It's the end of 2020 and we say "snow" long to this weird year by talking the obscure Canadian New Year's film Ghostkeeper from 1982! While we opine about some of the things we enjoyed about the year, we also discuss some topics such as Ski-Doo products, Mr. Rogers, and this movie's similarities to a certain Stephen King story.

Let's grab a snack after midnight, maniacs, and wrap up our holiday season with 1984's Joe Dante classic Gremlins! Joining us is returning international guest Darren Hall to shed some light on the film's release in the UK. As we chat about this flick, we also discuss topics such as the origins of Gizmo's appearance, how much juice is in an American orange, and classic gremlin catch phrases.

"Je suis la jeune fille", maniacs! This week we're going international with 1989's home invasion thriller Dial Code Santa Claus and we're joined to talk about this one with five-time guests Sarah and Amanda from the Ghoul On Ghoul podcast! While we unpack the similarities this has to 1990's Home Alone, we also discuss topics such as cooking with Mountain Dew, mockups of famous 80s montage songs, a...

Week two of our Christmas horror theme this month brings good tidings, maniacs, as we continue with a real obscure one, 1989's Family Reunion! As we try to find nice things to say about this deep cut, we also discuss topics such as the cross-section of professional baseball players and actors in this film, South Park shop teachers, and Highlights magazine.

Do you hear those "slay" bells, maniacs? Must be another block of Christmas-themed horror this month on the show! We're starting off with a pretty bizarre selection, 1983's samurai ghost film Blood Beat. While we dissect this slice of Wisconsin horror history, we also discuss topics such as deer jerky, tiny televisions and all the mystical boinging going on in the movie.

Do not entry, maniacs, because this week concludes our Rock & Shock theme for November and we are closing it out with a doozy. End guitarist & owner of Silver Bullet Studios Greg Thomas joins us to talk about Lucio Fulci's 1981 classic The Beyond! While we talk about the legendary effects in this film, we also discuss topics such as deadly Gogurt, Pita Pit, and the infamous spiders in the very gro...

We're busting out of our cages this week, maniacs, as we continue our Rock & Shock theme for November with the infamous Nic Cage film Vampire's Kiss! We're joined by friend of the show and Some Faith vocalist Indigo Baloch to unpack all the wild stories of how this movie was made. While we wait for our imported Mexican bats to arrive, we also discuss topics such as air piano players, Bagel Buffet...

Get ready to bark at the moon this week, maniacs, because week two of Rock & Shock month brings us 1981's The Howling with returning guest Michael Kent from the Toxic Schlock podcast! While we finally delve into the work of Joe Dante, we also discuss topics such as the Geico caveman, Clint Eastwood's reimagining of Dawson's Creek, and the oeuvre of our lord and savior Dennis Dugan.

Get ready for a ballroom blitz this week, maniacs, because we're starting our Rock & Shock theme for this month with another Jon Mikl Thor joint: 1987's Zombie Nightmare! We're joined to talk this weird cult flick by Tim from the Horror Flicks & Guitar Picks podcast. While we gawk at this movie's wild soundtrack, we also discuss topics such as uneven baseball scoreboards, the newspaper, and the ma...

This year Halloween fell on a weekend, maniacs, so the Neon Brainiacs and Michael Myers are going trick or treating! We're rounding out our month-long celebration of the best holiday of the year with 1989's Halloween 5: The Revenge Of Michael Myers. While we discuss the film's position in franchise rankings, we also unpack topics such as Michael's stick-and-poke tattoos, the origin of Stone Sour l...

Grab a costume, maniacs, because week 3 of our Halloween spectacular this month finds us discussing the 1981 Linda Blair vehicle Hell Night! While we ask a lot of questions about the plot of this movie, we also talk about topics such as spooky cassette tapes, A Christmas Carol starring Charles Bronson, and pull-chain toilets.

Week two of our Halloween spectacular is here, maniacs, and this week it's an actual Halloween movie! We're discussing the 1988 New York ghost film Lady In White. While we dig into the flick, we also discuss topics such as our feelings about candy corn, Scatman John and Mona from Who's The Boss.

We're kicking off our Halloween sweeps week with a doozy, maniacs! We get spooky with 1980's haunted house flick The Changeling starring George C. Scott. While we discuss how undesirable it is to live in a giant haunted mansion by yourself, we also talk about topics such as college rock cover bands, infamous Pittsburgh punks, and weird ways of saying what year it is.

This week's episode comes to you from deep within the woods, maniacs, because we're discussing Sam Raimi's infamous 1981 film The Evil Dead! We're joined by friends of the show Cody Brown of Studiohouse Designs and designer Jeff Sotace to unpack all the legendary stories from the making of this flick. While we break down the origins of Ash Williams, we also discuss topics such as pencil terror, th...

Grab your protective headgear this week, maniacs, because we're busting into the 1988 Frank Henenlotter film Brain Damage! While we discuss all the great special effects this movie has to offer, we also talk about topics such as Pepsi Blue, the source of some of the sounds found within the film, and various New York businesses of the 80s.

We're playing "ketchup" this week, maniacs, as we're joined by our buddy The Lo Fi Horror Guy to discuss the 1988 comedy Return Of The Killer Tomatoes! While we discuss this early role for megastar George Clooney, we also discuss topics such as toy stores of our youths, how the Muppet Babies helped get this film made, and the connection between this film's score and Soundgarden.

We're going on a fall break this week, maniacs, as we kick off year four by diving into the North Carolina slasher The Mutilator, aka Fall Break! While we try (and fail) to get this film's theme song out of our heads, we also discuss topics such as old school Natural Light can art, our personal stances on Monopoly, and replicating Benny Hill gags.

We're celebrating pretty hard this week, maniacs! We've hit our three year milestone and finally tackling our namesake, 1986's Neon Maniacs! While we lament the last three years and dissect this bizarre cult flick, we also discuss topics such as the badass Neon Maniacs trading cards we never got in real life, using answering machines for exposition, Floam, and Big Milk strikes again.

This week we're clearing the creek for some white water rafting as we discuss 1983's obscure woods slasher The Final Terror! This one features some early roles for famous actors like Adrian Zmed, Daryl Hannah and Joey Pantoliano. While we discuss these cool cameos, we also discuss topics such as our affinity for peaches, the many ways Gerald Ford could have perished, and emergency exits on buses.

Let's race, maniacs! We've heard your pleas and cries for us to cover this movie, so we're finally doing The Wraith from 1986! While we talk about this so-bad-it's-good-to-some-people cult flick, we also discuss topics such as twenty-somethings as high schoolers, Hoss's Steak and Seahouse, and Gregg's new hit song, "I Gotta Do The Thing!"

We're making collect calls straight to hell this week, maniacs, because we're discussing Robert Englund's directorial debut with 1988's 976-EVIL with Jesse from the Heartgod Media podcast! While we phone it in (in the best way possible), we also discuss topics such as crucial Thompson Twins merchandise, tabletop jukeboxes, and what the heck is in a deviled egg sandwich?

This week we're talking some squad goals, maniacs, because we're talking about the legendary kindertrauma film The Monster Squad from 1987! And make sure to tune in after the episode because we've also got a bonus interview with the movie's star, Andre Gower! While we discuss the film, we also talk subjects such as cool treehouse hangouts, Burger King (again), and the underrated acting prowess of...