It's Friday the 13th, so that means it's time to get up to some appropriate shenanigans when From The Basement takes over the Radio NL 610 AM airwaves at 6:05 tonight! Just what kind of appropriate shenanigans would those be? Well, this is technically a movie review/entertainment show, so do the math. Psych! But there are movies to be discussed, not the least of which are new Netflix's entries His House and Nobody Sleeps in the Woods tonight. His House has achieved quite a bit of acclaim, and is supposed to be darn scary. Is this really the case, or is it just hype? Stick with us! And stick with us you will for even more reviews, including the Nazi-vampire flick Blood Vessel, the entertainment rundown for the week ahead, and those appropriate shenanigans we keep talking about. Oh, and one half of the Dynamic Duo might have a man crush on Gerard Butler. Maybe. You can hear it all be tuning in at 6:05 tonight via the 610 AM dial, or the handy Radio NL link to your right.

Halloween might have been Saturday night, but we're still celebrating here at From The Basement with this, the podcast version of our annual Halloween Spooktacluar. This year, Jason and Shawn welcome filmmaker Brian Avenet-Bradley, the writer and co-director of the indie horror hit -- and Basement fave -- Echoes of Fear ! Brian discusses the real-life scares he and his wife/filmmaking partner Lo Avenet-Bradley experienced in their home, and how these provided a good portion of the Echoes of Fear script. Just how much the haunted-house thriller is based on real life? Stick with us! And stick around, as The Basement Boys welcome back Dusan Magdolen of the Kamloops Film Society to update listeners on November's programming at the Paramount Theatre. And Mike S provides one last horror-themed review in the form of The Last Broadcast, and early found-footage movie Brian has a surprise connection to. You get to hear it all too, for the low price of free, by pushing play on the player ...

It's the night before Halloween, and those cool cats at From The Basement have a pre-Halloween treat for listeners to the mighty Radio NL 610 AM Kamloops. That's right, it's time for Jason and Shawn's annual Halloween Spooktacular, and they've brought someone who knows a thing or two about scaring people into the studio this eve. Brian Avenet-Bradley (pictured above with actress and past-Basement guest Trista Robinson) wrote and co-directed the brilliant indie horror flick Echoes of Fear . And tonight he shares the creepy stories that prompted him to write this acclaimed chiller. That's right, the haunted-house thriller was inspired by events that really happened to Brian and his wife/filmmaking partner Lo Avenet-Bradley, and you're going to hear them tonight. What are they? Stick with us! And don't you dare touch that dial, as The Basement Boys welcome back Dusan Magdolen of the Kamloops Film Society as he provides a rundown on what films will screen at...

Back after a lengthy absence, this Retro Reviewer felt compelled to return after viewing Lucio Fulci's 1981 "haunted house" thriller, The House by the Cemetery. Drawn to the film because I -- like most horror fans -- love a good haunted house story, this reviewer was shocked and awed to find the flick more of a slasher movie with supernatural undertones than your typical haunting on film. The plot follows the Boyle family, who move to a mansion near Boston so the father can conduct some research. But the son, Bob, begins interacting with a young girl who helps him -- and the family -- unlock a sinister secret in the basement. As I alluded to, the audience gets a horror mashup that delivers on all counts. On the slasher front, we get Female Chest Nudity within the first 30 seconds, and oodles of kills; all gory as EFF! The House by the Cemetery has some of the best slasher murders ever put on film, and it doesn't shy away from the red stuff. RESPECT! Also, the killer i...

The best thing about Monday morning, other than the arrival of the latest episode of our paranormal series We Want to Believe, is here! It's time for the podcast version of the latest broadcast... From The Basement! This one is chalk full of viewing goodness, not the least of which is a warning to movie watchers everywhere: Jason and Shawn have seen the worst flick in the 10-year history of the show, which is really saying something given all the garbage they've sat through. The movie is called The Tent, and to say more would spoil the fun of finding out why this movie sucks so bad. Do you dare find out? Just how awful is The Tent and why? Stick with us! And stick around as The Basement Boys provide reviews of Ip 4 Man: The Finale, and the Netflix documentary series Fear City. They also catch up with the new-to-streaming flicks The Gentleman and Slender Man. Plus Jason rewatched the first horror movie he ever saw. Does it still scare the pant off him? Push play on the...

It was the most jam packed half hour of radio in From The Basement history, and it went off without a hitch last night on the mighty Radio NL 610 AM Kamloops. And whether you heard it or not, you'll want to tune in to this, the podcast version of said show. Why? Because we've got even more of our interview with writer/director Ben Rood, who made the great, low-budget horror flick Don't Run. Ben discusses the film's origins, how he started filming with just a buck to his name, and what he's got next for audiences. How do you make your passion project a reality? Stick with us! And stick around you shall, because Jason and Shawn have two movies to put on the chopping block this week. The first is Netflix's latest offering, Da 5 Bloods, from director Spike Lee. This is as much about racial tensions as it is war and the impact fighting in Vietnam had on young, black soldiers. But is it a good movie? The Basement Boys also have the new horror flick The Lurin...

Last night's broadcast on the mighty Radio NL 610 AM Kamloops went off without a hitch. We're sure you caught it, but just in case, we proudly present the podcast version for your ear holes. No interviews this week, but we do have more reviews than you can shake a stick at. Like at least three. Maybe four? We'll go with four, just to be safe. Our feature reviews are the controversial Rene Perez action movie The Insurrection and the documentary Tax Shelter Terrors. The Insurrection struggled to find a distributor due to its anti-woke, anti-SJW conspiracy theories. Tax Shelter Terrors tackles the heyday of Canadian horror movies that followed the government's tax-shelter program. How do these flicks rate? Are they worth your time? Stick with us! And stay tuned, as Shawn has seen Netflix's Space Force starring Steve Carell. Is it a funny riff on work a la The Office? And Jason took in the only movie making the rounds at the North American box office -- The Wret...

You might not know it, but many classic 70s and 80s horror films are Canadian made. And made because of the Canadian Government's tax incentive program that ran from 1975 to 1982. Which ones, you ask? Try Shivers, Black Christmas, Terror Train, My Bloody Valentine, Prom Night, Visiting Hours, Scanners... the list goes on and on. All classic films from my youth. Created and co-directed by Deke Richards, Tax Shelter Terrors explores the history of the tax-shelter program and the films it spawned, interviewing many genre veterans. My Bloody Valentine director George Mihalka? You bet! Plus the likes of Dyanne Thorne, Gregory Dunning, Pierre David and even Maniac director William Lustig. As with any doc of this type, your enjoyment of it hinges on whether or not this is your pint of ale. Shawn tried, but made it about nine minutes. I dug it and enjoyed the full watch. Why? Because I'm as passionate about how movies are made as I am about watching them. Richards and company...

Marcus Flor here. What defines a horror movie for you? What do you expect to see from a film like that? Do you expect a very particular story with certain rules? Or do you expect something irregular and unique? These questions pop up frequently as more strange and surreal horror films come out, such as Hereditary (2018). There are many who love this kind of film, and many who don't. I guess it really comes down to your definition of a horror film, or horror itself. For me, horror is coming in contact with the unknown, and strange, part of reality. You experience something alien to you, and you have to come to terms with it. So for me, there are many conventional horror films that don't fit that description. It seems many prefer the conventional, sometimes predictable horror film, as they know what to expect. It's a safe bet. There's nothing wrong with liking either type, but I'd say it is unfair to say these new, surreal films aren't really horror films....

The wait is over! It's time for the podcast version of last night's epic radio broadcast... From The Basement! We acknowledge the wait was less than 24 hours, but for some, that could've felt like a lifetime... Back to the business at hand; we've got our full 15-minute interview with author and renowned cryptozoologist Ken Gerhard. We talk his latest book, The Essential Guide to Bigfoot, discuss Bigfoot lore and how Ken got into monster hunting. And we touch on the Loch Ness Monster and Ogopogo. What does Ken think these creatures actually are? Stick with us! But that's not all! We review a pair of new releases to help navigate your streaming time. The first is Netflix's Dark Light from writer/director Padraig Reynolds. Is this tale of a mother and daughter battling mysterious creatures at a rural home worth the watch? Maybe, maybe not. Perhaps you want something with a little action? Then Blood Hunters: Rise of the Hybrids could be more your speed. It...

The original When A Stranger Calls is the stuff of legend, largely because of how downright terrifying the opening act is. We know the story of the babysitter who receives threatening phone calls, only to have the calls end up coming from inside the house. It's a popular urban legend, and was effectively brought to the screen (kinda) in Bob Clark's Black Christmas. But writer/director Fred Walton, and co-writer Steve Feke, breathed new life into the tale, and expertly crafted it into the film's opening 20 minutes, which are among the most tense put on film. Ditto the conclusion, where Carole Kane's babysitter -- now grown up with kids of her own -- is again tormented by the mysterious caller. So, all told, When A Stranger Calls offers about 40 minutes of pure horror goodness. It's the middle act I liked the least when I first watched When A Stranger Calls decades ago, but I have a new appreciation for it now. This sequence follows the caller, chillingly brou...

People are fascinated by the filmmaking process, which I find interesting because, having been involved in the making of a few films, it's more frustrating than interesting. But there are some movies with truly storied histories, and Shudder's new five-part documentary series looks at the urban legends surrounding some popular horror movies. The series kicks off with The Exorcist, a movie alleged to have caused audiences to faint, lured demons into movie theatres, and even had a murderer among the crew. Director Jay Cheel approaches the subject with an open mind, and includes interviews with cast members Linda Blair and her demonic counterpart, Eileen Dietz. He also talks with journalists, historians, and a real-life exorcist about The Exorcist, it's cultural impact, and the stories that surround it. I appreciate how Cheel isn't interested in rumours, but in getting to the facts as best he can. We learn Exorcist director William Friedkin could be a real jerk t...

Now more than ever, the world needs distraction. Let's face it, the focus of most news is bleak, people are stuck inside -- often with little to do -- and we have no idea when this current state will end. Thankfully we in The Basement aren't the only ones trying to brighten people's days with fun and entertaining content. Our brother from another mother, Jon Cross over at The After Movie Diner , continues to podcast throughout this crisis, and he's bringing past guests and other like-minded folks on his show to share the films they're watching. I sat down with Jon, and talked my Top 5 indie horror flicks of the last year or so. Much to my delight, Jon had only heard of a couple of them, and the discussion became a lively one about the the importance of independent film, the power of visual storytelling, and the key role cinematography plays in the filmmaking process. It's always fun talking film with Jon, and being a guest in The After Movie Diner. You...

Sure, we're all shut in right now, but that doesn't mean there isn't something to celebrate. What's worth celebrating, you ask? April is a week away, and do you know what April represents? Six months to Halloween, bitches! And the fine folks at Shudder are taking this six-months-to-Halloween thing seriously, as they've got a number of gruesome goodies on deck for April to celebrate with Halfway to Halloween Month! Check it: -the premiere of a new Shudder Original Series, Cursed Films. This a five-part documentary exploring myths and legends behind some of Hollywood's notoriously cursed horror movies like The Omen and The Crow -an all-new season of The Last Drive-In with Joe Bob Briggs, with a weekly hosted double feature streamed live on ShudderTV -the long-awaited second season of the hit Australian series Wolf Creek -the Friday the 13th collection: including the first eight movies in the franchise -the return of Shudder's Halloween Hotlin...

We first told you about Alexandra Daddario's upcoming horror romp We Summon the Darkness last summer , and now we've received the good word from Saban Films that Marc Meyer's flick is finally hitting screens next month. On the way to a heavy metal concert, Alexis (Daddario) and two friends hear a news report of a local murder believed to be tied to a series of satanic killers. After the show, the girls invite three guys to join them at the estate owned by Alexis's father, a fire-and-brimstone preacher (Johnny Knoxville). What starts as a party suddenly turns dark and deadly... Daddario and Knoxville are joined by Keean Johnson (Midway), Maddie Hasson (Impulse), Logan Miller (Scouts Guide to the Zombie Apocalypse) and Amy Forsyth (Hell Fest). Meyers directs from a script by Alan Trezza. We Summon the Darkness hits theatres and VOD April 10. What say you? Are keen to catch this one? I know we are... Source: Saban Films

After three weeks of straight reviews, The Basement Boys return with a brand-new interview to entertain your ear holes, and you'll hear it when From The Basement storms the Radio NL 610 AM airwaves at 6:05 tonight! Jason interviewed director Andy Palmer, who made the new horror movie Camp Cold Brook. He talks about working with genre veterans Joe Dante and Danielle Harris, how the movie was made, and the importance of character. It's a great conversation listeners will enjoy. On the subject of horror; there's one new release in theatres this weekend, and it's a scary one. The Invisible Man. Does this new spin on the classic story embrace the #MeToo movement, and create a very real villain? Stick with us! And stick around for a new review from Mike S, the rest of the weekend rundown, and more. It's radio that's so awesome... well, you know the drill. Tune in via the 610 AM dial, or the player to your right, and enjoy.

It's the day after Valentine's Day, but that doesn't mean we're done celebrating all things romantical. Why, you ask? Because this here is the podcast version of last night's successful broadcast on the mighty Radio NL 610 AM Kamloops! And Jason, Shawn and Mike S bring on the romance -- Basement style -- with their Top 5 "Date" Movies. These are movies only a woman who loves a Basement Dweller gets talked into seeing. Shawn even went to his wife for input on this one, while Jason details how he "paid the price" for subjecting his bride of 13 years to a horror movie early in their dating days. Mike S alphabetized his list, because that's how his mind works... Jason and Shawn also take on the upcoming thriller Dead Sound starring veteran genre actor Jeff Kober of The Walking Dead. Is this water-based tale of terror worth your time and dollar, or is it the longest boat ride ever? Stick with us! And stick around for the weekend rundow...

Although strictly a coincidence, it seems fitting a movie about an alien virus infecting a small town would come out amidst the real-world scare like the Coronavirus. So well played, High Octane Pictures, well played. Granted, the hapless victims in Neil Rowe's low-budget effort are hit with a lot more than flu-like symptoms. The virus in Alien Outbreak drives folks to off themselves in often gruesome ways. Naturally, it's up to a couple of police officers to try and sort everything out, and keep a few stragglers alive during what seems like a full-scale alien invasion. Rowe definitely did a lot with the few things he had at his disposal. Alien Outbreak employs a small cast, and a few limited locations, but to great effect. This is very much like The Thing or Night of the Living Dead that way. What money was at his mercy went toward hiring a decent cast, and into his special effects, which are great given the scale of the picture. I liked how Rowe didn't explain wha...

Australia has its fair share of genre flicks. Some quite good -- Wolf Creek, Rogue -- while others are just so-so... which brings me to recent offering The Marshes. The Marshes just turned up on Shudder, and while it's decent enough late-night fare, it certainly doesn't offer anything fresh or exciting. On the one hand, it's suggested this is an eco-horror movie about microbiologists trapped in an almost In the Tall Grass scenario. On the other, it's a backwoods slasher filled with graphic violence. But it never embraces either trope. Which isn't to say the movie doesn't have its moments. The final 20 minutes are pretty solid and suspenseful. There is a slasher/killer called The Swagman, which is based on an Australian legend. He may just be a psycho, but he does have supernatural elements to him as well. This is the aspect of the story I enjoyed the most. Less effective is the eco-horror angle, which isn't developed enough to be all that interesting...