Episodes

2d ago

For our Christmas special this year Mr Jim Moon invites you to take a seat by the fire for a selection of seasonal readings from the festive bookshelf!

5d ago

In this surprise bonus episode, we review a chilling tale for dark days and long nights, a novel of season shocks - A Christmas Ghost Story by Kim Newman!

Dec 15

In this surprise bonus podcast, we take a look at the new third edition of Opening the Box of Delights just published by Herne Books - a new expanded edition of the book by Dr Philip W. Errington all about John Masefield's Christmas classic!

Dec 14

In this podcast we present our annual commentary for the BBC's A Ghost Story for Christmas series, and this year we have reached the last episode of the original run, The Ice House written by John Bowen, which was first shown on Christmas Day night 1978.

Dec 7

In this festive special, we take a look at The Box of Delights - The Roleplaying Game from ACE Gamebooks, by Jonathan Green and Tony Hough. We trace its beginnings back to the gamebook, 'TWAS - The Krampus Night Before Christmas (2019) and the following roleplaying game 'TWAS - The Roleplaying Game Before Christmas before exploring roleplaying in the winter wonderland of John Masefield's Christmas Classic.

Dec 1

In this little chat from the fireside, Mr Jim gives us a little update on his battle with lung cancer but more importantly reveals what's coming up on all our various shows for the festive season!

Nov 30

In a last helping of winter horrors before Yuletide, we have a variety of movies featuring snowy werewolves, ancient temples in the ice, encounters with yetis, and killer snowmen!

Nov 23

We continue our selections of fine frights for winter nights, rounding up more interesting winter horror movies! This time we have films featuring assorted trolls, isolated artic bases, Scandinavian slashers, and a visit to the Overlook Hotel

Nov 9

For November we begin a new mini series, looking at horror movie suitable for winter viewing! In this first episode we have some classic wintry terrors from the 1950s, the 1970s and the 1980s, discover how zombies fare in the snow, look an early movie from Osgood Perkins, and defrost an obscure 1980s monster movie!

Oct 26

In this chapter we discover what was happening in the mid 1990s on Halloween night, and look at the only big scream outing for Caspar the Friendly Ghost, low budget horror Jack-O, the return of Angela in Night of the Demons 3, and even a movie based on the Monster Mash!

Oct 12

In this show we look at the final book of the Scarred For Life series - Volume Three is a massive 740 page tour through the dark side of 1980s pop culture. It covers comics, movies, books, videos, and games, plus features a stealthy book-within-a-book on nuclear anxiety and cold war terrors!

Oct 5

In this little show, we review a little microbudget horror from 2012 - Leaving DC. This creepy found footage movie is the video diary of a man who has left the big city to live in a lovely house in the country... But there's something in the woods round his new home...

Sep 28

We conclude our deep dive into the layers of history and folklore in the Robert Eggers version of Nosferatu, discovering the secrets of Count Orlok and the various pacts and deals that bind the characters together.

Sep 21

In this chapter we uncover how historical accounts of vampires and ancient folklore gave us a reimagined and reanimated Orlok in the new Nosferatu (2024).

Sep 7

The Nightmares of Nosferatu returns to examine the new Robert Eggers incarnation. In this chapter we chart the development of the movie and the long road it took to the screen, and the magic that went into its making!

Sep 2

A little update on my on-going battles with lung cancer, but this time I have some good news to share!

Aug 24

In a surprise new chapter, we take a look at a new addition to the Black Lagoon extended family tree - the 2024 movie Monster Island AKA Orang Ikan, a tale of men versus aquatic humanoid monsters set in World War II!

Aug 3

A little chat from the fireside in which Mr Jim updates you all on his battle with the dreaded cancer! Spoilers - it's going well ;)

Jul 27

In the final part of our history of the Great Ice Lolly Wars, we look at the 1980s, with icy snack tie-ins to the likes of Star Trek The Motion Picture, Superman The Movie, and of course the original Star Wars trilogy, but also discover how yogurts turned into monsters!

Jul 13

Continuing our history of assorted geeky, freaky, and galactic ice lollies of the 1970s, we discover sci-fi ties-ins to the likes of Space 1999 and the Bionic lolly plus famous monsters Dracula, King Kong and the Daleks getting their own frozen snacks!

Jun 29

For our summer special season this year, we take at look back at the days with ice lollies and frozen snacks went all freaky, geeky, and intergalactic! In this first chapter we discover how ice lollies could get you into Moon Fleet, fighting Daleks with Doctor Who, encountering Red Devils and Jelly Terrors, plus adventuring with a host of Gerry Anderson characters!

Jun 15

In this show we look at the final Poe adaptation done by Roger Corman, The Tomb of Ligeia, starring Vincent Prince and Elizabeth Shepherd and scripted by Robert Towne who would go on to pen classics such as Chinatown!

Jun 4

In the UK at this time of the year the woodlands are awash with a carpet of bluebells. However as beloved as these wild flowers are, they have a lot of folklore surrounding them, and links to faeries, the dead, witches and the Devil himself!

Jun 2

I have some serious news and it ain't great...

May 18

This week, the great children's author Aidan Chambers sadly passed away. And this show we take a fond look back on the ghostly books he penned and the various anthologies of spooky stories he edited.

May 4

Did you know Oliver Stone had made a horror film? No? Did you know he'd made TWO horror movies before he directed Salvador (1986)? Well, step this way and discover his first two movies - Seizure (1974) starring Jonathan Frid, Hervé Villechaize and Martine Beswick, and The Hand (1981) starring Sir Michael Caine!

Apr 20

In this chapter we examine the movie often hailed as the greatest Roger Corman ever made - Masque of the Red Death (1964) - starring Vincent Price, Hazel Court, and Jane Asher, plus cinematography from future legendary director Nicolas Roeg.

Apr 6

In this chapter we learn how Roger Corman made the very first movie adaptation of a HP Lovecraft story - The Case of Charles Dexter Ward, starring Vincent Price and Lon Chaney Jnr. - but when it hit cinemas, it had become Edgar Allen Poe's The Haunted Palace! (And yes, they even spelled Poe's middle name wrong!)

Mar 23

In this chapter we have the next two Poe movies from Roger Corman, which each took a different direction. Tales of Terror (1962) was an anthology film featuring three different Poe stories, plus guest stars Peter Lorre and Basil Rathbone. While The Raven (1963) was a comedy horror tale of feuding sorcerers which saw Vincent Price plotting magical skulduggery with Peter Lorre, Boris Karloff and a young Jack Nicholson!

Mar 9

We take a look at the little known other remake of Nosferatu that surfaced last year, directed by David Lee Fisher and starring Doug Jones as Graf Orlock!

Feb 23

We take a look at the latest incarnation of Universal werewolvery in Wolf Man (2025) written and directed by Leigh Whannell! Previous chapters in this series can be found here - The Wolf at the Door: a Werewolf History

Feb 9

The second part of my tribute to the late great David Lynch, in which we uncover Lynchian theories on life, art, film making and the importance of fishing...

Feb 3

The first part of a tribute to the late great David Lynch, in which Mr Jim attempts to unravel the mysteries of a man who was a film maker, a painter, a writer, a musician, a weatherman, and a friend to woodpeckers...

Jan 19

In a new chapter of this retrospective on the late great Roger Corman's cycle of Poe movie, we look at his third adaptation, The Premature Burial, which starred Ray Milland rather than Vincent Price and very nearly wasn't made by AIP at all.

Dec 31, 2024

A cosy chat from the fireside and a happy New Year to all you out there in Listenerland!

Dec 24, 2024

Behind Door 24 we have A Christmas Horror Story and Krampus, Christmas horror films becoming a new annual tradition, and coming right up to date with Art the Clown getting festive in Terrifier 3

Dec 23, 2024

Behind Door 23 we trapped by a hooded maniac in ATM and look at the surprising resurrection of the Silent Night, Deadly Night franchise, the loose remake Silent Night

Dec 22, 2024

Behind Door 22 we have a pair of movies from 2010 which both draw on the dark folklore of Father Christmas, with St Nicholas on the rampage in Sint from the Netherlands, while Finland resurrects an ancient Lapland Yuletide terrors in Rare Exports

Dec 22, 2024

This year we have reached 1977, and the penultimate episode in the original run, and the last episode directed by Lawrence Gordon Clark. In a departure from the usual format Stigma brings us a brand new tale written especially for the screen by Clive Exton, a dark tale of mysterious megaliths and ancient evils.

Dec 21, 2024

Behind Door 21 we have troubling getting home for Christmas in P2 (2007), trouble in the home in French shocker Inside (2007), and a less than happy New Year with The Children (2008)

Dec 20, 2024

Behind Door 20 we learn why you should never take the scenic route when driving home for Christmas with Dead End (2003) and Wind Chill (2007), and also take a splattery ride on Santa's Slay (2005)

Dec 19, 2024

Behind Door 19 we venture into the dark underworld of straight to video, where many terrible festive flicks lurk… Welcome t o the Christmas Horror Naughty List!

Dec 18, 2024

Behind Door 18 we find Mickey Rooney as an evil toymaker in Silent Night, Deadly Part 5, wish Jack Skellington a merry Christmas and discover a nativity in black in Spain's Day of the Beast

Dec 17, 2024

Behind Door 17 we find the stranger end of the Silent Night, Deadly Night series with Part 3: You Better Watch Out with Bill Moseley as a robo-zombie Ricky, and Brian Yuzna's bizarre witchcraft body horror Part 4: Initiation starring Maud Adams!

Dec 16, 2024

Behind Door 16 we have some seasonal shark nonsense from Jaws: The Revenge and the little seen but very entertaining Deadly Games (1989), a French Christmas horror that possibly inspired Home Alone

Dec 15, 2024

Behind Door 15 - it's Garbage Day! Yes, we experience the incredibly inept brilliance of Silent Night, Deadly Night Part 2

Dec 14, 2024

Behind Door 14 we find the most infamous Christmas horror movie of them all, 1984's Santa slasher flick, Silent Night, Deadly Night!

Dec 13, 2024

Behind Door 13 we discover two little known Christmas fright flick - The Dorm that Dripped Blood AKA Pranks, and a rare British Santa slasher Don't Open Until Christmas. Warning - may also contain Gremlins too!

Dec 12, 2024

Behind Door 12 we find John Waters's favourite holiday movie Christmas Evil plus two New Year horrors - Terror Train and New Year's Evil

Dec 11, 2024

Behind Door 11 have an early Santa Slasher To All a Goodnight (1980) and the most unfestive Night Train Murders (1975)

Dec 10, 2024

Behind Door 10 is perhaps the most important Yuletide horror of them all, Bob Clark's Black Christmas (1974)

Dec 9, 2024

Behind Door 09 we visit the little seen early slasher mystery Silent Night Bloody Night from 1971, and learn The Legend of Hell House (1973)

Dec 8, 2024

Behind Door 8 is the Amicus movie Tales From the Crypt (1972), and in particular one scarifying seasonal tale from the legendary EC Comics, All Through House which sees Joan Collins menaced by a psychotic Santa!

Dec 7, 2024

Behind Door 7 of the Christmas Advent Calendar we discover the dark festive fable Whoever Slew Auntie Roo (1971)

Dec 6, 2024

Door 6 in the Christmas Horror Advent Calendar reveals Finnish folk horror The White Reindeer (1952) and a little known fright-filled Christmas movie from Hammer - Cash on Demand (1961) starring Peter Cushing!

Dec 5, 2024

Door 5 in the Christmas Horror Advent Calendar opens, looking at seminal slices of festive fear - Dead of Night from Ealing Studios (1945) and macabre noir Beware My Lovely (1952)

Dec 4, 2024

Door 04 of the Christmas Horror Advent Calendar open revealing classic Val Lewton chiller - Curse of the Cat People!

Dec 3, 2024

Door 3 of the Christmas Horror Advent Calendar opens, and we look at early Yuletide horrors The Mystery in the Wax Museum and The Devil-Doll

Dec 2, 2024

Door 2 of the Christmas Horror advent calendar opens!, looking at assort silent festive frights!

Dec 1, 2024

In this special advent calendar, every day we will be tracing the history of the Christmas horror film, from silent terrors to present day festive frights!

Nov 30, 2024

In a special episode, we celebrated the 40th anniversary of the first screening of The Box of Delights TV series, the classic BBC adaption of John Masefield's novel that first aired back in 1984. We take a look at the new revised and expanded edition of the book Opening the Box of Delights by Dr Philip W. Errington, and report on the wonderful remastered Blu-ray edition of the series, which includes the brand new feature length documentary Time and Tide - The Making of the Box of Delights! Splendiferous!

Nov 17, 2024

In this chapter we learn how Roger Corman and Richard Matheson devised a second cinematic foray in the world of Edgar Allan Poe, this time plunging horror icons Vincent Price and Barbara Steele in the the nightmares of The Pit and Pendulum (1961).

Oct 29, 2024

In this chapter we explore Hallowe'en in the mid-nineties, and chart the rise of The Crow, Angela returns from Hell in Night of the Demons 2, go trick or treating with Richie, Eddie and a cattle prod, and suffer Halloween: The Curse of Michael Myers.

Oct 25, 2024

In this chapter we look at what was a bumper year for Hallowe'en - with 1993 delivering classics such Tim Burton's A Nightmare Before Christmas, Disney's Hocus Pocus, a film of Ray Bradbury's The Halloween Tree, and the first publication of Roger Zelazny's classic novel A Night in Lonesome October

Oct 13, 2024

In this episode we detail how Roger Corman made his first adaptation of Edgar Allan Poe, The House of Usher, starring Vincent Price, and the impact it had when unleashed upon the world in 1960!

Oct 6, 2024

A new horror history series begins - devoted to the cycle of Edgar Allan Poe films directed by Roger Corman for AIP back in the 1960s. In this first chapter, we explore the origins of this series of classic movies, tracing the road that led to the House of Usher!

Sep 29, 2024

In this show we take a look a book by legendary horror editor Mr Johnny Mains, the very unsettling novel A Man At War

Sep 23, 2024

A quick spoiler-free review of the 2021 movie Eight for Silver AKA The Cursed which leaves Netflix next week. Hear why you should catch this fantastically autumnal folk horror tale while you can!

Sep 15, 2024

A little fireside chat feature a few bits of news and some talk about the changing seasons

Sep 8, 2024

In this little show we take at look at a new book written and illustrated by Joey Draper - The Kooky Kids Guides to Black and Monster Movies!

Sep 1, 2024

We take at a look at Casting the Runes, a table top horror roleplaying game exploring the worlds of MR James!

Aug 18, 2024

In this episode, we take an in-depth look at The Lost World (1925) the first screen adaptation of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's classic novel, and learn how Willis O'Brien brought dinosaurs to life in this silent blockbuster.

Aug 4, 2024

In this episode we witness the birth of stop motion monster magic with Willis O'Brien, look at early dinosaur fantasies The Ghost of Slumber Mountain (1918) and Along the Moonbeam Trail (1920), and find the very first true kaiju movie in a most unlikely place!

Jul 21, 2024

In this chapter we discover assorted monsters from lost worlds created Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and Edgar Rice Burroughs, and encounter the first dinosaurs on the big screen!

Jul 7, 2024

In this chapter we meet the earliest examples of dinosaurs, colossal beasts, and giant mutant monsters in fiction!

Jun 23, 2024

In the final part of our epic retrospective on the late great Roger Corman, we chart the birth and huge success of New World Pictures, his subsequent ventures such as Concorde and New Horizons, and chart his incredible legacy!

Jun 16, 2024

In this chapter we find Corman looking for new cinematic ventures in the late 1960s, and working with a host of future movers and shakers such as Peter Fonda, Dennis Hopper, Peter Bogdanovich, Robert De Niro and Martin Scorsese!

Jun 9, 2024

In the third chapter of our retrospective, we find Corman in the 1960s enjoying huge success with his cycle of movies based on Edgar Allan Poe, but still breaking new ground with other movies such as the very highly controversial drama The Intruder

May 26, 2024

In the second part of our retrospective on the life and works of the late great Roger Corman, we chart how he moved from making B pictures such as The Wasp Woman and cult black comedies such as The Little Shop of Horrors to bringing a gothic literary classic to the screen.

May 20, 2024

We pay tribute to the late great Roger Corman, and in this first part of a retrospective on his life, works and gigantic legacy, we discover how he got started in the film business...

May 12, 2024

In this chapter we explore the discovery of prehistoric megafauna and dinosaurs and the wave of dinomania in popular culture that followed. We investigate the dubious but highly influential report of a surviving pterodactyl, and find the first kaiju in fiction courtesy of Mr Jules Verne!

Apr 28, 2024

A new monster-sized podcast series begins! We explore the origins of the kaiju movie, and in this first chapter delve into ancient Japanese legends and folklore and discover the forebears of our modern cinematic titans - the yokai!

Apr 14, 2024

In this final chapter of the history of Universal horror we look at the last four fright flicks! A final outing for director Jack Arnold with The Monster of the Campus, discover the secret of The Leech Woman, unearth The Thing Had Could Not Die, and find a vampire in the Wild West in Curse of the Undead

Apr 7, 2024

We take a look at a terrifying and truly alien invasion in the new novel from Adam LG Nevill!

Mar 31, 2024

In this penultimate chapter of the history of Universal horror we look at two late monsters movies from 1957, the forgotten dinosaur adventure The Land Unknown and the unique alien menace of The Monolith Monsters. We also learn how Universal dealt with new rivals from across the pond, Hammer Films!

Mar 17, 2024

In the second part of our special tribute to the late great Brian Lumley, we explore his later works and in particular his epic vampire saga Necroscope!

Mar 3, 2024

In the first of two special shows we celebrate the life and works of the late great Brian Lumley. In this first show we look at his first writings in the Cthulhu Mythos, meet Titus Crow, uncover the ancient Primal land, adventure in the Dreamlands, and the horrors of Psychomech trilogy!

Feb 18, 2024

In this chapter we discover the cavalcade of monsters and mutants unleashed by Universal in the mid 1950s! Jack Arnold brings back the Gill-man in in Revenge of the Creature, and brings Richard Matheson's The Incredible Shrinking Man to the screen. Plus we have the rampages of The Deadly Mantis and the menace of The Mole People!

Feb 4, 2024

In this chapter we look at the second outing for the Gill-man - Revenge of the Creature, the last Universal Mummy movie, and revisit two stone cold classics - Tarantula and This Island Earth

Jan 21, 2024

In this new chapter of horror history we look at Boris Karloff's last role in a Universal horror, and see the birth of a new famous monster the Gill-man in The Creature from the Black Lagoon (1954)

Jan 1, 2024

A special New year's message from Mr Jim!

Dec 25, 2023

Behind Door 25 of the Ghosts of Christmas Advent Calendar - Hauntings over the holidays

Dec 24, 2023

Behind Door 24 of the Ghosts of Christmas Advent Calendar - Christmas Eve encounters with a ghostly skeleton knight

Dec 23, 2023

Behind Door 23 of the Ghosts of Christmas Advent Calendar - the tale of a highwayman haunting

Dec 22, 2023

Behind Door 22 of the Ghosts of Christmas Advent Calendar - discover the sinister spooks of Stocken Farm

Dec 21, 2023

Behind Door 21 of the Ghosts of Christmas Advent Calendar - meet the many ghosts of Roos Hall

Dec 20, 2023

Behind Door 20 of the Ghosts of Christmas Advent Calendar - the story of the permanent Christmas guest at the Hotel Bethlehem

Dec 19, 2023

Behind Door 19 of the Ghosts of Christmas Advent Calendar - Where the ghost of Anne Boleyn walks at Yuletide

Dec 18, 2023

Behind Door 18 of the Ghosts of Christmas Advent Calendar - The ominous stories of phantom coaches and horses

Dec 17, 2023

Behind Door 17 of the Ghosts of Christmas Advent Calendar - A Scottish Yuletide superstition and a sinister spectre

Dec 16, 2023

Behind Door 16 of the Ghosts of Christmas Advent Calendar - A Yuletide hunting haunting

Dec 15, 2023

Behind Door 15 of the Ghosts of Christmas Advent Calendar - discover where the ghost of Charles Dickens walks at Christmastime

Dec 14, 2023

Behind Door 14 of the Ghosts of Christmas Advent Calendar - the tale of Thomas Hardy's Yuletide encounter with a spectre

Dec 13, 2023

Behind Door 13 of the Ghosts of Christmas Advent Calendar - festive hauntings at the Crescent Hotel

Dec 12, 2023

Behind Door 12 is the frightening account of the ghost has manifests on Christmas Eve at Sandringham

Dec 11, 2023

Behind Door 11 - a tale of witchcraft and a winter haunting

Dec 10, 2023

Behind Door 10 stories from what was the most haunted church in England

Dec 9, 2023

Behind Door 09 the story of a house with a permanent resident...

Dec 8, 2023

Behind Door 08 the story of a haunting that was a favourite to recounted at Victorian Christmas gatherings

Dec 7, 2023

Behind Door 7 are tales of spectres in the ancient village of Dunwich

Dec 6, 2023

Behind Door 6 is the tale of the strange hauntings at a house named The Swallows

Dec 5, 2023

Behind Door 5 - a wintry spectre haunting one of the very first railways stations!

Dec 4, 2023

Behind Door 4 - the story of the sinister haunting at Oriel Cottages

Dec 3, 2023

Behind Door 03 - the strange history of the lights at Slaybrook Hall

Dec 3, 2023

We have reached 1976 in our annual revisits of the BBC's A Ghost Story For Christmas series, and this year we have the first adaptation of a tale that wasn't by MR James. Instead we have one of the most eerie stories ever penned by Charles Dickens - The Signal-Man!

Dec 2, 2023

Behind Door 02 - Visit the spooky library of Felbrigg Hall

Dec 1, 2023

Welcome to the ghosts of Christmas advent calendar! Behind Door 01 - The Hungry Ghosts of Bramber Castle

Nov 27, 2023

A quick chat from the cosy fireside of the Great Library of Dreams ... And some good news for a change !

Nov 21, 2023

We take a look at the 2011 stage production of Frankenstein - starring Benedict Cumberbatch and Johnny Lee Miller, written by Nick Dear and directed by Danny Boyle - which you can now watch on line with the National Theatre At Home service !

Nov 15, 2023

In this show, we take a look at The Good Unknown and Other Ghost Stories, a new collection of haunting tales by modern master, Stephen Volk, from Tartarus Press

Oct 31, 2023

It's the grand finale! Join us for a live ghost hunt on Hallowe'en night itself!

Oct 30, 2023

We tune into Radio Redvale for one last round up of local ghost stories before the big night itself!

Oct 29, 2023

Some Items of Supporting Evidence - transcript of Dictaphone recordings found in the house of Mr Michael Dalby The previous episodes can be behind Doors 12, 14, 22, 25 and 28

Oct 28, 2023

As his nightmares are growing worse Mr Dalby uncovers terrible secrets about the sinister Dr Fell.. The previous episodes can be behind Doors 12, 14, 22 and 25

Oct 27, 2023

Things are stirring in midnight streets and back alleys, an urban haunting?

Oct 26, 2023

More local ghost stories from the listeners of Radio Redvale... this time concerning the infamous Chapel Hill Cemetery

Oct 25, 2023

The unfortunate Mr Dalby finds himself drawn deeper into a mystery filled with nightmares and the old secrets of the village...

Oct 24, 2023

Behind this door we have an proper old school folk nursery rhyme i.e. pure nightmare fuel

Oct 23, 2023

More local ghost stories from the listeners of Radio Redvale...

Oct 22, 2023

Behind Door 22 are strange portents, and nightmares abound as we continue the Librarian's Tale...

Oct 21, 2023

We learn about Victorian Hallowe'en parties and encounter a vintage recitation of the creepy kind!

Oct 20, 2023

Behind Door 20 is a man who lives by a cemetery... and he has a tale to tell

Oct 19, 2023

Behind Door 19 we find a face lift with a difference...

Oct 18, 2023

Behind Door 18 we have the tale of a local monster and an ill-fated theft

Oct 17, 2023

Behind Door 17 is a trip to an ancient stone circle

Oct 17, 2023

Mr Jim Moon takes a look at the latest addition to the Pet Sematary saga, a prequel to the 2019 movie and asks if dead is better…

Oct 16, 2023

Behind Door 16 we are tuning into Radio Redvale once again for some more local ghost stories...

Oct 15, 2023

Behind this door we have a flashback to the folk horror filled 1970s...

Oct 14, 2023

Behind Door 14 the Librarian's tale continues, and further revelations about he sinister Dr Fell are made...

Oct 13, 2023

Behind Door 13 is something found, and indeed best left, inside a Victorian mausoleum...

Oct 12, 2023

Behind Door 12 is the Librarian's tale... Certain secrets are revealed and connections to other doors made.

Oct 11, 2023

Behind Door 11 we are tuning again to Radio Redvale to hear some true ghostly tales

Oct 10, 2023

Behind Door 10 we will discover what, or who, knocks...

Oct 9, 2023

Behind Door 09 we have a little cautionary tale about messing with magic...

Oct 8, 2023

Behind Door 8 we have some children's entertainment 1970s style i.e. highly eerie and drenched in folk horror!

Oct 7, 2023

Behind Door 7 is something very terrifying indeed... Possibly the Bogeyman itself!

Oct 6, 2023

Door 6 on the Hypnogoria Halloween Advent Calendar opens today, revealing some local radio ghost stories

Oct 5, 2023

Behind Door 05 is a dark family secret... one that bites

Oct 4, 2023

Door 04 opens and invites you to some dances in darkness

Oct 3, 2023

A curious recording lies behind Door 3

Oct 2, 2023

The second door creaks open...

Oct 1, 2023

In the final part of this epic podcast series we look at the final seasons of the celebrated BBC 2 late night horror doubles which sadly came to an end in 1983

Oct 1, 2023

The very first door in the Hypnogoria Hallowe'en Advent Calendar opens...

Sep 30, 2023

In this special introductory episode, Mr Jim unveils the very first Hypnogoria Halloween Advent Calendar! And every day there will be a new ghoulish gift! Tiny tales of terror, vile verses and of course macabre music from the Eldritch Light Orchestra!

Sep 24, 2023

In this episode the late horror bills enter the 1980s, and had become popular enough to bag the cover of the Radio Times!

Sep 15, 2023

We look back at the last BBC2 horror double bills of the 1970s - the Monster Double Bill season of 1978 and Masters of Terror in 1979

Sep 3, 2023

In this show we take at a look back at the horror double bills screened on BBC2 in the late 1970s.Firstly we explore the 1976 season which was entitled Masters of Terror and then the longest ever season of summer horror doubles bills, Dracula, Frankenstein and Friends in summer 1977!

Aug 20, 2023

In this episode we discover the secret origins of the BBC2 horror double bills and take a close look at the very first season which aired in the summer of 1975 - the Midnight Movie Fantastic Double Bill season!

Aug 6, 2023

In the first of a little special summer season we look back on the legendary horror doubles bills shown late at night over the summer on BBC2 during the 1970s and 1980s. In this first part we discover why they were so special, how they came to be, and their direct ancestor - a forgotten BBC SciFi Film season

Jul 23, 2023

This chapter, we learn how two newcomers - producer William Alland and director Jack Arnold - forged a new direction for Universal, bringing horror out of gothic castles and into the space age!

Jul 9, 2023

In this chapter, we have two further monster mashups with Abbott and Costello, a new Invisible Man, and Universal quietly returning to horror movies with The Strange Door starring Boris Karloff and Charles Laughton

Jul 2, 2023

Mr Jim takes a seat by the fire for a quick chat and an update on what's going on and what the future holds

Jun 26, 2023

Mr Jim provides a commentary track for Mr Humphreys and his Inheritance, a short film from 1976 made for the TV show for schools Music Scene

Jun 18, 2023

In this episode we take a look at one of the more obscure television adaptations of MR James, a version of his tale Mr Humphreys and His Inheritance which aired on Midsummer's Day - 21st June - 1976

Jun 11, 2023

In this chapter of Universal horror history we learn how the famous monsters returned to the silver screen, when Dracula, the Wolfman and Frankenstein Monster met Abbott and Costello, an unlikely resurrection in more ways than one!

Jun 4, 2023

In this podcast we revisit two ground-breaking computer rpg games from the early 1980s, the era of the home micro, when the ZX Spectrum and Commodore 64 were king - The Hobbit from Beam Software and Valhalla from Legend

May 28, 2023

We take at look at the latest incarnation of Dracula from Universal - a comedy horror starring Nicholas Hoult, Awkwafina, and Nicholas Cage as the Count

May 28, 2023

We take at look at the latest incarnation of Dracula from Universal - a comedy horror starring Nicholas Hoult, Awkwafina, and Nicholas Cage as the Count

May 21, 2023

In something of a stop-gap episode, we have a delve in the audio archives and unearth a classic episode of Lights Out, a bizarre and macabre tale entitled The Little People...

May 14, 2023

The Doomscribe returns! Garth Marenghi returns with a new novel that is a trilogy in one single book! How does that work? Well, find out in this podcast!

May 7, 2023

In this second delve into the short-lived cycle of horror movies from Republic Pictures, we look at The Woman Who Came Back (1945), The Catman of Paris (1946) and Valley of the Zombies (1946)

Apr 30, 2023

In this episode we take at look at a short but often forgotten cycle of horror movies from Republic Pictures, released in the mid 1940s to compete with the Universal monsters! In this first part, we look at The Phantom Speaks (1945) and The Vampire's Ghost (1945) both of which you can watch on YouTube and other sites!

Apr 23, 2023

In this new chapter we examine an overlooked entry in the Universal horror family, the 1939 film serial The Phantom Creeps starring Bela Lugosi and an 8 foot tall killer robot!

Apr 9, 2023

In this show, Mr Jim revisits a favourite volume from his childhood - I've Seen a Ghost by Richard Davis, in which various stars of stage and screen related their own encounters with the supernatural!

Mar 26, 2023

In this second show on weird gazetteers, we take a look at some hefty tomes that map and detail folklore and legends in the British Isles, and these include An Atlas of Magical Britain (1990) by Janet and Colin Bord (1990), Folklore, Myths and Legends of Britain (1973) ed. Geoffrey Ashe, and The Lore of the Land (2005) by Jacqueline Simpson and Jennifer Westwood

Mar 12, 2023

As a little sidestep between looking at ghostly gazetteers, in this appropriately rambling show, Mr Jim talks about the marvels of Mr Marek Larwood and the Cool Dudes Walking Club

Mar 5, 2023

A little chat from the fireside in which we have updates on my on-going health situation and what's coming up in the next month or so on my shows

Feb 26, 2023

In this podcast, we once again have a delve on the haunted shelves and sample a selection of books providing guides to ghosts and hauntings across the British Isles, including the marvellous books by the late great Peter Underwood.

Feb 12, 2023

This week we take another dive into the vaults and have a delve on some haunted shelves, with Mr Jim exploring some favourite spooky kids books from the 1970s and the 1980s featuring tomes from Aidan Chambers, Eric Maple, and the scarier Piccolo Explorers Books.

Jan 29, 2023

In another special episode, Mr Jim guested on the excellent Grognard Files Podcast to chat with Dirk the Dice about seminal BBC2 TV series Moviedrome, in which director Alex Cox hosted a screening of a different cult movie every week.

Jan 15, 2023

In a special episode unearthed from the Patreon vaults, Mr Jim takes a look back at some of his favourite books on ghosts and hauntings from his childhood in the '70s and '80s - a time when there were loads of spooky books for kids !

Dec 31, 2022

Join Mr Jim by the fireside to welcome in the new year!

Dec 24, 2022

Welcome back to the Old-time Yuletide Advent calendar, and the final stop on our journey through the history and folklore of Christmas going from A to Z! And today we have Y for Yorkshire Christmas Pie, and Z is for... we;;, you will find out!

Dec 23, 2022

Welcome back to the Old-time Yuletide Advent calendar, a journey through the history and folklore of Christmas going from A to Z! And today X is for Xmas!

Dec 22, 2022

Welcome back to the Old-time Yuletide Advent calendar, a journey through the history and folklore of Christmas going from A to Z! And today W is for Wassailing!

Dec 21, 2022

Welcome back to the Old-time Yuletide Advent calendar, a journey through the history and folklore of Christmas going from A to Z! And today we have two letters - U is for Unreason and V is for Ves Heill!

Dec 21, 2022

A little pre-Christmas update on various things and a little strange tale too!

Dec 20, 2022

Welcome back to the Old-time Yuletide Advent calendar, a journey through the history and folklore of Christmas going from A to Z! And today T is for Twelfth Night!

Dec 19, 2022

Welcome back to the Old-time Yuletide Advent calendar, a journey through the history and folklore of Christmas going from A to Z! And today we explore the world of festive tipples, for S is for Smoking Bishop!

Dec 19, 2022

Welcome back to the Old-time Yuletide Advent calendar, a journey through the history and folklore of Christmas going from A to Z! And today we explore the world of festive tipples, for S is for Smoking Bishop!

Dec 18, 2022

Welcome back to the Old-time Yuletide Advent calendar, a journey through the history and folklore of Christmas going from A to Z! And today R is for Robin!

Dec 17, 2022

Welcome back to the Old-time Yuletide Advent calendar, a journey through the history and folklore of Christmas going from A to Z! And today Q is for Quince!

Dec 16, 2022

Welcome back to the Old-time Yuletide Advent calendar, a journey through the history and folklore of Christmas going from A to Z! And today P is for Panto! Oh yes it is!

Dec 15, 2022

Welcome back to the Old-time Yuletide Advent calendar, a journey through the history and folklore of Christmas going from A to Z! And today O is for Old 'Oss!

Dec 14, 2022

Welcome back to the Old-time Yuletide Advent calendar, a journey through the history and folklore of Christmas going from A to Z! And today N is for North Pole, in which we will attempt to discover where Santa really lives!

Dec 13, 2022

Welcome back to the Old-time Yuletide Advent calendar, a journey through the history and folklore of Christmas going from A to Z! And today M is for Mistletoe!

Dec 12, 2022

Welcome back to the Old-time Yuletide Advent calendar, a journey through the history and folklore of Christmas going from A to Z! And today L is for Lucy!

Dec 11, 2022

Welcome back to the Old-time Yuletide Advent calendar, a journey through the history and folklore of Christmas going from A to Z! And today K is for King's College!

Dec 10, 2022

Welcome back to the Old-time Yuletide Advent calendar, a journey through the history and folklore of Christmas going from A to Z! And today J is for Joseph of Arimathea!

Dec 9, 2022

Welcome back to the Old-time Yuletide Advent calendar, a journey through the history and folklore of Christmas going from A to Z! And today I is for Ivy!

Dec 8, 2022

Welcome back to the Old-time Yuletide Advent calendar, a journey through the history and folklore of Christmas going from A to Z! And today H is for Holly!

Dec 7, 2022

Welcome back to the Old-time Yuletide Advent calendar, a journey through the history and folklore of Christmas going from A to Z! And today G is for Goat!

Dec 6, 2022

Welcome back to the Old-time Yuletide Advent calendar, a journey through the history and folklore of Christmas going from A to Z! And today F is for Frumenty!

Dec 5, 2022

Welcome back to the Old-time Yuletide Advent calendar, a journey through the history and folklore of Christmas going from A to Z! And today E is for Epiphany!

Dec 4, 2022

Welcome back to the Old-time Yuletide Advent calendar, a journey through the history and folklore of Christmas going from A to Z! And today D is for Devil's Knell!

Dec 3, 2022

Welcome back to the Old-time Yuletide Advent calendar, a journey through the history and folklore of Christmas going from A to Z! And today C is for Candle!

Dec 2, 2022

Welcome back to the Old-time Yuletide Advent calendar, a journey through the history and folklore of Christmas going from A to Z! And today B is for Bough!

Dec 1, 2022

Welcome to the Oldtime Yuletide Adventary - a journey through the folklore and history of Christmas going from A to Z!

Nov 30, 2022

Just a quick round-up of various updates before the opening of the Oldtime Yuletide Advent Calendar!

Nov 27, 2022

Yes, it's time for our annual commentary track for one of the classic BBC Ghost Stories for Christmas! This year we have reached 1975, and Lawrence Gordon Clark's version of The Ash-Tree by MR James, adapted for the screen by David Rudkin.

Nov 20, 2022

In this show we take a look at a quartet of recent Ghost Stories for Christmas created by Mr Mark Gatiss which have at long last been collected together and released on DVD! Hence we have a welcome revisits to The Tractate Middoth (2013) , The Dead Room (2018), Martins Close (2019) and The Mezzotint (2021)!

Nov 18, 2022

Two very important announcements, including a very exciting one concerning the forthcoming Yuletide audio festivities!

Nov 14, 2022

A special episode paying tribute to the legendary comics artist Kevin O'Neill who sadly passed away this week. We take an in-depth tour through his life, looking at his work on ground-breaking titles such as 2000ad, his collaborations with fellow legends Pat Mills and Alan Moore, and celebrating the incredible comics he brought to the world such as Nemesis the Warlock, Ro-Busters, the ABC Warriors, Metalzoic, Marshall Law and the League of Extraordinary Gentlemen!

Nov 6, 2022

In this episode we take a deep delve into the latest novel from Adam LG Nevill - The Vessel, a contemporary, cutting-edge tale of haunting folk horror!

Oct 30, 2022

In a special chapter, we celebrate the 30th birthday of the most infamous Hallowe'en television special ever screened - Ghostwatch (1992)! In this show we investigate the origins of the show, how it was made, examine its turbulent aftermath, and celebrate its lasting legacy!

Oct 23, 2022

In this epic length episode we journey through the later half of the 1980s, rounding up a variety of Halloween themed movies and TV specials. On the big screen we have the likes of Trick or Treat , Night of the Demons, Cemetery of Terror, and Lady in White plus the return of Michael Myers in Halloween IV and V. While on TV we have the birth of the Treehouse of Horror, comedy horror in The Midnight Hour and an infamous British Halloween hoax!

Oct 16, 2022

We have reached the 1980s in our history of Halloween, and in this chapter we look at the first half of that decade, discovering Halloween TV specials galore from well-loved shows, various movie Tricks and Treats, the return of Michael Myers, and the rise of Elvira!

Oct 9, 2022

In this chapter of Halloween history, we uncover the origins of haunted attractions - from magic lantern show and ghost trains to haunted rides and home haunts. Discover the secrets of phantasmagoria and spook shows, how scares raised money for charities, and the evolution of modern day Halloween attractions.

Oct 2, 2022

As a prelude to our Halloween history episodes this year, we delve into the world of 1980s radio and unearth a Halloween special from the scarifying Canadian show Nightfall! In this seasonal episode we hear a dramatization of a strange tale from Robert Aickman about a couple who unwisely choose to take a break in a small village on All Hallows Eve...

Sep 25, 2022

In this special tribute show we look back and celebrate the dark and magical books of the late great Peter Straub who passed away earlier this month.

Sep 18, 2022

We take a spoiler-free look at new Netflix release I Came By, a dark thriller from Babak Anvari, director of Under the Shadow (2016) and Wounds (2019).

Sep 11, 2022

It is the end of an era, and in this chapter we look at The Cat Creeps, She-Wolf of London, The Brute Man, plus the final case for Rathbone's Holmes - Terror by Night. Plus we learn how in the summer of 1946, Universal decided there would be no more horror movies made...

Sep 4, 2022

In this chapter we learn of an ill-fated attempt to create a new generation of horror stars, drawn from villains who had previously appeared in the Sherlock Holmes films. Hence Rondo Hatton's Creeper returns in House of Horrors, while Gale Sondergaard appears in The Spider Woman Strikes Back. Plus there was another case for the great detective in Terror by Night.

Aug 21, 2022

In this chapter we look at the last stand of the Universal monsters, the chapter of the saga where the Count, the Frankenstein Monster, and the Wolf Man meet up at the House of Dracula (1945)!

Aug 20, 2022

In this chapter we continue our journey through the fright flicks from Universal released in 1945, looking at two new cases for Basil Rathbone's Sherlock Holmes - The Woman in Green and Pursuit to Algiers, plus the final two Inner Sanctum Mysteries movies with Lon Chaney Jnr. makes a Strange Confession and tangling with The Pillow of Death!

Aug 14, 2022

1945 was to be another year packed with fright flicks from Universal! With new cases for Sherlock Holmes, further Inner Sanctum Mysteries to torment Lon Chaney Jnr, and the return of famous (and not so famous) monsters... But were these chillers getting too cheap and creaky?

Aug 7, 2022

In this summer special, we investigate the folklore surrounding Britain's rivers and waterways and uncover weird legends and eerie tales of strange beings...

Jul 31, 2022

In this show we go hunting for a most sinister cryptid, and uncover monstrous secrets in the writings of Ramsey Campbell, the cosmic horrors of the Cthulhu Mythos, and a dark British legend lurking in an ancient castle!

Jul 24, 2022

In this episode from the Patreon vaults, Mr Jim invites you all to come and cool off with a refreshing drink or two on a virtual pub crawl, in which we will take a tour of assorted ghostly tales and weird legends from notable bars across the UK...

Jul 17, 2022

In this summer special, we have the third part of Mr Jim's playthrough of classic 1980s Fighting Fantasy gamebook City of Thieves by Ian Livingstone.

Jul 10, 2022

We continue our exploration of the most dangerous seaside resort in the world - the dreaded Port Blacksand! The second part of Mr Jim's playthrough of classic 1980s Fighting Fantasy gamebook City of Thieves.

Jul 4, 2022

In the first of a series of summer specials, Mr Jim opens up the Patreon vaults to bring you an audio exploration of a classic Fighting Fantasy Gamebook - City of Thieves by Ian Livingstone!

Jun 19, 2022

In the final chapter of Nightmares of Nosferatu we examine the influence of Orlock on Salem's Lot, the semi-sequel to Herzog's remake Vampire in Venice (1988) starring Klaus Kinski, and finally look at Shadow of The Vampire (2000) a movie that poses the question - what if Max Schreck was actually one of the undead?

Jun 12, 2022

In this chapter we look at the various cinematic resurrections of Nosferatu. Firstly we uncover the rare re-edited sound version from 1930, and then explore the classic Werner Herzog remake from 1979 starring Klaus Kinski, Bruno Ganz and Isabelle Adjani.

Jun 5, 2022

Before leaving the world of the undead for a while, we have a helping of horror from the world of vintage radio - where The Hermit's Cave presents a tale entitled Vampire's Desire!

May 26, 2022

In this final double length chapter on the original silent classic, we examine the occult connections in Nosferatu and unearth the long forgotten secrets of Graf Orlock...

May 15, 2022

This week we take a spoiler-free look at the latest movie from director Travis Stephens - Jakob's Wife (2021), a dark tale of small-town vampirism, starring genre legends Barbara Crampton and Larry Fessenden!

May 8, 2022

In a little sidestep we have a brief delve into historical vampirism, uncovering reports of actual vampire outbreaks and hearing from leading scholars of yesteryear on the subject.

May 1, 2022

In this podcast we examine how Nosferatu portrays vampirism, seeing how Orlock differs from Stoker's Dracula, and delving into accounts and reports of the undead in history.

Apr 24, 2022

In this chapter we take a deep dive in the world of Nosferatu, exploring its relationship with Bram Stoker's Dracula, and examining the portrayal of Orlock himself.

Apr 17, 2022

In another stop-gap episode, we go to raid the audio archives and find the Man in Black waiting for us there to relate the creepy tale of Fat Andy...

Apr 10, 2022

In this chapter we untangle the twisted tale of Nosferatu's rampage in cinemas, and chronicle how the vile Graf Orlock faced his most deadly foe, Florence Stoker, who very nearly succeeded in having the film destroyed by fire forever!

Apr 3, 2022

In an emergency stop-gap episode, we delve into the archives of abominable audio, to unearth a tale of vampirism from the shadowy realm of old time radio - The Marquis of Death!

Mar 27, 2022

In this chapter of our celebration of Nosferatu (1922), we meet the screenwriter Henrik Galeen, the mysterious Max Schreck, and learn how the film was shot!

Mar 20, 2022

In this chapter of our celebration of the centenary of Nosferatu, we discover the origins of the word "nosferatu" itself, meet the director F.W. Murnau and reveal the unsung mastermind behind the production, Albin Grau.

Mar 13, 2022

To open a new podcast series celebrating the centenary of seminal movie Nosferatu (1922), we unearth an almost forgotten remake - a radio version of the silent classic!

Mar 6, 2022

In this bite-size episode we take a look at the directorial debut of Travis Stevens - an intriguing little movie called The Girl on the Third Floor...

Feb 27, 2022

As a follow up to our three part series on the history of the horror anthology book, in this show Mr Jim investigates why there was such an explosion of horror novels, and indeed, a whole pantheon of horror writers, springing out of nowhere in the 1980s!

Feb 20, 2022

In our final exploration of the history of horror anthologies and the brilliant women who edited the leading titles in the field, we look at the spooky collections for younger readers from Barbara Ireson, and the remarkable career of Mary Danby who helmed the Armada Ghost Books and the Fontana Book of Great Horror Stories.

Feb 13, 2022

In this podcast, Mr Jim delves further into the history of the horror anthology, detailing the legacy and influence of pioneering editors such as Helen Hoke and Christine Bernard, and paperback ranges such as the Fontana Book of Great Horror Stories and The Armada Ghost Books.

Feb 6, 2022

For Women in Horror Month, in this episode Mr Jim delves into the history of the horror anthology and discovered how several pioneering ladies of literature curated ground-breaking collections of weird fiction!

Jan 30, 2022

The final frights of 1944 find Lon Chaney Jnr. looking through Dead Man's Eyes, spectral shenanigans in Murder in the Blue Room, Kharis walking for a final time in The Mummy's Curse, and the famous monsters meeting up at the House of Frankenstein!

Jan 23, 2022

The frights of '44 continue coming thick and fast from Universal! Ape-girl Paula Dupree returns in the Jungle Woman, Kharis walks again in The Mummy's Ghost, Sherlock Holmes is menaced by the Hoxton Creeper while hunting The Pearl of Death, and Boris Karloff goes all mad doctor at the opera, in The Climax!

Jan 16, 2022

1944 would see another bumper crop of fright flicks released by Universal, with the year opening with fresh instalments in their various franchises - a new Inner Sanctum movie Weird Woman, a chilling new adventure for Holmes and Watson in The Scarlet Claw, and the return of one their original horror characters in The Invisible Man's Revenge!

Jan 10, 2022

In an unscheduled excursion down the dodgier end of Memory Lane, we pay a visit to the 'Orrible 'Ouse of Terrible Old Tat and unearth one of the most disappointing board games of the 1970s - the infamous Tank Command from Ideal!

Jan 1, 2022

From the archives of abominable audio we present an eerie tale for the New Year!

Dec 19, 2021

In this new chapter of In Search of Santa, we discover the history of Christmas gift-bringers in Scandinavia, from the present day Julemanden, to the more ancient Yule Goat and the Jultomten!

Dec 12, 2021

In this episode we have our traditional Christmas commentary, revisiting a classic television adaptation of an MR James tale. Tonight we have reached Christmas 1974, and this year the BBC's A Ghost Story for Christmas was The Treasure of Abbot Thomas, directed by Lawrence Gordon Clark.

Dec 5, 2021

In this festive special we explore the legends and lore of Herne the Hunter. We examine his appearances in classics such The Box of Delights, The Dark is Rising and Robin of Sherwood, explore his connections with the Wild Hunt and Christmas, and untangle his history and folklore from Shakespeare, ghost stories, and the pagan wildwood.

Nov 28, 2021

The horrors of '43 continue with mad science zombies in The Mad Ghoul, an eerie anthology of tales in Flesh & Fantasy, and Holmes tangles with The Spider Woman! Universal also begins another franchise with Calling Dr Death - the first of the Inner Sanctum Mysteries starring Lon Chaney Jnr.

Nov 21, 2021

1943 was another bumper year for Universal, with a new Phantom of the Opera, Lon Chaney Jnr. taking on the cloak of the Count in Son of Dracula, and a new franchise launching with Captive Wild Woman. Even the adventures of Holmes and Watson were taking an eerie turn...

Nov 14, 2021

1942 continues to be a bumper year for Universal, with Kharis rising from the grave once more in the shape of Lon Chaney Jnr. in The Mummy's Tomb, delivering old dark house thrills in Night Monster with Bela Lugosi, and pitting two titans of terror against one another in Frankenstein Meets the Wolf Man! Plus the great detective Sherlock Holmes, as played by Basil Rathbone, begins a long running series of film adventures at Universal!

Nov 7, 2021

In this chapter we see Universal riding high on the success of The Wolf Man, and launching a record-breaking number of horror movies in 1942, including a new addition to the Frankenstein saga with their newly crowned king of horror, Lon Chaney Jnr. donning the famous square skull and neck bolts!

Oct 31, 2021

It is 1978, and this is the night he came home! In this chapter we look at John Carpenter's classic Hallowe'en, uncover its origins, explore its connections with the holiday and learn how it brought horror back to Hallowe'en night! Find more the rest of the Origins of Halloween podcast series, plus other ghoulish goodies, here !

Oct 24, 2021

As a prelude to the next chapter of our Origins of Hallowe'en series, we delve into the world of spooky spoken word records from the '60s and '70s, discovering a world of scary stories and haunted vinyl! We hear Famous Monsters Speak! (1963), visit A Graveyard of Ghosts (1974) with Vincent Price, and experience Halloween Horrors (1977)!

Oct 17, 2021

In this episode we have a double dose of terror from Adam Nevill! First we look at the new movie version of his novel No One Gets Out Alive which is currently scaring the pants of people on Netflix, and then have a review of his tenth novel, a tale of folk horror entitled Cunning Folk! The book is available for preorder, along lots of other goodies, at Adam's website

Oct 10, 2021

In this second exploration of the ghosts of MR James, we uncover strange childhood inspirations, identify recurring types of spectres in his tales, and uncover the good doctor's own view on ghosts.

Oct 3, 2021

This week we begin a two part investigation into the ghost stories of MR James, and try to uncover what inspired and influenced the creation of his classic tales of the supernatural.

Sep 26, 2021

In this final (honest) episode of our brains in jars season we look at a pair of movies featured chaotic cerebellums causing carnage! First from 1986 we have Canadian horror The Brain, and then from that golden age of sci-fi monster movies, the 1950s, we have the legendary Fiend Without a Face!

Sep 24, 2021

Continuing our brains-in-jars mini season, we look at two low budget schlockfests - The Brain from Planet Arous from 1957 and The Brain That Wouldn't Die from 1962!

Sep 12, 2021

In this show we take a look at the three big screen adaptations of the novel Donovan's Brain by Curt Siodmak - The Lady and the Monster (1944), Donovan's Brain (1953), and The Brain (1962) - three movies, from three different decades, and three very different versions of the story!

Sep 5, 2021

Thanks to my arch enemy Mr Real Life getting in the way, it's another trip to the Archives of Abominable Audio this week... But on the upside, we've unearthed a macabre tale from Roald Dahl!

Aug 29, 2021

In a new mini series, we take a look at Donovan's Brain by Curt Siodmak, first published in 1942 in the pages of legendary pulp magazine Black Mask. In this first episode we hear the celebrated 1944 radio version produced by the Suspense Radio show, and starring Orson Welles!

Aug 22, 2021

In this chapter we look at one of the most seminal horror movies ever made - The Wolf Man (1941). Starring Lon Chaney Jnr., Evelyn Ankers, Claude Rains, Bela Lugosi, and Maria Ouspenskaya, this is the movie that redefined werewolves for ever!

Aug 15, 2021

In this chapter we look at a landmark year for Universal horror - 1941 - the year that brought us the first appearances of Lon Chaney Jnr. , Evelyn Ankers and the men the monsters feared... Abbott & Costello! In this show, we discuss Man-Made Monster, Horror Island, The Black Cat with Basil Rathbone and Bela Lugosi, and Hold That Ghost!

Aug 8, 2021

1940 was a year for returning horror stars and brand new sequels! In this podcast we look at Black Friday starring Karloff and Lugosi, and The House of Seven Gables with Vincent Price. Plus, meet new monster Kharis in The Mummy's Hand, and hook up with The Invisible Woman!

Aug 1, 2021

In this episode we look at the first movies in the second wave of Universal horror - ghostly revenge in The House of Fear, medieval murders in The Tower of London, and more mad science mayhem in The Invisible Man Returns!

Jul 25, 2021

In this chapter we discover the story behind Son of Frankenstein (1939)! This movie gave us one of the most remarkable resurrections in film history, not just reviving the Universal Frankenstein saga, but also spawning a new era of horror movies!

Jul 18, 2021

A fresh chapter of Universal Horror history! In this episode we examine what happened during the great horror hiatus and how the horror film was resurrected once more!

Jul 11, 2021

In this special we uncover the saga of Black Beth, a character who first appeared in legendary 1980s horror comic Scream! We learn of her surprising origins, and take a look at her resurrection by Rebellion and the brand new adventures chronicled by writer Alec Worley and artist DaNi, including the latest hot-off-the-press one shot special The Devils of Al-Kadesh

Jul 4, 2021

While Mr Jim is laid low with a throat infection, we have the strange tale of a curious clock, that just might be a portal to Hell itself!

Jun 27, 2021

In a little T Rex tangent I couldn't fit into the Damnation Alley saga, we exploring the culty connections between dread dino Satanus in Judge Dredd, Michael Crichton's Jurassic Park and Westworld, time tourism, 2000 AD's Flesh, T Rex hunting, and Ray Bradbury!

Jun 20, 2021

We continue to trace the various science fiction vehicles inspired by Roger Zelazny's Damnation Alley. We learn how both Zelazny's story and the Adventure 2000 toys turned up in a classic Judge Dredd tale in 2000 AD, plus look at some futuristic toys from the same ear - the Xploratrons from Corgi - who also had connections to the galaxy's greatest comic too!

Jun 13, 2021

In the first of a two part trip to the 'Orrible 'Ouse of Terrible Old Tat we trace a strange family tree spawned by Hell Tanner's ride in Roger Zelazny's Damnation Alley, and see how the movie version's Land Master influenced a successful line of sci-fi toy vehicles from Matchbox - the Adventure 2000 range.

Jun 5, 2021

Unearthed from the archives, the unaired pilot for a 1940s horror radio series - Mystery House, hosted by and starring Bela Lugosi. In this sole surviving episode, with guest star John Carradine, brings us the tale of The Thirsty Dead!

May 30, 2021

In this final chapter, we look at the heyday of the H certificate, see which movies got the dreaded H, chart the fortunes of horror movies during World War II, and discover how and why the H was replaced with the X certificate in 1951.

May 23, 2021

In this episode we delve into film censorship in the 1930s, look at the controversies over the new horror talkies, discover why some films were banned, and chart the development of the H certificate!

May 16, 2021

We begin tracing the history of the infamous H Certificate issued by the British Board of Film Censors - H for Horrific! In this opening chapter, we look at the birth of movie censorship and uncover the often surprising things that caused controversy in the the early days of film!

May 9, 2021

In this episode we look at a sequel to one of my favourite nonfiction volumes of recent years. Yes, Scarred For Life Volume Two - Television in the 1980s is here!

May 2, 2021

In this podcast we take a look at an old favourite tome - an anthology of horror tales for children assembled by the legendary Ramsey Campbell himself, and featuring tales from masters of the macabre such as Robert Bloch, Richard Matheson and Brian Lumley! Kid's stuff it ain't!

Apr 25, 2021

In this rare radio appearance, we learn why you should never take medical advice from Bela Lugosi! A classic tale guaranteed to keep you in... Suspense!

Apr 18, 2021

The first phase of our history of Universal horror draws to close with the great Horror Hiatus of the 1930s - the strange period of cinema history where Hollywood stopped making horror movies! We examine the causes behind it all, untangle the history of horror censorship, and investigate the alleged ban on horror films in the UK in 1930s!

Apr 11, 2021

In this chapter we look at the last movies of the first Universal horror cycle. Firstly The Raven, another Poe inspired movie pairing Karloff and Lugosi, then proto science-fiction horror in The Invisible Ray, and finally meet Dracula's Daughter!

Apr 4, 2021

In this chapter we have real life reanimation experiments in Life Returns, unravel the Mystery of Edwin Drood, and meet the Werewolf of London and the Bride of Frankenstein!

Mar 28, 2021

The mid 1930s brings madness and mysteries galore! Universal explore the Secret of the Blue Room and The Secret of the Chateau, and introduce us to The Invisible Man and The Man Who Reclaimed His Head! Plus Karloff and Lugosi team up for the first time in another Poe adaption The Black Cat!

Mar 21, 2021

This year saw Universal release three new fright flicks - searching for a third horror hit to join their blockbusters Dracula and Frankenstein. Murders in the Rue Morgue had Bela Lugosi bringing Poe's classic tale to the screen. In The Old Dark director James Whale brought us a blackly comic gothic tale. While The Mummy saw the birth of a new movie monster and another ionic role for Boris Karloff!

Mar 14, 2021

In this chapter we look at the great flowering of Universal Horror in 1931, the year that saw the release of firstly Dracula starring Bela Lugosi and then Frankenstein starring Boris Karloff. We also discuss the little seen but rather excellent Spanish language version of Dracula too!

Mar 7, 2021

In this episode we begin another podcast series, this time charting the history of Universal Horror! In this opening chapter we learn how Universal began and examine the evolution of its horror films, discussing silent hits such as The Hunchback of Notre Dame, The Phantom of the Opera and The Cat and the Canary.

Feb 28, 2021

Beginning a new occasional series on assorted tiny terrors, Mr Jim summons up the Ghoulies and traces the exploits of these diminutive demons through four movies! They'll get you in the end!

Feb 21, 2021

In this episode we pay a visit to the 'Orrible 'Ouse of Terrible Old Tat to investigate some very rare and rather weird items of science fiction merchandise! First we ask what exactly was a TARDIS Tuner? And why had it never actually appeared in Doctor Who? Then we investigate the Zone Box, a piece of tie-in tat for The Twilight Zone that is as bizarre as it is obscure!

Feb 14, 2021

A visit to the Inner Sanctum unearths a vintage chiller for Valentine's Day! A tale of love... well, love, obsession, madness, and murder!

Feb 7, 2021

In this episode we look at the 1962 movie version of Jack the Giant Killer, a film that bizarrely exists in to two parallel versions - one a much loved fantasy film feature creature FX magic from Jim Danforth, while the other is one of the strangest musicals ever made!

Jan 31, 2021

In this episode we look at various screen versions of the Jack the Giant Killer stories, examining various animated shorts, included an early cartoon from Walt Disney, before comparing Bryan Singer's big budget Jack the Giant Slayer with its mockbuster little brother from The Asylum, Jack the Giant Killer, which went head-to-head in 2013!

Jan 24, 2021

In the second episode of our series on Jack the Giant Killer we discover the various legends and old stories than underpin the saga, a journey in which we will encounter the likes of King Arthur, Bluebeard, and Perseus.

Jan 18, 2021

In the first episode of a new podcast series, we look at the old tale of Jack the Giant Killer and trace its origins through history and folklore.

Jan 10, 2021

A little fireside chat from Mr Jim to wish you a happy New Year and to tell you all about what's coming out from the Great Library of Dreams this year...

Dec 31, 2020

For a surprise final show for the year, Mr Jim unearths a rare beast - a tale of terror set on New Years Eve. Hailing from the golden age of radio, we hear the story of Mr. Ramsey, a film writer and is working all the hour's gods send on a film that has a producer that couldn't make up his mind and a Director who makes the picture up as he goes along...

Dec 20, 2020

This Christmas we are proud to present a new chapter to our classic In Search of Santa Claus podcast series - an in-depth look at the Jólasveinarnir AKA the Yule Lads - uncovering the origins, family history and development of the 13 Santas of Iceland

Dec 13, 2020

As is now traditional, in this festive podcast we have our annual revisit of an episode of the classic BBC series - A Ghost Story For Christmas. This year we have reached 1973 and Lawrence Gordon Clark's adaptation of Lost Hearts by MR James. Join Mr Jim by the fireside for a full commentary on this classic television ghost story.

Dec 6, 2020

In the first of our festive episodes, we take a look at a Christmas classic - The Children of Green Knowe. In this podcast, we look at the original book by Lucy M Boston, the sequels it spawned, and its screen incarnations, in particular the BBC four part adaptation from the 1980s.

Nov 29, 2020

An interview with the Man o'Ghosts himself, Mr Thom Burgess! We talk about his new book Early Haunts, his previous comics such as Malevolents Click Click, Ghoster, and The Eyrie, his new retrogame Pylons, folk horror, hauntology, and all things ghostly!

Nov 15, 2020

We return the worlds of Adam Nevill with a review of his latest book, a collection of short fiction entitled Wyrd & Other Derelictions - an anthology of terror tales with an intriguing difference.

Nov 15, 2020

In this episode we take a look at a new movie that being hailed as the best new horror film on Netflix, a modern day ghost story called His House!

Nov 8, 2020

In this podcast, Mr Jim Moon takes a look at Opening the Box of Delights - a lavish new tome all about that classic Yuletide favourite, and interviews the author, Dr Philip Errington! We talk about the book, The Box of Delights in all its incarnations and its creator John Masefield.

Oct 30, 2020

In this chapter of Halloween history, we look at how the spookiest night of the year was portrayed on TV and at the movies in the 1970s.

Oct 25, 2020

Our history of the spookiest night of the year continues, and we discover how Hallowe'en was celebrated in the 1970s, and looking at how it appeared in assorted books and stories in that decade.

Oct 18, 2020

As a prelude to our next helping of Hallowe'en history, Mr Jim Moon delves in the revivals of radio horror from the 1960s and the 1970s, to sample Hallowe'en specials from the likes of The Black Mass and the CBS Radio Mystery Theatre!

Oct 11, 2020

Forty years ago, in autumn 1980, a series aired that terrified a generation - the Hammer House of Horror, which saw the legendary British studio bring a new brand of Hammer horror to the small screen with thirteen scarifying tales of terror!

Oct 4, 2020

In this special episode we pay tribute to the late great Dame Diana Rigg with a commentary on her favourite movie - classic horror Theatre of Blood (1973) in which she co-starred with Vincent Price, proving that Shakespeare can indeed be bloody good fun!

Sep 26, 2020

In this episode we round up the last mummies lurking in the 1960s, including the Paul Naschy monster rally Assignment Terror, before beginning the 1970s with the last of the Hammer mummy movies - Blood From the Mummy's Tomb!

Sep 20, 2020

In something of a stop-gap episode as Mr Jim struggles with a mummy's curse, we have delve into the vaults of the Great Library... And so, as colleges and universities open their doors once more, we hear a cautionary tale for new students everywhere...

Sep 20, 2020

In something of a stop-gap episode as Mr Jim struggles with a mummy's curse, we have delve into the vaults of the Great Library... And so, as colleges and universities open their doors once more, we hear a cautionary tale for new students everywhere...

Sep 13, 2020

In this chapter of Mysteries of the Mummy we continue our shamble through the 1960s, looking at several highly dubious movies featuring low rent mummies before examining our main feature The Mummy's Shroud from Hammer!

Sep 6, 2020

In this chapter of our history of bandaged ghouls, we begin to unwrap the 1960s and look in-depth at the second movie in Hammer's Mummy cycle - Curse of the Mummy's Tomb (1964)! All previous chapters of this podcast series can be found here -

Aug 29, 2020

In this episode we pay another trip to the 'Orrible 'Ouse of Terrible Old Tat, and once again have a rummage among the vinyl. This time we unearth a trio of putrid platters - the Sound of Death & Horror trilogy from the old BBC sound effects range!

Aug 23, 2020

In this little show we discover the surprising and oddly heart-warming history behind one of the rarest slasher movies of the 1980s!

Aug 16, 2020

In this episode we delve into the history of classic horror radio show Light's Out, and learn of its infamous final season starring Boris Karloff!

Aug 9, 2020

The trilogy is now complete - the third and final part of the big 10th birthday bash!

Aug 2, 2020

The second half of the big birthday bash celebrating a decade of audio nonsense from the Great Library of Dreams!

Jul 26, 2020

In a little surprise episode, Mr Jim Moon released as previously hidden exclusive recording recounting a strange and unsettling sequel to the events of the Diis Manibus case. You can hear the original case, and other strange adventures and stories from Mr Moon here

Jul 21, 2020

It was was ten years ago today Hypnobobs began play It's never really been in style But it's guaranteed to make you smile... Celebrating a decade of nonsense from the Great Library of Dreams!

Jul 12, 2020

In this episode we voyage to galaxies long, long ago, and far, far away to revisit the assorted science fiction sound effects LPs issued by the BBC back in the early 1980s. These slabs of interstellar vinyl saw the BBC Radiophonic Workshop conjuring up galactic soundscapes and space-age sonics for the likes of Doctor Who, Blake's 7 and The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, plus many strange new worlds all of their own.

Jul 5, 2020

In 1970s Britain even the crisps were creepy! In this podcast we uncover the gloriously ghoulish history of Horror Bags - the snacks that went bump in the night!

Jun 28, 2020

In this podcast we take a trip down the more disreputable end of Memory Lane, to the ramshackle edifice that lurks just behind the Great Library of Dreams... The 'Orrible 'Ouse of Terrible Old Tat! Inside we uncover the twisted history of a classic board game featuring ghosts, ghouls and witches, known variously over the years as Which Witch, Haunted House and Ghost Castle! For pictures of the various incarnations of this game do visit the article on my site here

Jun 21, 2020

In this podcast we look at assorted European incarnations of the Colour Out of Space. We first look at a French TV version Le Couleur de l'Abime from 1982, then Ivan Zuccon's Italian retelling of the tale The Colour from the Dark (2008) and finally round off with a glorious German version Die Farbe directed by Huan Vu from 2010

Jun 14, 2020

In this show we look at the various attempts Hollywood has made at translating the classic weird tale by HP Lovecraft to the big screen. In this episode we look at Die Monster Die (1965) starring Boris Karloff, The Curse (1987) starring Wil Wheaton, and The Color Out of Space (2019) starring Nicholas "no scenery is safe from my teeth" Cage.

Jun 7, 2020

In the second part of our discussion of The Colour Out of Space by HP Lovecraft, we delve into the science behind the story, the themes of the tale, and its legacy.

May 31, 2020

May 26th is Peter Cushing's birthday and May 27th is Sir Christopher Lee's! And so to celebrate these two true gentlemen of cinema, we proudly offer you a ticket to ride first class on the Trans-Siberian Express and take a trip into terror! Cushing, Lee, a mad monk, a frozen prehistoric monster from space, and Telly Savalas... What more could you want?

May 24, 2020

We return to where the hills rise wild outside Arkham town, and explore The Colour Out of Space by HP Lovecraft. In this episode, we discover how Lovecraft came to write his classic fusion of horror and science fiction, and delve into the various tales that inspired him.

May 17, 2020

In this podcast, Mr Jim Moon rounds up some more notable discoveries on Amazon Prime Video for your lockdown viewing! In this show we have three bonkers horror movies, from three different decades and three different countries. From 1970s Britain we have Horror Hospital (1973), from 1980s USA we have Uninvited (1987) and from 1990s Italy we have Dellamorte Dellamore (1994).

May 10, 2020

As a prelude to resuming our Colour Out of Space series, here is an influential tale of invisible alien horror which was one of Lovecraft's inspirations - What Was It by Fitz-James O'Brien, as adapted for old time radio by the Weird Circle

May 3, 2020

In this podcast, Mr Jim rounds up some notable discoveries on Amazon Prime Video for you lockdown viewing! We discuss the little seen Castle of the Living Dead, a Euro-horror starring Sir Christopher Lee and Donald Sutherland, the epic documentary Flesh & Blood - The Hammer Heritage of Horror, and cult classic William Castle flick The Tingler starring Vincent Price!

Apr 26, 2020

In this little episode we are discussing the fear of the dark, and a new book of short ghost stories on that very theme from Mr Thom Burgess - Nyctophobias! GET YOUR COPY OF NYCTOPHOBIAS HERE

Apr 19, 2020

In the second part of our celebration of the marvelous movies of the late great Stuart Gordon, we voyage to the future with Space Truckers and Fortress, and delve into the past to discover the secrets of Castle Freak. We return to Lovecraft and Poe with Gordon's versions of The Black Cat and Dreams of the Witchhouse, and find different dreams coming turn in Ray Bradbury's The Wonderful Ice Cream Suit. Finally we journey in to the heart of darkness with his final movies, King of the Ants, Edmond and Stuck.

Apr 5, 2020

In the first part of a two part special, we celebrate the life and works of the late great Stuart Gordon. In this show we learn of his ground-breaking work in theatre where he began, and how he broke into movies with Reanimator. Then trace his career through a string of beloved movies - Dolls, From Beyond, Robot Jox, Honey I Shrunk the Kids, and The Pit and the Pendulum.

Apr 4, 2020

In the first of our new Abominable Audio series, Mr Jim Moon presents a gem from the archives - an old time radio version of the classic weird tale The Damned Thing by Ambrose Bierce

Mar 29, 2020

If you ever wondered if ghosts haunt cemeteries, Mr Marc Damian Lawler has the answer with this visit to the famous St James' Cemetery in Liverpool. In this tale of terror with a dash of ghoulish humour, we also encounter some of that great city's most famous sons... This story can be found in the anthology Before You Blow Out the Candle, available in paperback and ebook !

Mar 27, 2020

A little chat about what is going in currently, and unveiling my plans for the show and delivering extra audio goodies to get us all through this :)

Mar 22, 2020

The concluding part of our reading of the classic weird tale from HP Lovecraft

Mar 15, 2020

In this show we proudly present the first part of one of the most celebrated weird tales ever written - The Colour Out of Space by HP Lovecraft

Mar 8, 2020

In this chapter we continue to look at horror videogames in the early 1980s, the golden age of the console. We exploring spooky games on the Intellivision such as Dracula and Ghost Manor on the Atari, face killer robots beneath the earth in Night Stalker and Dark Cavern, and then discover how classic movies such as The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, Halloween and Gremlins appeared on the Atari 2600.

Mar 1, 2020

In this episode we explore horror in the golden age of the Atari VCS, AKA the Atari 2600, looking at terrifying titles like Haunted House, Alien, Frankenstein and untangling the connection between Donkey Kong and King Kong!

Feb 23, 2020

In this show we look at horror on the early home computers, with ghastly games released for the likes of the TR-80, the Apple II and the ZX81. Including terrifying titles such as The House of Usher, Deathmaze 5000, Mystery House, Asylum and 3D Monster Maze!

Feb 15, 2020

This week, we unearth the history of horror in video games. In this episode we explore the birth of video gaming, and take a look at Shark Jaws from Atari, Death Race from Exidy, Hunt the Wumpus on the pc, and Haunted House on the Magnavox Odyssey

Feb 9, 2020

In this episode we explore the dark comedy of Steve Pemberton and Reece Shearsmith, revisiting their comic horror mystery series Psychoville, and looking at their current show, the celebrated anthology series Inside No. 9

Feb 2, 2020

In this episode we take a look at two new ghostly volumes. First up is Photoghasts by Thom Burgess, a collection of unsettling haunted snaps. And then we have a look at the new collection Before You Blow Out the Candle edited by Marc Damian Lawler, and hear a reading of one of the very fine tales within - Steepe Holm by Vince Stadon

Jan 26, 2020

The final part of our lookback on horror in the last decade. In this podcast, we discuss censorship controversies, the rise (and maybe fall) of streaming services, the advent of elevated horror, and look to the future of the genre.

Jan 19, 2020

In the second part of our look-back at horror in the 2010s, we discuss horror anthologies on TV, assorted remakes and sequels, and catch up with what iconic horror characters and franchises were doing in this decade!

Jan 12, 2020

In the first of a two part experiment in pop culture time travel, Mr Jim Moon charts the assorted manifestations of horror in the 2010s, in this show looking at the new franchises spawned and various televisual terrors! Hence we are talking about Saw, Paranormal Activity, Insidious, The Conjuring Universe, The Walking Dead, True Blood, Dexter, American Horror Story and even bloody Twilight!

Jan 3, 2020

The first show of a new year and a new decade! An animated version of The Mezzotint by MR James from MR Thom Burgess, with illustrations by the fantastic Lou Hallard and a new narration by me! The Darkling Thrush by Thomas Hardy An atmospheric poem for New Year by Thomas Hardy My new video reading of Rats by MR James The book Photoghasts can be summoned from here

Dec 22, 2019

In the last show before Christmas, Mr Jim Moon invites you to the cosy fireside of the Great Library of Dreams to hear of the most unusual and eerie events that occurred several years ago one snowy Christmas Eve...

Dec 14, 2019

The final chapter of the Christmas classic by Charles Dickens. Complete and unabridged, read by Mr Jim Moon.

Dec 14, 2019

The fourth chapter of the Christmas classic by Charles Dickens, in which Scrooge meets the Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come. Complete and unabridged, read by Mr Jim Moon.

Dec 14, 2019

The third chapter of the Christmas classic by Charles Dickens, in which Scrooge meets the Ghost of Christmas Present. Complete and unabridged, read by Mr Jim Moon.

Dec 14, 2019

The second chapter of the Christmas classic by Charles Dickens, complete and unabridged, read by Mr Jim Moon. Scrooge meets the Ghost Of Christmas Past.

Dec 14, 2019

The first chapter of the Christmas classic by Charles Dickens, complete and unabridged, read by Mr Jim Moon

Dec 11, 2019

Following on from our reading of the classic tale from MR James, in this episode we take a look back on the 1972 screen version directed by Lawrence Gordon Clark for the BBC A Ghost Story for Christmas series, starring Peter Vaughan and Clive Swift.

Dec 8, 2019

It wouldn't be Christmas without a tale from the great MR James! And so once again we gather round the cosy fireside of the Great Library of Dreams to hear one of his most celebrated ghost stories...

Dec 1, 2019

In the first of our ghost stories for Christmas, Mr Jim Moon invites you to take seat by the fireside to hear the last of the Stoneground ghost tales by EG Swain, the story of The Kirk Spook!

Nov 24, 2019

In this last show before the festive season Mr Jim Moon takes a quick spoiler-free look at two new notable horror movies - Mike Flanagan's movie of Stephen King's Doctor Sleep and the Soska Sisters' remake of David Cronenberg's Rabid! Plus there's a trailer for this year's Christmas shows!

Nov 17, 2019

In this episode we pay a visit to the most haunted house in Britain, in a new movie that documents and reconstructs the history and the mystery of Borley Rectory!

Nov 10, 2019

We return to the novels of Adam LG Nevill with a review of his latest opus, a dark exploration of folk horror, The Reddening!

Nov 10, 2019

We return to the novels of Adam LG Nevill with a review of his latest opus, a dark exploration of folk horror, The Reddening!

Oct 31, 2019

Especially for Hallowe'en, an eerie tale set on the night of All Hallows Eve . Mr Jim Moon presents a slice of vintage folk horror with a reading of Randall's Round by Eleanor Scott

Oct 27, 2019

Our (mostly) annual series detailing the history of the spookiest night of the year continues! In this chapter we explore the Halloweens of the 1960s, chatting about costumes, parties, television specials and much more more, and calling in on the likes of Charlie Brown, Don Post Studios, Bewitched, the Twilight Zone, Ray Bradbury and even Captain Kirk!

Oct 20, 2019

Kharis returns and this time he's in technicolor! In this episode, Mr Jim Moon charts the rise of Hammer horror and how Britain's most bloodsoaked studio made a deal with Universal to bring tone of their famous monsters back from the tomb! The result was The Mummy (1959), a classic gothic horror starring Christopher Lee and Peter Cushing!

Oct 13, 2019

This week we crack open the casebook of famed occult detective, Mr Flaxman Low. In this tale we learn of a remote country house cursed with a most violent haunting...

Oct 6, 2019

Taking a look at the latest ghostly graphic novel from Thom Burgess, Toby Meakins and Joe Becci - Ghoster! Supernatural action and spectral mayhem abound in this new comic that is free to download!

Sep 29, 2019

In this episode we are preparing for the season of the witch with a little independent horror Pyewacket. In this show we uncover the sinister witchlore behind its name and review this intriguing addition to the modern folk horror canon.

Sep 22, 2019

In this episode we take a look at the various screen version of It by Stephen King. We talk about the It TV mini-series (1990) starring Tim Curry as Pennywise, have a peek at Woh (1998), a loose version produced for Indian TV, and wrap up with in-depth reviews of the latest big screen version It Chapter One (2017) and It Chapter Two (2019).

Sep 15, 2019

At last it's here! Or should that be It's here! Yes, this week we begin an epic two part series exploring Stephen King's It, on page and on the screen. In the first part of this Derry duology, we take an in-depth look at the original novel.

Sep 8, 2019

Taking a look at the new movie directed by Andre Ovredal and produced by Guillermo del Toro - Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark - based on the legendary books by Alvin Schwartz and Stephen Gammell

Sep 1, 2019

Taking a look at a little indie horror currently on new horror streaming service Shudder - The Witch in the Window

Aug 25, 2019

Welcome back to the cosy fireside of the Great Library of Dreams, where we'll hear another Stoneground Ghost Tale from EG Swain. Mr Batchell, the antiquarian clergyman, once again finds the past does not always lie as quietly as it should in his parish when he makes an intriguing historical excavation in his garden...

Aug 18, 2019

In the final part of our excavations of The Mound, we explore the gods of the Cthulhu Mythos, reveal their family tree, and trace their effects on the civilisation of K'n-yan.

Aug 11, 2019

In a little bonus episode in between our explorations of the Cthulhu Mythos, we have a reading of a short piece by HP Lovecraft. A strange little tale, almost a prose poem, in which we first meet the Crawling Chaos, Nyarlathotep!

Aug 4, 2019

In this episode we continue our exploration of The Mound by HP Lovecraft and Zealia Bishop. Firstly we uncover the history and evolution of what is now called the Cthulhu Mythos - how it emerged in Lovecraft's writings and how it was developed by other authors. And then we explore the links The Mound has to other works in his canon, investigating the strange lost lands mentioned, the secret history of the earth, and cataloguing the eldritch races encountered in the tale.

Jul 28, 2019

In this episode Mr Jim Moon delves into the background of the classic weird tale The Mound. We discover how HP Lovecraft came to write it for Zealia Bishop, and dig up the local folklore and old American history that inspired it. We also explore the strange theories of hollow earths and legends of lost races, and finally discuss its literary forebears from the likes of Poe and Jules Verne.

Jul 21, 2019

In this podcast, we're returning to the little town Hawkins where once more weird events are unfolding. Is this a series too far for the Duffer Brothers, or just another chapter of a never-ending story? Such are questions answered by Mr Jim Moon in an in-depth but spoiler-free discussion of the show!

Jul 14, 2019

In which our narrator goes out to the mound to excavate and investigate, to uncover the truth of Zamacona's tale... And what became of him...

Jul 7, 2019

In which our hero Zamacona attempts to escape the immortal and amoral world of K'n-yan and return once the freedom and sanity of the upper earth...

Jun 30, 2019

In which we learn more of life in the subterranean blue-litten realm of K'n-yan, hear about the mysteries of red-litten Yoth, a deeper darker elder realm, and the black horrors that dwell in the abyss of N'kai...

Jun 23, 2019

In which we learn of the strange and ancient realm of K'n-yan, which lies deep beneath the earth, where weird gods such as Tulu and Yig are worshipped by the advanced but decadent inhabitants.

Jun 14, 2019

In the first of a few little mini-casts sprinkled on the feed while The Mound runs, Mr Jim takes a spoiler-free look at the latest chapter of the Monsterverse, Godzilla King of the Monsters

Jun 13, 2019

In which our narrator delves into a strange manuscript that tells a Spanish conquistador who discovered strange things and stranger places deep beneath the earth...

Jun 9, 2019

In which our narrator learns more of the strange history of the mound, begins his own excavations, and makes a most curious discovery...

Jun 2, 2019

In which our hero journeys to Binger, Oklahoma to investigate the wild tales and old legends of a haunted burial mound, reputed to be the home of two frequently sighted ghosts...

Jun 2, 2019

A short introduction to our next podcast series - a serialised reading of The Mound by HP Lovecraft and Zealia Bishop, an epic tale of the Cthulhu Mythos that blends ghost stories, science fiction and cosmic horror!

May 26, 2019

In this show, we trace the strange path that led Matthew Holness from the comedy world of Garth Marenghi's Darkplace to the dark horror of of his debut feature film, Possum (2018). Along the way we take a look at his short film A Gun for George, the violent world of the Reprisalizer, and the disturbing near-future found in the teleplay The Snipist.

May 19, 2019

In the second part of this investigation into the well-known trope of the indian burial ground curse, we look at its appearance in classic horrors such as The Amityville Horror , Pet Sematary , Poltergeist and The Shining and some not so classic ones such as Scalps .

May 11, 2019

In a the first of little two part series that follows on neatly from the Pet Sematary shows, we explore that famous horror trope the cursed Indian Burial Ground. IN this episode we trace the history and development of this particular now somewhat cliched plot element.

May 5, 2019

In the last part of our series on Stephen King's classic novel, we look at the latest screen incarnation - Pet Sematary 2019. In this show we first have an in-depth but spoiler-free review of the new movie, and close off with a special no-holds-barred spoiler discussion.

Apr 28, 2019

In the third part of our Pet Sematary series, we take a look at Pet Sematary Two (1992), the belated sequel to the 1989 film. Plus we also look at the BBC radio adaptation of Stephen King's novel that aired in 1997

Apr 21, 2019

In the second part of our Pet Sematary series, we take a look at the 1989 film version directed by Mary Lambert and starring Dale Midkiff, Denise Crosby and Fred Gwynn

Apr 13, 2019

In the first of a three part podcast series, we are unearthing all the secrets of Pet Sematary. In this episode Mr Jim Moon digs deep into the original novel by Stephen King

Apr 7, 2019

In another sadly impromptu episode, we mourn the loss of one of the great modern writers of weird fiction, WH Pugmire. In this show we talk about his life, his influences, in particular Lovecraft, and of course, his own unique brand of strange tales.

Mar 31, 2019

In this show we pay tribute to the passing of three important names in the world of genre film and cult movies - actor Joe Pilato, effects wizard and director John Carl Buechler, and screenwriter and director Larry Cohen, and tale a look at some of their most memorable movies Day of the Dead, It's Alive, Troll, Friday 13th Part VII and Cellar Dweller.

Mar 24, 2019

This week we return to the novels of Adam Nevill, who is proving to be a true master of 21st century horror. In this show we take a spoiler-free look at his most recent novels - No One Gets Out Alive , Lost Girl and Under a Watchful Eye

Mar 17, 2019

This week Mr Jim Moon invites you to the fireside of the Great Library of Dreams to hear a tale of terror from a lost master, Frederick Cowles, a writer of ghost stories rediscovered by the late great Hugh Lamb.

Mar 10, 2019

Welcome to a world of Victorian horrors and Edwardian terrors! In this episode we pay tribute to the great scholar and researcher of the macabre who sadly passed away last week. Hugh Lamb edited a great number of very influential horror anthologies and curated editions of macabre tales for the likes of E Nesbit and Robert W Chambers. He discovered lost and forgotten tales by masters such as MR James, Charles Dickens and Edgar Allen Poe, and rescued from obscurity dozens of long out of print weird tales, including several that I have read on the podcast in the past.

Mar 3, 2019

In this episode, we take a look at the brand new Call of Cthulhu Starter Set from the Chaosium, a box of ghoulish delights that contains everything you need to start your own horror roleplaying game and explore the nightmare worlds of HP Lovecraft.

Feb 24, 2019

The original occult detective returns! Flaxman Low is consulted on a most disturbing haunting in this classic Victorian weird tale by E Heron and H Heron.

Feb 17, 2019

Mr Jim Moon explores the world of a true master of horror, Mr Garth Marenghi and revisits his seminal cult TV series Darkplace (copyright Dean Learner Enterprises) that was axed by the powers that be - Garth Marenghi's Darkplace! In this episode we look back the career of Romford's chillmaestro, the comedy horror classic that was Garth Marenghi's Darkplace which starred Matthew Holness, Richard Ayoade, Alice Lowe and Matt Berry, plus its spin-off Man to Man with Dean Learner.

Feb 13, 2019

49 years ago today the first Black Sabbath LP was released, and to mark this milestone in rock history, Mr Jim Moon pays tribute with a special reading of a most enigmatic poem found on the sleeve of that LP

Feb 10, 2019

Thanks to a raging throat infection Mr Jim Moon embarks on a daring raid into the dusty audio archives of the Great Library of Dreams and return with a high strange prize - one of weirdest ever tales to come out of the golden age of horror radio - Spawn of the Subhuman from Dark Fantasy

Feb 3, 2019

Mr Jim Moon reads one of the all time classic tales of terror - The Monkey's Paw by WW Jacobs

Jan 27, 2019

In this episode Mr Jim Moon takes a look at the recent Netflix horror release Bird Box starring Sandra Bullock. In the first section of the show, we have a spoiler-free look at this movie before taking off the blindfolds in the second half to head down river into spoiler-territory, delving into the history of the movie and its influences.

Jan 20, 2019

Appearing in the British comedy horror comic Shiver and Shake, every week a new mutant monstrosity escaped the pen of Ken Reid. And now the crazed creatures from this marvellous menagerie has been rounded and collected together in a handsome new tome from Rebellion - Ken Reid's Creepy Creations. Mr Jim Moon explains why you need this essential monster spotter's handbook on your shelves!

Jan 12, 2019

In the first show for a new year, Mr Jim Moon takes us back to the sleepy parish of Stoneground, where EG Swain has another eerie tale to tell, one that occurred upon a cold and frosty January night...

Dec 29, 2018

In the last episode of the festive season, and indeed of the year, Mr Jim Moon takes a look at what makes a good Christmas ghost story. We have a chat about the latest BBC Ghost Story for Christmas, The Dead Room starring Simon Callow and written and directed by Mark Gatiss, which aired this Christmas Eve. And then we hear from the master of the ghost story himself, MR James, with three readings of various essays and articles where he outlined his own rules for writing ghost stories.

Dec 24, 2018

It's Christmas Eve, and in the spirit of the great MR James, Mr Jim Moon invites you to the fireside for some chit-chat and to tell a ghostly tale of his own...

Dec 23, 2018

In this special episode, Mr Jim Moon continues his investigations into the tradition of telling ghost stories for Christmas. While last year we traced the origins of the Christmas ghost story in literature, in this show we hunt down the ghosts of folklore and local legend and discover what spirits walk abroad at Yuletide.

Dec 20, 2018

In our fourth ghost story for Christmas, we take a trip away for the Yuletide to go stay in a country house, with good company, good friends, lots of snow and the appearance of the family ghost...

Dec 16, 2018

Christmas is a time for party games, however this one has a most unusual twist to it...

Dec 13, 2018

In the second of our readings of ghost stories for Christmas, we voyage back to Victorian London for a tale of a Christmas party, a peculiar wager, and a night in a most notorious haunted house... in Number Ninety by BM Croker

Dec 9, 2018

Directed by Lawrence Gordon Clark, and originally shown on Christmas Eve 1971, The Stalls of Barchester was the very first of the BBC's much loved Ghost Story for Christmas series. Mr Jim hands round the mulled wine and mince pies, and fires up the old DVD player to give a commentary on this televisual incarnation of the famous ghost story by MR James.

Dec 6, 2018

We begin our annual readings of classic ghost stories for Christmas with a tale from the great MR James - The Stalls of Barchester Cathedral

Dec 2, 2018

In this episode Mr Jim Moon takes a trip to one of the most famous British haunted houses of the 1970s! Haunting childrens' TV and created by Richard Carpenter, The Ghosts of Motley Hall delivered three seasons of spooky sitcom action and wasn't above delivering the occasional bit of televisual terror. We've got the keys from the caretaker Mr Gudgin, so let's see if Motley Hall is still haunted...

Nov 28, 2018

Christmas is coming and this festive season there's a tinsel bedecked ton of treats coming up from the Great Library of Dreams! And here's the full details of our ghostly Christmas line-up! Also check out our advent calendar at www.hypnogoria.com

Nov 25, 2018

In this episode, Mr Jim Moon has some recommendations for some spooky reading for the coming festive season - a trio of ghostly graphic novels from Mr Thom Burgess - Malevolents Click Click , The Eyrie and Hallows Fell .

Nov 18, 2018

In the final part of our long running saga investigating horrors from the deep, Mr Jim Moon nets a shoal of movies that owe something to The Shadow Over Innsmouth by HP Lovecraft. The movies are Island of the Fishmen AKA Screamers (1979), Humanoids from the Deep (1980), Dagon (2001), Cthulhu ( 2005) and Cold Skin (2017)

Nov 16, 2018

In a special episode Mr Jim Moon remember the legendary Stan Lee, and reflects on his truly Marvel-ous achievements!

Nov 13, 2018

This episode we talk a look at a new book from Stephen Volk - the man who created Ghostwatch ! In The Dark Masters Trilogy we will encounter four iconic figures from the world of the weird and the macabre. In Whitstable we meet with Peter Cushing, while in Leytonstone we have a rendezvous with a young Alfred Hitchcock. And finally at Netherwood, we will witness a strange meeting between Dennis Wheatley and notorious occultist Aleister Crowley.

Nov 10, 2018

In this episode a rather creeped out Mr Jim Moon attempts to gather his thoughts together on the new movie Possum which was directed by Matt Holness, who previously created the much beloved horror spoof TV series Garth Marenghi's Darkplace. However Possum is no laughing matter... UPDATE - Possum is now available for streaming on Amazon too!

Nov 4, 2018

In this mini-episode, Mr Jim Moon takes a look at a new short film, based on a story by R Chetwynd-Hayes, which appeared on Amazon Prime on Hallowe'en night - Keep the Gaslight Burning

Oct 31, 2018

As is traditional, here is a suitably eerie tale of terror for Hallowe'en night. This it's an old favourite from the pages of Weird Tales!

Oct 27, 2018

In the second part of this special episode, Mr Jim Moon continues to recount the tale of a most curious village...

Oct 23, 2018

As part of our 400th episode celebrations, here is the first part of a very curious tale from the dusty gallery of Hauntography, hidden deep with the Great Library of Dreams...

Oct 20, 2018

Bring out your dead! Join Teresa and Jim for the first episode of a brand-new cast Commentary Club. In this show we chatter through the classic comedy Monty Python and the Holy Grail! To subscribe to Commentary Club, which has its own feed etc, go here - Commentary Club Home Page The Commentary Club Just Giving Page

Oct 16, 2018

Welcome to the Commentary Club! In this infocast, we'll tell you all about this new show!

Oct 15, 2018

This week you join us for a very special episode - the 400th podcast to come from the Great Library of Dreams! Mr Jim talks about the origins and history of the show and has a very special announcement to make!

Oct 7, 2018

In this epic length episode, Mr Jim Moon delves into the mysterious history of Innsmouth. We uncover what inspired this tale, the origins of the Deep Ones, its links to other tales of the Cthulhu Mythos, and about the life and times of HP Lovecraft himself.

Sep 30, 2018

Our hero's adventures in Innsmouth might be in the past... But thanks to the endless tides on the sea's dead floor, the past never stays buried for long...

Sep 23, 2018

Our hero wishes to leave the benighted town and return to the sanity of Arkham... But other forces in the town have other plans for him...

Sep 16, 2018

In this chapter our hero hears strange and troubling tales of Innsmouth's shadowed history...

Sep 9, 2018

In the second chapter, our hero reaches the legend-haunted seaport of Innsmouth...

Sep 2, 2018

We are about to embark on the most ambitious reading Mr Jim Moon has so far attempted - the classic novella The Shadow Over Innsmouth by HP Lovecraft. In this episode we introduce the tale which will follow in five chapters over the next month!

Sep 2, 2018

The first chapter of HP Lovecraft's classic novella

Aug 26, 2018

This episode we continue our investigation of Victorian London's most notorious haunted house and finally uncover the truth about the Nameless Horror of Berkeley Square!

Aug 19, 2018

In this episode, Mr Jim Moon begins an in-depth investigation into one of the most notorious hauntings of Victorian London - the strange case of the Nameless Horror of Berkeley Square. In this first part, we will hear the macabre tales told about this most horrific and violent haunting and try and trace the stories to their original sources.

Aug 12, 2018

In this episode Mr Jim Moon takes a look at a new movie just out on Netflix - Calibre, a suspenseful tale set in the highlands of Scotland.

Aug 5, 2018

In this mini-episode Mr Jim Moon takes a look at a horror comedy what he found on Netflix - Scouts Guide to the Zombie Apocalypse (2015). Can this zom com live up to classic like Shaun of the Dead and Zombieland ? Get your neckerchief and woggle and come to camp to find out!

Jul 27, 2018

On the 27th of July 1927, MR James read one of his last tales, Wailing Well , at a camp in Dorset held by the Eton Boy Scouts. And so, 91 years to the day, Mr Jim Moon invites you to take a place round the campfire and hear this classic chiller!

Jul 22, 2018

In the second part of our voyage through the books of British horror star Adam Nevill, we take another look at The Ritual (2011), explore the cult crimes in Last Days (2012) and discover what lurks in The House of Small Shadows (2013).

Jul 19, 2018

In the first of a new mini-series, we explore the novels of Britain's new master of horror, Adam Nevill. In this episode, we take a look at his debut book Banquet for the Damned (2004) and his second novel Apartment 16 (2010). Both reviews are spoiler-free.

Jul 8, 2018

In this episode, we meet one of the very first occult detectives - Mr Flaxman Low, whose exploits were chronicled by E & H Heron at the close of the 19th century. In this first case, we encounter a chilling tale of a most unusual haunted house in the heart of London...

Jul 1, 2018

This week Mr Jim Moon explores the world of English Eerie, a new indie role playing game for one player from Trollish Delver Games. In this game, with a pen, a journal, and a deck of cards, you too can be part of an od school ghost story or trapped in a world of folk horror!

Jun 29, 2018

In this little mini episode, Mr Jim Moon looks at the Mexican movie The Similars (2016) now available on Netflix

Jun 24, 2018

We round off our current series on aquatic horrors with a tale of terror by the great HP Lovecraft.

Jun 17, 2018

In this episode Mr Jim Moon brings this series of podcasts on gill-men and aquatic horrors full circle with a look at some curious cases from the annals of cryptozoology which seems to have echoes of the Black Lagoon...

Jun 10, 2018

We continue our exploration of the Gill-man's kith and kin, this time rounding up assorted Black Lagoon knock-offs! We take a look at The She Creature (1956), Creature From The Haunted Sea (1961), Horror of Party Beach (1964), Beach Girls and the Monster (1965) and The City Under The Sea AKA War-gods of the Deep (1965).

Jun 3, 2018

Beginning a new mini-series, Mr Jim Moon returns to the world of aquatic horrors to discover assorted ameos and homages to the Gill-man, not to mention a few outright rip-offs too! We have a look at Return of the Creature (1955), Castle of the Monsters (1958), Monster Of Piedras Blancas (1959) , Mad Monster Party (1967), Chabelo and Pepito vs. The Monsters (1973), The Monster Squad (1987), plus some small screen appearances in McHale's Navy and Night Gallery .