Neon Brainiacs (A Retro Horror Movie Podcast)

We're going back to the future this week, maniacs, as we dive into the 1984 Charles Band sci-fi flick Trancers! Week two of Before They Were Stars showcases a young Helen Hunt in this movie. While we discuss the insanity of Trancers, we also talk about Gregg's VHS woes, the term "squid" and really gross euphemisms that we hope never catch on. This week's episode is sponsored by House Of Mysterious Secrets!

It's a full house this week, maniacs, as we kick off our Before They Were Stars block with the 1985 revenge thriller The New Kids starring James Spader and Lori Loughlin! We discuss Loughlin's stint in the news recently, but also talk about sweaty butts, water fountain terror, and Tom Green's rap career. This episode is sponsored by House Of Mysterious Secrets!

Bonus time, maniacs! Here is our live set from Podcast Night At The Tolma 2, which we shared with our buds Start The Beat and Thrifty. For this show, we drafted our own horror music mixtapes! We also made Youtube playlists of these, which we'll link to on our social media. This was a lot of fun, and thanks again to Brian for recording this and Toddy for opening his home for the show. Enjoy!

Hope you're hungry, maniacs, because this week we're taking a bite out of the 1986 creature feature Critters! While we discuss the fuzzy bundles of interdimensional terror, we also talk about Billy Zane's ponytail, Dee Wallace perpetually making breakfast in every 80s movie, and truck nuts in space.

No more Mr. Nice Guy, maniacs, because this week we're talking the 1989 Wes Craven flick Shocker! This one is really bizarre but has a killer soundtrack. While we talk about all that, we also discuss drive-thru pranks, Bobby's World, and this film's similarities to A Nightmare On Elm Street.

We're taking a trip to Tromaville, maniacs, because this week we're talking The Toxic Avenger with our buddy Lance Parkin from Locust Street Entertainment! While we discuss our histories with this franchise, we also talk about the vision boards of villains, the phrase "fix your wagon", and R-rated movies that spawned Saturday morning cartoons.

Grab a soft pretzel and a red Slushie, maniacs, because this week we're going to Hills... The Hills Have Eyes 2, that is. Joining us is our boy Toddy Tondera from Thrifty Podcast, plugging our collaborative live show, Podcast Night At The Tolma 2, happening this Friday! While we discuss the movie we also talk about the various lapses in logic in the film, dog flashbacks and ask the question: can you ride a dirtbike in a horror film and survive?

New York's alright if you like Jason Voorhees, maniacs! This week we welcome back our friends Sarah and Amanda from the Ghoul On Ghoul podcast to discuss Friday The 13th Part VIII: Jason Takes Manhattan! It's a long one but trust us, it's worth it. Topics include landmark jewelry, Jason as a LifeAlert customer, wasting drugs on a stranger and we collectively decide what our new business Top Dollar Toot will sell.

It's party time, maniacs! This week we're talking about the 1985 zombie classic Return Of The Living Dead with our new buds James and Chelsea from the Dead Meat podcast and YouTube channel! The four of us discuss topics such as movie punks (obviously), the excess of the 1980's and Linnea Quigley's perpetual state of undress. This episode is sponsored by Hellraising Hot Sauce! Use code "neonbrainiacs" at checkout to save 20% until March 31st.

Sit! Stay! Kill! This week we're rounding out our Animal Terror trilogy with one of the most iconic horror dogs in the genre: Cujo from 1983! While discussing man's best fiend we also talk about kitchen television, laser tag, and we go on yet another rant about ketchup that isn't Heinz. This episode is sponsored by House Of Mysterious Secrets and Hellraising Hot Sauce!

Crikey! We're smack dab in the middle of our Animal Terror trilogy, maniacs, and this week we're tackling the 1980 Lewis Teague film Alligator. Join us down in the sewers as we discuss effective ways to store vinyl records, rollerblading and the bizarro version of Face/Off starring Nicolas Cage and an alligator. This week our show is sponsored by House Of Mysterious Secrets and Hellraising Hot Sauce, who is offering our listeners 20% off your entire order with the code "neonbrainiacs"!

Is it Shark Week, maniacs? No! We're kicking off our Animal Terror trilogy with the most infamous animal in cinema history in 1983's JAWS 3-D! We're also joined by Jamie from Neo Trash Video who put together Bad Movie Bingo here in Pittsburgh. While we fish around for something nice to say about this movie, we also discuss Shamu, bumper boats, and ask what the hell is the game Standoff!? This episode is sponsored by House Of Mysterious Secrets!

Alright maniacs, we're rounding out our BODY HORROR trilogy by making some fine contributions to Society! While we talk about this bizarre 1989 Brian Yuzna flick, we also talk about a whole mess of our own bizarre topics: Sisqo! Gilmore Girls! Nick Arcade! Shoes! Pleated Pants! Check it out. This episode is sponsored by House Of Mysterious Secrets!

Be afraid, maniacs, be very afraid! This week we're continuing our BODY HORROR block with a flick from the king of body horror: David Cronenberg's 1986 masterpiece The Fly! Topics discussed include Norm MacDonald's run on SNL, Doug Funnie's wardrobe and Gregg offers up some journalism tips and tricks.

Bust out those resonators, maniacs, and let's get freaky... This week we kick off a new theme with our BODY HORROR trilogy! And what better place to start than 1986's From Beyond with our pal Brian from the Start The Beat With Sikes podcast! We get into all the goopy details of this movie and also discuss Spencer's Gifts, chalk outlines, unique insults and unintentional Pee-Wee Herman impressions.

Whatever you do, maniacs, don't fall asleep... because you might just miss us talk about an absolute modern classic, 1984's A Nightmare On Elm Street! This is where Freddy's legacy (as well as New Line Cinema's) all started. While we chat about our favorite dream demon, we also discuss topics such as baths, Clarissa Explains It All, and do women still wear nightgowns to bed? This episode is sponsored by Retro Release Video!

This episode is from our first ever live show as part of Podcast Night At The Tolma on January 25th, 2019, which also featured our buds at Ghoul On Ghoul, Thrifty Podcast and Start The Beat With Sikes. We discuss our memories of renting at the video store and also get some video store tales from the audience. You can find a video version on our social media as well. Big thanks to Toddy from Thrifty for putting the event together and Brian from Start The Beat for capturing the audio. Enjoy!

Who made who, maniacs!? This week we're rounding out our CAR TERROR trilogy with one of the more wacky auto-related horror movies: Maximum Overdrive! While we careen down the cocaine expressway to Stephen King's brain, we discuss Twisted Metal, the origin of "eat my shorts", and our opinions on AC/DC. This episode is sponsored by Retro Release Video!

We're going down under for week two of the CAR TERROR trilogy, maniacs! This week we're talking about Stacy Keach and Jamie Lee Curtis in Road Games from 1981.We also talk about Parks And Recreation, weigh stations and gross names for adult magazines. Don't forget about our live event this Friday, January 25th, with our friends at Ghoul On Ghoul, Thrifty and Start The Beat. This episode is also brought to you by Retro Release Video!

Hop in, maniacs, because this week we're kicking off a new trilogy: CAR TERROR! And what better place to start than with 1986's The Hitcher?! We talk about the movie Angus and its insanely good soundtrack, Jim Halsey's fresh Nikes and how perfect of a villain Rutger Hauer is. This episode is sponsored by Retro Release Video!

Graveside service is about to begin, maniacs! This week we're joined by friend of the show Steve Rudzinski, who is promoting the wide release of his movie Caroushell, to talk about the one and only Phantasm II. While we evade the Tall Man and his spheres, we discuss our collective apprehension of mausoleums, the danger of Reggie Bannister's sex appeal, and IS AUNT BECKY FROM FULL HOUSE IN THIS MOVIE?! This episode is sponsored by Retro Release Video!

Let's get some killer reception, maniacs! Join us this week as we tune in to the killer television movie The Video Dead from 1987. Topics include The English Beat, made-up college majors, and the endless struggle with rolls of masking tape. This episode is sponsored by Hellraising Hot Sauce and Retro Release Video!

Let the countdown begin, maniacs! For our final episode of 2018 we discuss the 1980 Cannon flick New Year's Evil. Topics include switchblade combs, MTV VJs of yesteryear and political outcomes being predicted in the movie's script. This episode is sponsored by Hellraising Hot Sauce and Retro Release Video!

Surprise, maniacs! About a month ago, Gregg chatted via Skype with Frank Farel, producer of Spookies and Street Trash. We talked about his early love of cinema, the tumultuous experience of Spookies, updates on an official release of the film, and the grittiness of Street Trash. Big thanks to Kara Jean of Night Flight for hooking us up with this opportunity.

Better watch out, maniacs, because Santa's on a killing spree this week! We're rounding out our trilogy of Christmas themed movies with 1980's Christmas Evil. We discuss brown paper grocery bags, how horrible cursive writing is, and Tim Allen's incessant grunting on Home Improvement. This week's show is sponsored by Hellraising Hot Sauce and Retro Release Video! You can hear us sampling the wares of Hellraising Hot Sauce from 50:45-57:00.

If you're dressed as Santa, you'd better watch out! This week we're tackling the British holiday slasher Don't Open Till Christmas from 1984. This one may have broken us, maniacs, because we derail a lot. Topics include using the phone way too much, peep show prices in 80s England, and we finally break out our Jerry Seinfeld impressions. This episode is sponsored by Hellraising Hot Sauce!

These elves are not your buddy, maniacs... This week we kick off three weeks of Christmas-themed horror flicks with the 1989 head-scratcher Elves! This one is one of the more bizarre movies we've covered to date. Topics include a brief Greek history lesson, comparing crappy horror movie puppets and GOOD GOD HOW IS THIS A PG-13 MOVIE? Also, this week's episode is sponsored by Hellraising Hot Sauce!

This week we delve into some sweet suffering with Pinhead and the gang in Hellbound: Hellraiser II! This is the first franchise we've done in sequential order so don't be shy about checking out our prior Hellraiser episode before this one. We chat about the magnificent return of strategic non-boob showing, Cannibal Corpse album covers and the Hellraiser/Charles Bronson crossover movie we so desperately need.

Let's bowl some turkeys for Thanksgiving, maniacs, because this week we're hitting the lanes with Sorority Babes In The Slimeball Bowl-A-Rama from 1988! While we analyze this bizarre low-budget flick, we discuss the defintion of "the whim-whams", 90's cereal mascots, Static-X and the bizarre novelty of a fully clothed Linnea Quigley.

It's a monster grab-bag this week, maniacs, as we discuss Spookies from 1986 with Zane Hershberger of 10/31 and The Barn. He's promoting the crowdfunding campaigns for a couple movies he's working on, The Barn 2 and Force To Fear, so go support those! In this episode we discuss kids' Halloween pageants, the lack of eloquence farting zombies bring to a movie and the unbelievably awful perils of making this film.

Hope you're ready for a dose of insects and monkeys, maniacs, because this week we're discussing Dario Argento's 1985 wacky masterpiece Phenomena (aka Creepers)! This one's pretty weird, and stars Jennifer Connelly and Donald Pleasance to boot. Topics include bizarre public buses, Beatles versus Rolling Stones talk, and the insane superiority of this movie's soundtrack.

Grab your Shatner masks and your blue overalls, maniacs, because it is Halloween and we are talking about the night after he came home: Halloween II! We mourn Ben Tramer and discuss topics like fictitious sitcoms, mushroom pizza, differences between the theatrical and television cuts of this flick, and Lowkey Loomis versus Looney Loomis.

Play this episode LOUD, maniacs, because this week we've got another Halloween-centered flick with the heavy metal horror movie Trick Or Treat! We talk lots of music: metal! ska! pop-punk! hardcore! We also discuss getting your cremated ashes pressed into vinyl, expensive Bad Brains records and Ben's first online screen name.

Get ready to party, maniacs, because this week we continue our Halloween-themed episodes with 1988's Night Of The Demons! As we discuss the exploits of Angela and company, we also talk about late 80s insults, our experiences in Los Angeles, and Martin Mull for Michelob Ultra.

Let's get sassy for Satan, maniacs, because this week we're talking about the cult Halloween flick Hack-O-Lantern (aka Halloween Night & Death Mask) from 1988. While doing our best Hye Pyke impressions, we discuss the music of Wishbone, butt tattoos, closet candle fire hazards, and the symbolism of black wreaths.

With a rebel yell, we present the first episode of our entire month of Halloween-related films: 1985's made-for-TV movie The Midnight Hour! This one's got everything: zombies, vampires, wolfmen, The Smiths, and even LeVar Burton! We talk about a smattering of topics including Chicken Littles from KFC, analysis of World Series broadcast rights, our hard stance on ketchup brands, and we talk about punk an awful lot.

Work on your routines, maniacs, because this week we're unpacking the 1987 locally filmed slasher The Majorettes with returning guest, Ryan from BPO Films! He's got a ton of familial connections to this one, which was largely filmed right near Ben's house where we record our show! While we talk about all the insanity, we also discuss different photography classes we've taken, Rick Springfield posters, and amazingly offensive novelty t-shirts.

Put on your detective hats, maniacs, because this week we're digging into the 1982 American giallo The Killing Hour! We follow a clairvoyant sketch artist as she assists the police in tracking down a handcuff-obsessed serial killer. We'll discuss our art class memories, cool diners, and the dating tips contained in this movie.

What's in the basket, maniacs? This week we're digging into our first Frank Henenlotter movie with 1982's Basket Case, and we're joined by both Allen and Katie from Werewolf Ambulance! They're promoting not only their podcast but their upcoming live show in Pittsburgh on October 5th. While discussing this MOMA-recognized flick, we talk about weird dates, nonsensical physics, Belial's dedication to the ketogenic diet and we teach Allen about Global Guts.

Thrill me, maniacs! This week we celebrate our one year anniversary!! And what better way to do so than to talk about the 1986 Fred Dekker classic Night Of The Creeps? It's got everything: horror, sci-fi, comedy and Tom Atkins! Some burning questions we discuss: who created the "Dream Weaver" moment? How is Gregg tangentially connected to Tom Atkins? Did American Horror Story rip off this movie?

Get ready to tiptoe through the tulips with us, maniacs, because this week we get weird with 1987's Blood Harvest starring Tiny Tim! We talk about weird 80's fashion, real life IP in this movie and teach a little impromptu class on copyright law.

Grab your red riding hoods, maniacs, because this week we're delving into some fairy tale mythos with 1984's The Company Of Wolves! We're joined by Amanda and Sarah from the Ghoul On Ghoul podcast to help us unpack all the underlying messages of feminism and sex in this one. We talk about Pinterest-worthy weddings in the woods, Wes Anderson's bonerless aesthetic, and we figure out each of our Simpsons auras.

There's a killer on the loose, maniacs! This week we're wrapping up our three week rock block with 1984's Rocktober Blood. This one follows the band Headmistress after original singer and serial killer Billy Eye is executed and returns from the grave to pick off the group one by one. We talk about bad puns, bad acting, and badass metal jams.

Are you ready for some killer tunes, maniacs!? Week two of our rock block has us discussing the 1980 slasher Terror On Tour! There's not much terror nor much touring despite what the title would suggest. We forgot to share some of our own terror-filled tour moments so those stories will have to wait for another day. In the meantime we discuss Gregg's hatred of KISS, the idea of cocaine as an aphrodisiac, and cops that hate ulcers.

Get those lighters out and bang your heads, maniacs, because this week we're kicking off our Rock Trilogy with 1987's Rock 'n' Roll Nightmare starring Jon Mikl Thor! We'll talk about the Satanic Panic, the first song Ben ever learned on guitar, and we take a deep dive into pop-punk history.

Grab some candles and some protection, maniacs, because this week we're talking about the 1982 star-studded New Line classic Alone In The Dark! This wild ride features heavy hitters Donald Pleasance, Jack Palance, and Martin Landau in some wacky roles. Topics we'll discuss include punk rock, hockey masks and the Kermit/Batman fanfic no one asked for.

Where's the corkscrew, maniacs!? This week we're discussing the insanity that is Friday The 13th: The Final Chapter! We talk at length about how much we love Corey Feldman and Crispin Glover. As usual, we unpack lots of lore from the franchise and also discuss crappy parties, short shorts, and solve the mystery of the Jarvis sandwich.

For our first ever bonus episode, we discuss our watching of The Last Drive-In with Joe Bob Briggs on Shudder. We live tweeted most of the event so we talk about that as well as the communal aspect of social media during an event like this. We had a blast with it!

Hope you're ready for Armageddon, maniacs, because this week we're talking about the 1988 religious apocalypse flick The Seventh Sign! This Demi Moore/Michael Biehn movie is kind of lame but we managed to have some fun with it. We talk about reusable shopping bags, early adoptions of YOLO, and our hotel breakfast strategies.

Grow a mustache and grab your Members Only jackets, maniacs, because this week we're ending our Three Weeks Of Chuck by finally delving into the work of Charles Bronson with 1983's Ten To Midnight! Trust us, there are plenty of Bronson impressions contained within. We also talk about egg shelves in old refrigerators, Larry David staring contests, and the lo-fi bedroom dreampop of 1983.