Sunday, December 19, 2021

S5E5. Let's go clean 'em up: Rolling Thunder (1977)


Anthony King (The Cult Movies Podcast) returns to the show to discuss Rolling Thunder (1977). Directed by John Flynn from a script by Paul Schrader and Heywood Gould, based on an original story by Schrader. Rolling Thunder stars William Devane as Major Charles Rane who has returned to his home of San Antonio after seven years as a POW in Viet Nam. He realizes quickly that his wife has moved on, and that his son barely remembers him. During a robbery of his home his hand is mangled, and his family is slaughtered. With nothing left to live for, he sets out on a dangerous path for revenge. The film also stars Tommy Lee Jones, Linda Haynes, James Best, and Luke Askew.

Monday, December 6, 2021

S5E4. I died for you: Deathdream (1974)

Welcome to the finale of WUH's series on the early horror films of Alan Ormsby and Bob Clark. The series-long co-host is Mike White, from The Projection Booth Podcast, with Heather Drain, Chris Stachiw, and Samm Deighan joining us for one of the three episodes, respectively. Also included in each episode is a portion of an interview with Simon Fitzjohn, who wrote I'm Going to Kill You, a book on the films of Bob Clark.

On this final episode Samm Deighan joins Mike and me to discuss Deathdream, which was filmed on the heels of CSPWDT in 1972, but not released until 1974, after Deranged. Bob Clark directed from a script by Ormsby, who once again created the make-up effects with help of first-timer Tom Savini. 

Deathdream aka Dead of Night et al, is the story of Andy Brooks (Richard Backus) who is killed in Viet Nam, but willed back to life and back home by his grief-stricken mother. As with most "Monkey's Paw" inspired tales, this does not bode well for Andy or those he cares about. Also starring John Marley and Lynn Carlin as Andy's parents, Anya Ormsby as his sister, and Jane Daly (both from CSPWDT) as his old girlfriend. Ormsby, Clark, and Jeff Gillen all have cameos. 

Where to watchIMDb listingWikipedia page