Horroretc Podcast

The Horror Etc Podcast returns to the murky streets of Victorian London, and this time...the game's afoot! As Ted is travelling on assignment this week, Tony (who has portrayed Holmes on radio, stage, and now screen) indulges in his love of Sherlock Holmes, discussing all things Holmesian, with a keen eye towards the horror fan. Joining him in this one-off caper, is Sherlock Holmes enthusiast Carrie Mackenzie, who gives your co-host a run for his money on the subject of the Great Detective. Sherlock Holmes meets Jack the Ripper, devils and demons, the affair of the Sussex Vampire, and more on this week's episode. So sit back, light a pipe, turn down the gaslight, and enjoy...it's elementary! As always we welcome your comments: horroretc@gmail.com / voicemail (206) 337-5324 WWW.HORRORETC.COM

Please present boarding passes and kindly head toward our 'private' screeners to be sure all orifices are free of dangerous or contraband materials - Air Horroretc is about to take flight on a trip around the globe to chat Foreign Horror. Now we know that classifying all filmmaking outside our native Canada as 'foreign' is a bit facetious and might be construed as a little disrespectful. We were simply looking for an excuse to talk about a variety of horror films from around the world. That said, we didn't cover even close to the terrain we had hoped so expect another trip again very soon. As it is we did manage to land at the following destinations: The Loved Ones (2009 â?? Australia) Rec 2 (2009 â?? Spain) The Resident (2011 â?? UK) Eyes Without A Face (1960 â?? France) Shock Labyrinth 3D (2009 â?? Japan) Nekromantik (1987 â?? Germany) Cropsey (2009 â?? USA) The Troll Hunter (2010 â?? Norway) Seeing the world is nice but itâ??s always nicer to be back home. In our closing segment we give some thoughts on a couple of recent releases: Anthony Hopkinsâ?? go at exorcism The Rite and the new Brad Anderson film Vanishing on 7th Street. Thanks for travelling Air Horroretc and we hope your trip was a pleasant one. As always welcome your comments: horroretc@gmail.com / voicemail (206) 337-5324 WWW.HORRORETC.COM

Come and join us as we walk the tightrope that is Horror Comedy this week. It's a topic that has been long overdue considering that so many movies that fall within this unique subgenre of horror are personal favorites. Part of the difficulty is in articulating what works on an individual basis - comedy may be the most subjective genre form and once mixed with the varying tastes of horror fans, it can get to be tricky. We tossed out a quote in the show that sums it up nicely: 'only a select few filmmakers can successfully tackle the complexity of mixing fear with laughter - if storytelling were science, then the scary / funny film is quantum physics'. So we gave it our best shot to break down what has made certain attempts more successful than others and along the way gave attention to dozens of examples from the dawn of cinema to the modern era. By the way...have you seen The 'Burbs? If not, why not? We close things out with a recap of Behind The Mask: The Rise of Leslie Vernon (2006) - a high recommendation for fans of the slasher genre, a fine satire from a different perspective than Scream. Finally, some callouts to listeners to participate in the show, some peaks at the future of the podcast, some thanks to generous contributors and a bold step into the cutting edge technology of 2007. Thanks for listening! As always welcome your comments: horroretc@gmail.com / voicemail (206) 337-5324 WWW.HORRORETC.COM

This week your hosts answer the call(s) in response to all the great feedback we've been receiving the past few weeks. In another unexpected format shakeup we decided to try out the all feedback show comprised of your calls and our responses. Many thanks to all those who took the time to send in your thoughts, comments and questions - the interaction with you all really is the fuel that keeps our fires burning. A sampling of the subjects tackled include horror video games, fascination with true life serial killers, how much horror exists in the Firefly / Serenity material, HP Lovecraft, Season of the Witch (2010), Lost Boys: The Thirst, Brainstorm (1983), The Walking Dead on AMC, Dexter (the recent novels), true life Hannibal Lectors (from the perspective of a real deal police officer), Black Swan and Paranormal Activity 3. A couple deeper topics that got some attention were the recently re-surfaced censorship discussion and everyone's favorite: religion. Misterd opens the floor up with a terrific feature length clip: 11 for '11, some great commentary that offers upcoming selections and the meaning of expectation. Tony and Ted participate throughout the course of the episode with 45 minutes of the show taking place in studio - again thanks to all for making this episode possible. Special thanks go out to Sean Spinks for another impressive piece of original artwork, and to Mark and Steve for the generous donations. Here's to the best listeners a couple of horror geeks could ask for! As always welcome your comments: horroretc@gmail.com / voicemail (206) 337-5324 WWW.HORRORETC.COM

We're both off the beaten path and heading down the lost highway, Horroretc is coming for you from all directions this week. With your hosts spread across the countryside we deliver a bit of an unusual format in the show with segments coming from Anthony out on the road while Ted and Doug sit down in studio B to offer up a tasty variety of subjects. In 1973, the Canadian Broadcast Corporation produced an hour-long TV adaptation of Dracula. The film was aired once, as part of the "Purple Playhouse" series, then faded into lore and obscurity, often cited among Dracula enthusiasts as the rarest of all versions of Bram Stoker's classic. A distinguishing feature of this rendition, was the first-ever inclusion of the scene where Dracula is observed scaling down the wall of his castle, in dreadful bat-like fashion. The teleplay was rumored to have been lost, which (thankfully) is not the case - although it is not likely to ever be released on DVD, or screened again. Anthony has hit the road in pursuit of this gem while Ted and Doug chat about some random topics. To assist with the chapter selection and potential spoiler territory, the layout goes a little something like this: 0:00 - 5:10 Show introduction 5:11 - 18:27 Anthony hits the road 18:28 - 36:22 Ted & Doug talk up True Grit (and the Coens in general) 36:23 - 1:03:32 Anthony discusses Dracula 1973 1:03:33 - 1:22:38 Ted & Doug get to Tron Legacy, A Serbian Film and (gasp) censorship 1:22:39 - 1:39:14 Anthony visits Luis at Suspect Video 1:39:15 - 2:08:33 Ted & Doug look ahead to what 2011 has in store for box office horror 2:08:34 - 2:18:27 Tony brings himself and 'it all' home Hope you all enjoy the fun and join us again next week for another happy reunion. Special thanks to Paul McIntyre and the CBC for granting access to the 1973 Dracula. As always welcome your comments: horroretc@gmail.com / voicemail (206) 337-5324 WWW.HORRORETC.COM

"It was me". Time again to revisit the world of Dexter Morgan. As longtime listeners of the podcast are now painfully aware, we are Dexter junkies and thus this week's show may be exclusionary to those who are either unfamiliar with the show or not yet caught up (note, we did not mention the possibility of such a thing as not being a fan of the show). Needless to say: SPOILER ALERT - the season's plot details are discussed very openly. So we pick up in the immediate aftermath of the season 4 finale and are left in the fallout of that shocking moment. How does Dexter respond and what directions will his Dark Passenger take him. It was a tumultuous season to be sure and in the absence of a singlular protagonist, we discuss whether the show stands up post-Trinity and where things could and should go next. New characters Lumen (Julia Stiles) and Liddy (Peter Weller) added some fresh blood to the mix (yes, bad pun intended), and the new mysteries of the barrel-girl and Santa Muerta killers kept us guessing. Admittedly, Ted's bold prediction of the course of season 5 did not come to pass but with everything said and done - we couldn't be happier to have a season 6 on it's way. If you want to hear our Dexter season 5 recap episode - TAKE IT! As always welcome your comments: horroretc@gmail.com / voicemail (206) 337-5324 WWW.HORRORETC.COM

Ahhh, the year that was. We may be fashionably late to the year in review but we do bring to the table our thoughts on 2010 nonetheless. After some initial meandering we get to a recap of the notable box office offerings where the passage of time allowed for the revisiting of many titles covered in the podcast during the year. What has held up and which films have begun to tarnish already are discussed. As our disclaimer states, we are not presuming to be definitive in any way nor do we attempt to list our faves...just an excuse to look back in hindsight to see what ended up being worthy of our anticipation (ahem, Wolfman - we're looking at you). In addition to some highlighted titles, we spend some time with a few recent 2010 watches from the past week: Monsters (a low budget UK alien invasion film that focuses on the journey of characters observing the face of their new world), Skyline (a bigish budget alien invasion film that offers no engaging characters at all), Buried (the Ryan Reynolds buried alive concept film that offers up some true horror - psychological torture), Black Swan (Darren Aronofsky's cinematic assault on Natalie Portman - yes, it's about ballet...yes, it's good), and A Serbian Film. Ok, word of warning to all listeners. If you have heard about A Serbian Film, be prepared to hear all the grisly details. If you haven't heard of this film before - be prepared for some harsh (!) descriptions. Either way, the film is openly spoiled up through the, ahem, climax. If you wish to avoid spoilers, the segment is 15 minutes to be forwarded. Finally, we wrap up the show with a sneak peek of some selected 2011 titles to look forward to. Many thanks to everyone who has listened and been a friend to the show, we are being truly sincere when we say you are the reason we are here. As always welcome your comments: horroretc@gmail.com / voicemail (206) 337-5324 WWW.HORRORETC.COM

The Walking Dead on AMC. Creative Producer credit and Director of two of the six season 1 episodes, Frank Darabont. Direct involvement and cooperation with the source material creator, and screenwriter for an episode, Robert Kirkman. All these elements were part of a recipe of fan hype and anticipation for the screen presentation of one of the all time great zombie apocalypse stories. So what were we delivered at the end of the season 1 arc? We discuss the series in depth with sparing yet on point comparisons to the comic book narrative. The characters of the story are examined in detail as they form the core of what separates The Walking Dead in the zombie genre - an unblinking observation of the downfall of the human race told through relationship interactions, behaviours and genuinely frightful reactions. Did Darabont pull it off and what do we make of the dismissal of the writing staff wholesale in preparation for season 2? It's all here with a lot more too. SPOILER WARNING: The discussion of season 1 is without inhibition. The idea is if you have not watched the six episodes, the series will be spoiled here. We wanted to have a wide open conversation about the show so pleased be warned. Many thanks to Doug for sacrificing a few hours away from work to participate. As always welcome your comments: horroretc@gmail.com Voicemail (206) 337-5324 WWW.HORRORETC.COM

Welcome to our fourth annual X-mas Spectacular episode, and what better way to celebrate the festive spirit of the season than to discuss the terrifying concept of home invasion horror. A great deal of holiday cheer was imbibed prior to the recording session and the show is step or two groggier than normal as a result. A short list of the discussion topics include some non-traditional X-mas themed films Dead End (2003) and The Proposition (2005), as well as the original short films that inspired Rare Exports: A Christmas Tale. Along the way, Dexter season 5, Twin Peaks, Pumpkinhead and Family Guy: It's a Trap helped to steer things off course. Things transition into Home Invasion themed films where one of the most frightening and true to life horrors that can befall any one of us helps to lighten the mood. The randomness of violence is at the core of many films that explore the home invasion theme and we selected a cross section of off the beaten path titles: Wait Until Dark (1967), Desperate Hours (1955), Straw Dogs (1971), The Uninvited Guest (2004) and after much procrastination Ted gives his thoughts on The Strangers (2008). Things close out with a couple of musical numbers from some old dear friends of the podcast. So put on that snuggly and curl up by the fireplace while indulging in the grimmest celebration of the season of peace and love on the net. Thanks to all for taking the time to listen and many warm wishes from your hosts this holiday. Want to give a gift to the podcast for X-mas? How about an iTunes review. All support is welcome and appreciated. As always welcome your comments: horroretc@gmail.com / voicemail (206) 337-5324 WWW.HORRORETC.COM

The makeup artist. An often under-acknowledged component of the practical effects team that bring nightmares to celluloid gets some attention this week. We have long praised the lasting power of the practical effect and sworn our allegiance to latex over the CGI wizardry of the modern era, but it's time to discuss why specifically. A cross section of the all time greats are honoured in the course of talking about some of the greatest effects achievements in the genre over the past 80 years...and ponder what the future holds for the craft. Some of the greats discussed include: Rick Baker, Rob Bottin, Chaney Sr., Giannetto De Rossi, Germano Natali, Tom Savini, Jack Pierce, Stan Winston, Carlo Rambaldi, Dick Smith and Chris Walas. An interesting recent Canadian court case is debated where the special effects of an independent artist are so extreme (ie. successful), they may be considered 'obscene'. Finally, we tie it all together with a fun schlock corner video: Exploding Heads! As always welcome your comments: horroretc@gmail.com / voicemail (206) 337-5324 WWW.HORRORETC.COM

Hannibal Lecter. The very name conjures up so many iconic images and unforgettable lines. We finally give a long overdue look at the character's film franchise...such as it is. The Hannibal films are indeed an eclectic group with such varied performers, directors, composers, timelines - hell, there's even a remake thrown in the middle. The character of Lecter may have been played by three different actors but it has become arguably Anthony Hopkin's greatest role, a rare occurrence of perfect interpretation. The 1991 sweep of the Oscars may have actually overshadowed the potency of Silence of the Lambs as a genre film in a strange way. Thriller, horror...we're not judging. Things actually kickoff with the underseen first telling of Red Dragon in the 1986 Michael Mann film Manhunter. Silence left everything in it's wake and it took 10 long years before the followup Hannibal which has to be considered a horror tale if for no other reason than Ray Liotta's fate and Gary Oldman's...presence. The quickie remake Red Dragon in 1992 by Hollywood turnstile Brett Ratner has it's detractors but the performances are there nonetheless. Finally, a fateful (and some might say financially motivated?) prequel was produced in 2007 recounting the main events in the life of young Hannibal explaining the source of his evil and specific 'tastes' in cuisine and fine culture. Here's hoping you enjoy our celebration of Hannibal the Cannibal. Some further rambling includes discussion of the new Harry Potter flick, Burning Bright (2010), Winnebago Man (2009), the Planet of the Apes series, Hellraiser, Skyline, Magnum PI (?!)...and much more. As always welcome your comments: horroretc@gmail.com / voicemail (206) 337-5324 WWW.HORRORETC.COM

Welcome to the third convening of the Horroretc Book Club and it's our great pleasure to announce we have a full roster of listener contributions to share. Many thanks to all those who participated to help realize the vision of what the Book Club shows are meant to be. In addition, we are joined by a good friend of the podcast to round out the table as we tackle a variety of titles - classic novels Psycho by Robert Bloch, The Exorcist by William Peter Blatty and The Wicker Man by Robert Hardy set the stage. Several horror literature authors are profiled along the way (notably the works of Jack Ketchum), and we tackle some burning questions such as the debate over the role of E-reader technology. The star of the show of course is the roster of listeners sharing thoughts, comments and recommendations. Titles from Stephen King, Chuck Hogan, Richard Layman, Jack Ketchum, MR James, Charles Pellegrino, Ray Bradbury, Peter Straub, Jeff Strand, Jeff Lindsay, John Ajvide Lindquist and many many, more are covered. As promised, we name our contest winners and thank Rebellion Press for once again offering great prizes to the community. Special thanks to our guest host this week Kennedy and be sure to check out his stellar podcast Books You Should Read. Check out the info on the executioner Jack Ketch Ted was on about here. Finally, give End of the Line a look here if you are a fan of subway horror. As always welcome your comments: horroretc@gmail.com / voicemail (206) 337-5324 WWW.HORRORETC.COM

In celebration of the 50 year anniversary of the iconic film we present the complete Psycho retrospective. The original classic stands in a select group in the annuls of film history with so much owing to the strength of source material sculpted into the visual form with such mastery. Known by many as Hitchcock's masterpiece, Psycho defied boundaries in the industry and opened the scope of the landscape for the horror genre. A subtle and impressive great performance by Anthony Perkins as troubled Norman Bates, fantastic score by Bernard Herrmann, excellent character twists...so many strong elements were blended and crafted by Hitch that we regard it as one of the all time greats. Then we get to the franchise. Every effort is made to analyze and interpret the complexities of Psycho 2 (1983), Psycho 3 (1986), Psycho 4 (1990), Bates Motel (1987) and of course in the interests of completeness Psycho (1998). Things got a little wacky in the 80's including the TV movie pilot for a Bates Motel series (!?), before 'phoning in' one last trip to visit Mother in 1990. Oh, did I mention there was a Gus Van Sant shot for shot remake? Please note: we are pretty liberal with the spoilers (but there's only 1 film where it matters). The Psycho series is a unique kind of horror franchise and often goes undiscussed but let the 50 year anniversary be a reminder to check out the powerhouse original. The further analysis referenced can be found here (Link). Norman Bates selling Oatmeal in Schlock Corner As always welcome your comments: horroretc@gmail.com / voicemail (206) 337-5324 WWW.HORRORETC.COM

A pretty wide range of topics this week in a very conversational session of the podcast. The best way to explain what to expect in the show is to list off just some of the many directions things went while we chatted: - the state of horror & where we are as fans - a teaser of our coverage of the Psycho film franchise - where is the Period Horror? Is the industry afraid of disassociation with their contemporary audience? - the impact of a market on the quality and care put into the films offered. - the importance of a deep 'film vocabulary' - appeal for listener recommendations...you be the critic - the evolution of box office economics - Kingdom of the Spiders 3D - reaching into the back catalogue of horror films vs new releases - The Hereafter / Clint Eastwood - Megamind / Will Ferrell - The Walking Dead! very minor spoiler talk (41:13 - 51:31) - 3DTV and Blu-ray (importance of restoration via remastering) - Star Wars - Schlock! The Secret History of American Movies (2001) - Halloween 2010.....and more. Along the way, we share some recent voicemail feedback that allowed for some further debate on subjects like X-Files, TV horror, how 'fusion on a molecular level' works in The Fly '86 and Paranormal Activity 2. Thanks for listening and remember we are looking for your book club reviews and recommendations. We always welcome your comments: horroretc@gmail.com / voicemail (206) 337-5324 WWW.HORRORETC.COM

Dear Boss -- In the foggy streets of Victorian London, there once lurked a killer whose brutal legacy still inspires fear and mystery today... The enigma of Jack the Ripper has tempted the minds of mystery-lovers and film-goers for well over a century, but the horrifying details of the atrocities committed by the most famous of all serial killers are still enough to make one shudder. Here we find - for the first time ever - and early and complete record of one of the most engaging and enduring police investigationas. Over 2000 people were interviewed, hundreds were scrutinized, and dozens were detained as panic and suspicion plagued the streets of Whitechapel! 132 years later the mystery of Jack the Ripper's identity still remains, with over 100 conflicting theories as to who was what the BBC voted as The Worst Brit of All Time. Well, Tony and Ted come no closer to solving the riddle but these two armchair Rpiierologists do indulge in their own lifetime of interest in the case, with an conversation emphasizing the facts and theories, and touching upon the Ripper's influence on film. If you don't know Jack, you sure will in just a few moments time... Sincerely, From Hell. A fun little schlock corner lightens the mood (that is, if you consider seeing a Brad Pitt double impact traffic accident...light): best part of Meet Joe Black Finally, amid a few listener feedback pieces and a breakdown of the new rules of horror per Scream 4, we conduct a spoiler heavy discussion of Paranormal Activity 2. Spoiler talk runs from 1:19:39 through 1:37:36. We always welcome your comments: horroretc@gmail.com / voicemail (206) 337-5324 WWW.HORRORETC.COM