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THE MONSTER SQUAD (1987) – Episode 282 – Decades of Horror 1980s

Decades of Horror | Horror News Radio

Release Date: 04/18/2025

BIG TROUBLE IN LITTLE CHINA (1986) - Episode 310 - Decades of Horror 1980s show art BIG TROUBLE IN LITTLE CHINA (1986) - Episode 310 - Decades of Horror 1980s

Decades of Horror | Horror News Radio

Doc returns to join the Decades of Horror Grue-Crew to review BIG TROUBLE IN LITTLE CHINA (1986) directed by John Carpenter. Is there a better hero than Jack Burton? Yeah, probably, but in this action comedy with hints of horror and supernatural, he is the best - cocky, over confident, and often ridiculous. It's all in the reflexes! Kurt Russell, Kim Cattrall, and Denis Dun lead a terrific cast with James Hong nearly stealing the entire movie as David Lo Pan. Brilliant! BIG TROUBLE IN LITTLE CHINA (1986) Episode 310 - Decades of Horror 1980s Quote: "Like I told my last wife, I says, 'Honey, I...

info_outline DON'T TORTURE A DUCKLING (1972) - Episode 266 - Decades of Horror 1970s show art DON'T TORTURE A DUCKLING (1972) - Episode 266 - Decades of Horror 1970s

Decades of Horror | Horror News Radio

The Grue-Crew delve into an early Lucio Fulci pre-Giallo mini-masterpiece with Don't Torture a Duckling (1972). In the film, you can see the beginning of Fulci's signature direction he would become known for with Zombi (1979) and his eighties gore-fest films. For this movie, the story is a murder mystery that contains hints of witchcraft and characters meeting a gruesome, bloody demise. It's pure early 70s Italian film making at its best. Check it out. Enjoy! DON'T TORTURE A DUCKLING (1972) Episode 266 - Decades of Horror 1970s Quote: "That's why she tore off the head of the doll and the...

info_outline THE BOOGIE MAN WILL GET YOU (1942) - Episode 228 - Decades of Horror: The Classic Era show art THE BOOGIE MAN WILL GET YOU (1942) - Episode 228 - Decades of Horror: The Classic Era

Decades of Horror | Horror News Radio

Boris Karloff! Peter Lorre! The Boogie Man Will Get You (1942) is one of Karloff's Columbia pictures horror pictures from the 1940s. Each of these films, with the exception of The Black Room, has Boris in the role of a mad scientist; however, with Boogie Man, the film allows Karloff of Peter Lorre the opportunity to parody the genre and have a great time doing so. These two are so much fun to watch as is the remaining cast of eccentric characters. Tune in to Decades of Horror The Classic Era to find out what the Grue-Crew think of this often overlooked horror-comedy gem. Enjoy! THE BOOGIE MAN...

info_outline THE PROWLER (1981) - Episode 309 - Decade of Horror 1980s show art THE PROWLER (1981) - Episode 309 - Decade of Horror 1980s

Decades of Horror | Horror News Radio

Jeff Mohr returns as the Grue-Crew for THE PROWLER (1981), a film the helped defined the slasher era of the 1980s alongside Friday the 13th, The Burning, My Bloody Valentine and more. In this entry, a killer returns after a 35-year absence to take out some college kids at a graduation party. Sound familiar? The big draw is Tom Savini’s special makeup & FX work, but the film pulls in some old-timer star power with Farley Granger and Lawrence Tierney, as well as Vicky Dawson, Christopher Goutman, & Cindy Weintraub. This has everything a growing slasher films needs -- gore, boobs, and a...

info_outline THE WITCH WHO CAME FROM THE SEA (1976) - Episode 265 - Decades of Horror 1970s show art THE WITCH WHO CAME FROM THE SEA (1976) - Episode 265 - Decades of Horror 1970s

Decades of Horror | Horror News Radio

Jeff returns to join the Grue-Crew with a review of the Seventies cult film, THE WITCH WHO CAME FROM THE SEA (1976). This movie is weird, disturbing in its own way, and intensely sad. What do the Crew make of this indie film that is about as 70s as it gets? You'll have to listen to find out. Enjoy! The Witch Who Came in from the Sea (1982) Episode 265 - Decades of Horror 1970s Quote: "Why don't you act like a man and go hide in the closet, cowboy?" - Molly Synopsis: "A disturbed woman is haunted by memories of childhood abuse, which culminates in a murder spree." Director: Matt Cimber Writer:...

info_outline THE LEOPARD MAN (1943) – Episode 227 – Decades of Horror The Classic Era show art THE LEOPARD MAN (1943) – Episode 227 – Decades of Horror The Classic Era

Decades of Horror | Horror News Radio

Jeff returns to Decades of Horror The Classic Era picking the Val Lewton and Jacques Tourneur classic THE LEOPARD MAN (1943) for review. The Grue-Crew have a blast exploring this often overlooked RKO Radio pictures gem with its sharp dialog, exquisite black and white cinematography, and inventive direction. The cast is fantastic as well: Dennis O’Keefe, Margo, Jean Brooks, James Bell, and more — oh, and Dynamite as The Leopard. Synopsis: A seemingly-tame leopard used for a publicity stunt escapes and kills a young girl, spreading panic throughout a sleepy New Mexico town. Producer: Val...

info_outline FORBIDDEN WORLD (1982) – Episode 308 – Decades of Horror 1980s show art FORBIDDEN WORLD (1982) – Episode 308 – Decades of Horror 1980s

Decades of Horror | Horror News Radio

The Grue-Crew unleash the New World Picture’s Alien rip-off, FORBIDDEN WORLD (1982) from Roger Corman. Directed by Allan Holzman, this trashy cult classic features effects from John Carl Buechler, Mark Shostrom, and more handling the Mutant gooey and gory designs and make-up. The cast includes Dan Oliver, Jesse Vint, June Chadwick, Linden Chiles, Scott Paulin, Dawn Dunlap, Fox Harris, Michael Bowen, and Ray Oliver. For those old enough, you likely watched this movie multiple times on cable movie channels, not because it was good but because it was bonkers. Enjoy! FORBIDDEN WORLD (1982)...

info_outline THE AMITYVILLE HORROR (1979) - Episode 264 - Decades of Horror 1970s show art THE AMITYVILLE HORROR (1979) - Episode 264 - Decades of Horror 1970s

Decades of Horror | Horror News Radio

The Grue-Crew head to New Jersey to visit THE AMITYVILLE HORROR (1979), directed by Stuart Rosenberg. The cast includes James Brolin, Margot Kidder, Rod Steiger, Don Stroud, Murray Hamilton, and Natasha Ryan. Based on a "true story" and the best-selling novel by Jay Anson, the movie cements the Amityville house with its eerily lit pair of attic windows into horror film history. When people think of haunted houses, they most likely think of this house - even to this day decades later. Despite it feeling somewhat tame today, The Amityville Horror frightened audiences world wide to the tune of...

info_outline THE MAGNETIC MONSTER (1953) – Episode 226 – Decades of Horror The Classic Era show art THE MAGNETIC MONSTER (1953) – Episode 226 – Decades of Horror The Classic Era

Decades of Horror | Horror News Radio

The Grue-Crew return to the 1950s to battle the fear of the atom bomb with the better than you'd expect, often overlooked THE MAGNETIC MONSTER (1953), directed by Curt Siodmak and Herbert L. Strock (uncredited). The cast includes Richard Carlson, King Donovan, Jean Byron, Harry Ellerbe, Leo Britt, Leonard Mudie, and Byron Foulger. And Strother Martin appears briefly in one scene as an airliner co-pilot. The film also incorporates scenes from a 1934 German movie GOLD. While it doesn't feature a "Monster" in typical terms, the threat of the Magnetic Monster is no less formable. Check this one...

info_outline HELLO MARY LOU PROM NIGHT II (1987) – Episode 307 – Decades of Horror 1980s show art HELLO MARY LOU PROM NIGHT II (1987) – Episode 307 – Decades of Horror 1980s

Decades of Horror | Horror News Radio

The Grue-Crew head back to the Eighties, back to school, and back to senior prom for the cult favorite HELLO MARY LOU: PROM NIGHT II (1987). Directed by Bruce Pittman and written by Ron Oliver, the film features Michael Ironside, Wendy Lyon, Louis Ferreira, and Lisa Schrage as Mary Lou Maloney. It feels a bit like a supernatural infused "Carrie" clone but it contains fun kills, gore when it needs it, and a fun new horror villain that we deserved much more of in this movie… and more. Check this one out on streaming if you haven't seen it and enjoy the Grue-Crew's take on this entertaining...

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“One hundred years before this story begins, it was a time of darkness in Transylvania, a time when Dr. Abraham Van Helsing and a small band of freedom fighters conspired to rid the world of vampires and monsters and to save mankind from the forces of eternal evil. … They blew it.” Will the Monster Squad blow it, too? Join your faithful Grue Crew – Crystal Cleveland, Bill Mulligan, Chad Hunt, and Jeff Mohr – as they follow the battle between the young monster fighters and the pseudo-Universal Monsters in The Monster Squad (1987).

Decades of Horror 1980s
Episode 282 – The Monster Squad (1987)

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Synopsis: A group of 12-year-olds form a Universal Monsters fan club called The Monster Squad and have to save their hometown from Count Dracula and his monsters when they show up for real.

The Monster Squad (1987), underappreciated at its release, has, nonetheless, risen to become a fan favorite over the years. With effects provided by the Stan Winston Studio and dialogue from the pens of Shane Black and Fred Dekker, the film follows the proven template used in Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein (1948), i.e., the copies of Universal monsters are deadly serious while the youthful monster fighters provide humor. In light of current events, it is an excellent time to revisit this horror comedy with a heart and a happy ending. And while you’re at it, take in Wolfman’s Got Nards (2018), the documentary about the film and its growth in popularity. It might bring a tear or two to your eyes.

At the time of this writing, The Monster Squad (1987) is available to stream from Hoopla, PlutoTV, Prime, and several PPV sources. It is also available on physical media as a 3-disc set that includes a 4K UHD disc, a Blu-ray disc, and Wolfman’s Got Nards (2018) Blu-ray disc, from KL Studio Classics.

Every two weeks, Gruesome Magazine’s Decades of Horror 1980s podcast will cover another horror film from the 1980s. The next episode’s film, chosen by Bill, will be Critters (1986), another franchise-starting film showcasing the effects work of Chiodo Brothers Productions (Killer Clowns from Outer Space, 1988) and an experienced cast featuring Dee Wallace and M. Emmet Walsh. The Grue Crew is excited about discussing this one.

Please let them know how they’re doing! They want to hear from you – the coolest, grooviest fans – so leave them a message or comment on the Gruesome Magazine Youtube channel, on the Gruesome Magazine website, or email the Decades of Horror 1980s podcast hosts at feedback@gruesomemagazine.com.