Sometimes an idea comes along, be it in whatever media format you’ve engaged with, and you say “damn, I wish I’d thought of that first!” That was exactly my response to The Last Movie.
Over the last few years, podcasts and old-fashioned radio dramas have become increasingly enmeshed, particularly in the United States, given how it lacks the same kind of radio traditions we’re used to in the UK. Limetown, Welcome to Night Vale, The Black Tapes (which has also formed one of your Podmas stocking treats), all are examples of creeping tales told with a fusion of investigation, interview, recorded scripted drama and lashings of atmosphere. So too is the defiantly weird Tanis.
Now I still haven’t fully got into Tanis quite yet, but I was immediately enraptured by its offshoot from Public Radio Alliance, The Last Movie, produced by much of the same team. Here’s the general series blurb and description for the first episode, ‘Tenebras Occulta’.
Tanis podcast host Nic Silver and regular contributor MK, explore the possible existence of “The Last Movie,” an infamous underground feature film, reputed to drive you insane. Legend has it that every screening of this film was surrounded by bloodshed and controversy: one reviewer actually described slipping on blood in the aisle, as he ran through dozens of people trying to tear him apart.
Creepy, huh? Oh you have no idea.
The Last Movie is six episodes of seeping dread which is just *screaming* for a TV adaptation. You don’t have to be super familiar with Tanis or Silver to enjoy this spin-off (even though there are one or two connective threads) but this is an absolute paean to fans of cinema, horror, celluloid legend and even a dash of H.P. Lovecraft – not specifically that author, but the titular movie, Tenebras Occulta, has more than a little bit of a cinematic version of the Necronomicon going on.
I really don’t want to say too much more for risk of spoilers but this is six episodes, roughly about half hour, and they all roll into each other with addictive, sinister relish. There is payoff while still leaving mystery. This is one story, well told. If you love cinema, and podcasts, this is absolutely going to be your jam.
You can download The Last Movie from Apple Podcasts or your podcast app of choice.