Episode 208: The Gift (2000)

Josh and Drusilla discuss the uber chic 90’s vampire flick, Nadja. From wiki: “Nadja is a 1994 American horror film written and directed by Michael Almereyda, starring Elina Löwensohn in the title role and Peter Fonda as Abraham Van Helsing.”Also discussed: the 2026 Oscars, Demons (1985), Timothee Chalamet, If I Had Legs I’d Kick You, Blue Moon (2025), Destroy All Movies, Return of the Living Dead, The Bride!, a long leftist debate, Bodies Rest in Motion, Warhol nostalgia, the 90s, The End of History, and more. NEXT WEEK: The House with Laughing Windows (1976)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, Drusilla and Josh discuss one of Raimi’s underseen films, The Gift. From wiki: “The Gift is a 2000 American Southern Gothic supernatural thriller film directed by Sam Raimi and written by Billy Bob Thornton and Tom Epperson.[4] Thornton and Epperson had written the screenplay for the film prior to the former's 1996 breakout success Sling Blade, with Thornton taking inspiration from his own mother's alleged psychic experiences.[5]”Also discussed: Long Island Medium, Body Double, Sylvia Browne, Winchester mystery house, De Palma, Burning (2018), The Other Sister, TransAmerica, and more. NEXT WEEK: Nadja (1994) 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 the ghouls discuss a perfect movie, 2000’s Japanese cult classic, Battle Royale. From wiki: “Battle Royale (Japanese: バトル・ロワイアル, Hepburn: Batoru Rowaiaru) is a 2000 Japanese dystopian action film[4] directed by Kinji Fukasaku from a screenplay by Kenta Fukasaku, based on the 1999 novel of the same name by Koushun Takami. The film stars Tatsuya Fujiwara, Aki Maeda, Tarō Yamamoto, Chiaki Kuriyama, Kou Shibasaki, Masanobu Andō, and Beat Takeshi. It follows a group of junior high school students forced to fight to the death by a totalitarian Japanese government.”Also discussed: The Wild and Wonderful Whites of West Virginia, Cheryl Heinz, Good Luck, Have Fun, Don’t Die, Songs from the Second the Floor, Gore Verbinski, Gentlemen Broncos, Napoleon Dynamite, American Movie, and more. NEXT WEEK: The Gift (2000)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/  

Not Psycho or The Texas Chain Saw Massacre but a secret third thing. From wiki: "Deranged (also known as Deranged: Confessions of a Necrophile)[2] is a 1974 Canadian psychological horror film directed by Alan Ormsby and Jeff Gillen, and starring Roberts Blossom. Its plot, loosely based on the crimes of Ed Gein,[3] follows Ezra Cobb, a middle-aged man in a rural Midwestern community who begins a string of serial murders and grave robberies after the death of his mother Amanda, a religious fanatic who raised him to be a misogynist. The film features a diegetic narration in which newspaper columnist Tom Simms occasionally appears and narrates the events depicted. Though based on Gein, the film's title is misleading since Gein never experimented with necrophilia (although a necrophile is also defined as having "an obsessive fascination with death and corpses.")"Also discussed: Nirvana the Band the Show the Movie, Pillion, Send Help, Sam Raimi, earwax, Letter Kenny, Canada, Bob Clark, and more. NEXT WEEK: Battle Royale (2000)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/  

Josh and Drusilla finally discuss one of their favorite films, Bram Stoker’s Dracula. From wiki: “Bram Stoker's Dracula is a 1992 American Gothic horror film produced and directed by Francis Ford Coppola and written by James V. Hart, based on the eponymous 1897 novel Dracula by Bram Stoker.[4][5][6] The film features an ensemble cast led by Gary Oldman, Winona Ryder, Anthony Hopkins, Keanu Reeves, and introducing Sadie Frost in her film debut as Lucy Westenra.  Its closing credits theme "Love Song for a Vampire" was written and performed by Annie Lennox.”Also discussed: Russ Meyer double feature of Up! And Vixen!, problematic faves, Wuthering Heights (2026), Donkey Skin, The Philosophical Research Society, Porky’s, the career of Winona Ryder, and more!NEXT WEEK: Deranged (1974)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, Dru and Josh discuss the arthouse classic, Valerie and her Week of Wonders. From wiki: “Valerie and Her Week of Wonders (Czech: Valerie a týden divů) is a 1970 Czechoslovak gothic coming-of-age surrealist dark fantasy film[1][2][3] co-written and directed by Jaromil Jireš, based on the 1935 novel by Vítězslav Nezval. It is considered part of the Czechoslovak New Wave movement.[3] The film portrays the heroine as living in a disorienting dream, cajoled by priests, vampires, and men and women alike. The film blends dark fantasy, eroticism and Gothic horror genres.[4]”Also discussed: The Future is Wild, Mars Attacks and the career of Tim Burton, Little Shop of Horrors, the Czech New Wave, and more. NEXT WEEK: Bram Stoker’s Dracula (1992) 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/  

Josh and Drusilla discuss the grossout dark comedy, How to Get Ahead in Advertising (1989.) From wiki: “How to Get Ahead in Advertising is a 1989 British black comedy fantasy film written and directed by Bruce Robinson, and starring Richard E. Grant and Rachel Ward. In the film, an advertising executive has a nervous breakdown and finds himself concerned with the ethics of his profession. As a result, a talking boil grows on his shoulder, a manifestation of the cynical and unscrupulous side of his personality.”Also discussed: The Wicker Man complete cut, 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple, Flesh Pot on 42nd Street, Army of Darkness (again!), Psycho Beach Party, Space is the Place, Laura Ashley, and more. NEXT WEEK: Valerie and Her Week of Wonders (1970)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, Drusilla and Josh talk about the very rough Angst (1983.) From wiki: “Angst (English: "Fear") is a 1983 Austrian psychological horror thriller film directed by Gerald Kargl, who co-wrote the screenplay with cinematographer and editor Zbigniew Rybczyński. It follows a psychopath recently released from prison and is loosely based on real-life mass murderer Werner Kniesek. It was banned in many European countries on its release for its depictions of violence.[1] “Also discussed: Evil Dead, Army of Darkness, The Secret of Nimh, D&D, Ishtar, and more!NEXT WEEK: How to Get Ahead of Advertising (1989)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 Park Chan-wook's offbeat vampire flick, Thirst. From wiki: "Thirst (Korean: 박쥐; RR: Bakjwi; lit. 'Bat') is a 2009 horror film written, produced and directed by Park Chan-wook. Based on the 1867 novel Thérèse Raquin by Émile Zola,[7] the film stars Song Kang-ho as Sang-hyun, a Catholic priest who turns into a vampire as a result of a failed medical experiment, and falls in love with Tae-ju (Kim Ok-vin), the wife of his childhood friend (Shin Ha-kyun).[8]"Also discussed: Primate, Godard's Made in U.S.A., Black Christmas, Paul Shrader, Tarantino, and more. NEXT WEEK: Angst (1983) 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/  

In this celebratory 200th episode of Bloodhaus, hosts Joshua Conkel and Drusilla reflect on their journey through arthouse horror films. They delve into the thematic exploration of nuns in cinema, focusing on Paul Verhoeven's 'Benedetta' before switching to discuss the low brow effort that is 'The Nun'. Benedetta is a 2021 biographical psychological drama film co-written and directed by Paul Verhoeven, starring Virginie Efira as Benedetta Carlini, a nun in the 17th century who joins an Italian convent while a young child and later has a lesbian love affair with another nun, while seeing religious visions.[4][5]The Nun is a 2018 American gothic supernatural horror film directed by Corin Hardy and written by Gary Dauberman, from a story by Dauberman and James Wan. It serves as a spiritual spin-off to The Conjuring 2 and is the fifth installment in The Conjuring shared universe. The film stars Taissa Farmiga, Demián Bichir and Jonas Bloquet, with Bonnie Aarons reprising her role as the Demon Nun, an incarnation of Valak, from The Conjuring 2. The plot follows a Roman Catholic priest and a nun in her novitiate as they uncover an unholy secret in 1952 Romania. It has a sequel, The Nun II, released in 2023.NEXT WEEK: Thirst (2009)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/