The oft-overlooked precursor to one of the great bad movies of all time, TROLL was a mid-grade hit for Empire that has cast a surprisingly long shadow. From introducing a few major careers to possibly inspiring one of the most beloved literary characters of all time, this modest GREMLINS knock-off has had more of a cultural footprint than you might expect. We're joined this week by author and artist Abby Denson (@abbydenson on Instagram) for this magical delight.  Hosted by Jarrod Hornbeck and Steve Guntli  Theme song by Kyle Hornbeck  Logo by Doug McCambridge  Email: puppetmasterscastlefreaks@gmail.com Instagram/Threads: @puppetmasters_castlefreaks  YouTube: @PuppetMastersCastleFreaks  Next week's episode: Vicious Lips

Over his career spanning nearly 50 years, Jeff Farley has designed makeup and special effects for hundreds of films. From major productions like THE BLOB (1989), ALIEN 3, and DEATH BECOMES HER to tiny Full Moon projects like BLOOD DOLLS, EVIL BONG 2, and GINGERDEAD MAN 3, Farley's done just about everything the effects world has to offer. We spoke with Jeff about his experience, the films that inspired him, and his time with Empire and Full Moon.

One of the briefest and strangest sublabels in Full Moon's history, Filmonsters was trying to capitalize on a very specific niche, namely the success of the GOOSEBUMPS TV series and it's subsequent VHS spin-offs. These two family-friendly riffs on classic Universal Monsters were intended to be part of a longer series, but petered out after only two simultaneously-released entries. Actor, writer, and artist John Gholson joins us to discuss this weird footnote and share his love of Frankenstein tales.  Hosted by Jarrod Hornbeck and Steve Guntli  Theme song by Kyle Hornbeck  Logo by Doug McCambridge  Email: puppetmasterscastlefreaks@gmail.com Instagram/Threads: @puppetmasters_castlefreaks  YouTube: @PuppetMastersCastleFreaks  Next week's episode: Troll

Before he became one of Hollywood's most in-demand blockbuster filmmakers, Renny Harlin was just a brash kid from Finland who proved his chops with a small American horror film called PRISON, starring some nobody named Viggo Mortensen! Returning guest Scott Weinberg joins us as we unearth this neglected gem of a horror flick, featuring an amazing bench of character actors and some memorably gruesome kills!  Hosted by Jarrod Hornbeck and Steve Guntli  Theme song by Kyle Hornbeck  Logo by Doug McCambridge  Email: puppetmasterscastlefreaks@gmail.com Instagram/Threads: @puppetmasters_castlefreaks  YouTube: @PuppetMastersCastleFreaks  Next week's episode: Filmonsters: Frankenstein Reborn and The Werewolf Reborn

After the collapse of Empire, Stuart Gordon's ROBOT JOX got a delayed release under a new distributor, and Charles Band was quick to respond with not one but two films that marketed themselves as direct follow-ups to Gordon's mech-battling adventure, even if that wasn't exactly true. 1990's CRASH & BURN is more of a locked-room murder mystery than a mech fighter, and 1993's ROBOT WARS, while definitely delivering on it's title, shares very little plot similarities with JOX, and even recycles some cast members in new roles. We're digging into both of these with returning guest John Torrani, the world's foremost expert on all things ROBOT JOX!  Hosted by Jarrod Hornbeck and Steve Guntli  Theme song by Kyle Hornbeck  Logo by Doug McCambridge  Email: puppetmasterscastlefreaks@gmail.com Instagram/Threads: @puppetmasters_castlefreaks  YouTube: @PuppetMastersCastleFreaks  Next week's episode: Prison

Some sororities raise money through car washes or bake sales, but the girls of Delta Delta Pi make their money with their meat pies... just don't question where the meat is coming from. We're talking about DELTA DELTA DIE, a highly campy 2003 horror comedy that features iconic B-movie scream queens Brinke Stevens and Julie Strain! We're joined by author and journalist Heather Wixson for this fun little slice of Z-grade cheese! Hosted by Jarrod Hornbeck and Steve Guntli  Theme song by Kyle Hornbeck  Logo by Doug McCambridge  Email: puppetmasterscastlefreaks@gmail.com Instagram/Threads: @puppetmasters_castlefreaks  YouTube: @PuppetMastersCastleFreaks  Next week's episode: Crash & Burn / Robot Wars

A horde of zombie wreaks havoc on a film set in 2000's THE DEAD HATE THE LIVING!, a witty throwback to classic horror that boasts some great monster designs and a deep genre knowledge! We're joined this week by none other than the film's director and writer, Dave Parker, who gives us a behind-the-scenes look at the making of the film and shares some great stories about working at Full Moon!  Hosted by Jarrod Hornbeck and Steve Guntli  Theme song by Kyle Hornbeck  Logo by Doug McCambridge  Email: puppetmasterscastlefreaks@gmail.com Instagram/Threads: @puppetmasters_castlefreaks  YouTube: @PuppetMastersCastleFreaks  Next week's episode: Delta Delta Die!

Filmmaker, producer, and all-around badass Heather Buckley joins us this week to talk about Stuart Gordon's DOLLS, the last of the films from our beloved Arrow Video Empire of Screams boxed set! This dark fairy tale is a slight change of pace for Gordon's hardcore repertoire, but it's still a movie with its charms and effectively creepy moments.  Hosted by Jarrod Hornbeck and Steve Guntli  Theme song by Kyle Hornbeck  Logo by Doug McCambridge  Email: puppetmasterscastlefreaks@gmail.com Instagram/Threads: @puppetmasters_castlefreaks  YouTube: @PuppetMastersCastleFreaks  Next week's episode: The Dead Hate the Living!

One of the only films on our list to get name-checked on the floor of the Senate, the goofy and utterly harmless sexploitation thriller SLAVE GIRLS FROM BEYOND INIFITY hides a good heart behind it's lurid title. We're so excited to be discussing this film with a true afficionado, filmmaker Ted Geoghegan, director of WE ARE STILL HERE, MOHAWK, and BROOKLYN 45!  Hosted by Jarrod Hornbeck and Steve Guntli  Theme song by Kyle Hornbeck  Logo by Doug McCambridge  Email: puppetmasterscastlefreaks@gmail.com Instagram/Threads: @puppetmasters_castlefreaks  YouTube: @PuppetMastersCastleFreaks  Next week's episode: Dolls

We've now covered 50 films in our ill-advised odyssey through the depths of Full Moon! We wanted to take the opportunity to look back at the film's we've covered so far, as well as clean up our long-neglected rankings list!  Hosted by Jarrod Hornbeck and Steve Guntli  Theme song by Kyle Hornbeck  Logo by Doug McCambridge  Email: puppetmasterscastlefreaks@gmail.com Instagram/Threads: @puppetmasters_castlefreaks  YouTube: @PuppetMastersCastleFreaks  Next week's episode: Slave Girls From Beyond Infinity

Howdy, pardners! We're heading to the old west for the supernatural oater GHOST TOWN! This hard-to-find late Empire film was reportedly released unfinished, but still earned a small cult following nonetheless. UK podcast great Brad Hanson (Ex-Rental, Evolution of Horror, Fresh Blood) joins us on our odyssey of ghost cowboys and dueling skeletons.  Hosted by Jarrod Hornbeck and Steve Guntli  Theme song by Kyle Hornbeck  Logo by Doug McCambridge  Email: puppetmasterscastlefreaks@gmail.com Instagram/Threads: @puppetmasters_castlefreaks  YouTube: @PuppetMastersCastleFreaks  Next week's episode: Slave Girls From Beyond Infinity

Run, run, run as fast as you can, it's time for the Gingerdead Man! One of Full Moon's signature tiny terrors makes his Puppet Masters / Castle Freaks debut with two wild movies that are almost as unhinged as star Gary Busey. The great Adam Torkel joins us to talk about the original THE GINGERDEAD MAN and its deeply surprising sequel, THE PASSION OF THE CRUST!  Hosted by Jarrod Hornbeck and Steve Guntli  Theme song by Kyle Hornbeck  Logo by Doug McCambridge  Email: puppetmasterscastlefreaks@gmail.com Instagram/Threads: @puppetmasters_castlefreaks  YouTube: @PuppetMastersCastleFreaks  Next week's episode: Ghost Town

We're back behind the beaded curtain for another pair of Torchlight classics, BEACH BABES FROM BEYOND and BEACH BABES 2: CAVE GIRL ISLAND. Erin Dawn of the Manic Movie Monday podcast moshes on the beach with us through these two scantily-clad romps.  Hosted by Jarrod Hornbeck and Steve Guntli  Theme song by Kyle Hornbeck  Logo by Doug McCambridge  Email: puppetmasterscastlefreaks@gmail.com Instagram/Threads: @puppetmasters_castlefreaks  YouTube: @PuppetMastersCastleFreaks  Next week's episode: The Gingerdead Man / The Gingerdead Man 2: The Passion of the Crust

INTRUDER can almost be considered the lost Sam Raimi film. Written and directed by EVIL DEAD II scribe Scott Spiegel and featuring appearances by Bruce Campbell and both Sam and Ted Raimi, this supermarket slasher has the same scrappy spirit and gruesome gore of Raimi's legendary works. We're digging into it with none other than Mike Muncer, host of the incredible Evolution of Horror podcast!  Hosted by Jarrod Hornbeck and Steve Guntli  Theme song by Kyle Hornbeck  Logo by Doug McCambridge  Email: puppetmasterscastlefreaks@gmail.com Instagram/Threads: @puppetmasters_castlefreaks  YouTube: @PuppetMastersCastleFreaks  Next week's episode: Beach Babes From Beyond / Beach Babes 2: Cave Girl Island

We're so excited this week to get to speak to Mr. Ted Nicolaou! Ted is an editor, writer, and director who has helmed more than a dozen Empire and Full Moon films to date, including TERRORVISION, BAD CHANNELS, and the entire SUBSPECIES franchise! We chat with Ted about his wild and varied career and get some insight into how a Full Moon movie comes to life.  Hosted by Jarrod Hornbeck and Steve Guntli  Theme song by Kyle Hornbeck  Logo by Doug McCambridge  Email: puppetmasterscastlefreaks@gmail.com Instagram/Threads: @puppetmasters_castlefreaks  YouTube: @PuppetMastersCastleFreaks

Strap in for a wild and goopy good time with Ted Nicolaou's TERRORVISION, a weird and funny satire of suburban 80s excess with one of Empire's strangest monsters! We're joined this week by Patrick Hamilton, one half of the absolutely essential Kill By Kill podcast, as we dissect this silly and fun little gem.  And be sure to tune in later this week when we have an interview with the director of TERRORVISION, the SUBSPECIES series (and about a dozen other Full Moon/Empire classics) Ted Nicolaou! Our full interview is dropping this Tuesday, and you won't want to miss it! Hosted by Jarrod Hornbeck and Steve Guntli  Theme song by Kyle Hornbeck  Logo by Doug McCambridge  Email: puppetmasterscastlefreaks@gmail.com Instagram/Threads: @puppetmasters_castlefreaks  YouTube: @PuppetMastersCastleFreaks  Next week's episode: Intruder

Slip on your goggles and get ready to step into the twisted virtual world of ARCADE! Author, comedian, and podcasting godfather Jordan Morris joins us this week to talk about Albert Pyun's follow-up to DOLLMAN, one of the most notoriously troubled and difficult productions in Full Moon's history!  Be sure to pre-order Jordan's new graphic novel, YOUTH GROUP, coming this July! bit.ly/youthgroupbook *Jarrod’s audio issue was due to a damaged track and bad connection, it does not persist* Hosted by Jarrod Hornbeck and Steve Guntli  Theme song by Kyle Hornbeck  Logo by Doug McCambridge  Email: puppetmasterscastlefreaks@gmail.com Instagram/Threads: @puppetmasters_castlefreaks  YouTube: @PuppetMastersCastleFreaks  Next week's episode: TerrorVision

Horror comics come to life in the basement of a trippy art commune in CELLAR DWELLER, directed by special effects master John Carl Buechler! We're joined this week by Doug McCambridge of the Good Times, Great Movies podcast to talk about this fun Empire monster movie, and uncover possibly the single most successful person ever associated with an Empire production!  Hosted by Jarrod Hornbeck and Steve Guntli  Theme song by Kyle Hornbeck  Logo by Doug McCambridge  Email: puppetmasterscastlefreaks@gmail.com Instagram/Threads: @puppetmasters_castlefreaks  YouTube: @PuppetMastersCastleFreaks  Next week's episode: Arcade

What if Universal monsters... but smaller? That's the idea behind THE CREEPS, a weird little take on the typical Full Moon tiny terrors genre that pays loving homage to monster movies of yore. Michael Tuite joins us as we discuss all the mad scientist-infused goofiness, plus the genuinely good performance from Full Moon mainstay Phil Fondacaro.  Hosted by Jarrod Hornbeck and Steve Guntli  Theme song by Kyle Hornbeck  Logo by Doug McCambridge  Email: puppetmasterscastlefreaks@gmail.com Instagram/Threads: @puppetmasters_castlefreaks  YouTube: @PuppetMastersCastleFreaks  Next week's episode: Cellar Dweller

The closest thing Charles Band ever made to an actual Marvel movie, DOCTOR MORDRID is Band's love letter to Marvel and his favorite character, Doctor Strange. Jeffrey Combs stars as the titular hero in this surprisingly lavish production that should have launched a larger franchise. Cecil Trachenburg from GoodBadFlicks portals in from another dimension to tackle all the witchcraft and wizardry.  Hosted by Jarrod Hornbeck and Steve Guntli  Theme song by Kyle Hornbeck  Logo by Doug McCambridge  Email: puppetmasterscastlefreaks@gmail.com Instagram/Threads: @puppetmasters_castlefreaks  YouTube: @PuppetMastersCastleFreaks  Next week's episode: The Creeps