BLOOD FEAST (1963) d. H.G. Lewis (USA)
TWO THOUSAND MANIACS (1964) d. H.G. Lewis (USA)
COLOR ME BLOOD RED (1965) d. H.G. Lewis (USA)

Herschell Gordon Lewis' "Blood Trilogy" — Blood Feast (1963), Two Thousand Maniacs! (1964), and Color Me Blood Red (1965) — revolutionized the horror genre by introducing explicit gore and shocking violence, laying the foundation for the splatter film subgenre.

With their graphic depictions of mutilation and taboo subjects, these films were groundbreaking in their raw and unrestrained approach. Dubbed "The Godfather of Gore," Lewis' work not only influenced future exploitation/slasher films and filmmakers, but also shaped the blood 'n' guts themes that became key elements of modern horror cinema.

Tonight, AC and his splatter-loving panel (Anna Maurya, Nicola McCafferty, Ernie Rockelman, Chris Wylie) honor this low-budget master of the macabre, and the notorious trio of films that launched a million buckets of Karo syrup!
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ANNA MAURYA is a film fan stuck in Ohio. They have been a guest on Raiders of the Podcast, a contributor to Hidden Horror, and they generally dislike writing about themselves in the third person.

NICOLA MCCAFFERTY is a PhD candidate in the department of Radio, Television, and Film at Northwestern University whose current research focuses on how screen representations of nonhuman women (think mannequins, cyborgs, and humanoid aliens) help us gain insights into the categories of both humanity and femininity. Outside of grad school, Nicola has a few stray bylines at Dread Central and runs an Etsy store ( https://www.etsy.com/shop/vvitchroom/?etsrc=sdt%29 ) where she sells enamel pins, stickers, and prints inspired by horror and cult films from the 1960s to today.

ERNIE ROCKELMAN is an educator and writer who began covering genre cinema for HorrorHound magazine in 2019. His piece, “Black Horror,” earned him the Rondo Hatton Award for “Article of the Year” in 2021. Ernie’s writing can also be found in Fangoria and Monster-Mania Magazine.

CHRIS WYLIE runs the monthly Deep Cuts Horror Trivia Nights in Chicago (with his equally charming wife).
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Keep Searching, Keep Exploring, and, most of all, Keep Sharing the Scare!

ONIBABA (1964) d. Kaneto Shindo (Japan)
KWAIDAN (1964) d. Masaki Kobayashi (Japan)

Tonight, we discuss the 1964 Japanese horror classics Onibaba and Kwaidan, exploring their reflections of post-war Japanese society, folklore, and complex themes of fear and morality.

Set in feudal Japan, Onibaba sees two women surviving by killing samurai and selling their armor. Blending psychological terror, supernatural elements, and an ominous, demonic mask, writer/director Kaneto Shindo (Kuroneko) uses stark black-and-white cinematography to examine the horrifying consequences of betrayal, lust, and murder.

In Kwaidan, director Masaki Kobayashi (Hara-Kiri) presents four traditional ghost stories based on Lafcadio Hearn's writings. Using visually striking and atmospheric cinematography, this epic Japanese anthology horror film delivers eerie tales of the uncanny, featuring vengeful spirits, mythical creatures, and haunting folklore.

Join AC and his awesome panel of guests (Christianne Benedict, Jon Kitley, John McDevitt, Jen Olson, Lee Price) as they analyze how these two films combine historical context and haunting imagery to create timeless works of horror that continue to resonate with audiences today.
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CHRISTIANNE BENEDICT is a cartoonist, film writer, malcontent, and Bloginatrix at https://krelllabs.blogspot.com

JON KITLEY has been running his website, Kitley's Krypt for 25 years. He's a columnist for HorrorHound magazine, a co-host on the Discover the Horror podcast, and attends multiple conventions and all-night horror movie marathons at the drive-in theaters! https://kitleyskrypt.com/

JOHN MCDEVITT is a lifelong cinephile who programs two recurring film events in Chicago: SUPER-HORROR-RAMA!, a weekly horror gathering with film screenings at Sideshow Gelato, and Fetish Film Forum, a monthly screening series about fetish, kink, leather, and BDSM at the Leather Archives & Museum. John is fascinated by all genres of cinema and appreciates horror most of all for its willingness to explore what makes us uncomfortable and for the compassion it often extends to its characters and the viewer.

JENNIFER OLSON is a lifelong horror fan and mother of three monster kids. She is a former member of The Flint Horror Con, and currently part of the Synapse Films street team!

LEE PRICE is dedicated to preserving and celebrating our history, culture, and monster movies through his work with the Conservation Center for Art & Historic Artifacts and freelance writing. Occasional guest blogger at “Wonders in the Dark.” https://wondersinthedark.wordpress.com/
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Keep Searching, Keep Exploring, and, most of all, Keep Sharing the Scare!

THE TEXAS CHAIN SAW MASSACRE (1974) d. Tobe Hooper (USA)

In 1973, Tobe Hooper and a group of young actors and technicians ventured out in to the Texas wilderness to shoot a low-budget horror film that would go on to become one of the greatest landmark cinematic achievements in history.

THE TEXAS CHAIN SAW MASSACRE was a smash hit upon its release the following year and has not lost any of its ability to shock and terrify and influence other filmmakers over the ensuing five decades.

In the studio with AC to chat about this watershed motion picture are a trio of celebrated authors and podcasters: S. A. Bradley, author of Screaming for Pleasure and creator of the Hellbent for Horror podcast, Jon Kitley of Kitley's Krypt and HorrorHound Magazine, and freelance writer Aaron AuBuchon, who co-hosts (along with Mr. Kitley) the Discover the Horror podcast.

Please join us as we explore the project's troubled genesis, its even more storied release, and its lasting power on the eve of Dark Sky Films' breathtaking UHD 4K double disc release for home video, complete with four commentary tracks, three documentaries, interviews with the cast and crew, and a conversation between Hooper and kindred spirit William Friedkin (The Exorcist).
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AARON AUBUCHON is a film professor and writer, and also an editor, director, motion graphics artist and producer. He is also co-host of the Discover the Horror podcast. https://discoverthehorror.com/

S.A. BRADLEY hosts the “Hellbent for Horror” podcast https://hellbentforhorror.com/, is the author of “Screaming for Pleasure: How Horror Makes You Happy and Healthy,” and lectured at Webster University and The College of Idaho. His show, “My Horror Manifesto,” played in NYC.

JON KITLEY has been running his website, Kitley's Krypt for 25 years. He's a columnist for HorrorHound magazine, a co-host on the Discover the Horror podcast, and attends multiple conventions and all-night horror movie marathons at the drive-in theaters!
https://kitleyskrypt.com/
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Keep Searching, Keep Exploring, and, most of all, Keep Sharing the Scare!