Scream Scene Podcast

Let us share some leech facts to prepare you for ATTACK OF THE GIANT LEECHES (1959) from director Bernard L. Kowalski and starring Ken Clark, Yvette Vickers and Bruno VeSota! Everyone is a terrible person in this barely horror creature feature. Context setting 00:00; Synopsis 18:53; Discussion 24:34; Ranking 38:32

It's us versus THEM! (1954, Douglas) Your deadicated hosts tackle the first big bug classic as part of their horror adjacent bonus episode series. We cover nuclear testing on US soil through the '50s, how they created the ants' iconic sound, and why this movie isn't horror (according to us!) Context setting 00:00; Synopsis 45:34; Discussion 51:53

Roger Corman plans his horror return with A BUCKET OF BLOOD (1959) starring Dick Miller and Barboura Morris! This MYSTERY OF THE WAX MUSEUM remake brings in the scariest beastie of them all... Beatniks! Context setting 00:00; Synopsis 44:11; Discussion 58:26; Ranking 1:16:19

Your hosts tackle EL HOMBRE Y EL MONSTRUO (1959) from Rafael Baledón, starring Abel Salazar, Enrique Rambal, Martha Roth and Ofelia Guilmain! The alternative title for this episode was "A Gothic heroine who also happens to look exactly like the mysterious woman in the portrait" but it was too long! Context setting 00:00; Synopsis 8:59; Discussion 24:12; Ranking 36:54

What's up Doc? It's time for February's horror adjacent bonus episode! This month we take a look at HAIR-RAISING HARE (1946) from Chuck Jones and starring Mel Blanc as Bugs Bunny! We trace the origins of Warner Bros' Merrie Melodies back to Disney's Silly Symphonies and highlight a few of the people who made these cartoons possible. Context setting 00:00; Synopsis 52:50; Discussion 56:47

Coming to you from multiple dimensions, it's 4D MAN (Yeaworth 1959)! From the creative team behind 1958's THE BLOB, the film stars Robert Lansing, Lee Meriwether and James Congdon. But will this just be another case of sci fi masquerading as horror? Context setting 00:00; Synopsis 21:42; Discussion 36:04; Ranking 55:05

Your hosts are incredibly excited for the next highly anticipated horror from Hammer Film Productions... it's THE MUMMY (1959) from director Terence Fisher, writer Jimmy Sangster, and starring Peter Cushing, Christoper Lee and George Pastell! Will these legends of horror continue with their winning streak, or will the mummy's curse of tepid horror strike again? Context setting 00:00; Synopsis 33:3...

Your hosts briefly bounce back to 1958 for THE HIDEOUS SUN DEMON produced, directed, cowritten and starring Robert Clarke! What happens when an actor hires film students to make a monster movie to cash in on the horror craze? Well sometimes, trash turns out to be good. Context setting 00:00; Synopsis 16:37; Discussion 26:54; Ranking 38:25

It's time for the horror adjacent bonus episode! This month, we look into DEATH BECOMES HER (1992) from director Robert Zemeckis and starring Meryl Streep, Goldie Hawn and Bruce Willis! This camp black comedy shows us yet again that less is more... Context setting 00:00; Synopsis 1:05:59; Discussion 1:16:15

Third time's the charm... your hosts tackle THE BAT (1959, Wilbur), a remake of the 1926 silent film and of the 1930 sound version. This time 'round, we have Vincent Price, Agnes Moorehead and Gavin Gordon starring, but will it make a difference for this old fashioned flick? THE BAT (1926, West) was previously covered in Episode 16. THE BAT WHISPERS (1930, West) was previously covered in Episode 2...

This week, your hosts watch CALTIKI, IL MOSTRO IMMORTALE (1959) from director Robert Hamton or maybe Riccardo Freda or possibly Mario Bava! In any case, it stars John Merivale and Gérard Herter in a blob-inspired Italian horror movie. Context setting 00:00; Synopsis 20:19; Discussion 33:14; Ranking 47:22

Coming to you in Percepto! It's THE TINGLER (1959) from William Castle! Starring Vincent Price, Judith Evelyn and Philip Coolidge, plus more gimmicks than you can shake a stick at, the film is Castle's third horror... can he keep up his quality of work? The special music you hear in this episode is from creature of the night Chris Crewe and his band the Special Agents! You can find their music her...

We've received an appeal for 1958's ONNA KYÛKETSUKI aka LADY VAMPIRE directed by Nobuo Nakagawa! With additional context around the westernization of public displays of affection in Japan, we reconsider where this film was originally ranked. Find the full list of ranked films at screamscenepodcast.com

It's a Tim Burton Christmas with 1993's THE NIGHTMARE BEFORE CHRISTMAS, directed by Henry Selick! Your hosts cover the life and times of Danny Elfman, the making of NIGHTMARE and even dig into what death of the author actually means. Context setting 00:00; Synopsis 50:01; Discussion 56:32

Your hosts travel to West Germany for DIE NACKTE UND DER SATAN (1959) from writer/director Victor Trivas! What's been happening in Germany since our last horror movie there in 1936? Is there cultural significance to our villain having blonde hair and blue eyes? Listen and find out! Context setting 00:00; Synopsis 39:19; Discussion 52:11; Ranking 1:13:56

Hand puppets, shrew facts, racism... it's THE KILLER SHREWS (1959) directed by Ray Kellogg! Produced by Ken Curtis and Gordon McLendon, this regionally produced film made over one million dollars -- so it has to be good... right? Context setting 00:00; Synopsis 23:31; Discussion 34:31; Ranking 51:41

Take a peek into the "real life" Black Museum at Scotland Yard with HORRORS OF THE BLACK MUSEUM (1959), from director Arthur Crabtree and starring Michael Gough! Filmed in *hypnovista,* this unique British/American production showcases sadism and true crime instead of something supernatural. Context setting 00:00; Synopsis 25:28; Discussion 39:23; Ranking 54:02

For November's horror adjacent bonus episode, your deadicated hosts tackle OVER THE GARDEN WALL (2014), the Cartoon Network miniseries created by Patrick McHale and starring Elijah Wood, Collin Dean, Melanie Lynskey and Christopher Lloyd! Context setting 00:00; Synopsis 37:10; Discussion 57:12

All the way from the carboniferous period, it's THE MONSTER OF PIEDRAS BLANCAS (1959)! Directed by Irvin Berwick, this flick is made up of Universal Pictures' laid off staff and disgruntled workers on a CREATURE FROM THE BLACK LAGOON template. Context setting 00:00; Synopsis 12:56; Discussion 29:48; Ranking 43:34

Hello dear Creatures of the Night, this week got away from us. In lieu of our regular episode, I’ve prepared a spooky music playlist that I hope will delight: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/0KeFTGk9fHaNtCvXNL6IFW?si=043539c0ae5f448d We’ll be back next Wednesday night!

If you had a traumatic past that was repressed in your memory, would you want to be told? From director Roy Del Ruth comes THE ALLIGATOR PEOPLE (1959), starring Beverly Garland, Richard Crane and Lon Chaney Jr! Context setting 00:00; Synopsis 14:57; Discussion 27:41; Ranking 47:31

Sequels have to walk a tightrope of meeting expectations set by the original while offering more than a rehash of the same plot. Your deadicated hosts see how RETURN OF THE FLY (1959, Bernds) fares with this balancing act! The films stars Brett Halsey, David Frankham and, returning from the original, Vincent Price. Editor's Note: Throughout the episode, Ben mistakenly says "Bill Nye" when describi...

A special Halloween horror-adjacent bonus episode! This month, your hosts cover THE ADVENTURES OF ICHABOD AND MR. TOAD (1949) from directors James Algar, Clyde Geronimi and Jack Kinney. We cover Disney studios, the development of its animation, and why ICHABOD isn't as good as you wish! Context setting 00:00; Synopsis 55:04; Discussion 58:44

A monster by any other name would spook as sweet... it's THE MANSTER (1959) aka SŌTŌ NO SATSUJINKI aka THE SPLIT from directors George Breakston and Kenneth G. Crane! An American/Japanese co-production, this schlocky-titled film is anything but as it tackles themes of masculinity and alcoholism. Context setting 00:00; Synopsis 10:15; Discussion 29:07; Ranking 45:17

It is yet another TOKAIDO YOTSUYA KAIDAN (1959), but this time from experienced horror director Nobuo Nakagawa! Balancing a return to its kabuki roots with a forward-looking use of colour and surrealism, this horror takes your hosts by storm! The film stars Shigeru Amachi, Katsuko Wakasugi and Shuntaro Emi. Context setting 00:00; Synopsis 28:53; Discussion 44:01; Ranking 1:00:54