Considering Horror Cinema Ep. 060: Suspiria (1977) and Suspiria (2018) with Dave Z

Posted on August 17, 2022 by producer

Happy birthday, Mister Watson! Thank you to Dave “Dr. Shock” Becker for holding down the fort and keeping this feed alive with his releases of The DVD Infatuation Podcast. Considering the Cinema and its alter ego, Considering Horror Cinema, are finally back after a long hiatus. So, for EEpisode 0060 here, Jay of the Dead invites special guest Dave Zee of The Exploding Heads Horror Movie Podcast and The Wat-Zee Party Horror Show to join him for in-depth Feature Reviews to consider the merits of Dario Argento’s Suspiria (1977) and the remake Suspiria (2018). This episode is dedicated to our friend, Mister Watson, so we also bring you various comments and anecdotes about the 38-year-old man himself! Join us!

If you’re a huge Horror fan, you can view all of Jay’s HORROR ONLY episodes at Considering HORROR Cinema.com. Jay of the Dead also hosts a WEEKLY HORROR MOVIE PODCAST with Mister Watson and Projectile Varmint at Horror Movie Weekly.com. And of course, every Horror fan should check out Jay of the Dead’s New Horror Movies, The Gold Standard of Horror Movie Podcasts.

Thanks for listening to Considering the Cinema Podcast and Considering Horror Cinema, The Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde of Movie Podcasting… Don’t forget: You can email Jay at ConsideringTheCinema@gmail.com or post a comment in the show notes for this episode. Continue reading →

Considering Horror Cinema Ep. 041: SAW Franchise Review With BillChete and Lady Phantom

Posted on November 26, 2020 by producer

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Happy Thanksgiving today! In this epic and monumental episode, Jay of the Dead brings you his Thanksgiving Special for Considering the Cinema and Considering Horror Cinema, The Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde of Movie Podcasting. Here in Episode 041, your late-night Horror host welcomes special guests BillChete and Lady Phantom from Horror Movie Weekly and Movies in 4K. During this show, you will hear reviews of Saw (2004), Saw II (2005), Saw III (2006), Saw IV (2007), Saw V (2008), Saw VI (2009), Saw 3D (2010) and Jigsaw (2017).

If you’re a huge Horror fan, you can view all of Jay’s HORROR ONLY episodes at Considering HORROR Cinema.com. Jay of the Dead also hosts a WEEKLY HORROR MOVIE PODCAST with BillChete and Lady Phantom at Horror Movie Weekly.com. Thanks for listening to Considering the Cinema Podcast and Considering Horror Cinema, The Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde of Movie Podcasting… Don’t forget: You can email Jay at ConsideringTheCinema@gmail.com or post a comment in the show notes for this episode. Continue reading →

Considering Horror Cinema Ep. 040: Halloween Special – Zombies and Witches with Kyle Bishop and Ron Martin

Posted on October 31, 2020 by producer

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Happy Halloween! It’s 2020 — one of the scariest years in a long time. And welcome to Jay of the Dead’s Halloween Special for Considering the Cinema and Considering Horror Cinema, The Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde of Movie Podcasting. Here in Episode 040, your late-night Horror host welcomes guest host Kyle Bishop (aka “Dr. Walking Dead”). Jay and Kyle talk about the obsessive need to classify movies in genre. They also discuss the appearance of cartoons in live-action Horror movies, and they bring you a Feature Review of the South Korean Action Horror Zombie flick, Train to Busan (2016). During this review, Kyle extols the virtues of the train narrative. Then Jay gives a mini review of Train to Busan presents… Peninsula (2020).

Later in this episode, Jay is joined by special guest host, podcaster, ghost hunter and author Ron Martin, host of The Resurrection of Zombie 7 horror podcast and Salem 1692 Podcast. Ron discusses the dark history of Salem, Massachusetts, and his new book, “Discover Salem.” They also review a non-witch movie called The Witch in the Window (2018). Note: The jack o’ lantern photo in the episode artwork is courtesy of Emily Stewart. Also, don’t forget to vote on Nov. 3, 2020!

Considering Horror Cinema Ep. 038: Bullets of Justice (2020) and Exhibit A (2007) with Reel Talk: A Movie Podcast

Posted on October 15, 2020 by producer

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There’s no better time to enjoy some Pig-Headed Horror than in October! Happy Halloween Month! In Episode 038 of Considering Horror Cinema, your late-night Horror host Jay of the Dead brings you a solocast Feature Review of a brand-new Grindhouse-Exploitation, Sci-Fi, Action-Horror movie called Bullets of Justice (2020), a film that Jay refers to as his second-guiltiest, Guilty Pleasure movie. Then Jay welcomes his podcasting “buddies” — Wes Jones, Tommy Wood and Gabe Conway — the esteemed hosts of Reel Talk: A Movie Podcast to help him review Exhibit A (2007), a disturbing Found Footage flick that Jay calls a Third-Act Horror Film. Of necessity, that review contains major plot spoilers for the film. Join us!

Considering Horror Cinema Ep. 037: The Wat-Zee Party Horror Show and Beware: Children at Play (1989)

Posted on October 10, 2020 by producer

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Happy Halloween Month! It’s October of 2020, and your late-night Horror host Jay of the Dead invites some veteran Horror podcasters to help him with Considering Horror Cinema here in Episode 037. Jay welcomes the esteemed hosts of The Wat-Zee Party Horror Show (of the Horrorphilia Network), Mister Watson and Dave Zee, the latter also being a host on the Exploding Heads Horror Podcast. Jay invited Mister Watson and Dave Zee to join him for a Feature Review of a bizarre, Evil Kid Movie, Beware: Children at Play (1989), which is a Troma production, no less. Thanks to listener and friend, Adam in Chicago, for this odd recommendation!

Jay of the Dead takes to time to get to know these two guests, their podcasting lineage, and their favorite Horror movies. (You might be surprised to hear Mister Watson’s all-time favorite Horror movie…) You can also learn about some of the history of the Horrorphilia Network and some of its interesting Horror podcasts. Jay spends the first 30 minutes or so interviewing Mister Watson and Dave Zee, and it feels like friends chatting at a Halloween party. Join us!

Considering Horror Cinema Ep. 031: The Rental (2020) and The Pool (2019)

Posted on July 29, 2020 by producer

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Jay returns to the movie theater for the first time in 141 days (nearly five months)! To celebrate, in Episode 031 of Considering Horror Cinema, your late-night Horror host Jason Pyles (aka “Jay of the Dead”) brings you two feature reviews of The Rental (2020) and the Thai Survival Horror Beastly Freak flick The Pool (2019). Be advised, you could play a drinking game with how many times Jay of the Dead uses the word “egregious” while reviewing “The Pool.” Jay also recounts his experience of returning to the theater.

If you’re a huge Horror fan, you can view all of Jay’s HORROR ONLY episodes at Considering HORROR Cinema.com. Jay of the Dead also hosts a WEEKLY HORROR PODCAST with BillChete and Lady Phantom at Horror Movie Weekly.com. Thanks for listening to Considering the Cinema Podcast and Considering Horror Cinema, The Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde of Movie Podcasting… Don’t forget: You can email Jay at ConsideringTheCinema@gmail.com or post a comment in the show notes for this episode. Continue reading →

Considering Horror Cinema Ep. 030: The Cured (2018) and Four Zombie Short Films With Dr. Walking Dead Kyle Bishop

Posted on June 27, 2020 by producer

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Like brains? Then you’ll love listening to special guest Kyle Bishop (aka Dr. Walking Dead) because he’s very smart about zombie cinema. In Episode 030 of Considering Horror Cinema, your late-night Horror host Jason Pyles (aka “Jay of the Dead”) and Kyle Bishop review The Cured (2018) and four zombie short films: Zombies V The CWA (2019) and The Last Taxi Driver (2018) and Still (2016) and Zombied (2019). You will hear Dr. Walking Dead’s take on our current predicament with this global pandemic COVID-19. Jay and Kyle also muse about whether the zombie can help us through our world’s apocalyptic outlook. Kyle says zombie films are not a genre. And he also discusses why a short film is not a short story. A short story is a regular movie. And a novel is equivalent to a series. Jay also brings you his first installment of his What Monsters Mean series as he and Kyle discuss What Zombies Mean. Join us!

And if you’re a huge Horror fan, you can view all of Jay’s HORROR ONLY episodes at Considering HORROR Cinema.com. Jay of the Dead also hosts a WEEKLY Horror movie podcast with BillChete and Lady Phantom at Horror Movie Weekly.com. Thanks for listening to Considering the Cinema Podcast and Considering Horror Cinema, The Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde of Movie Podcasting… Don’t forget: You can email Jay at ConsideringTheCinema@gmail.com or post a comment in the show notes for this episode. Continue reading →

Considering Horror Cinema Ep. 028: Jody Horror Guy and The Gray Man’s Film Challenge: Three Decades of Theatrical Horror (1990 – 2019)

Posted on June 1, 2020 by producer

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In a recent episode, your late-night Horror host Jason Pyles (aka “Jay of the Dead”) received a voicemail from The Gray Man in Ohio, describing a remarkable film challenge that he completed with his buddy, Jody Horror Guy, of the Reel Blood Podcast Network. So, here in Episode 028 of Considering Horror Cinema, Jay of the Dead interviews Jody Horror Guy and Greg “The Gray Man” Bensch about their impressive Film Challenge: Three Decades of Theatrical Horror (1990 – 2019).

Anytime cinephiles complete a film challenge out of pure love of cinema (such as Dr. Shock’s 2,500 Movies Challenge), it’s worth admiring and hearing about how it was accomplished and what they learned from the journey. In Jody and Greg’s challenge, they watched a total of 972 Horror movies that were released theatrically over 30 years in the United States between 1990 and 2019. So, Jay of the Dead asks these intrepid film fans some logistical questions about how they pulled this off and which of the 972 Horror films were most notable. See Greg and Jody’s entire 972 Horror Film List on Letterboxd. Thank you to Jody Horror Guy and Greg “The Gray Man” Bensch for agreeing to share their experience while Considering Horror Cinema. Join us!

Considering Horror Cinema Ep. 026: What Has Been Hiding in My Attic

Posted on May 18, 2020 by producer

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Don’t whiz on the Sacred Ancestral Tree! Good advice. Anybody who has been listening to Jay of the Dead’s podcasts for awhile knows that there is often content that was recorded months (or even years!) previously before it ever sees the light of day. But that content does eventually get released!

In Episode 026 of Considering Horror Cinema, your late-night Horror host Jason Pyles (aka “Jay of the Dead”) is finally revealing the podcast recordings that have been hiding in his attic! All the reviews in this episode were recorded in 2019. This episode has the longest review ever committed to the film 976-Evil (1989), as Jay of the Dead discusses it with Greg “The Gray Man” Bensch. (It’s about an hour long.) Then Jay does a 75-minute deep-dive discussion of Midsommar (2019) with the oracle Jody Horror Guy (of the Reel Blood Podcast Network) and his unclouded intuition. Jay also gripes a little about the term “Folk Horror” and goes on a lot about the scariest disease ever, Munchausen syndrome by proxy. Jay also brings you solocast reviews of BrightBurn (2019) and The Intruder (2019) and The Perfection (2019) and Friend Request (2017) and The Hunted (2014) and Basement Jack (2009).

Considering Horror Cinema Ep. 014: The Top 10 Horror Movies of the 2010s Decade

Posted on December 27, 2019 by producer

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What are the Top 10 Horror Movies of the 2010s Decade? Your late-night Horror host, Jay of the Dead, has invited two Horror podcasting legends to help him bring you three lists that will give you the best of the best in Horror cinema from 2010 through 2019. In Episode 014 of Considering Horror Cinema, Jay welcomes The Southern Gentleman GregaMortis from Land of the Creeps horror podcast and the Ghost Hunter Ron Martin from The Resurrection of Zombie 7 horror podcast.

In addition to bringing you our Top 10 lists (which don’t have much overlap, by the way), we also bring you our Horror Honorable Mentions of the 2010s Decade, which would constitute 11 through 15 on our lists, as well as a reflection on the overall decade as we bring you The Best Thing That Happened to Horror in the 2010s and The Worst Thing That Happened to Horror in the 2010s.

This episode is dedicated to Dave “Dr. Shock” Becker.

Thanks for listening to Considering the Cinema Podcast and Considering Horror Cinema, The Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde of Movie Podcasting… Continue reading →

Considering Horror Cinema Ep. 013: Jay of the Dead’s Top 10 Horror Movies of 2019

Posted on December 24, 2019 by producer

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Merry Christmas! After a long, four-month hiatus, your favorite late-night Horror host Jay of the Dead is back with a vengeance in Episode 013 of Considering Horror Cinema. During this epic episode, you will hear Jay of the Dead’s Top 10 Horror Movies of 2019 with help from special guest Lady Phantom of Horror Movie Weekly.com. You will also hear Jay’s Horror Honorable Mentions of 2019, The Most Disturbing Movie Jay Saw in 2019, Horror Guilty Pleasure of 2019, 2019’s Pleasant Surprises / Better Than Expected, Most Overrated Horror Movies of 2019, Biggest Disappointment / Heartbreaks in 2019 Horror, Jay’s Personal Least Favorite Horror Movie of 2019, and a few of our Most Anticipated Horror Movies of 2020.

And releasing very soon in Episode 014: The Top 10 Horror Movies of the 2010s Decade with GregaMortis and Ron Martin. Thanks for listening to Considering the Cinema Podcast and Considering Horror Cinema, The Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde of Movie Podcasting… Continue reading →

Considering Horror Cinema Ep. 011: Horrors From the Past Resurface in the Present

Posted on July 25, 2019 by producer

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Here’s an episode for Slasher fans… In Episode 011 of Considering Horror Cinema, your late-night Horror host, Jay of the Dead brings you a 10 out of 10-rated Horror movie, a modern Slasher from Hong Kong by Pang Ho-cheung, called Dream Home (2011). Buy it sight unseen, if you love Slashers and gore films. This episode also features a little bit of a scandal in which Jay reissues an excerpted interview from BillChete’s Horror on the Go, when BillChete interviewed Jay of the Dead during a 2015 debate about Horror Genre Classification. (Listen to the episode for more explanation, but in short, Jay is still trying to get in touch with BillChete to get him on this show and figured this might be a good way.) But to be clear, the content of the interview belongs entirely to BillChete and Horror on the Go.

Don’t forget to subscribe for free, so you don’t miss a special July 30 surprise release, as well as the Movie Podcast Weekly hosts appearing as guests on Considering the Cinema to review “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood” with Jason. Also, you won’t want to miss this year’s two upcoming “Best of the Decades” shows: Top 10 Horror Movies of the 2010s Decade — and — Top 10 Movies of the 2010s (all genre), slated for late December, early January releases, respectively. Both of these episodes will include panels of guest hosts who will join Jay to bring you the very best of the 2010s decade. These shows will be FREE and only available here through Considering the Cinema Podcast.

Thanks for listening to Considering the Cinema Podcast and Considering Horror Cinema, The Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde of Movie Podcasting… Don’t forget: You can call the new voicemail number at (801) 215-9704 or email Jay at ConsideringTheCinema@gmail.com or post a comment in the show notes for this episode. Continue reading →

Considering Horror Cinema Ep. 010: Trapped Among Beasts Within — A Beastly Freaks Special

Posted on July 17, 2019 by producer

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Ready for a Beastly Freaks Special Episode? Hope so. For Episode 010 of Considering Horror Cinema, your late-night Horror host, Jay of the Dead, brings you reviews of Horror movies where victims are Trapped Among Beasts Within! First Jay reviews Alexandre Aja’s new, widespread, creature feature theater release, Crawl (2019), followed by thematically related reviews of Burning Bright (2010) and Bait (2012), as well as some killer croc / killer alligator mini reviews. Jay will also announce the winner of the free Blu-ray of Dead Silence (2007)!

Also, don’t forget to subscribe for free, so you don’t miss this year’s two upcoming “Best of the Decades” shows: Top 10 Horror Movies of the 2010s Decade — and — Top 10 Movies of the 2010s (all genre), slated for late December, early January releases, respectively. Both of these episodes will include panels of guest hosts who will join Jay to bring you the very best of the 2010s decade. These shows will be FREE and only available here through Considering the Cinema Podcast.

Thanks for listening to Considering the Cinema Podcast and Considering Horror Cinema, The Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde of Movie Podcasting… Don’t forget: You can call the new voicemail number at (801) 215-9704 or email Jay at ConsideringTheCinema@gmail.com or post a comment in the show notes for this episode. Continue reading →

Considering Horror Cinema Ep. 009: Child’s Play (2019), Annabelle Comes Home (2019) and an Interview With Ghost Hunter Ross Allison

Posted on June 29, 2019 by producer

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Do you own any creepy dolls, or are you in the market for one? You had better listen to this episode of Considering Horror Cinema first… In Episode 009, your late-night Horror host, Jay of the Dead, brings you reviews of Child’s Play (2019) and Annabelle Comes Home (2019). You’ll also hear a great interview from paranormal researcher and ghost hunter Ross Allison. Jay responds to a listener voicemail from Andrew in West Virginia, and you can also find out how to qualify to win a free Blu-ray of Dead Silence (2007). Thanks for listening to Considering the Cinema Podcast and Considering Horror Cinema, The Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde of Movie Podcasting…

Thanks for listening and Considering Horror Cinema! And don’t forget: You can call the new voicemail number at (801) 215-9704 or email Jay at ConsideringTheCinema@gmail.com or post a comment in the show notes for this episode. Continue reading →

Considering Horror Cinema Ep. 008: The Decline to Vulnerability and the Descent Into Victimhood

Posted on June 23, 2019 by producer

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This special edition of Considering Horror Cinema comes to you from Daytona Beach and Orlando, Florida! (That means this episode was recorded “in the field” while traveling, so please pardon the reduced audio quality.) During Episode 008, your late-night Horror host, Jay of the Dead, brings you a franchise review of When a Stranger Calls (1979) and its sequel, When a Stranger Calls Back (1993). You will also hear Jay’s theory that he calls The Decline to Vulnerability and the Descent Into Victimhood. And to illustrate this theory, Jay analyze’s the narrative of Wes Craven’s The Hills Have Eyes (1977). And Jay concludes this episode with a tribute to his inspiration for Horror podcasting. Thanks for listening to Considering the Cinema Podcast and Considering Horror Cinema, The Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde of Movie Podcasting…

Considering Horror Cinema Ep. 007: The Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde of Movie Podcasting

Posted on June 4, 2019 by producer

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Happy June, and welcome to another episode of Considering the Cinema Podcast. Episode 007 is a short Considering Horror Cinema show, where your late-night Horror host, Jay of the Dead, introduces the very first edition of a specialty segment titled, Jay of the Dead’s Zombie Hive! The zombie movie under review for this segment is The ReZort (2015).

Also in Episode 007, Jay of the Dead teases some very exciting episodes coming up on the Considering the Cinema Podcast, including two incredible “Best of the Decades” shows: Top 10 Horror Movies of the 2010s Decade — and — Top 10 Movies of the 2010s (all genres), slated for late December, early January releases, respectively. Both of these episodes will include panels of guest hosts who will join Jay to bring you the very best of the 2010s decade. These shows will be FREE and only available here through Considering the Cinema Podcast, so be sure you subscribe to this feed.

Thanks for listening and Considering Horror Cinema! Don’t forget: You can call my new voicemail number at (801) 215-9704 or email me at ConsideringTheCinema@gmail.com or post a comment in the show notes for this episode. Continue reading →

Considering the Cinema Horror Movie Review: The Perfection (2019)

Posted on May 27, 2019 by producer

By Jay of the Dead

There’s a wild little Horror flick that released on Netflix on May 24, 2019. I got up early and watched it that same morning before going to work. It was getting a lot of buzz, and I agree with what everyone says: Watch it before someone spoils it for you.

Rest assured, I will not spoil “The Perfection” for you, so you can feel completely at ease to finish reading this review, spoiler-free.

“The Perfection” stars Allison Williams (the girlfriend in “Get Out”) as Charlotte, a cellist who took a several-year sabbatical away from her blossoming career, in order to help care for her terminally ill mother. As the film opens, we are at the end of her mother’s life, so Charlotte is ready to return to her elite music conservatory, where another fantastic cellist, Elizabeth (Logan Browning), has stepped into Charlotte’s shoes. At this point in the film, only a few minutes in, we can tell two things: Charlotte obviously feels despondent about the detour her life has taken, and it seems that Elizabeth has taken her rightful place and perhaps all her opportunities.

And that is absolutely all I can reveal about the plot of “The Perfection.” The reason I can’t tell you more is “The Perfection” is full of surprises, twists and turns. It is the type of film that redefines itself as it unfolds, thereby redefining our expectations and conclusions about what it is or what it will become. Continue reading →

Considering the Cinema Horror Movie Review: Brightburn (2019)

Posted on May 27, 2019 by producer

By Jay of the Dead

“It may sound absurd, but don’t be naive
Even heroes have the right to bleed
I may be disturbed, but won’t you concede
Even heroes have the right to dream
And it’s not easy to be me

Up, up and away, away from me
Well, it’s all right, you can all sleep sound tonight
I’m not crazy
Or anything.”
— Superman (It’s Not Easy) by Five for Fighting

I’ve thought about it many times before. Everyone has. What would we do if Superman went on a rampage — and I don’t mean flicking peanuts at whiskey bottles? We’d all be screwed. Sure, Superman’s one weakness is Kryptonite, but who has that lying around? And even if you had some, how would you ever “use it on him”? I mean, Lex Luther is an evil super-genius, and even he’s had trouble applying the ill effects of the glowing green crystals to the Man of Steel.

“Brightburn” has a great premise for a Horror movie. And since we’re in the midst of a tidal wave of superhero movies, I suppose a movie like “Brightburn” was inevitable. In fact, the cinema has been shifting this direction for some time now with all its anti-heroes, super villains and straight-up monsters: “The Punisher,” “Hellboy,” “Watchmen,” “Deadpool,” “Split” and “Glass,” “Suicide Squad,” “Venom,” “Brightburn,” coming soon “Dark Phoenix,” and in October, “Joker.”

Now with movies like “Split,” “Venom,” “Brightburn,” and “Joker,” we have two phenomena that we really haven’t seen very much previously: An evil super villain’s stand-alone origin story, and a comfortable slide down into the darkness of the Horror genre. Continue reading →

Considering the Cinema Horror Movie Review: The Hunted (2013)

Posted on May 26, 2019 by producer

By Jay of the Dead

When a film opens with the phrase, “Based on Actual Events” or something of the like, you can usually dismiss it altogether. We’ve learned over the decades that this typically means there is a kernel of truth that inspired the story.

Writer-director (and star) Josh Stewart was inspired by actual events that he experienced to write “The Hunted” (2013). I’ll come back to this story at the end of the review, but here’s the premise of the movie: Jake (Josh Stewart) is trying to launch a hunting reality TV show, so he travels to the woods of West Virginia with his camera man (Ronnie Gene Blevins) and tries to bag a large buck that’s been eluding hunters. Jake’s plan is to shoot a decent proof-of-concept, pilot episode that he hopes to sell to investors and a network.

But the two TV hosts become increasingly concerned when they keep hearing blood-curdling (and I mean blood-curdling) screams in the darkness of the woods. Is it an injured bobcat? Or is it a wailing ghost woman?

So, what you have here is a Found Footage film that’s in the vein of “The Blair Witch Project” (1999), but even better for my money. (Yes, co-directors Eduardo Sánchez and Daniel Myrick created a historically significant Horror film. Even Roger Ebert listed “The Blair Witch Project” among his “10 Most Influential Films of the Century”!) So, I’m not trying to take anything away from “The Blair Witch Project,” especially since it probably informed “The Hunted.” But 14 years later, we have a film that works even better to me. Continue reading →

Considering the Cinema Horror Movie Review: The Intruder (2019)

Posted on May 26, 2019 by producer

By Jay of the Dead

I know, I know. So much for principles. I caved and saw “The Intruder” (2019), that crazy Dennis Quaid film which I was publicly boycotting seeing in the theater because its marketing department carelessly revealed story beats from all three acts in the trailer. I won’t start ranting about that again, but I knew that trailer depicted the entire film in microcosm, and after seeing it, I was right. Sure enough, the trailer depicts all three acts, so there are very few surprises.

Many if not most modern-day narrative films are divided up into three acts. For “The Intruder,” the act breaks are so distinctive that the film changes genres with each act: The first act is a Drama. The second act becomes a Thriller. And the third act descends into Horror. Really, it’s a very natural progression because “Drama Is Conflict.” And if you escalate and intensify that conflict until it devolves into violence and death, then the tone changes and it becomes Horror. Therefore, my genre classification for “The Intruder” is Drama / Thriller / Horror, in descending order.

Here’s the Premise: Scott and Annie want to move out of the city and find a nice home where they can start a family. Dennis Quaid plays Charlie, a seller who just wants to make sure his beloved home is purchased by a good family. So, the couple buys Charlie’s house, but the only problem is, Charlie doesn’t seem to want to let it go. Continue reading →

Considering Horror Cinema Ep. 006: Taken Children – The Prodigy (2019), The Curse of La Llorona (2019), The Head Hunter (2019)

Posted on May 19, 2019 by producer

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Thanks to a very generous donation by Sean Smith and an inspiring voicemail from Greg “The Gray Man” Bensch, here is an impromptu BONUS episode of Considering Horror Cinema. I am your late-night Horror host, Jay of the Dead, and I have three, brand-new 2019 Horror movies to review for you. Coincidentally, all three films share a common theme of “Taken Children.” That wasn’t planned. It just happened.

During Episode 006, I discuss a notable film that’s a must-see Horror flick this year called The Head Hunter (2019). And I bring you reviews of the wide theater releases, The Prodigy (2019) and The Curse of La Llorona (2019).

For those who join me to consider some Horror cinema, I delve into a few important distinctions. During these reviews I explore the creation of monsters. I also compare and contrast the monstrous motivations of Pamela Voorhees versus those of La Llorona (and why the latter is a problematic character). We’ll also listen to The Gray Man’s voicemail and talk about some 1980s Horror VHS box art. If you dig Horror film criticism, I hope you’ll join me! Thanks for listening. Continue reading →

Considering the Cinema Horror Movie Review: The Curse of La Llorona (2019)

Posted on May 15, 2019 by producer

By Jay of the Dead

Note: If you’d prefer to listen rather than read, here is my audio podcast review. (It starts around the 22-minute mark.)

Before I discuss “The Curse of La Llorona” (2019), I would like to begin this review with a preface about grief-stricken mothers and drowned children. Uplifting, I know. (Oh, and incidentally, for those who don’t speak Spanish, it’s pronounced “La Yo-Roh-Na.”)

Most monsters don’t start out monstrous. They are made monstrous by some terrible experience that happens to them or someone they love. The saddest love songs are always “somebody done somebody wrong” songs. Horror movies are built the same way: Somebody done somebody wrong… Just as vegetation grows out of nutrient-rich volcanic soil, the most potent Horror seems to grow from the fertile aftermath of deep sorrow or deep rage, usually both.

Spoilers for the original “Friday the 13th” (1980) ahead:

All Horror fans know that the slasher killer in the first “Friday the 13th” movie is revealed to be Jason’s mother, Pamela Voorhees. Presumably, she was not always a monster. She only became a monster after her little boy, Jason, drowned in Camp Crystal Lake, due to the negligence of distracted counselors who were too busy “gettin’ busy” to watch her son. Continue reading →

Considering the Cinema Horror Movie Review: The Head Hunter (2019)

Posted on May 9, 2019 by producer

By Jay of the Dead

I am always impressed when filmmakers return back to the basic, fundamental roots of what makes the art of motion pictures so potent. For instance, the well-meaning duo of Danish directors Lars von Trier (“Antichrist,” “The House That Jack Built”) and Thomas Vinterberg created the stringent “Dogme 95 Manifesto” in 1995.

Don’t worry. I won’t launch into a whole big thing, but for those who don’t know: In essence, Dogme 95 dictated that the cinema should be created by using the classic components of story, theme, performance, etc., while eschewing any reliance on the “vulgarity” of special effects or any other modern filmmaking technology. In short, the point was to “get back to the basics,” the bare bones heart of filmmaking, where the director remains free to be an artist without being henpecked by studio interference.

And that odd little preface brings me to a notable 2019 Horror film called “The Head Hunter,” formerly known as “The Head.” (Side note: “The Head Hunter” is an excellent title because its meanings are multi-faceted.) In fact, this film is not just notable for 2019; I would argue that it is also notable for the 2010s decade. “The Head Hunter” was released on April 5, 2019, and it just hit Redbox on May 7. Continue reading →

Considering the Cinema Horror Movie Review: The Prodigy (2019)

Posted on May 8, 2019 by producer

By Jay of the Dead

I have gained a little notoriety for suggesting the notion that I could handily dispatch the nefarious ankle-biters that play the “monsters” of Evil Kid Movies. My good friend, Dave “Dr. Shock” Becker, has often retorted and rebuffed my claims by arguing that evil kids catch their parents unawares, due to a presumption of innocence and harmlessness. (But I don’t care. I still watch my wily offspring with at least one suspicious eye, if not two.)

Dr. Shock’s assertion proves to be correct in “The Prodigy,” an ostensible Evil Kid Movie that was released in theaters on Feb. 8, 2019 (with a respectable, nine-week run, by the way), and then was released on video and at Redbox yesterday, May 7, 2019.

“The Prodigy” was directed by Nicholas McCarthy, a Horror director who also helmed “The Pact” (2012), “At the Devil’s Door” (2014) and the “Easter” segment of “Holidays” (2016). This film was written by Jeff Buhler, who wrote “Insanitarium” (2008), “The Midnight Meat Train” (2008), the “J Is for Jesus” segment of “ABCs of Death 2” (2014) and the most recent “Pet Sematary” (2019) remake. Continue reading →

Considering Horror Cinema Ep. 005: The Monster Problem, $5 Bargain Bin Gas Station Horror Movies, and Weekend Horror VHS Rentals From the Local Video Store

Posted on April 19, 2019 by producer

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Are you a Horror fan? Me too! I used to host three different Horror movie podcasts, so I love to explore this powerful genre and its many sub-genres. Therefore, some of my Considering the Cinema episodes are going to be dedicated to focusing solely on Considering Horror Cinema! So, Episode 005 is a long-form show, and it is entirely dedicated to exploring the Horror genre. And while I am expecting Horror fans to enjoy this episode, I am also hopeful that people who are typically non-Horror fans will also give it a listen. Above all, my underlying passion is always the cinema and film criticism. If you feel the same way, I still think you’ll enjoy your time Considering Horror Cinema with me. This is a solo podcast for people who don’t typically like solocasts…

In Episode 005, your host Jason Pyles (aka Horror moniker “Jay of the Dead”) will discuss “The Monster Problem,” video rental store nostalgia and looking for Horror movie gems in the $5 bargain bins at truck stops and gas stations. And to help me reminisce about video store nostalgia, the Gillman Joel Robertson of Horror Movie Podcast, Retro Movie Geek and Universal Monsters Cast appears as a guest contributor! I will also bring you Feature Reviews of I Trapped the Devil (2019), Jordan Peele’s Us (2019), Sole Survivor (1984) on VHS, and for some reason, Camp Death III in 2D (2019). You will also get to hear two of my three specialty segments, Jay of the Dead’s Beastly Freaks, when I’ll review Night Wolf (2012), and Jay of the Dead’s Perishable Predicament, when I review a Survival Horror film called Thirst (2010).

You are welcome to call my new voicemail number at (801) 215-9704 or email me at ConsideringTheCinema@gmail.com or post a comment. Be sure to join me for my upcoming Episode 006, when I bring you a recap of the 2019 movies I’ve seen from January through April! Join me! Continue reading →