The Monsters That Made Us

Dan Colón and Mike Manzi
  • 4.9 (61)
  • FILM HISTORY
  • UPDATED MONTHLY

Welcome to The Monsters That Made Us! Join “The Invisible Dan" Colón and “Monster Mike" Manzi as they celebrate all of the SPOOKTACULAR characters and films in the Universal Studios Classic Monsters series. 

  1. 12/26/2025

    Dracula (1958)

    It’s time to dust off the ol’ crucifix because “The Invisible Dan” and “Monster Mike” are diving into the film that made Christopher Lee a household name, and may also have established Dracula as a sexy/sad character, rather than just a bloodthirsty monster. That’s right, they’re talking about 1958’s Dracula (aka Horror of Dracula)! Join them as they discuss Hammer’s journey bringing Dracula to the big screen, including whittling the source material down to its bare essentials, the challenges of including so much sex and violence, and the interesting connection Hammer shared with Universal Pictures from inception all the way to the film’s release. If you enjoy this episode, and want to support the show, check out our Patreon!

    1h 41m

  2. 11/28/2025

    The Curse of Frankenstein (1957)

    It’s officially Hammer time! Join “The Invisible Dan” and “Monster Mike” as they dissect the production of Hammer’s first gothic horror film, and cover all the gory details including the fantastic performances from Peter Cushing and Christopher Lee, the film’s notable differences from previous Frankenstein interpretations, Terence Fisher’s creative direction, the brilliant use of color and subsequently amped up violence, and so much more! If you enjoy this episode, and want to support the show, check out our Patreon!

    1h 29m

  3. 10/31/2025

    The Origin of Hammer

    Happy Halloween! “The Invisible Dan” and “Monster Mike” are back with a brand new season of monster goodness! This time, they’re turning the clocks back to the 1930s to examine the humble beginnings of one of the most iconic horror houses in cinema history: Hammer Film Productions. Join them for a short little season 3 primer as they discuss Hammer co-founders William Hinds and Enrique Carreras, the studio’s decline during the war, and how their sons, Anthony Hinds and James Carreras resurrected the Hammer brand, and began production on the sci-fi and horror films which would ultimately become the studio’s bread and butter. If you enjoy this episode, and want to support the show, check out our Patreon!

    27 min

  4. 03/28/2025

    Wolf Man (2025)

    In this episode, “The Invisible Dan” and “Monster Mike” come howling back for one last episode to close out Season 2 of The Monsters That Made Us! Join them as they dig into Leigh Whannell’s reinvention of the Wolf Man, along with all the new mythology and the slam dunk performance from Christopher Abbott (possibly the greatest Wolf Man performance ever?), as well as some its flaws, not limited to the half-baked script, the clunky cast chemistry, the wholesale omission of just about all traditional werewolf lore, and the heavy themes, at times, getting in the way of an otherwise solid practical effects-driven creature feature. If you enjoy this episode, and want to support the show, check out our Patreon!

    1h 27m

  5. 02/28/2025

    Abigail (2024)

    In this episode, “The Invisible Dan” and “Monster Mike” are hunting a ballerina vampire as they discuss 2024’s Abigail! Join them as they dive into all the gory details about the incredible ensemble cast (including plenty of gushing about Dan Stevens), the filmmaking duo Radio Silence and their knack for melding comedy and horror, and why Abigail is a fantastic take on the Dracula’s Daughter concept. If you enjoy this episode, and want to support the show, check out our Patreon!

    2h 6m

  6. 01/31/2025

    The Last Voyage of the Demeter (2024)

    All aboard! In this episode, “The Invisible Dan” and “Monster Mike” set sail for England on the ill-fated merchant ship, Demeter. Join them as they discuss The Last Voyage of the Demeter‘s long road to production, from its conception in the early ’90s through the many personnel changes and script revisions, and finally to its big screen debut. Plus, they dive into the film’s fantastic cast, the challenges of shooting an entire film set at sea, the choice to go super heavy on digital effects as opposed to practical effects, and whether or not the film ultimately plays it a little too safe to offer many real surprises. If you enjoy this episode, and want to support the show, check out our Patreon!

    1h 33m

  7. 12/28/2024

    Renfield (2023)

    In this episode, “The Invisible Dan” and “Monster Mike” dive into Chris McKay’s over-the-top, action-packed horror comedy, Renfield! Join them as they discuss the film’s origins as part of the Dark Universe and its evolution into the film it eventually became, the brilliant performances from Nicholas Hoult and the iconic Nicolas Cage, the jaw-dropping practical makeup effects and stunt work, the occasionally uneasy balance between the film’s horror and comedic elements, and why Renfield is ultimately a fun addition to the Universal Monsters canon. If you enjoy this episode, and want to support the show, check out our Patreon!

    1h 15m

  8. 11/29/2024

    The Invisible Man (2020)

    Exit Alex Kurtzman, enter Jason Blum. In this episode, “The Invisible Dan” and “Monster Mike” dive into Universal’s first theatrical monster movie since the death of the Dark Universe. Join them as they discuss writer/director Leigh Whannell’s bold new vision for the Invisible Man, including shifting the perspective to the victim, the clever camera work, the stunt choreography, changing the invisibility serum to an invisibility suit, and why a smaller, more intimate story–rather than a huge, globetrotting adventure–was exactly the hard reset the Universal Monsters needed. If you enjoy this episode, and want to support the show, check out our Patreon!

    1h 45m
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4.9
out of 5
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About

Welcome to The Monsters That Made Us! Join “The Invisible Dan" Colón and “Monster Mike" Manzi as they celebrate all of the SPOOKTACULAR characters and films in the Universal Studios Classic Monsters series. 

Information

  • Creator
    Dan Colón and Mike Manzi
  • Years Active
    2020 - 2025
  • Episodes
    56
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    ℗ & © 2020 The CageClub Podcast Network
  • Show Website
    The Monsters That Made Us

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