This week, we're going way back to the silent film era for an absolute classic of early horror filmmaking. The iconic scene where Christine rips away the mask from the distorted face of Lon Chaney in THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA from 1925 has been played countless times. But the film itself is woefully underappreciated. We're joined this week by co-hosts of the review podcast Horror, Sci-Fi, and Beyond (Drew Pasanen and Eric White) to discuss the relevance of its themes, the value of restoring and preserving classic films, and the unique power this particular classic holds.

We hope you enjoy our conversation and we want to encourage you to check out some silent films (especially The Phantom of the Opera) for yourself with fresh eyes.

2:43 - Getting to Know Drew Pasanen and Eric White

11:27 - Horror, Sci-Fi, and Beyond Podcast

26:23 - THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA

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We have another special treat for you today. We had the opportunity to sit down with writer/director Nicholas Tomnay about his upcoming thriller: WHAT YOU WISH FOR. The film is a psychological nail-biter with darkly comedic elements and we really think you're gonna enjoy it.0

In the film, Ryan (Nick Stahl) is a talented chef with crushing gambling problems. Circumstances being what they are, he leaves town in a hurry for the safe haven of an unnamed Latin American country where his friend Jack (Brian Groh), a more prestigious chef with his own unique troubles, welcomes him into his home. Ryan has no idea how Jack’s able to afford his extravagant lifestyle, and he doesn’t want to feel envious, but he knows that he wants it for himself. Soon, a grim twist of fate will give that to him. And just as soon, Ryan discovers what Jack’s been doing to maintain the lifestyle he so desperately craved.

We have a really fun discussion tracking this film's development, its outstanding cast, its subversive and provocative twists, and the ways its deeper themes spark thoughtful examinations about contentment and aspiration. Tomnay's excellent new film is in limited theatrical run and on video on demand as of May 31st. Check it out and we hope you enjoy the interview!

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We have something a little different for you this week FoGers. We're taking a look at the "found footage" subgenre with a series of films all about a haunted hotel and its extended mythology. In 2015, writer/director Stephen Cognetti gave us HELL HOUSE LLC, a pseudo-documentary about 5 individuals seeking to renovate a supposedly haunted hotel in Abaddon, NY and turn it into a tourist haunt. Over the course of three sequels, Cognetti would explore an ever-widening mythology that was -- at times -- very refined and intimate and -- at other times -- went almost cosmic with its spiritual warfare elements.

Joined by friends of the show Andrew Nelson and Matt Ruff, we survey these unique and fascinating films for all they're worth: including where they sit in the trends and tropes of found-footage horror and the psychological depths they sometimes brush up against. Not to mention the scary AF clowns!

The conversation is a bit more free-wheelin' this week and we really hope you enjoy listening to it as much as we enjoyed having it!

(Be sure to check out Andrew's recently released album - Love at the End of the Earth and Matt's most recent novel - The Destroyer of Worlds: A Return to Lovecraft Country)

3:35 - Catching up with Andrew Nelson and Matt Ruff

13:16 - HELL HOUSE LLC Franchise

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Surprise FoGgers! Welcome to the first B-Side of 2024. The recent, heavily-acclaimed continuation of the classic 90s cartoon, X-MEN '97, has not only reinvigorated interest in Marvel's misbegotten mutants, but also prompted Nathan Rouse, Ian Olson, and Matt Murray to traverse an epic conversation about all things brand X.

The first hour, they discuss their history and affection with the characters broadly, as well as their favorite individual story arcs. Then, they dive into the new Disney+ series and unpack some of the reasons it has struck such a strong cord with both senior and freshman fans of the X-Men.

As a special pre-summer treat, this Patron episode will be available FOR A LIMITED TIME in the main feed before taking up permanent residency in our Patron catalogue.

So buckle up in the old Blackbird friends and enjoy this oversized B-Sides edition all about the X-MEN!

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We wrap up our mini-series #Franklymydear by going further back to another direct adaptation of the novel (albeit one that makes a TON of changes to the text). THE CURSE OF FRANKENSTEIN from 1957 was Hammer Studios attempt to see if they could get in the game of horror cinema. It was a smash success, fueling 6 sequels and launching nearly 2 decades of prolific output of horror films from the studio. Starring Peter Cushing as the infamous doctor and Christopher Lee as the creature, the film takes a decidedly gothic -- almost elegant -- approach to tell its story. It leans heavy on the theatrics and the morality tension to deliver a film that is brief, dense, and surprisingly hefty in emotional and moral resonance.

Foreign Correspondent and Quarterly Queen Vera Goudie joins us to discuss this flick, as well as for a Patron-only segment featuring Lackey the Listicle counting down the top 5 mad scientist films that AREN'T based on Frankenstein. It's a brisk and thoughtful conversation that we really hope you enjoy.

Patron Only Segment: LACKEY THE LISTICLE'S Top 5 Mad Movie Scientists who AREN'T Based on Frankenstein

4:07 - THE CURSE OF FRANKENSTEIN

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We have a real treat for you today. We had the opportunity to sit down with writer/director Francis Galluppi about his feature film debut: THE LAST STOP IN YUMA COUNTY. The film is a gritty, textured, character-rich mystery thriller and we really think you'll love it.

While awaiting the next fuel truck at a middle-of-nowhere Arizona rest stop, a traveling young knife salesman is thrust into a high-stakes hostage situation by the arrival of two similarly stranded bank robbers with no qualms about using cruelty – or cold, hard steel – to protect their bloodstained, ill-begotten fortune.

We get to dive deep on the craft of putting this film together, including an exceptional cast of character actors, a meticulously crafted visual palette, and a script filled with clever and surprising turns. Galluppi is an exciting new voice in filmmaking and his debut feature is available in limited theatrical run and on video on demand as of today. Check out our really fun conversation and definitely check out the film. We hope you enjoy it!

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We continue our series called #Franklymydear on films inspired by Mary Shelley's classic novel Frankenstein with our penultimate installment. This week we're examining an independent production filmed right in one of our guest's backyard. THE ANGRY BLACK GIRL AND HER MONSTER delivers a smart and disarmingly thoughtful approach to the Frankenstein scenario, repositioning the narrative in the modern, rural south and tackling some pretty heavy themes. It follows Vicaria, a brilliant young student who theorizes that death is merely a disease awaiting a cure. When she resurrects her brother following his untimely death, she unknowingly releases a horror upon the community, although it is not immediately the horror you might imagine. The film is a compelling portrait of the power of identity in the face of systemic obstacles and systemic abuses that -- despite its heavy subject -- leaves a remarkably hopeful statement with us.

We're joined by new FoGger Chris Clark and Quarterly Queen Jess Fischli to discuss this impressive film as well as for a Patron-only segment of "Whatcha"s. This is a vibrant conversation and we really hope you enjoy it.

Patron Only Segment: Whatcha Watchin' / Readin' / Listenin' To?

6:35 - Getting to know new guest Chris Clark

13:32 - THE ANGRY BLACK GIRL AND HER MONSTER

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We continue our mini-series looking at quite recent films which are taking their inspiration from Mary Shelley's Frankenstein. This week on #Franklymydear, we look at a truly stunning film from last year called BIRTH/REBIRTH. The film stars Judy Reyes and Marin Ireland as two women who become connected after one of them suffers a dreadful loss. What follows is a complex, deeply compelling portrait of two women suddenly thrust into confrontation with the cultural and social stigmas of our era as well as their own personal ethics. The film is thoughtful, provocative, and exceptionally crafted. It is the rare horror film that manages to unsettle and unnerve without any gimmicks or sensationalism. It tells a very textured, very feminine, and very human story in a way that's difficult to shake off.

We're joined for this vulnerable and thoughtful discussion by Vera Goudie and Jocee Worley who help us start to merely scratch the surface of this excellent and compelling film. We hope you enjoy!

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