The Decades of Horror Grue Crews stick with the folk horror subgenre and bring in Scott Wells to help explain some of the details. This time, the film is A CHINESE GHOST STORY (1987), from Hong Kong producer Tsui Hark and director Siu-Tung Ching. The great Leslie Cheung and Joey Wang create the chemistry necessary to believe this "ghost meets innocent, naive tax collector" love story. Of course, they need the help of Wu Ma's Monk/Swordsman to overcome the hold the Old Dame has over the two lovebirds. Much wire-work, special makeup effects, stop-motion animation, and mystical shenanigans ensue, making for one heck of a fun film experience. Enjoy!

A CHINESE GHOST STORY (1987)
Episode 318 - Decades of Horror 1980s

Quote: "Be careful! Don't let her tongue enter your mouth!" - Sui Sin

Synopsis: A debt collector has no other choice than to spend the night in a haunted temple, where he encounters a female ghost, whom he falls in love with. To save her soul he must work with a monk to defeat the tree demon who owns her spirit.

Director: Siu-Tung Ching
Writers: Kai-Chi Yuen (as Kai-Chi Yun); Songling Pu (novel)
Cast:
Leslie Cheung as Ling Choi San
Joey Wang as Lip Siu Sin (credited as Wang Tsu Hsien)
Wu Ma as Swordsman Yin Chek Ha (credited as Wo Ma)
Siu-Ming Lau as Tree Devil
Wai Lam as Swordsman Hsia Hou
Zhilun Xue as Siu Ching

Gruesome Magazine's Decades of Horror 1980s is part of the Decades of Horror two-week rotation with The Classic Era and the 1970s. In two weeks, the next '80s episode, chosen by Doc is THE LAST SHARK (1981), also known as The Great White, featuring Vic Morrow and James Franciscus.

We want to hear from you – the coolest, grooviest fans: make a comment on the site, the Gruesome Magazine YouTube Channel, or email the Decades of Horror 1980s podcast hosts at feedback@gruesomemagazine.com.

This exercise in lycanthropic folk horror from Argentina catches the Grue Crew by surprise. Lulled to sleep by the slow, freezer-burn pace of the first twenty minutes, they immediately perk up when the Devil shows his face. There are several reasons to watch this film: brilliant cinematography, an excellent performance from Alfredo Alcón, entertaining supporting characters, fascinating folk horror, and a WEREWOLF! Bill and Jeff are joined by Scott Wells, who adds his folklore expertise, and Gregory Crosby, who contributes his usual insightful analysis. Enjoy!

NAZARENO CRUZ AND THE WOLF (1975)
Episode 274 - Decades of Horror 1970s

Quote: "It's not good to laugh on Fridays. They say you will cry on Monday." -Devil

Synopsis: A young man from a mountain village faces a legendary curse threatening to turn him into a wolf. When he falls in love at twenty, the Devil makes him choose between wealth and his beloved-or accept a monstrous fate.

Director: Leonardo Favio
Writer: Juan Carlos Chiappe (radio program); Leonardo Favio, Jorge Zuhair Jury (credited as Zuhair Jury)
Cast:
Juan José Camero as Nazareno Cruz
Marina Magali as Griselda
Alfredo Alcón as The Powerful/Mandinga
Nora Cullen as La Lechiguana
Saul Jarlip as The Old Man Pancho
Juanita Lara as Fidelia

Gruesome Magazine's Decades of Horror 1970s is part of the Decades of Horror two-week rotation with The Classic Era and the 1980s. In two weeks, the next '70s episode, chosen by Doc is The Werewolf Versus the Vampire Woman (1971), featuring Paul Naschy.

We want to hear from you – the coolest, grooviest fans: make a comment on the site, the Gruesome Magazine YouTube Channel, or email the Decades of Horror 1970s podcast hosts at feedback@gruesomemagazine.com.

Jeff picks an obscure Japanese horror film, THE LIVING SKELETON (1968 - Kyūketsu Dokurosen), for episode 235 of Decades of Horror The Classic Era. This black and white novelty was featured in Criterion's When Horror Came to Shochiku along with The X from Outer Space, Genocide, and Goke, Body Snatcher from Hell. While skeletons are featured in the film, the rumors of their being "living" are greatly exaggerated. Instead, and perhaps for the better, director Hiroshi Matsuno plays out a ghostly revenge tale featuring bats, haunted ships, and mad scientists. Still, sadly, no living skeletons. Oh, well. Regardless, the film delivers plenty to discuss, marvel upon, and question heavily. Check it out. Enjoy!

THE LIVING SKELETON (1968)
Episode 235 - Decades of Horror: The Classic Era

Quote: "Go ahead and cry. Cry as much as you want. Your tears will purify your suffering and your hatred." - Priest

Synopsis: bout a young woman living in a seaside town haunted by the ghosts of a ship's crew murdered by modern-day pirates.

Director: Hiroki Matsuno
Writers: Kikuma Shimoiizaka and Kyûzô Kobayashi
Cast:
Kikko Matsuoka as Saeko / Yoriko
Yasunori Irikawa as Mochizuki - Saeko's fiancé
Masumi Okada as Father Akashi / Tanuma
Asao Uchida as Ejiri - gambling maniac
Asao Koike as Tsuji - Estate Agent
Toshihiko Yamamoto as Ono - Diver (credited as Norihiko Yamamoto)
Nobuo Kaneko as Suetsugu - Cabaret Manager

Every 2 weeks we'll be focusing on a specific film released between 1920 and 1969. Next up, chosen by Daphne is THINGS TO COME (1936).

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Search "Decades of Horror" or "Gruesome Magazine" on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and most podcast apps.

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"Don't you stare at me like that, you puppet!" Sheesh! It's the only way I'm capable of staring. After all, I am a puppet. Join your faithful Grue Crew – Crystal Cleveland, Bill Mulligan, Doc Rotten, and Jeff Mohr – as they discuss the low-budget, British portmanteau, Screamtime (1983).

Decades of Horror 1980s
Episode 317 – Screamtime (1983)

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Subscribe today! Click the alert to get notified of new content!
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ANNOUNCEMENT
Decades of Horror is partnering with the WICKED HORROR TV CHANNEL
Which now include video episodes of DoH 1980s!!
Available on Roku, AppleTV, Amazon FireTV, AndroidTV, Online Website.
Across All OTT platforms, as well as mobile, tablet, and desktop.
https://wickedhorrortv.com/

Synopsis: A trilogy of three improbable stories of horror and the supernatural are combined with a wraparound: "That's the Way to Do It," (aka "Killer Punch") "Dreamhouse," and "Do You Believe in Fairies?" (aka "Garden of Blood")

Selected Cast and Crew:

• Director: Michael Armstrong (wraparound) (as Al Beresford), Stanley A. Long (3 main segments) (as Al Beresford)
• Writer: Michael Armstrong
• Selected Cast:
  • Wraparound:
    • Vincent Russo as Ed
    • Michael Gordon as Bruce
    • Marie Scinto as Marie
    • Kevin Smith as Video Store Owner
  • "Killer Punch" or "That's the Way You Do It!"
    • Robin Bailey as Jack
    • Ann Lynn as Lena
    • Jonathon Morris as Damien (credited as Johnathon Morris)
    • Dione Inman as Suzy
    • Bosco Hogan as Doctor (credited as Boscoe Hogan)
    • John Styles as Punch (voice)
  • "Dreamhouse"
    • Ian Saynor as Tony
    • Yvonne Nicholson as Susan
    • Lally Bowers as Mrs. Kingsley
    • Veronica Doran as Miss Burns
    • Brenda Kempner as Woman
    • Orla Pederson as The Killer (uncredited)
  • "Garden of Blood" or "Do You Believe in Fairies?"
    • Dora Bryan as Emma
    • Jean Anderson as Mildred
    • David Van Day as Gavin
    • Matthew Peters as Tim
    • Philip Bloomfield as Colin (credited as Phillip Bloomfield)
    • Gary Linley as Frank
    • Kim Thomson as Lady Anne

For this episode, Crystal uncovers the little-known anthology film Screamtime (1983). The movie stitches together three UK horror shorts with a flimsy US wraparound story about two NYC nogoodniks who shoplift three cursed VHS tapes. One features a killer Punch and Judy yarn. Another spotlights a creepy haunted house story with a shocking and inventive twist ending. And the third and final entry has a thief encountering gnomes, fairies, and a vengeful ghost. Is this portmanteau any good? Are the effects top notch? Are the chills and thrills outstanding and memorable? Well, … you'll have to stay tuned to find out.

Every two weeks, Gruesome Magazine's Decades of Horror 1980s podcast will cover another horror film from the 1980s. The next episode's film, chosen by Jeff, is A Chinese Ghost Story (1983). It is not recommended to fall in love with a ghost, nor should you willingly fight a tree demon, but that's exactly what this film's protagonist does with the help of a monk. This one is more fun than barrels of ghosts and demons!

Please let them know how they're doing! They want to hear from you – the coolest, grooviest fans – so leave them a message or comment on the Gruesome Magazine Youtube channel, on the Gruesome Magazine website, or email the Decades of Horror 1980s podcast hosts at feedback@gruesomemagazine.com.

"Has the human a soul? And if he has – where does he keep it?" Well, answer the question. Where is it? Join your faithful Grue Crew – Doc Rotten, Bill Mulligan, Jeff Mohr, and guest Gregory Crosby – as they ponder the above question asked in a bit of an avant-garde film, The Shout (1978).

Decades of Horror 1970s
Episode 273 – The Shout (1978)

Join the Crew on the Gruesome Magazine YouTube channel!
Subscribe today! And click the alert to get notified of new content!
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ANNOUNCEMENT
Decades of Horror 1970s is partnering with WICKED HORROR TV CHANNEL, which now includes video episodes of DoH 1970s!
Available on Roku, AppleTV, Amazon FireTV, AndroidTV, Online Website.
Across All OTT platforms, as well as mobile, tablet, and desktop.
https://wickedhorrortv.com/

• Synopsis: A traveler by the name of Crossley forces himself upon a musician and his wife in a lonely part of Devon and uses the aboriginal magic he has learned to displace his host.
• Director: Jerzy Skolimowski
• Writers: Michael Austin and Jerzy Skolimowski (screenplay); Robert Graves (1929 story by)
• Cinematographer: Mike Molloy (director of photography)
• Selected Cast:
  • Alan Bates as Charles Crossley
  • Susannah York as Rachel Fielding
  • John Hurt as Anthony Fielding
  • Robert Stephens as Chief Medical Officer
  • Tim Curry as Robert Graves
  • Julian Hough as Vicar
  • Carol Drinkwater as Cobbler's Wife
  • John Rees as Inspector
  • Jim Broadbent as Fielder in Cowpat
  • Susan Wooldridge as Harriet
  • Nick Stringer as Cobbler
  • Peter Benson as Harry the Shepherd
  • Colin Higgins
  • Graham Kingsley Brown as Village Churchgoer (uncredited)
  • Joanna Szczerbic as Cricket Umpire (uncredited)

Guest host Gregory Crosby steps in to select The Shout (1978) for this week's episode. The film is as avant-garde as the musician played by John Hurt. Alan Bates stars as a dangerous drifter who claims to have supernatural powers with Suzannah York as his prey. Bates' character shares his story from an institution with a guest played by a young Tim Curry. Join the Grue-Crew for all the shenanigans, discussions, and review. This is a strange one, Grue-Believers. Enjoy our talkabout!

Gruesome Magazine's Decades of Horror 1970s is part of the Decades of Horror two-week rotation with The Classic Era and the 1980s. In two weeks, the next '70s episode, chosen by Jeff, will be Nazareno Cruz and the Wolf (1975), an Argentina-Mexico collaboration that became one of the top-grossing films in Argentine history. Folk horror! It's a thing.

We want to hear from you – the coolest, grooviest fans: make a comment on the site, the Gruesome Magazine YouTube Channel, or email the Decades of Horror 1970s podcast hosts at feedback@gruesomemagazine.com.

The Grue-Crew head back to 1953 to tackle a film from the first wave of 3D films, THE MAZE (1953), featuring one of the most bizarre twist endings of the decade. If you haven't seen this movie, you won't see it coming. While the films looks great and the cast, featuring Richard Carlson, Veronica Hurst, and Katherine Pate, is solid, the story and pace are snooze-inducingly plodding. If ever a film needed 3D, it may be this one. Yet, with all its flaws, the film has a B-movie charm to it. Catalog THE MAZE for "only the curious." Enjoy!

THE MAZE (1953)
Episode 234 - Decades of Horror: The Classic Era

Quote: "I can never marry her unless something happens that I haven't even the right to hope for -- for it would be a death." - Gerald

Synopsis: A Scotsman named Gerald breaks his engagement to Kitty, moves to his uncle's castle. Kitty and her aunt follow him weeks later, finding Gerald aged.

Director: William Cameron Menzies
Writers: Daniel B. Ullman (written for the screen by) (as Dan Ullman); Maurice Sandoz (based on his 1945 novel "The Maze")
Cast:
Richard Carlson as Gerald MacTeam
Veronica Hurst as Kitty Murray
Katherine Emery as Edith Murray
Michael Pate as William
John Dodsworth as Dr. Bert Dilling
Hillary Brooke as Peggy Lord

Every 2 weeks we'll be focusing on a specific film released between 1920 and 1969. Next up, chosen by Jeff is LIVING SKELETON (1968).

SUBSCRIBE for new episodes every two weeks:
/ gruesomemagazine

LISTEN ON PODCAST APPS:
Search "Decades of Horror" or "Gruesome Magazine" on Spotify, Apple
Podcasts, and most podcast apps.

SUPPORT US ON PATREON:
/ gruesomemagazine

FEEDBACK & CONTACT:
feedback@gruesomemagazine.com

PRIMAL RAGE (1988) is a horror movie that gets very little mention, accolades, or fanfare. Many horror fans may not have heard of the film, instead maybe they recall the 1995 video came or 2018 movie of the same name. For this episode, Bill steps up and declare "The Grue-Crew shall watch Primal Rage!" And so we did. What did we find: Mad scientists, crazed baboons, a rage virus turning college students into rampaging zombie-like monsters, and a gore-soaked Halloween party. Let's party! Enjoy!

PRIMAL RAGE (1988)
Episode 316 - Decades of Horror 1980s

Quote: "Trust me, she's more than your hands call for. Be sure to shower. And don't forget to change your drawers." - Sam

Synopsis: "A scientist at a Florida University accidentally creates a "rage virus" while conducting experiments to restore dead brain tissue in baboons. The virus soon spreads."

Director: Vittorio Rambaldi
Writers: Umberto Lenzi (as Harry Kirkpatrick), James Justice (as Harry Kirkpatrick)
Cast:
Patrick Lowe as Sam Nash
Cheryl Arutt as Lauren Daly
Sarah Buxton as Debbie
Mitch Watson as Frank Duffy
Bo Svenson as Ethridge
Doug Sloan as Lovejoy
Luis Valderrama as Chas
John Baldwin as Bryan

Next up, we tackle one chosen by Crystal - SCREAMTIME (1988), a low budget anthology featuring the following segments: "That's the Way to Do It," "Dreamhouse," and "Do You Believe in Fairies?". Make sure you join us for that one.

Is this even a real movie? Ed Wood? The Grue-Crew set out to find out, reviewing the schlock fest known by many names: THE REVENGE OF DR X (1970), BODY OF THE PREY, THE DEVIL'S GARDEN, and VENUS FLY TRAP. Which ever title it is under, the result is the same: the most bizarre and god awful film of all time; yet, somehow, it is entertaining in its terrible glory. James Craig is a mad NASA scientist who seems to take up botany and creates a hybrid creature as if he were Dr. Frankenstein. WTF? Check out what the Crew think on this one. You have been warned. Enjoy!

THE REVENGE OF DOCTOR X (1970)
Episode 272 - Decades of Horror 1970s

Quote: "How in the hell can anybody be so utterly stupid as to build a rocket base on the coast of Florida?" - Dr. Bragan

Synopsis: "A NASA scientist turns a Venus Flytrap into a monstrous humanoid while on vacation in Japan."

Directed by: Norman Earl Thomson
Written by: Norman Earl Thomson; Edward D. Wood Jr. (uncredited)
Cast:
James Craig as Dr. Bragan
Atsuko Rome as Noriko Hanamura
James Yagi as Dr. Paul Nakamura
Tota Kondo as Customs Officer
Lawrence O'Neill as American at Airport

Join the Crew on the Gruesome Magazine YouTube channel! Subscribe today! And click the alert to get notified of new content!

Next up for Decades of Horror 1970s , picked by Gregory, is THE SHOUT (1978) featuring Susannah York, Alan Bates, John Hurt, and Tim Curry. See you there!

We want to hear from you – the coolest, grooviest fans: leave them a message or leave a comment on the Gruesome Magazine YouTube channel, the website, or email the Decades of Horror: The Classic Era podcast hosts at feedback@gruesomemagazine.com To each of you from each of us, "Thank you so much for watching and listening!"