Naschycast Email - Summer of 2025

Troy noticed that the mailbag had collected several new pieces of correspondence so we decided to find out what was on your minds. Strangely, Paul Naschy seemed to be a major subject of these missives! Will wonders never cease? 

The email folder held five emails to read out and we respond to them to the best of our ability. My crushing inability to correctly pronounce several names is noted and corrected by a longtime listener and I promptly find other names to destroy. I should not be allowed near a podcast! We discuss keeping the Naschy flame burning and note recent online articles that a helpful fan of the show has provided. (See links below.) We also talk a bit about some upcoming Blu-Ray commentary tracks that are being released soon while giving a piece of bad news concerning a hoped for extra on another. Sometimes we have to hold on to older releases to sooth our collector minds. Our sick, sick collector minds. 

If you want to be part of our next email show naschycast@gmail.com is the place to send your thoughts. Thank you for listening!

Commentary List

Moonlight shines on Paul Naschy: 5 cult classics from the Werewolf of Spain

Music, Monsters, and Spies Add Up to an Assignment: Terror

SWITCHBLADE SISTERS (1975) Poster Art

 

Nyoka The Jungle Girl Comic Books

Podcast research!

 

Video - MURDER IN THE BLUE ROOM (1944)

For those that want to follow along with the podcast, here is the best print of the most recent subject that I can find online. Check it and enjoy!

The Bloody Pit #218 - MURDER IN THE BLUE ROOM (1944)

Universal’s output in 1944 was packed with horror tales and MURDER IN THE BLUE ROOM seems a likely addition to that list of chillers. At least until you realize that a firm 20% of the film’s scant running time is taken up by song & dance numbers! Yes, its a musical horror comedy with a script that started life as a Ritz Brothers feature, but don’t let that scare you off. The chills may be lacking but the entertainment value is surprisingly high. And there is a ghost enlivening the proceedings. Oh! And a murder as well. 

Troy Guinn and I take a run through this humorous creeper and find ourselves having more fun than expected. The credit for that goes to the talented cast so we spend a lot of time talking about the stars and a few of the amazing bit players as well. Where else other than in this movie are you going to hear actor Ian Wolfe say the word ‘Zut’? 

The film has several great songs and I include Troy’s favorite tune in the show because it is far too catchy to ignore. We discuss the plot shenanigans and the script’s careful skipping past a subject usually forbidden by the Hays Code. Mention is made of the award-winning career of one of the screenwriters and we point to areas in the dialog where his efforts might be heard. Also, we point the curious to the first English language version of this tale, THE SECRET OF THE BLUE ROOM (1933), as a better source of horror thrills if not toe-tapping fun. This 1944 version might serve as a good pairing with that minor classic but only if we can ever get a better-looking print. Come on, Universal.

If you have any song recommendations from a scary film thebloodypit@gmail.com is where to send them. And let us know what you think of this film and the podcast in general too. Thank you for listening! 

Lamberto Bava's BODY PUZZLE (1992) Comes to Blu-Ray!

This 90's giallo comes to Blu-Ray from Raro sporting a commentary track from Adrian Smith and Rod Barnett! Wait. I'm one of those people! 

Yes, we discuss this film and its crafters while pointing out what makes it work and ask the difficult questions. Questions such as, are all police detectives in thrillers overly horny incompetents?

LINK

 

INVASION OF ASTRO-MONSTER (1965) Poster Art

 

Trailers From Hell - THE BIG SLEEP (1946)

Director and screenwriter Larry Cohen talks a bit about one of my favorite movies of all time. Who did kill the chauffer? 

Leon Klimovsky's I HATE MY BODY (1974) Comes to Blu-Ray!

I HATE MY BODY (1974)

Director Leon Klimovsky; Spain/Switzerland, 1974

100 minutes; 1.85:1, color

English/Spanish audio choice/optional English subtitles

Starring: Alexandra Bastedo, Narciso Ibáñez Menta, Gemma Cuervo, Manuel Zarzo, Eva León, Manuel de Blas, Blanca Estrada, Byron Mabe

Lecherous businessmen Ernest and Peter go out for an evening of fun with two girls from work. There’s a lot of drinking and dancing and more than a little suggestion of frolics to follow, particularly when Ernest has the idea they swap partners. The two men set off in their cars with their respective dates. Ernest, in no fit state to be behind the wheel, roars with laughter as they speed off into the dark night. Momentarily distracted as he glances at his attractive passenger, he loses control of the car. They crash into the side of a bridge and the vehicle bursts into flames.

The bodies are rushed to the nearest hospital where both Ernest and his passenger are certified dead on arrival. However, the hospital’s surgeon, Dr. Adolf Berger - a former medic in a Nazi death camp - discovers that Ernest’s brain is still intact. Encouraged by his female assistant, Lydia, Berger decides to try out his long-cherished experiment- transplanting a brain from one body to another. However, the only body available is that of a young woman, Leda Schmidt, also technically dead in the hospital morgue. Casting aside all scruples, Berger begins the operation...

This outrageous film, which now has much contemporary relevance, was directed by horror specialist Leon Klimovsky the man behind Paul Naschy’s Werewolf and the Vampire Woman and numerous other Spanish “fantaterror” classics. The disc includes many exclusive extras and the feature has been fully restored.

DISC FEATURES

Region Free

Brand new 4K restoration from the original negative

Interview with actor Manuel de Blas

Interview with Spanish film expert Ángel Sala about the film

Victor Matellano on actor Narciso Ibanez Menta

Audio commentary by Rod Barnett and Troy Guinn of the Naschycast

Trailer

LIMITED EDITION FEATURES

Reversible sleeve with original ad art on both sides; 24 page booklet by Spanish genre film expert Ismael Fernandez; 1000 numbered copies in the usual red case.

Link to Mondo Macabro's order page
 

MURDER IN THE BLUE ROOM (1944) Lobby Cards and Poster Art

Watching this one soon for a podcast.

 

ATTACK OF THE GIANT LEECHES (1959) Poster Art and Lobby Cards

 

What I Watched in June 2025

28 YEARS LATER (2025) is one of the best films I've seen all year. In many ways it was an unexpected surprise. I did not expect this mostly forgotten series to suddenly spring back to life with possibly its best entry so far and I did not expect the story to be so emotional or touching. I did expect the violence and action which was very well handled in all cases. And I certainly did not expect that bizarre final scene setting up another film. But I'm onboard after this one! Bring it on. 

The List

BRING HER BACK (2025) – 8 

BARBARA (1970) – 5 (interesting if meandering coming-of-age, sex drama)

UNKNOWN WORLD (1951) – 5 (rewatch)

PREDATOR: KILLER OF KILLERS (2025) – 8 

THE PHOENCIAN SCHEME (2025) – 8 

MOUNTAINHEAD (2025) – 7 (dark comedy about tech billionaire scum) 

TERROR OF THE BLACK MASK (a.k.a. The Invincible Masked Rider) (1963) – 8 (rewatch)

BALLERINA (2025) – 7 

ROGUE ONE (2016) – 8 (rewatch after ANDOR)

THE NIGHT THE WORLD EXPLODED (1957) – 6 (small sci-fi disaster tale)

THE UNDERWATER CITY (1962) – 6 (interesting science fiction story)

THE VISITOR (1979) – 5 (rewatch) (so aggressively strange) 

THE UGLY STEPSISTER (2025) – 9 

NIGHT OF THE BLOOD BEAST (1958) – 6 (rewatch on Blu) 

THE CURSE OF THE YELLOW SNAKE (1963) – 7 (excellent krimi)

FINAL DESTINATION: BLOODLINES (2025) – 7 

28 YEARS LATER (2025) – 9 

TALK TO ME (2022) – 8 (rewatch)

A FAMILY AFFAIR (1937) – 7 (first Andy Hardy film)

STRAIGHT-JACKET (1964) – 7 (rewatch on Blu)

THE GHOST OF FRANKENSTEIN (1942) Lobby Cards and Ad Art