Forgotten Cinema

For our special Halloween episode of Forgotten Horror 8, the Mikes head behind the mask with "Behind the Mask: The Rise of Leslie Vernon."
Both Butler and Field like the film, but they also come away with plenty to argue about, including one major disagreement over what kind of movie it should have been.
Field thinks "Behind the Mask" should lean even harder into its comedy and fully embrace the absurdity of following an aspiring slasher villain as he explains the tricks of his trade. Butler goes in the opposite direction. He would rather see the movie become darker, more serious, and eventually much more frightening once the joke starts becoming real.
Where both Mikes completely agree is with Taylor, the documentary crew's producer and eventual final girl. The movie wants us to accept her as the moral counterpoint to Leslie, but after spending so much time watching, documenting, and at times practically celebrating his preparations for murder, has she really earned that role? Simply deciding that things have gone too far once the bodies start dropping does not erase her participation in everything that came before.
There is still plenty to enjoy in "Behind the Mask", particularly its clever deconstruction of slasher movie rules and the idea of treating an iconic horror killer like a working professional preparing for his next big night.
But for a movie built around understanding exactly what makes slashers work, Butler and Field are left wondering whether "Behind the Mask" ever completely decides what kind of slasher movie it wants to be.
Happy Halloween from Forgotten Cinema, and remember to keep it spooky y'all!
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0:00 - Intro
3:35 - Facts
11:21- Discussion
31:27 - Reviews
35:37 - Recommend
40:18 - Why Forgotten
43:04 - Plugs
#ForgottenCinema #ForgottenHorror #BehindtheMask #LeslieVernon #BehindTheMaskTheRiseOfLeslieVernon #CultClassic #Slasher #00sHorror #Horror #HorrorFilms #Halloween #HorrorComedy #Comedy #FoundFootage #MoviePodcast #FilmDiscussion #UnderratedMovies

Forgotten Horror 8 continues with the cult horror classic "Re-Animator", a movie Butler enjoys more than Field, even if both Mikes have some issues with it.
One of the biggest points of discussion is the film’s reputation as a horror comedy. Field struggles with that label because, for him, most of the overt comedy does not really arrive until the final stretch. Butler sees more dark humor throughout, especially in the ridiculous situations, exaggerated gore, and deliberately schlocky nature of the horror.
Both Mikes also compare "Re-Animator" to films like "The Evil Dead" and "Braindead/Dead Alive", movies they personally prefer that operate in a similar splattery, over-the-top space. But as the conversation goes on, they realize just how early "Re-Animator" arrived and how much credit it deserves for helping shape the kind of horror comedy that followed. Its influence becomes especially noticeable when looking at the escalating insanity of "Dead Alive" years later.
One thing both Butler and Field agree on completely is Jeffrey Combs. His performance as Herbert West is the heart of the movie, and another reminder of just how good Combs is as a character actor. Herbert is also an interestingly morally gray protagonist, which makes him far more compelling than a simple mad scientist.
The Mikes are less convinced by Dan Cain, who often feels like he does not have enough to do. Both wonder whether Herbert and Dan could have been combined into one stronger central character, or whether Dan simply needed more material to justify his role in the story.
And yes, Butler spends part of the episode accidentally calling Herbert West "Harold," because apparently even reanimating the dead is easier than remembering character names.
Messy, influential, funny in ways that may depend heavily on the viewer, and anchored by a fantastic Jeffrey Combs performance, "Re-Animator" remains a cult classic for a reason, even if the Mikes do not quite worship at its altar.
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🎧 Available on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and wherever you listen to podcasts.
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Check out our website: https://www.forgottencinemapodcast.com
0:00 - Introduction
3:26 - Film Facts
8:44 - Film Discussion
25:52 - Reviews
34:23 - Who Would You Recommend This To?
38:58 - Why Is This Forgotten?
42:36 - Plugs
#ForgottenCinema #ForgottenHorror #ReAnimator #JeffreyCombs #CultClassic #Zombies #80sHorror #Horror #HorrorFilms #Halloween #HorrorComedy #Comedy #80sMovies #MoviePodcast #FilmDiscussion #UnderratedMovies

Forgotten Horror 8 continues with "The Final Girls", a horror comedy Mike Field recommended to Mike Butler last year and one that finally made its way onto this season’s lineup.
Both Mikes really respond to the emotional core of the film, particularly its themes of grief, mother-daughter relationships, and learning how to accept loss and move forward. Taissa Farmiga and Malin Akerman give the movie a surprising amount of heart, especially during their final scene together.
The rest of the cast fits neatly into the film’s strange world. Max’s real-life friends are given enough personality before entering the horror movie to make them feel like actual characters, while the fictional 80s camp counselors are exactly the kind of broad archetypes the story needs. Tina (played by Angela Trimbur), in particular, delivers some of the funniest moments in the entire movie.
Butler does have a few issues. The limited budget occasionally shows through in the lighting, and for a horror comedy, he would have liked the movie to lean a little harder into the actual horror. Still, both Mikes love the use of color, the stylized digital skies, especially during the final confrontation, and the synth-heavy score that helps sell the film’s throwback slasher atmosphere.
Funny, heartfelt, colorful, and surprisingly emotional, "The Final Girls" is much more than just a parody of 80s horror movies. For both Butler and Field, it is absolutely worth checking out this spooky season.
🔔 Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and hit the bell for more Forgotten Cinema content!
🎧 Available on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and wherever you listen to podcasts.
✨ Support us on Patreon for exclusive content: www.patreon.com/forgottencinema
🛍️ Grab some Forgotten Cinema merch: www.etsy.com/shop/ForgottenCinemaShop
Check out our website: https://www.forgottencinemapodcast.com
0:00 - Introduction
4:13 - Film Facts
10:50 - Film Discussion
27:29 - Reviews
32:16 - Who Would You Recommend This To?
37:07 - Why Is This Forgotten?
39:53 - Plugs
#ForgottenCinema #ForgottenHorror #TheFinalGirls #FinalGirls #TaissaFarmiga #MalinAkerman #Horror #HorrorFilms #Halloween #HorrorComedy #Comedy #80sMovies #MoviePodcast #FilmDiscussion #UnderratedMovies

Forgotten Horror 8 slithers into its second episode with "The Lair of the White Worm", starring a very young Hugh Grant and Peter Capaldi.
Neither Mike Butler nor Mike Field had seen the film before, and after watching the trailer, both expected something closer to a full-blown horror comedy. While the movie certainly contains elements of both horror and comedy, neither side comes through consistently enough to match what they were anticipating.
A lot of the discussion ends up centered on director Ken Russell. Neither Mike is particularly familiar with his other work, and much of what they found while researching the film leaves Field wondering if they simply are not on the movie's wavelength because they lack that broader context. Butler pushes back on that idea, arguing that a film still needs to stand on its own regardless of how familiar the audience is with the filmmaker behind it.
That doesn't mean there's nothing to enjoy. "The Lair of the White Worm" has some memorable ideas, strange imagery, and a particularly interesting spin on vampire mythology that gives the movie an identity all its own.
And because this is Forgotten Horror 8, the episode would not be complete without another entry in the Killer Drinks series. This week, Field gets to try Butler's specially created "Bloody White Worm" cocktail while the Mikes attempt to make sense of one very strange horror movie.
We may not completely understand "The Lair of the White Worm", but there is certainly plenty to sink our teeth into.
🔔 Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and hit the bell for more Forgotten Cinema content!
🎧 Available on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and wherever you listen to podcasts.
✨ Support us on Patreon for exclusive content: www.patreon.com/forgottencinema
🛍️ Grab some Forgotten Cinema merch: www.etsy.com/shop/ForgottenCinemaShop
Check out our website: https://www.forgottencinemapodcast.com
0:00 - Introduction
6:31 - Film Facts
14:49 - Film Discussion
31:13 - Reviews
39:06 - Who Would You Recommend This To?
42:04 - Why Is This Forgotten?
44:07 - Plugs
#ForgottenCinema #ForgottenHorror #TheLairOfTheWhiteWorm #LairOfTheWhiteWorm #PeterCapaldi #HughGrant #KenRussell #Horror #HorrorFilms #Halloween #80sMovies #MoviePodcast #FilmDiscussion #Vampire #UnderratedMovies

Forgotten Horror 8 kicks off with "Videodrome", David Cronenberg’s surreal blend of horror, science fiction, and media paranoia.
Both Mike Butler and Mike Field enjoy the film, especially its unforgettable imagery and the ideas running underneath it. The practical effects and body horror are a huge part of why "Videodrome" has endured as a favorite among cinephiles, but its themes may be even more striking today. Viewed through a 2026 lens, the film’s obsession with television, media consumption, manipulation, and the increasingly blurred line between reality and what we see on a screen feels remarkably prescient.
Where both Mikes struggle is the third act. The movie spends most of its runtime following a strange but recognizable narrative, then suddenly begins abandoning the rules and explanations it had established. Earlier moments of madness still feel connected to the plot. By the end, things simply start happening, leaving the finale feeling rushed and unsatisfying.
James Woods’ Max Renn suffers the most from that shift. Rather than completing a meaningful character arc, he essentially reaches the end of his life without reaching a satisfying conclusion as a character. Both Butler and Field would have preferred to see him ultimately emerge as the hero, or perhaps even more interestingly, fully transform into the villain the story had been building toward.
Even with those frustrations, "Videodrome" remains a fascinating piece of filmmaking and a movie that feels increasingly relevant as technology and media continue changing the way people experience the world.
The Mikes even wonder whether there is room for a modern spiritual sequel, one that tells its own story about today’s media landscape while leaving just enough of a connection to Videodrome for longtime fans.
All this while enjoying a themed beverage as part of their "Killer Drinks" companion series.
Long live the new flesh, and welcome to Forgotten Horror 8.
🔔 Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and hit the bell for more Forgotten Cinema content!
🎧 Available on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and wherever you listen to podcasts.
✨ Support us on Patreon for exclusive content: www.patreon.com/forgottencinema
🛍️ Grab some Forgotten Cinema merch: www.etsy.com/shop/ForgottenCinemaShop
Check out our website: https://www.forgottencinemapodcast.com
0:00 - Introduction
3:12 - Videodrome Drink
6:10 - Film Facts
13:17 - Film Discussion
31:47 - Reviews
36:25 - Who Would You Recommend This To?
40:16 - Why Is This Forgotten?
43:04 - Plugs
#ForgottenCinema #ForgottenHorror #Videodrome #DavidCronenberg #JamesWoods #Horror #HorrorFilms #Halloween #80sMovies #MoviePodcast #FilmDiscussion #UnderratedMovies