THE SPIRAL STAIRCASE (1946) – Episode 197 – Decades of Horror: The Classic Era
Decades of Horror | Horror News Radio
Release Date: 02/22/2025
HENRY: PORTRAIT OF A SERIAL KILLER (1986) – Episode 298 – Decades of Horror 1980s
Decades of Horror | Horror News Radio
“Yeah. I killed my mama. One night – it was my 14th birthday – she was drunk, and we had an argument. She hit me with a whiskey bottle. I shot her. I shot her dead.” “I thought you said you stabbed her.” “Oh yeah. That’s right. I stabbed her.” Sheesh. Keep your stories straight. Join your faithful Grue Crew – Crystal Cleveland, Bill Mulligan, Chad Hunt, and Jeff Mohr – as they discuss John McNaughton’s landmark film (1986). Decades of Horror 1980s Episode 298 – Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer (1986) Join the Crew on the Gruesome Magazine...
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THE BLACK HOLE (1979) – Episode 254 – Decades of Horror 1970s
Decades of Horror | Horror News Radio
“A wolf remains a wolf, even if it has not eaten your sheep.” Hmm. What if it has not eaten a cow? Join your faithful Grue Crew – Doc Rotten, Bill Mulligan, Chad Hunt, and Jeff Mohr – as they take to space via Disney’s (1979). Decades of Horror 1970s Episode 254 – The Black Hole (1979) Join the Crew on the Gruesome Magazine YouTube channel! Subscribe today! And click the alert to get notified of new content! ANNOUNCEMENT Decades of Horror 1970s is partnering with THE CLASSIC SCI-FI MOVIE CHANNEL, THE CLASSIC HORROR MOVIE CHANNEL, and WICKED HORROR TV CHANNEL...
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TORTURE GARDEN (1967) – Episode 216 – Decades of Horror: The Classic Era
Decades of Horror | Horror News Radio
“Did you know that there are ways to raise the dead?” Of course. Don’t you watch horror movies? Join this episode’s Grue-Crew – Doc Rotten, Daphne Monary-Ernsdorff, Chad Hunt, Bill Mulligan, and Jeff Mohr – as they take a stroll through the (1967). Decades of Horror: The Classic Era Episode 216 – Torture Garden (1967) Join the Crew on the Gruesome Magazine YouTube channel! Subscribe today! And click the alert to get notified of new content! ANNOUNCEMENT Decades of Horror The Classic Era is partnering with THE CLASSIC SCI-FI MOVIE CHANNEL, THE CLASSIC HORROR...
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SOMETHING WICKED THIS WAY COMES (1983) – Episode 297 – Decades of Horror 1980s
Decades of Horror | Horror News Radio
“By the pricking of my thumbs, something wicked this way comes.” Wait a minute. Is that what it means when your thumbs are pricking? Join your faithful Grue Crew – Crystal Cleveland, Bill Mulligan, Chad Hunt, and Jeff Mohr – as they visit Dark’s Pandemonium Carnival in Green Town, Illinois, via Disney’s (1983) from Ray Bradbury’s novel and screenplay. Decades of Horror 1980s Episode 297 – Something Wicked This Way Comes (1983) Join the Crew on the Gruesome Magazine YouTube channel! Subscribe today! Click the alert to get notified of new content! ...
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THE WIZARD OF GORE (1970) – Episode 253 – Decades of Horror 1970s
Decades of Horror | Horror News Radio
“What is real? Are you certain you know what reality is? How do you know that at this second you aren’t asleep in your beds dreaming that you are here in this theater? Ah, yes… it all seems too real.” Are you sure this guy is a wizard? Join your faithful Grue Crew – Doc Rotten, Bill Mulligan, Chad Hunt, and Jeff Mohr – as they brave the world of Herschell Gordon Lewis with (1970). Decades of Horror 1970s Episode 253 – The Wizard of Gore (1970) Join the Crew on the Gruesome Magazine YouTube channel! Subscribe today! And click the alert to get notified of new...
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FASTER, PUSSYCAT! KILL! KILL! (1965) – Episode 215 – Decades of Horror: The Classic Era
Decades of Horror | Horror News Radio
“Women! They let ’em vote, smoke, and drive – even put ’em in pants! But what do you get? A Democrat for president! A lot of smoke up your chimney! Russian roulette on the highway! You can’t even tell brother from sister unless you meet ’em head-on.” Don’t worry. This neanderthal doesn’t last long. Join this episode’s Grue-Crew – Doc Rotten, Daphne Monary-Ernsdorff, Chad Hunt, Bill Mulligan, and Jeff Mohr – as they visit the bizarre world of Russ Meyer in (1965). Decades of Horror: The Classic Era Episode 215 – Faster, Pussycat! Kill! Kill! (1965)...
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POLTERGEIST II: THE OTHER SIDE (1986) – Episode 296 – Decades of Horror 1980s
Decades of Horror | Horror News Radio
“You’re all gonna die in there! All of you! You are gonna die!” Well, for heaven’s sake, we all die. Join your faithful Grue Crew – Crystal Cleveland, Bill Mulligan, Chad Hunt, and Jeff Mohr – as they check out (1986), the sequel to the Spielberg-Hooper blockbuster. Decades of Horror 1980s Episode 296 – Poltergeist II: The Other Side (1986) Join the Crew on the Gruesome Magazine YouTube channel! Subscribe today! Click the alert to get notified of new content! ANNOUNCEMENT Decades of Horror The Classic Era is partnering with THE CLASSIC SCI-FI MOVIE CHANNEL,...
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DEAD OF NIGHT (1977) – Episode 252 – Decades of Horror 1970s
Decades of Horror | Horror News Radio
“The dead of night exists in all of us, and no one knows at what strange, unexpected moment it will make itself known. And so tonight, for your entertainment, three tales: one of mystery, one of imagination, and one of terror.” Yay! Break out the popcorn! Join your faithful Grue Crew – Doc Rotten, Bill Mulligan, Chad Hunt, and Jeff Mohr – as they stay another night in TV-land and cuddle up with Dan Curtis’s (1977). Decades of Horror 1970s Episode 252 – Dead of Night (1977) Join the Crew on the Gruesome Magazine YouTube channel! Subscribe today! And click the...
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THE GHOST BREAKERS (1940) – Episode 214 – Decades of Horror: The Classic Era
Decades of Horror | Horror News Radio
“I don’t mind dying, but I hate the preliminaries.” Join this episode’s Grue-Crew – Doc Rotten, Daphne Monary-Ernsdorff, Chad Hunt, Bill Mulligan, and Jeff Mohr – as they make a trip to an old dark house, or rather an old dark castle with (1940). Decades of Horror: The Classic Era Episode 214 – The Ghost Breakers (1940) Join the Crew on the Gruesome Magazine YouTube channel! Subscribe today! And click the alert to get notified of new content! ANNOUNCEMENT Decades of Horror The Classic Era is partnering with THE CLASSIC SCI-FI MOVIE CHANNEL, THE CLASSIC...
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MANHUNTER (1986) – Episode 295 – Decades of Horror 1980s
Decades of Horror | Horror News Radio
“Do you know how you caught me? The reason you caught me, Will, is we’re just alike. If you want the scent, smell yourself.” Well, that, and you’re insane! Join your faithful Grue Crew – Crystal Cleveland, Bill Mulligan, Chad Hunt, and Jeff Mohr – as they check out Hannibal Lecter’s coming-out party in Michael Mann’s (1986). Decades of Horror 1980s Episode 295 – Manhunter (1986) Join the Crew on the Gruesome Magazine YouTube channel! Subscribe today! Click the alert to get notified of new content! ANNOUNCEMENT Decades of Horror The Classic Era...
info_outline“The only thing that keeps me from cracking you in the jaw is the almost certain possibility that it would break your neck.” Your consideration is appreciated. Join this episode’s Grue-Crew – Daphne Monary-Ernsdorff, Chad Hunt, Jeff Mohr, and guest Gregory Crosby – as they take in Robert Siodmak’s The Spiral Staircase (1946) from RKO Radio Pictures.
Decades of Horror: The Classic Era
Episode 197 – The Spiral Staircase (1946)
Join the Crew on the Gruesome Magazine YouTube channel!
Subscribe today! And click the alert to get notified of new content!
https://youtube.com/gruesomemagazine
ANNOUNCEMENT
Decades of Horror The Classic Era is partnering with THE CLASSIC SCI-FI MOVIE CHANNEL, THE CLASSIC HORROR MOVIE CHANNEL, and WICKED HORROR TV CHANNEL
Which all now include video episodes of The Classic Era!
Available on Roku, AppleTV, Amazon FireTV, AndroidTV, Online Website.
Across All OTT platforms, as well as mobile, tablet, and desktop.
https://classicscifichannel.com/; https://classichorrorchannel.com/; https://wickedhorrortv.com/
Synopsis: In 1916, a shadowy serial killer is targeting women with “afflictions.” One night, during a thunderstorm, the mute Helen is the target.
- Directed by: Robert Siodmak
- Writing Credits: Mel Dinelli; Ethel Lina White (novel, Some Must Watch, 1933)
- Music by: Roy Webb
- Cinematography by: Nicholas Musuraca (director of photography)
- Selected Cast:
- Dorothy McGuire as Helen
- George Brent as Professor Warren
- Ethel Barrymore as Mrs. Warren
- Kent Smith as Dr. Parry
- Rhonda Fleming as Blanche
- Gordon Oliver as Steve Warren
- Elsa Lanchester as Mrs. Oates
- Sara Allgood as Nurse Barker
- Rhys Williams as Mr. Oates
- James Bell as Constable
- Erville Alderson as Dr. Harvey (uncredited)
- Ellen Corby as Neighbour (uncredited)
- Myrna Dell as Murder Victim (uncredited)
- George Holmes as The Killer’s ‘Shadow’ (uncredited)
- Stanley Price as Starry-eyed Man (uncredited)
- Robert Siodmak as The Killer’s ‘Eye’ (uncredited)
- Richard Tyler as Freddy (uncredited)
- Charles Wagenheim as Desk Clerk (uncredited)
- Larry Wheat as Minister (uncredited)
- Carlton the Bulldog as Himself (uncredited)
Imagine a junction of genres where gothic, old dark house, and film noir meet. You will surely find The Spiral Staircase (1946) there. The film is packed with film noir veterans, both cast and crew, who weave a beautiful tapestry of light and shadow that aid in the telling of its layered story. Red herrings abound in the search for the serial killer who prays on women with “afflictions” that render them less than perfect. Even though the female characters appear to have little agency, they manage to defeat the killer. Oops! Spoiler alert! Horror, horror-adjacent, or none of the above, The Spiral Staircase is a damn fine movie, and the Grue-Crew, joined by Gregory Crosby, has much to discuss.
At the time of this writing, The Spiral Staircase (1946) is available to stream from YouTube.
Gruesome Magazine’s Decades of Horror: The Classic Era records a new episode every two weeks. Next in their very flexible schedule – this one chosen by a special guest – is The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari (1920), the German silent horror film directed by Robert Wiene that explodes with German expressionism and challenges the Grue Crew with correctly pronouncing “somnambulist.”
Please let them know how they’re doing! They want to hear from you – the coolest, grooviest fans: leave them a message or leave a comment on the Gruesome Magazine YouTube channel, the site, or email the Decades of Horror: The Classic Era podcast hosts at feedback@gruesomemagazine.com
To each of you from each of them, “Thank you so much for watching and listening!”