Nighthawks' Podcast

The Nighthawks cafe turns the special Monstoberfest neon sign off, for another year, but if we're going to go out, we're taking the rest of the world with us.

Nothing is sacred as the Matt an Trevor take a deep bite of Orson Welles' legendary radio broadcast, that panicked an entire nation!

Or... did it?

It is the 80th Anniversary of the Halloween Eve broadcast that would go down in infamy, and propel its director into putting together the (arguably) greatest American film ever made.

From the people who brought you Citizen Kane (Orson Welles), Casablanca (Howard Koch), and Psycho (Bernard Hermann serves as Welles' orchestra leader). Assembled talent that would become synonymous with "Hollywood," first took their stab at terrifying a nation wirelessly.

Just how successful were they?

A download of the original War of the Worlds broadcast is available from Archive.org.

As a child, Trevor spent his years never owning a My Buddy doll or a Teddy Ruxpin.


As a child, Matt spent his time sneaking horror movies on HBO, in his friend's basement.


As a child, Mark was exposed to killer dolls at way too young an age, by his sister.


Child's Play, the iconic film about a killer doll inhabited by the soul and being of a Chicago serial killer, was omni-present during the childhood of the Nighthawks, as well as their guest host Mark Ball.


For this episode during Monstoberfest, the three talk about 1988's classic horror film, Child's Play. A movie about malicious toys, getting parents to believe you, getting the police to believe the parents, and teaching Chris Sarandon how to drive in crisis situations.


Another slice of Halloween pie for our listeners.


Mark's finalist bumper for Fantastic Fest, Chief Hopper Clowns Around, can be found here: https://youtu.be/lLManXXxpj4


Much of Mark's action figure photography can be found on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fancy_mark/?hl=en

Doom chords, creeping voices, killer artwork, and heavy metal family values are deftly painted on the screen, in this sophomore effort from Tasmanian filmmaker Sean Byrne.

The first film in 2018's REVENGE OF MONSTOBER FEST takes the boys from the comforts of the Nighthawks Diner, to the inky black, humid, and hot hills of Texas' Williamson County. A married couple of rock and roll artists from nearby Austin have locked in their dream home at an unbeatable price.

Meanwhile, a confused killer who tries to keep his literal demons at bay by playing doom chords on a guitar, decides he wants to return home. A home currently occupied by a transplant Austin family.

A criminally underwatched classic for fans of Heavy Metal, Horror Movies, and top-tier genre performances. The Devil's Candy delivers on its sweetness.

But the Nighthawks can't do anything the easy way. Not unlike the conflict of a struggling artist finding his way between personal fulfillment and commercial success; The Devil's Candy is an artwork on two canvases. At issue is the 71 minute version currently available in release, and a phantom festival cut that the boys saw a few years ago, with 11 extra minutes of content.

Did the 11 minutes make a difference?

Tune in and see... if you dare!

Featured in the film is the artwork of Stephen Kasner, who was briefly profiled in this 2017 piece from Clevescene-dot-com:

https://www.clevescene.com/scene-and-heard/archives/2017/03/23/local-artist-whose-twisted-paintings-appear-in-horror-flick-will-introduce-film-at-capitol

Nothing Fancy this time around, folks. The boys are talking trailers, that you can watch right here, right now. Links below, current as of the date of the episode:


Historic Trailers...


Star Wars- Episode 1: The Phantom Menace- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fo--sWDK_nU&feature=youtu.be


Terminator 2: Judgement Day- https://youtu.be/-W8CegO_Ixw


Superheroes are go…


Dark Phoenix - https://youtu.be/QWbMckU3AOQ


Captain Marvel - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z1BCujX3pw8


Things are getting intense...


Assassination Nation- https://youtu.be/d9qyOGEuLY4


Hold the Dark- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OFAwDO6b5KI


Hardy Har Har…


Holmes and Watson- https://youtu.be/-AKU-T7_rDA


Stan and Ollie- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MdcBNrjc3wo

Matt was out of the diner when this episode was recorded. Polishing his filthy mind in academic pursuits.

Sitting in for Matt is Charity O'Haodagain, a mainstay of the Hello Sweetie Podcast Network. With her, Charity brings the Disney Classic feature film, A Goofy Movie.

Following the exploits of Disney's signature dog and his son, Max and Goofy set out on a cross-country road trip full of pratfall, song, dance, and special lessons about family and honesty.

Trevor had never seen A Goofy Movie Before. Charity counts it among her childhood favorites.

Can the movie win over a contemporary adult in 2018?

Spolier Alert: Yes. After all, we all need something to cling to, in this day and age.

There are no two ways around it folks.

"You can never go home again."

It's true in life, and it's mentioned probably three or four times throughout the course of the episode. Just putting out there that it could be important.

The movie for this session of coffee and pie is an old favorite of Matt's and a new notch in Trevor's belt. Believe it or not, only 50% of the Nighthawks Diner had seen Grosse Pointe Blank at the beginning of the summer of 2018. We're pleased to announce that the numbers have significantly shifted since then.

What better way to explore the trials and tribulations of attending a high school reunion, than by exploring it through the eyes of an assassin with social anxiety?

That's exactly what director George Armitage did with John Cusack in the lead role, for the 1997 film. The movie is mostly about Martin Blank, a character that disappeared on prom night, ten years previous, and is now considering attending his class reunion. It would be as simple as reconnecting with old friends and rekindling an old romance, but Martin hasn't led the most savory life since graduation.

A B-story throughout involves Martin's career as a hitman and assassin. Dan Akroyd plays a rival hitman who is trying to get Martin to join a newly formed hitman guild, or get him out of the way permanently. The result is a coming-of-a-certain-age comedy, mixed with some genuinely handled Hollywood Action.

The boys let you know exactly what it's like revisiting a movie, that was about revisiting high school, twenty years after the movie was released.

The American serial killer who dubbed himself "Zodiac" began his reign of terror in 1968 and was never officially identified or captured.

50-years later, the mystery and the allure of the Zodiac crimes remains the white whale for many professional and amateur investigators alike. The obsession over the case is the centerpiece theme to the 2007 film "Zodiac" from film auteur David Fincher.

You may remember Fincher from such films as Fight Club and Seven ("Alien 3 doesn't get enough visual love." -Matt), but Fincher takes his first bite of (mostly) non-fiction in this Police/Journalism procedural.

From Fincher's take on the obsession surrounding the case, from Robert Downey Jr.'s worst case scenario performance in Paul Avery, to Anthony Edwards' Bill Armstrong escaping the case with his soul, we see a complicated and woven tale. Not only about an enticing mystery, but about the price tag that comes with trying to solve it.

In solidarity with our Hello Sweetie Podcast Network sisters over at "This is the Place," the Nighthawks bring you this extra-long True Crime special. Much like Zodiac is about obsession, the Zodiac episode is also about the grander phenomenon of True Crime as a societal interest. Why is this particular genre doing so well in this day and age?

It's a hot take, right off the griddle and onto the blue plate special, at the conceptual Nighthawks Diner. Pull up a spot in the booth, get comfy, and lets talk about movies and True Crime.

For more show notes including photos from Trevor's trip to Holcomb, Kansas and links mentioned in the episode, check out www.nighthawkspodcast.com

Oh, mama! Can this really be another prequel?!

The Disney/Lucasfilms Juggernaut continues to roll with the Star Wars franchise, post-JJ Abrams, with the latest "anthology film"- Solo: A Star Wars Story.

Following the life and times of a young(er) Han Solo, Chewbacca, and Lando Calrissian. We see the motley crew of rogue and peasants fall in line with a smuggler and thief named Beckett (Woody Harrelson) as he attempts to steal valuable hyperdrive fuel for the sinister Dryden Voss (Paul Bettany) and his lieutenant, Qu'ira (Emilia Clarke).

It's smugglers, thieves, pirates, rogues, scoundrels, crime bosses, and outer space train heists. This movie has it all, and if it were taken on its own merits... probably represents a good film.

But this isn't just any movie. This is STAR WARS...

Big news from the little Nighthawks diner on, this, our three-year anniversary for the podcast.

First things first, it is official: Matt, Trevor, and all the fictitious staff of the conceptual Nighthawks diner will be joining the Hello Sweetie Podcast Network out of Salt Lake City, Utah. While the partnership with the network wont change operations at the diner, we're excited to begin recommending some exciting new podcasts that we think our listeners will enjoy.

Hello Sweetie began as a podcast 7 years ago, and they are at the threshold of their 300th episode. Following that episode, the Hello Sweetie Podcast will go into a cocoon, become a pupa, and will quickly blossom into the Hello Sweetie Podcast Network. The network will not only be bringing you your dose of coffee and pie from the Nighthawks Diner, but you'll also get a dash of regional true crime with This is the Place, a pinch of RPGs and laughter with Dungeons and Comedy, and the girl-geek hot-take on pop culture from the most notorious Sweeties in the Rockies with The Box.

The Hello Sweetie 300th, and Final, Episode will be recorded in front of a live audience, and will commence with a Network Launch Party. The record is at Club 50 West in Salt Lake City, Utah; 7:00 pm; June 8th, 2018.

The Nighthawks will be there to introduce the show to a brand new audience, and to congratulate the Sweeties on 7 years and 300 episodes of strong-as-hell female geek programming. Join us and buy Matt and Trevor a beer.

For the 3rd year anniversary, the boys wanted to roll out a special title.

Often considered one of the greatest directors to have ever lived, Alfred Hitchcock took a step back when he made the influential Psycho from 1960. The small, unassuming black and white movie followed Hitchcock's previous thriller, North by Northwest starring the unflappable Cary Grant.

Psycho seems to not only embrace Hitchcock's title of "Master of Suspense" but also transcends it. Sharing DNA with horror and slasher films for decades to come, Psycho left an indelible mark on film making and audiences around the world.

Join the boys for coffee and pie as they discuss this undeniable Paramount classic.

Thanks for sticking with us, those of you who have been there since the beginning. To those of you who are new: welcome. We have plenty of rooms available...

As of this writing, The Avengers: Infinity War is on pace to shatter a $2-billion global box office.

The superheroes have arrived, and it doesn't matter if you like it or not, they're here to stay. After all, they're stronger than us, and can make demands of our Earthly dollars.

However, there was another time. A time when the most definitive superhero franchise involved neon lights, rubber nipples, butts, and Schwarzenegger dealing out bad ice-themed puns. (I scream, you scream, we all scream for Ice Themes.)

(Sorry.)

After Schumacher put his stank on Batman, but before Hugh Jackman and Sir Patrick Stewart would put their stank on X-Men, there was a weird little superhero comic book adaptation experiment. This movie would dare to play on the tropes of comic book superheroes, in a time when those tropes had not been solidly cast in stone, on the silver screen.

The experiment was a financial failure.

Mystery Men is a superhero comedy about a rag-tag group of "other" guys, who decide to "avenge" a grievous wrong done to the city's main superhero. Starring the likes of William H. Macy, Janeane Garofalo, Hank Azaria, Geoffery Rush, Greg Kinnear, Tom Waits, Ricky Jay, Kel Mitchell, Artie Lange, Eddie Izzard, Claire Forlani, Michael Bay, and (yes) Ben Stiller.

Trevor says that Mystery Men is an effective movie, that not only holds up, but was wildly ahead of its time.

Matt watched it one time in the 90s, and was mostly underwhelmed.

Will a new watch-through change minds?

Will this episode change yours?

Pull up a booth, pour a cup of coffee, and join us in the Nighthawks Diner.