Not Now in Theaters: A Retro and Cult Film Podcast

Why is Hard Times worth a watch today?

Filmmaker Walter Hill's (The Warriors) directorial debut, Hard Times is an old-school action movie about bareknuckle boxing in the depression era.

But with its light-hearted tone and breezy script, there's nothing to be sad about here.

When the mysterious drifter Chaney (Charles Bronson) rolls into town, grifter Speed (James Coburn) realizes he has the perfect fighter to take down Chick Gandil (Michael McGuire), the overlord of the New Orleans fight scene.

Join me for this discussion of what makes this 50-year-old film a solid script study for screenwriters, the age-defying physique of Bronson, and the endearing chemistry of its characters. And then, of course, the film's lasting legacy.

Directed by Walter Hill. Starring Charles Bronson, James Coburn, Jill Ireland, and Strother Martin. Produced by Lawrence Gordon.

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

How did Scanners Hack Into the Criterion Collection?

David Cronenberg's Scanners is infamous for a scene where a psychic's head explodes.

But it's not all mindless destruction here.

This science-fiction horror, that I would argue is a thriller, holds plenty of conspiracy and a mystery to solve.

A film that helped put Canadian moviemakers on the map, the practical effects and eerie vibes keep the film fresh and help it find new audiences -- like me.

Join me for this discussion of what makes Michael Ironside and the cast so awesome, how the story's withholding keeps your interest, and a bit about the movie's lasting legacy.

Scanners is written and directed by David Cronenberg. Starring Jennifer O'Neill, Stephen Lack, Patrick McGoohan, Lawrence Dane, and Michael Ironside. 

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

How Does S. Craig Zahler's filmmaking stand apart?

S. Craig Zahler's (Bone Tomahawk) Dragged Across Concrete is aptly named. This 159-minute neo-noir crime thriller is a slow burner that explodes into violence at a pin drop.

Join me for this episode discussing the film's gift for dialogue, its complicated characters, and unflinching attitude toward controversy.

Written and directed by S. Craig Zahler. Starring Mel Gibson, Vince Vaughn, Tory Kittles, Michael Jai White, Jennifer Carpenter, Laurie Holden, Fred Melamed, Thomas Kretschmann, and Don Johnson.

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

Hi Listeners,

This episode is a quick update to let you know the show is taking a break for the holidays but coming back in December, as well as what content will be coming down the line.

Thank you for listening,

Will

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

Why is John Carpenter's Vampires Such a Mixed Bag?

John Carpenter's Vampires ditches all the goth and drama of the genre for a pulpy, no-nonsense, slay-some-bloodsuckers affair.

And while the horror western essentially broke even at the domestic box office, it made money overseas and was a reportedly $40 million hit on video.

But critics were mixed, and the film has some uncomfortable baggage. 

Join me for this discussion of the film's strengths and weaknesses, why it divides the Carpenter fanbase, and its lasting legacy.

Directed by John Carpenter. Starring James Woods, Daniel Baldwin, Sheryl Lee, Thomas Ian Griffith, Maximillian Schell, Tim Guinee. Cinematography by Gary B. Kibbe.

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

How is Bullet in the Head like John Woo's Apocalypse Now?

John Woo's Bullet in the Head didn't do well in Hong Kong theaters and flies under the radar compared to his action films of the same period A Better Tomorrow, The Killer, or Hard Boiled.

Yet many consider it his underseen masterpiece.

By far his "most personal film," John Woo wrote, directed, produced, edited, and (mostly) financed it himself.

But the film's unflinching depiction of Hong Kong riots and war-ravaged Vietnam, navigated by three childhood friends, makes for an emotional watch.

Join me for this discussion of the only crime, drama, war, and action film you'll ever see.

We'll get into what makes it so effective at pulling at your emotions as well as the movie's lasting legacy.

Directed by John Woo. Starring Tony Leung, Jacky Cheung, Waise Lee, and Simon Yam.

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

Why do horror fans keep coming back to Prince of Darkness?

Prince of Darkness  sounds like the biopic of Ozzy Osbourne that wasn't.

It's actually a John Carpenter film, the second of his so-called "apocalypse trilogy," where a liquid version of satan tries to escape from its containment cylinder.

And spoiler alert -- like an old-school Starburst commercial, the juice is loose. Or gets loose, you might say.

Can a priest and a team of researchers find a way to stop the evil?

Join me for this episode discussing many Carpenter fans' pick for his most underrated effort, Prince of Darkness, continuing my John Carpenter series.

I'll break down what works so well about this film, what I thought even a master like Carpenter could (constructively) improve, and discuss the film's lasting legacy.

Written and Directed by John Carpenter. Starring Donald Pleasence, Victor Wong, Jameson Parker, Lisa Blount. Cinematography by Gary B. Kibbe. 

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

Why do John Carpenter and H.P. Lovecraft fans love In the Mouth of Madness?

John Carpenter's In the Mouth of Madness didn't win acclaim or box office dollars, but it has gone on to become a horror fan favorite.

The film pays tribute to the works of writer H.P. Lovecraft, and while it has some scary visuals, the trick here is about psychological horror.

When the most famous horror author, Sutter Cane (Jurgen Prochnow), goes missing, it's up to John Trent (Sam Neill), an insurance investigator, to uncover the truth behind his disappearance.

Trent smells a ruse. But what seems like a publicity stunt soon gets all too real as reality itself seems to be unraveling.

Can Trent find Cane and stop the apocalypse?

Listen in as my fall films of John Carpenter series continues with In the Mouth of Madness.

In this episode, I break down what makes the movie fun, what could have been improved, and discuss its lasting legacy to the horror genre and pop culture.

Directed by John Carpenter. Written by Michael De Luca. Produced by Sandy King. Starring Sam Neill. Julie Carmen. Jurgen Prochnow. Charlton Heston. 

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

Does John Carpenter's Christine live up to the horror fan hype?

From the novel by Stephen King, Christine is the story of a nerdy teen who decides to fix up a broken-down 1958 Plymouth Fury.

But instead of Arnie's flashy new ride, Christine becomes the engine of his revenge on the bullies who have taunted him.

With her powers of self-repair, she begins to slay those not kind to her newfound driver, Arnie.

The next film in my John Carpenter series, this episode explores this Carpenter fan favorite.

But did I agree with the many fans of the film or have to go against the tide of opinion?

Listen in as I discuss this cult classic movie and its lasting legacy.

Directed by John Carpenter. Starring Keith Gordon, John Stockwell, Alexandra Paul, Robert Prosky, and Harry Dean Stanton.

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

Why did Flesh and Blood  fail at the box office but find fans with time?

Paul Verhoeven's (RoboCop) first English-language film, Flesh and Blood is an erotic historical adventure that bombed on release but has found some fan appreciation with time.

Audiences winced at its unflinching depiction of the Middle Ages, a world ravaged by plague, bands of mercenaries, betrayals, and religious zealots.

But the moral ambiguity and lack of heroes that got the movie forgotten in its time is exactly why it's worth your hours and minutes today.

Join me for this discussion of what makes this movie a missing piece in any film fan's watch history as well as the movie's lasting legacy (so long as you have the stomach for it).

Directed by Paul Verhoeven and starring Rutger Hauer, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Tom Burlinson, Susan Tyrrell, Ronald Lacey, and Jack Thompson. Written by Gerard Soeteman and Paul Verhoeven. Cinematography by Jan de Bont.

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