At The Devils Ball

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!

This week, the guys wrap up Romero's Zombie work with DAY OF THE DEAD! The real one! With special guest Jeff Baldree, we break down the more philosophical themes at the heart of the film, the decline of civilization, and sympathy for the dead.

The guys celebrate four years as a podcast! Joined by filmmakers Henrique Couto and Michelle Nessk, the guys talk the persistence and popularity of the zombie movie genre and the overall influence and importance of the late George Romero.

The guys roll on with George Romero's Living Dead series with DAWN OF THE DEAD, one of the all-time great zombie films. Topics include the greatness that is Ken Foree, consumerism, and how much the guys don't think much of Flyboy. Anniversary month continues!

The guys begin their anniversary month with NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD(1968), aiming to discuss the films undeniable culture impact. Topics include political authority, racial tension, and how it's Sammaeal's favorite film ever. Thank you to all of you who have listened to the show for four years!

The guys wrap up a brief transitional interlude into HELLRAISER territory with the spirited yet uneven DEADER. Topics include great scenes, awkward story edits, and an appreciation for director Rick Bota.

The guys continue down the road to hell with the first of the direct-to-video entries of the HELLRAISER franchise with INFERNO, a divisive religious horror/film noir mashup featuring some good ideas and a lot of heart, but no budget and an awkward execution. Come listen Sammaeal and Nathaniel debate this weird little movie!

This week, in a roughly made transitional episode, the guys discuss HELLRAISER 3, a weird transitional movie where underground UK counter-culture artists move into the world of corporate studio filmmaking and generally make a mess of things. Topics include queer subtext, corporate shenanigans and whether or not the film is somewhat designed as a protest of the mainstream by outsider artists.

For our last "Party Like It's 1999" episode, we cover the groundbreaking film THE MATRIX. Discussion topics include The Hero's Journey, the greatness of Laurence Fishburne, and the film being an encapsulation of 20th century cinema.

This week, the guys are joined by special guest Matt Blazi, author of the book "8 Days in the Woods: The Making of The Blair Witch Project" and founder of the Blair Witch Experience tour, to discuss...you guessed it, THE BLAIR WITCH PROJECT. We discuss the film, fan tours, and giving back to the community as we continue "Party like it's 1999."

For our 200th(!) episode, we go back to where we started and discuss the original Nightmare, discussing the films socio-political themes, the series as a whole, and the films enduring legacy, while celebrating 200 episodes of recording together. Thank you to those who listen to us, we love you!

We're seeing some dead folks this week in our next "party like it's 1999" offering, discussing the greatness that is Toni Collette, moody and melancholic tones, and trying to unravel the universal mystery that is M Night Shyalaman. So eat your pine scented soup, gather up your religious icons and come listen to us talk spooky!