Episode 13 - An Interview With Jessica Cameron

Recently, we had the chance to attend a screening of Truth or Dare. We were blown away by it and just had to talk with the director, Jessica Cameron. Luckily we accomplished that because she was gracious enough to talk with us here on the show. So be sure to listen in as we chat with this emerging director about where she started, where she is, and where she is headed!

Episode 13 - An Interview With Jessica Cameron by Midwestmonsterspodcast on Mixcloud

Episode 12 - DAYS OF THE DEAD Chicago 2013 Convention Coverage Special - Afterthoughts

If you couldn't tell by listening to the show or following our social media; we had a fantastic time at Days of the Dead Chicago a few weekends ago. So you already know why we had a great time at this particular one. Previously I wrote about conventions in general and why so many people love them so deeply. So you already know that also.

Here, I want to talk about why Days of the Dead made that Chicago weekend great and why they are a catalyst for the enjoyment in horror convention going for so many. Days of the Dead (DOTD) is a convention that pays mind to the reasons why people love conventions. Now I am not a convention expert by any stretch of the imagination. Hell just in comparison with the other hosts on this show I haven't attended the most or the first. However, I have been to enough now to understand and appreciate what DOTD is accomplishing.

There are other conventions I have been to that were less than savory experiences. I will not mention any names because that serves no purpose here. This is more about what DOTD is doing right, than what others aren't. At these other conventions I am herded like cattle through oversold crowds. Routinely I get screwed out of something advertised because they did not specify things like "only signing X number of autographs that day". Luckily that particular time I had only driven more than an hour away, made plans to stay all weekend, paid entry before this was made clear. No big deal! I mean really think about that and let it marinate for a second. Thousands there that day were denied something that they had spent tons of money just to get there to experience. Many who had traveled much farther than me. None of that mattered though because there needed to be most of the day reserved for more profitable photo-ops and panels and other PR marketing photo moments for their branding purposes. Look, all those reasons to not have the person there for the fans is understandable; just announce it early on. I was denied my chance with only ten people ahead of me at the cutoff at 11am. Seriously, that is when the doors were supposed to open to the public. So what about all of the people who spent extra money for early entry? Who cares? is evidently that answer. So many other instances like this continue to happen where we realize the customer is no longer a concern. When you are making money hand over fist why worry about taking care of those that made it so profitable?

Luckily for the dedicated horror fans of America you have 4 chances around the country to enjoy how Days of the Dead treats their fans. With shows in Chicago, Indianapolis, Atlanta, and Los Angeles there is a chance for many to do just that. The crowds are always present but not painfully crowded and they are well controlled. The celebrity guests and fans are always pleasant because everyone is being taken care of with respect. The guests are great and varied but they are also not trendy which is nice for the fans who are there for a horror convention as opposed to a "what's hot right now" convention. DOTD is always organized well which attracts solid volunteers wanting to help (including myself this past summer which was a great experience) because they know they can help maintain a good thing. That makes a HUGE difference. 

I can say definitively, that from all aspects of attending their conventions, Days of the Dead genuinely listens to and cares about their patrons. Undecided for some reason? Go look at their social media and skim through to see their interaction with fans that help mold the decisions they make. It is literally right there to see if you are interested. Even before I have walked through the entrance I am already happy knowing that I am not going to have to pay an additional 30, 40, 50, 100 or more dollars to take a picture with people. This is because they do not do photo-ops because the majority of responsive fans said they did not want it. Obviously, they cannot personalize everything for every attendee but man it's close. 

I assure you I have nothing to gain by writing this or any agenda to squeeze in for anyone. I simply strive to turn some new people on to this convention and also to enjoy the rare positive opportunity to tell others about a business. If you want a family feel to your convention and your dollar appreciated; seek out a Days of the Dead show. I promise you will not be disappointed.
   

   

   

If you would like to see our pictures please check Facebook as we should have them up there soon. Thanks for listening and we hope to see many of you at conventions in the future!

Beware of the moon
The Professor

Episode 12 - Days of the Dead Chicago 2013 Convention Coverage Special

We left the comforts of our usual recordings to venture up to Chicago for Days of the Dead 2013. It was certainly worth trip as you will hear us explain in this episode. Listen in as we interview different actors, artists, authors, and more. We will take you to the con with us if you couldn't make it or if you have never been to one then join us this way and see what it's all about! We hope you enjoy!

Episode 12 - Days of the Dead Chicago 2013 Convention Coverage Special by Midwestmonsterspodcast on Mixcloud

Episode 11 - Stephen King

The master of the macabre, Stephen King, has written a prolific amount of successful and varied horror. Vampires, werewolves, ghosts, killer dogs and cars, and endless other tales of the supernatural unknown to name a few. King has already cemented his legacy but continues to provide us with new entertaining novels every years, usually more than once. So listen in as we run through many of the film adaptations. Obviously we could not cover everything completely and in depth; but damn if we didn't have fun trying. We hope you enjoy....

Episode 11 - Stephen King by Midwestmonsterspodcast on Mixcloud

Episode 11 - Stephen King - Afterthoughts

Stephen King has fascinated and captured the imagination of millions of readers throughout five different decades. His macabre storytelling seldom duplicates subjects from any of his previous efforts and continues to fly off of the shelves. Even the cover artwork on his novels are engaging due to the wide range of themes.. I can remember as a child, so many hours spent marveling at the covers of his books before I was allowed to read them. The hand through the sewer grate, the metallic  lettering of Christine, the foaming mouth of Cujo, and many others. Those collected covers were like a picture book of ghost stories to me. Without even reading a page of one I could not wane the interest. Here's the best part, since then it has only gotten better. Once I began to see the film adaptations of so many of these, my interest soared. The previous imaginative wonder of seeing but not enjoying these books were brought to life on screen. Seeing Salem's Lot or The Shining for the first time was fantastic. Which only confirmed my certainty of these being great, and they sure were, weren't they?

Stephen King is creating a prolific legacy right in front of us. We spend copious amounts of time learning about Lovecraft or  Poe and their works and rightfully so. However, Poe was a man who was destitute, lonely, and not appreciated like he is today.  Quite the opposite though, we have King, another master of dark storytelling, doing it right in front of us while we celebrate him. He has remained a huge success for almost 40 years since Carrie hit the shelves in April of 1974. During that time, he has been immensely successful and adored by his fans; so it is easy to take his greatness for granted after so many years of sustained success.

King's writing itself has both a strongest and weakest point in my eyes. The weakness is that he does not always finish his books strong. So many books he has written are completely captivating for half the book or more, and then just nosedives into an over-the-top forced ending that does not even fit the mood of the book. The strongest point is that he makes his characters rich and relatable. Readers are invested in the stories because they develop care for the character, and relate to many of them. He spends time crafting these characters, and subsequently it makes the horror inflicted on them that much more effective. This to me, is what has made him what he is over the years. There have been plenty of exceptional genre authors during this time but they seldom make you invest like King will.

Excitingly these days, King seems to be hungry again. Recent works of 11/22/63, Under The Dome, Joyland, and the recently released followup to the beloved The Shining (Doctor Sleep) all demonstrate that Stephen King is far from exhausted, bored, or ready to walk away anytime soon. I know many of you agree when I say, I sure hope that's the case.

                                

Thanks again for listening and reading afterwards. The support in recent weeks has been humbling and exciting. We are having an absolute blast with you! Until next time..

Beware of the moon.....
The Professor

Episode 10 - The Halloween Franchise - Afterthoughts

Inevitably, you or someone close to you, has had a toxic relationship at some point. One that offers good moments and days; but only so often. In between the good that is easy to focus on, the rest of the frustration and anger are glossed over in between. Most do not realize it until its long over. No this is not a relationship column, but rather how I feel about the Halloween franchise.

The Halloween franchise has been at times great; and at other points equally as bad. Unfortunately there is not much of a middle ground. Rival franchises of the time were smart enough to stick to what worked and were consistent with their entries. We previously mentioned on the last episode how the Friday the 13th entries were not individually better, but were as a sum. The problem with the Halloween series is the complete absence of cohesion, care, and business acumen.

The first Halloween film was an amazing achievement in the horror genre and independent cinema. You know the many reasons why this film worked then and still does today. If you do not, it is a little surprising why you are here reading this. It is a classic and is somewhere near the top of the list for most horror aficionados. However, the point of this piece is not to praise that first film, as it certainly does not need my help. Not to mention we certainly addressed it in our show. So let's move on...

The second Halloween film was really good in some ways. My complaint is that they completely tried to copy the success of Friday the 13th by catering to that style instead of sticking with what brought them their original success. Halloween created the success that inspired Sean Cunningham to copy them in the first place! While I enjoy Halloween II, it is disappointing to see it step outside of what made the first one great. A good portion of the excruciating suspense was gone and the understated yet savage killing turned into more inventive and ridiculous attacks. However, it did remain subtle by comparison with its peers of that time. It just kills me (pun intended) to see a franchise stray from its integrity and original success so quickly. Ultimately, I do love the seamless transition of characters and time though and Halloween II has it's fair share of good moments.

Halloween III: Season of the Witch. What a disaster and unfair result for this film. Tommy Lee Wallace wrote and directed this wonderful piece of 80's pod-people fanfare. Take the "Halloween 3" off of the title, call it Season of the Witch, and you have a beloved 80's cult classic. Instead it flopped because viewers felt cheated and the suits would ultimately run back to Michael to line their wallets. Failing to follow through with the plan for a series of anthology entries only helped cement the maligned response of this film for a long time, if not forever. If only they would've saw it through to another new entry, I think it would have all been different.

So six years later, after the failure of the third installment, they returned to Michael with an approach of simple fun movies where he slaughters everyone he comes across and gives the viewers what they want. Ultimately they could not even get this right in the end with the poor entries that followed after. While this film was actually pretty decent, they completely spoiled it to a certain degree with the horrific and unsuccessful next sequel. Danielle Harris gave an astounding youth performance in this movie and Pleasence was fantastic as usual. While flawed, it was still fun to see Michael back, breaking hearts and necks again. We know that the decisions prior to this point had not been the best but at this juncture, this was where the tide turned. John Carpenter washed his hands of the franchise after having been involved in everything up until this point. They didn't show him the respect he he had warranted by then with his ideas for part 4 so he walked. Furthermore, the success of Part 4 was immense, so they rushed out the next entry. The problem is that they did not give enough time to let the success of part 4 finish. While they were trying to fill seats in the theaters with 5, they were competing with themselves and the home entertainment phase of 4. Wonderful business minds at work yet again. I do not mean to fully bash though and just want to clarify that I do like Part 4. I think it is a movie that ended up being twice the film it set out to be. Mainly thanks to the child acting of Danielle Harris.

As mentioned above, then came part 5, and it was obvious they had lost interest in any kind of care for the series. Say what you want about other franchises like the Friday and Nightmare entries but one thing cannot be denied; those films consistently gave the fans what they wanted and presented it with at least some respectable effort. Halloween 5's director was an absolute joke, and the film was flawed from title to title. An example is that they made Jamie (Harris) mute! The best quality of the previous film is completely written out of the script, but yet they still brought her back, to be mute. Add to that, she was a killer at the end of the previous film, but in 5 that could not be less important.

Six, took that formula for disaster and doubled it. Between the director and the studios interference another incredible turd was made. I will not waste your time on this one anymore than we already have on the show.

Then we finally get a really good film in 1998 with H2O. It was fresh, well directed by genre hero Steve Miner, well acted with an impressive cast, and it brought back the best things about the original film. The music, the faces, the suspense, even the title fonts, they were all back. It was a huge win for the franchise and the fans. So what do you do now that you have brought a fantastic close to the series? A tough decision indeed, so the only logical next step was to make another film that top bills Curtis and kills her almost immediately. A film that is set within reality TV, rich with horrible dialogue, and the likes of Busta Rhymes thespian nature; what could go wrong? A film that did not respect the franchise or it's viewers in the slightest. A very painful finish (at least to date) to the original vision of Carpenter and it's franchise.

It is not surprising that nothing has come of the original franchise since Mr. Rhymes tugged at our emotions with his immeasurable acting. H2O and Resurrection are the equivalent of the boxer who wont quit trying. Somehow, miraculously we see the boxer win it all, and then retire when they have been long past their prime. We are left with a pleasant memory of the one-time prized fighter and we hold on to that memory with a smile. Unfortunately, the fighter greedily comes back and gets their ass absolutely kicked in a way that you are indelibly  left with and wont forget. But at this point in the franchise's history there is no reason to be surprised. One bad decision after another was always the modus operandi of this series. Which is a shame because at times, there are glimpses of greatness in these films.

No matter what, I will always maintain a place for the series in my heart, but it isn't easy because it is in fact a toxic relationship. Those are not easy to be honest with yourself about and typically take a long time after the fact, if ever, to recognize. But when a series has more wrongs than rights, it is time to be objective about it. I love the character of Michael Myers, I love the original film, and I love a few of the sequels for peculiar reasons, but it all could have been much better and I am now coming to terms with that.

Thanks for taking the time to listen to our show and check out the blog and page. Happy Halloween everyone! Until next time......

Beware of the moon,
The Professor

Episode 10 - The Halloween Franchise

It is, without question, the time of year to make Michael Myers a part of your life. Listen in as we, joined by our friend Oz, talk about the entire Halloween franchise. We had a blast with this and stretched our usual format of an hour to go longer with this topic. Plain and simple, it's Halloween time and there is no way that four fans can cover this franchise in just one hour. We hope you enjoy!

Episode 10 - The Halloween Franchise by Midwestmonsterspodcast on Mixcloud

Episode 9 - An Interview With Tyler Mane - Afterthoughts

Recently, we had the opportunity to speak with Mr. Tyler Mane. He was gracious enough to take time out of his day to join us and chat about his career thus far and what is on the horizon. Mane has had quite an interesting and unique career already; which certainly warrants your time to look into if you have not already. Ranging from landing iconic roles in both the Halloween and X-Men franchise, to a previous professional wrestling career, Mane is undoubtedly an interesting story. The best part is that it appears he is just getting started; as his production company, Mane Entertainment, is in the works with it's second feature. The first feature Compound Fracture looks very promising. With a horror-fan-friendly cast, original writing, and obvious dedication, we cannot wait to see it. We hope you enjoyed listening  as much as we did.

Below are links to everything Tyler Mane:

Twitter:
@TYLER_MANE
@ManeEntertain

Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/ManeEntertain

Websites:
www.maneentertainment.com
www.compoundfracturethemovie.com
www.penancelane.com

Again, thank you to Tyler Mane for joining us and thank you to everyone for listening and reading further! Now go check everything out and support film!

Episode 9 - The Midwest Monsters vs Michael Myers: An Interview With Tyler Mane

Tyler Mane recently took some time to chat with us about upcoming projects, being Michael Myers, and much more. Join us!

Episode 9 - The Midwest Monsters VS Michael Myers: An Interview With Tyler Mane by Midwestmonsterspodcast on Mixcloud

Episode 8 - Halloween Season Fun

Halloween season and the month of October are a feast for any horror fan's appetite to watch even more movies than they usually do. In this episode we discuss the season of Halloween and all that it brings forth. Ranging from our annual Halloween movie staples to our favorite costumes, you do not want to miss this fun episode!

Episode 8 - Halloween Season Fun by Midwestmonsterspodcast on Mixcloud

Episode 7 - Exorcism & Possession in Film - Afterthoughts

What makes this film so scary to some; while others think the polar opposite? That is a tough call. Now I must declare immediately this will be a brief entry for me because I am not interested in going as deep as this topic can reach. Choosing to dive head first into religion, possession, demons, etc is signing up for a hefty piece of writing. Instead, I will just touch on what we do this for, the movies.

The Exorcist is the only movie that gets under my skin anymore. Most movies that do, I know what is coming because I have seen them so much or I am just desensitized to others. This is the only film that no matter how many times I see it, it still unnerves me. I attribute this to the quality of the film more than the subject matter. The story was wonderfully crafted by William Peter Blatty, directed by William Friedkin, and executed performances from Ellen Burstyn, Max von Sydow, Jason Miller, and the young and courageous Linda Blair.  Lastly, like a short list of other horror films, this has flawless music in it. Starting with Tubular Bells, the viewer has a tone set of ominous and dark fear-filled drama, which it lives up to it (and more). 

While I am far from a religious person, I do get the impact of its power in this film. What really matters though are the driving parts of it: basic good and evil, redemption, courage, and conviction. Why this movie is so effective is that you care about the people in it to a certain degree. Horror fans historically are not treated to top notch acting in extremely serious and horrific settings. Not to discount many great films over the years, and The Exorcist isn't exclusive to this, but this is a unique thing in the genre. A mother and her daughter who have done nothing to warrant or invite this event; are subjected to this. The men of faith and what they are subjected to. The viewer has no choice but to join them and in the process feel sympathy for them. While some do not get the same impact that I do from this film; one cannot deny its importance. I still have to mentally prepare myself before I willingly put this movie on and for that I am so grateful. I doubt there will ever be another film, or at least not many, that will ever have this effect on me again. It is in a class of it's own for me.

Lastly, yes I understand many people are never "scared" by a movie. In my eyes that just means they are not willing to give themselves to the art. It is easy for anyone to not be scared by a movie that is on your television screen. Just seems unfortunate that some would rather have bragging rights instead of letting themselves fall into the movie they are devoting a few hours to; but i digress. I am here before you saying that this film terrifies me because it plays with emotions, conventions, archetypes, and religion at your expense. Many other films have been made on the same topic, a few excellent ones in fact. However, nothing has and nothing ever will come close to this terrifying and physically draining Horror classic.

Thanks for taking the time to listen to us and read this on top of that. We are flattered every single time you do. So thank you...
Until next time,
Beware of the moon
Professor

Episode 7 - Exorcism & Possession in Film

Join in as we discuss the different films that deal with exorcism and possession. A large focus is on The Exorcist which is followed with many others. Thanks for listening..

Episode 7 - Exorcism and Possession in Film by Midwestmonsterspodcast on Mixcloud

Episode 6 - Friday the 13th Franchise - Afterthoughts

Let me just start by saying I LOVE this series and there is no deep rooted analysis for this derivation. I think it stems mainly from the fact that the movies never took themselves too seriously. They had fun making these films which made our generation have fun with them as well.

I am not old enough to remember the first Friday the 13th film or even the next 4 or 5. I was born the year after the original was released. By the time I was old enough to begin taking note of these films; the original traditional wave of films were coming to an end. I can vividly remember being allowed to watch Part VIII (Takes Manhattan for all you novices) on pay television. I remember my father, and his generation all passing on these films because of how over-the-top, gory, and ridiculous they were. At the time I can remember that stance making them more appealing, naturally. Over time I have come to realize that he was not wrong and neither was I. Both types of horror movies can be effective; and if nothing else, just as fun. Some prefer things left to the imagination and some love it detailed out for them. I prefer...................both.

In VIII's opening scene watching Jason come aboard the couple's boat , stalking his unsuspecting prey, and impaling them with a harpoon was something else for me at the ripe age of nine (approx). But it was the hockey mask that sent this menacing image into my brain forever. I was enamored with its appearance and have been ever since. The all-time great horror icons all have their trademarks that most of the public immediately recognize; but that hockey mask seems to elevate above everything else in terms of a public fascination.

I feel that I was lucky to view such a late entry first. It made seeing everything from before that much more enjoyable. After that, going back and seeing better films in the series was an absolute treat. Now,I realize that these films are not the best at times, and at some points are downright atrocious. Nonetheless faithful fans always have a good time watching them. F13th had contemporary competition in terms of other franchises. Halloween, typically made better films, and worked on building suspense a lot of the time. The Nightmare on Elm Street franchise always had the money behind it no matter what. However, Friday the 13th somehow always had a special charisma that came with it. Once you inhaled it, you never left it, no matter how bad it got. A franchise that was built from ripping off the first Halloween film; has never tried to claim intellectual ownership over the movement. It merely felt the pulse of the crowd, catered to it and subsequently capitalized exponentially from it.

While fully aware of its faults, I will always love the Friday the 13th franchise just a little more. Grizz mentioned on the episode, and I concur, that there isn't one favorite Friday film that fans hold over other series. It is just a series we love overall, and it is merely that simple. There are far superior entries in the NOES and Halloween franchises but that doesn't change a thing. We love our Jason flicks......

That is all for now. I thank you for taking the time, again, to listen and read on this newest episode. I hope some of you took the time, or plan to enjoy this horror holiday with a few Friday features.
Until next time

Beware of the moon
The Professor

Episode 6 - Friday the 13th Franchise

In lieu of it being Friday the 13th, did we really have another choice for our next episode? A franchise that is very dear to all three of us, it was a blast running through the franchise together on this episode. Listen in as we touch on each film in their chronological order laced with the usual banter, useless trivia, and in this case......... our gushing affection for this beloved series that seems to never ease up. 

Hope you enjoy!

Episode 6 - Friday the 13th Franchise by Midwestmonsterspodcast on Mixcloud

Episode 5 - Conventions - Afterthoughts

Horror conventions......

If you have never been, then maybe this piece will entice you to hop in the car this weekend and check one out. If you are a seasoned veteran of them, then you will read this entire entry anyways; because quite simply......you cannot get enough. Once you experience a convention weekend, if you truly love horror, you will never ease up on them. Allow me, if you will, for a moment of  free-floating praise for these events. I fear it will be a little unstructured because it is very easy to ramble about the topic.
Going to conventions for me (and most others) brings different great things about them with every visit, some of which can be varied from con to con in terms of quality. However, there is one thing that is always a constant. THE FANS. No matter what show you attend, there will be things you do not like as much as the previous convention. Maybe the overselling of tickets, prices in general, the celebrity guest list, the policies, etc. will rub you the wrong way at times. However, there will be one thing that is always there to make it a great weekend, and that is the community. 

with Sid Haig

Initially, what I was most surprised by were the nature of the convention-goers. 95% of the people you encounter are thoughtful, courteous, and just as passionate about movies as you are. There is no: lack of patience in crowded areas, cutting lines, or other devious acts. I have witnessed on more than one occasion, a fan do the right thing for another. Whether it is someone having trouble getting through an area or someone who dropped their money. I always see horror fans looking out for each other. You can look online at message boards and see people post that they cannot make it to a convention and seek the help of other convention-goers. The majority of the time, a perfect stranger steps up and helps them. I have heard it at autograph tables where you will hear someone say that they are getting it for a person who couldn't make it and asked online. Another example is the fund-raiser I mentioned on the show; where Adam Green and friends raised over $15,000 for the Boston Marathon victims. This truly is a community. The community that is thought of by many, as a dark and twisted group. I promise you that if you want to make some new friends at a horror convention, it will not be hard to find them.

Another draw, the merchandise, is endless at conventions (although some are better than others). That is really just the luck of the draw depending on the region you are in. You can find a t-shirt of of your favorite obscure flicks, rare out of print movies, original art, and endless other collectibles. You can meet people who you have watched in your cherished movies for as long as you can remember. It is just a world to get lost in for a weekend; and even better it is with the company of others who get your obsession.

with Amy Steel

There are lots of events to enjoy as well; ranging from varying entertainment to social events. There are screenings of independent films; and depending on what con you are at it, could range from non-stop the whole weekend to just smaller scheduled evening events. There are social events held like pajama parties or costume balls. Maybe, you like the more organic kind of social evening? That's fine, head down to the nearest bar/restaurant at the venue; because typically there will be the fans and (sometimes) the celebrities enjoying drinks till the wee hours of the evening. A night where, over drinks in public, you can discuss your favorite dismemberment or head explosions with others and that's viewed as normal. All of these items are just more of the fun at your disposal if you want it.

If you do not want to stay the night or all weekend, there is still yet another way to see a convention. Volunteer to help! While it is not financially rewarding, it can be a great way to take in the weekend. I recently volunteered at one and met quite a few great fellow fans, helped many others, and experienced a ton of fantastic things with the celebrity guests. When you find yourself in a conversation with Danny Trejo and Gary Busey, it is a little surreal. It truly was a weekend for the ages. If that interests you, or has before, then contact your promoter. They can usually use the help and you are helping sustain something you enjoy for the future. Everybody wins!

Now let me disclaim this for those who have not been to a convention: there is one thing that is challenging about them. The challenging thing is talking about said conventions to those who do not go to them. Spending copious amounts of time and money on merchandise and meeting faces from the films you love will not make sense to many. It is an exhausting task that is better to just shake off when presented with the negative opinions. They do not get it, you do, you win.

with Danielle Harris

I promise you, these conventions become a part of your DNA and your personality almost overnight. It is a club that you are instantly welcomed into without snobby condescension from the veterans. It is, for many, their vacation each year. I would say this is a good vacation to plan for because each weekend you go to one, you lose yourself effortlessly and completely. The only disappointing part for me, is leaving. It is like a summer camp, crammed into one weekend, with friends who are just like you.


I hope you enjoyed our episode whether you have been before or not. If you are still curious about anything on the subject , feel free to contact one of us! Anybody going to HorrorHound this weekend feel free to hit us up and have a beer or a laugh! We like both. With that said, this wraps up my babbling this time around. Thank you so much for listening and reading. Whether you are at the con here this weekend or not; everybody have fun this weekend and be safe!

Until Next Time
Beware of the moon
Professor

Episode 5 - Conventions

Tune in for this surprise episode about the fantastic world of Horror conventions! We did this one in preparation for HorrorHound Weekend in Indianapolis this upcoming weekend! Whether you are a seasoned veteran or just interested, this is a fun episode. We hope you enjoy and thanks for listening!

Episode 5 - Conventions by Midwestmonsterspodcast on Mixcloud

Episode 4 - Atmosphere & Rules - Afterthoughts

Whether it is a budget-deficiency or just classic film-making; atmospheres can be such a great aid to cinema. Tones can be set for a film to make it scary without having to take cheap shots at the viewer or use excessive exploits of gore and violence. Some of the scariest films over time were because of the atmosphere they were set in. The New England region plays on rich-history and the possibility for endless tormented souls from the past there. All it takes is a film movement to establish a scenario to remain seared into the movie-goer's conscious. Enough movies have been set in rural-wooded areas at this point to indelibly place the fear of aggressive rednecks, nature itself, or the overall vulnerability within the viewers before anything has been delivered to them.

In my humble opinion, Val Lewton was, and still is the king of atmosphere. He pumped out a string of very effective chillers in the 1940's for RKO (despite loud sensational titles and little money). He had a limited budget to work with on each film and masked it with ominous atmosphere and richly ambivalent characters. Some of these films like Cat People or The Body Snatcher should be viewed by anyone interested in him or vintage horror films.

Ultimately, there are many great atmospheres to choose from. Regardless of the chosen season for the film, whether it is foggy Victorian-era London or a hot night in rural Texas; the atmosphere can do so much for the viewer (especially the seasoned ones) before the first act is in the can.

As always, THANK YOU so much for listening to this most recent episode and taking a moment to read this. We are having so much fun with friends, old and new, talking about what we all love so much in the world of the macabre. I would love to hear from you on what some of your favorite atmospheres are? Feel free to share on our Facebook page or right here! Until next time....

Beware of the moon
Professor Wagstaff
August 27, 2013

Episode 4 - Atmosphere & Rules

Listen in as we discuss varying atmospheres in horror movies and what comes with them, including relevant rules. Additionally we branch off with more general rules of horror film. A fun episode from your Midwest Monsters! Hope you enjoy and don't forget to share thoughts/opinions on facebook!

Episode 4 - Atmosphere & Rules by Midwestmonsterspodcast on Mixcloud

Episode 3 - Sequels - Afterthoughts

When it comes to watching scary movies, I have always had a love for sequels. Well most of the time; but it has not always been pretty over the years. I can specifically remember one year I was so stoked for my rental selection from the Kroger video store. I was allowed to pick one film, and this was not just any film. This was a legitimate scary movie for grown-ups and the 3rd in a franchise that I had quickly grown to love. It was October, I had seen the first two, so naturally I chose Halloween III: Season of the Witch. I can vividly remember popping that movie on that night, and crying over it. Where the hell was Michael and my third helping to the formula I loved. Over the years I have come to understand why that film was what it was; but it did not matter one iota that night to me. So I cannot tell you that definitively, I have always enjoyed sequels.

However, I have never understood the uppity stance some take on movies that have numbers like 5, 8, 10, etc. in the title. That is like reviewing the experience of doing laundry for someone else. Obviously, one does not expect a groundbreaking, deeply involved film when they watch the 7th Jason movie. They are made to make money off of the loyal fan-base and the enjoyment of viewers. While many will rip whatever the current franchise is, there are those who are simply enjoying it. Paranormal Activity sequels, the Saw series before that, or the endless parade before those set out to do one thing:  make money and keep fans. There is a place for films in different ways.


This upcoming weekend if presented with a M. Night marathon or a Hatchet triple feature; I think I know which one sounds more fun. That is not to discount the works of Mr. Shyamalan in the slightest, I am a fan. However, movies (especially in the horror genre) do not always have to be an experience, they can simply be fun. Which is what sequels ultimately are for! Universal studios recognized this (almost as soon as sound in the movies arrived) with the success of Dracula and Frankenstein and those movies are still beloved today as much as any films are. Probably more than any. My point is that no one cares or listens to the bashing of SAW IV or Friday the 13th Part 6 because that is a pointless critique. We already know, going into the film, what we are signing up for. We are simply returning to a place we enjoy...

Lastly, I must say that the recording of this episode was a blast. It was this past winter and there was a legitimate snowstorm coming through. Mad Chann and I, despite all logic, made the trip up with the weather looming. We arrived with a lot of pizza and tots to accompany the bourbon and cheap beer. The weather did not disappoint, because Mad Chann had to push my car out of Grizz's driveway the next morning. All in all, it was all worth it as we had a great time being snowed in together. I figure if listeners had even half of the fun listening that we did recording, then it is a success.

Thank you so much for listening and checking out our show and blog. It has been a blast thus far and it is only getting better. One last note is that if you are looking for a drinking game for the show, then take a shot every time I say "100%", it seems to be a problem. Until next time....

Beware of the moon
The Professor

Episode 3 - Sequels

Listen in as your three favorite hosts talk about what makes a horror sequel good or bad; and lots more on the MMP's 3rd episode!

Episode 3 - Sequels by Midwestmonsterspodcast on Mixcloud

Episode 2 - The Films of Rob Zombie - Afterthoughts

Rob Zombie's films seem to evoke polarizing stances among viewers that leaves only small numbers of people left on the fence. Historically, films and directors that do this, ultimately matter. Whether you hate it or love it, respect it or shred it, it matters. Which leads me to believe that Zombie has already won the battle in my book.

However, I do understand why these films are not for everyone. They at times are just too over-the-top, offensive, and grimy to many. Some have grown exhausted with the white-trash look of all characters and the bottom of the barrel behavior that they embody. I honestly do understand the feelings that come from those who do not enjoy these films.



I only find agitation with the community who subscribe to the offended stance that is not applied to other films they enjoy. Endless films have paraded women around as topless promiscuous airheads. Films where they are being raped, slaughtered, and subjected sexually do not raise this same critique among many. Yet, The Devil's Rejects managed to offend viewers by the boat-loads with a few sentences. I understand the initial displeasure of said moments; but the criticism should be more consistent. Rather, just openly admit that you do not like the films of Zombie and leave it at that. Creating double-standards on the subject matter is transparent and less effective than simply saying you do not like the director.

While the movies do not offend me personally I do have limits as a patron and viewer. I can only be subjected to the same brand of film so many times. Rob Zombie's films can only be done so many times until the fan-base slims down to just the die-hard fans. I will be one of those to depart eventually unless he starts to really broaden his characters. If he does not, then that is certainly within his rights as an artist to do so. Unfortunately for the artists of the world, it is also the right of the viewer to grow tired of things and spend their money and time elsewhere. Personally, while I have loved the brand created thus far, I am starving to find some characters in his films that are completely different from the past. Being an excellent auteur does not mean that you marry that niche exclusively and permanently. Good directors step out of that comfort and entice the audience with a fresh film to watch. I am simply in dire need of some different archetypes and the styles they are garbed in. Educated clean people can be just as sinister and disturbing as well. I openly invite Mr. Zombie to step out of the comfort zone and show us the next phase of his repertoire. Otherwise, I wont be able to defend his work much longer.

Lastly, I would like to clarify that when I stated that listeners who do not like Rob Zombie films are stupid, I was kidding. These films are not masterpieces by any stretch of the imagination and certainly are viable choices to not appreciate. I was only kidding folks. Many listeners who do not like Rob Zombie films are astute film fans and I know that.

Thank you so much for taking some time to hang out with us again on this episode! That's all on my end and until next time....

Beware of the moon
The Professor