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, filmmaker 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.

I'm talking all the things The Raid 2011, and I hope you'll listen.

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

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.

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.

So let's 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.

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

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.

A visual feast and a dark seduction of the innocent await.

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

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

For this episode, we're flying into the 1980s Mad Max and Escape from New York 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.

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

I'm talking all things 1990: The Bronx Warriors, and I hope you'll listen.

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

Sci-fi took some serious steps forward in the 1970s, and Westworld was a quiet 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.

But is it a good watch today or just building blocks we needed? 

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

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

Merry Christmas to all, and to all a....bunch of comic book violence?

We don't do good tidings around here. For our holiday special, we're going black as night -- the dark knight.

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. 

Critical reviews were mixed, but re-appraisals have been quite positive.

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

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

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. 

So is this its own mini-classic? Tune in for a deeper look.

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

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

This violent Japanese revenge tale 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 and carnage not to be missed.

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

 

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

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.

This episode breaks down the creativity that made this 1980s gem a time capsule of youthful angst.

The film features Emilio Estevez and the venerable character actors Harry Dean Stanton and Tracey Walter, among others, and an on-target punk rock soundtrack.

So get out your plates of shrimp (if you know, you know).

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

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

Part musical, teen drama, and all action -- Streets of Fire was too weird 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.

And did I mention Willem Dafoe plays a gothic-looking biker out for trouble?

I'm talking all things Streets of Fire, and I hope you'll listen.

 

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