NECROMANIACS PODCAST

This week, we cover PRIMATE, the 2026 chimp-goes-wild film.  Directed by Johannes Roberts, who brought us 2017’s 47 Meters Down, this harrowing tale combines nature horror with some basic slasher tropes. If you want to drop us a line, hit us up on the NECROPHONE 908-913-0782.   Intro:                    “Necromaniacs” – Mike Hill Outro:                 “Stranger” – Skinyard

We’re going underground this week. We’ll be visiting the 9 Circles of Hell with 2014’s AS ABOVE SO BELOW. Directed by John Erick Dowdle, this came out in the midst of an onslaught of “found footage” horrors. Additionally, we have some callers and the normal rundown of stuff we’ve been checking out.  If you want to drop us a line, hit us up on the NECROPHONE 908-913-0782. Intro:                    “Necromaniacs” – Mike Hill Outro:                 “The Black Hand” – Vinnie Paz

This week’s feature is the harrowing REQUIEM FOR A DREAM, the 2001 Darren Aronofsky directed film adapted from the Hubert Selby Jr. 1978 novel. The film features top-notch performances by Ellen Burstyn, Jared Leto, Jennifer Connelly and Marlon Wayans and tells aa brutal story or addiction, human depravity and the downward spiral. Intro:                    “Necromaniacs” – Mike Hill Interlude:          “Ghosts of Things to Come” – Clint Mansell Outro:                 “Crimin’ & Dealin’” – Clint Mansell

This week, we have another one that has been under consideration for a long time. 52 PICKUP is a grimy epic directed by John Frankenheimer and stars veteran actors Roy Scheider and Ann Margret. Released in 1986, this film flew mostly under the radar and garnered a split opinion from Siskel and Ebert back in the day mostly over the purported brutality and sleaziness of the film. This one slots nicely into our Neo Noir project.   Intro:                   “Necromaniacs” – Mike Hill Outro:                “In My Dreams” – Dokken

Straight out of the Necro Phone Recommendations, we dig into OUT OF THE BLUE, a heavy, bleak film directed by Dennis Hopper from 1980. Critically acclaimed, but controversial due to it’s frankness with regard to sensitive topics such as drug abuse and incest, the film garnered a cult following and was released on a deluxe, special edition by Severin in 2023. Intro:                   “Necromaniacs” – Mike Hill Outro:                “Hey, Hey, My, My (Out of the Blue)” – Neil Young and Crazy Horse

We’re back with another Neo Noir episode this week.  We cover the Coen Brothers THE MAN WHO WASN’T THERE,  from 2001. The episode comes on the heels of the excellent Criterion release that includes new extras and a making-of documentary. Intro:                    “Necromaniacs” – Mike Hill Outro:                 “If You Really Don’t Love Me” - Interpol        

We have been talking about doing this one for quite a while, so with this the release of the excellent, limited-edition bluray from Arrow, we took on EXCALIBUR.            John Boorman’s epic telling of the King Arthur legend was groundbreaking back in 1981. It was a darker narrative, exploring the complexities of these iconic figures and featured several familiar faces early in their careers.   Intro:                    “Necromaniacs” – Mike Hill Outro:                 “Kill with Power”– Manowar

This week we go back to 2001. It’s the dawn of the new millennium and the world is filled with anxiety over the perils of the internet, existential dread and the mystery of mortality.  Behold PULSE, a heavy death meditation written and directed my Necro-approved Kiyoshi Kurosawa. Intro:                    “Necromaniacs” – Mike Hill Outro:                 “Ground Zero”– Zeni Geva  

We continue our coverage of Alex Garland’s trilogy further chronicling the post infection world with 28 YEARS LATER THE BONE TEMPLE. This time around Nia DaCosta is at the directorial helm to chronicle the fate of Spike, Dr. Kelson, Jimmy Crystal and Samson.     Intro:                    “Necromaniacs” – Mike Hill Outro:                 “Number of the Beast”– Iron Maiden

We have been talking about doing this one for a while. The 1981 neo-noir NIGHTHAWKS features Sylvester Stallone on the heels of Rocky I and II as well, a post-Empire Strikes Back Billy Dee Williams and the US film debut of Rutger Hauer. It’s a grimy journey through old NYC as an international task force pursues a maniacal terrorist.   Intro:                   “Necromaniacs” – Mike Hill Outro:                “Slowride”– Foghat

More Larry Fessenden this week. We check out BENEATH, the 2013 monster movies that he directed, written by Tony Daniel and Brian D. Smith.    Intro:                    “Necromaniacs” – Mike Hill Outro:                 “Male Supremacy”– Carnivore

David Fincher’s classic Se7en seems like a film that we should have done years ago.  In the wake of some rumblings of a Fincher directed Netflix Se7en series, we decided it was timely to go back to the 90’s for this groundbreaking crime horror movie with solid performances turned in my Morgan Freeman and Brad Pitt set in a dreary nameless city.   Intro:                   “Necromaniacs” – Mike Hill Outro:                “Funeral of Existence”– Mayhem

We continue our celebration of independent film auteur Larry Fessenden.  This week we travel back to 2001 for WENDIGO, a harrowing story of death, Native American Folklore and the eye of the unreliable narrator. Intro:                    “Necromaniacs” – Mike Hill Outro:                 “Despair”–  Mayhem

Independent film hero Larry Fessenden is celebrated this week with his 2007 environmental horror film THE LAST WINTER. Set in the icy hinterlands of Alaska, we follow the plight of an oil drilling operation confronted with strange, ancient phenomena.     Intro:                    “Necromaniacs” – Mike Hill Outro:                 “Spectre”– Former Worlds

This week we kick off our newest miniseries: NEO NOIR MANICS. First up is the classic 1992 Paul Verhoeven directed BASIC INSTINCT.  Erotic thriller master Michael Douglas (along with his awful v-neck sweater) teams up with Sharon Stone to deliver one of the 90’s most controversial films Intro:                    “Necromaniacs” – Mike Hill Outro:                 “Paint It Black”– W.A.S.P.

This week, we explore the grimey, drug-addled world of Toad Road, set in the depths of Pennsylvania. Written, directed and produced by Jason Banker in 2012, we follow the plight of Sara and James as they follow a road to ruin.   Intro:                   “Necromaniacs” – Mike Hill Outro:                “Blotter”– Nightstick

We made it to Episode 300! We’d like to thank everyone that has listened to and supported the show, we’re just getting started.  To celebrate this milestone, we are taking a look at the first quarter century in horror and some of the names of the masters of the genre in the new millennium. Intro:    “Necromaniacs” – Mike Hill Outro: “Obsession” – Actors

Happy Near Years Necromaniacs! We’re back this week with a film that appeared on our Best of 2025 List. Sinners garnered critical and popular acclaim last year, so let’s check out what we have to say. Intro:                    “Necromaniacs” – Mike Hill Outro:                 “Jenifa Taught Me”– De La Soul

Despite many claiming that 2025 was lean with respect to solid horror movies, there ended up being some killer movies to hit late in the year.  All three Necromaniacs are on the line this week for our final episode of the year: the infamous NECRO 666 where we rundown our top 6 movies of 2025. #horsemenofthepodcastingapocalypse #horrormovies #necromaniacspodcast #necrothursday

This week we cover MANOR OF DARKNESS, written and directed by Blake Ridder.  Trapped in a time-loop, a group or imposter filmmakers relive a nightmare brought on by a lingering supernatural force.  MANOR will  be released digitally in the US on December 9. Intro:                    “Necromaniacs” – Mike Hill Outro:                 “Shadow”– Chromatics

We’re back this week, with a movie that take the traditional voodoo angle on zombies. Behold THE SERPENT AND THE RAINBOW from 1988. Directed by Wes Craven.  A young Bill Pullman portrays a young enthobotanist who travels to Haiti in search of a portion that revives the dead.   Intro:                    “Necromaniacs” – Mike Hill Outro:                 “We All Die Laughing”– The Angelic Process

This week, we discuss the long-awaited FRANKENSTEIN film produced, written and directed by Guillermo del Toro. After a short theatrical run, you can watch the film exclusively on Netflix. How many Frankenstein adaptations have there been?  Every generation seems to claim that their version is the “truest” to Mary Shelley’s classic novel.  Let’s see how this one measures up.   Intro:                   “Necromaniacs” – Mike Hill Outro:                “Frankenstein”– Edgar Winter Group