Episode 610: Ganja & Hess (1973)

Special Guests: Sam Waymon, Christopher Sieving
Guest Co-Hosts: Heather Drain, Leon Chase

Heather Drain and Leon Chase join Mike to kick-off Black History Month with a look at Bill Gunn's 1973 film Ganja & Hess which stars Duane Jones as Dr. Hess Green, a scholar who is stabbed with an ancient dagger by a crazed house guest, the husband of Ganja Meda (Marlene Clark). Hess is resurrected and helps Ganja be reborn as well. The two are now addicted to blood in one of the most unusual vampire films around.

Special guests musician Sam Waymon and author Christopher Sieving (Pleading the Blood: Bill Gunn's Ganja & Hess) discuss the behind-the-scenes of Gunn's seminal sophomore film.

Listen/Download Now:

Listen to "Episode 610: Ganja & Hess (1973)" on Spreaker.

Links:
Become a supporter of The Projection Booth
Buy Ganja & Hess on Blu-Ray
Watch Blood Couple on YouTube
Buy Da Sweet Blood of Jesus on DVD
See all fifty feet at Leon's 50 Foot Movie website

Music:
"Ganja & Hess" Soundtrack - Sam Waymon

Watch:

Episode 593: The Hunger (1983)

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.

Listen/Download Now:

Listen to "Episode 593: The Hunger (1983)" on Spreaker.

Links:
Become a supporter of The Projection Booth
Buy The Hunger on Blu-Ray
Buy The Hunger by Whitley Strieber
Visit Whitley Strieber's Unknown Country

Music:
"Bela Lugosi's Dead" - Bauhaus

Watch:

Episode 592: Let the Right One In (2008)

Guest Co-Hosts: Chris Bricklemyer, Kyler Fey

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.

Listen/Download Now:

Listen to "Episode 592: Let the Right One In (2008)" on Spreaker.

Links:
Become a supporter of The Projection Booth
Buy Let the Right One In on Blu-Ray
Buy Let Me In on Blu-Ray
Buy Let the RIght One In by John Ajvide Lindqvist

Music:
"Let the Right One Slip In" - Morrissey
"Let My Love Open the Door" - Pete Townshend

Watch:

Episode 469: Lips of Blood (1973)

Guest Co-Hosts: Samm Deighan, Maitland McDonagh

French Month concludes with a look at Jean Rollin's Lips of Blood (1975). The film stars Jean-Loup Philippe as Frederic, a man who, one night at a party, sees a photograph of a gothic castle that triggers a memory. He suddenly recalls a time when he was young when a young woman gave him shelter for the night. After that he's plagued by visions of her and feels the need to reconnect. Meanwhile, four mysterious women help guide him along the way to this reunion, despite the best efforts of his overbearing mother. Who is the mysterious woman from his past? Why does his mother not want them to meet?

Maitland McDonagh (Broken Mirrors / Broken Minds: The Dark Dreams of Dario Argento) and Samm Deighan (Lost Girls: The Phantasmagorical Cinema of Jean Rollin) join Mike to talk about Rollin, cinemafantastique, and Suck Me, Vampire.

Listen/Download Now:

Listen to "Episode 469: Lips of Blood (1973)" on Spreaker.

Links:
Buy Lips of Vampire on Blu-Ray
Buy Lost Girls: The Phantasmagorical Cinema of Jean Rollin
Learn more about Riverdale Ave. Books

Music:
"Lèvres de Sang" - Demon Vendetta
"The Field Where I Died" - Gloria de Oliveira

Watch:

Episode 387: The Mr. Vampire Series

Guest Co-Hosts: Samm Deighan, El Goro

Released in 1985, the original Mr. Vampire was directed by Ricky Lau and stars Lam Ching Ying as a Taoist priest who battles the forces of evil along with his two inept students. This became a blueprint for dozens of other films -- some of them under the Mr. Vampire moniker and others not. We discuss the “official” Mr. Vampire movies as well as the unofficial entries, some copycat films, and many other jiangshi movies along the way.

Samm Deighan (Daughters of Darkness) and El Goro (Talk Without Rhythm) join Mike to discuss all manner of hopping vampires, beautiful ghosts, bad subtitles, and Taoist magic. Get your sticky rice ready!

Listen/Download Now:

Listen to "Episode 387: Mr. Vampire (1985)" on Spreaker.

Movies Discussed

Movie Title	Chinese Title	Year
Mr. Vampire	Geung si sin sang	1985
Mr. Vampire 2	Jiang shi jia zu: Jiang shi xian sheng xu ji	1986
Mr Vampire 3	Ling huan xian sheng	1987
Mr. Vampire Saga	Jiang shi shu shu	1988
Shy Spirit	Pa xiu gui	1988
Vampire vs. Vampire	Yi mei dao ren	1989
Magic Cop	Qu mo jing cha	1990
The Ultimate Vampire	Jiang shi zhi zun	1991
Crazy Safari	Fei zhou he shang	1991
Mad Mad Ghost	Huang jin dao shi	1992
Mr. Vampire 1992	Xin jiang shi xian sheng	1992
The Musical Vampire	Yin yue jiang shi	1992
Exorcist Master	Qu mo dao zhang	1993
Vampire Expert	Geung Si Dou Cheung	1995
Rigor Mortis	Geung si	2014

Links:
Get an amazing Mr. Vampire t-shirt from Shelf Life clothing
Read Hopping Vampires and the Unibrowed Priest Who Hates Them by Wes Black

Music:
"Mr. Vampire OST Guitar Cover" - TK Viper
"Mr. Vampire" - Glen Porter

Watch:

Episode 175: Planet of the Vampires (1965)

Guest Co-Host: Troy Howarth

We examine this sci-fi classic from Mario Bava, Planet of the Vampires (AKA Terrore nello spazio) along with Troy Howarth, author of The Haunted World of Mario Bava.

Links:
Buy The Haunted World of Mario Bava
Buy Planet of the Vampires on DVD
Buy It! The Terror Beyond Space
Learn more about the Midnight Marquee Press

Listen/Download Episode Now:

Listen to "Episode 175: Planet of the Vampires (1965)" on Spreaker.

Watch:

Episode 161: Jesus Christ Vampire Hunter (2001)

Special Guests: Lee Demarbre & Ian Driscoll

From the director of the Harry Knuckles films, Jesus Christ Vampire Hunter resurrects the Christian messiah in modern day Ottawa to fight a plague of lesbian-hunting blood suckers. May the power of Christ impale you!

Links:
Buy Jesus Christ Vampire Hunter on DVD
Follow Lee Demarbre on YouTube
Read about screenwriter Ian Driscoll Shopping for Pants with Martin Kove

Listen/Download Now:

Listen to "Episode 161: Jesus Christ Vampire Hunter (2001)" on Spreaker.

Watch:

Tainted: The Drunken Commentary

In the fall of 1997, Projection Booth co-host Rob St. Mary co-produced (among other jobs) a low-budget vampire/comedy called Tainted. Troma picked up the film, screened during the 1999 Cannes Film Festival, put it out on VHS and, then, DVD.

But, because of cost (and probably total lack of interest), no commentary track was ever recorded for the DVD.

At the urging of his co-host, Rob has decided to have a few drinks and talk to Mike White about it in real time.

So, sync up your copy, or the YouTube video below, and enjoy.

Music:
"Tainted Love/Where Did Our Love Go?" – Soft Cell
"Theme 3.0" (Re-mixed version of the song written for "Tainted") – Battery

Links:
Buy Tainted on DVD
Read a "decent" review of Tainted
Tainted screened at Cannes 1999 – here's more about that edition of the festival
Watch Troma on E! in Cannes in 1999
Listen to our past episodes on Troma: Big Gus, Terror Firmer, Tromeo & Juliet and The Toxic Avenger
Big Gus, What's the Fuss?
The Toxic Avenger
Terror Firmer
Tromeo & Juliet
Surf Nazis Must Die
Bloodsucking Freaks
Drunk Commentary was inspired by Cannibal: The Musical
Rob was drinking TINCUP American Whiskey during the show
Mike was drinking Gordon's Dry Gin during the show

Listen / Download Now:

Listen to "Special Report: Tainted: The Drunken Commentary" on Spreaker.

Watch:

Episode 122: Near Dark (1987)

Special Guests: Lance Henriksen & Mike Mayo

Kathryn Bigelow's Near Dark is a hybrid vampire film in which "The V Word" is never uttered. We discuss this film, penned by screenwriter Eric Red, and other vampire flicks this episode.

Our special co-host, Edward G. Pettit, is a freelance writer, book reviewer, film presenter, professor and literary provocateur.

Links:
Buy Near Dark on DVD
Buy Lance Henriksen's autobiography Not Bad for a Human
Buy Mike Mayo's The Horror Show Guide: The Ultimate Frightfest of Movies
Listen to our Martin episode
Listen to our The Hitcher episode
Listen to our The Visitor episode
Listen to our Not Bad for a Human bonus show

Listen/Download Now:

Listen to "Episode 122: Near Dark (1987)" on Spreaker.

Watch:

Episode 109: Martin (1978)

Special Guest: Mike Mayo
Guest Co-Host: Edward G. Pettit

George Romero's Martin is a remarkable vampire film made at the high point of Romero's career.

Our special co-host, Edward G. Pettit, is a freelance writer, book reviewer, film presenter, professor and literary provocateur.

Links:
Buy Mike Mayo's The Horror Show Guide: The Ultimate Frightfest of Movies
Buy Martin on DVD

Listen/Download Now:

Listen to "Episode 109: Martin (1978)" on Spreaker.

Watch:

Episode 84: Shadow of a Doubt (1943)

Special Guest: Tania Modleski

One of Hitchcock's favorite films, Shadow of a Doubt stars Joseph Cotten as Uncle Charlie -- the savior of his sister's Santa Rosa family... or is he?

We talk about Shadow of a Doubt and its remakes from Step Down to Terror to The Return of Dracula to the 1991 TV remake (directed by Karen Arthur).

Links:
Listen to Shadow of a Doubt
Buy Shadow of a Doubt on DVD
Buy The Return of Dracula on Blu-Ray
Buy Tania Modleski's The Women Who Knew Too Much
Buy the eBook of The Women Who Knew Too Much
See the making of Shadow of a Doubt and storyboards

Listen/Download Now:

Listen to "Episode 84: Shadow of a Doubt (1943)" on Spreaker.

Listen to a Radio Play Version

Watch

Special Report: Fright Night (1985)

Special Guest: Tom Holland

Extra! Extra! Listen Up! Mike and Mondo Justin bring you a bonus show! The guys discuss the original Fright Night and the new 2011 re-imagining. In addition, Justin chats with writer and director of the 1985 vampire classic -- Tom Holland.

Bill Fulkerson from the Outside The Cinema podcast visits the show to discuss the film(s) as well.

Listen/Download Now:

Listen to "Special Report: Fright Night (1985)" on Spreaker.