Only In Amityville Gratton Conwill & Matthew Fields

Episode 7 of Season 4! Host, Gratton Conwill and special guest, Matt Fields discuss House of the Long Shadows (1983).

So we come to our final movie of the year. House of the Long Shadows is a British comedy horror film, which premiered on June 17th 1983. Based on a 1913 novel, Seven Keys to Baldpate by author Earl Derr Biggers, House of the Long Shadows was directed by Pete Walker and penned by Michael Armstrong. Initially, Bigger’s novel was adapted into a play, and this film marks the seventh motion picture adaptation of that stage play.

The movie's ensemble cast included beloved actors such as Vincent Price, Christopher Lee, Peter Cushing, and John Carradine, bringing together an impressive array of talent that spanned generations of horror cinema. Each of these titans had made and indelible mark in the genre, and their collaboration in House of the Long Shadows was a dream come true for fans of classic horror, or should I say a nightmare? 

House of the Long Shadows seemed like a perfect way to honor these beloved performers by giving them a chance to shine in a late career gothic horror mystery, a throwback to the types of movies which made them household names. However the movie was met with poor reception upon release with critics decrying the film’s waste of such talents. One critic even suggested the writing was so bad, it must have meant the writer hated the audience.what is the true measure of star power? And does it have the ability to save an otherwise unnoteworthy movie? Well that is what we’re going to try and figure out.

Only In Amityville is an ad-free, self funded podcast hosted by Gratton Conwill and Matthew Fields.

If you would like to support the show, you can donate to us at: ⁠⁠https://anchor.fm/giant-monster-bs⁠⁠ or buy our merch at: ⁠⁠https://www.teepublic.com/user/cheesemouse2/albums/39997-giant-monster-bs-merch⁠⁠

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Episode 6 of Season 4! Host, Gratton Conwill and special guest, Matt Fields discuss The Asphyx (1972).

The Asphyx is a British sci-fi horror film released December 5th, 1972. Peter Newbrook directed while his good friends Christina Beers, Laurence Beers, and Brian Comport did the writing. Like other movies on this year’s list, The Asphyx fits into the gothic sect of the horror genre. Some characteristics which make horror movies gothic are, oppressive settings, supernatural phenomena, and a battle between humanity and the forces of evil. With very little information available about this movie via the internet, this brief description of Gothic horror will have to be enough. When The Asphyx released, the US and the UK received different cuts of the film, with the UK version being the shorter of the two. For years the coveted extended  american cut was only available through poor quality fan edits, but today we watch The Asphyx in its fullest form courtesy of Kino Lorber. Starring the likes of Robert Stephens, Jane Lapotaire, and many more, this could only be The Asphyx.

Only In Amityville is an ad-free, self funded podcast hosted by Gratton Conwill and Matthew Fields.

If you would like to support the show, you can donate to us at: ⁠https://anchor.fm/giant-monster-bs⁠ or buy our merch at: ⁠https://www.teepublic.com/user/cheesemouse2/albums/39997-giant-monster-bs-merch⁠

Follow us on twitter at: ⁠https://twitter.com/GiantMonsterBS⁠

Episode 5 of Season 4! Host, Gratton Conwill and special guest, Matt Fields discuss The Dunwich Horror (1969).

The Dunwich Horror is an American supernatural horror film that premiered on January 14, 1970 in Chicago Illinois, one of the scariest cities on record. It was directed by Daniel Haller and written by three men: Curtis Hanson, Henry Rosenbaum, and Ronald Silkosky. It was adapted from HP Lovecraft’s short story of the same name. The Dunwich Horror was yet another product of American International Pictures, known as AIP. And while many American movies are made in Hollywood, Daniel Haller and the gang opted to shoot most of The Dunwich Horror in Mendocino, California despite the movie’s humble Massachusetts setting. The movie stars Sandra Dee, Dean Stockwell, and Ed Begley, who died just three months after the movie released. Reviews from critics were mixed with some praising The Dunwich Horror for its polished appearance and eerie atmosphere. But others expressed dissatisfaction, drawing comparisons to Roger Corman’s earlier AIP films. But that hasn’t stopped The Dunwich Horror from being released on blu-ray and DVD all these years later.



Only In Amityville is an ad-free, self funded podcast hosted by Gratton Conwill and Matthew Fields.

If you would like to support the show, you can donate to us at: ⁠https://anchor.fm/giant-monster-bs⁠ or buy our merch at: ⁠https://www.teepublic.com/user/cheesemouse2/albums/39997-giant-monster-bs-merch⁠

Follow us on twitter at: ⁠https://twitter.com/GiantMonsterBS⁠

Episode 4 of Season 4! Host, Gratton Conwill and special guest, Matt Fields discuss The House That Screamed (1969).

Released on December 8th, 1969, The house That Screamed is a Spanish slasher horror film written and directed by Chicho Ibanez Serrador. It was Based on a short story by Juan Tébar. Director Serrador chose to make The house That Screamed, his first horror movie, as a product for international release. With a diverse cast of English and Spanish speaking actors, it was designed to be exported for foreign audiences. This is also why the entire movie was dubbed over in English, not just for an American release, but for its general release in Spain as well. It wouldn’t be until two years later that the US would get an edited down version released by AIP. Upon release, The house That Screamed would not make its budget back, and critics were mostly negative, with some more positive reviews conceding it was at least good for what it was. Today The house That Screamed has a cult following and its legacy as an atmospheric slasher would go on to influence directors like Dario Argento.

Only In Amityville is an ad-free, self funded podcast hosted by Gratton Conwill and Matthew Fields.

If you would like to support the show, you can donate to us at: https://anchor.fm/giant-monster-bs or buy our merch at: https://www.teepublic.com/user/cheesemouse2/albums/39997-giant-monster-bs-merch

Follow us on twitter at: https://twitter.com/GiantMonsterBS

Episode 3 of Season 4! Host, Gratton Conwill and special guest, Matt Fields discuss Die, Monster, Die! (1965).

Die, Monster, Die! is an American sci-fi Horror film released on October 27th 1965. It was directed by Daniel Haller and written by Jerry Sohl. It was a loose adaptation of HP Lovecraft’s “The Color out of Space” and featured Horror Legend Borris Karloff in a mad scientist role some have compared to his character in the 1935 film The Invisible Ray. For his role as Nahum Witley, Borris Karloff would don an iconic wheelchair to perform more comfortably. By 1965 Karloff was suffering from back problems that made walking a painful ordeal. Opposite Karloff is actor Nick Adams, known today for his roles in Frankenstein Conquers the World and Invasion of Astro Monster. As a result of not having back problems, Adams was denied the luxury of a wheelchair. The movie, produced by AIP,  would shoot in Shepperton studios in England with Paul Beeson as cinematographer. However the movie would have its premiere in the United States a year before it reached the UK. Die, Monster, Die! marks the first time one of HP Lovecraft's stories would be adapted for the silver screen and the first time Daniel Haller would ever direct his own movie. Combining the gothic atmosphere of AIP’s typical genre movies with fear mongering cold war trepidations of radiation, Die, Monster, Die! was a bold endeavor. And its lofty ambitions landed it on a double feature with Mario Bava’s Planet of the Vampires. I have no idea if this movie made money, but reviews have been mixed to favorable. According to IMDB trivia, “a contemporary article in "Daily Variety" noted this was the first "monster" role for Boris Karloff in 30 years.” With Karloff having played a vampire in Mario Bava’s Black Sabbath just two years previously, not to mention Dr. Jekyll/Mr. Hyde 12 years before, this claim is complete bullshit. Nonetheless, this obscure horror gem is appreciated today by horror fans worldwide with some even claiming it is quote, “the best movie ever made”.

Only In Amityville is an ad-free, self funded podcast hosted by Gratton Conwill and Matthew Fields.

If you would like to support the show, you can donate to us at: https://anchor.fm/giant-monster-bs or buy our merch at: https://www.teepublic.com/user/cheesemouse2/albums/39997-giant-monster-bs-merch

Follow us on twitter at: https://twitter.com/GiantMonsterBS

Episode 2 of Season 4! Host, Gratton Conwill and special guest, Matt Fields discuss The Gorgon (1964).

Released on October 18, 1964 in jolly old Ingerland. The Gorgon is a British gothic horror thriller directed by famed horror director Terence Fisher, and written By John Gilling and Anthony Nelson Keys. The movie was shot by cinematographer Michael Reed. While Roger Corman was making Hollywood Horror movies distributed by AIP, Terence Fisher was similarly working in the UK making films for British production company Hammer Film Productions. Hammer most notably rebooted many classic horror series in color throughout the 50’s and 60’s. The Gorgon, however, was not really a reboot, rather a reimagining of an ancient Greek legend, submitted by a Canadian fan directly to the Hammer company. The Gorgon is remembered today by horror fans for featuring both Christopher Lee and Peter Cushing, two horror icons of the Hammer era. While many consider this one of the best Hammer horror movies, star Christopher Lee felt differently. He felt the poor special effects of the snakes let the film down and ruined the climax. Quote “Not a memorable film,but it could have been terrific,” end quote. Regardless, fans have managed to remember The Gorgon as part of director Terrence Fisher's Ouvre and a unique entry in the Hammer film library.

Only In Amityville is an ad-free, self funded podcast hosted by Gratton Conwill and Matthew Fields.

If you would like to support the show, you can donate to us at: https://anchor.fm/giant-monster-bs or buy our merch at: https://www.teepublic.com/user/cheesemouse2/albums/39997-giant-monster-bs-merch

Follow us on twitter at: https://twitter.com/GiantMonsterBS