horror films

342: Halloween (1978)

It's Halloween week! And what better way to celebrate than with the ultimate spooky movie season movie: HALLOWEEN! John Carpenter and Debra Hill's 1978 slasher is a must for fans of the season. But we only recognize the original as the One True Halloween movie. Jamie Lee Curtis stars as Laurie Strode, a 17-year-old babysitter whose night is ruined by 21-year-old mask-wearing, knife-wielding hospital escapee Michael Myers.
Happy Halloween from the Dames!

341: The Fly (1986)

Spooky Movie Month continues as the Dames discuss the 1986 horror film The Fly. Directed by David Cronenberg, this adaptation of the 1957 film stars Jeff Goldblum as Seth Grundle, an eccentric scientist whose teleportation experiment goes horribly wrong when he splices himself with a fly. The film also stars Geena Davis and John Getz.
Clip from THE FLY courtesy of 20th Century Studios.

340: The Watcher in the Woods (1980)

Spooky Movie Month continues as we look back at the zany 1980 Disney horror movie, The Watcher in the Woods. Adapted from Florence Engel Randall's 1976 novel, John Hough directed the film that was widely panned by critics, pulled from theaters, and given a new ending. The film stars Bette Davis, Carroll Baker, Lynn-Holly Johnson, Kyle Richards, David McCallum, Richard Pasco, and Ian Bannen.

Episode 339: Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein (1948)

Spooky Season starts in earnest, and we're kicking it off with a movie that scared the hell out of four-year-old Lauren: Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein. Comedy team Abbott and Costello play baggage handlers who run into a bevy of Universal Monsters including Count Dracula (Bela Lugosi), the Wolf Man (Lon Chaney, Jr.), and the Frankenstein Monster (Glenn Strange), in a creepy castle in...Florida? The film would go on to become a template for horror comedies, and the most successful movie in the Frankenstein series since the original.
Next week will be The Watcher in the Woods (1980), which is weirdly hard to get a hold of (but well worth the effort!).

Episode 300: The Babadook (2014)

For our 300th episode, we finally discuss Jennifer Kent's brilliant 2014 horror film, The Babadook.

299: Rosemary's Baby (1968)

The Dames interrogate one of the more controversial of the great horror films: 1968's Rosemary's Baby, starring Mia Farrow and John Cassavetes, and directed by Roman Polanski.
A complicated, multi-faceted film that's not always easy to talk about, both for its content and the feelings surrounding its director, there's no doubt that we have a lot to say about this one...including whether it might, maybe, be feminist (or not).
We'll be back next week with Episode 300, talking The Babadook with a special guest!

298: Interview With a Vampire (1994)

This week, we continue Spooky Movie Month with vampires! Specifically, the 1994 Neil Jordan horror adaptation, Interview With a Vampire. We're talking Tom Cruise, Anne Rice, Louis' incessant whining, and the way Kirsten Dunst would be unfairly branded for years to come.

Episode 297: Deep Red (Profondo Rosso)

Spooky season is upon us, which means SPOOKY MOVIES! We kick off this season with a legendary giallo: Dario Argento's 1975 film Deep Red, starring David Hemmings and the remarkable Daria Nicolodi. Murder has never been so weird.

Episode 258: Haunted Houses — Polter-Dames

The Dames are wrapping up Spooky Movie Season with a chat about haunted houses. This week we dive into The Changeling (1980), Poltergeist (1982), and The Others (2001).
We also get a wee bit emotional over the end of Our Flag Means Death season 2.

Episode 257: Gothic Horror - Crimson Dames

The Dames carry on with Spooky Season and discuss Gothic horror, where the ghosts are metaphors and the horror is for love. Deborah Kerr goes mad in The Innocents, Vincent Price has an unhealthy attachment to his dead wife in The Tomb of Ligeia, and nothing is OK at Crimson Peak. 

Episode 256: Urban Horror - The Lost Dames

Join us this week as we dive into urban horror and urban legends with The Lost Boys (1987), Candyman (1992), and Urban Legend (1998).

Episode 255: Witch Movies - The Dames of Eastwick

This week, the Dames fill a podcast blindspot and talk all about witches, focusing on Haxan, The Witches of Eastwick, and The Witch. These films encompass feminism, patriarchal fears, justifiable homicide, cool curses, and Jack Nicholson's tiny tiny ponytail. 

Episode 249: Dame-bolique - A Grab Bag Episode

The Dames take some time to catch up on all the things we've been watching, including:
Dracula Boat! Or: The Last Voyage of the Demeter
Diabolique
Dial M For Murder
What We Do in the Shadows
Good Omens 2
Blue Beetle
And many more! 
Come for the trenchant commentary, stay for the correct pronunciation of Demeter.

Episode 242: Stephen King - The Dame-ing

For this week's episode, we're commemorating the release of The Boogeyman with a chat about Stephen King adaptations. Specifically, Carrie (1976) and The Shining (1980), with a healthy dose of both versions of IT, and why is Christine (1983) so dumb?

Episode 241: Vincent Price - The Dame and the Pendulum

We have many things to say about birthday boy Vincent Price, including discussions of his life, career, amazing voice, and a few of our favorite horror movie performances.
Plus! We chat about Are You There, God? It's Me, Margaret and women getting to tell their own coming-of-age stories.

Episode 224: Damelins

This week, the Dames are discussing Joe Dante's holiday classics Gremlins and Gremlins 2: The New Batch. Plus, we have some thoughts on Sight & Sound's Great Films of All Time list!
https://www.bfi.org.uk/news/revealed-results-2022-sight-sound-greatest-films-all-time-poll 

Minisode: Barbarian (2022)

For this special mini-episode, the Dames discuss Zach Cregger's horror flick, Barbarian, which is now streaming on HBO Max.
Clip from BARBARIAN courtesy of 20th Century Studios

Episode 220: The Dame’s Backbone

This week we are so excited to dive into the filmography of Guillermo del Toro! From Cronos to the Cabinet of Curiosities, we take a look at del Toro's work both as director and producer. Plus we dive into all eight episodes of his new Netflix anthology series.
*Clip from a Conversation with Guillermo del Toro and Mike Flanagan. Check out the full video here: https://youtu.be/kGoJaZ-zksI 

Bonus: Addams Family Values

For this month's Bonus Episode, we are talking all about Barry Sonnenfeld's 1993 Halloween classic, Addams Family Values!
To hear the complete episode, visit patreon.com/citizendame and become a subscriber today!

Episode 219: Happy Dame-o-ween!

The Dames discuss the good, the bad, and the ugly, from Karen's amazing Middleburg experience, to Bill Murray being trash, to our favorite Halloween movies. 
https://www.pajiba.com/celebrities_are_better_than_you/the-bill-murray-myth-has-finally-begun-to-crumble.php