Tagged: film

We talk through Fulci’s stylized approach, the gritty early ’80s New York locations, and how the film’s sleaze and eroticized violence make it a challenging watch, especially with its mean-spirited tone toward women. Along the way we unpack the duck-voiced killer calls, the procedural investigation, the disjointed plotting, and the extreme gore effects—particularly the razor-blade murder and eye trauma. We also cover the film’s reveal involving Peter, his hospitalized daughter, a dead-end suspect, and the bleak final moments that leave the story on a dark note.

We talk about the movie’s iconic shish kebab kill, its giallo-inspired mystery setup, and the nonstop barrage of over-the-top red herrings that make the nearly two-hour runtime feel even longer. Along the way we dig into the prep school “Top 10,” the creative (and sometimes cut-down) kill scenes, Virginia’s traumatic flashbacks and experimental brain procedure, and the surprisingly stacked talent behind the production, including Glenn Ford. We break down the movie’s wildly convoluted twist ending, why it feels like a last-minute rewrite, and why—despite its flaws—we ultimately had a fun time with it.

We discuss its clever use of mixed camera sources, the fourth-wall breaks that pull the audience into the curse, and how the film’s non-chronological structure parcels out its story. Along the way we unpack the ghost-hunter backstory, the taboo tunnel shrine and folk rituals, the escalating body horror centered on a young child, and the bleak implications of the film’s “chant with me” setup. We also compare its cursed-footage vibe to The Ring and talk about how its atmosphere and emotional stakes keep it intense, even when parts are hard to follow.

We break down its basic-but-effective “game” setup in a hotel where masked killers, surveillance, and scoring drive extremely brutal practical-effect kills, while the real fun comes from a steady sugar-high of horror cameos—Dee Wallace, Danielle Harris, Jeffrey Combs, Tim Reid, Daniel Roebuck, Phyllisa Rose, Tony Todd, and more—plus David Howard Thornton essentially channeling Art the Clown. We talk about the TV-like cinematography, the two-hour runtime, uneven plotting and character overload, and the bleak ending and mid-credits sequel tease featuring Tim Curry’s voice, while agreeing it’s fan-service done right for horror fans, not the general public.

Even though we’d somehow missed it for years, we were genuinely impressed by how competent it is—strong cinematography, effective editing, solid performances, and practical effects that often land, plus a captivating campfire-story opening that sets the tone and lore of “Madman Marz.” The plot is basically a classic paint-by-numbers chain of counselors wandering into the woods and getting picked off, but the kills are creative and the filmmaking elevates the whole experience. We also shout out the sound work, the memorable songs, and Galyn Ross as Betsy, then wrap up by playing a listener call.

We talk about how impressive the filmmaking is, Malkovich’s unexpectedly convincing pop-star performance (including a full in-movie album), and the movie’s strong, tense, twisty atmosphere that sometimes evokes The Menu. We walk through the plot’s creepy compound setting, escalating cult behavior, and the violent reveal, then debate the ending’s explanation that everything was orchestrated so Ariel could escape and publish an exposé. One of us loved the ride and performances, while the other found the message and payoffs frustratingly vague, though we still recommend checking it out.