All Episodes

November 9, 2025 91 mins

James Kline and J.H. Alison kick off Killer Family Month this November with a massive Retro Blood double feature covering The Stepfather and Stepfather II—two of the most unsettling and underrated psychological slashers of the late 1980s.

The boys dive into the real-life inspiration behind the story: the chilling case of mass murderer John List, whose crimes helped shape the blueprint for the Stepfather character. From there, they explore the behind-the-scenes history of both films, including the directors who brought these nightmares to life and how the series evolved from intimate psychological terror to more over-the-top suburban mayhem.

Of course, the spotlight is on the legendary Terry O’Quinn, whose terrifying, charismatic performance as Jerry Blake/Bill Hodgkins remains one of horror’s greatest “killers hiding in plain sight.” James and Alison talk O’Quinn’s preparation, his approach to the role, and why he completely elevates both entries.

Then it’s on to the full breakdowns: 🔸 Which film is creepier—and why? 🔸 The most disturbing scenes vs. the unintentionally hilarious ones. 🔸 The wild suburban characters who absolutely had the boys cracking up. 🔸 How the sequels expand (or totally derail) the mythology of the Stepfather.

Two films, one monstrous man trying to build the “perfect family” by any means necessary. And Retro Blood dives into every twisted moment.

#RetroBloodPodcast #Stepfather1987 #Stepfather2 #TerryOQuinn #KillerFamilyMonth #80sHorror #PsychologicalHorror #SlasherMovies #HorrorPodcast #HorrorCommunity #RetroHorror #CultHorror #TrueCrimeInfluence

Mark as Played

Advertise With Us

Popular Podcasts

Stuff You Should Know
Las Culturistas with Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang

Las Culturistas with Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang

Ding dong! Join your culture consultants, Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang, on an unforgettable journey into the beating heart of CULTURE. Alongside sizzling special guests, they GET INTO the hottest pop-culture moments of the day and the formative cultural experiences that turned them into Culturistas. Produced by the Big Money Players Network and iHeartRadio.

Crime Junkie

Crime Junkie

Does hearing about a true crime case always leave you scouring the internet for the truth behind the story? Dive into your next mystery with Crime Junkie. Every Monday, join your host Ashley Flowers as she unravels all the details of infamous and underreported true crime cases with her best friend Brit Prawat. From cold cases to missing persons and heroes in our community who seek justice, Crime Junkie is your destination for theories and stories you won’t hear anywhere else. Whether you're a seasoned true crime enthusiast or new to the genre, you'll find yourself on the edge of your seat awaiting a new episode every Monday. If you can never get enough true crime... Congratulations, you’ve found your people. Follow to join a community of Crime Junkies! Crime Junkie is presented by audiochuck Media Company.

Music, radio and podcasts, all free. Listen online or download the iHeart App.

Connect

© 2025 iHeartMedia, Inc.