BLUE SUNSHINE (1977) – Episode 176 – Decades Of Horror 1970s
Decades of Horror | Horror News Radio
Release Date: 11/23/2022
Decades of Horror | Horror News Radio
“You must seize the only specimen of the Mariphasa plant in England in the private laboratory of Dr. Wilfred Glendon. That flower is the only known antidote for werewolfery. Lycanthrophobia is the medical term for the affliction I speak of.” Werewolfery? Lycanthrophobia? Is this an example of lexical innovation? Join this episode’s Grue-Crew – Doc Rotten, Daphne Monary-Ernsdorff, Chad Hunt, Bill Mulligan, and Jeff Mohr – as they stalk the original (1935). Decades of Horror: The Classic Era Episode 206 – Werewolf of London (1935) Join the Crew on the...
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“Billy, they were the biggest things I ever saw, and they had tattoos on them. You know, I may be in love. I might just go right back in there and ask her out on a date.” It’s curious how Deputy Charlie was so enthralled with the biker chick’s big feet. Join your faithful Grue Crew – Crystal Cleveland, Bill Mulligan, Chad Hunt, and Jeff Mohr – as they discover what kind of science fiction, horror movie stars Chuck Norris? The answer? (1982). Decades of Horror 1980s Episode 287 – Silent Rage (1982) Join the Crew on the Gruesome Magazine YouTube channel!...
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“You’re asking me questions, Harry, and I hear you. A scientist cannot afford the indulgence of guilt. And after all, if God doesn’t want me to continue, the means of my disposal are always at his command.” If you want to communicate with God, talking to a snake might be the wrong approach. Join your faithful Grue Crew – Doc Rotten, Bill Mulligan, Chad Hunt, Daphne Monary-Ernsdroff, and Jeff Mohr – as they try their hand at snake wrangling while they finally get the chance to cover (1973). Decades of Horror 1970s Episode 243 – Sssssss (1973) Join the Crew on the...
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“Yes, most distressing, but, alas, inevitably, you can’t have operations without screams. Pain and the knife, they’re inseparable!” But apparently not that distressing as long as some strong blokes are there to hold folks down? Join this episode’s Grue-Crew – Daphne Monary-Ernsdorff, Chad Hunt, Doc Rotten, and Jeff Mohr – as they walk the (1958) with Boris Karloff and Christopher Lee. Decades of Horror: The Classic Era Episode 205 – Corridors of Blood (1958) Join the Crew on the Gruesome Magazine YouTube channel! Subscribe today! And click the alert to get...
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“Now, you said he touched your boobie. What else did he do?” Fixed the TV? Join your faithful Grue Crew – Crystal Cleveland, Bill Mulligan, Chad Hunt, and Jeff Mohr – as they view the bizarre family dynamics and bigoted police detective as portrayed in (1981). Decades of Horror 1980s Episode 286 – Butcher, Baker, Nightmare Maker (1981) Join the Crew on the Gruesome Magazine YouTube channel! Subscribe today! Click the alert to get notified of new content! Gruesome Magazine is partnering with the WICKED HORROR TV CHANNEL () which now includes video episodes of...
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“I know you think I’m crazy, but you must listen to me. You won’t want to believe what I’m telling you here, but you have to.” An ominous warning that no one heeds or even understands. Join your faithful Grue Crew – Bill Mulligan, Chad Hunt, Gregory Crosby, and Jeff Mohr – as they try to decipher the mysterious message from the research station in (1973). Decades of Horror 1970s Episode 242 – A Cold Night’s Death (1973) Join the Crew on the Gruesome Magazine YouTube channel! Subscribe today! And click the alert to get notified of new content! Decades of...
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“Our psycho-controls upset the balance of the neuroglandular system, causing incredible distortions in the skin, hair, and teeth. In this state, the patient cannot be saved.” Again with the glands? Join this episode’s Grue-Crew – Daphne Monary-Ernsdorff, Chad Hunt, Bill Mulligan, and Jeff Mohr – as they make a reservation for a night with a (1961). Decades of Horror: The Classic Era Episode 204 – Werewolf in a Girls’ Dormitory (1961) Join the Crew on the Gruesome Magazine YouTube channel! Subscribe today! And click the alert to get notified of new content! ...
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“Don’t you see? I’m just crazy ’bout this store.” Crazy enthusiastic or crazy deranged? Join your faithful Grue Crew – Crystal Cleveland, Bill Mulligan, Chad Hunt, and Jeff Mohr – as they brave a grocery store in search of its (1989). Decades of Horror 1980s Episode 285 – Intruder (1989) Join the Crew on the Gruesome Magazine YouTube channel! Subscribe today! Click the alert to get notified of new content! Gruesome Magazine is partnering with the WICKED HORROR TV CHANNEL () which now includes video episodes of Decades of Horror 1980s and is available on...
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“Well, they will have to get un-unanimous and un-choose her. Now, I’ve been going on Safari most of my life, and I’ve never taken a woman. And I’m not going to change now, Barney.” Spoken like a true dinosaur of the human variety. Join your faithful Grue Crew – Bill Mulligan, Chad Hunt, Gregory Crosby, and Jeff Mohr – as they discuss (1977), a movie whose title refers to two different kinds of last dinosaurs: one is the man-in-suit Tyrannosaurus Rex variety and one is the obsolete human variety. Decades of Horror 1970s Episode 241 – The Last Dinosaur (1977)...
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“Behold now the behemoth which I made with thee. He moveth his tail like a cedar. Out of his mouth glow burning lamps. And sparks of fire leap out from the behemoth. He maketh the oceans to boil like a pot. His breath kindleth coals and a flame goeth out of his mouth.” Yup. That pretty much covers it. Join this episode’s Grue-Crew – Daphne Monary-Ernsdorff, Chad Hunt, Bill Mulligan, and Jeff Mohr – as they take in some stop motion animation, Willis O’Brien and Pete Peterson style, in (1959). Yay! Decades of Horror: The Classic Era Episode 203 – The Giant...
info_outline“There’s a bald maniac in there, and he’s going bat shit!” Believe it or not, this is an accurate description of several scenes in this movie. Join your faithful Grue Crew – Doc Rotten, Chad Hunt, Bill Mulligan, and Jeff Mohr – as they check out this representative of the 70s LSD-scare hype, Blue Sunshine (1977) from Jeff Lieberman, the director of Squirm (1976).
Decades of Horror 1970s
Episode 176 – Blue Sunshine (1977)
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A bizarre series of murders begins in Los Angeles, where people start going bald and then become homicidal maniacs. But could the blame rest on a particularly dangerous form of LSD called Blue Sunshine that the murderers took ten years before?
- Writer/Director: Jeff Lieberman
- Selected cast:
- Zalman King as Jerry Zipkin
- Deborah Winters as Alicia Sweeney
- Mark Goddard as Edward Flemming
- Robert Walden as David Blume
- Charles Siebert as Detective Clay
- Ann Cooper as Wendy Flemming
- Ray Young as Wayne Mulligan
- Alice Ghostley as O’Malley’s Neighbor
- Stefan Gierasch as Lieutenant Jennings
- Richard Crystal as Frannie Scott
- Bill Adler as Ralphie
- Barbara Quinn as Stephanie
- Adriana Shaw as Barbara O’Malley
- Bill Sorrells as Ritchie Grazzo
- Jeffry Druce as Junkie
- Brion James as Tony
Blue Sunshine is a request from a Grue Believer that has popped on and off the 70s schedule depending on its streaming availability and that of other films on the Grue Crew’s list. At long last, it made it through to the recording schedule as Jeff’s pick for this episode and he is impressed with the surprisingly good cast of actors familiar to TV viewers of the time. He kind of likes the idea of the chromosome-altering, 10-year time bomb included in a designer version of LSD, and the trippy music – highly appropriate for the period and the subject – is to his liking. However, Zalman King’s overboard approach to method acting, though he’s directed to do so as a red herring, is off-putting.
“The longest hour-and-a-half he’s had to sit through” is how Chad describes Blue Sunshine. He didn’t care for the story or the characters and Zalman King’s character’s lack of feeling for personal space is annoying as hell. On the plus side, he is hilariously amused by Ray Young’s portrayal of Wayne (or “Biff,” as Chad calls him) and his final rampage. Bill agrees with Chad on the unlikeability of King’s character calling his performance more like meth-head acting than method acting. He doesn’t buy into the conspiracy presented, but admits, Blue Sunshine is definitely a 70s film. Doc had a great time with Blue Sunshine. The bizarre and quirky lead, Bryon James flapping around, “Biff’s” murder spree, and the crazed bald maniac look are just a few of his trigger trippers in this movie.
Blue Sunshine certainly isn’t for everyone, but if you’re a director Jeff Lieberman (Squirm, 1976) completist or are in the mood for some LSD-fueled political intrigue dressed up as a horror movie, this should fit the bill. At the time of this writing, Blue Sunshine is available to stream from Shudder.
Be sure to check out The Black Saint’s and Doc Rotten’s take on Squirm in Decades of Horror 1970s #6!
Gruesome Magazine’s Decades of Horror 1970s is part of the Decades of Horror two-week rotation with The Classic Era and the 1980s. In two weeks, the next episode in their very flexible schedule, chosen by Bill, will be The Legend of Lizzie Borden (1975), an ABC TV movie of the week starring Elizabeth Montgomery. How does that go? Forty this and forty-one that or something like that?
We want to hear from you – the coolest, grooviest fans: comment on the site or email the Decades of Horror 1970s podcast hosts at [email protected].