http://www.darkdiscussions.com en-us This podcast is owned by Dark Discussions and Philip - francoamerican Movies & Television WWW.DARKDISCUSSIONS.COM - your place for the discussion of horror film, fiction and all that's fantastic. Your hosts discuss all things genre, including books, movies, films, video games, and comics about such topics as horror, science fiction, fantasy, and grindhouse. Visit us at www.darkdiscussions.com or send us a comment at darkdiscussions@aol.com 720 http://www.darkdiscussions.com/Graphics/darkDiscussions_itunes.jpg http://www.darkdiscussions.com 100 100 DarkDiscussions Your place for the discussion of horror films, fiction and all that's fantastic. WWW.DARKDISCUSSIONS.COM - your place for the discussion of horror film, fiction and all that's fantastic. Your hosts discuss all things genre, including books, movies, films, video games, and comics about such topics as horror, science fiction, fantasy, and grindhouse. Visit us at www.darkdiscussions.com or send us a comment at darkdiscussions@aol.com DarkDiscussions darkdiscussions@aol.com no horror, horror films, science fiction, fantasy, reviews http://www.darkdiscussions.com/Podcasts/Dark%20Discussions%20-%20Episode%20057%20-%20War%20of%20the%20Worlds%20Part%203.mp3 Tue, 15 May 2012 12:45:17 -0400 darkdiscussions@aol.com http://www.darkdiscussions.com/Podcasts/Dark%20Discussions%20-%20Episode%20057%20-%20War%20of%20the%20Worlds%20Part%203.mp3 http://www.darkdiscussions.com/Podcasts/Dark%20Discussions%20-%20Episode%20057%20-%20War%20of%20the%20Worlds%20Part%203.mp3 Welcome to Dark Discussions podcast. Your place for the discussion of horror film, fiction, and all that's fantastic. From its 1898 publishing, H.G. Wells’ The War of the Worlds had been a best selling novel but also a forerunner to the pulp and science fiction stories and movies to come. After a 1938 successful radio theater adaption by Orson Welles followed by George Pal’s 1953 Hollywood extravaganza, the story about Martians invading Earth had become part of the fabric of the culture of not only the United Kingdom but the entire world. With heat rays, tripods and hovercrafts, Martians invaded London, New Jersey, and Los Angeles. With the success of science fiction on television including such shows as Star Trek and the X Files, a new adaption of H.G. Wells’ story by Stephen Spielberg and Tom Cruise went into development which resulted in the 2005 War of the Worlds, a new interpretation of the famous novel where the alien ships were brought to life as described in the novel; a three legged 100’ tripod machine with a heat ray that disintegrated its victims. As in the novel, people were collected as food and livestock that brought a horrific and somewhat overlooked element included in the source material. Dark Discussions wraps up their three episode arc of H.G. Wells’ The War of the Worlds by discussing one of the most underappreciated science fiction horror movies in the last ten years. With fantastic special effects, with a roaring soundtrack by the great John Williams, with direction by one of the greatest directors of all time, while starring a top leading man, 2005’s War of the Worlds is a film that should be enjoyed by all horror and science fiction fans alike. Lastly, author Mark Allan Gunnells is interviewed about his new novel, Sequel, which was released mid-May. As always we welcome your comments: darkdiscussions@aol.com (written email or attached mp3 files) WWW.DARKDISCUSSIONS.COM Movies & Television DarkDiscussions Stephen Speilberg's War of the Worlds (2005) is focused on. Welcome to Dark Discussions podcast. Your place for the discussion of horror film, fiction, and all that's fantastic. From its 1898 publishing, H.G. Wells’ The War of the Worlds had been a best selling novel but also a forerunner to the pulp and science fiction stories and movies to come. After a 1938 successful radio theater adaption by Orson Welles followed by George Pal’s 1953 Hollywood extravaganza, the story about Martians invading Earth had become part of the fabric of the culture of not only the United Kingdom but the entire world. With heat rays, tripods and hovercrafts, Martians invaded London, New Jersey, and Los Angeles. With the success of science fiction on television including such shows as Star Trek and the X Files, a new adaption of H.G. Wells’ story by Stephen Spielberg and Tom Cruise went into development which resulted in the 2005 War of the Worlds, a new interpretation of the famous novel where the alien ships were brought to life as described in the novel; a three legged 100’ tripod machine with a heat ray that disintegrated its victims. As in the novel, people were collected as food and livestock that brought a horrific and somewhat overlooked element included in the source material. Dark Discussions wraps up their three episode arc of H.G. Wells’ The War of the Worlds by discussing one of the most underappreciated science fiction horror movies in the last ten years. With fantastic special effects, with a roaring soundtrack by the great John Williams, with direction by one of the greatest directors of all time, while starring a top leading man, 2005’s War of the Worlds is a film that should be enjoyed by all horror and science fiction fans alike. Lastly, author Mark Allan Gunnells is interviewed about his new novel, Sequel, which was released mid-May. As always we welcome your comments: darkdiscussions@aol.com (written email or attached mp3 files) WWW.DARKDISCUSSIONS.COM 2:04:30 no horror, horror films, science fiction, fantasy, reviews http://www.darkdiscussions.com/Podcasts/Dark%20Discussions%20-%20Episode%20056%20-%20Red%20White%20and%20Blue.mp3 Tue, 8 May 2012 12:40:31 -0400 darkdiscussions@aol.com http://www.darkdiscussions.com/Podcasts/Dark%20Discussions%20-%20Episode%20056%20-%20Red%20White%20and%20Blue.mp3 http://www.darkdiscussions.com/Podcasts/Dark%20Discussions%20-%20Episode%20056%20-%20Red%20White%20and%20Blue.mp3 Welcome to Dark Discussions, your place for the discussion of horror film, fiction, and all that’s fantastic. In 2006, English director/screenwriter Simon Rumley became a sensation on the genre festival circuits with his film The Living and the Dead. Oddly folks weren’t quite sure where to categorize this amazing film. Having dramatic and literary elements yet dark and kinetic components, indy fans embraced the film and discovered a new and amazing talent within genre and horror circles. Simon Rumley is a director that seems to stand on the frontier between the dark dramas of Paul Schrader, Cormac McCarthy, and Martin Scorsese while relishing in the intensity of the films of Jee-woon Kim, Chan-wook Park, and Xavier Gens. In 2010, he released the film Red, White, and Blue, a story of three people who’s lives collide head on when their dark secrets come crashing down upon them. Horrific, disheartening, and violent, Red, White, and Blue remarks on issues ranging as wide as social disenfranchisement while presenting commentary on human nature and maybe even the Western world. Having run the festival circuits in 2010, Red, White, and Blue was released to a wide audience in 2011 and was named by many, including cohost Philip, as one of the top 10 best genre horror films of that year. Your hosts Eric and Philip discuss the film and then interview writer/director Simon Rumley about a movie that will remain with the viewer even days after viewing. As always we welcome your comments: darkdiscussions@aol.com (written email or attached mp3 files) WWW.DARKDISCUSSIONS.COM Movies & Television DarkDiscussions The fabulous film Red, White, and Blue is discussed plus an interview with director/screenwriter Simon Rumley. Welcome to Dark Discussions, your place for the discussion of horror film, fiction, and all that’s fantastic. In 2006, English director/screenwriter Simon Rumley became a sensation on the genre festival circuits with his film The Living and the Dead. Oddly folks weren’t quite sure where to categorize this amazing film. Having dramatic and literary elements yet dark and kinetic components, indy fans embraced the film and discovered a new and amazing talent within genre and horror circles. Simon Rumley is a director that seems to stand on the frontier between the dark dramas of Paul Schrader, Cormac McCarthy, and Martin Scorsese while relishing in the intensity of the films of Jee-woon Kim, Chan-wook Park, and Xavier Gens. In 2010, he released the film Red, White, and Blue, a story of three people who’s lives collide head on when their dark secrets come crashing down upon them. Horrific, disheartening, and violent, Red, White, and Blue remarks on issues ranging as wide as social disenfranchisement while presenting commentary on human nature and maybe even the Western world. Having run the festival circuits in 2010, Red, White, and Blue was released to a wide audience in 2011 and was named by many, including cohost Philip, as one of the top 10 best genre horror films of that year. Your hosts Eric and Philip discuss the film and then interview writer/director Simon Rumley about a movie that will remain with the viewer even days after viewing. As always we welcome your comments: darkdiscussions@aol.com (written email or attached mp3 files) WWW.DARKDISCUSSIONS.COM 2:35:15 no horror, horror films, science fiction, fantasy, reviews http://www.darkdiscussions.com/Podcasts/Dark%20Discussions%20-%20Episode%20055%20-%20Red.mp3 Tue, 1 May 2012 8:18:23 -0400 darkdiscussions@aol.com http://www.darkdiscussions.com/Podcasts/Dark%20Discussions%20-%20Episode%20055%20-%20Red.mp3 http://www.darkdiscussions.com/Podcasts/Dark%20Discussions%20-%20Episode%20055%20-%20Red.mp3 Welcome to Dark Discussions podcast. Your place for the discussion of horror film, fiction, and all that's fantastic. When one hears the name Jack Ketchum they think of splatter punk, extreme horror, and outrageous violence. With such a reputation his books have never been found on best sellers lists. An avid cult following however has arisen that has made his novels and short stories hugely popular. Five feature length films have been made out of his works and his writings have brought such prestigious honors as multiple Bram Stoker Awards and the World Horror Convention Grand Master Award. In 1995, Jack Ketchum released a novel that would seem more apt to have been written by someone other than a speculative fiction author. The novel Red, with elements that seem out of a Cormac McCarthy novel, twists a tale that should lead to vengeance into a story filled with forgiveness and love. Avery Ludlow, a widower and senior citizen from Maine, lives a quiet life with his dog Red. His daily routine includes such hobbies as fishing and managing his general store. One fateful fishing trip down by the local creek, a shocking event turns his world upside down. Seeking understanding, asking only for impartiality, offering total absolution, Ave does his best to remain human in a world that offers nothing but melancholy and unfairness. In 2008, a film of the novel starring Brian Cox with an important cameo by Robert Englund was highly regarded by critics while being a very faithful adaption to the story. Dark Discussions discusses this fantastic novel, the wonderful movie, and how the character of Avery Ludlow, flaws and all, is the model of how every human being with nothing more than a big heart can overcome whatever is wrong in the world. As always we welcome your comments: darkdiscussions@aol.com (written email or attached mp3 files) WWW.DARKDISCUSSIONS.COM Movies & Television DarkDiscussions Red, a novel by Jack Ketchum: we discuss the novel and its faithful movie adaption. Welcome to Dark Discussions podcast. Your place for the discussion of horror film, fiction, and all that's fantastic. When one hears the name Jack Ketchum they think of splatter punk, extreme horror, and outrageous violence. With such a reputation his books have never been found on best sellers lists. An avid cult following however has arisen that has made his novels and short stories hugely popular. Five feature length films have been made out of his works and his writings have brought such prestigious honors as multiple Bram Stoker Awards and the World Horror Convention Grand Master Award. In 1995, Jack Ketchum released a novel that would seem more apt to have been written by someone other than a speculative fiction author. The novel Red, with elements that seem out of a Cormac McCarthy novel, twists a tale that should lead to vengeance into a story filled with forgiveness and love. Avery Ludlow, a widower and senior citizen from Maine, lives a quiet life with his dog Red. His daily routine includes such hobbies as fishing and managing his general store. One fateful fishing trip down by the local creek, a shocking event turns his world upside down. Seeking understanding, asking only for impartiality, offering total absolution, Ave does his best to remain human in a world that offers nothing but melancholy and unfairness. In 2008, a film of the novel starring Brian Cox with an important cameo by Robert Englund was highly regarded by critics while being a very faithful adaption to the story. Dark Discussions discusses this fantastic novel, the wonderful movie, and how the character of Avery Ludlow, flaws and all, is the model of how every human being with nothing more than a big heart can overcome whatever is wrong in the world. As always we welcome your comments: darkdiscussions@aol.com (written email or attached mp3 files) WWW.DARKDISCUSSIONS.COM 1:45:06 no horror, horror films, science fiction, fantasy, reviews http://www.darkdiscussions.com/Podcasts/Dark%20Discussions%20-%20Episode%20054%20-%20The%20Cabin%20in%20the%20Woods.mp3 Tue, 24 Apr 2012 10:41:11 -0400 darkdiscussions@aol.com http://www.darkdiscussions.com/Podcasts/Dark%20Discussions%20-%20Episode%20054%20-%20The%20Cabin%20in%20the%20Woods.mp3 http://www.darkdiscussions.com/Podcasts/Dark%20Discussions%20-%20Episode%20054%20-%20The%20Cabin%20in%20the%20Woods.mp3 Welcome the newest episode of Dark Discussions, your place for the discussion of horror film, fiction, and all that’s fantastic. Produced by Joss Whedon and directed by Drew Goddard, Cabin in the Woods has a strong pedigree behind it which zeroed it in for critical if not financial success. Originally filmed in 2009, the movie got caught up in the MGM financial crisis which caused it to be shelved until 2012. Since then, actor Chris Hemsworth has become a successful star and supporting actor Richard Jenkins has been nominated for an Academy Award. The long journey of a troubled trip has finally ended. When a group of five college friends head out to a tranquil cabin in the woods, what should be a typical weekend of fun, relaxation, and love in the sun turns out to be anything but. As their worst nightmares become real, their survival, unbeknownst to them, may have nothing to do with their own choices. What appears to be a typical horror antagonist may actually be part of something much larger and sinister. The screenplay presents the film as a satire and commentary on horror tropes, comedies, and Hollywood while staying true to its genre roots. Dark Discussions discusses Joss Whedon, the cult of personality behind him as well as those that he satires, and whether being part of the Hollywood system is inconsequential to authoring such a screenplay. We take a look into the homages the film pays tribute to while chatting about both the positive and pessimistic items the script presents to its fanbase. Grab your movie tickets and get ready for our commentary on a film that is, well, itself commentary. As always we welcome your comments: darkdiscussions@aol.com (written email or attached mp3 files) WWW.DARKDISCUSSIONS.COM Movies & Television DarkDiscussions Highly anticipated Joss Whedon film, The Cabin in the Woods, is discussed. Welcome the newest episode of Dark Discussions, your place for the discussion of horror film, fiction, and all that’s fantastic. Produced by Joss Whedon and directed by Drew Goddard, Cabin in the Woods has a strong pedigree behind it which zeroed it in for critical if not financial success. Originally filmed in 2009, the movie got caught up in the MGM financial crisis which caused it to be shelved until 2012. Since then, actor Chris Hemsworth has become a successful star and supporting actor Richard Jenkins has been nominated for an Academy Award. The long journey of a troubled trip has finally ended. When a group of five college friends head out to a tranquil cabin in the woods, what should be a typical weekend of fun, relaxation, and love in the sun turns out to be anything but. As their worst nightmares become real, their survival, unbeknownst to them, may have nothing to do with their own choices. What appears to be a typical horror antagonist may actually be part of something much larger and sinister. The screenplay presents the film as a satire and commentary on horror tropes, comedies, and Hollywood while staying true to its genre roots. Dark Discussions discusses Joss Whedon, the cult of personality behind him as well as those that he satires, and whether being part of the Hollywood system is inconsequential to authoring such a screenplay. We take a look into the homages the film pays tribute to while chatting about both the positive and pessimistic items the script presents to its fanbase. Grab your movie tickets and get ready for our commentary on a film that is, well, itself commentary. As always we welcome your comments: darkdiscussions@aol.com (written email or attached mp3 files) WWW.DARKDISCUSSIONS.COM 2:07:27 no horror, horror films, science fiction, fantasy, reviews http://www.darkdiscussions.com/Podcasts/Dark%20Discussions%20-%20Episode%20053%20-%20Frailty.mp3 Thu, 19 Apr 2012 10:42:51 -0400 darkdiscussions@aol.com http://www.darkdiscussions.com/Podcasts/Dark%20Discussions%20-%20Episode%20053%20-%20Frailty.mp3 http://www.darkdiscussions.com/Podcasts/Dark%20Discussions%20-%20Episode%20053%20-%20Frailty.mp3 Welcome the newest episode of Dark Discussions, your place for the discussion of horror film, fiction, and all that’s fantastic. Actor Bill Paxton who has starred in such genre favorites as Aliens, Near Dark, and A Simple Plan takes a turn behind the camera and directs the 2002 psychological horror film Frailty. Besides directing, he also stars along with Matthew McConaughey and Powers Boothe. The movie is based on a script by fellow Texan Brent Hanley. One night when a mysterious man walks into an FBI building stating that he knows the identity of a notorious serial killer, a complex and intricate tale is presented that leads back to the 1970’s. The lives of two young brothers and their single parent father are turned upside down when a mysterious turn of events leads to the serial murder of a number of ordinary citizens. What may be a fight between good versus evil, God versus Satan, could actually be nothing more than mental illness and unwarranted abuse of children. Bill Paxton directs an elaborate story that includes one of the toughest things any director has to face: working with child actors. Coming from Roger Corman’s production company and having worked with such award winning directors as James Cameron, Sam Raimi, Ron Howard, Kathryn Bigelow, among others, Bill Paxton shows that he is as great a talent behind the camera as he is in front of it. Dark Discussions discusses his turn as a director and ponders why he has not been more prolific. As always we welcome your comments: darkdiscussions@aol.com (written email or attached mp3 files) WWW.DARKDISCUSSIONS.COM Movies & Television DarkDiscussions Genre favorite Bill Paxton feature length directorial debut, 2002's Frailty, is discussed. Welcome the newest episode of Dark Discussions, your place for the discussion of horror film, fiction, and all that’s fantastic. Actor Bill Paxton who has starred in such genre favorites as Aliens, Near Dark, and A Simple Plan takes a turn behind the camera and directs the 2002 psychological horror film Frailty. Besides directing, he also stars along with Matthew McConaughey and Powers Boothe. The movie is based on a script by fellow Texan Brent Hanley. One night when a mysterious man walks into an FBI building stating that he knows the identity of a notorious serial killer, a complex and intricate tale is presented that leads back to the 1970’s. The lives of two young brothers and their single parent father are turned upside down when a mysterious turn of events leads to the serial murder of a number of ordinary citizens. What may be a fight between good versus evil, God versus Satan, could actually be nothing more than mental illness and unwarranted abuse of children. Bill Paxton directs an elaborate story that includes one of the toughest things any director has to face: working with child actors. Coming from Roger Corman’s production company and having worked with such award winning directors as James Cameron, Sam Raimi, Ron Howard, Kathryn Bigelow, among others, Bill Paxton shows that he is as great a talent behind the camera as he is in front of it. Dark Discussions discusses his turn as a director and ponders why he has not been more prolific. As always we welcome your comments: darkdiscussions@aol.com (written email or attached mp3 files) WWW.DARKDISCUSSIONS.COM 1:57:18 no horror, horror films, science fiction, fantasy, reviews http://www.darkdiscussions.com/Podcasts/Dark%20Discussions%20-%20Episode%20052%20-%20War%20of%20the%20Worlds%20Part%202.mp3 Wed, 11 Apr 2012 12:59:14 -0400 darkdiscussions@aol.com http://www.darkdiscussions.com/Podcasts/Dark%20Discussions%20-%20Episode%20052%20-%20War%20of%20the%20Worlds%20Part%202.mp3 http://www.darkdiscussions.com/Podcasts/Dark%20Discussions%20-%20Episode%20052%20-%20War%20of%20the%20Worlds%20Part%202.mp3 Welcome the newest episode of Dark Discussions, your place for the discussion of horror film, fiction, and all that’s fantastic. While authors like Robert Heinlein and Arthur C. Clark brought to the page some of the greatest hard science fiction stories during the heyday of the genre in the 1950’s, movie producers like George Pal, Ray Harryhausen, and Howard Hawks were presenting films that would be remembered for years to come. The Forbidden Planet, Them!, and The Thing from Another World paved the way for others such as Stanley Kubrick, John Carpenter, and Stephen Spielberg. In 1953, George Pal took H.G. Wells’ novel, The War of the Worlds, and brought it to film with spectacular vision. The movie became one of the towering points in genre cinema and today remains an all time classic. With a reimagining of the novel, the film brings the story to Los Angeles, California and the rural areas outside the city. The Martian invading tripods are presented as hovercraft saucers that turn out to be some of the most iconic “monsters” ever, both in shape and sound. Dark Discussions discusses this achievement and why the film is one of the biggest movie extravaganzas of all time. Some little known facts are discussed as well. Prior to George Pal, others attached to the movie were film legends Orson Welles, Alfred Hitchcock, Ray Harryhausen, and Cecil B. DeMille. Also, in 1988 a two season television series continued the story where the movie left off. Lastly, cohosts Mike and Philip discuss how comic book great, Alan Moore, took the story and merged it with his graphic novel The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen. To wrap up the episode, Dark Discussions interviews Patrick Rae, director and co-screenwriter of the feature length horror film Nail Biter which is doing the festival circuits. As always we welcome your comments: darkdiscussions@aol.com (written email or attached mp3 files) WWW.DARKDISCUSSIONS.COM Movies & Television DarkDiscussions George Pal's 1953 production, The War of the Worlds, is discussed. Welcome the newest episode of Dark Discussions, your place for the discussion of horror film, fiction, and all that’s fantastic. While authors like Robert Heinlein and Arthur C. Clark brought to the page some of the greatest hard science fiction stories during the heyday of the genre in the 1950’s, movie producers like George Pal, Ray Harryhausen, and Howard Hawks were presenting films that would be remembered for years to come. The Forbidden Planet, Them!, and The Thing from Another World paved the way for others such as Stanley Kubrick, John Carpenter, and Stephen Spielberg. In 1953, George Pal took H.G. Wells’ novel, The War of the Worlds, and brought it to film with spectacular vision. The movie became one of the towering points in genre cinema and today remains an all time classic. With a reimagining of the novel, the film brings the story to Los Angeles, California and the rural areas outside the city. The Martian invading tripods are presented as hovercraft saucers that turn out to be some of the most iconic “monsters” ever, both in shape and sound. Dark Discussions discusses this achievement and why the film is one of the biggest movie extravaganzas of all time. Some little known facts are discussed as well. Prior to George Pal, others attached to the movie were film legends Orson Welles, Alfred Hitchcock, Ray Harryhausen, and Cecil B. DeMille. Also, in 1988 a two season television series continued the story where the movie left off. Lastly, cohosts Mike and Philip discuss how comic book great, Alan Moore, took the story and merged it with his graphic novel The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen. To wrap up the episode, Dark Discussions interviews Patrick Rae, director and co-screenwriter of the feature length horror film Nail Biter which is doing the festival circuits. As always we welcome your comments: darkdiscussions@aol.com (written email or attached mp3 files) WWW.DARKDISCUSSIONS.COM 1:47:44 no horror, horror films, science fiction, fantasy, reviews http://www.darkdiscussions.com/Podcasts/Dark%20Discussions%20-%20Episode%20051%20-%20Terror%20of%20Dracula.mp3 Fri, 6 Apr 2012 8:54:21 -0400 darkdiscussions@aol.com http://www.darkdiscussions.com/Podcasts/Dark%20Discussions%20-%20Episode%20051%20-%20Terror%20of%20Dracula.mp3 http://www.darkdiscussions.com/Podcasts/Dark%20Discussions%20-%20Episode%20051%20-%20Terror%20of%20Dracula.mp3 Welcome the newest episode of Dark Discussions, your place for the discussion of horror film, fiction, and all that’s fantastic. Released on dvd the first week of April, 2012, the new film Terror of Dracula brings the nostalgia of Hammer horror films back to life. Dark Discussions was able to interview some of the folks behind the 2012 film including Anthony D.P. Mann (star/director/co-screenwriter), Bill Bossert (co-producer/co-screenwriter), and Matt O’Neill (poster work and artist). With an upcoming article in May issue #313 of Fangoria magazine, the movie has been highly anticipated by folks who have been waiting for a vampire film that brings back the Bram Stoker Dracula that horror fans are passionate about. Anthony, known best as co-host Tony of the HorrorEtc podcast, with the help of Bill Bossert bring to screen an adaption of Stoker’s menace that hasn’t been seen since Frank Langella’s Dracula. Matt O’Neill discusses his vision for the poster art and dvd cover for the film, his inspiration from the labors of Paul Naschy, Universal, and Hammer, while also discussing his work for such horror giants Greg McLean, director of Wolf Creek and Rogue, and Jon Hewitt, director of Acolytes and X. Rounding up the episode, Dark Discussions interviews author Mark Allan Gunnells to discuss his new creature feature novel The Quarry while following up with Zach Green of Fatal Pictures about the premier of his film Familiar. As always we welcome your comments: darkdiscussions@aol.com (written email or attached mp3 files) WWW.DARKDISCUSSIONS.COM Movies & Television DarkDiscussions The creators of the new film, Terror of Dracula, discuss their vision on the highly anticipated Dracula tale. Welcome the newest episode of Dark Discussions, your place for the discussion of horror film, fiction, and all that’s fantastic. Released on dvd the first week of April, 2012, the new film Terror of Dracula brings the nostalgia of Hammer horror films back to life. Dark Discussions was able to interview some of the folks behind the 2012 film including Anthony D.P. Mann (star/director/co-screenwriter), Bill Bossert (co-producer/co-screenwriter), and Matt O’Neill (poster work and artist). With an upcoming article in May issue #313 of Fangoria magazine, the movie has been highly anticipated by folks who have been waiting for a vampire film that brings back the Bram Stoker Dracula that horror fans are passionate about. Anthony, known best as co-host Tony of the HorrorEtc podcast, with the help of Bill Bossert bring to screen an adaption of Stoker’s menace that hasn’t been seen since Frank Langella’s Dracula. Matt O’Neill discusses his vision for the poster art and dvd cover for the film, his inspiration from the labors of Paul Naschy, Universal, and Hammer, while also discussing his work for such horror giants Greg McLean, director of Wolf Creek and Rogue, and Jon Hewitt, director of Acolytes and X. Rounding up the episode, Dark Discussions interviews author Mark Allan Gunnells to discuss his new creature feature novel The Quarry while following up with Zach Green of Fatal Pictures about the premier of his film Familiar. As always we welcome your comments: darkdiscussions@aol.com (written email or attached mp3 files) WWW.DARKDISCUSSIONS.COM 2:13:05 no horror, horror films, science fiction, fantasy, reviews http://www.darkdiscussions.com/Podcasts/Dark%20Discussions%20-%20Episode%20050%20-%20Alien.mp3 Thu, 29 Mar 2012 8:37:31 -0400 darkdiscussions@aol.com http://www.darkdiscussions.com/Podcasts/Dark%20Discussions%20-%20Episode%20050%20-%20Alien.mp3 http://www.darkdiscussions.com/Podcasts/Dark%20Discussions%20-%20Episode%20050%20-%20Alien.mp3 Welcome to Dark Discussions podcast. Your place for the discussion of horror film, fiction, and all that's fantastic. Well, fifty episodes! Dark Discussions reaches a milestone of some significance but just like prior weeks we are here once more to discuss genre cinema intelligently, in depth, and like fans should: with passion. This week your four co-hosts come together once more and decided on a topic that happens to be thirty-three years old. Unlike the age of the film itself, the movie is once more about to have relevance that could determine the fate of big budget R-rated horror films for decades to come. Alien, 1979’s science fiction masterpiece, came together with an odd mix of talent and luck. Screenwriter Dan O’Bannon, suffering from crohn’s disease, came up with an idea of an alien entity using human hosts as incubators. He turned his personal discomfort from his illness into one of the most iconic scenes in film history. Director Ridley Scott, film scorer Jerry Goldsmith, and artist H.R. Giger came aboard and with the highly figuratively filled script produced a dark horrific movie that turned science fiction film from Star Trek cheese to industrial working class grime. Now over thirty years later, with both Dan O’Bannon and Jerry Goldsmith no longer with us, Ridley Scott once more has returned to the source of his success. Using Alien as a basis, his new film 2012’s Prometheus is to be released in June. The film trailers have brought high hopes to all science fiction and horror fans alike. Your co-hosts, Chris, Eric, Mike, and Phil discuss Alien, its legacy, and how Prometheus may tie back in with the original. Listeners, thank you for coming along on our fifty episode podcast journey, and as co-host Eric suggests in closing, let’s do fifty more. As always we welcome your comments: darkdiscussions@aol.com (written email or attached mp3 files) WWW.DARKDISCUSSIONS.COM Movies & Television DarkDiscussions 50 Episodes and your hosts discuss the classic Alien and give their opinion on the upcoming Prometheus. Welcome to Dark Discussions podcast. Your place for the discussion of horror film, fiction, and all that's fantastic. Well, fifty episodes! Dark Discussions reaches a milestone of some significance but just like prior weeks we are here once more to discuss genre cinema intelligently, in depth, and like fans should: with passion. This week your four co-hosts come together once more and decided on a topic that happens to be thirty-three years old. Unlike the age of the film itself, the movie is once more about to have relevance that could determine the fate of big budget R-rated horror films for decades to come. Alien, 1979’s science fiction masterpiece, came together with an odd mix of talent and luck. Screenwriter Dan O’Bannon, suffering from crohn’s disease, came up with an idea of an alien entity using human hosts as incubators. He turned his personal discomfort from his illness into one of the most iconic scenes in film history. Director Ridley Scott, film scorer Jerry Goldsmith, and artist H.R. Giger came aboard and with the highly figuratively filled script produced a dark horrific movie that turned science fiction film from Star Trek cheese to industrial working class grime. Now over thirty years later, with both Dan O’Bannon and Jerry Goldsmith no longer with us, Ridley Scott once more has returned to the source of his success. Using Alien as a basis, his new film 2012’s Prometheus is to be released in June. The film trailers have brought high hopes to all science fiction and horror fans alike. Your co-hosts, Chris, Eric, Mike, and Phil discuss Alien, its legacy, and how Prometheus may tie back in with the original. Listeners, thank you for coming along on our fifty episode podcast journey, and as co-host Eric suggests in closing, let’s do fifty more. As always we welcome your comments: darkdiscussions@aol.com (written email or attached mp3 files) WWW.DARKDISCUSSIONS.COM 2:07:21 no horror, horror films, science fiction, fantasy, reviews http://www.darkdiscussions.com/Podcasts/Dark%20Discussions%20-%20Episode%20049%20-%20Acolytes.mp3 Wed, 21 Mar 2012 11:21:47 -0400 darkdiscussions@aol.com http://www.darkdiscussions.com/Podcasts/Dark%20Discussions%20-%20Episode%20049%20-%20Acolytes.mp3 http://www.darkdiscussions.com/Podcasts/Dark%20Discussions%20-%20Episode%20049%20-%20Acolytes.mp3 Welcome to Dark Discussions podcast. Your place for the discussion of horror film, fiction, and all that's fantastic. A little known director from Australia named Jon Hewitt has been making a number of fine independent productions for some time. However, in 2008 he brought his latest film Acolytes across the world presenting it at film festivals everywhere. After viewers had seen the film, it is no surprise that one of the movie’s biggest triumphs was winning the silver medal for the best film at Austin’s 2008’s Fantastic Fest (beating out such films as Martyrs, The Chaser, and Left Bank; losing only to Let the Right One In). Acolytes merges horror, thriller, coming-of-age, and teenage angst together into a bleak tale of three young adults discovery of what may be a serial killer that lives in their midst. When our protagonists decide to take an unorthodox way of using their findings, their lives change where dark secrets emerge that will shake the very foundations of not only their community but their very lives. Director Jon Hewitt arguably is one of today’s best directors of genre films anywhere in the world. Acolytes stars such fantastic talents as Joel Edgerton, Michael Dorman, Hanna Mangan Lawrence (in a star making performance), Joshua Payne, and Sebastion Gregory. Based in Down Under, our director is a talent that Dark Discussions believes everyone should learn more about. We discuss Mr. Hewitt and his breakout film in depth and why everyone should take a peek. So turn out the lights, pull out the popcorn, and go watch a very dark film by a director that Hollywood will soon know a whole lot more about. As always we welcome your comments: darkdiscussions@aol.com (written email or attached mp3 files) WWW.DARKDISCUSSIONS.COM Movies & Television DarkDiscussions Australian film maker Jon Hewitt's Acolytes (2008) is discussed in depth; one of the best horror films since 2000. Welcome to Dark Discussions podcast. Your place for the discussion of horror film, fiction, and all that's fantastic. A little known director from Australia named Jon Hewitt has been making a number of fine independent productions for some time. However, in 2008 he brought his latest film Acolytes across the world presenting it at film festivals everywhere. After viewers had seen the film, it is no surprise that one of the movie’s biggest triumphs was winning the silver medal for the best film at Austin’s 2008’s Fantastic Fest (beating out such films as Martyrs, The Chaser, and Left Bank; losing only to Let the Right One In). Acolytes merges horror, thriller, coming-of-age, and teenage angst together into a bleak tale of three young adults discovery of what may be a serial killer that lives in their midst. When our protagonists decide to take an unorthodox way of using their findings, their lives change where dark secrets emerge that will shake the very foundations of not only their community but their very lives. Director Jon Hewitt arguably is one of today’s best directors of genre films anywhere in the world. Acolytes stars such fantastic talents as Joel Edgerton, Michael Dorman, Hanna Mangan Lawrence (in a star making performance), Joshua Payne, and Sebastion Gregory. Based in Down Under, our director is a talent that Dark Discussions believes everyone should learn more about. We discuss Mr. Hewitt and his breakout film in depth and why everyone should take a peek. So turn out the lights, pull out the popcorn, and go watch a very dark film by a director that Hollywood will soon know a whole lot more about. As always we welcome your comments: darkdiscussions@aol.com (written email or attached mp3 files) WWW.DARKDISCUSSIONS.COM 2:18:37 no horror, horror films, science fiction, fantasy, reviews http://www.darkdiscussions.com/Podcasts/Dark%20Discussions%20-%20Episode%20048%20-%20Stiletto%20Film%20Fest.mp3 Wed, 14 Mar 2012 16:17:14 -0400 darkdiscussions@aol.com http://www.darkdiscussions.com/Podcasts/Dark%20Discussions%20-%20Episode%20048%20-%20Stiletto%20Film%20Fest.mp3 http://www.darkdiscussions.com/Podcasts/Dark%20Discussions%20-%20Episode%20048%20-%20Stiletto%20Film%20Fest.mp3 Welcome to Dark Discussions podcast. Your place for the discussion of horror film, fiction, and all that's fantastic. The month of February was named Women in Horror month and what better way to reflect on the prior month with a film festival devoted to women and horror. The second annual Stiletto Film Festival featuring women in horror and their work including acting, screenwriting, producing, and most certainly directing came to Boston. Megan Sacco, a New England based film maker, came up with an idea to celebrate women and their accomplishments in film and the horror genre. But even more importantly, up and coming indy film makers of the female persuasion get an opportunity to show their films to fans and critics alike. Dark Discussions was able to attend and view many of the films and interview some of the fantastic talent both behind and in front of the cameras. Feature length films such as Susan Adriensen’s Under the Raven’s Wing and Julie Ufema’s Caveat were shown to an audience that was highly rewarded. The short film What They Say starring the beautiful Heather Dorff and stunning Kelsey Zukowski, both out of Chicago, was one of the high lights, and Seattle based film maker, Tonjia Atomic, had her minimalist film Companion leaving folks squirming in their seats. In attendance as judges included actresses Monique Dupree and Melanie Robel. As the month celebrating women in horror ends, gorgeous actress Seregon O’Dassey tells us all about her work in genre cinema and the independent film scene. Also, author and novelist Hollie Snider discusses her fantasy epic novel with Lovecraftian elements entitled For the Rank of Master. Dark Discussions would like to thank Megan Sacco for letting us focus an episode on her festival, those who attended, and allowing fans to learn about some projects that everyone should be aware of. Susan Adriensen, Kelsey Zukowski, and Heather Dorff let us interview them right after the showing. Others like Julie Ufema and Tonjia Atomic took time out of their day for skype interviews. Judges Monique Dupree and Melanie Robel blocked off a bit of the festival to let us get their thoughts. And both Seregon O’Dassey and Hollie Snider were wonderful enough to let us interview them for Women in Horror month and show us talent both on film and page. From this day on, horror fans will know that all that is horrible is not just a one gender tradition. As always we welcome your comments: darkdiscussions@aol.com (written email or attached mp3 files) WWW.DARKDISCUSSIONS.COM Movies & Television DarkDiscussions Boston's Stiletto Film Festival and women in horror - interviews and discussion. Welcome to Dark Discussions podcast. Your place for the discussion of horror film, fiction, and all that's fantastic. The month of February was named Women in Horror month and what better way to reflect on the prior month with a film festival devoted to women and horror. The second annual Stiletto Film Festival featuring women in horror and their work including acting, screenwriting, producing, and most certainly directing came to Boston. Megan Sacco, a New England based film maker, came up with an idea to celebrate women and their accomplishments in film and the horror genre. But even more importantly, up and coming indy film makers of the female persuasion get an opportunity to show their films to fans and critics alike. Dark Discussions was able to attend and view many of the films and interview some of the fantastic talent both behind and in front of the cameras. Feature length films such as Susan Adriensen’s Under the Raven’s Wing and Julie Ufema’s Caveat were shown to an audience that was highly rewarded. The short film What They Say starring the beautiful Heather Dorff and stunning Kelsey Zukowski, both out of Chicago, was one of the high lights, and Seattle based film maker, Tonjia Atomic, had her minimalist film Companion leaving folks squirming in their seats. In attendance as judges included actresses Monique Dupree and Melanie Robel. As the month celebrating women in horror ends, gorgeous actress Seregon O’Dassey tells us all about her work in genre cinema and the independent film scene. Also, author and novelist Hollie Snider discusses her fantasy epic novel with Lovecraftian elements entitled For the Rank of Master. Dark Discussions would like to thank Megan Sacco for letting us focus an episode on her festival, those who attended, and allowing fans to learn about some projects that everyone should be aware of. Susan Adriensen, Kelsey Zukowski, and Heather Dorff let us interview them right after the showing. Others like Julie Ufema and Tonjia Atomic took time out of their day for skype interviews. Judges Monique Dupree and Melanie Robel blocked off a bit of the festival to let us get their thoughts. And both Seregon O’Dassey and Hollie Snider were wonderful enough to let us interview them for Women in Horror month and show us talent both on film and page. From this day on, horror fans will know that all that is horrible is not just a one gender tradition. As always we welcome your comments: darkdiscussions@aol.com (written email or attached mp3 files) WWW.DARKDISCUSSIONS.COM 2:41:50 no horror, horror films, science fiction, fantasy, reviews http://www.darkdiscussions.com/Podcasts/Dark%20Discussions%20-%20Episode%20047%20-%20War%20of%20the%20Worlds%20Part%201.mp3 Thu, 8 Mar 2012 11:09:19 -0400 darkdiscussions@aol.com http://www.darkdiscussions.com/Podcasts/Dark%20Discussions%20-%20Episode%20047%20-%20War%20of%20the%20Worlds%20Part%201.mp3 http://www.darkdiscussions.com/Podcasts/Dark%20Discussions%20-%20Episode%20047%20-%20War%20of%20the%20Worlds%20Part%201.mp3 Welcome to Dark Discussions podcast. Your place for the discussion of horror film, fiction, and all that's fantastic. The novel, The War of the Worlds, written in 1898 has been in print from first publication until today without interruption. H. G. Wells, author of such other novels as The Invisible Man and The Time Machine, presents a story about a war where an alien race of beings from the planet Mars turns their eyes towards Earth, a planet filled with resources and natural beauty, still untainted by pollution and toxins. Writing in journal format, Wells turns a simple science fiction story into a fearful prophecy of total war where civilians would become targets while burnt earth strategies would become the norm. Man’s dependence upon technology and communication would be nullified and humanity’s dominance of the world they live in would be no more. The tale is a foretelling of things to come that peculiarly showed how an alien invasion was a figurative metaphor of how man’s inhumanity upon man would make the 20th century one of the most destructive in world history. With the world’s dependence on technology for a more pampered life, it also would bring with it dangers that were only forewarned in 1898. And the irony of the story is that what would stop the Martians would be bacteria, Earth’s smallest and tiniest organisms. Dark Discussions, in this first part of a three part arc, discuss the novel, its importance to genre fiction, and the writer who came up with a story which at the time was an astoundingly original idea. Further discussion includes the first great interpretation of the story by Orson Welles’s Mercury Theater, a radio theater presentation that brought about a panic to those who listened thinking it to be an actual news bulletin. Orson Welles shows how in 1938 he would become one of the greatest actor/director’s in history while bringing his cohorts at the Mercury Theater (including composer Bernard Herrmann) to the attention of the world. As always we welcome your comments: darkdiscussions@aol.com (written email or attached mp3 files) WWW.DARKDISCUSSIONS.COM Movies & Television DarkDiscussions Part 1 of a 3 part arc about H.G. Wells' The War of the Worlds and its many interpretations. Welcome to Dark Discussions podcast. Your place for the discussion of horror film, fiction, and all that's fantastic. The novel, The War of the Worlds, written in 1898 has been in print from first publication until today without interruption. H. G. Wells, author of such other novels as The Invisible Man and The Time Machine, presents a story about a war where an alien race of beings from the planet Mars turns their eyes towards Earth, a planet filled with resources and natural beauty, still untainted by pollution and toxins. Writing in journal format, Wells turns a simple science fiction story into a fearful prophecy of total war where civilians would become targets while burnt earth strategies would become the norm. Man’s dependence upon technology and communication would be nullified and humanity’s dominance of the world they live in would be no more. The tale is a foretelling of things to come that peculiarly showed how an alien invasion was a figurative metaphor of how man’s inhumanity upon man would make the 20th century one of the most destructive in world history. With the world’s dependence on technology for a more pampered life, it also would bring with it dangers that were only forewarned in 1898. And the irony of the story is that what would stop the Martians would be bacteria, Earth’s smallest and tiniest organisms. Dark Discussions, in this first part of a three part arc, discuss the novel, its importance to genre fiction, and the writer who came up with a story which at the time was an astoundingly original idea. Further discussion includes the first great interpretation of the story by Orson Welles’s Mercury Theater, a radio theater presentation that brought about a panic to those who listened thinking it to be an actual news bulletin. Orson Welles shows how in 1938 he would become one of the greatest actor/director’s in history while bringing his cohorts at the Mercury Theater (including composer Bernard Herrmann) to the attention of the world. As always we welcome your comments: darkdiscussions@aol.com (written email or attached mp3 files) WWW.DARKDISCUSSIONS.COM 1:30:04 no horror, horror films, science fiction, fantasy, reviews http://www.darkdiscussions.com/Podcasts/Dark%20Discussions%20-%20Episode%20046%20-%20Bits%20Pieces%20and%20Body%20Parts%20Volume%202.mp3 Wed, 29 Feb 2012 10:55:23 -0400 darkdiscussions@aol.com http://www.darkdiscussions.com/Podcasts/Dark%20Discussions%20-%20Episode%20046%20-%20Bits%20Pieces%20and%20Body%20Parts%20Volume%202.mp3 http://www.darkdiscussions.com/Podcasts/Dark%20Discussions%20-%20Episode%20046%20-%20Bits%20Pieces%20and%20Body%20Parts%20Volume%202.mp3 Welcome the newest episode of Dark Discussions, your place for the discussion of horror film, fiction, and all that’s fantastic. It’s been over half a year but finally a second volume of Bits, Pieces, and Body Parts arrives. Yet with this edition we have a bit of a change. Unlike the prior episode, Episode 014, where your cohosts were live discussing genre news and reviewing a film immediately after viewing it at the local theater, this new volume is a mish mash of various subjects and topics. First off cohosts Gordon and Philip discuss some of your favorite horror icons as was the case in Episode 038, Iconic Characters in Horror. Here a short conversation on Friday the 13th’s Jason Voorhees commences before moving on to a detailed talk of the somewhat overlooked Tony Todd larger than life monster, The Candyman. Next, fantasy and zombie author Elaine Isaak and thriller author K.D. Mason are interviewed, discussing their novels and what’s coming next. Both will autograph any copies of their novels that are purchased from their websites. Continuing, Thomas Newman, the director of the zombie film Bong of the Dead and the upcoming zombie western Deadsville, is interviewed where he discusses the home video release of his debut film (February 21st , 2012) and an exciting synopsis of his highly anticipated follow up. Afterwards author Charles Day chats about his debut novel, The Legend of the Pumpkin Thief, which brings the spirit of Halloween together with the nostalgia of a Steven Spielberg movie. Lastly, cohost Eric and Philip interview the owners of Fatal Pictures, Zach Green and Richard Powell, specifically discussing their half hour psychological horror films Worm (to become a feature length production) and Familiar, to be given its world premier at Toronto Frightfest March 2nd, 2012. Familiar will be introduced by Fangoria magazine and the presentation will let the audience meet and greet the film makers. Once again, join Dark Discussions for another episode of genre fare. As always we welcome your comments: darkdiscussions@aol.com (written email or attached mp3 files) WWW.DARKDISCUSSIONS.COM Movies & Television DarkDiscussions Discussion of Jason Voorhees and the Candy Man, as well as a bunch of interviews for your listening pleasure. Welcome the newest episode of Dark Discussions, your place for the discussion of horror film, fiction, and all that’s fantastic. It’s been over half a year but finally a second volume of Bits, Pieces, and Body Parts arrives. Yet with this edition we have a bit of a change. Unlike the prior episode, Episode 014, where your cohosts were live discussing genre news and reviewing a film immediately after viewing it at the local theater, this new volume is a mish mash of various subjects and topics. First off cohosts Gordon and Philip discuss some of your favorite horror icons as was the case in Episode 038, Iconic Characters in Horror. Here a short conversation on Friday the 13th’s Jason Voorhees commences before moving on to a detailed talk of the somewhat overlooked Tony Todd larger than life monster, The Candyman. Next, fantasy and zombie author Elaine Isaak and thriller author K.D. Mason are interviewed, discussing their novels and what’s coming next. Both will autograph any copies of their novels that are purchased from their websites. Continuing, Thomas Newman, the director of the zombie film Bong of the Dead and the upcoming zombie western Deadsville, is interviewed where he discusses the home video release of his debut film (February 21st , 2012) and an exciting synopsis of his highly anticipated follow up. Afterwards author Charles Day chats about his debut novel, The Legend of the Pumpkin Thief, which brings the spirit of Halloween together with the nostalgia of a Steven Spielberg movie. Lastly, cohost Eric and Philip interview the owners of Fatal Pictures, Zach Green and Richard Powell, specifically discussing their half hour psychological horror films Worm (to become a feature length production) and Familiar, to be given its world premier at Toronto Frightfest March 2nd, 2012. Familiar will be introduced by Fangoria magazine and the presentation will let the audience meet and greet the film makers. Once again, join Dark Discussions for another episode of genre fare. As always we welcome your comments: darkdiscussions@aol.com (written email or attached mp3 files) WWW.DARKDISCUSSIONS.COM 2:19:06 no horror, horror films, science fiction, fantasy, reviews http://www.darkdiscussions.com/Podcasts/Dark%20Discussions%20-%20Episode%20045%20-%20Vampires%20in%20Folklore.mp3 Thu, 22 Feb 2012 17:56:31 -0400 darkdiscussions@aol.com http://www.darkdiscussions.com/Podcasts/Dark%20Discussions%20-%20Episode%20045%20-%20Vampires%20in%20Folklore.mp3 http://www.darkdiscussions.com/Podcasts/Dark%20Discussions%20-%20Episode%20045%20-%20Vampires%20in%20Folklore.mp3 Welcome to Dark Discussions podcast. Your place for the discussion of horror film, fiction, and all that's fantastic. As discussed in Episodes 021, 023, and 029, The State of Vampires episodes, vampires in film and literature have been a staple in media for a very long time. From such novels as John Polidori’s Vampyre, Sheridan LeFanu’s Carmilla and Bram Stoker’s Dracula, never mind the penny dreadful serial Varney the Vampire, all from the 1800’s, vampires have appeared as both the main character as well as the barely seen threat in genre fiction. After the written story, next came the impressively done stage plays followed by movies. Culturally, vampires became a large part of visual entertainment that made them larger than life, in some cases as a monstrous and ugly villain as seen in Nosferatu yet in other cases as a charming yet sociopathic individual as portrayed by Bela Lugosi. But whether literature, stage play, or film, the historical monster from folklore and myth has been twisted and redefined from the original legends. Sometimes for the better and sometimes for the worse, vampires have grown and expanded by becoming many subgenres all under the name of the vampire. Dark Discussions is joined by a very special guest, publisher, historian, and author Inanna Arthen of By Light Unseen Media , to discuss the truth of what a vampire really is. Many questions and confusions are answered including whether the vampire was specific to one culture and/or religion or enlarged by biased single minded historians to include monsters from other cultures that have little traits of the vampire. Such topics as sunlight, garlic, religion, and the rural superstitious mind of the Eastern European peasant are discussed in great detail by Ms. Arthen and how the mythos of the vampire evolved to include the more famous modern tropes as well as those that have been forgotten or modified. As always we welcome your comments: darkdiscussions@aol.com (written email or attached mp3 files) WWW.DARKDISCUSSIONS.COM Movies & Television DarkDiscussions Discussion of vampire lore compared to what movies and books have portrayed. Welcome to Dark Discussions podcast. Your place for the discussion of horror film, fiction, and all that's fantastic. As discussed in Episodes 021, 023, and 029, The State of Vampires episodes, vampires in film and literature have been a staple in media for a very long time. From such novels as John Polidori’s Vampyre, Sheridan LeFanu’s Carmilla and Bram Stoker’s Dracula, never mind the penny dreadful serial Varney the Vampire, all from the 1800’s, vampires have appeared as both the main character as well as the barely seen threat in genre fiction. After the written story, next came the impressively done stage plays followed by movies. Culturally, vampires became a large part of visual entertainment that made them larger than life, in some cases as a monstrous and ugly villain as seen in Nosferatu yet in other cases as a charming yet sociopathic individual as portrayed by Bela Lugosi. But whether literature, stage play, or film, the historical monster from folklore and myth has been twisted and redefined from the original legends. Sometimes for the better and sometimes for the worse, vampires have grown and expanded by becoming many subgenres all under the name of the vampire. Dark Discussions is joined by a very special guest, publisher, historian, and author Inanna Arthen of By Light Unseen Media , to discuss the truth of what a vampire really is. Many questions and confusions are answered including whether the vampire was specific to one culture and/or religion or enlarged by biased single minded historians to include monsters from other cultures that have little traits of the vampire. Such topics as sunlight, garlic, religion, and the rural superstitious mind of the Eastern European peasant are discussed in great detail by Ms. Arthen and how the mythos of the vampire evolved to include the more famous modern tropes as well as those that have been forgotten or modified. As always we welcome your comments: darkdiscussions@aol.com (written email or attached mp3 files) WWW.DARKDISCUSSIONS.COM 1:51:41 no horror, horror films, science fiction, fantasy, reviews http://www.darkdiscussions.com/Podcasts/Dark%20Discussions%20-%20Episode%20044%20-%20The%20Grey.mp3 Thu, 16 Feb 2012 21:06:14 -0400 darkdiscussions@aol.com http://www.darkdiscussions.com/Podcasts/Dark%20Discussions%20-%20Episode%20044%20-%20The%20Grey.mp3 http://www.darkdiscussions.com/Podcasts/Dark%20Discussions%20-%20Episode%20044%20-%20The%20Grey.mp3 Welcome to Dark Discussions podcast. Your place for the discussion of horror film, fiction, and all that's fantastic. After directing such a wide range of films as The A-Team, Smoking Aces, and Narc, Joe Carnahan takes a story the story Ghost Walker by Ian MacKenzie Jeffers to the big screen. Re-titled as The Grey, the film, starring Liam Neeson in arguably a career defining performance, shows why Mr. Neeson has been considered one of the greatest actors in the past twenty years. Having already starred in Star Wars Episode 1 and Schindler’s List, Neeson’s turn as John Ottway, an employee of an Alaskan oil company, brings a complexity to a character at a crossroads in life where living and dying may be one and the same. When a plane crashes in the middle of the wilderness of Alaska, a group of survivors band together in a struggle for their lives. Having miraculously survived the unsurvivable, the group swiftly become aware of the fact that the elements and starvation are not the only things they should be afraid of. As a pack of wolves begin to stalk the men, a journey both for their lives as well as coming to grips with their own personal demons begins. From a nightmare of brutality, their trek widens into a passage towards spiritual relief and absolute deliverance. With an existential back story that draws its horrors from the viewpoint of the ambiguity of human identity, man’s place in the world, alienation of the individual, and the loss of spiritual faith, the wolves appear more as metaphors for each man’s burdens rather than monsters on the hunt. Dark Discussions delivers an episode discussing why all who are listening should see this film. No matter that the Hobbit, the Avengers, Batman Rises, or Prometheus are coming, the film that everyone should see in 2012 is The Grey. As always we welcome your comments: darkdiscussions@aol.com (written email or attached mp3 files) WWW.DARKDISCUSSIONS.COM Movies & Television DarkDiscussions The movie, The Grey, is discussed. This is a film that will easily be remembered as one of the best of 2012. Welcome to Dark Discussions podcast. Your place for the discussion of horror film, fiction, and all that's fantastic. After directing such a wide range of films as The A-Team, Smoking Aces, and Narc, Joe Carnahan takes a story the story Ghost Walker by Ian MacKenzie Jeffers to the big screen. Re-titled as The Grey, the film, starring Liam Neeson in arguably a career defining performance, shows why Mr. Neeson has been considered one of the greatest actors in the past twenty years. Having already starred in Star Wars Episode 1 and Schindler’s List, Neeson’s turn as John Ottway, an employee of an Alaskan oil company, brings a complexity to a character at a crossroads in life where living and dying may be one and the same. When a plane crashes in the middle of the wilderness of Alaska, a group of survivors band together in a struggle for their lives. Having miraculously survived the unsurvivable, the group swiftly become aware of the fact that the elements and starvation are not the only things they should be afraid of. As a pack of wolves begin to stalk the men, a journey both for their lives as well as coming to grips with their own personal demons begins. From a nightmare of brutality, their trek widens into a passage towards spiritual relief and absolute deliverance. With an existential back story that draws its horrors from the viewpoint of the ambiguity of human identity, man’s place in the world, alienation of the individual, and the loss of spiritual faith, the wolves appear more as metaphors for each man’s burdens rather than monsters on the hunt. Dark Discussions delivers an episode discussing why all who are listening should see this film. No matter that the Hobbit, the Avengers, Batman Rises, or Prometheus are coming, the film that everyone should see in 2012 is The Grey. As always we welcome your comments: darkdiscussions@aol.com (written email or attached mp3 files) WWW.DARKDISCUSSIONS.COM 2:24:28 no horror, horror films, science fiction, fantasy, reviews http://www.darkdiscussions.com/Podcasts/Dark%20Discussions%20-%20Episode%20043%20-%20Paranormal%20Activity.mp3 Fri, 10 Feb 2012 09:19:44 -0400 darkdiscussions@aol.com http://www.darkdiscussions.com/Podcasts/Dark%20Discussions%20-%20Episode%20043%20-%20Paranormal%20Activity.mp3 http://www.darkdiscussions.com/Podcasts/Dark%20Discussions%20-%20Episode%20043%20-%20Paranormal%20Activity.mp3 Welcome to Dark Discussions podcast. Your place for the discussion of horror film, fiction, and all that's fantastic. In 2007, a low budget film made with a price of $15,000 USD began to make the film festival circuit to astonishingly high praise. One horror website, Dreadcentral, spoke highly of it two years prior to its 2009 general release to film audiences in. The movie, Paranormal Activity, seemed to bring back the feel of the old ghost story that had been missing in genre film since the Nicole Kidman vehicle, The Others. But unlike the usual tale of the apparition, Paranormal Activity was both done as found footage and cinéma vérité with a twist. What may be haunting the residents may be more than a ghostly presence. When the film was picked up by Paramount Pictures and Dreamworks for a price of $350,000, an original marketing campaign began which brought the film to the attention of audiences before going on to gross $193,000,000 USD. With such a success, in 2010 a follow up was made that was as critically praised as the original while going on to sweep Halloween box offices and possibly beginning a new horror franchise to replace the Saw series. When in 2011, a prequel was made which went on to become the highest grossing opening of any horror film in history, the Paranormal Activity franchise was secure. In a three year span, the trilogy made for a mere $8,000,000 USD went on to gross over $500,000,000 USD. Though a backlash by some horror fans has followed, the series has become a staple to general audiences while keeping to the roots of low budget film making. Eric and Philip discuss the franchise and how a inexpensively made film went on to become the center of one of the most popular horror franchises of all time. As always we welcome your comments: darkdiscussions@aol.com (written email or attached mp3 files) WWW.DARKDISCUSSIONS.COM Movies & Television DarkDiscussions Paranormal Activity and its sequels: discussion on the franchise and how it changed horror films. Welcome to Dark Discussions podcast. Your place for the discussion of horror film, fiction, and all that's fantastic. In 2007, a low budget film made with a price of $15,000 USD began to make the film festival circuit to astonishingly high praise. One horror website, Dreadcentral, spoke highly of it two years prior to its 2009 general release to film audiences in. The movie, Paranormal Activity, seemed to bring back the feel of the old ghost story that had been missing in genre film since the Nicole Kidman vehicle, The Others. But unlike the usual tale of the apparition, Paranormal Activity was both done as found footage and cinéma vérité with a twist. What may be haunting the residents may be more than a ghostly presence. When the film was picked up by Paramount Pictures and Dreamworks for a price of $350,000, an original marketing campaign began which brought the film to the attention of audiences before going on to gross $193,000,000 USD. With such a success, in 2010 a follow up was made that was as critically praised as the original while going on to sweep Halloween box offices and possibly beginning a new horror franchise to replace the Saw series. When in 2011, a prequel was made which went on to become the highest grossing opening of any horror film in history, the Paranormal Activity franchise was secure. In a three year span, the trilogy made for a mere $8,000,000 USD went on to gross over $500,000,000 USD. Though a backlash by some horror fans has followed, the series has become a staple to general audiences while keeping to the roots of low budget film making. Eric and Philip discuss the franchise and how a inexpensively made film went on to become the center of one of the most popular horror franchises of all time. As always we welcome your comments: darkdiscussions@aol.com (written email or attached mp3 files) WWW.DARKDISCUSSIONS.COM 1:58:40 no horror, horror films, science fiction, fantasy, reviews http://www.darkdiscussions.com/Podcasts/Dark%20Discussions%20-%20Episode%20042%20-%20Below.mp3 Thu, 2 Feb 2012 19:31:32 -0400 darkdiscussions@aol.com http://www.darkdiscussions.com/Podcasts/Dark%20Discussions%20-%20Episode%20042%20-%20Below.mp3 http://www.darkdiscussions.com/Podcasts/Dark%20Discussions%20-%20Episode%20042%20-%20Below.mp3 Welcome to Dark Discussions podcast. Your place for the discussion of horror film, fiction, and all that's fantastic. In 2002 a little seen gem of a film appeared with the generic title of Below. This itself may in part be partially to blame for the film having been overlooked. The movie was directed two years later by the Pitch Black helmed director David Twohy. The story takes place in the Atlantic Ocean during World War II focusing on an American submarine that begins to have what seems to be supernatural phenomena occur within its metal shell. With the tragic death of its lead officer, with the rescuing of three mysterious bombing survivors, with unexplained happenings of sound and site, the crew begin to wonder whether or not the submarine has a sociopathic saboteur aboard, whether it has been hexed by a long line of supernatural sailing lore, or whether the ship may actually have some sort of unexplainable malevolent entity within its hull. Having done the huge success Pitch Black, David Twohy once again delights viewers with a tale of supernatural intrigue that will have the observer keep guessing as the intricate secret of the tale slowly comes into focus. The screenplay written by Darren Aronofsky grounds the story in reality as the crew starts to slowly conclude that what is happening may in fact be paranormal as all truth based reasoning is debunked. Paranoia, claustrophobia, and the hard cold fact that there is no way out from thousands of leagues under the ocean horrifies all aboard. Dark Discussions discusses the film spoiler free and why everyone who is a fan of horror should take a peek. Starring Bruce Greenwood and Zach Galifianakis in an early role, this Twohy-Aronofsky piece of cinema is a must view. Rounding out the episode, cohosts Mike and Philip discuss comparisons of the film with Dark City, The Thirteenth Floor, The Woman in Black, and a bit of the ghostly tales of author M. R. James. As always we welcome your comments: darkdiscussions@aol.com (written email or attached mp3 files) WWW.DARKDISCUSSIONS.COM Movies & Television DarkDiscussions David Twohy directed and Darren Aronofsky written film, 2002's Below, is discussed. Welcome to Dark Discussions podcast. Your place for the discussion of horror film, fiction, and all that's fantastic. In 2002 a little seen gem of a film appeared with the generic title of Below. This itself may in part be partially to blame for the film having been overlooked. The movie was directed two years later by the Pitch Black helmed director David Twohy. The story takes place in the Atlantic Ocean during World War II focusing on an American submarine that begins to have what seems to be supernatural phenomena occur within its metal shell. With the tragic death of its lead officer, with the rescuing of three mysterious bombing survivors, with unexplained happenings of sound and site, the crew begin to wonder whether or not the submarine has a sociopathic saboteur aboard, whether it has been hexed by a long line of supernatural sailing lore, or whether the ship may actually have some sort of unexplainable malevolent entity within its hull. Having done the huge success Pitch Black, David Twohy once again delights viewers with a tale of supernatural intrigue that will have the observer keep guessing as the intricate secret of the tale slowly comes into focus. The screenplay written by Darren Aronofsky grounds the story in reality as the crew starts to slowly conclude that what is happening may in fact be paranormal as all truth based reasoning is debunked. Paranoia, claustrophobia, and the hard cold fact that there is no way out from thousands of leagues under the ocean horrifies all aboard. Dark Discussions discusses the film spoiler free and why everyone who is a fan of horror should take a peek. Starring Bruce Greenwood and Zach Galifianakis in an early role, this Twohy-Aronofsky piece of cinema is a must view. Rounding out the episode, cohosts Mike and Philip discuss comparisons of the film with Dark City, The Thirteenth Floor, The Woman in Black, and a bit of the ghostly tales of author M. R. James. As always we welcome your comments: darkdiscussions@aol.com (written email or attached mp3 files) WWW.DARKDISCUSSIONS.COM 1:23:57 no horror, horror films, science fiction, fantasy, reviews http://www.darkdiscussions.com/Podcasts/Dark%20Discussions%20-%20Episode%20041%20-%20Equinox.mp3 Thu, 26 Jan 2012 15:42:14 -0400 darkdiscussions@aol.com http://www.darkdiscussions.com/Podcasts/Dark%20Discussions%20-%20Episode%20041%20-%20Equinox.mp3 http://www.darkdiscussions.com/Podcasts/Dark%20Discussions%20-%20Episode%20041%20-%20Equinox.mp3 Welcome to Dark Discussions podcast. Your place for the discussion of horror film, fiction, and all that's fantastic. In the 1980’s and 1990’s, Stephen King’s prominence brought about a flood of mass market paperbacks to bookstores, libraries, and supermarket checkout lines. Horror reading had become the fad and anyone who had a manuscript seemed to have their books published. Unfortunately most of them were horrible or mediocre at best and by the end of the 1990’s the horror market completely collapsed leaving only a handful of the early authors having their books published for a mass audience. Today a handful of great authors are still about including Jonathan Maberry, Gord Rollo, and Brian Keene. Others have dabbled within horror such as Douglas Preston, Michael Crichton, Lincoln Child, and Scott Sigler, but many of their books cross genres into techno-thrillers and science fiction. But for those looking for a throwback to the writings of Stephen King, a new novel from 2011 entitled The Equinox by M.J. Preston was released that brought horror back to its core. When a tribe of native people in the Northwest Territories of Canada are snowed in from the world, they are forced to resort to inhuman ways of survival. When a presence is drawn to their suffering, an evil blankets over their continued existence until a misfortunate occurrence results in the spread of the terror to more populated lands. With its ensemble cast, the novel takes paths that lead to a serial killer, demonic monsters, and a police department that slowly discovers that there may be something deeper into the crimes that have transpired in their small farming town in Manitoba. Dark Discussions is joined by the author of this fantastic novel which co-host Philip has stated is one of the top ten horror novels he’s read since 2000. With the novel readily available at such stores as Amazon and Barnes and Noble, folks should go out and check their local library or get a copy for themselves. For further information on M.J. Preston, check out The Equinox website and the author page. Also you can listen to another interview by Mr. Preston at Ron’s Amazing Stories #31. As always we welcome your comments: darkdiscussions@aol.com (written email or attached mp3 files) WWW.DARKDISCUSSIONS.COM Movies & Television DarkDiscussions Discussions about the horror novel, The Equinox, with the author M.J. Preston. Welcome to Dark Discussions podcast. Your place for the discussion of horror film, fiction, and all that's fantastic. In the 1980’s and 1990’s, Stephen King’s prominence brought about a flood of mass market paperbacks to bookstores, libraries, and supermarket checkout lines. Horror reading had become the fad and anyone who had a manuscript seemed to have their books published. Unfortunately most of them were horrible or mediocre at best and by the end of the 1990’s the horror market completely collapsed leaving only a handful of the early authors having their books published for a mass audience. Today a handful of great authors are still about including Jonathan Maberry, Gord Rollo, and Brian Keene. Others have dabbled within horror such as Douglas Preston, Michael Crichton, Lincoln Child, and Scott Sigler, but many of their books cross genres into techno-thrillers and science fiction. But for those looking for a throwback to the writings of Stephen King, a new novel from 2011 entitled The Equinox by M.J. Preston was released that brought horror back to its core. When a tribe of native people in the Northwest Territories of Canada are snowed in from the world, they are forced to resort to inhuman ways of survival. When a presence is drawn to their suffering, an evil blankets over their continued existence until a misfortunate occurrence results in the spread of the terror to more populated lands. With its ensemble cast, the novel takes paths that lead to a serial killer, demonic monsters, and a police department that slowly discovers that there may be something deeper into the crimes that have transpired in their small farming town in Manitoba. Dark Discussions is joined by the author of this fantastic novel which co-host Philip has stated is one of the top ten horror novels he’s read since 2000. With the novel readily available at such stores as Amazon and Barnes and Noble, folks should go out and check their local library or get a copy for themselves. For further information on M.J. Preston, check out The Equinox website and the author page. Also you can listen to another interview by Mr. Preston at Ron’s Amazing Stories #31. As always we welcome your comments: darkdiscussions@aol.com (written email or attached mp3 files) WWW.DARKDISCUSSIONS.COM 2:05:49 no horror, horror films, science fiction, fantasy, reviews http://www.darkdiscussions.com/Podcasts/Dark%20Discussions%20-%20Episode%20040%20-%20HOTD.mp3 Thu, 19 Jan 2012 15:44:37 -0400 darkdiscussions@aol.com http://www.darkdiscussions.com/Podcasts/Dark%20Discussions%20-%20Episode%20040%20-%20HOTD.mp3 http://www.darkdiscussions.com/Podcasts/Dark%20Discussions%20-%20Episode%20040%20-%20HOTD.mp3 Welcome to Dark Discussions podcast. Your place for the discussion of horror film, fiction, and all that's fantastic. With a large fan base for genre animated films such as Heavy Metal, Fire and Ice, and Beowulf, the West has been denied the variety of product that such nations as Japan has. The land of the rising sun has filled their fanbase with series after series of science fiction, horror, and fantasy animated films both based off of original material and graphic novels. Though Western fans have graphic novels, Japanese manga, and Heavy Metal magazine, cinematic animation has been very limited. Fortunately for decades Japanese anime has been imported and dubbed into many different languages bringing with them fantastical worlds and horrific visuals. Such series as Gantz, Texhnolyze, Ergo Proxy, Mardock Scramble, and Rin have been giving an alternate yet very fulfilling experience equally as Fringe, Dexter, and True Blood have to genre fans. Dark Discussions focuses on one of the more popular Japanese imports from 2011 entitled High School of the Dead. When a group of five seniors and the twenty-six year old school nurse end up in the epicenter of a global zombie apocalypse, our six survivors attempt a breakout from the high school for lands more forgiving. With additional focus on the zombies, the series gives such shows as The Walking Dead a run for their money. Violence, adult situations, and kinetic mayhem make the struggle of our six core protagonists much more harrowing than your typical zombie media. With a roaring soundtrack, fantastic animation, a story that has the undertow of the rot of society, and three hundred minutes of frenzy surrounding the action, Dark Discussions brings an overview of one of the most exciting and satisfying viewing experiences from 2011. Get ready for a new take on zombies that illustrates a tired topic and makes it as fresh as a recently risen corpse. As always we welcome your comments: darkdiscussions@aol.com (written email or attached mp3 files) WWW.DARKDISCUSSIONS.COM Movies & Television DarkDiscussions The zombie anime High School of the Dead is discussed. Welcome to Dark Discussions podcast. Your place for the discussion of horror film, fiction, and all that's fantastic. With a large fan base for genre animated films such as Heavy Metal, Fire and Ice, and Beowulf, the West has been denied the variety of product that such nations as Japan has. The land of the rising sun has filled their fanbase with series after series of science fiction, horror, and fantasy animated films both based off of original material and graphic novels. Though Western fans have graphic novels, Japanese manga, and Heavy Metal magazine, cinematic animation has been very limited. Fortunately for decades Japanese anime has been imported and dubbed into many different languages bringing with them fantastical worlds and horrific visuals. Such series as Gantz, Texhnolyze, Ergo Proxy, Mardock Scramble, and Rin have been giving an alternate yet very fulfilling experience equally as Fringe, Dexter, and True Blood have to genre fans. Dark Discussions focuses on one of the more popular Japanese imports from 2011 entitled High School of the Dead. When a group of five seniors and the twenty-six year old school nurse end up in the epicenter of a global zombie apocalypse, our six survivors attempt a breakout from the high school for lands more forgiving. With additional focus on the zombies, the series gives such shows as The Walking Dead a run for their money. Violence, adult situations, and kinetic mayhem make the struggle of our six core protagonists much more harrowing than your typical zombie media. With a roaring soundtrack, fantastic animation, a story that has the undertow of the rot of society, and three hundred minutes of frenzy surrounding the action, Dark Discussions brings an overview of one of the most exciting and satisfying viewing experiences from 2011. Get ready for a new take on zombies that illustrates a tired topic and makes it as fresh as a recently risen corpse. As always we welcome your comments: darkdiscussions@aol.com (written email or attached mp3 files) WWW.DARKDISCUSSIONS.COM 1:35:37 no horror, horror films, science fiction, fantasy, reviews http://www.darkdiscussions.com/Podcasts/Dark%20Discussions%20-%20Episode%20039%20-%20Top%2010%202011.mp3 Wed, 11 Jan 2012 12:12:14 -0400 darkdiscussions@aol.com http://www.darkdiscussions.com/Podcasts/Dark%20Discussions%20-%20Episode%20039%20-%20Top%2010%202011.mp3 http://www.darkdiscussions.com/Podcasts/Dark%20Discussions%20-%20Episode%20039%20-%20Top%2010%202011.mp3 Welcome to Dark Discussions podcast. Your place for the discussion of horror film, fiction, and all that's fantastic. The best of the year: 2011. The definition of what makes a film a 2011 film is pretty tough with genre movies. Many were released in 2010 through the festival circuit but were not available for anyone not in a major metropolitan area. Others were foreign films and due to distribution rights they never made it to cinemas in other nations and were instead released directly to DVD but months after their initial release in their home country. As a result, our definition of a 2011 film is a movie which was rolled out to thousands of theaters or released to DVD for the first time for mass consumption. Since the films discussed are horror, to define a horror film can be a bit tough too. Each of your co-hosts had their own ideas. Horror comedy, dark thriller, supernatural suspense, exploitation, and of course slashers were considered. Even one film that was released years ago but has a new director’s cut is presented. But should films like Rise of the Planet of the Apes, Contagion, or Hobo With a Shotgun be considered? Your hosts discuss top ten lists that include some standards like Insidious, Paranormal Activity 3, and Stake Land, but also less known films such as Dream Home, The Reef, and Kidnapped. Others that may raise eyebrows that are discussed include Jon Hewitt’s X, Lars Von Trier’s Melancholia, and Kevin Smith’s Red State. The conversation touches such topics as the biggest disappointments as well as what the new year has ahead. Is 2012 the year Hollywood bounces back with big budget films like Prometheus leading the way? As one listener, Peter from Massachusetts has done, go out and watch as many on our lists as you can. As always we welcome your comments: darkdiscussions@aol.com (written email or attached mp3 files) WWW.DARKDISCUSSIONS.COM Movies & Television DarkDiscussions The top 10 films of 2011, discussions on upcoming 2012, and the most disappointing from the prior year. Welcome to Dark Discussions podcast. Your place for the discussion of horror film, fiction, and all that's fantastic. The best of the year: 2011. The definition of what makes a film a 2011 film is pretty tough with genre movies. Many were released in 2010 through the festival circuit but were not available for anyone not in a major metropolitan area. Others were foreign films and due to distribution rights they never made it to cinemas in other nations and were instead released directly to DVD but months after their initial release in their home country. As a result, our definition of a 2011 film is a movie which was rolled out to thousands of theaters or released to DVD for the first time for mass consumption. Since the films discussed are horror, to define a horror film can be a bit tough too. Each of your co-hosts had their own ideas. Horror comedy, dark thriller, supernatural suspense, exploitation, and of course slashers were considered. Even one film that was released years ago but has a new director’s cut is presented. But should films like Rise of the Planet of the Apes, Contagion, or Hobo With a Shotgun be considered? Your hosts discuss top ten lists that include some standards like Insidious, Paranormal Activity 3, and Stake Land, but also less known films such as Dream Home, The Reef, and Kidnapped. Others that may raise eyebrows that are discussed include Jon Hewitt’s X, Lars Von Trier’s Melancholia, and Kevin Smith’s Red State. The conversation touches such topics as the biggest disappointments as well as what the new year has ahead. Is 2012 the year Hollywood bounces back with big budget films like Prometheus leading the way? As one listener, Peter from Massachusetts has done, go out and watch as many on our lists as you can. As always we welcome your comments: darkdiscussions@aol.com (written email or attached mp3 files) WWW.DARKDISCUSSIONS.COM 2:11:04 no horror, horror films, science fiction, fantasy, reviews http://www.darkdiscussions.com/Podcasts/Dark%20Discussions%20-%20Episode%20038%20-%20Iconic%20Characters%20In%20Horror.mp3 Thu, 5 Jan 2012 11:25:13 -0400 darkdiscussions@aol.com http://www.darkdiscussions.com/Podcasts/Dark%20Discussions%20-%20Episode%20038%20-%20Iconic%20Characters%20In%20Horror.mp3 http://www.darkdiscussions.com/Podcasts/Dark%20Discussions%20-%20Episode%20038%20-%20Iconic%20Characters%20In%20Horror.mp3 Welcome to Dark Discussions podcast. Your place for the discussion of horror film, fiction, and all that's fantastic. Since Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein and her creation of the monster, iconic horror characters have entered the imaginations but more so the nightmares of genre fans for generations. Whether they are supernatural monsters that stalk the night for new victims, whether they are wicked sociopaths filled with murdering wrath, whether they are demonic outer beings that collect souls for hell, monsters both human and inhuman have been the focus of frightening and lurid tales both in literature and film alike. Dark Discussions takes a look into what has frightened audiences over these past forty years. With an eclectic look into the genre, four fiends of death which have brought audiences terror and dread through various film franchises are spotlighted in detail. Michael Myers of John Carpenter’s Halloween fame seems human, yet could there be a supernatural element to his beginnings? The focus of his murderous deeds make him unique as a personality. Jebidiah Morningside, better known as the Tallman in Phantasm, appears to be nothing more than the local mortician but behind closed doors some would say he’s more likely a necromancer, a demon, or maybe even the product of outer dimensions such as hell. Speaking of hell, Clive Barker’s creation of Pinhead, a demon known as a cenobite, comes calling to those who would dare summon him in search of pain and pleasure that no sane human being would seek. Lastly, Freddy Krueger of Wes Craven’s Nightmare on Elm Street returns in the nightmares of the offspring of those who murdered him after discovering while alive he had killed children for pleasure. Philip and Gordon discuss each monster and their film franchises in detail. To wrap up the episode, from the mail bag, a number of zombie podcasts are focused on (thanks to listener Wodan). They include Darker Projects which features an audio production of David Moody's 'Autumn' in six parts as well as an original, ongoing zombie production called 'Alive Inside'. Also the website Zombie Astronaut, though older, has a number of zombie audio productions for your listening pleasure. Welcome once again to another Dark Discussion. As always we welcome your comments: darkdiscussions@aol.com (written email or attached mp3 files) WWW.DARKDISCUSSIONS.COM Movies & Television DarkDiscussions A look at some of horror movies most famous icons. Welcome to Dark Discussions podcast. Your place for the discussion of horror film, fiction, and all that's fantastic. Since Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein and her creation of the monster, iconic horror characters have entered the imaginations but more so the nightmares of genre fans for generations. Whether they are supernatural monsters that stalk the night for new victims, whether they are wicked sociopaths filled with murdering wrath, whether they are demonic outer beings that collect souls for hell, monsters both human and inhuman have been the focus of frightening and lurid tales both in literature and film alike. Dark Discussions takes a look into what has frightened audiences over these past forty years. With an eclectic look into the genre, four fiends of death which have brought audiences terror and dread through various film franchises are spotlighted in detail. Michael Myers of John Carpenter’s Halloween fame seems human, yet could there be a supernatural element to his beginnings? The focus of his murderous deeds make him unique as a personality. Jebidiah Morningside, better known as the Tallman in Phantasm, appears to be nothing more than the local mortician but behind closed doors some would say he’s more likely a necromancer, a demon, or maybe even the product of outer dimensions such as hell. Speaking of hell, Clive Barker’s creation of Pinhead, a demon known as a cenobite, comes calling to those who would dare summon him in search of pain and pleasure that no sane human being would seek. Lastly, Freddy Krueger of Wes Craven’s Nightmare on Elm Street returns in the nightmares of the offspring of those who murdered him after discovering while alive he had killed children for pleasure. Philip and Gordon discuss each monster and their film franchises in detail. To wrap up the episode, from the mail bag, a number of zombie podcasts are focused on (thanks to listener Wodan). They include Darker Projects which features an audio production of David Moody's 'Autumn' in six parts as well as an original, ongoing zombie production called 'Alive Inside'. Also the website Zombie Astronaut, though older, has a number of zombie audio productions for your listening pleasure. Welcome once again to another Dark Discussion. As always we welcome your comments: darkdiscussions@aol.com (written email or attached mp3 files) WWW.DARKDISCUSSIONS.COM 1:44:38 no horror, horror films, science fiction, fantasy, reviews http://www.darkdiscussions.com/Podcasts/Dark%20Discussions%20-%20Episode%20037%20-%20Infectious%20Diseases.mp3 Wed, 28 Dec 2011 10:39:22 -0400 darkdiscussions@aol.com http://www.darkdiscussions.com/Podcasts/Dark%20Discussions%20-%20Episode%20037%20-%20Infectious%20Diseases.mp3 http://www.darkdiscussions.com/Podcasts/Dark%20Discussions%20-%20Episode%20037%20-%20Infectious%20Diseases.mp3 Welcome the newest episode of Dark Discussions, your place for the discussion of horror film, fiction, and all that’s fantastic. At times infectious diseases in horror films seem to be the cause of such horrible things as zombie outbreaks or alien plagues that spread throughout the planet and kill everyone and anything. 28 Days Later, Stephen King’s The Stand, The Crazies, and Stake Land are just a few examples of this. The disease itself is just the spark for a theme that takes different paths than the story of the plague itself. Yet both film and fiction have actually used diseases as the main theme behind their plot where together sickness and paranoia spread and each become the antagonist of the premise. With the home release of director Steven Soderbergh’s film Contagion infectious diseases once more are the forefront of table talk. Antibacterial gel, sexually transmitted disease, terrorist threats, swine flu, contaminated food … society has become not only more aware of such threats but also more fearful. Michael Crichton’s Andromeda Strain, Eli Roth’s Cabin Fever, and Masayuki Ochiai’s Infection are just some of the takes in art on how an infectious disease may extend through a group or population. Dark Discussions discusses the impact of how such real world threats have brought about some films and novels of significance to the fan of techno-thrillers and horror cinema. Unlike zombie plagues, a disease itself can be based in the possibility of fact as much as a movie about war or natural disaster. With that in mind, this type of cinema or fiction can be more frightful than anything supernatural. Co-hosts Mike and Philip take a look into these nightmares. Before we begin let’s all press once more on our antibacterial gel hand pump. As always we welcome your comments: darkdiscussions@aol.com (written email or attached mp3 files) WWW.DARKDISCUSSIONS.COM Movies & Television DarkDiscussions Infectious diseases are themselves the antagonist of horror and techno-thrillers. Welcome the newest episode of Dark Discussions, your place for the discussion of horror film, fiction, and all that’s fantastic. At times infectious diseases in horror films seem to be the cause of such horrible things as zombie outbreaks or alien plagues that spread throughout the planet and kill everyone and anything. 28 Days Later, Stephen King’s The Stand, The Crazies, and Stake Land are just a few examples of this. The disease itself is just the spark for a theme that takes different paths than the story of the plague itself. Yet both film and fiction have actually used diseases as the main theme behind their plot where together sickness and paranoia spread and each become the antagonist of the premise. With the home release of director Steven Soderbergh’s film Contagion infectious diseases once more are the forefront of table talk. Antibacterial gel, sexually transmitted disease, terrorist threats, swine flu, contaminated food … society has become not only more aware of such threats but also more fearful. Michael Crichton’s Andromeda Strain, Eli Roth’s Cabin Fever, and Masayuki Ochiai’s Infection are just some of the takes in art on how an infectious disease may extend through a group or population. Dark Discussions discusses the impact of how such real world threats have brought about some films and novels of significance to the fan of techno-thrillers and horror cinema. Unlike zombie plagues, a disease itself can be based in the possibility of fact as much as a movie about war or natural disaster. With that in mind, this type of cinema or fiction can be more frightful than anything supernatural. Co-hosts Mike and Philip take a look into these nightmares. Before we begin let’s all press once more on our antibacterial gel hand pump. As always we welcome your comments: darkdiscussions@aol.com (written email or attached mp3 files) WWW.DARKDISCUSSIONS.COM 2:30:26 no horror, horror films, science fiction, fantasy, reviews http://www.darkdiscussions.com/Podcasts/Dark%20Discussions%20-%20Episode%20036%20-%20Martyrs.mp3 Wed, 21 Dec 2011 13:31:04 -0400 darkdiscussions@aol.com http://www.darkdiscussions.com/Podcasts/Dark%20Discussions%20-%20Episode%20036%20-%20Martyrs.mp3 http://www.darkdiscussions.com/Podcasts/Dark%20Discussions%20-%20Episode%20036%20-%20Martyrs.mp3 Welcome to Dark Discussions podcast. Your place for the discussion of horror film, fiction, and all that's fantastic. What does it say to the viewer when the director, on a DVD edition, has an introduction to a film where he apologizes for what you are about to see? French director Pascal Laugier writes and directs the co-produced French and Quebec, Canadian feature film Martyrs starring the beautiful actresses Mylène Jampanoï and Morjana Alaoui. Part of the new variety of extreme French horror films, Martyrs may be the most literary and nihilistic of the bunch, yet arguably the most important. As Lucy and Anna, two young foster girls, come face to face with a simple middle class family that may have some relationship to the early childhood kidnapping and abuse of one of them, shocking violence ensues. Was the family responsible for the unexplained cruelty and exploitation which Lucy had to ordeal as a child or was it a case of mistaken identity that goes awry? What appears to be a revenge film filled with wrongful deaths may only be the scratching of the surface of a story that could include demons, cults, torture, and the very existence of God, Satan, and the afterlife. Having a lead cast that is all female and focusing on such horrible real life nightmares as child abuse, sociopathology, extreme religious conviction, mans inhumanity against man, fanatical sects both scientific and spiritual, and the unfulfilling act of vengeance, Martyrs takes an extreme approach to topics that main stream films only try to brush over. While leading the viewer to its ambiguous ending, the film changes focus at a minimum of five times and presents the audience with a new theme during each new direction. From the very opening seconds until the rolling of the final credits, the audience has no time to breathe or let sink in what they see during the film’s 94 minutes. Though just over an hour and a half, Martyrs packs a punch that most screenwriter’s only wish for. Afterwards, Mike Neel, the director of the films Drive In Horror Show and Infinite Santa, is interviewed about his work and also his upcoming projects. As always we welcome your comments: darkdiscussions@aol.com (written email or attached mp3 files) WWW.DARKDISCUSSIONS.COM Movies & Television DarkDiscussions The French Extreme film, Martyrs, is discussed and analyzed by your hosts. Welcome to Dark Discussions podcast. Your place for the discussion of horror film, fiction, and all that's fantastic. What does it say to the viewer when the director, on a DVD edition, has an introduction to a film where he apologizes for what you are about to see? French director Pascal Laugier writes and directs the co-produced French and Quebec, Canadian feature film Martyrs starring the beautiful actresses Mylène Jampanoï and Morjana Alaoui. Part of the new variety of extreme French horror films, Martyrs may be the most literary and nihilistic of the bunch, yet arguably the most important. As Lucy and Anna, two young foster girls, come face to face with a simple middle class family that may have some relationship to the early childhood kidnapping and abuse of one of them, shocking violence ensues. Was the family responsible for the unexplained cruelty and exploitation which Lucy had to ordeal as a child or was it a case of mistaken identity that goes awry? What appears to be a revenge film filled with wrongful deaths may only be the scratching of the surface of a story that could include demons, cults, torture, and the very existence of God, Satan, and the afterlife. Having a lead cast that is all female and focusing on such horrible real life nightmares as child abuse, sociopathology, extreme religious conviction, mans inhumanity against man, fanatical sects both scientific and spiritual, and the unfulfilling act of vengeance, Martyrs takes an extreme approach to topics that main stream films only try to brush over. While leading the viewer to its ambiguous ending, the film changes focus at a minimum of five times and presents the audience with a new theme during each new direction. From the very opening seconds until the rolling of the final credits, the audience has no time to breathe or let sink in what they see during the film’s 94 minutes. Though just over an hour and a half, Martyrs packs a punch that most screenwriter’s only wish for. Afterwards, Mike Neel, the director of the films Drive In Horror Show and Infinite Santa, is interviewed about his work and also his upcoming projects. As always we welcome your comments: darkdiscussions@aol.com (written email or attached mp3 files) WWW.DARKDISCUSSIONS.COM 2:28:49 no horror, horror films, science fiction, fantasy, reviews http://www.darkdiscussions.com/Podcasts/Dark%20Discussions%20-%20Episode%20035%20-%20Dead%20of%20Night.mp3 Thu, 15 Dec 2011 19:14:47 -0400 darkdiscussions@aol.com http://www.darkdiscussions.com/Podcasts/Dark%20Discussions%20-%20Episode%20035%20-%20Dead%20of%20Night.mp3 http://www.darkdiscussions.com/Podcasts/Dark%20Discussions%20-%20Episode%20035%20-%20Dead%20of%20Night.mp3 Welcome to Dark Discussions podcast. Your place for the discussion of horror film, fiction, and all that's fantastic. By an author which has many anthologies, short stories, novels, comic books, and young adult books all coming out at what seems to be at the same time, Jonathan Maberry's latest novel with a title that sounds as if it is that of an old black and white film noir was released just in time for Halloween on October 25th, 2011. Dead of Night, a thrilling and compelling zombie plague story, is much more than the generic sounding title that it is called. When a serial killer is executed at a Pennsylvania maximum security prison, unbeknownst to some, the body is claimed by an unknown relative from a rural south eastern county of the commonwealth. Reporter Billy Trout starts an investigation on what could be a significant story that eventually turns into much more than he ever expected. As his findings turn into shock, police officers JT Hammond and Desdemona Fox are called to what appears to be a routine break in at the local mortuary and funeral parlor. When what they discover is actually a major crime scene, they are forced into a life and death scenario that suddenly turns into something way over their pay grade. Co-hosts Chris and Philip discuss the next novel that should be on your reading agenda. Zombie fans will be delighted while those who are all zombied out will be encouraged by a new spin on a subgenre that needs a fresh take. Afterwards, we have a number of interviews. Eric S. Brown, author of many zombie, werewolf, and sasquatch books, is interviewed about his works and his December 2011 release A Pack of Wolves. An author from North Carolina, Eric has dabbled within the science fiction and horror genres with such titles as the Bigfoot Wars. Next up is comic book writer and creator Everett Soares of the graphic novel series Sky Pirates of Valendor. Lastly we have director Mike Neel who discusses his movies Drive In Horror Show and Infinite Santa. As always we welcome your comments: darkdiscussions@aol.com (written email or attached mp3 files) WWW.DARKDISCUSSIONS.COM Movies & Television DarkDiscussions Dead of Night, a zombie horror novel by Jonathan Maberry is discussed and reviewed. Welcome to Dark Discussions podcast. Your place for the discussion of horror film, fiction, and all that's fantastic. By an author which has many anthologies, short stories, novels, comic books, and young adult books all coming out at what seems to be at the same time, Jonathan Maberry's latest novel with a title that sounds as if it is that of an old black and white film noir was released just in time for Halloween on October 25th, 2011. Dead of Night, a thrilling and compelling zombie plague story, is much more than the generic sounding title that it is called. When a serial killer is executed at a Pennsylvania maximum security prison, unbeknownst to some, the body is claimed by an unknown relative from a rural south eastern county of the commonwealth. Reporter Billy Trout starts an investigation on what could be a significant story that eventually turns into much more than he ever expected. As his findings turn into shock, police officers JT Hammond and Desdemona Fox are called to what appears to be a routine break in at the local mortuary and funeral parlor. When what they discover is actually a major crime scene, they are forced into a life and death scenario that suddenly turns into something way over their pay grade. Co-hosts Chris and Philip discuss the next novel that should be on your reading agenda. Zombie fans will be delighted while those who are all zombied out will be encouraged by a new spin on a subgenre that needs a fresh take. Afterwards, we have a number of interviews. Eric S. Brown, author of many zombie, werewolf, and sasquatch books, is interviewed about his works and his December 2011 release A Pack of Wolves. An author from North Carolina, Eric has dabbled within the science fiction and horror genres with such titles as the Bigfoot Wars. Next up is comic book writer and creator Everett Soares of the graphic novel series Sky Pirates of Valendor. Lastly we have director Mike Neel who discusses his movies Drive In Horror Show and Infinite Santa. As always we welcome your comments: darkdiscussions@aol.com (written email or attached mp3 files) WWW.DARKDISCUSSIONS.COM 2:00:41 no horror, horror films, science fiction, fantasy, reviews http://www.darkdiscussions.com/Podcasts/Dark%20Discussions%20-%20Episode%20034%20-%20Black%20Death.mp3 Fri, 9 Dec 2011 9:49:13 -0400 darkdiscussions@aol.com http://www.darkdiscussions.com/Podcasts/Dark%20Discussions%20-%20Episode%20034%20-%20Black%20Death.mp3 http://www.darkdiscussions.com/Podcasts/Dark%20Discussions%20-%20Episode%20034%20-%20Black%20Death.mp3 Welcome to Dark Discussions podcast. Your place for the discussion of horror film, fiction, and all that's fantastic. A film based on one of the worst pandemics in the history of mankind can’t be a good and enjoyable watch, can it? When the Black Plague (also known as the Black Death) swept across Europe in the 1300’s, anywhere between 30 to 60% of the population of the continent died. No matter your age, no matter your gender, no matter your heritage or nation, if you were exposed to the disease and contracted it, you were already dead. Approximately 23% of the entire world’s population died during this time or 1 in every 5 people. The disease which was actually the bubonic plague was spread by fleas from rats who would then find a new host upon people. And the disease would spread as quick as if we were talking a zombie outbreak. Since folks had no idea how a tiny common flea was behind the spread, it was determined by the superstitious that Satan or God and His wrath had come to punish humanity. Director Christopher Smith takes a screenplay about the disease and brings us a story on how faith can be followed inaccurately. And yet, his movie entitled Black Death is so much more. It’s a story of human corruption where brilliant folks whether religious, pagan, or atheistic work the fears of the common person into a power base for their own nefarious wickedness. Dark Discussions wraps up their Christopher Smith film focus with 2010’s Black Death, a tale that tricks its viewers into thinking it to be just another anti-religious film when in fact it is a story of the demagoguery of the individual, the faith of the uninformed, the dissocial personality disorder of the sociopath, and the insanity of vengeance which one would see in a Korean revenge film. Don’t expect a happy ending to a story filled with nihilism, but do expect a fantastic film that will make one think deeply for days after the viewer has watched the credits. As always we welcome your comments: darkdiscussions@aol.com (written email or attached mp3 files) WWW.DARKDISCUSSIONS.COM Movies & Television DarkDiscussions Christopher Smith's masterpiece Black Death is discussed and analyzed. Welcome to Dark Discussions podcast. Your place for the discussion of horror film, fiction, and all that's fantastic. A film based on one of the worst pandemics in the history of mankind can’t be a good and enjoyable watch, can it? When the Black Plague (also known as the Black Death) swept across Europe in the 1300’s, anywhere between 30 to 60% of the population of the continent died. No matter your age, no matter your gender, no matter your heritage or nation, if you were exposed to the disease and contracted it, you were already dead. Approximately 23% of the entire world’s population died during this time or 1 in every 5 people. The disease which was actually the bubonic plague was spread by fleas from rats who would then find a new host upon people. And the disease would spread as quick as if we were talking a zombie outbreak. Since folks had no idea how a tiny common flea was behind the spread, it was determined by the superstitious that Satan or God and His wrath had come to punish humanity. Director Christopher Smith takes a screenplay about the disease and brings us a story on how faith can be followed inaccurately. And yet, his movie entitled Black Death is so much more. It’s a story of human corruption where brilliant folks whether religious, pagan, or atheistic work the fears of the common person into a power base for their own nefarious wickedness. Dark Discussions wraps up their Christopher Smith film focus with 2010’s Black Death, a tale that tricks its viewers into thinking it to be just another anti-religious film when in fact it is a story of the demagoguery of the individual, the faith of the uninformed, the dissocial personality disorder of the sociopath, and the insanity of vengeance which one would see in a Korean revenge film. Don’t expect a happy ending to a story filled with nihilism, but do expect a fantastic film that will make one think deeply for days after the viewer has watched the credits. As always we welcome your comments: darkdiscussions@aol.com (written email or attached mp3 files) WWW.DARKDISCUSSIONS.COM 1:56:58 no horror, horror films, science fiction, fantasy, reviews http://www.darkdiscussions.com/Podcasts/Dark%20Discussions%20-%20Episode%20033%20-%20Pitch%20Black.mp3 Fri, 2 Dec 2011 7:24:27 -0400 darkdiscussions@aol.com http://www.darkdiscussions.com/Podcasts/Dark%20Discussions%20-%20Episode%20033%20-%20Pitch%20Black.mp3 http://www.darkdiscussions.com/Podcasts/Dark%20Discussions%20-%20Episode%20033%20-%20Pitch%20Black.mp3 Welcome to Dark Discussions podcast. Your place for the discussion of horror film, fiction, and all that's fantastic. At first, what appears to be just a typical late winter film release actually turns out to be a high point in genre cinema. In the year 2000, David Twohy, the screenwriter for such action films as The Fugitive, Waterworld, and G.I. Jane, cowrites and directs a science fiction and horror thriller that would go on to define not only his career but the careers of two of its lead actors, establish one of cinema’s greatest antiheroes since John Carpenter’s Snake Plissken, and build a cult following that rivals such films as Night of the Living Dead. Pitch Black, a science fiction horror film that falls into no specific niche, has been compared to such movies as Alien, Predator, Ghost of Mars, and countless other science fiction films of years gone by. When a meteor storm forces the crash landing of a transport spacecraft on what appears to be an uninhabited desert planet, the group of survivors, including a sociopathic convict, endure the best they can with what little supplies they have. When they discover a deserted mining district, the mystery of what happened to a once thriving community turns into a nightmare. Radha Mitchell and Vin Diesel star among a wonderful supporting cast in career defining roles. Radha Mitchell would go on to become a leading lady and one of the top scream queens of the past decade starring in such films as Surrogates, Silent Hill, and The Crazies. Vin Diesel’s performance as the antihero Riddick made him an instant superstar and one of Hollywood’s top draws at the box office. Your hosts, Mike and Philip, discuss the intricacies of the movie and how each character’s failings become observations of the ambiguity of human nature. With viewpoints of utilitarianism, pragmatism, and suspicion coming into direct conflict with morality, altruism, and self-sacrifice, Pitch Black is much more profound than the monster movie that makes it one of horror fans' favorite films. As always we welcome your comments: darkdiscussions@aol.com (written email or attached mp3 files) WWW.DARKDISCUSSIONS.COM Movies & Television DarkDiscussions Pitch Black established the anti-hero Riddick and brought a brilliant science fiction horror film to the masses. Welcome to Dark Discussions podcast. Your place for the discussion of horror film, fiction, and all that's fantastic. At first, what appears to be just a typical late winter film release actually turns out to be a high point in genre cinema. In the year 2000, David Twohy, the screenwriter for such action films as The Fugitive, Waterworld, and G.I. Jane, cowrites and directs a science fiction and horror thriller that would go on to define not only his career but the careers of two of its lead actors, establish one of cinema’s greatest antiheroes since John Carpenter’s Snake Plissken, and build a cult following that rivals such films as Night of the Living Dead. Pitch Black, a science fiction horror film that falls into no specific niche, has been compared to such movies as Alien, Predator, Ghost of Mars, and countless other science fiction films of years gone by. When a meteor storm forces the crash landing of a transport spacecraft on what appears to be an uninhabited desert planet, the group of survivors, including a sociopathic convict, endure the best they can with what little supplies they have. When they discover a deserted mining district, the mystery of what happened to a once thriving community turns into a nightmare. Radha Mitchell and Vin Diesel star among a wonderful supporting cast in career defining roles. Radha Mitchell would go on to become a leading lady and one of the top scream queens of the past decade starring in such films as Surrogates, Silent Hill, and The Crazies. Vin Diesel’s performance as the antihero Riddick made him an instant superstar and one of Hollywood’s top draws at the box office. Your hosts, Mike and Philip, discuss the intricacies of the movie and how each character’s failings become observations of the ambiguity of human nature. With viewpoints of utilitarianism, pragmatism, and suspicion coming into direct conflict with morality, altruism, and self-sacrifice, Pitch Black is much more profound than the monster movie that makes it one of horror fans' favorite films. As always we welcome your comments: darkdiscussions@aol.com (written email or attached mp3 files) WWW.DARKDISCUSSIONS.COM 1:52:31 no horror, horror films, science fiction, fantasy, reviews http://www.darkdiscussions.com/Podcasts/Dark%20Discussions%20-%20Episode%20032%20-%20AnthoCon.mp3 Fri, 25 Nov 2011 12:01:37 -0400 darkdiscussions@aol.com http://www.darkdiscussions.com/Podcasts/Dark%20Discussions%20-%20Episode%20032%20-%20AnthoCon.mp3 http://www.darkdiscussions.com/Podcasts/Dark%20Discussions%20-%20Episode%20032%20-%20AnthoCon.mp3 Welcome to Dark Discussions podcast. Your place for the discussion of horror film, fiction, and all that's fantastic. Stated on their website, AnthoCon is northern New England’s only speculative fiction convention (which) showcases imaginative brilliance in speculative fiction and art, with an additional focus on the convergence of images and literature. Dark Discussions attended the convention as members of the media to mingle with fellow attendees, meet the various guests, and interview folks both famous and up and comers who’ve written novels, short stories, comics, and presented art in all the subgenres of the fantastic: horror, science fiction, fantasy, techno-thrillers, thrillers, and mysteries. In Episode 030, cohost Philip interviewed best selling horror authors Jonathan Maberry and Gord Rollo. With the latest episode of Dark Discussions, we interview other authors and artists who have spectacular genre work that all listeners of the show should not only know about but also partake in their works. Publishers like Evil Jester Press, Pink Narcissus, Raw Dog Screaming Press, and By Light Unseen Media promoted their novels and anthologies. The next generation of authors were selling their works and signing their books. Fantasy artists from the ilk of such famous artists as Frank Frazetta, Simon Bisley, and Boris Vallejo sold originals and copies of their artwork. Hand in hand with all this was a presentation of the history of absinthe followed by a tasting from the convention’s sponsor Lucid absinthe out of New Orleans. Put on your reader’s cap and grab a pen so you can start jotting down the names of all the horror and genre books that should be next on your reading queue. As always we welcome your comments: darkdiscussions@aol.com (written email or attached mp3 files) WWW.DARKDISCUSSIONS.COM Movies & Television DarkDiscussions AnthoCon, Portsmouth, NH (USA) convention focusing on speculative fiction and art. Welcome to Dark Discussions podcast. Your place for the discussion of horror film, fiction, and all that's fantastic. Stated on their website, AnthoCon is northern New England’s only speculative fiction convention (which) showcases imaginative brilliance in speculative fiction and art, with an additional focus on the convergence of images and literature. Dark Discussions attended the convention as members of the media to mingle with fellow attendees, meet the various guests, and interview folks both famous and up and comers who’ve written novels, short stories, comics, and presented art in all the subgenres of the fantastic: horror, science fiction, fantasy, techno-thrillers, thrillers, and mysteries. In Episode 030, cohost Philip interviewed best selling horror authors Jonathan Maberry and Gord Rollo. With the latest episode of Dark Discussions, we interview other authors and artists who have spectacular genre work that all listeners of the show should not only know about but also partake in their works. Publishers like Evil Jester Press, Pink Narcissus, Raw Dog Screaming Press, and By Light Unseen Media promoted their novels and anthologies. The next generation of authors were selling their works and signing their books. Fantasy artists from the ilk of such famous artists as Frank Frazetta, Simon Bisley, and Boris Vallejo sold originals and copies of their artwork. Hand in hand with all this was a presentation of the history of absinthe followed by a tasting from the convention’s sponsor Lucid absinthe out of New Orleans. Put on your reader’s cap and grab a pen so you can start jotting down the names of all the horror and genre books that should be next on your reading queue. As always we welcome your comments: darkdiscussions@aol.com (written email or attached mp3 files) WWW.DARKDISCUSSIONS.COM 2:24:36 no horror, horror films, science fiction, fantasy, reviews http://www.darkdiscussions.com/Podcasts/Dark%20Discussions%20-%20Episode%20031%20-%20Moby%20Dick.mp3 Fri, 18 Nov 2011 8:20:03 -0400 darkdiscussions@aol.com http://www.darkdiscussions.com/Podcasts/Dark%20Discussions%20-%20Episode%20031%20-%20Moby%20Dick.mp3 http://www.darkdiscussions.com/Podcasts/Dark%20Discussions%20-%20Episode%20031%20-%20Moby%20Dick.mp3 Welcome to Dark Discussions podcast. Your place for the discussion of horror film, fiction, and all that's fantastic. Dark Discussions heads to the high seas with one of the greatest yet dark adventure films of all time, John Huston’s 1956’s Moby Dick. The film starring Gregory Peck has a screenplay written by one of America’s greatest authors and was based on the novel written by yet another one of America’s greatest novelists. Ray Bradbury, the science fiction author, weaves an adaption faithful to Herman Melville’s original tale, taking dialogue straight from the source material and not only highlighting the novel’s strengths but bringing a foreboding supernatural sense to a doomed journey lead by a man set out for vengeance against a beast that may be more than just an animal. The saga of Captain Ahab, a man who but a few years earlier lost not only part of his soul but also his leg during an encounter with the white whale, delves into the depths of such high concept themes as good versus evil, mental illness, the cult of personality, the class system, and man’s place in the universe and whether God exists. John Huston’s screen direction takes a mystical turn in regards to an animal that should not exist never mind the superstition that plays upon the minds of the sailors through such phenomena as St. Elmo’s fire and an animal that appears as a thinking and intelligent monster. Co-hosts Eric and Philip discuss such topics as megalomania, monomania, anthropomorphism, sociopathology, personality cults, and mental illness as it applies to the two main antagonists, Moby Dick and Captain Ahab. Going through the film and analyzing its themes, Dark Discussions brings to the listeners a view filled with the main elements of any great thriller yet encompassing the plot points of a tale that draws upon Biblical, literary, and classical sources which are filled with existential theories. Once again, Dark Discussions welcomes you listener as we partake in our search of the White Whale! As always we welcome your comments: darkdiscussions@aol.com (written email or attached mp3 files) WWW.DARKDISCUSSIONS.COM Movies & Television DarkDiscussions An existential tour de force, Moby Dick is filled with supernatural aspects as an insane captain seeks his vengeance. Welcome to Dark Discussions podcast. Your place for the discussion of horror film, fiction, and all that's fantastic. Dark Discussions heads to the high seas with one of the greatest yet dark adventure films of all time, John Huston’s 1956’s Moby Dick. The film starring Gregory Peck has a screenplay written by one of America’s greatest authors and was based on the novel written by yet another one of America’s greatest novelists. Ray Bradbury, the science fiction author, weaves an adaption faithful to Herman Melville’s original tale, taking dialogue straight from the source material and not only highlighting the novel’s strengths but bringing a foreboding supernatural sense to a doomed journey lead by a man set out for vengeance against a beast that may be more than just an animal. The saga of Captain Ahab, a man who but a few years earlier lost not only part of his soul but also his leg during an encounter with the white whale, delves into the depths of such high concept themes as good versus evil, mental illness, the cult of personality, the class system, and man’s place in the universe and whether God exists. John Huston’s screen direction takes a mystical turn in regards to an animal that should not exist never mind the superstition that plays upon the minds of the sailors through such phenomena as St. Elmo’s fire and an animal that appears as a thinking and intelligent monster. Co-hosts Eric and Philip discuss such topics as megalomania, monomania, anthropomorphism, sociopathology, personality cults, and mental illness as it applies to the two main antagonists, Moby Dick and Captain Ahab. Going through the film and analyzing its themes, Dark Discussions brings to the listeners a view filled with the main elements of any great thriller yet encompassing the plot points of a tale that draws upon Biblical, literary, and classical sources which are filled with existential theories. Once again, Dark Discussions welcomes you listener as we partake in our search of the White Whale! As always we welcome your comments: darkdiscussions@aol.com (written email or attached mp3 files) WWW.DARKDISCUSSIONS.COM 2:11:19 no horror, horror films, science fiction, fantasy, reviews http://www.darkdiscussions.com/Podcasts/Dark%20Discussions%20-%20Episode%20030%20-%20Maberry%20and%20Rollo.mp3 Mon, 14 Nov 2011 14:21:37 -0400 darkdiscussions@aol.com http://www.darkdiscussions.com/Podcasts/Dark%20Discussions%20-%20Episode%20030%20-%20Maberry%20and%20Rollo.mp3 http://www.darkdiscussions.com/Podcasts/Dark%20Discussions%20-%20Episode%20030%20-%20Maberry%20and%20Rollo.mp3 Welcome to Dark Discussions podcast. Your place for the discussion of horror film, fiction, and all that's fantastic. For horror fiction fans, Jonathan Maberry and Gord Rollo are two of the most popular horror writers to bring frights and chills to readers throughout the world. Jonathan Maberry is a New York Times best selling author and has won such prestigious awards as the Bram Stoker Award for best first novel. His career includes ten horror and techno-thriller novels including books about zombies, werewolves, both pre and post apocalyptic worlds, and bio genetic monsters. He has contributed to numerous horror and genre anthologies plus is a comic book freelance author. Gord Rollo has four published novels including Jigsaw Man, Valley of the Scarecrow, Strange Magic, and Crimson. From a modern day Frankenstein to deals with the devil, his novels have become favorites of readers who love horror based in real world settings as well as those focusing within the supernatural. His short fiction has been part of some of the more popular horror anthologies. Dark Discussions was able to interview both authors at the Portsmouth, NH (U.S.A.) 2011’s Anthocon speculative writers and artists convention focusing on such genres as horror, fantasy, science fiction, techno-thrillers, thrillers, and mysteries. Both Jonathan Maberry and Gord Rollo read for attendees and were able to answer questions for fans and readers alike. Each were kind enough to take some time with cohost Philip. Some highlights include Jonathan Maberry taking us through a funny story between himself, Charlaine Harris (author of True Blood) and Jeff Lindsay (author of Dexter). Also while interviewing Gord Rollo we have an appearance by Brian Keene. But both Jonathan Maberry and Gord Rollo let the listeners know more about their work, their writing, and all that goes bump in the night. As always we welcome your comments: darkdiscussions@aol.com (written email or attached mp3 files) WWW.DARKDISCUSSIONS.COM Movies & Television DarkDiscussions Authors Jonathan Maberry and Gord Rollo welcome interviews with Dark Discussions at Anthocon. Welcome to Dark Discussions podcast. Your place for the discussion of horror film, fiction, and all that's fantastic. For horror fiction fans, Jonathan Maberry and Gord Rollo are two of the most popular horror writers to bring frights and chills to readers throughout the world. Jonathan Maberry is a New York Times best selling author and has won such prestigious awards as the Bram Stoker Award for best first novel. His career includes ten horror and techno-thriller novels including books about zombies, werewolves, both pre and post apocalyptic worlds, and bio genetic monsters. He has contributed to numerous horror and genre anthologies plus is a comic book freelance author. Gord Rollo has four published novels including Jigsaw Man, Valley of the Scarecrow, Strange Magic, and Crimson. From a modern day Frankenstein to deals with the devil, his novels have become favorites of readers who love horror based in real world settings as well as those focusing within the supernatural. His short fiction has been part of some of the more popular horror anthologies. Dark Discussions was able to interview both authors at the Portsmouth, NH (U.S.A.) 2011’s Anthocon speculative writers and artists convention focusing on such genres as horror, fantasy, science fiction, techno-thrillers, thrillers, and mysteries. Both Jonathan Maberry and Gord Rollo read for attendees and were able to answer questions for fans and readers alike. Each were kind enough to take some time with cohost Philip. Some highlights include Jonathan Maberry taking us through a funny story between himself, Charlaine Harris (author of True Blood) and Jeff Lindsay (author of Dexter). Also while interviewing Gord Rollo we have an appearance by Brian Keene. But both Jonathan Maberry and Gord Rollo let the listeners know more about their work, their writing, and all that goes bump in the night. As always we welcome your comments: darkdiscussions@aol.com (written email or attached mp3 files) WWW.DARKDISCUSSIONS.COM 1:54:23 no horror, horror films, science fiction, fantasy, reviews http://www.darkdiscussions.com/Podcasts/Dark%20Discussions%20-%20Episode%20029%20-%20Vampires%20Part%203.mp3 Fri, 11 Nov 2011 8:18:11 -0400 darkdiscussions@aol.com http://www.darkdiscussions.com/Podcasts/Dark%20Discussions%20-%20Episode%20029%20-%20Vampires%20Part%203.mp3 http://www.darkdiscussions.com/Podcasts/Dark%20Discussions%20-%20Episode%20029%20-%20Vampires%20Part%203.mp3 Welcome to Dark Discussions podcast. Your place for the discussion of horror film, fiction, and all that's fantastic. As the modern vampire haunts cinemas, video games, and graphic novels, the best selling author Charlaine Harris creates within the written page a mind reading woman named Sookie Stackhouse who lives in an alternate yet present day world where vampires, werewolves and witches roam through a land unhidden and unafraid of humans and their superstition. True Blood, HBO’s riveting television series, created by producer Alan Ball takes Charlaine Harris’s stories to the small screen. With its elements of extreme exploitation and violence but having the traits of soap opera and romance, the series has reinvented vampires and the classic monsters once more. Paying homage to 1970’s blood and boobs drive-in fair and the violent yet romantic novels of Anne Rice, True Blood has been so successful that the production of a fifth season has begun. Dark Discussions discusses the success of the show and how it has taken television by storm. But what about less familiar vampire films? Your hosts, Mike and Philip, cite some films and programs that any vampire fan should know about. Mike mentions the Nicholas Cage film Vampire Kiss, the short lived television show Kindred the Embrace, Mario Bava’s classic film Black Sunday, and the Hammer Film Captain Kronos Vampire Hunter. Philip speaks enthusiastically about the movies Vampyres, Daughters of Darkness, and The Blood Spattered Bride, three of the most influential drive in horror vampire films of all time. Also discussed are the two Ingrid Pitt Hammer Films, Countess Dracula and the Vampire Lovers, possibly two of the best takes on the vampire. But what of other media? Two of the better vampire novels Vampyrrhic by Simon Clark and The Traveling Vampire Show by Richard Laymon are discussed. Anime has been a staple of the vampire. Such shows as Dance of the Vampire Bund, Blood+, Vampire Hunter D, and Trinity Blood have large audiences. Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Angel brought producer Joss Whedon to stardom. The CW's The Vampire Diaries has been a huge hit. The Vertigo/DC Comics graphic novel Preacher was highly influential and a throwback to the old horror comics of bygone years. Some new vampire films have become available such as the Japanese film Blood starring Aya Sugimoto and the German film We Are the Night. And two upcoming additions to the vampire film are soon to hit the big screen, Tim Burton and Johnny Depp’s Dark Shadows and Dario Argento’s Dracula 3D. Dark Discussions brings to light all these topics and more. Take out your rosary beads and pray that you can finish listening before the night falls. As always we welcome your comments: darkdiscussions@aol.com (written email or attached mp3 files) WWW.DARKDISCUSSIONS.COM Movies & Television DarkDiscussions The vampire discussion continues talking True Blood and drive in vampire classics. Welcome to Dark Discussions podcast. Your place for the discussion of horror film, fiction, and all that's fantastic. Dark Discussions continues their four episode focus on Christopher Smith and his films. As the modern vampire haunts cinemas, video games, and graphic novels, the best selling author Charlaine Harris creates within the written page a mind reading woman named Sookie Stackhouse who lives in an alternate yet present day world where vampires, werewolves and witches roam through a land unhidden and unafraid of humans and their superstition. True Blood, HBO’s riveting television series, created by producer Alan Ball takes Charlaine Harris’s stories to the small screen. With its elements of extreme exploitation and violence but having the traits of soap opera and romance, the series has reinvented vampires and the classic monsters once more. Paying homage to 1970’s blood and boobs drive-in fair and the violent yet romantic novels of Anne Rice, True Blood has been so successful that the production of a fifth season has begun. Dark Discussions discusses the success of the show and how it has taken television by storm. But what about less familiar vampire films? Your hosts, Mike and Philip, cite some films and programs that any vampire fan should know about. Mike mentions the Nicholas Cage film Vampire Kiss, the short lived television show Kindred the Embrace, Mario Bava’s classic film Black Sunday, and the Hammer Film Captain Kronos Vampire Hunter. Philip speaks enthusiastically about the movies Vampyres, Daughters of Darkness, and The Blood Spattered Bride, three of the most influential drive in horror vampire films of all time. Also discussed are the two Ingrid Pitt Hammer Films, Countess Dracula and the Vampire Lovers, possibly two of the best takes on the vampire. But what of other media? Two of the better vampire novels Vampyrrhic by Simon Clark and The Traveling Vampire Show by Richard Laymon are discussed. Anime has been a staple of the vampire. Such shows as Dance of the Vampire Bund, Blood+, Vampire Hunter D, and Trinity Blood have large audiences. Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Angel brought producer Joss Whedon to stardom. The CW's The Vampire Diaries has been a huge hit. The Vertigo/DC Comics graphic novel Preacher was highly influential and a throwback to the old horror comics of bygone years. Some new vampire films have become available such as the Japanese film Blood starring Aya Sugimoto and the German film We Are the Night. And two upcoming additions to the vampire film are soon to hit the big screen, Tim Burton and Johnny Depp’s Dark Shadows and Dario Argento’s Dracula 3D. Dark Discussions brings to light all these topics and more. Take out your rosary beads and pray that you can finish listening before the night falls. nightmares. As always we welcome your comments: darkdiscussions@aol.com (written email or attached mp3 files) WWW.DARKDISCUSSIONS.COM 1:56:47 no horror, horror films, science fiction, fantasy, reviews http://www.darkdiscussions.com/Podcasts/Dark%20Discussions%20-%20Episode%20028%20-%20Triangle.mp3 Fri, 4 Nov 2011 10:50:00 -0400 darkdiscussions@aol.com http://www.darkdiscussions.com/Podcasts/Dark%20Discussions%20-%20Episode%20028%20-%20Triangle.mp3 http://www.darkdiscussions.com/Podcasts/Dark%20Discussions%20-%20Episode%20028%20-%20Triangle.mp3 Welcome to Dark Discussions podcast. Your place for the discussion of horror film, fiction, and all that's fantastic. Dark Discussions continues their four episode focus on Christopher Smith and his films. In 2009, genre favorite, Christopher Smith, directs and screen writes his latest feature film, Triangle, a story that appears to be many things at once before turning itself into a tremendous opus and arguably one of the top horror films in over a decade. Fangoria magazine even trumps that and states it to be one of the top 300 greatest horror films of all time. Your hosts at Dark Discussions not only agree but also give their own praise upon a fantastic film by a fantastic film maker. The film stars genre favorite Melissa George in arguably the best performance of her career. Not only has she cemented herself as a modern day scream queen but with Triangle she shows she is an overlooked actress both in performance and beauty. On a beautiful sunny day not far from the stunning beaches of Miami, she, her boyfriend, and a group of their friends head out on an all day Saturday sailing cruise. The tranquil setting is suddenly interrupted by ominous storm clouds and a mysterious distress call from an unknown person. What seems to be a standard chronicle about a ghost ship suddenly veers into a story that may be anything from mental instability to the manifestation of hell on the high seas. With its atmospheric setting, its slow uncomfortable burn, and one of the most iconic visuals ever in horror film, Triangle is a movie that any true horror fan must see. Dark Discussions brings their view to this horror cinema masterpiece. Discussing the background of the plot, Eric and Philip thrash out the intricate detail Christopher Smith put into the screenwriting and how he was able to tie everything together within an ambiguous story that leaves the viewer guessing at every turn. As the backdrop, the Bermuda Triangle and its mythos penetrate every scene from the opening placard until the bitter end. Listeners, get ready for a podcast about a film that every horror fan must see. Even after the credits have rolled all who’ve experienced this motion picture will be left with conjecture and maybe even nightmares. As always we welcome your comments: darkdiscussions@aol.com (written email or attached mp3 files) WWW.DARKDISCUSSIONS.COM Movies & Television DarkDiscussions Triangle, one of the best horror films in a decade, is given a thorough discussion by your hosts. Welcome to Dark Discussions podcast. Your place for the discussion of horror film, fiction, and all that's fantastic. Dark Discussions continues their four episode focus on Christopher Smith and his films. In 2009, genre favorite, Christopher Smith, directs and screen writes his latest feature film, Triangle, a story that appears to be many things at once before turning itself into a tremendous opus and arguably one of the top horror films in over a decade. Fangoria magazine even trumps that and states it to be one of the top 300 greatest horror films of all time. Your hosts at Dark Discussions not only agree but also give their own praise upon a fantastic film by a fantastic film maker. The film stars genre favorite Melissa George in arguably the best performance of her career. Not only has she cemented herself as a modern day scream queen but with Triangle she shows she is an overlooked actress both in performance and beauty. On a beautiful sunny day not far from the stunning beaches of Miami, she, her boyfriend, and a group of their friends head out on an all day Saturday sailing cruise. The tranquil setting is suddenly interrupted by ominous storm clouds and a mysterious distress call from an unknown person. What seems to be a standard chronicle about a ghost ship suddenly veers into a story that may be anything from mental instability to the manifestation of hell on the high seas. With its atmospheric setting, its slow uncomfortable burn, and one of the most iconic visuals ever in horror film, Triangle is a movie that any true horror fan must see. Dark Discussions brings their view to this horror cinema masterpiece. Discussing the background of the plot, Eric and Philip thrash out the intricate detail Christopher Smith put into the screenwriting and how he was able to tie everything together within an ambiguous story that leaves the viewer guessing at every turn. As the backdrop, the Bermuda Triangle and its mythos penetrate every scene from the opening placard until the bitter end. Listeners, get ready for a podcast about a film that every horror fan must see. Even after the credits have rolled all who’ve experienced this motion picture will be left with conjecture and maybe even nightmares. As always we welcome your comments: darkdiscussions@aol.com (written email or attached mp3 files) WWW.DARKDISCUSSIONS.COM 1:50:11 no horror, horror films, science fiction, fantasy, reviews http://www.darkdiscussions.com/Podcasts/Dark%20Discussions%20-%20Episode%20027%20-%20Halloween%20Top%20Ten.mp3 Fri, 28 Oct 2011 8:11:31 -0400 darkdiscussions@aol.com http://www.darkdiscussions.com/Podcasts/Dark%20Discussions%20-%20Episode%20027%20-%20Halloween%20Top%20Ten.mp3 http://www.darkdiscussions.com/Podcasts/Dark%20Discussions%20-%20Episode%20027%20-%20Halloween%20Top%20Ten.mp3 Welcome to Dark Discussions podcast. Your place for the discussion of horror film, fiction, and all that's fantastic. Horror film fans, welcome to a special edition of Dark Discussions. Horror, horror, and more horror. We drop the science fiction, the techno-thrillers, and the fantasy films for a straight out take on the films that make Samhain and Halloween the time of year we all love. But what makes a great horror film? What keeps us up at night? And most importantly what makes us shift in our seats while we watch a good horror tale at a cinema or on a television? Who hasn’t done top ten lists? Until now, Dark Discussions has not. Now that we are at the midyear point of our existence and you, listeners, know us through your iPods and computers, we figured it was time to list the films that make us get that little knot of dread in our stomachs when we watch them. Eric, Philip, and Mike present each their top ten lists of horror. You won’t find any films on our lists for historical importance. No Nosferatu, no Cabinet of Dr. Caligari. Simply horror and only horror. For a hint of what we have for you, we each put together our own top ten mostly based on production value, rewatchability, and impact on our fear level. Mike has two directors with two films each represented. Philip has one director with two films on his list, but a different director than the two Mike has listed. And only one film is represented on all three lists. Philip gives his in alphabetical order while Eric and Mike are much more confident in their rankings. Dark Discussions would like to salute you, faithful listeners, for letting us discuss with you the things which scare us these past six months. So to all of you, a very hardy thank you. As always we welcome your comments: darkdiscussions@aol.com (written email or attached mp3 files) WWW.DARKDISCUSSIONS.COM Movies & Television DarkDiscussions The top ten horror films that scare the living daylights out of your hosts. Welcome to Dark Discussions podcast. Your place for the discussion of horror film, fiction, and all that's fantastic. Horror film fans, welcome to a special edition of Dark Discussions. Horror, horror, and more horror. We drop the science fiction, the techno-thrillers, and the fantasy films for a straight out take on the films that make Samhain and Halloween the time of year we all love. But what makes a great horror film? What keeps us up at night? And most importantly what makes us shift in our seats while we watch a good horror tale at a cinema or on a television? Who hasn’t done top ten lists? Until now, Dark Discussions has not. Now that we are at the midyear point of our existence and you, listeners, know us through your iPods and computers, we figured it was time to list the films that make us get that little knot of dread in our stomachs when we watch them. Eric, Philip, and Mike present each their top ten lists of horror. You won’t find any films on our lists for historical importance. No Nosferatu, no Cabinet of Dr. Caligari. Simply horror and only horror. For a hint of what we have for you, we each put together our own top ten mostly based on production value, rewatchability, and impact on our fear level. Mike has two directors with two films each represented. Philip has one director with two films on his list, but a different director than the two Mike has listed. And only one film is represented on all three lists. Philip gives his in alphabetical order while Eric and Mike are much more confident in their rankings. Dark Discussions would like to salute you, faithful listeners, for letting us discuss with you the things which scare us these past six months. So to all of you, a very hardy thank you. As always we welcome your comments: darkdiscussions@aol.com (written email or attached mp3 files) WWW.DARKDISCUSSIONS.COM 2:27:22 no horror, horror films, science fiction, fantasy, reviews http://www.darkdiscussions.com/Podcasts/Dark%20Discussions%20-%20Episode%20026%20-%20Rock%20and%20Shock%202011.mp3 Tue, 25 Oct 2011 13:58:23 -0400 darkdiscussions@aol.com http://www.darkdiscussions.com/Podcasts/Dark%20Discussions%20-%20Episode%20026%20-%20Rock%20and%20Shock%202011.mp3 http://www.darkdiscussions.com/Podcasts/Dark%20Discussions%20-%20Episode%20026%20-%20Rock%20and%20Shock%202011.mp3 Welcome to Dark Discussions podcast. Your place for the discussion of horror film, fiction, and all that's fantastic. 2011's Rock and Shock horror convention, October 14th-16th, was once again an absolute success during the month of Halloween. Fans were able to meet some of their favorite horror actors, actresses, and novelists and then mingle with such movie monster icons as Jason Voorhees, ChromeSkull, and Freddy Krueger. In attendance were genre favorites Bill Moseley, Kane Hodder, Camille Keaton, Ian McCulloch, Robert Englund, Monique Dupree, Sarah French, and Joe Knetter just to name a few. Dark Discussions, as press agents, were able to interview a number of folks including some of the cast and crew of the film Inkubus, Robert Englund’s new monster flick which world premiered with Mr. Englund in attendance (Episode 025 of Dark Discussions focuses exclusively on the film). With this second part of the convention coverage, Gordon and Philip were able to interview some of the more famous folks in attendance including such talents as Bill Moseley of the Devil’s Rejects and The Texas Chain Saw Massacre 2, Camille Keaton of I Spit On Your Grave and What Have You Done to Solange?, Joe Knetter author and screenwriter, and Ian McCulloch of Zombi and Zombie Holocaust but also a number of up and comers including the cast and crew of the new and exciting independent production entitled Serena and the Ratts. Dark Discussions would like to thank Rock and Shock for their hospitality. As in prior years, Rock and Shock was a complete success and based off what the attendees said, they can't wait for next year. As always we welcome your comments: darkdiscussions@aol.com (written email or attached mp3 files) WWW.DARKDISCUSSIONS.COM Movies & Television DarkDiscussions Coverage of 2011's Rock and Shock horror convention with interviews! Welcome to Dark Discussions podcast. Your place for the discussion of horror film, fiction, and all that's fantastic. 2011's Rock and Shock horror convention, October 14th-16th, was once again an absolute success during the month of Halloween. Fans were able to meet some of their favorite horror actors, actresses, and novelists and then mingle with such movie monster icons as Jason Voorhees, ChromeSkull, and Freddy Krueger. In attendance were genre favorites Bill Moseley, Kane Hodder, Camille Keaton, Ian McCulloch, Robert Englund, Monique Dupree, Sarah French, and Joe Knetter just to name a few. Dark Discussions, as press agents, were able to interview a number of folks including some of the cast and crew of the film Inkubus, Robert Englund’s new monster flick which world premiered with Mr. Englund in attendance (Episode 025 of Dark Discussions focuses exclusively on the film). With this second part of the convention coverage, Gordon and Philip were able to interview some of the more famous folks in attendance including such talents as Bill Moseley of the Devil’s Rejects and The Texas Chain Saw Massacre 2, Camille Keaton of I Spit On Your Grave and What Have You Done to Solange?, Joe Knetter author and screenwriter, and Ian McCulloch of Zombi and Zombie Holocaust but also a number of up and comers including the cast and crew of the new and exciting independent production entitled Serena and the Ratts. Dark Discussions would like to thank Rock and Shock for their hospitality. As in prior years, Rock and Shock was a complete success and based off what the attendees said, they can't wait for next year. As always we welcome your comments: darkdiscussions@aol.com (written email or attached mp3 files) WWW.DARKDISCUSSIONS.COM 2:40:52 no horror, horror films, science fiction, fantasy, reviews http://www.darkdiscussions.com/Podcasts/Dark%20Discussions%20-%20Episode%20025%20-%20Inkubus.mp3 Sun, 23 Oct 2011 08:35:23 -0400 darkdiscussions@aol.com http://www.darkdiscussions.com/Podcasts/Dark%20Discussions%20-%20Episode%20025%20-%20Inkubus.mp3 http://www.darkdiscussions.com/Podcasts/Dark%20Discussions%20-%20Episode%20025%20-%20Inkubus.mp3 Welcome to Dark Discussions podcast. Your place for the discussion of horror film, fiction, and all that's fantastic. Inkubus, a new and exciting horror movie, filmed in Rhode Island and starring Robert Englund, William Forsythe, Joey Fatone, and Jonathan Silverman, premiered on October 15th, 2011 at the horror convention Rock and Shock in Worcester, Massachusetts. Dark Discussions was able to attend and both prior and after the viewing received full access to the film makers as well as a number of the cast and crew. Philip and Gordon interview talented first time director Glenn Ciano and learn first hand about his vision and the background of an incredibly powerful horror film. Also Ben DeLuca, the cinematographer, ponders his role and what makes it one of the most frightening movie experiences in psychological horror to date. The film extends to a limited release on October 28th, 2011 right in time for Halloween and by early 2012 will be available on demand to over 80 million homes. Philip and Gordon give their thoughts on a very scary and well made film but first listen to Robert Englund and William Forsythe during round table discussions and interview various members of the cast and crew. As if in attendance with Dark Discussions, all our listeners get passes behind the curtain and learn first hand from all the participants about not only the making of this top notch film but also possibly a new horror franchise around a villain simply known as Inkubus. As always we welcome your comments: darkdiscussions@aol.com (written email or attached mp3 files) WWW.DARKDISCUSSIONS.COM Movies & Television DarkDiscussions Behind the scenes coverage of the world premier of Robert Englund's new film Inkubus. Welcome to Dark Discussions podcast. Your place for the discussion of horror film, fiction, and all that's fantastic. Inkubus, a new and exciting horror movie, filmed in Rhode Island and starring Robert Englund, William Forsythe, Joey Fatone, and Jonathan Silverman, premiered on October 15th, 2011 at the horror convention Rock and Shock in Worcester, Massachusetts. Dark Discussions was able to attend and both prior and after the viewing received full access to the film makers as well as a number of the cast and crew. Philip and Gordon interview talented first time director Glenn Ciano and learn first hand about his vision and the background of an incredibly powerful horror film. Also Ben DeLuca, the cinematographer, ponders his role and what makes it one of the most frightening movie experiences in psychological horror to date. The film extends to a limited release on October 28th, 2011 right in time for Halloween and by early 2012 will be available on demand to over 80 million homes. Philip and Gordon give their thoughts on a very scary and well made film but first listen to Robert Englund and William Forsythe during round table discussions and interview various members of the cast and crew. As if in attendance with Dark Discussions, all our listeners get passes behind the curtain and learn first hand from all the participants about not only the making of this top notch film but also possibly a new horror franchise around a villain simply known as Inkubus. As always we welcome your comments: darkdiscussions@aol.com (written email or attached mp3 files) WWW.DARKDISCUSSIONS.COM 1:36:55 no horror, horror films, science fiction, fantasy, reviews http://www.darkdiscussions.com/Podcasts/Dark%20Discussions%20-%20Episode%20024%20-%20Review%20-%202011%20The%20Thing.mp3 Fri, 21 Oct 2011 15:23:44 -0400 darkdiscussions@aol.com http://www.darkdiscussions.com/Podcasts/Dark%20Discussions%20-%20Episode%20024%20-%20Review%20-%202011%20The%20Thing.mp3 http://www.darkdiscussions.com/Podcasts/Dark%20Discussions%20-%20Episode%20024%20-%20Review%20-%202011%20The%20Thing.mp3 Welcome to Dark Discussions podcast. Your place for the discussion of horror film, fiction, and all that's fantastic. Probably one of the most highly anticipated films in years and also one of the most dreaded films in years as fans of John Carpenter’s The Thing have fallen on either side of the fence on whether anything should be done to his classic film. Some have been waiting for a second film featuring the 1982 universe that John Carpenter created while others have been horrified that this is just Hollywood once more attempting to make a new franchise. The new film simply entitled The Thing (2011) is released with a large marketing campaign at the right time of year only weeks prior to Halloween. With hot, hip, and beautiful actress Mary Elizabeth Winstead starring, and with a plot that takes place immediately prior to the beginnings of John Carpenter’s film, the question many had days leading up to its release would be whether fans and critics would embrace this new take on John W. Campbell’s novella, Who Goes There? Eric, Philip, and Mike come together to discuss and review the film. With little to no spoilers, a thorough and honest review with three different perspectives should most certainly give Dark Discussions listeners all they need to know before their own viewing of the film. This episode concludes with the mail bag from listeners who give their opinions on The Omen and what Dark Discussions had to say about it in Episode 022. Once more, your hosts express gratitude for your feedback and ask for you to continue to send in opinions, potential topics, and anything else on your mind. As always we welcome your comments: darkdiscussions@aol.com (written email or attached mp3 files) WWW.DARKDISCUSSIONS.COM Movies & Television DarkDiscussions Indepth spoiler free review of 2011's The Thing. Welcome to Dark Discussions podcast. Your place for the discussion of horror film, fiction, and all that's fantastic. Probably one of the most highly anticipated films in years and also one of the most dreaded films in years as fans of John Carpenter’s The Thing have fallen on either side of the fence on whether anything should be done to his classic film. Some have been waiting for a second film featuring the 1982 universe that John Carpenter created while others have been horrified that this is just Hollywood once more attempting to make a new franchise. The new film simply entitled The Thing (2011) is released with a large marketing campaign at the right time of year only weeks prior to Halloween. With hot, hip, and beautiful actress Mary Elizabeth Winstead starring, and with a plot that takes place immediately prior to the beginnings of John Carpenter’s film, the question many had days leading up to its release would be whether fans and critics would embrace this new take on John W. Campbell’s novella, Who Goes There? Eric, Philip, and Mike come together to discuss and review the film. With little to no spoilers, a thorough and honest review with three different perspectives should most certainly give Dark Discussions listeners all they need to know before their own viewing of the film. This episode concludes with the mail bag from listeners who give their opinions on The Omen and what Dark Discussions had to say about it in Episode 022. Once more, your hosts express gratitude for your feedback and ask for you to continue to send in opinions, potential topics, and anything else on your mind. As always we welcome your comments: darkdiscussions@aol.com (written email or attached mp3 files) WWW.DARKDISCUSSIONS.COM 1:31:48 no horror, horror films, science fiction, fantasy, reviews http://www.darkdiscussions.com/Podcasts/Dark%20Discussions%20-%20Episode%20023%20-%20Vampires%20Part%202.mp3 Tue, 18 Oct 2011 9:41:55 -0400 darkdiscussions@aol.com http://www.darkdiscussions.com/Podcasts/Dark%20Discussions%20-%20Episode%20023%20-%20Vampires%20Part%202.mp3 http://www.darkdiscussions.com/Podcasts/Dark%20Discussions%20-%20Episode%20023%20-%20Vampires%20Part%202.mp3 Welcome to Dark Discussions, your place for the discussion of horror film, fiction, and all that’s fantastic. As the 1990’s begin, the tale of nosferatu, the vampire, follows many different approaches that quite differ from the historical monster known to be the spawn of hell and an enemy of Christianity and the Roman Catholic Church. With Anne Rice’s 1973 novel Interview With the Vampire produced for the big screen, vampires, though still quite violent and horrific, start to take on a new face. Romantic themes permeate the back story as death and loss follow every move of the creatures of the night. Vampires as central characters become the focus of such films. As protagonists and antiheroes, the vampire becomes an individual that film audiences are more able to feel for but as a result the horror element begins to fade from the mythos. Stories such as Underworld and Blade make the monster almost appear as if they are superheroes. Action and stylized violence brings a rebirth to a tired genre but also makes fans of the traditional monster wish for the bygone days. While such series as the Twilight Saga bring in a new audience of fans, those searching for the vampire as a monster are offered such films as 30 Days of Night, Stakeland and Let the Right One In bringing hope to the devotee of traditional vampires. Other takes include a scientific approach such as Daybreakers, a gothic return to the Hammer days with Lesbian Vampire Killers, the Korean film Thirst filled with Catholicism essentials, and a coming of age horror tale The Hamiltons. Dark Discussions continues with their second part of their vampire retrospective. Philip and Mike talk about how the vampire has changed these past few years and what it means to cinema and the history of the monster. From Dusk Till Dawn to 2011’s Fright Night, though the vampire may have changed, their taste for human blood has not. Come listen, faithful listeners, as we all wait for the sun to rise. As always we welcome your comments: darkdiscussions@aol.com (written email or attached mp3 files) WWW.DARKDISCUSSIONS.COM Movies & Television DarkDiscussions Vampires in film and literature from 1993 to the present. Welcome to Dark Discussions, your place for the discussion of horror film, fiction, and all that’s fantastic. As the 1990’s begin, the tale of nosferatu, the vampire, follows many different approaches that quite differ from the historical monster known to be the spawn of hell and an enemy of Christianity and the Roman Catholic Church. With Anne Rice’s 1973 novel Interview With the Vampire produced for the big screen, vampires, though still quite violent and horrific, start to take on a new face. Romantic themes permeate the back story as death and loss follow every move of the creatures of the night. Vampires as central characters become the focus of such films. As protagonists and antiheroes, the vampire becomes an individual that film audiences are more able to feel for but as a result the horror element begins to fade from the mythos. Stories such as Underworld and Blade make the monster almost appear as if they are superheroes. Action and stylized violence brings a rebirth to a tired genre but also makes fans of the traditional monster wish for the bygone days. While such series as the Twilight Saga bring in a new audience of fans, those searching for the vampire as a monster are offered such films as 30 Days of Night, Stakeland and Let the Right One In bringing hope to the devotee of traditional vampires. Other takes include a scientific approach such as Daybreakers, a gothic return to the Hammer days with Lesbian Vampire Killers, the Korean film Thirst filled with Catholicism essentials, and a coming of age horror tale The Hamiltons. Dark Discussions continues with their second part of their vampire retrospective. Philip and Mike talk about how the vampire has changed these past few years and what it means to cinema and the history of the monster. From Dusk Till Dawn to 2011’s Fright Night, though the vampire may have changed, their taste for human blood has not. Come listen, faithful listeners, as we all wait for the sun to rise. As always we welcome your comments: darkdiscussions@aol.com (written email or attached mp3 files) WWW.DARKDISCUSSIONS.COM 2:35:14 no horror, horror films, science fiction, fantasy, reviews http://www.darkdiscussions.com/Podcasts/Dark%20Discussions%20-%20Episode%20022%20-%20The%20Omen.mp3 Tue, 11 Oct 2011 3:27:41 -0400 darkdiscussions@aol.com http://www.darkdiscussions.com/Podcasts/Dark%20Discussions%20-%20Episode%20022%20-%20The%20Omen.mp3 http://www.darkdiscussions.com/Podcasts/Dark%20Discussions%20-%20Episode%20022%20-%20The%20Omen.mp3 Welcome the newest episode of Dark Discussions, your place for the discussion of horror film, fiction, and all that’s fantastic. Throughout millennia the devil has caused more fear in the hearts of humanity than any other being. The incarnate of evil and the ruler of hell, Satan has tempted the fate of man from the very beginning. When St. John the Divine wrote the Book of Revelations in which the end of the world was to come, he described that prior to the closing stages of the present, a man would come that would lead an apocalypse. And that man would be the antichrist, the son of Satan. In the late 1960’s, specifically in the United States of America, a fear of demonic and satanic cults swept the nation. Churches and communities became paranoid with the changes to society and at points were taken with the belief that all was related to the devil himself and his power over humanity. Following the wave of hysteria, culture followed where authors and movie producers took note and began producing suspenseful horror fiction that went straight to the top of best seller lists and box office gross. In the mid 1970’s 20th Century Fox released the Richard Donner directed film, The Omen, a story about a little boy from a wealthy political family that may be much more than what he actually seems to be. With Jerry Goldsmith’s Academy Award winning score, with Gregory Peck starring, surrounded by a great supporting cast, the movie was critically well received, triumphed at the box office, and has become a classic in the same breath with such films as The Godfather, Star Wars, and On the Water Front. Dark Discussions’ hosts, Eric and Philip, converse about the film in detail and how it has resonated with both film historians as well as horror fans alike. With its fantastic screenplay, great acting, and fabulous score, every fan of film, never mind horror stories, should partake in the viewing of this spectacular movie. As always we welcome your comments: darkdiscussions@aol.com (written email or attached mp3 files) WWW.DARKDISCUSSIONS.COM Movies & Television DarkDiscussions Dark Discussions converses on the legacy of one of the greatest films of all time, The Omen. Welcome the newest episode of Dark Discussions, your place for the discussion of horror film, fiction, and all that’s fantastic. Throughout millennia the devil has caused more fear in the hearts of humanity than any other being. The incarnate of evil and the ruler of hell, Satan has tempted the fate of man from the very beginning. When St. John the Divine wrote the Book of Revelations in which the end of the world was to come, he described that prior to the closing stages of the present, a man would come that would lead an apocalypse. And that man would be the antichrist, the son of Satan. In the late 1960’s, specifically in the United States of America, a fear of demonic and satanic cults swept the nation. Churches and communities became paranoid with the changes to society and at points were taken with the belief that all was related to the devil himself and his power over humanity. Following the wave of hysteria, culture followed where authors and movie producers took note and began producing suspenseful horror fiction that went straight to the top of best seller lists and box office gross. In the mid 1970’s 20th Century Fox released the Richard Donner directed film, The Omen, a story about a little boy from a wealthy political family that may be much more than what he actually seems to be. With Jerry Goldsmith’s Academy Award winning score, with Gregory Peck starring, surrounded by a great supporting cast, the movie was critically well received, triumphed at the box office, and has become a classic in the same breath with such films as The Godfather, Star Wars, and On the Water Front. Dark Discussions’ hosts, Eric and Philip, converse about the film in detail and how it has resonated with both film historians as well as horror fans alike. With its fantastic screenplay, great acting, and fabulous score, every fan of film, never mind horror stories, should partake in the viewing of this spectacular movie. As always we welcome your comments: darkdiscussions@aol.com (written email or attached mp3 files) WWW.DARKDISCUSSIONS.COM 2:13:45 no horror, horror films, science fiction, fantasy, reviews http://www.darkdiscussions.com/Podcasts/Dark%20Discussions%20-%20Episode%20021%20-%20Vampires%20Part%201.mp3 Wed, 05 Oct 2011 8:33:41 -0400 darkdiscussions@aol.com http://www.darkdiscussions.com/Podcasts/Dark%20Discussions%20-%20Episode%20021%20-%20Vampires%20Part%201.mp3 http://www.darkdiscussions.com/Podcasts/Dark%20Discussions%20-%20Episode%20021%20-%20Vampires%20Part%201.mp3 Welcome the newest episode of Dark Discussions, your place for the discussion of horror film, fiction, and all that’s fantastic. Though vampires have been part of the fabric of myths and folklore throughout the centuries of both cultures and countries, it wasn’t until a fifty year old Irish immigrant and theater manager out of England named Abraham Stoker published a pulp novel entitled Dracula that the creatures of the night developed into arguably the most important monster in horror and genre fiction ever. Bram Stoker’s creation brought about a sociopathic being of a sexual predatory nature that entered the nightmares of any who happened to read this very successful tale of the supernatural. Beginning with Universal Pictures 1931 film Dracula starring acting legend Bela Lugosi, this iconic character lead the way for such other movie monster franchises as Frankenstein, the Wolfman, and our more modern nightmares of Freddy Krueger, Leatherface, and Michael Myers. Other production companies followed with their take. Hammer Studios beginning in the late 1950's brought Christopher Lee to the role and a run of both Dracula and vampire films filled with gothic, exploitation, and horror essentials made for an entertaining and chilling success of a film. Yet with the cultural revolution of the motion picture, where such shocking cinema as Bonnie and Clyde, Midnight Cowboy, and the grindhouse films of New York’s 42nd Street came to fruition, the vampire, too, had an upheaval that brought the vampire into the modern world. Your hosts, Mike and Philip, discuss the beginnings of this monster, its turn from the gentleman fiend that Bela Lugosi portrayed to its various roles in such films as Near Dark, Martin, and ‘Salem’s Lot. Lock your doors, listeners, as Dark Discussions gives its view during this first part of a very blood letting dialogue between our hosts on the lurid nightmare known to many as simply nosferatu. As always we welcome your comments: darkdiscussions@aol.com (written email or attached mp3 files) WWW.DARKDISCUSSIONS.COM Movies & Television DarkDiscussions Vampires, the history of them and what they are today, part 1. Welcome the newest episode of Dark Discussions, your place for the discussion of horror film, fiction, and all that’s fantastic. Though vampires have been part of the fabric of myths and folklore throughout the centuries of both cultures and countries, it wasn’t until a fifty year old Irish immigrant and theater manager out of England named Abraham Stoker published a pulp novel entitled Dracula that the creatures of the night developed into arguably the most important monster in horror and genre fiction ever. Bram Stoker’s creation brought about a sociopathic being of a sexual predatory nature that entered the nightmares of any who happened to read this very successful tale of the supernatural. Beginning with Universal Pictures 1931 film Dracula starring acting legend Bela Lugosi, this iconic character lead the way for such other movie monster franchises as Frankenstein, the Wolfman, and our more modern nightmares of Freddy Krueger, Leatherface, and Michael Myers. Other production companies followed with their take. Hammer Studios beginning in the late 1950's brought Christopher Lee to the role and a run of both Dracula and vampire films filled with gothic, exploitation, and horror essentials made for an entertaining and chilling success of a film. Yet with the cultural revolution of the motion picture, where such shocking cinema as Bonnie and Clyde, Midnight Cowboy, and the grindhouse films of New York’s 42nd Street came to fruition, the vampire, too, had an upheaval that brought the vampire into the modern world. Your hosts, Mike and Philip, discuss the beginnings of this monster, its turn from the gentleman fiend that Bela Lugosi portrayed to its various roles in such films as Near Dark, Martin, and ‘Salem’s Lot. Lock your doors, listeners, as Dark Discussions gives its view during this first part of a very blood letting dialogue between our hosts on the lurid nightmare known to many as simply nosferatu. As always we welcome your comments: darkdiscussions@aol.com (written email or attached mp3 files) WWW.DARKDISCUSSIONS.COM 2:09:53 no horror, horror films, science fiction, fantasy, reviews http://www.darkdiscussions.com/Podcasts/Dark%20Discussions%20-%20Episode%20020%20-%20Horror%20Realm%202011%20Part%201.mp3 Wed, 28 Sep 2011 9:01:23 -0400 darkdiscussions@aol.com http://www.darkdiscussions.com/Podcasts/Dark%20Discussions%20-%20Episode%20020%20-%20Horror%20Realm%202011%20Part%201.mp3 http://www.darkdiscussions.com/Podcasts/Dark%20Discussions%20-%20Episode%20020%20-%20Horror%20Realm%202011%20Part%201.mp3 Welcome to Dark Discussions podcast. Your place for the discussion of horror film, fiction, and all that's fantastic. Two files, one episode. No kidding, you read that correctly. Dark Discussions presents to you a two part episode of 2011’s Horror Realm Convention, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania’s great horror symposium. Now in existence for three years, Horror Realm revels in the fact that it resides in the city of the living dead. That’s right, George A. Romero’s Night of the Living Dead as well as Dawn of the Dead not only take place in the suburbs of the city, but George A. Romero and the majority of the cast and crew are all natives to Pittsburgh and its surrounding areas. Though the Pittsburgh Pirates have been a member of the living dead for many years, just like the Steelers, zombies are alive and well. Dark Discussions presents to our listeners interviews and more interviews. Mike drives the four to six hours, scavenging for gas, food, and water while avoiding the zombie apocalypse to get to downtown Pittsburgh. With a host of horror names like Jack Ketchum, Bill Moseley, Ken Foree, Tiffany Shepis, Kim Paffenroth, Linnea Quigley, among others, Horror Realm offered multiple venders, authors, and film producers for the fans to meet and talk with. Rather than go into details of who Mike spoke with, simply go to www.darkdiscussions.com to link to their sites. Now come inside and listen to the two part podcast if you dare. As always we welcome your comments: darkdiscussions@aol.com (written email or attached mp3 files) WWW.DARKDISCUSSIONS.COM Movies & Television DarkDiscussions 2011 Horror Realm Convention in Pittsburgh, PA (Part 1 of a 2 part episode released simultaneously). Welcome to Dark Discussions podcast. Your place for the discussion of horror film, fiction, and all that's fantastic. Two files, one episode. No kidding, you read that correctly. Dark Discussions presents to you a two part episode of 2011’s Horror Realm Convention, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania’s great horror symposium. Now in existence for three years, Horror Realm revels in the fact that it resides in the city of the living dead. That’s right, George A. Romero’s Night of the Living Dead as well as Dawn of the Dead not only take place in the suburbs of the city, but George A. Romero and the majority of the cast and crew are all natives to Pittsburgh and its surrounding areas. Though the Pittsburgh Pirates have been a member of the living dead for many years, just like the Steelers, zombies are alive and well. Dark Discussions presents to our listeners interviews and more interviews. Mike drives the four to six hours, scavenging for gas, food, and water while avoiding the zombie apocalypse to get to downtown Pittsburgh. With a host of horror names like Jack Ketchum, Bill Moseley, Ken Foree, Tiffany Shepis, Kim Paffenroth, Linnea Quigley, among others, Horror Realm offered multiple venders, authors, and film producers for the fans to meet and talk with. Rather than go into details of who Mike spoke with, simply go to www.darkdiscussions.com to link to their sites. Now come inside and listen to the two part podcast if you dare. As always we welcome your comments: darkdiscussions@aol.com (written email or attached mp3 files) WWW.DARKDISCUSSIONS.COM 2:18:33 no horror, horror films, science fiction, fantasy, reviews http://www.darkdiscussions.com/Podcasts/Dark%20Discussions%20-%20Episode%20020%20-%20Horror%20Realm%202011%20Part%202.mp3 Wed, 28 Sep 2011 9:00:10 -0400 darkdiscussions@aol.com http://www.darkdiscussions.com/Podcasts/Dark%20Discussions%20-%20Episode%20020%20-%20Horror%20Realm%202011%20Part%202.mp3 http://www.darkdiscussions.com/Podcasts/Dark%20Discussions%20-%20Episode%20020%20-%20Horror%20Realm%202011%20Part%202.mp3 Welcome to Dark Discussions podcast. Your place for the discussion of horror film, fiction, and all that's fantastic. Two files, one episode. No kidding, you read that correctly. Dark Discussions presents to you a two part episode of 2011’s Horror Realm Convention, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania’s great horror symposium. Now in existence for three years, Horror Realm revels in the fact that it resides in the city of the living dead. That’s right, George A. Romero’s Night of the Living Dead as well as Dawn of the Dead not only take place in the suburbs of the city, but George A. Romero and the majority of the cast and crew are all natives to Pittsburgh and its surrounding areas. Though the Pittsburgh Pirates have been a member of the living dead for many years, just like the Steelers, zombies are alive and well. Dark Discussions presents to our listeners interviews and more interviews. Mike drives the four to six hours, scavenging for gas, food, and water while avoiding the zombie apocalypse to get to downtown Pittsburgh. With a host of horror names like Jack Ketchum, Bill Moseley, Ken Foree, Tiffany Shepis, Kim Paffenroth, Linnea Quigley, among others, Horror Realm offered multiple venders, authors, and film producers for the fans to meet and talk with. Rather than go into details of who Mike spoke with, simply go to www.darkdiscussions.com to link to their sites. Now come inside and listen to the two part podcast if you dare. As always we welcome your comments: darkdiscussions@aol.com (written email or attached mp3 files) WWW.DARKDISCUSSIONS.COM Movies & Television DarkDiscussions 2011 Horror Realm Convention in Pittsburgh, PA (Part 2 of a 2 part episode released simultaneously). Welcome to Dark Discussions podcast. Your place for the discussion of horror film, fiction, and all that's fantastic. Two files, one episode. No kidding, you read that correctly. Dark Discussions presents to you a two part episode of 2011’s Horror Realm Convention, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania’s great horror symposium. Now in existence for three years, Horror Realm revels in the fact that it resides in the city of the living dead. That’s right, George A. Romero’s Night of the Living Dead as well as Dawn of the Dead not only take place in the suburbs of the city, but George A. Romero and the majority of the cast and crew are all natives to Pittsburgh and its surrounding areas. Though the Pittsburgh Pirates have been a member of the living dead for many years, just like the Steelers, zombies are alive and well. Dark Discussions presents to our listeners interviews and more interviews. Mike drives the four to six hours, scavenging for gas, food, and water while avoiding the zombie apocalypse to get to downtown Pittsburgh. With a host of horror names like Jack Ketchum, Bill Moseley, Ken Foree, Tiffany Shepis, Kim Paffenroth, Linnea Quigley, among others, Horror Realm offered multiple venders, authors, and film producers for the fans to meet and talk with. Rather than go into details of who Mike spoke with, simply go to www.darkdiscussions.com to link to their sites. Now come inside and listen to the two part podcast if you dare. As always we welcome your comments: darkdiscussions@aol.com (written email or attached mp3 files) WWW.DARKDISCUSSIONS.COM 1:36:10 no horror, horror films, science fiction, fantasy, reviews http://www.darkdiscussions.com/Podcasts/Dark%20Discussions%20-%20Episode%20019%20-%20John%20Carpenter%20Retrospective%20Part%202.mp3 Wed, 21 Sep 2011 11:03:47 -0400 darkdiscussions@aol.com http://www.darkdiscussions.com/Podcasts/Dark%20Discussions%20-%20Episode%20019%20-%20John%20Carpenter%20Retrospective%20Part%202.mp3 http://www.darkdiscussions.com/Podcasts/Dark%20Discussions%20-%20Episode%20019%20-%20John%20Carpenter%20Retrospective%20Part%202.mp3 Welcome to Dark Discussions podcast. Your place for the discussion of horror film, fiction, and all that's fantastic. Many critics overlook the latter part of John Carpenter’s career forgetting that he had a string of fantastic films that would have been crowning achievements for any other director. With such classic films as Halloween, The Fog, Escape From New York, and The Thing in his filmography already, each film that followed would be unfairly compared to them. Yet in all honesty, there were more than just hidden gems among the end product. Many have been well received and enjoyed by audience and critics alike. In 1983 two living legends came together. John Carpenter makes the film adaption of Stephen King’s Christine. At the time the film was considered one of the best adaptations of the author’s work. A year later he follows with the Academy Award nominated science fiction film Starman starring Jeff Bridges in an award nominated performance. But the true Carpenter fan would be rewarded soon after as John Carpenter returned to the horror genre with four of the most chilling horror films of their time. In 1987 he directs, writes, and composes for the film Prince of Darkness, the first of his films that would pay homage to H.P. Lovecraft but also to the religious horror films of the 1970’s. In 1988 he thrills audiences with the alien invasion film They Live, possibly one of the most overlooked gems of Mr. Carpenter’s career. Then in 1995 he returns with the crowning achievement In the Mouth of Madness, a frightful piece of Lovecraftian terror where an insurance invesitagator is in search of a missing horror author only to land up in a nightmare filled with insanity and madness. His final film from this period is the science fiction horror film The Ghosts of Mars, a film highly regarded by Roger Ebert and considered a throwback to great drive-in cinema. Dark Discussions goes through this latter part of Mr. Carpenter’s career. Philip and Gordon’s ponderings segue into the possibility of John Carpenter’s involvement with a film version of the graphic novel Darkchylde, his work in the television show Masters of Horror, a discussion of the British horror author John Wyndham and his books The Day of the Triffids and Midwich Cuckoos, a mention of another British horror author Simon Clark and his stories, and how John Carpenter’s Vampires gets a cameo in Clint Eastwood’s film Mystic River. Once again, listeners, enter if you dare. As always we welcome your comments: darkdiscussions@aol.com (written email or attached mp3 files) WWW.DARKDISCUSSIONS.COM Movies & Television DarkDiscussions John Carpenter: the discussion of his films from 1983 to present. Welcome to Dark Discussions podcast. Your place for the discussion of horror film, fiction, and all that's fantastic. Many critics overlook the latter part of John Carpenter’s career forgetting that he had a string of fantastic films that would have been crowning achievements for any other director. With such classic films as Halloween, The Fog, Escape From New York, and The Thing in his filmography already, each film that followed would be unfairly compared to them. Yet in all honesty, there were more than just hidden gems among the end product. Many have been well received and enjoyed by audience and critics alike. In 1983 two living legends came together. John Carpenter makes the film adaption of Stephen King’s Christine. At the time the film was considered one of the best adaptations of the author’s work. A year later he follows with the Academy Award nominated science fiction film Starman starring Jeff Bridges in an award nominated performance. But the true Carpenter fan would be rewarded soon after as John Carpenter returned to the horror genre with four of the most chilling horror films of their time. In 1987 he directs, writes, and composes for the film Prince of Darkness, the first of his films that would pay homage to H.P. Lovecraft but also to the religious horror films of the 1970’s. In 1988 he thrills audiences with the alien invasion film They Live, possibly one of the most overlooked gems of Mr. Carpenter’s career. Then in 1995 he returns with the crowning achievement In the Mouth of Madness, a frightful piece of Lovecraftian terror where an insurance invesitagator is in search of a missing horror author only to land up in a nightmare filled with insanity and madness. His final film from this period is the science fiction horror film The Ghosts of Mars, a film highly regarded by Roger Ebert and considered a throwback to great drive-in cinema. Dark Discussions goes through this latter part of Mr. Carpenter’s career. Philip and Gordon’s ponderings segue into the possibility of John Carpenter’s involvement with a film version of the graphic novel Darkchylde, his work in the television show Masters of Horror, a discussion of the British horror author John Wyndham and his books The Day of the Triffids and Midwich Cuckoos, a mention of another British horror author Simon Clark and his stories, and how John Carpenter’s Vampires gets a cameo in Clint Eastwood’s film Mystic River. Once again, listeners, enter if you dare. As always we welcome your comments: darkdiscussions@aol.com (written email or attached mp3 files) WWW.DARKDISCUSSIONS.COM 1:57:26 no horror, horror films, science fiction, fantasy, reviews http://www.darkdiscussions.com/Podcasts/Dark%20Discussions%20-%20Episode%20018%20-%20The%20Extreme%20Films%20of%20Gaspar%20Noe.mp3 Tue, 13 Sep 2011 11:11:11 -0400 darkdiscussions@aol.com http://www.darkdiscussions.com/Podcasts/Dark%20Discussions%20-%20Episode%20018%20-%20The%20Extreme%20Films%20of%20Gaspar%20Noe.mp3 http://www.darkdiscussions.com/Podcasts/Dark%20Discussions%20-%20Episode%20018%20-%20The%20Extreme%20Films%20of%20Gaspar%20Noe.mp3 Welcome to Dark Discussions podcast. Your place for the discussion of horror film, fiction, and all that's fantastic. Are they horror films? Are they art house films? Or are they exploitation films? The topic has been debated since the earliest of Gaspar Noé’s films was released back in 1998. No matter what they are called they have shocked both reviewers and audiences alike and caused more discussion than films with budgets a hundred times larger. Gaspar Noé, a French film maker that has been associated with the New French Extremity wave of horror, received immediate praise back in 1998 by his countrymen’s film critics with his debut movie I Stand Alone, a gritty and dark film about the bowels of French society. By taking a mirror to French culture, Noé’s film was immediately compared to such 1970’s American films as Taxi Driver and Hardcore. Following the critical praise of I Stand Alone, Noé came back with a film in 2002 entitled Irreversible which caused an uproar at Cannes. With its graphic depiction of violence, its visual staging for shock, and its terrifying representation of human nature, the film put critics in a quandary on whether to recognize its brilliance or be blinded by its severity. Having become a darling of critics yet trying his hardest not to be, Noé released his latest film in 2009 entitled Enter The Void, a dark and gritty film about expatriates living within the underground club and drug scene of Tokyo, Japan. Part supernatural thriller, part human drama, and part pulp fiction, the void may be actually more than death but an escape from the infinite sadness of the human spirit. Philip takes the mic yet again and brings you the down and dirty of Gaspar Noé and his three films to date. Whether a fan or a detractor, everyone must admit that his three films have brought strong reactions to anyone having the fortitude to view them. As always we welcome your comments: darkdiscussions@aol.com (written email or attached mp3 files) WWW.DARKDISCUSSIONS.COM Movies & Television DarkDiscussions French film maker Gaspar Noé's movies are discussed. Noé was arguably the founder of the New French Extremity wave of film. Welcome to Dark Discussions podcast. Your place for the discussion of horror film, fiction, and all that's fantastic. Are they horror films? Are they art house films? Or are they exploitation films? The topic has been debated since the earliest of Gaspar Noé’s films was released back in 1998. No matter what they are called they have shocked both reviewers and audiences alike and caused more discussion than films with budgets a hundred times larger. Gaspar Noé, a French film maker that has been associated with the New French Extremity wave of horror, received immediate praise back in 1998 by his countrymen’s film critics with his debut movie I Stand Alone, a gritty and dark film about the bowels of French society. By taking a mirror to French culture, Noé’s film was immediately compared to such 1970’s American films as Taxi Driver and Hardcore. Following the critical praise of I Stand Alone, Noé came back with a film in 2002 entitled Irreversible which caused an uproar at Cannes. With its graphic depiction of violence, its visual staging for shock, and its terrifying representation of human nature, the film put critics in a quandary on whether to recognize its brilliance or be blinded by its severity. Having become a darling of critics yet trying his hardest not to be, Noé released his latest film in 2009 entitled Enter The Void, a dark and gritty film about expatriates living within the underground club and drug scene of Tokyo, Japan. Part supernatural thriller, part human drama, and part pulp fiction, the void may be actually more than death but an escape from the infinite sadness of the human spirit. Philip takes the mic yet again and brings you the down and dirty of Gaspar Noé and his three films to date. Whether a fan or a detractor, everyone must admit that his three films have brought strong reactions to anyone having the fortitude to view them. As always we welcome your comments: darkdiscussions@aol.com (written email or attached mp3 files) WWW.DARKDISCUSSIONS.COM 1:24:33 no horror, horror films, science fiction, fantasy, reviews http://www.darkdiscussions.com/Podcasts/Dark%20Discussions%20-%20Episode%20017%20-%20Severance.mp3 Wed, 07 Sep 2011 8:52:07 -0400 darkdiscussions@aol.com http://www.darkdiscussions.com/Podcasts/Dark%20Discussions%20-%20Episode%20017%20-%20Severance.mp3 http://www.darkdiscussions.com/Podcasts/Dark%20Discussions%20-%20Episode%20017%20-%20Severance.mp3 Welcome the newest episode of Dark Discussions, your place for the discussion of horror film, fiction, and all that’s fantastic. In 2006, Christopher Smith, the British director/screenwriter who came bursting onto the horror scene with the Franka Potente starring film Creep, comes back with his second feature length film, Severance. On a team building trip out in the wilderness of Eastern Europe, a group of defense company employees land up in a nightmare where what should have been at worst a boring digression turns into a terrifying excursion into hell. Christopher Smith brings to the horror fan a dark comedy that seems to get its humor from the ridiculous tripe of organizational behavior while bringing the dread of the most chilling slasher films. As our group of protagonists bumble around on a trip that the majority of them prefer not to have attended, a dark secret about their employer comes to the forefront where the not too distant past may have finally caught up to the present. Dark Discussions, in its ongoing retrospective of Christopher Smith and his films, present an in-depth look into Severance. Philip and Eric discuss the nature of what makes a great horror comedy. Almost like a chameleon, Mr. Smith has shown his talent from being able to move from one horror subgenre to another without missing a step. Severance is the slasher version of Shaun of the Dead and equals it in both gore and dark humor. As always we welcome your comments: darkdiscussions@aol.com (written email or attached mp3 files) WWW.DARKDISCUSSIONS.COM Movies & Television DarkDiscussions Dark Discussions continues its Christopher Smith director focus with the 2006 film Severance. Welcome the newest episode of Dark Discussions, your place for the discussion of horror film, fiction, and all that’s fantastic. In 2006, Christopher Smith, the British director/screenwriter who came bursting onto the horror scene with the Franka Potente starring film Creep, comes back with his second feature length film, Severance. On a team building trip out in the wilderness of Eastern Europe, a group of defense company employees land up in a nightmare where what should have been at worst a boring digression turns into a terrifying excursion into hell. Christopher Smith brings to the horror fan a dark comedy that seems to get its humor from the ridiculous tripe of organizational behavior while bringing the dread of the most chilling slasher films. As our group of protagonists bumble around on a trip that the majority of them prefer not to have attended, a dark secret about their employer comes to the forefront where the not too distant past may have finally caught up to the present. Dark Discussions, in its ongoing retrospective of Christopher Smith and his films, present an in-depth look into Severance. Philip and Eric discuss the nature of what makes a great horror comedy. Almost like a chameleon, Mr. Smith has shown his talent from being able to move from one horror subgenre to another without missing a step. Severance is the slasher version of Shaun of the Dead and equals it in both gore and dark humor. As always we welcome your comments: darkdiscussions@aol.com (written email or attached mp3 files) WWW.DARKDISCUSSIONS.COM 1:53:42 no horror, horror films, science fiction, fantasy, reviews http://www.darkdiscussions.com/Podcasts/Dark%20Discussions%20-%20Episode%20016%20-%20Rise%20of%20the%20Planet%20of%20the%20Apes.mp3 Wed, 31 Aug 2011 15:39:47 -0400 darkdiscussions@aol.com http://www.darkdiscussions.com/Podcasts/Dark%20Discussions%20-%20Episode%20016%20-%20Rise%20of%20the%20Planet%20of%20the%20Apes.mp3 http://www.darkdiscussions.com/Podcasts/Dark%20Discussions%20-%20Episode%20016%20-%20Rise%20of%20the%20Planet%20of%20the%20Apes.mp3 Welcome the newest episode of Dark Discussions, your place for the discussion of horror film, fiction, and all that’s fantastic. Rise of the Planet of the Apes has turned out to be a huge summer blockbuster and Dark Discussions gives their take on the film. Philip and Mike believe it to be the best genre film of the summer. With his performance playing the chimpanzee Caesar, Andy Serkis may have revolutionized the definition of modern day acting. Minute for minute, the role has more screen time than any other character. Andy Serkis’s presentation of a part that is entirely computer generated amazingly brings realism to the role. Through its modern spin of the franchise, a remarkable twist ending, and its multiple homages to the original series, the film shows that Hollywood can still make a summer film that is more than buttered popcorn. Following up on Episodes 006 and 007, the Frank Darabont Retrospectives, Philip and Mike discuss their opinions on Frank Darabont’s abrupt exit from his television series, The Walking Dead. With his strong connection and friendship to the cast and the elite screenwriting he brought to the show now gone, fans are wondering what happened and what went wrong. Whether the show will be as successful going forward is anyone’s guess, but either way the Frank Darabont signature upon the show will most certainly be missed. Lastly, the new Lone Ranger film by Walt Disney Productions starring Johnny Depp and his reteaming with Gore Verbinski who was set to helm the film is unexpectedly shut down due to financial issues. Taking note of Rise of the Planet of the Apes and its much smaller budget, our hosts consider how a supernatural and horror-themed screenplay of an updated version of the Lone Ranger is a missed opportunity as the reported cost for the film would have been over two times that of Rise of the Planet of the Apes. Once again, our hosts welcome you to yet another addition of their dark discussion. As always we welcome your comments: darkdiscussions@aol.com (written email or attached mp3 files) WWW.DARKDISCUSSIONS.COM Movies & Television DarkDiscussions Dark Discussions talks about Rise of the Planet of the Apes, Frank Darabont leaving the Walking Dead, and Disney shutting down the Lone Ranger. Welcome the newest episode of Dark Discussions, your place for the discussion of horror film, fiction, and all that’s fantastic. Rise of the Planet of the Apes has turned out to be a huge summer blockbuster and Dark Discussions gives their take on the film. Philip and Mike believe it to be the best genre film of the summer. With his performance playing the chimpanzee Caesar, Andy Serkis may have revolutionized the definition of modern day acting. Minute for minute, the role has more screen time than any other character. Andy Serkis’s presentation of a part that is entirely computer generated amazingly brings realism to the role. Through its modern spin of the franchise, a remarkable twist ending, and its multiple homages to the original series, the film shows that Hollywood can still make a summer film that is more than buttered popcorn. Following up on Episodes 006 and 007, the Frank Darabont Retrospectives, Philip and Mike discuss their opinions on Frank Darabont’s abrupt exit from his television series, The Walking Dead. With his strong connection and friendship to the cast and the elite screenwriting he brought to the show now gone, fans are wondering what happened and what went wrong. Whether the show will be as successful going forward is anyone’s guess, but either way the Frank Darabont signature upon the show will most certainly be missed. Lastly, the new Lone Ranger film by Walt Disney Productions starring Johnny Depp and his reteaming with Gore Verbinski who was set to helm the film is unexpectedly shut down due to financial issues. Taking note of Rise of the Planet of the Apes and its much smaller budget, our hosts consider how a supernatural and horror-themed screenplay of an updated version of the Lone Ranger is a missed opportunity as the reported cost for the film would have been over two times that of Rise of the Planet of the Apes. Once again, our hosts welcome you to yet another addition of their dark discussion. As always we welcome your comments: darkdiscussions@aol.com (written email or attached mp3 files) WWW.DARKDISCUSSIONS.COM 1:50:17 no horror, horror films, science fiction, fantasy, reviews http://www.darkdiscussions.com/Podcasts/Dark%20Discussions%20-%20Episode%20015%20-%20John%20Carpenter%20Retrospective%20Part%201.mp3 Wed, 24 Aug 2011 14:29:13 -0400 darkdiscussions@aol.com http://www.darkdiscussions.com/Podcasts/Dark%20Discussions%20-%20Episode%20015%20-%20John%20Carpenter%20Retrospective%20Part%201.mp3 http://www.darkdiscussions.com/Podcasts/Dark%20Discussions%20-%20Episode%20015%20-%20John%20Carpenter%20Retrospective%20Part%201.mp3 Welcome to Dark Discussions podcast. Your place for the discussion of horror film, fiction, and all that's fantastic. When horror fans think genre cinema the first person that comes to mind seems to always be John Carpenter, the renowned film director, screenwriter, and composer who won an Academy Award for a short film as a college student. Starting in the 1970’s, he began a legacy of creating some of the most unforgettable genre films ever. With his classic tale of Michael Myers, a relentless killer that seems to be of supernatural origin, the 1978 film Halloween became one of the most profitable films dollar for dollar in movie history. The film, taking its queue from such predecessors as Bob Clark’s Black Christmas and the Italian giallo, reinvented the slasher film and created a subgenre that went on to be the model for such diverse films as Friday the 13th and the Terminator. His follow ups included the gory yet classic ghost story The Fog, a story about a leper ship which sank a century ago coming back to seek revenge on the ancestors of the coastal town which refused to allow it to dock. His next film was the dystopian and cyberpunk forerunner Escape From New York in which Manhattan island has become a maximum security prison. The iconic character Snake Plissken is sent in to rescue the U.S. president after Air Force One crashes into the island following its hijacking by anarchists. His final film from this period was The Thing, a story based on John W. Campbell Jr.’s classic science fiction tale Who Goes There? When an alien being is defrosted in Antarctica by a Norwegian science team, terror ensues where what appears to be a sled dog escapes to an American science center bringing with it a horror of unspeakable brutality. Dark Discussions brings their take on the John Carpenter legacy. Philip and Gordon’s conversation mention such related topics as the newly released film The Ward, the possible film version of the comic book Darkchylde which John Carpenter is anticipated to direct, the 1958 science fiction horror film The Crawling Eye (also known as The Trollenberg Terror), and the Faye Dunaway film The Eyes of Laura Mars which was penned by Mr. Carpenter. Get ready for an overview of this legendary talent and how he left his mark on genre cinema. As always we welcome your comments: darkdiscussions@aol.com (written email or attached mp3 files) WWW.DARKDISCUSSIONS.COM Movies & Television DarkDiscussions Dark Discussions does their take on John Carpenter. This is the first part of a two part retrospective. Welcome to Dark Discussions podcast. Your place for the discussion of horror film, fiction, and all that's fantastic. When horror fans think genre cinema the first person that comes to mind seems to always be John Carpenter, the renowned film director, screenwriter, and composer who won an Academy Award for a short film as a college student. Starting in the 1970’s, he began a legacy of creating some of the most unforgettable genre films ever. With his classic tale of Michael Myers, a relentless killer that seems to be of supernatural origin, the 1978 film Halloween became one of the most profitable films dollar for dollar in movie history. The film, taking its queue from such predecessors as Bob Clark’s Black Christmas and the Italian giallo, reinvented the slasher film and created a subgenre that went on to be the model for such diverse films as Friday the 13th and the Terminator. His follow ups included the gory yet classic ghost story The Fog, a story about a leper ship which sank a century ago coming back to seek revenge on the ancestors of the coastal town which refused to allow it to dock. His next film was the dystopian and cyberpunk forerunner Escape From New York in which Manhattan island has become a maximum security prison. The iconic character Snake Plissken is sent in to rescue the U.S. president after Air Force One crashes into the island following its hijacking by anarchists. His final film from this period was The Thing, a story based on John W. Campbell Jr.’s classic science fiction tale Who Goes There? When an alien being is defrosted in Antarctica by a Norwegian science team, terror ensues where what appears to be a sled dog escapes to an American science center bringing with it a horror of unspeakable brutality. Dark Discussions brings their take on the John Carpenter legacy. Philip and Gordon’s conversation mention such related topics as the newly released film The Ward, the possible film version of the comic book Darkchylde which John Carpenter is anticipated to direct, the 1958 science fiction horror film The Crawling Eye (also known as The Trollenberg Terror), and the Faye Dunaway film The Eyes of Laura Mars which was penned by Mr. Carpenter. Get ready for an overview of this legendary talent and how he left his mark on genre cinema. As always we welcome your comments: darkdiscussions@aol.com (written email or attached mp3 files) WWW.DARKDISCUSSIONS.COM 1:35:43 no horror, horror films, science fiction, fantasy, reviews http://www.darkdiscussions.com/Podcasts/Dark%20Discussions%20-%20Episode%20014%20-%20Bits%20Pieces%20and%20Body%20Parts%20Volume%201.mp3 Wed, 17 Aug 2011 18:40:03 -0400 darkdiscussions@aol.com http://www.darkdiscussions.com/Podcasts/Dark%20Discussions%20-%20Episode%20014%20-%20Bits%20Pieces%20and%20Body%20Parts%20Volume%201.mp3 http://www.darkdiscussions.com/Podcasts/Dark%20Discussions%20-%20Episode%20014%20-%20Bits%20Pieces%20and%20Body%20Parts%20Volume%201.mp3 Welcome to Dark Discussions podcast. Your place for the discussion of horror film, fiction, and all that's fantastic. Dark Discussions does its first non-topical podcast. Though no specific theme is discussed, Gordon and Philip do a 360° roundabout through horror, pulp, and genre. On location at the cinema to see Final Destination 5 in 3D, various films are discussed including the Patrick Lussier/Todd Farmer productions of Drive Angry and My Bloody Valentine 3D. With horror on our hosts’ minds, the After Dark Horrorfest 8 Films to Die For yearly releases are focused on including some specific titles as The Hamiltons, Mulberry Street, and Unrest. Not to be left behind, superhero films such as Kick Ass enter the conversation but more importantly Philip and Gordon give their opinion on Anne Hathaway’s turn as the Cat Woman in the upcoming Christopher Nolan Batman film, The Dark Knight Rises. To round up the discussion prior to the viewing of Final Destination 5, our hosts discuss the novels they have been reading including Jonathan Maberry’s Dragon Factory, Ben Tripp’s Rise Again, Dan Simmons’ Flashback, Clive Barker’s Mister B. Gone, Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child’s novels Gideon’s Sword, Blasphemy, and the Agent Pendergast novel Cold Vengeance, among others. Returning after the film, Gordon and Philip give their spoiler free review on Final Destination 5, highly recommending all horror fans to get to the theater before the film leaves its 3D presentation behind. One thing however, more Tony Todd! To finish up, news and more news takes the forefront. The upcoming remakes of Conan the Barbarian, Fright Night, and the Zack Snyder Superman film Man of Steel are highly anticipated but will they be successful? Dark Discussions talks about the new Lois Lane and who they would have loved to have seen in the role; other than Amy Addams what about Emily Blunt, Mila Kunis, Natalie Portman, Megan Fox, or even Clare Grant? What happened to Frank Darabont and the Walking Dead? Stephen King’s Dark Tower film adaption is shut down. Can A Serbian Film actually be released in North American theaters? Would Conan be better off as a series like the fantastic Lucy Lawless show Spartacus? Why did Guillermo Del Toro walk away from an adaption of H. P. Lovecraft’s At the Mountains of Madness? Did one of our favorite characters in True Blood get killed off? Enter within, faithful listeners, into our dark discussion and find out all that awaits. As always we welcome your comments: darkdiscussions@aol.com (written email or attached mp3 files) WWW.DARKDISCUSSIONS.COM Movies & Television DarkDiscussions A non-topical episode discussing Final Destination 5, horror in the news, what we've been watching, and what we've been reading. Welcome to Dark Discussions podcast. Your place for the discussion of horror film, fiction, and all that's fantastic. Dark Discussions does its first non-topical podcast. Though no specific theme is discussed, Gordon and Philip do a 360° roundabout through horror, pulp, and genre. On location at the cinema to see Final Destination 5 in 3D, various films are discussed including the Patrick Lussier/Todd Farmer productions of Drive Angry and My Bloody Valentine 3D. With horror on our hosts’ minds, the After Dark Horrorfest 8 Films to Die For yearly releases are focused on including some specific titles as The Hamiltons, Mulberry Street, and Unrest. Not to be left behind, superhero films such as Kick Ass enter the conversation but more importantly Philip and Gordon give their opinion on Anne Hathaway’s turn as the Cat Woman in the upcoming Christopher Nolan Batman film, The Dark Knight Rises. To round up the discussion prior to the viewing of Final Destination 5, our hosts discuss the novels they have been reading including Jonathan Maberry’s Dragon Factory, Ben Tripp’s Rise Again, Dan Simmons’ Flashback, Clive Barker’s Mister B. Gone, Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child’s novels Gideon’s Sword, Blasphemy, and the Agent Pendergast novel Cold Vengeance, among others. Returning after the film, Gordon and Philip give their spoiler free review on Final Destination 5, highly recommending all horror fans to get to the theater before the film leaves its 3D presentation behind. One thing however, more Tony Todd! To finish up, news and more news takes the forefront. The upcoming remakes of Conan the Barbarian, Fright Night, and the Zack Snyder Superman film Man of Steel are highly anticipated but will they be successful? Dark Discussions talks about the new Lois Lane and who they would have loved to have seen in the role; other than Amy Addams what about Emily Blunt, Mila Kunis, Natalie Portman, Megan Fox, or even Clare Grant? What happened to Frank Darabont and the Walking Dead? Stephen King’s Dark Tower film adaption is shut down. Can A Serbian Film actually be released in North American theaters? Would Conan be better off as a series like the fantastic Lucy Lawless show Spartacus? Why did Guillermo Del Toro walk away from an adaption of H. P. Lovecraft’s At the Mountains of Madness? Did one of our favorite characters in True Blood get killed off? Enter within, faithful listeners, into our dark discussion and find out all that awaits. As always we welcome your comments: darkdiscussions@aol.com (written email or attached mp3 files) WWW.DARKDISCUSSIONS.COM 1:50:31 no horror, horror films, science fiction, fantasy, reviews http://www.darkdiscussions.com/Podcasts/Dark%20Discussions%20-%20Episode%20013%20-%20Creep.mp3 Sat, 13 Aug 2011 12:01:37 -0400 darkdiscussions@aol.com http://www.darkdiscussions.com/Podcasts/Dark%20Discussions%20-%20Episode%20013%20-%20Creep.mp3 http://www.darkdiscussions.com/Podcasts/Dark%20Discussions%20-%20Episode%20013%20-%20Creep.mp3 Welcome to Dark Discussions podcast. Your place for the discussion of horror film, fiction, and all that's fantastic. When Christopher Smith wrote and directed his debut film entitled Creep in 2004, audiences waiting for a new voice in horror cinema were only getting a taste of what was to come. With a career that has now expanded to include four well regarded films within seven years, Christopher Smith has been observed by some as this generation’s John Carpenter. His films have included such diverse characteristics and plots as horror comedy, a powerful period piece, an original take on the slasher, and a mind bending mystery. Dark Discussions intent was to do a two part retrospective on this amazing director and screenwriter yet while putting the episodes together and discovering the detail that was discussed; it was decided to instead focus specifically on each of the splendid films of this wonderful talent. Philip and Eric discuss Mr. Smith’s debut film and what turns out to be the beginning of a fantastic run of movies. The bizarre nature of his films within the United States of America being released directly to the home market rather than the big screen is a mystery unresolved. With critical praise and a cult following seen by few, Christopher Smith and his movies are hidden gems which have made an impact in a genre deeply needing a proclamation. Their magic is specifically due to the final product presented rather than any self promotion by their creator. The first part of this director-focused arc is on Creep, a dark and intense horror thriller about a young woman named Kate played by actress Franka Potente who gets trapped within the London Underground after hours. Expecting a quick trip to a club party on the other side of the city, Kate’s night turns into a nightmare when a mysterious entity appears to be stalking the tunnels beneath the streets of London. While trying to find a way back up to the city blocks, her journey leads to a terror that may literally be mental illness and the clinical institutions that were more chambers of suffering rather than the hospitals they were meant to be. A film that appears nothing more than a tight little horror flick turns out to be a tale more about homelessness, drug abuse, mental illness, the uncaring nature of society, and the injustices done upon those that are disenfranchised. As always we welcome your comments: darkdiscussions@aol.com (written email or attached mp3 files) WWW.DARKDISCUSSIONS.COM Movies & Television DarkDiscussions UK director Christopher Smith begins an astonishing career with his first film 2004's Creep. Dark Discussions discusses the film indepth Welcome to Dark Discussions podcast. Your place for the discussion of horror film, fiction, and all that's fantastic. When Christopher Smith wrote and directed his debut film entitled Creep in 2004, audiences waiting for a new voice in horror cinema were only getting a taste of what was to come. With a career that has now expanded to include four well regarded films within seven years, Christopher Smith has been observed by some as this generation’s John Carpenter. His films have included such diverse characteristics and plots as horror comedy, a powerful period piece, an original take on the slasher, and a mind bending mystery. Dark Discussions intent was to do a two part retrospective on this amazing director and screenwriter yet while putting the episodes together and discovering the detail that was discussed; it was decided to instead focus specifically on each of the splendid films of this wonderful talent. Philip and Eric discuss Mr. Smith’s debut film and what turns out to be the beginning of a fantastic run of movies. The bizarre nature of his films within the United States of America being released directly to the home market rather than the big screen is a mystery unresolved. With critical praise and a cult following seen by few, Christopher Smith and his movies are hidden gems which have made an impact in a genre deeply needing a proclamation. Their magic is specifically due to the final product presented rather than any self promotion by their creator. The first part of this director-focused arc is on Creep, a dark and intense horror thriller about a young woman named Kate played by actress Franka Potente who gets trapped within the London Underground after hours. Expecting a quick trip to a club party on the other side of the city, Kate’s night turns into a nightmare when a mysterious entity appears to be stalking the tunnels beneath the streets of London. While trying to find a way back up to the city blocks, her journey leads to a terror that may literally be mental illness and the clinical institutions that were more chambers of suffering rather than the hospitals they were meant to be. A film that appears nothing more than a tight little horror flick turns out to be a tale more about homelessness, drug abuse, mental illness, the uncaring nature of society, and the injustices done upon those that are disenfranchised. As always we welcome your comments: darkdiscussions@aol.com (written email or attached mp3 files) WWW.DARKDISCUSSIONS.COM 1:53:33 no horror, horror films, science fiction, fantasy, reviews http://www.darkdiscussions.com/Podcasts/Dark%20Discussions%20-%20Episode%20012%20-%20The%20Planet%20of%20the%20Apes%20Retrospective%20Part%203.mp3 Thu, 04 Aug 2011 07:40:27 -0400 darkdiscussions@aol.com http://www.darkdiscussions.com/Podcasts/Dark%20Discussions%20-%20Episode%20012%20-%20The%20Planet%20of%20the%20Apes%20Retrospective%20Part%203.mp3 http://www.darkdiscussions.com/Podcasts/Dark%20Discussions%20-%20Episode%20012%20-%20The%20Planet%20of%20the%20Apes%20Retrospective%20Part%203.mp3 Welcome to Dark Discussions podcast. Your place for the discussion of horror film, fiction, and all that's fantastic. As the original Planet of the Apes franchise has moved from modern film into classic spectacle, Hollywood decides to reboot the series for a new generation of film goers. Thirty-two years since the Charlton Heston original classic, a reboot goes into production and is released in 2001 to great excitement. Tim Burton, the director of such genre favorites as Sleepy Hollow and Ed Wood, helms an ambitious remake starring Mark Wahlberg, Tim Roth, and the beautiful Estella Warren in a film that sadly disappoints both the younger audience and those who are fans of the original series. Though spectacular visually, the story arc would resonate with neither film critic nor filmgoer. Yet today, August 11, 2011, ten years after the first reboot Hollywood yet again brings to audiences a new version of the franchise, Rise of the Planet of the Apes. Unlike the Tim Burton film, this new reboot focuses on an alternate timeline from the original following more the storyline of the fourth film of the original franchise Conquest of the Planet of the Apes (which starred Roddy McDowell and Ricardo Montalban). With new advances in science, apes are genetically altered in the attempts to cure Alzheimer’s disease with an unusual side effect, intelligence development within the chimpanzee. Starring James Franco, John Lithgow, Andy Serkis, and the beautiful Freida Pinto, fans of the original once more hope for a film that will not only blow them away visually but will have a story that will echo within today’s world. Dark Discussions finishes up their trilogy The Planet of the Apes retrospective. Philip and Mike discuss genetic engineering, both its potentials and dangers, and try to answer the question of what amount of intelligence within a creature would establish the beast to be considered more than just an animal. Such novels as Michael Crichton’s Next, Robin Cook’s Chromosome 6, H. G. Wells' The Island of Dr. Moreau, and Robert C. O’Brien’s Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH are brought into the topic. George A. Romero’s film Monkey Shines, Will Smith’s I Am Legend, and the new documentary Project Nim are discussed. Even the cartoon show Family Guy has some value to add to the dialogue with its talking dog Brian. No matter what one thinks, Rise of the Planet of the Apes may be just the starting point on subjects as diverse as stem cell research, cloning, and genetic engineering. Horror films may be nothing more than fiction yet science is so much more. Science is reality. As always we welcome your comments: darkdiscussions@aol.com (written email or attached mp3 files) WWW.DARKDISCUSSIONS.COM Movies & Television DarkDiscussions Part 3 of The Planet of the Apes Retrospective: Discussion of the reboot films and the science of genetics. Welcome to Dark Discussions podcast. Your place for the discussion of horror film, fiction, and all that's fantastic. As the original Planet of the Apes franchise has moved from modern film into classic spectacle, Hollywood decides to reboot the series for a new generation of film goers. Thirty-two years since the Charlton Heston original classic, a reboot goes into production and is released in 2001 to great excitement. Tim Burton, the director of such genre favorites as Sleepy Hollow and Ed Wood, helms an ambitious remake starring Mark Wahlberg, Tim Roth, and the beautiful Estella Warren in a film that sadly disappoints both the younger audience and those who are fans of the original series. Though spectacular visually, the story arc would resonate with neither film critic nor filmgoer. Yet today, August 11, 2011, ten years after the first reboot Hollywood yet again brings to audiences a new version of the franchise, Rise of the Planet of the Apes. Unlike the Tim Burton film, this new reboot focuses on an alternate timeline from the original following more the storyline of the fourth film of the original franchise Conquest of the Planet of the Apes (which starred Roddy McDowell and Ricardo Montalban). With new advances in science, apes are genetically altered in the attempts to cure Alzheimer’s disease with an unusual side effect, intelligence development within the chimpanzee. Starring James Franco, John Lithgow, Andy Serkis, and the beautiful Freida Pinto, fans of the original once more hope for a film that will not only blow them away visually but will have a story that will echo within today’s world. Dark Discussions finishes up their trilogy The Planet of the Apes retrospective. Philip and Mike discuss genetic engineering, both its potentials and dangers, and try to answer the question of what amount of intelligence within a creature would establish the beast to be considered more than just an animal. Such novels as Michael Crichton’s Next, Robin Cook’s Chromosome 6, H. G. Wells' The Island of Dr. Moreau, and Robert C. O’Brien’s Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH are brought into the topic. George A. Romero’s film Monkey Shines, Will Smith’s I Am Legend, and the new documentary Project Nim are discussed. Even the cartoon show Family Guy has some value to add to the dialogue with its talking dog Brian. No matter what one thinks, Rise of the Planet of the Apes may be just the starting point on subjects as diverse as stem cell research, cloning, and genetic engineering. Horror films may be nothing more than fiction yet science is so much more. Science is reality. As always we welcome your comments: darkdiscussions@aol.com (written email or attached mp3 files) WWW.DARKDISCUSSIONS.COM 1:31:01 no horror, horror films, science fiction, fantasy, reviews http://www.darkdiscussions.com/Podcasts/Dark%20Discussions%20-%20Episode%20011%20-%20The%20Planet%20of%20the%20Apes%20Retrospective%20Part%202.mp3 Tue, 26 Jul 2011 20:33:41 -0400 darkdiscussions@aol.com http://www.darkdiscussions.com/Podcasts/Dark%20Discussions%20-%20Episode%20011%20-%20The%20Planet%20of%20the%20Apes%20Retrospective%20Part%202.mp3 http://www.darkdiscussions.com/Podcasts/Dark%20Discussions%20-%20Episode%20011%20-%20The%20Planet%20of%20the%20Apes%20Retrospective%20Part%202.mp3 Welcome to Dark Discussions podcast. Your place for the discussion of horror film, fiction, and all that's fantastic. With the legacy of the Planet of the Apes and its sequel behind them, an idea came about that would lead to a three story arc to round out the now classic franchise. With this in mind, Pierre Boulle’s novel The Planet of the Apes was front and center once again where the source material was mined to create a new and compelling arc that took the original novel and reversed the human and ape character roles for the upcoming films. The intelligent apes, Cornelius and Zira, take the lead in the first of the three films, Escape from the Planet of the Apes. Through the physics of space and time, they appear on modern day Earth where they at first are beloved as a novelty yet soon such feelings sour as the government learns that the future of the human race may result in slavery and domination by intelligent apes. In the next film, Conquest of the Planet of the Apes, Caesar, the child of Cornelius and Zira, grows up to lead an army of slave apes in rebellion against man and his suppressing ways. Rounding up the franchise is The Battle for the Planet of the Apes, where Caesar tries to create a society in which both man and ape can live peacefully as equals. However with struggles brewing within the ape community and from humans that have distanced themselves from such a society, Caesar’s visionary hopes could possibly be dashed. Philip and Mike discuss the final three films within the original franchise. Such topics as race relations, human rights, immigration, animal compassion, and modernization are thrashed out. With the scientific understanding that the wild ape has violent streaks and will also turn upon their own, do these films reflect the nation state where one unjust dictator is removed for a better life of its people only to be replaced by someone more wicked? With the ambiguous nature of the antagonists within these films, one may wonder whether one man’s belief system may be nothing more than that specific man’s perspective. As always we welcome your comments: darkdiscussions@aol.com (written email or attached mp3 files) WWW.DARKDISCUSSIONS.COM Movies & Television DarkDiscussions Part 2 of The Planet of the Apes Retrospective: Discussing the last 3 films of the original films. Welcome to Dark Discussions podcast. Your place for the discussion of horror film, fiction, and all that's fantastic. With the legacy of the Planet of the Apes and its sequel behind them, an idea came about that would lead to a three story arc to round out the now classic franchise. With this in mind, Pierre Boulle’s novel The Planet of the Apes was front and center once again where the source material was mined to create a new and compelling arc that took the original novel and reversed the human and ape character roles for the upcoming films. The intelligent apes, Cornelius and Zira, take the lead in the first of the three films, Escape from the Planet of the Apes. Through the physics of space and time, they appear on modern day Earth where they at first are beloved as a novelty yet soon such feelings sour as the government learns that the future of the human race may result in slavery and domination by intelligent apes. In the next film, Conquest of the Planet of the Apes, Caesar, the child of Cornelius and Zira, grows up to lead an army of slave apes in rebellion against man and his suppressing ways. Rounding up the franchise is The Battle for the Planet of the Apes, where Caesar tries to create a society in which both man and ape can live peacefully as equals. However with struggles brewing within the ape community and from humans that have distanced themselves from such a society, Caesar’s visionary hopes could possibly be dashed. Philip and Mike discuss the final three films within the original franchise. Such topics as race relations, human rights, immigration, animal compassion, and modernization are thrashed out. With the scientific understanding that the wild ape has violent streaks and will also turn upon their own, do these films reflect the nation state where one unjust dictator is removed for a better life of its people only to be replaced by someone more wicked? With the ambiguous nature of the antagonists within these films, one may wonder whether one man’s belief system may be nothing more than that specific man’s perspective. As always we welcome your comments: darkdiscussions@aol.com (written email or attached mp3 files) WWW.DARKDISCUSSIONS.COM 2:15:55 no horror, horror films, science fiction, fantasy, reviews http://www.darkdiscussions.com/Podcasts/Dark%20Discussions%20-%20Episode%20010%20-%20Rear%20Window.mp3 Sun, 24 Jul 2011 8:25:16 -0400 darkdiscussions@aol.com http://www.darkdiscussions.com/Podcasts/Dark%20Discussions%20-%20Episode%20010%20-%20Rear%20Window.mp3 http://www.darkdiscussions.com/Podcasts/Dark%20Discussions%20-%20Episode%20010%20-%20Rear%20Window.mp3 Welcome to Dark Discussions, your place for the discussion of horror film, fiction, and all that’s fantastic. Episode 010 - Rear Window. What appears to be a tight and quaint little thriller seems by today’s standards so much more. Rear Window, one of Alfred Hitchcock’s masterpieces from 1954, seems more modern today than the half a century ago that it was filmed. With reality television a staple on every channel, a person with a flick of the switch can immediately become a voyeur and watch through a window the staged lives of so many people, famous or not. Mr. Hitchcock put together a film that seems as if he himself had a window to the future. The film is that of a semi-famous photographer, Jeff Jeffries, who remains in a wheelchair after shattering his leg while on assignment. Stuck in his Manhattan apartment for over six weeks the film audience meets his bourgeois Brahmin Park Avenue girlfriend Lisa Fremont along with his sharp tongued and private nurse, Stella. Bored and frustrated, he begins to innocently watch the neighbors living in the various apartments in the enclosed courtyard from his rear window. But soon, without knowing, he has become voyeuristic in a way. His thoughts about rear window ethics however are short lived when he suddenly comes to the conclusion that maybe a murder has occurred when one of his neighbor’s mysteriously disappears. Though not necessarily a horror film, the off screen horror elements of what someone may or may not have done with a murdered corpse fits tightly into a story filled with suspense, dark humor, and Mr. Hitchcock’s inside joke that the audience is as guilty of voyeurism as Jeff Jefferies. Not shy about shocking its audience, Rear Window is the definition of a genuine genre classic. Philip and co-host Eric discuss one of their favorite genre films and how it is as much about murder as it is about the person and people who may have witnessed it. As always we welcome your comments: darkdiscussions@aol.com (written email or attached mp3 files) WWW.DARKDISCUSSIONS.COM Movies & Television DarkDiscussions Alfred Hitchcock's masterpiece, Rear Window, is focused and analyzed by your hosts. Welcome to Dark Discussions, your place for the discussion of horror film, fiction, and all that’s fantastic. Episode 010 - Rear Window. What appears to be a tight and quaint little thriller seems by today’s standards so much more. Rear Window, one of Alfred Hitchcock’s masterpieces from 1954, seems more modern today than the half a century ago that it was filmed. With reality television a staple on every channel, a person with a flick of the switch can immediately become a voyeur and watch through a window the staged lives of so many people, famous or not. Mr. Hitchcock put together a film that seems as if he himself had a window to the future. The film is that of a semi-famous photographer, Jeff Jeffries, who remains in a wheelchair after shattering his leg while on assignment. Stuck in his Manhattan apartment for over six weeks the film audience meets his bourgeois Brahmin Park Avenue girlfriend Lisa Fremont along with his sharp tongued and private nurse, Stella. Bored and frustrated, he begins to innocently watch the neighbors living in the various apartments in the enclosed courtyard from his rear window. But soon, without knowing, he has become voyeuristic in a way. His thoughts about rear window ethics however are short lived when he suddenly comes to the conclusion that maybe a murder has occurred when one of his neighbor’s mysteriously disappears. Though not necessarily a horror film, the off screen horror elements of what someone may or may not have done with a murdered corpse fits tightly into a story filled with suspense, dark humor, and Mr. Hitchcock’s inside joke that the audience is as guilty of voyeurism as Jeff Jefferies. Not shy about shocking its audience, Rear Window is the definition of a genuine genre classic. Philip and co-host Eric discuss one of their favorite genre films and how it is as much about murder as it is about the person and people who may have witnessed it. As always we welcome your comments: darkdiscussions@aol.com (written email or attached mp3 files) WWW.DARKDISCUSSIONS.COM 1:48:05 no horror, horror films, science fiction, fantasy, reviews http://www.darkdiscussions.com/Podcasts/Dark%20Discussions%20-%20Episode%20009%20-%20The%20Planet%20of%20the%20Apes%20Retrospective%20Part%201.mp3 Sun, 17 Jul 2011 8:53:46 -0400 darkdiscussions@aol.com http://www.darkdiscussions.com/Podcasts/Dark%20Discussions%20-%20Episode%20009%20-%20The%20Planet%20of%20the%20Apes%20Retrospective%20Part%201.mp3 http://www.darkdiscussions.com/Podcasts/Dark%20Discussions%20-%20Episode%20009%20-%20The%20Planet%20of%20the%20Apes%20Retrospective%20Part%201.mp3 Welcome to Dark Discussions, your place for the discussion of horror film, fiction, and all that’s fantastic. In 1952, a French World War II veteran and resistance hero, wrote a historical novel that brought him to international fame, The Bridge Over the River Kwai. Pierre Boulle became a prolific author who’s career extended into many genres which included science fiction and social fantasies. By 1963 his latest novel, Monkey Planet also translated into Planet of the Apes, grabbed the attention of Hollywood. With Rod Serling co-screenwriting, Charlton Heston starring, Franklin Schaffner directing, and Jerry Goldsmith scoring, the film adaption of what one would have considered but a B-film only ten years prior became an international sensation and preceded the summer blockbuster film by seven years. The film took the novel’s story to a new level of imagery and connotation for the times. In a world that had the fears of the Cold War and the Prague Spring, the importance of race relations, the end of Arab nationalism and the rise of Islamic fundamentalism, a war in Vietnam, the death of colonialism, issues such as women’s rights, and social upheavals that followed the Summer of Love, The Planet of the Apes brought all this in a symbolic way to the big screen. With Rod Serling’s new ending that included an iconic image of the Statue of Liberty, the shock that resulted made the movie not only entertainment but also one of the most important films in movie history. Philip and Mike discuss the history of the story and the importance of it to genre fans. A franchise was born including four sequels, a television show, a cartoon, comic books, and toys and memorabilia. Part One of our retrospective focuses on the novel, the first film and the first follow up within the franchise, Beneath the Planet of the Apes. Get ready and join us in a conversation that will bring this story full circle. One wonders whether Pierre Boulle was more a prophet than just a mere novelist. As always we welcome your comments: darkdiscussions@aol.com (written email or attached mp3 files) WWW.DARKDISCUSSIONS.COM Movies & Television DarkDiscussions Retrospective on the legacy of The Planet of the Apes. Part 1 focuses on the book and the first two films. Welcome to Dark Discussions, your place for the discussion of horror film, fiction, and all that’s fantastic. In 1952, a French World War II veteran and resistance hero, wrote a historical novel that brought him to international fame, The Bridge Over the River Kwai. Pierre Boulle became a prolific author who’s career extended into many genres which included science fiction and social fantasies. By 1963 his latest novel, Monkey Planet also translated into Planet of the Apes, grabbed the attention of Hollywood. With Rod Serling co-screenwriting, Charlton Heston starring, Franklin Schaffner directing, and Jerry Goldsmith scoring, the film adaption of what one would have considered but a B-film only ten years prior became an international sensation and preceded the summer blockbuster film by seven years. The film took the novel’s story to a new level of imagery and connotation for the times. In a world that had the fears of the Cold War and the Prague Spring, the importance of race relations, the end of Arab nationalism and the rise of Islamic fundamentalism, a war in Vietnam, the death of colonialism, issues such as women’s rights, and social upheavals that followed the Summer of Love, The Planet of the Apes brought all this in a symbolic way to the big screen. With Rod Serling’s new ending that included an iconic image of the Statue of Liberty, the shock that resulted made the movie not only entertainment but also one of the most important films in movie history. Philip and Mike discuss the history of the story and the importance of it to genre fans. A franchise was born including four sequels, a television show, a cartoon, comic books, and toys and memorabilia. Part One of our retrospective focuses on the novel, the first film and the first follow up within the franchise, Beneath the Planet of the Apes. Get ready and join us in a conversation that will bring this story full circle. One wonders whether Pierre Boulle was more a prophet than just a mere novelist. As always we welcome your comments: darkdiscussions@aol.com (written email or attached mp3 files) WWW.DARKDISCUSSIONS.COM 2:15:17 no horror, horror films, science fiction, fantasy, reviews http://www.darkdiscussions.com/Podcasts/Dark%20Discussions%20-%20Episode%20008%20-%20Let%20Me%20In.mp3 Sun, 10 Jul 2011 8:45:17 -0400 darkdiscussions@aol.com http://www.darkdiscussions.com/Podcasts/Dark%20Discussions%20-%20Episode%20008%20-%20Let%20Me%20In.mp3 http://www.darkdiscussions.com/Podcasts/Dark%20Discussions%20-%20Episode%20008%20-%20Let%20Me%20In.mp3 Welcome the newest episode of Dark Discussions, your place for the discussion of horror film, fiction, and all that’s fantastic. During the year of our Lord 2004, the debut novel of an unknown author from Sweden changed the mythos of one of the most mysterious and dangerous monsters of horror legend. Prior to its release, vampires had slowly become the stock character of numerous romantic and teenage horror books and films. However this original take on the creature of the night stood out from the more common romantic view of the vampire. When John Ajvide Lindqvist saw his novel Let the Right One In published within his home country, it immediately landed an audience and became a best seller. Almost without delay scores of movie producers throughout Sweden battled for the film rights to this original and chilling work of fiction. Four years later the Swedish language film with its screenplay written by Lindqvist made its debut and the story suddenly became an international sensation. A second adaption entitled Let Me In was made in 2010 to almost as much critical acclaim. Philip takes the mic and goes deep into why this story, both book and films, has had such an impact on its readers and viewership. With the melancholy sadness of the lead protagonists to the socially disenfranchised supporting characters, the story may be much more than a standard horror tale. A vampire may haunt this small suburban town but one wonders if the real horror presented is actually social inequity, human nature, mental illness, and the struggle with daily life. As always we welcome your comments: darkdiscussions@aol.com (written email or attached mp3 files) WWW.DARKDISCUSSIONS.COM Movies & Television DarkDiscussions Let Me In, the novel and the two films: what were the differences and what is in the novel but not in the films. Welcome the newest episode of Dark Discussions, your place for the discussion of horror film, fiction, and all that’s fantastic. During the year of our Lord 2004, the debut novel of an unknown author from Sweden changed the mythos of one of the most mysterious and dangerous monsters of horror legend. Prior to its release, vampires had slowly become the stock character of numerous romantic and teenage horror books and films. However this original take on the creature of the night stood out from the more common romantic view of the vampire. When John Ajvide Lindqvist saw his novel Let the Right One In published within his home country, it immediately landed an audience and became a best seller. Almost without delay scores of movie producers throughout Sweden battled for the film rights to this original and chilling work of fiction. Four years later the Swedish language film with its screenplay written by Lindqvist made its debut and the story suddenly became an international sensation. A second adaption entitled Let Me In was made in 2010 to almost as much critical acclaim. Philip takes the mic and goes deep into why this story, both book and films, has had such an impact on its readers and viewership. With the melancholy sadness of the lead protagonists to the socially disenfranchised supporting characters, the story may be much more than a standard horror tale. A vampire may haunt this small suburban town but one wonders if the real horror presented is actually social inequity, human nature, mental illness, and the struggle with daily life. As always we welcome your comments: darkdiscussions@aol.com (written email or attached mp3 files) WWW.DARKDISCUSSIONS.COM 1:24:50 no horror, horror films, science fiction, fantasy, reviews http://www.darkdiscussions.com/Podcasts/Dark%20Discussions%20-%20Episode%20007%20-%20Frank%20Darabont%20Retrospective%20Part%202.mp3 Sun, 03 Jul 2011 8:51:02 -0400 darkdiscussions@aol.com http://www.darkdiscussions.com/Podcasts/Dark%20Discussions%20-%20Episode%20007%20-%20Frank%20Darabont%20Retrospective%20Part%202.mp3 http://www.darkdiscussions.com/Podcasts/Dark%20Discussions%20-%20Episode%20007%20-%20Frank%20Darabont%20Retrospective%20Part%202.mp3 Welcome to Episode 007 of Dark Discussions, your place for the discussion of horror film, fiction, and all that’s fantastic. By 2007, Frank Darabont had established himself as one of Hollywood’s top directors and screenwriters. Following the award nominated adaptations of some of Stephen King’s most heart warming stories, Mr. Darabont decided to go back to his roots to produce, screen write, and direct one of Mr. King’s most beloved horror stories of all time, The Mist. The movie is a story of a group of survivors taking refuge in a grocery store as a mist of unknown origins envelopes the building. A throwback to the horror and sci-fi movies of the 1950’s and 60’s, the film, though a moderate success at theaters, is thought of as one of the top ten genre movies of the decade. With its religious and political undertones the film speaks volumes about today’s world. The ending, a shocking change from the novella, was so impactful to audiences, Stephen King himself stated that he had wished he had thought of the ending when he had wrote the story. Soon after, in 2010, Mr. Darabont took a little known but highly regarded underground comic book and decided to bring it to the small screen. The story, a comic book written by Robert Kirkman, was a story about a group of survivors trying to make ends meet after a zombie apocalypse. Fitfully on Halloween night 2010 The Walking Dead premiered to both resounding reviews and audiences larger than many had expected. With this success, an upcoming second season was announced and will be debuted in October 2011. Once more, Phil and Mike discuss the importance of Frank Darabont and the significance he has played on horror and sci-fi in this latter part of his career. With the success of the Mist and the Walking Dead, Mr. Darabont has cemented his legacy upon a genre that was at one time so desperately seeking monsters in the mist. As always we welcome your comments: darkdiscussions@aol.com (written email or attached mp3 files) WWW.DARKDISCUSSIONS.COM Movies & Television DarkDiscussions Frank Darabont has become one of the leaders in genre movies and television. Your hosts discuss his later years. Welcome to Episode 007 of Dark Discussions, your place for the discussion of horror film, fiction, and all that’s fantastic. By 2007, Frank Darabont had established himself as one of Hollywood’s top directors and screenwriters. Following the award nominated adaptations of some of Stephen King’s most heart warming stories, Mr. Darabont decided to go back to his roots to produce, screen write, and direct one of Mr. King’s most beloved horror stories of all time, The Mist. The movie is a story of a group of survivors taking refuge in a grocery store as a mist of unknown origins envelopes the building. A throwback to the horror and sci-fi movies of the 1950’s and 60’s, the film, though a moderate success at theaters, is thought of as one of the top ten genre movies of the decade. With its religious and political undertones the film speaks volumes about today’s world. The ending, a shocking change from the novella, was so impactful to audiences, Stephen King himself stated that he had wished he had thought of the ending when he had wrote the story. Soon after, in 2010, Mr. Darabont took a little known but highly regarded underground comic book and decided to bring it to the small screen. The story, a comic book written by Robert Kirkman, was a story about a group of survivors trying to make ends meet after a zombie apocalypse. Fitfully on Halloween night 2010 The Walking Dead premiered to both resounding reviews and audiences larger than many had expected. With this success, an upcoming second season was announced and will be debuted in October 2011. Once more, Phil and Mike discuss the importance of Frank Darabont and the significance he has played on horror and sci-fi in this latter part of his career. With the success of the Mist and the Walking Dead, Mr. Darabont has cemented his legacy upon a genre that was at one time so desperately seeking monsters in the mist. As always we welcome your comments: darkdiscussions@aol.com (written email or attached mp3 files) WWW.DARKDISCUSSIONS.COM 1:56:55 no horror, horror films, science fiction, fantasy, reviews http://www.darkdiscussions.com/Podcasts/Dark%20Discussions%20-%20Episode%20006%20-%20Frank%20Darabont%20Retrospective%20Part%201.mp3 Sun, 26 Jun 2011 10:18:21 -0400 darkdiscussions@aol.com http://www.darkdiscussions.com/Podcasts/Dark%20Discussions%20-%20Episode%20006%20-%20Frank%20Darabont%20Retrospective%20Part%201.mp3 http://www.darkdiscussions.com/Podcasts/Dark%20Discussions%20-%20Episode%20006%20-%20Frank%20Darabont%20Retrospective%20Part%201.mp3 Welcome to Episode 006 of Dark Discussions, your place for the discussion of horror film, fiction, and all that’s fantastic. In 1979, a young inspiring film student took advantage of an opportunity called a Dollar Baby, Stephen King’s generous way of giving back to the next generation of film makers. With the permission to make an adaption of one of the author’s short stories, Frank Darabont at the young age of twenty proceeded to make a short film which would go on to reach the semi-finalist list of the 1983 Academy Awards. Within five years he would have screenwriter credits to the third installment of the Chuck Russell directed Nightmare on Elm Street Dream Warriors, a huge box office hit and ranked by critics as the best in the series after the original. A year later Frank Darabont reteamed with Chuck Russell and once again writes the screenplay for the remake of The Blob, a film listed by Fangoria magazine as one of the 300 best horror films of all time. By the mid-1990’s his collaboration with Stephen King grew to include some of the best adaptations of the author’s works ever. First came the film The Shawshank Redemption, a heart wrenching story full of hope and salvation, which went on to garner seven Academy Award nominations. His follow up, The Green Mile, a story of faith and credence in a death row cellblock, went on to be nominated for four Academy Awards, including best screenwriter. Your hosts discuss Mr. Darabont and his contributions to genre cinema during this beginning period of his spectacular career. To have an artist cross over from B-movie madness to critically acclaimed award winning cinema has given a new legitimacy to horror, science fiction, and fantasy. As always we welcome your comments: darkdiscussions@aol.com (written email or attached mp3 files) WWW.DARKDISCUSSIONS.COM Movies & Television DarkDiscussions Frank Darabont has become one of the leaders in genre movies and television. Your hosts discuss his early years. Welcome to Episode 006 of Dark Discussions, your place for the discussion of horror film, fiction, and all that’s fantastic. In 1979, a young inspiring film student took advantage of an opportunity called a Dollar Baby, Stephen King’s generous way of giving back to the next generation of film makers. With the permission to make an adaption of one of the author’s short stories, Frank Darabont at the young age of twenty proceeded to make a short film which would go on to reach the semi-finalist list of the 1983 Academy Awards. Within five years he would have screenwriter credits to the third installment of the Chuck Russell directed Nightmare on Elm Street Dream Warriors, a huge box office hit and ranked by critics as the best in the series after the original. A year later Frank Darabont reteamed with Chuck Russell and once again writes the screenplay for the remake of The Blob, a film listed by Fangoria magazine as one of the 300 best horror films of all time. By the mid-1990’s his collaboration with Stephen King grew to include some of the best adaptations of the author’s works ever. First came the film The Shawshank Redemption, a heart wrenching story full of hope and salvation, which went on to garner seven Academy Award nominations. His follow up, The Green Mile, a story of faith and credence in a death row cellblock, went on to be nominated for four Academy Awards, including best screenwriter. Your hosts discuss Mr. Darabont and his contributions to genre cinema during this beginning period of his spectacular career. To have an artist cross over from B-movie madness to critically acclaimed award winning cinema has given a new legitimacy to horror, science fiction, and fantasy. As always we welcome your comments: darkdiscussions@aol.com (written email or attached mp3 files) WWW.DARKDISCUSSIONS.COM 2:15:44 no horror, horror films, science fiction, fantasy, reviews http://www.darkdiscussions.com/Podcasts/Dark%20Discussions%20-%20Episode%20005%20-%20Zombies%20Part%202.mp3 Sun, 19 Jun 2011 16:18:21 -0400 darkdiscussions@aol.com http://www.darkdiscussions.com/Podcasts/Dark%20Discussions%20-%20Episode%20005%20-%20Zombies%20Part%202.mp3 http://www.darkdiscussions.com/Podcasts/Dark%20Discussions%20-%20Episode%20005%20-%20Zombies%20Part%202.mp3 Welcome to Episode 005 of Dark Discussions, your place for the discussion of horror film, fiction, and all that’s fantastic. Once again Philip and Gordon discuss the flesh eaters known so affectionately as the walking dead and zombies. Within this episode, less familiar zombie films are brought to the attention to the listeners. Unlike the George A. Romero films and the other more well known franchises such as Resident Evil, zombie movies have been copied, ripped off, or simply reinvented by both great talents in the horror genre as well as the occasional hack. Our hosts discuss three films each that any horror or zombie aficionado should see if they haven’t seen yet. Gordon focuses on the smaller film where there is no zombie apocalypse in sight. His three recommendations are Grace, directed by Paul Solet and starring the beautiful Jordan Ladd; Deadgirl written by Troma veteran Trent Haaga; and an entry from across the pond in Norway entitled Dead Snow. Philip focuses on three older films filled with kinetic mayhem, a Spanish/English joint production sometimes known as The Living Dead at the Manchester Morgue; Ryuhei Kitamura of Midnight Meat Train renown and his extremely wild zombie film Versus; and Cannibal Ferox’s famed director Umberto Lenzi’s Nightmare City. But what about books and audio? Zombies are now appearing on page and paper, nook and nano. They’ve invaded libraries and computer desktops, perhaps easier than it had been for them to overrun malls, farm houses, and cemeteries. Our hosts talk about this new phenomena where zombie literature may have become as prolific as vampire and haunted house tales. Such authors and editors as Joe McKinney, Jonathan Maberry, Ben Tripp, Brian Keene, David Moody, Kim Paffenroth, and Stephen Jones are dissected. Titles as diverse as Stephen King’s The Cell, Jonathan Maberry’s Patient Zero, and Stephen Jones’ Zombie Apocalypse are dismembered. And a nod to the small publishing house Permuted Press gets a bite from our hosts. But wait, what was that you heard on your iPod? Zombie podcasts? Listeners beware, Dark Discussions welcomes you. As always we welcome your comments: darkdiscussions@aol.com (written email or attached mp3 files) WWW.DARKDISCUSSIONS.COM Movies & Television DarkDiscussions Little known zombie films and some of the best zombie literature that's available are discussed. Welcome to Episode 005 of Dark Discussions, your place for the discussion of horror film, fiction, and all that’s fantastic. Once again Philip and Gordon discuss the flesh eaters known so affectionately as the walking dead and zombies. Within this episode, less familiar zombie films are brought to the attention to the listeners. Unlike the George A. Romero films and the other more well known franchises such as Resident Evil, zombie movies have been copied, ripped off, or simply reinvented by both great talents in the horror genre as well as the occasional hack. Our hosts discuss three films each that any horror or zombie aficionado should see if they haven’t seen yet. Gordon focuses on the smaller film where there is no zombie apocalypse in sight. His three recommendations are Grace, directed by Paul Solet and starring the beautiful Jordan Ladd; Deadgirl written by Troma veteran Trent Haaga; and an entry from across the pond in Norway entitled Dead Snow. Philip focuses on three older films filled with kinetic mayhem, a Spanish/English joint production sometimes known as The Living Dead at the Manchester Morgue; Ryuhei Kitamura of Midnight Meat Train renown and his extremely wild zombie film Versus; and Cannibal Ferox’s famed director Umberto Lenzi’s Nightmare City. But what about books and audio? Zombies are now appearing on page and paper, nook and nano. They’ve invaded libraries and computer desktops, perhaps easier than it had been for them to overrun malls, farm houses, and cemeteries. Our hosts talk about this new phenomena where zombie literature may have become as prolific as vampire and haunted house tales. Such authors and editors as Joe McKinney, Jonathan Maberry, Ben Tripp, Brian Keene, David Moody, Kim Paffenroth, and Stephen Jones are dissected. Titles as diverse as Stephen King’s The Cell, Jonathan Maberry’s Patient Zero, and Stephen Jones’ Zombie Apocalypse are dismembered. And a nod to the small publishing house Permuted Press gets a bite from our hosts. But wait, what was that you heard on your iPod? Zombie podcasts? Listeners beware, Dark Discussions welcomes you. As always we welcome your comments: darkdiscussions@aol.com (written email or attached mp3 files) WWW.DARKDISCUSSIONS.COM 1:07:51 no horror, horror films, science fiction, fantasy, reviews http://www.darkdiscussions.com/Podcasts/Dark%20Discussions%20-%20Episode%20004%20-%20Who%20Goes%20There.mp3 Sun, 12 Jun 2011 09:13:41 -0400 darkdiscussions@aol.com http://www.darkdiscussions.com/Podcasts/Dark%20Discussions%20-%20Episode%20004%20-%20Who%20Goes%20There.mp3 http://www.darkdiscussions.com/Podcasts/Dark%20Discussions%20-%20Episode%20004%20-%20Who%20Goes%20There.mp3 Welcome to Dark Discussions podcast. Your place for the discussion of horror film, fiction, and all that's fantastic. The Howard Hawks/Christian Nyby 1951 film The Thing From Another World is considered by many the greatest science fiction film of the 1950’s, rated superior to its contemporaries such as The Forbidden Planet and The Day the Earth Stood Still. John Carpenter’s 1982 film The Thing, though a failure at the box office, has become arguably one of the greatest horror and science fiction films of not only a decade but of all time; re-evaluated many times over as a classic. Yet where did these wonderful films come up with such an engrossing and game changing story? Philip takes the microphone and brings to the forefront the source material, one of the most important stories in horror and science fiction history, the 1938 novella Who Goes There? At the time of publication, science fiction film and literature was mostly Space Opera, the good old fashioned action adventure story but with a science fiction setting. Fun and glorious, such great characters as Buck Rogers and Flash Gordon captured audience’s imaginations. Writers such as Edgar Rice Burroughs, E.E. Smith, Jack Williamson, and John W. Campbell Jr. wrote intergalactic adventure about men fighting on planets that some say were the seeds that gave George Lucas his idea for Star Wars. But then, John W. Campbell Jr. decided to change everything forever. He decided to write under a pseudonym as Don A. Stuart stories filled with darkness, fear and man versus *fill in the blank*. Going back to the bleakness of classic science fiction horror such as Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein and the Victorian authors of H.G. Wells, Jules Verne, and Robert Louis Stevenson, John W. Campbell Jr. turned science fiction on its head creating what is known today as hard science fiction. (Though not mentioned in the podcast, the term hard science fiction was created by P. Schuyler Miller in his review of another John W. Campbell Jr. story entitled Islands of Space). Not prolific as an author, Mr. Campbell retired from writing fiction at the young age of 28 to become arguably the most important person ever in the writing of science fiction. He became editor of Astounding Science Fiction Magazine and was the man who shaped and brought to prominence the giants in science fiction during its heyday, such notable authors as Robert Heinlein and L. Ron Hubbard to name a few. A quote by Isaac Asimov sums up the impact Mr. Campbell had on science fiction and horror stating "(he was) the most powerful force in science fiction ever, and for the ten years of his editorship (of Astounding Science Fiction magazine) he dominated the field completely." Who was Mr. Campbell? Why have you not heard of him? And why are you familiar only with his story that was the basis of The Thing? Podcast listeners, get ready for a new understanding of one of your all time favorite films and how one man gave us arguably the greatest horror and science fiction story ever. As always we welcome your comments: darkdiscussions@aol.com (written email or attached mp3 files) WWW.DARKDISCUSSIONS.COM Movies & Television DarkDiscussions The story Who Goes There? was the basis for The Thing. A deep look into the story and its author, John W. Campbell, Jr. Welcome to Dark Discussions podcast. Your place for the discussion of horror film, fiction, and all that's fantastic. The Howard Hawks/Christian Nyby 1951 film The Thing From Another World is considered by many the greatest science fiction film of the 1950’s, rated superior to its contemporaries such as The Forbidden Planet and The Day the Earth Stood Still. John Carpenter’s 1982 film The Thing, though a failure at the box office, has become arguably one of the greatest horror and science fiction films of not only a decade but of all time; re-evaluated many times over as a classic. Yet where did these wonderful films come up with such an engrossing and game changing story? Philip takes the microphone and brings to the forefront the source material, one of the most important stories in horror and science fiction history, the 1938 novella Who Goes There? At the time of publication, science fiction film and literature was mostly Space Opera, the good old fashioned action adventure story but with a science fiction setting. Fun and glorious, such great characters as Buck Rogers and Flash Gordon captured audience’s imaginations. Writers such as Edgar Rice Burroughs, E.E. Smith, Jack Williamson, and John W. Campbell Jr. wrote intergalactic adventure about men fighting on planets that some say were the seeds that gave George Lucas his idea for Star Wars. But then, John W. Campbell Jr. decided to change everything forever. He decided to write under a pseudonym as Don A. Stuart stories filled with darkness, fear and man versus *fill in the blank*. Going back to the bleakness of classic science fiction horror such as Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein and the Victorian authors of H.G. Wells, Jules Verne, and Robert Louis Stevenson, John W. Campbell Jr. turned science fiction on its head creating what is known today as hard science fiction. (Though not mentioned in the podcast, the term hard science fiction was created by P. Schuyler Miller in his review of another John W. Campbell Jr. story entitled Islands of Space). Not prolific as an author, Mr. Campbell retired from writing fiction at the young age of 28 to become arguably the most important person ever in the writing of science fiction. He became editor of Astounding Science Fiction Magazine and was the man who shaped and brought to prominence the giants in science fiction during its heyday, such notable authors as Robert Heinlein and L. Ron Hubbard to name a few. A quote by Isaac Asimov sums up the impact Mr. Campbell had on science fiction and horror stating "(he was) the most powerful force in science fiction ever, and for the ten years of his editorship (of Astounding Science Fiction magazine) he dominated the field completely." Who was Mr. Campbell? Why have you not heard of him? And why are you familiar only with his story that was the basis of The Thing? Podcast listeners, get ready for a new understanding of one of your all time favorite films and how one man gave us arguably the greatest horror and science fiction story ever. As always we welcome your comments: darkdiscussions@aol.com (written email or attached mp3 files) WWW.DARKDISCUSSIONS.COM 1:13:09 no horror, horror films, science fiction, fantasy, reviews http://www.darkdiscussions.com/Podcasts/Dark%20Discussions%20-%20Episode%20003%20-%20Zombies%20Part%201.mp3 Sun, 05 Jun 2011 19:54:46 -0400 darkdiscussions@aol.com http://www.darkdiscussions.com/Podcasts/Dark%20Discussions%20-%20Episode%20003%20-%20Zombies%20Part%201.mp3 http://www.darkdiscussions.com/Podcasts/Dark%20Discussions%20-%20Episode%20003%20-%20Zombies%20Part%201.mp3 Welcome to Dark Discussions podcast. Your place for the discussion of horror film, fiction, and all that's fantastic. The topic for this episode is Zombies with a capital Z. Zombies have overtaken the world's culture, entering into our media just like a virus. Books, movies, video games, comics, and even podcasts have dedicated stories about zombies and their terror. Prior to 1968 zombies were known mostly as Haitian monsters created by voodoo or possibly ghoulish demonic forces, but in 1968 everything changes with an amateur director from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania named George A. Romero. His independently made film Night of the Living Dead shocked and captivated the horror world. In today's podcast, Gordon and Philip focus on the post-Romero zombie, the flesh eater, segwaying between the slow shambler to the fast kinetic monster. Talk of the zombie apocalypse brings about the discussion of what makes our societies tick and whether a zombie outbreak is really only a reflection of humanity itself. Franchises focused on are the Romero sextet, Zack Snyder's Dawn of the Dead remake, the Resident Evil franchise, the 28 Days and Weeks films, zombie comedies also known as zomedies, and of course the Dan O'Bannon 1985 classic Return of the Living Dead. Shamble on over to your iPod and listen. Among some of the tastier tidbits we discuss is the fact that Richard Matheson, one of horror's greatest authors, unknowingly planted a seed in the mind of this little known director from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania who changed the horror genre forever. As always we welcome your comments: darkdiscussions@aol.com (text email or attached mp3 files) WWW.DARKDISCUSSIONS.COM Movies & Television DarkDiscussions Zombies have taken over media, film, books, video games, and comics. Where, when, and why did it all happen? Welcome to Dark Discussions podcast. Your place for the discussion of horror film, fiction, and all that's fantastic. The topic for this episode is Zombies with a capital Z. Zombies have overtaken the world's culture, entering into our media just like a virus. Books, movies, video games, comics, and even podcasts have dedicated stories about zombies and their terror. Prior to 1968 zombies were known mostly as Haitian monsters created by voodoo or possibly ghoulish demonic forces, but in 1968 everything changes with an amateur director from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania named George A. Romero. His independently made film Night of the Living Dead shocked and captivated the horror world. In today's podcast, Gordon and Philip focus on the post-Romero zombie, the flesh eater, segwaying between the slow shambler to the fast kinetic monster. Talk of the zombie apocalypse brings about the discussion of what makes our societies tick and whether a zombie outbreak is really only a reflection of humanity itself. Franchises focused on are the Romero sextet, Zack Snyder's Dawn of the Dead remake, the Resident Evil franchise, the 28 Days and Weeks films, zombie comedies also known as zomedies, and of course the Dan O'Bannon 1985 classic Return of the Living Dead. Shamble on over to your iPod and listen. Among some of the tastier tidbits we discuss is the fact that Richard Matheson, one of horror's greatest authors, unknowingly planted a seed in the mind of this little known director from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania who changed the horror genre forever. As always we welcome your comments: darkdiscussions@aol.com (text email or attached mp3 files) WWW.DARKDISCUSSIONS.COM 1:28:19 no horror, horror films, science fiction, fantasy, reviews http://www.darkdiscussions.com/Podcasts/Dark%20Discussions%20-%20Episode%20002%20-%20Sucker%20Punch.mp3 Sun, 29 May 2011 13:16:18 -0400 darkdiscussions@aol.com http://www.darkdiscussions.com/Podcasts/Dark%20Discussions%20-%20Episode%20002%20-%20Sucker%20Punch.mp3 http://www.darkdiscussions.com/Podcasts/Dark%20Discussions%20-%20Episode%20002%20-%20Sucker%20Punch.mp3 Welcome to Dark Discussions podcast. Your place for the discussion of horror film, fiction, and all that's fantastic. A fairly recent release at theaters has brought both the mainstream critics and the genre folks camping on different sides of no man’s land arguing whether the film was great or just a complete mess. The film is Sucker Punch written and directed by genre favorite Zack Snyder. Philip takes an in depth look into what the film pays homage to, focusing on such topics as anime, steam punk, comics, and video games. The film’s "everything but the kitchen sink" plot and visuals makes one hell of a ride, but more importantly, where did the elements displayed on hopefully an IMAX or 3D screen come from? Most think it was Zack Snyder’s own reverence to "geek" culture but others think it was much more than that. Was it a silly mess with beautiful girls in skimpy outfits fighting everything from Daimajin samurais, horrific zombies, futuristic robots, and fantasy monsters or was it an overblown disaster where a great director goes off the rails? By the end of the podcast, fan of the film or not, one will have an appreciation of where the film draws its ideas and where to look for its inspiration. As always we welcome your comments: darkdiscussions@aol.com (text email or attached mp3 files) WWW.DARKDISCUSSIONS.COM Movies & Television DarkDiscussions Zack Snyder's Sucker Punch pays homage to anime, steam punk, video games and so much more. Welcome to Dark Discussions podcast. Your place for the discussion of horror film, fiction, and all that's fantastic. A fairly recent release at theaters has brought both the mainstream critics and the genre folks camping on different sides of no man’s land arguing whether the film was great or just a complete mess. The film is Sucker Punch written and directed by genre favorite Zack Snyder. Philip takes an in depth look into what the film pays homage to, focusing on such topics as anime, steam punk, comics, and video games. The film’s "everything but the kitchen sink" plot and visuals makes one hell of a ride, but more importantly, where did the elements displayed on hopefully an IMAX or 3D screen come from? Most think it was Zack Snyder’s own reverence to "geek" culture but others think it was much more than that. Was it a silly mess with beautiful girls in skimpy outfits fighting everything from Daimajin samurais, horrific zombies, futuristic robots, and fantasy monsters or was it an overblown disaster where a great director goes off the rails? By the end of the podcast, fan of the film or not, one will have an appreciation of where the film draws its ideas and where to look for its inspiration. As always we welcome your comments: darkdiscussions@aol.com (text email or attached mp3 files) WWW.DARKDISCUSSIONS.COM 1:21:29 no horror, horror films, science fiction, fantasy, reviews http://www.darkdiscussions.com/Podcasts/Dark%20Discussions%20-%20Episode%20001%20-%20The%20State%20of%20Horror.mp3 Sun, 29 May 2011 13:11:46 -0400 darkdiscussions@aol.com http://www.darkdiscussions.com/Podcasts/Dark%20Discussions%20-%20Episode%20001%20-%20The%20State%20of%20Horror.mp3 http://www.darkdiscussions.com/Podcasts/Dark%20Discussions%20-%20Episode%20001%20-%20The%20State%20of%20Horror.mp3 Welcome to Dark Discussions podcast. Your place for the discussion of horror film, fiction, and all that's fantastic. Kicking off the first podcast in style, Gordon and Philip chat about the horror genre in general. Discussing how horror on television has taken a huge leap forward with such brilliant new programming as The Walking Dead, a zombie television show based off the graphic novel by Robert Kirkman, your hosts move to an assessment of the once hot and hip cable horror show Masters of Horror. Masters of Horror was a very brilliant idea where stories from the top genre writers in literature were filmed by some of the most preeminent horror directors. Overviews of such authors as Joe R. Lansdale and F. Paul Wilson slide the conversation into other artists who have filmed these author’s stories such as Joe Dante, Mick Garris, and Dario Argento. Changing gears, the topic switches to the Asian horror wave that shocked film back in the late 90’s and early 2000’s, focusing on Japan, Korea, and Thailand. Staying in foreign lands but on the other side of the world, France gets a nod from our hosts with the new wave of French horror that matches Japan in gruesomeness yet brings the shocks that the horror fan loves so much in the films of Tobe Hooper, John Carpenter, and Wes Craven. Rounding out the episode, a detailed review of the little seen but highly entertaining 2008 film Shuttle, directed by Edward Anderson. Though severely technically flawed in its script, the film as stated by bloody-disgusting.com is “a bus ride to hell” and is certainly worth a view. As always we welcome your comments: darkdiscussions@aol.com (text email or attached mp3 files) WWW.DARKDISCUSSIONS.COM Movies & Television DarkDiscussions What is out in the horror world today? Who's leading the charge? And where is the genre heading? Welcome to Dark Discussions podcast. Your place for the discussion of horror film, fiction, and all that's fantastic. Kicking off the first podcast in style, Gordon and Philip chat about the horror genre in general. Discussing how horror on television has taken a huge leap forward with such brilliant new programming as The Walking Dead, a zombie television show based off the graphic novel by Robert Kirkman, your hosts move to an assessment of the once hot and hip cable horror show Masters of Horror. Masters of Horror was a very brilliant idea where stories from the top genre writers in literature were filmed by some of the most preeminent horror directors. Overviews of such authors as Joe R. Lansdale and F. Paul Wilson slide the conversation into other artists who have filmed these author’s stories such as Joe Dante, Mick Garris, and Dario Argento. Changing gears, the topic switches to the Asian horror wave that shocked film back in the late 90’s and early 2000’s, focusing on Japan, Korea, and Thailand. Staying in foreign lands but on the other side of the world, France gets a nod from our hosts with the new wave of French horror that matches Japan in gruesomeness yet brings the shocks that the horror fan loves so much in the films of Tobe Hooper, John Carpenter, and Wes Craven. Rounding out the episode, a detailed review of the little seen but highly entertaining 2008 film Shuttle, directed by Edward Anderson. Though severely technically flawed in its script, the film as stated by bloody-disgusting.com is “a bus ride to hell” and is certainly worth a view. As always we welcome your comments: darkdiscussions@aol.com (text email or attached mp3 files) WWW.DARKDISCUSSIONS.COM 2:06:13 no horror, horror films, science fiction, fantasy, reviews