StabGab

Donna and Andrew aren’t afraid to check-in to this 2014 crowdfunded phobia-fest which was filmed in Donna’s hometown! Topics discussed: Robert Englund; Fiona Dourif; Ohio; fear clinics and the patients who reside in them; fear itself; Donna being a dick to her younger brother; Blue Velvet perv masks; upward-falling snow; sideshow contortionists; demonic ball-sacks; The Fat Boys; Slipknot; rap-rock opera.

Donna and Andrew traverse the urban jungle of futuristic 1997 Los Angeles to sport-hunt this very loud sequel confusingly released in 1990. Topics discussed: the Predator; Danny Glover; Gary Busey; cop teams; finance bros; culturally insensitive gangs; Predator-themed porn; burp-cancelling microphones; Morton Downey Jr; voodoo; beef houses; alien Neosporin; in-joke trophy skulls.

Donna and Andrew don’t sleep on this 1977 more-arthouse-than-horror-film curiosity. Topics discussed: Death beds and the people/things they eat; well-maintained haunted mansions; weekend getaways with work frenemies; fried chicken-fueled romantic trysts; stupid gangsters; outdoor orgies; guys who look like 70s Lindsey Buckingham; ghosts who look like 80s David Bowie; skeleton hands; The Milford Plaza hotel; Beefsteak Charlie’s.

Donna & Andrew carve into the 1988 directorial debut of legendary creature-effects artist Stan Winston. Topics discussed: revenge-dispensing monsters; evil witches; Lance Henriksen; Stan Winston; dickhead teenagers; the hillbilly code; dirt-farming; ladybug wives; audible east coast rainstorms; the ALIEN series; Mayim Bialik; Jeff East; motocross vehicular manslaughter; man-to-Pumpkinhead psychic transference; My So-Called Life; the dog from GREMLINS.

Donna & Andrew and guest co-host Kelly Roberts drop a dime to review three horror-themed music videos: Robbie Williams’ “Rock DJ,” Meat Loaf’s “I’d Do Anything for Love (But I Won’t Do That),” and Lionel Richie’s “Hello.”  Topics discussed: Robbie Williams; Meat Loaf; Lionel Richie; new microphone smell, sexy space stations; torn-off butt cheeks; Ken doll peen areas; American conspiracy theories believed by the British; enchanted motorcycles; the “Janie’s Got a Gun” cops; Jekyll and Hyde Restaurant; vampire orgies; inappropriate teacher/student relationships; breathy phone calls; badly made sculptures; rump roast.

Donna and Andrew call in for the 1988 directorial debut of Robert Englund (aka Freddy Krueger). Topics discussed: demon-possessed phone lines; high-school nerds; high-school bullies; Satan; handsome voices; religious fundamentalist mothers; gambling debts; motorcycles and mopeds; fish raining from the sky, dogs playing poker; ASMR; spider-invested TV dinners; reporters who are also private investigators; punchlines with no connected jokes.

After its brief mention in our last episode neither Donna nor Andrew could get Danny Aiello’s “Papa Just Wants the Best for You” – the actor’s self-produced, unofficial sequel song to Madonna’s “Papa Don’t Preach” – out of their head. They decided that further discussion was required and have reconvened for StagGab’s first “mini-sode” to do just that.

Donna and Andrew gorge themselves on this 1986 horror confection. Topics discussed: sentient dessert foods; Michael Moriarty; corporate espionage; tensions with Janet Reno; bikinis and fur coats; Long Island-based child actors; Marilu Henner’s mind powers; Danny Aiello novelty songs; archived Star Wars bedsheets; Abe Vigoda and the Where’s the Beef Lady; cigarettes as a film-rating system; kidnapping.

PSYCHO III (1986) Donna and Andrew – joined by film-historian and guest co-host Ray Morton – check into the Bates Motel to learn why so few of its guests ever actually check out (probably because of all the murder). Topics discussed: Norman Bates; codependent maternal relationships; traumatized nuns; way-too-old aspiring rock stars; the existence of God; hot dates at retirement homes; tactless journalists; payphones; Bolognese smoothies; Snack-rophilia; microfiche machines; studio-mandated reshoots; Gene Shalit.

Donna and Andrew let the planchette guide the way as they delve into the secrets of this 1986 fright-fest. Topics discussed: Tawny Kitaen; Ouija boards; progressive entrapment; shitfaced boyfriends; Han Solo-ing your girlfriend; guys who look like they are in Wang Chung; eluberation; stunt dummies; magician cops; places to hide drugs; Steel Breeze.