Scream Scene Podcast

Your deadicated hosts enjoy this feature reel of Vincent Price in TALES OF TERROR (1962), a horror anthology from Roger Corman! Unfortunately, writer Richard Matheson stumbles in adapting Edgar Allan Poe's short stories "Morella," "The Black Cat," "The Cask of Amontillado," and "The Facts in the Case of M. Valdemar." But does that matter when Price, Peter Lorre, and Basil Rathbone get to come together? Context setting 00:00; Synopsis 45:15; Discussion 59:17; Ranking 1:21:46

Have you ever wondered how Italian horror goes from black and white vampire flicks, to the colour-drenched mansion of SUSPIRIA? Director Riccardo Freda shows us the way with L'ORRIBILE SEGRETO DEL DR. HICHCOCK aka THE HORRIBLE DR HICHCOCK (1962)! This colourful Gothic movie includes a haunting, poisoning, and... necrophilia? Yep, it has everything! The film stars Barbara Steele and Robert Flemyng, and has no relation to Alfred Hitchcock. Context setting 00:00; Synopsis 18:29; Discussion 28:11; Ranking 48:59

Hammer Horror and Terence Fisher tackle THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA (1962), but what they deliver is a simplified adaptation, a sympathetic Phantom, and a Joan of Arc opera. At least stars Michael Gough, Edward de Souza, and Herbert Lom seem to be having a good time! Context setting 00:00; Synopsis 42:23; Discussion 55:34; Ranking 1:24:55

Just what the heck is Gregory Peck doing in a horror movie?! We dive in to 1962's CAPE FEAR, directed by J Lee Thompson, and starring Gregory Peck and Robert Mitchum. Plus, we learn about the bet that led to the creation of the original novel, THE EXECUTIONERS, from author John D MacDonald. Please note this episode has a trigger warning for sexual assault and domestic violence, given the content of the book and movie. Context setting 00:00; Synopsis 50:27; Discussion 1:06:07; Ranking 1:30:28

The behind-the-scenes story of this movie led us to believe it would be a disaster, but THE CABINET OF CALIGARI (1962) surprises your deadicated hosts! Directed by Roger Kay, written by Robert Bloch of PSYCHO fame, and starring Glynis Johns and Dan O'Herlihy, this remake of THE CABINET OF DR CALIGARI faces the catch-22 of balancing name recognition while hiding the twist until the end. Context setting 00:00; Synopsis 35:27; Discussion 48:05; Ranking 1:22:50

We encounter the infamous schlock film THE BRAIN THAT WOULDN'T DIE (1962) directed by Joseph Green and starring Virginia Leith and Jason Evers! But what we uncover is a seesaw of excitedly pushing boundaries and falling flat on its disembodied face. That being said, we appreciated watching a movie that had an actual theme: bodily autonomy and consent. Context setting 00:00; Synopsis 15:35; Discussion 27:30; Ranking 52:13

What happens when faced with the question of whether you earned your position based on your own merits, or solely thanks to your wife being a... *checks notes* a witch?! Your deadicated hosts dive into NIGHT OF THE EAGLE (1962, Hayers), starring the enigmatic Peter Wyngarde, Janet Blair and Margaret Johnston! This movie, also known as BURN, WITCH, BURN! for it's American release, adapts the famous novel CONJURE WIFE by Fritz Leiber. Context setting 00:00; Synopsis 48:45; Discussion 1:03:32; Ranking 1:30:16

Happy new year! We ring in 2026 with 1962's HANDS OF A STRANGER, written, produced and directed by Newt Arnold! This unofficial Hands of Orlac adaptation turns the emotions to 11 for its cast to chew the scenery like you've never seen. Starring Paul Lukather, Joan Harvey and James Stapleton. Context setting 00:00; Synopsis 26:36; Discussion 41:20; Ranking 1:02:53

We're excited to make our way to Egypt for the country's first horror film! It's AL QASR AL MAL'OUN aka THE CURSED PALACE from 1962 and director Hassan Reda! This old dark house flick brings together horror and giallo tropes into a unique, though a little old fashioned, story. Context setting 00:00; Synopsis 37:50; Discussion 49:08; Ranking 58:53

Sometimes you come across a movie that's just a little unfortunate. Maybe it needed another rewrite. Maybe it needed a more experienced director. In any case, our monster here is... just a guy with a skin condition... It's HAND OF DEATH (1962, Nelson) starring John Agar as our guy! ...at least the music by Sonny Burke is good? Context setting 00:00; Synopsis 26:05; Discussion 35:46; Discussion 49:07

Ahh yes, the classic question: Horror or thriller? We ask this as we watch THE COUCH (1962) from director Owen Crump! The film stars Grant Williams, Shirley Knight, and Onslow Stevens, with a screenplay by PSYCHO author Robert Bloch. Context setting 00:00; Synopsis 14:54; Discussion 23:19; Ranking 50:09

Your hosts travel to Spain for the first Spanish horror film! GRITOS EN LA NOCHE aka SCREAMS IN THE NIGHT aka L'HORRIBLE DOCTEUR ORLOFF aka THE AWFUL DR. ORLOFF comes from Spanish director Jesús Franco as he maps his DARK EYES OF LONDON fanfic on to an EYES WITHOUT A FACE rip-off. But how does he balance delivering exposition versus exploitation through the female form? Well, just make different edits of the movie! We also give context on Francoist Spain and why we're only seeing a Spanish horror movie in the 1960s. Context setting 00:00; Synopsis 57:20; Discussion 1:12:08; Ranking 1:29:33

Look, it's not that we don't like Ray Milland. He's just a little... milquetoast? That being said, your deadicated hosts did enjoy him in Roger Corman's THE PREMATURE BURIAL (1962)! In this week's episode, we talk about Edgar Allan Poe's short story, the fear of being buried alive, and the pettiness of American International Pictures when dealing with Roger Corman. Context setting 00:00; Synopsis 29:42; Discussion 43:50; Ranking 1:00:02

From b-movie writer/director Roberto Mauri comes LA STRAGE DEI VAMPIRI (1962), aka Slaughter of the Vampires, aka Curse of the Blood Ghouls! This Italian horror borrows much from Dracula, but still manages to show off aesthetically -- in both cinematography and its female stars. Context setting 00:00; Synopsis 8:24; Discussion 16:52; Ranking 33:39

Larry "schlockmeister" Buchanan directs, writes and edits THE NAKED WITCH (1961)! Your deadicated hosts aren't sure what to make of this exploitation flick, but they can at least agree it's an interesting artifact of early American folk horror! The film stars Libby Hall, Robert Short and Jo Maryman. Context setting 00:00; Synopsis 18:14; Discussion 28:35; Ranking 46:28

The 1960s saw a range of different anxieties, from nuclear annihilation to the terror of teen street gangs. This week, we watch a film that brings these anxieties together in THE DAMNED (1961, Losey)! Adapted from H.L. Lawrence's novel THE CHILDREN OF LIGHT (1960), Hammer Horror tries to make their own VILLAGE OF THE DAMNED, unfortunately while relying on a director and writer more interested in philosophical ideas... Context setting 00:00; Synopsis 39:17; Discussion 1:02:08; Ranking 1:29:17

This week, your deadicated hosts cover the classic Gothic novel Henry James' THE TURN OF THE SCREW, and its film adaptation THE INNOCENTS (1961)! We discuss director Jack Clayton, the incredible cinematography from Freddie Francis, and how to turn a vague novel into a cohesive film. The film stars Deborah Kerr, Peter Wyngarde, Megs Jenkins, Michael Redgrave, Pamela Franklin and Martin Stephens. It's a biggie of an episode! Will your hosts reveal themselves as apparitionists or non-apparitionists? The one thing we definitely agree on: Miss Giddens is not okay! Context setting 00:00; Synopsis 1:10:12; Discussion 1:27:04; Ranking 2:12:50

Is it horror? Thriller? Film noir, or maybe giallo? We discuss the intricacies of LYCANTHROPUS (1961) aka WEREWOLF IN A GIRLS' DORMITORY from director Paolo Heusch! At the very least, we have a werewolf mystery on our hands... Context setting 00:00; Synopsis 13:34; Discussion 24:31; Ranking 36:59

From director Tai Kato before his career of yakuza films comes 1961's KAIDAN OIWA NO BOREI, the latest adaptation of YOTSUYA KAIDAN! Starring Tomisaburō Wakayama as Iemon, Yoshiko Fujishiro as Oiwa, Hiroko Sakuramachi as Osode, and introducing Jūshirō Konoe as Naosuke, is a return to a more detailed version of this ghost story conducive to horror? Context setting 00:00; Synopsis 28:02; Discussion 47:54; Ranking 1:10:00

A vampire's blood feud; a demonic cult; avant garde piano... with these ingredients we get EL MUNDO DE LOS VAMPIROS (1961) from director Alfonso Corona Blake! Which unfortunately, is just another vampire movie. The film stars Guillermo Murray, Mauricio Garcés and Erna Martha Bauman. Context setting 00:00; Synopsis 10:34; Discussion 26:10; Ranking 39:40