Test Pattern: A Horror Movie Podcast

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TV & Film
**Test Pattern: A Horror Movie Podcast**

A bi-weekly look at the monster movies, TV shows, cult films, and horror stuff that keeps YOU up at night! In the days before syndicated stations and 24 hour programming, television stations often showed old monster movies hosted by local on-air talent. It is in this spirit that “Test Pattern” is made – a little bit spooky, a little bit silly, but always informative! Jacob and Tab have a new topic each week, with a focus on the macabre offerings shown on television starting in the mid 1950s, favorite creature features, and B-movies (with occasional forays into the outer realms of horror).

Latest Episodes:

Episode 39: Who Goes There? - The Stepford Wives (1975) & Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1978) Aug 16, 2017

Show notes

Do you really know the people around you? We get paranoid with The Stepford Wives and Invasion of the Body Snatchers!

Episode 38: No One Can Hear You Scream - Event Horizon & Supernova Aug 09, 2017

Show notes

We launch into the vast unknown with two 90s horror films set in space - Event Horizon and Supernova!

Bonus Episode #3: The Loser's Club - Our Histories with Stephen King's IT Aug 03, 2017

Show notes

In this bonus episode, we examine our histories with the IT novel and miniseries, as well as those of our listeners!

"IT Parade" by Daniel Kraus, from Book List Reader

Episode 37: Terror on the Road - The Hitcher (1986) & Death Proof Aug 02, 2017

Show notes

We're on the highway to hell with the road horror classic The Hitcher and Death Proof, Quentin Tarantino's love letter to road thrillers and Russ Meyer films!

Sources for this episode:

The Hitcher (1986)

"Just the Two of Us: Robert Harmon's The Hitcher" by Blake I. Collier, from Mockingbird

The Dollop Episode 57: Eric Red

Death Proof (2007)

"The Case for Death Proof as Essential Tarantino" by William Dass, from Film School Rejects

"In Defense of Quentin Tarantino's Death Proof" by Trevor Parker, from comingsoon.net

Episode 36: All Hail King Ghidorah - Ghidorah the Three Headed Monster & Godzilla vs. King Ghidorah Jul 26, 2017

Show notes

Godzilla level Patreon subscriber Tommy curates a Hallowed Halls episode featuring King Ghidorah! We watch Ghidorah the Three-Headed Monster and Godzilla vs. King Ghidorah!

Sources for this episode:

Ghidorah the Three-Headed Monster (1964):

"Ghidorah the Three-Headed Monster (1964)" by Glenn Erickson, from TCM

DVD Commentary

Episode 35: Censorship in Horror - The Hays Code, the Demise of Horror Comics, and Video Nasties Jul 19, 2017

Show notes

We examine censorship in horror with a detailed look at the Hays Code, the demise of horror comics, and the video nasties era!

Sources for this episode:

The Hays Code

"The History of Hollywood Censorship and the the Ratings System" - Filmmaker IQ

Pre-Code Hollywood: Sex, Immorality, and Insurrection in American Cinema 1930-1934 by Thomas Doherty

Hollywood's Censor: Joseph I. Breen and the Production Code Administration by Thomas Doherty

The Celluloid Closet, directed by Rob Epstein and Jeffrey Friedman

"Morals, Markets, and 'Horror Pictures': The Rise of Universal Pictures and the Hollywood Production Code." by Kyle Edwards, Oakland University

The Demise of Horror Comics

Tales From the Crypt: From Comic Books to Television

The Horror! The Horror!: Comic Books the Government Didn't Want You To Read by Jim Trombetta

"Censors and Sensibility: RIP, Comics Code Seal of Approval, 1954-2011" by Glen Weldon, NPR

"RIP The Comics Code Authority" by Douglas Wolk, Time.

Video Nasties

Video Nasties: Moral Panic, Censorship, and & Violence (available on Shudder)

Video Nasties: Draconian Days (available on Shudder)

Episode 34: Harbingers of Doom - Night of the Comet & Maximum Overdrive Jul 12, 2017

Show notes

We look to the skies with Night of the Comet (1984) and Maximum Overdrive (1986)!

Sources for this episode:

Night of the Comet (1984)

"In honor of Night of the Comet, a Cult Time Capsule of 80s America" by Sherilyn Connelly, from The Village Voice

Maximum Overdrive (1986)

"How Did This Get Made? Maximum Overdrive (An Oral History)" by Blake Harris, from SlashFilm

Episode 33: Horror on the 4th of July - Jaws & Return of the Living Dead Jul 05, 2017

Show notes

We celebrate the 4th of July the Test Pattern way with two wildly different movies set on 4th of July weekend - Jaws & Return of the Living Dead!

Sources for this episode:

Jaws (1975)

"Jaws (1975)" by Rob Nixon, TCM

"Why Jaws is Essential" By Rob Nixon, TCM

Return of the Living Dead (1985)

Director's Commentary, Return of the Living Dead

"11 Firsts From Return of the Living Dead" by JD Gillam, from This is Horror

Episode 32: The Apocalypse Trilogy - The Thing, Prince of Darkness, & In the Mouth of Madness Jun 28, 2017

Show notes

We prepare for the end of the world with John Carpenter's Apocalypse Trilogy, featuring The Thing, Prince of Darkness, and In the Mouth of Madness!

Sources for this episode:

The Thing (1982)

The Thing: Terror Takes Shape, Making of documentary

"Quentin Tarantino Reveals Hateful Eight Score Uses Unused Music by Ennio Morricone from John Carpenter's The Thing" by Kevin Jagernauth, Indiewire

Prince of Darkness (1987)

Director's commentary

Minisode #5: Listener Trivia Answer Catchup Jun 21, 2017

Show notes

We play catchup and read all of your fantastic answers for Japanese horror, drugs in horror movies, and non-supernatural horror!

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