Ep. 05-32: Black Sabbath (1963)

Boris Karloff hosts (and stars in) this trio of atmospheric horror tales. In The Telephone, a woman is terrorized in her apartment by phone calls from a man in her past. In The Wurdalak, a Russian count in the early stumbles upon a family in the countryside trying to destroy a vicious line of vampires. And finally, in A Drop of Water, a nurse makes a fateful decision while preparing the corpse of one of her patients – an elderly medium who died during a seance.

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Ep. 05-30: Wes Craven’s New Nightmare (1994)

Reality and fantasy meet in unsettling ways in (Wes Craven’s) New Nightmare (1994), which finds director, Craven, and actors Heather Langenkamp and Robert Englund all portraying themselves. As Heather considers making another film with Craven, her son, Dylan (Miko Hughes), falls under the spell of the iconic disfigured villain Freddy Krueger (Robert Englund). Eventually, Langenkamp must confront Freddy’s demonic spirit to save Dylan’s soul.

Time for a third dip into Wes Craven’s oeuvre, but this one is technically our second film in the Nightmare on Elm Street franchise. With Wes Craven’s New Nightmare (1994), Craven was coming into his stride as a credible filmmaker which he went on to further prove in his follow-up Scream (1996). Join us as we discuss the good and bad of this very unique film, including the meta-ness of actors playing themselves in a fictional story, fewer one-liners and more horror, and the overall fun of seeing the original team together once again. Listen as Johnny Has the Keys goes to 1990s Los Angeles, where dreams may come true, but earthquakes and familiar nightmares still dwell.

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Ep. 05-28: Drag Me to Hell (2009)

Christine Brown (Alison Lohman) has a loving boyfriend (Justin Long) and a great job at a Los Angeles bank. But her heavenly life becomes hellish when, in an effort to impress her boss, she denies an old woman’s request for an extension on her home loan. In retaliation, the crone places a curse on Christine, threatening her soul with eternal damnation. Christine seeks a psychic’s help to break the curse, but the price to save her soul may be more than she can pay.

Sam Raimi, it’s been way too long! Four seasons ago we discussed a little movie called The Evil Dead (1981) and why we have such a connection with it. Today we’re back in horror territory (as Sam was at the time) with 2009’s Drag Me to Hell. Join us as we discuss the pros and cons of Sam’s return to horror, including the cast, screenplay, and special effects. Listen as Johnny Has the Keys has a very short time to remove a curse before demons come and drag us to hell!

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Ep. 05-26: The Devil’s Backbone (2001)

After losing his father, 10-year-old Carlos arrives at the Santa Lucia School, which shelters orphans of the Republican militia and politicians, and is taken in by the steely headmistress, Carmen, and the kindly professor, Casares. Soon after his arrival, Carlos has a run-in with the violent caretaker, Jacinto. Gradually, Carlos uncovers the secrets of the school, including the youthful ghost that wanders the grounds.

We’re back in the gorgeous world of Guillermo Del Toro and our first foreign language feature. The Devil’s Backbone (2001), though relatively unknown to US audiences, is an exciting early glimpse into the mind of the visual storytelling auteur. Join us as we discuss the film’s origins, its Mexican-Spanish connection, and the universal impact of such a small, unique story. Listen, as Johnny Has the Keys journeys back to the Spanish Civil War where ghosts seek answers to the savageness of humanity.