THE MONOLITH MONSTERS (1957) – Episode 208 – Decades of Horror: The Classic Era
Decades of Horror | Horror News Radio
Release Date: 07/26/2025
Decades of Horror | Horror News Radio
The Grue-Crew head to France (actually Spain) to meet up with Waldemar Daninsky and Countess Wandesa to revisit THE WEREWOLF VS THE VAMPIRE WOMAN (1971, La Noche de Walpurgis). After decades of watching this classic Spanish wolfman film, seeing the restored 4k version is a revelation. Sure, it's a B-Movie, but it's a fantastic B-Movie. Now it is easy to see why this is Paul Naschy's most successful film, it clearly deserves that honor. If you've never seen THE WEREWOLF VS THE VAMPIRE WOMAN, seek out a 4K version or a streaming version of it online, stay away from the graining, overly dark...
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The Grue-Crew follow H.G. Wells and THING TO COME (1936) 90 years into the past to predict 10 years into the future. This film is fully politically charged but incredibly fascinating. While it slogs from time to time compared to modern films, it manages to deliver as a movie by the end. The film spans over four distinct dates: 1940, 1966, 1970, and 2036 encompassing a decades long war and the reformation of civilization afterwards. The main character that we follow is John Cabal as he goes from a cynical visionary to a liberator from the skies as part of the Wings Over the World; for the 2036...
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The Decades of Horror Grue Crews stick with the folk horror subgenre and bring in Scott Wells to help explain some of the details. This time, the film is A CHINESE GHOST STORY (1987), from Hong Kong producer Tsui Hark and director Siu-Tung Ching. The great Leslie Cheung and Joey Wang create the chemistry necessary to believe this “ghost meets innocent, naive tax collector” love story. Of course, they need the help of Wu Ma’s Monk/Swordsman to overcome the hold the Old Dame has over the two lovebirds. Much wire-work, special makeup effects, stop-motion animation, and mystical shenanigans...
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This exercise in lycanthropic folk horror from Argentina catches the Grue Crew by surprise. Lulled to sleep by the slow, freezer-burn pace of the first twenty minutes, they immediately perk up when the Devil shows his face. There are several reasons to watch this film: brilliant cinematography, an excellent performance from Alfredo Alcón, entertaining supporting characters, fascinating folk horror, and a WEREWOLF! Bill and Jeff are joined by Scott Wells, who adds his folklore expertise, and Gregory Crosby, who contributes his usual insightful analysis. Enjoy! NAZARENO CRUZ AND THE WOLF (1975)...
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Jeff picks an obscure Japanese horror film, THE LIVING SKELETON (1968 - Kyūketsu Dokurosen), for episode 235 of Decades of Horror The Classic Era. This black and white novelty was featured in Criterion's When Horror Came to Shochiku along with The X from Outer Space, Genocide, and Goke, Body Snatcher from Hell. While skeletons are featured in the film, the rumors of their being "living" are greatly exaggerated. Instead, and perhaps for the better, director Hiroshi Matsuno plays out a ghostly revenge tale featuring bats, haunted ships, and mad scientists. Still, sadly, no living skeletons. Oh,...
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“Don’t you stare at me like that, you puppet!” Sheesh! It’s the only way I’m capable of staring. After all, I am a puppet. Join your faithful Grue Crew – Crystal Cleveland, Bill Mulligan, Doc Rotten, and Jeff Mohr – as they discuss the low-budget, British portmanteau, (1983). Decades of Horror 1980s Episode 317 – Screamtime (1983) Join the Crew on the Gruesome Magazine YouTube channel! Subscribe today! Click the alert to get notified of new content! ANNOUNCEMENT Decades of Horror is partnering with the WICKED HORROR TV CHANNEL Which now include video...
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“Has the human a soul? And if he has – where does he keep it?” Well, answer the question. Where is it? Join your faithful Grue Crew – Doc Rotten, Bill Mulligan, Jeff Mohr, and guest Gregory Crosby – as they ponder the above question asked in a bit of an avant-garde film, . Decades of Horror 1970s Episode 273 – The Shout (1978) 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 1970s is partnering with WICKED HORROR TV CHANNEL,...
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The Grue-Crew head back to 1953 to tackle a film from the first wave of 3D films, THE MAZE (1953), featuring one of the most bizarre twist endings of the decade. If you haven't seen this movie, you won't see it coming. While the films looks great and the cast, featuring Richard Carlson, Veronica Hurst, and Katherine Pate, is solid, the story and pace are snooze-inducingly plodding. If ever a film needed 3D, it may be this one. Yet, with all its flaws, the film has a B-movie charm to it. Catalog THE MAZE for "only the curious." Enjoy! THE MAZE (1953) Episode 234 - Decades of Horror: The Classic...
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PRIMAL RAGE (1988) is a horror movie that gets very little mention, accolades, or fanfare. Many horror fans may not have heard of the film, instead maybe they recall the 1995 video came or 2018 movie of the same name. For this episode, Bill steps up and declare "The Grue-Crew shall watch Primal Rage!" And so we did. What did we find: Mad scientists, crazed baboons, a rage virus turning college students into rampaging zombie-like monsters, and a gore-soaked Halloween party. Let's party! Enjoy! PRIMAL RAGE (1988) Episode 316 - Decades of Horror 1980s Quote: “Trust me, she’s more than your...
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Is this even a real movie? Ed Wood? The Grue-Crew set out to find out, reviewing the schlock fest known by many names: THE REVENGE OF DR X (1970), BODY OF THE PREY, THE DEVIL'S GARDEN, and VENUS FLY TRAP. Which ever title it is under, the result is the same: the most bizarre and god awful film of all time; yet, somehow, it is entertaining in its terrible glory. James Craig is a mad NASA scientist who seems to take up botany and creates a hybrid creature as if he were Dr. Frankenstein. WTF? Check out what the Crew think on this one. You have been warned. Enjoy! THE REVENGE OF DOCTOR X (1970)...
info_outline“Look at the dog. It’s as hard as a piece of granite!” The whole dog? Join this episode’s Grue-Crew – Doc Rotten, Daphne Monary-Ernsdorff, Chad Hunt, Bill Mulligan, Jeff Mohr, and special guest Michael Steinberg – as they delve into The Monolith Monsters (1957), the first (?) mineral-based creature feature.
[NOTE: Special guest Michael Steinberg of PlayNowMedia joins in the fun and offers a special promotion to the first ten Grue-Believers who take advantage of his offer. You will have to check out the episode to discover the details of that offer, so what are you waiting for? Get to it and remember to enjoy the podcast while you’re at it.]
Decades of Horror: The Classic Era
Episode 208 – The Monolith Monsters (1957)
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/
Rocks from a meteor that grow when in contact with water threaten a sleepy Southwestern desert community.
- Director: John Sherwood
- Writers: Norman Jolley and Robert M. Fresco (screenplay); Jack Arnold and Robert M. Fresco (story)
- Music Supervision: Joseph Gershenson
- Composers: (all uncredited) Irving Gertz, Henry Mancini, Herman Stein
- Cinematographer: Ellis W. Carter (director of photography)
- Poster Art: Reynold Brown
- Gowns: Marilyn Sotto
- Costume and Wardrobe Department: Seth Banks (uncredited), Martha Bunch (uncredited)
- Makeup Department: Bud Westmore (makeup artist)
- Special Effects: Clifford Stine (special photography), Norman Breedlove (special effects technician) (uncredited), Frank Brendel (special effects) (uncredited)
- Selected Cast:
- Grant Williams as Dave Miller
- Lola Albright as Cathy Barrett
- Les Tremayne as Martin Cochrane
- Trevor Bardette as Prof. Arthur Flanders
- Phil Harvey as Ben Gilbert
- William Flaherty as Police Chief Dan Corey
- Harry Jackson as Dr. Steve Hendricks
- Richard H. Cutting as Dr. E.J. Reynolds (credited as Richard Cutting)
- Linda Scheley as Ginny Simpson
- Dean Cromer as Highway Patrolman
- Steve Darrell as Joe Higgins
- Claudia Bryar as Mrs.Simpson (uncredited)
- Troy Donahue as Hank Jackson (uncredited)
- Jerry Dunphy as Newscaster (uncredited)
- Paul Frees as Narrator (voice) (uncredited)
- Chuck Hamilton as Corpse in Back of Pickup Truck (uncredited)
- Kelo Henderson as Police Dispatcher (uncredited)
- Carol Morris as Second Nurse (uncredited)
- Eddie Parker as Highway Patrolman (uncredited)
- Paul Petersen as Bobby – Paperboy (uncredited)
- Ezelle Poule as Ethel – Telephone Operator (uncredited)
- William Schallert as Weatherman (uncredited)
- Clarence Straight as Husband (uncredited)
It’s time for another 1950s Sci-Fi, B-movie, creature feature, but this time, the creatures are unlike any others. In fact, they’re not creatures, but minerals. The Monolith Monsters (1957) has a smidgen of science, accompanied by a much larger portion of mumbo jumbo. However, thanks to the believable acting, the practical effects, the suspenseful score, and the sound effects, your Classic Era Grue-Crew is completely bought in and professes their love for this movie.
At the time of this writing, The Monolith Monsters (1957) is available to stream from Classic Sci-Fi Movie Channel, Classic Horror Movie Channel, Tubi, and multiple PPV options. The film is also available on physical media as a standard Blu-ray formatted disc from SHOUT! FACTORY.
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 Doc – is Tarantula (1955), another classic B-movie creature feature. Jack Arnold and Robert Fresco are involved again with a cast that includes John Agar, Mara Corday, Leo G. Carroll, Nestor Paiva, Ross Elliott, Raymond Bailey, Hank Patterson, and… Clint Eastwood! This will be a fun one!
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!”