DtH Episode 115: New French Extremity Films

February 4, 2026 by Jon Kitley in Discover the Horror Podcast and tagged Alexandre Bustillo, Alysson Paradis, Beatrice Dalle, In My Skin, Inside, Julien Maury, Marina de Van, Martyrs, Morjana Alaoui, Mylene Jampanoi, Pascal Laugier | Leave a comment

In My Skin (2002), Inside (2007), and Martyrs (2008)

While the French aren’t known for their horror films, when they do move into that genre, there is something to be said. Perfect example is Georges Franju’s Eyes Without a Face (1960), with its stark realism and dark themes, it is still a powerful film even today. But in the early 2000’s, a bunch of younger filmmakers pushed the boundaries even farther, making viewers even more uncomfortable as they view these newer entries into the genre. They were often graphic, some over-the-top, and others dealt with darker subjects that were just as disturbing, even though the violence and/or gore wasn’t onscreen. It was the subject and the way it’s shown was what was hard to watch.

In this episode, we decided to take on 3 titles that show the different ranges of that, from the very subversive and uncomfortable subject matter to taking the gore through the roof, but also making you think more than you thought you could, even leaving you in a distressed state for days after the movie ends. That is powerful filmmaking.

Films mentioned in this episode:

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Movie Review: In My Skin

December 26, 2025 by Jon Kitley in Reviews: Movies and tagged In My Skin, Laurent Lucas, Marina de Van, Severin Films | Leave a comment

Directed by Marina de Van
Starring Marina de Van, Laurent Lucas, Léa Drucker, Thilbault de Montalembert

There aren’t too many movies these days that can really make me squirm, or pardon the pun, really get under my skin. Every now and then there might be a particular scene or sequence that might make me uneasy or even twitch a bit in my seat. But not too often. In the 2025 film Bring Her Back, there were a couple of scenes that did just that. But again, it’s not the whole movie. I also don’t seem to have as big of an issue when something torturous is being done to someone else onscreen. But when a person is doing it to themselves, it just feels… more horrifying and harder to watch.

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Music Box of Horrors – October Lineup!

August 15, 2025 by Jon Kitley in Movie Events and tagged 39: A Film by Carroll McKane, Addams Family Values, Carrie Hold de Lama, Charles Pinion, Cure, Donald Farmer, Elizabeth Purchell, Frogs, Gary Sherman, Highway Hypnosis, Hour of the Wolf, In My Skin, In the Mouth of Madness, Invincible Czars, Island of Lost Souls, John Carpenter, Let the Right One In, Lon Chaney, Next of Kin, Parents, Red Lips, Robbie Banfitch, Tales from the Crypt: Demon Knight, Terrified, The Last House on Dead End Street, The Phantom of the Opera, Tinsman Road, Twisted Issues, Wake in Fright | Leave a comment

Not to be satisfied with just having their annual 24-hour marathon, for the last few years, Chicago’s own Music Box Theatre has lined the entire month of October with a wide variety of horror offerings, some with special guests, others with just some rare opportunities to see some very unique films. And this October is no different.

If you are in the area of the Music Box, I can’t recommend enough coming out and supporting the theater during this month of programming, for a few reasons. First and foremost, it shows the theater that these kind of events are worth it, meaning they will continue to program events like this in the future. For a guy that used to drive out the this theater in the 90s for a midnight screening of some cult title, only to have 5 other people in the theater, its a wonder they continued at all! So when you can, make sure you show your support by attending one or more of these incredible screenings.

Second of all, you are getting the chance to see some truly great and interesting titles in this lineup. For us classic horror fans, getting to see Charles Laughton as the mad Dr. Moreau in Island of Lost Souls, a film that has themes of bestiality in 1932, not to mention some incredible makeup effects. And then there is having the chance to see Lon Chaney Sr. in The Phantom of the Opera (1925), the original love obsessed stalker! Even though its a silent film, you will be amazed at Chaney’s performance. And that is just the start!

And there so many more listed here. Mark your calendar and make those plans! Just click HERE to go to the Music Box event page.

Oct. 1st – 9:15pm
In My Skin (2002)
Theatre 2 DCP

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