The pod. You opened it. We cast.

Welcome to a brand new season of Rogues Gallery! We're kicking things off by opening the puzzle box on the original Hellraiser. It's a film that didn't just push the boundaries of horror, but gleefully tore them apart.

What began as a low-budget adaptation of Clive Barker's own novella The Hellbound Heart evolved into something far stranger and more enduring: a nightmarish blend of desire, pain, and the grotesque. It also introduced the world to one of horror's most iconic figures in Pinhead.

We trace how Barker's uncompromising vision made it to the screen largely intact, and how its emphasis on obsession and forbidden pleasure set it apart from the slashers dominating the late '80s. Along the way, we dig into the film's tactile, skin-crawling practical effects, the eerie mythology of the Lament Configuration, and the ways the franchise's legacy has been both expanded and diluted by decades of sequels.

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Chris's new EP on
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It's the season finale of Rogues Gallery, and our final investigation of the year leads us into the eerily empty halls of Hillcrest Academy for a look back at Halloween H20: 20 Years Later.

What began as a modest direct-to-video sequel was reborn as a prestige anniversary event, bringing Jamie Lee Curtis back for one last confrontation with the Shape... or so we thought.

We dig into how a late-stage rewrite and a scrapped subplot shaped this sleek, surprisingly brisk entry, and whether the glossy, post-Scream style enhances or undermines what made the early films so haunting. Along the way, we also unpack the chaotic saga of the four different Michael Myers masks, the eleventh-hour overhaul of its controversial score, and whether or not it truly delivers the cathartic ending it intended.

Finally, we debate where H20 ranks among the Halloween films we've covered thus far, and Kristen makes her predictions for the next entry.

Our next season begins April 9th!

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This week, we're strapping into our Gyrospheres and heading back to Isla Nublar to unlock the secrets of 2015's Jurassic World. After spending over a decade exploring (and ultimately rejecting) various story ideas, Steven Spielberg finally hit upon a concept for the long-awaited fourth film in his blockbuster franchise...

Open the park.

But even with those guardrails in place, this installment went through a wild ride to get to the big screen. On this episode, we're digging into all the behind-the-scenes info and trying to figure out how we feel about this one ten years later.

Topics include: the absolutely bonkers version of Jurassic Park IV they came very close to making in the early aughts, why it took so long to shift gears, the big differences between the original draft of this script and director Colin Trevorrow's rewrite, the creation of the Indominus Rex and why the meta aspect they're going for winds up falling flat, the best and worst moments, some mixed feelings about one of the movie's standout sequences, our rankings of these films, thoughts on the upcoming Jurassic World: Rebirth, and much more! 

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It's that time of year again. We're returning to Haddonfield and picking up right where the original Halloween left off to continue our investigation into Michael Myers.

By the filmmakers own admission, Halloween II is a movie that was made for financial reasons, not creative ones. John Carpenter had such a difficult time coming up with a suitable story, that he resorted to chugging a six-pack of beer every night as he banged out the script.

His lack of investment resulted in a somewhat plodding follow-up... and a bizarre twist ending that would wind up defining this franchise for the next three decades. Of course at the time, Carpenter thought he was putting a definitive end to the Michael Myers saga.

Topics include: the lucrative deal that lured Carpenter and Debra Hill to return, the original plans to set the sequel five years after the original instead of on the same night, the pros and cons of director Rick Rosenthal's slavish recreation of Carpenter's style, why a bed-ridden Laurie doesn't make for much of a protagonist, the three nights of reshoots that Carpenter took over after watching a rough cut, how giving Michael a motive shaped every subsequent sequel until the 2018 retcon, and more!

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We're back for a new round of investigations and to kick things off, we're opening up a case file on John Doe from Se7en.   The premise of a serial killer whose crimes are patterned after the seven deadly sins is so simple and so good that it's a little surprising it didn't already exist before 1995, but that wasn't the only trail director David Fincher blazed with this incendiary thriller.

Se7en's grimy, neo-noir aesthetic inspired a slew of knock-offs, but most of those imitators focused exclusively on the more superficial elements and completely missed what makes this film so effective. Even 25 years later, it remains an intensely visceral experience.

Topics include: how Fincher's experience making Alien 3 helped transform him into the auteur he's regarded as today, the numerous battles over Se7en's controversial ending, a refutation of the suggestion that this was a precursor to "torture porn", the largely forgotten Anthony Hopkins movie that was almost a sequel to this, the comic book prequel that delves further into Doe's origin, your answers for Ultimate Match Up, and more!

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Alex Garland's debut thriller Ex Machina may be slight in budget, but its ambition is massive. Although we're centering our investigation around the character of Ava, it's just a jumping off point to sort through the film's complicated web of relationships and the themes Garland is exploring.

Topics include: the numerous examples of "show don't tell" storytelling, how they transform this simple premise into such an effective pressure cooker, the way all three main characters are manipulating one another, why movies like this continue to fizzle at the box office, how our opinions on the ending have changed over the years, other films and TV shows this pairs well with, and much more!

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Despite the success of the first A Nightmare on Elm Street, New Line Cinema didn't walk away with a very big piece of the proverbial pie. They did, however, hold sole ownership over something that was potentially a lot more valuable - a franchisable character.   They rushed A Nightmare on Elm Street 2: Freddy's Revenge into production and decided to jettison the original writer/director, lead actress, and established rules of the previous film. And somehow, that's only scratching the surface of what makes this the most controversial Elm Street movie.
Topics include: the quick turnaround time and slapdash production schedule, Robert Englund's temporary replacement, the decision to have a male "final girl", the screenwriter's intentional (or not) homoerotic subtext and how he handled the backlash, the lead actor's experience on and off set, why Freddy's abilities differ so wildly from the other films, Part 2's place in the larger franchise, the new Scream Queen documentary, and much more!

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When the filmmakers behind Species needed a creature that had to be as sexy as it was scary, H.R. Giger's name understandably shot to the top of their list. His Academy Award-winning work on Alien was exactly the aesthetic they were chasing. As the project evolved, however, Giger realized that there was perhaps too much reverence for (and adherence to) his previous efforts.

Species is a mixed bag of largely unrealized potential, but it's not without its merits. On this episode, we investigate the real life program they used for the backstory, examine why the human characters don't totally serve the plot or themes they set up, and try to imagine how this might have turned out if the movie realized that Sil was more sympathetic than any of the actual protagonists.

We also discuss the impression films like this made on us during our formative years, the diminishing creative and financial returns of its sequels, what a more modern spin on this material might look like, and more!

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For all of its accomplishments, Phase I of the MCU was somewhat marred by what numerous critics referred to as "The Marvel Villain Problem" - and depending on who you ask, Red Skull was either the answer to that complaint or the epitome of it.

So we're opening up a case file on one of Captain America's greatest foes to see if this character can help us understand whether or not The First Avenger ultimately succeeds because of its pulpy charm and throwback approach to serialized storytelling... or if this is proof positive that Cap is a more compelling hero when he's forced to confront problems that aren't so black & white.

Topics include: the early days of the MCU and how Marvel Studios transformed a stable of leftover C-list characters into pop culture juggernauts, the original plan to have Red Skull team up with Loki in The Avengers, why Hugo Weaving didn't reprise the role for Infinity War and Endgame, the reason the first half of this movie works so much better than the second, the straight-to-video Captain America movie from the early 90s, the potential to give Red Skull a larger role in the next phase of the MCU, and more!

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The evolution of Little Shop of Horrors is not dissimilar from that of the killer plant at the center of it. It began life as a strange, little oddity - a quick, low-budget film that was shot in a couple of days by legendary B-movie producer Roger Corman.

From those inauspicious beginnings, it transformed into a bigger and bolder off-Broadway musical. The success of that show paved the way for this more lavish feature film production, which firmly entrenched these characters (and songs) into popular culture.

Although this adaptation is fairly faithful to the stage play, there are several important changes - including a major overhaul of the final act. What effect do those deviations have on the overall story? Is it possible the real problem wasn't actually the original ending? And what does all of that tell us about the direction the upcoming remake might take?

We dig into all of those questions and more as we open up a case file on the mean green mother from outer space - Audrey II.

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Godzilla meets The Blair Witch Project. That high-concept premise for Cloverfield was pretty straightforward, but the execution of it was anything but. These days, it's probably remembered as much for the elaborate and immersive ARG campaign as the film itself.

It arguably stands as one of the most effective examples of J.J. Abrams' infamous "mystery box" marketing, but it might also represent the point where a backlash to that approach started to emerge.

From its top secret development to the unlikely franchise that it spawned, we're opening a case file on Cloverfield and adding the first kaiju to our rogues gallery!

Topics include: our memories of the ARG campaign and the marketing of the film, first reactions to the movie, some of the most common criticisms and a few easy fixes, our favorite sequences, how 10 Cloverfield Lane effectively transformed this into an anthology series, the disappointing way The Cloverfield Paradox then attempted to tie it all together, where the franchise goes from here, and much more!

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Like many of you, we're all practicing self-isolation for a couple of weeks and that made recording a regular episode a bit of a challenge. So instead, we're making the best of a less than ideal situation and doing our first mailbag episode instead.

We asked our listeners to submit their questions via social media and they provided us with some amazing topics to cover. So we go over the story of how the podcast came to be, some of our favorite antiheroes, which horror franchise we'd reboot and how we'd approach it, subjects we're hesitant to devote an episode to, Chris' favorite Batman villains and some of the overlooked writers and artists, Kristen's go-to vampire movies, how Mike would battle our current pandemic, and so much more!

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We didn't expect to be heading back to Crystal Lake so soon, but we took a look at the calendar and couldn't resist. Plus, watching Part 2 in such close proximity to the original wound up being really beneficial when it came to comparing and contrasting them.

The evolution of the Friday the 13th series is a fascinating one and although this represents an important step in its development, this entry still stands apart from subsequent sequels in several key ways.

Topics include: the original creative team's desire to turn this into an anthology series, why Paramount was more interested in a direct sequel, all the questions raised by Jason's return, the more human approach to his character vs the mindless zombie he'd eventually become, why Ginny is probably the best final girl in the franchise, the awkward prologue, the even more baffling ending, how Chris learned to let go of the hockey mask and embrace sack head Jason, and much more!

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This week, we're revisiting the infamous fifth installment of the Friday the 13th franchise: A New Beginning! The film that dared to continue Jason Voorhees' legacy without the man himself. Set five years after the events of The Final Chapter, this entry follows a troubled Tommy Jarvis as he grapples with trauma and a new wave of murders at a halfway house for troubled teens.

While the hockey mask returns, the man behind it is not who you'd expect, leading to one of the series' most controversial twists. Join us as we dissect the film's bold choices, its place in the slasher genre, and whether A New Beginning deserves its notorious reputation.

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We're back! And to celebrate our return, we're shaking things up with an investigation into our first antihero - Blade.

It's a deep dive on the Daywalker's comic book origins, how he was updated for the first film, the highs and lows of the sequels, other paths not taken, and where it all goes from here now that Marvel has reacquired the rights to the character.

Other topics include: the state of comic book movies when the first film hit theaters in 1998, alternate casting choices for the title role and other notable directors who circled the project, the small changes Blade II makes to the character that have a huge overall impact, the turmoil behind the scenes of Blade: Trinity and how that effected their plans moving forward, a long list of potential spinoffs and crossovers that never materialized, speculation about Blade's upcoming introduction into the MCU, and much more!

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No hockey mask. No machete. No Jason (at least not the way we're used to seeing him). Despite the fact that it kicked off one of the most popular horror franchises of all-time, the most notable thing about the original Friday the 13th is how little it has in common with the glut of sequels that followed it.

The filmmakers have never been shy about the fact that this was quickly cobbled together to capitalize on the success of Halloween - and it certainly did. Considering what this series evolved into and all of the other films it influenced, it's fascinating to go back to the source and examine what an outlier this entry truly is.

Topics include: the difference between capitalizing on a trend vs simply exploiting it, Betsy Palmer's reaction to the finished film and her iconic character, the appeal of slasher films and the assumptions people make about audiences who enjoy them, how the original crew felt about where the franchise went after this, some ways they might be able to bring Pamela back into the series, and much more!

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On this episode, we're checking into The Overlook Hotel and investigating all of the different interpretations of The Shining and its sequel, Doctor Sleep.

We cover all of it - Stephen King's original novel, Stanley Kubrick's wildly divergent film adaptation, the more faithful (and somewhat maligned) 1997 miniseries, and the incredible hat trick that Doctor Sleep director Mike Flanagan pulled off by crafting a new movie that somehow honors all of these disparate iterations.

Topics include: our first introductions to King's book and Kubrick's film, the key differences between them and how they each play to the strengths of their format, whether or not Nicholson's version of Jack really is crazy from the jump, the surprisingly poor box office performance of Doctor Sleep, the possibility for other stories to be told in this universe, a round of Ultimate Match-Up, and so much more!

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With Annie's arrival on the second season of Castle Rock, it wound up being a great time to revisit Stephen King's novel Misery and Rob Reiner's 1990 film adaptation.

Topics include: the real life rogue who may have indirectly influenced King's book, how that came back to haunt him many years later, key differences between the novel and the movie, what creators actually owe their fans, and much more!

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This week we're opening a case file on one of the greatest criminal minds of our time. But... is he? Gene Hackman's take on Lex Luthor in Superman: The Movie is markedly different from the way he'd been depicted in the comics up to that point, but also a far cry from how the character would continue to evolve.

Topics include: this iteration's inferiority complex and how Hackman's refusal to shave his head wound up playing into that, why Christopher Reeve's pitch-perfect portrayal of the man of steel contrasts so well with what this version of Lex is after, Hollywood's transition from the auteur-driven era of filmmaking into blockbuster spectacles and where Superman fits into that, some comparing and contrasting to other depictions of these characters, and much more!

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The Shape. The Bogeyman. Michael Myers. Whatever you want to call him, he's the reason for the season and on this episode we're investigating John Carpenter's 1978 classic Halloween.

From the production's inauspicious beginnings to the film's now-legendary status, we track the incredible journey of a ragtag group of filmmakers who set out to make a low budget horror flick and wound up changing the modern movie landscape.

Topics include: Carpenter's somewhat contentious relationship with the label "master of horror", the unlikely list of filmmakers he was drawing inspiration from, why every attempt to explain what makes Michael evil falls flat on its face, the choose-your-own-adventure continuity of this franchise, how the more cynical knock-offs misread what made this so successful, and much more!

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Slasher movies were certainly de rigueur in the early 80s, but when writer/director Wes Craven created A Nightmare on Elm Street, he had more on his mind than simply churning out another Halloween ripoff. This wasn't just a paradigm shift in the established formula for this sub-genre, it also birthed one of the most iconic horror villains of all-time.

On this episode, we're focusing exclusively on the first entry in the franchise and investigating how Craven, Robert Englund, and the rest of the cast & crew helped create an indelible modern myth with the character of Freddy Krueger.

Topics include: the real life incidents that inspired Craven's screenplay, the original actor they hired to play Freddy, how Englund's casting fundamentally changed certain aspects of the character, how tension between Craven and the head of the studio effected the finished film, our favorite behind-the-scenes stories, another round of Ultimate Match Up, our plans for covering the rest of this series, and much more!

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When you're dealing with a franchise as beloved as Back to the Future, there aren't many unexplored avenues left to cover. There is, however, an unsung hero of this series who often gets overshadowed. So on this episode, we're shining a much-deserved spotlight on actor Thomas F. Wilson and putting together a case file on his most iconic role... Biff Tannen.

Join us as we investigate the deceptively simple exterior of Biff and all the clues that hint at a much more layered character, why Wilson is the actor that this trilogy demands the most from and how he rises to the occasion, the additions to his backstory made by expanded media like the cartoon and video games, why there's never been a Back to the Future IV, where the franchise could go from here if they absolutely had to extend it, and much more!

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On this episode, we're comparing and contrasting three very different iterations of one of Star Trek's most iconic villains - Khaaaaan!

Although Space Seed is certainly a beloved episode of the original series, it was really the feature film The Wrath of Khan that established this character as one of the franchise's most formidable (and memorable) foes. Since then, there have been numerous attempts to recapture that same lightning in a bottle with other Trek adversaries and the results have been... mixed.

Join us as we investigate what makes The Wrath of Khan the high water mark of this series and why so many of its imitators have fallen short.

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Candyman was one of the first rogues on our list when we started this podcast and with the reboot hitting theaters next year, this seemed like an ideal time to go back to where it all began.

We delve into the character's first appearance in Clive Barker's short story The Forbidden, how Bernard Rose expanded upon that mythology for his feature film adaptation, the reason some of those changes were controversial, and why Candyman comes across like more of a straightforward boogeyman in the sequels.

We also discuss what it was like growing up here in Chicago and hearing stories about Cabrini Green, how keeping the franchise focused on the way folklore evolves and changes could have helped sustain it, what we're hoping to see in the new Candyman, and much more!

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This week, we're venturing deep into the Amazon to confront one of cinema's most infamous serpents: the titular terror of 1997's Anaconda. When a documentary crew sets out to capture the elusive Shirishamas tribe on film, they instead find themselves ensnared in the coils of a maniacal hunter's obsession... and the literal coils of a giant, man-eating snake.

Topics include: the filmmakers' original intention to make something similar in tone to Jaws, Jon Voight's campy yet compelling performance, the practical and CGI effects that brought the monstrous anaconda to life, how the movie slithered its way into cult classic status, and much more! 

So grab your gear and prepare for a wild ride through the jungle--just watch out for the ssssnakes!

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After Quantum of Solace took some of the wind out of the newly rebooted Bond franchise's sails, the pressure was on for Skyfall to deliver a return-to-form just in time for the series' 50th anniversary.

To say the film was a success would be a massive understatement. Skyfall remains the highest grossing James Bond movie to date and many critics heralded it as one of the top-tier installments. A lot of that praise was directed at Javier Bardem's portrayal of Raoul Silva - a villain carefully constructed to stand apart from most of 007's previous foes.

On this episode, we examine those differences and why a certain segment of Bond fandom was resistant to them. We also discuss the franchise at large, the Bond/M relationship, how the next film undermined so much of what worked here, and where we'd like to see the series go once Daniel Craig vacates the role.

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Gillian Flynn's novel Gone Girl grabbed the zeitgeist by the throat and David Fincher's film adaptation proved to be just as popular... and controversial. On this episode, we're opening a case file on one of the most provocative new rogues in contemporary fiction - Amy Dunne.

Join us we discuss our initial reactions to the material and all of its twists and turns, examine some of the key differences between the novel and the film and how those changes effect how we feel about Amy as a character, certain elements the film actually goes further with, Flynn's response to the story being "anti-feminist", a brand new segment called Ultimate Match Up, and much more!

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Welcome to Rogues Gallery! Kristen, Mike, and Chris are investigating pop culture's most memorable villains, antiheroes, and misunderstood monsters to find out how they make being bad look so good. On this debut episode, we're opening a case file on all four iterations of the masked killer from the Scream franchise - Ghostface.

Join us as we explore each killer's motive, compare and contrast the opening set pieces, dig into alternate versions of Scream 2, explain how outside forces influenced the change in approach to Scream 3, try to read between the lines of what really took place during the production of Scream 4, and much more.

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Music from https://filmmusic.io
"Anxiety" by Kevin MacLeod (https://incompetech.com)
License: CC BY (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)

Kristen and Mike from The Sunnydale Stacks have teamed up with Chris from Hey, Do You Remember...? for a brand new podcast from 27th Letter Productions!

On each episode of Rogues Gallery, we'll investigate a different villain, antihero, or misunderstood monster from pop-culture to find out how they make being bad look so good.

Subscribe now and then join us here on Wednesday, July 17th as we crack open our first case file.

GoldenEye marked the beginning of a new era for the James Bond franchise, introducing Pierce Brosnan as 007 in a post-Cold War world grappling with shifting geopolitics and evolving cultural expectations. And instead of running from those inescapable truths, the producers decided to confront them head-on. The result? One of the most beloved entries in the entire saga.

Join us as we discuss the original plans for Timothy Dalton's third outing, other contenders for the lead role before Brosnan was cast, how the marketing spoiled the film's big reveal, what makes Alec Trevelyan such a standout villain, the way the film puts a fresh spin on established tropes, the incredible supporting cast, deleted scenes, the controversial score, some thoughts about the proposed Old Man Bond film starring Brosnan that seems to be gaining momentum, and of course... the Nintento 64 game.

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This week, we're investigating The Entity from It Follows and discussing what makes this atmospheric horror/mystery so effective. 

Topics include: the recurring nightmare that inspired the film, the anachronistic production design and how it adds to the overall dreamlike feel, the incredible score by Diasterpeace, a few differences between the script and the final cut, all the different interpretations of what this is actually about, the divisive ending, the upcoming sequel, and much more!

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In this episode, we delve into the 2022 sci-fi horror film M3GAN, directed by Gerard Johnstone. The story centers on Gemma, a robotics engineer who becomes the guardian of her orphaned niece, Cady. To help Cady cope with her loss, Gemma introduces her to M3GAN (Model 3 Generative Android), an AI-driven doll designed to be the perfect companion. However, M3GAN's advanced learning capabilities lead her to develop self-awareness, resulting in unexpected and deadly consequences. ​

We'll explore the film's surprisingly wry tone, its themes of artificial intelligence, the ethical boundaries of technological advancement, and the human need for connection. Additionally, we'll discuss how M3GAN fits into the lineage of killer doll narratives, drawing comparisons to iconic figures like Chucky and Annabelle. ​

Join us as we analyze the film's commentary on the potential dangers of AI, its reflection on modern parenting in the digital age, and its place within the horror genre's exploration of technology run amok.

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Since this podcast's inception, Anton Chigurh has been one of our most requested rogues. This week, we're playing a game of chance with this formidable foe as we finally dive deep into No Country for Old Men.

Topics include: the origins of Cormac McCarthy's novel, the Coens process of adapting it, key differences between Chigurh's portrayal in the book vs the movie, reactions to the subversive final act, what the movie leaves out, the ways in which it might actually one-up the source material, and much more!

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We're back! Rogues Gallery is kicking off a brand new season with a deep dive into M. Night Shyamalan's Unbreakable.

It's hard to imagine a time when an Oscar-nominated filmmaker endeavoring to make a grounded and gritty superhero film would have been regarded as a risky proposition. But back in 2000, that's exactly the situation Shyamalan found himself in.

These days, you can't throw a rock without hitting half a dozen comic book movies with a similar tone, but Unbreakable was pretty ahead of the curve. In fact, the studio was so worried about its premise that none of the marketing could even hint at what this film was actually about.

That may be one reason it initially received a somewhat mixed reception - especially in comparison to Shyamalan's breakout hit The Sixth Sense. But in the years since, Unbreakable has been reevaluated and reclaimed. So join us as we investigate the landscape of comic book movies this was released into, break down all the reasons this was such a risky proposition, and find out how well it holds up twenty-five years later.

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"We're headed for a disaster of biblical proportions... Old Testament, real wrath of God-type stuff. Fire and brimstone coming down from the skies! Rivers and seas boiling! Forty years of darkness! Earthquakes, volcanoes, the dead rising from the grave! Human sacrifice, dogs and cats living together... mass hysteria!"

Whoa whoa whoa, RELAX. It's only our season finale. ROGUES GALLERY WILL RETURN WITH NEW EPISODES ON FEBRUARY 12th.But in the meantime, let's strap on our proton packs and go out with a bang.

Topics include: the original intergalactic version of the story that took place in the future, the process of reworking it into the film we know and love, why this one still feels so unique compared to a lot of other Ghostbusters media, alternate casting choices, the cartoon, the toys, the sequels, where we'd like to see this franchise go next, and much more!

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The sequel so nice they filmed it twice!

The Halloween franchise is no stranger to troubled productions, but part six takes the cake... then decides it doesn't like the flavor of that cake and tries to bake an all-new one on top of it. Meanwhile, some of the producers are wondering why it has to be a cake at all and so they decide to turn it into a casserole instead.  

So yeah. It's a mess. But it's a wild story and we had a blast recording this one. Happy Halloween, friends!

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It's Fall Verhoeven on Rogues Gallery! Our retrospective of Paul Verhoeven's work is winding down, and we're capping it off with a trip to Mars in his 1990 action/sci-fi fever dream Total Recall. 

Join us as we dig into the chaotic production history, break down the wild practical effects, and debate whether or not this is all real or just an implanted fantasy. Get ready for some open-your-mind weirdness because we've got a lot of thoughts about this one.

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The Strange Case of Lucy Chandler

Let them fight... about the 2014 reboot of Godzilla! 

Nah, not really. We're all pretty positive about this inaugural entry in the Monsterverse franchise. We discuss the unusual origins of the project and its decade-long journey to the big screen, director Gareth Edwards' less is more approach to the material, some of the most common complaints fans have about it, how it compares to subsequent entries, and much more!

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The Strange Case of Lucy Chandler

You're so cool, Brewster. We can't stand it! Join us as we investigate one of the most impressive and underrated horror films of the 80s. This week, it's Fright Night… for real!

Topics include: how each of us was introduced to this film, getting old enough to realize just how horny every single scene is, whether or not we agree with its classification as a horror/comedy, the tight-knit cast and how close they remain to this day, practical effects that rival the other heavy-hitters from this era, the sequel, the remake, some interesting what-ifs, and much more!

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The Strange Case of Lucy Chandler

It's our 100th episode! We knew we needed a truly head-spinning rogue to mark the occasion, so we decided to investigate what many consider to be the scariest movie ever made: The Exorcist.

Topics include: the real-life case that inspired the novel, how a last-minute appearance on a late-night talk show changed the book's fate, the long road to finding the right director for the film adaptation, the controversial tactics that were used to get more authentic performances from these actors, why so many cast and crew members felt the production was cursed, our thoughts on the extended cut, which sequels are worth your time, and much more!

Here's the Reddit thread discussed in the episode.

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It may be imperative for the characters in this movie to stay silent, but we sure have a lot to say about A Quiet Place.   Topics include: the incredible first trailer, the substantially different original script, the alterations and contributions John Krasinski made after signing on to direct, some of the most pervasive nitpicks with the premise and these creatures, various interpretations of what the film symbolizes, its expansion into a wider franchise, and much more!
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The Strange Case of Lucy Chandler

It's been a long time coming and now we're finally taking on the Deadites from the Evil Dead franchise and exploring the series' most significant entry - Evil Dead 2!

Topics include: the initial plans for Army of Darkness to be the first sequel, why it was scaled back into more of a remix of the original film instead, the massive shift in tone, our favorite sequences, how they pulled off some of the most memorable effects, where this one ranks for us amongst the other entries, and much more!

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Chris & Kristen's Web Series:
The Strange Case of Lucy Chandler

They came from Denton High! Join us as we seek refuge inside that spooky castle back down the road and investigate the cult phenomenon The Rocky Horror Picture Show.

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The Strange Case of Lucy Chandler

  Well, here it is. The film many consider to be the nadir of the Elm Street franchise, Freddy's Dead: The Final Nightmare. It's definitely bizarre, but is this much-maligned entry really the worst one? Let's find out!   Topics include: why the studio decided to kill their golden goose, the alternate universe where Peter Jackson directed a pretty interesting version of this movie, the inspirations for the controversial shift in tone, the lack of connection with previous films, its box office success but critical thrashing, and much more!
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The Strange Case of Lucy Chandler

"Pod away from her you cast!"

Okay, well that doesn't really work. But this movie sure does! 45 years later and James Cameron's Aliens is still very high on the list of greatest sequels ever made. Join us as we strap in for an express elevator ride to hell and discuss why it's anything but Game Over for this action/horror classic.

Topics include: why it took seven years for this follow-up to materialize, key differences between Cameron's original treatment and the shooting script, the additional scenes included in the Special Edition and which version we prefer, how these incredible effects were achieved on a fairly modest budget, our favorite characters, the mystery of Kenner's "Aliens" toy line from the early 90s, alternate timeline sequels, and much more!

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The Strange Case of Lucy Chandler

Greetings, programs! We're digitizing ourselves and entering ENCOM's mainframe to revisit the seminal sci-fi/action film Tron.

Although the film pioneered some truly incredible visual effects technology, it wasn't the overwhelming box office success Disney had been hoping for. Still, Tron developed a cult following and became an enormous influence on the next generation of forward-looking artists, musicians, and filmmakers. 

Topics include: why the original screenwriter feels the finished product is weaker than earlier iterations of the story, how the character of Flynn was reimagined after Jeff Bridges was cast, a few issues with the first act that ripple across the entire movie, some of the surprisingly low-tech techniques that were used to create the innovative effects, our thoughts on Tron: Legacy, and much more!

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We can't live without you... and we won't let you live without us! This week, we're revisiting Sleeping With The Enemy starring Julia Roberts and Patrick Bergin. It may not be as well-remembered as some of Roberts' other films from this era, but back in 1991, this modestly budgeted thriller about a young woman on the run from the ultimate husband-from-hell scored big at the box office. Like, really really big. Ten times its budget big.   It deserves a lot of credit for attempting to approach subject matter like this in a more realistic way, but like many first steps, the results are a little awkward.
Just a heads up - it probably goes without saying if you're familiar with the film, but please be aware that some sensitive topics are broached here concerning abusive relationships.

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The Strange Case of Lucy Chandler

A young couple sets out to capture proof of the strange disturbances in their suburban home, but what begins as an experiment in home video quickly spirals into a relentless descent into fear.

With its no-frills found-footage style and chillingly simple premise, Paranormal Activity turned a $15,000 indie project into a box office phenomenon and reignited a wave of supernatural horror. On this episode, we dig into the indie sensation that terrified audiences, examine how it reshaped the horror landscape of the 2000s, and debate whether or not the scares hold up when viewed outside the hype.

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Chris & Kristen's Web Series:
The Strange Case of Lucy Chandler

Heart of Ice has become the signature episode of Batman: The Animated Series, but it's just the tip of the iceberg (see what we did there?) We're using this bold reinvention of Mr. Freeze as a jumping-off point to talk about the history of this seminal show and why it remains our favorite adaptation of the Caped Crusader and his rogues. 

Topics include: Freeze's Silver Age origins (where he was known as Mr. Zero), his handful of appearances on the 60s Batman show, the perception of him prior to Batman: The Animated Series, the story behind this dramatically revamped iteration of the character, the surprisingly nuanced approach the creators took with so many of the villains, the incredible voice cast, how B:TAS successfully synthesized fifty years worth of Batman into something that felt new and familiar at the same time, Freeze's evolution across his subsequent appearances, how this depiction was eventually introduced into the comic books, why this remains the high watermark for so many of these characters, and much more!   Facebook | Twitter | Instagram
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The Strange Case of Lucy Chandler

The Hitcher wasn't particularly well-received when it was released in 1986, but it has developed a dedicated following in the intervening years. And a big part of that is unquestionably due to Rutger Hauer's standout performance as the title character. It's as menacing, beguiling, and unusual as the film itself. So join us as we hitch a ride with this cult classic and open up a case file on the mysterious John Ryder.   Facebook | Twitter | Instagram
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Chris & Kristen's Web Series:
The Strange Case of Lucy Chandler