Listen Now

With the HBO Max television series THE LAST OF US just arriving for viewership, fungi is now the new start to the apocalypse. Mushrooms, cordyceps, and spores somehow infect a person and then the world ends. The 2021 horror film, THE SPORE, has a very interesting concept for sure a scenario.  From IMDB: “The lives of ten strangers intersect through a terrifying chain of events as a mutating fungus begins to spread through a small town wiping out everyone that comes into contact with it.” The film was directed and written by Matt Cunningham starring a cast of mostly unknowns. At its release the movie received many accolades for its fantastic special effects and its haunting music reminding many of classic horror films. Your co-hosts take a look at this interesting film and give their thoughts on the story as well.

Welcome to The Rise of the Cordyceps Infected:  A Last of Us Podcast.  We discuss weekly each episode of the television series THE LAST OF US seen on HBOMax.

The first big horror film of 2023 came out in January.  Usually January is a dumping ground for films that producers think will fail, but not Jason Blum.  MEGAN (2023), also known as MEGAN, appeared at US theaters on January 6th, 2023 and immediately became a hit.  Gemma (Allison Willaims) works as an engineer and programmer at a toy company.  She’s on a deadline to upgrade their number one toy to be priced cheaper so it can compete against a competitor’s rip-off.  When her sister and brother-in-law die in a car accident, her niece Cady (Violet McGraw) comes to live with her.  Though Gemma has no idea what to do with her niece, she has a project at work for a new robotic companion that she’s named Megan (Amie Donald) that may be able to give Cady companionship. The movie is co-produced by Jason Blum and James Wan.  Based on a story by James Wan and Akela Cooper (MALIGNANT), the screenplay was written by Cooper and directed by Gerard Johnstone.   Critics have praised the movie and audiences have given it good reviews.  With a budget of $12M USD, the movie has grossed over $131M USD.  Your co-hosts take a look at this new film and give their thoughts.

Welcome to The Rise of the Cordyceps Infected:  A Last of Us Podcast.  We discuss weekly each episode of the television series THE LAST OF US seen on HBOMax. 

Co-host Mike has said “Don’t ever bet against James Cameron.”   And based off his success rate bringing in the box office, no one should.  In 2009, AVATAR became one of the most acclaimed and biggest movies in cinematic history.  Years later, in 2022, the sequel, AVATAR:  THE WAY OF WATER, was finally released at Christmas time, and in a matter of weeks it surpassed TOP GUN:  MAVERICK (2022) as the top grossing fil of the year.  And it also became one of the biggest grossing films of all time too. So could a film that came out thirteen years ago spark excitement once more after such a long delay for the sequel.  As stated, yes, it can.  The movie has received fabulous reviews from critics and moviegoers have gone in droves to see it.  At the time of this podcast, AVATAR:  THE WAY OF WATER had dominated the box office for six full weeks and was still going strong. Does the film live up to the hype?  Is it a great sequel to its fabulous predecessor?  And can the movie turn what was a fine science fiction film into a franchise that would be remembered like other franchises like STAR WARS, STAR TREK, and THE PLANET OF THE APES.   Only time will tell, but your co-hosts take a look at this latest film and give their thoughts.

We are already 1/12th into 2023 and some good films have come out. However, let's reflect. Did last year start out with a bang or a whimper? Dark Discussions puts together their review of all that was good and bad in 2022. Included was the consideration of dozens of different films that were worthy enough to be considered as a top 10 movie for genre and horror films. Each of your co-hosts put together a list of movies they thought were good enough to be seen by audiences. This included both a list of horror films and a list of other speculative fiction films. Afterwards we then combined those lists and came up with Dark Discussions definitive lists of the best of 2022. Some obvious films like BARBARIAN and TERRIFIER 2 appear but also little known films like SPEAK NO EVIL, and YOU WON'T BE ALONE were considered. Also included are some of our "sometime co-hosts" choices and what they felt were the best of the year. And don’t forget our top and worst scenes, scream queens, breakout star, and anything else you can think of. Dark Discussions wraps up last year in a nice tight bow and gives their listeners a good many films to go out and search for.

Welcome to The Rise of the Cordyceps Infected:  A Last of Us Podcast.  We discuss weekly each episode of the television series on LAST OF US seen on HBOMax. 

It’s been two and a half years since the wonderful actress Kelly Preston has passed away. Back when it happened, Halloween Boutique Psychotronic Reviews had planned a tribute for her, recording episodes on some of her movies. The first recorded TWINS (1988) we recorded and it is in the backlog for future release. However, we also recorded one on her movie SPELLBINDER (1988) which is what we are releasing first. When Jeff (Timothy Daly) and his friend Derek (Rick Rossovich) see a young lady Miranda (Kelly Preston) being hit by a man in a parking lot, Jeff stops the attack and offers Miranda a place to stay. Soon the two fall in love. Miranda’s past and the man that attacked her are related to her childhood and a group of people who she says dabble in the occult. Jeff, the good man he is, promises to keep her safe from any reprisals from the group. Will the two be able to just live a normal life and be left alone? The film was directed by Janet Greek, known for her work on the television series BABYLON 5. The screenplay was written by Tracy Torme known for his work on Saturday Night Live, CARNIVALE, STAR TREK: THE NEXT GENERATION, and FIRE IN THE SKY (1993). Your co-hosts take a look at this hidden gem of a horror film and give their thoughts while paying tribute to the beautiful actress Kelly Preston who left us all too soon.

Welcome to The Rise of the Cordyceps Infected: A Last of Us Podcast. We discuss weekly each episode of the television series on LAST OF US seen on HBOMax. 

English director Simon Rumley is known for his fabulous dark thriller films which include RED WHITE & BLUE (2010), THE LIVING AND THE DEAD (2006), FASHIONISTA (2016), JOHNNY FRANK GARRETT’S LAST WORD (2016), among others.  He has won awards at many festivals and has had his films includes as part of Fangoria’s top horror films of all time.  Now he has his first novel coming out later in 2023 entitled THE WOBBLE CLUB. Synopsis:  Gill and Brolly are two South Londoners that are both obese.  Their weight has actually become their intentional focus of life.  When a life changing moment happens for Brolly, he suggest they go on a diet and change their lifestyle.  Unfortunately Gill has no interest in joining him.   So behind her back he goes on a diet.  But when one’s identity is their weight, and mental illness and personal demons weigh upon their mind, love unexpectedly takes a possible tragic and horrid turn. Dark Discussions has focused a number of their podcasts on Rumley’s many films and discussed the very interesting topics that his movies seem to allude to.  With the upcoming release of his book and the ending of a Indiegogo campaign, your co-hosts read a review copy of the book and bring Simon on to discuss his new project.

New Year’s resolutions are a big thing for folks. Some want to lose weight, find a spouse, get a new job, work towards completing something; others have goals that they strive for. Co-host Mike said that there are a lot of genre films he hasn’t seen that he wants to get to, so as a New Year’s resolution, why not ask all the co-hosts to see some film they always wanted to see and then discuss. Another year doing so, each co-host chose a genre movie that they had never seen and decided to watch it and give their opinions. Films we discuss are Boris Karloff’s THE OLD DARK HOUSE (1932), THE BAD SEED (1956), ALLIGATOR (1980), and TRAIN TO BUSAN (2016).  A wide variety of films they are but also some important ones too that one of your co-hosts finally got to see. With all that, Dark Discussions would like to say happy 2023 to all our listeners and patreon supporters, both new and old, and hope to hear some of the films you folks have never seen and plan to in this new year. Email us and let us know.

In 2021, the film duo of Jamison M. LoCascio and Adam Ambrosio gave the independent film community one of the most impressive horror debuts in these last few years with the movie KNOW FEAR (2021).  With the release of that film, the duo went on to make a second feature, switching it up, and doing an anthology film entitled HOW DARK THEY PREY (2022). HOW DARK THEY PREY is a movie encompassing four dark tales about the haunting nature of man and the unknown around us all.  The sinister themes are presented through the eyes of soldiers in the European theater of World War II; a duo of alien investigators running an online social media site who meet a family that actually believes in abductions; the underground work of deviants within the occult; and what happens when a psychopathic killer decides to kidnap and torture his victims. The film stars a group of talented newcomers and up-and-comers.  Filmed in the towns and forests of New Jersey, the movie became available in Q3 of 2022 on almost all VOD services and rental sites.  Your co-hosts take a look at this new horror anthology and are joined by the filmmakers themselves. 

Nihilism is defined many ways but the most appropriate definition for the new film SPEAK NO EVIL (2022) is life is meaningless.  This Danish film with its very dark story actually premiered at the 38th Sundance Film Festival.  Directed by well known Danish actor Christian Tafdrup, the film shocked audiences but received fabulous reviews from critics.  Danish family Bjorn (Morten Burian) and Louise (Sidsel Siem Koch) head on vacation with their young daughter to Tuscany for vacation.  There they meet Dutch family Patrick (Fedja van Huet) and Karin (Karina Smulders) and their mute son while becoming fast friends.  After returning home, they receive a letter from their new friends inviting them to the Netherlands for their next trip.  After a bit of discussion, Bjorn and Louise decide to go. SPEAK NO EVIL appeared VOD on the television network Shudder not long ago and had social media talking.  How much would you take before deciding it was time to leave the home of your hosts?  SPEAK NO EVIL is a shocking and horrific film.  Your co-hosts take a look at it and try to decide if a well made film that is this appalling deserves accolades.

Not often is there a film that comes around like 2017’s THREE BILLBOARS OUTSIDE EBBING, MISSOURI.  Some feel the movie is almost perfect.  It was nominated for many awards, won a whole lot, and will probably be remembered more so than the films it competed against.  Mildred Hayes (Frances McDormand) is a grieving mother.  A year prior her daughter was raped and murdered and there has been no leads.  Outside her town, she decides to rent three billboards calling out the local sheriff and his officers for their stalled investigation.  The film is directed and written by Martin McDonagh in a career defining masterpiece.  Starring Frances McDormand in a award winning performance, the movie also stars Woody Harrelson, Sam Rockwell, Peter Dinklage, Abbie Cornish, and Samara Weaving in a large ensemble cast.  Your co-hosts take a look at their latest picture to reminisce on and give their thoughts.

Actress Beverly D’Angelo was one of the stars the beloved Christmas movie NATIONAL LAMPOON’S CHRISTMAS VACATION (1989).  Now she’s back in the new horror comedy VIOLENT NIGHT (2022) where Santa Claus is real and he actually has to interact with people that aren’t so nice. Santa Claus (David Harbour) is disillusioned that people just aren’t in the festive spirit anymore.  Children just want money and video games he feels.  When he lands his sleigh upon the Lightstone estate in Greenwich, Connecticut to leave presents, he interrupts a robbery that puts him into a spot where he has to not only defend himself but also a little girl and her family from vicious killers. Best known for the DEAD SNOW franchise, VIOLENT NIGHT is directed by Norwegian filmmaker Tommy Wirkola.  The script is co-written by Pat Casey and Josh Miller, the writers for the SONIC THE HEDGEHOG movies.  The film stars David Harbour and Beverly D’Angelo, but also John Leguizamo too.  Your co-hosts take a look at this theatrical release from Universal Pictures and gives their thoughts.

Independent film can surprise you, especially horror films.  Maybe low budget, maybe by new talent, maybe never picked up by a distributor.  But that doesn’t mean they aren’t pretty fantastic films.  Peter Szewczyk, the director of the 2021 film BEHEMOTH, worked with George Lucas credited with working on visual effects on AVATAR (2009) and HARRY POTTER AND THE DEATHLY HALLOWS: PART 2 (2011), among other films.  Co-writing BEHEMOTH with Derrick Ligas, the movie surprised many horror fans. Joshua Riverton (Josh Eisenberg) decides to become a whistleblower for a company that has not been friendly to the world.  Soon he finds out that doing so may lead to more than just government and corporation retribution.  With the loss of his family, and bringing his friends into his predicament, he may have unleashed horrible things that will not only destroy his life but also save his prior employer from any consequences. BEHEMOTH stars Josh Eisenberg, Jennifer Churchich, Richard Wagner, Angela Nicholas, among others.  Released late in 2021 to video streaming services, the film was barely noticed by movie reviewers.  But with its intriguing poster, the film got notice from many horror fans.  Your co-hosts take a look at this year old movie and give their thoughts.

Director, actor, and screenwriter, Ti West, has been around for a bit working on horror and mumblecore films.  He’s appeared as an actor in YOU’RE NEXT (2011), he directed the found footage thriller THE SACRAMENT (2013), and did the sequel CABIN FEVER 2:  SPRING FEVER (2009).  In 2022, he’s had success where his two latest films including the slasher film X (2022) was picked up and distributed by A24. In 1979, a group of adult movie filmmakers rent a building on a Texas farm.  Their plan is to film their latest movie for the booming pornographic industry.  Worried that their profession could upset the farmers, they don’t tell the owners of the property their real purpose of being there.  How would rural homeowners feel about a production that will include sex scenes performed on their property?  What will happen if the farmers find out? The movie stars Brittany Snow, Jenna Ortega, Scott Mescudi, Martin Henderson, Owen Campbell, Stephen Ure, and Mia Goth plaing two roles. Ti West both wrote and directed the movie.  Released on March 18th, 2022 in the USA, on a one million dollar budget, the film grossed $14.8M USD.  The faux-grindhouse film received excellent reviews from both critics and audiences alike.  A prequel since has been released.  Dark Discussions takes a look at this throwback film and gives their thoughts.

Shane Black has many successes, especially with screenwriting.  Some of his best known are LETHAL WEAPON, THE MONSTER SQUAD, and PREDATOR (all 1987), as well as IRON MAN 3 (2013).  His sense of humor and his apt work on action scenes has given many of his scripts great praise.  But he has directed too including our latest choice to discuss on Cinema A La Carte, KISS KISS BANG BANG (2005). From Bing:  “Kiss Kiss Bang Bang is a 2005 American neo-noir mystery black comedy action thriller film written and directed by Shane Black, and starring Robert Downey Jr., Val Kilmer, Michelle Monaghan, and Corbin Bernsen. The script is partially based on the Brett Halliday novel Bodies Are Where You Find Them, and interprets the classic hardboiled literary genre in a tongue-in-cheek fashion. The film was produced by Joel Silver, with Susan Levin and Steve Richards as executive producers.” With its eclectic cast and Shane Black’s fingers on the script and direction, the neo-noir received excellent reviews on Rottentomatoes.  Though a minor film in many involved in the movie, it helped jump each of their careers and has become a cult favorite.  Your co-hosts take a look at Mike’s choice to discuss.  We give our thoughts and talk about the satire about Hollywood that Black’s script focuses on.

Originally appearing in the horror anthology film ALL HALLOW’S EVE (2013), Art the Clown has since stormed into cult status as a potential horror icon.  For his first feature length film, TERRIFIER (2016), the movie surprised most people with its over the top gore and became a cult classic.  Now, he has returned in TERRIFIER 2, a Halloween release that had a budget of $250,000 USD and went on to earn $11.5M USD.  Art the Clown proves he more than just a person dressed as a clown.  Returning from the dead, he begins his journey through the town where Sienna (Lauren LaVera) and Jonathan (Elliott Fullam), a sister and brother, begin to prepare for Halloween.  Soon Jonathan finds a link to his father, an artist who has now passed, with Art.  Sienna unaware of the connection. Meets up with her friends only to find out Art may be on the hunt for her. The movie is directed and written by Damien Leone and Art the Clown is played once more by David Howard Thornton.  Though released unrated due to the excessive violence, the movie still appeared in many films and has allowed a third in the franchise to be green lit.  Your co-hosts take a look at this indy horror film and give their thoughts.

Back in 1988, the role playing game, CYBERPUNK, was created by Mike Pondsmith.  Since then the game has gone onto much success.  Just in December 2020, a video game called CYBERPUNK 2077 was based off the original game and has had tremendous success on video consoles.  Now a long anticipated television series, CYBERPUNK:  EDGERUNNERS (2022), created in the style of Japanese anime has arrived to Netflix. When high school student David and his mother, in the wrong place at the wrong time, are hurt during an assassination attempt, David is left without parental care.  While on the subway he meets Lucy, a netrunner and petty thief, who brings him into the world of crime.  Soon he joins her crew and the group of cyberpunks and mercenaries try some high risk robberies that may be more dangerous than they thought. Cyberpunk, the subgenre, has been one of the most popular science fiction genres to ever exist.  It was popularized by the stories of such authors as Philip K. Dick and William Gibson.  CYBERPUNK:  EDGERUNNERS (2022) brings the world created by Mike Pondsmith and the follow-up video game to life.  Your co-hosts binge watched the Netflix series so they could give you their thoughts on the show.