The Weekly Horrorscope

Horror and all of pop culture would not be the same without the prolific influence of Stephen King. Authoring countless classics and best sellers, his work is ripe for translation to television and film, if the material is handled properly. With such a vast library to draw from, there are plenty of duds with his name attached but also a treasure chest full of classics. Jerry and Matt choose their top twenty King movies and discuss while celebrating episode 100.

The 2010's were a great decade for horror with the emergence of prestige horror and larger budgets pushing studio projects to greater quality levels. We saw movies like Hereditary, Get Out, A Quiet Place, Let Me In, as well as the highest grossing horror movie of all time, It. Independent, smaller films thrived in this new environment and well-made and intelligent films became the standard. Jerry & Matt look at two diverse examples of great movies from this decade with Green Room from 2015 and The Conjuring 2 from 2016.

In a landscape littered with bad sequels and reboots, it was a challenge to seek out the very best end movies of a series. Often times, a successful series only ends because the films stop making money, usually because the quality has diminished dramatically and the audience moves on. In the best scenarios, filmmakers have a defined vision that is completed or they don't want to repeat themselves and dilute their own art. Jerry & Matt look at two films that closed out series and did so on a high note with Army of Darkness from 1992 and MaXXXine from 2024.

The ought's brought a big shift in horror, leaving the stale 90's way behind them. Several new avenues for modern or elevated horror emerged, from French New Wave, to the found footage surge, the J-horror invasion and the torture porn era. New voices emerged and pushed the genre forward, some of whom still shape the landscape of horror today. Jerry & Matt look at two influential movies that greatly impacted the decade with American Psycho from 2000, and 28 Days Later from 2002.

2024 was a monumental year for horror, with an impressive array of outstanding films. The year brought us the usual order of sequels, prequels, and remakes, but many of these were outstanding in their own right, not just quick cash grabs with diminished quality. We were also treated to original ideas and concepts that remind us how fresh and innovative horror can be. Jerry & Matt discuss some of the top films from 2024 and spend extra time with their top choices, Late Night with the Devil and Nosferatu.

The 1990's saw a transition in horror, as the most predominant films split into either edgy thrillers, such as The Silence of the Lambs, Se7en, and Misery, or into teenage driven franchises like I know What You Did last Summer, Final Destination, and Scream. Pure horror films struggled to find a foothold in this environment, but like a beloved Final Girl, horror always survives. This week, Jerry & Matt look at two intelligent and layered movies that have great stories and scares with Exorcist III from 1990 and Candyman from 1992.

With the proliferation of home video and lower barrier of entry to filmmaking, the 1980's were a decade inundated with horror movie releases. Within this volume, we saw masses of cheap and poorly made films, but also examples of great creativity and ingenuity. Streaming has replaced the direct-to-video model, but in many ways the 80's created the format for how we access horror movies to this day. As one of the most prolific, the decade offers many of the best horror of all time. Jerry and Matt discuss the dark and creepy A Nightmare on Elm St, from 1984, as well as the iconic and outstanding sequel, Aliens, from 1986.

As Dr. Oblivion stated in the film Videodrome, "the television screen has become the retina of the mind's eye". This is a frightening idea without even applying the concept to horror films. From scratchy static allowing entity's into our homes, to mind altering signals that warp our brain, television has become a technological touchstone ripe for allowing terror into our lives. Jerry & Matt look at two very different films where TV is a focal point of horror, with The Howling, from 1981 and The Ring from 2002. Remember, too much TV can be deadly!

Plot twists and misdirection have long been a hallmark of horror films. Fantastical imagery and haunting, dream-like sequences blur the lines between reality and fiction, often leaving viewers guessing at where the story is headed. Jerry & Matt look at two very different films where all is not what it seems, with David Cronenberg's mind-melding exposition of media, Videodrome, from 1983, and M. Night Shyamalan's disjointed return to film with 2015's The Visit.

Being so closely related on the evolutionary scale, man has always been fascinated with primates and love putting them in films. They can be shown as cute or silly in roles played for humor (Right turn, Clyde), sent into space, spread diseases, or evolve beyond man into a dominate human species. They present a mystery to us, a link to what we may have been in the past and unknown potential of what they may be capable of. It is this mystery that can provide grounds for horror. Jerry & Matt look at two diverse examples of primates in horror with the iconic and transcendent King Kong, from 1933 and bio-engineered Ella in George Romero's Monkey Shines, from 1988. 

With origins dating back to biblical times, witchcraft is one of the most enduring, yet reality based topics in all of horror. From cartoon version to Halloween costumes, witches can be an under-appreciated topic for real terror. This week, Jerry & Matt look at two very diverse representations of witchcraft, with Robert Eggers' dark and disturbing tale from 2015, The Witch, and Spell, from 2020, a B-movie mash-up of wasted potential. 

Children represent unlimited potential and the future of our society. In almost all cultures, it is a primary function of adults to protect and defend the younger and weaker members so that potential can someday be realized. In horror, children create even greater tension when in peril due to this ingrained protective nature. This week, Jerry and Matt look at two very diverse films that put children at extreme risk with the abstract Skinamarink and the excellent The Black Phone, both from 2022.

The sea represents a broad canvas for horrors real and imagined. Tales of killer sharks, haunted ships, and Lovecraftian creatures from the deep have been a staple of fiction and films for decades. With the frightening power of nature and the vast unexplored depths of the oceans, there are endless ways to portray "Terror at Sea". Jerry & Matt look at two diverse films that probe very different horrors with Virus from 1999, and The Last Voyage of the Demeter from 2023. Bon Voyage!

Horror has long been a field that pushes boundaries and embraces societal taboos. Sex has been a theme or undercurrent in horror films for decades and can blur the line between exploitation and perversity. This week Jerry & Matt look at two very different films with sex and perversion at the center of their narratives. Teeth from 2007 is a dark, comedic take on a mythological deformity, vagina dentata. Antichrist from 2009 is a brooding, twisted exploration of grief and psychologic body horror, a depressing arthouse film that is definitely not for everyone.

The concept of a human supplemented with bio-mechanical parts was introduced in the 1960's and was mostly a concept to explore in fiction, much like flying cars and manned space crafts. With the increases in computer capabilities and the introduction of AI and self-learning, the idea of cyborgs began to carry horrific implications. These fears were the basis of James Cameron's seminal sci-fi film The Terminator, from 1984. It was clear that horror would tap into these fears and further expand on these terrifying ideas. This week Jerry & Matt look at two diverse films that explore cyborgs in very different ways, with Wes Craven's Deadly Friend from 1986 and Leigh Whannell's Upgrade from 2018.

Pop culture in America has long used stereotypical representations for societies different from ours. Haitian voodoo, tribal sacrifices, Native American witchdoctors, and mysterious gypsies have been a staple in films and particularly horror. This week, Jerry and Matt look at two films that tackle the dreaded "Gypsy Curse", with Tom Holland's Thinner from 1996 and Sam Raimi's Drag Me to Hell from 2009. Beware!

The 1970's are considered by many to be the greatest decade of all time for horror movies. Iconic films like The Exorcist, Alien, Halloween, Dawn of the Dead, Carrie, and Suspiria were all born in this fertile decade of imagination and terror. The 1970's represent the birth of modern horror and many of this tentpole films hold up now, half a century later. This week, Jerry and Matt select two movies that are at the top of any horror list and that could be considered near perfect- The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, 1974 remains one of the most intense and terrifying movies ever made, and Jaws, 1975 taps into primal and real fears and changed how generations have looked at the unknow fears of the vast oceans.

Horror has long used the purity and goodness of the "final girl" trope to give us someone to cheer for. That idea has evolved so that women are represented as more than just screaming survivors, but warriors whose survival instincts drive them to fight against overwhelming odds. Jerry and Matt look at two prime examples of these badass women with Jen from Revenge, a 2017 French-made blood-soaked tale, and Grace from Ready or Not, an over-the-top horror comedy from 2019. Who runs the world? Girls!

Video games have evolved from the pixilated images of Pac Man and Donkey Kong to the cinematic and artistic wonders we see today. Horror remains a popular category in these games and their stories represent a fertile ground to harvest films of terror. Jerry & Matt look at two examples of using this resource with Resident Evil- Apocalypse from 2004 and Silent Hill from 2006.

The work place is somewhere we spend a large portion of our lives and can be routine and even mundane. Horror can find its way into anywhere, turning something normal into an extreme or violent setting. With Labor Day freshly behind us, Jerry & Matt look at some terrifying work situations with The Belko Experiment from 2016 and Mayhem from 2017. The clocks aren't the only things getting punched!

Body Horror represents a loss of identity or a transformation of self. Its terror stems from lack of control or defiance of the laws of nature and represents a large subgenre within film. These films are often special effects ladened and filled with disturbing imagery. Jerry & Matt look at two prime examples of this with Stuart Gordon's From Beyond from 1986 and James Wan's Malignant from 2021.

The idea of something refusing to stay dead is horrifying in both its objection to the laws of nature and the hopelessness it creates for the victims. What can one do when confronted by something that seemingly can't be killed? This idea has been explored in Romero's zombie films and King's Pet Semetary as well as countless others. This week, Jerry and Matt look at two examples with Friday the 13th Part 6, Jason Lives from 1986 and Planet Terror, from 2007.

Since Jaws scared us out of the water in 1975, shark movies have been a standard creature feature concept re-visited repeatedly, with varying degrees of success. These movies strike a primal fear in us, portraying a terrifying natural predator in their world- a setting where humans are somewhat helpless and not in control. For these reasons, there will always be new shark movies to make us afraid to go in the water. Jerry and Matt pick their choices for second best shark movie with Matt selecting The Reef, from 2010 and Jerry going with The Shallows, from 2016. These films are very different in their approach to the material, but both effective at what they do.

While typical thrillers operate on the periphery of the horror genre, there are great examples of these films exploring dark subjects and creating tension and imagery that rivals the most horrific films of any kind. A well made thriller that crosses over to the macabre can create a lasting gut-punch the viewer will never forget. Jerry & Matt look at two of these impactful crossovers with Seven from 1995 and Don't Breathe from 2016.

The "movie within the movie" is a Hollywood staple and has been used to various degrees of success throughout the history of cinema. In the horror field, this expands to certain found footage scenarios or haunted tapes that create doom upon viewing or other varying approaches that showcase the creativity of the genre. In episode 76, Jerry and Matt look at two very different ways a film within the film drives the plot with the meta world created in Wes Craven's New Nightmare from 1994, and the deadly super 8 reels of Sinister from 2012.

In horror, often working with smaller budgets and lesser known actors, the directors tend to be the draw and the real stars. Iconic directors have used signature styles and ground-breaking ideas to push the industry forward and pave the path for all who follow. From the early foundations to current superstar filmmakers, Jerry & Matt count down their top 20 horror directors of all time.

School can be a time of uncertainty and angst as young people try to find themselves how they fit into the world. It is full of class and social barriers as well as cliques and bullies. For many, school is a time of trauma and fear, which makes it a perfect backdrop to expound upon its horrors. Jerry and Matt look at two very different examples of school scares, with the classic film Carrie from 1976 and the massively influential Battle Royale from 2000. As Alice Cooper once yelled, "School's out for- ever!"

Humans have always looked skyward with a sense of wonderment. The beauty of the stars and the moon and the sun also create an unease regarding the infiniteness of all that is beyond and cast doubts on our place in it all. Add to that the forces of nature that can devastate us from above, the sky is a great place to find terror. Jerry and Matt look at two very different examples of this with The Birds from 1963 and Fire in the Sky from 1993. Heads up, for real!

Going into Memorial Day weekend, 2024, we are reminded of summer vacations and getting away. In the world of horror, be advised to NOT go to a cabin! Since Evil Dead introduced the concept in 1981, cabins, with their seclusion and disconnect from the outside world, have become a prime location for horror. Jerry and Matt look at two very different films that scream "Don't Go in the Cabin", with Cabin Fever from 2003 and The Ritual from 2017.

 A whip-crack of thunder and a flash in the sky. We get out our candles and hope the lights stay on. A dark, stormy night is when nature exerts its awesome power and all living things are subject to dread and anxiety- obviously a perfect setting for a horror movie. Jerry and Matt look at two very different examples of horror within a storm with Dark Water (2002) and The Autopsy of Jane Doe (2016). 

With the proliferation of cell phones, nearly every person has immediate access to a high-quality video camera. This has given us a generation full of first person documentation of events we otherwise would have never seen. It only makes sense that this concept would be used for an up close perspective in horror. Jerry and Matt look at two different examples of this technique with "Rec" from 2007 and "V/H/S" from 2012.

The 1960's were a historically complex decade with impactful events that shaped the world in the coming years. The JFK and MLK assassinations, civil unrest, the hippie movement, the start of the Vietnam War and the Moon Landing are all milestones in history and culture. This time is reflected in the horror films, as the decade was truly a transition to the modern horror movie. This is reflected in this week's films, as Jerry and Matt look at the G rated "The Haunting" from 1963 and the seminal "Night of the Living Dead" from 1968.

Sugar, spice, and everything nice- that's what we're told little girls are made of. So when they are instead demonic entities, it challenges our psyche in a whole new way. Jerry and Matt look at daughters who lose their innocence and become twisted sources of evil inside their families, starting with the iconic, all time classic, "The Exorcist" from 1973 (on the short list of contenders for the greatest horror movie of all time) and finishing with "Pet Semetary" from 2019, a remake that changes the narrative in a creepy and satisfying way. 

The "Final Girl" in horror films has a rich history in some of the most influential films of the past fifty years. Often paragons of virtue and innocence, they become true survivors and sometimes heroes. Jerry and Matt look at two unique representations of this classic trope, with Sidney Prescott from the inventive and self-aware classic, "Scream" from 1996, and Naru, the Comanche woman fighting for her life and honor in the excellent "Prey" from 2022. Girl Power to the extreme!

Going down below the earth has deep and horrific implications, including claustrophobia and proximity to hell. We bury our dead, so it makes sense that being underground has an added layer of creepiness. Jerry and Matt look at two films where being underground is a part of the terror, with "As Above, So Below" from 2014 and "The Pope's Exorcist" from 2023. 

Horror films allow the ultimate freedom and creativity as literally nothing is off limits at times. From the morbidly grotesque to the darkest taboos, special effects and commitment to the subject will push boundaries into very difficult viewing. Jerry and Matt look at two hardcore offerings, with the ultra-violent and extreme "Ichi the Killer" from 2001 and a twisted zombie tale full of misogyny and male entitlement "Dead Girl" from 2008. BYOBB (Bring Your Own Barf Bags).

People always seem to have somewhere to go. Some means of transportation create vast and open worlds to explore, while others are claustrophobic and operate completely outside of your control. These scenarios can create a potent playground for terror. Jerry and Matt look at two very different examples of this with "The Hitcher" from 1986 and "The Midnight Meat Train" from 2008. Safe but spooky travels to all!

Cannibalism is one of the darkest and most vile taboos in civilized society. The act of eating another human being is inherently horrific, involving blood, gore and likely death. There is also a deeper, psychological impact to the idea of being reduced to food. All of this makes for a great horror subject and Jerry and Matt look at two movies where cannibalism is a disturbing part of the story with the masterpiece "The Silence of the Lambs" from 1991 and the genre mash-up of "Bone Tomahawk" from 2015. Bon appetite.  

In honor of President's Day, in an election year, The Weekly Horrorscope looks at the limited crossovers that qualify as presidential horror. While many would say that our current political climate had become a horror of its own, Jerry and Matt stay in the fictional world and look at two very diverse films with "The Dead Zone" from 1983 and "Abraham Lincoln- Vampire Hunter" from 2012.

Happy Valentine's Day, 2024! Love is in the air! It is a wonderful thing and the perhaps the most powerful emotion. When it goes wrong, it has the ability to drive people mad and topple empires. Embracing the horrific side of relationships gone wrong, Jerry and Matt look at two diverse examples of painful love with "Bride of Chucky" from 1998 and "Gerald's Game" from 2017.

H.P. Lovecraft is one of the most influential writers of horror fiction in history, creating the Cthulhu Mythos . In the early 1900's his pulp style and fascination with the cosmic unknown, created monsters and creatures of unimaginable origins. His stories often contained deep psychosis and paranoid madness and presented ideas that could be hard to put to film. Despite the challenges, his work is too rich and powerful to ignore and we have seen successful films born from his work. Jerry and Matt look at two such examples with "In the Mouth of Madness" from 1994 and 2023's "Suitable Flesh".

Tom Savini brought his ground breaking, realistic effects into the horror world like a shotgun blast to the head (literally). Through his relationship with George A. Romero and his role in the splatter explosion of the early 1980's, Tom became a rock star in the horror world. Through his acting, stunt work, and mentorship, he is solidified as the coolest guy in any room. Jerry and Matt enjoy some of Tom's most iconic and impressive work in the films "Maniac", 1980 and "Day of the Dead", 1985.

The fifties was a transitional decade for horror. In the post-atomic bomb world, we were terrified by mutated creature features reflecting our fear of world altering technology. It was also a decade of mistrusting your neighbors encapsulated by McCarthyism and finding humans to be the monsters we fear most. The decade in horror was split between giant monsters and the dark, brooding evil of humanity. Jerry and Matt tap into both of these concepts with "Them!" from 1954 and "Les Diaboliques" from 1955.

The haunted house is a classic staple of horror. From the shadowy unknown in silent films to the flashy and bloody tales of today, the idea of the comfort of home being invaded by the supernatural is terrifying. Jerry and Matt look at different houses of horror with the ground breaking "Poltergeist" from 1982 and a modern tale of the extreme haunted house with "Haunt" from 2019.

In an industry sometimes devoid of original ideas, we are stuck with endless sequels, reboots and re-imaginings. Many of these are a cash grab and completely suck. Jerry and Matt discuss some gems that DON'T SUCK, Let Me in and Evil Dead!

While time travel is typically an element of sci-fi or fantasy films, when used for horror it can be disorienting and terrifying.  Humans are the only animals to record and mark time and we need the linear passage to make sense. This week, Jerry and Matt look at the complex and thought provoking time loop in "Triangle" from 2009, and the hilarious time travel slasher from 2023, "Totally Killer". Listen now before time gets away from you...

As the personification of all things evil, Satan and his worshippers are a prime category for horror. The scariest thing may be that these people could be your elderly neighbors or people you know hiring for a babysitter. Jerry and Matt explore Satan and his covens with the classic "Rosemary's Baby" from 1968 and modern throwback with "House of the Devil" from 2009.

Revenge is a powerful motivator and can push people to do horrific things in the name of justice. The premise is rich with possibilities for brutal and visceral tales of terror. The cold of winter pales to the cold wrath of vengeance! Jerry and Matt look at two tales with revenge as a driving motivator with perhaps the OG, "The Last House on the Left", from 1972 and "The Retaliators" from 2021.

With the holiday season full of joy and love, it is a perfect setting to infuse with twisted tales of horror. Pour yourself a glass of eggnog, sit down by a warm fire, and be sure to keep your fire poker handy to fight off any holiday evil that descends upon you! Jerry and Matt enjoy two Christmas horrors with the OG of the holiday horror and the first North American slasher, "Black Christmas" from 1974 as well as "A Christmas Horror Story" from 2015. Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good fright...

Tension between classes has always been a perilous situation, wrought with opportunity for horror. With our current world being increasingly divisive and with an ever-growing wealth gap, it only makes sense that newer movies would explore this dynamic. Jerry and Matt look at two recent films that approach this subject with dark humor and bloodshed with "The Hunt" from 2020 and "The Menu" from 2022.

Sequels and classic franchises are ingrained in the fabric of the horror genre. While there are hundreds of horror franchises and thousands of films that hoped to be franchise starters, but only the very best can make Jerry & Matt's top twenty all time list. Do you agree with their choices or have suggestions of your own? Enjoy the list!