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Bonjour! It’s time for another MONSTER EPISODE of Jay of the Dead’s New Horror Movies, The Berserk Baboon of Horror Podcasting! Here in Episode 186, Jay of the Dead and his fellow Horror Avengers bring you several new Horror movie reviews, including Send Help (2026), Luc Besson’s Dracula (2026), Passenger (2026), and Surrender (2025). We also revisit (yet again) that age-old Horror debate about identifying Horror. As usual, we have three Horror-themed Specialty Segments that are running wild: Mackula brings a very special Horror in Black and White review of the Finnish film The White Reindeer (1952). GregaMortis continues his journey through the Showa-era Godzilla films with Godzilla Raids Again (1955) for his Monsters on the Mantle segment. And Gillman Joel and Dr. Shock wade back into the Horror Lagoon for the low-budget, techno-Horror flick Horrorvision (2001). Dr. Walking Dead leads our latest John Kenneth Muir group review with the fascinating cinematic oddity, Equinox (1970). And finally, Jay and Spawn of the Dead close things out with The Final Cut: One for the Road, reviewing Welcome to the Jungle (2007) during Spawn’s first remote podcast recording from wild and wonderful West Virginia! Join us, we’re spooky!
NOTE: You can donate and support Jay of the Dead’s podcasts right here through Venmo: Venmo.com/ConsiderCinema — Thank you!
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And if you like hearing Jay and Watson mix it up together, be sure you check out our sister Horror show — Another Badass Horror Podcast — titled, Horror Movie Weekly.
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Jay of the Dead’s New Horror Movies is an audio podcast. Our 10 Horror hosts review new Horror movies and deliver specialty Horror segments. Your hosts are Jay of the Dead, Dr. Shock, Gillman Joel, Mister Watson, Dr. Walking Dead, GregaMortis, Mackula, Ron Martin, Dave Zee and Spawn of the Dead! Due to the large number and busy schedule of its 10 Horror hosts, Jay of the Dead’s New Horror Movies will be recorded in segments, piecemeal, at various times and recording sessions. Therefore, as you listen to our episodes, you will notice a variety of revolving door hosts and segments, all sewn together and reanimated like the powerful Monster of Dr. Frankenstein!
SHOW NOTES
– Introduction
- Welcome to Jay of the Dead’s New Horror Movies, Ep. 186
- Jay visits Ron Martin’s Retro Sleepover Podcast to discuss Season 1 of the original Transformers animated series and the O.G. toys
- Jay of the Dead and Dave Zee visit The Joe Blow Horror Show to review Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street
- Dr. Shock, Gillman Joel and Jay of the Dead visit Horror Movie Podcast for some “So Bad, It’s Good” Horror picks
– Present for this review: Dr. Walking Dead, Jay of the Dead (Mister Watson)
[ 00:03:14 ] – 2026 New Horror Movie Review:
Send Help (2026)
Jay of the Dead = 7 ( Theater / Buy it for Jay / Rental for Most )
Dr. Walking Dead = 7 ( Priority Rental / Stream it )
– Sam Raimi delivers a Rachel McAdams and Dylan O’Brien survival story described as “Misery Meets Castaway”
– Dr. Walking Dead argues the film is constructed from familiar movie clichés while also occasionally inverting them
– The movie moves through romantic comedy, action-adventure, thriller, mystery and eventually some Horror
– Jay does not consider Send Help a full-fledged Horror movie and calls it primarily a dark comedy Thriller with brief Raimi Horror flourishes
– Jay’s well-established Rachel McAdams infatuation becomes part of the review
– Rachel McAdams earns strong praise for a large, comedic, scenery-chewing lead performance
– Dylan O’Brien impresses by playing a genuinely despicable character against his typically likable screen persona
– Sam Raimi’s trademark gross-out humor, bodily fluids and exaggerated violence remain alive and well
– The reviewers discuss the film’s feminist setup, character reversals and late-film bait-and-switch
– Despite approaching the movie from different perspectives, Jay and Dr. Walking Dead both land at 7 out of 10
– Present for this review: Jay of the Dead, Mister Watson, Dr. Walking Dead, Mackula
[ 00:17:45 ] – CONCEPT DISCUSSION:
Identifying Horror
– Terror vs. Horror — Genre, Tone, Violence, Aesthetics and the Eye of the Beholder
– Dr. Walking Dead revisits his distinction between terror and Horror
– Terror is associated with suspense, dread and the anticipation of something terrible happening
– Horror is the payoff when the horrible or abject thing actually occurs
– The hosts debate whether Horror can be defined through violence, tone, aesthetics, intent or some combination of elements
– Mister Watson describes Horror classification as a complex, multifaceted Venn diagram
– The Night Comes for Us, No Escape, Oldboy, Red Rooms, We’re All Going to the World’s Fair and What You Wish For become genre-classification case studies
– Mister Watson distinguishes between intellectually convincing himself that something qualifies as Horror and actually “feeling” the Horror
– Mackula argues that something can be horrifying without necessarily being a Horror movie
– Dr. Walking Dead suggests Horror often places viewers psychologically in the position of the victim
– The discussion ultimately acknowledges that Horror remains partly subjective and that listeners learn which hosts most closely match their own genre sensibilities
– Present for this review: Mackula, Jay of the Dead, Mister Watson (Dr. Walking Dead)
[ 00:33:42 ] – 2026 New Horror Movie Review:
Dracula (2026)
Mackula = 52 out of 100 ( Theater / One-time Rental )
Jay of the Dead = 7 ( Theater / One-time Rental )
Mister Watson = 7 ( Rental )
– Luc Besson offers his own version of Dracula while drawing heavily from cinematic interpretations that came before it
– The hosts discuss the romantic reincarnated-love storyline that is not part of Bram Stoker’s original novel
– Dr. Walking Dead traces the reincarnated-love element to Richard Matheson’s 1974 adaptation before Coppola’s 1992 film popularized it further
– Mister Watson strongly prefers a non-romantic Dracula but praises this film’s impressive scope, sets, castle, carnival imagery and costuming
– Caleb Landry Jones receives major praise as Dracula, with Mister Watson saying he could make an amazing Joker
– Jay says Christoph Waltz steals the show as the priest, especially through his dialogue
– Danny Elfman’s sweeping score earns praise, although the anachronistic musical sequence and synth-heavy moment draw criticism
– The perfume-based hypnotic-power storyline and the unusual replacement for Dracula’s traditional three vampire women are major sticking points
– The hosts appreciate the film’s attempt to portray the psychological effects of Dracula enduring centuries of immortality, longing and world-weariness
– The group discusses classic vampire rules, Vlad the Impaler mythology, Dracula’s various screen incarnations and the continuing challenge of adapting Bram Stoker faithfully
– Present for this segment: Mackula
Specialty Segment
Horror in Black and White by Mackula
[ 01:21:42 ] – The White Reindeer (1952)
Mackula = 100 out of 100 ( Highly Recommended! )
[ 01:38:03 ] – SPOILERS! The White Reindeer
– Mackula presents a “very, very special” Horror in Black and White because The White Reindeer earns his perfect 100
– The 1952 Finnish film was completely unknown to Mackula before he accidentally discovered it while searching for a different movie
– What initially appears to be a charming wintry romance with a reindeer race gradually reveals itself as something much darker
– Mackula celebrates the stark black-and-white photography of snow, fog, sunlight, moonlight and the vast frozen landscape
– Sweeping landscape photography makes the cold Finnish environment feel immersive, threatening and hypnotic
– Hundreds of real reindeer and scenes depicting their capture and handling give the film a striking sense of cultural and physical authenticity
– Mackula praises the central woman’s disturbing shifts between ordinary behavior and frightening witchlike expressions
– His score keeps climbing throughout the movie until the ending delivers exactly what he hoped would happen and pushes the film to 100
– Mackula ranks The White Reindeer as tied for his favorite movie of all time
– Present for this review: Jay of the Dead, Dr. Walking Dead, GregaMortis, Guest: Grisly Gus
[ 01:44:24 ] – 2026 New Horror Movie Review:
Passenger (2026)
Grisly Gus = 6 ( Stream it )
GregaMortis = 6 ( Stream it )
The Twisted Temptress = 7 ( Stream it )
Jay of the Dead = 5.5 ( Low-priority Stream )
Dr. Walking Dead = 8 ( Theater / Rental )
– Andre Ovredal brings supernatural Horror to a young couple living the van-life road-trip lifestyle
– The trailer essentially presents the movie’s cold open and earns praise for avoiding major spoilers about the protagonists and ending
– Grisly Gus and GregaMortis love the opening but struggle to remain engaged afterward
– Jay enjoys the van-life premise and some creepy atmosphere but criticizes cheap jump scares and a rushed exposition-heavy third act
– Dr. Walking Dead becomes the group’s enthusiastic outlier and enjoys the film as a simple old-fashioned scary movie
– St. Christopher, demonic revenge, hobo codes and invented folklore give the story a creepypasta flavor
– The hosts debate the supernatural rules, nighttime driving and whether the entity’s powers sufficiently explain apparent inconsistencies
– Melissa Leo serves as both a harbinger of doom and the story’s advisory expert
– The film’s moving 360-degree camerawork and long shots receive strong praise
– The hosts joke that Passenger’s terrible cautionary lesson appears to be: Don’t stop to help people
[ 02:15:02 ] – Support Your Favorite Podcasts
Donate and Get a Deep-Cut Recommendation
August 2026 Donation Bonus for Contributors
– Help offset the expense of producing four free podcasts
– Donate during August 2026 through PayPal or Venmo
– Even a $2 or $5 contribution qualifies
– Include your email address in the donation notes
– I have two Horror podcasts and two all-genre podcasts, so tell me if you want a deep cut Horror movie recommendation — or a deep cut Crime movie recommendation!
– Jay will personally email you a spoiler-free Horror Movie GEM DEEP CUT recommendation
– The recommendation will be a movie Jay does not plan to cover on his podcasts this year
– Donate again in September and Jay will send another Horror Movie recommendation
– PayPal and Venmo links can be found at New Horror Movies.com and in the Episode 186 Show Notes
– Present for this segment: GregaMortis, Jay of the Dead
Specialty Segment
GregaMortis’s Monsters on the Mantle
[ 02:16:55 ] – Godzilla Raids Again (1955)
GregaMortis = 7 ( Buy whole Criterion book set )
Jay of the Dead = 5 ( Low-priority Rental )
– Ai Comic Strip Artwork by Pearl, The Twisted Temptress — Thanks, Pearl!
– The second Showa-era Godzilla film continues directly from the original 1954 Gojira
– A new Godzilla emerges after the Oxygen Destroyer eliminated the first monster
– Anguirus arrives as Godzilla’s new quadrupedal, heavily armored opponent
– Godzilla Raids Again establishes the first Godzilla monster-versus-monster kaiju battle format
– GregaMortis and Jay celebrate the suit work, miniature cities, destruction and charmingly obvious practical effects
– The famously sped-up Godzilla and Anguirus fight footage becomes an unintended source of comedy
– Jay identifies two ongoing Godzilla storytelling challenges: connecting human-scale stories to enormous monster action and finding believable threats to an almost unbeatable Godzilla
– The hosts question the movie’s inconsistent handling of Godzilla’s sensitivity to bright light, fire and flares
– Godzilla’s unusual eyes, wind-up toy appearance in the snow and nugget-ice landscape provide plenty of affectionate laughs
– Next up in the Monsters on the Mantle Showa journey: King Kong vs. Godzilla
– Present for this review: Dr. Shock, Jay of the Dead
[ 03:13:48 ] – 2025 New Horror Movie Review:
The Surrender (2025)
Dr. Shock = 9 ( Buy it! )
Jay of the Dead = 9 ( Buy it for Jay / Strong Rental for Most )
– Dr. Shock brings Jay a Horror gem written and directed by Julia Max
– A grieving mother and daughter attempt a brutal ritual intended to resurrect the family patriarch
– Colby Minifie and Kate Burton receive tremendous praise for portraying a complicated but believable mother-daughter relationship
– Neil Sandilands creates an unsettling presence as the mysterious, nearly silent ritual guide
– The script explores contradictory memories of the deceased father and the complicated realities of marriage and family
– Jay singles out the line about people saving both the worst and best parts of themselves for their spouses
– Jay argues that Colby Minifie delivers an Oscar-worthy performance
– The Surrender examines one of Horror’s oldest themes: refusing to accept death and attempting to violate nature through forbidden means
– Jay wishes the film’s powerful opening Horror image had been withheld until its later chronological appearance, although both hosts understand why the movie establishes its Horror credentials early
– The limited locations, intense dialogue, body Horror and intimate performances lead both hosts to agree that The Surrender could make an exceptional Horror stage play
– Present for this segment: Gillman Joel, Dr. Shock
Specialty Segment
Gillman Joel’s Horror Lagoon
[ 03:46:00 ] – Horrorvision (2001)
Gillman Joel and Dr. Shock = Tentative recommendation for Bookwalter / Full Moon / low-budget DIY Horror fans
– Gillman Joel and Dr. Shock descend into the shot-on-video, DIY and micro-budget end of the Horror Lagoon
– Danny Draven directs from a screenplay connected to J.R. Bookwalter and Tempe Entertainment, with Full Moon involved in distribution
– The premise follows a deadly website, HorrorVision.com, and a web programmer trying to stop an ominous force from controlling the cyber world
– The movie embraces the early-2000s Matrix, cyberpunk and techno-Horror zeitgeist on a tiny budget
– Brinke Stevens, Len Cordova, Maggie Rose Fleck and James Black are among the recognizable names discussed
– The nearly matching character names Dez and Dazzy become confusing enough that even the subtitles occasionally seem to struggle
– The hosts criticize excessive driving, inconsistent character behavior, unclear supernatural rules and a script that lacks a well-defined antagonist
– They defend the cast as stronger than might be expected at this budget level and particularly enjoy James Black’s cyberpunk presence
– Creature work and practical effects in the final stretch earn praise, including some creatively budget-conscious rolling monsters
– Gillman Joel and Dr. Shock tentatively recommend HorrorVision to viewers who already enjoy J.R. Bookwalter, Full Moon and low-budget DIY Horror
Coming to the Horror Lagoon: Shatter Dead or Winterbeast
Listener Feedback:
– Thanks to Jeff in Fort Wayne, Indiana, for his thoughtful feedback about keeping New Horror Movies reviews spoiler-free
– Jeff asks the newer hosts to avoid revealing twists and other major surprises when a review is presented as spoiler-free
– The Horror Avengers recommit to warning listeners before discussions that require spoilers
– Present for this review: Dr. Walking Dead, Jay of the Dead, Dr. Shock, Mister Watson, Mackula (Spawn of the Dead)
[ 04:28:48 ] – A ’70s, ’80s or ’90s HORROR MOVIE THAT MIGHT BE NEW FOR YOU
Dr. Walking Dead’s pick from John Kenneth Muir’s “Horror Films of the 19?0s”
Equinox (1970)
Dr. Walking Dead = 7 (Stream it! )
Dr. Shock = 6 ( Stream )
Mister Watson = 6 ( Stream )
Mackula = 40 out of 100 ( Avoid )
Jay of the Dead = 4 ( Avoid Unless You’re a Stop-Motion Monster Fan or Evil Dead Superfan )
Note: Dr. Shock also rates the original 1967 version, The Equinox: A Journey Into the Supernatural = 8 ( Strong Rental )
– Dr. Walking Dead lets a random number generator choose an obscure title he had never heard of and discovers a fascinating Horror-film-history case study
– Equinox began as an extremely low-budget 1967 independent student production before being substantially reworked for its 1970 release
– Dr. Shock explains that the 1967 and 1970 cuts are far more different than merely adding 11 minutes of footage
– The Criterion two-disc release preserves both versions and gives the hosts a deeper look into the unusual production history
– The possible influence of Equinox on Sam Raimi’s The Evil Dead becomes one of the review’s biggest discussions
– Ancient books, portals, demons, stop-motion monsters and young people wandering into supernatural danger provide some striking similarities to later Horror
– Jay suffers through roughly the first 44 minutes before the stop-motion beastly freaks finally begin winning him over
– Mister Watson celebrates the punk-rock independent spirit of young filmmakers simply going out and making an ambitious movie with limited resources
– The hosts praise the old-school stop-motion, forced perspective, miniatures and effects work while criticizing uneven storytelling and characterization
– The group concludes that Equinox is especially valuable as a cinematic oddity and historical artifact even when individual reactions to the movie itself vary widely
[ 05:40:33 ] – SPOILERS! for Equinox
– The 1970 additions include a park ranger connected to the demonic threat, while the 1967 version handles the story without that character
– Dr. Shock describes major differences in character relationships, dialogue, motivations and the treatment of the female characters between the two versions
– The group discusses the disturbing behind-the-scenes account surrounding the filming of the sexualized Asmodeus encounter
– The hosts conclude that watching both versions offers a rare opportunity to see how one independent film was extensively reconstructed for distribution
– Present for this review: Jay of the Dead, Spawn of the Dead
[ 06:06:51 ] – THE FINAL CUT: One for the Road
Welcome to the Jungle (2007)
Jay of the Dead = 7 ( Buy for Jay / Rental for Most )
Spawn of the Dead = 5 ( Avoid )
– Jay records from Utah while Spawn of the Dead joins remotely from his new home approximately 1,500 miles away in West Virginia
– The title Welcome to the Jungle provides an excuse for a Guns N’ Roses tangent before the actual Horror begins
– Jay revisits the Dimension Extreme direct-to-DVD label and explains how distributor labels can help Horror fans discover similar movies
– The found-footage story uses the real-world mystery surrounding Michael Rockefeller’s disappearance as the launching point for a fictional Horror premise
– Spawn describes the central characters as immature, thin-skinned and consistently annoying
– Both reviewers agree the movie has a very long pre-Horror buildup filled with travel footage and character bickering
– The later jungle Horror and grisly aftermath imagery recall Cannibal Holocaust and The Green Inferno
– Jay acknowledges criticism surrounding the movie’s portrayal of Indigenous people and the use of cannibalism as a source of Horror
– Spawn thinks the casting, score, pacing and choppy ending could all have been substantially improved
– Jay appreciates the disturbing final stretch and dark last-moment stinger enough to continue revisiting the film every few years
– Wrap-Up:
– The next major release will be something very special involving the Horror-themed Specialty Segments
– Thank you to Pearl, The Twisted Temptress, for her Ai-driven, Godzilla comic artwork stylings
– Remember the August 2026 donation offer for a personal Jay of the Dead Horror Movie gem deep-cut recommendation (Horror or Crime)
– Hear Jay and Ron Martin discuss the original Transformers animated series on the Retro Sleepover Podcast
– Hear Jay and Dave Zee review Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street on The Joe Blow Horror Show
– Hear Dr. Shock, Gillman Joel and Jay discuss “So Bad, It’s Good” Horror picks on Horror Movie Podcast
– Check out the Horror Avengers’ podcasts, blogs, books, YouTube channels and other endeavors, linked here in these show notes below
NOTE: You can donate and support Jay of the Dead’s podcasts right here through Venmo: Venmo.com/ConsiderCinema — Thank you!
Donate to support our podcast!
Note: All prize contest give-aways are only for those who are at least 18 year of age or older — AND — live in the United States. If you won a prize, email your address to HauntingYourHeadphones@gmail.com with “Contest” and the prize you won in the subject line.
Special thanks to website developer Jaxon Carroll and graphic designer Trump Widdop for their excellent work in helping Jay of the Dead’s New Horror Movies to have a nice, new website. Thank you! And big shout-out and thanks to Mister Watson and his son, Skylarr, for composing the music for Mister Watson’s Horror Hierarchy segment.
LINKS FOR THIS EPISODE:
Jay of the Dead’s NEW HORROR MOVIES podcast links:
Email: HauntingYourHeadphones@gmail.com
Voicemail: (801) 980-1375
Twitter: @HorrorAvengers
Subscribe via Apple Podcasts
Subscribe via Spotify
Subscribe via Google Podcasts
Subscribe via Deezer
Subscribe via Stitcher
The soundtrack music for Jay of the Dead’s New Horror Movies is composed and performed by musicians Fred Ingram; Nate Johnivan; Mister Watson and his son, Skylarr; and Jason Pyles himself. Please support our talented musician friends by checking out more of Nate and Fred’s links below:
Links for musician Frederick Ingram:
Website: FrederickIngram.com
Frederick Ingram’s new album Initial Exposure (includes “Voltairine,” the theme music for Jay of the Dead’s New Horror Movies)
Frederick Ingram’s YouTube Music Channel
Listen to Frederick Ingram on SoundCloud
YouTube Music Video: “Voltairine” by Frederick Ingram (the theme music for Jay of the Dead’s New Horror Movies)
Interview: Hear Fred Ingram on Jay’s Songwriting Podcast
Frederick Ingram’s Fish Bowl (Funky Margarita Mix)
Links for musician Nate Johnivan:
Spotify Playlist
Quarantine Dream iii
Links for Dave Zee:
On Apple Podcasts: Exploding Heads Horror Movie Podcast
On Facebook: Exploding Heads Horror Movie Podcast
Patreon: Exploding Heads Horror Movie Podcast
On YouTube: Exploding Heads
Exploding Heads on Twitter: @HeadsHorror
With Watson: The Wat-Zee Party Horror Show
Wat-Zee Twitter: @WatZeeParty
Links for Ron Martin:
Horror franchise podcast: The Resurrection of Zombie 7
Ron’s book: Discover Salem: Your Guide to the Witch City
Witches: Salem 1692 Podcast
Ron’s blog: I Hate Stuff.net
Zombie 7 on Twitter: @ResZombie7
Links and Contact Info for Count Mackula:
Email Mackula here: HauntingYourHeadphones@gmail.com
Filmography Page: Mack Robins on IMDb
Mack’s short film: Unseen
Mackula’s YouTube Channel
Mack’s Other Podcast: Considering the Cinema.com – The episodes that feature Mack!
On Twitter: @RobinsMack
On Instagram: @RobinsMack
Links and Contact Info for GregaMortis:
Podcast: Land of the Creeps
Instagram: LotC
Facebook: Greg Morgan
Twitter: GregaMortis
LotC Group Page
LotC Fan Page
YouTube: Greg Morgan
Greg’s Instagram: GregaMortis
Email: GregaMortis666@gmail.com
LotC Hotline Phone Number: 1-804-569-5682 | 1-804-569-LOTC
Links for Dr. Walking Dead Kyle Bishop:
Email Dr. Bishop here: bishopk@suu.edu
Dr. Walking Dead’s Bio Page
Book: American Zombie Gothic
Book: How Zombies Conquered Popular Culture
— Kyle’s Amazon Author Profile
— Doc of the Dead zombie culture documentary
— Kyle’s re-animated Twitter: @DrWalkingDead
– Learn more about Dr. Walking Dead
– Faculty Friday: Meet Dr. Kyle Bishop, English
– TEDx SUU Talk on YouTube: Why Zombies Matter
– YouTube: Zombies: An idea worth spreading about how ideas spread
– YouTube: 50+ Shades of Gothic: Zombies, Bodies and Boundaries
– YouTube: Why zombie culture is so popular?
Links for Mister Watson:
Podcast: Horror Movie Weekly
Twitter: @WatZeeParty
Podcast: The Wat-Zee Party Horror Show
Facebook: The Wat-Zee Party Horror Show / Horror Corridor
Links for Gillman Joel:
Retro Movie Geek Podcast
Terror on the Tube
Werewolf The TV Series, The Podcast
Forgotten Flix
The Booth at the End Podcast
Gillman Joel’s short film: “Shadows of the Dead”
Links for Dr. Shock:
The DVD Infatuation Podcast (monthly)
Land of the Creeps horror podcast
The Illustrated Fan
Horror Movie Podcast
Film blog: DVD Infatuation.com
On Twitter: @DVDinfatuation
On Facebook: DVDinfatuation
Land of the Creeps Facebook: LotC Facebook Group
On Instagram: @dbjb6972
On Letterboxd: @dcoshockhmp
YouTube: Dr. Shock’s Channel
Links for Jay of the Dead:
Horror Movie Weekly.com
Considering the Cinema.com
Movie Podcast Weekly.com
HMW Twitter: @horror_weekly
CTC Twitter: @ConsiderCinema
Thank you for listening to Jay of the Dead’sNew Horror Movies, The Gold Standard of Horror Movie Podcasts.