The HD Movie Podcast

Episode 178: Summer Of Screams #6 - The Hills Have Eyes (2006)

*** WARNING: This episode contains occasional graphic descriptions of certain incidents which take place in The Hills Have Eyes ***
Episode 178 of The HD Movie Podcast is here! When Hayley Alice Roberts and Darren Gaskell aren't spying on unsuspecting families in the desert*, they're here to cover movies of any year, any genre and any quality.
This week, your hosts cover THE HILLS HAVE EYES but it's not the 1977 one, it's the 2006 remake which was produced rather than directed by Wes Craven. They also talk about the 1977 movie but most of the focus is on the 2006 version. They also talk about both of the sequels and risk a whole load of confusion. 
There's discussions about the similarities and differences between the two films, including a discussion of how each film handles its portrayal of some fairly shocking violence. Hayley and Darren also chat about the remake's unsympathetic attitude to certain characters, even if they're played by well known actors, plus a quick look at the R-rated and unrated versions of the movie and a digression into new (at the time) French extreme cinema and what the best Alexandre Aja double bill might be (Hayley's suggestion is much better than Darren's more doom-laden choice).
Mitch Bain is a true original and there's no need to remake him at all. He writes and performs the music you hear on the podcast and you can find him on Instagram if you look for "evertheoptimitch".
You can follow and contact the Podcast on Facebook, X and Instagram by searching for "HDMoviePodcast". We're happy to hear from you.
You can find the hosts on social media too!
Hayley: @HayleyARoberts on X, hayleyaliceroberts on Instagram
Darren: @darren_gaskell on X, darren_gaskell on Instagram, @darrengaskell.bsky.social on Bluesky and darren_gaskell on Threads
*Hayley and Darren do NOT spy on unsuspecting families in the desert

Episode 177: Summer Of Screams #5 - I Know What You Did Last Summer (2025)

Episode 177 of The HD Movie Podcast is here! Hayley Alice Roberts and Darren Gaskell, as usual, are here to cover movies of any year, any genre and any quality - and that includes legacy sequels.
The Summer Of Screams continues as your hosts head to the cinema to experience the brand spanking new requel that is I KNOW WHAT YOU DID LAST SUMMER! It's a new group of teens, a new (and rather dumb) accident but that old feeling of someone wanting the raise the spectre of Ben Willis, while OG characters Julie (Jennifer Love Hewitt) and Ray (Freddie Prinze Jr.) show up to dispense survival advice.
Hayley and Darren talk about some surprisingly engaging new characters, a number of big swings taken by the plot, various lapses in logic, appearances from franchise favourites (including one very divisive sequence involving someone dearly departed) and that killer of a killer reveal. They also talk about whether or not a film can genuinely please both the fans of the original and a modern audience weaned on a very different type of horror.
Why would you reboot Mitch Bain? You wouldn't, you monsters! Mitch writes and performs the music you hear on our podcast and you can find him on Instagram if you look for "evertheoptimitch".
You can follow and contact the Podcast on Facebook, X and Instagram by searching for "HDMoviePodcast". We're happy to hear from you.
You can find the hosts on social media too!
Hayley: @HayleyARoberts on X, hayleyaliceroberts on Instagram
Darren: @darren_gaskell on X, darren_gaskell on Instagram, @darrengaskell.bsky.social on Bluesky and darren_gaskell on Threads
"How could you frame her?"

Episode 176: Summer Of Screams #4 - I Still Know What You Did Last Summer

Episode 176 of The HD Movie Podcast is here! Hayley Alice Roberts and Darren Gaskell are not only here to cover movies of any year, any genre and any quality but they also know what you did two summers ago.
Yes, we're back in the "I Know What You Did Last Summer" universe as Ben Willis is back to terrorise the survivors of the first movie and a whole new batch of potential victims in I STILL KNOW WHAT YOU DID LAST SUMMER! This sequel hit the screen the year after its predecessor and your hosts wonder just how much of a rush job it may have been.
That, of course, isn't all. Hayley and Darren discuss whether the sequel manages to capture the atmosphere of the original without either Jim Gillespie or Kevin Williamson, they find much to appreciate in the disdainful manner of Jeffrey Combs and nothing to appreciate in an embarrassing, uncredited supporting role by a very well known performer.
Elsewhere, there's a shout out to the Ray transport subplot, an inexplicably programmed karaoke machine, how Brandy's characters hits different this time round and get ready for a terrible pun which pretends to be an amazing twist. Plus, there's the tale of a Freddie Prinze Jr. drinking game.
A true original is Mitch Bain, who writes and performs the music you hear on this our podcast. You can find him on Instagram if you look for "evertheoptimitch". Accept no ripoffs.
You can follow and contact the Podcast on Facebook, X and Instagram by searching for "HDMoviePodcast". We're happy to hear from you.
You can find the hosts on social media too!
Hayley: @HayleyARoberts on X, hayleyaliceroberts on Instagram
Darren: @darren_gaskell on X, darren_gaskell on Instagram, @darrengaskell.bsky.social on Bluesky and darren_gaskell on Threads
What's the capital of Brazil?

Episode 175: Summer Of Screams #3 - Summer Of Fear

Episode 175 of The HD Movie Podcast is here! Hayley Alice Roberts and Darren Gaskell aren't here to scare horses, they're here to look at movies of any year, any genre and any quality.
Our Summer Of Screams miniseries continues with SUMMER OF FEAR! Also known as Stranger In Our House, this 1978 US TV movie was directed by none other than Wes Craven and starred none other than Linda Blair! Also, it was based on a novel by Lois Duncan who, as you should know by now, also wrote the source material on which I Know What You Did Last Summer was based.
Your hosts talk dodgy driving, a dodgy photo and even dodgier male characters in a movie that manages to be effective while still sticking to TV network standards. There's also a genuinely disturbing variation on Does The Dog Die?, an early appearance for the current President of the Screen Actors Guild (don't panic, she doesn't kill a dog), a run through some other Wes Craven TV fare and a whole lot more besides. 
When it comes to the music of Mitch Bain, it isn't a Summer Of Fear, it's a Summer Of Love. Mitch writes and performs the music you hear on this our podcast and you can find him on Instagram if you look for "evertheoptimitch".
You can follow and contact the Podcast on Facebook, X and Instagram by searching for "HDMoviePodcast". We're happy to hear from you.
You can find the hosts on social media too!
Hayley: @HayleyARoberts on X, hayleyaliceroberts on Instagram
Darren: @darren_gaskell on X, darren_gaskell on Instagram, @darrengaskell.bsky.social on Bluesky and darren_gaskell on Threads
"These guys are just all knobheads..."

Episode 174: Summer Of Screams #2 - I Know What You Did Last Summer (1997)

Episode 174 of The HD Movie Podcast is here! Does anyone know what Hayley Alice Roberts and Darren Gaskell did last summer? Why, they were covering movies of any year, any genre and any quality of course!
The second of our Summer Of Screams miniseries sees us jumping forward a couple of decades from The Texas Chain Saw Massacre as we take an extended look at 1997's I KNOW WHAT YOU DID LAST SUMMER! This Kevin Williamson-written slasher about a hook-wielding killer followed in the wake of his success as the scribe of Scream and anyone expecting a similar dose of meta mayhem was in for a surprise.
Your hosts discuss the movie's emphasis on characterisation and suspense over gore and, in particular, Sarah Michelle Gellar's fan favourite performance. There's also talk of those arguably unfair comparisons to Scream plus a look at the source novel, the banger of a soundtrack, alternative titles, some lost trailer media and Hayley's very own Mandela effect concerning this film. Also, does IKWYDLS really lend itself to a franchise? Hayley and Darren are all over that too! 
One thing we are hooked on is the music of Mitch Bain. As you all must know by now, he writes and performs the music you hear on this very podcast. You can find him on Instagram if you look for "evertheoptimitch".
You can follow and contact the Podcast on Facebook, X and Instagram by searching for "HDMoviePodcast". We're happy to hear from you.
You can find the hosts on social media too!
Hayley: @HayleyARoberts on X, hayleyaliceroberts on Instagram
Darren: @darren_gaskell on X, darren_gaskell on Instagram, @darrengaskell.bsky.social on Bluesky and darren_gaskell on Threads
Summer Of Fear...

Episode 173: Summer Of Screams #1 - The Texas Chain Saw Massacre

Episode 173 of The HD Movie Podcast is here! The podcast which you are about to hear is an account of Hayley Alice Roberts and Darren Gaskell, who seek out films of any year, any genre and any quality. They could not have expected nor would they have wished to see as much of the mad and macabre as they saw for this episode. The events of that day were to lead to them watching a film about one of the most bizarre crimes in the annals of American history, The Texas Chain Saw Massacre.
Yes, we're back with a new miniseries and this year it's not Summer Of Sharks, it's Summer Of Screams! The weather's hot and the horror's hotter as your hosts take a look at summer-set slashings, beginning with an acknowledged classic from director Tobe Hooper. But is the love for this movie justified? It's time for a deep dive...
Hayley and Darren discuss their first viewings of the film and the difference between watching this at home and seeing it in the cinema. There's also talk of the film's many censorship problems in the UK, some extreme filming conditions, the striking production and sound design, some down and dirty violence and plenty of challenging psychological terror.
There's also talk of meeting Gunnar Hansen in real life, how Tobe Hooper originally envisaged this movie with a "PG" rating (!) and the sequels it spawned. Yes, McConaughey and Zellweger, we mean you! There's also *that* final act to dig into.
You want more classics? How about the music of Mitch Bain. He creates soundtracks for movies and this very podcast! You can find him on Instagram if you look for "evertheoptimitch".
You can follow and contact the Podcast on Facebook, X and Instagram by searching for "HDMoviePodcast". We're happy to hear from you.
You can find the hosts on social media too!
Hayley: @HayleyARoberts on X, hayleyaliceroberts on Instagram
Darren: @darren_gaskell on X, darren_gaskell on Instagram, @darrengaskell.bsky.social on Bluesky and darren_gaskell on Threads
Saturn in retrograde...

Episode 172: Seduction And Psychos #6 - Basic Instinct

Episode 172 of The HD Movie Podcast is here! Detective Nick Curran couldn't locate the podcast about movies of any year, any genre and any quality that's hosted by Hayley Alice Robertson and Darren Haskell so someone had to point out that it's actually hosted by Hayley Alice Roberts and Darren Gaskell.
Our erotic thriller miniseries opened with Michael Douglas in Fatal Attraction and it closes with Michael Douglas in BASIC INSTINCT! He's a cop on the trail of a novelist who's suspected of murdering her lover. Said novelist is, of course, played by Sharon Stone and the movie's directed by Paul Verhoeven, who's no stranger to a controversy or two.
Your hosts revisit this one after a while away from it and there are some surprises in store for them on this latest watch. They talk about a clutch of fine performances, an expensive screenplay with a bunch of decidedly ropey plot twists and, yes, Hayley and Darren get into the whys and wherefores of *that* interrogation sequence. There's also discussion of the censorship issues the film had with the MPAA in the US in its quest to get an R rating, the original, short lived idea to embrace the NC-17 and much more besides.
One guy who's way better at his job than the police department in Basic Instinct is Mitch Bain. His fine tunes are featured on the podcast and you can find him on Instagram if you look for "evertheoptimitch".
You can follow and contact the Podcast on Facebook, X and Instagram by searching for "HDMoviePodcast". We're happy to hear from you.
You can find the hosts on social media too!
Hayley: @HayleyARoberts on X, hayleyaliceroberts on Instagram
Darren: @darren_gaskell on X, darren_gaskell on Instagram, @darrengaskell.bsky.social on Bluesky and darren_gaskell on Threads
What, no DNA?

Episode 171: Seduction And Psychos #5 - Poison Ivy (Guest: Dr. Lauren McIntyre)

Episode 171 of The HD Movie Podcast is here! What's the voiceover you're hearing? It's the one telling you that Hayley Alice Roberts and Darren are here once again to talk about movies of any year, any genre and any quality.
The penultimate episode of our erotic thriller miniseries takes a look at 1992's POISON IVY, directed by Katt Shea Ruben and starring Drew Barrymore! Previous guest and friend of the podcast Dr. Lauren McIntyre is also here to give her thoughts on her rewatch of the film, which includes some unexpected trauma for her which is related to a certain actor's arse.
Elsewhere, your intrepid trio discuss the lack of sympathetic characters in the film (including one who's giving off Tucker Carlson vibes). there's an early moment of Does The Dog DIe? in the movie, digressions into Red Shoe Diaries and Coronation Street plus much, much more. Who's the most likely to kill on this panel? You'll find out!
One guy who only slays via his killer tunes is Mitch Bain. He writes and performs the music on the podcast and you can find him on Instagram if you look for "evertheoptimitch".
You can follow and contact the Podcast on Facebook, X and Instagram by searching for "HDMoviePodcast". We're happy to hear from you.
You can find the hosts on social media too!
Hayley: @HayleyARoberts on X, hayleyaliceroberts on Instagram
Darren: @darren_gaskell on X, darren_gaskell on Instagram, @darrengaskell.bsky.social on Bluesky and darren_gaskell on Threads
"Ooh, Percy!"

Episode 170: Seduction And Psychos #4 - Malicious

Episode 170 of The HD Movie Podcast is here! The ballpark is movies of any year, any genre and any quality. Hayley Alice Roberts and Darren Gaskell will discuss both the home runs and the strikeouts.
Our current miniseries' fourth foray into the world of the erotic thriller features a Brat Pack alumni moving into a more adult sphere as Molly Ringwald stars in MALICIOUS! Yes, that lass who destroyed Ally Sheedy's Goth look in The Breakfast Club is back as a woman who's out to ruin the life of a young baseball phenom destined for the Big Leagues!
Your hosts delve into the career choice of Ms Ringwald in terms of stepping into the "late Friday night on Channel 5" low key smut genre and a certain movie she is reputed to have turned down and which was a tiny bit more successful than this one. They also talk a lot about a hero who is not only an idiot but also seems to have a thing about sex in libraries.
In addition, there's chat about how this movie is supposedly used as a medical case study, how one particular sequence reminded our hosts of The Room and just why so many folks ended up being thrown through windows in 90s thrillers. Darren also reveals that he ended up watching two different versions of the movie - was the longer version an improvement? You'll find out!
One guy whose musical batting average always catches the eye is Mitch Bain. He is, as you should all know by now, the writer and performer of our tunes and you can find him on Instagram if you look for "evertheoptimitch".
You can follow and contact the Podcast on Facebook, X and Instagram by searching for "HDMoviePodcast". We're happy to hear from you.
You can find the hosts on social media too!
Hayley: @HayleyARoberts on X, hayleyaliceroberts on Instagram
Darren: @darren_gaskell on X, darren_gaskell on Instagram, @darrengaskell.bsky.social on Bluesky and darren_gaskell on Threads
Oh, and we mention the movie "Ed" in this one if you want to relive those animatronic chimp nightmares.

Episode 169: Seduction And Psychos #3 - Body Of Influence

Episode 169 of The HD Movie Podcast is here! Settle back on the couch because your film counsellors Hayley Alice Roberts and Darren Gaskell are in and they're ready for your weekly session about movies of any year, any genre and any quality.
Our erotic thriller miniseries continues and, after Shannon Tweed's appearance in last week's Indecent Behaviour 4/Human Desires/whatever new title it might have now, we have another, very different Shannon featured in this episode - it's Shannon Whirry in BODY OF INFLUENCE!
Darren is a bit of a fan of Ms Whirry so it's a surprise it's taken a hundred and sixty-nine (stop giggling at the back) episodes to get here. Will Hayley understand his affection for a performer who made a number of movies with Greg Dark? Greg's gone undercover as "Gregory Hippolyte" here but it's the same Greg who made music movies and shot various, genuine adult movies. Here, the action is much softer but there's a definite darkness to it and your hosts discuss the seedier side of the plot.
Of course, there's plenty of chat about La Whirry (and Darren manages to stay measured throughout) and the contrast between the two Shannons - is Hayley on Team Whirry or Team Tweed? You'll get to find out. Also, there's a fairly glaring continuity error to be investigated, a sub plot about a serial killer which the movie doesn't really investigate, a psychiatrist's couch that probably needs a clean and how easy it can be to get away with murder (strictly in movieland, folks!).
The podcast prescribes the music therapy of Mitch Bain - he writes and performs our tunes and you can find him on Instagram if you look for "evertheoptimitch".
You can follow and contact the Podcast on Facebook, X and Instagram by searching for "HDMoviePodcast". We're happy to hear from you.
You can find the hosts on X and Instagram too!
Hayley: @HayleyARoberts on X, hayleyaliceroberts on Instagram
Darren: @darren_gaskell on X, darren_gaskell on Instagram
"...it's a weakness." And you'll have to listen to the episode to find out what the first bit of that sentence is because it's a bit rude to put in the episode description.