Retro Blood

Join James Kline and J.H. Alison as Retro Blood wraps up its third annual It Came From Outer Space Month with one of the greatest sequels ever made—Aliens (1986). This week, we go all in on James Cameron's sci-fi action horror masterpiece, comparing it to Ridley Scott's Alien and debating which film deserves the top spot. We discuss how Cameron transformed the franchise from slow-burn horror into...

Join James Kline and J.H. Alison as Retro Blood continues its third annual It Came From Outer Space Month with one of the strangest and most infamous British sci-fi horror films of the early '80s—Inseminoid (also known as Horror Planet). We kick things off with our quick thoughts on the movie and compare it to the previous films we've covered this month, discussing where it ranks among the many Al...

Join James Kline and J.H. Alison as Retro Blood continues its third annual It Came From Outer Space Month with another wild Roger Corman-produced sci-fi horror classic, Forbidden World (1982). This week we take a deep dive into the fascinating history behind one of the most notorious Alien-inspired films of the early '80s. We discuss the relationship between Roger Corman and director Allan Holzman...

Join James Kline and J.H. Alison as Retro Blood kicks off its third annual It Came From Outer Space Month with one of the wildest sci-fi horror movies of the 1980s—Galaxy of Terror. We start the show with our quick thoughts on the film, discussing its bizarre mix of science fiction, horror, and pure exploitation madness. From there, we dive deep into the making of the movie, covering legendary pro...

Join James Kline and J.H. Alison as Retro Blood wraps up our 1980s Killer School Horror Movies month with the athletic slasher Fatal Games. We kick things off with quick thoughts on the movie and how it compares to Graduation Day. We discuss the difference between early-'80s slashers and the more polished films that would dominate later in the decade, and why Fatal Games feels like a perfect bridg...

Join James Kline on a rare solo episode of Retro Blood while J.H. Alison is away, as we continue 1980s Killer School Horror Month with the radioactive Troma cult classic Class of Nuke 'Em High. James dives into the wild world of mid-’80s punk culture, MTV, and how Hollywood portrayed punk rockers during this era. Even though this style of movie normally isn’t his thing, he talks about why the film...

Join James Kline and J.H. Alison as Retro Blood continues James Kline’s Birthday Month Picks and our month of 1980s Killer School Horror Movies with the strange meta-slasher Return to Horror High—also known in some places as Scream. We kick things off by talking about how ahead of its time this movie really was, feeling almost like a prototype for Scream 2 years before meta horror became mainstrea...

Join James Kline and J.H. Alison as Retro Blood kicks off James Kline’s Birthday Month Picks with a brand-new theme—1980s Killer School Horror Movies. First up is the cult slasher favorite Slaughter High. We start things off with quick thoughts on the movie and why this is the perfect late-night party horror film—packed with goofy characters, wild kills, and pure VHS slasher energy. In our Weekly...

Join James Kline and J.H. Alison as Retro Blood continues J.H. Alison’s Birthday Month Picks with another wild and sleazy entry from Ulli Lommel—the erotic thriller Olivia (aka Double Jeopardy). We kick things off with quick thoughts on the film’s heavy softcore erotic elements, the tone, and how this one blends psychological thriller with exploitation-style storytelling. In our History Segment, w...

Join James Kline and J.H. Alison as Retro Blood continues J.H. Alison’s Birthday Month Picks with another wild entry from Ulli Lommel—the gritty, low-budget slasher Overkill. We kick things off with quick thoughts on the movie and its chaotic tone before stepping out of the ’80s for a special segment covering WrestleMania 42 Saturday. The guys break down Night 1, discuss the matches and storylines...

H. Alison’s Birthday Month Picks continue as Retro Blood dives into another strange entry from Ulli Lommel with the psychological horror oddity Brainwaves. We kick things off with quick thoughts on the movie, including its unsettling tone, the mysterious markings on the arms, and the overall low-budget, experimental feel that gives this one a unique edge. In our Weekly History Segment, we rewind t...

Retro Blood 233: The Devonsville Terror (1983) 🔮🩸 Join James Kline and J.H. Alison as Retro Blood dives into small-town witchcraft horror with The Devonsville Terror—and kicks off J.H. Alison’s Birthday Month Picks! 🎉 We start with quick thoughts on the film’s eerie, slow-burn atmosphere and folk horror vibes. In our Weekly History Segment, we talk the wild story of Stampede Wrestling and the i...

Join James Kline and J.H. Alison as Retro Blood wraps up Evil Spirit Month with the eerie dream-horror cult film The Slayer. We kick things off with quick thoughts—Alison defends the movie’s atmosphere and slow-burn tension, while James struggles to stay awake and questions the pacing. Then it’s time for our Weekly History Segment, rewinding to October 1, 1982. In metal, we talk KISS and their hea...

Join James Kline and J.H. Alison as Retro Blood continues Evil Spirit Month, diving into the ABC made-for-TV chiller Haunted by Her Past (aka Secret Passion). We kick things off with a fun discussion on soap operas—why we’re not exactly the target audience, but still respect the grind and talent behind them. Then we jump into our Weekly History Segment, looking at October 1987. James breaks down t...

Join James Kline and J.H. Alison as Retro Blood continues Evil Spirit Month with the revenge-fueled VHS cult oddity Necromancer. We kick things off with our quick thoughts on the film, discussing the late-’80s wave of revenge horror and the role of Elizabeth Kaitan. The guys also debate how this movie might have been even crazier if it had someone like Christopher Walken playing the mysterious nec...

Join James Kline and J.H. Alison as Retro Blood continues Evil Spirit Month, exploring supernatural horror from the ’80s and ’90s. This week we move on to the strange and often overlooked sequel Witchboard 2: The Devil's Doorway, the follow-up to Witchboard. We kick things off with some quick first impressions, including a lot of discussion about Ami Dolenz (Paige) and her very early-’90s “Valley...

Join James Kline and J.H. Alison as Retro Blood kicks off a brand-new theme for March Madness — our first-ever Evil Spirit Horror Month. And what better way to start than by lighting some candles, placing your fingers on the planchette, and diving into Witchboard? We open with quick first thoughts, with James showing love for writer/director Kevin Tenney and his ability to turn a simple Ouija-boar...

Join James Kline and J.H. Alison as Retro Blood wraps up its third annual 1980s/1990s Vampire Month with a huge deep dive into Bram Stoker's Dracula, directed by Francis Ford Coppola. This week, we go all in on Coppola’s lavish and operatic vision of the Prince of Darkness. We break down how the film has aged, the bold gothic style, the rich costume and set design, and the decision to use old-scho...

Join James Kline and J.H. Alison as Retro Blood continues its third annual 1980s Vampire Month, sinking its teeth into one of the strangest and most chaotic vampire sequels of the decade — Nosferatu in Venice. This week, we take on the unofficial Italian sequel to Nosferatu the Vampyre, bringing Klaus Kinski’s Count back from the grave and dropping him into the crumbling canals of Venice. We kick...

Join James Kline and J.H. Alison as Retro Blood continues its third annual 1980s Vampire Month, digging into vampire films from the decade—plus one very special bloodsucker that helped shape the crossover between horror and anime. This week, the boys step into the dark, haunting world of Japanese anime, with a deep dive into the Vampire Princess Miyu OVA (1989). We kick things off with a big discu...

Join James Kline and J.H. Alison as Retro Blood kicks off its third annual 1980s Vampire Month, spotlighting vampire films from the decade—plus one special bloodsucker from the ’90s. This week, the boys finally continue a conversation first started back on February 25, 2024, diving headfirst into the underrated sequel Fright Night Part 2 (1989). We open with why this sequel rules, from its sleazie...

James Kline goes solo on this episode of Retro Blood thanks to Snowmageddon chaos and takes us straight into space for Critters 4, the wild straight-to-video finale of the original Critters run. James breaks down how Critters 4 fits into the long tradition of “horror in space” ’80s/early ’90s movies and whether the formula actually works once the Critters leave Earth. In the history and behind-the...

Join James Kline and J.H. Alison as Retro Blood continues Little Creatures Month, reviewing all four Critters films—this time diving into the slime-covered, straight-to-video chaos of Critters 3. Marking the first 1990s movie ever covered on the show, this entry brings apartment-building carnage, crazier crites, and the feature-film debut of Leonardo DiCaprio. The episode kicks off with the Weekly...

Join James Kline and J.H. Alison as Retro Blood continues Little Creatures Month, reviewing all four Critters films—this time diving into the slime-covered chaos of Critters 2. The boys kick things off with thoughts on PG-13 ’80s horror, the strange balance of comedy and sleaze, and why Retro Blood is expanding into select ’90s films. In the Weekly History Segment, James breaks down a painfully sl...

Happy New Year from Retro Blood! We kick off 2026 with Little Monsters & Creatures Month, and we’re starting strong by reviewing all four Critters movies, beginning with the original 1986 cult classic. James Kline and J.H. Alison explain a new show format, including expanding into some early ’90s horror, before giving their quick thoughts on Critters—is it a Gremlins ripoff or its own beast? W...