In our second Franken-Episode, Craig Lantz joins Steve in the Bear Cave to talk about the Hammer Studios classic: 1957's The Curse of Frankenstein! Starring Peter Cushing as Baron Victor Frankenstein and Christopher Lee as the Creature in their first starring roles with Hammer, and directed by Terence Fisher, this established the Hammer legacy, with vibrant color, flowery dialogue, and lavish sets that put Hammer horror films apart from the pack, coming just one year before their equally successful and iconic Horror of Dracula (see BCoT Ep. 3!) We talk about the differences in this version of the well-worn Frankenstein tale and what the real "curse" of the title could be, the censorship at play on its initial release, the relationship between Frankenstein and his mentor? colleague? ...boyfriend? ...Paul, played by Robert Urquhart, and more topics.

Additional Resources:

"The Frankenstein Story" by Staff, ed. James Warren - Famous Monsters of Filmland, vol 1, no 1 1958, pp 24-35

"The Curse of Frankenstein 4K Release: A Deep Dive with Steve Rogers" by Hammer News 8/27/25 - HammerFilms.com

Hammer: Heroes, Legends, and Monsters, (2024) dir. Benjamin Field, produced by Sky and Deep Fusion Films

Flesh and Blood: The Hammer Heritage of Horror, (1994) dir. Ted Newsom, produced by Bosutow Media Group, Hammer Films, and Heidelberg Films

In this episode of the Bear Cave of Terror, guest host Tito Gutierrez introduces Steve to the trashy exploitation horror classic, Frankenhooker, directed by Frank Henenlotter and released to unsuspecting moviegoers in 1990. This wild and hilarious send-up of Frankenstein and Re-Animator from the creator of the Basket Case franchise and Brain Damage is filled with exploding sex workers and johns, jacked pimps, Super-Crack, and a garage freezer filled with mutant mistakes that could have been extras in Society (1989)! We chat about the the experience the producers had getting this rated by the MPAA, the fun make-up effects and explosive body parts, the appearance of former horror host Zacherle, and the rich, nuanced dialogue that'll have you blurting out uncontrollably, "Wanna date?"

Additional resources for this episode:

""Frankenhooker Walks the Streets" by Philip Nutman, Fangoria #90 February 1990, pp 34-38.

"Into the Dark: Spring Romance" by James Lowder, White Wolf Inphobia #55 May 1995, pg 66

"Frankenhooker: A Salad That Was Once Named Elizabeth" - interview with Patty Mullen by Steven Biro, 2006 https://youtu.be/aa9uhnA159o?si=g-anoqPtgu-4XciW

"In Search of Darkness, 1990-1994 Back Q&A w/ Frank Henenlotter" by David Weiner and Dominic Wallis, 2024 https://www.youtube.com/live/KtuJnpSXAJU?si=dIhH2CWlcPh76CR9

"Frank Henenlotter: Sentimental Creatures and the Joy of Annie Ross: by Biggayhorrorfan 3/18/13 https://Big-gay-horror-fan.com

"Gabriel Bartalos Interview" by Stuart D. Monroe, 7/1/19 https://HorrorDNA.com

"Interview: Al Magliochetti" by The Arrow, 2004 https://JoBlo.com

In this week's episode, Stephen King expert and superfan Ken Creamer, of Sixty Seconds of Stephen, joins Steve in the Bear Cave to talk about 1984's Children of the Corn, an adaptation of a short story from King's 1978 collection Night Shift that has gone on to spawn numerous sequels and a couple remakes. We talk about the studio's decision to reject King's script and go another direction, prompting the author's ire, the idea of a cult like this allowing to thrive in the movie's world, the explosion of other adaptations and interpretations of King's work in the 80s and beyond, and of course...ALL THAT CORN!

Additional resources for this episode:

"Children of the Corn" by Paul R Gagne, Cinefantastique vol 14 # 3

"The Stephen King Interview" by David Sherman, Fangoria #35, April, 1984 pp 38-41, 62

"Stephen King's Children of the Corn" by David Everett, Fangoria #35, Aprl 1984 pp 42-45

"Film: Children of the Corn, Based on a King Story" by Vincent Canby, New York Times, 3/16/84

Borseti, Francesco (2016) It Came From the 80s!, McFarland Press. pp 24-25

Disciples of the Crow (1983) dir. John Woodward, - https://youtu.be/S2yjqjA3AoE?si=gHprtnj_u1Xq4BdH

You can find Ken Creamer and his Stephen King facts and Trivia series on TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube under @sixtysecondsofstephen