10.14.2025 '90s HORROR VOL. 2!!! With DAVID WEINER!
MONSTER PARTY REVISITS THE ERA OF ROLLERBLADING, BEANIE BABIES, THE MACARENA… AND TERROR!!!!
JAMES GONIS, SHAWN SHERIDAN, LARRY STROTHE, and MATT WEINHOLD honor the last part of a decade that brought us so many seminal films. If you thought our previous ’90s HORROR episode was “da bomb,” you’re guaranteed to go nuclear when you hear… ’90s HORROR VOL. 2!!!
The 1990s were an exciting and innovative time for horror films, with the latter half of the decade boasting some downright game-changers. With THE BLAIR WITCH PROJECT, we saw the explosion of the found footage genre that is still popular to this day, and the Japanese showed us the dangers of sitting too close to the TV with RINGU! If that didn’t change your horror movie game enough, David Fincher gave us the ultimate worst-case mystery box scenario in SEVEN, Wes Craven made horror meta with SCREAM, and M. Night Shyamalan peaked early with THE SIXTH SENSE.
But we’re not even close to this episode’s EVENT HORIZON! We’ll also look at a creepy ice cream vendor (aren’t they all?), a castle freak, some self-improvement cannibals, a Rubik's Cube of death, an evil genie, Chucky’s better half, a Hardrock Cafe for vampires, and so much more! Too bad all of it was lost in the devastation caused by Y2K.
Joining us for this second dose of ’90s chills is an award-winning friend of the show, and really, the only guest for this subject. He was the editor in chief of the legendary FAMOUS MONSTERS OF FILMLAND magazine, the genius behind the blog, IT CAME FROM..., the writer/director/producer of the IN SEARCH OF DARKNESS longform documentary series, as well as the '80s sci-fi documentary IN SEARCH OF TOMORROW. His latest project is the shockingly episode appropriate mega doc, IN SEARCH OF DARKNESS: 1995-1999! Honestly, what were the odds?! Please welcome back the always scintillating… DAVID WEINER!!
'90 HORROR LIVES! AND IF YOU DON’T LIKE IT, TALK TO THE SEVERED HAND!
Guest(s): David Weiner
Follow David: IT CAME FROM... (@itcamefromblog) | DAVID WEINER | David “Darkness” Weiner (@davidweiner.bsky.social) | David Weiner 📼🔪🎃🛸 (@TikiAmbassador) on X | It Came From Blog
Key Topics Discussed:
The special guest is award-winning filmmaker David Weiner, who is on the show to discuss the second part of his documentary series on 90s horror, titled In Search of Darkness: 1995 to 1999.
Weiner's new documentary is a six-hour, long-form exploration of the second half of the decade, featuring interviews with filmmakers, writers, actors, and other experts who worked on influential horror films from that era.
The discussion highlights major trends that defined the late 90s, including the rise of meta, teen-centric slashers after the success of Scream , the found-footage boom sparked by The Blair Witch Project , and the introduction of J-horror to Western audiences.
The hosts and Weiner analyze a wide range of films, including sci-fi/horror hybrids like Cube and Event Horizon , psychological thrillers like The Sixth Sense , and cult favorites such as Castle Freak, Wishmaster, and Ravenous.
A central theme is the idea of re-evaluating 90s horror films; the hosts and Weiner discuss how their perspectives have changed since their youth, allowing them to appreciate movies they may have initially dismissed with a more mature outlook.
Timestamps:
00:02:17 - Introduction of special guest, filmmaker David Weiner
00:09:46 - Weiner discusses the creation and extensive six-hour runtime of his new documentary, In Search of Darkness: 1995 to 1999
00:14:03 - Discussion begins on the film Cube (1997), a movie Weiner wanted to champion
00:19:40 - The hosts and Weiner analyze the sci-fi/horror hybrid Event Horizon (1997)
00:29:04 - Weiner explains the process of selecting which films to feature in his documentaries
00:33:00 - Discussion on Stuart Gordon's underrated film Castle Freak (1995)
00:39:20 - The group discusses re-evaluating films from the 90s and how their perspectives have changed over time
00:50:36 - The conversation turns to the massive cultural impact of Scream (1996) and the trend of "Screamification" in horror
00:54:46 - The rise of the found footage genre is discussed, focusing on The Blair Witch Project (1999)
01:00:00 - The hosts talk about the late 90s J-horror boom, including films like Ring and Audition
01:05:07 - Analysis of David Fincher's dark thriller, Seven (1995)
01:10:00 - The conversation shifts to M. Night Shyamalan's breakout hit, The Sixth Sense (1999), and its masterful twist ending
01:19:30 - The pros and cons of Gus Van Sant's controversial shot-for-shot remake of Psycho (1998) are debated
01:21:40 - Discussion of popular horror franchises that continued into the 90s and the introduction of a new boogeyman in Wishmaster (1997)
01:46:02 - David Weiner explains where listeners can pre-order In Search of Darkness: 1995 to 1999 and its companion pieces
01:48:24 - Weiner announces his next project will be In Search of Darkness 70s
01:52:50 - The episode concludes with a listener shout-outs
Resources/Links Mentioned:
David’s Documentaries
In Search of Darkness Trilogy: A series of documentaries focusing on 1980s horror cinema.
In Search of Tomorrow: A documentary focused on 1980s science fiction films.
In Search of Darkness: 1990 to 94: The first part of the documentary series on 90s horror, which was the topic of the guest's previous appearance on the show.
In Search of Darkness: 1995 to 1999: The new, six-hour documentary by guest David Weiner, which is the central topic of the episode.
Films
Bram Stoker's Dracula (1992) & The Silence of the Lambs (1991): Mentioned as two of the most well-known horror films from the often-overlooked first half of the 90s.
Candyman (1992) & People Under the Stairs (1991): Cited as early 90s films that reflected the societal angst of the time.
From Dusk till Dawn (1996): Noted as a key film from the second half of the decade. It is later mentioned that Robert Kurtzman came up with the story and hired Quentin Tarantino to write the script.
End of Days (1999) & In the Mouth of Madness (1994): Used as examples of films that reflected the anxiety surrounding the approaching new millennium and Y2K.
Cube (1997): The first film discussed in depth. It is praised for its clever, high-concept "murder maze" plot that was made effectively on a very low budget. The film is described as a microcosm of the era's angst and anxiety.
Event Horizon (1997): Discussed as an underappreciated sci-fi horror hybrid about a spaceship that travels to a dimension that is literally hell. The hosts are divided on its quality, with some finding it silly and disjointed, while others praise its terrifying mood and Lovecraftian concept. Its post-production was reportedly rushed to fill a release slot when Titanic's production was delayed.
Sunshine (2007): Mentioned as another sci-fi film that veered into horror, which some of the hosts found disappointing.
Hellraiser: Bloodline (1996): Mentioned as having a famously troubled production.
Castle Freak (1995): Praised as an underrated and dark Stuart Gordon film starring Jeffrey Combs and Barbara Crampton. Based loosely on H.P. Lovecraft's story "The Outsider," the plot involves a family inheriting an Italian castle with a monstrous secret locked away inside.
The Frighteners (1996): A Peter Jackson film that blended comedy, fantasy, and genuine horror. While not a success upon release, the hosts feel it is more appreciated now.
Scream (1996): Discussed as a massively influential film that revived the horror genre in Hollywood by making it "hip again". It kicked off a trend of meta, self-aware slasher films featuring young, attractive TV stars of the era.
The Craft (1996), I Know What You Did Last Summer (1997), Urban Legend (1998), Disturbing Behavior (1998) and The Faculty (1998): All mentioned as popular teen horror films that followed the successful formula established by Scream.
Halloween H20: 20 Years Later (1998): Described as the "Screamification of Halloween," as it adopted the same teen-centric, meta-style as Scream.
The Rage: Carrie 2 (1999): The studio initially shut down production on this film, believing that "horror is dead," only to restart it after the massive success of Scream.
The Blair Witch Project (1999): The film that put the "found footage" genre on the map. Its viral marketing campaign, which presented the film as real footage from a true story, was highlighted as a unique and effective strategy that could not be replicated today.
The Ring (1998) and Audition (1999): Discussed as the films that kicked off the J-horror boom in the West. Ring is praised for its unsettling blend of a traditional Japanese ghost story with modern technology , while Audition is noted for its shocking, slow-burn psychological horror.
Seven (1995): Described as a disturbing and hardcore thriller from a major studio with big stars. It was praised for its challenging ending and was highly influential on the visual style of other thrillers for years afterward.
Mimic (1997): Mentioned as a creature feature whose CGI effects hold up well. The film is also known for being a miserable production experience for director Guillermo del Toro due to interference from producers Bob and Harvey Weinstein.
The Sixth Sense (1999): A major topic of discussion, praised for its masterful and shocking twist ending. The hosts note it was a "water cooler" film that crossed over to mainstream audiences and debated the subsequent career of director M. Night Shyamalan.
The Crying Game: This film is used as an example of a movie with a famous twist ending that audiences were careful not to spoil, much like The Sixth Sense.
Stir of Echoes (1999): Noted for having a very similar plot to The Sixth Sense and being released just weeks before it.
Signs (2002): One host passionately declared it "hands down. One of the worst movies ever made" , while another came to its defense, saying, "I didn't mind signs". The defense of the film's "great emotional moments" was quickly countered with the criticism that it was too "melodramatic" and "pretentious".
The Island of Dr. Moreau (1996): The famously disastrous production of this remake is discussed, with one host admitting he enjoyed the film's "lunacy" at the time.
Psycho (1998): Gus Van Sant's controversial shot-for-shot remake is debated, with the hosts questioning the point of remaking a classic exactly as it was, but in color.
Wishmaster (1997): Highlighted as a fun horror film that introduced a great new boogeyman, the Djinn. It's called a "special effects tour de force," directed by effects legend Robert Kurtzman.
Bride of Chucky (1998): Credited as the film where the Chucky franchise "found its stride" by adopting the meta, self-reflexive humor popularized by Scream.
Ravenous (1999): Praised as a unique and well-acted "oddball" film that blends the Western and horror genres. The story involves cannibalism as a statement on manifest destiny.
Strangeland (1998): Mentioned by Weiner, who says writer and star Dee Snider was a "great interview" for the documentary.
The Relic (1997): Noted as a film directed by Peter Hyams, whom Weiner interviewed.
John Carpenter's Vampires (1998): Described as another "fun one" from director John Carpenter during the decade.
House on Haunted Hill (1999): Weiner mentions he interviewed the director of this remake, William Malone.
Lord of Illusions (1995): A Clive Barker film described as having interesting concepts but hampered by some "iffy CGI".
Tales from the Hood (1995): Weiner praised his interviews with director Rusty Cundieff and actor Corbin Bernsen about the film
Aliens Expanded: Weiner mentions this is another documentary from his production team at CreatorVC.
The Thing Expanded: Weiner reveals he is serving as the executive producer on this upcoming documentary from the same team.
Television
Bad Ronald: Referenced by a host as their favorite TV movie, cited as an example of a story about a character trapped in a room, which relates to the discussion of the film Castle Freak.
Dawson's Creek: The cast of this show is mentioned as being featured in Halloween H20, which is described as the "Screamification of Halloween". Star Katie Holmes is also mentioned in connection with the film Disturbing Behavior.
90210, Friends, and Melrose Place: These three shows are listed together as examples of popular 90s TV series whose casts were often used in the wave of teen-centric horror movies that followed Scream.
Star Trek: Mentioned in reference to actor Clint Howard, who was a guest on Monster Party and had a role in the classic show.
The Shining (miniseries): Discussed as director Mick Garris's project to create Stephen King's authentic vision for his novel, as King famously disliked Stanley Kubrick's film adaptation.
The Stand: Mentioned as a highly successful Stephen King miniseries directed by Mick Garris. Its success on television gave King the opportunity to make his own version of The Shining
Books & Other Media
Famous Monsters of Filmland magazine: Guest David Weiner is introduced as the former executive editor of the magazine.
Letterboxd: Weiner notes that he reads reviews on this film-logging social media platform to see what audiences think and to gauge their interest in his long-form documentaries.
Christine (novel): During a brief tangent on Stephen King adaptations, a host states that the movie version of Christine could not measure up to the book.
Silver Surfer (comic books): The character is mentioned as part of a pop culture reference Quentin Tarantino added to the script of the film Crimson Tide, an example of the meta-awareness prevalent in 90s filmmaking.
Bleeding Skull (book): Weiner mentions interviewing co-author Annie Choi for his documentary, where she champions obscure, straight-to-video horror films.
I am not Spock and I am Spock (books): The titles of Leonard Nimoy's memoirs are referenced as an example of an actor who initially tried to distance himself from his most famous role but eventually grew to embrace it.
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