At The Devils Ball

This week, the guys continue their "Farewell, David Lynch" month with 1980's The Elephant Man, with conversations on emotional maturity, social justice allegories, the understated performances, and generally enjoying this beautiful and powerful film.

This week, we begin our memorializing of the late, great David Lynch with a conversation on TWIN PEAKS. Focusing on the pilot episode and part 8 of The Return, we talk strange visuals, the bucking of television conventions, and the decay of the American Dream while celebrating our favorite filmmaker.

Revenge of the Vampire Month concludes with the modernist FRIGHT NIGHT, which features two all time great performances: Chris Sarandon and Roddy McDowall. We discuss those performances, queer coding and the vampire film, underrated special effects, and how this film feels very Amblin despite not being Amblin. Come hear us enthuse about this incredible film!

Revenge of the Vampire Month continues with George A Romero's "Martin," a strange, melancholy little film. Along with special guest Eric Kent of The GARF 247 podcast, we discuss topics like urban decay, sympathy for harmful individuals and, of course, vampires.

Revenge of the Vampire Month continues with the surreal and dreamlike 1979 lesbian vampire film FASCINATION. Joined by special guest Scott Davis, we talk filmmaker Jean Rollin, class issues, and the film's place in the vast mythology of vampire cinema.

Revenge of the Vampire Month begins! Our third month of Vampire shenanigans begins with the moody 1936 sequel to DRACULA: DRACULA'S DAUGHTER, a surprisingly queer-coded film that struggles against the Hayes Code at every opportunity. We discuss that queer-coding, our enjoyment of the characters, and how the "hero" may be the worst psychiatrist ever.

This week, it's Flanamania 3 as we do our tradition of watching a Mike Flanagan miniseries for our New Years special. Along with our regular Flanamania guests (Emily Fabrizio, Maggie S and Jamie Alvey}, we discuss monologues, faith and, of course, vampires in our examination of Midnight Mass!

This week, in our final Happy Holi-Slays episode, we do something a little different: covering a Mystery Science Theater 3000 episode. With special guest Jenn Rich-Hartle, we cover Mike and the Bots covering the 1959 nightmare inducing Santa Claus, and we try to make sense of...everything. Happy Holi-Slays from us!

Another Happy Holi-Slays outing, with the guys discussing the occasionally confounding but gorily whacked out INSIDE, an entry into the french extreme movement and outside-the-box holiday choice. We talk a lot about the purpose of gore, post-modern slasher tropes, and overall narrative choices as we try to understand and appreciate this extremely intense little film.

This week, the guys celebrate the holidays with their first special. Joined by podcasters Maggie S (Insane Troll Logic) and Sarah Sinn (Sinnful Sarah's Horror Menagerie), they talk the strange but effective CHRISTMAS EVIL, focusing on themes of mental health, moral relativism and childhood trauma...and, of course, exploding eyeballs. Happy Holi-Slays from At The Devil's Ball!

This week, the guys tackle Spanish-Italian co-production The Day of the Beast, a wild and wacky apocalypse film that takes place on Christmas Eve. We gush about the greatness of Jose Maria, the film's sense of humor, physical media and whether or not most of the film is just an acid trip. Happy Holi-slays continues!

Happy Holli-Slays kicks off with the oddball french language killer-santa film DEADLY GAMES. The guys discuss the excellent performances, tonal shifts, and have thoughts about capitalism. So grab your elderly grand-dads and come play hide-and-seek with us!

This week, the guys wrap up THE SAW IS FAMILY talking Thanksgiving movies and the generally unpopular fourth installment of the Texas Chainsaw Massacre series. We discuss impressionistic performance choices, awkward plot points, and how this film is essentially what would happen if John Waters made a Texas Chainsaw film, all while trying to answer the age-old question: is this film really  as bad...

We like liver, and onions, and pain, pain, pain this week when we continue THE SAW IS FAMILY month with the third installment of the TCM franchise. We discuss the pros and cons of this hastily made troubled production, talking story padding, out-of-place characters and Viggo Mortensen.

This week, the guys and special guest Scott Davis get depressing as we discuss election results and the passing of Tony Todd before cheering up and discussing the darkly funny Texas Chainsaw Massacre part two. Topics include the films sense of humor, 80's commercialism, Dennis Hopper, and if Stretch is a "final girl."

This week, we begin our coverage of the early installments of the Texas Chainsaw Massacre series, beginning with Tober Hooper's original. We talk the intensity of the original film, the line between conventional storytelling and reality, and if the film should be compared with PSYCHO. The Saw is Family!

For this year's annual Halloween special, the guys discuss a All Hallow's Eve tradition: the watching of The Paul Lynde Halloween Special! Along with special guests Jenn Rich-Hartle, Mary Steadman and Leigh of the "Actual Leigh" podcast, we talk puns, witches, and KISS...all the staples of 70's variety show nonsense. Please enjoy and, of course, Happy Halloween!

The last of our Halloween month entries, we discuss the 2009 update of the NIGHT OF THE DEMONS franchise, with topics including problematic stars, halloween parties, and how the film feels weirdly wholesome about being edgy. No costume, No Candy!

Halloween month continues with the visually striking LADY IN WHITE, a combination of A Christmas Story and James Whale Universal films (and a little Giallo), and a Coming-of-Age film. We talk visual motifs, memoir tropes, and gush over quiet american decency. It's a lovely film, go check it out and give us a listen!

Halloween celebrations continue with the 2006 animated film MONSTER HOUSE, a strange combination of uplifting coming-of-age tropes and vaguely mean-spirited cynicism. We discuss the perfect pacing, heartwarming humor and general social ills, all while enjoying this offbeat little film.

We begin our Halloween season offerings with an offbeat choice: Don Coscarelli's early coming-of-age comedy KENNY & COMPANY, featuring cast and crew from horror cult classic PHANTASM. We discuss child safety, mortality, and, of course, Halloween shenanigans.

Guest choice wraps up with special guest Kelly Ahern and her choice CABIN FEVER. With her help, we discuss the way comedy can provide safety against the truly horrific, the nihilistic horror of the film, authority figures in film, and pancakes.

Guest choice month rolls on with DARKNESS, a weird little film chosen by special guest Janice Pratt! With Janice, we try to unravel the film with topics such as strong tropes, assured direction and some constructive views on how the film could have been stronger. So go smash open your living room and monologue at your grand-daughter and enjoy the conversation on DARKNESS!

Guest choice month rolls on with THE DARK TOWER! Jenn Rich-Hartle joins us once again as a last minute substitute guest to discuss the film and it's various ups and downs, with topics ranging from the strong casting of the film, the value of adaptations, and whether or not time has been kind to the generally lukewarm audience response to the film.

This week, the guys begin guest choice/movie only you like month with HOUSE OF WAX (05), chosen by special guest Nastassia. We discuss trendy stunt casting, twin symbolism, and generally have fun with how insane the film is (especially when it's trying to be taken seriously). So come listen to us talk melting houses and 00's celebrity culture!