Episode 35: Horror Trends In History (Horror Through the Ages)

The history of horror is a varied one. Only Science Fiction is anywhere near as diversified. Trends have come and stayed? Yes, even when certain trends are dominant (think Jason and Freddy in the 80's), they never completely subside. Despite the slew of slasher flicks in the 1980's, and the revivial of zombies and vampires in recent years--trends in horror subside, but never completely die (just like Dracula, Freddy, Jason, your nightmares about gym class in high school).


If Ben Franklin is right, "The only thing that is certain in life is death and taxes," then we can be assured that horror trends (and your favorite monsters) will recycle, but never fade away.

As always, you can listen to the undead goodness here, or on Archive.org
http://www.archive.org/details/TheFlyPaperDungeon--episode35HorrorTrendsInHistory


This Week's Videos
Laetitia Casta stars in another fright fest The Island

The Teaser for Buddy Holly is Alive and Well and Living on Ganymeade

Episode 36--Alien (1979)

"I admire it's purity...you have my sympathies."

Ridley's Scott's sci-fi/horror mashup is a modern classic. At thirty-two years of age, it looks fresh as the day it was hatched. Written by Dan O'Bannon (Return of the Living Dead, Total Recall), and starring Sigourney Weaver in her first film--ALIEN has gone on to spawn three sequels, and inspire an entire subgenre of horror.


This week, I do a feature-length audio commentary--dedicated to a film that was born the same year I was. It sits in my top ten for several reasons--not the least of which is that it still has the power to move me.

As always, you can listen to the snarly goodness here. Or, you can download from Archive.org

http://www.archive.org/details/TheFlyPaperDungeon--episode36Alien1979
Videos of the Week
The Original Teaser Trailer for ALIEN

Kenner made a 12-inch action figure of the Xenomorph...for kids to play with! (Also Atari made a video game!)

Sigourney Weaver's Screen Test for Alien

Links of the Week
Play the Atari 2600 game of Alien
From 2600online--a free archive or Atari games (click here)

Email: Flypaperdungeon@gmail.com

Episode 34: Sunshine (2007)

Good evening, space cadets!

This week, I discuss Danny Boyle's underappreciated Sci-Fi epic Sunshine. I also weigh in on the Royal Wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton (if Pippa is single, I'm available). I also give my impression of death of Public Enemy Number One (You know who...he's been all over the TV lately). This intro segment lasts for only ten minutes. After that, I move onto the main topic of the show, which lasts about thirty-five minutes (including music).

Sunshine is one of those moving, somber films, that is perfect to watch during a time of great social changes adn reflection. It helps to put it all in perspective. In addition to the magnificent direction of Danny Boyle, and the innovate script by Alex Garland, it also features a beautiful score by composer John Murphy (28 Days Later), and synth pop group Underworld.

As always, you can listen to the solar flared goodness here. Or, download from archive.org

http://www.archive.org/details/TheFlyPaperDungeon--episode34--sunshine

This week's Videos

Rose Byrne in the video for Digital Versicolor by Glass Candy

Cillian Murphy in a photo shoot/interview for Flaunt magazine

Episode 33--What are "B" Movies?

Good Eeeeevening, my fellow deviants!


I pose a question to all of you, and to myself, "Does the "B" movie still exist?" Sure, we have the back catalogue of Roger Corman and Jack Hill--which serve as latenight movie fodder. But are there modern "B" movies? Would you consider Stars Wars, Jaws, Indiana Jones, or Transformers to be the stuff of "B" movies? When George Lucas and Steven Spielberg changed the game of Hollywood in the late 70's, budgets, and cinema, were never the same. Movies that many of us grew up with, staples of the genre, would have once been considered "B" movies.


Stories of space wars and aliens, were considered pulp magazine page fillers, and saturday matinee tripe. Now, movies about giant robots from space are blockbusters.

  What defines a "B" Movie? Is it budget, subject matter, or genre?

While I may not have definitive answers in this week's episod--I bring up some interesting ideas.

As always, you can listen to the B-Grade carnage here. Or, download the show for iPod, or similar device from Archive.org

http://www.archive.org/details/TheFlyPaperDungeon--episode33--whatArebMovies

Videos of The Week:
Corman's classic The Terror! Starring Boris Karloff and Jack Nicholson



Links of the Week:
SAVE WICKED GROUNDS! San Francisco's premiere kink-themed coffee shop!
http://www.exrecto.com/savewg/pledge/

The Music of Roy Garrou!
As featured in this week's episode
http://www.archive.org/details/ekleipsi19

The trailer for France's first 3-D movie!
Behind the Walls, starring the lovely Laetitia Casta!
http://www.quietearth.us/articles/2011/04/22/Sumptuous-first-trailer-for-supernatural-BEHIND-THE-WALLS

Episode 32--The Phantom Rickshaw

This week, I take you to the dark side of India with Rudyard Kipling's tale of love and revenge, The Phantom Rickshaw


Originally published in 1888, in the anthology The Phantom Rickshaw and Other Eerie Tales, the titular story has become one of the best known, and most reprinted, ghost stories of all time. Kipling's contributions to the horror genre cannot be understated. Though he is best known as the author of The Jungle Book We can also thank him for some intelligent scare fests.

As always, you can listen to the show here, or download it from archive.org
http://www.archive.org/details/TheFlyPaperDungeon--episode32ThePhantomRickshaw


Link of the Week:
The Art of Richard M. Powers
http://members.cox.net/sjrohde/
(The above image was scanned by me, from an old edition of Kipling. It was illustrated by Richard M. Powers. No infringment is intended on the work of this great Sci-Fi and Fantasy artist)