If you have any questions, comments or suggestions for other columns, OR if you're interested in writing one, please contact us at info@sainteuphoria.com and let us know what you think!

Happy New Year!

Since the very first edition of the original Phantom Lake Almanac (the title of this newsletter before becoming the Mihmiverse Monthly in August 2011), the January issue has served to provide an in-depth look back at all the significant Mihmiverse-related events that happened during the previous calendar year.

In honor of this very-long-held tradition, we take this opportunity to revisit all of the thrilling Mihmiverse-related events that took place in calendar year 2025!
 

DVDs, Blu-Rays, and collector tickets for the "Three Bad Girls Who Find a Gun and Become Vampires" arrived in early February, and everything was set for the coming premiere.

GeekFest Toronto announced that "The Wad: The True Story Behind the Phantom Lake County Chewing Gum Disaster" had won an award for Best Mockumentary!
 

Despite a nasty little snow storm the night before, low temps, and slippery road conditions, a good number of fans still came out to the historic Heights Theater to experience the world premiere of "Three Bad Girls Who Find a Gun and Become Vampires" on March 5th!

The enthusiastic crowd seemed to greatly enjoy the misadventures of Baby Face, Short Stack, and Queenie Bee as they battled the evil Pastor Goodman and his hired guns. There were laughs aplenty and DVDs & Blu-Rays flew off the racks after the show!


Toward the end of the month, after 20 years of using PayPal to handle all of the e-commerce needs at SaintEuphoria.com (and receiving a lot of complaints), the experience was upgraded to a new, more flexible provider: Square!

To access the Mihmiverse Square Store, go HERE!
 

April started (as many have) with what appeared to be an April Fool's Day joke. It stated that writer/director Christopher R. Mihm was set to announce that he has big plans for the 20th anniversary of the release of "The Monster of Phantom Lake." According to him, he planned to throw a special event where he will screen (and re-release) the film... in color!

The next day, the "punchline" to the April Fool's Day joke arrived: it was not a joke! A color version of "The Monster of Phantom Lake" will be released on or around March 9th, 2026, which is the 20th anniversary date of the film's original release. An exact date & time of the official event has yet been revealed, but given the fact that the anniversary date is only a few months from the publication of this newsletter, we anticipate it will be announced soon.

Also, the post-"Three Bad Girls" Mihmiverse movie was announced in the April Mihmiverse Monthly online newsletter.

After 20 years of making movies, writer/director Christopher R. Mihm decided that it was time to finally make the anthology movie he's been thinking and talking about for years! Every time Mr. Mihm releases a new movie, he ends up going through a period of paranoia, fear, and self-doubt about the future of his movie universe. Then, inspiration hits and he's off-and-running on his next grand cinematic adventure—and last year turned out to be no different!

Just one short week after the world premiere of "Three Bad Girls Who Find a Gun and Become Vampires," Mr. Mihm found himself brainstorming and writing script pages for what will be his first film of the third decade of the Mihmiverse: "The Wandering Creature (and Other Tales)!"

Contributor credits immediately went on sale!
 

In May, a bevy of new Mihmiverse-related T-shirt designs went on sale at the Mihmiverse TeePublic store.

On the 20th, the first episode of Mihmiverse Cheese & Chit-Chat appeared on the Mihmiverse Patreon. Mihmiverse Cheese & Chit-Chat is a Patreon-exclusive monthly podcast spotlighting the actors, crew-people, and behind-the-scenes folks who make the Mihmiverse possible—and CHEESE!

A week later, principal photography of the first segment of "The Wandering Creature (and Other Tales)" began.


As can be seen in the photo above, actors Elliott Mihm & Michael Kaiser were on hand to shoot a scene from one of the film's segments. Subtitled "The Hand That Wouldn't Die," the story centers around a pair of characters last seen in "Three Bad Girls Who Find a Gun and Become Vampires." Exactly HOW and why they show up (especially given the events of the film in which they previously appeared) has not yet been revealed, but you can be assured that finding out will be worth the wait when this new movie is released later this year!
 

June 4th is National Cheese Day, so writer/director Christopher R. Mihm felt the best way to celebrate was to make the first episode of Mihmiverse Cheese & Chit-Chat free to everyone! Check it out above!

Also, principal photography of "The Hand That Wouldn't Die" wrapped up at the end of June.


Alongside writer/director Christopher R. Mihm (naturally), Mihmiverse regulars David Mihm (Butch) and the Queen of Snakes herself, Stephanie Mihm, (who snapped the photo above) we're on hand (pun intended) to help grab the final shots needed!
 

Principal photography of the second "The Wandering Creature (and Other Tales)" story, "Gnome!," began in July. The following still appeared in the Mihmiverse Monthly online newsletter as proof!


The image doesn't reveal much of anything about the story other than that it does, in fact, include a gnome (of the garden variety)! In all honesty, it would be rather strange if it DIDN'T include at least one! It was also revealed that the segment will include a couple of recognizable characters mixed in with a few new ones.

Mid-month, the schedule for the now-annual Mihmiverse Movie Marathon at the Time Community Theater was released.

Lastly, the creation of the Mihmiverse Film Festival Fund was announced.

One of the ways people discover the films of writer/director Christopher R. Mihm is through film festival screenings, but almost every festival out there charges an entry fee, which generally ranges from $20-$150 per film submitted—and there is no guarantee of acceptance!

The Mihmiverse has been the passion project of one very dedicated guy for over 20 years but, sadly, it's never been a particularly lucrative endeavor. As a result, most film fests have been financially out-of-reach. However, on those rare occasions over the years when Saint Euphoria Pictures/All for George Productions found itself with a little extra cash on-hand, it became possible to submit the films to various festivals.

A decent number of those entries were accepted and led to a handful of awards and accolades, including the coveted Forest J. Ackerman Award for "The Giant Spider" at the 2013 Famous Monsters of Filmland Film Festival, Director's Choice for "The Monster of Phantom Lake" at the 2006 ShockerFest International Film Festival, Best Actress (Amanda Tietz, "Demon with the Atomic Brain") at the 2019 CineUnderground Film Festival in Busto Arsizio, Italy, Best Mockumentary for "The Wad: The True Story Behind the Phantom Lake County Chewing Gum Disaster" at the 2024 Care Awards Film Festival, and many more!

As the Mihmiverse enters its third decade of cheesy monster movies, Mr. Mihm is looking to really expand the reach of his movie universe. One of the best ways to do that is through screenings at film fests. Unfortunately, that requires funds dedicated to the goal of submitting the films to every appropriate event that might be interested in potentially featuring them. Therefore, the Mihmiverse Film Festival Fund, a donation program to allow fine folks like yourself to donate to this specific objective, was created.

If you're interested in helping in whatever capacity you can, please do so by going HERE!
 

The first-ever "Monster Mihmiverse Month" took place at the Mihmiverse Patreon throughout the month of August. In addition to regular features like Bad Poetry Wednesday and Mihmiverse Cheese & Chit-Chat, the Patreon was updated DAILY to include exclusive audio and video content, some of which had previously NEVER been seen by ANYONE other than writer/director Christopher R. Mihm!

Mr. Mihm plans to do another "Monster Mihmiverse Month" this year but, to experience it yourself, you must become a paying member! AND, if you do, you'll be given full access to everything that was made available in last year's "Monster Mihmiverse Month!"

Also in August: "Gnome!" completed principal photography, while it began for the third segment, "Panic at the Hot Dog Festival."

The still below was taken from some of the footage captured while filming "Panic at the Hot Dog Festival." It's not entirely clear what's going on in this image, but it's nothing if not... weird!

 

As everyone went back to school in September, the 3rd annual Mihmiverse Movie Marathon in Oshkosh, Wisconsin went off without a hitch!

Both "The Wad: The True Story Behind the Phantom Lake County Chewing Gum Disaster" and "Three Bad Girls Who Find a Gun and Become Vampires" were awared Honorable Mention status at the 2025 WeirdFest Film Festival in British Columbia, Canada.

Principal photography of the "Panic at the Hot Dog Festival" wrapped early in the month. The titular segment of the Mihmiverse anthology film, "The Wandering Creature (and Other Tales)" began—and concluded—at the end of the month. This only left a pair of "book-end" scenes left to be filmed.

The still below comes from the "The Wandering Creature" segment. In it, we see an as-yet-unnamed character (played by Mihmiverse newcomer Joe Widmer) examining a morel mushroom. Given the fact that he appears to be wearing the same flannel shirt worn by the morel-mushroom-headed monster pictured on the temporary movie poster, we can only speculate that something bad is bound to eventually happen to this guy!

 

October was, once again, a busy month of screenings and events—which is why writer/director Christopher R. Mihm refers to it as the "Mihmiverse screening season!"

It began with Mr. Mihm appearing as a guest at the annual Slash & Bash Horror and Sci-Fi Movie Festival in Topeka, KS and showing "Three Bad Girls Who Find a Gun and Become Vampires." A few weeks later, he screened it twice at the Jack-o-Lantern Jaunt in the home of the REAL Phantom Lake: Mukwonago, Wisconsin. Screening at the Jack-o-Lantern Jaunt" has been a tradition that goes all the way back to the very first Mihmvierse movie (2006's "The Monster of Phantom Lake")!

October concluded with a screening of "Three Girls Who Find a Gun and Become Vampires" at the beautiful Miner Theatre in Ladysmith, Wisconsin!
 

The reveal of the design for the 2026 Mihmiverse Wall Calendar kicked off the month of November. The first Mihmiverse movie, "The Monster of Phantom Lake," was released in 2006, so the theme for the 2026 calendar honors the 20th anniversary of the films of the writer/director Christopher R. Mihm!

Every month includes a montage of images assembled to celebrate a different aspect of the Mihmiverse filmography! The example page below is a collection of colorized stills featuring some of the many alien creatures found throughout the Mihmiverse catalog!

As in previous years, this Mihmiverse-inspired wall calendar was released in EXTREMELY limited quantities and have been selling quite well! We have less than 10 left and, since it's now 2026, they are now available at a reduced price!



Also in November, the United States held trials for the 2026 Winter Olympics in the sport of curling. In mid-October, writer/director Christopher R. Mihm was invited to man a camera to cover the week-long event for the NBC streaming service, Peacock. He happily accepted and spent the entire time taking in the view seen in the image below.


The job was arduous, rewarding, and, ultimately, life-changing! In particular, Mr. Mihm enjoyed rubbing elbows with the giants of a sport he loves so much that he included it in his film, "The Wad: The True Story Behind the Phantom Lake County Chewing Gum Disaster!"

He met many amazing people and, along with his son David (who every Mihmiverse fan knows as Butch from the Phantom Lake Kids movies), was even able to throw a few rocks on the Olympic ice!
 

The last month of 2025 was mostly quiet in the Mihmiverse. Writer/director Christopher R. Mihm appeared as a guest at GeekCon in Eau Claire, WI. He screened a few of his films and was joined by Mihmiverse stars Jackie Baker (Queenie Bee) and Mike Cook (Dr. Edwards).

Finally, just in time for the holidays, production of the next great Mihmiverse film, "The Wandering Creature (and Other Tales)," wrapped!

Actors James Norgard and Mike Cook were on hand to film the final scenes left in writer/director Christopher R. Mihm's anthology film. The scenes filmed are considered the "glue" that ties the anthology's four stories together and, based on the photo seen here, included characters every true fan should recognize... and a flashlight!

Little did anyone realize going into this project that, though each of the four main stories are individually shorter than a feature film, it takes just as much planning and work as a feature to bring each to life. Ultimately, even though it will all end up as a single feature, the time and effort required to bring it to life was roughly equal to four separate films!

"The Wandering Creature (and Other Tales)" is currently in the post-production/editing phase, with plans for release later this Summer.

Lastly, it must be said that just because the new movie is "in the can," it DOES NOT mean it no longer needs contributions. Quite the contrary! It is at this stage in the production of a film when it needs funds the most, as there is much work left to be done! If you would like to see your name in the end credits AND help make sure the film is able to be completed and released on time, we humbly ask for your contribution to the project!

To contribute, go HERE!


After a frustrating, frightening, and thrilling 365 days of ups, downs, lefts, and rights, a new year has dawned, one we hope will be filled with lots of Mihmiverse-related excitement!

Our sincere wish for this new year is for it to be full of peace and good health for everyone, and we look forward to hosting lots of live screenings, events, and appearances over the coming months!

Remember, life is short, so make a point to never take ANYTHING or ANYONE for granted! The staff of the Mihmiverse Monthly wishes you a happy and safe 2026 filled with cheesy, black-and-white monster movies, love, friendship, and much success!  

Do you love the films of writer/director Christopher R. Mihm? Do you want to help ensure that the Mihmiverse continues to survive and thrive into the foreseeable future? AND do you want to experience exclusive Mihmiverse content? If you answered yes to any of these questions, you absolutely MUST join the Mihmiverse Patreon!

The Mihmiverse Patreon is fully sanctioned and personally curated by writer/director Christopher R. Mihm. Every Basic Monster Member is granted access to a treasure trove of Mihmiverse-related stuff, including recurring audio content like Mihmiverse Cheese & Chit-Chat and Bad Poetry Wednesdays, the now-complete series, An Oral History of the Mihmiverse, as well as behind-the-scenes photos and video, first-look news, the ability to watch the entire Mihmiverse catalog, and hosted content like live interviews and film watch-alongs—with more being added all the time! PLUS, members will have opportunities to have their voices heard with online surveys, live chats, and interactive events!

The "indie movie biz" is a tough one, and it's getting more difficult to maintain every year. Thankfully, Patreon is the answer to helping alleviate some of the strain modern filmmakers and artists find themselves under in this increasingly chaotic creative environment. If you're a true fan of the cinematic world writer/director Christopher R. Mihm has created, we highly recommend you join the Mihmiverse Patreon today!

The latest episode of the Mihmiverse Monthly Audiocast has arrived!

This month, host writer/director Christopher R. Mihm discusses human connection, rants about smart phones like an old man yelling at clouds, and reveals his New Year's resolution!

The Mihmiverse Monthly Audiocast is hosted by writer/director Christopher R. Mihm and is focused specifically on what's going on RIGHT NOW in the Mihmiverse. In addition, Mr. Mihm will discuss the monster movie-making process, touch briefly on the future of the 'verse, pontificate on random subjects, and be joined by guests from within and without the Mihmiverse. PLUS, each episode will include something unique you won't find anywhere else!

The Mihmiverse Monthly Audiocast is now hosted, free to the public, at the Mihmiverse Patreon! To download an .mp3 of the latest episode or to listen online, go HERE!

The Wrath of Rathbone!

This month, we're investigating the films of Basil Rathbone! Although he's best known for his portrayal of Sherlock Holmes in several films, Mr. Rathbone appeared in just about every genre of film... including Horror and Sc-Fi!

We've uncovered six non-Holmesian films from those two genres. The first list gives you titles and release years, while the second reveals the clues you need to solve the quiz. It's elementary: Match them up correctly, and perhaps Dr. Watson will write a story about you!

TITLES & YEARS 6. "Hillbillies in a Haunted House" (1967)

CLUES F. It's a comedy based on a story by Edgar Allan Poe. Bela Lugosi is in this one, too.

The Little Shop of Horrors (1960)
Directed by Roger Corman
Starring Jackie Joseph and Jonathan Haze

Directed by legendary producer Roger Corman and shot in only two days and one night, "The Little Shop of Horrors" follows young and clumsy flower shop employee Seymour who, after losing his job for messing up an order for the local dentist, tries to get it back by showing his miserly boss a bizarre hybrid plant he's created. Named the "Audrey Jr." ("Audrey II" in the musical) after the shop girl with whom he is enamored, the sickly plant is just strange enough to earn Seymour his job back (and, hopefully, bring a few customers into the shop). The plant fails to thrive until Seymour realizes the only thing it wants is human blood—which prompts poor Seymour to give the Audrey, Jr. enough of his own that he becomes anemic. Out of ideas and with no extra blood to spare, Seymour takes a walk along some train tracks and accidentally causes the death of another man. He takes advantage of the situation and feeds the man's remains to his plant, which grows exponentially as a result...unfortunately, Seymour's boss observes the act and, on the verge of contacting the police, changes his mind after seeing the line of people waiting to see the Audrey, Jr. What follows is a darkly humorous story involving a sadistic dentist, a demanding, blood-crazed talking plant, a hackneyed love story, an early on-screen appearance by Jack Nicholson, clueless cops, and a rising pile of dead bodies who quickly become plant food. Though similar in many ways, the musical deviates from the original Roger Corman film in several key areas. If you've seen the film version of the musical, you know it ends on a happy Hollywood note...the original film, not so much! If you're a fan of the musical but have never seen the original film OR you're a fan of old B-movies (which, I'm guessing you are since you're reading this newsletter!), there are few as original or as fun as "The Little Shop of Horrors!" Highly recommended!

If you're like most people these days, you tend to stream your favorite TV shows and movies, particularly because it's way more convenient and you have access to them in more places! Did you know there are now several places to stream the entire Mihmiverse catalog?

From the movie that started it all, "The Monster of Phantom Lake," to its musical offshoot, "The Monster of Phantom Lake: The Musical!," and the latest release, "Three Bad Girls Who Find a Gun and Become Vampires," everything you need to "visit" the denizens of Phantom Lake County is available for your streaming pleasure!


The ENTIRE filmography of writer/director Christopher R. Mihm is available through the Mihmiverse Vimeo VOD portal!

Every film is presented using the same ultra high-quality renders used for the official Blu-Ray releases and actually feeds video content to the Drive-in Monsters Roku channel. Most importantly, the Mihmiverse Vimeo VOD portal is the ONLY PLACE to legally own the films digitally!

Mihmiverse DVDs & Blu-Rays are now available at SaintEuphoria.com, the online home of the films of Christopher R. Mihm. In addition, exclusive movie posters, collectibles and other merchandise are now in stock. Everything is available in extremely limited quantities, so get yours today before they run out!