
35 episodes

The Monsters That Made Us Dan Colón and Mike Manzi
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- TV & Film
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5.0 • 36 Ratings
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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.
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The Mummy (1999)
It’s time for more mummy action as “The Invisible Dan” and “Monster Mike” discuss one of the biggest films of 1999! Join them as they dive into the 10+ years of The Mummy‘s development, including the various concepts from some well-known horror icons, plus some alternate casting choices, the genius blend of traditional practical effects with state-of-the-art digital effects, the similarities and differences between this film and its 1932 counterpart, and how The Mummy reinforces the idea that the Universal Monsters can truly be made to suit any genre.
If you enjoy this episode, and want to support the show, check out our Patreon! -
Dracula (1979)
“The Invisible Dan” and “Monster Mike” have returned from the grave to talk more Universal Monsters! Join them as they sink their teeth into 1979’s Dracula, starring Frank Langella, Laurence Olivier and Donald Pleasance! They revisit the original play, which served as the basis for this film, much like Tod Browning’s original film, and discuss how the two films compare, plus Frank Langella’s unique approach to the title role, Donald Pleasance’s scene-stealing techniques, the incredible practical effects, the wasted Renfield, the influences this film may have had on a certain other Dracula film, and so much more!
If you enjoy this episode, and want to support the show, check out our Patreon! -
The Creature Walks Among Us (1956)
In the season 1 finale, we’re heading back to the Sunshine State for one last Gill-man adventure! Join “The Invisible Dan” and “Monster Mike” as they discuss the new Gill-man suit (and his clothes!), why so much of the underwater footage looks familiar, and why, despite a script that’s padded with a lot of science talk, philosophical nature vs nurture stuff, too many doctors, and a superfluous love triangle (or square?), the Gill-man still makes The Creature Walks Among Us a worthwhile adventure.
If you enjoy this episode, and want to support the show, check out our Patreon! -
Abbott and Costello Meet the Mummy (1955)
We interrupt your regularly scheduled Gill-Man mayhem to bring you Abbott and Costello’s final monster movie! Join “The Invisible Dan” and “Monster Mike” as they dive back into the the world of horror comedy for the iconic comedy team’s encounter with the mummy! They talk about Marie Windsor’s electrifying performance, the multitude of Batman connections in the cast, the incredible dance troupes showcased in this one, and why, unfortunately, none of it really makes up for all the stale jokes and that horrible mummy suit.
If you enjoy this episode, and want to support the show, check out our Patreon! -
Revenge of the Creature (1955)
Remember to pack plenty of sunscreen because “The Invisible Dan” and “Monster Mike” are heading down to the Ocean Harbor Oceanarium in sunny Florida to check out their latest attraction: the Gill-Man! Join them as they discuss more similarities to King Kong and Jaws, shooting entirely in Florida, the changes to the Gill-Man suit, the new Gill-Man actor, why Helen Dobson ranks among the best of the Universal Monsters heroines, and a certain Hollywood icon who made their first film appearance in Revenge of the Creature!
If you enjoy this episode, and want to support the show, check out our Patreon! -
Creature from the Black Lagoon (1954)
All aboard! In this episode, “The Invisible Dan” and “Monster Mike” cruise deep into the Amazon in search of a creature which may bridge the evolutionary gap between man and fish! Join them as they discuss the Gill-man’s painstaking design process, the narrative similarities to King Kong, the breathtaking underwater photography, and why Creature from the Black Lagoon is unquestionably one of the all-time great monster movies.
Check out the original Gill-man test suit here!
If you enjoy this episode, and want to support the show, check out our Patreon!
Customer Reviews
Fun podcast about the classic Universal monsters!
I unfortunately did not discover the Universal Monster films until this October. I have always loved older films from the 30s-50s but had never seen the original monster films like Dracula and Frankenstein. I started with The Wolf Man (1941) and was hooked after that. I especially became very interested in the tragic character of Lon Chaney Jr.’s Larry Talbot, which led to watching the remainder of the Wolf Man legacy films. I haven’t seen all of the classic monster movies yet but each one I have seen so far has been so interesting and special, and something I wish I had discovered sooner! I really wanted to learn more about the movies and characters so I went on the search for podcasts, hoping to find someone that discussed them. That’s when I found The Monsters that Made Us and it became my favorite show to listen to in the car! Dan and Mike are very easy to listen to and they do a great job covering the films, giving information about the making of them and sharing their love for these characters. It was exactly what I was looking for and I’m very glad to have found it! I have already listened to all of their existing episodes on the films I have watched so now I’m planning to catch up on those they’ve covered that I haven’t seen yet. Great show!!
Great in depth podcast for horror fans
I can’t say enough about this one. The hosts do a deep dive on the classic Universal Studios monster movies, one at a time, and it’s so entertaining listening to them mix scholarship and research with a genuine love of these movies, and appreciation for those who made them. It’s about as solid a horror podcast as I’ve found.
Amazing, very informative!
I had been looking for a podcast that covers all the classic monster movies before I discovered this podcast, and I have to say that it’s one of the best I’ve listened to!