Grave Discussions

The origin story of Brandon Breyer, aka Brightburn, is not unfamiliar to audiences; the difference lies in the actions of perhaps horror's first great supervillain. In this episode, Barnabas and Samael review the highly anticipated and unique horror production. Will "Brightburn" and its super-evil-boy cement their place in the genre? The wrap-around segments take a mind-altering turn,...

Since the collapse of the Dark Universe, Universal has been hesitant to pursue the classic Monsters once again. This time, however, Blumhouse joins the picture and Leigh Whannell is set to direct a reimagining of "The Invisible Man!" In this episode, Barnabas and Samael go fully transparent by offering their desires, dont-wants, and theories about the newest iteration of a classic horror f...

Artists whose work hinge on the weird, twisted, and wondrous reality of life often appear as social outcasts, and Clive Barker is no different. Once an odd thread in the web of fantasy horror, Clive Barker's willingness to venture into a world of painful sexual desire and gruesome body terror has cultivated an icon. In this episode, Barnabas and Samael examine the cinematic works of Barker, fr...

The horror community is one filled with pride, passion, and unabashed disdain for the genre — sometimes. Perhaps filled with the most ravenous, opinionated fanbase in cinema, horror films have long found ways of dividing the community, and contemporary horror is no different; some fans clamor to exclaim that horror is "dead" and there are no more good movies being made. In this episode, Ba...

The Conjuring-verse just got bigger... and wetter. "The Curse of La Llorona" is the newest ghostly flick produced by the unshakable James Wan, and in this episode Barnabas and Samael deliver their review of the much-anticipated movie. Is 'La Llorona' good enough to warrant tears of joy, or simply leave the audience weeping out of frustration? Also featured are hidden cult classic &...

In 1979, a legendary movie monster was born; now synonymous with excellent sci-fi horror, "Alien" also introduced the world to Ellen Ripley and spawned a wildly successful franchise. In this special episode, Over Under Fair's Dave Roldan and Roger Castillo are resurrected in order to discuss "Alien" for the film's 40th anniversary. With a retrospective lens, the OUF duo, al...

In the famous words of Jud Crandall, "Sometimes... dead is better." Remakes have been looming over the horror community for a long time, and it doesn't get as controversial as Kevin Kölsch and Dennis Widmyer's "Pet Sematary." The tenuous reboot of the 1989 classic and second adaptation of Stephen King's hit novel, "Pet Sematary" has leaven fans as divided as the...

A door that can only be unlocked with the key of imagination and the distinct, creepy voice of The Narrator - such things can only be found in... the Twilight Zone! Over half a century after the original phenomenon that was "The Twilight Zone" dazzled audiences, Jordan Peele returns with his take on the classic series, and Barnabas and Samael review the debut episodes "The Comedian&#34...

With the release of one of the most anticipated horror films of the year, Jordan Peele's "Us" emerges as divisive as its characters. In this episode, Barnabas and Samael review the sophomore feature by the Oscar-winning director and comedian, analyzing the film's themes and technical achievements. Will "Us" cement its place in horror history or simply serve as a reflection...

It is perhaps the most iconic and prolific horror franchise in the world, spear-headed by the genre's poster boy for death and destruction: Jason Voorhees. Friday the 13th has taken the world by storm, due in no small part to the proverbial mommy's boy, but the mythology of Jason changed much over the years. Barnabas and Samael remove the putrified hockey mask and reflect on Jason's ev...

"It's your old pal, the Crypt Keeper!" or "Hello, darling. It's me, Elvira, Mistress of the Dark!" Such introductions immediately drew horror fans in for a spooky good time every week, itching to see their favorite hosts and whatever tale of terror that followed. At one time, horror hosts were immensely popular in the world of entertainment, and at others not so much. Now,...

Horror films can scare, scar, and shock, but the world's original tales of terror come from legend and mythology. In A24's newest pick-up "The Hole in the Ground," an Irish folk tale threatens to come a lot closer to home than protagonist Sarah could ever imagine, and Barnabas and Samael have their exclusive review of the film! Also, this week's Cult Corner features a nostalgic...

The Oscars have long been the grandest filmmaking award ceremonies for the upper crust of Hollywood, but not always the most inclusive. Since the inception of the Academy Awards, horror films have been largely overshadowed, but does the recent resurgence of the genre signal a shift into visibility? In this episode, Barnabas and Samael assume an outside perspective on horror's history at the ev...

Love is in the air! Or is that the smell of delinquent teenage blood? No matter which way you slice them, people can't seem to stop falling in love in horror films, for better or worse. Barnabas and Samael return from their lonely graves to bring you this special Valentine's Day-themed episode in which they review "Happy Death Day 2U," an innovative sequel to a unique slasher movie...

We would do anything for our children, right? Even if they wanted to harm us? The horror films featured in this episode - covering perhaps the most personal type of horror - ask that very question, but the answers may not be what you expect. The killer kid subgenre sees a renewal this year with the release of "The Prodigy," which Barnabas and Samael are apt to review. Rounding out the disc...

The genius of Wes Craven's "Scream" captivated audiences, critics, and filmmakers alike, leading to a memorable era of horror. Unfortunately, that era was slashed short, but what really led to its decline? In this episode, Barnabas and Samael channel their childhoods for #90shorrorweek and explore the dying days of the self-aware late 90s horror boom and the factors that caused it to f...

 In the most variable and insane genre in cinema, every role is crucial when crafting a cinematic tale of terror. None, however, is perhaps more crucial than that of the director; following in the footsteps of legends such as Wes Craven, John Carpenter, and Stuart Gordon, modern-day horror directors have pretty big shoes to fill. This episode features an in-depth discussion on the very men and wom...

You know the theme song, you know the suits, and most importantly... you know not to cross the streams! "Ghostbusters" has become one of the most beloved and revered franchises in film, and despite not being horror in the classic sense, the paranormal hijinks of New York's premiere spectral entrapment service are still well-regarded in the horror community. With the announcement of &#3...

After a banner year for the horror genre in 2018, this year promises to deliver even more scares and mind-melting terror! With the arrival of original films such as "Us" and "Piercing" to adaptations, reboots, and sequels like "It: Chapter 2" and "Child's Play," there will be no shortage of horror in 2019, but will the quality hold up? In this episode, Barnabas...

The new year has already given horror fans a box-office hit in the form of "Escape Room", a fun but eerily familiar genre thriller. Barnabas and Samael ring in 2019 by asking a very important question: do the sales numbers reflect the quality of this puzzle-filled terror flick? This episode features our exclusive review of Adam Robitel's junior effort as well as discussions on "New...

The year may be over, but the horror will never be forgotten. From the incredible stories of Hereditary and Mandy to the year's greatest disappointments, the genre was nothing short of exciting. But which films were the best of the best? Barnabas and Samuel wrap up 2018 with their lists of the ten best horror films of the year!   2018 was also the beginning of Grave Discussions, but not the en...

They've made their lists and checked them twice, and this holiday season the movies are full of fright! Have yourself a gory little Christmas with Barnabas and Samael - your jolly ghosts love holiday horror, can't you tell? This special holiday episode is filled to the brim with spooky slasher classics set in the snow and terrifying Christmas-themed monsters. Tune in now for a discussion o...

"Jaws isn't a horror movie," or "Hereditary was more of a family drama!" Here's the best: "It was really more of a thriller..." We've heard it all before. Despite unanimous consensus, some films seem to straddle the line of horror and "anything else." In this episode, Barnabas and Samael strip the surface labels away and examine what actually makes somet...

In Hollywood's latest installment of its "young American girl gets possessed by a demon" franchise, "The Possession of Hannah Grace" attempts to stand out among the horrid masses. Barnabas and Samael dissect the new supernatural flick in this week's episode; will the film - led by a composed Shay Mitchell - bring the scares or rot forever on the slab? Also featured is an ex...