Category Archives: Dark Discussions – Film Talk

DARK DISCUSSIONS turns 10! We visit ALIENS …

Dark Discussions -- Aliens Mast_Episode479

Dark Discussions, the horror film discussions podcast, turned ten years old last month!

For our big episodes, we usually talk about a “tent pole” film, asking our listeners to vote for a title they’d like us to cover—this time around, it was 1986’s Aliens.

I came to the Alien franchise later in life, as I wasn’t allowed to watch scary movies when I was a kid (even though I did sneak in a few here and there at my grandmother’s house, because no one was paying attention). While I enjoyed Alien—which I saw in my twenties—I really liked this sequel better. Wonderful allusions, a solid story, a slight shade of a burgeoning romance, an oppressive atmosphere, a James Horner score, a really young Bill Paxton and a gorgeous rendering of an abandoned station—this one rung all my bells.

To listen to our discussion, visit here: https://www.darkdiscussions.com/podcasts/dark-discussions-podcast/dark-discussions-podcast-episode-479-10th-year-anniversary-aliens-1986/

Fan of alien films? Also on that page is a listing of all of the other Alien and extraterrestrial films we’ve covered thus far.

 

HORROR & HIGH HEELS interview on tap!

Horror & High Heels Interview Series 2021

The Dark Discussions podcast network did an interview with me about my work and my horror faves here in their Horror & High Heels interview series!

You can read the interview here: https://www.darkdiscussions.com/articles/horror-high-heels-interview-with-kristi-petersen-schoonover/

Want to read the rest of the articles in the series? You can do that here!

Elizabeth Black, horror writer

https://www.darkdiscussions.com/articles/horror-high-heels-interview-with-elizabeth-black/

Mariam Michael Draeger, Hostess of The Grimm Exchange

https://www.darkdiscussions.com/articles/horror-high-heels-interview-with-mariam-michael-draeger/

Holly Amber Church, Film Composer

https://www.darkdiscussions.com/articles/horror-high-heels-interview-with-holly-amber-church/

Nora B. Peevy, artist, photographer, writer

https://www.darkdiscussions.com/articles/horror-high-heels-interview-with-nora-b-peevy/

 

It’s been a banner week!

A well-deserved glass of wine

There are weeks when, as a writer, I don’t feel so accomplished. This morning, I had one of those moments … and then I did a tally of what I got done this week:

 

Gave feedback on a friend’s synopsis

Gave feedback on another friend’s short story

Gave feedback on Chapter 1 of yet another friend’s novel

Designed and mailed out the 34 Orchard Issue 3 announcement postcards

Created the back cover copy for Tidings (my husband did most of that—he used to market books, so …)

Watched Aliens and recorded the 10th anniversary episode of Dark Discussions (I can’t believe it’s been a decade!)

Completed edits on several of the stories for 34 Orchard

Finished several sets of tiny newspapers for my annual holiday chapbook mailing … I have to make 320 sets; I have only 114 to go!

 

I guess I really did deserve that bottle of wine and a nice early bed time last night!

Back to work!

DARK DISCUSSIONS doubles down on Shudder’s exclusive THE RANGER

Dark Discussions shares its thoughts on what it thought of Shudder’s exclusive The Ranger—and then got a chance to interview Jeremy Holm (The Ranger) himself! You can listen to both episodes on Stitcher and ITunes, and at the following links:

The Ranger: Review http://www.darkdiscussions.com/Pages/podcast_389.html

The Ranger: Interview with Jeremy Holm http://www.darkdiscussions.com/Pages/podcast_390.html

 

DARK DISCUSSIONS enjoys ONCE UPON A TIME … at the annual Mystic Meetup!

Dark Discussions’ fourth annual Meetup in Mystic, Connecticut was a huge success! The DD crew and our friends from The Dorkening enjoyed a couple of meals and a flick, in this case, Once Upon a Time … in Hollywood.

DD and The Dorkening in our t-shirts

The DARK DISCUSSIONS and DORKENING crews sport our meetup T-shirts–courtesy of DD’s Mike–pre-movie at the Waterford Regal 9. In case you’re wondering, we’re standing in front of the POP for 47 METERS DOWN: UNCAGED.

Want to know what we thought about Tarantino’s latest Read the rest of this entry

Peele’s film US gets released today!

A family is terrorized by strange beings in Jordan Peele's latest film, US.

A family is terrorized by strange beings in Jordan Peele’s latest film, US.

Jordan Peele’s latest psychological thriller, Us—about a family terrorized by strange beings—gets released today on Blu-Ray, DVD, and 4K. It is also available to rent on VOD. You can pick up the hard copy here on Amazon here, or rent the VOD on Amazon here.

Dark Discussions US collage

Hear what we have to say about Jordan Peele’s film US on DARK DISCUSSIONS. Photo collage by Philip Perron.

Dark Discussions covered and reviewed this film shortly after it came out. After you see the film (if spoilers bother you, then definitely wait until you’ve seen it before listening to the episode), you can hear what we said about it on Stitcher, Itunes, and here: http://www.darkdiscussions.com/Pages/podcast_378.html

Personally, I loved Get Out, but I thought Us was even better. I’m hoping to see more films from Peele. I love his sensibility and layering, and I have to be honest—Us had moments that scared the crap out of me. If you’re looking for a disturbing thriller with depth, this should fill the bill. Enjoy!

Join the DARK DISCUSSIONS crew in Mystic, CT, July 26 – 28!

DD at Regal Cinemas Waterford 9

The crew and fans of the DARK DISCUSSIONS podcast get ready to see THE MEG at the Regal Cinemas Waterford 9 in Waterford, CT at our annual meet-up in August of 2018. From left: co-host Abe, listener Kevin, listener Leo Pond (also host of THE DORKENING podcast), co-host Eric, co-host Phil, me, listener Pam and co-host Mike.

Wanna watch a movie and attend a taping of Dark Discussions? Now’s your chance! Read the rest of this entry

DARK DISCUSSIONS: 2019 films so far…

I’ve been a bit remiss in keeping up with what we’ve covered on the Dark Discussions podcast, so here are the 2019 movies we’ve talked about so far and where you can listen.

Escape Room

This movie takes a look at the recently popular escape room trend and turns a few things Read the rest of this entry

DARK DISCUSSIONS gets UNFRIENDED

Dark Web Onesheet

Unfriended: Dark Web is now available on VOD and disc, and Dark Discussions goes deep into it as well as its predecessor, Unfriended, in episode 347. You can listen in on Stitcher, Itunes, and here: http://www.darkdiscussions.com/Pages/podcast_347.html

The Unfriended franchise is unique in that, while considered found footage, the story Read the rest of this entry

DARK DISCUSSIONS enters the DEVIL’S GATE

Devil's Gate Movie Poster

The Dark Discussions crew enters the Newport Beach Film Festival official selection Devil’s Gate. This interesting piece starts off as one thing and seamlessly evolves into something else. You can watch the trailer for the movie here: https://youtu.be/4Hqs6XzYqog and you can listen to DD episode on Stitcher, Itunes, and here: http://www.darkdiscussions.com/Pages/podcast_345.html.

Dark Discussions Devil's Gate Masthead

The banner for DARK DISCUSSIONS episode 345: DEVIL’S GATE. Collage by Philip Perron.

%d bloggers like this: