Cinema Cauldron: Recent Episodes
Madeline Blondeau
Vincenzo Natali's (Cube) 2009 sci-fi horror film, Splice, rattled the nerves of the few that saw it on release. It was bloody, sexual, and - above all - had scary things to say about American parenting culture.
Today, I'll revisit Dark Castle Productions' first flop and consider some of the themes at play. Is the film's lukewarm reputation deserved, or is there something here worth probing deeper?
CW: CSA, Abuse, Sexual Assault
follow Madeline @VHSVVitch
follow the show @cinemacauldron
please consider leaving a tip on Ko-Fi!
I Spit On Your Grave is one of the most controversial films ever made. On this episode, I'll briefly discuss the history of the original and its infamous reception. Plus: I'll walk you through each entry of this notorious franchise - and make my case for it as a feminist horror masterpiece.
Support the show on Ko-Fi!
Follow Madeline on Twitter @VHSVVitch!
Read this episode's script - plus sources, films watched, and music credits - on Revue!
This episode is dedicated to the memory of Nikki Kuhnhausen.
Koji Suzuki's 1991 Ring introduced Sadako - an telepathic victim of a hate crime that, in her anger, doomed the world with a deadly curse.
But over 30 years later, her origin story has been mostly forgotten.
On today's Cinema Cauldron, I compare and contrast the various adaptations of Ring, discuss the origins and inspirations behind Sadako, and talk about how her original depiction mirrors real-life deaths of trans and intersex folks.
CW: Murder, Sexual Assault, Transphobia.
Music selections from Ring and Rasen.
follow Madeline @VHSVVitch
follow the show @cinemacauldron
please consider leaving a tip on Ko-Fi!
Rose Glass' gnostic chiller Saint Maud went unseen by most, and unsung by many.
On this episode, we take a deep dive into the A24 gem, and address some of the little-discussed aspects of the movie. Included are discussions of Borderline Personality Disorder, the affect of Catholic doctrine on mentally ill queer folk, and an honest discussion on sexual assault.
Help me buy better equipment on Ko-Fi!
Follow Bella on Twitter @VHSVVitch
Follow the show on Twitter @CinemaCauldron
Episode includes excerpts from Welcome to the NHK and Neon Genesis Evangelion.
Royalty-Free music by Ahjay Stalino, Francisco Alvear, Eugenio Minnini, Diego Nava
This week, I'm joined my the illustrious Rocketto Punchi co-host, Russell Alterman, to discuss Scooby-Doo in the 1980s! We dive deep into three of the best Scooby films of all time: Boo Brothers, Ghoul School, and Reluctant Werewolf.
Follow the show on Twitter @cinemacauldron
Follow Bella on Twitter @vhsvvitch
Follow Russell on Twitter @
After Roland Emmerich's Godzilla prompted a soft reset for the aging series, Toho took their most iconic creature for a five-movie trip down memory lane - and into the future.
Rocketto Punchi co-host Preston McFarlin joins me this week to discuss Godzilla vs Megaguirus, Godzilla Against Mecha-Godzilla, and Godzilla: Final Wars.
Follow Bella on Twitter @vhsvvitch
Follow Preston on Twitter @robotechnology
Follow + share the show on Twitter @cinemacauldron
To talk about The Matrix Resurrections, we need to talk about The Animatrix and Enter The Matrix - two of the most important parts of the series. I dig deep into the franchise's philosophy, the idea of choice versus destiny, and why Niobe is one of the most important characters in the series. Enjoy.
Word Count: 7,017
Music by Alejandro Magana, Eugenio Mininni, Arulo, and Diego Nava.
If you like the show, please consider sharing it on social media to spread the word.
Follow me on Twitter @VHSVVitch
Follow the show @CinemaCauldron
Subscribe to my Revue for episode scripts
Last year was the worst. Let's talk about some of my favorite movies from it. That's right - a rote, standard Top 5... with a special announcement at the end. Sound good?
Music by Brock Hewitt, Richard Smithson, and Walz.
Opening track "Chill Bro" by Diego Nava
Follow Bella on Twitter @VHSVVitch
Follow the show on Twitter @CinemaCauldron
Subscribe to the newsletter for scripts and more
In the season of the spirit, I visit the sex-crazed Christploitation classic Evil Come Evil Go, where a Tammy Faye knockoff seduces lesbians and kills "evil men." Afterwards, I take a dreamy boat ride to Lesbian Island in Girl Slaves of Morgana le Fay and revisit Jose Larraz with his twisted slasher classic, Edge of the Axe.
follow Bella on Twitter + Letterboxd @VHSVVitch
follow the show + subscribe to scripts @ihatemoviespod
First up this week: a Larraz double feature! I discuss the director's beloved slasher classic Deadly Manor, and sink my teeth into vampire exploitation classic Vampyres.
Then - I discuss unsung cult gem, Lemora, which spent years being attacked by the Catholic church for anti-Christian values. As it turns out, it's a surprisingly tender and effective coming-of-age story about a queer Southern girl. (Oh, and it's about being sort-of groomed by an immortal vampire mommy. That too.)
follow Bella on Twitter + Letterboxd @VHSVVitch
follow the show + subscribe to scripts @ihatemoviespod
Roberta Findlay's unflinching Janie is a harrowing but worthwhile examination of women perpetuating misogyny under patriarchy - not to mention a damn scary flick. Meanwhile, Hi I'm Mary Mary takes YouTube horror to new heights, while Scooby-Doo gets back to basics in Legend of the Vampire!
Leave me a review, pretty please!
Follow the show on Twitter!
Follow me on Twitter! <3
Utter cinematic disaster Vampyros Lesbos does a bad job at being about either of those things, while Daughters of Darkness delivers a gothic lesbian parable about the virtues of killing men. Plus! Netflix apologizes for Cowboy Bebop with Rebecca Hall's stunning Passing.
Vampyros Lesbos trailer
Daughters of Darkness trailer
Passing trailer
Follow me on Twitter!
Follow the show on Twitter!
My lovely partner joins me for a drunken walk down memory lane! We reminisce on the movies that brought us together, then dish on eccentric cult classic Yaji & Kita: Midnight Pilgrims and the first good Marvel movie, Eternals!
Paranormal Activity surprises with an A24-infused thrill ride, Return to Horror High delivers meta thrills years before Scream, and I Still Know What You Did Last Summer is a racist, derivative embarrassment.
Daphne still shines in the fan favorite 13 Ghosts of Scooby Doo, and Curse of the 13th Ghost wraps up the cliffhanger over 20 years later. Plus, Scooby Doo and Courage team up to face their fears in Straight Outta Nowhere.
Halloween Kills disgraces one of horror's most hallowed franchises, Jennifer's Body is a disappointing and regressive rewatch, and The Devonsville Terror is a subversive occult thriller that takes a bold stance against rape culture.
A Nightmare on Elm Street is still a horror classic about believing women, and Dead Heat is an undead twist on the buddy cop formula, but for most of this episode, I revisit Walter Murch's classic surrealist children's film, Return to Oz.
The Addams Family 2 (2021) follows the first movie with a raw and honest story about strained family relationships, which could also be said of the classic horror hit, The Others (2001). Meanwhile, Slumber Party Massacre III (1990) remains a haunting black sheep that's very much worth revisiting. (#JusticeForMaria)
Go follow Secondhand Film Critics on Twitter! Amazing people with a wonderful show.
The Goonies is a blockbuster disappointment with unfortunate depictions of race and disability, Breeders delivers a chilling and harrowing look at sexual assault through a sci-fi lens, and Night of the Creeps is pulpy fun with artistic panache in spades.
Malignant is a tired and creaky studio exercise that plays it safe, while Highlander 2: The Quickening remains a misunderstood bit of fun speculative fiction. Also: Sion Sono rides again with one of his best yet, Prisoners of the Ghostland!
Female Werewolf is another dreamic win for indie horror maestro Chris Alexander, Jean Rollin's Fascination remains as unnerving and erotic as it was decades ago, and The Rage: Carrie 2 is definitely better than Brian De Palma's leering original. Plus: knife cocks!
Evil Bong is a puff puff pass, but Necropolis Legion is a queer horror smash. Plus: some thoughts on Tarsem Singh's The Fall. Be sure to stay tuned for a special announcement!
Necropolis is full of sleazy and satisfying fun, while Spider-Man offers familiar comforts and American Werewolf In Paris is actually, in fact, extremely good.
CW: Suicide, Sexual Assault
Natalie Dormer recreates the Lonely Island song, "Japan" in the hokey and insensitive The Forest, while ancient witches help damsels in distress kill rapist rednecks in If She Screams and John Cusack charms his way into your heart with a bullet in Grosse Pointe Blank. Also, I watched Hudson Hawk again. I'm sorry.
The Living Dead Girl, Season of the Witch, and Summer of Fear all have two things in common: they're extremely pro-woman and extremely nerve-wracking horror gems.
Psycho Goreman and Idle Hands offer gory laughs for a cult crowd, while The Suicide Squad tries to play in that space and comes up short. Also, I learn a valuable life lesson about not assuming every film is "one size fits all."