Horrortober is here and that means it’s time to start watching horror movies as much as you can. As usual, the Monster Men are here to help. We’ve got 31 movies for the 31 days of October. We have rolled an amazing watch list using the dice game/book, 31 Days of Terror. This is the official horror movie handbook for all serious fright film fanatics.
Our pal, author Steve Hutchison, continues to set the bar, adding new movies and a couple of new star contributors. That’s right, the year Jack and Hunter have been added to the roster and are included in the book. We are thrilled to be in such esteemed, creepy company. How does the game work? Easy. Just roll the dice and follow the book as it takes you into a dark labyrinth of films. Watch us unveil our list and use it… or better yet, buy a copy of the book and set your own October viewing list. Or if you are just looking for an extensive, curated list of horror movies to help you find something to watch anytime, this is for you.
Are you ready to rock? This week we welcome our buddy Mike Carlon on the show to reminisce about some of our favorite songs featured in horror movies. It’s a fun and nostalgic ride down the Highway to Hell. Mike is an author, podcaster and stand-up comic. He also knows a lot about 80s hair metal. Don’t mess with him when it comes to Dokken. He also has a funny story about the time he saw the Warrens.
So bust your hair spray out and get ready to bang your head, it’s time to rock out.
Some of Mike’s books include: All the F*cks I Cannot Give, The Ruin of Souls, Return to Casa Grande and Uncorking a Murder. You can find Mike’s books and podcast, Uncorking a Story, at https://uncorkingastory.com and he’s on Twitter at https://twitter.com/uncorkingastory
Remember, Monster Men is now also available as an audio podcast. Subscribe on your favorite podcast app. And get Monster Men gear too.
It’s time to elevate the Monster Men show and talk about Elevated Horror. What exactly is elevated horror? What does that term even mean? Is it a good thing or a bad thing? What are some of the best examples of elevated horror?
To help us tackle these questions, we welcome horror author Chad Lutzke to the show. This man has a legit horror resume. He’s written for Famous Monsters of Filmland, Rue Morgue, Cemetery Dance and Scream magazine. His books include: OF FOSTER HOMES & FLIES, STIRRING THE SHEETS, THE PALE WHITE, SKULLFACE BOY and THE NEON OWL.
It’s time for the Monster Men to answer your questions. We asked our viewers to submit their questions and boy, did they step up. We’ve got a great show that covers everything from horror movies to the paranormal.
Some examples include:
Who are your favorite modern horror directors?
What’s the movie you disagree on the most?
Has any horror book ever TRULY scared you to the point you had to set it aside?
What haunted place would you like to visit?
What is the absolute worst movie you have watched?
Thanks for your questions. We hope you enjoy our answers.
For this Horror Hangout we welcome back our old pal, horror author & musician Glenn Rolfe. He’s an old friend of the show and one hell of a guy. This particular show really sums up what our Horror Hangouts are all about; a great, and often hilarious conversation that ranges from Guns ‘n Roses to drinking with minor league pro-wrestlers. Oh, and don’t worry, there is plenty of horror talk, including Glenn’s new vampire novel, Until Summer Comes Around, which comes out in May of 2020.
Be sure to check out Glenn’s other books as well, including The Window, Becoming, Blood and Rain, The Haunted Halls, Chasing Ghosts, Abram’s Bridge, Things We Fear, Boom Town, and the collections, Slush and Land of Bones.
Monster Men Ep: 151: Talking Baseball and Horror Movies
It’s another Monster Men Horror Hangout. This time we are joined by return guest, Matt Manochio. Matt is the author of Close Call, The Highwayman, The Dark Servant, Sentinels and Twelfth Krampus Night. Matt’s latest book, Close Call, is a baseball-themed thriller where a botched call of a perfect game leads to murder.
This leads to a conversation about baseball, horror movies and life under quarantine. You can find Matt Manochio at: Web: http://www.mattmanochio.com
Twitter: @MattManochio
It’s another Stay at Home Horror Hangout. This time we are joined by horror author and audio book narrator Chris Sorensen. In an effort to stay connected during the COVID-19 virus lock-down, we are inviting our friends from the horror community to join us for a chat.
Chris’s books include THE NIGHTMARE ROOM, THE HUNGRY ONES and THE MESSY MAN. He also has a fascinating career as a reader of audio-books. Close your eyes and you just might recognize that smooth voice.
We cover such topics as the life of an audio-book narrator, UFOs, horror movies & novels and a toast to the great Stuart Gordon. It’s an interesting and fun conversation. Pull up a chair and enjoy.
Welcome to our first ever Stay at Home Horror Hangout
It is a crazy time. The Coronavirus has swept the world and forced us all to stay home as much as possible for the foreseeable future. In these kinds of times, connection with others is vital. That’s why the Monster Men have decided to host a Stay at Home Horror Hangout.
We’ve invited horror author and podcaster Laurel Hightower as our guest for a chat about all things horror. We talk about the books and movies we plan to enjoy during the shutdown, the life of a horror author and podcaster and the importance of the horror community in days like these.
Laurel Hightower is the author of Whispers in the Dark and one of the hosts of the Ink Heist podcast.
Gone Squatchin’ – Bigfoot Movies and More Cryptid Love – Monster Men Ep: 148
The topic on this Monster Men is one of Hunter Shea’s favorites; Bigfoot. Our little hairy friend can’t get enough of our big hairy friend. Lucky for us, he also has an encyclopedic knowledge of Sasquatch movies and as well as cryptids in general.
Join us as he takes Jack on a journey through the forest and into the cinema. If you are looking for a Bigfoot movie, you’ve come to the right place.
It’s a celebration of everyone’s favorite missing link.
And don’t forget to check it out Hunter’s new book, SLASH.
It’s time again to take a look back at the year in horror movies and pick the cream of the crop. 2019 came out of the gate slowly and only few flicks seemed worthy of a top ten list, let alone a top thirteen list. Luckily, a lot of good stuff arrived later in the year. There’s plenty to like, so let’s get started.
13: Us
Jordan Peele’s second movie was a huge hit and he has quickly risen to the top of the horror genre. US is a doppelganger movie with strong themes, striking visuals and a great cast. While I had a good time watching this movie, I was not as impressed with it as many others. I thought it kind of fell apart at the end. However, it did have some really creepy moments and a lot of well-placed laughs. I do love its originality and the effect it has had on popular culture. It’s great to see so many mainstream people embracing a horror movie. I look forward to more from Mr. Peele.
12: In Fabric
Yes, it’s the story of a haunted dress… and yes, it actually works. I had a hard time deciding if IN FABRIC would make my list, or if it would end up as an honorable mention. I decided to add it because it has stuck with me more than most of the movies I watched in 2019. It’s a throwback to 60s and 70s Italian horror movies but done with a healthy dose of twisted humor. It’s kind of like Suspiria mixed with a little Shawn of the Dead and Tales from the Crypt and a splash of Hammer horror aesthetics. I had super low expectations for this one and I was pleasantly surprised.
11: Zombieland: Double Tap
ZOMBIELAND: DOUBLE TAP is like comfort food; it takes me to my happy place. Ten years after the beloved Zombieland gnawed its way into our hearts, comes the sequel we never expected. I was psyched when I heard they got they entire original cast back. They all are in top form, especially Woody Harrelson and Jesse Eisenberg. Newcomer Zoey Deutch practically steals the movie, but that honor goes to Luke Wilson and Thomas Middleditch. Their “doppelganger” scene is one of funniest things I’ve seen this year. Oh, and one last thing, be sure to stick around until after the credits.
10: Crawl
The ultimate popcorn horror flick of the year. This movie crept up on me like a hungry gator in a dark crawlspace. CRAWL is just a good, old fashioned creature feature. It’s tense, fast paced and extremely entertaining. Fasten your seatbelts and enjoy the ride.
9: One Cut of the Dead
This is a movie about a zombie movie, but it’s much more than that. ONE CUT OF THE DEAD was a ton of fun. You won’t know what the heck you are watching at first but stick with it. The payoff in the third act is amazing. I had such a good time watching this movie, and it’s astounding what they were able to pull off with such a tiny budget. If you are a horror fan, or a fan of filmmaking, be sure to check it out.
8: Harpoon
HARPOON was not on a lot on people’s radar this year and I am so happy someone suggested it to me. It’s about three friends stranded on a yacht in the middle of the ocean, caught in some kind of nasty, snarky love triangle. Will the elements kill them, or will they kill each other? This is a tight little thriller with a great sense of humor. Good writing and a sharp cast elevate this movie and comedian Brett Gelman’s narration takes it to the next level.
7: Villains
VILLIANS is the story of two small time crooks on the run who break into the wrong home. After they discover a frightening secret in the house they must contend with the crazy and sadistic homeowners. VILLIANS is darkly funny and full of surprises. It was in theaters for a second last summer and I missed it. Luckily, it finally showed up on VOD before the end of the year and immediately made it onto my best-of list. It boasts a killer line-up: Bill Skarsgård, Maika Monroe, Jeffrey Donovan, and Kyra Sedgwick. Each one of these stars crush it.
6: Bliss
In BLISS we meet Dezzy, a struggling artist who’s in a rut and up against deadlines for her paintings. She is introduced to a drug called Bliss and goes on a debaucherous bender in the clubs of LA. Afterwards, she’s invigorated, inspired and oddly enough, finds herself craving human blood. This is a wild, frenetic and grimy movie that features an amazing performance by Dora Madison, who throws everything she’s got into this role. For a low budget movie, they certainly got a lot of bang for their buck. I really enjoyed this one.
5: Midsommar
What a long, strange trip this movie is. Dani and Christian are a couple that should really break-up but won’t for various reasons. Dani invites herself to join Christian and his friends on a trip to a midsummer festival in a remote Swedish village. Things slowly get weirder and scarier as the friendly villagers may be hiding a sinister agenda. MIDSOMMAR is Ari Aster’s follow up to Hereditary and he’s hit another home run.
4: Tigers Are Not Afraid
Wow, what a movie. TIGERS ARE NOT AFRAID is a visually stunning film that combines horror and fantasy elements against the backdrop of the Mexican drug wars. It follows a group of homeless, orphaned children on the run from the drug lords and ghosts. The kids in this movie are flat out amazing and the story is heart-wrenching. TIGERS ARE NOT AFRAID is a small and beautiful movie with equal amounts of dread and soul.
3: The Nightingale
Just between you and me, this is probably the best movie on this list. THE NIGHTINGALE is not necessarily a pure horror movie, but a lot of horrific things happen in it. It’s set in a British penal colony in Tasmania in 1825. It follows Clare Carroll, a young convict seeking revenge for violence committed upon her and her family by the British soldiers. She enlists the help of Billy, an Aboriginal tracker, whose people are also at odds with the British. The violence is brutal and graphic, but never gratuitous. It always serves the story. This is a dark and haunting movie, but surprisingly uplifting in the end. Director Jennifer Kent (of The Babadook fame) is brilliant, pure and simple. The entire cast is great, with Aisling Franciosi delivering a powerful performance in the lead role.
2: Ready or Not
READY OR NOT is a freaking a blast. A young bride must partake in her new husband’s family tradition of playing a game on their wedding night. She draws a card and gets Hide and Seek. What follows is a deadly, bloody and often hilarious game of cat and mouse, as the bride is hunted by her pretentious and homicidal in-laws. Can she survive until dawn? Can anyone? This was the most fun I had at the movies this year and READY OR NOT was almost my top pick overall. Once again, Samara Weaving shines bright here. Adam Brody is also a standout. Best of all, they really stick the landing. This movie had the best ending of any film this year.
1: Doctor Sleep
A sequel to The Shining? This movie could have pissed off a lot of people, including me. Young Danny Torrance (Ewan McGregor) may have escaped the Overlook Hotel, but 40 years later, his experience there still haunts him. He meets a girl with a “shine” lot like his. Now Danny must protect her from the evil that pursues her and finally confront the ghosts of his past. Hats off to Mike Flanagan because he pulled off a miracle. The Shining movie is sacred ground to a lot of people and so is the book. Many people love both and many don’t… particularly Stephen King, who is not shy in his disdain for Kubrick’s take on his novel. Somehow, Flanagan delivers an immensely entertaining movie that is satisfying to all parties involved, and even has the blessings of Mr. King himself. Flanagan clearly has a love of the material and it shows in every frame. Poor marketing hurt this movie at the box office, but it is one that should not be missed.
Honorable Mentions: Brightburn Satanic Panic The Perfection Daniel Isn’t Real The Lighthouse
But wait, there’s more!
Be sure check out Hunter Shea’s Top 13 list at his blog and listen to the Final Guys podcast to hear Hunter, Jason and I discuss our picks.
It’s time again to take a look back at the year in horror movies and pick the cream of the crop. 2019 came out of the gate slowly and only few flicks seemed worthy of a top ten list, let alone a top thirteen list. Luckily, a lot of good stuff arrived later in the year. There’s plenty to like, so let’s get started.
Monster Men 