WE HAVE TO TALK ABOUT ARI ASTER (HEREDITARY, MIDSOMMAR, BEAU IS AFRAID)

HEREDITARY (2018) d. Ari Aster (USA)
MIDSOMMAR (2019) d. Ari Aster (USA)
BEAU IS AFRAID (2023) d. Ari Aster (USA)

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From his Sundance smash debut, Ari Aster has been a rising star in the "elevated horror" firmament, challenging audiences with features packed full of adult themes, metaphor-laden subject matter, superlative performances, and gorgeous attention to production design. Polarizing as his works might be, there's no denying that he is a filmmaker who deserves and demands our full attention and stamina. (Three-hour running times, amirite?)

HORRORS OF THE BLACK MUSEUM (1959) Blu-ray review

HORRORS OF THE BLACK MUSEUM (1959) d. Arthur Crabtree (UK)

**CLICK HERE TO WATCH FULL YOUTUBE EPISODE**

 
Welcome to Episode #3 of THE STACK!

Tonight's episode visits VCI Entertainment's new Blu-ray release of Horrors of the Black Museum, directed by Arthur Crabtree (Fiend Without a Face), written/produced by Herman Cohen (I Was a Teenage Werewolf, Trog), and starring Michael Gough (Horror of Dracula). Great release of a really fun film.

AUGUST UNDERGROUND TRILOGY (AU, MORDUM, PENANCE) Round Table Discussion

AUGUST UNDERGROUND (2001) d. Fred Vogel (USA)
AUGUST UNDERGROUND'S MORDUM (2003) d. Fred Vogel (USA)
AUGUST UNDERGROUND'S PENANCE (2007) d. Fred Vogel (USA)

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Inspired by the videotaped home invasion scene from Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer and the documentary aesthetic of both Man Bites Dog and The Blair Witch Project, makeup artist-turned-writer/director Fred Vogel elected to burrow below the surface of human depravity for his 2001 debut feature, August Underground. Playing the lead character Peter himself, Vogel takes the viewer, or perhaps kidnaps is a more appropriate word, on a journey alongside a thrill killing monster who seeks to match his damaged psyche blow for blow against an unsuspecting world.

TENEBRAE (1982) UHD Blu-ray review

TENEBRAE (1982) d. Dario Argento (Italy)

**CLICK HERE TO WATCH FULL YOUTUBE EPISODE**

Welcome to Episode #2 of THE STACK!

One of the 39 official Video Nasties prosecuted by the BFCC, this stellar updating of the classic giallo formula for the slasher-soaked early 1980s sees Argento at the height of his technical and storytelling powers. Dwelling in the shadows of his earlier critical and commercial successes (The Bird with the Crystal Plumage, Deep Red, Suspiria) and perhaps hindered by its unwieldy title (“Darkness” in Italian) and the subsequent retitled and re-edited U.S. release (the equally clunky Unsane, shorn of nearly 10 minutes), Tenebrae never seemed to find the audience it deserved and has labored for recognition ever since.

THE TERROR (1963) / TARGETS (1968) BORIS KARLOFF DOUBLE FEATURE!!!

THE TERROR (1963) d. Roger Corman (and others) (USA) 

TARGETS (1968) d. Peter Bogdanovich (USA)

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1963’s THE TERROR, celebrating its 60th anniversary, is a legendary curiosity item from producer/director Roger Corman, more famous for its origins than the finished product. According to legend, when Corman wrapped shooting on The Raven ahead of schedule, he took advantage of Boris Karloff’s two extra contracted days to slap together this tale of a reclusive baron with a dark secret.

Civilian 2023 Wrap-Up and Year-End Stats!

And we’re back!

Having addressed the horror genre in the previous entry (hey, this is HORROR 101 after all), it’s now time to give the Civilian flicks a moment in the sun.

FOR PREVIOUS YEARS' RECAPS, CLICK HERE 

This year, however, since I was toiling away at the H101 YouTube channel for much of the time, less attention was paid to the less scary fare. I dutifully viewed the prestige flicks in service of providing an informed vote for the SAG/AFTRA awards, and that was pretty much it outside of the random slices of comfort food cinema. Only 74 non-horror titles? What the heck?

In the meantime, let’s get on with the business at hand! As always, the non-horror titles listed below were encountered for the first time from January 1 to December 31, 2023 (i.e. no repeat viewings were eligible), and there is the usual (if diminished) collection of random trends that appeared organically or by design. Hope you enjoy the read.

Stay strong, stay safe, stay tuned!

Dr. AC's 2023 Horror Wrap-Up Extravaganza!

Hello, Grue Crew and Monster Masters!

CLICK HERE FOR PREVIOUS YEARS' RECAPS  

2023 was quite a memorable year at the Doc’s office, both in regards to online events and out in the (ahem) Real World. With regards to the former, exploring the world of social media and the HORROR 101 with Dr. AC YouTube channel have been unlike anything else I’ve ever tried before. The end result was that I got to hang out with 80 other horror fans mixing and matching over the course of 80 episodes (31 Scare-a-Thon shows plus 11 months of Friday Night Frights) covering 135 films in all and I have to say, it’s been a BLAST.

THE ABOMINATION (1986) / REPLIGATOR (1998) Blu-ray review

THE ABOMINATION (1986) d. Bret McCormick (USA)
REPLIGATOR (1998) d. Bret McCormick (USA)

**CLICK HERE TO WATCH FULL YOUTUBE EPISODE**

On tonight's debut episode of THE STACK, AC cracks open a pair of low-budget gems from Texas indie filmmaker Bret McCormick: The Abomination (1986) and Repligator (1998). The former is a gore-soaked monster movie where a cancer growth transforms into a giant hungry mass of goo and teeth, the latter is a sci-fi comedy featuring Gunnar Hansen and a bunch of scantily clad females wearing lizard masks!

THE WICKER MAN (1973) 50TH ANNIVERSARY ROUND TABLE!!!

THE WICKER MAN (1973) d. Robin Hardy (UK)

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Released the same year as The Exorcist, The Wicker Man also wrestles with religious rituals and fading faith. However, while the former was an instantaneous sensation that garnered Oscar nominations and huge box office receipts, its poor British relation suffered the indignities of studio-imposed edits and general public disinterest. However, as time has shown, this literal cult classic has endured for 50 years and is now regarded as one of the finest horror movies of the early 1970s.

NYC VS. GIANT MONSTERS (BEAST FROM 20K FATHOMS, GODZILLA, CLOVERFIELD) ROUND TABLE DISCUSSION

THE BEAST FROM 20,000 FATHOMS (1953) d. Eugene Lourie
GODZILLA (1998) d. Roland Emmerich
CLOVERFIELD (2008) d. Matt Reeves

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Ever since King Kong tore up the town in 1933, New York City has played host to a number of giant monsters stomping their way down 5th Avenue and giving colossal headaches to insurance companies. Tonight, we’ll be paying homage to a trio of cinematic goliaths, all of which are celebrating significant anniversaries this year.

I WALKED WITH A ZOMBIE, THE LEOPARD MAN, and THE SEVENTH VICTIM (1943 VAL LEWTON SPECIAL)

I WALKED WITH A ZOMBIE (1943) d. Jacques Tourneur
THE LEOPARD MAN (1943) d. Jacques Tourneur
THE SEVENTH VICTIM (1943) d. Mark Robson

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From 1942 to 1946, when rust was appearing on the Frankenstein Monster’s neck bolts, Dracula was growing longer in the tooth, and swaddled, swollen mummies were limping along, both literally and figuratively, a savior appeared on the horror horizon, who would provide welcome counter-programming to the usual parade of fur, fangs, and putty. That man was Val Lewton, and his debut production with RKO, 1942’s Cat People, heralded a new style of horror, where less was infinitely more, where shadows grew ripe with menace lurking just beyond the edge of the frame.

IT CAME FROM 1953!! (INVADERS FROM MARS, WAR OF THE WORLDS, ROBOT MONSTER, IT CAME FROM OUTER SPACE)

IT CAME FROM OUTER SPACE (1953) d. Jack Arnold
INVADERS FROM MARS (1953) d. William Cameron Menzies 
WAR OF THE WORLDS (1953) d. Byron Haskin
ROBOT MONSTER (1953) d. Phil Tucker

**CLICK LINK TO VIEW FULL YOUTUBE EPISODE**

By the closing of the 1940s, it seemed that audiences had grown weary of the classic monsters of yesteryear, and were hungry for new thrills. Those exciting new stories came not from moldy crypts or ancient curses, but rather from beyond the stars. With space exploration already a going concern among the world powers and reports of UFOs starting to make their way into the public consciousness, it was no surprise that filmmakers also cast their gaze to the heavens, imagining what fresh wonders and threats might make their way toward our little planet.

KING KONG (and SON OF KONG) 90TH ANNIVERSARY JAMBOREE!!

KING KONG (1933) d. Merian C. Cooper / Ernest B. Schoedsack (USA)
SON OF KONG (1933) d. Ernest B. Schoedsack (USA)

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It’s almost impossible to overstate the importance the original 1933 King Kong has had on the monster movie genre and on the history of cinema overall. As such, it’s easy to lose sight of the fact that there was a time before Kong, and that there were individuals who brought the character and the film surrounding him into existence. People like producers Merian C. Cooper and Ernest B. Schoedsack, writers Edgar Wallace, James Creelman, and Ruth Rose, special effects wizards Willis O’ Brien and Marcel Delgado, composer Max Steiner, sound effects pioneer Murray Spivack, and stars Robert Armstron, Bruce Cabot, and the legendary Fay Wray.

CURTAINS/PSYCHO II - 1983 DOUBLE FEATURE!!!

PSYCHO II (1983) d. Richard Franklin (USA)
CURTAINS (1983) d. Richard Ciupka/Peter Simpson (Canada)

**CLICK LINK TO VIEW FULL YOUTUBE EPISODE**

Tonight we're jetting back to 1983 to discuss a couple of undersung gems from the heyday of the slasher boom, one a belated sequel to a groundbreaking masterpiece, the other a curious Canadian feature made all the more appealing by its troubled production, release, and subsequent obscurity.

BEAST FROM HAUNTED CAVE, GIANT GILA MONSTER, and KILLER SHREWS (1959)

THE BEAST FROM HAUNTED CAVE (1959) d. Monte Hellman
THE GIANT GILA MONSTER (1959) d. Ray Kellogg
THE KILLER SHREWS (1959) d. Ray Kellogg

**CLICK LINK TO VIEW FULL YOUTUBE EPISODE**

The good folks at Film Masters have taken it upon themselves to rescue oodles of public domain titles, some of which they've even gone through the time and effort to give the stand-up, high-def presentations these orphaned films deserve. Or do they?

I SPIT ON YOUR GRAVE (1978) TURNS 45!!!

I SPIT ON YOUR GRAVE (1978) d. Meir Zarchi
I SPIT ON YOUR GRAVE (2010) d. Stephen R. Monroe
I SPIT ON YOUR GRAVE 2 (2013) d. Stephen R. Monroe
I SPIT ON YOUR GRAVE: VENGEANCE IS MINE (2015) d. Richard Schenkman
I SPIT ON YOUR GRAVE: DEJA VU (2019) d. Meir Zarchi
GROWING UP WITH I SPIT ON YOUR GRAVE (2019) (documentary) d. Terry Zarchi

**CLICK LINK TO VIEW FULL YOUTUBE EPISODE**

I was a relatively inexperienced viewer when I first encountered the original 1978 I Spit on Your Grave. As a result, while I understood that the terrible situation that our main character Jennifer Hills (played by Camille Keaton) was in, the execution of the story itself couldn’t get past the filter of my Hollywood-honed sensibilities, with its rough edges and middling makeup effects keeping me at a distance.

GODZILLA VS. MEGALON (1973) 50TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION!!!

GODZILLA VS. MEGALON (1973) d. Jun Fukuda (Japan) (81 min)

**CLICK LINK TO VIEW FULL YOUTUBE EPISODE**

A far cry from the anti-nuke statement that spawned the large lizard’s origins, this entry (#13) serves up twice the monster mashing and half the “plot” of other installments. Throwing caution and physics to the winds, this installment features the underwater race of Seatopians who, ticked off by another round of nuclear testing, unleash the giant beetle-looking monster Megalon to destroy Tokyo. In response, the Ultraman-inspired Jet Jaguar robot enlists the help of Godzilla, whereupon the Seatopians bring back Gigan from outer space, and the remainder of the movie is an oversized wrestling match for the ages.

SCARE-A-THON 2023 FINAL RESULTS!!!

And that, my mutual minions of mischief and mayhem, brings us to the end of Scare-A-Thon 2023 and yet another OCTOBER HORROR MOVIE CHALLENGE!

As always, the Challenge itself is to watch (at least) one fright flick for each of those glorious 31 days that make up the month of October, 16 of which must be first time viewings. I am happy to report that goal has been handily accomplished, with all of the official Scare-A-Thon titles being FTVs. (Thanks, Shudder!)

Along the way, thanks to the generous hearts and minds of fans like you, over $7,571 has been raised for the WOMEN'S REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS ASSISTANCE PROJECT, with additional funds still coming in, making this the most successful Scare-A-Thon EVERRRRRRRR! (The fundraiser link will remain open for another two months, so if you would like to make a donation, there is still time!)

SCARE-A-THON 2023 FUNDRAISER LINK

Thanks to the 40 (!!) 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 post, watching or listening to a partner podcast, leaving a comment, suggesting a movie, or just chatting about what we were respectively watching this month.

Extra Special Thanks to Gert Verbeeck for his tireless efforts in creating all the fantastic YouTube thumbnails, as he has all year long for the H101 channel. Thanks for making us all look so good.

Below are the 33 "official" features viewed (with links to the online panels), as well as 14 additional horror titles viewed in October. 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: 47
First Time Views: 36
Total Scare-A-Thon Donations: $7,571

SHARKNADO (2013) 10TH ANNIVERSARY Movie Review

SHARKNADO (2013) d. Anthony C. Ferrante (USA) (86 min)

***CLICK LINK TO VIEW FULL YOUTUBE EPISODE***

Every since Peter Benchley’s novel Jaws hit bookstands in 1974, followed by the enormous success of Steven Spielberg’s big screen adaptation, sharks have become the aquatic boogeymen of our nightmares. Their power and ferocity has been exploited time and time again onscreen, and just when you think they’ve exhausted their power to terrify, a new wave sweeps over the pop culture shore, and our fascination and fear is reawakened.

FREDDY VS. JASON (2003) 20TH ANNIVERSARY SMACKDOWN!!!

FREDDY VS. JASON (2003) d. Ronny Yu (USA)

***CLICK LINK TO VIEW FULL YOUTUBE EPISODE***

Since the closing shot of 1993’s Jason Goes to Hell, fans had been clamoring for this “Slash of the Titans.” A decade later, New Line Cinema answered their nightmares with a flick that is exactly the low-brow monster-mash masterpiece that the two screen legends deserve. Screenwriters Damian Shannon and Mark Swift concoct a storyline that builds upon history from the previous films (17 in all) and manages to generate a few new twists of its own, while director Ronny Yu directs with energy, verve, and a solid sense of humor.