Neon Brainiacs (A Retro Horror Movie Podcast)

We're shocking the monkey over our Halfway To Halloween theme this week, maniacs, as we dive into the 1988 deep cut Primal Rage! A virus overwhelms a college campus, turning students and faculty into bloodthirsty monsters. What could go wrong!? Topics include tug of war games at college, the Hunter Thompson obsession of post-adolescent males, the weird music used in the film, urinating on your fri...

We're going double CHUD this week, maniacs, and following up last week's episode with its 1989 sequel, C.H.U.D II: Bud The Chud! Joining us to talk about the movie is the director of the new Anti-Flag documentary Beyond Barricades, Jon Nix! As we make our way through this late 80s horror comedy, we also discuss topics such as the film's stellar cast, carpeted bathrooms, and can you be a boomer if...

We're headed underground this week, maniacs, as we dive into the NYC-based monster movie C.H.U.D from 1984! Joining us to chat about the film is video game reviewer William Lowery. As we talk about this movie's killer cast, we also discuss topics such as being a Juggalo, fictitious government agencies, and this film's unintentional Jonathan Silverman cameo.

We love getting around, maniacs, and today we're finally getting to an entry in the Poltergeist series with Poltergeist II: The Other Side from 1986! Joining us to discuss the film is local Pittsburgh comedian and one of our co-workers, Terry Jones! While we do our best Reverend Kane impressions, we also discuss topics such as eel sandwiches, prank Playskool phone calls, and our favorite Reverend...

Grab your electric carving knives, maniacs, because this week we're diving into the 1981 Andrzej Zulawski film Possession! Returning to the show to join is is Dawson Kiser, vocalist of the band Porcupine, who just released a great record on New Morality Zine called The Sybil. While we compare the different cuts of the film we watched, we also discuss topics such as trashing a TGI Friday's, banana...

This episode is exactly what you think it is, maniacs! This week we're putting together Pieces from 1982, and to help us discuss this very normal movie is Ben and Steve from the Dead And Lovely podcast! While we dissect the plot of the film, we also discuss topics such as what you should and shouldn't do on waterbeds, riveting tennis matches, and the burning question: is Pieces a giallo parody?

We're headed back to Camp Forest Green this week, maniacs, as we dig into one of the more revered entries in the saga of Jason Voorhees with Friday The 13th Part VI! As we rank our portrayals of Tommy Jarvis and talk a lot of behind the scenes factoids on this one, we also discuss topics such as beanbag chairs filled with popcorn, weird names for everyday items, and an extensive analysis of our jo...

Women In Horror Month comes to an end with quite a controversial entry, the 1980 creature feature Humanoids From The Deep, directed by Barbara Peeters. Joining us to discuss this one is actor/director Rebecca Rinehart! As we unpack some of the more unsavory plot points and factoids of this one, we also discuss topics such as booger trails, jump scares from dirty dishes, and ventriloquism foreplay.

Week 3 of Women In Horror Month continues with Roberta Findlay's 1988 satanic panic deep-cut Prime Evil, and joining us to talk about it is actor Alyss Winkler! As we all watch this movie for the first time, we also discuss topics such as cool necklaces, interesting workout routines, and how phones work in 1988.

It's time to get radioactive, maniacs! We continue Women In Horror Month by talking about Jackie Kong's 1983 monster movie The Being, and joining us to chat about the film is Katey from the I Hope You Suffer Podcast! While we discuss our first Idaho-set feature, we also talk about topics such as car ID numbers, the amount of horrible children in the film, and arson for Jesus.

Rock and roll will never die, maniacs! We kick off Women In Horror Month with Slumber Party Massacre II, and returning to the show to talk about it with us is writer Breanna Whipple! While we discuss the origin story of this sequel, we also talk about topics such as Kettle Chips and their evergreen packaging, this movie's influence on a specific episode of Full House, and more about the history of...

It's a boy, maniacs! We're tackling our annual entry on everyone's favorite burned baddie, Freddy Krueger, and talking A Nightmare On Elm Street 5: The Dream Child! While we reflect on the Springwood Slasher, we also discuss topics such as the definition of Green Apple Quick Step, kid jargon, and the regional nature of the term "pop stand".

We'll give you the entire axe, maniacs, but you'll only need the edge! We're talking about the 1988 Spanish/English slasher flick Edge Of The Axe. While the axe comes down, we also discuss topics such as the hate for technology held by some of the film's characters, hot Coca-Cola, and stealing Wendy's coupons from dead people.

We're coming at you in 3-D this week, maniacs, as we discuss the recent Vinegar Syndrome release Silent Madness from 1984! As we discuss all three dimensions in this film, we also discuss topics such as Dragon's Lair, the Howard Johnson hotel chain, and mixing Coca Cola and cereal.

We're starting this brand new year in flight, maniacs, as we discuss 1988's oft-forgotten sequel Fright Night Part II! As we revisit Charley Brewster and Peter Vincent, we also talk about topics such as symphony ticket scalpers, speed reading and Jon Gries' proclivity for playing a werewolf.

It's a miracle, maniacs! After an extensive hiatus, Action Movie Sunday makes its (semi-regular) return, and this time we're talking another buddy cop movie, the very funny Billy Crystal and Gregory Hines vehicle Running Scared from 1986. As we maneuver our way through Chicago's landscape, we discuss topics like NFL allegiances, rude kids, and recognizable horror locations.

It's the end of 2020 and we say "snow" long to this weird year by talking the obscure Canadian New Year's film Ghostkeeper from 1982! While we opine about some of the things we enjoyed about the year, we also discuss some topics such as Ski-Doo products, Mr. Rogers, and this movie's similarities to a certain Stephen King story.

Let's grab a snack after midnight, maniacs, and wrap up our holiday season with 1984's Joe Dante classic Gremlins! Joining us is returning international guest Darren Hall to shed some light on the film's release in the UK. As we chat about this flick, we also discuss topics such as the origins of Gizmo's appearance, how much juice is in an American orange, and classic gremlin catch phrases.

"Je suis la jeune fille", maniacs! This week we're going international with 1989's home invasion thriller Dial Code Santa Claus and we're joined to talk about this one with five-time guests Sarah and Amanda from the Ghoul On Ghoul podcast! While we unpack the similarities this has to 1990's Home Alone, we also discuss topics such as cooking with Mountain Dew, mockups of famous 80s montage songs, a...

Week two of our Christmas horror theme this month brings good tidings, maniacs, as we continue with a real obscure one, 1989's Family Reunion! As we try to find nice things to say about this deep cut, we also discuss topics such as the cross-section of professional baseball players and actors in this film, South Park shop teachers, and Highlights magazine.

Do you hear those "slay" bells, maniacs? Must be another block of Christmas-themed horror this month on the show! We're starting off with a pretty bizarre selection, 1983's samurai ghost film Blood Beat. While we dissect this slice of Wisconsin horror history, we also discuss topics such as deer jerky, tiny televisions and all the mystical boinging going on in the movie.

Do not entry, maniacs, because this week concludes our Rock & Shock theme for November and we are closing it out with a doozy. End guitarist & owner of Silver Bullet Studios Greg Thomas joins us to talk about Lucio Fulci's 1981 classic The Beyond! While we talk about the legendary effects in this film, we also discuss topics such as deadly Gogurt, Pita Pit, and the infamous spiders in the very gro...

We're busting out of our cages this week, maniacs, as we continue our Rock & Shock theme for November with the infamous Nic Cage film Vampire's Kiss! We're joined by friend of the show and Some Faith vocalist Indigo Baloch to unpack all the wild stories of how this movie was made. While we wait for our imported Mexican bats to arrive, we also discuss topics such as air piano players, Bagel Buffet...

Get ready to bark at the moon this week, maniacs, because week two of Rock & Shock month brings us 1981's The Howling with returning guest Michael Kent from the Toxic Schlock podcast! While we finally delve into the work of Joe Dante, we also discuss topics such as the Geico caveman, Clint Eastwood's reimagining of Dawson's Creek, and the oeuvre of our lord and savior Dennis Dugan.

Get ready for a ballroom blitz this week, maniacs, because we're starting our Rock & Shock theme for this month with another Jon Mikl Thor joint: 1987's Zombie Nightmare! We're joined to talk this weird cult flick by Tim from the Horror Flicks & Guitar Picks podcast. While we gawk at this movie's wild soundtrack, we also discuss topics such as uneven baseball scoreboards, the newspaper, and the ma...