Bravo for the B-side Podcast

Monolith is a single location, one actor film that nails it pretty much across the board. We thoroughly enjoyed this movie and there is nothing but excellent lessons throughout. A high-concept film, we have dubbed it a horror-thriller, Monolith is one of the most engaging single-person movies we have come across. A unique concept, fantastic technical prowess, and an amazing actor all converge to create a film that made us feel we were with her rather than watching her. It had a larger budget than most Indie films, but the lessons apply to any budget level.

Monolith can be found in IFC.

Sometimes there are movies that bomb out from the start, but miraculously find a fanbase years later.  Troll 2 is one such film. A bad movie by all accounts, this poorly written, poorly acted, lifelessly directed debacle is hard to watch. Yet, over the years it has found cult classic status, with regular group showings and gatherings. We put off covering Troll 2 for a very long time because we knew just what we were going to have to endure. This is not an easy watch the first time around, and the second or more times are just grueling. We do have some positive lessons buried in this film. Strap in for the ride on this one.

Troll 2 can be found on Tubi.

Pontypool is another sleeper.  When Jim saw it back in 2008 he wasn’t sure what to make of it.  After watching it a few more times he decided he liked it.  A lot.  Pontypool is a magnificent example of budget-conscious planning.  We talk about the use of just one location, inside, coupled with a great script, makes you feel you are in the middle of the apocalypse without even looking out of a window.  Great cast, and a fantastic concept of how a zombie virus could spread makes this a winner at all levels.  Nothing to pick at here, it’s a great ride and great technical film.

Pontypool can be found on IFC.

Stitches is an Irish horror film production, with a fair amount of comedy strewn in. It has been on our list a long time, and we thoroughly enjoyed the rewatch. The story is simple, Stitches the clown gets killed at a kids party, and sometime later rises from the dead to finish the job. With a decent budget the technical aspects like sound, lighting, coloring, and everything else are great. The practical effects lean towards the comedy, but there is no shortage of blood. Stitches is another film with top examples of what to strive for when making a film.  We loved talking about this film, and will undoubtedly watch it again in the future.

Stitches can be found on Tubi.

Digging for Fire was something of a sleeper for us. We explain what that means in the episode. What we can say is that this is a solid movie. There are a number of lessons in this one, all good. Except for the trailer. Very misleading, and coupled with the very brief logline it may turn people away. Which is a shame because if you skip past this film  you’re missing out on some very good entertainment. There is a lot to enjoy and learn from in this movie. 

Digging for Fire can be found on FilmRise.

As we end this year, we pay tribute to Oscar Micheaux, an amazing black film producer/director/writer and independent studio owner. Starting in silent films, and going to ‘talkies’ when they arrived on the scene, Oscar Micheaux challenged racism, classism, stereotypes, and other social injustices long before current writers and directors. His movies and message were direct, and called out the poor behavior on everyone’s part with simple, clean stories. A number of his films are lost to time, so far, but those that have survived are works of art that every social-message artist should needs to see.  Jim and Dani cover Oscar’s life and his works. Also discussed is the bravery and conviction Oscar Micheaux had to stay true to himself and his message in the early to mid 1900s.

Places to learn more about Oscar Micheaux and see his films:

Filmography 

https://archive.org/details/oscar-micheaux-filmography/6+The+Exile+(1931)+First+Black+Feature+Talkie.mp4

Committee

https://www.micheaux.org/oscar-micheaux

Reference

https://www.britannica.com/biography/Oscar-Micheaux

https://www.encyclopedia.com/people/literature-and-arts/film-and-television-biographies/oscar-micheaux

https://daily.jstor.org/how-oscar-micheaux-challenged-the-racism-of-early-hollywood/

The kudos for Hereditary were many, but we had trouble figuring out where they came from.  We were very excited to watch Hereditary but once again that excitement was left unfulfilled. With stars like Toni Collette and Gabriel Byrne, and a very high budget as an indie film, this should have been a home run. Instead it serves to show that even with millions in budget and A-list talent to bolster an indie project, the writing is where it begins and ends.  In this case, it did not really begin, it just ended. This episode Dani goes solo as Jim lost his voice a few weeks ago and still does not have it back. Dive in and listen to lessons on lost opportunities, such as set coloring, color grading, and original works.

Hereditary is for rent on several platforms.

Back in August of 2021 we have the pleasure of having David Howard Thornton, also known as Art the Clown from the Terrifier franchise, join us for a good long conversation. David is such a wonderfully nice and amazing person we were thrilled to get to spend time with him. With the fame of Terrifier 3, we wanted to bring this way-back-when interview to share with everyone who may have missed it. We talk Art the Clown, horror, panhandlers, lockdown, and more. Dive in and enjoy what we think was a fantastic conversation with a fantastic actor.

Terrifier and Terrifier 2  can be found on multiple services.

Buddymoon proves to be one of the best buddy films put to screen. We were thoroughly entertained as jilted at the alter David is guided on a heart-healing honeymoon by his best friend Flula. This film has plenty to offer in both lessons and aspirations. Excellent cinematography, sound, direction, pacing, and performances. After a few let-downs, Buddymoon was a welcome and fun ride. We have a lot of good to say in this episode.

Buddymoon can be found on Tubi.

The trailer for Broadcast Signal Intrusion had us hooked. However, the film as a whole failed to deliver. The movie serves as a reminder that the foundations of storytelling are more important than the idea for a film. Broadcast Signal Intrusion is a convoluted, slow-moving, and at times annoying slog through a concept based on an actual event that took place in the late 80’s. There were some good points on the technical side, as well as some aspects that came across as lazy.

Broadcast Signal Intrusion can be found on Tubi.