The Horror Double Bill

Craig Johnson
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Welcome to The Horror Double Bill, the podcast where each week we pair two movies to create something far greater than the sum of their parts.  Inspired by the legendary BBC2 horror double bills of the 1970s and 1980s, each week we discuss two films that share themes, atmosphere, directors or creators to explore what they say about the time they were made and our fears in the present. Expect discussions on film and social history, folklore, censorship, cultural anxieties, and a love of horror in all its forms. New episodes every Sunday. New episodes every Sunday.  📸 @thehorrordoublebill 📧 thehorrordoublebill@gmail.com 

  1. Episode 31: Dead End (2003) & The Day of the Beast (1995)

    4D AGO

    Episode 31: Dead End (2003) & The Day of the Beast (1995)

    Welcome to episode 31 of The Horror Double Bill, the podcast where each week we pair two movies to create something for greater than the sum of their parts This week we are discussing two movies that are both very dark comedies and are both set on Christmas Eve, First up is Dead End from 2003 written and directed by Jean Baptiste Andrea and Fabrice Canepa. This stars Alexandra Holden, Ray Wise, Lynn Shea, and Mick Cain. Then we head over to Spain for The Day of the Beast  from 1995  and director Alex De La Iglesia; starring Santiago Segura, Armando de Razza, Alex Angulo, and Terele Pavez. T Along the way will be discussing the careers of Lynn Shea and Ray Wise, Alex de la Iglesia's views on Christmas, the story of Don Quixote and much much more The Spectral Lines Zine:  https://thespectrallines.bigcartel.com/ The Occultaria of Albion https://www.occultariaofalbion.co.uk/ Recommendations mentioned in this episode Alone in the Dark (1982) Resources and Research Dead End Making of featurette available on the Pathe DVD release https://morbidlybeautiful.com/lin-shaye-interview-one/ https://www.joblo.com/interview-ray-wise/ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lin_Shaye https://www.dreadcentral.com/news/3277/andrea-jean-baptiste-dead-end/ http://www.reviewgraveyard.com/Interview/04-04-01_Jean-BaptisteAndrea.htm https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ray_Wise https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0936403/ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jean-Baptiste_Andrea Day of the Beast Interview with Alex de la Iglesia and “Heirs of the Beast” documentary feature, available on the Severin Films blu ray release https://www.dreadcentral.com/news/3339/de-la-iglesia-alex-day-of-the-beast-etc/ https://filmint.nu/round-table-discussion-with-alex-de-la-iglesia/ https://www.xataka.com/entrevistas/alex-iglesia-dia-bestia-partida-rol-cura-personaje-chtulhu Spanish Horror Film by Antonio Lazaro Reboll,  The Spanish Fantastic Contemporary Filmmaking In Horror Fantasy And Sci-Fi by Shelagh Rowan Legg     Instagram: @thehorrordoublebill email: thehorrordoublebill@gmail.com youtube: @thehorrordoublebill artwork by Justin Parker (IG jpkr_illustration.com)

    1h 15m
  2. Episode 30: The Curse of the Cat People (1944) & The Haunting (1963)

    DEC 14

    Episode 30: The Curse of the Cat People (1944) & The Haunting (1963)

    Welcome to episode 30 of The Horror Double Bill, the podcast where each week we pair two movies to create something greater than the sum of their parts. This week both films are directed by Robert Wise, a multiple Oscar-winning American director whose works have included The Body Snatcher, The Day the Earth Stood Still, The Andromeda Strain, Star Trek: The Motion Picture, West Side Story, and The Sound of Music, as well as this week’s two movies. So first up, for our Christmas movie we have The Curse of the Cat People from 1944, starring Simone Simon, Kent Smith, Elizabeth Russell, and Ann Carter. Another film in the series from RKO Studios and producer Val Lewton, this marked Wise’s feature directing debut, although he did in fact share the directing credits with Gunther von Fritsch. Then we jump forward to 1963 and one of the most famous haunted house movies of all time, The Haunting. This was based on The Haunting of Hill House, written by Shirley Jackson, and stars Julie Harris, Richard Johnson, Russ Tamblyn, and Claire Bloom. Along the way we’ll be discussing in detail the career of Robert Wise, the career and writing of Shirley Jackson, and much, much more. Recommendations: The Lottery by Shirley Jackson The Summer People by Shirley Jackson We Have Always Lived in the Castle by Shirley Jackson The Day the Earth Stood Still (1951) Directed by Robert Wise The Return (TV Ghost Story) :  https://youtu.be/MkPCslMN-ps?si=SEZ6IQTN6v72Vxwo Sources and References Val Lewton: The Reality of Terror by Joel E. Siegel  Icons of Grief: Val Lewton’s Home Front Pictures by Alexander Nemerov. Little Shop of Horrors, (issue 49) - The Roads to Hill House: The Making of Robert Wise’s The Haunting”  by Anthony McKay.  https://www.the-haunting.com/index.html Dance Macabre by Stephen King The Masterpieces of Shirley Jackson with an introduction by Donna Tartt Instagram: @thehorrordoublebill email: thehorrordoublebill@gmail.com youtube: @thehorrordoublebill artwork by Justin Parker (IG jpkr_illustration.com)

    1h 23m
  3. Episode 29: Dead of Night (1945) & From Beyond the Grave (1974)

    DEC 7

    Episode 29: Dead of Night (1945) & From Beyond the Grave (1974)

    Welcome to episode 29 of The Horror Double Bill; the podcast where each week we pair two movies to create something far greater than the sum of their parts This week we are continuing our Christmas season, where at least one film in our pairing will have a seasonal theme – or perhaps more appropriately, as this week we are all about anthology movies, at least one of the stories in one of our pairings will have a seasonal theme. First up this week is Dead of Night from 1945, the first British horror movie released after World War II, and directed by Alberto Cavalcanti, Charles Chricton, Robert Hamer, and Basil Dearden. It stars Mervyn Johns, Sally Anne Howes, Googie Withers and Michael Redgrave. Then we head to 1974 and From Beyond the Grave, the last anthology movie released by British studio Amicus. Directed by Kevin Connor, it stars Peter Cushing, Donald Pleasence, Angela Pleasence David Warner, Ian Bannen, and Diana Dors. Along the way will be discussing the history of Ealing Studios, the career of writer R Chetwynd Hayes, the Amicus anthology horror series, director Kevin Connor, and much more References English Gothic: classic horror cinema 1897 to 2015 by Jonathan Rigby Hammer and Beyond - the British horror film by Peter Hutchings Dead of Night written by Jess Connolly and David Owen Bates (published by Devil’s Advocates) https://bfidatadigipres.github.io/roots%2C%20rituals%20and%20phantasmagoria/2024/09/02/dead-of-night/ https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanpsy/article/PIIS2215-0366(15)00431-9/fulltext Remembering Dead of Night, a documentary which can be found on the Criterion collection Blu-ray and 4K special edition releases British Cult Cinema the Amicus Anthology by Bruce G Hallenbeck  Phantasmagoria Magazine R Chetwynd- Hayes special tribute edition https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dead_of_Night https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/From_Beyond_the_Grave https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amicus_Productions https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mervyn_Johns https://ealingstudios.com/about-ealing/history-3/ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ealing_Studios Instagram: @thehorrordoublebill email: thehorrordoublebill@gmail.com youtube: @thehorrordoublebill artwork by Justin Parker (IG jpkr_illustration.com)

    1h 29m
  4. Episode 28: Whistle & I'll Come to You (1968) & Night of the Demon (1957)

    NOV 30

    Episode 28: Whistle & I'll Come to You (1968) & Night of the Demon (1957)

    Welcome to episode 28 of The Horror Double Bill the podcast where each week we pair two movies to create something far greater than the sum of their parts This week we are beginning our Christmas season, and discussing two films that are based on the work of M.R James. First up we have Whistle And I’ll Come To You, directed by Jonathan Miller from 1968 and then Night of the Demon from 1957, directed by Jacques Tourneur, starring Dana Andrews, Peggy Cummins, and Niall McGinnis  Along the way we will be discussing the origins of the ghost stories for Christmas tradition, the works of MR James, and much much more Sources Radio play: https://youtu.be/upE-BdMHHVw?si=kX7W3SpSt--TjFzk https://www.gothichorrorstories.com/classic-gothic-ghost-stories/a-history-of-winter-tales-and-christmas-ghost-stories-to-make-the-blood-run-wintery-cold/ https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/plea-resurrect-christmas-tradition-telling-ghost-stories-180967553/ https://visitsleepyhollow.com/how-charles-dickens-stole-christmas/ https://www.history.co.uk/ https://www.nypl.org/blog/2021/12/16/ghost-stories-for-christmas https://www.spectator.co.uk/article/how-chilling-ghost-stories-became-a-christmas-tradition/ Whistle and I’ll Come to You https://headpress.com/blog/2024/12/04/whistle-down-the-wind-an-extract-from-no-diggin-here/ https://www.bfi.org.uk/features/ghost-story-christmas-whistle-ill-come-you https://www.webofstories.com/play/jonathan.miller/23;jsessionid=B9BEC49F95119602BDA6DFAC03EFD09D https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M._R._James https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Whistle_and_I%27ll_Come_to_You_(1968_film) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jonathan_Miller Night of the Demon English Gothic by Jonathan Rigby Jacques Tourneur The cinema of Nightfall by Chris Fujiwara https://catalog.afi.com/Catalog/moviedetails/52516 https://eprints.whiterose.ac.uk/id/eprint/127530/3/FINAL%20Rev%20Writing%20NoTD%20Article%20for%20HJFRT%20Alison%20Peirse%20080216.pdf https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Night_of_the_Demon https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dana_Andrews https://m.imdb.com/name/nm0000763/       Instagram: @thehorrordoublebill email: thehorrordoublebill@gmail.com youtube: @thehorrordoublebill artwork by Justin Parker (IG jpkr_illustration.com)

    1h 13m

  5. NOV 23

    Episode 27: Murder by Decree (1979) & Hands of the Ripper (1971)

    Welcome to episode 27 of the horror double bill the podcasts where each week we pair two movies to create something far greater than the sum of their parts This week we are exploring the horrors of Victorian London and Jack the Ripper, with two films that use the legend of the famous serial killer to explore themes of conspiracy, class, and the patriarchy First up is Murder by Decree from 1979 and director Bob Clark starring Christopher Plummer James Mason, David Hemmings, and Donald Sutherland. Then we travel back to 1971 for Hands of the Ripper from Hammer Studios, directed by Peter Sasdy and starring Eric Porter, Angharad Reese, Keith Bell and Dora Brian. Along the way will be discussing the history of Jack the Ripper movies from the 1920s onwards, the origins of the royal conspiracy theories surrounding the murders, the horror career of directors Bob Clark and Peter Sasdy and much more References used Jack the Ripper & Murder By Decree English Gothic: Classic Horror Cinema 1897 - 2015 by Jonathan Rigby Euro Gothic: Classics of Continental Horror Cinema by Jonathan Rigby The House that Hammer Built Volume 2 by Wayne Kinsey https://www.tumgik.com/themastercylinder https://www.framerated.co.uk/murder-by-decree-1979/ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Murder_by_Decree https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bob_Clark https://cfe.tiff.net/canadianfilmencyclopedia/content/bios/bob-clark https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jack_the_Ripper:_The_Final_Solution https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jack_the_Ripper_(1959_film) https://www.imdb.com/list/ls048149930/ Hands of the Ripper https://carrionfilms.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/Peter-Sasdy-Interview.pdf https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Sasdy Hammer and Beyond – The British Horror film by Peter Hutchings  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hands_of_the_Ripper English Gothic: Classic Horror Cinema 1897 - 2015 by Jonathan Rigby Instagram: @thehorrordoublebill email: thehorrordoublebill@gmail.com youtube: @thehorrordoublebill artwork by Justin Parker (IG jpkr_illustration.com)

    1h 11m

  6. NOV 16

    Episode 26: Short Night of Glass Dolls (1971) & The Conspiracy (2012)

    Welcome to episode 26 of the horror double bill, the podcast where each week we pair two movies to create something far greater than the sum of their parts I'm Craig Johnson and this week we are entering the world of conspiracies and paranoia, with two films featuring journalist protagonists falling into increasingly dangerous territory.  First up we return to the Italian giallo, with Short Night of Glass Dolls from 1971, directed by Aldo Lado and starring Jean Sorel, Ingrid Thulin, Barbara Bach and Mario Adorf. Then we jump forward to 2012 and our second faux documentary of the series, with The Conspiracy from director Christopher MacBride starring Aaron Poole and James Gilbert. Along the way we will be discussing the careers of Aldo Lado and Jean Sorel, the not so secret societies the Bilderberg Group and The Bohemian Grove, the cognitive biases that come in to play with conspiracy theories and much more. References Short Night of Glass Dolls Darkening the Italian Screen Part Two edited by Eugenio Ercolani,  88 Films blu ray restoration of the movie - When Butterflies Turn to Glass & Czech Mate  Celluloid Dreams 4k restoration special features https://movieplayer.it/articoli/aldo-lado-intervista-monica-vitti-censura-ennio-morricone_20793/ https://www.globalist.it/culture/2021/12/01/non-ho-mai-rivisto-i-miei-film-aldo-lado-regista-di-cult-come-la-corta-notte-delle-bambole-di-vetro-si-racconta/ https://www.filmtv.it/articoli/105/pupi-avati-racconta-salo-di-pasolini/ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prague_Spring https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jean_Sorel https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ingrid_Thulin https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mario_Adorf The Conspiracy  https://www.dreadcentral.com/news/46916/the-conspiracy-exclusive-q-a-with-director-christopher-macbride/ https://www.starburstmagazine.com/features/interview-christopher-macbride-the-conspiracy/ https://thatshelf.com/interview-christopher-macbride-aaron-poole/ https://www.femalefirst.co.uk/movies/aaron-poole-the-conspiracy-interview-350691.html https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apophenia https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/your-emotional-meter/202401/the-psychology-of-conspiracy-theories https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bilderberg_Meeting https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bohemian_Grove Instagram: @thehorrordoublebill email: thehorrordoublebill@gmail.com youtube: @thehorrordoublebill artwork by Justin Parker (IG jpkr_illustration.com)

    1h 22m

  7. NOV 9

    Episode 25: A Tale of Two Sisters (2003) & The Orphanage (2007)

    Welcome to episode 25 of The Horror Double Bill, the podcast where each week we pair 2 movies to create something far greater than the sum of their parts This week we are discussing two movies that use the ghost story as a vehicle to explore themes of family, loss, grief, and instability. First up, we have our first Korean entry in the series with a Tale of Two Sisters from 2003 and director Kim Jee-woon, which stars Im Soo-Jung, Yum Jung-ah and Moon Geun-young. Then we follow this with a trip back to Spain for The Orphanage from 2007 and director J.A Bayona, starring Belen Rueda, Geraldine Chaplin, Roger Princep and Fernando Cayo Along the way, we’ll be discussing the foundations of Korean horror cinema, the career and movies of director Kim Jee-woon, the folk tale Rose Flower and Red Lotus, the careers of Sergio G Sanchez and J A Bayona, and much more. References and Sources: A Tale of Two Sisters Asia Shock by Patrick Galloway Korean Horror Cinema written by Alison Pearce Arrow Films Blu-ray release - interviews with the cast and director as well as the directors commentary https://cine21.com/news/view/?mag_id=25485 https://cine21.com/news/view/?mag_id=19282 https://www.fangoria.com/kim-jee-woon-a-tale-of-two-sisters/ https://www.dreadcentral.com/editorials/461562/a-tale-of-two-sisters-a-korean-horror-masterpiece/ https://www.vam.ac.uk/articles/a-brief-history-of-k-cinema?srsltid=AfmBOop0ogJla4KoWgRPoSLjse0kCpsUsHuJBtBDpNw7JOZhqbFAc9zN The Orphanage Imprint Films Blu-ray release - interviews with the cast and crew, and a behind the scenes making of documentary The Spanish Fantastic: Contemporary Filmmaking in Horror Fantasy and Sci-fi by Sheila Rowan leg Spanish Horror Film by Antonio Lazarro Rebol https://www.europapress.es/cultura/cine-00128/noticia-belen-rueda-enfrenta-primer-papel-protagonista-orfanato-representara-espana-oscar-20071009175718.html https://culturevulture.net/film/an-interview-with-the-filmmakers-of-the-orphanage/ https://www.female.com.au/juan-antonio-bayona-the-orphanage-interview.htm https://www.hollywood.com/general/the-orphanage-juan-antonio-bayona-sergio-sanchez-57174730 https://www.ioncinema.com/news/uncategorized/interview-juan-antonio-bayona-sergio-sanchez-the-orphanage https://www.fangoria.com/interview-screenwriter-sergio-g-sanchez-on-giving-birth-to-the-orphanage-and-collaborating-with-guillermo-del-toro/   Instagram: @thehorrordoublebill email: thehorrordoublebill@gmail.com youtube: @thehorrordoublebill artwork by Justin Parker (IG jpkr_illustration.com)

    1h 15m

  8. NOV 2

    Episode 24: The Night of the Hunter (1955) & Tigers Are Not Afraid (2017)

    Welcome to episode 24 of the horror double bill the podcasts where each week we combine two movies to create something far greater than the sum of their parts This week we are returning to the theme of childhood, only this week it is the kids and not the adults who are in peril.  First up we have The Night of the Hunter from 1955, the only film ever directed by the great actor Charles Laughton and starring Robert Mitchum, Shelley Winters and Lillian Gish. Then we’ll be heading back to Mexico for the quite brilliant Tigers are Not Afraid from 2017 written and directed by Issa Lopez and starring Paolo Lara Juan Ramon Lopez Hansel Casillas and Rodrigo Cortez. Both of this week’s movies juxtapose fairytale imagery with the grim realities of murder corruption and crime, depicting their young protagonists as casualties of societal and financial collapse, the first through the great depression of the 1930s and the second through the rise and reach of gang culture in present day Mexico.  Night of the Hunter The Night of the Hunter by Simon Callow, published by BFI film classics https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Depression https://www.britannica.com/event/Great-Depression https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Davis_Grubb https://catalog.afi.com/Catalog/moviedetails/51604 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Laughton https://www.criterion.com/current/posts/1657-the-night-of-the-hunter-holy-terror?srsltid=AfmBOorxu8VtTUmkrWGymPa25wN6Nvim63PVF9ojmLW3GxYI2e3PQRK7 Tigers Are Not Afraid Shudder blu-ray release extras: directors commentary, behind the scenes making of feature, Q&A with Issa Lopez and Guillermo Del Toro https://www.hrw.org/world-report/2025/country-chapters/mexico https://www.filmcomment.com/blog/interview-issa-lopez/ https://insessionfilm.com/interview-issa-lopez-director-writer-of-tigers-are-not-afraid/ https://deepestdream.com/issa-lopez-talks-dream-narrative-behind-tigers-are-not-afraid/ https://www.dreadcentral.com/news/299293/tigers-are-not-afraid-and-neither-is-director-issa-lopez/ https://www.hola.com/us/entertainment/20240111354355/issa-lopez-mexican-force-behind-season-4-true-detective/ https://videocine.com.mx/noticia/entrevista-paola-lara-vuelven/ https://producaocultural.procomum.org/2012/01/11/1525 Instagram: @thehorrordoublebill email: thehorrordoublebill@gmail.com youtube: @thehorrordoublebill artwork by Justin Parker (IG jpkr_illustration.com)

    1h 12m
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About

Welcome to The Horror Double Bill, the podcast where each week we pair two movies to create something far greater than the sum of their parts.  Inspired by the legendary BBC2 horror double bills of the 1970s and 1980s, each week we discuss two films that share themes, atmosphere, directors or creators to explore what they say about the time they were made and our fears in the present. Expect discussions on film and social history, folklore, censorship, cultural anxieties, and a love of horror in all its forms. New episodes every Sunday. New episodes every Sunday.  📸 @thehorrordoublebill 📧 thehorrordoublebill@gmail.com 

Information

  • Creator
    Craig Johnson
  • Years Active
    2K
  • Episodes
    31
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2025 The Horror Double Bill
  • Show Website
    The Horror Double Bill

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