Summary: This week we discuss the perversion of medical science in horrific ways. Horror has had a long history of using medicine and institutions of healing as a foil for terrifying storytelling. Hospital horror is a subgenre unto itself and the dastardly works performed by mad scientists dates all the way back to Henry Frankenstein. Another favourite theme of the genre is the use of infection or contamination of the body to generate the threat or simply allow for gruesome bloodletting. The subject of medicine gone wrong is tackled with a trio of 2012 films that embody a consistent theme of manipulation of the body - unnecessary procedures carried out by unqualified people. To drill things down even further, we selected three picks from debut / sophomore directors who impressed us with some obvious talent. Things kick off with David's son Brandon Cronenberg's Antiviral which takes the concept of body horror and carries on his father's tradition. Next up is American Mary, the Soska sister's follow up to their impressive debut Dead Hooker in a Trunk, which follows a promising med-school student's descent into the dark world of underground surgery. Finally, we discuss Excision, a highly touted 2012 directorial debut that mirrors Lucky McKee's May (2002) in many ways. All three movies worked for us and we hope you find something to like as well. All this, a Dr. Giggles schlock corner, Batman: The Dark Knight Returns part 2, and an on-air injury make an episode. As always we welcome your comments: horroretc@gmail.com Voicemail (206) 337-5324 WWW.HORRORETC.COM
