Visceral Reactions

"Man-Bats in the Belfy." Vengeance is back! And this time, the Caped Crusader is battling his biggest foe yet: Lovecraftian Eldritch demons! Matthew and Quinton discuss BATMAN: THE DOOM THAT CAME TO GOTHAM, one of the latest entries in the DCEU's animated library, an adaptation of the classic Mignola story that sets Batman and many of DC's greatest rogues gallery in a Prohibition-era Gotham City. What happens when the World's Greatest Detective faces an entity superseding reality, time, and space? Join us for a spoiler-filled conversation to find out, as well as what makes Batman timeless, the film's innovations to the Bat mythos, and why we'd happily go mad for a Mad Men crossover. Also featuring special guest stars Columbo & Necro-Bug!

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"A Fine Tradition of Savoring Fear." For the week of the 4th of July, we're bringing you a conversation about Martin Scorsese's 1991 remake of Cape Fear. Matthew and Quinton discuss everything from the film's stunning performances and indebtedness to Hitchcock, to legislative reform for Violence Against Women in the early 1990s. As a friendly heads-up, sexual violence against women is brought up often throughout the episode due to the nature of the film. Bring your Bible and your lifevest: we're going to Cape Fear.

"It worked in the movie!" WE'RE BACK...AGAIN. You can't keep a good podcast down. Nor can you a zombie down; at least that's the case with Dan O'Bannon's directorial debut, THE RETURN OF THE LIVING DEAD (1985). Matthew and Quinton discuss the structure of horror comedies, how making a Zomedy is tricky, and where the film falls in line with O'Bannon's other scripts (ALIEN, e.g.). It's good to be back...FROM HIATUS...AGAIN. 

"Laisse rouler les bons coeurs." Bienvenue et bon Mardi Gras! To celebrate the Carnival season, Matthew and Quinton discuss none other than Jack Weis' sleaze-classic: MARDI GRAS MASSACRE. Offering enough nudity and bloodshed to warrant an X rating in the US and a years-long ban in the UK, Mardi Gras Massacre shows that even the cleaner parts of the French Quarter are still often stained with blood. An out-of-towner visits the Quarter in the weeks preceding Mardi Gras, but he's got a different idea of fun. One that involves sacrificing the most "evil" of sex workers at the altar of a ancient Aztec death goddess. As more girls disappear, it's up to a former vice squad detective to track down this sadistic butcher of women.    After a brief overview of some Mardi Gras history, Matthew and Quinton talk on the merits of this oft-unseen film, how it depicts the everyday horrors of the lives of women, and how cities and an influx of visitors can sometimes provide a feeding frenzy for new age Jack the Ripper hopefuls. Join us for some personal Mardi Gras stories and firsthand accounts of some of the film's locations. You might be from elsewhere, but you'll certainly leave your heart behind in New Orleans!

"Cupid's Arrow is a Pain in the Ass." Happy Valentine's Day, folks! We have a surprise episode for you: Jamie Blanks' VALENTINE. Featuring a cast of some of the hottest actors at the turn of the century, this isn't your typical holiday slasher. Love, relationships, and the constant state of dread are just a few of the things Matthew and Quinton discuss. Listen to find out how Valentine fits in with American Mary, The Silence of the Lambs, and Alien.   A thoughtful and, at times, heavy conversation ensues. But like Love itself, pain and joy are lurking behind every moment. Sometimes there's also a knife.   Do you like us? Y or N.

"A Moon Shaped Pool of Blood." Matthew and Quinton continue to feature the works of Rob Zombie for every episode milestone they reach; this time, it's Zombie's 3rd feature, his remake of HALLOWEEN. At the time of its release, the most brutal entry in the Michael Myers franchise, Zombie plunges viewers into Myers's troubled inner and outer life as a child to explore the nature of Evil. The VR boys discuss the efficacy of Zombie's take on the Myers story--what it adds to the myth and how it seeks to understand the child. How does the film work on its own and within the franchise? What about within the context of Rob Zombie's previous two films?    The origins of Evil, the balancing act of mystery and exploration, and the functions of a mask. All of this and so much more on our 3000+ Download Special! 

"The frost, sometimes it makes the blade stick." What do Eurodance music, Kung Fu, the rise of black cinema in the 1990s, and Marvel Comics have in common? They're all part of Matthew and Quinton's discussion on BLADE. Starring Wesley Snipes as the baddest vampire hunter in town, and Stephen Dorff as Deacon Frost, who's definitely not here to clown. The action-horror classic that ushered in a wave of Marvel Entertainment films that eventually turned into an MCU-nami celebrates its 25th anniversary this year. Quinton tells you all about Wesley Snipes' determination to get the part and ensure that the film got made, as well as who else was in the running for the titular vampire slayer. Matthew shares how music played a huge role in post-Soviet collapse youth culture, how this music is the pulse of the film, and how such disparate influences such as gun-fu coming out of Hong Kong and the emergence of filmmakers like John Singleton and the Hughes Brothers give BLADE a distinct visual language in a very specific cultural context. Put on your sunscreen and step away from the Olive Garden, motherfckrs!

"Grab a tool and start banging." Matthew and Quinton take a few cues from the Hostest with the Mostest, the girl with the zonkers that'll drive you bonkers, and the Mistress of the Dark herself: Elvira in her feature film debut. She puts the "ass" in cult classic. Ok, you get it. Elvira's horror comedy swing at the culture wars at the height of the Satanic Panic is just as relevant today as it was 35 years ago. Matthew guides you through the quiet suburban sprawl of America in the late-1980s and how much Elvira, and everything she represents, is a disruptive threat to small-town thinking. Quinton dives into the dark recesses of filmographies that reveal Elvira, Pee-Wee Herman, and other cast members were once Groundlings struggling to make it in the City of Angels. The Visceral boys go gaga for the raven-haired vixen of late-night television! And more! A lot more! Ok, maybe not *a lot,* but still a pretty damn good amount. The laughs flow freely, and the show don't cost a dime, so won't you press play and spare us your time?

"The Ventriloquist's Splintered Hand." Matthew and Quinton know a thing or two about dummies, making them the perfect pair to discuss Sir Richard Attenborough's unsung gem from 1978: Magic. Starring Sir Anthony Hopkins, Ann-Margaret, and Burgess Meredith, this psychological thriller, based on William Goldman's novel of the same name, involves a fractured mind, a dummy named Fats, and a few dead bodies. Quinton provides all the behind-the-scenes info, while Matthew takes you through the history of ventriloquism, what seems like an endless list of period-appropriate serial killers, and the landscape of 1970s entertainment. Join us to learn more about the movie that prepared Attenborough to make his 1982 epic, Gandhi. 

“Hitchcock-A-Doodle-Do.” Matthew and Quinton return to the Master of Suspense, except this time they're trading in shower curtains for sparrows. The Birds is an obvious choice to look at environmental concerns of the 1960s, so we discuss it anyway. Believe us when we say that if birds had marrow, we'd find it. What does The Birds have to do with Vietnam? What is Hitchcock telling us about chaos and order during one of the most tumultuous decades in recent history? And does anyone have a quarter so I can place a call in this phone booth…

"Alien Anatomy 101." They say you don't know someone until you live with them. Sometimes, you don't know your partner is an alien body snatcher until you're married. Marge Farrell learns this lesson the hard way when she marries Bill Bradley. Cold, emotionally distant, and silent--behavior that isn't so out of place when all of the men in town are actually from OUTER SPACE. Who will listen to Marge's concerns that her husband isn't the person she thought he was? The police captain? Bill's friends? Matthew and Quinton? If you picked the last choice, you guessed right! We're discussing this 1958 sci-fi classic from Gene Fowler Jr. to celebrate its 65th anniversary! Topics range from gender politics and paranoia to figuring out how aliens can mate with humans.    And we have something special for this episode! Since the show's about to turn ONE YEAR OLD, we decided to have an award ceremony for all the films we've covered in 2022. Curious as to what films and performances we loved the most? Then stick around for the final third of the episode. We had fun doing it, and we hope you have fun listening!

"Super Freaks & Leather Baddies." The Dark Knight returns to take on Catwoman and the Penguin in Tim Burton's too-dark-for-Warner Bros. masterwork. Matthew and Quinton take you behind the scenes (and behind the leather) to discuss why Batman Returns works as a horror and a Christmas film, the identity and nature of the film's true villain, and who was considered to go up against Michael Keaton before Michelle Pfeiffer and Danny Devito were cast. It's a special holiday episode that doesn't expire, so don't bother trying to exchange it at Bloomingdale's.    Our next episode is out of this world! POW!

"Snowbody Knows the Trouble I've Seen." Matthew and Quinton don't stand a snowball's chance in hell getting through the 1998 Jack Frost without exposing the true terror it contains. Starring Michael Keaton, this frosty-family morality tale gestures towards a narrative of greater substance but melts along the way. We discuss the elements in the film that could easily be seen in a typical horror film while also indicating the moments when it turns slush. Once again, we're looking at the horror inherent to non-living sentient beings and how the anniversaries of traumatic events still sway us, no matter how much time has passed. We're trying our best to get into the holiday spirit, yes. But we're giving Jack Frost a fair chance, and, just maybe, if you're generous enough with your time, you'll spread Christmas cheer and Rate/Review and Subscribe on ApplePodcasts, or wherever you find your podcasts. Be kind, be safe, and no matter what/if you celebrate, enjoy your time with those you love. You never know when they might get turned into a snowman.  

"The Gospel of Jack Frost." You won't catch Matthew and Quinton humbugging around! We're full of the holiday spirit as much as snowmen are filled with the souls of the dead. For the first part of our Jack Frost special, we're looking at the 1997 cult slasher in which a chance accident, gallons of experimental acid, and a murderer on his way to execution combine for an essential 90s comedy horror. The episode covers a lot, as always, and this week we take on early versions of the Frost narrative, environmentalism in the 1990s, how to make a nonexistent budget work in your favor, and how Michael Cooney's is part of a discourse that also features, Toy Story, RoboCop, Small Soldiers, and Terminator. There's no cooler straight-to-home video in all of Snowmonton. So grab some hot cocoa, put away the hair dryers, and soul-search while we snow surf(what does that even mean?)

"We Are Seven." Matthew and Quinton take on this early entry in screen horror. Our discussion covers man's relationship with technology, the current state of Russian film production, and the dark web. But early in the episode, we focus on the film's main subjects: cyberbullying and teen suicide. If these are difficult subjects to hear right now, Matthew recommends jumping to about the 20:00 minute mark. It's a rough conversation, but it's an essential conversation that the film demands that we have. It would only be right to include a link to the Megan Meier Foundation because Megan Meier's story is such a major part of this episode. Started by Tina Meier, Megan's mother, the foundation seeks greater awareness and response to bullying, cyberbullying, and teen suicide. Quinton and I make plenty of jokes on the show and often discuss grisly historical events and the films we're watching. But suicide is a firm boundary. Check on those you love and on others, in general. You never know who could use it most.  If you or someone you know is in suicidal crisis or emotional distress, please call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 9-8-8, a free 24-hour hotline. In the case of a life-threatening emergency, please call 9-1-1 or visit your nearest emergency room.   https://www.meganmeierfoundation.org/

"Get me pictures of the Prowler!" Put a pitchfork in Matthew and Quinton, not because they're done but because that rusty WWII-era farm tool has pierced their collegiate hearts. Joseph Zito's 1981 slasher has your favorite prom couple gushing over Tom Savini's makeup work and the film's polished simplicity. Tense, uneasy, and sometimes queasy, The Prowler inspires (relevant, we promise) discussions of Scooby-Doo and Spider-Man. So who's the military-masked man terrorizing Avalon Bay? Would an early 1980s Tom Cruise make for an ideal webhead in a Tobe Hooper-directed Spider-Man? And how much of an influence is Hitchcock on the film? All these questions (and hopefully more) will be answered in this week's episode of Visceral Reactions! Don't forget to rate and review VR on Apple Podcasts, True Believers!

"To Serve Man." Happy Thanksgiving! Matthew and Quinton are grateful for all of our listeners and supporters. You're the reason why we do this. Also, it's our job, but that's beside the point. This early-70s sci-fi horror thriller classic is set in the distant future of 2022. New York City's population has exploded to 40,000,000 people, and there isn't nearly enough food or resources to go around. After a member of the elite is inexplicably assassinated, NYPD Detective Thorn (Charlton Heston) digs to the bottom of a mystery deeper than the trash that litters the streets. With an ending as iconic and bleak as it gets in Hollywood, Soylent Green offers a rich and thoughtful discussion on Malthus, population growth, globalization, and society's ethical responsibility to help the poor. Featuring appearances by Queen Elizabeth I, Supreme Court Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes Jr., and Superman, this episode demonstrates just how connected we all are. Soylent Green is even more important now than it was in 1973. Listen to find out Why and How. We hope you're hungry...

"Chocolate Chip Charlie and the Shaving Cream Factory." Matthew and Quinton can't get enough of The Stuff, which means Larry Cohen is back for his third appearance on the show (a record). This 80s cult classic takes on more than just consumerism. Join us for a discussion on Ronald Reagan, dieting fads, and some of the ways Cohen's classic is more politically relevant now than at the time of its release. The Stuff might be a B-movie to studios, but it's an A in our hearts. So grab your favorite ice cream, frozen yogurt, or shaving cream, and find out what this ode to The Blob has in common with The Godfather!

"A Menagerie of Terror." Matthew and Quinton are simply radiating joy after watching this Corman production. Or is that just the giant space rock in Boris Karloff's cellar? Either way, we take on Cold War horror, low-budget spectacles, and the importance of legacies. This discussion covers everything. Literally. Francis Ford Coppola, George Lucas, Dracula, and Stephen King are just a few subjects in an episode of many faces. Even ones that melt off the bone. 

"Way of the Future." Matthew and Quinton discuss this unsung gem of an 80s political thriller. Cronenberg's take on King sets the stage for a talk on Christopher Walken and Martin Sheen, Cold War fears, and time travel. We're getting a vision...you're listening to this episode in the near future! Let us know if our prediction was correct *travels back in time.*

"Top Secret Clown Business." Happy Halloween! For our first holiday episode, Matthew and Quinton take a gander at Rob Zombie's sophomore feature: The Devil's Rejects. We discuss family, torture, and the American Way--all the essentials for an eventful Halloween. Let's see just what that Firefly Family has been up to... 

“Look Who's Talking.” Bonjour, mes amis! Matthew and Quinton discuss Alain Robak's unsung gem. We've got plenty of baby and even more blood. Discover what this masterwork of body horror has to say about colonialism and motherhood. 

“There Wolf!” Benicio del Toro dons the fur in Universal's howling remake of the 1941 classic. Matthew and Quinton discuss production troubles, full moon transformations, and Sir Anthony Hopkins. The barking wasn't planned. 

"better not be those damn ghost children again." Matthew and Quinton discuss snuff films, the ethics of true crime, and the precise point we'd give up if we were in Ethan Hawke's cardigan. Scott Derrickson's Sinister is our movie of the week, so put the children (even the ghost ones) to bed and find out why this is the scariest movie we've yet to cover.

"The Galactic Kool-Aid Red Flower Test." Matthew and Quinton discuss UFO death cults and Part 2 of Benson/Moorehead's alien(?) trilogy. Joel Osteen fans might want to pass on this one.

“Baggage May Contain Spiders.” Matthew Holness might've started out as a comedian, but there's nothing funny about his debut as a director. The Other Matthew and Quinton discuss stories of foxes and representing trauma on screen. Don't eat the candy. 

"To the slaughter." If you've ever been brainwashed by a person claiming to be the Second Coming and forced to live out in the woods, you might be entitled to compensation. You might also find The Other Lamb a more relatable experience than Matthew and Quinton; if that's the case, stick around until the end of our unintentional Jesus episode for a chance to win a pretty sweet giveaway. 

"Skin that smokewagon and see what happens." Matthew and Quinton head out west; surely, nothing bad could happen there. With all that blue sky looking over golden fields of wheat, you'd hardly ever notice the smell of blood in the wind. The only monsters in this episode are men. At least with Kurt Russell as sheriff, we just might have a chance of making it out alive.

"The Potter's Bluff Welcoming Committee." In our quiet little seaside community, everyone knows each other. Before you leave, make sure to get your picture taken. And if the home is where the heart is, consider yourself a resident for life. Matthew and Quinton think you'll love it if you can get past the smell of formaldehyde.

"Malpractice Makes Perfect." Part revenge, part body horror, part-less. The Soska Twins make a helluva debut, even if Matthew and Quinton would like to keep their own left arms. Side effects include student loan debt, plastic surgery, and the invisible line between justice and revenge. Dr. Mason will see you now...   CW: sexual assault

"Fried Chicken and Gasoline." A special episode for you special listeners. Our most shocking episode yet. Literally. We discuss what shocks us. Everything from Eminem to Marilyn Manson, 9/11 to Columbine. We even managed to get a few war crimes in there. So for the faint of heart: You've. Been. Warned.

“a certain swagger, which in Texas is called ‘walking.'” On August 18, 1973, a group of five youths got absolutely rekt. In 2003, Matthew got real scared. Today is Texas Chain Saw Massacre Day. Celebrate accordingly and let dreams take wing. 

”At least we're not Detroit.” Sure it's catchy. Sure it's fun. But how long can you run, run, run? Matthew's driving until the gas tank reads E; Quinton's setting sail for the vast open sea. The consequences are just your fate, so when you're standing still in the dark, ask yourself, "Is it safe?"

It Follows (2014). A companion episode that features a short essay by Matthew on how It Follows uses time and the history of sex.

”Unbearable Politik.” You were afraid to go into the water, now you'll be afraid to go into the woods. I guess you'll just have to stay home, inside, where it's safe. Not like there's any chance of bad things happening there...Anyway, Richard Nixon is back. In the episode, not in real life. That would be weird. Only you can prevent forest fires, but river fires are a different story.

Till Death Do Us Part (2022). This week, we have a special treat: Independent filmmaker Anthony Pierce's debut film about zombies, romance, and addiction. This inaugural production from Fingerlakes Grindhouse Entertainment is filled to the brim with boobs, booze, and undead ooze. Listen and watch to find out how much heart (and hearts) this zombie flick contains. To watch with us, go to fingerlakesgrindhouse.com where you can buy/rent the film as well as a ton of kickass merch!

”The Devil Wears Doc Martens.” Matthew and Quinton never did find Jesus, but they found footage. And people who say Hell is hot have never been to Louisiana in the middle of July. So snuggle up with your favorite opossum, tell your gator "see ya later," and pray the swamp your soul to sleep.

”Who Thinks of the Zagnut?” Matthew and Quinton laugh until their heads spin. Don't you hate it when that happens? Whether your number's next or not, it's showtime, folks.

”Wallaby Damned.” Matthew and Quinton go on a Walkabout and experience two completely different trips. Go out back and grab yourself a beer; just leave the joeys at home for this one. 

”Are We Out of the Woods Yet?” Once upon a time...werewolves roamed the Tumblrverse, and vampires saw their reflections on the silver screen. It was a time for Keeping Calm and Carrying Bacon Mustaches. There were 50 Shades of fandoms and dragons in our midst. Are we in the clear yet?

”It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad God.” The only thing longer than the break between our previous episodes is how long it took Phil Tippett to make this stop-motion hellscape. Matthew & Quinton take on the meaning of Everything. Send in the Shit Men.

”You Gotta See the Bay-Bee.” This episode's been gestating for quite some time, but it's finally ready for some love and care. So grab a playmate, and bring your blankie and warm bottle. You're gonna need it for this one. 

”Better to reign in Hell than to serve in Sing Sing.” Tired of doing God's work and not being compensated? Is your workplace Pandemonium? Is your landlord threatening to evict you from what feels like Paradise? Call 1-666-629-2273 (1-666-MAY-CARE) and speak to one of our lawyers at the firm of MiltonChadwickWaters for your free consultation! 

”The May Queen of Dragons.” We're in dragon country, and the sun is shining bright. Is it a sky full of flames, or is that just the shrooms kicking in? Matthew and Quinton take on travel horror; where they're taking it is anyone's guess. 

“Monsters Lead Such Interesting Lives.” Some problems are universal: Dr. Frankenstein has to pay his ConEd bill; Dracula can't get a loan from the blood bank, and the Invisible Man hates dieting because he never sees results. And you thought you had it bad?

"The Business of Scaring." Black Philip said that if you listen to this episode while you sleep, Quinton will appear in your dreams. What happens after that depends on how much you pay him. Don't worry about Matthew; he's just watching.

”All Nuclear Families Have Atomic Ants." It's the Atomic Age, and plans 1 through 8 don't matter. Matthew learns about the horror of butterflies. Quinton visits Australia. And This Island Wasp comes to us all. 

”The Stephen King of Monsters.” Matthew vs. a haunted DVD. Quinton vs. Kubrick. What's going on in Room 237? And what time is checkout? This episode of heavyweights is one you won't want to overlook! 

”There's Something About Mary Shelley.” Matthew and Quinton have a reanimated talk about childhood memories of monsters. The Creature is comfortable, Victor is Henry, and Season Two is Alive!

”Kill Them with a Smile, Bury Them with Shemps.” Oh the horror! Oh the humor! Oh what's the difference, anyway? Matthew learns about Fake Shemps. Has Quinton been an imposter all these weeks? Join us for the Season One Finale to find out.