The Really Awful Movies Podcast

On this episode of the podcast, Cannon time! Enter the Ninja is a silly 80s exploitation/martial arts filmed in, where else? The Philippines! Because of course it is. That was a very cheap place to film back in the day, and is the geographical backdrop for many a cult classic. And there’s a fun genre cast including Django’s Franco Nero, but also the Italian horror staple, Christopher George. When a couple of plantation landowners are harassed by a wealthy developer, the male half enlists an old war buddy to help – a man trained in the deadly arts of the ninja! Soon, the white ninja is beating the holy tar out of every village barfly, and even kicking the crap out of a man with a hook for a hand, a very Bond-esque villain. Tune in!

This week on the podcast, peace, love and mayhem. The Last House on the Left (1972) is the directorial debut of the man, the myth, the legend, Wes Craven. Two women on their way to a concert, are kidnapped by a menacing foursome of escaped cons and taken to the woods, somewhere in Connecticut. This one is unflinching and unrelenting. And this is definitely not Christmas fare. Thanks for checking out the podcast, and subscribe!

There are a lot of Santa Claus slashers. But with Don’t Open Till Christmas, Kris Kringle characters are the vics not the perps. Don’t Open Till Christmas is a 1984 British slasher film. It is directed by Edmund Purdom, who also stars. But based on the end project, viewers can tell it is the work of >1 director in the chair. The flick introduces a mysterious killer murdering Santa Claus impersonators in London during Christmas season, first off, through a Black Christmas-like POV shot. Thereafter, a Santa at a nightclub is murdered in front of dozens of witnesses. Turns out, it’s the father of one, Kate, whose boyfriend soon becomes embroiled in a giallo-like murder investigation by New Scotland Yard.

Something rotten in the state of Denmark? No! However, there are “rotten” beings in the state of Argentina. When Evil Lurks is on Shudder right now, and is a really unique and ballsy rural supernatural horror. Two brothers, Pedro and Jimmy, find a body in the woods. They venture further afield, and find a pulsating, gooey, corpulent mess of a man inside a rustic shack. Soon, they find out something evil is afoot in their Puebla. Check out this film, and tune into the discussion!

Today on the Really Awful Movies Podcast, Tom Savini’s Night of the Living Dead. Tony Todd (Candyman) takes on the iconic Duane Jones role from the 1968 George A. Romero original. Much maligned when it first came out, this is not nearly as bad as critics say (but by the same token, isn’t as great as some people claim in hindsight either). Join in for a discussion of the walking undead, and don’t forget to subscribe to the show.

Primal Rage! Genre legend Bo Svenson (The Inglorious Bastards/Walking Tall/Snow Beast) plays Florida college research geek Dr. Ethridge, who is toiling away on a protein that will revolutionize how we treat Alzheimer’s disease. It’s so revolutionary in fact, that the dean threatens to pull his funding if he doesn’t make a scientific breakthrough in two months (publish or perish, right?) Frank Duffy, a hard-drinking/smoking gonzo journalist for the school paper, decides to investigate the goings-on at Ethridge’s lab. When he’s bitten by a baboon, a “new party animal on campus” is unleashed. This one is co-written by Umberto Lenzi, so you know it’s bonkers! Tune in…and tell your friends to subscribe.

Jeepers Creepers. We turn our attention to the early 2000s and this Justin Long-starrer, a genre-bending supernatural and very atmospheric creature feature. This one incorporates aspects of Duel, Dark Night of the Scarecrow, Children of the Corn, Tourist Trap and too many others to possibly mention. And it has a very dark backstory too. Tune in, and don’t forget to subscribe to the Really Awful Movies Podcast. For those interested in written reviews, uploaded every Monday, check out www.ReallyAwfulMovies.com

This week on the podcast, no Robert Englund, no problem! Well, rife with problems actually. A Nightmare on Elm Street from 2010 takes Freddy in a different direction, and not for the better. A game cast, a weird, Fincher-esque tone, no input from Wes Craven, and a backstory… Tune in and subscribe to the show!

On this episode of the Really Awful Movies podcast, two very different films featuring two somewhat similar Lolcows, who eke out a living these days as internet “personalities.” Windy City Heat (2003) Windy City Heat is a Comedy Central production, which is a stunt built around the premise of fooling a wannabe actor (Perry Caravello) into thinking he’s starring in some gritty action movie. He’s not. But the writers/producers (who include Jimmy Kimmel and Adam Carolla) as well as the fake director (Bobcat Goldthwait) and screenwriter (Dane Cook) do a pretty darn good job of making him think he is. There is an ersatz audition processes, in which the unwitting Caravello beats out legit A-listers (or so it would appear) as well as craft services, trailers, dressing rooms, marquees, you name it. And Caravello is put through the paces, increasingly wound up and gas lit in different, often hilarious scenarios. Think of this as a bit like Truman Show, except as a quasi-mockumentary. It’s earned a lot of traction of late, with plaudits from the likes of Howie Mandel and Tony Hinchcliffe. One, Two, Many (2008) This 2008 National Lampoon-distributed production stars another Lolcow, Stuttering John Melendez, an ex Howard Stern staffer best known for accosting celebs on red carpets with off-putting, embarrassing questions. Now, he’s the one who’s embarrassing – doing crummy, unprofessional, and very idiotic podcasts, all the while being very very intoxicated. Melendez managed to get this one financed because of his association with the Howard Stern Show, which at the time was hugely influential. The premise of One, Two, Many couldn’t be more simple, as befitting the star: it’s a guy looking for the Holy Grail of adding a third in bed. Weirdly, Jeff Ross and Mavs owner Mark Cuban are in it. It’s a raunchy, stupid, derivative, and cheap looking affair with a couple of laughs…but…not too many. Tune into the Really Awful Movies Podcast, new episodes of which are uploaded every Friday.

Fulci lives! Today on the Really Awful Movies podcast, the underseen, Lucio Fulci directed and co-written feature, Demonia. A mob of villagers attacks five nuns in 15th century Sicily. Liza, an archeological grad student in Toronto, of all places, has vision of this disturbing event via a séance centuries later. Soon, Liza and a University of Toronto professor are off to Italy for an archeological dig. What could possibly go wrong? On the show: Toronto as a scene setting for horror Séances in Fulci films 90s-era Fulci The “eyes” have it. Ocular trauma in the Italian director’s oeuvre Nunsploitation and genre bending “Irish” characters in Demonia      

This week, making a case that Popcorn is one of the best horror films of the 1990s. The 90s, at least compared to other decades, didn’t bring with it the sheer number of classics (compare, for instance, the 80s and Maniac, A Nightmare on Elm Street, Re-Animator, The Fly, The Shining, Videodrome, all of which are better than the best horror films of the 90s, like Candyman, Scream, Ebola Syndrome, etc, etc). Anyway, that’s not to say you can’t unearth some gems. Like Popcorn. Tune into the podcast and subscribe! And remember, new Really Awful Movies podcasts are uploaded weekly on Friday. And to support the show, go pick up a copy of Death by Umbrella! The 100 Weirdest Horror Movie Weapons or Mine’s Bigger Than Yours: The 100 Wackiest Action Movies.  

This week on the podcast, an Aussie-US, Lionsgate-WWE Films co-production, See No Evil. This one rests on the formidable shoulders of wrestler, Kane, the antagonist here and chief antagonist to The Undertaker during the heyday/attitude era of WWE. Juvie/criminal types are taken to a prison work program, but rather than picking up garbage on some interstate, they’re tasked to clean up some derelict hotel. They’re supervised by two corrections officers, and as they’re going about their duties (rather lazily, it should be said), they are being stalked…by…a giant…hulking…killer. See No Evil, but listen to and subscribe to the podcast! New episodes are uploaded every Friday.  

This week on the podcast…snakes and snake-related nature run amok flicks. We shine the spotlight on Megaboa, a 2021 affair, featuring a prof and some grad students fending off a giant snake on a tropical island. Unlike other animal attack genres, snake horror flicks have yet to produce a bona fide classic, a la Jaws (sharks), Backcountry (bears), Alligator (gators) or Cujo (dogs). Ever wonder why that is? Anyway, let’s take a deep dive into this one, shall we? Topics discussed: The killer snake genre Eric Roberts and his oeuvre Other animal attack genres The prevalence/ubiquity of anthropology professors in horror Don’t forget to subscribe and check out film reviews at www.ReallyAwfulMovies.com  

This week on the podcast, a return to the Canadian province of Quebec. Slaxxx is a low-budget horror lensed in the region, about, of all things…a killer pair of jeans. On this episode of the show, “fast fashion,” personifying inanimate objects in horror, Montreal-area horrors, the makings of an effective horror film, unique horror movie weaponry, the book, Death by Umbrella! The 100 Weirdest Horror Movie Weapons, and much more!

This week on the podcast, back from Montreal so it seems fitting to tackle a film that David Cronenberg lensed over there. So, here it is! Rabid is a classic, Canadian body horror starring Marilyn Chambers. It involves a shady medical clinic in rural Quebec and its enigmatic operator, one Dr. Keloid. On this episode: Montreal horror films Body modification/plastic surgery Cronenberg character names 70s aesthetic of the city of Montreal Marilyn Chambers This is the third revisiting of the film by the show’s host. Tune in, and check it out!

Be afraid. Be very afraid. This week on the Really Awful Movies Podcast, a bit of a departure: The Top 10 Horror Movies from the 1980s. The 80s were the Golden Era of Horror. Of course, classic horror movies are produced every decade. And right now, we are in a bit of a Golden Era, with new classics being created before our very eyes, Hereditary, Terrifier, Goodnight Mommy, Bone Tomahawk, and many more. However, the 80s were different. There were so many titles released – and so many iconic franchises were birthed, two of which made their way into the list here. So tune in, and don’t forget to subscribe to the show. Back to the regularly scheduled straight up review format next week.  

This week on the podcast, one of the more obscure films ever covered on the program: No Exit, AKA, Fatal Combat. This one is a 1995 Canadian action filmed lensed in the Greater Toronto Area and directed by Damian Lee. It stars the excellent Jeff Wincott, an actor/martial artist perhaps best known for his role in Night Heat. In No Exit/Fatal Combat, the masses are entertained by…what else? A fight to the death TV show! The movie title refers to the title of the show, whose producer/creator brings death games to the airwaves, all from a remote Arctic studio. The unlikely breakout (literally) star of the proceedings is of all things, a humble university professor, John Stoneman (Wincott). But, he’s getting more than he bargained for, as this is one tough hombre.

This week on the podcast, a 2019 Aussie production titled, The Furies. This is a survivalist/dystopian horror, occupying Battle Royale / Rollerball territory, but a hell of a lot gorier. Billed as Halloween meets The Hunger Games (wholly inaccurately) this one focuses on women who wake up in strange black coffins, only to find themselves in a fight to the death in a mining town hellscape in NSW, Australia. There’s a harrowing atmosphere, to be sure, but things unravel toward the end, an unfortunately all too common occurrence in horror. Tune in, check it out!  

Broadly, when it comes to the genre’s modern era, “travel horror” dates back to The Hills Have Eyes and includes the likes of Tourist Trap, Hostel, Turistas, Wrong Turn, The Rental (feel free to check out that podcast) and of course, more recently, the hit film, Midsommar. Influencer is the latest entry in what could be described as tourist horror, directed by Calgarian Kurtis David Harder, and has a neo-noir-ish feel and a super unique local that really puts it a cut above and definitely makes it worth your time (currently streaming on Shudder). Set in Thailand, the movie focuses on a bored, titular influencer (Madison, played by Emily Tennant), who is experiencing Lost in Translation ennui while abroad ’cause her boyfriend is too busy to join her. She lolls about in a hotel bar and eventually connects with a mysterious figure, CW, expertly portrayed by Canadian actress, Cassandra Naud, who shows her the ropes. Tune into this episode of the podcast and subscribe. Discussion includes: Whether travel really broadens the mind Travel writers like Pico Ayer Alberta, Canada as a focal point for the genre recently, and horror movies including Skinamarink Whether there is anything new to experience abroad given social media’s broad reach Travel influencers like Sarah Funky, Here Be Barr who offer travel trips to those wishing to visit New York, and others Travel proclivities by Americans in Europe Cassandra Naud and the film narrative Inspiration for Influencer and back-backer culture in Thailand    

On this episode of the podcast, Killdozer and The Toxic Avenger, two low-budget horror films. What links these two together is they’re both micro-budget horrors with a cult following, more so for the Troma production. In Killdozer, as the name overtly suggests, a construction vehicle becomes sentient and well…kills! Shocker, sometimes literally. And in The Toxic Avenger, a 90-lb weakling develops super hero powers when falling into toxic waste, again, as the name suggests. Vigilante justice is then brought to Tromaville. This is a short one this week, back to longer format podcast episodes next week.

On this episode of the Really Awful Movies Podcast, a brief detour and foray into post-apocalyptic wasteland movies. Some movies, like Jaws and Mad Max, are so popular, well made and influential that they spawn a host of imitators. In the case of the latter, it’s even got its own name: Maxploitation. There is quite a laundry list of Mad Max ripoffs, of which Exterminators of the Year 3000 is one. Hell, the poster art even shamelessly admits it: “meet the new breed of road warriors.” Brazen! These movies are always so much fun, and aren’t too taxing on the ol’ noggin.

On this episode of the podcast, a return to Italian horror courtesy of the somewhat underrated, Demons 2, a sequel which matches in most respects, the iconic original. On the show: a little sojourn into urban planning, Jane Jacobs and city building cityscapes and the ubiquity of office buildings and condo type buildings. JG Ballard and his novels like Crash and High Rise David Cronenberg, and explorations of big city condo life in movies 80s fashion and also aspirational living and condo marketing Lamberto Bava’s original Demons and similarities to the sequel, and influence of Dario Argento Edward Hopper and his depictions of city life abandoned buildings like Toronto’s Hearn Generating Station Bobby Rhodes and bringing back a star from the first film  

Tiger style. White Tiger! Gary Daniels stars as a steely DEA agent whose partner is murdered and must go seeking revenge. In Chinatown. As an outsider. White Tiger is a wildly good time, complete with basically everything you’d need from a dunderheaded 90s action film: a drug syndicate, femme fatale, a surfeit of mindless shootouts and more punches thrown than a South Boston St Paddy’s Day drink up. Lensed in beautiful Vancouver, BC, White Tiger is a great way to showcase the splendid martial arts of Gary Daniels.

In this latest episode of the podcast, Stephen King adaptations and Deliverance knock-offs! On the show, the recently released film, The Boogeyman, the latest in a slew of King catalogue pilfering. It’s solidly in the middle of the pack when it comes to King adaptations. It has a strong cast and a strong start….but… Also, the German film, Prey. Guys in the woods attacked by a figure lurking therein. Where have we seen that before? Tune into the show, and of course, subscribe.

On this episode of the Really Awful Movies Podcast, a foray into documentary film via Arnold. This three-parter on Netflix chronicles the life and times of the one and only Arnold Schwarzenegger. On this episode: His early life in Graz, Austria. The influence of bodybuilder/movie star Reg Park Arnold’s relationship with his brother and father. The early days of his career. Arnold’s drive and determination. Action movie heroes. Tune in and subscribe to the show. We are back, baby!

M3GAN, or Megan, is a Child’s Play knock-off that’s more in keeping with the recent Child’s Play reboot and the techy elements of that one than the spirited original. A Silicon valley-type corporation is mucking about where it shouldn’t with mostly predictable results. This is another killer doll type movie, fairly good of its type – but its type ain’t that good, as it’s a genre that’s not particularly riveting at least according to this reviewer. In this episode: Child’s Play comparisons Allison Williams and the zeitgeist aspect of AI Emotional resonance and storytelling Other killer doll movies The general crappiness of Blumhouse productions Cinematography and tone and their importance in horror Crummy comedians and material that’s played for yuks in horror

It’s Die Hard on a train! On this episode of the Really Awful Movies Podcast, Steven Seagal is back…but on a different conveyance, moving from a navy destroyer to a train. But fear not, he’s just a cook (whoops, I said “chef” on this episode and didn’t feel like fixing it) who happens to be able to take on 30-50 antagonists singlehandedly, using various aikido twists and clotheslines – but also, guile and ingenuity. And really, those are just as badass. An evil Svengali hijacks a train with high-grade weapons. And as luck would have it, Casey Ryback is on board to save the day. But what saves this Under Siege sequel is the stellar cast of supporting players, like Jonathan Banks (Breaking Bad/Better Call Saul), character actor Nick Mancuso and Kurtwood Smith (That 70s Show/Robocop).

The Really Awful Movies Podcast is back!!!…after an ever so brief hiatus. Listeners can look forward to (hopefully) weekly episodes again, and as always, uploaded on Fridays. Tune in, subscribe, and tell your friends.  

This week on the podcast, the Aussie animal attack horror, Rogue. Also, a show announcement for fans of the Really Awful Movies Podcast. Be sure to check us out on Instagram at Really Awful Movies and at Action Smacked. And follow us on Facebook too, if that’s your thing. And for regular reviews, go to www.reallyawfulmovies.com ***EDITOR UPDATE: This is NOT the END of the Really Awful Movies Podcast. It was a temporary hiatus***

This one is a sequel to the 1978 Joe Dante-directed classic, Piranha. How does it hold up? Alexandre Aja is comfortable with remakes. After all, the really did amazing work on The Hills Have Eyes from 2006. This one stars Jerry O’Connell and even has Richard Dreyfus in a spirited cameo. As well it should: every eco horror has Jaws in its debt.  

On this episode of the podcast, Hush. Mike Flanagan is a well-known director, most notably for the better-than-average, Doctor Sleep and for the sublime, Gerald’s Game, one of the better King adaptations ever made. However, Hush may be a bit of a misfire, despite having a lot to commend it. Tune in, subscribe and see what the fuss is about.

On this episode of the podcast, Near Dark. This Bill Paxton/Lance Henriksen starrer, is really damn good. And it manages to add something new to a slightly shopworn genre, the vampire film. And it does with marrying Western / bank heist sensibilities, with a dark cinematic aesthetic. Check it out, and subscribe!

Two movies on this episode of the Really Awful Movies podcast, both recent efforts as well. And both, quite overrated but also quite worthy of your time. If that makes sense? Barbarian Two people, Tess and Keith, double book an Airbnb-type residence in Detroit. As an aside, Airbnb rentals can be fodder for some good horror films (see, The Rental and 13 Cameras) and some not so awesome ones (Superhost). The twosome bond, despite the female half’s initial misgivings, after she susses out that her new roommate isn’t a complete and utter creep. Or is he? Soon, however, she discovers something very disturbing in the basement. Barbarian then does an abrupt tonal shift that subverts expectations, for better and for worse. Bodies Bodies Bodies This one gives Pete Davidson top billing. And to be fair, Davidson was amazing in The King of Staten Island. He plays a rich son whose parents own a sprawling mega-mansion. During a storm, he decides to throw a party, inviting a bunch of snooty rich kids over to abuse all kinds of substances, and behave like idiots. Bodies Bodies Bodies follows the thematic structure of Agatha Christie’s And Then There Were None (Ten Little Indians). It’s a common narrative device, but is given a bit of extra juice given that the principles here are all Gen Z, and that the cinematography is really cool and the atmosphere top notch. They play a parlour game, and soon, one among their ranks meets their maker. Who did it? While the movie poster art betrays a 90s ironic stalk-and-slash aesthetic, this is a film that’s more of a whodunit. Something that definitely works in its favor, even if the heavy-handed satire of young people, doesn’t as much. Tune in! Subscribe to the Really Awful Movies Podcast.

Two women, actress Maja and academic Leah, meet in a Copenhagen library. They soon connect and move in together, first in Denmark, then at Leah’s mom’s place in East London. Is this the stuff of a rom-com, or a horror? Fear not. Or, rather…fear. Before too long, strange occurrences begin happening. Attachment is set in an Orthodox Jewish community in London, and incorporates things like the Dybbuk, Kabbalah, and other mystical elements. Tune into the podcast, for a longer discussion of this Shudder production, released in 2022.    

Death Spa! Forget Killer Workout, or movies set in a gym with someone lurking in the shadows, behind a locker. No, Death Spa is unique in that it marries telekinesis and gym rat culture, truly a one-of-a-kind combo. Tune into the show! On this episode: Chasing the pump Social media and gym culture TikTok trends Being “natty” or working out naturally Telekinesis in horror movies Gym settings in horror movies The amazing Ken Foree From Beyond and neon cinematography 80s workout culture The film debut of a star of Fresh Prince of Bel Air

On the podcast this week, Necromantik. This is a German film from the 80s, which is as transgressive as horror cinema gets. And it proves that neither budget nor characterization is required to produce something of long-lasting impact. On the show: Canadian cinema and Heimatsfilm, traditional German genre cinema Jorg Buttgereit Internalized horror, as in the Bill Lustig film, Maniac Transgressive horror and desensitization

Skinamarink is an ultra low Canadian horror that’s being dismissed in some circles as “boring” and touted as “genius” in others. I am going to split the difference. This is definitely a unique beast that’s worth a look. Tune in, and check out the film, which has made waves online and which is now available to be watch on Shudder. On the podcast: Edmonton and its association with horror films Traditionalism in the horror space/horror fandom Domestic household horror, House, The Changeling Audience response to “arthouse” horror vs modern remakes TV as cinematography, Demons 2, Poltergeist Cartoons, soundtracks Canadian horror and its uniqueness

In this episode of the podcast, my two favorite winter movies as befitting a cold snap in Ontario. The two films on the docket are The Shining and Groundhog Day, which best exemplify the winter season spanning two different movies and genres. In this episode: Cold weather in Ontario Fahrenheit vs Celsius Winter as a setting for horror The Thing and its omission from this list Alien vs The Thing The Shining and Top 10 Horror Movies of all Time Groundhog Day and job/romantic dissatisfaction Tune in, subscribe and be sure to pick up a copy of the two nonfiction books associated with this podcast, the homage to action films, Mine’s Bigger Than Yours! and the book devoted to weird horror movie kills, Death by Umbrella!

On this week’s episode of the Really Awful Movies Podcast, the excellent Romanian-lensed thriller, Watcher. Maika Monroe (It Follows) stars as a woman, Jules, who moves to Bucharest to accompany her ad exec husband, Francis. Isolated from the culture and language, she spends her days at home in the couple’s high rise apartment. Soon, she finds out someone in the neighboring building is peering into her window. And she begins to investigate, with help from her hubby, the police, a new friend and some Good Samaritans. Tune in, and check out the discussion!  

A doctor is doing terrifying experiments on the living! Mansion of the Doomed practically sells itself. And how could you go wrong with a Charles Band production? This is a weird 70s movie, and features among other principals, the star of the movie Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore, Vic Tayback, and the sitcom it inspired… On this episode of the podcast: The eyes in film/windows of the soul Oedipus Christopher Plummer film with a scary eye scene Lab coat / evil researcher horror films The importance of ocular scares in Dead & Buried, The Beyond, Zombie Fulci focusing on the eyes The work of Charles Band The director of Mansion of the Doomed Michael Pataki And of course, much much more! Subscribe.  

On this episode, the captivating, relentless Danish horror, Speak No Evil. Two couples meet while on vacation on a sprawling villa in Tuscany. They enjoy stunning countryside, the quaint village town, the fabulous wine, and fantastic Italian food, including fresh gnocchi and octopus. Their kids bond/connect, and eventually, the families go their separate ways – back to Denmark, and The Netherlands. Fast forward, and the Dutch couple (Patrick and Karin) send the Danes (Bjorn and Louise) a postcard, inviting them down for a stay at their home. The Danes, initially somewhat surprised by the hospitality/gesture, eventually accept, and ask themselves “what’s the worst that could happen?” Besides, they figure it would be a cost-effective trip, and decide to hop on a ferry and then drive their way down, their little girl and her favorite plush toy rabbit in tow. Little do they know, the hosts are not as the seem. Something they find out on a night out at the local pub. Things get far far worse from there, as the impromptu vacation turns into something rotten for the Danes! Tune in and subscribe to the Really Awful Movies Podcast!

This week on the podcast, the passing of Italian genre legend Ruggero Deodato and his unheralded 1986 slasher boom era flick, Body Count. Lensed in Italy, standing in for Colorado, the movie (also known as Camping del Terrore) is Deodato’s attempt at a straight-ahead American-style slasher. And it deploys the time-honoured trope of the cursed Indian burial ground. Deodato, best known as an exploitation director, has done Italian crime dramas, sword and sorcery epics and other genre films in a long and illustrious career.

This week on the podcast, we close out the year with Emily the Criminal, a taut, tense thriller about credit card scheming which stars Aubrey Plaza and Theo Rossi (Sons of Anarchy). In the film, a down on her luck Emily, meets the charismatic Youcef, and together, they bilk big box retailers and car thieves out of thousands of dollars. Meanwhile, Emily, is halfheartedly trying to live life on the straight and narrow with the assistance of a friend, Liz, a high-powered advertising executive who can pull a few strings. This is a film that’s well-deserving of its kudos. On the latest episode of the podcast: Film noir plots The work of Aubrey Plaza The big score, and the allure of the criminal lifestyle Ex-jewel thief Larry Lawton What drives people to a life of petty and then increasingly more lucrative crime Tune in, and don’t forget to subscribe to the show, uploaded every Friday and spanning genre films of all stripes – particularly horror and action movies.

The holiday season is upon us. And as fans of the Killer Santa genre, we decided to dive into Christmas Bloody Christmas, a Shudder production that is streaming right now. The plot: the subject of a nationwide recall, an animatronic Santa goes haywire. And of course, this killer Kris Kringle begins to lay waste to townsfolk. On this episode, there’s a discussion of: Christmas horror films Tangentially Christmas horror films, like Rabid The Terminator and Gaspar Noe The excellent YouTube reviewer Deep Focus Lens Santa’s Slay Hipster sensibilities in movies, and indie rock chatter The cast of Christmas Bloody Christmas The similarities between a soundtrack track, and the work of Goblin from Dario Argento’s Deep Red / Profondo Rosso Where this film ranks in the pantheon of Santa Claus killer horror films Don’t forget to tune in and subscribe to the Really Awful Movies Podcast. And don’t forget, we are the authors of two acclaimed nonfiction genre film books, Death by Umbrella! The 100 Weirdest Horror Movie Weapons (foreword: Lloyd Kaufman from Troma) and Mine’s Bigger Than Yours! The 100 Wackiest Action Movies (foreword: Brian Trenchard-Smith, Stunt Rock, Strike of the Panther). Put either title under the tree, and we’ll be in your debt. Cheers!

This week on the podcast…check in, and make sure you can check out. Vacancy is a motel horror a la Mountaintop Motel Massacre, Psycho, 13 Cameras, The Rental, No Tell Motel, the Innkeepers…it’s a list that’s seemingly endless. What isn’t, our fascination with these kinds of films. It couldn’t get more simple: feuding couple (Kate Beckinsale/Luke Wilson) run into car trouble. Unfortunately, Triple AAA isn’t around to jumpstart them back to the road and their in-laws. And they’re compelled to stay in a crappy fleabag roadside inn. Think of Rodney Dangerfield: “this was a dumpy motel I tell you. They stole MY towels.” Soon, there’s banging on the door and something sinister afoot. As well there should be: it’s a horror film! Watch Vacancy, and check out this discussion.

On this week’s episode, a short discussion of Blood Orgy of the She-Devils and the life and times of horror maverick, Ted V. Mikels. The plot is pretty bare: a soothsayer / prognosticator becomes involved with a couple. It’s not exactly a “screaming plunge into the depths of hell” promised in the poster, but it’s a super fun low-budget affair.  

This week on the podcast, the uber low budget New Jersey regional horror, The Deadly Spawn. Filmed for a meagre 30k back in 1980, and taking two years to complete, this creature feature is a super fun flick for fans of goofy sci fi flicks. It’s spirited, and cheap ‘n’ cheerful. A meteor crash lands into a bucolic landscape (or, a matte painting). And gooey creatures make themselves at home, in a Victorian home, much to the chagrin of the occupants. Tune into the Really Awful Movies Podcast every Friday!  

On this week’s episode, Crimes of the Future. Let’s get gooey and check in with this David Cronenberg effort, a real return to form. Crimes of the Future is a 2022 science fiction body horror drama film written and directed by David Cronenberg. The body horror flick stars Viggo Mortensen, Léa Seydoux (Midnight in Paris) and Kristen Stewart. The film follows a performance artist duo who perform surgery to audiences, in a future world where human evolution has accelerated. The film marks Cronenberg’s return to the science fiction and horror genres for the first time since eXistenZ (1999). Unfortunately, it bombed at the box office. Don’t let that stop you!

On this episode of the podcast, X. The film follows a group of, ahem, filmmakers, through Texas as they location scout for an upcoming project, Farmer’s Daughter. Mia Goth (of the Suspiria remake) stars as one of the starlets, whose crew encounters hicks in the sticks. Artfully done, replete with atmosphere, X still kinda comes up a bit short. At least to these reviewers. Tune in, and check it out.  

On this week’s episode of the podcast, a brief look back at Halloween (2018), Halloween Kills and Halloween Ends. What mark has David Gordon Green left on this iconic franchise? The last film entry has proven divisive, while there’s consensus that’s emerged, that 2018 is the best of the three. Is that the case? On this episode, a look back at how Blumhouse dropped the ball on this one, other reboots (Slumber Party Massacre/Scream/Texas Chainsaw Massacre/Hellraiser), the Zombie fillms, highlights, lowlights, and where we go from here.