Not Now in Theaters: A Retro and Cult Film Podcast

Why is Lifeforce one of the best films The Cannon Group ever financed?

Tobe Hooper's Lifeforce is a sci/fi horror with off-the-wall ideas and some batshit crazy scenes. And I love it!

It's hard to stand out in the vampire and zombie genres, but this film can claim some originality points in both columns.

The movie has plenty of fans today, but it didn't fare too well at the box office or with 1980s critics.

An ambitious effort from Cannon Films, it was one of their attempts to move away from exploitation and action genre pieces and into the higher-concept vehicles.

Join me for this discussion of a naked space vampire girl, Sir Patrick Stewart, and a London apocalypse.

Directed by Tobe Hooper. Screenplay by Dan O'Bannon and Don Jakoby. Based on The Space Vampires by Colin Wilson. Starring Steve Railsback, Peter Firth, Frank Finlay, and Mathilda May.

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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

What makes Arena a fine bit of 1980s video store era fun?

Because we can't watch envelope-pushing, audience challenging films at all times, I present to you Arena.

Some reviewers have called it Rocky in Space. I call it big white guy punching rubber monsters in the face.

For those of us with nostalgia for the video store, VHS era, Arena brings you back to the practical effects-rich schlocky sci-fi of the 80s and early 90s.

Written by Danny Bilson and Paul De Meo (Trancers, The Rockateer) and distributed by Charles Band's Empire Pictures, it's not quite a well-known cult film but has a little bit of love out there still burning bright.

In this episode, I talk the merits of fighting in kneepads, an adult diaper, and a man-bra; knock-off Mos Eisley Cantina patrons, and the film's pure fun factor.

Directed by Peter Manoogian. Written by Danny Bilson and Paul De Meo. Starring Paul Satterfield, Hamilton Camp, and Claudia Christian.

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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

Robot Jox is a throwback science-fiction good time.

Who says post-apocalyptic science fiction has to be dreary?

Stuart Gordon's Transformers-influenced Robot Jox brings mech-vs.-mech combat to life and serves its Cold War themes as a side dish.

With its eye-catching models and old school stop-motion, it's a time capsule of late 80s to early 90s production goodness.

This episode breaks down all the cartoon-like fun of this B movie minor cult classic.

I discuss the fun robot designs, the film's bright sense of humor, and pilot training by booby-trapped death battles.

Directed by Stuart Gordon. Starring Gary Graham, Anne-Marie Johnson, Paul Koslo, Robert Sampson, Danny Kamekona, Hilary Mason, and Michael Alldredge.

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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

How did The Raid capture worldwide attention?

Made for just ~$1 million US Dollars, this Indonesian martial arts/action film garnered worldwide attention and influenced the genre ever since.

With breathless, realistic sequences and brutal, stylized action, it's an action fans' delight.

And with a slight mix of survival horror and a documentary film style, director Gareth Evans shows off some cinematic skills.

But while The Raid is well-known in many circles, it's still arguably underseen.

Let's pile on the hype machine for a movie that, for me, can live up to it.

In this episode, I discuss frantic sequences and intense pacing,  the lack of CGI or cuts in the action, and how the film looks like it hurts, all the time.

Written and directed by Gareth Evans. Starring Iko Uwais, Joe Taslim, Donny Alamsyah, Yayan Ruhian, Pierre Gruno, Ray Sahatepy, and Tegar Sathya.

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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

How did Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles strike a middle ground between the violent comic books and the bloodless children's TV show?

Adapting the comic book characters the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles into a feature film looks like a no-brainer in hindsight, but back in 1990, only New Line Cinema was willing to take the bet.

The film smashed the box office and made a lot of money for a lot of people, becoming the highest-grossing independent film at that time at $202 million.

But far more than a cash-in, the film made fans of both the TV series and comic books happy, as it artfully balanced the dark, gritty tone of the comics with some of the silly humor of the children's show.

But critics? They were unkind to the film and, for me, flat-out wrong.

In this episode, I revisit the original heroes in a half shell on screen and talk about why this film is the bar by which other TMNT films are measured.

Among other things, I discuss the Jim Henson company's state-of-the-art puppetry, why Corey Feldman as Donatello is the universe coming together, and the musical power of the "Shredder's Suite."

Directed by Steve Barron. Screenplay by Todd W. Langen and Bobby Herbeck. Based on characters created by Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird. Starring Judith Hoag and Elias Koteas.

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The Company of Wolves  spins Little Red Riding Hood in dark and provocative directions.

This gothic fairy tale, based on the story by magical realism author Angela Carter, is not your average werewolf flick.

Directed by Neil Jordan (Interview with the Vampire), this modern retelling of Little Red Riding Hood was nominated for four BAFTA awards yet quietly seems to have passed in and out of theaters.

But those who saw it back in '84 and audiences since have plenty of praise for this wicked dream.

Young Rosaleen is told by a wise old woman, "Never stray from the path, never eat a windfall apple, and never trust a man whose eyebrows meet." But those virtues are soon put to the test --especially the last one.

And along with Rosaleen's story, we're told four more of Angela Carter's magical realism tales within the movie -- each delightfully unsettling or darkly comforting.

Join me for this episode as I discuss grotesque but awesome werewolf transformations, Angela Lansbury's brilliance as the old granny, and the making of an entire forest from "about 12 trees on rollers."

Directed by Neil Jordan. Written by Angela Carter and Neil Jordan. Adaptation by Angela Carter, based on "The Company of Wolves" by Angela Carter. Starring Angela Lansbury, David Warner, Micha Bergese, and Sarah Patterson.

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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 1990: The Bronx Warriors an exploitation semi-classic?

Get your spiked elbow pads, motorcycles, and crop tops ready.

For this episode, we're flying into the 1980s Mad Max , Escape From New York, and The Warriors influenced 1990: The Bronx Warriors.

It's a not-quite cult classic from Italy's B-movie maestro, filmmaker Enzo G. Castellari (The Inglorious Bastards).

Money is low, but creativity is high in this dystopian science-fiction actioner.

If you love yourself some 1980s comfort watches, tune in to find out why this one could be worth your eyeballs.

In this episode, I discuss highly cinematic extended viking funerals for fallen biker gang members, weird walking set to random drum solos, the merits of naming your characters Trash, Hot Dog, Hammer, Ogre, and Witch, swear-heavy and nonsensical English translations, and funky, groovy soundtracks.

Directed by Enzo G. Castellari. Starring Vic Morrow, Christopher Connelly, Fred Williamson, and Mark Gregory.

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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 Michael Crichton's Westworld a landmark science-fiction film?

Sci-fi took some serious steps forward in the 1970s, and Westworld was an influence on franchises to come, like The Terminator.

Despite being a mega best-selling author, Michael Crichton (Jurassic Park) stepped into the director's chair to realize his first story of a theme park gone wrong.

Serving up strict warnings about technology and AI, Westworld still feels relevant 50+ years after its release.

In this episode, I discuss Yul Brynner's chilling performance as a robot gunslinger that influenced Arnold Schwarzenegger's Terminator, how the movie used the first computer-generated image in a live-action portion of a movie, and question the hygiene tactics of robotic prostitutes.

Written and Directed by Michael Crichton. Starring Yul Brynner, Richard Benjamin, and James Brolin.

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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 did so many people think Batman Returns was too dark and violent?

This snowy Gotham sequel to the hit Batman '89 went so dark and Tim Burton it famously got McDonald's in hot water over a toy tie-in. 

Though I don't know what film execs were expecting. The script was written by Daniel "I wrote Heathers" Waters.

But while retro critical reviews were mixed, more recent re-appraisals have been quite positive.

I saw this movie in theaters as a child, and in this episode, I go back to the moments I remember and feel them in an even more iffy way. But, hey, it could be worse. It's not like anybody bit my nose off, am I right?

Join me for a discussion of the best damn Batmobile we ever got, the unhinged performances of Penguin and Catwoman, and the loathsome Red Triangle gang who fights with clown capoeira.

Directed by Tim Burton. Screenplay by Daniel Waters. Story by Daniel Waters and Sam Hamm. Starring Michael Keaton, Danny DeVito, Michelle Pfeiffer, Christopher Walken, Michael Gough, Pat Hingle, and Michael Murphy.

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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

How does Outland recreate the story of High Noon in space?

Outland didn't rock the box office but has quietly endured as a good flick among the science-fiction fan community.

It's a sci-fi thriller with a strong performance from Sean Connery and plays out like a western in disguise.

Oh, and the film looks and sounds like it belongs in Alien's universe.

On Jupiter's moon Io, there's a titanium ore mining outpost, Con-Am 27. And there's a new marshal in town -- William O'Niel.

As O'Niel settles into his new assignment, a number of strange worker deaths occur. And when O'Niel investigates, he uncovers a conspiracy that, should he reveal it, could cost him his life.

Low on allies, it's up to O'Niel to face the conspirators. Can he survive?

Join me for this discussion of the compelling filmmaking of Outland. I'll be talking the film's incredible lived-in sci-fi look and feel, O'Niel's charming friendship with Dr. Lazarus, and the surprise of Sean Connery getting vulnerable.

Written and Directed by Peter Hyams. Starring Sean Connery, Peter Boyle, Frances Sternhagen, James B. Sikking, and Kika Markham.

Connect with us on Bluesky:
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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