Shoot The Hostage

Join us for one last round of flops discussion as we embark on our traditional end of season wrap show. The full episode is available over on Patreon on our £3.00 a month tier.  We're sad that our flops season has come to an end but what a journey it was. From terrible films to objectively brilliant movies and everything in between.  As this was our 10th season, this time we decided to cover 10 movies which were :  The Thing (1982) Masters of the Universe (1987) Empire Records Battlefield Earth Nightbreed The King of Comedy Tank Girl Driven (2001) Labyrinth Super Mario Bros (1993) We talk about our favourite movies and discussions in the season and also try to justify why we sometimes enjoy objectively terrible films.  Make sure to mark June 23rd in your calendar as that is when we return for season 11! Would you like to see the full lineup for season 11? The only place you can see it is on Patreon but you don't need to be a paying member. Sign up for a free membership and get access to the lineup when it drops on June 9th. This episode as a preview of our season 10 wrap show which is available in full, over on our £3 a month Patreon tier. If you sign up for that you'll get access to all of our end of season wrap shows for seasons 1-10 and a minimum of 2 reviews of brand new movies each month.   Enjoy the show but can't support us financially? We get it. You could submit a review on the podcast player you're reading this on right now. Or if you listen on Spotify and you haven't given us a five-star rating yet, what are ye waiting for? It's easy. If you've done some or all of that and still want to do more, we would love it if you tell a friend about the show.   Or come find us on social media: Instagram | TikTok | Threads | YouTube  

Calling all questionable mushroom-based life-forms. This week on Shoot the Hostage, Dan and Sarah are hitting the reset button on reality and plummeting into the bonkers world of the Super Mario Bros. (1993). As we reach the final level of our "Flops" season, we're asking the essential questions about this infamous film adapted from a computer game: Was it doomed from the start? How did this become one of the most notorious flops of all time?... And why is Fisher Stevens in white-face? Join us as we traverse Dinohattan's fungal landscapes and try to make sense of the troubled pipe-line of production that saw directors Annabel Jankel and Rocky Morton (yes, the creators of Max Headroom) reportedly clashing with the studio. We dive headfirst into the legends surrounding the set: Bob Hoskins's well-documented hatred for the film and Dennis Hopper's baffling T-Rex inspired mannerisms and alleged Trump-like ego. Despite being a massive box office failure, we debate if there's merit in its sheer ambition and bizarre ideas, like de-evolution or people turning into fungus. Is it a total s*** sandwich, or does it hold up as a weirdly compelling slice of bizarre 90s cinema? If you're nostalgic for the days when video-game movies were finding their feet (or just tripping over them), or just curious about movies that make you feel nostalgic for poor life choices, this episode is your Power Up! Expect discussion on: Comparing this flop to other season entries like Tank Girl and Battlefield Earth. The bizarre notion of dimensional rifts caused by sound waves. The lasting impact this film had on Nintendo's handling of their IP. Why the song "Walk the Dinosaur" makes absolutely no sense. Luigi's surprisingly sweet rainbow belt. That's it for season 10! Stay tuned until the end to find out the plan for season 11, which begins June 23rd. Would you like to see the full lineup for season 11? The only place you can see it is on Patreon but you don't need to be a paying member. Sign up for a free membership and get access to the lineup. If you do have some loose change consider signing up as a paid member. Our £3 a month Patreon tier will grant you access to all of our end of season wrap shows for seasons 1-9 and a minimum of 2 reviews of brand new movies each month. Plus the back-catalogue of reviews from 2023 and 2024.  Enjoy the show but can't support us financially? We get it. You could submit a review on the podcast player you're reading this on right now. Or if you listen on Spotify and you haven't given us a five-star rating yet, what are ye waiting for? It's easy. If you've done some or all of that and still want to do more, we would love it if you tell a friend about the show.   Or come find us on social media: Instagram | TikTok | Threads | YouTube

In the penultimate episode of the season, we're diving headfirst into the dark fantasy movie that defined 80s childhoods (for some of us, Dan included, maybe?) but was a complete box-office flop: Labyrinth (1986). Settle in for spoilers, swearing, and probably a tangent or two about where babies go when Jareth steals them. Was it just a logistical nightmare with all those puppets, animals, and babies? Yes. Does Jareth's portrayal raise some eyebrows today? Absolutely, he's the villain, you muppet! But despite its initial failure as a movie that flopped at the box-office, Labyrinth's unique blend of whimsy, darkness, and catchy songs (dance, magic, dance!) has cemented its status as a cult classic. We talk about the worm, the door knockers, the Bog of Eternal Stench, and why Jim Henson took the flop so hard. What to expect from this episode: Speculation on the film's deeper themes and interpretations, from it being a coming-of-age story about Sarah letting go of childhood things, an anti-hoarding message via the Garbage Lady, a metaphor for life's journey and friendship, or even the darker fan theory that the entire event is a result of Sarah's mental illness A deep dive into the incredible puppet work and practical effects, highlighting characters like Hoggle and the technical challenges of the "Swiss cheese" set Discussion about the confirmed sequel in development, touching on previous directors attached (Scott Derrickson, Fede Alvarez) and the current attachment of Robert Eggers (EGGERS!) Season 10 runs until May 26th with 10 episodes this time Would you like to see the full lineup for season 10? The only place you can see it is on Patreon but you don't need to be a paying member. Sign up for a free membership and get access to the lineup. If you do have some loose change consider signing up as a paid member. Our £3 a month Patreon tier will grant you access to all of our end of season wrap shows for seasons 1-9 and a minimum of 2 reviews of brand new movies each month. Plus the back-catalogue of reviews from 2023 and 2024.  Enjoy the show but can't support us financially? We get it. You could submit a review on the podcast player you're reading this on right now. Or if you listen on Spotify and you haven't given us a five-star rating yet, what are ye waiting for? It's easy. If you've done some or all of that and still want to do more, we would love it if you tell a friend about the show.   Or come find us on social media: Instagram | TikTok | Threads | YouTube

Buckle up because this week on Shoot The Hostage, we're hitting the track with a film that definitely ran out of gas at the box office! Dan and Sarah dive headfirst into the glorious box-office flop that is Driven (2001) We brake down the bewildering plot involving characters played by Kip Pardue, Burt Reynolds, Estella Warren, Gina Gershon (making her second appearance on the podcast) and Robert Sean Leonard. We pull back the curtain on the film's massive budget, chaotic production (including casting just 3 days before shooting), and truly head-scratching moments that lead to "first day on Earth performances". If you're desperately searching for a podcast covering movies that flopped at the box-office, diving into guilty pleasure movies, or are specifically curious about movies about motorsports and racing, especially a spectacularly bad racing movie, then this is your checkered flag! We tackle everything from the absurd dialogue ("What am I, a piece of wood?" and "You old fish") to Renny Harlin's questionable directing methods. Find out why even Sylvester Stallone himself might regret making this one. In this episode, expect: An apology from Dan (it's apology season, after all) for introducing Sarah to this particular film. Analysis of the film's inaccuracies, from unrealistic race tactics to physics-defying stunts Commentary on the film's portrayal of women and its overall testosterone driven nature A brief tangent on mammals Ideas for how a Driven remake could actually cross the finish line successfully Season 10 runs until May 26th with 10 episodes this time Would you like to see the full lineup for season 10? The only place you can see it is on Patreon but you don't need to be a paying member. Sign up for a free membership and get access to the lineup. If you do have some loose change consider signing up as a paid member. Our £3 a month Patreon tier will grant you access to all of our end of season wrap shows for seasons 1-9 and a minimum of 2 reviews of brand new movies each month. Plus the back-catalogue of reviews from 2023 and 2024.  Enjoy the show but can't support us financially? We get it. You could submit a review on the podcast player you're reading this on right now. Or if you listen on Spotify and you haven't given us a five-star rating yet, what are ye waiting for? It's easy. If you've done some or all of that and still want to do more, we would love it if you tell a friend about the show.   Or come find us on social media: Instagram | TikTok | Threads | YouTube

This week on Shoot the Hostage, Dan and Sarah brave the wasteland of cinema history to grapple with the undisputed heavy artillery of our big old floppy flop season, Tank Girl (1995). Be warned, as is tradition, we swear and spoil. Sarah chose this one and frankly, it feels like some kind of revenge after Battlefield Earth.  Released in 1995 this film doesn't just qualify as a flop, it lives in the flop house and pays rent with lint and disappointment. It somehow made more than Empire Records and Police Academy 7, which, let's be honest, is our primary metric for success. Based on the very British, very anarchic comic book series and directed by Rachel Talalay, this 1990s comic book movie should have been a slam dunk, or at least a solid ground rule double. We get into the nitty-gritty of why this felt like such missed potential. Here's what you can expect from this week's episode: Discussions on Lori Petty as Tank Girl (aka Rebecca) and who else lobbied for the role The uncredited, sophisticated (yet visually questionable) work of Stan Winston Studios on the Rippers The surprisingly great soundtrack curated by Courtney Love Dream casting for a potential reboot Ramblings that connect this film to The Warriors, Scott Pilgrim... and, bizarrely, Roy Scheider in seaQuest DSV. Why this comic book movie adaptation ultimately crashed and burned at the box office If you're searching for podcasts about movie flops or maybe just a podcast reviewing box office bombs, retro comic book films, or trying to understand why a film featuring a kick-ass female lead and directed by Rachel Talalay failed so spectacularly, this is the episode for you. Or maybe you just need someone to talk about the fact they made a kangaroo penis for a movie? Look no further! Season 10 runs until May 26th with 10 episodes this time Would you like to see the full lineup for season 10? The only place you can see it is on Patreon but you don't need to be a paying member. Sign up for a free membership and get access to the lineup. If you do have some loose change consider signing up as a paid member. Our £3 a month Patreon tier will grant you access to all of our end of season wrap shows for seasons 1-9 and a minimum of 2 reviews of brand new movies each month. Plus the back-catalogue of reviews from 2023 and 2024.  Enjoy the show but can't support us financially? We get it. You could submit a review on the podcast player you're reading this on right now. Or if you listen on Spotify and you haven't given us a five-star rating yet, what are ye waiting for? It's easy. If you've done some or all of that and still want to do more, we would love it if you tell a friend about the show.   Or come find us on social media: Instagram | TikTok | Threads | YouTube

Alright, film fanatics, gather round your audio devices! Dan and Sarah are back on Shoot the Hostage, and this week we've finally braved a cinematic experience that's less blockbuster and more… well, block-bust. We're talking about Martin Scorsese's 1982 gem (that the world collectively ignored), The King of Comedy. Settle in as we dissect this certified box office flop, a movie so unloved by initial audiences that, according to Entertainment Tonight, was the biggest flop of 1983. We'll be trying to unravel why this incredible film, starring the one and only Robert De Niro as the intensely awkward and delusional Rupert Pupkin, alongside the incomparable Jerry Lewis as the beleaguered talk show host Jerry Langford, somehow failed to connect with audiences despite the Scorsese touch. Was the world simply not ready for its cringe comedy and profoundly uncomfortable exploration of fame and obsession? We'll also be singing the praises (as we see fit) of Sandra Bernhard's gloriously unhinged performance as Masha, a character who redefines the term 'stan'.... We'll be tackling the burning questions: Was Rupert the proto-incel? Is his stand-up actually… good? And just how much inspiration did Joker shamelessly borrow from this criminally underseen cult film? (Spoiler: a metric tonne) What to expect from this episode: A deep dive into the mystery of why The King of Comedy was a certified box office flop yet has ascended to cult classic status. Our unfiltered opinions on the unforgettable performances of Robert De Niro, the surprisingly serious Jerry Lewis, and the absolute revelation that is Sandra Bernhard. A look at the film's unsettlingly contemporary themes of celebrity worship, the desperate pursuit of fame, and the dark side of parasocial relationships. Our reliably questionable humour and Dan's ongoing battle with basic pronunciation. So, if you're a devotee of Martin Scorsese, fascinated by movies that flopped at the box office, or simply seeking a podcast that appreciates a truly unique and disturbingly prescient film, then congratulations, you've found your tribe! Subscribe now so you don't miss our descent into the delusional world of a wannabe comedy king! Season 10 runs until May 26th with 10 episodes this time Would you like to see the full lineup for season 10? The only place you can see it is on Patreon but you don't need to be a paying member. Sign up for a free membership and get access to the lineup. If you do have some loose change consider signing up as a paid member. Our £3 a month Patreon tier will grant you access to all of our end of season wrap shows for seasons 1-9 and a minimum of 2 reviews of brand new movies each month. Plus the back-catalogue of reviews from 2023 and 2024.  Enjoy the show but can't support us financially? We get it. You could submit a review on the podcast player you're reading this on right now. Or if you listen on Spotify and you haven't given us a five-star rating yet, what are ye waiting for? It's easy. If you've done some or all of that and still want to do more, we would love it if you tell a friend about the show.   Or come find us on social media: Instagram | TikTok | Threads | YouTube

Damn the man! Save the Nightbreed! This week on Shoot the Hostage Dan and Sarah dive headfirst into the gloriously bonkers world of Clive Barker's 1990 cinematic oddity, Nightbreed! Based on Barker's own 1988 novella, Cabal, Nightbreed throws us into a world where the real monsters might not be the ones with the gnarly prosthetics. Speaking of gnarly, this film certainly delivers on the creature front, showcasing Barker's unique and utterly twisted imagination. We'll be asking the big questions, like: why does the guy with the face on his stomach get so little screen time? Which creatures are Nightbreed and which aren't? And what we could do with an army of miniature Clive Barker clones! In this episode you can also expect: Spoiler-filled discussion of Nightbreed (1990) Enthusiastic (and possibly biased) opinions on the film's merits The usual digressions and tangents that may or may not be relevant Unpacking of Nightbreed's status as a box-office flop and its subsequent cult following Analysis of the film's themes of otherness and societal prejudice A surprising connection to Red Dwarf So, if you're after a deep dive into a horror movie that dared to be different, a film about monsters you might actually root for, and a chat that's as messy and enthusiastic as a rave in Midian, then you've come to the right place! Season 10 runs until May 26th with 10 episodes this time Would you like to see the full lineup for season 10? The only place you can see it is on Patreon but you don't need to be a paying member. Sign up for a free membership and get access to the lineup. If you do have some loose change consider signing up as a paid member. Our £3 a month Patreon tier will grant you access to all of our end of season wrap shows for seasons 1-9 and a minimum of 2 reviews of brand new movies each month. Plus the back-catalogue of reviews from 2023 and 2024.  Enjoy the show but can't support us financially? We get it. You could submit a review on the podcast player you're reading this on right now. Or if you listen on Spotify and you haven't given us a five-star rating yet, what are ye waiting for? It's easy. If you've done some or all of that and still want to do more, we would love it if you tell a friend about the show.   Or come find us on social media: Instagram | TikTok | Threads | YouTube

Get ready folks, because this week on Shoot the Hostage, Dan and Sarah bravely (or stupidly) sat through the cinematic turd known as Battlefield Earth (2000). Yes, that's right, we're diving headfirst into what many consider to be not just a box office flop, but a serious contender for the title of worst movie of all time. If you've ever wondered what happens when you try to adapt roughly 40% of a massive thousand-page book by the prolific (in quantity, at least) science fiction writer and Scientology founder, L. Ron Hubbard, into a single film, prepare to have your expectations crater like this movie's box office. We'll be dissecting this glorious mess starring John Travolta (who lobbied for years to get this passion project made). Prepare for questionable acting choices, baffling plot points and more screen wipes than you can shake a stick at. We'll also try (and likely fail) to understand the vision of director Roger Christian, whose commentary track apparently suggests we just "don't get it". If you're searching for a podcast that doesn't hold back on its criticism of films based on books that go spectacularly wrong, or if you're simply curious about one of the most notorious movie flops in cinematic history, you've come to the right (or perhaps wrong) place. Trust us, after this episode, you might just consider Waterworld a masterpiece. In this episode you can expect: A scathing takedown of Battlefield Earth from start to finish. Our bewildered attempts to make sense of the plot and the alien motivations. Plenty of discussion about John Travolta's… unique? performance and his deep connection to the source material. Observations on just how a film with a reported budget of $70-80 million (or maybe $40 million) could look this visually unappealing. Digressions into the bizarre world of Scientology, the religion/cult behind the book. The definitive answer to whether this truly deserves its reputation as one of the worst films ever made. So, strap yourselves in for a bumpy ride as we try to navigate the post-apocalyptic wasteland that is Battlefield Earth! Season 10 runs until May 26th with 10 episodes this time Would you like to see the full lineup for season 10? The only place you can see it is on Patreon but you don't need to be a paying member. Sign up for a free membership and get access to the lineup. If you do have some loose change consider signing up as a paid member. Our £3 a month Patreon tier will grant you access to all of our end of season wrap shows for seasons 1-9 and a minimum of 2 reviews of brand new movies each month. Plus the back-catalogue of reviews from 2023 and 2024.  Enjoy the show but can't support us financially? We get it. You could submit a review on the podcast player you're reading this on right now. Or if you listen on Spotify and you haven't given us a five-star rating yet, what are ye waiting for? It's easy. If you've done some or all of that and still want to do more, we would love it if you tell a friend about the show.   Or come find us on social media: Instagram | TikTok | Threads | YouTube

Get ready to "Damn the man! Save the Empire!" because this week on Shoot The Hostage, Dan and Sarah are diving deep into the gloriously messy, utterly 90s, and undeniably flopped cinematic experience that is Empire Records (1995). It's not quite Rex Manning Day just yet, depending on when you're listening, but we're close enough to celebrate this box-office flop that holds a special, possibly embarrassing, place in at least one of our hearts. Join us as we try to figure out why this ensemble piece, directed by Allan Moyle and written by Carol Heikkinen, starring a fresh-faced bunch including Liv Tyler, Renèe Zellweger, Robin Tunney, Ethan Embry... and even a fleeting credit for a certain Tobey Maguire (who may or may not have been lost to the 90s haze on set) failed to ignite the box-office despite its killer soundtrack. Expect the usual blend of questionable observations and sarcastic commentary as we dissect this quintessential movie released in the 90s. We also ponder: Questionable romantic gestures involving feet Sarah's nostalgic love for this film and Dan's slow but steady descent into not-quite-hate Our general bewilderment at the sheer volume of music crammed into 90-odd minutes Comparisons to the Breakfast Club (which we covered – check it out) And why this might have flopped at the box-office If you're a fan of hangout movies in the vein of Richard Linklater's character-driven narratives or the retail-centric vibes of early Kevin Smith flicks, you might find something to love (or at least tolerate) in Empire Records. So, tune in for spoilers aplenty, personal anecdotes, and a deep dive into a film that may have flopped at the box office but definitely left a lasting impression (on some of us, anyway). You might even find yourself wanting to celebrate Rex Manning Day after listening… or maybe not. You've been warned! Season 10 runs until May 26th with 10 episodes this time Would you like to see the full lineup for season 10? The only place you can see it is on Patreon but you don't need to be a paying member. Sign up for a free membership and get access to the lineup. If you do have some loose change consider signing up as a paid member. Our £3 a month Patreon tier will grant you access to all of our end of season wrap shows for seasons 1-9 and a minimum of 2 reviews of brand new movies each month. Plus the back-catalogue of reviews from 2023 and 2024.  Enjoy the show but can't support us financially? We get it. You could submit a review on the podcast player you're reading this on right now. Or if you listen on Spotify and you haven't given us a five-star rating yet, what are ye waiting for? It's easy. If you've done some or all of that and still want to do more, we would love it if you tell a friend about the show.   Or come find us on social media: Instagram | TikTok | Threads | YouTube

All aboard the Battle Cat! Dan and Sarah don their Power Swords (which look suspiciously like oversized letter openers) to champion another cinematic misfire! On this day, we tackle the 1987 cinematic flop, Masters of the Universe in another instalment looking at movies that flopped at the box-office! Join us as we take on our first Dolph Lundgren movie and give a standing ovation (from a safe distance) to Frank Langella's Skeletor.    Here is just a little of what you can expect from us in this episode: We'll be dissecting the film's box-office failure and try to understand why it didn't connect with audiences. The film's adaptation from the Mattel toys, comic books and cartoons of the 1980's. How Masters of the Universe could have contributed to the downfall of Cannon Films. We find out which characters were invented entirely for the 1987 movie and which characters were lifted directly from the MOTU toy range. Sarah wonders how laser guns are powered. We bring up Matte paintings again (possibly a running theme in this season). Who's the MVP in Masters of the Universe? Clue – it's not He-Man! Is Masters of the Universe (1987) kind of underrated? Or is it just rated? So, if you're looking for a Masters of the Universe (1987) podcast or are fascinated by movies that flopped hard, look no further! Take off your cape, lay down your cosmic key and step into our cave of cinematic chat. Season 10 runs until May 26th with 10 episodes this time Would you like to see the full lineup for season 10? The only place you can see it is on Patreon but you don't need to be a paying member. Sign up for a free membership and get access to the lineup. If you do have some loose change consider signing up as a paid member. Our £3 a month Patreon tier will grant you access to all of our end of season wrap shows for seasons 1-9 and a minimum of 2 reviews of brand new movies each month. Plus the back-catalogue of reviews from 2023 and 2024.  Enjoy the show but can't support us financially? We get it. You could submit a review on the podcast player you're reading this on right now. Or if you listen on Spotify and you haven't given us a five-star rating yet, what are ye waiting for? It's easy. If you've done some or all of that and still want to do more, we would love it if you tell a friend about the show.   Or come find us on social media: Instagram | TikTok | Threads | YouTube

We're back for another season of themed movies where this time, we're focusing on “Flops”! Get ready to lock your doors and check your blood, because this week on Shoot The Hostage, Dan and Sarah are diving deep into the icy paranoia of John Carpenter's 1982 masterpiece, The Thing! After 12 years of podcasting, Sarah's finally talking about what she calls her favourite movie of all time. No pressure! Expect the usual foul-mouthed fun as we dissect this creature feature classic, which was a big flop when it first hit cinemas in 1982. We'll be scratching our heads over why this cinematic gold – starring the magnificent Kurt Russell as R.J. MacReady, the moustache-less Wilford Brimley and the always-watchable Keith David didn't set the box-office alight. We'll be pondering whether the critical mauling at the time had anything to do with this box office bomb's frosty reception. In this episode, we'll be getting our teeth into: The insane practical effects by Rob Bottin (with a little un-credited help from Stan Winston) that still hold up better than most CGI sludge today. The film's return to the source material novella Who Goes There? and its relationship to the 1951 film The Thing from Another World. Was Carpenter's version a remake, a re-imagining, or something else entirely? The film's themes – is it a reflection of Cold War paranoia or something more akin to the AIDS epidemic of the early 80's? OF COURSE, we'll be arguing about that ending. Who's A THE THING! So, if you're a fan of movies that didn't do well at the box office but found their audience later, or if you just love a bit of John Carpenter brilliance, then strap in. We promise spoilers and swearing. You've been warned! Have you checked out the excellent podcast with Chris & Joel, Just The Thing? That's a big recommend whether you're a fan of The Thing or just movie-chat in general. Check it out! Season 10 runs until May 26th with 10 episodes this time Would you like to see the full lineup for season 10? The only place you can see it is on Patreon but you don't need to be a paying member. Sign up for a free membership and get access to the lineup. If you do have some loose change consider signing up as a paid member. Our £3 a month Patreon tier will grant you access to all of our end of season wrap shows for seasons 1-9 and a minimum of 2 reviews of brand new movies each month. Plus the back-catalogue of reviews from 2023 and 2024.  Enjoy the show but can't support us financially? We get it. You could submit a review on the podcast player you're reading this on right now. Or if you listen on Spotify and you haven't given us a five-star rating yet, what are ye waiting for? It's easy. If you've done some or all of that and still want to do more, we would love it if you tell a friend about the show.   Or come find us on social media: Instagram | TikTok | Threads | YouTube

Before we begin the new season on March 24th, it's time for our bonus show.   We went to see Bong Joon-ho's latest offering, Mickey 17. Join us as we discuss the director, the cast and Mark Ruffalo's teeth. We keep this one pretty spoiler-lite but as always, we recommend watching it before listening. Season 10 runs until May 26th with 10 episodes this time Would you like to see the full lineup for season 10? The only place you can see it is on Patreon but you don't need to be a paying member. Sign up for a free membership and get access to the lineup. If you do have some loose change consider signing up as a paid member. Our £3 a month Patreon tier will grant you access to all of our end of season wrap shows for seasons 1-9 and a minimum of 2 reviews of brand new movies each month. Plus the back-catalogue of reviews from 2023 and 2024.  Enjoy the show but can't support us financially? We get it. You could submit a review on the podcast player you're reading this on right now. Or if you listen on Spotify and you haven't given us a five-star rating yet, what are ye waiting for? It's easy. If you've done some or all of that and still want to do more, we would love it if you tell a friend about the show.   Or come find us on social media: Instagram | TikTok | Threads | YouTube

Relive the highlights of our Nicolas Cage movie deep dive in this special compilation episode! We're revisiting the best (and weirdest) bits from our discussions on films like Vampire's Kiss, Face Off, the infamous Wicker Man remake, and the surprisingly moving Pig. Expect peak "coming of cage" moments, our takes on Nicolas Cage's filmography, his two-headed snake, and vampire theories. Perfect for die-hard Nic Cage fans or anyone curious about a podcast covering Nicolas Cage films. Get ready for laughs, insights (questionable), and all the Cage rage you can handle! Season 10 begins March 24th Would you like to see the full lineup for season 10? The only place you can see it is on Patreon but you don't need to be a paying member. Sign up for a free membership and get access to the lineup when it drops on March 10th. If you do have some loose change consider signing up as a paid member. Our £3 a month Patreon tier will grant you access to all of our end of season wrap shows for seasons 1-9 and a minimum of 2 reviews of brand new movies each month. Plus the back-catalogue of reviews from 2023 & 2024.  Enjoy the show but can't support us financially? We get it. You could submit a review on the podcast player you're reading this on right now. Or if you listen on Spotify and you haven't given us a five-star rating yet, what are ye waiting for? It's easy. If you've done some or all of that and still want to do more, we would love it if you tell a friend about the show.   Or come find us on social media: Instagram | TikTok | Threads | YouTube

Calling all Cage aficionados and connoisseurs of cinematic chaos! Face/Off with us one last time this season as we put a bow on Nicolas Cage with our end of season wrap show. Lend us your ears for a run-down of the eight movies covered this season which were: Vampire's Kiss The Rock Face/Off Snake Eyes The Wicker Man Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orleans Mandy Pig We discuss our favourites and least favourites and have unfiltered opinions on the good, the bad and the Nicolas Cage. Dan voices which movies almost made the cut (including a certain Marty Scorsese film). Sarah has a quiz to test Dan on his choice of theme this season and finally we chat about what we have in store for season 10 which begins March 24th.  Would you like to see the full lineup for season 10? The only place you can see it is on Patreon but you don't need to be a paying member. Sign up for a free membership and get access to the lineup when it drops on March 10th. This episode as a preview of our season 9 wrap show which is available in full, over on our £3 a month Patreon tier. If you sign up for that you'll get access to all of our end of season wrap shows for seasons 1-9 and a minimum of 2 reviews of brand new movies each month.   Enjoy the show but can't support us financially? We get it. You could submit a review on the podcast player you're reading this on right now. Or if you listen on Spotify and you haven't given us a five-star rating yet, what are ye waiting for? It's easy. If you've done some or all of that and still want to do more, we would love it if you tell a friend about the show.   Or come find us on social media: Instagram | TikTok | Threads | YouTube

Shoot the Hostage concludes its Nicolas Cage-a-thon with Pig (2021), a film that proves Nic Cage can do subtle, heartbreaking, and filthy all at once. Join Dan and Sarah as they wade through the truffle-scented forest of Michael Sarnoski's directorial debut, discussing whether this is an anti-revenge movie or Cage: Pig in the City. Expect spoilers as we discuss the film's themes, from grief and loss to the pretentious world of gourmet dining. We'll be asking the big questions, like: Is Pig just John Wick with a truffle pig instead of a puppy? How does the film deconstruct the revenge movie genre? Why are the chapter titles named after fancy food (Rustic Mushroom Tart, Mom's French Toast, A Bird, a Bottle, and a Salted Baguette)? Is Adam Arkin related to Alan Arkin? (spoilers – yes, of course!) What does this film have to say about critics & the commodification of art? (A lot, apparently!) Was Nicolas Cage almost bitten to death by an untrained pig actor (we have the answer!) If you're a fan of Nicolas Cage, indie films, or movies that make you think (and maybe cry a little), this episode is for you. We'll also be talking about the performances of Alex Wolff and Adam Arkin, plus Sarah's dream of living in the woods with a pet pig and reliable Wi-Fi. Listen right until the end to find out which theme you can expect in season 10 which begins March 24th. If you would like to know the lineup for season 10 ahead of time, the only place we announce our schedule is over on Patreon and you don't even need to be a paying member. Just sign up for a free membership and get access to the lineup. If you have some change rattling around in your pocket, we have a £3.00 a month tier where you'll get access to around 100 movie reviews plus all of our end of season wrap shows for seasons 1-9.    Enjoy the show but can't support us financially? We get it. You could submit a review on the podcast player you're reading this on right now. Or if you listen on Spotify and you haven't given us a five-star rating yet, what are ye waiting for? It's easy. If you've done some or all of that and still want to do more, we would love it if you tell a friend about the show.   Or come find us on social media: Instagram | TikTok | Threads | YouTube

Hello, fellow Cage-o-philes! This week, we're almost at the end of our Nicolas Cage season with Panos Cosmatos's 2018 hallucinatory masterpiece, Mandy.... Sarah was pushing hard for this one, and Dan caved, so buckle up! In this episode, we're diving deep into the gory, stylized world of Mandy (2018). Expect plenty of Nicolas Cage appreciation, Andrea Riseborough stanning, and Richard Brake love.... We'll be dissecting everything from the film's stunning visuals to its exploration of grief and revenge. We'll also be exploring how Panos Cosmatos directs and creates a visually striking and memorable film and try to figure out WTF is up with the Cheddar Goblin.... Plus, we may or may not go on a tangent about evil triangles. So, strap yourself in you unholy abominations and witness the Rage of Cage! Season 9 runs until 24th February.  Would you like to see the full lineup for season 9? The only place we announce our schedule is over on Patreon and you don't even need to be a paying member. Just sign up for a free membership and get access to the lineup. If you have some change rattling around in your pocket, we have a £3.00 a month tier where you'll get access to around 90 movie reviews plus all of our end of season wrap shows for seasons 1-8.    Enjoy the show but can't support us financially? We get it. You could submit a review on the podcast player you're reading this on right now. Or if you listen on Spotify and you haven't given us a five-star rating yet, what are ye waiting for? It's easy. If you've done some or all of that and still want to do more, we would love it if you tell a friend about the show.   Or come find us on social media: Instagram | TikTok | Threads | YouTube

Get ready for another dive into the weird and wonderful world of Nicolas Cage. This time with a bonus Werner Herzog to bring Nic Cage crashing back down to Earth in Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orleans (2009). Is this a remake of the Abel Ferrara movie or was it just a cynical attempt to cash in on a well-known title? What is the plot of this film? IS THERE a plot to this film? Why is Nic Cage doing a voice… sometimes? And why are reptiles a major part of this movie? All that plus the question: Is there a Nicolas Cage character you would have a drink with? Season 9 runs until 24th February.  Would you like to see the full lineup for season 9? The only place we announce our schedule is over on Patreon and you don't even need to be a paying member. Just sign up for a free membership and get access to the lineup. If you have some change rattling around in your pocket, we have a £3.00 a month tier where you'll get access to around 90 movie reviews plus all of our end of season wrap shows for seasons 1-8.    Enjoy the show but can't support us financially? We get it. You could submit a review on the podcast player you're reading this on right now. Or if you listen on Spotify and you haven't given us a five-star rating yet, what are ye waiting for? It's easy. If you've done some or all of that and still want to do more, we would love it if you tell a friend about the show.   Or come find us on social media: Instagram | TikTok | Threads | YouTube

This week on Shoot a Hostage, Dan and Sarah are diving headfirst into the cinematic mess that is Neil Labute's 2006 remake of The Wicker Man, starring everyone's favorite wild card, Nicolas Cage. You might be asking yourself why we would subject ourselves (and you, dear listener) to such a film, and frankly, so were we. But curiosity, as they say, killed the cat, and in this case, nearly killed our brains We're not gonna lie, The Wicker Man (2006) has a reputation for being, well, terrible. With a 3.8 on IMDb and a measly 15% on Rotten Tomatoes, it's certainly not winning any awards. But is it so bad it's good? Or is it just plain bad? We'll try to figure that out, while dissecting the bizarre choices made by the creators and whether or not it was intended to be a comedy. Not the bees! Season 9 runs until 24th February.  Would you like to see the full lineup for season 9? The only place we announce our schedule is over on Patreon and you don't even need to be a paying member. Just sign up for a free membership and get access to the lineup. If you have some change rattling around in your pocket, we have a £3.00 a month tier where you'll get access to around 90 movie reviews plus all of our end of season wrap shows for seasons 1-8.    Enjoy the show but can't support us financially? We get it. You could submit a review on the podcast player you're reading this on right now. Or if you listen on Spotify and you haven't given us a five-star rating yet, what are ye waiting for? It's easy. If you've done some or all of that and still want to do more, we would love it if you tell a friend about the show.   Or come find us on social media: Instagram | TikTok | Threads | YouTube

Welcome back for another episode in Dan's “Coming of Cage” season. This week we're taking a gamble with Brian De Palma's 1998 neo-noir thriller Snake Eyes, starring, of course, everybody's favourite national treasure, Nicolas Cage. Strap in for a ride through Atlantic City as we witness Cage's charismatic but corrupt detective, Rick Santoro, unravel a sinister conspiracy that goes all the way to the top. We dissect that legendary opening one-take sequence, analysing De Palma's signature style and cinematography. Be prepared for hot takes on terrible shirts, questionable romances and a certain tidal wave that should have made it into the final cut of the film.   It's fight night baby! Season 9 runs until 24th February.  Would you like to see the full lineup for season 9? The only place we announce our schedule is over on Patreon and you don't even need to be a paying member. Just sign up for a free membership and get access to the lineup. If you have some change rattling around in your pocket, we have a £3.00 a month tier where you'll get access to around 90 movie reviews plus all of our end of season wrap shows for seasons 1-8.    Enjoy the show but can't support us financially? We get it. You could submit a review on the podcast player you're reading this on right now. Or if you listen on Spotify and you haven't given us a five-star rating yet, what are ye waiting for? It's easy. If you've done some or all of that and still want to do more, we would love it if you tell a friend about the show.   Or come find us on social media: Instagram | TikTok | Threads | YouTube

This week Dan and Sarah take a deep dive into John Woo's 1997 masterpiece of mayhem, Face/Off. Strap yourselves in as they dissect the film's ludicrous plot, gravity-defying action sequences, and the career-defining performances of Nicolas Cage and John Travolta. Dan makes a valiant attempt to untangle the film's convoluted science while Sarah ponders the logistical nightmare of swapping all body parts. They also discuss the film's questionable family dynamics and debate whether it's acceptable to introduce your foster child to the joys of face swapping. Plus, Dan delves into the murky depths of Nic Cage Facts, revealing just how close Cage came to donning the Superman suit and how many times he's walked down the aisle. (Spoiler alert: it's more than you think!) Season 9 runs until 24th February.  Would you like to see the full lineup for season 9? The only place we announce our schedule is over on Patreon and you don't even need to be a paying member. Just sign up for a free membership and get access to the lineup. If you have some change rattling around in your pocket, we have a £3.00 a month tier where you'll get access to around 90 movie reviews plus all of our end of season wrap shows for seasons 1-8.    Enjoy the show but can't support us financially? We get it. You could submit a review on the podcast player you're reading this on right now. Or if you listen on Spotify and you haven't given us a five-star rating yet, what are ye waiting for? It's easy. If you've done some or all of that and still want to do more, we would love it if you tell a friend about the show.   Or come find us on social media: Instagram | TikTok | Threads | YouTube

Welcome to The Rock! This week Dan is making Sarah watch one of his childhood favourite movies, The Rock (1996) for the second instalment in his “Coming of Cage” season. Tune in to see if Sarah agrees with Dan on this being peak Michael Bay and whether Alcatraz does indeed have a subway underneath. We also talk about the huge cast of actors including Sean Connery, Ed Harris, William Forsythe, Tony Todd, Bokeem Woodbine and Claire Forlani. Season 9 runs until 24th February.  Would you like to see the full lineup for season 9? The only place we announce our schedule is over on Patreon and you don't even need to be a paying member. Just sign up for a free membership and get access to the lineup. If you have some change rattling around in your pocket, we have a £3.00 a month tier where you'll get access to around 90 movie reviews plus all of our end of season wrap shows for seasons 1-8.    Enjoy the show but can't support us financially? We get it. You could submit a review on the podcast player you're reading this on right now. Or if you listen on Spotify and you haven't given us a five-star rating yet, what are ye waiting for? It's easy. If you've done some or all of that and still want to do more, we would love it if you tell a friend about the show.   Or come find us on social media: Instagram | X | TikTok | Threads | YouTube

Coming of Cage! This week on Shoot The Hostage, Dan and Sarah sink their teeth into the batshit world of Vampire's Kiss (1988) starring Nicolas Cage. Is he a vampire? Is he insane? Does he like bats, plastic fangs, and cockroaches? (Yes, he eats a real one). Is Jennifer Beals a figment of his imagination? And did this movie directly inspire Bret Easton Ellis and Christian Bale for American Psycho? Dan and Sarah dive deep into the glorious weirdness of this film and explore the possible meaning behind Vampires Kiss. Plus, three freaky facts about Nicolas Cage. Season 9 runs until 24th February.  Would you like to see the full lineup for season 9? The only place we announce our schedule is over on Patreon and you don't even need to be a paying member. Just sign up for a free membership and get access to the lineup. If you have some change rattling around in your pocket, we have a £3.00 a month tier where you'll get access to around 90 movie reviews plus all of our end of season wrap shows for seasons 1-8.    Enjoy the show but can't support us financially? We get it. You could submit a review on the podcast player you're reading this on right now. Or if you listen on Spotify and you haven't given us a five-star rating yet, what are ye waiting for? It's easy. If you've done some or all of that and still want to do more, we would love it if you tell a friend about the show.   Or come find us on social media: Instagram | X | TikTok | Threads | YouTube

We started a tradition last year and today we continue that tradition. Yes we're back to talk about the best films of 2024.  Make yourself a drink and strap in for our 2024 end of year show. In a similar format to last year, we talk about the year in film, offer our separate top 5 lists, attempt to come up with a combined top 5 and talk about some of the worst films of 2024. We also take a look at 2025 upcoming movies.  We also hand out our Jason Statham King of Turds award and make it through the whole ep without spoilers.  Season 9 (Coming of Cage) begins Jan 6th  Would you like to see the full lineup for season 9? The only place we announce our schedule is over on Patreon and you don't even need to be a paying member. Just sign up for a free membership and get access to the lineup. If you have some change rattling around in your pocket, we have a £3.00 a month tier where you'll get access to around 90 movie reviews plus all of our end of season wrap shows for seasons 1-8.    Enjoy the show but can't support us financially? We get it. You could submit a review on the podcast player you're reading this on right now. Or if you listen on Spotify and you haven't given us a five-star rating yet, what are ye waiting for? It's easy. If you've done some or all of that and still want to do more, we would love it if you tell a friend about the show.   Or come find us on social media: Instagram | TikTok | Threads | YouTube

As we have reached the end of another year, we thought it would be fun to release a whole episode with some of our favourite moments from recording in 2024.  We covered 5 themes over the year and a total 42 movies. If you avoided any of the episodes for fear of spoilers, fear not, there are no spoilers here. Just a bunch of clips from moments that made us laugh.  We'll be back with our new season covering 8 Nic Cage movies which begins on January 6th.  Would you like to see the full lineup for season 9? The only place we announce our schedule is over on Patreon and you don't even need to be a paying member. Just sign up for a free membership and get access to the lineup. If you have some change rattling around in your pocket, we have a £3.00 a month tier where you'll get access to around 90 movie reviews plus all of our end of season wrap shows for seasons 1-8.    Enjoy the show but can't support us financially? We get it. You could submit a review on the podcast player you're reading this on right now. Or if you listen on Spotify and you haven't given us a five-star rating yet, what are ye waiting for? It's easy. If you've done some or all of that and still want to do more, we would love it if you tell a friend about the show.   Or come find us on social media: Instagram | TikTok | Threads | YouTube

We will be back with a brand new season very shortly. Join us on January 6th where we begin our journey through 8 Nicolas Cage movies. This here is a little teaser to get you in the mood. The first movie we're covering is Vampires Kiss and in a slight change of format, this time we're going chronological.  Would you like to see the full lineup for season 9? The only place we announce our schedule is over on Patreon and you don't even need to be a paying member. Just sign up for a free membership and get access to the lineup. If you have some change rattling around in your pocket, we have a £3.00 a month tier where you'll get access to around 90 movie reviews plus all of our end of season wrap shows for seasons 1-8.    Enjoy the show but can't support us financially? We get it. You could submit a review on the podcast player you're reading this on right now. Or if you listen on Spotify and you haven't given us a five-star rating yet, what are ye waiting for? It's easy. If you've done some or all of that and still want to do more, we would love it if you tell a friend about the show.   Or come find us on social media: Instagram | TikTok | Threads | YouTube

We did it. We made another themed season of movie choices. This time Sarah came up with a list of 8 coming of age movies which we covered over 8 weeks. In the wrap show we discuss the movies we covered, some that almost made the cut, others we watched and the season as a whole. Dan has also prepared some coming of age questions based on the films we watched.  This episode as a preview of our season 8 wrap show which is available in full, over on our £3 a month Patreon tier. If you sign up for that you'll get access to all of our end of season wrap shows for seasons 1-8 and a minimum of 2 reviews of brand new movies each month.   Now that Sarah's season is finished, it's back to Dan to choose the theme and the movies for season 9. Would you like to see the full lineup for season 9? The only place we announce our schedule is over on Patreon and you don't even need to be a paying member. Just sign up for a free membership and get access to the lineup when it drops.   Enjoy the show but can't support us financially? We get it. You could submit a review on the podcast player you're reading this on right now. Or if you listen on Spotify and you haven't given us a five-star rating yet, what are ye waiting for? It's easy. If you've done some or all of that and still want to do more, we would love it if you tell a friend about the show.   Or come find us on social media: Instagram | X | TikTok | Threads | YouTube

For the final episode of our coming-of-age season we dive into the world of rock ‘n' roll excess, teen angst and 1970's fashion. Join us as we talk about Cameron Crowe's Almost Famous (2000). We chat about the semi-autobiographical nature and explore it's coming of age themes, the character complexities and particularly the portrayal of women. We also look at some of Cameron Crowe's other films including Say Anything, Jerry Maguire and Aloha. Dan watched Aloha as part of this episode's research. I believe that is called sacrifice. Dan also did some digging into the real-life Lester Bangs, portrayed brilliantly in Almost Famous by the great Philip Seymour Hoffman. Make sure you listen right to the end to hear what we have planned for season 9, which begins Jan 6th. Before that, you can look forward to our coming-of-age wrap show which will be available on our £3 a month Patreon tier. We also have our between season bonus show releasing 30th December, although we haven't a clue what we'll be covering yet. If there is anything new releasing in December you would like us to review why not drop us a dm on Instagram or wherever (see links below) and we'll consider it. Would you like to see the full lineup for season 8? The only place we announce our schedule is over on Patreon and you don't even need to be a paying member. Just sign up for a free membership and get access to the lineup. If you have some change rattling around in your pocket, we have a £3.00 a month tier where you'll get access to around 90 movie reviews plus all of our end of season wrap shows for seasons 1-7.    Enjoy the show but can't support us financially? We get it. You could submit a review on the podcast player you're reading this on right now. Or if you listen on Spotify and you haven't given us a five-star rating yet, what are ye waiting for? It's easy. If you've done some or all of that and still want to do more, we would love it if you tell a friend about the show.   Or come find us on social media: Instagram | X | TikTok | Threads | YouTube

It's the penultimate episode in Sarah's Coming of Age season of movies and as we inch closer to the finish line, Sarah thought it was high time for a British drama. This week we're talking Shane Meadows This is England (2006.) We get into the context of the film, the cultural happenings of the 70's and 80's in the UK which caused the divides depicted in the film. We talk about the cast including Stephen Graham, Thomas Turgoose, Joe Gilgun and Vicky McClure and their insane performances. And we talk a little about Shane Meadows and how he gets these great performances from the cast.   Would you like to see the full lineup for season 8? The only place we announce our schedule is over on Patreon and you don't even need to be a paying member. Just sign up for a free membership and get access to the lineup. If you have some change rattling around in your pocket, we have a £3.00 a month tier where you'll get access to around 80 movie reviews plus all of our end of season wrap shows for seasons 1-7.    Enjoy the show but can't support us financially? We get it. You could submit a review on the podcast player you're reading this on right now. Or if you listen on Spotify and you haven't given us a five-star rating yet, what are ye waiting for? It's easy. If you've done some or all of that and still want to do more, we would love it if you tell a friend about the show.   Or come find us on social media: Instagram | X | TikTok | Threads | YouTube

In the latest episode in our Coming of Age season, we're diving into the wildly chaotic world of teenagers with Thirteen (2003). Directed by Catherine Hardwicke and co-written with then 14-year-old Nikki Reed, who also stars alongside Evan Rachel Wood. We chat about the themes of identity, family dynamics, addiction and why Jeremy Sisto has a chicken. Would you like to see the full lineup for season 8? The only place we announce our schedule is over on Patreon and you don't even need to be a paying member. Just sign up for a free membership and get access to the lineup. If you have some change rattling around in your pocket, we have a £3.00 a month tier where you'll get access to around 80 movie reviews plus all of our end of season wrap shows for seasons 1-7.    Enjoy the show but can't support us financially? We get it. You could submit a review on the podcast player you're reading this on right now. Or if you listen on Spotify and you haven't given us a five-star rating yet, what are ye waiting for? It's easy. If you've done some or all of that and still want to do more, we would love it if you tell a friend about the show.   Or come find us on social media: Instagram | X | TikTok | Threads | YouTube

We're sticking with Coming of Age movies for a few more weeks yet and this time, we turn to Elem Klimov's disturbing war film, Come and See (1985). Exploring the atrocities that occurred in WW2 Belarus through the eyes of a young boy, this could be the most important coming of age movie ever made. We talk about some of the things that could lead to the kind of brutality depicted in this film and have an interesting discussion. Potential trigger warning for this one though. We talk about the director's intention with the film, the historical context and the meaning behind certain images and creative choices. We could also have titled this “Sarah explains movies to Dan.” Would you like to see the full lineup for season 8? The only place we announce our schedule is over on Patreon and you don't even need to be a paying member. Just sign up for a free membership and get access to the lineup. If you have some change rattling around in your pocket, we have a £3.00 a month tier where you'll get access to around 80 movie reviews plus all of our end of season wrap shows for seasons 1-7.    Enjoy the show but can't support us financially? We get it. You could submit a review on the podcast player you're reading this on right now. Or if you listen on Spotify and you haven't given us a five-star rating yet, what are ye waiting for? It's easy. If you've done some or all of that and still want to do more, we would love it if you tell a friend about the show.   Or come find us on social media: Instagram | X | TikTok | Threads | YouTube

We hath returneth for the fourth episode in our coming of age season with Moonlight (2016). We talk Barry Jenkins, Tarell Alvin McCraney, coming of age (obviously) and the cast. This isn't the first A24 movie we've covered on the show and it will certainly not be our last. Mahersherala Ali's Taste The Revolution Would you like to see the full lineup for season 8? The only place we announce our schedule is over on Patreon and you don't even need to be a paying member. Just sign up for a free membership and get access to the lineup. If you have some change rattling around in your pocket, we have a £3.00 a month tier where you'll get access to around 80 movie reviews plus all of our end of season wrap shows for seasons 1-7.    Enjoy the show but can't support us financially? We get it. You could submit a review on the podcast player you're reading this on right now. Or if you listen on Spotify and you haven't given us a five-star rating yet, what are ye waiting for? It's easy. If you've done some or all of that and still want to do more, we would love it if you tell a friend about the show.   Or come find us on social media: Instagram | X | TikTok | Threads | YouTube

Coming of Age season continues with Ginger Snaps (2000). It's very important to note that we are discussing the film Ginger Snaps and not the snack Ginger Snaps. Mistakes were made. Our third Coming Of Age film finds us discussing director John Fawcett, writer Karen Walton and the development of the Ginger Snaps film. We touch briefly (but don't spoil) the two sequels where Dan has an Earth-shattering realisation about the 3rd film. And obviously we chat Werewolves and how you spell Werewolves. I think it's like that. If you only come out once a month when there is a full moon and you have to spend your limited time foraging and haven't seen Ginger Snaps be warned, we spoil it. Don't listen to a podcast about a movie you haven't seen yet. Would you like to see the full lineup for season 8? The only place we announce our schedule is over on Patreon and you don't even need to be a paying member. Just sign up for a free membership and get access to the lineup. If you have some change rattling around in your pocket, we have a £3.00 a month tier where you'll get access to around 80 movie reviews plus all of our end of season wrap shows for seasons 1-7.    Enjoy the show but can't support us financially? We get it. You could submit a review on the podcast player you're reading this on right now. Or if you listen on Spotify and you haven't given us a five-star rating yet, what are ye waiting for? It's easy. If you've done some or all of that and still want to do more, we would love it if you tell a friend about the show.   Or come find us on social media: Instagram | X | TikTok | Threads | YouTube

Join us for our second week of Coming-of-Age films, as we discuss Rob Reiner's Stand By Me (1986). The second episode also happens to be another Stephen King adaptation after covering Carrie last time. This week we talk about the horror writer/dreamweaver himself Stephen King and some of his adaptations (of which there are about 4 million). We also discuss Wil Wheaton, River Phoenix, Corey Feldman and Jerry O'Connell and how the actors' characters informed their performances. At least in our eyes. If you've just arrived in the Solar System and haven't seen Stand By Me, then this is your spoiler warning. We do spoil it. We always do to be fair. Don't listen to a podcast about a movie you plan on seeing but have not yet seen.   Dan also forgot to say BRING BACK SLIDERS. Would you like to see the full lineup for season 8? The only place we announce our schedule is over on Patreon and you don't even need to be a paying member. Just sign up for a free membership and get access to the lineup. If you have some change rattling around in your pocket, we have a £3.00 a month tier where you'll get access to around 80 movie reviews plus all of our end of season wrap shows for seasons 1-7.    Enjoy the show but can't support us financially? We get it. You could submit a review on the podcast player you're reading this on right now. Or if you listen on Spotify and you haven't given us a five-star rating yet, what are ye waiting for? It's easy. If you've done some or all of that and still want to do more, we would love it if you tell a friend about the show.   Or come find us on social media: Instagram | X | TikTok | Threads | YouTube

We are back with a brand new season. The theme this time is of Sarah's choosing and she's gone for Coming of Age. What's the first film we're covering you ask? Well, it's Brian De Palma's classic teen coming of age horror, Carrie (1976). We talk about other interpretations of Stephen King's original (and first) novel and some of the reasons behind the creative decisions. We also wonder if this was Nic Cage's first movie? All that plus noting some of the key performances from Sissy Spacek to Piper Laurie.  Would you like to see the full lineup for season 8? The only place we announce our schedule is over on Patreon and you don't even need to be a paying member. Just sign up for a free membership and get access to the lineup. If you have some change rattling around in your pocket, we have a £3.00 a month tier where you'll get access to around 80 movie reviews plus all of our end of season wrap shows for seasons 1-7.    Enjoy the show but can't support us financially? We get it. You could submit a review on the podcast player you're reading this on right now. Or if you listen on Spotify and you haven't given us a five-star rating yet, what are ye waiting for? It's easy. If you've done some or all of that and still want to do more, we would love it if you tell a friend about the show.   Or come find us on social media: Instagram | X | TikTok | Threads | YouTube

Last week we released our thoughts on Francis Ford Coppola's Megalopolis over on our Patreon feed. But as it's time for our traditional between season bonus show, we thought we'd post it on the main feed too.  We do spoil this one (if you can) and recommend (but not really) seeing it before listening to the episode.  Would you like to see the full lineup for season 8? The only place we announce our schedule is over on Patreon and you don't even need to be a paying member. Just sign up for a free membership and get access to the lineup. If you have some change rattling around in your pocket, we have a £3.00 a month tier where you'll get access to around 80 movie reviews plus all of our end of season wrap shows for seasons 1-7.    Enjoy the show but can't support us financially? We get it. You could submit a review on the podcast player you're reading this on right now. Or if you listen on Spotify and you haven't given us a five-star rating yet, what are ye waiting for? It's easy. If you've done some or all of that and still want to do more, we would love it if you tell a friend about the show.   Or come find us on social media: Instagram | X | TikTok | Threads | YouTube

On October 21st we begin our brand new season with the theme, this time, being Sarah's choice. The first film we're talking is Carrie (1976) in Sarah's season of Coming of Age films. As usual, we'll be covering 8 movies that Sarah thinks fit into that theme.  Would you like to see the full lineup for season 8? The only place we announce our schedule is over on Patreon and you don't even need to be a paying member. Just sign up for a free membership and get access to the lineup. If you have some change rattling around in your pocket, we have a £3.00 a month tier where you'll get access to around 80 movie reviews plus all of our end of season wrap shows for seasons 1-7.    Enjoy the show but can't support us financially? We get it. You could submit a review on the podcast player you're reading this on right now. Or if you listen on Spotify and you haven't given us a five-star rating yet, what are ye waiting for? It's easy. If you've done some or all of that and still want to do more, we would love it if you tell a friend about the show.   Or come find us on social media: Instagram | X | TikTok | Threads | YouTube

We concluded Dan's season of films about dreams with A Nightmare on Elm St 3. What did we think of the season? Was Dan happy with his selection? Was Sarah happy with Dan's choices? Would we swap any? These are a few things we pondered on our season 7 wrap show, which is available in full over on our £3.00 a month Patreon tier.  We'll be back on October 21st with a brand new theme. Look out for the season 8 trailer coming next week and at the same time, we'll drop our season lineup for free members of our Patreon. So make sure you sign up for that to stay up to date with our release schedule.  If you can't wait until October 21st, check out our Patreon page for season wrap shows and around 80 reviews of movies we saw at the cinema since the birth of the pod. If you like what you hear, please rate and review us on your podcast player of choice. It can be as easy as rating 5 stars on Spotify and it really helps the podcast get found by like-minded folk. Or come find us on social media: Instagram | X | TikTok | Threads | YouTube

We're back for one last episode in our season of movies about dreams and what better way to cap the season than with an Elm St movie. This week we're talking A Nightmare on Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors (1987). We dig into the creatives behind the production and make connections with previous episodes (we're looking at you Dreamscape). We also discuss Wes Craven, the effects, killer lines and why Sarah should form a support group with Rishi Sunak. If you enjoy this episode we recommend checking out these from our back catalogue. Near Dark which was also released in 1987. Black Christmas which also features the great John Saxon. We will be back with a brand new season on 21st October which we announce on the episode. If you would like to know what theme and first movie Sarah has chosen for the new season, you'll just have to listen to the end.    Want to support the show and get access to new and exclusive content every single month? Head over to our Patreon and sign up for £3.00 a month to get access to all our our end of season wrap shows and a growing collection of reviews since we began recording the show. As a minimum we pledge to release a minimum of 2 reviews of brand new movies every month but that usually ranges between 3 and 6. Come find out. If you like what you hear, please rate and review us on your podcast player of choice. It can be as easy as rating 5 stars on Spotify and it really helps the podcast get found by like-minded folk. Or come find us on social media: Instagram | X | TikTok | Threads | YouTube

Welcome back to another episode of Shoot The Hostage! This week, we dive into the labyrinthine world of Christopher Nolan's Inception. Join us as we dissect the dreamscape and the dream within a dream within a dream. We also talk story development, production, and why you should always listen to Ken Watanabe. Dan might also have some wild fan theories about how Inception could share a universe with other movies. Things we mentioned or consumed for the show: Guardian article regarding Hans Zimmer's score of Inception.  Film Stories Podcast episode about Inception & Sightseers. Blank Check Podcast episode in their Nolan run for Inception.  Season 7 runs until 23rd September 2024. For the full season line-up head over to our Patreon page and become a free member.  Want to support the show and get access to new and exclusive content every single month? Head over to our Patreon and sign up for £3.00 a month to get access to all our our end of season wrap shows and a growing collection of reviews since we began recording the show. As a minimum we pledge to release a minimum of 2 reviews of brand new movies every month but that usually ranges between 3 and 6. Come find out. If you like what you hear, please rate and review us on your podcast player of choice. It can be as easy as rating 5 stars on Spotify and it really helps the podcast get found by like-minded folk. Or come find us on social media: Instagram | X | TikTok | Threads | YouTube

This season we're covering movies about dreams and has we had 2 movies on the bounce that had the word dream in the title, this week Dan's choice is a little more tenuous. To divulge any other information on that would be to veer into spoiler territory, and we wouldn't want that. These are our thoughts on The Thirteenth Floor. We talk a little about the source material and how that has influenced the ideas in The Thirteenth Floor. We speak a lot about reality and our perception of it in relation to simulation theory. Plus, we do actually talk a little about the movie we're covering. Season 7 runs until 23rd September 2024. For the full season line-up head over to our Patreon page and become a free member.  Want to support the show and get access to new and exclusive content every single month? Head over to our Patreon and sign up for £3.00 a month to get access to all our our end of season wrap shows and a growing collection of reviews since we began recording the show. As a minimum we pledge to release a minimum of 2 reviews of brand new movies every month but that usually ranges between 3 and 6. Come find out. If you like what you hear, please rate and review us on your podcast player of choice. It can be as easy as rating 5 stars on Spotify and it really helps the podcast get found by like-minded folk. Or come find us on social media: Instagram | X | TikTok | Threads | YouTube

Welcome back to another episode in our season about films and dreams. Sometimes those two things have been loosely connected this season but there is no ambiguity this time. Today we're discussing our 2nd David Patrick Kelly movie (check out our The Warriors show), Dreamscape from the glorious year of 1984. The year that bought us so many of our favourite films. Is Dreamscape one of them?! We discuss the production and development process, David Patrick Kelly, Nunchucks, sandwiches, Saxophones, hats and snakes. Season 7 runs until 23rd September 2024. For the full season line-up head over to our Patreon page and become a free member.  Want to support the show and get access to new and exclusive content every single month? Head over to our Patreon and sign up for £3.00 a month to get access to all our our end of season wrap shows and a growing collection of reviews since we began recording the show. As a minimum we pledge to release a minimum of 2 reviews of brand new movies every month but that usually ranges between 3 and 6. Come find out. If you like what you hear, please rate and review us on your podcast player of choice. It can be as easy as rating 5 stars on Spotify and it really helps the podcast get found by like-minded folk. Or come find us on social media: Instagram | X | TikTok | Threads | YouTube

We're back with another episode in our season of films about dreams. This week we're turning once again to Nicolas Cage in the Kristoffer Borgli film, Dream Scenario. The last time we spoke about Cage was for our Con Air episode and his turn as Paul Matthews in Dream Scenario couldn't be more different than Cameron Poe. Not a furry bunny in sight in Dream Scenario. We talk about our first impressions when watching it in 2023, our interpretation and why Paul Matthews is the way he is. If you haven't listened to our Come True episode, we'd recommend diving in with that one first as we spoke about the Jungian archetypes in that show which helped us unpack Dream Scenario. Season 7 runs until 23rd September 2024. For the full season line-up head over to our Patreon page and become a free member.  Want to support the show and get access to new and exclusive content every single month? Head over to our Patreon and sign up for £3.00 a month to get access to all our our end of season wrap shows and a growing collection of reviews since we began recording the show. As a minimum we pledge to release a minimum of 2 reviews of brand new movies every month but that usually ranges between 3 and 6. Come find out. If you like what you hear, please rate and review us on your podcast player of choice. It can be as easy as rating 5 stars on Spotify and it really helps the podcast get found by like-minded folk. Or come find us on social media: Instagram | X | TikTok | Threads | YouTube

For the third episode in our line-up of movies about dreaming, we take it back to the 1990's with the Alex Proyas written and directed Dark City (1998).  Did we mean to cover two William Hurt movies in a row? Is Lost in Space next? How did he get that Accordion? What did we think of the performances? Does the Neo-noir element of Dark City still hold up? Did Richard O'Brien let Alex Proyas have 30 seconds in the dome? Come find out by pressing play.  Season 7 runs until 23rd September 2024. For the full season line-up head over to our Patreon page and become a free member.  Want to support the show and get access to new and exclusive content every single month? Head over to our Patreon and sign up for £3.00 a month to get access to all our our end of season wrap shows and a growing collection of reviews since we began recording the show. As a minimum we pledge to release a minimum of 2 reviews of brand new movies every month but that usually ranges between 3 and 6. Come find out. If you like what you hear, please rate and review us on your podcast player of choice. It can be as easy as rating 5 stars on Spotify and it really helps the podcast get found by like-minded folk. Or come find us on social media: Instagram | X | TikTok | Threads | YouTube

Sticking with our season of films about dreams, we turn our head to Ken Russell for the 1980 Sci-Fi/Horror Altered States.  What do we think the visual elements of this film mean? Did John C. Lilly talk to Dolphins? Why did Paddy Chayefsky and Ken Russell fall out? How did a pair of Betty Boop socks convince the cast to be in the film? Why is this in a season of films about dreams? All will be revealed by simply kicking back and pressing play.  Season 7 runs until 23rd September 2024. For the full season line-up head over to our Patreon page and become a free member.  Want to support the show and get access to new and exclusive content every single month? Head over to our Patreon and sign up for £3.00 a month to get access to all our our end of season wrap shows and a growing collection of reviews since we began recording the show. As a minimum we pledge to release a minimum of 2 reviews of brand new movies every month but that usually ranges between 3 and 6. Come find out. If you like what you hear, please rate and review us on your podcast player of choice. It can be as easy as rating 5 stars on Spotify and it really helps the podcast get found by like-minded folk. Or come find us on social media: Instagram | X | TikTok | Threads | YouTube

Come True (2020) is a Horror/Sci-Fi written and directed by Anthony Scott Burns and is the first movie in Dan's season of movies about dreams.  Find out what we think it means, hear us gush about the sound and question if slippers are hard wearing enough for miles of walking on tarmac. Actually we don't discuss footwear at all, that's just one of the notes we didn't talk about. To be fair, there are so many other things to dive into with this one.  Season 7 runs until 23rd September 2024. For the full season line-up head over to our Patreon page and become a free member.  Want to support the show and get access to new and exclusive content every single month? Head over to our Patreon and sign up for £3.00 a month to get access to all our our end of season wrap shows and a growing collection of reviews since we began recording the show. As a minimum we pledge to release a minimum of 2 reviews of brand new movies every month but that usually ranges between 3 and 6. Come find out. If you like what you hear, please rate and review us on your podcast player of choice. It can be as easy as rating 5 stars on Spotify and it really helps the podcast get found by like-minded folk. Or come find us on social media: Instagram | X | TikTok | Threads | YouTube

It's that time again. Yes, it's just 1 week before we begin our brand new season so it must be time for a bonus show. This time we thought we would release our Twisters show on the main feed which we dropped over on our Patreon last week.  We go a little spoilery on this one although some would argue that there really isn't that much to spoil. Find out what we thought of Twisters and what was under Glen Powell's hat.  Next week we begin our seventh season which Dan has chosen and programmed. This time he's gone for "Dreams". Expect the usual eclectic and tenuously themed movies in the line-up which you can see on our FREE tier over on Patreon If you would like to support the show and would also like more content from us, sign up to our £3.00 a month tier on Patreon. Over there you'll have access to all six of our end of season wrap shows and a minimum of 2 reviews of brand new movies every single month. We usually over deliver on that and we're now at around 70 extra pieces of content and it will just keep growing.  We begin our dreams season on Monday 5th August for another 8 weeks of themed movies which runs until 23rd September.    If you're a new listener or if you haven't rated on your podcast player yet, we'd love it if you did. It can be as easy as rating 5 stars on Spotify and it really helps the podcast get found by like-minded folk.   or come hang out with us on social media:   Instagram | X | TikTok | Threads | YouTube

On August 5th we begin our brand new season with a theme chosen by Dan. This time he's gone for dreams. There are a number of ways to interpret the theme and we have an eclectic mix of movies to talk about over the 8 weeks. We begin with Come True (2020) which drops on 5th August.  Would you like to see the full lineup for season 7? The only place we announce our schedule is over on Patreon and you don't even need to be a paying member. Just sign up for a free membership and get access to the lineup. But of course, if you do fancy being a paid member on our one and only tier at £3.00 a month, you'll get access to around 70 movie reviews plus all our end of season wrap shows to date.    Enjoy the show but can't support us financially? We get it. You could submit a review on the podcast player you're reading this on right now. Or if you listen on Spotify and you haven't given us a five-star rating yet, what are ye waiting for? It's easy. If you've done some or all of that and still want to do more, we would love it if you tell a friend about the show.   Or come find us on social media: Instagram | X | TikTok | Threads | YouTube

Our Barbarian show marked the end of Sarah's season of trapped films. But fear not, we still have our wrap show which is available in full over on our Patreon. We'll be back on August 5th with a brand new theme. Look out for the season 7 trailer coming next week and at the same time, we'll drop our season lineup for free members of our Patreon. So make sure you sign up for that to stay up to date with our release schedule.  If you can't wait until August 5th, check out our Patreon page for season wrap shows and around 70 reviews of movies we saw at the cinema since the birth of the pod. If you like what you hear, please rate and review us on your podcast player of choice. It can be as easy as rating 5 stars on Spotify and it really helps the podcast get found by like-minded folk. Or come find us on social media: Instagram | X | TikTok | Threads | YouTube

This week we're covering our most recent movie yet. We sit down to talk about Zach Cregger's Barbarian (2020). We talk about the Writer/Director's inspiration for Barbarian, the unusual changes in tone and how it all fits together.  Sadly, this is the last episode of the season but we'll be back on the main feed with a brand new season on August 5th. If you can't wait until then, check out our Patreon page for an end of season wrap show which drops next week. There you can also access all of our wrap shows and reviews of pretty much all of the movies we see at the cinema.   If you like what you hear, please rate and review us on your podcast player of choice. It can be as easy as rating 5 stars on Spotify and it really helps the podcast get found by like-minded folk. Or come find us on social media: Instagram | X | TikTok | Threads | YouTube

The Breakfast club is considered by many to be the peak of the John Hughes gold rush of the 80s. Everyone has a favorite John Hughes movie. But where does The Breakfast Club stand in our opinion? Come and find out. We also talk about why Andrew is taping buns together (Dan learns what buns are), Bender's unacceptable behavior and the fan theory that suggests the entire movie takes place in Allison's head. Season 6  runs until 8th July 2024. For the full season line-up head over to our Patreon page and become a free member.  If you like what you hear, please rate and review us on your podcast player of choice. It can be as easy as rating 5 stars on Spotify and it really helps the podcast get found by like-minded folk. Or come find us on social media: Instagram | X | TikTok | Threads | YouTube

This week we're talking Dogtooth (2009) from Writer/Director Yorgos Lanthimos. In an uncommon scheduling coincidence, this episode ties in with the release of his latest film, Kinds of Kindness, which we'll no doubt cover on our Patreon feed.  But for now, come listen to us discuss what it all means. Why does Yorgos insist on making his audience feel uncomfortable? Is that the point? Why is Rex? Season 6  runs until 8th July 2024. For the full season line-up head over to our Patreon page and become a free member.  If you like what you hear, please rate and review us on your podcast player of choice. It can be as easy as rating 5 stars on Spotify and it really helps the podcast get found by like-minded folk. Or come find us on social media: Instagram | X | TikTok | Threads | YouTube