Summer Slash Week 8: The Shout (1978), Puppet Master 7, And Cult Movie Casting News
We’re officially past the halfway mark of the 7th Annual Summer Slash horror movie marathon, and this week’s lineup is a wild mix of surreal psychological chills, retro horror nostalgia, and breaking movie news.
The Shout (1978): A Forgotten, Mind-Bending Gem
This week’s headliner is The Shout, a 1978 Palme d’Or–nominated British psychological horror that blends the stark beauty of North Devon’s sand dunes with the unsettling menace of Aboriginal magic. Alan Bates delivers a chilling performance as Crossley, a mysterious drifter who claims to possess a deadly “shout” capable of killing anyone who hears it.
The cast is stacked:
John Hurt (Alien, Hellboy) as a musician caught in Crossley’s dangerous games.
Susannah York (They Shoot Horses, Don’t They?, Superman) as the unwitting wife.
Jim Broadbent (Moulin Rouge, Harry Potter) in an early role.
Beyond its eerie premise, the film is notable for its avant-garde electronic soundtrack — forty separate music tracks woven together to create an unsettling Dolby Stereo experience. It’s part folktale, part horror, and completely unlike anything else from the late ‘70s.
Retro Horror Spotlight: Puppet Master 7 (1999)
Our Summer Slash retro horror pick this week is Puppet Master 7 — aka Retro Puppet Master — from indie horror legend Charles Band and Full Moon Features. This entry takes us back to pre–World War I France, where a young Andre Toulon learns the ancient Egyptian secret of bringing inanimate objects to life.
Fun fact: Greg Sestero (The Room) plays Toulon in one of his earliest roles. He originally auditioned with a British accent (which didn’t work), then switched to French — and nailed it. James Franco even auditioned for the same part before going on to collaborate with Sestero years later on The Disaster Artist.
Movie News Roundup
This week also dropped some exciting casting updates:
Dave Bautista is in talks to play The Kurgan in the Highlander reboot starring Henry Cavill.
Russell Crowe joins as Ramirez, the role made famous by Sean Connery.
Eddie Murphy is set to star in Playas Ball, an undead action comedy from Kyle Newacheck (Happy Gilmore 2).
Disney will fold Hulu into Disney+ in 2026, with both services living under one app.
Streaming Pick: The Room Alumni in Anything But The Room
Between Puppet Master 7 and Greg Sestero’s other work, this week is a great excuse to explore projects from The Room cast that aren’t, well… The Room. It’s fun to see cult actors in completely different genres.
Affiliate Shoutout: Koia Plant Protein
Fuel your horror binge the healthy way. Koia’s plant-based protein shakes are creamy, craveable, and low in sugar — no dairy, no chalky aftertaste, just pure, feel-good fuel. https://drinkkoia.sjv.io/GKdNaL
Binge Now, Later, or Never?
For The Shout, it’s a “Binge Now” if you love strange, atmospheric cinema that lingers in your mind long after the credits roll. Puppet Master 7 is a “Later” — but only because it’s best enjoyed with a group and a sense of humor.
📌 Catch the full episode of Binge-Watchers Podcast for our unfiltered take, more behind-the-scenes trivia, and heated debates on which horror franchises aged best.
