Gem Hunt
The family behind Dirt Dog Cinema brings you “Gem Hunt”. On each episode the dirt dogs dig up an obscure horror movie, gauge its level of obscurity, and vote to decide whether it warrants “hidden horror gem” status. New episodes drop bi-weekly on Sundays.
Episodes
Disappear Completely (2022)
If you’re reading this and/or gearing up to listen, we suggest chanting the following phrase in your bathroom mirror three times: ‘rectum? I hardly knew him!!’ Or in other words, Cody has successfully survived the big surgery! But enough life or death stuff, let’s talk life or death stuff! This week on Gem Hunt, the Dirt Dog family goes to town on a newer offering- the Mexican film Disappear Compl
Lurking Fear (1994)
Welcome back to another episode of Gem Hunt, did you miss us😏?? If you’re wondering why we’re a week late, it turns out abdominal surgery can put a stop to almost anything. . even podcast editing. This week we’re tackling a little movie called lurking fear (1994) which is LOOSELY based on the Lovecraft story of the same name. Think old cosmic horror meets general hospital, trust us you’re not goin
Progeny (1998)
The 90's brought us an abundance of alien content, and embedded a profound fear of alien abductions within the minds of many impressionable youngsters . . but why? The Gem Hunt team is proud to bring you our in-depth investigative reporting. Or, more accurately, we dig into the Brian Yuzna’s 1998 alien-impregnation shocker Progeny in search of answers. Buckle up for some fun sci-fi horror schlock
Death Game (1977)
The Dirt Dogs are back from vacation! No more fun and games! Wait a sec- I take it back.. Join us for Death Game, which is a helluva thing. Home invasion! Threesomes! Crazy makeup! Molestation! This 1977 feature has it all. Will wild performances from Seymour Cassel, Colleen Camp, and Sandra Locke be enough to push this film into gem territory, or does it belong in the dumper? Tune in to find out.
Chasing Sleep
Better late than never.. Or maybe never is okay too. It feels a bit that way the past couple of weeks. Anyway, we’re delivering this episode ridiculously late because the damn dogs ruined our recording session, and it took us a while to come down from the fury and frustration. And then we had some audio issues to boot. BUT, now without further ado, we present to you the surreal slammer jammer, Cha
Shallow Ground
Hi! We are Dirt Dogs and we are SHALLOW, and also GROUNDed. Which is great news, as this week’s Gem Hunt selection is a lil’ ripper from 2004 that goes by the name of Shallow Ground. It’s mostly about a very bloody nude boy and some dumb cops (I guess?). Join us as we dive on in- but watch out- this ground is hella shallow! How can GROUND even BE shallow, dear listener? Tune in to find out.
The Killer Nun
Welcome back to Gemhunt! What are we watching this week? Well, it’s nun-ya business. Just kidding, this week we’re discussing The Killer Nun (1979), an infamous nunsplotation film loosely based on a true story. What is up with us and nuns? Are we being indoctrinated by Catholicism? Maybe we’re slowly but surely turning into a religious, Catholic-leaning family. Tune in and find out.
The Righteous (2021)
The Dirt Dog fam got all Catholic-y on this week’s episode, talking about the relatively new Canadian film, The Rightgeous (2021), from first-time writer / director Mark O’Brien. The fact that we recorded on Easter (a holiday we do not care about) was a complete accident. Turns out all three of us are quite dumb when it comes to Catholicism, and religion and general.. But we give it the old colleg
Here Comes the Devil
We’re still here, friends! Join us for another installment of Gem Hunt. Parental sex! Powerful caves! Throat ripping! Mexico! It’s 2012’s Here Comes the Devil ¡Be there and/or ser cuadrada!
Meet the Applegates
The dirt dog fam veers way off the beaten path and back into comedy territory with this week’s selection: the 1990 cult film Meet the Applegates, directed by Michael Lehmann, who also brought you the classic dark comedy Heathers. Grab your high school text book, flip to the satire section, and get ready to ridicule suburban consumerism. We also bring back the obligatory “is this a horror film?” ga
Baby Blood
We’re slithering toward spring, and what better way to prepare for the change of seasons than by screening a good ol’ pregnancy-horror film featuring a primordial psychic fetus and loads of blood. Join the Dirt Dog family for a discussion of Alain Robak’s 1990 French gore-fest Baby Blood. Believe or not, there are a lot of god damn horror films about pregnancy out there. We talk about that, and ot
5ive Girls
This week on Gem Hunt, your 3hree favorite dirt dogs have a little fun with teenage witchcraft, Mr. Ron Perlman, and the confounding use of numbers in movie titles! That’s right- it’s 2006’s 5ive Girls! Walk through the bathroom wall with us to see if this one lands firmly in the toilet, OR manages to achieve gem status.
Eyes of Fire
Alright dorks, on this week’s episode of gem hunt we’re going dumpster diving! Oh wait, fuck.. wrong movie. Join us this week as we venture to the frontier to discuss Eyes of Fire (1983). It's our first in depth discussion of Folk Horror. Be there or be square losers.
L.A. AIDS Jabber
Well, we’ve gone and done it.. we ended our holiday vacation and finally finished our first episode of 2026. Happy New Year or whatever.. We are starting the year off with a bang (or possibly a dud depending on who you ask). If you listened to the past two or three episodes, you know we’ve been threatening to watch and review the infamous 1994 movie L.A. AIDS Jabber.. guess what? That’s what we’re
Prey (1977)
This week on Gem Hunt, we raid this year’s October list one more time, and revisit 1977’s Prey for some weird British lesbionic action. Aliens! Dead birds! Awkward parties! Dive into the fetid pond with us, as we see if what we dredge up is gemalicious or turdtastical. Happy hunting and happy holidays from the Dirt Dog Family.
Sledgehammer (1983)
Are you into bald teenagers? Do you like foggy rooms? Are you a little freak who likes scary tall men with tiny clothes? Well then - you’ve come to the right place. On this week's episode of Gem Hunt we’re kicking off the holiday season right with the dream-like logic of Sledgehammer (1983) -- a movie that even the director doesn’t seem to like or take seriously. Is it a gem? Is it a turd? Is it a
Schizo
We survived October! Now it’s time to get back to business as usual, diggin’ for gems, finding turds, and what not. This week, the Dirt Dogs grab a pick from the October list: English proto-slasher Schizo from 1976, a film by Pete Walker. What does it really mean to go “schizo?” We can’t promise you’ll find out for sure, but check out the episode anyway. And, stick around for a brief October recap
The Hearse
Plop, plop, sparkle, sparkle. It’s Gem Hunt time! This week the dirt dog family tackles 1980’s The Hearse. Gem? Turd? Can a PG movie be scary? Who’s driving that thang? And what’s up with men? Also we fill y’all in on what we’ve been up to in October. Happy Halloween, bitches!
October Update #2
We are approaching the final week of October, so it's time for another update on our October watchlist. Tune in for quick chat about the films we've watched over the past couple of weeks including some wild ones like The Baby (1973) and Prey (1977). We'll have a full episode for ya' next week, and might even drop a hint on what we'll be talkin' about during this update. Get your costumes dialed in
Nadja
Happy spooky season and welcome back to Gemhunt! This week we’re back to our roots with a new, sapphic-charged vampire film: Nadja (1994). Get ready for some artsy bullshit, hot ladies, terrible men, cool vampire action, and a special guest appearance from our lord and savior David Lynch.
October Update #1
Howdy folks! This week we have a special abbreviated episode covering what we’ve watched so far this October. Join us as we stumble our way through some very brief (5 words or less) descriptions of the movies we’ve watched this month and provide an update on coming attractions.
Fear No Evil (1981)
It’s finally October, the Dirt Dog Family’s favorite month of the year! We’re excited to embark on another October Horror Movie Challenge, but first- we’ve got a movie to review: the 1981 bizarro satanic panic film, Fear No Evil. This is a weird one folks. Is it homoerotic or homophobic (or somewhere in between)? What’s the deal with all the religious mumbo jumbo? We’ll try our best to answer thes
He Knows You're Alone
This week on Gem Hunt, everything breaks down in a family brouhaha over the surname of some guy called Tom Hank or perhaps Hanks. This guy appears in our movie, He knows You’re Alone, an early slasher from 1981. Film newbie Hank(s) trips a broad to meet a broad in this (girl power?) bride-focused offering. Featuring stabbings, heads in the fishtank, and beautiful Staten Island, NY, babeeeeees. Al
Wild Zero
Welcome back to Gem Hunt!!Our hiatus is over and we’re back better than ever, diving headfirst into the wild, campy chaos of Wild Zero (1999) — a cult classic featuring Guitar Wolf, romance, zombies, the power of Rock ’n’ Roll, the yakuza, bowl cuts, and the potential collapse of civilization as we know it. Join us this week as we break down the madness, and decide if this truly deserves the title
Tin Can Man
If you’re having a bad day, week, or year.. just remember, it can always get worse. You may want to think twice about answering your door if someone knocks this evening. We can guarantee you’ll definitely think twice about answering a knock at your door if you happen to watch this week’s movie, Tin Can Man from 2007 (or 2012?). Prepare yourself for a claustrophobic waking nightmare and join us for
The Night Walker
Are you awake? Is this thing on? Was it all a dream? This week the Dirt Dogs go waaay back to 1964 to check out William Castle’s The Night Walker. It’s old, it’s dreamy, it’s in black and white and it has some big time aged Hollywood talent attached. Will gimmicks and star power carry this flick over the finish line to achieve gem status, or will it turd out? What will we talk about if there’s no
Hex (1980)
Ghosts, ghouls, vampires, dentures, and shitty husbands: what do they have in common? I don’t know, but they’re all here to party in this week’s episode of Gem Hunt, where we dive into the Hong Kong cult classic Hex (1980). Do you like boobs? Do you like ghosts with cleavers and green goop? Then you’ll love what we’ve got in store!
The Black Room (1982)
Is Gem Hunt joining the 27 club? Technical difficulties might just push us over the edge. But despite the audio issues with the new Dirt Dog computer, we still have movie stuff to discuss. Join us for a visit to sleazy 80’s Los Angeles as we debate whether The Black Room is a horror film or an erotic thriller. It may even be a vampire film. We even find time to talk about our favorite horror novel
Abruptio
Everyone is a puppet, including the Gem Hunt crew. Who’s controlling you? Maybe it’s the Dirt Dogs.. The only way to find out is to check out this week’s episode, which also happens to be the Gem Hunt one year anniversary. This week, we review the 2023 film Abruptio, with a cast made up entirely of puppets, and featuring the voice work of some horror legends. Can a new film be a gem? The answer is
Poor Pretty Eddie
Howdy y’all, join us on this week’s episode of Gem Hunt as we head down south for some good ol’ exploitation! Blacks! Hicks! All will be ‘sploitated in this week’s film-Poor Pretty Eddie (1975). Gem? Taxidermied turd? Let’s check it out! Face down, butt up, America!
The Attic Expeditions
Another late episode.. Sorry ‘bout that. Do you like being confused? Do you feel nostalgic for those late 90s / early 2000s mind benders, crafted meticulously to make you question reality? If so, you’re in luck because this week’s movie will surely tie your brain tissue in knots. Released in 2001, The Attic Expeditions takes you on a journey into insanity and black magic, featuring the legendary J
I Need You Dead
It’s new, it’s live, it’s local! This week on Gem Hunt, the dirt dogs check out a movie filmed in good ole Portland, Oregon (currently on fire). Voodoo Donuts vs. Vegan Strip Clubs is streaming now.. Oh, wait! Just kidding- it’s a little flick from 2020 called ‘I Need You Dead’.. Get ready for a rollicking discussion of small budgets, big dreams, and Garfield with tits. Gem? Turd? Are half-thumbs
Lips of Blood
Do you like detailed discussions surrounding women’s bush levels, sexy vampire twins, the French way of living, and soft core porn? Well, the answer better be yes because on this week’s episode of gem hunt we’re diving into the sexy mind of Jean Rollin, reviewing his 1975 cult classic Lips of Blood; joined by our first ever super special guest star: Buggy’s dad! This week is all about family, so b
Welcome to Arrow Beach
Hey y’all, sorry we’re late posting this episode.. One not-to-be-named dirt dog is suffering from chemo brain and has also been doing the hand thing, resulting in a dereliction of his editing responsibilities. On this week’s episode of Gem Hunt, we drive our yellow hot rod back to 1973 for a strange little film called Welcome to Arrow Beach. DISCLAIMER: this movie is very hard to come by and youtu
Night Feeder
GEM HUNT EPISODE TWENTY?! Say what?! This week the gang bellyflops into the world of late eighties shot on video weirdness with Night Feeder (1988). Join us as what’s left of our brains gets sucked out through our eyeholes. Does quality matter? Are some movies obscure for a reason? HAVE we been bombarded by boobs (or turds)? Sit back, take a hit of your local punk rock designer drug, and tune in t
Sundown: The Vampire In Retreat
Dust off your cowboy boots and grab your SPF 5000 because on this week’s episode of gem hunt we’re heading to Purgatory—no, not that one, but the sleepy desert town where vampires just want to sip synthetic blood and live in peace. We’re talking about Sundown: The Vampire in Retreat—the 1989 cult classic horror-comedy western. Join us as we sink our teeth into this bizarre yet delightful mix of We
Kolobos
Boobs, knee slivers, and Marianne Faithfull; these are just a few of the random topics the dizzy Dirt Dogs find themselves distracted by in this scattered episode of Gem Hunt. You’ll also hear plenty about Dario Argento, Italian horror cinema, the 90’s, and elaborate deaths, as your hosts deliberate on the 1999 film Kolobos. What kind of film is this and what exactly in tarnation is going on here?
Mirror Mirror (1990)
Happy New Year, bitches! All three Dirt Dogs are back, and resolutely happy-sad! This week we dive into 1990’s Mirror Mirror, featuring a pretty subdued performance by the indomitable Karen Black, and a pretty Lydia Deetz performance by the disappearing Rainbow Harvest. The dog dies, a mirror gets it on, twinkies represent, and OMG David Lynch. We hope you join us on your fave podcast streamer for
Adult Swim Informercials - Part 2
We apologize for posting late again. It turns out reviewing 46 short films (or whatever) is a lot of work.. who would’a thunk it? But, we’re back with Part 2 of our Adult Swim Infomercial adventure; well, two of us anyway. Buggy’s South American exploits continue. This week we’ll be discussing worm people, skin removal, a nuclear apocalypse, professional wrestlers, and much more. Most importantly,
Adult Swim Informercials - Part 1
Do you often find yourself awake at 4:00 am watching random television through blurry eyes while only half paying attention? If so, maybe you’ve encountered an oddity or two that scrambled your mind. On this episode, two of your least favorite Dirt Dogs venture into unprecedented territory, exploring haunted hotels and casinos, farting helicopters, dog-men, evil doppelgangers and sitcom theme song
Body Melt
Better late then never- unless you’ve already passed stage one (hallucinations), stage two (glandular), and moved on to stage three-AAAAH! AAAAH! (Insert car crash here). Wait, where are we? Oh! It’s Gem Hunt! This week the Dirt Dogs are getting up to some pharmaceutical fun, with 1993’s Body Melt. Strap yourselves in for a wild ride full of injections, snot, and yokels. Gem? Turd? How many points
Deadly Messages
Welcome to Gem Hunt TV week. The Dirt Dogs are live on prime time! That’s a lie.. we’re actually going back in time to check out the made-for-tv horror flick Deadly Messages from 1985. Get ready for ouija boards, 80’s misogyny, and a killer that looks suspiciously like the Terminator. The Fam also delivers on their promise to recap their favorite horror screenings from October. Let’s hope nobody
Sewu Dino
The Dirt Dogs are back, well actually we’ve been here all along, but we have been dealing with a 1,000 day curse brought on by a rival family! What a coinky-dink! This week’s movie, Sewu Dino (2023), from Indonesia, has a similar plot line. Gem? Turd? Are families the actual curse? Tune in to find out, and enjoy our pre-election banter. Things are going great!
Mad Monster Party
Kids, they’re what’s for dinner… Or maybe kids are the future of the horror genre if their stick-in-the-mud parents would just give them a nudge in the right direction. Luckily, Buggy’s parents gave her that nudge, and this week the Dirt Dog Family reviews one of Buggy’s favorite childhood classics, Mad Monster Party. Let’s kick off Horror October with a bit of fun! The whole gang is here for this
Reverb & Decoder (Double Feature)
We made it to episode 10 y’all! It’s some kind of milestone. In honor of the achievement the Dirt Dog family tackles a double feature. Lube up your minds and jam out with your hosts for this special music themed episode featuring the British film Reverb and the cyberpunk obscurity Decoder from West Germany. We got shaggy haircuts, digital farts, demonic invocations, meat tubes, revolutionary casse
The Mafu Cage
It's family fun week at Gem Hunt! Join the Dirt Dogs as they dive deep into sisterhood, animal husbandry, and science(?). Directed by Karen Arthur in 1978, The Mafu Cage features the incredible hair and talent of all-fam favorite Carol Kane! Gem? Turd? Deviation? Listen to find out!
Savageland
Dive into this week’s episode of Gem Hunt as we discuss the found footage film Savageland, set in the fictional Arizona border town Sangre de Cristo: a town that was massacred in less than 12 hours with little to no trace of the victims. The single survivor, an illegal immigrant named Francisco Salazar, is charged with the crime; however, new compelling evidence turns an already shaky conviction i
Retribution (1987)
Cities can be weird, grimy, and a bit scary, especially when the Dirt Dog Family shows up. Put on some blue eyeshadow and join your hosts in 80’s Los Angeles for a free-wheeling review of the film Retribution. Expect plenty of gore chatter and a brief discussion about black bears. Will the Fam give a thumbs up to this 1987 supernatural revenge flick? There's only one way to find out..Germ Hat soun
Baba Yaga
This week on Gem Hunt, the Dirt Dogs check out a sexy Italian comic book recreated in the flesh with 1973’s Baba Yaga. Join us as we take selfies with a cursed camera, cuddle a dominatrix doll, and put up with some pretty ok dubbing. Is it a gem? Is it a turd? Is it radical? Tune in to find out, but please mind the bottomless pit in the living room on the way in..
Spider Baby or, The Maddest Story Ever Told
Meeting new people is hard, and meeting psychotic cannibalistic distant relatives is even harder. This week we dive into the lost cult classic Spider Baby or, The Maddest Story Ever Told, and discuss what the term cult classic even means. Is Spider Baby a cult film? Is it dog shit or something that sparkles? Tune in and find out. P.S. Lon Chaney Jr. will also be there..
A Mata Negra (The Black Forest)
If you happen upon a creepy dying man deep in the forests of Brazil and he asks you to read a spell from a magic book to save his soul, be sure to follow his exact instructions. This week, the Dirt Dog family tries to raise the dead using the Lost Book of Cipriano while reviewing Rodrigo Aragão’s 2018 film, A Mata Negra (The Black Forest). Avoid the blood splatter and keep your dial tuned to Gem
Alucarda
This week, the elder Dirt Dogs get schooled by Buggy on lesbian vampire literature, as they dive into Juan López Moctezuma's Alucarda. Tune in to find out if this 1977 Mexican film wins gem status, or belongs back in the blood-filled coffin with the other turds.
Fatal Games
Beth, Buggy, and Cody enroll in the Falcon Academy of Athletics with a place in the Nationals on the line. Can your hosts uncover the identity of the demented javelin-hurling killer brutally dispatching young athletes in the 1984 film Fatal Games before it's too late? Tune in to find out whether this 80’s obscurity is awarded with a hidden gem award or relegated to the turd bin. And remember.. Win
Heart of Midnight
Welcome to the first episode of Gem Hunt! Join the Dirt Dogs (Beth, Buggy, and Cody) as they discuss how the show will work, explain the show's "super scientific" obscurity rating, and analyze the 1988 film Heart of Midnight, starring Jennifer Jason Leigh and featuring a very creepy cameo from Steve Buscemi.
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