Shocktober 2025 spirals into demonic delirium with Juan López Moctezuma's Alucarda (1977). This feverish blast of Mexican Gothic horror follows Justine (Susana Kamini), a sheltered orphan who finds herself drawn to the wild, otherworldly Alucarda (Tina Romero) within the stone walls of a convent that’s anything but holy. What begins as innocent friendship erupts into a blood-soaked storm of possession, blasphemy, and ecstatic madness.
Ryan Luis Rodriguez and Mark Begley join Mike to dissect Moctezuma’s infernal masterpiece — its ties to Jodorowsky’s surrealism, its place in the “nunsploitation” subgenre, and its bold feminist undercurrents that still scorch the screen nearly fifty years later.
Special Guest: Barbara Creed Guest Co-Hosts: Suzen Tekla Kruglnska, Beth Accomando
Shocktober 2025 sinks its teeth into Raw (2016), Julia Ducournau’s visceral coming-of-age horror. Garance Marillier stars as Justine, a sheltered vegetarian entering veterinary school, where a brutal hazing ritual ignites her taste for flesh—both animal and human.
Co-hosts Suzen Tekla Kruglnska and Beth Accomando join Mike to explore Ducournau’s blend of body horror and female awakening, peeling back the film’s layers of appetite, identity, and transgression. Special guest Barbara Creed, author of The Monstrous-Feminine, offers insight into how Raw redefines the monstrous body for a new generation.
Shocktober continues with Marina de Van’s unnerving and unforgettable In My Skin (Dans ma peau, 2002). Written, directed by, and starring de Van, the film follows Esther, a successful marketing executive whose accidental leg injury opens a darkly intimate portal to obsession and self-discovery. As she becomes fixated on her own wound, Esther’s relationship with her body—and reality itself—begins to unravel in a visceral exploration of autonomy, alienation, and flesh as frontier.
Axel Kohagen and Ben Buckingham join Mike for a deep dive into de Van’s fearless vision, its connection to the New French Extremity, and the uneasy beauty found beneath the skin.
#Shocktober2024 wraps up with a double dose of horror and weird science, diving into The Incredible 2-Headed Transplant (1971), a pick from Patreon donor James Brummel. No, it’s not the two-headed flick with Rosie Greer or the one from Japan -- this is Bruce Dern’s wild ride as a mad scientist, melding the body of a manchild with the head of a deranged killer in the ultimate “transplant gone wrong.”
Tim and Agatha Luz of CinemaSpection join Mike to break down this two-headed cult classic and explore the world of other split-brained cinema (The Manster, The Thing with Two Heads).
Mike, Dr. Nicholas Schlegel, and Heather Drain bring the eerie vibe of #Shocktober2024 to new heights with a Patreon request from Kyler Fey: The Bell from Hell. This sinister 1973 gem by Claudio Guerín, written by Santiago Moncada, follows John (Renaud Verley), fresh from the asylum after a stay orchestrated by his aunt, Marta (Viveca Lindfors), and her three daughters. Now he’s back—and his intentions? Is he a prankster with a wicked sense of humor, or is he dead-set on revenge?
Special Guest: Amy Hesketh Guest Co-Hosts: Chris Stachiw, Father Malone
Shocktober continues with a Patreon request as we discuss the 2022 horror film Rucker which follows Leif Rucker (Bobby C. King), a seemingly ordinary long-haul trucker who has been serially killing women resembling his ex-wife for 30 years. The narrative takes a turn when Maggie (Cheyenna Lee), a young filmmaker making a documentary about truckers, becomes privy to Rucker's deadly secret and chooses to document his crimes.
Father Malone and Chris Stachiw join Mike to discuss the film, alongside an interview with director Amy Hesketh.
Special Guests: Whitley Strieber, Michael Thomas Guest Co-Hosts: Christine Makepeace, Kat Ellinger
We conclude #Shocktober2022 with a look at Tony Scott's The Hunger (1983). Based on the book by Whitley Strieber, the film stars Catherine Deneuve as Miriam, a being that’s lived thousands of years. When we meet her, her companion John (David Bowie) has been with her for a few hundred years and suddenly starts to age. There’s maybe one person in the world that might be able to help. Dr. Sarah Roberts (Susan Sarandon). She won’t save John but she’ll definitely spend a little time with Miriam…
Christine Makepeace and Kat Ellinger join Mike to discuss the film. Interviews include author Whitley Strieber and screenwriter Michael Thomas.
Shocktober 2022 continues with a look at Tomas Alfredson's Let the Right One In (2008). Based on the book and adapted by John Ajvide Lindqvist, it’s the story of Oskar (Kåre Hedebrant), a young boy who’s being picked on at school. When a vampire, Eli (Lina Leandersson), and her helper move into the apartment next door, things change for young Oskar.
Kyler Fey and Chris Bricklemyer join Mike to discuss this unusual vampire film as well as its American remake.
Special Guests: Gaylen Ross, John Amplas, Jon Towlson Guest Co-Hosts: Jamie Russell, Father Malone
We’re continuing #Shocktober2022 with an episode on George Romero’s Dawn of the Dead Released in 1978, the film is a stalwart of the zombie film pantheon. Ostensibly picking up after the events of Night of the Living Dead, the film stars Gaylen Ross as Francine, one of a handful of people trying to survive the zombie apocalypse. She and the others find refuge in a mall where they rebuild a facsimile of contemporary American society.
Special Guest: Tom Kalin Guest Co-Hosts: Dahlia Schweitzer, Chris Stachiw
We are kicking off Shocktober 2022 with a look at Cindy Sherman's Office Killer. Released in 1997 the film stars Carol Kane as Dorine Douglas, a mousy proofreader at a magazine that’s downsizing. After accidentally electrocuting the office lech, Dorine begins recreating her office life at home with her overbearing mother.
Special Guests: Joseph Aisenberg, Nancy Allen, William Katt, Piper Laurie, Joe Maddrey Guest Co-Hosts: Jamey Duvall, Keith Gordon
We’re wrapping up #Shocktober 2021 with a look at Brian De Palma's Carrie (1976). Based on the novel by Stephen King, the film stars Sissy Spacek as the titular Carrie White. She’s a young woman who’s lived under her mother’s thumb and religious fervor. When she experiences her first period, she also experiences a new ability to move objects with her mind.
Shocktober 2021 continues with a look at Jack Gold’s The Medusa Touch (1978). It’s the story of John Morlar (Richard Burton) a man with a special gift who is "murdered" in the first few minutes of the film. It then becomes an investigation by Detective Brunel (Lino Ventura ) who tries to learn more about Morlar, who murdered him, and why.
Agatha Luz and Jeff Meyers join Mike to discuss psychic films, "dogs" of 1978, and more.
Special Guest: Jacqueline Bisset Guest Co-Hosts: Rahne Alexander, Andrew Nette
#Shocktober2021 continues with a look at Paul Wendkos’s The Mephisto Waltz (1971). Based on the novel by Fred Mustard Stewart, the film stars Alan Alda as Myles Clarkson, a pianist turned author along with Jacqueline Bisset as Myles’s wife Paula who isn’t a big fan of Myles’s new friend, the crotchety professional pianist Duncan Ely (Curd Jürgens), who harbors a dark secret.
Rahne Alexander and Andrew Nette join Mike to discuss the film, its similarities to Rosemary's Baby, and how this and other supernatural flicks paved the way to the '80s "satanic panic".
#Shocktober2021 continues with a look at Álex de la Iglesia’s 2013 film Witching & Bitching (AKA Las brujas de Zugarramurdi). It’s the story of two men (Hugo Silva and Mario Cassas) who rob a gold re-buyer along with one of the men’s sons. On the run from the cops they cross paths with a trio of witches in the spooky village of Zagurramurdi. Chaos ensues.
Elena Romea (Spanish Fear) and Andrew Leavold (Trash Video Archives) join Mike to discuss this and many other of de la Iglesia's films.
Special Guests: Michael Barrie, Gary D. Rhodes Guest Co-Hosts: Fredde Duke, Richard Whitley, Jamie Klein
We are kicking off Shocktober 2021 with a look at William Beaudine’s Bela Lugosi Meets a Brooklyn Gorilla (1952) which stars Bela Lugosi (as you may have guessed) as well as comedy duo Sammy Petrillo and Duke Mitchell. They’re a knock-off Martin & Lewis team and they’re found on a little island in the Pacific that is populated by stock footage of African animals.
Rich Whitley, Jamie Klein, and Fredde Duke join Mike to discuss the film as well as Fredde's documentary about her father, producer Maurice Duke, Fuck 'Em. Screenwriter Michael Barrie also stops by as well.
Special Guests: Cindy Hinds, Stephen Bissette Guest Co-Hosts: Samm Deighan, Mark Begley
On this special episode of The Projection Booth we're looking at David Cronenberg's The Brood (1979). It's the story of the Carveth family and how the sins of the past visit the children of the next generation. Frank Carveth (Art Hindle) and his wife Nola (Samantha Eggar) have separated. She’s under the care of Dr. Hal Raglan (Oliver Reed). He's the head of the Somafree clinic and has mastered the art of psychoplasmics where negative thoughts and feelings are manifested physically.
Samm Deighan and Mark Begley join Mike to discuss the film. This is the second part of a two-part conversation about Cronenberg’s early features. You can hear the first part via Mark’s podcast, Wake Up Heavy.
Interviews: 1:09:00 - Cindy Hinds discusses her work on The Brood.
Music:
"Escape from Motel Hell" - Brad Fiedel
"Clap for the Wolfman" - The Guess Who
"You're Eatin Out My Heart And Soul" - Kregg Nance
"Eating My Heart Out" - Mitchell Torok
"Timothy" - Buoys
Special Guest: James Gracey Guest Co-Hosts: Kat Ellinger, Heather Drain
#Shocktober2020 continues with a look at Neil Jordan's The Company of Wolves (1984). It's a melange of tales based on the writings of Angela Carter which intertwine and layer upon one another. At the heart is a re-telling of the Little Red Riding Hood tale but there's much more than that.
Kat Ellinger and Heather Drain join Mike to discuss the film and women's burgeoning sexuality. This episode features an interview with James Gracey, author of the Devil's Advocates book about The Company of Wolves.
Special Guest: Charles Haid Guest Co-Hosts: Samm Deighan, Tim Luz
On this special episode we’re looking at Clive Barker's Nightbreed (1990). It’s the story of Aaron Boone (Craig Scheffer) who dreams of a place called Midian, an underground world of monsters. His psychiatrist, Doctor Decker (David Cronenberg) also wants to go there but to destroy all the monster life.
Tim Luz and Samm Deighan join Mike to look at the various cuts of the film and its storied history. Actor Charles Haid talks about his role as Captain Eigerman (as well as his role in the pilot episode of Barney Miller.
Special Guest: Orçun Behram Guest Co-Hosts: David Rodgers, Mark Begley
On this special episode of The Projection Booth we're looking at the 2019 film from director Orçun Behram, The Antenna. The film stars Ihsan Önal as Mehnet, a overseer of an apartment building in Turkey. We begin the film on the day when a new satellite dish is being installed that is part of a new era for the country where the government can now broadcast directly to its citizens’ televisions. Let’s just say that this isn’t the utopia that was promised.
David Rodgers and Mark Begley join Mike to discuss the the film which will play in select theaters starting October 2, 2020 and on VOD starting October 20, 2020.
Guest Co-Hosts: Mark Begley, Ryan Luis Rodriguez
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