The Bear Cave of Terror

Steve Mowry
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  • FILM REVIEWS
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Spinning off from the Comic Book Bears Podcast: your hairy, heavy, homo host, Steve Mowry, welcomes a different horror fanatic as guest host each week as they both dig their claws into a much-loved scary movie pulled from a variety of sub-genres and franchises - from classic to trashy, spooky to gory, commercial to obscure, and more. Together, they slash into each frightful film to expose its beating heart and delicious marrow, often from a queer perspective, to entice the listener to make it their newest horror obsession, and maybe learn a fun (or terrifying) fact or two along the way!

  1. CBB Presents The Bear Cave of Terror - Ep. 29 - An American Werewolf in London (1981)

    5D AGO

    CBB Presents The Bear Cave of Terror - Ep. 29 - An American Werewolf in London (1981)

    1981 was a good year for genre films, and especially, it turns out, for werewolf movies! Joining Steve in the Bear Cave this week is frequent contributor Craig Lantz, talking about one of the most widely-recognized lycanthropic masterpieces, An American Werewolf in London, written and directed by John Landis. After being known mostly for raucous comedy films like Animal House, Kentucky Fried Movie, and the Blues Brothers, Landis set out to film a horror film in Britain, complete with classic British horror tropes skewed through an American lens, with a lot of humor, heart, and blood-pumping gore that earned the make-up team, led by Rick Baker, the first official Academy Award for Makeup. Stunning practical effects, including a brightly-lit transformation scene, snappy dialogue, and some fun gags, combined to make a modern horror classic that made use of not one, but three versions of Blue Moon! Still referenced and homaged today in all genres, this was an early 80s hit in theaters and on home video and cable that remains a great watch, and an even better scare. Additional Resources for this Episode: "An American Werewolf in London at 40: John LAndis' Creative Peak" by Guy Lodge, 8/21/21, The Guardian "Max Landis' American Werewolf in London Remake Probably Isn't Happening" by Adrienne Tyler, 8/25/19 , screenrant.com "The Story Behind AAWIL" by James White, 9/23/09, Gamesradar.com "15 Facts About AAWIL" by Roger Cormier, 9/12/23, MentalFloss.com "AAWIL: Can John Landis and Rick Baker Top The Howling?" by Jordan R. Fox, Cinefantastique Vol. 11, No. 3, Sept 1981, pp 4-5

    47 min
  2. CBB Presents The Bear Cave of Terror - Ep. 28 - Basket Case (1982)

    FEB 8

    CBB Presents The Bear Cave of Terror - Ep. 28 - Basket Case (1982)

    In this episode, we welcome to the cave for the first time: Mr Chris Cummins! Chris is a fan of the more low-budget, cult, and exploitative sub-genre of horror, and he's brought with him Frank Henenlotter's first major film (and MoMA-celebrated), 1982's Basket Case! A snapshot of New York City in the late 70s/early 80s, at the height of its urban decay, featuring a Times Square with peep shows, XXX cinemas, drugs, and crime, it's also a deeply layered movie about acceptance, found family, trauma, and the search for love and connection...and bloody revenge! We look at the story of conjoined twins, dehumanized and separated by doctors, as they seek out the people who tore them apart, all the while exploring the wild and unique flophouses and cabarets of this singular time and place. Torsos ripped in half, faces torn apart, and a picnic lunch enjoyed at the Statue of Liberty, there's a lot to love in this tale of a boy and his malformed brother-in-a-basket. We talk about Henenlotter's inspirations, the reception from critics and audiences at the time and today, and more! Additional Resources for the episode: "The Museum of Modern Art is Preserving and Restoring Basket Case" by Josh Squires, 3/18/17, Bloody-Disgusting.com "Interview: Keven van Hentenryck, Star of Basket Case" by Jon Towlson, 10/12/12, StarburstMagazine.com "The Basket Case Returns? Interview with Frank Henenlotter" by Matthew Sorrento, 12/22/08, FilmThreat.com "The Latest Midnight Horror" by John Stark, 7/2/82. pg 49, San Francisco Examiner "Basket Case Review" by Variety Staff, 12/31/81, Variety "It Came From the 80s: Belial is a Total Basket Case" by Megan Navarro, 2/11/18, Bloody-Disgusting.com

    53 min
  3. CBB Presents The Bear Cave of Terror - Ep. 27 - Nightbreed (1990)

    FEB 1

    CBB Presents The Bear Cave of Terror - Ep. 27 - Nightbreed (1990)

    After a quick mid-season break, the Bear Cave of Terror is back with another episode that has two guest hosts, Comic Book Bears' Caleb Alexander-McKinzie and wig, makeup, and costuming expert, Jason Estrada (who also happens to be Steve's husband)! The three of us tackle one of our collective favorite horror films, Clive Barker's 1990 film, Nightbreed. The film, originally released in theaters with a studio-led cut that ignored Barker's direction, was eventually re-released in a few different director's cut versions, and the fan-forward Cabal Cut that presents it as closely to the original intention as possible. Different endings and viewpoints aside, this hybrid fantasy and horror film is known for the incredible practical makeup designs that defined the Nightbreed creatures and characters, as well as cleverly presenting Barker's political vision of a community of diverse deviants besieged by the real monsters, the people of "normal' society. With fellow director David Cronenberg also appearing as a psychiatrist with a vicious and bloody secret, the main plot of outsider Boone seeking out the haven of Midian, and his loyal girlfriend following to save and/or join him, only to see the bastion of safety destroyed by marauding townspeople, is one that speaks to a growing cult audience. But even more, the creativity and freedom that went into bringing the Nightbreed to life is a vision rarely realized, especially in the pre-CGI era. Additional Resources for the episode: Tribes of the Moon:Making Nightbreed (2014) produced by Shout! Factory Men, Makeup, and Monsters: Hollywood's Masters of Illusion and FX by Anthony Timpone, 1996, St Martin's Griffin, New York, NY, pp 163-181 Clive Barker's Nightbreed, Vol 1 (1990-93) by Alan Grant, Jim Wagner, Jim Baikie, et al, published by Epic Comics. Nightbreed (2014-15) by Clive Barker and Mark Andreyko, art by Piotr Kowalski et al, published by Boom! Studios

    1 hr
  4. CBB Presents The Bear Cave of Terror - Ep. 26 - Alien (1979)

    JAN 18

    CBB Presents The Bear Cave of Terror - Ep. 26 - Alien (1979)

    On this packed episode of the Bear Cave of Terror, we have another tag-team of guest hosts - returning favorite Bill Zanowitz of the Comic Book Bears, and first-time guest host, Vince Tinebra - to tackle the seminal scifi-horror classic and first chapter in the 45-year franchise, Alien, directed by Ridley Scott and released in 1979! The bears discuss several aspects of what makes this film a favorite - such as the lived-in realism of the full-detailed world of the Nostromo's crew and the practical effects, Sigourney Weaver's groundbreaking and riveting character of Ripley that mixes the "final girl" trope with a badass action hero, the uncomfortable and stunning art/design of HR Giger (you could say it was very "Gigersexual"), and more! Plus, keep an eye out on the Comic Book Bears YouTube channel for another merch-centric Bear Cave of Terror mini-episode, looking at the tie-in toys and games released in '79 to sell this terrifying horror movie to...kids? (And adult collectors, of course!) Additional sources for this episode: "Interview with Bolaji Badejo, 1979" by Frederick S. Clarke and Alan Jones, Cinefantastique vol 9, no. 1, Autumn, 1979 The Beats Within: The Making of Alien (2003) directed by Charles de Lauzirika, produced by 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment Memory: The Origins of Alien (2019) directed by Alexandre O. Phillipe, produced by Exhibit A Pictures, et al "The Hidden Language of ALIEN: Semiotics" by Creative Briefs and Alien Verses / @AlienVerses Sep 30, 2025 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QzSLV2wrjrI

    56 min
  5. CBB Presents The Bear Cave of Terror - Ep. 25 - Event Horizon

    JAN 11

    CBB Presents The Bear Cave of Terror - Ep. 25 - Event Horizon

    On this week's episode of the Bear Cave of Terror, Hauntcub himself, Mr Jay Yospa is back to talk to us about the scifi/cosmic horror classic, Event Horizon, from director Paul W.S. Anderson. Having just celebrated its 25 year anniversary a few years ago, the film has experienced a bit of a resurgence as a cult classic, garnering more fans after its poor showing in cinemas at the 1997 release. Coming at an awkward time for home video, right on the cusp before the DVD revolution, the film didn't get the same comprehensive behind-the-scenes treatment, including archives of cut and deleted scenes or special effects segments that other films got as a matter of course just a year or two after the initial release. Because of that, the fabled "director's cut" footage, or even the extended test screening version, sadly will never be seen. However, the good news is that this film remains a wonderful example of practical effects sequences, incredible set design, intelligently-portrayed characters, and a creeping, oppressive sense of cosmic dread that continues to delight and frighten new and old fans of the genre. So, polish up on your infernal Latin, avoid the eyeless ghost of your deceased wife, and definitely don't piss off the ship, and head on into the cave to hear about 1997's Event Horizon! Additional sources for this episode: "The Oral History of Event Horizon..." by Ralph Jones, inverse.com 8/15/22 "Paul WS Anderson puts an end to Resident Evil" by Scott Marks, San Diego Reader, 1/25/17 "Jason Isaacs says Event Horizon's deleted scenes would be 'definitely illegal' to film now" by Ray Simons, Yahoo Entertainment, 12/8/23 The Making of Event Horizon (2006), directed by Lancelot Narayan, produced by Lipsync Productions and Paramount Home Entertainment.

    48 min
  6. CBB Presents The Bear Cave of Terror - Ep. 24 - Stephen King's Sleepwalkers (1992)

    JAN 4

    CBB Presents The Bear Cave of Terror - Ep. 24 - Stephen King's Sleepwalkers (1992)

    In this week's episode of the BCoT, Steve is joined by Stephen King superfan Ken Creamer to talk about the underrated 90s vampire-adjacent film, Sleepwalkers, directed by Mick Garris. Often overlooked when it comes to the King filmography, he wrote the script to this 1992 horror about incestuous mother and son feline shapeshifters who sustain themselves on the lifeforce of young virgin girls! The son sets his sights on a new victim, but neighborhood kitties, a curious sheriff's department, and super cop cat Clovis won't stand for it. This film was made by a horror fan, and it comes through with cameos from famous directors and King himself, with an eclectic cast, tongue-in-cheek dialogue, and what was then cutting-edge special effects, making it a moderate success on initial release. Terrible movie critic reviews and unfortunate timing close to another King-"inspired" flop, it's only now starting to build a cult fanbase who appreciate the quirky uniqueness of this little 90s horror time capsule. Additional Resources for this episode: In Search of Darkness 1990-94: A Journey into Iconic 90s Horror (2025), directed by David A. Weiner, produced by CreatorVC Post-Morten with Mick Garris (podcast) ep 82 "Ask Mick Anything", 4/1/2020, distributed by the Dread Podcast Network "Sleepwalkers" by Variety Staff, Variety 12/31/91 "Stephen King's Sleepwalkers" by Lawrence French, Cinefantastique April 1992, vol 22 no. 5, pp 20-22

    41 min
  7. CBB Presents The Bear Cave of Terror - Ep. 23 - Scream (1996)

    12/28/2025

    CBB Presents The Bear Cave of Terror - Ep. 23 - Scream (1996)

    In this week's episode, Steve is joined int he Bear Cave by first-time guest host, Ben Raifsnider of the upcoming X-Files podcast, Little Dead Aliens. His horror movie of choice to talk about today is one of his absolute favorites, Wes Craven's Scream from 1996, the first of the long-running (30 years!) franchise, soon to welcome its seventh installment! Since this is the film that got him into horror in the first place, he shares his love of the original by detailing what makes it such an important film to him. Coming along in the mid-90s, Scream hit a nerve with the movie-going public who had become bored with big-screen horror, proving a hit with audiences across multiple demographics, kicking off a revival of sorts for the slasher/teens-in-the-crosshairs genre, as well as inspiring an era of more meta and self-aware horror. Spawning several of its own sequels, and tons of copycats that spilled into cinemas through the early 2000s, it's easy to see why Scream is well-loved. We talk some fun trivia, favorites scenes, Kevin Williamson's contribution to the genre, and why Scream is arguably unique, homaging and using classic slashers, like Psycho and Halloween, as direct inspiration (sometimes down to the characters' names)! Additional resources for this episode: "The Making of Scream: Rose McGowan looks back at filming the horror classic" by Tim Stack, 4/14/11, Entertainment Weekly "The Making of Scream: Jamie Kennedy looks back on filming the horror classic" by Tim Stack, 4/12/11, Entertainment Weekly "Faster, Better, and More Blood: A Scream Oral History" by Ashley Cullins, 10/29/21, TheHollywoodReporter.com Your Favorite Scary Movie: How the Scream Films Rewrote the Rules of Horror by Ashley Cullins, Plume (Penguin Random House), 2025

    43 min
  8. CBB Presents The Bear Cave of Terror - Ep. 22 - Fascination (1980)

    12/21/2025

    CBB Presents The Bear Cave of Terror - Ep. 22 - Fascination (1980)

    We're taking a trip to Belle Epoque-era France for an erotic, bloodsucking horror film with first-time guest host, Sam Lenz, one half of the team from the Screams from the Basement Podcast! We take a look at French auteur, Jean Rollin and his 1980 classic film, Fascination, about a criminal on the run taking refuge in a not-so-abandoned chateau where two strange and sinister chambermaids are waiting for the arrival of their mistress and her followers for a mysterious midnight ritual, all while a gang waits outside the walls to take back what the criminal stole from them. It's bizarre, it's sensual, it's poetic, it's...French! Made by a filmmaker who was sadly under-appreciated during his lifetime and is now starting to see the recognition that eluded him, this atmospheric and tense thriller plays with the viewers expectations, presenting haunting, grisly, or erotic imagery, while teasing the final reveal of the mysterious midnight gathering and the promised bloody end. French comics, shady distribution companies, loud foley work, and more are topics covered in this week's episode! Additional Resources for this episode: "Flesh and Blood: The Cinema of Jean Rollin" by Budd Wilkins 1/28/12, Slantmagazine.com Immoral Tales by Cathal Tohill & Pete Tombs, 1995, published by St. Martin's Griffin, pp 135-176 Eurotika (1999) - episode 1: Vampires and Virgins, directed by Andrew Stark and Pete Tombs, produced by Boum Productions (UK) for Channel 4 Sam can be found at the Screams From the Basement podcast - https://www.screamsfromthebasement.com/

    44 min
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About

Spinning off from the Comic Book Bears Podcast: your hairy, heavy, homo host, Steve Mowry, welcomes a different horror fanatic as guest host each week as they both dig their claws into a much-loved scary movie pulled from a variety of sub-genres and franchises - from classic to trashy, spooky to gory, commercial to obscure, and more. Together, they slash into each frightful film to expose its beating heart and delicious marrow, often from a queer perspective, to entice the listener to make it their newest horror obsession, and maybe learn a fun (or terrifying) fact or two along the way!

Information

  • Creator
    Steve Mowry
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    29
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Stephen T Mowry 2025
  • Show Website
    The Bear Cave of Terror