Half Price Horror

Sometimes the best things hit when you don't expect them. Everyone pretty much thought the Predator franchise was done and dusted after the failure of 2018's 'The Predator', but sometimes all it takes is one good creator with a good idea, and a ton of talented people who come along and hold that creator to an authentic and respectful vision of Comanche life set into a dazzling sci-fi story with plenty of twists and thrills. You know, easy, right? And if you'll listen to this episode, you'll find out what made it all work!

I'm celebrating another big milestone here at HPH - my 250th episode! - and I figured, what better way to do it than with a movie shot at least in part in my hometown? So join me for the story of a group of teens that go to their last big sci-fi con together... and run into vampires, heartbreak, and a very irresponsible dealer's room in 'My Sucky Teen Romance'!

It's pretty much universally agreed on that 2018's 'The Predator', from action auteur Shane Black, is a hot goddamn mess. But what made it such a hot mess? Is it the uncomfortable ableism? Black's decision to heavily involve his buddy Fred Dekker in the screenwriting? The big revelations about the reasons behind the Predators' visits to Earth that absolutely nobody liked? The reshot and reworked third act? That disastrous MCU-style stinger? There's so much to discuss here... and lucky you, HPH is here to cover all of it!

What's not to love about 'The Tingler'? It's got William Castle and his most famous theater gimmick, Vincent Price at the beginning of his big horror style era, and all the subtext you could ever want about 50s repression! Come on in and spend a little time with HPH on the most fun you can ever have being scared... and if it gets to be too much, just scream for your life!

And so the Star Trekkification of the 'Alien' franchise is complete, with a movie that's named after the ship it's set on and a plot that's straight out of the first season TNG episode "Datalore". But does that make it bad? Can those two tones be merged successfully? Is there a reason why they cast James Franco in this movie? Listen to this episode and find out!

This one was a long time in the making, but a movie this important deserves a lot of conversation. So get ready for a big discussion of the Jim Crow South, organized religion's role in perpetuating its oppression, cultural appropriation and intersectionality, and oh yes FRIGGING VAMPIRES, as we discuss Ryan Coogler's landmark cinematic achievement 'Sinners'!

Ridley Scott had no way of knowing when he selected this title that fans of the short-lived animated comedy "The Critic" would see it and immediately think, "Oh no! Promootheus!" But--Well, actually he did have a way of knowing, because "The Critic" originally aired between 1994 and 1995 so he could fully have anticipated this reaction. So honestly it's entirely his fault that this whole movie inadvertently references an old episode of "The Critic". He should really have known better. This information isn't brought up much in my episode on the film, but I had to talk about it somewhere so this is the place.But yes, 'Alien' prequel, return to the franchise for legendary director Ridley Scott, controversial film with a complicated legacy, we'll touch on it all. Just... "Oh no! Promootheus!"

Welcome to Half Price Horror, your destination for haute cuisine. Tonight we have an amuse-bouche of tension, followed by an appetizer of violence with just a touch of social satire, with a main course of mesmerizing acting and for dessert... maybe a cheeseburger? Unconventional, I know, but this is just that kind of establishment, and I can't wait to discuss the entire Menu with you.

Featuring a surprising number of Oscar winners for the fifth installment in the 'Predator' franchise, this latest movie takes us off-world and onto an alien game reserve stocked by the titular Predators for their special hunts. But are the predators the alien hunters... or the people they've come here to hunt? That's the question the movie asks, so let's dig in together and see if it answers it!

The Dark Universe! Just the mention of this storied franchise stirs the soul of every cinephile, bringing back memories of 2017's 'The Mummy' and... um... actually it was just 2017's 'The Mummy', wasn't it? And to find out why, give this episode a spin and discover the history of the cinematic universe that wasn't and all the reasons behind its failure.

If there's a single entry in the 'Alien' and 'Predator' franchises it's acceptable to simply dump on, this would probably be the one. But what are the actual problems with this movie? Why does it fail, and what can we learn from its artistic struggles? There is value in discussing these things... all of which is a very nice way of saying that this movie is nine miles of rough road and we're going to talk about every bump.

Horror director Joe Begos has been building a reputation for himself over the last decade, but due to a bad bit of SEO luck his first feature doesn't get a whole lot of attention. So I thought I'd change all that with a full episode on 'Almost Human' (not the Karl Urban TV show) and all the ways this first-time filmmaker worked to get his vision on screen.

That's right, folks, it's time for the main event! We've gone through four installments of the 'Alien' franchise, two installments of the 'Predator' franchise, and it was all to get to the moment where they fight! So how does it go? Is it exciting? Is it plausible? Does Lance Henriksen get to say that his experts tell him... it's a pyramid? Well, listen on and find out!

You all knew I was going to have to cover a Troma film eventually, and honestly this is one of their more famous movies so it's a good entry point into the studio's output. So let's get into problematic gender identities, gratuitous nudity, shock for its own sake, and everything else that makes Troma such a controversial studio!

It's never truly over when it comes to the world of horror franchises, so even though Ellen Ripley took a swan dive into a blast furnace she's still back for Part Four! How? Why? What does it have to do with disgraced sex pest Joss Whedon?All the answers are in this week's episode!

The most inaccurate summary of this movie would be to say that sometimes the real treasure was the friends we made along the way. And for a much more accurate summary, and to understand that joke, you'll need to listen to the latest episode of Half Price Horror!

You could instead call it "Alien 3", or "Alien Cubed", or "Alien^3"... but I think what you could mainly call it is 'troubled', as everyone who took a crack at this script over the course of the late 1980s eventually did. That's right, we are tackling the Assembly Cut of a movie whose director disowns it, and why? Well, you'll find out when you listen and get the wild, bizarre story behind the production of the third movie in the 'Alien' franchise.

Gotta admit, this was one of those movies that looked like it would never wind up on the show. But Christmas came and brought a free copy right into my lap, and I'm not going to turn down the chance to find out what happened to Sarah and Juno after what seemed like their certain death at the end of Part One. So join me for another deep dive into caves and crawlers as HPH tackles 'The Descent: Part 2'!

The 80s were the decade of the sequel in many ways, but 1990 was just past the end of an era when it came to launching big sci-fi horror franchises. So when 'Predator 2' came along, offering its audiences no Schwarzenegger and no John McTiernan, a lot of people wrote it off sight unseen... but as a reflection of a very important transition in American culture, it's got a lot to offer for film scholars. And all you need to do to find out what is to press 'Play'!

2025 brought us a lot of horror, only some of which was cinematic, and one of the biggest hits of that year was Zach Cregger's follow-up to 'Barbarian'. But does 'Weapons' hold up to repeat viewings? What makes it so fascinating? Why don't we ever see a reporter in this town that's supposedly so full of media? It's a lot of questions, and lucky for you Half Price Horror has the answers!

Get to the choppah, everybody, because we don't have time to bleed--there's just too much to talk about in this episode! That's right, it's time to tackle one of the biggest triumphs for one of the biggest stars of the 80s, Arnold Schwarzenegger and his action-horror-science-fiction movie 'Predator'! So everybody give your buddy a big sweaty handclasp, because here we go!

It looks like a low-budget Predator ripoff. It sounds like a low-budget Predator ripoff. But 'Without Warning' came out a full seven years before 'Predator', and it's got Jack Palance and Martin Landau in the cast! Two Academy Award winners dealing with an alien big-game hunter played by Kevin Peter Hall years before his biggest role (and wearing a Rick Baker mask instead of a Stan Winston one) make this an experience you just have to hear about. And lucky you, HPH is ready to talk!

Time to finally dive back into the franchise I've been waiting to cover for almost five years now, as we take a look at the sequel to Ridley Scott and Dan O'Bannon's groundbreaking sci-fi horror film and all the ways it made James Cameron a legend. It's a movie that had a real cultural impact, one might say, and we're going to get into each and every detail of it!

Time to conclude the 'Exorcist' franchise... for now... with a look at the controversial, poorly-received legacy sequel helmed by David Gordon Green. Is this a misunderstood masterpiece, or another 'Halloween Ends'? For that matter, was 'Halloween Ends' a misunderstood masterpiece? It's hard to get a handle on Green--but that doesn't mean we're not going to try.

Look, we all knew it had to come to this eventually. A parody of 'The Exorcist' starring Linda Blair herself, opposite none other than Leslie Nielsen as the priest who exorcised her, with color commentary by pro wrestler and future Governor of Minnesota Jesse 'The Body' Ventura? How could anyone possibly resist? So yes, let's all see Linda Blair get 'Repossessed', as the Devil comes back for another round and tragedy becomes comedy becomes farce.

So after making a prequel to 'The Exorcist', hating the movie you got, and having it totally reshot only to see your revised and revamped version bomb at the box office, what else is there to do? Well, for the producers at Morgan Creek, there was always the option of releasing the first version of the prequel you made and seeing if people liked that any better. So let's look into Paul Schrader's initial version of the 'Exorcist' prequel, with the same Father Merrin but a whole host of changes, and see how this one turned out.

Oh look--we're back in Amityville again! But this time we've gone back in time a little, Walkmans and 80s cars and Blondie posters notwithstanding, to take a look at the horrifying crimes that caused the Lutzes so much trouble. So join me and Tommy Lee Wallace and a host of non-union crew members from Italy as we tackle a fictionalized version of the DeFeos and all the horrors they endured!

Just to clarify - this was the 'Exorcist' prequel that was made second but released first, not the 'Exorcist' prequel that was made first but released second. Who directed it? What was the antagonist? Did I Don't Know play third base? All these questions and more will be answered in the latest episode of Half Price Horror!

It's always the same with kids these days, isn't it. "Aww gee Dad, can't I have just one more exorcism before bed?" "Okay, but this is the Last Exorcism." And then they get up five minutes later and they're insisting they're still possessed. Sure, it's cute, but you can't wait until they grow out of it....none of that is related to the 2010 mockumentary 'The Last Exorcism', but don't worry--you've got a whole episode on that to listen to! So tell your kids to go back to bed and have their exorcism in the morning, and listen to Half Price Horror!

"I remember a rose... and falling down a long flight of steps." So begins William Peter Blatty's endeavor to sequelize his own novel, and it's safe to say it's an attempt that bears the distinctive stamp of its creator. So what does that mean? Well, listen to the episode and you'll find out!

Look, when it came to calling people in the 80s there were only two options--the Ghostbusters, and 976-EVIL. This is the movie about the folks who picked wrong, and if you want a fun campy silly 80s horror schlock spectacular then this is the film for you!

The deep dive into the 'Exorcist' franchise continues, with underloved and underseen sequel 'Exorcist II: The Heretic' getting its time to shine! Is it a misbegotten failure to replicate the grim intensity of the original, or is it actually a pretty typical 70s sci-fi thriller with the era's usual emphasis on ESP, paranormal powers, and the next step in human evolution? Time for you to take a listen and find out!

Naturally, this is a podcast that embraces all the various incarnations and aspects of Elvira, Mistress of the Dark. So rather than get mired in 80s nostalgia forever, Half Price Horror is taking a look at the 2010s incarnation of the Movie Macabre and a 1971 movie Elvira covered for it, the infamous exploitation cheapie 'I Eat Your Skin'!

Time to cross off one of the big ones, as Half Price Horror finally tackles a film so big it started its own subgenre--1973's 'The Exorcist'! Let's dig into the awful on-set behavior of its director, the fears of feminism and women's bodies, and all the complex symbolism that resonated with the viewing public when this horror hit was released. It's a perfect time of year for it, as Halloween month continues!

Halloween season continues with a look at the big bug movie to begin all big bug movies, 1954's 'Them!' It's got giant ants, it's got James Arness, it's got Leonard Nimoy, it's got the guy who played Santa Clause in 'Miracle on 34th Street'! It's an influence on 'Aliens', it's the start of a whole atomic horror subgenre, so have a listen and enjoy this trip into the roots of horror. And all the ants crawling around down there.

I'm not saying Godzilla was a poser, but the Rhedosaurus was rampaging in cities a whole year before it became "cool". So come along and check out the adventures, of the OG, the stop-motion, the coolest prehistoric kaiju this side of Baffin Bay, as we kick off Halloween season right with a look at Ray Bradbury and Ray Harryhausen and the movie that created a genre!

And so, it's time to conclude our look at the 'Omen' franchise with 'The First Omen'! (Yes, I know, it sounds like it's... look, don't overthink the title, okay? It's just a prequel.) And if you like 70s conspiracy thrillers, Ralph Ineson, Bill Nighy, and one of the most fearless performances since Isabelle Adjani in 'Possession', you're going to love hearing about this one!

It's time to end the Cornetto trilogy with a look at what happens when the fun's over, the drinking doesn't make you happy anymore, and you look around and ask yourself, "How did I wind up here?" Plus, there are aliens and androids and an apocalypse, but really it's about the day you realize you just can't keep partying like this anymore. And what you do when you don't know how to stop.

Second verse, same as the first... stop me if you've heard this one, folks. An American diplomat loses his son at birth, and is persuaded to do an off-the-books adoption of a mystery child to replace him. The kid's nanny dies, and her replacement is sinister and creepy, and a priest shows up warning him his child is the Antichrist. And if all that sounds familiar to you, that's because it's time to cover the 2006 remake of 'The Omen'!

One of the things people seemed to want most after seeing both 'A Quiet Place' and 'A Quiet Place Part II' was a look at what it was like in the big, noisy cities when the aliens came down. And since this has now officially become a Big Franchise(tm), John Krasinski tasked indie director Michael Sarnoski with giving the people what they wanted in the latest installment of the series. Did it work? Well, let's dive in and find out!

You ever have one of those days where you just can't get rid of an Antichrist? Damien's six feet under, Christ came back and apparently left again a few seconds later, and still we've got the spawn of Satan running around and making little kids wet themselves in terror. (No seriously. That really happens in this movie.) Thankfully, HPH is here to get to the bottom of it all, and you're invited to join in!

What do Casey Kasem, Paris Hilton's mom, VFX icon Ve Neill, and the director of 'Kingdom of the Spiders' all have in common? They all worked on 'The Dark', a bizarre little Star Wars-influenced proto-slasher from exploitation producer Edward L Montoro and American Bandstand host Dick Clark! And if that sounds like something you have to hear about, well, today is your lucky day!

Don't let the title fool you - Sam Neill is Damien Thorn, our little Antichrist all grown up and ready to take on the world, and he's got a lot on this plate in this third installment in the 'Omen' franchise. He's dealing with religious assassins, reborn Messiahs, a single mom and her adorable son, and his right-hand man has just had a kid and you know how much time that takes up! Come see how he copes with it all, in our deep dive into the romantic comedy that is 'The Final Conflict'!

It's my birthday, and I want you to have fun! It's my birthday, so let's party, everyone, down at Willy's Wonderland where the pizza is always hot and the blood is always flowing! It's a little dilapidated, of course, but we've got the best Janitor in the world to take care of that and I wouldn't want you to miss one second of this wild, horror-comedy romp!

So do you like 70s character actors? Gore sequences that vary wildly in quality? Body counts through the roof? Child actors giving charmingly hammy performances? Lance Henriksen? Evil Monsanto? A clear influence on the 'Final Destination' and 'Escape Room' franchises? Well, then your ship has come in! And if this movie is any guide, it probably just crushed someone who knows the truth about Damien, but let's not worry about that now.

Ted Bundy was a prolific serial killer who was put to death in the electric chair in 1989, and ever since then people have been fascinated by his crimes and his legend. But what if there was never anything behind the legend but a sad, damaged man who hurt people because he liked it? That's the premise of 'No Man of God', and as a result it's a film that requires a bit of unpacking. Which is, luckily, what Half Price Horror loves most in a movie.

When he heard that the prophecies of Armageddon were coming true and the Antichrist may in fact already be walking the earth in human form, Harvey Bernhard responded the way only a Hollywood producer can: "Hey, I should make a movie about that!" And thank goodness he did, because the world might not have ended in 1988 but 1976 gave us an all-time horror classic, so let's dig into it, shall we?

This is a podcast about horror, but it's been a long time since a scary movie--especially a haunted house movie--genuinely freaked out your horror host. But 'Terrified' proves it can still happen, and HPH is here to explain to you exactly what makes this movie about a whole damn haunted neighborhood so magnificently horrifying to its audience.

All good things must come to an end, and so it's time to bid farewell to intrepid reporter Carl Kolchak and his monster-hunting adventures with two final episodes, "The Youth Killer" and "The Sentry", that feature immortal demigoddesses and giant lizard monsters and of course Tom Bosley. Plus, a special appearance from Blast Hardcheese!

Time to take another deep dive, this time into 2020's disaster horror flick 'Underwater'! But will things go swimmingly, or is the final release from 20th Century Fox all washed up? Let's find out in another wet and wild episode!