The Horror Double Bill
Welcome to The Horror Double Bill, the podcast where each week we pair classic and modern horror films to create something greater than the sum of its parts. Inspired by the legendary BBC2 horror double bills of the 1970s and 1980s, each week we discuss two films that share twisted themes, unsettling atmospheres, or strange connections
From the shadowy corridors of black and white classics to the paranoia-fueled chaos of the 21st-century, we take a deep dive into what makes these films memorable and the social context in which they were made. Expect discussions on film history, censorship, director profiles, folklore, and cultural anxieties.
Subscribe for unexpected pairings, and a celebration of horror as a feeling not just a genre.
New episodes every Sunday.
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The Horror Double Bill
Episode 8: Isle of the Dead (1945) & Martin (1977)
Episode Eight: Isle of the Dead (1945) & Martin (1977) : There's no such thing as a vampire.
Welcome to episode 8 of The Horror Double Bill – the podcast where we put two films together to create something greater than the sum its parts.
This week we are unpacking 2 rather unusual takes on vampire mythology. First up is Isle of the Dead from 1945, produced by Val Lewton, who we discussed back ion episode two, and starring the legendary Boris Karloff. Then we jump forward 32 years to 1977 and Martin from director George A Romero’s, which marks the first time that Romero would work with special effects wizard Tom Savini. This is a character study of a young man who believes himself to be a vampire, or then again maybe he doesn’t, and was one of the director’s favourites of all his films.
Contact and socials
IG: the horrordoublebill
email: thehorrordoublebill@gmail.com
References used for this episode:
Boris Karloff & Isle of the Dead:
Karloff.com
Val Lewton The Reality of Terror by Joel E Siegel
Universal Horror by Tom Weaver, Micheal Brunas and John Brunas
Dreams of Darkness by Jp Telotte
Icons of Grief, Val Lewton’s Home Front Pictures by Alexander Nemerov
American Gothic: Six Decades of Classic Horror Cinema by Jonathan Rigby
George A Romero & Martin
George A Romero Interviews, edited by Tony Williams
George A Romero on Screen by Chris Wade
The American Nightmare (documentary):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k5v03a_zCSM&t=3928s
Various special features and commentaries on the Blu Ray release of the film from Second Sight films and the Immortal Edition DVD release from Arrow Video
Instagram: @thehorrordoublebill
email: thehorrordoublebill@gmail.com
youtube: @thehorrordoublebill
artwork by Justin Parker (IG jpkr_illustration.com)