Podcasts
Before ‘Scream 2’, ‘Demons’ Got Meta in the Aisles [Halloweenies Podcast]
Before the Halloweenies head to Hollywood in August for Scream 3, they have some film courses to complete this summer at Windsor College. In June, they visited Mark Rosman’s 1982 American slasher The House on Sorority Row. For July, they’re conjuring Demons.
More specifically, Lamberto Bava’s 1985 Italian meta blood bath. Fueled by a star-studded ’80s soundtrack and Sergio Stivaletti’s gory effects, this stylish slice of suspense tears the celluloid in half — literally. It’s a rollercoaster of a rental that redefined pop horror forever.
For the latest installment of this season’s Randy’s Recs, which finds the Halloweenies dissecting a film that inspired the Scream franchise, the gang leaves little blood on the floor. Like the best students, they cross their t’s and dot their i’s as they hit the proverbial books.
Together, they discuss the differences between Bava and producer Dario Argento’s style, the complicated history behind the “sequels” of Demons, Stivaletti’s outstanding practical effects, the shocking mid-credits ending, and Cluadio Simonetti’s top-tier score.
So, drop that popcorn, hop on this display motorbike, and join the gang now via iTunes/Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, Spotify, RadioPublic, Acast, Google Podcasts, and RSS.
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, and Friday the 13th. You can also become a member of their Patreon for hilarious commentaries and one-off episodes.
On the DL.
After spending June on explicitly queer texts like Emerald Fennell’s Saltburn (listen) and William Castle’s Homicidal (listen), it’s only appropriate that Horror Queers celebrate the American holiday with a blockbuster film with a not-so-secret gay connection.
In Independence Day, an unlikely group of people come together when the human race faces extinction from a threatening alien race. After spaceships destroy every major city, pilot Steven Hiller (Will Smith) must team up with secret tech genius David Levinson (Jeff Goldblum), as well as the US President (Bill Pullman), to execute a daring plan to save the planet from annihilation.
Along for the ride are the two saviors’ romantic partners – WH Communications Director Constance (Margaret Colin) and stripper Jasmine (Vivica A. Fox) – plus eccentric scientist Dr. Okun (Brent Spiner), who is at the center of the film’s most horrific set piece.
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Episode 393: Independence Day (1996)
Today, we celebrate our Independence Day…courtesy of gay German director Roland Emmerich.
As the summer blockbuster celebrates its 30th anniversary, we’re looking back on an alien disaster film that scared young Trace (thanks to that alien autopsy scene) and turned Will Smith into a star.
Plus: the death that upsets the most; bemoaning Vivica A. Fox’s career; pondering what could have been with the casting; why Smith’s bravado and the film’s patriotism doesn’t always work for Joe; and plenty of riffing on the atrocious sequel.
Cross out Independence Day!
Coming Up Next: We’re retreating to the country for some questionable therapy courtesy of Joe Dante’s 1981 classic, The Howling!
P.S. Subscribe to our Patreon for over 503 hours of Patreon content including this month’s new episodes on Terminator 2: Judgment Day, Forbidden Fruits, Saccharine, Evil Dead Burn, an audio commentary on the utterly ridiculous sequel Howling II: Your Sister Is A Werewolf (1985), and the conclusion of our Requel Tier coverage of AMC’s The Vampire Lestat.