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Spooky Season 2026 is kicking off here at IFWT with Jorge Grau's eco-zombie 1974 masterpiece The Living Dead of Manchester Morgue a.k.a Let Sleeping Corpses Lie a.k.a Don't Open The Window a.k.a.....okay. We'd be hear all day if we named each alternative title. But joining me for this episode is the very special guests, and friends of the podcast, Scott West of Tall Toad, Phil DeGlass of Flixology 101 and Matt Rotman, author of Bonkers Ass Cinema. So stayed tuned as the 3 of us enjoy a fun-filled romp through the plot points, thematics and brilliance of this italian-Spanish production via 1970s Northern England. You can find Scott's writing at @ScottWest2 on Substack. You can find Phil at Flixology101.com You can find Matt on X at @bonkersasscin You can also support the podcast at buymeacoffee.com/ifwtpod Artwork for this episode once again provided by friend of the show @Chris_babalis of @acidmammoth, where you can find his fgrpahic work at @Chriswitchystuff (all @'s on Instagram)

Documentarian Bruce Brown may have coined the term the 'Endless Summer', but here at IFWT, summer is officially ending for 2026, and we're ending it in style, with Katheryn Bigelow's action masterpiece Point Break - a film of bank heists, surfing, philosophy and the kind of propulsive pacing that very few action directors manage to achieve. And it's my pleasure to host for the first time on this show, author Stephen Lee Naish (Music and Sound in the Films of Dennis Hopper) who has just released his book Point Break: Movies Minute By Minute, for Bloomsbury. So how exactly does examining a film minute by minute change ones perspective on the material? Well, stick around, As Stephen and I discuss, dissect and deepdive, Katheryn Bigelow's Point Break. Support the show at Buy Me A Coffee .com/ifwtpod You can find Stephen's work at Bloomsbvury.com. His work can be picked up from all major retailers. You can also find Stephen on Instagram @Stephen.ln Artwork for this show once again done by Chris Babalis where you can find him on Instagram @Chriswitchystuff

Photographer, visual artist and friend of the show Michelle MacBride, makes her debut appearance on In Film We Trust. We landed on Peter Bogdanovich's Mask to discuss. A true to life tale of Rocky Dennis, a young man afflicted by Lionitis - a disease that condemned him to an early death. But Bogdanovich's film - starrign Eric Stoltz, Cher and Sam Elliott - isn't some morbid tale. Instead it's a story of resilience, defiance, and life lived to the fullest, in what is arguably Bogdanovich's most controversial film, for which we definitely discuss on the episode. So tune in, as Michelle and I discuss, dissect and deep dive, Peter Bogdanovich's Mask. Check out Michelle Instagram at @michellemacbride Thanks again to @chrisbabalis who created the poster for this episode. check out his graphic work at @chriswitchystuff. you can also support the show at buymeacoffe.com/ifwtpod

1971 was a pivotal year for megastar Clint Eastwood. Not only did it mark the first entry into the Dirty Harry franchise, and also the transgressive The Beguiled. It was also the year he would step behind the camera for the first time and direct Play Misty For Me - a story of obsession, frailty, mental illness and the then little explored notion of a 'stalker'. But where does his directorial film stand in the annals of history? It arguably is the precursor, and template for all erotic thrillers going forth, and not only does Eastwood direct himself, he also plays a character that stands in opposition to the roles he played before. Gone is the assertiveness and decisiveness. Instead we get a more nuanced and mature performance. And picking this film, is guest, a now third time guest on IFWT, Carmelita Valdez McKoy, who has her own history with Carmel-by-the-sea (the setting of this film), so expect some personal anecdotes, as we discuss, dissect and deepdive Clint Eastwood's directorial debut, Play Misty For Me. You can support the show at Buymeacoffee.com/ifwtpod Check out Carmelita's Twitter page @CarmelitaSays Thanks again to friend of the show Chris Babalis @Chriswitchystuff for providing the artwork for this ep.

Author Eddie mcNamara joins the show this week. Eddie has just released via Feral House, his new non-fiction book on the Zodiac case, Zodiactually: The Real Story of a Fake Serial Killer, that challenges the mainstream narrative of the infamous Zodiac killings that took place in the late 60s-70s. Which makes him the perfect guest to join me in a discussion of David Fincher's 2007 masterpiece Zodiac, starring Jake Gyllenhaal as San Francisco Chroninicle cartoonist Robert Graysmith, who would go on to write the influential and case-resuscitating book Zoadiac, for which the film is based on. But what is truth? What is fiction? And what are the blurred lines that give us all cause for speculation? Well, that's where Eddie McNamara comes in. Who is not only as massive fan of Fincher's Zodiac, but has spent years researching the case, and believes what most people know of the case, and its suspects, is not only highly suspicious, but flat out wrong. So stay tuned as Eddie and I, discuss, dissect and deepdive, not only Fincher's Zodiac, but the case that birthed it. Artwork for this episode once again produced by friend of the show @chrisbabalis of @acidmammoth, who's graphic work can be found at @Chriswitchystuff. Special thanks goes out to Wayne Kelso (@waynekelso10 on Instagram), who was not only my former co-host here at IFWT, but also my good friend, who edited nearly half of this episode! Thanks!

Writer Andrew Rihn, In Film We trust's go-to historian on all things boxing is back on the show. And this week he brings the podcast John Huston's 1972 existentialist boxing drama Fat City. Based on Leonard Gardner's novel, Fat City is an exploration of failed dreams, new beginnings, addiction and the cost of a life lived on the edge. But in the pantheon of Hollywood, Fat City, features new stars - Jeff Bridges, Stacy Keach, and stars-that-should-have-been, such as Susan Tyrrell, a Warhol Superstar. Who's experience on this film sullied her entire Hollywood career, So make sure to tune in as Andrew, who's on the cusp of releasing his debut novel, About The Old Buoy, and I, discuss dissect and deep dive, John Huston's foray into new Hollywood, Fat City.

There's maybe no more maligned genre in horror - or even cinema itself - than the cannibal film that rose to prominence in 1970s Italy, most popularly exemplified by Ruggero Deodato's infamous Cannibal Holocaust. But right there in the mix, and arguably the genre's founder, was Umberto Lenzi with 1972's The Man From Deep River. Lenzi would have a contentious relationship with the genre - both hating it, but being brought back into the fold with 1980's Eaten Alive, due to financial incentives. . It's this film that my guest Eugenio Ercolani - film historian and writer/editor of this years definitive dive into genre, Cannibal Worlds - and I, use as the catalyst to discuss not only the titled film of this episode, but the culture that gave birth to this most blackened genre and the state of Italian cinema in the 1970s - a landscape that caused the likes of Lenzi to return to a genre he despised. So stay tuned, and get your notepad ready, as Eugenio gives In Film We Trust a thorough tour of the genre cinema of mid-late 20th century Italy. you can find Eugenio on Instagram @Ercolanieugenio Artwork for this episode by Chris Babalis. You can find his graphic work on Instagram @chriswitchystuff

Film historian and writer Suzanne Boleyn joins the show this week to discuss Belgian director Harry Kumel's 1971 vampire film Daughters of Darkness. Suzanne is not only a fan of this film that explores sexuality, gender politics and possibly even fascism, she also contributed an essay for Radiance's brilliant set where she dived into the symbolism that exists in this work and what it actually means. Which is a huge bonus for this episode, as Daughters of Darkness is ripe for analysis and a plethora of interpretations due to its relative opaqueness and symbolism that exists in almost every frame.

Dan Franklin is a music writer and author of the, thus far, definitive biography of UK doom band Electric Wizard, 'Come My Fanatics: A Journey Into The World of Electric Wizard', which contextualises the band, and their artistic realm, with the influences that informed who they are. And one of those films that made a huge impact on the band was Don Sharp's 1973 British occult biker picture Psychomania - a film about a biker gang leader who has just cracked a long-held family secret of immortality, and he's all too willing to protolyze this occult secret to his followers in exchange for eternal life, that gives him the ability to really stick it to the man! Expect Dan and I to discuss the impact this film had on Electric Wizard, the thematics that run through this obscure curiosity piece and the bizarre, sad and defiant life of aging star George Sanders, in his last screen role!

Richard Baylor joins the show! Richard is an underground filmmaker who made his name, an American émigré in the United Kingdom, within the British punk scene of the 1980s that would lead him to picking up the camera and making his 1990 debut Our Own Personal Hell. Working exclusively in the short film format, we touch on many of Richard's films, all the way to arguably his most astute, and subversion film, 1993's Cirsium Delectus - based on the Sunset Strip Killings. A film that would lead Richard to a multi-year dialogue between himself and jailed serial killer Douglas Clark. But like Richard's characters, our past and circumstance informs us. Whether that's Richard being born of rural Michigan stock, his time in the military, or cinemas very own Cinema of Transgression - it all comes through in our art, whether consciously or subconsciously. If you're familiar with Richard's work, you'll see running themes such as abuse, desolation and oppression pop up, but there's also an added ingredient to his work that we discuss. Check out Richard's band Earth F****r F****r's record IVF at: https://antigenrecords.bandcamp.com/album/ivf Pick up Saturn Core's Our World Is Drowning and Going To Hell: The Underground Films of Richard Baylor at Strangevice.co.uk Thanks again to Chris Babalis for providing the great poster art for this episode. Support the show at buymeacoffe.com/ifwtpod

Author of The Satanic Screen and leader of gothic band Radio Werewolf, Nikolas Schreck returns to the show! And lucky for us, he's here to discuss the feature length debut of his late friend, and collaborator, Curtis Harrington - the terrific and surreal Night Tide! Night Tide is a noir-ish nightmare that stars Dennis Hopper in his first lead role, as a sailor who meets the mysterious sideshow attraction Mora The Mermaid. But...could she possibly be a real mermaid, and what exactly does the ending mean!? These questions persist due to Harrington's esoteric world building, that revels in ambiguity and symbolism, and with Schreck's insight into Harrington, both as a man, and artist, he drops many anecdotes about who Harrington really is, and maybe...just maybe, these revelations could provide some answers to Harrington's work. Nikolas also drops the lowdown on his upcoming spiritual-sequel to his documentary Charles Manson Superstar! So tune in for a discussion about one of cinema's greatest enigmas. Artwork for this episode provided by friend of the podcast Chris Babalis ( Instagram: @ChrisWitchyStuff) You can help support the podcast at www.buymeacoffee.com/ifwtpod , thanks!

This week I'm joined by Chris Babalis, frontman of Greek doom metal band Acid Mammoth, so it's only appropriate that we discuss one of cinema's most doom-laden and oppressive sword and sorcery epics, Conan The Barbarian! Written by John Milius and Oliver Stone, with Milius behind the camera, Conan The Barbarian stars Arnold Schwarzenegger as an orphaned Cimmerian boy, who rises from slavery to avenge the death of his father, figure out the Riddle of Steel and confront his arch-nemesis Thulsa Doom! If you're a long time listener, or new to this podcast, you'll know it has been Patreon-free and ad-free for it's several year duration. But I've just started a Buy Me A Coffee (www.buymeacoffee.com/ifwtpod), for those who'd like to support the podcast. All contributions appreciated.

Filmmaker Kansas Bowling exploded onto the scene as a mid-teen, directing the first ever pre-historic slasher B.C Butcher for Troma. Since then she has acted in everything from Murdercise, Once Upon A Time In Hollywood and being cast in Neil Breen's upcoming film Dire Duplicity. But today Kansas drops by to discuss her film Cuddly Toys, a genuine mondo film, influenced by the likes of Mondo Hollywood and Faces of Death. Cuddly Toys is a warning call to all parents about their teenage daughters - a scattershot cinema verité film about abuse, runaways, anorexia, drug abuse and everything else your parents warned would lead to your destruction. And because this is a new film - at least on home release - we keep this episode spoiler free, as we dive into the peripheral: the making of, the cast, financing and plenty of humorous anecdotes that happened throughout the making of this film. And of course, we deal in certain plot elements and themes along the way!

IFWT is taking a trip to Mexico with Satanic witch and burlesque performer Szandora LaVey - a surname synonymous with counter-cultural diabolism since Anton LaVey founded the Church of Satan in 1966 - as we attempt to decipher Juan Lopez Moctezuma's 1977 vampire oddity Alucarda. Alucarda, a loose adaptation of Le Fanu's novel Carmilla (that predated Stoker's Dracula by 25 years!) tells the story of the titular Alucarda and Justine. Two orphaned girls who are placed into the care of a Catholic convent. Part folk-horror, part possession movie, part nunsploitation - in fact, this film, still underseen by many horror fans, contains a multitude of elements with many thematic injections that make it a multi-layered experience, and one that is ripe for the IFWT treatment. So lock up the chastity belt and say a few Hail Mary's as Szandora and I discuss, dissect and deepdive 1977's Alucarda.

IFWT is back after a short hiatus, and we're back in style. We're joined by "The Rock 'n' Roll Champion With Curly Hair", THE PHANTOM A.D., this generations answer to the iconoclastic Mojo Nixon. The Phantom A.D's music is a monstrous conglomerate of horrorr movies, pop-culture, trash and everything else us groovy hepcats dig, all backdropped by Chuck Berry rhythms and three-chord righteousness. The Phantom A.D has just dropped his new ominously frightful titled album The Revenge Of... The Phantom A.D, with it's lead single Spider Baby, taken from Jack Hill's 1967 comedically macabre cheapie Spider Baby, starring an aging and alcoholic Lon Chaney Jr. So it's truly a privilege to host the Phantom for a dive into this enduring cult classic about a family who suffers from a disease that causes them to regress as they age....WITH THE POSSIBILITY OF CANNIBALISM! You can find The Phantom A.D.: thephantomad.com Instagram: iamthephantom_666 Songs used in this episode all come from his latest record The Revenge Of... Phantom's Rumble Spider Baby Chainsaw Rock