Episode 72 - Rocktober III: The Quickening

This week we're bringing you three metal horror movies and featuring a special guest, James from the Popcultnet podcast! Will Corey and Maddy finally escape the clutches of Coyote Guy Jake? No! But they will talk about 'Zombie Nightmare', 'Rocktober Blood' and 'Slaughterhouse Rock'! It's a week of zombies, slashers, and ghosts with sweet dance moves this week on Hallow-Holics Anonymous!

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Episode 70 - Rocktober I : First Blood

Corey and Maddy are trapped in a demented radio DJ's lair/studio, and they want you to know just how epic this Rocktober month is going to be. Starting now and ending at '???', but probably right around Halloween, it's all rock horror all month. This episode features the dubious sweaty rock nightmare 'Rock n Roll Nightmare' featuring John Mikl Thor, and the trippy Japanese punk epic 'Wild Zero' featuring Guitar Wolf.

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Episode 66 - Incelne in the Membrelne

I think it's time we address a serious problem. Women. The life-sucking alien monsters that know nothing but the desire to destroy mankind, and the poor insane men who innocently kill them to protect the human race. So what if they like wearing pumps and lipstick in the process? In this episode we discuss two iconic films that perfectly encapsulate the red pill movement in all its glory: 'Maniac' and 'Lifeforce'.

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Drive-in Trailers: Anthology Horror

Sometimes you want something besides a full-on horror film. You want a taste of several things. A creepy cornucopia. A vicious variety. A -something something alliteration scary-. That's where anthology horror takes the cake. I've always loved short stories, on the page and on the screen. Hopefully the following trailers (obscure and mainstream) can give you something new to watch this Halloween.

The first trailer isn't a real one, from what I can tell, but anyone who hasn't seen 'Dead of Night' is really doing themselves a disservice. It's one of the best. Also, note that I adore all of the Amicus films, but it'd be a bit boring if I just focused on them alone. Also, reserving any Price-related trailers for a strictly Vincent Price-centric post.

Drive-in Trailers: Heavy Metal Horror

Warm up the projector, it's time yet again (and at long last) for some movie trailers! You thought I'd run out? Hah! This week, I'd like to feature a nice little niche subgenre, 'heavy metal horror'. 'Rocksploitation'. Or, 'Pardon Me, But Your Guitar is in My Neck.'

A lot of these films may be somewhat difficult to watch, but they've also all got something in common worth noting: awesome soundtracks. If any of you gets the chance to snatch up a copy of the Rocktober Blood album, do it! Unfortunately, the epitome of all 80s Metal Horror movies, Rock N Roll Nightmare, did not have a trailer available...so, in lieu of that, Thor's 'erotic final battle' sequence is here instead. Not a trailer, but--well, I mean, that's the only part anybody wants to watch anyway. Remember kids, stay in school, don't do drugs, don't worship Satan, and under no circumstances ever pick up a Twisted Sister album!

Horror Flick of the Week: Near Dark (1987)

If I said Bill Paxton's passing this year didn't affect me, I'd be lying. He was always one of my favorite character actors. In honor of Bill, and because this really is one of the best vampire films out there, Near Dark is getting a special mention this week. As tempted as I am to gush about the bar scene, post it, and dissect how awesome it is, you'll have to experience it for yourself. Also, yes, this isn't the American release poster, but it's too awesome not to feature.

It's not just Bill who gives an awesome performance in this. Everyone does. Lance Henriksen, of course, plays an excellent villain. Don't let the re-release of the film fool you if you haven't seen it before, there is nothing even remotely 'Twilight-esque' about Near Dark. It's gritty, dark, and pretty much as close to a modern western as you can get.

Horror Flick of the Week: Christmas Evil (1980)

Tis the season, isn't it? No, I'm not generically recommending this movie because it's horror and Christmas related. I actually finally got around to watching it because someone else couldn't stop talking about the damned thing. Honestly, I expected a slasher. That's all. A slasher with a guy in a Christmas suit...I didn't expect to actually care about the guy in a way, or to actually find a real moral behind most of the story. I certainly didn't mean to find out the true meaning of Christmas.

But...I did, I did, and I definitely did.

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If you've done Black Christmas (the original and the remake) to death, don't find Gremlins has enough bite to it anymore, and could very well strangle the next teeny-bopper with a Jack Skellington wrist bracelet, then maybe check out Christmas Evil this year.

In a way, Krampus almost tried to communicate a little of what I got from Christmas Evil, but they were too caught up in the flash, the spectacle, etc. This one had a great balance. I couldn't help but think as I watched it that 'yeah, if a guy really did decide to become Santa Clause, this is probably how he'd do it.'

A Tribute to Wes Craven

“You don't enter the theater and pay your money to be afraid. You enter the theater and pay your money to have the fears that are already in you when you go into a theater dealt with and put into a narrative. Stories and narratives are one of the most powerful things in humanity. They're devices for dealing with the chaotic danger of existence. “

The day I knew I was officially growing up was the day I got to pick out a Nightmare on Elm Street movie off of the rental shelf for my Friday selection, and my mom didn't bat an eye. I was 11, and I was in for the ride of my life.

Over the years, I always find myself going back to the NOES series, which wouldn't have been possible without one man. No, not Robert Englund...though he was pretty important...I'm talking about Wes Craven. The man who made my birthday a little more somber this year by dying the day before it.

Looking at the man's genuine smile, it's hard to believe he could come up with the visions of 'The Last House on the Left' or 'The Hills Have Eyes'. Two modern classics of Gorror (gore-horror). I won't say everything he ever made was a masterpiece, but I will say that even if I didn't like some of his work...I can appreciate his characters. He was a good writer/director, and he knew something very important: make your heroes sympathetic, or people won't care if they die.

He didn't come from a family who loved film. They didn't seem to into it, honestly, and that may have been why he ended up getting his Masters in Philosophy and Writing. He ended up becoming a teacher, before moving on to film...though he didn't start from the top, or even the middle. Mr. Craven started from the bottom, as a messenger.

His first real movie was 'The Last House on the Left', which I believe ended up on the video nasties list for quite some time. He was the Spielberg of horror, in my mind. Of all the people I admire in the industry, Wes Craven is one man I would have loved to have a cup of coffee with.

People often compare Carpenter and Craven, failing to recognize that you can actually appreciate them both as separate artists with their own styles. They had no rivalry. They respected each other. So I thought...what better way to remember Wes, than to share a clip of Carpenter praising him?