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.  Expect discussions on shared themes, directors. writers and atmosphere, as we explore what the films say about the time they were made and our fears in the present; including social history, folklore, censorship, and a love of horror in all its forms. New episodes every Sunday.  📸 @thehorrordoublebill 📧 thehorrordoublebill@gmail.com 

  1. 1d ago

    Episode 66: Bedlam (1946) & The Crazies (1973)

    Welcome to episode 66 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 we are exploring themes of institutionalisation, corruption, conspiracy and insanity, with one film set in the most notorious psychiatric institute of all time, and the other in a world that has gone completely mad. First up we have Bedlam, from 1946, and producer Val Lewton. Directed by Mark Robson, it stars Boris Karloff, Anna Lee, Billy House, Richard Fraser and Elizabeth Russell. Then we follow this with The Crazies, from 1973. This stars Lane Carroll, Will MacMillan, Harold Wayne Jones and Lynn Lowry. Along the way, we will be discussing the history of the Saint Mary of Bethlehem Hospital, otherwise known as Bedlam, how and why people were committed for being inconvenient, biological and chemical warfare accidents in the late 1960s, and much much more. References Val Lewton: The Reality of Terror by Joel E. Siegel Icons of Grief: Val Lewton’s Home Front Pictures by Alexander Nemerov Dreams of Darkness by J. P. Telotte Music in the Horror Films of Val Lewton by Michael Lee The Crazies (interviews and extras on the special-edition Blu-ray) from Arrow Video George Romero on Screen by Chris Wade George Romero: Interviews, edited by Tony Williams Book of the Dead by Jamie Russell https://www.dailyscript.com/scripts/chamberofhorrors.html https://www.zomboscloset.com/bedlam-1946-pressbook https://brightlightsfilm.com/darkness-darkness-films-val-lewton-looking-back-b-movie-master https://museumofthemind.org.uk/projects/european-journeys/asylums/bethlem-royal-hospital https://www.historyextra.com/period/victorian/bethlem-royal-hospital-history-why-called-bedlam-lunatic-asylum/ https://historicengland.org.uk/research/inclusive-heritage/disability-history/1050-1485/from-bethlehem-to-bedlam/ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bedlam_(1946_film) https://warwick.ac.uk/fac/arts/history/chmst/public_engagement/previous/asylum_trilogy/trade_in_lunacy/research/1774madhousesact https://www.tcm.com/articles/148263/insider-info-the-crazies-behind-the-scenes https://diaryofascreenwriter.blogspot.com/2019/02/george-romero-monsters-within.html?m=1 https://www.bfi.org.uk/sight-and-sound/interviews/george-romero-sight-sound-interview https://www.electricsheepmagazine.co.uk/2014/01/30/night-of-the-living-dead-interview-with-george-a-romero/ https://www.comingsoon.net/horror/news/715236-exclusive-looking-dead-ahead-with-george-a-romero https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lynn_Lowry https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Crazies_(1973_film) https://irp.fas.org/threat/cbw/1968_NerveGas_utahsheep.pdf https://stonecoldcrazyjeff.com/?s=lynn+lowry     Instagram: @thehorrordoublebill email: thehorrordoublebill@gmail.com youtube: @thehorrordoublebill artwork by Justin Parker (IG jpkr_illustration.com)

  2. Sep 26

    Episode 65: All the Colours of the Dark (1972) & The Omen (1976)

    Welcome to episode 65 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 we are covering two suitably autumnal films, both of which share a memorable filming location of Bishops Park in London, and both of which explore themes of Satanism in the UK’s capital city. First up, we are back with director Sergio Martino and actors Edwige Fenech, George Hilton and Ivan Rassimov for All the Colors of the Dark from 1972. Then we remain in the 1970s for one of the biggest horror blockbusters of all time, which is, as of the time of recording, coincidentally celebrating its 50th anniversary. This is The Omen, from director Richard Donner, starring Gregory Peck, Lee Remick, David Warner, Patrick Troughton and Billie Whitelaw. Along the way, we’ll be discussing the life and careers of George Hilton and Ivan Rassimov, why the whisky brand J&B became ubiquitous with the gialli, outrageous Satanic panic around the first TV screening of The Omen in the UK, the career of actor Gregory Peck, and much more. References All the Colors of the Dark (interviews and extras on the Blu-ray release of the film from Shameless Entertainment) House of Psychotic Women by Kier-La Janisse La Dolce Morte by Mikel J. Koven Italian Giallo in Film and Television by Roberto Curti So Deadly So Perverse by Troy Howarth https://www.shameless-films.com/2022/06/01/the-london-locations-of-sergio-martinos-all-the-colours-of-the-dark/ https://www.bietti.it/riviste/sergio-martino/tutti-i-colori-del-buio-le-strane-inquietudini-della-signora-harrison/ https://hacerselacritica.com/entrevista-a-george-hilton-por-dario-cosenza-y-marcos-vieytes/ https://cerebrin.wordpress.com/2018/01/19/entrevista-a-sergio-martino/ https://www.nanarland.com/interviews/entretiens/fr/sergio-martino.html https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Hilton_(actor) https://www.the-independent.com/news/obituaries/ivan-rassimov-36364.html https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ivan_Rassimov The Omen, by Adrian Schober (Devil’s Advocates)  Billie Whitelaw... Who He? By Billie Whitelaw Cinefantastique Volume 5, issue 3 https://www.moviesinfocus.com/interview-richard-donner-on-the-omen-superman-part-1/ https://asitecalledfred.com/2021/07/05/richard-donner-ken-plume-interviews/ https://www.avclub.com/david-warner-on-twin-peaks-tron-titanic-time-bandits-1798265384 https://www.startrek.com/en-un/news/david-warner-recounts-his-trek-adventures https://absoluteunderground.tv/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/AU_72_web.pdf https://www.syfy.com/syfy-wire/the-omen-writer-david-seltzer-talks-horror-classic-nearly-50-years-later https://youtu.be/caa0DW-hrXQ?si=fzkMYw0718wEg60x https://youtu.be/IClFcTnP0N0?si=QzYGNR6RL_wEU_dH   Instagram: @thehorrordoublebill email: thehorrordoublebill@gmail.com youtube: @thehorrordoublebill artwork by Justin Parker (IG jpkr_illustration.com)

  3. Sep 19

    Episode 64: Dracula's Daughter (1936) & The Blood Spattered Bride (1972)

    Welcome to episode 64 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 we are returning to the world of sapphic blood suckers, with two films about female vampires that were, to some extent or another, inspired by the novella Carmilla by J Sheridan Le Fanu First up, we have Dracula’s Daughter from 1936, Universal Studios follow-up to their 1931 Bela Lugosi classic Dracula. This was directed by Lambert Hill and stars Otto Kruger, Gloria Holden, Marguerite Churchill, and Edward Van Sloan. Then we follow this with the appropriately named The Blood Spattered Bride, a Spanish production from 1972 directed by Vicente Aranda. This stars Maribel Martin, Simon Andrew, Alexandra Baestedo, and Dean Selmiar Along the way will be deep diving into the story Carmilla and its influence on the modern vampire, queer coding in Dracula’s Daughter, pro and anti-feminist sentiments in the Blood Spattered Bride, whether actor Dean Selmier was in fact an undercover contract killer and much, much more References Universal Horrors: The Studio’s Classic Films, 1931–1946, written by Tom Weaver, Michael Brunas and John Brunas Dracula’s Daughter by Gary D. Rhodes, Tom Weaver, Michael Lee and David Colton (Scripts from the Crypt) Sex, Sadism, Spain, and Cinema by Nicolás G. Schlegel Euro Gothic by Jonathan Rigby The Aurum Film Encyclopedia of Horror, edited by Phil Hardy.  The Blood Spattered Bride - interviews and commentaries on the Blu-ray release of the film from Mondo Macabro https://www.aisge.es/vicente-aranda https://cerebrin.wordpress.com/2020/01/24/entrevista-a-simon-andreu/ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vicente_Aranda https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/11899128/Vicente-Aranda-film-director-obituary.html https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dracula%27s_Daughter https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gloria_Holden https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/107212334/ Instagram: @thehorrordoublebill email: thehorrordoublebill@gmail.com youtube: @thehorrordoublebill artwork by Justin Parker (IG jpkr_illustration.com)

  4. Sep 12

    Episode 63: Tenebrae (1982) & White of the Eye (1987)

    Welcome to episode 63 of The Horror Double Bill, the podcast where almost every week we pair two movies to create something greater than the sum of their parts. This week we are returning to the 1980s, the world of the Italian giallo and the serial killer, with two films that blend eye-popping cinematography, electronic synth scores, brutalist architecture and brutal murders. First, we have Tenebrae from director Dario Argento, released in 1982. This stars Anthony Franciosa, Giuliano Gemma, Daria Nicolodi and John Steiner. Then we follow this with White of the Eye from director Donald Cammell, which was released in 1987. This stars David Keith, Cathy Moriarty, Art Evans and Alan Rosenberg. Along the way, we’ll be discussing the real-life stalking incident which inspired Tenebrae, meta commentary and accusations of misogyny, the life and career of Donald Cammell, and much more. References Fear: The Autobiography of Dario Argento Broken Mirrors/Broken Minds: The Dark Dreams of Dario Argento by Maitland McDonagh Dario Argento: the Man, The Myths and The Magic by Alan Jones Nightmare Movies by Kim Newman La Dolce Morte by Mikel J Koven.  Tenebrae - interviews and special features 4K release from Synapse Films/Arrow Video https://www.gamesradar.com/dario-argento-life-in-pictures/ https://offscreen.com/view/argento_maestro https://francescolocane.com/2022/11/22/dario-argento-lo-sguardo-imperfetto-intervista-inedita/ https://www.bietti.it/riviste/dario-argento/una-stanza-piena-di-luce-intervista-a-mirella-dangelo/ https://youtu.be/DljSpS4BDA4?si=_gC58ttxLXxViI6N https://youtu.be/2Qc1dRlSQtE?si=FO0Qc6bgKhnwCghZ https://youtu.be/UmDOJC1pxF4?si=CqW-gtHRKst0aIXG https://youtu.be/F6CL6x7A6oo?si=d8ziWBeVQKjQcvW_ https://youtu.be/zkWNdswWf38?si=7FPqOf8fGl2vboJk https://www.ondarock.it/interviste/claudiosimonetti/ Donald Cammell, A Life on the Wild Side by Rebecca and Sam Umland The Cinema of Donald Cammell by Jeremy Mark Robinson White of the Eye: interviews and special features blu ray release from Arrow Video  https://youtu.be/lwZ7xsFQjaQ?is=gXaug5H2IzHqqNKZ https://animatedviews.com/2015/conversation-with-terry-rawlings/ https://www.drkrm.com/cammell1.html https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tenebrae_(film) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Donald_Cammell   Instagram: @thehorrordoublebill email: thehorrordoublebill@gmail.com youtube: @thehorrordoublebill artwork by Justin Parker (IG jpkr_illustration.com)

  5. Aug 22

    Episode 62: Paranoiac! (1963) & A Bell From Hell (1973)

    Welcome to episode 62 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 we are attending two family reunions, at which the return of prodigal children exposes secrets, lies, madness, and murder. First up, we have Paranoiac! from Hammer Studios in 1963. This was directed by Freddie Francis and stars Janette Scott, Oliver Reed, Alexander Davion, and Sheila Burrell. Then we follow this with a return to Spain and A Bell from Hell, from 1973. This was directed by Claudio Guerín Hill, and stars Renaud Verley, Christina von Blanc, Viveca Lindfors, Maribel Martín, and Nuria Gimeno. Along the way, we’ll be discussing Hammer’s move from horror into the world of the psychological thriller, the attempted fraud which loosely inspired Paranoiac, the career of director and cinematographer Freddie Francis, why there’s no such thing as a cursed movie, the tragic death of Claudio Guerín Hill, and much, much more. Recommendations A Taste of Fear (1961) Dr Terrors House of Horrors (1965) Mumsy, Nanny, Sonny & Girly (1970) Tales that Witness Madness (1973) The Imposter (2012) References Hammer Films: An Exhaustive Filmography by Tom Johnson and Deborah Del Vecchio The Films of Oliver Reed by Susan D. Cowie and Tom Johnson https://historyproject.org.uk/interview/freddie-francis/ https://historyproject.org.uk/interview/jimmy-sangster/ https://bloody-disgusting.com/editorials/3717782/paranoiac-was-one-of-hammers-very-best-mini-hitchcock-thrillers-hammer-factory/ https://horrorcultfilms.co.uk/2016/05/docs-journey-into-hammer-films-60-paranoiac-1963/ https://eofftvreview.wordpress.com/2021/02/26/paranoiac-1963/ https://brightonmuseums.org.uk/discovery/history-stories/the-tichborne-case-a-case-of-identity-fraud/ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tichborne_case https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paranoiac_(film) Paranoiac - blu-ray from Final Cut Entertainment. A Bell from Hell (4k release Severine Films 2025) https://www.cineymax.es/perfiles/191910-perfil-de-claudio-guerin https://criticalia.com/pelicula/la-campana-del-infierno https://elpais.com/cultura/2018/07/06/actualidad/1530878062_733421.html https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Bell_from_Hell Sex, Sadism, Spain, and Cinema by Nicholas G. Schlegel.   Instagram: @thehorrordoublebill email: thehorrordoublebill@gmail.com youtube: @thehorrordoublebill artwork by Justin Parker (IG jpkr_illustration.com)

  6. Aug 15

    Episode 61: M (1931) & Frenzy (1972)

    Welcome to episode 61 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 we are in pursuit of a killer or two, the first in Germany in 1931 and the second in London four decades later, in 1972. First up, we have M, directed by Fritz Lang. This stars Peter Lorre, Otto Wernicke, Georg John and Theodor Loos. Then we follow this with Frenzy, from director Alfred Hitchcock. This stars Jon Finch, Barry Foster, Barbara Leigh-Hunt, Alec McCowen and Anna Massey. Along the way, we’ll be discussing the career and films of director Fritz Lang, actor Peter Lorre, the real-life crimes that inspired both movies, attitudes towards sexual violence in the 1970s, and much, much more. Recommendations Metropolis (1927) Scarlet Street (1945) The Woman in the Window (1944) Mad Love (1935) Blood Simple (1984) Arsenic & Old Lace (1944) The Beast with Five Fingers (1946) Sleuth (1972) References M  by Samm Deighan (Devil’s Advocates)  Euro Gothic: Classics of Continental Horror Cinema by Jonathan Rigby Fritz Lang: The Life and Legacy of the Influential German-American Film Legend by Charles River Editors Fritz Lang by Lotte H. Eisner M (blu-ray from Eureka Entertainment) Alfred Hitchcock’s Frenzy by Raymond Foery Frenzy (Devil’s Advocates) series of books.  https://filmfolly.com/features/m-explained-fritz-langs-shockingly-relevant-story https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_K%C3%BCrten https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M_(1931_film) https://www.bfi.org.uk/features/alfred-hitchcock-frenzy https://cinephiliabeyond.org/frenzy-hitchcocks-return-perfection-penultimate-film/ https://www.express.co.uk/entertainment/films/1679830/Michael-Caine-Hollywood-feud-director-Alfred-Hitchcock-Frenzy-film https://www.digitalspy.com/movies/a440534/helen-mirren-on-alfred-hitchcock-meeting-i-was-arrogant-ignorant/ https://www.sensesofcinema.com/2022/cteq/m-fritz-lang-1931/ https://youtu.be/GNm0ultOUC0?si=Ao74fogYdec9McDC https://www.executedtoday.com/2016/02/15/1926-josef-jakubowski-weimar-germany-wrongful-execution/ https://www.ndr.de/geschichte/chronologie/Josef-Jakubowski-Unschuldig-wegen-eines-Mordes-enthauptet%2Cjakubowski100.html     Instagram: @thehorrordoublebill email: thehorrordoublebill@gmail.com youtube: @thehorrordoublebill artwork by Justin Parker (IG jpkr_illustration.com)

  7. Aug 8

    Episode 60: Freaks (1932) & Santa Sangre (1989)

    Welcome to episode 60 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 we are running away to join the circus—a prospect that seems more and more appealing with every passing day. First up, we have the highly controversial Freaks, from 1932 directed by Tod Browning. This stars Olga Baclanova, Harry Earles, Daisy Earles, Wallace Ford, Leila Hyams and Henry Victor. Then we follow this with the incredibly surreal Santa Sangre, from 1989 directed by Alejandro Jodorowsky. This stars Axel Jodorowsky, Adan Jodorowsky, Blanca Guerra, Thelma Tixou and Guy Stockwell. Along the way, we’ll be discussing the life and career of directors Tod Browning and Alejandro Jodowrosky, the history of the quote unquote freak show, the careers of Harry and Daisy Earles, and much, much more. Recommendations The Unholy Three (1925) The Unknown (1927) Dracula (1931) Mark of the Vampire (1935) The Devil Doll (1936) References Dark Carnival: The Secret World of Tod Browning, Hollywood’s Master of the Macabre by David J. Skal and Elias Savada Tod Browning’s Dracula by Gary D. Rhodes Freaks: A Film by Tod Browning by Jack Hunter American Gothic: Six Decades of Classic Horror Cinema by Jonathan Rigby.  Freaks (1932) blu ray (Criterion). Anarchy and Alchemy: The Films of Alejandro Jodorowsky by Ben Cobb The Seven Lives of Alejandro Jodorowsky compiled and curated by Vincent Bernière and Nicolas Tellop Santa Sangre (1989) blu-ray special edition (Severin Films) Spaghetti Nightmares: Italian Fantasy-Horrors as Seen Through the Eyes of Their Protagonists Luca Palmerini   https://www.historic-uk.com/CultureUK/Barnum-Bailey-Revolt-Of-The-Freaks/ https://www.theguardian.com/film/2015/jun/09/tod-browning-freaks-banned https://collider.com/freaks-history-tod-browning/ https://disabilityvisibilityproject.com/2023/10/08/one-of-us-tod-brownings-freaks-disability-culture-and-the-criterion-for-inclusion/ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sarah_Baartman https://blackpast.org/global-african-history/baartman-sara-saartjie-1789-1815/ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Millie_and_Christine_McKoy https://medium.com/lessons-from-history/the-dark-world-of-human-curiosities-uncovering-the-history-of-freak-shows-8633a1b95321 https://www.britannica.com/art/freak-show https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0423524/ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alejandro_Jodorowsky https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tod_Browning Instagram: @thehorrordoublebill email: thehorrordoublebill@gmail.com youtube: @thehorrordoublebill artwork by Justin Parker (IG jpkr_illustration.com)

  8. Aug 1

    Episode 59: Fascination (1979) & Strange Darling (2023)

    Welcome to Episode 59 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 we are exploring the surreal and erotic world of French director Jean Rollin and a time-jumping, twisted narrative from director JT Mollner. First up, we have Fascination from 1979, directed by Jean Rollin and starring Brigitte Lahaie, Fanny Magier, Franca Maï and Jean-Marie Lemaire. Then we follow this with Strange Darling, filmed in 2023, released in 2024 and directed by JT Mollner. This stars Willa Fitzgerald, Kyle Gallner, Ed Begley Jr. and Barbara Hershey. Along the way, we'll be discussing the life and careers of Jean Rollin, director JT Mollner, actress Willa Fitzgerald, actor Kyle Gallner, and much, much more. Recommendations Dinner in America (2020) References Fascination: The Celluloid Dreams of Jean Rollin by David Hinds Euro Gothic: Classics of Continental Horror Cinema by Jonathan Rigby. Orchestrator of Storms: The Fantastique World of Jean Rollin, directed by Kat Ellinger and Dima Ballin Fascination (1979) Indicator Films blu ray - interviews, features and commentaries https://www.mondo-digital.com/jeanrollintalk.html https://www.kinoeye.org/02/07/black07.php https://www.cultcollectibles.com/rollin/interview.htm https://diaboliquefilms.com/orchestrator-of-storms-the-fantastique-world-of-jean-rollin/ https://www.slantmagazine.com/features/flesh-and-blood-the-cinema-of-jean-rollin/ https://comicbookmovie.com/horror/strange-darling-interview-with-director-jt-mollner-and-cinematographer-giovanni-ribisi-exclusive-a212771 https://www.forbes.com/sites/timlammers/2024/08/22/strange-darling-filmmaker-on-how-his-twisty-horror-tale-came-to-life/ https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/story/willa-fitzgerald-strange-darling-awards-insider https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/interview-strange-darling-jt-mollner-210000410.html?guccounter=1&guce_referrer=aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZ29vZ2xlLmNvbS8&guce_referrer_sig=AQAAAGHo6tEN-HdQHXhxk4NbZ2StYJf-FEfajRBj0qPh3c3xSQmYzRR2a76AzOO25xPoL2Xno3Mu75eR0ODZuS7L451m8mdjYUnGu_eCH-6uQiwC5dReQ0lg2vkp88PQKhuCPlvy9a6G6rmmfZfvsboJEWxqSK61Pj-jxuGlCmcuLZQ- https://neon.reviewjournal.com/entertainment-columns/christopher-lawrence/jt-mollner-freaks-you-out-in-new-way-with-outlaws-and-angels/ https://www.nytimes.com/2026/06/09/movies/kyle-gallner-interview.html https://www.dreadcentral.com/editorials/508811/kyle-gallner-interview-the-strange-darling-star-in-graphic-detail-august-cover-story/ https://youtu.be/3Nv2IjA-JU8?si=T4gZZHR_c5M-2GhN https://youtu.be/WT0Q_uuFFYA?si=6j2kmdJ0wtPhpF1V https://youtu.be/Ygm2jEonymI?si=FCzGuRc4BfL0DEh3   Instagram: @thehorrordoublebill email: thehorrordoublebill@gmail.com youtube: @thehorrordoublebill artwork by Justin Parker (IG jpkr_illustration.com)

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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.  Expect discussions on shared themes, directors. writers and atmosphere, as we explore what the films say about the time they were made and our fears in the present; including social history, folklore, censorship, and a love of horror in all its forms. New episodes every Sunday.  📸 @thehorrordoublebill 📧 thehorrordoublebill@gmail.com 

Information

  • Creator
    Craig Johnson
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    66
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 The Horror Double Bill
  • Show Website
    The Horror Double Bill