DtH Episode 113 – 2025 Wrap Up

January 7, 2026 by Jon Kitley in Discover the Horror Podcast and tagged 2025 Wrap Up, 5150 Elm's Way, Alien: Earth, Born of Fire, Bring Her Back, Frankenstein, Marshmallow, Rule of Jenny Pen, Sinners, Vicious, Weapons | Leave a comment

Another year in the books, which means it is time for our annual Wrap Up, where we not only go through our personal favorites of the year, but also some other standout films, as well as some others that came out in the last 12 months. For the second year in a row, it is astounding at some of the high-quality pictures that have been getting released. From some going straight to streaming services, to other wide release pictures, there have been plenty of fantastic titles out there. It really is a great time to be a horror fan.

It’s a long episode, so make sure you have a pad and pen, because we cover a LOT here!

Titles mentioned in this episode.

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2025 Year End Review Part 2 – Best Viewings

January 2, 2026 by Jon Kitley in Year End Reviews and tagged Bride from Hades, Bring Her Back, Bryan Bertino, Dakota Fanning, Daniel DelPurgatorio, Danny Philippou, Dark and the Wicked, Frankenstein, Guillermo del Toro, Heart Eyes, John Lithgow, Kathryn Hunter, Marshmallow, Michael Philippou, Monster Island, Peony Lantern, Rule of Jenny Pen, Ryan Coogler, Satsuo Yamamoto, Sinners, Strange Darlings, Talk to Me, The Long Walk, The Monster of London City, The Red House, The Ugly Stepsister, Together, Trouble Every Day, Vicious, Weapons, Wolfkin, Zach Cregger | Leave a comment

And who says there are no good movies coming out these days? For the last couple of years, my Best Viewings of the year have mainly been recent releases, most from that current year. And 2025 was no different. There are 2 from the ’60s, 1 from 2023, 1 from 2024, and the rest from 2025. That tells me a couple of things. That either in past years, I was busy playing catch up with a lot of older great titles that I had never seen before, or that there are some still people out there busting their ass to make some original and entertaining horror films.

I didn’t think I was going to make it, but I set a new personal record for me, barely, but still did it. I manage to knock out 447 films this year, with 209 being new viewings. It sometimes amazes me how many I actually get through each year, but honestly, there are some nights when I can get through 3 movies with no problem. It really has to do with the love of cinema.

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Soundtrack Review: Vicious

December 28, 2025 by Jon Kitley in Reviews: Soundtrack and tagged Bryan Bertino, Lakeshore Records, The Dark and the Wicked, Tom Schraeder, Vicious | Leave a comment

Vicious
Released by Lakeshore Records
32 Tracks with a Total Running Time: 46 min.
Music by Tom Schraeder

In 2020, I saw Bryan Bertino’s The Dark and the Wicked, where that title really fit the film. Very dark and brooding and doesn’t leave you all warm and fuzzy. The score was from by Tom Schraeder, which helped moved the emotions of the story along, making the visuals even more powerful and impactful. And now with Vicious, both Bertino and Schraeder have done it again.

Once again, Schraeder has created a soundscape that enhances not what we’re seeing on screen but what we’re feeling. There is a difference there. In his score for Dark, it oozes that feeling of dread and of no escape. In Vicious, what we get is sounds that increase the tension and terror that we’re feeling as we watch poor Polly and what she’s going through. Right off the bat with Track 1, Spiral, we have strings going quickly back and forth in a face pace, with a background sound getting louder and building. That really starts us in the direction we’re heading.

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