Raiders of the Podcast

     This week the inmates try to run the asylum to varying degrees of success.     Randle McMurphy is moved from a hard labor prison farm for a psychological evaluation. Nurse Ratched maintains strict control, through fear and intimidation, over the ward he is placed. McMurphy's lively and rebellious nature immediately put them at odd to dire consequences. Winner of Best Picture, Director, Actor, Actress, and Adapted Screenplay at the 1976 Academy Awards, inducted into the US Library of Congress National Film Archive in 1993, and widely held as an enduring masterpiece in American cinema- One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest.     After her brother dies, Kaori teams up with a ridiculously over the top pervert but equally skilled private investigator, Ryo Saeba. As they attempt to figure out who killed her brother and behind the new drug he was investigating, they get caught up in a dangerous life and death struggle. Based on the influential manga by Tsukasa Hojo, City Hunter.     All that and Kevin and Dave clash over a divorce, Tyler tries to enter the 1st of 36 Chambers, and Craig makes an adjustment. Join us, won't you?   Episode 438- Pup Tent

     This week we bring October to a close with four slashers that did not spawn franchises.     When students at experimental athletic drug enhancement focused Falcon Academy begin to disappear, no one seems to really think that much of it. They are too focused on Regionals, then Nationals, and finally their shot at the Olympics. Assuming all those drugs are ignored in testing. It's not a quarter as good as that sounds. Our first feature starring Sally Kirkland, take that as you will, Fatal Games.     A sleezy phone sex line is being targeted by a killer. Bobo does not like it when you lie to him, so he takes matters into his own hands. Lt. Myers believes the killer to be Kevin, the photographer boyfriend of operator, Kristi. No one stops to ask why someone enraged by lies obsessively calls a phone number designed to explicitly lie to you. A mostly forgotten slasher with the greatest late 80s supporting cast possible, Out of the Dark.     Six friends going to a lakeside weekend get away realize they are hopelessly lost. To correct this mistake, they pick up an on the run hitchhiker. Even their new guide isn't enough to get them where they are going so they decide to stop for the night. Instead of being reasonable and going back to the recently passed through town, they instead decide to break into an obviously still inhabited house. The penultimate film from Spanish erotic horror legend José Ramón Larraz, Deadly Manor.     Five friends on a road trip find themselves in need of assistance. Enter Mr. Slausen, owner defunct roadside attraction Lost Oasis, offers them assistance and shelter for the night. Unfortunately, Slausen's huge property is also home to a masked murdering telekinetic mannequin maker. Soon the friends find themselves in more than mortal peril. The first feature from director David Schmoeller with a great performance from sports and TV legend Chuck Connors, Tourist Trap.     All that and David feels the meh, Tyler gets hyped, Craig is still twitterpated, and Kevin begins polishing the buttons on his jacket. Join us, won't you?   Episode 437- Slash Fiction

     This week- Four(ish) tales of terrible men doing terrible things and a tiny little mix-up.     The lavish Collinswood estate's handyman accidentally unleashes a 175-year-old vampire. The newly freed nocturnal predator takes up residence in an abandoned building on the grounds, insinuates himself back into the family, and begins to target the governess, who bares a striking resemblance to his long lost fiancée. The first feature adaption of a cult classis soap opera and using much of the original series cast reprising their roles- House of Dark Shadows.     Iemon, a scheming ronin, plots to dispose of his wife, Oiwa, and improve his station by marrying the daughter of a local samurai clan's daimyo. In order to facilitate this someone poisons Oiwa. Soon all will face her terrible revenge as she returns as an onryo. A film based on one of Japan's most popular ghost stories that has been adapted to film over 40 times, including TWO version being released in 1959. Leading to Kevin watching the Kenji Mitsumi version while Dave and Tyler mistakenly watch Nobou Nakagawa's... either way it is titled The Ghost of Yostuya (original Japanese: Yotsuya kaidan).     In the country of Heaven Valley, a man hunts the murderer of his wife. Finding the country's police force fully corrupt and unwilling to help, he summons a demon to assist in his bloody revenge. An Italian splatter action film that takes its cue from classic 1980s manga to kachu tenshin amaguriken all over the city- Adam Chaplin.     Dumass Beach, a private prison corporation's founder and CEO, is developing the next generation of law enforcement, AI controlled robots who stop at nothing to keep America safe. In order to better teach the machine how to effectively judge situations and decide on the proper course of action, Beach hires a storytelling funeral director. Portifoy Simms is happy to obligingly deliver four more allegories. A legacy sequel released 23 years after the original, Tales from the Hood 2.     All that and Dave has a visitor from his TV, Tyler stops resisting the calling in his blood, and Kevin doesn't notice the mistake. Join us, won't you?   Episode 436- Dark Night at the Opera

     This week- four tales of shivering fright to carry you through a chilly autumn night.     Kayako Saeki, with her son Toshio and cat Mar, is murdered by her jealous husband. Her anger and sorrow turn them all as onryo and place an insatiable curse on the house. Soon Toshio's teacher Kobayashi, the Murakami family, and all others who venture in will find nothing but misery. The first feature length entry in a thirteen entry franchise with entries on both sides of the globe, Takashi Shimizu's Ju-on: The Curse.     Three drug dealers try to buy some drugs found by an eccentric funeral director. As they walk to through the building, they are regaled with stories of terror and the supernatural. Rusty Cundieff's second feature is full of pointed social commentaries about police brutality, child abuse, racism, and gang violence. A 90s cult classic, backed by several fantastic performances, which would get a pair of sequels over twenty years later, Tales from the Hood.     Mark is a wannabe cinematographer living in Los Angeles. He struggles to establish his career, only finding work filming short pornographic scenes for a man he despises, and unable to form connects with women, often ending with brutal violence. All of that may change when he meets Michelle, a young woman he meets at work in a committed relationship with a similar background and interests. A rediscovered psychotronic exploitation that might be among the best of the subgenre. The first and tragically only feature written and directed by Christina Hornisher, Hollywood 90028.     Professor Hildern returns from an expedition in New Guinea with a remarkable discovery- a giant humanoid skeleton older than any previously recovered and twice as advanced. This is just the beginning of the puzzle as the Professor discovers exposure to water will cause rapid regeneration of tissue and cell which will change everything we know, a similar line of research that his psychiatrist brother is perusing. Directed by Hammer and Amicus regular Freddie Francis and starring the legends of British horror, Peter Cushing and Christopher Lee, The Creeping Flesh.     All that and Dave games on, Kevin wallows in the cinema room, Tyler gets his warm fuzzies on, and Craig cackles at the sights he has to show us all. Join us, won't you?   Episode 435: Skeleton Gelatin (and Further Tales from the Hood)

     This week- three horror movies about identity and society.     Corky is a magician and ventriloquist about to break into the mainstream. When the network backing his major debut asks for a standard medical examination for insurance reasons, he fears his deeply held secret will be revealed. Corky flees to his hometown in the Catskills. Will Corky be able to pull himself out of his spiraling mental health crisis? Will the beautiful resort owner, and former classmate, accept Corky as he is or will she choose her loveless home? How many cigars can an elderly man smoke in a day? A quartet of incredible performances in a tale of psychological torment come together as a kinda... Magic.     Seven college friends reunite together at cabin in the woods to celebrate Juneteenth. Despite lengthy separation, as soon as the majority are together again old dynamics and resentments immediately come back. In the game room, they find a deeply racist board game that addresses them directly. Will they survive the night? What happened to the two who obviously arrived first and decorated? Who is behind this deadly game of trivia and identity? One of the sharpest horror comedies of the last decade, The Blackening.     In a devastated world, Mariano spends his days making gas for others outside and slowly converting his cavernous space into an actual cave. When siblings Lucio and Fauna invade his space, Mariano presses them into helping him in exchange for food and shelter. Soon the demands become more horrific and extreme. Will the siblings escape the lascivious hermit's clutches? What is Mariano actually doing? What exactly is happening outside? A fiesta of gorgeous and grotesque images that drive to a fever pitch of flesh, We Are the Flesh.     All that and Dave gets drawn back to the 80s, Tyler takes a tour through a gas station serial killer attraction, Kevin gets back into whittling, and Craig cleans up after us all emotionally. Join us, won't you?   Episode 435- Womb with a View (And Other Assorted Tales)

     This week- four films about people driven to extremes.     When Harry Graham learns he had blown through his entire trust fund, he makes a desperate gamble to secure his future. Giving himself only 5 weeks to find, court, and wed a rich woman before he loses everything. Fortunately, he soon meets guileless botany professor Henrietta Lowell, whose only dream is to discover a new species of fern. Will Henrietta realize her dream? Will Harry get away with his nefarious plot? Why isn't there more James Coco? The directorial and screenwriting debut of often brilliant but mostly infamously overbudget Elaine May, A New Leaf.     Norah, a nightclub DJ, is being harassed by obscene phone calls. The caller has detailed knowledge of her daily life and activities. Soon things escalate and a terrifying object is left in her apartment. Lt. Dave Madden, a cop with an interest in crime inspired by sexual motivations, takes a personal interest in the case. Will the caller escalate their actions before Madden can root them out? An often overlooked cult film that occupies that space between Psycho and gialli, between Peeping Tom and slashers- Who Killed Teddy Bear?     Eve Stephens is a Los Angeles trial lawyer who has been shortlisted for a judge appointment. Despite her professional appearance, Eve struggles deeply with self-doubt and conforming to what society expects from her as a woman. Eve's carefully balanced world begins to unravel when her doctoral student sister, Maddie, is arrested for shoplifting. The debut feature from Susan Streitfeld, Female Perversions.     Juvenal, a former monk now working as a live-in councilor at an addiction rehab facility, has the power to cure people with a touch. When former grifter Bill Hill learns of this gift, he enlists the help of a beautiful associate to get Juvenal on board his plans to cash in. Unfortunately, militant fundamentalist group leader August Murray also has plans. Based on the book by Elmore Leonard, Touch.     All that and Dave gets toxic af, Kevin keeps it sophisticated af, and Tyler makes his smut collection everyone's problem. Join us, won't you?   Episode 433- Holy Fronds and Wholly Desire

     This week October comes early as we watch three ghoulish offerings for Spooky Season.     Jimmy Bones was murdered and buried in the basement of his house. A house left abandoned as the neighborhood he loved rotted with it. Twenty-two years later a group of unexpected young entrepreneurs take the property and release Jimmy's vengeful spirit on those who betrayed him long ago. Ernest Dickerson's campy social commentating love letter to 70s blaxploitation, Bones.     Single mother Carla Moran is repeatedly violently raped by an invisible assailant. Finding no help from psychiatrist Dr. Sneiderman, who believes her trauma is the cause of these events, Carla accepts extremes to escape her horrific situation. Sidney J. Furie's modern gothic parable of cultural female sexual victimization and repression, The Entity.     A young nursing student goes to visit her grandparents before graduation. There she learns an awful truth and must decide if she will perpetuate this cycle or break it no matter the cost to her family and herself. An incredible debut feature from Yûta Shimotsu, Best Wishes to All (original Japanese title:みなに幸あれ Romanized: Mina no ko are).     All that and Tyler learns to love American Football, Kevin takes a moment to prepare for OHC, and Dave does literally nothing. Join us, won't you?   Episode 432- Best Hauntings to Some

     This week- two films about men who live violently and do crime.       After a long absence from his native Sicily, Tony Aniante finally returns to settle some old debts. Soon the two families that control the area begin to compete for his services. Services rendered in brutal and bloody fashion. Will Tony get the closure he desires? Will the local families realize what really motivates Tony? How long can they keep the higher ups from discovering the tangled web they have made? The third feature from one of Italy's huge stable of 70s exploitation filmmakers, Cry of a Prostitute (original title Quelli che contano, lit. The One That Matters).      Tommy "Buns" Bundy and his lifelong friend Sincere move from robbery into drug transport after a nightclub robbery ends violently. As Buns is pulled deeper into a brutal world, Sincere tries to find a way to get his family out, and a betrayed associate plots revenge. Will Sincere be able to start the new life he dreams of? Will Buns go beyond the point of no return and lose his humanity to the hustle? Or will both men become just another data point in year end statistics? The only feature from music video auteur Hyper Williams that has become an urban crime drama cult classic, Belly.     All that and Dave fights the Gregorian calendar, Tyler damages his vision with blacklights, and Kevin laments missing time with other film buffs of a higher quality. Join us, won't you?   Episode 431- Ventre

     This week- a pair of films about unexpected criminals.     Three less than competent criminals come up the perfect plan- train a pack of Dobermans to rob a bank. Posing as a journalist one recruits an Air Force dog handler to assist in their training and a waitress to assist in their care. Will the handler realize there's something no quiet right going on? Will the bestest boy robbers be able to pull off the heist and make a clean getaway? Was this all just a waste of time for our original trio? The first of a four film series, with the first film score composed by the legendary Alan Silvestri, The Doberman Gang.     Akemi is the dragon tattooed leader of the Tachibana yakuza clan. When she accidentally hurts an opponent's sister, who threw herself in between the fighters, a black cat appears to lap up the blood. Years later, the cat and injured girl show up again and Akemi's world begins to fall apart. Can Akemi get rid of this curse before her clan falls to ruin? Are there really human hands behind these events? What will become of the local restaurant run by reformed yakuza? Is that cat up to date on its shots? An early film staring the amazing Meiko Kaji and directed by Teruo Ishii, a prolific and eccentric filmmaker who specialized in ero goro sexploitation films, Blind Woman's Curse (original title: Kaidan Nobori Ryū, lit. Ghost Story Rising Dragon).     All that and Tyler contemplates adding to his personal pantheon, Craig contemplates pants, Dave feels an ethereal disappointment, and our special guest, AC who can be found at https://www.youtube.com/@HORROR101withDrAC or wherever you get your podcasts, wonders why he wanted it this way.   Episode 430- Rising Dobermans

     This week- a young people finding themselves while facing criminal forces of varying types.     After her parent's divorce, Jane finds herself in a new homes at a new school and completely isolated from her family and peers without anyone who seems to care at all. That all changes after she encounters a group of teens surrounding Irish drug dealer Jamie. Soon Jane finds herself falling in love with Jamie who is more than happy to exploit the situation. The debut feature from writer-director Sarah Elizabeth Mintz and inspired by her own youth, Good Girl Jane.     David Sloan and his trainer Xian Chow arrive in Rio for a championship bout. David befriends a pair of young street kids, Marcos and Isabella. Soon the group finds themselves going against a local criminal organization that isn't just fixing fights but also trafficking young girls run by American expat, Frank Lane. Will the last Sloan brother once again emerge victorious against a criminal empire? Will Isabella never be seen again? Can Xian finally breakthrough Marcos's tough shell? The third entry in the franchise that made JCVD an international action star, Kickboxer III: The Art of War.     All that and Dave watches it, Tyler begins having fever dreams about returning to The Grid, and Kevin prepares to run for his life. Join us, won't you?   Episode 429- Kicking the Habit

      This week- four pack of gigglefests Kevin uses to invalidate the claim comedy left us.     A renegade cop. An eccentric old man with an accent. A special breed of nightwalking bloodsucker. As the forces of darkness draw in, will Chuck Stee, the manliest cop to ever ignore people's rights, find and protect The Puritan? Will the Master bring about the Lock-In and an endless night for the city? A stop motion homage to the lost art of 1986 action films... Chuck Steel: Night of the Trampires.     After the pharmacy she works in is robbed June, an aimless wannabe Gen-Z influencer, takes matters into her own hands. Not just solving the crime which has baffled police but also find ways to finally get over her ex, gains some maturity, and possibly move out of her parent's house. The second feature from cult filmmaker and TV comedy veteran Nicholaus Goossen, Drugstore June.     Dawn just gave birth to her second child and having trouble finding a new balance between home and work. Eden, Dawn's best friend, has a wonderful meet cute followed by a night of passion that leaves her ghosted and pregnant. As Eden navigates pregnancy in her own quirky way, Dawn finds herself worn thin from all angles. A vignetted look at overlooked facets of motherhood and sisterhood, the first directoral feature from voice acting great Pamela Adlon and the second from writer-producer-star Ilana Glazer, Babes.     Dreux is a hard working waitress whose finally about to get her shot at a management position. Dreux lives with her best friend Alyssa, an aspiring artist, and Alyssa's boyfriend, Keshawn. Keshawn disappears as their landlord tells them they have until 6 to pay their rent, leaving both women stunned, penniless, and in a desperate scramble to get the funds. The first feature from music video director Lawrence Lamont and sitcom writer Syreeta Singleton, One of Them Days.     Join us, won't you?   Episode 428- Night of the Pregnant Buddy Gen-Zpires

     This week a pair of films about desperate men who seek the most toxic relationships with women possible.      Marcus is 30-years old and considers himself "a lonely, desperate man". He spends his nights as a security guard alone in an empty location, his days looking at pornography and peeping in windows. Slightly overweight and unable to create relationships, Marcus turns to secretly recording his encounters with prostitutes and losing his grip on reality. A black comedy from experimental filmmaker and musician, Ronnie Cramer with a soundtrack by his no wave post-punk goth adjacent sporadically recording for 40 years band Alarming Trends- Even Hitler Had a Girlfriend.     A recovering alcoholic bank robber, Doug, from Boston's locally notorious Charlestown are pushed into increasingly dangerous and audacious heists by their neighborhood florist and Irish mob boss as the FBI openly targets them. Meanwhile, Doug begins a relationship with a bank manager he and his crew recently took as a hostage. Can Doug find a way to break the cycle of criminal behavior he inherited from his father? Is there safety in the sunny Florida landscape Doug believes his mother escaped to long ago? The second feature by director-star-cowriter Ben Affleck and based on a book by Chuck Hogan- The Town.     All that and Dave finds a weird VHS tape, Tyler parks the cahr, Craig finds his twin, and Kevin judges us while sewing tiny general costume for a military squirrel promotion. Join us, won't you?   Episode 427- Eva Brauhhhhhhhn

     This week- two films about men driven to their breaking points by obsession and cognitive issues.     As bombs fall on England, a once famous Shakespearean actor still takes to the boards every night, knowing ever line of The Bard by heart. While Sir may still be a commanding presence on stage, off he is beginning to succumb to his age and slowly progressing dementia. His life is managed by his dresser, Norman, who has taken Sir's tirades and rants for decades. Can the pair find new ground and accept the old becomes untenable? Will they cling to the niches they long ago carved out for themselves beyond the point of tragedy? Nominated for five Oscars and six BAFTAs and released the same years as director Peter Yates' fantasy cult classic, The Dresser.     Awaiting execution in Switzerland, Baron Victor Frankenstein tells his incredible story to a priest. Orphaned and taking control of his family estate at 15, Victor finds a tutor, Paul, with an equally inquisitive scientific mind. Thinking he has found a kindred spirit, the pair begin to experiment with the intertwining foundations of existence, reversing the finality of death. Soon Victor conceives larger and more daring experiments. The first in Hammer's unique approach to a Frankenstein series that gifts one of the greatest and most compelling villains in film, The Curse of Frankenstein.      All that and Dave gets kawaii, Tyler denies the call of the footlights, Craig feels true emotions swelling in the cockles of his heart, and Kevin still likes to watch. Join us, won't you?   Episode 426- To the Victor Goes the Spoils 

     This week- a pair of summer vacations gone wrong.     The city of Minitropolis is drowning in violence and corruption. There is only one police officer who is still willing to stand up to the undisputed king of organized crime. Shot on video tape with a cast of children made by prolific no budget filmmaker Richard Lowery- Hawk Jones.     A year has passed since Julie and Ray survived the brutal revenge of Ben Willis. This Fourth of July, Julie and her friends win a trip for a weekend of sunny fun in the Bahamas. Unfortunately, their trip coincides with the start of storm season and the hotel only consists of  the coeds, a skeleton staff, and someone who.... Still Knows. The sequel to a beloved 90s slasher, I Still Know What You Did Last Summer.     All that and Dave has mic issues, Kevin sews new uniforms for the squirrels, Tyler makes a shrine to a rain slicker, and Craig discovers the importance of affordable daycare. Join us, won't you?   425- I Still Vaguely Know What You Did Last Summer

     This week- films about people escaping prisons of both the emotional and physical varieties.     Herb McGwyer arrives at a remote island off the coast of Wales for a lucrative gig for a small group of fans. When he arrives he finds a stage that is just a pallet on the beach and the group consists solely of widowed superfan Charles Heath. Soon Herb will learn that isn't the only surprise Charles has planned... he's forcing a surprise reunion show with Herb's former partner, Nell Mortimer. Will the concert proceed as planned? What is Charles motivation for this scheme? Who will hear The Ballad of Wallis Island?     Nami Matsushima is set up for a brutal assault by her police detective boyfriend, Sugimi, to get a Yakuza payout. After failing to get revenge, Nami is sent to a prison run by sadistic and lecherous guards. After a failed escape attempt, Sugimi and his yakuza connections plot to use the inmates to eliminate Nami. Will Matsu get her revenge? Can the tenuous hold of the guards keep the simmering tensions from boiling into a full riot? An expressionist exploitation that ranks among the best women-in-prison films, Female Prisoner #701: Scorpion.      All that and Tyler makes Dave feel old, Kevin embraces cottagecore, and Craig gets the warm fuzzies. Join us, won't you?   Episode 424- Ballad of Vengeance

     This week- a quaternion of films selected by the composer of our new theme, Linus Fitness-Centre.     When an amnesiac sex slave cyborg can't do his job, he gets discarded in the street. Soon he is taken under the wing of a girl who draws maps for other memory-wiped people. Hunted by his manufacture and undergoing an unprecedented transformation in the tunnels beneath Tokyo. One of the crowning works of the Japanese underground cyberpunk genre, 964 Pinocchio.     Crossley, a hungry traveler, forces himself upon the hospitality of  an experimental musician, Anthony Fielding, and his wife, Rachel. Soon the couple are drawn into Crossley's strange world and stranger claim of being able to produce a powerful sound that can kill. As Crossley insinuates himself sinisterly deeper into their life, Anthony finds indecision at an unexpected crossroad, and Rachel becomes the plaything of forces outside the norm. Winner of the 1978 Grand Jury Prize at the Cannes Film Festival, The Shout.     While dealing with the traumatic fallout from a car accident which has stirred up trauma from her childhood, Jane is disconnected from everything. Her sister insists she seek psychiatric help, despite her boyfriend's firm disbelief in it. Desperate for a way out of her personal hell, Jane turns to her new neighbor and the Satanic cult she is a member of. The fourth feature by giallo master, Sergio Martino, All the Colors of the Dark (Tutti i colori del buio).     In Hong Kong there is a raging conflict between humanity and the supernatural shapeshifting Raptors (or Reptoids). The special police unit tasked with Raptor crimes is deep into an investigation of a drug called Happiness which drives Raptors to violence. A whirlwind of high octane action and stylish horror sci-fi noir adaption of a classic Japanese franchise, The Wicked City.     All that and Dave has a real hard time keeping track of things, Craig stares into a cultural divide, Kevin gathers seed for his army, and Tyler is the only one who still knows what we did last summer. Join us, won't you?   Episode 423- Sweatin' to the Moldys

     This week two movies about young people trying to escape their dead end homelives only to end up in harrowing situations.     When a nonverbal boy and beloved pet duck, Mr. Quack Quack, is threatened, the pair run away by boat. Before too long, they find themselves on a strange island. Captured by The Swampies, a group of crocodile pirates, the pair have no choice but to seek help from the island's other inhabitants, the Rare Blue Apes. A psychotronic kids musical adventure made by a 1970s exploitation porn director, The Rare Blue Apes of Cannibal Isle (aka The Pirates of Cannibal Isle aka Cap'n Krok and the Rare Blue Apes).     Lily and Alison are best friends. Lily is death obsessed after the suicide of her father. Alison finds safety from her alcoholic father with her uncle's horses. Both girls just exist without hope or dreams of a future around their poverty stricken California town. When they meet a group of skaters passing through, they decide to follow them to LA. The first feature directed by the founder of FSU, Elgin James, Little Birds.     All that and Tyler hangs out with a fisherman, Craig dissects a genre, Kevin reminisces, and Dave misidentifies it as both a bird and a plane. Join us, won't you?   Episode 422- Catfishing Cannibals

     This week- Two English find something special with among the Amish and a standardization of a theme.     After a young Amish boy sees the murder of an undercover police officer in a Philadelphia train station. Detective Captain John Book takes the case. Soon he, the boy, and the boy's mother find themselves the target of a conspiracy in the very halls of justice. Will Book be able to protect them? Will they be able to find refuge among the Swiss Anabaptists? What will be the consequence of Book's increasing attraction to an Amish woman? Peter Weir once again takes a look at the intersection of contrasting cultures in the middle of a crime thriller- Witness.     After being caught at an illicit polka party, Al finds himself estranged from his parents but also free to pursue his life's dream- to have 20,000 people every night singing HIS words... to someone else's music. Soon he capture the interest of hitmaker Dr. Demento and starts a musical revolution. Before Al can make his happy ending, an ambitious young singer from Michigan and a notorious drug lord hatch separate schemes to use him and his music for their own ends. Will Al make amends with his parents? Will his roommates suddenly display hidden musical talents just when a band is in desperate need? Will alcohol and the pressure of fame destroy our accordioned adorned genius as it has Mozart and so many other brilliant trailblazers? The feature length version of a 2010 Funny of Die shirt that illuminates one of pop culture's most enigmatic figures- Weird: The Al Yankovic Story.     All that and the guys marvel at our new theme by the also brilliant and enigmatic Linus Fitness-Centre. Join us, won't you?    Episode 421- Amish Paradise

     This week- a pair of films featuring men embracing new career opportunities.      Picking up a couple years after the events of the first film- Adam and Inez's relationship is falling apart from the pressure of children and adulthood. Miguel returns home after several years in prison to find his girlfriend has given birth to another man's child. Marfa Girl is struggling with connecting to her child, the lingering reminder of a brutal sexual assault. Will Adam accept his responsibilities? Can Inez find her own happiness? Will Marfa Girl get the mental and emotional help she so very clearly needs? Larry Clark's surprise sequel and his latest feature to date- Marfa Girl 2.      Grinding through paid appearances and fan films the cast of a cult space adventure TV series are barely scraping by. At a convention where they all find themselves at their wit's end with each other and the fans, lead actor Jason Nesmith is approached by a group calling themselves Thermians. Soon the fractured troupe will be swept up in a confrontation of species ending proportions. Will Jason and co prove to themselves they are more than washed up actors only good for openings of laundromats? Will the Thermian species survive until Tuesday? Can an actor's ego block out the sun? A homage to classic sci-fi and voted the SEVENTH best Star Trek film at Trek to Vegas 2013,  Galaxy Quest.     All that and Dave still can't remember anything, Tyler mourns a well going dry, and Kevin learns he can't run from his problems because it makes his portable Blu-ray player skip. Join us, won't you?   Episode 420- Interstellaaaaaaaaaaa

     This week we take great pride in presenting three films about people who dream of starting their own businesses.     In the summer of 1963, Jack Twist and Ennis Del Mar develop a relationship. Jack, a wannabe rodeo cowboy, dreams of fixing up his parent's ranch and turning it into a success with Ennis. Ennis, a ranch hand haunted by a memory from his childhood, is desperate to not break the facade of domestic normalcy he has built with his wife, Alma, and their two daughters. Ang Lee's masterful examinations of the yearning to belong, societal expectations of normalcy, and the consequences of denying one's true self- Brokeback Mountain.     On the first day of summer in Rome, Alba, a Spanish engineer, picks up Natasha, a Russian bride-to-be, and takes her back to her hotel on both their last night in The Eternal City. Over the next few hours, the women tease and draw each other into the open between rounds of passion. Julio Medem's beautifully shot arthouse romantic comedy about how impactful a single night can be- Room in Rome.     After a youth with a drug-induced smile plastered on, an aspiring comedic performer gets their chance to fulfill their dream and join the cast of UCB Live. Being unable to afford the required training fee, they join with a new friend to start their own underground comedy troupe. A DIY coming of age story, one of the best superhero films ever made, a joyfully screaming satire covering an emotional story of self-acceptance- The People's Joker.     All that and Dave keeps forgetting things, Tyler stays consistent, and Kevin makes a desperate move for his own sanity. Join us, won't you?   Episode 419- Ever Dance to ABBA in the Pale Moonlight?

     This week- two films about ancient times, hundreds of years before the dawn of history, ancient races of people. No one knows who they were or what they were doing...     Deep below the waves, in the city-state of Atlantis, is a nightmare for any unfortunate surface dweller caught by their raiding parties. Either forced to fight to the death in gladiatorial combat or sent to the mines to labor until you your body gives out. A pair of siblings get to experience all the nasty sides for themselves. Meanwhile, the nefarious Sartor has finally found the blood gem that can fulfill all his ambitions. From the mind of  microbudget outsider auteur Michael J Murphy, a sword and sorcery epic that reaches from the depths of the ocean for the stars, Atlantis.     Documentarian Marty Di Bergi gets unprecedented access to tell the history of skiffle turned British invasion turned flower power turned heavy metal legends on their 1982 tour to promote their newest album. We take a deep look at how these individuals of strong personalities still work after so many years, their artistic processes, and how the mysterious deaths of multiple drummers has effected them. From controversy to controversy, can the three core members navigate the US road or will they break like the wind? The film that kicked off one of the best output runs from any director since the birth of the medium, Rob Reiner's first classic- This is Spinal Tap.     All that and Dave fanboys in his pants, Kevin catches his breath but can't get out all the mud, and Tyler shouts across the void. Join us, won't you?   Episode 418- Soggy Metal

     This week- a pair of films about young men who love beer.     Van Wilder is in his seventh year at Coolidge College. After his father cuts off his tuition payment. Van comes up with a scheme to pay by organizing and running parties for the college's diverse social groups. Meanwhile, he is drawn into a triangle with journalism student Gwen and mean-spirited future status focused boyfriend. Will Van make it through his seventh year? Will he finally decide to put on a cap and gown and move on? Will he earn the love of Gwen an the respect of his father? The directorial debut of Walt Becker and the first feature by the writing team of Brent Goldberg and David T. Wagner, National Lampoon's Van Wilder (aka Van Wilder: Party Liaison).     Bob and Doug McKenzie, the dim-witted hosts of cult Canadian panel show "The Great White North", debut their feature film to disastrous results. Broke, unemployed, and desperately needing beer for their father, the brothers go to Elsinore Brewery hoping to scam a case or two for free. Unfortunately, instead they stumble on a Shakespearian family drama and the plot of a power mad brewmeister. Can the brothers save the unsuspecting Canadian populace? Will they finally be able to earn their father and dog's approval? Based on a popular segment from the sketch comedy series SCTV, written and directed by lead actors Rick Moranis and Dave Thomas, Strange Brew.     All that and Tyler puts out the welcome mat for boys of summer, Dave suffers, and Kevin chortles nearly manically. Join us, won't you?   Episode 417- It Was A Different Time, eh?

     This week- two films featuring men abusing their positions of power and the fallout from it.     Miss Giddens is hired as a governess at Bly Manor. She is immediately taken with her young charge, Flora, and strikes an instant friendship with Mrs. Grose, the housekeeper. Despite the encouraging start, small moments of discomfort begin to poke at Miss Giddens new normal. When Miles is expelled from his boarding school, Miss Giddens finds herself caught up in the effects from the not too distant past. Based on one of the most influential horror tales ever written with a screenplay co-written by Truman Capote, taking a three week break from his magnum opus to work on it, and casting its own shadow nearly as long for itself- The Innocents.     Lillian founds a ballet company in the name of her late husband. Her ambulance-chasing attorney, Roland T. Flakfizer- assisted by associated   Rocco and Jacques, face off against the late husband's equally conniving lawyer, Edmundo Lazlo. The legal eagles compete to sign the world's greatest ballet dancer, "The Great" Volare, and to deliver an awe-inspiring Broadway debut for the new company. Inspired by the Marx Brothers, even being filmed at the same locations as several of their most beloved films, produced by David and Jerry Zucker, and fully embracing the "they don't make them like they used to" lifestyle- Brain Donors.     All that and Kevin enthuses, Dave forgot, and Tyler weeps in his Happy Place. Join us, won't you?   Episode 416- Synaptic Rotation

     This week- a pair of movies about men chasing their dreams and competitive glory.     Babe is a doctoral history student training to run a marathon. His brother, Doc, claims to work for an oil company. Doc really works for the government as a diamond courier for Christian Szell, a Nazi war criminal living in Uruguay. Soon all their paths will cross with devastating and violent consequences. Will Babe finish his thesis? Will Doc survive for the sequel? Do either know anyone who doesn't secretly work for Nazis hiding in South America? Marathon Man.     Eric dreams of becoming a professional skateboarder. Dustin has resigned himself to a summer of working a fryer before college. Sweet Lou embraces his low key ladies man life style. Matt is desperate to not become a clown, like his parents. All four join together in a desperate final bid to realize their dreams by getting the attention of a pro skater legend on a demo tour. Will the boys steezy to glory or will they sketch themselves to a hospital? A cult comedy by Casey La Scala, Grind.     All that and Kevin runs both to and from his problems, Dave goes to the happiest house on Earth, and Tyler relives his childhood. Join us, won't you?   Episode 415- Marathon Grind

     This week- a trio of films with a brilliant Aussie actor.     Edie Sedgwick is a young heiress who studied art and makes the move to New York City. Before long she finds herself a rising model in youthquake fashion and the muse of one of pop art's most enduring figures before addiction and socially ostracized lead to tragic results. The penultimate feature by George Hickenlooper with a stunning lead performance, Factory Girl.     After his mother's death, J has to go live with his estranged grandmother. A woman his mother kept him far away from because she is the matriarch of a violent criminal family. When the gang's leader, Baz, is killed by police a chain of events is set off that will have long lasting and devastating consequences to J's new world. The first feature from writer-director David Michôd, Animal Kingdom.      At the end of World War II a lost work by Vermeer is discovered in a Hermann Goering's hidden treasure trove. Captain Joseph Piller, who works for the Canadian military administration of the Netherlands and former resistance fighter, is tasked with tracking down whoever sold the painting. Soon he discovers Han van Meegrene and arrests him for collaboration and using the sale proceeds to fund a Nazi espionage network. van Meegrene's defense will be not just unexpected but shake up the art world for generations. The only feature directed by producer/conservationist/potential owner of a Houston Texas NHL team Dan Friedkin, The Last Vermeer.     All that and Dave knows where his towel is, Craig plays puppy nurse, Tyler sees death coming, and Kevin is in the wind on the run from charity. Oh, I mean, FOR charity. Join us, won't you?   Episode 414- A Guy for All Seasons

     This week- two films about dreamers being betrayed by trusted individuals working for the government.     In 1968, William O'Neal is arrested for attempting to steal a car while posing as a federal agent. While in custody he is approached by the FBI who make an offer he can't refuse- the charges will disappear if he infiltrates the Illinois chapter of the Black Panther Party and relays information on its leader, Fred Hampton. Based on a true story, the second feature from Shaka King, Judas and the Black Messiah.    The CIA has secretly hires Professor Hathaway to make a laser weapon precise enough to carry out illegal political assassinations from outer space. Hathaway recruits a team of brilliant students to do the work for him as he redirects project funds to build a massive new house. As the deadline looms he recruits a budding genius in physics, Mitch, and places him under one of his heroes, Chris Knight, now a disillusioned slacker just trying to survive his final year. A 1980s comedy classic and one of the best college films of that century- Real Genius.     All that and Dave pregames with the game, Tyler rides the movies like a pro, and Kevin plans a march of the squirrel army. Join us, won't you?   Episode 413- Knight Betrayal

     This week- a pair of films about men on the edges of society taking youths under their wings.     When washed up former football player, Curtis Plummer, is talked into spending his afternoons with his socially isolated niece, Jasmine. When he discovers her natural football throwing talent, he shapes her into the best quarterback to come out of their depressed former factory town. Inspired by but not even a little faithful to real events of the first girl to participate in the Pop Warner Football tournament, The Longshots.     On the first anniversary of her daughter's abduction a woman sits on a park bench. Elsewhere, the missing girl and her friends are fighting off demons. And soon The Milkman cometh to both. The second film by Case Esparros, featuring influential performance artist Gary Wilson, and a soundtrack by experimental musician Aaron Dilloway- The Absence of Milk in the Mouths of the Lost.     All that and Craig has a personal moment, Tyler relives his gridiron glorydays, Dave laments his lack of rennet, and Kevin makes a blood offering to the gods of nü-metal but wears the wrong kind of pants. Join us, won't you?   Episode 412- Talented Lactose

     This week- a pair of films about people dragged into tangled webs of conspiracy.     Rollie Taylor is the best practical effects artist that has ever been. When he's approached by an agent from the Department of Justice, he takes up the challenge of staging the assassination of an organized crime informant in public. Soon Rollie finds himself on the run from his employers with a trail of collateral damage and the NYPD detective at his heels. Will Rollie clear his name? What actually was the point of this elaborate scheme? Will Detective McCarthy realize he's too old for this shit? A surprise hit that generated a sequel film and continued with a TV series- F/X (aka Murder by Illusion).     Summer 1948. Ezekiel "Easy" Rawlins, an African-American veteran and homeowner in Watts, has been laid off from his job at Champion Aircraft and needs money quickly to make his mortgage. His friend, Joppy, introduces him to DeWitt Albright, a white private investigator. Albright explains he needs Easy's help finding the missing fiancé of a Los Angeles mayoral candidate. Before long, bodies start piling up and Easy has the police eyeing him hard. His only hope is to call in his old friend, Mouse, a man with tendencies toward deadly violence. Will Easy find the missing woman? Why did she take off and who exactly is so desperate to find her? Based on the first book in Walter Mosley's phenomenal series of hardboiled mysteries, Devil in a Blue Dress.   Join us, won't you?   Episode 411- The Mouse and the Snitch

     This week... Insurmountable obstacles, unfortunate events, and darker obsessions collide in four films about love that wounds and scars and ends unavoidably tragic.     When a young woman is found murdered after leaving his house, down on his luck and violently tempered screenwriter Dix finds himself squarely in the police's frame. Only the testimony of his beautiful neighbor keeps him from immediate arrest. As his prosecution drags out, a relationship between them blooms. Can the blossoming relationship withstand the suspicions and outside glances? Did Dix succumb to his rage fueled impulses and will he do it again? An existential noir masterpiece with a towering lead performance, In a Lonely Place.     In the summer of 1972, young Vada Sultenfuss lives with her widowed father. Vada has a tendency toward hypochondria and a fascination with death, likely from losing her mother at birth and growing up in the town funeral parlor. This summer, Vada begins growing into her own and suffers many of life's first times. Widely considered a classic of the 1990s with a pair of fantastic child lead performances and a final act that scared a generation, My Girl.     Young Douzi is abandoned by his mother at a Peking Opera troupe. His youth is spent training to play dan, female lead, roles while his best friend, Shitou, learns jing, heroic male roles. From the brutal violence of their training, the oppressive occupation of the Second Sino-Japanese War, and the crushing repression of the Cultural Revolution, Douzi and Shitou's relationship carries them through 50 years. Beautifully shot, delicately edited, and widely considered one of the best films produced in Mainland China, Farewell My Concubine.     Two households, both alike in dignity, in fair Verona Beach, where we lay our scene, from ancient grudge break new mutiny... the star-crossed lovers draw the conclusion of Baz Luhrmann's Red Curtain Trilogy of theatrical motif. Hyper stylized with an energy that has few equals and a cast that matches it beat for beat, The Bard's most well known work's third major film adaption that still brings tears of joy to long suffering High School English teachers everywhere... William Shakespeare's Romeo + Juliet.     All that and Dave loses a letter, Tyler feels new emotions in a fetal positions, and Kevin likes to watch... everything. Join us, won't you?   Episode 410- Love That Scars

     This week- two movies about puppets that want to become real boys.     Malcolm Shanks is unable to hear or speak. He communicates through mime and puppetry. When a local mad scientist finds use of his talents, Shanks is set on a course of tragedy. The last film directed by genre icon and master of promotion William Castle- Shanks.     The heavily sanitized for streaming audiences story of 1980s hair metal band Mötley Crüe. Inspired by the band's own autobiography and the first traditional narrative feature by reality entertainment trailblazer Jeff Tremaine, The Dirt.     All that and Dave considers fun new ghost removals methods, Kevin laments modern society's lack of hair spray centric culture, Craig has an apoplectic epiphany, and Tyler has a nostalgic one. Join us, won't you?   Episode 409- The Dross

     This week- a pair of films about bad dads creating generational trauma.     Kōhei and his friends are making a video game. One day he and his girlfriend, Nami, go for a drive and come upon a huge seemingly abandoned mansion. Soon they discover that Nami's connection to it might be much deeper than they could have imagined. The film adaption of a 1999 PSX remake that never left Japan of a groundbreaking 1991 SNES visual novel that never left Japan- St. John's Wort (aka Otogirisō).     Dong Zi is working as a debt collector, under the mentorship of Jun, to pay for his father Qi's hospital treatments. He spends his evenings with Jiu'er, a tattoo artist and ex-wife of local crime boss Four. A grim and gritty neo-noir in 2004 Sichuan, China- Streetwise (aka Gaey Wa'r).     Join us, won't we?  Episode 408- Worts & All

     This week- two films about getting, in several common definition senses, a head, also using multiple definitions.     When a teen in Biarritz, France decide to take advantage of his mother having to live in another country for work and begins hosting sex parties for the whole school to attend. Soon relationships are broken and videos from the parties begin making their way online threaten the make the activity known to all. The first feature from Eva Husson, Bang Gang (A Modern Love Story).     When the teen daughter of a powerful Mexican crime lord becomes pregnant, a bounty is put on the unborn child's father. Two months later, a Mexico City bar and bar managing pianist  Bennie finds himself on the road with his girlfriend, Elita, on a small errand that will give them both the chance to completely change their futures. Sam Peckinpah's uncompromising and violent black comedy, Bring Me the Head of Alfredo Garcia.      All that and Tyler asks a simple question. Join us, won't you?  Episode 407- Getting a Head

 This week- a tour through Craig's Vinegar Syndrome collection brings ruin.When Madeline, who lost her ability to speak due to trauma, is picked up, on her way to therapy, by Tony, a human trafficker who enjoys writing taunting letters to his victim's families, she is soon forced into a life of addiction and sexual assault. Fortunately, she is given every Monday off to attend classes in revenge. A seminal, in both uses of the word, film in the rape-revenge genre: Thriller- A Cruel Picture.16-year old Candy is abducted on her way home from school. The kidnapper's demand is simple, her stepfather just leaves a bag of diamonds from the store he manages in a trash can and the girl will be released. Unfortunately, stepdad has too much to gain from Candy dying in the very near future and is more than willing to make sure it happens. A grimy 70s thriller that has only more recently received its cult status: The Candy Snatchers.Don't say the name Madman Marz in these woods or he will respond. On the last night of camp, a playful night around the campfire turns into a bloody struggle for survival. Will the campers live to be picked up by their parents? Will the councilors be able to have their final hot tub canoodle without having to hose out the blood? Will that song ever leave my head? Madman.A group from an all-girls Catholic college go to catalog the collection of their late benefactor, Tyler Welles. After finding the diary of a young woman who died in the house decades earlier, they decide to hold a seance. Soon supernatural and much more Earthly horrors begin to befall the girls one by one. Will any of them live to see the auction they are working diligently towards? Will their nun chaperone recover from her headache or are their devilish shenanigans keeping her down? Just how hard am I supposed to squint to see the resemblance to that painting? Possibly the tamest release to ever land in Tromaville- Girls School Screamers.All that and Dave needs a nap, Craig considers dentistry, Tyler revels, and Kevin goes to his happy place far far away. Join us, won't you?   Episode 406- Salty about Craig's Vinegar

     This week- two movies about magic and women at the end of their ropes.     An up-and-coming Senator, Nick Rast, is on the fast track pushed by a kingmaker with a beautiful wife in a loveless marriage of convince and a terminally ill son. When a mysterious faith healer, Gregory Wolfe, seems to cure the boy, the powerful interests driving Rast won't allow this good turn to go unpunished. Are Wolfe's powers real? Is it all an elaborate scam? Just how easily manipulated is this senator?? Harlequin.     Francine Fishpaw watches as her middle-class suburban Baltimore life crumbles. Her husband runs a pornographic theater, her daughter is promiscuous, her son is a glue-sniffing serial foot stomper, and her mother is a cocaine-snorting snob. When Francine demands a divorce, after catching her husband cheating, she falls into a alcoholism and depression. Can Francine recover? Will she find new love, save her children and claw back??? Polyester.     All that and jealousy over olfactory inputs. Join us, won't you?   Episode 405- Polyes-tsar

     This week- a pair of films about the most basic human need for connection.     Naturalist, Hank, lives in Africa with a huge number of big cats. Everyone around him are terrified of Hank's massive cat hoard, which continuously harms everyone that comes into contact with it while Hank laughs uproariously. Hank brings his family over for a visit, neglecting to mention how he is living and leaves them to fend for themselves unaware and unsuspecting. A massive undertaking that took over a decade to make, bankrupted the writer-director-producer-star, and 73 members of the cast and crew to be mauled- Roar.     Manon leaves her crappy job at a grocery store behind to earn more as an exotic dancer at a club which specialized in high concept performance art routines. There she finds new ways to explore her sexuality and new opportunities to pad her income. Manon immediately begins a friendship with coworker Mia, an aspiring actress, which soon blossoms into something more. Manon must make decisions that could have long lasting and far reaching consequences for her new erotic lifestyle and My Sole Desire (original French title: À mon seul désir).     All that plus Dave is getting senile, Tyler loves to love on loving lovers who love, and Kevin and the 6th badger battalion return from a glorious victory. Join us, won't you?   Episode 404- We're Gonna Need a Bigger Laser Pointer

     This week- two films starring the brilliant Gene Hackman.      Harry Moseby, a former football player turned private investigator, is hired to find a runaway sixteen-year-old. A search that will drag him into a conspiracy and coverup. The fourth genre redefining feature in a row from director Arthur Penn, Night Moves.     A seasoned nuclear submarine commander and his new executive office clash over how to interpret their orders and at what point does on make a decision that could have grave consequences on massive scales. A pair of masterful performances from the best of their respective generation, Crimson Tide.     All that and Kevin commissions a new battalion, Tyler celebrates in the way he is most accustomed, Dave has shallow thoughts, and Craig is already reaping what he has sown. Join us. won't you?   Episode 403- A Pair of Genes

     This week- a pair of films about women defying social expectations.     Leaving her upper-middle class adoptive parents and normative school life behind, Raquel runs away to become a sex worker in São Paulo. Soon she works her way up the ranks, begins writing a blog (with client ratings), and becomes so popular that she begins making guest appearances on mainstream talk shows. Inspired by The Scorpion's Sweet Venom, the first autobiographical book by Bruna Surfistinha, Confessions of a Brazilian Call Girl.     Shy young Christina lives with her father, who has always been openly disappointed in her for not being as charming and social as her late mother, and her aunt. At a ball, Christina meets a charming, handsome, and very poor young man named Morris. Morris pursues Christina, encouraged by her aunt and highly suspected by her father. When her father draws a hardline against her socializing with Morris, Christina must make a choice- to be disinherited over a who might be only after due to that inheritance or remove all connection to the only person to show her any kindness and care at the demands of her cold and controlling parent. Added to the Library of Congress National Film Registry in 1996, William Wyler's The Heiress.     All that and we try a new recording platform. Join us, and let us know how it sounds, won't you   Episode 402- Brazilian or Heirless

     This week- Craig and Dave chose violence.     Identical twin brothers, Cale and Cade, are abducted and turned into something more than human by an entity. They are sent out to fight what the entity claims is "evil" and for some reason that means working very closely with a US black ops organization. Unfortunately, Cale is seen as defective and eventually released from his captivity... only to find his own ways of combating "evil". Has Cale gone too far? Will Cade ever question any of what he has been told his whole life? A brotherly epic by auteur Neil Breen- Twisted Pair.     Years have passed since the, uh... events?... sure, events of Twisted Pair and the twins have not been in contact. Cade donated a large sum of money to fix a psychiatric hospital. Unknown to him, the should be condemned hospital is just a front for insane human experiments in the back room and government sanctioned human trafficking in the basement. Will Cade save these poor, unfortunate souls? Why is Cale creeping around the staff staircase?  Could they really not find an actual room to film in? The latest film from cult filmmaker, in the very loosest sense, Neil Breen- Cade: The Tortured Crossing.     All that and Kevin has a nap, Tyler goes to his happy place, Dave finds himself full of regret, and Craig laughs manically clutching a globe. Join us, won't you?   Episode 401- Threat Level: Breen

     This week- we celebrate our 400th episode with a four pack of films, each tailored to our individual tastes. Apparently, we all like crime. A lot.     When Drew returns home after a long time away, this adoptive sister lover concocts a plan to escape with the addict of his eye. Even if it means murdering their adoptive father. Unfortunately, Papa isn't as slow as everyone else and makes plans of his own. An early film from John Swab, a favorite filmmaker of Tyler's, about existential criminal crisis in the Bible Belt- Let Me Make You a Martyr.     Cerebral and coolheaded Detective Somerset is looking forward to retiring at the end of the week. His replacement, young and brash Detective Mills, arrives just in time for a little touch passing and training. Unfortunately for them both, this all happens just as a serial killer with a religiously inspire masterplan announces his arrival in sadistic fashion. Both a number close to Kevin's heart and widely considered on of director David Fincher's best films- Seven.     In 1964, Johnny Bartlett was executed for killing 12 people at the local hospital. In 1990 Frank Bannister's wife died under mysterious circumstances with the number "13" craved into her forehead. The trauma leaves Frank with the ability to communicate with ghosts. Now Frank leads a pack of spirited haunters and is about to learn that Bartlett's rampage might not be as far in the past as everyone assumes it it. An uneven goofy romp with deeply disturbing meta undertones, just like Dave, and the first major effects project helmed by Peter Jackson- The Frighteners.     Gal and his wife have long since left their seedy London criminal origins for a nice quiet life in Spain. When they get the news that an old psychotic associate, Don, will soon be arriving with a job offer. Unwilling to take no for an answer and with a violent temper that knows little restraint, Gal just might find himself back with the gang for one more heist. The first feature from Craig's favorite director and costarring a fistful of his favorite actors- Sexy Beast.     All that and a twist ending that leaves three of the Raiders devastated. Join us, won't you?  Episode 400- 400 (Unsimulated) Blows

     This week- two films about women just trying to survive in harsh conditions.     An observational documentary that intercuts conversations with Las Vegas based exotic dancers. They discuss their lives, their approach to the job, and how they were able to make a living after COVID closed stopped the action and dimmed the City of Neon Lights. The second in an ongoing documentary series, Stripped: Las Vegas.      When D'Artagnan goes to Paris to join the Musketeers of King Louis XIII, he is immediately caught up in a nefarious plot by Protestant rebels. He is quickly joined by three seasoned veterans of the group. Period hijinks ensue. The first in an epic modern retelling of the beloved novel series by Alexandre Dumas, The Three Musketeers: D'Artagnan.     All that and Tyler dreams of franchise, Dave needs a really good egg roll, and Kevin considers leaving the tartan for a mariniere. Join us, won't you?   Episode 399: All for Pole and Pole for All

     This week- a pair of comedic classics about absurdist dystopian patriarchies.      When he goes to prison for killing the gang responsible for the death of his love, Saiga Riki-Oh (here called Ricky Ho Lik Wong), finds himself at odds with the corrupt system and its enforcers. A cult classic of ultra brutal slapstick martial art splatter violence that. Fun fact- after filming the finale, it took lead actor Fan Sui-wong three days to wash off the blood. Riki-Oh: The Story of Ricky.     When the paranoid commander of the Strategic Air Command decides to take matters into his own hands and gives the go-ahead to drop nuclear bombs on Russia, the US Government springs into action to avert devastation. Only to learn the Soviet Union might have a real doomsday machine and any aggression will automatically annihilate us all. Fun fact- in the 1990s, director Stanly Kubrick and co-screenwriter Terry Southern had worked on a screenplay for a sequel. Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb.     All that and plans are set in motion... Join us, won't you?   Episode 398: Intestinal Fortitude

     This week- we change our earlier plans and try to catch some big fish in honor of David Lynch.     In a nameless city, caught in an endless rain storm, a trio live with a mystery and possessive forces- Rabbits.     A surgeon finds a man covered in deformities in a sideshow. Together they study human dignity and our social denial of it- The Elephant Man.     A body dumped, a family given horrific news, a deeper horror lurking. Lumiere camera and Twin Peaks vibes- Premonitions Following an Evil Deed.     An elderly man makes up his mind to make amends before it is too late. Even if it means hundreds of miles on a lawn mower.- The Straight Story.      A man is left to care for his deformed child in an industrial wasteland- Eraserhead.     Join us, won't you?   Episode 397- Visions of a Meditative Man

     This week two movies about young women and the lengths they will go to for love and connections.     Tammy is a cheerleader with a crush on football player Michael. When Michael is abducted by Tammy's violent and jealous ex-boyfriend he is left in a coma hovering between life and death. Meanwhile, Dr. Wachinstein is preparing his new creation to show for his investors. All the potentially mad doctor needs is a fresh brain. What twist of fate will bring these three together? Can love blossom between a girl and a 1000 lbs. robot dinosaur? One of the titans of good bad film discussion viewed in all its restored and bloody glory, Tammy and the T-Rex: Gore Cut.     Star is living with her sexually abusive father and taking care of two half-siblings. When she meets Jake, the top seller in a travelling sales crew, he offers her the chance to get away. Joining the crew, Star navigates her feelings toward Jake, his approach to selling, and the tangled web of relationships between the rest of the crew. The fourth feature from Andrea Arnold and featuring a powerhouse debut performance from Sasha Lane, American Honey.     All that and a small change of plans as next week we will be placing the brilliance of Nakadai on the shelf for a bit and instead diving into some Lynchian nightmares.  Episode 396- Dino Dixie String Bikini

     This week- two films about Japanese youth discovering themselves and the world around them told through vibes.     Three boys decide to keep an eye on the local recluse who lives in a crumbling house with an overgrown garden, figuring he isn't long for this mortal coil. After a little stalking, the boys and old man begin to bond, through repairing the garden, and learn what drove him to be a self-imposed outcast from the world. A snapshot of the moment when childhood ends and repercussions of an act can reverberate through generations. Directed by one the most esteemed post-New Wave Japan filmmakers, Shinji Sômai, Natsu no niwa: The Friends (1994, lit. The Summer Garden: The Friends)     After celebrating their friend's marriage, an unnamed man (referred to only as senpai) plans to confess his feelings to kurokami no otome (black-haired maiden also referred to as kōhai). Unfortunately, Sempai being too slow to act kicks off both of them wondering through a long night of drinking, underwear theft, introspection, perversion, surrealism, consumption contests, and spontaneous theater. The first full feature by animation studio Science SARU and spiritual successor to cult favorite Tatami Galaxy- Night is Short, Walk On Girl (2017).     All that and Craig feels vindicated, Kevin might still be wearing the wrong trousers, Dave discovers love isn't always 3D, and Tyler only has eyes for Southern bikinis. Join us, won't you?   Episode 395- Childhood Hangover  

     This week... a heaping helping of dramas about how the working class really should finally rise up.     When Ani, a savvy young Brighton Beach stripper, meets Vanya, the son of disturbingly wealthy Russian oligarchs, they form a nontraditional* relationship. Before long, Vanya is faced with having to go back home to Russia and confesses his love to Ani and desire to marry her for a green card. When Vanya's parents learn of his nuptials, the honeymoon phase comes to a crashing end. The latest feature from Sean Baker, a moving and deeply political work, Anora.     Set in an alternative reality, New Rome is a dystopian nightmare of corruption and neglect. Fortunately, a visionary architect, who also happens to be part of the wealthiest and most powerful family in the city, has a plan for a utopian future development. Unfortunately, his brilliance is countered at every step by the governmental powers that be and those jealous of his natural brilliance. Heavily referencing Roman history and written like something out of the Ayn Rand school of inane bullshit comes what is likely the final feature** from a legendary director of the 1970s, a brain dead rim job about how artists are fucking magic and above your morality or some bullshit, Megalopolis.      All that and Dave completely dissociates to the point of never being whole again, Craig rages into an embolism, Kevin takes a long hard look at his life choices, and Tyler is very sticky for some reason.*Nontraditional in the way that we are, socially, just not ready to discussion the greater transitional history and reality of most relationships.** We very much hope is the last, at any rate.    Join us, won't you?  Episode 394- Tossed Caesar Salad

     This week- we bring 2024 to a cheerful holiday end through torturing each other.     When a serial killer has a cheap camcorder, nothing will stop him from recording his night drives around California or his crimes. A gift that will long give the joy of needing extra mental health care to one of us, Amateur Porn Star Killer 3: The Final Chapter.     After barely surviving her encounter with Samuel, a young witch is now having her powers and body controlled by someone else. A gift that likely awakened something in its recipient, Witchcraft XV: Blood Rose.     An aging deep sea documentarian has a midlife crisis and a potential son but never his inner misogyny. The gift that caused the second largest amount of collateral damage, The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou.     When a financial advisor and revenge focused lawyer are pulled over in Valkenvania, New Jersey, they might have to pay stiffer fines than expected. The gift best described as a white elephant, impractical but also indispensable, or Nothing but Trouble.     All that and Kevin gets his classy close out on, Tyler desperately looks for blank arm space, and Dave realizes that every party does indeed need a pooper. Join us, won't you?   Episode 393- Secret Satan II: Satan Harder

     This week two movies about repercussions and the remorse of those who have to deal with them.     Frances Glessner Lee was born into a wealthy family and had a lifelong interest in medicine and the burgeoning science of forensics. Dedicating her life and fortune to progressing the field. Her masterwork being the Nutshell Studies of Unexplained Death, a series of intricate dioramas with a wide variety of victims from all social classes and manners of death, which inspired many institutions and even fictional depictions over the last century. Just how long a shadow can be cast... Of Dolls and Murder?     Leonor Reyes was once a major player in the Filipino film industry, creating a string of action hits. Now Leonor is retired and she, with her son Rudie, are struggling to pay the bills. After reading an ad calling for scripts, Leonor brushes off her unfinished final project. Tragically a serious blow to the head finds her waking up in her script, revising it in real time. Meanwhile, Rudie is desperately trying to find a way to connect to his comatose mother through the pages she left behind. The feature debut of writer-director Martika Ramirez Escobar... Leonor Will Never Die.    All that and panic over next week's Secret Satan begins to take hold. Join us, won't you?  Episode 392- Figurines of Regret

     This week- two movies about living your life authentically to yourself in the face of societal pressure.     When a performance art trio take up residency at an enigmatic and remote artistic institute, a journalist with gastric issues, Stones, is hired to document their day-today creative process. The trio, led by narcissist Elle di Elle, perform "sonic catering", making ASMR with culinary sounds. Stones finds his issues worsen as he is drawn ever deeper into their petty disagreements, power struggles, and complexly sordid history. A delicacy from Peter Strickland, a filmmaker for acquired tastes, Flux Gourmet.     After a pair of cross country Bible selling Catholic schoolgirls knock on the wrong door, they are pulled into nightmare of torment, fear, and death. Lobo is a dealer and pimp who loves a little bit of excessive violence. Maria is his favorite employee with a habit of killing anyone she is alone with for more than 5 minutes. Catherine and Rebecca are just in the wrong place at the wrong time. When their paths intersect, blood flies and revenge will be doled out without hesitation. The feature debut of writer-director Joseph Guzman, Run! Bitch Run!     All that and Craig, tired of Americans being unable to pronounce his name, makes a not so stunning accusation. Join us, won't you?   Episode 391- Flanger Abuse

     This week- a pair of  working vacations do not go as planned with massive consequences.     17 year-old skinhead Trevor is charged with throwing a brick the the window of a Pakistani man. Instead of  being sentenced immediately, the judge sends him to a residential assessment center. There he is met with a staff who have patience that would make a saint furious. Can this last chance finally get through to Trevor and make him change his life's path or is he trapped unable to fit in the system's one size fits all approach? The writer and director team from SCUM bring something that could only be Made in Britain.     The West's superspy Loid Forger, also know as Twilight, finds his mission endangered by pressure from the higher ups unless significant progress is delivers soon. As this news is delivered, his cover marriage wife and secret top assassin of the East, Yor, witnesses what she interprets as Loid cheating. Meanwhile, their adopted and secretly telepathic daughter, Anya, is give a school assignment that could salvage Loid's operation. Together, with their precognitive pet Bond,  all three Forgers hop a train to sample a regional dessert. That's the moment when things get really complicated. The first feature based on a massively popular manga and anime, Spy X Family Code:White.     All that and Dave misses the point, Tyler has dreams of a certain 90s nu metal artist, and Kevin barely survives a holiday event. Join us, won't you?   Episode 390- Recipe for Disaster

     This week we ring in the last month of 2024 with a pair of films about people spiraling through very different existential crises.     Lucia lives with depressed writer Lorenzo. When she returns home to an empty apartment, Lucia becomes frantic, finding a suicide note as she answers a call from the police that mentions an accident. Unable to hear more, Lucia hangs up and leaves to a small island Lorenzo always talked about. Elena lost her daughter to a tragedy and also seeks solace on the same island, where her child was conceived after a night of passion with an unknown man. Meanwhile, we witness Lorenzo's live over the last six years leading up to whatever tragic event befell him. A complex and visually striking work from divisive Spanish auteur Julio Medem, Sex and Lucia (Spanish title: Lucia y el sexo).     When a New Jersey mob deal is broken up by a team of corrupt cops looking to rob them, low level member Joey is tasked with disposing of the guns. Especially a very distinctive nickel plated and ivory handled Smith & Wesson Model 36 belonging to Tommy Perello, son of the organization's leader. Joey instead takes the gun home and stashes it his basement where his son and their abused neighbor kid, Oleg, are playing. Oleg takes the gun and sets off a chain of events that will have Joey and the boy... Running Scared.     All that and Dave's race has been run, Tyler makes Machiavellian moves, and Kevin has sexy snow dreams. Join us, won't you?   Episode 389- NO PUCKS GIVEN

     This week a four pack of films that were originally made by other people in other countries and then swallowed by the Hollywood machine for you viewing pleasure.     Seth is an angel. One of thousands just hanging out in the Los Angeles Public Library and occasionally going for walks around to witness people at their most stressed. Dr. Maggie Rice is a surgeon. She just lost a patient through no fault of her own. This causes Maggie to collapse because she is played by Meg Ryan. Will Seth be able to comfort Maggie in the way he increasingly wants? A remake of the German film Wings of Desire whose whole existence might be just to sell copies of the soundtrack, City of Angels.     Count Thilbault Malefete is about to wed the beautiful Princess Rosalind. Tragically, a sly plan is enacted by the Earl of Warwick which results in Thibault being arrested and awaiting execution for Rosalind's murder. Fear not as his loyal serf brings a wizard to help. The plan is to slide our daring French Count back in time to save the day. Unfortunately, the spell goes wrong and Thibault finds himself, with his serf, in 2001 Chicago. Assisted by his descendant, who looks shockingly like Rosalind, Thibault must navigate turn of the century America to get back home. A remake of an all time highest grossing French film and retaining the original stars and writer-director, The Visitors.     Mattie is worried about her ex-boyfriend and hacker, Josh. When she goes to finally check on him, he hangs himself with an ethernet cable. Soon ghostly visitors and impossible webcam feeds begin appearing all over the city. If one of the ghosts, who travel through wi-fi and cellular signals, touches you, you lose your will to live. Now Mattie and a new hunk she just met are on a race against time to stop a virus Josh accidentally unleashed. Can Mattie stop this techno terror before it consumes the world? A remake a wonderful warning about isolation in the digital age by the brilliant Kiyoshi Kurosawa and done in the way only Hollywood can, Pulse.     When a wealthy businessman's beautiful but terrifyingly accident prone daughter disappears in Mexico, he spares no expense in the search. When a month passes without and progress, despite the endless supply of cash and top tier professionals sent in, he finally agrees to the most ridiculous of ideas. Why not send in someone equally accident prone based who just might stumble their way on to her trail? To accomplish this accountant Eugene Proctor is partnered with hardnosed investigator Raymond Campanella and let loose on an unsuspecting country. One of nine US remakes based on films by Francis Veber, Pure Luck.    All that and Dave screams on the inside, Tyler tries to pull off a trifecta, and Kevin ignores this pain for Noir. Join us, won't you?   Episode 388- Remakes American Style