Video Monsters: Recent Episodes
Video Monsters
Movie review/analysis/discussion podcast where we take movies seriously...but not ourselves. Hosted by Nathan (a.k.a. The Gargyle) and Eric (a.k.a. The Chimerican). Sponsored by Chattanooga Film Festival, and Central Cinema (Knoxville, TN)
We think it is safe to say that, due to recent events, many of you out there are probably feeling a bit anxious about the future right now. We certainly are here at Video Monsters. We have always strived to make this silly little podcast a positive place to celebrate not just movies, but the sense of community that comes out of making, watching, and discussing films. Movies are a refuge; a safe place for us to escape our troubles and process our emotions, both alone and together. It is in that communal spirit that we present tonight’s episode: our Stormy Weather Monthly Movie Madness (an episode that was recorded many months ago and includes zero discussion of the current state of political affairs), where Nathan and Dan (and Eric in a brief cameo) discuss the movies we would pick for a month of stormy weather viewing.
In lieu of our usual goofy pun-filled descriptions, we just want to say that we know things are looking pretty dire right now, and we know there is little we can do or say to reassure anyone, but our hope is that this and future episodes of our show can at least take your mind off of the horrors of the real world for a little while. In short, we hope this Stormy Weather Monthly Movie Madness provides you with a little shelter from the storm (come on, we had to get at least one pun in there).
If you enjoy this episode, come join the Video Monsters crew on Discord - be a part of the discussion and listen in live when we record our episodes!! Go to linktree.com/videomonsterpod for the link to Discord, our socials, and other highlights!!
Video Monsters is brought to you by the Chattanooga Film Festival and Central Cinema in Knoxville, TN. Follow them on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, or online at chattfilmfest.org and centralcinema865.com. Links for each of these can also be found on our pages, so be sure to follow us at videomonsterpod on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram as well.
music for Video Monsters by Evan Simmons
I see seas of blue, blue water too.The bright burning sun. The dark sacred soil.And I think to myself.... what a Waterful WorldThat’s right! The time has come for us to venture off into the aquatic wasteland of the far future known as WATERWORLD; the notoriously expensive flop that was (mostly) directed by Kevin Reynolds! So grab a glass of Hydro, gulp down some grilled sea monster that tastes suspiciously like 90s era computer-generated graphics, and meet us at Water’s End because it’s time to dig up some dirt on WATERWORLD (1995) with special guest Robert Woods (AN IDEAL HOST).
If you enjoy this episode, come join the Video Monsters crew on Discord - be a part of the discussion and listen in live when we record our episodes!! Go to linktree.com/videomonsterpod for the link to Discord, our socials, and other highlights!!
Video Monsters is brought to you by the Chattanooga Film Festival and Central Cinema in Knoxville, TN. Follow them on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, or online at chattfilmfest.org and centralcinema865.com. Links for each of these can also be found on our pages, so be sure to follow us at videomonsterpod on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram as well.
music for Video Monsters by Evan Simmons
The Video Monsters continue their discussion on the work of Kevin Costner with an under-the-radar, late-career gem: Thomas Bezucha’s LET HIM GO (2020). This is a tense, lean neo-western thriller with a huge heart and some excellent performances from a fiery Diane Lane and the Cos’ as her steady-hand husband who embark on a road trip across the 60s midwest to find their kidnapped grandson. So grab your kids before the Weboys do, meet us at the dinner table, and listen to how little restraint we have when it comes to making puns based on tonight’s title, LET HIM GO (2020)!
If you enjoy this episode, come join the Video Monsters crew on Discord - be a part of the discussion and listen in live when we record our episodes!! Go to linktree.com/videomonsterpod for the link to Discord, our socials, and other highlights!!
Video Monsters is brought to you by the Chattanooga Film Festival and Central Cinema in Knoxville, TN. Follow them on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, or online at chattfilmfest.org and centralcinema865.com. Links for each of these can also be found on our pages, so be sure to follow us at videomonsterpod on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram as well.
music for Video Monsters by Evan Simmons
Director Kyle Kuchta and writer Jeanette Wall join the Video Monsters to talk about their new short film, OUCHIE, which recently screened at the Chattanooga Film Festival and is currently making the rounds on the festival circuit. After a discussion of the short, we each make our picks for a round of Mirror Movie Madness, discussing the best uses of mirrors in film! So grab your bandages and watch out for broken glass as Kyle and Jeanette reflect on their terrific short, OUCHIE, and crack up over our picks for the Video Monsters Mirror Movie Madness!
If you enjoy this episode, come join the Video Monsters crew on Discord - be a part of the discussion and listen in live when we record our episodes!! Go to linktree.com/videomonsterpod for the link to Discord, our socials, and other highlights!!
Video Monsters is brought to you by the Chattanooga Film Festival and Central Cinema in Knoxville, TN. Follow them on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, or online at chattfilmfest.org and centralcinema865.com. Links for each of these can also be found on our pages, so be sure to follow us at videomonsterpod on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram as well.
music for Video Monsters by Evan Simmons
Cancel the kitchen scraps, stop all merciful beheadings, and call off Christmas because it’s time to bow down before the almighty villainy Alan Rickman. Everything we do, we do it for him… and for the joy of catapulting ourselves into the castle of campy fun, crafty adventure, and questionable casting of Kevin Costner in the role of ROBIN HOOD: PRINCE OF THIEVES (1991)!
If you enjoy this episode, come join the Video Monsters crew on Discord - be a part of the discussion and listen in live when we record our episodes!! Go to linktree.com/videomonsterpod for the link to Discord, our socials, and other highlights!!
Video Monsters is brought to you by the Chattanooga Film Festival and Central Cinema in Knoxville, TN. Follow them on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, or online at chattfilmfest.org and centralcinema865.com. Links for each of these can also be found on our pages, so be sure to follow us at videomonsterpod on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram as well.
music for Video Monsters by Evan Simmons
The Video Monsters saddle up with special guest Robert Woods (filmmaker, An Ideal Host) for a Western-style showdown in tonight’s Kevin Costner Popcorn Punchout, where we assemble our Video Rack Attack Bracket and duel our way down to the line to decide which three Costner films will get the in-depth Video Monsters analysis. Will we find ourselves in A Perfect World? Or maybe a Waterworld? Rooting for a Postman or a Man of Steel? Will this episode be like walking into a Field of Dreams, or will it feel like we are trapped in a Tin Cup with No Way Out; forced into a War that stretches on for Thirteen (Draft) Days? All we can say at the moment is that our pun game is UNTOUCHABLE! For answers to everything else, you’ll have to dive into tonight’s Kevin Costner POPCORN PUNCHOUT!If you enjoy this episode, come join the Video Monsters crew on Discord - be a part of the discussion and listen in live when we record our episodes!! Go to linktree.com/videomonsterpod for the link to Discord, our socials, and other highlights!!
Video Monsters is brought to you by the Chattanooga Film Festival and Central Cinema in Knoxville, TN. Follow them on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, or online at chattfilmfest.org and centralcinema865.com. Links for each of these can also be found on our pages, so be sure to follow us at videomonsterpod on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram as well.
music for Video Monsters by Evan Simmons
Grab your baseball bat, put on your cowboy hat, and prepare yourself for questionable accents/narration because the Video Monsters are about to rundown the career of maybe the most quintessential All-American leading man of the modern era. Nathan, Eric, and Dan will make ten picks each to bring you our 30 recommendations in tonight’s Kevin Costner Monthly Movie Madness! episode description written by Eric and does not necessarily represent the views of Video MonstersIf you enjoy this episode, come join the Video Monsters crew on Discord - be a part of the discussion and listen in live when we record our episodes!! Go to linktree.com/videomonsterpod for the link to Discord, our socials, and other highlights!!Video Monsters is brought to you by the Chattanooga Film Festival and Central Cinema in Knoxville, TN. Follow them on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, or online at chattfilmfest.org and centralcinema865.com. Links for each of these can also be found on our pages, so be sure to follow us at videomonsterpod on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram as well.music for Video Monsters by Evan Simmons
Grab your animal crackers, queue up Hurdy Gurdy Man, and meet us in a California basement because it’s time to finally close the book on our Journalism series with David Fincher’s ZODIAC (2007).
If you enjoy this episode, come join the Video Monsters crew on Discord - be a part of the discussion and listen in live when we record our episodes!! Go to linktree.com/videomonsterpod for the link to Discord, our socials, and other highlights!!
Video Monsters is brought to you by the Chattanooga Film Festival and Central Cinema in Knoxville, TN. Follow them on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, or online at chattfilmfest.org and centralcinema865.com. Links for each of these can also be found on our pages, so be sure to follow us at videomonsterpod on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram as well.
music for Video Monsters by Evan Simmons
Grab a cigarette filter, strap on your tape recorder, and meet us at the carousel bar because it’s time to buy the ticket and take the ride through bat country with Terry Gilliam’s FEAR AND LOATHING IN LAS VEGAS.If you enjoy this episode, come join the Video Monsters crew on Discord - be a part of the discussion and listen in live when we record our episodes!! Go to linktree.com/videomonsterpod for the link to Discord, our socials, and other highlights!!Video Monsters is brought to you by the Chattanooga Film Festival and Central Cinema in Knoxville, TN. Follow them on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, or online at chattfilmfest.org and centralcinema865.com. Links for each of these can also be found on our pages, so be sure to follow us at videomonsterpod on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram as well.music for Video Monsters by Evan Simmons
Unplug the phone, lace up your boots (but only if you want), dab the sweat off your brow, and put away that hefty shadow puppet because it’s time to listen closely as the Video Monsters broadcast their views on James L. Brooks’ BROADCAST NEWS!If you enjoy this episode, come join the Video Monsters crew on Discord - be a part of the discussion and listen in live when we record our episodes!! Go to linktree.com/videomonsterpod for the link to Discord, our socials, and other highlights!!Video Monsters is brought to you by the Chattanooga Film Festival and Central Cinema in Knoxville, TN. Follow them on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, or online at chattfilmfest.org and centralcinema865.com. Links for each of these can also be found on our pages, so be sure to follow us at videomonsterpod on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram as well.music for Video Monsters by Evan Simmons
Extra! Extra! Read, er…. hear all about it! Tonight we’ve got a Punchout poppin’ on pictures about the press, and we’re gonna shout it! Well, Eric will take care of most of the shouting as the Video Monsters raise Hell over which Journalism films are Deader than the rest! So Fletch yourself a Shattered Glass of Medium Cool Candy, man, because it’s time to Network with The Insider, uncover what She Said at The End of the Tour about Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, find out if Man Bites Dog or Wags the Dog, and shine a Spotlight on which three Almost Famous films about the Broadcast News(ies) will inhale the Sweet Smell of Success. Tonight’s Journalism Popcorn Punchout is absolutely To Die For!If you enjoy this episode, come join the Video Monsters crew on Discord - be a part of the discussion and listen in live when we record our episodes!! Go to linktree.com/videomonsterpod for the link to Discord, our socials, and other highlights!!Video Monsters is brought to you by the Chattanooga Film Festival and Central Cinema in Knoxville, TN. Follow them on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, or online at chattfilmfest.org and centralcinema865.com. Links for each of these can also be found on our pages, so be sure to follow us at videomonsterpod on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram as well.music for Video Monsters by Evan Simmons
Grab your (catchy newspaper headline to be added by the editor after they decide if this will make it to the front page), put on your (stereotypical journalist accessory that you always see in the movies but rarely ever actually see in real life), and get ready to (exaggerated action sequence to spice up the facts for a movie - to be added in post) as the Video Monsters bring you their 30 recommendations for journalism movies in tonight's Journalism Movie Madness!!If you enjoy this episode, come join the Video Monsters crew on Discord - be a part of the discussion and listen in live when we record our episodes!! Go to linktree.com/videomonsterpod for the link to Discord, our socials, and other highlights!!Video Monsters is brought to you by the Chattanooga Film Festival and Central Cinema in Knoxville, TN. Follow them on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, or online at chattfilmfest.org and centralcinema865.com. Links for each of these can also be found on our pages, so be sure to follow us at videomonsterpod on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram as well.music for Video Monsters by Evan Simmons
Grab a case of Faygo, put on your Gogo boots, and pick out your finest masque before joining us in a dimension of cinematic sight and sound to melt your mind as we have a devil of a good time with Chris Dortch and Dustin Kramer discussing the Chattanooga Film Festival…where the Fest is family!!Special guests: Christ Dortch & Dustin Kramer - Chattanooga Film FestivalIf you enjoy this episode, come join the Video Monsters crew on Discord - be a part of the discussion and listen in live when we record our episodes!! Go to linktree.com/videomonsterpod for the link to Discord, our socials, and other highlights!!Video Monsters is brought to you by the Chattanooga Film Festival and Central Cinema in Knoxville, TN. Follow them on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, or online at chattfilmfest.org and centralcinema865.com. Links for each of these can also be found on our pages, so be sure to follow us at videomonsterpod on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram as well.music for Video Monsters by Evan Simmons
Grab your lucky coin, open you blue letter, and don't forget your hat as we tunnel our way through humor, action, and existentialism in tonight's Ranking Popcorn Punchout: Video Rack Attack Bracket of the Coen Brothers' filmography!Special guest: Matt Mercer - Contracted, Dementia: Part II, Bliss, Beyond the GatesIf you enjoy this episode, come join the Video Monsters crew on Discord - be a part of the discussion and listen in live when we record our episodes!! Go to linktree.com/videomonsterpod for the link to Discord, our socials, and other highlights!!Video Monsters is brought to you by the Chattanooga Film Festival and Central Cinema in Knoxville, TN. Follow them on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, or online at chattfilmfest.org and centralcinema865.com. Links for each of these can also be found on our pages, so be sure to follow us at videomonsterpod on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram as well.music for Video Monsters by Evan Simmons
Grab your rotting apples, take a look in the mirror, and work on your sewing skills as we sing the praises of John Adams and Toby Poser in our interview and analysis of Where the Devil Roams!!Special guests: John Adams & Toby Poser - Hellbender, The Deeper You DigStay up to date with all Adams Family news at https://wonderwheelproductions.comOrder your bluray copy of Where the Devil Roams from Vinegar Syndrome at:https://vinegarsyndrome.com/products/where-the-devil-roamsIf you enjoy this episode, come join the Video Monsters crew on Discord - be a part of the discussion and listen in live when we record our episodes!! Go to linktree.com/videomonsterpod for the link to Discord, our socials, and other highlights!!Video Monsters is brought to you by the Chattanooga Film Festival and Central Cinema in Knoxville, TN. Follow them on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, or online at chattfilmfest.org and centralcinema865.com. Links for each of these can also be found on our pages, so be sure to follow us at videomonsterpod on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram as well.music for Video Monsters by Evan Simmons
Top off your white lightning, refill your mega-sized popcorn bucket, and remember that wherever you go to listen to your podcast...there you are! Swap out the tapes because tonight is part two of our Popcorn Punchout to pick our main themes for the year - in the end, there can be only one....er.... eight.If you enjoy this episode, come join the Video Monsters crew on Discord - be a part of the discussion and listen in live when we record our episodes!! Go to linktree.com/videomonsterpod for the link to Discord, our socials, and other highlights!!Video Monsters is brought to you by the Chattanooga Film Festival and Central Cinema in Knoxville, TN. Follow them on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, or online at chattfilmfest.org and centralcinema865.com. Links for each of these can also be found on our pages, so be sure to follow us at videomonsterpod on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram as well.music for Video Monsters by Evan Simmons
Grab your freeze dried ice cream, a mega-sized popcorn bucket, and try to keep your sanity as three good fellas roll the dice and sink their jaws into tonight's mega-sized Popcorn Punchout as we work from 32 themes down to our final 8 for the year!! And get ready to change the tapes midway through, because tonight is only part 1 of this two-part episode....If you enjoy this episode, come join the Video Monsters crew on Discord - be a part of the discussion and listen in live when we record our episodes!! Go to linktree.com/videomonsterpod for the link to Discord, our socials, and other highlights!!Video Monsters is brought to you by the Chattanooga Film Festival and Central Cinema in Knoxville, TN. Follow them on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, or online at chattfilmfest.org and centralcinema865.com. Links for each of these can also be found on our pages, so be sure to follow us at videomonsterpod on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram as well.music for Video Monsters by Evan Simmons
Grab your breadless bread, cozy up to the fire, and don't just listen....savor. Savor our analysis of THE MENU as we podcast on the edge of the abyss (which is where god works too)!Special guest: Sarah Stubbs - Geeks Who Eat, Final Girls FeastIf you enjoy this episode, come join the Video Monsters crew on Discord - be a part of the discussion and listen in live when we record our episodes!! Go to linktree.com/videomonsterpod for the link to Discord, our socials, and other highlights!!Video Monsters is brought to you by the Chattanooga Film Festival and Central Cinema in Knoxville, TN. Follow them on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, or online at chattfilmfest.org and centralcinema865.com. Links for each of these can also be found on our pages, so be sure to follow us at videomonsterpod on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram as well.music for Video Monsters by Evan Simmons
Grab your trash cheese, put on your tiny chef's hat, and strike your best freeze frame pose as you let the combination of our cinematic tastes swirl around your head in our analysis of RATATOUILLE!! And remember, anyone can be a podcaster... but it takes true passion to be a Video Monster.If you enjoy this episode, come join the Video Monsters crew on Discord - be a part of the discussion and listen in live when we record our episodes!! Go to linktree.com/videomonsterpod for the link to Discord, our socials, and other highlights!!Video Monsters is brought to you by the Chattanooga Film Festival and Central Cinema in Knoxville, TN. Follow them on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, or online at chattfilmfest.org and centralcinema865.com. Links for each of these can also be found on our pages, so be sure to follow us at videomonsterpod on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram as well.music for Video Monsters by Evan Simmons
Grab your best bottle of crypt wine, take down the curtains, and fry up some bacon because the timer is running for us to deconstruct our thoughts in tonight's analysis of PIG!If you enjoy this episode, come join the Video Monsters crew on Discord - be a part of the discussion and listen in live when we record our episodes!! Go to linktree.com/videomonsterpod for the link to Discord, our socials, and other highlights!!Video Monsters is brought to you by the Chattanooga Film Festival and Central Cinema in Knoxville, TN. Follow them on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, or online at chattfilmfest.org and centralcinema865.com. Links for each of these can also be found on our pages, so be sure to follow us at videomonsterpod on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram as well.music for Video Monsters by Evan Simmons
The most OK-est of annual holiday traditions is finally upon us! And, as usual, it’s going to be SPECT....adequate (it’s fine. Totally fine.) This year the Video Monsters are going to do a ranking mini-POPCORN PUNCHOUT: Video Rack Attack Bracket to decide which three Christmas (or Xmas-adjacent) films we recommend you watch this holiday season. And much like Great Uncle Lewis lighting a cigar next to Cousin Eddie's sewage dump, tonight's episode is equal parts beauty and destruction as our attempt to spread some good-natured holiday cheer led to some of the most heated debates in the show's history as our beloved picks inevitably go up in flames. So grab some eggnog, pray it’s spiked, and find out which underseen holiday gems we recommend for this year’s Video Monsters Holiday SPECT-adequate! (It’s fine. Perfectly fine.)If you enjoy this episode, come join the Video Monsters crew on Discord - be a part of the discussion and listen in live when we record our episodes!! Go to linktree.com/videomonsterpod for the link to Discord, our socials, the most recent Popcorn Punchout poll (when active), and occasionally some highlighted episodes!!Video Monsters is brought to you by the Chattanooga Film Festival and Central Cinema in Knoxville, TN. Follow them on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, or online at chattfilmfest.org and centralcinema865.com. Links for each of these can also be found on our pages, so be sure to follow us at videomonsterpod on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram as well.music for Video Monsters by Evan Simmons
It's a Big Night for the Video Monsters because it’s time for another POPCORN PUNCHOUT: Video Rack Attack Bracket, this time to decide which three Food Service movies we get to feast on over the next few weeks. As usual with these episodes, the game eventually reaches a Boiling Point as beloved films are eliminated, and none of us make it to the end without getting a little Burnt in the process, but we adore this Strange Brew we have concocted and think you will find that the end results are Simply Irresistible. So embrace your inner Chef, Pig out on some Mystic Pizza, and discover which three movies end up on The Menu in our Food Service POPCORN PUNCHOUT! If you enjoy this episode, come join the Video Monsters crew on Discord - be a part of the discussion and listen in live when we record our episodes!! Go to linktree.com/videomonsterpod for the link to Discord, our socials, the most recent Popcorn Punchout poll (when active), and occasionally some highlighted episodes!!Video Monsters is brought to you by the Chattanooga Film Festival and Central Cinema in Knoxville, TN. Follow them on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, or online at chattfilmfest.org and centralcinema865.com. Links for each of these can also be found on our pages, so be sure to follow us at videomonsterpod on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram as well.music for Video Monsters by Evan Simmons
The Video Monsters are bringing you even more Chattanooga Film Festival 2023 goodness with tonight's discussion of SOUR PARTY - a feminist, punk, one crazy day, buddy comedy, with just a dash of magical realism that highlights how truly bizarre the world can be! Special guests Michael Drexton, Amanda Drexton, and Samantha Westervelt (all of whom wore many hats in the making of Sour Party) join us to dig into things and discuss just about every element of their film - from the comedically absurd, to the heartfelt themes, to the personal connection, and even to some behind the scenes production stories. The Video Monsters aren't just blowing smoke when we say that we truly love this film! So grab your stolen succulents, call up your kreep peepz, and make sure to wash your hair before hitting the road with our discussion of SOUR PARTY!!If you enjoy this episode, come join the Video Monsters crew on Discord - be a part of the discussion and listen in live when we record our episodes!! Go to linktree.com/videomonsterpod for the link to Discord, our socials, the most recent Popcorn Punchout poll (when active), and occasionally some highlighted episodes!!Video Monsters is brought to you by the Chattanooga Film Festival and Central Cinema in Knoxville, TN. Follow them on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, or online at chattfilmfest.org and centralcinema865.com. Links for each of these can also be found on our pages, so be sure to follow us at videomonsterpod on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram as well.music for Video Monsters by Evan Simmons
The Video Monsters have prepared a feast for your ears with tonight's Food Service Monthly Movie Madness!! The Monthly Movie Madness episodes are a recent addition to our lineup in which Nathan, Eric, and Dan pick 10 movies each for the monthly theme, resulting in a curated list of daily recommendations of themed movies. We also use these 30 movies to compose the audience survey for our Popcorn Punchout each month, so be sure to go to linktree.com/videomonsterpod to take the Popcorn Punchout survey and let us know which of tonight's movies you hope get the full Video Monsters analysis! So order up some coffee, fritters, truffles, and two slices of pizza and meet us at the table as we serve up our Food Service Monthly Movie Madness!If you enjoy this episode, come join the Video Monsters crew on Discord - be a part of the discussion and listen in live when we record our episodes!! Go to linktree.com/videomonsterpod for the link to Discord, our socials, the most recent Popcorn Punchout poll (when active), and occasionally some highlighted episodes!!Video Monsters is brought to you by the Chattanooga Film Festival and Central Cinema in Knoxville, TN. Follow them on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, or online at chattfilmfest.org and centralcinema865.com. Links for each of these can also be found on our pages, so be sure to follow us at videomonsterpod on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram as well.music for Video Monsters by Evan Simmons
To celebrate the release of Blow Up My Life (2023) on VOD, the Video Monsters are blowing the whistle of praise and releasing from the vault our Q&A with Abigail Horten and Ryan Dickie from Chattanooga Film Festival 2023! Blow Up My Life has a great balance of humor and corporate thriller, great actors that really bring you into the movie, and some very artful technical skills on display - so if you've not yet seen it, go check it out now and support indie filmmakers! So encrypt your files, grab your binoculars, and meet us online for our Q&A of Blow Up My Life!!If you enjoy this episode, come join the Video Monsters crew on Discord - be a part of the discussion and listen in live when we record our episodes!! Go to linktree.com/videomonsterpod for the link to Discord, our socials, the most recent Popcorn Punchout poll (when active), and occasionally some highlighted episodes!!Video Monsters is brought to you by the Chattanooga Film Festival and Central Cinema in Knoxville, TN. Follow them on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, or online at chattfilmfest.org and centralcinema865.com. Links for each of these can also be found on our pages, so be sure to follow us at videomonsterpod on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram as well.music for Video Monsters by Evan Simmons
Don’t keep away from PUMPKINHEAD (1988),Unless you're tired of great movies.Watching it is mostly fun,But beware, it has a cruel streak30 minutes in and you're undoneBy a moving turn from Lance Henricksen,As he seeks vengeance for what was doneTo a small young boy, his only sonTime will not erase or blot,Stan Winston’s first directing appearance,And just in case you all forgot,The creature effects are utter brilliance,So with bolted doors and windows barred,And love for monsters in your heart,The Video Monster dare to tread,Onto the sacred ground of Pumpkinhead!If you enjoy this episode, come join the Video Monsters crew on Discord - be a part of the discussion and listen in live when we record our episodes!! Go to linktree.com/videomonsterpod for the link to Discord, our socials, the most recent Popcorn Punchout poll (when active), and occasionally some highlighted episodes!!Video Monsters is brought to you by the Chattanooga Film Festival and Central Cinema in Knoxville, TN. Follow them on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, or online at chattfilmfest.org and centralcinema865.com. Links for each of these can also be found on our pages, so be sure to follow us at videomonsterpod on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram as well.music for Video Monsters by Evan Simmons
The Video Monsters have been exiled to the New England wilderness as we contend with the plague of horrors unleashed by Robert Eggers’s THE WITCH (2015). Is the film a touching family tragedy? A coming-of-age story about bad parenting as self-fulfilling prophecy? A cautionary tale about the extremes of theocratic patriarchal social structures? A liberating good-for-her narrative about a young woman bucking gender norms in Puritan society? Or is it actually just a thinly-veiled sitcom in the guise of a 17th-century religious horror film? The Video Monsters will attempt to answer all these questions and so much more. So take a break from chopping wood, grab your baby paste, and live deliciously with us because Black Phillip compels you to listen to our review of THE WITCH!If you enjoy this episode, come join the Video Monsters crew on Discord - be a part of the discussion and listen in live when we record our episodes!! Go to linktree.com/videomonsterpod for the link to Discord, our socials, the most recent Popcorn Punchout poll (when active), and occasionally some highlighted episodes!!Video Monsters is brought to you by the Chattanooga Film Festival and Central Cinema in Knoxville, TN. Follow them on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, or online at chattfilmfest.org and centralcinema865.com. Links for each of these can also be found on our pages, so be sure to follow us at videomonsterpod on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram as well.music for Video Monsters by Evan Simmons
The Video Monsters kick off our series on Folk Horror films with an underseen 80s gem that features far more explosions than your typical witch-in-the-woods flick. Make sure to get your vision checked ahead of time because on today’s episode we’ll be discussing EYES OF FIRE (1983)! For those of you who have not heard of this film, just imagine a mash-up of LITTLE HOUSE ON THE PRAIRIE with Robert Eggers’s THE VVITCH and you’ll be like… 30% of the way to figuring out what to expect from this deeply strange little film. So swallow that frog in your throat, look out for exploding cat children, and meet us in the woods with the tree faces (seriously, this movie is weird) as we gaze upon Avery Crounse’s EYES OF FIRE!If you enjoy this episode, come join the Video Monsters crew on Discord - be a part of the discussion and listen in live when we record our episodes!! Go to linktree.com/videomonsterpod for the link to Discord, our socials, the most recent Popcorn Punchout poll (when active), and occasionally some highlighted episodes!!Video Monsters is brought to you by the Chattanooga Film Festival and Central Cinema in Knoxville, TN. Follow them on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, or online at chattfilmfest.org and centralcinema865.com. Links for each of these can also be found on our pages, so be sure to follow us at videomonsterpod on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram as well.music for Video Monsters by Evan Simmons
The podcast which you are about to hear is an account of the tragedy which befell a group of five friends, in particular Kyle Kuchta and fellow guest, Wolfe MacReady. It is all the more tragic in that they volunteered for this. But, had they continued to podcast for a very, very long time, they could not have expected nor would they have wished to see as much of the mad and macabre as they were to see that night. For them an idyllic Tuesday night recording session became a nightmare. The events of that transpired were to lead to the discovery of one of the most bizarre episodes in the annals of Video Monsters history, The Texas Chain Saw Massacre… POPCORN PUNCHOUT.Use the link below to support Wolfe's Kickstarter for their feature film: GIVING UP THE GHOST!https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/wolfelikeme/giving-up-the-ghost-wolfe-macreadys-first-feature-film?ref=4oq5jsIf you enjoy this episode, come join the Video Monsters crew on Discord - be a part of the discussion and listen in live when we record our episodes!! Go to linktree.com/videomonsterpod for the link to Discord, our socials, the most recent Popcorn Punchout poll (when active), and occasionally some highlighted episodes!!Video Monsters is brought to you by the Chattanooga Film Festival and Central Cinema in Knoxville, TN. Follow them on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, or online at chattfilmfest.org and centralcinema865.com. Links for each of these can also be found on our pages, so be sure to follow us at videomonsterpod on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram as well.music for Video Monsters by Evan Simmons
Pour out some salt and light some fires because it's time for another Popcorn Punchout: Video Rack Attack Bracket to decide on which three folk horror movies will be receiving the full Video Monsters' analysis! And joining the wild rumpus tonight is very special guest and friend of the podcast, Wolfe MacReady!! Along with adding to the chaos of the Popcorn Punchout, Wolfe also discusses the Kickstarter for their first feature film: GIVING UP THE GHOST! So hop on your motorcycle, embrace the power of nature, and watch out for wyrms as you get ready to live deliciously with the Video Monsters and special guest Wolfe MacReady as we serve up our Folk Horror Popcorn Punchout!!Use the link below to support Wolfe's Kickstarter for their feature film: GIVING UP THE GHOST!https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/wolfelikeme/giving-up-the-ghost-wolfe-macreadys-first-feature-film?ref=4oq5jsIf you enjoy this episode, come join the Video Monsters crew on Discord - be a part of the discussion and listen in live when we record our episodes!! Go to linktree.com/videomonsterpod for the link to Discord, our socials, the most recent Popcorn Punchout poll (when active), and occasionally some highlighted episodes!!Video Monsters is brought to you by the Chattanooga Film Festival and Central Cinema in Knoxville, TN. Follow them on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, or online at chattfilmfest.org and centralcinema865.com. Links for each of these can also be found on our pages, so be sure to follow us at videomonsterpod on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram as well.music for Video Monsters by Evan Simmons
Hello, kiddies (because of course we had to start it this way)! The Video Monsters are closing out our 1995 horror series with the spooky, spine-tingling, and – dare I say – seductive siege flick, TALES FROM THE CRYPT: DEMON KNIGHT! Joining us for this ghastly good time is special guest and master of SCARE-emonies, Brian Salisbury of Junkfood Cinema! Together we’ll discuss childhood Crypt-Keeper nightmares, our willingness to sacrifice humanity for Billy Zane, and the missed marketing opportunity of holy flasks. All that AND an increasingly unhinged impression of Gerard Butler? What more could you want?! So save the cat, fasten your drool cups, and ready your vomit bags because we’re going to the movies with Ernest Dickerson’s TALES FROM THE CRYPT: DEMON KNIGHT (1995)!If you enjoy this episode, come join the Video Monsters crew on Discord - be a part of the discussion and listen in live when we record our episodes!! Go to linktree.com/videomonsterpod for the link to Discord, our socials, the most recent Popcorn Punchout poll (when active), and occasionally some highlighted episodes!!Video Monsters is brought to you by the Chattanooga Film Festival and Central Cinema in Knoxville, TN. Follow them on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, or online at chattfilmfest.org and centralcinema865.com. Links for each of these can also be found on our pages, so be sure to follow us at videomonsterpod on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram as well.music for Video Monsters by Evan Simmons
The Video Monsters are joined by filmmaker Anthony Cousins (When Susurrus Stirs, The Bloody Ballad of Squirt Reynolds, Scare Package, Scare Package II: Rad Chad's Revenge) to discuss the 30th anniversary of Super Mario Bros.! If you've been following the podcast for a while, you know that Super Mario Bros. holds a very special place in our hearts and we are always excited to discuss it. The troubled production, poor reception upon release, and negative critiques over the years (in large part due to how far it seemingly strays from its source material) have given Super Mario Bros. the unfair stigma of being "one of the worst movies ever made." But here at Video Monsters, we hope to right some of the wrongs of cinematic history by giving our heartfelt analysis of how the acting and world-building (despite some of the behind the scenes production issues) bring so much life and depth to the film, how the film is surprisingly faithful in its adaptation of the video game, and how we have a deep and unironic love of this film that has only grown (or, should I say "evolved") over the years. So grab your tools, put on your thwomp stompers, and trust the fungus as you dive into the podcast dimension with us for our analysis of Super Mario Bros.!!If you enjoy this episode, come join the Video Monsters crew on Discord - be a part of the discussion and listen in live when we record our episodes!! Go to linktree.com/videomonsterpod for the link to Discord, our socials, the most recent Popcorn Punchout poll (when active), and occasionally some highlighted episodes!!Video Monsters is brought to you by the Chattanooga Film Festival and Central Cinema in Knoxville, TN. Follow them on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, or online at chattfilmfest.org and centralcinema865.com. Links for each of these can also be found on our pages, so be sure to follow us at videomonsterpod on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram as well.music for Video Monsters by Evan Simmons
The Video Monsters Halloween coverage continues as we prepare for October's theme of Folk Horror with our Monthly Movie Madness!! The Monthly Movie Madness episodes are a recent addition to our lineup in which Nathan, Eric, and Dan pick 10 movies each for the monthly theme, resulting in a curated list of daily recommendations of themed movies. We also use these 30 movies to compose the audience survey for our Popcorn Punchout each month, so be sure to go to linktree.com/videomonsterpod to take the Popcorn Punchout survey and let us know which of tonight's movies you hope get the full Video Monsters analysis! So put on your finest ritual robe, grab your ancient tome, and be careful what you wish for as you meet us in the woods to folk around and find out in our Video Monsters’ Monthly Movie Madness!If you enjoy this episode, come join the Video Monsters crew on Discord - be a part of the discussion and listen in live when we record our episodes!! Go to linktree.com/videomonsterpod for the link to Discord, our socials, the most recent Popcorn Punchout poll (when active), and occasionally some highlighted episodes!!Video Monsters is brought to you by the Chattanooga Film Festival and Central Cinema in Knoxville, TN. Follow them on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, or online at chattfilmfest.org and centralcinema865.com. Links for each of these can also be found on our pages, so be sure to follow us at videomonsterpod on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram as well.music for Video Monsters by Evan Simmons
The Video Monsters continue their 1995 Horror series with LEPRECHAUN 3!! With Brian Trenchard-Smith at the helm with over 20 years of experience, Warwick Davis bringing a bit more humor and personality to the role, and several seasoned actors that bring cartoonish characters to life with heart, this campy direct to video sequel has rightfully earned its spot as one of the most beloved of the franchise! So put on your best silk shirt, grab your lucky coin, and try not to blow a rod on your way to our magical analysis of LEPRECHAUN 3!!If you enjoy this episode, come join the Video Monsters crew on Discord - be a part of the discussion and listen in live when we record our episodes!! Go to linktree.com/videomonsterpod for the link to Discord, our socials, the most recent Popcorn Punchout poll (when active), and occasionally some highlighted episodes!!Video Monsters is brought to you by the Chattanooga Film Festival and Central Cinema in Knoxville, TN. Follow them on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, or online at chattfilmfest.org and centralcinema865.com. Links for each of these can also be found on our pages, so be sure to follow us at videomonsterpod on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram as well.music for Video Monsters by Evan Simmons
The Video Monsters continue their Chattanooga Film Festival 2023 coverage by discussing THE HAUNTING OF HYPE HOUSE (2023) - an indie, horror-comedy that answers the question "what if you were haunted by a ghost...and everyone liked the ghost more than they like you?" - all through the lens of influencer culture. Nathan has been singing the praises of this film for months and is, dead ass, extremely excited to be joined by very special guests Matt Farren, Mahlon Tracy, Michael Salamone, Royal Dean, and Brandon Douglas to finally discuss the The Haunting of Hype House! If you've not yet seen the film, the first half of the episode is a mostly spoiler-free discussion, before diving a bit deeper into analysis in the second half. So grab your giant plush tiger, pick up your water bottle, and make sure the camera is rolling as you meet us at the Ouija board for THE HAUNTING OF HYPE HOUSE!!We support the hard work of all of the actors, writers, and everyone else involved in creating movies, which we are very passionate about. So it is important to note that The Haunting of Hype House is not affiliated with AMPTP and therefore exempt from the strike.If you enjoy this episode, come join the Video Monsters crew on Discord - be a part of the discussion and listen in live when we record our episodes!! Go to linktree.com/videomonsterpod for the link to Discord, our socials, the most recent Popcorn Punchout poll (when active), and occasionally some highlighted episodes!!Video Monsters is brought to you by the Chattanooga Film Festival and Central Cinema in Knoxville, TN. Follow them on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, or online at chattfilmfest.org and centralcinema865.com. Links for each of these can also be found on our pages, so be sure to follow us at videomonsterpod on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram as well.music for Video Monsters by Evan Simmons
The Video Monsters are joined by author and orator - with an extensive body of work spanning over two decades - Clay McLeod Chapman!! Clay's writing evokes both Stephen King and Clive Barker as he taps into the dark nature of humanity with heart and humor...all with a dash of southern charm. Join Nathan as he digs into the darkness and joy of Clay's stories, discusses influences and inspiration, and even get a sample of Clay's live shows as he reads a short sampling from his latest book "What Kind of Mother"!! So grab your pumpkin, shake off your alien symbiote, and gather 'round for Video Monsters' Story Time - because it's time to get haunted with Clay McLeod Chapman!!If you enjoy this episode, come join the Video Monsters crew on Discord - be a part of the discussion and listen in live when we record our episodes!! Go to linktree.com/videomonsterpod for the link to Discord, our socials, the most recent Popcorn Punchout poll (when active), and occasionally some highlighted episodes!!Video Monsters is brought to you by the Chattanooga Film Festival and Central Cinema in Knoxville, TN. Follow them on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, or online at chattfilmfest.org and centralcinema865.com. Links for each of these can also be found on our pages, so be sure to follow us at videomonsterpod on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram as well.music for Video Monsters by Evan Simmons
Our 1995 Horror Month is off to an auspicious start as we discuss a movie that is nominally a 1995 movie but didn’t actually receive distribution until 1997… but nevermind its questionable eligibility status because we’re gonna talk about it anyway! The movie? Larry Fessenden’s seminal independent vampire film, HABIT (1995 [according to IMDb and Letterboxd])! Speaking of things that are questionable, the Video Monsters discuss whether or not this is actually a vampire movie, the subjective quality of the filmmaking, 90s New York sleaze, and dig a little bit into Larry Fessenden’s overall impact on the independent horror genre over the last few decades. So grab your polaroids, meet us on the poop deck, and podcast on the installment plan as we provide much diversion from the miseries of life with Larry Fessenden’s HABIT!If you enjoy this episode, come join the Video Monsters crew on Discord - be a part of the discussion and listen in live when we record our episodes!! Go to linktree.com/videomonsterpod for the link to Discord, our socials, the most recent Popcorn Punchout poll (when active), and occasionally some highlighted episodes!!Video Monsters is brought to you by the Chattanooga Film Festival and Central Cinema in Knoxville, TN. Follow them on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, or online at chattfilmfest.org and centralcinema865.com. Links for each of these can also be found on our pages, so be sure to follow us at videomonsterpod on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram as well.music for Video Monsters by Evan Simmons
Now that you've listened to us discuss our 1995 Horror recommendations in our Video Monsters' Monthly Movie Madness, it's time for hearts to be broken and for chaos to reign as we boot up another Popcorn Punchout: Video Rack Attack Bracket to decide on which three '95 horror movies will be receiving the full Video Monsters' analysis! And what better person to join us for a heated debate of mid-90s horror than special guest (and part of the origination of our motto of "take movies seriously, but don't take yourself seriously”) Kyle Kuchta (The Woodsman, Survival of the Film Freaks, Horror Movie Night Podcast)!! So open your memory box, put new batteries in the remotes, and grab your lucky golden coin as we answer the alien call in our 1995 Horror Popcorn Punchout!!
If you enjoy this episode, come join the Video Monsters crew on Discord - be a part of the discussion and listen in live when we record our episodes!! Go to linktree.com/videomonsterpod for the link to Discord, our socials, the most recent Popcorn Punchout poll (when active), and occasionally some highlighted episodes!! Video Monsters is brought to you by the Chattanooga Film Festival and Central Cinema in Knoxville, TN. Follow them on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, or online at chattfilmfest.org and centralcinema865.com. Links for each of these can also be found on our pages, so be sure to follow us at videomonsterpod on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram as well.
music for Video Monsters by Evan Simmons
What happens when an unavoidable cancellation leaves Nathan and Eric without an episode to record? Why, they record anyway! And in the process, they create a whole new segment for the show! Tonight you all get a bit of a peek at how the popcorn gets made with Nathan and Eric deciding in real time exactly what movies will be eligible to be tossed into the Skull of Decisions for our upcoming POPCORN PUNCHOUT on 1995 Horror Movies!
There are a few details from this impromptu episode that will be ironed out, but we’ve decided to treat this process as if we are curating a month of movie recommendations on the month’s topic. So stock up on your favorite movie snacks, scour your Letterboxd lists, and IMDbe ready for anything as we summon titles for a new ritual that shall henceforth be known as the Video Monsters’ Monthly Movie Madness!
If you enjoy this episode, come join the Video Monsters crew on Discord - be a part of the discussion and listen in live when we record our episodes!! Go to linktree.com/videomonsterpod for the link to Discord, our socials, the most recent Popcorn Punchout poll (when active), and occasionally some highlighted episodes!! Video Monsters is brought to you by the Chattanooga Film Festival and Central Cinema in Knoxville, TN. Follow them on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, or online at chattfilmfest.org and centralcinema865.com. Links for each of these can also be found on our pages, so be sure to follow us at videomonsterpod on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram as well.
music for Video Monsters by Evan Simmons
Happy Almost-Fall Ya’ll! It’s our favorite time of the year because September is the official start of Spooky Season for the Video Monsters! And a new season means it’s time for another POPCORN PUNCHOUT, where we use our not-quite patented Video Rack Attack Bracket to determine our movie themes for the months of September, October, and November.
We’ve got 30 themes in contention but only three will make it to the top. Up for debate are, of course, a multitude of horror subgenres in every color of the rainbow, but we’ve also got a few outlier themes running the gamut from stripping to cooking to house partying, as well as themes focusing on some of our favorite character actors like Philip Seymour Hoffman and…checks notes …Sean Whalen? So grab your gizmos, meet us in Discord, embrace the chaos, and submit yourself to the all-powerful Skull of Decisions as it decides the fate of the Video Monsters with our Autumn Themes POPCORN PUNCHOUT!
If you enjoy this episode, come join the Video Monsters crew on Discord - be a part of the discussion and listen in live when we record our episodes!! Go to linktree.com/videomonsterpod for the link to Discord, our socials, the most recent Popcorn Punchout poll (when active), and occasionally some highlighted episodes!!
Video Monsters is brought to you by the Chattanooga Film Festival and Central Cinema in Knoxville, TN. Follow them on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, or online at chattfilmfest.org and centralcinema865.com. Links for each of these can also be found on our pages, so be sure to follow us at videomonsterpod on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram as well.
music for Video Monsters by Evan Simmons
The Video Monsters are wrapping up our Top 100 Women-Directed Films of the 2010s, Based on Letterboxd Rankings series with TONI ERDMANN (2016) - a heartwarming, German character study centered around the relationship of a very career-focused woman and her independent spirit father who tries to help his daughter find humor in life. While this might sound like the recipe for a quirky comedy about a manic pixie dream dad, it is an intentionally paced, deeply emotional movie that resonates through its authenticity. So adjust your wig, put in your false teeth, and warm up your singing voice as we bare all of our thoughts of TONI ERDMANN (2016)!! If you enjoy this episode, come join the Video Monsters crew on Discord - be a part of the discussion and listen in live when we record our episodes!! Go to linktree.com/videomonsterpod for the link to Discord, our socials, the most recent Popcorn Punchout poll (when active), and occasionally some highlighted episodes!! Video Monsters is brought to you by the Chattanooga Film Festival and Central Cinema in Knoxville, TN. Follow them on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, or online at chattfilmfest.org and centralcinema865.com. Links for each of these can also be found on our pages, so be sure to follow us at videomonsterpod on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram as well.
music for Video Monsters by Evan Simmons
The Video Monsters continue their Chattanooga Film Festival 2023 coverage by discussing AMERICAN MELTDOWN - an indie, dark comedy, buddy hangout movie with plenty of important (and timely) themes that make its "coming of rage" description a perfect encapsulation of the emotional journey you go on with the lead duo. Very special guests Andrew Adams, Jacki Von Preysing, and Mark Evans join us to discuss the film, give insights into their technical and creative process, and reveal one of the greatest instagram handles of all time. If you've not yet seen the film, the first half of the episode is a mostly spoiler-free discussion, before diving a bit deeper into analysis in the second half. So grab your whisk and your whiskey, put on your smiley face, and make sure you have your third key before meeting us in the desert for our discussion of AMERICAN MELTDOWN!!
We support the hard work of all of the actors, writers, and everyone else involved in creating movies, which we are very passionate about. So it is important to note that American Meltdown is not affiliated with AMPTP and therefore exempt from the strike.
If you enjoy this episode, come join the Video Monsters crew on Discord - be a part of the discussion and listen in live when we record our episodes!! Go to linktree.com/videomonsterpod for the link to Discord, our socials, the most recent Popcorn Punchout poll (when active), and occasionally some highlighted episodes!!
Video Monsters is brought to you by the Chattanooga Film Festival and Central Cinema in Knoxville, TN. Follow them on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, or online at chattfilmfest.org and centralcinema865.com. Links for each of these can also be found on our pages, so be sure to follow us at videomonsterpod on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram as well.
music for Video Monsters by Evan Simmons
The Video Monsters kick off their Chattanooga Film Festival 2023 coverage by discussing the psychological horror relationship drama (that's light on blood, but very heavy on theme) TEARSUCKER! We are joined tonight by director/cinematographer/editor Stephen Vanderpool, writer/producer/actor Sam Brittan, and the star and emotional core of the film Allison Walter. This episode also kicks off TEARSUCKER's wide release as it is available now (7/7/23) on VOD (as well as physical media)!! So brew a nice cup of chamomile tea, pack your picnic lunch, and make sure your phone is charged before you meet us in the park for our discussion of TEARSUCKER!!
If you enjoy this episode, come join the Video Monsters crew on Discord - be a part of the discussion and listen in live when we record our episodes!! Go to linktree.com/videomonsterpod for the link to Discord, our socials, the most recent Popcorn Punchout poll (when active), and occasionally some highlighted episodes!!
Video Monsters is brought to you by the Chattanooga Film Festival and Central Cinema in Knoxville, TN. Follow them on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, or online at chattfilmfest.org and centralcinema865.com. Links for each of these can also be found on our pages, so be sure to follow us at videomonsterpod on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram as well.
music for Video Monsters by Evan Simmons
The Video Monsters are back in the saddle again, out where a movie is a movie. Where the podcasters feed on analysis, yes indeed, we're back in the saddle again. So grab your pet racoon, put on some chaps, and watch out for barbed wire on your way to meet us at the rodeo for tonight's bucking discussion of Chloe Zhao's THE RIDER (2017).
If you enjoy this episode, come join the Video Monsters crew on Discord - be a part of the discussion and listen in live when we record our episodes!! Go to linktree.com/videomonsterpod for the link to Discord, our socials, the most recent Popcorn Punchout poll (when active), and occasionally some highlighted episodes!!
Video Monsters is brought to you by the Chattanooga Film Festival and Central Cinema in Knoxville, TN. Follow them on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, or online at chattfilmfest.org and centralcinema865.com. Links for each of these can also be found on our pages, so be sure to follow us at videomonsterpod on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram as well.
music for Video Monsters by Evan Simmons
The Video Monsters are headed back in time to an island in 18th century France to discuss a beautiful, heart-breaking tale of longing, isolation, and finding solace in art. So grab your canvas, turn to page 28, and gather around the campfire as we sing the praises of Céline Sciamma’s PORTRAIT OF A LADY ON FIRE (2019)!
If you enjoy this episode, come join the Video Monsters crew on Discord - be a part of the discussion and listen in live when we record our episodes!! Go to linktree.com/videomonsterpod for the link to Discord, our socials, the most recent Popcorn Punchout poll (when active), and occasionally some highlighted episodes!!
Video Monsters is brought to you by the Chattanooga Film Festival and Central Cinema in Knoxville, TN. Follow them on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, or online at chattfilmfest.org and centralcinema865.com. Links for each of these can also be found on our pages, so be sure to follow us at videomonsterpod on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram as well.
music for Video Monsters by Evan Simmons
We interrupt your irregularly scheduled programming to bring you a special preview of the 2023 Chattanooga Film Festival with the Founder of the Fest, Executive Director, Lead Programmer, and total mensch Chris Dortch II! Chris chats about the challenges and triumphs of creating a hybrid festival that’s returning to on-ground programming for the first time since 2019, while also maintaining the accessibility of a virtual fest. He also gives a sneak peek at the cavalcade of delights they have in store this year to celebrate the festival’s tenth anniversary. And don’t tell anybody, but there’s a good chance he may spill the beans on a few things that haven’t been formally announced yet!
The 2023 Chattanooga Film Festival will be held virtually June 23rd - 29th, with in-person screenings June 23rd - 25th at the historic (and haunted!) Read House Hotel in Chattanooga, TN. Grab your badges now while you still can at chattfilmfest.org!
If you enjoy this episode, come join the Video Monsters crew on Discord - be a part of the discussion and listen in live when we record our episodes!! Go to linktree.com/videomonsterpod for the link to Discord, our socials, the most recent Popcorn Punchout poll (when active), and occasionally some highlighted episodes!!
Video Monsters is brought to you by the Chattanooga Film Festival and Central Cinema in Knoxville, TN. Follow them on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, or online at chattfilmfest.org and centralcinema865.com. Links for each of these can also be found on our pages, so be sure to follow us at videomonsterpod on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram as well.
music for Video Monsters by Evan Simmons
The Video Monsters have unlocked the truly unbelievable achievement of releasing 400 episodes of this podcast over the last 6-and-a-half years or so and we wanted to do something extra special for our 400th episode. So we decided to look back on our entire back catalog and resurrect the ghosts of pod’s past by putting together a ranking Popcorn Punchout to decide the top three films that we have covered in our prior 399 episodes. This gave us a chance to not only talk about our favorite films that we have covered over the duration of the show (again), but to also think about which of these films best represent the spirit of what we try to bring to this podcast every time we record together. So grab your monster pals and reminisce with us for a while as we sift through these old tapes and determine which movies come out on top in our special 400th Episode Popcorn Punchout!
If you enjoy this episode, come join the Video Monsters crew on Discord - be a part of the discussion and listen in live when we record our episodes!! Go to linktree.com/videomonsterpod for the link to Discord, our socials, the most recent Popcorn Punchout poll (when active), and occasionally some highlighted episodes!!
Video Monsters is brought to you by the Chattanooga Film Festival and Central Cinema in Knoxville, TN. Follow them on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, or online at chattfilmfest.org and centralcinema865.com. Links for each of these can also be found on our pages, so be sure to follow us at videomonsterpod on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram as well.
music for Video Monsters by Evan Simmons
The Video Monsters are turning to Letterboxd for a little help with this month’s topic. We’re going to cover three films from their list, “The 2010s—Top Women-Directed Feature Films” (which you can view in full here). We will decide which three films we’re going to focus on with a maddeningly addictive game we like to call the POPCORN PUNCHOUT! (which, by the way, we have been playing for a full year now, so happy anniversary, Popcorn Punchout!) Nathan, Dan, Eric and special guest Robert Woods (AN IDEAL HOST) will use our not-quite patented Video Rack Attack Bracket technology to let our votes (and a big bucket of chaos) decide what films we’ll discuss over the next few episodes. From LITTLE WOMEN to CERTAIN WOMEN to WONDER WOMEN (and Professor Marston I guess) all the way to the LADYs BIRD and… ON FIRE… we have an incredible lineup of films from extraordinarily talented female filmmakers. It’s time to find out which three make it to the end of this month’s POPCORN PUNCHOUT!
If you enjoy this episode, come join the Video Monsters crew on Discord - be a part of the discussion and listen in live when we record our episodes!! Go to linktree.com/videomonsterpod for the link to Discord, our socials, the most recent Popcorn Punchout poll (when active), and occasionally some highlighted episodes!!
Video Monsters is brought to you by the Chattanooga Film Festival and Central Cinema in Knoxville, TN. Follow them on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, or online at chattfilmfest.org and centralcinema865.com. Links for each of these can also be found on our pages, so be sure to follow us at videomonsterpod on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram as well.
music for Video Monsters by Evan Simmons
The Video Monsters have reached their final destination in their tour of International Horror cinema. This time we will discuss Issa López’s TIGERS ARE NOT AFRAID (2017). This Mexican fairy tale about a group of homeless orphaned children who come into conflict with the local drug cartel (and maybe a few ghosts for good measure) is a potent mix of magical realism and urban horror guaranteed to leave you rattled in one way or another. So grab your tiger plush, make a wish, and meet us at the Satanic virtual for our review of TIGERS ARE NOT AFRAID!If you enjoy this episode, come join the Video Monsters crew on Discord - be a part of the discussion and listen in live when we record our episodes!! Go to linktree.com/videomonsterpod for the link to Discord, our socials, the most recent Popcorn Punchout poll (when active), and occasionally some highlighted episodes!! Video Monsters is brought to you by the Chattanooga Film Festival and Central Cinema in Knoxville, TN. Follow them on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, or online at chattfilmfest.org and centralcinema865.com. Links for each of these can also be found on our pages, so be sure to follow us at videomonsterpod on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram as well. music for Video Monsters by Evan Simmons
The Video Monsters are heading to Sweden for the next stop on our tour of International Horror films. This time we will discuss the chilly, isolating vampire film LET THE RIGHT ONE IN (2008), from director Tomas Alfredson. On the way, we’ll make a brief pit stop in New Mexico to talk about Matt Reeves’s American remake LET ME IN (2010), and compare both adaptations to John Ajvide Lindqvist’s original novel to see which version of this haunting love story we find most affecting. So grab your Rubik’s cube, take off your shoes, come in through the window, and make yourself at home as we invite you to our in-depth discussion of LET THE RIGHT ONE IN!If you enjoy this episode, come join the Video Monsters crew on Discord - be a part of the discussion and listen in live when we record our episodes!!Go to linktree.com/videomonsterpod for the link to Discord, our socials, the most recent Popcorn Punchout poll (when active), and occasionally some highlighted episodes!!Video Monsters is brought to you by the Chattanooga Film Festival and Central Cinema in Knoxville, TN. Follow them on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, or online at chattfilmfest.org and centralcinema865.com. Links for each of these can also be found on our pages, so be sure to follow us at videomonsterpod on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram as well.music for Video Monsters by Evan Simmons
Our series on International Horror films kicks off with…AMOVIEHOUSE (1977)!AKA HAUSU. This delightfully deranged film from director Nobuhiko Obayashi is an unhinged (get it?! Because houses have doors… and doors have hinges!) exercise in unbridled creative enthusiasm, with more manic experimental energy in a single shot than most films have in their entire runtime. It’s the kind of film that truly must be experienced because no description could possibly prepare a person for the kaleidoscopic horror and wonder that awaits them inside. So, let’s stop trying and get to it! Pull off your butt bucket, grab some melons, hang on to your scarf, and take the fridge passage to our review of HOUSE (1977)!If you enjoy this episode, come join the Video Monsters crew on Discord - be a part of the discussion and listen in live when we record our episodes!!Go to linktree.com/videomonsterpod for the link to Discord, our socials, the most recent Popcorn Punchout poll (when active), and occasionally some highlighted episodes!!Video Monsters is brought to you by the Chattanooga Film Festival and Central Cinema in Knoxville, TN. Follow them on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, or online at chattfilmfest.org and centralcinema865.com. Links for each of these can also be found on our pages, so be sure to follow us at videomonsterpod on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram as well.music for Video Monsters by Evan Simmons
The Video Monsters are going global with International Horror films! But first we must decide which three films we’re going to focus on with a maddeningly addictive game we like to call the POPCORN PUNCHOUT! Nathan, Dan, and Eric will use our not-quite patented Video Rack Attack Bracket technology to let our votes (and a big bucket of chaos) decide what films we’ll discuss over the next few episodes. Only this time we have added a few new wrinkles in the form of additional power-ups that Nathan has tentatively(?) titled Gizmos (much to Dan’s chagrin.) So head INSIDE, lock up the HOUSE, say GOODNIGHT to MOMMY, and BASKIN the RAW power of the BLACK MAGIC that’s conjured when we hit [REC] on another POPCORN PUNCHOUT!If you enjoy this episode, come join the Video Monsters crew on Discord - be a part of the discussion and listen in live when we record our episodes!! Go to linktr.ee/videomonsterpod for the link to Discord, our socials, the most recent Popcorn Punchout poll (when active), and occasionally some highlighted episodes!!Video Monsters is brought to you by the Chattanooga Film Festival and Central Cinema in Knoxville, TN. Follow them on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, or online at chattfilmfest.org and centralcinema865.com. Links for each of these can also be found on our pages, so be sure to follow us at videomonsterpod on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram as well. music for Video Monsters by Evan Simmons
Recently, we had time to spare,And saw THE MAN WHO WASN’T THERE.Every shot was black and gray,And by the end, we had much to say.When we gathered, just us three,The Video Monsters erupted with glee.We shared our thoughts and had a ball.The Coens had us all in thrall.So grab your wig and meet us at the storeBe sure to tip your barber before heading out the door.For now it seems it’s time to shareOur review of THE MAN WHO WASN’T THEREGo on now, just hit playEnjoy the show, without delayIf you enjoy this episode, come join the Video Monsters crew on Discord (https://discord.gg/sjyUQg8phB)!! Hangout episodes are live (and unedited!) every Tuesday night starting around 9:30pm EST. Listen and chat along with us in the Discord chat and we’ll even give you a shoutout on the episode!Video Monsters is brought to you by the Chattanooga Film Festival and Central Cinema in Knoxville, TN. Follow them on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, or online at chattfilmfest.org and centralcinema865.com. Links for each of these can also be found on our pages, so be sure to follow us at videomonsterpod on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram as well.music for Video Monsters by Evan Simmons
The Video Monsters step into the ring to contend with the fact that this is the first time we have reviewed a movie by one of our greatest living filmmakers, Martin Scorsese. We also process our feelings on unsympathetic protagonists, subjective cinematography, the dark side of the triumphant underdog sports narrative, and the (toxic) masculine urge to utterly demolish everything that you are afraid to lose.. especially a woman. So fix the TV, pop some flashbulbs, and meet us at the gym or the joint because we heard some things and we’ll tell you all about ‘em in our review of Martin Scorsese’s, RAGING BULL (1980)!If you enjoy this episode, come join the Video Monsters crew on Discord (https://discord.gg/sjyUQg8phB)!! Hangout episodes are live (and unedited!) every Tuesday night starting around 9:30pm EST. Listen and chat along with us in the Discord chat and we’ll even give you a shoutout on the episode!Video Monsters is brought to you by the Chattanooga Film Festival and Central Cinema in Knoxville, TN. Follow them on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, or online at chattfilmfest.org and centralcinema865.com. Links for each of these can also be found on our pages, so be sure to follow us at videomonsterpod on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram as well.music for Video Monsters by Evan Simmons
The Video Monsters are kicking off our series on modern black-and-white films with a surreal Japanese cult body horror film that inspires awe and disgust in equal measure. So grab your drill bit, wipe that sweat off your brow, and fire up your ankle rockets because it’s time to rust this pod into the dust of the universe with our review of Shin’ya Tsukamoto’s TETSUO: THE IRON MAN (1989)!If you enjoy this episode, come join the Video Monsters crew on Discord (https://discord.gg/sjyUQg8phB)!! Hangout episodes are live (and unedited!) every Tuesday night starting around 9:30pm EST. Listen and chat along with us in the Discord chat and we’ll even give you a shoutout on the episode!Video Monsters is brought to you by the Chattanooga Film Festival and Central Cinema in Knoxville, TN. Follow them on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, or online at chattfilmfest.org and centralcinema865.com. Links for each of these can also be found on our pages, so be sure to follow us at videomonsterpod on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram as well.music for Video Monsters by Evan Simmons
This month, the Video Monsters set their sights on modern monochrome masterpieces! The topic is black-and-white films made after 1966, when most American film and television studios shifted to predominantly color programming. Our mission is to decide which three films to review this month. So how do we do that? With a little game we like to call the POPCORN PUNCHOUT! Nathan, Dan, Eric, and Corey will use our not-quite patented Video Rack Attack Bracket technology to let our votes (and a dash of chaos) decide what films we’ll discuss over the next few episodes. So C’Mon C’Mon, grab a slice of Pi, tell the Clerks to close up early, meet us in A Field in England, and savor the sweet a-Roma of this freshly popped POPCORN PUNCHOUT!If you enjoy this episode, come join the Video Monsters crew on Discord (https://discord.gg/sjyUQg8phB)!! Hangout episodes are live (and unedited!) every Tuesday night starting around 9:30pm EST. Listen and chat along with us in the Discord chat and we’ll even give you a shoutout on the episode!Video Monsters is brought to you by the Chattanooga Film Festival and Central Cinema in Knoxville, TN. Follow them on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, or online at chattfilmfest.org and centralcinema865.com. Links for each of these can also be found on our pages, so be sure to follow us at videomonsterpod on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram as well.music for Video Monsters by Evan Simmons
Our South Korean cinema series comes to a satisfying climax with a twisty erotic con thriller from legendary director, Park Chan-Wook. So grab your thimble, bookmark your page in “Bells and Balls,” and meet us in the library because it’s time to test the bounds of knowledge with our review of THE HANDMAIDEN (2016)!If you enjoy this episode, come join the Video Monsters crew on Discord (https://discord.gg/sjyUQg8phB)!! Hangout episodes are live (and unedited!) every Tuesday night starting around 9:30pm EST. Listen and chat along with us in the Discord chat and we’ll even give you a shoutout on the episode!Video Monsters is brought to you by the Chattanooga Film Festival and Central Cinema in Knoxville, TN. Follow them on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, or online at chattfilmfest.org and centralcinema865.com. Links for each of these can also be found on our pages, so be sure to follow us at videomonsterpod on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram as well.music for Video Monsters by Evan Simmons
We love trashy movies here at Video Monsters. You might even say we’re connoisseurs of it. But we do occasionally like to ahem cross the line into more prestigious territory. And, well, it doesn’t get any more prestigious than Bong Joon-Ho’s PARASITE. In 2019, it won the Palme d’Or and went on to become the first non-English language Best Picture winner in the history of the Academy Awards (and, shockingly, the only South Korean film to EVER win an Oscar… or four). It is currently the highest-rated feature film on Letterboxd. It was just recently included in Sight and Sound’s once-a-decade Greatest Films of All Time poll. At this point, is there really anything left to say about a movie that is so universally beloved and was instantly embraced as a canonical classic? Maybe! Nathan, Dan, and Eric will attempt to leave no scholar stone unturned in our analysis. So crack a window, whip up some ram-don, and make a plan to hit play because we’re paying you extra to listen to our review of PARASITE.If you enjoy this episode, come join the Video Monsters crew on Discord (https://discord.gg/sjyUQg8phB)!! Hangout episodes are live (and unedited!) every Tuesday night starting around 9:30pm EST. Listen and chat along with us in the Discord chat and we’ll even give you a shoutout on the episode!Video Monsters is brought to you by the Chattanooga Film Festival and Central Cinema in Knoxville, TN. Follow them on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, or online at chattfilmfest.org and centralcinema865.com. Links for each of these can also be found on our pages, so be sure to follow us at videomonsterpod on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram as well.music for Video Monsters by Evan Simmonsoutro theme by Robert Woods
Baby, it’s cold outside. So warm yourself up with another heated Popcorn Punchout! The Video Monsters are once depending on the chaos of our Video Rack Attack Bracket technology to determine our themes for the winter months of December, January, and February. As usual Nathan, Eric, and Dan each have at least one darling that they want to go the distance. And if we have learned anything from this last year of Punchouts, it’s that heartbreak and hostility are inevitable, but harmony triumphs in the end…. mostly. So grab your chaos cards, meet us in Discord, and submit yourself to the omnipotent Skull of Decisions because it’s time to decide the fate of the Video Monsters with another POPCORN PUNCHOUT!If you enjoy this episode, come join the Video Monsters crew on Discord (https://discord.gg/sjyUQg8phB)!! Hangout episodes are live (and unedited!) every Tuesday night starting around 9:30pm EST. Listen and chat along with us in the Discord chat and we’ll even give you a shoutout on the episode!Video Monsters is brought to you by the Chattanooga Film Festival and Central Cinema in Knoxville, TN. Follow them on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, or online at chattfilmfest.org and centralcinema865.com. Links for each of these can also be found on our pages, so be sure to follow us at videomonsterpod on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram as well.music for Video Monsters by Evan Simmonsoutro theme by Robert Woods
The Video Monsters kick the doors in on our South Korean Cinema series with an in-depth discussion of the action-packed crime drama, THE OUTLAWS (2017)! The film follows a detective (played by cuddly human wrecking ball, Ma Dong-seok AKA Don Lee) caught in the middle of a Chinese-Korean gang war in the criminal underbelly of Seoul. Nathan, Dan, and Eric discuss how such a fast-paced, plot-driven film manages to weave in lots of humor and brilliant character details, the way the film succeeds at endearing you to a police squad operating somewhat extra-judicially, how Korean action films differ culturally from American action films (hint: no guns!), and why we’re so excited that this is just the beginning of a new action franchise. But mostly we just marvel at the pure charisma of Ma Dong-seok and the pure cinema of seeing him absolutely leveling bad guys. It’s truly a thing of beauty. So grab your fire extinguisher, watch out for sharp objects, and meet us in the Truth Room because it’s time to hang out with the Serious Crimes Unit and pull back the curtain on THE OUTLAWS (2017)!If you enjoy this episode, come join the Video Monsters crew on Discord (https://discord.gg/sjyUQg8phB)!! Hangout episodes are live (and unedited!) every Tuesday night starting around 9:30pm EST. Listen and chat along with us in the Discord chat and we’ll even give you a shoutout on the episode!Video Monsters is brought to you by the Chattanooga Film Festival and Central Cinema in Knoxville, TN. Follow them on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, or online at chattfilmfest.org and centralcinema865.com. Links for each of these can also be found on our pages, so be sure to follow us at videomonsterpod on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram as well.music for Video Monsters by Evan Simmonsoutro theme by Robert Woods
The Video Monsters are once again looking for cinematic pleasures abroad. And, for our money, there are few countries with a cinematic output as diverse, exciting, and consistently high quality as South Korea. The only question is, how do we decide which movies to talk about when there are so many all-time classics to choose from?! Why, with a POPCORN PUNCHOUT, of course! Nathan, Dan, and Eric will once again use our Video Rack Attack Bracket technology to let our votes (and a dash of chaos) decide which three South Korean films we will cover on the podcast for the rest of the month. So call all your Mother, give The Handmaiden a night off, hail A Taxi Driver, meet us at the Joint Security Area, and hurry up before we get too Old, boy because we are Burning with a desire to talk about these films, and a POPCORN PUNCHOUT is just the thing to quench our Thirst for South Korean cinema!If you enjoy this episode, come join the Video Monsters crew on Discord (https://discord.gg/sjyUQg8phB)!! Hangout episodes are live (and unedited!) every Tuesday night starting around 9:30pm EST. Listen and chat along with us in the Discord chat and we’ll even give you a shoutout on the episode!Video Monsters is brought to you by the Chattanooga Film Festival and Central Cinema in Knoxville, TN. Follow them on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, or online at chattfilmfest.org and centralcinema865.com. Links for each of these can also be found on our pages, so be sure to follow us at videomonsterpod on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram as well.music for Video Monsters by Evan Simmonsoutro theme by Robert Woods
The Video Monsters share their thoughts on the 14th annual Knoxville Horror Film Festival, which ran from Oct. 20th - 23rd at the Parkway Drive-In and Central Cinema in Knoxville, TN. From canonical classics like CREEPSHOW, FRIGHT NIGHT (1985), ARMY OF DARKNESS, RE-ANIMATOR, and FROM BEYOND; to the FULCI LIVES triple feature; to some of biggest genre hits on this year’s festival circuit like KIDS VS ALIENS, HUESERA, TIMEKEEPERS OF ETERNITY, and SOMETHING IN THE DIRT; the folks at Central Cinema once again crushed it with this year’s fest. They were even considerate enough to program future Christmas horror classics like THE WOODSMAN, THE LEECH, and CHRISTMAS BLOODY CHRISTMAS so that we could release this episode in December and it still be seasonally appropriate (OK, so maybe that isn’t why they picked these killer holiday flicks but isn’t it nice how things worked out?) So grab your R.I.P pass, hit the concession stand, snag some Central Cinema merch and meet us in Knoxville because it’s time to celebrate BOTH of the most wonderful times of the year with our coverage of the 2022 Knoxville Horror Film Festival!If you enjoy this episode, come join the Video Monsters crew on Discord (https://discord.gg/sjyUQg8phB)!! Hangout episodes are live (and unedited!) every Tuesday night starting around 9:30pm EST. Listen and chat along with us in the Discord chat and we’ll even give you a shoutout on the episode!Video Monsters is brought to you by the Chattanooga Film Festival and Central Cinema in Knoxville, TN. Follow them on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, or online at chattfilmfest.org and centralcinema865.com. Links for each of these can also be found on our pages, so be sure to follow us at videomonsterpod on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram as well.music for Video Monsters by Evan Simmonsoutro theme by Robert Woods
This is IT. It’s all been building up to this. Two months (and some change) of Stephen King coverage comes to a Fire(starter)y conclusion with our STEPHEN KING POPCORN PUNCHOUT! Nathan, Dan, and Eric duke it out using our Video Rack Attack Bracket technology to determine the official Video Monsters-approved top three Stephen King film/TV adaptations. The three of us are Apt Pupils and have been studying a (Salem’s) Lot of these films for some Time(keepers of eternity) now. We’re all very passionate about King and we each had our (Cat’s) Eyes on different films that we Desperat(ion)ely felt Need(ful Things)ed to be on this list. This, of courses, has resulted in what is easily the most contentious episode of the (Creep)show that we have ever recorded. Will we Stand By (me) our final choices? Will any of us get our Dream(catcher) list of top King movies? Or will it all end in Misery with each of us Lang(oliers)uished? One thing was definitely for sure… it was a late Night (Flier) and we were all feeling pretty Mangle(r)d and just wanted some (Doctor) Sleep by the end of it, but this wasn’t just a (Gerald’s) Game to us so we stayed in The (Dead) Zone to bring you the official Video Monsters ranking of the top three Stephen King film/tv adaptations! So let’s kick things into Maximum Overdrive and get things Running, Man! Get that Bag of Bones moving. We can’t have any Sleepwalkers on this Graveyard Shift because it’s time to finally Carrie our 2022 Halloween series over the finish line with our STEPHEN KING POPCORN PUNCHOUT! Farewell, dear King. You will be MIST.
If you enjoy this episode, come join the Video Monsters crew on Discord (https://discord.gg/sjyUQg8phB)!! Hangout episodes are live (and unedited!) every Tuesday night starting around 9:30pm EST. Listen and chat along with us in the Discord chat and we’ll even give you a shoutout on the episode!
Video Monsters is brought to you by the Chattanooga Film Festival and Central Cinema in Knoxville, TN. Follow them on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, or online at chattfilmfest.org and centralcinema865.com. Links for each of these can also be found on our pages, so be sure to follow us at videomonsterpod on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram as well.
music for Video Monsters by Evan Simmons outro theme by Robert Woods
Actor/Filmmaker Matt Mercer rides shotgun with the Video Monsters to talk about the greatest Stephen King movie of all time… depending on how you define “Stephen King movie.” In this case, the movie could also be described as the only Stephen King movie of all time. That’s right, let’s get the obvious pun out of the way and shift into MAXIMUM OVERDRIVE (1986)! So grab yourself a can of soda, gobble some watermelon with the Green Goblin, fill up your gas tank, meet us at the Dixie Boy, and do NOT make eye contact with the arcade machines because WE MADE YOU this episode of Video Monsters all about the maximum fun of MAXIMUM OVERDRIVE with special guest Matt Mercer!
If you enjoy this episode, come join the Video Monsters crew on Discord (https://discord.gg/sjyUQg8phB)!! Hangout episodes are live (and unedited!) every Tuesday night starting around 9:30pm EST. Listen and chat along with us in the Discord chat and we’ll even give you a shoutout on the episode!
Video Monsters is brought to you by the Chattanooga Film Festival and Central Cinema in Knoxville, TN. Follow them on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, or online at chattfilmfest.org and centralcinema865.com. Links for each of these can also be found on our pages, so be sure to follow us at videomonsterpod on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram as well.
music for Video Monsters by Evan Simmons outro theme by Robert Woods
Filmmaker Andrew Austin (THE POWER OF GLOVE) boards the Video Monsters airwaves to talk about the Stephen King miniseries with the flying meatballs that, like, eat the past or something. It’s THE LANGOLIERS (1995), from director Tom Holland! Nathan flies solo on this one (get it? because they’re on a plane) because Eric and Dan fell into a hole in space-time, I guess? I don’t know guys, it’s hard to muster up an enthusiastic description to something as tedious as THE LANGOLIERS, unless you’re Nathan making up some nonsense about how it’s secretly a soap opera satire or something. Anyway, enough editorializing from description-writer Eric. Grab your passport, shred some paper, meet us at the Bangor airport, and maybe watch TIMEKEEPERS OF ETERNITY instead of this mess? OK, fine, let us eat up some more of the precious little time you have on this earth to talk about THE LANGOLIERS with special guest Andrew Austin!
If you enjoy this episode, come join the Video Monsters crew on Discord (https://discord.gg/sjyUQg8phB)!! Hangout episodes are live (and unedited!) every Tuesday night starting around 9:30pm EST. Listen and chat along with us in the Discord chat and we’ll even give you a shoutout on the episode!
Video Monsters is brought to you by the Chattanooga Film Festival and Central Cinema in Knoxville, TN. Follow them on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, or online at chattfilmfest.org and centralcinema865.com. Links for each of these can also be found on our pages, so be sure to follow us at videomonsterpod on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram as well.
music for Video Monsters by Evan Simmons
The Video Monsters are joined by Travis Knight – illustrator, designer, art director for the Chattanooga Film Festival, and NOT the director of BUMBLEBEE – to discuss the very first Stephen King TV miniseries, SALEM’S LOT (1979), directed by the legendary Tobe Hooper! We also brought on Corey Simpson to fill in for Eric and Dan, who were conspicuously absent after visiting an antique furniture store… oh well, probably nothing to worry about. So grab your popsicle stick crucifix, lock the windows, and meet us at the Marsten house to open the coffin lid on SALEM’S LOT with special guest Travis Knight!
If you enjoy this episode, come join the Video Monsters crew on Discord (https://discord.gg/sjyUQg8phB)!! Hangout episodes are live (and unedited!) every Tuesday night starting around 9:30pm EST. Listen and chat along with us in the Discord chat and we’ll even give you a shoutout on the episode!
Video Monsters is brought to you by the Chattanooga Film Festival and Central Cinema in Knoxville, TN. Follow them on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, or online at chattfilmfest.org and centralcinema865.com. Links for each of these can also be found on our pages, so be sure to follow us at videomonsterpod on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram as well.
music for Video Monsters by Evan Simmons
The Video Monsters are joined by actor/writer/director Shane Brady (BREATHING HAPPY) to discuss the seemingly-ill-advised-but-miraculously-pulled-off sequel to THE SHINING: Mike Flanagan’s DOCTOR SLEEP (2019)! We’re especially excited for this episode because Shane is actually IN the film we’re discussing as the magician at Abra’s birthday party! He tells us all about what it was like on set and shares a heart-warming story about director Mike Flanagan that proves to all us Flana-fans why Mike is the absolute best. We also may or may not dramatically re-enact the film’s best and most emotional scene… you definitely do not want to miss this one. So strap on your top hat, suck down a steamy canister of… steam, and meet us at the Overlook to shine on with DOCTOR SLEEP and special guest Shane Brady!
If you enjoy this episode, come join the Video Monsters crew on Discord (https://discord.gg/sjyUQg8phB)!! Hangout episodes are live (and unedited!) every Tuesday night starting around 9:30pm EST. Listen and chat along with us in the Discord chat and we’ll even give you a shoutout on the episode!
Video Monsters is brought to you by the Chattanooga Film Festival and Central Cinema in Knoxville, TN. Follow them on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, or online at chattfilmfest.org and centralcinema865.com. Links for each of these can also be found on our pages, so be sure to follow us at videomonsterpod on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram as well.
music for Video Monsters by Evan Simmons
Filmmaker Robert Woods (AN IDEAL HOST) bundles up with the Video Monsters to discuss the absolute bugnuts insanity of one of the more infamously loathed Stephen King adaptations, Lawrence Kasdan’s DREAMCATCHER (2003)! Where to begin with this one… look, it’s a $70 million prestige genre picture, it stars Morgan Freeman, and it’s about aliens that explode out of your butt. What more do I need to say? It’s one of the weirdest, wildest movies to ever come out of the studio system and it’s a miracle that it exists. The kind of movie where everything went wrong… and oh-so right. So grab a toothpick, flush that sh-t weasel down the toilet, and meet us in the Memory Warehouse because, Scooby-Dooby-Doo, we’ve got some work to do now in our review of DREAMCATCHER with special guest Robert Woods!
If you enjoy this episode, come join the Video Monsters crew on Discord (https://discord.gg/sjyUQg8phB)!! Hangout episodes are live (and unedited!) every Tuesday night starting around 9:30pm EST. Listen and chat along with us in the Discord chat and we’ll even give you a shoutout on the episode!
Video Monsters is brought to you by the Chattanooga Film Festival and Central Cinema in Knoxville, TN. Follow them on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, or online at chattfilmfest.org and centralcinema865.com. Links for each of these can also be found on our pages, so be sure to follow us at videomonsterpod on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram as well.
music for Video Monsters by Evan Simmons
Filmmaker/Podcaster Bill Fulkerson (OTC Industries - Outside the Cinema podcast, SURVIVAL OF THE FILM FREAKS, SAFER SPACES) returns to share a byline with the Video Monsters and chat about about one of the most severely underappreciated Stephen King adaptations, THE NIGHT FLIER (1997)! The film is about a craven bloodsucker who flies along the east coast preying on juicy, unsuspecting witnesses. Oh, and did we mention that he’s also trying to track down a vampire?! AND he’s played by the legendary Miguel Ferrer in a rare leading role!!! How could someone NOT love this flick?! So grab your pilot license, brush your retractable vampire fang, meet us at the airport, and debate the logistics of vampire urine with us as we get an Inside View of THE NIGHT FLIER with Bill Fulkerson!
If you enjoy this episode, come join the Video Monsters crew on Discord (https://discord.gg/sjyUQg8phB)!! Hangout episodes are live (and unedited!) every Tuesday night starting around 9:30pm EST. Listen and chat along with us in the Discord chat and we’ll even give you a shoutout on the episode!
Video Monsters is brought to you by the Chattanooga Film Festival and Central Cinema in Knoxville, TN. Follow them on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, or online at chattfilmfest.org and centralcinema865.com. Links for each of these can also be found on our pages, so be sure to follow us at videomonsterpod on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram as well.
music for Video Monsters by Evan Simmons
Filmmaker Anthony Cousins (SCARE PACKAGE, EVERYTIME WE MEET FOR ICE CREAM YOUR WHOLE FUCKING FACE EXPLODES, and the upcoming SCARE PACKAGE II: RAD CHAD’S REVENGE) joins the Video Monsters to discuss what we believe is one of the most undervalued entries in the Stephen King film canon, David Cronenberg’s THE DEAD ZONE (1983). The film notably eschews the overt body horror that Cronenberg was known for at the time to tell a cold, melancholy tale of a lonely man – played with brilliant subtlety by the legendary Christopher Walken – cursed with the gift of premonition. And yet, it may secretly be one of the most horrifying body horror films ever made…. just without all the blood and guts. So grab your cane, put on your peacoat, flip up the collar, look at yourself in the mirror, and slowly come to terms with the fact that none of us can ever be as cool as Christopher Walken. Then come break the ice with us as we discuss THE DEAD ZONE with special guest Anthony Cousins!
If you enjoy this episode, come join the Video Monsters crew on Discord (https://discord.gg/sjyUQg8phB)!! Hangout episodes are live (and unedited!) every Tuesday night starting around 9:30pm EST. Listen and chat along with us in the Discord chat and we’ll even give you a shoutout on the episode!
Video Monsters is brought to you by the Chattanooga Film Festival and Central Cinema in Knoxville, TN. Follow them on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, or online at chattfilmfest.org and centralcinema865.com. Links for each of these can also be found on our pages, so be sure to follow us at videomonsterpod on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram as well.
music for Video Monsters by Evan Simmons
Theodore Schaefer (director, co-writer, producer for GIVING BIRTH TO A BUTTERFLY) joins the Video Monsters to discuss the Stephen King film that started it all, Brian De Palma’s CARRIE (1976)! It’s been noted often, including by King himself, that the surprise success of this film is the reason why King rocketed into superstardom. CARRIE is often cited as not only one of the greatest King adaptations, but one of the most iconic and influential horror films of all time. But how does it hold up today? Is this film actually a comedy? Is Carrie a supporting character in her own movie? Was Carrie’s mom right all along about her daughter being corrupted by the devil?! We leave no stone unturned with this one. So come out of the prayer closet, throw your dirty pillows in the wash, grab your prom dress, and take our hand as we find Love Amongst the Stars in our review of CARRIE with special guest Ted Schaefer!
If you enjoy this episode, come join the Video Monsters crew on Discord (https://discord.gg/sjyUQg8phB)!! Hangout episodes are live (and unedited!) every Tuesday night starting around 9:30pm EST. Listen and chat along with us in the Discord chat and we’ll even give you a shoutout on the episode!
Video Monsters is brought to you by the Chattanooga Film Festival and Central Cinema in Knoxville, TN. Follow them on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, or online at chattfilmfest.org and centralcinema865.com. Links for each of these can also be found on our pages, so be sure to follow us at videomonsterpod on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram as well.
music for Video Monsters by Evan Simmons
Writer/Director Douglas Wicker (WHAT HAPPENED TO THE OTHERS) joins the Video Monsters to discuss an enjoyably kooky Stephen King adaptation that can best be described as, “what if JAWS, but werewolf?” Tonight we’re sinking our teeth into SILVER BULLET (1985), based on King’s calendar-inspired novelette (whatever that is) “Cycle of the Werewolf!” Featuring a lovable but characteristically batty Gary Busey performance and Corey Haim as a parapalegic boy with a motorized wheelchair that can reach speeds up to 60 miles per hour, it’s safe to say that SILVER BULLET isn’t your typical creature feature. So reel in your kite, grab The Peacemaker, and meet us in the foggy woods of Tarker’s Mill for an in-depth examination of SILVER BULLET with special guest Douglas Wicker!
If you enjoy this episode, come join the Video Monsters crew on Discord (https://discord.gg/sjyUQg8phB)!! Hangout episodes are live (and unedited!) every Tuesday night starting around 9:30pm EST. Listen and chat along with us in the Discord chat and we’ll even give you a shoutout on the episode!
Video Monsters is brought to you by the Chattanooga Film Festival and Central Cinema in Knoxville, TN. Follow them on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, or online at chattfilmfest.org and centralcinema865.com. Links for each of these can also be found on our pages, so be sure to follow us at videomonsterpod on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram as well.
music for Video Monsters by Evan Simmons
Writer/Director Kyle Kuchta (SURVIVAL OF THE FILM FREAKS, THE WOODSMAN) comes back… again… for more… of our Stephen King Halloween coverage! Kyle has selected a film about a teacher who has to relocate his wife and son to a remote part of the country for a new job after an outburst of anger causes him to lose his teaching position. That’s right! Tonight we’re talking about THE SHINI… oh, wait a minute… checks notes I mean… SOMETIMES THEY COME BACK (1991)! The made-for-TV short story adaptation that features the most fearsome recurring foe across all of King’s work: 50s GREASERS! So wipe the dust out of your eye, grab your rabbit’s foot keyring, and take a shortcut through the train tunnel on your way to our analysis of SOMETIMES THEY COME BACK with special guest Kyle Kuchta!
If you enjoy this episode, come join the Video Monsters crew on Discord (https://discord.gg/sjyUQg8phB)!! Hangout episodes are live (and unedited!) every Tuesday night starting around 9:30pm EST. Listen and chat along with us in the Discord chat and we’ll even give you a shoutout on the episode!
Video Monsters is brought to you by the Chattanooga Film Festival and Central Cinema in Knoxville, TN. Follow them on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, or online at chattfilmfest.org and centralcinema865.com. Links for each of these can also be found on our pages, so be sure to follow us at videomonsterpod on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram as well.
music for Video Monsters by Evan Simmons
Writer/Director Wolfe MacReady checks into the Overlook Hotel with the Video Monsters to passionately defend the oft-maligned ABC television miniseries version of THE SHINING (1997), directed by Mick Garris and written by King himself. The series is clearly a product of its time and suffers from the limitations of 90s network television but – despite its shortcomings – it is an earnest, emotional work with moving performances that faithfully (sometimes a little TOO faithfully) adapts the more personal elements of the novel that were omitted from the Stanley Kubrick film. So take your medicine, trim the topiary, grab your croquet mallet, and meet us in Room 217 as we… wait, hold on. You passed it... No, it’s 217, not 237. You’ve gone too far. Turn back around and… yeah. There you go. OK, great. Where was I? Oh, right. Now that we’re all here, it’s time to haunt the halls of THE SHINING with special guest, Wolfe MacReady!
If you enjoy this episode, come join the Video Monsters crew on Discord (https://discord.gg/sjyUQg8phB)!! Hangout episodes are live (and unedited!) every Tuesday night starting around 9:00pm EST. Listen and chat along with us in the Discord chat and we’ll even give you a shoutout on the episode!
Video Monsters is brought to you by the Chattanooga Film Festival and Central Cinema in Knoxville, TN. Follow them on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, or online at chattfilmfest.org and centralcinema865.com. Links for each of these can also be found on our pages, so be sure to follow us at videomonsterpod on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram as well.
music for Video Monsters by Evan Simmons
Spooky Season is upon us once again, which means it is FINALLY time to kick off our Halloween series for 2022! This is a big one for us. One that we have literally had planned out for well over a year in advance and we could not be more excited about it. So much so that we had to dedicate this entire episode to talking about the subject of our series, why he is so important to us, and what we are most looking forward to discussing this year. So, without further ado, let’s cut the ribbon on this bad boy. The Video Monsters are proud to present – in celebration of his 75th birthday this month – our Halloween series on the life and work of the one, the only, our Maine man, Mr. STEPHEN KING!!! So dust off those worn-out old paperbacks, start practicing your dodgy “Down East” Maine accent, and get ready to dive under the covers with the Video Monsters Halloween series on the man of our (nightmares and) dreams(capes), STEPHEN KING!!!
If you enjoy this episode, come join the Video Monsters crew on Discord (https://discord.gg/sjyUQg8phB)!! Hangout episodes are live (and unedited!) every Tuesday night starting around 9:00pm EST. Listen and chat along with us in the Discord chat and we’ll even give you a shoutout on the episode!
Video Monsters is brought to you by the Chattanooga Film Festival and Central Cinema in Knoxville, TN. Follow them on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, or online at chattfilmfest.org and centralcinema865.com. Links for each of these can also be found on our pages, so be sure to follow us at videomonsterpod on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram as well.
music for Video Monsters by Evan Simmons
Filmmaker George Popov returns to the podcast to talk about his SIDEWORLD documentary series, which takes a look into the myths and folklore behind some of the most terrifyingly beautiful places on earth. The discussion mostly focuses on the first entry, HAUNTED FORESTS OF ENGLAND, but he also gives us some insight into the newest entry, TERRORS OF THE SEA, and a little sneak peek at the next entry and the future of the SIDEWORLD series. So grab your camera and listen for the howls of the hellhounds as we go on a Wild Hunt through the Sideworld with filmmaker George Popov!
If you enjoy this episode, come join the Video Monsters crew on Discord (https://discord.gg/sjyUQg8phB)!! Hangout episodes are live (and unedited!) every Tuesday night starting around 9:00pm EST. Listen and chat along with us in the Discord chat and we’ll even give you a shoutout on the episode!
Video Monsters is brought to you by the Chattanooga Film Festival and Central Cinema in Knoxville, TN. Follow them on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, or online at chattfilmfest.org and centralcinema865.com. Links for each of these can also be found on our pages, so be sure to follow us at videomonsterpod on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram as well.
music for Video Monsters by Evan Simmons
We’re bidding a fond farewell to our Australian cinema series and riding off into the sunset with a brutal, beautiful Outback western that deconstructs the romantic mythmaking of the genre and delivers a sparse, unflinching, and heartbreaking portrayal of the sudden inevitability of violence, the hubris of trying to tame an “uncivilized” land, and the tenuous bonds of honor and brotherhood. Oh, and did we mention it’s a Christmas film? So finish up your bath, gather your loved ones together, and accept our proposal to sing the praises of John Hillcoat’s THE PROPOSITION (2005)!
If you enjoy this episode, come join the Video Monsters crew on Discord (https://discord.gg/sjyUQg8phB)!! Hangout episodes are live (and unedited!) every Tuesday night starting around 9:00pm EST. Listen and chat along with us in the Discord chat and we’ll even give you a shoutout on the episode!
Video Monsters is brought to you by the Chattanooga Film Festival and Central Cinema in Knoxville, TN. Follow them on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, or online at chattfilmfest.org and centralcinema865.com. Links for each of these can also be found on our pages, so be sure to follow us at videomonsterpod on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram as well.
music for Video Monsters by Evan Simmons
Do you want to build a fortress? Come on, it’s not a game. These armed men have come for us, they’ve taken us, and trapped us in a cave. We used to be sweet children, and now we’re not. I wish we didn’t have to fight. Do you want to build a fortress? We really need to build a fortress (and make some traps!) Yes, that’s right. So put on your Santa mask, fill up the aquarium, and make a torch out of shoelaces so we can see what’s right in front of us and shed some light on the underseen Ozploitation/Kidventure gem, FORTRESS (1985)!
If you enjoy this episode, come join the Video Monsters crew on Discord (https://discord.gg/sjyUQg8phB)!! Hangout episodes are live (and unedited!) every Tuesday night starting around 9:00pm EST. Listen and chat along with us in the Discord chat and we’ll even give you a shoutout on the episode!
Video Monsters is brought to you by the Chattanooga Film Festival and Central Cinema in Knoxville, TN. Follow them on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, or online at chattfilmfest.org and centralcinema865.com. Links for each of these can also be found on our pages, so be sure to follow us at videomonsterpod on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram as well.
music for Video Monsters by Evan Simmons
Come along as we turn the page on the first of our three-part trek into the weird, wild, and wonderful world of Australian cinema as we discuss the heartwarming story of two siblings and an Aborigine boy stranded in the Outback on a journey of self-discovery into the dark heart of mankind, the casual cruelty of civilized society, our inability or unwillingness to communicate due to internalized prejudice, and our incessant longing for a romanticized version of a past that never was and a future that never will be. Deep breath So grab your didgeridoo, swat away the flies, and take a dip with us as we dive deep into Nicolas Roeg’s gorgeous nihilistic masterpiece, WALKABOUT (1971).
If you enjoy this episode, come join the Video Monsters crew on Discord (https://discord.gg/sjyUQg8phB)!! Hangout episodes are live (and unedited!) every Tuesday night starting around 9:00pm EST. Listen and chat along with us in the Discord chat and we’ll even give you a shoutout on the episode!
Video Monsters is brought to you by the Chattanooga Film Festival and Central Cinema in Knoxville, TN. Follow them on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, or online at chattfilmfest.org and centralcinema865.com. Links for each of these can also be found on our pages, so be sure to follow us at videomonsterpod on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram as well.
music for Video Monsters by Evan Simmons
The Video Monsters are back at it again as its time for another AUSsome episode of our Popcorn Punchout: Video Rack Attack Bracket to determine which three films we will be discussing for our Australian theme!! The films in the Skull of Decisions this time range from AUStere to emotionally exhAUSting to ridiculAUS. So pack a picnic, hop on your BMX bike, and watch out for were-marsupials as we drill into our picks for tonight's Australian Popcorn Punchout where 20 films enter, but only 3 films leave!!
If you enjoy this episode, come join the Video Monsters crew on Discord (https://discord.gg/sjyUQg8phB)!! Hangout episodes are live (and unedited!) every Tuesday night starting around 9:00pm EST. Listen and chat along with us in the Discord chat and we’ll even give you a shoutout on the episode!
Video Monsters is brought to you by the Chattanooga Film Festival and Central Cinema in Knoxville, TN. Follow them on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, or online at chattfilmfest.org and centralcinema865.com. Links for each of these can also be found on our pages, so be sure to follow us at videomonsterpod on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram as well.
music for Video Monsters by Evan Simmons
Our musicals theme comes to its climactic conclusion as we discuss double-talking politicians, fame-hungry exploitation journalism, a mustachioed leading man torn between what's legal and what's right, and a kind-hearted madam fighting for the working woman. So slip into something more comfortable, do a little sidestep, and meet us down at the Chicken Ranch as we bring you our analysis of THE BEST LITTLE WHOREHOUSE IN TEXAS (1982)!!
If you enjoy this episode, come join the Video Monsters crew on Discord (https://discord.gg/sjyUQg8phB)!! Hangout episodes are live (and unedited!) every Tuesday night starting around 9:00pm EST. Listen and chat along with us in the Discord chat and we’ll even give you a shoutout on the episode!
Video Monsters is brought to you by the Chattanooga Film Festival and Central Cinema in Knoxville, TN. Follow them on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, or online at chattfilmfest.org and centralcinema865.com. Links for each of these can also be found on our pages, so be sure to follow us at videomonsterpod on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram as well.
music for Video Monsters by Evan Simmons
We are blasting through our musicals theme like a cannon firing an apple as we discuss a futuristic version of a timeless tale of biblical proportions. So put on your BIM mark, keep an eye out for an actual vampire, and join us in a golden ghost Cadillac in the sky because hey hey hey, Video Monsters are on the way with our analysis of The Apple (1980)!!
If you enjoy this episode, come join the Video Monsters crew on Discord (https://discord.gg/sjyUQg8phB)!! Hangout episodes are live (and unedited!) every Tuesday night starting around 9:00pm EST. Listen and chat along with us in the Discord chat and we’ll even give you a shoutout on the episode!
Video Monsters is brought to you by the Chattanooga Film Festival and Central Cinema in Knoxville, TN. Follow them on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, or online at chattfilmfest.org and centralcinema865.com. Links for each of these can also be found on our pages, so be sure to follow us at videomonsterpod on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram as well.
music for Video Monsters by Evan Simmons
We are kicking off our musicals theme with one of the greatest musicals ever involving a green puppet and Frank Oz!!...though, you probably shouldn't let your young children watch this one, unless you want them to have a lasting fear of plants and dentists. So park your motocycle, grab your pruning shears, and meet us somewhere that's green as we get to the root of our analysis for LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS (1986)!!
If you enjoy this episode, come join the Video Monsters crew on Discord (https://discord.gg/sjyUQg8phB)!! Hangout episodes are live (and unedited!) every Tuesday night starting around 9:00pm EST. Listen and chat along with us in the Discord chat and we’ll even give you a shoutout on the episode!
Video Monsters is brought to you by the Chattanooga Film Festival and Central Cinema in Knoxville, TN. Follow them on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, or online at chattfilmfest.org and centralcinema865.com. Links for each of these can also be found on our pages, so be sure to follow us at videomonsterpod on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram as well.
music for Video Monsters by Evan Simmons
The hills are alive with the sound of Video Monsters as its time for another Popcorn Punchout: Video Rack Attack Bracket to determine which three films we will be discussing for our Musicals theme!! While the love of musicals (in some form or fashion) is shared by all of us here at Video Monsters, this might be our most contentious Popcorn Punchout yet...truly putting the "attack" in the Video Rack Attack Bracket!! So put on your dancing boots, step up to the mic, and get ready for a bit of shock treatment as history and podcasts get made in tonight’s Musicals Popcorn Punchout!!
If you enjoy this episode, come join the Video Monsters crew on Discord (https://discord.gg/sjyUQg8phB)!! Hangout episodes are live (and unedited!) every Tuesday night starting around 9:00pm EST. Listen and chat along with us in the Discord chat and we’ll even give you a shoutout on the episode!
Video Monsters is brought to you by the Chattanooga Film Festival and Central Cinema in Knoxville, TN. Follow them on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, or online at chattfilmfest.org and centralcinema865.com. Links for each of these can also be found on our pages, so be sure to follow us at videomonsterpod on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram as well.
music for Video Monsters by Evan Simmons
Our in-depth Chattanooga Film Festival coverage continues as Nathan is joined by Shane Spiegel and Justin Reager (writers/directors) to discuss their short film 7 MINUTES IN HELL!! What starts out as a simple make-out game in an abandoned house quickly turns into a hellscape of visceral sights and sounds, which only pale in comparison to coming of age sexual awkwardness and being trapped in a closet with a monster. So grab your Ouija board, a six pack, and meet us at the old abandoned house (surely nothing bad can happen with that combination, right???) as Shane and Justin join Nathan to double your horror and double your fun with 7 MINUTES IN HELL!!
If you enjoy this episode, come join the Video Monsters crew on Discord (https://discord.gg/sjyUQg8phB)!! Hangout episodes are live (and unedited!) every Tuesday night starting around 9:00pm EST. Listen and chat along with us in the Discord chat and we’ll even give you a shoutout on the episode!
Video Monsters is brought to you by the Chattanooga Film Festival and Central Cinema in Knoxville, TN. Follow them on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, or online at chattfilmfest.org and centralcinema865.com. Links for each of these can also be found on our pages, so be sure to follow us at videomonsterpod on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram as well.
music for Video Monsters by Evan Simmons
Our in-depth Chattanooga Film Festival coverage continues as Nathan and Eric are joined by an honorary Video Monster and fellow Film Freak, Kyle Kuchta (writer/director), to discuss his short film THE WOODSMAN. This short film tells the story of a Christmas tree salesman trying to get every last tree sold out of his lot on Christmas Eve - a seemingly simple task that carries with it a heavy weight as he tries to live up to his father's memory and continue the family business. This film is carried squarely on the shoulders of John R. Smith, Jr. who does an amazing job of conveying the humor, drama, and mourning that drives this character as he channels a dash of the cinematic stylings of Jim Varney (and I mean that in the best way possible). So grab some tinsel, pour one out for the trees of old, and meet us at the stroke of midnight because you are in for a tree-t as we axe the serious (and occasionally silly) questions to Kyle about his short, THE WOODSMAN!!
If you enjoy this episode, come join the Video Monsters crew on Discord (https://discord.gg/sjyUQg8phB)!! Hangout episodes are live (and unedited!) every Tuesday night starting around 9:00pm EST. Listen and chat along with us in the Discord chat and we’ll even give you a shoutout on the episode!
Video Monsters is brought to you by the Chattanooga Film Festival and Central Cinema in Knoxville, TN. Follow them on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, or online at chattfilmfest.org and centralcinema865.com. Links for each of these can also be found on our pages, so be sure to follow us at videomonsterpod on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram as well.
music for Video Monsters by Evan Simmons
Our in-depth Chattanooga Film Festival coverage continues as Nathan is joined by Elise Finnerty (writer/director/actress) and Estelle Girard Parks (producer/actress) to discuss their film THE ONES YOU DIDN'T BURN. This film follows two siblings trying to find themselves while coping with the loss of their father - a process that is both aided and hindered by the managers of the family farm that have a...complicated...relationship with the land and the family. This was another favorite of the fest for Nathan, as it dealt with systemic oppression, generational trauma, and the process of self-discovery amidst the loss of a loved one - and it's no surprise that THE ONES YOU DIDN'T BURN won the Chattanooga Film Festival award for Best Feature By A First-Time Director!! So grab your tarot deck, find your missing piece, and join us at the beach as we dive deep into the analysis of THE ONES YOU DIDN'T BURN with Elise and Estelle!!
If you enjoy this episode, come join the Video Monsters crew on Discord (https://discord.gg/sjyUQg8phB)!! Hangout episodes are live (and unedited!) every Tuesday night starting around 9:00pm EST. Listen and chat along with us in the Discord chat and we’ll even give you a shoutout on the episode!
Video Monsters is brought to you by the Chattanooga Film Festival and Central Cinema in Knoxville, TN. Follow them on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, or online at chattfilmfest.org and centralcinema865.com. Links for each of these can also be found on our pages, so be sure to follow us at videomonsterpod on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram as well.
music for Video Monsters by Evan Simmons
Our in-depth Chattanooga Film Festival coverage continues as Nathan is joined by Douglas Wicker (writer/director) to discuss his short film WHAT HAPPENED TO THE OTHERS? This tightly packed short addresses childhood trauma and the generational impact that it has, while also introducing mythical folk monsters shrouded in mystery. The themes and folklore that are introduced are not only fully realized within the context of the short, but also presented in a way that will have you wanting to know even more about how the generational trauma has affected the family and how they, in turn, have affected the world around them. So grab your boomstick from the fridge, make sure the candles stay lit, and for god sakes make sure you close the door behind you as we discuss WHAT HAPPENED TO THE OTHERS? with Douglas Wicker!!
If you enjoy this episode, come join the Video Monsters crew on Discord (https://discord.gg/sjyUQg8phB)!! Hangout episodes are live (and unedited!) every Tuesday night starting around 9:00pm EST. Listen and chat along with us in the Discord chat and we’ll even give you a shoutout on the episode!
Video Monsters is brought to you by the Chattanooga Film Festival and Central Cinema in Knoxville, TN. Follow them on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, or online at chattfilmfest.org and centralcinema865.com. Links for each of these can also be found on our pages, so be sure to follow us at videomonsterpod on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram as well.
music for Video Monsters by Evan Simmons
Our in-depth Chattanooga Film Festival coverage continues as Nathan is joined by Joe Badon (writer/director) to discuss his short film THE BLOOD OF THE DINOSAURS. This bizarre existential not-for-children's show will have you questioning - how young is too young to be screaming into the void of our infinitesimal existence?? So grab a handful of candy and watch out for meteors as we drill into THE BLOOD OF THE DINOSAURS with Joe Badon!!
If you enjoy this episode, come join the Video Monsters crew on Discord (https://discord.gg/sjyUQg8phB)!! Hangout episodes are live (and unedited!) every Tuesday night starting around 9:00pm EST. Listen and chat along with us in the Discord chat and we’ll even give you a shoutout on the episode!
Video Monsters is brought to you by the Chattanooga Film Festival and Central Cinema in Knoxville, TN. Follow them on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, or online at chattfilmfest.org and centralcinema865.com. Links for each of these can also be found on our pages, so be sure to follow us at videomonsterpod on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram as well.
music for Video Monsters by Evan Simmons
Our in-depth Chattanooga Film Festival coverage continues as Nathan and Eric are joined by Ted Schaefer (director/co-writer), Patrick Lawler (co-writer), & Annie Parisse (actress) to discuss GIVING BIRTH TO A BUTTERFLY. This delightfully heartwarming tale of self-discovery and self-acceptance is presented in a very grounded way that makes the characters and the story seem so genuinely relatable...and then beautifully weaves in a dash of magical realism that gives this film second-life, demanding repeated viewings to more fully appreciate all of the thematic elements at play. GIVING BIRTH TO A BUTTERFLY was a favorite of Video Monsters at Chattanooga Film Festival 2022 and our Q&A session with Ted Schaefer, Patrick Lawler, and Gus Birney during CFF only scratched the surface of our love for this film. So we are thrilled to be joined once again by the team from GIVING BIRTH TO A BUTTERFLY to spiral even farther along down the path of self-actualization. So grab a bag of oranges, remember to feed the fish, and meet us on the train to nowhere (and everywhere) as we discuss GIVING BIRTH TO A BUTTERFLY with Ted, Patrick, and Annie!!
If you enjoy this episode, come join the Video Monsters crew on Discord (https://discord.gg/sjyUQg8phB)!! Hangout episodes are live (and unedited!) every Tuesday night starting around 9:00pm EST. Listen and chat along with us in the Discord chat and we’ll even give you a shoutout on the episode!
Video Monsters is brought to you by the Chattanooga Film Festival and Central Cinema in Knoxville, TN. Follow them on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, or online at chattfilmfest.org and centralcinema865.com. Links for each of these can also be found on our pages, so be sure to follow us at videomonsterpod on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram as well.
music for Video Monsters by Evan Simmons
Hi, I'm calling to tell you that you've won a very special prize in tonight's episode of...wait...don't hang up!!... I just want to let you know that our in-depth coverage of the Chattanooga Film Festival is moving full-steam ahead as Nathan is joined by Sam Rudykoff (writer/director) and Mark Delottinville (producer) to discuss their short film CRUISE!! This darkly comedic peek behind the curtain of the world of telemarketing will not only have you commiserating about the monotony of the 9-5, but will also have you thinking twice about how if it is hell for you to get one of those calls...what is it like for the person making the call?? So pick up the phone, double-check the procedures manual, and pack your bags because you've just won a trip on the Video Monsters cruise line with your Captain Nathan and tonight's special co-captains Sam and Mark as we make course to the island of Movie Analysis!!
If you enjoy this episode, come join the Video Monsters crew on Discord (https://discord.gg/sjyUQg8phB)!! Hangout episodes are live (and unedited!) every Tuesday night starting around 9:00pm EST. Listen and chat along with us in the Discord chat and we’ll even give you a shoutout on the episode!
Video Monsters is brought to you by the Chattanooga Film Festival and Central Cinema in Knoxville, TN. Follow them on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, or online at chattfilmfest.org and centralcinema865.com. Links for each of these can also be found on our pages, so be sure to follow us at videomonsterpod on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram as well.
music for Video Monsters by Evan Simmons
Our in-depth Chattanooga Film Festival coverage continues as Nathan is joined by Daniel Slottje (writer, director, actor) to discuss his short film THE ROTTING OF CASEY CULPEPPER. This film tells a story of sickness, pain, and restoration on a deeply emotional level. It is a story that will resonate with anyone who has ever battled an illness in either themselves or a loved one. So light a candle, grab your Yankees tickets, and try not to get too tangled up as Nathan dives into his analysis of THE ROTTING OF CASEY CULPEPPER with special guest Daniel Slottje!!
If you enjoy this episode, come join the Video Monsters crew on Discord (https://discord.gg/sjyUQg8phB)!! Hangout episodes are live (and unedited!) every Tuesday night starting around 9:00pm EST. Listen and chat along with us in the Discord chat and we’ll even give you a shoutout on the episode!
Video Monsters is brought to you by the Chattanooga Film Festival and Central Cinema in Knoxville, TN. Follow them on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, or online at chattfilmfest.org and centralcinema865.com. Links for each of these can also be found on our pages, so be sure to follow us at videomonsterpod on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram as well.
music for Video Monsters by Evan Simmons
Nathan and Eric were thrilled to sit down with Writer/Director/Editor/Star, Shane Brady (DOCTOR SLEEP, BALLERS, THE ENDLESS), and Executive Producer, Emily Zercher, for a lengthy and surprisingly emotional chat about their film, BREATHING HAPPY, which recently had its world premiere at the 2022 Chattanooga Film Festival. The film is a hallucinatory, Christmas Carol-esque odyssey through the mind of a lonely, recovering drug addict on the verge of achieving one year of sobriety on Christmas Day. It’s a beautiful, heartfelt, hysterically funny flick that absolutely wowed us here at Video Monsters. And we were definitely not alone in our love because it also managed to snag Chatt Film Fest’s coveted Audience Award for Best Feature! So take a deep breath, grab a deck of cards, and if you hear a knock at the Golden Door, just tell that interrupting turtle to take a hike because you will be too busy listening to the Video Monsters’ analysis of BREATHING HAPPY with special guests Shane Brady and Emily Zercher!
If you enjoy this episode, come join the Video Monsters crew on Discord (https://discord.gg/sjyUQg8phB)!! Hangout episodes are live (and unedited!) every Tuesday night starting around 9:00pm EST. Listen and chat along with us in the Discord chat and we’ll even give you a shoutout on the episode!
Video Monsters is brought to you by the Chattanooga Film Festival and Central Cinema in Knoxville, TN. Follow them on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, or online at chattfilmfest.org and centralcinema865.com. Links for each of these can also be found on our pages, so be sure to follow us at videomonsterpod on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram as well.
music for Video Monsters by Evan Simmons
Brace yourselves for the third and final part of the Video Monsters Chattanooga Film Fest Extravaganza (at least, the end of the general coverage trilogy...still several interviews on their way!) as Nathan, Eric, and Dan tackle the remaining feature films that played at this year’s fest. So grab some coffee...or a milkshake if you prefer, call in your coven, and beware of leeches when you meet us on the other side of the golden door as we respect the hell out of some cinema because we’re pulling an all-nighter to cram in as many movies as possible before finally wrapping up our general coverage of Chattanooga Film Festival 2022!!
If you enjoy this episode, come join the Video Monsters crew on Discord (https://discord.gg/sjyUQg8phB)!! Hangout episodes are live (and unedited!) every Tuesday night starting around 9:00pm EST. Listen and chat along with us in the Discord chat and we’ll even give you a shoutout on the episode!
Video Monsters is brought to you by the Chattanooga Film Festival and Central Cinema in Knoxville, TN. Follow them on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, or online at chattfilmfest.org and centralcinema865.com. Links for each of these can also be found on our pages, so be sure to follow us at videomonsterpod on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram as well.
music for Video Monsters by Evan Simmons
Strap in for Part 2 of the Video Monsters Chattanooga Film Festival Extravaganza as Nathan, Eric, and Dan dig into this year’s live events and marathon their way through a massive mountain of short films! So grab your ice cream cone, get ready for some folks to A your Qs, and watch out for Godzilla as you prepare yourselves for shorts. So many shorts. Because we’ve got shorts in every color in Part 2 of our 2022 Chattanooga Film Festival trilogy!
If you enjoy this episode, come join the Video Monsters crew on Discord (https://discord.gg/sjyUQg8phB)!! Hangout episodes are live (and unedited!) every Tuesday night starting around 9:00pm EST. Listen and chat along with us in the Discord chat and we’ll even give you a shoutout on the episode!
Video Monsters is brought to you by the Chattanooga Film Festival and Central Cinema in Knoxville, TN. Follow them on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, or online at chattfilmfest.org and centralcinema865.com. Links for each of these can also be found on our pages, so be sure to follow us at videomonsterpod on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram as well.
music for Video Monsters by Evan Simmons
Our coverage of the 2022 Chattanooga Film Festival is so sprawling and comprehensive that it took us an entire trilogy of episodes to contain it all...and that's just the general episodes, not covering the upcoming interviews!! So buckle up for Part 1 of the Video Monsters Chattanooga Film Festival Extravaganza, where Nathan, Eric, and Dan discuss the first half of this year’s feature film lineup! So grab your microphone, chat about movies with your best buds, and hastily type up a descrip…. Oh wait. No. That’s what we do. Sorry. Been a while since we’ve done one of these things. What were we saying? Oh, nevermind. You know what to do. Hit play and listen to us gush about the best of fests with Part 1 of our 2022 Chattanooga Film Festival trilogy!
If you enjoy this episode, come join the Video Monsters crew on Discord (https://discord.gg/sjyUQg8phB)!! Hangout episodes are live (and unedited!) every Tuesday night starting around 9:00pm EST. Listen and chat along with us in the Discord chat and we’ll even give you a shoutout on the episode!
Video Monsters is brought to you by the Chattanooga Film Festival and Central Cinema in Knoxville, TN. Follow them on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, or online at chattfilmfest.org and centralcinema865.com. Links for each of these can also be found on our pages, so be sure to follow us at videomonsterpod on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram as well.
music for Video Monsters by Evan Simmons
Our JUNEiversal Monsters series appropriately concludes with a discussion of the last of the original classic Universal Monsters, THE CREATURE FROM THE BLACK LAGOON (1954)! The timeless story of a lonely humanoid Devonian who is forced to fight back against a group of home invaders who harass and persecute him simply because he’s different. Nathan, Eric, and Dan dive into the film to discuss why the Gill-man stands out as the best-designed monster and how the film elegantly conveys so much about the creature through the physical performances of Ben Chapman and Ricou Browning. We also talk about the gorgeous underwater photography, why bodies of water are so frightening, the environmental message at the heart of the film, the portrayal of women in 50s sci-fi, Gill-man’s sweet cavernous bachelor pad, and speculate on the love life of this poor creature who is clearly just looking for companionship in a small pond like the Black Lagoon. So destroy your speargun, put away the rotenone, and next time you see a Gill-man approaching with arms outstretched, don’t be afraid. Instead, reach out and give him a big ol’ hug because what he really needs is a little love and understanding. Much like how you need to understand our love for the Gill-man by listening to our review of Jack Arnold’s CREATURE FROM THE BLACK LAGOON!
If you enjoy this episode, come join the Video Monsters crew on Discord (https://discord.gg/sjyUQg8phB)!! Hangout episodes are live (and unedited!) every Tuesday night starting around 9:00pm EST. Listen and chat along with us in the Discord chat and we’ll even give you a shoutout on the episode!
Video Monsters is brought to you by the Chattanooga Film Festival and Central Cinema in Knoxville, TN. Follow them on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, or online at chattfilmfest.org and centralcinema865.com. Links for each of these can also be found on our pages, so be sure to follow us at videomonsterpod on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram as well.
music for Video Monsters by Evan Simmons
Our Juniversal Monsters series continues with our review of a film that features what is simultaneously the most and least monstrous of all the Universal Monsters. We’re talking, of course, about James Whale’s THE INVISIBLE MAN (1933), which is notably the film where the monster is nothing more than a man with a thirst for power and a desire to be seen. It stands out just as much for its nihilistic worldview and comparatively high body count as it does for that signature James Whale humor, attention to detail, and groundbreaking special effects. Nathan, Eric, and Dan will discuss Claude Rains’s astounding physical performance, how much he relishes the power that his anonymity brings him, the way this film kind of predicted Internet trolling, how it could read as an allegory for addiction, and so much more! So put on your favorite robe or… better yet, take it off and start dancing naked through the streets! If anyone questions your sanity, just blame it on the monocaine. Afterward, you can grab a pint at the Lion’s Head, warm yourself by the fire, and settle in while listening to our review of THE INVISIBLE MAN!
If you enjoy this episode, come join the Video Monsters crew on Discord (https://discord.gg/sjyUQg8phB)!! Hangout episodes are live (and unedited!) every Tuesday night starting around 9:00pm EST. Listen and chat along with us in the Discord chat and we’ll even give you a shoutout on the episode!
Video Monsters is brought to you by the Chattanooga Film Festival and Central Cinema in Knoxville, TN. Follow them on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, or online at chattfilmfest.org and centralcinema865.com. Links for each of these can also be found on our pages, so be sure to follow us at videomonsterpod on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram as well.
music for Video Monsters by Evan Simmons
It’s alive! Our Juniversal Monsters series is ALIVE!!! And there was simply no better film to bring this theme to life than James Whale’s electrifying masterpiece, THE BRIDE OF FRANKENSTEIN (1935). Nathan, Eric, and Dan discuss the wild tonal shifts it takes from the first film, why Dr. Pretorious is one of cinema’s most exquisite creations, the perfect opening tribute to Mary Shelley, the unparalleled craftsmanship on display in every frame, the all-time great performances from its legendary cast, the film’s religious symbolism and censorship battles, the simple but nuanced way it handles its themes of identity, isolation, and empathy, and how much James Whale’s personal life informs those themes and the way audiences have interpreted the film over time. So stop playing with your homunculi, grab a cigar, and meet us in the lab as we welcome you to the new world... of Pods and (Video) Monsters in our analysis of THE BRIDE OF FRANKENSTEIN!!
If you enjoy this episode, come join the Video Monsters crew on Discord (https://discord.gg/sjyUQg8phB)!! Hangout episodes are live (and unedited!) every Tuesday night starting around 9:00pm EST. Listen and chat along with us in the Discord chat and we’ll even give you a shoutout on the episode!
Video Monsters is brought to you by the Chattanooga Film Festival and Central Cinema in Knoxville, TN. Follow them on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, or online at chattfilmfest.org and centralcinema865.com. Links for each of these can also be found on our pages, so be sure to follow us at videomonsterpod on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram as well.
music for Video Monsters by Evan Simmons
June belongs to the monsters! But, not the Video Monsters… the Universal Monsters! Or shall we say, the Juniversal Monsters! This month we’re tackling some of the most beloved, iconic, and influential horror films of all time and, as usual, we’re using our patented Video Rack Attack Bracket technology to determine which three films in the classic Universal Monsters canon we’ll be reviewing this month. It’s time for another Popcorn Punchout!
The rules are simple: the Punchout begins by narrowing the 31 eligible films down to 20. The first 5 are chosen by an audience vote. Nathan, Eric, and Dan then take turns selecting 5 films each to compete in the bracket. These 20 films are then placed into our Skull of Decisions and drawn at random to create our initial round of 8 matchups (which means 4 films won’t even make it out of the Skull to compete!) Each pairing is briefly discussed, votes are cast, and the film with a majority moves on to the next round. Voting continues until only two films are left. The third film is decided by our chaos bracket. Nathan, Eric, and Dan each have at least one chaos card they can use to “save” a defeated film and advance it the chaos bracket, giving it the potential to be resurrected as the third and final film to be reviewed this month.
The Universal Monsters are near and dear to our hearts and each of us have multiple films within this series that we would consider some of our all-time favorites. These are movies that have shaped who we are and what we love about the art of cinema. It’s only natural that we pit them all against each other in a fight to the death! So wolf down a nice bloody stake, wash it down with a stein of invisibility potion, drop your mummy off at the opera, take a dip with your bride in the Black Lagoon, and gather ‘round the graveyard to watch the Video Monsters take on the Universal Monsters in a POPCORN PUNCHOUT!
If you enjoy this episode, come join the Video Monsters crew on Discord (https://discord.gg/sjyUQg8phB)!! Hangout episodes are live (and unedited!) every Tuesday night starting around 9:00pm EST. Listen and chat along with us in the Discord chat and we’ll even give you a shoutout on the episode!
Video Monsters is brought to you by the Chattanooga Film Festival and Central Cinema in Knoxville, TN. Follow them on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, or online at chattfilmfest.org and centralcinema865.com. Links for each of these can also be found on our pages, so be sure to follow us at videomonsterpod on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram as well.
music for Video Monsters by Evan Simmons
On this episode, the Video Monsters are peering into the future and choosing which monthly themes we’ll be tackling in July, August, and November of 2022! And instead of wasting a whole lot of time arguing back and forth about what we should and shouldn’t do, we’re going to leverage our patented Video Rack Attack Bracket technology to decisively etch these themes into stone in a process we’ve deemed the Popcorn Punchout! The Punchout begins by selecting the 20 themes in contention. The first 5 are chosen by an audience vote. Nathan, Eric, and Dan then take turns selecting 5 themes each to round out the bracket. The final 20 themes are then placed into our Skull of Decisions and 16 are drawn at random to create an initial round of 8 matchups (which means 4 themes won’t even make it out of the Skull to compete!) Each pairing is briefly discussed, votes are cast, and the theme with a majority of votes will move on to the next round. Voting continues until only two themes are left. The third theme is decided by our chaos bracket. Nathan, Eric, and Dan each have at least one chaos card they can use to “save” a defeated film and advance it the chaos bracket, giving it the potential to be resurrected as our third and final theme. Nathan, Eric, and Dan are each very personally invested in some of these themes, which inevitably leads to some rousing triumphs and heartbreaking defeats. So without further ado, let’s get into it. Grab your chaos cards, bow down to the almighty Skull of Decisions, and never ever underestimate the power of Peter Weller, it’s time to decide the fate of the Video Monsters with another POPCORN PUNCHOUT!
If you enjoy this episode, come join the Video Monsters crew on Discord (https://discord.gg/sjyUQg8phB)!! Hangout episodes are live (and unedited!) every Tuesday night starting around 9:00pm EST. Listen and chat along with us in the Discord chat and we’ll even give you a shoutout on the episode!
Video Monsters is brought to you by the Chattanooga Film Festival and Central Cinema in Knoxville, TN. Follow them on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, or online at chattfilmfest.org and centralcinema865.com. Links for each of these can also be found on our pages, so be sure to follow us at videomonsterpod on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram as well.
music for Video Monsters by Evan Simmons
HAAARK!!! After a few delays, our mAy24 series finally comes to a wild conclusion with Robert Eggers’s second feature film, THE LIGHTHOUSE. A gorgeous, atmospheric, inscrutable, and deeply silly (in the best possible way) black-and-white arthouse film that was unsurprisingly a big critical hit for Eggers and A24. But is there really more to this film outside of its aesthetic pleasures and exceptional performances from Robert Pattinson and Willem Dafoe? Does it matter if it means anything, or is it OK to just be a dark survival comedy full of madness and mermaids? Nathan, Eric, and Dan are diving in the film’s salty depths to answer these questions and so much more. So grab your monkey pump, beware the seagulls, and try not to spill your beans. You’re fond of me podcast, ain’t ye? Then see to your duties and listen to our review of THE LIGHTHOUSE!
If you enjoy this episode, come join the Video Monsters crew on Discord (https://discord.gg/sjyUQg8phB)!! Hangout episodes are live (and unedited!) every Tuesday night starting around 9:00pm EST. Listen and chat along with us in the Discord chat and we’ll even give you a shoutout on the episode!
Video Monsters is brought to you by the Chattanooga Film Festival and Central Cinema in Knoxville, TN. Follow them on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, or online at chattfilmfest.org and centralcinema865.com. Links for each of these can also be found on our pages, so be sure to follow us at videomonsterpod on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram as well.
music for Video Monsters by Evan Simmons
We interrupt your irregularly scheduled programming for a special impromptu hangout episode of Video Monsters! Nathan, Dan and filmmaker Robert Woods (who we all agree is a major upgrade from conspicuously absent co-host, Eric) were all free one night and aching to podcast so… they did! The Video Monsters start off by paying tribute to the legendary Ray Liotta in the wake of his passing before moving on to discussions of their experiences with people who fundamentally misunderstand a film’s message (inspired by Nathan’s recent viewing of MIDSOMMAR). They also give a sneak peek at next month’s Juniversal Monsters series and put Robert in the hot seat for an exceptional round of our favorite party game, Pitchstorm! So grab your dancing shoes, keep an ear out for a cameo from the Muppets, and never read anything on Reddit again… join us on Discord instead for a special impromptu hangout episode with the Video Monsters!
If you enjoy this episode, come join the Video Monsters crew on Discord (https://discord.gg/sjyUQg8phB)!! Hangout episodes are live (and unedited!) every Tuesday night starting around 9:00pm EST. Listen and chat along with us in the Discord chat and we’ll even give you a shoutout on the episode!
Video Monsters is brought to you by the Chattanooga Film Festival and Central Cinema in Knoxville, TN. Follow them on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, or online at chattfilmfest.org and centralcinema865.com. Links for each of these can also be found on our pages, so be sure to follow us at videomonsterpod on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram as well.
music for Video Monsters by Evan Simmons
Podcasts and good movies, ya’ll! That’s what life’s about! The Video Monsters are living life to the fullest and continuing our mAy24 series with our review of Harmony Korine’s SPRING BREAKERS (2012)! A candy-colored odyssey into the dark heart of a disaffected generation stuck in the monotonous purgatory of Spring Break, not knowing what the future holds, desperate to feel something, clinging to whatever makes them feel like they have some kind of control over their future. There’s also some stuff about materialism, capitalism, Brittney Spears, the “American Dream,” romanticizing violence, and so much more. In this episode, Nathan, Eric, and Dan will discuss how the film’s gauzy, ethereal cinematography and elliptical editing style give the film a dreamlike quality and what that means for the story. We’ll also dissect the characterizations of the four female leads, unpack James Franco’s truly Alien performance, and go off on a tangent about the use of metaphor in modern cinema. So grab one of your many (many) different colored pairs of shorts, put SCARFACE on repeat, and meet us at the Chicken Shack because I guess I need you, baby, to listen to our review of SPRING BREAKERS!
If you enjoy this episode, come join the Video Monsters crew on Discord (https://discord.gg/sjyUQg8phB)!! Hangout episodes are live (and unedited!) every Tuesday night starting around 9:00pm EST. Listen and chat along with us in the Discord chat and we’ll even give you a shoutout on the episode!
Video Monsters is brought to you by the Chattanooga Film Festival and Central Cinema in Knoxville, TN. Follow them on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, or online at chattfilmfest.org and centralcinema865.com. Links for each of these can also be found on our pages, so be sure to follow us at videomonsterpod on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram as well.
music for Video Monsters by Evan Simmons
The Video Monsters once again sit down with Chris Dortch II, Founder/Executive Director/Lead Programmer/Grand Poobah for the Chattanooga Film Festival, to chat about this year’s virtual fest! We always have an absolute blast talking to Chris Dortch II, and this episode is no exception as we discuss our love of CFF, dig into the first wave of films announced so far and discuss some of the highlights we are most excited about, and mayyyyybe even pick up a few scoops ahead of the announcement of the second wave of films!! The Chattanooga Film Festival is always overflowing with love of cinema and sharing that love with others - so be sure to be a part of the 2022 virtual fest June 23rd - 28th and grab your badges today at chattfilmfest.org!
If you enjoy this episode, come join the Video Monsters crew on Discord (https://discord.gg/sjyUQg8phB)!! Hangout episodes are live (and unedited!) every Tuesday night starting around 9:00pm EST. Listen and chat along with us in the Discord chat and we’ll even give you a shoutout on the episode!
Video Monsters is brought to you by the Chattanooga Film Festival and Central Cinema in Knoxville, TN. Follow them on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, or online at chattfilmfest.org and centralcinema865.com. Links for each of these can also be found on our pages, so be sure to follow us at videomonsterpod on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram as well.
music for Video Monsters by Evan Simmons
First up in our mAy24 series is a delightful buddy (body?) comedy about love, life, friendship, acceptance, passion, creativity, overcoming self-doubt, and trying to find some measure of happiness in a world that so often leaves us feeling like we’re at the end of our rope. Oh, and farts. It’s also about farts. The Video Monsters are thrilled to kick off mAy24 with a film by Daniels… SWISS ARMY MAN (2016)! Nathan, Eric, and our resident Dan expert, Dan, open up about how deeply this film’s simple but heartfelt message touched them, marvel over Danielle Radcliffe’s exquisite corpse, joyfully admire the quirky a cappella score, grapple with the film’s bold swing of an ending, fawn over the film’s unbridled creativity, and question how far the foley artists (or, fartists, if you will) had to go to capture the extraordinary variety of anatomically accurate sound effects used throughout the flick. So grab some cheese puffs, load up your multipurpose tool guy, and start humming the JURASSIC PARK theme song because you know deep in your bones that your compasses are directing you to hit play on our review of SWISS ARMY MAN!
If you enjoy this episode, come join the Video Monsters crew on Discord (https://discord.gg/sjyUQg8phB)!! Hangout episodes are live (and unedited!) every Tuesday night starting around 9:00pm EST. Listen and chat along with us in the Discord chat and we’ll even give you a shoutout on the episode!
Video Monsters is brought to you by the Chattanooga Film Festival and Central Cinema in Knoxville, TN. Follow them on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, or online at chattfilmfest.org and centralcinema865.com. Links for each of these can also be found on our pages, so be sure to follow us at videomonsterpod on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram as well.
music for Video Monsters by Evan Simmons
A new month brings a new theme, and a new theme brings a new POPCORN PUNCHOUT, where we Video Monsters use our patented Video Rack Attack Bracket technology to decide which three films we will be reviewing this month. The theme for May is based around every film nerd’s favorite distribution (and occasional production) company, A24! And because we are bound by the Video Monster bylaws to capitalize on every obvious bad pun name that is presented to us, this month’s theme shall henceforth be referred to as mAy24! Obviously. Now about the bracket. We start with 20 films. The first 5 are chosen by an audience vote. Nathan, Eric, and Dan then take turns selecting their 5 films to compete in the bracket. The final 20 A24 films are then placed into our Skull of Decisions and drawn at random to create our initial round of 8 matchups (which means 4 films won’t even make it out of the Skull to compete!) Each pairing is briefly discussed, votes are cast, and the film with a majority of votes will move on to the next round. Voting continues until only two films are left. The third film is decided by our chaos bracket. Nathan, Eric, and Dan each have at least one chaos card they can use to “save” a defeated film and advance it the chaos bracket, giving it the potential to be resurrected as the third and final film to be reviewed this month. With such an eclectic list of films, this may prove to be our most dramatic Punchout yet! So grab your AAA24 membership card, alert Film Twitter, and hit the titular Italian motorway because it’s time to get into a POPCORN PUNCHOUT with mAy24!
If you enjoy this episode, come join the Video Monsters crew on Discord (https://discord.gg/sjyUQg8phB)!! Hangout episodes are live (and unedited!) every Tuesday night starting around 9:00pm EST. Listen and chat along with us in the Discord chat and we’ll even give you a shoutout on the episode!
Video Monsters is brought to you by the Chattanooga Film Festival and Central Cinema in Knoxville, TN. Follow them on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, or online at chattfilmfest.org and centralcinema865.com. Links for each of these can also be found on our pages, so be sure to follow us at videomonsterpod on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram as well.
music for Video Monsters by Evan Simmons
We interrupt your regularly scheduled movie reviews for another special presentation of CARDBOARD MONSTERS, our occasional series where we review board games from a movie-lover’s perspective! It seems we didn’t quite quell April’s All-Out Alien Attack because today we’ll be discussing Ravensburger’s ALIEN: FATE OF THE NOSTROMO, a cooperative strategy game that is, of course, based on one of the most influential sci-fi horror films of all time: Ridley Scott’s 1979 masterpiece, ALIEN. Nathan is joined by Cardboard Monsters regulars, Adam (who you may know from our Harry Potter series) and Jon (Cardboard of the Rings), to briefly discuss the film it’s based on before diving into what it’s like the play the board game, how much fun they had with it, and whether or not it successfully evokes the unparalleled atmosphere of the film upon which it’s based. Will the game withstand the enormous pressure of those expectations, or does it deserve to be vacuumed out into space with the rest of the trash? Let’s find out! Grab your flamethrower, save the cat, and don’t forget to kiss your MU-TH-UR goodbye before you hit self-destru… I mean, play on our CARDBOARD MONSTERS review of ALIEN: FATE OF THE NOSTROMO!
If you enjoy this episode, come join the Video Monsters crew on Discord (https://discord.gg/sjyUQg8phB)!! Hangout episodes are live (and unedited!) every Tuesday night starting around 9:00pm EST. Listen and chat along with us in the Discord chat and we’ll even give you a shoutout on the episode!
Video Monsters is brought to you by the Chattanooga Film Festival and Central Cinema in Knoxville, TN. Follow them on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, or online at chattfilmfest.org and centralcinema865.com. Links for each of these can also be found on our pages, so be sure to follow us at videomonsterpod on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram as well.
music for Video Monsters by Evan Simmons
April’s All-Out Alien Attack comes to a close with the biggest, boldest alien invasion yet! Epic space battles! Gigantic special effects set pieces! Mass abductions across the globe! Freaky alien tech! Horrifying human experiments! And a triumphant win for humanity in the end! Nah, just kidding. We’re actually discussing Jonathan Glazer’s UNDER THE SKIN (2013), which is an altogether different kind of alien invasion film. One that’s far more contemplative and small scale. With gorgeous, haunting visuals, an arresting score, as little dialogue as possible, and a tremendous physical performance from Scarlett Johansson. It’s the exact opposite of what most mainstream audiences would expect from a typical alien invasion film which makes it a perfect choice to end this series of outlier alien flicks. So park your big white van, submerge yourself in a pool of black goo, and come dream with us while we peel back the layers of UNDER THE SKIN.
If you enjoy this episode, come join the Video Monsters crew on Discord (https://discord.gg/sjyUQg8phB)!! Hangout episodes are live (and unedited!) every Tuesday night starting around 9:00pm EST. Listen and chat along with us in the Discord chat and we’ll even give you a shoutout on the episode!
Video Monsters is brought to you by the Chattanooga Film Festival and Central Cinema in Knoxville, TN. Follow them on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, or online at chattfilmfest.org and centralcinema865.com. Links for each of these can also be found on our pages, so be sure to follow us at videomonsterpod on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram as well.
music for Video Monsters by Evan Simmons
April’s All-Out Alien Attack continues with the dark horse contender that triumphantly won the chaos bracket in this month’s Popcorn Punchout. It’s finally time to talk about ZATHURA: A SPACE ADVENTURE (2005)! But is it really an alien movie, though? Is it more than just JUMANJI in Space? Could it actually be gasp better than JUMANJI?! Would the MCU exist if Jon Favreau didn’t direct this film? Is ZATHURA secretly one of the most consequential films of the 21st century?!?! The Video Monsters are on a quest to find the answers to these questions and so much more. So kill the pilot light, reprogram your defective robot, and get me a juicebox, BIATCH! It’s time to find out if you have what it takes to navigate the galaxy with our review of ZATHURA!
If you enjoy this episode, come join the Video Monsters crew on Discord (https://discord.gg/sjyUQg8phB)!! Hangout episodes are live (and unedited!) every Tuesday night starting around 9:00pm EST. Listen and chat along with us in the Discord chat and we’ll even give you a shoutout on the episode!
Video Monsters is brought to you by the Chattanooga Film Festival and Central Cinema in Knoxville, TN. Follow them on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, or online at chattfilmfest.org and centralcinema865.com. Links for each of these can also be found on our pages, so be sure to follow us at videomonsterpod on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram as well.
music for Video Monsters by Evan Simmons
What do you get when TEXAS CHAIN SAW MASSACRE director, Tobe Hooper, joins forces with ALIEN screenwriter, Dan O’Bannon to remake a classic 50s sci-fi horror film? Why, you get a kids wish-fulfillment adventure fantasy about a 12-year-old boy saving the world from intergalactic intruders, of course! But how does it compare to other 80s remakes of 50s science fiction films? Does this film hold up if you watch it for the first time as an adult? Is the ending a cheap cop out designed to deflect any narrative shortcomings, or is it a brilliant way to recontextualize everything leading up to it? Nathan, Eric, and Dan are tunneling in deep to answer these questions and so much more! So grab a bandaid for the back of your neck, swallow the frog in your throat, and bow down to Supreme Intelligence because the Video Monsters are going over the hill to grapple with INVADERS FROM MARS (1986)!
If you enjoy this episode, come join the Video Monsters crew on Discord (https://discord.gg/sjyUQg8phB)!! Hangout episodes are live (and unedited!) every Tuesday night starting around 9:00pm EST. Listen and chat along with us in the Discord chat and we’ll even give you a shoutout on the episode!
Video Monsters is brought to you by the Chattanooga Film Festival and Central Cinema in Knoxville, TN. Follow them on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, or online at chattfilmfest.org and centralcinema865.com. Links for each of these can also be found on our pages, so be sure to follow us at videomonsterpod on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram as well.
music for Video Monsters by Evan Simmons
There are two things that we love above all else here on Video Monsters: aliens and alliteration. So it should come as no surprise that our theme for this month is April’s All-Out Alien Attack!!! And, much like we did last month, we’re going to use our game-ified version of the standard competitive bracket system to decide on which three alien films we’ll be reviewing throughout the month, a process we’ve decided to call POPCORN PUNCHOUT: The Video Rack Attack Bracket!
The rules are simple: Nathan, Dan, Eric, and the listeners on our Discord channel have selected a combined total of 33 alien films. These titles are placed into our Skull of Decisions to be drawn at random to create our initial round of 8 matchups (which means only 16 films in total will even make it out of the skull to compete!) Each pairing is debated, votes are cast, and the film with a majority of votes will move on to the next round. Voting continues until only two films are left. The third film is decided by our chaos bracket. Nathan, Eric, and Dan each have one chaos card they can use to advance a losing film to the chaos bracket, giving it the potential to be resurrected as our third and final film to be reviewed this month.
Much like last month, it’s a game filled with a number of surprising twists and turns. Alliances will be forged, hearts will be broken, and only three films will triumph in the end. So grab your ray gun, take us to your leader, and keep your eyes on the sky while listening to the Video Monsters get into a fierce POPCORN PUNCHOUT with April’s All-Out Alien Attack.
If you enjoy this episode, come join the Video Monsters crew on Discord!! Hangout episodes are live (and unedited!) every Tuesday night starting around 9:00pm EST. Listen and chat along with us in the Discord chat and we’ll even give you a shoutout on the episode!
Video Monsters is brought to you by the Chattanooga Film Festival and Central Cinema in Knoxville, TN. Follow them on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, or online at chattfilmfest.org and centralcinema865.com. Links for each of these can also be found on our pages, so be sure to follow us at videomonsterpod on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram as well.
music for Video Monsters by Evan Simmons
Grab your French horn, step away from the wires, and meet us in the barn as we search for meaning with RIDERS OF JUSTICE!!
If you enjoy this episode, come join the Video Monsters crew on Discord!! Hangout episodes are live (and unedited!) every Tuesday night starting around 9:00pm EST. Listen and chat along with us in the Discord chat and we’ll even give you a shoutout on the episode!
Video Monsters is brought to you by the Chattanooga Film Festival and Central Cinema in Knoxville, TN. Follow them on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, or online at chattfilmfest.org and centralcinema865.com. Links for each of these can also be found on our pages, so be sure to follow us at videomonsterpod on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram as well.
music for Video Monsters by Evan Simmons
Put on your dancing shoes, pour yourself a sazerac, and don't forget your life jacket...it's time for us to have ANOTHER ROUND!!
If you enjoy this episode, come join the Video Monsters crew on Discord!! Hangout episodes are live (and unedited!) every Tuesday night starting around 9:00pm EST. Listen and chat along with us in the Discord chat and we’ll even give you a shoutout on the episode!
Video Monsters is brought to you by the Chattanooga Film Festival and Central Cinema in Knoxville, TN. Follow them on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, or online at chattfilmfest.org and centralcinema865.com. Links for each of these can also be found on our pages, so be sure to follow us at videomonsterpod on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram as well.
music for Video Monsters by Evan Simmons
Grab your art supplies, lace up your shoes, watch out for past mistakes, and join us as we chase our soul butterfly through THE DOOR!!
If you enjoy this episode, come join the Video Monsters crew on Discord!! Hangout episodes are live (and unedited!) every Tuesday night starting around 9:00pm EST. Listen and chat along with us in the Discord chat and we’ll even give you a shoutout on the episode!
Video Monsters is brought to you by the Chattanooga Film Festival and Central Cinema in Knoxville, TN. Follow them on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, or online at chattfilmfest.org and centralcinema865.com. Links for each of these can also be found on our pages, so be sure to follow us at videomonsterpod on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram as well.
music for Video Monsters by Evan Simmons
This month the Video Monsters are celebrating the storied acting career of Danish heartthrob, Mads Mikkelsen. Why are we mad for Mads? Well, for starters, he’s one of the most striking, versatile actors of his generation; the rare international star who has managed to crossover into flashy Hollywood supporting roles; while maintaining an acclaimed, eclectic career in European cinema; AND also starred in one of the most celebrated American television shows of the last decade….. but also we just couldn’t resist the pun. ;) So to kick off our late start to this series, we decided to really lean into the theme and determine which three Mads Mikkelsen movies we are going to cover by using a bracket system… with a twist. Nathan, Eric, and Dan have selected 16 different films from Mads Mikkelsen’s filmography. The match ups are decided by drawing titles at random. A brief debate ensues and a majority vote advances the winners until we have our final two. The third film is a chaos pick decided by a loser’s bracket, a wild card, and a Magic 8 Ball. This little game turned out to be a wild, surprisingly dramatic ride and so much fun that we will absolutely be using this method to decide on the films we discuss for our monthly themes from now on, in a future segment that we’ve decided (at least for now) to call POPCORN PUNCHOUT: The Video Rack Attack Bracket! So brace yourself for ALL the Mads puns… so many bad Mads puns… a few rad Mads puns…. maybe a tad too many Mads puns… but you’ll be glad you had time to add a little Mads to your day. Don’t be a cad! Join us for March MADSness!
If you enjoyed this episode, come join the Video Monsters crew on Discord!! Hangout episodes are live (and unedited!) every Tuesday night starting around 9:00pm EST. Listen and chat along with us in the Discord chat and we’ll even give you a shoutout on the episode!
Video Monsters is brought to you by the Chattanooga Film Festival and Central Cinema in Knoxville, TN. Follow them on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, or online at chattfilmfest.org and centralcinema865.com. Links for each of these can also be found on our pages, so be sure to follow us at videomonsterpod on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram as well.
music for Video Monsters by Evan Simmons
SOMETHING IN THE DIRT, the latest mindbender from directors Justin Benson and Aaron Moorhead, premiered at Sundance all the way back at the end of January. So, naturally, we’re finally posting our review mid-March! (We’re very busy and important people, OK?) The film is ostensibly about two neighbors who experience a supernatural phenomenon in one of their apartments shortly after they meet for the first time, and decide to team up to try to find the meaning behind this close encounter. It’s a deceptively simple setup but, if you are familiar with Moorhead’s and Benson’s previous work, it should come as no surprise that that basic plot description barely breaks the surface of this deep, winding rabbit hole of a film. The movie works best the less you know going into it so, in this review, the Video Monsters keep things as spoiler-free as possible for most of the episode before we hit the spoiler wall. Topics discussed by Nathan, Eric, and Dan include how this film compares with other pandemic productions; the sly humor and topical social commentary; the exciting, playful way the film weaves in its narrative twists and turns to constantly shift the viewer’s perspective, and how this film possibly connects to the other entries in the ever-expanding Benson/Moorhead cosmic shared universe. So grab your speargun, fire another editor, and meet us at Ye Rustic Inn. It’s time for us to dig up SOMETHING IN THE DIRT.
If you enjoyed this episode, come join the Video Monsters crew on Discord!! Hangout episodes are live (and unedited!) every Tuesday night starting around 9:00pm EST. Listen and chat along with us in the Discord chat and we’ll even give you a shoutout on the episode!
Video Monsters is brought to you by the Chattanooga Film Festival and Central Cinema in Knoxville, TN. Follow them on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, or online at chattfilmfest.org and centralcinema865.com. Links for each of these can also be found on our pages, so be sure to follow us at videomonsterpod on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram as well.
music for Video Monsters by Evan Simmons
We’re thrilled to have Wolfe MacReady return to the Video Monsters podcast for the final episode of Final February! Our Final Girl Finale, if you will. The topic of today’s episode is “What happens next?” We’ll be taking a look at the current trend of how slasher legacyquels bring back their final girls years later to see how they have coped with their trauma in the time since we last saw them (and, of course, bring them face to face with their tormentors once again). There is a hefty dose of discussion revolving around the latest TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE film on Netflix and how it handles (or, mishandles) many of the themes brought up in tonight's episode, so consider this your official spoiler warning. We will also discuss what we think the future holds for final girl tropes in general, and the ways we see them evolving over the next few years in order to stay relevant. So put your face on, grab the keys to your '70 Dodge Challenger, and meet us in the boiler room for the final showdown as we lay Final February to rest....for now!
If you enjoyed this episode, come join the Video Monsters crew on Discord!! Hangout episodes are live (and unedited!) every Tuesday night starting around 9:00pm EST. Listen and chat along with us in the Discord chat and we’ll even give you a shoutout on the episode!
Video Monsters is brought to you by the Chattanooga Film Festival and Central Cinema in Knoxville, TN. Follow them on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, or online at chattfilmfest.org and centralcinema865.com. Links for each of these can also be found on our pages, so be sure to follow us at videomonsterpod on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram as well.
music for Video Monsters by Evan Simmons
The Video Monsters are once again joined by John Adams and Toby Poser (The Deeper You Dig, Hellbender) as we continue Final February with our discussion of non-traditional final girls. So buckle your seatbelt, grab your ballet shoes, and get the coven together for tonight's episode as we discuss some of our favorite final girls that hail from horror outside of the slasher sub-genre!
Stay up to date with all Adams Family news at wonderwheelproductions.com and be sure to check out HELLBENDER when it premieres on Shudder on 2/24!!
If you enjoyed this episode, come join the Video Monsters crew on Discord!! Hangout episodes are live (and unedited!) every Tuesday night starting around 9:00pm EST. Listen and chat along with us in the Discord chat and we’ll even give you a shoutout on the episode!
Video Monsters is brought to you by the Chattanooga Film Festival and Central Cinema in Knoxville, TN. Follow them on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, or online at chattfilmfest.org and centralcinema865.com. Links for each of these can also be found on our pages, so be sure to follow us at videomonsterpod on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram as well.
music for Video Monsters by Evan Simmons
If you are a fan of the horror genre, the term “Final Girl” is likely to conjure up a very specific image in your mind. Maybe you think of a character that embodies this archetype. You may see her running through the woods screaming for help; held captive by a homicidal maniac; or quietly cowering in a closet desperately hoping she has evaded her attacker. And of course, there’s a good chance you see her outfoxing her assailant and finishing him off once and for all. She may be battered and bruised, but she’s still the last one standing. For some this character is an inspiration, for others she symbolizes the misogynistic tendencies of a genre that overwhelmingly relies on the imagery of brutalized women.
The Video Monsters are thrilled to be joined by Jill Gevargizian, director of THE STYLIST (2020), to talk about what the term “Final Girl” means to us, shout out some of our favorite Final Girls, and really dig into what the tropes of the character have to say about horror movies, the people who make them, and the people who enjoy them. We also spend some time debating if the Final Girl is exclusive to slashers or if she exists in other horror subgenres as well. So send your boyfriend packing, say no to drugs, and gear up for the final showdown because we’re taking on the patriarchy with our favorite Final Girls.
Submit your films to the Knoxville Horror Film Festival at: www.knoxhorrorfest.com
If you enjoyed this episode, come join the Video Monsters crew on Discord!! Hangout episodes are live (and unedited!) every Tuesday night starting around 9:00pm EST. Listen and chat along with us in the Discord chat and we’ll even give you a shoutout on the episode!
Video Monsters is brought to you by the Chattanooga Film Festival and Central Cinema in Knoxville, TN. Follow them on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, or online at chattfilmfest.org and centralcinema865.com. Links for each of these can also be found on our pages, so be sure to follow us at videomonsterpod on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram as well.
music for Video Monsters by Evan Simmons
It’s Final February on Video Monsters! We’re piggy-backing off of last month’s SCREAM series by expanding into a series of broader discussions on Final Girl tropes in slasher films. First up is a very special presentation of CARDBOARD MONSTERS, our occasional series where we review board games from a movie-lover’s perspective. This time Nathan and Eric discuss the single-player slasher strategy game FINAL GIRL, published by Van Ryder Games. Players assume the role of – you guessed it – the final girl as she fights her way through various horror-movie scenarios that ultimately culminate in a life-or-death confrontation with a homicidal maniac. The game offers a number of movie-inspired “Feature Film” add-ons with additional gameplay modifications, final girls, locations, and killers that can be mixed and matched for a practically unlimited variety of different scenarios. And since we’re primarily a film podcast, we will not only talk about our enjoyment of the game itself but also how much the gameplay and thematic presentation successfully evokes the feeling of playing out the tropes of your favorite slasher flicks. So clear off the table, grab your chonky dice, and hit play quickly before you run out of time to listen to our CARDBOARD MONSTERS presentation of FINAL GIRL!
Back the Final Girl Series 2 Kickstarter at: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/vanrydergames/final-girl-series-2
For more information about Final Girl, as well as other Van Ryder Games projects, visit their website at: https://www.vanrydergames.com/
If you enjoyed this episode, come join the Video Monsters crew on Discord!! Hangout episodes are live (and unedited!) every Tuesday night starting around 9:00pm EST. Listen and chat along with us in the Discord chat and we’ll even give you a shoutout on the episode!
Video Monsters is brought to you by the Chattanooga Film Festival and Central Cinema in Knoxville, TN. Follow them on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, or online at chattfilmfest.org and centralcinema865.com. Links for each of these can also be found on our pages, so be sure to follow us at videomonsterpod on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram as well.
music for Video Monsters by Evan Simmons
We’re sticking a knife in our SCREAM series (for now) and ending on a high note with the first franchise legacyquel (or, if you're Nathan, legasequel), SCRE4M (2011)! The fourth film brought back creator Kevin Williamson as screenwriter and feels like a redemption of sorts after the disappointing end to the original trilogy. It’s also, sadly, Wes Craven’s final film. But, the three of us at Video Monsters are all in agreement that it’s a fitting swan song for the legendary horror filmmaker because SCRE4M is a complete return to 4orm for the series and easily our favorite of the sequels. The discussion runs the gamut from how much we love the way it uses the STAB franchise diegetically to go more meta than ever and reckon with the SCREAM legacy, to the running commentary of aughts horror tropes, to the clever way it twists the final girl trope, and the prophetic incorporation of social media and online streaming into the motive behind the killings. So grab some lemon squares, step out of darkness, and meet us at Cinema Club because it’s time to talk about SCRE4M!
Purchase the Ghostface Busters shirt by Travis Knight that Nathan describes at: https://www.teepublic.com/t-shirt/27127243-ghostface-busters?store_id=426381
If you enjoyed this episode, come join the Video Monsters crew on Discord!! Hangout episodes are live (and unedited!) every Tuesday night starting around 9:00pm EST. Listen and chat along with us in the Discord chat and we’ll even give you a shoutout on the episode!
Video Monsters is brought to you by the Chattanooga Film Festival and Central Cinema in Knoxville, TN. Follow them on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, or online at chattfilmfest.org and centralcinema865.com. Links for each of these can also be found on our pages, so be sure to follow us at videomonsterpod on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram as well.
music for Video Monsters by Evan Simmons
Scooby-Doo shenanigans meets systemic sex abuse in the unfortunate final chapter of the original Scream trilogy: SCREAM CREE…. Ahem.... Excuse me. I mean, SCREAM 3 (2000)! The final part of the original SCREAM trilogy was seen as something of a disappointment upon its initial release at the dawn of the new millennium. Fast forward to 2022 and it seems the film has enjoyed a bit of a critical re-evaluation in light of recent events involving one of the film’s producers. But does its commentary on real-life horror mean that it actually works as a film? Almost! Nathan, Dan, and Eric will dig into the discourse, as well as the tonal tug-of-war between the film’s two big plotlines and how they each undercut the strengths of the other. We’ll also ponder alternate versions of SCREAM 3 in a final “What If” segment that was so much fun it allllllmost makes up for the earworm that we deeply regret putting into your ear. So dry yourself off, fax your rewrites to us, and jump into our arms, and get ready for your cameo because Ghostface is going to Hollywood in our review of SCREAM 3!
If you enjoyed this episode, come join the Video Monsters crew on Discord!! Hangout episodes are live (and unedited!) every Tuesday night starting around 9:00pm EST. Listen and chat along with us in the Discord chat and we’ll even give you a shoutout on the episode!
Video Monsters is brought to you by the Chattanooga Film Festival and Central Cinema in Knoxville, TN. Follow them on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, or online at chattfilmfest.org and centralcinema865.com. Links for each of these can also be found on our pages, so be sure to follow us at videomonsterpod on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram as well.
music for Video Monsters by Evan Simmons
SCREAM 2 (1997) hit theaters just under a year after the first film and is often regarded as one of the best slasher sequels of all time, and 2 out of 3 Video Monsters agree…. that maybe the film isn’t as strong as its reputation suggests, leaving Eric to fight a losing battle for the soul of SCREAM 2. Along the way we’ll discuss how the film doubles down on the meta elements of the first film, the way it addresses the debate over the effect violence in film has on people, whether or not the movie works as a true whodunit, and how bringing back the original characters really sets this series apart from other slasher franchises. So queue up the BROKEN ARROW score, protect those precious earholes, and stay fate’s hand from thee because we have some oozing to do with our review of SCREAM 2!
If you enjoyed this episode, come join the Video Monsters crew on Discord!! Hangout episodes are live (and unedited!) every Tuesday night starting around 9:00pm EST. Listen and chat along with us in the Discord chat and we’ll even give you a shoutout on the episode!
Video Monsters is brought to you by the Chattanooga Film Festival and Central Cinema in Knoxville, TN. Follow them on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, or online at chattfilmfest.org and centralcinema865.com. Links for each of these can also be found on our pages, so be sure to follow us at videomonsterpod on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram as well.
music for Video Monsters by Evan Simmons
Ah, 2022. We began this year so full of hope and ambition but, of course, it was folly to assume things would work out the way we hoped. The plan was to SCREAM IN THE NEW YEAR and cover the entire SCREAM franchise over the course of the month. Instead we spent most of January SCREAM…ing in frustration due to all the setbacks that delayed the release of these episodes. So instead we’ll be SCREAMING OUT JANUARY and dropping all four episodes back-to-back at the end of the month like dead bodies in a slasher movie! So, with that disclaimer out of the way, let’s get into it!
Look… it’s SCREAM (1996). Everyone knows it. So instead of burying the lede with some lengthy preamble about what an iconic, game-changing slasher movie this is, we’re just going to come right and say it: Nathan has historically not been a fan of this movie. Which means that Eric and Dan are on a mission to heap so much praise on this perfect film during our discussion that Nathan has no choice but to succumb to the peer pressure (he’s far too sensitive) and accept his love for SCREAM by the end of the episode. Will Eric and Dan succeed in their mission? There’s only one way to find out! So grab your cellular, hold onto your guts, and put on your best GhOstface because it’s time to go a little mad deconstructing Wes Craven’s SCREAM!
If you enjoyed this episode, come join the Video Monsters crew on Discord!! Hangout episodes are live (and unedited!) every Tuesday night starting around 9:00pm EST. Listen and chat along with us in the Discord chat and we’ll even give you a shoutout on the episode!
Video Monsters is brought to you by the Chattanooga Film Festival and Central Cinema in Knoxville, TN. Follow them on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, or online at chattfilmfest.org and centralcinema865.com. Links for each of these can also be found on our pages, so be sure to follow us at videomonsterpod on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram as well.
music for Video Monsters by Evan Simmons
It’s become something of an annual tradition now for the Video Monsters to try something really ambitious for our Christmas coverage and put so much extra work on ourselves that we end up releasing our Christmas episodes at some point in the new year, well after Santa Claus has come and gone. That tradition continues this year with our MERRY GEN-XMAS: HISTORY OF CINEMA CHRISTMAS SPECTADEQUATE - 90S EDITION series! This epic(?) trilogy of episodes is all about, you guessed it, 90s cinema! Particularly films that we feel have a distinctly Gen-X flavor to them. And the best part is it has almost nothing to do with Christmas (we just really like the pun)! In hindsight, the benefit of doing a Christmas series where almost none of the movies are about Christmas is that you can release the episodes AFTER Christmas and it still works. Right? Right?!
Part 3 concludes our Gen X trilogy with ART VS THE MAN. The inevitable byproduct of the independent film movement is that you start to see a lot more films that are about artistic expression, individuality, and the creative process; how human desires are often suppressed by capitalism and the people in power. You’re seeing more movies about the crushing tedium of your typical 9-5 job, the high cost of living, and the desire to rebel against the excess of the 80s conventions that hold people back from being their true selves. Nathan, Dan, and Eric have each come up with four double features as a jumping off point to look at how filmmakers used their art to contend with what may be the most prevalent theme of the decade.
If you enjoyed this episode, come join the Video Monsters crew on Discord!! Hangout episodes are live (and unedited!) every Tuesday night starting around 9:00pm EST. Listen and chat along with us in the Discord chat and we’ll even give you a shoutout on the episode!
Video Monsters is brought to you by the Chattanooga Film Festival and Central Cinema in Knoxville, TN. Follow them on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, or online at chattfilmfest.org and centralcinema865.com. Links for each of these can also be found on our pages, so be sure to follow us at videomonsterpod on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram as well.
music for Video Monsters by Evan Simmons
It’s become something of an annual tradition now for the Video Monsters to try something really ambitious for our Christmas coverage and put so much extra work on ourselves that we end up releasing our Christmas episodes at some point in the new year, well after Santa Claus has come and gone. That tradition continues this year with our MERRY GEN-XMAS: HISTORY OF CINEMA CHRISTMAS SPECTADEQUATE - 90S EDITION series! This epic(?) trilogy of episodes is all about, you guessed it, 90s cinema! Particularly films that we feel have a distinctly Gen-X flavor to them. And the best part is it has almost nothing to do with Christmas (we just really like the pun)! In hindsight, the benefit of doing a Christmas series where almost none of the movies are about Christmas is that you can release the episodes AFTER Christmas and it still works. Right? Right?!
In Part 2 of our Gen X trilogy, the Video Monsters will be examining some of the social justice issues that were prevalent in the 90s, and how those issues were reflected in the films of the time. Racial justice, LGBTQIA+ representation, the War on Drugs, feminism, abortion, environmental activism, workplace harassment, poverty, income inequality, teen suicide, political corruption, and war in the Middle East are just a handful of the many different themes that cropped up in the films of this decade, and it’s fascinating to view these from a modern lens to see both the progress that’s been made and how much work is left to be done. Once again, Nathan, Dan, and Eric have each selected four films as a starting point to dig into some of these themes. The holiday twist for this one is Nathan’s catastrophic spin on “Oh, Holy Night” that I can promise you do NOT want to miss.
If you enjoyed this episode, come join the Video Monsters crew on Discord!! Hangout episodes are live (and unedited!) every Tuesday night starting around 9:00pm EST. Listen and chat along with us in the Discord chat and we’ll even give you a shoutout on the episode!
Video Monsters is brought to you by the Chattanooga Film Festival and Central Cinema in Knoxville, TN. Follow them on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, or online at chattfilmfest.org and centralcinema865.com. Links for each of these can also be found on our pages, so be sure to follow us at videomonsterpod on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram as well.
music for Video Monsters by Evan Simmons
It’s become something of an annual tradition now for the Video Monsters to try something really ambitious for our Christmas coverage and put so much extra work on ourselves that we end up releasing our Christmas episodes at some point in the new year, well after Santa Claus has come and gone. That tradition continues this year with our MERRY GEN-XMAS: HISTORY OF CINEMA CHRISTMAS SPECTADEQUATE - 90S EDITION series! This epic(?) trilogy of episodes is all about, you guessed it, 90s cinema! Particularly films that we feel have a distinctly Gen-X flavor to them. And the best part is it has almost nothing to do with Christmas (we just really like the pun)! In hindsight, the benefit of doing a Christmas series where almost none of the movies are about Christmas is that you can release the episodes AFTER Christmas and it still works. Right? Right?!
Anyway… Part 1 is all about Gen X romance and relationships. We kick off the series by discussing how we decided on this theme and what criteria we used to define Gen X movies. Nathan, Dan, and Eric have each chosen four films to discuss that we feel exemplify romance in the 90s. And to shoehorn in some holiday fun, we count down these films with our own little spin on the “12 Days of Christmas.” So pull the tree out of the garage, light a fire in the chimney, and warm up some hot cocoa because Christmas isn’t over until the Video Monsters wish you a Merry Gen-Xmas!
If you enjoyed this episode, come join the Video Monsters crew on Discord!! Hangout episodes are live (and unedited!) every Tuesday night starting around 9:00pm EST. Listen and chat along with us in the Discord chat and we’ll even give you a shoutout on the episode!
Video Monsters is brought to you by the Chattanooga Film Festival and Central Cinema in Knoxville, TN. Follow them on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, or online at chattfilmfest.org and centralcinema865.com. Links for each of these can also be found on our pages, so be sure to follow us at videomonsterpod on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram as well.
music for Video Monsters by Evan Simmons
Nathan, Dan, and Eric are thrilled to be joined by filmmakers John Adams, Toby Poser, and Zelda Adams to discuss their latest film, HELLBENDER (2021)! Known professionally as the Adams family, John and Toby are the parents of Zelda and together the trio have crafted some of the most exciting, creative, and technically accomplished independent films of the past few years. An especially impressive feat considering they also take on almost every single role both in front of and behind the camera as well. From acting to writing to music to cinematography to costuming to sound design and almost everything in between, this family does it all and they do it pretty damn well. So, naturally, we just had to have them on the podcast to talk us through their creative processes, how they embrace the unique family dynamic (you could even call it, their Adams Family values...) that they bring to their work, and really dig deep into the fascinating mythology and affecting family horror-drama they’ve conjured up for HELLBENDER. But be warned… there will be spoilers in this episode so tread carefully. The film is currently making the rounds on the festival circuit and is due to hit Shudder in early 2022. We highly recommend checking it out as soon as you can (and also scrolling back to our last episode for our in-depth review!) Then be sure to come back for this lively, incredibly fun chat with the absolutely awesome Adams family!
Stay up to date with all Adams Family news at https://wonderwheelproductions.com
If you enjoyed this episode, come join the Video Monsters crew on Discord!! Hangout episodes are live (and unedited!) every Tuesday night starting around 9:00pm EST. Listen and chat along with us in the Discord chat and we’ll even give you a shoutout on the episode!
Video Monsters is brought to you by the Chattanooga Film Festival and Central Cinema in Knoxville, TN. Follow them on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, or online at chattfilmfest.org and centralcinema865.com. Links for each of these can also be found on our pages, so be sure to follow us at videomonsterpod on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram as well.
music for Video Monsters by Evan Simmons
Now that the table has been cleared from HANKSgiving but before we dive into the rest of our holiday fare, we are taking a break from festivities to highlight one of our favorite movies of 2021! Winner of the Knoxville Horror Film Festival’s “Palme D’Gore” (as well as Best Direction, Screenplay, and the Audience Award), HELLBENDER is the story of a mother and daughter living in seclusion in the Catskill mountains as the mother attempts to protect her daughter from the truth of their witchy heritage. This micro-budget indie film puts a unique, visually-arresting, and deeply emotional coming-of-age spin on your typical witchcraft lore by centering it around a parent-child relationship (and some kickass music!), and was written/directed/starring/practically everything else-ed by real-life family Toby Poser, Zelda Adams, and John Adams (https://wonderwheelproductions.com). We highly recommend checking out HELLBENDER on the festival circuit, if you get it a chance, or when it hits Shudder in early 2022. If you enjoy this review then stay tuned because we're very excited to announce that we’ll be interviewing the Adams family on our next episode! So wrap up that bass solo, finish your grubs, and be careful where you trespass because it’s time to dust off our review of HELLBENDER!
If you enjoyed this episode, come join the Video Monsters crew on Discord!! Hangout episodes are live (and unedited!) every Tuesday night starting around 9:00pm EST. Listen and chat along with us in the Discord chat and we’ll even give you a shoutout on the episode!
Video Monsters is brought to you by the Chattanooga Film Festival and Central Cinema in Knoxville, TN. Follow them on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, or online at chattfilmfest.org and centralcinema865.com. Links for each of these can also be found on our pages, so be sure to follow us at videomonsterpod on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram as well.
music for Video Monsters by Evan Simmons
Sadly, with today’s episode we have reached the terminal point in our journey through the underappreciated works of the one and only Tom Hanks. Though the sun must set on our HANKSgiving series, REJOICE, because the moon rises with this final film! A film that we believe just might be the keystone text that binds together everything that Hanks has ever been in. It’s JOE VERSUS THE VOLCANO (1990)! Nathan, Eric, and Dan break down this existential fairy tale to discuss its four wildly different acts and what each step in Joe’s journey may represent emotionally for both its protagonist and the viewers along for the ride. We’ll also discuss the polarized reactions to the film and how its unique stylings make it a fascinating litmus test for an audience. Is it a life-affirming film about appreciating what little time you have on earth? A satirical take on white privilege? A cynical dark comedy about the crushing inescapability of capitalistic exploitation of the working class? All of the above? All this plus remarkable production design, an exceptional supporting cast, a wickedly strange sense of humor, endless quotability, and three(!) bravura Meg Ryan performances?! What more could you want out of a movie? So max out those Gold cards, pack up your comically oversized trunks, watch out for rogue Hammerheads, and crack open a nice cold can of Jump Soda because it’s time to step into the ring of fire with JOE VERSUS THE VOLCANO!
If you enjoyed this episode, come join the Video Monsters crew on Discord!! Hangout episodes are live (and unedited!) every Tuesday night starting around 9:00pm EST. Listen and chat along with us in the Discord chat and we’ll even give you a shoutout on the episode!
Video Monsters is brought to you by the Chattanooga Film Festival and Central Cinema in Knoxville, TN. Follow them on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, or online at chattfilmfest.org and centralcinema865.com. Links for each of these can also be found on our pages, so be sure to follow us at videomonsterpod on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram as well.
music for Video Monsters by Evan Simmons
Video Monsters presents our inaugural episode of a very special occasional series that we’re calling CARDBOARD MONSTERS! In these episodes we’ll be reviewing board games from a movie lover’s perspective. First up, Nathan and Eric are joined by Adam Collins and Jon Meek (Cardboard of the Rings) to talk about BACK TO THE FUTURE: BACK IN TIME, a cooperative strategy game from Funko Games based on a movie that surely needs no introduction. The idea is to discuss the game in relation to the film, so we start the conversation by discussing our prior history with BACK TO THE FUTURE before digging into the game itself to answer questions like: How good is the presentation? Are the components of high quality? How difficult is it to play? Do the gameplay mechanics effectively capture the feeling of playing through the movie? And, most importantly, is it actually any fun to play? So flux that capacitor, gather some friends around the Town Square, make like a tree to get out of Biff’s way, and feel the Power of Love with our special CARDBOARD MONSTERS presentation of BACK TO THE FUTURE: BACK IN TIME!
If you enjoyed this episode, come join the Video Monsters crew on Discord!! Hangout episodes are live (and unedited!) every Tuesday night starting around 9:00pm EST. Listen and chat along with us in the Discord chat and we’ll even give you a shoutout on the episode! And be sure to check out Cardboard of the Rings at cardboardoftherings.com and join their discord at https://discord.gg/m8NT2Dy
Video Monsters is brought to you by the Chattanooga Film Festival and Central Cinema in Knoxville, TN. Follow them on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, or online at chattfilmfest.org and centralcinema865.com. Links for each of these can also be found on our pages, so be sure to follow us at videomonsterpod on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram as well.
music for Video Monsters by Evan Simmons
We’re pushing our HANKSgiving plate aside today for a special Thanksgiving bonus episode. Three years ago — in the early days when we were still the Gargyle Podcast — Nathan and Eric reviewed what is objectively the greatest Thanksgiving horror movie of all time, and we felt like it was finally time to pull that plate out of the back of the fridge, rip off the tin foil, and heat up some of BLOOD RAGE (1987) leftovers! This time Dan joins us to give us his impressions after watching the movie for the first time. We also talk about how much we love the score by Richard Einhorn, Ed French’s outstanding makeup, why we think Louise Lasser’s performance is actually great, why the shock ending is genuinely devastating, and how the movie just seems to get better and better the more you watch it. So finish up your game of touch football, pop open a can of Old Style beer, and take a seat in front of the refrigerator because you know you can’t wait another second to dig into our BLOOD RAGE leftovers!
If you enjoyed this episode, come join the Video Monsters crew on Discord!! Hangout episodes are live (and unedited!) every Tuesday night starting around 9:00pm EST. Listen and chat along with us in the Discord chat and we’ll even give you a shoutout on the episode!
Video Monsters is brought to you by the Chattanooga Film Festival and Central Cinema in Knoxville, TN. Follow them on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, or online at chattfilmfest.org and centralcinema865.com. Links for each of these can also be found on our pages, so be sure to follow us at videomonsterpod on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram as well.
music for Video Monsters by Evan Simmons
Last week, the podcast was headed in one direction. This week, it is headed in another. When we initially came up with HANKSgiving as our theme for November, I don’t think any of us ever expected CLOUD ATLAS (2012) to be one of the films covered in our series on underappreciated Tom Hanks films. But the hand of fate has pushed us into the path of what is arguably the most ambitious and polarizing film Hanks has ever been a part of. Nathan, Eric, and Dan yibber about how we ended up covering this film, the brilliant approach it takes to adapting the novel, how well it blends together so many different genres and tones, and the controversial decision to have the cast play multiple characters of varying age/race/gender. We’ll also highlight some of the themes that resonated with us: fate vs free will, how personal prejudice stems from systemic oppression, the power that art/storytelling has over us, and so much more. So button up your vest, grab your journal, take a big swig of soap, and ear up close because today the Video Monsters are going to yarn you about the time we met eye to eye with CLOUD ATLAS.
If you enjoyed this episode, come join the Video Monsters crew on Discord!! Hangout episodes are live (and unedited!) every Tuesday night starting around 9:00pm EST. Listen and chat along with us in the Discord chat and we’ll even give you a shoutout on the episode!
Video Monsters is brought to you by the Chattanooga Film Festival and Central Cinema in Knoxville, TN. Follow them on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, or online at chattfilmfest.org and centralcinema865.com. Links for each of these can also be found on our pages, so be sure to follow us at videomonsterpod on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram as well.
music for Video Monsters by Evan Simmons
When does a joke become a dad joke? When the punchline becomes apparent.
But that begs the question... When does a punchline become apparent? When the Video Monsters review the movie PUNCHLINE, of course! Apparently, PUNCHLINE (1988) is a film starring Tom Hanks and Sally Field as two as two stand up comedians working the nightclub circuit in New York City. We’re discussing this film today as part of our HANKSGIVING series, where we express our everlasting gratitude for the one and only Tom Hanks by highlighting the Hanks films that we feel are underseen or underappreciated. And we dare say that there are few films in his filmography overlooked as often as this one. Nathan, Eric, and Dan will ponder why most movies about stand up comedians tend to be more dramatic than funny, if the film successfully navigates those tonal shifts within its dual narrative structure, why Hanks’s and Field’s performances hold up so well even if the stand up routines do not, and how the movie explores the idea of comedy as a coping mechanism. So hold on to your poop shoot, do the Sabre Dance, and…. Get ready…. Wait for it….. Here comes the PUNCHLINE.
If you enjoyed this episode, come join the Video Monsters crew on Discord!! Hangout episodes are live (and unedited!) every Tuesday night starting around 9:00pm EST. Listen and chat along with us in the Discord chat and we’ll even give you a shoutout on the episode!
Video Monsters is brought to you by the Chattanooga Film Festival and Central Cinema in Knoxville, TN. Follow them on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, or online at chattfilmfest.org and centralcinema865.com. Links for each of these can also be found on our pages, so be sure to follow us at videomonsterpod on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram as well.
music for Video Monsters by Evan Simmons
Halloween is over. The days are growing colder as the nights grow longer. The leaves change and fall and it feels like the winter season is upon before they even hit the ground. The holidays approach and suddenly we’re spending more time at home, bundled up with our loved ones, taking time to reflect on what really matters to us: friendship, charity, art, a pair of cozy socks, a warm cup of coffee. All the little pleasures in life that keep us going. We all have different things we’re grateful for, but there’s one thing in particular that every single human being on this planet can agree matters most of all. It’s a thing that transcends all of our differences, overcomes all cultural barriers, and bridges all political divides. That thing we cherish above all else is, of course…. Thomas Jeffrey Hanks. November is the month of HANKSGIVING on the Video Monsters Podcast! A joyous occasion in which we celebrate and take comfort in the works of our beloved dad, Tom Hanks. We decided that the best way to give ‘Hanks this season is by highlighting some films in his oeuvre that we feel are underappreciated, underseen, or overshadowed by the canonical classics we all already know and love. Up first, we’re hanging with Hanks in Joe Dante’s THE ‘BURBS (1989). Nathan, Eric, and Dan discuss Tom Hanks’s prowess as a physical comedian, how this film may be a secret sequel to BIG, why the “heroes” of this story might actually be the villains, and how the illusion of safety in the suburbs makes them a perfect front to hide true horrors. So crush those empty beer cans, throw the garbage out in the street, call up the pizza dude, and guard your femur because you never know what kind of lunatics might be lurking in THE ‘BURBS!
If you enjoyed this episode, come join the Video Monsters crew on Discord!! Hangout episodes are live (and unedited!) every Tuesday night starting around 9:00pm EST. Listen and chat along with us in the Discord chat and we’ll even give you a shoutout on the episode!
Video Monsters is brought to you by the Chattanooga Film Festival and Central Cinema in Knoxville, TN. Follow them on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, or online at chattfilmfest.org and centralcinema865.com. Links for each of these can also be found on our pages, so be sure to follow us at videomonsterpod on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram as well.
music for Video Monsters by Evan Simmons
The Video Monsters share their thoughts on the 13th annual Knoxville Horror Film Festival, which was hosted Oct. 21st - 24th at the Parkway Drive-In and Central Cinema in Knoxville, TN. Sadly, only one-third of our Monster triumvirate were able to make it down for a day of the festival. But, Nathan is happy to report that his return to the cinema -- after an almost two-year absence -- was even more glorious than he anticipated. Tears may have been shed. Nathan shares his thoughts on the short films THE LAKE PARASITE and VERIFIED and features: KING KNIGHT, MAD GOD, and HELLBENDER. Meanwhile, since we all couldn’t make it to the festival in person, we had a little KHFF-at-home experience and discuss our recent watches of some of the classic films that screened this year, including POPCORN (1991), TRICK OR TREAT (1986), and POSSESSION (1981). So grab your vaccine card, hit the concession stand, snag some Central Cinema merch, and prepare yourself for juvenile jokes about Sam Neill’s ass because that’s how we celebrate the most wonderful time of the year at the Knoxville Horror Film Festival!
If you enjoyed this episode, come join the Video Monsters crew on Discord!! Hangout episodes are live (and unedited!) every Tuesday night starting around 9:00pm EST. Listen and chat along with us in the Discord chat and we’ll even give you a shoutout on the episode!
Video Monsters is brought to you by the Chattanooga Film Festival and Central Cinema in Knoxville, TN. Follow them on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, or online at chattfilmfest.org and centralcinema865.com. Links for each of these can also be found on our pages, so be sure to follow us at videomonsterpod on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram as well.
music for Video Monsters by Evan Simmons
Hangout episode with Nathan, Eric, and Dan. Recorded live on the Video Monsters Discord server, 10/19/2021. On this episode, the Video Monsters are talking ALL THE SPOILERS!!! Nathan ponders the question “Can a movie really be spoiled?” Eric and Dan answer with an unequivocal “Yes” before digging into what it actually means for something to be “spoiled” and how that affects the way we experience a movie. The bulk of the discussion centers around recent releases like MALIGNANT, HALLOWEEN KILLS, and MIDNIGHT MASS so consider this your official SPOILER ALERT if you haven’t seen those yet. Then, we close out the show with our TRANSPORTATIONSPLOITATION pick of the week: DEEP RISING (1998).
If you enjoyed this episode then come join us on Discord! Chat with us throughout the week, let us know what you’re watching, what you think we should cover, and come out for our live virtual hangout episodes Tuesday nights starting around 9:00pm EST.
Video Monsters is brought to you by the Chattanooga Film Festival and Central Cinema in Knoxville, TN. Follow them on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, or online at chattfilmfest.org and centralcinema865.com. Links for each of these can also be found on our pages, so be sure to follow us at videomonsterpod on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram as well.
music for Video Monsters by Evan Simmons
Film producer -and Mayor of Video Monsters- David Lawson Jr (SHE DIES TOMORROW, SYNCHRONIC, AFTER MIDNIGHT) boards the Video Monsters express to discuss his pick for our Transportationsploitation series, TRAIN TO BUSAN (2016). This South Korean horror film from director Sang-ho Yeon is widely regarded as one of the best zombie movies of the past decade; no small feat considering how much the undead have proliferated in pop culture during that time period. TRAIN TO BUSAN sets itself apart with a claustrophobic setting, inventive action set pieces, and a uniquely visceral depiction of zombies that makes them feel all the more terrifying. But the bulk of Nathan and Eric’s conversation with Dave will focus on how the political subtext and simple emotional hook of a dad just trying to protect his daughter are what truly make this a standout zombie picture. Well, that and daddy Ma Dong-seok’s massive arms, which are perfect for both f**king up zombies and wrapping you up in a warm bear hug. Speaking of wrapping up… let’s do that. So grab your favorite scarf, meet us where the flowers bloom and, for the love of God, don’t forget to close the door behind you as we board the TRAIN TO BUSAN.
Video Monsters is brought to you by the Chattanooga Film Festival and Central Cinema in Knoxville, TN. Follow them on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, or online at chattfilmfest.org and centralcinema865.com. Links for each of these can also be found on our pages, so be sure to follow us at videomonsterpod on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram as well.
music for Video Monsters by Evan Simmons
Bill Fulkerson (co-writer/co-director of SURVIVAL OF THE FILM FREAKS and host of the OUTSIDE THE CINEMA podcast), joins the Video Monsters to discuss his TRANSPORTATIONSPLOITATION pick, Richard Franklin’s ROADGAMES (1981). This early Ozploitation flick is a pitch-perfect Hitchcock pastiche about a charming truck driver (Stacy Keach) who unintentionally gets swept up in the hunt for a serial killer. It’s essentially REAR WINDOW on the road. Despite its premise and the implied sleaziness of its poster, ROADGAMES is surprisingly just as much a laid back hangout movie as it is a cat-and-mouse road thriller. Nathan, Eric, Dan, and Bill discuss the wonderful performances of Stacy Keach and Jamie Lee Curtis, the screenplay that’s deceptively well structured despite how loose and fun the movie feels, the way Franklin remixes Hitchcock tropes to constantly keep the audience on edge, and so much more. And, of course, there’s no way one could cover this movie without getting into an extensive side conversation on the film career of Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson! Right?! So hitch up your trailer, hide your dingo, keep those guitar strings handy, and watch out for rogue rabbits because it’s time to play some ROADGAMES!
Video Monsters is brought to you by the Chattanooga Film Festival and Central Cinema in Knoxville, TN. Follow them on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, or online at chattfilmfest.org and centralcinema865.com. Links for each of these can also be found on our pages, so be sure to follow us at videomonsterpod on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram as well.
music for Video Monsters by Evan Simmons
Hangout episode with Nathan, Dan, and special guest Corey Simpson. Recorded live on the Video Monsters Discord server, 10/5/2021. Eric is MIA in Florida this week because he’s the worst. Nathan and Dan perform their civic duties and rightfully give Eric the grief he deserves before moving on to this week’s movies. Dan’s picks include Italian Lovecraftian nunsploitation classic, DARK WATERS (1993), and the unassuming parental horrors of THE WITCH IN THE WINDOW (2018). Nathan preaches the gospel of another Italian “classic” (of copyright infringement), CRUEL JAWS (1995), before moving on to discuss an actual classic, THE TAKING OF PELHAM ONE TWO THREE (1974). Meanwhile, Corey argues for THE RUNNING MAN’s (1987) inclusion in the horror canon and recommends the spellbinding witchery of the first Soviet horror film, VIY (1967). Finally, Corey completes his Video Monsters initiation with a rousing round of our favorite movie party game, PITCHSTORM! If you enjoyed this episode, come join the Video Monsters crew on Discord!! Hangout episodes are live (and unedited!) every Tuesday night starting around 9:30pm EST. Listen and chat along with us in the Discord chat and we’ll even give you a shoutout on the episode!
Video Monsters is brought to you by the Chattanooga Film Festival and Central Cinema in Knoxville, TN. Follow them on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, or online at chattfilmfest.org and centralcinema865.com. Links for each of these can also be found on our pages, so be sure to follow us at videomonsterpod on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram as well.
music for Video Monsters by Evan Simmons
The Video Monsters are once again joined by friend and fellow film freak, Kyle Kuchta (co-director, SURVIVAL OF THE FILM FREAKS), to discuss CREEP (2004) as we keep moving right along with our Horror in Motion (or, Transportationsploitation) series. This feature-film directorial debut of Christopher Smith harkens back to gothic horror (with a splash of 80s creature features) as it presents an incredibly solid horror movie that can be enjoyed as either a simple monster story of things that go bump in the night, or as a more complex story with deeper meanings of classism and the hell that women experience with sexual assault. So grab your metro pass, stay away from the windows, and don’t forget George Clooney’s number as we board the last podcast of the night with our review of CREEP!
Video Monsters is brought to you by the Chattanooga Film Festival and Central Cinema in Knoxville, TN. Follow them on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, or online at chattfilmfest.org and centralcinema865.com. Links for each of these can also be found on our pages, so be sure to follow us at videomonsterpod on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram as well.
music for Video Monsters by Evan Simmons
Hangout episode with Nathan, Eric, and Dan. Recorded live on the Video Monsters Discord server, 9/21/2021. The Video Monsters pay tribute to our lord and savior, Stephen King, on the most holy occasion of his birthday before jumping into what we’ve been watching lately. Movies discussed include transportationsploitation picks like DEATH SHIP, SOUTHBOUND, BELOW, and DEAD CALM plus a few non-vehicular outliers like GRAVEYARD SHIFT, MALIGNANT, THE WITCHES OF EASTWICK, THE MUMMY (1932), and SORORITY BABES IN THE SLIME BOWL-O-RAMA (which leads us down the delightfully demented filmography of its absurdly prolific director, David DeCoteau.) We cap off the night by finally giving Dan a chance to play a round of PITCHSTORM, and… let’s just say that we’re expecting producers to give us a call any minute once they hear his pitch. We’ve had such a good time recording these hangout episodes. If you’re enjoying them nearly as much as we are then come join us on Discord. We got lively chats going throughout the week, and live episodes like this every Tuesday night starting around 9:30pm EST.
Video Monsters is brought to you by the Chattanooga Film Festival and Central Cinema in Knoxville, TN. Follow them on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, or online at chattfilmfest.org and centralcinema865.com. Links for each of these can also be found on our pages, so be sure to follow us at videomonsterpod on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram as well.
music for Video Monsters by Evan Simmons
It may sound like a trick, but we have a very special treat for our listeners. For the first time ever, the Video Monsters are joined by an actual video monster. Hailing all the way from Transylvania, we’re interviewing the one, the only, the immortal… Count Dracula! This is not a joke. The ACTUAL Dracula is stopping in to promote his new TV show DRACULA’S KUNG-FU THEATRE, where he shows a variety of classic martial films ever Friday night at 10pm E|P on Retro TV (and later on demand at watch.itsrealgoodtv.com). Eric may have lost his mind a little bit when he learned that vampires are actually real, so Nathan and Dan picked up the slack for the chat with Drac. They, of course, used this opportunity not only to talk to the legendary Count about his favorite kung-fu flicks but also to find out what inspired him to create this show, what are some common misconceptions about him, and what he thinks about the way he’s been portrayed in media over the last century. So put away those stakes, douse your torches, and leave your pitchfork in the barn because you’ll have nothing but love for creatures of the night after listening to our interview with Dracula!
Video Monsters is brought to you by the Chattanooga Film Festival and Central Cinema in Knoxville, TN. Follow them on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, or online at chattfilmfest.org and centralcinema865.com. Links for each of these can also be found on our pages, so be sure to follow us at videomonsterpod on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram as well.
music for Video Monsters by Evan Simmons
Eric Pennycoff (writer/director of SADISTIC INTENTIONS) joins the Video Monsters to discuss Jonathan Mostow’s underrated 90s action thriller BREAKDOWN (1997). We’re absolutely thrilled that he picked this for our TRANSPORTATIONSPLOITATION: or HORROR IN MOTION series because this flick rocked our engine blocks and deserves far more love than it’s received over the years. In this episode, we lament the death of the era when mid-budget studio movies were made for adults, discuss the incomparable face acting of Kurt Russell, talk about the spiritual connections this shares with Steven Spielberg’s DUEL, and just generally drool over the lean, mean practical craftsmanship on display in every ounce of this movie’s DNA. So grab a pack of donuts, crank up the A/C in your luxurious ‘96 Jeep Grand Cherokee, and be prepared to have that Tom Petty song stuck in your head for at least a week after listening to our review of Jonathan Mostow’s BREAKDOWN.
Video Monsters is brought to you by the Chattanooga Film Festival and Central Cinema in Knoxville, TN. Follow them on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, or online at chattfilmfest.org and centralcinema865.com. Links for each of these can also be found on our pages, so be sure to follow us at videomonsterpod on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram as well.
music for Video Monsters by Evan Simmons
Hangout episode with Nathan and Eric, recorded live on the Video Monsters Discord server, 9/7/2021. Since Eric missed the 300th episode spectacular -- our review of Steven Spielberg’s DUEL with special guest Matt Mercer -- we spend a little time reminiscing about the three years we’ve spent together as podcast pals, then get Eric’s quick thoughts on DUEL. We also spend some time talking about what we’ve been watching and reading lately and cap off the episode with a discussion about AIRPLANE VS VOLCANO, a transportationsploitation classic (?) starring Matt Mercer that had us erupting with laughter! Nathan decided to make Eric watch it as punishment for missing the 300th episode with Matt and ended up having a great time with it! If you enjoy this episode, be sure to fly into our Discord channel for volcanic live chats every Tuesday night starting around 9:30pm EST.
Video Monsters is brought to you by the Chattanooga Film Festival and Central Cinema in Knoxville, TN. Follow them on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, or online at chattfilmfest.org and centralcinema865.com. Links for each of these can also be found on our pages, so be sure to follow us at videomonsterpod on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram as well.
music for Video Monsters by Evan Simmons
The Video Monsters’ Halloween series this year is TRANSPORTATIONSPLOITATION: HORROR IN MOTION, where we’ll be discussing tales of automotive terror! For our first full review in the series, we’re hitting the road with Steven Spielberg’s ferocious debut film, DUEL (1971); the deceptively simple story of a nice guy salesman pursued by a murderous monster of a truck driver across a seemingly endless stretch of desolate desert highway. And since the hosts of this podcast are also a bunch of maniacal monsters, we called in a nice guy of our own to get his perspective on the film. Special guest Matt Mercer (co-director and star of DEMENTIA PART II and star of the transportationsploitation classic, AIRPLANE VS VOLCANO) joins Nathan and Dan to talk about the planning and precision of cinematography, the tension brought about by the engaging world-building, and why Steven Spielberg should be considered a master of horror. So get your swiss on rye to go, remember to replace the radiator hose, and crank up your Plymouth Valiant to tune into your own personal voiceover with our review of Steven Spielberg’s DUEL!
Video Monsters is brought to you by the Chattanooga Film Festival and Central Cinema in Knoxville, TN. Follow them on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, or online at chattfilmfest.org and centralcinema865.com. Links for each of these can also be found on our pages, so be sure to follow us at videomonsterpod on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram as well.
music for Video Monsters by Evan Simmons
Spooky season is upon us, and the Video Monsters are shaking things up a bit with our Halloween coverage this year! In addition to our reviews, we will also be recording weekly live hangout episodes on Tuesday nights in our Discord channel and releasing them later in the main feed. This is the first of those episodes, in which Nathan and Eric announce this year’s Halloween theme: TRANSPORTATIONSPLOITATION: or HORROR IN MOTION, a series on horror films that are heavily driven by various modes of transportation. Now, we know what you’re thinking: “Fellas, how could this announcement possibly take up a full two-hour episode?!” Well, friends, since these live episodes are more laid back than our reviews, we fittingly derail the topic at hand and indulge in tangents a bit more often than usual. BUT most of that time is used to define the TRANSPORTATIONSPLOITATION criteria and debate the semantics of what types of vehicles count, determine how much screen time a film must devote to automotive carnage, and throw out some titles to argue over whether they do or do not qualify. Then, to cap things off, we play a couple of outrageous rounds of Pitchstorm: Creature Feature. Alright, enough idling about. Listeners, it’s time to start your engines because the Video Monsters are shifting into the Halloween season and sowing some vehicular discord with our TRANSPORTATIONSPLOITATION series!
Video Monsters is brought to you by the Chattanooga Film Festival and Central Cinema in Knoxville, TN. Follow them on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, or online at chattfilmfest.org and centralcinema865.com. Links for each of these can also be found on our pages, so be sure to follow us at videomonsterpod on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram as well.
music for Video Monsters by Evan Simmons
Fare thee well to our ERICSISTENTIALISM series because it’s all coming full circle today with a film about a down-and-out folk singer who, no matter how hard he tries, just can’t seem to land on his feet. Joel and Ethan Coens’ INSIDE LLEWYN DAVIS (2013) is a movie that Eric has been dying to cover for years and he may or may not have contrived this series, in part, just to have an excuse to talk about this movie on the podcast. Nathan and Dan will join him to talk about what sets the Coen Brothers apart from other filmmakers, how this movie perfectly reflects the trials of depression and the frustrations of everyday life, the timeless appeal of folk music, and so much more. So p-p-please get your vaccinations, grab your Flash Gordon boots, and don’t let the cat out on your way out the door. If it was never new, and it never gets old, then it’s our review of INSIDE LLEWYN DAVIS.
Video Monsters is brought to you by the Chattanooga Film Festival and Central Cinema in Knoxville, TN. Follow them on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, or online at chattfilmfest.org and centralcinema865.com. Links for each of these can also be found on our pages, so be sure to follow us at videomonsterpod on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram as well.
music for Video Monsters by Evan Simmons
On the second episode of our ERICSISTENTIALISM series -- where Eric confronts his quarter-life crisis through film -- we’re switching channels from THE TRUMAN SHOW to a very different kind of show altogether. THE LAST PICTURE SHOW (1971) is a film made in the 1970s, set in the 1950s, about the banality of life in small-town Texas, directed by a man from the big city in New York. Peter Bogdanovich’s frank coming-of-age drama is an important touchstone for both the New Hollywood movement of the 1970s, and Eric’s own personal journey discovering his love of cinema. Nathan and Dan join him to talk about the film’s timelessness and relatability, its gorgeously spare black-and-white cinematography, the evocative production design, the depth of feeling and empathy it has for its characters, and the extraordinary performances from its young cast of now legendary actors. So pass the pigskin, finish up your game at the pool hall, and grab yourself a burger from the diner because we’re all out of popcorn for our review of THE LAST PICTURE SHOW.
Video Monsters is brought to you by the Chattanooga Film Festival and Central Cinema in Knoxville, TN. Follow them on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, or online at chattfilmfest.org and centralcinema865.com. Links for each of these can also be found on our pages, so be sure to follow us at videomonsterpod on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram as well.
music for Video Monsters by Evan Simmons
Now that the month of August is coming to a close, it’s time to finally kick off our August coverage! Because that’s how we do things here at Video Monsters. In all seriousness, with the start of school, an increased workload at our day jobs, and a distressing rise in COVID cases (especially at our headquarters in good ole Tennessee) we’ve had a hell of a time staying on track this month, but we’re determined to push on and plan to release a series of three episodes over the next week to make up for it. This month’s theme is a personal one. Eric turned 30 this month (on Friday the 13th!), and it’s prompted him to spend a lot of time lately ruminating on the past decade of his life and the uncertain future that lies in the decade ahead. So, he’s decided to confront his existential dread head on in a series we’re calling ERIC-SISTENTIALISM! The films will all be about people who feel stuck in some way and inevitably begin to question their place in the universe. First up is THE TRUMAN SHOW (1998). Nathan, Eric, and Dan discuss the movie’s near universal appeal and deft handling of tone, dig into the mechanics of the show itself, question if anyone or anything can ever truly be authentic, marvel over how the movie feels both quaint and prophetic from a 2021 perspective, and speculate on what Truman’s future has in store for him. So fix yourself a tall glass of Mococoa, book a trip to Fiji, and prepare yourself for the answer to life’s most pressing question: “How’s it going to end?” Find out now by tuning in to our review of THE TRUMAN SHOW.
Video Monsters is brought to you by the Chattanooga Film Festival and Central Cinema in Knoxville, TN. Follow them on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, or online at chattfilmfest.org and centralcinema865.com. Links for each of these can also be found on our pages, so be sure to follow us at videomonsterpod on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram as well.
music for Video Monsters by Evan Simmons
The Chattanooga Film Festival’s 2021 lineup was excellent this year, and one of the standout flicks of the fest was a hugely entertaining little Australian genre hybrid called AN IDEAL HOST. We loved it so much that it even inspired (and, of course, won) Video Monsters’s inaugural “Scrappy as F**k” Award on our Chatt Film Fest wrap-up episode. So, we were delighted to have the film’s director, Robert Woods, join Nathan and Eric for an interview to talk about how the film came together, his approach to storytelling, his love of mixing and subverting genre tropes, the lengthy editing process, and how the film may have never been released to the public if it weren’t for the pandemic. Be warned, though. This movie is best experienced knowing as little as possible going in and we dive into some major spoilers during the interview. If you haven’t seen it, be sure to check out AN IDEAL HOST on Facebook (/anidealhost) for more information about when and where you can screen the film for yourself.
Video Monsters is brought to you by the Chattanooga Film Festival and Central Cinema in Knoxville, TN. Follow them on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, or online at chattfilmfest.org and centralcinema865.com. Links for each of these can also be found on our pages, so be sure to follow us at videomonsterpod on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram as well.
music for Video Monsters by Evan Simmons
We sadly must bid a fond farewell to the United States of Emmericha this week. But we are definitely going out on a high note by going down to the White House with WHITE HOUSE DOWN (2013)! A big, fun, goofy action flick about domestic terrorists taking over the White House. Which, uh, maybe plays a little differently now than it did 8 years ago. Nathan, Eric, and Dan will dig into that as well as how much Roland Emmerich’s dad humor shines in this movie, the phenomenal cast, the bad CGI that somehow works in the film’s favor, and Emmerich’s uniquely foreign love of America. Plus, we cap it off with each of us deciding where WHITE HOUSE DOWN would rank if it were a part of the DIE HARD franchise and… let’s just say that at least one of our rankings (coughNathan*cough) may be slightly controversial…. So lace up your Jordans, grab yourself some squirrel repellent, and hop into Ground Force One with us because we’re going to Channing all over your Tatum with our review of WHITE HOUSE DOWN!
Video Monsters is brought to you by the Chattanooga Film Festival and Central Cinema in Knoxville, TN. Follow them on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, or online at chattfilmfest.org and centralcinema865.com. Links for each of these can also be found on our pages, so be sure to follow us at videomonsterpod on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram as well.
music for Video Monsters by Evan Simmons
On the penultimate episode of our United State of Emmericha series, we’re covering a film about a global crisis made worse by the people in charge who refuse to listen to scientists because they’re more concerned about the economic strain of addressing the problem than they are with saving people’s lives. You know, the kind of story that could only exist in the realm of science fiction…. of course, that means we’re talking about THE DAY AFTER TOMORROW (2004), the disaster flick in which the Earth expedites the shipping on climate change to finally cleanse itself of the pesky humans plaguing its surface. So watch out for softball-sized hail on your way to the underwater payphone, huddle up next to a burning bundle of tax code and, whatever you do, don’t forget your passport because it’s time to listen to our review of Roland Emmerich’s THE DAY AFTER TOMORROW!
Video Monsters is brought to you by the Chattanooga Film Festival and Central Cinema in Knoxville, TN. Follow them on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, or online at chattfilmfest.org and centralcinema865.com. Links for each of these can also be found on our pages, so be sure to follow us at videomonsterpod on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram as well.
music for Video Monsters by Evan Simmons
We’re continuing our United States of Emmericha series with Roland Emmerich’s fascinating attempt to simultaneously go back to his roots and try his hand at something entirely different. This week we turn our attention to the origin of Independence Day with the Revolutionary War epic, THE PATRIOT (2000). On this episode, Nathan, Eric, and Dan discuss the malice and magnetism of Mel Gibson, the generational trauma of war, patriotism vs nationalism, and how much the film’s whitewashing of history hurts an overall strong narrative. So pour yourself a cup of ink-free tea, grab your hatchet, and watch out for rogue cannonballs as you listen to our review of THE PATRIOT.
Video Monsters is brought to you by the Chattanooga Film Festival and Central Cinema in Knoxville, TN. Follow them on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, or online at chattfilmfest.org and centralcinema865.com. Links for each of these can also be found on our pages, so be sure to follow us at videomonsterpod on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram as well.
music for Video Monsters by Evan Simmons
Taking a short break from United States of Emmericha, Nathan sits down with actor, artist, and author Jesse D'Angleo to discuss his three new books: Skinner, Lady of the Lake, and A Collection of Tails (links to Amazon and Godless below). Fans of Rock 'n' Roll Nightmare will recognize Jesse as the wolf boy, but his work in the art and special effects industry includes credits for Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow, Species, Hellboy, Underworld, The Cave, CSI: New York, Kingdom and Ancient Aliens. Now venturing into the world of writing, Jesse brings his love of horror to tell stories that fright and excite you, with just enough grounded reality (those familiar with the Chattanooga, TN area will recognize more than one location) to give a tangible sense to the horrific world around us. Be sure to check out his work on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Jesse-DAngelo/e/B08Z8DJVTZ/ref=dp_byline_cont_pop_book_1 or on Godless: https://godless.com/products/jesse-dangelo
Video Monsters is brought to you by the Chattanooga Film Festival and Central Cinema in Knoxville, TN. Follow them on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, or online at chattfilmfest.org and centralcinema865.com. Links for each of these can also be found on our pages, so be sure to follow us at videomonsterpod on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram as well.
music for Video Monsters by Evan Simmons
This week we continue our series on the films of Roland Emmerich with probably his most controversial film - the movie that is most likely to test one’s allegiance to the United States of Emmericha. That’s right… much to Nathan’s delight (and Eric’s chagrin), we’re talking about the first American version of GODZILLA (1998). Nathan and Eric are joined once again by the moderator for their King of the MARCHsters debate, Dan Fleming (HBO to Front Row), to ask themselves the big questions; is this movie better than its reputation suggests? Is Eric just a movie snob? How is a 200-foot tall iguana SO good at playing hide and seek? Why can’t anyone pronounce Tatopoulos? And, seriously, what is Matthew Broderick doing in this movie? So grab some bubblegum, strap into your elevationally-limited helicopter, and don’t forget your umbrella because it’s time to go deeper underground with our review of Roland Emmerich’s GODZILLA.
Video Monsters is brought to you by the Chattanooga Film Festival and Central Cinema in Knoxville, TN. Follow them on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, or online at chattfilmfest.org and centralcinema865.com. Links for each of these can also be found on our pages, so be sure to follow us at videomonsterpod on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram as well.
music for Video Monsters by Evan Simmons
It’s finally July! Which means that it’s time to kick off a series that we (and especially Nathan) have literally been waiting for all year. Today, we pledge allegiance to the United Stated of Emmericha, our series covering the films of our favorite German patriot, Roland Emmerich. On this first episode, we're covering a movie that needs no description but we’re obligated to put one so we’re going to do this in the only way that could possibly do the movie justice. Ahem...
Good morning. In just over two hours, Nathan and Eric join forces through their laptops to discuss one of the biggest movies in the history of cinema. "Cinema." That word should have new meaning for all of us today. We can't be consumed by our petty differences anymore. We will be united in our common love of movies. Perhaps it's fate that today is the Fourth of July, and we will once again be fighting for big dumb popcorn entertainment... Not for us, or for the studios, or even for Roland Emmerich, but for our collective desire for quality escapism. We are fighting for our right to watch what we love. To love it without shame. And should we win the day, the Fourth of July will no longer be known as an American holiday, but as the day the cinephiles declared in one voice: "We WILL go quietly into the dark!” We will cheer when the curtains part!We're going to watch on! And we’re going to…. talk about it on our podcast! Today we celebrate Roland Emmerich’s INDEPENDENCE DAY! [crowd cheers]
Video Monsters is brought to you by the Chattanooga Film Festival and Central Cinema in Knoxville, TN. Follow them on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, or online at chattfilmfest.org and centralcinema865.com. Links for each of these can also be found on our pages, so be sure to follow us at videomonsterpod on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram as well.
music for Video Monsters by Evan Simmons
The 2021 virtual edition of Chattanooga Film Festival has sadly come to a close, but we have one last celebration to get out of the way before we let it go quietly into the night. It’s time for the Video Monsters’ MONSTER VIDEO AWARDS! With the enormous amount of lovingly curated content that Chatt Film Fest provided for us this year, there was absolutely no way to bottle it all into a single episode (trust us, we tried), so instead we’ve divided up the feature-length films into eight different award categories, selected our cinematic champions, and then cap off the show with individual highlights from Nathan, Eric, and Dan (all while valiantly fighting off the specter of sleep as we record into the wee hours of the night). So put on your least wrinkled tux, pop open a box of champagne, and hastily scribble out that acceptance speech on the closest napkin. It’s time to vote for the best of the Chatt Film Fest with the Video Monsters’ MONSTER VIDEO AWARDS!
Video Monsters is brought to you by the Chattanooga Film Festival and Central Cinema in Knoxville, TN. Follow them on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, or online at chattfilmfest.org and centralcinema865.com. Links for each of these can also be found on our pages, so be sure to follow us at videomonsterpod on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram as well.
music for Video Monsters by Evan Simmons
Come with me and you'll be in a world of pure absurdity. Take a look and you'll see into your bizarre fascination. We'll begin with a Crowhand flying in the world of Brian Lonano's creation. What we'll see will defy explanation... That's right...in this episode, special guest Brian Lonano (the Willy Wonka of bizarre horror shorts) joins us to discuss LONANOTHON - a retrospective of his work, airing this week as part of the Chattanooga Film Festival. We here at Video Monsters are huge fans of Brian Lonano! We fell in love with his work the first time we saw it and it has been a tremendous joy to follow his work over the years. His unique style, attention to detail, and unending creativity results in short films where a fully realized world will captivate you with a mix of humor, disgust, and hope. So grab your crow totem, keep a sharp eye out for Attackazoids, and follow our ghost call to the moon for our interview with Brian Lonano!!
Video Monsters is brought to you by the Chattanooga Film Festival and Central Cinema in Knoxville, TN. Follow them on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, or online at chattfilmfest.org and centralcinema865.com. Links for each of these can also be found on our pages, so be sure to follow us at videomonsterpod on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram as well.
music for Video Monsters by Evan Simmons
On today’s episode, Nathan and Eric are joined once again by Dan Fleming (Potato League Podcast) for a very special episode. We’re reviewing WHO'S WITH ME? (2021), an ultra micro-budget quarantine film currently available to watch in its entirety for free on YouTube. (WHO'S WITH ME? YouTube link). Written and directed by Austin Allan James, WHO'S WITH ME? is about a man named Marcus who wakes up to find himself trapped in his apartment after a lock down has been imposed under mysterious circumstances. The idea for the film was conceived pre-COVID and has, of course, taken on a whole new relevance in the wake of an actual global quarantine. We question whether or not releasing the film post-pandemic actually helps or hurts it, and also discuss themes of grief, complacency, and creative compulsion. But before all that, we kick things off talking to Dan about what he is most looking forward to at Chattanooga Film Fest 2021 (June 24th - 29th!). So grab your boxing gloves, cuddle up with your favorite lady turtle, and follow the instructions on the screen. It’s time to discover WHO’S WITH ME?
Video Monsters is brought to you by the Chattanooga Film Festival and Central Cinema in Knoxville, TN. Follow them on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, or online at chattfilmfest.org and centralcinema865.com. Links for each of these can also be found on our pages, so be sure to follow us at videomonsterpod on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram as well.
music for Video Monsters by Evan Simmons
After a few unavoidable setbacks, Nathan and Eric have decided to forego their usual awkwardly named puntastic monthly theme to cover a couple of one-off films and prep for our coverage of the Chattanooga (Virtual) Film Festival at the end of the month. We kick off tonight's episode with some juicy CFF announcements before diving into our review of the long-lost George A. Romero film, THE AMUSEMENT PARK (1973); a surreal PSA highlighting the social and systemic abuse faced by elderly Americans in the United States. The Lutheran Society that hired Romero to make the film were so disturbed by the film’s content that they shelved it indefinitely, leading to its now mythic status in the filmmaker’s canon. Thankfully, a badly damaged 16mm print was discovered in 2017 and, after a painstaking restoration process, the film has finally been released to the public via Shudder almost 50 years after its original production. So grab your tickets, hold tight to that pocket watch, and watch your step when you leave the White Room and join us at THE AMUSEMENT PARK.
Video Monsters is brought to you by the Chattanooga Film Festival and Central Cinema in Knoxville, TN. Follow them on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, or online at chattfilmfest.org and centralcinema865.com. Links for each of these can also be found on our pages, so be sure to follow us at videomonsterpod on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram as well.
music for Video Monsters by Evan Simmons
We are now almost two whole months out from the end of the Easter holiday season so, naturally, we feel it’s finally time to lay this holiday to rest and close out our EASTER: RESURRECTION!!! series by tackling that most holy and celebrated of all the holiday's idols: the one and only Easter Bunny! So, on this episode, Nathan, Eric, and Dan are hopping down the bunny trail with everyone’s favorite cinematic cottontails on our way to review WATERSHIP DOWN (1978). And what better way to conclude this series than with the uplifting story of a band of rabbits, led by a prophet, who are delivered from the destruction of their home to embark on a perilous quest to find their Promised Land? So keep those bright eyes on the lookout for any snares or hrududus and pray to Frith that you stay alive long enough to hear our review of WATERSHIP DOWN.
Video Monsters is brought to you by the Chattanooga Film Festival and Central Cinema in Knoxville, TN. Follow them on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, or online at chattfilmfest.org and centralcinema865.com. Links for each of these can also be found on our pages, so be sure to follow us at videomonsterpod on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram as well.
music for Video Monsters by Evan Simmons
And on the third day (well, the third episode of this series), Easter rose again from the dead! For this entry in our EASTER: RESURRECTION series, Nathan, Eric, and returning guest Dan Fleming will take on one of the more commercial aspects of the holiday by analyzing the simple iconography of the Easter basket. And what’s the first movie that comes to mind when you think about baskets? Of course! Frank Henenlotter’s BASKET CASE (1982); the heartwarming horror film about a young man who bonds with his basket-dwelling, hideously deformed twin brother by heading out to the big city on a quest to, you know, viciously seek vengeance upon the people who separated them against their will. Suffice to say that the surprises in this basket are altogether much more unpleasant than the kind you find in your average treat-filled egg. So let out a primal screech of joy and be not afraid, for our review of BASKET CASE is full of sights, sounds, and sweet airs that give delight and hurt not (even if the same can’t be said for the movie itself.)
Video Monsters is brought to you by the Chattanooga Film Festival and Central Cinema in Knoxville, TN. Follow them on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, or online at chattfilmfest.org and centralcinema865.com. Links for each of these can also be found on our pages, so be sure to follow us at videomonsterpod on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram as well.
music for Video Monsters by Evan Simmons
Easter rises from its grave once again as we move onto the second coming of our EASTER: RESURRECTION!!! series where we examine horror movies that have nothing to do with Easter but also TOTALLY represent certain aspects of the holiday… you know, because we said so. This time around, Nathan and Eric will be looking at the way Christianity appropriated the pagan festival heralding the arrival of Spring to instead celebrate the “new life” found in Christ’s sacrifice and subsequent resurrection. The Apostle’s Creed states that Jesus was “crucified, dead, and buried.” So, naturally, we turn our attention to Gary Sherman’s DEAD AND BURIED (1981), a film where visitors of the sleepy coastal town of Potter’s Bluff have a tendency to be brutally murdered and reanimated to serve out a life (or death?) sentence as one of the town’s seemingly pleasant residents. So grab your camera, embrace your artistic spirit, and check your makeup in the mirror before you head out to listen to our review of DEAD AND BURIED (1981).
Video Monsters is brought to you by the Chattanooga Film Festival and Central Cinema in Knoxville, TN. Follow them on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, or online at chattfilmfest.org and centralcinema865.com. Links for each of these can also be found on our pages, so be sure to follow us at videomonsterpod on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram as well.
music for Video Monsters by Evan Simmons
Those of you who listened to our previous episodes will know that we planned to do an Easter theme for our April coverage, but a steady stream of unforeseen circumstances and scheduling conflicts have caused a bit of a delay to our release schedule. However, if you think that Easter ending almost an entire month ago is going to deter us from doing this series, THINK AGAIN! In fact, we’re more determined than ever to bring it back from the dead because, after all, isn’t that what Easter is all about? So, in keeping with the spirit of the holiday, we’re kicking off a little series that we like to call EASTER: RESURRECTION!!! For this first episode, Nathan and Eric will be discussing how the origins of Easter can be traced back to ancient pagan fertility festivals. But, of course, in true Video Monsters fashion, we will be discussing this topic in the most roundabout way possible via horror movies, specifically by reviewing David Cronenberg’s SHIVERS (1975), a film about parasites that drive people mad with a craving for flesh but, uh, maybe not in quite the same way that you’re used to seeing in a typical zombie film. So grab your… wait, no, actually don’t grab anything. Keep your hands to yourself, respect each other’s bodily autonomy, and for the love of God keep your belly-full of sex worms at least six(ty-nine) feet away from me because the last thing I want right now is a case of Cronenberg’s SHIVERS (1975).
Video Monsters is brought to you by the Chattanooga Film Festival and Central Cinema in Knoxville, TN. Follow them on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, or online at chattfilmfest.org and centralcinema865.com. Links for each of these can also be found on our pages, so be sure to follow us at videomonsterpod on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram as well.
music for Video Monsters by Evan Simmons
Last month, we narrowed down our ultimate versions of Godzilla and Kong, pit them against one another, and crowned the King of the MARCHsters. Now it’s time for us to FINALLY dive into the movie that delivers the Titan Truth and settles the debate once and for all!....sorta. Dan Fleming of the Potato League Podcast joins Nathan and Eric once again as we briefly recap our March coverage before jumping into the ring one last time for our review of GODZILLA VS KONG. We’ll fight it out over the necessity of the human characters, plot logic vs narrative economy, how this film stacks up to the rest of the MonsterVerse and, of course, if the final showdown lives up to our expectations. So charge up your battle axe, guzzle down a skull full of your favorite monster goo, and listen closely because this may be the last podcast we ever record! (Just kidding!) It’s time to find out who really bows to no one in our review of GODZILLA VS KONG!
Video Monsters is brought to you by the Chattanooga Film Festival and Central Cinema in Knoxville, TN. Follow them on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, or online at chattfilmfest.org and centralcinema865.com. Links for each of these can also be found on our pages, so be sure to follow us at videomonsterpod on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram as well.
music for Video Monsters by Evan Simmons
Ladies and gentleman, the moment we’ve been waiting for all month long is finally here. It’s time for the main event! In Nathan’s corner, we’ve got the Colossal Fossil, the Girth from the Hollow Earth, and reigning King of the Monsters: GODZILLA! And in Eric’s corner is the killer gorilla swinging in to pound the crown from Godzilla’s brow; he’s the Pride of Skull Island and the Eighth Wonder of the World: KONG! Joining us to referee our debate is returning guest, Dan Fleming (Potato League Podcast). So, without further ado, it’s time to step into the ring and decide once and for all who will win the coveted title of King of the MARCHsters!
*Godzilla and Kong art in episode image created by, and used with permission from, artist Travis Knight.
Video Monsters is brought to you by the Chattanooga Film Festival and Central Cinema in Knoxville, TN. Follow them on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, or online at chattfilmfest.org and centralcinema865.com. Links for each of these can also be found on our pages, so be sure to follow us at videomonsterpod on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram as well.
music for Video Monsters by Evan Simmons
GODZILLA VS KONG releases at the end of the month and the crew at Video Monsters could not possibly be more excited! However, a debate between Nathan and Eric over who will win has been brewing for weeks now and threatens to eclipse the great kaiju slugfest itself. Nathan is rooting for Godzilla and Eric is backing up the under-Kong. So, for the month of March, we have been settling our differences with our own spin on March Madness called King of the MARCHsters! We’ve put together a bracket to first narrow down which screen versions of King Kong and Godzilla reign supreme. Then, our chosen fighters will duke it out for true Kaiju supremacy and the coveted title of King of the MARCHsters! You can see the bracket for yourself @videomonsterpod on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook. Next week our Godzilla and Kong of preference will face off to determine the King of the MARCHsters BUT FIRST we’ve got an undercard battle lined up as a teaser for the main event. This week we’re pitting Otachi, the formidable acid-tongued kaiju from PACIFIC RIM (2013), against George, the bird-flipping albino gorilla from RAMPAGE (2018). And, of course, we spend a lot of time getting sidetracked to discuss the films themselves as well. So slip into your favorite red dress, power up your giant robot, and drift with us for a bit because it’s time for a PACIFIC RAMPAGE!!
Video Monsters is brought to you by the Chattanooga Film Festival and Central Cinema in Knoxville, TN. Follow them on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, or online at chattfilmfest.org and centralcinema865.com. Links for each of these can also be found on our pages, so be sure to follow us at videomonsterpod on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram as well.
music for Video Monsters by Evan Simmons
GODZILLA VS KONG releases at the end of the month and the crew at Video Monsters could not possibly be more excited! However, a debate between Nathan and Eric over who will win has been brewing for weeks now and threatens to eclipse the great kaiju slugfest itself. Nathan is rooting for Godzilla and Eric is backing up the under-Kong. So, for the month of March, we are settling our differences with our own spin on March Madness called King of the MARCHsters! We’ve put together a bracket to first narrow down which screen versions of King Kong and Godzilla reign supreme. Then, our chosen fighters will duke it out for true Kaiju supremacy and the coveted title of King of the MARCHsters! You can see the bracket for yourself @videomonsterpod on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook. Last week we determined the apex (see what we did there? Apex... ape-x) Kong. This week we select his opponent. Six Godzillas compete in this all-out attack and all but one monster is destroyed. So charge up with a literal boatload of tuna, grab a mint for that atomic breath, find a cozy spot in your subterranean lair and recharge with us as we bow down to anoint the God of Zillas!
Video Monsters is brought to you by the Chattanooga Film Festival and Central Cinema in Knoxville, TN. Follow them on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, or online at chattfilmfest.org and centralcinema865.com. Links for each of these can also be found on our pages, so be sure to follow us at videomonsterpod on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram as well.
music for Video Monsters by Evan Simmons
GODZILLA VS KONG releases at the end of the month and the crew at Video Monsters could not possibly be more excited! However, a debate between Nathan and Eric over who will win has been brewing for weeks now and threatens to eclipse the great kaiju slugfest itself. Nathan is rooting for Godzilla and Eric is backing up the under-Kong. So for the month of March, we’ll be settling our differences with our own spin on March Madness called King of the MARCHsters! We’ve put together a bracket that we will be using to first narrow down which screen versions of King Kong and Godzilla reign supreme. Then, our chosen fighters will duke it out for Kaiju supremacy! You can see the bracket for yourself @videomonsterpod on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook. First up, we’ve got six Kongs entering the arena... but only one will be deemed worthy of taking on the great Godzilla! So, grab a box of jawbreakers, try not to pass out from too much special berry juice, and hold onto your butts as we emerge from the hollow Earth and find out who will be crowned the King of Kongs!
Video Monsters is brought to you by the Chattanooga Film Festival and Central Cinema in Knoxville, TN. Follow them on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, or online at chattfilmfest.org and centralcinema865.com. Links for each of these can also be found on our pages, so be sure to follow us at videomonsterpod on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram as well.
music for Video Monsters by Evan Simmons
We’ve got one last treat for you before the final moon sets on FURbruary. In true Video Monsters fashion, we’re capping off a month of werewolf movies with a werewolf movie without a werewolf.... if that doesn’t make a whole lot of sense then, well, wait until you see WOLF GUY (1975). To describe this werewolf kung-fu superhero spy flick is folly. Much like werewolfism itself, you just have to let the movie take you over. Which is exactly what we do on tonight’s episode with returning special guest, Dan Fleming, of the Potato League Podcast. So grab your pocket mouse (not a euphemism), sharpen your tiger’s claws, and cuddle up next to your favorite enraged lycanthrope as you fall through the trap door of insanity that is WOLF GUY!!
Video Monsters is brought to you by the Chattanooga Film Festival and Central Cinema in Knoxville, TN. Follow them on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, or online at chattfilmfest.org and centralcinema865.com. Links for each of these can also be found on our pages, so be sure to follow us at videomonsterpod on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram as well.
music for Video Monsters by Evan Simmons
We’re celebrating FURbruary across the pond this week and facing off against Neil Marshall’s DOG SOLDIERS (2002)! This low-budget siege flick pits a group of soldiers in training against a vicious pack of werewolves. Dan Fleming of the Potato League Podcast joins Nathan and Eric once again to discuss the way this film handles masculine vulnerability, it’s wicked streak of dark humor and, of course, how well the werewolf designs and action hold up. So round up the squad, put a kettle on, and don’t forget your silver letter opener. It’s time to hole up until sunrise as we spill our guts with DOG SOLDIERS!
Video Monsters is brought to you by the Chattanooga Film Festival and Central Cinema in Knoxville, TN. Follow them on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, or online at chattfilmfest.org and centralcinema865.com. Links for each of these can also be found on our pages, so be sure to follow us at videomonsterpod on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram as well.
music for Video Monsters by Evan Simmons
Dan Fleming of the Potato League Podcast joins Nathan and Eric for week 2 of FURbruary, our month-long tribute to werewolf movies! On this episode, we’re tearing into a decidedly different take on the typical werewolf formula. This subgenre tends to be heavy on the Y chromosomes but this week’s film, GINGER SNAPS, cleverly uses werewolf tropes for an insightful female coming-of-age story about the everyday horrors of being a young woman dealing with the terrifying, confusing physical and psychological changes of puberty, and all of the absurd social stigmas that come along with it. So, grab your wolfsbane, bring the dogs inside, and meet us at the greenhouse because it’s time to take a bite out of GINGER SNAPS (2000).
Video Monsters is brought to you by the Chattanooga Film Festival and Central Cinema in Knoxville, TN. Follow them on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, or online at chattfilmfest.org and centralcinema865.com. Links for each of these can also be found on our pages, so be sure to follow us at videomonsterpod on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram as well.
music for Video Monsters by Evan Simmons
A new month brings a new series and we could not be more excited to finally shapeshift into FURbruary! We’re celebrating full moons and fangs here on Video Monsters with a month-long cycle of werewolf movies! First up, Nathan and Eric give you a piece of their minds with Joe Dante’s THE HOWLING (1981); a true classic of the genre with remarkable practical effects from Rob Bottin, a cast loaded with legendary character actors, and a clever John Sayles script that subverts werewolf tropes and delivers a story that feels just as socially relevant now as ever. So come on, Bright Boy. Head over to The Other Side with Dick Miller, grab your silver bullets, and join us by the campfire for our discussions of THE HOWLING!
Video Monsters is brought to you by the Chattanooga Film Festival and Central Cinema in Knoxville, TN. Follow them on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, or online at chattfilmfest.org and centralcinema865.com. Links for each of these can also be found on our pages, so be sure to follow us at videomonsterpod on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram as well.
music for Video Monsters by Evan Simmons
This is it... Nathan and Eric are Terminat(or)ing their “New Year, New View” series with a former box office heavyweight from the once and future King of the World. That’s right, we’re taking a trip to Pandora to see our favorite blue Aliens in James Cameron’s Avatar! Despite 9 Oscar nominations and Titanic ticket sales that led to this film (Piranha II: The) Spawning a whopping FOUR additional sequels, that we may or may not see before Judgement Day, Avatar’s reputation appears to have plummeted into The Abyss over the past decade. Does it deserve these criticisms, is Avatar better than we remember, or will Nathan and Eric discover that the Tru(e)th Lies somewhere in the middle? We see you, dear listener. Now see… or, well, hear us discuss James Cameron’s (entire filmography, in case the clues I left weren’t obvious, but mostly we’re going to talk about) Avatar. Video Monsters is brought to you by the Chattanooga Film Festival and Central Cinema in Knoxville, TN. Follow them on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, or online at chattfilmfest.org and centralcinema865.com. Links for each of these can also be found on our pages, so be sure to follow us at videomonsterpod on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram as well. music for Video Monsters by Evan Simmons
Video Monsters kicked off 2021 with our “New Year, New View” series, where Nathan and Eric rewatch films one of them initially disliked to see if our feelings have changed. Next up is Nathan’s pick: IT FOLLOWS (2014), a fitting follow-up to our first episode when you consider that it follows in the stylistic footsteps of THE SHINING like a deranged Jack Torrance chasing Danny through a hedge maze! Ahem Sorry. Couldn’t resist. Anyway… this critically-acclaimed throwback to high-concept 80s horror eluded Nathan and kept him at a distance the first time he saw it. Did this rewatch allow Nathan to form an intimate connection with the film and finally see what others see? Did a love for this movie slowly creep up on him? Or, has a lack of heart in the film stood between Nathan and IT FOLLOWS, much like the camera stands between "it" and the victims? Brace yourselves before hitting play on this one, kids, because the sparks are gonna fly!
Video Monsters is brought to you by the Chattanooga Film Festival and Central Cinema in Knoxville, TN. Follow them on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, or online at chattfilmfest.org and centralcinema865.com. Links for each of these can also be found on our pages, so be sure to follow us at videomonsterpod on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram as well.
music for Video Monsters by Evan Simmons
It’s a great day for America. That’s right... the VIDEO MONSTERS ARE BACK! After an unintentionally lengthy hiatus we are finally returning to celebrate the new year and a new chapter for our country that has us daring to feel a bit of hope for the first time in a while. This has inspired our “New Year, New View,” theme for January, where Nathan and Eric are rewatching films we initially disliked to give them a second chance and find out if our feelings have changed. First up we’re checking into the Overlook Hotel with Stanley Kubrick’s THE SHINING. An all-time horror classic that left Eric feeling cold the first time he saw it. Did Eric finally embrace the ghosts of Room 237, or will THE SHINING get the axe once and for all? Listen now to find out!
Video Monsters is brought to you by the Chattanooga Film Festival and Central Cinema in Knoxville, TN. Follow them on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, or online at chattfilmfest.org and centralcinema865.com. Links for each of these can also be found on our pages, so be sure to follow us at videomonsterpod on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram as well.
music for Video Monsters by Evan Simmons
In tonight's episode, we are joined by director George Popov. Having recently reviewed both Hex and The Droving and diving deep into the themes of these movies (both of which resulted in discussions that were longer than the films themselves), we were incredibly excited to dig even further into his films! Both of his films (Hex and The Droving) take a supernatural story and place it within the context of a very natural world, focusing more on the role that faith and belief (and trauma, guilt, and isolation) have on the decisions we make, rather than focusing on the supernatural elements themselves. The gorgeous locations, hauntingly beautiful music, and solid acting make George's films captivating enough....but it is the thematic elements (and the way that he handles them in such a way that they are incredibly relatable and endlessly discussable) that truly give life to his films! So brew some coffee, clear your schedule, and join us for our interview with George Popov! Video Monsters is brought to you by the Chattanooga Film Festival and Central Cinema in Knoxville, TN. Follow them on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, or online at chattfilmfest.org and centralcinema865.com. Links for each of these can also be found on our pages, so be sure to follow us at videomonsterpod on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram as well. music for Video Monsters by Evan Simmons
Tonight's episode is about Hex (2017), directed by George Popov. Having recently covered The Droving, and with our interview with George Popov coming up soon, it only makes sense for us to also review his first feature film. Much like The Droving, Hex takes a supernatural story and places it within the context of a very natural world. Set during the English Civil War, two opposing soldiers are stuck in a forest as they struggle to reconcile their conflict with each other, with themselves, and with with a witch (whose presence is what has trapped them, but also what is intensifying their struggle). Again, much like The Droving, the focus of Hex is less on the supernatural element and more about how faith, conviction, and guilt has a profound impact on their current situation. Hex is not a fast-paced, action/horror heavy movie - it is a film that is driven by themes that are handled in such a way that they are incredibly relatable and endlessly discussable. So grab your plant-based religious iconography, have a crisis of faith, and watch your back as you meet us at the old church ruins for our review of Hex!!
Video Monsters is brought to you by the Chattanooga Film Festival and Central Cinema in Knoxville, TN. Follow them on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, or online at chattfilmfest.org and centralcinema865.com. Links for each of these can also be found on our pages, so be sure to follow us at videomonsterpod on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram as well.
music for Video Monsters by Evan Simmons
Despite being in the middle of a pandemic, the Chattanooga Film Festival was still able to bring a scary good time to Chattanooga (and beyond!) on Halloween weekend with the virtual edition of the Frightening Ass Film Fest!! As we have mentioned countless times on Video Monsters, part of what makes film festivals so special (beyond just the great films, that is) is the ability to interact with filmmakers and fellow film-lovers alike. And once again, the Chattanooga Film Festival was able to bring that camaraderie to a virtual setting with its mixture of awesome horror films, live events (from some of our favorite podcasts), and a "virtual lobby" for discussion of what everyone was watching. We obviously still long for the day when it is possible for film fests to reconvene in person again...but in the meantime, virtual film festivals such as the Frightening Ass Film Fest are bringing some much needed fulfilment to the cinematic void in our lives. So, grab a Moon Pie, your favorite Chattanooga beverage, and watch out for Babysface as we discuss the Frightening Ass Film Fest 2020!!
Video Monsters is brought to you by the Chattanooga Film Festival and Central Cinema in Knoxville, TN. Follow them on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, or online at chattfilmfest.org and centralcinema865.com Links for each of these can also be found on our pages, so be sure to follow us at videomonsterpod on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram as well.
music for Video Monsters by Evan Simmons
Our Halloween 2020 coverage continues with special guest, and friend of Video Monsters, Brian Salisbury!! We are major fans of Junkfood Cinema here at Video Monsters, so we are ridiculously excited that Brian was able to join us for a frighteningly lively (and puntastic) discussion of The Frighteners!! This family-friendly(ish) R-rated horror comedy beautifully blends an incredibly dark tone with genuine humor, relatable characters, solid acting, and a score from Danny Elfman that perfectly captures the mood. Bridging the gap between Jackson's early work (such as Dead Alive) and his big-budget blockbuster epics, The Frighteners is a light-hearted romp down a dark and spooky path! So grab your broken garden gnome, a pistol full of holy water, watch out for an asshole with an uzi, and follow us into the light for our review of The Frighteners!!
Despite being in the middle of a pandemic, the Chattanooga Film Festival is still bringing a scary good time to Chattanooga (and beyond!) this Halloween (Oct. 30-31) with the virtual edition of the Frightening Ass Film Fest!! The full lineup for the Frightening Ass Film Fest has already been announced (and can be found at chattfilmfest.org), including a live show of Junkfood Cinema. But, we are pleased to announce that we have a Video Monsters scoop of what film Junkfood Cinema will be discussing...so be sure to listen to tonight's episode to find out what's in store! Badges for Frightening Ass Film Fest available at https://faff.festivee.com/
Video Monsters is brought to you by the Chattanooga Film Festival and Central Cinema in Knoxville, TN. Follow them on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, or online at chattfilmfest.org and centralcinema865.com Links for each of these can also be found on our pages, so be sure to follow us at videomonsterpod on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram as well.
music for Video Monsters by Evan Simmons
We have such sights to show you as we continue on with our Halloween 2020 coverage!! Tonight, we are joined by special guest and friend of Video Monsters, Kyle Kuchta, for our review of Hellraiser III: Hell on Earth! Unlike typical slasher franchises that can play things safe by just putting the slasher into a new group of unsuspecting college kids with overactive libidos, the Hellraiser franchise has to follow in the footsteps of the smart and incredibly powerful (yet, beautifully simple) original. While this results in a franchise that often-times tries too hard to be clever, it has also resulted in a number of sequels that have tried (not always successfully) to present new ideas to keep expanding the world of Pinhead and the Cenobites. But, the attempt to expand on an incredibly fascinating world has definitely resulted in some unique sequels...of varying levels of fun. And one of the most fun of the Hellraiser sequels is Hellraiser III: Hell on Earth....or, as Nathan calls it...Hellraiser III: Pinhead Takes Manhattan. So put on your tight leather outfit, grab your microwave cookbook, and learn how to dream again as we sink our hooks into Hellraiser III: Hell on Earth!!
Video Monsters is brought to you by the Chattanooga Film Festival and Central Cinema in Knoxville, TN. Follow them on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, or online at chattfilmfest.org and centralcinema865.com Links for each of these can also be found on our pages, so be sure to follow us at videomonsterpod on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram as well. Knoxville Horror Film Fest: Oct. 23-25 - knoxhorrorfest.com Frightening Ass Film Fest: Oct. 30-31 - chattfilmfest.org
music for Video Monsters by Evan Simmons
Our Halloween 2020 coverage continues with special guest and friend of Video Monsters, Mike Wolfe! Before unmasking just how much we love Behind the Mask: The Rise of Leslie Vernon, we start things off with a quick update about the Knoxville Horror Film Fest, some highlights of the lineup of the Frightening Ass Film Fest, and a bit of a discussion of the short films and creative projects that Mike has been working on. Even though Behind the Mask has been on our radar for a while, it has remained a blind spot for us for years...so, we are incredibly happy that it was Mike's pick for our episode as it forced us into finally getting around to watching what will undoubtedly quickly rise among the ranks to become a favorite of Video Monsters!! This meta horror comedy mockumentary might be light in outright scares, but it more than makes up for it with its insightful analysis of horror tropes, endlessly quotable lines, and a framework that is so artfully crafted that practically every single shot and line of dialogue is intentionally woven to draw you into its web! So double check the batteries in your flashlight, grab your pre-cut tool from the shed, and keep an eye out for red herrings as we smash through a 1st floor window and run till daylight with our review of Behind the Mask: The Rise of Leslie Vernon!! Video Monsters is brought to you by the Chattanooga Film Festival and Central Cinema in Knoxville, TN. Follow them on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, or online at chattfilmfest.org and centralcinema865.com Links for each of these can also be found on our pages, so be sure to follow us at videomonsterpod on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram as well. Knoxville Horror Film Fest: Oct. 23-25 - knoxhorrorfest.com Frightening Ass Film Fest: Oct. 30-31 - chattfilmfest.org music for Video Monsters by Evan Simmons
Our Halloween 2020 coverage continues with special guest and friend of Video Monsters, Matt Mercer!! In preparation for tonight's episode we saw a film and then worked on conjuring up what to say, without sounding too much like dummies. That's right, tonight's episode is about Dead Silence! While we certainly do not think that this film deserves the hate that it has received, we also ended up spending most of the episode talking about the movie that Dead Silence could have been and how amazing that movie would have been! Also, as is to be expected anytime that we are joined by Matt, we also went on several tangents, including unsolicited suggestions for Screen Drafts and whether or not Jason X is a perfect film. So, grab your squeaky rocking chair, your electric razor, and be sure not to scream during our review of Dead Silence! Video Monsters is brought to you by the Chattanooga Film Festival and Central Cinema in Knoxville, TN. Follow them on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, or online at chattfilmfest.org and centralcinema865.com Links for each of these can also be found on our pages, so be sure to follow us at videomonsterpod on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram as well. Knoxville Horror Film Fest: Oct. 23-25 - knoxhorrorfest.com Frightening Ass Film Fest: Oct. 30-31 - chattfilmfest.org music for Video Monsters by Evan Simmons
Halloween has always been one of our favorite holidays here at Video Monsters - and our love of the Halloween season has grown exponentially over the past few years as we have made it a habit to attend the Knoxville Horror Film Fest and the Frightening Ass Film Fest (in Chattanooga). And while living in a pandemic royally sucks and is sadly (ridiculously sadly) preventing us from being able to attend Knoxville Horror Film Fest in person this year, the necessity of changing formats to adjust to our current world means that we were finally able to "attend" Fantastic Fest, as it went virtual for 2020 (as Chattanooga Film Festival did, and as Frightening Ass Film Fest will do as well). And while each festival is adjusting to the pandemic in their own way, they are all doing their best to keep everyone as safe as possible while still providing a great festival experience and screening some awesome movies!! As we have discussed numerous times before, part of what we love so much about film festivals is being able to share in that cinematic experience with fellow film lovers (yes, the movies are awesome, but it is the shared experience that really puts it over the top). And it is safe to say that Fantastic Fest and Knoxville Horror Film Fest understand that as well (as does Chattanooga Film Festival & Frightening Ass Film Fest) as Fantastic Fest virtually maintained several of their live events, and Knoxville Horror Film Fest embraces some cinematic roots (and ensures social distancing) by screening films at Parkway Drive-In. So, grab your favorite movie snacks, a tasty beverage, and watch out for chainsaws and zombie rain as we share our love of cinema and discuss some of the films of Fantastic Fest and Knoxville Horror Film Fest 2020!!
Fantastic Fest films discussed: The Queen of Black Magic How to Deter a Robber The Boy Behind the Door Action U.S.A. The Stylist
Knoxville Horror Film Fest films discussed: The Stylist Evil Dead 2 Pieces The Return of the Living Dead Demons Grizzly II: Revenge (via discussion of Grizzly)
Video Monsters is brought to you by the Chattanooga Film Festival and Central Cinema in Knoxville, TN. Follow them on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, or online at chattfilmfest.org and centralcinema865.com Links for each of these can also be found on our pages, so be sure to follow us at videomonsterpod on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram as well.
music for Video Monsters by Evan Simmons
Our Halloween 2020 coverage continues with a truly batty 90s horror gem from the director of some of the greatest films of all time... Francis Ford Coppola’s Bram Stoker’s Dracula! This film is a gorgeous, gloriously weird throwback to the early days of genre cinema. We discuss the allure of sexy Gary Oldman, Coppola’s commitment to pulling off the film’s many stunning special effects in-camera, how this modern adaptation stacks up the rest of the Dracula canon, and so much more! It’s safe to say we both enjoyed the film, but that didn’t stop us from getting into a few hearty debates over the film’s central romance, the way it treats its female characters, and even Keanu Reeves’s accent. Yes, you read that right. One of us had the audacity to actually defend the “sweet music” that comes from Keanu’s lips. But which one of us is it? So grab your comically large (and very suggestive) bowie knife, watch out for wandering shadows, and join us (you children of the night) as we cross oceans of time with Bram Stoker’s Dracula!
Video Monsters is brought to you by the Chattanooga Film Festival and Central Cinema in Knoxville, TN. Follow them on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, or online at chattfilmfest.org and centralcinema865.com Links for each of these can also be found on our pages, so be sure to follow us at videomonsterpod on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram as well.
music for Video Monsters by Evan Simmons
On tonight's episode, we continue our Halloween 2020 coverage and our 90s/00s horror series with a family friendly horror movie that absolutely draws you into its web: Arachnophobia!! Frank Marshall clearly learned from working with the best, as Arachnophobia is packed with characters that feel genuine, humor, and just enough subtle scares to give you the creeps the more that you think about them! Arachnophobia has all of the heart of a Spielberg film and arguably does the same thing for spiders that Jaws did for sharks! So grab your finest bottle of wine from the cellar (or a rare '74 Miller Lite with a misprint on the label), pop some popcorn with some extra butter, and cuddle up with your favorite arachnid as we sink our fangs into Arachnophobia!! Following the intro/announcements/etc., timestamps for each of the segments (we try to keep the content within the appropriate sections, but there is bound to be some overlap within the sections) are as follows: Prior information and how it shaped our expectations - 0:06:00 What we thought of the film from a technical standpoint - 0:16:06 What we thought of the film from an emotional standpoint and/or our analysis of the film - 1:01:00 How rewatchable the film is - 1:16:44 Who we recommend the movie to - 1:20:06 Closing - 1:24:36 Video Monsters is brought to you by the Chattanooga Film Festival and Central Cinema in Knoxville, TN. Follow them on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, or online at chattfilmfest.org and centralcinema865.com Links for each of these can also be found on our pages, so be sure to follow us at videomonsterpod on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram as well.
music for Video Monsters by Evan Simmons
We kick off our Halloween 2020 coverage in tonight's episode with some announcements about Knoxville Horror Film Festival, Frightening Ass Film Fest, and Chattanooga Film Festival ....then, we sink our teeth into one of the most deliciously terrible movies of all time - Troll 2!! This movie is an absolute mess... and sheer enjoyment from start to finish! While generally considered to be one of the worst movies of all time, there is so much heart put into the movie by those who made it. And once you learn a bit more about the people who were in the movie, Troll 2 becomes an endearing cult gem of a comedy of errors. While Troll 2 can certainly be enjoyed on its own, having a bit more of the backstory absolutely adds to the connection to the film. Because of this, we very strongly recommend watching Best Worst Movie (the documentary about Troll 2 made by Michael Paul Stevenson - the actor who played Joshua) prior to watching Troll 2. And, consequently, tonight's episode is a sort of a double feature as it is almost impossible for us to discuss Troll 2 without also discussing Best Worst Movie. So grab your double-decker bologna sandwich, remember to pick up supplies, and don't piss on hospitality as we take a trip to Nilbog for Troll 2 & Best Worst Movie!!
Video Monsters is brought to you by the Chattanooga Film Festival and Central Cinema in Knoxville, TN. Follow them on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, or online at chattfilmfest.org and centralcinema865.com Links for each of these can also be found on our pages, so be sure to follow us at videomonsterpod on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram as well.
music for Video Monsters by Evan Simmons
Continuing our year-long theme covering the history of cinema, today's episode covers films from the 1970s! Following the civil unrest of the 60s, cinema in the 70s took a much more cynical view of the world, exposing the rough edges of humanity with the "gritty realism" that defined movies from that decade. While not every movie from the 70s hated the world in which it was born, the increase in original horror movies that were more grounded in "reality" than reliance on classic monsters, the popularization of disaster movies, and an abundance of vigilantes and rogue cops "cleaning up the streets" was clearly holding up a mirror to reflect the disillusionment of humanity at the time. While a pretty solid chunk of the episode is discussing the representation of vigilantes (as well as the potential impact it continues to have on modern society), we do also spend some time talking about some brighter spots of the decade that don't center around rogue "justice." We also spend some time (not nearly enough time, honestly) discussing a hidden gem that might honestly be one of our favorite films of the decade, Keoma!!
As a reminder, these History of Cinema episodes will not be a comprehensive coverage of every single movie that was released that decade. It isn't even necessarily going to be the "top" movies from the decade. Instead, it will be more of a broad discussion of some of the advancements, themes, and highlights from each decade, with the various movies that we watched as examples. This series is also serving as an opportunity for us to fill in some gaps in our own personal film viewings (this series was also inspired, in part, by our Horror Movie Blindspots series we did last year).
Video Monsters is brought to you by the Chattanooga Film Festival and Central Cinema in Knoxville, TN. Follow them on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, or online at chattfilmfest.org and centralcinema865.com Links for each of these can also be found on our pages, so be sure to follow us at videomonsterpod on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram as well.
music for Video Monsters by Evan Simmons
Audio clip from Keoma (1976)
Directed by Enzo G. Castellari
starring: Franco Nero, Woody Strode and William Berger
music: Guido De Angelis & Maurizio De Angelis
song performed by: Sybil & Guy
Holy infrequent podcast, Batman!! The Video Monsters signal has gone up and we have answered the call - turning our "Joely" into "SchumAugust" to bring you our heartfelt reviews of two of the lesser-loved films in the cinematic world of Batman. Well...lesser-loved to most. Here at Video Monsters, we recognize the flaws that these films have...but who cares!! These movies are popcorn fun with a lot to love!! So put on your anatomically correct leather suit, make some bad puns, and power up with diamonds (that still makes less than zero sense) to share in our love of Joel Schumacher's Batman Forever and Batman & Robin!!
Following the intro/announcements/etc., timestamps for each of the segments (we try to keep the content within the appropriate sections, but there is bound to be some overlap within the sections) are as follows: - Prior information and how it shaped our expectations - 0:5:27 - What we thought of the films from a technical standpoint - 0:20:14 - What we thought of the films from an emotional standpoint and/or our analysis of the films - 1:15:16 - How rewatchable the films are - 1:58:30 - Who we recommend the movies to - 2:01:13 - Closing - 2:04:54
Video Monsters is brought to you by the Chattanooga Film Festival and Central Cinema in Knoxville, TN. Follow them on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, or online at chattfilmfest.org and centralcinema865.com Links for each of these can also be found on our pages, so be sure to follow us at videomonsterpod on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram as well.
music for Video Monsters by Evan Simmons
Even though we got a very (very, very) late start, the theme of July at Video Monsters is Joel-y, in which we are paying respects to the passing of Joel Schumacher by covering some of his more notable films. And we are kicking things off with one of the most beloved films in Schumacher's filmography, The Lost Boys! Along with discussing all of the obvious things about this film that have made it a classic (the cinematography, soundtrack, amazing performances, unforgettable characters, etc.), we also get into a pretty deep analysis into the much darker subtext of what the vampires represent....or, at least what Nathan's over-analysis thinks that they could represent. So grab your box of maggots, grate some garlic, and invite us in as we sink our fangs into The Lost Boys!
Following the intro/announcements/etc., timestamps for each of the segments (we try to keep the content within the appropriate sections, but there is bound to be some overlap within the sections) are as follows: Brief discussion of Joel Schumacher's filmography - 0:06:08 Prior information and how it shaped our expectations - 0:15:11 What we thought of the film from a technical standpoint - 0:28:27 What we thought of the film from an emotional standpoint and/or our analysis of the film - 0:41:13 How rewatchable the film is - 1:31:28 Who we recommend the movie to - 1:43:42 Closing - 2:00:50
Video Monsters is brought to you by the Chattanooga Film Festival and Central Cinema in Knoxville, TN. Follow them on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, or online at chattfilmfest.org and centralcinema865.com
Links for each of these can also be found on our pages, so be sure to follow us at videomonsterpod on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram as well.
music for Video Monsters by Evan Simmons
Continuing our year-long theme covering the history of cinema, today's episode covers films from the 1960s! With an increase of morally grey "protagonists", anti-heroes, sexuality, and critiques of establishment, the increasing counterculture was abundantly clear in the cinema of the 1960s! This counterculture critique of establishment is also part of what contributed to significant social change, such as the civil rights movement. And the civil unrest is clearly captured in the films of the decade - sometimes through directly addressing the issues of the day; while other times capturing the emotion of the unrest through more subtle forms, such as merely challenging the standard structure of how a movie is presented. The social commentary of the films of the 1960s is especially relevant (and highly discussed) on tonight's episode, as history repeats itself and we see numerous issues from back then continuing (or, resurfacing) in the present day.
As a reminder, these History of Cinema episodes will not be a comprehensive coverage of every single movie that was released that decade. It isn't even necessarily going to be the "top" movies from the decade. Instead, it will be more of a broad discussion of some of the advancements, themes, and highlights from each decade, with the various movies that we watched as examples. This series is also serving as an opportunity for us to fill in some gaps in our own personal film viewings (this series was also inspired, in part, by our Horror Movie Blindspots series we did last year).
Video Monsters is brought to you by the Chattanooga Film Festival and Central Cinema in Knoxville, TN. Follow them on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, or online at chattfilmfest.org and centralcinema865.com
Links for each of these can also be found on our pages, so be sure to follow us at videomonsterpod on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram as well.
music for Video Monsters by Evan Simmons
Tonight's episode is about The Droving (2020) - a story of loss, grief, trauma, revenge, and the role that one's belief has in how they cope with their suffering. Without giving too much away, this film is essentially a cult movie without the cult. The Droving has many of the tropes of a cult film (mysterious disappearance, traditional festival, folklore, discrepancy between the mundane aspects of daily life and the supernatural elements of belief), but focuses primarily on Martin (Daniel Oldroyd) and his emotional journey set forth by the beliefs of another. At only 80 minutes, this film quickly gets to the point - which helps to keep the focus on "what will happen next?" rather than lingering on the mystery of what happened in the past. The great performances of this small cast bring an intimacy to this film what will keep you engaged and give you a LOT to discuss by the end (at least, we certainly had plenty to discuss....)!!
Following the intro/announcements/etc., timestamps for each of the segments (we try to keep the content within the appropriate sections, but there is bound to be some overlap within the sections) are as follows: Prior information and how it shaped our expectations - 0:11:17 What we thought of the film from a technical standpoint - 0:18:34 What we thought of the film from an emotional standpoint (major spoilers during this section) - 0:45:00 How rewatchable the film is - 1:22:52 Who we recommend the movie to - 1:27:10 Closing - 1:35:30
Video Monsters is brought to you by the Chattanooga Film Festival and Central Cinema in Knoxville, TN. Follow them on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, or online at chattfilmfest.org and centralcinema865.com
Links for each of these can also be found on our pages, so be sure to follow us at videomonsterpod on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram as well.
music for Video Monsters by Evan Simmons
Tonight's episode focuses on Butterfly Kisses (2018), a mockumentary/found footage mashup about a filmmaker's journey attempting to prove the authenticity of evidence of an urban legend, caught on the tapes of a couple of film students for their final project. While most found footage films rely too much on the "found footage" gimmick as an attempt to draw the audience more into the story (without actually focusing on a story into which the audience wants to be drawn), director Erik Kristopher Myers wraps a mockumentary around the found footage to bring a lot more depth to the story, as well as play with (and poke holes in) the tropes of found footage films. The deconstruction of the genre, as well as having most of the urban legend and found footage experts portrayed by real people actually in the field, results in a much more authentic feel that helps Butterfly Kisses be a truly entertaining film!
Video Monsters is brought to you by the Chattanooga Film Festival and Central Cinema in Knoxville, TN. Follow them on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, or online at chattfilmfest.org and centralcinema865.com
Links for each of these can also be found on our pages, so be sure to follow us at videomonsterpod on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram as well.
music for Video Monsters by Evan Simmons
Continuing our year-long theme covering the history of cinema, today's episode covers films from the 1950s! While I can understand why some people might not want to watch movies with social commentary because they view movies as pure escapism, the 1950s serve as a pretty strong rebuttal to people who say that movies should never include any social commentary. Cinema in the 1950s was packed full of commentary about the fallout (literal and metaphorical) of atomic weapons, finding one's identity in a post-WWII world, and the red scare fear mongering of McCarthy. Even the "B-movies" of the era (which saw an increase thanks to things such as drive-in theaters) were often giant monster movies, playing off of fears of atomic war. And while some of the movies from the decade now serve as mindless escapism, it is the social commentary (even in some of the more "mindless" films) that has led to so many of these movies becoming classics and still continuing to have a powerful impact!!
As a reminder, these History of Cinema episodes will not be a comprehensive coverage of every single movie that was released that decade. It isn't even necessarily going to be the "top" movies from the decade. Instead, it will be more of a broad discussion of some of the advancements, themes, and highlights from each decade, with the various movies that we watched as examples. This series is also serving as an opportunity for us to fill in some gaps in our own personal film viewings (this series was also inspired, in part, by our Horror Movie Blindspots series we did last year).
Video Monsters is brought to you by the Chattanooga Film Festival and Central Cinema in Knoxville, TN. Follow them on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, or online at chattfilmfest.org and centralcinema865.com
Links for each of these can also be found on our pages, so be sure to follow us at videomonsterpod on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram as well.
music for Video Monsters by Evan Simmons
The Chattanooga Film Festival was held virtually this year on 5/22 - 5/25. Despite the obvious limitations of not being able to attend a film festival in person, the Chattanooga Film Festival did an amazing job of translating the festival experience into a virtual format and we, once again, had an amazing time watching films and interacting with fellow film lovers! The change in format this year did have an impact on how many films we were able to see (Nathan was able to watch more while, unfortunately, Eric was not able to watch as much), which in turn had an impact on our coverage. So, while we were not able to cover every single film we saw in as much depth as we would have liked, Andrew Austin and Mark Covino have joined us once again to provide an overall view of the entire fest. There is a bit of overlap in discussion from each of the discussions, but the timestamp for the start of each of the general segments is below: Opening statement against racism - 0:00:53 Intro of Mark and Andrew - 0:05:00 Overall Thoughts of Chattanooga Film Festival - 0:13:43 Highlights of Feature Films, part 1 - 0:23:46 Highlights of Live Events - 0:46:08 Highlights of Feature Films, part 2 - 1:03:27 Highlights of Short Films - 1:58:49 Impact of Virtual CFF on Future Film Fests - 2:48:22 Final Thoughts on CFF - 3:02:44 Where to Follow and Closing Remarks- 3:06:31
Video Monsters is brought to you by the Chattanooga Film Festival and Central Cinema in Knoxville, TN. Follow them on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, or online at chattfilmfest.org and centralcinema865.com
Links for each of these can also be found on our pages, so be sure to follow us at videomonsterpod on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram as well.
music for Video Monsters by Evan Simmons
The virtual Chattanooga Film Festival is set to begin in just a few short hours and this year's CFF includes a presentation of the CFF Lifetime Achievement Award to the incomparable Joe Dante!! The presentation will be Saturday at 7:00pm, but we wanted to get the celebration started a little early...so, tonight's episode is a discussion of Matinee - a heartwarming tale of the impact that movies can have when it feels like the rest of the world is falling apart (it is set during the Cuban Missile Crisis, but its certainly just as relevant today!) This was a cinematic blind spot for us here at Video Monsters, but we instantly fell in love with it as it is Dante's love letter to monster movies and the importance of cinema in society!! Also, Matinee has one of the greatest movies within a movie - Mant! (which, by the way, also includes a scene in a movie theater, creating a beautiful movie within a movie within a movie). The love of cinema and the celebration of Joe Dante make Matinee the perfect pre-Chattanooga Film Festival movie! So head over to chattfilmfest.org to get your CFF badges (10$ for a day pass, $30 for the entire weekend) and then go to your preferred VOD platform and check out Matinee...you'll be glad you did! And speaking of love and Chattanooga Film Festival, a few of our fellow Video Monsters stop by (virtually, of course) to send their love to the Chattanooga Film Festival and Chris Dortch!! Video Monsters is brought to you by the Chattanooga Film Festival and Central Cinema in Knoxville, TN. Follow them on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, or online at chattfilmfest.org and centralcinema865.com
Links for each of these can also be found on our pages, so be sure to follow us at videomonsterpod on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram as well.
music for Video Monsters by Evan Simmons
Anyone who has ever listened to even a single episode of Video Monsters probably knows just how much we love the Chattanooga Film Festival!! The love of cinema of everyone involved always shines through with all of the hard work and sacrifices they put into making CFF happen each year. And this year, there has been an extra dose of hard work and sacrifices as CFF had to shift from its usual format to a virtual CFF because of the global impact of COVID-19. So, we are beyond excited to once again be joined by Chris Dortch II (CFF Director) as we discuss this virtual shift, along with some of the highlights of this year's programming. But, most importantly, we discuss how CFF is about the people. Not just the people involved in making the films, but the people attending CFF. Every time that we discuss CFF on the podcast, we go on and on about how the movies are awesome...but the camaraderie of sharing and discussing those experiences with fellow cinephiles and filmmakers is why the Chattanooga Film Festival has firmly established a permanent place in our hearts!! And while it certainly won't be exactly the same with not being able to be there in person, after seeing the programming and hearing Chris talk about how the focus on supporting filmmakers and maintaining the experience (as best as virtual can offer) was at the center of all they have been preparing this year...we have no doubt that this year's Chattanooga Film Festival will be one that we never forget!!
Video Monsters is brought to you by the Chattanooga Film Festival and Central Cinema in Knoxville, TN. Follow them on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, or online at chattfilmfest.org and centralcinema865.com Links for each of these can also be found on our pages, so be sure to follow us at videomonsterpod on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram as well.
music for Video Monsters by Evan Simmons
Continuing our year-long theme covering the history of cinema, today's episode covers films from the 1940s! The 1940s were a very dark time in America (coming out of the Great Depression only to go into WWII) and that abundantly clear from the movies that were released that decade. But, despite the heavy tone, the 40s also graced us with some of the most iconic movies in cinematic history...including what many consider to be "the greatest movie of all time." So, grab a snow globe, join us at Pleasure Island, and avoid the full moon as continue our cinematic journey through history with the 1940s!!
We also start the episode out discussing the announcement from the Chattanooga Film Festival regarding their partnership with Microsoft to bring you an online, interactive, film festival!!
As a reminder, these History of Cinema episodes will not be a comprehensive coverage of every single movie that was released that decade. It isn't even necessarily going to be the "top" movies from the decade. Instead, it will be more of a broad discussion of some of the advancements, themes, and highlights from each decade, with the various movies that we watched as examples. This series is also serving as an opportunity for us to fill in some gaps in our own personal film viewings (this series was also inspired, in part, by our Horror Movie Blindspots series we did last year).
Video Monsters is brought to you by the Chattanooga Film Festival and Central Cinema in Knoxville, TN. Follow them on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, or online at chattfilmfest.org and centralcinema865.com Links for each of these can also be found on our pages, so be sure to follow us at videomonsterpod on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram as well.
music for Video Monsters by Evan Simmons
Anyone who has listened to the podcast for even just a little bit knows that we like having a theme for our episodes each month (whether or not we are able to always stick to that theme is a different story...but, in general we like themes). The theme for April was supposed to be Chattanooga Film Festival coverage, but (like everything else) it had to be postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. So, as one of our ways of coping with the current situation, our theme for the next several episodes (excluding the History of Cinema episode for the 1940s) will be movies related to disease/outbreaks/pandemics/etc. There will be four different kinds of movies that we plan to cover within this theme: 1) Directly related to disease/outbreaks. 2) Undead (zombies, vampires, etc.) - since practically every film about the undead (in part) involves fear of diseases. 3) Movies that capture the theme/tone, but not directly related to disease or the undead. This is where disaster/apocalypse movies would go. 4) Movies that don't really have anything to do with any of the above, but are just movies that we enjoy that help us temporarily forget about the current situation.
So, kicking off this impromptu series is a double dose of The Crazies (both the 1973 & 2010 versions). And what better way to discuss The Crazies than with a couple of our favorite crazies, Andrew Austin and Mark Covino!! And if you've ever listened to one of the episodes with Mark and Andrew, you shouldn't be too surprised that things do, in fact, go a bit off the rails on this crazy train...
Video Monsters is brought to you by the Chattanooga Film Festival and Central Cinema in Knoxville, TN. Follow them on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, or online at chattfilmfest.org and centralcinema865.com Links for each of these can also be found on our pages, so be sure to follow us at videomonsterpod on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram as well.
music for Video Monsters by Evan Simmons
Continuing our year-long theme covering the history of cinema, today's episode covers films from the 1930s! While there are countless amazing movies from the 30s that we could have focused on, as well as some tremendous advancements in cinema (such as "talkie" pictures and technicolor), this episode primarily turned into a discussion of Universal Monsters and The Marx Brothers (two of Nathan's personal favorites of all time). But, despite the somewhat limited scope of films covered, we hope that you enjoy joining us in our cinematic journey through history, continuing with the 1930s!!
As a reminder, these History of Cinema episodes will not be a comprehensive coverage of every single movie that was released that decade. It isn't even necessarily going to be the "top" movies from the decade. Instead, it will be more of a broad discussion of some of the advancements, themes, and highlights from each decade, with the various movies that we watched as examples. This series is also serving as an opportunity for us to fill in some gaps in our own personal film viewings (this series was also inspired, in part, by our Horror Movie Blindspots series we did last year).
Video Monsters is brought to you by the Chattanooga Film Festival and Central Cinema in Knoxville, TN. Follow them on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, or online at chattfilmfest.org and centralcinema865.com Links for each of these can also be found on our pages, so be sure to follow us at videomonsterpod on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram as well.
music for Video Monsters by Evan Simmons
In preparation for the world premiere of Fangoria's remake of Castle Freak at the Chattanooga Film Festival (April 16-19), today's episode is about the original Castle Freak from 1995, directed by Stuart Gordon and staring Jeffrey Combs, Barbara Crampton, Jessica Dollarhide, and Jonathan Fuller as the title character (the castle freak, that is). Castle Freak is drastically different in tone from some of Gordon's more well known films (such as Re-Animator and From Beyond), but it is still just as memorable! Rather than fun, over the top, campy gore, Castle Freak is more of a family drama that focuses on themes such as addiction, isolation, grief, and despair....that just so happens to also have a disfigured monster of a man terrorizing the inhabitants of a castle. And like any great horror movie, the monster is representative of something much deeper and serves as the personification of other underlying fears (but, there are still enough scenes of gore to make the monster terrifying on its own...even without the deeper meaning). Regardless of whether you have seen Castle Freak before or not...with the world premiere of the remake right around the corner, this is a perfect time to revisit this 90s gem!!
Video Monsters is brought to you by the Chattanooga Film Festival and Central Cinema in Knoxville, TN. Follow them on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, or online at chattfilmfest.org and centralcinema865.com Links for each of these can also be found on our pages, so be sure to follow us at videomonsterpod on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram as well.
Chattanooga Film Festival 2020 will be April 16-19, so start planning your trip now!! Tickets can be purchased (or, donations given) at chattfilmfest.org. And submissions for Knoxville Horror Film Festival 2020 are currently open, so submit your films at FilmFreeway.com
music for Video Monsters by Evan Simmons
Continuing our year-long theme covering the history of cinema, today's episode covers films from the 1920s! As a reminder, these History of Cinema episodes will not be a comprehensive coverage of every single movie that was released that decade. It isn't even necessarily going to be the "top" movies from the decade. Instead, it will be more of a broad discussion of some of the advancements, themes, and highlights from each decade, with the various movies that we watched as examples. This series is also serving as an opportunity for us to fill in some gaps in our own personal film viewings (this series was also inspired, in part, by our Horror Movie Blindspots series we did last year). Due to illness, our first couple of episodes were delayed quite a bit, but we hope to get back on track to where each month covers the corresponding decade (e.g. February is the 1920s, March is the 1930s, etc.). We hope that you enjoy our coverage and that you join us in our cinematic journey through history, continuing with the 1920s!!
Video Monsters is brought to you by the Chattanooga Film Festival and Central Cinema in Knoxville, TN. Follow them on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, or online at chattfilmfest.org and centralcinema865.com Links for each of these can also be found on our pages, so be sure to follow us at videomonsterpod on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram as well.
Chattanooga Film Festival 2020 will be April 16-19, so start planning your trip now!! Tickets can be purchased (or, donations given) at chattfilmfest.org. And submissions for Knoxville Horror Film Festival 2020 are currently open, so submit your films at FilmFreeway.com
music for Video Monsters by Evan Simmons
If you've been listening to the podcast for a little while, you've realized that we generally like to do themed months. This year, along with the themed months, we will also be doing a year-long theme covering the history of cinema. We will be covering a decade a month, starting with the early days of cinema (ok, so this first episode is a bit more than a decade...) and going right up to present day. These episodes will not be a comprehensive coverage of every single movie that was released that decade. It isn't even necessarily going to be the "top" movies from the decade. Instead, it will be more of a broad discussion of some of the advancements, themes, and highlights from each decade, with the various movies that we watched as examples. This series is also serving as an opportunity for us to fill in some gaps in our own personal film viewings (this series was also inspired, in part, by our Horror Movie Blindspots series we did last year). Due to illness, our first couple of episodes were delayed quite a bit, but we hope to get back on track to where each month covers the corresponding decade (e.g. February is the 1920s, March is the 1930s, etc.). We hope that you enjoy our coverage and that you join us in our cinematic journey through history, starting with the early days of cinema (1880s-1919)!!
Video Monsters is brought to you by the Chattanooga Film Festival and Central Cinema in Knoxville, TN. Follow them on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, or online at chattfilmfest.org and centralcinema865.com Links for each of these can also be found on our pages, so be sure to follow us at videomonsterpod on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram as well.
Chattanooga Film Festival 2020 will be April 16-19, so start planning your trip now!! Tickets can be purchased (or, donations given) at chattfilmfest.org. And submissions for Knoxville Horror Film Festival 2020 are currently open, so submit your films at FilmFreeway.com
music for Video Monsters by Evan Simmons
Closing out our series of Love and Monsters (which we did in honor of both After Midnight and Sadistic Intentions being released on Valentine's Day) is Warm Bodies! After covering such amazing films as Spring and The Shape of Water, Warm Bodies might seem like a bit of an odd choice. But, despite the fact that the marketing of the movie has gotten it lumped into the likes of Twilight, Warm Bodies is a genuinely good movie that blends indie romance tropes and zombie symbolism of loss of humanity (albeit a bit to on the nose at times), with a dash of classic literature...not to mention a solid soundtrack, some dry humor, and just enough social commentary to keep the movie still relevant today (even though each of these things are, again, a bit on the nose sometimes). Video Monsters is brought to you by the Chattanooga Film Festival and Central Cinema in Knoxville, TN. Follow them on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, or online at chattfilmfest.org and centralcinema865.com Links for each of these can also be found on our pages, so be sure to follow us at videomonsterpod on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram as well. Chattanooga Film Festival 2020 will be April 16-19, so start planning your trip now!! Tickets can be purchased (or, donations given) at chattfilmfest.org. And submissions for Knoxville Horror Film Festival 2020 are currently open, so submit your films at FilmFreeway.com
music for Video Monsters by Evan Simmons
Continuing our series of Love and Monsters (in honor of both After Midnight and Sadistic Intentions being released on Valentine's Day) is The Shape of Water! Even though this movie is only a few years old, it is among our all time favorite movies here at Video Monsters. And when we first discussed the idea of doing a Love and Monsters series, we both instantly knew that The Shape of Water was definitely going to be covered. From the attention to detail in production design, to the acting, to the social commentary, to the blending of cinematic styles and genres, to the sheer beauty of this film...we absolutely adore The Shape of Water in just about every facet that a movie can be appreciated!! So, it should be no surprise that the majority of this episode is enthusiastically singing its praises! If you are wondering whey the ENTIRE episode isn't singing the praises of The Shape of Water, it is because we start things out by singing the praises of the Chattanooga Film Festival and discussing the first wave of announcements that were released this week. There is no shortage of love for CFF here at Video Monsters, and with the films, events, and venue (this year, CFF will be at Songbirds on the south side of Chattanooga) that were announced (include a literal once in a lifetime opportunity of seeing a film that will only be screened once....ever), we are already super stoked and cannot wait to see what else is in store for CFF 2020!!!! Video Monsters is brought to you by the Chattanooga Film Festival and Central Cinema in Knoxville, TN. Follow them on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, or online at chattfilmfest.org and centralcinema865.com Links for each of these can also be found on our pages, so be sure to follow us at videomonsterpod on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram as well. Chattanooga Film Festival 2020 will be April 16-19, so start planning your trip now!! Tickets can be purchased (or, donations given) at chattfilmfest.org. And submissions for Knoxville Horror Film Festival 2020 are currently open, so submit your films at FilmFreeway.com music for Video Monsters by Evan Simmons
In honor of both After Midnight and Sadistic Intentions being released on Valentine's Day, our series for February is Love and Monsters. The focus of this series is going to be movies that are primarily driven by a romance story line, but that also have monsters (rather than monster movies that have a romance subplot)... so, we are super excited to be kicking off this series with Spring (2014), by Justin Benson and Aaron Moorhead!! Not only is this a very solid, character driven romance story with a very interesting incorporation of the monster, but the tagline for the movie is literally "love is a monster." Plus, Spring serves as a perfect intro to this series because of the connections with After Midnight and Sadistic Intentions (Benson and Moorhead are producers of After Midnight, and Jeremy Gardner is in all three movies). We both loved Spring and absolutely recommend it!! But, if you have not yet seen Spring and want to go into the movie with absolutely no spoilers, be warned that towards the end of this episode we do heavily discuss the ending of the movie, the implications of the ending, and whether or not we agree on if it is how the movie should have ended (but, we do give a spoiler warning in the episode before diving into the ending). With that being said, we hope that you enjoy tonight's episode! And if you enjoy a dash of monster in your love stories, we absolutely recommend checking out Spring!!
Video Monsters is brought to you by the Chattanooga Film Festival and Central Cinema in Knoxville, TN. Follow them on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, or online at chattfilmfest.org and centralcinema865.com Links for each of these can also be found on our pages, so be sure to follow us at videomonsterpod on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram as well.
Chattanooga Film Festival 2020 will be April 16-19, so start planning your trip now!! And submissions for Knoxville Horror Film Festival 2020 are currently open, so submit your films at FilmFreeway.com
music for Video Monsters by Evan Simmons
Closing out our "Newer Isn't Always Better" series is the 2014 remake of the Paul Verhoeven masterpiece, RoboCop. As a reminder, even though part of the reason for the title of this series is to poke fun at ourselves (with our "official" relaunch of the podcast) - and even though each movie that we discussed in this series does not live up to its predecessor - there are a few important things that we want to mention. First of all, the originals of the movies that we discussed (The Evil Dead, The Fog, The Thing, and RoboCop) are all incredible movies and it would almost be impossible for any movie to live up to the reputation. And this leads into the second point...just because "newer isn't always better" does not inherently mean that newer is bad. And finally, we do not want this series to come across as just bashing remakes. We will be providing our honest opinions (good and bad), but we will not be hating on a movie just to hate on a movie. And in tonight's episode, we actually do have a lot of love. Make no mistake, there are definitely some shortcomings and missed opportunities that keep this movie from being great. But, in general, it made very smart decisions in how to approach the remake, in terms of focusing on the purpose of social commentary rather than focusing on remaking the action. We hope that you enjoy finding out in tonight's episode exactly where we stand on our thoughts of RoboCop (2014)!
Video Monsters is brought to you by the Chattanooga Film Festival and Central Cinema in Knoxville, TN. Follow them on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, or online at chattfilmfest.org and centralcinema865.com Links for each of these can also be found on our pages, so be sure to follow us at videomonsterpod on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram as well.
Chattanooga Film Festival 2020 will be April 16-19, so start planning your trip now!! And submissions for Knoxville Horror Film Festival 2020 are currently open, so submit your films at FilmFreeway.com
music for Video Monsters by Evan Simmons
Next up in our "Newer Isn't Always Better" series is a John Carpenter remake double-feature with The Fog & The Thing. As a reminder, even though part of the reason for the title of this series is to poke fun at ourselves (with our "official" relaunch of the podcast) - and even though each movie that we will be discussing in this series does not live up to its predecessor - there are a few important things that we want to mention. First of all, the originals of the movies that we will be discussing (The Evil Dead, The Fog, The Thing, and RoboCop) are all incredible movies and it would almost be impossible for any movie to live up to the reputation. And this leads into the second point...just because "newer isn't always better" does not inherently mean that newer is bad. And finally, we do not want this series to come across as just bashing remakes. We will be providing our honest opinions (good and bad), but we will not be hating on a movie just to hate on a movie. This is especially true in tonight's episode, as we both had pretty strong negative reactions to The Fog remake. Here at Video Monsters, we view John Carpenter as a master of horror and pretty much love every movie that he has made. And while Carpenter was involved with The Fog (2005) as a producer, it is sadly an empty shell of a genuinely great ghost story. So, even though we do our best to not hate on a movie just to hate on a movie, we do give our honest opinions of the shortcomings of this film. This episode does also include our review of The Thing (2011), but not as much time is spent on this movie as it follows the notes of the original so closely that even though it is technically a prequel, it is a pretty blatant remake. But, with all that being said, we hope that you enjoy our reviews of two remakes of a master of horror!!
Video Monsters is brought to you by the Chattanooga Film Festival and Central Cinema in Knoxville, TN. Follow them on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, or online at chattfilmfest.org and centralcinema865.com
Links for each of these can also be found on our pages, so be sure to follow us at videomonsterpod on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram as well.
Chattanooga Film Festival 2020 will be April 16-19, so start planning your trip now!! And submissions for Knoxville Horror Film Festival 2020 are currently open, so submit your films at FilmFreeway.com
music for Video Monsters by Evan Simmons
It's a new year, a new decade, and the "official" relaunch of the podcast (complete with finished logo and new intro music)...so we are kicking things off with our series "Newer Isn't Always Better." And since we take movies seriously at Video Monsters, but not ourselves, we are totally on board with the irony of using this series as the official relaunch of the podcast. Even though part of the reason for the title of this series is to poke fun at ourselves - and even though each movie that we will be discussing in this series does not live up to its predecessor - there are a few important things that we want to mention. First of all, the originals of the movies that we will be discussing (The Evil Dead, The Fog, and RoboCop) are all incredible movies and it would almost be impossible for any movie to live up to the reputation. And this leads into the second point...just because "newer isn't always better" does not inherently mean that newer is bad. Sure, it is hard for them to stack up to the originals, but two of the movies in this series are fine in their own right (and tonight's movie, The Evil Dead, does have some incredibly great aspects). And finally, we do not want this series to come across as just bashing remakes. We will be providing our honest opinions (good and bad), but we will not be hating on a movie just to hate on a movie. So, with all of that in mind, we hope that you enjoy the start of a new year at Video Monsters with our series "Newer Isn't Always Better" and tonight's episode, Evil Dead (2013)!!
Video Monsters is brought to you by the Chattanooga Film Festival and Central Cinema in Knoxville, TN. Follow them on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, or online at chattfilmfest.org and centralcinema865.com
Links for each of these can also be found on our pages, so be sure to follow us at videomonsterpod on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram as well.
Chattanooga Film Festival 2020 will be April 16-19, so start planning your trip now!! And submissions for Knoxville Horror Film Festival 2020 are currently open, so submit your films at FilmFreeway.com
music for Video Monsters by Evan Simmons
It's time, once again, for the annual Video Monsters Christmas Spectadequate (it's not spectacular, but it's at least spect...y'know...adequate)!! This year's Christmas Spectadequate was born out of our Frightening Ass Film Fest coverage in which Mark Christopher Covino talked about how he tries to watch a Santa slasher movie each day in December. So, on tonight's episode, Mark Christopher Covino and Andrew Austin join us once again as we discuss some amazing (or, just silly and fun) movies in the Christmas horror subgenre of Santa slashers. So grab your milk and cookies and join us as we countdown the top 10 Santa slasher flicks as voted on by you, the listener!
Video Monsters is brought to you by the Chattanooga Film Festival and Central Cinema in Knoxville, TN. Follow them on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, or online at chattfilmfest.org and centralcinema865.com
Links for each of these can also be found on our pages, so be sure to follow us at videomonsterpod on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram as well.
music from musopen.org
Tonight's episode of Video Monsters is a special minisode to serve as a teaser for the release of our Christmas Spectadequate episode on Christmas Eve!! The topic for this year’s Christmas Spectadequate is going to be a countdown of the top Santa slasher flicks, as voted on by you, the listener - with special guests Mark Christopher Covino and Andrew Austin! So, tonight, Kyle Kuchta (friend of Video Monsters and co-director of Survival of the Film Freaks) is here to present his top three picks for the best Santa slasher flicks! If you’ve never really gotten into this subgenre of Christmas horror before, Kyle’s picks are three great ways to be introduced to how fun Santa slashers can be. So, check out Kyle’s picks and then come back tomorrow to see where (or even if) they end up on the top 10 in the Video Monsters Christmas Spectadequate Santa Slasher Countdown!!
Video Monsters is brought to you by the Chattanooga Film Festival and Central Cinema in Knoxville, TN. Follow them on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, or online at chattfilmfest.org and centralcinema865.com
Links for each of these can also be found on our pages, so be sure to follow us at videomonsterpod on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram as well.
music from musopen.org
A few weeks ago, I joined the wizarding world as CONjuration once again descended upon Atlanta, providing a magical weekend for fans of Harry Potter, Lord of the Rings, and all things fantasitcal!! CONjuration was founded in 2014 and each year the con becomes bigger and better (but without outgrowing its roots or forgetting why it was started in the first place)! The variety of programming, panels, special events, and vendors provides truly does make it a convention for everyone who loves magic and/or fantasy! It is an incredibly family friendly atmosphere that keeps the childlike whimsy, but without being a convention just for kids. I truly love CONjuration and have been every year! However, for the second year in a row, I was not able to spend nearly as much time as I would have liked. But, even though I was only able to get just a few interviews, I still had an absolute blast with what little time I was able to attend. So, I hope that you enjoy the interviews, as well as the discussion that Adam and I have about how we would answer the questions I asked the guests.
Passes for CONjuration 2020 are already on sale. So, to purchase passes, or to find out more information, go to www.conjurationcon.com
Video Monsters is brought to you by the Chattanooga Film Festival and Central Cinema in Knoxville, TN. Follow them on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, or online at chattfilmfest.org and centralcinema865.com
Links for each of these can also be found on our pages, so be sure to follow us at videomonsterpod on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram as well.
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Twas another heist before Christmas and on tonight's episode, both movies we discuss are kinda middle of the road.
That doesn't mean that we hate them, in fact they both have great factors. But for one of the movies, Eric would rather be hit by a tractor.
Our opinions differ greatly for these cinematic excursions, but we both agreed that these weren't the best versions.
Both movies we watched had such great potential to be darker...or zanier...or at least more consequential.
But, as they are, while some scenes do stand out as having brought us enjoyment, neither movie this week really left us fully content.
Now, Eric might not agree with every word of this description. But, he's not typing this up...so I control the diction.
To be fair, some of what has been said was exaggeration for rhyme. Our discussion still led to a really good time.
So we hope you enjoy tonight's episode!! Oh, and one more thing before you go...
Please complete the survey below to pick the top Santa slashers. We're ranking these movies and the work will go faster
with the help of you and your friends (please share it) as we compile the list for our very special episode, the Christmas Spect-adeqate.
https://forms.gle/ZypbTdkxMSGphtTg9
Video Monsters is brought to you by the Chattanooga Film Festival and Central Cinema in Knoxville, TN. Follow them on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, or online at chattfilmfest.org and centralcinema865.com
Links for each of these can also be found on our pages, so be sure to follow us at videomonsterpod on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram as well.
music by bensound.com
Twas the heist before Christmas and all through the podcast, there were many schemes a stirring to theme our holiday 'sodes (I can shorten "episodes" to "sodes," right??).
The microphone was set by the computer with care, in hopes that inspiration soon would be there.
When what should appear to our wondering eyes, but an autocorrected text changing "horror" to "heist!"
The theme was perfect, we thought, since it included a pun! Before the movies were picked, we knew for sure it'd be fun!
After thinking and searching, we finally picked out our movies. They might not all be amazing...but we still think our reviews will be groovy.
Now, starting things out we've got more of "robberies" than "heists"... but we've loosely themed things, ok? So be nice...
Tonight's two movies are The Ref and The Ice Harvest. So sit back and enjoy Video Monsters' Christmas series, where we take movies seriously...but ourselves in jest.
Video Monsters is brought to you by the Chattanooga Film Festival and Central Cinema in Knoxville, TN. Follow them on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, or online at chattfilmfest.org and centralcinema865.com
Links for each of these can also be found on our pages, so be sure to follow us at videomonsterpod on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram as well.
As a reminder, we are rolling out gradual updates with our rebranding as we continue to provide new episodes. The main focus of the rebranding will be an updated name, logo, and theme music for the podcast. There might be a few other minor additions/updates as well and there might be some things that go through multiple updates (for example, there will be a temporary change to the theme music as the official music is being worked on) as we move forward. Be sure to follow us on social media to stay up to date as we go through this rebranding process.
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In tonight's episode, we (finally) conclude our coverage of the Knoxville Horror Film Festival 2019!! There are always so many amazing movies that screen at Knoxville Horror Film Festival that, not matter how hard we try, we just aren't able to get all of our thoughts contained into just one episode. The people involved in making KHFF happen absolutely have a passion for horror movies and this more than shines through with each and every festival that they have presented, consistently resulting in one of my favorite weekends of the year.
Video Monsters is brought to you by the Chattanooga Film Festival and Central Cinema in Knoxville, TN. Follow them on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, or online at chattfilmfest.org and centralcinema865.com
Links for each of these can also be found on our pages, so be sure to follow us at videomonsterpod on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram as well.
As a reminder, we are rolling out gradual updates with our rebranding as we continue to provide new episodes. The main focus of the rebranding will be an updated name, logo, and theme music for the podcast. There might be a few other minor additions/updates as well and there might be some things that go through multiple updates (for example, there will be a temporary change to the theme music as the official music is being worked on) as we move forward. Be sure to follow us on social media to stay up to date as we go through this rebranding process.
music by bensound.com
Even though we have covered both Fingers and After Midnight on the podcast multiple times before (in our Chattanooga Film Festival, Knoxville Horror Film Festival, and Frightening Ass Film Fest coverage), if you listened to part one of our Knoxville Horror Film Festival 2019 coverage a few episodes back, then you heard Nathan talk about how the Fingers & After Midnight double-feature was one of the highlights of KHFF and helped to set the tone for the rest of the weekend. And one of the things that we love so much about Knoxville Horror Film Fest (as well as Chattanooga Film Festival) is the opportunity to meet the people involved in making the films that we love. So, with how much we love both Fingers and After Midnight, it was an awesome experience to meet both Christian Stella and Juan Ortiz at KHFF!! We love their movies, so we are super excited that they are tonight's guests to discuss their films, as well as several other tangents....
Video Monsters is brought to you by the Chattanooga Film Festival and Central Cinema in Knoxville, TN. Follow them on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, or online at chattfilmfest.org and centralcinema865.com
Links for each of these can also be found on our pages, so be sure to follow us at videomonsterpod on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram as well.
As a reminder, we are rolling out gradual updates with our rebranding as we continue to provide new episodes. The main focus of the rebranding will be an updated name, logo, and theme music for the podcast. There might be a few other minor additions/updates as well and there might be some things that go through multiple updates (for example, there will be a temporary change to the theme music as the official music is being worked on) as we move forward. Be sure to follow us on social media to stay up to date as we go through this rebranding process.
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In tonight's episode, special guests Andrew Austin and Mark Christopher Covino join the Video Monsters (well, one of them at least...) to discuss the Frightening Ass Film Festival, presented by the Chattanooga Film Festival! Along with discussing the films we saw at FAFF (some we all absolutely loved, and some we had some differing opinions on), we go way off topic several times...so, you know, a standard Video Monsters episode! This episode was an absolute blast to record and things get a bit silly at times, so we hope you have as much fun listening as we did recording!
Video Monsters is brought to you by the Chattanooga Film Festival and Central Cinema in Knoxville, TN. Follow them on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, or online at chattfilmfest.org and centralcinema865.com
Links for each of these can also be found on our pages, so be sure to follow us at videomonsterpod on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram as well.
As a reminder, we are rolling out gradual updates with our rebranding as we continue to provide new episodes. The main focus of the rebranding will be an updated name, logo, and theme music for the podcast. There might be a few other minor additions/updates as well and there might be some things that go through multiple updates (for example, there will be a temporary change to the theme music as the official music is being worked on) as we move forward. Be sure to follow us on social media to stay up to date as we go through this rebranding process.
music by bensound.com
Welcome to Video Monsters! Where we take movies seriously, but not ourselves. If you have been following us on social media recently, you know that we are currently in the process of some rebranding and have changed the name of the podcast from The Gargyle Podcast to Video Monsters. And if you have listened to just about any episode of the podcast, you have undoubtedly heard us talk about how much we love the Knoxville Horror Film Festival! And if this is your first episode, don't worry...we discuss a little bit about the rebranding and then dive into Knoxville Horror Film Festival 2019!! And of course, with how much we love KHFF, it was impossible for us to get through all of our coverage in just one episode. So, join us for part one of our Knoxville Horror Film Festival Coverage!!
If you enjoy this episode, be sure to check back soon for more creatures talkin' features on Video Monsters!!
Video Monsters is brought to you by the Chattanooga Film Festival and Central Cinema in Knoxville TN. Follow them on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, or online at chattfilmfest.org and centralcinema865.com
Links for each of these can also be found on our pages, so be sure to follow us at videomonsterpod on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram as well.
As a reminder, we are rolling out gradual updates with our rebranding as we continue to provide new episodes (including our coverage of Knoxville Horror Film Festival and Frightening Ass Film Festival). The main focus of the rebranding will be an updated name, logo, and theme music for the podcast. There might be a few other minor additions/updates as well and there might be some things that go through multiple updates (for example, there will be a temporary change to the theme music as the official music is being worked on) as we move forward. Be sure to follow us on social media to stay up to date as we go through this rebranding process.
music by bensound.com
After two months, 9 guests, and a multitude of horror movies (most of which were first-time viewings), we are finally drawing our Horror Movie Blind Spot series to a close. We have had such an amazing time that I am sure we will eventually do another round of horror movie blind spots. But, joining us to close out our Horror Movie Blind Spot series for 2019 is writer, director, actor, pop-up barman, horror enthusiast, and friend of The Gargyle...Graham Skipper!! So, join us as we discuss Psycho II (Graham's blind spot pick), challenge Billy Ray Brewton to a hot-take duel, and sprinkle in a dash of Scream 3 debate!
If you enjoy this episode, be sure to check back soon for more cinematic discussions on The Gargyle Podcast - where we take movies seriously, but not ourselves!!
Also...The Gargyle Podcast is about to go through a bit of rebranding. But, rather than shutting everything down and relaunching in a few months, we are going to be rolling out gradual updates as we continue to provide new episodes (including our coverage of Knoxville Horror Film Festival and Frightening Ass Film Festival). The main focus of the rebranding will be an updated name, logo, and theme music for the podcast. There might be a few other minor additions/updates as well and there might be some things that go through multiple updates (for example, there will be a temporary change to the theme music as the official music is being worked on) as we move forward. If you already subscribe to the podcast or follow on social media, the plan is to just make changes to the current accounts rather than creating new accounts...so, hopefully you will not have to do anything new if you already follow us. But, we will be sure to provide updates as we go through this rebranding process.
The Gargyle Podcast is sponsored by Central Cinema and the Knoxville Horror Film Festival! View Central Cinema's line-up and purchase tickets at centralcinema865.com.
NOTE: We recorded this episode a few weeks ago with the intention of releasing it prior to the Knoxville Horror Film Festival, which was October 17-20. Things got a bit hectic (work, family, podcast, etc.), so we were obviously unable to post the episode prior to KHFF as intended. But, rather than editing out the information that is there, we decided to leave our discussion of KHFF in the episode to serve as a reminder to start planning for Knoxville Horror Film Festival 2020!!
GargyleReviews.wixsite.com/thegargyle
music by bensound.com
Already a little sad that Halloween is over? Well, lucky for you, the Halloween season doesn't have to be of just quite yet!! Thanks to the fact that the last few weeks have been hectic, we were delayed in getting all of the episodes in our Horror Movie Blind Spot series posted prior to Halloween. So, in tonight's episode, you can continue in the Halloween spirit with our special guest, Brian Lonano, as we discuss impressive body melting and questionable (and sometimes downright despicable) characters with Street Trash! We also discuss a bit of Coffin Joe and Brian's quest to find the first horror film from every country. If you enjoy this episode, be sure to check back soon for more cinematic discussions as we finish up our Horror Movie Blind Spot series on The Gargyle Podcast - where we take movies seriously, but not ourselves!! The Gargyle Podcast is sponsored by Central Cinema and the Knoxville Horror Film Festival! View Central Cinema's line-up and purchase tickets at centralcinema865.com. NOTE: We recorded this episode a few weeks ago with the intention of releasing it prior to the Knoxville Horror Film Festival, which was October 17-20. Things got a bit hectic (work, family, podcast, etc.), so we were obviously unable to post the episode prior to KHFF as intended. But, rather than editing out the information that is there, we decided to leave our discussion of KHFF in the episode to serve as a reminder to start planning for Knoxville Horror Film Festival 2020!!
GargyleReviews.wixsite.com/thegargyle
music by bensound.com
In two short weeks, Atlanta once again joins the wizarding world as CONjuration descends and provides a magical weekend for fans of Harry Potter, Lord of the Rings, and all things fantasitcal!! CONjuration was founded in 2014 and each year the con becomes bigger and better (but without outgrowing its roots or forgetting why it was started in the first place)! The variety of programming, panels, special events, and vendors provides truly does make it a convention for everyone who loves magic and/or fantasy! It is an incredibly family friendly atmosphere that keeps the childlike whimsy, but without being a convention just for kids. I truly love CONjuration and have been every year! However, this past year, I was not able to spend nearly as much time as usual as my wife and I had a three month old child. So, even though I was only able to get just a few interviews, I still had an absolute blast with what little time I was able to attend. So, I hope that you enjoy the interviews, as well as the discussion that Adam and I have about how we would answer the questions I asked the guests.
To purchase passes, or to find out more information, go to www.conjurationcon.com
If you enjoy this episode, be sure to check back soon for more cinematic discussions as we resume our countdown to Halloween with our Horror Movie Blind Spot series on The Gargyle Podcast - where we take movies seriously, but not ourselves!!
The Gargyle Podcast is sponsored by Central Cinema and the Knoxville Horror Film Festival! View Central Cinema's line-up and purchase tickets at centralcinema865.com.
NOTE: We recorded this episode a few weeks ago with the intention of releasing it prior to the Knoxville Horror Film Festival, which was October 17-20. Things got a bit hectic (work, family, podcast, etc.), so we were obviously unable to post the episode prior to KHFF as intended. There was not as much mention of KHFF as there has been on our Countdown to Halloween episodes, but rather than editing out the information that is there, we decided to leave our discussion of KHFF in the episode to serve as a reminder to start planning for Knoxville Horror Film Festival 2020!!
GargyleReviews.wixsite.com/thegargyle
music by bensound.com
Continuing in our Countdown to Halloween, Kyle Kuchta (one of the creators of the Survival of the Film Freaks documentary) joins us for a Bruce Campbell double-feature as we discuss Bubba Ho-Tep and one of my all-time favorite movies...Evil Dead II!! Fans of the podcast have undoubtedly heard us talk about films in the Evil Dead franchise many times before, but it is one of our favorite movies, so we will gladly discuss it again (and again and again) - especially to share in the excitement of someone watching it for the first time! We are especially happy to have Kyle back on the podcast because our slogan - "we take movies seriously, but not ourselves" - came about as a result of a conversation with Kyle and Bill Fulkerson (who was a guest on a recent episode). We think our slogan is a perfect way to describe our podcast, so we are extremely grateful to Bill and Kyle for being a part of The Gargyle Podcast!
If you enjoy this episode, be sure to check back soon for more cinematic discussions as we countdown to Halloween with our Horror Movie Blind Spot series on The Gargyle Podcast - where we take movies seriously, but not ourselves!!
The Gargyle Podcast is sponsored by Central Cinema and the Knoxville Horror Film Festival! View Central Cinema's line-up and purchase tickets at centralcinema865.com.
NOTE: We recorded this episode a few weeks ago with the intention of releasing it prior to the Knoxville Horror Film Festival, which was October 17-20. Things got a bit hectic (work, family, podcast, etc.), so we were obviously unable to post the episode prior to KHFF as intended. But, rather than editing that information out, we decided to leave our discussion of KHFF in the episode to serve as a reminder to start planning for Knoxville Horror Film Festival 2020!!
GargyleReviews.wixsite.com/thegargyle
music by bensound.com
Continuing in our Countdown to Halloween, director Mark Christopher Covino (THE CREST, A BAND CALLED DEATH) joins us to discuss one of the more obscure films in our horror movie blind spot series, ANGST. This German horror movie was ahead of its time in terms of cinematography, narrative structure, and subject matter...but, maybe a little too far ahead of its time. While still a powerful film with some scenes that are absolutely brutal, the overall impact of the film is not quite as intense as some of the films that have followed it.
If you enjoy this episode, be sure to check back soon for more cinematic discussions as we countdown to Halloween with our Horror Movie Blind Spot series on The Gargyle Podcast - where we take movies seriously, but not ourselves!!
The Gargyle Podcast is sponsored by Central Cinema and the Knoxville Horror Film Festival! Knoxville Horror Film Festival is less than a week away and tickets are almost gone! So, if you want to go (and I very highly recommend that you do...it is another amazing line-up this year!!!), hurry up and get over to knoxhorrorfest.com to view their line-up and purchase your ticket before they are completely sold out!! View Central Cinema's line-up and purchase tickets at centralcinema865.com.
GargyleReviews.wixsite.com/thegargyle
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Continuing in our Countdown to Halloween, Bill Fulkerson (one of the creators of the Survival of the Film Freaks documentary, and the Outside the Cinema podcast) joins us to discuss the lasting impact that a movie box art can have with his blind spot pick (The Sender), as well as one of the most iconic and recognizable horror monsters of all time with Nathan and Eric's picks (A Nightmare on Elm Street 2 & 3). We are especially happy to have Bill back on the podcast because our slogan - "we take movies seriously, but not ourselves" - came about as a result of a conversation with Bill and Kyle Kuchta (who is a guest on an upcoming episode). We think our slogan is a perfect way to describe our podcast, so we are extremely grateful to Bill and Kyle for being a part of The Gargyle Podcast! If you enjoy this episode, be sure to check back soon for more cinematic discussions as we countdown to Halloween with our Horror Movie Blind Spot series on The Gargyle Podcast - where we take movies seriously, but not ourselves!! The Gargyle Podcast is sponsored by Central Cinema and the Knoxville Horror Film Festival! Knoxville Horror Film Festival is only two weeks away and tickets are going fast! So, if you want to go (and I very highly recommend that you do...it is another amazing line-up this year!!!), hurry up and get over to knoxhorrorfest.com to view their line-up and purchase your ticket!! View Central Cinema's line-up and purchase tickets at centralcinema865.com.
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Continuing in our Countdown to Halloween, Matt Mercer (writer, actor, director, producer, and keeper of The Gargyle Shrine) joins us to discuss a bit about the various films in which he has been involved recently (most of which you will be able to see at the Knoxville Horror Film Festival), followed by our Donald Sutherland-centric horror movie blind spots: Don't Look Now (Matt) and Invasion of the Body Snatchers (Nathan and Eric)! Matt has been an inspiration since the early days of The Gargyle Podcast, so it's always an absolute blast when he is able to join us! Things might get a bit silly when he is our guest, but at least....wait...that's a good thing...things always get a bit silly when he is our guest! If you enjoy this episode, be sure to check back soon for more cinematic discussions as we countdown to Halloween with our Horror Movie Blind Spot series on The Gargyle Podcast - where we take movies seriously, but not ourselves!! The Gargyle Podcast is sponsored by Central Cinema and the Knoxville Horror Film Festival! Tickets for the Knoxville Horror Film Festival are currently on sale! And if you are still trying to decide whether or not to go, (practically) the full lineup has been announced - and it is a hell of a lineup!! If you'd like to submit your film to KHFF 2019, submissions are still open (however, now with late submission fees), so submit your film at filmfreeway.com now! And be sure to follow KHFF on Facebook for more news and announcements! View Central Cinema's lineup, showtimes, and purchase tickets at centralcinema865.com. GargyleReviews.wixsite.com/thegargyle music by bensound.com
Continuing in our Countdown to Halloween, Chris Dortch (director of the Chattanooga Film Festival and Frightening Ass Film Festival) joins us to discuss a bit about the 9th year of the Frightening Ass Film Fest, followed by our horror movie blind spots: the Children of the Corn series of films (Chris), Night of the Demons (Nathan), and Creepshow (Eric)! Chis's excitement and love for cinema not only leads to amazing film festivals (CFF and FAFF), but also conversations that are always just as entertaining as they are informative. The Gargyle Podcast definitely would not be what it is without the Chattanooga Film Festival and Frightening Ass Film Festival, so we are always more than excited when Chris is able to join us...and this episode is no exception!! If you enjoy this episode, be sure to check back soon for more cinematic discussions as we countdown to Halloween with our Horror Movie Blind Spot series on The Gargyle Podcast - where we take movies seriously, but not ourselves!! The Gargyle Podcast is sponsored by Central Cinema and the Knoxville Horror Film Festival! Tickets for the Knoxville Horror Film Festival are currently on sale! And if you are still trying to decide whether or not to go, (practically) the full lineup has been announced - and it is a hell of a lineup!! If you'd like to submit your film to KHFF 2019, submissions are still open (however, now with late submission fees), so submit your film at filmfreeway.com now! And be sure to follow KHFF on Facebook for more news and announcements! View Central Cinema's lineup, showtimes, and purchase tickets at centralcinema865.com.
GargyleReviews.wixsite.com/thegargyle
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Continuing in our Countdown to Halloween, directors Andrew Austin and Adam Ward join us to discuss their documentary, The Power of Glove, as well as one of their horror movie blind spots. The Power of Glove is an interesting, entertaining, and endearing documentary about the unforgettable Nintendo periphery, the Power Glove. The Power of Glove will be available for streaming on 9/19/19 and we very highly recommend that you check it out, especially if you have a strong sense of nostalgia. After discussing a bit about the documentary, we dive into a horror movie blind spot that was shared by Andrew, Adam, Eric, and myself: Near Dark!! If you enjoy this episode, be sure to check back soon for more cinematic discussions as we countdown to Halloween with our Horror Movie Blind Spot series on The Gargyle Podcast - where we take movies seriously, but not ourselves!! The Gargyle Podcast is sponsored by Central Cinema and the Knoxville Horror Film Festival! Tickets for the Knoxville Horror Film Festival are currently on sale! And if you are still trying to decide whether or not to go, (practically) the full lineup has been announced - and it is a hell of a lineup!! If you'd like to submit your film to KHFF 2019, submissions are still open (however, now with late submission fees), so submit your film at filmfreeway.com now! And be sure to follow KHFF on Facebook for more news and announcements! View Central Cinema's lineup, showtimes, and purchase tickets at centralcinema865.com.
GargyleReviews.wixsite.com/thegargyle
music by bensound.com
It's finally here!! Eric and I have officially started our 60 Days til Halloween coverage!! In each episode in our countdown to Halloween, Eric and I (and whoever our special guest is) will be discussing our horror movie blind spots - iconic horror movies that we have just watched for the first time. In tonight's episode, we are super excited to have special guest Travis Knight (not the director of Bumblebee), graphic designer and Art Director for the Chattanooga Film Festival!! So, join us in tonight's episode as we discuss our horror movie blind spots: Jason X (Nathan), The Blob (Travis), and Gojira (Eric)!! If you enjoy this episode, be sure to check back soon for more cinematic discussions as we countdown to Halloween with our Horror Movie Blind Spot series on The Gargyle Podcast - where we take movies seriously, but not ourselves!! The Gargyle Podcast is sponsored by Central Cinema and the Knoxville Horror Film Festival! Tickets for the Knoxville Horror Film Festival are currently on sale! And if you are still trying to decide whether or not to go, (practically) the full lineup has been announced - and it is a hell of a lineup!! If you'd like to submit your film to KHFF 2019, submissions are still open (however, now with late submission fees), so submit your film at filmfreeway.com now! And be sure to follow KHFF on Facebook for more news and announcements! View Central Cinema's lineup, showtimes, and purchase tickets at centralcinema865.com. GargyleReviews.wixsite.com/thegargyle
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Last year, Eric and I concluded our two months of Halloween coverage with "fear of being a bad horror movie geek week" in which we watched iconic horror movies that we had never seen before. And while it was a little embarrassing to admit some of the films that we had never seen (especially with how much we love horror movies), we have long said that we do not think that anyone should be shamed for movies that they have not yet seen. Instead, there should be excitement for the person because they still have new cinematic experiences ahead of them! So, for this year's 60 Days til Halloween coverage, Eric and I are focusing entirely on horror movie blind spots! Unlike last year, we will not be putting out a daily episode during the months of September and October. However, we have some awesome movies (we hope) and some amazing guests lined up for this year!! We will also be doing daily posts on social media (Facebook, Instagram, Twitter) as part of our 60 Days til Halloween celebration...and we are still going to do our best to get a daily horror movie viewing in (though, that's not a guarantee). Even though our 60 Days til Halloween coverage does not officially start until September 1st, we are pre-gaming a bit by doing a review of Eraserhead (a movie that neither Eric nor I have ever seen before) because Central Cinema will be screening Eraserhead on August 30th and September 1st - and we wanted to make sure to tell everyone (in or around Knoxville) to go see this absurd, emotional, amazing film!!
If you enjoy this episode, be sure to check back soon for more cinematic discussions on The Gargyle Podcast - where we take movies seriously, but not ourselves!! Our next episode will be the "official" start of 60 Days til Halloween coverage!!
The Gargyle Podcast is sponsored by Central Cinema and the Knoxville Horror Film Festival! Tickets for the Knoxville Horror Film Festival go on sale September 1st. And if you are still trying to decide whether or not to go, they will also be announcing many of the films in this year's lineup on the 1st. If you'd like to submit your film to KHFF 2019, submissions are still open - but late submission fees do start on the 1st as well - so submit your film at filmfreeway.com now! And be sure to follow KHFF on Facebook for more news and announcements! View Central Cinema's lineup, showtimes, and purchase tickets at centralcinema865.com.
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Adam and I started working through the Harry Potter series a couple of years ago and in tonight's episode, we finally wrap up our coverage (of the original 8 films...) with Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2! In tonight's episode, we discuss how terrible James Potter is, how problematic the wizarding world is from a sociocultural perspective (and how that might have been done on purpose...), and an abundance of other questions and comments about the entire series that we hadn't mentioned before (and some that we we probably have). So, grab your sword of Gryffindor, work on your best defensive spells (or, you know...get a dragon), and say goodbye to even more of your favorite characters as Adam and I hunt for the last of the horcruxes in our analysis of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2.
If you enjoy this episode, be sure to check back soon for more cinematic discussions on The Gargyle Podcast - where we take movies seriously, but not ourselves!!
The Gargyle Podcast is sponsored by Central Cinema and the Knoxville Horror Film Festival!! Submissions for the Knoxville Horror Film Festival are still open, so submit your film at filmfreeway.com and be sure to follow KHFF on Facebook for more news and announcements! View Central Cinema's lineup, showtimes, and purchase tickets at centralcinema865.com.
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music by bensound.com
1999 was an amazing year for cinema, giving the world some of the most beloved, groundbreaking, quotable, and rewatchable movies of the modern era! Ok...that might be slight hyperbole, but it's definitely true that 1999 had some amazing films!! And while Eric and I would love to cover practically every movie from 1999 (and probably will get around to it, eventually), we have both been swamped at work lately. So, on tonight's episode, rather than giving a detailed review, we are doing something a bit different. Tonight's episode is a sort of a "what if?" episode where Eric and I come up with theories on where some of the characters from some of our favorite films from 1999 have ended up 20 years later. We have the utmost respect for each of the movies we discuss. But, if you've ever listened to the podcast before, you should know...things get a bit silly....
On tonight's episode, we also wish Happy Anniversary to our friends and sponsors at Central Cinema, discuss the Knoxville Horror Film Festival lineup that has been announced so far (there are some amazing films and we cannot wait for KHFF to get here!!!), discuss the Chattanooga Film Festival (submissions are now open for CFF 2020) and the free movies in the park series that they are doing this summer, and talk about some of the films recently (or soon to be) available on Shudder as we gear up towards our Halloween coverage (which starts September 1).
If you enjoy this episode, be sure to check back soon for more cinematic discussions on The Gargyle Podcast - where we take movies seriously, but not ourselves!! The next episode (finally) wraps up the Harry Potter coverage that Adam and I started a couple of years ago as we discuss Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, part 2.
The Gargyle Podcast is sponsored by Central Cinema and the Knoxville Horror Film Festival!! Submissions for the Knoxville Horror Film Festival are still open, so submit your film at filmfreeway.com and be sure to follow KHFF on Facebook for more news and announcements! View Central Cinema's lineup, showtimes, and purchase tickets at centralcinema865.com.
GargyleReviews.wixsite.com/thegargyle
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During our coverage of the Chattanooga Film Festival, Eric and I talked about how much we loved I Trapped the Devil on part 1 of our Two Guys, a Girl, and a Baaaaaad Situation episode (found here) because...well...because it's an amazing, dark (both in tone and in atmosphere), dramatic horror movie with a strong focus on character and character interactions. So, we are extremely excited to be joined by tonight's guests, Josh Lobo (writer and director of I Trapped the Devil) and Scott Poythress (alleged devil trapper)!! While we do not delve too far into spoiler territory, there are occasional spoilers in our discussion (click the link above for our spoiler-free review from our CFF coverage). So, if you want a completely spoiler-free experience of I Trapped the Devil, check it out on VOD or on Hulu and then come back for our discussion...think of it like a behind the scenes extra feature commentary (for those of you who enjoy bonus features)!
If you enjoy this episode, be sure to check back soon for more cinematic discussions on The Gargyle Podcast - where we take movies seriously, but not ourselves!!
The Gargyle Podcast is sponsored by Central Cinema and the Knoxville Horror Film Festival!! Submissions for the Knoxville Horror Film Festival are still open, so submit your film at filmfreeway.com and be sure to follow KHFF on Facebook for more news and announcements! View Central Cinema's lineup, showtimes, and purchase tickets at centralcinema865.com.
GargyleReviews.wixsite.com/thegargyle
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Camp Gargyle 2019 has ended and The Chimerican and I have returned home. And just like kids returning from real summer camps, we couldn't wait to share our stories with our friends...so, naturally, we called up two of our favorite people: Matt Mercer and Graham Skipper!! As expected, it doesn't take very long for things to get silly. But, amidst all the silliness, we discuss (among other things) VFW and Bliss - two recent projects from Joe Begos (Bliss was recently announced as one of the films that will be playing at the Knoxville Horror Film Festival this year), some of our own personal camp experiences, and whether or not Friday the 13th actually is a "summer camp" movie. As always, we had an absolute blast with Matt and Graham and cannot wait to have them back for more silliness!!
If you enjoy this episode, be sure to check back soon for more cinematic discussions on The Gargyle Podcast - where we take movies seriously, but not ourselves!!
The Gargyle Podcast is sponsored by Central Cinema and the Knoxville Horror Film Festival!! Submissions for the Knoxville Horror Film Festival are still open, so submit your film at filmfreeway.com and be sure to follow KHFF on Facebook for more news and announcements! View Central Cinema's lineup, showtimes, and purchase tickets at centralcinema865.com.
GargyleReviews.wixsite.com/thegargyle
music by bensound.com
Gooooooood morning, campers!!! And welcome to another beautiful day at Camp Gargyle!! It's hard to believe, but today is the last day of camp...and Camp Counselor Chimerican and I have one final review to tell around the campfire before everyone packs their bags and heads home. So, in this episode of Camp Gargyle, we are talking about Wet Hot American Summer!! When Eric and I first started talking about a summer camp series, WHAS was one of the first films I thought of and there was no question that we would be covering it. While there was some discussion about where it would be in the lineup, I think that closing the series out with it was the right decision...it is the perfect mix of a genuine camp movie (hitting all of the summer camp tropes, but done in such a way where they are played sincerely) and a camp movie parody (lampooning the camp tropes with the same level of sincerity), with juuuuust a dash of horror/thriller. I know that humor is subjective and not everyone will have the same sense of humor that I do. But, in my opinion, Wet Hot American Summer is a perfect mixture of smart, silly, and absurd comedy that only gets funnier each time I watch it! So put on your favorite flannel shirt, put away your dishes, and work on your super secret handshake as Eric and I go through the training montage in our review of Wet Hot American Summer!!
If you enjoy this episode, be sure to check back soon for more cinematic discussions on The Gargyle Podcast. The next episode is an epilogue to our Camp Gargyle summer camp series with very special guests, and friends of The Gargyle Podcast, Graham Skipper and Matt Mercer!!!!
The Gargyle Podcast is sponsored by Central Cinema and the Knoxville Horror Film Festival!! Submissions for the Knoxville Horror Film Festival are still open, so submit your film at filmfreeway.com and be sure to follow KHFF on Facebook for more news and announcements! View Central Cinema's lineup, showtimes, and purchase tickets at centralcinema865.com.
GargyleReviews.wixsite.com/thegargyle
"Reveille" from archive.org
music by bensound.com
On our previous episode, Eric and I reviewed The Crest, a heartwarming documentary (with beautiful cinematography and an engrossing score) about two cousins who share a love of surfing who meet for the first time as they discover more about the history of their family and the similarities they share with their ancestry on the Blasket Islands in Ireland. On this episode, Eric and I continue our coverage of The Crest as Mark Christopher Covino joins us to discuss his work (The Crest, A Band Called Death), his love for cinema, and the emotional power of film. Eric and I thoroughly enjoyed The Crest (we highly recommend it, as it is a documentary that can be enjoyed by just about everyone) and we had an absolute blast getting to know a bit more about Mark...we hope you enjoy it too!!
If you enjoy this episode, be sure to go back and listen to our review of The Crest (if you haven't done so already). And be sure to check back soon for more cinematic discussions on The Gargyle Podcast! On our next episode, we will return to Camp Gargyle for Wet Hot American Summer!!
The Gargyle Podcast is sponsored by Central Cinema and Knoxville Horror Film Festival. Submissions for the Knoxville Horror Film Festival are still open! Submit your film at filmfreeway.com. View Central Cinema's lineup, showtimes, and purchase tickets at centralcinema865.com.
GargyleReviews.wixsite.com/thegargyle
music by bensound.com
Taking a short break from Camp Gargyle, Eric and I review The Crest, the most recent documentary from Mark Christopher Covino. The Crest is a heartwarming documentary about two cousins who share a love of surfing who meet for the first time as they discover more about the history of their family and the similarities they share with their ancestry on the Blasket Islands in Ireland. While The Crest is seemingly drastically different from Mark's previous documentary, A Band Called Death, both films share a central theme of family and leaving a legacy for the future by connecting with the past. With beautiful cinematography, an engrossing score, and a heartwarming tale, The Crest is a film that can, and should, be enjoyed by everyone!!
If you enjoy this episode, be sure to check back soon for more cinematic discussions on The Gargyle Podcast! Tomorrow's episode will be our interview with Mark Christopher Covino, director of The Crest. After that, we will return to Camp Gargyle for Wet Hot American Summer!!
The Gargyle Podcast is sponsored by Central Cinema and Knoxville Horror Film Festival. Submissions for the Knoxville Horror Film Festival are still open! Submit your film at filmfreeway.com. View Central Cinema's lineup, showtimes, and purchase tickets at centralcinema865.com.
GargyleReviews.wixsite.com/thegargyle
music by bensound.com
Gooooooood morning, campers!!! And welcome to another beautiful day at Camp Gargyle, where Camp Counselor Chimerican and I are continuing our summer camp series!! Unlike our previous movies that are a bit more lighthearted and motivational (of sorts), today's film veers off into the horror genre with Sleepaway Camp!! It is undeniable that this film has technical flaws, deeply problematic scenes and plot points, and an unavoidable comparison to Friday the 13th...but the motivations of the characters, the (possibly unintentional?) deeper themes, and unforgettable ending make Sleepaway Camp a film with plenty to discuss!! So watch out for boats, bees, and boiling water as Eric and I take a stab at the cult classic, Sleepaway Camp!!
If you enjoy this episode, be sure to check back soon for more cinematic discussions on The Gargyle Podcast. The next couple of episodes will be a break from Camp Gargyle as we discuss The Crest, the new documentary from Mark Christopher Covino, and then have Mark on the podcast to discuss (among other things) his newest film!! After that, we will return to Camp Gargyle with Wet Hot American Summer!!
The Gargyle Podcast is sponsored by Central Cinema and the Knoxville Horror Film Festival!! Submissions for the Knoxville Horror Film Festival are now open! Submit your film at filmfreeway.com and be sure to follow KHFF on Facebook for more news and announcements! View Central Cinema's lineup, showtimes, and purchase tickets at centralcinema865.com.
GargyleReviews.wixsite.com/thegargyle
"Reveille" from archive.org
music by bensound.com
Gooooooood morning, campers!!! And welcome to another beautiful day at Camp Gargyle!!! Camp Counselor Chimerican and I are continuing our Camp Gargyle summer camp series and today's activities will include: well...mostly just talking about Heavyweights (along with quite a few tangents). And don't worry...today's activities will NOT be cancelled due to lack of hustle!! From the minds that brought you The Mighty Ducks and The 40 Year-Old Virgin, this mid-90s Disney classic is a heartwarming tale of self-confidence and self-improvement, wrapped up in a delicious Dodgeball prequel!! So get your go kart gassed up, find a good hiding place for your contraband candy, and get ready for the big dance as Eric and I discuss Heavyweights!!
If you enjoy this episode, be sure to check back soon for more cinematic discussions at Camp Gargyle!! Next week's episode diverges from the classic summer camp tale as we discuss the unforgettable summer camp horror flick, Sleepaway Camp!!
The Gargyle Podcast is sponsored by Central Cinema and the Knoxville Horror Film Festival!! Submissions for the Knoxville Horror Film Festival are now open! Submit your film at filmfreeway.com and be sure to follow KHFF on Facebook for more news and announcements! View Central Cinema's lineup, showtimes, and purchase tickets at centralcinema865.com.
GargyleReviews.wixsite.com/thegargyle
"Reveille" from archive.org
music by bensound.com
Gooooooood morning, campers!!! And welcome to another beautiful day at Camp Gargyle!!! And obviously, by "beautiful day" I mean "grey, rainy, and a perfect day to stay inside and watch camp movies and podcast!" So, that is exactly what we are doing. Camp Counselor Chimerican and I are continuing our Camp Gargyle summer camp series with Ernest Goes to Camp! Whether or not you grew up watching any Ernest movies, you are almost certainly aware of the zeitgeist of "y'knowwhatImean, Verne?!!?" You might brush Ernest off as a simpleton and think that his movies can only be enjoyed by those with a juvenile sense of humor...but, you would be mistaken! Yes, the folksy southern accent and the cartoonish physical humor might turn some people off, but that is only the surface of the Ernest movies. Hidden behind Jim Varney's toothy grin in Ernest Goes to Camp is not only a solid camp movie that hits most of the right notes of summer camp tropes, but also a genuinely well-made movie that is more technically proficient than you might want to allow yourself to admit (and if you are wondering how, don't worry....Eric and I spend plenty of time discussing the technical merits of this movie). Plus, I mean...come on....it's Ernest! He is so genuine and heartfelt....how can you not love Ernest??? So make sure your vaccines are up to date (from a comically large needle), get a big helping of Eggsaronius, and watch out for para-trooping turtles as Eric and I discuss Ernest Goes to Camp!!
And if our review has you wanting to revisit Ernest, I can't think of a better way than going to the Movies Under the Stars film series screening of Ernest Goes to Camp, presented by Ijams Nature Center and Central Cinema, on June 14th!
If you enjoy this episode, be sure to check back soon for more cinematic discussions at Camp Gargyle!! Next week's episode will undoubtedly result in a bit of "beginning, middle, end" and will give us plenty of food for thought (see what I did there?? Oh...right....haven't said the name of the movie yet...well, it will make sense in a second...) as we discuss Heavyweights!
The Gargyle Podcast is sponsored by Central Cinema and the Knoxville Horror Film Festival!! Submissions for the Knoxville Horror Film Festival are now open! Submit your film at filmfreeway.com and be sure to follow KHFF on Facebook for more news and announcements! View Central Cinema's lineup, showtimes, and purchase tickets at centralcinema865.com.
GargyleReviews.wixsite.com/thegargyle
"Reveille" from archive.org
music by bensound.com
The actual first day of summer might not be until June 21, but it's totally already summer on The Gargyle Podcast!! And since it just wouldn't be summer without summer camp, our series for June is going to be all about summer camp movies! And just like summer camp, we've got plenty of activities lined up. Well..."activities" in the form of movie reviews. We've got cheesy, horror, spoof, and heartfelt movies lined up...but tonight, we kick things off with one of the most iconic summer camp movies: Meatballs! Camp Counselor Chimerican and I already have the fire going and the s'mores ready to assemble...so get your bags packed, make sure your folks don't find the fireworks, plan your pranks for the rival camp across the lake, and get ready to make some new friends as you head off to Camp Gargyle!! And before camp officially starts, Eric and I also discuss Visitations, the new podcast from Elijah Wood and Daniel Noah, with season 1 now available on Shudder!
If you enjoy this episode, be sure to check back soon for more cinematic discussions at Camp Gargyle!! Next week's movie will be Ernest Goes to Camp, in preparation for the Movies Under the Stars, presented by Ijams Nature Center and Central Cinema!
The Gargyle Podcast is sponsored by Central Cinema and the Knoxville Horror Film Festival!! Submissions for the Knoxville Horror Film Festival are now open! Submit your film at filmfreeway.com and be sure to follow KHFF on Facebook for more news and announcements! View Central Cinema's lineup, showtimes, and purchase tickets at centralcinema865.com.
GargyleReviews.wixsite.com/thegargyle
"Reveille" from archive.org
music by bensound.com
Wrapping up our coverage of Chattanooga Film Festival 2019, tonight's episode focuses on films about Outcasts. After 15 episodes and almost three months of talking about Chatt Film Fest (both past and present), this episode is a little bittersweet. While we are looking forward to other themes that we have planned for future months, and while we still have a few more episodes in store that are going to be CFF adjacent (not directly part of our CFF coverage, but absolutely would not have been able to happen were it not for Chatt Film Fest!)...we had such an amazing time at CFF 2019 that we are a little sad to be bringing our coverage to a close. And while I loved every movie that I saw at CFF 2019 and have had an absolute blast talking about all of them, I think that this episode might be the best overall representation of the kinds of films that you are able to see at CFF! Sure, they all have a common theme of people who don't quite fit into mainstream society (which also fits nicely into talking about this crazy little family that is Chattanooga Film Festival), but with a documentary about the Satanic Temple, a Portuguese Troma Film, an indie dramedy that finds its humor in the absurdity of the mundane, and a punk rock classic with a social commentary that is just as powerful and relevant today as it was 36 years ago...each of these films are about as drastically different from each other as possible. So, join us as we take the goat by the horns in our discussion of religious freedom with Penny Lane's Hail Satan?...find out if we get blown away, or are simply Troma-tized, by Fernando Alle's Mutant Blast...butter you up for a movie that is far from half-baked with Patrick Wang's A Bread Factory, Part One...and find a home in our hearts for Penelope Spheeris's Suburbia!
If you enjoy this episode, be sure to check back soon for more cinematic discussions as The Gargyle Podcast heads to summer camp (movies)!!
The Gargyle Podcast is sponsored by Central Cinema and the Knoxville Horror Film Festival!! Submissions for the Knoxville Horror Film Festival are now open! Submit your film at filmfreeway.com and be sure to follow KHFF on Facebook for more news and announcements! View Central Cinema's lineup, showtimes, and purchase tickets at centralcinema865.com.
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music by bensound.com
Tonight's set of Chattanooga Film Festival film reviews is the second part of our two part series focusing on character driven horror movies where the weight of the film rests on the shoulders of the acting ability of a very small cast as they navigate their way through trauma and personal discovery. In other words, tonight's movies are about two guys, a girl, and a baaaaaaad situation!!...again. And, just like we said in the first part of our coverage (The Fare and I Trapped the Devil)...while the cast might be small, our love for these films is not!! So, join us in part two of our Two Guys, a Girl, and a Baaaaaaad Situation films, as we talk at length a-boat (see what I did there??) how much we love Harpoon (written by Rob Grant & Mike Kovac, directed by Rob Grant, and staring Christopher Gray, Munro Chambers, and Emily Tyra) and give a Cookie Monster scream of love to Sadistic Intentions (written and directed by Eric Pennycoff, staring Jeremy Gardner, Taylor Zaudtke, and Michael Patrick Nicholson)!!
If you enjoy this episode, be sure to check back soon for more cinematic discussions on The Gargyle Podcast as we wrap up our coverage of the films we saw at the 2019 Chattanooga Film Festival with our Outcasts block of films!!
The Gargyle Podcast is sponsored by Central Cinema and the Knoxville Horror Film Festival!! Submissions for the Knoxville Horror Film Festival are now open! Submit your film at filmfreeway.com and be sure to follow KHFF on Facebook for more news and announcements! View Central Cinema's lineup, showtimes, and purchase tickets at centralcinema865.com.
GargyleReviews.wixsite.com/thegargyle
music by bensound.com
Tonight's set of Chattanooga Film Festival film reviews is part one of a two part series focusing on character driven horror movies where the weight of the film rests on the shoulders of the acting ability of a very small cast as they navigate their way through trauma and personal discovery. In other words, tonight's movies are about two guys, a girl, and a baaaaaaad situation!! While the cast might be small, our love for these films is not!! There is a LOT to talk about with the four films in this block (The Fare, I Trapped the Devil, Harpoon, and Sadistic Intentions) - even without delving too far into spoiler territory. There is so much to talk about, in fact, that Eric and I ended up needing to split our coverage of these films into two parts. So, join us in part one of our Two Guys, a Girl, and a Baaaaaaad Situation films, as we put in our two cents about The Fare (written by Brinna Kelly, directed by D.C. Hamilton, and staring Gino Anthony Pesi, Brinna Kelly, and Jason Stuart) and then wade through the darkness (both literal and metaphorical) of I Trapped the Devil (written and directed by Josh Lobo, staring Scott Poythress, A.J. Bowen, and Susan Burke)!!
If you enjoy this episode, be sure to check back soon for more cinematic discussions on The Gargyle Podcast as we continue our coverage of the 2019 Chattanooga Film Festival!! Up next will be part two of Two Guys, a Girl, and a Baaaaaaad Situation with Harpoon and Sadistic Intentions!!
The Gargyle Podcast is sponsored by Central Cinema and the Knoxville Horror Film Festival!! Submissions for the Knoxville Horror Film Festival are now open! Submit your film at filmfreeway.com and be sure to follow KHFF on Facebook for more news and announcements! View Central Cinema's lineup, showtimes, and purchase tickets at centralcinema865.com.
GargyleReviews.wixsite.com/thegargyle
music by bensound.com
As Eric and I continue our Chattanooga Film Festival coverage, we have with us tonight very special guest (and friend of The Gargyle Podcast), Eric Pennycoff - writer and director of Sadistic Intentions! We met Eric at the world premiere of Sadistic Intentions at the Knoxville Horror Film Festival and quickly fell in love with his film! It was one of the standout films at KHFF and one of the films from CFF that we very strongly recommended people see!! Even though we have covered Sadistic Intentions on the podcast before (and will be covering again in an upcoming CFF review episode), we genuinely love the film...plus, we are always happy when Eric is able to join us to discuss a bit of horror! So, join us as we discuss Sadistic Intentions and the Chattanooga Film Festival with one of our favorite people, Eric Pennycoff!!
If you enjoy this episode, be sure to check back soon for more cinematic discussions on The Gargyle Podcast as we continue our coverage of the 2019 Chattanooga Film Festival!! Our next episode will be the first part of a two-part episode covering Two Guys, a Girl, and a Baaaaaaad Situation films from CFF!!
The Gargyle Podcast is sponsored by Central Cinema and the Knoxville Horror Film Festival!! Submissions for the Knoxville Horror Film Festival are now open! Submit your film at filmfreeway.com and be sure to follow KHFF on Facebook for more news and announcements! View Central Cinema's lineup, showtimes, and purchase tickets at centralcinema865.com.
GargyleReviews.wixsite.com/thegargyle
music by bensound.com
Tonight's set of Chattanooga Film Festival film reviews covers four films that are drastically different in tone, but all share a common thread of "obsession." And while the obsessions in each of these films led to some pretty terrible outcomes, our obsessions with these movies leads to four pretty great cinematic experiences!! So join us as we try In Fabric on for size, bask in the neon slime of Vice Squad, get drawn into the temptation of Girl on the Third Floor, and give all of our in-tact thumbs up to Fingers!!
If you enjoy this episode, be sure to check back soon for more cinematic discussions on The Gargyle Podcast as we continue our coverage of the 2019 Chattanooga Film Festival!! Upcoming episodes will include reviews of all of the movies that played at CFF that we were able to see (and potentially another interview or two with special CFF guests - though, not actually recorded during CFF).
The Gargyle Podcast is sponsored by Central Cinema and the Knoxville Horror Film Festival!! Submissions for the Knoxville Horror Film Festival are now open! Submit your film at filmfreeway.com and be sure to follow KHFF on Facebook for more news and announcements! View Central Cinema's lineup, showtimes, and purchase tickets at centralcinema865.com.
GargyleReviews.wixsite.com/thegargyle
music by bensound.com
Eric and I have already talked at length about how much we absolutely LOVE the Chattanooga Film Festival (about 1/3 of 2019 will end up being CFF coverage)! But, along with the amazing experiences of meeting some awesome people and podcasting with some of our favorite podcasts, we actually did watch some movies at the 2019 Chattanooga Film Festival. So, now that all of the interviews we did at CFF have been posted, tonight's episode starts our reviews of the films that we were able to see this year. Even though we were not able to see nearly as many movies as we would have liked to have seen, if we were to individual episodes for every review...we would either need to be putting out daily episodes for a couple of weeks, or our coverage would extend way too far past CFF (we hate that we are already as late as we are getting our reviews out!). So, rather than individual episodes for every review, we will be grouping several reviews together per episode. But this does not mean that we are going to short change our coverage - we are still doing full reviews for each film, discussing them in terms of prior information and expectations, technical components, emotional reactions, rewatchability, and who we recommend the movie for. So, kicking off our CFF 2019 reviews, tonight's episode will cover the family friendly-ish films of Freaks, Deadtectives, Body at Brighton Rock, and The Creature from the Black Lagoon!
If you enjoy this episode, be sure to check back soon for more cinematic discussions on The Gargyle Podcast as we continue our coverage of the 2019 Chattanooga Film Festival!! Upcoming episodes will include reviews of all of the movies that played at CFF that we were able to see (and potentially another interview or two with special CFF guests - though, not actually recorded during CFF).
The Gargyle Podcast is sponsored by Central Cinema and the Knoxville Horror Film Festival!! Submissions for the Knoxville Horror Film Festival are now open! Submit your film at filmfreeway.com and be sure to follow KHFF on Facebook for more news and announcements! View Central Cinema's lineup, showtimes, and purchase tickets at centralcinema865.com.
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music by bensound.com
Rounding out the interviews that Eric and I did at the Chattanooga Film Festival is our interview with Mallory O'Meara, author of The Lady From the Black Lagoon: Hollywood Monsters and the Lost Legacy of Milicent Patrick. And just like our interviews with Brian Salisbury (of Junkfood Cinema) and Rebekah McKendry, Rob Galluzzo, and Elric Kane (of Shock Waves), talking with Mallory was one of the things that we were most excited about for CFF 2019 (and all of which were part of the teaser announcement before any of the films were even announced)!! Anyone who has ever met me and talked about movies with me for more than about five minutes knows that The Creature from the Black Lagoon is one of my favorite movies and probably my favorite Universal Monster (I mean, all of the monsters are pretty great...but there is something just so unique about the creature). And if you've listened to any of our pre-coverage episodes leading up to CFF 2019, you know that both Eric and I absolutely LOVED Mallory's book!! So, it was an incredible honor to be able to talk horror, the creature, Milicent, and social justice with Mallory O'Meara!! If you haven't yet, I strongly recommend picking up a copy of The Lady from the Black Lagoon - or, support your local library and check out a copy (if they don't have it, request that they get it!)! Eric and I loved the book and we can't wait to see what else Mallory has in store for the future!!
If you enjoy this episode, be sure to check back soon for more cinematic discussions on The Gargyle Podcast as we continue our coverage of the 2019 Chattanooga Film Festival!! Upcoming episodes will include reviews of all of the movies that played at CFF that we were able to see (and potentially another interview or two with special CFF guests - though, not actually recorded during CFF).
The Gargyle Podcast is sponsored by Central Cinema and the Knoxville Horror Film Festival!! Submissions for the Knoxville Horror Film Festival are now open! Submit your film at filmfreeway.com and be sure to follow KHFF on Facebook for more news and announcements! View Central Cinema's lineup, showtimes, and purchase tickets at centralcinema865.com.
GargyleReviews.wixsite.com/thegargyle
music by bensound.com
While I want to just have the description of this episode be "Read the description of the Shock Waves interview, but intensify the silliness exponentially!!" - which would be completely accurate (Junkfood Cinema was part of the CFF teaser announcement and it was one of the things that we were most excited about for the entire fest because Jukfood Cinema, like Shock Waves, is one of our absolute favorite podcasts!!) - that does not fully do justice to the excitement that Eric and I had in interviewing Brian Salisbury of Junkfood Cinema!! The giddiness and genuine love (not to mention their wealth of cinematic knowledge) that Brian Salisbury and C. Robert Cargill have for movies (especially movies that are not always loved by the majority of movie-goers) makes each and every episode informative and endlessly entertaining!! Junkfood Cinema has a tremendous impact on The Gargyle Podcast, so it was an incredible honor to be able to podcast with Brian and spend time with him at the Chattanooga Film Festival!!
If you enjoy this episode, be sure to check back soon for more cinematic discussions on The Gargyle Podcast as we continue our coverage of the 2019 Chattanooga Film Festival!! Upcoming episodes will include another special episode recorded during the Chattanooga Film Festival - with special guest Mallory O'Meara (author of The Lady from the Black Lagoon) - as well as reviews of all of the movies that played at CFF that we were able to see.
The Gargyle Podcast is sponsored by Central Cinema and the Knoxville Horror Film Festival!! Submissions for the Knoxville Horror Film Festival are now open! Submit your film at filmfreeway.com and be sure to follow KHFF on Facebook for more news and announcements! View Central Cinema's lineup, showtimes, and purchase tickets at centralcinema865.com.
GargyleReviews.wixsite.com/thegargyle
music by bensound.com
Eric and I have been talking about how excited we were about Shock Waves being at the Chattanooga Film Festival ever since they were first announced in the teaser announcement a few months ago...and with good reason! With interesting guests, discussions of a wide variety of horror movies, and hosts whose personalities could easily single-handedly carry the entire podcast (but thankfully they combine their forces to form the Captain Planet of horror podcasts), Shock Waves is easily one of our favorite podcasts! So it was an extreme honor and pleasure to be able to podcast with Rebekah McKendry, Rob Galluzzo, and Elric Kane (unfortunately Ryan Turek was not able to be there)!! In fact, I was so excited to be podcasting with Shock Waves that I even forgot how I started the podcast (even though I podcasted with Elric a few months ago at the Knoxville Horror Film Festival and was in communication with Rebekah in getting the interview lined up, I was still overwhelmed with excitement). So, it should go without saying that interviewing Shock Waves was absolutely one best experiences of this year's Chattanooga Film Festival!!
If you enjoy this episode, be sure to check back soon for more cinematic discussions on The Gargyle Podcast as we continue our coverage of the 2019 Chattanooga Film Festival!! Upcoming episodes will include special episodes recorded during the Chattanooga Film Festival - with special guests Brian Salisbury (from Junkfood Cinema) and Mallory O'Meara (author of The Lady from the Black Lagoon) - as well as reviews of all of the movies that played at CFF that we were able to see.
The Gargyle Podcast is sponsored by Central Cinema and the Knoxville Horror Film Festival!! Submissions for the Knoxville Horror Film Festival are now open! Submit your film at filmfreeway.com and be sure to follow KHFF on Facebook for more news and announcements! View Central Cinema's lineup, showtimes, and purchase tickets at centralcinema865.com.
GargyleReviews.wixsite.com/thegargyle
music by bensound.com
We interrupt our Chattanooga Film Festival coverage to bring you exciting news....Tigers are not Afraid has been picked up by Shudder and will be available later this year!! Tigers are not Afraid is an absolutely amazing movie and I have not been able to stop talking about it since I saw it at the 2018 Chattanooga Film Festival (so, I guess it technically still kinda fits with our CFF coverage), so Eric and I could not pass up the opportunity to share our excitement (even though we recorded this as soon as we found out, we are a bit delayed in actually getting it posted)!! This is just a mini-sode to discuss the announcement...but rest assured that there will definitely be a full review episode once Tigers are not Afraid is released!
Be sure to check back soon as we continue on with our Chattanooga Film Festival 2019 coverage! Upcoming episodes will include reviews of all of the movies that played at CFF that we were able to see, as well as special episodes recorded during CFF - with special guests Brian Salisbury (from Junkfood Cinema), Rebekah McKendry, Rob Galluzzo, & Elric Kane (from Shock Waves), and Mallory O'Meara (author of The Lady from the Black Lagoon)!!
The Gargyle Podcast is sponsored by Central Cinema and the Knoxville Horror Film Festival!! Submissions for the Knoxville Horror Film Festival are now open! Submit your film at filmfreeway.com and be sure to follow KHFF on Facebook for more news and announcements! View Central Cinema's lineup, showtimes, and purchase tickets at centralcinema865.com.
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The Chattanooga Film Festival is one of my favorite times of year and the days following the end of the fest are always bittersweet for me. I always hate walking out of the theater after the last movie of the weekend and saying goodbye to all of the people I've met, but am always exceedingly grateful for the experiences I've had and the friends I've made. There is just something magical about how so much creativity, camaraderie, and love and passion for cinema all converges at the Chattanooga Film Festival. It is a labor of love, so a tremendous "thank you" and "y'all freaking rock!" to Chris Dortch and everyone that was involved in making CFF happen once again!! And in this episode of The Gargyle Podcast, Eric and I give an overview of the weekend and recount some of our favorite stories/experiences in an attempt to explain what makes the Chattanooga Film Festival so amazing!!
This is just the first of many episodes in our CFF 2019 coverage! Upcoming episodes will include reviews of all of the movies that played at CFF that we were able to see, as well as special episodes recorded during the Chattanooga Film Festival - with special guests Brian Salisbury (from Junkfood Cinema), Rebekah McKendry, Rob Galluzzo, & Elric Kane (from Shock Waves), and Mallory O'Meara (author of The Lady from the Black Lagoon)!! So be sure to check back soon for more cinematic discussions on The Gargyle Podcast as we continue our coverage of the 2019 Chattanooga Film Festival!!
The Gargyle Podcast is sponsored by Central Cinema and the Knoxville Horror Film Festival!! Submissions for the Knoxville Horror Film Festival are now open! Submit your film at filmfreeway.com and be sure to follow KHFF on Facebook for more news and announcements! View Central Cinema's lineup, showtimes, and purchase tickets at centralcinema865.com.
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With less than 24 hours until the start of the Chattanooga Film Festival, Eric and I are excited beyond words about tonight's episode and our very special guest - Crispin Glover!! On Friday night, 4/12, starting at 7:30 at the Chattanooga Theater Center, Crispin Glover will be doing a live dramatic presentation, followed by a screening of his film: It Is Fine! EVERYTHING IS FINE!, followed by a book signing! One of the things that is so wonderful about the Chattanooga Film Festival is the cinematic experience of viewing a film with an audience in a theater...and the extremely unique experience of viewing Crispin Glover's presentation and his film is one that you will most certainly NOT want to miss!! Crispin is deeply passionate about his work and I am certain that his passion will shine through in a very palpable way! I was already excited about being able to view his presentation and his film. But, after this interview, my excitement has grown exponentially! So be sure join us this Friday for what will surely be a once in a lifetime experience!!
For tickets or more information (including complete lists of films screened each year) go to chattfilmfest.org - and be sure to follow them on Facebook, Instagram, and/or Twitter to stay up to date on announcements for CFF 2019.
And be sure to come back soon for more cinematic discussions in our coverage of the Chattanooga Film Festival on The Gargyle Podcast!!
The Gargyle Podcast is sponsored by Central Cinema and the Knoxville Horror Film Festival!! Submissions for the Knoxville Horror Film Festival are now open! Submit your film at filmfreeway.com and be sure to follow KHFF on Facebook for more news and announcements! View Central Cinema's lineup, showtimes, and purchase tickets at centralcinema865.com.
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The Chattanooga Film Festival is just over a week away (April 11-14)!! Eric and I have been spending the last few episodes pre-gaming CFF by covering some highlights from previous years of CFF and discussing announcements for this year as they were released, including brief overviews of each of the films and events - and practically every single announcement only had us more and more excited!! But, now that the schedule for the weekend has been released, we are faced with some tough decisions... with an incredibly solid lineup of feature films, short films, live podcasts, workshops, presentations, and special events, putting together a personal schedule for the weekend is no easy task!! In this episode of The Gargyle Podcast, Eric and I work through our schedule for the weekend, discussing the films and events that we plan to attend and what some of the deciding factors are for us. Obviously, not everyone has the same taste in movies. So, for some people, the decision of which films to attend is not a difficult decision. But, if you are like Eric and myself and enjoy cinema in all of it's forms...and if trying to plan your time at CFF is giving you some mild (or major) anxiety... then hopefully our discussion will help you work through your personal schedule as well! And if you can only make it to just a few films and are trying to decide on the absolute best, listen to our previous episode where we interview Chris Dortch (director of Chattanooga Film Festival) and ask him which films he personally recommends as absolute "must see" films!! Also, there are plenty of free events and workshops as part of the Chattanooga Film Festival!!
Check out the full schedule and purchase your tickets at chattfilmfest.org - and be sure to follow them on Facebook, Instagram, and/or Twitter to stay up to date on announcements for CFF 2019.
And be sure to come back soon for more cinematic discussions on The Gargyle Podcast!! Follow us on Facebook and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts!!
The Gargyle Podcast is sponsored by Central Cinema and the Knoxville Horror Film Festival!! Submissions for the Knoxville Horror Film Festival are now open! Submit your film at filmfreeway.com and be sure to follow KHFF on Facebook for more news and announcements! View Central Cinema's lineup, showtimes, and purchase tickets at centralcinema865.com.
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Eric and I are super excited for tonight's episode, as we continue our pre-coverage of the Chattanooga Film Festival, because tonight we are joined by very special guest - Chris Dortch!! He's the director, creator, founder, maestro....whatever title you want to use... he is the reason that the Chattanooga Film Festival exists!! Among other things, Chris shares the story of what led to the creation of CFF. Hearing Chris talk about why he started CFF really is a testament to the love of cinema and the importance it plays in the lives of so many people. Also, Chris shares some details about some of the films and events...and even drops a hint or two about this year's Secret Screenings (as if we weren't already excited enough about this year's fest)!!!! It was an honor (and an absolute blast!!) talking to Chris Dortch!! If you have even remotely been considering attending the Chattanooga Film Festival this year, we hope that this episode will be the deciding factor that, yes, you do indeed need to go!!
Side note - we were later in getting our previous episode (our CFF 2018 recap) posted than we wanted. So, even though we just posted an episode yesterday...with just two weeks remaining until the start of the Chattanooga Film Festival, we were too excited about tonight's episode to postpone it any later than we already have!
For tickets or more information (including complete lists of films screened each year) go to chattfilmfest.org - and be sure to follow them on Facebook, Instagram, and/or Twitter to stay up to date on announcements for CFF 2019.
And be sure to come back soon for more cinematic discussions on The Gargyle Podcast!! Up next, we continue our CFF 2019 pre-coverage by going into a little more depth with our previews of some of the films and events at this year's CFF. Even though we've already mentioned all of the films when they were released with each wave of announcements, in our next episode we will be discussing which films and events we plan on attending at CFF (and we can already tell you that there are no easy decisions when creating our schedule!)
The Gargyle Podcast is sponsored by Central Cinema and the Knoxville Horror Film Festival!! Submissions for the Knoxville Horror Film Festival are now open! Submit your film at filmfreeway.com and be sure to follow KHFF on Facebook for more news and announcements! View Central Cinema's lineup, showtimes, and purchase tickets at centralcinema865.com.
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Eric and I have almost made it to our destination - the Chattanooga Film Festival, 2019!! Our next stop along the way is our recap of CFF 2018! And while there have been amazing moments that I will never forget from each of the years that I've attended CFF, 2018 might have been the best year yet! With so much awesomeness to talk about, this episode is a bit longer than the episodes covering CFF 2016 and 2017.
Even though this was a longer episode, we still weren't able to cover EVERY film that I saw in 2018. So, once again, we restricted the films that we focused on using the following criteria: 1) they are movies that I saw during the film festival that year, 2) they are movies that are available online (Hulu, Netflix, Amazon Prime, etc.), 3) they are movies that represented the experience of the film fest, rather than just being a good movie (there are some movies that are great movies, but you could get roughly the same experience seeing them in any movie theater...and there are other movies that might not necessarily be as "good," but it will be an experience that you are not likely to have outside of a film festival).
With those criteria in mind, the films from 2018 that are covered in tonight's episode are: A Prayer Before Dawn, Lowlife, Let the Corpses Tan, Ghost Stories, All the Creatures Were Stirring, and The Ranger, along with some brief highlights about Wolfman's Got Nards, Summer of '84, Tigers are Not Afraid, Dementia: Part II, and my interview with Matt Mercer, Graham Skipper, and Kevin Sluder. We end the episode by discussing the second wave of films announced for CFF 2019*!!
*We recorded this episode a few days ago, but weren't able to get it posted until tonight. When discussing the 2nd wave of films, we talk about not being sure if this is the 2nd of many waves, or if it was the 2nd half of two parts (it's the later). We also talk about not being sure when the schedule will be released. The schedule is now posted on the CFF website.
For tickets or more information (including complete lists of films screened each year) go to chattfilmfest.org - and be sure to follow them on Facebook, Instagram, and/or Twitter to stay up to date on announcements for CFF 2019.
And be sure to come back soon for more cinematic discussions on The Gargyle Podcast!! Up next, we continue our CFF 2019 pre-coverage with a very special guest. If you are even remotely excited about the Chattanooga Film Festival, you will NOT want to miss our next episode!!
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As we have mentioned on the podcast many times before, Eric and I love analyzing and discussing movies just about as much as we love watching movies, which is part of why we do this podcast. And one of the best things about doing this podcast is being able to discuss movies with some of the people who actually make them. So, on tonight's episode, we are super excited to have Bill Fulkerson and Kyle Kuchta, writers and directors of the documentary, Survival of the Film Freaks (which won a Gargyle Award during our Knoxville Horror Film Fest coverage for "movie that I am most excited to share with someone else")!! Bill and Kyle were informative, entertaining, and just an absolute blast to talk to! The episode might get a bit silly at times (if you've listened to an episode of The Gargyle Podcast before, that shouldn't be a surprise), but Bill and Kyle also had a lot to say about the role of cult films in cinema!! We had so much fun recording tonight's episode that our conversation (after the podcast was over) eventually led to The Gargyle Podcast's new motto: "we take movies seriously...just not ourselves." So, we hope that you enjoy tonight's episode as much as we do!
And if you do enjoy tonight's episode, be sure to support the Survival of the Film Freaks IndieGoGo campaign at: https://igg.me/at/survivalofthefilmfreaks/x
And be sure to come back soon for more cinematic discussions on The Gargyle Podcast!! Up next, we return to our Chattanooga Film Festival pre-coverage by discussing some of the films from CFF 2018.
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As the Chattanooga Film Festival draws ever nearer, Eric and I continue on with our pre-coverage of this year's CFF by recounting previous years of CFF. On tonight's episode, we discuss films from the 2017 Chattanooga Film Festival. As I mentioned on the previous episode, the Chattanooga Film Festival is so much more than just the movies...it is a cinematic experience and an opportunity to talk with other people who love cinema just as much as you do (including many of the people involved in making the films screened at CFF)...but, obviously the movies are a pretty major part. And while I wish that each episode leading up to CFF could be a deep-dive into every single movie screened each year, that just isn't possible. So, instead, each week we will be focusing on a few movies that really highlight the Chattanooga Film Festival experience from each of the previous years that I have attended (this will be the fourth year that I have attended CFF and the first year that Eric has attended) as a way to give Eric (and our listeners) a glimpse of what CFF is like. The criteria for the movies picked from each year are: 1) they are movies that I saw during the film festival that year, 2) they are movies that are available online (Hulu, Netflix, Amazon Prime, etc.), 3) they are movies that represented the experience of the film fest, rather than just being a good movie (there are some movies that are great movies, but you could get roughly the same experience seeing them in any movie theater...and there are other movies that might not necessarily be as "good," but it will be an experience that you are not likely to have outside of a film festival). With those criteria in mind, the films from 2017 that are covered in tonight's episode are: Dave Made A Maze, Feeding Time, Sequence Break, The Dragon Lives Again and The Zodiac Killer(both presented by the American Genre Film Archive), David Lynch: The Art Life, Dayveon, and The Devil's Candy, along with some brief highlights about The Monster Squad and The Void. We end the episode talking about The Lady from the Black Lagoon: Hollywood Monsters and the Lost Legacy of Milicent Patrick - by Mallory O'Meara. The Chattanooga Film Festival will be screening The Creature from the Black Lagoon, pairing it with a talk by Mallory O'Meara. So, in preparation, Eric and I have both been reading her book (and we both very highly recommend it!)
For tickets or more information (including complete lists of films screened each year) go to chattfilmfest.org - and be sure to follow them on Facebook, Instagram, and/or Twitter to stay up to date on announcements for CFF 2019.
And be sure to come back soon for more cinematic discussions on The Gargyle Podcast!! Up next will be a break from our CFF coverage as we interview Bill Fulkerson and Kyle Kuchta on their documentary, Survival of the Film Freaks (which won a Gargyle Award during our Knoxville Horror Film Fest coverage for "movie that I am most excited to share with someone else"). After that, we will return to our CFF pre-coverage by discussing some of the films from CFF 2018.
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With the Chattanooga Film Festival just over a month away, Eric and I have already begun our CFF 2019 coverage...by talking about the previous years of CFF. The Chattanooga Film Festival is so much more than just the movies...it is a cinematic experience and an opportunity to talk with other people who love cinema just as much as you do (including many of the people involved in making the films screened at CFF)...but, obviously the movies are a pretty major part. And while I wish that each episode leading up to CFF could be a deep-dive into every single movie screened each year, that just isn't possible (but, I'm sure that Eric and I will eventually be covering all of the movies screened in previous years in future episodes). So, instead, each week we will be focusing on a few movies that really highlight the Chattanooga Film Festival experience from each of the previous years that I have attended (this will be the fourth year that I have attended CFF and the first year that Eric has attended) as a way to give Eric (and our listeners) a glimpse of what CFF is like, starting with 2016. The criteria for the movies picked from each year are: 1) they are movies that I saw during the film festival that year, 2) they are movies that are available online (Hulu, Netflix, Amazon Prime, etc.), 3) they are movies that represented the experience of the film fest, rather than just being a good movie (there are some movies that are great movies, but you could get roughly the same experience seeing them in any movie theater...and there are other movies that might not necessarily be as "good," but it will be an experience that you are not likely to have outside of a film festival). With those criteria in mind, the films from 2016 that are covered in tonight's episode are: The Wraith, Bad Blood: The Movie, The Blackcoat's Daughter, Demon, The Invitation, and Buddymoon. We end the episode talking about the wave 1 announcement of the films that will be screening at the Chattanooga Film Festival 2019, including the announcement that Crispin Hellion Glover will be attending for a screening and presentation!!!!
For tickets or more information (including complete lists of films screened each year) go to chattfilmfest.org - and be sure to follow them on Facebook, Instagram, and/or Twitter to stay up to date on announcements for CFF 2019.
And be sure to come back next week as Eric and I continue our CFF pre-coverage by discussing some of the films from CFF 2017.
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Closing out our Kung Fu-bruary series for 2019 (which was picked by you, the listeners!), tonight's movie is Five Deadly Venoms (a.k.a. The Five Venoms)! And while I am genuinely a little sad that this series is over for now (don't worry...I'm sure we are going to discuss more kung fu movies in the future!), we are wrapping things up with another one of Chang Cheh's iconic kung fu films! While there might actually be less fighting in Five Deadly Venoms than there was in the other films we have reviewed this month, the character driven plot and the focus on the five individual fighting styles makes each fight feel unique and draws you in closer to each of the characters! So, join The Gargyle and The Chimerican as we discuss why we love Five Deadly Venoms as much as we do!!
Since February is both Black History Month as well as Women in Horror Month, each episode in our Kung Fu-bruary series will start with segments honoring African Americans in cinema, as well as women in horror. For tonight's episode, we honor Eve's Bayou and Get Out in our segment on Black History Month. For Women in Horror Month, we honor Raw and Jennifer's Body.
Also, as we've done on the last few episodes, we continue to highlight the Chattanooga Film Festival - April 11-14. There have not been any major announcements regarding CFF since our last episode. However, on the CFF Facebook page, they have been highlighting some CFF BFFs, including Brian Lonano (creator of BFF Girls and Gwilliam). So, we give a shout out to some of our CFF BFFs, Graham Skipper, Matt Mercer, and Kevin Sluder!! We love you guys and cannot thank the Chattanooga Film Festival enough for being the catalyst in our friendship!! And, as we have mentioned before, that is one of the things that we love so much about CFF...it gives you the opportunity to meet the people involved with making the films you see at the fest, as well as getting to know other cinephiles who are just as passionate about film as you are!!
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Continuing with our Kung Fu-bruary series (which was picked by you, the listeners!), tonight's movie is Men from the Monastery (a.k.a. Disciples of Death)! I initially picked this movie because of just one scene that a friend told me about during a monthly film discussion - I knew absolutely nothing else about this movie other than that one scene. And while it is certainly a memorable scene, this movie was so much more awesome than I expected! There are certainly some flaws (most notably, pacing issues and the fact that the plot does tend to get a bit lost in the action....the awesome, awesome action), but the impressive fight scenes, serious plot (once it gets around to it), and characters that you genuinely care about...it's no wonder why Men from the Monastery (while not perfect) is one of Chang Cheh's stand-out films in the Shaw Bros. catalog!! So, join The Gargyle and The Chimerican as we discuss why we love Men from the Monastery as much as we do!!
Since February is both Black History Month as well as Women in Horror Month, each episode in our Kung Fu-bruary series will start with segments honoring African Americans in cinema, as well as women in horror. For tonight's episode, we honor Dope and Dayveon - two coming-of-age movies with drastically different tones (but, both awesome in their own right!!). For Women in Horror Month, we honor Slumber Party Massacre and Stacy Title, director of... among other things... Hood of Horror (for an additional tie-in with Black History Month) and The Last Supper.
Also, as we've done on the last few episodes, we continue to highlight the Chattanooga Film Festival - April 11-14. Tonight, we highlight that Mallory O'Meara's book, The Lady from the Black Lagoon, is available for pre-order on Amazon! We also remind you of the programming that has been announced so far: Joe Bob Briggs, Everything is Terrible, Shock Waves Podcast, Junkfood Cinema Podcast, a screening of The Creature from the Black Lagoon, and a presentation by author Mallory O'Meara.
As a reminder, the CFF fundraiser to be able to provide classes and workshops for free during the festival is still going on! To donate, click on the following link: CFF Fundraiser
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Continuing with our Kung Fu-bruary series (which was picked by you, the listeners!), tonight's movie is Enter the Dragon. While this movie is definitely more Westernized and almost feels more like a traditional James Bond film than it does a traditional kung fu film, it is undeniably a great action movie with one of the greatest martial artist of all time, Bruce Lee! So, join The Gargyle and The Chimerican as we discuss why we love Enter the Dragon as much as we do (spoiler alert: it might involve the fact that Bruce Lee smacks a cobra...)!!
Since February is both Black History Month as well as Women in Horror Month, each episode in our Kung Fu-bruary series will start with segments honoring African Americans in cinema, as well as women in horror. For tonight's episode, we honor Blaxsploitation cinema for Black History Month. While problematic on the surface (in large part due to the use of racial stereotypes), Blaxsploitation cinema was an an outlet for many African American writers, directors, and actors/actresses to address themes of social injustice, as well as present African American characters as powerful individuals rather than just relegated to comic relief or overlooked side-characters. For Women in Horror Month, we honor all of the women who have been involved in the horror movies that we have seen in film festivals over the past few years (especially those who were able to attend the film fests as well). We list as many as we can remember, but we know that it is not an exhaustive list. We could have spent an entire month just talking about the women who have been involved in recent horror movies that we absolutely love! So, if we left you off of the list, we deeply apologize and we want you to know that most certainly have not left you out of our hearts!!
Also, as we've done on the last few episodes, we continue to highlight the Chattanooga Film Festival - April 11-14. Tonight, we specifically address the programming that has been announced so far: Joe Bob Briggs, Everything is Terrible, Shock Waves Podcast, Junkfood Cinema Podcast, a screening of The Creature from the Black Lagoon, and a presentation by author Mallory O'Meara. As Eric and I both posted as soon as the announcement was made last week - the programming is like it is being tailor made for us and we cannot even begin to explain how excited we are about the Chattanooga Film Festival this year (and this is before any of the movies, other than Creature from the Black Lagoon, have been announced)!!
As a reminder, the CFF fundraiser to be able to provide classes and workshops for free during the festival is still going on! To donate, click on the following link: CFF Fundraiser
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Tonight's episode of The Gargyle Podcast kicks off our series for February which was decided on by you, the listener! Based on the results of our poll last month on whether February should be Fur-bruary (with episodes focusing on werewolf movies) or Kung Fu-bruary (with episodes focusing on, well, kung fu movies), our series for this month is Kung Fu-bruary!! As much as we love werewolf movies, we are actually really happy that the listeners decided on Kung Fu, as this is a genre of cinema that Eric does not have as much exposure to. So, kicking things off is one of the most iconic and classic Kung Fu movies, The 36th Chamber of Shaolin!! Along with some pretty awesome training and fighting sequences, this movie has a very powerful message of overcoming oppression, which drives the overarching plot of the film. So, join The Gargyle and The Chimerican as we discuss why The 36th Chamber of Shaolin remains a powerful film to this day!!
Since February is both Black History Month as well as Women in Horror Month, each episode in our Kung Fu-bruary series will start with segments honoring African Americans in cinema, as well as women in horror. For tonight's episode, we honor Julie Adams (star of Creature from the Black Lagoon) who passed away yesterday - and Geena Davis for her role in The Fly. We also honor Spike Lee's Do the Right Thing - and Horror Noire: A History of Black Horror, a documentary which will soon be available on Shudder and which currently has limited theatrical release across the country, including a showing on Wednesday, 2/6/19 at Knoxville's own Central Cinema.
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Wrapping up our New Year, New You series for 2019 is the movie that made us want to do this little series in the first place - David Cronenberg's The Fly from 1986!! Not only is this a perfect movie for discussing "New Year, New You"...not only does this film complete our coverage of the trinity of 80'ss body horror remakes of 50's sci-fi/horror films (The Fly, The Blob, and The Thing)...not only is Jeff Goldblum's portrayal of an anthropomorphized fly subtle, but brilliant acting... but this movie is a gut-wrenchingly tragic story of love, hubris, and succumbing to one's inner monster that still holds up today!! Eric and I differ pretty significantly on a couple aspects of the film. But, when examining the deeper themes and when taking the movie as a whole, we both agree that The Fly is an absolutely amazing movie!! So, join The Gargyle and The Chimerican as we bicker about some (pretty important) details while simultaneously praise The Fly as a masterpiece.
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Next up in our "New Year, New You" series is the amazing Terry Gilliam classic, Brazil! As much as Eric and I love Terry Gilliam, this was actually a first-time viewing of Brazil for both of us. We initially picked Brazil because of the plot point of of the Tuttle/Buttle mistaken identity as the connection for "new you." But we had no idea just how perfectly this movie was going to work for the New Year, New You theme (while the mistaken identity plot point is what set everything in motion, it's a relatively minor aspect of the film)!! So, join The Gargyle and The Chimerican as we go into a fairly deep dive with our analysis of Brazil!!
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As each year rolls around, most people take stock of their lives over the last year - evaluating changes that have occurred and making plans on how to improve in the upcoming year. And on The Gargyle Podcast, that means discussing movies in which the main character goes through some...transformations. So, kicking off our series of "New Year, New You" movies, Eric and I are discussing the Netflix original movie, Cam - the story of a cam girl who loses herself (or, does she find herself??) when her account is taken over by a doppelganger!
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I'm a bit late in getting this posted, but here is The Gargyle Podcast's New Year episode!! Naturally, Eric and I kick off 2019 by talking about 2018. We had an amazing year of cinematic experiences (film fests, meeting new people, watching amazing movies...new and old), so in our year end review episode, Eric and I talk about some of our favorite films that we saw last year (not necessarily movies that came out in 2018), some of our top words of 2018, and our cinematic goals for 2019. As awesome as 2018 was (in terms of movies...there was plenty of other crap that totally sucked about 2018), here's to an even better year in 2019!
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It's been a few months since the last Harry Potter episode, but Adam and I are back at it with Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1! In tonight's episode, we discuss how tragic this movie really is, how awkwardly some scenes are handled, how Dolores Umbridge is sheer evil, and how problematic splatergroit is. So, grab your book of wizarding children's stories, your Mary Poppins bag, and say goodbye to some of your favorite characters as Adam and I dive into our analysis of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1.
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Since the entire episode of part 2 of The Gargyle Podcast Christmas Spect-adequate was too long to be distributed out to various podcast platforms, I am re-posting each section individually. The complete episode can still be found at anchor.fm/thegargylepodcast. The original episode description is below - but in this segment, special guest J.R. Mounts joins us to read us ‘Twas Ripe Before Crispmas: A Happy Hollandaise poem from Fried Pickle Noir, and then Eric and I discuss some alternate, holiday takes on various movies and provide our closing thoughts:
Having not found the true meaning of Christmas...movies...by the end of part 1, The Chimerican and I used The Gargyle Signal to call upon the friends of The Gargyle to aide us in our quest!! And now, in the acceptable conclusion to The Gargyle Podcast's Christmas Spect-adequate, join me, The Chimerican, and the friends of The Gargyle as we find the true meaning of Christmas...movies!!
If you enjoy this episode, be sure to check back soon for more cinematic reviews, analyses, and discussions on The Gargyle Podcast - where geekery abounds!!
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Since the entire episode of part 2 of The Gargyle Podcast Christmas Spect-adequate was too long to be distributed out to various podcast platforms, I am re-posting each section individually. The complete episode can still be found at anchor.fm/thegargylepodcast. The original episode description is below - but in this segment, special guest Jay Kay joins us to talk about movies that are not Christmas movies, but still totally work as movies that fit with the holiday season:
Having not found the true meaning of Christmas...movies...by the end of part 1, The Chimerican and I used The Gargyle Signal to call upon the friends of The Gargyle to aide us in our quest!! And now, in the acceptable conclusion to The Gargyle Podcast's Christmas Spect-adequate, join me, The Chimerican, and the friends of The Gargyle as we find the true meaning of Christmas...movies!!
If you enjoy this episode, be sure to check back soon for more cinematic reviews, analyses, and discussions on The Gargyle Podcast - where geekery abounds!!
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Since the entire episode of part 2 of The Gargyle Podcast Christmas Spect-adequate was too long to be distributed out to various podcast platforms, I am re-posting each section individually. The complete episode can still be found at anchor.fm/thegargylepodcast. The original episode description is below - but in this segment, special Eric Pennycoff joins us for a review of Black Christmas:
Having not found the true meaning of Christmas...movies...by the end of part 1, The Chimerican and I used The Gargyle Signal to call upon the friends of The Gargyle to aide us in our quest!! And now, in the acceptable conclusion to The Gargyle Podcast's Christmas Spect-adequate, join me, The Chimerican, and the friends of The Gargyle as we find the true meaning of Christmas...movies!!
If you enjoy this episode, be sure to check back soon for more cinematic reviews, analyses, and discussions on The Gargyle Podcast - where geekery abounds!!
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Since the entire episode of part 2 of The Gargyle Podcast Christmas Spect-adequate was too long to be distributed out to various podcast platforms, I am re-posting each section individually. The complete episode can still be found at anchor.fm/thegargylepodcast. The original episode description is below - but in this segment, Eric and I talk about last minute gift recommendations for the cinephile in your life, Matt Mercer stops by to talk about Christmas-adjacent movies, and Anthony Cousins tells us about some of his favorite Christmas movies:
Having not found the true meaning of Christmas...movies...by the end of part 1, The Chimerican and I used The Gargyle Signal to call upon the friends of The Gargyle to aide us in our quest!! And now, in the acceptable conclusion to The Gargyle Podcast's Christmas Spect-adequate, join me, The Chimerican, and the friends of The Gargyle as we find the true meaning of Christmas...movies!!
If you enjoy this episode, be sure to check back soon for more cinematic reviews, analyses, and discussions on The Gargyle Podcast - where geekery abounds!!
GargyleReviews.wixsite.com/thegargyle
music from musopen.org
Since the entire episode of part 2 of The Gargyle Podcast Christmas Spect-adequate was too long to be distributed out to various podcast platforms, I am re-posting each section individually. The complete episode can still be found at anchor.fm/thegargylepodcast. The original episode description is below - but in this segment, special guests Kevin and Jen Sluder join us to talk about non-traditional Christmas movies:
Having not found the true meaning of Christmas...movies...by the end of part 1, The Chimerican and I used The Gargyle Signal to call upon the friends of The Gargyle to aide us in our quest!! And now, in the acceptable conclusion to The Gargyle Podcast's Christmas Spect-adequate, join me, The Chimerican, and the friends of The Gargyle as we find the true meaning of Christmas...movies!!
If you enjoy this episode, be sure to check back soon for more cinematic reviews, analyses, and discussions on The Gargyle Podcast - where geekery abounds!!
GargyleReviews.wixsite.com/thegargyle
music from musopen.org
Since the entire episode of part 2 of The Gargyle Podcast Christmas Spect-adequate was too long to be distributed out to various podcast platforms, I am re-posting each section individually. The complete episode can still be found at anchor.fm/thegargylepodcast. The original episode description is below - but in this segment, Eric and I discuss Christmas horror movies, debate which version of A Christmas Carol works the best as a horror movie, and special guest Gwilliam stops by to give his season's greetings:
Having not found the true meaning of Christmas...movies...by the end of part 1, The Chimerican and I used The Gargyle Signal to call upon the friends of The Gargyle to aide us in our quest!! And now, in the acceptable conclusion to The Gargyle Podcast's Christmas Spect-adequate, join me, The Chimerican, and the friends of The Gargyle as we find the true meaning of Christmas...movies!!
If you enjoy this episode, be sure to check back soon for more cinematic reviews, analyses, and discussions on The Gargyle Podcast - where geekery abounds!!
GargyleReviews.wixsite.com/thegargyle
music from musopen.org
Since the entire episode of part 2 of The Gargyle Podcast Christmas Spect-adequate was too long to be distributed out to various podcast platforms, I am re-posting each section individually. The complete episode can still be found at anchor.fm/thegargylepodcast. The original episode description is below - but in this segment, special guest Graham Skipper joins us to talk about his Christmas movie traditions:
Having not found the true meaning of Christmas...movies...by the end of part 1, The Chimerican and I used The Gargyle Signal to call upon the friends of The Gargyle to aide us in our quest!! And now, in the acceptable conclusion to The Gargyle Podcast's Christmas Spect-adequate, join me, The Chimerican, and the friends of The Gargyle as we find the true meaning of Christmas...movies!!
If you enjoy this episode, be sure to check back soon for more cinematic reviews, analyses, and discussions on The Gargyle Podcast - where geekery abounds!!
GargyleReviews.wixsite.com/thegargyle
music from musopen.org
Having not found the true meaning of Christmas...movies...by the end of part 1, The Chimerican and I used The Gargyle Signal to call upon the friends of The Gargyle to aide us in our quest!! And now, in the acceptable conclusion to The Gargyle Podcast's Christmas Spect-adequate, join me, The Chimerican, and the friends of The Gargyle as we find the true meaning of Christmas...movies!!
Since so many friends answered our call for help so much more than expected, part two of the Christmas Spect-adequate kind of ended up being a little ridiculously long. So, to help out a bit, you can find the start times of each of the segments (along with the special guest for the segment) below:
We start things off with (mostly) traditional Christmas movies, with Graham Skipper
Christmas horror discussion, including debate of best version of A Christmas Carol - 32:41
Season's Greetings, from Gwilliam - 1:25:39
Non-traditional Christmas movies, with Kevin and Jen Sluder - 1:26:59
Last minute gift recommendations for the cinephile in your life - 2:06:43
Christmas-adjacent movies, with Matt Mercer - 2:17:36
Anthony Cousins' holiday favorites - 2:34:27
Black Christmas review, with Eric Pennycoff - 2:36:32
Movies that are not Christmas movies, but can still totally be watched during the Christmas season, with Jay Kay - 3:25:01
‘Twas Ripe Before Crispmas: A Happy Hollandaise poem from Fried Pickle Noir by J.R. Mounts - 4:06:18
"What if?" segments (including what movies we'd like to see Christmas specials of, and 'Beginning, Middle, End') and closing thoughts - 4:12:14
If you enjoy this episode, be sure to check back soon for more cinematic reviews, analyses, and discussions on The Gargyle Podcast - where geekery abounds!!
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music from musopen.org
It's finally here...The Gargyle Podcast's first ever Christmas Spect-adequate!! In this first part of the internet's okay-iest Christmas special, The Gargyle and The Chimerican go on a quest for the true meaning of Christmas....movies. And by "go on a quest," obviously I mean discuss what actually makes a Christmas movie a "Christmas" movie, bicker over what movie had the best Santa and elves, and so much more!! So grab some Christmas fudge, put on your Christmas socks, and join us by the fire for the first part of The Gargyle Podcast's Christmas Spect-adequate!!
If you enjoy this episode, you absolutely do NOT want to miss part two of the Christmas Spect-adequate, as it will be filled with fellow podcasters, indie movie writers, directors, producers, artists....and even more discussions and analyses as we search for the true meaning of Christmas...movies!!
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In another holiday analysis episode, Eric and I take on two great Christmas horror movies - Home Alone and Better Watch Out! While Home Alone is clearly a comedy marketed to kids, you can't deny the horror themes and tropes that become apparent when you take a step back from the laughs and nostalgia. So, these two movies were paired together for this episode not just because of some of the surface-level comparisons and blatant references, but also because of some deeper themes driving the motivations of the characters. But, be warned...even though there are definitely similarities that can be discussed, these two movies have drastically different target audiences! Home Alone is suitable for the entire family, whereas Better Watch Out is violent and extremely dark and clearly meant for serious horror fans. Also, this episode contains major spoilers. While that isn't an issue for Home Alone (since it is almost 30 years old), I do strongly recommend that you watch Better Watch Out before listening to our analysis. So grab a pizza, tie up a can of paint, and put on a fake movie within a movie as Eric and I dive into our analysis of Home Alone and Better Watch Out!!
If you enjoy this episode, be sure to check back soon for more cinematic reviews, analyses, and discussions on The Gargyle Podcast - where geekery abounds!! And you certainly won't want to miss the next episode as Eric and I present the first ever Gargyle Christmas Spect....adequate (it will be an "ok" Christmas special...)
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Christmas is supposed to be a time of kindness and being with the ones you love. Unfortunately, the season often devolves into an excess of commercialism, materialism, and people bickering about their differences rather than embracing their commonalities. And that is exactly why tonight's episode is an analysis of Jingle All the Way and Krampus. These two films are drastically different in terms of tone, style, and intended audience...but they actually pair extremely well with each other when it comes to discussing how we treat others during the holiday season! So grab some hot cocoa, your Turbo Man doll, and remember to always keep the fire hot as Eric and I dive into our analysis of Jingle All the Way and Krampus!!
If you enjoy this episode, be sure to check back soon for more cinematic reviews, analyses, and discussions on The Gargyle Podcast - where geekery abounds!!
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music by Bensound.com
In another installment for Noir-vember, tonight's episode is a review of Brick - an amazing neo-noir film from 2005 that stays true to classic noir, but with a unique take on the genre as it centers around high school students. While it might seem a bit silly to think of high school students in a noir film, Rian Johnson's masterful script and direction bring you into the world that he created in a way that makes even the most absurd aspects seem completely natural.
If you enjoy this episode, be sure to check back soon for more cinematic reviews, analyses, and discussions on The Gargyle Podcast - where geekery abounds!!
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music by Bensound.com
Thanksgiving - the time of turkey, football, and time with family...but, not really the time for themed movies. While there are plenty of other holidays that also have a shortage of movies, Thanksgiving feels especially abandoned. Maybe it's just because it is sandwiched between the heavy hitters of Halloween and Christmas (of which there is a plethora of themed holiday movies), so the lack of Thanksgiving movies is more noticeable in comparison. Maybe it's because most of the themes that would be covered in Thanksgiving movies are covered by Halloween and Christmas (e.g. autumn, family, food). But, because there isn't an abundance of Thanksgiving movies in which to get lost, that does tend to mean that the Thanksgiving movies you do see will be more memorable. And there are few that are more memorable than Blood Rage (a.k.a. Slasher, a.k.a. Nightmare at Shadow Woods)! Despite appearing laughably bad on the surface at times, this blood-soaked slasher has a surprising amount of technical proficiency and psychological underpinnings - so much so, that the majority of this episode actually focuses on the technical components of this film and how deceptively amazing they are! Blood Rage became an instant Thanksgiving tradition of mine when I saw it for the first time last year - and I highly recommend that it become one of your traditions as well (if you are a fan of horror movies, that is)!
If you enjoy this episode, be sure to check back soon for more cinematic reviews, analyses, and discussions on The Gargyle Podcast - where geekery abounds!!
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There is no shortage of Halloween/horror movies for October, nor is there a shortage of Christmas movies for December. But what does one watch during November?? (I mean, aside from Christmas movies, of course...Christmas season - or whatever holiday you celebrate...we are keenly aware of the fact that there are plenty of other holidays celebrated by countless other people of different faiths, beyond Christmas - totally starts as soon as you call it a night for Halloween). Aside from the very few Thanksgiving movies (and all the Christmas movies), November is for film noir!! Inspired by Central Cinema, Eric and I will be doing a couple film noir reviews during the month of November - or, more accurately, Noir-vember!! First up is a masterpiece that infuses iconic film noir stylings with social commentary that is still relevant today, Touch of Evil (which you can totally catch at Central Cinema this week)!!
If you enjoy this episode, be sure to check back soon for more cinematic reviews, analyses, and discussions on The Gargyle Podcast - where geekery abounds!!
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music by Bensound.com
Aaaaaaaand, we're back!! We took a very short break after finishing up 60 Days of Halloween, but we just couldn't stay away for long! And what better way to get back into the swing of things than the perfect movie to bridge the ending of Halloween season and the start of the Christmas season - The Nightmare Before Christmas!!
Now that 60 Days of Halloween is over, we will not be putting out a daily podcast. However, we are going to do our best to put out a weekly episode. Sometimes these episodes will be reviews, sometimes they will be deeper analysis episodes, and sometimes they will be more of just general discussions about a certain topic - but they will almost always be centered around movies (there will, occasionally, be episodes that are not directly related to movies).
So, if you enjoy this episode, be sure to check back soon for more cinematic reviews, analyses, and discussions on The Gargyle Podcast - where geekery abounds!!
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music by Bensound.com
The last of three episodes for the final day of 60 Days of Halloween for 2018 is a retrospective where Eric (a.k.a. the Chimerican) and I (a.k.a. the Gargyle) discuss our experiences over the last 60 days, including the films we saw, the people we talked to, and some of our favorite moments. We also announce our Gargyle Awards for some of our favorite films over the last couple months!
Categories for The Gargyle Awards include: - Movie that you would least want to live through - Movie that you would most want to live through - Which character we most want on the podcast - Which character we want least on the podcast - Movie that made us want to give up on daily episodes - Best horror movie to recommend to non horror fans - Biggest change of opinion about a movie on a rewatch - The best Jaws movie - Most disturbing body part - Movie that we most want to make a sequel to - Best movie that Eric wasn't able to review - Tastiest comfort food movie - Movie that we wished that we had covered, but we didn't - Favorite moment before/after recording that didn't make it onto the podcast
Thank you to all of the special guests that have been a part of the podcast for the last couple months: Eric Tolbert, Kevin Sluder, Jennifer Sluder, Graham Skipper, J.R. Mounts, Matt Mercer, Eric Pennycoff, Taylor Zaudtke, Anthony Cousins, Jay Kay, Brian Lonano, and Elric Kane!!
If you enjoy this episode, be sure to check out the rest of our 60 Days of Halloween coverage from the last couple of months!! Eric and I will be taking a bit of time off (not exactly sure how long...might be a week, might be a month...), but be sure to check back soon for more movie reviews, analysis, and discussions!!
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The second of three episodes for the final day of 60 Days of Halloween for 2018 is an interview that Eric Tolbert and I did with Eric Pennycoff (writer/director) and Taylor Zaudtke (actress) on the world premiere of their film, Sadistic Intentions! We absolutely loved this movie and could not stop talking about it all weekend, so it was an absolute blast to be able to talk to Eric and Taylor!! This is an amazing film and we very highly recommend that you check it out if you ever have the opportunity!!
If you enjoy this episode, be sure to check back soon for the last of three episodes on our final day of 60 Days of Halloween. This will be the last episode in our 60 Days of Halloween coverage for 2018 and will be a retrospective on our experiences and the films we saw over the last 60 days. We will also be announcing our Gargyle Awards for some of our favorite films!
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The first of three episodes for the final day of 60 Days of Halloween for 2018 is a continuation of our coverage from the Knoxville Horror Film Festival. While we recorded our reviews and some of our experiences each day immediately following the film festival, there was so much more that made KHFF an amazing film festival! One of the things that makes it so great is being able to actually meet and talk to the various directors, writers, actors/actresses, and special guests who share in a love of horror movies! And while I wasn't able to have a chance to talk to everyone that I wanted to, I am extremely grateful that I was able to talk to Eric Pennycoff (writer/director of Sadistic Intentions), Jay Kay (host of Horror Happens Radio Show), Anthony Cousins (writer/director of The Bloody Ballad of Squirt Reynolds), Brian Lonano (writer/director of BFF Girls and Gwilliam), and Elric Kane (co-host of Shock Waves Podcast) about what scares them, what movies they put in a week devoted to their fear, and what movies they recommend on Halloween for horror fans and non-horror fans alike!
If you enjoy this episode, be sure to check back soon for the second of three episodes on our final day of 60 Days of Halloween 2018. The next episode will be an interview that Eric Tolbert and I did with Eric Pennycoff and Taylor Zaudtke on the world premiere of their film, Sadistic Intentions!
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Day 59 in 60 Days of Halloween closes out Fear of Being a Bad Horror Movie Geek Week, in which Eric and I admit major gaps in our horror knowledge and watch iconic horror movies that we hate to admit that we have never seen before. While this fear is certainly drastically different in tone from the rest of the weeks so far (and definitely more tongue-in-cheek in terms of discussing "real" fears) it is still genuine...ish. So, we have been facing our fear head-on and revealing some of the iconic horror movies that we are finally getting around to viewing for the first time. Up next is a movie that neither myself nor Eric had seen before, Videodrome - a.k.a. Stomach Vagina (the movies this week are iconic horror movies. Practically everyone knows at least the basic plot of them, so it's a little pointless to provide a brief description. Instead, I'll be providing dumb alternative titles).
If you enjoy this episode, check out our previous 60 Days of Halloween coverage and be sure to check back tomorrow as we wrap up 60 Days of Halloween for 2018 with a couple episodes of interviews from the Knoxville Horror Film Festival, as well as our 60 day retrospective (including some more Gargyle Awards)!!
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Day 58 in 60 Days of Halloween continues Fear of Being a Bad Horror Movie Geek Week, in which Eric and I admit major gaps in our horror knowledge and watch iconic horror movies that we hate to admit that we have never seen before. While this fear is certainly drastically different in tone from the rest of the weeks so far (and definitely more tongue-in-cheek in terms of discussing "real" fears) it is still genuine...ish. So, we are going to face our fear head-on and reveal some of the iconic horror movies that we are finally getting around to viewing for the first time. Up next is a movie that neither myself nor Eric had seen before, Rosemary's Baby - a.k.a. Haircuts, Chocolate Mouse, and Other Terrible Decisions - a User's Guide (the movies this week are iconic horror movies. Practically everyone knows at least the basic plot of them, so it's a little pointless to provide a brief description. Instead, I'll be providing dumb alternative titles).
If you enjoy this episode, check out our previous 60 Days of Halloween coverage and be sure to check back tomorrow as we wrap up Fear of Being a Bad Horror Movie Geek Week with another movie that neither Eric nor I have ever seen before, Videodrome.
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music by Bensound.com
While still technically night 57 in 60 Days of Halloween, tonight's episode is a "bonus episode" of sorts, in the sense that it is not part of Fear of Being a Bad Horror Movie Geek Week. Tonight's episode is a review of One Cut of the Dead, which I saw at the Frightening Ass Film Festival in Chattanooga, TN. Since I wasn't able to make it to the entire film fest, I was initially just going to talk about whatever I was able to see during the 60 day retrospective that Eric and I will be doing to close out this year's 60 Days of Halloween. However, I loved One Cut of the Dead so much that I couldn't wait to talk about it!!
If you live near Chattanooga and are able to make it to the Frightening Ass Film Fest tomorrow (technical, today)...Sunday, 10/28...I absolutely recommend doing so! There is an amazing line-up of films, including a secret screening that you do NOT want to miss! Trust me!
If you enjoy this episode, check out our previous 60 Days of Halloween coverage and be sure to check back tomorrow as Eric and I return to Fear of Being a Bad Horror Movie Geek Week with a movie that neither Eric nor I have ever seen before, Rosemary's Baby.
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music by Bensound.com
Day 57 in 60 Days of Halloween continues Fear of Being a Bad Horror Movie Geek Week, in which Eric and I admit major gaps in our horror knowledge and watch iconic horror movies that we hate to admit that we have never seen before. While this fear is certainly drastically different in tone from the rest of the weeks so far (and definitely more tongue-in-cheek in terms of discussing "real" fears) it is still genuine...ish. So, we are going to face our fear head-on and reveal some of the iconic horror movies that we are finally getting around to viewing for the first time. Up next is another one of Eric's picks, Child's Play - a.k.a. Prince Humperdink Really Hates Children's Toys...Like, A Lot (the movies this week are iconic horror movies. Practically everyone knows at least the basic plot of them, so it's a little pointless to provide a brief description. Instead, I'll be providing dumb alternative titles).
If you enjoy this episode, check out our previous 60 Days of Halloween coverage and be sure to check back tomorrow as we continue Fear of Being a Bad Horror Movie Geek Week with a movie that neither Eric nor I have ever seen before, Rosemary's Baby.
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music by Bensound.com
Day 56 in 60 Days of Halloween continues Fear of Being a Bad Horror Movie Geek Week, in which Eric and I admit major gaps in our horror knowledge and watch iconic horror movies that we hate to admit that we have never seen before. While this fear is certainly drastically different in tone from the rest of the weeks so far (and definitely more tongue-in-cheek in terms of discussing "real" fears) it is still genuine...ish. So, we are going to face our fear head-on and reveal some of the iconic horror movies that we are finally getting around to viewing for the first time. Up next is another one of my picks, The Exorcist - a.k.a. World's Worst Music Video for REM's Losing My Religion (the movies this week are iconic horror movies. Practically everyone knows at least the basic plot of them, so it's a little pointless to provide a brief description. Instead, I'll be providing dumb alternative titles).
If you enjoy this episode, check out our previous 60 Days of Halloween coverage and be sure to check back tomorrow as we continue Fear of Being a Bad Horror Movie Geek Week with another one of Eric's picks, Child's Play.
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music by Bensound.com
Day 55 in 60 Days of Halloween is a mid-week palette cleanser, in the middle of Fear of Being a Bad Horror Movie Geek Week, to tie into a local showing and discussion of one of the greatest movies of all time, The Monster Squad!
If you enjoy this episode, check out our previous 60 Days of Halloween coverage and be sure to check back tomorrow as Eric and I get back to admitting major gaps in our horror knowledge and watching iconic horror movies that we hate to admit that we have never seen before. While Fear of Being a Bad Horror Movie Geek Week is certainly drastically different in tone from the rest of the weeks so far (and definitely more tongue-in-cheek in terms of discussing "real" fears) it is still genuine...ish. So, we are going to face our fear head-on and reveal some of the iconic horror movies that we are finally getting around to viewing for the first time. So be sure to check back tomorrow as we pick back up with one of my picks, The Exorcist.
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music by Bensound.com
Day 54 in 60 Days of Halloween continues Fear of Being a Bad Horror Movie Geek Week, in which Eric and I admit major gaps in our horror knowledge and watch iconic horror movies that we hate to admit that we have never seen before. While this fear is certainly drastically different in tone from the rest of the weeks so far (and definitely more tongue-in-cheek in terms of discussing "real" fears) it is still genuine...ish. So, we are going to face our fear head-on and reveal some of the iconic horror movies that we are finally getting around to viewing for the first time. Up next is one of Eric's picks, Friday the 13th - a.k.a. Milton Bradley's Best Monopoly Advertising Campaign Ever (the movies this week are iconic horror movies. Practically everyone knows at least the basic plot of them, so it's a little pointless to provide a brief description. Instead, I'll be providing dumb alternative titles).
If you enjoy this episode, check out our previous 60 Days of Halloween coverage and be sure to check back tomorrow as we break up Fear of Being a Bad Horror Movie Geek Week with a mid-week palette cleanser to tie into a local showing and discussion of one of the best movies ever, The Monster Squad!
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music by Bensound.com
Day 53 in 60 Days of Halloween starts Fear of Being a Bad Horror Movie Geek Week, in which Eric and I admit major gaps in our horror knowledge and watch iconic horror movies that we hate to admit that we have never seen before. While this fear is certainly drastically different in tone from the rest of the weeks so far (and maybe a bit silly in terms of discussing "real" fears) it is still genuine...ish. I mean, with how much we love horror movies, it's a little embarrassing to admit that we haven't seen some of these classics. So, we are going to face our fear head-on and reveal some of the iconic horror movies that we are finally getting around to viewing for the first time. Kicking things off this week is one of my picks, Poltergeist - a.k.a. Coach's Summer Skeleton Pool Party (the movies this week are iconic horror movies. Practically everyone knows at least the basic plot of them, so it's a little pointless to provide a brief description. Instead, I'll be providing dumb alternative titles).
If you enjoy this episode, check out our previous 60 Days of Halloween coverage and be sure to check back tomorrow as we continue Fear of Being a Bad Horror Movie Geek Week with one of Eric's picks, Friday the 13th!
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music by Bensound.com
Day 52 in 60 Days of Halloween is part 3 of our coverage of Knoxville Horror Film Fest X! We recorded some interviews at the film fest that we will be releasing over the next few days, but tonight's episode wraps up our KHFF coverage, in terms of the movies and our experiences there. I've said this every time that I talk about KHFF, but it is an amazing horror film festival, we had an absolute blast, and we cannot wait til next year!!
Today's episode includes: Latched (short) The Man Who Killed Hitler and Then the Bigfoot Blood Spook (short) 42 Counts (short) Don't Eat at Dave's (short) Survival of the Film Freaks Shock Waves (live podcast)
We also talk about some of our favorite movies from the weekend in our very own Gargyle Awards!! Categories include:
Most Bonkers Short Film Most Bonkers Feature Film Most Pleasant Surprise Movie that Kicked You Hardest in the Feels Most Excited to Share with Someone Else Most Rewatchable Best Actor, if watching the movie with the sound off Best Actress, if watching the movie with the sound off Most Cringeworthy Effects Movie We Most Want on 4K Blu-ray
If you enjoy this episode, check out our previous 60 Days of Halloween coverage and be sure to check back tomorrow as we start Fear of Being a Bad Horror Geek Week, in which Eric and I admit major gaps in our horror knowledge and watch iconic horror movies that we hate to admit that we have never seen before.
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music by Bensound.com
Day 51 in 60 Days of Halloween is part 2 of our coverage of Knoxville Horror Film Fest X! We had an absolute blast watching some amazing horror films in a theater full of fellow horror fans and we are super stoked for the rest of the weekend!!
Today's episode includes: The Field Guide to Evil (part of it) Luz Sadistic Intentions (world premiere) Cabin Killer (short) The Bloody Ballad of Squirt Reynolds (short) Anna & the Apocalypse Lunch Ladies (short) Granny (short) BFF Girls (short) Gwilliam's Tips for Turning Tricks into Treats (short) Schwartzy (short) Freelancer (short) Grindhouse Grind-Out 2018 (collection of local shorts)
If you enjoy this episode*, check out our previous 60 Days of Halloween coverage and be sure to check back tomorrow for the third part of our coverage of Knoxville Horror Film Festival!!
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music by bensound.com
*We apologize for the audio quality of today's episode being poorer than it typically is. We recorded before getting on the road, so the quality is better than yesterday's episode. But, there is still more ambient noise that what I was hoping for (and removing it made us all sound like cheap robots...). But, don't let the technical quality detract from the content...we were still able to talk about how much we loved the movies!!
Day 50 in 60 Days of Halloween is part 1 of our coverage of Knoxville Horror Film Fest X! We had an absolute blast watching some amazing horror films in a theater full of fellow horror fans and we are super stoked for the rest of the weekend!!
Today's episode includes: Riley Was Here (short) The Clovehitch Killer (IFC Midnight film) Lucy's Tale (short) Scary Stories (documentary) Zombie (4K restoration) Mannequins (short - US premiere) Maniac (4K restoration) Deep Clean (short) The Ranger
If you enjoy this episode, check out our previous 60 Days of Halloween coverage and be sure to check back tomorrow for the second part of our coverage of Knoxville Horror Film Festival!!
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music by bensound.com
We apologize for the audio quality of today's episode being poorer than it typically is. We recorded on the drive back to Cleveland (in part, to keep the 60 Days going without a missed episode...also, in part, to make sure we stayed awake) and there is a bit more ambient highway noise than I was hoping for. But, don't let the technical quality detract from the content...Eric and I might have been sleepy, but we were still able to talk about how much we loved the movies!!
Day 49 in 60 Days of Halloween is the analysis episode for Fear of Being Eaten Alive Week, the fear of writer/director/actor and all-around-awesome-guy, Matt Mercer!! Eric and I have definitely faced some pretty heavy fears over the last few weeks, so this entire week has felt like a palette cleanser week (of sorts) for us. Of course, that doesn't stop us from tearing into the analyses of these movies like a horde of hungry zombies!
If you enjoy this episode, check out our previous 60 Days of Halloween coverage and be sure to check back tomorrow for the first part of our coverage of Knoxville Horror Film Festival!!
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music by bensound.com
Day 48 in 60 Days of Halloween wraps up Fear of Being Eaten Alive Week (the fear of Matt Mercer) with Jaws - a summer blockbuster about a giant shark, or one of the greatest horror movies...scratch that...just all around greatest movie ever??
If you enjoy this episode, check out our previous 60 Days of Halloween coverage and be sure to check back tomorrow as we dive into the analysis episode for Fear of Being Eaten Alive Week with special guest, Matt Mercer!!
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music by bensound.com
Day 47 in 60 Days of Halloween continues Fear of Being Eaten Alive Week (the fear of Matt Mercer) with The Blob - an 80s remake of the classic Steve McQueen red scare creature feature, but with way more body horror and 1000% more permed mullet on the lead character (Kevin Dillon)
If you enjoy this episode, check out our previous 60 Days of Halloween coverage and be sure to check back tomorrow as we close out Fear of Being Eaten Alive Week with a palette cleanser (whoops...just realized that yesterday's episode said that today would be the palette cleanser. That was incorrect. Tomorrow is the palette cleanser...for real this time) before diving into the analysis episode with special guest, Matt Mercer!!
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Day 46 in 60 Days of Halloween continues Fear of Being Eaten Alive Week (the fear of Matt Mercer) with Tremors - a horror comedy about carnivorous sand worms that takes the comedy seriously and the horror lightly, while at the same time having a solid grasp on what makes horror movies fun. I said this while recording the podcast, but Tremors takes place in Perfection, and it IS perfection!!
If you enjoy this episode, check out our previous 60 Days of Halloween coverage and be sure to check back tomorrow as we close out Fear of Being Eaten Alive Week with a palette cleanser before diving into the analysis episode with special guest, Matt Mercer!!
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Day 45 in 60 Days of Halloween continues Fear of Being Eaten Alive Week (the fear of Matt Mercer) with Day of the Dead - before there was a glut of zombies in pop culture, mindlessly overtaking everything just as they do in the movies about them, George A. Romero terrified audiences with his iconic "dead" films...each of which understood that what makes zombie movies so terrifying is what the zombies represent and not the zombies themselves, while at the same time expanding on zombie lore which still has a lasting influence on most modern iterations of zombies. Day of the Dead still stands out as an amazing horror movie, with practical effects by Tom Savini that still hold up to this day!!
If you enjoy this episode, check out our previous 60 Days of Halloween coverage and be sure to check back tomorrow as we continue Fear of Being Eaten Alive Week (the fear of Matt Mercer) with Tremors!!
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Day 44 in 60 Days of Halloween continues Fear of Being Eaten Alive Week (the fear of Matt Mercer) with Piranha - a film that has many flaws from a technical standpoint, but still has all of the Joe Dante charm that makes it really enjoyable and highly rewatchable!!
If you enjoy this episode, check out our previous 60 Days of Halloween coverage and be sure to check back tomorrow as we continue Fear of Being Eaten Alive Week (the fear of Matt Mercer) with Day of the Dead!!
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Day 43 in 60 Days of Halloween kicks off Fear of Being Eaten Alive Week (the fear of Matt Mercer) with Anaconda - a late 90s creature feature that got a lot of things right in theory (and does have some definite highlights), misses the mark overall in execution, but still manages to have a decently high rewatchability factor...if for no other reason than trying to figure out where Jon Voight's accent is supposed to be from.
If you enjoy this episode, check out our previous 60 Days of Halloween coverage and be sure to check back tomorrow as we continue Fear of Being Eaten Alive Week (the fear of Matt Mercer) with Piranha!!
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Day 42 in 60 Days of Halloween is the analysis episode for Fear of Death Week, the fear of artist and all-around-awesome-guy, J.R. Mounts (scairytalesnoir.com)!! The entire week focused on John Carpenter movies and the various ways in which death is terrifying....beyond, you know...the whole being dead thing.
If you enjoy this episode, check out our previous 60 Days of Halloween coverage and be sure to check back tomorrow as we start Fear of Being Eaten Alive Week (the fear of Matt Mercer) with Anaconda!!
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Day 41 in 60 Days of Halloween wraps up Fear of Death Week, the fear of J.R. Mounts (scairytalesnoir.com), with the palette cleanser Escape from New York - a "futuristic" dystopian take on classic westerns (at least, that's how we see it) that brings up societal issues that are still very relevant. Also, we find a way to connect Escape from New York to the Super Mario Bros. movie...because of course we do....
If you enjoy this episode, check out our previous 60 Days of Halloween coverage and be sure to check back tomorrow as we dive into the analysis episode for Fear of Death Week with special guest J.R. Mounts!!
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Day 40 in 60 Days of Halloween continues Fear of Death Week, the fear of J.R. Mounts (scairytalesnoir.com), with Halloween II - a great slasher flick in its own right and definitely a solid sequel...but isn't quite able to stand up next to the masterpiece of Halloween.
If you enjoy this episode, check out our previous 60 Days of Halloween coverage and be sure to check back tomorrow as we have a palette cleanser before diving into the analysis episode for Fear of Death Week with with J.R. Mounts!!
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Day 39 in 60 Days of Halloween continues Fear of Death Week, the fear of J.R. Mounts (scairytalesnoir.com), with Halloween - one of the most iconic and influential horror movies that has a lasting impact on anyone who has seen it. Tonight's episode is extra special because it might or might not have been the first time that Eric watched Halloween (it totally is...).
If you enjoy this episode, check out our previous 60 Days of Halloween coverage and be sure to check back tomorrow as we continue Fear of Death Week with Halloween II!!
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Day 38 in 60 Days of Halloween continues Fear of Death Week, the fear of J.R. Mounts (scairytalesnoir.com), with Christine - a premise that sounds silly (it is about a demon car, afterall) until you realize that it is actually kind of terrifying (it is totally not really about the demon car at all...).
If you enjoy this episode, check out our previous 60 Days of Halloween coverage and be sure to check back tomorrow as we continue Fear of Death Week with Halloween!!
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Day 37 in 60 Days of Halloween continues Fear of Death Week, the fear of J.R. Mounts (scairytalesnoir.com), with The Thing - a sci-fi, body horror-esque monster movie that plays heavily on distrust and the monster within! The Thing is not only one of my favorite horror movies, but one of my all-time favorite movies in general!!
If you enjoy this episode, check out our previous 60 Days of Halloween coverage and be sure to check back tomorrow as we continue Fear of Death Week with Christine!!
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Day 36 in 60 Days of Halloween kicks off Fear of Death Week, the fear of J.R. Mounts (scairytalesnoir.com), and we are getting things started with The Fog - a simple (yet, not simplistic) ghost story by John Carpenter that evokes the same chills you got when you were younger and told scary stories around a campfire!
If you enjoy this episode, check out our previous 60 Days of Halloween coverage and be sure to check back tomorrow as we continue Fear of Death Week with The Thing!!
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Day 35 in 60 Days of Halloween is the analysis episode for Fear of Going Insane Week, the fear of actor/writer/director/all-around-awesome-guy, Graham Skipper!! We watched and reviewed some awesome movies this last week, and Graham is an awesome guy who knows his horror....so we had an absolute blast today discussing not only the films, but Graham's fear as well!!
If you enjoy this episode, check out our previous 60 Days of Halloween coverage and be sure to check back tomorrow as we start Fear of Death Week (the fear of J.R. Mounts) with The Fog!!
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Day 34 in 60 Days of Halloween wraps up the reviews for Fear of Going Insane Week before diving into the analysis episode with special guest, Graham Skipper! And we are ending the week on a definite high note with In the Mouth of Madness - a John Carpenter film (I could stop there and it would be reason enough to love this movie) with a story that feels like Stephen King meets H.P. Lovecraft, starring Sam Neill!!
If you enjoy this episode, check out our previous 60 Days of Halloween coverage and be sure to check back tomorrow as special guest Graham Skipper joins us for the analysis episode of Fear of Going Insane Week!!
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Day 33 in 60 Days of Halloween continues Fear of Going Insane Week, the fear of Graham Skipper, with Session 9 - a horror might that might follow the horror trope of an abandoned asylum a little too closely, but that has a focus on the characters and tells a simple story without being simplistic.
If you enjoy this episode, check out our previous 60 Days of Halloween coverage and be sure to check back tomorrow as we continue Fear of Going Insane Week with In the Mouth of Madness!!
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Day 32 in 60 Days of Halloween continues Fear of Going Insane Week, the fear of Graham Skipper, with Antichrist - a Lars von Trier film with powerful performances, unsettling and provocative imagery, and more Willem Dafoe butt than I especially wanted to see (but less than what I had expected from what I had heard of the film).
If you enjoy this episode, check out our previous 60 Days of Halloween coverage and be sure to check back tomorrow as we continue Fear of Going Insane Week with Session 9!!
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Day 31 in 60 Days of Halloween continues Fear of Going Insane Week, the fear of Graham Skipper, with Kill List - a solid British horror film that gives the audience credit and doesn't try to hold their hand and ruin the experience with an excess of exposition!
If you enjoy this episode, check out our previous 60 Days of Halloween coverage and be sure to check back tomorrow as we continue Fear of Going Insane Week with Antichrist!!
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Day 30 in 60 Days of Halloween kicks off Fear of Going Insane Week, the fear of Graham Skipper, with Jacob's Ladder - a film that might not necessarily be scary to watch, but is pretty terrifying to think about!
If you enjoy this episode, check out our previous 60 Days of Halloween coverage and be sure to keep checking back daily as we continue our trek towards Halloween. We are halfway through 60 Days of Halloween, have been having a blast, and still have even more great horror movies to discuss!! So, come back tomorrow as we continue Fear of Going Insane Week with Kill List!!
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Day 29 in 60 Days of Halloween is the analysis episode for Kevin and Jennifer Sluder's (of Sunshine Boy Productions) combined fears week of Child in Peril and Being Powerless/Trapped!! I had the pleasure of talking to Kevin and Jennifer a few months ago to discuss their short film, Heartless. We had a blast on that episode and I couldn't wait to have them back on The Gargyle Podcast to talk about their fears leading up to Halloween!!
If you enjoy this episode, check out our previous 60 Days of Halloween coverage and be sure to check back tomorrow as we start Fear of Going Insane Week (the fear of Graham Skipper) with Jacob's Ladder!!
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Day 28 in 60 Days of Halloween is a "bonus" episode with two reviews. The first is a quick review of Kevin's palette cleanser film, Tigers Are Not Afraid. This is a quick review because the film has not yet been picked up for major release, but I was lucky enough to be able to see it at the Chattanooga Film Festival. The second review, Sequence Break, transitions us into next week and our focus on Graham Skipper's fear of going insane! I've discussed both of these films on past episodes, including a fairly in-depth discussion with Graham Skipper about his film, Sequence Break. But, I wanted to get the Chimerican's take on this film before diving into Fear of Going Insane Week...
If you enjoy this episode, check out our previous 60 Days of Halloween coverage and be sure to check back tomorrow for our analysis episode of Child in Peril & Fear of Being Powerless/Trapped Week with special guests Kevin and Jennifer Sluder!
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Day 27 in 60 Days of Halloween cleanses the palette of the combined fears week of Child in Peril & Being Powerless/Trapped, the fears of Kevin and Jennifer Sluder (of Sunshine Boy Productions)! While it still has aspects of both child in peril and being trapped, tonight's movie, Aliens, is able to cleanse the palette because it does so in such a fun, action-packed way. While Eric and I both agree Aliens is a really fun, action/sci-fi/horror flick, we have some pretty major disagreements in what might be one of our most enjoyable episodes yet (at least, we had an absolute blast disagreeing with each other)!
If you enjoy this episode, check out our previous 60 Days of Halloween episodes and be sure to check back tomorrow for more horror coverage! The analysis episode for Child in Peril & Fear of Being Powerless/Trapped Week is postponed until Saturday. So, tomorrow's episode is a bonus palette cleanser of an awesome film!!
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Day 26 in 60 Days of Halloween continues the combined fears week of Child in Peril & Being Powerless/Trapped, the fears of Kevin and Jennifer Sluder (of Sunshine Boy Productions)! Tonight's movie continues Kevin's half of the week and the fear of being powerless/trapped with The Descent - a terrifying movie that goes from tragic, to suspenseful, to heart-pounding, before circling back around to tragic. Eric and I both agree that The Descent is an absolutely amazing horror movie that deserves to be seen by anyone who is a fan of horror!!
If you enjoy this episode, check out our previous 60 Days of Halloween episodes and be sure to check back tomorrow as we have a bit of a palette cleanser before diving into the analysis episode for Child in Peril & Fear of Being Powerless/Trapped Week!
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Day 25 in 60 Days of Halloween continues the combined fears week of Child in Peril & Being Powerless/Trapped, the fears of Kevin and Jennifer Sluder (of Sunshine Boy Productions)! Tonight's movie continues Kevin's half of the week and the fear of being powerless/trapped with Silent House - a real-time, "single shot" horror movie that borders on home invasion and haunted house. While there are certainly shortcomings on which Eric and I agree, the Chimerican and I had a lot of disagreements on the overall quality of this film!
If you enjoy this episode, check out our previous 60 Days of Halloween episode and be sure to check back tomorrow as we continue the Fear of Being Powerless/Trapped portion of the week with The Descent!
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Day 24 in 60 Days of Halloween continues the combined fears week of Child in Peril & Being Powerless/Trapped, the fears of Kevin and Jennifer Sluder (of Sunshine Boy Productions)! Tonight's movie starts Kevin's half of the week and the fear of being powerless/trapped with Hush - a simple, but solid home invasion film from director Mike Flanagan. This is the second movie from Mike Flanagan in this year's 60 Days of Halloween, the first of which was Before I Wake. And while I had mixed feelings on Before I Wake, Hush is a much more solid film that definitely makes me want to see more of Flanagan's work!
If you enjoy this episode, check out our previous 60 Days of Halloween episode and be sure to check back tomorrow as we continue the Fear of Being Powerless/Trapped portion of the week with Silent House!
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Day 23 in 60 Days of Halloween continues the combined fears week of Child in Peril & Being Powerless/Trapped, the fears of Kevin and Jennifer Sluder (of Sunshine Boy Productions)! We are still in the Child in Peril portion of the week, but tonight's movie most definitely has overlapping fears with being trapped/powerless. Tonight's movie is, The Shining!
If you enjoy this episode, check out our previous 60 Days of Halloween episode and be sure to check back tomorrow as we start the Fear of Being Powerless/Trapped portion of the week with Hush!
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A podcaster, a punster, a barber, and a Tim walked into a toy show...
Yesterday was the fifth year of the Cleveland Geekster, a one day toy show in Cleveland, TN (put on by Rob Alderman, Ryan Faricelli, and Ashley Raburn) with vendors from across the region selling toys, comics, and memorabilia. It's a great time for anyone looking to get into collecting, looking for a certain piece to complete their collection, or really just anyone who enjoys toys and comics!
I've been every year and always have a great time talking pop culture with fellow geeks! Yesterday was no exception as I sat down with Dan Buck, Lucas Brown, and Tim Frady (Jose Minay even joins in for a bit towards the end) and talked about the relationship between toys, comics, and movies. Well...it started out that way at least. Things went off the rails pretty quick and some questionable humor ensued. It was a blast!
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Day 22 in 60 Days of Halloween kicks off a combined fears week of Child in Peril & Being Powerless/Trapped, the fears of Kevin and Jennifer Sluder (of Sunshine Boy Productions)! While there will probably be overlapping of fears within the movies, the first half of the week will focus on Jennifer's fear of Child in Peril. The first movie on her list was Before I Wake. We will still be covering that one in the analysis episode, but since Eric and I had already done a review of that film for his week, tonight's movie is The Host, which actually has elements of all of our fears so far!
If you enjoy this episode, check out our previous 60 Days of Halloween episode and be sure to check back tomorrow as we continue the Child in Peril portion of the week with The Shining!
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Day 21 in 60 Days of Halloween wraps up E.B. Tolbert's Fear of Decapitation Week as Eric and E.B. join me via Skype (my apologies for poorer audio quality than usual) as we dive into our analysis of each film from the week and discuss why each film is so terrifying in its presentation of the fear of decapitation!! Unlike the review episodes, this analysis episode will contain spoilers for each film. Also, we finally get to hear E.B. tell us why decapitation is one of his greatest fears! And after hearing the stories of his past, it totally makes sense! Plus, things get a bit silly...
If you enjoy this episode, check out our previous 60 Days of Halloween episodes and be sure to check back tomorrow as we start a week devoted to the fears of Kevin and Jennifer Sluder of Sunshine Boy Productions! We will be starting with Jennifer's fear of a child in peril and then moving on to Kevin's fear of being powerless or trapped!
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Day 20 in 60 Days of Halloween cleanses the palette of Fear of Decapitation Week, the fear of E.B. Tolbert (artist and occasional guest on The Gargyle Podcast). At least, it "cleanses" the palette in the sense that it makes decapitation not seem quite so bad in comparison. It most definitely does not cleanse the cinematic palette. Tonight's movie is The Human Centipede: First Sequence. This movie has a concept that that is quite disturbing in theory, but the movie itself is just boring and dumb. Don't waste your time on it. Instead, spend your time listening to me and Eric go into more detail about why we dislike this movie so much.
If you enjoy this episode, check out our previous 60 Days of Halloween episodes and be sure to check back soon (hopefully tomorrow) as we dive into our analysis episode with guest E.B. Tolbert and his Fear of Decapitation Week!!
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Day 19 in 60 Days of Halloween continues Fear of Decapitation Week, the fear of E.B. Tolbert (artist and occasional guest on The Gargyle Podcast), with Pieces - a gem of a cult horror film with plenty of boobs, blood, and a bevy of quotable lines that are memorable not only for how unintentionally hilarious they are, but for how they are delivered with such conviction!! I picked this movie up on a whim and I am insanely glad that I did. The movie (and its cover art) are unmistakably a product of their time...and I absolutely love it for that! This episode is a bit longer than our previous reviews, but we go so caught up in how much fun the movie is to watch that we went a bit over our usual time.
If you enjoy this episode, check out our previous 60 Days of Halloween episodes and be sure to check back tomorrow as we have a Palette Cleanser before diving into our analysis episode for Fear of Decapitation Week!!
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Day 18 in 60 Days of Halloween continues Fear of Decapitation Week, the fear of E.B. Tolbert (artist and occasional guest on The Gargyle Podcast), with another one of my favorite horror movies - Re-Animator!! This is one of the movies that I would put on a list of top 100 movies every horror fan should see. So, if you are a fan of horror and have not yet seen Re-Animator, I highly recommend you remedy that soon!
If you enjoy this episode, check out our previous 60 Days of Halloween episodes and be sure to check back tomorrow for our review of Pieces as Eric and I continue on in Fear of Decapitation Week!!
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Day 17 in 60 Days of Halloween continues Fear of Decapitation Week, the fear of E.B. Tolbert (artist and occasional guest on The Gargyle), with one of my all-time favorite movies - Evil Dead 2: Dead by Dawn!!
If you enjoy this episode, check out our previous 60 Days of Halloween episodes and be sure to check back tomorrow for our review of Re-Animator as Eric and I continue on in Fear of Decapitation Week!!
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Day 16 in 60 Days of Halloween continues Fear of Decapitation Week, the fear of E.B. Tolbert (artist and occasional guest on The Gargyle), with Tim Burton's version of Sleepy Hollow! While this version strays quite a bit from Washington Irving's original short story, there is certainly a lot to love!!
If you enjoy this episode, check out our previous 60 Days of Halloween episodes and be sure to check back soon (Eric and I are still doing our best to put out daily episodes, but we make no guarantees that we will be able to stay with daily episodes for 60 full days) for the next episode of Fear of Decapitation Week!!
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Day 15 in 60 Days of Halloween starts Fear of Decapitation Week, the fear of E.B. Tolbert (artist and occasional guest on The Gargyle). We've got some great movies lined up this week and I cannot wait til the analysis episode to get inside E.B.'s head (about the fear of losing his). Starting things off is the 2015 film, Tag!
If you enjoy this episode, check out our previous 60 Days of Halloween episodes and be sure to check back soon (Eric and I are still doing our best to put out daily episodes, but we make no guarantees that we will be able to stay with daily episodes for 60 full days) for the next episode of Fear of Decapitation Week!!
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Day 14 in 60 Days of Halloween wraps up Eric's Fear of Death of a Child Week as Eric and I dive into our analysis of each film from the week (Pet Sematary, Cujo, Before I wake, Hereditary, The Others, and Mom and Dad) and discuss why each film is so terrifying in its presentation of the fear of losing a child!! Unlike the review episodes, this analysis episode will contain spoilers for each film. Also...things get real in our discussion. Like...super real...
If you enjoy this episode, check out our previous 60 Days of Halloween episodes and be sure to check back soon (Eric and I are still doing our best to put out daily episodes, but we make no guarantees that we will be able to stay with daily episodes for 60 full days) as we start Fear of Decapitation Week!!
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Day 13 in 60 Days of Halloween cleanses the palette of Eric's fear of the loss of a loved one (specifically a child) by turning that fear on it's head with Mom and Dad - a dark comedy horror film that takes a concept that is extremely morbid and wraps it up in some Nic Cage zaniness!
If you enjoy this episode, check out our previous 60 Days of Halloween episodes and be sure to check back tomorrow as we dive into our analysis episode for Fear of Death of a Child Week!!
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Day 12 in 60 Days of Halloween, and day 5 of Eric's "what's worse than fear of losing a kid? Fear of being the source of harm to your kid. Sure...let's close the week out that way..." week, is The Others - a movie that doesn't really have any scares, but has some pretty major existential dread!!
If you enjoy this episode, check out our previous 60 Days of Halloween episodes and be sure to check back tomorrow as we have a Palette Cleanser before diving into our analysis episode for Fear of Death of a Child Week!!
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Along with my 60 Days of Halloween coverage, Adam and I have returned to Hogwarts once again in another episode in our coverage of the Harry Potter series!! In tonight's episode, we discuss how Harry and Ginny's relationship is clearly founded on trauma (again), how wizards loooove their titles ("I am Lord Voldemort," "The Half-Blood Prince," "The Chosen One"...), and whether or not internal organs continue to function normally during a petrificus totalis spell. So, grab your liquid luck and start thinking about what you would use for a horcrux if you could split your soul (purely for academic purposes...of course) as Adam and I dive into our analysis of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince!!
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Day 11 in 60 Days of Halloween, and day 4 of Eric's "deflecting it with humor only makes it worse!" week, is Hereditary - a film that Eric and I both agree is incredibly well done and intensely terrifying (though, probably not in the way that you would typically think of a movie being "terrifying")! So, join us as Eric and I discuss what one big issue I have with the movie, why we still absolutely love it (despite the flaw), and learn what Eric's new podcasting name is (for this week, at least)!!
If you enjoy this episode, check out our previous 60 Days of Halloween episodes and be sure to check back tomorrow as we continue Fear of Death of a Child Week with The Others!!
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Day 10 in 60 Days of Halloween continues with the third day of "there's no good way to write out Eric's fear without sounding like a terrible person" week as we once again face Eric's fear of the loss of a loved one (specifically a child) with Before I Wake.
If you enjoy this episode, check out our previous 60 Days of Halloween episodes and be sure to check back tomorrow as we continue Fear of Death of a Child Week with Hereditary!!
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Day 9 in 60 Days of Halloween continues to make Eric miserable as he once again faces Fear of Death of a Child Week with Cujo. Eric also wins the episode with a fantastic "dad joke" towards the end!
If you enjoy this episode, check out our previous 60 Days of Halloween episodes and be sure to check back tomorrow as we continue Fear of Death of a Child Week with Before I Wake!!
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Day 8 in 60 Days of Halloween is the start of "make Eric miserable" week as he faces his fear with - Fear of Death of a Child Week (geez...it's tough to even just type that out...). Despite the fact that Eric's fear is incredibly morbid, he's got some pretty awesome films (mostly) lined up for the week! And getting things kicked off is the Stephen King classic, Pet Sematary!!
If you enjoy this episode, check out our previous reviews and analysis episodes from Parenting Fears Week and be sure to check back tomorrow as we continue Fear of Death of a Child Week in 60 Days of Halloween with Cujo!!
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Day seven in 60 Days of Halloween wraps up Parenting Fears Week as Eric and I dive into our analysis of each film from the week (A Quiet Place, Cargo, Grace, Joshua, and We Need to Talk about Kevin) and discuss why each film is so terrifying in its presentation of parenting fears!! Unlike the review episodes, this analysis episode will contain spoilers for each film.
If you enjoy this episode, check out our previous reviews (A Quiet Place, Cargo, Grace, Joshua, and We Need to Talk about Kevin) and be sure to check back tomorrow as we continue our 60 Days of Halloween with our start of Eric's fears in Losing a Child Week!!
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After five long days of facing my fear for Parenting Fears Week, its time for a palette cleanser before Eric and I dive into our Parenting Fears analysis episode. So, tonight's episode in 60 Days of Halloween is a review of Sam Raimi's Evil Dead!! This is one of my all-time favorite movies, so it was a perfect palette cleanser before gearing up for next week and Eric's fear of losing a loved one (specifically, a child).
If you enjoy this episode, check out our previous reviews (A Quiet Place, Cargo, Grace, Joshua, and We Need to Talk about Kevin) and be sure to check back tomorrow for our analysis episode of Parenting Fears Week in 60 Days of Halloween!!
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Day five in Parenting Fears Week in 60 Days of Halloween is We Need to Talk about Kevin, a film that isn't scary, but is absolutely terrifying (in how heartbreaking it is). After several days of dramatic horror movies, this was a rough experience...
If you enjoy this episode, check out our previous reviews (A Quiet Place, Cargo, Grace, and Joshua) and be sure to check back tomorrow in our next episode in 60 Days of Halloween as we have a bit of a palate cleanser film before diving into our analysis episode of Parenting Fears Week!!
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Day four in Parenting Fears Week of 60 Days of Halloween is Joshua, an underrated horror movie staring Sam Rockwell and Vera Farmiga as they cope with all the stress that accompanies a new baby - as well a child (Jacob Kogan) who answers the question of what Damien (The Omen) would be like without all that Antichrist stuff.
If you enjoy this episode, check out our previous reviews (A Quiet Place, Cargo, and Grace) and be sure to check back tomorrow in our next episode in 60 Days of Halloween as we continue our Parenting Fears Week with We Need to Talk about Kevin!!
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Day three in Parenting Fears Week of 60 Days of Halloween is Grace, a horror film that plays on the fears of a child dying, as well as the fears of not being able to provide for your child (in that order...). A quick glance at the "tomatometer" on Rotten Tomatoes shows a sizable discrepancy between critics (69% fresh) and audience (30% fresh) ratings. I can understand the audience rating, but I actually fall more onto the side of the critics - you just have to watch the movie with a certain perspective. So, join me and Eric as we give our thoughts on Grace and what you need to have in mind when watching it!
If you enjoy this episode, check out our previous reviews (A Quiet Place and Cargo) and be sure to check back tomorrow in our next episode in 60 Days of Halloween as we continue our Parenting Fears Week with Joshua!!
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Day two in Parenting Fears Week of 60 Days of Halloween is Cargo, a Netflix original movie staring Martin Freeman. This Australian horror movie is technically a zombie movie, but (like any good horror movie) the fear comes not from the zombies, but from the decisions the characters have to make - and the consequences of those decisions.
If you enjoy this episode, check out yesterday's episode and our review of A Quiet Place. And be sure to check back tomorrow for the next episode in 60 Days of Halloween as we continue Parenting Fears Week with Grace!!
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It's September, which means my 60 Days of Halloween coverage has officially begun!! This year, I will be doing themed weeks with the theme of each week being a fear of either myself, my co-host Eric, or my special guest for the week. I'll be doing shorter, review episodes during the course of the week, culminating in an in-depth analysis episode at the end of the week to really dive into why each film was so terrifying. I'm kicking things off by focusing on my fear (as a new parent) of being a father. First up in my parenting fear week is: A Quiet Place. Even though Lucas and I very recently did an analysis episode of A Quiet Place, it is such a great film and it does a great job of capturing the fear of how one small mistake can have a lasting impact - I just couldn't leave it off my list!
Be sure to check back tomorrow for the next episode in 60 Days of Halloween as we continue Parenting Fear Week with: Cargo!!
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When one thinks of the phrase "a quiet place," they typically think of a calm, serene location where they go for respite, reflection, or something else synonymous and alliterative with "rest." However, thanks to John Krasinski, Bryan Woods, and Scott Beck, that phrase now elicits sheer terror! Like any good horror movie, the underlying fears of A Quiet Place are what make it so terrifying. There is great creature design, but the guilt, doubt, loss, love, mistakes, and sacrifices of the characters are what really gives tremendous depth to what the monsters represent. So, grab your felt game pieces, your bag of sand, and your toy space shuttle and join me and Lucas as we dive into why we love the horror of A Quiet Place!
If you enjoy this episode, let us know! Leave feedback, subscribe, follow on social media, and be sure to keep checking back for more analysis and discussion on The Gargyle Podcast - where geekery abounds!
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We all agree that dinosaurs are awesome, right? Good. We also all agree that all dinosaur movies are awesome, right? Goo...wait...what?? No?!!? Why is that? Why is it that some dinosaur movies go extinct in the hearts and minds of viewers, while others rise to the ranks of cinematic masterpieces? In tonight's episode of The Gargyle Podcast, Adam, Eric and I begin to address this question by diving into Jurassic Park. While there are some notable shortcomings (I'm looking at you, T-Rex paddock), we discuss how Jurassic Park has stood the test of time to be one of the most beloved and iconic films of our time. So grab your frog DNA, a can of Barbasol, and hold onto your butts....welcome, to Jurassic Park.
If you enjoy this episode, let us know! Leave feedback, subscribe, follow on social media, and be sure to keep checking back for more analysis and discussion on The Gargyle Podcast - where geekery abounds!
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One of the things that I love so much about horror movies (that are done well) is that they peel back that masks that humanity wears to conceal it's darker side: doubt, guilt, insecurity, hubris, fear - all of the things that are a natural part of humanity, but the roots of horror when taken to excess. One of the masters of exposing the darkness of humanity was Edgar Allen Poe, which is part of why his stories have endured and continue to be retold. In tonight's episode, I talk to Kevin and Jennifer Sluder of Sunshine Boy Productions about their short, Heartless - a take on Poe's "The Tell Tale Heart." So, grab your coffee, a muffin, and make sure to smile as I talk to Kevin and Jennifer about what is at the heart of Heartless!
If you enjoy this episode, let me know! Leave feedback, subscribe, follow on social media, and keep checking back for more analysis and discussion on The Gargyle Podcast - where geekery abounds!
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Regardless of whether or not you have ever played a Mario game, the plucky little plumber is undeniably a cultural phenomenon, loved in all of his forms! Well...almost all of his forms. If you grew up loving the Super Mario games, you were probably sorely disappointed with the Super Mario Bros. movie due to its lack of similarity to the game you knew and loved. But, on the 25th anniversary of its release, Adam, Eric and I dissect this movie we love so much. As Eric so aptly paraphrases King Koopa - “You know what we love about this movie? It's awesome and it's awful at the same time!” So, grab your bob omb, activate the plumber alert, and meet us at the Boom Boom Club as we dive into Super Mario Bros., the movie!!
If you enjoy this episode, let us know! Leave feedback, subscribe, follow on social media, and be sure to keep checking back for more analysis and discussion on The Gargyle Podcast - where geekery abounds!
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Adam and I are back at it again with the next episode in our coverage of the Harry Potter series! In tonight's episode, we discuss (among other things): how evil Dolores Umbridge is, major differences between book and movie, how evil Umbridge is, how ridiculous it is that Lucius Malfoy hides his wand inside of a cane, and (of course) how evil Umbridge is. So, grab your prophecy, practice your Patronus spell, and meet us in the Room of Requirement for our analysis of Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix!!
If you enjoy this episode, let us know! Leave some feedback, subscribe to the podcast, follow me on social media, and be sure to keep checking back for more analysis and discussion at gargylereviews.wixsite.com/thegargyle for more episodes of The Gargyle Podcast - where geekery abounds!
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If you are a fan of indie horror, you are probably familiar with the name Graham Skipper. Whether he has the lead role or just a bit part (Beyond the Gates, Almost Human, Feeding Time...just to name a few), Graham's genuine love for horror shines through practically every role he plays. And that genuine love for horror is certainly apparent in his feature-length directorial debut, Sequence Break, which just recently premiered on Shudder! The IMDB description of Sequence Break is: "A surreal sci-fi romance wherein a beautiful young woman and strange metaphysical forces threaten the reality of a reclusive video arcade technician, resulting in bizarre biomechanical mutations and a shocking self-realization."
In this episode of The Gargyle Podcast, Graham joins me as we analyze and discuss the film, horror, romance, love, obsession...and even a dash of Star Wars!
If you enjoy this episode, keep checking back for more at gargylereviews.wixsite.com/thegargyle- where geekery abounds!
This is what you wanted...an episode of The Gargyle Podcast with special guests Brian Lonano (writer/director of short films, such as BFF Girls, Gwilliam, and Crow Hand), Jessica Shipp (who plays Lily in BFF Girls), and William Mahaffey (director of the Knoxville Horror Film Festival)!! Tonight's episode focuses on BFF Girls (Brian's latest short film), which is a wonderfully off-kilter action comedy of three best friends fighting a tampon monster and facing off against the evil Fabuloso Doom! We also discuss some of Brian's earlier work, inspiration, and influences...what it is like for significant others to work on projects together...and William has good news about the Knoxville Horror Film Festival, which hasn't yet been announced anywhere else!! It was an absolute blast talking to Brian, Jessica, and William and I cannot wait to see what else each of them has in store!
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If you caught any of my 2018 Chattanooga Film Festival coverage, then you know how much I loved Dementia Part II! This black and white, neo-noir, midnight horror movie about a guy struggling against an increasingly uncomfortable situation (and maybe an amorous zombie??) is the brain-child of writers/directors (actors, cinematographers, and practically every thing else-ers) Matt Mercer and Mike Testin! And in tonight's episode, Matt and Mike join me to discuss their creative process, cinematic influences, and share some behind-the-scenes information about "the unnecessary midnight movie sequel to Dementia that you never knew you wanted!"
If you enjoy this episode, be sure to go back and check out my CFF2018 coverage, including a podcast with Matt Mercer, Graham Skipper, and Kevin Sluder. And be sure to keep checking back at gargylereviews.wixsite.com/thegargyle for more episodes of The Gargyle Podcast - where geekery abounds!
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Adam and I are back at it again with the next episode in our coverage of the Harry Potter series! In tonight's episode, we discuss (among other things): the intense trauma inflicted upon Neville by seeing the cruciatus curse inflicted upon a spider, Angry-dor, Growly-Ron, Dead-ric, and the connection between Hagrid and the Tremors franchise. So, grab your dragon egg, say hello to the mer-people, and make it through the maze for our analysis of Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire!!
If you enjoy this episode, be sure to keep checking back for more analysis and discussion! And if you enjoy movies, conventions, film fests, games, horror, Harry Potter, or just about anything geeky... be sure to keep checking back at gargylereviews.wixsite.com/thegargyle for more episodes of The Gargyle Podcast - where geekery abounds!
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Welcome to another episode of The Gargyle Podcast! Closing out our coverage of the 2018 Chattanooga Film Festival, tonight Daniel, Tim, and I discuss our top picks of the weekend. While we love just about everything that we see at CFF each year, these are the films that especially stood out to us this year: Emergency (short film), Lowlife, A Prayer Before Dawn, Summer of 84, and Tigers Are Not Afraid. Along with discussing why these films especially stood out to us, we also rehash a bit about the other CFF 2018 films we loved!
As I've mentioned in the past several episodes, Daniel and Tim have joined me on The Gargyle Podcast as we've covered all of the films that we saw at the Chattanooga Film Festival. So, if you enjoyed this episode, be sure to go back and check out the rest of our CFF coverage! And while this does conclude our coverage of the 2018 Chattanooga Film Fes
Welcome to another episode of The Gargyle Podcast! Tonight's episode was recorded at the Chattanooga Film Festival, with special guests Matt Mercer, Graham Skipper, and Kevin Sluder! If you aren't familiar with their work, they are awesome actors, directors, writers, producers (and so on), and podcasting with them was probably...no...DEFINITELY the best part of the weekend at CFF for me!! The movies that they have been involved with in past years of CFF have been some of my favorites from each year. Not only did that hold true for this year as well, but it practically felt like a Matt & Graham-fest, with all that they were involved in! So, if you are a fan of their work, or if you just like hearing a bunch of horror and film nerds talk, well, horror and film...then I hope that you enjoy my interview with Matt Mercer, Graham Skipper, and Kevin Sluder!
As I've mentioned in the past several episodes, Daniel and Tim have
Welcome to another episode of The Gargyle Podcast! Continuing our coverage of the Chattanooga Film Festival, tonight Daniel, Tim, and I discuss some of the most "fun" movies of the weekend. All of the movies discussed in tonight's episode were either horror or violent in nature, some of which were very, very bloody...hence the "fun" being in quotes. They were violent and bloody, but they also look like they were a lot of fun to make and they are definitely fun to watch (if you enjoy horror)! Even though these were some of the most fun movies of the weekend (and personally some of my favorites of the weekend!)...just talking about them is nowhere near as much fun in comparison as watching them. So, hopefully our discussions did justice to just how much fun these movies were and how much we loved them! Tonight's movies include The Ranger, My Monster (short film), All the Creatures Were Stirring, Rock Ste
Welcome to another episode of The Gargyle Podcast! Continuing our coverage of the Chattanooga Film Festival, tonight Daniel, Tim, and I discuss the various documentaries that we saw over the weekend. The Chattanooga Film Festival has shown some amazing documentaries over the past several years, many of which have ended up being some of our top picks of the fest. And this year was no exception...proving once again that the Chattanooga Film Festival is fact-ing awesome!! Tonight's movies include The Road Movie, The Devil and Father Amorth, The Power of Glove, and Wolfman's Got Nards.
As I've mentioned in the past few episodes, Daniel and Tim will be joining me for the next few episodes of The Gargyle Podcast as we cover all of the films that we saw at the Chattanooga Film Festival. On the next episode, we will be discussing some of the most "fun" movies of the weekend. Now, all of these movies were either horror or violent in nature...hence the
Welcome to another episode of The Gargyle Podcast! Continuing our coverage of the Chattanooga Film Festival, tonight Daniel, Tim, and I discuss another round of films that you aren't too likely to see in a theater outside of a film festival or art house theater. Tonight's movies include Night of the Comet, King Boxer, Let the Corpses Tan, and Mohawk.
As I've mentioned int he past few episodes, Daniel and Tim will be joining me for the next several episodes of The Gargyle Podcast as we cover all of the films that we saw at the Chattanooga Film Festival. On the next episode, we will be discussing the various documentaries we saw at CFF. So, if you enjoyed this episode, be sure to keep checking back soon for more of our coverage of the Chattanooga Film Festival!
And if you enjoy movies, conventions, comics, games, horror, cartoons, Star Wars, or just about anything geeky...be sure to keep checki
Welcome to another episode of The Gargyle Podcast! Continuing with our coverage of the Chattanooga Film Festival, tonight Daniel, Tim, and I discuss the films that we saw that were more akin to big budget movies than the indie flicks to which we are typically drawn. Tonight's movies include Ghost Stories, Gemini, I Kill Giants, and The Last Movie Star.
As I've mentioned in the past couple episodes, Daniel and Tim will be joining me for the next several episodes of The Gargyle Podcast as we cover all of the films that we saw at the Chattanooga Film Festival. On the next episode, we will be discussing films that you aren't likely to see in a theater outside of a film festival - part two. So, if you enjoyed this episode, be sure to check back soon for more of our coverage of the Chattanooga Film Festival!
And if you enjoy movies, conventions, comics, games, horror, cartoons, Star Wars, or just about anything geeky...be sure
Welcome to another episode of The Gargyle Podcast! Tonight, we are continuing our coverage of the Chattanooga Film Festival. And no, the title was not a typo. In tonight's episode, Tim, Daniel, and I discuss the various talks that we attended at the Chattanooga Film Festival. So, we are talking about talks about movies - starting with Izzy Lee's talk Socio-Political Themes in Horror Film, then Grady Hendrix's talk about Paperbacks from Hell, and ending with Joe Bob Briggs (the patron saint of CFF) and his talk Joe Bob Does Exploitation Film.
As I mentioned in the last episode, Daniel and Tim will be joining me for the next several episodes of The Gargyle Podcast as we cover all of the films that we saw at the Chattanooga Film Festival. On the next episode, we will be discussing movies that were closer to "big budget" movies. So, if you enjoyed this episode, be sure to check back soon for more of our coverage of the Chattanooga Film
Once again, I was able to return to the Chattanooga Film Festival! I love cinema in all of its forms, so the Chattanooga Film Festival is (without a doubt) one of my favorite times of year because I am able to spend four days being surrounded by movies and fellow film lovers...and Chattanooga Film Festival 2018 was no exception!!
On tonight's episode, Tim, Daniel, and I discuss the movies we saw at CFF 2018 that you are most likely not going to be able to see in theaters, unless they play at another film festival. The films covered in tonight's episode include:
- November - an Estonian fantasy drama that felt like if Ingmar Bergman and David Lynch had a baby and named it Romeo & Juliet
- Lesser Beasts - the world premiere an indie film that questions the role of human existence.
- Ninja Zombie (presented by Bleeding Skull) - yet another cinematic masterpiece presented by Bleeding Skull. There is a plot, involving ninja and a zombie...ninja. I hav
What do Happy Death Day, Event Horizon, Knoxville Horror Film Festival, and Chattanooga Film Festival have in common?? Well, aside from horror, they are all talked about on tonight's episode of The Gargyle Podcast!!
The majority of the podcast is an analysis/review of Event Horizon, but Eric and I also have a brief discussion about Happy Death Day and talk about how awesome the Chattanooga Film Festival and the Knoxville Horror Film Festival are!!
Eric and I both agree that Event Horizon is an awesome sci-fi movie with some absolutely horrifying elements...that aren't quite actualized as well as they could have been. So, join us as we dive into what worked, and what didn't, in Event Horizon!!
If you enjoy this episode, be sure to keep checking back at gargylereviews.blogspot.com for more film reviews, festival and con coverage, and general geekery!!
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Adam and I are back at it again with the next episode in our coverage of the Harry Potter series! In tonight's episode, we discuss (among other things): the interaction of horror and child-like wonder and fantasy, whether the giant frogs in the choir are singing or being played like instruments, our interpretations of J. K. Rowling's infusion of social and political commentary into her stories, and the intentionality of cgi hippogriff poop.
While each episode in our Harry Potter series will primarily focus on the specific movie that was just watched, there will be conversations about how the movie deviates from the book, references to information from previous movies/books, discussions about events that take place later in the series, and comparisons to events in other series/franchises. So, consider this your general spoiler warning. But, if you've already seen/read all of Harry Potter, then watch out for hippogriff droppings and give your time turner a turn or
The podcast is about to begin...sir! There is something so awesome and inherently creepy about Phantasm, but it can be kind of difficult to discern exactly why. So, on tonight's episode, Eric and I discuss mental health, sex and violence, loss of humanity through technology, and the fear of the unknown in our analysis of Phantasm & Phantasm II in an attempt to explain it!!
You play a good game boy, but now it's time...to listen!
If you enjoy this episode, be sure to keep checking back at gargylereviews.blogspot.com for more movie reviews, con coverage, and general geekery!!
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After a little time off for the holidays, Adam and I are back with the next episode in our coverage of the Harry Potter series! In tonight's episode, we discuss (among other things): the ethical treatment of house elves, why Hogwart's kept the Slytherin house (despite Salazar Slytherin's view on racial purity), and the impact of the discrepancies between book and movie. Plus, Adam makes several innocent comments that are taken wildly out of context.
While each episode in our Harry Potter series will primarily focus on the specific movie that was just watched, there will be conversations about how the movie deviates from the book, references to information from previous movies/books, discussions about events that take place later in the series, and comparisons to events in other series/franchises. So, consider this your general spoiler warning. But, if you've already seen/read all of Harry Potter, then grab a handful of flue powder, and meet me and Adam in Diagon
A few weeks ago, Adam and I podcasted about our time at CONjuration. While CONjuration is a con for all things magical, it grew out of a love for the Harry Potter and much of the con does revolve around the Harry Potter series. Consequently, a good portion of the conversation that Adam and I had on that podcast also revolved around Harry Potter. In fact, we were enjoying the conversation so much that we kept talking about it even after we stopped recording.
So, we decided to prolong our conversations about Harry Potter by doing a series of podcasts on the films. Over the next several months, Adam and I will be rewatching the films together and then podcasting about our thoughts, questions, and analyses of the films and books.
While each episode will primarily focus on the specific movie that was just watched, there will be conversations about how the movie deviates from the book, reference to informa
If you've been following me for the past couple months, you know that I've been watching nightly horror movies since the start of September (well, mostly nightly movies...on the nights that I didn't have time for a movie, I at least watched an episode or two of shows such as Goosebumps and Tales from the Crypt) with themed weeks all leading up to Halloween. I love Halloween and had an absolute blast watching and discussing horror movies with friends, as well as going to two awesome horror film fests!!
As much as I absolutely love Halloween, I also really love Christmas (for different reasons). So, with a love of Halloween and Christmas, and with having watched two solid months of horror, 60 Days of Halloween turned into 60+ Days of Halloween and I watched Christmas horror movies to transition from the Halloween season to the Christmas season.
There are some pretty terrible slasher movies out there that just put the killer in a Santa suit (or stor
From mythical creatures, to fantastical worlds, to epic journeys, to endless imagination, the fantasy genre covers such a wide spectrum of topics and interests that it's easy to understand why it is so loved by so many people. One of the most beloved fantasy series is Harry Potter - due in part to how relatable the characters are, as well as how real J. K. Rowling makes the fantastical elements feel! And the love of the Harry Potter series, as well as all things magical, is a palpable experience at CONjuration Con!!
Last weekend was the fourth year of CONjuration, and it continues to get better with every single year. I've been to all four years of CONjuration (links to coverage from previous years below) and I can honestly say that I look forward to it all year long. Chris and Angela (the founders and headmasters of CONjuration) pour their heart and soul into the con to make sure that it is a magical time for all who attend,
A couple weeks ago, special guest William Mahaffey (Director of the Knoxville Horror Film Festival) joined me and Eric to talk about the Knoxville Horror Film Festival, Central Cinema, partnering with the Ijams Nature Center, and horror movies for IFC Midnight Week. And as much as I have been loving all of the horror movies that I've been watching each week, I have been looking forward to the Knoxville Horror Film Festival ever since I was there last year! It is such an awesome film festival filled with amazing horror movies, put together by people who very clearly know and love horror! And this year's Knoxville Horror Film Festival certainly did NOT let us down!!
After two solid months of horror and Halloween movies, my 60 Days of Halloween coverage is drawing to a close. Having just finished up Anthology Week, the last week leading up to Halloween will be comprised of some of my favorite Halloween movies. The movies for Halloween Favorites Week won't necessarily be the scariest, or even necessarily the best, horror movies...but they are movies that I just always love to watch around Halloween (even if I've already watched them several times throughout the year).
So, join me as I discuss Trick 'r Treat, Creepshow, Cat's Eye, Snoop Dogg's Hood of Horror, Tales from the Crypt, Vault of Horror, and Tales from the Darkside for Anthology Week...along with my plans for Halloween Favorites Week!!
If you enjoy this episode, check back soon for more Halloween movie coverage in my 60 Days of Halloween. Next up will be my coverage of the Knoxville Horror F
The Universal Monsters are unarguably iconic. They have permeated cinema and pop culture ever since they first terrified audiences from the silver screen. While horror movies have become much more graphic and special effects have become much more advanced, the tragic tales of the Universal Monsters continue to have a lasting impact on the horror genre...and no Halloween movie list would be complete without them!!
So, join me and artist Chris Goins (Black Sheep Studios, TN) as we talk at length about The Creature from the Black Lagoon, The Mummy, The Wolfman, Frankenstein, Bride of Frankenstein, Dracula, and The Phantom of the Opera!!
If you enjoy this episode, check back soon for more Halloween movie coverage in my 60 Days of Halloween. Next up will be Anthology Week!
And be sure to check out more reviews, as well as ot
It's after midnight...do you know where your movies are??? They are on IFC Midnight, of course!!
If you know me even a little, you know how much I love indie cinema!! I have so much respect and appreciation for filmmakers who pour their heart and soul into their art!! Regardless of the quality of the movies themselves, I will always love indie cinema for the simple fact that someone pursued their passion and created something! Thankfully, some of the best new horror movies that I have seen over the past couple years have been IFC Midnight films!!
This is an episode that I've been looking forward to for a few weeks. In part because of the movies, but also because of special guest William Mahaffey (Director of Knoxville Horror Film Festival), who talks about Knoxville Horror Film Festival, Central Cinema, partnering with
If you’ve listened to just about any of my podcasts, you know that one of the things that I love most about movies is analyzing them, especially when it comes to horror movies. Horror movies reveal so much about humanity that just isn’t found in most other movies. What terrifies us? How do we overcome diversity? Who are we when things are at their worst? What are the horrors of humanity? What are the horrors within ourselves? Is the supernatural real? These are topics that might be addressed in other styles of movies, but I feel like the horror genre allows these ideas to be discussed more fully because horror movies push boundaries and push us past mere entertainment. So, with my love of horror movies and studying the human condition, it should be no surprise that I especially love horror documentaries. Whether they be historical (looking more at some of the technical aspects of how a movie was made), analytical (looking more at the “why” o
Surgery. Needles. Scalpels. Stitches. Dental drills. Chances are, seeing one of those words made you cringe a little. But why? Why does just reading a word related to medical procedures make so many people cringe? From creating hideous monsters to reviving the dead, doctors have seemingly always been a staple of horror movies. But what is more terrifying...the mad doctors of our imaginations, or going to the hospital for a very real medical procedure??
In this episode of my 60 Days of Halloween coverage, I'll be dissecting Cardiac Arrest(1980), Anatomy (2000), Dr. Giggles (1992), Pathology (2008), The Dentist (1996), and the first two episodes of Kingdom Hospital (2004) for Medical Horror Week!!
If you enjoy this episode, check back soon for more Halloween movie coverage in my 60 Days of Halloween. Up next will be Documentary Week.
And be sure to check out more reviews
To us here at The Monster Pod, Evil Dead is hands down one of our all time favorite horror movies! From the heart, to the gore, to the jump scares, to the genuine horror, to the practical effects, to the laughs, to the blood, sweat and tears that they poured into this low-budget indie horror flick...it is absolutely part of why we love horror the way we do!
Lucas and I have mentioned this episode for a while, and Eric (artist E.B. Tolbert, whose art can be found at ebtolbert.com)was finally able to join us to share some of his experiences and love for Evil Dead. We love these movies so much that we were only able to just scratch the surface on the franchise! So, join us for part one of our analysis of the Evil Dead franchise! Also, a giant spider threatens our safety and a Wolverine/Power Ranger mashup fights a T-Rex...
As usual, it should be noted that this is more of an in-dep
What is it that scares you? What is the thing that gets under your skin about horror movies? What is the stuff of your nightmares? The fear of the unknown is quite often worse than any monster...and in this episode of The Gargyle Podcast, I examine exactly that concept for Non-Descript Week!!
Recorded at the Cleveland Geekster, I discuss It (2017), The Thing (1982), The Stuff (1985), It's Alive (1974), and It Follows (2014) with J.R. Mounts (creator of Scairy Tales and Fried Pickle Noir - scairytalesnoir.com) and E.B. Tolbert (artist and illustrator - www.ebtolbert.com), and a few other friends who stop by for a chat.
If you enjoy this episode, check back soon for more Halloween movie coverage in my 60 Days of Halloween. Up next will be Medical Horror Week.
And be sure to chec
Even though it is only early September, I’m already gearing up for Halloween with (mostly) nightly horror and monster movies!! In years past, I’ve tried watching a horror movie every night of October with the intention of posting a nightly review, but I was never able to have enough time to actually get those nightly reviews out. So, this year, I’m trying something a little bit different and hopefully something that is a little bit more manageable (even though I’m not exactly off to the best start). Rather than trying to post a movie review every night just during the month of October, I’ll be doing 60 days of Halloween with weekly podcasts for September and October! And to give the episodes some semblance of cohesion, I’ll be doing themed weeks. So, to get things going with my Halloween movie season, I'm starting off with Giant Monster Week!!
If you enjoy this episode, check back soon for mor
Lucas and I already went in-depth in The Monster Pod discussing some of the psychological horror hiding just under the surface in Beyond the Gates, but I love this movie so much that I wanted to do a review of it as well. So, if you've not yet seen Beyond the Gates, enjoy my (primarily) spoiler-free review of this fun, indie horror flick! And if you have seen it, be sure to check out The Monster Pod for a much more detailed analysis.
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"Do you have what it takes to go beyond the gates?!!?" Wait...what does it even take to go beyond the gates? I mean, obviously it just takes a vhs board game. But, it will take much more than that if you are going to make it out alive!!
On the surface, Beyond the Gates is a fun, indie horror flick about a vhs board game with the amazing Barbara Crampton. However, if you dig just a little bit deeper, some very realistic psychological horror and some layered depth can be found!!
As usual, it should be noted that this is more of an in-depth discussion of the film and not necessarily just a "review." There are some major spoilers throughout the second section of the podcast. So, if you have not yet seen Beyond the Gates, go watch it first and then come back to get our analysis of it!
Check out more episodes of The Monster Pod, as well as other movie reviews and geek coverage, at gargylereviews.blogspot.com
Aaaallll byyy myyy-seeeelf. Don't wanna be...aaalll byyy myyyself. Seriously, loneliness sucks. And while there is a vampire in Let Me In, the real monster is crushing isolation, even amongst family and peers. So, join me and Lucas as we tear into Let Me In and Let the Right One In like a swarm of cgi cats. Please...please join us....we don't want to be alone.....
As usual, it should be noted that this is more of an in-depth discussion of the film and not necessarily just a "review." There are some major spoilers throughout the second section of the podcast. So, if you have not yet seen Let Me In or Let the Right One In, go watch them first and then come back to get our analysis of them!
Check out ore episodes of The Monster Pod, as well as other movie reviews and geek coverage, at gargylereviews.blogspot.com
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Wrapping up my coverage of the 2017 Chattanooga Film Festival is my review of: The Devil's Candy
Not only was this an amazing horror movie, it might have been my favorite of the entire weekend!
Between feature films, short films, partial films, and live shows, I saw 21 films at the Chattanooga Film Festival. You can find all of my reviews, as well as just general geekery, at gargylereviews.blogspot.com and at facebook.com/thegargyle. And check out the CFF overview episode that I did with Mass Listeria at masslisteriapodcast.com.
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Up next in my coverage of the 2017 Chattanooga Film Festival is: Buster's Mal Heart
A beautiful and incredibly well-acted psychological sci-fi drama.
Between feature films, short films, partial films, and live shows, I saw 21 films at the Chattanooga Film Festival. So, be sure to follow me at gargylereviews.blogspot.com and at facebook.com/thegargyle to catch all of my reviews. And check out the overview episode that I did with Mass Listeria at masslisteriapodcast.com.
music for The Gargyle Podcast by Bensound
Up next in my coverage of the 2017 Chattanooga Film Festival is: Dayveon
An immensely personal portrayal of finding oneself while dealing with grief.
The director, Amman Abbasi talks about the use of 4:3 aspect ratio for Dayveon at nofilmschool.com
Between feature films, short films, partial films, and live shows, I saw 21 films at the Chattanooga Film Festival. So, be sure to follow me at gargylereviews.blogspot.com and at facebook.com/thegargyle to catch all of my reviews. And check out the overview episode that I did with Mass Listeria at masslisteriapodcast.com.
music for The Gargyle Podcast by Bensound
Up next in my coverage of the 2017 Chattanooga Film Festival is: Hard Times
Charles Bronson punches all the things in this character driven story of the struggle against the human condition.
Between feature films, short films, partial films, and live shows, I saw 21 films at the Chattanooga Film Festival. So, be sure to follow me at gargylereviews.blogspot.com and at facebook.com/thegargyle to catch all of my reviews. And check out the overview episode that I did with Mass Listeria at masslisteriapodcast.com.
music for The Gargyle Podcast by Bensound
Up next in my coverage of the 2017 Chattanooga Film Festival is: The Hitcher
If you've not seen this 80's road movie revenge thriller, it is worth your time! If for no other reason than how well Rutger Hauer portrays "disturbingly creepy."
Between feature films, short films, partial films, and live shows, I saw 21 films at the Chattanooga Film Festival. So, be sure to follow me at gargylereviews.blogspot.com and at facebook.com/thegargyle to catch all of my reviews. And check out the overview episode that I did with Mass Listeria at masslisteriapodcast.com.
music for The Gargyle Podcast by Bensound
Up next in my coverage of the 2017 Chattanooga Film Festival is: The Award
This horror short was inspired by the 2016 CFF award...which certainly is a disturbing piece of art.
Between feature films, short films, partial films, and live shows, I saw 21 films at the Chattanooga Film Festival. So, be sure to follow me at gargylereviews.blogspot.com and at facebook.com/thegargyle to catch all of my reviews. And check out the overview episode that I did with Mass Listeria at masslisteriapodcast.com.
music for The Gargyle Podcast by Bensound
Up next in my coverage of the 2017 Chattanooga Film Festival is: The Void
There is so much to love about this practical effects creature feature!! But, does it all come together, or is there a void?
Between feature films, short films, partial films, and live shows, I saw 21 films at the Chattanooga Film Festival. So, be sure to follow me at gargylereviews.blogspot.com and at facebook.com/thegargyle to catch all of my reviews. And check out the overview episode that I did with Mass Listeria at masslisteriapodcast.com.
music for The Gargyle Podcast by Bensound
Up next in my coverage of the 2017 Chattanooga Film Festival is: Undress Me
This body horror-ish short has some style on the surface, but is there substance underneath when you rip off some layers?
Between feature films, short films, partial films, and live shows, I saw 21 films at the Chattanooga Film Festival. So, be sure to follow me at gargylereviews.blogspot.com and at facebook.com/thegargyle to catch all of my reviews. And check out the overview episode that I did with Mass Listeria at masslisteriapodcast.com.
music for The Gargyle Podcast by Bensound
Up next in my coverage of the 2017 Chattanooga Film Festival is: Everything is Terrible!
If everything is terrible, then nothing is terrible. Can you handle the memory hole?!!?
Between feature films, short films, partial films, and live shows, I saw 21 films at the Chattanooga Film Festival. So, be sure to follow me at gargylereviews.blogspot.com and at facebook.com/thegargyle to catch all of my reviews. And check out the overview episode that I did with Mass Listeria at masslisteriapodcast.com.
music for The Gargyle Podcast by Bensound
Up next in my coverage of the 2017 Chattanooga Film Festival is: Jungle Trap, presented by Bleeding Skull
The director thought that this movie would never see the light of day. But, thanks to the work of Bleeding Skull, the movie is finally able to be seen and loved!
Between feature films, short films, partial films, and live shows, I saw 21 films at the Chattanooga Film Festival. So, be sure to follow me at gargylereviews.blogspot.com and at facebook.com/thegargyle to catch all of my reviews. And check out the overview episode that I did with Mass Listeria at masslisteriapodcast.com.
music for The Gargyle Podcast by Bensound
Up next in my coverage of the 2017 Chattanooga Film Festival is: David Lynch - The Art Life
Most people know David Lynch for his films and cinematic style, but art was a major part of his life long before he made the jump into cinema. This documentary is about his art and formative years, prior to his cinematic career.
Between feature films, short films, partial films, and live shows, I saw 21 films at the Chattanooga Film Festival. So, be sure to follow me at gargylereviews.blogspot.com and at facebook.com/thegargyle to catch all of my reviews. And check out the overview episode that I did with Mass Listeria at masslisteriapodcast.com.
music for The Gargyle Podcast by Bensound
Up next in my coverage of the 2017 Chattanooga Film Festival is: interview with Zack Carlson of AGFA and Bleeding Skull
Mass Listeria and I were able to sit down with Zack Carlson and discuss genre films, low budget cinema, and the rescuing of movies that otherwise would have been lost forever. The AGFA and Bleeding Skull movies have been some of my favorite movies of the Chattanooga Film Fest for the last two years, so being able to talk to Zack was a highlight of the film fest for me.
Between feature films, short films, partial films, and live shows, I saw 21 films at the Chattanooga Film Festival. So, be sure to follow me at gargylereviews.blogspot.com and at facebook.com/thegargyle to catch all of my reviews. And check out the overview episode that I did with Mass Listeria at masslisteriapodcast.co
Up next in my coverage of the 2017 Chattanooga Film Festival is: The Monster Squad
Horror, comedy, heart...The Monster Squad has it all! Not only was it awesome to be able to see it in theaters, but I was able to meet Andre Gower and Ryan Lambert!
Between feature films, short films, partial films, and live shows, I saw 21 films at the Chattanooga Film Festival. So, be sure to follow me at gargylereviews.blogspot.com and at facebook.com/thegargyle to catch all of my reviews. And check out the overview episode that I did with Mass Listeria at masslisteriapodcast.com.
music for The Gargyle Podcast by Bensound
Up next in my coverage of the 2017 Chattanooga Film Festival is: The Zodiac Killer, presented by the American Genre Film Archive
The backstory on the film is one of the most unique stories ever ever heard for why a film was made! Believe me when I say that this film is a one of a kind experience.
Between feature films, short films, partial films, and live shows, I saw 21 films at the Chattanooga Film Festival. So, be sure to follow me at gargylereviews.blogspot.com and at facebook.com/thegargyle to catch all of my reviews. And check out the overview episode that I did with Mass Listeria at masslisteriapodcast.com.
music for The Gargyle Podcast by Bensound
Up next in my coverage of the 2017 Chattanooga Film Festival is: Joe Bob Does Tennessee
If you are a fan of southern cinema, you owe it to yourself to catch Joe Bob Briggs live!! His humor and extensive knowledge of cinema are part of what has made him the patron saint of the Chattanooga Film Festival!
Between feature films, short films, partial films, and live shows, I saw 21 films at the Chattanooga Film Festival. So, be sure to follow me at gargylereviews.blogspot.com and at facebook.com/thegargyle to catch all of my reviews. And check out the overview episode that I did with Mass Listeria at masslisteriapodcast.com.
music for The Gargyle Podcast by Bensound
Up next in my coverage of the 2017 Chattanooga Film Festival is: Kedi
This foreign documentary about cats in Istanbul is one of the most pleasant and captivating documentaries that I've ever seen!
Between feature films, short films, partial films, and live shows, I saw 21 films at the Chattanooga Film Festival. So, be sure to follow me at gargylereviews.blogspot.com and at facebook.com/thegargyle to catch all of my reviews. And check out the overview episode that I did with Mass Listeria at masslisteriapodcast.com.
music for The Gargyle Podcast by Bensound
Up next in my coverage of the 2017 Chattanooga Film Festival is: 24x36 - A Movie About Movie Posters
This documentary sheds a lot of light on the history, death, and resurgence of movie poster art!
Between feature films, short films, partial films, and live shows, I saw 21 films at the Chattanooga Film Festival. So, be sure to follow me at gargylereviews.blogspot.com and at facebook.com/thegargyle to catch all of my reviews. And check out the overview episode that I did with Mass Listeria at masslisteriapodcast.com.
music for The Gargyle Podcast by Bensound
Up next in my coverage of the 2017 Chattanooga Film Festival is: Happy Hunting
Find out if this film about hunting humans hits its target, or if it's a catch and release.
Between feature films, short films, partial films, and live shows, I saw 21 films at the Chattanooga Film Festival. So, be sure to follow me at gargylereviews.blogspot.com and at facebook.com/thegargyle to catch all of my reviews. And check out the overview episode that I did with Mass Listeria at masslisteriapodcast.com.
music for The Gargyle Podcast by Bensound
Up next in my coverage of the 2017 Chattanooga Film Festival is: The Dragon Lives Again, presented by the American Genre Film Archive
The American Genre Film Archive has deepened my love and appreciation of genre films - and that is especially true for this absurd piece of Brucesploitation cinema.
Between feature films, short films, partial films, and live shows, I saw 21 films at the Chattanooga Film Festival. So, be sure to follow me at gargylereviews.blogspot.com and at facebook.com/thegargyle to catch all of my reviews. And check out the overview episode that I did with Mass Listeria at masslisteriapodcast.com.
music for The Gargyle Podcast by Bensound
Up next in my coverage of the 2017 Chattanooga Film Festival is: Sequence Break
Sequence Break was written and directed by Graham Skipper. I loved his acting in Feeding Time and Beyond the Gates (which was one of my favorite movies of last year), so I was really excited about his directorial debut!
Between feature films, short films, partial films, and live shows, I saw 21 films at the Chattanooga Film Festival. So, be sure to follow me at gargylereviews.blogspot.com and at facebook.com/thegargyle to catch all of my reviews. And check out the overview episode that I did with Mass Listeria at masslisteriapodcast.com.
music for The Gargyle Podcast by Bensound
Up next in my coverage of the 2017 Chattanooga Film Festival is: Feeding Time
This is the third time I've seen Feeding Time in the last few months and it only gets more enjoyable every time I see it!
Between feature films, short films, partial films, and live shows, I saw 21 films at the Chattanooga Film Festival. So, be sure to follow me at gargylereviews.blogspot.com and at facebook.com/thegargyle to catch all of my reviews. And check out the overview episode that I did with Mass Listeria at masslisteriapodcast.com.
music for The Gargyle Podcast by Bensound
Once again, I was able to return to the Chattanooga Film Festival with Mass Listeria! I love cinema in all of its forms, so the Chattanooga Film Festival is one of my favorite times of year because I spend four days being surround by movies and fellow film lovers!
We already did an overview episode on Mass Listeria (found at masslisteriapodcast.com), but for the next several episodes of The Gargyle Podcast, I'll be providing reviews of each of the films that I saw individually. Between feature films, short films, partial films, and live shows, I saw 21 films at the Chattanooga Film Festival. So, be sure to follow me at gargylereviews.blogspot.com and at facebook.com/thegargyle to catch all of my reviews.
Up first in my coverage of the 2017 Chattanooga Film Festival is: Dave Made a Maze
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What do you get when you turn a 7 page H. P. Lovecraft story into an 86 minute movie?? You get From Beyond, an insane slice of 1986 sci-fi horror!! Starring Jeffrey Combs and Barbara Crampton, the second feature length film from Stuart Gordon might not be as well-known in the mainstream as Re-Animator, but that doesn't mean that it is any less fun to watch in all of horror ridiculousness!!
As usual, it should be noted that this is more of an in-depth discussion of the film and not necessarily just a "review." There are some major spoilers throughout the second section of the podcast. So, if you have not yet seen From Beyond, go watch it first and then come back to get our take on it!
Check out more episodes of The Monster Pod, as well as other movie reviews and geek coverage, at gargylereviews.blogspot.com
music for The Gargyle Podcast by
If you go down to the woods today, you're sure of a big surprise. If you go down to the woods today, you'd better go in disguise! For every troll that ever there was will gather there for certain, because today's the day the trolls have their picnic - (modification of "Teddy Bear's Picnic" by Anne Murray).
Ok, so there aren't any picnics, but that isn't entirely too far off and I think it actually kinda works for describing Trollhunter, a Norwegian found-footage movie about a group of college kids that think they are filming a documentary about bear attacks, but end up chasing a much different, and much more threatening, monster.
As usual, it should be noted that this is more of an in-depth discussion of the film and not necessarily just a "review." There are some major spoilers throughout the second section of the podcast. So, if you have not yet seen Trollhunter, go watch it first and then come back to get our take on it!
What do you get when the main source of industry and income for a town is also slowly killing it's residents? You get Refinery Surveyor Black, an indie drama from directors Brian George and Galen Jackson. So, join me in my review to find out whether or not this movie is as sweet as sugar!
Check out more reviews, as well as other geek coverage at gargylereviews.blogspot.com
music for The Gargyle Podcast by Bensound
Before Anthony Hopkins immortalized the role of Dr. Hannibal Lecter in Silence of the Lambs, and before Ralph Fiennes summoned his inner dragon as Francis Dolarhyde in Red Dragon, there was Brian Cox and Tom Noonan in Manhunter.
With the stylistic touch of director Michael Mann, this 80s horror classic was more subtle in its approach than the Hannibal films that followed, which lent itself to a realism that intensified the horror of an unknown serial killer. After all, not all monster movies have to be about creatures, demons, or aliens. Sometimes, the "monster" hidden just under the surface of someone can be equally as terrifying as any other-worldly creature.
As usual, it should be noted that this is more of an in-depth dissection of the film and not necessarily just a "review." There are some major spoilers throughout the second section of the podcast. So, if you haven't seen Manhunter, go watch it first an
Lord of the Rings, Harry Potter, The Chronicles of Narnia...if you grew up reading these books, or any other fantasy book that transports you to magical new worlds, then you would definitely enjoy going to CONjuration Con in Atlanta, GA! CONjuration is a convention that is primarily focused on Harry Potter, but includes all things magical...from Doctor Who to Supernatural!!
Join me and Adam (as well as interviews from the con with several attendees, vendors, and guests) as we discuss our time at CONjuration and our love of the fantasy genre! And a tremendous special thanks to Chris and Angela Seckinger for putting on such an amazing con and for all the hard work to make everyone there feel like family.
Check out the rest of my geek coverage and movie reviews at gargylereviews.blogspot.com
music for The Gargyle Podcast by B
Closing out my Halloween Movie Month 2016 (a bit late, obviously) is my coverage of the Frightening Ass Film Festival 6 in Chattanooga, TN. So, join me and Daniel (from Mass Listeria Podcast) as we discuss the numerous films we saw that day, including one of my favorites of the year - Beyond the Gates. And a huge special thanks to Chris Dortch for putting on such an awesome horror film fest!!
Check out the rest of my Halloween Movie Month coverage, as well as the rest of my reviews and geek coverage, at gargylereviews.blogspot.com
music for The Gargyle Podcast by Bensound
Concluding my coverage of the Knoxville Horror Film Festival 8, join me as I discuss horror with a KHFF8 attendee and director of the short film Doll, Michael Peer. And, once again, a huge special thanks to William Mahaffey for putting on such an amazing festival!!
Check out parts 1 & 2 of KHFF8, along with everything else that I do, at gargylereviews.blogspot.com
music for The Gargyle Podcast by Bensound
It's a bit late, but join me and my sometimes-associate Clayton for part 2 of our coverage of the Knoxville Horror Film Fest 8!! In part 2, we discuss films from Saturday that we were not able to see, along with the films that the Missus and I did see on Sunday. Much like part 1, the films that we discuss were an amazing set of short films and feature films from people who know and love horror! Once again, special thanks to William Mahaffey for putting on such an amazing festival!!
Check out part 1 of KHFF8, along with everything else that I do, at gargylereviews.blogspot.com
music for The Gargyle Podcast by Bensound
Join me and my sometimes-associate Clayton as we break down the films that we saw at the Knoxville Horror Film Fest 8. It was an amazing lineup of short films and feature length films from people who know and love horror. Special thanks to William Mahaffey for putting on such an amazing festival!
Clayton and I will be going over the films in-depth, so there are major spoilers for each of the films. If you'd like a quick rundown of which ones we gave "thumbs up" and which ones we gave "thumbs down" without spoilers, check out my post at gargylereviews.blogspot.com
music for The Gargyle Podcast by Bensound
It's that time again...time for Halloween Movie Month!! Once again, I will attempt to watch as many horror movies as I can during the month of October, all in preparation for Halloween! This year, I will have themed days: Musical Monday, Terrible Tuesday, Wicked Wednesday, Toothy Thursday, Foreign Friday, Psycho Saturday, and Silent Sunday. Up next is Foreign Friday and my review of...28 Days Later!!
music for The Gargyle Podcast by Bensound
A couple weeks ago, I went to the Cleveland Geekster, a local Toy and Comic show put on by my friends Ashley Raburn, Rob Alderman, and Ryan Faricelli. It’s a really great show and an awesome place to pick up toys and comics, both recent and vintage. This year, while the Missus was vending some of her crochet work, I spent the majority of the time talking horror with guests and vendors. So, while I have obviously not been successful in getting out a daily horror review for Halloween Movie Month, I am still trying to do my best to bring you as much horror coverage as I can this month! So, at the Cleveland Geekster, I went around asking people:
What is your favorite horror movie?
What makes for a good horror movie?
Who is your favorite monster?
What scares you?
What horror crossover would you like to see?
Do you have any Halloween traditions?
They all had a lot to say about horror and I had a blast talking to each of them, so hopefully you en
It's that time again...time for Halloween Movie Month!! Once again, I will attempt to watch a horror movie every day of October, all in preparation for Halloween! This year, I will have themed days: Musical Monday, Terrible Tuesday, Wicked Wednesday, Toothy Thursday, Foreign Friday, Psycho Saturday, and Silent Sunday. Up next is Toothy Thursday and my review of...Fright Night!!
music for The Gargyle Podcast by Bensound
It's that time again...time for Halloween Movie Month!! Once again, I will attempt to watch a horror movie every day of October, all in preparation for Halloween! This year, I will have themed days: Musical Monday, Terrible Tuesday, Wicked Wednesday, Toothy Thursday, Foreign Friday, Psycho Saturday, and Silent Sunday. Up next is Wicked Wednesday and my review of...Sinister!!
music for The Gargyle Podcast by Bensound
It's that time again...time for Halloween Movie Month!! Once again, I will attempt to watch a horror movie every day of October, all in preparation for Halloween! This year, I will have themed days: Musical Monday, Terrible Tuesday, Wicked Wednesday, Toothy Thursday, Foreign Friday, Psycho Saturday, and Silent Sunday. Up next is Terrible Tuesday and my review of...Hideous!!
music for The Gargyle Podcast by Bensound
It's that time again...time for Halloween Movie Month!! Once again, I will attempt to watch a horror movie every day of October, all in preparation for Halloween! This year, I will have themed days: Musical Monday, Terrible Tuesday, Wicked Wednesday, Toothy Thursday, Foreign Friday, Psycho Saturday, and Silent Sunday. Up next is Musical Monday and my review of...Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street!!
music for The Gargyle Podcast by Bensound
Tired of watching horror movies that suck? Then you should start watching horror movies that suck...BLOOD!!!! If we didn't lose you with the terrible opening pun, then hopefully that means we've driven the stake of interest into your heart! So, join us as we dig our teeth into Nosferatu (1922), Nosferatu (1979), and Shadow of the Vampire!!
As usual, it should be noted that this is more of an in-depth dissection of the films and not necessarily just a "review." There are some major spoilers throughout the second section of the podcast. So, if you haven't seen Nosferatu, Nosferatu, or Shadow of the Vampire, go watch them first and then come back to get our take on them.
music for The Gargyle Podcast by Bensound
It's that time again...time for Halloween Movie Month!! Once again, I will attempt to watch a horror movie every day of October, all in preparation for Halloween! This year, I will have themed days: Musical Monday, Terrible Tuesday, Wicked Wednesday, Toothy Thursday, Foreign Friday, Psycho Saturday, and Silent Sunday. The first Silent Sunday of the month is my review of...The Phantom of the Opera!!
It's that time again...time for Halloween Movie Month!! Once again, I will attempt to watch a horror movie every day of October, all in preparation for Halloween! This year, I will have themed days: Musical Monday, Terrible Tuesday, Wicked Wednesday, Toothy Thursday, Foreign Friday, Psycho Saturday, and Silent Sunday. Starting things off with Psycho Saturday is my review of...Psycho!!
If you are anything like us, you think that there might be an over-saturation of zombies in pop culture right now. And, unfortunately, many of the zombie movies out there are...like the zombies themselves...lacking brains or heart. Thankfully Dead Snow is here to breath some new life into the genre!
It should be noted that this is more of an in-depth dissection of the film and not necessarily just a "review." There are major spoilers throughout. So, if you haven't seen Dead Snow or Dead Snow: Red vs. Dead, go watch them first and then come back to get our take on them.
music for The Gargyle Podcast by Bensound
"If it's in a word or it's in a look, you can't get rid of the Babadook." ... and once you know what the Babadook really is, that statements instantly becomes more terrifying!
So, join Nathan and Lucas as they take an in-depth look into what the Babadook means and why it is such a terrifying movie!
It should be noted that this is more of an in-depth dissection of the meaning of the film and not necessarily just a "review." There are major spoilers throughout. So, if you haven't seen The Babadook yet, go watch it first and then come back to get our take on it.
music for The Gargyle Podcast by Bensound
A few months ago, I was able to go to the Chattanooga Film Festival with Mass Listeria Podcast (masslisteriapodcast.com). For four days, the Majestic Theater in Chattanooga, TN was filled with movie lovers of all shapes and sizes. Comedy, horror, drama, documentaries, short films, animated films, independent films...the festival had movies for everyone, regardless of tastes. For the last episode of my coverage of the Chattanooga Film Festival 2016 is my review of: "Honey Buddies (Buddymoon)"
music for The Gargyle Podcast by Bensound
A few months ago, I was able to go to the Chattanooga Film Festival with Mass Listeria Podcast (masslisteriapodcast.com). For four days, the Majestic Theater in Chattanooga, TN was filled with movie lovers of all shapes and sizes. Comedy, horror, drama, documentaries, short films, animated films, independent films...the festival had movies for everyone, regardless of tastes. For the next several podcasts, I will be providing my reviews of what I saw at the film fest. up next: "American Genre Film Archive Presents: Don't Panic"
music for The Gargyle Podcast by Bensound
A few months ago, I was able to go to the Chattanooga Film Festival with Mass Listeria Podcast (masslisteriapodcast.com). For four days, the Majestic Theater in Chattanooga, TN was filled with movie lovers of all shapes and sizes. Comedy, horror, drama, documentaries, short films, animated films, independent films...the festival had movies for everyone, regardless of tastes. For the next several podcasts, I will be providing my reviews of what I saw at the film fest. up next: "Boy & the World"
music for The Gargyle Podcast by Bensound
A few months ago, I was able to go to the Chattanooga Film Festival with Mass Listeria Podcast (masslisteriapodcast.com). For four days, the Majestic Theater in Chattanooga, TN was filled with movie lovers of all shapes and sizes. Comedy, horror, drama, documentaries, short films, animated films, independent films...the festival had movies for everyone, regardless of tastes. For the next several podcasts, I will be providing my reviews of what I saw at the film fest. up next: "The Maltese Guinea Pig"
music for The Gargyle Podcast by Bensound
A few months ago, I was able to go to the Chattanooga Film Festival with Mass Listeria Podcast (masslisteriapodcast.com). For four days, the Majestic Theater in Chattanooga, TN was filled with movie lovers of all shapes and sizes. Comedy, horror, drama, documentaries, short films, animated films, independent films...the festival had movies for everyone, regardless of tastes. For the next several podcasts, I will be providing my reviews of what I saw at the film fest. up next: "Everything is Terrible"
music for The Gargyle Podcast by Bensound
A few months ago, I was able to go to the Chattanooga Film Festival with Mass Listeria Podcast (masslisteriapodcast.com). For four days, the Majestic Theater in Chattanooga, TN was filled with movie lovers of all shapes and sizes. Comedy, horror, drama, documentaries, short films, animated films, independent films...the festival had movies for everyone, regardless of tastes. For the next several podcasts, I will be providing my reviews of what I saw at the film fest. up next: "Bleeding Skull Presents: Scary Tales"
music for The Gargyle Podcast by Bensound
A few months ago, I was able to go to the Chattanooga Film Festival with Mass Listeria Podcast (masslisteriapodcast.com). For four days, the Majestic Theater in Chattanooga, TN was filled with movie lovers of all shapes and sizes. Comedy, horror, drama, documentaries, short films, animated films, independent films...the festival had movies for everyone, regardless of tastes. For the next several podcasts, I will be providing my reviews of what I saw at the film fest. up next: "The Sad and Beautiful World of Sparklehorse"
music for The Gargyle Podcast by Bensound
A few months ago, I was able to go to the Chattanooga Film Festival with Mass Listeria Podcast (masslisteriapodcast.com). For four days, the Majestic Theater in Chattanooga, TN was filled with movie lovers of all shapes and sizes. Comedy, horror, drama, documentaries, short films, animated films, independent films...the festival had movies for everyone, regardless of tastes. For the next several podcasts, I will be providing my reviews of what I saw at the film fest. up next: "Hi, How are You, Daniel Johnston"
music for The Gargyle Podcast by Bensound
A few months ago, I was able to go to the Chattanooga Film Festival with Mass Listeria Podcast (masslisteriapodcast.com). For four days, the Majestic Theater in Chattanooga, TN was filled with movie lovers of all shapes and sizes. Comedy, horror, drama, documentaries, short films, animated films, independent films...the festival had movies for everyone, regardless of tastes. For the next several podcasts, I will be providing my reviews of what I saw at the film fest. up next: "The Invitation"
music for The Gargyle Podcast by Bensound
A few months ago, I was able to go to the Chattanooga Film Festival with Mass Listeria Podcast (masslisteriapodcast.com). For four days, the Majestic Theater in Chattanooga, TN was filled with movie lovers of all shapes and sizes. Comedy, horror, drama, documentaries, short films, animated films, independent films...the festival had movies for everyone, regardless of tastes. For the next several podcasts, I will be providing my reviews of what I saw at the film fest. up next: "Too Late" music for The Gargyle Podcast by Bensound
A few months ago, I was able to go to the Chattanooga Film Festival with Mass Listeria Podcast (masslisteriapodcast.com). For four days, the Majestic Theater in Chattanooga, TN was filled with movie lovers of all shapes and sizes. Comedy, horror, drama, documentaries, short films, animated films, independent films...the festival had movies for everyone, regardless of tastes. For the next several podcasts, I will be providing my reviews of what I saw at the film fest. up next: "It was a Colossal Teenage Movie Machine!: The AIP Story" music for The Gargyle Podcast by Bensound
A few months ago, I was able to go to the Chattanooga Film Festival with Mass Listeria Podcast (masslisteriapodcast.com). For four days, the Majestic Theater in Chattanooga, TN was filled with movie lovers of all shapes and sizes. Comedy, horror, drama, documentaries, short films, animated films, independent films...the festival had movies for everyone, regardless of tastes. For the next several podcasts, I will be providing my reviews of what I saw at the film fest. up next: "Baskin" music for The Gargyle Podcast by Bensound
A few months ago, I was able to go to the Chattanooga Film Festival with Mass Listeria Podcast (masslisteriapodcast.com). For four days, the Majestic Theater in Chattanooga, TN was filled with movie lovers of all shapes and sizes. Comedy, horror, drama, documentaries, short films, animated films, independent films...the festival had movies for everyone, regardless of tastes. For the next several podcasts, I will be providing my reviews of what I saw at the film fest. up next: "Redneck Night with Joe Bob Briggs" music for The Gargyle Podcast by Bensound
A few months ago, I was able to go to the Chattanooga Film Festival with Mass Listeria Podcast (masslisteriapodcast.com). For four days, the Majestic Theater in Chattanooga, TN was filled with movie lovers of all shapes and sizes. Comedy, horror, drama, documentaries, short films, animated films, independent films...the festival had movies for everyone, regardless of tastes. For the next several podcasts, I will be providing my reviews of the movies I saw. up next: "Show Yourself" music for The Gargyle Podcast by Bensound
A few months ago, I was able to go to the Chattanooga Film Festival with Mass Listeria Podcast (masslisteriapodcast.com). For four days, the Majestic Theater in Chattanooga, TN was filled with movie lovers of all shapes and sizes. Comedy, horror, drama, documentaries, short films, animated films, independent films...the festival had movies for everyone, regardless of tastes. For the next several podcasts, I will be providing my reviews of the movies I saw. up next: "Demon" music for The Gargyle Podcast by Bensound
A few months ago, I was able to go to the Chattanooga Film Festival with Mass Listeria Podcast (masslisteriapodcast.com). For four days, the Majestic Theater in Chattanooga, TN was filled with movie lovers of all shapes and sizes. Comedy, horror, drama, documentaries, short films, animated films, independent films...the festival had movies for everyone, regardless of tastes. For the next several podcasts, I will be providing my reviews of the movies I saw. up next: "Men and Chicken" music for The Gargyle Podcast by Bensound
A few months ago, I was able to go to the Chattanooga Film Festival with Mass Listeria Podcast (masslisteriapodcast.com). For four days, the Majestic Theater in Chattanooga, TN was filled with movie lovers of all shapes and sizes. Comedy, horror, drama, documentaries, short films, animated films, independent films...the festival had movies for everyone, regardless of tastes. For the next several podcasts, I will be providing my reviews of the movies I saw. up next: "Only Yesterday" music for The Gargyle Podcast by Bensound
A few months ago, I was able to go to the Chattanooga Film Festival with Mass Listeria Podcast (masslisteriapodcast.com). For four days, the Majestic Theater in Chattanooga, TN was filled with movie lovers of all shapes and sizes. Comedy, horror, drama, documentaries, short films, animated films, independent films...the festival had movies for everyone, regardless of tastes. For the next several podcasts, I will be providing my reviews of the movies I saw. Up next: "February (The Blackcoat's Daughter)" music for The Gargyle Podcast by Bensound
A few months ago, I was able to go to the Chattanooga Film Festival with Mass Listeria Podcast (masslisteriapodcast.com). For four days, the Majestic Theater in Chattanooga, TN was filled with movie lovers of all shapes and sizes. Comedy, horror, drama, documentaries, short films, animated films, independent films...the festival had movies for everyone, regardless of tastes. For the next several podcasts, I will be providing my reviews of the movies I saw. Up next (first review posted at gargylereviews.blogspot.com) is "Bad Blood." music for The Gargyle Podcast by Bensound