Not Now in Theaters: A Retro and Cult Film Podcast

How did a movie as violent and erratic as Lady Snowblood end up in the Criterion Collection?

Lady Snowblood is a violent Japanese revenge tale that is both entertaining and visually accomplished, with the film's artistry landing it in the prestigious Criterion collection.

Though it's in some circles known as the largest source of "inspiration" for the Kill Bill films, this movie left behind its own trail of scattered bodies not to be missed.

When Yuki's father is murdered and her mother raped by a group of thugs, she is born the instrument of her parents' revenge. She sets out to track down the criminals responsible, and carry out her vengeance. But finding them is harder than she would have thought, and ending their lives much more complicated than she could have imagined.

Join me for this discussion of the film's handheld camera artistry, its spicy killing shows, and martial arts training through child abusing barrel rides down dangerous mountains.

Directed by Toshiya Fujita. Screenplay by Norio Osada. Based on Lady Snowblood by Kazuo Koike and Kazuo Kamimura. Starring Meiko Kaji, Toshio Kurosawa, Masaaki Daimon, Miyoko Akaza, Ko Nishimura.

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And to read more of Will's writing or check out more podcast episodes, you can visit him at: willturntale.com

Why is Repo Man one of the most unique 1980s movies?

Made for just ~$1.5 million, writer/director Alex Cox's punk rock science fiction black comedy Repo Man has endured as a cult favorite.

Light on funds but high on creativity, the film has stood up as a time capsule of youthful angst against the consumerism of the 1980s.

But on a simple level, it's a wacky comedy adventure enhanced by a throwback, on-target, punk rock soundtrack.

When a 1964 Chevrolet Malibu is said to contain radioactive alien beings in the trunk, the hunt is on. The repo men, G-men, evangelists, and UFO scientists all battle each other to capture the vehicle.

Who will get their first? And will finding the vehicle end main character Otto's existential crisis?

Written and directed by Alex Cox. Starring Harry Dean Stanton, Emilio Estevez, Tracey Walter, Olivia Barash, Sy Richardson, and Vonetta McGee.

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And to read more of Will's writing or check out more podcast episodes, you can visit him at: willturntale.com

Why do cult movie fans love Streets of Fire?

Part musical, teen drama, and all action -- Streets of Fire  was too daring for mainstream box office success but has quietly found its audience since its release.

The brainchild of Walter Hill (The Warriors) and writer/producer Larry Gross (48 Hrs.), this film was influenced by everything from John Hughes films to Flashdance.

But Streets of Fire is mostly a hard-talking action film in a comic book style. It was Walter Hill's attempt to launch main character Tom Cody into the pantheon of great 1980s hero's.

It's a thick soup of ideas, but if your movie taste buds can handle something different and wonderful, the film is here for you.

Join me for this discussion of Willem Dafoe as a gothic biker gang leader, Jim Steinman's Wagnerian rock songs, and a sledgehammer vs. sledgehammer finale.

Directed by Walter Hill. Written by Walter Hill and Larry Gross. Produced by Lawrence Gordon and Joel Silver. Starring Michael Pare', Diane Lane, Rick Moranis, and Amy Madigan.

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And to read more of Will's writing or check out more podcast episodes, you can visit him at: willturntale.com

Why is Night of the Comet a cult classic horror science-fiction classic?

Released in 1984 on a ~$700,000 budget, Night of the Comet’s laid-back take on the apocalypse has earned it an enduring popularity among cult and horror movie fans.

And with two female protagonists, many have seen it as the precursor to female characters like Buffy the Vampire Slayer.

When the Earth passes through a comet's tail, the first time since the destruction of the dinosaurs, most everyone on the planet is turned to calcium dust or an infected zombie. 

But the real drag for sister survivors Reggie and Samantha? How to find dates in the apocalypse.

In this episode, I discuss military brat valley girls, cannibal zombies through simple makeup effects, and plenty of trouble at the mall.

Written and Directed by Thom Eberhardt. Starring Catherine Mary Stewart, Kelli Maroney, Robert Beltran, Sharon Farrell, Mary Woronov, and Geoffrey Lewis.

Connect with us on Bluesky:
@not-ni-theaters.bsky.social

And to read more of Will's writing or check out more podcast episodes, you can visit him at: willturntale.com