Gaspar Noé’s Climax (2018) uses the dance world as the setting for a descent into chaos. While this rebellious, tense film stands inits own category in a lot of ways, its use of the performing arts as a background for horror goes back to the silent age (Phantom of the Opera [1929] remains effective today). In this two-parter we talk about three flicks thatecho the themes of Climax while weaving in the desperation of dancers and actors to express themselves and make it big.

Part 1: Curtains (1983)

Part 2: Terror (1978) and Stage Fright (1987)

Millie De Chirico’s excellent article about Climax and cult movies:

https://a24films.com/notes/2019/03/the-cult-of-climax

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uses

It wouldn’t be a stretch to call Udo Kier the godfather of psychotronic film stars. He embodied everything that makes this kind offlick exciting and unforgettable. From Flesh for Frankenstein to Swan Song, in this tribute episode we talked about his amazing career and life.

The interviews mentioned in the episode:

Conversation with Udo Kier: Locarno Film Festival

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CM3PGqJFKwc&list=WL&index=84

Udo Kier Career Retrospective | SAG-AFTRA Foundation Conversations

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_AxXF5Unomg&list=WL&index=83

Kim Morgan’s piece about Udo

https://thesunsetgun.com/2025/11/25/the-eye-of-the-universe-udo-kier/

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Messiah of Evil (1974) is essential viewing for fans of atmospheric slow burn horror. Moody cinematography, a blood moon, a century oldcurse on a coastal town, the return of a “dark stranger,” possessed ghoulish locals. A nightmarish descent into surreal eerie dread. Some of the most unsettling sequences in horror movies, and a bonafide 70s masterpiece and cultclassic.

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While home invasion flicks have existed since the dawn of cinema (see Lois Weber’s Suspense from 1916), the 80s seemed to lean into theidea of apartment invasions and the way they reflected societal unrest. While Tenement(1985), Siege (1983), and Enemy Territory (1987) have a lot in common, they also have widely different styles of approaching the subject.

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While home invasion flicks have existed since the dawn of cinema (see Lois Weber’s Suspense from 1916), 80s movies seemed to lean into theidea of apartment invasions and the way they reflected societal unrest. While Tenement(1985), Siege (1983), and Enemy Territory (1987) have a lot in common, they also have widely different styles of approaching the subject.

Come visit us at:

⁠⁠https://psychotronicsisters.wordpress.com/⁠⁠

⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@psychotronicsisters⁠⁠

How many secretaries have told their boss about a wild dream and ended up being directed by that same employer in a movie about it? Asfar as we know, one. Dementia (and its goofy sibling Daughter of Horror) is a one-of-a-kind movie and we had a blast talking about it.

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⁠https://www.youtube.com/@psychotronicsisters⁠

In Part 2 of our discussion we talk more about The 4th Man and how an unusual cult horror flick is similar in theme despite on the surface seeming to be a very different film.

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Paul Verhoeven’s films have many of the elements of psychotronic cinema, but also the gloss of big budget productions. His 1983break-out The 4th Man inspired us to look at a trio of flicks featuring male paranoia and hysteria in the face of fearless women.

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