Bravo for the B-side Podcast

Hokum brings us into the world of the supernatural in rural Ireland. With a healthy budget and solid cast the technical aspects are spot on. What we really focus on in this episode is the writing and storytelling techniques through the lens. It was a fun horror to watch, and one of the very few that actually hit on our creepiness meter. Adam Scott is brilliant as a complete asshole who follows his own version of a Hero’s Journey. Strong performances by tertiary characters that leave an indelible impression on the viewer raise the level substantially. We also focus on the lack of backstory of the big bad. It was not needed, we did not get it, and the movie is all the better for it. Too many horror films, especially supernatural-based ones, bore us with details that make no difference whatsoever in the course of the film. In fact it can detract from it, which we discuss.

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Wrymrood: Apocalypse is the sequel to Wyrmwood: Road of the Dead, which we covered some time back. Another indie film with fantastic lessons. We talk about the technical aspects that are fantastic, though we focus on the writing. Wyrmwood: Apocalypse is a great example of how you can ramp up a horror movie with some fun. Performances are excellent, particularly those that lean heavily into the campiness of their character. With a bit broader room for sets because of a larger budget, the film keeps true to its Indie origins. A few great sets, lots of outdoor locations, you can see where even with extra cash it was spent wisely. We don’t get lost in extravagance, instead we are treated to a very real-feeling practical world. And, a great helping of gore.

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It’s called a new interpretation of Vampire films. While that is very misleading, The Transfiguration is a fantastic film in viewing and lessons. It does involve the topic of vampires, but it is a deep exploration of a troubled young man. The lessons are high-end. The technical aspects are spot-on at each level. The performances were great, but there is little dialogue. The true mastery is the writing and direction, where we see how to effectively bring a low-dialogue story to an audience. Also, we discuss our upcoming guesting on Talking Pondo, with our friends Cliff and Marty. This will air on 8/31. When you’re done here give them a listen.

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This podcast is about lessons, and Scream of the Blind Dead has a whole bunch of them. From beginning to end it is chock full of lessons on what not to do. When we were searching for the next movie for the show we stumbled on this and it looked like an earnest effort from the trailer, so we threw it on. What we did not know was that this film was under forty minutes. So effectively, a short feature or short film. The one positive note on this is that someone wanted to make it, and they did. Beyond that it lacks structure, story, clarity. No dialogue. Modeled after characters created by Amando de Ossorio, a prominent figure in the 1970’s Spanish horror boom, it does not bring nostalgia as much as it brings in laborious counting of how not to make a film.

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Dinner in America was suggested by our friends Clif and Marty of Pondo Enterprises. Took a while to finally get to it, but it was worth the wait. The technical lessons are very simple and short; it did it all right. Where we break things down beings with the characters. A fantastic example of bringing depth to what should be simple characters. Often in Indie films and even B-movies, simple characters are taken for granted. Dinner in America gives us some deep looks, all through a comedic lens, and these two primary characters connect with the viewer all through the film. The pacing is steady. Where the film shines is the excellent writing and acting coming together. The plot is simple but takes us on a grand journey. Very similar to films like Gentlemen Broncos, Napoleon Dynamite, Local Hero, where you feel like you are right there as these characters grow. It also goes without saying that this is probably one of the best films depicting the punk rock lifestyle and attitude without overdoing it.

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We are lucky to be able to speak to the creator of Robotica Destructiva, Sam Gaffin, and actor Kristal Theron who played Luna. Once again we find ourselves in a fantastic conversation with two incredible creatives.  We learn how random encounters can lead to a steady friendship and filmmaking. Sam gives us some insight into the evolution of Robotica Destructiva, Kristal shares what it’s like to work on a green screen film. And from there we have a fantastically fun talk. Be sure to check out the following films and links:

The Killer Robots and the Battle for the Cosmic Potato

The Killer Robots! Crash and Burn

I Am Robot You Are Not! (TV Series)

Wrath of the Minitaur

Sam Gaffin: Electro Psycho Transmutation Cop

Zombie Debra

Robotica Destructiva

Rubber Nose Massacre

Werewolf Summer

The Boar Knight

https://www.youtube.com/@samgaffin

https://www.youtube.com/@thekillerrobots 

https://www.instagram.com/thespellchecc

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It has been far too long since we have had Tucky Williams on the show. This interview we celebrate a milestone for Tucky’s film Girl-Girl Scene 1984. Then we get into some great conversations on filmmaking, catching up, post-pandemic filmmaking, and more. Always a delight to speak with, Tucky gives some point-blank views on everything from indie film to daily life. If this is your first time listening to Tucky we encourage you to reach back into our episodes and dive into the first two interviews we have had with her. Especially if you’re looking for something upbeat.

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Wallace Peebles: Paranormal Inspectre is a good example of how comedy can have a very narrow appeal.  We thought the trailer was sufficiently entertaining to take this one on for the show.  In the end it was just not for us.  Not our kind of humor.  There are some very valuable lessons that the movie has to offer.  Pacing being the most important among them.  Technically the film is sound.  Even with a solid technical foundation, the poor writing, puerile humor, and some unfortunate if not offensive choices make this a nearly unbearable watch.  In the end, this movie may be enjoyed by some folks, that’s how movies are.

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Robotica Destructiva is a great movie, one that is truly a labor of love. It is a primary lesson in what we keep saying, Make your movies! Similar to Manborg, which we covered in the past, it is live action against a green screen world of renderings and compositing. Costume design is great, the look of the movie is very comic oriented, and at no point is it lost on you the amount of work building the digital worlds. Our only issues are with the modulation of the android voices, which most of the time makes it difficult to understand what is being said, and the pacing. It is fast. Non-stop speed all the way through. If watched without taking notes it may not have been so difficult to keep up, but in general audiences do enjoy a pause here and there to soak things in before the next action sequence. For note taking purposes, the speed was just too fast. All in all, this should be watched for both lessons and entertainment.

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The Hero is a great film full of top-notch lessons. We follow Lee, an aged Western film star who has been riding the tail-end of his career for some time. With work only coming in the form of commercial voice-overs, Lee does not have much to look forward to. With a dire diagnosis, Lee starts to take inventory of his life, his situation, and what having a future really means. The cast ensemble is amazing. With Sam Elliott leading the charge, Laura Prepon, Kyrsten Ritter, and Nick Offerman join in for an incredible experience. Primary lesson in this episode is show don’t tell. So much incredible voiceless acting, with strong direction and constant movement it makes for a great watch and something to aspire to in filmmaking and writing.

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