Episode 188: Creature from the Black Lagoon (1954)

Double Edgar Allan Poe! The Universal Classics deep dive continues with two very loose Poe adaptations: The Black Cat (1934) and The Raven (1935) both starring Bela Lugosi and Boris Karloff. From wiki: “The Black Cat is a 1934 American pre-Code horror film directed by Edgar G. Ulmer and starring Boris Karloff and Béla Lugosi. It was Universal Pictures' biggest box office hit of the year, and was the first of eight films (six of which were produced by Universal) to feature both Karloff and Lugosi. In 1941, Lugosi appeared in a comedy horror mystery film with the same title, which was also named after and ostensibly "suggested by" Edgar Allan Poe's 1843 short story.”The Raven is a 1935 American horror film directed by Louis Friedlander (who started to be credited as Lew Landers the following year) and starring Boris Karloff and Bela Lugosi. Billed as having been "suggested by" Edgar Allan Poe's 1845 poem of the same title, excerpts of which are quoted at a few points in the film, it was adapted from an original screenplay by David Boehm. Lugosi stars as a neurosurgeon obsessed with Poe who has a torture chamber in his basement, and Karloff plays an escaped murderer on the run from the police who Lugosi manipulates into doing his dirty work.Also discussed: ™, gay Halloween, Bubble Bath (1980), Frankenstein (2025), deaf crocodile, Soviet fantasy films, Knives Out,  NEXT WEEK: Frankenstein (1931) and The Bride of Frankenstein (1935) Bloodhaus:https://www.bloodhauspod.com/https://www.instagram.com/bloodhauspod/https://letterboxd.com/bloodhaus/Drusilla Adeline:https://www.sisterhydedesign.com/https://letterboxd.com/sisterhyde/https://www.instagram.com/sister__hyde/Joshua Conkelhttps://www.joshuaconkel.com/https://www.instagram.com/joshua_conkel/https://letterboxd.com/JoshuaConkel/  

This week Josh and Drusilla discuss the baby of the Universal Monsters, Creature from the Black Lagoon (1954). From wiki: “Creature from the Black Lagoon is a 1954 American black-and-white 3D monster horror film produced by William Alland and directed by Jack Arnold, from a screenplay by Harry Essex and Arthur Ross and a story by Maurice Zimm. It stars Richard Carlson, Julia Adams, Richard Denning, Antonio Moreno, Nestor Paiva, and Whit Bissell. The film's plot follows a group of scientists who encounter a piscine amphibious humanoid in the waters of the Amazon; the Creature, also known as the Gill-man, was played by Ben Chapman on land and by Ricou Browning underwater. Produced and distributed by Universal-International, Creature from the Black Lagoon premiered in Detroit on February 12, 1954, and was released on a regional basis, opening on various dates.”Also discussed: non-alcoholic spirits, The Dark Crystal, Labyrinth, and the Muppets, Matango (1963), Goke, Body Snatcher from Hell, Kill Bill, Monster Squad, and more,  NEXT WEEK: Double Feature: The Black Cat (1934) and The Raven (1935)  Bloodhaus:https://www.bloodhauspod.com/https://www.instagram.com/bloodhauspod/https://letterboxd.com/bloodhaus/Drusilla Adeline:https://www.sisterhydedesign.com/https://letterboxd.com/sisterhyde/‪@sisterhyde.bsky.socialJoshua Conkelhttps://www.joshuaconkel.com/https://www.instagram.com/joshua_conkel/https://letterboxd.com/JoshuaConkel/  

The deep dive of class Universal Horror Movies continues with a deep cut, The Old Dark House (1932). From wiki: “The Old Dark House is a 1932 American pre-Code comedy horror film directed by James Whale. Based on the 1927 novel Benighted by J.B. Priestley, the film features an ensemble cast that includes Boris Karloff, Melvyn Douglas, Gloria Stuart, Charles Laughton, Lilian Bond, Ernest Thesiger, Raymond Massey and Eva Moore.[5][6] Set in interwar Wales, the film follows five travellers who seek shelter from a violent storm in the decaying country house of the eccentric Femm family.”Also discussed: feeling good and self-improvement, Jacob’s Ladder, The Exorcist II: The Heretic, The People Under the Stairs and other Wes Craven deep cuts, and more. NEXT WEEK: The Creature from the Black Lagoon (1954) Bloodhaus:https://www.bloodhauspod.com/https://www.instagram.com/bloodhauspod/https://letterboxd.com/bloodhaus/Drusilla Adeline:https://www.sisterhydedesign.com/https://letterboxd.com/sisterhyde/‪@sisterhyde.bsky.socialJoshua Conkelhttps://www.joshuaconkel.com/https://www.instagram.com/joshua_conkel/https://letterboxd.com/JoshuaConkel/  

This week the hosts begin a month of classic Universal monster movies beginning with Dracula (1931). From wiki: "Dracula is a 1931 American pre-Code vampire film directed and co-produced by Tod Browning from a screenplay written by Garrett Fort and starring Bela Lugosi in the title role. It is based on the stage play Dracula by Hamilton Deane and John L. Balderston, which in turn is adapted from the 1897 novel Dracula by Bram Stoker.[3] Lugosi portrays Count Dracula, a vampire who emigrates from Transylvania to England and preys upon the blood of living victims, including a young man's fiancée."Also discussed: spiders, Sparks, transcendental meditation, One Battle After Another, Thomas Pynchon, Meiko Kaji films, and more.  NEXT WEEK: The Old Dark House (1932) Bloodhaus:https://www.bloodhauspod.com/https://www.instagram.com/bloodhauspod/https://letterboxd.com/bloodhaus/Drusilla Adeline:https://www.sisterhydedesign.com/https://letterboxd.com/sisterhyde/‪@sisterhyde.bsky.socialJoshua Conkelhttps://www.joshuaconkel.com/https://www.instagram.com/joshua_conkel/https://letterboxd.com/JoshuaConkel/  

The movie of the week is 1980’s Fade to Black. From wiki: “Fade to Black is a 1980 American psychological horror comedy film written and directed by Vernon Zimmerman, and starring Dennis Christopher, Eve Brent, and Linda Kerridge.[2] It also features Mickey Rourke and Peter Horton in minor roles. The plot follows shy and lonely cinephile Eric Binford who embarks on a killing spree against his oppressors while impersonating classic film characters.”Also discussed: Allee Willis, Streetwise (1984), Are You in the House Alone (1978), Euphoria, and more.  NEXT WEEK: Dracula (1931) Bloodhaus:https://www.bloodhauspod.com/https://www.instagram.com/bloodhauspod/https://letterboxd.com/bloodhaus/Drusilla Adeline:https://www.sisterhydedesign.com/https://letterboxd.com/sisterhyde/‪@sisterhyde.bsky.social Joshua Conkelhttps://www.joshuaconkel.com/https://www.instagram.com/joshua_conkel/https://letterboxd.com/JoshuaConkel/  

This week Josh and Drusilla discuss the deconstructed giallo fever dream that is The Strange Color of Your Body’s Tears. From wiki: “The Strange Colour of Your Body's Tears (French: L'étrange couleur des larmes de ton corps) is a 2013 experimental giallo film written and directed by Hélène Cattet and Bruno Forzani. It stars Klaus Tange as a man seeking the whereabouts of his missing wife, only to become entangled in a complicated web of lies and murder.[3] Also discussed: The Studio, Under the Silver Lake (2018), Mel Gibson, giallo, experimental films, and more.  NEXT WEEK: Fade to Black (1980)  Bloodhaus:https://www.bloodhauspod.com/https://www.instagram.com/bloodhauspod/https://letterboxd.com/bloodhaus/Drusilla Adeline:https://www.sisterhydedesign.com/https://letterboxd.com/sisterhyde/‪@sisterhyde.bsky.social Joshua Conkelhttps://www.joshuaconkel.com/https://www.instagram.com/joshua_conkel/https://letterboxd.com/JoshuaConkel/  

Today Josh and Drusilla watched the British arthouse folk horror, Enys Men (2022.) From wiki: “Enys Men (Cornish for 'Stone Island')[3] is a 2022 British experimental psychological folk horror film shot, composed, written and directed by Mark Jenkin, and starring Mary Woodvine, Edward Rowe, Flo Crowe and John Woodvine. Set in 1973, the film follows a lone wildlife volunteer (Woodvine) who begins experiencing nightmarish scenarios while residing on an island off the Cornish coast.”Also discussed: Breathless (1983), Eddington (2025), Guy Maddin, The Intruder (1962), The Quay Brothers’ Sanitarium Under the Sign of the Hourglass, Skinamarink, The Lighthouse, Rift, and more.  NEXT WEEK: The Strange Color of Your Body’s Tears (2013) Bloodhaus:https://www.bloodhauspod.com/https://www.instagram.com/bloodhauspod/https://letterboxd.com/bloodhaus/Drusilla Adeline:https://www.sisterhydedesign.com/https://letterboxd.com/sisterhyde/‪@sisterhyde.bsky.social Joshua Conkelhttps://www.joshuaconkel.com/https://www.instagram.com/joshua_conkel/https://letterboxd.com/JoshuaConkel/  

Today Josh and Drusilla are joined by filmmaker Owen Kline (Funny Pages) to discuss his grandfather’s film Who Killed Teddy Bear? (1965). From Wikipedia: “Who Killed Teddy Bear? is a 1965 American neo-noir crime thriller film,[3] directed by Joseph Cates and starring Sal Mineo, Juliet Prowse, Jan Murray and Elaine Stritch. The film was written by Arnold Drake and Leon Tokatyan.[4] The film follows a New York City discotheque hostess who is stalked by a sexual predator. Though it contains no nudity, the movie touches on taboo topics such as pornography, voyeurism, incest, and lesbianism. It also became notable for showing Times Square and 42nd Street in its seedier era.[5] Also discussed: Frankie Cosmos, Ghost World, Daniel Clowes, OK Soda, The Public Enemy (1931), 30s gangster films, Pieces (1982), Girl Group Sounds: One Kiss Leads to Another, Paul Bartel’s Private Parts, Paul Morrissey films, Warhol Girls, the career of Robert Cates, a lot of background on Who Killed Teddy Bear, and more.  NEXT WEEK: Enys Men: (2022)Bloodhaus:https://www.bloodhauspod.com/https://www.instagram.com/bloodhauspod/https://letterboxd.com/bloodhaus/Drusilla Adeline:https://www.sisterhydedesign.com/https://letterboxd.com/sisterhyde/‪@sisterhyde.bsky.social Joshua Conkelhttps://www.joshuaconkel.com/https://www.instagram.com/joshua_conkel/https://letterboxd.com/JoshuaConkel/  

The Host [a] is a 2006 monster film[b] directed and co-written by Bong Joon Ho. It stars Song Kang-ho as food stand vendor Park Gang-du whose daughter Hyun-seo (Go Ah-sung) is kidnapped by a creature dwelling around the Han River in Seoul. Byun Hee-bong, Park Hae-il, and Bae Doona appear in supporting roles as Gang-du's father, brother, and sister, respectively, who help Gang-du escape quarantine against an alleged virus derived from the monster and search for his daughter. Considered a co-production between South Korea and Japan, the film was produced by independent studio Chungeorahm Film and presented by its South Korean distributor Showbox and the Japanese investor Happinet.Also discussed: Wes Anderson, Simone Weil, Kevin Smith, Mallrats, Allan Moyle, Pump Up the Volume (1990), Times Square (1980), Empire Records (1995), The Toxic Avenger (2025), IMAX and A24 ai ventures, and more.  NEXT WEEK: Who Killed Teddy Bear? (1965),  Bloodhaus:https://www.bloodhauspod.com/https://www.instagram.com/bloodhauspod/https://letterboxd.com/bloodhaus/Drusilla Adeline:https://www.sisterhydedesign.com/https://letterboxd.com/sisterhyde/‪@sisterhyde.bsky.social Joshua Conkelhttps://www.joshuaconkel.com/https://www.instagram.com/joshua_conkel/https://letterboxd.com/JoshuaConkel/  

Drusilla and Josh are joined by the rare guest, Isabel Custodio of Be Kind Rewind! (https://www.youtube.com/@bkrewind) They discuss the master Mario Bava’s final film, Shock. From wiki: “Shock (Italian: Schock) is a 1977 Italian supernatural horror film directed by Mario Bava and starring Daria Nicolodi, John Steiner, and David Colin, Jr. Its plot focuses on a woman who moves into the home she shared with her deceased former husband, where she finds herself tormented by supernatural occurrences. It was Bava's last theatrical feature before he died of a heart attack in 1980.”Also discussed: Jess Franco, Two Undercover Angels, Let’s Scare Jessica to Death, Poltergeist II, Ruth Gordon, Celine Song, Todd Haynes and Superstar, Who Killed Teddy Bear?, Belladonna of Sadness, Blonde Death,  NEXT WEEK: The Host (2006) Bloodhaus:https://www.bloodhauspod.com/https://www.instagram.com/bloodhauspod/https://letterboxd.com/bloodhaus/Drusilla Adeline:https://www.sisterhydedesign.com/https://letterboxd.com/sisterhyde/‪@sisterhyde.bsky.social Joshua Conkelhttps://www.joshuaconkel.com/https://bsky.app/profile/joshuaconkel.bsky.socialhttps://www.instagram.com/joshua_conkel/https://letterboxd.com/JoshuaConkel/