Three gay guys and a token straight guy talk horror in all its forms. Scary, camp and gin-soaked banter looking at everything from Hammer glamour to video nasties.
Jon Larkin, Martin Fenerty, Stephen Moore, Jonathan Butler
Jonny Larkin is joined by sleaze merchants Chris Brown (Video Nasties Podcast) and Andy Roberts (Nasty Pasty Podcast) to delve into House on the Edge of the Park (1980). Ruggero Deodato’s follow-up to his notorious Cannibal Holocaust is an orgy of rape, murder and morally ambiguous sexual politics. Starring David Hess, this Italian answer to Last House on the Left is sure to leave you needing a shower… but is it any good? Hear our take, discussing the homoeroticism between the film’s lead antagonist and his sidekick, the themes of class and exploitation running throughout, and the shocking amounts of cuts made to the film when it was seized as a video nasty. Be warned: spoilers ahead, and frank discussions about rape.
Jonny Larkin is joined by OG Screaming Queen Stephen Moore for a camp, nostalgic trip down 90s slasher lane with Urban Legend. Released at the height of the Scream rip-off era, Urban Legend received lukewarm reviews and was seen as a shameless cash-in. But 23 years later it’s receiving a reappraisal. And rightly so! Littered with 90s TV stars and building a stalk-and-slash romp around popular urban legends, it offers jumps, laughs, and one of the 90s’ most memorable psycho performances. There’s even a bonus chat with Sleazy Queen Andy Roberts who has penned an essay for the 88 Films Blu Ray box set release. So crack open a can of Pepsi, guzzle some popping candy and enjoy! Spoilers ahead – and lots of references to cum guzzling (standard).
In the latest Sleazy Queenz spinoff, Jonny Larkin, OG Screaming Queen Martin Fenerty and queer artist Ben Youdan are delving into the soft focus world of the 90s erotic thriller. But it’s not just any tits and ass shocker… it comes with queer credentials in the form of a certain queen of pop... Body of Evidence stars Madonna as a femme fatale accused of murdering her wealthy lover with… you guessed it… sex! Panned on release, the film did Madonna no favours in Hollywood. But is it that bad? The Queenz take on misogyny, kink-shaming and the fear of sex in the shadow of Aids and conservative America. We get deep… but not quite as deep as Willem Dafoe’s face in that infamous car park scene. Did they REALLY have sex?! Find out in this erotically charged potty-mouth sojourn through the sleazy side of cinema. Spoilers ahead. Not for the eagerly offended.
Sleazy Queenz returns to the bottom of the barrel with our old pal Joe D’Amato! Ancient Rome never felt so dirty as it does in Caligula 2: The Untold Story. D’Amato’s riff on the Tinto Brass epic has everything we’ve come to expect. The beautiful Laura Gemser, lashings of sex both soft and hardcore… and ANOTHER scene with a horse. But it’s also surprisingly queer in places. Find out why as Jonny Larkin is joined by Andy Roberts and Chris Brown to dive headfirst into an orgy of depravity that is NOT for the eagerly offended.
Join Jonny Larkin and special guest star Steve Hughes as they trawl through ‘FRIGHT’, an obscure British shocker from 1971. A predecessor to Halloween and When A Stranger Calls, Fright follows a nubile young babysitter stuck in a rambling country manor with a psychopath breathing down her neck. Surprisingly sleazy, Fright wastes no time in getting its star Susan George out of her clothes, whilst Honor Blackman swooshes about in a cape and Dennis Waterman dons some aubergine bell bottoms to perv over the beleaguered babysitter. But is Fright a delight? Or a bit shite? Find out with our spoilery review, and also hear about Steve’s first ever wet dream about one of the stars of the film. Oh yes. We keep it classy at Screaming Queenz. Not for the eagerly offended.
“It’s either this or another cry-wank!” What a perfect way to sum up the latest Sleazy Queenz foray into filth. This time Chris Brown of Video Nasties Podcast chooses “that one where Edwige Fenech gets it on with a goat.” No, really. TOP SENSATION (1969) is the result of what happens when an Italian film crew head out on a yacht with Rosalba Neri, the afore-mentioned giallo queen Edwige, and a shit load of J&B and come back with a film. Ironically Top Sensation is largely topless. But is it any good? Join Jonny Larkin, Chris Brown and Nasty Pasty Podcast’s Andy Roberts on a summer adventure like no other. It’s rather dirty, and loaded with spoilers. Don’t say you weren’t warned!
Join Jonny Larkin and special guest star Steve Hughes as we delve into the archives of British TV horror once more. This time we turn our attention to Tales of the Unexpected, a cornucopia of creepy delights that ran from 1979-1988. Initially conjured up by Roald Dahl, it gave us macabre stories featuring the likes of Joan Collins, Miriam Margoyles and… Toyah Willcox? ‘The Flypaper’ stands out from the bunch with its bleak portrayal of a teenage girl stalked by a perverted killer, and the twist in its tale left a generation scarred for life! Hear all about it here, along with some pretty filthy banter regarding the likes of Gareth Hunt, John Duttine and… Kevin Webster from Coronation Street?
“One of the most bizarre podcasts in the anals of history?” Possibly. What’s most bizarre is it took Screaming Queenz 117 episodes to cover undoubtedly one of the most notorious masterpieces of horror cinema, The Texas Chain Saw Massacre. We all know the tale of Tobe Hooper’s descent into the American nightmare, but what makes it so queer? And why is Stephen Moore describing Leatherface as a ‘non-binary icon’? Find out with our latest offering, recorded remotely from our CoVid-safe dungeons. It’s littered with spoilers and tasteless humour. But then again why else would you be listening? Head-cheese all round!
Merry Christmas! We’ve snuck down your chimney and we’re emptying our sacks all over your Christmas tree with our take on Glen Morgan’s much-maligned remake of Black Christmas! Back in 2006 the former X Files alumni set out to make a version of Bob Clark’s classic slasher that explored themes of family and the dark origins of Christmas… but the film didn’t quite turn out that way. So with a cast including noughties starlets Michelle Trachtenberg, Katie Cassidy and Lacey Chabert and a story based on infamous head-fucking serial killer Edmund Kemper, how could this turn out to be a car crash horror movie? One word: Weinstein! Find out the full story as we go behind the scenes and rummage through the attic for all the eye-popping horror that went into making Black Christmas 2006!
Join Jonny Larkin and special guest star soap writer horror fanatic Steve Hughes, as we begin our dive into classic TV horror. Before Tales of the Unexpected, before Hammer House of Horror, there was THRILLER. An anthology series that ran for 6 seasons, writer Brian Clemens’ TV opus has been described as the Primark Hitchcock. Kitsch, budget-friendly but always drawing top talent, Thriller did what it said on the tin. But it veered into camp Satanic horror with ‘Nurse Will Make It Better’. Imagine The Omen, Rosemary’s Baby and The Exorcist all put through a budget meat grinder then sprinkled with blonde bombshell Diana Dors and you’re half way there. This OTT, balls-to-the-wall slice of British horror oddness goes under the Screaming Queenz microscope. Does Nurse make it better? Listen and find out. Beware spoilers, and lots of gay gushing over Donna Mills…
In our latest Sleazy Queenz spinoff we look at hardcore classic SCORE (1973). Starring gay porn idol Casey Donovan and Cronenberg-collaborator Lynn Lowry, Score follows the adventures of a swinging bisexual couple Elvira and Jack who make a bet to seduce twee newlyweds Eddie and Betsy. Adapted from a stage play that originally starred Sylvester Stallone, Score might sound like a sleazetastic shagfest on paper. However it turns out to be a progressive, uplifting, sex-positive portrayal of bisexuality that leaves 2020 attitudes in the shade. But don’t let that put you off, it’s still filthy! We have a laugh discussing poppers, strap-ons… and Strictly Come Dancing? Never a dull moment. Spoilers ahead, and dirty humour that’s not for the eagerly offended. You have been warned!
Recorded on Halloween with some ghosts in our machine (dodgy software and wifi), Screaming Queenz Queer Horror Podcast still manage to pull it all together and take on Society (1989). It feels apt that a film about the depraved secrets that fester beneath the surface of the American dream should go out on the eve of the presidential election. But is anything in the movie as disgusting as Trump? Billy Warlock stars as a rich teen from Beverly Hills who finds out first hand (or fist) about the seedy nasty goings on in the upper echelons of American society. Imagine a Trump rally chock full of dead-eyed republicans only with more gloop and fisting and you’re half way there. Society is a shocker that resonates more today than ever – but will it ever get the recognition it deserves? Grease up your arms and dive in. You’re in for a slippery ride!
"It's like a used condom stuck to the foot of a giallo!" Yep, Sleazy Queenz are back, scraping the bottom of the barrel with Play Motel (1979). Starring the iconic Ray Lovelock with the notorious Marina Hedman and Patrizia Webley, this uber-sleazy affair is wall-to-wall sex and blackmail set in what can only be described as a sexy Travelodge. I'm joined by Chris Brown from Video Nasties Podcast, and Andy Roberts from Nasty Pasty Podcast. So join us as poor Chris has to put up with two filthy gays ogling Ray Lovelock's porno tash. Not to mention our concerns over the state of some of their gussets, and of course, that rather lovely theme song that gets stuck in your head! Spoilers ahoy - not to mention utter filth. You've been warned.
Sometimes a film comes along that, on the surface, appears to be a lowest-of-the-low exercise in exploitation with no redeeming features. Then when you scratch beneath that surface… it’s worse! PASSION PLANTATION, aka BLACK EMANUELLE WHITE EMANUELLE, takes the sexploitation template and drops it unceremoniously on a slave plantation! No, really. A truly awful moment in cinema history, it is nevertheless worthy of a Sleazy Queenz roasting. And I’m joined by Nasty Pasty Podcast’s Andy Roberts to do just that! Will we find any saving graces in such a terrible movie? No. But we’ll have a bloody good laugh at its expense!
Here’s one to get your teeth into! On the 50th Anniversary of its release, your favourite scouse homos (and their straight mate) are getting into bed with queer horror classic The Vampire Lovers! Released in 1970 with a X certificate and cranked up boobs and blood, this Hammer outing gave the world a bona fide horror icon in Ingrid Pitt. Hear about how truth was even more fantastic than fiction with Ingrid’s incredible life story. Equally as shocking – both Ingrid and the director didn’t think Vampire Lovers had even an inkling of lesbianism! We respectfully disagree as we celebrate Hammer’s most queer outing, which surprisingly subverts the male gaze whilst still giving us all the tits and teeth we need! So what if you can see that chain mail fence and sky blue hair bobble in 17th century Styria…
In this episode, Jon Larkin is joined by fellow queer horror fanatic soap writer Steve Hughes! The man responsible for bringing Silas the serial killer to UK soap Hollyoaks talks influences from 70s TV thrillers to Joan Collins, before helping write a love letter to an under-rated camp classic. The Fan (1981) starred Lauren Bacall as an ageing actress being stalked by a psychotic admirer, but it took flak from all sides. LGBTQ audiences didn’t like how gays were portrayed, Bacall fans didn’t take kindly to their icon being embroiled in a slasher movie, and NOBODY liked how it was released so soon after John Lennon was murdered by his own crazed stalker. So does The Fan deserve to be re-appraised? It’s got showtunes by Tim Rice, a cute male psycho and more fawning Broadway gays than Marie’s Crisis on Tony night. But is it any good? Listen and find out!
Screaming Queenz Queer Horror Podcast goes international this month with a very special guest! Joining me from Austin Texas is Amanda Reyes, my good friend and an amazing writer who brought us ‘Are You In The House Alone’, an incredible book looking at TV movies and, in particular, TV movie horror. We’re looking at Someone’s Watching Me (1978), written and directed by John Carpenter just before Halloween made him a household horror name. A Hitchcockian thriller that’s as tense and chilling as any big screen outing, Someone’s Watching Me stars Lauren Hutton as a TV director stalked in her new high rise apartment by a psycho with a telescope. It also features a hugely progressive lesbian character played by horror icon Adrienne Barbeau. So what are you waiting for? Pop on your oatmeal slacks and kick back and enjoy. You might want to take the phone off the hook though. Who knows what kind of creep is on the line…?
The queens are going all giallo again! Director Lamberto Bava brought us a camp riot with ‘A Blade in the Dark’ in 1983. Starring the gorgeous (and gay) Andrea Occhipinti, the stalk’n’slash giallo is heavy on synths and even heavier on the head-scratching ‘WTF’ moments. Especially if you happen to watch the notoriously bad English dub. So why was Mr Butler disappointed, and will Stephen actually kill him in their ‘is it a spanner, is it a wrench’ debate? Personally I’m too busy imagining Occhipinti doing the hot gardener. This one is a great laugh and we loved every minute even though we had to record under lockdown! Kick back, switch your brain off and enjoy!
Dressed to Kill has been called everything – a masterpiece, transphobic trash, a true American giallo and a misogynist Hitchcock rip-off. So where do Screaming Queenz sit? Certainly not on the fence. We get opinionated as we take on Brian De Palma’s notorious 1980 thriller. From Angie Dickinson’s body double to Nancy Allen’s purple fur to the most problematic elements of the film – ie, its treatment of trans people, its treatment of women and most importantly – that nurse’s shoes! We go all in and figure out whether Dressed to Kill is deserving of its notoriety. Also find out how William Friedkin’s Cruising inspired the making of this film!
Spend 90 minutes in the sleaziest fleapit cinema in town in some very dubious company. Ever heard a queer take on sexploitation opus Emanuelle in America? Well now’s the chance. Joined by our token straight buddy Chris Brown from Video Nasties Podcast, we’re deep-diving into Black Emanuelle. Her most notorious outing features hardcore sex, a rabbit hole plunge into snuff films and, yes, a woman wanking off a horse. It’s strong stuff and not for the eagerly offended. But what is its message? It might be deeper than you think (wink wink). Also hear Laura Gemser’s pop song, hear which star of the film ended up in jail for drug-trafficking, and find out about my obsession with Rocco Sifredi. Filthy language and spoilers ahoy!
CoVid might be keeping us all apart but Screaming Queenz have got a filthy little treat to tide you over. Last year we recorded what was to be the first in a series of spin off shows looking at exploitation film through a queer filter. Joined by Andy Roberts of Nasty Pasty Podcast, we recorded the first episode of SLEAZY QUEENZ looking at the notorious 80s rape-revenge Linda Blair classic, ‘Savage Streets’. We were planning to record more, joined by our friend Chris Brown of Video Nasties Podcast, but as luck would have it a pandemic got in the way! So we’re releasing this episode as a taster of things to come, and to keep our gorgeous Screaming Queenz listeners laughing through dark times! Savage Streets is infamous for its heavy-handed approach to rape and revenge – and our response is no different. It’s dark shit but we deal with it with laughter and campness so don’t take us too seriously. We all need a laugh right now so enjoy our first foray into 42nd Street filth – Sleazy Queenz are here to camp up your CoVid!
Slightly delayed due to Covid, depression and damn long working hours, we're back as a four for our look at the landmark Landis classic 'An American Werewolf in London'! Hear a queer take on this iconic horror movie (mainly just appreciating David Naughton's naked ass) and get your mind off the shit going outside your window! Every night there's a full moon with Screaming Queenz so howl along with us!
Happy Valentine's Day! The Screaming Queenz are back for 2020 with a romantic look at the descent into homoerotic hell that is Robert Eggers' The Lighthouse. Sweaty masturbating Robert Pattinson, dom top daddy Willem Defoe, what more can you ask for? Just don't mention the lobster. Or the farts. We examine the queerness of Eggers' latest release and then run through our picks for Valentines Horror Viewing. Also hear WHY Stephen is missing from this episode! Here's a hint. It involves a 19 inch dildo. And also hear our tribute to Dyanne Thorne, RiP to our favourite Nazi. We're filthy as ever so if you're eagerly offended, kindly cunt off.
"If Die Hard is a Christmas movie then so is this!" Twas the night before Christmas and all through the house, not a creature was stirring... because they were all dead! Screaming Queenz celebrate Christmas with the hardcore French extreme masterpiece 'Inside'. Featuring Beatrice Dalle in an iconic role as La Femme, the corset-wearing Goth force of nature intent on getting what she wants... and what she wants is the new baby inside Alysson Paradis! Knitting needles, scissors, guns, you name it... everything is a weapon and NOTHING is off limits in this twisted horror. So what did the Screaming Queenz make of it? And who's side are we actually on?? Listen here and find out. It's a Christmas eve like no other...
Crack open the (party) poppers! The Screaming Queenz are 100 episodes old! We thought we should go back to our roots and cover camp Gothic classic 'The Old Dark House'. Directed by uber-queen James Whale and starring the next level queen Ernest Thesiger, this movie has queerness running through its veins as a group of stranded travellers take shelter at the rambling home of the Femms (no, really). JB Priestly's examination of post-war broken Britain became a Universal monster movie... without the monsters... but it did have Boris Karloff and Charles Laughton amongst a stellar cast, not to mention a surprise moment of cross-dressing... So have a po-ta-to, sit back and enjoy our take on a bona fide camp classic.
"This ass... is clean!" The queers take on Poltergeist in our 99th episode! With responses to the film ranging from 'wow' to 'meh', we discuss whether it has rightfully earned its place in the horror hall of fame. And who the hell directed it? Hooper or Spielberg? There's love for camp icon Zelda Rubinstein, gasps at the Me Too Builders digging out the Freelings' pool, and we investigate the Curse of Poltergeist... First up Jonathan Butler tells us his spoiler-free thoughts on The Lighthouse! A packed show, listen and let us know what you think!
Halloween is upon us! And your favourite scouse queer horror podcasters are putting on their Silver Shamrock masks and parking themselves in front of the TV. What's the worst that could happen? Halloween 3 Season of the Witch went from hated to loved but when all's said and done - is the love just ironic nostalgia? Or is it actually a good horror movie? Screaming Queenz have mixed opinions on this one so get comfy and hear how killing children could stop climate change, how Stephen wants Dr Dan to give him a physical, and just why I declare "SLEEP IN MY MINGE" with gay abandon. It's rude, it's spoilery, and it's ready to give you tricks and treats aplenty! Happy HalloQueen!
Our very own Martin takes over hosting duties as we discuss George A. Romero's weird 1978 vampire shocker, 'Martin'. The tale of an awkward boy next door with a penchant for hypodermic needles, rape and bloodsucking, this eerie arty piece of horror oddness also delves into the grim reality of smalltown America. So why do we spend so long talking about dildos? You'll have to listen to find out. Spoilers ahoy! Not to mention a surprising appearance by Soft Cell...
Screaming Queenz are back with our take on It Chapter 2. It’s not a hot take, it’s not a cold take, and you can’t squeeze it into the length of a tweet! So does it even exist?! We look at the LGBTQ discourse on the latest Stephen King adaptation and wonder if it’s right to be offended by scenes of homophobia in a horror movie. We also review the rest of the film so grab yourself a fortune cookie and settle in for our usual filthy humour, spoilers and lack of fucks to give.
No more antici………… pation! Screaming Queenz are finally covering the queerest horror musical out there! Stephen Moore aka Francine Furter - our cover gal - has donned his stockings and beat his mug to bring us The Rocky Horror Picture Show. A celebration of all things weird queer and free, Rocky Horror is a musical theatre phenomenon, and Tim Curry’s Frank-N-Furter is an icon. But what did the rest of the Queenz think of this classic, and why do we spend so long talking about prolapses? The usual filthy humour and spoilers ensue!
Aided by vodka and XO Cafe Patron Tequila we take on our first French Extreme Horror, Haute Tension – aka Switchblade Romance. Alexandre Aja’s throwback to 70s exploitation horror, this blood-soaked stalk’n’slash epic has been accused of homophobia. Do we agree? Do we find it ‘problematic’? You might be surprised. You won’t be surprised by the usual filthy humour which is cranked up after doing shots – but we make sense! I promise! Unlike some of the movie...
In our latest podcast, Screaming Queenz ask a question that has been on the lips of every queer horror fan since the dawn of time. Vincent Price or Paris Hilton? Who is the bigger icon? I think we all the know the answer to this but just in case you’re unsure you better listen to our bumper Houses of Wax special! Looking at the 1953 3D masterpiece, which sees Price skulk in the foggy Victorian shadows and Morticia Addams herself Carolyn Jones camp it up in a ridiculously tight corset, we revel in the lavish 3D thrills and marvel at that guy who can fit 3 balls in his mouth at once. Then we jump forward to the trashy 2005 incarnation which brings sex tape superstar Paris Hilton into the hillbilly horror subgenre and results in the usual filthy humour from your favourite queer horror podcasters! Who do you think comes out on top? Listen and find out – but beware spoilers and the possibility of lapses into Ms Hilton’s pop career...
Screaming Queenz Queer Horror Podcast reviews Ari Aster’s 2nd feature film, Midsommar. Spoiler free for first 15 minutes so if you haven’t seen the movie don’t fret – listen to the start and tune out when you hear the very loud warning! It’s even louder and more obvious than ALL of the warnings the characters ignore in the movie! Taking on folk horror, relationship drama and existential dread, Midsommar has been hailed as both a masterpiece and a self-indulgent mess. Which side of the fence do we land on? You’ll have to listen and find out!
Joe Le Taxi! Anyone else remember the pop hits of Vanessa Paradis? Well we do. And now the iconic French singer takes the lead in a stylish homage to giallo set in the world of Parisian 70s gay porn! I mean, could anything be MORE up Screaming Queenz back alley? Hear our take on the film that set Cannes alight with its mix of neon, black humour, kitsch twinky sex and lesbian sexual psycho-drama. Did it make the blood rush south for us? Or is it all dildo and no cock? Only one way to find out. Beware, spoilers ahead, not to mention our usual lack of any taste whatsoever! We wouldn’t want to disappoint!
The Queenz are in need of some therapy and a good hot shower after watching Possum, the 2018 British horror from director Matthew Holness. Starring Sean Harris as Philip, a disgraced children's puppeteer, Possum takes us to MR James country amidst the desolate marshes of Norfolk but this ain't no Christmas ghost story. Possum paints a blackened portrait of post-Jimmy Savile Britain. An oppressive story of the trauma of abuse, it is horror in its rawest, nastiest form. So how did the Screaming Queenz react to a group viewing? This is heavy stuff so be warned - but obvs even in the darkest of corners we find something to cackle about so it's not all doom and gloom! Prepare to be spoiled - and soiled (sorry).
Screaming Queenz are talkin’ Italian yet again with another giallo classic! This time we’re going full on trashy with ‘Strip Nude For Your Killer’. As the title would suggest this film includes lots of stripping and lots of killing. But what’s with the surprisingly homoerotic posing from leading machismo machine Nino Castelnuovo? And why am I so obsessed with iconic Edwige Fenech’s Bialetti? We decide whether this film deserves its reputation as a piece of misogynistic trash… or whether it is a misunderstood classic. There’s filthy humour and language throughout with a healthy dose of retro giallo soundtracks to keep your toes tapping too. So strip nude, run yourself a bath and wait for us to come crashing through your back door with our big shiny helmets. It’s time for a queer take on Andrea Bianchi’s sleazy giallo classic!
Lucio Fulci. Misogynist hack or under-rated genius? The Screaming Queenz are diving into his varied career with Zombi 2/Zombie Flesh Eaters, Fulci’s first foray into full blooded horror that some call the essential zombie movie. Hear a different take on this cult classic as three queers and an equally camp-loving heterosexual grapple with the Isle of Ma’tool – and boy do we milk Ma’tool… Tisa Farrow’s acting comes in for some severe shade but there’s a ton of love for Al Cliver despite our worry about his pasty ginger skin in that Caribbean sunshine. Find out which Bob Hope zombie movie from the 40s scared Jon Larkin as a kid despite never getting the credit it deserves, what gave Stephen Moore the giggles before the movie even started, why Martin Fenerty wants to bathe in Stephen’s blood, and hear how Jonathan Butler finds a connection between this movie… and Godzilla?? Twists, turns, puerile humour and lots of spoilers await you on the Isle of Ma’tool…
Following on from the success of 'Get Out', Jordan Peele returns with 'Us', another mashup of horror and sci fi with a healthy dose of social commentary. But does this film live up to the hype? Should Peele be described as the next Spielberg or the first Jordan Peele? And was that a Lost Boys reference in the opening 5 minutes? But most importantly, just what is going on with Winston Duke's next level manspread?! The Screaming Queenz take a look at Us with the usual mix of humour and deep-diving into the film's themes, pulling no punches as to why some of us think it's fabulous whilst others think it's kinda over-rated... First 15 mins are spoiler free but then the scissors are out. So get Alexa to play some NWA, pour yourself a tumbler of rosé and get tethered to the Queenz!
Jon Butler presents one of his favourite ever films, 'Night of the Hunter'. Described as a "nightmarish sort of Mother Goose tale", Charles Laughton's film is now considered a classic - but wasn't at the time... why? We give the film a queer reading and talk about what would attract an LGBTQ audience to its themes. And we're also giving away a copy of this great movie on DVD! But you have to listen to find out how to get your grubby mitts on it. And no. The DVD is not hidden in a doll...
When Ruggero Deodato was done causing mayhem with cannibals and rape revenge flicks he put out some rather odd little numbers... and Dial Help could be the strangest of them all. I'm joined by Rachael Nisbet, who whilst being my favourite giallo expert, also happens to be the leading authority on this movie! Bursting with late 80s fashion and style, a soundtrack from Claudio Simonetti and a very snazzy Armani telephone, Dial Help is an under-rated gem. Utterly bonkers but full of likeable characters and a very well-paced story, this movie deserves a wider audience. So hang up that call, feed your fish and sit back and enjoy as we head to Rome for an off-the-hook holiday you won't forget in a hurry... (Warning - there are more bad phone puns in this episode, and spoilers)
The swamps and bayous of Hoodoo country have never looked so... white? Join us as we delve into the world of 'The Skeleton Key', a film from 2005 when it was still OK to send pretty blonde white girls into the murky world of plantations and curses, and the only actual black characters were just the sassy sidekick and a couple of ghosts flitting about the place. So why is this film hated by some and revered by others, who see it as the inspiration for 'Get Out'? Listen and find out! Spoilers ahead!
Jonny Larkin is joined by our favourite giallo and Italian horror expert Rachael Nisbet to discuss everything from J&B to misogyny and genital mutilation in 'Patrick Still Lives'! From the man who gave us 'Giallo a Venezia', this bizarre riff on an Ozsploitation classic stars our favourite trashy Euro horror queen Mariangela Giordano and is a tale of telekinetic revenge, forbidden lust and blackmail set at a rather familiar-looking palazzo... Spoilers ahead, and the usual filthy humour!
This year we're taking on a ton of Hammer Horrors, and in our first foray we look at The Nanny, starring icon Bette Davis! Hammer is now renowned for its saturated, bosom-heaving, red-blooded horror, but in the 60s Hammer gave us some chilling black and white thrillers too. Off the back of Baby Jane Bette Davis brought her hag horror campness to The Nanny, but turned in a restrained and nuanced performance. This slow burn thriller still manages to shock today - but why? Find out why. Spoilers ahead, our usual filthy humour, and Martin's rather terrifying 'Nanny' voice! As always thank you to everyone who supports us - please find us on Facebook! Search Screaming Queenz, and don't forget we need your feedback on iTunes too!
Happy New Queer! Your favourite homo horror podcast takes a whistle stop tour through 2018, the year that gave us Hereditary, Halloween and Mandy! But which films were just overhyped and underwhelming? What was the underdog that stole mine and Martin's hearts? What film traumatised me so much I couldn't look at the screen? Why does Stephen love Strangers: Prey at Night so much, and why does Jonathan Butler insist we "just watch The Happening"? Find out, listen to this new episode and get yourselves lubed up for a whole new year of Screaming Queenz!
There's nowt so queer as folk horror, as the old saying goes. Well, sort of. The folk horror subgenre was kick-started by the strange, hypnotic and utterly spellbinding 1973 classic, The Wicker Man. The tale of a devoutly religious policeman who finds himself looking for a missing child on the remote Pagan island of Summerisle, The Wicker Man pushed the boundaries with its depiction of sexual freedom, alternative living and its truly shocking finale. So why didn't it find its audience upon release? And just why did Christopher Lee read poetry to a snail? In our last episode of 2018 we're jumping naked over flames, rubbing our breasts against the wall and gobbling up frogs. It's so blasphemous we could just scream! Settle down and listen to our take on what has been called "The Citizen Kane of horror"... Find us on Facebook - search Screaming Queenz Podcast - and LIKE us!
In the latest of our 3-parter on Part 3s, we look at Final Destination 3! Considered the fan favourite of the franchise, FD3 was where the series upped the camp, upped the humour, and gave us good gory fun without all that serious existential dread stuff to get in the way. From bimbos roasting on tanning beds to muscle jocks getting their heads crushed, this movie is a rollercoaster ride... that begins with a rollercoaster ride! Listen and hear what we made of it, and how we somehow end up talking about Zac Efron's dick. Standard Screaming Queenz then. LIKE us on Facebook! Search Screaming Queenz.
The Mother of Sighs is back in a brand spanking new remake of Suspiria! Running at 152 minutes and daubed in earth tones and slow contemplative shots of rain-soaked divided Berlin, Luca Guadagnino's vision of Suspiria is a far cry from the original. As all remakes should be. But is it any good? Does this new trawl through dance school witchcraft breathe foul new life into the story or is it simply an exercise in snobbery and self-indulgence? Well there's only one way to find out. Listen to our review! No spoilers for first 10 mins but then the hooks are out. Don't forget to give us your feedback - we are now on Facebook! Search Screaming Queenz Podcast.
Happy Gialloween! This year we’re taking a psycho-sexual trip to rural Italy for Sergio Martino’s slasherific giallo, Torso! Starring Suzy Kendall, Torso finds a bunch of sexy co-ed students stalked, strangled and dismembered by a masked maniac. Sound familiar? It should, because an entire subgenre of horror came to fruition less than a decade after this film was made. Pitting witty female characters against dumb, lecherous men, Torso is a fun ride that’s not quite as convoluted as some of the other gialli we’ve covered. But did we like it? Draw the curtains, pour yourself a J&B and ignore the little shits knocking at your door for candy! Listen, enjoy and give us your feedback. Find me on twitter @jonnylarkin!
Happy Halloween! In the first of our Halloween specials we're reviewing the reboot sequel rebootquel 'Halloween', where Michael Myers comes home to Haddonfield 40 years after his original killing spree. He doesn't count, however, on Laurie Strode - who is DEFINITELY not his sister - waiting for him with an arsenal of weapons. Is it a fight to the death? Is it any good? Does it live up to the hype? Hear our uncensored opinions in this episode. The first 15 mins are spoiler free and then we let you have it both barrels!
Screaming Queenz go live! Yes this is our first ever live podcast in front of a gorgeous audience. We look at Theatre of Blood (1973), the campest of the camp and the perfect choice for a screening in an abandoned department store! Vincent Price and Diana Rigg chew up the scenery and slice and dice their way through stuck up theatre critics using methods from Shakespeare plays, with grisly and hilarious results. Hear our take on the film, with everything from poodle pie to the sympathy we felt for the insane Edward Lionheart no matter how operatic the murders he committed! But which cast member was he having an affair with? And just who is the Hollywood power bottom who lived across the street? All this and more, plus we’re joined by our special guest Chris Brown (The Last Horror Podcast, Video Nasties Podcast). Thank you to Empty Spaces Cinema for giving us a stage and a wonderful audience!
Jonathans Butler and Larkin had the pleasure of seeing the cult-classic-in-the-making, Mandy. Starring Nicolas Cage, this insane fever dream of a film concerns hippy cults, murder, a lot of vodka, oh and a demonic biker gang! But does it live up to the hype? And just what IS a Cheddar Goblin? Find out in our review. There are spoilers along the way, but if you want to find out if it's any good or not, just listen to the first 10 minutes and we'll let you know without giving too much away!