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Pour yourself a bowl and sharpen the roof of your mouth because Episode 188 of Jay of the Dead’s New Horror Movies is serving Oops! All Specialty Segments — the podcast equivalent of picking every golden Cap’n Crunch square out of the milk and hoarding the berries for last. Jay begins with the perfectly reasonable story of how he once convinced missionary companion Eddie Marquez that he possessed prophetic powers, thanks to a cereal box spotted atop a stranger’s refrigerator. From that sacred breakfast revelation springs an entire episode stripped of its usual format and crammed with the Horror Avengers’ strangest, funniest, most personal obsessions. These are the segments that prove no corner of Horror is too shadowy, scholarly, slimy, or absurdly specific to investigate. You’ll encounter a documentary best entered completely blind, a digital demon limping out of the early Internet, and a ranked menu of dinner scenes guaranteed to ruin your appetite. There is even a debate over whether “King Kong vs. Godzilla” is gloriously goofy or merely terrible (because peace was never an option). Nine Horror Avengers enter the cereal bowl; only the yellow squares have been removed. The result is sweet, jagged, colorful, and likely to leave your ears pleasantly scraped raw. (Ai writing is so weird…)
Along the way, the gang travels from silent Swedish dread and South Korean found footage to backwoods cannibals, PG-13 exorcisms, so-called “Elevated Horror,” and the urgent cultural necessity of killer-hippo cinema! Jay asks listeners to say “hippopotamus” aloud at work, condemns “Hungry” for making the obvious Hungry Hungry Hippos joke, then immediately asks whether everyone has lost their marbles. Mister Watson breaks bread over 15 disturbing dinner scenes while admitting he cannot confidently explain why No. 12 outranks No. 5. Gillman Joel and Dr. Shock confront “Horrorvision,” a movie so baffling that its ending inspires the show’s spiritual image: everyone simply limping off into the distance. Yet amid the glorious nonsense, Episode 188 also makes room for genuine heart: Dr. Shock’s remembrance of Judith Barsi and a warm, funny tribute to Dave Zee’s podcasting career, including the revelation that this entire operation was built on meeting strange men online and that Dave Zee once determined it takes exactly 563 licks to reach the center of a Tootsie Roll Pop. It is an all-you-can-eat buffet of scholarship, tangents, friendship, monsters, marbles, and questionable life choices. This is what happens when Horror fandom is allowed off its leash. Bring a spoon, say grace, and as the part Cajun Gillman Joel says, “Stay swampy.”
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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, Episode 188
- This episode is dedicated to Eddie Marquez
- The premise of this special episode
- The history of Cap’n Crunch and Crunch Berries
- Jay’s 1997 missionary prank on Eddie Marquez involving a prophetic prediction about Cap’n Crunch’s “Oops! All Berries” cereal
- How removing the “yellow squares” from the usual Monster Episode format inspired an entire show made exclusively of Specialty Segments
– Present for this segment: Jay of the Dead
Specialty Segment
Jay of the Dead’s “It Could Happen to You” Horror
[ 00:12:58 ] – Documentary: Maternal Instinct (2026)
Jay of the Dead = 8.5 ( Buy for Jay / Must-stream on Netflix )
Hear Jay’s recommendation of the best fictional film covering this same premise: NHM Ep. 005
– Jay reverses his usual segment formula by beginning with a documentary about real-life Horror and then identifying fictional counterparts
– The mystery is best experienced completely blind, even though seasoned Horror fans may recognize where the story is headed within minutes
– A 2020 traffic stop involving a woman who claimed she had just given birth launches the documentary’s investigation
– Viewers are advised to pay especially close attention to the wedding, its planning and the photographer
– After watching Maternal Instinct, listeners can revisit Jay’s related review in New Horror Movies Episode 5 and seek out Womb (2025) and The Clinic (2010)
– Present for this segment: Dr. Shock (Jay of the Dead)
Specialty Segment
Dr. Shock’s Macabre Film History
[ 00:23:26 ] – The Tragic Story of Judith Barsi
– The life and career of child actress Judith Barsi, who appeared in television, commercials and Jaws: The Revenge
– Judith’s memorable voice performances as Ducky in The Land Before Time and Anne-Marie in All Dogs Go to Heaven
– The escalating domestic abuse and threats inflicted upon Judith and her mother, Maria, by Joseph Barsi
– The July 1988 murder-suicide that took the lives of Judith and Maria shortly before Judith’s final films were released
– Don Bluth’s remembrance of Judith, the dedication of “Love Survives,” and the debunked story about Burt Reynolds recording his final scene after her death
– Present for this segment: Gillman Joel, Dr. Shock
Specialty Segment
Gillman Joel’s Horror Lagoon
[ 00:33:13 ] – Horrorvision (2001)
Gillman Joel and Dr. Shock = Tentative recommendation for fans of J.R. Bookwalter, Full Moon and ultra-low-budget techno-Horror
– Horrorvision’s cyber-world premise plays like a microbudget fusion of The Matrix, cyberpunk and early-2000s techno-Horror
– The hosts praise several actors and the final 15 minutes while criticizing confusing character names, uneven performances, pacing and editing
– Fans of Bookwalter, Full Moon and “Frankie and his pals” may find enough handmade charm to make the film worthwhile
– Present for this segment: Mister Watson
Specialty Segment
Mister Watson’s Horror Hierarchy
[ 01:15:56 ] – Mister Watson’s 15 Favorite Disturbing Dinner Scenes in Horror Movies
- The Texas Chain Saw Massacre (1974)
- Beetlejuice (1988)
- Hereditary (2018)
- Thanksgiving (2023)
- Evil Dead Burn (2026)
- House of 1,000 Corpses (2003)
- Santa’s Slay (2005)
- Hosts (2020)
- Hannibal (2001)
- Calvaire (2006)
- Alien (1979)
- You’re Next (2013)
- The Loved Ones (2009)
- The Rocky Horror Picture Show (1975)
- Headless (2015)
– Evil Dead Burn inspires the list, while Hosts earns the distinction of containing its hardest-hitting dinner scene
– Ari Aster’s Hereditary film, which grounds family confrontation, earns third place through emotional authenticity and award-worthy acting
– The Texas Chain Saw Massacre (1974) takes the top spot for its agonizing authenticity, deranged sound design and famously grueling production history
– Present for this segment: Jay of the Dead
Specialty Segment
Jay of the Dead’s Pig-Headed Horror
[ 02:05:27 ] – The Blood Lands (2015) (aka “White Settlers”)
Jay of the Dead = 6.5 ( Rental )
– The British production premiered in 2014 as White Settlers before becoming widely available to U.S. audiences as The Bloodlands in 2015
– Pollyanna McIntosh and Lee Williams play a London couple whose isolated Scottish farmhouse is invaded by pig-masked intruders
– Jay finds the film closer to a crime thriller — and more of a “Pig-Headed Inconvenience” — than a frightening home-invasion Horror movie
– Cinematographer James Swift is the film’s MVP for remarkably clear, beautiful nighttime photography in the woods
Support Jay of the Dead’s New Horror Movies’ October Lineup!
– Help support our ambitious October Halloween content through the PayPal or Venmo QR codes at NewHorrorMovies.com
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Donate to support our podcast!
– Present for this segment: Dr. Walking Dead, Jay of the Dead, Dr. Shock, Spawn of the Dead
Specialty Segment
The Dead Zone with Dr. Walking Dead
[ 02:14:16 ] – Concept Discussion: The Found Footage Film in Horror
Found Footage and Gonjiam: Haunted Asylum (2018)
Spawn of the Dead = 9 ( Buy it! )
Dr. Shock = 8 ( Buy it! )
Jay of the Dead = 6 ( One-time Watch )
Dr. Walking Dead = 6 ( One-time Watch )
– Dr. Walking Dead traces found footage back through Gothic literature and the “discovered manuscript” framing device
– The hosts define and compare found footage, mockumentary, faux broadcast and hybrid approaches to cinematic realism
– A Ghost Hunter web series enters a notorious South Korean asylum for a livestream and encounters more than staged scares
– The movie’s competing livestream and behind-the-scenes footage prompt debate about how coherently its in-universe camera logic works
– Spawn and Dr. Shock remain the strongest advocates, while Jay and Dr. Walking Dead find the film creepy but repetitive and less effective on repeat viewing
– Present for this segment: GregaMortis, Jay of the Dead
Specialty Segment
GregaMortis’s Monsters on the Mantle
[ 03:25:54 ] – King Kong vs. Godzilla (1963)
GregaMortis = 5.5 ( Low-priority Rental )
Jay of the Dead = 4 ( Avoid )
– The third stop through Criterion’s Showa Era Godzilla collection brings the monsters together in color for the first time
– King Kong, Godzilla and a bonus giant octopus supply men-in-suits spectacle, miniature destruction and deliberate comedy
– GregaMortis embraces the film as goofy, so-bad-it’s-good kaiju fun, while Jay finds it simply bad
– Next hunt: Mothra vs. Godzilla (1964)
– Present for this segment: Mackula, Mister Watson
Specialty Segment
Horror in Black and White by Mackula
[ 04:24:07 ] – The Phantom Carriage (1921)
Mister Watson = 8.5 ( Must-see )
Mackula = 78 out of 100 ( Must-see / Eventual Buy )
– Mister Watson selects Victor Sjöström’s influential silent Swedish film for his long-awaited visit to Mackula’s segment
– The Criterion presentation, including its score and supplemental features, is strongly preferred over the colorized and completely silent JustWatch version
– The hosts discuss the film’s sophisticated double exposures, layered flashbacks, compositions and influence on Ingmar Bergman and Stanley Kubrick
– David Holm’s supernatural reckoning becomes an existential morality tale about death, responsibility, redemption and the possibility of change
– Mackula and Mister Watson find the film surprisingly modern, deeply moving and best appreciated after gaining some life experience
– Present for this segment: Jay of the Dead, Spawn of the Dead
Specialty Segment
Jay of the Dead’s Backwoods Bloodbath
[ 05:11:06 ] – Wrong Turn (2003)
Jay of the Dead = 7.5 ( Buy it! )
Spawn of the Dead = 3.5 ( Avoid )
– Jay introduces the overlapping traditions of Hixploitation, Backwoods Horror, Hillbilly Horror, Rural Gothic and Appalachian Horror
– Spawn reports from West Virginia with a real-life account of narrow mountain roads, pouring rain and a terrifyingly large guard dog
– Jay surveys several possible inaugural selections, including Hunter’s Blood, Timber Falls and Killing Ground before choosing the original Wrong Turn
– Spawn finds the characters, logic and suspense profoundly underwhelming, while Jay still loves the film’s cast, pacing and woodland menace
– The hosts discuss the cannibal trio, the film’s unusual “Final Couple” and how it is Saw Tooth who is the archer
– Present for this segment: Ron Martin
Specialty Segment
Horror Myth-Busting With Ron Martin
[ 05:59:23 ] – Myth: Elevated Horror Is Nothing New.
Myth: Elevated Horror Is Just for Intellectual Elitists.
– Elevated Horror emphasizes psychological dread, layered metaphors and prestigious filmmaking over traditional monsters, gore and jump scares
– The term emerged in mainstream discussion during the 2010s around films such as The Babadook, The Witch, Hereditary, Midsommar and Get Out
– Ron argues that Horror has always contained thoughtful, metaphorical and formally ambitious films, even before the modern label existed
– Resistance to the term may stem from gatekeeping, resentment of mainstream critical acceptance and Horror fandom’s long-standing outsider identity
– Elevated Horror is simply another subgenre, and its popularity does not invalidate slashers, zombies, vampires or any earlier form of Horror
– Present for these segments: Jay of the Dead, Mister Watson, GregaMortis
Honoring the Illustrious Podcasting Career of Dave Zee Upon His Retirement
[ 06:19:31 ] – Celebrating the Inimitable Dave Zee
– Presented by Mister Watson
– The Horror Avengers officially acknowledge Dave Zee’s retirement from full-time podcasting and thank him for his friendship and work
– Mister Watson traces Dave’s career through Dirty Bay Horror, BananaLaser, The Skeleton Crew, Exploding Heads Horror Movie Podcast and ABCs of Hidden Horror
– Dave’s invitation prevented Mister Watson from retiring and led to their “dream team” collaboration on The Wat-Zee Party Horror Show
– Watson remembers Dave Zee’s first New Horror Movies appearance for the Nope review in Episode 12 and his subsequent arrival as a full-fledged Horror Avenger
– Dave Zee may still appear occasionally, and previously recorded material featuring him will continue to surface after his retirement
RETRO Specialty Segment
GregaMortis’s SLASH FROM THE STASH
[ 06:46:31 ] – Night School (1981) (aka “Terror Eyes”)
GregaMortis = 7.5 ( Buy the Vinegar Syndrome release for Slasher fans / Others, stream it )
Mister Watson = 7 ( Watch it / Buy the Vinegar Syndrome release for collectors )
Jay of the Dead = 6.5 ( Rental )
– GregaMortis resurrects his Planet Macabre-era Specialty Segment in place of Dave Zee’s Slashing Through the ’80s for this episode
– A motorcycle-riding killer decapitates women associated with a Boston night school
– The hosts see the movie as an early-’80s Slasher with lingering ’70s Giallo flavor, a mature cast and an effective mystery
– Despite mostly off-screen kills, the film offers unusual visual touches, Boston locations and memorably brazen product placement
– Pearl “The Twisted Temptress” thanks Dave Zee for definitively determining that it takes 563 licks to reach the center of a Tootsie Roll Pop
– Present for this segment: Spawn of the Dead, Jay of the Dead
Specialty Segment
Spawn of the Dead’s PG-13 Horror
[ 07:32:07 ] – The Rite (2011)
Spawn of the Dead = 5 ( Low-priority Rental )
Jay of the Dead = 4.5 ( Avoid )
– Spawn records with his new, independent podcasting setup before his move to West Virginia
– Anthony Hopkins leads a cast that also includes Rutger Hauer, Toby Jones and Ciarán Hinds
– The film is loosely based on Matt Baglio’s book The Rite: The Making of a Modern Exorcism and events surrounding Father Gary Thomas
– Both hosts find the allegedly realistic approach slow, dramatically uneven and ineffective as frightening exorcism Horror
– Jay recommends the PG-13-rated “The Last Exorcism” instead, while Spawn invites requests for future PG-13 Horror coverage
– Present for this segment: Jay of the Dead
Specialty Segment
Jay of the Dead’s Perishable Predicaments of Survival Horror
[ 07:57:54 ] – The Canyon (2009)
Jay of the Dead = 7 ( Rental )
– A “perishable predicament” is a dangerous situation that becomes deadlier the longer its victims remain trapped
Jay briefly recommends Sanctum (2011) — a 6.5 out of 10, Rental — but excludes it because it is more Drama / Thriller / Adventure than Horror
– The movie’s disturbing rattlesnake sequence is second only to the one in God Is a Bullet (2023)
– A convenient deus ex machina keeps the movie from reaching its darkest possibilities, but it remains a fun ride
– Jay watched The Canyon the same day a deadly monsoon-triggered flash flood struck the Grand Canyon’s Bright Angel Canyon
– Present for this segment: Jay of the Dead
[ 08:06:54 ] – THE FINAL CUT:One for the Road
RETRO Specialty Segment
Jay of the Dead’s Beastly Freaks
[ 08:09:33 ] – Hungry (2026)
Jay of the Dead = 6 ( Buy for Jay / Stream on Netflix for You )
– Jay resurrects his original Creature Feature segment for a long-awaited killer-hippo Horror movie
– The historical proposal to import African hippos to Louisiana as “lake cow bacon” supplies the film with a surprisingly plausible foundation
– The movie evokes Rogue, Black Water and The Bayou, though it delivers less visible hippo action than Jay hoped to see
– Jay launches the Hippo’s Revenge challenge after discovering Sam P. Green’s 2025 killer-hippo film streaming on Tubi, which is probably the world’s *first* killer hippo Horror movie
Wrap-Up:
– Thanks to the Horror Avengers for contributing their Specialty Segments to this unique episode
– Congratulations and thanks to Dave Zee upon his retirement from full-time podcasting
– Check out Episode 22, “Sleepovers,” of Ron Martin’s Retro Sleepover Podcast, featuring separate childhood stories from Dr. Shock and Jay of the Dead
– Support our ambitious October Halloween content through PayPal or Venmo at NewHorrorMovies.com
– Find all 188 episodes and links to the hosts’ books, blogs, podcasts, websites, social media and YouTube channels at NewHorrorMovies.com
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!
LINKS FOR THIS EPISODE:
Jay of the Dead’s NEW HORROR MOVIES podcast links:
Email: HauntingYourHeadphones@gmail.com
Voicemail: (801) 899-9798
Twitter: @HorrorAvengers
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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 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 defunct 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
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.
A Few of Jay of the Dead’s Transcribed Excerpts of Horror Movie Reviews from This Episode:
Cronos (1993) Horror Movie Podcast Review
Hi. This is Jay of the Dead again, and I’ve included an eighth bonus Criterion Blu-ray Horror recommendation, and that is Guillermo del Toro’s “Cronos,” a 1993 Mexican Horror film that is built upon a neat story. I’m pretty intense about not revealing spoilers, so even though most of you probably know the type of monster movie that “Cronos” is, I won’t say it outright, in case any listeners haven’t seen it! But I can tell you that “Cronos” has some Body Horror, and it’s one of those “Fountain of Youth” narratives, where we have characters trying to find ways to violate the Natural Laws of Mortality, so they can enjoy youthfulness and eternal life. This film can also be viewed as a metaphor for addiction.
Basically, “Cronos” opens by telling us that a 16th century alchemist, watchmaker created an invention known as “the Cronos device,” in an attempt to renew and extend his life. Some 400 years later, a loving grandfather and his granddaughter discover the unique device and its bizarre effects. This film also has villains who are searching for the Cronos device, and the nephew henchman is played by Ron Perlman, who looks like a Frankenstein’s monster version of Will Ferrell in this role! “Cronos” is a beautiful and sometimes creepy-crawly film, artistically executed. The grandfather and granddaughter characters give the movie heart, and I love the depictions of the inner workings of the Cronos device. For a film of this type (which I have not identified), this particular monster has needs that are shown very powerfully and convincingly in a memorable bathroom scene! One more thing, “Cronos” can also be considered a Christmas and New Year’s Eve Horror film (for those of you who keep track of such things).
Anyway, “Cronos” is one of the few, great ’90s Horror Films, and I rate it an 8 out of 10, and this film is a purchase!
—— – ——
Resident Evil: Welcome to Raccoon City (2021) Horror Movie Podcast Review
OK, Jay of the Dead here. I’ve made a commitment to this audience to review every major Horror release in theaters. So, for my New Horror Movie review, I want to discuss “Resident Evil: Welcome to Raccoon City,” which released wide in U.S. theaters on November 24, 2021. It was written and directed by Johannes Roberts. First, some brief context: Even if you’re like me and you’re not a Gamer, you are still probably aware that “Resident Evil” is a very popular and prolific, first-person and third-person Survival Horror, zombie-infected, video game franchise. It’s called “Biohazard” in Japan.
Now, I was going to give you a quick overview of this property, but upon looking into it, I immediately found this thing has spread like a zombie virus and has been adapted from the video games to a live-action film series, animated films, television series, comic books, novels, audio dramas — and more! So, every person listening to this podcast probably knows more about “Resident Evil” than I do. Therefore, I’ll just set up my review like this: For the original, live-action film series, “Resident Evil” has had six films that released between 2002 and 2017. (I saw some of those in the theater, hit or miss. They were decent Action Horror zombie-type movies. I’ve mostly had a good time with this franchise. From the perspective of a non-gamer, at least, it’s usually not too bad for a Horror video game-film adaptation. I mean, it’s not Shakespeare, but it’s still entertaining to me.)
And now, we have begun a “Reboot Film Series” with this seventh film, “Welcome to Raccoon City.” What I gathered is this film is set in 1998. And it reminds me of the Pripyat / Chernobyl disaster, where you have this shady Umbrella Corporation that is mysteriously packing up shop (obviously, for no good reason), and moving out of the midwestern town of Raccoon City. And our main characters — two siblings — Claire and Chris Redfield — get swept up in the dangerous downfall of the ill-fated Raccoon City. To me, it’s one of those premises that doesn’t really matter. This is an Action Survival Horror Zombie-Infected narrative. It’s also a Beastly Freak (Creature Feature), as well. The exposition in this movie is extremely clunky. Perhaps one of the most egregious examples I’ve seen. You’re familiar with the type: “As you know since you’re my brother, our father’s name was Brent, and he worked at the plant where… etc.” You know, where two people are saying things out loud to each other that they would never say because they both already know that information. Egregious. You could play a drinking game with this clunky exposition. And the rough performances don’t help that much, either.
“Welcome to Raccoon City” does feature that Jennifer Paige ’90s song, “Crush,” which was released in 1998. So, no anachronistic offenses there… The Action Horror scenes and monster zombie effects are decent and creepy enough. But this thing goes way overboard by the end — at least, for my tastes. But considering it’s a video game adaptation, it feels about right from that perspective. The problem with video game adapations is, video game Horror is so engaging for us precisely because it is interactive! You’re actually participating in the narrative as a player. But as a film viewer, you have a more passive, inactive sense of engagement, so “The Big Boss Battle” at the end can seem more ridiculous than exciting. Much like being a musician, if you’re on stage playing, the solos are a blast. But if you’re in the audience, it gets tiresome and tedious. That’s why Zac Snyder’s film, “300,” doesn’t work for me because it’s the same thing over and over again. But that story would probably work much better as a video game!
Anyway, the sound design for “Resident Evil: Welcome to Raccoon City” is good. And I appreciate the ’90s soundtrack. And though it has some shining moments, like this very cool camera movement from up high to down low in this entry way, the story itself just isn’t very engaging, like you’d expect a Survival Action Horror film to be; instead, it just feels too long. So, I’m rating “Resident Evil: Welcome to Racoon City” a 5 out of 10, and I’m calling this is a Low-priority Redbox rental or a “Stream it on Netflix” in the background while you’re paying bills. If you do watch “Raccoon City” and you’re a Resident Evil fan, stick around for the mid-credits scene.
—— – ——
The Blob (1958) Horror Movie Podcast Review
Hi, this is Jay of the Dead, and my Criterion Blu-ray Horror recommendation is “The Blob” from 1958. Yes, this is the first and original “Blob” film that was supposedly inspired by a 1950 incident where Philadelphia police offers reported the discovery of “a domed disk of quivering jelly.” (Take a minute to Google “Star Jelly” sometime.) I’ll admit, this movie is a little nostalgic for me because it was my first, full-blown exposure as a kid to an entire Horror movie, where my parents allowed me to watch the whole thing. “The Blob” was directed by Irvin S. Yearworth Jr. and starred Steve McQueen. Though it is intentionally campy (you can tell by the opening credits theme song), I believe “The Blob” is an important historical example of the paranoid Sci-Fi Horror films of the 1950s — a decade of fear! We got a lot of monster movies inspired by the traumas of a Second World War, and the arrival of The Nuclear Age. But technically, “The Blob” is your conventional alien movie (but with a non-conventional, non-humanoid-shaped alien) that attacks earthlings.
Set in July of 1957, “The Blob” is about an alien substance that comes out of a meteorite which crashes to the Earth near a small town in Pennsylvania. And the gelatinous ooze consumes people and grows larger with each victim it devours. Watching this movie as an adult, the symbolism is clear that “The Blob” is a monstrous representation of Communism, McCarthyism and The Red Scare of the 1950s (making this film relevant again today), especially since the Blob itself gets larger and redder, the more it spreads and consumes red-blooded Americans. I would also note that when the meteorite first cracks open, the Blob is blue, then clearish white. Then it turns blood red (red, white, and blue, which becomes all red and is all-consuming.) Yes, subtle.
Since “The Blob” is an older film, it is paced much like the Blob itself, which is to say, slow. And there’s a whole lot more dialogue than Blob scenes, unfortunately. But the practical effects and miniature models are quaint and amusing. Also, the ending is hilariously abrupt and convenient. In short, “The Blob” is a perfect “Gateway Horror Film” for young viewers who are intrigued by movies of the macabre. Jay of the Dead rates it a 6.5 out of 10 and thinks “The Blob” (1958) should be in your collection!
—— – ——
Livid (2011) Horror Movie Podcast Review (from The Final Cut: One for the Road)
As your loving host, for each episode I want to leave our listeners with one final Horror movie review. A lot of times these Final Cut movies will be off-beat, out-of-left-field flicks that I’ve always been curious about or found at a $5 movie bin somewhere. So, I can’t promise they will always be recommendations! I always try to avoid reviewing movies that are generally difficult or impossible for most listeners to view or find, but I’m going to make an exception here. For years now, I have been dying to see “Livid,” a French Horror film from 2011. Now, I love these filmmakers, writers and directors Alexandre Bustillo and Julien Maury. Their debut Horror film is called “Inside” (from 2007), and it’s about a psycho lady who is trying to steal the unborn fetus from an expectant mother with a butcher knife! Yikes! And I’m telling you right now, this bloody Horror movie is a 10 out of 10 and a genuine favorite for me and my buddies, Brian “Bashe” and Ash to Ashes from the Kill the Dead Podcast and Rise From the Dead Podcast.
More recently these visionary filmmakers have done “Leatherface” (which was pretty good — I don’t know why everybody hated on it, I mean, come on — it had some necrophilia! — what more do you weirdos want?) and 2021’s “The Deep House,” which started strong but was ultimately underwhelming (and under water) for me. Either way, I appreciate these filmmakers’ approach to Horror, and even if I don’t love one of their films, I get and appreciate where they’re coming from. So, “Livid” (from 2011) was their second film after “Inside.” I guess it was shot in the UK and originally intended to be their English-language debut, but supposedly, they sacrificed and settled for a lower budget to maintain their creative control (which, by the way, I don’t think this film looks low budget). “Livid” did play at a couple of U.S. festivals (and it might have had some U.S. screeners), but as far as I know, this fine Horror film still has not had a U.S. release yet. Shameful.
So, how did I finally get to see it 10 years later?
Well, in 2016, my good friend “MR. Dragon” (I didn’t reveal his awesome first name) tried to help me see “Livid.” He sent it to me on a USB, but I was unable to play it. Then, bless his heart, in 2018 the aforementioned Brian “Bashe” mailed me a Region B Blu-ray of “Livid,” but I did not have a region-free Blu-ray player. Long story short, after 10 years (and three tantalizing years of having this tempting Blu-ray on my shelf from Brian Bashe), I just bought myself a region-free player and watched it with my son, Spawn of the Dead! Typically, I wouldn’t include all of this superfluous context, but I felt like I had to explain why I’m reviewing a film that most of our U.S. listeners still can’t see, and I felt that after the kind and earnest efforts of Mr. Dragon and Brian Bashe, they deserved a review and a shout-out for trying to help me see this film.
Note to people like my friend, Ron Martin, from the nearly 400-episode, monster Horror show, The Resurrection of Zombie 7 podcast: The main action in “Livid” takes place on Halloween night! But here’s the real reason I’ve wanted to see this film for so long. Check out this premise: A young health care worker receives training on how to properly care for the bedfast, comatose, invalid old woman, Mrs. Jessel, when she learns that the wealthy Mrs. Jessel supposedly has a treasure hidden somewhere inside her home. So, the young nurse and her ne’er-do-well friends need money and rationalize that it will be a so-called “victimless crime,” if they break into Mrs. Jessel’s home and look for the treasure to steal it.
Well, the film is called “Livid,” so you do the math with Roger Ebert’s famous “Law of Economy of Characters.” I don’t want to reveal any more, but I will tell you, even though this film isn’t necessarily situated inside my favorite Horror sub-genre, “Livid” is beautiful and CREEPY. There are some really cool concepts here, and it’s executed pretty well. But for you gore hounds, if you love a movie like the Hong Kong slasher film, “Dream Home” (2010) — where the kills are so realistic, it looks like people actually died to make the movie — there are two similarly impressive and convincing gore scenes in “Livid” that are worth the price of admission!
Overall, it wasn’t quite as scary or satisfying as I had hoped after all those years of anticipation, but it’s definitely a better-than-average Horror film. So, if you ever have a chance to catch up with the French Horror film, “Livid,” from 2011, perhaps through a Region B Blu-ray player, then I can definitely recommend it: 7.5 out of 10. I’m calling it a “buy it”! —Jay of the Dead
Jay of the Dead here. Mister Watson BUSTED me, ha ha, and informed me that I posted Gillman Joel’s Horror Lagoon segment review for “Horrorvision” a SECOND TIME for this episode… The previous time was just in Episode 186.
So, I messed up. Epic fail. And I’m sorry, Joel. ha ha (I can’t give you grief anymore for reviewing “Ozone” twice on here for Horror Lagoon. What I did was way worse. ha ha)
In my limited defense, “Horrorvision” did seem familiar to me, but I assumed that was because Joel releases these segments on Mom & Pop Video Shop right after he records them, so I guess I just assumed that’s why it was familiar to me. ha ha Or I’m going senile at 50… -J