Continuing our streak of bizarre high-concept 80s films, for this week's episode we took a chance on Pee-wee's Big Adventure (1985, dir. Tim Burton). In the first screen depiction of Paul Reuben's kitschy manchild, Pee-wee Herman, we follow his surreal antics in recovering a missing bicycle across an equally strange America.

Created by Derek Delago and Jordan Hester

Music by Jack Ellis

Just in time for Halloween, we took a look at Junji ito's surreal horror manga series, Uzumaki. Known for body horror and a preoccupation with all things "spiral," this manga ain't for the faint of heart.

Content Warning: Strong Language, Horror Imagery

Created by Derek Delago and Jordan Hester

Music by Jack Ellis

In today's lesson we talk about the 2020 Olympics, the disintegrating political system, and of course, psychic children. Of course, we're talking about the groundbreaking 1988 animated film, Akira. In addition to covering the complex characters, complicated story, and rife amounts of body horror, we also talk about the animation industry in the late 80s and how Akira influenced the next decade (and more).

Content Warning: Strong Language, Discussion of Graphic and Sexualized Violence

Created by Derek Delago and Jordan Hester

For today's show, we take a trip to the Baker mansion in Resident Evil 7: Biohazard. The most recent mainline Resident Evil game took the series back to basics by having you fight against "evil residents" and innovated by adopting a first person perspective, in a series famed for it's third-person gameplay.

Content Warning: Strong Language, Horror Imagery

Created by Derek Delago and Jordan Hester

Join us for the low down on the Soggy Bottom Boys...er the Coen Brother's comedy O Brother, Where Art Thou? Painting a loving (if occasionally) critical picture of the American South pre-World War II, O Brother, Where Art Thou? is a gold mine of quips and references to mythology, if lacking some of the dramatic or satirical teeth of other Coen films.

Content Warning: Strong Language, Discussion of Hate Groups

For our episode today, we take a visit to the grotesquely cute roguelike indie game, The Binding of Isaac. Liberally mixing biblical horror, classic dungeon delving, and a whole lot of black comedy, The Binding of Isaac proved to be the breakthrough hit of indie game maker Edmund McMillen, later spawning a remake called Binding of Isaac Rebirth.

Content Warning: Suggestive Material, Strong Language

Created by Derek Delago and Jordan Hester

Taking a detour to harder sci-fi, we take a look at Robert Heinlein's The Moon is a Harsh Mistress. A fitting title, considering all the craziness that happens when a fight for independence occurs on 2075's premier penal colony: the moon.

For today's show, we're taking a look at Disco Elysium, a bizarre narrative RPG developed by ZA/UM. After surviving the bender to end all benders, you play an amnesiac detective investigating a murder. How (if?) you solve that murder is up to you as your emotions and thoughts tailor your strange journey through a town in the midst of chaos and corruption. And yes, you can continue to do drugs, punch children, and worse on the way to the truth. 

Content Warning: Suggestive Material, Strong Language

Music by Jack Ellis

For today's show, we take a look at Nobuhiko Obayashi's House, a bizarre horror classic. Created with input from Obayashi's young daughter, the film juggles bizarre and horrific imagery with extremely goofy setups and asides, creating a dreamlike atmosphere that manages to be both uncanny and hilarious.

Content Warning: Strong Language

Created by Derek Delago and Jordan Hester

Music by Jack Ellis

For this iteration of Music Class, we're covering the retro-inspired soul artist, Mayer Hawthorne. Known for his geeky aesthetic in a sensual genre, Hawthorne has evolved from a one-man band to an Indie darling, combining retro mo-town with modern tricks.

Content Warning: Strong Language, Sexually Explicit Lyrics

Created by Derek Delago and Jordan Hester

Music by Jack Ellis