Podcast

Nightmare USA Podcast

Film History, Film Reviews, TV & Film

In 2007, Stephen Thrower unleashed the behemoth film reference book Nightmare USA into the world. Spanning nearly 150 titles, Nightmare USA provides an in-depth look into the American regional horror film landscape popularized in grindhouse theaters and drive-ins during the 1970s and 80s.

Join hosts Adam Hursey and Sam Panico as they use this tome as a guide to explore the underbelly of America, one horror film at a time.

Episodes
11
Releases
Every two weeks
Typical length
1 hr 21 min
On air since
2026
Latest episode
6 days ago

Episodes

11 episodes, newest first

  1. Curse of the Headless Horseman

    Episode 10

    Show notes

    In this episode, Adam and Sam head out west to check out the Curse of the Headless Horseman. While Ichabod Crane is nowhere to be found, we do get Andy Warhol superstar Ultra Violet wandering about, carrying a Superman lunchbox, and a Scooby-Doo inspired ending. Jinkies!

    Email us at nightmareusapod@gmail.com

    Follow us on Instagram: @nightmareusapod

    Follow Adam on Letterboxd: @ashursey

    Follow Sam on Letterboxd: @bandsaboutmovie

    Visit Sam's site B & S About Movies

    Part of the Someone's Favorite Productions Podcast Network

    Check out this year's Horror Gives Back challenge, brought to us as always by the Unsung Horrors podcast. We will have a special episode covering our picks for this challenge in November. Join us!

    Next Episode: Horror Gives Back Recap

    November 25th: Blood Freak (1972)

    1 hr 37 min
  2. Crazed (Slipping Into Darkness)

    Episode 9

    Show notes

    In this episode, Adam and Sam watch their Ps and Qs as they explore the tortured minds of Grahame and Karen in Richard Cassidy's 1978 film Crazed (AKA Slipping Into Darkness AKA Bloodshed).

    Watch Crazed on YouTube here

    Email us at nightmareusapod@gmail.com

    Follow us on Instagram: @nightmareusapod

    Follow Adam on Letterboxd: @ashursey

    Follow Sam on Letterboxd: @bandsaboutmovie

    Visit Sam's site B & S About Movies

    Part of the Someone's Favorite Productions Podcast Network

    Check out this year's Horror Gives Back challenge, brought to us as always by the Unsung Horrors podcast. We will have a special episode covering our picks for this challenge in November. Join us!

    Next epidsode: Curse of the Headless Horseman (1972)

    1 hr 25 min
  3. Mako: The Jaws of Death

    Episode 8

    Show notes

    In this episode, Sam and Adam hop on an airboat and sail down to Florida to take in the sights of William Grefè's Mako: The Jaws of Death. Apologies in advance to the residents of St. Louis, Florida, and possibly Wisconsin.

    You can currently watch The Jaws of Death on Arrow Player (along with a bevy of other Grefè titles). Or pick up the box set from Arrow Video, He Came From the Swamp.

    Let's plan a road trip to The Wreck Bar, the lounge featured in the film that is still operational.

    Email us at nightmareusapod@gmail.com

    Follow us on Instagram: @nightmareusapod

    Follow Adam on Letterboxd: @ashursey

    Follow Sam on Letterboxd: @bandsaboutmovie

    Visit Sam's site B & S About Movies

    Part of the Someone's Favorite Productions Podcast Network

    Check out this year's Horror Gives Back challenge, brought to us as always by the Unsung Horrors podcast. We will have a special episode covering our picks for this challenge in November. Join us!

    Next epidsode: Crazed (1978). AKA Slipping Into Darkness. AKA Bloodshed

    1 hr 27 min
  4. Bloody Birthday

    Episode 7

    Show notes

    In this episode, we celebrate the kids of Bloody Birthday. Mighty Mouse style. Make sure to save room for a slice of sheet cake. There is plenty to go around.

    Email us at nightmareusapod@gmail.com

    Follow us on Instagram: @nightmareusapod

    Follow Adam on Letterboxd: @ashursey

    Follow Sam on Letterboxd: @bandsaboutmovie

    Visit Sam's site B & S About Movies

    Part of the Someone's Favorite Productions Podcast Network

    Check out Sam's article about Night Train to Terror in the latest issue of The Physical Media Advocate

    Check out this year's Horror Gives Back challenge, brought to us as always by the Unsung Horrors podcast.

    Next epidsode: Mako: The Jaws of Death

    1 hr 6 min
  5. Simon King of the Witches

    Episode 6

    Show notes

    In this episode, Sam is positive and Adam is negative in their response to the psychodelic shenanigans of Andrew Prine in Bruce Kessler's Simon King of the Witches.

    Email us at nightmareusapod@gmail.com

    Follow us on Instagram: @nightmareusapod

    Follow Adam on Letterboxd: @ashursey

    Follow Sam on Letterboxd: @bandsaboutmovie

    Visit Sam's site B & S About Movies

    Part of the Someone's Favorite Productions Podcast Network

    Check out Sam and Bill's commentary track on the new Visual Vengeance release Reanimator Academy

    Next Episode: Bloody Birthday

    1 hr 21 min
  6. Girls Nite Out

    Episode 5

    Show notes

    Unlike Hal Holbrook, Adam and Sam aren't phoning it in as they discuss the gender bent whodunit slasher from 1982, Girls Nite Out (AKA The Scaremaker).

    Email us at nightmareusapod@gmail.com

    Follow us on Instagram: @nightmareusapod

    Follow Adam on Letterboxd: @ashursey

    Follow Sam on Letterboxd: @bandsaboutmovie

    Visit Sam's site B & S About Movies

    Part of the Someone's Favorite Productions Podcast Network

    Next Episode: Simon, King of the Witches

    1 hr 17 min
  7. Death Bed: The Bed That Eats

    Episode 4

    Show notes

    In this episode, Adam and Sam leave no crumbs as they discuss George Barry's fairy tale film Death Bed: The Bed That Eats.

    Email us at nightmareusapod@gmail.com

    Follow us on Instagram: @nightmareusapod

    Follow Adam on Letterboxd: @ashursey

    Follow Sam on Letterboxd: @bandsaboutmovie

    Visit Sam's site B & S About Movies

    Next Episode: Girls Nite Out (AKA The Scaremaker)

    1 hr 20 min
  8. I Drink Your Blood

    Episode 3

    Show notes

    What do you get when you cross a ripped from the headlines story involving a pack of wolves attacking children in Iran with the salaciousness of the Charles Manson trial? Throw in a dash of influnce from producer Jerry Gross and you get I Drink Your Blood, the grindhouse classic directed by David E. Durston.

    Do we find a way to talk about Creepshow 2 again? Yes we do.

    Do we spend too much time discussing the Airport movies? Tastes may vary I guess.

    Email us at nightmareusapod@gmail.com

    Follow us on Instagram: @nightmareusapod

    Follow Adam on Letterboxd: @ashursey

    Follow Sam on Letterboxd: @bandsaboutmovie

    Visit Sam's site B & S About Movies

    Sam and Adam each wrote an article in the current issue of The Physical Media Advocate. Sam wrote about the 80's supernatural A Nightmare on Elm Street inspired Bad Dreams, while Adam dove deep into the vault to discover the Golden Age of Exploitation classic from 1945, Mom and Dad.

    The Physical Media Advocate can be purchased at several independent physical media retailers across the globe, and is available worldwide via Amazon (Issue 31).

    Next episode: Death Bed: The Bed That Eats.

    1 hr 49 min
  9. The Crazies

    Episode 2

    Show notes

    In our second episode, Sam wanted to discuss a film literally near and dear to him--George Romero's The Crazies. Do we talk about Creepshow 2 more than the actual film we are covering? Maybe.

    Email us at nightmareusapod@gmail.com

    Follow us on Instagram: @nightmareusapod

    Follow Adam on Letterboxd: @ashursey

    Follow Sam on Letterboxd: @bandsaboutmovie

    Visit Sam's site B & S About Movies

    Next film: I Drink Your Blood

    1 hr 8 min
  10. Don't Go in the House

    Episode 1

    Show notes

    In our first episode, Adam and Sam discuss Joesph Ellison's debut film, Don't Go in the House, which turns out to be very good advice for the women in this movie.

    Don't Go in the House is currently available on Blu Ray from Severin and Arrow. Also streaming on Amazon Prime Video and Tubi (subject to change of course).

    Email us at nightmareusapod@gmail.com

    Follow us on Instagram: @nightmareusapod

    Follow Adam on Letterboxd: @ashursey

    Follow Sam on Letterboxd: @bandsaboutmovie

    Visit Sam's site B & S About Movies

    Next episode: George Romero's The Crazies (1973)

    1 hr 21 min
  11. Episode Zero Trailer

    Show notes

    Get to know your co-hosts Adam and Sam as we begin our journey to discuss all of the films in Stephen Thrower's Nightmare USA.

    Be sure to join us for our first episode where we dive into Joseph Ellison's debut film Don't Go in the House, currently available on Blu Ray from Severin and Arrow. Also streaming on Amazon Prime Video and Tubi (subject to change of course).

    Email us at nightmareusapod@gmail.com

    Follow Adam on Letterboxd: @ashursey

    Follow Sam on Letterboxd: @bandsaboutmovie

    Visit Sam's site B & S About Movies

    15 min