02.09.2025 THE TWISTED JOURNEY OF INCUBUS!!! With DAVID J. SCHOW!
MONSTER PARTY TAKES AN ESPERAN-TOUR INTO CINEMATIC OBSCURITY!
JAMES GONIS, SHAWN SHERIDAN, LARRY STROTHE, and MATT WEINHOLD explore the difficult history of a little-known genre film gem. Join us as we embark on... THE TWISTED JOURNEY OF INCUBUS!!!
In 1966, members of the creative team behind the groundbreaking science fiction series, THE OUTER LIMITS, gave us an atmospheric horror film whose legacy is so troubled, it was considered by many to be cursed. Written and directed by OUTER LIMITS creator LESLIE STEVENS, shot by ACADEMY AWARD-WINNING cinematographer CONRAD HALL, and starring a pre-STAR TREK WILLIAM SHATNER, INCUBUS also has the distinction of being the first horror film in the language of Esperanto!
For those unaware, Esperanto is an artificial language created by L.L. Zamenhof in 1887. But what would possess someone to make a horror film in this relatively unknown tongue? And would this decision jump-start the film's infamous "curse?"
Get ready for a fascinating tale that must be heard to be believed. It features murder, suicide, kidnapping, adultery, unnecessary nudity, negligent film preservation, angry Esperantists, even angrier Frenchmen, and an arguably high-riding but amazing toupee.
It is also an inspiring tale of the talent, ingenuity, and dedication it took to bring this remarkable work to the screen and the effort that went into the film's re-discovery and preservation.
Joining us for this exciting examination of INCUBUS is a man who literally wrote the book on it. He's an award-winning author, screenwriter, and archivist who brought us the MONSTER PARTY "must have" books, THE OUTER LIMITS COMPANION and THE OUTER LIMITS AT 50. He's provided audio commentary for many TV shows and films, (including two for INCUBUS), and most recently penned the definitive history of our featured topic, INCUBUS: INSIDE LESLIE STEVENS' LOST HORROR CLASSIC! Please welcome back, our dear friend... DAVID J. SCHOW! (THE CROW, LEATHERFACE: TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE III, CRITTERS 3-4, CREEPSHOW, JOHN CARPENTER’S TALES FOR A HALLOWEEN NIGHT)
IF YOU WANT TO BEAT THE INCUBUS CURSE, PICK UP DAVID'S BOOK ON AMAZON https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DS1BCZTL?tag=slcinema-20 OR AT CIMARRONSTREETBOOKS.COM INCUBUS: Inside Leslie Stevens' Lost Horror Classic. OF COURSE, YOU'LL ALSO NEED THE NEW INCUBUS LIMITED 4K BLU-RAY RELEASE BY ARROW VIDEO. YEP, THAT SHOULD DO IT!
Guest(s)
David J. Schow:
Follow David: David J Schow (@actualdavidjschow) | David J. Schow (@DavidJSchow) on X
Key Topics Discussed
The career and eccentric personality of the film's director, Leslie Stevens, who was also the creator of The Outer Limits.
The unusual decision to film the movie entirely in the Esperanto language, even though the actors didn't speak it.
The infamous "curse" associated with the film, which involved a string of real-life tragedies and mysterious deaths connected to the cast and crew.
The film's journey as a "lost" piece of media, including how all the original film elements disappeared and how a single, damaged print was eventually discovered in France.
The high artistic quality of the low-budget production, particularly the "gorgeous" cinematography by Conrad Hall and the repurposed musical score by Dominic Frontieri.
Timestamps
00:01:23 The hosts (Matt, Shawn, Larry, James) introduce themselves
00:01:56 The episode topic is introduced: "The Twisted Journey of Incubus"
00:02:53 Shawn introduces the guest, author and horror historian David J. Schow
00:04:11 The main discussion begins with the question: "Who is Leslie Stevens? And what is Incubus?"
00:04:48 David J. Schow discusses Leslie Stevens's background as the creator of The Outer Limits
00:07:19 Discussion of the director's "obsession" with filming the movie in Esperanto
00:10:16 The story of the film's disastrous San Francisco premiere for Esperantists
00:14:33 The hosts and guest analyze the artistic effect of the Esperanto language on the film
00:27:08 The hosts ask David J. Schow to elaborate on the "supposed Incubus curse"
00:27:29 David details the string of tragedies, suicides, and murders connected to the cast, including the case of Milos Milos
00:32:18 The story of William Shatner claiming a "vagrant hippie" cursed the production
00:35:22 David reveals how Leslie Stevens used a "decoy script" to get permission to film at a religious mission
00:37:19 Discussion of William Shatner's toupee in the film
00:43:37 Discussion of the additional color nude scenes that were filmed and inserted into the movie later by a different director
00:48:12 How Incubus became a "lost movie" after its original film elements vanished from the lab
00:51:52 Host Matt Weinhold shares personal stories of having Leslie Stevens as an instructor at AFI
00:54:01 David tells the story of how a single, damaged 16mm print was finally rediscovered at the Cinémathèque Française
01:00:24 The more recent discovery of a 35mm print in France, which led to the new Arrow Blu-ray release
01:09:45 David J. Schow provides information on where listeners can buy his book, Incubus: Inside Leslie Stevens' Lost Horror Classic
01:13:10 Matt recounts Leslie Stevens's intense dislike for Siskel and Ebert's "thumbs up/thumbs down" review system
01:24:18 Final toast to David J. Schow and Incubus
01:24:48 Listener Shout-Out
Resources/Links Mentioned
Films
Incubus: The 1966 Leslie Stevens film that is the main topic of the entire episode.
The Crow: Mentioned as a screenplay credit for the guest, David J. Schow. It is mentioned again later when discussing the auction of film props.
Texas Chainsaw Massacre 3: Mentioned as a screenplay credit for David J. Schow.
Critters 2 and Critters 3: Mentioned as screenplay credits for David J. Schow.
Ghost of Sierra de Cobra: A Joe Stefano film noted as having a similar "European horror film" style to Incubus, also shot by Conrad Hall.
Hero's Island: An obscure 1962 film directed by Leslie Stevens and starring James Mason.
Private Property: An earlier (1960) film by Leslie Stevens, noted for its European New Wave influence. It was later remade because Stevens had never copyrighted the original.
Horror Hotel (also known as City of the Dead): The look of Incubus is compared to this film.
Night of the Living Dead: A host mentions watching it for the first time on a "Creature Features" broadcast, comparing that experience to watching Incubus.
An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge: Used as an example of a standalone film that served as the final episode of The Twilight Zone, suggesting Incubus could be seen as the final episode of The Outer Limits.
The Road to San Tropez: A short film parody starring Udo Kier that was shown to the audience at the disastrous San Francisco premiere of Incubus to stall for time when the first print had no subtitles.
The Russians Are Coming, The Russians Are Coming: Mentioned as the only other film role for Incubus actor Milos Milos.
Star Trek IV: Referenced during the discussion of William Shatner's toupee, noting that his hair looked realistic even underwater in that film.
Priscilla, Queen of the Desert: A reference is made to the "Abba turd" from this film during the toupee discussion.
I, Claudius: Mentioned as a production where Patrick Stewart had hair.
Godfather II: Mona Skager, the woman who introduced Leslie Stevens to his producer, later worked as an associate producer on this film.
The Conversation: Also mentioned as a film Mona Skager worked on with Francis Ford Coppola.
Apocalypse Now: Also mentioned as a film Mona Skager worked on.
Jaws: The film's editor, Verna Fields, is noted as the person who cut together the version of Incubus that had new, color nude scenes inserted into it.
The Incredibly Strange Creatures Who Stopped Living and Became Mixed-Up Zombies: The film by Ray Dennis Steckler, who was one of the cinematographers hired to shoot the color nude inserts for Incubus.
Witchfinder General: Vincent Price's character from this film is jokingly invoked when discussing the Incubus curse and the lost film elements.
L.A. Confidential: A host tells a story about seeing a car with the vanity plate "Tomassi" right after watching this movie, which features the code name "Rollo Tomassi".
I Am Here Now: The title of a Neil Breen film, mentioned during the post-show banter.
Gladiator 2: Discussed in the post-show banter as one of "three of the longest, most excruciatingly boring films ever made".
I Am Legend: The vampires from this film are compared to a sequence in Gladiator 2.
Horizon: The Kevin Costner film, named as part of the "trifecta of awfulness" along with Gladiator 2.
Beneath the Planet of the Apes: Discussed as an example of a film that blew up its entire world, only to be forced to make a sequel.
Escape from Planet of the Apes: Mentioned as the sequel to Beneath that had to find a way to continue the story.
Conquest of the Planet of the Apes: Mentioned along with Escape as a sequel.
Apocalypto: Mel Gibson's film is cited as a modern example of a movie filmed entirely in a foreign language to immerse the audience, just as Incubus did.
Television
Masters of Horror: Mentioned as one of guest David J. Schow's TV series screenwriting credits.
Creepshow (TV series): Mentioned as another of David J. Schow's TV series screenwriting credits.
The Outer Limits: Mentioned frequently as the classic TV show created by Incubus director Leslie Stevens. Its music, crew, and cinematic style are all discussed in relation to Incubus.
Alexander the Great: A 1964 TV pilot starring William Shatner that was not picked up by ABC, which made Shatner available to star in Incubus.
The Twilight Zone: Incubus is compared to an episode of this show, "An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge," suggesting Incubus could be seen as a final, unofficial episode of The Outer Limits.
The Munsters: Mentioned as a show from the same era (mid-60s) that did not look as cinematic as The Outer Limits.
The Wild Wild West: Also mentioned as a mid-60s show that did not look as cinematic as The Outer Limits. One host notes he was a bigger fan of this show at the time.
Star Trek: William Shatner shot the pilot for this series ("Where No Man Has Gone Before") just one month after finishing Incubus. The pilot is also noted for looking like an Outer Limits episode and using an Outer Limits director.
It Takes a Thief: Mentioned as one of the shows Leslie Stevens worked on at Universal Studios a few years after making Incubus.
McCloud: Also mentioned as a show Leslie Stevens worked on at Universal.
The Odd Couple: A host compares a man he met with the vanity plate "Al Macho" to the character played by Alan Garfield in this show.
Siskel and Ebert (At the Movies): Host Matt Weinhold recalls that his AFI instructor, Leslie Stevens, "hated Siskel and Ebert" because he despised their "thumbs up or thumbs down" review system.
Battlestar Galactica: Mentioned as a show Leslie Stevens worked on with producer Glenn Larson, with David J. Schow noting that most of the pilot was likely Stevens's work.
Buck Rogers: Also mentioned as a show from the same era that Stevens may have been involved in with Glenn Larson.
Dark: Mentioned in the post-show banter as an example of a modern, convoluted show where it's hard to remember all the plot strands.
Yellowstone: Discussed during the post-show banter, with David J. Schow calling it "awful" and comparing it to Dynasty, while host Larry Strothe defends it.
Dynasty: Mentioned as a comparison point for Yellowstone, with the guest agreeing that Yellowstone is a "soap opera for men".
The Tonight Show: Host Larry Strothe explains his nickname "suck suck the Bangkok bat" comes from a Johnny Carson character, Art Fern, on this show.
Candle Cove: Mentioned by a host at the very end of the episode banter
Books & Other Media
John Carpenter's Tales for a Halloween Night: A graphic comic anthology series mentioned as one of guest David J. Schow's writing credits.
The Outer Limits Companion: A nonfiction book about The Outer Limits written by David J. Schow.
The Outer Limits at 50: Another nonfiction book about The Outer Limits written by David J. Schow.
Incubus, inside Leslie Stevens' lost horror classic: The new book written by David J. Schow, which is the central reason for his appearance and a major topic of discussion.
Ghost of Sierra de Cobra (Keno Lorber Blu-ray): A host mentions owning the Blu-ray release of this related film.
Est, the Steersman Handbook: A book Leslie Stevens wrote under the pseudonym L. Clark Stevens.
shatnerstoupee: A website David J. Schow cites as an "in-depth, topological analysis" of William Shatner's hairpieces.
Incubus (Arrow Films Blu-ray release): The most recent Blu-ray release of the film, which includes David J. Schow's new commentary track.
The Outer Limits at 60: A "little booklet" David J. Schow put together for the 60th anniversary of the show.
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