Third time's the charm... your hosts tackle THE BAT (1959, Wilbur), a remake of the 1926 silent film and of the 1930 sound version.

This time 'round, we have Vincent Price, Agnes Moorehead and Gavin Gordon starring, but will it make a difference for this old fashioned flick?

THE BAT (1926, West) was previously covered in Episode 16.
THE BAT WHISPERS (1930, West) was previously covered in Episode 23.

Context setting 00:00; Synopsis 28:24; Discussion 41:18; Ranking 57:10

Episode 277 - Best It's Been Done

This week, your hosts watch CALTIKI, IL MOSTRO IMMORTALE (1959) from director Robert Hamton or maybe Riccardo Freda or possibly Mario Bava!

In any case, it stars John Merivale and Gérard Herter in a blob-inspired Italian horror movie.

Context setting 00:00; Synopsis 20:19; Discussion 33:14; Ranking 47:22

Episode 276 - Beware of the Caltiki

Coming to you in Percepto! It's THE TINGLER (1959) from William Castle! Starring Vincent Price, Judith Evelyn and Philip Coolidge, plus more gimmicks than you can shake a stick at, the film is Castle's third horror... can he keep up his quality of work?

The special music you hear in this episode is from creature of the night Chris Crewe and his band the Special Agents! You can find their music here: https://thespecialagents.bandcamp.com/

Context setting 00:00; Synopsis 35:52; Discussion 47:04; Ranking 1:11:18

Episode 275 - Grasping for Themes

We've received an appeal for 1958's ONNA KYÛKETSUKI aka LADY VAMPIRE directed by Nobuo Nakagawa!

With additional context around the westernization of public displays of affection in Japan, we reconsider where this film was originally ranked.

Find the full list of ranked films at screamscenepodcast.com

Episode 259A - Westernizing PDA

It's a Tim Burton Christmas with 1993's THE NIGHTMARE BEFORE CHRISTMAS, directed by Henry Selick!

Your hosts cover the life and times of Danny Elfman, the making of NIGHTMARE and even dig into what death of the author actually means.

Context setting 00:00; Synopsis 50:01; Discussion 56:32

Horror Adjacent 18 - A Tim Burton Christmas

Your hosts travel to West Germany for DIE NACKTE UND DER SATAN (1959) from writer/director Victor Trivas!

What's been happening in Germany since our last horror movie there in 1936? Is there cultural significance to our villain having blonde hair and blue eyes? Listen and find out!

Context setting 00:00; Synopsis 39:19; Discussion 52:11; Ranking 1:13:56

Episode 274 - On Brand

Hand puppets, shrew facts, racism... it's THE KILLER SHREWS (1959) directed by Ray Kellogg! Produced by Ken Curtis and Gordon McLendon, this regionally produced film made over one million dollars -- so it has to be good... right?

Context setting 00:00; Synopsis 23:31; Discussion 34:31; Ranking 51:41

Episode 273 - Welcome... to the Killer Shrews

Take a peek into the "real life" Black Museum at Scotland Yard with HORRORS OF THE BLACK MUSEUM (1959), from director Arthur Crabtree and starring Michael Gough!

Filmed in *hypnovista,* this unique British/American production showcases sadism and true crime instead of something supernatural.

Context setting 00:00; Synopsis 25:28; Discussion 39:23; Ranking 54:02

Episode 272 - Jekyll and Hyde Stew

For November's horror adjacent bonus episode, your deadicated hosts tackle OVER THE GARDEN WALL (2014), the Cartoon Network miniseries created by Patrick McHale and starring Elijah Wood, Collin Dean, Melanie Lynskey and Christopher Lloyd!

Context setting 00:00; Synopsis 37:10; Discussion 57:12

Horror Adjacent 17 - Folktales and Fables

All the way from the carboniferous period, it's THE MONSTER OF PIEDRAS BLANCAS (1959)!

Directed by Irvin Berwick, this flick is made up of Universal Pictures' laid off staff and disgruntled workers on a CREATURE FROM THE BLACK LAGOON template.

Context setting 00:00; Synopsis 12:56; Discussion 29:48; Ranking 43:34

Episode 271 - Low Budget Uncanny Valley

Hello dear Creatures of the Night, this week got away from us.

In lieu of our regular episode, I’ve prepared a spooky music playlist that I hope will delight: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/0KeFTGk9fHaNtCvXNL6IFW?si=043539c0ae5f448d

We’ll be back next Wednesday night!

A Very Special Scream Scene - Musical Spooks

If you had a traumatic past that was repressed in your memory, would you want to be told? From director Roy Del Ruth comes THE ALLIGATOR PEOPLE (1959), starring Beverly Garland, Richard Crane and Lon Chaney Jr!

Context setting 00:00; Synopsis 14:57; Discussion 27:41; Ranking 47:31

Episode 270 - Better Not To Know

Sequels have to walk a tightrope of meeting expectations set by the original while offering more than a rehash of the same plot. Your deadicated hosts see how RETURN OF THE FLY (1959, Bernds) fares with this balancing act!

The films stars Brett Halsey, David Frankham and, returning from the original, Vincent Price.

Editor's Note: Throughout the episode, Ben mistakenly says "Bill Nye" when describing the make up effects. Bill Nye is the science guy; Ben meant to refer to Ben Nye, the head of make up at 20th Century Fox at the time of this film. Apologies!

Context setting 00:00; Synopsis 16:35; Discussion 25:18; Ranking 38:06

Episode 269 - Walking a Tightrope

A special Halloween horror-adjacent bonus episode!

This month, your hosts cover THE ADVENTURES OF ICHABOD AND MR. TOAD (1949) from directors James Algar, Clyde Geronimi and Jack Kinney. We cover Disney studios, the development of its animation, and why ICHABOD isn't as good as you wish!

Context setting 00:00; Synopsis 55:04; Discussion 58:44

Horror Adjacent 16 - No One Is Good Here

A monster by any other name would spook as sweet... it's THE MANSTER (1959) aka SŌTŌ NO SATSUJINKI aka THE SPLIT from directors George Breakston and Kenneth G. Crane!

An American/Japanese co-production, this schlocky-titled film is anything but as it tackles themes of masculinity and alcoholism.

Context setting 00:00; Synopsis 10:15; Discussion 29:07; Ranking 45:17

Episode 268 - Dark and Adult

It is yet another TOKAIDO YOTSUYA KAIDAN (1959), but this time from experienced horror director Nobuo Nakagawa!

Balancing a return to its kabuki roots with a forward-looking use of colour and surrealism, this horror takes your hosts by storm! The film stars Shigeru Amachi, Katsuko Wakasugi and Shuntaro Emi.

Context setting 00:00; Synopsis 28:53; Discussion 44:01; Ranking 1:00:54

Episode 267 - Haunting Intensifies

Kinbei, how could you do this to me?! Your deadicated hosts watch KAIDAN KAGAMI-GA-FUCHI (1959), the difficult-to-obtain horror from director Masaki Mori! The film stars Shôzaburô Date, Jôji Ôhara and Reiko Seto.

Context setting 00:00; Synopsis 8:58; Discussion 17:58; Ranking 26:47

Episode 266 - How could you do this to me?!

From director Kenji Misumi and starring the prolific actor Kazuo Hasegawa comes YOTSUYA KAIDAN (1959)!

This adaptation of the iconic kabuki play offers a unique remix of classic moments, but at what point do we lose the original intent of those scenes?

Context setting 00:00; Synopsis 32:15; Discussion 44:26; Ranking 53:48

Episode 265 - Baudrillard's Curse

You'll never see it coming! It's INVISIBLE INVADERS (1959) from producer Robert E. Kent and director Edward L. Cahn!

Starring John Agar, Philip Tonge, John Carradine and Robert Hutton, what moral imperatives will this DAY THE EARTH STOOD STILL-rip off impart?

Context setting 00:00; Synopsis 10:37; Discussion 25:21; Ranking 37:07

Episode 264 - Just Keeps Going

The infamous lost film arrives on the podcast with September's bonus horror adjacent episode.

This month we watch a reconstruction of Tod Browning's LONDON AFTER MIDNIGHT (1927) by producer Rick Schmidlin! The film stars Man of a Thousand Faces Lon Chaney in one of his most iconic disguises.

Context setting 00:00; Synopsis 36:31; Discussion 50:00

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