Video Monsters

Our coverage of the 2022 Chattanooga Film Festival is so sprawling and comprehensive that it took us an entire trilogy of episodes to contain it all...and that's just the general episodes, not covering the upcoming interviews!! So buckle up for Part 1 of the Video Monsters Chattanooga Film Festival Extravaganza, where Nathan, Eric, and Dan discuss the first half of this year’s feature film lineup! So grab your microphone, chat about movies with your best buds, and hastily type up a descrip…. Oh wait. No. That’s what we do. Sorry. Been a while since we’ve done one of these things. What were we saying? Oh, nevermind. You know what to do. Hit play and listen to us gush about the best of fests with Part 1 of our 2022 Chattanooga Film Festival trilogy!

If you enjoy this episode, come join the Video Monsters crew on Discord (https://discord.gg/sjyUQg8phB)!! Hangout episodes are live (and unedited!) every Tuesday night starting around 9:00pm EST. Listen and chat along with us in the Discord chat and we’ll even give you a shoutout on the episode!

Video Monsters is brought to you by the Chattanooga Film Festival and Central Cinema in Knoxville, TN. Follow them on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, or online at chattfilmfest.org and centralcinema865.com. Links for each of these can also be found on our pages, so be sure to follow us at videomonsterpod on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram as well.

music for Video Monsters by Evan Simmons

Our JUNEiversal Monsters series appropriately concludes with a discussion of the last of the original classic Universal Monsters, THE CREATURE FROM THE BLACK LAGOON (1954)! The timeless story of a lonely humanoid Devonian who is forced to fight back against a group of home invaders who harass and persecute him simply because he’s different. Nathan, Eric, and Dan dive into the film to discuss why the Gill-man stands out as the best-designed monster and how the film elegantly conveys so much about the creature through the physical performances of Ben Chapman and Ricou Browning. We also talk about the gorgeous underwater photography, why bodies of water are so frightening, the environmental message at the heart of the film, the portrayal of women in 50s sci-fi, Gill-man’s sweet cavernous bachelor pad, and speculate on the love life of this poor creature who is clearly just looking for companionship in a small pond like the Black Lagoon. So destroy your speargun, put away the rotenone, and next time you see a Gill-man approaching with arms outstretched, don’t be afraid. Instead, reach out and give him a big ol’ hug because what he really needs is a little love and understanding. Much like how you need to understand our love for the Gill-man by listening to our review of Jack Arnold’s CREATURE FROM THE BLACK LAGOON!

If you enjoy this episode, come join the Video Monsters crew on Discord (https://discord.gg/sjyUQg8phB)!! Hangout episodes are live (and unedited!) every Tuesday night starting around 9:00pm EST. Listen and chat along with us in the Discord chat and we’ll even give you a shoutout on the episode!

Video Monsters is brought to you by the Chattanooga Film Festival and Central Cinema in Knoxville, TN. Follow them on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, or online at chattfilmfest.org and centralcinema865.com. Links for each of these can also be found on our pages, so be sure to follow us at videomonsterpod on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram as well.

music for Video Monsters by Evan Simmons

Our Juniversal Monsters series continues with our review of a film that features what is simultaneously the most and least monstrous of all the Universal Monsters. We’re talking, of course, about James Whale’s THE INVISIBLE MAN (1933), which is notably the film where the monster is nothing more than a man with a thirst for power and a desire to be seen. It stands out just as much for its nihilistic worldview and comparatively high body count as it does for that signature James Whale humor, attention to detail, and groundbreaking special effects. Nathan, Eric, and Dan will discuss Claude Rains’s astounding physical performance, how much he relishes the power that his anonymity brings him, the way this film kind of predicted Internet trolling, how it could read as an allegory for addiction, and so much more! So put on your favorite robe or… better yet, take it off and start dancing naked through the streets! If anyone questions your sanity, just blame it on the monocaine. Afterward, you can grab a pint at the Lion’s Head, warm yourself by the fire, and settle in while listening to our review of THE INVISIBLE MAN!

If you enjoy this episode, come join the Video Monsters crew on Discord (https://discord.gg/sjyUQg8phB)!! Hangout episodes are live (and unedited!) every Tuesday night starting around 9:00pm EST. Listen and chat along with us in the Discord chat and we’ll even give you a shoutout on the episode!

Video Monsters is brought to you by the Chattanooga Film Festival and Central Cinema in Knoxville, TN. Follow them on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, or online at chattfilmfest.org and centralcinema865.com. Links for each of these can also be found on our pages, so be sure to follow us at videomonsterpod on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram as well.

music for Video Monsters by Evan Simmons

It’s alive! Our Juniversal Monsters series is ALIVE!!! And there was simply no better film to bring this theme to life than James Whale’s electrifying masterpiece, THE BRIDE OF FRANKENSTEIN (1935). Nathan, Eric, and Dan discuss the wild tonal shifts it takes from the first film, why Dr. Pretorious is one of cinema’s most exquisite creations, the perfect opening tribute to Mary Shelley, the unparalleled craftsmanship on display in every frame, the all-time great performances from its legendary cast, the film’s religious symbolism and censorship battles, the simple but nuanced way it handles its themes of identity, isolation, and empathy, and how much James Whale’s personal life informs those themes and the way audiences have interpreted the film over time. So stop playing with your homunculi, grab a cigar, and meet us in the lab as we welcome you to the new world... of Pods and (Video) Monsters in our analysis of THE BRIDE OF FRANKENSTEIN!!

If you enjoy this episode, come join the Video Monsters crew on Discord (https://discord.gg/sjyUQg8phB)!! Hangout episodes are live (and unedited!) every Tuesday night starting around 9:00pm EST. Listen and chat along with us in the Discord chat and we’ll even give you a shoutout on the episode!

Video Monsters is brought to you by the Chattanooga Film Festival and Central Cinema in Knoxville, TN. Follow them on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, or online at chattfilmfest.org and centralcinema865.com. Links for each of these can also be found on our pages, so be sure to follow us at videomonsterpod on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram as well.

music for Video Monsters by Evan Simmons

June belongs to the monsters! But, not the Video Monsters… the Universal Monsters! Or shall we say, the Juniversal Monsters! This month we’re tackling some of the most beloved, iconic, and influential horror films of all time and, as usual, we’re using our patented Video Rack Attack Bracket technology to determine which three films in the classic Universal Monsters canon we’ll be reviewing this month. It’s time for another Popcorn Punchout!

The rules are simple: the Punchout begins by narrowing the 31 eligible films down to 20. The first 5 are chosen by an audience vote. Nathan, Eric, and Dan then take turns selecting 5 films each to compete in the bracket. These 20 films are then placed into our Skull of Decisions and drawn at random to create our initial round of 8 matchups (which means 4 films won’t even make it out of the Skull to compete!)  Each pairing is briefly discussed, votes are cast, and the film with a majority moves on to the next round. Voting continues until only two films are left. The third film is decided by our chaos bracket. Nathan, Eric, and Dan each have at least one chaos card they can use to “save” a defeated film and advance it the chaos bracket, giving it the potential to be resurrected as the third and final film to be reviewed this month.

The Universal Monsters are near and dear to our hearts and each of us have multiple films within this series that we would consider some of our all-time favorites. These are movies that have shaped who we are and what we love about the art of cinema. It’s only natural that we pit them all against each other in a fight to the death! So wolf down a nice bloody stake, wash it down with a stein of invisibility potion, drop your mummy off at the opera, take a dip with your bride in the Black Lagoon, and gather ‘round the graveyard to watch the Video Monsters take on the Universal Monsters in a POPCORN PUNCHOUT!

If you enjoy this episode, come join the Video Monsters crew on Discord (https://discord.gg/sjyUQg8phB)!! Hangout episodes are live (and unedited!) every Tuesday night starting around 9:00pm EST. Listen and chat along with us in the Discord chat and we’ll even give you a shoutout on the episode!

Video Monsters is brought to you by the Chattanooga Film Festival and Central Cinema in Knoxville, TN. Follow them on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, or online at chattfilmfest.org and centralcinema865.com. Links for each of these can also be found on our pages, so be sure to follow us at videomonsterpod on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram as well.

music for Video Monsters by Evan Simmons

On this episode, the Video Monsters are peering into the future and choosing which monthly themes we’ll be tackling in July, August, and November of 2022! And instead of wasting a whole lot of time arguing back and forth about what we should and shouldn’t do, we’re going to leverage our patented Video Rack Attack Bracket technology to decisively etch these themes into stone in a process we’ve deemed the Popcorn Punchout!

The Punchout begins by selecting the 20 themes in contention. The first 5 are chosen by an audience vote. Nathan, Eric, and Dan then take turns selecting 5 themes each to round out the bracket. The final 20 themes are then placed into our Skull of Decisions and 16 are drawn at random to create an initial round of 8 matchups (which means 4 themes won’t even make it out of the Skull to compete!) Each pairing is briefly discussed, votes are cast, and the theme with a majority of votes will move on to the next round. Voting continues until only two themes are left. The third theme is decided by our chaos bracket. Nathan, Eric, and Dan each have at least one chaos card they can use to “save” a defeated film and advance it the chaos bracket, giving it the potential to be resurrected as our third and final theme.

Nathan, Eric, and Dan are each very personally invested in some of these themes, which inevitably leads to some rousing triumphs and heartbreaking defeats. So without further ado, let’s get into it. Grab your chaos cards, bow down to the almighty Skull of Decisions, and never ever underestimate the power of Peter Weller, it’s time to decide the fate of the Video Monsters with another POPCORN PUNCHOUT!

If you enjoy this episode, come join the Video Monsters crew on Discord (https://discord.gg/sjyUQg8phB)!! Hangout episodes are live (and unedited!) every Tuesday night starting around 9:00pm EST. Listen and chat along with us in the Discord chat and we’ll even give you a shoutout on the episode!

Video Monsters is brought to you by the Chattanooga Film Festival and Central Cinema in Knoxville, TN. Follow them on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, or online at chattfilmfest.org and centralcinema865.com. Links for each of these can also be found on our pages, so be sure to follow us at videomonsterpod on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram as well.

music for Video Monsters by Evan Simmons

HAAARK!!! After a few delays, our mAy24 series finally comes to a wild conclusion with Robert Eggers’s second feature film, THE LIGHTHOUSE. A gorgeous, atmospheric, inscrutable, and deeply silly (in the best possible way) black-and-white arthouse film that was unsurprisingly a big critical hit for Eggers and A24. But is there really more to this film outside of its aesthetic pleasures and exceptional performances from Robert Pattinson and Willem Dafoe? Does it matter if it means anything, or is it OK to just be a dark survival comedy full of madness and mermaids? Nathan, Eric, and Dan are diving in the film’s salty depths to answer these questions and so much more. So grab your monkey pump, beware the seagulls, and try not to spill your beans. You’re fond of me podcast, ain’t ye? Then see to your duties and listen to our review of THE LIGHTHOUSE!

If you enjoy this episode, come join the Video Monsters crew on Discord (https://discord.gg/sjyUQg8phB)!! Hangout episodes are live (and unedited!) every Tuesday night starting around 9:00pm EST. Listen and chat along with us in the Discord chat and we’ll even give you a shoutout on the episode!

Video Monsters is brought to you by the Chattanooga Film Festival and Central Cinema in Knoxville, TN. Follow them on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, or online at chattfilmfest.org and centralcinema865.com. Links for each of these can also be found on our pages, so be sure to follow us at videomonsterpod on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram as well.

music for Video Monsters by Evan Simmons

We interrupt your irregularly scheduled programming for a special impromptu hangout episode of Video Monsters! Nathan, Dan and filmmaker Robert Woods (who we all agree is a major upgrade from conspicuously absent co-host, Eric) were all free one night and aching to podcast so… they did! The Video Monsters start off by paying tribute to the legendary Ray Liotta in the wake of his passing before moving on to discussions of their experiences with people who fundamentally misunderstand a film’s message (inspired by Nathan’s recent viewing of MIDSOMMAR). They also give a sneak peek at next month’s Juniversal Monsters series and put Robert in the hot seat for an exceptional round of our favorite party game, Pitchstorm! So grab your dancing shoes, keep an ear out for a cameo from the Muppets, and never read anything on Reddit again… join us on Discord instead for a special impromptu hangout episode with the Video Monsters!

If you enjoy this episode, come join the Video Monsters crew on Discord (https://discord.gg/sjyUQg8phB)!! Hangout episodes are live (and unedited!) every Tuesday night starting around 9:00pm EST. Listen and chat along with us in the Discord chat and we’ll even give you a shoutout on the episode!

Video Monsters is brought to you by the Chattanooga Film Festival and Central Cinema in Knoxville, TN. Follow them on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, or online at chattfilmfest.org and centralcinema865.com. Links for each of these can also be found on our pages, so be sure to follow us at videomonsterpod on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram as well.

music for Video Monsters by Evan Simmons

Podcasts and good movies, ya’ll! That’s what life’s about! The Video Monsters are living life to the fullest and continuing our mAy24 series with our review of Harmony Korine’s SPRING BREAKERS (2012)! A candy-colored odyssey into the dark heart of a disaffected generation stuck in the monotonous purgatory of Spring Break, not knowing what the future holds, desperate to feel something, clinging to whatever makes them feel like they have some kind of control over their future. There’s also some stuff about materialism, capitalism, Brittney Spears, the “American Dream,” romanticizing violence, and so much more.  In this episode, Nathan, Eric, and Dan will discuss how the film’s gauzy, ethereal cinematography and elliptical editing style give the film a dreamlike quality and what that means for the story. We’ll also dissect the characterizations of the four female leads, unpack James Franco’s truly Alien performance, and go off on a tangent about the use of metaphor in modern cinema. So grab one of your many (many) different colored pairs of shorts, put SCARFACE on repeat, and meet us at the Chicken Shack because I guess I need you, baby, to listen to our review of SPRING BREAKERS!

If you enjoy this episode, come join the Video Monsters crew on Discord (https://discord.gg/sjyUQg8phB)!! Hangout episodes are live (and unedited!) every Tuesday night starting around 9:00pm EST. Listen and chat along with us in the Discord chat and we’ll even give you a shoutout on the episode!

Video Monsters is brought to you by the Chattanooga Film Festival and Central Cinema in Knoxville, TN. Follow them on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, or online at chattfilmfest.org and centralcinema865.com. Links for each of these can also be found on our pages, so be sure to follow us at videomonsterpod on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram as well.

music for Video Monsters by Evan Simmons

The Video Monsters once again sit down with Chris Dortch II, Founder/Executive Director/Lead Programmer/Grand Poobah for the Chattanooga Film Festival, to chat about this year’s virtual fest!  We always have an absolute blast talking to Chris Dortch II, and this episode is no exception as we discuss our love of CFF, dig into the first wave of films announced so far and discuss some of the highlights we are most excited about, and mayyyyybe even pick up a few scoops ahead of the announcement of the second wave of films!!

The Chattanooga Film Festival is always overflowing with love of cinema and sharing that love with others - so be sure to be a part of the 2022 virtual fest June 23rd - 28th and grab your badges today at chattfilmfest.org!

If you enjoy this episode, come join the Video Monsters crew on Discord (https://discord.gg/sjyUQg8phB)!! Hangout episodes are live (and unedited!) every Tuesday night starting around 9:00pm EST. Listen and chat along with us in the Discord chat and we’ll even give you a shoutout on the episode!

Video Monsters is brought to you by the Chattanooga Film Festival and Central Cinema in Knoxville, TN. Follow them on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, or online at chattfilmfest.org and centralcinema865.com. Links for each of these can also be found on our pages, so be sure to follow us at videomonsterpod on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram as well.

music for Video Monsters by Evan Simmons