208 - GIANT FROM THE UNKNOWN and SHE DEMONS (1958)

Explicit content warning

12/30/24 • 92 min

Author Mark Clark joins me for the first of two episodes focused on director Richard Cunha’s genre films. In 1958 Cunha directed four horror/sci-fi movies that have stood the test of time. This episode focuses on the first two of these little gems, GIANT OF THE UNKNOWN and SHE DEMONS which were originally released as a double feature.

We both love these movies and have a good time digging into them. We end up discussing some production background and the casts as well as the reasons we think they are so charming. Each of them is a typical black & white 50’s monster movie but with some peculiar choices made in presentation. As independent productions these films show a quality we refer to as feeling ‘handmade’ that gives them a different vibe from other movies of the times. The stories are similar to the b-movie hits of their decade but a number of the creative choices made are what makes them unique. If you’ve never seen the Cunha films, two of them have been released on Blu-Ray recently and they are available on YouTube as well. Our next episode will focus on the final two films.

If you have any comments on the four Richard Cunha directed monster movies [email protected] is the place to send them. Thank you for listening!

If you have any comments on the four Richard Cunha directed monster movies [email protected] is the place to send them. Thank you for listening!

Previous Episode

207 - BLACK CHRISTMAS (1974)

December brings our annual Holiday Horror episode. This year we discuss the legendary Canadian film BLACK CHRISTMAS (1974) and we have much to say. Turns out this is our tenth year of this Holiday tradition which surprised and slightly freaked me out. But Troy Guinn and John Hudson are rightly proud of our decade long series and glad to finally talk about the one that might have started the whole sub-genre. Sadly, our ages are starting to show, starting with the fact that none of us can remember when we first saw this classic horror film. Very strange.

We dive right in and forego the usual plot synopsis in hopes that listeners will have seen the movie. We lament that we have never been able to read the 1976 novelization and note that a brand new one is coming out any day now. We talk about the actors quite a lot with Troy boldly stating that this is the best ensemble cast of any slasher film ever. Others may disagree. We take the time to point out that phone technology and the concept of an ‘obscene phone call’ seem to have gone the way of the 8-track tape. And we discuss the sure directorial hand of Bob Clark while lamenting his 1990’s career slide into profitable but inane children’s films. Also, we ask the serious question of whether John Saxon ever actually solved a crime onscreen. This will require research!

If you have thoughts on BLACK CHRISTMAS (1974) or any other Holiday Horror [email protected] is the place to send them. Thank you for listening and beware of attic monsters.

Next Episode

209 - FRANKENSTEIN'S DAUGHTER and MISSILE TO THE MOON (1958)

This episode is the second part of my discussion of the films of Richard Cuhna with author Mark Clark. We focus on FRANKENSTEIN’S DAUGHTER and MISSILE TO THE MOON (1958) before we ramble off into talking about the Planet of the Apes franchise. Staying on topic is difficult for both of us!

The cast of FRANKENSTEIN’S DAUGHTER (1958) is examined with lots of love directed at the amazingly villainous Donald Murphy as a descendant of grandaddy Frankenstein. One could only imagine what his character might have accomplished if he could gain some control over his libido. We look at the various funding methods used by mad scientists and the ways that suburban homeowners can somehow forget entire areas of their house exist! We also lament the lack of Jack Pierce’s contributions to the monster makeup and wish he could have returned after his work on GIANT FROM THE UNKNOWN as the film’s monster look is oddly non-gender specific. As a science fiction/horror tale, the movie actually has a very rare pair of competent police officers, although their detective skills don’t mean they will live through the investigation.

When our conversation turns to MISSILE TO THE MOON (1958) we praise the excellent rock monsters and a few of the performances but struggle to find more to love. Perhaps shifting from original screenplays to remaking a not very good film wasn’t the best idea for Cunha and his collaborators. Still, there are things to enjoy in the movie, especially if you have a soft-spot for 50’s science fiction tales told with more enthusiasm than fidelity to reality.

If you have any thoughts about the four genre films directed by Richard Cunha [email protected] is where to send them. We both love these movies and return to them regularly. With some luck the missing two can be rescued from YouTube by an enterprising Blu-Ray company soon.