Horror Movie Franchises – Details, episodes & analysis

Ty West's "X" trilogy includes "X", it's prequel "Pearl", and it's sequel "MaXXXine". Each movie follows a different cinematic style:

• X is a tribute to 1970's slashers such as "Texas Chainsaw Massacre"
• Pearl is a Technicolor extravaganza. Such films were popular in the 1930s thru 50s. Think "The Wizard of Oz". These movies had big sets, big scores and were filled with vibrant colors.
• MaXXXine is a tribute to Italian giallos. They were very stylized and were controversial due to excess sex and violence. Throw in a sleazy 1980s LA backdrop, a real killer that was on the prowl (the Nightstalker) and the Satantic Panic that was frightening the country at the time. 

Mia Goth is the standout of the series. I'll admit I didnt know much her before this. I had only seen her in the remake of "Suspiria". I really enjoyed her performance (especially in "Pearl"). It's a shame she didnt at least receive an Academy Award nomination for this character study. I look forward to seeing much more of her in future movies. 

Will there be other "X" movies? Ty West said he had an idea for a fourth but has since said he liked where the series ended. While I would like to see where else they could go, I'd glad someone in Hollywood knows when to end a story (vs beating a dead horse). 

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This episode covers the little known "The Prophecy" franchise. It's a five film series about a millennia-long war among angels. The first three movies star Christopher Walken. The last two were filmed back to back in Romania (and are really the same story). 

The first film was released theatrically in 1995 and has since become a cult classic. The other four were direct to video and have, for the most part, fallen out of the public conscience. 

If you like angel movies (such as "Legion", "Fallen", "Constantine", "Angel Heart" or "Warlock") give these a try. I would suggest the first (and possibly second) movies. The rest are not horrible but dont add much to the mythology.

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Welcome to the newly renamed podcast - Horror Movie Franchises! This fresh identity aligns perfectly with our core mission: To provide commentary, analysis and critiques of horror franchises. 

While some older episodes may retain our former title, Food and Frightening Film Fanatics, we're excited to embark on this new chapter.

Join us as we explore the depths of horror movies, sharing insights and thoughts on various franchises (from the most famous to some you've probably never heard of). We encourage listeners to share their views and engage with us in the comments section. Thanks for your continued support, and stay tuned for thrilling content ahead!

NOTE: This podcast was rebranded on 5/29/25 as "Horror Movie Franchises". 

In this episode we're covering a lesser known franchise called "Trancers". It's a low budget sci-fi series about a grizzled retired cop who travels through time-- by jumping into his ancestor's bodies. He's in search of trancers (they're kinda like zombies who do their master's bidding). 

There are six movies total. The first was theatrically released. The rest were direct to video. Tim Thomerson stars as Jack Deth. He's in all the entries except the last one. Helen Hunt is his girlfriend/wife Lena. She's in 1-2 and makes a cameo in 3. 

If you're looking for some 80s nostalgia, check out the first movie. Then if you like that, try the third as well. Forget about the rest (unless you're a hard core fan). 

I must say I was a bit disappointed by the series. All the main actors are good (and have been in tons of other movies/TV shows). I can even look past the low budget. But without a good plot, there's nowhere to go. If they had just made the story more interesting I could have been all in. I do know some people really like this show. If so, more power to them. It's just not for me. 

And in honor of my favorite Jack catchphrase "Dry hair's for squids" we'll talk about some popular squid dishes.

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NOTE: This podcast was rebranded on 5/29/25 as "Horror Movie Franchises". 

This week we delve into the “Feast” franchise, a lesser-known series of horror comedies that are sure to leave a lasting impression. Winning Project Greenlight's third season, the first movie was backed by Ben Affleck and Matt Damon. This franchise is a family affair with John Gulager as director, his father as Bartender, John’s wife as Harley Mom/ Biker Queen and his brother Tom as Greg. 

In the first movie, a group of strangers find themselves trapped in a Nevada desert bar, facing off against bloodthirsty monsters. The narrative continues with “Feast 2: Sloppy Seconds” (2008) and “Feast 3: The Happy Finish” (2009). If you like B movies with tons of gory practical effects, this might be the franchise for you. 

For the recipe we have an app that guaranteed to give you new ideas. It's the "Guardian Feast App" from Guardian Media. You can sort by cuisine (Italian, Mexican, Indian etc) or you can look for meat free, gluten free or dairy free options. The app is extremely customizable. Check it out on the iphone app store or Google Play. 

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NOTE: This podcast was rebranded on 5/29/25 as "Horror Movie Franchises". 

In this episode we'll delve into the "Carrie" franchise. The 1976 movie is most famous for two scenes: The shower scene and the prom scene. Odds are even if you havent seen the movie, you know about them.

The movie garnered two Oscar nominations-- Best Actress for Sissy Spacek as Carrie and Best Supporting Actress for Piper Laurie as Margaret (Carrie's mother).

There are 3 other movies in the franchise:

• The Rage: Carrie 2- 1999
• Carrie- 2002- MADE FOR TV MOVIE
• Carrier- 2013

These are really the same basic story. I would say stick with the first movie. It's a classic. If you'd like to see more, check out 2002's Carrie. It is the closest of the four movies to Stephen King's novel. Incidentally, "Carrie" was the first novel King published...and the rest is history. 

And for the recipe this week, we have a twist on the Bloody Mary cocktail. It's the Bloody Carrie. Not for the faint of heart, it has hot sauce and wasaba paste. Guaranteed to drop kick your taste buds. Check out Barbot for more details.

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NOTE: This podcast was rebranded on 5/29/25 as "Horror Movie Franchises". 

This week we're doing something slightly different. We're covering the longest running franchises in horror history. Sure everyone knows about "Halloween", "Friday The 13th" and "Children of the Corn" but there actually a # of horror franchises with MANY MORE entries. And, if you're like me, there are several here that you've never heard of.  

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NOTE: This podcast was rebranded on 5/29/25 as "Horror Movie Franchises". 

This week we're talking about "The Bad Seed". There's the original 1956 movie, 2 made for TV movies (one from 1985 and one from 2018) and a sequel to the 2018 movie. 

The original movie was nominated for 4 Oscars (for Nancy Kelly, Patty McCormack, Eileen Heckart and Best Cinematography). Eileen won a Golden Globe for her portrayal of Hortense. Nancy Kelly won a Tony Award for her portrayal of Christine in the play. 

The 1956 movie is considered a classic. I highly recommend it. It's the best portrayal by a child actor I've ever seen. Check out the 2018 version as well. McKenna Grace does an excellent job as Emma. It's just impossible to do a better job than Patty McCormack did as Rhoda. 

And it should come as no surprise that my recipe this week involves seeds. Check out how they can be a great addition to salads, proteins, breads, baked goods, etc

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NOTE: This podcast was rebranded on 5/29/25 as "Horror Movie Franchises". 

This week we're discussing the "Nosferatu" franchise. It's a bit confusing because first time viewers are like "Isn't this Dracula?". And the answer is sorta.

This vampire is a rat like creature who never blinks. He has long spindly fingers and two big teeth in the front of his mouth. He is the harbinger of death and bringer of the plague. This is not your sexy Bela Lugosi, Christopher Lee, Jack Palance, Gary Oldman vampire. And this vampire is definitely not sparkly. Women are NOT lining up to be seduced by him. 

The creators of the 1922 movie used the Dracula story but changed all the names and locations. It didnt work though. Bram Stoker's widow sued for copyright infringement. This bankrupted the studio and all copies of the film were supposed to be destroyed. Luckily for us, some survived. "Nosferatu" is now considered one of the best silent movies of all times. This movie shaped much of what we think of as vampire folklore (such as sunlight killing them). 

There are four "Nosferatu" films (the 1922 original, the 1979 version with Klaus Kinski, a shot by shot remake in 2023, and the last year's Robert Egger's movie). There are also a number of other versions of the original with different scores. 

And in honor of this vampire, we have several Nosferatu inspired drinks. They include bourbon, vodka and gin cocktails. There's even an IPA called "Nosferatu". 

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NOTE: This podcast was rebranded on 5/29/25 as "Horror Movie Franchises". 

This week I'm doing something slightly different. This is an ADDENDUM episode. I'm covering new entries to previously reviewed franchises. With so many new horror movies coming out each year, it's a challenge to keep up. In just the last year we had five new entries to existing horror franchises-- "Alien", "Creep", "Terrifier", "Omen", and "VHS". 

CORRECTION: The "Cube" remake is from Japan. For some reason I incorrectly said China. 

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