The Cannon Cruisers

Hey Cannon Cruisers fans! This week we are covering the 2002 cult classic Bubba Ho-Tep, directed and written by Don Coscarelli of Phantasm fame. Based on the novella by Joe R. Lansdale, the film stars Bruce Campbell as an elderly man in an East Texas nursing home who claims to be the real Elvis Presley. Alongside his friend Jack—a fellow resident played by Ossie Davis who believes he is a "dyed black" John F. Kennedy—the duo must defend their home from an ancient Egyptian mummy that is preying on the souls of the elderly.

Join JD and Randy as they explore why this bizarre premise is actually a deeply moving meditation on aging, mortality, and the fear of being forgotten. They discuss Bruce Campbell's surprisingly nuanced performance, the film's leisurely pace that mirrors the lives of its protagonists, and the creative practical effects used to bring the soul-sucking "Bubba" to life. Whether you’re a fan of Campbell’s B-movie roots or Coscarelli’s unique directorial style, the hosts dive into how this indie gem balances outhouse humour with genuine heart.

Content Warning: This episode contains explicit language.

Hey Cannon Cruisers fans! This week we are checking out the 2006 Korean action gem The City of Violence, directed by Ryoo Seung-wan, who also stars alongside Jung Doo-hong and Lee Beom-soo. The film follows a group of childhood friends who reunited after the mysterious death of one of their own, only to find that their different paths in life lead to a brutal confrontation with old grudges and new betrayals.

Join JD and Randy as they break down this low-budget standout that packs a punch with its high-impact Taekwondo choreography and dynamic cinematography. We discuss the film's unique technical choices, from its homages to classic Westerns and The Warriors to the decision to use gritty, "normal" performers over stylized K-pop stars. Whether you're here for the technical breakdown of the fight sequences or the thematic exploration of aging and regret, we dive into whether this 20th-anniversary flick is a must-watch for martial arts fans.

Content Warning: This episode contains explicit language.

Hey Cannon Cruisers fans! This week we are covering the 2026 release Primate, the intense killer monkey movie directed by Johannes Roberts and starring Johnny Sequoia, Troy Kotsur, and Jessica Alexander. Set in Hawaii, the film follows a family whose homecoming turns into a bloody survival nightmare when their pet chimpanzee, Ben, contracts rabies and goes on a feral rampage.

Join JD and Randy as they dive into why this "Cujo with a chimp" creature feature is being hailed as one of the best horror movies of 2026. We break down the production's decision to use a suit actor over CGI, the effectiveness of the isolated setting, and the specific creative choices that separate this from your typical animal attack schlock. We also weigh in on the film’s brutal practical effects and discuss whether this straightforward survival story lives up to the viral hype.

Content Warning: This episode contains explicit language.

Hey Cannon Cruisers fans! This week we’re covering Cast a Deadly Spell (1991), an HBO original urban fantasy noir directed by Martin Campbell and starring Fred Ward, Julianne Moore, David Warner, and Clancy Brown. Set in 1948 Los Angeles where magic is part of everyday life, private detective H. Philip Lovecraft refuses to use magic as he investigates the theft of the Necronomicon.

Join JD and Randy as they break down the film’s blend of hardboiled noir and Lovecraftian horror, strong performances, impressive practical effects, and early urban fantasy influence. We discuss its HBO production roots, surprising violence, and why this feels ahead of its time. Please note this episode was recorded remotely and audio quality may vary.

Content Warning: This episode contains explicit language.

Hey Cannon Cruisers fans! This week we’re covering Castle Freak (1995), a Stuart Gordon gothic horror film produced by Charles Band and Full Moon Features. Loosely inspired by H.P. Lovecraft’s The Outsider and The Rats in the Walls, it stars Jeffrey Combs and Barbara Crampton as an American family who inherit an Italian castle and discover a chained, mutilated “castle freak” living in the dungeon.

Join JD and Randy as they discuss the thin script, predictable structure, and heavy reliance on shock value instead of atmosphere. We break down the wasted Lovecraft premise, the uneven pacing, and why strong practical effects and Jeffrey Combs’ presence cannot rescue what feels like a half-formed 90s horror idea built around a poster concept. Tune in to hear why this cult Full Moon entry did not work for us.

Content Warning: This episode contains explicit language and discussion of sexual violence.

Hey Cannon Cruisers fans! Yes, we’re doing Fortress again, but this is a completely different film from last week’s 1992 dystopian prison movie. Fortress (1985) is an Australian horror thriller directed by Arch Nicholson and written by Everett DeRoch, the writer of Razorback and Link. When a rural one-room schoolhouse is invaded by masked criminals, a teacher and her nine students are kidnapped and forced into a brutal fight for survival in the outback.

Join JD and Randy as they break down the film’s wild tonal shifts, cartoon-masked villains, and shocking escalation from hostage drama to full-blown survival horror. We discuss its HBO cult status, disturbing final act, and why this outback nightmare leaves such an impression. Please note this episode was recorded remotely and audio quality may vary. Tune in for our full take on this intense and unexpected 80s thriller.

Content Warning: This episode contains explicit language.

Hey Cannon Cruisers fans! This week we’re covering Fortress (1992), a cult sci-fi action thriller directed by Stuart Gordon and starring Christopher Lambert, Kurtwood Smith, and Loryn Locklin. Set in a near-future America with strict population control, the film follows a couple imprisoned for having a second child and sent to a privately run desert prison designed to break both body and mind.

Join JD and Randy as they break down the film’s prison escape structure, body-horror elements, and surprisingly strong practical effects. We discuss Kurtwood Smith’s unsettling villain, Jeffrey Combs’ appearance, the film’s corporate dystopia themes, and why this remains one of Stuart Gordon’s most entertaining non-Lovecraft projects. Tune in for our take on its highs, flaws, and cult reputation.

Content Warning: This episode contains explicit language.

Hey Cannon Cruisers fans! This week we’re covering Hundreds of Beavers (2024), a silent indie comedy directed by Mike Cheslik and co-written with Ryland Brickson Cole Tews. Shot in stark black and white, the film follows applejack salesman Jean Kayak as he blows up his livelihood and must survive the wilderness by becoming a fur trapper, all while facing an absurd army of costumed animals.

Join JD and Randy as they break down the film’s live-action cartoon style, Buster Keaton and Looney Tunes influences, video game logic, and nonstop visual gags. We discuss its long festival rollout, physical comedy precision, escalating insanity, and why this two-hour silent farce somehow never wears out its welcome. Tune in to hear why Hundreds of Beavers stands as one of the most original and joyful comedies in recent years.

Content Warning: This episode contains explicit language.

Hey Cannon Cruisers fans! This week we’re covering The Heat Wave Lasted Four Days (1975), a Canadian crime thriller directed by Douglas Jackson and produced by the National Film Board of Canada. Set in Montreal during a summer heat wave, the film follows a television reporter who stumbles into a criminal operation and slowly ruins his life through greed, bad choices, and mounting pressure.

Join JD and Randy as they break down the film’s unusual origins as an English-as-a-second-language teaching tool, its multiple cut versions, and its surprisingly tense ABC Wide World of Mystery presentation. We discuss the stripped-down dialogue, sleazy moral spiral, downbeat ending, and why this obscure Canadian TV movie works better than it has any right to.

Content Warning: This episode contains explicit language.

Hey Cannon Cruisers fans! This week we’re covering Dolls (1987), a gothic horror fantasy directed by Stuart Gordon and produced by Charles Band’s Empire Pictures. When a young girl, her abusive parents, and a group of stranded travellers take shelter in a remote English manor, they discover their elderly hosts are doll makers whose creations punish cruel adults and spare the innocent.

Join JD and Randy as they break down the film’s dark fairy-tale tone, creepy practical effects, and stop-motion killer dolls. We discuss its fast pacing, gothic atmosphere, moral framework, and how this predates Child’s Play and Puppet Master while standing on its own as one of Gordon’s most unsettling films. Tune in to hear why this compact 80s horror gem earns its cult reputation.

Content Warning: This episode contains explicit language.