Horror Movie Survival Guide
Horror Movie Survival Guide is a weekly podcast where two long time chums (and unlikely gorehounds) watch and talk about horror films from a survival point of view. We ask the question - how can *we* end up as the final girl? Join Julia Marchese and Teri Gamble as we take a deep dive into everything from OG horror to newly released films (but preferably classics on VHS). We'll talk about obscure details that no one else notices, spin off into alternate casting universes, crush on some foxy, dodgy fellows (and creepy uncles), and arm ourselves with the knowledge necessary to become The Final Girl!
Episodes
All About Evil - "Star Quality"
ALL ABOUT EVIL (2010) is a love letter to independent revival house cinema that hits in all the right places! Written and directed by friend of the podcast and co-host of the Midnight Mass Podcast, Joshua Grannell aka Peaches Christ, this film would be the perfect double feature with Julia's documentary OUT OF PRINT (2016) since they both celebrate the spirit of independent film!
All That We Destroy - "She Seems Real"
Wonderful near future Lo-Fi Sci-Fi at it's best - ALL THAT WE DESTROY (2019). This feature was part of the series INTO THE DARK (Hulu) and is a stand alone film a la Black Mirror that was helmed by the uber talented CHELSEA STARDUST!
Samantha Mathis stars as a scientist with the Nobel Prize gleam in her eye, who is also the mother of a psychopathic son. How far will she go to sav...
HATCHET - "You're All Gonna Die"
We are delighted to cover this old school style slasher lovingly made with so many practical effects directed by friend of the pod Adam Green - HATCHET (2006)!
We follow a lovelorn young man who should be celebrating Mardi Gras, but he's distracted by heartbreak. In order to get his mind off of women, he recruits one of his best friends to go on a late night Bayou ghost tour… wha...
SEQUENCE BREAK - "Hit Reset"
A lifelong gamer meets his match in more ways than one in SEQUENCE BREAK (2017). What would you do if a mysterious motherboard was left in your arcade repair shop...? Press play and see what happens!
Lots of Cthulu inspired goodness from writer/director GRAHAM SKIPPER - a true disciple of the late great Stuart Gordon.
We hope you enjoy oozing and ahhing with us!
DOCTOR JEKYLL - "Crunchy, Nutty Cornflakes!"
So honored to review Hammer Films new take on a classic story - DOCTOR JEKYLL (2023) starring the incomparable EDDIE IZZARD. A young recently released convict is stuck between a rock and a hard place. In order to see his baby girl he must work and the only job available is for the reclusive billionaire Doctor Jekyll... The job sounds like a dream...that will quickly turn into a ...
We Are the Night - "Rare & Breathtaking"
We complete our Lesbian Vampire round with a hedonistic coven based in Germany - WE ARE THE NIGHT (2010). A vampire on her quest to find her soulmate has recruited lovers to her vamp fam over the last century. Will her next attempt at love be her last...? Bloody & funny these vampires take full advantage of their immortality.
We hope you enjoy this fresh episode till the las...
The Moth Diaries - "Sex, Blood & Death"
We continue our Vampire Lesbian round with the filmmaker who brought us one of our faves American Psycho - the wonderful Mary Harron's THE MOTH DIARIES 2011. We get a literature lesson in gothic lore and history as our backdrop to this tale set in an all girls boarding school. There will be blood, there will be betrayal, but will anyone be handsomely rewarded...?
We hope you...
VAMPIRE ECSTASY (The Devil's Plaything) - "I am here, Mistress"
We continue our Lesbian Vampire round with the ultimate in seduction and taboo with VAMPIRE ECSTASY aka The Devil's Plaything (1973). This one was a favorite of Teri's and a first time watch for Julia - thanks to the "Algorithm" for knowing what we like!
We hope you enjoy being hypnotized by our fresh new episode!
VAMPYRES - "She's My Girlfriend"
It's the most wonderful time of the year!!! It's our whole teams Birthday Month!! Julia, Teri & Sierra are all born in March! In order to celebrate we bring you a whole month of our most beloved sub-sub-genre - LESBIAN VAMPIRES - kicking off with VAMPYRES (1974).
We hope you enjoying biting into the flesh of this fresh episode!
THE NUN 2 - "It's Okay to Be Scared"
We're going to the chapel and it's gonna be scaaarrry - as we discuss one of the "scariest villains" in the CONJURING universe in THE NUN 2 (2023). Another great script penned by the amazing AKELA COOPER. We loved seeing our friend BONNIE AARONS as Valek - the NUN & we agree that we wish we had more moments with her in the film!
We hope listening to this f...
M3GAN - "She Looks Demented"
We continue our journey into the Wan-Verse with another brilliant script penned by Wan & Akela Cooper - the instant camp classic M3GAN (2022). A modern AI twist on a Child's Play story that unleashes one of the most fun lil villains to come out of the pandemic era.
We hope you enjoy this fresh episode!
Malignant - "You Don't Deserve Your Body"
We venture deeper into the Wan-Verse with with a mystery/thriller MALIGNANT (2021). This is a favorite of Teri's - you'll have to listen to the episode to hear what Julia thinks...
If you haven't seen this film - please watch it before you listen! We were lucky enough to not have the twist spoiled before going into it! So we were free to enjoy this brilliant scre...
Indidious - "The Universe is Deathless"
It's our 350th Episode of Horror Movie Survival Guide! As a treat we are tackling one of our most requested films. This week we venture back into the Wan-Verse with Poltergeist for Gen Z - INSIDIOUS (2010). A little boy makes contact with the other world and is left in what seems like a coma. With the help of a medium his father makes his way to the other side to help him defeat...
Maniac - "I Know What You Need"
One of our favorite cute boys, ELIJAH WOOD, steps into the killer role in this update of the iconic slasher film - MANIAC (2012). Set in the seedy parts of the newly gentrified downtown Los Angeles & playing on the fears of online dating this update is a bloody good time!
We hope you enjoy digging into this fresh new episode!
The Strangler (l'etrangleur) 1970 - "I'm Obsessed with Happiness"
We are in love with another "Cute Boy Killer" in this French Giallo masterpiece THE STRANGLER (1970). Emile (Jacques Perrin) is obsessed with happiness and uses murder to relieve women of their sadness. Writer/Director Paul Vecchiali delivers a sumptuous feast for the eyes in this under-seen thriller.
Special Thank you to Altered Innocen...
Peeping Tom - "Take Me to Your Cinema"
We continue our "Cute Boy Killer" round with a boy who grew up under the microscope of a camera that eventually becomes his weapon of choice in PEEPING TOM (1960). We follow Mark (Karlheinz Böhm) as he navigates falling in love vs. his insatiable need to capture authentic fear on camera. A cinematic masterpiece from the team that brought us THE RED SHOES (1948) lead by dire...
Kill Your Friends - "Middley"
We get to see another side of our "Cute Boy Killer" star Nicholas Hoult (Renfield) in KILL YOUR FRIENDS (2015). This time he plays a cut-throat music executive in a 90's period piece based on a novel by John Niven. Dubbed the British version of AMERICAN PSYCHO - it plays as another cautionary tale about men behaving very badly!
We hope you enjoy this freshly cut episode!
RENFIELD - "Snickerdoodle"
One of our favorite characters finally gets wonderfully rewarded with his very own movie - and a full length episode from us - RENFIELD (2023)! Our adorable sidekick is trying to break free from the shackles of his toxic relationship with his master, Dracula & ends up entangled with a police officer, a mafia family & victim support group. This film is a delightfully joyous film - that wou...
LETTERS TO SATAN CLAUS - "It's Cookie Time"
Not today Santa! A spelling error sends a letter to Hell instead of the North Pole and changes our protagonist life forever. LETTERS TO SATAN CLAUS (2020) - is a horror send up of the traditional Hallmark/Lifetime Holiday movie format. A beautiful city girl heads back to her hometown and is confronted by her past!
We hope you enjoy this tasty episode & have a happy ho...
HANUKKAH - "Does anybody want any nachos?"
HANUKKAH (2019) is a Jewish horror film with star studded credits! Guided by his own set of rules outside of the Torah - The Hanukiller is coming for you - if you've been naughty! The final film for both Sid Haig & Dick Miller. Produced by Felissa Rose, Music by Harry Manfredini, stunts by Kane Hodder!
We hope you enjoy this seasonal treat!
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