Split Your Head

Warning: This interview contains discussions about suicide, graphic violence, and other potentially triggering and upsetting content. This episode features an interview with indie horror filmmaker, Robbie Smith. Robbie's most recent offering, I Don't Like It Here, dropped exclusively on Screambox just a few weeks ago and also dropped on my head like an anvil coated in nightmare fuel. The way it sw...

Warning: This episode features discussions about abuse and may be triggering to some. Discretion is advised. This episode I've got Australian filmmaker Lachlan Saille on to chat about his latest film, Albatross. While he might be on horror-heads radar for his restoration work, including New Wave Video's release of the lost 8mm Japanese horror flick, Nighty Night, his own films are a different beas...

This episode features an interview with filmmaker Schnüdlbug aka Chris, who dropped one helluva immersive/incredible animated sci-fi film called "Roach" that I'm still shaking off the reverberations from. Chris and I get into the tapestries of influences that make up this whimsical-yet-unsettling adventure, hopping from "Starship Troopers" to Michael Snow to the doom band OM like they were lily pa...

This episode features an interview with Ben DePaoli, the owner and operator of Iron Fortress Records, as well as Death Relic Merch. Iron Fortress has quickly become one of the most reliable and fresh death metal labels to pop up in the underground. We cover the origins of Iron Fortress, our shared love for metalcore, the current state of death metal, what's on the horizon for the label, his bootle...

This episode features an interview with filmmakers Hazel M. & Mae M., whose directorial debut feature, Divine Hammer, is one of the most original and audacious horror-comedies I've ever seen. A mumble-gore buddy-comedy about two friends bonding while trying to make a snuff film? It's about as bizarre and awe-inducing as you'd hope and these two filmmakers demonstrate exactly why with their inf...

New episode is up and this time I've got Amber T and Naomi Monaghan on to talk about Pink Films! Amber T is a writer and news editor for Fangoria Magazine and Naomi has recently launched an exciting webzine called "Asian Cinema Shine", as well as the PinkCat Podcast (that covers Pink & CAT III films). They've both contributed essays to a number of recent and upcoming Japanese bluray releases,...

This episode features an interview with John Mathews & Maiko Takeda, the owners of New Wave Video, an Asian-focused boutique blu-ray label that's been releasing some of the wildest titles that the underground has long been rallying for. This Australian/Japanese couple gets into the nitty gritty of acquiring these titles, while dropping very subtle hints about what's to come and what it takes t...

WARNING: CONTAINS DISCUSSIONS OF GRAPHIC CONTENT INVOLVING VIOLENCE, GORE, SEXUALITY THAT SOME MAY FIND OFFENSIVE/TRIGGERING This episode features a fascinating chat with extreme underground horror filmmaker, SamHel. Sam is one of the most prolific figures to rise up in this hyper-niche scene with many of his films pushing the envelope for hardcore sexuality and shocking gore. However, upon pickin...

This episode features the return of David Dawson, an Illinois based mumble-gore filmmaker whose penchant for juvenile antics and nuanced storytelling has made his oeuvre uncomfortably relatable... Just Like This Chat! Dawson dives head-first into his neuroses, revealing the body horror of his waking life and his grievances with the US medical system. This sets up his latest offering Zebra Hooves p...

Welcome to Season 4! Our first guest is Toronto-based filmmaker, Kalil Haddad, whose He Never Dies cycle of short films has been bursting brains with their acidic mix of queer themes and transgressive provocations. Often employing techniques of collage to a kaleidoscopic degree, Haddad mines the past with images of vintage gay erotica, morbid reality, and wistful nostalgia. It's a lot to chew on w...

This final episode of Season 3 features an interview with Lucky Cerruti, a NY-based indie horror director whose newest film, Boxcutter, is one doozy of an ambitious feature. Feeling more like an anguish-filled grindhouse drama than a schlocky horror flick, Cerruti has taken a huge leap forward making for a highly compelling chat. We delve into the traumas that inspired the script, his directorial...

Warning: Lots of potty-mouthed humour in this episode. This episode features a chat with Victor Gabriel, indie horror director and head honcho of RFN Pictures. As RFN stands for Reel F**kin' Nightmares, expect a lot of swears and a lot of silly vulgar humour, but also expect a fun chat! Victor's previous film "Blood Gorge" was a retro slasher homage and a gory hoot, but his next feature, "Hellmare...

WARNING: Contains discussions on violence, sexuality, and potentially triggering subject matter. This episode features a discussion on films about Pain with two returning guests, Dr. Ethan Lyon and Jetta Weinstein! We cover Stephen Dwoskin's documentary on various examples of pain, "Pain Is..." (1997); Monika Treut & Elfi Mikesch's fictional tale of S&M power dynamics in "Seduction: The Cr...

This episode features an interview with Balraj Kang, an indie horror filmmaker based out of the UK. We had a fantastic chat about his latest film, The Birdwatcher, as well as diving into his South Asian heritage, his meeting with the Ramsay Brothers, our takes on the state of modern theatre audiences, and so much more. His future projects sound absolutely wild and we really hit it off, so he will...

WARNING: CONTAINS DISCUSSIONS OF POTENTIALLY TRIGGERING OR UPSETTING CONTENT INVOLVING SEXUAL VIOLENCE AND GRAPHIC SEXUALITY This episode sees the return of Dakota Noot and his husband Christopher Velasco, two LA-based artists that have been taking the deepest dive into Japanese pink films. With their podcast, Two in the Pinku, they've been documenting their discoveries, and now Dakota's writings...

This episode features long-time friend of the show, Fred Barrett! Fred is a writer based out of Germany with some of the most fascinating film analysis and he's come on to wax off about Abel Ferrara. I've been a huge fan of Ferrara's earlier moody genre flicks and grindhouse bangers (King of New York, Ms. 45, etc) but I've struggled to get into most of his work post-Bad Lieutenant. Fred and I cove...

This episode features an interview with Philly-based "mumblegore" filmmaker, Brewce Longo! Brewce has been churning out wild horror flicks that have a unique mix of drama and hangout vibes setting them apart. His latest, Vick & Tarstar's Scarecrow Factory, dives even deeper with a meta take on filmmaking that shows both the slimier side and the disappointing side of low-budget productions. We...

Warning: Contains discussions of graphic sexuality and sexual violence. This episode features a lengthy discussion with Weird Alice, a Toronto-based drag queen, filmmaker, and film programmer! Alice will be presenting 3 highly salacious flicks at the Paradise: Wakefield Poole's Bijou (Aug 2), Showgirls (Aug 8), and Castration Movie Pt 1(Aug 31). We dove into her wild experiences programming some o...

WARNING: CONTAINS PROVOCATIVE DISCUSSIONS ON SENSITIVE SUBJECTS, SUCH AS VIOLENCE, RELIGION, POLITICS, AND SEXUALITY.This episode features the return of Daniel Valient from White Gardenia along with frequent collaborator Celeste Henry, aka Blucifer. Both artists operate in the extreme horror underground, with White Gardenia gaining notoriety for their unsimulated acts of self-harm. However, they'r...

This episode features an interview with Ryan Verrill from The Disc-Connected! Well, less an interview and more just a friendly chat between two dudes with similar experiences and passions. Before arriving at some exciting news about upcoming blu-ray releases that Ryan helped to produce, we somehow end up talking about hardcore punk, house shows, politics, and I'm sure lots of other stuff we were e...

This episode features the return of So-Cal Splatter King, Stephen Grischuk! Grischuk is the head honcho of Box Creep films, churning out some of the wackiest lo-fi genre flicks, including his most recent banger: Battle Jacket. Inspired by his love for metal but containing a surprising amount of heavy themes, Grischuk and I had a pretty fascinating chat delving into all of the BTS lore and touching...

This episode features a thorough chat with Brandon Lim, Toronto-based programmer of Black Belt Cinema at the Revue, as well as musician, writer, and designer. Brandon takes us through the Black Belt origin story, from projecting films on a parking lot wall to packing the Revue every month with these fascinating cult gems. We also have a pretty healthy chat about Toronto rep cinemas in general, so...

This episode features a provocative discussion of the underrated Japanese director, Shinji Sōmai. I've got excellent film writer Jerry McGlothlin on to discuss his works and recurring themes. Starting off with his recently restored Typhoon Club, I was drawn to Sōmai's unique and meditative take on the harsh coming-of-age film. Turns out that's a constant mode for him, with other films like P.P. Ri...

This episode features a long-time friend of the pod, Canadian filmmaker Anthony Leroy. Along with his company, Elytra Collective, Leroy has been popping out some of the zaniest and most ambitious SOV horror/comedy shorts I've ever laid my eyes on. After his most recent film, "BUM", scraped my brain with its hilarious antics and surprisingly kaleidoscopic stylization (Tsukamoto anyone?), I just had...

WARNING: This episode contains discussions of disturbing and controversial subject matter, including violence and sexual content. This episode I'm joined by Jeroen Bijil, the host of Horrible Reviews! Jeroen's fascinating YouTube channel has been dishing out prolific videos covering so many types of films, but his bread and butter is DISTURBING MOVIES. He's gained a massive following diving into s...