Red River Horror Podcast

HORROR Cinema 2025: The First Half | RRH #116

Join Red River Horror as we dissect and review the most terrifying films from the first half of the year, including Companion, Wolf Man, Heart Eyes, The Monkey, Sinners, The Ugly Stepsister, Clown in a Cornfield, Final Destination: Bloodlines and Bring Her Back.

From supernatural scares to gruesome slashers, we break down the plots and standout moments of these 2025 horror hits. We dub it -- "The First Half".

Which film had us hiding behind the couch? Which one fell flat? Tune in for Joe Zakrzewski and Eddie Caiazzo's honest takes, spoiler-free insights and the critics' rankings of these creepy releases. Perfect for horror fans looking to stay updated on the latest in the genre!

 

Don’t miss out—like, follow and subscribe for weekly horror movie reviews, deep dives, Shorts and much more. Let us know in the comments which 2025 horror film you’re most excited about, what you've seen and what you're looking forward to seeing. We'd love to hear from you, and maybe even get a review?

Final Destination: 25 Years of Designing Death with Jeffrey Reddick | RRH #115

Join Joe Zakrzewski and Eddie Caiazzo as they sit down with the visionary creator of the Final Destination franchise, Jeffrey Reddick, for an interview celebrating 25 years since his chilling concept first took flight onto the big screen.  In this milestone episode, Reddick shares fascinating insights and behind-the-scenes stories, as well as his thoughts on the enduring legacy of Final Destination.

Whether you're a long-time fan or new to the franchise, prepare to relive the scares and appreciate the genius behind one of horror's most unique premises. We also say a proper Red River Horror farewell to one of the greatest icons in all of horror cinema - Tony Todd.

Like, follow, subscribe, rate and SHARE the Channels of Fear!

#FinalDestination #JeffreyReddick #HorrorMovie #25thAnniversary #HorrorPodcast #Interview #JoeZakrzewski #EddieCaiazzo #HorrorFranchise #Horror

Oscars 2025: Academy Award-Winning Horror Movies | RRH #114

The Substance and Nosferatu created a massive buzz in the horror community this year—but how did they perform at the biggest event in film, the Academy Awards? Demi Moore delivered a standout performance, earning a Golden Globe for Best Actress. Did her success carry over to an Oscars win? Meanwhile, Robert Eggers, renowned for crafting top-tier films, continued to shine with Nosferatu. Did the Academy finally recognize one of this modern horror master's films with a well-deserved award? Or, as is often the case, did horror get overlooked at the grandest stage, walking away empty-handed?

 

Red River Horror podcast host Joe Zakrzewski and founder Eddie Caiazzo break it all down, joined by their special guest—award-winning movie critic and Red River Horror contributor Staci Layne Wilson.

 

Reviews for the films mentioned as well as another 2025 nominee (Alien: Romulus) can all be found at www.RedRiverHorror.com.

Horror 2024: A Renaissance? | RRH #113

Was 2024 a landmark year for horror? It certainly felt like a breath of fresh air, with a surge of original ideas and films, moving away from the franchise-heavy landscape of recent years. Instead of relying on familiar cash cows, filmmakers delivered truly innovative horror experiences.

Critically acclaimed films like The Substance garnered awards attention, and even Nosferatu is generating Oscar buzz. We've witnessed exciting career shifts: Hugh Grant is proving his range beyond romantic comedies, and Demi Moore is finally receiving well-deserved praise for her acting prowess. Industry giants Blumhouse and James Wan's Atomic Monster have joined forces, while Nicolas Cage embraces the genre with full force. And the competition is heating up in the independent horror scene, with Neon giving A24 a run for its money. From groundbreaking storytelling to impressive box office numbers, 2024 has given horror fans plenty to celebrate and sets the stage for an exciting 2025.

Join host Joe Zakrzewski and RedRiverHorror.com founder Eddie Caiazzo as they delve into this exciting year of horror on episode 113 of the Red River Horror podcast.

Shark Girl - Rob Zazzali & Justin Shilton Interview | RRH #112

In Episode 112 of the Red River Horror podcast, hosts Joe Zakrzewski and Eddie Caiazzo interview Rob Zazzali and Justin Shilton, the creative minds behind the horror film, Shark Girl.

Shark Girl follows Heidi, a social media influencer who survives a shark attack but emerges transformed into a bloodthirsty predator. As bodies begin to pile up on Venice Beach, the investigation takes a chilling turn. Zazzali and Shilton discuss the unique concept of a shark-human hybrid, their approach to practical effects and the importance of relatable characters in a creature feature. Don't miss this in-depth look at the making of Shark Girl.

Shark Girl is available now on Amazon, Apple TV, Microsoft, Fandango at Home and on Google Play.

Ti West "X" Trilogy...Overrated? | RRH #111

MaXXXine has made it to Hollywood.  And don't ask any questions about how she got there.  But, is her rise warranted, or is Ti West's "X" Trilogy just another overrated horror cash-grabbing three-piece?

Joe Zakrzewski and Eddie Caiazzo discuss whether X, Pearl and now MaXXXine live up to the hype both as individual films, and as a trilogy.

ALSO, new segments added to the show!  Joe Z. is gonna give ya the news, Eddie C. is gonna tell Joe a story.

JAWS vs. The MEG with Steve Alten & Captain Steve Coates | RRH #110

Ahoy, maties! The Channels of Fear ultimately empty into the ocean as Joe Zakrzewski and Eddie Caiazzo set sail on their first Red River Horror podcast about SHARKS. And what better way to celebrate the great beasts of the sea than with New York Times best-selling author Steve Alten and host of the Bucket of Chum podcast Steve Coates.

Alten, a Philly native, authored the award-winning book MEG: A Novel of Deep Terror - which was made into the blockbuster film The MEG in 2018 starring Jason Statham. Read Steve's legacy of MEG novels at MEGLegacy.com. 

Coates, known as Captain Steve, is the host of Bucket of Chum: The Shark Movie Podcast. On his show, Coates takes "a comedic look at Sharksploitation cinema" -- and shark movie lovers are so glad he does. Like, download and subscribe to Bucket of Chum on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube...and wherever you get your podcasts.

Buckle up - it's JAWS, The MEG, Shark Week, Steve and Captain Steve -- you're gonna need a bigger boat for this episode!

Clown Motel 3 Preview with Writer/Director Joseph Kelly | RRH #109

Are we really coming up on THREE full-feature films into the Clown Motel franchise?  Yup!

To celebrate, Joe Z. and Eddie C. catch up with writer/director/actor/producer Joseph Kelly as he readies to bring the third installment to market.  Crowdfunding for the latest project has begun and Red River Horror is excited to see the new stars that have been announced so far join other horror legends like Ari Lehman at one of the scariest places in America - The Clown Motel in Tonopoh, NV.  Oh yes, it's real, and it's spectacular (...ly creepy)

 

Link to help fund Clown Motel: 3 Ways to Hell - https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/clown-motel-3-ways-to-hell-feature-horror-film#/

 

THEM: The Scare on Prime Preview with Interviews | RRH #108

THEM: The Scare makes its way to Prime Video on April 25...and Joe and Eddie are right in the middle of all of the action. This episode of the Red River Horror podcast includes a full preview of the show featuring interviews with actress Deborah Ayorinde and actor Joshua J. Williams.  Ayorinde plays Dawn Reeve, one of the only women of color in all of the LAPD's robbery and homicide division.  Her son, Kel, is portrayed by Williams.  As Dawn gets deeper into a grisly murder case, her family begins to be drug into the fold as well in the worst possible way. 

The Scare marks the second season in the horror anthology series THEM, written and produced by Little Marvin and available exclusively on Prime Video.

The First Omen | RRH #107

SPOILERS AHEAD!  Joe Zakrzewski and Eddie Caiazzo take their first joint trip to the theater since 2021 as team Red River Horror to catch 20th Century Studios' latest film The First Omen.  Both Joe and Eddie are fans of The Omen (1976), directed by Richard Donner starring Gregory Peck all those years ago.  The original Omen was a response to the success of the incomparable The Exorcist in the space of religious horror/thriller films.  The latter about demonic possession, the former about the antichrist - named Damien.

 

How did Damien come to be?  Find out in The First Omen, directed by Arkasha Stevenson, who who co-wrote the film with Tim Smith and Keith Thomas based on a story by Ben Jacoby.