Award-winning TV horror movie host Dr. Gangrene dissects the best and worst horror movies and more...
Wednesday, October 22
2025 Halloween Countdown - Day 22 🎃
Tuesday, October 21
2025 Halloween Countdown - Day 21 🎃
Welcome to Day 21 of the Ghost Host Halloween countdown for 2025. 🎃 Today we explore the 1975 live-action Ghostbusters TV series and its fun horror-host connections—Tracy the Gorilla (played by Bob Burns) and a witchy nod to Nora Denny, one of TV’s early horror hosts. It’s a light, kid-friendly series with some nostalgic horror host roots. If you’ve seen this one, I’d love to hear your thoughts. See you tomorrow for the next spooky pick!
Monday, October 20
2025 Halloween Countdown - Day 20 🎃
Welcome to Day 20 of the Ghost Host Halloween countdown for 2025. 🎃 We’re spotlighting films with real-life horror hosts, and tonight we take a look at Alfred Hitchcock’s Saboteur (1942) — this time not a horror film, but a tense WWII-era thriller that fits our host-centric countdown. Join us as we follow one man's chase for truth, a memorable sideshow twist, and a bit of early Hitchcock history... as well as a nod to horror host Moona Lisa, who has a bit part in this one playing a siamese twin in a sideshow! Tell us your thoughts in the comments and subscribe for tomorrow’s entry. Buy the DVD here (affiliate link): https://amzn.to/4nTnNR7
Sunday, October 19
2025 Halloween Countdown - Day 19 🎃
Welcome to day 19 of our 2025 Ghost Host Halloween countdown! 🎃 We’re spotlighting films with real-life horror hosts, and tonight’s film is Elvira, Mistress of the Dark (1988). Starring the iconic Cassandra Peterson as Elvira, this fun flick follows the mistress of the macabre to Fallwell, Massachusetts, where she inherits a mansion, a spell book, and a poodle from her witchy aunt. Things go awry when her warlock uncle schemes to steal the book, and the town clashes with her sassy vibe. Buy a copy of the film (affiliate link): https://amzn.to/435WGJY
Saturday, October 18
2025 Halloween Countdown - Day 18 🎃
Welcome to Day 18 of our 2025 Ghost Host Halloween countdown! 🎃 We’re diving into films featuring real-life horror hosts, and tonight’s pick is Brain Damage, a wild 1988 indie horror from director Frank Henenlotter. This quirky gem follows Brian, a guy hooked on a hallucinogenic “juice” from a creepy, talking worm-like creature named Aylmer, voiced by the legendary horror host John Zacherle, aka Zacherley, the king of horror hosts! Buy a copy of the film (affiliate link): https://amzn.to/4nynHhp
Friday, October 17
2025 Halloween Countdown - Day 17 🎃
Welcome to day 17 of our 2025 Ghost Host Halloween countdown! 🎃 We’re diving into films featuring real-life horror hosts, and tonight’s pick is Nightbeast, a 1982 indie gem from Baltimore, Maryland, directed by Don Dohler. This low-budget sci-fi horror follows a small town thrown into chaos when an alien crash-lands and starts zapping folks with a ray gun. Among the cast is Dick Dyszel, aka legendary horror host Count Gore De Vol. Are you a fan of Don Dohler's films, and of Count Gore De Vol? Buy a copy of the film (affiliate link): https://amzn.to/4pWQA8u
Thursday, October 16
2025 Halloween Countdown = Day 16 🎃
Welcome to day 16 of our Ghost Host Halloween countdown from the lab! 🎃 Tonight we're looking at Late Night with the Devil, a 2023 indie gem. This one’s a wild ride, styled like a documentary about a disastrous 1977 Halloween broadcast of a late-night talk show hosted by Jack Delroy, played by David Dastmalchian, who has a bit of a horror host history himself in several different ways. Buy a copy of the film (affiliate link): https://amzn.to/4o0lifb
Wednesday, October 15
2025 Halloween Countdown - Day 15 🎃
Welcome to Day 15 of our Ghost Host Halloween countdown from the lab! 🎃 Tonight we're looking at The Stand, a 1994 ABC miniseries based on the Stephen King novel. This four-part TV movie has a fun cameo from horror host Joe Bob Briggs, aka John Bloom, playing Deputy Joe Bob Brentwood. Joe Bob, the lovable redneck host of Joe Bob’s Drive-In Theater and later The Last Drive-In on Shudder, brings his B-movie charm to this small but fun role. Buy a copy of the series (affiliate link): https://amzn.to/4nvNd73
Tuesday, October 14
2025 Halloween Countdown - Day 14 🎃
Welcome to day 14 of our Ghost Host Halloween countdown from the lab! 🎃 We’re digging into films and shows featuring real-life horror hosts, and tonight’s a classic you’ve probably all seen: Alfred Hitchcock Presents and The Alfred Hitchcock Hour, both starring the inimitable director himself as the host!
Buy a copy of the film (affiliate link): https://amzn.to/46U7jAK
Monday, October 13
2025 Halloween Countdown - Day 13 🎃
Welcome to Day 13 of our Ghost Host Halloween countdown! 🎃 Tonight’s pick is The Milpitas Monster, a super charming, low-budget indie film from 1976, shot on 16mm by a high school teacher, Robert Burl, and his film class in Milpitas, California. It’s a wild story about a giant, winged creature born from a landfill, wreaking havoc and scaring folks at a high school dance. Enter TV horror host Bob Wilkins, playing a monster expert, Dr. Lindsford. Bob, a Bay Area legend from Creature Features, brought his warm, cigar-smoking charm to this scrappy little movie. It’s a fun, ambitious project with a big heart, and you can watch it right here on YouTube.
Sunday, October 12
2025 Halloween Countdown - Day 12 🎃
Welcome to Day 12 of our Ghost Host Halloween Countdown 2025! 🎃 Tonight, we’re diving into Bubba Ho-Tep (2002), a horror-comedy gem starring Bruce Campbell as an aging Elvis Presley (or is he?) teaming up with “JFK” to battle a soul-sucking mummy in a Texas nursing home. Featuring horror host Dan Roebuck as Dr. Shocker, playing a bumbling coroner, this cult classic mixes laughs, heart, and a quirky monster. Check it out and tell us what you think! Buy a copy of the film (affiliate link): https://amzn.to/4nBMSzC
Saturday, October 11
2025 Halloween Countdown - Day 11 🎃
Friday, October 10
2025 Halloween Countdown - Day 10 🎃
Welcome to Day 10 of our Ghost Host Halloween Countdown 2025! 🎃 Tonight, we’re diving into The Outlaws Is Coming (1965), a wild slapstick comedy with the Three Stooges, Adam West, and Nancy Kovack as Annie Oakley. Set in 1871 Wyoming, this film has a fun twist: the villains, including Wyatt Earp played by horror host Bill Camfield (aka Gorgon from Nightmare), are all kids’ show hosts! Gorgon hosted classic horror flicks in Texas during the ‘50s, and his cameo makes this a unique pick for our countdown. Check out this gem for some Stooges chaos and clever marketing. Join us tomorrow for more!
Buy a copy of the film (affiliate link): https://amzn.to/46Q9mpw
Thursday, October 9
2025 Halloween Countdown - Day 9 🎃
Welcome to Day 9 of our Ghost Host Halloween Countdown 2025! 🎃 Tonight, we’re sharing a special treat: The Dreadful Hallowgreen Special (2010), a fun half-hour film featuring three horror hosts—Dr. Gangrene, Penny Dreadful, and narrator Count Gore De Vol. When pumpkins turn pink and candy corn goes sour on Shackle Island, Dr. Gangrene and Penny Dreadful team up to save Halloween from their own mad science and witchy spells. Made to feel like a quirky ‘70s TV special, this collab is one to check out - watch the entire film here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zPX63yPMxYM&t=12s
Wednesday, October 8
2025 Halloween Countdown - Day 8
Welcome to Day 8 of our Ghost Host Halloween Countdown 2025! 🎃 Today, we’re diving into One Step Beyond, a 1959 anthology series hosted by John Newland. This public-domain gem blends eerie stories, haunting music by Harry Lubin, and Newland’s excellent narration.
Tuesday, October 7
2025 Halloween Countdown - Day 7 🎃
Welcome to Day 7 of our Ghost Host Halloween 2025 Countdown! 🎃👻 Dive into the spooky season with Dr. Gangrene's review of The Private Eyes (1980), a horror-comedy gem starring Tim Conway and Don Knotts. This old-dark-house mystery follows bumbling detectives Inspector Winship (Knotts) and Dr. Tart (Conway) as they investigate murders at the eerie Morley Estate, complete with hidden passages, cobwebs, and a torture chamber. Featuring Fred Stuthman (aka Jeepers Keeper, a legendary LA horror host) as Lord Morley, this film blends creepy atmosphere with classic comedy reminiscent of Abbott and Costello.
Grab The Private Eyes on Blu-ray: https://amzn.to/4gVelKm
Monday, October 6
2025 Halloween Countdown Day 6 🎃
Welcome to Day 6 of our horror countdown! 🎃 Dive into the 1968 classic Night of the Living Dead, George Romero’s groundbreaking zombie masterpiece that redefined horror. We explore its low-budget brilliance, its accidental public domain status, and its lasting impact. Plus, we celebrate Pittsburgh’s iconic horror host Chilly Billy Cardille, the WIC-TV reporter who starred in the film and hosted Chiller Theater from 1963-1984.
Sunday, October 5
2025 Halloween Countdown - Day 5 🎃
🎃 Welcome to Day 5 of our Ghost Host Halloween Countdown! 🎥 Join us as we dive into iconic horror hosts and the films/TV shows they star in. Tonight, we spotlight Boris Karloff’s Thriller (1960), one of the greatest horror anthology series ever!
Saturday, October 4
2025 Halloween Countdown Day 4 🎃
🎃💀 Welcome to Day 4 of our Halloween Countdown, where we dive into ghost host films—movies and TV shows featuring iconic horror hosts! Today, we’re breaking the rules with a curveball: Fright Night (1985), the ultimate horror host movie, starring Roddy McDowall as the unforgettable TV horror host Peter Vincent. Despite not featuring a real-life horror host, this cult classic earns its spot for its stellar vampire-hunting, horror-comedy brilliance.
Friday, October 3
2025 Halloween Countdown - Day 3 🎃
🎃 Welcome to Day 3 of our Daily October Halloween Countdown! 🎃 Join us as we dive into spooky classics featuring iconic horror hosts. Today, we’re exploring The Legend of Blood Mountain, a regional gem from Atlanta, Georgia, starring the beloved horror host Bestoink Dooley, played by George Ellis. Unique regional horror with a quirky horror host!
Thursday, October 2
Dr. Gangrene's 2025 Halloween Countdown - Day 2 🎃
🎃 Welcome to Day 2 of our 2025 Halloween Countdown! 👻 Join our Dr. Gangrene as he dives into films and shows featuring real-life horror hosts. Today, we’re spotlighting the iconic Tales from the Crypt (1989-1996), the legendary HBO series based on EC Comics’ horror classics like Tales from the Crypt, Vault of Horror, and Haunt of Fear.
Wednesday, October 1
Dr. Gangrene Halloween Countdown 2025 🎃
🎃 Get ready for a spooky start to Halloween 2025 with Dr. Gangrene’s Halloween Countdown!🧪 Day 1 dives into The Incredible Two-Headed Transplant (1971), a wild B-movie that also features Larry Vincent, aka Seymour, the iconic horror host of Fright Night! 💀 Join us in the lab all October as we explore “Ghost Hosts” 👻 — films featuring legendary horror hosts.
-
In 2001 the Chiller Cinema crew decided we wanted to make a movie. We got together with friends and shot it over a weekend on a farm in Tenn...
-
This interview originally ran in Scary Monsters Magazine #76. I had the pleasure of speaking with John Agar's son, John Agar III. I thou...
-
I got a chance to check out a new independent horror film this weekend called The Odds . It’s a 2018 film, feature-length, made by Uproar Pi...