Castle of Horror Podcast

Today we’re talking with Cassandra Khaw, the USA Today bestselling and Bram Stoker Award-winning author of Nothing But Blackened Teeth, The Salt Grows Heavy, The Library at Hellebore, and other acclaimed works of horror and speculative fiction. They’re also an award-winning game writer and as a scriptwriter at Ubisoft Montreal Their new novella is Find Me Where It Ends, coming October 6 from Tor Nightfire.Content Warning: This episode contains a detailed discussion about suicidal ideation. We care about your well-being, and if this topic is difficult for you, please feel free to skip this episode or listen with a trusted friend.If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, help is available. You are not alone:Call or text 988 to reach the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline (US & Canada).Text HOME to 741741 to connect with the Crisis Text Line.International resources: If you are outside the US or Canada, please find local support services at findahelpline.com.These services are free, confidential, and available 24/7.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/castle-of-horror-podcast--4268760/support.

Tony wraps up his Fantastic Fest coverage with a final collection of new films, including:Death Has No Master — After her father’s death, a woman returns to Venezuela to sell her family’s decaying cacao plantation, only to confront its occupants and her family’s colonial legacy.Phreaker — A lonely blind teenager discovers the early world of telephone hacking and uses his perfect pitch and talent for impersonation to gain money, power, and the attention of the FBI.Attack on Paradise — After leaving prison, a man visits his mother in a gang-controlled Belgian high-rise and becomes trapped in a brutal battle involving criminals, police, and heavily armed tactical forces.Gimme Truth — This documentary journeys through the strange and troubling world of modern conspiracy theories, speaking with believers whose ideas range from UFO cover-ups to forgotten advanced civilizations.What Happened to Doris? — Heather Graham stars in this dramatization of the Doris Bither case, in which a single mother reports increasingly violent assaults by an unseen supernatural entity.Too Many Beasts — A troubled police officer investigates murder and corruption in rural France, where farmers are battling wealthy hunters whose protected wild boars are destroying their crops.Roy from Space — This restored 1983 Mexican animated oddity follows an astronaut sent on a peace mission to another planet, where he encounters robots, monsters, romance, and an evil emperor threatening Earth.The Squirrel — In a sterile future without natural animals, a lonely designer of synthetic pets discovers a living squirrel and begins questioning everything about his carefully controlled society.The Swallow — A camping trip turns deadly when a group of young people encounters a sentient, quicksand-like sludge that traps, dissolves, and devours its victims.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/castle-of-horror-podcast--4268760/support.

Tony checks in from Fantastic Fest with another round of discoveries, including:Cinema Recomposed: Silent Monsters — A live string quartet performs original scores created by young composers for seven classic silent-horror shorts.Red Snow — A disaffected Finnish teenager visiting her grandmother encounters a middle-aged vampire who disguises himself as Santa Claus to enter homes and devour families.Girl in the Night — A lonely gas-station attendant becomes fascinated with a mysterious vigilante and devises an increasingly absurd plan to get closer to her in this deadpan Slovenian superhero comedy.Jim Queen — When a mysterious virus begins turning gay men straight, a muscle-bound icon of the Parisian gay scene searches for a cure in this outrageous French animated comedy.Game Master — A disconnected father infiltrates an enormous medieval-fantasy live-action role-playing event to find his missing daughter—and perhaps rebuild their relationship.The Face of Horror — Anna Biller relocates the Japanese ghost story Yotsuya Kaidan to medieval England, where a betrayed woman returns from the grave to seek bloody revenge against her unfaithful husband.Janur Ireng: Sewu Dino the Prequel — Two impoverished siblings move into their wealthy uncle’s ancestral home, where dark rituals, possession, and a deadly family curse await them.Flapjax — An excessively enthusiastic fast-food manager relaunches an addictive breakfast item, only to discover that he has become an unwitting pawn in an alien conspiracy.Alpha Gang — Aliens disguised as a 1950s biker gang arrive on Earth with hostile intentions, but exposure to human emotions begins complicating their mission.Ghost in the Cell — Rival inmates and corrupt guards inside a brutal Indonesian prison must work together when an invisible supernatural force begins murdering prisoners and arranging their bodies in grotesque displays.Pathetic Fallacy — A grieving widower searching for a way to reunite with his late wife descends into a psychedelic nightmare of cosmic forces, talking creatures, and brutal murder.Magick MTN. — A ghoulish host guides viewers through three interconnected, occult-infused stories in a low-budget rock-and-roll horror anthology set around Laurel Canyon.Kick On — Four friends prolong a night of partying at a mobster’s drug-fueled hideout, where paranoia, betrayal, and explosive violence leave them fighting for survival.Half — Half-human, half-vampire twins hunt down the highway marauders who attacked them in a blood-soaked Indian fusion of vampire horror, martial arts, and revenge Western.The Heretiks — On Halloween night, two sisters and their friends barricade themselves inside a house as a powerful coven of witches closes in on a teenage girl needed for a sinister ritual.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/castle-of-horror-podcast--4268760/support.

Tony Salvaggio checks in from Fantastic Fest in Austin with his first impressions of:Resident Evil (2026) — Zach Cregger’s reinvention follows an ordinary medical courier trapped in Raccoon City during a horrifying outbreak of mutated creatures.Beware Boiúna — A medical mission deep in the Amazon becomes a desperate fight for survival when it awakens Boiúna, a colossal ancient serpent determined to reclaim its domain.The Blood Countess — Isabelle Huppert stars in this campy vampire comedy about Elizabeth Báthory’s return in modern-day Vienna and her search for a mysterious book capable of destroying vampires.The Glorious Dead — The Adams filmmaking family delivers a practical-effects-driven apocalypse tale about a small-town sheriff and her deputy confronting bloody fissures, grotesque creatures, and the rising dead.Kylgor in the Grisly Abyss — In this gloriously gory puppet fantasy, a band of barbarians beheads an evil king, only to plunge into an underground labyrinth filled with monsters, hallucinations, and dark magic.Into the Sky — Sam Richardson plays a man whose attempts to repair his broken marriage are continually derailed by mysterious alien abductions in this blend of science fiction, comedy, and romance.Kung Fu Deadly — Two bumbling Dublin pest exterminators join forces with a Taoist guardian to battle an ancient Chinese jiangshi in a supernatural martial-arts comedy inspired by classic Hong Kong cinema.Upiro — In 1755, a young woman sent to a remote convent discovers novices suffering from a mysterious blood-related illness connected to a supernatural upyr.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/castle-of-horror-podcast--4268760/support.

Today we're talking with John Barker, author of the new book ALL THE RIGHT MOVIES. All The Right Movies is your exclusive look at the stories, people, and on-set surprises of 25 popular films dating back to the 1960s. Thoroughly researched and written by the team behind one of the biggest movie podcasts and film accounts on X, All The Right Movies (@ATRightMovies), this beautifully illustrated guide takes you beyond the cameras with key cast and crew member interviews and fun facts about the making of iconic movies across a variety of genres.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/castle-of-horror-podcast--4268760/support.

This week we have a look at the 1956 monster movie THE SHE-CREATURE. This is Episode 495! The She-Creature (or The She Creature) is a 1956 American black-and-white science fiction horror film, released by American International Pictures (AIP) from a script by Lou Rusoff (brother-in-law of AIP executive Samuel Z. Arkoff). It’s premise was tied directly to the 1950s Bridey Murphy phenomenon. Morey Bernstein’s The Search for Bridey Murphy, published in January 1956, recounted hypnotic sessions in which Colorado housewife Virginia Tighe supposedly remembered life as a nineteenth-century Irishwoman; the book became a national sensation before investigators cast substantial doubt on the story. Producer Alex Gordon said exhibitor Jerry Zigmond suggested turning the craze into a movie subject, after which Lou Rusoff wrote the story and screenplay. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/castle-of-horror-podcast--4268760/support.

Drew Edwards, creator of Halloween Man, chats with Phil Howell, pop artist whose memorable graphic designs and illustrations have included Buffy, Star Wars, MCU and other pop art. Josh Brolin of the MCU said his art "makes me happy it exists in this world."Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/castle-of-horror-podcast--4268760/support.

Today we're talking with David Gregory and Carl Daft, founders of Severin Films, which is celebrating its 20-year anniversary. Severin focuses on preserving and issuing fantastic new releases of films both familiar and not, the strange, significant and spectacular. Their Blu-Ray and 4K UHD box sets for collections like the Eurocrypt of Chistopher Lee are the kind of thing that cinema devotees can’t stop raving about. Credit: Severin Films is celebrating 20 Years Anniversary for more info and to find their amazing work, visit https://severinfilms.com/ Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/castle-of-horror-podcast--4268760/support.

This week we have a look at the 1994 vampire movie NADJA. This is Episode 494! Nadja is a 1994 American vampire art movie written and directed by Michael Almereyda, starring Elina Löwensohn in the title role and Peter Fonda as Abraham Van Helsing.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/castle-of-horror-podcast--4268760/support.

This week we have a look at the 1979 zombie film from Lucio Fulci, ZOMBIE AKA ZOMBI 2. This is Episode 493! ZOMBIE AKA ZOMBI 2 is a 1979 English-language Italian zombie film directed by Lucio Fulci. It was adapted from an original screenplay by Dardano Sacchetti to serve as a sequel to George A. Romero's Dawn of the Dead (1978), which was released in Italy under the title Zombi. The film was released as Zombie in the USA and Zombie Flesh-Eaters in the UK. It stars Tisa Farrow, Ian McCulloch, and Richard Johnson, and features a score by frequent Fulci collaborator Fabio Frizzi.PLUS, once more we are joined by very special guest JOHN LOGAN-- John has been nominated for the Oscar three times and has received Golden Globe, BAFTA, WGA and Edgar awards. His film work includes Skyfall, Gladiator, The Aviator, Hugo, Rango, Sweeney Todd, They/Them, The Last Samurai, and Any Given Sunday. His most recent release is the movie Michael, about Michael Jackson. Michael has been a monumental commercial success, the highest-grossing biopic of all time, the highest-grossing musical biopic and the biggest film in Lions Gate's history. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/castle-of-horror-podcast--4268760/support.

Encounters of the Spooky Kind (Chinese: 鬼打鬼; pinyin: Guǐ dǎ guǐ; lit. 'Ghost Against Ghost') is a 1980 Hong Kong martial arts comedy horror film starring and directed by Sammo Hung, written by Hung and Huang Ying, and produced by Hung's film production company Bo Ho Film Company. Hung stars as Cheung, a rickshaw worker whose wife is having an affair with one of his wealthy clients. His wife and her lover hire a powerful sorcerer to kill Cheung, who is aided by the sorcerer's colleague (Chung Fat).Encounters of the Spooky Kind was one of the first Hong Kong-produced action horror comedies; it popularized the production of films featuring jiangshi, hopping vampires of Chinese folklore, though it was not the first film to feature jiangshi. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/castle-of-horror-podcast--4268760/support.

This week we have a look at the 1974 Shaw Brothers film The Ghost Lovers. This is Episode 491!The Ghost Lovers AKA A Woman with Half Soul) is a 1973/1974 Hong Kong–South Korean supernatural romance produced by Shaw Brothers Studio in collaboration with Shin Films. Directed by the South Korean filmmaker Shin Sang-ok, the film stars Li Ching as a young upper-class maiden who dies waiting for the return of her betrothed, Lam Wai-Tiu as Han, a young man whom she must convince to sleep with her ghostly form or else she’s doomed to wander the earth forever. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/castle-of-horror-podcast--4268760/support.

Today we're talking with Chad Boykin, author of Kaiju Haiku: A Haiku Comics Zine which is brand new from Jobber House Press, available now wherever you look for books. About the book:Japan is the land of giant monsters and tiny poems. Kaiju Haiku fuses these two cultural forces into one stunning full-color explosion! Remember the awe of discovering giant monster movies as a child? Imagine recapturing that magic. Experience the wonder one more time through stunning haiku set to surreal abstract comic book art. Each poem is a small exploration of kaiju cinema. A burst of nostalgia. A pop of insight. Lurking below the surface, they are also an invitation to slow down, to look twice. Mirrors disguised as windows. What will you see looking back at you? Then, like a burst of the fireball from outer space, the vivid kaleidoscopic comic art of Jason McBride explodes onto each page - transporting you to parts unknown. Kaiju Haiku is an art museum that fits into your pocket. A traveling companion. Reach for it anytime the ordinary becomes a little too ordinary. The giant monsters are waiting.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/castle-of-horror-podcast--4268760/support.

This week we have a look at the 1969 Japanese fantasy horror film Yokai Monsters: Along with Ghosts. This is Episode 490!The third and final film in Daiei's "Yokai Monsters" trilogy, Along with Ghosts (Japanese title: Tōkaidō Obake Dōchū, "The Haunted Journey Along Tokaido") was directed by Kimiyoshi Yasuda and Yoshiyuki Kuroda, released March 21, 1969 on a double bill with Gamera vs. Guiron. Unlike the prior two entries, this one plays largely as a samurai melodrama with the yokai kept mostly offscreen until the climax.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/castle-of-horror-podcast--4268760/support.

This week we have a look at the 1968 Japanese fantasy horror film Yokai Monsters: Spook Warfare. This is Episode 489! Yokai Monsters: Spook Warfare (Japanese: 妖怪大戦争, Hepburn: Yōkai Daisensō; lit. 'The Great Yokai War') is a 1968 Japanese fantasy horror film directed by Yoshiyuki Kuroda. It is the second in a trilogy of films produced in the late 1960s, all of which focus around traditional Japanese monsters known as yōkai. (It was preceded by Yokai Monsters: 100 Monsters (1968), and was followed by Yokai Monsters: Along with Ghosts (1969).Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/castle-of-horror-podcast--4268760/support.

This week we have a look at the 1981 Slasher film JUST BEFORE DAWN. This is Episode 488! JUST BEFORE DAWN is a 1981 American slasher film directed by Jeff Lieberman and starring Chris Lemmon, Gregg Henry, Deborah Benson, Ralph Seymour, Jamie Rose, and George Kennedy. The film follows a group of hikers who travel into a mountainous region of Oregon to visit property inherited by one of them, only to be hunted by a ruthless backwoods killer. PLUS, once more we are joined by very special guest JOHN LOGAN-- John has been nominated for the Oscar three times and has received Golden Globe, BAFTA, WGA and Edgar awards. His film work includes Skyfall, Gladiator, The Aviator, Hugo, Rango, Sweeney Todd, They/Them, The Last Samurai, and Any Given Sunday. His most recent release is the movie Michael, about Michael Jackson. Michael has been a monumental commercial success, the highest-grossing biopic of all time, the highest-grossing musical biopic and the biggest film in Lions Gate's history. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/castle-of-horror-podcast--4268760/support.

Tonight we're talking about one of the most comprehensive Hammer releases in a while — Sangster Directs Hammer, a seven-disc box set from Severin Films featuring the three films director Jimmy Sangster made for Hammer at the turn of the 70s: The Horror of Frankenstein, Lust for a Vampire, and Fear in the Night. All three are now in their North American UHD premiere, scanned in 4K from original camera negatives — plus nineteen hours of special features and a brand new 312-page book, Horror! Lust! Fear! Sangster. The set releases June 30th and is available for pre-order right now at SeverinFilms.com.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/castle-of-horror-podcast--4268760/support.

This week we have a look at the 1968 Japanese horror film Yokai Monsters: 100 Monsters. This is Episode 487! Yokai Monsters: 100 Monsters (Japanese: 妖怪百物語, Hepburn: Yōkai Hyaku Monogatari; lit. One Hundred Yōkai Tales) is a 1968 Japanese fantasy horror film directed by Kimiyoshi Yasuda, with special effects by Yoshiyuki Kuroda. It is the first in a trilogy of films produced in the late 1960s, which focus around Japanese monsters known collectively as yōkai.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/castle-of-horror-podcast--4268760/support.

This week we have a look at the 1973 film Battle for the Planet of the Apes. This is Episode 486!  Battle for the Planet of the Apes is a 1973 American science fiction film directed by J. Lee Thompson from a screenplay by John William Corrington and Joyce Hooper Corrington, based on a story by Paul Dehn. The film is the sequel to Conquest of the Planet of the Apes (1972) and the fifth and final installment in the original Planet of the Apes film series. It stars Roddy McDowall, Claude Akins, Natalie Trundy, Severn Darden, Lew Ayres, Paul Williams, and John Huston. In the film, after conquering the oppressive humans, Caesar (McDowall) tries to keep the peace amongst the humans and apes, but uprisings endure.Battle for the Planet of the Apes was released in the United States on June 13, 1973, by 20th Century-Fox. The film received mixed-to-negative reviews from critics, grossing $8.8 million against a budget of nearly $2 million.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/castle-of-horror-podcast--4268760/support.

Tonight we're chatting with Aleese Lin, author of the debut novel Samantha Spük: Paranormal Wedding Planner, out right now from Saga Press / Simon & Schuster. This is a whimsi-goth contemporary romance — a spooky cozy, if you will — about Samantha "Sabby" Spük, a young woman who has spent her whole life trying to escape her family's legacy of supernatural chaos. She finally lands a normal nine-to-five at a New York accounting firm, but then her grandmother dies, leaves her a magically binding will, and suddenly Sabby is back in her dreaded hometown of Salem, Massachusetts — planning weddings for werewolves, vampires, and fae. The book is described as perfect for fans of Legends & Lattes and Netflix's Wednesday.Aleese is a 2022 Lambda Literary fellow, a Tin House workshop alumnus, and an educator living in the Boston area.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/castle-of-horror-podcast--4268760/support.

This week we have a look at the 1972 film Conquest of the Planet of the Apes. This is Episode 485! Conquest of the Planet of the Apes is a 1972 American science fiction film directed by J. Lee Thompson and written by Paul Dehn. The film is the sequel to Escape from the Planet of the Apes (1971) and the fourth installment in the original Planet of the Apes film series It stars Roddy McDowall, Don Murray, Ricardo Montalbán, Natalie Trundy, and Hari Rhodes. In the film, set in a world that has embraced ape slavery, Caesar (McDowall), the son of the late simians Cornelius and Zira, surfaces out of hiding from the authorities and prepares for a rebellion against humanity.Conquest of the Planet of the Apes was released in the United States on June 14, 1972, by 20th Century-Fox. The film received mixed reviews from critics. It was followed by Battle for the Planet of the Apes in 1973.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/castle-of-horror-podcast--4268760/support.

This week we have a look at the 1971 film ESCAPE FROM THE PLANET OF THE APES. This is Episode 484! Escape from the Planet of the Apes is a 1971 American science fiction film directed by Don Taylor and written by Paul Dehn. The film is the sequel to Beneath the Planet of the Apes (1970) and the third installment in the original Planet of the Apes film series. It stars Roddy McDowall, Kim Hunter, Bradford Dillman, Natalie Trundy, Eric Braeden, Sal Mineo, and Ricardo Montalbán. In the film, Cornelius (McDowall) and Zira (Hunter) flee back through time to 20th-century Los Angeles, where they face fear and persecution.Escape from the Planet of the Apes was released in the United States on May 26, 1971, by 20th Century-Fox. The film received a mainly positive response from critics and is generally considered the best sequel of the original Apes series. Escape was followed by Conquest of the Planet of the Apes in 1972.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/castle-of-horror-podcast--4268760/support.

Beneath the Planet of the Apes is a 1970 American science fiction film directed by Ted Post from a screenplay by Paul Dehn, based on a story by Dehn and Mort Abrahams. The film is the sequel to Planet of the Apes (1968) and the second installment in the original Planet of the Apes film series.[3] It stars James Franciscus, Kim Hunter, Maurice Evans, and Linda Harrison, and features Charlton Heston in a supporting role. In the film, a second spacecraft arrives on the planet ruled by apes, carrying astronaut Brent (Franciscus), who searches and finds Taylor (Heston) only to realize the apes are not their greatest threat.Beneath the Planet of the Apes was released in the United States on May 26, 1970, by 20th Century-Fox. The film received mixed reviews from critics. It was followed by Escape from the Planet of the Apes in 1971.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/castle-of-horror-podcast--4268760/support.

Tonight we’re chatting with C. J. Dotson, author of the new book THESE FAMILIAR WALLS, out from St. Martin’s Press in April. THESE FAMILAR WALLS is a suburban horror novel about a woman who inherits her childhood home after her parents are murdered there, only to find it haunted by past trauma and a menacing presence, forcing her to confront dark secrets from her youth, including a troubled friendship and a mysterious fire. The story uses a dual timeline, flashing back to 1998 and forward to 2020, and is described as a chilling, twist-filled tale perfect for fans of authors like T. Kingfisher and Catriona Ward.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/castle-of-horror-podcast--4268760/support.

This week we have a look at the 1968 film PLANET OF THE APES. This is Episode 482! Planet of the Apes is a 1968 American science-fiction film directed by Franklin J. Schaffner from a screenplay by Michael Wilson and Rod Serling, loosely based on the 1963 novel by Pierre Boulle. The film stars Charlton Heston, Roddy McDowall, Kim Hunter, Maurice Evans, James Whitmore, James Daly, and Linda Harrison. In the film, an astronaut crew crash-lands on a strange planet in the distant future. Although the planet appears desolate at first, the surviving crew members stumble upon a society in which apes have evolved into creatures with human-like intelligence and speech. The apes have assumed the role of the dominant species and humans are mute primitives wearing animal skins.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/castle-of-horror-podcast--4268760/support.

This week we have a look at the 1971 film Let's Scare Jessica to Death. This is Episode 481! Let's Scare Jessica to Death is a 1971 American psychological horror film co-written and directed by John Hancock in his directorial debut, and starring Zohra Lampert, Barton Heyman, Kevin O'Connor, Gretchen Corbett, and Mariclare Costello. The film depicts the nightmarish experiences of a psychologically fragile woman who comes to believe that another strange, mysterious young woman she has let into her home may actually be a vampire.This week we are joined again by our executive producer, PENNY DREADFUL/SKYFALL screenwriter John Logan, whose film MICHAEL has just come out.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/castle-of-horror-podcast--4268760/support.

This week we have a look at the 2026 film Ready or Not 2: Here I Come. This is Episode 480! Ready or Not 2: Here I Come is a 2026 American comedy horror film directed by Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett, and written by Guy Busick and R. Christopher Murphy. It serves as a direct sequel to Ready or Not (2019), with Samara Weaving reprising her role as Grace MacCaullay. The film also stars Kathryn Newton, Sarah Michelle Gellar, Shawn Hatosy, David Cronenberg, and Elijah Wood. Set immediately after the events of Ready or Not, it follows Grace as she must protect her estranged sister while being hunted by several elite families in a high-stakes ritual to claim a seat of ultimate power.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/castle-of-horror-podcast--4268760/support.

This week we have a special Second Bite look at two films which we love and deserve more attention: 1970’s Count Yorga, Vampire and its 1971 sequel The Return of Count Yorga. This is Episode 479! Count Yorga, Vampire (1970) and The Return of Count Yorga (1971), both written and directed by Bob Kelljan and starring Robert Quarry, revitalized the vampire genre by transplanting the classic Dracula formula into contemporary California. We are joined once again by Tony-award-winning, Oscar-nominated writer  John Logan, whose new film on Michael Jackson, Michael, opens in April.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/castle-of-horror-podcast--4268760/support.

onight we’re chatting with Daniel Kraus, author of the new book PARTIALLY DEVOURED: How Night of the Living Dead Saved My Life and Changed the World. PARTIALLY DEVOURED (On sale March 10, 2026) is an examination of a horror movie classic’s importance to our history, culture, and psychology, a perfect blend of research and memoir in the vein of Quentin Tarantino's Cinema Speculation.Daniel Kraus is a New York Times bestselling writer of novels, TV, and film. His novel, Whalefall, received a front-cover review in the New York Times Book Review, won the Alex Award, was an L.A. Times Book Prize Finalist, and was a Best Book of 2023 from NPR, the New York Times, Amazon, Chicago Tribune, and more. The film adaptation, co-written by Kraus, will be released by 20th Century Studios in October 2026. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/castle-of-horror-podcast--4268760/support.

This week we take a look at the 1967 Hammer film Frankenstein Created Woman. This is Episode 478! Frankenstein Created Woman is a 1967 British Hammer horror film directed by Terence Fisher and starring Peter Cushing and Susan Denberg. The screenplay was written by Anthony Hinds (as John Elder). It is the fourth film in Hammer's Frankenstein series.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/castle-of-horror-podcast--4268760/support.

This week we continue our Valentine's Day series of films with a look at the 2009 film My Bloody Valentine 3D. This is Episode 477! My Bloody Valentine 3D is a 2009 American 3D slasher film directed and co-edited by Patrick Lussier, and written by Todd Farmer and Zane Smith. A remake of the 1981 Canadian film, it stars Jensen Ackles, Jaime King, Kerr Smith and Kevin Tighe. The film focuses on the residents of a small town that is plagued by a serial killer in mining gear on Valentine's Day, who is believed to be the same murderer who was thought to have died a decade prior.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/castle-of-horror-podcast--4268760/support.

This week we continue our Valentine's Day series of films with a look at the 1981 film My Bloody Valentine. This is Episode 476! My Bloody Valentine is a 1981 Canadian slasher film directed by George Mihalka from a screenplay by John Beaird. It features an ensemble cast that includes Paul Kelman, Lori Hallier, and Neil Affleck. The plot tells about a group of young adults who decide to throw a Valentine's Day party, only to incur the vengeful wrath of a maniac in mining gear who begins a killing spree.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/castle-of-horror-podcast--4268760/support.

This week we dive into a Valentine's Day series of films with a look at the 2025 film Heart Eyes. This is Episode 475!  Heart Eyes is a 2025 American romantic comedy slasher film directed by Josh Ruben from a screenplay by Phillip Murphy, Christopher Landon and Michael Kennedy. The film stars Olivia Holt as Ally McCabe and Mason Gooding as Jay Simmons, following two coworkers who find themselves targeted by the "Heart Eyes Killer"—a masked serial killer who hunts couples on Valentine's Day. When the two are mistaken for a romantic couple, they must survive the night and uncover the killer's identity.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/castle-of-horror-podcast--4268760/support.

Tonight we’re chatting with Christina Kovac, author of the new book WATCH US FALL. Christina Kovac is a mystery author and former DC broadcast news producer with 17 years of experience managing Washington, DC newsrooms and producing crime and political stories. Her career in television journalism spanned Fox Five's Ten O'Clock News, ABC affiliate WJLA, and NBC News. She is the author of The Cutaway and lives with her family outside Washington, DC.In the book, main character Lucy is part of a small, tight-knit group of friends known as the Sweeties who live in a Georgetown row house, focused on their careers and romantic drama until one of them, Addie's, ex-boyfriend, an up-and-coming newscaster, suddenly goes missing. WATCH US FALL is out this month from Simon & Schuster.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/castle-of-horror-podcast--4268760/support.

This week we continue a cycle of Mario Bava films curated by special guest, three-time-Oscar nominated screenwriter John Logan, with a look at the 1966 film Kill Baby Kill!  This is Episode #474! Kill, Baby, Kill (Italian: Operazione paura, lit. 'Operation Fear') is a 1966 Italian Gothic supernatural horror film directed by Mario Bava and starring Giacomo Rossi Stuart and Erika Blanc. Written by Bava, Romano Migliorini, and Roberto Natale, the film focuses on a small European village in the early 1900s that is being terrorized by the ghost of a murderous young girl.John calls this movie "the most gothic film ever made."Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/castle-of-horror-podcast--4268760/support.

This week we have a look at the 1951 film SCROOGE.  This is Episode #473! Scrooge (released as A Christmas Carol in the United States) is a 1951 British Christmas fantasy drama film and an adaptation of Charles Dickens's A Christmas Carol (1843). It stars Alastair Sim as Ebenezer Scrooge, and was produced and directed by Brian Desmond Hurst, with a screenplay by Noel Langley. It also features Michael Hordern, Kathleen Harrison, George Cole, Hermione Baddeley, Mervyn Johns, Clifford Mollison, Jack Warner, Ernest Thesiger and Patrick Macnee. Peter Bull narrates portions of Charles Dickens's words at the beginning and end of the film, and appears on-screen as a businessman.Upon its initial release, the movie was largely ignored by critics, and reactions from those that did watch it were varied. Nevertheless, the movie attracted a strong following on television, and subsequent reviews have been significantly more positive, with many critics considering it one of the best adaptions of the novel, with general praise for the performances, particularly Sim's portrayal of Scrooge.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/castle-of-horror-podcast--4268760/support.

Tonight we’re chatting with Vanessa F. Penney, author of The Witch of Willow Sound, distributed by Simon & Schuster.  The book is a Canadian best-seller, a feminist gothic tale with a tough-as-nails female protagonist who must find her elderly aunt, long suspected of being a witch.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/castle-of-horror-podcast--4268760/support.

This week we are joined by the Monster Movie Happy Hour Podcast for a look at Guillermo del Toro’s 2025 film FRANKENSTEIN.  This is Episode #472! Frankenstein is a 2025 American gothic drama film produced, written and directed by Guillermo del Toro, based on Mary Shelley's 1818 novel Frankenstein; or, The Modern Prometheus. The film stars Oscar Isaac as Victor Frankenstein, Jacob Elordi as the Creature, and Mia Goth as Elizabeth, with Felix Kammerer, David Bradley, Lars Mikkelsen, Christian Convery, Charles Dance, and Christoph Waltz in the supporting roles. The story follows the life of Victor Frankenstein, an egotistical scientist whose experiment in creating new life results in dangerous consequences when his monstrous creation comes to life. Frankenstein had its world premiere in the main competition of the 82nd Venice International Film Festival on August 30, 2025. It began a limited theatrical release on October 17, 2025, with a global digital release by Netflix on November 7. The film received generally positive reviews from critics, with Elordi's performance receiving acclaim.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/castle-of-horror-podcast--4268760/support.

This week we continue a cycle of Mario Bava films curated by special guest, three-time-Oscar nominated screenwriter John Logan, with a look at the 1965 film Planet of the Vampires.  This is Episode #471!Planet of the Vampires (Italian: Terrore nello spazio, lit. 'Terror in Space'; released in the UK as The Demon Planet) is a 1965 science fiction horror film directed and co-written by Mario Bava, produced by Fulvio Lucisano, and starring Barry Sullivan and Norma Bengell. The screenplay was based on an Italian-language science fiction short story, Renato Pestriniero's "One Night of 21 Hours.” The film follows the horrific experiences of the crew members of two giant spaceships that have crash-landed on a forbidding, unexplored planet. The disembodied inhabitants of the world possess the bodies of the crew who died during the crash, and use the animated corpses to stalk and kill the remaining survivors.The film was co-produced by Italian International Film and American International Pictures (AIP), with some financing provided by Spain's Castilla Cooperativa Cinematográfica. AIP released Planet of the Vampires as the supporting film on a double feature with Daniel Haller's Die, Monster, Die! (1965).Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/castle-of-horror-podcast--4268760/support.

Tonight we’re chatting with national bestselling author Christina Henry, whose first hardcover, The Place Where They Buried Your Heart (Berkley, Nov. 4), blends haunting suspense with deeply human themes.Christina is known for her dark fantasy and horror novels (Good Girls Don’t Die, The Ghost Tree, The House That Horror Built), each exploring the shadows in both supernatural forces and human hearts. Her latest is a chilling, emotionally layered haunted house story set in Chicago, where a sister must confront the darkness that claimed her brother decades earlier. And that same house may still be hungry.  The book has received praise from the New York Times, Paul Tremblay and Christopher Golden, both of whom I’ve talked to on this show.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/castle-of-horror-podcast--4268760/support.

Tonight we’re chatting with Jeremiah Dylan Cook, author of A Mythos of Monsters and Madness which is out now. The book assembles thirteen loosely connected tales of terror from horror writer Jeremiah Dylan Cook.Jeremiah Dylan Cook is a horror writer whose work has been published by The NoSleep Podcast, Castle Bridge Media, Tales to Terrify, Ghost Orchid Press, The Lovecraft eZine, Hippocampus Press, Necronomicon Press, and Eye Contact. He won Purple Wall Stories February 2021 Writing Competition, and the Ligonier Valley Writers 2018 Flash Fiction Contest. He’s the Managing Editor of New Pulp Tales. You can follow him on X @JeremiahCook1.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/castle-of-horror-podcast--4268760/support.

This week we continue a cycle of Mario Bava films curated by special guest, three-time-Oscar nominated screenwriter John Logan, with a look at the 1964 film Blood and Black Lace.  This is Episode #470!Blood and Black Lace (Italian: 6 donne per l'assassino, lit. 'Six Women for the Murderer') is a 1964 giallo film directed by Mario Bava and starring Eva Bartok and Cameron Mitchell. The story concerns the brutal murders of a Roman fashion house's models, committed by a masked killer in a desperate attempt to obtain a scandal-revealing diary.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/castle-of-horror-podcast--4268760/support.

This week we have a Halloween film, the 1993 animated film The Halloween Tree. This is episode 469! The Halloween Tree is a 1993 American animated fantasy-drama television film produced by Hanna-Barbera and based on Ray Bradbury's 1972 fantasy novel of the same name. The film tells the story of a group of trick-or-treating children who learn about the origins and influences of Halloween when one of their friends is spirited away by mysterious forces. Bradbury serves as the narrator of the film, which also stars Leonard Nimoy as the children's guide, Mr. Moundshroud. Bradbury also wrote the film's Emmy Award winning screenplay. The animation of the film was produced overseas for Hanna-Barbera by Fil-Cartoons in the Philippines. The film premiered on ABC on October 2, 1993.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/castle-of-horror-podcast--4268760/support.

Tonight we’re chatting with Brian Asman, who’s been called “a singular voice in horror fiction,” author of MAN, F*CK THIS HOUSE (AND OTHER DISASTERS) from Blackstone Publishing,  a collection of six brand-new stories of hauntings and California Weirdness. Brian Asman is a writer, actor, and director from San Diego. He’s the author of Good Dogs from Blackstone Publishing. His other books include I’m Not Even Supposed to Be Here Today, Neo Arcana, Nunchuck City, Jailbroke, Our Black Hearts Beat as One, and Return of the Living Elves. Find him on social media (@thebrianasman) or his website (www.BrianAsmanBooks.com).In the titular “Man, F*ck This House,” Sabrina Haskins and her family have just moved into their dream home. At first glance, the house is perfect. But things aren’t what they seem. Sabrina is hearing odd noises, seeing strange visions. Their neighbors are odd or absent. And Sabrina’s already-fraught relationship with her son is about to be tested in a way no parent could ever imagine. Because while the Haskins family might be the newest owners of this house, they’re far from its only residents…Join us!Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/castle-of-horror-podcast--4268760/support.

This week we kick off a cycle of Mario Bava films curated by special guest John Logan (Penny Dreadful, Skyfall, Gladiator) with a look at the 1963 film The Whip and the Body.  This is Episode #468!  The Whip and the Body (Italian: La frusta e il corpo) is a 1963 gothic horror film directed by Mario Bava under the alias "John M. Old". The film is about Kurt Menliff (Christopher Lee) who is ostracized by his father for his relationship with a servant girl and her eventual suicide. He later returns to reclaim his title and his former fiancée Nevenka (Daliah Lavi) who is now his brother's wife. Menliff is later found murdered, but the locals believe his ghost has returned to haunt the castle for revenge.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/castle-of-horror-podcast--4268760/support.

Tony Salvaggio checks in to discuss the highlights of Fantastic Fest 2023, where he watched an impressive 35 movies across various genres. From horror films exploring trauma to unique international cinema, Tony breaks down standout films like "Marama," "Obsession," and the newest "Silent Night, Deadly Night." He shares insights into the current state of genre filmmaking, emphasizing the importance of independent film festivals in showcasing diverse storytelling. Hear about secret screenings, unexpected gems, and Tony's passionate take on why genre cinema remains vibrant and essential.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/castle-of-horror-podcast--4268760/support.

Tonight we’re chatting with Linus O’Brien, director of STRANGE JOURNEY: THE STORY OF ROCKY HORROR in Theaters on September 26. The documentary is written by Avner Shiloah, and Produced by Adam Gibbs, Garret Price, Avner Shiloah, Linus O'Brien. Strange Journey: The Story of Rocky Horror is a joyful and wild ride through the tale of the cultural juggernaut that is The Rocky Horror Picture Show, which began as a 1973 musical stage production and became a 1975 film with Tim Curry, Susan Sarandon, Barry Bostwick, Charles Gray, and more, with a historic following. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/castle-of-horror-podcast--4268760/support.

This week we have a look at the 2001 film From Hell.  This is Episode #467! From Hell is a 2001 mystery horror thriller film directed by the Hughes Brothers and written by Terry Hayes and Rafael Yglesias and based on the graphic novel of the same name by Alan Moore and Eddie Campbell about the Jack the Ripper murders. The film stars Johnny Depp as Frederick Abberline, the lead investigator of the murders, and Heather Graham as Mary Kelly, a prostitute targeted by the Ripper. Other cast members include Ian Holm, Robbie Coltrane, Ian Richardson and Jason Flemyng. From Hell was theatrically released in the United States on October 19, 2001, by 20th Century Fox. The film grossed over $74 million worldwide.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/castle-of-horror-podcast--4268760/support.

Tony Salvaggio reports live from Fantastic Fest 2025, sharing exciting insights on standout films like the atmospheric "The Ice Tower," the intense Indonesian martial arts film "Ikatan Dara," the Euro-spy pastiche "Reflections in a Dead Diamond," and more. Join Jason Henderson as Tony breaks down the festival's medieval-themed highlights and must-see genre cinema.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/castle-of-horror-podcast--4268760/support.

We chat with co-host Tony Salvaggio on this year's Fantastic Fest, the world-renowned genre film festival that kicks off this week in Austin, Texas.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/castle-of-horror-podcast--4268760/support.