Episode 18: The Uninvited (1944) & The Changeling (1980)

Welcome to episode 18 of The Horror Double Bill, the podcast where each week we pair two films to create something greater than the sum of their parts.

This week we are exploring the horrors of the haunted house which strangely enough is very different to the trope of the old dark house that we discussed back in episode 12.

First up we have The Uninvited from 1944, directed by Lewis Allen and starring Ray Milland, Gail Russell, Ruth Hussey, and Donald Crisp then we jump forward in time to 1980 with the changeling directed by Peter Medak, and starring George C Scott Trish Vandeveer and Melvin Douglas

Along the way we will be discussing Hollywood’s rather strange early reluctance to depict ghosts in the horror genre, The career of Ray Milland, the tragedy of GAIL Russell, the somewhat dubious true story behind the movie The changeling, the career and controversies surrounding George C Scott and much more.

Sources & References

The Uninvited (1944)

Extras and commentary on the Criterion Collection Blu Ray release of the film and an interview with Lewis Allen that was included in the Criterion Collection accompanying booklet

Danse Macabre by Stephen King

https://www.criterion.com/current/posts/2934-the-uninvited-spirits-by-starlight

https://ladailymirror.com/2007/07/05/gail-russell/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Supernatural_(film)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Uninvited_(1944_film)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gail_Russell

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ray_Milland

The Changeling (1980)

Extras and the directors commentary on the second sight pictures blu ray release of the film

https://history.denverlibrary.org/news/denver-house-inspired-horror-film

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_C._Scott

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melvyn_Douglas

https://montecristomagazine.com/arts/horror-classic-changeling#gsc.tab=0

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Changeling_(film)

Instagram: @thehorrordoublebill

email: thehorrordoublebill@gmail.com

youtube: @thehorrordoublebill

artwork by Justin Parker (IG jpkr_illustration.com)

Episode 17: Let's Scare Jessica to Death (1971) & Symptoms (1974). Fall into madness.

Welcome to episode 17 of The Horror Double Bill, the podcast where each week we pair two films to create something greater than the sum of their parts.

This week we are exploring the horrors of autumn, with a double bill of movies that use the tuning of the seasons as metaphors for the increasingly fragmented psyches of their protagonists.

First up we have Lets Scare Jessica to Death from 1971, then we follow this with Symptoms from 1974

Both movies use the beauty of their respective autumnal landscapes as a serene backdrops for their increasingly nightmarish scenarios. The crisp leaves muted colours and early morning mists of Connecticut in the US and Hillingdon in Great Britain gradually morphing from a place of sanctuary, escape and tranquillity one of slow stultifying death and decay. Released at the start of the 1970s, and with an emphasis on alternative and creative lifestyles, both also can be said to represent the demise of the love generation, as the hope and optimism of flower power gave way to Vietnam, civil unrest and the winter of discontent.

Sources:

House of Psychotic Women by Kier La Janisse

https://www.udiscovermusic.com/stories/death-of-the-60s-dream-1969/

https://www.cam.ac.uk/research/discussion/did-the-sixties-dream-die-in-1969?utm_source=chatgpt.com

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Altamont_Free_Concert

https://sfist.com/2017/03/02/what_was_the_summer_of_love_an_expl/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Summer_of_Love

Hancock on Hancock by John Hancock

Imprint blu ray special edition of lets Scare Jessica to Death (special features)

https://screenanarchy.com/2006/10/interview-with-director-john-hancock.html

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Let%27s_Scare_Jessica_to_Death

BFI blu ray special edition of Symptoms (special features)

English Gothic by Jonathan Rigby

Instagram: @thehorrordoublebill

email: thehorrordoublebill@gmail.com

youtube: @thehorrordoublebill

artwork by Justin Parker (IG jpkr_illustration.com)

Welcome to episode 16 of the horror double bill the podcast where each week we pair 2 movies to create something far greater than the sum of their parts

This week we are exploring the terrors of ballet school with two European horror films that are connected through more than just the depiction of dance.

First up we Head to France and 2011 for Livide from the directing duo of Julien Maury and Alexandre Bustillo, starring Chloe Colloud, Marie-Claude Pietragalla, Chloe Marcq, and Felix Moati

Then we head across to Italy – or should that be Germany – and 1977 for Suspiria from Dario Argento, starring Jessican Harper, Stefania Cassini, Alida Valli and Joan Bennet

Both films can be said to be the horror movie as fairy tale, and if we are honest neither is going to appeal to viewers who prefer naturalistic and realistic narratives. Livid moves the directors of 2007’s Inside away from the extreme violence of their debut and into the realms of fantasy, while Suspiria is a full-blown assault on the senses that was inspired by Disney’s Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, to name just one of its very diverse influences.

Along the way we will be discussing the careers of Julien Maury and Alexandre Bustillo, Baroque approaches to lighting design, the creative and relationship drama behind Suspiria, fairy tale approaches to horror and much more

References:

Livid

https://archive.ph/20121211050709/http://asberman.wordpress.com/2012/04/06/from-the-vault-livide-interview-with-julien-maury/

https://collider.com/alexandre-bustillo-julien-maury-livid-hellraiser-remake-interview/

https://medium.com/keeping-it-spooky/french-frights-livide-6936d081a623

https://monstrousindustry.wordpress.com/2011/09/04/interview-with-livid-directors-alexandre-bustillo-and-julien-maury/#:~:text=AB%2BJM%3A%20For%20both%2C%20our%20relationship,on%20our%20first%202%20movies

https://newhorror.wordpress.com/2012/04/06/from-the-vault-livide-interview-with-julien-maury/#:~:text=you%20are%20again%20taking%20a,for%20the%20look%20of%20Livide

https://cineuropa.org/en/newsdetail/153462/

https://www.ghoulsmagazine.com/articles/interview-director-julien-maury-talks-kandisha?utm_source=chatgpt.com

Films of the New French Extremity by Alexandra West.

Suspiria

Broken Mirrors/Broken Minds The Dark Dreams of Dario Argento by Maitland McDonagh

Fear The Autobiography of Dario Argento

Dario Argento: The Man, The Myths and The Magic by Alan Jones

Spaghetti Nightmares edited by Luca M Palmerini and Geatano Mistretta.

Dario Argento An Eye for Horror Directed by Leon Ferguson

Dario Argento Panico directed by Simone Scaffidi.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joan_Bennett

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alida_Valli

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_De_Quincey

Instagram: @thehorrordoublebill

email: thehorrordoublebill@gmail.com

youtube: @thehorrordoublebill

artwork by Justin Parker (IG jpkr_illustration.com)