Hey everybody, have you heard the news? Joe Bob Briggs is back in town. This week, Joe Bob and Darcy welcomed May with a chilling double feature centred on witches, the supernatural, and Walpurgisnacht. The movies shown were City of the Dead (1960) and Ringu (1998).

If you’re unfamiliar, on The Last Drive-In with Joe Bob Briggs every first Friday of the month, the former Monstervision host and his co-host Darcy the Mail Girl feature a horror double bill. Sometimes the picks have a thematic link; other times they’re just bloody good fun.

City of the Dead’s Witchy Terror

The Last Drive-In night kicked off with City of the Dead, a black-and-white creeper that oozes fog-drenched atmosphere. Christopher Lee stars in this occult tale of witchcraft and revenge set in a cursed New England town. Though often overlooked, it’s a moody slice of retro horror with a heavy dose of gothic style.

Joe Bob dove deep into the City of the Dead’s history, with some interesting facts and some background on famous witches. Darcy leaned into the spooky academia vibes with a Salem-inspired outfit and noted how the film’s tone still hits hard today, especially for fans of old-school supernatural suspense.

Ringu’s Psychological Nightmare

Next came Ringu, the Japanese classic that changed horror forever. With its slow-building dread and viral curse premise, it ushered in the wave of J-horror that dominated the early 2000s. The infamous videotape still haunts viewers, and Sadako remains one of horror’s most iconic spirits.

Joe Bob explored the cultural context behind Ringu, touching on Japan’s relationship with technology and folklore. He also compared it to its American remake, highlighting the stark differences in pacing and mood. Darcy shared how Ringu was one of the first horror films to truly scare her, and why its restrained, cerebral terror makes it timeless.

Conclusion

This month’s episode leaned hard into the supernatural, contrasting the chilly, gothic eeriness of City of the Dead with the modern existential fear of Ringu. It was a pairing that showed how horror can evolve across decades; and still get under your skin. As always, Joe Bob’s mix of history, trivia, and sass elevated The Last Drive-In experience, although it would’ve been nice to have a guest.

The Last Drive-In with Joe Bob Briggs airs live on Shudder every month on the first Friday at 6 PM PST / 9 PM EST. If you miss the live airing, episodes are archived and posted the following Sunday.

For more on Horror, make sure to check back to That Hashtag Show.

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