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6This Week's Podcast:
Welcome Antidote for the Commonplace Podcast.
New to the Dark Discussions Podcast Network is the Antidote for the Commonplace Podcast.
More genre news and discussion! Now part of the Dark Discussions Podcast feed!
Episode 099 - Daniel Suarez's Daemon and Freedom(TM)
Daniel Suarez is someone you need to know about. Computer businessman turned author, Suarez is the composer of some of the most frightening techno-thriller novels ever. Still fairly new on the scene and with only three books under his belt, his first two novels, Daemon and Freedom(TM), were a two part epic story of horror that takes Michael Crichton and Scott Sigler traits into the world of the internet, video games, and automated machines.
The tale begins with billionaire computer gaming CEO Matthew Sobel passing from cancer. Yet prior to his death he invokes a malicious plan to bring down the world as we know it through computers and technology. The ensemble cast includes a police detective trying to solve two illogical murders, a computer consultant who may be more than he claims he is, a sociopathic twenty-something who hosts hedonistic raves while on the side discovering a hidden message within an online game, and a beautiful news anchor that finds herself a washed up thirty-seven year old before she receives a mysterious phone call.
The two book series, praised by techno-thriller author Robin Cook and given top reviews by Publisher's Weekly and Wired magazine, is focused on by Dark Discussions Podcast. Guest host Shawn and co-host Philip talk about some of the best parts of the novels, why they think they are worthy reads, and how the internet and technology may be as frightening as biogenetics and nano-technology.
Prior Podcast Episodes:
Episode 098 - Rob Zombie Focus: 2013's The Lords of Salem
New England rock star, Rob Zombie, a few years back branched out into movies. Writing ... directing ... you name it, he went about guerilla style film making and came up with one of the most interesting horror films in a long time with the flick House of a 1000 Corpses. Part original story but filled with homages to so many horror and exploitation films of the past, the movie was a good start to a film career that now has expanded to six feature films.
With his latest film, The Lords of Salem takes Zombie to different levels. Prior efforts included blood and guts, slasher and grindhouse, red necks and gothic intrigue. Now, his latest fancies itself in the mode of such films as Rosemary's Baby, The Omen, The Exorcist, and even the European horror films of Jean Rollins such as The Iron Rose or The Night of the Hunted.
Dark Discussions gives their take on one of the most anticipated horror films of the year. Produced by the folks behind Paranormal Activity and Insidious; released to only 355 screens in the United States; sent straight to disc in the United Kingdom; is the odd rollout of The Lords of Salem more due to its art house feel or because of the reputation of the director? Download the latest episode of Dark Discussions where we give our opinion on this interesting film.
Episode 097 - Evil Dead (2013)
Rob Tapert, Sam Raimi, and especially Bruce Campbell made their careers off of the original 1981 film, The Evil Dead. Now 32 years later, they have come together as producers of the new remake/reimagining of the classic. The three hired first time director to direct. Fede Alvarez came to the attention of Hollywood as an internet sensation posting online a highly acclaimed short film that he made. Now a handful of years later he was helming one of the most highly anticipated horror films in years.
Dark Discussions is joined by author M.J. Preston to discuss this new take on the cult franchise. Yet unlike other reviews, your hosts discuss such things as Diablo Cody’s involvement with the script; the American ratings systems and Evil Dead, and how this film compares to such harsher rated films as Hatchet 2 or the French/Korean/Japanese splatter flicks. Also, we take a look at how the film fits in with the series and whether it can be looked at as a standalone film.
One thing is for sure, the film has received mixed reviews and caused polarization across many fronts. Regular cinema viewers, Evil Dead fans, horror fans, and mainstream critics have all thrown their two cents in. Yet one thing M.J. Preston asks here within is whether the film is really that important to cause such division. Listen to find out.
Episode 096 - Stephenie Meyer's The Host
Author Stephenie Meyer's Twilight novels caught on like wildfire bringing vampires and werewolves to an untapped audience of younger women and girls. As a result, she has been noted as one of the most successful novelists in the modern era. Along with J.K. Rowling, she transformed the young adult genre while being part of the defining authors of urban fantasy stories.
One question was whether she was a one trick pony. That thought was shot down with 2008's The Host, a hard science fiction novel about a post-apocalyptic world where alien beings had not only taken over the world but also turning humans into hosts. With its ideas of the nature of humanity, the identification of the individual, and the overwhelming emotion of love to overpower any intolerance with forgiveness, the book was a roaring success and has been considered one of the better science fiction novels in over a decade. Dark Discussions co-host Philip concurs.
In this episode, you will hear about the movie, whether it was an excellent adaption, and how it matches with the book. Also discussed is what makes a movie successful. Can a hugely popular novel alone bring in an audience for the film adaption? Lastly, we discuss the passing of long time critic Roger Ebert and what he meant to the film industry.
Episode 095 - Game of Thrones Volume 1
One of the most highly acclaimed book series in some time has stormed television with two successful seasons. George R. R. Martin's A Song of Ice and Fire cycle, entitled Game of Thrones after the first novel, is one of the most popular series on cable. With the third season debuting on March 31st, 2013, those who have read the books or not are excited to see where the twists and turns will come.
Presented in a land entitled Westeros, where magic and monsters are secondary, this fantasy tale focuses on the many families and kingdoms and how they are all fighting for the iron throne. The one who wins will get to rule the land. Unfortunately for most, deception and restlessness will make such a feat almost impossible. George R. R. Martin's story brings an interesting approach to the world of fantasy writing. It's more in the likes of the Knights of the Round Table than either Conan the Barbarian or The Lord of the Rings.
Your hosts discuss the wide topic of the tales discusses within the television series while giving a wide overview of some of the specific characters and episodes. With a huge ensemble cast of characters and plots resulting in subplot after subplot, don't be surprised if Dark Discussions comes back sometime in the future with another episode on this highly acclaimed series.
Episode 087 - 2012 Review
Dark Discussions puts together their 2012 genre/horror year in review episode. A little later than other sites but never too late. We have our three lists and then a fourth combined list of our best horror films of the prior year. Discussions abound about what a horror film is and what year it should be considered. We choose to have a less narrow approach where thrillers and science fiction may be also horror. Also if a film was released in 2012 to a wide audience even if it was a foreign film or a festival circuit film a prior year, we consider it.
Twenty-eight distinct films was the total number of “horror” films that your hosts paired down to. They include Sinister, The Cabin in the Woods, Lovely Molly, The Loved Ones, We Need To Talk About Kevin, The Bay, Take Shelter, The Possession, Rabies, Sleeping Beauty, Absentia, Devil’s Rock, El Monstro Del Mar, Rec3, Juan of the Dead, The Woman in Black, Kill List, Megan is Missing, Chained, The Revenant, The Skin I Live In, Mother’s Day, Midnight Son, The Tall Man, Sleep Tight, The Divide, The Woman, and Excision. For other genre films listed include Snow White and the Huntsman, John Carter, The Dark Knight Rises, The Avengers, Chronicle, Twilight – A New Dawn Part 2, The Gray, and The Disco Exorcist.
Once more, our list is as subjective as anyone else’s yet we try to be as objective as we could. Some films we missed, some we hit, but either way, the list of genre films has a taste for any horror fan and definitely should be maybe a starting point for hunting down some of the best chills and thrills from the year 2012.
Episode 086 - 2013 Genre Preview Part 2
Dark Discussions brings their view on the rest of the genre films coming out in 2013. In Episode 084, we discussed the films expected in the first half of the year. This time the months of July through December are focused upon (with a few exceptions).
One of the bigger releases includes Guillermo Del Toro’s giant monster movie Pacific Rim. Other films are the Marvel film Wolverine, Vin Diesel’s Riddick, Suzanne Collins’ Hunger Games: Catching Fire, and Orson Scott Card’s Ender’s Game. Big spectacle films include Matt Damon’s aptly titled Elysium, Naomi Watts’ The Impossible, George Clooney’s Gravity, Gore Verbinski’s Lone Ranger, and Peter Jackson’s second Hobbit film. But there’s more, including horror films such as James Wan’s The Conjuring, Adam Wingard’s You’re Next, Oliver Blackburn’s Satanic, the Soska sister’s American Mary, Cassandra Clare's The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones, and Danielle Harris’s Among Friends. They're all coming!
But there is even more films than that including Rob Zombie’s Lords of Salem, Neil Marshall’s The Voyage of the Demeter, Halle Berry’s The Call, Edgar Wright and Simon Pegg’s The World’s End, Elijah Wood’s Maniac, Joe Hill’s Horns, and Dario Argento’s Dracula 3D. There is even more than that including foreign highlights as Thale, Livid, and Akira. Lastly, the creators of the film Resolution (release date January 23, 2013) are interviewed discussing their film. Dark Discussions gives their take on all these and more.
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