Horror Brew Podcast

Tune in for a conversation with the curator of the SVOD service from MVD Entertainment and Rue Morgue - Midnight Movie Society! There are a lot of services out there for watching digital media. If you are looking for hard to find flicks, this one should not be missed!

The directors behind The Hill and The Hole talk Fritz Leiber, the Bureau of Land Management, and Independent Horror. Tune in for a great conversation with Chris Ernst and Bill Darmon of Bright Rectangle Films. We find out more about their indie company and their most recent production - The Hill and The Hole.

In which Matt and Cat dig into subterranean myth. Join us as we discuss 1988's Lair of the White Worm and 2013's Final Prayer (also known as The Borderlands). From cult classy camp to smart found footage, it looks as though the ground beneath our feet may not always mean no harm.

In which Matt and Cat dust off the field gear and start a Phase II site evaluation. While attempting to tackle the depiction of archaeological fieldwork in the genre, we review 2008’s The Ruins and 2020’s The Hill and The Hole which was recently released onto VOD. This feature film is adapted from Fritz Leiber’s short story of the same name and they really nailed what it’s like to be a field archaeologist in North America… right before things take a turn for the weird!

In which Matt & Cat believe in magic. Tune in as we discuss two entries in the folk horror sub-genre, 2009's Hammer Film Wake Wood and 2017's indie horror, Caught. Cocktail Concoction: Of the Country Moor Fill a cocktail shaker with ice and pour in the following: 1.5 oz Gin .75 oz Apple Pucker .5 oz Fresh Lime juice Shake and strain into a rocks glass filled with ice, top with soda Garnish with lime wedge

In which Matt and Cat go on a historical hunt. Tune in as we discuss The Ninth Gate (1999) and As Above So Below (2014), paying particular attention to how anthropology and academia are represented in the genre. Cocktail Concoction: Silentium Sazerac Fill a coupe glass with ice and .25oz of Absinthe. Swirl and set aside Place 1 sugar cube, or 1 tsp sugar into the bottom of a cocktail shaker Top with 2 dashes of Peychaud’s Bitters, 1 dash Orange Bitters Muddle sugar and bitters together, top with 1.5 oz of Rum Fill cocktail shaker with ice and stir . Dump the ice and absinthe from the coupe glass and strain cocktail into prepared glass. Garnish with orange peel

In which Matt and Cat traverse the sands of time. Tune in for the first in a loose series about the representation of anthropology in horror movies. First up, The Mummy 1932 / 1999 / 2017 and early Archaeology and Antiquarianism.  Matt and Cat review the classic Karloff film and its two remakes/re-imaginings with particular interest paid toward the use of archaeology as a plot device. This episode has it all, horror, history, and humor!

In which Matt and Cat check their canines. Tune in as we discuss Dog Soldiers (2002), Wildling (2018), and Shape-Shifters (2019) which is episode 10 of the Netflix series Love, Death, & Robots. Cocktail Concoction: Hair of the Dog Fill a cocktail shaker with ice and pour in the following: 1oz Blackberry-Infused Moonshine 3oz Fresh Squeezed Blood Orange Juice Shake and strain into a rocks glass filled with ice. Garnish with an Orange Peel & fresh Blackberry

One of us, one of us! We get a bit fanatical and discuss two films from the 2010s that tickled our cult fancy. Tune in for a spoiler free review of Apostle, a Netflix 2018 release, and 2013’s indie flick Jug Face. Cocktail Concoction: Bitter Hellfire Fill a cocktail shaker with ice and pour in the following 1.5 oz bourbon .75 oz dry vermouth .75 oz Campari 2 dashes hot sauce Shake and strain into a rocks glass Garnish with an orange peel

It isn’t just Hill House - Since the mid-2000s Mike Flanagan has written and directed a solid resume of horror. Tune in as Cat and Matt talk -spoiler free!- about The Haunting of Hill House, Oculus, Before I Wake, and more! We also discuss what Mike Flanagan has brought to the genre and how things are not what they used to be - and that’s a good thing!

Autumn is built for anthologies and binging horror TV. Tune in as Matt and Cat talk Hulu’s Castle Rock and the successful stage show turned feature film, Ghost Stories (2017). Cocktail Concoction: Cider & Spice This cocktail can be served hot or cold. What you’ll need: 3oz Mulled Cider 2oz Rum If hot: warm cider in a saucepan on the stove or microwave. Pour rum into a coffee mug and top with hot cider and a sprinkle of cinnamon. If cold: pour room temperature or cold cider and rum in a cocktail shaker with ice. Shake and strain into a chilled martini glass garnish with a sprinkle of cinnamon

In which Matt and Cat get back at it! After a quick introduction as to what the hell we’ve been up to for the last 2 months, we dive in to a conversation with Willy Greer that we recorded back in mid July! We talk about his short film, feature project, horror music, social commentary, and just about everything we love about exploring the genre. Interested in buying his book, Shadowplay: Philosophy and Psychology of the Modern Horror Film? Check out his film commentary podcast, Film Cult, and his feature film, Second Skin! Cocktail Concoction: Soy Sauce Fill a cocktail shaker with ice and pour in the following 1oz Vodka 1oz Manischewitz Blackberry Wine 1oz Strawberry Pucker Shake and strain into a chilled martini glass

We are not afraid of these Satanic Shamblers - but they are fun to watch! Tune in as Matt, Cat, and fellow horror podcaster Sammy take a trip back in time and across the ocean to loudly discuss Amando de Ossorio's Blind Dead franchise. Tombs of the Blind Dead / Return of the Evil Dead / Ghost Galleon / Night of the Seagulls "Scream, so they can find you!"

In which Matt and Cat wish HGTV did more with haunted mansions. Tune in for a discussion of the 1980 classic The Changeling as well as a spoiler free review of 2018's Marrowbone (we did not link anything for this film because we strongly advocate watching it with no preconceived notions! It's available for rent through Amazon Prime).

Tune in as Chloë Levine, star of THE RANGER, joins us in studio to talk Glass Eye Pix's latest flick! Written and directed by Jenn Wexler, THE RANGER pits a pink haired punk and her friends against an unsettling park ranger. Solid performances, moments of dark humor, and some nicely executed kills, this 80s send up was a perfect addition to the Portland Horror Film Festival - and will make a great addition to our collection once it's available for purchase!

As summer begins to rear it's head, we headed down to the cool, and chilling, atmosphere of bunker horror after a quick retrospective on Crypticon 2018 and Satanic Panic at the Hollywood Theatre.  Cocktail Concoction: Guts & Glory Fill a cocktail shaker with ice. Pour in the following: 1.5oz Silver Tequila 1.5oz Cold Brew .5oz Cinnamon Schnapps Shake and strain into a chilled martini glass.

During the month of April we have a curated shelf at Movie Madness - and Matt needed to catch Cat up on some gems. Tune in as we talk director Michele Soavi's Cemetery Man (1994) and The Church (1989)

Matt and Cat don't actually work in a standard 9-5 office environment... and after these films, we're glad we don't have to survive The Man! Cocktail Concoction: Running the Gimlet Fill a cocktail shaker with ice. Pour in the following: 2oz Gin 1oz Fresh Lime Juice .75oz Rosemary Simple Syrup Shake and strain into a chilled martini glass. ** Homemade simple syrup is insanely easy - and adding herbs really levels up your cocktail game! For regular simple syrup, simmer equal parts water and sugar until the sugar is completely dissolved. For any flavored simple syrup, simply add the spice/herb to the sugar and water before your start the simmering

Tune in as Matt and Cat tackle cosmic accidents, multi-verses, and parties gone terribly wrong. What would you do if you saw another you? Mix yourself a Mezcal Effect and join us for a conversation on 2013's +1 and 2014's Coherence. Cocktail Concoction: The Mezcal Effect Fill a cocktail shaker with ice. Pour in the following: 2oz Mezcal 1oz Fresh Lemon Juice .5oz Maple Syrup Shake and strain into a rocks glass with ice

From new body horror to a cult classic, Cat and Gretchen talk female directors and the forward momentum of women in the horror genre. They say girls are made of "sugar and spice and everything nice". With that in mind, I whipped up a krupnik with some serious bite! Cocktail Concoction: Honeyed Words In a saucepan combine the following: 1 cup Honey 1 Cinnamon stick 1 Fresh Habanero pepper, sliced Bring the honey and spices to a boil, reduce the heat and let it simmer for 10 minutes. Remove from heat, add 1.25 cups of vodka. Let it cool then strain into desired container. Can be served as a shot or in a rocks glass over ice

January saw us gearing up for our 2 year trivia anniversary! Before 2018 gets away from us, tune in for a look back on our top horror films of 2017. Mix yourself a Slaughtered Lamb and tune in as Matt and Cat discuss the movies of 2017 you should see if you haven't already!  Cocktail Concoction: The Slaughtered Lamb Fill a cocktail shaker with ice. Pour in the following: 2oz Bourbon .25oz Triple sec .25oz Absinthe 1 dash Peychaud’s bitters Stir for 10 seconds and strain into a chilled martini glass Garnish with lemon peel Films discussed within the episode: Split, Get Out, The Blackcoat's Daughter, The Void, Life, Creep 2, The Shape of Water

Tune in as Cat and Gretchen get Gothic! From literary influences to themes found time and again in horror story telling, join us for a scratching of the surface of this centuries old take on scary stories and things that go bump in the night.  Cocktail Concoction: Smoking Bishop 1 bottle of Port (750ml) 1 bottle of Dry Red Wine (750ml) 1 cup Water ½ cup Brown Sugar ¼ teaspoon Fresh Grated Ginger 4 oranges 20-40 whole cloves Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Wash and dry oranges. Pierce and stud each orange with 5-10 cloves. Place oranges in a baking dish and roast until lightly browned all over, 60-90 minutes. Add port, wine, water, sugar, & ginger to a saucepan (or crockpot on low), and lightly simmer Slice oranges in half and squeeze juice into the wine and port mixture. Serve in a punch bowl, and ladle into individual glasses.  

The quintessential American folktale meant to give you the shivers! Set in 1790 in the former Dutch settlement of Tarrytown, New York, a gangling schoolmaster comes to town and encounters the lovely daughter of a wealthy landowner, her jealous beau, and the ghost of a headless Hessian.  First published in 1820, Washington Irving's tale has been analyzed, told, and retold for nearly 200 years. Tune in as Matt and Cat talk about the folk tale and its place in the American lexicon as well as 3 different film adaptations and its influence on other aspects of popular culture.

Cat and Matt get the lowdown on the fabulous Queer Horror event from Anthony Hudson, the mastermind behind it all!   Unfortunately plagued by technical difficulties that weren't discovered until too late, we were only able to share half of the interview with you! Please check out horrorbrewpodcast.com to get the best information on all the upcoming horror events in the Portland area that you do NOT want to miss.

Matt and Cat dip into the wild world of Scandinavian fairy tales! Tune in as we discuss 2010's Norwegian film,Troll Hunter, and 2015's Swedish TV show, Jordskott. Cocktail Concoction: Go A Viking Fill a cocktail shaker with ice. Pour in the following: 1oz Vodka 1oz Mead .5oz Triple Sec .5oz Fresh lemon juice Shake vigorously and strain into a rocks glass with ice The term "Viking" refers to raiding foreign lands - and this drink does just that! Lemons from warmer climes, vodka from the eastern European countries, and Danish mead all come together for something refreshing and just a bit sweet!

Horror Brew gets cryptid! Tune in as Matt, Cat, and guest Gretchen talk 'squatch and his many appearances on the silver screen. Cocktail Concoction: Swamp Ape Fizz Fill a rocks glass with ice. Pour in the following: 2oz Bourbon 1oz Cider 1oz Soda Dash of bitters

From big name & big budget, to sequels & remakes, to art house & low budget, horror films can be found occupying every level of film classification - this week Matt and Cat talk 2 lesser known indie/B films from 2016 that piqued their interest! Cocktail Concoction: The Alchemist's Margarita Fill a cocktail shaker with ice. Pour in the following: 2oz Silver tequila 1oz Triple Sec .75oz Cinnamon-infused simple syrup 1oz Fresh lime juice Shake vigorously and strain into a rocks glass with ice Tune in as we talk We Go On and The Alchemist's Cookbook - both available now on Shudder. This week is loaded with spoilers - so beware if you're planning on listening before you watch!

Cat needed a Romero education - with his passing, there's no better time than the present. Cat had not watched Night of the Living Dead in its entirety until podcast prep! Given that Romero is seen as the father of the modern zombie, it's only fitting that the cocktail to accompany this episode is a recreation of the original Zombie Punch from 1934.   So tune in as Matt and Cat talk Romero, historical context, Night of the Living Dead and Knightriders! Also, at the end of the episode we talk about our first time checking out the Portland area's Coffin Cruisers Club

In which Matt, Cat, and author K.M. Alexander explore the stories that lie between strict genre borders. Want to get your hands on Book I of the Bell Forging Cycle? Enter our giveaway! Go to horrorbrewpodcast.com or find us on Twitter or Facebook Tune in as Matt and Cat get the inside scoop on the world of The Bell Forging Cycle and talk over a variety of horror topics including Westerns (Bone Tomahawk, Gallowwalkers, The Burrowers), the interconnectedness of Stephen King's works, and the  recent "horror can be sexy" vibe of young adult TV shows such as Hemlock Grove & MTV's Scream. Cocktail: The Egress  2oz Ransom Old Tom Gin .5oz Apricot Brandy .5oz Fresh Squeezed Lemon Juice Place ingredients in a cocktail shaker, shake & strain into a chilled martini glass  

Matt and Cat welcome Ray Leader to the show! Local author and performer, Ray opens the show with a reading of his work entitled "Relief" - and then we talk about Ray's upcoming show at Home, A Bar, the primal draw of werewolf films, and the awesomeness that was late night cable channels and early 90's biker films. Tune in for a bit of horror that keeps Portland Weird!

This week we’re going to do something a bit different. The Portland Horror Film Festival took place June 8th – 10th and Horror Brew hosted the Friday night after party with an abbreviated version of our putrescent puzzlers! Every other week Matt and I craft a 2 hour trivia comprised of 5 rounds or 8 questions each – with ever changing themes all revolving around the horror genre. Our trivia nights are not for the faint of heart –  So. Want to see if you’ve got what it takes? Interested in throwing a little horror trivia with your friends? Stay tuned for 20 questions from Horror Brew’s Pub Quiz from June 9th, 2017 as part of the Portland horror film festival’s after party. Fuzzy Face Cocktail: Take whatever size glass you’d like … fill with ice. Pour 1oz peach schnapps, 1.5oz spiced rum in said glass, then top with orange juice.  

Aliens! Vampires! London! Tune in as Matt, Cat, and guest David go deep into Tobe Hooper's 1985 flick - Lifeforce! Based on a book entitled The Space Vampires by Colin Wilson, and adapted for screen by Dan O'Bannon, Lifeforce is absolutely bonkers and we had a lot of fun rehashing and reviewing it.  Recipe: Electric Lemondrop Squeeze 1/4 fresh lemon into cocktail shaker Add 1 tsp sugar Top with 1oz Three Olives vodka, 2oz Original Viniq Add ice & shake! Strain into a martini glass.

Press play.   Tune in as Matt and Cat talk Beyond the Gates and The Dark Tapes. From a supernaturally soul-snaring VHS board game to four tales of terror, join us as we talk VHS nostalgia and the terrors of sleep paralysis while reviewing these newer entries into the indie horror scene. Cocktail Recipe: Dark Star Can be done hot or cold. Place the following in a coffee mug if hot, pint glass if cold -  1.25 oz Coffee Liqueur  .25 oz Butterscotch Schnapps .75 oz Bourbon Top with Coffee (or Cold Brew!) and stir with a bar spoon. Then top that with Whipped Cream & a pinch of Cinnamon!

The tagline says "Don't leave Adam alone" but after this screening, Cat wasn't too keen on being alone herself! Tune in as Matt and Cat get the inside scoop on the scariest film from the Overlook Film Festival. Join us for our first Brews & Interviews segment as special guest Brandon Christensen, director of Still/Born, gives us a peek behind the curtain!   Cocktail: Muddled Old-fashioned Place the following in a rocks glass - 1 tsp sugar (1 cube) 2 dashes bitters Splash water Muddle - maraschino cherry & orange peel in sugar mixture Top with ice cubes & 2.5 oz Bulleit Bourbon

We entered The Void and discovered that Sam might have been there... Tune in as Matt and Cat talk the most recent feature length entries in the cosmic horror sub-genre, from the practical effects packed The Void and the more psychologically disturbing Sam Was Here. Are you a fan of mad scientists and dimensions beyond human perception? Join us.   Cocktail Recipe: Enter the Spritzer Muddle 1 strawberry in the bottom of a rocks glass Top with 1.5 oz vodka Fresh squeeze lime  Top with ice and soda

Normally we release episodes on Sunday mornings, but this was a special event so here's a Thursday treat! Tune in as Matt and Cat review the Overlook Film Festival that took place at the Timberline Lodge April 27th-30th. For those interested in skipping ahead to get to a particular film as fast as possible, check the approximate time stamps below. Lady Macbeth - 17 minutes Terror 5 - 21:30 minutes Still/Born - 27 minutes Short block #2 - 35:30 minutes It Comes at Night - 45:30 minutes  

Matt, Cat, and guest Matt Smith investigate vampires of the Eastern tradition! Delving into the Jiangshi genre, tune in as we talk Mr. Vampire (1985) and Rigor Mortis (2013). Hopping vampires might not sound intimidating, but these qi-sucking clawed revenants are nothing to joke about! This episode's cocktail is one of my own devising!  The Qi-Reviver! 1.5 oz vodka .75 oz Shoaxing wine .75oze lychee syrup from canned lychee (you'll use the lychee for garnish!) 1 medium strawberry Muddle the strawberry in your shaker, fill with ice and pour in ingredients. Shake and strain into a martini glass. Use 1 lychee as garnish.

Matt and Cat speculate wildly! Tune in as we give the rundown on the upcoming Overlook Film Festival (April 27-30) at the Timberline Lodge in Oregon. We were able to nab tickets to some but not all of the films being screened - so this week we are talking about all the films we're going to miss. Having seen all the trailers we could get our hands on, we get a bit speculative on Lily Ana Amirpour's sophomore effort - The Bad Batch, tense social commentaries like Amat Escalante's The Untamed, and off the wall splatter flicks like Yoshihiro Nishimura's Meatball Machine Kodoku. Want to get a head start on what to look out for this year in horror? Look no further! 

Matt, Cat, and Gretchen get into some monkey business. Tune in as we talk King Kong, from the 1933 original and its 2 American remakes to the bit more bizarre Toho works and of course the most recent - Kong:Skull Island. So break out the bathtub gin, make yourself The Last Word, and press play!  

Recording this intro on April 9, 2017, the following episode was originally recorded in late February of 2017! Stay tuned to hear Matt and Cat discuss differing perspectives between a newcomer to the horror genre and a well-seasoned professional. We review Drag Me to Hell, American Werewolf in London, and Get Out as well as discuss horror’s complicated relationship with the MPAA.

Originally recorded at the end of February 2017 - Cat and Gretchen get dissectin'!   Tune in as Cat and guest Gretchen review XX (2017), discuss Women in Horror Month, and whether or not films pass the Bechdel test - and what that means for movie-goers. Interstitial director: Sofia Carrillo "The Box" director: Jovanka Vuckovic "The Birthday Party" director: Annie Clark (St. Vincent) "Don't Fall" director: Roxanne Benjamin "Her Only Living Son" director: Karyn Kusama Do you agree with this instyle.com article's movie picks? We'd love to hear from you!

Matt and Cat talk horror in gaming from Atari to 7th Guest to the newest entry in the Resident Evil franchise. Join us for a conversation regarding horrors behind the controller. 

Tune in for our inaugural episode - Matt, Cat, and Gretchen get together to talk the more modern artistic take on ghost stories with Personal Shopper and I Am the Pretty Thing that Lives in the House.     

Originally recorded in November 2016 Tune in for another short story-telling, meant to get you in the shivery mood. Cat loves scary stories, and wants to share them with you - this week, it's Edgar Allan Poe's The Masque of the Red Death. Originally published in 1842 in Graham's Magazine.   Music in this episode: Andante from Italian Concerto, BWV 971 (Bach)

Tune in for the first short story-telling, meant to get you in the shivery mood. Cat loves short scary stories, and wants to share them with you - this week, it's Lovecraft's Hypnos!   Music in the podcast: "By the Light of the Silvery Moon" Billy Murray and Haydn Quartet recorded on December 22, 1909 and released on Victor 16460. "I'm Afraid to Come Home in the Dark"  Billy Murray recorded in 1907

Fresh off the boat from Innsmouth, we recap the 21st annual Lovecraft Film Festival at the Hollywood Theatre in Portland, Oregon. We talk independent film, the vast array of multimedia that horror can be presented in, and the awesomeness of Stuart Gordon. Originally recorded in October of 2016

Originally recorded in January of 2016, stay tuned to hear Matt and Cat review various horror “extracurriculars” from Box of Dread to conventions such as HorrorHound Cincinnati, Flashback Weekend in Chicago, and the "one time only"s being - CthulhuconPDX and the Living Dead Con that took place right here in Portland.

Welcome to the back of Horror Brew’s closet! Formerly posted as part of the Northwest Horror Podcast, I wanted give our listenership a taste of where we started and how far we’ve come! Originally recorded in October of 2015. Tune in as Matt and Tyler from The Merry Meeple discuss horror in gaming - from the nostalgic VHS games to newer, more complex tabletop games!

Welcome to the back of Horror Brew’s closet! Formerly posted as part of the Northwest Horror Podcast, I wanted give our listenership a taste of where we started and how far we’ve come! Originally recorded on October 17, 2015. Stay tuned to hear Matt and Cat talk about Evil Dead the Musical and the 2015 HP Lovecraft Film Fest in Portland, Oregon