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Love, Loneliness, and the Monster Next Door Happy Halloween! We close out the season with one of the most hauntingly beautiful vampire films ever made: Let the Right One In . Both of us are huge fans of this Swedish masterpiece. Tomas Alfredson’s direction, Hoyte van Hoytema’s stunning cinematography, and the quiet, powerful performances from Kåre Hedebrant and Lina Leandersson create a horror film unlike any other. One that trades jump scares for something far more lasting: empathy and melancholy. The Beauty Beneath the Blood We explore how Let the Right One In  redefines vampire lore by weaving it into a story about connection, isolation, and the cruelty of youth. It’s not just a horror film, it’s a coming-of-age story wrapped in snow, silence, and sorrow. Every frame feels deliberate and poetic, and the film’s cold atmosphere mirrors the aching loneliness at its core. The Remake Dilemma Of course, we also touch on the American remake, Let Me In . While we understand why Hollywood wanted to adapt it, we still question the need. Let the Right One In  is already near-perfect, a film whose cultural and emotional subtleties don’t need translation. Let the Right One In: A Perfect Halloween Farewell As spooky season winds down, Let the Right One In  feels like the perfect closer: chilling, heartbreaking, and quietly unforgettable. It’s a film that lingers long after the credits, much like the cold air of a Swedish winter night. Listen to our full discussion, available wherever you get your podcasts or on YouTube. And remember, sometimes, the monsters we invite in are the ones that stay the longest. Spotify  | Apple Podcasts  | Amazon Music  | More Links

We're going to conventions and taking on some really douchey zombies on our latest episode of Now Showing. We're talking ZombieCON Vol. 1 ! If you've listened to the show (What do you mean you don't?!) then you know we have a soft spot in our hearts for indie film. Yes, even Butler's black heart has a tiny place where he loves. This indie horror-comedy bleeds passion and creativity from every frame. It’s clearly a labor of love, and the team behind it pulled off something difficult even without undead chaos: completing a full-on independent feature film. Indie Guts and Glory From practical blood effects to clever cosplay nods and zombie mayhem,  ZombieCON Vol. 1   manages to juggle ambition, humor, and gore with surprising balance. It’s the kind of movie that reminds you why independent filmmaking still matters, because it’s powered by sheer determination and love of the craft. Meet the Creators of ZombieCON Vol. 1 Bonus!!! Before we discussed the movie, we sat down with two of the minds behind  ZombieCON Vol. 1 ,  Erin Áine  and  Kyle Valle , to talk about bringing this wild project to life, from wrangling fake blood and makeup effects to crafting a film that blends horror, comedy, and convention culture. If you haven’t already, check out that interview episode to hear firsthand how they pulled it off and what’s next for the  ZombieCON   team. Looking to check it out yourself? Buy or Rent the Film Now!

The Goriest Love Letter to Horror Ever Made We dive headfirst into one of the most gloriously over-the-top horror comedies ever made. It's Dead Alive , also known as  Braindead  outside the U.S. We both absolutely love this movie. It’s zany, it’s silly, and it’s soaked in more blood and guts than any film has a right to contain. Like a deranged  Looney Tunes   cartoon splattered across a haunted house floor,  Dead Alive  manages to balance absurd comedy with genuine craftsmanship in a way only early-’90s Peter Jackson could pull off. What Makes Dead Alive Work We talk a lot about how Jackson (yes,  that  Peter Jackson) crafted something so grotesque yet so joyous. The film’s energy is infectious, from its wild practical effects and jaw-dropping set pieces to its perfect blend of slapstick and splatter. It’s a movie that knows exactly what it is: an unhinged, blood-soaked love letter to horror and to filmmaking itself. A Masterclass in Controlled Chaos For all its insanity,  Dead Alive  is surprisingly well-made. The camera work is kinetic, the editing razor-sharp, and the practical effects, especially in the lawnmower scene, are still jaw-dropping decades later. Beneath the gallons of fake blood, there’s also real heart, a twisted sense of romance, and that offbeat New Zealand humor that makes it impossible not to grin through the carnage. Final Thoughts Whether you call it  Dead Alive  or  Braindead , this movie is an absolute blast. It’s disgusting, hilarious, and completely unforgettable. A perfect reminder of just how far practical effects and imagination can go when a filmmaker decides to lean all the way in. Listen to our full breakdown of this splatter classic, available wherever you get your podcasts or on YouTube. Just… maybe don’t eat spaghetti while you listen.

Space Vampires, Naked Chaos, and 80s Excess This week on Forgotten Horror 7, we blast off into one of the strangest hybrids of 80s sci-fi and horror ever made: Lifeforce . Directed by Tobe Hooper and co-written by Dan O’Bannon, this British-American oddity throws vampires, astronauts, and apocalyptic energy-sucking aliens into one glossy, chaotic blender. Neither of us had seen Lifeforce  before this viewing, and honestly, we’re still processing what we watched. What We Liked About Lifeforce Field found himself swept up in the film’s 80s charm, from its impressive practical effects and massive sets to the British cast and unapologetic weirdness. The movie feels like a fever dream of Cold War anxiety and pulpy space horror, all wrapped in a glossy Cannon Films sheen. Butler admits some of the visual effects are genuinely impressive, but for him, the story and tone are all over the place. Lifeforce  can’t decide if it’s an erotic nightmare, a creature feature, or a cosmic allegory, and as a result, it’s everything and nothing all at once. The Missed Potential Beneath the chaos, though, Butler sees the bones of a much better movie. With tighter direction, a more consistent tone, and a focus on atmosphere over excess, Lifeforce  could have been a haunting sci-fi masterpiece. Something closer to Alien  by way of Event Horizon . Instead, it’s an 80s fever dream of bold ideas that never quite come together. Final Thoughts Is Lifeforce  good? That depends on your definition of “good.” It’s ambitious, absurd, and unforgettable, sometimes for all the wrong reasons. But there’s no denying its commitment to going big, weird, and completely over the top. Listen to our full discussion, available wherever you get your podcasts or on YouTube.  Bring your silver swords… and maybe a blanket. It gets weird fast.

When Paying Tribute Goes Wrong This week on Forgotten Horror 7: The Nightmare is Reel , we pack our bags, head deep into the woods, and promptly regret it with Eli Roth’s debut feature Cabin Fever . Roth set out to revive the “cabin in the woods” sub-genre made iconic by films like The Evil Dead , Friday the 13th , and The Texas Chainsaw Massacre . Unfortunately… this one misses the mark for us. What Works in Cabin Fever To be fair, there’s craftsmanship here. Some of the practical effects are gnarly and effective, the cinematography has its moments, and you can see flashes of inspired direction. There’s clearly a love of horror history running through the film, and Roth doesn’t shy away from gore. Where It Collapses But all the blood and energy can’t save it from its script. The characters are unlikable to the point of being grating, the story feels forced and disjointed, and the tone whiplashes so often between comedy, gross-out horror, and drama that genuine scares never land. What could have been a sharp love letter to horror ends up reading more like a bad parody. Final Thoughts Cabin Fever  may have helped launch Roth’s career, but as a horror film, it’s more frustrating than frightening. The intentions are there, but the execution infected the genre in all the wrong ways. Listen to our full breakdown on YouTube and also available on your favorite podcast platform. And take our advice: bring bottled water, and don’t drink from the creek. Spotify  | Apple Podcasts  | Amazon Music  | More Links

This week on Forgotten Cinema: Now Showing , we jack back into the Grid for the long-awaited Tron: Ares , a visually stunning, sonically charged continuation of Disney’s cult-favorite sci-fi franchise. A Dazzling Return to the Grid More than a decade after Tron: Legacy , Jared Leto and Tron: Ares   arrives with all the spectacle fans could hope for. From breathtaking neon landscapes and IMAX-scale set pieces to a pulsating new score by Nine Inch Nails , the film is a feast for both the eyes and ears. We praise the aesthetic ambition and technical artistry on display, with the world of the Grid as immersive and visually inventive as ever. Style Over Substance in Tron: Ares Unfortunately, once the digital dust settles, the story itself struggles to keep pace with the film’s presentation. We both agree that Jared Leto delivers a solid performance as Ares, the movie’s shortcomings aren’t on him. Instead, the problems stem from weak writing, thinly drawn supporting characters, and the frustrating decision to ignore much of what made Tron: Legacy  memorable. What could have been a bold continuation often feels like a missed opportunity. The Future of Tron Tron: Ares   is undeniably impressive on a technical level, a neon-soaked sensory experience tailor-made for the big screen. But it’s also a reminder that great visuals alone can’t sustain a legacy. We walk away entertained but unsatisfied, wondering if this will be the franchise’s final trip into the Grid… at least for another decade. (Even if Disney is "retiring" the franchise from movies which means...get ready for the Disney+ shows!) Catch the full discussion now on YouTube  and wherever you get your podcasts.

Back to the Grid: Revisiting Tron: Legacy Nearly three decades after Tron  broke new ground in 1982, Disney returned to the digital frontier with Tron: Legacy (2010) . This week on Forgotten Cinema: Lead Up , we head back to the Grid and we're bringing Daft Punk with us. We are big fans of this long-awaited sequel, praising its sleek action, bold storytelling, and that now-iconic Daft Punk soundtrack  that has become a modern electronic music classic. But beyond the glowing neon lines and disc battles, Tron: Legacy  is a film with surprising depth and big ideas. In this episode, we explore: Mythology and Biblical Parallels : Kevin Flynn as a godlike creator figure, Clu as the fallen creation-turned-antagonist, and the Isos as symbolic representations of humanity itself. Philosophical and Technological Themes : The dangers of chasing perfection, the rise of authoritarian systems from utopian ideals, and the ongoing tension between freedom and control in a digital age. Legacy and Impact : How Tron: Legacy  builds on the foundation of the original, reimagining the Grid as a place of wonder and danger while deepening the emotional stakes. Watch the YouTube-exclusive now! Far more than just a belated sequel, Tron: Legacy  proves to be a film with staying power. Its music, visuals, and themes continue to resonate well beyond the Grid.

Welcome to the Grid: Revisiting Tron Before Tron: Ares  hits theaters, we’re heading back to where it all began, the original Tron  (1982) , the film that imagined what a fully digital world might look like decades before “cyberspace” was even a common term. As part of our Lead Up Series , we jack into the digital frontier for a deep dive into one of the boldest sci-fi experiments of the 1980s. For Butler, this was his first time  seeing Tron , and he was surprised by just how stunning and forward-thinking the film still feels. Far from being the dated “cheesy 80s flick” he’d expected, Tron  remains a visually striking and thematically rich piece of science fiction. In this episode, we explore: The groundbreaking visual effects and unique production process that gave Tron  its iconic look The film’s surprisingly deep themes, including artificial intelligence and digital freedom How Tron  helped pave the way for modern sci-fi, gaming culture, and the concept of digital worlds on screen Watch the YouTube-exclusive episode now! With Tron: Ares  just around the corner, this episode is the perfect way to plug back into the grid and rediscover the bold originality of Tron .

When Freddy Came for the Real World Forgotten Horror is back for its seventh season, and this year The Nightmare is Reel . We’re diving into six weeks of horror films that blur the line between reality and fiction and what better way to kick it off than with New Nightmare  (1994). This meta slasher reimagines Freddy Krueger, not just as a movie monster, but as a dark force trying to break into our world. Heather Langenkamp plays herself, Wes Craven writes himself into the story, and Robert Englund gets to be both Freddy and  Robert. It’s bold, weird, and way ahead of its time. What We Loved About New Nightmare We both appreciate the ambition here. The idea of Freddy stepping out of the movies and haunting the real Heather Langenkamp is fantastic. It gives the Nightmare on Elm Street  franchise a fresh angle while celebrating what came before. Seeing Craven explore the nature of storytelling and horror’s hold on audiences is fascinating, and Englund is as magnetic as ever. What Fell Short That said, New Nightmare  doesn’t go quite far enough. For all its meta setup, the film never fully leans into exploring Craven himself or the impact of Freddy as a cultural figure. The scares are fewer and tamer than they should be, and the final act feels more like a standard Elm Street showdown than the mind-bending, reality-warping climax we were hoping for. Horror Icon Talk Of course, we couldn’t resist detouring into a conversation about slashers in general. Where does Freddy stand in the pantheon of horror icons? Is he scarier than Jason or Michael Myers? Does Ghostface deserve a place at the table? We debate our favorite killers and what makes a truly great slasher villain. The Season is Just Getting Started This is just the beginning of Forgotten Horror 7. Each Wednesday through October we’ll be covering more horror films that challenge the line between story and reality, leading up to our Halloween episode to wrap the season. Join us for the kickoff of The Nightmare is Reel — available wherever you get your podcasts or on YouTube — and let us know: is New Nightmare  a clever reinvention or a missed opportunity?

This week we saddle up for War Horse  (2011) , Steven Spielberg’s sweeping World War I epic that follows a young man and his extraordinary horse across the battlefields of Europe. No surprise here, we’re big Spielberg fans. His ability to tell an emotional, visually stunning story is always on display, and War Horse  is no exception. But this rewatch hit especially hard for us, especially Field, who now counts War Horse  among his favorite Spielberg films. (Yeah, I do!) A Visual Masterclass One of the first things we talk about in this episode is just how incredible this film looks. Cinematographer Janusz Kamiński fills every frame with painterly beauty, giving the movie the feel of a classic Hollywood war epic. From the rolling hills of the English countryside to the mud-soaked trenches of the Western Front, the film’s visual storytelling is breathtaking. Spielberg’s Practical Touch We also dive into Spielberg’s practical approach to filmmaking on War Horse . Amazingly, there are only three digital shots in the entire movie, each one used solely to keep the horses safe during production. It’s a detail that underscores Spielberg’s commitment to grounding this story in something tactile and real, making the emotions hit even harder. Why War Horse  Deserves More Love Despite being nominated for six Academy Awards, War Horse  often gets overlooked when discussing Spielberg’s best work. We make the case that it shouldn’t be. Between the emotional weight of the story, the technical brilliance behind the camera, and John Williams’ moving score, this is a film that earns its epic status. Whether you’ve seen it once or not at all, War Horse  is worth revisiting on the biggest screen you can manage. Listen to our full discussion on Forgotten Cinema , available wherever you get your podcasts or on YouTube.