The Cannon Cruisers

Hey Cannon Cruisers fans! JD and Randy take a look at Masterminds (1997), a PG‑13 action film directed by Roger Christian and starring Patrick Stewart, Vincent Kartheiser and Bradley Whitford. The movie follows a rebellious teen who brings his stepsister to an elite prep school on the same day the campus is taken over by a security contractor demanding millions in ransom.

They talk about how the film blends its “Die Hard in a school” premise with 1990s family‑friendly action, and look at the mix of traps, hacking moments and set‑pieces that shape the story. They also get into the tone, the PG‑13 limitations, and how the movie compares to other school‑siege films of the era. The conversation touches on the villains, the polished studio feel and the odd place the film occupies in the 1990s action landscape.

Content Warning: This episode contains explicit content.

Hey Cannon Cruisers fans! JD and Randy take a look at Spookies (1986), a horror creature feature directed by Brendan Faulkner, Thomas Doran and Jeanie Joseph, and starring Felix Ward, Alec Nemser and Maria Pechukas. The film follows a group of travellers who take shelter in an abandoned mansion, unaware that a sorcerer is using the house to trap souls while a series of monsters close in on them.

They talk about how the film’s unusual production history shapes the final cut, and look at the mix of creatures, set‑pieces and ideas that appear throughout the story. They also get into the way the added footage changes the tone, the choices behind the effects work, and how the movie fits into the tradition of stitched‑together genre films like Ninja Terminator. They also bump into a few surprise zombies, something that never fails to keep Randy on his toes.

Content Warning: This episode contains explicit content.

Hey Cannon Cruisers fans! This week we are checking out Tucker and Dale vs. Evil (2010), the beloved horror comedy directed by Eli Craig and starring Tyler Labine, Alan Tudyk, and Katrina Bowden. The film follows two well-meaning hillbillies who head to their fixer-upper vacation cabin in the woods, only to be mistaken for chainsaw-wielding killers by a group of preppy college students.

Join JD and Randy as they break down this clever subversion of slasher tropes and the "comedy of errors" that drives the plot. The duo discusses the fantastic chemistry between Labine and Tudyk, the film’s brutal yet accidental gore, and how the story completely shifts depending on which character’s perspective you follow. They also touch on the film's desaturated 2010s color grading and why it remains a definitive cult favorite for fans who want to laugh at their horror.

Content Warning: This episode contains explicit language.

Hey Cannon Cruisers fans! This week we are checking out the 2011 genre-bending film Detention, directed by Joseph Kahn and starring Josh Hutcherson, Shanley Caswell, and Dane Cook. The story follows a group of high school students in Grizzly Lake who must survive a slasher killer known as Cinderhella while trapped in a 12-hour detention that involves time travel, body swapping, and a world-ending apocalypse.

Join JD and Randy as they attempt to untangle the chaotic, fast-paced energy of this post-modern cult classic. The hosts discuss Joseph Kahn’s distinct music video aesthetic, the film’s relentless barrage of 90s and 2000s pop culture references, and how it deconstructs typical slasher tropes through a self-aware lens. They also weigh in on whether the movie's confusing, multi-genre plot is a brilliant piece of experimental cinema or simply too exhausting for a casual watch.

Content Warning: This episode contains explicit language.

Hey Cannon Cruisers fans! This week we are covering the 1991 Italian cult film The Last Match, directed by Fabrizio De Angelis and featuring an ensemble cast including Oliver Tobias, Ernest Borgnine, Henry Silva, and Charles Napier. The story follows a professional football player whose daughter is wrongfully imprisoned in a corrupt Caribbean country, leading him to recruit his entire team for a daring military-style prison break conducted like a championship game.

Join JD and Randy as they discuss the bizarre origins of this script and the sheer absurdity of watching a football team in full pads and helmets engaging in a violent skirmish. The hosts break down Ernest Borgnine’s performance as the coach, the film's surprisingly slow law-thriller buildup, and the ludicrous final twenty minutes where sports plays are used to coordinate a prison raid. They also weigh in on the film’s "vaguely Cuba coded" setting and debate whether the entertaining climax makes up for the wooden acting and confusing editorial choices found in the first two thirds.

Zu Warriors from the Magic Mountain (1983) – Wuxia Fantasy Action

Hey Cannon Cruisers fans! This week we are checking out the 1983 Wuxia classic Zu Warriors from the Magic Mountain, directed by Tsui Hark and starring Yuen Biao, Sammo Hung, Adam Cheng, Bridget Lin, and Moon Lee. Set in ancient China amidst a landscape of constant civil war, the film follows a young soldier who stumbles into a supernatural conflict and must team up with a group of powerful masters to prevent a vengeful spirit from destroying mankind.

Join JD and Randy as they discuss how this groundbreaking production bridged the gap between traditional Hong Kong cinema and modern Hollywood special effects. The hosts break down the film’s chaotic energy, the legendary cast's physical performances, and the specific visual elements that famously inspired John Carpenter’s Big Trouble in Little China. They also explore the film's themes of unity and explore whether the fast-paced, imaginative action still holds up as a high recommendation for fans of the fantasy genre.

Hey Cannon Cruisers fans! This week we are checking out the 1991 sci-fi actioner Dollman, directed by Albert Pyun and starring Tim Thomerson, Jackie Earle Haley, and Kamala Lopez. The film follows Brick Bardo, a hard-boiled cop from the planet Arcturus who finds himself stranded on Earth after a space pursuit, only to discover that on our planet, he is only thirteen inches tall.

Join JD and Randy as they discuss why this Albert Pyun cult classic is the perfect choice for a high-energy, 82-minute watch. The hosts break down Tim Thomerson’s iconic performance as the pint-sized peacekeeper, Jackie Earle Haley’s turn as a ruthless gang leader, and the creative practical effects used to sell the scale differences between the hero and his new environment. They also explore Pyun’s ability to deliver an enjoyable genre film on a micro-budget and debate how this gritty, "tough guy" space cop story holds up decades later.

Content Warning: This episode contains explicit language.

Hey Cannon Cruisers fans! This week we are checking out the 1993 martial arts cult classic Undefeatable, directed by Godfrey Ho and starring the legendary Cynthia Rothrock, Don Niam, and John Miller. The film follows a tough street fighter who teams up with a police officer to hunt down a sadistic, muscle-bound serial killer after her sister becomes his latest victim.

Join JD and Randy as they dive into why this low-budget actioner has earned such a massive following over the decades. The hosts discuss Cynthia Rothrock’s impressive screen presence, Don Niam’s high-intensity performance, and the technical execution of the choreography leading up to the film's infamous final showdown. They also weigh in on the tonal balance between 90s charm and over-the-top violence to see if this "good kind of crazy" flick actually lives up to its viral reputation.

Content Warning: This episode contains explicit language.

Hey Cannon Cruisers fans! This week we are checking out the 1993 family favorite Prehysteria!, directed by Albert and Charles Band and starring Brett Cullen, Colleen Morris, and Austin O'Brien. The film follows a young boy who discovers a clutch of mysterious eggs that hatch into a group of miniature, living dinosaurs, leading his family into a whimsical adventure to protect them from a greedy museum curator.

Join JD and Randy as they discuss whether this 90s staple remains a fun watch for dinosaur lovers or if it feels a bit too inconsequential. The hosts break down the impressive stop-motion effects used to bring the tiny dinosaurs to life, the strange character crossovers from other genre films, and the legendary voice work of Frank Welker. They also explore the film's unique sequel structure and debate whether the lack of a complex plot is overshadowed by its charm as pure family entertainment.

Content Warning: This episode contains explicit language.

Hey Cannon Cruisers fans! This week we are checking out the 1986 action thriller Quiet Cool, directed by Clay Borris and starring James Remar, Adam Coleman Howard, and Daphne Ashbrook. Set in the remote mountains of California, the film follows a tough New York City cop who travels to a small rural town to investigate the disappearance of his ex-girlfriend's family. He soon discovers a deadly struggle for survival against a ruthless group of marijuana growers who have the local community under their thumb.

Join JD and Randy as they dive into whether this cult classic holds up as a "hidden gem" or feels more like a standard television production. The hosts discuss the film’s unique blend of urban cop tropes and rural survivalism, the distinctive look of its "cartoonish" villains, and the surprisingly effective use of practical motorcycle stunts. They also weigh in on the film's "bloodless" approach to violence and debate whether the leisurely pacing and generic 80s synth score help or hurt the overall experience.

Content Warning: This episode contains explicit language.