No Stunts in the Champagne Room

     This week a pair of films about people forced by circumstances to face the harshness of reality with flights of fancy.

     Lera is a sociology student who has been tasked with doing a door to door survey. She spends her nights caring for her sick and sleepwalking mother, supporting them both by dancing at a seedy gentleman's club, and trying to avoid her estranged emotionally abusive alcoholic father. The second feature written and directed by Natalya Kudryashova delicately balances grim realism with lyrical fantasies- Gerda.

     After witnessing the murder of her jewel stealing boyfriend, Carmen is escorted across Texas by a pair of unorthodox FBI agents with three professional killers hot on their heels. One of the many once forgotten indie films brought to cult prominence by Alamo Drafthouse Cinemas, the first feature by long time stunt man John Stewart- Action U.S.A.
     All that and Craig contemplates the joys of staying home the others take their penultimate trip to a small town in Indiana. Join us, won't you?
   Episode 442- No Stunts in the Champagne Room

B ALL YOU CAN B

     This week we celebrate the warriors of post classic Hollywood B films who celebrated and reveled in their chosen field just in time for Americans to glut themselves on turkey and gravy.

     Park Plaza Mall has just installed the newest high tech in security, a trio of security robots designed to subdue and apprehend thieves and trespassers, and impenetrable steel doors across all exits. The same night they are implemented, Allison, a pizzeria waitress, and nerdy Ferdy are both talked into attending an after hours party in the mall's furniture store. Tragically, something goes terribly wrong before the last frolicking retail employees can lock up for the night. A cult favorite that might be about excesses of consumerism and the extreme paranoia of security focused capitalist societies OR might just be another excuse for Jim Wynorski to hang out with young blondes- Chopping Mall.
     One night some workers discover a tasty creamy substance bubbling out of the ground at a Georgia quarry. Soon it is on every store shelf in America and there are multiple tubs in every home. A zero calorie addictive treat that is so good you won't even care you've turned into an alien zombie. Independent maverick auteur Larry Cohen's directly confrontational satire of consumerism, mass media, and the health food industry, with a great performance from his one true muse, Michael Moriarty. Enough is never enough of... The Stuff.
     Former sweethearts Wendy, whose one semester at college has let her explore her inner radical antiestablishment lesbian, and Arbie, who stayed behind to take care of his parents, find themselves in opposition when a fast food chicken restaurant paves over Tromaville's Native American burial ground. In a fit of jealousy, after seeing Wendy protesting with her girlfriend Micki, Arbie takes a job working the greasy fried register. Before long both the misfit employees and the protesters outside begin dying and undead feathers start flying. Lloyd Kaufman's black comedy horror musical, made entirely by volunteers from all over the world and using donated props from just as many far flung studios and TOTALLY NOT another satire of consumerism, Poultrygeist: Night of the Chicken Dead.
     Australian super stunt man, Grant Page, takes a job working for an American television series and moves to LA. Once there he reunites with his cousin, a member of the band Sorcery, a rock band with fantasy theatrical stage shows. Refusing to rest after Grant is injured on his very first stunt, his dedication to his craft draws the attention of both the show's lead actress, Monique van de Ven, but also journalist Lois. Together the threesome attend a lot of Sorcery concerts, attend lavish Hollywood parties with the band, and occasionally meditate on the joys of extreme living. Brian Trenchard-Smith's attempt to make Page a world class action star and Sorcery something more than an 8th rate Alice Cooper clone, Stunt Rock.
     All that and Dave questions all his life choices up to this moment, Tyler begins to spontaneously cry at the sight of Eggos, Kevin finishes his naughty and naughtier list, and Craig finally opens a stack of blu-rays he was keeping to use as currency once the global AI bubble bursts and drowns us all. Join us, won't you?
   Episode 441- B ALL YOU CAN B

Interpretive Rants

     This week- two films about damaged psychologically manipulative men and the women entangled with them.
     In 1996 a virus wiped out the majority of humanity and forced the survivors underground. Now in a desperate attempt to salvage some future, volunteers are sent back in time in the hopes to trace the virus origin and obtain a sample of it in its purist form. James Cole, a prisoner traumatized from seeing a man murdered in a airport in his youth, is accidentally sent 6 years too early and sets off a chain of events with devastating consequences. Terry Gilliam's feature adaption of Chris Marker's 1967 short film, 12 Monkeys.
     The police investigate the murder of Laura Hunt, killed with a shot to her face in the doorway of her apartment. We the  a young, beautiful, and highly successful advertising executive killed by her sardonic newspaper columnist friend, her parasitic playboy fiancé, her jealous wealthy socialite aunt, or her well intentioned maid? Is there a twist in this knot of boiling jealousies? Directed by one of the most influential directors of the Noir Era and 1999 inductee to the Library of Congress National Film Registry, Laura.
     All that and Kevin has trouble reintegrating into society, Tyler tries new baked goods, Dave is invited out, and Craig fails to rise above it all. Join us, won't you?

   Episode 440- Interpretive Rants
 

A Nihilist and a Dancer Walk into a Bar

     This week- a pair of films with strong female characters and their lovers being caught up in another man's violence. 

     Driving home from a club, Amy and Jordan pick up magnetic drifter X. Soon they find themselves on the run through a deadpan pastiche of early 90s America. The 2023 director's cut of a totally heterosexual film by Gregg Araki that already left a massive transgressive shadow over generations of indie filmmakers, The Doom Generation.

     Violeta, a popular featured dancer at a Mexico City cabaret, rescues a newborn left in a red-light district trash can. Refusing to give up the infant, Violeta starts down a path that will bring violence and loss to those around her. A musical melodrama from the Golden Age of Mexican Cinema with gorgeous cinematography by Gabriel Figuerao, highlighting his incredible handling of chiaroscuro, and a powerhouse performance from Ninón Sevilla, Victimas del Pecado (English title: Victims of Sin).

     All that while Craig and Kevin build a man, Dave tears him apart, and Tyler irons his US flag bed spread. Join us, won't you?
   Episode 439- A Nihilist and a Dancer Walk into a Bar

Pup Tent

     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

Slash Fiction

     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

Dark Night at the Opera

     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