Podcasts
‘Batman: Mask of the Phantasm’: The First (and Only?) Batman Slasher Film [Horror Queers Podcast]
Does Batman fuck?
After kicking off December with a proper holiday horror film in Michael Dougherty’s Krampus, we’re now moving on to a film released on Christmas Eve in the first (and only?) Batman slasher film, Batman: Mask of the Phantasm!
The film sees the troubled yet heroic Batman (Kevin Conroy) pitted against The Phantasm, a mysterious figure who is rubbing out Gotham City’s most dangerous criminals, and who many believe is the caped crusader himself. Batman’s alter ego, millionaire Bruce Wayne, is about to get married to the lovely Andrea Beaumont (Dana Delany), who helps him recover from his need to avenge his parents’ murder — meaning that his crime-fighting days may be numbered. To add to the mayhem, the unpredictable Joker (Mark Hamill) has an unexpected connection to the Phantasm.
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Episode 103 – Batman: Mask of the Phantasm (1993)
Our Angel of Death awaits as we enter the dark streets of Gotham City to discuss the first (and only?) Batman slasher film Batman: Mask of the Phantasm! Joining us for the discussion is film/comics writer (and all-around swell gal) Lindsay Traves!
We’ll delve into the film’s rushed production and failure at the box office. Joe compares the Bruce/Andrea romance to a similar one in On Her Majesty’s Secret Service and Lindsay gives her reading on the romantic (or sexual?) relationship between Batman and the Joker.
We’ll also highlight the importance of having an openly gay actor (Kevin Conroy) voice one of the world’s most iconic superheroes, lament the inherent gatekeep-iness of comics and have a grand ol’ time pitching the live-action casting of Andrea Beaumont.
Plus, Joker = horror (and plenty of Mark Hamill praise), balaclavas vs. bolas, Tia Carrere, and Trace confesses one of his incredibly embarrassing high school horror stories. Oh, and masturbating to video game characters, because why not?
Cross out Batman: Mask of the Phantasm.
Coming up on Wednesday: We’re getting festive with a discussion of toxic masculinity in openly gay director Chris Peckover’s 2016 Christmas horror comedy Better Watch Out.
– Joe & Trace
P.S. Subscribe to our Patreon for tons of additional content! This month we’ll have episodes on Brandon Cronenberg’s Possessor and Christopher Landon’s Freaky, and we’ll have an audio commentary on Deadly Games (aka Dial Code: Santa Claus), which is currently streaming on Shudder.
Here at Halloweenies, we love practical effects—there’s a reason why one of our categories is called “Great Graphics.” Well, consider this a full-length “Great Graphics” episode, where we talk to the effects team behind the titular puppet of Pinocchio Unstrung, in theaters this Friday. As the latest installment in the Twisted Childhood Universe, Pinocchio ups the franchise’s game by featuring a villain that’s entirely practical, created with a stunning mix of animatronics and, of course, puppetry.
So, take a seat at the workbench for a spirited interview between Halloweenie co-host Dan Caffrey and MASTERS FX President and Founder (and special effects legend in his own right) Todd Masters, Pinnochio Lead artist and Designer Kiana Larson, and Lead Animatronics Joshua Raymond. Learn how they pulled off such a dazzling and terrifying puppet, where they think the effects industry is headed, the movies that made them want to be FX artists, a few tidbits of Nightmare On Elm Street history, and more.
Pinocchio himself might even pop by for an appearance.
Stream the episode below and get tickets now for Pinocchio Unstrung. New to the Halloweenies? Catch up with the gang by revisiting their essential episodes on past franchises such as Halloween, A Nightmare on Elm Street, Friday the 13th, Scream, The Evil Dead, Chucky, Alien, and Universal Monsters. This year? Hellraiser AND The Omen.
You can also become a member of their Patreon, The Rewind, for hilariously irreverent commentaries (e.g. The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, Gremlins, Child’s Play) and one-off deep dives on your favorite rentals (e.g. Saw, 28 Days Later, Manhunter, Near Dark). Each month promises something new and unexpected from the wildest corners of the genre.
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