Optimism Vaccine

THIS WEEK: Blues Brothers 2000 (1998), Basic Instinct 2 (2006) and Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps (2010)

We wrap up our tangled series of series-es with a trio of films that really left us questioning the artistic merits of the decades late, creatively bankrupt sequel.

Donate to Palestinian Medical Aid

Support Optimism Vaccine on Patreon

THIS WEEK: Offspring (2009), The Woman (2011) and Darlin' (2019)

We're wrapping up our aughts horror binge by barely discussing Lucky McKee, whose indie horror hit The Woman was inexplicably the middle film in a trilogy of cannibal flicks. It won't make any more sense when you've watched the films.

Donate to Palestinian Medical Aid

Support Optimism Vaccine on Patreon

THIS WEEK: Dracula 2000 (2000), Dracula II: Ascension (2003) and Dracula III: Legacy (2005)

Our run of episodes on the stunted hopes of aughts horror gradually morphs into a look at secret franchises as we look at the undisputed king of the 3D horror revival, Patrick Lussier. Before there was Drive Angry, there was Dracula 2000. And two DTV sequels that apparently exist.

Donate to Palestinian Medical Aid

Support Optimism Vaccine on Patreon

THIS WEEK: X (2022), Pearl (2022) and MaXXXine (2024)

No one typifies our mini-exploration into the horror aught-eurs that weren't more than Ti West. Annointed king of independent horror disappears for a decade, only to suddenly re-emerge to reign over a new, worse brand of independent horror. It's a story as old as time.

Donate to Palestinian Medical Aid

Support Optimism Vaccine on Patreon

THIS WEEK: The Reckoning (2020), The Lair (2022) and Duchess (2024)

Have you ever found yourself rolling credits on aughts horror classic The Descent and wondering, "Whatever happened to that guy?" Would it surprise you to hear that he married a young model and spent the next five years of his career endeavoring to make her a streaming superstar? That's right. Neil Marshall is a wife guy.

Donate to Palestinian Medical Aid

Support Optimism Vaccine on Patreon

THIS WEEK: Wendigo (2001), Depraved (2019), and Blackout (2023)

Too hip for the horror hounds and too committed to making monster movies for the arthouse crowd. Larry Fessenden's career is defined by moments of brilliance from a one-of-a-kind filmmaker hamstrung by budget constraints and setbacks that kept him from becoming a household name. He's also the perfect example of someone willing to do what it takes to make art that he loves without compromising his vision. And damn, did you know he had a Killers of the Flower Moon cameo?

Donate to Palestinian Medical Aid

Support Optimism Vaccine on Patreon

THIS WEEK: Wolfen (1981), Wolf (1994) and Wolf Man (2025)

Ah, the werewolf. Perhaps the perfect vehicle for exploring the duality of man. Or in the case of this week's slate of films: urbanization, the publishing industry, and ALS.

Donate to Palestinian Medical Aid

Support Optimism Vaccine on Patreon

THIS WEEK: Searching (2018) and Missing (2023)

Steve is back in the hosting chair, and the format has immediately turned to dust. It's a Pod Casty For Me crossover, as Jake and Ian join us to discuss screens, uncles, and I, Frankenstein. All very relevant in our quest to crack the found footage code.

Donate to Palestinian Medical Aid

Support Optimism Vaccine on Patreon

THIS WEEK: Lucy's Law (2011), The President Goes to Heaven (2011), Song of the Blind Girl (2011) and Who Killed Aliyah? (2012)

Steve and Miros were left to their own devices this week. The result? A far too comprehensive look at the sublimely toxic films of direct-to-toilet auteur Tom Charley AKA ctom.

Donate to Palestinian Medical Aid

Support Optimism Vaccine on Patreon

THIS WEEK: Cherry (2021), The Gray Man (2022) and The Electric State (2025)

Our attempt to discuss the post-Marvel output of cinema's most profitable siblings quickly devolved into a series of shrieks and grunts, perfectly mirroring the trajectory of the modern blockbuster.

Donate to Palestinian Medical Aid

Support Optimism Vaccine on Patreon