The Horror Double Bill

Welcome to episode 31 of The Horror Double Bill, the podcast where each week we pair two movies to create something for greater than the sum of their parts

This week we are discussing two movies that are both very dark comedies and are both set on Christmas Eve, First up is Dead End from 2003 written and directed by Jean Baptiste Andrea and Fabrice Canepa. This stars Alexandra Holden, Ray Wise, Lynn Shea, and Mick Cain. Then we head over to Spain for The Day of the Beast  from 1995  and director Alex De La Iglesia; starring Santiago Segura, Armando de Razza, Alex Angulo, and Terele Pavez. T

Along the way will be discussing the careers of Lynn Shea and Ray Wise, Alex de la Iglesia's views on Christmas, the story of Don Quixote and much much more

The Spectral Lines Zine: 

https://thespectrallines.bigcartel.com/

The Occultaria of Albion

https://www.occultariaofalbion.co.uk/

Recommendations mentioned in this episode

Alone in the Dark (1982)

Resources and Research

Dead End

Making of featurette available on the Pathe DVD release

https://morbidlybeautiful.com/lin-shaye-interview-one/

https://www.joblo.com/interview-ray-wise/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lin_Shaye

https://www.dreadcentral.com/news/3277/andrea-jean-baptiste-dead-end/

http://www.reviewgraveyard.com/Interview/04-04-01_Jean-BaptisteAndrea.htm

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ray_Wise

https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0936403/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jean-Baptiste_Andrea

Day of the Beast

Interview with Alex de la Iglesia and “Heirs of the Beast” documentary feature, available on the Severin Films blu ray release

https://www.dreadcentral.com/news/3339/de-la-iglesia-alex-day-of-the-beast-etc/

https://filmint.nu/round-table-discussion-with-alex-de-la-iglesia/

https://www.xataka.com/entrevistas/alex-iglesia-dia-bestia-partida-rol-cura-personaje-chtulhu

Spanish Horror Film by Antonio Lazaro Reboll, 

The Spanish Fantastic Contemporary Filmmaking In Horror Fantasy And Sci-Fi by Shelagh Rowan Legg

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youtube: @thehorrordoublebill

artwork by Justin Parker (IG jpkr_illustration.com)

Welcome to episode 30 of The Horror Double Bill, the podcast where each week we pair two movies to create something greater than the sum of their parts.

This week both films are directed by Robert Wise, a multiple Oscar-winning American director whose works have included The Body Snatcher, The Day the Earth Stood Still, The Andromeda Strain, Star Trek: The Motion Picture, West Side Story, and The Sound of Music, as well as this week’s two movies.

So first up, for our Christmas movie we have The Curse of the Cat People from 1944, starring Simone Simon, Kent Smith, Elizabeth Russell, and Ann Carter. Another film in the series from RKO Studios and producer Val Lewton, this marked Wise’s feature directing debut, although he did in fact share the directing credits with Gunther von Fritsch.

Then we jump forward to 1963 and one of the most famous haunted house movies of all time, The Haunting. This was based on The Haunting of Hill House, written by Shirley Jackson, and stars Julie Harris, Richard Johnson, Russ Tamblyn, and Claire Bloom.

Along the way we’ll be discussing in detail the career of Robert Wise, the career and writing of Shirley Jackson, and much, much more.

Recommendations:

The Lottery by Shirley Jackson

The Summer People by Shirley Jackson

We Have Always Lived in the Castle by Shirley Jackson

The Day the Earth Stood Still (1951) Directed by Robert Wise

The Return (TV Ghost Story) : 

https://youtu.be/MkPCslMN-ps?si=SEZ6IQTN6v72Vxwo

Sources and References

Val Lewton: The Reality of Terror by Joel E. Siegel 

Icons of Grief: Val Lewton’s Home Front Pictures by Alexander Nemerov.

Little Shop of Horrors, (issue 49) - The Roads to Hill House: The Making of Robert Wise’s The Haunting”  by Anthony McKay. 

https://www.the-haunting.com/index.html

Dance Macabre by Stephen King

The Masterpieces of Shirley Jackson with an introduction by Donna Tartt

Instagram: @thehorrordoublebill

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youtube: @thehorrordoublebill

artwork by Justin Parker (IG jpkr_illustration.com)

Welcome to episode 29 of The Horror Double Bill; the podcast where each week we pair two movies to create something far greater than the sum of their parts

This week we are continuing our Christmas season, where at least one film in our pairing will have a seasonal theme – or perhaps more appropriately, as this week we are all about anthology movies, at least one of the stories in one of our pairings will have a seasonal theme.

First up this week is Dead of Night from 1945, the first British horror movie released after World War II, and directed by Alberto Cavalcanti, Charles Chricton, Robert Hamer, and Basil Dearden. It stars Mervyn Johns, Sally Anne Howes, Googie Withers and Michael Redgrave.

Then we head to 1974 and From Beyond the Grave, the last anthology movie released by British studio Amicus. Directed by Kevin Connor, it stars Peter Cushing, Donald Pleasence, Angela Pleasence David Warner, Ian Bannen, and Diana Dors.

Along the way will be discussing the history of Ealing Studios, the career of writer R Chetwynd Hayes, the Amicus anthology horror series, director Kevin Connor, and much more

References

English Gothic: classic horror cinema 1897 to 2015 by Jonathan Rigby

Hammer and Beyond - the British horror film by Peter Hutchings

Dead of Night written by Jess Connolly and David Owen Bates (published by Devil’s Advocates)

https://bfidatadigipres.github.io/roots%2C%20rituals%20and%20phantasmagoria/2024/09/02/dead-of-night/

https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanpsy/article/PIIS2215-0366(15)00431-9/fulltext

Remembering Dead of Night, a documentary which can be found on the Criterion collection Blu-ray and 4K special edition releases

British Cult Cinema the Amicus Anthology by Bruce G Hallenbeck 

Phantasmagoria Magazine R Chetwynd- Hayes special tribute edition

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dead_of_Night

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/From_Beyond_the_Grave

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amicus_Productions

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mervyn_Johns

https://ealingstudios.com/about-ealing/history-3/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ealing_Studios

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email: [email protected]

youtube: @thehorrordoublebill

artwork by Justin Parker (IG jpkr_illustration.com)

Welcome to episode 28 of The Horror Double Bill the podcast where each week we pair two movies to create something far greater than the sum of their parts

This week we are beginning our Christmas season, and discussing two films that are based on the work of M.R James. First up we have Whistle And I’ll Come To You, directed by Jonathan Miller from 1968 and then Night of the Demon from 1957, directed by Jacques Tourneur, starring Dana Andrews, Peggy Cummins, and Niall McGinnis 

Along the way we will be discussing the origins of the ghost stories for Christmas tradition, the works of MR James, and much much more

Christmas Ghost Stories

https://www.gothichorrorstories.com/classic-gothic-ghost-stories/a-history-of-winter-tales-and-christmas-ghost-stories-to-make-the-blood-run-wintery-cold/

https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/plea-resurrect-christmas-tradition-telling-ghost-stories-180967553/

https://visitsleepyhollow.com/how-charles-dickens-stole-christmas/

https://www.history.co.uk/

https://www.nypl.org/blog/2021/12/16/ghost-stories-for-christmas

https://dickenssearch.com/

https://www.spectator.co.uk/article/how-chilling-ghost-stories-became-a-christmas-tradition/

Whistle and I’ll Come to You

https://headpress.com/blog/2024/12/04/whistle-down-the-wind-an-extract-from-no-diggin-here/

https://www.bfi.org.uk/features/ghost-story-christmas-whistle-ill-come-you

https://www.webofstories.com/play/jonathan.miller/23;jsessionid=B9BEC49F95119602BDA6DFAC03EFD09D

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M._R._James

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Whistle_and_I%27ll_Come_to_You_(1968_film)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jonathan_Miller

Night of the Demon

English Gothic by Jonathan Rigby

Jacques Tourneur The cinema of Nightfall by Chris Fujiwara

https://catalog.afi.com/Catalog/moviedetails/52516

https://eprints.whiterose.ac.uk/id/eprint/127530/3/FINAL%20Rev%20Writing%20NoTD%20Article%20for%20HJFRT%20Alison%20Peirse%20080216.pdf

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Night_of_the_Demon

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dana_Andrews

https://m.imdb.com/name/nm0000763/

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email: [email protected]

youtube: @thehorrordoublebill

artwork by Justin Parker (IG jpkr_illustration.com)

Welcome to episode 27 of the horror double bill the podcasts where each week we pair two movies to create something far greater than the sum of their parts

This week we are exploring the horrors of Victorian London and Jack the Ripper, with two films that use the legend of the famous serial killer to explore themes of conspiracy, class, and the patriarchy

First up is Murder by Decree from 1979 and director Bob Clark starring Christopher Plummer James Mason, David Hemmings, and Donald Sutherland. Then we travel back to 1971 for Hands of the Ripper from Hammer Studios, directed by Peter Sasdy and starring Eric Porter, Angharad Reese, Keith Bell and Dora Brian.

Along the way will be discussing the history of Jack the Ripper movies from the 1920s onwards, the origins of the royal conspiracy theories surrounding the murders, the horror career of directors Bob Clark and Peter Sasdy and much more

References used

Jack the Ripper & Murder By Decree

English Gothic: Classic Horror Cinema 1897 - 2015 by Jonathan Rigby

Euro Gothic: Classics of Continental Horror Cinema by Jonathan Rigby

The House that Hammer Built Volume 2 by Wayne Kinsey

https://www.tumgik.com/themastercylinder

https://www.framerated.co.uk/murder-by-decree-1979/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Murder_by_Decree

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bob_Clark

https://cfe.tiff.net/canadianfilmencyclopedia/content/bios/bob-clark

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jack_the_Ripper:_The_Final_Solution

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jack_the_Ripper_(1959_film)

https://www.imdb.com/list/ls048149930/

Hands of the Ripper

https://carrionfilms.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/Peter-Sasdy-Interview.pdf

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Sasdy

Hammer and Beyond – The British Horror film by Peter Hutchings 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hands_of_the_Ripper

English Gothic: Classic Horror Cinema 1897 - 2015 by Jonathan Rigby

Instagram: @thehorrordoublebill

email: [email protected]

youtube: @thehorrordoublebill

artwork by Justin Parker (IG jpkr_illustration.com)

Welcome to episode 26 of the horror double bill, the podcast where each week we pair two movies to create something far greater than the sum of their parts

I'm Craig Johnson and this week we are entering the world of conspiracies and paranoia, with two films featuring journalist protagonists falling into increasingly dangerous territory. 

First up we return to the Italian giallo, with Short Night of Glass Dolls from 1971, directed by Aldo Lado and starring Jean Sorel, Ingrid Thulin, Barbara Bach and Mario Adorf. Then we jump forward to 2012 and our second faux documentary of the series, with The Conspiracy from director Christopher MacBride starring Aaron Poole and James Gilbert.

Along the way we will be discussing the careers of Aldo Lado and Jean Sorel, the not so secret societies the Bilderberg Group and The Bohemian Grove, the cognitive biases that come in to play with conspiracy theories and much more.

References

Short Night of Glass Dolls

Darkening the Italian Screen Part Two edited by Eugenio Ercolani, 

88 Films blu ray restoration of the movie - When Butterflies Turn to Glass & Czech Mate 

Celluloid Dreams 4k restoration special features

https://movieplayer.it/articoli/aldo-lado-intervista-monica-vitti-censura-ennio-morricone_20793/

https://www.globalist.it/culture/2021/12/01/non-ho-mai-rivisto-i-miei-film-aldo-lado-regista-di-cult-come-la-corta-notte-delle-bambole-di-vetro-si-racconta/

https://www.filmtv.it/articoli/105/pupi-avati-racconta-salo-di-pasolini/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prague_Spring

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jean_Sorel

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ingrid_Thulin

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mario_Adorf

The Conspiracy 

https://www.dreadcentral.com/news/46916/the-conspiracy-exclusive-q-a-with-director-christopher-macbride/

https://www.starburstmagazine.com/features/interview-christopher-macbride-the-conspiracy/

https://thatshelf.com/interview-christopher-macbride-aaron-poole/

https://www.femalefirst.co.uk/movies/aaron-poole-the-conspiracy-interview-350691.html

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apophenia

https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/your-emotional-meter/202401/the-psychology-of-conspiracy-theories

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bilderberg_Meeting

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bohemian_Grove

Instagram: @thehorrordoublebill

email: [email protected]

youtube: @thehorrordoublebill

artwork by Justin Parker (IG jpkr_illustration.com)

Welcome to episode 25 of The Horror Double Bill, the podcast where each week we pair 2 movies to create something far greater than the sum of their parts

This week we are discussing two movies that use the ghost story as a vehicle to explore themes of family, loss, grief, and instability. First up, we have our first Korean entry in the series with a Tale of Two Sisters from 2003 and director Kim Jee-woon, which stars Im Soo-Jung, Yum Jung-ah and Moon Geun-young. Then we follow this with a trip back to Spain for The Orphanage from 2007 and director J.A Bayona, starring Belen Rueda, Geraldine Chaplin, Roger Princep and Fernando Cayo

Along the way, we’ll be discussing the foundations of Korean horror cinema, the career and movies of director Kim Jee-woon, the folk tale Rose Flower and Red Lotus, the careers of Sergio G Sanchez and J A Bayona, and much more.

References and Sources:

A Tale of Two Sisters

Asia Shock by Patrick Galloway

Korean Horror Cinema written by Alison Pearce

Arrow Films Blu-ray release - interviews with the cast and director as well as the directors commentary

https://cine21.com/news/view/?mag_id=25485

https://cine21.com/news/view/?mag_id=19282

https://www.fangoria.com/kim-jee-woon-a-tale-of-two-sisters/

https://www.dreadcentral.com/editorials/461562/a-tale-of-two-sisters-a-korean-horror-masterpiece/

https://www.vam.ac.uk/articles/a-brief-history-of-k-cinema?srsltid=AfmBOop0ogJla4KoWgRPoSLjse0kCpsUsHuJBtBDpNw7JOZhqbFAc9zN

The Orphanage

Imprint Films Blu-ray release - interviews with the cast and crew, and a behind the scenes making of documentary

The Spanish Fantastic: Contemporary Filmmaking in Horror Fantasy and Sci-fi by Sheila Rowan leg

Spanish Horror Film by Antonio Lazarro Rebol

https://www.europapress.es/cultura/cine-00128/noticia-belen-rueda-enfrenta-primer-papel-protagonista-orfanato-representara-espana-oscar-20071009175718.html

https://culturevulture.net/film/an-interview-with-the-filmmakers-of-the-orphanage/

https://www.female.com.au/juan-antonio-bayona-the-orphanage-interview.htm

https://www.hollywood.com/general/the-orphanage-juan-antonio-bayona-sergio-sanchez-57174730

https://www.ioncinema.com/news/uncategorized/interview-juan-antonio-bayona-sergio-sanchez-the-orphanage

https://www.fangoria.com/interview-screenwriter-sergio-g-sanchez-on-giving-birth-to-the-orphanage-and-collaborating-with-guillermo-del-toro/

Instagram: @thehorrordoublebill

email: [email protected]

youtube: @thehorrordoublebill

artwork by Justin Parker (IG jpkr_illustration.com)

Welcome to episode 24 of the horror double bill the podcasts where each week we combine two movies to create something far greater than the sum of their parts

This week we are returning to the theme of childhood, only this week it is the kids and not the adults who are in peril. 

First up we have The Night of the Hunter from 1955, the only film ever directed by the great actor Charles Laughton and starring Robert Mitchum, Shelley Winters and Lillian Gish. Then we’ll be heading back to Mexico for the quite brilliant Tigers are Not Afraid from 2017 written and directed by Issa Lopez and starring Paolo Lara Juan Ramon Lopez Hansel Casillas and Rodrigo Cortez.

Both of this week’s movies juxtapose fairytale imagery with the grim realities of murder corruption and crime, depicting their young protagonists as casualties of societal and financial collapse, the first through the great depression of the 1930s and the second through the rise and reach of gang culture in present day Mexico. 

Night of the Hunter

The Night of the Hunter by Simon Callow, published by BFI film classics

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Depression

https://www.britannica.com/event/Great-Depression

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Davis_Grubb

https://catalog.afi.com/Catalog/moviedetails/51604

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Laughton

https://www.criterion.com/current/posts/1657-the-night-of-the-hunter-holy-terror?srsltid=AfmBOorxu8VtTUmkrWGymPa25wN6Nvim63PVF9ojmLW3GxYI2e3PQRK7

Tigers Are Not Afraid

Shudder blu-ray release extras: directors commentary, behind the scenes making of feature, Q&A with Issa Lopez and Guillermo Del Toro

https://www.hrw.org/world-report/2025/country-chapters/mexico

https://www.filmcomment.com/blog/interview-issa-lopez/

https://insessionfilm.com/interview-issa-lopez-director-writer-of-tigers-are-not-afraid/

https://deepestdream.com/issa-lopez-talks-dream-narrative-behind-tigers-are-not-afraid/

https://www.dreadcentral.com/news/299293/tigers-are-not-afraid-and-neither-is-director-issa-lopez/

https://www.hola.com/us/entertainment/20240111354355/issa-lopez-mexican-force-behind-season-4-true-detective/

https://videocine.com.mx/noticia/entrevista-paola-lara-vuelven/

https://producaocultural.procomum.org/2012/01/11/1525

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email: [email protected]

youtube: @thehorrordoublebill

artwork by Justin Parker (IG jpkr_illustration.com)

Welcome to episode 23 of the Horror Double Bill, the podcast where each week we combine two movies to create something far greater than the sum of their parts

This week we are exploring the great outdoors with two films that fall into the sub genre of backwoods horror, though to be fair the second one is more backwoods adjacent

First up we wade through the swamps of Louisiana with Southern Comfort from 1981 and director Walter Hill, starring Keith Carradine, Powers Booth, Fred Ward, and Peter Coyote. Then we travel to 2005 and the Appalachian Mountains with The Descent from director Neil Marshall, starring Shauna MacDonald, Natalie Mendoza, Akex Reid and Myanna Buring.

Along the way we’ll be discussing the origins of the back woods horror sub-genre, exploring some of the classic and if we’re honest not so classic entries, discussing the career of Walter Hill, debating whether Southern Comfort is an allegory for the Vietnam war and much much more.

Sources & References

Introduction and both movies

The Rural Gothic in American Popular Culture Backwoods Horror and Terror in The Wilderness by Bernice M Murphy

The Palgrave Handbook of Contemporary Gothic Volume 1 edited by Clive Bloom

Southern Comfort 

interviews, commentaries and documentaries that can be found on the Vinegar Syndrome special edition blu-ray release of the film

Men, Women and Chainsaws by Carol J Clover

https://thequietus.com/culture/film/film-southern-comfort-walter-hill-40-anniversary/

https://brightlightsfilm.com/human-frailty-swallowed-whole-on-walter-hills-southern-comfort-1981/

https://catalog.afi.com/Catalog/moviedetails/56697

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Walter_Hill

https://catalog.afi.com/Catalog/moviedetails/56697

The Descent

The Making of The Descent by Janine Pipe and Neil Marshall

https://youtu.be/gqx5snAahzA?si=6-3pqO6_B8313zFn

https://www.dreadcentral.com/interviews/3370/marshall-neil-the-descent/

https://theasc.com/articles/the-descent-creepy-crawlers

https://www.horrorthriller.com/Movies/Directors/N_Marshall/Centu_rion_Inter_view.html

Contemporary British Horror Cinema Industry, Genre and Society by Johnny Walker

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neil_Marshall

https://www.bfi.org.uk/sight-and-sound/greatest-films-all-time/all-voters/neil-marshall

Instagram: @thehorrordoublebill

email: [email protected]

youtube: @thehorrordoublebill

artwork by Justin Parker (IG jpkr_illustration.com)

Welcome to episode 22 of the Horror Double Bill the podcast where each week we combine two movies to create something for a greater than the sum of their parts

This week we are exploring religious fanaticism, the dangers of group think, cult mentalities, and discussing our first folk horror of the series, as well as our first pseudo-documentary.

First up we have Matthew Hopkins Witchfinder General from 1968 and director Michael Reeves starring Vincent Price, Ian Ogilvy, Hillary Dwyer and  Rupert Davies. Then we travel forward in time to 2013 and the sacrament from right a director Ti West starring AJ Bowen Joe Swanberg Jean Jones and Amy Seimetz.

Along the way will be discussing the all too brief career of Michael Reeves, the real witch finder Matthew Hopkins, Vincent Price, Ti West, the rise and fall of media company Vice, and much more

Mods and Shockers Book

https://webelongdead.co.uk/product-category/books/

Witchfinder General

https://youtu.be/ZsXo5oY1m7g?si=pN7OZndjltvClmXS

https://youtu.be/7tWNBXl1pVM?si=EuWldCAJ0yspJQM-

Witchfinder General by Ian Cooper 

British Film Makers – Michael Reeves by Benjamin Halligan

Beasts in the Cellar - The Exploitation Film Career of Tony Tensor by John Hamilton

Folk Horror on Film edited by Louis Bayman and KJ Donnelly 

https://flexiblehead.blog/2011/10/07/witchfinder-general/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Matthew_Hopkins

https://medium.com/@Witches7Hunt/first-witch-who-was-elizabeth-clarke-fbcba944b7b9

The Sacrament

Interviews with AJ Bowen, Amy Seimetz and Gene Jones that appear as special features of the Second Sight Blu Ray release

https://youtu.be/IpHIXtzzSlQ?si=mhqTSLol0n1gCyt8

https://youtu.be/VamKMnRAHB4?si=QmMPc02Vraz3jMmT

https://youtu.be/okOXHN2COBY?si=0HrUy-dbGPcWgGYi

https://youtu.be/rCErUAOiCBE?si=n9vj5yfBV026pj4d

https://youtu.be/fmr0PtkncWY?si=TlNCvyfO1FhoeuaV

https://www.theguardian.com/news/audio/2024/mar/25/the-rise-and-fall-of-vice-media-podcast

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vice_Media

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email: [email protected]

youtube: @thehorrordoublebill

artwork by Justin Parker (IG jpkr_illustration.com)