PODCAST · tv
Half Price Horror
by John Seavey
A deep dive into the half-price horror rack of the local used bookstore, coming away with classics, cult treasures, and the strangest stories the genre has to offer.
Episodes
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The Shining (1980)
In the 1980s, Stephen King was at an absolute peak of popularity, and Stanley Kubrick was already an undisputed master in his chosen craft thanks to a number of popular and critically acclaimed films. But was the meeting of the two men doomed to mix like oil and water? Or did it not matter when...
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Dracula (1931)
Before Jigsaw, before Art the Clown, before Freddy and Michael and Jason and Leatherface, there was a single icon of horror that the world recognized and it was Bela Lugosi's Dracula. So let's go back--not to the very beginning, perhaps, because beginnings are always tricky to define--but to a...
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The Invisible Man (2020)
Some movies just keep feeling more and more relevant as time goes by, and it's hard not to hope that this movie stops being one of them. Because it's a story about an obsessive, domineering techbro using his wealth, power and privilege to stalk and harass his ex, and boy does that become more and...
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The Innocents (1961)
It's one of the most influential horror films of the 20th century, a masterpiece of cinematography with gorgeous, lush exterior vistas and claustrophobic interiors, and yes, it's often cited as a perfect adaptation of a difficult-to-film novella that captures the ambiguity of its unreliable...
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The Black Castle (1952)
Everyone talks about the Universal Monsters, but the studio did a lot of horror that didn't feature its iconic stable of creatures and plenty of movies that featured its legendary actors in very different roles. So join HPH, Boris Karloff, Lon Chaney Junior, and Richard Greene in exploring the...
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Bloody Birthday (1981)
Time to celebrate another trip around the sun, although this time with a solar eclipse and a trio of killer kids to liven things up in the cult classic 'Bloody Birthday'! Can Joyce and her little brother Timmy survive the onslaught of murderous tweens? Will they ever even notice that there's a...
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The Mummy (1999)
Time to tackle a beloved classic and the bisexual awakening of an entire generation of moviegoers, 1999's 'The Mummy'! Thrill to tales of angry camels, Brendan Fraser passing out on set, and all the dazzling CGI the late 90s had to offer as we do a deep dive into one of the biggest classics of…
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The Black Castle (1952)
Back before the 50s sci-fi horror craze took off, Universal was trying to find something to do with all those classic horror actors they had lying around with no Universal Monsters to play. And they figured, why not try a swashbuckling period piece? So strap on your rapier, grab your twin…
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The Wolfman (2010)
One of the great truths of art is that sooner or later, every Universal Monsters property gets a remake. And in 2010, it was the Wolf Man's turn. But there were a lot of stumbles on the way from script to screen, a lot of creative differences and personnel changes and reshoots... but did this…
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The Incredible Shrinking Man (1957)
Everyone knows about the age of atomic horror in the 1950s, filled with science fiction movies about giant lizards and giant ants and giant grasshoppers and giant tarantulas and giant men and giant women. But one film took a very different tack, creating a tiny universe of terror for one Scott...
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Scream 7 (2026)
After a brutal preproduction that saw both leads departing the series, a change in director, and numerous ancillary controversies, 'Scream 7' finally came out with Neve Campbell back as the main actor and Kevin Williamson behind the director's chair. What happened, and what kind of movie did it...
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Bloody Birthday (1981)
Another year has gone by, another trip around the calendar concluded for your humble host, and of course it wouldn't be a birthday without once again featuring a birthday-themed horror movie! This time out, the problem is a trio of kids born under a solar eclipse that blocked their moral compass,...
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Wait Until Dark (1967)
It's been featured in Bravo's 100 Scariest Movie Moments, it's been discussed by Stephen King in his book on the genre 'Danse Macabre', and yet somehow there are a lot of people who know very little about this 1967 classic. So let's dive into ableism, confidence tricks, and a heroin-stuffed...
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Amityville 3-D (1983)
Time to close out the original Amityville trilogy with a movie that more or less fully abandons the "based on a true story" conceit in favor of a number of 3-D gimmicks, a plot that only really gets going in the last fifteen minutes, and... is that Meg Ryan? It's definitely a strange movie, but…
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The Illustrated Man (1969)
'The Illustrated Man' slipped past the studio gatekeepers during the very end of the Warner Brothers/Seven Arts era and the beginning of New Hollywood, and as you might expect it's an experimental film. But did the experiment succeed, or did the anthology stories wind up collapsing under the…
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Predator: Badlands (2025)
And so we conclude our Alien and Predator series... for now... with another absolute triumph from Dan Trachtenberg. The Yautja are ruthless, brutal, uncompromising lone wolves... but doesn't that make it even better to give them an awesome found-family narrative with plenty of cool action…
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Carry On Screaming (1966)
Time to dive back on in to the world of horror parodies, with a movie from a classic comedy franchise in the UK that's tackling a classic horror genre - the Hammer Horror film! Can Detective Bung and his sidekick Slobotham unravel the mystery of who's abducting young women? Is there a sinister...
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Alien: Romulus (2024)
The Disney era of the 'Alien' franchise has begun, and with it comes a whole new approach to the venerable series. Do these movies work better when you throw money at them? Is an interquel inherently nostalgia-focused? Can you succeed artistically after making the single most misguided and...
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Pray (2005)
I'm guessing you haven't heard of this movie. In fact, I'm guessing nobody's heard of this movie. I hadn't heard of this movie until I found it waiting to be purchased, which sounds like a horror movie in and of itself, and it's dropped into obscurity so thoroughly that I'm the first person in 21...
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Prey (2022)
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...
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My Sucky Teen Romance (2011)
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,...
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The Predator (2018)
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…
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The Tingler (1959)
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...
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Alien: Covenant (2017)
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…
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Sinners (2025)
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...
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Prometheus (2012)
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...
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The Menu (2022)
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...
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Predators (2010)
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...
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The Mummy (2017)
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...
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AVPR Aliens Vs Predator Requiem (2007)
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......
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Almost Human (2013)
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...
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AVP: Alien Vs. Predator (2004)
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...
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Class of Nuke 'Em High (1986)
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...
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Alien: Resurrection (1997)
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!
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The Substance (2024)
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!
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Alien3 (1992)
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...
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The Descent: Part 2 (2009)
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…
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Predator 2 (1990)
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…
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Weapons (2025)
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...
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Predator (1987)
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...
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Without Warning (1980)
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...
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Aliens (1986)
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…
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The Exorcist: Believer (2023)
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…
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Repossessed (1990)
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...
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Dominion: Prequel to the Exorcist (2005)
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…
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Amityville II: The Possession (1982)
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...
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Exorcist: The Beginning (2004)
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...
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The Last Exorcism (2010)
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...
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The Exorcist III (1990)
"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!
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976-EVIL (1988)
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!
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does Half Price Horror have?
Half Price Horror currently has 270 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is Half Price Horror about?
A deep dive into the half-price horror rack of the local used bookstore, coming away with classics, cult treasures, and the strangest stories the genre has to offer.
How often does Half Price Horror release new episodes?
Half Price Horror publishes regularly with 270 episodes available. Check the episode list for the typical release schedule.
Where can I listen to Half Price Horror?
You can listen to Half Price Horror on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.
Who hosts Half Price Horror?
Half Price Horror is created and hosted by John Seavey.
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