Zombie Strains

How do you take down a vampire mastermind who's out to conquer the world? You send in hell's most dangerous secret agent! Aided by his zombie henchwomen, the enigmatic antihero Dr. Satan must match wits with the bloodsucking Yei Lin in a wild series of heists, assassinations, and intrigues. Who will be the last one standing? John, Andy, and Brad venture into the deadly world of the Mexican vampire/zombie/devil/spy movie Dr. Satán y la magia negra (1968) (AKA Dr. Satan vs. Black Magic) to find out.Show Notes:US Theatrical Release Date: 1968Ciuk, Perla. DICCIONARIO DIRECTORES CINE MEXICANO (2000)MerchTheme music composed by Neil Dube.www.pond5.comContact:[email protected] us onAndy's Substack "Fortress of Regret"InstagramFacebook

Show favorite John Carradine is back as Dr. DeMarco in 1968’s THE ASTRO-ZOMBIES. DeMarco has figured out how to create enhanced humans (don't call them zombies!) for the space program, but now everyone wants his secret. The CIA must find DeMarco before the sinister Satana (Zura Satana) and her gang of thugs steal the secret of the Astro-Zombies for their own sinister purposes. Who will reach him first? Why has one of Astro-zombies gone on a mad killing spree? Will Dr. DeMarco ever stop speaking in techno-babble? Join the Zombie Strains team in pursuit of The Astro-Zombies to find out what makes them kill!Show Notes:US Theatrical Release Date: May, 1968Ted V. Mikels obituaryInterview with Ted V. MikelsWendell Corey obituaryTura Satana obituaryMerchTheme music composed by Neil Dube.Additional music by Elarasound.www.pond5.comAdditional voice work by Russell Bentley.Contact:[email protected] us onAndy's Substack "Fortress of Regret"InstagramFacebook

Didn't your parents always warn that if you watched too much mind-numbing TV, you'd turn into a mindless zombie? Little did they know how literally that would turn out! In EXTRAÑA INVASIÓN (1965),AKA STRANGE INVASION, a small town is horrified as its children become addicted to a mysterious zombifying TV broadcast. John, Andy, and Producer Brad head once again to Argentina to find out whether this movie's cultural commentary can overcome its low budget to make it a zombie classic.Show Notes:Cinebeats remembrance of Emilio VieyraMark Cole review of Strange InvasionAna Strasberg obituaryMARILYN MONROE'S IMAGE // She's gone, but the money lives onLaw Decides Who Owns a Dead Star's Image (NPR)Court Rules for Heirs of a Man Who Took Pictures of Monroe - The New York TimesMerchTheme music composed by Neil Dube.Additional music by Elarasound.www.pond5.comAdditional voice work by Russell Bentley.Contact:[email protected] us onAndy's Substack "Fortress of Regret"InstagramFacebook

The trippy 60s are finally here! This hip party beach in Argentina has a problem: young women are sinking into a zombie-like state, wandering off, and getting themselves murdered by a psychotic killer. THE DEADLY ORGAN is a psychadelic film that has everything you expect from 1960s horror: sex, drugs, and... no actual zombies? John, Andy, and Producer Brad don their coolest beach attire to learn whether or not we're dealing with an overlooked zombie classic or just another zombie-less exploitation flick.Show Notes:US Theatrical release date: October, 1967Link to Sharp Mini Stereophone pocket record player similar to the one used in the filmPorsche 718 Spyder as seen in the filmTheme music composed by Neil Dube.www.pond5.comContact:[email protected] us onAndy's Substack "Fortress of Regret"InstagramFacebook

It's time for another horror anthology film, this one rooted in the melodramatic twist endings of horror comics! DR. TERROR'S GALLERY OF HORROR walks us through five spooky tales that feature vampires, werewolves, and yes, zombies--as well as horror veterans Lon Cheney and John Carradine. Will this film's earnest charm overcome its bargain-basement production values? Join John, Andy, and Producer Brad as they try to survive through all five stories.Show Notes:US theatrical release date: April 17, 1967Weaver, Tom. EYE ON SCIENCE FICTION: 20 INTERVIEWS WITH CLASSIC SF AND HORROR FILMMAKERSJohn Carradine's obituaryLon Chaney Jr.'s obituaryRochelle Hudson's obituaryTheme music composed by Neil Dube.www.pond5.comContact:[email protected] us onAndy's Substack "Fortress of Regret"InstagramFacebook

Forty-eight zombies enter... but only one will leave! Who is the scariest of them all? It's time for a ZOMBIE MADNESS SHOWDOWN to find out! We put every movie zombie from 1919 to 1966 into a bracket to face off against each other. Follow along as John, Andy, and Producer Brad weigh the relative strengths, weaknesses, and overall vibes of zombies across the first 50 years of zombie cinema. Which will be the last zombie standing?Show Notes:Zombie Madness BracketTheme music composed by Neil Dube.www.pond5.comContact:[email protected] us onAndy's Substack "Fortress of Regret"InstagramFacebook

Who knew there was more than one zombie movie centered on Cornish tin mines? That's the setting of the Hammer Horror classic THE PLAGUE OF THE ZOMBIES (1966), which features spooky moors, an arrogant British zombie master, and the most intense (and violent) zombie resurrection we've seen so far. Venture into the mines with John, Andy, and Producer Brad as they excavate a true zombie cinema gem.Show Notes:Medium post on the making of THE PLAGUE OF THE ZOMBIESAndré Morell's biographyJohn Carson obituaryBrook Williams obituaryJacqueline Pearce obituaryDendle, Peter. The Zombie Movie EncyclopediaBritish cinema in the 1960sTheme music composed by Neil Dube.www.pond5.comContact:[email protected] us onAndy's Substack "Fortress of Regret"InstagramFacebook

Exotic locations! Spy gadgets! Suave secret agents taking down enemy... zombies? With "THE VERY IMPORTANT ZOMBIE AFFAIR", an episode of the hit 1960s TV show THE MAN FROM U.N.C.L.E., the Zombie Strains team ventures into uncharted territory: the satirical superspy genre. Napoleon Solo and his sidekick Ilya go up against a Caribbean dictator whose favorite method of oppression is zombification. Will our heroes take out the villain without becoming zombies themselves? Tune in on your shoe phone or favorite podcast app to find out.Show Notes:Original broadcast date: December 31, 19651956-66 TV ratingsIan Flemings involvement with THE MAN FROM U.N.C.L.E.Gerald Fried obituaryRobert Vaughn obituaryDavid McCallum obituaryIan Fleming's Mr. SoloTheme music composed by Neil Dube.www.pond5.comContact:[email protected] us onAndy's Substack "Fortress of Regret"InstagramFacebook

Revenge is a dish best served with zombies! At least, that's the plan of mad scientist Dr. Conrad Fisherman, who has brought his own brother back from the dead and sent him on a misogynistic killing spree. Look closely amid all the low-budget terror of DR. ORLOF'S MONSTER and you might just find a few zombie movie firsts, like zombie-killing headshots! Join the Zombie Strains team as John, Andy, and Brad tackle this strangely compelling European gothic tale of madness, betrayal, and the walking dead.SHOW NOTESTheatrical release dates:October 12, 1965 (Spain)Jess Franco obituaryAgnes Spaak InstagramKay, Glenn. Zombie Movies: The Ultimate GuideTheme music composed by Neil Dube.www.pond5.comContact:[email protected] us onAndy's Substack "Fortress of Regret"InstagramFacebook

The elite of the German army have been on ice since the end of WWII. Doctor Norberg must perfect his technique of reanimating his zombicles before his plans are foiled by his… niece? Join the Zombie Strains crew as they encounter animated body parts! Talking severed heads! Attempted murder by potted plant! Can they survive The Frozen Dead?SHOW NOTES:US Theatrical release date: November 15, 1967US Theatrical movie poster.1966 Box Office1967 Academy AwardsTheme music composed by Neil Dube.www.pond5.comContact:[email protected] us onInstagramFacebook

Can Hercules (Reg Park) thwart the evil machinations of usurper King Lico (Christopher Lee!) in time to save his beloved Deianira (Leonora Ruffo) from spending the rest of eternity as a ... zombie?! Swords and sandals once again meet the living dead in this 1961 Italian fantasy adventure: Hercules in the Haunted World. Hercules and his "helpful" friends Theseus and Telemaco enter Hades to save Deianara, but will they ever escape? Andy, John, and Producer Brad done their sandals and encounter not one, but two different types of zombies in the movie that inspired Arnold Schwarzenneger to become a body builder.SHOW NOTES:Theatrical release date:November 16, 1961 (Italy)April, 1964 (US)Reg Park official fan siteReg Park ObituaryReg Park's influence on Arnold SchwarzennegerChristopher Lee interviewChristopher Lee obituaryD'Aulaire's Greek MythologyMario Bava's legacyCorti, Roberto. Italian Gothic Horror Films: 1957-1969Theme music composed by Neil Dube.www.pond5.comContact:[email protected] us onAndy's Substack "Fortress of Regret"InstagramFacebook

When a lawyer arrives at a gloomy estate to settle a will, he finds that his client is already dead... but his collection of plague-ridden severed limbs is still very much active! Legendary scream queen Barbara Steele dominates this Italian gothic horror film that features a spooky castle, vengeance from beyond the grave, and just maybe a few zombies. Join John, Andy, and Brad as they face off against "Terror-Creatures from the Grave"!SHOW NOTES:Italian release date: June 23, 1965US release date: May 16, 1967AFI Catalog entry for Terror-Creatures from the GraveCurti, Roberto. Italian Gothic Horror Films: 1957-1969.Castello ChigiFlop House episode on Giallo films.Multiplex Overthruster episode on Yor: Hunter from the Future.Theme music composed by Neil Dube.www.pond5.comContact:[email protected] us onAndy's Substack "Fortress of Regret"InstagramFacebook

Holy propoganda, Batman! Before the iconic Batmobile, before the Shark Repellant, before the showdown against Superman... Batman and Robin were featured in a wartime movie serial where they battled a Japanese spymaster and his zombie minions. Will the Dynamic Duo prevail? Can the Zombie Strains team make it through 3 hours of racist propoganda? John, Andy, and Producer Brad don their cowls and patrol the dark streets of Gotham City to find out.SHOW NOTESThe Batman serial original theatrical release date: July 16, 1943An Evening with Batman and Robin release date: 1965Michael G. Wilson biographyJ. Carol Naish family historyTheme music composed by Neil Dube.www.pond5.comContact:[email protected] us onAndy's Substack "Fortress of Regret"InstagramFacebook

Following hot on the heels of 28 Years Later, director Nia DaCosta's sequel 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple picks up right where the first film ended. Spike has been saved from the infected by some colorful characters, but are they friends? John and Andy sneak out of the Zombie Strains lab to the movie theater to see new a new film that reflects on humanity, empathy, and torture horror all at the same time. Has a zombie movie ever had this much empathy for the nominal villains of the story? Listen to this spoiler filled episode to find out.SHOW NOTES:US Theatrical release date: January 16, 2026Theme music composed by Neil Dube.Additional music by Elarasound.www.pond5.comContact:[email protected] us onAndy's Substack "Fortress of Regret"InstagramFacebook

In a quaint English village, the last remnants of humanity have gathered. But what hope does a ragtag band of survivors have against marauding alien robots and their zombie slaves? When John, Andy, and Brad explore The Earth Dies Screaming (1964), they find a low-budget movie that lays a startling amount of groundwork for future zombie apocalypses.SHOW NOTES:US Theatrical release date: October 14, 1964Virginia Field's New York Time's obituaryElizabeth Lutyens obituaryElizabeth Lutyens on SpotifyElizabeth Lutyens on Apple MusicConvair XFY-1 Pogo Theme music composed by Neil Dube.Additional music by Elarasound.www.pond5.comAdditional voice work by Russell Bentley.Contact:[email protected] us onAndy's Substack "Fortress of Regret"InstagramFacebook

Radioactive waste meets teenage rebellion in THE HORROR OF PARTY BEACH! Grab your surfboard and hit the sandy beaches of Connecticut with John, Andy, and Brad as they brave a surf-rock nightmare featuring dozens of bikinis, a slumber party massacre, and lots of hip music by the Del-Aires.SHOW NOTESTheatrical Release Date: April, 1964Del Tenney obituaryAlan V. Iselin obituaryErrera, Rob. Becker Comes Alive: A Rock 'n' Roll Pioneer's Touching True Tale of Music, Murder, and Monsters The Horror of Party Beach comic book1965 Academy Award WinnersWeaver, Tom. Interviews with B Science Fiction and Horror Movie MakersTheme music composed by Neil Dube.www.pond5.comContact:[email protected] us onAndy's Substack "Fortress of Regret"InstagramFacebook

After an experimental weapon devastates Tasmania, Ava Newman (Daisy Ridley) joins a body retrieval unit to find her missing husband. There's just one little catch--and you've probably guessed what it is, since this is a zombie movie podcast. Where does this melancholy tale of loss and regret belong in the evolutionary tree of zombie cinema? John and Andy break into the Zombie Strains lab late at night to put WE BURY THE DEAD (2026) under the microscope. (The first half of this episode is spoiler-free; we clearly state when the spoiler discussion starts.)Theme music composed by Neil Dube.www.pond5.comContact:[email protected] us onAndy's Substack "Fortress of Regret"InstagramFacebook

A mysterious planet is hurtling toward Earth. An alien spacecraft with a zombie-creating ray has landed in the Scottish moors. And those might not actually be the villains in this Atomic Age cautionary tale! John, Andy, and Producer Brad head back to 1951 to take stock of THE MAN FROM PLANET X, a zombie film that manages to rise above its shoestring budget and remind us who the real monsters are.Show Notes:Theatrical release date: April 27, 1951AFI Catalog entry1952 Academy Award WinnersLA Time obituary for Robert ClarkeNY Times obituary for Margaret FieldNY Times obituary for Harold GouldNY Time obituary for William SchallertInterviews with B Science Fiction and Horror Movie Makers, Tom WeaverTheme music composed by Neil Dube.Additional music by Elarasound.www.pond5.comAdditional voice work by Russell Bentley.Contact:[email protected] us onAndy's Substack "Fortress of Regret"InstagramFacebook

Dr. Alfred Morris (George Zucco) has a deadly new obsession: an ancient Mayan nerve gas that creates a state of "death in life." When his star pupil Ted Allison (David Bruce) becomes the unwitting guinea pig, he is transformed into a subservient ghoul who requires fresh human hearts to survive. Is this a simple Jekyll-and-Hyde knockoff, or is there a strain of zombie DNA to be found amidst all the heart-harvesting and the love rectangle? John, Andy, and Producer Brad venture back to 1943 to find out whether or not The Mad Ghoul is a vital link in the undead evolutionary chain.SHOW NOTES:Theatrical release date: November 12, 1943AFI Catalog entryEvelyn Anker's New York Time's obituaryGeorge Zucco's New York Time's obituaryTurhan Bey's The Guardian obituaryTCM review of The Mad GhoulJack Pierce's makeup for The Man Who Laughed (1929)Theme music composed by Neil Dube.Additional music by Elarasound.www.pond5.comAdditional voice work by Russell Bentley.Contact:[email protected] us onAndy's Substack "Fortress of Regret"InstagramFacebook

Every day, scientist Robert Morgan (Vincent Price) wakes up to the same routine: scrounge for food. Repair his shelter. Head to town... and kill every vampire he finds there. How did he wind up as The Last Man on Earth(1964)? Is there any hope left for him after the apocalypse? And is it possible that this vampire movie is the biggest evolutionary leap forward in the zombie genre so far? John, Andy, and Producer Brad grab their stakes and garlic and brace for an apocalyptic zombie film that paves the way toward Night of the Living Dead.SHOW NOTES:Theatrical release date: May 6, 1964Cemetery Dance interview with Richard MathesonNew York Times article on Robert Lippert and his troubles with the Screen Actors Guild. 9/9/1965New York Times article announcing Sears and Roebuck's Vincent Price Collection. 6/9/1962.Observer article on The Vincent Price Collection opening in Denver, CO. Talking Heads Remain in Light press kit with bibliography. April 21, 1988 Rolling Stone interview with David Byrne.Rob Zombie and Waxwork Records release The Last Man on Earth soundtrack. TCM podcast The Plot Thickens - Season 6 - CleopatraTheme music composed by Neil Dube.Additional music by Elarasound.www.pond5.comAdditional voice work by Russell Bentley.www.pond5.comAdditional music byContact:[email protected] us onAndy's Substack "Fortress of Regret"InstagramFacebook

When evil sorcerer Aderbal (John Drew Barrymore) invokes the power of a sinister three-eyed goddess to raise an invulnerable zombie army, only one man has the courage (and biceps) to stop him: centurion Gaius (Ettore Mani). This sword-and-sandal epic set in ancient Rome has it all: swords! sandals! beautiful women! bare-chested men! And, of course, zombies. Does this zombie army live up to the hype? There's only one way to find out: join the Zombie Strains crew on an odyssey into the Italian peplum genre.SHOW NOTES:Movie poster artist Reynold Brown1961 New York Times article on the art of dubbing in Italian films.With Gorley and Rust episode on Rosemary's Baby, John referenced.Theme music composed by Neil Dube.www.pond5.comContact:[email protected] us onAndy's Substack "Fortress of Regret"InstagramFacebook

When three hep cats visit a sinister fortune teller at the carnival, their future takes a turn for the worse. The mysterious Madam Estrella wants Jerry to join her collection of hypnotized, murderous zombies. Will Harold and Angela save their friend before it's too late? John, Andy and Producer Brad gaze into their crystal ball to try and divine whether there's a good zombie flick to be found amidst all the crazy camerawork and psychedelic madness of this infamous B-horror schlockfest.SHOW NOTES:Theatrical Release Date: February 10, 1964Ray Dennis Steckler 20 Film Boxed SetDark Eyes of London blog posting on Ray Dennis StecklerCarolyn Brandt: Queen of CultCollider: 15 Movies that Have Very, Very, Very Very, Very, Long TitlesThe Golden Turkey Album: The Best Songs from the Worst MoviesTheme music composed by Neil Dube.www.pond5.comContact:[email protected] us onAndy's Substack "Fortress of Regret"InstagramFacebook

Three naive young women looking for work. One bitter old crone desperate for eternal life. And one mad scientist creating human/animal hybrids in the basement. Mix these ingredients together and you get a MONSTROSITY (1963) in more ways than one! Will Anita, Bea, and Nina (pronounced NINE-uh) escape this house of horrors? Join John, Andy, and Producer Brad as they venture into the first zombie movie to give a cat top billing on its poster.SHOW NOTES:Online obit for Erika Brunson (Peters)Sue Dwiggins Variety ObituaryWayne Keyser's short documentary on Ken Strickfaden.Kickstarter campaign for a 4K restoration of Monstrosity.The Atomic Brain musicalCinema Cats - celebrating cats in movies and television.Mystery Science Theater 3000 wiki entry for The Atomic Brain (aka Monstrosity)Theme music composed by Neil Dube.www.pond5.comContact:[email protected] us onAndy's Substack "Fortress of Regret"InstagramFacebook

What was the scariest part of living in the 1960s? We'd like to think it was all the zombies, but other little factors like massive societal transformation and the threat of atomic annihilation might be contenders too! Like all good horror monsters, zombies work best when they're exploiting the fears and anxieties of viewers. As the Zombie Strains team ventures into a new decade of zombie film, John and Andy take a special side trek to find out what real-life terrors 1960s zombie films were drawing on, reacting to, critiquing, and amplifying.Theme music composed by Neil Dube.www.pond5.comContact:[email protected] us onAndy's Substack "Fortress of Regret"InstagramFacebook

A living decapitated head, a knife-wielding Aztec mummy, and something called the Ring of Death. That's a lot of scary stuff to store in your basement all at once, as a group of gentleman explorers in 1963 Mexico discovers to their peril. How many will die in gruesome Aztec rituals before the curse is ended? Will reincarnated Aztec lovers romantically reunite amidst all these bloody hearts and murdered archaeologists? Do mummies even count as zombies? John, Andy, and Producer Brad return to Mexico to ask the important questions.SHOW NOTES:Theatrical Release Date: March 3, 1963The Golden Age of Mexican Horror Cinema by Paul A J LewisTheme music composed by Neil Dube.www.pond5.comContact:[email protected] us onAndy's Substack "Fortress of Regret"InstagramFacebook

A Criterion Collection film? Fantastic editing, camerawork, and direction? Are we sure Carnival of Souls is in the right podcast? After narrowly surviving a car accident, Mary uproots her life to become a church organist in Utah... but death isn't quite done with her. Her mind begins to unravel, and soon she cannot tell reality from her escalating nightmares. Join John, Andy, and Producer Brad as they scramble to declutter the Zombie Strains lab and break out the fine china for a true rarity: a great zombie film.Show Notes:Premiere date: September 26, 1962AFI Catalog entry for Carnival of Souls.Los Angeles Times 1990 appreciation of Carnival of Souls.Roger Ebert's review of Carnival of Souls. Candace Hilligoss' YouTube channel with several videos about Carnival of Souls.Interview with Candace Hilligoss about sequel efforts.Interviews with director Herk Harvey and writer John Clifford. Video highlights of 1989 cast and crew reunion. "Rembering Sidney Berger" from the University of Houston.History of Saltair from the official state of Utah website.theSaltair.comRobert Altman's first directing credit, "Modern Football."Mike Patton/Jean-Claude Vannier's music video for "A Schoolgirl's Day."Television Academy announcement of Reza Badiyi's death.Theme music composed by Neil Dube.www.pond5.comContact:[email protected] us on"Before the Bite: Ten Things You Didn't Know About Zombies"InstagramFacebook

What happens when film's most legendary B-horror director turns his unsubtle eye to the zombie genre? You get Tales of Terror, one of many Roger Corman films loosely based on Edgar Allan Poe stories. This anthology film (written by the iconic horror and scifi writer Richard Matheson) is packed with three separate creepy stories, and one of them features a gruesome strain of zombie that doesn't easily fit into our zombie categories! Join John, Andy, and Producer Brad as they dissect their first, but probably not last, Corman zombie film.Show Notes:AFI Catalog entry for Tales of Terror.New York Times review of Tales of Terror and Burn, Witch, Burn double bill.Entertainment Weekly interview with Neal Moritz about dealing with Roger Corman to get permission for the title The Fast and the Furious.Film Snob short on American International Pictures from Vanity Fair.Library of Congress bulletin on Confucius with mention of his family tree.Debra Paget's Snake Dance from The Indian Tomb (1959).Theme music composed by Neil Dube.www.pond5.comContact:[email protected] us onInstagramFacebook

When zombies are after you, only the world's greatest hero can save you. And who is that? It's El Santo, elite luchador and Mexican cultural phenomenon! After a professor vanishes and a sinister masked man unleashes a horde of zombies on a local orphanage, the police know that only the legendary luchador Santo can save the city. John, Andy, and Producer Brad watch in awe as Santo takes on the undead both within and outside the wrestling ring--and they wrestle with a few of their preconceived notions about zombie films.Show Notes:Newspaper clipping detaling Armando Silvestre's attempt at a bullfighting career.The cars seen in Santo vs the Zombies.Theme music composed by Neil Dube.www.pond5.comContact:[email protected] us onInstagramFacebook

What's scarier than a zombie trying to kill you? A zombie teaming up with possessed dolls to kill you! In the Mexican zombie flick The Curse of the Doll People (Muñecos infernales), foolish adventurers steal a voodoo idol and face a fate is worse than death--unless the courageous Karina (Elvira Quintana) can stop a sinister voodoo master, his zombie assistant, and his horde of murderous dolls. Andy, John, and Producer Brad head to Mexico to investigate the many questions this film raises, such as whether dolls invested with the spirits of their own victims count as zombies.Show Notes:Zombie Movies: The Ultimate Guide by Glenn KayMarilyn Monroe visits Xavier Loyá in Mexico.Mexican Film Bulletin listing Alfredo Salazar's Frankenstein, el vampiro y compañíaTrailer for The Bat Woman (1968)MPAA article on Gaz Alazraki's Father of the BrideTheme music composed by Neil Dube.www.pond5.comContact:[email protected] us onInstagramFacebook

This week, our bold Zombie Strains investigators chart a course for rural England, where the sinister Dr. Blood (Keiron Moore) is harvesting the still-beating hearts of his victims to empower his insane medical "research." Join John, Andy, and Producer Brad as they brave the dangers of the Cornish Tin Mines, meet scream-queen legend Hazel Court, face their most gnarly zombie yet... and unravel the mystery Doctor Blood's Coffin.Show Notes:Still of blood donor poster seen in Doctor Blood's Coffin.The Zombie Encyclopedia by Peter DengleZombie Movies: The Ultimate Guide by Glenn KayHazel Court, 82, Screaming Horror-Film Star, Dies - The New York TimesReview of Hazel Court's autobiography, Horror Queen.Blog post on the matte paintings of Hammer films.Bio for famed matte painter Lew Bowie.Theme music composed by Neil Dube.Additional music by Elarasound.www.pond5.comAdditional voice work by Russell Bentley.www.pond5.comContact:[email protected] us onInstagramFacebook

Everybody's talking about Weapons, an unsettling 2025 horror film about a community in shock after a classroom of grade-school children vanishes overnight. Always on the hunt for modern films with connections to their favorite horror genre, John and Andy take a road trip to American suburbia to investigate for themselves. Don't tell Producer Brad that they recorded this without him. Please note that this is a spoiler-heavy discussion of Weapons.

Our first color zombie films is also a throwback to the 1930s! Newlyweds John and Linda (John McKay and Linda Ormond) inherit an old plantation outside of New Orleans, only to discover that their bitter cousin Monica (Monica Davis) has angry, zombie-related plans for them. Will Monica's voodoo magic spell a gruesome end to their honeymoon bliss? John, Andy, and Producer Brad venture into the swamps to find out--and to learn why this is the first zombie movie to be set in New Orleans.Show Notes:Movie posterAFI Catalog entry for The Dead One.Barry Mahon paid death notice in the New York Times.Zombie Movies: The Ultimate Guide by Glenn KaySanta's Christmas Elf Named Calvin directed by Barry MahonThe Wonderful Land of Oz directed by Barry MahonTheme music composed by Neil Dube.Additional music by Elarasound.www.pond5.comAdditional voice work by Russell Bentley.Contact:[email protected] us onInstagramFacebook

We've been dreading their appearance ever since we started watching 1950s zombie films, and they're finally here: teenagers! That's right, 1959's Teenage Zombies is not only our first zombie film starring teenagers, but it's also a clear forerunner of the modern teenage-slasher flick. Can this crew of plucky '50s teens foil a foreign plot to turn the entire population of the U.S. into mindless, docile zombies? And more importantly, can Teenage Zombies make Plan 9 from Outer Space look like a masterpiece of cinema? Andy, John, and Producer Brad descent into a terrifying world of poodle skirts, malt shakes, and zombie gorillas in Teenage Zombies.Show Notes:Teenage Zombies Movie PosterJerry Warren's Mystery Science Theater 3000 riffed movies.Brianne Murphy obituaryAmerican Society of Cinematographer profile on Brianne Murphy.Chuck Nile's obituary.Theme music composed by Neil Dube.www.pond5.comContact:[email protected] us onInstagramFacebook

Plan 9 is often called the worst movie ever made. But could there be a zombie gem buried beneath the hilariously bad sets, abysmal acting, and tortured script? John, Andy, and Producer Brad venture into this legendary fiasco and come face to face with a sexy vampire, a gigantic Swedish wrestler, Bela Lugosi’s last performance, arrogant space aliens, and of course the infamous Plan 9 itself.Show Notes:Plan 9 From Outer Space Movie PosterMovie Posters by Tom Jung, here and here.New York Times 1993 article on Plan 9 From Outer Space. Variety obituary for actor Paul Marco.Los Angeles Times obituary for the Amazing Criswell.Hollywood Reporter obituary for Maila Nurmi. Tor Johnson Halloween mask. Plan 9 From Outer Space filming locations.Theme music composed by Neil Dube.www.pond5.comContact:[email protected] us onInstagramFacebook

The Zombie Strains crew have hit the motherlode of zombie firsts! Invisible Invaders brings together all kinds of famous and familiar zombie tropes in one film: a zombie-created apocalypse, heroes taking refuge in a science bunker, convincing zombie make-up, and a truly compelling tough moral choice.The story follows a sequence that will be familiar to any fan of modern zombie movies, as a small group of survivors hunkers down in a shelter to figure out how to stop a global zombie menace (that was instigated by invaders from space). Tensions run high, and one of our party snaps under the pressure. Join John, Andy, and Brad as they push the Zombie Strains lab equipment to its limit as they break down all the zombie firsts in this movie.Show Notes:Invisible Invaders movie posterNational Geographic article on the American "uranium gold rush."MIT Press Article on Uranium Rush, a game encouraging families to prospect for uranium. History of Detectron, the company that made the geiger counter seen in Invisible Invaders. List of movies with underground bunkers.Hear Emmy-winning writer Javier Grillo-Marxuach discuss renting caves for tv shows on the Sword and the Sorcerer episode of Multiplex Overthruster.Theme music composed by Neil Dube.www.pond5.comContact:[email protected] us onInstagramFacebook

Jonathan Drake suffers under an ancient curse! His cruel colonial forbears massacred a South American tribe, and the immortal zombie survivors will not rest until Jonathan is dead. And by dead, we mean injected with an ancient poison, decapitated, and his head shrunken in the lab of the scenery-chewing villain Dr. Emil Zurich (Henry Daniell). Will Jonathan, his daughter Allison, and Lt. Rowan stop the zombies before the curse strikes again? Join John, Andy, and Brad as they encounter two unique zombies, surprisingly gruesome special effects, and more semi-competent police work in The Four Skulls of Jonathan Drake.Show Notes:Movie PosterAFI Catalog entry for The Four Skulls of Jonathan DrakeEduard Franz obituaryTheme music composed by Neil Dube.www.pond5.comContact:[email protected] us onInstagramFacebook

Sally (Vera Day) is living day to day, just trying to get by. But things take a turn for the sinister when she crosses paths with mad scientist Dr. Moran (George Coulouris). Dr. Moran has plans for the women in his life—plans that involve feeding them to a carnivorous Amazonian plant in order to steal their life essence, extract a serum from the devil tree, and use that serum to bring the dead back to life! Will he succeed? Will Sally agree to marry a jerk she just met the previous day? Does the Devil Tree's diet truly consist of women only, or is that a decision Dr. Moran is making for it? At least some of these questions get answered when Andy, John, and Producer Brad grab their Pulsometers and come face to face with 1958’s Womaneater.Show Notes:Italian style haircuts of the 1950s. Marpessa Dawn obituary from the New York TimesJames Bond forum trying to ID the Spectre agents in Thunderball, including the one played by Patrick Forbes-Robertson. Theme music composed by Neil Dube.www.pond5.comContact:[email protected] us onInstagramFacebook

Some treasures are best left undisturbed—especially when they're guarded by ancient curses. But if the treasure hunters in Zombies of Mora Tau were smart, we wouldn't get a horde of underwater zombies, a band of backstabbing scoundrels, the world's toughest grandma, and the legendary Allison Hayes (Attack of the 50 Foot Woman) as a scheming femme fatale. Don your deep sea diving suit and join John, Andy, and Producer Brad off the coast of Africa, where we discover a horror film that moves the zombie genre forward in surprising ways.US Theatrical Release Date: February 19, 1957Zombies of Mora Tau movie posterAFI Catalog entry for Zombies of Mora TauVariety obituary for screenwriter Bernard Gordon WGA post on corrected Hollywood Blacklist credits.Consumer's Guide to Dietary Supplements and Alternative Medicines by W. Marvin Davis with introduction about Allison Hayes.Theme music composed by Neil Dube.www.pond5.comContact:[email protected] us onInstagramFacebook

Who could possibly survive an expedition to “the weird jungle of cobra plants that feed on women... and rip men apart”? Boris Karloff plays a skeptical scientist who journeys into the heart of darkness alongside a brooding '50s adventurer, a shifty gangster, a plucky assistant, and a zombie. Grab your pith helmet and machete and join John, Andy, and Producer Brad as they brave the unknown terrors of Voodoo Island.Show Notes:US Theatrical Release Date: February, 1957Voodoo Island movie posterAFI Catalog entry for Voodoo IslandHistory of the theremin as told by Andrew Hickey on his podcast A History of Rock in 500 SongsQueer Cinema Archive article on Voodoo Island and the queer-coded character played by Jean Engstrom.Theme music composed by Neil Dube.www.pond5.comContact:[email protected] us onInstagramFacebook

Creature with the Atom Brain takes the science of zombie film to a whole new level. This movie is packed with exciting zombie firsts: atomic-powered zombies, rampaging zombie hordes (finally!), a city put under martial law to contain the zombie threat, and very cheap zombie make-up. Andy, John, and Producer Brad have their hands full sorting through all the zombie goodness on this sci-fi horror B movie.Show Notes:Mommie Dearest boardroom scene with S. John Launer (Captain Dave Harris in Creature with the Atom Brain).Theme music composed by Neil Dube.www.pond5.comContact:[email protected] us onInstagramFacebook

The Zombie Strains crew stumbles across an unexpected delight in 1953’s El Monstruo Resucitado (The Revived Monster), the first Mexican zombie film! Set in Czechoslovakia and dripping with atmosphere, this film tells the story of a resourceful journalist (Miroslava) who finds herself tangled up in the hopes and hatreds of a hideously deformed mad scientist with a chip on his shoulder, a brain-transference device in his basement, and a fresh corpse ready to be revived as a murderous zombie. The lights will be on all night in the Zombie Strains Lab as we dissect this thoughtful thriller.Show notes:"Where to begin with Mexican Macabre cinema" BFI articleNotable horror films of 1953Theme music composed by Neil Dube.www.pond5.comContact:[email protected] us onInstagramFacebook

The Zombie Strains crew comes up against Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis in this remake of the delightful The Ghost Breakers (1940). George Marshal directed both the original and this 1950s update. The team was eager to explore the new horrors Marshall would concoct this time around, but we were unprepared for the terror of... Jerry Lewis’s performance. Scared Stiff may feature the least impressive zombie we've seen yet, but the Zombie Strains crew found a few gems--including the possible inspiration for the title of a 1980s horror-comedy favorite.List of films remade by the original director.Theme music composed by Neil Dube.http://[email protected]

The Zombie Strains team is in for some serious culture shock as they burst into the 1950s. Voodoo masters? mesmerism? mad scientists? All gone! Instead we find aliens, atom bombs, and rocket ships. This is going to take some serious experimentation in the Zombie Strains lab to figure out what is going on in this crazy decade.Release date: July, 1952Movie posterList of 1952 movies1952 Academy AwardsCorrespondence between JRR Tolkien and relatives of Zombies of the Stratosphere cast member Wilson Wood.Wilson Wood's stage recreation of the famous JRR Tolkien photo. Theme music composed by Neil Dube.www.pond5.comContact:[email protected] us onInstagramFacebook

While Producer Brad is away on special assignment, John and Andy continue to break the rules by talking about zombie movies out of order. In this episode we talk about the biggest zombie events of 2025 - The Last of Us Season 2 (SPOILERS!) and 28 Years Later (NO spoilers). Plus, Andy reports on his participation in an actual voodoo ceremony.

Season 2 of Zombie Strains is almost upon us. In this special episode, John and Andy dissect the terrors and anxieties of the 1950s in the Zombie Strains lab. Our goal is to predict how the next wave of zombie movies will exploit the hidden fears of this most paranoid of decades. Join us as we brace for a brand new decade of horror!

Multiplex Overthruster is a podcast dedicated to the summer movie's of the 80s. It is hosted by Javier Grillo-Marxuach (writer of Lost, The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance, The Witcher, and creator of The Middleman), Paul Alvarado-Dykstra (co-founder of Fantastic Fest, the leading genre film festival in the US), and produced by Zombie Strain's Producer Brad. Enjoy this episode on Poltergeist, the 1982 film directed by Tobe Hooper and produced by Steven Spielberg. This ingenious phantasmagoria features beautiful analog VFX wizardry by ILM, a refreshingly functional family, and one of the greatest expository monologues in genre cinema.You can follow Mulitplex Overthruster here.

We made it! We survived the first three decades of zombies--22 movies in all. What did we learn? And what's coming next? In this special season 1 wrap-up episode, John, Andy, and Producer Brad answer listener feedback, take a surprise zombie trivia quiz, reflect on the journey so far... and prepare for the horror to come as we strike out into the world of 1950s zombies.

John, Andy, and Producer Brad have time for one last trip to the Caribbean to see a movie they missed the first time around; 1938’s The Devil’s Daughter. In this loose remake of team favorite Ouanga the action moves from Haiti to Jamaica, and from voodoo to obeah. How does this film stand up to the original? Join us in the lab as we break it down.US Theatrical Release Date: December 7, 1939Movie PosterUCLA Archives article on race filmsHorror Movies of 19391940 Academy AwardsTheme music composed by Neil Dube.www.pond5.comContact:[email protected] us onInstagramFacebook

Let's welcome a brand new horror legend to the zombie genre: Boris Karloff, playing a wrongly-executed man brought back to life by mad science. You'll be as surprised as we were by this somber, atmospheric tale of justice from beyond the grave. Whether this is truly a zombie movie is a matter of debate (and we do debate it!), but you won't regret taking a stroll with John, Andy, Producer Brad, and The Walking Dead (no, not that Walking Dead).US Theatrical Release Date: March 14, 1936Movie PosterNew York Times Review1936 Horror Movies1937 Academy AwardsFilms with actor's names in titleNational Film RegistryTheme music composed by Neil Dube.www.pond5.comContact:[email protected] us onInstagramFacebook

The Zombie Strains team goes waaaay back to 1919 and the dawn of cinema to watch J'accuse, a French zombie movie. Don’t worry, it is not as bad as that sounds. Actually, it is really good! The team skipped this one initially, but now that we have circled back to watch it… Is this the zombie horde John, Andy, and Producer Brad have been looking for all this time?!French Release Date: April 25, 1919US Release Date: October 9, 1921Movie Poster1921 New York Times reviewHorror Films of 1919Theme music composed by Neil Dube.www.pond5.comContact:[email protected] us onInstagramFacebook