Optimism Vaccine

THIS WEEK: Society (1989), Bride of Re-Animator (1990), and The Dentist (1996)

Shawn can't stop flapping his gums about The Substance, so we figured it was time to show him some real films of substance.

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THIS WEEK: An American Werewolf in London (1981), Innocent Blood (1992), Deer Woman (2005) and Family (2006)

This week we really wanted to test Shawn's mettle by exposing him to the twisted mind behind some of the most sickening works of the 20th century: Beverly Hills Cop III and Max Landis.

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THIS WEEK: The Devil (1972), Possession (1981) and Under the Silver Globe (1988)

For some unholy reason, Steve demanded that we kick off spooky season with the ultimate downer, as we expose Shawn Glinis to the verbose filmography of Polish philosopher king Andrzej Zulawski. You won't find any treats here. Or tricks, really. Just a great many agonized shouts.

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THIS WEEK: Disclosure (1994), Virtuosity (1995) and The Thirteenth Floor (1999)

With the end of days imminent, we're jacking back in to look at another trio of bonkers 90s VR films and yearn for the future that wasn't.

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THIS WEEK: The Midnight Meat Train (2008), No One Lives (2012), Downrange (2017) and The Price We Pay (2022)

What happens when a Japanese ADHD-addled wunderkind with zero interest in boring filmmaking minutiae like performance, pacing and screen geography heads to Hollywood? Redbox magic, baby!

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THIS WEEK: Showdown in Little Tokyo (1991), Johnny Mnemonic (1995) and I Want to Be Neenja! The Movie (2024)

Ostensibly, we're still discussing the uncomfortable marriage of Japanese culture and 1990s Hollywood production. In actuality, we have gazed deep into the snarling panther's maw and emerged lesser.

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THIS WEEK: Black Rain (1989), Sgt. Kabukiman N.Y.P.D. (1990) and Rising Sun (1993)

This week, we're revisiting the brief period of time in post-Cold War America when our great nation affixed its racist, paranoid gaze on the shores of Japan. The result was some very strange cinema.

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THIS WEEK: Assault on Devil's Island (1997), McCinsey's Island (1998) and The Ultimate Weapon (1998)

There's no Hulkamaniacs here! Yet here we are, combing through the Hulkster's brief run as a cable crossover star. Was the big heel turn enough to awaken Terry's latent potential as a leading man? Results vary.

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THIS WEEK: No Holds Barred (1989), Mr. Nanny (1993) and Thunder in Paradise (1993)

With the recent passing of Hulk Hogan, Steve and I felt duty bound as Real Americans to educate Jack on the phenomenon of Hulkamania. I'm not sure if his film career was particularly illustrative.

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THIS WEEK: Baby Geniuses (1999) and Superbabies: Baby Geniuses 2 (2004)

Having given the Baby Assassins a deserved spotlight, it seemed only appropriate to discuss Baby Geniuses, the passion project of OV supervillain Steven Paul. In 1999, one man dared to ask the question: What if babies possessed the cognitive capacity to mentally dominate Dom DeLuise?

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