Episode 173 of The HD Movie Podcast is here! The podcast which you are about to hear is an account of Hayley Alice Roberts and Darren Gaskell, who seek out films of any year, any genre and any quality. They could not have expected nor would they have wished to see as much of the mad and macabre as they saw for this episode. The events of that day were to lead to them watching a film about one of the most bizarre crimes in the annals of American history, The Texas Chain Saw Massacre.

Yes, we're back with a new miniseries and this year it's not Summer Of Sharks, it's Summer Of Screams! The weather's hot and the horror's hotter as your hosts take a look at summer-set slashings, beginning with an acknowledged classic from director Tobe Hooper. But is the love for this movie justified? It's time for a deep dive...

Hayley and Darren discuss their first viewings of the film and the difference between watching this at home and seeing it in the cinema. There's also talk of the film's many censorship problems in the UK, some extreme filming conditions, the striking production and sound design, some down and dirty violence and plenty of challenging psychological terror.

There's also talk of meeting Gunnar Hansen in real life, how Tobe Hooper originally envisaged this movie with a "PG" rating (!) and the sequels it spawned. Yes, McConaughey and Zellweger, we mean you! There's also *that* final act to dig into.

You want more classics? How about the music of Mitch Bain. He creates soundtracks for movies and this very podcast! You can find him on Instagram if you look for "evertheoptimitch".

You can follow and contact the Podcast on Facebook, X and Instagram by searching for "HDMoviePodcast". We're happy to hear from you.

You can find the hosts on social media too!

Hayley: @HayleyARoberts on X, hayleyaliceroberts on Instagram

Darren: @darren_gaskell on X, darren_gaskell on Instagram, @darrengaskell.bsky.social on Bluesky and darren_gaskell on Threads

Saturn in retrograde...

Episode 172 of The HD Movie Podcast is here! Detective Nick Curran couldn't locate the podcast about movies of any year, any genre and any quality that's hosted by Hayley Alice Robertson and Darren Haskell so someone had to point out that it's actually hosted by Hayley Alice Roberts and Darren Gaskell.

Our erotic thriller miniseries opened with Michael Douglas in Fatal Attraction and it closes with Michael Douglas in BASIC INSTINCT! He's a cop on the trail of a novelist who's suspected of murdering her lover. Said novelist is, of course, played by Sharon Stone and the movie's directed by Paul Verhoeven, who's no stranger to a controversy or two.

Your hosts revisit this one after a while away from it and there are some surprises in store for them on this latest watch. They talk about a clutch of fine performances, an expensive screenplay with a bunch of decidedly ropey plot twists and, yes, Hayley and Darren get into the whys and wherefores of *that* interrogation sequence. There's also discussion of the censorship issues the film had with the MPAA in the US in its quest to get an R rating, the original, short lived idea to embrace the NC-17 and much more besides.

One guy who's way better at his job than the police department in Basic Instinct is Mitch Bain. His fine tunes are featured on the podcast and you can find him on Instagram if you look for "evertheoptimitch".

You can follow and contact the Podcast on Facebook, X and Instagram by searching for "HDMoviePodcast". We're happy to hear from you.

You can find the hosts on social media too!

Hayley: @HayleyARoberts on X, hayleyaliceroberts on Instagram

Darren: @darren_gaskell on X, darren_gaskell on Instagram, @darrengaskell.bsky.social on Bluesky and darren_gaskell on Threads

What, no DNA?

Episode 171 of The HD Movie Podcast is here! What's the voiceover you're hearing? It's the one telling you that Hayley Alice Roberts and Darren are here once again to talk about movies of any year, any genre and any quality.

The penultimate episode of our erotic thriller miniseries takes a look at 1992's POISON IVY, directed by Katt Shea Ruben and starring Drew Barrymore! Previous guest and friend of the podcast Dr. Lauren McIntyre is also here to give her thoughts on her rewatch of the film, which includes some unexpected trauma for her which is related to a certain actor's arse.

Elsewhere, your intrepid trio discuss the lack of sympathetic characters in the film (including one who's giving off Tucker Carlson vibes). there's an early moment of Does The Dog DIe? in the movie, digressions into Red Shoe Diaries and Coronation Street plus much, much more. Who's the most likely to kill on this panel? You'll find out!

One guy who only slays via his killer tunes is Mitch Bain. He writes and performs the music on the podcast and you can find him on Instagram if you look for "evertheoptimitch".

You can follow and contact the Podcast on Facebook, X and Instagram by searching for "HDMoviePodcast". We're happy to hear from you.

You can find the hosts on social media too!

Hayley: @HayleyARoberts on X, hayleyaliceroberts on Instagram

Darren: @darren_gaskell on X, darren_gaskell on Instagram, @darrengaskell.bsky.social on Bluesky and darren_gaskell on Threads

"Ooh, Percy!"