The Horror Double Bill

Craig Johnson
  • 5.0 (1)
  • Film Reviews

Welcome to The Horror Double Bill, the podcast where each week we pair two movies to create something greater than the sum of their parts.  Expect discussions on shared themes, directors, actors, writers and atmosphere, as we explore what the films say about the time they were made and our fears today. New episodes every Sunday.  📸 @thehorrordoublebill 📧 thehorrordoublebill@gmail.com 

  1. 6d ago

    Episode 69: Absolution (1978) & Alice, Sweet Alice aka Communion (1976)

    Welcome to episode 69 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 off to confession and then communion, with two films that explore murder and mayhem within the Catholic Church. First up, we have Absolution from 1978, directed by Anthony Page. This stars Richard Burton, Dominic Guard, Dai Bradley and Billy Connolly. And then we follow this with Alice, Sweet Alice from 1976, also known under the alternate titles of Communion and Holy Terror. Directed by Alfred Sole, this stars Paula Sheppard, Linda Miller, Mildred Clinton and features a very early screen appearance from Brooke Shields. Along the way, we’ll be taking a fairly long look at the life and career of Richard Burton, and even then, we are still only scratching the surface. We’ll also be discussing acrimony between writer Anthony Shaffer and film director Anthony Page, porno chic in the 1970s, and much, much more. Recommendations Under Milk Wood: https://youtu.be/im7ICMh0h9M?si=FGPWYZqE965o2QLY Kes (1969) Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolfe? (1966) References So, What Did You Expect? By Anthony Shaffer Absolution (interviews and special features) Blu-ray from 88 Films The Richard Burton Diaries (Yale University Press) Darkside Magazine (issue 251) In from the Cold: A Portrait of Richard Burton:  https://youtu.be/DbyjVWDzjeE?si=-YnwycBp33l1N3aG https://www.thetimes.com/culture/film/article/richard-burton-his-forgotten-thriller-and-my-extraordinary-scriptwriter-dad-w72hjbz5b Unholy Communion: Alice, Sweet Alice from Script to Screen by Troy Howarth Twisted Visions: Interviews with Cult Horror Directors by Matthew Edwards House of Psychotic Women by Kier-La Janisse Nightmare USA by Stephen Thrower Evil Seeds, edited by Vanessa Morgan. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alice,_Sweet_Alice https://www.avclub.com/brooke-shields-on-the-middle-jim-henson-and-bar-crawl-1798234346 https://trainwreckdsociety.com/2018/03/14/alfred-sole-interview/ https://halloweenlove.com/the-strange-sad-saga-of-alphonso-denoble/ https://becomingrichardburton.museum.wales/personal-life https://herald.wales/national-news/entertainment/the-extraordinary-life-of-richard-burton/ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Burton     Instagram: @thehorrordoublebill email: thehorrordoublebill@gmail.com youtube: @thehorrordoublebill artwork by Justin Parker (IG jpkr_illustration.com)

  2. Oct 17

    Episode 68: The Abominable Snowman (1957) & The Mothman Prophecies (2002)

    Welcome to episode 68 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 world of cryptozoology, with two films about mythical creatures, which might not be mythical at all. First up, we have The Abominable Snowman from 1957 and Hammer Studios. This was directed by Val Guest and stars Peter Cushing, Forrest Tucker, Maureen Connell, Richard Wattis and Michael Brill. Then we follow this with The Mothman Prophecies from 2002 and director Mark Pellington. This stars Richard Gere, Laura Linney, Will Patton and Alan Bates. Along the way, we will be discussing the mythology of and media fascination with the Yeti, the early career of Peter Cushing, the legends of the Mothman of Point Pleasant, and much much more. Recommendations The Strange World of Planet X (1958) References Little Shoppe of Horrors magazine issue 53 The House That Hammer Built, Volume 3: 1955–1958 by Wayne Kinsey Hammer Films: An Exhaustive Filmography by Tom Johnson and Deborah Del Vecchio https://cryptozoologicalreferencelibrary.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/capper-2012.pdf The Abominable Snowman (blu ray interviews and extras) – Hammer Films The Mothman Prophecies by John Keel The Mothman Prophecies (blu ray interviews and extras) – Imprint Films https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Abominable_Snowman_(film) https://www.springfieldspringfield.co.uk/movie_script.php?movie=abominable-snowman-the https://www.everest1921.com/ https://junkyard.blog/2022/10/30/a-history-of-yeti-sightings/ https://bloody-disgusting.com/editorials/3763647/dear-fellow-remembering-peter-cushing-on-the-late-horror-legends-110th-birthday/ https://vanguardofhollywood.com/star-of-the-month-peter-cushing/ https://www.britishtelevisiondrama.org.uk/?p=1141 https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2002-jan-23-et-munoz23-story.html Cinefantastique Magazine volume 34, issue 2 https://www.darkhorizons.com/richard-gere-for-the-mothman-prophecies https://www.forteanarchives.org/datasheets-1966-1967/ https://themothman.fandom.com/wiki/Point_Pleasant_Interview_With_Actor_Will_Patton https://cinema.com/articles/768/mothman-prophecies-the-production-information.phtml https://www.money-into-light.com/2017/03/an-interview-with-mark-pellington-part_18.html?m=1 https://www.moviemaker.com/first-impressions-2/ https://www.productiondesignerscollective.org/  https://wvpress.org/copydesk/wv-press-videos/festival-co-founders-mothman-diner-ready/ Instagram: @thehorrordoublebill email: thehorrordoublebill@gmail.com youtube: @thehorrordoublebill artwork by Justin Parker (IG jpkr_illustration.com)

  3. Oct 10

    Episode 67: Dead Man's Shoes (2004) & Mandy (2018)

    Welcome to episode 67 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 revenge, with one film that is grounded firmly in reality and another which takes its tale of retribution deep into psychedelia First up we have Dead Man’s Shoes from 2004 and director Shane Meadows. This stars Paddy Considine, Toby Kebbell, Gary Stretch and Stuart Wolfenden. Then we follow this with Mandy, from 2018 and director Panos Cosmatos. This stars Nicolas Cage, Linus Roache, Andrea Riseborough and Bill Duke. Along the way, we will be discussing the career of director Shane Meadows, the birth of Warp Films, the real life violence that inspired Dead Mans Shoes, the creation of production company Spectre Vision and much much more Recommendations A Room for Romeo Brass (1999) This is England (2006) This is England 86/88/90 (TV series) Close Your Eyes aka Dr Sleep (2002) The Boy (2015) Cassie Workman is Witchy AF : https://youtu.be/Cy4O98LvVXI?si=vOkdUP2o20huyHpF References Dead Man’s Shoes (Second Sight blu ray) Interviews, commentaries and extras  Shane Meadows: Critical Essays, edited by Martin Fradley, Sarah Godfrey and Melanie Williams https://www.shanemeadows.com/deadmans.html https://youtu.be/j1MoiQ19k94?si=W8qRxkHbrF-wriF9 https://youtu.be/CdVaKF0KwD0?si=ZTWY3fFB7xBG00KH https://www.esquireme.com/culture/27178-what-ive-learned-paddy-considine https://www.theguardian.com/film/2022/apr/12/paddy-considine-interview-music-is-what-i-love https://www.port-magazine.com/film/warp-films-10-interview-with-mark-herbert/ https://www.theguardian.com/film/2019/may/05/shane-meadows-interview-the-virtues-stephen-graham-trauma https://www.theguardian.com/film/2004/aug/15/features.review1 https://www.lazaruscorporation.co.uk/articles/shane-meadows https://seensome.com/feature/interview-with-shane-meadows-writer-director-of-dead-mans-shoes/ https://www.jigsawlounge.co.uk/film/shanemeadowsinterview.html https://www.jigsawlounge.co.uk/film/tobykebbellinterview.html https://boxingnewsonline.net/news/lights-camera-action-in-going-from-fighting-to-films-gary-stretch-lived-the-post-boxing-dream/ https://www.flicks.com.au/features/interview-how-mandy-director-panos-cosmatos-turned-a-dream-about-nic-cage-into-one-of-the-years-weirdest-films-e2-80-a8/ https://mubi.com/de/notebook/posts/brutal-finality-panos-cosmatos-discusses-mandy https://www.theskinny.co.uk/film/interviews/panos-cosmatos-on-mandy?amp https://www.rogerebert.com/interviews/panos-cosmatos-on-crating-his-heavy-metal-valentine-mandy https://www.rogerebert.com/interviews/panos-cosmatos-on-crating-his-heavy-metal-valentine-mandy https://www.thewrap.com/office-with-a-view-spectrevision-partners-elijah-wood-daniel-noah-lawrence-inglee/ https://303magazine.com/?post_type=post&p=149607 https://theasc.com/article/mandy-edge-of-darkness/ https://www.moviemaker.com/eye-piece-mandy-dp-benjamin-loeb/ https://deadline.com/2018/01/andrea-riseborough-sundance-mandy-nancy-death-of-stalin-1202245439/ https://www.forbes.com/sites/simonthompson/2018/09/15/nicolas-cage-talks-mandy-and-wanting-to-work-with-blumhouse-and-tarantino/ https://www.writeyourscreenplay.com/blog/2018/12/03/mandy-an-interview-with-linus-roache/ https://vehlinggo.com/2020/12/22/linus-roache-jeremiah-sand-interview/amp/ https://leftlion.co.uk/features/2004/09/shane-meadows-the-dead-mans-shoes-interview/ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dead_Man%27s_Shoes_(2004_film) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mandy_(2018_film) https://assets.scriptslug.com/live/pdf/scripts/mandy-2018.pdf Instagram: @thehorrordoublebill email: thehorrordoublebill@gmail.com youtube: @thehorrordoublebill artwork by Justin Parker (IG jpkr_illustration.com)

  4. Oct 3

    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)

  5. 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)

  6. 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)

  7. 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)

  8. 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)

See All (69)

Ratings & Reviews

About

Welcome to The Horror Double Bill, the podcast where each week we pair two movies to create something greater than the sum of their parts.  Expect discussions on shared themes, directors, actors, writers and atmosphere, as we explore what the films say about the time they were made and our fears today. New episodes every Sunday.  📸 @thehorrordoublebill 📧 thehorrordoublebill@gmail.com 

Information

  • Creator
    Craig Johnson
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    69
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 The Horror Double Bill
  • Show Website
    The Horror Double Bill

You Might Also Like