The Monkey has had a creative marketing run. Rejection emails, funny posters, and an interesting Super Bowl halftime show were all a part of it. This also meant that the actual movie had a lot to live up to. Tonally, it is exactly what some might have expected. But what about those who didn’t know what they were getting into?

The trailers focus on the most outrageous aspects of the plot, but how it came across on screen may be surprising to some. Dark humor and graphic violence are combined with a story about family. It is over the top while also having a lighthearted quality. The marketing also include a Super Bowl halftime show and church screenings. It was all very creative, but how well did it work?

There is plenty of gore in the movie, but there was also an attempt at a heartfelt story. The message came across - and in many ways it is a very dark one - but this is also the weakest part of The Monkey. The willingness of Osgood Perkins to lean into the wackier parts of the story along with some incredible performances really end up making the difference.

It may be too soon to say Perkins is the best modern horror director, but it is definitely time to take him into consideration. We talk about how he stacks up next to his contemporaries and what sets him apart. We also review where this adaptation sits next to all the other King stories of the 21st century.

Adventures in Movies! is a part of the Morbidly Beautiful Podcast Network. Morbidly Beautiful is your one stop shop for all your horror needs. From the latest news and reviews to interviews and old favorites, it can be found at Morbidly Beautiful.

Adventures in Movies! is hosted by Nathaniel and Blake. You can find Nathaniel on Instagram at nathaninpoortaste. Blake can be found on Twitter @foureyedhorror and on Instagram at foureyedhorror. You can reach us personally or on Twitter @AdventuresinMo1.

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A few weeks back we lamented on the lack of fantasy movies. They were a part of our childhoods that we love and missed. As if on cue, we talk about the news regarding the new Red Sonja movie - another childhood favorite. We also revisit Dead Mail before it debuts on Shudder in April.

The 1970s were the peak of nunsploitation. It would not last long, but a number of memorable nun horror films were released. While it has not returned to that level, there has been an increase in genre films centered around nuns. Perhaps even more surprising is that they have often been pretty good.

The Baby in the Basket has a lot going for it. It looks like a Gothic horror movie straight out of the 70s. It also leans into its wacky premise. From the demonic baby to some graphic sexual content, this movie does not play around. It is unfortunate that as much effort was not put into the writing.

Rob Zombie is a polarizing figure in the horror community. While some love the shock value of his movies, others wonder if he really likes horror movies or is just trying to turn everyone against them. So when we heard that his brother Spider One had written and directed a horror movie we were interested. Especially after we saw the trailer which hinted that Little Bites was about a monster that is slowly eating a person alive.

Yes, it is early in the year and yes, Nosferatu was an incredibly creepy villain, but did we come across the best Big Bad of 2025? Agyar is definitely a frightening creature. Every scene he is in will make your skin crawl. You cannot wait for him to get off the screen. And this is meant as a compliment.

There are some noticeable missteps along the way. For the most part, they can be chalked up to Spider One’s feature film inexperience. That being said, they do stick out in and leave a negative aftertaste. But how much do they affect Little Bites? And what does Cher have to do with everything?

Adventures in Movies! is a part of the Morbidly Beautiful Podcast Network. Morbidly Beautiful is your one stop shop for all your horror needs. From the latest news and reviews to interviews and old favorites, it can be found at Morbidly Beautiful.

Adventures in Movies! is hosted by Nathaniel and Blake. You can find Nathaniel on Instagram at nathaninpoortaste. Blake can be found on Twitter @foureyedhorror and on Instagram at foureyedhorror. You can reach us personally or on Twitter @AdventuresinMo1.

Music in the background from https://www.FesliyanStudios.com

The most recent season of True Detective was the most divisive in the show’s history. The first one was universally praised, while the second caught a lot of heat. For whatever reason, the third season flew under the radar. We talk about our opinions of season four and the news surrounding the show’s future.

Hammer Studios is an important part of horror history. It introduced aspects to vampire lore that is still seen today and its use of gothic sexuality and romance would inspire many filmmakers. They have been quiet for decades so the recent announcement has us both excited.

David Cronenberg may not have invented body horror, but he is the same most associated with it. His early movies made with the help of the Canadian government are especially interesting. The DIY quality and balls to the wall attitude make them some of the most fun entries in his impressive catalogue.

Still, it is fair to say that The Brood is not the best movie he has ever made. A disjointed affair that has trouble sticking the landing, the film is carried by some impressive performances. We may have been confused by what we saw, but did that prevent us from enjoying it?

It seems like we have been working off of a list this year. We started with a vampire movie, moved on to alien invasions and have talked about a zombie apocalypse. So it only makes sense that we would review a haunted house flick. Especially one that has heavy religious themes.

It is a shame that Inhabitants could not stick to a formula. The team behind it were more concerned with using a plot device they clearly had no knowledge about instead of actually writing a coherent film. The end result is a lead that seems aloof and unloving, a villain that seems justified in its actions, and a whole lot of nonsense.

Adventures in Movies! is a part of the Morbidly Beautiful Podcast Network. Morbidly Beautiful is your one stop shop for all your horror needs. From the latest news and reviews to interviews and old favorites, it can be found at Morbidly Beautiful.

Adventures in Movies! is hosted by Nathaniel and Blake. You can find Nathaniel on Instagram at nathaninpoortaste. Blake can be found on Twitter @foureyedhorror and on Instagram at foureyedhorror. You can reach us personally or on Twitter @AdventuresinMo1.

Music in the background from https://www.FesliyanStudios.com

Recent indie horror releases have benefitted from creative marketing. The upcoming Super Bowl halftime show for The Monkey is a great example. We also talk about the return of Buffy the Vampire Slayer and the surprising reason one of us did not want anything to do with it the first time around.

They do not make as many fantasy movies as they used to. A Knight’s War is a welcome addition that checks off all the boxes. Armor clad knights, seductive witches, and magical battles are all found here. It does such a good job of being a fantasy adventure that it took one of us some time to get into it.

But the film makes it very easy to get into its story. Strong world building and characters will draw audiences in. Still, when you are doing a sword and sorcery story, it is best to go with less. We discuss how A Knight’s War went too far, and why it still worked for us.

For the second week in a row, our feature presentation is from the Sundance Film Festival. Didn’t Die is pretty much the exact opposite of what we talked about on our last show. From its more grounded story (as grounded as a zombie movie can be) to its use of black and white, the film wants to bring audiences into a world they can relate with.

This was especially easy for us since the plot focuses on a podcaster trying to maintain her audience, but the fantastic characters also drew us in. There were some flaws along the way - particularly with the beginning and the ending - but it is a strong entry to the zombie sub-genre.

Adventures in Movies! is a part of the Morbidly Beautiful Podcast Network. Morbidly Beautiful is your one stop shop for all your horror needs. From the latest news and reviews to interviews and old favorites, it can be found at Morbidly Beautiful.

Adventures in Movies! is hosted by Nathaniel and Blake. You can find Nathaniel on Instagram at nathaninpoortaste. Blake can be found on Twitter @foureyedhorror and on Instagram at foureyedhorror. You can reach us personally or on Twitter @AdventuresinMo1.

Music in the background from https://www.FesliyanStudios.com

Labyrinth is a cult classic. But how did things get to this point? We have contrasting memories of its initial popularity. And we both agree it is not the best work from any of the major players involved. Now that Robert Eggers is involved with the sequel, what does the future hold?

What does it mean when a film is described as Lynchian? From what we can tell, the definition has changed over the years. The only reason we are even covering 2016’s Always Shine is because the word often used to describe it is “Lynchian”. It does fit one definition of the term. Unfortunately, that is not necessarily a good thing.

At a very base level, it sounds like Mulholland Drive. But this is more than a movie about two actresses in Los Angeles. In a way, it is almost the exact opposite of Lynch’s film. We talk about the odd way it tries to build mystery and tension, the characters, and its abrupt ending.

It is no surprise that we are covering a movie from the Sundance Film Festival. It will be shocking to some that we are reviewing a movie that features alien tentacle sex. Of course, if you are a long time listener, you know we have been down this path before. Will this time be as good as the first time around?

Touch Me has a lot going on. Along with inter-species sex, there are themes of codependency, friendship, and trust. It is filled with funny moments and has some great performances. But when it gets dark, it gets really ugly. Do the jarring tonal changes make it impossible to enjoy it?

Adventures in Movies! is a part of the Morbidly Beautiful Podcast Network. Morbidly Beautiful is your one stop shop for all your horror needs. From the latest news and reviews to interviews and old favorites, it can be found at Morbidly Beautiful.

Adventures in Movies! is hosted by Nathaniel and Blake. You can find Nathaniel on Instagram at nathaninpoortaste. Blake can be found on Twitter @foureyedhorror and on Instagram at foureyedhorror. You can reach us personally or on Twitter @AdventuresinMo1.

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David Lynch is one of the most important names in genre cinema. He is a creative artist who has given the world some of the most beautiful and confounding films and television ever. His impact on cinema cannot be overstated. We reflect on what he means to us.

We started off this year covering Nosferatu from Robert Eggers. One of the things we talked about was how we just seems to understand horror. Check out the episode to hear our full thoughts, but the cliff notes version is that we loved it. The recent news about his next project has us excited.

We have been wanting to cover The Day of the Triffids for a while now. As the title suggests, it is a science fiction horror movie from the early 1960s (and it is based on a book from the 1950s). The story is about a mysterious event that leaves a majority of the world blind and some aggressive plants even deadlier.

In a decade filled with invading Martians, teenage werewolves, and all sorts of drive in creature features, the triffids manage to stand out. But are they the best from the era? There are so many differences from the book, the movie can be referred to as a spin off or triffid tale. We talk about the pros and cons of going in this direction.

The deserved success of The Substance will lead to more body horror movies. (At the very least, there will be more films willing to call themselves body horror.) This week we cover a film that covers much of the same ground, but in a more focused manner. Grafted may be the perfect movie for us to cover as we return to form.

That does not mean it is not without its issues. Pacing, tone, and character development are just some of the things we were not impressed with So, what else is left? The performances were fine and there were some gross moments. But it would be fair to say that it lacks…substance.

Adventures in Movies! is a part of the Morbidly Beautiful Podcast Network. Morbidly Beautiful is your one stop shop for all your horror needs. From the latest news and reviews to interviews and old favorites, it can be found at Morbidly Beautiful.

Adventures in Movies! is hosted by Nathaniel and Blake. You can find Nathaniel on Instagram at nathaninpoortaste. Blake can be found on Twitter @foureyedhorror and on Instagram at foureyedhorror. You can reach us personally or on Twitter @AdventuresinMo1.

Music in the background from https://www.FesliyanStudios.com

Chances are that nothing from the Poohniverse will be in our favorite movies of any year. But that will not stop us from talking about it every chance we get. Blood and Honey may have burned us so badly we have not even considered watching another entry, but maybe the combined powers of the twisted versions of Peter Pan, Tigger, and Mary Poppins will be enough to save the burgeoning franchise.

Until Dawn is the flip side. It is a creative video game that brings audiences into its world better than some of the horror movies it is influenced by. The only surprise is that it took this long to turn it into a movie. Early test screenings have been positive. Unless you ever played the video game.

There were a lot of great genre releases in 2024. The Substance has rightfully received the lion’s share of attention. Along with the fantastic performances from Moore and Margaret Qualley, it has a great story and fantastic gore. It is not just one of the best horror movies of the year; it can stand up to anything that can out during the year.

Independent horror had a record setting year. Late Night With the Devil became the biggest release in the history of IFC. It is a unique take on found footage and has some of the most memorable moments of the year. Thanks in part to its clever marketing campaign, Longlegs became a surprise box office hit. We talk about why it still resonates with us and what it means to genre cinema in general.

Some of the best horror films of the year flew under the radar. Stopmotion featured some of the best storytelling of the year, Realm of Satan is a unique look at Satanists, and Falling Stars is a modern folk horror tale that is relatable and creepy. We have a lot to talk about on this week’s show.

Adventures in Movies! is a part of the Morbidly Beautiful Podcast Network. Morbidly Beautiful is your one stop shop for all your horror needs. From the latest news and reviews to interviews and old favorites, it can be found at Morbidly Beautiful.

Adventures in Movies! is hosted by Nathaniel and Blake. You can find Nathaniel on Instagram at nathaninpoortaste. Blake can be found on Twitter @foureyedhorror and on Instagram at foureyedhorror. You can reach us personally or on Twitter @AdventuresinMo1.

Music in the background from https://www.FesliyanStudios.com

We covered over fifty movies that were released in 2024. Naturally, some were better than others. Unfortunately, when you cover as much stuff as we did, some things end up being bad. As in, REALLY bad. Over the next two weeks, we are going to talk about the films from 2024 that stood out the most to us. First things first, we are messing with the worst.

It’s not often that movies make us mad. Bored or frustrated, but actual anger? That just does not happen. Especially when you deal with indie cinema as much as we do. We understand that budgets will not be as high, there are not as many resources, and creativity is not limited to the script. Indie films get a pass from us when it comes to special effects, limited locations, and at times, the acting.

But there are times when a movie will leave us with a very bad impression. (Blake is still fuming over Soft & Quiet.) This year, we covered two of the most infuriating films we have ever seen. One of them seemed like it was an intentional slap to the faces of anyone who has ever claimed to like horror movies. It made a point of making things very personal. The other was a documentary that stubbornly refused to back up any of its claims, had nothing interesting to say, and even lied to the audience.

Thankfully, there were films that managed to just simply be bad. We discuss a thematic trilogy that was a great idea in theory, a supposed body horror movie that is more confusing than captivating, and a script that sounds like it was written by an edgy fifteen year old. This week we look back on our least favorite movies of 2024.

Adventures in Movies! is a part of the Morbidly Beautiful Podcast Network. Morbidly Beautiful is your one stop shop for all your horror needs. From the latest news and reviews to interviews and old favorites, it can be found at Morbidly Beautiful.

Adventures in Movies! is hosted by Nathaniel and Blake. You can find Nathaniel on Instagram at nathaninpoortaste. Blake can be found on Twitter @foureyedhorror and on Instagram at foureyedhorror. You can reach us personally or on Twitter @AdventuresinMo1.

Music in the background from https://www.FesliyanStudios.com

SPOILER WARNING!!! AS WITH ALL SPECIAL EDITIONS WE WILL BE DISCUSSING MAJOR PLOTPOINTS

When did vampires become tragically romantic figures? They certainly were not when Bram Stoker wrote Dracula. Bela Lugosi brought class to the character, but he did not make anyone swoon. Whether it was Hammer or Anne Rice, by the time Twilight stole hearts, vampires were sexy.

Nosferatu is an interesting mix that handles the dark relationship between its two leads in a way that will surprise many. It combines what vampires once were with what they somehow became. At the same time, it can be seen as commentary. This is more than just another vampire movie.

Horror is a wide ranging genre. There are creatures, all kinds of exploitation, and slashers, just to name a few. But there is something about gothic horror that stands out. A nostalgia and recognition that is impossible to ignore - at least for us. We discuss Robert Eggers and his approach to horror.

What will be the legacy of the 2024 version of Nosferatu? Where will it stand next to The Witch and The Lighthouse? Has Eggers shown that there is another way to depict vampires? We discuss all this and more in our latest episode.

Adventures in Movies! is a part of the Morbidly Beautiful Podcast Network. Morbidly Beautiful is your one stop shop for all your horror needs. From the latest news and reviews to interviews and old favorites, it can be found at Morbidly Beautiful.

Adventures in Movies! is hosted by Nathaniel and Blake. You can find Nathaniel on Instagram at nathaninpoortaste. Blake can be found on Twitter @foureyedhorror and on Instagram at foureyedhorror. You can reach us personally or on Twitter @AdventuresinMo1.

Music in the background from https://www.FesliyanStudios.com

We try to avoid rumors. We have no issues talking about speculation from unnamed sources, but just straight up gossip and fan casting isn’t really our thing. That is what the internet and social media is for. But if it involves a couple of our favorites, we have not choice but to chime in.

There are a number of criminally overlooked characters in Hollywood. The most underused may be the Universal monsters. Everyone knows who they are - Dracula, Frankenstein, the Wolf Man - but they never seem to get their just due. This is especially true of the Mummy. Are things about to change?

Heist movies tend to be a lot of fun. Unfortunately, we have not covered many bank robbery movies on our humble little podcast. And this year’s attempts at Christmas horror have frankly fallen flat. To end the year, we found something that checks off both boxes.

There are a lot of shocking things about 1961’s Cash on Demand. And the fact it was made by the renowned Hammer Film Productions may be the least. The story of a cold bank manager who has to deal with a charming bank robber does not sound all that original. Cash on Demand makes it work with strong performances, wit, and great characters.

Adventures in Movies! is a part of the Morbidly Beautiful Podcast Network. Morbidly Beautiful is your one stop shop for all your horror needs. From the latest news and reviews to interviews and old favorites, it can be found at Morbidly Beautiful.

Adventures in Movies! is hosted by Nathaniel and Blake. You can find Nathaniel on Instagram at nathaninpoortaste. Blake can be found on Twitter @foureyedhorror and on Instagram at foureyedhorror. You can reach us personally or on Twitter @AdventuresinMo1.

Music in the background from https://www.FesliyanStudios.com