Scream Scene Podcast

Your deadicated hosts travel to Mexico to introduce you to LA MARCA DEL MUERTO (1961, Cortés), a gothic sci-fi horror flick that stars leading man Fernando Casanova in dual roles! The film also stars Sonia Furió and features cinematography by José Ortiz Ramos. Context setting 00:00; Synopsis 16:06; Discussion 24:52; Ranking 38:46

These teens are being hunted! Can they survive... the hunter's BLOODLUST?! We find out in this 1961 adaptation of Richard Connell's THE MOST DANGEROUS GAME, from writer/producer/director Ralph Brooke. The film stars Wilton Graff, Robert Reed, June Kenney and Gene Persson. Context setting 00:00; Synopsis 26:40; Discussion 37:44; Ranking 49:34

Mix witches with vague voodoo and you get THE DEVIL'S HAND (1961) from director William J. Hole Jr. Starring Linda Christian, Robert Alda, Ariadna Welter and Neil Hamilton, even a competent cast can't save this picture. Yet, there might be something worthwhile pulling the film in certain directions... maybe? Context setting 00:00; Synopsis 19:30; Discussion 30:32; 52:54

Roger Corman tasks Richard Matheson with expanding Edgar Allan Poe's short story "The Pit and the Pendulum" into a feature length film... do they succeed?? Vincent Price, John Kerr, Barbara Steele and Luana Anders star in PIT AND THE PENDULUM (1961, Corman)! Context setting 00:00; Synopsis 31:56; Discussion 41:51; Ranking 1:13:41

Like a snake eating its own tail, William Castle presents HOMICIDAL (1961), his take on Hitchcock's PSYCHO (1960), which was Hitchcock's take on Castle's gimmick approach to horror! With twists and turns throughout the movie, your deadicated hosts do their best to avoid spoilers until the synopsis. Context setting 00:00; Synopsis 21:24; Discussion 40:18; Ranking 1:40:20 And to be completely clear, trans rights are human rights!

Would you still love me if I was a mermaid? With that as the central question, your hosts tackle NIGHT TIDE (1961) from writer/director Curtis Harrington! The film takes inspiration from William Hope Hodgson and Edgar Allan Poe, and stars Dennis Hopper, Linda Lawson and Gavin Muir. Context setting 00:00; Synopsis 36:30; Discussion 48:34; Ranking 1:20:26

A female-led psychological horror movie in black and white? What is this, 1940's RKO? Nope, it's the latest from Hammer Film! Director Seth Holt takes on Jimmy Sangster's gothic thriller script for TASTE OF FEAR (1961) and magic is truly made! The film stars Susan Strasberg, Ronald Lewis, Ann Todd and Christopher Lee. Context setting 00:00; Synopsis 23:46; Discussion 35:54; Ranking 1:07:08

Your hosts travel to Nevada for THE BEAST OF YUCCA FLATS (1961), directed by Coleman Francis and starring Tor Johnson! But does this indie horror land more towards Ed Wood charm or W. Lee Wilder incompetence? While we decide, we share facts about the Nevada Test Site, nuclear experiments and John Wayne's 1956 film THE CONQUEROR. Context setting 00:00; Synopsis 27:20; Discussion 35:42; Ranking 45:08

If your beloved pet cat witnessed your murder... would it take revenge on your behalf? In THE SHADOW OF THE CAT (1961), the answer is YES! This latest entry from Hammer Productions is directed by John Gilling and stars Andre Morell, Barbara Shelley, William Lucas and Bunkie as Tabitha the cat! Context setting 00:00; Synopsis 10:44; Discussion 18:00; Ranking 32:40

At last, your deadicated hosts make it to the first werewolf picture in colour: it's THE CURSE OF THE WEREWOLF (1961) from Terence Fisher! Starring Oliver Reed and adapting Guy Endore's THE WEREWOLF OF PARIS (1933), how does the film's lycanthropy stack up against the tried-and-true formula in past iterations? Context setting 00:00; Synopsis 44:28; Discussion 58:14; Ranking 1:25:52