Dark Discussions Podcast

Welcome the newest episode of Dark Discussions, your place for the discussion of horror film, fiction, and all that’s fantastic. In 2000, M. Night Shyamalan released UNBREAKABLE, a very brooding and slow film that at the time received mixed reviews. Yet, interest in the director and also the fairly strong story brought with it a cult following that gave the film a well deserved re-evaluation by many. Years later, in 2016, he made the sequel entitled SPLIT that was an instant success both critically and at the box office. Now, the third film, GLASS (2019), in what has now been dubbed the Eastrail 177 Trilogy, has been released. With the disappearance of serial killer Kevin Wendell Crumb (James McAvoy), David Dunn (Bruce Willis) as the mysterious “superhero” Overseer heads out to the warehouse district of Philadelphia in search of Crumb. But unexpectedly Dr. Ellie Staple (Sarah Paulson) captures both of them so to try to cure them of their “super powers.” Soon after Elijah Price (Samuel L. Jackson) better known as the supervillian Mr. Glass is transferred to the same facility so he too can be cured. But unforeseen circumstances happen that may change the future of not just the three but also the entire world. Receiving very mixed reviews, GLASS was still able to dominate the box office its first two weeks in release. Starring the same cast, in the same universe of the prior films, the highly anticipated movie has continued both Shyamalan and production company Blumhouse’s financial success. Dark Discussions takes a look at the third film in the Eastrail 177 Trilogy and gives their critique. As always we welcome your comments: darkdiscussions@aol.com (written email or attached mp3 files) WWW.DARKDISCUSSIONS.COM

Welcome the newest episode of Dark Discussions, your place for the discussion of horror film, fiction, and all that’s fantastic. We are already a month into 2019 and some good films have come out. But last year was a heck of a year too. Dark Discussions puts together their review of all that was good and bad in 2018. More than 75 different films were worthy enough to be considered as a top 20 movie in genre cinema. Each of your five co-hosts put together a list of movies that were worthy of their own personal top films of the year. This included both a list of horror movies and a list of other speculative fiction films. Afterwards we then combined them and came up with Dark Discussions definitive lists of the best of 2018. Some obvious films like A Quiet Place and Hereditary appear but also little known films like Housewife, Mon Mon Mon Monsters, and Terrified were considered. Also included are some of our listener choices and what they felt were the best of the year. And don’t forget our top and worst scenes, scream queens, breakout star, and anything else you can think of. Dark Discussions wraps up last year in a nice tight bow and gives their listeners a good many films to go out and search for. As always we welcome your comments: darkdiscussions@aol.com (written email or attached mp3 files) WWW.DARKDISCUSSIONS.COM

Welcome the newest episode of Dark Discussions, your place for the discussion of horror film, fiction, and all that’s fantastic. There have been many films where people are stuck in some sort of game or scenario that leaves them in a life or death situation. Examples include THE BELKO EXPIRMENT, CUBE, 13 SINS, SAW, THE COLLECTOR, THE KILLING ROOM, and EXAM just to name a few. The very first mainstream release of 2019 is ESCAPE ROOM which itself follows the same concept. Six individuals from different walks of life receive gifts to participate in an escape room; basically a form of LARP. The winner is guaranteed a ten thousand dollar prize if they can solve the puzzle. As the game begins, the participants find out that the game may not be a game at all, but a life or death trap. As people begin to die, each finds out their prior life events may actually be the reason they were picked in the first place. The film is directed by Adam Robitel who had directed successful horror films THE TAKING OF DEBORAH LOGAN and INSIDIOUS: THE LAST KEY. And the movie brings together in starring roles genre favorites Deborah Ann Woll, Tyler Labine, and Logan Miller. With a fairly good critical rating and successful financially, some think it may be a new franchise. Dark Discussions takes a look at this latest film in the line of “game-themed” horror and gives their thoughts. As always we welcome your comments: darkdiscussions@aol.com (written email or attached mp3 files) WWW.DARKDISCUSSIONS.COM

Welcome to Anthony T's Horror Show. Anthony T's finishes his look back at 2018 as he is joined by Philip Perron of Dark Discussions Podcast as they talk about their top 10 films of 2018 and give you their films that they're looking forward to in 2019. Dark Discussions Podcast Network

Welcome the newest episode of Dark Discussions, your place for the discussion of horror film, fiction, and all that’s fantastic. With January 2019 underway, it is time to visit what is coming this year to cinemas, video-on-demand platforms, as well as those genre films that are going straight to disc. Last year, horror seemed to dominate genre and there were a lot of great flicks. This year once again there seems to be a lot of great ones coming. Plus also more superhero flicks. Reboots and remakes and sequels are also arriving too. Dark Discussions once again is back with their look forward to the new year and which films seem to interest them most. Some of the more high profile flicks spoken of include IT CHAPTER 2, PET SEMATARY, GODZILLA KING OF THE MONSTERS, as well as the new ANNABELLE film. Some other flicks talked about include VELVET BUZZSAW, THE HOLE IN THE GROUND, UNDER THE SILVER LAKE and BRIGHTBURN. And then at the very end we list off other films and talk about some of the latest news about movies and genre cinema. As always we welcome your comments: darkdiscussions@aol.com (written email or attached mp3 files) WWW.DARKDISCUSSIONS.COM

Welcome the newest episode of Dark Discussions, your place for the discussion of horror film, fiction, and all that’s fantastic. ERREMENTARI (2018) is an unusual film. Translated from its Basque language, the word means blacksmith. Rather than a straight horror film, it is based upon an old folklore tale entitled The Smith and the Devil, a legend where a smith makes a deal with the devil by offering his soul, but later is able to renege upon the deal with trickery. The new film, released in the United States by Netflix, uses this as a backdrop for a more personal message of the Basque people. When the orphan girl, Usue, has her doll thrown over a property fence surrounding the hermit-like blacksmith, she sneaks inside the perimeter. Curiosity gets the most of her where she enters the domain of the recluse. While inside she finds a boy imprisoned in a cage. Being the kind soul she is, she tries desperately to free him before the blacksmith discovers her presence. Much like many films released on Netflix, ERREMENTARI had little to no prior hype surrounding it. But it has gained some notice as the channel and its algorithm advertised it on its main page or after similar films. Dark Discussions takes a look at this very odd yet interesting film and gives their thoughts. As always we welcome your comments: darkdiscussions@aol.com (written email or attached mp3 files) WWW.DARKDISCUSSIONS.COM

Welcome to Anthony T's Horror Show. In the first of two parts of his look back at 2018, Anthony T goes into the awards portion as he gives out his horror whammies to the worst of 2018 and then he gives out his horror show awards for the best of 2018. Then, he recommends a film that quite possibly has the worst poster art in the history of cinema. Dark Discussions Podcast Network

Welcome the newest episode of Dark Discussions, your place for the discussion of horror film, fiction, and all that’s fantastic. New Year's resolutions are a big thing for folks. Some want to lose weight, find a spouse, get a new job, work towards completing something; others have goals that they strive for. Co-host Mike said that there are a lot of genre films he hasn't seen that he wants to get to, so as a New Year's resolution, why not ask all the co-hosts to see some film they always wanted to see and then discuss. The third year doing so, each co-host chose a genre movie that they had never seen and decided to watch it and give their opinions. Films we discuss are EYES WITHOUT A FACE (1962), THEM! (1954), THE MUMMY (1932), and VANISHING POINT (1971). A wide variety of films they are but also some important ones too that one of your co-hosts finally got to see. With all that, Dark Discussions would like to say happy 2019 to all our listeners and patreon supporters, both new and old, and hope to hear some of the films you folks have never seen and plan to in this new year. Email us and let us know. As always we welcome your comments: darkdiscussions@aol.com (written email or attached mp3 files) WWW.DARKDISCUSSIONS.COM

Welcome the newest episode of Dark Discussions, your place for the discussion of horror film, fiction, and all that’s fantastic. Holiday time! It’s the time to share gifts and celebrate, but it is also the time to watch holiday themed films. For the horror genre, there are many films including classics such as GREMLINS, BLACK CHRISTMAS, and SILENT NIGHT, DEADLY NIGHT. Also cult movies with strong followings are necessary viewing including JACK FROST and DON’T OPEN ‘TILL CHRISTMAS. Recently a slew of independent Christmas themed horror films have been making the rounds. One higher profile movie was 2017’s RED CHRISTMAS produced and starring screamqueen Dee Wallace. When Diane (Dee Wallace) celebrates Christmas at her homestead in Australia, her entire immediate family arrive. Festivities begin with appetizers and cocktails. Later that afternoon a disabled stranger arrives at her front door. Rather than shooing him away, Diane invites the visitor in with the spirit of Christmas in her heart. Conversation quickly turns into shock as a dark family secret soon shows its ugly head. Directed by Craig Anderson (his first full length feature) and starring relatively unknowns, the movie has received fairly positive reviews by many critics. Dee Wallace’s name brought some attention to the movie but it seemed only to attract genre fans during its initial release. Dark Discussions takes a look at this Australian made film and gives their thoughts. As always we welcome your comments: darkdiscussions@aol.com (written email or attached mp3 files) WWW.DARKDISCUSSIONS.COM

Welcome to Anthony T's Horror Show. In this edition, Anthony T tells you why you should support physical media, then he talks to director/writer Mike Lombardo about his film "I'm Dreaming of a White Doomsday" recently released by Scream Team Releasing, then he reviews the film along with another Christmas themed horror film "Slay Belles" Dark Discussions Podcast Network

Welcome the newest episode of Dark Discussions, your place for the discussion of horror film, fiction, and all that’s fantastic. Home invasion films and ghost house films are pretty derivative. That doesn’t mean they won’t be fantastically done and quite entertaining but usually something is done to spice them up a bit. The new horror film from the UK entitled FRACTURED may have done it quite right. Keeping you guessing if there is an intruder or a ghost or maybe something quite different keeps the movie moving in its eighty minute run time. Rebecca (April Pearson) and Michael (Karl Davies), a young energetic couple, head for a getaway to a remote property. When they arrive, Rebecca begins to feel as if something isn’t quite right. Bizarre sounds, missing items, and small appliances seem to turn on by themselves. Michael seems unperturbed by the oddly strange happenings, but soon something or someone could be behind what may be more than innocuous ambience. First time director Christian Hearn puts together a strong debut movie. Both Karl Davies and April Pearson have had high profile television roles prior to this film, with beauty April Pearson having a strong three years in genre cinema with this film as well as CAUGHT, DARK BEACON, and TANK 432. Dark Discussions takes a look at this new film and gives their thoughts. As always we welcome your comments: darkdiscussions@aol.com (written email or attached mp3 files) WWW.DARKDISCUSSIONS.COM

Welcome the newest episode of Dark Discussions, your place for the discussion of horror film, fiction, and all that’s fantastic. In the early 2000’s, the French extreme movement turned the independent horror world upside down. Some of the most popular films of the era were MARTYRS, INSIDE, HIGH TENSION, and Xavier Gens FRONTIER(S). But now, years later, the talent behind these films have moved onto other subgenres including COLD SKIN (2018), a period piece film, that Xavier Gens has adapted from successful novel by Albert Sanchez Pinol. In 1914, a young man sails to a remote South Atlantic island as a weatherman; someone to chart the conditions of the isolated British territory. The only other resident is a lighthouse keeper named Gruner. Gruner explains the prior weatherman passed from typhus leaving him alone for many months. As Friend sets about his work, the second night of his one year term, his cabin is attacked by something extraordinary from the sea. Fleeing, he holes up with Gruner in the lighthouse only to find out the threat may be unending. Receiving strong reviews from the festival circuit, the US distribution to the film was picked up by Samuel Goldwyn Films. Unlike his prior films, COLD SKIN is a new direction for Xavier Gens. Though dark, it seems quite unique for his filmography. Dark Discussions takes a look at this new movie and discuss not only the movie but the film trajectory for Gens himself. As always we welcome your comments: darkdiscussions@aol.com (written email or attached mp3 files) WWW.DARKDISCUSSIONS.COM

Welcome to Anthony T's Horror Show. In this edition, Anthony T talks about most of the films that he purchased during the various sales over the thanksgiving weekend. Then, he welcomes Unearthed Films CEO and director Stephen Biro to the show as they discuss Unearthed Films and his latest film "American Guinea Pig: The Song of Solomon". Dark Discussions Podcast Network

Welcome the newest episode of Dark Discussions, your place for the discussion of horror film, fiction, and all that’s fantastic. One genre trope that seems to be used often is amnesia. What if our lead protagonist doesn’t remember anything at all. Was he or she a criminal or a hero? Such films as Total Recall among others have played with this quite well. A little seen 2017 Canadian film entitled Radius takes this idea and makes it its own. A man wakes up in a ditch by the side of the road remembering nothing about himself. Walking down the road, he arrives at a local diner. Unfortunately for him, not only does he find the place littered with dead bodies, but others who arrive begin to die around him. Searching his wallet, he finds his license and heads back to his address. Locking himself in his house, he suddenly receives a knock on his door. A woman, just like he, is there who remembers nothing. The film is written and directed by the duo Caroline Labreche and Steeve Leonard and stars Diego Klattenhoff and Charlotte Sullivan. Though mostly unknowns, the film was one of the handful of surprises from independent genre cinema in 2017. Part horror, part thriller, and part science fiction, the film was rated as the second best speculative fiction film by co-host Philip. He and the other Dark Discussions co-hosts take a look at this film and give their critique. As always we welcome your comments: darkdiscussions@aol.com (written email or attached mp3 files) WWW.DARKDISCUSSIONS.COM

Welcome to Anthony T's Horror Show. In this episode of Anthony T’s Horror Show, Anthony T’s chats with The Dorkening and Wicked Horror Show co-host Kevin Cook as we talk about 5 Independent horror films from 2018 that you should check out and other news items. Then in his film recommendation, Anthony T goes back to the nineties to recommend a shot on video film from an indie production company that sadly announced recently that they will be shutting its doors. Dark Discussions Podcast Network