The Chronicle Halloween Special: The Borderlands, Pontypool, Buddy and Mandy – Horror Take 2
It’s ghosts, zombies, unicorns and a healthy dose of ‘Cage Rage’! Fellow Chroniclers, Halloween is here, and that can only mean one thing: The Chronicle Film Podcast has an extra special episode!
For Halloween Take 2, Paul is joined by fellow Chronicler Nick Bartlett to share their love of all things horror. This time, we’re stepping away from the traditional Halloween favourites to explore four rather unconventional films: The Borderlands, Pontypool, Buddy and Mandy.
Before we get stuck into the Halloween festivities, a big thank you to everyone who listened to our latest regular episode, Episode 71. Myself, James and Rosie got together to discuss our favourite films from this year’s BFI London Film Festival. If you haven’t caught up yet, you can listen to the episode here.
Every October, horror fans dust off their favourite films in preparation for Halloween. We’re certainly not knocking those traditional choices, but for this year’s special, we wanted to do something a little different.
We’ve gone for films that don’t necessarily stick to the traditional horror rulebook. They might not be packed with conventional jump scares, but they have other ways of getting under your skin. Whether it’s psychological terror, an unusual take on the zombie genre or a psychedelic nightmare, these films will play with your mind and leave you wrestling with that lingering sense of existential dread.
The Borderlands (2013)
Nick kicks off our Halloween horror selection with The Borderlands, a British found-footage chiller directed by Elliot Goldner and starring Gordon Kennedy, Robin Hill and Luke Neal.
When the Vatican sends a team to investigate a church in the English countryside following reports of strange occurrences, they soon discover that something far more sinister is happening.
Could this be one of Britain’s more underrated found-footage horror films?
Pontypool (2008)
Nick’s second choice is Bruce McDonald’s psychological horror Pontypool.
In an overcrowded zombie genre, this Canadian horror film breathes new life into the subgenre by delivering a wonderfully original twist. Forget the usual bites and infections – here, the power of words becomes the weapon!
Stephen McHattie stars as Grant Mazzy, a radio shock jock who discovers that something truly horrific is unfolding while broadcasting live on air. As the situation deteriorates, the station becomes a place of growing paranoia and terror.
It’s certainly not your typical zombie movie!
Buddy (2025)
Now it’s Paul’s turn, and first up is Buddy, the latest twisted creation from Casper Kelly, starring Cristin Milioti, Delaney Quinn, Keegan-Michael Key and Michael Shannon.
Regular listeners might remember Kelly from last year’s Halloween discussion, when we covered his contribution to V/H/S Halloween. This time, he takes us into the bizarre world of 1990s children’s television, complete with a giant orange unicorn.
It all looks rather innocent at first, but there’s something seriously wrong with this particular children’s entertainer. When you don’t do what Buddy says, you’d better run – because things aren’t going to end well!
Mandy (2018)
We finish our Halloween journey with Mandy, Panos Cosmatos‘ extraordinary psychedelic cosmic horror fever dream, starring Nicolas Cage alongside Andrea Riseborough, Linus Roache and Olwen Fouéré.
When a man’s secluded life is shattered after his girlfriend is murdered by a satanic hippie cult, he has only one thing on his mind: revenge!
What follows is a wonderfully surreal, blood-soaked journey into madness, featuring some truly unforgettable imagery and one of Nicolas Cage‘s most memorable performances. If you’re looking for a healthy dose of ‘Cage Rage’, you’ve come to the right place!
Four unconventional horror films, two horror-loving Chroniclers and plenty to talk about. From the unsettling British countryside of The Borderlands to the wonderfully bizarre world of Buddy, via the psychological nightmare of Pontypool and the psychedelic madness of Mandy, we’ve got Halloween covered.
Have you watched any of these films? Which is your favourite, and are there any unconventional horror movies you’d recommend we check out?
Join the conversation in the comments and, of course, don’t forget to listen to the latest episode of The Chronicle Film Podcast.
Happy Halloween, fellow Chroniclers!
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