Though a couple of our Geeks weren't available for this episode, Jack, Scott and Frank Woodward recently gathered to share our appreciation for director John Carpenter, who has created at least two classics in his varied career yet remains an unsung director by the Hollywood studio system.

Thankfully, being overlooked and undervalued didn't stop Carpenter from creating some of our favorite films including HALLOWEEN, ESCAPE FROM NEW YORK, THE THING, CHRISTINE, STARMAN, BIG TROUBLE IN LITTLE CHINA and THEY LIVE, among others we discuss and evaluate in this episode.

We also discuss the creative crossover between Carpenter as a director and as a musician beyond the fact that he often composed original scores for his own films, in light of Woodward's recent viewing of Carpenter's live concert.

While the film industry fails to appreciate John Carpenter's work, there is no doubt that the director's legacy from the 1970s to today and beyond continues to inspire artists and audiences alike.

The Damn Dirty Geeks hope this episode inspires our listeners to watch more Carpenter films or re-evaluate them if you're already familiar with his work, and share them with others to recruit new fans to express their appreciation for John Carpenter.

The Damn Dirty Geeks take another stab and celebrating and studying the horror film genre with our special guest, producer/director Mike Mendez.

Like two of our previous podcast guests, Andrew Kasch and John Skipp, Mendez also directed a segment of the horror anthology film TALES OF HALLOWEEN released last October. Mike's segment "Friday the 31st" pits a deranged serial killer against his feminine quarry who turns the tables in a shocking twist of the typical slasher formula. Mendez also discusses BIG ASS SPIDER!, his affectionate horror/humor tribute to the big bug movies of the 1950s.

We revisit films like CARRIE and THE HILLS HAVE EYES that were early influences on Mike's youth and inspired his eventual career, including a rousing discussion of James Cameron's genre-mashing sequel ALIENS.

We weave all these subject threads together in a larger examination on the state of current independent horror films and filmmakers, existing and thriving outside the formulaic entries of higher-budget studio franchises or even compete against them at the box office.

Be sure to share Damn Dirty Geeks episodes with your horror-loving friends on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and show your support of DDG by writing a review of our show on iTunes.

The Damn Dirty Geeks welcome back our special guest actor Sam Witwer, who returns for Part 2 to discuss his prolific voice work throughout the STAR WARS cinematic galaxy, from his likeness and voice at the center of The Force Unleashed video game series up through THE CLONE WARS, STAR WARS REBELS and even THE FORCE AWAKENS.

Sam launches us into the STAR WARS universe immediately with an awesome taste of his voice work as Palpatine (both in Chancellor and Emperor mode), which soon branches into a deeper discussion of how Sam approaches the character in his own original ways. Sam also delves into the creative side of voice acting, how he molds his sound-alike assignments to the script rather than simply imitate the actor who originated the role.

While Part 2 of our episode with Sam Witwer talks at length about STAR WARS, his insights into voice acting apply to screen acting as well as the work all boils down to character building. Sam tells a fascinating story about how he built up the character and voice of the Son, an original character created in the Mortis arc of episodes in STAR WARS: THE CLONE WARS: ultimately blending aspects of multiple villain characters to give a unique but familiar voice to the Son. Sam and the DDG also have lots of laughs discussing the ridiculous deaths of video game characters and the silly sounds voice actors create to kill them off at the click of your controller.

Sam offers some fascinating insights into George Lucas as a storyteller, and how Lucas being tired of making STAR WARS movies prompted him to tell tales of Jedi and Sith in an entirely different format by creating THE CLONE WARS animated series. Our discussion also taps into the non-canon "demise" of Expanded Universe fiction as the Star Wars Legends line with the creation of the Lucasfilm Story Group -- which continues to borrow and rework EU story facts and situations in a way that unifies current STAR WARS fiction with the films more directly.

It's not all STAR WARS talk in Part 2 with Sam, though! This episode also takes a fun detour into discussion of MAD MAX: ROAD WARRIOR which speaks to a larger discussion with Sam about fandom in general, and fan expectations (including Sam's) of these mythic, larger-than-life story franchises.

Our listeners have long awaited Part 2 of our podcast with popular, prolific actor Sam Witwer, but we hope you'll agree that the wait was worth it! Between detailed discussions of STAR WARS, voice acting for animation and video games, and fandom in general, once again Sam Witwer knocks a Damn Dirty Geeks' podcast out of the park. Enjoy!

The Damn Dirty Geeks are back after a busy hiatus (of exciting new projects) with the first of a string of new podcast episodes! First up is our salute to two Hammer horror greats, Christopher Lee and Peter Cushing, who were united by our episode guest Ted Newsom in his superb documentary FLESH AND BLOOD: THE HAMMER HERITAGE OF HORROR.

In this hour, Ted regails us and DDG listeners with tales of bringing Lee and Cushing together professionally for the final time as narrators of Newsom’s Hammer documentary, as Cushing passed away only three months after the duo recorded their parts in early 1994. Longtime friends, Peter and Christopher were delighted to spend this time together — as you can see from Ted’s photos of the pair during their narration recording sessions.

Ted describes his own amazement at reunited Lee and Cushing for his documentary, watching another chapter of Hammer horror history in the making — and just in time. Beyond this work, Newsom speaks of the affectionate bond between Peter and Christopher off-screen, including the silly trick Cushing would do to have Lee in stitches with laughter. FLESH AND BLOOD brought Dracula and Van Helsing together one last time, fortunately for us Hammer horror fans, and the DDG are proud to host Ted Newsom sharing his personal adventures in uniting them as performers and dear friends.

Our episode with Ted expands hilariously beyond Hammer horror to include: debates about the comedy quotient of IT’S A MAD, MAD, MAD, MAD WORLD; tales from David Prowse about working with Stanley Kubrick: Christopher Lee’s appearance hosting Saturday Night Live and his second career of “not playing Dracula” in many films about a tall, sinister vampire character; and a very touching story of how Lee’s fear of seeing an ill, aging Cushing almost prevented their reunion from happening until Newsom gathered them together in his documentary.

This episode with Ted Newsom is a wild ride through horror history peppered with plenty of laughs, so grab your vampire hunting kit and enjoy! A link to purchase the updated edition Ted’s documentary FLESH AND BLOOD: THE HAMMER HERITAGE OF HORROR is provided in Show Notes on our website at DamnDirtyGeeks.com.

The Damn Dirty Geeks continue our ongoing discussion about the STAR WARS cinematic universe with our official review episode on THE FORCE AWAKENS.

While we recorded this episode last December just after THE FORCE AWAKENS blasted into theaters for a billion-dollar box office run, we delayed publishing it to give as many STAR WARS fans and DDG listeners to see the film. The wait is over, and the Geeks' lightsabers are clashing in full-force now!

Frank, Jack, Scott, Trish and Frank dive deep into THE FORCE AWAKENS for all its strengths and potential weaknesses in jumpstarting the feature franchise again. We reach a consensus about liking the film, but engage in lively debate about how the contributions of director J.J. Abrams and writers Michael Arndt and Lawrence Kasdan shaped the story of Episode VII and the next two films ahead.

Many of our main plot predictions from our previous STAR WARS podcasts came true in THE FORCE AWAKENS, though the film yielded many surprises as well, for better and occasionally worse. Our discussions/arguments arise over: the Abrams/TREK-like science warping of the First Order's solar weapon; the clouded mystery surrounding Snoke's true identity; how and who is training Kylo Ren in the ways of the Force; and how is Rey tapping into the Force without any training -- just for starters!

We also have much to say about the performance of Harrison Ford as an older, evolved Han Solo, along with the younger cast including Oscar Issac, Daisy Ridley and John Boyega. On the other hand, why did Max von Sydow and Gwendoline Christie get so short-changed in their roles?

Was there too much overlap between THE FORCE AWAKENS and the Original Trilogy films, or were the similarities very deliberate to help erase the disappointments of the Prequel films?

We answer these and many other questions amid one of our most raucous, high-spirited and laugh-filled podcast episodes yet. Be sure to listen to our episode on THE FORCE AWAKENS before (and after!) it arrives on Blu-ray, DVD and On-Demand in early April.

The Damn Dirty Geeks have scored another fantastic two-part podcast episode with our special guest, actor Sam Witwer, talking about his film and TV series roles in THE MIST, THE WALKING DEAD and BEING HUMAN.

Joining Frank, Jack, Frank, Scott and Trish, Sam Witwer opens this Part 1 episode with the unlikely, fortuitous story of how he became the first actor cast in Frank Darabont's feature adaptation of THE MIST, Stephen King's Lovecraftian sci-fi horror novella. This discussion twists into a study of notorious film endings and interpretations, including THE MIST along with BLADE RUNNER and NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD.

Sam also shares several inside stories about his work and the making of SyFy's hit series BEING HUMAN, in which he stars as Aidan Waite, a 2000-year-old vampire who struggles to exist in the modern human world with his werewolf and ghostly roommates.

Blending lighter moments of comedy with dark, emotional scenes of human drama -- even for an undead vampire -- Sam relates his acting process in developing Aidan beyond the tropes of genre expectation. Witwer's own character concerns actually changed scripted moments in the series, ensuring that viewers identified with Aidan's supernatural curse just like drug addiction does in humans. Sam also relates how he strove never to violate Aidan killing humans without confronting the moral cost of his actions, and how that changed his character over the centuries.

This Part 1 episode offers fascinating insights into Sam Witwer's acting philosophy and his work in these favorite films and series, all while the DDG have a very fun evening with him. Plenty of laughs ensue, and this is only the beginning!

In Part 2 of our podcast coming soon, the DDG and Sam begin delving into his lengthy association with the STAR WARS franchise, including THE FORCE AWAKENS, animated series and video games.

In Part 2 of our podcast, the Damn Dirty Geeks pick up right where we left off discussing JAWS with director/special effects master Greg Nicotero for a second hour of fun jokes and inside stories.

Greg and the DDG talk about the JAWS-inspired home movies made when we were younger, using everything from fiberglass wall-mounted sharks to Fisher Price toys, rubber sharks, piles of leaves and stop-motion action figures. Greg also shares his own geek origin story, being inspired by Universal classic monsters, TV shows like LOST IN SPACE and LAND OF THE LOST, and especially miniature-mashing disaster movies like THE POSEIDON ADVENTURE and THE TOWERING INFERNO.

But it was the mechanical sharks in JAWS that began Greg’s obsession to learn how such movie creatures were made, reading film magazines that turned a hobby into an eventual career. Fate intervened when local Pittsburgh filmmaker George Romero began production on his zombie sequel DAWN OF THE DEAD in 1978 that Greg finally connected with his destiny… via Greg’s uncle. Yet fascinatingly, Greg first met George Romero in Rome, Italy while the Nicoteros were on vacation! It’s a fun and amazing tale Greg shares in this episode.

This episode concludes with a lengthy discussion about how Tom Savini’s makeup effects in DAWN OF THE DEAD inspired Greg to practice his craft to position him to join Savini’s makeup team on DAY OF THE DEAD. We get elbow-deep into the gut wrenching gore effects of classic Romero zombie kills and how their artistry — seemingly primitive to today’s photorealistic CG visual effects — nonetheless hold up better and remain more horrifyingly convincing decades after their creation.

Jack and Frank raise a fascinating question to Greg: would he direct a remake of JAWS? Listen to learn Greg’s definitive answer, as well as his opinion on the impending reboot/remake of CREATURE FROM THE BLACK LAGOON by Universal.

Buckle up for Part 2 of our supersize podcast with Greg Nicotero, whom we’ll definitely have back on the Damn Dirty Geeks podcast when his very busy schedule with THE WALKING DEAD and other films allows him to return to town.

Recorded in late 2015 but unleashed now, saddle up for this rollicking fun podcast episode taking aim at WESTWORLD, Michael Crichton's 1973 futurist thriller, with side trips to discuss what the Damn Dirty Geeks love about 1970s cinema.

The first of our "wild card" podcasts, we had no set guest and no specific topic points to discuss in this episode. Frank, Frank and Scott had just gone to a wonderful screening of Crichton's classic sci-fi/western presented by Taylor White and Creature Features at The Theater at Ace Hotel in Downtown LA, and recorded this episode the following night to capture our enthusiasm for the unique stylings of 1970s American films.

While being a superb representation of cinematic tastes in 1973, WESTWORLD also proved highly influential on science fiction/action films to come amid the burgeoning computer boom in the decade. You'll find strong WESTWORLD influences upon content and visual style in James Cameron's THE TERMINATOR released eleven years later. References to Yul Brynner's relentless, tireless pursuit of Richard Benjamin in WESTWORLD's finale, the robot's heat-vision imaging of his target, and the double-twist ending of the seemingly indestructible robot's demise were all programmed into Arnold Schwarzenegger's T-800 performance and character by Cameron in his 1984 blockbuster. Crichton was there first, and he dramatized similar science fiction themes and nightmarish scenarios once again in his best-selling novel JURASSIC PARK.

We also cite WESTWORLD as a perfect example of 1970s cinema to hire character actors to play leading roles, typified by Richard Benjamin embodying much more of an "everyman" aspect portraying Peter Martin instead of today's musclebound macho leading men so common today. Yup Brynner proved to be the perfect casting to portray the android Gunslinger in his stoic, commanding physical approach to the role, a trait clearly carried over from his similar appearance 13 years prior in THE MAGNIFICENT SEVEN. Via Richard Benjamin's Q&A after the screening, we relate the details of how Brynner invented an inner psychology and evolution of the robotic Gunslinger that subtly informed his menacing performance. The DDG also appreciate Crichton's under appreciated skills as a director of WESTWORLD which, despite its outdated technology on display, holds up very well to contemporary scrutiny over 40 years after its release.

Ultimately, the DDG rhapsodize about the heights of 1970s cinema and our favorite films of the era, including THE TAKING OF PELHAM 1-2-3, THE EXORCIST, DOG DAY AFTERNOON, NETWORK, and how their storytelling style is a unique and seemingly lost art in today's blockbuster era. Even the movie posters were better in the 1970s, dammit.

Enjoy, please subscribe to our podcast and share it with your fellow movie geek friends! If you like the DDG, please rate and review our podcast on our iTunes page.

Year Two of the Damn Dirty Geeks podcast starts off big with our first podcast guest of 2016, director/executive producer/makeup effects creator Greg Nicotero, who joins the DDG for two hours discussing one of our favorite films, Steven Spielberg's thriller JAWS.

In Part 1 of our evening with Greg Nicotero, he shares how seeing JAWS in 1975 prompted many nightmares as well as his earliest aspirations to learn how such movie creatures were made.

Greg also unspools his tale of how his family kept a fiberglass shark on their wall -- a rarity for a Pittsburgh boy who grew up fascinated by the challenge and process of recreating the beast from JAWS. 

The DDG also discuss with Greg the crucial differences between Peter Benchley's best-selling novel and Spielberg's more streamlined, simple and terrifying film adaptation that scared audiences right out of the ocean.

Greg gives his own insights into how learning from directors like Spielberg, George Romero and John Frankenheimer aided his own approach to directing episodes of THE WALKING DEAD as well.

Enjoy Part 1 of our podcast fun with Greg Nicotero. Soon we'll publish Part 2 in which Greg talks more about his own Jaws obsession, discusses his early work with George Romero making DAY OF THE DEAD, and more about his directing and makeup effects career.

The Damn Dirty Geeks finally wrap up our pre-THE FORCE AWAKENS conversation about all things STAR WARS before J.J. Abrams' film opens in theaters on December 18th!

Frank Woodward joins Jack, Scott and Frank D after Part 1 and 2 of our STAR WARS debates and discussion as we count down the final seven days until we see Episode 7.

First we catch up Woodward from where the other three Geeks left off in Part 2, getting his input on the Star Wars Holiday Special, where the Prequel Trilogy films went wrong in laying a shaky foundation for the superior Original Trilogy films, and our superb Chewbacca impersonations.

We also explore the dark times in STAR WARS history after RETURN OF THE JEDI left theaters in 1983, including the Ewok TV adventures, and multiple home video and soundtrack editions with no new theatrical films. Finally the long wait ended with the release of the Special Editions of the Original Trilogy, which we propose were largely test runs for Lucas to make THE PHANTOM MENACE for the Digital Cinema age.

We wrap up the show with our hopes and predictions of what might happen in THE FORCE AWAKENS. Who will survive? Where is Luke? And does Chewie drink pina coladas? More importantly, where will this new generation of STAR WARS characters lead us in that beloved galaxy far, far away?

We hope you enjoy listening to this episode as much as we had a blast recording it -- a show loaded with amenities at no extra charge to you, the listener. May the Force be with you as you see THE FORCE AWAKENS in theaters, and the Damn Dirty Geeks look forward to joining you again in 2016 with new shows and more post-TFA STAR WARS discussion.

The Damn Dirty Geeks revisit one of our favorite topics and TV shows, THE WALKING DEAD in our first wildcard episode linking up several hot topics. This time, both Franks, Scott and Jack address the recent Season 6 cliffhanger episode that put Glenn's life in the hands of zombie-horde fate, and how this trend of keeping audiences in suspense over mid-season breaks has changed modern television.

Our TWD discussion evolves into a rousing debate about this era of binge watching TV series like GAME OF THRONES, SHERLOCK and HOUSE OF CARDS. We examine how this television trend crashes headlong into the internet era, which can reveal TV story spoilers nearly-live as they appear on the screen -- if the fan rumor mill doesn't spoil them before episodes air.

The fun continues as we compare and contrast THE WALKING DEAD to the George Romero DEAD universe of films and their collective impact on zombie mythology in pop culture. We also enter a Hasslein Loop linking TWD to PLANET OF THE APES, JAWS, THE OMEGA MAN, SOYLENT GREEN and WESTWORLD.

We wrap up this wildcard episode with the hilarious prospect of Damn Dirty Geeks action figures that would include kung-fu grip, eyepatch and blaster gun accessories.

Also, this episode will be the first released using our new DDG studio microphones, which improve the sound quality of our podcast greatly, as we hope you'll agree. Let us know if you can hear and enjoy the difference.

Coming soon will be another wildcard episode in which we return to the 1970s to discuss sci-fi films prior to STAR WARS like WESTWORLD and much more.

With SPECTRE now in theaters, actor and voice artist Daran Norris -- an uber 007 fan himself -- recently joined the Damn Dirty Geeks to share our mutual fascination and fandom of James Bond films and fiction from Ian Fleming's first novel up to the 24th  film.

Looking ahead to SPECTRE, Daran and the DDG examine how different actors taking on the role of Bond, from Connery through Craig, have exploited different sides of 007 and how Bond has changed with them. 

Some serious discussion about the evolution of the Bond film franchise also ensues, how they adapted or drifted away from Fleming's novels over the decades, but we also have plenty of fun ranking our favorite films, villains and Bond theme songs too.

You'll likely recognize Daran from his 400 films, video game, and television roles including Cliff McCormack in VERONICA MARS, the voices of Cosmo, Jorgen Von Strangle, and Mr. Turner in THE FAIRLY ODD PARENTS, Knock Out in TRANSFORMERS PRIME, and Spottswoode in TEAM AMERICA: WORLD POLICE.

Your mission is to download or stream this all-007 podcast episode and save the free world. Sip on a martini with the Damn Dirty Geeks while you listen.

If you like this episode, please rate and review the Damn Dirty Geeks podcast on our iTunes page.

The scaring season is finally here as directors John Skipp and Andrew Kasch join the Damn Dirty Geeks to share our ghost stories and fond trick or treat memories about Halloween, all of which inspired their segment in the new anthology film TALES OF HALLOWEEN.

John and Andrew share their differing experiences growing up enjoying the Halloween season in their youth as we explore the evolution of this holiday from innocent neighborhood fun to a massive industry, allowing even casual home haunters to purchase elaborate animatronic monsters and digitally presented haunt environments.

We also visit the current trend of theme parks like Universal Studios and Knotts creating annual Halloween haunt events that translate into trick-or-treating for adults. Andrew and John collaborated as co-directors on "This Means War," their hilarious and horrifying segment of the new holiday anthology film TALES OF HALLOWEEN, now available on all major VOD outlets. Their story pits a classic Halloween yard decorator (previous DDG podcast guest, actor/comedian Dana Gould) reacting to a a competing yard display filled with contemporary gore and blasting soundtrack built buy a new hard rocking neighbor (James Duval) across the street. This suburban game of oneupmanship turns dark and dangerous as these two Halloween enthusiasts turn their rivalry into deadly battle.

Enjoy our special Halloween episode with Andrew and John, then be sure to check out TALES OF HALLOWEEN now available on all major VOD services, including links in this episode's Show Notes. And Happy Halloween to all of you from the Damn Dirty Geeks!

You'll lose your heads listening to the Damn Dirty Geeks' podcast visit from actor Graham Skipper as we talk about his lead role in RE-ANIMATOR THE MUSICAL and a few upcoming, highly anticipated horror films.

How does an actor follow up a benchmark performance in horror cinema? By singing his guts out and spraying the front rows of a theater audience with blood and guts, of course! Graham regales the DDG with his inside tales of performing as Dr. Herbert West in RE-ANIMATOR THE MUSICAL live on stage in both LA and Las Vegas. The original film's director Stuart Gordon adapted his work in 2011, adding music and lyrics by Mark Nutter to add another layer of horror insanity to this Lovecraft-inspired tale of terror.

Graham also discusses his lead role in our own Frank Woodward's comedy short BALLOON, now available on YouTube and Vimeo, along with Graham's latest starring roles in Joe Begos' THE MIND'S EYE, and the upcoming horror anthology film TALES OF HALLOWEEN.

Spend an hour with this very talented, funny and versatile actor who is quickly becoming a force to be reckoned with in genre entertainment as Graham and the Geeks put the first chills of horror on the 2015 Halloween season.

To the Batcave as the Damn Dirty Geeks welcome Academy Award-winning creature creator, makeup artist, actor and director Tom Woodruff Jr. to our podcast to discuss his amazing career and his earliest influences that started him on his filmmaking journey.

Tom has amassed a huge career in high profile films with his creative partner Alec Gillis, who together created Amalgamated Dynamics Inc./studio ADI, a leader in practical creature, makeup and special effects. A very brief list of Tom's credits include: STAR TREK III: THE SEARCH FOR SPOCK, ALIEN 3, PREDATOR, JUMANJI, SPIDER-MAN (2002) and most recently BATMAN V SUPERMAN: DAWN OF JUSTICE.

Tom Woodruff and Alec Gillis own Amalgamated Dynamics Inc, one of Hollywood's top creature design, makeup and special effects studios. Tom not only makes some of your favorite movie creatures, he often performs as them in the creature suits he creates, including the Lead Alien in both ALIEN 3 and ALIEN RESURRECTION, the title creature of the original PUMPKINHEAD, and Bernie the gorilla in ZOOKEEPER. We discuss the particular challenges of suit performances in such films, and how his acting experience in these suits begins in the creature design phase bringing these aliens, apes and monsters to life on the big screen.

This episode starts off with some laughs about Tom's excellent replica of the original 1966 Batmobile from the classic TV series starring Adam West as Batman (see photos in the gallery below). The show had a huge influence on Tom's childhood and it was an early gateway into genre entertainment that we continue to remember fondly today in our careers. Tom also belongs to the ever-expanding group who credit KING KONG and PLANET OF THE APES as highly influential on his life and career -- it almost seems to be a theme of the DDG podcast, go figure.

Atomic batteries to power... turbines to speed... prepare to listen now!

Actor/writer/director Tom Holland returns to continue his podcast with the Damn Dirty Geeks, this episode focusing on his highly popular 1985 twist on the vampire genre, FRIGHT NIGHT... for real!

As Holland's directorial debut, FRIGHT NIGHT acheived that rare balance of humor and horror, and it helped revitalize the vampire film genre upon its theatrical release. Holland briefly recaps a final question about PSYCHO II and its critical reception in 1983 and today, then he and the DDG move on to sink our podcast teeth into FRIGHT NIGHT.

Slated as a 'throw away' film on Columbia's schedule at the time of its production, Holland relates how he put equal effort to creating rounded, rich characters for both villains and heroes alike, as he did with PSYCHO II. Just one of the reasons why FRIGHT NIGHT still holds up well as it celebrates its 30th anniversary.

Holland also gives his insights into how FRIGHT NIGHT "inherited" many of the effects crew that Columbia held together after GHOSTBUSTERS, which gave his "little" vampire film massive production value and made it a huge hit for the studio.

Tom also shares the genesis of Tom Holland's Terror Time, a website serving his fan community requests for autographs and movie memorabilia from Tom's films including FRIGHT NIGHT, PSYCHO II, CHILD'S PLAY and more. Be sure to check out this great site built for genre fans and like the Terror Time Facebook page.

The DDG wrap up this episode with Tom's thoughts on the future of film entertainment, including his predictions for the great impact that 3D virtual reality could have on our current theatrical and home video industry templates.

There's plenty to feed on in part 2 of our extended episode with Tom Holland, so listen, download and subscribe now before Jerry Dandrige turns you to the dark side forever!

Special thanks to our DDG theme composer Brice Cranston for engineering this recording.

P.S. Tom Holland proved to be such a popular guest for this episode recording, that a cricket even crashed our recording studio. If you hear a few chirps in the background, just pictured Mr. Holland and the Damn Dirty Geeks chatting on some veranda during a balmy summer evening and go with it!

The full contingent of Damn Dirty Geeks -- Frank, Jack, Frank, Trish and Scott -- spent a wonderful and informative evening with writer/director Tom Holland to discuss his successful filmmaking career and his daunting task of writing the 1983 sequel to Alfred Hitchcock's innovative horror thriller PSYCHO.

PSYCHO II began as a humble, low-budget cable film but Holland's taut, suspenseful script persuaded star Anthony Perkins to reprise his role as Norman Bates, a casting coup that launched this sequel project into the publicity stratosphere -- even if its production budget didn't follow.

Holland shares his earliest experiences as a theater actor with contemporary Dustin Hoffman, a contract player at Warner Brothers in the early 1960s, and his evolution into one of Hollywood's top screenwriters of notable films including PSYCHO II, FRIGHT NIGHT and CHILD'S PLAY among many others.

The DDG will soon release our second-part podcast with Tom Holland celebrating the 30th anniversary of his witty vampire film FRIGHT NIGHT.

Special thanks to our DDG theme composer Brice Cranston for engineering this recording.

With STAR WARS: THE FORCE AWAKENS just a few months from blasting into theaters, the Damn Dirty Geeks revisit the classic, original STAR WARS trilogy in two full length podcasts.

In Part 2 of this double-episode, Frank, Jack and Scott return to discuss RETURN OF THE JEDI that capped off the Original (and at the time, the only) STAR WARS Trilogy in 1983. Comparisons and criticisms abound between JEDI's lighter tone following up EMPIRE's cliffhanger (some say unsatisfying) ending, and how Episode VI caught a bit of a bad reputation for being as much of a toy-selling product as an exciting franchise finale. 

Yet the DDG also defend JEDI's important contributions to resolving the Luke/Vader conflict and creating a watershed dramatic moment in the Skywalker saga. 

We wrap up by each picking our favorite scene from the OT, as well as predict how the highly popular, internet-exploding trailers for THE FORCE AWAKENS could well revive the emotional impact of the Original Trilogy to this new Sequel Trilogy in a return to the feelings about STAR WARS we grew up with a long time ago in childhoods far, far away.

Special thanks to our DDG theme composer Brice Cranston for engineering this recording.

With STAR WARS: THE FORCE AWAKENS just a few months from blasting into theaters, the Damn Dirty Geeks revisit the classic, original STAR WARS trilogy in two full length podcasts.

In Part 1 of this double-episode, Frank, Jack and Scott discuss in depth the unique clash of perfect timing and epic fantasy storytelling that launched a cinematic phenomenon in 1977. Before it was ever known as Episode IV: A NEW HOPE, the original STAR WARS captivated audiences worn down by political scandals, gas lines and dark, cynical cinema.

George Lucas’ reimagining of serial adventures like FLASH GORDON made movies fun again and audiences kept returning to theaters to enjoy the good guys battling Darth Vader and the Empire’s baddies. The perfect antidote to 1970s cynicism, STAR WARS redefined the blockbuster film concept, launched a film franchise and fantasy mythology that endures and thrives nearly four decades later, and changed Hollywood movies forever.

The Geeks get into the heart and artistry of good STAR WARS storytelling from A NEW HOPE through EMPIRE to JEDI which set both characters and audience on an exciting journey of danger, despair and triumph. We then pilot this discussion into the near future to challenge THE FORCE AWAKENS with bringing back that original STAR WARS feeling and fun again.

Which episode is considered the best by the Damn Dirty Geeks? Listen to this first part of our original STAR WARS Trilogy podcast to find out.

We will publish Part 2 of this STAR WARS original trilogy podcast discussing much more about RETURN OF THE JEDI soon, so stay tuned you Rebel scum! No, we won’t make you wait three years to hear it.

Special thanks to our DDG theme composer Brice Cranston for engineering this recording.

We're on a roll with Stephen King films after our CHRISTINE episode, so the Damn Dirty Geeks make a U-turn back into Uncle Ira's Basement for this mini-podcast about David Cronenberg's film adaptation of Stephen King's THE DEAD ZONE.

In this episode, Frank, Trish and Scott focus their psychic skills on Christopher Walken's memorable performance in this tense Cronenberg thriller which arguably is the best feature adaptation of a King novel yet.

One of King's best novels in its own right, this suspenseful tale of lost love and a terrible gift to see future events forces Johnny Smith to choose between his own destruction or the world's apocalyptic catastrophe.

Brought alive on the screen by a talented supporting cast including Herbert Lom, Brooke Adams, Tom Skerrit and Martin Sheen, the DDG argue that THE DEAD ZONE remains a riveting highlight in Walken's career and another uniquely chilling triumph in Cronenberg's career. Listen along to flash back to this gripping film and remember how King and Cronenberg reached out to chill your blood in 1983.

It's the height of geek season as Comic-Con International takes over San Diego, California, drawing tens of thousands of comics, movies and genre entertainment fans from around the world to gather for a pop culture phenomenon. Frank, Scott, Trish and Frank take a fun look at the explosion of fan conventions, the studio dominance of Comic-Con panels, and the fashion trend of cosplay creations.

The Damn Dirty Geeks discuss the pros and cons of the biggest con of them all, while also giving smaller conventions like WonderCon, Monsterpalooza , Sinister Creature Con and others their due credit as events which can offer a more personal experience for many fans who -- like us -- can easily feel overwhelmed by the massive volume of humanity that is Comic-Con.

We also share our reactions to the STAR WARS: THE FORCE AWAKENS panel and making-of video presented at Comic-Con on Friday evening as the bona fide highlight of the 2015 San Diego event. Disney and Lucasfilm didn't share any new scenes or trailers with the throng in Hall H, but wowed audiences nonetheless with a spectacular making-of reel that showed off even more of Episode VII's practical sets and effects. Saga veteran actors Carrie Fisher, Mark Hamill and Harrison Ford joined their co-stars to further tantalize STAR WARS fans with their own enthusiasm for the film releasing this December.

The cons are definitely on, and the Damn Dirty Geeks encourage everyone to attend conventions when and where they can for a unique group and individual fan experience. Be sure to look for the DDG when we attend and appear at conventions, too!

In this venture down into Uncle Ira's Basement of mysterious findings, Damn Dirty Geeks Frank Dietz and Frank Woodward discuss Jack Bennett's choice of film topic: John Carpenter's tense, character-driven adaptation of the Stephen King killer car novel CHRISTINE.

Starring Keith Gordon and John Stockwell who invest both their roles with memorable character arcs, CHRISTINE marked a big year for King film adaptations as THE DEAD ZONE and CUJO based on his novels were also released in 1983.

In this episode, Jack relates his unique predilection for seeing the last 2o minutes of many movies on cable, and how his childhood fear of horror movies led to CHRISTINE being his first full-fledged horror film viewing.

Watching a murderous car freewheeling on fire to the pulse of Alan Howarth and Carpenter's synth score shot the love of horror cinema into Jack's veins, and he's been hooked ever since!

Three of our Damn Dirty Geeks -- Frank Dietz, Trish Geiger and Scott Weitz -- pay the first of many DDG tributes to the great actor Christopher Lee while discussing one of his most popular Hammer horror films, DRACULA HAS RISEN FROM THE GRAVE, released in 1968.

Filled from start to finish with lush color cinematography and surprisingly bloody violence for a G-rated film, DRACULA HAS RISEN FROM THE GRAVE gives Christopher Lee the opportunity to give one of his most menacing, evil portrayals of cinema's favorite vampire villain. Without Van Helsing around to save the villagers, Dracula quickly gets his fill of blood from numerous victims and turns a bevy of Hammer beauties into his fallen minions until the final battle at Dracula's castle.

Frank, Trish and Scott reminisce about their own memories of watching Lee as Dracula for our first times, and marvel at his impact on the role's image that previously was so strongly associated with Bela Lugosi in Universal's classic incarnation. Even in this mini-podcast which runs double the normal length of Uncle Ira's Basement episodes, the Geeks talk at length about this film's honored place in the Hammer horror canon and Dracula series, and director Freddie Francis' use of religious imagery (and ample bosoms) to step up Dracula's danger and evil power. While the promotional poster for this film was very much tongue-and-fang-in-cheek, DRACULA HAS RISEN FROM THE GRAVE is still a great example of Christopher Lee's power and talent as an actor and a horror icon.

By far, this is the wackiest, uber-geekiest Damn Dirty Geeks podcast episode ever, thanks in part to our special guest Sultan Saeed Al Darmaki, whose own geek cred is extensive as you'll find out when he joins in singing "deep cuts" from Saturday morning cartoon theme songs with the DDG team! Not only do we revisit classic TV animation including JOHNNY QUEST with other Hanna Barbera and Japanese anime series, this episode also expands into geek discussions of PLANET OF THE APES, comedic comparisons of THE ODD COUPLE in its various forms, and the 1966 BATMAN series starring Adam West.

Sultan, founder of Dark Dunes Productions, served as executive producer of the upcoming horror film HARBINGER DOWN directed by StudioADI's Alec Gillis, director of the upcoming horror comedy KIDS VS. MONSTERS, and produced the upcoming fantasy feature film YAMASONG; MARCH OF THE HOLLOWS featuring the voices of Abigail Breslin, Nathan Fillion, Malcolm McDowell, Peter Weller and George Takei. Now, thanks to his appearance on DDG, Sultan can add to his credits a wonderful duet with our Frank Woodward singing "Suddenly" from XANADU which has to be heard to be believed.

Though we're releasing this "Episode 005" out of chronological order in recording dates, this show marked the DDG podcast debut of our own Trish Geiger who dove right into the geek deep end with the rest of us. This delay is partly due to the massive amount of audio mixing it took to present this very cast-crowded episode, but the results are worth the wait! So activate your supergeek powers and join this wild ride through Saturday morning cartoons and pop culture entertainment, won't you?

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The Damn Dirty Geeks drop into Uncle Ira's Basement for another mini-podcast episode as Frank Dietz and Frank Woodward put their normal-sized heads together to discuss Universal's 1955 sci-fi classic THIS ISLAND EARTH, a fun iconic film with Metalunans, Mutants and interocitors.

Starring Jeff Morrow, Faith Domergue, Rex Reason and a pre-GILLGANS ISLAND Russell Johnson, this Technicolor adventure with bulbous brained aliens exploded across movie screens with a unique plot twist for 1950s science fiction films as the inhabitants of Metaluna seek help from humans on Earth -- at least, that's how it starts! What follows is a pinwheeling ride across the galaxy to a battle ravaged planet as a somewhat kooky cautionary tale about the excesses and apocalyptic cost of war, not to mention giant brain-headed aliens wearing futuristic pant suits.

Frank and Frank have a blast revisiting this classic yet somewhat campy sci-fi treasure, discussing the design crossover connection between THIS ISLAND EARTH and THE CREATURE FROM THE BLACK LAGOON, 1950s heroine actresses and the peril of wearing giant alien head masks. For the record, Frank Dietz has not forgiven himself for confusing James Arness with James Whitmore in THEM! but he hopes you listeners will pardon him.