Haunted Picture Palace

The Exorcist - "The Problem With Your Daughter is Not Her Bed, It's Her Brain."

We try to find some new things to say about one of the most storied and studied films ever made this week, as we take on William Friedkin's film of William Peter Blatty's The Exorcist.  Join us as we look at guilt, parenting and theology and profoundly disagree on the meaning of the ending.

And since we forgot to say anything on the recording this time, give us a follow on our social media channels, ta.

Topper - "You Know Something George? I Think We're Dead."

We sidetrack into screwball comedy with a look at Norman Z. McLeod's 1937 film Topper, and discuss the logistics of ectoplasm, nighclubs you can only enter by slide, and how the censorship board are fine with nudity, as long as the girl is invisible.

Sleepy Hollow - "The horseman comes! And tonight he comes for you!"

We travel back to New England again and take in Tim Burton's 1999 gothic offering.  We discuss practical effects, elderly british character actors, magickal sigils and the method of acting when you're missing your head, so pull up a lavishly-upholstered chair and join us

The Haunting (1963) - "An evil old house, the kind some people call haunted, is like an undiscovered country waiting to be explored."

This week we take a gander at Robert Wise's film adaptation of Shirley Jackson's The Haunting of Hill House, where we examine what it is to be haunted, willfully speculate on characters' sexualities and appreciate staff who are dedicated to their routine.  Come on in, you're expected.

Monster House - "Zee, it's true! There's something evil going on across the street!"

Join us for a story about growing up, a story about love, a story about a house that is a monster, Gil Keenan's 2006 animated feature Monster House!

The Fly (1986) "I'm An Insect Who Dreamed He Was A Man And Loved It."

We dissect David Cronenburg's modern classic of body horror and meet the human fly, spelt F-L-Y, talking about prosthetics (monster), aesthetics (interior decorating) and ethics (of splicing yourself with your pregnant girlfriend).  It's revoltingly gory so approach with caution, or in the words of the film "Be afraid, be very afraid!"

Candyman - "Our Names Will Be Written on A Thousand Walls."

We travel to Cabrini Green for Bernard Rose's 1992 film Candyman, adapted from a story by Clive Barker.  Join us as we say "Haunted Picture Palace" 5 times in a mirror, and explore a film which has both a very serious examination of systemic racism and the power of myth and also bucketloads of gore and so, so many bees.

The Ballad of Tam Lin - "You Wouldn't Last a Week In Mickey's Dreams!"

The queen of the fairies is a force to be reckoned with in Roddy McDowall's 1970 folk song adaptation The Ballad of Tam Lin.  Join us this week as we tackle love, games and a wardrobe that's quite literally to die for.

Ringu and The Ring - "It's A Conundrum."

Join us for not one but two iterations of the haunted-tape franchise in an experiment unlikely to be repeated as we look at the original film and its Hollywood remake.  Expect digressions on urban legends, the dangers of technology and creepy children in a new take on the 'films to see before you die' idea.

Fright Night (1985) "Did You Know, There Are A lot of People Who Do Not Believe in Vampires?"

"Welcome to Fright Night... for real!"

Join us for Tom Holland's fun but surprisingly gruesome homage to the sort of horror movies every weird 80s kid watched when they should have been asleep, as we ponder  prostheses, sexual politics and the significance of a house chock-full of clocks, in part 4 of our vampire season, with Fright Night.