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On this week’s episode of The Video Store Podcast, I’m recommending four movies. They’re all from the 1980s and 1990s and all have some connection to my home state of New Jersey, even if it’s a loose one. These aren’t big studio classics. They’re weirder, smaller, and have built and kept loyal followings for decades.

The Toxic Avenger (1984)

Made by Troma Entertainment, this is probably their most well known film. It’s low budget, violent, and absurd. It was shot mostly in New Jersey, including many areas near where I grew up. The studio itself was co-founded by Lloyd Kaufman, who grew up in NYC but often filmed across the Hudson for budget reasons. The Toxic Avenger became Troma’s mascot and eventually got cartoon spin-offs, comics, and a stage musical.

The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the 8th Dimension (1984)

This one is hard to explain in a sentence. Peter Weller plays a neurosurgeon who’s also a rock star and physicist. It’s sci-fi with a cast that includes Jeff Goldblum, Ellen Barkin, and John Lithgow. The film didn’t do well when it came out but has built a steady fanbase over time. While it wasn’t filmed in New Jersey, it is rife with Garden State references.

Eddie and the Cruisers (1983)

This is a fictional band movie that takes itself seriously. It was shot in various New Jersey shore towns. The soundtrack, especially the song “On the Dark Side,” ended up doing better than the film. Led by Michael Paré plays Eddie, the film has a solid cast, but its the music that helped it build an audience. Most of that happened because it became available pretty quickly on HBO

Clerks (1994)

Kevin Smith’s first film. Shot in black and white for under $30,000. He filmed it at the Quick Stop convenience store in Leonardo, New Jersey, where he worked at the time. This movie launched his career and started what would be known as the View Askewniverse. It’s mostly just two guys talking about things that interest them in intense and funny ways, but it worked.

These films offer more than just entertainment. They provide a look back at different moments when movies could be made with local flavor and for these ones, a personal vision. That connection to place and the willingness to work within its constraints created films that continue to matter because they show how stories are shaped by where they come from just as much as who tells them.

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Welcome, all True Believers, to another episode of the Video Store Podcast. This week, I’ve got four films showcasing the superhero genre, long before the big superhero boom of the late 90s/early 00s that’s still going strong today. Put on your mask, your spandex, and join me on the couch for a movie marathon that’s, well, super!

Batman: The Movie (1966)

First up is Batman: The Movie from 1966. A spinoff of the popular TV show, this theatrical film is one for the ages. Still fun and funny, Batman: The Movie is a film that the whole family can sit down and enjoy, whether they’ve seen any of the Adam West/Burt Ward TV series. Make a bowl of popcorn and sit down with your partner in crime-fighting to enjoy Batman: The Movie.

Dick Tracy (1990)

One of the more underrated films of this era is 1990’s Dick Tracy, directed by and starring Warren Beatty. This is a noir detective story in yellow. Filmed like a living comic book with a score by Danny Elfman, songs by Stephen Sondheim and Madonna, Dick Tracy is a film not to be missed. Put on your yellow trenchcoat, and I’ll join you on the couch for a comic book classic that too few people have seen. I’m on my way!

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (1990)

Order a pizza and settle in for a fun action comedy that’s sure to please everyone. 1990’s Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles brings the comic by Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird to life with puppetry and costuming by Jim Henson’s creature shop, a great soundtrack, and fantastic stunt and action sequences. You’ll love every second of being a turtle with this film.

The Phantom (1996)

Charming pulpy goodness awaits you when you push play on The Phantom from 1996. Starring Billy Zane, Kristy Swanson, Treat Williams, and Patrick McGoohan, this is another underrated classic of comic book film lore not to be missed. Join the very first superhero to wear spandex and slam evil with The Phantom.

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We love our automobiles here in America. We love driving cars and fixing up cars… but not every experience on the open road is a good one. This week I’m recommending four road trip films that turn out to be bad trips.

Duel (1971)

David Mann is just trying to make his way through a lone desert highway when he begins being tormented by an 18-wheeler for no apparent reason. Despite Mann’s attempts to outrun, outmaneuver, and outsmart his pursuer, he is unable to get away. If Duel sounds a little like Jaws but with cars, that’s no coincidence as Duel was the directorial debut of Steven Spielberg. Non-stop tension from beginning to the exciting climax.

Motorama (1991)

Ten-year-old Gus hits the road after stealing his parents’ Mustang with hopes of winning Motorama. Collect all eight winning cards for a chance of winning $500 million dollars! Unfortunately for Gus, things aren’t easy in this hellish nightmare wasteland. By the time Gus makes it to the Motorama headquarters he’s lost an eye and his hair has turned gray… and things are about to get worse.

Dirty Mary, Crazy Larry (1974)

Driver Larry and his mechanic Deke plan to fund their new racing team by robbing a local supermarket and laying low until the heat blows over — an escape plan that falls apart when Larry’s former one-night stand Mary is hiding in the getaway car. The film turns into a long police chase and getting there is half the fun! Starring Peter Fonda and Vic Morrow.

Palmer’s Pick-up (1999)

Palmer and Pearl, owners of a cargo shipping company, are hired to transport a large crate from California to Florida. The crate must be delivered to the Devil’s Triangle prior to the stroke of midnight on Y2K, else something bad will happen. What the two don’t know is if they do make it on time, something much worse may happen. Starring Robert Carradine, Morton Downey, Jr., a dozen unexpected cameos, and one of the highest death counts in any movie I’ve ever seen. What an ending!

This week, I’m pulling four titles off the shelf that all deal with prehistoric humans in some form. They’re all very different films. Some take the subject seriously, others just go for laughs. What they share is a central idea of how humans interact with one another. Whether it's science labs, high schools, or the open world, these movies all find something worthwhile to focus on.

Caveman (1981)

Directed by Carl Gottlieb (who co-wrote Jaws), this one’s a straight-up comedy. It stars Ringo Starr, Barbara Bach, Dennis Quaid, and Shelley Long, all speaking in a made-up language while running from stop-motion dinosaurs. It's a weird, physical, surprisingly consistent comedy that doesn't rely on much more than expression and timing. Jim Danforth handled the effects work, using the same animation style he brought to other fantasy films of the era.

Quest for Fire (1981)

Probably the most serious pick this week. Directed by Jean-Jacques Annaud, this is a film with no real spoken language. The cast learned a constructed language by Anthony Burgess and used movement techniques developed by Desmond Morris. Rae Dawn Chong, Ron Perlman, and Everett McGill all commit fully to their roles. It won an Oscar for Best Makeup and doesn’t try to explain much—it just shows a small group of early humans trying to survive. Worth seeing for the detail and the performances alone.

Iceman (1984)

This one takes place in a cold research facility where a frozen prehistoric man is brought back to life. John Lone plays the Iceman and gives a performance that’s more nuanced than you’d expect from this kind of premise. Timothy Hutton plays the anthropologist trying to connect with him. It’s more intimate and focused than a lot of 1980s sci-fi, with a steady pace and a good sense of space.

Encino Man (1992)

Directed by Les Mayfield and produced by Hollywood Pictures, this is the comedy version of a caveman showing up in a modern world. Brendan Fraser plays Link, and this was the role that helped launch his career. Pauly Shore plays Stoney who sets the tone for the whole movie. There's also Sean Astin, trying to use Link as a way to get popular. It’s loud, strange, and very early '90s, but it moves fast and gets a lot out of the water park, fast food, and high school scenes. The soundtrack includes Queen, Infectious Grooves, Right Said Fred and a bunch of other songs that place it squarely in 1992.

None of these films feel like they’re trying to say the same thing. What they do have in common is how they treat the idea of prehistoric people not as monsters or jokes, but as people. Even in the comedies, there's a sense of curiosity behind the setups. They're fun to watch, sometimes surprisingly thoughtful, and all a little out of step with what people usually mean when they talk about science fiction or historical drama.

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Welcome back to another episode of the Video Store Podcast, where we love sharing about the films that mean the most to us. Today, in honor of my fortieth birthday, I’m going to share with you four of the films that have shaped my life in varying ways. I hope you enjoy these films as much as I do, or at minimum, appreciate why I appreciate them.

Sleeping Beauty (1959)

First up is the 1959 Disney animated classic, Sleeping Beauty. This is perhaps the most gorgeous animated film Disney has ever produced. Nearly a decade to create, it is a genuine testament to the commitment to quality that Disney had at the time. With a leading lady from my hometown of Knoxville, Tennessee, Sleeping Beauty has a certain intangible draw for me and influenced my view of art, animation, and aesthetics, which is why it makes the staff picks wall this week.

Who Framed Roger Rabbit (1988)

A combo of animation, live action, film noir, and comedy, Who Framed Roger Rabbit is a laugh-a-minute satire full of puns, double entendres, and sheer joy. It gave me my sense of humor, an appreciation for satire, and a lifelong desire to be a cartoon character, or at the very least, act like one. It was nominated for 7 Academy Awards and won 4 of them, making it perhaps one of the silliest films to win an Oscar.

Star Trek (2009)

J. J. Abrams’ 2009 Star Trek reboot literally changed my life and career trajectory. This film breathed life into the Star Trek franchise, and for me, gave me my biggest fandom. I am a better human being because of my love for Star Trek, and it's all because of this film. Live long and prosper, and join me on the couch for the film that began my deep dive into the Star Trek fandom.

The Marvels (2023)

A Marvel film that puts women at the forefront, is directed by a woman, written by women, where the women are allowed to be women, is exactly what this lifelong nerd girl needed. A film about family, personal responsibility, fandom, and hero worship, Nia DaCosta’s The Marvels is fun and silly, while simultaneously thoughtful and refreshingly different from the majority of the superhero film genre. If you missed this one, give it a look, or at least try to understand why this film matters so much to me and to so many other women and girls. It’s my Barbie.

Thanks for joining me for my fortieth birthday celebration today on the Video Store Podcast. Since you were kind enough to hear out four of my favorite and most influential films, I would love to hear about the films that helped shape you, too. Leave me a comment and tell me all about them.

Happy my birthday to you, from all of us at the Video Store Podcast.

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From the dawn of time, man has been fascinated by the stars and what — or more importantly, who — is out there. Unsurprisingly, from the dawn of filmmaking, Hollywood has been also been fascinated by visiting (and visitors from) other worlds. One of the earliest silent films, A Trip to the Moon, was about shooting astronauts to the moon (using a cannon) and the alien creatures they find. There are countless movies about aliens and here are four I think you should watch.

Close Encounters of the Third Kind (1977)

Roy Neary’s life is turned upside-down after having a close encounter with a UFO. After being tormented by visions and a need to know more, Roy meets others experiencing the same thing and travels to Devil’s Tower in Wyoming where Roy, the government, and the aliens all arrive for a monumental concert. Directed by Steven Spielberg and starring Richard Dreyfuss, Teri Garr, and Melinda Dillion, Close Encounters of the Third Kind is one of the greatest films about alien encounters ever made. A must watch, no matter what planet you’re from.

Starcrash (1978)

Hot on the heels of 1977’s Star Wars came a wave of films “influenced” by George Lucas’s masterpiece. In Starcrash, a smuggler and her alien sidekick go on a mission to rescue a prince from an evil character with a gigantic space weapon that can destroy planets. Sound familiar? Did I mention the alien sidekick uses a lightsaber? Perhaps “influenced” is too light of a word. Starcrash is not the best space opera of all time, but it’s an interesting time capsule from 1978; one of many movies that also took place in a galaxy far, far away. Starcrash features great sets, a goofy plot… and David Hasselhoff.

The Last Starfighter (1984)

Alex Rogan wants nothing more than to escape his small town and that opportunity presents itself after he beats the world record on an arcade game called The Last Starfighter. The arcade game is actually a recruiting tool, and before long a shifty alien named Centauri arrives to take Alex to space where he will become a Starfighter — for real! Featuring (then) groundbreaking CGI, lots of alien action, and the final theatrical performance of Robert Preston.

Naked Space/Spaceship/The Creature Wasn’t Nice (1981)

No matter what name you see this movie under, they’re all the same… and none of them are good! This “horror/comedy” that loosely parodies Alien stars Leslie Nielson, Cindy Williams, Gerrit Graham, Patrick Macnee, and (writer/director) Bruce Kimmel. After exploring a newly discovered planet, the crew of the Spaceship Vertigo bring a small organism (goo) on board that quickly grows into a large monster. When Dr. Stark figures out a way to connect the monster’s brain to the ship’s computer, they are able for the first time to hear the monster’s thoughts. And boy, is that monster hungry…

Movies about aliens and outer space are always fun summer viewing. Rent one of these films and pop an extra bucket of popcorn, just in case someone from “out there” stops by to join you.

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This week on The Video Store Podcast, I’m recommending four films that are all about films and filmmaking in one way or another. Some are about the industry. Some about obsession with its product. All are worth watching.

The Stunt Man (1980) – Directed by Richard Rush. This film took nearly a decade to get made. It’s about a fugitive who ends up working as a stuntman on a chaotic film set. Peter O'Toole plays the eccentric director. The film is known for how it blurs the line between what’s real and what’s staged, both for the characters and the viewer. Rush was nominated for Best Director and Best Adapted Screenplay. Steve Railsback, who plays the lead, had previously portrayed Charles Manson in Helter Skelter, and that performance had followed him around.

Fade to Black (1980) – A psychological thriller directed by Vernon Zimmerman. Not so much about the industry behind-the scenes, but instead about its effect on the other side of the camera. Dennis Christopher plays a movie-obsessed loner who starts acting out scenes from classic films in real life. A lot of people missed this when it came out, but it has a cult following now. It’s set in Los Angeles and uses that setting in a way that feels grimy and off. Mickey Rourke appears in a small early role. Quentin Tarantino has mentioned this film as an influence.

The Big Picture (1989) – A comedy directed by Christopher Guest. Kevin Bacon plays a young filmmaker who finds early success, then quickly loses control of his career. Martin Short plays his agent in a way that’s deliberately over-the-top. The script was co-written by Michael McKean and also includes appearances by John Cleese and Teri Hatcher. It’s one of those movies that shows how studio notes and industry pressure can take a decent idea and ruin it.

Living in Oblivion (1995) – Directed by Tom DiCillo whose name I butcher, my apologies. This one’s about a small indie film production falling apart. Steve Buscemi plays the director. It’s shot in black and white and color, dividing dream sequences from the rest. Catherine Keener and Dermot Mulroney are also in it. DiCillo based a lot of the script on his own frustrations making his first feature. James Le Gros plays a difficult actor who many assumed was based on Brad Pitt, who had worked with DiCillo before. DiCillo has denied it, but the rumor stuck. Also a great role from a future Game of Thrones star.

Each of these films looks at films and filmmaking from a different angle. They’re also all lesser-known films, some not widely seen, but worth your time.

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Welcome to Camp Video Store Podcast! While we’re not actually going to camp, we are getting your summer started off the right way with some summer-themed horror movies. We hope you packed your sleeping bag, your flashlight, and a big bowl of popcorn. Here are four films that give us the Summer Spookies.

Friday the 13th (1980)

The second of the big three slashers, Friday the 13th, gave us Jason and a summer full of terror. It’s an iconic horror film for a reason, and the summer camp setting makes it a fantastic first choice for our short list of summer spookies. Get your bunkmates together for this classic of the horror genre. Bonus: You get to see an early film appearance of Kevin Bacon.

Sleepaway Camp (1983)

Our next trip to camp is with the 1983 cult favorite, Sleepaway Camp. This film has gained a cult following over the years due to its disturbing and now controversial ending. It’s campy and over-the-top while simultaneously being an effective and disturbing horror film. It begat over three decades of sequels, so it’s an icon of summer horror for a reason.

I Know What You Did Last Summer (1997)

We’re going forward to the late 90s with our next film—I Know What You Did Last Summer, based on the 1973 novel of the same name by Lois Duncan. With a cast of young “it” stars of the time, I Know What You Did Last Summer sparked two sequels, a 2021 television adaptation, and a legacy sequel heading to theaters in July 2025. Check your mailbox and watch out for folks in rain slickers this summer.

Jaws (1975)

The big kahuna of summer movies is our last film for the week—Jaws from 1975. Directed by Steven Spielberg and written by Carl Gottlieb and Peter Benchley, and based on Benchley’s book of the same name, Jaws is a film for movie lovers everywhere, even if you don’t like horror. It’s the reason we have the term “blockbuster” and boasts an amazing score and tension you can cut with a knife…or a harpoon. It’s a film that’s still beloved 50 years later and worth watching every summer, or any other time of year.

Thanks for spending your summer with us at the Video Store Podcast!

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Shortly after graduating high school, Ed Gale — who stood 3’4” tall — left Michigan with $40 in his pocket and went to Hollywood. Gale said his goal was never to become a leading man, but to make a living as a working actor… and that he did, appearing in more than 200 television shows, commercials, and films. Upon arriving in Hollywood the first role he was offered was none other than Howard the Duck — a role he was originally told he was “too tall for.” Gale continued to work up until his passing in May of 2025.

On this episode I’m recommending four films that Gale appeared in. In many of his acting roles (including most of these) Gale appeared wearing masks and costumes, but as Rollo from Under the Rainbow once said, “no dream is too big, and no dreamer too small.”

Child’s Play 2 (1990)

Two years after the original hit theaters, Chucky returned to once again torment Andy Barclay. While the original Child’s Play was straight horror, this is the film in which Chucky began to develop the personality we know and love today. Keep an eye out for scenes in which Chucky runs around; that’s Ed Gale in costume.

Bill and Ted’s Bogus Journey (1991)

Bill and Ted have a problem: despite being told they will eventually become the biggest band in the universe, they still don’t know how to play their instruments and their girlfriends are fed up with them. Oh, and evil robots from the future have come back to murder them, so there’s that. Featuring a stellar soundtrack and lots of jokes, Bill and Ted’s Bogus Journey did not perform as well as the original in theaters, but has become a cult classic since. Keep an eye out for Station in the film — that’s Ed Gale!

Spaceballs (1987)

In this Mel Brooks masterpiece, Princess Vespa has been kidnapped by Dark Helmet and his cohorts and must be rescued by Lone Star and his faithful companion, Barf. If it all sounds a bit silly it is. Featuring an all-star cast and more Mel Brooks humor than you can swing a lightsaber at. Keep an eye out for Ed Gale as one of the Dinks, and may the Schwartz be with ya!

O Brother, Where Art Thou? (2000)

In this Coen Brothers film, three members of a chain gang escape when one of them tells the other two he’s chained to that he knows where more than a million dollars worth of treasure is buried. Loosely based on Homer’s Odyssey, this is another film with a star-studded cast and an award winning soundtrack. Ed Gale makes an appearance as “the Little Man” during an election and in this appearance, you can actually see his face! (After seeing it, you may recognize him from Bones, My Name is Earl, and many other roles.)

Whether he appeared in a speaking role or in a costume, Gale gave every one of his roles 100% and swore people could see him smiling through the masks he wore. After watching these four films, you just might agree with him.

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