Neon Brainiacs (A Retro Horror Movie Podcast)

Get ready to do it by the book, maniacs, because the final installment in our holiday spectacular is Halloween 4: The Return Of Michael Myers from 1988! As we discuss the first franchise appearance of Jamie Lloyd, we also discuss keeping kitchen utensils in the attic, stranger danger, and cars with gas tanks behind the license plate.

Gather round, caterpuppies, because we're continuing our Halloween countdown with the Nickelodeon movie in disguise, House II: The Second Story! As we try to figure out how this kid-friendly movie slipped into our programming, we discuss topics such as hockey hair, Nickelback memes, Muppet Babies, and this film's many connections to the Friday The 13th franchise.

Grab your magic kits, maniacs, because our Halloween spectacular continues with the 1982 snoozefest Trick Or Treats! This cheap slasher clone has us bringing up many tangents, including paper Halloween decorations, hidden punk artifacts, and "junior" cartoons of popular properties.

Grab your costume, nutcakes, because week two of our Halloween extravaganza finds us tackling the 1988 shot-on-video flick Hollow Gate! How bad can it be? As we find out, we also discuss topics such as character's obsessions with sandwiches, debates about candy, and GOOD GOD BOBBING FOR APPLES IS BACK AGAIN. GROSS.

It's the most wonderful time of the year, maniacs! We kick off five weeks of Halloween-themed horror flicks with the 1981 TV movie Dark Night Of The Scarecrow! While we voice our disdain for the game of bobbing for apples, we also discuss topics such as garden gnome gardens, weird southern lingo, and flapjacks. Lots of flapjacks.

Grab your jester masks and fix your tractors, maniacs, because we're wrapping up our Back To School trilogy with the 1986 English slasher Slaughter High! This one's got gnarly effects but not much else. While we dissect the nasty kills, we also discuss topics such as terrifying tour stories, horror Fatheads, how to conceal a British accent, and once again the "free drugs" myth rears its ugly head!

Class Clowning 101 is in session this week, maniacs, because we're continuing our Back To School trilogy with the 1981 slasher parody Student Bodies! Topics include horse head bookends, sad Big Bird, and plenty of Seinfeld tangents for all.

Grab a glass of Nilbog milk, maniacs, because we've got a bonus live episode with actor/dentist George Hardy of Troll 2! We conducted a Q&A with George last night before a rowdy sold out screening of the film at Pittsburgh's own Row House Cinema and were able to capture it in all its wild glory. We talk about his life after Troll 2, his cult actor status, upcoming project he has in the wings, and...

Take your seats, maniacs, because this week we're kicking off our Back To School trilogy! And what better way to start than talking about 1981's Night School? While we dissect this American giallo flick, we also discuss topics such as using the newspaper to find things to do around town, generic Kelsey Grammer, and Slimer's butt.

It's our two year anniversary, maniacs, and you know we've gotta get local! So to celebrate this new milestone we're tackling the locally filmed George Romero/Stephen King collaboration Creepshow from 1982! Topics include music references, Bob Newhart and Ben finally makes a Simpsons reference.

The sun's almost rising on our Vampire Weekend trilogy, maniacs, so that means we're closing it out with 1987's Near Dark! Our pal Brian from Start The Beat With Sikes joins us to discuss this cult horror flick. While we dissect all of Bill Paxton's amazing one-liners, we also talk about sick roller coasters, train math, a lengthy history lesson on King's Island, and ways to tell if your Sweetwate...

Lock your doors and windows tight, maniacs, because week two of Vampire Weekend brings us 1985's Fright Night! This is one of Ben's favorites so strap in. We'll talk about booking William Ragsdale when Crispin Glover isn't available, driving stories, and Chris Sarandon's A+ sweater game.

This theme sucks, maniacs! We're kicking off our Vampire Weekend trilogy with some returning guests, Sarah and Amanda from Ghoul On Ghoul, to discuss the Larry Cohen-directed sequel A Return To Salem's Lot from 1987. Topics include Canadian lingo and rituals, blood cake, and the darkness of child weddings.

We want our two dollars, maniacs, because we're celebrating our 100th episode! And to kick off the party, we're breaking format and talking about Gregg's favorite movie of all time, Better Off Dead! Returning to the show is Ben's film partner Blake, who watched this movie for the first time the night before we recorded. Topics include loose cereal, Ben's career as a paperboy, and weirdly sexual fo...

Stop by the Cut-Rite and grab yourself a few chainsaws, maniacs, because we're closing out Savini Splatter Fest by going down south to the Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2! We're joined by our good pal and VHS collector Josh (@joshgoestohell) to dissect this one. While we tend to our achin' bananas, we also discuss fake southern restaurants, Dennis Hopper's secret to acting drunk, and get a good dose of...

Let's go ape, maniacs, because this week we continue Savini Splatter Fest with the locally filmed George Romero flick Monkey Shines from 1988! While we tell you where some of these filming locations are, we also discuss side butt, economy cars of the past and present, and the origin of the Big Mac.

You're in luck, maniacs, because this week we're talking about you! Sort of. We kick off week 2 of Savini Splatter Fest with the 1980 film Maniac! As we follow Joe Spinell around the Big Apple, we share a story about Gregg's parents, our opinions on continental breakfasts, and was Frank Zito a prototype of Matt Foley? Tune in to find out!

Hope you're ready for the graduation dance, maniacs, because this week kicks off a new theme celebrating a local legend... Savini Splatter Fest! We begin with the 1981 Joseph Zito piece The Prowler! Tom Savini considers this his best work so strap in. Topics include cursive writing, fire hazards and poor bathroom etiquette.

Time to cure that undead appetite, maniacs, because this week we're talking about the locally filmed Flesh Eater from 1988! Joining us as our first three-time guest is Ryan from BPO Films! The three of us get super regional with our discussed topics: Beaver county, yinzer accents, Iron City beer, and Foodland.

Grab some fritters and your favorite critters, maniacs, because we're wrapping up Vicious Vacation with Farmer Vincent and the gang in the 1980 cult classic Motel Hell! While we wait to get to the exciting conclusion of this movie, we talk about subjects such as 8-track players, eating Pee-Wee Herman's suit, and whether or not we would put ketchup on chicken.

Grab your rifle and plenty of ammo, maniacs, because we're going on a hunting trip for week 3 of Vicious Vacations as we discuss the 1986 backwoods redneck slasher Hunter's Blood! Lots of really great actors in this one like Clu Gulager, Bruce Glover and even Billy Bob Thornton. As we try to dodge murderous hill people, we also discuss gender role reversals, Ren & Stimpy euphemisms, and all of the...

It's time to check in, maniacs, because week two of our Vicious Vacations theme brings us 1983's Mountaintop Motel Massacre! This one's not great so we go on some wild tangents about Mike Lange catchphrases, Chingy, Alan Jackson, free sacks, and what the phrase "lemme get my shoes" really means.

Pack up the car and bring plenty of sunscreen because we're kicking off our Vicious Vacations theme with a trip to Blood Beach from 1980! Topics include weird food, Pure Moods, and the many ways we can make this movie better. Check out our bumper up front for details on our next live event!

Get ready to wheeze some juice this week, maniacs, because we're wrapping up Before They Were Famous with the early Pauly Shore vehicle Phantom Of The Mall: Eric's Revenge! The Sherman Oaks Mall makes an illustrious comeback in this modern Phantom Of The Opera adaptation. We discuss our own mall memories, toy stores of our youths, and Ninja Turtle living situations. This episode is sponsored by Ho...

It's senior skip day, maniacs, so let's keep Before They Were Stars rolling and talk some Brad Pitt in the 1989 high school slasher Cutting Class! This one's also got the fantastic Jill Schoelen returning to our show as well as Martin Mull. Topics include flappy T-shirts, getting outwienered, and Scream as written and directed by Tommy Wiseau. This episode is sponsored by House Of Mysterious Secre...