Not Now in Theaters: A Retro and Cult Film Podcast

What makes Heathers  a cult classic dark comedy?

The cult film that is like a middle finger to the feel-good vibes of corny 1980s teen films, satirical Heathers is a masterclass in dialogue and slightly surreal.

More for adults than adolescents, the movie exposes the true underbelly of high school social games. And instead of tickling that belly, well, it pokes it.

join me for this discussion of the highly quotable and sharp-witted nature of the film, why it would never be made today, and its enduring legacy as a classic.

Directed by Michael Lehmann. Written by Daniel Waters. Starring Winona Rider, Christian Slater, and Shannen Doherty.

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David Lowery's The Green Knight is a visual delight and a thought-provoking journey.

A medieval fantasy adventure, The Green Knight  is a modern re-interpretation of the old poem Sir Gawain and the Green Knight  by the Anonymous Poet.

From acclaimed director David Lowery and produced by A24 (among others), the film's production design and cinematography has wowed critics and captivated audiences -- at least those who saw it.

With a release date interrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic, this spellbinding movie faced challenges to get in front of viewers.

But The Green Knight is a somewhat lost treasure I predict audiences will swoon for as a 2020s classic in the years to come.

Join me for this discussion of how Dev Patel's performance hints at what's under the surface, the visual storytelling at work, and whether the open-ended nature of the movie is frustrating or captivating.

Directed by David Lowery. Screenplay by David Lowery, based on Sir Gawain and the Green Knight by the Gawain Poet. 

Starring Dev Patel. Alicia Vikander. Joel Edgerton. Sarita Choudhury. Sean Harris. Ralph Ineson.

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The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the 8th Dimension has a plot as long and winding as its title.

W.D. Richter and Earl Mac Rauch's Buckaroo Banzai  is hard to explain and was challenging to market.

Facing box office competition from Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom, Ghostbusters, and Star Trek III: The Search for Spock, the off-beat, complicated science-fiction comedy action film washed out of theaters.

But after slipping onto home video, all the weirdness that made the film fail with its theatrical release won it fans.

The film brings a knockout cast and care-free creativity, but does its screwball hi-jinx add up to a great watch or a middling mess?

In this episode, I discuss the costume style of flamboyant whimsical chic, the natural design of sea-life like aliens and crafts, and why every movie needs a credits scene like Buckaroo Banzai's.

Starring Peter Weller, John Lithgow, Ellen Barkin, Jeff Goldblum, and Christopher Lloyd.

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Trancers is a low-budget science-fiction classic that launched a cult franchise.

A Terminator knock-off that blended sci-fi, noir detective, comedy, and silly horror, Trancers is a cult film that continues to reel in new audiences 40+ years later.

The first in a franchise, this low-budget but inventive movie flows in a strange, off-beat tone that never feels like it's trying too hard.

The film sends a 23rd-century Humphrey Bogart-style hardboiled detective back to the 1980s to stop a cult leader who makes people into kinda zombie followers.

And there are funky gadgets and battles with zombie Santa Claus along the way.

In this episode, I'll walk you through all the little gifts Trancers gives its audiences -- the near-camp strangeness, Tim Thomerson and Helen Hunt's performances like a glue around the movie's would-be leaks, and the film's inventive time-travel ideas.

Directed by Charles Band. Written by Danny Bilson and Paul De Meo. Starring Tim Thomerson, Helen Hunt, Michael Stefani, Art LaFleur, Telma Hopkins, Richard Herd, and Anne Seymour.

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How did Tom Holland's Fright Night push the horror/comedy crossover to success?

Fright Night sprung out of the 1980s when horror/comedy blends were new and getting springy.

Unlike many cult classics, the movie actually succeeded at release, yet still has the creativity, heart, and scares to find new audiences through today.

When young Charley Brewster suspects his next-door neighbor, Jerry Dandrige, is a vampire, he turns to Peter Vincent, a horror-themed TV show host, for help. And when Jerry lines up Charley's girlfriend, Amy, as his next victim, Charley and Peter will have to find their bravery to stand up to Jerry.

Join me for a discussion of the film's scary effects but playful and campy tone, the likability of its characters, and how three -- in this case -- isn't a crowd.

Written and directed by Tom Holland. Starring Chris Sarandon, William Ragsdale, Amanda Bearse, Stephen Geoffreys, and Roddy McDowall.

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Phantasm  was light on budget but high on creativity.

Don Coscarelli's Phantasm is a low-budget fantasy horror and cult favorite.

An indie production, the film is the first in a franchise and introduced horror fans to iconic horror villain The Tall Man.

Made on a shoestring budget, Coscarelli relied on family and friends for help with the production, yet the film would triumph with millions at the box office.

Known for its surreal qualities, the movie has been heralded by critics and fans and recently added to the prestigious Criterion Collection.

In this episode, I'll explore the film's creepy high-art visuals, its disorienting but captivating unreality, and its kicking sound mix and score.

Written and Directed by Don Coscarelli. Starring Michael Baldwin, Bill Thornbury, Reggie Bannister, Kathy Lester, and Angus Scrimm.

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The Hidden came and went in the 1980s but has been rediscovered by horror and sci-fi fans.

A science-fiction film, a buddy-cop film, an action film, even a dash of horror film -- The Hidden has a lot going on but strikes the balance.

Remembered well by those that saw it, it pops up in "underrated" 1980s movie lists from time to time.

When a snail-like alien comes to Earth, it doesn't just come to conquer -- it wants to party. As it jumps from host to host, the alien likes to murder, steal cars, and party with pretty girls.

But a competing alien, lodged in the body of an FBI agent, has come to Earth to stop it. But even with the help of their human partner, taking down the evil space snail is a hell of a task.

Join me for this episode as I discuss how The Hidden is like a checklist of all that you want in an 80s action movie, the difficulty for the actors of playing a good person with a bad being inside them, but bemoan one particularly obvious setup and payoff in the story.

Directed by Jack Sholder. Written by Jim Kouf (as Bob Hunt). Starring Kyle MacLachlan and Michael Nouri.

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Why did Motown Records Make a Martial Arts Comedy Film?

The Last Dragon is a wild and totally 80s combination of martial arts, emerging hip-hop culture, and goofy comedy. 

Produced by Berry Gordy of Motown Records, the film was a roll of the dice to get people back into the magic of the label.

While it should be a forgettable glorified commercial, the film is full of heart and well-remembered by fans and continues to draw in new audiences.

Directed by the celebrated filmmaker Michael Schultz, in main character Leroy Green aka "Bruce" Leeroy, the movie delivered a young black hero in a moment where representation was harder to come by. 

Join me for a discussion of Taimak's actual martial arts skills, the mediocre soundtrack, and how the hilarious villain Sho'Nuff, the Shogun of Harlem, steals the film.

Directed by Michael Schultz. Starring Taimak, Julius Carry, Christopher Murney, Lee O'Brien, Faith Prince, Glen Eaton, and Vanity.

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Why is A Better Tomorrow a landmark film in Hong Kong Action Cinema?

John Woo's A Better Tomorrow was a lightbulb moment for the filmmaker and a groundbreaking film whose influence runs strong today.

The movie is a foundational work in Hong Kong Cinema that helped birth action gun-fu choreography, the heroic bloodshed genre, and the worldwide star Chow Yun-fat.

John Wick, The Matrix, Max Payne, Desperado -- the lasting echoes of this film have been heard since its release across film and video games since (and probably comics).

Join me for this episode as we revisit the melodrama among men, the blazing gunfire, and the ridiculous cool of Brother Mark, aka Chow Yun-fat.

Directed by John Woo. Starring Ti Lung, Leslie Cheung, Chow Yun-fat, Emily Chu, Waise Lee, and Kenneth Tsang.

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Why did Blood In, Blood Out  fail at the box office yet find fans later?

1993's Blood In, Blood Out  was supposed to be the next epic crime drama. 

Shot on location in Los Angeles and inside San Quentin Prison, a screenplay that drew on the true-life experiences of poet Jimmy Santiago Baca, it was to tell the Mexican-American tale of three young relatives pulled at by societal forces and the bonds of brotherhood.

Instead, the movie flopped. But thanks to its commitment to authenticity, it has been embraced by many in the Mexican-American and other communities as a cult classic -- a fanbase that lasts to today.

Pulpy and epic at the same time, full of quotable lines and memorable characters, what makes this movie so watchable?

Join me for this episode to discuss the pride and perils of "Vatos Locos Forever," the dangerous but amazing decision to shoot on location in San Quentin Prison, and the ending that rocks a few nerves.

Directed by Taylor Hackford. Starring Jesse Borrego, Benjamin Bratt, Enrique Castillo, and Damian Chapa.

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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