Richard Glenn Schmidt returns for a look at the gonzo J-horror silliness that is Bloody Muscle Body Builder in Hell. We discuss the joys of earnest rip-offs, the downsides of polo shirts on muscular bods, and oh so much more! Bloody Muscle Body Builder in Hell is available streaming on Shudder, so don’t be shy about watching before you listen! Come back Wednesday for a new Found Footage Fool on Apollo 18! You can subscribe to the podcast on iTunes here, Stitcher, Spotify, Amazon Music and Audible, iHeartRadio, Podchaser, Google Podcasts, and anywhere fine podcasts are found! You can find all the episodes right here and say hello on Facebook or Twitter or Discord! The post The Dark Parade #39: Bloody Muscle Body Builder in Hell first appeared on Legion.

It’s Miike time again, and that means bringing in Asian horror enthusiast Derek Bourgeois for a look at Takashi Miike’s Over Your Dead Body. We talk about the blurring of the real world and that of the play represented, dig into the themes of the movie, and wrap up with three things you might not know about this film. Be careful, you just might learn something! Thanks to Derek Bourgeois for joining me! You can find more from him on Cinema Attack, They’re Here!, No More Room in Hell, and Underwater Kaiju from outer Space! You can join the discussion live on Sundays at 5pm CST at YouTube.com/LegionPodcasts and you can subscribe to the podcast on iTunes here, Stitcher, Spotify, Amazon Music and Audible, iHeartRadio, Podchaser, Google Podcasts, and anywhere fine podcasts are found! You can find all the episodes right here and say hello on Facebook or Twitter! The post The Dark Parade #25: Over Your Dead Body first appeared on Legion.

We wrap up our inaugural Listener Request Month with a return to some Asian horror roots with a look at part one of The Bloodthirsty Trilogy and The Vampire Doll. Joined by Don Anelli, we look at the Hammer horror origins of the movie, the amazing Gothic vibes, and how fun it is to see the familiar redrawn through this Japanese lens. You can find more from Don Anelli on The Horror Countdown Podcast! You can join the discussion live on Sundays at 5pm CST at YouTube.com/LegionPodcasts and you can subscribe to the podcast on iTunes here, Stitcher, Spotify, Amazon Music and Audible, iHeartRadio, Podchaser, Google Podcasts, and anywhere fine podcasts are found! You can find all the episodes right here and say hello on Facebook or Twitter! The post The Dark Parade #21: The Vampire Doll first appeared on Legion.

Get ready for the (mildly) crazy, it’s the Prisoners of the Ghostland review! It was a match made in movie Heaven. Sion Sono, the auteur behind Suicide Club and Exte and the underappreciated Tag teaming up with Nicolas Cage, an actor who embodies a peculiar bravado. Pepper that cinematic meal with Bill Mosely and Sophia Boutella and you have all the makings of a cult classic. While I’m not certain that Prisoners of the Ghostland can achieve a lofty cult status, it is a sight to behold. The story is simple. Cage, playing the archetypical Man with No name, is a convict imprisoned after a bank robbery gone bad. Following the escape by a group of women, Cage is charged with braving the apocalyptic landscape known as the Ghostland to bring one of them home. The man behind the mission is a white-clad ruler known as The Governor, played by Bill Mosely with typical gusto. And that’s it. Get the girl, bring her home. What distinguishes Prisoners of the Ghostland is the man behind the lens, Sion Sono. The script borrows heavily from Escape from New York and The Road Warrior, coupling Cage’s quest with a leather suit rigged to [...] The post Legion Podcasts: The Prisoners of the Ghostland Review first appeared on Legion.

On a new episode of Hero Hero Ghost Show, we kick off a sub-series called Ghost Show Classics with a look at the influential and surreal silent-era film A Page of Madness from Teinosuke Kinugasa. I look at everything from the effect of firebombing on silent Japanese cinema to the roots of this once-lost classic of Japanese film. Jump in! You can subscribe to Hero Hero Ghost Show on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, Spotify, Podchaser, iHeartRadio, and Google Podcasts. Catch up on back episodes here! The post Hero Hero Ghost Show: A Page of Madness first appeared on Legion.

Welcome to the finale of our look at the One Missed Call series with One Missed Call 3. Joined once more by Derek Bourgeois, we take a look at this final sequel, look back at the series as a whole, and discuss the best in Asian horror movies series. Also, Derek gives some of his personal recommendations for Asian horror movies you should check out! You can subscribe to Hero Hero Ghost Show on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, Spotify, Podchaser, iHeartRadio, and Google Podcasts. Catch up on back episodes here! The post Hero Hero Ghost Show: One Missed Call 3 first appeared on Legion.

Derek and Bo are ack to finish a look at 2005’s One Missed Call The Television Series. We celebrate Tokumei Watch, parse out all the twists and turns, and evaluate the series as a whole before next episode’s One Missed Call finale, One Missed Call: Final! You can subscribe to Hero Hero Ghost Show on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, Spotify, Podchaser, iHeartRadio, and Google Podcasts. Catch up on back episodes here! The post Hero Hero Ghost Show: One Missed Call The Television Series Part 2 2005 first appeared on Legion.

We are joined once more by Derek Bourgeois to explore the hard-to-find but wonderful One Missed Call The Television Series aka Chakushin Ari. We talk the novelization, the similarities with Miike’s film and how terrific Yokumei Watch is. You can subscribe to Hero Hero Ghost Show on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, Spotify, Podchaser, iHeartRadio, and Google Podcasts. Catch up on back episodes here! The post Hero Hero Ghost Show: One Missed Call The Television Series Part 1 2005 first appeared on Legion.

Just when you thought it was safe to answer your cell phone… it’s One Missed Call 2 2005! Returning champion Derek Bourgeois is back to comb over this tale of ghosts and curses, cell phones and coal mines, confusion and disappointment. Without the hand of auteur Takashi Miike at the helm can the One Missed Call series take a step toward greatness? Find out on the latest episode of Hero Hero Ghost Show! You can subscribe to Hero Hero Ghost Show on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, Spotify, Podchaser, iHeartRadio, and Google Podcasts. Catch up on back episodes here! The post Hero Hero Ghost Show: One Missed Call 2 2005 first appeared on Legion.

We’re kicking off a new run of shows examining the One Missed Call series, and this is gonna be a good one! We kick off with the Takashi Miike banger One Missed Call 2003, and this movie will do anything for a scare. We talk about everything from the lighting to the Fulci nods with our guest host for this series, Derek Bourgeois of Underwater Kaiju from Outer Space (among many others). It’s one of the quintessential J-horror films of the 2000s, so buckle up for a love fest – and some major spoilers as we walk through the plot and heap love on this Asian horror classic! You can subscribe to Hero Hero Ghost Show on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, Spotify, Podchaser, iHeartRadio, and Google Podcasts. Catch up on back episodes here! The post Hero Hero Ghost Show: One Missed Call 2003 first appeared on Legion.

Welcome to a Hero Hero Ghost Show side show – Solo Sono! We’re unpacking a movie from Japanese auteur Sion Sono and what better way to start than with a recent head trip of a film by the name of Tag 2015. There are mass decapitations, Lynchian character changes, pig-headed weirdoes and so much more. You can subscribe to Hero Hero Ghost Show on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, Spotify, Podchaser, iHeartRadio, and Google Podcasts. Catch up on back episodes here! The post Hero Hero Ghost Show – Solo Sono: Tag 2015 first appeared on Legion.

Richard Glenn Schmidt returns to round out our series on The Eye films from Danny and Oxide Pang. This last entry is The Child’s Eye, and it eschews the farting ghosts of The Eye 3 for a more defined narrative and some 3D gags. Also, we somehow end up talking about our shared love of Marvel films. There’s something for everyone on the latest Hero Hero Ghost Show! You can subscribe to Hero Hero Ghost Show on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, Spotify, Podchaser, iHeartRadio, and Google Podcasts. Catch up on back episodes here! The post Hero Hero Ghost Show: The Child’s Eye first appeared on Legion.

Welcome to our continuing journey through The Eye series on the Asian horror podcast, hero hero Ghost Show. Up next, The Eye 3, a surprising and often silly sequel. Joined on this journey of the ocular occult by Hello! This Is the Doomed Show’s Richard Glenn Schmidt, we strive to make sense of this odd entry. You can subscribe to Hero Hero Ghost Show on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, Spotify, Podchaser, iHeartRadio, and Google Podcasts. Catch up on back episodes here! The post Hero Hero Ghost Show: The Eye 3 first appeared on Legion.

Hero Hero Ghost Show continues our series on The Eye film series from the Pang Brothers. Up next, The Eye 2 (2004), a shift away from ocular horror to further explore the world of the dead. There’s an unlikable protagonist, some quality scares, and plenty of crazy. Jump in! You can subscribe to Hero Hero Ghost Show on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, Spotify, Podchaser, iHeartRadio, and Google Podcasts. Catch up on back episodes here! The post Hero Hero Ghost Show: The Eye 2 (2004) first appeared on Legion.

Hero Hero Ghost Show kicks off a new series of reviews with The Eye 2002. The post Hero Hero Ghost Show: The Eye 2002 first appeared on Legion.

In this very brief episode, it’s time to take a look at Train to Busan Presents: Peninsula here on Hero Hero Ghost Show. There are some mild spoilers ahead, but only general plot points, and some ensuing disappointment… The post Hero Hero Ghost Show Review: Train to Busan Presents Peninsula first appeared on Legion.

Our time creeping through the Whispering Corridors series ends with the fifth installment, A Blood Pledge aka Yeogo goedam 5: Dong-ban-ja-sa. We wind our way through the story of this ghostly tale of suicide and key-worship before pondering a few blood pledges of our own, and we wrap things up with a ranking of the Whispering Corridors movies. Thanks, as always, for joining us on these little romps. Next time, something ocular! iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/hero-hero-ghost-show/id1102947580 Stitcher: https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/bo-ransdell/hero-hero-ghost-show Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3wDJbjAc4DR0scWnMnjlr7?si=Z8WExrD0Ro6aEqRIKnzYaA TuneIn: https://tunein.com/podcasts/Arts–Culture-Podcasts/Hero-Hero-Ghost-Show-p1235337/ Google Play: https://play.google.com/music/listen?u=0#/ps/Iqau3dtpjhgbsoz6zj5bo2d4fd4 The post Hero Hero Ghost Show: Bonus – A Blood Pledge with Richard Glenn Schmidt first appeared on Legion.

We return with another installment in the Whispering Corridors series, aka a bunch of Korean horror movies set in high school with lesbian overtones. This time, we’re talking a ghost story involving an unreliable spook and, naturally, talk turns to toilet paper and Richard Jaeckel. The post Hero Hero Ghost Show: Bonus Episode – Voice w/ Richard Glenn Schmidt first appeared on Legion.

Hero Hero Ghost Show returns with a continuation of our bonus series looking at the Whispering Corridors series. Faithful ally Richard Glenn Schmidt is on board again for the third entry, Wishing Stairs. While we intended to do both this film and the follow-up, Voice, but we were so enamored by Wishing Stairs, we made it its own episode! You can check out more Hero Hero Ghost Show here: iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/hero-hero-ghost-show/id1102947580 Stitcher: https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/bo-ransdell/hero-hero-ghost-show Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3wDJbjAc4DR0scWnMnjlr7?si=Z8WExrD0Ro6aEqRIKnzYaA TuneIn: https://tunein.com/podcasts/Arts–Culture-Podcasts/Hero-Hero-Ghost-Show-p1235337/ Google Play: https://play.google.com/music/listen?u=0#/ps/Iqau3dtpjhgbsoz6zj5bo2d4fd4 The post Hero Hero Ghost Show – Bonus Episode: Wishing Stairs with Richard Glenn Schmidt first appeared on Legion.

Welcome back to Hero Hero Ghost Show! We have a great one this time around. Mike Marryman is here to talk Hideo Nakata’s Dark Water. Cort Psyops shows up in The G-Spot to talk Invasion of Astro-Monster.  And no show would be complete without a look at divorce in Japan. So, what are we waiting for? Forget the kids at school, it’s Hero Hero Time! The post Hero Hero Ghost Show – Dark Water first appeared on Legion.

It’s here! A brand new episode of Hero Hero Ghost Show has arrived! We welcome Jerry Herring of Kill the Cast and Underwater Kaiju from Outer Space fame to chat about the bananas films, Meatball Machine and Kodoku Meatball Machine. We try to make some sense of the J-splatter silliness and manage to divert into discussions of Sion Sono, Takashi Miike, and the often-uncomfortable relationship with sexuality in Japanese cinema. Also, a trip to the G-Spot with Cort Psyops as we look at Ghidorah, the Three-Headed Monster! Enough chatting, let’s get to splatting! Opening song: In the Sad Forest by RAINASH Closing song: New Days by Sekai Ichi The post Hero Hero Ghost Show! Meatball Machine and Kodoku Meatball Machine first appeared on Legion.

Welcome back to Hero Hero Ghost Show!  This time around, we have a star-studded slam-bang episode!  First, Cort joins us in The G-Spot to talk Mothra vs Godzilla (aka Godzilla vs the Thing) before we welcome Duncan McLeish for a discussion of Chan-wook Park’s Thirst.  There’s mah jongg parties, armpit licking and much, much more…   Warning!  Things get sexy! Opening Song: 808 by Suchmos Closing Song: Fukanshou by PANORAMAPANAMATOWN The post Hero Hero Ghost Show – Thirst first appeared on Legion.

Join Cort Psyops and myself for a look at the first Technicolor appearance of the Big G, and he’s brought a monkey along for fun!  We talk parasol weakness, non-habit forming narcotic berries, the Smog Monster goes to rehab, bad Hokkaido vacation packages, amazing octopi, Kong’s wicked berry habit, bad Brando, Elvis Kong, the benefits of electricity-eating, Kong’s big cheat, and more! Opening Song: Incomplete by Girugamesh Closing Song: Bad Kicks by DYGL Join us for the next episode where we’ll check back in with the Big G and we’ll get Thirst-y! The post Hero Hero Ghost Show: King Kong vs Godzilla first appeared on Legion.

Welcome back to a brand new bonus episode of Hero Hero Ghost Show.  Now in a world where no new Tomie films exist (much the shame), Richard Glenn Schmidt returns to tackle another female-centric series of films.  This time, we look into the world of all-girls high schools in South Korea with the Whispering Corridors series.  In the first film, titled appropriately enough Whispering Corridors, a vengeful spirit may or may not be possessing a student and murdering teachers, but maybe that’s not the worst thing.  In the second, the lyrical Momento Mori, we return to another high school in this spiritual sequel where two girls discover a forbidden love and narrative logic is tossed out the window. We discuss the controversies surrounding both films on their release and what makes these films standouts in the genre, as well as get very, very silly with bonus ghosts, lesbian undertones and overtones, spooky giant ghosts, what makes a Whispering Corridors movie, nihilistic nachos and much more! Opening song: Dice by Band Maid Closing song: Silence Ocean by Tears of Tragedy We’ll be back very soon with King Kong vs Godzilla! The post Hero Hero Ghost Show – Bonus Episode: Whispering Corridors and Momento Mori with Richard Glenn Schmidt first appeared on Legion.

Here for a super special bonus team up episode of Who Will Survive? and Hero Hero Ghost Show! Marco, Paul, and Bo are joined by writer/director Kurando Mitsutake. After discovering his movie Gun Woman and falling in love with it, we needed to see more from Kurando. Luckily our paths crossed and we were able to work out some time for this extended interview show. Since Mr. Mitsutake was so generous with his time we were able to learn a lot about all 3 of his movies – Samurai Avenger: The Blind Wolf, Gun Woman, and Karate Kill. This was a great time and we really enjoyed speaking with him. We hope you enjoy it too.   Post intro music by Dean Harada from the Gun Woman & Karate Kill soundtracks.   Outro : Gun Woman by Dean Harada w Claire Wadsworth & Asami   Kurando Mitsutake: twitter: @mkurando website: www.kurandomitsutake.com   Amazon rent or buy:   Samurai Avenger: The Blind Wolf   Gun Woman   Karate Kill   Brought to you by the Legion Podcasts Network   Hero Hero Ghost Show!   Apple Podcasts: https://itunes.apple.com/mn/podcast/hero-hero-ghost-show/id1102947580?mt=2   http://www.legionpodcasts.com/hero-hero-ghost-show/   Who Will Survive?   Apple Podcasts: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/who-will-survive/id1342446357?mt=2   http://www.legionpodcasts.com/category/wws/   Who [...] The post Hero Hero Who Will Ghost Survive? w/ Kurando Mitsutake first appeared on Legion.

Welcome back to a new episode of Hero Hero Ghost Show! We pay respects to Ren Osugi before diving into a the Sion Sono/Ren Osugi film, Exte! Haunted hair, family drama and rampant abuse form this tale of a vengeful spirit that also serves as a surprisingly radical take on J-horror in general. Also, we dive into The G-Spot with Cort Psyops to talk Godzilla Raids Again! The post Hero Hero Ghost Show – Exte: Hair Extensions first appeared on Legion.

Welcome to Hero Hero Ghost Show!, a podcast all about Asian horror, and this time around we’re going straight to Tokyo Bay with special guest Cort Psyops from Cinema Psyops to get under the scales of a temperamental gentleman named Godzilla.  Did you ever wonder who came up with Godzilla in the first place?  Or what a kaiju is?  Or maybe you just enjoy Gamera digressions.  I don’t know how you live.  Join us for a look at everyone’s favorite city-stompin’ reptile in ways you may have never seen him before… It’s new Hero Hero Ghost Show! everyone! The post Hero Hero Ghost Show! – Godzilla first appeared on Legion.

It’s Bro-mies before Ho-mies when Richard-mie joins Bo-mie for our final trip into the realm of Tomie, the cinematic adaptations of Junji Ito’s manga.  And we are going out in style, friends and neighbors.  In addition to discussing two of the more interesting entries into this series, we talk a little gialli, discuss which in the series best captures the spirit of the comic and much, much more! Opening Song: dear sad big laugher by Mop of Head, feat. UCARY and The Valentine Closing Song: Thank You for the Music (Nui!) by bonobos The post Hero Hero Ghost Show! – Tomie vs Tomie & Tomie Unlimited w/Richard Glenn Schmidt first appeared on Legion.

Welcome back, everyone!  In further proof of our obsession with Japanese love demons, I am joined by Hello! This is the Doomed Show’s Richard Glenn Schmidt for a stroll down Tomie lane.  This time, we examine films six and seven (!) of the long-running series of films, this time helmed by original Tomie director Ataru Oikawa.  With Tomie: Beginning, Oikawa creates his own prequel.  Why do we keep flashing forward?  How great is Gondo?  And, of course, Homeless Pele makes an appearance.  Then, we tackle Tomie: Revenge, perhaps the absolute bottom of the barrel in Junji Ito’s mythos.  Did anyone not know Yukiko was a Tomie?  Why keep referencing things that would make this movie a million times better and not show it?  And why is there no Gondo?!  We also force dozens of Tomie-related puns, surprise Richard by NOT being Duncan and pitch Hollywood on the Canadian Tomie film the world needs. Check out Richard at Hello! This is the Doomed Show and peek at his books here. See you next time for a regular episode, featuring an old pal from the Devour days of podcasting! Opening song: Live to Die Another Day by Miyavi Closing song: Super Love by Sunny [...] The post Hero Hero Ghost Show! Bonus Episode – Tomie: Beginning & Tomie: Revenge first appeared on Legion.

We’re back, and this time… it’s personal!  Well, if not personal, certainly weird.  We’re talking Sion Sono’s Suicide Club with Black Annis’s Misty Marchant, and we cover this thing like pros, including why Genesis set up shop in a bowling alley, Charles Manson trivia, the gleeful black comedy of this movie and fun talk about suicide!  Also, Sion Sono time travel theories! Opening Song: Karma War by Aiko Closing Song: Ghost in a Closet by Spangle Call Lilli Line Next time… more Sono! The post Hero Hero Ghost Show! – Suicide Club first appeared on Legion.

Welcome back to Hero Hero Ghost Show!  I’ve been away a while, but back in time to celebrate a day of togetherness… and what better way to celebrate than with the two women that perhaps best represent Japanese horror?  That’s right, we’re talking Ringu vs Ju-on, yurei vs yurei… it’s Sadako vs Kayako! In a solo run, we go through the surprisingly comprehensible story, the awesomeness of Tamao, the superior rock-tossing skills of Keizo and the final, titular battle!  Does this movie actually work?  Is it a worthy sequel to both of these franchises?  And why did anyone ever think a wicker lid would work?  Get the cash from under the altar, let’s get ghoulish! Opening Song: Kyouran Hey Kids! by The Oral Cigarettes Closing Song: Noroi no Shananana by Seikima II   Next time, no foolin’, we are going to figure out if we are connected to ourselves! The post Hero Hero Ghost Show! Valentine’s Day Special: Sadako vs Kayako first appeared on Legion.

Welcome back to Hero Hero Ghost Show!  Relieved of solo duties, I am joined by Hello! This is the Doomed Show‘s Richard Glenn Schmidt for our second venture into the land of Japanese love demons.  We begin with Takashi Shimizu’s wonderful take on the Tomie story, Tomie: Rebirth, and it’s amazing set pieces and horrible gift-giving ideas.  Then, we take on Tomie: Forbidden Fruit, the movie that should be the naughtiest in the series and somehow just… isn’t.  Warning, there is a whole lot of silliness contained in this episode. Opening Song: Another Starting Line by Hi-Standard Closing Song: Aura by Pampas Fields Noise Found Art   The post Hero Hero Ghost Show! Tomie Special #2 – Tomie: Rebirth and Tomie: Forbidden Fruit first appeared on Legion.

The solo train keeps rolling, but enough bonus content, let’s do a real episode!  This time out, we take a look at a listener request in the form of Carved: The Slit-Mouthed Woman.  Based on an urban legend, the movie is a weird blend of urban fairy tale, slasher and treatise on child abuse… maybe?  We take a stroll through the plot before trying to figure out if this is just an entertaining piece of horror cinema or if something deeper is going on under the hood.  Spoilers, there is.  Also, Japanese urban legends revealed! Opening Song: Human Noise by Aural Vampire Closing Song: Masterpiece by RIP SLYME Join us next time for haunted hair! The post Hero Hero Ghost Show! Season Two: Episode Four – Carved: The Slit-Mouthed Woman first appeared on Legion.

Here we are, just the two of us.  Sure, we usually have some guest yammering on about one movie or another, but if we could distill the show into its purest state, something that could lead to the dawning of a new age?  Or, you could just join me for a solo show in which we discuss Takashi Miike’s entry into the Masters of Horror series, “Imprint.”  And why not get a little nutty with the low-fi gorefest, Stacy: Attack of the Schoolgirl Zombies?  And maybe even a listener question!  It’s just us, so put on the candles, slip into something a little more comfortable and dim the lights.  We’re going to get weird. Opening Song: Ride or Die by GACKT Closing Song: Don’t Know Where It Is by DYGL Next time: Are you connected to yourself? The post Hero Hero Ghost Show! Season Two – Special Episode: Imprint and Stacy: Attack of the Schoolgirl Zombies first appeared on Legion.

Ah, Asian horror…  With its technicolor lighting and Goblin-esque scores, the brutal killings, the maggots on the ceilings…  Hey, wait a second!  That doesn’t sound like Asian horror at all!  And that’s just what makes 1988’s Evil Dead Trap such an oddball piece of cinema.  The movie director Toshiharu Ikeda swears was not influenced by countless giallo movies is a weird blend of classic horror tropes, but through the eyes of a director who spent much of his career in Japan’s Pink subgenre.  Along with Hello! This is the Doomed Show!‘s Richard Glenn Schmidt, we get into the wonderful highs and genuinely disturbing lows, and still have no answers for the ball gag guy.  Also, a very brief history of Japan’s Pink cinema!  Let’s head into the definitely NOT Italian-inspired mayhem of Evil Dead Trap! Thanks again to my partner in Tomie-related crime, Richard Glenn Schmidt!  You can find more from Richard at Doomed Moviethon and catch his books Cinema Somnambulist and Giallo Meltdown! Opening Song: Told U So by Illion Closing Song: Mint by Suchmos Next week… are you connected to yourself? The post Hero Hero Ghost Show! Season Two: Episode Three – Evil Dead Trap first appeared on Legion.

Welcome back to Season Two of Hero Hero Ghost Show!  Boy howdy, do we have a weird one tonight – the seminal Japanese body horror/cyberpunk/splatter movie, Tetsuo the Iron Man.  This is one of those movies people intend to see, yet never quite get around to it.  Along with my co-host Gary Hill (of Two Drink Minimum Commentaries and Cinema Beef fame), we explain why you kinda need to see this to know what you’re missing.  It’s expressionistic, it’s loud, it’s slightly Evil Dead by way of KMFDM… it’s Tetsuo and there’s nothing else like it.  Join us as we try to make sense of it all!  Also, a look at the roots of Japanese cyberpunk! Big thanks to Gary Hill for coming along for this ride.  Check out more from Gary on the Cinema Beef page and Two Drink Minimum Commentaries! Opening Song: Rock the Lm.c. by LM.C Closing Song: Let It Sway by DYGL Next week… none of us will ever be truly clean again! The post Hero Hero Ghost Show! Season Two: Episode 2 – Tetsuo the Iron Man first appeared on Legion.

Hey Ghost Show Heroes!  We are back for a new ten-episode run of the best and strangest in Asian horror, and we’re starting with a bang.  That’s right, it’s Ringu, the movie that made us all scared of long haired girls in wells.  We dig into the iconic moments of the film, diabeetus ghosts, raising your children Amish, SGF treatments, the Sadako vs Scanners movie we never got and warm parenting memories from the film.  Also, a look at the various versions of the film and its divergent sequels. Big thanks, as always, to Duncan McLeish for kicking off the new season in style!  Check out more from Duncan right here! Opening Song: This Ordinary by Not Wonk Closing Song: Anti-Hero by Sekai no Owari Next week… penis drills! The post Hero Hero Ghost Show! Season Two Premiere: Ringu first appeared on Legion.

Hey there, Ghost Show Heroes!  We’re still getting things ready for Season Two, but that doesn’t mean you don’t deserve your fair share of Asian horror goodness.  To keep you tantalized, I have enlisted the help of both a Japanese love demon named Tomie and an American love demon named Richard Glenn Schmidt (he of Hello! This is the Doomed Show).  We’re making our way through every damn Tomie film, starting with the television anthology Tomie: Another Face in which we debate the relative skeeviness of dating someone who you think is your old crush’s daughter.  Then, we set our sights on Tomie: Replay, a striking outing in the series that boasts heads in tanks, intricate plotting and character relationships and some quality body horror. Remember we’re giving away Tomie and Tomie: Replay to jump start your own Tomie collection.  Check our Facebook page here for more details! Enough advertisin’, let’s get to Tomie-in’! Opening Song: Sunny Day by Androp Closing Song: Don’t Worry Boys by Homecoming The post Hero Hero Ghost Show! Bonus Episode #2 – Tomie: Another Face and Tomie: Replay first appeared on Legion.

You may not immediately recognize the name of our guest, but you will after this episode!  Colette Balmain is a speaker and author specializing in Asian horror and literally wrote the book on the subject.  Her book, Introduction to Japanese Horror Film, is preparing for its second edition release and has been an invaluable tool in researching this show.  She was kind enough to come on and talk what makes Asian horror scary, the best examples of these films, both old and new, the joys of gore cinema, resolving cultural differences as a viewer and manages to be absolutely charming while name-dropping Big Tits Zombie on several occasions.  I found the conversation to be enlightening and funny, and I hope you enjoy it, too. Do me a favor and follow Colette on Twitter here (@ColetteBalmain) and keep up with her latest work and maybe even drop her a line and tell her how great she was on the show (which she most certainly is!).  While you’re at it, hop over to iTunes and leave us a rating and review to help spread the word, and be sure to tell your fellow horror-loving brothers and sisters about the show, too! We’ll be back [...] The post Hero Hero Ghost Show! – Bonus Episode #1: Colette Balmain first appeared on Legion.

Welcome to the final episode of season one!  It has been a long and winding road, but we find ourselves at the end (for now) and in the arms of a love demon named Tomie.  Joined by Richard Glenn Schmidt of Hello! This is the Doomed Show! fame and resident Tomie expert, our heroes examine heads in bags, disco fashion, basket babies and just what makes Tomie such a unique and unsettling villain.  Also, a PSA on what YOU can do to identify and avoid a Tomie. Big thanks to Richard for educating us on the Tomie legacy and thanks again to all the listeners of season one who have reviewed the show and left messages on Facebook and by email.  You guys make this show an incredibly rewarding show to do. You can join us on Facebook here and subscribe on iTunes (and leave us a review) here! Opening Song: Leech by The Gazette Closing Song: Super Wonderful by Bradio   See you in October!!!   The post Hero Hero Ghost Show! Episode 13 – Tomie first appeared on Legion.

The penultimate episode of season one of Hero Hero Ghost Show has arrived!  Joined by David Anders of Devour the Podcast fame (or infamy), we sit down to talk about the Japanese ghost apocalypse film, Pulse.  We talk about the film’s creepy imagery, the existentialist horror of the film, how ghost unions work, how anyone would allow Kawashima to drive after his ghostly encounter and just how long Walker, Texas Ranger ran on television.  It all makes some kind of sense, I swear!  Throw on those Cure records and get ready for some Asian emo! You can join us on Facebook here and subscribe on iTunes (and leave us a review) here! Opening Song: Good Bye by High and Mighty Color Closing Song: Cherry Red by Disacode Join us next week for a spectral schoolgirl and Richard Glenn Schmidt! The post Hero Hero Ghost Show! Episode 12 – Pulse first appeared on Legion.

Way back in episode one, I promised Takashi Miike would return, and boy is this a return worth waiting for.  Ichi the Killer is part mob story, part twisted father/son fable and all blood-drenched (among other fluids).  This movie, and the episode, are not for the faint of heart as we dive into the extreme imagery, what it takes to forget about all that semen at the beginning, how unions are affecting semen-supplying crew, how Miike seems to critique his own movies as he makes them and what the hell that ending is all about.  Get your plastic out, the first three rows WILL get wet! You can join us on Facebook here and subscribe on iTunes (and leave us a review) here! Opening Song: You Just Not Only One by 8otto Closing Song: 5 by Molice Join us next week for a mini Devour the Podcast reunion as David Anders drops by to talk about ghosts n our computers! The post Hero Hero Ghost Show! Episode 11 – Ichi the Killer first appeared on Legion.

This is not a test!  A brand new episode of Hero Hero Ghost Show is here and, brothers and sisters, it is a classic on the menu tonight.  Kinji Fukasaku’s Battle ROyale is a brutal, taboo-shattering slice of Japanese cinema and has earned the moniker ‘classic’ since it’s 2000 release. Joining us is Ricky Morgan, from Hail Ming Power Hour and a returning champion, having accompanied us last on Episode 5 for the movie Phone.  What is it with Ricky and crazy kids? You can join us on Facebook here and subscribe on iTunes (and leave us a review) here! Opening Song: Burning Soul by Matenrou Opera Closing Song: Thrill by Band Maid See you next week for a brand new episode featuring Andy Blockley and a killer named Ichi!   The post Hero Hero Ghost Show! Episode 10 – Battle Royale first appeared on Legion.

Welcome to the latest episode of Hero Hero Ghost Show! This time around, we set the Asian horror wayback machine (AHWM) to 1968 and the Kaneto Shindo ghost story, Kuroneko.  Joined by The Podcast Under the Stair’s Duncan McLeish, we dive into the traditional aspects of the story, what we would do for a goblin cat, alternate Fred Flintstone catchphrases, pink cinema, dubbed laughter and what a pain it is to hand someone something in feudal Japan. Finally, you can join us on Facebook here and subscribe on iTunes (and leave us a review) here! Opening Song: Light My Fire by Kotoko Closing Song: Wonderful World by Plastic Soul Band See you next week for a brand new episode! The post Hero Hero Ghost Show! Episode 9 – Kuroneko first appeared on Legion.

Welcome back to Hero Hero Ghost Show!  So, apologies for the delay in getting the latest episode to you, but scheduling and life conspired to derail us for a couple of weeks.  We’re back with a vengeance, however.  This time around, Kiss the Goat and Screen Kings host Jeffrey X Martin joins us to discuss the 1977 classic (?) Hausu.  Most times when you wonder how a movie got made, it’s due to the inherent awfulness of the film.  In the case of Hausu, it’s a minor miracle.  Hausu is weird, free-wheeling haunted house hijinx, and, in the spirit of the movie itself, we discuss the strangeness of the film’s plot, how a movie like this DID get made, subtle allegories involving rooms filled with blood and young girls, the downside of witch-cat ownership and whether or not Eddie Deezen was in Midnight Madness.  Can you place all the references dropped in this episode? Finally, you can join us on Facebook here and subscribe on iTunes (and leave us a review) here! Opening Song: Devil’s Party by Crossfaith Closing Song: Neo-Japanese Heroine by exist’trace See you next week for Kuroneko with Duncan McLeish of The Podcast Under the Stairs and Chronicle! The post Hero Hero Ghost Show! Episode 8 – Hausu first appeared on Legion.

Welcome to a brand new episode of Hero Hero Ghost Show! This episode, we’re exploring the twisted (heh!) mind of Junki Ito and the film adaptation of Uzumaki.  Joined by Brian Sammons, expert editor and co-host of Evil Episodes and The ABCs of Hidden Horror, we dive into the weird world of a spiral-afflicted village.  Buckle yourself in for spiral puns, Yeats quotes and speculation on human snail behavior.  Also, a look at the roots of the term manga and our very first listener email! Big thanks to Brian Sammons again for coming on and, of course, Lovecraft comparisons abound. If you would like to ask a question of Hero Hero Ghost Show!, send us an email at herohero@legionpodcasts.com. Finally, you can join us on Facebook here and subscribe on iTunes (and leave us a review) here! Opening Song: Double Dragon by LM. C Closing Song: Hitohira No Hanabira by Stereopony. See you next week for Ichi the Killer with Andy Blockley of Big Horror in Little Podcast! The post Hero Hero Ghost Show!: Episode 7 – Uzumaki first appeared on Legion.

Welcome back to Episode 6 of Hero Hero Ghost Show!  Boy, do we have a good one today.  I’m joined by Zena Dixon of Girls Will be Ghouls (a podcast you can find right here on LegionPodcasts.com) to discuss Dream Home, a Hong Kong slasher from 2010.  We talk about our mutual love of House, Zena’s admiration for a really effective killer and whether a slasher can ever really be “too smart.”  If you’re a horror fan, you are not going to want to miss this one! You can find Zena on the web at www.realqueenofhorror.com, and find her YouTube channel right here. One quick correction note, I said our next guest will be Brain Collins, but only because I am not smart.  Brian Sammons will be joining us for Uzumaki. Finally, you can join us on Facebook here and subscribe on iTunes (and leave us a review) here! Opening Song: Dada by Radwimps Closing Song: Reddish by Despair’sRay See you next week for Uzumaki with Brian Sammons of The ABCs of Horror! The post Hero Hero Ghost Show!: Episode 6 – Dream Home first appeared on Legion.

Welcome for round five of Hero Hero Ghost Show!  We now turn our eyes to an oft-used trope in Asian horror cinema – the technological as a source of terror.  For our first foray into techno-horror goodness, I’m joined by Ricky Morgan of the Hail Ming Power Hour to discuss Phone, a story of ghosts, possession and poor Motorola customer service.  We talk story, the amazing child actor that is probably a genuine killer, transgressive imagery, Disney, how to make a haunted house and so much more! Opening Song: The Non-Fiction Days by Band-Maid Closing Song: Ms. Panic by Molice You can join us on Facebook here and subscribe on iTunes (and leave us a review) here! See you next week for Dream Home with Zena Dixon of Girls Will Be Ghouls! The post Hero Hero Ghost Show!: Episode 5 – Phone first appeared on Legion.

Welcome back, Ghost Show heroes!  First of all, thanks to all who have been listening and offering feedback.  You guys are the best!  Enough pandering, though, we have ghosts to talk about!  In particular, Taeko, Kayako and Toshio, the unholy trinity of spooks in Takashi Shimizu’s Ju-on.  Dave Zendano of the Exploding Heads Horror Podcast joins me to talk about the often confusing plot, the similarities between this film and classic Western horror, black cats (some stuffed), croaking and how fear is like a sense of humor.  big thanks to dave for lending his passion and expertise to the show! Opening Song: Sex on the Bach by TsuShiMaMiRe Closing Song: Escapism by Head Phones President You can join us on Facebook here and subscribe on iTunes (and leave us a review) here! See you next week for Phone with Ricky Morgan from the Hail Ming Power Hour! The post Hero Hero Ghost Show!: Episode 4 – Ju-on first appeared on Legion.

  Welcome to Episode 3 of Hero Hero Ghost Show!  This time around, we’re talking Ryuhei Kitamura’s chanbara-inspired bouillabaisse of weirdness, Versus.  Is this the perfect introductory film to Japanese horror?  What’s with the kicking guy?  Is our lead character as feminist as he claims to be?  Also, we talk the origins of the film and why it’s kitchen sink approach to filmmaking may work in its favor! Big thanks to Mike Maryman and be sure to check out Mike and the rest of the gang at Evil Episodes! You can see Kitamura’s short film upon which Versus is based here. If there’s a movie you’d like to hear us discuss, drop us a line here. Join us for more talk about Asian horror at www.facebook.com/groups/HeroHeroGhostShow Thanks for listening! Opening Song: Bright Light by Yui Suzuki Closing Song: Toumei Answer by Jin The post Hero Hero Ghost Show!: Episode 3 – Versus first appeared on Legion.

Now that we’ve broken the seal on Asian horror with Audition, it’s time to embrace the weird of Tokyo Gore Police, a movie that boasts Cronenberg levels of body mutation and injury.  Is the movie political, or is it the cinematic fever dream of director Yoshihiro Nishimura?  Can the plot be deciphered by mere mortals?  What’s the deal with all the cutting?  Fortunately, we have Black Annis’s Misty Marchant here to help me assemble the plot into a semi-decipherable state and talk about the joys of chair ladies, getting groped on the subway, proper dental care of breast-teeth and the need for a gimp in our lives. Thank you so much for the kind words about episode one, and feel free to leave feedback here. Join us for more talk about Asian horror at www.facebook.com/groups/HeroHeroGhostShow Thanks for listening! Opening Song: Gimme Chocolate by BABYMETAL Closing Song: Pool by Tricot   The post Hero Hero Ghost Show: Episode 2 – Tokyo Gore Police first appeared on Legion.

  Welcome to Episode 1 of Hero Hero Ghost Show!  This podcast is devoted entirely to Asian horror cinema, and we’re not screwing around on the premiere episode.  We’re talking Takashi Miike’s Audition, joined by Duncan McLeish of Chronicle and The Podcast Under the Stairs.  We discuss the story, the uniquely Japanese cultural significance of the plot and, of course, the shocking imagery of the film.  Also, alternate interpretations of the movie, the first official bumper sticker for the show, official rankings and plenty of vomit talk and the proper maintenance thereof. Thanks to Duncan McLeish for cracking the bottle over the bow on the show! Join us for more talk about Asian horror at www.facebook.com/groups/HeroHeroGhostShow Email questions and comments to herohero@legionpodcasts.com. Thanks for listening! Opening Song: Super Drive by CANTOY Closing Song: Giant Kitty by Shonen Knife   The post Hero Hero Ghost Show: Episode 1 – Audition first appeared on Legion.