London Horror Movie Club

Award-winning comedian and indie horror and comedy actor Cy Henty joins us this month; along with his homunculus! (no that's not a dirty joke!) Join us for a chat about his recent films, his award-winning radio play, a haunted set, what film terrified his grandmother, and that crucial blend of comedy and horror. Video contains strong language and stong puns.

Join the team of Trash Arts Productions, Sam Mason Bell and Jackson Batchelor, for insight into their lives producing, making, and distributing horror films and working with writers and directors from all over England. From favourite films and stories on set to why the industry is still recovering from the 80s, there's something for any horror fan to enjoy.

Writer, Actress, Producer, and Costumer Hannah Paterson joins us to kick off 2024 just before the premiere of "Mosaic" at indie horror festival Horror On Sea. We talk to Hannah about the segment she wrote for "Mosaic", filming in crazy conditions, how she got started in horror, and what cartoon would be the next Horror twist in the wake of Steam Boat Willy.

This month The London Horror Movie Club watched Stanley Kubrick's "A Clockwork Orange" and we talk about how it's aged, the Swinging London vibe, and control in America vs. Britain. But we also have a little holiday fun for you - Chris and I compiled our personal Christmas Horror Movie Top 5 lists! There were surprisingly few cross-overs and a couple surprises on both sides. Let us know what you think and what your top 5 Christmas Horror Movies would be. We are *dying* to know.

Join us this month for an interview with the team that produced, wrote, directed, filmed (and even acted in) the upcoming indie horror short "The Foreboding" - a twist on the classic teens-in-the-woods slasher. We sit done with Peter Tilley, Alex Staunton-Hill, and Kemal Yildirim to talk about their inspirations, the struggles and stories of making an indie film in six months, and the horror films that inspire them.

Get ready to roll up your sleeves and have a good ol' chinwag with the indie horror director/writer and actor, Tom Lee Rutter. In this episode, we're diving headfirst into Tom's quaint and creepy world of filmmaking, career ups and downs, his all-time favorite flicks (prepare for some original choices), what tickles his creative side about horror, and, of course, his latest brainchild, "The Pocket Film of Superstitions."

If you're a fan of indie flicks, horror that's more chuckle than chiller, or just fancy a laugh with a bloke who's got a knack for making weird and wild movies, this is the chat for you. Grab a pint, put your feet up, and join the fun with Tom, courtesy of us at the London Horror Movie Club.

Dive into the world of immersive theatre with Alex and Ryan, the innovative minds behind "Shock Horror." Discover their unique fusion of film and immersive theatre that conjures a spine-tingling ghost story right before your eyes. In this interview, we explore their creative process for crafting scares on stage, their mission to lure a younger audience to the theatre, the films that ignited their imaginations, their personal fears, and what makes horror an enchanting, irresistible genre. Join us as we uncover the secrets of bringing fear to life in a captivating theatrical experience on "The London Horror Movie Club."

Step into the provocative world of indie horror filmmaking with James Edward Newton. Dive into indie cinema's gritty, passionate heart, explore guilty pleasures that fuel creativity, and embrace the rock and punk-inspired aura of his thrilling horror films. Uncover the unsettling and unconventional brilliance behind his latest creation, 'Katernica.' Join us on 'The London Horror Movie Club' for a conversation that will redefine your understanding of artistic horror and the audacious spirit of indie cinema.

Join us for a captivating interview with indie Director of Photography, Andy Boothby, whose lens has captured the essence of chilling tales in films like "Black Lizard Tales" and segments for "Horrorscopes." Together, we unravel the magic that makes horror films so special and discover what fuels Andy's passion for his craft. Prepare for spine-tingling stories from the set, including the harrowing and sometimes humorous moments that come with his job. Including the shoot where Andy came face to face with maggots – it's a tale you'll want to hear to believe. If you're a fan of horror, filmmaking, or simply intrigued by the behind-the-scenes of cinema, this interview is a must-listen. Discover the art and passion that breathe life into the most spine-tingling stories, only on "The London Horror Movie Club".

Don't miss this captivating podcast interview with acclaimed writer, producer, and director Pat Higgins. Dive into his fascinating career, explore his film influences, and get an exclusive sneak peek into his upcoming film "Powertool Cheerleaders VS the Boyband of the Screeching Dead". Tune in now for an amusing conversation that will leave you inspired, laughing and eagerly anticipating Higgins' new horror musical.

Tune in as Chris and Lauren dive into the shocking world of the 1959 horror classic, "Horrors of the Black Museum." We look at the creative murders, the unusual plot, and discuss whether a remake is in order (with obvious changes). Even if you haven't seen it - don't miss out on what the brother-sister team have been watching because Chris has FINALLY seen "The Wicker Man", just in time for it's 50 year anniversary

This month we have on with us British Scream Queen Dani Thompson. She has starred in more than 50 horror movies - including Bad Moon Rising, I Scream on the Beach, Carnivore: Werewolf of London - and has written and produced film and television and has out her own album.

Join Chris, Lauren, and Dani as they about her remarkable career, favourite horror films, ghost hunting, and a surreal experience that inspired one of her films!

In honour of the 4th of July Chris selected an American movie that would be a first watch for Lauren. And he picked one that suits her, because it's all about a horror writer who has gone a bit bonkers. That's right it is the 2004 Stephen King adaptation, Secret Window. Starring Johnny Depp and John Turturro, supported by Timothy Hutton and Maria Bello, it was also written and directed by David Koepp, and includes a musical score by Philip Glass and Geoff Zanelli. In other words, it is as star-studded and talent-filled as a horror movie can get. The film follows Mort, a horror writer who is getting divorced and caught in writer's block wallowing away in a cabin Upstate until a Missouri man names John Shooter shows up to his cabin and insists that Mort stole a story from him. Eerie and Creepy in turn, there is a lot to like about the psychological twists and turns of this film, and it is also quintessentially American, right down to the adorable town with a friendly sheriff.

The London Horror Movie Club pick for this month is the 1982 gory-surreal-science-fiction horror "Xtro". One word to describe it: For Chris "Bananaland" and for Lauren "Bonkers". This British cult classic was written and directed by Harry Bromley Davenport and inspired several sequels thanks to it's trippy atmosphere, special effects and eerie premise. The small cast includes Philip Sayer ("The Hunger") and Bond Girl Maryam d'Abo ("The Living Daylights"; "Dorian Gray").

*Be aware - strong language throughout* We sat down with Indie horror director Dan Brownlie to talk about a decade of making horror films, including "The Tombs" (set in the London Tombs attraction) and the recent documentary "UK Haunters" about the horror attractions of Britain. Be ready for a lot of unusual films, inside stories, and an inside look at his next film.

London Horror Movie Club watches "American Werewolf In London" - the classic comedy horror directed by John Landis and beloved by horror fans and directors. 

A clever, modern werewolf film starring David Naughton, Griffin Dunne, and Jenny Agutter, this is a classic everyone should consider watching once.  Chirs and I explore our favourite moments, imagine a recasting today, and, of course, consider the huge role London has in the film.  And there's even mention of a were-Loch Ness Monster.... :-p

To kick off season three I have a very special guest joining me from America, my brother Chris! We talk about Edgar Wright's remarkable and hilarious "Shaun of the Dead", the Cornetto Trilogy, "American Werewolf in London", London Horror, and why there has yet to be a truly brilliant Jack The Ripper movie.  Sit back, relax (maybe get a pint at the Winchester) and join us for this special episode crammed full of the best London horror cinema has to offer.

Intro/Outro sound design by Curcurbit.

For the final episode of Season 2 we look at a handful of other films where people are trapped in the underground; even if that isn't a main feature of the film.  This includes Godzilla-inspired horror Gorgo, Hammer classic Quatermass and the Pitt,  Tobe Hooper's space-vampire film Lifeforce, and the recent haunted horror Woman In Black II.  All these films draw on the very real-life threat of being trapped on the underground by evoking imagery and the experience of World War II. 

A deep cut of London Horror, "The Deaths of Ian Stone" is a hidden gem for those who loved other popular films of the time like "Constantine" or "Gabriel" but sought a less-religious and more dangerous angel.  Starring Mike Vogel (American Horror Story), Christina Cole (Jane Eyre, Poirot ), and Jamie Murray (Castlevania), the strong cast shines in this slow-burn fantasy in which average man Ian wakes up in the middle of a new life every time he dies, and no one seems to notice.  

In horror a character on the underground can be like a rat in a maze: lost, confounded, and inevitably trapped.  We've seen it in other episodes, but perhaps the most intensely shot example is in John Landis' American Werewolf in London.  This 1981 comedy horror is a classic. It won an academy award for Best Makeup and took home Saturn Awards for Best Horror Film and Best Makeup and it has even been adapted into a radio programme on BBC 1 Radio. Heck, Edgar Wright has sighted it as a major influence on Shaun of the Dead. You probably have seen this movie before, but I encourage you to watch it again, not just because it's an amazing film but because it created one of the most claustrophobic chase scenes in cinematic history where a lone passenger on Tottenham Court Road station tries to outrun the werewolf, and the underground doesn't seem to be on his side.

When does the underground become more than just a way to transport people in a city?  In this week's post-apocalyptic monster movie Reign of Fire (2002), the underground bookends the film as a symbolic space where young Quinn is forced to reckon with his past in the form of a dragon.  Starring Christian Bale and Matthew McConaughey, this is an unusual horror film in some ways but is also a callback to the monster movies of the  1930s and 40s with killer special effects.

Going deeper into the Underground, we go deeper into ourselves.  That is the psychological highlight of Episode 4 where we dig deep into the climactic underground scene in Juan Carlos Fresnadillo's 28 Weeks Later.  A sequel to the Danny Boyle film, 28 Days Later, Fresnadillo's film used pioneering camera techniques and a robust cast (including Robert Carlyle, Imogen Poots, Jeremy Renner, and Rose Byrne) winding their way through London hoping to escape a new outbreak of the Rage virus. For all the thrills in this action-heavy horror, its most intense and horrific moment happens on the platform of Charing Cross Underground.

A lot can happen in just one night.  Especially if that night is spent in the closed London Underground. And that is the premise of this episode's horror film, Christopher Smith's 2004 Creep. Trapped in a closed tube station, Franka Potente (best known for the Borne films) tries to escape while being pursued by a human science experiment living in the depths of the Underground.  A tense thriller gone gory, the film is also a socialist challenge to capitalism, a psychological test of humanity, and a vivid nightmare. 

This month brings Death Line, the twisted tale of cannibals on the London Underground that feed off wayward commuters. But the film does more than pit a monsterous underground dweller against London's students, as writer/director Gary Sherman exposes the monsters that live above as well as below.  Shot in the Old Aldwych Tube station and including horror giants Christopher Lee and Donald Pleasance, this month's horror pick is a cult classic on the London Underground.

Season 2: Terror on the Tube  

In Episode 1 Lauren takes us into Hobb's End where a Martian vessel is discovered just off the station platform in Quatermass and the Pit.  The 1967 Hammer film stars Andrew Keir and Barbara Shelley.  Mixing aliens, ghosts, and World War II, this film launched the Tube network into horror cinema history.

For the final episode of Season One, we watch the 2011 comedy-horror Attack the Block starring Jodie Whittaker and a pre-Star Wars John Boyega. In the film, a group of kids in a council block defend London from nearly-invisible aliens, who arrive hidden by the fireworks of Guy Fawkes night. This film is as much about aliens as it is about London, from the complex social realities of London Council Estates, the lovable and funny characters, and the remarkable shots around Vauxhall and Oval.

From the director of "Shiver". A serial killer stalking victims all over London, but why is he showing you his crimes? A creepy twist on found footage, The Last Horror Movie is a time capsule of what horror was and how it was changing in the early 2000s. It's also pure nostalgia for those of us who grew up renting horror movies.

Winner of three Academy Awards and starring Gary Oldman as Dracula, this is one of the truly underrated Vampire films of our time.  And the best of Francis Ford Coppola's horror films. The film captures Bram Stoker's London - from Bedlam Asylum to the Lumiere Brothers on Regents Street -  while adding a romantic twist to Stoker's famous vampire.  Cast also includes Keanu Reeves, Wynona Rider, and Anthony Hopkins.

From the director of "Texas Chainsaw Massacre" and "Poltergeist" comes the truly unique and visually spectacular London horror "Lifeforce": a tale of spirit-sucking space vampires! Starring an all-star cast including Patrick Stewart, Matilda May, Steve Railsback, and Peter Firth.

"Peeping Tom", for good reasons, is Martin Scorsese's favourite film. Produced in the same year as "Psycho", "Peeping Tom" was a horror film as psychologically disturbing and more controversial, with its scathing comments on film culture and curiosity about what it means to be afraid.

Visit London at its most murderous through 1950s classic "Horrors of the Black Museum", in which a series of murderous devices from Scotland Yard's famous Black Museum seem to escape onto the streets. Starring the amazing Michael Gough, best known today for his role as Alfred in the 1980-90s Batman movies.

Jack the Ripper has been haunting horror films for decades and inspired "The Lodger", a remake of the first horror film Alfred Hitchcock directed (also called "The Lodger").

Dive into 1930s London with the 1935 classic monster movie "Werewolf of London". The first of the romantic werewolf films that many of us know and love today, it also stars Valarie Hobson from "Bride of Frankenstein".