Welcome to 1961! For our first film of the year, we cover the very first zombie movie in colour... THE DEAD ONE! From writer/director Barry Mahon, this voodoo zombie movie takes place on a Louisianan plantation, but will it mine the full depth of the horror available?

Edited to add: A listener let us know the original upload of this episode lost the last few minutes, so we've re-uploaded as of Dec 28!

Context setting 00:00; Synopsis 44:06; Discussion 51:04; Ranking 1:10:06

Episode 313 - The Mummy Problem

From Canadian director Sidney J Furie comes DOCTOR BLOOD'S COFFIN (1961), a British horror film... in colour?! The film stars Kieron Moore, Hazel Court and Ian Hunter in a typical mad scientist plot with a thriller/rom-com spin. 

Context setting 00:00; Synopsis 11:53; Discussion 24:30; Ranking 42:51

Episode 314 - Classic Steve

This week, we're working in the lab with the 1962 cult classic "Hand of Death." We talk about actor John Agar, the movie's mad scientist monster and its clever commentary on racism. Listen now.

EP 280: Hand of Death (1962)

With THE SNAKE WOMAN (1961), director Sidney Furie reminds us that the past isn't always better and the content-entertainment-churning machine has been hard at work since the beginning. The film stars Susan Travers, John McCarthy and Elsie Wagstaff, and includes a surprising amount of accurate snake facts! 

Context setting 00:00; Synopsis 11:28; Discussion 27:08; Ranking 45:02

Episode 315 - The Past Wasn't Better

If your beloved pet cat witnessed your murder... would it take revenge on your behalf? In THE SHADOW OF THE CAT (1961), the answer is YES! This latest entry from Hammer Productions is directed by John Gilling and stars Andre Morell, Barbara Shelley, William Lucas and Bunkie as Tabitha the cat!

Context setting 00:00; Synopsis 10:44; Discussion 18:00; Ranking 32:40

Episode 317 - A Gothic Diversion

Your hosts travel to Nevada for THE BEAST OF YUCCA FLATS (1961), directed by Coleman Francis and starring Tor Johnson! But does this indie horror land more towards Ed Wood charm or W. Lee Wilder incompetence? While we decide, we share facts about the Nevada Test Site, nuclear experiments and John Wayne's 1956 film THE CONQUEROR. 

Context setting 00:00; Synopsis 27:20; Discussion 35:42; Ranking 45:08

Episode 318 - Get Off My Yucca Flats

A female-led psychological horror movie in black and white? What is this, 1940's RKO? Nope, it's the latest from Hammer Film! Director Seth Holt takes on Jimmy Sangster's gothic thriller script for TASTE OF FEAR (1961) and magic is truly made! The film stars Susan Strasberg, Ronald Lewis, Ann Todd and Christopher Lee. 

Context setting 00:00; Synopsis 23:46; Discussion 35:54; Ranking 1:07:08

Episode 319 - 1960's Val Lewton

Would you still love me if I was a mermaid? With that as the central question, your hosts tackle NIGHT TIDE (1961) from writer/director Curtis Harrington! The film takes inspiration from William Hope Hodgson and Edgar Allan Poe, and stars Dennis Hopper, Linda Lawson and Gavin Muir.

Context setting 00:00; Synopsis 36:30; Discussion 48:34; Ranking 1:20:26

Episode 320 - A Not Cute Meet Cute

Like a snake eating its own tail, William Castle presents HOMICIDAL (1961), his take on Hitchcock's PSYCHO (1960), which was Hitchcock's take on Castle's gimmick approach to horror! With twists and turns throughout the movie, your deadicated hosts do their best to avoid spoilers until the synopsis. 

Context setting 00:00; Synopsis 21:24; Discussion 40:18; Ranking 1:40:20

And to be completely clear, trans rights are human rights!

Episode 321 - Problematic Or Not?

A nod to the classic horror movies of the 1980s.

Dawn of the Synth

Film, TV and commercial composer from short pieces to longer scores. If you are interested in any of my works please get in touch.

Join our deadicated hosts Sarah and Ben as they review horror movies in chronological order and rank them from best to worst. Updated every other Wednesday.
Theme music Now I Know by Jared C. Balogh

New tracks tagged #Classic Horror