Video Monsters

The Video Monsters are joined by author and orator - with an extensive body of work spanning over two decades - Clay McLeod Chapman!! Clay's writing evokes both Stephen King and Clive Barker as he taps into the dark nature of humanity with heart and humor...all with a dash of southern charm. Join Nathan as he digs into the darkness and joy of Clay's stories, discusses influences and inspiration, and even get a sample of Clay's live shows as he reads a short sampling from his latest book "What Kind of Mother"!! So grab your pumpkin, shake off your alien symbiote, and gather 'round for Video Monsters' Story Time - because it's time to get haunted with Clay McLeod Chapman!!

If you enjoy this episode, come join the Video Monsters crew on Discord - be a part of the discussion and listen in live when we record our episodes!! Go to linktree.com/videomonsterpod for the link to Discord, our socials, the most recent Popcorn Punchout poll (when active), and occasionally some highlighted episodes!!

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 1995 Horror Month is off to an auspicious start as we discuss a movie that is nominally a 1995 movie but didn’t actually receive distribution until 1997… but nevermind its questionable eligibility status because we’re gonna talk about it anyway! The movie? Larry Fessenden’s seminal independent vampire film, HABIT (1995 [according to IMDb and Letterboxd])! Speaking of things that are questionable, the Video Monsters discuss whether or not this is actually a vampire movie, the subjective quality of the filmmaking, 90s New York sleaze, and dig a little bit into Larry Fessenden’s overall impact on the independent horror genre over the last few decades. So grab your polaroids, meet us on the poop deck, and podcast on the installment plan as we provide much diversion from the miseries of life with Larry Fessenden’s HABIT!

If you enjoy this episode, come join the Video Monsters crew on Discord - be a part of the discussion and listen in live when we record our episodes!! Go to linktree.com/videomonsterpod for the link to Discord, our socials, the most recent Popcorn Punchout poll (when active), and occasionally some highlighted episodes!!

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

Now that you've listened to us discuss our 1995 Horror recommendations in our Video Monsters' Monthly Movie Madness, it's time for hearts to be broken and for chaos to reign as we boot up another Popcorn Punchout: Video Rack Attack Bracket to decide on which three '95 horror movies will be receiving the full Video Monsters' analysis! And what better person to join us for a heated debate of mid-90s horror than special guest (and part of the origination of our motto of "take movies seriously, but don't take yourself seriously”) Kyle Kuchta (The Woodsman, Survival of the Film Freaks, Horror Movie Night Podcast)!! So open your memory box, put new batteries in the remotes, and grab your lucky golden coin as we answer the alien call in our 1995 Horror Popcorn Punchout!!

If you enjoy this episode, come join the Video Monsters crew on Discord - be a part of the discussion and listen in live when we record our episodes!! Go to linktree.com/videomonsterpod for the link to Discord, our socials, the most recent Popcorn Punchout poll (when active), and occasionally some highlighted episodes!!

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

What happens when an unavoidable cancellation leaves Nathan and Eric without an episode to record? Why, they record anyway! And in the process, they create a whole new segment for the show! Tonight you all get a bit of a peek at how the popcorn gets made with Nathan and Eric deciding in real time exactly what movies will be eligible to be tossed into the Skull of Decisions for our upcoming POPCORN PUNCHOUT on 1995 Horror Movies!

There are a few details from this impromptu episode that will be ironed out, but we’ve decided to treat this process as if we are curating a month of movie recommendations on the month’s topic. So stock up on your favorite movie snacks, scour your Letterboxd lists, and IMD*be* ready for anything as we summon titles for a new ritual that shall henceforth be known as the Video Monsters’ Monthly Movie Madness!

If you enjoy this episode, come join the Video Monsters crew on Discord - be a part of the discussion and listen in live when we record our episodes!! Go to linktree.com/videomonsterpod for the link to Discord, our socials, the most recent Popcorn Punchout poll (when active), and occasionally some highlighted episodes!!

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

Happy Almost-Fall Ya’ll! It’s our favorite time of the year because September is the official start of Spooky Season for the Video Monsters! And a new season means it’s time for another POPCORN PUNCHOUT, where we use our not-quite patented Video Rack Attack Bracket to determine our movie themes for the months of September, October, and November. 

We’ve got 30 themes in contention but only three will make it to the top. Up for debate are, of course, a multitude of horror subgenres in every color of the rainbow, but we’ve also got a few outlier themes running the gamut from stripping to cooking to house partying, as well as themes focusing on some of our favorite character actors like Philip Seymour Hoffman and…*checks notes* …Sean Whalen? So grab your gizmos, meet us in Discord, embrace the chaos, and submit yourself to the all-powerful Skull of Decisions as it decides the fate of the Video Monsters with our Autumn Themes POPCORN PUNCHOUT!

If you enjoy this episode, come join the Video Monsters crew on Discord - be a part of the discussion and listen in live when we record our episodes!! Go to linktree.com/videomonsterpod for the link to Discord, our socials, the most recent Popcorn Punchout poll (when active), and occasionally some highlighted episodes!!

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 are wrapping up our Top 100 Women-Directed Films of the 2010s, Based on Letterboxd Rankings series with TONI ERDMANN (2016) - a heartwarming, German character study centered around the relationship of a very career-focused woman and her independent spirit father who tries to help his daughter find humor in life. While this might sound like the recipe for a quirky comedy about a manic pixie dream dad, it is an intentionally paced, deeply emotional movie that resonates through its authenticity. So adjust your wig, put in your false teeth, and warm up your singing voice as we bare all of our thoughts of TONI ERDMANN (2016)!!

If you enjoy this episode, come join the Video Monsters crew on Discord - be a part of the discussion and listen in live when we record our episodes!! Go to linktree.com/videomonsterpod for the link to Discord, our socials, the most recent Popcorn Punchout poll (when active), and occasionally some highlighted episodes!!

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 continue their Chattanooga Film Festival 2023 coverage by discussing AMERICAN MELTDOWN - an indie, dark comedy, buddy hangout movie with plenty of important (and timely) themes that make its "coming of rage" description a perfect encapsulation of the emotional journey you go on with the lead duo. Very special guests Andrew Adams, Jacki Von Preysing, and Mark Evans join us to discuss the film, give insights into their technical and creative process, and reveal one of the greatest instagram handles of all time. If you've not yet seen the film, the first half of the episode is a mostly spoiler-free discussion, before diving a bit deeper into analysis in the second half. So grab your whisk and your whiskey, put on your smiley face, and make sure you have your third key before meeting us in the desert for our discussion of AMERICAN MELTDOWN!!

We support the hard work of all of the actors, writers, and everyone else involved in creating movies, which we are very passionate about. So it is important to note that American Meltdown is not affiliated with AMPTP and therefore exempt from the strike.

If you enjoy this episode, come join the Video Monsters crew on Discord - be a part of the discussion and listen in live when we record our episodes!! Go to linktree.com/videomonsterpod for the link to Discord, our socials, the most recent Popcorn Punchout poll (when active), and occasionally some highlighted episodes!!

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 kick off their Chattanooga Film Festival 2023 coverage by discussing the psychological horror relationship drama (that's light on blood, but very heavy on theme) TEARSUCKER! We are joined tonight by director/cinematographer/editor Stephen Vanderpool, writer/producer/actor Sam Brittan, and the star and emotional core of the film Allison Walter. This episode also kicks off TEARSUCKER's wide release as it is available now (7/7/23) on VOD (as well as physical media)!! So brew a nice cup of chamomile tea, pack your picnic lunch, and make sure your phone is charged before you meet us in the park for our discussion of TEARSUCKER!!

If you enjoy this episode, come join the Video Monsters crew on Discord - be a part of the discussion and listen in live when we record our episodes!! Go to linktree.com/videomonsterpod for the link to Discord, our socials, the most recent Popcorn Punchout poll (when active), and occasionally some highlighted episodes!!

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 are back in the saddle again, out where a movie is a movie. Where the podcasters feed on analysis, yes indeed, we're back in the saddle again. So grab your pet racoon, put on some chaps, and watch out for barbed wire on your way to meet us at the rodeo for tonight's bucking discussion of Chloe Zhao's THE RIDER (2017).

If you enjoy this episode, come join the Video Monsters crew on Discord - be a part of the discussion and listen in live when we record our episodes!! Go to linktree.com/videomonsterpod for the link to Discord, our socials, the most recent Popcorn Punchout poll (when active), and occasionally some highlighted episodes!!

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 are headed back in time to an island in 18th century France to discuss a beautiful, heart-breaking tale of longing, isolation, and finding solace in art. So grab your canvas, turn to page 28, and gather around the campfire as we sing the praises of Céline Sciamma’s PORTRAIT OF A LADY ON FIRE (2019)!

If you enjoy this episode, come join the Video Monsters crew on Discord - be a part of the discussion and listen in live when we record our episodes!! Go to linktree.com/videomonsterpod for the link to Discord, our socials, the most recent Popcorn Punchout poll (when active), and occasionally some highlighted episodes!!

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