This is the definitive Full Moon Features podcast! Each week, we’re going to watch a different film from Charles Band’s madcap universe of low-budget horror thrillers, encompassing not only the Full Moon films but also the earlier stable of Empire International Pictures and sub-labels like Moonbeam and Torchlight!
The Puppet Masters / Castle Freaks podcast is an absolute gem for fans of Charles Band's Full Moon Features and its various spin-off studios. As a horror enthusiast, I love diving into the world of direct-to-VHS horror, and this podcast provides the perfect platform for that. With each episode, the hosts delve into the movies produced by Full Moon, Moonbeam, and beyond, analyzing what worked and didn't work in each film alongside a guest. It's a truly enjoyable experience that not only entertains but also educates listeners on lesser-known aspects of these productions.
One of the best aspects of The Puppet Masters / Castle Freaks podcast is its intelligence and wit without any hint of obnoxiousness. The hosts bring a wealth of knowledge to the table and share it in a manner that is engaging and fun to listen to. Their deep understanding of the subject matter shines through as they discuss various films, ensuring that listeners are entertained while also learning new things about their favorite productions. Additionally, the episodes are perfectly paced with an ideal length, allowing for thorough coverage without dragging on unnecessarily.
However, no podcast is perfect, and there are some areas where The Puppet Masters / Castle Freaks could improve. While the hosts' expertise is commendable, it would be great to see more variety in terms of guest appearances. Having different perspectives from other experts or even fans could provide fresh insights and add diversity to the discussions. Additionally, occasional episodes dedicated to interviews with individuals involved in the production process or behind-the-scenes stories would be a valuable addition to further enhance the podcast's depth.
In conclusion, The Puppet Masters / Castle Freaks podcast is a must-listen for horror lovers who have an affinity for Full Moon Features and similar studios. With its intelligent analysis, witty banter, informative content, and ideal episode length, this podcast offers an enjoyable experience from start to finish. Whether you're a die-hard fan or just curious about the world of direct-to-VHS horror, this podcast will provide you with a deep dive into the classic flicks and lesser-known gems that these studios have given us, leaving you entertained and craving more. Cheers to the hosts for delivering such a fantastic show!
We're hitting the streets this week for a double-dose of mid-80s Linda Blair exploitation flicks! We're covering SAVAGE ISLAND, a cobbled-together amalgam of two sleazy women-in-prison movies with a tacked-on Blair wraparound, and as a bonus, we're covering the non-Empire film SAVAGE STREETS, a teen revenge flick that encapsulates the state of Blair's post-EXORCIST career. We're joined this week by the delightful Sean O'Connor of Macabre Daily! Hosted by Jarrod Hornbeck and Steve Guntli Theme song by Kyle Hornbeck Logo by Doug McCambridge Email: puppetmasterscastlefreaks@gmail.com Instagram/Threads: @puppetmasters_castlefreaks YouTube: @PuppetMastersCastleFreaks Next week's episode: Ravenwolf Towers
This week we're joined by B-movie (I'm sorry, B-Plus) icon Tiffany Shepis! Tiffany started her career in James Gunn's TROMEO AND JULIET and has gone on to appear in nearly 200 projects, including Full Moon favorite DELTA DELTA DIE! We catch up with Tiffany for a delightful conversation about coming up in the microbudget horror scene and our own double-feature mixed tapes. Hosted by Jarrod Hornbeck and Steve Guntli Theme song by Kyle Hornbeck Logo by Doug McCambridge Email: puppetmasterscastlefreaks@gmail.com Instagram/Threads: @puppetmasters_castlefreaks YouTube: @PuppetMastersCastleFreaks
Step right up! This week we're stepping into the SIDESHOW, Fred Olen Ray's loving homage to Tod Browning's FREAKS! Filmmaker Frank Sabatella joins us on our tour through the horrors of this carnival treat. Hosted by Jarrod Hornbeck and Steve Guntli Theme song by Kyle Hornbeck Logo by Doug McCambridge Email: puppetmasterscastlefreaks@gmail.com Instagram/Threads: @puppetmasters_castlefreaks YouTube: @PuppetMastersCastleFreaks Next week's episode: Savage Streets / Savage Island
We're back with the PUPPET MASTER series, and the franchise has entered a bumpy transitional period. We're talking about CURSE OF THE PUPPETMASTER, an odd side adventure starring the puppets and a crew of entirely new characters, and RETRO PUPPETMASTER, which takes us all the way back to the beginning of the timeline with Greg Sestero as young Toulon! Author and PM expert is back to walk us through the weird and tortured production of these films, and their weird fan legacy. Hosted by Jarrod Hornbeck and Steve Guntli Theme song by Kyle Hornbeck Logo by Doug McCambridge Email: puppetmasterscastlefreaks@gmail.com Instagram/Threads: @puppetmasters_castlefreaks YouTube: @PuppetMastersCastleFreaks Next week's episode: Sideshow
Two movies for the price of one! This week we're lumping two flicks together for one high-quality episode, with returning guest Jed Shepherd (HOST)! We're talking about 1992's BODY SNATCHERS knockoff SEEDPEOPLE, one of our last films from Full Moon's golden era, and then we're transitioning to an oddball Kushner-Locke era film from David DeCoteau, 1997's SHRIEKER! Hosted by Jarrod Hornbeck and Steve Guntli Theme song by Kyle Hornbeck Logo by Doug McCambridge Email: puppetmasterscastlefreaks@gmail.com Instagram/Threads: @puppetmasters_castlefreaks YouTube: @PuppetMastersCastleFreaks Next week's episode: Curse of the Puppet Master / Retro Puppetmaster
Pew pew! This week, friend of the show Adam Torkel returns to talk about one of Charlie Band's earliest hits, the sci-fi thriller LASERBLAST from 1978! This film not only looms large in Band's pre-Full Moon catalogue, it also inspired one of the best "Mystery Science Theater 3000" episodes ever! Hosted by Jarrod Hornbeck and Steve Guntli Theme song by Kyle Hornbeck Logo by Doug McCambridge Email: puppetmasterscastlefreaks@gmail.com Instagram/Threads: @puppetmasters_castlefreaks YouTube: @PuppetMastersCastleFreaks Next week's episode: Seedpeople/Shrieker
This week we're talking about AIMEE: THE VISITOR, a title that could refer to either our movie or our guest! Director and writer Aimee Mayumi Kuge (CANNIBAL MUKBANG) joins us for one of Full Moon's most recent entries, a film that introduces cinema's first AI-generated femme fatale! Hosted by Jarrod Hornbeck and Steve Guntli Theme song by Kyle Hornbeck Logo by Doug McCambridge Email: puppetmasterscastlefreaks@gmail.com Instagram/Threads: @puppetmasters_castlefreaks YouTube: @PuppetMastersCastleFreaks Next week's episode: Laserblast
Full Moon takes on the slasher genre for... the first time? Can that possibly be true? We'll dig into it with BLEED, Devin Hamilton's micro-budget SCREAM-a-like that has more twists than they know what to do with. Hosted by Jarrod Hornbeck and Steve Guntli Theme song by Kyle Hornbeck Logo by Doug McCambridge Email: puppetmasterscastlefreaks@gmail.com Instagram/Threads: @puppetmasters_castlefreaks YouTube: @PuppetMastersCastleFreaks Next week's episode: AImee: The Visitor
One of the quietly more controversial Full Moon films, the fun giant arachnid flick DEADLY STINGERS marked the contentious end of the Tempe era and sent the studio off on a new path. Hosted by Jarrod Hornbeck and Steve Guntli Theme song by Kyle Hornbeck Logo by Doug McCambridge Email: puppetmasterscastlefreaks@gmail.com Instagram/Threads: @puppetmasters_castlefreaks YouTube: @PuppetMastersCastleFreaks Next week's episode: Bleed
We're going guestless this week for one of the most recent Full Moon films, DEATH STREAMER! This movie tries to bring vampire mythology into the modern age, and in the process helps kick off a new Full Moon sublabel, the sordid Pulp Noir! Hosted by Jarrod Hornbeck and Steve Guntli Theme song by Kyle Hornbeck Logo by Doug McCambridge Email: puppetmasterscastlefreaks@gmail.com Instagram/Threads: @puppetmasters_castlefreaks YouTube: @PuppetMastersCastleFreaks Next week's episode: Deadly Stingers
Finally, the cinematic showdown between lingerie models and leprechauns that we all didn't know we needed! We're talking about UNLUCKY CHARMS, a deeply silly 2013 flick that is the only Full Moon movie, and maybe the only movie period, to be packaged with a novelty box of cereal. We're joined by the great Matt Orozco of Macabre Daily for this bizarre little confection. Hosted by Jarrod Hornbeck and Steve Guntli Theme song by Kyle Hornbeck Logo by Doug McCambridge Email: puppetmasterscastlefreaks@gmail.com Instagram/Threads: @puppetmasters_castlefreaks YouTube: @PuppetMastersCastleFreaks Next week's episode: Death Streamer
2002's dark psychosexual thriller DEATHBED may have limited production values, but there's a smart and incisive story at the heart of it. Stuart Gordon saw it, too, and added it to his short-lived sublabel of STUART GORDON PRESENTS films, which aimed to bring Full Moon back to it's darker, nastier days. We're discussing the film with none other than Danny Draven, the director of this film plus many other Full Moon titles (HORRORVISION, WEEDJIES), who is not only a cool guest in his own right but brings a wealth of behind-the-scenes knowledge! Hosted by Jarrod Hornbeck and Steve Guntli Theme song by Kyle Hornbeck Logo by Doug McCambridge Email: puppetmasterscastlefreaks@gmail.com Instagram/Threads: @puppetmasters_castlefreaks YouTube: @PuppetMastersCastleFreaks Next week's episode: Unlucky Charms
This is the big one, folks! Not only does this week mark our 100th episode, but we're also talking about one of the canonical best horror films ever made: Stuart Gordon's RE-ANIMATOR! If that wasn't enough of an honor, we are also joined by one of our favorite guests, horror historian Michael Gingold, and one of the stars of the film itself, the iconic Barbara Crampton! Why are you still reading this? Go listen! It's incredible! Hosted by Jarrod Hornbeck and Steve Guntli Theme song by Kyle Hornbeck Logo by Doug McCambridge Email: puppetmasterscastlefreaks@gmail.com Instagram/Threads: @puppetmasters_castlefreaks YouTube: @PuppetMastersCastleFreaks Next week's episode:
Perhaps the crowning achievement of the entire Moonbeam universe, Ted Nicolaou's DRAGONWORLD is as close to a legit blockbuster as Full Moon gets. We're chatting about this engaging kids movie with Lowell Greenblatt of Macabre Daily! Hosted by Jarrod Hornbeck and Steve Guntli Theme song by Kyle Hornbeck Logo by Doug McCambridge Email: puppetmasterscastlefreaks@gmail.com Instagram/Threads: @puppetmasters_castlefreaks YouTube: @PuppetMastersCastleFreaks Next week's episode: Re-Animator
CRYPTZ follows an aspiring rap group into the world's grossest looking club, where they must fight against sexy stripper vampires in a film that is in no way like FROM DUSK TILL DAWN! We're joined this week by the amazing Xero Gravity from Blerdy Massacre, who helps us explore the history of low-budget Black horror and where CRYPTZ fits into that lineage. Hosted by Jarrod Hornbeck and Steve Guntli Theme song by Kyle Hornbeck Logo by Doug McCambridge Email: puppetmasterscastlefreaks@gmail.com Instagram/Threads: @puppetmasters_castlefreaks YouTube: @PuppetMastersCastleFreaks Next week's episode: Dragonworld
The devilish doughboy is back for another exercise in low-taste gore gags with the impeccably titled GINGERDEAD MAN 3: SATURDAY NIGHT CLEAVER! Brad Hanson from Evolution of Horror has completed his internship at the Scientific Research Institute for the Study of Homicidal Baked Goods and is back to offer his specific expertise on just what makes this creepy cookie tick. Hosted by Jarrod Hornbeck and Steve Guntli Theme song by Kyle Hornbeck Logo by Doug McCambridge Email: puppetmasterscastlefreaks@gmail.com Instagram/Threads: @puppetmasters_castlefreaks YouTube: @PuppetMastersCastleFreaks Next week's episode: Cryptz
It's long overdue, but for this episode we're taking a step back and just enjoying a chill hang, talking about our lives and our various obsessions and the weird road that took us to the world of Full Moon. Hosted by Jarrod Hornbeck and Steve Guntli Theme song by Kyle Hornbeck Logo by Doug McCambridge Email: puppetmasterscastlefreaks@gmail.com Instagram/Threads: @puppetmasters_castlefreaks YouTube: @PuppetMastersCastleFreaks Next week's episode: Gingerdead Man 3: Saturday Night Cleaver
Crank up the sexy sax because we're heading back to Torchlight with what may be the sublabel's crowning artistic achievement, HUNTRESS: SPIRIT OF THE NIGHT! Erin Dawn of the Manic Movie Monday podcast returns to guide us through the sensuously-lit world of B-movie erotica with this tale of werewolves and literal bodice-ripping. Hosted by Jarrod Hornbeck and Steve Guntli Theme song by Kyle Hornbeck Logo by Doug McCambridge Email: puppetmasterscastlefreaks@gmail.com Instagram/Threads: @puppetmasters_castlefreaks YouTube: @PuppetMastersCastleFreaks Next week's episode: Gingerdead Man 3: Saturday Night Cleaver
It's a trio of films that seems specifically designed to torture one of your intrepid co-hosts, but William Butler's BABY OOPSIE trilogy has a few surprises in store. The singularly irritating Demonic Toy takes center stage this week for BABY OOPSIE, MURDERDOLLS, and BURN BABY BURN, three films adapted from a two-season web series. The titular Kelly of Kelly's Taboo Terrors joins us this week to honor one of her favorite horror icons. Hosted by Jarrod Hornbeck and Steve Guntli Theme song by Kyle Hornbeck Logo by Doug McCambridge Email: puppetmasterscastlefreaks@gmail.com Instagram/Threads: @puppetmasters_castlefreaks YouTube: @PuppetMastersCastleFreaks Next week's episode: Huntress: Spirit of the Night
ENEMY TERRITORY is the first film bold enough to ask: what if the guy who sang the GHOSTBUSTERS theme was in ASSAULT ON PRECINCT 13? Turns out the answer is a pretty rad underground action flick. Returning guest Eric Walkuski joins us as we talk about this wild piece of late-80s urban paranoia, as a milquetoast insurance salesman and a cable repairman try to survive a night in a tenement building against a bloodthirsty gang. Hosted by Jarrod Hornbeck and Steve Guntli Theme song by Kyle Hornbeck Logo by Doug McCambridge Email: puppetmasterscastlefreaks@gmail.com Instagram/Threads: @puppetmasters_castlefreaks YouTube: @PuppetMastersCastleFreaks Next week's episode: The Baby Oopsie trilogy
In the early 90s, "HOME ALONE rip-off" was a legit genre, and there's no way Charles Band was going to let a zeitgeist go unexploited. This week we're talking about the 1993 Moonbeam romp REMOTE, where a resourceful young kid and his remote control toys take on a trio of bumbling burglars. We're joined this week by one half of Video Villa Entertainment, Logan, who helps us explore this odd little subgenre of 90's nostalgia. Hosted by Jarrod Hornbeck and Steve Guntli Theme song by Kyle Hornbeck Logo by Doug McCambridge Email: puppetmasterscastlefreaks@gmail.com Instagram/Threads: @puppetmasters_castlefreaks YouTube: @PuppetMastersCastleFreaks Next week's episode: Enemy Territory
LASER BLAST gets an unofficial remake in the surprisingly dark and upsetting DEADLY WEAPON. Starring NIGHTMARE 3's Rodney Eastman as a bullied teen who acquires an ultra-powerful ray gun, this nearly-lost cult movie goes to some heavy places, both for better and for worse. Michael Cucinotta joins us to weigh in on this Empire-era weirdo. Hosted by Jarrod Hornbeck and Steve Guntli Theme song by Kyle Hornbeck Logo by Doug McCambridge Email: puppetmasterscastlefreaks@gmail.com Instagram/Threads: @puppetmasters_castlefreaks YouTube: @PuppetMastersCastleFreaks Next week's episode: Remote
Hollywood: land of big dreams, big stars, and big... cam girls. It's time for ATTACK OF THE 50-FT. CAM GIRL and GIANTESS BATTLE ATTACK, a pair of ultra-trashy T&A comedies from schlockmeister Jim Wynorski. We're joined by the iconic Cayley of "Once-Over With Cayley" (@OnceOverwithCayley on YouTube), who talks us through all the radioactive nonsense of this gleefully sleazy pair. Hosted by Jarrod Hornbeck and Steve Guntli Theme song by Kyle Hornbeck Logo by Doug McCambridge Email: puppetmasterscastlefreaks@gmail.com Instagram/Threads: @puppetmasters_castlefreaks YouTube: @PuppetMastersCastleFreaks Next week's episode: Deadly Weapon
We're back in the twisted world of Clive Barker for UNDERWORLD, released stateside as TRANSMUTATIONS! This 1985 fantasy neo-noir is Barker's first screenplay and his first collaboration with RAWHEAD REX director George Pavlou, but it bears a lot of his cinematic hallmarks, albeit in a very early form. We're delighted to be joined on this weird little concoction by multi-hyphenates Marc Gottlieb and Amber Kloss! Hosted by Jarrod Hornbeck and Steve Guntli Theme song by Kyle Hornbeck Logo by Doug McCambridge Email: puppetmasterscastlefreaks@gmail.com Instagram/Threads: @puppetmasters_castlefreaks YouTube: @PuppetMastersCastleFreaks Next week's episode: Attack of the 50 Ft. Camgirl / Giantess Battle Attack
An event nearly 60 years in the making, THE PRIMEVALS has one of the wildest production stories in Hollywood history. Luckily, we're joined by a special guest who is no stranger to troubled productions: Max Evry, the author of "A Masterpiece in Disarray: David Lynch's Dune - An Oral History!" Max joins us to dissect Dave Allen's long-gestating passion project, a movie that he was developing since the 1960s and is now, 25 years after Allen's untimely death, finally complete. Hosted by Jarrod Hornbeck and Steve Guntli Theme song by Kyle Hornbeck Logo by Doug McCambridge Email: puppetmasterscastlefreaks@gmail.com Instagram/Threads: @puppetmasters_castlefreaks YouTube: @PuppetMastersCastleFreaks Next week's episode: Transmutations, aka Underworld
Tis the season to... buy merch? This week we're talking about Full Moon's only Christmas "film," THE 12 SLAYS OF CHRISTMAS, a compilation of old Full Moon flicks that just so happens to also function as an ad for the Tiny Terrors toy line. We're joined by Mr. Christmas himself, Chris Antista, who lends his expertise into holiday specials to see where this flick lands in the canon. Then, as an extra treat, we're dipping back into the toy chest for the stand-alone feature DEMONIC TOYS: JACK-ATTACK, in which the titular jack-in-the-box takes center stage for a solo adventure. Happy holidays everyone! Hosted by Jarrod Hornbeck and Steve Guntli Theme song by Kyle Hornbeck Logo by Doug McCambridge Email: puppetmasterscastlefreaks@gmail.com Instagram/Threads: @puppetmasters_castlefreaks YouTube: @PuppetMastersCastleFreaks Next week's episode: The Primevals
The original KILLJOY was a surprise hit when it debuted in the early 2000s, so it seemed a foregone conclusion that the killer clown would be a new staple in the Full Moon repertoire. But as we see this week, the franchise almost died after the second entry, and was only able to return after a complete reimagining in the early 2010s. We're discussing the next two entries in the KILLJOY saga this week, and we're once again tagging in podcasting great Stevie Webb to offer his expertise in all things murderous harlequin. Hosted by Jarrod Hornbeck and Steve Guntli Theme song by Kyle Hornbeck Logo by Doug McCambridge Email: puppetmasterscastlefreaks@gmail.com Instagram/Threads: @puppetmasters_castlefreaks YouTube: @PuppetMastersCastleFreaks Next week's episode: 12 Slays of Christmas / Demonic Toys: Jack Attack
Writer Kolleen Carney-Hoepfner joins us this week for HORRORVISION, an underrated entry in one of our favorite sub-subgenres: early internet thrillers. This early Tempe-era thriller is much smarter than you expect, as an evil website starts to tempt and capture LA-area goths. Hosted by Jarrod Hornbeck and Steve Guntli Theme song by Kyle Hornbeck Logo by Doug McCambridge Email: puppetmasterscastlefreaks@gmail.com Instagram/Threads: @puppetmasters_castlefreaks YouTube: @PuppetMastersCastleFreaks Next week's episode: Killjoy 2: Deliverance From Evil / Killjoy 3
Author Dylan James Quarles returns this week as we rustle up a sequel to 1994's OBLIVION, Sam Irvin's BACKLASH: OBLIVION 2! Shot simultaneously with the original but released more than 2 years later, this follow up maintains the fun, goofy tone of the original and allows supporting characters, like Julie Newmar's Miss Kitty, to really shine. Hosted by Jarrod Hornbeck and Steve Guntli Theme song by Kyle Hornbeck Logo by Doug McCambridge Email: puppetmasterscastlefreaks@gmail.com Instagram/Threads: @puppetmasters_castlefreaks YouTube: @PuppetMastersCastleFreaks Next week's episode: Horrorvision
This week, we're taking on DREAMANIAC the mainstream film debut of David DeCoteau, one of Charles Band's most important collaborators and maybe the most prolific filmmaker of all time. Alex Ayling from Evolution of Horror joins us for this weird, murky Wizard Video release about a demonic succubus that features maybe the strangest twist we've yet encountered. Hosted by Jarrod Hornbeck and Steve Guntli Theme song by Kyle Hornbeck Logo by Doug McCambridge Email: puppetmasterscastlefreaks@gmail.com Instagram/Threads: @puppetmasters_castlefreaks YouTube: @PuppetMastersCastleFreaks Next week's episode: Backlash: Oblivion 2
We're revisiting the Full Moon Cinematic Universe this week with DOLLMAN VS. DEMONIC TOYS, a crossover event meant to be a soft launch for an attempted shared universe. We're joined by return guest Ivotres Littles of Horror Movies and Beyond as we explore this odd flick that assembles characters from DOLLMAN, DEMONIC TOYS, and BAD CHANNELS. Hosted by Jarrod Hornbeck and Steve Guntli Theme song by Kyle Hornbeck Logo by Doug McCambridge Email: puppetmasterscastlefreaks@gmail.com Instagram/Threads: @puppetmasters_castlefreaks YouTube: @PuppetMastersCastleFreaks Next week's episode: Dreamaniac
A gaggle of Full Moon's most iconic scream queens come together for the smart and funny satire TROPHY HEADS! Critic Patrick Bromley joins us as we watch Darcy DeMoss, Michelle Bauer, Brinke Stevens, Linnea Quigley, Jaqueline Lovell, and Denice Duff reckon with both an obsessed fan and the ageist movie industry. Hosted by Jarrod Hornbeck and Steve Guntli Theme song by Kyle Hornbeck Logo by Doug McCambridge Email: puppetmasterscastlefreaks@gmail.com Instagram/Threads: @puppetmasters_castlefreaks YouTube: @PuppetMastersCastleFreaks Next week's episode: Dollman vs. Demonic Toys
The boys of the Screams From The Basement podcast join us as we step back into the hotboxed EVIL BONG universe with two more pot-themed horror comedies: the tiny terror comedy WEEDJIES: HALLOWEED NIGHT and the spin-off THE GINGERWEED MAN! Are these a HIT or are we going to PUFF PUFF PASS on them? Sorry, there are a lot of weed puns, it may have broken our brains. Hosted by Jarrod Hornbeck and Steve Guntli Theme song by Kyle Hornbeck Logo by Doug McCambridge Email: puppetmasterscastlefreaks@gmail.com Instagram/Threads: @puppetmasters_castlefreaks YouTube: @PuppetMastersCastleFreaks Next week's episode: Trophy Heads
Fangoria writer and critic Richard Newby is our guest this week as we look back at the film Charles Band considers his true debut: 1976's grisly MANSION OF THE DOOMED! Starring old Hollywood icons Richard Basehart and Gloria Grahame and an appearance from a young Lance Henricksen, this tale of a mad doctor obsessed with saving his daughter's eyesight is a grim but effective shocker. Hosted by Jarrod Hornbeck and Steve Guntli Theme song by Kyle Hornbeck Logo by Doug McCambridge Email: puppetmasterscastlefreaks@gmail.com Instagram/Threads: @puppetmasters_castlefreaks YouTube: @PuppetMastersCastleFreaks Next week's episode: Weedjies: Halloweed Night / The Gingerweed Man
We've got Full Moon / Empire royalty on the show this week! Iconic 80's scream queen Brinke Stevens joins us this week, alongside her friend and superfan Dr. Rhonda Baughman, to discuss Brinke's directorial debut, SORORITY BABES IN THE SLIMEBALL BOWL-O-RAMA 2! This 30-years-in-the-making sequel brings a new crop of ditzy college kids into the path of the Imp, and we have the inside scoop from Brinke and Rhonda! Hosted by Jarrod Hornbeck and Steve Guntli Theme song by Kyle Hornbeck Logo by Doug McCambridge Email: puppetmasterscastlefreaks@gmail.com Instagram/Threads: @puppetmasters_castlefreaks YouTube: @PuppetMastersCastleFreaks Next week's episode: Mansion of the Doomed
Legendary pop culture critic Nathan Rabin is back this week to talk about an icon of 90's indie cinema, and it's oft-overlooked sequel! 1996's FREEWAY is a demented and gritty take on "Little Red Riding Hood" that transcends the sleaze of it's surroundings thanks to a witty script and a star-making turn from a young Reese Witherspoon. The sequel, CONFESSIONS OF A TRICKBABY, was a Full Moon pickup from 1997 starring Natasha Lyonne and Vincent Gallo, with whom Nathan has had some very interesting real-life encounters. Hosted by Jarrod Hornbeck and Steve Guntli Theme song by Kyle Hornbeck Logo by Doug McCambridge Email: puppetmasterscastlefreaks@gmail.com Instagram/Threads: @puppetmasters_castlefreaks YouTube: @PuppetMastersCastleFreaks Next week's episode: Sorority Babes in the Slimeball Bowl-o-Rama 2
The boys of Movie Dumpster are back this week to talk about one of the most intense Empire thrillers: David Schmoeller's CRAWLSPACE! This creepy flick about a lunatic stalking residents of an apartment building stars Klaus Kinski, one of the most famously unpredictable and insane film stars of all time, and the behind-the-scenes stories from this film have become not only legendary, but hugely influential on the Full Moon universe. Hosted by Jarrod Hornbeck and Steve Guntli Theme song by Kyle Hornbeck Logo by Doug McCambridge Email: puppetmasterscastlefreaks@gmail.com Instagram/Threads: @puppetmasters_castlefreaks YouTube: @PuppetMastersCastleFreaks Next week's episode: Freeway / Freeway 2: Confessions of a Trickbaby
We're completing the WITCHOUSE trilogy on our show, and we're fortunate to be guided through these two underseen sequels by none other than director JR Bookwalter! The prolific horror writer and director takes us through the fascinating production of these two films, which bridge the gap between the end of the Romanian era of Full Moon and the beginning of their return to America. Hosted by Jarrod Hornbeck and Steve Guntli Theme song by Kyle Hornbeck Logo by Doug McCambridge Email: puppetmasterscastlefreaks@gmail.com Instagram/Threads: @puppetmasters_castlefreaks YouTube: @PuppetMastersCastleFreaks Next week's episode: Crawlspace
It's time for another wild Kushner-Locke-era Charles Band film! Filmmaker Addison Binek (PSYCHO APE) joins us for HIDEOUS, a horror-comedy set in the world of high-end human oddity training. Featuring some distinctive tiny terrors and the PM/CF debut of the great Jaqueline Lovell! Hosted by Jarrod Hornbeck and Steve Guntli Theme song by Kyle Hornbeck Logo by Doug McCambridge Email: puppetmasterscastlefreaks@gmail.com Instagram/Threads: @puppetmasters_castlefreaks YouTube: @PuppetMastersCastleFreaks Next week's episode: Witchouse 2: Blood Coven / Witchouse 3: Demon Fire
People's worst nightmares start to manifest in a secret government bunker in SHADOWZONE! This fun thriller in the vein of John Carpenter's THE THING boasts some surprising star power, including industry legend James Hong and Oscar winner Louise Fletcher. We're joined by Chris Bahr as we discuss one of the very first Full Moon movies! Hosted by Jarrod Hornbeck and Steve Guntli Theme song by Kyle Hornbeck Logo by Doug McCambridge Email: puppetmasterscastlefreaks@gmail.com Instagram/Threads: @puppetmasters_castlefreaks YouTube: @PuppetMastersCastleFreaks Next week's episode: Hideous!
The filmmaking couple behind Switchblade Cinema, Alix Austin and Keir Siewert, join us for one of the absolute strangest Empire movies out there: THE CALLER, a sparse two-hander that feels like a filmed play! Starring Malcolm McDowell and Madolyn Smith, THE CALLER is twisty and ambitious swing for Band and company, but is it different enough to truly stand out? Hosted by Jarrod Hornbeck and Steve Guntli Theme song by Kyle Hornbeck Logo by Doug McCambridge Email: puppetmasterscastlefreaks@gmail.com Instagram/Threads: @puppetmasters_castlefreaks YouTube: @PuppetMastersCastleFreaks Next week's episode: Shadowzone
Corey Stevenson and Zak Shaffer from the great Podcasting After Dark join the platoon this week for the Bilson and DeMeo-scripted pulp serial treat ZONE TROOPERS! The movie is a gleeful genre mashup (think E.T. meets the Howling Commandos and you're halfway there), featuring a cast full of holdovers from TRANCERS and a great, tongue-in-cheek sense of humor. Hosted by Jarrod Hornbeck and Steve Guntli Theme song by Kyle Hornbeck Logo by Doug McCambridge Email: puppetmasterscastlefreaks@gmail.com Instagram/Threads: @puppetmasters_castlefreaks YouTube: @PuppetMastersCastleFreaks Next week's episode: The Caller
Filmmakers and writers Justin Martell and Seager Dixon join us this week as we explore the campy magical horror film SPELLCASTER! The film was shot in 1986 and was banking on the popularity of its star, New Wave rocker Adam Ant, but the film wasn't released until late 1992, and went largely unseen. Is it worth gazing into your crystal ball to find a copy? Hosted by Jarrod Hornbeck and Steve Guntli Theme song by Kyle Hornbeck Logo by Doug McCambridge Email: puppetmasterscastlefreaks@gmail.com Instagram/Threads: @puppetmasters_castlefreaks YouTube: @PuppetMastersCastleFreaks Next week's episode: Zone Troopers
An offshoot of the mid-70s "porno chic" era, the "erotic musical comedy based on public domain stories" subgenre remains one of the weirdest fads in film history, and Charles Band was there on the ground floor. This week, we're talking about two of his earliest projects, the ribald erotic comedies CINDERELLA and FAIRY TALES! We're joined by writer, filmmaker, and exploitation film historian Michael Gingold to dig deep into some truly jaw-dropping motion pictures. Hosted by Jarrod Hornbeck and Steve Guntli Theme song by Kyle Hornbeck Logo by Doug McCambridge Email: puppetmasterscastlefreaks@gmail.com Instagram/Threads: @puppetmasters_castlefreaks YouTube: @PuppetMastersCastleFreaks Next week's episode: Spellcaster
Filmmaker and writer Jed Shepherd (HOST) joins us this week for a trilogy of films from a true visionary: Tim Kincaid. The 80's shlockmeister attempted to graduate from pornography into mainstream filmmaking with a trio of Wizard Video releases that truly defy description and just have to be seen to be believed. Whether it's the sleazy alien thrills of BREEDERS, the insane fantasy of ROBOT HOLOCAUST, or the bizarre post-apocalyptic robot battling of MUTANT HUNT, these films are sure to drop some jaws. Hosted by Jarrod Hornbeck and Steve Guntli Theme song by Kyle Hornbeck Logo by Doug McCambridge Email: puppetmasterscastlefreaks@gmail.com Instagram/Threads: @puppetmasters_castlefreaks YouTube: @PuppetMastersCastleFreaks Next week's episode: Cinderella / Fairy Tales
Though it's largely forgotten today, PARASITE was a crucial launching point for a lot of very important careers, not the least of which was Charles Band himself. Band teamed up with some future visionaries (SFX artist Stan Winston, star Demi Moore) to attempt to revitalize the 3D movement, and for a few years they nearly succeeded! We're thrilled to be joined by Fangoria editor-in-chief Phil Nobile, Jr. to dig into this slimy, oddly post-apocalyptic thriller. Hosted by Jarrod Hornbeck and Steve Guntli Theme song by Kyle Hornbeck Logo by Doug McCambridge Email: puppetmasterscastlefreaks@gmail.com Instagram/Threads: @puppetmasters_castlefreaks YouTube: @PuppetMastersCastleFreaks Next week's episode: Breeders / Robot Holocaust / Mutant Hunt
It's time for the next chapter of our SUBSPECIES retrospective! Michelle and Radu's journey continues with BLOODLUST: SUBSPECIES III, shot at the same time as the acclaimed second film. Then, we're looking at VAMPIRE JOURNALS, the series spin-off that may just be the best-looking Full Moon movie, period. Michael Varrati is back on the show to help us sort through Ted Nicolaou's Romanian vampire saga. Hosted by Jarrod Hornbeck and Steve Guntli Theme song by Kyle Hornbeck Logo by Doug McCambridge Email: puppetmasterscastlefreaks@gmail.com Instagram/Threads: @puppetmasters_castlefreaks YouTube: @PuppetMastersCastleFreaks Next week's episode: Parasite
Cecil Trachenburg is back this week as our cinematic tour of Eastern Europe continues, this time with the surprisingly smart and elegant DARK ANGEL: THE ASCENT! Starring model Angela Featherstone as a rise demon who becomes an earthly avenger, the film is one of Full Moon's more accomplished early efforts. Hosted by Jarrod Hornbeck and Steve Guntli Theme song by Kyle Hornbeck Logo by Doug McCambridge Email: puppetmasterscastlefreaks@gmail.com Instagram/Threads: @puppetmasters_castlefreaks YouTube: @PuppetMastersCastleFreaks Next week's episode: Bloodlust: Subspecies III / Vampire Journals
Charles Band makes his biggest push yet at builidng out his Marvel-esque shared universe with two back-to-back superhero flicks! Filmmaker Nathan Faudree (SITE 13) joins us as we talk about sci-fi saga MANDROID and it's pulpy direct sequel INVISIBLE: THE CHRONICLES OF BENJAMIN KNIGHT! Hosted by Jarrod Hornbeck and Steve Guntli Theme song by Kyle Hornbeck Logo by Doug McCambridge Email: puppetmasterscastlefreaks@gmail.com Instagram/Threads: @puppetmasters_castlefreaks YouTube: @PuppetMastersCastleFreaks Next week's episode: Dark Angel: The Ascent
The boys of Neon Brainiacs join us on our magical trip back to Moonbeam territory for PET SHOP! This kid-friendly bit of fluff boasts some cuddly critters and weird space cowboys in a weird attempt at a budget Tim Burton family flick. Hosted by Jarrod Hornbeck and Steve Guntli Theme song by Kyle Hornbeck Logo by Doug McCambridge Email: puppetmasterscastlefreaks@gmail.com Instagram/Threads: @puppetmasters_castlefreaks YouTube: @PuppetMastersCastleFreaks Next week's episode: Mandroid / Invisible: The Chronicles of Benjamin Knight
A robot warrior. A scientist. A mercenary. A ninja. What happens if we put them all in the Florida swamps and sent rednecks after them? Let's find out, with the high-octane thrills of ELIMINATORS! Black VVideo's Shea Mossefin returns for this gleeful genre pastiche that seems to be every 80s B-movie in one. Hosted by Jarrod Hornbeck and Steve Guntli Theme song by Kyle Hornbeck Logo by Doug McCambridge Email: puppetmasterscastlefreaks@gmail.com Instagram/Threads: @puppetmasters_castlefreaks YouTube: @PuppetMastersCastleFreaks Next week's episode: Pet Shop
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