WAR OF THE WORLDS (1953) Poster Art

Captain Science Comic Book Cover Art

Captain Science was a hero in the Flash Gordon or Buck Rogers mold doing his best to save the universe from dastardly aliens and hideous space monsters. His comic only lasted seven issues in 1950 but those have become highly prized on the collector's market. You can read scans of most of them online an marvel at how interesting even short-lived SF comics from the period can be.

 

 

The Bloody Pit #161 - It's Alive! by Julian David Stone

This episode I welcome writer Julian David Stone to discuss his new novel, It’s Alive! The book explores the struggle to produce FRANKENSTEIN (1931) at Universal Studio. Stone’s story uses the perspectives of Bela Lugosi, Boris Karloff and studio head Carl Laemmle, Jr. to relate the difficult path to getting that revered classic film off the ground. We get inside the heads of this trio of talented people giving us an insightful view of each and their motivations during this important period in film history. Fans of the Universal classic horror movies often think of these films in terms of one success leading inevitably to another but the resistance to bringing these macabre tales to the screen was strong. ‘It’s Alive’ presents an excellent look at the battle to create not just one movie but an entire cycle of them that changed how Hollywood thought about horror cinema.

Of course, I can’t have a discussion that touches on the Universal horror films without the conversation spiraling out to other movies in the series. We dig a little into favorite entries including defenses of some of the underpraised films of later years. As expected, Mr. Stone is a Monster Kid from way back and his love for these film shines through. We had a great time talking and I can highly recommend It’s Alive!

If you have any comments or questions thebloodypit@gmail.com is the place to write or send voice messages. Thank you for listening and we’ll be back soon.

Stone's Website LINK

Happy Thanksgiving!

Video - Animated Flash Gordon Classic Style!

This is an impressive fan made animated version of Flash Gordon that makes me wish for more! I would have loved to see 65 episodes of this show produced in the past or any time in the near future. This shows a real love of the original material and an ability to bring it to life. Wow! 

Man-Thing Cover Gallery

FRANKENSTEIN 1970 (1958) Poster Art

I know I'm one of the few that really loves this one but I suspect the amazing poster art is greatly admired. 

 

What I Watched in October 2022

BARBARIAN (2022) is a horror thriller that does an excellent job of keeping the darker edge of its central premise hidden until the second act. In fact, it might be possible – if you could avoid the trailer or the ongoing online discussions – to see the film and wonder if it was going to be a meet-cute romantic drama. The initial lead characters are likeable and their situation compelling in ways that draw you into the scenario. It helps that both are being played by solid actors capable of walking the fine line between wary and curious. The point at which the film pulls its first narrative split is masterfully handled as the story switches to a third character we learn to dislike and slowly to distrust. But then the film adds another wrinkle that shows us the past awfulness that brings this entire tale to horror territory. BARBARIAN is a well made and smart film that knows its tricks are old but makes up for that by inventing new ways to hide their inevitable culmination. You have probably seen a version of this story before but not told in this way. That makes me appreciate the film that much more.

The List

BARBARIAN (2022) – 7 (well done mystery/horror)

UNINVITED (1987) – 5 (not bad but the budget hampers things)

THE MUNSTERS (2022) – 7

LADY MORGAN’S VENGEANCE (1965) – 6 (interesting gothic gaslighting tale)

HOUSE (1985) – 5 (rewatch)

TRICK ‘R’ TREAT (2008) – 9 (rewatch on the big screen)

STRIPPED TO KILL (1987) – 4

DOCTOR SLEEP (2019) – 9 (rewatch) (director’s cut on Blu)

THE HORRIBLE SEXY VAMPIRE (1971) – 5

HOUSE II: THE SECOND STORY (1987) – 5 (mostly a waste but – stop-motion!)

BLOOD RED SKY (2021) – 9 (very well done)

SMILE (2022) – 6 (well-made, but not as engrossing as I hoped)

THE MUMMY (1933) – 9 (rewatch)

THE MUMMY’S CURSE (1944) – 6 (rewatch)

FRANKENSTEIN AND THE MONSTER FROM HELL (1974) – 8 (rewatch on Blu)

HALLOWEEN ENDS (2022) – 7

DARK GLASSES (2022) – 6 (Argento returns for an OK thriller)

THE BLACK CAT (1934) – 9 (rewatch)

THE RAVEN (1935) – 8 (rewatch)

HOUSE OF FRANKENSTEIN (1944) – 7 (rewatch)

CRUCIBLE OF HORROR (1971) – 6 (interesting British creeper)

PARSOMNIA (2008) – 4 (needs to be about 15 minutes shorter)

X (2022) – 9

FATAL EXAM (1990) – 3 (needs to be about 30 minutes shorter – at least)  

HALLOWEEN 5: THE REVENGE OF MICHAEL MYERS (1989) – 4 (rewatch)

MEMORIAL VALLEY MASSACRE (1989) – 3 (low budget backwoods slasher)

HALLOWEEN II (1981) – 7 (rewatch)

SCARE PACKAGE (2020) – 5 (mostly unfunny, poorly paced anthology horror – last act ups it a point)

RENEGADE RANGER (1938) – 5 (standard B-western)

DON’T DELIVER US FROM EVIL (1971) – 7 (excellent French tale of adolescent obsession)

FREDDIE’S DEAD: THE FINAL NIGHTMARE (1991) – 4 (rewatch)

SURVIVAL OF THE DEAD (2009) – 7 (rewatch on Blu)

SHALLOW GRAVE (1987) – 7 (surprisingly solid thriller)

PHONE (2002) – 7 (well done South Korean ghost tale)

GOODNIGHT, MOMMY (2022) – 8 (good psychological horror)

THE DEEP HOUSE (2021) – 8 (very good French horror)

FRIDAY THE 13^TH PART 6: JASON LIVES (1986) – 7 (rewatch on Blu)

DEADSTREAM (2022) – 7 (entertaining, funny take on livestreamed ghost hunting)

SCOOBY DOO AND KISS: ROCK AND ROLL MYSTERY (2015) – 6 (fun animated adventure)

THE KILLER MUST KILL AGAIN (1975) – 8 (rewatch)

SHOCK (1977) – 7 (rewatch on Blu)

TERROR ABOARD (1933) – 6 (good pre-code murder thriller)

THE RETURN OF THE VAMPIRE (1943) – 8 (rewatch)

Weird Western Tales - Cover Gallery

 

Magazines and Monsters #53 - THE BEAST MUST DIE (1974)

 

On the latest episode of Magazines and Monsters Nic Brown and I are guests to discuss a 1970’s werewolf movie! THE BEAST MUST DIE (1974) is a rare non-anthology horror film from Amicus productions and that is one of many reasons it stands out. Another is that this is a werewolf film in which the creature eschews the standard cinema two-legged Wolf Man variant for a four-legged wolfy monster. This choice is usually given by viewers as they turn up their noses at the film but fans of the movie think it has caused this mystery/horror hybrid to age very well. Others dismiss the film for it’s famous Werewolf Break in which the audience is given a minute of paused screentime to make a guess about the identity of the secretive lycanthrope. I’ve often wondered how many people actually solve the mystery before the final reveal.

The three of us discuss the movie from top to bottom defending much of it and suggesting fixes for certain strange moments. We had a great time with this film and hope you’ll enjoy listening.