Scream Scene Podcast

From director Bruno VeSota comes THE BRAIN EATERS (1958) starring Ed Nelson, Alan Factor, Cornelius Keefe and introducing Leonard Nimoy! Does this B-movie adapt a Robert Heinlein novel, or was the plagiarism charge unfounded? Will the bad sound quality impact the low-budget film's ranking? Context setting 00:00; Synopsis 17:50; Discussion 27:11; Ranking 45:47

It might be a cheap B-movie, but NIGHT OF THE BLOOD BEAST (1958) proves to be historically notable for a few reasons -- one of which being a horror only executive produced by Roger Corman, produced by his brother Gene, and ultimately directed by Bernard Kowalski! Written by Martin Varno, NIGHT OF THE BLOOD BEAST stars John Baer, Angela Greene, Ed Nelson, Georgianna Carter, Michael Emmet, Tyler McV...

Peter Cushing is back, baby! This time, he's starring in THE REVENGE OF FRANKENSTEIN (1958, Fisher), proving yet again that the best revenge is living well! The film also stars Francis Matthews, Michael Gwynn and Eunice Gayson. Context setting 00:00; Synopsis 23:28; Discussion 36:26; Ranking 50:28

The exemplary black comedy ARSENIC AND OLD LACE (1944) gets covered for Scream Scene's horror adjacent bonus episode for March! Directed by Frank Capra, this film adapts the 1941 play of the same name from playwright Joseph Kesselring. Leaving Boris Karloff behind on Broadway, the film keeps the play's stars Josephine Hull, Jean Adair and John Alexander, replacing Karloff with Raymond Massey. And,...

Hammer Films' writer Jimmy Sangster offers a side hustle to non-Hammer producers with BLOOD OF THE VAMPIRE (1958) directed by Henry Cass! But is the film as bloody as it desires? Listen to find out! The cast features Donald Wolfit, Vincent Ball and Barbara Shelley. Context setting 00:00; Synopsis 11:59; Discussion 25:30; Ranking 45:37

Out of Mexico comes the sequel to 1957's EL VAMPIRO; it's EL ATAUD DEL VAMPIRO (1958) from director Fernando Méndez! Will it hold up to his previous horror? How will writers Ramón Obón and Alfredo Salazar remix classic horror tropes this time? This sequel features the same cast and crew, including Abel Salazar, Ariadna Welter and German Robles! Context setting 00:00; Synopsis 14:32; Discussion 23:...

After seeing what director Edward L Cahn and his crew could accomplish with last week's film, your deadicated hosts were excited for the second half of their double feature! But does CURSE OF THE FACELESS MAN (1958) meet our expectations?? Inspired by 1932's THE MUMMY, this horror features a Roman gladiator reborn from the destruction of Pompeii! The film stars Richard Anderson, Elain Edwards, Ade...

From director Edward L. Cahn comes IT! THE TERROR FROM BEYOND SPACE (1958)! Marshall Thompson stars in this photo-ALIEN film about a monster from Mars! This horror sci-fi also stars Shirley Patterson, Kim Spalding, Dabbs Greer and Ann Doran, with Ray "Crash" Corrigan in his last film role in Paul Blaisdell's last original creature design. Context setting 00:00; Synopsis 24:53; Discussion 35:47; Ra...

Adapted from the short story of the same name by F Marion Crawford, this week's movie is THE SCREAMING SKULL (1958, NIcol)! Starring Peggy Webber, John Hudson, Russ Conway and Alex Nicol, is this low-budget horror movie schlock or... is it good? Context setting 00:00; Synopsis 27:14; Discussion 40:46; Ranking 1:00:05

This month's horror adjacent film was chosen from a selection of shorts, and our patrons selected Buster Keaton's THE HAUNTED HOUSE (1921, Cline)! Joseph "Buster" Keaton stars in this two-reel silent comedy, and we outline his long and illustrious career. Context setting 00:00; Synopsis 38:14; Discussion 40:09

Director Howard Koch brings us FRANKENSTEIN 1970, confusingly released in 1958! Boris Karloff returns to the story that turned him into a star -- but this time, as the titular doctor! The film also stars Tom Duggan, Jana Lund, Don Barry, Charlotte Austin, Mike Lane and Rudolph Anders. Context setting 00:00; Synopsis 25:53; Discussion 43:48; Ranking 1:04:34

Based on the famous 1957 short story from George Langelaan comes THE FLY (1958) from director/producer Kurt Neumann! This disturbing horror stars Patricia Owens, David Hedison, Vincent Price and Herbert Marshall. Context setting 00:00; Synopsis 48:16; Discussion 1:03:28; Ranking 1:35:40

Dive into the history of Japanese ghost cats with BŌREI KAIBYŌ YASHIKI (1958), also known as BLACK CAT MANSION from director Nobuo Nakagawa! This film has everything: bakeneko, kabuki AND revenge! Context setting 00:00; Synopsis 26:11; Discussion 43:05; Ranking 59:22

Cemeteries, psychic powers and pins galore! This week your deadicated hosts watch I BURY THE LIVING (1958) from director Albert Band and starring Richard Boone and Theodore Bikel! This film may whiff the ending, but it's a thrilling ride all the same. Context setting 00:00; Synopsis 12:15; Discussion 29:03; Ranking 56:07

Our patrons voted and we dutifully answered: this month's horror adjacent episode dives into THE MASK OF FU MANCHU (1932) starring Boris Karloff as the titular "Yellow Peril incarnate" character! Discussions of cultural fears, author Sax Rohmer, Orientalism and more abound in this bonus episode. Enjoy! Context setting 00:00; Synopsis 1:26:54; Discussion 1:36:33

From the studio that brought teens into horror comes HOW TO MAKE A MONSTER (1958), our first meta horror movie! Written by the team Herman Cohen and Aben Kandel, the film stars Robert Harris as a Jack Pierce/Paul Blaisdel stand-in, making this meta movie practically made for fans of old school horror! Context setting 00:00; Synopsis 23:19; Discussion 32:47; Ranking 47:04

Boris Karloff flexes his horror talents with THE HAUNTED STRANGLER (1958) from director Robert Day! Planned as the top half (but released as the bottom) of the double feature with FIEND WITHOUT A FACE, this old fashioned flick takes inspiration from Jack the Ripper, Jekyll and Hyde, and others. The film stars Boris Karloff, Jean Kent, Elizabeth Allan, Anthony Dawson, Tim Turner and Vera Day. Conte...

From the pulp pages of Weird Tales onto the silver screen, it's FIEND WITHOUT A FACE (1958) from producers John Croydon and Richard Gordon, and director Arthur Crabtree! This Cold War horror set in Canada has more than its fair share of surprises; one would even call it... WILD! The film stars Marshall Thompson, Kynaston Reeves, Kim Parker and Stanley Maxted. Context setting 00:00; Synopsis 34:55;...

Dracula is... coming to America! Warn the housewives and use that white picket fence for making stakes -- it's THE RETURN OF DRACULA (1958) from director Paul Landres! The film stars Frances Lederer, Norma Eberhardt and John Wengraf with music by Gerald Fried. Context setting 00:00; Synopsis 15:47; Discussion 25:38; Ranking 39:45

Surely the bottom half of the double feature with HORROR OF DRACULA has to be good...right? Let's see what director Will Cowan has in store with THE THING THAT COULDN'T DIE (1958)! The film stars William Reynolds, Andra Martin, Jeffrey Stone and Carolyn Kearney. Context setting 00:00; Synopsis 16:46; Discussion 33:13; Ranking 52:06

Merry Christmas! Our horror adjacent episode this month is on Paul Leni's 1928 adaptation of THE MAN WHO LAUGHS! We look at the relationship this film has with THE HUNCHBACK OF NOTRE DAME and THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA, plus some back story on author Victor Hugo. Context setting 00:00; Synopsis 52:12; Discussion 1:02:27

Christopher Lee and Peter Cushing return to Scream Scene with DRACULA aka HORROR OF DRACULA (1958) directed by Terence Fisher! This declarative and colourful thrill ride also stars Michael Gough, Melissa Stribling, Carol Marsh and John Van Eyssen. Described by a contemporary critic as "The best horror ever made," how will this Dracula adaptation fare on The List?? Context setting 00:00; Synopsis 4...

Channeling his inner Roger Corman and Ed Wood comes Ronnie Ashcroft with THE ASTOUNDING SHE-MONSTER (1958), the film he (likely) wrote, produced and directed! With a badass poster from Albert Kallis, what could go wrong with this horror sci-fi b-movie?? The film stars Robert Clarke, Kenne Duncan, Marilyn Harvey, Jeanne Tatum, Shirley Kilpatrick and Ewing Brown. Context setting 00:00; Synopsis 17:3...

It moves! It breathes! It kills! It's WOMANEATER (1958) from director Charles Saunders! This low-budget UK horror stars George Coulouris, Vera Day and a woman-eating tree -- but you won't find Paul Blaisdell in the credits. Listen to learn how Saunders blends exploitation and horror in this truly missable film! Context setting 00:00; Synopsis 11:45; Discussion 21:36; Ranking 44:29

A legend is in our midst... it's the first film from director/producer William Castle! With a screenplay from Robb White, just what is in store in 1958's MACABRE? William Prince, Jacqueline Scott, Christine White and Philip Tonge star in this adaptation of the 1951 novel THE MARBLE FOREST from Theo Durrant. Context setting 00:00; Synopsis 27:27; Discussion 47:40; Ranking 1:09:46