HORROR 101 with Dr. AC

HOUSE OF USHER (1960) d. Roger Corman (USA)
PIT AND THE PENDULUM (1961) d. Roger Corman (USA)

Journey into the heart of gothic horror with House of Usher, Roger Corman’s moody and mesmerizing film version of Edgar Allan Poe’s short story. Released in 1960, Usher marks the beginning of Corman’s AIPoe series, his celebrated octet of Poe-inspired works, and it’s an atmospheric triumph of mood and style.

Leading the cast is the legen...

SHIVERS (1975) is a wonderfully squirmy milestone in body horror — and David Cronenberg’s sleazy, slimy debut.

A high-rise residence is thrown into chaos when a strange parasite begins turning tenants into uninhibited, sex-crazed versions of themselves. Part science fiction, part sleazy exploitation, Shivers introduced many of the themes that Cronenberg would return to again and again throughout his half-century behind the camera:...

THE SHINING (1980) d. Stanley Kubrick (USA)
THE SHINING (1997) d. Mick Garris (USA)
DOCTOR SLEEP (2019) d. Mike Flanagan (USA)

The Shining (1980) remains one of the most iconic and unsettling horror films ever made. Based on Stephen King’s novel but wildly reimagined through writer/director Stanley Kubrick’s unique vision, this “masterpiece of modern horror” tells the story of Jack Torrance, an aspiring writer and recovering alcoh...

CUJO (1983) d. Lewis Teague (USA)
THE DEAD ZONE (1983) d. David Cronenberg (USA)
CHRISTINE (1983) d. John Carpenter (USA)

Four decades ago, in the latter half of 1983, three films based on the works of a rising horror star hit theaters. Having already attracted such established veterans Stanley Kubrick and George A. Romero, as well as rising stars like Brian De Palma and Tobe Hooper, to helm the big-screen adaptations of his novel...

SE7EN (1995) d. David Fincher (USA)

"This isn't going to have a happy ending."

In a decade saturated with onscreen serial killers, David Fincher’s 1995 thriller Se7en redefined the genre and left an indelible mark on modern cinema. Its bleak atmosphere, high-toned philosophy, and haunting narrative dared to confront viewers with uncomfortable truths about justice, morality, and human nature.

The story of two detectives, played b...

THE MUMMY'S HAND (1940) d. Christy Cabanne (USA)
THE MUMMY'S TOMB (1942) d. Harold Young (USA)
THE MUMMY'S GHOST (1944) d. Reginald Le Borg (USA)
THE MUMMY'S CURSE (1942) d. Leslie Goodwins (USA)

Tonight we unwrap the 1940s Universal Mummy films! Leaving behind the melancholy tone of the 1932 Boris Karloff original, we were introduced to a new mummy, Kharis, a shambling and bandaged silent avenger played first by Tom Tyler in 1940...

WOLF CREEK (2005) d. Greg McLean (Australia)
WOLF CREEK 2 (2013) d. Greg McLean (Australia)
WOLF CREEK (2016-17) d. Tony Tilse/Greg McLean (Australia)
HOSTEL (2005) d. Eli Roth (USA)
HOSTEL: PART II (2007) d. Eli Roth (USA)
HOSTEL: PART III (2011) d. Scott Spiegel (USA)

Tonight, we’ll be discussing two films that helped change the face of horror when they hit screens in late 2005, both from young and hungry writer/directors who wa...

THE BODY SNATCHER (1945) d. Robert Wise (USA)
ISLE OF THE DEAD (1945) d. Mark Robson (USA)

Producer Val Lewton, the master of atmospheric horror, collaborated with legendary actor Boris Karloff on two memorable films: The Body Snatcher (1945) and Isle of the Dead (1945). Both films showcase Lewton’s signature blend of psychological tension and poetic visuals, while allowing Karloff to deliver some of his most nuanced performances....

THE STEPFORD WIVES (1975) d. Bryan Forbes (USA)
REVENGE OF THE STEPFORD WIVES (1980) d. Robert Fuest (USA)
THE STEPFORD CHILDREN (1987) d. Alan J. Levi (USA)
THE STEPFORD HUSBANDS (1996) d. Fred Walton (USA)
THE STEPFORD WIVES (2004) d. Frank Oz (USA)

Sexy and funny, inflammatory and spooky, director Bryan Forbes and screenwriter William Goldman’s adaptation of Ira Levin’s bestseller The Stepford Wives is that rare animal: a socia...

DEEP RED (aka PROFONDO ROSSO) (1975) d. Dario Argento (Italy) 

🔪 Join us for a deep dive into Dario Argento’s haunting giallo masterpiece! 🎬 Tonight, we dissect one of the most iconic films of Italian horror cinema.

Deep Red isn’t just a slasher—it’s a symphony of style, blood, and mystery. With brutal kills, dreamlike visuals, and an unforgettable score by Goblin, Argento blends murder and art like no one else.

Join AC and hi...

THE DESCENT (2005) d. Neil Marshall (UK)
THE DESCENT PART 2 (2009) d. Jon Harris (UK)

After a tragic accident, six friends reunite for a caving expedition, only to see their adventure go horribly wrong when a collapse traps them deep underground. Then, to make matters much, much worse, they find themselves pursued by bloodthirsty subterranean creatures.

The Descent, written and directed by Neil Marshall (Dog Soldiers, Doomsday), ...

PLANET OF THE VAMPIRES (1965) d. Mario Bava (Italy/Spain)

A forgotten classic that blends the cosmic terror of space exploration with the eerie atmosphere of a Gothic haunted house, Mario Bava’s groundbreaking 1965 sci-fi/horror film Planet of the Vampires presents a visually striking and deeply unsettling narrative whose influence reverberates throughout the genre, notably 1979’s smash Alien.

Set on a desolate alien planet, Plan...

GINGER SNAPS (2000) d. John Fawcett (Canada)
GINGER SNAPS 2: UNLEASHED (2004) d. Brett Sullivan (Canada)
GINGER SNAPS BACK: THE BEGINNING (2004) d. Grant Harvey (Canada)

Ginger Snaps, directed by John Fawcett and written by Karen Walton, is a unique and unforgettable Canadian werewolf feature that blends horror, coming-of-age themes, and dark humor, with a focus on the terrifying experience of transformation. Th...

MISERY (1990) d. Rob Reiner (USA)

Rob Reiner's 1990 psychological thriller Misery, based on Stephen King's bestselling novel, remains a masterclass in tension and suspense. Tonight, our panel of horror enthusiasts celebrates the unforgettable performances (James Caan, Kathy Bates, Lauren Bacall, Frances Sternhagen, and Richard Farnsworth), the film's themes of obsession and captivity, and screenwriter William Goldman’s breathtakin...

THE ROCKY HORROR PICTURE SHOW (1975) d. Jim Sharman (UK/USA)

Join us for a special in-depth panel discussion celebrating the 50th anniversary of the iconic The Rocky Horror Picture Show, from its original 1973 stage production to its transformation into midnight movie cult sensation. Come for the magic, stay for the madness!

Screenwriter Richard O'Brien and director Jim Sharman shocked audiences with their unique blend of rock 'n...

FINAL DESTINATION (2000) d. James Wong (USA)
FINAL DESTINATION 2 (2003) d. David R. Ellis (USA)
FINAL DESTINATION 3 (2006) d. James Wong (USA)
THE FINAL DESTINATION (2009) d. David R. Ellis (USA)
FINAL DESTINATION 5 (2011) d. Steven Quale (USA)

Created by Jeffrey Reddick, the Final Destination franchise introduced a unique concept: Death as an unstoppable force that relentlessly hunts down survivors who cheat its grasp. Tonight, A...

WHO WANTS TO TALK SLASHER MOVIES???

Titles Discussed: Friday the 13th, To All a Good Night, Terror on Tour, Don't Answer the Phone, Don't Go in the House, Prom Night, Terror Train, He Knows You're Alone, Mother's Day, Funeral Home, Christmas Evil, New Year's Evil

The 1980s were a pivotal year for horror films, and the decade kicked off with some of the most influential entries in the genre! Join our panel of horror experts (Fraser...

TREMORS (1990) d. Ron Underwood (USA)
TREMORS 2: AFTERSHOCKS d. S.S. Wilson (1996) (USA)
TREMORS 3: BACK TO PERFECTION d. Brent Maddock (2001) (USA)
TREMORS 4: THE LEGEND BEGINS d. S.S. Wilson (2004) (USA)
TREMORS 5: BLOODLINES d. Don Michael Paul (2015) (USA)
TREMORS: A COLD DAY IN HELL d. Don Michael Paul (2018) (USA)
TREMORS: SHRIEKER ISLAND (2020) d. Don Michael Paul (USA)

Join AC and his Graboid-loving panel of guests (Mark E...

PSYCHO (1960) d. Alfred Hitchcock (USA)
PSYCHO II (1983) d. Richard Franklin (USA)
PSYCHO III (1986) d. Anthony Perkins (USA)
PSYCHO IV: THE BEGINNING (1990) d. Mick Garris (USA)
PSYCHO (1998) d. Gus Van Sant (USA)

Alfred Hitchcock's Psycho is not just a film; it’s an institution in the world of cinema, one that redefined the horror genre forever. Based on Robert Bloch’s 1959 novel, audiences were introduced to Norman Bates (Antho...