Stamper Cinema

Greetings! In this week's episode of Stamper Cinema, we're heading back to 1978 for Hal Ashby's powerful Vietnam drama Coming Home.

Starring Jane Fonda, Jon Voight and Bruce Dern, the film follows Sally Hyde, a Marine officer's wife who volunteers at a veterans hospital while her husband is serving in Vietnam. There she meets Luke Martin, a wounded and paralyzed veteran whose experience begins to challenge everything Sally thought she understood about the war, and about her own life.

Coming Home earned eight Academy Award nominations and won three, including Best Actor for Jon Voight, Best Actress for Jane Fonda and Best Original Screenplay.

Joining in for this conversation is author (among many other things) Dr. Josh McConkey. With Josh's extensive experience in both the military as well as medicine, we're taking a look at Coming Home from both a cinematic and human perspective.

I'm so proud of this one. Please enjoy!

Greetings! In this Special Halloween episode of Stamper Cinema, we're taking a deep dive into one of the most iconic supernatural horror films of the 1980s - Poltergeist!

Directed by Tobe Hooper and produced by Steven Spielberg, Poltergeist gave us a haunted suburban home, a television with a mind of its own, a terrifying swimming pool, and one of the most memorable lines in horror history: "They're here!"

Returning to the show is Podcaster and all-American badass Kirsten Rudberg!

We'll explore what makes the film such an enduring classic, the groundbreaking practical effects, and the fascinating (and occasionally contentious) debate surrounding just how much of the film's direction came from Hooper versus Spielberg.

And, of course, we venture into the infamous Poltergeist curse. This is such a great discussion. Enjoy!!!!

Greetings! In this week's episode, we're looking back on the sequel nobody expected, and the one that deserves way more credit than it receives, Psycho II (1983).

More than 20 years after Alfred Hitchcock's original masterpiece, Anthony Perkins returns as Norman Bates, a man attempting to rebuild his life after being released from a psychiatric institution. But with Lila Loomis (Vera Miles) still haunted by the past, Norman's second chance quickly becomes anything but simple.

Joining me is Chris McKittrick, author of Vera Miles: The Hitchcock Blonde Who Got Away. His incredible work offers a valuable perspective on the life and career of the actress returning to the Psycho universe.

We'll discuss Miles' connection to Hitchcock, her career, and the importance of Lila Loomis in a story that asks whether people can truly escape their past. We'll also dig into Anthony Perkins' return, director Richard Franklin's challenge of following Hitchcock, Tom Holland's screenplay, the film's original reception, and Psycho II's place in the history of the legacy sequel.

You're gonna absolutely love this one! Enjoy!

Greetings! In this week's episode we're doing something a little different!

What do 12 Angry Men and The Thing have in common? More than you might think.

I'm joined by author Alex Grass for a thematic deep dive into Sidney Lumet's courtroom classic and John Carpenter's sci-fi horror masterpiece. We're exploring what happens when a group of men are trapped together, forced to make monumental decisions, and pushed to their psychological limits.

From the jury room to an isolated Antarctic research station, we'll discuss leadership, masculinity, paranoia, and the fragile nature of trust. What makes someone a leader when nobody's in charge? Can reason overcome fear? And when the stakes are life or death, who can you really trust?

This is one you definitely wanna check out. Enjoy!

Greetings! In this week's episode of Stamper Cinema, we're heading to a galaxy not so far away to talk about Mel Brooks' sci-fi spoof Spaceballs! Joining us for the adventure is comedian/writer Matt Evans.

In this episode we cover it all. Dark Helmet, Lone Starr, Barf, Yogurt, the Schwartz, Ludicrous Speed, Mega Maid, and some of the movie's most quotable moments. We'll also dig into Mel Brooks' career and his place among the great comedy filmmakers, along with the film's production, critical response, legacy, and why Spaceballs has remained such a beloved cult comedy nearly four decades later. Enjoy!

Greetings! In this week’s episode of Stamper Cinema, we’re heading to Transylvania for one of the greatest comedies ever made: Young Frankenstein!

Released in 1974 and directed by Mel Brooks, Young Frankenstein features an absolutely ridiculous comedy dream team, including Gene Wilder, Peter Boyle, Marty Feldman, Madeline Kahn, Cloris Leachman, Teri Garr, Kenneth Mars, and Richard Haydn.

Shot in gorgeous black and white and deliberately modeled after the classic Universal horror films of the 1930s, the film recreates the look, atmosphere, sets, lighting and even filmmaking techniques of those old movies. The result is a comedy that somehow manages to be both a hilarious parody and a genuine love letter to classic horror.

And joining me for the discussion is retired Air Force pilot and now author, Christopher “Coyote” Choate.

Enjoy!

Greetings! In this week’s episode, we’re flipping over to Channel 62 for the wonderfully weird 1989 cult comedy UHF, starring Weird Al Yankovic.

When unemployed dreamer George Newman unexpectedly takes over a struggling local television station, he discovers that bizarre programming, a kung-fu movie host, a psychic, and a janitor named Stanley Spadowski might just be the secret to saving the station. Unfortunately, George also has to contend with ruthless rival station owner R.J. Fletcher, who would very much like to see Channel 62 disappear.

Directed by Jay Levey and written by Levey and Yankovic, UHF is a loving—and completely unhinged—send-up of television, movies, advertising, pop culture, and pretty much anything else Weird Al could parody.

Joining me for this trip is the hilarious comedian Leah Renee!

We'll talk Weird Al, the movie's incredible supporting cast, the best sketches and parodies, Stanley Spadowski, memorable quotes, the film's initial reception and box-office disappointment, and how UHF eventually found its audience as a beloved cult classic. Enjoy!

Greetings! Welcome to the Season Seven Premiere of Stamper Cinema!!! In this week's episode we're heading to Italy to examine one of horror cinema's most stylish and influential films: Deep Red (Profondo Rosso).

Joining me is Kevin & Erin from The Podcast that would Die! Together we explore why Dario Argento's 1975 masterpiece remains the gold standard of the Giallo genre. 

In this episode we discuss:

Enjoy!

Greetings! In this week's episode, our Season Finale, we're revisiting Paul Thomas Anderson's acclaimed 1997 masterpiece, Boogie Nights.

Returning to show to help us break it all down is Vic Lagina, writer and retired adult filmmaker. Vic's unique firsthand experience offers an honest and fascinating perspective on the world portrayed in the film. Together, we discuss what Boogie Nights gets right about the adult film industry, where Hollywood takes creative liberties, and how the movie explores ambition, addiction, ego, and the search for belonging.

We also celebrate Paul Thomas Anderson's remarkable direction, the unforgettable performances from Mark Wahlberg, Julianne Moore, Burt Reynolds, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Don Cheadle, Heather Graham, and the rest of the incredible ensemble cast. From its iconic soundtrack and unforgettable long takes to its emotional gut punches, we examine why Boogie Nights remains one of the defining films of the 1990s. Enjoy!

Greetings! In this week's episode we're revisiting one of the most overlooked coming-of-age films of the 1990s: Angus (1995). What was marketed as a typical teen comedy turned out to be a heartfelt story about bullying, self-acceptance, friendship, and finding the courage to be yourself.

Joining us this week is Kira Hartley Klinger—writer, internet reseller, and mother! Listen on as we discuss Charlie Talbert's memorable performance, George C. Scott's scene-stealing grandfather, Kathy Bates' unforgettable supporting role, the film's outstanding Green Day soundtrack, and an early appearance by future Dawson's Creek star James Van Der Beek. Enjoy!