The Didactic Duo of Dread return for Episode 182 of Horror Movie Weekly, where Jay of the Dead and Mister Watson tackle Bong Joon-ho’s acclaimed South Korean creature feature, The Host (2006) — Jay’s pick for this week’s Feature Review. The hosts dig into the film’s jaw-dropping opening monster attack sequence, its tonal balancing act between Beastly Freak Horror and quirky comedy, and whether the CG creature effects still hold up 20 years later. And somewhere in the middle of all this, the hosts attempt to determine whether The Host is secretly a comedy. (Results inconclusive.)
Along the way, the boys discuss the pitfalls of “mid-tier” French Extreme Horror, debate whether ils / Them (2006) deserves its legendary reputation, and once again descend into some very dark True Crime territory courtesy of Jay’s well-documented Forensic Files obsession. Also in this episode: company summit hosting disasters, cowboy hats at the office, karaoke hypotheticals, Starbucks blueberry muffins, and why Watson believes Kidnapped (2010) belongs among the greatest home invasion Horror films ever made!
Note: This episode was recorded on March 27, 2025.
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This weekly Horror movie podcast brings you one recent Horror movie review every Sunday. (As noted previously, we’re defining “recent” as any Horror movie released within the last five years or the current year; so now that it’s 2024, we’ll be covering Horror films from 2019 to the present.) And we always reveal next week’s pick at the end of every show, so you can watch along with us and be prepared for the following episode. Thanks for listening!
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SHOW NOTES
– Introduction
- Welcome to Horror Movie Weekly, Episode 182
- Jay of the Dead welcomes his best fiend, Mister Watson
- Jay of the Dead and Mister Watson discuss approaching Episode 200
- Clarification and discussion of the show’s newer 2005–2015 Feature Review coverage era
- Jay talks about hosting his company’s annual summit event
- Watson imagines co-hosting Jay’s corporate event as an “ostentatious sidekick”
- Cowboy hats, tuxedos and workplace “drip” discussions
- Jay records a Moody Blues cover song with Spawn of the Dead and Gizmo for his NecroMOMicon’s birthday
- Starbucks Blueberry Muffin recommendation
Micro Horror Movie Review:
Forensic Files: “Invisible Intruder” (1999)
Jay of the Dead = 8 ( Highly disturbing True Crime recommendation for brave viewers only )
Micro Horror Movie Review:
ils / Them (2006)
Mister Watson = 4 ( Soft Recommendation for French Horror completists )
Jay of the Dead = 6 ( Rental )
Feature Review: The Host (2006) – Jay of the Dead’s pick
The Host (2006)
Genre Classification: Horror / Beastly Freak Creature Feature / Quirky Comedy Horror / Children-in-Peril Horror
Premise:
After the U.S. Army dumps toxic chemicals into the Han River, a grotesque genetic mutation emerges years later in the form of a terrifying Beastly Freak that terrorizes Seoul and abducts a young girl — sending her dysfunctional family into a desperate rescue mission.
Some Discussion Points:
– Bong Joon-ho’s evolving filmography
– Parasite, Snowpiercer, Mother, Memories of Murder and Mickey 17
– Early monster reveals vs. “hide the creature” storytelling
– Whether the opening attack sequence ranks among the greatest Beastly Freak attacks in Horror cinema
– The film’s abrupt tonal shifts into quirky comedy
– CG creature effects: ambitious for 2006 or distractingly dated?
– Children in peril as an effective Horror element
– Misleading poster art and audience misconceptions about the creature
– Government incompetence and “Agent Yellow”
– The emotional disconnect between thrilling monster action and slower family drama sections
– Comparisons to Godzilla, Pacific Rim, Monsters vs. Aliens and The Frighteners
Ratings and Recommendations:
Jay of the Dead = 6 ( One-time watch! Must-see opening attack sequence for Beastly Freak fans )
Mister Watson = 7.5 ( Buy for South Korean cinema fans )
Mister Watson’s pick for the next episode:
The Orphanage (2007)
Wrap-Up:
– Watson recommends Kidnapped (2010) as an elite home invasion Horror film
– More discussion about French Extreme Horror and the so-called “Fab Five”
– Jay and Watson tease future rewatches and possible upcoming reviews
Special thanks to website developer Jaxon Carroll and graphic designer Trump Widdop for their excellent work in helping Horror Movie Weekly to have a nice, new website. Thank you!
LINKS FOR THIS EPISODE:
Jay of the Dead’s NEW HORROR MOVIES podcast links:
Email: [email protected]
Voicemail: (801) 980-1375
Twitter: @HorrorAvengers
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Links for Mister Watson:
Podcast: Horror Movie Weekly
Twitter: @WatZeeParty
Podcast: The Wat-Zee Party Horror Show
Facebook: The Wat-Zee Party Horror Show / Horror Corridor
Links for Jay of the Dead:
Horror Movie Weekly.com
Considering the Cinema.com
Movie Podcast Weekly.com
HMW Twitter: @horror_weekly
CTC Twitter: @ConsiderCinema
Links for Channy Dreadful:
Check out Channy’s new Instagram: @ChantelSkates
Check out Channy’s TikTok
Channy on Facebook
Twitter: @ChannyDreadful
Jay recommends Channy’s Article on Cujo
Channy on Hereditary with Ron Martin on The Resurrection of Zombie 7 Podcast
Channy Dreadful Archives on The Resurrection of Zombie 7
Instagram: Strawberry Crush Creations
Link for Projectile Varmint:
No Bodies Horror Podcast
— BillChete and Lady Phantom’s other podcast:
MOVIES IN 4K
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