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.

The first in a franchise, this low-budget but inventive movie flows in a strange, off-beat tone.  

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, why the film is a fun watch for retro science-fiction and cult film fans, and discuss the movie's lasting legacy.

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Tom Holland's Fright Night is a horror comedy that sprung out of the 1980s when horror comedy was seemingly new and getting springy.

Unlike many cult classics, the movie succeeded at release, yet still had the creativity, heart, and scares to find an audience through today.

What is it about this movie's plot, characters, and writing that keeps on delivering?

Well, listening to this episode may help answer that.

Whether you've never seen this movie or just want to take a nostalgic look back on it, join me as I look into the reasons to watch Fright Night and discuss its legacy.

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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 character 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 what makes Phantasm a classic worth your time today as well as discuss a bit of the film's making and legacy in the horror community.

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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" movie lists from time to time yet never seems to catch fire.

The movie stars Michael Nouri (Flashdance) and Kyle MacLachlan (Blue Velvet) and was directed by Jack Sholder (A Nightmare on Elm Street 2: Freddy's Revenge).

Join me for this episode as I break down what makes The Hidden a well-remembered but seemingly overlooked piece of 1980s action cinema.

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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. 

So in this episode, I'm breaking down all the charms this movie has to offer and why it's worth a nostalgia or first-time watch.

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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 Cinema that helped birth action gun-fu choreography, the heroic bloodshed genre, and the worldwide star Chow Yun-fat's career.

John Wick, The Matrix, Max Payne, Desperado, and the works of Quentin Tarantino -- the lasting echoes of this film have been heard since its release.

Join me for this episode as we revisit the melodrama and blazing gunfire of A Better Tomorrow.

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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?

I'm talking all things Blood In, Blood Out, and I hope you'll listen.

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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.

The movie didn't land where it was intended to, and that bit of a mess factor is what makes it so enthralling to watch.

Naked space vampire girl, Sir Patrick Stewart, and a London apocalypse await.

I'm talking all things Lifeforce, and I hope you'll listen.

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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.

I'm talking all things Arena, and I hope you'll listen.

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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.

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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