Considering Horror Cinema Ep. 097: Six Decades of Dread: Lesser-Known Tales Behind the Terror - Part 1 of 2

Happy Halloween this month! Here in Episode 097 of Considering Horror Cinema, Jay of the Dead, Count Mackula, and Dr. Shock begin a two-part journey through Six Decades of Dread: Lesser-Known Tales Behind the Terror – Part 1 of 2, where we spotlight a Horror, Thriller, or Macabre film from a different era. This first installment moves from the 1960s through the 1980s, with Dave uncovering an Italian genre-bender called The Laughing Woman, Jason revisiting a landmark Folk Horror classic, and Mack making the case for a childhood Fantasy film that remains deeply unsettling, especially for little kids.

Along the way, the hosts discuss whether actors watch their own movies; explore the production history and lingering family fallout surrounding The Wicker Man; and celebrate the uncanny craftsmanship of Jim Henson’s The Dark Crystal. Expect strange rituals, alien languages, a few deeply creepy puppets, and plenty of Halloween spirit. Join us!

Note: This episode was recorded on September 20, 2026.

Thanks for listening to Considering the Cinema Podcast and Considering Horror Cinema, The Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde of Movie Podcasting… Don’t forget: You can email Jay, Mack and even Dr. Shock at [email protected] or post a comment in the show notes for this episode.

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SHOW NOTES: Considering HORROR Cinema Ep. 097

Introduction
– Welcome to Considering Horror Cinema for Halloween month
– Six Decades of Dread: Lesser-Known Tales Behind the Terror from the 1960s through 2010s
– Part 1 selections: one film each from the 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s
– Happy birthday, Dr. Shock, The Twisted Temptress, and Kagan Brietenbach on October 13

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Prelude: Do Actors Watch Their Own Movies?
– Mack wonders whether actors watch films in which they appear
– A friend refuses to watch her own Horror Comedy, “Deadstream” (2022)
– Anecdotal examples with The Shining, Toy Story, The Sting, and A Hard Day’s Night
– The peculiarity of filmmakers who do not watch movies

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1960s Feature Review:
The Laughing Woman (1969)
Dr. Shock = 8.5 ( Strong Rental / Buy for Dave )

A Few Discussion Highlights:
– Available to rent on Amazon or stream on Tubi, as discussed
– Also released as “The Frightened Woman”
– An Italian film directed by Piero Schivazappa
– Dave discusses its distinctly 1960s score and production design
– Writer-journalist Maria is kidnapped by her boss and taken to an isolated mansion
– A cat-and-mouse story involving torture, sexual humiliation, and toxic masculinity
– Stylized close-ups, an intense driveway chase, and a slide-projector revelation
– Giallo-like mystery elements and the film’s unusual mix of genres
– Kat Ellinger’s Blu-ray commentary and comparisons to Radley Metzger
– Dagmar Lassander reportedly considered this her finest film

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1970s Feature Review:
The Wicker Man (1973)
Jay of the Dead = 8.5 ( Buy It! / Must-see for Horror Fans )

A Few Discussion Highlights:
– Written by Anthony Shaffer and directed by Robin Hardy
– Starring Edward Woodward, Christopher Lee, Britt Ekland, and Ingrid Pitt
– A police sergeant investigates a young girl’s disappearance on a remote Scottish island
– The island’s sexuality and pagan traditions clash with Sergeant Howie’s Christian faith
– Mystery, police procedural, Folk Horror, Cult Horror, and an organic, Musical film
– A Horror-in-the-Daylight slow burn with a bleak, disturbing, and unforgettable ending
– The film inverts the familiar Horror trope of punishing sexual promiscuity
– The restored Final Cut, multiple versions, and the film’s famous production problems
– Newly uncovered family history: Robin Hardy’s heart attack, financial strain, and Caroline Hardy’s uncredited support
– The Wicker Tree (2011) and Wrath of the Gods (2026) as parts of an unofficial Wicker trilogy

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1980s Feature Review:
The Dark Crystal (1982)
Mackula = 98 out of 100 ( Buy the 4K! )

A Few Discussion Highlights:
– Mack chooses Jim Henson’s unsettling fantasy as his macabre 1980s pick
– A live-action feature with no human characters
– The puppeteers’ unusually hands-on work with their own costumes and characters
– Original Skeksis scenes used an unsubtitled alien language
– Test screenings led to English dialogue being carefully added after filming
– Mack compares the Blu-ray and 4K release and recommends the 4K
– The film’s disturbing imagery: the Emperor’s death, Chamberlain’s humiliation, and the unsettling Mystics
– The Skeksis’ essence-draining ritual and its vampiric qualities
– Netflix’s 2019 prequel series, The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance

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Teaser for Part 2
– Dr. Shock will tackle a 1990s horror film
– Jay of the Dead will select a film from the 2000s
– Mackula will complete the journey with a 2010s pick

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Wrap-Up
– Mack is working to bring his first feature film to life
– Congratulations to Gillman Joel and Tyson: Film Threat rated “The One Who Waits Below” a 9.5 out of 10!
– Dave reflects on finding a lesser-known 1960s horror pick
– More Halloween-season content from Jay of the Dead’s New Horror Movies, Horror Movie Weekly, and even “Movie Podcast Creepy”
– Email: [email protected]
– Follow Jay on X: @ConsiderCinema

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Links for this episode:

Catch up with Mack here:
– Horror podcast: Jay of the Dead’s New Horror Movies
— IMDb.com Page: Mack Robins

Catch up with Dr. Shock here:
– Horror podcast: Jay of the Dead’s New Horror Movies
— Blog: DVD Infatuation.com
— Podcast: The DVD Infatuation Podcast
— Horror podcast: Land of the Creeps
— Podcast: The Illustrated Fan

— Movie Podcast Weekly has returned for MONTHLY releases

— Listen to Jay of the Dead’s Horror Movie Weekly with Mister Watson every Sunday!

Jay recommends Nate Johnivan’s music:
— Spotify Playlist
— Quarantine Dream iii

CTC on X: @ConsiderCinema
Film Blog / Audio Podcast: ConsideringTheCinema.com
HORROR-Only Content: ConsideringHorrorCinema.com
Email: [email protected]
Letterboxd: Letterboxd.com/ConsiderCinema
Don’t forget to check out Considering the Cinema’s new Episode Archive