HORROR 101 with Dr. AC

THE TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE 2 (1986) d. Tobe Hooper (USA) LEATHERFACE: TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE III (1990) d. Jeff Burr (USA) TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE: THE NEXT GENERATION (1995) d. Kim Henkel (USA) THE TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE (2003) d. Marcus Nispel (USA) THE TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE: THE BEGINNING (2006) d. Jonathan Liebesman (USA) TEXAS CHAINSAW 3D (2013) d. John Lussenhop (USA) LEATHERFACE (2017) d. Alexandre Bustillo/Julien Maury (USA) TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE (2022) d. David Blue Garcia (USA) Tonight, we're firing up our collective McCullochs and taking a trip through one of the most bizarre and tangled family trees in horror history: The Texas Chain Saw Massacre franchise. As fans know, Tobe Hooper's classic 1974 film eventually yielded an entire franchise—one filled with sequels, prequels, remakes, reboots, retcons, and enough continuity headaches to make both the Sawyer AND the Hewitt families scramble for their handy almanacs. Over the next 20 years, The Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2 (1986), Leatherface: The Texas Chainsaw Massacre III (1990), and Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Next Generation (1995) each took the series in wildly different directions. Then came the Platinum Dunes era with The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (2003) and its prequel The Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Beginning (2006), introducing the franchise to a new generation, and kicking off the remake spree of the early 2000s. As if things weren't complicated enough, the timeline was rebooted again in 2013 with Texas Chainsaw 3D, which ignored the other films and positioned itself as a direct follow-up to the 1974 original. That was followed by Leatherface (2017), an origin story exploring the character's early years, and finally Texas Chainsaw Massacre (2022), another legacy sequel that revisited the events (and characters) of the original movie while carving out its own slice of history and social commentary. Now, let's be honest—not every TCM entry is a masterpiece. Some are beloved, some are controversial, and some have inspired horror fans to endlessly argue over where they fit into the timeline. But that's part of the fun. Every film, regardless of its reputation, is an attempt to expand the mythology of one of cinema's most iconic creations. So fill your BBQ plate and join AC and his buzz-worthy panel of guests (Dan Caffrey, Chelsea David, Jonathon Lucas, Ryan Olson, Tim Palace) as we explore the sequels, prequels, remakes, and reboots that transformed a single low-budget masterpiece into the genre's most enduring, frustrating, and fascinating franchises! --------------------------------------------------- DAN CAFFREY is a Brooklyn-based playwright, screenwriter, podcaster, and lifelong horror fan Caffrey currently co-hosts The Losers' Club: A Stephen King Podcast and Halloweenies: A Horror Franchise Podcast, both on Bloody Disgusting's podcast network, Bloody FM. He received his MFA In Playwriting from UT Austin and has also written as a cultural critic for The A.V. Club, Consequence, Pitchfork, Vox, and elsewhere. His favorite horror movie is Halloween. His favorite movie-movie is also Halloween. (https://www.dancaffreywrites.com/) CHELSEA DAVID is an actor, budding mental health professional, and spicy food eater, deeply obsessed with all things horror. A Louisiana native and former Chicagoan of a decade, she can be found bouncing around the country at any given moment. You'll hear her laugh before you see her. JONATHON LUCAS is a horror fiend from Australia whose love for the genre predates his brain's ability to form memories. He contributed the essay for At Midnight I'll Take Your Soul for Hidden Horror. RYAN OLSON (aka S. Ravenlord of The Cold Beyond music group) is the owner of Deadspeak Design and Night World Records, as well as a member of the Synapse Films street team and a regular on the Synapse Films podcast. His work has been featured in Liquid Cheese, Horrorhound, & Evilspeak Magazines. TIM PALACE is a lifelong Chicago-based genre fan with a particular devotion to the horrific. A committed collector of physical media, Tim has amassed close to 13,000 titles he's excited to share with his new terror tyke Oliver. --------------------------------------------------------- Keep Searching, Keep Exploring, and, most of all, Keep Sharing the Scare!

THE OMEN (1976) d. Richard Donner (USA) DAMIEN: OMEN II (1978) d. Don Taylor (USA) THE FINAL CONFLICT (1981) d. Graham Baker (USA) OMEN IV: THE AWAKENING (1991) d. Jorge Montesi/Dominique Othenin-Girard (USA) THE OMEN (2006) d. John Moore (USA) THE FIRST OMEN (2024) d. Arkasha Stevenson (USA) The success of William Friedkin's The Exorcist in 1973 sparked any number of cheapie imitations, spawning an entire subgenre of occult and possession-themed features. What sets The Omen apart from these is screenwriter David Seltzer and director Richard Donner's thoughtful adherence to a rigid universe of logic and plausibility; all of the bizarre tragedies surrounding the Thorns could be justified as pure coincidence and/or freak accidents, without any supernatural leanings. This grounding in reality, further anchored by Peck's stolid presence, turned what could have been a schlocky exercise in exploitation into a prestige picture that demanded attention and (occasionally grudging) respect. In addition to the spectacular set-pieces orchestrated by effects wiz John Richardson, the film is extremely well-shot by British all-star Gilbert Taylor (who would lens Star Wars the following year) and populated by a fantastic ensemble that includes Patrick Troughton as a tormented priest, Leo McKern as a crusty archaeologist, David Warner as a cynical photojournalist, and Billie Whitelaw as our nefarious nanny Ms. Baylock. Even critics who disliked the film could not argue its merits, with Jerry Goldsmith's haunting choral-tinged score receiving the most praise (and an Academy Award). Spawning two theatrical sequels, a made-for-TV sequel, a 2006 remake, a 2016 television series, and a 2024 prequel, the influence of The Omen has been felt for 50 years and belongs on every horror fan's Anti-Christmas wish list. Join AC and his devilish panel of guests (Jenn Adams, Chris Hainsworth, Katie McLean Hainsworth, Dwan L. Hearn, Kevin Matthews) as we celebrate a half-century of THE OMEN!! -------------------------------------------------------- JENN ADAMS is a writer and podcaster from Nashville, TN. She co-hosts The Loser's Club: A Stephen King Podcast, The Lady Killers: A Feminine Rage Podcast, Murder Made Fiction, and The Girls on The Boys. She is a contributor and columnist for Bloody Disgusting, Rue Morgue and Dread Central and creator of the Strong Female Antagonist blog. CHRIS HAINSWORTH (he/him/his) is an actor/writer/director represented by Big Mouth Talent Chicago. He is a DeathScribe winner 2009 for the audio drama "Remembrance" and author of The Fourth Wall, part of Motel 666 (2015). KATIE MCLEAN HAINSWORTH is a Chicago-based performer/writer, whom you can regularly find on both the DARK NEXUS and FAWX & STALLION podcasts. She's happily guested on HORROR 101 a few times as well as on Roll For Impact's THE STRANGER. DWAN L. HEARN, more affectionately known as "The Moon", is an author [The Copperwheat Collection, 2023], co-host of "The Sako and the Moon Horror Podcast," and host of "The Moon = Wrestling Podcast", film-maker with Hallowed Hills Entertainment, and a two-time award-winning screenwriter. KEVIN MATTHEWS posts a movie review daily on the For It Is Man's Number blog, and is one quarter of the Raiders of the Podcast team who have been putting out weekly episodes for over six years. https://linktr.ee/raidersofthepodcast --------------------------------------------------- Keep Searching, Keep Exploring, and, most of all, Keep Sharing the Scare!

DUEL (1971) d. Steven Spielberg (USA) Adapted by Richard Matheson from his original short story, Duel follows traveling salesman David Mann (Dennis Weaver) as a routine drive through the California desert turns into a relentless pursuit by a mysterious tanker truck and its unseen driver. Director Steven Spielberg and his expert team exploit that simple premise with remarkable precision. Every stretch of empty highway, every glance in the rearview mirror, becomes charged with dread. The truck itself emerges as one of the great monsters of 1970s cinema: a growling, smoke-belching machine with no clear motive beyond intimidation and destruction. As a historical artifact, what makes Duel so fascinating is how completely Spielberg understood visual storytelling from the beginning. The dialogue is sparse, character details are minimal, and exposition is kept to a bare minimum. Meanwhile, suspense is built almost entirely through editing, camera placement, and sound design. Spielberg turns gas stations, roadside diners, school buses, and open desert landscapes into arenas of psychological warfare. Viewed today, Duel is both a self-contained masterpiece and a blueprint for Spielberg's future. Its themes of ordinary people confronting overwhelming forces, its meticulous suspense mechanics, and its instinct for audience identification echoes throughout films like Jaws, Close Encounters of the Third Kind, Raiders of the Lost Ark, Jurassic Park, and beyond. Join AC and his hard-driving panel of guests (Christianne Benedict, Jay Kay, Michael Klug, Cullen Wade) as we celebrate 55 years of DUEL!! ----------------------------------------------------- CHRISTIANNE BENEDICT is a cartoonist, film writer, malcontent, and Bloginatrix at https://krelllabs.blogspot.com JAY KAY is the creator of the 7-time Rondo-nominated horror podcast, Horror Happens, where he has conducted hundreds upon hundreds of interviews with genre celebrities. A staff writer with HorrorHound Magazine, he is also a budding filmmaker, with numerous credits to his name, including No Good Deed, Within the Frame, and Swing 46: The Last Swinging Supper Club. https://astrangemaninflpro.wixsite.com/jkolucki MICHAEL KLUG was born and raised in South Dakota. He is an actor, screenwriter, film critic, screenplay consultant, novelist, filmmaker and overall movie nerd, living in Los Angeles. Long live George A. Romero!" http://klugiverse.com/ CULLEN WADE is the author of S(p)lasher Flicks: The Swimming Pool in Horror Cinema, out in 2025 from McFarland Books. Follow him on letterboxd @tobe_whooper and Bluesky @cullenwade.bsky.social -------------------------------------------------- Keep Searching, Keep Exploring, and, most of all, Keep Sharing the Scare!

THE HOWLING (1981) d. Joe Dante (USA) AN AMERICAN WEREWOLF IN LONDON (1981) d. John Landis (UK/USA) In the spring and summer of 1981, werewolf cinema underwent a radical transformation—not through one film, but two. Released just months apart, The Howling and An American Werewolf in London didn't just revive a fading subgenre—they redefined what cinematic horror could look and feel like. Directed by Joe Dante and co-written by John Sayles and Terence H. Winkless, The Howling blends satire, psychological horror, and media critique. Its cast includes Dee Wallace, Patrick Macnee, and Dennis Dugan, who ground the film's increasingly surreal descent into lupine terror. The groundbreaking transformation sequences were brought to life by effects artist Rob Bottin, whose work pushed the limits of prosthetics and animatronics, delivering visceral, tactile horror that audiences had never seen before. Meanwhile, across the Atlantic, John Landis wrote and directed An American Werewolf in London, a film that boldly fused outright comedy with genuine dread. Starring David Naughton, Griffin Dunne, and Jenny Agutter, the film follows two young Americans whose backpacking trip turns nightmarish after a brutal attack on the moors. The iconic, and agonizing, on-screen transformation—was crafted by legendary makeup artist Rick Baker. His revolutionary efforts earned the very first official Academy Award for Best Makeup, legitimizing special effects artistry as a cornerstone of cinematic achievement. Together, these films reshaped horror in profound ways. They elevated practical effects to an art form, influenced generations of filmmakers, and proved that horror could evoke both screams and belly laughs. Whether through Dante's subversive Hollywood satire or Landis's genre-blending bravado, The Howling and An American Werewolf in London remain towering achievements—twin pillars of lycanthrope cinema whose combined legacy still howls through the genre today. Join AC and his monstrous panel of guests (Craig J. Clark, Julia Marchese, Vanessa Morgan, Chris Scales, Jill Van Voorst) as we celebrate THE WEREWOLVES OF 1981!! -------------------------------------- CRAIG J. CLARK watches a lot of movies. He started watching them in New Jersey, where he was born and raised, and continues to watch them in Indiana. He is a frequent contributor to Crooked Marquee (https://crookedmarquee.com/author/craig-j-clark/) and writes the monthly Full Moon Features column for Werewolf News (https://werewolf-news.com/category/full-moon-features/). He is not a werewolf himself (or so he says) JULIA MARCHESE is a podcaster (Horror Movie Survival Guide, The Losers' Club, JodoWOWsky), filmmaker, actor, film programmer, writer and cinephile living in Hollywood; California. https://linktr.ee/juliacmarchese VANESSA MORGAN is the author of several movie reference guides (When Animals Attack, Strange blood, Evil Seeds & Meow!), all available from Amazon https://amzn.to/3Hzm0wN. She's also the creator of the websites https://cat-movies.com and https://traveling-cats.com. CHRIS SCALES is a lifelong horror fan, aspiring horror screenwriter, and horror panelist. JILL VAN VOORST has been a horror lover since childhood! From showing scary films at her sleepovers as a kid, to running LIX (with her husband Gregg)-a large booth vending horror hoodies, tanks, tees and clothing for all at the best horror cons- you're likely to see Jill adorning or doing something scary at almost any time. http://www.lixonline.com She is also a chocolatier and brings her scary style to the world of chocolate. https://delixcious.com/ -------------------------------------------------- Keep Searching, Keep Exploring, and, most of all, Keep Sharing the Scare!

THE HITCHER (1986) d. Robert Harmon (USA) While driving from Chicago to San Diego, Jim Halsey (C. Thomas Howell) picks up a hitchhiker (Rutger Hauer) who introduces himself as John Ryder. Little does Halsey realize that this simple act of kindness will change the course of his road trip, and his life, forever. The Hitcher failed spectacularly during its 1986 release, as a confused fan base and critics rallied against it. Throughout the early to mid-'80s, films like Halloween, Friday the 13th and A Nightmare on Elm Street dominated the horror genre, spawning sequels and imitators by the score. The Hitcher, by contrast, was different, very different. Unlike the typical slasher, where killers always had reasons behind their murderous deeds, no matter how contrived, Ryder has no apparent motivation for his actions. He targets Halsey for no other cause than Halsey's attempt to do a good deed, and Hauer, an actor at the absolute height of his powers, masterfully imbues his monster with an extraordinary humanity without explanation or apologies. The isolated desert setting provides a strong atmosphere of horror as well. John Seale's cinematography provides many astonishing glimpses of the morbidly beautiful, barren landscape, with the scorching heat-haze effect evoking the aesthetics of a malevolent, possibly supernatural entity. Mark Isham's haunting electronic synth score accents the proceedings with a sense of melancholy not often found in this type of material. 40 years later, The Hitcher remains a true experiment in horror. Cloaked in screenwriter Eric Red's spare, minimalist dialogue and characterization, it is a genre film that dares to constantly surprise and challenge its target audience. The blend of action, drama, horror, and the outright refusal to tidy things up make this a surprisingly intelligent and subversive piece of cinema. One that will inevitably come to mind the next time you find yourself driving alone late at night, looking ahead to see if there is a shadowy figure looming on the horizon. Join AC and his incredible panel of guests (Jess Ader, Max Deering, Grant Kuchan, John McDevitt) as we celebrate 40 years of THE HITCHER!! ---------------------------------------------------- JESS ADER is a fellow appreciator of movies and deep synth soundtracks. Former radio-TV-film student making money elsewhere but never giving up the love of all "moving" forms of media and art. He likes peanut butter. MAX DEERING is a student of genre cinema that wears many hats. From a Producer and Editor of several podcasts including Action For Everyone and The Box Office Podcast, to being a freelance writer for Fangoria, Neon Splatter, and more. You can find his work via Muckrack (https://muckrack.com/maxwell-deering). GRANT KUCHAN is a writer of pulp, wellness coach, and a real swell guy. He plays in any Jug Bands that let him. One day he'll finish another novel, which will probably be available on Amazon, as well as at most Darktower Comics locations across the greater Chicagoland Area. The horror movie that still gives him nightmares is Matango. He saw it when he was six, and still doesn't eat mushrooms. JOHN MCDEVITT is a lifelong cinephile who programs two recurring film events in Chicago: SUPER-HORROR-RAMA! and Fetish Film Forum, a monthly screening series about fetish, kink, leather, and BDSM at the Leather Archives & Museum. John is fascinated by all genres of cinema and appreciates horror most of all for its willingness to explore what makes us uncomfortable and for the compassion it often extends to its characters and the viewer. --------------------------------------------- Keep Searching, Keep Exploring, and, most of all, Keep Sharing the Scare! *Introduction edited from John Archer's essay in Hidden Horror: A Celebration of 101 Underrated and Overlooked Fright Flicks (2007)

FROM BEYOND (1986) d. Stuart Gordon (USA) DAGON (2001) d. Stuart Gordon (Spain) After the cult success of Re-Animator, Stuart Gordon expanded his visceral, darkly comic take on H. P. Lovecraft with From Beyond (1986) and Dagon (2001). Working with writer Dennis Paoli, Gordon transforms cosmic dread into something immediate, tactile, and perversely entertaining. From Beyond reunites Jeffrey Combs and Barbara Crampton in a story of scientific obsession and bodily mutation, featuring surreal practical effects—mutating flesh, overactive pineal glands, and interdimensional horrors. With Dagon, Gordon trades lab horror for a decaying coastal nightmare. Set in a rain-soaked Spanish village, the film follows outsiders confronting an ancient sea cult, with grotesque makeup effects emphasizing rot, mutation, and dread. Together, these films showcase Gordon's unique ability to make Lovecraft's abstract horror physical, grotesque, and wildly entertaining. Join AC and his fantastic panel of guests (Nile Arena, Derek Bohtelo, Gordon Briggs, Craig J. Clark, Graham Skipper) as we celebrate the OTHER Gordon/Lovecraft adaptations, FROM BEYOND and DAGON! ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ NILE ARENA has created cinema collectives, worked the film festival circuit, and lent his voice to podcasts dedicated to the silver screen. His literary/weird fiction journal, Success Stories, is available now at some of the places books are sold. DEREK BOTELHO is an author, film journalist, playwright, and visual effects artist. Not one to rest on his laurels, nor do much about them either, he is currently writing his first novel. GORDON BRIGGS is a devout cinephile, who also teaches Fine Arts courses at University of the Rio Grande. In addition to teaching, he publishes two film columns for his local papers. If you follow him on social media, he will give you two film reviews a day, every day. In his free time, Gordon enjoys cosplayjng super villains. CRAIG J. CLARK watches a lot of movies. He started watching them in New Jersey, where he was born and raised, and continues to watch them in Indiana. He is a frequent contributor to Crooked Marquee (https://crookedmarquee.com/author/craig-j-clark/) and writes the monthly Full Moon Features column for Werewolf News (https://werewolf-news.com/category/full-moon-features/). He is not a werewolf himself (or so he says) GRAHAM SKIPPER is a filmmaker and actor, best known for playing Herbert West in Stuart Gordon's stage production Re-Animator the Musical, as well as his roles in Almost Human, The Leech, Beyond The Gates, and Man Finds Tape. He has also directed the films Sequence Break and The Lonely Man with the Ghost Machine. Graham lives in Austin, TX. -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Keep Searching, Keep Exploring, and, most of all, Keep Sharing the Scare!

MAXIMUM OVERDRIVE (1986) d. Stephen King (USA) NIGHT OF THE CREEPS (1986) d. Fred Dekker (USA) CHOPPING MALL (1986) d. Jim Wynorski (USA) TERRORVISION (1986) d. Ted Nicolau (USA) KILLER PARTY (1986) d. William Fruet (Canada) If you love horror with a little extra cheese on top, 1986 might be one of the most glorious years the genre ever produced. Tonight, we're digging into five low-budget cult favorites that prove horror and comedy have always made a deliciously messy combination. MAXIMUM OVERDRIVE When Stephen King stepped behind the camera, he unleashed a full-throttle apocalypse where machines turn homicidal. Killer trucks, AC/DC, and pure chaos—this is '80s excess at its loudest and wildest. NIGHT OF THE CREEPS Fred Dekker blends aliens, zombies, and slashers into one wildly entertaining cult classic. It's funny, gooey, and endlessly quotable—just remember to "thrill me." CHOPPING MALL Jim Wynorski turns a suburban mall into a neon death trap as killer security robots go haywire. Laser blasts, big hair, and after-hours carnage make this a perfect slice of '80s horror cheese. TERRORVISION Ted Nicolau delivers a goo-soaked blast of Charles Band/Empire weirdness as a suburban TV dish invites an alien nightmare into the living room. Loud, gross, and gloriously ridiculous, it's peak midnight-movie insanity. KILLER PARTY Canuxploitation veteran William Fruet starts with college pranks before swerving into supernatural slasher territory. The tonal whiplash is half the fun in this strange and scrappy '80s oddity. So jump in the time machine with our awesome panel of 1980s enthusiasts (Anish Jethmalani, Tim Palace, Dave James Parker, Larry Sternshein) and head back 40 years to a time when practical effects ruled, VHS boxes promised outrageous thrills, and filmmakers weren't afraid to mix genuine scares with a wink and a grin. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ANISH JETHMALANI is Chicago Actor who has been on stages and screens for 30 years. You may recognize him from the horror flick Girl on the Third Floor with CM Punk. He is passionate Cinephile who contributed an essay on The Omen for the original HORROR 101: The A-List of Horror Films and Monster Movies. You can find him on letterboxed at https://letterboxd.com/ajet/ TIM PALACE is a lifelong Chicago-based genre fan with a particular devotion to the horrific. A committed collector of physical media, Tim has amassed close to 13,000 titles he's excited to share with his new terror tyke Oliver. DAVE JAMES PARKER is a YouTube film reviewer, collector, and former indie actor who has been running the Mr. Parka YouTube channel and podcast ‪‪@mrparka‬ for over 15 years. In recent years he has started a deep dive into 1980s horror films where he often collaborates with horror journalist, podcasters, and authors to discuss an assorted mix of genre films. He has made appearances in notable indie horrors Headless and Applecart. LARRY STERNSHEIN is a lifelong movie fan in Colorado and host of the movie memories podcast "Reel Early." Not only does he love talking about horror and action cinema, but is also a big pro wrestling fan. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Keep Searching, Keep Exploring, and, most of all, Keep Sharing the Scare!

THE INNOCENTS (1961) d. Jack Clayton (UK) Tonight, we're disussing The Innocents, the spellbinding 1961 screen version of Henry James' The Turn of the Screw. Producer/director Jack Clayton and cinematographer Freddie Francis conjure a haunting onscreen atmosphere with an eye for hypnotic, symbolic imagery, where the sunlit scenes are frequently more chilling than those set at night. Truman Capote and William Archibald's screenplay also introduces layers of sexual frustration, repression, and hysteria which, while eliminating none of the original story's ambiguity, supply an intriguing psychological angle that modern viewers will appreciate. As prim governess Miss Giddens, assigned to a country estate to care for two orphaned children, Deborah Kerr is undeniably the film's anchor, engine and rudder. The six-time Oscar nominee's brilliant performance walks the tightrope between strength and fear, conviction and doubt. Pamela Franklin is terrific as the angelic Flora in her screen debut, displaying hints of the preternatural maturity that would show up again and again throughout her career. And, as young master Miles, Martin Stephens manages to top his captivating turn from the previous year's Village of the Damned, delivering a magnificently layered turn that flickers between childlike precociousness and a sinister, almost sexually predatory quality. One of the finest ghost stories ever committed to celluloid, The Innocents is often compared to Robert Wise's The Haunting (1963), another stellar example of prolonged tension tempered with minimal special effects and deep, troubling, emotionally mature subject matter. The two films also share a common theme of lead female protagonists utterly undone by their reactions to the mysteries around them, where we are never quite sure if what they see (and we, through their eyes) is reality or fiction. Join AC and his incredible panel of guests (Kait Astrella, Mark Easteadt, Nicola McCafferty, Tyler Pistorius, Michael Orlando Yaccarino) as we celebrate 65 years of THE INNOCENTS!!! --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- KAIT ASTRELLA is a librarian, archivist, and indie book publicist working in New York City. Find her posting about printed books and strange fiction on Instagram @kastrella2. MARK EASTEADT is a movie-lovin', trivia-spoutin', music-sharin', pop culture nerd that loves talking about all of the above. He also hosts the horror movie Meetup, Charlottesville Horror Film Fanatics https://www.meetup.com/charlottesville-horror-film-fanatics NICOLA MCCAFFERTY is a PhD candidate in the department of Radio, Television, and Film at Northwestern University. Her research looks at screen representations of nonhuman women such as mannequins, dolls, robots, and aliens in order to deconstruct the overlapping categories of whiteness, humanity, and femininity. Outside of grad school, Nicola has a few stray bylines at Dread Central, has seen every Kristen Stewart movie, and runs an Etsy store (https://www.etsy.com/shop/vvitchroom/?etsrc=sdt) where she sells enamel pins, stickers, and prints inspired by horror and cult films from the 1960s to today. TYLER PISTORIUS is an actor, screenwriter, and producer living in Chicago. His recent works include Death is Business and A Missed Connection, and is currently in development on a new project. MICHAEL ORLANDO YACCARINO's critical writings and interviews have championed world fringe cinema for more than three decades. He is an award-winning biographer and author on unconventional historical figures and the occult. https://www.dorianavilla.com/ ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Keep Searching, Keep Exploring, and, most of all, Keep Sharing the Scare!

LET'S SCARE JESSICA TO DEATH (1971) d. John D. Hancock (USA) Tonight we're talking about director John Hancock's brilliant low-budget psychological chiller, Let's Scare Jessica to Death (1971), which combines elements of ghosts, vampires, and zombies, yet manages to find its own uniquely eerie voice. Shot independently in and around Connecticut, over the course of 25 chilly Autumn days on a budget of only $250,000, Jessica ultimately brought in $20 million during its theatrical release after being acquired by Paramount. It was later discovered by many more viewers (including this one) over the years via television screenings and VHS rentals, building a small but dedicated fan base along the way. Following her release from a sanitarium, emotionally sensitive Jessica (played by Zohra Lampert) leaves NYC with her classical musician husband Duncan and their like-minded hippie friend Woody to find peace and quiet working a New England apple orchard. But when they encounter a strange, beautiful squatter residing in the farmhouse, Jessica's unstable world begins to crumble. And, like our heroine, we are never quite sure what is reality or nightmare, madness or sanity…. While the original script was envisioned as a parody of scary movies, Hancock approached the material with a serious bent, allowing us to enter Jessica's fragile mind through effective use of self-doubting voice-over as well as an ongoing chorus of entreating, berating, and haunting inner voices. The evocative score by Orville Stoeber (aided immeasurably by Walter Sear's electronic synthesizer) remains one of the best of the early '70s, augmenting Hancock's haunting unsettling atmosphere. An underrated gem deserving of multiple viewings, Jessica insinuates on a deeper level than mere shocks and jump scares, creating a spell that lingers without flashy effects or gore, boasting a wealth of subtle, memorable sequences and surprises around every corner. Join AC and his incredible panel of guests (Jess Ader, Darren Callahan, John McDevitt, Vanessa Morgan, Michael Orlando Yaccarino) as we celebrate 55 years of LET'S SCARE JESSICA TO DEATH! ------------------------------------ JESS ADER is a fellow appreciator of movies and deep synth soundtracks. Former radio-TV-film student making money elsewhere but never giving up the love of all "moving" forms of media and art. He likes peanut butter. DARREN CALLAHAN is an award-winning writer, director, and composer who has written drama, fiction, and non-fiction for many major outlets, mostly focused on the horror genre. He has also released nearly 100 records, from pop to noise to ambient to film soundtracks. His website is darrencallahan.com and his IMDB is http://www.imdb.me/darrencallahan. JOHN MCDEVITT is a lifelong cinephile who programs two recurring film events in Chicago: SUPER-HORROR-RAMA! and Fetish Film Forum, a monthly screening series about fetish, kink, leather, and BDSM at the Leather Archives & Museum. John is fascinated by all genres of cinema and appreciates horror most of all for its willingness to explore what makes us uncomfortable and for the compassion it often extends to its characters and the viewer. VANESSA MORGAN is the author of several movie reference guides (When Animals Attack, Strange blood, Evil Seeds & Meow!), all available from Amazon https://amzn.to/3Hzm0wN. She's also the creator of the websites https://cat-movies.com and https://traveling-cats.com. MICHAEL ORLANDO YACCARINO's critical writings and interviews have championed world fringe cinema for more than three decades. He is an award-winning biographer and author on unconventional historical figures and the occult. https://www.dorianavilla.com/ ------------------------------------------- Keep Searching, Keep Exploring, and, most of all, Keep Sharing the Scare!

DRACULA (1931) d. Tod Browning (USA) DRACULA (Spanish version) (1931) d. George Melford (USA) DRACULA'S DAUGHTER (1936) d. Lambert Hillyer (USA) SON OF DRACULA (1943) d. Robert Siodmak (USA) Released on Feb 14, 1931, Dracula from Universal Studios stands as perhaps the most influential horror film ever made. Directed by Tod Browning with cinematography by Karl Freund, the film was adapted from the wildly successful Broadway stage version of Bram Stoker's 1897 novel. At the center is Bela Lugosi, whose performance as Count Dracula became definitive almost overnight. Lugosi's thick Hungarian accent, hypnotic stare, and aristocratic poise transformed the vampire from a folkloric monster into a seductive, charismatic figure. His portrayal established many of the traits now inseparable from the character: formal dress, slow, deliberate speech, and an uncanny mix of menace and allure. Though Lugosi would struggle, unsuccessfully, to escape the shadow of the role, his Dracula remains one of cinema's most iconic performances. The supporting cast includes Helen Chandler as Mina, David Manners as Jonathan Harker, Dwight Frye as the insect-gobbling Renfield, and Edward Van Sloan as Professor Van Helsing, whose calm rationality helped define the "monster hunter" archetype that would become a staple of horror storytelling. Dracula's massive commercial success—especially during the depths of the Great Depression--played a pivotal role in launching Universal Pictures' legendary Monsters series, proving horror could be both profitable and prestigious. The studio followed with Frankenstein later the same year, then The Mummy (1932), The Invisible Man (1933), and many others, indelibly shaping popular culture for generations to come. Dracula didn't just introduce an immortal character—it helped give birth to American horror cinema as we know it. Join AC and his bloodthirsty panel of guests (Jessica Dwyer, Kate Hansen, Tom Mula, Michael Weber, Bobby Zier) as we celebrate 95 years of DRACULA!! --------------------------------------------------- JESSICA DWYER was raised on a diet of Dark Shadows, Doctor Who, and a lot of things she saw way too young. She's been writing for nearly a quarter of a century about the world of entertainment and her own fiction (and that sound you heard was her bones turning to dust.) She works for the JoBlo Network, HorrorHound Magazine, and is a producer on a number of projects. KATE HANSEN is a music teacher with a penchant for horror. She has been published in magazines like Ultra Violent and Horrorhound. She likes dogs, enjoys the smell of campfires, collects VHS, is afraid of heights, and has only ever received two speeding tickets. TOM MULA is a Chicago actor, director, and playwright, and author of the bestselling book and play, "Jacob Marley's Christmas Carol." MICHAEL WEBER is an actor, director, and currently the Artistic Director of Porchlight Music Theatre. A Chicago native, his fascination with classic horror began with WGN's legendary Creature Features and The Son of Svengoolie. He is an avid fan of the Golden Age of Radio and the author of the play, WAR of the WELLeS (about Orson Welles' infamous radio broadcast.) BOBBY ZIER has a passion for Dracula and runs a TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube channel called Lugosi Theatre. He recently received his second "Monster Kid of the Year" Rondo Award for his efforts in keeping classic horror alive and well. ---------------------------------------- Keep Searching, Keep Exploring, and, most of all, Keep Sharing the Scare!

THE EVIL DEAD (1981) d. Sam Raimi (USA) EVIL DEAD II (1987). d. Sam Raimi (USA) ARMY OF DARKNESS (1992) d. Sam Raimi (USA) EVIL DEAD (2013) d. Fede Alvarez (USA) EVIL DEAD RISE (2023) d. Lee Cronin (USA) Sam Raimi's Evil Dead franchise is a cornerstone of independent horror cinema, redefining what low-budget filmmaking could achieve. Beginning with The Evil Dead (1981), Raimi combined raw ingenuity, kinetic camerawork, and extreme gore to create a relentlessly inventive horror film that left a lasting impact on the genre. Shot on a shoestring budget with collaborators including star Bruce Campbell, the film's manic energy and iconic "unseen force" camera movements distinguished it from the slower horror of the late 1970s. The franchise's legacy is equally shaped by its bold tonal evolution. While the original film plays as a brutal, nightmarish experience, Evil Dead II (1987) and Army of Darkness (1992) fused splatter horror with slapstick comedy, transforming Ash Williams into a chainsaw-wielding, wisecracking antihero and helping define the modern horror-comedy. From comics and video games to the Ash vs. Evil Dead TV series to reboots like Evil Dead (2013) and Evil Dead Rise (2023), the series continues to evolve. Join AC and his awesome panel of horror enthusiasts (Krisy Jett, Anna Maurya, Daniel Millhouse, Ryan Olson, Jennifer Olson, Joseph Wycoff) as we celebrate 45 years of THE EVIL DEAD!! ---------------------------------------------------------------- KRISTY JETT, faithful horror nerd of 40+ years, resides in Buffalo, NY and is the mother of nine cats. She remains now and forever the world's biggest fan of the film Popcorn (1991). ANNA MAURYA is a film fan stuck in Ohio. They have been a guest on Raiders of the Podcast, a contributor to Hidden Horror, and they generally dislike writing about themselves in the third person. DANIEL MILLHOUSE joyfully returns to review films with Dr. AC and friends! As an Assistant Professor at the College of DuPage, he cherishes his Theatre, TV/Film, and Motion Capture acting experiences. He is one mischievous, charming, goofball. JENNIFER OLSON is a lifelong horror fan and mother of three monster kids. She is a former member of The Flint Horror Con, and currently part of the Synapse Films street team! RYAN OLSON (aka S. Ravenlord of The Cold Beyond music group) is the owner of Deadspeak Design and Night World Records, as well as a member of the Synapse Films street team and a regular on the Synapse Films podcast. His work has been featured in Liquid Cheese, Horrorhound, & Evilspeak Magazines. JOSEPH WYCOFF is a veteran Chicago actor now based in New Zealand, with onscreen credits ranging from "Ash vs Evil Dead" to the Power Rangers to Josh Ruben's Heart Eyes (2025). -------------------------------------------------- Keep Searching, Keep Exploring, and, most of all, Keep Sharing the Scare!

THE HOUSE WITH LAUGHING WINDOWS (1976) d. Pupi Avati (Italy) On tonight's episode, we're talking about Pupi Avati's The House with Laughing Windows (1976), one of the most quietly unsettling films in the history of Italian horror, a slow-burn nightmare that lingers long after its final moments. Set in the foggy, insular villages of rural Emilia-Romagna, the film follows Stefano, a young restorer hired to repair a disturbing fresco depicting the martyrdom of Saint Sebastian. As Stefano settles into the community, he begins to sense that the artwork—and the people surrounding it—are tied to something deeply wrong. Rather than relying on gore or shocks, Avati builds dread through atmosphere, implication, and an almost suffocating sense of isolation. Sunlit landscapes feel hostile, friendly neighbors seem slightly off, and every unanswered question pulls Stefano further into danger. The film's sound design, muted performances, and methodical pacing create a creeping unease that feels both grounded and nightmarish. Often compared to the work of Dario Argento yet strikingly different in tone, The House with Laughing Windows stands apart for its realism and restraint. It's a film about curiosity, artistic obsession, and the terror of uncovering truths that were meant to stay buried. Widely regarded as Avati's masterpiece, it remains a haunting example of how subtle horror can be far more devastating than spectacle. Join AC and his incredible panel of giallo-loving folk (Steve Archacki, Jorge Didaco, Bryan Martinez, Lin Morris, Nathaniel Thompson) as we celebrate 50 years of THE HOUSE WITH LAUGHING WINDOWS! ---------------------------------------------------- STEVE ARCHACKI is a connoisseur and collector of all things EuroTrash (especially Italian/Spanish gothic and giallo films and anything Hammer Horror). He also identifies as an avid vinyl soundtrack collector, lapsing metalhead, direct mail marketing guru, and to this day, still harbors perpetual crushes on Rosalba Neri and Dagmar Lassander. JORGE DIDACO is a Brazil-based teacher on theatre, performance, and film. He contributed the essays for The Innocents for Horror 101: The A-List of Horror Films and Monster Movies and In a Glass Cage for Hidden Horror. BRYAN MARTINEZ is the creator of The Giallo Room and is also the writer and director of the short films Gelato Giallo and My Friend Lisa (check em out on YouTube). He has had a passionate love affair with Giallo since he first watched a Spanish dubbed version of All the Colors of the Dark at the tender age of 8. LIN MORRIS is a writer who makes his living doing something else entirely. His novels Spot the Not and The Marriage Wars are both available on Amazon. The first movie he recalls seeing is Two on a Guillotine at the Super 99 Drive-In at much too young an age, and he's been a horror fan ever since. Despite the strenuous efforts of his parents, he remains stubbornly left handed. NATHANIEL THOMPSON has recorded 300 audio commentaries and written five books, most recently The FrightFest Guide to Vampire Movies. You can see him in shows like Eli Roth's History of Horror and Horror's Greatest, and read him yammering about all kinds of movies at mondo-digital.com. ----------------------------------------------------------- Keep Searching, Keep Exploring, and, most of all, Keep Sharing the Scare!

EYES WITHOUT A FACE (1960) d. Georges Franju (France) In this episode, we're talking about a yet another haunting horror landmark from 1960, Georges Franju's Eyes Without a Face (Les Yeux sans visage). Adapted from the 1959 novel by Jean Redon, Franju and his vaunted team of collaborators transform the pulp thriller material into something strangely lyrical and tragic, resulting in a bona-fide art-horror classic. Pierre Brasseur stars as Dr. Génessier, a respected surgeon whose obsession with repairing his daughter's disfigurement leads him beyond ethical boundaries. Edith Scob delivers an unforgettable performance as Christiane, her features obscured by a blank mask throughout most of the picture, while Alida Valli (who Euro-horror fans will recognize from Suspiria) shines as Louise, the doctor's devoted and complicit assistant. Franju, a cofounder of the Cinémathèque Française, avoids a sensationalistic approach, favoring instead calm, clinical imagery that heightens the unsettling subject matter. The ingenious screenplay proved to be a successfully collective affair, with Redon, Claude Sautet, Pierre Gascar, and Vertigo screenwriters Pierre Boileau and Thomas Narcejac offering psychological anguish and moral ambiguity over conventional shocks. The film's visual elegance owes much to legendary cinematographer Eugen Schüfftan, while Maurice Jarre's score, alternately eerie and ironic, adds to disquieting tone. Join AC and friends (Christianne Benedict, Lin Morris, Elena Romea, Chris Wylie) as we celebrate 65 years of scalpels, scars, and scares, EYES WITHOUT A FACE!--------------------------------------------------- CHRISTIANNE BENEDICT is a cartoonist, film writer, malcontent, and Bloginatrix at https://krelllabs.blogspot.com LIN MORRIS is a writer who makes his living doing something else entirely. His novels Spot the Not and The Marriage Wars are both available on Amazon. The first movie he recalls seeing is Two on a Guillotine at the Super 99 Drive-In at much too young an age, and he's been a horror fan ever since. Despite the strenuous efforts of his parents, he remains stubbornly left handed. ELENA ROMEA is the creator behind SpanishFear.com and Horror Rises from Spain. A researcher in literature and cinema, she holds a Ph.D. in Spanish Studies with a dissertation about the filmmaker José Val del Omar. Her work explores themes of estrangement, horror, myth, and cultural conflict. CHRIS WYLIE is the co-host of Deep Cuts Horror Trivia in Chicago, and an avid lover of psychological and trash horror. He believes we need to stop shaming people for not having seen certain movies, and has had his ass kicked by Batgirl on film ------------------------------------------- Keep Searching, Keep Exploring, and, most of all, Keep Sharing the Scare!