At The Devils Ball

Clive Barker Month continues with LORD OF ILLUSIONS, a movie Nathaniel calls "an ambitious and occasionally perplexing film," and Sammaeal and guest Paul Steadman of INVASION OF THE PODCAST and STRANGE HIGHWAYS love. The guys talk tacos, the investment of actors in their roles, crushes on Scott Bakula, and much much more. 

The guys begin a month of Clive Barker conversations with the often confounding but occasionally entertaining RAWHEAD REX. Stumbling through what is a fairly lightweight film, the guys attempt to discuss themes, explosions and the act of urinating on priests.

This week, the guys close out their "Eat The Rich" month with superstar guest Jessica Scott to discuss THE MENU, a satirical examination of art, commerce, and class division. Even though they don't usually do movies this recent, the guys and Jessica have a good time attempting to break down the myriad of themes and ideas presented in the film and how they apply to their own lives and artistic endeavors. Bon Appetit!

Eat The Rich month rolls along with a weird, loopy, late night conversation on SOCIETY, the weird maybe-body-horror satire film from Brian Yuzna. Conversation on social status, body horror and Screaming Mad George is attempted in an effort as scattered and off-balance as the film itself.

This week, the guys put on their sunglasses and beat each other up in an alley for six minutes with a conversation on THEY LIVE, the next episode of our "Eat The Rich" month. Topics include media consumption, pro-wrestling, and economic hardship. Also aliens.

This week, we begin our Eat The Rich month, discussing films of social class and wealth, beginning (of course) with George A Romero's hit-or-miss zombie film LAND OF THE DEAD, which isn't a subtle film on its views on wealth and class. We discuss the films rocky landscape, the aforementioned class warfare, and how much we dig Romero.

The guys wrap up Ode to Sam Neill with a special co-production episode with our friends at INVASION OF THE PODCAST. Collectively, the two podcasts break down the metafictional insanity of John Carpenter's frequently under-looked IN THE MOUTH OF MADNESS. It's an odd, rambling discussion filled with, well, madness. Enjoy!

This week, the guys are joined by two very special guests -Our good friend Anastasia and Scott Davis of Moviocrity- to discuss the cult favorite horror film POSSESSION, one of the weirdest movies to ever grace the silver screen. Together, the group discusses the myriad of themes, interpretations and performance scattered throughout the film, with special focus on the magnificent performances of the two leads. Ode to Sam Neill rolls on!

This week, the guys continue their Ode to Sam Neill with the confused and occasionally baffling franchise entry "OMEN 3: THE FINAL CONFLICT," in which Sam Neill gives a strong but muddled performance as Damien The Anti-Christ. We talk unintentional modern political allegories, the ethics of Fox Hunting, Evil Monologues, and, of course, Sam Neill.

This week, the guys are joined by an old friend: the very first guest of the show, BR Sevigny! Sevigny has stopped by to share their insights on one of their favorite films, the strange sci-fi/horror/mashup Event Horizon, the first of our Ode to Sam Neill (or Neill before Sam). Topics include the rushed production schedule, complex characters and how the film is surprisingly an actors piece. 

For the New Years Special, the guys work with their first long-form horror series with Mike Flanagan's THE HAUNTING OF HILL HOUSE. Joined by old friends Jamie Alvey and Emily Fabrisio, and new friend Maggie S, we discuss the themes of grief, trauma, and guilt as well as the rich characters and ghostly shenanigans. Happy New Year from us!

In the second of our holiday specials, we stay with our tradition of having on our significant others as our cohosts for a holiday film. This year, we are again joined by Jenn Hartle and Laurie Bowman to discuss RARE EXPORTS, a fun little Finnish anti-capitalist tale of poverty, Santa Claus and naked old people. A very Happy Holidays from our family to yours.

In the first of our two part HOLIDAY SPECIAL DOUBLE FEATURE, we have our friends at Invasion of the Podcast and Strange Highways on to discuss THE STAR WARS HOLIDAY SPECIAL, a particularly strange serving of holiday madness. Collectively, conversation weaves through a myriad as eclectic as the oddball special itself, Nathaniel is particularly out of it due to some adult candy, and madness generally ensues! We're sorry!

In this episode, the guys discuss HELLRAISER:BLOODLINE, a strange patchwork of ideas and concepts that became the cinematic equivalent of a soiled mattress tossed on the side of the road by Dimension. Nathaniel has too much energy, Sammaeal tolerates him, and they have a good time trying to puzzle out this weird but occasionally fun movie.

This week, the guys continue their "Thank You Tour" by inviting old friend Sarah Sinn back onto the show to thank her for being one of our earliest guests and to discuss Peter Jackson's odd but influential little film THE FRIGHTENERS. This discuss Sarah's favorite topic (Jefferey Combs), the films uneven tone, and the excellent cast.

AND NOW...FOR SOMETHING COMPLETELY DIFFERENT! This week, the guys are joined by filmmaker Nick McAnulty to discuss the action movie CLIFFHANGER, a wild story of Sylvester Stallone doing battle with the star of Transparent. With Nick, the guys discuss the value of character actors, the films intense opening sequence, Renny Harlin, and all the wonderful tropes of 90s action star vehicles.

This week, the guys delve into the world of Gothic Horror with Gothic Horror Enthusiast and frequent guest Jamie Alvey! Discussion topics include sexuality, BDSM, gothic tropes and a heavy amount of praise for the late Sir Christopher Lee. 

And now for something completely different! In honor of the late Kevin Conroy, we here At The Devil's Ball have decided to discuss MASK OF THE PHANTASM, the film extension for arguably the greatest animated superhero show, BATMAN: THE ANIMATED SERIES. We discuss the film's strengths and weaknesses, Mark Hamill's Joker, the surprising emotional nuance and, of course, the great work Conroy did as a voice actor.

Hello, boils and ghouls! This week we have a 90's classic in TALES FROM THE CRYPT: DEMON KNIGHT, done at the behest of one of my favorite guests, the amazing Jessica Scott! With Jessica, we discuss creature designs, tonal balances and the incredible cast of character actors doing amazing work! 

HAPPY HALLOWEEN! This week we discuss the made-for-BBC mockumentary GHOSTWATCH, a program so convincing it terrified a nation. Of sorts. We discuss the film's influence on "found footage," ghost hunting shows and reality television, as well as mention some Halloween recommendations and non-traditional holiday viewing. Be safe out there!

For the second Halloween special, the guys invite back Mi Chelle Nessk, Jamie Alvey and Violet of HEAR US SCREAM to discuss a favorite halloween activity: Haunts, where actors leap out in crazy costumes and scare the devil out of you. We also take the time to discuss the upcoming second volume of HEAR US SCREAM and talk about the holiday in general!

This week, the guys celebrate Sammaeal's birthday and continue Halloween month with the first attempt to reboot the Halloween franchise: Halloween H20, a film that can't decide if it's a toothless slasher or a pretty good drama about PTSD! But Josh Hartnett is good in it. The film, that is. He's not in the episode.

This week we invite our good friend, filmmaker Mi Chelle Nessk, to join us on Vampire mythology and folklore and generally have fun getting into the spooky season! 

This week, the guys would like to discuss NIGHT OF THE DEMONS 2(aka the sequel you never knew existed). They'd LIKE to, but instead they get the sillies like two children at a sleepover and talk Halloween season, horny teens and proper etiquette at parties in abandoned houses. And, occasionally, NOTD2. 

We wrap up our Wes Craven month with the voodoo cult classic THE SERPENT AND THE RAINBOW, joined by the utterly charming and lovely Taffeta V. We talk her seductive late night podcast LATE, as well as the film's discussions on political turmoil in Haiti, white saviors, academia, and romantic flings.

Wes Craven month continues with the oddball quasi-slasher SHOCKER! Joined by our friend Steven King of INVASION OF THE PODCAST and creator of the comic THE SATURDAY NIGHT SLASHER, we break down Craven's mostly ill-conceived attempt at creating a new franchise and admire the film's weird (and numerous) plot changes.

This week, we welcome filmmaker Addison Binek back onto the show to discuss his new prank/stunt film MAGNUM OPUS, as well as the B-movie goodness of RETURN OF SWAMP THING! Binek talks his inspirations and hopes for OPUS, and we all delight in campy superhero/action fun.

Keep repeating: it's only a movie, only a movie, only a movie. Alongside our friend Robb Maynard of the excellent REELS OF JUSTICE podcast, we discuss the nasty but tonally uneven LAST HOUSE ON THE LEFT, with focus on awkward comedy, irresponsible filming conditions, and the films shocking sexual violence.

We begin our Wes Craven month with what we believe is an underrated film from the legendary director, THE PEOPLE UNDER THE STAIRS, a delightful family film about cannibals, cleaning house, and capitalism. We also right a wrong by inviting our old friend Janice back to the show after a far too long absence. Join us or BURN IN HELL!

This week, the guys finish off their anniversary month with Creepshow 2, a well-meaning and generally entertaining follow-up to George Romero's seminal anthology film. Armed with but their wits, the guys discuss Native American representation, little-known Stephen King stories about college kids getting eaten, and the proper manner in which to thank people for free rides. Join us, won't you?

This week, the guys break down the Horror All-Star Game that is CREEPSHOW! Topics include Stephen King's wonderful performance, the most underrated segment of the film, morality plays, the comics code authority, and Ed Harris's disco dancing. 

This week, the guys tackle the strange 1997 film "The Devil's Advocate," a film ostensibly about Al Pacino chewing scenery and something about The Devil. Joined by their old pal Nastassia-who, possibly due to some sort of Deal with the Devil, has suspiciously not aged- we discuss high caliber actors, strange line reads and, of course, The Devil.

The guys celebrate two years discussing Urban Legends and Folklore with some very special guests! Along with Hear Us Scream Editor/Contributor Violet Shrieks, frequent guest Jenn Rich-Hartle and filmmaker MI Chelle Nessk, the guys talk favorite legends, cultural values, and two years of podcasting.

This week the guys are joined by Violet Shrieks, co-editor of the Hear Us Scream Essay Anthology, to discuss Darren Aronofsky's strange film "mother!" Discussion topics include biblical allegory, gender roles, and Glenn Danzig jokes. Join us for a conversation on "mother!"

This week, we delve into the body horror cult classic VIDEODROME, along with special guest Chrystal Williams of the Gals of Geekdom podcast! We discuss the movies themes, moral relativism, chest vaginas and generally enthuse about the work of David Cronenberg

This week, the guys welcome back Sarah Stubbs of the Final Girls Feast podcast and the Geeks Who Eat blog to the show. Sarah also discusses her #100HorrorMoviesIn92Days challenge, Gastrohorror and the weird little film HONEYDEW

In our 100th episode(!), we are joined by Chris Gersbeck of Dumb Industries and the amazing Mary Jo Pehl of MST3K/Rifftrax fame! We discuss Pehl's memoir, her show on Twitch and, of course, WHATEVER HAPPENED TO BABY JANE. Join us, won't you?

We discuss what might be both the best AND the worst of the Friday the 13th series with Part 5, a movie that doesn't really care what it's doing and throws a plethora of insane characters at us for no particular reason. It's a fun as hell movie, and we love it.

This week, the guys sit down with Writer/Producer Frank Farel to discuss films such as STREET TRASH and SPOOKIES, with attention to the writing/filmmaking process, how the films have aged, fandom and more! 

It's July 3rd, approximately 5:30pm, and that means its time for RETURN OF THE LIVING DEAD. We discuss the poor political climate, favorite moments in the film and generally have a good time with this strange little film.

This week, the guys cover an all-time classic with JAWS, the 1975 killer shark movie that invented the blockbuster, launched multiple careers and spawned countless imitators across time. We discuss the amazing performances, the films undeniable influence and other topics.

This week, we welcome back two of our favorites, Jamie Alvey and Emily Fabrizio, to discuss the mind-screw film "Oculus." We discuss the film and its director Mike Flanagan, themes of familial trauma and fear of antique mirrors.

We have another entry to our creator spotlight with Mi Chelle Nessk, who made the incredible found footage film "O.Unilateralis," a film that defies convention! The guys talk with Nessk about the film, it's confrontational nature about the role of enablers in sexual assault, and its conversation on genre ideals. 

One last entry into "A century of Vampires" with the 1978 TV Mini-series "Salem's Lot." We discuss the films occasionally awkward narrative style, King and Community, and the power of vampire fiction within vampire narratives. 

This week, the guys marvel at a movie that rides the line between good and bad so finely that even they aren't entirely sure, "From Dusk Till Dawn!" They discuss how it fits in Vampire canon, the performances of Clooney and Keitel and, of course, Tarantino in general.

The guys are joined by their pal and weird savant Paul Steadman to discuss "What We Do In The Shadows," the strange mocumentary film about Vampires. Topics include the very nature of vampire pictures, the value of vampires pictures, and the future of vampire pictures.

Continuing 100 years of Vampires, the guys are joined by Scott Davis of Moviocrity to discuss the confounding yet beautiful adaptation of Dracula. With Davis, we discuss acting choices, practical effects and the overall strangeness of the film Enjoy!

Celebrating a century (!) of Vampire movies, we begin with coverage of F.W. Murnau's exceptional silent feature NOSFERATU. Discussion topics include the necessity of silent films in modern film scholarship, fairy tale origins and internet issues. Also Nathaniel gets carried away on social issues. Again.

This week we have a couple firsts! The great Violent Screams makes her debut podcast appearance AND meets the director of one of her favorite films: ""Be My Cat:A Film for Anne!" The charming Violet is joined by the energetic Adrian Tofei, the one man band of a filmmaker who gives his in depth thoughts on acting, filmmaking, and the unique style in which his film is presented. It's a masterclass on acting process and, over all, a truly fascinating episode. 

We wrap up Un Film Di Argento month with the oddball supernatural/gialli/monkey movie mashup "Phenomena!" Topics include the weird "Carrie" vibes, fairy tale vibes, and give tribute to the greatest actor of a generation...Daisy The Scene Stealing Chimp.

Argento month rolls on with TENEBRAE, a twisty, strange little giallo filled with queer characters, discussions on morality and, of course, brutal kill scenes. Also, as the guys discuss in depth, a heckin good boi playing murder with the star of GHOSTHOUSE.

This week, we are joined by the unstoppable Jessica Scott to break down one of the most interesting and strange Dario Argento films, "Opera." With Ms.Scott, we discuss the act of watching, Macbeth references and the power of sound design. 

We begin a Dario Argento month with the oft-discussed "Suspiria!" Discussion begins with "what do we say that hasn't been said before," moves to "Movie Pretty," and then we discuss some fascism, both in film and out. 

This week, we have another in our informal series of creator spotlights, this time talking with J.R. Bookwalter of Tempe Video and MakeFlix.com and the Executive Producer of the 1997 film Bloodletting, which has recently been given a brand spanking new Blu-Ray restoration. We talk with Bookwalter about executive producing, keeping the peace on set, and about his efforts to conserve physical media.

We wrap up (?) our ethereal trip to the afterlife with the 1990 film "Jacob's Ladder!" We discuss the metaphorical and philosophical implications at the heart of the film, Danny Aiello, and how the Vietnam class action lawsuit slows the film down. Enjoy!

The philosophical conversations roll onward with Joel Schumacher's 1990 film "Flatliners," starring a who's who of Brat Pack warriors. Under 40 and don't know who the Brat Pack are? Don't worry, we got you covered! We also discuss the films heady pretentions, uses of color, and that the real star of the film is Kevin Bacon's Hair. Come back from the dead with us on AT THE DEVILS BALL!

The guys begin a new month of discussing more philosophical, supernatural tales of life and death and heaven and hell...beginning, of course, with the stunningly unsubtle "The Prophecy!" Discussion topics include the films really amazing cast of character actors, awkward editing and pacing, and, of course, The Devil. 

We wrap up our Superhero Horror month with the Nicolas Cage film "Ghost Rider," where we discuss the awkward, painfully ordinary adaptation of the titular character, and spend an inordinate amount of time discussing MTV in the 90s. Enjoy!

This week, the guys continue rolling along horror-related superhero films with Guillermo Del Toro's "Hellboy!" Along with special surprise (even to us) guest Jenn Rich-Hartle, we discuss the films ups and downs, the comic origins and mercilessly take down Agent Myers (one of the worst characters ever) and then swing off topic to discuss Lord of the Rings, representation, and the MCU effect on superhero media.

This week, the guys welcome two very special guests, returning guest Jamie Alvey and  first timer Emily Fabrizio, to discuss the very weird, occasionally controversial and undeniably very cool "Constantine." Topics include the films adherence to the source material, Catholic dogma and a fixation on comic book supporting character Kit Ryan. Don't miss it!

We begin a new theme for February talking about horror-based comic book characters, beginning with Wes Craven's odd little film "Swamp Thing." We follow the characters origins in the comics, how that relates to the film, and discuss the films odd choices and enthusiastic performances and generally enthuse over comics in general. 

This week we're finishing up Comics Sans Comics month with Sam Raimi's weird little superhero flick DARKMAN. We discuss the great performance by Liam Neeson, Larry Drake possibly playing a queer villain, and make more than one mistake that we're embarrassed by. Enjoy us fumbling through DARKMAN!

Just settle back and listen to the ol' Devils Ball express, this is Nathaniel and Sammaeal talking to whoever's listenin' on a dark and stormy night! This week, we discuss John Carpenter's oddball ahead-of-its-time Kung Fu Action Horror Satire Flick BIG TROUBLE IN LITTLE CHINA, with a focus on the films gonzo sensibilities, the extraordinary character of Jack Burton, and differing opinions on the theme song. Also contains wind, fire, that sort of thing.

This week, we continue our pseudo tradition of spotlighting low-budget filmmakers with the weird, violent, irreverent superhero parody "Hectic Knife" with the films co-creator, Greg DeLiso! With Greg, we discuss the films sense of humor, the guerrilla filmmaking tactics used, the emotional power of art, and how the film is NOT influenced by 90s indie comics as Nathaniel assumed! Enjoy!

We begin the new year with a weird late 80's quasi-superhero film entitled "The Wraith," allegedly starring Charlie Sheen. We discuss the movies bizarre, anachronistic choices, a legitimately interesting action movie villain, and other fun topics. Join us as we delve into "kinda-but-not-really horror-superhero movies!"

The guys marvel at their own magnificence as they realize they actually accomplished their New Years goals in 2021! But more importantly, they attempt to break down Ghostbusters 2, discussing the troubled production, praising the great character work of Peter MacNicol, and remark on how unbelievably hot Annie Potts is in the film. Happy New Year from At The Devils Ball!

In a Holiday tradition, the guys have their (much) better halves on the show to help them discuss the seminal holiday family/musical/horror mash-up "The Nightmare Before Christmas!" Under the watchful eyes of Jenn and Laurie, the guys attempt to break down the weird, macabre piece, with focus on the wonderful animation, nebulous themes, and how this movie was really the work of people not named Tim Burton. Happy Holidays!

Rolling on with Holiday related films, the guys tackle one of the all-time great Christmas Horror films (and one of the best Christmas films, for that matter), 1974's "Black Christmas." Along with their returning guest, the incomparable Jamie Alvey, they discuss the fantastic cast, the wonderful sense of humor, and the (possibly unintentional) themes of feminism and agency contained within the rather frightening flick. 

In a very special episode, the guys get to talk to their heroes from MST3K and The Mads are Back: Trace Beaulieu and Frank Conniff, and joined by Chris Gersbeck of Dumb Industries! Under the pretense of talking about Batman Returns, discussion turns to superhero films, movie riffing and, of course, Batman. Not much on Returns, though.

The guys are joined by Ryan of "Reels of Justice" and "The Coolness Chronicles" to discuss Exorcist 2:The Heretic. Everyone involved attempts to discuss the movie but finds themselves mostly focused on Richard Burton's odd performance, why Ryan probably should have been on for Exorcist 3, and discuss anything but Exorcist 2.

We roll on with The Perils of Pazuzu with "Exorcist 3:Legion," a wonderful little film. We discuss various endings, excellent performances, and how it measures up to the original film (the original is, of course, the superior film). Check it out. It's NOT! In the File!

The guys attempt to deal with the weird, unprecedented double whammy of the two versions of prequels to The Exorcist! The conversation is as weird and disjointed as the two films themselves, but your intrepid heroes discuss the controversy behind the two films, the philosophical ideas behind them, and express sympathy for the cast and crew. Nathaniel drinks whiskey, Sammaeal mangles names...it's all messed up.

This month, the guys tackle the polarizing and wildly varying in quality horror franchise THE EXORCIST! Starting with the original, the guys discuss "religious propaganda," break down the devastating character arcs, and deliver an appreciation of what is probably Nathaniel's favorite horror film. So eat some pea soup and get your crucifix ready...it's time for The Exorcist!

We continue our discussion on Gateway Horror with guests Mike and Amy of Happy Cloud Media, Scott Davis, Addison Binek, Henrique Couto, and our old pal Paul Tiberius Steadman!

It's our favorite time of year here at At The Devils Ball, and we're celebrating with a two part special episode on "Gateway Horror!" Starting with guests Sarah Sinn, Jessica Scott, Micah Brown and Ryan Rodriguez, we discuss horror media made for young people, parenting and horror films, and other fun conversation!

While not a Halloween movie, Sammaeal asserts it's a Fall movie and therefore it counts! The guys break down the cult film "Behind The Mask:The Rise of Leslie Vernon," discussing the film's deconstruction of the slasher subgenre, compare it to "Scream," and Nathaniel gushes about the film being a love story. Enjoy!

Our "It's kinda Halloween in the sense that the movie at least addresses Halloween in some manner" month rolls on! This week we discuss the Werewolf/Teen Puberty allegory "Ginger Snaps," along with Sammaeal's "Better 2/3rds" Jenn Rich-Hartle! We discuss teen angst, female puberty, body horror and more! Also, Nathaniel is sick and gets confused a lot!

We begin Halloween month without a direct theme BUT we ARE doing a Halloween movie to start things off with Hell House LLC, the creative and low budget found footage haunted house film! We discuss the great scares contained within, the hatred of found footage films in general, and the best way to enjoy real life haunted attractions. Enjoy!

This week, the guys round out their work on the Candyman series with the third installment, Day of the Dead. Once again they rave about the skills of the venerable Tony Todd, Sammaeal doesn't like the lead, and Nathaniel doesn't like the leads shoes. Journey with At The Devils Ball into the exotic future of 2020 (where this movie takes place, despite it looking like 1994...and it was made in 99)!

After a slight delay, Nathaniel and Sammaeal are back to continue their dive into the world of the Candyman series, beginning with the first sequel "Candyman:Farewell to the Flesh." The guys try to puzzle out just what Candyman is up, the problems with adding uniformed authority figures into horror narratives, and praise the solid performances contained within the film.

This week we delve into a little bit of Clive Barker with the groundbreaking 1992 film Candyman. We discuss the permeation of the film in the public consciousness, the racial aspects and more.

This week, a very special episode, as the guys talk the sublime found-footage serial killer film "Capture, Kill, Release," with the co-director Nick McAnulty, who gives insight into the process of making the film, stories from on set, and the greater implications and metaphors contained within the film itself!

Paul Steadman hijacks At The Devils Ball to discuss the weird little film Manitou, which befuddles everyone.

Was going to wait to put it up, but considering it is the anniversary of Nathaniel's favorite Elm Street entry, it might as well go up early! The Return to Elm Street continues with Part 4, and things are awesome.

One year ago today, we put out our first podcast episode during the pandemic. The pandemic, it seems, is still here and so are we! So we recorded this special episode with an incredible amount of self-awareness, self-indulgence, and just a bit of self-effacing...and resulted in a rather heartfelt examination into why Horror is important, and why it's so much fun to discuss. Thank you for listening!

Happy Friday the 13th! We continue our anniversary month with a discussion on the bizarre but undeniably fun Nightmare on Elm Street/Friday thr 13th mashup "Freddy vs Jason" with out pal Chris Gersbeck! Always glad to have him on!

We celebrate our anniversary with "Return to Elm Street," beginning with "A Nightmare on Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors." We discuss the general popularity of the film, discuss the metaphors within, and Nathaniel theorizes about the REAL reason Dr.Gordon isn't in any sequels. Enjoy!

At The Devils Ball closes off their IT month (and their first year, incidentally) with IT Chapter Two! Joined once again by Jamie Alvey, the guys tackle the more serious aspects of the film, as well as the polarizing ending to the modern horror epic.

IT month rolls along with coverage of the 2017 "IT:Chapter One," the adaptation that dared change King's novel into a fast-paced monster movie. The guys are joined by the delightful Jamie Alvey, as they try to break down the first half of one of the latest horror epics.

Continuing down past the sewers, we reach IT's lair and begin the ritual of chud...where we discuss the much more uneven second half the 1990 TV Movie Event.

The guys begin their decent into the dark and dank sewers of Derry, Maine with "IT," the 1990 TV Movie! The attempt is made to compartmentalize from the source material, and to stick to just Part One of the movie, with varying results! Enjoy!

Celebrate your countries independence with us as we discuss "Predator!" Because nothing says "'Murica" quite like a group of mercenaries invading a foreign country on orders from the CIA! We love this movie and hopefully so do you!

This episode we finish off "Unhappy Campers," with the help of a very special guest, the comedy producer behind the "The Mads Are Back" virtual comedy show, Chris Gersbeck. Along with Mr.Gersbeck, the guys discuss their favorite moments from one of the better installments of the "Friday The 13th" franchise. 

This week, we do another creator spotlight with filmmaker Henrique Couto, director of the film "Devil's Trail!" We ask him about production headaches, his prolific career (both behind and in front of the camera) and generally have a good time! Enjoy, and check out "Devil's Trail" on Tubi!

The guys continue their "Unhappy Campers" theme with what Sam calls a "lost classic" in "Summer Camp Nightmare!" Joined by Eric from The GARF Network, they unpack the film with topics include fascism, "Lord of the Flies" comparisons, and political allegories. Also Beef Bologna.

The guys begin their "Unhappy Campers" month with the uneven but generally entertaining Summer Camp slasher "The Burning!" They discuss the strange characters, make references to "Meatballs," and encourage everyone to play "spot the famous person before they were famous!" Enjoy!

And now, for something completely different! The guys open up the show a bit by discussing the seminal and influential Sci-Fi/Noir mashup "Blade Runner!" Along with Terry from the Strange Highways podcast, the guys break down the themes and allegories of the groundbreaking film!

The last installment of "Half-a-ween" closes with the polarizing sixth entry into the Halloween franchise, featuring a baby Paul Rudd looking a lot like modern day Paul Rudd, and a fairly incomprehensible plot! Once again, the guys are joined by our friend Steven King of "Invasion of the Podcast," and audio issues(zoom hates Nathaniel's new mic!)

The guys brave one of the most maligned entries into the Halloween franchise as "Half-A-Ween" rolls on. Sammaeal and Nathaniel tackle the strange "Full Ahab" of Doctor Loomis, discuss the films intelligence (and whether or not that intelligence is "smug" about it or not) and come down on #teamtina. 

Our old pals Steven King (No, not THAT one) of "Invasion of the Podcast" and audio issues return (along with The Shape) to discuss Halloween 4 as our "Half-a-ween" theme rolls on. We discuss the reality and intelligence of this franchise entry, along with the richly drawn characters that move through it! It's a fun episode, audio issues and awkward edits aside! One of these days we'll figure out how to do this podcast thing properly!

We begin Half-a-ween, our "Halfway to Halloween" motif with, well, "Halloween" sequels! With the help of guest Jessica Scott, the guys try to make sense of this bizarre divergent timeline, the films polarizing reputation, and how it might be simultaneously "Overrated and Underrated."

In honor of "Alien Day," (and general laziness) the guys decide to breakdown Alien with their trademark positivity and constant digressions. In this episode we try (and occasionally fail) to divorce Ridley Scott's exceptional film from the rest of the franchise, and discuss the groundbreaking (and often weird) moments contained within! Enjoy!

Guest month rolls on, this time with an ACTUAL guest in the form of the beautiful, talented and knowledgeable Jessica Scott! Jessica tells us about her various footsteps on the internet and shares her absolute love of Charles Band's gonzo 80's satire "Terrorvision!" Check it out!

Guest choice month rolls on, regrettably without a guest do to Nathaniel screwing up his schedule! Our would-be guest chose Leviathan, an underwater horror film with a lot of promise and determination and a weak third act! Listen to Nathaniel give a public apology and he and Sam unpack this strange little flick!

On it's 35th Anniversary, the guys tackle the really fun half-slasher, half-pseudo parody "April Fools Day!" Topics include not really digging the "holiday" itself, how ahead of its time the film is, and the general fun ride that the film is. Enjoy!

Our guest choice month continues to move forward with our friends Mike and Amy from Happy Cloud Media LLC! Mike and Amy discuss Robert Wise's influential haunted house flick "The Haunting," and regale us with tales of their own adventures in filmmaking! A good time was had by all!

Guest pick rolls on with Sarah Stubbs of the award-winning "Geeks Who Eat" blog and her choice "The Ghost and Mrs.Muir," a lovely romantic seaside ghost stories. Sarah and the guys discuss the ahead-of-its time nature of the film, including the agency of the titular Mrs.Muir and the surprising maturity of the romance contained within!

We begin a new theme in March with "Guest Choice" films! Our first guests are Paul and Steve of the Attack of the Podcast show, with their unusual choice of Stephen King's oft-maligned "Maximum Overdrive!" Things admittedly get weird, as they always do with Paul and Steve, and collectively all involved attempt to make sense of what Nathaniel calls a "profoundly stupid movie."

The guys finish off their David Lynch retrospective with Lynch's first revisit to the enigmatic and quirky town of Twin Peaks. We discuss themes of Love, Trauma and suicide and determine that Nathaniel, much like Agent Cooper, will probably never really figure out Twin Peaks. 

David Lynch appreciation month continues with the guys discussing the challenging but ultimately rewarding "Inland Empire!" Topics include the experimental nature of the film, The greatness of Laura Dern and, of course, just what the hell is going on in "Inland Empire!" 

This week, David Lynch appreciation month rolls on with the mixed-bag that is "Lost Highway!" The guys try to make sense of the muddled and confusing storyline while attempting to appreciate the themes and Noir style that goes along with it. Check it out!

David Lynch rolls on with a deep dive into the surreal Hollywood Noir dreamscape "Mulholland Drive!" Topics include the rise of Naomi Watts, the reality of dreams and the deconstruction of identity. No Hay Banda! It is all...a tape recording...

Nathaniel and Sammaeal begin their five week David Lynch appreciation run, beginning with the incomparable Blue Velvet! Along with special guest Laurie Bowman, the guys unpack the themes of performance, simulation, dreams, and the journey to adulthood contained within Lynch's slice of Americana turned bad! 

Nathaniel and Sammaeal bring their "snowed in" theme to a close with Stephen King's "Novel for Television," "Storm of the Century." To help them grapple with this muddy but still somehow charming miniseries, the guys are joined by their good friend and frequent guest Nastassia! Topics include Maine accents, King extended universe connections, and whether or not Linoge was bluffing.

 Sammaeal and Nathaniel continue their "snowed in" theme with John Carpenter's Masterpiece "The Thing." Guest starring Terry Witherspoon of the "Strange Highways" podcast!

At The Devils Ball takes a shot at unpacking (and somewhat defending) the generally disliked prequel/soft remake of "The Thing!" Topics include visual effects, performances, gender inequality, and "what might have been." Featuring guest Micah C Brown!

Nathaniel and Sammaeal attempt to unpack Kubrick's somewhat polarizing adaptation of Stephen King's novel. Topics include style over substance, the performances of Nicholson and DuVall, and the extraordinary craft Kubrick brings to the table.

Nathaniel and Sammaeal end the year with one of the very few New Years related flicks, "End of Days!" They discuss Arnold Schwarzenneger, Action/Horror hybrids, character actors, and resolutions for 2021. Ring in the New Year in style with At The Devils Ball!

It's the At The Devils Ball Holiday Special, featuring Art Carney and Bea Arthur, entirely in Wookie! Nah, just kidding, it's Nathaniel and Sammaeal inviting their significant others Laurie and Jenn to join them in discussing the immortal Christmas movie classic "Scrooged" starring Bill Murray. We know it isn't a horror movie. It's our holiday special. Not yours. Happy Holidays!

A last minute change caused Nathaniel and Sammaeal to do yet another Holiday favorite: Joe Dante's Horror-Comedy, "Gremlins!" They are aided by the Mistress of the Menagerie, host of the Sinnful Sarah's Horror Menagerie podcast, Sarah Sinn! Together, the trio discuss the films anti-capitalist themes, animal rights, and personhood among non-humans. Give us a listen, won't you?

Over the river and through the woods, to Grandmother's House we go! Or don't go, as the case may be! Nathaniel and Sammaeal tackle a criminally underrated and under seen low budget "holiday" horror flick, "Dead End," where a trip to Grandma's house can be...muuuurrrdeeerrr!

At The Devils Ball starts discussing the Holidays with the modern day Holiday classic (or thereabouts) "Krampus!" 

Nathaniel and Sammaeal Numinae are joined by a group of guests for a second go around discussing the ending of the long-running series "Supernatural!" Topics include the contentious finale, Chuck as the final villain and where the story might go next.

As Nathaniel turns 39, he and Sammaeal tackle one of the best "bad" movies ever: the cult "classic" Spookies! Originally titled "Twisted Souls" and then changing cast and crew mid production, Spookies is a delightful mess of a film! Topics include troubled productions, fart monsters and visual effects! Enjoy, won't you?

After multiple weeks of "special" episodes, Nathaniel and Sammaeal are back with regularly scheduled programming. This time out, we examine the crazy Italian schlock cult classic "Demoni," directed by Lamberto Bava (with maybe an assist from Dario Argento). Comparisons to other schlock films, "character" assessments and the audacity of tossing a helicopter through a roof are discussed. Enjoy, won't you?

After 15 years of excellence (and occasionally not-so-excellence), the cult favorite TV series Supernatural is taking its final bow. Join Sammaeal and Nathaniel as they talk with returning guests Nastassia "The Khaleesi" Richel, Jenn "Sam's far better half" Rich-Hartle and new guest Micah C Brown as they discuss elements of the show such as Masculinity, Daddy Issues and, of course, Destial. If you know, you know. 

We usually seek to be vaguely Apolitical on At The Devils Ball, but now is not the time to do so. So with Election Day coming up tomorrow, we discussed David Cronenberg's moody adaptation of Stephen King's "The Dead Zone," focusing on the shocking similarities between Stillson and our "President" Donald Trump. 

Listen to Sammaeal and Nathaniel chat with guests Nastassia, Paul, Mary and Sammy's lovely Wife Jenn discuss a myriad of Halloween specials from years past, including Garfield, Charlie Brown (which we get way too dark with) and The Simpsons. Nathaniel also spills his beer, there are recording errors and hilarity occurs. 

It's nearly Halloween, and that means we dive into the holiday favorite Trick R treat! Nathaniel and Sammeael are joined by Nathaniel's BFF from High School, Nastassia! 

At The Devils Ball participates in the 2020 All The Horror Podcast event! Nathaniel and Sammaeal discuss Haunt with the host of "The Best Little Horror House in Philly" podcast, with topics including Extreme Haunts, Trust in relationships and the ups and downs of this Shudder original!

Nathaniel and Sammaeal tackle the nostalgia tour internet darling "The Monster Squad," discussing child characters, adult problems in kids horror, and the love of Universal Monsters!

This week, Nathaniel's old pal Janice joins him and Sammaeal to unpack the wonderful "Night of the Demons." We discuss "Grease" references, deep readings into mundane moments, and, of course, Halloween. 

Sammaeal and Nathaniel have an in depth interview with filmmaker Addison Binek on his new (yet to be fully released) B-Ape-Movie tribute, PSYCHO APE!, his Roasterpiece Theater movie riffing exploits, and his all around internet brand. 

Amok Amok Amok! Tune in this week as Nathaniel (who thinks the film is mostly a charming and inoffensive little film) and Sammaeal (who hates the film) discuss Hocus Pocus with guest Mary Steadman! It's a fun episode, discussing the cast, Mick Garris, and whether or not the character of Max shouldn't be in the film! 

 Mick Garris appreciation month comes to a close with his first collaboration with Stephen King, Sleepwalkers. Listen to Nathaniel, Sammaeal and guest Paul from The Strange Highways Podcast as they grapple with Attack Cats, Incest, and possibly create the next new hashtag trend: #babyhead.

Nathaniel and Sammaeal continue their trip through the seminal work of Director Mick Garris with this Made-For-TV adaptation of Stephen King's Desperation, where we discuss how awesome the cast is, the overt Christian themes and how gifted technically Garris is. 

Nathaniel and Sammaeal get a little punchy but manage to remain positive in this second part to Mick Garris' magnum opus "The Stand."  We discuss problems with social reconstruction after the end of the world, precient political allegories and Nathaniel accidentally calls Randall Flagg "Donald Trump", like, three times.

Our Mick Garris appreciation month rolls on with the first of two episodes on his 1994 TV Mini-series "The Stand." Sammaeal and Nathaniel discuss plagues, religion, and the various social issues this mini-series presents, for better or for worse!

Sammaeal and Nathaniel discuss the 1997 TV mini-series The Shining as "Mick Garris Appreciation Month" kicks off.  

Sammaeal officially becomes the co-host of At The Devils Ball, just in time to tackle the generally maligned "remake" of A Nightmare on Elm Street.

This episode, Nathaniel talks with his pal Sarah Sinn about Homoerotic subtext, Nuclear Families, and how Nightmare on Elm Street 2 just might be a Haunted House film. Keep it positive, keep it constructive, keep it all with love.

Listen to Nathaniel discuss feminism, abortion, humor and strong female characters in the most maligned Nightmare sequel with his old pal BR Sevigny!

A positive and constructive conversation on the polarizing film "Freddy's Dead:The Final Nightmare." It is also a work in progress, as this is our first time, so please forgive some minor audio blips.