By Chad & Hoch
Two middle-aged cinephiles discuss one film a week.
John Milius' 1982 macho swords & sorcery revenge tale, CONAN THE BARBARIAN, is our feature presentation this week! We talk the film's "toxic masculinity", Oliver Stone's early involvement, adding vodka to the film's blood recipe, Arnold's charisma, and much more! We...
Robert J. Rosenthal's 1982 telekinetic sex comedy, ZAPPED!, is our feature presentation this week! We talk cycle of telekinesis films of the 70s & 80s, actress Heather Thomas' reservations about nudity, Scott Baio's lack of charisma, the art of the...
Walter Hill's 1979 down and dirty gang warfare flick, THE WARRIORS, is our feature presentation this week! We talk the gang fights are theaters hurting the film's box office, character actors James Remar & David Patrick Kelly, musician Joe Walsh's...
Russ Meyere's 1970 counterculture boob-tastic freakout, BEYOND THE VALLEY OF THE DOLLS, is our feature presentation this week! We talk Russ Meyers' obsession with breasts, Roger Ebert's screenplay, the wonder that is Playmate Cynthia Myers, the incredible editing, and so...
Jan De Bont's 1996 mother nature is a motherfucker blockbuster, TWISTER, is our feature presentation this week! We talk if this film is the last great summer blockbuster, the mutiny on-set, Tom Hank's hidden role in the film, the "suck...
Paul Thomas Anderson's 2017 beautifully twisted London romance, PHANTOM THREAD, is our feature presentation this week! We'll talk the film's surprising twist, if it's a great dark comedy or not, what inspired the film, how Reynolds Woodcock likes his asparagus,...
Richard Linklater's 2016 college baseball hangout comedy, EVERYBODY WANTS SOME, is our feature presentation this week! We'll talk it's spiritual sequel connection to Dazed & Confused, the virtues of masculine vulgarity, the solid cast of no-names, and much more! We...
Jeremy Saulnier's brutal 2015 neo-nazi punk rock thriller, GREEN ROOM, is our feature presentation this week. We discuss the vicious violence, the skinhead punk rock subculture, Patrick Stewart playing against type as a "big bad", the intense character "Werm", and...
Alex Garland's 2024 dystopian America action film, CIVIL WAR, is our bonus feature presentation this week. We discuss the screenplay, Jesse Plemmons memorable cameo, Journalists as heroes, if the mystery of the plot helped or hurt the film, and much...
Dan Gilroy's 2014 Los Angeles ambulance chasing thriller, NIGHTCRAWLER, is our feature presentation this week. We discuss the 1930s origin, Jake Gyllenhaal's transformation, the mid-2000s depiction of Los Angeles, Renee Russo, Bill Paxton, and much more! We also pick our...
Scott Cooper's 2013 rust belt revenge drama, OUT OF THE FURNACE, is our feature presentation this week. We discuss if the film is too full of despair, the Pennsylvania setting, Woody Harrelson as a villain, elevating a genre film, and...
Derek Cianfrance's 2012 generational crime drama, THE PLACE BEYOND THE PINES, is our feature presentation this week. We discuss the original DP departing the film due to a grim dream, Cianfrance & Gosling's working relationship, Ben Mendelsohn, the robbery scenes,...
The second installment of Quentin Tarantino's 2004 exploitation extravaganza, KILL BILL VOL. 2, is our feature presentation this week. We discuss the the comparisons between the two volumes, the classic "My-Oh-My Club" scene, Michael Madsen, the final confrontation between The...
The first installment of Quentin Tarantino's 2003 exploitation extravaganza, KILL BILL VOL. 1, is our feature presentation this week. We discuss the origins of the idea, that Brian De Palma sequence, experience The Whole Bloody Affair with Tarantino himself, Sony...
Jalmari Helander's 2022 WWII exploitation bloodbath, SISU, is our feature presentation this week. We discuss the stripped down no-nonsense script, the over-the-top carnage, the beautiful Finnish Lapland setting, the violence for violence sake mentality and much more! We also pick...
Ted Kotcheff's 1982 cult rescue melodrama, SPLIT IMAGE, is our feature presentation this week. We discuss Kotcheff's big 1982 with two feature film releases, the deprogramming scenes, Karen Allen, the film's technical adviser Cliff Daniels, and much more! We also...
Daryl Duke's 1973 day in the life of a country music mad man, PAYDAY, is our feature presentation this week. We discuss if the film went too far or not far enough, Rip Torn's bad boy reputation, his firing from...
Duke Mitchell's 1975 forgotten gangster exploitation film, GONE WITH THE POPE, is our feature presentation this week. We discuss the un-released 70s film being discovered in a parking garage & released in 2010 for the first time ever. We also...
Roger Vadim's 1971 murder mystery sexploitation film, PRETTY MAIDS ALL IN A ROW, is our feature presentation this week. We discuss Rock Hudson's iconic role as "Tiger", if sexualized films have a place in modern cinema, if the film is...
Anthony Mann's 1954 Klondike Gold Rush Western, THE FAR COUNTRY, is our feature presentation this week. We discuss director Anthony Mann's partnership with James Stewart, the "Northern" genre, Stewart's 17-year relationship with his horse "Pie", Walter Brennan's standout supporting role,...
Savage Steve Holland's 1985 silly breakup ski comedy, BETTER OFF DEAD, is our feature presentation this week. We discuss the autobiographical beginnings of the story, John Cusack's disdain for the film, the low-hanging fruit comedy, the Henry Winkler tie in,...
David Cronenberg's 2007 Russian Mafia Crime Film, EASTERN PROMISES, is our feature presentation this week. We discuss the culture of tattoos in the Russian criminal world, the usage of knives over guns in a crime film and that Bathhouse Knife...
Steve Pink's 2010 throwback to sleazy 1980s ski comedies, HOT TUB TIME MACHINE, is our feature presentation this week. We discuss how a misunderstanding birthed the title and script, John Cusack's necessity to the film working, the lude vulgarity, if...
John Boorman's 1974 big weird Sci-Fi freak out, ZARDOZ, is our feature presentation this week. We discuss Sean Connery's ridiculous wardrobe, that badass flying stone head, the muddled message behind the film, the Tolkien inspiration, and much more! We also...
Antonia Bird's 1999 High Sierra Cannibal Calvary thriller, RAVENOUS, is our feature presentation this week. We discuss the film's troubled shoot ending up in two directors being fired, the film's mixing of genre, Manifest Destiny, the incredible ensemble cast including...
William A. Wellman's 1954 mystical snowcapped man vs beast melodrama, TRACK OF THE CAT, is our feature presentation this week. We discuss the film's unique look, director William A. Wellman's old school approach, blending soundstage work with on location filmmaking, if...
Sean Durkin's 2023 tragic pro-wrestling biopic, THE IRON CLAW, is our feature presentation this week. We discuss the inaccuracies of the true story depiction, Zac Efron's face, the wrestling consultant Chavo Guerrero's work, the portrayal of Ric Flair, the 80s wrestling world,...
William Richert's 1979 satirical black comedy political thriller, WINTER KILLS, is our feature presentation this week. We discuss the Kennedy family trying to shut the film down, the producers being jailed and murdered, the Union shutting down the production, John...
The Coen Brothers' 1996 cold as ice but "Minnesota Nice" black comedy true crime film, FARGO, is our feature presentation this week. We discuss the title of the film, it being based on a true story (or not), the "Minnesota...
Jeremiah S. Chechik's 1989 physical comedy holiday classic, National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation is our feature presentation this week. We discuss John Hughes script, the revolving door of potential directors, Chevy Chase conjuring his best Harold Lloyd, Randy Quaid's iconic character, and...
Nancy Meyer's 2006 Christmas Rom-Com, THE HOLIDAY, is our feature presentation this week. We discuss the long runtime, the two-stories within the film, Kate Winslett & Cameron Diaz, Jack Black in an out-of-character role as a leading man in a chick...
Alexander Payne's 2023 1970s Christmas throwback comedy, THE HOLDOVERS, is our feature presentation this week. We discuss the subdued emotion of the film, how it stacks up against Alexander Payne's filmography, the 70s film look achieved on digital, the understated...
Charles Band's 1984 lo fi sci-fi time traveling Christmas action film, TRANCERS, is our feature presentation this week. We discuss the 80s B-Movie action boom, time travel in film, director Charles Band, and much much more! We also pick our TOP...
Ted Kotcheff's 1971 dust-covered, sweat-drenched Aussie Christmas thriller, WAKE IN FRIGHT, is our feature presentation this week. We discuss the film nearly being lost forever, the desolate Australian setting, the steady flow of alcohol, the controversial kangaroo hunting scene, and much much...
Hugh Wilson's 1984 over-the-top slapstick cop comedy, POLICE ACADEMY, is our feature presentation this week. We discuss the cast of characters that elevate the story, Kim Cattrall, how the film has faded into obscurity after a long run of sequels,...
Eli Roth's 2023 Thanksgiving-themed slasher film, THANKSGIVING, is our feature presentation this week. We discuss if this film lived up to the trailer from GRINDHOUSE, the genre's charm or lack thereof, director Eli Roth, the film's killer "John Carver", and much more! We...
Woody Allen's 1986 Thanksgiving relationship dramedy, HANNAH AND HER SISTERS, is our feature presentation this week. We discuss Woody's long takes, why Mia Farrow was critical of the script, capturing New York City, the incredible cast, and much more! We...
David Fincher's 2023 nihilistic assassin case-study, THE KILLER, is our feature presentation this week. We discuss writer Andrew Kevin Walker reuniting with Fincher, the music of The Smiths, terrible footprints, what goes on in an assassin's mind, if Fincher has...
David S. Ward's 1993 gritty college football deep cut, THE PROGRAM, is our feature presentation this week. We discuss the heavy use of cliches and sports tropes, the big NCAA schools working with the film, the film's connection to Schindler's...
Sydney Pollack's 1969 surreal, eccentric war-time allegory, CASTLE KEEP, is our feature presentation this week. We discuss the weight of Vietnam War-era World War II films, the film's ties to the real life Amityville Horror murders, Burt Lancaster bringing Sydney...
Martin Scorsese's 2023 historical period true crime behemoth, KILLERS OF THE FLOWER MOON, is our feature presentation this week. We discuss the running time, Leonardo DiCaprio & Robert De Niro's performances, Robbie Robertson's score, if Lily Gladstone's character is "one-note",...
Tobe Hooper's 1974 visceral Texas fried nightmare meat grinder, The Texas Chain Saw Massacre is our feature presentation this week. We discuss Tobe Hooper's mind set during the film, the dead rotting animal corpses on set, horror in the sunshine,...
Tom Holland's 1985 suburban "Boy Who Cried Wolf" vampire film, FRIGHT NIGHT, is our feature presentation this week. We discuss the Chris Sarandon's hesitation to star in the film, the Backlot magic of the production, the iconic movie poster, the...
Robert Rodriguez's 1996 south of the border bank robber vampire thrill ride, From Dusk Till Dawn, is our feature presentation this week. We discuss the film being Tarantino's first paid writing gig, the vampire mythology present, Salma Hayek's iconic dance...
Roman Polanski's 1967 vampire comedy homage to Hammer Horror, The Fearless Vampire Killers, or Pardon Me, But Your Teeth Are In My Neck, is our feature presentation this week. We discuss Roman Polanski's romance with Sharon Tate beginning on the...
Kathryn Bigelow's 1987 Neo-Western vampire noir, NEAR DARK, is our feature presentation this week. We discuss the music of Tangerine Dream, James Cameron's hidden hand on the film, Bill Paxton's character "Severn", the X-Factor of the film, character actor Troy...
The case: Dawn of the Dead (1978) vs Dawn of the Dead (2004). Hoch will be arguing for Zack Snyder's remake while Chad will be defending George A. Romero's 70s original. Opening and closing statements, and four key exhibits in...
Lew Lehman's 1981 perverse creature feature revenge horror, THE PIT, is our feature presentation this week. We discuss the issues with the screenplay, the perverted 12-year old peeping Tom at the heart of the film, the Director not being allowed...
Richard Ciupka's 1983 Canuxploitation winter slasher film, CURTAINS, is our feature presentation this week. We discuss the dysfunctional set, two creative minds clashing clashing to create a disjointed final film, Line Griffin's performance, that ice skating death scene, that doll,...
The Philippou Brothers' possession film for the TikTok generation, TALK TO ME, is our feature presentation this week. We give our instant reaction to the film and talk updating the possession subgenre, the use of Practical FX, the embalmed hand,...
