Dismembering Horror

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Join us as we traverse the arid, alien landscape of 'The Outwaters,' Robbie Banfitch's found-footage horror that charts a group of friends' descent into terror in the heart of the Mojave Desert. Despite its ambitious intention and appealing premise, we found it lacking in narrative coherence, intentionality, and verisimilitude. Ryan was underwhelmed, generously allotting it a "stream" for its earnest attempt, and for the sake of staying up on the latest in independent horror. Tim had a much stronger reaction, labeling it a stern "avoid."  Prepare to lose yourself in the shifting sands of our latest episode as we attempt to uncover 'The Outwaters,' a film that, in our estimation, also lost its way. 'The Outwaters' (2022) Written and Directed by Robbie Banfitch Where we watched: Apple TV rental RecommenDEADtions: 'The House Bunny' / 'The Flash' Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In our latest episode, we unravel the layered world of ‘Men,' a British folk horror film by Alex Garland, that sees a widowed woman, portrayed by Jessie Buckley, on “vacation” in a countryside village, tormented by the eerie men in the village, all brought to life by Rory Kinnear. We unpack Garland's layered narrative, drawing links to ancient cautionary tales, while also exploring the film's religious undertones and symbolism. ‘Men' is a film that invites and defies consensus in equal measure, a trait reflected in our own verdicts. Ryan wasn't very enamored, though conceded to a ‘rent' due to the film's originality and enough intriguing elements. Tim however absolutely loved ‘Men', awarding it an enthusiastic ‘buy.' Are you ready to hear some men talk about ‘Men'? Tune in to our episode and let's dissect this folk horror enigma together! "Men" (2022) Written and Directed by Alex Garland Where we watched: Showtime RecommenDEADtions: ‘Devil in a Blue Dress' / ‘Woodlands Dark and Days Bewitched: A History of Folk Horror' Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In our latest episode, we get into the thick of the unconventional thriller, "The Vanishing". This isn't your usual kidnapping drama - this one's got layers, and it's as deliciously complicated as your grandma's lasagna recipe! We get tangled up in an intricate web spun around "what happened" rather than "whodunnit". "The Vanishing" taps into our fascination with the aftermath of a horrific event and explores the relentless grip of obsession. We chew on the tricky question of moving on and the paradoxical timelines of grief. It's a deep dive into the human heart that has us asking: "Can we truly let go?" If you're a fan of true crime, love to wrestle with thought-provoking narratives or just fancy stories that shake things up a bit, you're in the right place. Tim heartily recommends it with a "rent," while Ryan can't help but hold it to the higher standard of a "buy." Are you ready to vanish into "The Vanishing"? "The Vanishing" (1988) Directed by George Sluizer Written by Tim Krabbé (novel), George Sluizer (screenplay) Where we watched: Blu-ray RecommendDEADtions: "Freeway" and "Freeway II: Confessions of a Trickbaby" / "Knock at the Cabin" Check us out on YouTube! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Join us as we dive deep into the paradoxically dark reality of "Torso," an Italian horror classic that centers on a masked killer on a throat-slitting, sexual spree. We hop into our little Italian car and journey into the film's unsettling depiction of violence, exploring its uncanny ability to get at a disturbing, “real” feeling, despite unrealistic effect (a Giallo staple). With Ryan awarding it a "rent" and Tim giving it a "stream," we dissect the film's unique tension where brutality meets believability and so much more. We promise it'll be a 'cut' above the rest! Torso (1973) Directed by Sergio Martino Written by Ernesto Gastaldi Where we watched: Fandor RecommendDEADtions: Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 / Britt's art installation Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ryan and Tim take a dreary, deadite delve into "Evil Dead Rise," the fifth installment in the iconic horror franchise. While the film didn't quite live up to Ryan's hopes, lacking a certain bite and earning a "stream" rating, Tim found it more compelling and awarded it a "rent." Our hosts discuss how and if filmmakers can "put evil" into a movie, how a “modern” approach both helped and hurt the movie, as well as the potential pitfalls of too much character development. So pardon us as we can't help but say: JOIN US! Evil Dead Rise (2023) Written and Directed by Lee Cronin Where we watched: Theaters RecommenDEADtions: Showing Up / Beau Is Afraid Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Starring everyone's favorite Nicolas Cage as the iconic Transylvanian Lord of Darkness, “Renfield” offers a fun and fresh “what if” in the form of a nine-decades-later sequel to the 1931 original “Dracula.” Ryan enjoyed the performances but couldn't bring himself to rate it higher than a "stream." On the other hand, Tim was smitten by its silliness, declaring it a new comfort movie and granting it a solid "buy." Tune in as we dismember the film's blood-sucking humor, chilling charm, and Nicolas Cage's reliably committed portrayal of the legendary vampire. Don't miss this fang-tastic episode! Renfield (2023) Directed by Chris McKay Written by Ryan Ridley Where we watched: Theaters RecommenDEADtions: Beau Is Afraid / Piranha Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

For this episode, we dive into the drizzling, moody world of the 1997 psychological thriller "Cure." Directed by Kiyoshi Kurosawa, the film follows a detective investigating a series of gruesome murders. The chilling twist? The real killer isn't committing the murders himself; instead, he hypnotizes others to carry out the heinous acts. Join us as we dismember the film's appropriately hypnotic atmosphere, and thought-provoking themes of identity, control, and culpability when the lines between perpetrator and victim blur. Ryan rated the film a (conservative) "rent it," while Tim surprised Ryan and opted for a "stream." Cure (1997) Written and Directed by Kiyoshi Kurosawa Where we watched: The Criterion Channel RecommenDEADtions: Alien from L.A. / Shall We Dance (1996) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Hosts Ryan and Tim are joined by recurring guest and "Scream Fiend" Peter Warden to dissect the latest installment in the fabled franchise: "Scream VI." With Ghostface and the “Scream” (2022) crew back on the chopping block, the trio slices and dices their way through the film's scintillating suspense, bloody butcherings, and terrifying twists. They also delve into the idea of fictionalizing real-life violence in horror storytelling, taking a stab at carving out what feels right or not. Don't miss this gripping and gruesome discussion that's sure to make you SCREAM with delight! Scream VI (2023) Directed by Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett Written by James Vanderbilt and Guy Busick Where we watched: Theaters RecommenDEADtions: Ryan: "Modern Girls" | Tim: "Parasite" | Peter: "Babylon" Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Our 200th episode is here! We've explored so many nooks and crannies of the genre, and now, in celebration of this milestone, we're taking a look back at the past hundred episodes to pick out our top nine films. It's not about the ranking or the competition, it's about sharing our love for the genre. Join us as we revisit some of our favorites, and see which ones have stayed with us long after the credits rolled. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

"Speak No Evil" takes the well-worn trope of doing something foolish to prove oneself and turns it on its head, delving deeper into the horror of societal expectations. We were both along for the ride into the forest, countryside, and rock quarry, navigating the dangers of polite society and psychopaths alike. With our tongues firmly intact, we dismember the nuances of modern niceties explored in this thrilling film. "Speak No Evil" earned a double "rent" from both of us. Speak No Evil (2022) Directed by Christian Tafdrup Written by Christian and Mads Tafdrup Where we watched: Shudder RecommenDEADtions: All That Jazz / The Volcano: Rescue from Whakaari Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Don't be fooled, like his father before him, the younger Cronenberg knows what he's doing: and delivers with “Infinity Pool.” While keeping the family tradition of body-centric horror, Brandon adds his own cerebral touch that titillates in all the right Cronenberg-y ways. Ryan and Tim both agree that this film deserves a "buy" for a plethora of reasons, including Mia Goth's incredible, unhinged performance. This film is so good, it'll get under your skin and make you want to peel back the layers with multiple repeat viewings. Infinity Pool (2023) Written and Directed by Brandon Cronenberg Where we watched: Theaters RecommenDEADtions: Easy Riders, Raging Bulls: How the Sex Drugs and Rock & Roll Generations Saved Hollywood (book) / Fire of Love Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week on Dismembering Horror, we delve into the pre-and-post-apocalyptic depths of darkness with Tim's pick for "the bleakest movie" he's ever seen. Get ready for the shock and awe of "Threads," a British classic that rocked the country with its pseudo-documentary style and heart-stopping realism. We were joined by Bob Mielke, the writer of the "Threads" book, and Rachel Kempf, co-founder of its publishing company. It was an honor to have them on the show for an even more in-depth dissection. With a rare quadruple "buy," it's time to join the fun (but don't say we didn't warn you, this one's not for the weak-hearted) and get ready for a blast of horror (pun intended). Threads (1984) Directed by Mick Jackson Written by Barry Hines Where we watched: Shudder RecommenDEADtions: Martyrs / Ace Venture: When Nature Calls / Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery / The Damned, Carol for Another Christmas, My Nuclear Life (podcast), and Super Critical Podcast (podcast), The Girls of Atomic City (book) Check out Bob's book and other offerings from DieDieBooks here: https://diediebooks.com/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

“Dinky dinky do,” if we do say so ourselves! What an interesting experience “Skinamarink” was. Stark, eerie, unsettling, challenging for some, this Canadian film has been causing quite a stir with audiences, both good and bad. 11 people walked out of Tim's theater, sparking a conversation worth its own dismembering. The path to loving this movie may well be in the viewer's ability to tap into their childhood fears and feelings. Ryan had no problem getting there, while Tim could never quite find that zone, earning a “buy” and a “stream” respectively. Skinamarink (2023) Written and Directed by Kyle Edward Ball Where we watched: AMC Burbank 16 RecommenDEADtions: Coming Home / White Lotus Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ahh, the late great glory of 90's indie film…what's that you say? This film was made two years ago? But it encapsulates that late 90's vibe so well! “We're All Going to the World's Fair” is a moody spiral down into finding oneself in the burgeoning age of creepy-pasta internet—relentlessly eerie and artfully depicted by a filmmaker as they too were finding themselves. Ryan and Tim found this one ripe for exploration with little to criticize, rating it a “buy” and “rent” respectively. We're All Going to the World's Fair (2021) Written and Directed by Jane Schoenbrun Where we watched: HBO Max RecommenDEADtions: Fatal Pulse / The Video Archive Podcast with Quentin Tarantino and Roger Avery Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

If you thought getting a lump of coal in your stocking was bad, just you wait! This holiday season we decided to deepen our understanding of the true roots of Christmas: Paganism. Well, or at least some very German lore. With a standout cast, and tremendous set and creature design, the guys felt that despite some lulls, “Krampus” was a nice gift for the holidays and garnered a double “rent.” Just remember, the spirit is all about giving—and if you doubt that spirit, Krampus will come and take it all away. Krampus (2015) Directed by Michael Dougherty Written by Todd Casey, Michael Dougherty, and  Zach Shields Where we watched: Blu-ray RecommenDEADtions: Elvira's Haunted Hills / Raising Arizona Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It's “Midsommar” meets “Ratatouille!” Get ready for some fine dining with the subject of this week's episode, “The Menu.” Touching on all sorts of interconnected themes, prompting us to dismember all that comes with working in the service industry, and getting excited about the horror-centric premise at the heart of it all, this frenzied, food-centric feast of a film gave us plenty to chew on. The burger off this menu was cooked just to our liking, with Ryan dishing out a “rent” and Tim going all out with a “buy.” The Menu (2022) Directed by Mark Mylod Written by Seth Reiss and Will Tracy Where we watched: Theaters RecommenDEADtions: Freaked / The Green Knight Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It's Thanksgiving with everybody's favorite twin Floridians, Todd and Terry! With a relatively small list of Thanksgiving themed/set horror films, we decided to carve up a very special Turkey of a 1980's slasher this year... "Blood Rage!" Thanks to solid kills, a unique setting, and even more unique portrayals of how humans act, this could-be-holiday-classic came with enough sides to earn a "stream" from Tim and an enthusiastic "rent" from Ryan.

She drowned, in a lake, but died in a dry lake bed months before. If that isn't eerie enough, then the fact that time is relative and a flat circle will really bake your noodle. Lake Mungo explores the doom of prescient haunting and the trauma of losing a loved one, all through the medium of captured images. So docu-style horror really did the heavy lifting in this one. Influential as it may be, Tim and Ryan were ultimately underwhelmed with this one giving it a double “stream”. Freaky, provocative, but a bit sloggy, there were good moments a plenty to dismember. Lake Mungo (2008) Written and Directed by Joel Anderson Where we watched: Blu-ray RecommenDEADtions: Reflections of Evil / Barbarian

Well, we've finally arrived at the end. The big question on everyone's mind: will Laurie Strode triumph over evil, or will Michael Myers plunge his knife deep into the heart of the queen of the final girls once and for all? For the THIRTEENTH installment of the Halloween franchise, the filmmakers put to question the role of evil in Haddonfield and the effects it's had. Although not everyone seemed to feel the same way, Ryan and Tim were very satisfied with this conclusion to what has become known as the “H40 Timeline,” rating it a “double buy.” Clearly there is a box-set in the future for the guys. Halloween Ends (2022) Directed by David Gordon Green Written by Paul Brad Logan, Chris Bernier, Danny McBride, David Gordon Green Where we watched: AMC Theaters RecommenDEADtions: Mona Lisa and the Blood Moon / The 101 Scariest Horror Movie Moments of All Time

This week we welcome fellow podcaster Michael Osborne to dismember yet another Wes Craven classic, “The Hills Have Eyes.” Shocking for its time, the original stays true to the despair of the desert and the underpinnings of classism that Craven does so well, and our guest brought his knowledge of geology and a general revelry to help us dig deep. Although the costumes of the “hill people” may have left something to be desired, the guys all concluded that this one was a double “stream” from Michael and Tim, but made it to a “rent” for Ryan. Check out our conversation as well as Michael's podcast, “Famous and Gravy!” The Hills Have Eyes (1977) Written and Directed by Wes Craven Where we watched: Amazon Prime Video RecommenDEADtions: A Return To Salem's Lot / Watcher / Love Death and Robots / You're Wrong About Podcast  Michael's Dead or Alive app: https://deadoraliveapp.com

Director Ti West has done it folks, he and Mia Goth have catapulted us back in time to see the how and why of the titular killer Pearl, whom we were so gloriously acquainted with in this past summer's “X”. Keeping in step with the slow burn and build that Ti West has become known for, Pearl leaves little doubt that not only is he making really innovative choices, but Mia Goth is staking her claim as an incredible actor with this mesmerizing and remarkable performance. Tim and Ryan had a ton to dismember with a rating of “rent” (which likely turned to “buy”) and “buy” respectively.. Pearl (2022) Directed by Ti West Written by Ti West and Mia Goth Where we watched: Theater RecommenDEADtions: 3,000 Years of Longing / House of the Dragon (TV show)

An indigenous-centric, woman-led, trial-by-fire to defeat a teenage alien Predator dropped onto earth to hunt down the apex prey? Uhhh, yes please! We welcome the exquisite chef Denise Vallejo, founder of Alchemy Organica this week to help us dismember the “Predator” prequel, “Prey.” We had a great conversation, touching on why the setting was perfect for this series, the use of animal actors in today's world, and the Predator's private hormonal angst. We agreed overall on our assessment, leading to solid double “streams” from Tim and Ryan, while squeaking out a “rent” from Denise. Prey (2022) Directed by Dan Trachtenberg Written by Patrick Aison Where we watched: Hulu RecommenDEADtions: Light and Magic (documentary series) / The Misfits / The Alien Anthology

This week the guys revisited a film that is widespread on nearly every haunted house horror list. Any horror film that pulls a legendary actor like George C. Scott to star in it, certainly deserves high accolades right? Well… although it scores some points for mood and eeriness, "The Changeling" seemed to fall short of its praise. Tim and Ryan had to give a medium rating of double “stream” due mostly to, despite his talents, some character choices that didn't gel with us for George C. Scott, and the ultimately convoluted murder mystery. The Changeling (1980) Directed by Peter Medak Written by William Gray and Diana Maddox Where we watched: Amazon Prime RecommenDEADtions: The Funeral / The Hustler

We are back with another Jordan Peele film, but that's not all that we are back with! This week we welcome back none other than our first ever guest Michael Tucker of “Beyond The Screenplay” fame! Since Michael joined us for Jordan Peele's last film, we thought why not make that a tradition. Once again the thoughts and opinions on this one were flying around like a giant flying saucer, and much like that saucer we sucked up all we could to dismember NOPE. With a shocking reveal of our ratings, you'll have to give it a listen to find out what we thought! Nope (2022) Written and Directed by Jordan Peele Where we watched: Theater RecommenDEADtions: Stranger Things: Season 4 (TV show) / Elvis / Severance (TV show)

Another Cronenberg so soon? Well in a manner of speaking, yes! This time we test drove Brandon Cronenberg's indie horror film, “Possessor.” Starring familiar faces from previous episodes as well, “Possessor” melds stunning visual design, spy thriller, sci-fi, and horror all into one. Moody and ethereal, with just the right splashes of Cronenbergian gore, the guys were impressed even if it didn't completely land on all the story elements. Tim and Ryan both rated this one a “rent” and had lots to dismember! Possessor (2020) Written and Directed by Brandon Cronenberg Where we watched: Hulu RecommenDEADtions: 15 Minutes of Shame / Making Movies (book by Sidney Lumet)

More like “Chef's Kiss,” *mwah!* Why, you ask? Well because for the first time we welcome two, yes TWO, special guests to the show! None other than our fellow Connectd Podcast, macabre-minded family members, Averyn and Vonia from their incredible show Rom Crime. They were the perfect guests to talk about this Nic Cage delight, and we all had a blast dismembering it. With (as usual) Tim being the outlier of opinion rating a “stream,” the ladies and Ryan all agreed that Vampire's Kiss was worth a "rent" and even two “buys!” Take a bite out of our conversation (as well as the podcast Rom Crime)! Where we watched: Blu-ray Vampire's Kiss (1989) Directed by Robert Bierman Written by Joseph Minion RecommenDEADtions: Beavis and Butt-Head Do the Universe / The Trixie Motel / The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent & The Bear (TV show) / Garth Marenghi's Darkplace (TV show)

Cronenberg's back, baby! The latest from the famed “King of Venereal Horror” did not disappoint. For this episode we are joined by Alex Calleros from the podcast Beyond the Screenplay to help us with our dismemberment of “Crimes of the Future.” Rich with thematic layers, our conversation pushed Alex from a “stream” to a “rent,” making it a triple “rent.” Join us as we dive deep into this strange, gooey, biomechanical dream that Cronenberg has conjured. Where we watched: Theater Crimes of the Future (2022) Written and Directed by David Cronenberg RecommenDEADtions: Ambulance / Ms. Marvel (TV series) / The Northman

It's the perfect month to dive into one of the queerest horror films out there! Clive Barker's epic Nightbreed gets a much-deserved director's cut. From design, to representation, to commentary, there was much to discuss. Not to mention, BAPHOMET (one of Tim's favs)! This revamp in line with Barker's original intentions earned a “stream” from Tim, and a “rent” from Ryan. Remember to always let your freak flag fly, and be who you want to be! Where we watched: Blu-ray Nightbreed: The Director's Cut (2014) Written and Directed by Clive Barker RecommenDEADtions: Saving Face / Fringe Next dismemberment: Crimes of the Future

At long last the guys were able to bridge their love of horror with Tim's love of Marvel movies. You'll be happy to know the love affair continues with Doctor Strange (2). How could it not, though? With the incomparable Sam Raimi at the helm, this was bound to titillate the senses and exhilarate the nostalgia buttons. Albeit through the slightly tinted rose colored glasses, Tim was without question a “buy,” while Ryan remained measured with a “stream.” Where we watched: Theaters Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness (2022) Directed by Sam Raimi Written by Michael Waldron RecommenDEADtions: All That Heaven Allows / Our Flag Means Death Next dismemberment:  Nightbreed: The Director's Cut

A tasty treat for you all this week as we cover Hulu's Fresh. And fresh indeed, this one really surprised the guys with its style, form, and substance—a delectable tale of terror wrapped up in poignant and evocative themes. Tim and Ryan both felt that the simple story was a strength, and that overall it was a tasty piece of filmmaking. Earning a “rent” from Ryan and a “buy” from Tim, Hulu certainly picked a good one to excede expectations. Where we watched: Hulu Fresh (2022) Directed by Mimi Cave Written by Lauryn Kahn RecommenDEADtions: The Doors / Starfish Next dismemberment: Doctor Strange in the Multiverse Of Madness

Well, we finally did it. After years of Ryan asking if Tim watched his recommenDEADtion from episode 37, the guys decided to dismember I Saw The Devil, and boy oh boy was Ryan right. This film is absolutely incredible and a must see. Violent, upsetting, action-filled, tense, beautiful...the adjectives go on and on. Earning a clear double “buy,” there wasn't enough time to express how great I Saw The Devil is, but Tim and Ryan packed as much as possible into this episode. Where we watched: Blu-ray I Saw the Devil (2010) Directed by Kim Jee-woon Written by Park Hoon-jung RecommenDEADtions: Chicago / Moon Knight (TV series) Next dismemberment: Fresh

This week we go back in time to the WWII era via a British horror film (and one of the first horror anthologies), “Dead of Night,” giving us serious “Twilight Zone” vibes long before it was even a thing. Tim and Ryan were pretty into it, agreeing its wraparound story is one of the better they've seen, and rated it a classic “DOUBLE RENT.”  Where we watched: Blu-ray Dead Of Night Directed by Alberto Cavalcanti, Charles Crichton, Robert Hamer, Basil Dearden Written by John Baines and Angus MacPhail RecommenDEADtions: a walk / The Batman Next dismemberment: I Saw the Devil

Homage is only the half of it! Ti West melds together his horror chops with the vibes of the 70's classics in this week's film. Leaving us wanting more and feeding us the tease of it, Tim and Ryan were really excited with what was ultimately a triumph. Not without its idiosyncrasies that gave us pause, the end result was still an incredibly pleasing commentary on horror itself. Earning a a highest “rent” and a “buy from Tim and Ryan respectively it goes without saying that we want to revisit this one and the one's to follow as well. Where we watched: Theater X (2022) Written and Directed by Ti West RecommenDEADtions: Hacksaw Ridge / A Promising Young Woman Next film: X (2022)

Can you believe it? Another St. Patrick's Day has arrived, and with it we couldn't resist resurrecting a classic franchise to celebrate. “Leprechaun Returns” seemed like the perfect way to do just that, so we strapped on our red beards, donned our green bowler hats, put a little lilt in our voices, and made our own pot of gold with this week's dismemberment. What a dismemberment it was, with Tim and Ryan coming to as wide of a difference in their enjoyment of this sequel as can exist. An “avoid at all costs” and a “buy” respectively, the guys still managed to “crack on” for the love of horror. Where we watched: iTunes rental Leprechaun Returns (2018) Directed by Steven Kostanski Written by Suzanne Keilly RecommenDEADtions:  Menace II Society / The Rescue Next film: X (2022)

That's right, we are "requeling" it up with the Netflix installment of the, sorry no “the”, Texas Chainsaw Massacre. Doing all the things that are en vogue these days: Ignoring the sequels, bringing back characters from the original, trying to be a commentary and failing, you know, all the greatest hits. Sadly, in spite of these tried and true methods of modern filmmaking, this one succeeded only in giving us some absolutely gruesome kills and a handful of pretty, cinematic shots. Earning a “rent” from Tim and an “avoid” from Ryan, who really just couldn't get on board. Check out our conversation! Where we watched: Netflix Texas Chainsaw Massacre (2022) Directed by David Blue Garcia Written by Chris Thomas Devlin RecommenDEADtions:  Reincarnation / The King's Man Next film: Texas Chainsaw Massacre (2022)

That's right, we're back for more SCREAM (2022)! We are once again joined by special guest Peter Warden from Retro Reviews, this time to dismember the aspects of “Scream” aka Scream 5 that we didn't think quite worked as well, as well as some fun things of note. We ask the question “what could they have done to make it all work better?” Come on in and join us for the rest of our discussion! Where we watched: Theaters Scream (2022) Directed by Matt Bettinelli-Olpin, Tyler Gillett Written by James Vanderbilt, Guy Busick, Kevin Williamson RecommenDEADtions:  LA Story / Censor / Better Things Next film: Texas Chainsaw Massacre (2022)

We'll be back Thursday, February 17th dismembering the new "Scream" movie!

A quick hello and some more Gremlins tidbits.

♫ It's beginning to look a lot like ♫ you shouldn't feed them after midnight! Yes that's right folks, your favorite horror hounds are tackling an all time classic for the holiday season! The timeless “Gremlins” continues to entertain; and how could it not when each of the guy's first viewings occurred at the impressionable age of about 6 years old. This viewing brought back those core memories of a dog wrapped in twinkling lights, the bathroom buddy, and everyone's favorite mom violently shoving a small lizard monster into the blender and hitting puree. This was a no-brainer double “buy”, although there were a few items up for debate in our “what did not work” section. Come cozy up by the fire with your favorite Mogwai and have a listen. Where we watched: Blu-ray Gremlins (1984) Directed by Joe Dante Written by Chris Columbus RecommenDEADtions:  Raya and the Last Dragon / The Eternals Next film: Scream (2022)

Did we happen upon a snowy diamond in the rough? Did the holiday spirit take over and deliver us a wonderfully wrapped gift with a nice bow on top? Somewhat strange to say, but the answer is YES! Why is that strange to say? Well for starters, “Jack Frost” is incredibly dumb and stupid, and yet somehow manages to be extremely funny, irreverent, well-executed, *smart* dumb fun. Ryan and Tim both gave it a “rent” and had heaps of things to dismember. Just don't mistake this for the Michael Keaton flick! Where we watched: Shudder Jack Frost (1997) Directed by Michael Cooney Written by Michael Cooney and Jeremy Paige‎ RecommenDEADtions:  The Beatles Get Back / Hawkeye Next film: Gremlins (1984)

A quick hello and an update from us. Happy Thanksgiving 2021, everyone!

Let's get our Edgar Wright on in what he refers to as his “dark valentine to Soho”, and boy is he (w)right! A psychological roller coaster, with a murder mystery twist that fits the swingin' aesthetic, there was much to like about “Last Night In Soho”, as well as a few things that garnered criticism. Nonetheless, the guys were big fans of this one. With a why-not “buy” rating from Ryan and a “rent” from Tim, maybe a second viewing is necessary to fully appreciate this one. Twist our arms why don't ya! Where we watched: Theater Last Night in Soho (2021) Directed by Edgar Wright Written by Edgar Wright and Krysty Wilson-Caims RecommenDEADtions:  Margot at the Wedding / The Landlady (short story) Next film: something Christmas-y 

There was a beast, and it did have five fingers, but it wasn't a disembodied hand, it was PETER LORRE! Or was it? You'll have to contemplate that question with us as we dismember what might be a hidden gem of yesteryear. The Scooby-doo-ness was in full effect for this who/whydunnit murder mystery with an added spooktastic supernatural bent. The guys rated this one a double “rent”— high praise for a could-be-classic that eerily knocked on the door of a “buy”.  Where we watched: Blu-ray The Beast With Five Fingers (1946) Directed by Robert Florey Written by Curt Siodmak, William Fryer Harvey, Harold Goldman RecommenDEADtions:  Dark Water (2002) / The Night House Next week's film: Last Night in Soho (2021)

...or better yet, let's get super seventies spooky with this hidden gem! Watching the titular Jessica unravel at the hands of a spectral vampire entity in the countryside of damp New England may have been enough to make us giddy, but sprinkle in the seventies indie vibes that scratch that particular filmmaker itch and you've got a real veritable feast at our fangs. Having said that, there are some flaws that keep this one from being perfect, but still earn it a double “rent” from the guys. Do yourself a favor and turn out the lights, curl up by the fire, and get a hold of a copy of this moody beauty of a movie. Where we watched: Blu-ray Let's Scare Jessica to Death (1971) Directed by John D. Hancock Written by John D. Hancock, Lee Kalcheim, Sheridan Le Fanu RecommenDEADtions:  Ginger Snaps / Midnight Mass Next week's film: The Beast With Five Fingers (1946)

Episode 166 - Halloween III: Season of the Witch We've made it to part four of four of our episodes covering the third entries of the big famous horror franchises! Being the closest to Halloween (the holiday), we appropriately finish up the month with Halloween (the series). We had one of our occasional divisive reactions to “Halloween III: Season of the Witch.” Ryan loved being driven scared-crazy by the infamous, in-film TV jingle, while Tim hated being driven actually-crazy by it. And Ryan loved so much more, and Tim disliked so much more! So with respective ratings of “buy it” and “stream it,” plenty of dismemberment was still to be had (especially a given when you have such a nutzo-story). Where we watched: Blu-ray Halloween III: Season of the Witch (1982) Written and Directed by Tommy Lee Wallace RecommenDEADtions:  Christine / The Adventures of Brisco County, Jr. (TV show) Next week's film: Let's Scare Jessica to Death (1971)

BACK TO THE THEATER WE GO! Alright, despite what Twitter says, the guys went into “Halloween Kills” with high hopes and left with even higher hopes... for an amazing conclusion to the David Gordon Green trilogy! Because we loved it! What a ride through Haddonfield this film was. “Kills” is right! So many kills, and so little time. The guys plunge deep into the chest of what makes Michael Myers tick, and even speculate on how you do take evil down. Earning a double “buy”, you'll have to listen to find out all this, and SO much  more. Where we watched: Theater Halloween Kills (2021) Directed by David Gordon Green Written by Scott Teems, Danny McBride, and David Gordon Green RecommenDEADtions: The Craft: Legacy / The Great British Bake Off (TV show) Next week's film: Halloween III: Season of the Witch (1982)

Old Kruges is back in action, hammin' it up as per usual— but this time he's got his gloved hands full with some resilient, troubled/gifted teens. Oh, and of course adult Nancy gets in on the action, too! Continuing the debate on what makes a third installment impactful, the guys were thrilled to dismember this one, giving it another “box set buy”. Join us and find out which “Big Bad” we like more: Jason or Freddy. Where we watched: Hulu  A Nightmare On Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors Directed by Chuck Russell Written by Wes Craven, Bruce Wagner, Frank Darabont, and Chuck Russell RecommenDEADtions: Mysterious Island / The Void Next week's film: Halloween Kills (2021)