Decades of Horror | Horror News Radio

he Grue-Crew steps into the theater for STAGEFRIGHT (1987, Deliria), directed by Michele Soavi (The Church, The Sect, Cemetery Man). Part Friday the 13th, part Argento Giallo, all Slasher, Stagefright features an escaped madman donning the Owl Man costume from a stage play to slash and slay the entire cast and crew. What fun! The cinematography looks amazing, the gore is brilliantly executed, and...

The Grue-Crew (Jeff, Gregory, and Bill) gather to discuss Mario Bava's film RABID DOGS (1974, CANI ARRABBIATI). The movie, filmed under its original title "L'uomo e il bambino", was shelved before it was finished when the financers died leaving it buried under bankruptcy for decades. From there, its strange road to a DVD release and a subsequent reedit by Bava's son Lamberto Bava continued. Bill,...

I WAS A TEENAGE FRANKENSTEIN (1957) is B-Movie gold, perfect for 1950s drive-in nonsense. The Grue-Crew discuss the film's goofy yet gory monster, the mastery of tempered scene chewing that is Whit Bissell, and the extreme lack of teenagers in this teenage monster movie. Is it a good movie? Nah, not really. But that doesn't mean it isn't a brilliantly fun movie of its time. There's plenty to enjoy...

For episode 276, Bill picks the early '70s ABC Movie of the Week, THE CAT CREATURE (1973). The TV Horror Movie is directed by Curtis Harrington and features Meredith Baxter, David Hedison, Gale Sondergaard, John Caradine, Stuart Whitman, Keye Luke, and Kent Smith. Written by Robert Bloch, the plot involves a stolen amulet removed from an Egyptian mummy, a deadly black cat, and 40s horror movie hom...

The Grue-Crew go mythical to revisit and review JASON AND THE ARGONAUTS (1963) battling bronze giants, harrowing harpies, a horrifying hydra, and an army of skeletons. He who loves all things stop-motion, Bill Mulligan, steps up with his selection and results are amazing. The film still delivers awe and action all these years later and Ray Harryhausen's mastery is in top form. As you can imagine,...

For this episode of DOH80s, Doc has chosen THE LAST SHARK (1981, L'ultimo squalo) which is also known as GREAT WHITE and THE LAST JAWS. Yeah, if the last name there makes you wonder how Universal let that slide. Well, they didn't! This is one of the most notorious accounts of cinematic plagiarism in film history. Universal Studios did sue and won which resulted in THE LAST SHARK being immediately...

The Grue-Crew head to France (actually Spain) to meet up with Waldemar Daninsky and Countess Wandesa to revisit THE WEREWOLF VS THE VAMPIRE WOMAN (1971, La Noche de Walpurgis). After decades of watching this classic Spanish wolfman film, seeing the restored 4k version is a revelation. Sure, it's a B-Movie, but it's a fantastic B-Movie. Now it is easy to see why this is Paul Naschy's most successfu...

The Grue-Crew follow H.G. Wells and THING TO COME (1936) 90 years into the past to predict 10 years into the future. This film is fully politically charged but incredibly fascinating. While it slogs from time to time compared to modern films, it manages to deliver as a movie by the end. The film spans over four distinct dates: 1940, 1966, 1970, and 2036 encompassing a decades long war and the refo...

The Decades of Horror Grue Crews stick with the folk horror subgenre and bring in Scott Wells to help explain some of the details. This time, the film is A CHINESE GHOST STORY (1987), from Hong Kong producer Tsui Hark and director Siu-Tung Ching. The great Leslie Cheung and Joey Wang create the chemistry necessary to believe this "ghost meets innocent, naive tax collector" love story. Of course, t...

This exercise in lycanthropic folk horror from Argentina catches the Grue Crew by surprise. Lulled to sleep by the slow, freezer-burn pace of the first twenty minutes, they immediately perk up when the Devil shows his face. There are several reasons to watch this film: brilliant cinematography, an excellent performance from Alfredo Alcón, entertaining supporting characters, fascinating folk horror...

Jeff picks an obscure Japanese horror film, THE LIVING SKELETON (1968 - Kyūketsu Dokurosen), for episode 235 of Decades of Horror The Classic Era. This black and white novelty was featured in Criterion's When Horror Came to Shochiku along with The X from Outer Space, Genocide, and Goke, Body Snatcher from Hell. While skeletons are featured in the film, the rumors of their being "living" are greatl...

"Don't you stare at me like that, you puppet!" Sheesh! It's the only way I'm capable of staring. After all, I am a puppet. Join your faithful Grue Crew – Crystal Cleveland, Bill Mulligan, Doc Rotten, and Jeff Mohr – as they discuss the low-budget, British portmanteau,  Screamtime  (1983). Decades of Horror 1980s Episode 317 –  Screamtime  (1983) Join the Crew on the Gruesome Magazine YouTube chann...

"Has the human a soul? And if he has – where does he keep it?" Well, answer the question. Where is it? Join your faithful Grue Crew – Doc Rotten, Bill Mulligan, Jeff Mohr, and guest Gregory Crosby – as they ponder the above question asked in a bit of an avant-garde film,  The Shout  (1978) . Decades of Horror 1970s Episode 273 –  The Shout  (1978) Join the Crew on the Gruesome Magazine YouTube cha...

The Grue-Crew head back to 1953 to tackle a film from the first wave of 3D films, THE MAZE (1953), featuring one of the most bizarre twist endings of the decade. If you haven't seen this movie, you won't see it coming. While the films looks great and the cast, featuring Richard Carlson, Veronica Hurst, and Katherine Pate, is solid, the story and pace are snooze-inducingly plodding. If ever a film...

PRIMAL RAGE (1988) is a horror movie that gets very little mention, accolades, or fanfare. Many horror fans may not have heard of the film, instead maybe they recall the 1995 video came or 2018 movie of the same name. For this episode, Bill steps up and declare "The Grue-Crew shall watch Primal Rage!" And so we did. What did we find: Mad scientists, crazed baboons, a rage virus turning college stu...

Is this even a real movie? Ed Wood? The Grue-Crew set out to find out, reviewing the schlock fest known by many names: THE REVENGE OF DR X (1970), BODY OF THE PREY, THE DEVIL'S GARDEN, and VENUS FLY TRAP. Which ever title it is under, the result is the same: the most bizarre and god awful film of all time; yet, somehow, it is entertaining in its terrible glory. James Craig is a mad NASA scientist...

Bill picks one of his favorite British Sci-Fi/Horror classics, DEVIL GIRL FROM MARS (1954). Yup, Plan Nyah from Outer Space is on our streaming devices... and we love it. Sure, it is low budget. Sure, it is campy. This little gem is pure B-movie gold. An obnoxious, yet oddly beautiful, nutzo alien woman from Mars lands in the Scottish Highlands looking for men. Odd choice, but let's go with it. It...

The Grue-Crew revisit PSYCHO II (1983) - a horror movie sequel that shouldn't exist but does... and it's fantastic. Anthony Perkins returns to the franchise along with Vera Miles. They are joined by Meg Tilly, Robert Loggia, and Dennis Franz. Richard (Patrick, Road Games) Franklin directs from a Tom (Fright Night, Child's Play) Holland screenplay. The tables are turned and Norman Bates is now the...

For this episode of Decades of Horror 1970s, the Grue-Crew cover the fourth film of the Blind Dead saga, NIGHT OF THE SEAGULLS (1975). To make this episode even more special, we've invited Patreon fan, Crew friend, and Templar Knights champion Jerry Chandler. The Crew, discuss if the film is the best made of the four or if it is the best Blind Dead film of the series. Regardless, the film wears a...

Daphne mysteriously drives the crew back to 1965 to catch an early South Korean horror film, A BLOODTHIRSTY KILLER. With hints of Poe's classics, Bava's cinematography, and Murnau's expressionistic scenery, writer/director Yong-min Lee blends together a rich thriller with strong early Asian horror themes and rich Korean lore. Follow the crew and guest-host Scott Wells in the depths of fear with ki...

The 3D craze was brief in the 1980s and the output quality was questionable, but the run was fun for all the wrong reasons. Among Friday the 13th part III, Jaws 3D, and Parasite, was AMITYVILLE 3D and the Grue-Crew are ready to investigate all the shenanigans. The film is from accomplished director Richard Fleisher and the cast includes Tony Roberts, Tess Harper, Candy Clark, and Robert Joy. And,...

For this episode, Doc picks MADHOUSE (1974), an Amicus / AIP horror film with a notorious reputation. Who knew? On set conflicts, heavy editing from the production team, Dr. Phibes director drops out with a celebrated editor taking the reins, and a script that was being rewritten every day are just some of the things that troubled this shoot. But what does the film have going for it? At it's core,...

The Grue-Crew tackle the American pre-Code mystery-horror film directed by Michael Curtiz and starring Lionel Atwill, Fay Wray, Glenda Farrell, and Frank McHugh. That film is MYSTERY OF THE WAX MUSEUM (1933). Jeff invites a special guest-host and DoH Grue-Believer, Chris (ManCaveMan), to help better understand the special color process utilized to make this early color film. We also deep dive into...

Crystal picks the cult classic slasher film THE SLUMBER PARTY MASSACRE (1982) for the Grue-Crew to review this week. This movie has some bizarre background and strong reactions. Does the film live up to its reputation? Does the film actually come across as either a parody or a feminist horror movie? The debate is on with this review as the crew also explores the taglines, the cast of characters, t...

Bill and Jeff welcome guest-host Gregory Crosby to review the TV thriller SATAN'S SCHOOL FOR GIRLS (1973) directed by David Lowell Rich and produced by Aaron Spelling. The wonderful Pamela Franklin is in the lead, suffering the death of her sister, as she investigates the school her sister attended, convinced her death was a... murder. Jo Van Fleet is the headmistress, Roy Thinnes and Lloyd Bochne...