Tom Hanks Defence Force

Why has the Halloween franchise, and in particular Michael Myers, withstood such a stirring test of time? Is it a fascination with ‘why’ he came home? Is it because he inspired Slipknot’s fashion? (Well, hopefully). Is it because we’re all secretly afraid of William Shatner? Let’s find out. And yet, the prevailing influence of this 1978 masterpiece leaves us with even more questions. How did it kickstart the slasher generation? What would it have looked like if Dr Loomis had been played by, say… Sir Christopher Lee? And is this truly the end for it? Let’s get spooky with our favourite fictional serial killer in the latest episode of John Carpenter Defence Force.

Everyone loves birthdays - especially your parents’, partner’s and friends’ debit cards. So on Jack’s birthday, we decided to treat him with a very special gift - a Mystery Pitch so random and chaotic, it makes The Joker’s brainstorming session look like Winston Wolf’s Netflix cleaning special. Joined by special guest and seasonal expert Eleanor Winterbottom, we pitch those mysteries like we’re pitching Jack for the crown. Enjoy!

There’s a lot of things merging in the 4 billionth, 545 millionth year of our great wet rock. The virtues of stoicism with your 12-year-old neighbour creating their TikTok account. The cost of living with the feeling of touching mould down the back of your sofa. The mixing of emotions when Mr Incredible finally becomes truly uncanny. But none are as complex and as fascinating as the mergers and acquisitions disrupting the entertainment industry at a colossal rate. With the agility of a Wild West showdown and the inescapability of Jeff Bezos’ hypnotic cackle, Hollywood is acquiring and selling content like never before. But how have these great shifts in film and TV affected us, the viewers? And how will they continue to shape the nature of content, and the nature of how we consume our content, from here on? Find out in MergersBowl: The Tom Hanks Defence Force Take.

Disclaimer: This episode was recorded prior to Warner Bros. Discovery cancelling Batgirl… and our hearts.

Great things come in 50s. Jack Daniels’ alcohol percentage. Fines issued to the Conservative government under PartyGate. And shades of grey. But perhaps most importantly, Tom Hanks Defence Force episodes. In our 50th episode special, Jack and Alex finally ask a question that Oxford and Cambridge will be debating for years to come: What truly is the best Tom Hanks film? And using bespoke data science, we find out why YOU the audience also love this celebrated uncle of America more than your own children.

Its 2022 and Netflix has just revved up two investments: Another addition to the Texas Chainsaw Massacre franchise, and nostalgic content. As Leatherface began slicing his way through cornfields (and in our nostalgia-crazed minds: Korn-fields), Jack and Alex couldn’t help but wonder two things: What if all this madness was concocted by none other than Alfred Hitchcock with a lawnmower? And do we know what you did in 2005? Drawing on a creative legacy of mystery pitch mayhem, the THDF duo return with ‘names’, as they plan out Netflix’s next hits: Alfred Hitchcock’s Lawnmower Massacre and I Know What You Did in 2005.

It’s no secret that we at Tom Hanks Defence Force can talk horror – probably until Jason Blum “remembers” he left a light on in the original Paranormal Activity house and needs to an excuse to leave.

So, we doubled down on this obsession with demonic possession and invited two devilishly special guests to join us in our latest episode. Our topic? The value of horror in this day and age. Our broadcasting location? Beyond the grave.

So just when you thought we couldn’t gleam any more from the genre of screams, we’ll remind you before 2022 why horror remains at the front of the queue.

Batman Begins is over 15 years old. Would you believe it? We can’t! That’s why in this episode, Alex, Jack and special guest Kathleen delve deep into Christopher Nolan’s masterful trilogy. Together, they discuss their strengths, weaknesses and how the trilogy transformed public perceptions of what superhero films should look and feel like. Why so serious? The new Tom Hanks Defence Force episode is out. Sit back, relax, and let us take you back to the first time you saw the reinvention of Batman.

It’s no secret that Covid-19’s impact on the film and TV industry has been nothing short of colossal. Productions have halted, often starting up again with completely transformed models. Across the globe, cinemas have closed down, their chains struggling to survive. But with a vaccine now being distributed, how exactly could the industry look moving forward? Will certain genres now lead the way? Have audience expectations changed with the streaming boom? Will Tom Cruise be every film’s production manager? Has someone finally completed Netflix? Find out, as Alex and Jack analyse an industry post-Covid.

Disclaimer: This episode was recorded before WarnerMedia’s streaming/cinema co-release announcement.

Only a handful of names have become synonymous with Hollywood. Spielberg, Scorsese, Lucas, and perhaps in recent years, Iger. Few executives have had as much impact on an industry as the current Chairman and former CEO of Disney. Alongside bringing Pixar, Marvel, LucasFilm and 21st Century Fox under the Disney banner, and increasing the entertainment giant’s stock value by 429%, Iger is also known for his kindness and corporate citizenship. But what would happen if he produced a film starring Will Smith and Daniel Day-Lewis? What would happen if he cast Dame Maggie Smith as Mary Berry? Find out in our latest Bob Iger-themed Mystery Pitch. Also, stay tuned till the end for some exciting updates on what the future of Tom Hanks Defence Force could sound like.