Gather close, creatures of the night — it’s time for Kevin Lane’s Spill Your Guts Annual Halloween Special!

This isn’t your usual campfire chat. Tonight, we summon dark tales and dreadful whispers from some of horror’s greatest minds — authors, actors, and legends of the macabre — each story crafted to chill your spine and haunt your dreams.

So light the bonfires. Carve your pumpkins.

And chant with us to the elder gods as we celebrate All Hallow’s Eve… together. 🔥

👻 Hosted by your harbinger for Samhain, Kevin Lane.

Halloween is here, and Spill Your Guts is kicking things off early before our MASSIVE Annual Halloween Special! We begin with some fresh horror recommendations—from Josh Malerman’s terrifying Incidents Around the House to video game Little Nightmares 3 and new 4K horror releases—before welcoming an icon of the genre: William Sadler (Tales from the Crypt: Demon Knight, The Mist, The Shawshank Redemption).

Together they dig into the craft of performance in horror—how minimalism breeds menace, why truth sells the supernatural, and what it’s like collaborating inside Stephen King’s world. They also revisit their time working together on Kevin Lane 's film, Lineage and swap stories about the human side of monsters.

Light your jack-o’-lantern, grab your candy, and settle in for an unforgettable conversation with one of horror’s greats.

Now he’s back with The Autumn Springs Retirement Home Massacre, a book that delivers on its wild title while also offering layered characters, shocking twists, and the kind of atmosphere only Fracassi can create. In this episode, we dive into his process, his inspirations, and the craft of writing horror fiction—offering insights that will appeal not just to fans, but also to aspiring writers looking to sharpen their own work. Join us as we step into the rabbit hole with one of today’s most powerful voices in horror fiction: Philip Fracassi.

This 1981 classic has become seminal title in the pantheon of horror and did for Valentine’s Day what John Carpenter’s enduring masterpiece “Halloween” and “Friday the 13th” did for the respective dates.

My Bloody Valentine has endured the test of time and become regular viewing every Valentine’s Day for horror fans. It’s also Quentin Tarantino’s favorite slasher film. High praise…and well deserved.

However, the film faced more than its share of challenges in both production and release and was considered a flop (if it was considered at all). There’s a long and compelling story to how “My Bloody Valentine” became the classic it is today with action figures, comics, a novel adaptation and even a board game.

Joining me to delve into the film as well as his career as a real journeyman filmmaker is My Bloody Valentine's masterful director, George Mihalka.

We are also doing a literary series with the biggest authors in horror fiction. It's a very exciting time for horror readers, as there are so many brilliant and diverse authors out there, creating stories that are reshaping the genre and what we've come to expect.

This episode features one such author. Christopher Golden is a New York Times bestselling author and Bram Stoker Award winner, and he's become a household name in horror fiction with masterfully written novels such as "Snowblind", "Ararat", "Road of Bones", "All Hallows", and "The Nightbirds", to name a few.

His work moves like a runaway train of terror and atmosphere that has caused me to read most of them in one sitting. There are few authors working that can compete with Christopher in creating the pace and atmosphere that he does. 

We also discuss his new anthology book, which he co-edited with Brian Keene, based in the world of Stephen King's iconic "The Stand", of which King himself gave the book his blessing. It's a must-have book for King fans, and really anyone who loves horror. It features stories from a long list of the greatest writers working in the genre today. The book is called "The End of the World as we know it", and is available now. 

So let's explore the worlds of frosty ghosts, spectral savage wolves, the true darkness of Halloween, and the scariest witches I have ever encountered in the history of horror. With author Christopher Golden.

Survival horror itself can be defined as a genre of video games with a focus on surviving in a threatening, often supernatural or disturbing environment, with an emphasis on a more vulnerable central character, tension, limited resources and combat as a last resort.

Sound like a vast number of great horror games that have come since the original “Resident Evil”?

Whether it’s the steeped in atmospheric dread of the “Silent Hill” franchise, the cosmic Lovecraftian terror of the “Dead Space” games, the nerve-frying corridors of the “Amnesia” series or the Stephen King-esque small town horror of “Alan Wake” and its sequel, the influence of “Resident Evil” has played a pivotal role in forming horror gaming.

In this episode I am joined by the stars of the most recent “Resident Evil” games. They have taken the three most iconic characters of the franchise and not only made them their own, but also brought real gravity and psychological complexity that has helped redefine the series and what we thought we could expect from it.

Welcome Nicole Tompkins who plays Jill Valentine in the “Resident Evil 3” reimaging and the animated film “Resident Evil: Death Island” as well as Daniela Dimitrescu and Elena in “Resident Evil Village”, Jeff Schine who plays Carlos in the “Resident Evil 3” reimagining and Chris Redfield in “Resident Evil Village” and Nick Apostolides who plays Leon Kennedy in the reimagining’s of “Resident Evil 2” and “Resident Evil 4” as well as the TV mini-series “Resident Evil: Infinite Darkness”.

We discuss their approaches to adapting these legacy characters, the indelible imprint of the franchise, how it’s not as different from film acting as some may think, as well as their most requested line readings.

Let’s explore the dangers of Raccoon City and beyond, survive a world of endless zombies and undead Doberman's, expose shadowy secret evil organizations and visit a village of crazed occultist with Nicole Tompkins, Jeff Schine and Nick Apostolides!

Joining me to discuss the film are writer/director Chad Archibald ("I'll Take Your Dead", "The Heretics") and stars Ashley Greene (the "Twilight" saga, "Burying the Ex") and Shawn Ashmore ("The Ruins" "Frozen").

Let’s dig into “It Feeds”, a world of nightmares and illusions!

We have a whole slew of horror masters and soon to be stars of the genre lined up for you as well as a few changes to the show including new segments with guest appearances putting a spotlight on new releases of movies, books, comics, video games and more so we’re going to be gutsier than ever before.

I want to take a moment to mention our Patreon. We sure could use your help keeping the show independent and bringing you even more in-depth conversations with horror’s finest. As a thank you for your contribution we will be offering exclusive bonus content, prize packs filled with movies, book, autographed merch and more. You can find the link to our Patreon below or in our bio. Thank you for support!

Now, let’s get down to it.

Our guest today wrote and directed what in my opinion, may be the most underrated movies in recent film history. I know the term “underrated” is often overused but certainly not in this case.

Based on comic maestro Cullen Bunn’s hit series “The Empty Man”, the film version came out in 2020 and was sadly overlooked. And folks, if you haven’t seen it, do yourself a favor and watch it NOW. I don’t mind. Pause this and go watch it.

What you will see is not only one of the most truly gripping, atmospheric, legitimately unnerving and beautifully made genre films in recent memory. It will also be one of those movies I promise you will want to talk to someone about as soon as the credits roll. This is a really important genre film.

Joining me to discuss the film including the many ways in which is was so terribly mishandled by the studio system and the many other challenges that went into making “The Empty Man” is the films writer and director, David Prior.

David and I discuss his vision for the film version of the comic, working with a great lead actor like James Badge Dale to craft a character who is never quite who he seems and what went so terribly wrong with the films release to the point that a movie made by a major studio with a reasonable budget as far as horror films standards go didn’t even receive any sort of physical media release. That’s right. Not even a barebones DVD. 

For fans of the movie, this episode may be the most insightful look into the film you can find as there’s no commentary track with David or any of the extras we’ve become accustomed to when we want to learn about how a movie got made. And for those of  you haven’t experienced the film yet, brace yourself.
 

At one time we were one. We will all be one again. This message comes to you directly from… the empty man. Oh, and writer/director David Prior!

Please show us your support at patreon.com/spillyourguts

Christmas Eve is slowly fading

Can you hear him in the night?

Close the door, turn off the light

Welcome to the Spill your guts Christmas Special!

In this episode we are taking the deepest of dives into two iconic Christmas horror classics, "Silent Night, Deadly Night" 1 & 2.

Joining me in this episode as my co-host is the esteemed Mr. Justin Beahm, as we explore the making-of and the legacy of these two holiday horror mainstays. I also sat down for in-depth one on one discussions with the stars of the two films, Robert Brain Wilson ("Billy") of "Silent Night, Deadly Night" and Eric Freeman ("Ricky") who starred in its sequel.

This is a particularly lengthy episode as we wanted to dig deep into why these two films have had such staying power and resonance since the first film was made 40 years go.

Also, we will be taking a bit of a hiatus for the month of January to put the gears in motion for the remaining episodes of season 4 but I promise you, it will be worth the wait!

I wish you and yours a very Merry Christmas but sure hope you haven’t been naughty.

Now, sit back by the Christmas tree with a cup of cocoa and keep your axe handy as we look back at "Silent Night Deadly Night" 1 and 2!

On to the show!

My guest today makes lean, mean, kick ass horror films that get your blood pumping almost as much as it does on screen. His films often lean into the action side of the genre and are a ride from the the get-go. He’s one of the best in the business for staging a great set piece and his ability to move between action beats and scares works every time.

His new film “Werewolves” is in theatres now and I freakin’ love this movie. It has everything… werewolves, Lou Diamond Phillips, a child in danger, bodies ripped in half, shirtless Frank Grillo (I just turned into Stefan from SNL). Go see it! “Werewolves”… tell your friends!

Today we are joined by the unstoppable Steven C. Miller!

Steven and I get our jolly on by first discussing his loose remake of “Silent Night, Deadly Night” which was was just called “Silent Night”. A very different film than the beloved 1984 classic, it’s a balls to the wall killer Santa flick and we talk about how it all came together.

We also discuss how “Werewolves” came to be, how Frank Grillo is just as on point in intimate character scenes as he is at killing the fuck out of werewolves and how to walk the line of scares and action without leaning too much into one or the other.

So let’s sharpen our candy canes and howl at the super moon with director Steven C. Miller!

Well let’s get right into it shall we?

Our guest in this episode is one of the great visionary directors currently working in horror. His work bares the signature of a director who is not only a master of his craft but also someone has has never lost touch with an almost childlike sense of imagination, as he often explores the dark side of folklore and fantasy. Similar to a filmmaker like Guillermo del Toro (so it’s no surprise they have collaborated), his marriage of the fantastic and the macabre gives him a distinctive style.

With his first true feature, the modern classic “Troll Hunter”, he came out guns-a-blazing and hasn’t let up since.

In this episode we are joined by the virtuosic director Andre Ovredal.

Andre and I sat down to talk about why he chose to follow up the decidedly lighter in tone hit “Troll Hunter”, with the disturbing and almost chamber play like (not to mentioning absolutely terrifying) “The Autopsy of Jane Doe”. The challenges of adapting a beloved book like “Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark” for the screen and why a very brief section of the legendary Bram Stoker’s Dracula about the “Last voyage of the Demeter” was a story that HAD to be told on film.

Let’s visit the world of the strange and the fantastic with director Andre Ovredal!

Soon it will be that most festive of holidays and I have to say, I love that one as much (full disclosure maybe more) because the sinister side of Christmas is masked by the most wholesome of veneers. We’ll have lots of Christmas episodes for you unwrap but that’s still a couple weeks out so in the meantime, we return you to our regularly scheduled programming.

In this episode we are joined by one of the busiest guys in the world of horror filmmaking. He has produced a series of films that have become huge hits financially and created a new slasher icon in the mold of Freddy or Pennywise.

He has a new film out that he directed titled “Stream”, and it has nearly every horror icon you can think of is in the cast (though friend of the podcast and genre royalty Jeffrey Combs really gets to shine here).

The film also features and appearance by a genre legend that we have just lost, the formidable Tony Todd. I had the great privilege of having a friendship with Tony for almost 20 years and his talent, humour, thoughtfulness and kindness was unmatched. So, this episode is for Tony. Who loved his craft. Who loved movies, the people that made them and the people that watched them.

Back to “Stream”, it’s a raucous, funny, gory, inventive occasionally touching movie that brings the goods and then some. And again, there’s the fantastic Jeffrey Combs performance! “ Stream” is streaming now.

Joining us to talk about producing the hijinks of Art the Clown in “The Terrifier” films and taking on directing “Stream” is producer/director Michale Leavy.

Before we get to our spine-tingling tales, I want to take a moment to talk with you about an important charity that we are working with, The Gatehouse.

The Gatehouse provides peer support and counselling resources for adult survivors of childhood sexual abuse and their support persons. They are a registered charity operating in Toronto for in person services and online across Canada; survivors can join in virtual programs. 

Survivors of sexual abuse need to know that healing is possible and that it is never too late to make the call to ask for help in your healing journey from childhood sexual abuse. So many survivors across Canada are suffering in silence; many do not know that help exists!

Please visit thegatehouse.org for more information and while you’re there hit the “Donate Now” button to make a contribution. If you or someone you know is a survivor of childhood sexual abuse, you are not alone and you there is help for you.

Now, the leaves are falling, the air is crisp, and the smell of carved pumpkins is in the air. It’s Halloween. A time for mayhem. Join me now as we gather around the campfire for stories that embody the menace and mystery of Halloween.

He has also starred in many other horror films, most fiercely independent ones, and even directed one. He’s been in plenty of non-horror films as well including working with auteurs such as David Fincher and Christopher Nolan (with whom he has worked with several times). 

He has evaded being typecast and always brings the kind of gravity and thoughtfulness that makes his presence in any film a highlight. Maybe the best way I can describe him and his contributions to the genre is to say that if he’s in something, I’m going to see it. I don’t need to know anything more about the film than that for it to become something I’ll watch. It’s a system that thus far has served me well as he has given some of my personal favourite performances and led me to some films that I admire that I may not have seen otherwise.

My guest today is Josh Stewart.

Many of you know Josh from his role as Arkin in the beloved films “The Collector” and “The Collection” (there’s a 3rd on its way at long last). Arkin immediately became an outlier in pantheon of horror leads in that not only is he a rather reluctant hero (if you can call him that at all) but he is relatable in that he has is own real-life problems and a psychopath, who sets up an elaborate series of traps that would make Jigsaw proud, seriously screws with his day. It’s a quiet and heavy hitting performance and one of the great ones in the history of horror.

Let’s pull up a chair with one of genres finest actors, Josh Stewart!

One of the studios responsible for giving us some of the best, including “Until Dawn”, “The Quarry” and the Dark Pictures series, is Supermassive Games. And in this episode we are joined by Supermassive Games Chief Creative Officer Steve Goss and writer Graham Reznick.

His newest film, “Frankie Freako”, about Connor, who bored with life, decides to shake things up by inviting some mischievous goblins into his home, has already become a hit on the festival circuit and hits theatres October 4th. I love the film and I can wholeheartedly recommend it to anyone who has a place in their hearts for the movies like Ghoulies, Puppet Master and anything by the great little monster maker, John Carl Beuchler. 

Welcome back Steven Kostanski!

The show will be returning with our season 4 premiere on October 1 but in the mean time, we thought it might be fun to celebrate this most unlucky of days by revisiting our season 1 episode with Jason Vorhees arch nemesis, Tommy Jarvis. In Friday the 13th part 6: Jason Lives, Tommy Jarvis and Jason have the ultimate showdown and though Tommy had been played by two other actors prior to Jason Lives, Thom Mathews has become synonymous with character.

Now, I’m going to go ahead and guess if you’re listening to Spill your guts that you’re a collector of physical media. Of course you are. You have to be. You’re a horror fan. For our Canadian listeners, our beloved sponsor Cinema 1 is bringing back their 3-day Friday the 13th Horror Sale from September 13th to 15th. Slash the tax and take 13% off all horror movies at any of their in-store locations in Guelph, Hamilton, and London, Ontario. Or get Free Shipping within Canada on orders over $75 using the code: JASON13 exclusively at Cinema1.ca

Thank you for listening and please enjoy this return to Crystal Lake.

Now, let’s get into it.

For any actor, playing a major character on a tv series that not only garners tons of adoring fans but also enters into the pop culture zeitgeist and becomes a phenomenon is a major achievement. Especially when their character is a particular fan favourite and ends up in video games, comic books, made into toys and more. Then you add the element of that series enduring the test of time to become inarguably classic television.

I’ll one up that now. How about doing that twice?

Our guest in this episode has a vast filmography of dynamic and versatile roles but her performance as vampire Darla on “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” and its spinoff series “Angel” and as “Rita”, the wife of everyones favourite serial killer on the Showtime sensation “Dexter”, have made her a true genre star.

In this episode we are joined by the radiant and brilliant Julie Benz!

Julie sat down to talk with me about getting her start working on the George Romero produced, Dario Argento directed segment of the film “Two Evil Eyes”, when she realized that Buffy was becoming an important series, the benefits of working on two shows back to back that both had stars, Sarah Michelle Gellar and David Boreanaz respectively, that were also great leaders. We talk about the excitement of getting cast to work opposite a virtuosic actor like Michael C. Hall and be a part of a critical darling like Dexter but also the heartbreak and feeling of betrayal that came later when she was written off the show.

I have to say that personally I have been a longstanding fan of Julie’s being a hardcore Buffy/Angel fan and then later a “Dexter” devotee. Julie is the kind of actor and person that anyone who speaks to people about their craft as a profession dreams of having as a guest. As thoughtful as she is open and real and man, is she ever a lovely human being. 

Ladies and gentleman, Julie Benz!

Our guest take has just completed his 400th film. To put it plainly, he’s unstoppable.

The Godfather of B movies, the Puppet Master and a true master at reinventing himself time and time again… in this episode we welcome one of Spill your guts favourite guests, Charles Band.

Now, Charlie has created a new line of films titled Pulp Noire and with it, Charlie is setting out to show fans a whole new side to Full Moon films. Surrealistic, trippy, raw, and bleak… and nary a diminutive creature in sight. This new line shows Charlie reinventing YET again.

The first film in the series is titled “Quadrant” and is directed by Charlie himself (all the Pulp Noire films will be directed by Charlie who generally prefers to take the producing helm) . It’s a typically crazy Full Moon film that involves virtual reality, monsters and Jack the Ripper. Just see it. I can’t even begin to describe this gonzo head trip.

Quadrant releases on nearly all platforms as well as being available from fullmoonhorror.com on August 23

Charlie sat down with me to discuss the response to the recently released David Allen masterpiece “The Primevals”, to talk about the inception of Pulp Noire and why he chose to direct all the films himself and also to share his greatest fear. Which I’m sure you'll find is so very Charles Band appropriate.

Let’s strap on our VR helmets and be weary of the ripper as Spill your guts welcomes back the one and only Charles Band!

So, the time was ripe to unleash some new ones.

Our guest today has been a part of crafting the way forward for two iconic horror heavies. In one as the writer of several of the franchises most adored entries and the other, a work of his own creation.

In doing so he has cemented his place as one of the contemporary masters of horror and in my estimation, one of its greatest filmmakers.

The two franchises I’m referring to are “Saw” and “The Collector” and the filmmaker is the masterful Marcus Dunstan.

I should note that the two “Collector” films are among my personal favourites. With taut, stylish, nail biting direction from Marcus and a pitch perfect performance by the films star, the indispensable Josh Stewart, “The Collector” films have become an audience favourite so I think I can safely say we’re all rather excited for the upcoming third film (more on that later).

Marcus has a new film titled “#AMFAD All my friends are dead” that is one of the most fun times you could have with this years crop of horror films. Equal parts terrifying, scathing and laugh out loud funny, it’s decidedly lighter brand of Marcus Dunstan film and yet also fits into his roster perfectly. Original and with a hell of an ending, well, horror fans are in for a serious ride with this one.

“#AMFAD” is in select theatres now and is available on streaming.

Marcus and I discuss the happy accident the got him his first writing gig on a Saw film (he wrote 4 of them), his commitment in creating “#AMFAD” to not sticking to the usual tropes of a film about social media obsessed characters, how “The Collector” films could be so grizzly but still have heart and oh yes, some details on the 3rd film.

Alright, let’s join the terrifying and twisted world of Jigsaw and the Collector with writer/director Marcus Dunston!

In this special episode of Spill your guts, we celebrate the 45th anniversary of George A. Romero’s seminal masterpiece, “Dawn of the Dead”.

Joining me to discuss the film is horror maestro and long time friend of Spill your guts, Chris Alexander. Chris is the former editor of Fangoria magazine, an author, filmmaker and all around genre spokesman. He’s also the perfect person for me to talk with about the film.

Both Chris and I were fortunate enough to have a friendship with George and we both had our own unique conversations with him about “Dawn” and his relationship to the film.

We discuss the films inception, the happy accidents that lead to some of the films most iconic moments, the challenges George faced with the production itself, the films incredibly multifaceted and damn near perfect script and why George Romero himself had a somewhat complicated relationship with the film. This and much, much more.

It’s difficult when discussing a film like “Dawn” not to retread when a movie has been analyzed and discussed as much as this but by taking a more holistic view of the film and because of our own relationships with the films creator, I feel even the most devout “Dawn” fans will find some ideas and insights here worth chewing on.

Okay folks, there’s no more room in hell so let’s get down to it and return to Monroeville Mall with Chris Alexander as we look back at George A. Romero’s “Dawn of the Dead”!

Its popularity has of course ebbed and flowed with a resurgence in the 90’s thanks to the success of films like “Scream” and “I know what you did last summer” but the slasher genre has also seen more than its share of duds with filmmakers mistakingly believing that all that an audience expects from a slasher film is a killer in a mask and nubile flesh for him to dispatch.

It is the successful deconstruction of the slasher sub-genre in films like “Scream” and the less seen but equally clever  “Behind the Mask: The Rise of Leslie Vernon” that have allowed the slasher film to evolve past the tropes that had begun to hold it back.

One new film that embraces, innovates and captures the true spirit of the slasher film is “Deer Camp 86’” and in this episode we are joined by three of the films stars, Jay J. Bidwell, Brian Michael Raetz and Josh Dominguez.

“Deer Camp 86’” is available now on blu-ray and streaming but I recommend you grab the blu-ray from our friends over at Cinema 1 and listen for a discount promo code during the episode.

We sat down to talk about what makes Deer Camp 86’ stand out from the slasher crowd and how the film begins and feels like one kind of film but ends up becoming something else altogether. Why steps forward in inclusiveness are vital to the future of horror. The challenges of shooting on location and building a rapport in an ensemble cast and why the director chose to use a pseudonym for his billing on the film.

So, pack your mosquito repellent and throw on your camo and let’s visit “Deer Camp 86”!

Our guest today is someone very special to me. A friend, an endless source of information on all things horror, endlessly funny and quirky and an inspiration. Sadly, in May, he tragically passed away at the age of 44. He and I recorded this interview around a year ago and because of different scheduling reasons, the episode had yet to drop.

My guest today is beloved genre historian, celebrated writer, creator of unique and probing special features for physical media releases and all around genre advocate as well as tremendous lover of animals.

Today I am joined by the incomparable Lee Gambin.

I'd also like to welcome another sponsor of the show, Cinema 1. Cinema 1 is my go to store for many years for all my physical media (of which I have too many and not enough). They have some of the most hard to find titles and are lovers of the genre as well as collectors themselves. Be sure to visit www.cinema1.ca to pick up the films Lee and I discuss in this episode. Create your account and use promo code "spillyourguts" to get 10% off your order.

Once again, welcome back to Kevin Lane's Spill your guts!

We are joined by the “Wizard of Gore” himself, Ray Sager.

Ray is a master storyteller on the making of independent films. His early career began working with Herschel Gordon Lewis, who became his mentor. He also starred as Montag the Magnificent in the classic Lewis film “The Wizard of Gore”. Many projects later, Ray established himself as a producer during one of the most prolific eras in Canadian filmmaking. The mid 70’s to early 80’s saw an unprecedented amount of films being made due to hefty tax deductions for film investors and Ray produced a slew of them. Sometimes as many as 3 three features a year. Ray knows every trick of the trade.

He’s one of the most dedicated producers to work in horror and generous instructor for how to avoid the many pitfalls of independent filmmaking. This episode is a must listen for our indie filmmaker listeners.

Let’s pull back the curtain and learn about the magic of horror filmmaking with celebrated producer Ray Sager!

Travis explains how a short film version of the feature length film closed the movies financing, how to plot out a well executed jump scare and believe me, this film has some great ones, finding a fair and balanced approach to commenting on influencers and why the film has a title that gives away a rather significant plot point.

There have been many genre films that have examined the role that social media and influencers play in our current media landscape but few have tackled the subject and found why it works in horror as well as “#ChadGetsTheAxe".

There are things far more terrifying for this group of influencers then whether or not followers hit the “Like” button so let’s take a look with writer/director Travis Bible!

Written by Travis Bible and Kemerton Hargrove and directed by Bible, #ChadGetsTheAxe is a razor-sharp, edge of your seat slasher that not only avoids the pratfalls of the overdone “influencer horror” sub-sub-genre but actually has a fresh perspective on those tropes while always remembering to honour the horror genre first with carefully constructed scares.

It’s a funny, surprising, biting movie that you might have missed.

In this episode we will be sitting down with one of the films stars. Next episode we are joined by the films director, Travis Bible.

In #ChadGetsTheAxe, he plays Spicy Steve, one of a group of 4 social media influencers that livestream their trip to the aptly titled “Devil’s Manor” and run afoul of a satanic cult. He can also be seen in the new horror film “Followers” which drops today, March 12th exclusively on Screambox.

Welcome Michael Bonini!

Michael has an impressive list of credits for a young actor. One might also notice the eclectic variety of genres and characters types that Michael has taken on. He’s a jack of all trades actor who brings something fresh and unexpected to whoever he’s playing. From network TV favourites like “The Blacklist” and “New Amsterdam”, the Netflix hit “The Night Agent” to beloved King of the B’s Charles Band’s “Bad CGI Gator”, Michael is always a welcome presence in whatever he’s in.

We sat down to talk about the pitch-black and meaty role he played in another under-seen thriller “Hurricane Aaron”, how “#ChadGetsTheAxe” found the right balance of social media commentary and suspense, what keeps his character Steve from being just another influencer dickhead and how you prepare as an actor for battling a floating CGI alligator for Charles Band.

Remember to like, comment and subscribe and lets try and survive our stay at Devil’s Manor with Michael Bonini!

In this episode we are joined by the films writer and director, Shawn Linden.

Shawn and I discuss the major influence of dark 80’s fantasy classics such as "The Secret of NIMH" and "The Dark Crystal", the many hurdles he faced getting “Hunter Hunter” into production, how killing characters the audience expects to see save the day is effectively destabilizing and oddly not done enough and why audiences are far more comfortable seeing humans get killed on screen than non-human animals.

Let’s explore the savage and stark world of “Hunter Hunter” with filmmaker Shawn Linden!

2023 was a fantastic year for horror and 2024 doesn’t look to be slowing down so though the New Year is often a time for looking forward at what’s to come, it’s also a time for reflection. This season we will be spotlighting some of the genres great entires that you may have missed or that for a number of reasons (a global pandemic for example) didn’t get attention they so deserved.

The first film we’re going to delve into is the gripping and gutting 2020 film “Hunter Hunter” by filmmaker Shawn Linden.

“Hunter Hunter”, a raw and unforgiving survival story about a family living isolated in the wilderness, who begin to think they are being stalked by a rogue wolf but soon come to find it’s something far more terrifying, is a stark and nuanced genre film. Sadly, the pandemic robbed it of the ability to have a film festival run  (so important for indie films) and when the film was released in 2020, despite plenty of strong reviews from the critics, it came and went with not nearly enough notice.

I think it’s one of the best genre films of the last decade and deserved much much better.

With a stellar cast and taught lean direction, the film is equal parts terrifying survival story and intimate character work.

In this episode, I am joined by one of the stars of the film and one of the genres most beloved leading men. In our next episode, we will be talking with the films director, Shawn Linden.

Our guest today has been acting since he was a child and over the years, has become a horror household name having starred in films such as “Idle Hands”, “Final Destination”, “Black Friday” and the series starring everyones favourite Good Guy “Chucky”.

When I started this show I had a list of people I knew I wanted to talk to. People that have made major contributions to the genre. We’ve been fortunate enough to get to speak with most of those people but this actor was always right at the top of the list.

In today’s episode, we are joined by Devon Sawa.

Now most listeners of the show will be aware that our guests are generally joining us remotely but I had the great pleasure to sit down with Devon in person. We first me while he was attending the awesome horror convention “Frightmare in the Falls” in Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada and at a later date we recorded our talk in a restaurant so you will hear a bit more background than usual.

Devon is a lovely guy. Warm and open and generous with his stories and insights.

We discussed the ups and downs of a being a teen heartthrob, why he veered away from genre films for a while, how starring in Eminem’s iconic music video “Stan” helped redefine him as an actor and why a show about a murderous doll is so important.

So lets get ready to sit down with the man who had the best battle with his own possessed hand since Bruce Campbell, thwarted deaths plan and been killed by Chucky more then anybody… welcome horror’s leading man, Devon Sawa!

The winter solstice is upon and it’s one of the darkest times of the year. So as you're enjoying the lights on your Christmas tree and lighting your Christmas candles, just remember that though the holidays are a time for joy and cheer, it has a much darker history than that. This, our annual Christmas special, will be our final episode for the holidays but we’ll be back in a few weeks with more discussions with some of the luminaries of darkness.

Everyone has their favorite Christmas movie classics but perhaps the gold standard is Frank Capra’s “It’s a Wonderful Life”. Featuring Jimmy Stewart learning that every time a bell rings, an angel gets its wings, it was only a matter of time before some master of the macabre took a stab at the setup for a horror film.

And boy are we lucky that that particular filmmaker happened to by our guest today, Tyler MacIntyre with his new film “It’s a Wonderful Knife”.

If you don’t love the title already you deserve to be boiled in your own Christmas pudding.

With a genre cast to die for, a razor-sharp script by Michael Kennedy (who wrote the genre hit “Freaky”) and a Christmas killer sure to join the ranks of the great Christmas slashers, “It’s a Wonderful Knife” has all the ingredients to become a Christmas horror fans tradition.

Tyler and I sat down to discuss the importance of inclusivity in modern horror, some tips of the trade for pursuing a career in filmmaking that are sure to be of great help for our aspiring filmmaker listeners, what he took from Hallmark when creating his own Christmas tale and how the film nods to “It’s a Wonderful Life” in some very sly ways. We also discuss the creation of Justin Long’s insane and wonderfully bizarre villain.

“It’s a Wonderful Knife” is available on Shudder, AMC+ and anywhere you rent your movies.

Okay, let’s sharpen our candy canes and get our wings with Tyler MacIntyre!

In this episode, we are sitting down with director Jenn Wexler to talk about her new film “The Sacrifice Game”.

Set in the 70’s, the film is a love letter to not just classic Christmas horror but an atmospheric home invasion story with wicked supernatural flares. It’s also a thoughtful and sensitive look at finding friendship and connection.

Jenn and I sat down to talk about her inspirations, how she fell in love with the Christmas horror genre, the undying influence of Buffy Summers and why this movie had to be set on Christmas and in the 70’s.

“The Sacrifice Game” is available now on Shudder.

So, pour yourself some Eggnog and sit down by the Christmas tree and let’s explore some festive madness with director Jenn Wexler!

Having come up in the business along industry friends such as Martin Scorsese and Sydney Pollack, he is part of cinema history as one of the filmmakers creating distinct and memorable work with a style that is unquestionably his own.

However, it is a film regarded as one of the best adaptations of Stephen King’s most beloved books that has made him an icon of horror

In this episode we will be joined by filmmaker Lewis Teague.

Often regarded by his peers and fans alike as “underrated”, Lewis first made a name for himself in the genre with the cult classic “Alligator”.  Better than anyone thought an Alligator living in the sewer’s movie had any right to be, and featuring a bravura performance by lead actor Robert Forster, “Alligator” has gone on to become a favorite of horror fans.

Lewis’ 1983 adaptation of Stephen King’s “Cujo” is considered by many, including King himself, as one of the ultimate King adaptations. With unbearably taught direction, nerve frying cinematography by legendary cinematographer Jan De Bont and a career best performance by genre royalty Dee Wallace, “Cujo” remains untouched in the canon of Stephen King movies.

With a great dry sense of humour and uncanny style for storytelling, Lewis shared with me his youth as a bit of a trouble maker before winding up in the military, finding his way in the hay-day of Hollywood auteurs, his ups and downs in show business and his enjoyment in teaching in his later life.

So, let’s strap into a Ford Pinto and prepare to have our adrenal glands blown with Lewis Teague!

Our episode today is a something very different from our regularly scheduled programming. We will NOT be sitting down with a director or actor of one of your favorite films but instead, we’re doing the thing that Halloween lends itself to best. We will be in the company of two master horror story tellers to have our spines tingled and our gooses bumped.

Our next episode will feature one of horror heaviest hitting directors and we have a big one coming up near the end of November that has been months in the making.

Now, light some candles and make sure your phone has reception (I miss the days where the killer could just cut the phone line) and let’s get ready to be terrified! 

We’ve be on hiatus for a couple months while I was attending film festivals near and far and sitting down with some of the genres best to share with all of you in this new season. And if I may so myself, it’s sure to be some of our best episodes yet. Some upcoming things to look out for our episodes on the great Fantasia Film Festival in Montreal where we watched some terrifying and crazy new movies and had the opportunity to sit down with the filmmakers and do the SYG thing. We also have a special episode coming up on filmmaker and Stop Motion animation legend David Allen who’s Magnum opus “The Primevals” is finally completed and seeing the light of day after 30 years. It’s an amazing story about one of the genres great unsung heroes.

I should also point out some changes you will notice about the show. We will now be dropping new episodes every other week as opposed to weekly to allow ourselves a little more time to produce each episode. The seasons will be a little longer to make up for it though so you’ll still get just as much SYG. Also, we will be dropping more bonus episode and surprise guests.

In this episode I am joined by one one of the genres great composers. A composer who has a sound and feel like none other and has brought us equal parts wonder and terror with his score for classics like Re-Animator, Trancers, From Beyond, Ghoulies, Puppet Master and the Pit and the Pendulum. And that’s just a small selection from the list of classic movies that have been scored by the one and only, Richard Band.

Richard is a true virtuoso! His music has a signature and a life to it that immediately ups the ante of any film privileged enough to have him on board as the composer.

Well, that’s it, now it’s time to get into it.  Oh and just one more thing… we have something very exciting brewing for you all for Halloween.

HAPPY FRIDAY THE 13TH and let’s spill some guts!

Our guest today is one of the genres great showmen. His films are whacky, funny, boundary pushing, musically charged, sexual, gruesome, occasionally satirical but never mean spirited but most of all, a hell of a lot of fun. There is no one else like him and no other films like his.

Today we are joined by the hilarious, thoughtful and wonderful…  Richard Elfman.

Richard is very much an auteur. His 1980 cult classic “Forbidden Zone” is an upside-down topsy-turvy musical adventure of madness. It is basically impossible to classify. Not really a horror film, nor musical, nor fantasy… it’s a Richard Elfman film and that means you’re in for a good time. With masterful scores by his brother and frequent collaborator, the legendary Danny Elfman, Richard has a filmography of impossible to classify movies that all carry his distinct signature as filmmaker.

Richard’s films also have a strong DIY quality that speaks to his determination to get his films made the way he wants to make them. I can only imagine what a pitch meeting with studio execs for “Aliens, clowns & geeks” would be like. Actually, that would be awesome. I’d love to be in that meeting. 

Richard discusses his approach to filmmaking including the joys of bringing your family and friends onboard, his two personas, finding his tribe as the director of San Francisco transvestite performance group “The Cockettes” and founding the beloved “Mystics Knights of the Oingo Boingo”.

As an added bit of awesomeness, Richard has provided us with musical tracks by Danny Elfman, Ego Plum and Radioactive Chicken Heads from his new film “Bloody Bridget”. “Bloody Bridget” is absolutely insane and a total blast. See it with an audience if you can and keep an eye out for a kick ass performance by Richard’s wife Anastasia Elfman in the titular role.

Let’s take a trip into the forbidden so with the maestro of madness, Richard Elfman!

And Hammer didn’t just do classic monsters! Some of their original films such as “The Devil Rides Out” and “Captain Kronos: Vampire Hunter” showed that Hammer wasn’t afraid to step outside their formula.

Hammer also provided career-making roles for several of the genres most beloved stars with Christopher Lee’s towering take on Dracula and Peter Cushing’s often scene-stealing performances as Doctor Frankenstein and Van Helsing.

The studio also had its share of dynamic leading ladies with legends such as Ingrid Pitt, Stephanie Beacham and Barbara Shelley. And that’s barely scratching the surface.

Our guest in this episode is one of Hammer’s great leading ladies. And a Bond Girl. And a Scream Queen.

Today we are joined by the radiant and brilliant, Caroline Munro.

Caroline was one of few actors to be signed to a contract by Hammer, something that wasn’t really a practice for the studio but they knew what they had with Caroline. An actor whose beauty is matched by her chops, her presence and her character. 

Caroline discusses her approach to the acting process, what she learned by working off screen legends such as Christopher Lee, Peter Cushing and Richard Widmark, the insecurity that is possessed by almost all actors and stealing scenes at the Cannes Film Festival with the great Joe Spinell.

Let’s bare our fangs and get ready to dance on a Sunday with Caroline Munro! 

In this episode, Larry delves into his filmography as well as why he has a strong attraction to the mythology of the Wendigo, why it’s important for filmmakers not to be afraid to ask big questions, making the classic monsters your own and the one and only Cookie Puss.

Larry is a brave storyteller and he doesn’t mince words. Expect a frank and open conversation.

Without further delay, part 2 of our sit-down with one of the masters of mythology, Larry Fessenden!

It’s why good films and good filmmaking aren’t all about budget. Sure, having more money to throw at a problem or more shooting days can be a big help but an adage heard and said by nearly every independent filmmaker is “necessity is the mother of invention”. And the budget becomes a moot point if you don’t know where to put the camera or why you’re telling this particular story in the first place.

Our guest today has yet to make a film that didn’t demonstrate his considerable craftsmanship. He has proven film after film that not only is he a visionary filmmaker, he’s also an artful and thoughtful one. And he always, always, knows where to put the camera.

In this episode we are joined by indie horror icon, Larry Fessenden.

Larry’s films have always been a more thoughtful breed of genre film. Generally, more character driven and often unafraid to explore weightier themes like some of his own genre influences such as George Romero. There’s a sense in Larry’s movies that his work is personal to him and it creates a more intimate connection with the audience. To be clear though, Larry also knows how to scare you silly.

In part one of our two-part conversation, Larry discusses his formative film experiences, what qualifies a perfect film, film criticism, what Larry learned from some of his favorite horror film directors and the genius of “Rocky Horror Picture Show”. Be sure to check out part 2 next week where Larry delves more into his body of work.

Okay, beware the woods and don’t mess with mother nature. It’s time to sit down with Larry Fessenden!

Our guest today is the one and only, Mick Garris.

Anyone with even a passing interest in horror knows Mick from his classic mini-series adaptations of frequent collaborator Stephen King’s “The Stand” and the faithful to the text, but also controversial “Stephen King's The Shining”. And for the more devoted horror lovers, Mick Garris is pretty much royalty.

Of course, Mick is also well known for both his long white mane and his reputation for being one of the nicest people in show business (which he is) but when you look at Mick’s body of work a little more closely you will also see the side of Mick that is decidedly fierce.

This is the man that made a Psycho sequel with an unconvinced Anthony Perkins and critics who two sequels later were still ready to pounce on any filmmaker who dared to try and follow up one of Hitchcock’s most iconic films.

Who tackled one of Stephen King’s most batshit crazy stories about mother and son cat people that steal people’s essence and also share a bed. Side note, I love “Sleepwalkers”!

Who was equal parts brave and insane enough to tackle an independently made version of King’s epic “The Stand” and against all odds, absolutely nailed it and created a monster hit.

And ignored the naysayers when it came to doing a miniseries version of King’s iconic “The Shining” because both he and King felt that legendary director Stanley Kubrick had not really done justice to King’s book.

So yes, Mick is a lovely guy but don’t mistake that for someone who is meek and mild. Mick has succeeded not just on talent and awesome hair, but because he works hard and takes chances. 

Mick delves into the beginnings of Master's of Horror, both the dinners and the series, the massive amount of shit he got from some fans for daring to touch “The Shining”, his beginnings interviewing his own heroes like Ray Bradbury and Rod Serling and showing a little man flesh for a change in “The Stand”. 

Mick is also the host of one of the great genre podcasts “Post Mortem”, so if you’re unfamiliar with it, and I’m guessing if you're listening to SYG, you likely are, make sure to check it out and then carve out a bunch of time because you will get hooked.

Spill Your Guts is proud to present a conversation with Master of Horror Mick Garris!

After 25 years, Subspecies is back with “Subspecies 5: Blood Rise”.

A prequel to the events of the original series, the film brings us back in time to show how Radu Vladislas became the monster we know and love. I won’t ruin any of the films many surprises but I will say that it’s an incredible accomplishment for Ted Nicolaou and Full Moon. Anders Hove, Denice Duff and Kevin Spirtas are all back and seeing them step into the world of Subspecies again after all these years is as exciting as any fan could have hoped.

The film is also a perfect starting point for folks who are new to the series because, well, it’s a prequel. Set some time aside though because after you see it you will feel you must see the rest of the films immediately. And boy are you lucky!

“Subspecies 5: Blood Rise” played earlier this month at Alamo Drafthouse theaters and will be having its steaming premiere on Full Moon Streaming and Screambox on June 2nd.

Without further delay, joining me to look at the return of this beloved series are writer/director Ted Nicolaou and stars Denice Duff, Kevin Spirtas and Anders Hove. Let’s bare our fangs and take a bite!

A new episode every day until Thursday, June 1st exploring Ted Nicolaou's iconic saga with the creator and stars.

Our guest today is the not only the writer and director of the Subspecies series but also one of the genres greatest gonzo filmmakers. He has an extensive history in the genre beginning as the location sound recordist on Tobe Hooper’s seminal classic “The Texas Chainsaw Massacre” and an editor for longtime creative collaborator Charles Band on Empire and Full Moon classics like “Tourist Trap”, “Ghoulies”, “Trancers”, Stuart Gordon’s “Robot Jox” and “Crash and Burn”.

In 1986 he wrote and directed the whacky and entirely fun cult classic “TerrorVision” and it was clear to Charles Band that he had found himself a real deal genre maestro.

That filmmaker was Ted Nicolaou and his next film after “TerrorVision” was the original “Subspecies”.

As Ted tells it, the original “Subspecies” shoot in Romania was more or less a nightmare. Ted would once again prove his vision and endurance when not only did he survive the ordeal that was shooting the film, he created one of Full Moon’s biggest hits. The rest is Subspecies history and we’re going to uncover all of it here. From the original film to the back to back shot sequels filmed in 1993 when Full Moon was shining it’s brightest to the 4th film for a transitioning and somewhat troubled Full Moon to fan favorite spin off “Vampire Journals”, Ted is the creative vision behind it all.

Spill your guts is proud to present a conversation with the man behind the bloodstone, Ted Nicolaou.

A new episode every day until Thursday, June 1st exploring Ted Nicolaou's iconic saga with the creator and stars.

There’s a lot about “Subspecies” to admire from Nicolaou’s assured direction to the stunning location shooting in Romania and the rock-solid performances from Denice Duff and Kevin Spirtas as the heroes but the star of the show is unquestionably the series antagonist, Radu.

A centuries old vampire, Radu is grotesque and vile, usually gore dripping from his fanged maw while he speaks in a rasping, decrepit voice. This is not the romantic vampire of Hammer films but a force of evil that will stop at nothing to reclaim his birthright, the bloodstone. He has become a monster favourite. Radu is played by Anders Hove.

A Danish actor, Ander’s deftly manages the balance of keeping Radu sinister and menacing but also imbues the character with an unexpected empathy and a haunting past. It’s a truly remarkable transformation when you find that Anders himself is a lowkey, kind, thoughtful man.

Originally a season 1 release, we are presenting this interview again here as part of our Subspecies Week lineup. If you’ve heard it before, listening to it again as part of the complete narrative that is being presented this week offers new insights. For those who are listening for the first time, strap in because Anders is one of a kind in absolutely the best way imaginable.

Without further delay my fledglings, let there be a bloodbath with Anders Hove.

A new episode every day until Thursday, June 1st exploring Ted Nicolaou's iconic saga with the creator and stars.

In a series packed with nightmare fuel vampires and their proteges and little demons birthed from severed fingers, our guest today brings the much-needed humanity to the series.

In this episode we’re sitting down with Kevin Spirtas. 

First appearing in “Bloodstone: Subspecies 2” and “Bloodlust: Subspecies 3” as Mel Thompson of the US Embassy, Kevin takes what could be an entirely reactionary character and give him real weight. As one of the few major not undead humans in the series, it’s a character that helps to ground the supernatural elements and give the audience an access point for Michelle and her sister Rebecca’s story.

Kevin has an extensive background in horror having starred in films like “The Hills have eyes part 2” for director Wes Craven and “Friday the 13th Part 7: The New Blood”.

Oh, and keep an eye out for Kevin in a decidedly different role in “Subspecies 5”. He’s a long way from Embassy Mel this time around!

Spill Your Guts is proud to present, a debriefing with the Kevin Spirtas!

A new episode every day until Thursday, June 1st exploring Ted Nicolaou's iconic saga with the creator and stars.

Our guest today is the heart and soul of the “Subspecies” series. The Beauty to the beast (though she’s got fangs!). With a villain as savage, endlessly quotable and tortured as Anders Hove’s Radu, it would seem a difficult task to create a heroine just as memorable but the character Michelle is exactly that.

For this episode we are joined by Denice Duff.

Though Denice was brought into the series on the second film “Bloodstone: Subspecies 2” to replace the original actor who portrayed Michelle, she quickly made the role her own and brought new depth and ferocity. It’s hard to imagine anyone but Denice playing Michelle. And that is often a true testament to a great performance.

Denice’s characters battle for her soul against an always pursuing Radu is the backbone of the entire franchise and the onscreen chemistry between Denice and Anders Hove is a big part of why we can’t get enough.

There’s a scene you will hear us discuss with a few of our guests that takes place in “Bloodlust: Subspecies 3” when Radu and Michelle are standing on the wall of the castle just before sunrise. It’s a quiet intimate scene of devastating anguish, regret and loss. It’s heartbreaking and beautiful both in its writing and the performances. And Denice is just astonishing in it.

So, let’s learn how to survive the night with Subspecies star Denice Duff.

Of course, the title of “Master of Horror” can be open to interpretation but the official title came from when horror-hero filmmaker and genre ambassador Mick Garris began bringing together a group of the genres most iconic filmmakers for dinners at various Los Angeles restaurants. It was one of the masters himself, Guillermo del Toro, who created title when wishing a nearby table a happy birthday. “Happy birthday from the Masters of Horror!”

Some of the regular participants and holders of the “Master” title include but are not limited to John Carpenter, Tobe Hooper, Stuart Gordon, John Landis, Joe Dante, Don Coscarelli, Larry Cohen and Tom Holland. Multiple other “masters’ attended but this group and our guest today seem to be the core “masters”.

In this episode we will be sitting down with one of the true titans of terror, William Malone.

William talks with us on his early love of the “Creature from the Black Lagoon” and “Forbidden Planet” and how he almost did remakes for both, his beginnings at famed mask creator Don Post Studio where he sculpted the original Michael Myers mask, demystifying the incredibly talented but let’s say troubled actor Klaus Kinski and why making movies is both revealing and embarrassing.

William Malone’s films share the same quality of most great directors’ bodies of work in that their style and vibe carry the unique qualities that are the signature of the person behind the camera. You know a William Malone movie when you see it! Whether it’s his early monster movies “Scared to death” or “Creature” or his now classic remake of “House on Haunted Hill” or the nerve frying “Feardotcom”, William continues to be one of the genres sharpest eyes and clearest voices. 

So, let’s a grab a seat at the table and listen in with Master of Horror William Malone!

But what exactly is a “giallo” film? What are the sensibilities of these filmmakers and their fellow European genre maestros that gives them such a different energy than American horror? Why can’t contemporary filmmakers recapture that “giallo” style?

On this episode, our guest is author and film historian Troy Howarth.

To call Troy an expert on giallo films and European horror is putting it mildly. Troy has written multiple extensive and revealing books on these films and the auteurs behind them and you have likely seen or heard him in the special features section either in a documentary or commentary on some of the lavish rereleases of some of these classic movies as well as the less obvious ones that are finally getting their time in the sun.

We love Troy’s writing. Always illuminating and thoughtful. This is a man who has not only done his homework but whose love and appreciation for the artists and their work is front and centre.

So, pull some black gloves on and don’t worry about the dubbing… it’s time to delve into the world of European horror and giallo films with Troy Howarth.

Oh, and another bit of business, we have a very special event happening next week. We will have a new episode every day of that week in celebration of a beloved horror franchise that is finally returning leading up to an exclusive group talk with the director and stars. This is our biggest Spill Your Guts project to date and we can’t wait for you to see the surprises we have in store. We will have more to share with you in a few days. It has to be just right or we will suffer dearly for it (that may have been a hint…)

Without further delay, part 2 of our discussion with Anthony DiBlasi! 

John Carpenter’s "The Thing", David Cronenberg’s "The Fly", Philip Kaufman’s "Invasion of the Body Snatchers", Gore Verbinski’s "The Ring, William Malone’s "House on Haunted Hill" and Zack Snyder’s "Dawn of the Dead". All inspired takes on classic films.

What makes these examples work whereas others (here’s looking at you Elm street remake) feel like tired retreads? It seems like it has a lot to do with a filmmaker who has a new lens to see the story through. Carpenter didn’t just rely on the special effects (though they sure are special) for his take of “The Thing”, Cronenberg wasn’t content to just rely on a cooler looking fly, Kaufman knew it would take more than bigger body snatcher crowds. You get where we’re going with this. There’s a connection between the filmmaker and the material for all these films that’s evident in the movies themselves. 

Our guest today can be added to the list of filmmakers whose reimagining works because there is a clear connection between the filmmaker and the world he’s creating.

PLOT TWIST… he’s reimagining his own movie.

In 2014, a film about a rookie cop’s night at a soon-to-be-shuttered police station that becomes a descent into hell became a sleeper hit. The film was “Last Shift” and it has just been reimagined in the form of the new film “Malum” by its creator, our guest in this episode, writer/director Anthony DiBlasi.

When I asked him about returning to the world he created with “Last Shift”, Anthony told me “I think the remakes that work are the ones that are really treated like reimaginings. They took the core of what was cool with the original and expanded on it. Almost as if it were a sequel to the original. What Aliens did for Alien. That’s what we wanted to do with Malum. Explore what we couldn’t in the first one because of resources, but also dive deeper into a mythology we barely touched on in the original. Build on the elements that work while also improving on the ones that didn’t.”

Anthony also delves into the years he worked closely with horror icon Clive Barker, how dealing with MPAA interference and studio meddling is basically trial by fire and adapting one of Barker’s stories for his film “Dread”.

Our talk with Anthony is a proper deep dive covering all his genre films so we will be dropping it in two parts.

So remember, nothing is what it seems and the darkness is going to be staring right back at you while we explore the work of Anthony DiBlasi.

Any horror fan is of course well aware of Fangoria magazine. The beloved publication has graced newsstands with its often-gory covers and all your favourite monsters since 1979. For many fans of what our guest today refers to as “freaky films”, Fangoria is the last word on all that is great and gruesome. Though the magazine is still going strong (a testament to its status as horror magazine supreme when you consider the many well-regarded publications that have not survived the advent of news sites and social media), Fangoria has had its ups and downs. 

In 2009, the magazine was transitioning from one of its great editors, Tony Timpone, to a new voice. This new editor would not only shake things up at Fangoria in what would prove to be one if its best runs in the history of magazine, it was also how many came to know one horror’s greatest ambassador’s. 

Our guest today is Chris Alexander.

Chris is not only a great writer and an expert (a term he will likely hate to hear himself described as) in the genre, he is also a visionary filmmaker, a skilled musician and composer and one of the most robust speakers on all things freaky.

Chris sat down to discuss the beginnings of his writing career at Warner Brothers and Rue Morgue Magazine, visiting Nicholas Cage on his island (that’s not a turn of phrase), what it is to be a horror fan in our current film climate and getting to know the late legend George Romero.

We love talking with Chris. He speaks quickly and concisely and always says things that leave us thinking. He’s a lot like the movies we discuss in that way, you know it was a good one because it leaves you something to think about. He’s also incredibly funny and now works with one of our horror heroes Charles Band at Full Moon Features.  

A couple notes on this interview, Chris was struggling with a nasty bout of covid when we recorded so he sounds a little horse. Also, we have removed a section where Chris talks about undervalued contemporary horror films because the interview was simply too damn long. This will be dropping as a bonus later this week so be sure to check it out. It’s filled with recommendations for some films that might have gone under your radar.

Okay here we go, let’s get into the freaky and fantastic with Chris Alexander! 

However, in 2016, it was a Canadian series that truly raised the bar for anthology genre television.

Equal parts classic 80’s gore fest, Agatha Christie whodunit and sharp character piece, this series has kept audiences on the edge of their seat for four terrifying seasons.

The series is “Slasher” and joining us for this episode are the show’s creator Aaron Martin and Showrunner/writer Ian Carpenter.

“Slasher” has steadily become a fan favourite and it’s easy to see why. With a recurring top-notch cast, razor sharp writing that earns every twist and turn without the audience ever feeling duped and inventive death scenes that would make Jigsaw jealous… well this is a series that understands horror and most importantly, respects it.

Having just launched their fifth season on Shudder titled “Slasher: Ripper” set in a period era Toronto and featuring some familiar faces from prior seasons and another bit of casting genius (season 4 featured a scene stealing role for legend David Cronenberg), this time with comedy great Eric McCormack, “Slasher” continues to up the ante ever entry. It’s a show that has sliced and diced its way into the hearts of many horror fans and earned its way into the horror television hall of fame.

Aaron and Ian talk on the beginnings of “Slasher”, why it’s as much Agatha Christie as it is 80’s slasher nod, how to execute a fair whodunit and why they keep killing Jefferson.

So, remember, everyone’s a suspect, there’s no such thing as “too much guts” and no one is safe as we enter the world of “Slasher” with Aaron Martin and Ian Carpenter.

In fact, his film would not only feature such genre royalty as Robert Englund and Tony Todd but Jason himself, Kane Hodder as the films deformed giant, Victor Crowley.

Green’s film, set in the New Orleans swamps where an ill-fated tour boat is wrecked and its passengers are left stranded with much more to worry about than alligators, was a spot-on love letter to 80’s slasher classics. 

As you have probably guessed by now, that film was “Hatchet”.

Filled with insane gore set pieces, hilarious dialogue and a totally game cast, the movie succeeded in creating a new franchise and has so far been followed by 3 sequels. Only one actor other than Kane Hodder has appeared in every film in the series. A scene-stealer with many of the best lines in the series, this actor has cemented himself as a fan favorite.

Our guest today is Parry Shen.

Parry is a busy man. He loves to work and one need only check out his IMDB profile to see he has had a rich and varied career as an actor. From a starring role in Justin Lin’s critically acclaimed crime drama “Better Luck Tomorrow” to a series regular on “General Hospital”, to his many credits as a voice actor - Parry cannot be stopped. And who would want to? He’s a welcome presence in anything he’s in. Terrific timing and presence to boot.

Parry has made a name for himself with genre fans with credits in “Buffy the Vampire Slayer”, Full Moon’s “Shrieker” and “The Hazing”, but it was his work in the “Hatchet” series that has cemented him as a genre name.

Parry talks with us on some of the challenges he has faced as an Asian American actor and how the business has changed, the pitfalls of confusing being strategic with your career to being perhaps more particular than you can afford to be and how his love for the movies means he’s always the consummate professional on set but always excited to be there. 

It’s time to return to the swamps and the turf of Victor Crowley with our guide, Parry Shen. 

The birth of survival horror in gaming broke out with the success of Capcom’s iconic “Resident Evil” in 1996. This was for many, the first video game that really embraced the influences of classic horror films while offering a gaming experience that was both edge of your seat suspense and exciting action. Not to mention its fair share of camp with memorable lines like “It’s a weapon. It’s really powerful. Especially against living things.” And “I’m sorry for my lack of manners, but I’m not used to escorting men.”

“Resident Evil” has of course gone on to become a horror gaming staple but it also helped create an entire genre of gaming where you make the choices that will keep your character alive until sunrise or… you know, get eaten or decapitated or filleted or impaled or exsanguinated. You get the idea.

And choice offers a level of immersion that is different to film. Gaming is participatory whereas film is more passive experience. In gaming you are affecting the outcome and in a good game, your decisions matter.

One of the most successful examples of survival horror gaming in recent memory is the 2015 PlayStation 4 game “Until Dawn”.

Written by genre legend Larry Fessenden and frequent collaborator Graham Reznick, set in a blizzardy mountain top ski resort, a group of friends (which includes Oscar winner Rami Malek and fan favourite Hayden Panettiere) must survive the night against a masked killer, something lurking in the woods and each other. It’s a wild ride full of twists and turns and particularly effective scares. The game was a surprise hit for Sony and game developer Supermassive Games and has gone on to become a horror gaming classic with people even having “Until Dawn” gatherings where everyone plays the game and decides as a group what choices to make.

The games director is Will Byles.

Will is the Studio Director for England based game developer Supermassive Games. With the success of “Until Dawn”, Will and his team at Supermassive went to work on developing their next big horror title “The Quarry”.

Fully embracing the classic tropes of the summer camp slasher, the game features an all-star genre cast including David Arquette, Ted Raimi, Grace Zabriskie, Lin Shaye and Lance Henriksen and the would-be victims are all played by likeable and engaging young actors. A love letter to many of your favourite woodsy slasher films and filled with truly surprising twists, “The Quarry” was one of the best games of 2022. 

Will’s immense talent and passion for both games and film is felt all through “Until Dawn” and “The Quarry”. These games don’t give the illusion of choice (a cheap trick pulled by many genre games), your choices actually matter and drastically change your experience. Seeing your favourite character who you’ve fought hard to keep alive suffer a terrible fate because you chose to run instead of fight back can be devastating and there’s no respawning. They’re dead… like dead dead.

Will dives into how he developed a passion for developing and creating games, charting out the many different branches the story can follow and how to keep it all making sense and working with actors to create a performance using motion capture.

Take notes if you want to keep your characters alive but remember, if you do, you’re going to miss out some wonderfully horrific death scenes lovingly crafted by one of the masters of gaming horror, Will Byles. 

Films like “John Carpenter’s “The Thing”, “The Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2”, “The Exorcist 3”, “The Frighteners” and “TrickRTreat”. All examples of films that didn’t perform when they were first released but found a following over time. Primarily for the simple reason that they are all damn good movies that deserved better.

Let’s add another under-seen gem to the list of greats that deserve more attention than they got.

Released in 2010, “YellowBrickRoad” is a nightmare inducing, reality shattering descent into madness. Part “Blair Witch”, part “Wizard of Oz” … all relentlessly terrifying. Written and directed by team Andy Mitton and Jesse Holland, the film came out to strong reactions from audiences and most critics but despite a theatrical release, came and went with little fanfare.

And yet, as more and more people stumbled upon it over time and word of mouth spread among genre fans, the film has continued to receive a much-deserved re-evaluation. Much like the titular path in the film, this movie has many dark secrets that once unearthed, are impossible to forget. 

Our guest in this episode is filmmaker Andy Mitton.

Andy discusses his background in theatre growing up in Massachusetts, the way his love of horror and theatre found a natural rhythm, why often times a genre filmmakers influences aren’t necessarily horror films (a reoccurring theme for SYG listeners) and his haunting new Pandemic horror film “The Harbinger”.

Andy is a visionary filmmaker with a tremendous eye for detail and a finely tuned skilled for finding the truth in his characters and the actors portraying them. That’s one of the things that gives Andy’s work such resonance. Characters in his films never do what the plot requires of them and you will not find yourself yelling at the screen over their idiotic decision making. 

It’s clear that Andy loves and respects his audience and the stories he is telling.

In 1999, we saw the emergence of a sub-genre that wasn’t exactly new but certainly had never made such a splash. When three student filmmakers disappeared in the woods near Burkittsville, Maryland while shooting a documentary, audiences had no idea what they were in store for. As the iconic poster ominously revealed, their footage was found.

“The Blair Witch Project” was not only a box office smash, it will also the beginning of a new wave of found footage horror. A sub-genre that allows a fertile proving ground for independent filmmakers not only for its budget friendly framework (usually handheld camera work, no need for elaborate effects or name stars, typically common locations) but also because with the right hook, the found footage sub-genre has the potential to feel more real and immersive then the high gloss films made in Hollywood.

Though there have been plenty of great found footage films since “Blair Witch” (here’s looking at you “Paranormal Activity”, “REC” and “Lake Mungo” to name a few), few have got under my skin as much as the new found footage film “The Outwaters”. The films creator is Robbie Banfitch.

When a group of four friends head out into the Mojave Desert on a camping expedition, we know it’s probably not going to go well for them. However, Robbie Banfitch isn’t content to give us the usual redneck cannibals or ghouls in the hills… oh no. He’s planning to drag us kicking and screaming into the abyss. This film takes no prisoners. It’s steeped in dread and offers no hand-holding.

Robbie delves into what makes the found footage sub-genre so unique, why “The Blair Witch Project” remains as relevant as ever, working with what you have on location and why he’s not a fan of catering to audience expectation.

Charge your camcorder batteries and grab your flashlight as we explore the terrifying world of “The Outwaters” with filmmaker Robbie Banfitch.

Our guest today is Randy Wayne.

Randy is the kind of person working in show business that makes it looks easy. It isn’t, but he makes it look that way. As an actor and producer who has worked predominantly in the horror genre, Randy has played everything from heroes to villains, leading man to supporting. He’s always 100% committed and his versatility has served him well. You’ve seen him in studio horror, indie horror and television horror where he had a recurring role on HBO’s hit “True Blood”.

Randy discusses his beginnings as an athlete who stumbled into acting quite by accident and quickly discovered it was his calling, the joys of location shooting, working with genre veterans like Dee Wallace and Lance Henriksen and preparing for playing a serial killer who loves to drown his victims in “Death Pool”.

Looking through Randy’s credits, it’s clear to see he loves what he does because he keeps a tireless pace. He’s always shooting. Either in front or behind the camera. On top of this, he’s a caring husband and father. 

We don’t really know how he does it but this conversation got us a little closer to figuring it out.

We’re all very familiar with the term “Scream Queen”. Let’s talk some shop with one of the great “Scream Kings”… Randy Wayne.

And yet, that didn’t stop many of the genres most successful franchises from soldiering on. Jason, Freddy, Chucky, Pinhead… to name a few. All continued on with involvement from their creators at some level. One of the most resilient has been the Halloween franchise.

The first sequel was written and produced by the creators of the original, John Carpenter and Debra Hill and directed by relative newcomer Rick Rosenthal. The film also saw the return of stars Jamie Lee Curtis and Donald Pleasence and continued directly where the first film left off as Michael Myers’ continued his night of terror. The film was a success and Carpenter and Hill were asked to come up with a third. So, having seemingly killed off both Myers and Loomis in the previous film, they decided to try something different and create a completely new story with new characters set on Halloween. The idea being that if this model worked, you’d have a formula for an anthology Halloween horror film you could release every couple of years. 

It didn’t.

The fans were puzzled and pissed at the absence of beloved villain Michael Myers and the movie soon became persona non grata with fans. That would change over the years as the film, titled Halloween 3: Season of the Witch and well directed by Carpenter pal Tommy Lee Wallace and staring genre greats Tom Atkins and Dan O’Herlihy, would go on to become a fan favorite. Long live Silver Shamrock.

A few years later, undeterred executive producer of the series Moustapha Akkad felt that it was time to bring Michael back. Carpenter and Hill had moved on and stepped away from the series. Who was going to bring back the Shape for another terror filled night of treat or treating?

Enter Dwight Little.

Having directed 3 action-adventure films prior to signing on to do Halloween 4: The Return of Michael Myers, Little didn’t necessarily seem like the obvious choice. However, one thing anyone could see by looking at his first three films was a strong eye for big set pieces and a deft way with suspense. Halloween 4 also sees the return of Donald Pleasence as Doctor Loomis and Little and writer Allan B. McElroy give this genre legend more to do here than in previous films. It’s a smart move and Pleasence gives a knockout performance. Halloween 4 has a strong cast all around with Danielle Harris beginning her career as a Scream Queen playing the 7-year-old Jamie Lloyd, Ellie Cornell in a relatable and strong protector roll (an underrated contribution in many ways) as Rachel Carruthers, Jamie’s step-sister and great supporting cast including Beau Starr as Sheriff Ben Meeker and veteran character actor Michael Pataki as Doctor Hoffman.

Dwight Little found just the right balance of the controlled and deliberate tone of Carpenter’s original film and his own sensibilities as a filmmaker. Cutting down on the gore of Halloween 2 (which was really there as response to the popularity of the “Friday the 13th” films and doesn’t quite fit the Halloween series) and playing up the tension, “Halloween 4” also captures the spirit of Halloween itself. The opening montage of fall imagery rooting the film firmly in the season in a way few of the many oncoming sequels would recapture.

“Halloween 4” is not only the best of the Halloween sequels, it’s a testament to Dwight Little’s skill as a filmmaker that the film has become a traditional selection in many genre fans seasonal film playlist.

Dwight has gone on to direct plenty more films and television series in the genre including the vastly underrated 1989 version of “Phantom of the Opera” starring Robert Englund (no points for guessing which role he plays), the extremely fun and well directed “Anacondas: The Hunt for the Blood Orchid”, “the X-Files” and the brilliant “Millennium” (for which he did one of its best episodes, a Christmas episode featuring Darren McGavin as the father of Frank Black, series lead Lance Henriksen) and “From Dusk Till Dawn: The Series”. All of this on top of an extremely successful career as an action film director, of which he’s made many greats!

Dwight and Kevin talk on the high jinks of shooting a crazy movie like his early action adventure film “Bloodstone, why he approached Halloween 4 as though it were a detective movie, working with the late legend Donald Pleasence, getting around Andrew Lloyd Webber while making his version of “Phantom” and his new horror film “Natty Knocks” which has him reuniting with both Danielle Harris and Robert Englund.

In 1988 he changed the face of Halloween. Tonight, he’s back. Spill Your Guts is proud to present, a conversation with director Dwight Little.

Occasionally, a filmmaker comes along who takes all the preconceptions we have about our beloved genre and flips them on their head. By ditching the safety nets we’re used to – the tropes, the narrative beats, in this case…THE SCORE! – well, all bets are off. We’re now in the hands of someone who wants to show us things we may not understand but if we can be open to it and connect with the film on its terms, the results can be nerve shattering.

Which is exactly what has happened with the film “Skinamarink”. Kevin sat down to watch this movie knowing next to nothing about its premise or style, he just knew that its eerie poster (a child sitting on the floor, his back to us, in a blue tinged dark hallway, the image upside down) and the title which touched upon childhood memories of sing-song that shouldn’t be unsettling but are when placed in this context, had him more than a little intrigued. This isn’t a film you watch. It’s a film you surrender to. The films creator is Kyle Edward Ball.

We highly encourage all our listeners to watch the film (it’s available now on Shudder) before listening to this discussion with Kyle. “Skinamarink” is an experience you want to have with as little knowledge of its machinations as possible. 

Kyle and Kevin explore Kyle’s love of 70’s cinema, both genre and otherwise, why a filmmakers influences may not come from genre filmmakers, the impact having his movie leaked online before its release had on his film and making a movie that is deliberately loaded with contradictions.

Turn of the lights and throw on some public domain 1930’s cartoons and let’s immerse ourselves in the upside-down world of “Skinamarink” with Kyle Edward Ball.

We hope you have enjoyed getting to know some of the most talented artists working in horror and look forward to seeing you all again in Season Two. We’ll be back a little later in January bringing your more conversations with the titans of terror. Until then, we thank you for listening.

Now, let’s talk about one of the most beloved sub-genres in film, Christmas Horror.

Though it may seem a little dumbfounding that a holiday about love and giving and goodwill towards men could be rife with so much potential for terror, it’s all those traditions and rituals that make it perfect for exactly that.

A strange man who slides down your chimney and makes moral judgements about children. Haunting bells and eerie choirs. One of the most famous ghost stories of all time also happens to be one of, if not the most famous, Christmas stories of all time. If you’re a horror fan, you know what we’re talking about! But here’s a hint, “there’s more of gravy than grave about you”.

For this final episode of Season One of Kevin Lane’s Spill Your Guts, Kevin Lane is joined by author Matthew Dupee. Matthew is an aficionado of all things Christmas Horror, and recently published an extensive and wonderful book on the subject titled “A Scary Little Christmas: A History of Yuletide Horror Films”.

Matthew and Kevin discuss why Christmas Horror has such resonance with audiences, the beginnings of Christmas Horror on film, and discuss their top 5 Holiday Horror movies in their Naughty and Nice list. And provide a couple of honorable mentions and a few recommendations for your Holiday Horror lists.

From all of us at Spill Your Guts, we wish you a very merry Christmas, filled with cheers and frights. 

Now, let’s get some milk and cookies and curl up by the Christmas tree as we explore Christmas horror with Matthew Dupee!

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Our guest today is one such actor. Though she has worked in a wide variety of genres, she has earned her place in the horror hall of fame through her work with filmmakers like David Lynch, J.S. Cardone and Mary Lambert. Always challenging, mysterious, unexpected and grounded in the role she is portraying, she is an actor that demands your attention as soon as she enters the frame.

Spill Your Guts is pleased to have Lori Heuring with us today.

Lori is an actor whose work we have always greatly admired. There’s an intrinsic strength and integrity she brings to her work. She’s played many different kinds of characters and all of them are unique and different. Some of them good, some bad and some in between and Lori always finds the in-road to creating a character that we end up rooting for.

This has a lot to do with who Lori is as a person. Lori is a caring, razor-sharp, funny, genuine thoughtful person and she compels filmmakers to cast her in roles that show those qualities in the role. Though she’s of course beautiful, this ain’t your gal if you’re looking for the archetypal slasher fodder.

Lori and Kevin discuss her formative years developing her craft while growing up in Texas, why she is drawn to working on darker stories and why she enjoys the challenge of working on edgy, independent films over big studio projects.

Kevin had the great privilege of directing Lori in Lineage, where her tremendous talent as an actor was also matched by her equally tireless work ethic.

So, let’s get into what it takes to become a Scream Queen with Lori Heuring.

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There are few things in popular culture more iconic than the movie poster. Movie posters have become more than just a way to advertise the titular film, but a form of art all their own. Think of some of your favorite horror movie posters and chances are some of them aren’t even for your favorite films. Whether it’s Stephen Frankfurt’s chilling poster for Rosemary’s Baby or Drew Struzan’s classic for John Carpenter’s The Thing, the posters for these movies have become as integral in popular culture as the films themselves.

The 90’s saw a glut of photoshopped movie star face posters, and for a while it looked like the art of the movie poster had lost out to the marketing departments. Boy has that changed!

The horror movie poster is back and it’s back with a vengeance. The last two decades have seen the rise of the more painterly quality of the classic posters and the decline of the photoshop floating heads - though occasionally terrible photoshop posters have their own merits! 

There are many great artists leading the charge, and in today’s episode SYG host Kevin Lane is joined by the virtuosic Matthew Therrien.

From his stunning new takes on classic films like Halloween and Friday the 13th, to his beloved poster for Psycho Goreman, Matthew doesn’t stop. He’s a tireless creating machine, and when you look at the quality of the work he’s doing, it’s hard to imagine when he has time to do things like sleep or eat or watch movies. Once you get to know Matthew and find that he’s also a devoted family man and a caring friend, well how can you not be cheering for this guy? One of the genre’s most talented artists also happens to be one it’s loveliest people.

Matthew and Kevin talk about his influences, his technique and how to decide what to distill about a movie when creating a poster. You may recognize Matthew’s work from other segments on the show and Matthew himself, as he has had other guest appearances on SYG. This interview was how Matthew and Kevin got to know each other, and since then they have become friends and collaborators. We hope you enjoy getting to know him as well as we have. 

Well no doubt you’re already surrounded by some of your favorite horror posters, so let’s get into the art of getting spines to tingle and gooses to bump using a paintbrush with Matthew Therrien.

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In the world of horror, there are a handful of great showmen whose influence has had such an impact on the world of genre film that they changed the way horror films were made. These are people whose innovation, creativity, business acumen and courage have given of us some of the most influential and iconic genre movies of all time. People who see every obstacle as just another opportunity to show that they will not take “no” for an answer when it comes to getting their vision out in the world. I’m talking about people like Roger Corman, Robert Shaye and Lloyd Kaufman.

For us at SYG, and many other fans of the weird and fantastic, there is really only one man who reigns supreme. The King of gonzo filmmaking. The legendary Charles Band.

And when we say legendary, it’s not an exaggeration. Charles Band’s insanely prolific output of horror and sci-fi films is beyond comprehension. Many of them made on a shoestring budget. Many of them great. Most of them weird. All of them, and we’re talking nearly 400 films, willed into existence by a man whose infectious positivity and otherworldly talent for creating something that most would think couldn’t be done.

Whether through his company Empire Pictures, who made classics like Ghoulies, Robot Jox and Trancers, or Full Moon Entertainment - who in the 90’s gave us genre classics like the Puppet Master series, Subspecies, Pit and the Pendulum and Demonic Toys - Charles Band continues to be the ultimate showman to this day.

Charles and host Kevin Lane talk about his early days on set with his father, Albert Band, how the world of independent genre filmmaking has changed since he began, his love of bringing to life inanimate objects, and what the future holds in store for Full Moon.

Kevin adores Charles Band. When he first discovered Full Moon in the early 90’s, it was a game changer for him. At the end of every Full Moon movie there was a "making of" segment where Charlie would tell you what was going on with Full Moon and then we’d get to see interviews with the filmmakers and on-set footage of the movies being made. This is WAY before DVD and the idea of special features being a part of your home video experience. Videozone became Kevin's film school and he's sometimes wonder if he would have pursued a career in film if it wasn’t for Charles Band giving him that window into the process.

This episode is especially exciting as we have permission from the great Richard Band for the special music cues we've used. You'll notice that we've used a modernized version of the classic Puppet Master theme that Richard did for the film “Puppet Master: Axis Termination over Kevin's intro to the episode.

We've used the Full Moon’s Video Zone theme to transition from Kevin's intro into into the conversation. Videozone was a “making of“ featurette included at the end of all Full Moon movies released during the Paramount eta (early 90’s)

We've also added the “Full Moon vs Full Moon” main theme from Charles Band‘s hit 1985 film “Ghoulies” which was a surprise success at the box office and has an incredibly famous poster. The film was made under Charles' company Empire Pictures which was a precursor to Full Moon.

As always, Charles Band was way ahead of his time. Okay dudes, it is with great pleasure that we present to you the man himself, Charles Band.

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Every generation has their monsters and while the 70’s and 80’s saw the monsters moving away from the gothic castles of Transylvania to the suburbs, there is one monster from the 90’s that reigns supreme in the mold of the classic vampires going all the way back to Max Schreck’s iconic performance as Orlok in F.W. Murnau’s masterwork Nosferatu.

Produced in 1991 by genre royalty Charles Band’s Full Moon Entertainment and directed by Full Moon veteran Ted Nicolau, Subspecies has become a beloved franchise spawning multiple excellent sequels including series highlight Bloodstone: Subspecies 2 which may be Full Moon’s best film.

There’s a lot about Subspecies to admire from Nicolau’s assured direction to the stunning location shooting in Romania and the rock-solid performances from Denice Duff and Kevin Spirtas as the heroes but the star of the show is unquestionably the series antagonist, Radu.

A centuries old vampire, Radu is grotesque and vile, usually gore dripping from his fanged maw while he speaks in a rasping, decrepit voice. This is not the romantic vampire of Hammer films but a force of evil that will stop at nothing to reclaim his birthright, the bloodstone. He’s one of SYG host Kevin Lane’s favorite monsters. 

Radu is played by Anders Hove.

A Danish actor, Ander’s deftly manages the balance of keeping Radu sinister and menacing but also imbues the character with an unexpected empathy and a haunting past. It’s a truly remarkable transformation when you find that Anders himself is a lowkey, kind, thoughtful man.

Anders and Kevin Lane talk about his years growing up in Greenland as well as his father’s significant political impact, why he thinks there’s far more important things to life than being an actor, the challenges of shooting in Romania and how important it is to find the humanity when playing a monster.

SYG will have more interviews with the folks behind the Subspecies saga, including Charles Band, Ted Nicolau, Denice Duff and Kevin Spirtas as we all prepare for the much anticipated Subspecies: Bloodrise, which sees the gang all returning after a more than 20-year gap since the last film. The film has been shot and will be released in 2023. 

Without further delay my fledglings, let there be a bloodbath with Anders Hove.

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And as technology has allowed gaming to become more sophisticated and immersive, it has created a relatively new stage for performers. Using technology like motion capture, characters in games are now not just voiced by actors but also performed by them. It’s exciting in gaming to watch some of the great work actors are doing.

This year Supermassive Games released The Quarry, a spiritual follow-up to their surprise 2015 hit, Until Dawn. Directed by Will Byles and written by Graham Reznick and Alex Farnham, it’s an edge of your seat ride set at a summer camp and populated by some of your favorite genre faces like Lance Henriksen, Ted Raimi, Lin Shaye and David Arquette.

It’s a total blast and is filled with great characters and performances, though, in our opinion, the character Jacob steals the show. Jacob is sort of the classic slasher jock character on the surface but it’s one of the game’s best sleight of hand tricks that he is nothing like what you expect. It’s a wonderfully nuanced performance and one of gaming’s best. The character is played by Zach Tinker.

Zach has an extensive background doing short films and in television but we weren't familiar with his work before getting into The Quarry. He enters the game and is funny and charming, and you immediately like him. Then he says or does something idiotic and you think “ah, here’s the meathead of the group,” but it’s all a very clever bit of misdirection in Zach’s performance. As you play the game further, the depth and nuisance Zach brings to this character is one of the games many pleasures. 

In short, he’s a scene stealer.

Zach and SYG host Kevin Lane chat about the challenges of working with motion capture, the many ways the pandemic almost kept this game from happening, how to love your character even if he is a dumbass, and working with genre royalty. Zach is fun and warm, but unlike his character in the game, very thoughtful and curious. If you haven’t played The Quarry, here’s your spoiler warning as Kevin and Zach do give things away. 

And if you haven’t played the game you’re missing out on one of the year’s best horror offerings. So, grab your swimsuit and mosquito repellent and let’s head off to summer camp with Zach Tinker.

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You’ve probably heard that term before when it comes to actors like Daniel Day-Lewis, John Turturro, Sam Rockwell and maybe the most versatile of performers in show business, Gary Oldman. The chameleon actor has the uncanny ability to play both leading man or supporting actor with the same degree of immersive skill. They are usually very different in every role, because whereas some actors are hired to bring their persona to the work (think Jack Nicholson or Tom Cruise), these actors mold and sculpt all aspects of themselves to become the character they portray. Kevin first saw this actor in the groundbreaking 2004 series Battlestar Galactica, in the role of Anders. He was strong and stoic, while also raw and vulnerable. It was a balancing act few actors could have achieved.

This has continued to be the trajectory of Michael Trucco ever since. You’ve seen him on countless network series such as the male lead in Fairly Legal, reoccurring roles on shows like How I Met Your Mother, Revenge and Castle, and many more. Never the same, always at the top of his game.

In the world of horror, Michael first appeared in Wishmaster 4, in a scene stealing role as the film’s villain. But it was when he was cast in genre master Mike Flanagan’s Hush that Michael really cemented himself as a genre favorite. 

Now a regular in Flanagan’s ensemble of actors, you have got to see Michael in Midnight Mass. We're guessing you already have, because who didn’t watch it. Midnight Mass is a darkly beautiful series full of big questions and imagery that stays with you long after you’ve finished watching. Michael’s role as the town mayor Wade Scarborough, is a stunning performance. You can't stop watching Michael in this series or help but admire the transformation he makes. This guy didn’t just look and sound completely different than Michael Trucco, he felt like a completely different person.

In this conversation with host Kevin Lane, Michael discusses in detail his ongoing work with Mike Flanagan, including his role in the highly anticipated The Fall of the House of Usher. We should mention this conversation was recorded before the highly publicized removal of Frank Langella from the show. 

Kevin and Michael also talk about working with Doug Jones in the underrated monster movie The Bye Bye Man and his role in Through The Glass Darkly. They also discuss Michael's role in Kevin's 2009 horror movie Lineage, which we've added to the bonus content on our Patreon page. If you get a chance, you should really listen. It includes a very Canadian moment for Kevin as he talks about his inability to accept the idea that Michael said “yes” to the film. 

We should also mention that this conversation is a little looser then some of our other episodes. Michael and Kevin have become really great friends since their work together in 2009, so this time together was an opportunity to not only talk about his work, but also throw back a few drinks and just hang out together.

So, fix yourself your beverage of choice and let’s get into all things Michael Trucco. 

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We all know it. If you’re a horror fan, chances are you know and love him. For decades now, he has been one of the go to actors in the genre. He’s one of those actors who shows up in a movie and you hear a collective outcry from the audience of something like “awesome!” or “I love that guy!”

Often in supporting roles - and often scene stealing supporting roles! - Ted has become an audience favorite for his roles in films like Spider-Man 1 and 2, the classic Candyman and Wishmaster. His lead role as a serial killer in the pitch-black film Skinner, showed audiences that Ted could carry a movie and he sure as hell did. It's a mesmerizing performance.

And though Ted is always engaging in his onscreen work, it’s also the way he tirelessly champions the horror genre that makes him a great ambassador for fans. Ted wears his horror badge with great pride and knows horror inside and out. He should. Anyone who has seen Skinner knows what I’m talking about.

Ted and host Kevin Lane discuss his formative years in the Detroit genre film scene, moving out to Los Angeles and making the life changing commitment to a career as an actor, his love of old school actors and the exciting and challenging differences to creating a character for a video game which he does in the hit horror game The Quarry. And there’s a story about a police car that’s bonkers and had me equally shocked while also laughing out loud. 

You know Ted Raimi. You love Ted Raimi. Who doesn’t? 

Ladies and gentlemen, Ted Raimi.

You’re welcome.

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There’s an old adage that says never meet your heroes. We’d like to make an amendment to that phrase and change it to never meet your heroes unless they work in the horror genre. Host Kevin Lane has had the great privilege to have friendships with most of his heroes in the world of horror cinema, and to work with many of these friends. And though he cherishes all of those friends and colleagues, there is no one who has made a bigger impact on his life and career than Dee Wallace.

Anyone listening to Spill Your Guts is likely a fan of Dee’s vast and astonishing body of work. From the game changing Steven Spielberg blockbuster E.T., where she plays the loveable and entirely authentic single mother of two boys who encounter you know who, to lead roles in smash hit horror films like Wes Craven’s The Hills Have Eyes, Joe Dante’s The Howling, and Stephen Herek’s Critters.

The film that made Kevin fall for Dee (and boy did he fall hard!) was Lewis Teague’s film adaptation of Stephen King’s Cujo. In an Oscar worthy performance, Dee plays Donna Trenton, a mother who must protect her child from a rabid Saint Bernard. Almost half of the film features Dee trapped in a Ford Pinto and it is some of the most harrowing work ever put on film. It is no wonder that Stephen King himself has said that Dee’s performance is his favorite of all the performances in film or television based on a character he wrote.

And that’s just scratching the surface of Dee’s career which spans over 250 film and television roles, including work with genre legends Peter Jackson in The Frighteners, and an ongoing collaboration with Rob Zombie. However, it isn’t just Dee’s tireless work ethic and standout performances that makes her so special, it’s also a lot to do with the quality of person she is. You will never meet a more genuine, sincere, funny, caring and generous person than Dee Wallace.

Dee and Kevin discuss her early years as a girl in Kansas who dreamed of being on the stage, how she has always managed to persevere despite an inordinate amount of loss and hardship, the exhaustive and exhilarating lengths she will go to embody a character. They also discuss her healing work and the incredible impact it has had on some many people both through her speaking engagements and her books. Oh, and they also play a fun game!

Though she has played many dark characters, Dee is a bright shining light so sit back and prepare to be inspired.

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The Man Behind The Masks: Doug Jones Talks About What It's Like To Truly Embody A Monster

Frankenstein’s monster, the wolfman, Nosferatu (or Count Orlok to be precise) and the Phantom of the Opera. All iconic monsters of early cinema played by equally iconic actors such as Max Schreck, Boris Karloff, Lon Chaney and Lon Chaney Jr. These performances have stood the test of time not only for their inspired makeup and design but because the actors portraying them found the heart in the monster. Whether it’s Karloff’s touching humanity as Doctor Frankenstein’s shunned creation or Max Schreck’s spidery skulking as one of cinema’s earliest vampires, these are the monsters that paved the way for countless monsters throughout film history.

In the current landscape of cinema monsters there is one man who casts a very, very long shadow. He has portrayed so many memorable characters that will endure that it’s hard to count. That actor is Doug Jones.

For some, Doug’s first stand out role will be as Billy Butcherson in the Halloween classic Hocus Pocus. For others, it’s Abe Sapien in Guillermo Del Toro’s hit Hellboy. For Kevin Lane, it’s his dual roles as the Faun and Pale Man in Del Toro’s dark fairy tale masterpiece Pan’s Labyrinth. And it’s in Doug Jones that Del Toro found his muse.

Doug’s almost supernatural way of communicating through movement what most actors could not say in a monologue has created a celebrated ongoing collaboration between one of genre cinema’s best filmmakers and best actors. 

This episode is very special because not only do we adore Doug, but host Kevin Lane had the opportunity to sit down with Doug in person in Toronto. Listeners of Spill Your Guts may know that most of our conversations are recorded remotely. There isn't a better guest for us to have had the opportunity to speak to in the flesh!

Doug and Kevin discuss his childhood self-consciousness about his body, his early mime work and sort of meeting Christopher Walken on the set of Tim Burton’s gothic masterpiece Batman Returns, his deliciously evil role as a cannibal in Larry Fessenden’s episode of Fear Itself and his many collaborations with Del Toro, including their best picture Oscar winning film The Shape of Water.

As much as Doug has portrayed characters in many magical films, there is nothing more magical then the man himself.

Welcome to wonderous world of Doug Jones!

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When asked, SYG host Kevin Lane is often at a loss to name his pick for the scariest movie of all time. It's impossible to answer. However, he will tell you which movie affected him the most of any genre film he's seen in the last 20 years; it's the The Descent. And it's on his short list of what he believes is a film that has it all. Story. Craftsmanship. And heart.

With films like Dog soldiers, about a group of soldiers trapped in a cabin surrounded by werewolves; and, Doomsday, a loving tribute to the great work of John Carpenter; to his celebrated work on shows like ABC's Hannibal and HBO's Game of Thrones, Neil has become one of the most accomplished directors working when it comes to spectacularly suspenseful and explosive action and suspense. His work is so exhilarating, it sometimes isn’t until after the film that you realize how much heart is in there too.

Neil and Kevin talk about his formative years learning all the crafty tricks making low budget films, how one of said tricks saved a ton of time and money when executing a major moment on Game of Thrones, utilizing a wide frame to create tension and how to shoot in real darkness.

So, let’s descend into the darkness with Neil Marshall and prepare to be illuminated!

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In 2006, Kevin was invited by his friends at Anchor Bay Entertainment to attend the Toronto premiere of prolific genre writer Jack Ketchum’s new film “The Lost”. Directed by Chris Sivertson, the film is loosely based on the Pied Piper of Tucson murders. The films antagonist is an eccentric and sociopathic young man named Ray Pye. It’s a challenging character to play as the whole film rests on his shoulders and the audience has to stay with the character but is never charmed by him like they are with Hannibal Lecter or sympathetic toward him like with Noman Bates. The character is played by Marc Senter and it’s a staggering performance. Kevin said to several people after the film, “I can’t wait to see what he does next!”

From his role as the damaged and vulnerable Franki in “Red, White and Blue” to “The Scorpion” in Darren Lynn Bousman’s bonkers musical “The Devil’s Carnival”, Marc is an actor who brings something new and surprising to every role. He’s one of those actors that when they appear on screen, you see everyone in the audience sit up as they know something special is about to happen.

Marc and Kevin talk about doing your homework as an actor, using a hangover to craft a part of a performance and how deep to dig when playing a real-life psychopath. And unlike the many dark and sinister character’s Marc has played, he a lovely guy who’s open and always present.

So, put some crushed beer cans in your boots and let’s explore the mysterious mind of Marc Senter!

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As Freddy in the beloved zombie classic Return of the Living Dead (Joey in its sequel) and Friday the 13th series hero Tommy Jarvis in franchise favorite Friday The 13th Part VI: Jason Lives, Thom has managed the difficult balance of being both heroic and vulnerable in films that are often thought to be populated by stock characters.

Thom and I chat about his experience on Return of the Living Dead, learning comedic timing from heavyweights like James Karen and Clu Gulager; his days running around LA auditioning while rooming with pal George Clooney; making a huge rock designed to drag Jason Vorhees to the bottom of Crystal Lake NOT look like it was made of Styrofoam; and his love of being creative not just as an actor, but also building homes for the who’s who of Hollywood.

For Kevin Lane, one of the joys of hosting this show is getting to meet the icons of his childhood, and Thom is certainly one of them. He brings a ton of heart to his work and plenty of BRRRAAAIIINNNSSS. Yep, we went there.

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In fact, Soren’s beloved podcast Knifepoint Horror was the reason Kevin Lane fell in love with the podcast medium to begin with. On Knifepoint, Soren writes and performs all his stories told by a single voice from a first person perspective. There’s a stripped down simplicity to the presentation of his stories that works beautifully, even if though the stories themselves are often far from simple. There’s a campfire tale quality to Soren’s writing and storytelling that elicits a reaction in the listener that reminds us of the great story tellers of our formative years. That and that Soren is a writer whose stories are so often just plain scary. They crawl into your head and have you thinking about them for days, the way most great horror stories do. 

Soren also has a wickedly dry and droll sense of humor and has you on the edge of your seat one moment and laughing out loud the next. He and host Kevin Lane talk about why he allows people to use his stories without having to pay him anything, his love of 70’s filmmaking and even do a bit of acting.

We’re also joined by another star of the narrative horror podcast world, my trusty supervising producer Jason Hill.

So, grab yourself a slice of pie and let’s get a glimpse into the wild and wicked mind of Soren Narnia.

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The influence of iconic studios like Troma and Full Moon Entertainment (which he and Kevin geek out about a fair bit) is all over his films. Films that capture the spirit and batshit craziness of movies like “The Toxic Avenger” and the “Trancers” series. Steven’s work always demonstrates not just a filmmaker with great skill and a keen eye for the absurd, but characters you really like, so even if they are a melting, depressive “Bio Cop”, you’re rooting for them.

Steven Kostanski is a much watch horror director!

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We thought it might be informative and fun for you to get a sense of the beginnings of this show and Kevin's own personal journey into the realm of horror.

Thanks again to Chris Alexander for doing this. Chris has been a tremendous supporter of this show and I think he’s one of the greatest spokesmen for the horror genre. We’re very fortunate to have him!

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Sitting in the theater, Kevin watched as Jeffrey not just captured Edgar Allan Poe, but as one critic put it “seemed to be channeling him”. It was remarkable to see Jeffrey in the role. As tortured and tragic as he was funny. But that’s the thing with Jeffrey, he’s very much that chameleon actor. We never know what we’re going to get with Jeffrey but we always know it’ll be a hell of a show.

From his iconic role as Herbert West in Re-Animator to his bravura performance as the nutty Milton Dammers in Peter Jackson’s The Frighteners, Jeffrey has become one of the most recognizable actors in the genre, something he didn’t really set out to do but has certainly earned.

Jeffrey Combs is not just one of the greatest actors working in the horror genre, but one of the greatest actors working period. His work has always excited and inspired us because as you’ll hear, Jeffrey doesn’t just play a part… he gives them life.

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Adrienne’s early career didn’t point to a specialty in films of the macabre as she began on stage with roles like her Tony nominated role as Rizzo in the original Broadway production of Grease. Plenty of other roles on stage followed before Norman Lear choose her to star opposite Bea Arthur in the television classic Maude.

Her casting in John Carpenter’s Someone Is Watching Me, playing one of television’s first lesbian characters (played sensitively and free of the clichés that often-marred early television portrayals of gay characters) began her journey down the road of becoming an icon of horror.

And working for many of the masters of horror is another highlight of Adrienne’s body of work. From Wes Craven’s Swamp Thing (which during production, Adrienne thought was going to be a total bomb) to George Romero’s Creep Show (playing the delightfully vile Wilma) and Two Evil Eyes to Rob Zombie in his remake of Halloween, Adrienne has truly earned her role in the horror hall of fame.

Adrienne and I dig into all these films as well as the role she cherished playing on HBO’s masterful (and unbelievably canceled!) Carnivale and why she thinks every actor is deeply insecure at heart.

So, keep an eye out for those fog banks and listen in. 

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