To the Victor Goes the Spoils

     This week- two films about men driven to their breaking points by obsession and cognitive issues.

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

 

I Still Vaguely Know What You Did Last Summer

     This week- a pair of summer vacations gone wrong.

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

   425- I Still Vaguely Know What You Did Last Summer

Ballad of Vengeance

     This week- films about people escaping prisons of both the emotional and physical varieties.

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

Sweatin' to the Moldys

     This week- a quaternion of films selected by the composer of our new theme, Linus Fitness-Centre.

     When an amnesiac sex slave cyborg can't do his job, he gets discarded in the street. Soon he is taken under the wing of a girl who draws maps for other memory-wiped people. Hunted by his manufacture and undergoing an unprecedented transformation in the tunnels beneath Tokyo. One of the crowning works of the Japanese underground cyberpunk genre, 964 Pinocchio.
     Crossley, a hungry traveler, forces himself upon the hospitality of  an experimental musician, Anthony Fielding, and his wife, Rachel. Soon the couple are drawn into Crossley's strange world and stranger claim of being able to produce a powerful sound that can kill. As Crossley insinuates himself sinisterly deeper into their life, Anthony finds indecision at an unexpected crossroad, and Rachel becomes the plaything of forces outside the norm. Winner of the 1978 Grand Jury Prize at the Cannes Film Festival, The Shout.

     While dealing with the traumatic fallout from a car accident which has stirred up trauma from her childhood, Jane is disconnected from everything. Her sister insists she seek psychiatric help, despite her boyfriend's firm disbelief in it. Desperate for a way out of her personal hell, Jane turns to her new neighbor and the Satanic cult she is a member of. The fourth feature by giallo master, Sergio Martino, All the Colors of the Dark (Tutti i colori del buio).
     In Hong Kong there is a raging conflict between humanity and the supernatural shapeshifting Raptors (or Reptoids). The special police unit tasked with Raptor crimes is deep into an investigation of a drug called Happiness which drives Raptors to violence. A whirlwind of high octane action and stylish horror sci-fi noir adaption of a classic Japanese franchise, The Wicked City.
     All that and Dave has a real hard time keeping track of things, Craig stares into a cultural divide, Kevin gathers seed for his army, and Tyler is the only one who still knows what we did last summer. Join us, won't you?
   Episode 423- Sweatin' to the Moldys

Catfishing Cannibals

     This week two movies about young people trying to escape their dead end homelives only to end up in harrowing situations.

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

   Episode 422- Catfishing Cannibals

Amish Paradise

     This week- Two English find something special with among the Amish and a standardization of a theme.

     After a young Amish boy sees the murder of an undercover police officer in a Philadelphia train station. Detective Captain John Book takes the case. Soon he, the boy, and the boy's mother find themselves the target of a conspiracy in the very halls of justice. Will Book be able to protect them? Will they be able to find refuge among the Swiss Anabaptists? What will be the consequence of Book's increasing attraction to an Amish woman? Peter Weir once again takes a look at the intersection of contrasting cultures in the middle of a crime thriller- Witness.

     After being caught at an illicit polka party, Al finds himself estranged from his parents but also free to pursue his life's dream- to have 20,000 people every night singing HIS words... to someone else's music. Soon he capture the interest of hitmaker Dr. Demento and starts a musical revolution. Before Al can make his happy ending, an ambitious young singer from Michigan and a notorious drug lord hatch separate schemes to use him and his music for their own ends. Will Al make amends with his parents? Will his roommates suddenly display hidden musical talents just when a band is in desperate need? Will alcohol and the pressure of fame destroy our accordioned adorned genius as it has Mozart and so many other brilliant trailblazers? The feature length version of a 2010 Funny of Die shirt that illuminates one of pop culture's most enigmatic figures- Weird: The Al Yankovic Story.
     All that and the guys marvel at our new theme by the also brilliant and enigmatic Linus Fitness-Centre. Join us, won't you? 

   Episode 421- Amish Paradise

Interstellaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa

     This week- a pair of films featuring men embracing new career opportunities. 

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

   Episode 420- Interstellaaaaaaaaaaa

Ever Dance to ABBA in the Pale Moonlight?

     This week we take great pride in presenting three films about people who dream of starting their own businesses.

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

Soggy Metal

     This week- two films about ancient times, hundreds of years before the dawn of history, ancient races of people. No one knows who they were or what they were doing...

     Deep below the waves, in the city-state of Atlantis, is a nightmare for any unfortunate surface dweller caught by their raiding parties. Either forced to fight to the death in gladiatorial combat or sent to the mines to labor until you your body gives out. A pair of siblings get to experience all the nasty sides for themselves. Meanwhile, the nefarious Sartor has finally found the blood gem that can fulfill all his ambitions. From the mind of  microbudget outsider auteur Michael J Murphy, a sword and sorcery epic that reaches from the depths of the ocean for the stars, Atlantis.

     Documentarian Marty Di Bergi gets unprecedented access to tell the history of skiffle turned British invasion turned flower power turned heavy metal legends on their 1982 tour to promote their newest album. We take a deep look at how these individuals of strong personalities still work after so many years, their artistic processes, and how the mysterious deaths of multiple drummers has effected them. From controversy to controversy, can the three core members navigate the US road or will they break like the wind? The film that kicked off one of the best output runs from any director since the birth of the medium, Rob Reiner's first classic- This is Spinal Tap.

     All that and Dave fanboys in his pants, Kevin catches his breath but can't get out all the mud, and Tyler shouts across the void. Join us, won't you?

   Episode 418- Soggy Metal

It Was A Different Time, eh?

     This week- a pair of films about young men who love beer.

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

Synaptic Rotation

     This week- two films featuring men abusing their positions of power and the fallout from it.

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

Marathon Grind

     This week- a pair of movies about men chasing their dreams and competitive glory.

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

A Guy for All Seasons

     This week- a trio of films with a brilliant Aussie actor.

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

   Episode 414- A Guy for All Seasons

Knight Betrayal

     This week- two films about dreamers being betrayed by trusted individuals working for the government.

     In 1968, William O'Neal is arrested for attempting to steal a car while posing as a federal agent. While in custody he is approached by the FBI who make an offer he can't refuse- the charges will disappear if he infiltrates the Illinois chapter of the Black Panther Party and relays information on its leader, Fred Hampton. Based on a true story, the second feature from Shaka King, Judas and the Black Messiah.

    The CIA has secretly hires Professor Hathaway to make a laser weapon precise enough to carry out illegal political assassinations from outer space. Hathaway recruits a team of brilliant students to do the work for him as he redirects project funds to build a massive new house. As the deadline looms he recruits a budding genius in physics, Mitch, and places him under one of his heroes, Chris Knight, now a disillusioned slacker just trying to survive his final year. A 1980s comedy classic and one of the best college films of that century- Real Genius.
     All that and Dave pregames with the game, Tyler rides the movies like a pro, and Kevin plans a march of the squirrel army. Join us, won't you?
   Episode 413- Knight Betrayal

Talented Lactose

     This week- a pair of films about men on the edges of society taking youths under their wings.

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

The Mouse and the Snitch

     This week- a pair of films about people dragged into tangled webs of conspiracy.

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

   Episode 411- The Mouse and the Snitch

Love That Scars

     This week... Insurmountable obstacles, unfortunate events, and darker obsessions collide in four films about love that wounds and scars and ends unavoidably tragic.

     When a young woman is found murdered after leaving his house, down on his luck and violently tempered screenwriter Dix finds himself squarely in the police's frame. Only the testimony of his beautiful neighbor keeps him from immediate arrest. As his prosecution drags out, a relationship between them blooms. Can the blossoming relationship withstand the suspicions and outside glances? Did Dix succumb to his rage fueled impulses and will he do it again? An existential noir masterpiece with a towering lead performance, In a Lonely Place.

     In the summer of 1972, young Vada Sultenfuss lives with her widowed father. Vada has a tendency toward hypochondria and a fascination with death, likely from losing her mother at birth and growing up in the town funeral parlor. This summer, Vada begins growing into her own and suffers many of life's first times. Widely considered a classic of the 1990s with a pair of fantastic child lead performances and a final act that scared a generation, My Girl.

     Young Douzi is abandoned by his mother at a Peking Opera troupe. His youth is spent training to play dan, female lead, roles while his best friend, Shitou, learns jing, heroic male roles. From the brutal violence of their training, the oppressive occupation of the Second Sino-Japanese War, and the crushing repression of the Cultural Revolution, Douzi and Shitou's relationship carries them through 50 years. Beautifully shot, delicately edited, and widely considered one of the best films produced in Mainland China, Farewell My Concubine.

     Two households, both alike in dignity, in fair Verona Beach, where we lay our scene, from ancient grudge break new mutiny... the star-crossed lovers draw the conclusion of Baz Luhrmann's Red Curtain Trilogy of theatrical motif. Hyper stylized with an energy that has few equals and a cast that matches it beat for beat, The Bard's most well known work's third major film adaption that still brings tears of joy to long suffering High School English teachers everywhere... William Shakespeare's Romeo + Juliet.

     All that and Dave loses a letter, Tyler feels new emotions in a fetal positions, and Kevin likes to watch... everything. Join us, won't you?

   Episode 410- Love That Scars

The Dross

     This week- two movies about puppets that want to become real boys.

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

   Episode 409- The Dross

Worts & All

     This week- a pair of films about bad dads creating generational trauma.

     Kōhei and his friends are making a video game. One day he and his girlfriend, Nami, go for a drive and come upon a huge seemingly abandoned mansion. Soon they discover that Nami's connection to it might be much deeper than they could have imagined. The film adaption of a 1999 PSX remake that never left Japan of a groundbreaking 1991 SNES visual novel that never left Japan- St. John's Wort (aka Otogirisō).

     Dong Zi is working as a debt collector, under the mentorship of Jun, to pay for his father Qi's hospital treatments. He spends his evenings with Jiu'er, a tattoo artist and ex-wife of local crime boss Four. A grim and gritty neo-noir in 2004 Sichuan, China- Streetwise (aka Gaey Wa'r).

     Join us, won't we?
  Episode 408- Worts & All

Getting a Head

     This week- two films about getting, in several common definition senses, a head, also using multiple definitions.

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

Salty about Craig's Vinegar

 This week- a tour through Craig's Vinegar Syndrome collection brings ruin.

When Madeline, who lost her ability to speak due to trauma, is picked up, on her way to therapy, by Tony, a human trafficker who enjoys writing taunting letters to his victim's families, she is soon forced into a life of addiction and sexual assault. Fortunately, she is given every Monday off to attend classes in revenge. A seminal, in both uses of the word, film in the rape-revenge genre: Thriller- A Cruel Picture.
16-year old Candy is abducted on her way home from school. The kidnapper's demand is simple, her stepfather just leaves a bag of diamonds from the store he manages in a trash can and the girl will be released. Unfortunately, stepdad has too much to gain from Candy dying in the very near future and is more than willing to make sure it happens. A grimy 70s thriller that has only more recently received its cult status: The Candy Snatchers.

Don't say the name Madman Marz in these woods or he will respond. On the last night of camp, a playful night around the campfire turns into a bloody struggle for survival. Will the campers live to be picked up by their parents? Will the councilors be able to have their final hot tub canoodle without having to hose out the blood? Will that song ever leave my head? Madman.
A group from an all-girls Catholic college go to catalog the collection of their late benefactor, Tyler Welles. After finding the diary of a young woman who died in the house decades earlier, they decide to hold a seance. Soon supernatural and much more Earthly horrors begin to befall the girls one by one. Will any of them live to see the auction they are working diligently towards? Will their nun chaperone recover from her headache or are their devilish shenanigans keeping her down? Just how hard am I supposed to squint to see the resemblance to that painting? Possibly the tamest release to ever land in Tromaville- Girls School Screamers.
All that and Dave needs a nap, Craig considers dentistry, Tyler revels, and Kevin goes to his happy place far far away. Join us, won't you?

   Episode 406- Salty about Craig's Vinegar

Polyes-tsar

     This week- two movies about magic and women at the end of their ropes.

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

We're Gonna Need a Bigger Laser Pointer

     This week- a pair of films about the most basic human need for connection.

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

A Pair of Genes

     This week- two films starring the brilliant Gene Hackman. 

     Harry Moseby, a former football player turned private investigator, is hired to find a runaway sixteen-year-old. A search that will drag him into a conspiracy and coverup. The fourth genre redefining feature in a row from director Arthur Penn, Night Moves.
     A seasoned nuclear submarine commander and his new executive office clash over how to interpret their orders and at what point does on make a decision that could have grave consequences on massive scales. A pair of masterful performances from the best of their respective generation, Crimson Tide.

     All that and Kevin commissions a new battalion, Tyler celebrates in the way he is most accustomed, Dave has shallow thoughts, and Craig is already reaping what he has sown. Join us. won't you?
   Episode 403- A Pair of Genes

Brazilian or Heirless

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

   Episode 402- Brazilian or Heirless

Threat Level: Breen

     This week- Craig and Dave chose violence.

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

400 (Unsimulated) Blows

     This week- we celebrate our 400th episode with a four pack of films, each tailored to our individual tastes. Apparently, we all like crime. A lot.

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

All for Pole and Pole for All

     This week- two films about women just trying to survive in harsh conditions.

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

Intestinal Fortitude

     This week- a pair of comedic classics about absurdist dystopian patriarchies. 

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

Visions of a Meditative Man

     This week- we change our earlier plans and try to catch some big fish in honor of David Lynch.

     In a nameless city, caught in an endless rain storm, a trio live with a mystery and possessive forces- Rabbits.
     A surgeon finds a man covered in deformities in a sideshow. Together they study human dignity and our social denial of it- The Elephant Man.
     A body dumped, a family given horrific news, a deeper horror lurking. Lumiere camera and Twin Peaks vibes- Premonitions Following an Evil Deed.
     An elderly man makes up his mind to make amends before it is too late. Even if it means hundreds of miles on a lawn mower.- The Straight Story. 
     A man is left to care for his deformed child in an industrial wasteland- Eraserhead.

     Join us, won't you?
   Episode 397- Visions of a Meditative Man

Dino Dixie String Bikini

     This week two movies about young women and the lengths they will go to for love and connections.

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

  Episode 396- Dino Dixie String Bikini

Childhood Hangover

     This week- two films about Japanese youth discovering themselves and the world around them told through vibes.

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

   Episode 395- Childhood Hangover
  

Tossed Caesar Salad

     This week... a heaping helping of dramas about how the working class really should finally rise up.

     When Ani, a savvy young Brighton Beach stripper, meets Vanya, the son of disturbingly wealthy Russian oligarchs, they form a nontraditional* relationship. Before long, Vanya is faced with having to go back home to Russia and confesses his love to Ani and desire to marry her for a green card. When Vanya's parents learn of his nuptials, the honeymoon phase comes to a crashing end. The latest feature from Sean Baker, a moving and deeply political work, Anora.
     Set in an alternative reality, New Rome is a dystopian nightmare of corruption and neglect. Fortunately, a visionary architect, who also happens to be part of the wealthiest and most powerful family in the city, has a plan for a utopian future development. Unfortunately, his brilliance is countered at every step by the governmental powers that be and those jealous of his natural brilliance. Heavily referencing Roman history and written like something out of the Ayn Rand school of inane bullshit comes what is likely the final feature** from a legendary director of the 1970s, a brain dead rim job about how artists are fucking magic and above your morality or some bullshit, Megalopolis. 
     All that and Dave completely dissociates to the point of never being whole again, Craig rages into an embolism, Kevin takes a long hard look at his life choices, and Tyler is very sticky for some reason.

*Nontraditional in the way that we are, socially, just not ready to discussion the greater transitional history and reality of most relationships.
** We very much hope is the last, at any rate.

    Join us, won't you?

  Episode 394- Tossed Caesar Salad