Episode 53: Fade to Black (1980) & Starry Eyes (2014)

Welcome to episode 53 of The Horror Double Bill the podcast where nearly every week we pair two movies to create something greater than the sum of their parts.This week we are off to Hollywood, with two films that explore the horrors of the silver screen, from obsessive fandom and fantasy to the darkest depths of ambition. First up we have Fade to Black from 1980. This was written and directed by Vernon Zimmerman, and stars Dennis Christopher, Tim Thomerson, Linda Kerridge, and Eve BrentThen we jump forward to 2014 and Starry Eyes, written and directed by Kevin Kölsch and Dennis Widmyer. This stars Alexandra Essoe, Amanda Fuller, Noah Segan and Fabianne Therese.Along the way, we’ll be discussing the career of producer Irwin Yablans, depictions of Hollywood in the horror film, directors Kevin Kolsche and Dennis Widmyer and much much moreRecommendationsSunset Boulevard (1950)Whatever Happened to Baby Jane (1962)Torture Garden (1967)Barton Fink (1991)Mulholland Drive (2001)References:The Man Who Created Halloween by Irwin YablansGoing to Pieces: The Rise & Fall of the Slasher Film by Adam RockoffFade to Black: special features and interviews from the blu ray from 88 Films.https://anthemmagazine.com/alex-essoe-pays-the-price-of-fame/https://thehollywoodnews.com/2015/03/11/thn-interview-starry-eyes-directors-dennis-widmyer-kevin-kolsch/https://brokehorrorfan.com/post/102534766538/interview-kevin-kolsch-dennis-widmyer-starryhttps://btchflcks.com/2015/01/old-hollywood-legend-in-a-new-skin-an-interview-with-the-filmmakers-of-starry-eyes.htmlhttps://thewolfmancometh.com/2014/03/25/writerdirectors-kevin-kolsch-and-dennis-widmyer-producer-travis-stevens-and-star-alex-essoe-talk-starry-eyes-interview-sxsw-14/https://www.flickfeast.co.uk/spotlight/starry-eyes-interview-kevin-kolsch-dennis-widmyer/https://www.dreadcentral.com/news/547793/28-things-we-learned-from-the-fade-to-black-commentary/https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1996-05-26-ca-8461-story.htmlhttps://itcamefromblog.com/2022/11/15/paint-it-black-when-dennis-christopher-detoured-into-slasher-territory/https://www.hysteria-lives.co.uk/hysterialives/Hysteria/fade_to_black.htmhttps://www.starburstmagazine.com/features/kevin-koelsch-and-dennis-widmyer-starry-eyes/https://wickedhorror.com/features/interviews/exclusive-alex-essoe-talks-starry-eyes/https://youtu.be/bE-m4rVJC4o?si=TguU9KKs_TUe8neuhttps://youtu.be/Ya6-7k48FAU?si=l0GJOqE7gJIOdZWA Instagram: @thehorrordoublebillemail: [email protected]: @thehorrordoublebillartwork by Justin Parker (IG jpkr_illustration.com)