Food and Frightening Film Fanatics Podcast

The Nosferatu Franchise And Several Nosferatu Inspired Drinks

This week we're discussing the "Nosferatu" franchise. It's a bit confusing because first time viewers are like "Isn't this Dracula?". And the answer is sorta.

This vampire is a rat like creature who never blinks. He has long spindly fingers and two big teeth in the front of his mouth. He is the harbinger of death and bringer of the plague. This is not your sexy Bela Lugosi, Christopher Lee, Jack Palance, Gary Oldman vampire. And this vampire is definitely not sparkly. Women are NOT lining up to be seduced by him. 

The creators of the 1922 movie used the Dracula story but changed all the names and locations. It didnt work though. Bram Stoker's widow sued for copyright infringement. This bankrupted the studio and all copies of the film were supposed to be destroyed. Luckily for us, some survived. "Nosferatu" is now considered one of the best silent movies of all times. This movie shaped much of what we think of as vampire folklore (such as sunlight killing them). 

There are four "Nosferatu" films (the 1922 original, the 1979 version with Klaus Kinski, a shot by shot remake in 2023, and the last year's Robert Egger's movie). There are also a number of other versions of the original with different scores. 

And in honor of this vampire, we have several Nosferatu inspired drinks. They include bourbon, vodka and gin cocktails. There's even an IPA called "Nosferatu". 

Photo Credit: Here

ADDENDUM: New Entries To Previously Covered Franchises

This week I'm doing something slightly different. This is an ADDENDUM episode. I'm covering new entries to previously reviewed franchises. With so many new horror movies coming out each year, it's a challenge to keep up. In just the last year we had five new entries to existing horror franchises-- "Alien", "Creep", "Terrifier", "Omen", and "VHS". 

 

CORRECTION: The "Cube" remake is from Japan. For some reason I incorrectly said China. 

 

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The "Rosemary's Baby" Franchise And Cooking With The Herb Rosemary

Welcome to the 115th episode of Food and Frightening Film Fanatics. This week we're reviewing the "Rosemary's Baby" franchise. Most people only know about the first film but there are actually four total. The original is some 50 years old but is still considered one of the best horror movies of all time. 

We discuss the roles of iconic actors, the influence of esteemed author Ira Levin, the controversies surrounding director Roman Polanski, and the curse of "Rosemary's Baby". Also check out the movie trivia. Did you know a future cult leader makes a 2 second appear in the first film? 

And it should come as no surprise that I went with the herb rosemary this week. It enhances the flavor of a number of dishes. Check out some of them at Masterclass.com here   It's also used in aromatherapy, in soaps and shampoos and as a traditional medicine. 

Photo Credit: Here

The "Species" Franchise And Seven Species Salad

This week we explore the lesser-known "Species" franchise. It should not be confused with the "Subspecies" franchise (which we reviewed last week). "Species" is a sci-fi series about alien/human hybrids while "Subspecies" is about vampires. 

The "Species" franchise consists of four movies. My advise is just watch the first movie unless you're a die hard fan. This was Natasha Henstridge's first film role. She does a great job. There is also a surprisingly star studded cast including: Sir Ben Kingsley, Marg Helgenberger, Forest Whitaker, Michael Mardsen and Alfred Molina.

It is often hard to come up with a recipe tie-in for the franchise I'm reviewing. It was especially difficult this time around. The only thing I could find was Seven Species Salad. See details here at Kosher.com

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The "Subspecies" Franchise And Traditional Romanian Dishes

In this episode, we delve into an often overlooked horror franchise. "Subspecies" has six direct-to-video films. All were written and directed by Ted Nicolaou. Produced by Full Moon Pictures the franchise delivers schlocky story lines and is somewhat of an "acquired" taste. 

Positives about the series include the shooting locations. Castle ruins add an authentic feel. The vampires in "Subspecies" turn into shadows instead of bats. That makes for some cool visuals. Anders Hove and Denice Duff star as Radu and Michelle throughout the movies--giving the series a consistent feel. Negatives include cheap special effects and soap opera-y story lines. I could have also done without the "subspecies". They dont have much air time and dont even appear after movie three. I'm not sure what their purpose was supposed to be. 

Given that the series was the first to shoot in Romania after the collapse in the USSR, it should be no surprise that I'm covering traditional Romain foods in this episode. Romanian foods are known for being hearty and flavorful. The national food of Romania is Sarmale. Sarmale is cabbage rolled with minced meat and herbs. It is served at every holiday and gathering. See TheRomanianCookbook.com for a Sarmale recipe and details on other popular Romanian foods.

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Top 10 Horror Movies of 2024

Welcome to the 112th episode of Food and Frightening Film Fanatics. This week we delve into the best horror cinema of the year. 2024 was one of the best in recent memory. With a blend of major studio hits, standout indie films and films made on shoestring budgets, there is something for everyone. From spine-tingling sequels and prequels to groundbreaking original releases, the horror landscape has never been more diverse or exciting.

 

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The "House" Franchise And Nestle Toll House Chocolate Chip Cookies

The "House" franchise is sometimes considered the weirdest because the 4 movies have nothing to do with each other. Some people will remember the first "House" movie from it's interesting cover art. I'm sure that's why many (including myself) picked it up at the video store back in the day. Most would be hard pressed to remember the other three movies. 

A fifth "House" movie is supposedly in the works but I cant' find anything else about it. I am interested to see how the movie will adjusted for a contemporary audience. 

And since I had to find something with the word "house" in it, check out the recipe for delicious Nestle Toll House Chocolate Chip Cookies at verybestbaking.com

 

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Top 10 Horror Movies Of 2023

This week I'm reviewing my favorite horror movies of last year. 2023 was known as the year of the "possession" movie. My list includes several possession movies as well as slashers, aliens, folklore, and a Frankenstein adaptation. Do your favorites match mine? Let me know in the comments below.  

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The ”Basketcase” Franchise And Creme Brulee

This week we're talking about another obscure franchise. It's "Basketcase". There are 3 movies total. The first movie was created on a shoestring budget and was never actually meant to be released to the public. Frank Hinnenlotter just wanted to make a movie. Who could have imagined that it would become a cult classic? The other two film in the series showcase a variety of "unique" people such as Rat Man, Frog Boy, Toothy, etc. 

This week's dish was the most popular of 1982 (the year the first "Basketcase" was released). It was introduced at La Cirque in New York City and is now a restaurant staple. . 

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The ”Poltergeist” Franchise And TV Dinners

This week we're talking about a lesser known franchise-- it's "Poltergeist". There are 3 movies in the trilogy and a remake. The original 1982 movie was written by Steven Spielberg with Tobe Hooper ("Texas Chainsaw Massacre") directing. Despite it's age, the first movie holds up surprisingly well. Sure, tech has improved but the special effects are still fun (and all the corpses popping up are truly creepy).

A number of catch phrases from the movie have also entered popular culture. Examples include: "They're here" and "Stay away from the light children". Everyone now knows it's a REALLY bad idea to build anything on top of an old cemetery. Clowns should also not be trusted-- especially those that drag you under your bed and try to strangle you.  

And since the poltergeists/ghosts/whatever they are enter our dimension through the TV, I thought it would be fun to look at the origins of the TV dinner. They're still around today-- although we don't call them by that name. Today they're frozen dinners, ready made meals, etc,  I have a few in my freezer right now. 

Source: here