Episode 60: They're Coming to Get You, Barbara! Celebrating Night of the Living Dead

 

It's October, and that means Planet 8 is taking a turn into the creepier side of things! This episode we focus on that classic of cult films, and the one that really started the zombie craze, Night of the Living Dead! We have not one, but two special treats for you: first, an exclusive Planet 8 interview with actress Judith O'Dea, who starred as Barbara in the film. To add on to that, discussing the film with us is none other than the always-entertaining Mr. Lobo, host of Cinema Insomnia. Hey, what more could you ask for?

We open up with our interview with Ms. O'Dea, whose performance as Barbara in NotLD really sold the feelings of fear and confusion that the characters were experiencing. We'll learn about how she became an actress, her early career, and how she became involved in making the film. Ms. O'Dea was a generous and insightful interviewee and we had a wonderful time talking with her.

Then we move into a freewheeling discussion of the film with our special guest, Mr. Lobo. We'll reminisce about our first time viewing NotLD -that's something you never forget! - and how it made us think about how we would defend our homes from zombies!

Night of the Living Dead is definitely the grand-daddy of all our modern zombie films and TV shows. Before George Romero made his little film, zombies had always been connected to voodoo or sorcery and there had never been a connection to cannibalism. Of course, the creatures in NotLD weren't called zombies -that came later. But so many conventions of modern zombie lore came out of this film.

Even today, the film resonates with viewers. Maybe it's the almost documentary feel of the film, or the stark black and white look; but it is still compelling. There's a deep sense of despair, of nihilism, that pervades the film. Later films may have been gorier or filled with more stunts, but Night seems to have the darkest soul. If you haven't seen it in a while, give it a look. 

For our Sensor Sweep, we want to share all things Mr. Lobo! If you have never experienced Cinema Insomnia, never taken the pledge of the Sleepless Knights of Insomnia, check out episodes on Amazon Prime, Vimeo. his streaming channel OSI74 on Roku, the YouTube channel for Mr. Lobo, and of course, cinemainsomnia.com. You can also find him on Facebook and Twitter -honestly, you can find Mr. Lobo everywhere! It's an invasion! Check him out!

That wraps it up for us. We hope you enjoyed this extra-special look at a classic horror film. Please share your thoughts, experiences, and feedback with us here, or at our two other locations: 

• Twitter: https://twitter.com/Planet8Cast
• Facebook: www.Facebook.com/Planet8Podcast

Thanks for listening!

Episode 36: They're Dead, They're All Messed Up: Zombies and Ghouls

The dead. We all have a fear of death, corpses, decay...and the strange border between life and death. What of those creatures that walk that border, the undead? In this episode, the Planet 8 crew looks at zombies and ghouls. What are they? And what is the difference between the two?

We'll do a semi-chronological journey through film starting with the Bela Lugosi classic, White Zombie, and cast our eyes first on the traditional voodoo zombie. How did this type of undead rise to popularity?

Then we'll transition into the more commonly accepted type of zombie, the one that grew popular from George Romero's films, which began with Night of the Living Dead. But were the creatures in these films zombies, or ghouls? Add your two cents to our debate!

In the decades that followed Romero's classic, scores, if not hundreds, of zombie films, have been made. We'll share some of our favorites, including zombie comedies. And of course, we can't ignore the enormously popular Walking Dead.  

So if shambling undead are your thing, give this episode a listen! We've got you covered.

For this week's Sensor Sweep, Chief Engineer Bob reviews a book called Screaming for Pleasure:  How Horror Makes You Happy and Healthy, by S.A. Bradley. This tome looks at how horror films impact and influence our lives. Bradley examines numerous films and interviews well-known directors for their thoughts. It's a highly enjoyable work for anyone who has an interest in the genre, and you can find it in stores or at Amazon. Bradley also has a podcast, called Hellbent for Horror (https://hellbentforhorror.com/), so be sure to check it out.

That's all we've got time for today. Make sure your doors are locked, and should you take refuge upstairs, or go down to the basement? Hmm....

We'd love to hear your thoughts about the zombie vs. ghoul debate, or any of the films we discussed (or missed). You can leave comments here, or through our other communication channels:

• Twitter: https://twitter.com/Planet8Cast
• Facebook: www.Facebook.com/Planet8Podcast

Thanks for listening!