Optimism Vaccine

THIS WEEK: Skinamarink (2022) and Lemora: A Child’s Tale of the Supernatural (1973)

Turns out the scariest movie of 2022 is a zero-budget, Canadian horror film that trades cheap scares for foreboding liminal spaces.

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THIS WEEK: Blood Freak (1972)

This year, we have a lot to be thankful for. Shag carpet, wood panel walls, Pall Mall cigarettes, half-baked Animorph murder turkeys, cool drugs, and scar tissue from third-degree burns - the list goes on. Join us as we celebrate this joyous American holiday by watching one of the most foundational no-budget Floridian films of all time, Blood Freak.

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THIS WEEK: Viva Erotica (1996)

The OV boys are joined by Hong Kong film fanatic and all-around nice guy, Dylan Cheung, to talk about HK films and the Cat III meta-comedy from Tung-Shing Yee and Chi-Leung Law, Viva Erotica.

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THIS WEEK: Night Owl (1993), The Addiction (1995), and Nadja (1994)

Three filmmakers. Three films. Three black and white vampire movies from the mid-90s. Sounds like a good episode theme (and it helps us exclude Vampire in Brooklyn). It's art house meets bat house! It's Abel Ferrara reminding us that he knows Russel Simmons! It's David Lynch playing a security guard! What else could you possibly ask for?

THIS WEEK: Alone in the Dark (1982), A Nightmare on Elm Street 2: Freddy's Revenge (1985), and The Hidden (1987).

Jack Sholder might not be a household name when it comes to horror and sci-fi directors, but he should be. Unfortunately, one of his best films shares a title with a maligned 2005 Uwe Boll joint, another is unfairly labeled the worst in a classic franchise, and then there's one that you never bothered to watch. Shameful. Well, we're here to fix all of this. Long live Jack Sholder, king of unheralded 1980s studio shlock.

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THIS WEEK: Basket Case (1982), Brain Damage (1988), Frankenhooker (1990), Bad Biology (2008)

Josh Lewis from the Sleazoids podcast helps Miros introduce Shawn Glinis to the king of 42nd St. gross-out grindhouse fare, Frank Henenlotter. An essential episode for anyone who enjoys zero-budget stop-motion animation and exploding prostitutes.

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THIS WEEK: Nekromantik (1988), Der Todesking (1990), Nekromantik 2 (1991) and Schramm (1993)

It's time for Shawn's final exam, as we introduce him to the shocking, grotesque poetry of zero budget German maestro Jörg Buttgereit. No genitals were mutilated in the making of this podcast.

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THIS WEEK: Stage Fright a.k.a. Aquarius (1987), The Sect (1991), and Cemetary Man a.k.a. Dellamorte Dellamore

It wouldn't be October if we weren't introducing Shawn to another Italian master of horror. This year, it's the top disciple of Dario Argento, Joe D'Amato, and Lucio Fulci, and the last artistic gasp of the Italian horror film industry: Michele Soavi.

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THIS WEEK: Knife in the Water (1962), Repulsion (1965), The Tenant (1976)

It's October, which means it's once again time for Shawn Glinis to mainline some horror films he's never seen. What's that? We've betrayed tradition? Knife in the Water isn't spooky? Listen, pal, Roman Polanski is wanted in 188 countries for unspeakable crimes and was extradited directly to this podcast. There's your horror. Kind of weird that we couldn't find a guest for this episode. Oh well.

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THIS WEEK: Hot to Trot (1988)

Episode 200 is brought to you by a dream. A dream that one day, Optimism Vaccine would cover the classic talking horse/Bobcat Goldthwait star vehicle, Hot to Trot, and the corresponding episode would thrust the podcast into the upper echelon of respected outlets for serious film criticism.

Or maybe we just talked about horse dicks for 90 minutes. Only one way to find out. Happy 200th episode!

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