Hello there fellow diabolical degenerates, it’s Thakgore and today I bring you one of the cooler concepts for a horror podcast out there, “The Horror Explorer Podcast”. Every week a VHS-era horror fan and his millennial partner are joined by two other young co-hosts to discuss 80’s and 90’s cult horror. In an era where the VHS classics of yesteryear are increasingly more relevant to the modern horror landscape this concept could not be more timely. So let’s take a trip down a blood soaked path together and discover what it means to be a horror explorer.
The explorers in question are Mike Fairlamb, elder statesman and connoisseur of 80’s shlock, and “Critical” Dave Gordon, a film student whose analysis of each week’s selection is the backbone of the podcast. Each episode Mike and Dave are joined by two other young panelists as they all delve into an obscure film from the VHS era that the youngins’ might not be familiar with. Together they break down each film and give an unflinching look at horror’s past with rose-tinted glasses planted firmly under foot.
Originally conceived back in 2015 the podcast itself has made it’s way through a few iterations before finally ironing out all the kinks and settling into the smooth listen it is today. Early on Mike and Dave struggled to find a format that worked as they slogged through two hour episodes meticulously breaking down each film scene by scene to no one’s enjoyment. Mike himself is very blunt when referring to these early efforts when he refers to the podcast, at the time, as “a turd”. Becoming frustrated, Mike eventually set the podcast on the back burner and took six months to reflect before resolving to give it another go.
Upon his return Mike decided to ditch the old format and streamline the broadcast by turning it into a panel discussion anchored by Dave’s unique perspective, and the current format was born. Everything went well and the podcast’s audience grew significantly due to clever marketing and the popular format change.
Recently, having lost their two old co-hosts Jordan and Alicia, Dave and Mike took to the horror subreddit, Dreadit, to find their replacements. After interviewing over two dozen candidates they finally settled on their new co-hosts Liam and Lauren. They also locked in half a dozen panelists, of which I’m proud to say I’m one, to be rotated in after the new additions have time to settle into their new roles.
In conclusion, I encourage you to give the podcast a listen. Mike is very knowledgeable in not only obscure 80’s cinema but in the horror field in general. His unflinching eye carries with it an appreciation for the macabre in all it’s forms and his perspective is refreshingly blunt and unapologetic. For his part Dave brings a much needed perspective on the films of the past. His eye for detail and artistry are vital in keeping things in perspective and his education as a film student lends much needed gravitas to the more ridiculous offerings the group often find themselves critiquing. Combine all this with the sharp wit and willingness to learn of both Liam and Lauren and you have one of the best horror podcasts around. Give a listen to last week’s episode on one of the most schlocky offerings of the entire 1980’s, “Creepozoids” and make up your own mind. I promise, you won’t regret it.
https://soundcloud.com/horrorexplorer/crouchazoids-creepazoids-1987
If you’d like to stay up to date on the podcast or just learn more about it check out their official Facebook page.
