Subversive Cinema

A story about rubber suits, one cute robot, one mean robot, and a lot of silliness.

Listen in as me and frequent guest, Ben, take a trip back that magical time of the late 80s/early 90s. A time when film put thought, passion, and intent into presenting the viewer with stories that mattered and special effects that boggled the mind.

Or not...

Directed by Patrick Read Johnson (Angus, Baby's Day Out) and written by Johnson (DragonHeart, When Good Ghouls Go Bad) and Scott Lawrence Alexander (Spaced Invaders), TV Guide Magazine called the film "...quite entertaining," while Roger Ebert said "movies like [this] are a waste of time". And, goddamn it, they are BOTH right.

It tells the story of Sam (Douglas Barr), a single father and the new sheriff in town, and his daughter Kathy (Ariana Richards), as they adjust to life in the small town of Big Bean, Illinois. It's Halloween, 1988, and the local radio station is replaying Orson Welles' "War of the Worlds". While Kathy is trying to fit in with the locals and Sheriff Dad attempts to mediate a farm foreclosure, a small battalion of moronic Martians pick up on the vintage radio play. Being utterly stupid, they believe the message as an actual invasion and zoom to Earth to join their brethren in the destruction. When they arrive, they search through the hamlet for the war because they are too dumb to realize what's happening. Bad one-liners and some legitimately hysterical hijinks ensue.

The film is currently available on Amazon for purchase. As of this release, it is also on YouTube for free.

A story about divorcées, a 24 year old sixth grader, terrible haircuts, and a lot of vomit.

Listen in as me and returning guest Ben look back on a film that has proven to be a core memory experience for the both of us.

Directed by Brian Levant (A Christmas Story 2, Snow Dogs) and written by Scott Alexander and Larry Karaszewski (Dolemite Is My Name, Agent Cody Banks), The Washington Post called the film "one bratty movie, that's nearly impossible to tolerate, much less like," while the Los Angeles Times said it was "louder and dumber, more preposterous, unfunny and pointless." I guess Ben and I are alone in our nostalgic admiration of this film...

It tells the continuing story of hell-spawn Junior (Michael Oliver) and his adoptive, and endlessly tolerant, father Ben (John Ritter) as they leave the town of Cold River behind them and head to the "divorcée capital" Mortville. There they meet new neighbors, old "friends", and a litany of horny amateur bakers. Immature humor and cartoonish violence reign supreme in this Death-Wish-for-Kids like story. Just make sure you bring your poncho to the carnival...

The film is currently available on Amazon for rent or purchase, Blu-Ray, and DVD.

One is a story about doodles, 'noids, sex, and utter insanity...

The other, a story about a boy, his monster friend, his unhappy parents, and some pretty horrific stuff for a kids movie.

Listen in as me and returning guest Ben, step in to the mad worlds of doodles and monsters in this special bonus episode.

I'm clawing my way back to the show and I hope you enjoy this double feature.

In this special bonus episode I sit down and chat with the filmmaker behind The Taint, Drew Bolduc. We chat about how he pulled off those awesomely gross and hilarious visual effects, how he got into filmmaking, and much more.

Check out our conversation for a look behind the magic that is The Taint!

A story about sex in cars, sex with scars, sex with strangers, and oh yeah... car crashes.

Listen in as me and returning guest Dan buckle up and put the pedal to the metal with this car-wreck of film—in a good way!

Written and directed by David Cronenberg (The Fly, A History of Violence) and based on the book by J.G. Ballard (High-Rise, Empire of the Sun), Roger Ebert called the film "pornographic in form, but not in result," while the Christian Science Monitor said it was "surprisingly dull given the story's outrageous subject." Of course you'd say that CSM...

It tells the story of TV director James Ballard (played brilliantly by James Spader) and his wife, Catherine (a stunning Deborah Kara Unger), as they engage in extramarital affairs in an attempt to reignite their own sex life. One day, James gets into a serious auto accident which brings him into contact with the widow of the man he's killed and an entire subculture of auto-wreck enthusiasts. As he gets drawn into this fetishist underworld, the lines between bodies, steel, sexuality, and brutality, all become blurred.

The film is currently available on Blu-Ray and DVD.

Guess who is back...

...with a bonus episode at least! And it's SPOILER FREE!

It's been since Thanksgiving that the show has dropped the freshness into your feed. Well, allow me to apologize again (new job + new baby = WTF happed to my schedule) and THANK YOU for tuning in, whether you're new to the show or a longtime subscriber.

As we ramp up to bring season 3 home, we interrupt our unplanned silence with some breaking news! Neil Breen's 6th film has its premiere at the Hollywood Reel Independent Film Festival on February 25th. We were there for the magic, heard Neil answer a variety of questions, and met the man himself. His new film, Cade: The Tortured Crossing, is outrageously fun and some of Neil's best work yet.

Listen in as I chat once again with our resident specialist in Breenism, Richard, about the film, Neil's creative trajectory, and of course that awesome Q&A.

A story about puppets, Thanksgiving Land, a missing movie, and a space worm.

Listen in as me and returning guest, Devon, pull on our stretchy pants and sit down to feast on the sequel to the infamous ThanksKilling. We wanted a meal, but it ended up feeling like a forced enema.

Directed by Jordan Downey (ThanksKilling, The Head Hunter) and co-written by Downey, Mike Will Downey (ThanksKilling 3), and Kevin Stewart (ThanksKilling, The Head Hunter), Cinema Head Cheese called the film "so incredibly bad, it defies the worst possible criticism, and ultimately, it proves absolutely zany-wonderful to behold," while Splatter Critic said it was "a general mess that rarely makes sense." I'm gonna have to side with Splatter Critic on this one. Spoiler alert: we didn't like this film. Sorry ThanksKilling crew. You did MUCH better when you had less money.

It tells the story of Turkie from the first film hunting down the last copy of ThanksKilling 2, a film that was so bad every copy but one was destroyed. There are lots of puppets (for some reason) and a duo of Thanksgiving-obsessed dudes who want to make a theme park dedicated to the holiday. Confused? Well, it only goes downhill from here. Honestly, why couldn't ThanksKilling 3 meet the same fate as part 2?

The film is currently available on Indie Club via Prime Video Channels, Pluto TV, Tubi, and Prime Video for rent or purchase.

A story about a poisoned water supply, insane misogynists, penis obsession, and way too much semen.

***LISTENER DISCRETION IS ADVISED***

Listen in as me and guest, Chris, talk about the social commentary and startling amount of ejaculation in this fantastically over-the-top comedy-horror.

Co-directed by Drew Bolduc (Science Team, Assassinaut) and Dan Nelson (The Taint), and written by Bolduc, Ain't It Cool News called the film "one of the most inanely funny films [we've] seen," while Portland Mercury said "[they] can't recommend this movie, per se, but [they] also can't stop thinking about it." If those don't get you curious, then you'll definitely need to hear this episode. This film is fucking epic and brilliant. Fight me.

It tells the story of a small town whose water supply has been poisoned by the TAINT. It makes men go crazy for murder, and murder makes them orgasm like firehoses. Forced to navigate and survive in this ruthless and jizz-soaked world is Phil O'Ginny (played by filmmaker Drew Bolduc), a lazy student who cares more about getting laid and smoking cigarettes then class. He meets up with fierce Misandra (a tough-as-nails Colleen Walsh) and the two set out to learn just what happened to cause the violent mayhem around them.

The film is currently available on Vimeo, TromaNOW, and Blu-ray & DVD.

A story about two warring families, two star-crossed lovers, some graphic violence, and a whole lot of boobs.

Listen in as me and new guest and veteran podcaster, Julian, put in our nose piercings and prince alberts for this raucous and vulgar rendition of the Bard's most recognized work.

Directed by Lloyd Kaufman (The Toxic Avenger, Sgt. Kabukiman N.Y.P.D.) and co-written by Kaufman and James Gunn (Guardians of the Galaxy, The Suicide Squad), the San Francisco Examiner said of the film that "amid the severed fingers, gouged eyes and lethal vibrators, one finds moments of genuine wit," while the AV Club said "its chief demographic [is] maladjusted 12-year-old boys." Rude. I may be maladjusted, but I am not 12-years-old.

It tells the story of Romeo and Juliet, but Troma style. What's that? You didn't have to read it in high school? Oh... you didn't have to read it in home school. Gotcha. Okay, here it goes. Tromeo Que loves Juliet Capulet. Ques and Capulet hate each other more than the Hatfields and McCoys, thus one can see the problem. Throw in nightmares of a demon penis, some decapitations, and a crossbow that blows shit up and you have one helluva movie.

The film is currently available on Peacock, Plex, Pluto TV, Tubi, Prime Video, and Blu-ray & DVD

A story about a corrupt prison system, eyeball damage, crowd-provided exposition, and magically appearing items.

Listen in as me and returning guest, Joe, dust off our whistle-leafs and stretch our muscles in preparation for this knock-down, head-smasher of a film.

Written and directed by Ngai Choi Lam (Her Vengeance, Erotic Ghoast Story) and based on the manga "Riki-oh" by Tetsuya Saruwatari and Masahiko Takajo, Screen Anarchy said "this may be the greatest film ever made," while Cinemagazine called it "a movie with a lot of flaws." Well... Sounds like someone didn't understand just how brilliant this splatter-fu movie is!

It tells the story of Riki-Oh (Siu-Wong Fan), a young man with superhuman strength and a soft spot for the weak, the lame, and the bullied. In a world where prisons have become privatized, prisoner abuse runs rampant with no system of order apart from the corrupt warden and his staff as well as a small band of gang bosses. Well, Ricky ain't gonna stand for that. Once he sees an old man beaten up, he starts to show just how dangerous he is and it isn't long before the assistant warden, Cyclops Dan (played by Siu-Wong's father, Mei Cheng Fan), initiates a plan to take Ricky out of the equation. Dismemberment, disemboweling, and cranial fractures follow.

The film is currently available on Amazon Prime Video, Tubi, DVD, and Blu-ray.