Optimism Vaccine

THIS WEEK: Deliverance (1972), Zardoz (1974), and Excalibur (1981)

There are two types of people in this world. Those who love and respect Zardoz, and the foolish charlatans who can't see a masterpiece when it's right in front of them. Join us this week as we celebrate one of the greatest (and most underrated) filmmakers of all time: John Boorman.

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THIS WEEK: Tales Beyond Madness (2018), Reflections of Evil (2002), and Fatal Pulse (2018)

Genius. Visionary. Degenerate. Maybe all of the above. For 30+ years, Damon Packard has been creating antagonistic independent cinema without any regard for genre conventions, copyright law or good taste. Which of course makes him a perfect fit for Optimism Vaccine. Join us as we celebrate the only director to ever receive a lifetime ban from Universal Studios.

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THIS WEEK: Blackbird (2018... or maybe 2022 depending on who you ask)

In the 90s Michael Flatley donned his best pleather pants and seductive plunging neckline shirt so he could set the dancing world (and your mother's heart) on fire. But once the traditional Irish music fades and you hang up your river dancin' shoes, what is the lord of the dance to do? There's only one option: dump millions of dollars into a feature-length spy thriller. And you know it's written, directed, produced by and starring Michael Flatley, because we love and respect true auteurs at Optimism Vaccine.

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THIS WEEK: Waves of Lust (1975), Live Like a Cop, Die Like a Man (1976), Raiders of Atlantis (1983), The Washing Machine (1993)

We're back at it with more pre and post-Cannibal Holocaust Deodato, covering everything from art house softcore, to Mad Max ripoffs, poliziottesco, and something that might qualify as an erotic thriller under the loosest definition.

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THIS WEEK: The House on The Edge of the Park (1980), Body Count (1986), and Dial Help (1988)

Sure, you know him because you've watched Cannibal Holocaust, but have you fully baptized yourself in the cool waters of Ruggero Deodato? This week, we're celebrating one of the late, great auteurs of Italian genre cinema. Come for the discussion of his classic shocker, The House on The Edge of the Park. Stay for the revelation that one of the most bonkers, underrated genre films of all time has never even received a region 1 DVD release.

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THIS WEEK: Dead Bang (1989), The Hot Spot (1990), and Harley Davidson and The Marlboro Man (1991)

While fans of nepo babies doing adaptations of Z-grade erotica might be crying out for more Dakota Johnson, real film heads know you can't beat the cinema of daddy Don. Sure you know him from the beaches of Miami Vice and the... nashy bridges of Nash Bridges, but what about the great movies Don Johnson starred in between those two hit TV series? Turns out DJ has a few tricks up his sleeve (we're not talking about his musical chops) and just might surprise you as a leading man and action film star.

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THIS WEEK: Silent Night, Deadly Night 5: The Toy Maker (1991) and Silent Night (2012)

Oh, wow. They just kept making these, huh? Once again the beloved Silent Night, Deadly Night franchise swerves into another totally unrelated story about how Mickey Rooney is a weird little creep who looks like someone tried to make an obese baby out of a sponge. And there's a robot this time and some Freudian MILF business going on. And hey! Did you know someone did a DTV "remake" of the original Silent Night, Deadly Night in 2012 starring Malcolm McDowell? Shocking Twist: It has almost nothing to do with the first film or any of the sequels. Merry Christmas, I guess.

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THIS WEEK: Silent Night, Deadly Night 3: Better Watch Out! (1989) and Silent Night, Deadly Night 4: Initiation

After Silent Night, Deadly Night 2 was reduced to an underfunded clip show, you would think more sequels to the beloved holiday slasher would be unlikely. Shows what you know. As a testament to unexplained franchise resiliency, two more sequels quickly followed from the legendary Monte Hellman (with a twin peaks adjacent cast) and splatter god Brian Yuzna (with special effects from Screaming Mad George). Just for added fun, neither really has much to do with the rest of the franchise or Christmas. But hey, why would that matter?

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THIS WEEK: Silent Night, Deadly Night (1984) and Silent Night, Deadly Night Part 2 (1987)

This year, you made it through David Gordon Green's Halloween. But can you survive three decades of Silent Night, Deadly Night?

Probably!

The first two movies are pretty great, actually. Find out why one is a stone-cold second-wave slasher classic and the other transcends meme-ification and a money-grab clip show structure to become something extraordinary.

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THIS WEEK: This Man Must Die AKA Que La Bête Meure (1969), La Rupture AKA The Breach (1970), Torment AKA L'enfer (1994)

Murder! Jealousy! Acid trips! Claude Chabrol sure knows how to hook you. He's also made roughly one zillion movies and they all seem to be pretty great. Guess we'll keep doing these episodes!

Support Optimism Vaccine on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/optimismvaccine