We're joined by longtime friend of the show (but first time on mic!) Alejandro Arbona, a 20-year veteran of comics editing and a comics writer himself, to discuss everyone's favorite extravagantly-perverse Italian thriller genre -- GIALLO. We discuss what defines a giallo and differentiates it from other sub-genres (and the slasher films it helped inspire), and then Alejandro runs us through a little giallo title quiz. It's so jam-packed with info we didn't have room for Elliott (jk, he had scheduling issues, that li'l scamp will be back next time!).

If you'd like to support Alejandro's Kickstarter for Lake Yellowwood Slaughter, here's a link to the pre-launch signup, ya dirty slasher freaks!

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We flashback to discuss a movie that was much-requested when it was first released, but just didn't fit into our schedule -- Jerry Seinfeld's baffling paean to the Pop Tart, Unfrosted, a film that throws an astounding cavalcade of comedy talent at ideas that seem (apologies) a bit undercooked. Also, we were blessed by the rare in-studio presence of our beloved producer, Alex Smith, who hadn't actually seen the movie, which made explaining the madness of the "plot" all the more enjoyable.

Wikipedia page for Unfrosted

Recommended in this episode:

Dan: The In-Laws (1979)

Stu: Sexy Beast (2000)

Elliott: Dark Days (2000)

Alex: Gridlock (1996)

Aura has a great deal for Mother’s Day. For a limited time, listeners can visit AuraFrames.com to get $35-off plus free shipping on their best-selling Carver Mat frame, with promo code FLOP. Support the show by mentioning us at checkout!

Head to squarespace.com/FLOP for a free trial, and when you’re ready to launch, use OFFER CODE: FLOP to save 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain.

While we were all fortunate enough to record in-person, Stuart filled Dan and Elliott with booze and forced them to do celebrity "impressions." It's either our most fun episode or our most embarrassing! Or both!

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What's the deal with Netflix's The Electric State? Well, for one thing we know that IT'S ELECTRIC... boogie woogie woogie. But also, it's a movie arguing for the primacy of real-life connection that feels utterly algorithmically designed, what with its Chris Pratts and Millies Bobby Brown and cute robot pals, and it cost... $320 million?? That can't be right. There must be a smudge on these accounting sheets. Anyway, we talk about it!

Wikipedia page for The Electric State

Recommended in this episode:

Dan: The Rule of Jenny Pen (2024)

Stu: Morvern Callar (2002)

Elliott: The Clock (2010)

Head to squarespace.com/FLOP for a free trial, and when you’re ready to launch, use OFFER CODE: FLOP to save 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain.

Elliott puts on his greasy overalls to look under the filmic hood, as we figure out what makes a good "robot movie," ask why Heartbeeps was a bad one, and see if we can pull out the robot defibrillator to restore its cinematic heartbeep.

Subscribe to our NEWSLETTER, “Flop Secrets!”

Go to Squarespace.com for a free trial, and when you’re ready to launch, go to www.squarespace.com/FLOP to save 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain.

We tie a bow around Max Fun Drive 2025 and our “Movies Without Spider-Man” series with (?) Paul Schrader's (?) magnum opus, Heartbeeps. It's the classic tale of a guy robot and a girl robot in love and also there's a bad stand-up comic robot and a mean cop robot and a baby robot and Andy Kaufman does one of the world's most irritating voices and what the fuck is this thing?

Wikipedia page for Heartbeeps

Recommended in this episode:

Dan: Black Bag (2025)

Stu: Rap World (2024)

Elliott: The Comic (1969)

“Movies Without Spider-Man” Max Fun drive continues (please consider supporting our show!) with the thrilling (?) conclusion (??) of the Venom saga -- Venom: The Last Dance, the touching story of a boy and the black sentient goo he wears on his body that sometimes eats people's heads.

There's one more week of Max Fun Drive — check out our event calendar!

Wikipedia page for Venom: The Last Dance

Recommended in this episode:

Dan: Windy Day (1967)

Stuart: One of Them Days (2025)

Elliott: The Emperor's Naked Army Marches On (1987)

Dan reveals a WEIRD and possibly EXTREMELY COMPLEX FOR HIM TO PUT TOGETHER stretch goal for this year's Max Fun Drive!

Become a supporting member of Maximum Fun and help keep our show going and independent by visiting maximumfun.org/join today!

Here's a little taste of what's awaiting Max Fun members in the member bonus feed -- an all-new roleplaying adventure from gamemaster Stuart!

In this edition, Dan, Elliott, and fan favorite guest Zhubin Parang play beachfront restaurant staff, on the first night of summer, trying to make it through a busy shift... but CHAOS is on the menu!

If you'd like to listen to this, a whole heck of a lot of other bonus content from all the Max Fun shows, and (most importantly) support independent, artist-owned, worker-owned media, become a member at maximumfun.org/join today! 

It’s not MaxFunDrive without a wild kickoff spectacular! Former real-life VJ and host of MTV's Spring Break 1999, Dave Holmes, takes your favorite MaxFun hosts through some wacky ‘90s- and Spring Break-themed mini games!!

Featuring: Dave Holmes, Jeremy Bent, Oscar Montoya, Dimitry Pompée, Tom Lum, Ellen Weatherford, Alex Schmidt, Brenda Snell, Drea Clark, Alonso Duralde, Dan McCoy, Jordan Morris, Manolo Moreno, Ella Hubber, Caroline Roper, Ella McLeod, John-Luke Roberts, Justin McElroy, Clint McElroy, Mike Cabellon, Sierra Katow, Hal Lublin, Danielle Radford, John Moe, Christian Dueñas, Christian Duguay