CinaCult Podcast

Merry Christmas and Winter Solstice Cinacultists! Lucas and Cordell wrap up the 2024 year with our review of a hidden gem horror thriller from 1980 when slasher were in their infancy. We're talking Christmas Evil!

Harry has a rough life. His coworkers mock him, his brother thinks he's a problem and and no one understands his tune for the Christmas holiday. This year however, Harry snaps. He believes he IS Santa Clause and he's going to deliver presents to the kids....and lethally punish the naughty! Is Harry a bit too obsessed? Is his spying on the kids too much even for an 80's film? What is the message of this movie on mental health and psychosis? Join Lucas and Cordell as we unwrap this cult classic Christmas horror! See you all in 2025!

Music: Here Comes Santa Clause by Ray Conniff and Christmas Evil End Credits. All rights reserved.

Jim Henson is remembered as a visionary of children's entertainment. From the iconic Muppets to Sesame Street to the Ninja Turtle suits, he left a mark on generations with his work. Following his death, his studio continued to honor his work starting with today's review of 1992's Christmas classic: A Muppet's Christmas Carol

Ebenezer Scrooge (Michael Caine) is a Christmas hating pariah in London. He's cold, cruel and thinks not of the needy and poor, instead more concerned with his lust for money. However this Christmas, Scrooge is warned: repent your wicked selfishness or be doomed in eternity in chains. To help Scrooge, he would be visited by 3 ghosts. All designated to help warm Scrooge's cold heart.

Does this timeless Christmas classic fit well into the Muppet world? Why is the Ghost of Christmas Past so creepy?! Join Lucas and Cordell as we review this heartwarming classic of Henson's legacy.

Music from the Original Motion Picture Soundtrack. All Rights reserved.

When a crime wave hit New York, Channel 3 reporter April O'Neill is on the case. But she's gonna need help from 4 talking mutated turtles-Michelangelo, Leonardo, Donatello and Raphael-to battle Shredder and his Foot Clan. Along with Casey Jones, the turtles are determined to save their rat sensei Splinter, beat the Shredder and make it home in time for pizza in this childhood 90's classic!

Does this movie capture the spirit of the 80's cartoon? Did later incarnations tell Splinter's story better? What's with the the "damns" in this film? Did Jim Henson and his Creature Shop out do themselves? Join Lucas and Cordell as we master the shadows of the beloved classic.

Music by Partners in Kryme, MC Hammer and John Du Prez. All rights reserved.

The nightmare isn't over! Following completion of The Fog, John Carpenter returned to give audiences 1981's Halloween II-more of the night HE came home!

Laurie Strode has been taken to Haddonfield Memorial Hospital following her encounter with boogeyman Michael Myers. But Michael is still on the prowl hunting Laurie and slaughtering anyone who gets in his way. Meanwhile, a mentally unhinged Dr. Loomis is taking command of the police, hellbent on stopping his patient once and for all. Is this movie a worthy sequel for a box office classic? How does Leo Rossi have such range? Is the sibling plot twist as bad as people make it out to be? Join Lucas and Cordell as we stalk our way through this early slasher classic.

Music: Mr Sandman by The Chordates

and Halloween II Theme by John Carpenter. All rights reserved.

In 1987, the box office was dominated by the slashers. Freddy was taking on the Dream Warriors, Jason fought a telekinetic and Michael Myers was one year away from returning. But audiences were soon introduced to a new horror icon. One born of the mind of author Clive Barker in the form of Pinhead, The Hell Priest and his gang of Cenobites in the extreme, body-horror that was Hellraiser.

Julia Cotton (Claire Higgins) is in an unhappy marriage. Her husband Larry (Andrew Robinson) is lame and his daughter Kirstie (Ashley Lawrence) isn't much fun either as Julia pines for Larry's brother Frank. But when a skinless Frank appears to her in their new home, Julia begins to bring Frank bodies in the hopes of rejuvenating the hedonist bad boy.

But Frank is scared. In his possession is the Lament Configuration, a puzzle box that opens the door of Hell and the Cenobites, who bring promises of pain and pleasure indivisible. Can Frank become whole in time again? Or will final girl Kirstie manage to best her creepy uncle and the Cenobites? And is killing men for a corpse worth a good f**k? Join Lucas and Cordell as we tear apart this classic 80's classic. We have such sights to show you!

Music: "The Lament Configuration" -Christopher Young and "Hellraiser" by Ozzy Osbourne and Mötörhead. All Rights Reserved.

Jason is back!...or is he? Following the massive success of The Final Chapter, Paramount was eager to crank out more Jason to bring in the big bucks bringing us to today's review of 1985's A New Beginning.

Five years after killing Jason Voorhees, Tommy Jarvis is a broken mute sent to Pinhurst Halfway House. There he meets colorful characters like Reggie "The Reckless", loner Violet, assistant Pam, director Matt and hillbilly mom and son Ethel and Junior. But when a murder sparks a string of bloodshed, it seems that Jason is not as dead as Tommy hoped. Is Jason back? Is the killer Tommy believing Jason has returned? Is this a slasher movie or soft core porn? Join Lucas and Cordell as we have some damn enchiladas and talk a new beginning for the Jason saga.

Music: His Eyes by Pseudo Echo and "Vic Chops/Roy Reacts" by Harry Manfredini. all rights reserved to original owners.

The wrong arm of the law is back! After being left for dead at the bottom of the Hudson, Matt Cordell (Z'Dar) returns to police the streets once more in Bill Lustig's 1990 sequel Maniac Cop 2

Cordell is back and this time, he's up against Detective Sean McKinney (Robert Davi) and head shrink Susan Riley (Claudia Christian) while making friends with serial killer Steven Turkell (Leo Rossi) while continuing his quest for vengeance against those who wronged him. Will Cordell finally be able to rest? Was the actress for Susan really hard to work with behind the scenes? Why did Campbell only return for a cameo? Join Lucas and Cordell as we read your rights in this highly respected cult sequel!

Music: Maniac Cop Rap by Jay Chattaway and Children of the Night by Buddy Miles. All Rights Reserved.

Frank Henenlotter. The man who terrorized us with Basket Case and Brain Damage, gives us this modern (and hilarious) retelling of the classic Mary Shelly story of Frankenstein in 1990's Frankenhooker!

Jeffery is having a bad day. First his fiancé Elizabeth is turned into a tossed "human salad" by a lawnmower. Now the storm he needs to bring her back is 2 days out and he doesn't have the parts to complete her! What follows is super-crack, exploding hookers, a pimp named Zorro and shocking sex! Is this a forgotten gem of B-cinema? Why is Henenlotter channeling Dahmer with his main character? Join Cordell and Lucas this week as we pimp out our review to FRANKENHOOKER!

Music: Main Theme

Who will survive? And what will be left of them?

When Sally Hardesty, her brother and 3 friends take a trip to visit the old Hardesty farm, they become the victims of a deranged family of ex slaughterhouse workers who've taken to getting their meat from humans to survive.

50 years ago, Tobe Hooper introduced America to the cannibalistic Sawyers in his controversial 1974 hit, The Texas Chainsaw Massacre. Inspired by the real crimes of killer Ed Gein, the film saw the introduction of Leatherface and changed the landscape of future horror movies. Does this movie hold up in all its 70's grimy glory? How exactly are the Sawyers related? Celebrate the 50th anniversary with Lucas and Cordell as we rev up the saw that started it all!

The 80's were a time of crazes where popular toy lines became Saturday morning kid's cartoons. GI Joe, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and Transformers became 80's staples of childhood. Joining them came Masters of the Universe, a world were a barbarian like hero named He-Man and his friends defended the mystical Castle Grayskull from the sadistic Skeletor and his army of evil. In comes Cannon Films looking for a hot property to bring to the screen and we get today's review of 1987's Masters of the Universe: The Movie.

When the evil Skeletor (Frank Langella) succeeds to capturing Grayskull, He-Man (Dolph Lundgren), Man-at-Arms and Teela are accidentally transported to Earth were they meet Julie (Courtney Cox) and her boyfriend Kevin (Robert McNeill). But on their tails is Skeletor's jilted lover and magician Evil-Lyn (Meg Foster) whose orders are to bring He-Man back so Skeleton can finally harness the powers of Castle Greyskull. Does this movie succeed in capturing the spirit of the cartoon/toyline? Is Frank Langella giving his best Raul Julia villain role? Who's got the worst backstory for an 80's heroine: Cox for Germlin's Phoebe Cates?

Join Cordell and Lucas as WE HAVE THE POWER to review this fondly remembered cult gem of Cannon Films.