REST IN PEACE - LAWRENCE P. RAFFEL & DOUG LONG

The HORROR 101 with Dr AC family lost a couple of cherished members this past year. Lawrence P. Raffel and Doug Long were excellent horror fans and incredible human beings. Both appeared on multiple episodes over the last few years and I'm sorry they never got to cross paths, although given their distinct loves of specific types of horror, that doesn't seem too surprising. Lawrence erred toward stranger, obscure Euro-horror whereas Doug loved the Hollywood classics of yesteryear. Not to say they didn't both appreciate a wide breadth of the genre, but those were the two areas they kept returning to time and again.

Dr. AC's 2025 Horror Wrap-Up Extravaganza!

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Howdy, folks,

I don’t know about you, but the only way I kept semi-sane this year with all of the madness going on outside our door (literally in some cases, living in Chicago) was to keep going back to the movies and spending time with like-minded people discussing them. If you’re reading this, that likely means you, and I’m thankful for your company. In a world as divisive as this one, we have to look for the common ground, and if that means we both like the same kinds of movies, that’s a start. (To be clear, it’s only a start and if that’s where our common ground ends, we’d probably better part ways now, because if we can’t agree on basic human rights and needs, then we have a problem.)

The HORROR 101 YouTube channel continues to chug along in its third year, and I’m really proud of the fact that we delivered 52 weeks of classic horror conversations, faithfully launched at 7:30pm CST every single Friday. Whether I was out of town or deeply involved in other projects, the Friday Night Frights were something people could rely on in this wacky world. Special thanks to the over 100 participants who engaged in 2025’s horror chats, pounding our way through endless sequels, deeper cuts, special features, research books, documentaries, and in some cases, going back to the source. Prepping for their respective panels, I read the original novels for Psycho, Misery, The Shining, Clown in a Cornfield, The Midwich Cuckoos (Village of the Damned), Jaws, Jack Ketchum’s Red, and The Stepford Wives, which is more fiction than I’ve read in over a decade. I’m looking forward to continuing this trend into the future!

CLICK HERE FOR PREVIOUS YEARS' RECAPS

MAD LOVE (1935) at 90 | Peter Lorre Gives Colin Clive a Hand... or Two!!

MAD LOVE (1935) d. Karl Freund (USA)

**CLICK HERE TO WATCH FULL YOUTUBE EPISODE**

Based on Maurice Renard’s 1920 French serialized novel The Hands of Orlac, in which the hands of a murderer are transplanted onto an injured concert pianist, Mad Love is remembered above all for Peter Lorre’s stunning performance as Dr. Gogol, a brilliant surgeon driven mad by obsessive love.

HOUSE ON HAUNTED HILL (1959) Blu-ray Review

House on Haunted Hill (1959) d. William Castle (USA) (75 min)

This classic fright-fest frivolity from producer/director Castle stars Vincent Price as eccentric millionaire Frederick Loren, offering $10,000 to five diverse guests if they can spend the entire night in the titular haunted house; thrills and chills ensue.

Castle has never been more adept at creating straight-faced spooky atmosphere, and Robb White’s snaky screenplay provides characters and mystery adequate to hold our attention through the film’s zippy running time. Doors creak open and slam shut, decapitated heads appear and disappear, and vats of acid bubble deliciously in the cellar, with a wonderfully cheesy skeleton topping off the delightful buffet.

THE RED HOUSE (1947) Blu-ray Review

The Red House (1947) d. Delmer Daves (USA) (100 min)

Pete Morgan (Edward G. Robinson), a struggling one-legged farmer who dotes on his adopted daughter Meg (Allene Roberts) to the point of smothering her, and while he grants her wish to have a schoolmate Nath (Lon McCallister) come over and help out with chores, it’s clear that he’s aware of her more-than-friendly feelings toward the lad. Luckily, he’s dating the local hottie Tibby (Julie London), so there’s less to fear, but when Nath insists on taking a shortcut through Pete’s backwoods property, we realize that the patriarch has some serious hangups about the woods and the secrets hidden therein. (No surprise, they include a certain red house.)

HOLLYWOOD LEGENDS OF HORROR COLLECTION Blu-ray Review

After Universal exploded the box office not once but twice in 1931, with Dracula and Frankenstein, other movie studios wanted in on the action. And while none of these developed the same identity as Universal, horror fans were graced with a number of classic efforts that endure to this day. The good folks at Warner Archives have recently assembled a collection of six titles under the Warner/MGM banner, all lovingly restored and ready for rediscovery by enthusiasts everywhere! The Hollywood Legends of Horror Collection features Doctor X (1932), The Mask of Fu Manchu (1932), Mad Love (1935), Mark of the Vampire (1935), The Devil-Doll (1936), and The Return of Doctor X (1939), all on Blu-ray with each film given the star treatment via audio commentary tracks and special documentary features, as well as an assortment of WB cartoons to help set the Saturday matinee mood.

THE DAY OF THE BEAST (1995): Alex de la Iglesia’s Groundbreaking Satanic Horror Comedy

THE DAY OF THE BEAST (El Dia de la Bestia) (1995) d. Alex de la Iglesia (Spain)

**CLICK HERE TO WATCH FULL YOUTUBE EPISODE**

Father Ángel (Alex Angulo) believes he has decoded the Book of Revelation and discovered that the Antichrist will be born in Madrid on Christmas Eve, 1995. Convinced that committing evil acts will help him commune with Satan and locate the child, Ángel does his best to descend into moral chaos, with hilariously mixed results.

HOUSE OF 1000 CORPSES, DEVIL'S REJECTS & 3 FROM HELL: Rob Zombie’s Firefly Trilogy

HOUSE OF 1000 CORPSES (2003) d. Rob Zombie (USA)
THE DEVIL'S REJECTS (2005) d. Rob Zombie (USA)
3 FROM HELL (2019) d. Rob Zombie (USA)

**CLICK HERE TO WATCH FULL YOUTUBE EPISODE**

Tonight we’re discussing writer/director Rob Zombie and his most beloved onscreen creation: The Firefly Family Trilogy, one of the most controversial and influential horror sagas of the 2000s. From the grindhouse chaos of House of 1000 Corpses (2003) to the brutal outlaw horror of The Devil’s Rejects (2005), and the divisive return of the Fireflies in 3 From Hell (2019).

35 Years of JACOB'S LADDER (1990): The Meaning Behind the Madness

JACOB'S LADDER (1990) d. Adrian Lyne (USA)

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Jacob’s Ladder follows Vietnam veteran Jacob Singer (Tim Robbins), who begins experiencing terrifying hallucinations and fragmented memories years after returning home from combat. As his visions intensify, Jacob uncovers hints of a possible government experiment linked to his unit. Reconnecting with his surviving comrades, his search for answers forces him to confront the trauma of his past, struggling to maintain stability and sanity in a world that seems to be crumbling around him.

THE REFLECTING SKIN, BABY BLOOD, & SINGAPORE SLING: Forgotten Horror Gems of 1990

THE REFLECTING SKIN (1990) d. Philip Ridley (UK)
BABY BLOOD (1990) d. Alain Robak (France)
SINGAPORE SLING (1990) d. Nikos Nikolaidis (Greece)

**CLICK HERE TO WATCH FULL YOUTUBE EPISODE**

After the excesses of the 1980s, the horror genre struggled to redefine itself, leaving the door open for a handful of international auteurs to collectively veer off the well-lit path, and plunge into something stranger, darker, and defiantly uncommercial. The year was 1990, and the filmmakers in question were less interested in cheap thrills and more committed to unsettling viewers on a deeper, more lingering level. Tonight, we’re celebrating the 35th anniversary of three such releases, Baby Blood, The Reflecting Skin, and Singapore Sling, movies that remain essential viewing for the modern horror fan who craves something bold, transgressive, and artfully off-kilter.

 

SANTO Y BLUE DEMON CONTRA LOS MONSTRUOS (1970) | The Wildest Lucha Libre Horror Movie Ever?

SANTO Y BLUE DEMON CONTRA LOS MONSTRUOS (1970) d. Gilberto Martínez Solares (Mexico)

**CLICK HERE TO WATCH FULL YOUTUBE EPISODE**

In 1970, Mexican cinema delivered one of its most delightfully chaotic spectacles with Santo y Blue Demon Contra Los Monstruos, a film that perfectly captures the wild, genre-blending energy of the lucha libre boom. Starring two of Mexico’s most iconic masked wrestlers, El Santo and Blue Demon, the movie drops its legendary heroes into a plot that’s equal parts classic horror, sci-fi pulp, and pure wrestling fantasy. It’s a world where monsters roam freely, mad scientists hatch improbable schemes, and every problem can be solved with a well-timed flying drop-kick.

THE CURSE OF FRANKENSTEIN (1957) 4K Blu-ray Review

The Curse of Frankenstein (1957) d. Terence Fisher (UK)

Victor Frankenstein (Peter Cushing), imprisoned and awaiting judgment, recounts to the local priest the dark path that led him to his fate. A brilliant, driven, amoral young scientist, Victor is obsessed with mastering life and death. With the reluctant assistance of his former mentor Paul (Robert Urquhart), he assembles a living creature from stolen body parts, convinced he is on the verge of a world-changing breakthrough. As Victor’s quest comes closer to fruition, his fiancée Elizabeth (Hazel Court) senses a disturbing shift in him, while the duplicitous maid Justine (Valerie Gaunt) grows increasingly frustrated with Victor’s waning attentions. Paul desperately tries to pull Victor back from the brink, but the reanimated being (Christopher Lee) proves far more dangerous and unpredictable than anyone could have expected.

CANNIBAL HOLOCAUST (1980): The Most Controversial Found-Footage Movie Ever Made!

CANNIBAL HOLOCAUST (1980) d. Ruggero Deodato (Italy)

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Despite its reputation as one of the most controversial exploitation films ever made, Italian director Ruggero Deodato’s Cannibal Holocaust (1980) occupies an unexpectedly important place in cinema history. Its blend of documentary aesthetics, media-critique, and staged “found footage,” anticipated techniques that would later become mainstream, showing up in everything from reality television to modern horror franchises.

HAMMER IN 1960: BRIDES OF DRACULA, TWO FACES OF DR. JEKYLL, HELL IS A CITY, AND MORE!!

BRIDES OF DRACULA (1960) d. Terence Fisher (UK)
THE TWO FACES OF DR. JEKYLL (1960) d. Terence Fisher (UK)
NEVER TAKE SWEETS FROM A STRANGER (1960) d. Cyril Frankel (UK)
HELL IS A CITY (1960) d. Val Guest (UK)

**CLICK HERE TO WATCH FULL YOUTUBE EPISODE**

Celebrated for its distinctive brand of horror and suspense, Hammer Films has left an indelible mark on British cinema and influencing filmmakers around the world. The year 1960 was especially significant for Hammer, as it was a time when the studio was solidifying its identity as a horror juggernaut, but also experimenting with genres, and pushing the boundaries of storytelling, atmosphere, and visual style. Tonight, we’ll focus on four films from that year: Brides of Dracula, The Two Faces of Dr. Jekyll, Never Take Sweets from a Stranger, and Hell is a City. Each representing a different facet of Hammer’s evolving approach, from Gothic horror and psychological thrillers to socially conscious drama and gritty crime narratives.

SCARE-A-THON 2025 FINAL RESULTS!!!

And that, my Autumnal Aficionados and Allies, brings us to the end of Scare-A-Thon 2025 and yet another OCTOBER HORROR MOVIE CHALLENGE!

In its humble origins, the Challenge itself has always been to watch (at least) one fright flick for each of those glorious 31 days that make up the month of October, 16 of which being first time viewings. In 2010, I launched the annual Scare-a-Thon to coincide, raising funds and awareness for various charities and organizations along the way. 

With this being the 15th installment, I wanted to try something a little different: Rather than simply watching movies and reviewing them as in years past, I held interviews with a wide assortment of fellow fright fans, highlighting the community itself alongside these movies we hold so dear. It turned out to be a marvelous experiment!

Thanks to the generous hearts and minds of fans like you, over $7,700 has been raised for the INTERNATIONAL RESCUE COMMITTEE, with additional funds still coming in, making this the most successful Scare-A-Thon EVERRRRRRRR! (The fundraiser link will remain open for another week, so if you would like to make a donation, there is still time!)

**CLICK HERE TO DONATE NOW!!**

Thanks to all my guests who showed up at all hours from across the globe to chat on the HORROR 101 with Dr. AC YouTube channel, as well as everyone who participated in some way, whether it be making a contribution, liking a Facebook/Instagram post, watching or listening to a partner podcast, leaving a comment, suggesting a movie, attending our Terror Tuesdays lectures at the Chicago Public Library, or even just sharing what YOU were watching this month.

Below are the 18 "official" Scare-a-Thon events (with links to the episodes), as well as a list of the various horror titles viewed for the October season. Before we get to that, however, there is the usual assemblage of useless factoids to ponder while you're thinking ahead to next year's costume.

Have fun!

CHALLENGE STATS:
Total Movies Watched: 33
First Time Views: 16
Total Scare-A-Thon Donations: $7,722

THE RETURN OF THE LIVING DEAD (1985) Turns 40: Why We’re STILL Hungry for Brains!!

THE RETURN OF THE LIVING DEAD (1985) d. Dan O’ Bannon (USA)
RETURN OF THE LIVING DEAD PART II (1988) d. Ken Weiderhorn (USA)
RETURN OF THE LIVING DEAD 3 (1993) d. Brian Yuzna (USA)
RETURN OF THE LIVING DEAD: NECROPOLIS (2005) d. Ellery Elkayem (USA)
RETURN OF THE LIVING DEAD: RAVE TO THE GRAVE (2005) d. Ellery Elkayem (USA)

**CLICK HERE TO WATCH FULL YOUTUBE EPISODE**

With a nod to undead kingpin George A. Romero (courtesy of a story credit from Night of the Living Dead co-writer John Russo), medical warehouse worker James Karen (Poltergeist) reveals to protégé Thom Mathews (Friday the 13th: Part 6) that NOTLD was actually based on a true story, stemming from a reanimating chemical, 2-4-5 Trioxin. And wouldn’t you know it, there just happens to be one canister left downstairs. Before you can say, “don’t touch thates ar,” corpse rising from their graves, licking their moldering lips, and unlike the lumbering shamblers of old, these zombies move with a purpose.

TRILOGY OF TERROR (1975) Turns 50: The Legacy of a TV Horror Classic!!

TRILOGY OF TERROR (1975) d. Dan Curtis (USA)

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Trilogy of Terror, the beloved horror anthology movie from producer/director Dan Curtis starring Karen Black, premiered on ABC television March 4, 1975. Curtis was already a household name, having created the legendary vampire soap opera Dark Shadows, as well as The Night Stalker, the highest-rated made-for-television movie released at the time, alongside well-received adaptations of Dracula and The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (both starring Jack Palance). So when he hired the legendary Richard Matheson to adapt three of his short stories, it seemed like a can’t-miss proposition.

Tobe Hooper’s LIFEFORCE (1985) Turns 40: Nude Space Vampires & The Apocalypse!!

LIFEFORCE (1985) d. Tobe Hooper (USA/UK)

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Based on Colin Wilson’s novel, The Space Vampires, a team of astronauts encounter a ship lodged within the head of Halley’s Comet and discover three impossibly beautiful humanoid creatures, two male, one female, encased in coffin-like crystalline blocks. And, as any genre film fan can predict, as soon as they get these strange creatures back to earth, blocks are going to crack and heads are going to roll.

BRIDE OF FRANKENSTEIN & WEREWOLF OF LONDON: THE UNIVERSAL LEGENDS TURN 90!

BRIDE OF FRANKENSTEIN (1935) d. James Whale (USA)
WEREWOLF OF LONDON (1935) d. Stuart Walker (USA)

**CLICK HERE TO WATCH FULL YOUTUBE EPISODE**

Tonight, we open the creaking doors to celebrate a pair of Universal classics that both turn 90 this year: Werewolf of London and Bride of Frankenstein, released in that golden year of genre cinema, 1935. While not always mentioned in the same breath, these two films mark an important moment in Universal Pictures’ legendary horror cycle, one building on an already iconic legacy, and the other attempting to carve out a new path through uncharted territory.

THE CHANGELING (1980): ONE OF THE BEST GHOST STORIES EVER MADE!!

THE CHANGELING (1980) d. Peter Medak (Canada)

**CLICK HERE TO WATCH FULL YOUTUBE EPISODE**

Tonight we’re discussing The Changeling (1980), Peter Medak’s stellar haunted house tale which usually takes a back seat to the big-budget envisioning of Stephen King’s The Shining, released the same year. But in many ways, this small Canadian film, loaded with creepy atmosphere and tightly fashioned suspense sequences, surpasses the ax-swinging histrionics that Kubrick and Co. dish out.