Cheers to Dan Auty and Ben Howard at the Mondo Movie podcast for their kind words regarding The New Horror Handbook on Episode 93. It’s always nice to be included in the same breath as Deep Red magazine creator Chas Balun.
I’ve been a fan of this UK duo’s podcast since discovering it on an iTunes search nearly three years ago. If you’re a movie lover, there’s nothing quite like spending a rainy afternoon listening to these guys intelligently explore the dynamics of everything from Bava and Argento to far more obscure, and occasionally mainstream, works. They’re as equally at home dissecting a spaghetti western or Lars von Trier’s latest as they are the works of Cronenberg or a long-forgotten giallo.
Since the BBFC banned the DVD of Koji Shiraishi’s latest flick, Grotesque (Gurotesuku) a few weeks ago, it’s become one of the most talked about (and certainly one of the most Googled) horror movies in months. And predictably, it has launched a new dialogue about the banning of horror films in general.
You can add the guys over at the HorrorEtc podcast to that list. In their latest episode (No. 99), Tony, Ted, and guest host Doug actually fire up a copy of Grotesque and combine some running commentary on the torture flick with well-thought-out observations about horror movie censorship in recent years.
This commentary is something really tailor-made for the HorrorEtc crew. While the odd factual error may tick-off the die-hard fright fans (e.g, pinku films are actually Japanese softcore porn flicks rather than torture or horror films), HorrorEtc’s strengths has always been in the avuncular, enthusiastic manner of its hosts. And when delving into the details of an extremely nihilistic piece of work like Grotesque, it helps immensely to have likable guides who also give the impression that they’re not the jaded, giggling schoolboys who often put together horror podcasts.
Check back soon for a wrapup of horror podcasts that just may rekindle your enthusiasm for the genre.
A big thank you to Des Reddick for letting me talk at length about the “New Horror” and The New Horror Handbook on the latest episode of the Dread Media Podcast.
While you will quickly see why it is that I seldom express myself beyond the printed page, hopefully you’ll also get a better understanding of what The New Horror Handbook is all about.
Now if you will excuse me, I’m going to slip off to take a listen and see how many apology e-mails I need to prepare…
HorrorEtc co-host Tony (right) and genre fave Sid Haig.
Thanks go to Ted and Tony at Canada’s HorrorEtc podcast for their kind words about The New Horror Handbook this week. Episode 96 (the Val Lewton special), carried some very kind words indeed about the book.
And you can enter a drawing to win a copy of The New Horror Handbook from HorrorEtc — details can be found around the last 20 minutes of this episode.
Each week, Ted and Tony (and sometimes Doug) bring you spirited, good natured conversation about movies that fit a specific theme, be it French horror, Vincent Price flicks, indie films, or those based on true events. Some personal favorites include:
It’s no secret that horror information is everywhere — far more than you’re ever going to be able to sift through in one lifetime. That’s one of the reasons why I wrote The New Horror Handbook. And yes, I will talk anyone’s ear off about that publication (shoot me an email at asberman813 @ gmail.com).
But today I wanted to talk about something else. Part of being a member of the horror community is calling attention to cool things when we come across them. That’s why I wanted to give a shout out to The World of Cinema podcast, one I discovered recently while looking for some fresh voices about film.
In particular, I was really impressed with the treatment hosts Aaron and Justin gave to the two versions of Michael Haneke’s Funny Games.
The 1997 original and the 2007 remake both have their fair share of champions and haters, with good reasons on both sides. However, World of Cinema’s Episode 9 does an admirable job of dissecting both movies, and actually getting at the absurdity of some of the “monkey see, monkey do” arguments that swirl around the real-life effects of horror cinema on society. These guys know their stuff, and have the enthusiasm to back it up.
Work continues on The New Horror Handbook as its October 31st pub date inches near. And during this time I find that one of the things that keeps me stoked during those late hours when I’m trying to tie up a chapter is the bevy of horror podcasts out there. There’s nothing like listening to people who really enjoy the genre to recharge the creative juices and re-enthuse you about this medium. Here are four that are in regular rotation on my iPod (all are available via iTunes):
Mondo Movie. I mentioned this one briefly in my Dario Argento posting a few days back, but there’s more to them than the odd Mother of Tears excoriation. Londoners Ben Howard and Dan Auty have racked up a pretty solid back catalog of podcasts that tackle everything from Fulci to Bergman, all with an engaging mix of cynicism, wit and knowledge. (Howard also is the host of CNET UK’s Reel Weekend online movie review program.) It’s pretty apparent that these two are genre fans from way back. And in case you need to see their credentials, you can check out an old horror documentary that the two were interviewed for when they were wee nippers. (Note that it was a Mondo Movie fan rather than Howard or Auty who posted the following clip.)
Reel Horror. Horror purists who only want to hear the latest genre news have been known to complain about this podcast, and granted it’s an acquired taste. But hosts Michael Sean Becker and Mike Carbone do one thing really well, and that’s entertain. Sure, they discuss the latest horror news, offer reviews of the most recent flicks they’ve seen, and occasionally interview B- and C-list horror celebs. However, what keeps fans coming back is their on mic chemistry. These are the guys you wished were running your local radio morning zoo when you were growing up rather than the knobs most of us ended up with. One of the most interesting shows to come out of the great podcast revolution.
Horror Etc. We’ve discussed some Brits and Americans, and here’s an entry from Canada. I only just stumbled across this podcast yesterday, but I have to say I’m enjoying it. Hosts Ted and Anthony spend more than an hour each episode tackling films by theme, and seem to have a good time doing it. The episode I just finished listening to was on films that claim to be “based on a true story.” In addition to their interesting takes on Open Water and The Girl Next Door (it’s a good movie but can you really, you know, recommend it to someone?), this was the first time I’ve heard that the French film Ils (Them) was supposed to be based on a true story as well. Gonna have to look into that one. Definitely worth a listen.
Mark Kermode and Simon Mayo’s Film Reviews. All right, not strictly a horror film podcast, but these two Brits are a must-listen for those who take their film reviews seriously, and who also enjoy a chuckle or two. Kermode remains one of the most erudite-yet-entertaining film reviewers out there, and his horror CV is beyond reproach. He has a PHd from the University of Manchester in modern English and American horror fiction and wrote the BFI Modern Classics book on The Exorcist. Mayo doesn’t say a great deal necessarily, but the show is not nearly as effective when a guest host is taking his place. And Kermode’s rant on Pirates of the Caribbean 3(as well as Mayo’s response) is well worth a viewing.
