Food and Frightening Film Fanatics Podcast

ADDENDUM: Two More "Black Christmas" Movies And Jamaican Black Christmas Cake

This week we go WAY back to our first episode. We covered 1974's "Black Christmas" in December 2018 (which seems like a million years ago at this point). There are two other remakes. Both are also called "Black Christmas". The one from 2006 is not nearly as bad as some believe. The 2019 version is absolutely horrible. Avoid at all costs.

And to keep with the Christmas theme, why not try making a Jamaican Black Christmas Cake this season? It's a dense rum soaked fruit cake that guaranteed to please. See the details at AfricanBites.com here  

Music Credit: Here

Photo Credit: Here 

The "Halloween" Franchise And A Plethora Of Pumpkin Products

This week we discuss arguably the most important franchise in horror history. "Halloween" started the slasher genre and has given us many of the now commonplace horror tropes-- the virginal final girl, the unstoppable killer, the rally at the end, etc. There are 11 "Halloween" movies currently available with two more on the way. "Halloween Kills" is due for release in 2021 and "Halloween Ends" is due out in 2022. There are also five different timelines in the "Halloween" movies. Talk about confusing.

• Timeline 1- Halloween 1, 2, 4, 5, 6
• Timeline 2- Halloween 3 is a standalone move. it was slated to be the start of a yearly anthology series (but that didnt happen). 
• Timeline 3- Rob Zombie's 2 Halloween movies from 2007 and 2009 exist separately from the rest. 
• Timeline 4- Halloween 1, 2, H20 and Resurrection
• Timeline 5- Halloween 1, Halloween 2018, Halloween Kills, Halloween Ends

This week's recipe highlights pumpkins. The pumpkin plays a prominent role in the "Halloween" movies. It's part of the title credits in Halloween 1, 2, 3 (computer generated) and 2018. The past few years have seen an explosion of pumpkin spice products on the market. Check here for a sampling of 2020 offerings.

Music Credits: John Carpenter, John Carpenter, Cody Carpenter & Daniel Davies, Alan Howarth  

Photo Credit:  Here 

SSS: The "Descent" Franchise And A Cave In Cocktail

This week we cover "The Descent" and "The Descent 2". Six women go on a caving adventure. Things end really, really badly. The first movie is on many "best of" lists. It's great fun. 

In keeping with the theme, we also have a Cave in Cocktail from CocktailBuilder.com here  

 

Photo Credit: Here 

SSS: The "Sinister" Movies And A Sinister Cider Cocktail

This week we're looking at "Sinister". There are two movies total. The first stars Ethan Hawke as a true crime writer who has gotten in way over his head. The character of Bughuul (the devourer of souls) is introduced. While there are currently no plans for a third "Sinister" movie, a possible "Sinister" and "Insidious" crossover may occur at some point. This is possible since both series are produced by Blumhouse. There is also talk of a possible TV series.   

And in keeping with the theme, here's a Sinister Cider Cocktail courtesy of Martha Stewart Recipes. 

Photo Credit: Here

The "Lake Placid" Franchise And Favorite New England Dishes

This week we're covering the 'Lake Placid" franchise. There are 6 movies total (including a cross over with "Anaconda"). The first movie was released theatrically. The rest were made for TV movies from the SyFy channel. All of the films (except for the last one) are considered horror comedies. 

Despite the title, the story supposedly takes place in Black Lake Maine. Here are some classic New England recipes. Rachel Ray also hails from the "real" Lake Placid, NY here are few recipes from her trip back home. 

 

Music Credit: Here

Photo Credit: Here

The "Child's Play" Franchise And Chucky Cupcakes

This week we cover the "Child's Play/Chucky" franchise. The 30+ year old series has a surprising amount of continuity with all the films (excluding the reboot) being written by Don Mancini (who also directed and executive produced some). Brad Dourif is the voice of Chucky for all the films (except the reboot). Jennifer Tilly, Alex Vincent and Fiona Dourif appear in multiple movies. Over eight films, the series has gone from horror to slasher to comedy horror and back to straight up horror again.

 

And in honor of our favorite killer doll, check out these cool Chucky cupcakes at RabbitInRed.com here See also s life size Chucky doll created by a Scottish baker for Halloween here 

 

Photo Credit: Here

Music Credits:

Joe Renzetti "Child's Play" 1988 here

Graeme Revell "Child's Play 2" 1990 here

Bear McCreary "Child's Play" 2019 here

ADDENDUM: "Wolf Creek" Season 2 And Australia's Favorite Foods

We originally covered the "Wolf Creek" franchise way back in episode 22. This week we take a look at season 2 of the TV series. The lead character may be lesser known in the US (which is a shame cause he is quite menacing). Mick Taylor (played by John Jarrett) is the serial killer operating in the Australian outback. He used his Aussie charm and the isolated location to torture and murder tourists. Mick REALLY, REALLY, hates outsiders. 

 

Both Jarrett and series writer/director/producer Greg McLean have said both a third "Wolf Creek" movie and a third season of the TV series are in the works. There is unfortunately no ETA (since everything in the world is on hold due to Covid-19).

 

Given the topic, it should come as no surprise that I went with Australian foods this week. Better Homes and Gardens has a survey of favorite Australian foods here CNN also has a list of top 40 Australian foods here Yes,, there's much more to Australian cuisine than just Vegemite. 

 

Music Credit: Here 

Photo Credit: Here

The "Hitcher" Franchise And West Texas Asado

This week we cover a group of lesser known movies. The "Hitcher" franchise has three films total. The first (starring Rutger Hauer, C Thomas Howell and Jennifer Jason Leigh) premiered in 1986. It was followed by "Hitcher 2" in 2003 and a remake of the first movie in 2007. If you like car chase movies, explosions, and severed limbs check them out. There are some great scenes.  

 

Since the hitcher knocks off victims on isolated roads in West Texas, I thought it might be appropriate to highlight a recipe from the region. West Texas Asado is pork slow cooked in pork slow cooked in red chile sauce. It’s similar to New Mexico’s carne adovada, except adovada is made with New Mexican red chiles and asado is made with anchos. Cook time is 4 hours. You might also try making your own traditional disc (also called a Mexican wok or cowboy wok) or cook in a Dutch oven or skillet. See the recipe from HomeSickTexan.com here 

 

Photo Credit: Here

The "Urban Legends" Franchise And An Expensive Cookie Recipe

This week we're discussing the "Urban Legends" franchise. There are three movies total. While i can't say the movies knocked my soaks off, they may be the first introduction to urban legends for many people. Common entries include: the killer in the back seat of the car, calls coming from inside the house, the kidney heist, etc. Interested in learning more? Check out the two urban legends TV series as well as the Snopes website. 

In keeping with today's theme, we have a very expensive cookie recipe here that's been attributed to different companies from Neiman Marcus to Mrs Fields for some 70 years. 

Music Credits: Here and Here

Photo Credit: Here 

The "Wishmaster" Franchise And Genie In A Bottle Cocktail

This week we cover one of the lesser know franchises. It's the four movies of "Wishmaster". Wes Craven executive produced the first film. The Wishmaster is an evil djinn who has to grant the person that awakens him three wishes. It sounds like a good deal but he grants them in the worst way possible. Example: A woman wants to live forever-- so he turns her into a mannequin. The djinn wants to hurry the wishing along since after that's done his fellow djinn will then take over the world. 

 

"Wishmaster" has a few good things going for it-- novel horror idea, interesting mythology, Andrew Divoff as the djinn, fun special effects and kills, etc. Unfortunately the story really drags the series down. There's nothing new between the first and forth movies. I would like to see a reboot with a better script. Am I going to wish for it? Nope, lesson learned.  

 

And for this weeks recipe we kept with the genie theme. See here for a quick genie in a bottle cocktail recipe from the Food Network. 

 

Music Credits: Here

Photo Credits: Here