Time to finally dive back into the franchise I've been waiting to cover for almost five years now, as we take a look at the sequel to Ridley Scott and Dan O'Bannon's groundbreaking sci-fi horror film and all the ways it made James Cameron a legend. It's a movie that had a real cultural impact, one might say, and we're going to get into each and every detail of it!
Time to conclude the 'Exorcist' franchise... for now... with a look at the controversial, poorly-received legacy sequel helmed by David Gordon Green. Is this a misunderstood masterpiece, or another 'Halloween Ends'? For that matter, was 'Halloween Ends' a misunderstood masterpiece? It's hard to get a handle on Green--but that doesn't mean we're not going to try.
Look, we all knew it had to come to this eventually. A parody of 'The Exorcist' starring Linda Blair herself, opposite none other than Leslie Nielsen as the priest who exorcised her, with color commentary by pro wrestler and future Governor of Minnesota Jesse 'The Body' Ventura? How could anyone possibly resist? So yes, let's all see Linda Blair get 'Repossessed', as the Devil comes back for another round and tragedy becomes comedy becomes farce.
So after making a prequel to 'The Exorcist', hating the movie you got, and having it totally reshot only to see your revised and revamped version bomb at the box office, what else is there to do? Well, for the producers at Morgan Creek, there was always the option of releasing the first version of the prequel you made and seeing if people liked that any better. So let's look into Paul Schrader's initial version of the 'Exorcist' prequel, with the same Father Merrin but a whole host of changes, and see how this one turned out.
Oh look--we're back in Amityville again! But this time we've gone back in time a little, Walkmans and 80s cars and Blondie posters notwithstanding, to take a look at the horrifying crimes that caused the Lutzes so much trouble. So join me and Tommy Lee Wallace and a host of non-union crew members from Italy as we tackle a fictionalized version of the DeFeos and all the horrors they endured!
Just to clarify - this was the 'Exorcist' prequel that was made second but released first, not the 'Exorcist' prequel that was made first but released second. Who directed it? What was the antagonist? Did I Don't Know play third base? All these questions and more will be answered in the latest episode of Half Price Horror!
It's always the same with kids these days, isn't it. "Aww gee Dad, can't I have just one more exorcism before bed?" "Okay, but this is the Last Exorcism." And then they get up five minutes later and they're insisting they're still possessed. Sure, it's cute, but you can't wait until they grow out of it.
...none of that is related to the 2010 mockumentary 'The Last Exorcism', but don't worry--you've got a whole episode on that to listen to! So tell your kids to go back to bed and have their exorcism in the morning, and listen to Half Price Horror!
"I remember a rose... and falling down a long flight of steps." So begins William Peter Blatty's endeavor to sequelize his own novel, and it's safe to say it's an attempt that bears the distinctive stamp of its creator. So what does that mean? Well, listen to the episode and you'll find out!
Look, when it came to calling people in the 80s there were only two options--the Ghostbusters, and 976-EVIL. This is the movie about the folks who picked wrong, and if you want a fun campy silly 80s horror schlock spectacular then this is the film for you!
The deep dive into the 'Exorcist' franchise continues, with underloved and underseen sequel 'Exorcist II: The Heretic' getting its time to shine! Is it a misbegotten failure to replicate the grim intensity of the original, or is it actually a pretty typical 70s sci-fi thriller with the era's usual emphasis on ESP, paranormal powers, and the next step in human evolution? Time for you to take a listen and find out!
Naturally, this is a podcast that embraces all the various incarnations and aspects of Elvira, Mistress of the Dark. So rather than get mired in 80s nostalgia forever, Half Price Horror is taking a look at the 2010s incarnation of the Movie Macabre and a 1971 movie Elvira covered for it, the infamous exploitation cheapie 'I Eat Your Skin'!
Time to cross off one of the big ones, as Half Price Horror finally tackles a film so big it started its own subgenre--1973's 'The Exorcist'! Let's dig into the awful on-set behavior of its director, the fears of feminism and women's bodies, and all the complex symbolism that resonated with the viewing public when this horror hit was released. It's a perfect time of year for it, as Halloween month continues!
Halloween season continues with a look at the big bug movie to begin all big bug movies, 1954's 'Them!' It's got giant ants, it's got James Arness, it's got Leonard Nimoy, it's got the guy who played Santa Clause in 'Miracle on 34th Street'! It's an influence on 'Aliens', it's the start of a whole atomic horror subgenre, so have a listen and enjoy this trip into the roots of horror. And all the ants crawling around down there.
I'm not saying Godzilla was a poser, but the Rhedosaurus was rampaging in cities a whole year before it became "cool". So come along and check out the adventures, of the OG, the stop-motion, the coolest prehistoric kaiju this side of Baffin Bay, as we kick off Halloween season right with a look at Ray Bradbury and Ray Harryhausen and the movie that created a genre!
And so, it's time to conclude our look at the 'Omen' franchise with 'The First Omen'! (Yes, I know, it sounds like it's... look, don't overthink the title, okay? It's just a prequel.) And if you like 70s conspiracy thrillers, Ralph Ineson, Bill Nighy, and one of the most fearless performances since Isabelle Adjani in 'Possession', you're going to love hearing about this one!
It's time to end the Cornetto trilogy with a look at what happens when the fun's over, the drinking doesn't make you happy anymore, and you look around and ask yourself, "How did I wind up here?" Plus, there are aliens and androids and an apocalypse, but really it's about the day you realize you just can't keep partying like this anymore. And what you do when you don't know how to stop.
Second verse, same as the first... stop me if you've heard this one, folks. An American diplomat loses his son at birth, and is persuaded to do an off-the-books adoption of a mystery child to replace him. The kid's nanny dies, and her replacement is sinister and creepy, and a priest shows up warning him his child is the Antichrist. And if all that sounds familiar to you, that's because it's time to cover the 2006 remake of 'The Omen'!
One of the things people seemed to want most after seeing both 'A Quiet Place' and 'A Quiet Place Part II' was a look at what it was like in the big, noisy cities when the aliens came down. And since this has now officially become a Big Franchise(tm), John Krasinski tasked indie director Michael Sarnoski with giving the people what they wanted in the latest installment of the series. Did it work? Well, let's dive in and find out!
You ever have one of those days where you just can't get rid of an Antichrist? Damien's six feet under, Christ came back and apparently left again a few seconds later, and still we've got the spawn of Satan running around and making little kids wet themselves in terror. (No seriously. That really happens in this movie.) Thankfully, HPH is here to get to the bottom of it all, and you're invited to join in!
What do Casey Kasem, Paris Hilton's mom, VFX icon Ve Neill, and the director of 'Kingdom of the Spiders' all have in common? They all worked on 'The Dark', a bizarre little Star Wars-influenced proto-slasher from exploitation producer Edward L Montoro and American Bandstand host Dick Clark! And if that sounds like something you have to hear about, well, today is your lucky day!