The Videostore Junkies: Recent Episodes
The Videostore Junkies
A podcast about movies, and the experience of watching them. Every episode our panel of film addicts will get together to discuss a different film. From the actors and the characters they portray, to the creative forces behind the camera, we discuss every aspect of movies and, ultimately, pass our judgement on them.
Visit us on the internets at www.videostorejunkies.com, or on the twitter at https://twitter.com/VideoJunkiesPod for more Friday night trips to the videostore!
In this episode of "Weekend Recap," we discuss three thrilling films: the action-packed "Deadpool & Wolverine," the eerie found-footage horror "They're Watching," and the chilling urban legend-based "The Bridge Curse." Tune in for our quick takes on these exciting movies and see which ones are worth watching!
In this episode, we travel back to the 1950s to review the cult classic horror film "Frankenstein's Daughter" (1958). Join us as we dissect this vintage gem, exploring its plot, characters, and the unique charm that makes it a standout. We discuss the film's campy yet captivating take on the iconic monster story and share our thoughts on the performances, special effects, and overall impact. Tune in for a nostalgic trip to the golden age of B-movies and our verdict on whether "Frankenstein's Daughter" still holds up today.
Music by Roman Oriekhov from Pixabay
In this episode, we travel back to the 1950s to review the cult classic horror film "Frankenstein's Daughter" (1958). Join us as we dissect this vintage gem, exploring its plot, characters, and the unique charm that makes it a standout. We discuss the film's campy yet captivating take on the iconic monster story and share our thoughts on the performances, special effects, and overall impact. Tune in for a nostalgic trip to the golden age of B-movies and our verdict on whether "Frankenstein's Daughter" still holds up today.
Music by Roman Oriekhov from Pixabay
In this episode of "Weekend Recap," we dive into the highlights of an action-packed weekend. Bill shares his experiences and favorite moments from a local convention. Then, we switch gears to discuss a trio of intriguing movies: "Thelma" (2024), which follows 93-year-old Thelma Post on her treacherous journey across Los Angeles, with help from a friend and his motorized scooter; "The Golem," a chilling horror film rooted in Jewish folklore; and "Longlegs," a suspenseful thriller that keeps you on the edge of your seat.
Music by Roman Oriekhov from Pixabay
Get ready to shiver as we preview the scariest upcoming TV series and the terror that awaits. From supernatural mysteries to video game adaptations, we'll have you on the edge of your seat
The history of cinema is a history of technological advancement. From silent, black and white films at the advent of the medium, to sleek, digital spectacles today, filmmakers have been using new technologies to bring their visions to life for well over a century. But will there be a time when that technology replaces the filmmakers themselves? Join us for a discussion about AI and filmmaking, as we try to find the final word on whether movies will soon be a medium ruled entirely by machines.
Too many tips on your queue? Here are some recommendations that you can't find streaming.
The holidays are almost here, so of course you need to start stocking up on things to watch to studiously avoid your family during the big get-together. "Sorry Grandma, I can't listen to another story about how you had to boil your shoelaces during the war, I'm watching X right now". Although replace "X" with one of this week's recommendations, because grandma probably heard that X features the silhouette of a big swinging richard, and you KNOW she's going sit down and try to watch it with you if that's what's on. We see you, Grandma.
You've probably heard that every cigarette you smoke takes 7 minutes off of your life, but did you know that every episode of Queue Tips you listen to actually ADDS 7 minutes to your life? Put us on repeat and you'll live forever!
Wait...WHAT?! Another episode of Queue Tips? Didn't we just do this like a week ago? Wow, we must be REALLY committed to bringing you the greatest recommendations on what to watch on streaming! You should really subscribe and give us a 5-star review wherever you listen to podcasts to thank us for our tireless dedication!
Wow, is it Friday already? Why don't you call in sick and get a head-start on some of our recommendations for this weekend - you deserve it! Except for Bill's second pick - NO ONE deserves THAT.
Halloween is just around the corner, which means it's time to wrap up our rankings of every film in the Friday the 13th series with our second (and last) episode in the series! Join us as we talk about the BEST of the series, and why we ranked each film where we did!
Wow, is it the weekend already? Seems like a good time to catch up on all the movies and tv you missed out on this week while you were busy toiling your soul away at the pen factory!
Ask any horror fan what the "Big 3" franchises are, and most of them will answer the same: Halloween, A Nightmare on Elm Street, and...Friday the 13th. The past two Halloweens (the season, not the movies), we've ranked all the films in the first two series. Now, get ready for our definitive rankings of the series about a boy named Jason...Jason Voorhees. Which films made the top cut, and which ones ended up on the bottom of the (body) pile? Tune in now to our first episode as we start breaking this iconic horror series down and ranking every installment!
Oh wow, it's a super-spooky Friday the 13th episode! Listen now or you might get cursed! Or maybe listening is what will actually curse you! Your fate is in your own hands!
EXTRA! EXTRA! GET YOUR QUEUE TIPS HERE! MICROWAVE MASSACRE KILLER STRIKES AGAIN! POLICE RAID FRANKENSTEIN ISLAND! SAND SHARK ATTACKS ON THE RISE!
Part one of Bill Mulligan's Dragon Con presentation:Unseen Horrors: Greatest Films Never Made
In our first episode, we discussed the 5 worst Nightmare on Elm Street movies - but how do we rank the 4 BEST films in the series? Tune in now to see where the final 4 films ended up on our list - and why they ended up where they did!
In what has become a Halloween tradition, the Videostore Junkies have reconvened this October to rank every film in a beloved horror franchise. This year, we're tackling all 9 films in the Nightmare on Elm Street series. From the 1984 original which opened a new chapter in cinematic horror, to the 2010 remake which abruptly ended the book (thus far), we discuss every film in this series, and how they stack up against each other. In this first episode, we'll cover our 5 least-favorite films. Does our list line up with yours? Do we have any unexpected entries in our "worst of" list? Listen now to find out!
A controversial film when it was released in 2007, Frank Darabont's The Mist remains a divisive film. Like Darabont's previous outings with Stephen King adaptations - The Shawshank Redemption and The Green Mile - The Mist manages to add to the source material while still being a faithful adaptation. But is it TOO faithful? And how about that ENDING?!
Tonight, we take a deep dive into one of the most interesting monster movies of the 2000s. We'll discuss how this film came to exist, which actors we think nail their parts, and where we think this monster-mash comes up short. Join us, if you dare, as we venture into out of the videostore, and into...The Mist.
Friday the 13th is right around the corner - and the REAL horror is the confusing glut of options that you have to watch on streaming this weekend! Luckily, we're bringing you 8 new recommendations, including award-winning television, wilderness horror, and cursed summer camps!
It's another thrilling episode of Remake Redemption, where we discuss an original film and its remake, and pass judgement on them both! How does the original stand up today? Did the remake deserve to get made?
In this, our second installment of the Remake Redemption feature, we look at The Thing From Another World - the 1951 horror film which would inspire a generation of filmmakers in the 70s and 80s - and John Carpenter's The Thing - the 1982 film from one of those inspired filmmakers, which would go on to inspire another generation of filmmakers in the 21st century.
As an added bonus, we also discuss John W. Campbell Jr.'s "Who Goes There?", the novella on which these films were based, and the lasting legacy of this story across a variety of media. Strap your flamethrower on and get ready - it may be nearly summer, but we're settling in for a long winter with these chilling classics!
The weekend is almost here - and you don't already know what you're going to be watching on your favorite streaming services?! Not to worry - we have you covered! This weekend we serve up 8 great recommendations, ranging from classic 50s horror, to wilderness horror, to a group of creepy kids who REALLY like their corn!
Another week, another heaping batch of recommendations for what to watch on your favorite streaming services! In this installment we bring you picks for time-bending horror, classic standup comedy, and some of the best 50s creature features ever made! Listen now to find out what YOU should be watching on steaming this weekend!
The recent passing of actor William Hurt resulted in two common themes in the assessment of his life and career: he was a brilliant actor, and very often a terrible person. Which means it's somewhat appropriate this his first film role was as an extremely imperfect man who is driven to succeed in his field.
Altered States inhabits an interesting place in the history of cinema. A relatively big-budget film directed by a director who was, at best, on the fringes of the mainstream, and written by a writer who, in an extremely rare instance, arguably had more creative control over the project than the director, Altered States was destined to be something that wasn't quite like anything audiences had seen before - or, arguably, have seen since.
In this episode, we discuss the history of the film - including the clashes between director Ken Russell and writer Paddy Chayefsky, and debate the ultimate meaning of a movie that creates more questions than it answers, and ultimately leaves the audience seeking a deeper truth - not unlike Eddie Jessup himself.
You did it. You survived another week, and now it's time to relax with some good ole streaming entertainment. But what to watch? You've been so busy this week, you didn't queue anything up! Well good news, sportsfan, because we have 6 exciting recommendations lined up for you! From new crime dramas, to classic crime dramas, to positively TITANIC horror films, you'll likely find something in our picks to watch this weekend! And if not, there's always next week! No, seriously, please come back next week, we miss you.
It's almost the weekend, which means that it's time to queue up more entertainment for your viewing pleasure! And boy, do we have some good suggestions this week! From animated superheroes, to vintage Canadian horror, to Ice Cube and David Duchovny (though not in the same movie, unfortunately), we've got half a dozen potential goldmines of filmed entertainment for you this week!
Not sure what to watch this weekend? Luckily, we have another hot and fresh episode of queue tips for you! Our recommendations for this week include British comedies, art house vampires, and...Brendan Fraser?!
We interrupt our regularly scheduled programming to bring you an exciting preview of the newest podcast from the creators of The Videostore Junkies: Living Under the Gun, A Cop Rock-cast. The first (and only) podcast dedicated to the classic 90s musical police drama which tragically only lasted a single season, Living Under the Gun is a deep-dive into one of the greatest - and most overlooked - television shows of all time. Each episode we'll cover an episode of Cop Rock, as well as getting into some of the background details of the show, and the creative force behind it.
We hope you'll enjoy this special preview episode, and then join us regularly for new episodes of Living Under the Gun!
It's a new month, which means we've got 8 entirely new and unique picks for what to watch on your favorite streaming services this weekend! From animated fantasy films, to eccentric comedies, to Z-grade horror, we've got you covered when it comes to starting your April off right!
Sharks, martial arts, and some of the most amazing work with Lego you'll ever see - as always, our recommendations for what to watch on streaming for the weekend of 3/25/2022 run the gamut! Tune in now to get half a dozen picks for what to watch on your favorite streaming services this weekend!
The year was 1958, and one of the most terrifying horror films ever made was about to be unleashed on unsuspecting audiences. The Blob would go on to become a cult - and pop culture - phenomenon, generating big dollars at the box office and a legacy that would last a generation.
The year was 1988, and one of the most terrifying horror films ever made was about to be unleashed on unsuspecting audiences. The Blob would go on to bomb at the box office, and be all but forgotten shortly after its release.
Remakes are a tricky - and often, unpopular - prospect. If you follow modern film discourse, you've probably heard people lament the number of remakes that major studious churn out, and complain that the well has run dry on original ideas. But remakes have been a thing almost as long as motion pictures have been a thing - and sometimes, they're even good!
In the first episode of our new feature, Remake Redemption, we take a look at an original film and its remake, discussing both films independently. Then, we pass final judgement on the remake - did the original film warrant a remake, and does the remake deserve to exist? Join us as we answer these questions about The Blob 1958 and The Blob 1988!
It's another exciting installment of Queue Tips, featuring deadly vampires, deadlier blobs, and even deadlier...llamas?! All that, plus some quality background-watching reality TV - it's all in this week's Queue Tips!
It's almost the weekend, which means it's time for another generous helping of Queue Tips! This week, our recommendations cover new TV, a creepy Stephen King adaptation, and the best Marvel film ever made!
(The year was 1994, and Hollywood was searching for ways to tap the emerging reservoir of videogame properties which were capturing the hearts and minds of young moviegoers worldwide.
1993's Super Mario Bros. feature film had seen little success at the box-office, but that didn't stop major movie studios from snapping up other popular videogame properties in the hopes of turning them into the next big film franchise. Enter the smash-hit arcade beat-em-up Double Dragon, a game that spawned two sequels and multiple home ports in record time.
Would this be the first hit videogame adaptation, succeeding where the Super Mario Bros. film had failed? It absolutely would not! Bombing worse than its predecessor, Double Dragon would ultimately fail financially and critically, leaving behind a legacy of being all but forgotten. In this episode we do a deep dive into how the Double Dragon film came to be in the first place, why it failed, and whether it deserves the reputation which has followed it since its release.
In this week's installment of Queue Tips, we serve up a whopping EIGHT recommendations for what to watch on streaming this weekend - including classic horror films, classic horror...soap operas?!...and a film presented in its original 3D, from back when you had to wear those blue and red 3D glasses.
It's another beautiful weekend, which means that Renee, Paul, and Zachary have found a half-dozen quality streaming options that you can use as an excuse to not go outside! This week we offer suggestions from a recently departed filmmaking legend, an up-and-coming French director, and two creature features set on islands! MONSTER islands, that is!
If you're a movie fan, the Superbowl is a pretty exciting event. Who cares about The Big Game - this is the time of year that some of the biggest movie trailers drop! So of course, the Videostore Junkies have opinions on all of theme, and we've convened to discuss our initial reactions - and share some theories - on some of the most anticipated films (and shows) of the year. Join us as we discuss the trailers for Nope, Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power, Jurassic World: Dominion, Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.
It was a beloved films series - and a career - that had spanned just over 40 years. With the 2009 release of Survival of the Dead, George A. Romero would culminate a life's work with a genre that he had helped create and evolve over the course of 6 films.
Over a decade later, how does the final film in the Living Dead series hold up? Is it a classic of the genre, like the earlier films, or a throwaway installment like the previous one? In this episode we discuss the merits of George Romero's final film, and how it fits into the overall legacy of the Living Dead series.
Queue Tips returns! Once again, Zachary, Renee, and Paul give you half a dozen recommendations for what to watch on streaming this weekend - including creature features, foul-mouthed heroes, and dark comedies!
It took George A. Romero 20 years to make a new Living Dead film after 1985's Day of the Dead, but after the 2005 release of Land of the Dead it would be a scant 2 years until his next installment in the series. And Diary of the Dead wasn't just a new Living Dead film - it was Romero's first foray into the style of found footage.
How does Diary, a film released in the same era as Cloverfield and [REC], hold up after almost 15 years? Is this a worthy installment in one of the most beloved horror film series of all time, or had Romero run out of things to say about the living dead by the late 2000s? Join us as we dissect the characters, plot, acting, and filmmaking of the 5th Living Dead film!
Some people think we spend all our time watching movies, but those people are wrong. Between movies, we also find time to rewatch some of our favorite TV shows - which is why we launched an entire sister-podcast dedicated to talking about them!
Cult of the Cathode Ray is all about taking deep dives into entire seasons of our favorite TV shows. Each episode of this weekly podcast will feature a discussion cover every aspect of a single episode of TV - the characters, the plotlines, and everything else which brings us back for regular rewatches (CotCR is also a spoiler-free podcast, so feel free to join us on your FIRST viewing of any of the shows we discuss).
Season 1 of Cult of the Cathode Ray features 6 episodes of coverage on one of our favorite seasons of TV from the 2010s - Season 1 of The Walking Dead. Join us as we cover Frank Darabont's adaptation of the smash-hit comic, exploring the world of The Walking Dead and the characters who live - and quite often, die - in it.
The year was 2005, and the popularity of zombies was exploding. Books, movies, comics, games - every medium seemed to have new offerings featuring the living dead. So where would the creative force which had practically invented the subgenre fit in?
It had been 20 years since the last Living Dead film - the biggest gap in the series - and George A. Romero was finally delivering his long-awaited followup to Day of the Dead. How would Land of the Dead hold up against his former masterpieces? Did Romero have more to say about the Living Dead in the new century, or was the man who helped invent zombies out of creative undead juices?
Join us as we discuss the merits of this film, from the performances of the Living to the portrayal of the Dead, as we continue our in-depth coverage of one of the most important horror series of all time!
We're back just in time for Halloween itself with the second part of our definitive rankings of the entire Halloween film series! You know our bottom picks from the last episode - but what are the BEST films in this decade-spanning franchise? Listen now to find out, then let us know if we hit the mark - or if we're worse at our jobs than the security detail at Smith's Grove Sanitarium!
A small, independent horror film in 1978 seems like an inauspicious start for one of the most popular horror franchises of all time, but anyone whose seen John Carpenter's Halloween probably understands why filmmakers have spent the last 40+ trying to chase the original film.
Now, with the release of the latest installment, the Videostore Junkies set out to create a definitive ranking of every film in the series. Where will your favorite Halloween films fall? Are there any surprises in our top - and bottom - 3? Listen now to part one of a 2-part series to find out!
For the weekend of 9/3/21, Renee, Zachary, Paul, and Bill give you 10 recommendations for your holiday-weekend viewing pleasure, featuring death metal murders, Korean crime thrillers, and one of the greatest Stephen King adaptations ever committed to film.
The advent of online streaming services has given the average film fan instant access to more viewing options than at any time in history (no matter how big your local videostore was), but sometimes it can be hard to settle on something to watch. But fear not, the Videostore Junkies have you covered, offering up a fresh batch of picks every week that you can add to your queue on almost every major streaming platform.
The year was 1985 and one of the most important horror films of the decade was arriving in theaters - but how many people realized it at the time? After his seminal works with Night of the Living Dead and Dawn of the Dead, George A. Romero was creating a new vision of the living dead - but it was one that was not entirely appreciated in its time.
Now, over 35 years later, we look back at Day of the Dead - somewhat maligned when it was originally released, is the third film in the original "Living Dead" trilogy worthy of the criticism which it once evoked, or have we come to appreciate it as an important installment in one of the most important horror series of all time? Find out, on this episode!
For the weekend of 8/27/21, Renee, Zachary, Paul, and Bill give you 8 recommendations for your weekend viewing pleasure, featuring damn dirty apes, killer robots, and brand-new television comedy
The advent of online streaming services has given the average film fan instant access to more viewing options than at any time in history (no matter how big your local videostore was), but sometimes it can be hard to settle on something to watch. But fear not, the Videostore Junkies have you covered, offering up a fresh batch of picks every week that you can add to your queue on almost every major streaming platform.
For the weekend of 8/20/21, Renee, Zachary, and Paul give you 6 recommendations for your weekend viewing pleasure, featuring killer dolls, off-brand Bond, and a star-studded action comedy.
The advent of online streaming services has given the average film fan instant access to more viewing options than at any time in history (no matter how big your local videostore was), but sometimes it can be hard to settle on something to watch. But fear not, the Videostore Junkies have you covered, offering up a fresh batch of p
A lot has changed since the release of Joel Schumacher's Falling Down in 1993. And while the sociopolitical atmosphere may be different than it was 28 years ago, good filmmaking remains a constant across the decades. So, how does this tense, LA-based drama hold up in an era that is in many ways much different from the one in which it was created?
On our latest deep-dive episode, we pick Falling Down apart and discuss what works about this film, what doesn't, and how the film has aged since it was originally released.
For the weekend of 8/13/21, Renee, Zachary, and Paul give you 6 recommendations for your weekend viewing pleasure, featuring freaky killers, classic indy sci-fi, and bone-chilling boogeymen.
The advent of online streaming services has given the average film fan instant access to more viewing options than at any time in history (no matter how big your local videostore was), but sometimes it can be hard to settle on something to watch. But fear not, the Videostore Junkies have you covered, offering up a fresh batch of picks every week that you can add to your queue on almost every major streaming platform.
The DC Cinematic Universe has seen a lot of ups and downs - some would argue far more downs than ups - so it makes sense that Warner Bros hired what should be a sure thing: James Gunn, the writer and director of Guardians of the Galaxy. Giving him what appears to be free reign of their Suicide Squad property, Gunn is a gamble to get DC films back on track - both critically and financially.
So how does The Suicide Squad fare - does James Gunn manage to steer the franchise in the right direction, or is this a failed attempt to chase the success of similar Marvel films? Listen to our spoiler-laden review to find out what we liked, what we hated, and what we ultimately thought of this anti-hero actionfest!
For the weekend of 8/6/21, Renee, Zachary, and Paul give you 6 recommendations for your weekend viewing pleasure, featuring runaway trains, government conspiracies, and dangerous stepfathers.
The advent of online streaming services has given the average film fan instant access to more viewing options than at any time in history (no matter how big your local videostore was), but sometimes it can be hard to settle on something to watch. But fear not, the Videostore Junkies have you covered, offering up a fresh batch of picks every week that you can add to your queue on almost every major streaming platform.
A decade after the release of Night of the Living Dead, George A. Romero's debut film was considered an absolute classic of the horror genre. How would one of the creator's of the zombie genre follow up on one of the most important horror films of all time? With, it turns out, a sequel which is almost as important as its predecessor.
Join us in this episode for a deep dive on the second installment of George A. Romero's Living Dead series. We'll discuss the Living - the characters and the actors who play them, the Dead - the zombies, and how they've evolved since we first saw them in Night, and the locations and co-creators which make this film so unique. As always, we'll pass final judgement on Dawn - does this film live up to its reputation as one of the greatest horror films ever made, or have the intervening years taken the sheen off of the undead shopping experience?
For the weekend of 7/30/21, Renee, Zachary, and Bill give you 8 recommendations for your weekend viewing pleasure, featuring outdoors horror, angry aliens, and ensemble television.
The advent of online streaming services has given the average film fan instant access to more viewing options than at any time in history (no matter how big your local videostore was), but sometimes it can be hard to settle on something to watch. But fear not, the Videostore Junkies have you covered, offering up a fresh batch of picks every week that you can add to your queue on almost every major streaming platform.
For the weekend of 7/23/21, Renee, Zachary, and Bill give you 6 recommendations for your holiday-weekend viewing pleasure, featuring asskicking, Hannibal Lecktor, and the best summer camp ever.
The advent of online streaming services has given the average film fan instant access to more viewing options than at any time in history (no matter how big your local videostore was), but sometimes it can be hard to settle on something to watch. But fear not, the Videostore Junkies have you covered, offering up a fresh batch of picks every week that you can add to your queue on almost every major streaming platform.
There are very few films - indeed, very few works of art in the 20th century - which can claim to be as influencial as George A. Romero's debut 1968 film, Night of the Living Dead. It's the film that launched careers, invented a new subgenre of horror, and ultimately inspired generations of creators to draw and expand on the film that started it all.
In this episode, we trace the history of this epochal work of art, discuss its merits as a film over 50 years after its initial release, and pass final judgement on one of the most influential films of all time. Does Night of the Living Dead hold up as an original piece of art, regardless of its influence on pop culture and the horror genre, or have the ideas and concepts which it progenerated outgrown their ultimate source? Join us in the video store as we discuss!ho
For the weekend of 7/16/21, Renee, Zachary, Bill, and Paul give you 8 recommendations for your weekend viewing pleasure, featuring vampire nasties, romantic comedies, and Clint Howard.
The advent of online streaming services has given the average film fan instant access to more viewing options than at any time in history (no matter how big your local videostore was), but sometimes it can be hard to settle on something to watch. But fear not, the Videostore Junkies have you covered, offering up a fresh batch of picks every week that you can add to your queue on almost every major streaming platform.
For the weekend of 7/9/21, Renee, Zachary, and Paul give you 6 recommendations for your weekend viewing pleasure, featuring sharks, superheroes, and an abstract Russian history lesson.
The advent of online streaming services has given the average film fan instant access to more viewing options than at any time in history (no matter how big your local videostore was), but sometimes it can be hard to settle on something to watch. But fear not, the Videostore Junkies have you covered, offering up a fresh batch of picks every week that you can add to your queue on almost every major streaming platform.
Born on the Fourth of July. Independence Day. Independence Day: Resurgence. There have been many classic films based around the uniquely American holiday of the Fourth of July, and Uncle Sam...probably isn't one of them.
Written by Larry Cohen and Directed by William Lustig - the creative forces behind the Maniac Cop trilogy - Uncle Sam features questionable metaphors about patriotism, the military industrial complex, and horrible firework accidents. It also features a killer who doesn't show up until halfway through the film, which leaves a whole lotta space for bad writing, bad acting, and a jackass kid who accuses his teacher of being a draft-dodger.
Where does Uncle Sam belong in the pantheon of holiday-themed horror films? Does Uncle Sam reach the level of a Black Christmas (1974), or does it belong alongside films like Black Christmas (2006)? Or does it instead reside on the level of such films as Black Christmas (2019)? Check out our second every Videostore Junkyard episode to find out where this festive frightfest ranks among other horror holiday classics!
For the weekend of 7/2/21, Renee, Paul, Zachary, and Bill give you 8 recommendations for your holiday-weekend viewing pleasure, featuring mutant frogs, mutant mushrooms, and a non-mutant Winona Ryder!
The advent of online streaming services has given the average film fan instant access to more viewing options than at any time in history (no matter how big your local videostore was), but sometimes it can be hard to settle on something to watch. But fear not, the Videostore Junkies have you covered, offering up a fresh batch of picks every week that you can add to your queue on almost every major streaming platform.
For the weekend of 6/25/21, Renee, Paul, Zachary, and Bill give you 8 recommendations for your weekend viewing pleasure, featuring apocalyptic classics, parental horror, and murderous microwaves!
The advent of online streaming services has given the average film fan instant access to more viewing options than at any time in history (no matter how big your local videostore was), but sometimes it can be hard to settle on something to watch. But fear not, the Videostore Junkies have you covered, offering up a fresh batch of picks every week that you can add to your queue on almost every major streaming platform.
It's been almost four years since the horror world lost one of its true masters with the passing of George A. Romero, which is why it's all the more exciting to be able to say that the world has been graced with a new George Romero film - although "new" and "film" are debatable.
Produced as an educational film about elderly abuse and discrimination for the Lutheran Service Society of Western Pennsylvania, which was reportedly so shocked with what he produced that they never released it, The Amusement Park has gone largely unseen since it was shot in 1973 - until now.
A 53-minute program that is short on narrative - and budget, its a discovery which will nonetheless be irresistible to fans of one of the greatest horror directors who ever lived. But how does it hold up after all these years - is this truly a forgotten gem by a master of cinema, or a project which should have stayed on the shelf? In this episode we discuss the merits of The Amusement Park, it's effectiveness as an education film, and its place in Romero's legacy.
For the weekend of 6/18/21, Renee, Zachary, Paul, and Bill give you 7.5 recommendations for your weekend viewing pleasure, featuring anime, amusement parks, Tig Notaro, and...our first every ANTI-recommendation from Bill!
The advent of online streaming services has given the average film fan instant access to more viewing options than at any time in history (no matter how big your local videostore was), but sometimes it can be hard to settle on something to watch. But fear not, the Videostore Junkies have you covered, offering up a fresh batch of picks every week that you can add to your queue on almost every major streaming platform.
For the weekend of 6/11/21, Renee, Zachary, and Paul give you 6 recommendations for your favorite streaming services, featuring possessed appliances, amorphous blobs, and...yeti hookers?!
The advent of online streaming services has given the average film fan instant access to more viewing options than at any time in history (no matter how big your local videostore was), but sometimes it can be hard to settle on something to watch. But fear not, the Videostore Junkies have you covered, offering up a fresh batch of picks every week that you can add to your queue on almost every major streaming platform.
The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It continues one of the most successful horror franchises of the last decade as the 3rd mainline film in a series that has now grown to 8 installments.
Purportedly based on true events from the case files of Ed and Lorraine Warren, The Devil Made Me Do It features a 1981 case of demonic possession and satanic rituals. In our spoiler-possessed review, we discuss what gives us the heebiejeebies about this movie - and what we think should be exorcised in a cleansing ritual.
The year is 2021 AD and roving bands bloodthirsty men threaten the last vestiges of society, their brutality eclipsed only by the retrograde mutants of The Forbidden Zone.
No, we haven't turned into a current events podcast - this is the plot to 1988s The Sisterhood, a film set in a year so near in the future that most of its cast and crew would live to see it! In our first installment of The Videostore Junkyard, we discuss the merits (or lack thereof) of this misbegotten lovechild of The Beastmaster and Mad Max - and most importantly, discuss what it correctly predicted about the far distant year of 2021 AD!
For the weekend of 5/28/21, Renee, Zachary, and Bill give you 6 recommendations for your holiday-weekend viewing pleasure, featuring space truckers, demons, and a double-dose of Martin Sheen bein’ creepy.
The advent of online streaming services has given the average film fan instant access to more viewing options than at any time in history (no matter how big your local videostore was), but sometimes it can be hard to settle on something to watch. But fear not, the Videostore Junkies have you covered, offering up a fresh batch of picks every week that you can add to your queue on almost every major streaming platform.
It's been 17 years since Zack Snyder's first feature film was released, and after a lengthy (and sometimes tumultuous) foray into comic book movies, he has finally returned to the genre which launched his career: the zombie film.
A remake of one of the most beloved zombie films of all time, 2004's Dawn of the Dead met with box office success, not to mention the approval of diehard Living Dead fans which endures to this day. So, does Army of the Dead continue Snyder's legacy as the king of zombie action films? Join us in our spoiler-laden review as we break down which elements of this film hit the jackpot - and which elements stink like a rotting, undead corpse baking in the hot Nevada sun.
If you're a movie fan of a certain age, you probably remember a time when watching a movie at home involved a lot more effort than it does now: driving to a videostore, hoping that the movie you wanted to watch was actually in stock, and then remembering to actually return your tape on time before you got sent to video-jail.
As with many experiences which technology has rendered practically obsolescent, there's quite a bit of nostalgia for the videstore age these days - but is it warranted? Did the VHS-era have any advantages over the age of streaming? Or are we fondly remembering a time because of the memories associated with it, and not because it was qualitatively better? On this episode, we discuss that very question, and try to settle whether the Videostore Junkies actually miss....the videostore.
For the weekend of 5/21/21, Renee, Zachary, Bill, and Paul offer up 8 recommendations for your weekend viewing pleasure, featuring an animated apocalypse, geriatric werewolves, and Rodney Dangerfield (not all in one movie, though).
The advent of online streaming services has given the average film fan instant access to more viewing options than at any time in history (no matter how big your local videostore was), but sometimes it can be hard to settle on something to watch. But fear not, the Videostore Junkies have you covered, offering up a fresh batch of picks every week that you can add to your queue on almost every major streaming platform.
For the weekend of 5/14/21, Renee, Zachary, Bill, and Paul offer up 8 recommendations for your weekend viewing pleasure, featuring creeps, hobos, and...Menudo?!
The advent of online streaming services has given the average film fan instant access to more viewing options than at any time in history (no matter how big your local videostore was), but sometimes it can be hard to settle on something to watch. But fear not, the Videostore Junkies have you covered, offering up a fresh batch of picks every week that you can add to your queue on almost every major streaming platform.
The year was 1993 and the day when big-budget video-game-to-film adaptations were a proven draw at the box office were far in the future. But surely the biggest video game in the world would translate into an equally huge success on the silver screen...right?
Almost 30 years after the Super Mario Bros. movie premiered - and promptly bombed - movie fans are reassessing this trailblazing film. Is it truly the misbegotten adaptation of a beloved game like most people thought at the time, or is there more to this bizarre trip to a parallel world inhabited by sentient dinosaurs and fungus run amok?
In tonight's episode, we discuss just that - how this film came to be, how it's a generally insane trip of 90s cinema, and what our final ratings are on the first live-action video game film of all time.
For the weekend of 5/7/21, Renee, Zachary, Paul, and Bill offer up 8 recommendations for your weekend viewing pleasure, including wrestling docs, Nic Cage, and some films you do NOT want to watch on a full stomach.
The advent of online streaming services has given the average film fan instant access to more viewing options than at any time in history (no matter how big your local videostore was), but sometimes it can be hard to settle on something to watch. But fear not, the Videostore Junkies have you covered, offering up a fresh batch of picks every week that you can add to your queue on almost every major streaming platform.
For the weekend of 4/30/21, Renee, Zachary, Paul, and Bill offer up 8 recommendations for your weekend viewing pleasure, ranging from Korean horror, to a documentary series from one of the most influential filmmakers of all time, to possibly the most memorable spaghetti western ever made.
The advent of online streaming services has given the average film fan instant access to more viewing options than at any time in history (no matter how big your local videostore was), but sometimes it can be hard to settle on something to watch. But fear not, the Videostore Junkies have you covered, offering up a fresh batch of picks every week that you can add to your queue on almost every major streaming platform.
It's been 24 years since a Mortal Kombat film graced cinemas - and 26 years since they were graced by a GOOD one. After a wait of over two decades by fans across the world, 2021's Mortal Kombat has finally arrived - is it another klassic entry into the series like the original, or another misbegotten dud like its sequel? Listen to our SPOILER-RICH review where Renee, Bill, Paul, and Zachary discuss whether this film is worthy of our Friendship - or whether this installment deserves a swift Fatality.
If you're a fan of horror, cult, or niche films, you've probably experienced the frustration of trying to find titles to satisfy your appetites on mainstream streaming services, only to come up empty-handed. Enter the new wave of niche services, of which several have launched in recent years to satisfy the desire of serious movie fans to seek out and enjoy films which may not be widely available otherwise.
One of those services is the Arrow Player, launched at the end of last year and featuring content from the Blu-Ray distributor Arrow Films. Including an assortment of horror, foreign, cult, and more, the Arrow Player features content that's sure to satisfy any serious fan of the odd and offbeat. In this review, we dive into the functionality and content offerings of the service, and make a final judgement on whether this one is worth the price of a monthly subscription.
If you love movies, you probably love talking about movies. And if you love talking about movies, you probably love arguing about movies. Or maybe that's just us. Either way, the hosts of the Videostore Junkies podcast don't always see eye to eye - or sometimes, if we do, it's only because we're staring each other down in a fit of rage over a film about which we disagree.
This week, instead of keeping these grievances private, we're airing them in a new segment we're calling H.A.W.T. Takes. In this episode, we talk about movies we love which are generally hated and, more importantly, movies we hate which are generally loved. Find out our thoughts on The Goonies, Terminator 2, The Matrix, the Indiana Jones franchise, AND MORE in this thrilling - and, most likely, rage-inducing - episode!
For the weekend of 4/23/21, Renee, Zachary, and Paul offer up 6 recommendations for your weekend viewing pleasure, ranging from religious horror, to….even more religious horror, to….even MORE religious horror, to…..Waterworld. Yes, that’s right, IT’S A GOOD MOVIE.
The advent of online streaming services has given the average film fan instant access to more viewing options than at any time in history (no matter how big your local videostore was), but sometimes it can be hard to settle on something to watch. But fear not, the Videostore Junkies have you covered, offering up a fresh batch of picks every week that you can add to your queue on almost every major streaming platform.
For the weekend of 4/16/21, Renee, Zachary, Paul, and VERY SPECIAL GUEST BILL offer up 9 recommendations for your weekend viewing pleasure, ranging from lockdown horror, to foreign dramas, to claustrophobic found footage.
The advent of online streaming services has given the average film fan instant access to more viewing options than at any time in history (no matter how big your local videostore was), but sometimes it can be hard to settle on something to watch. But fear not, the Videostore Junkies have you covered, offering up a fresh batch of picks every week that you can add to your queue on almost every major streaming platform.
Is doing a review of Netflix, literally the most popular streaming service on the planet, a bit redundant? Probably, but a collection of reviews covering every streaming service in existence wouldn't be complete without talking about the 800 pound gorilla of streaming, so that's exactly what we do in this episode! Join Paul, Renee, and Zachary as we discuss the functionality and content of Netflix, and give the final word on whether we think it's worth the monthly subscription fee!
In a decade that saw the release of such science fiction blockbusters as Terminator 2, The Matrix, and Independence Day, The Fifth Element stood out as something completely different: a film with so much style that it made it easy to excuse its relative lack of substance, and which wasn't afraid to be as funny as it was cool.
Science Fiction cinema has changed a lot in the intervening years - it's more mainstream, more franchise-driven, and much less prone to big-budget one-offs. So, how does The Fifth Element hold up after almost 25 years of genre evolution - does it still maintain its unique charm, or has the sheen worn off of this uniquely European vision of the future?
In this episode we emulate Leeloo by diving into a fast-moving stream of debate and discussion about the background, plot, characters, and lasting impact of this film, and ultimately pass judgement on whether we think it will endure until 2263, or whether it deserves to be locked in a vault for the next 5000 years.
For the weekend of 4/9/21, Renee, Zachary, and Paul offer up 6 recommendations for your weekend viewing pleasure, ranging from a creature features, to classic documentaries, to zombie cops - there's something for everyone (assuming everyone likes at least one of those things)!
The advent of online streaming services has given the average film fan instant access to more viewing options than at any time in history (no matter how big your local videostore was), but sometimes it can be hard to settle on something to watch. But fear not, the Videostore Junkies have you covered, offering up a fresh batch of picks every week that you can add to your queue on almost every major streaming platform.
The advent of seemingly limitless new streaming services has given rise to a number of new niche services devoted to genre-specific content. If you're a horror fan, you've probably at least heard of Shudder, the largest horror-centric streaming service currently available. In this episode, we take a look at the functionality and content of Shudder, discuss some of our favorite offerings on the platform, and give our final recommendations on whether Shudder is worth the monthly subscription fees.
2017 saw the release of what should have been one of the biggest films of the decade - Justice League. Featuring some of the most well known characters in popular culture - Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman - it was the film that comic fans had been waiting for - except it wasn't. Meeting with tepid reviews from even hardcore fans, Justice League was doomed to go down in history as an expensive reminder of how NOT to do franchise film making - that is, until Zack Snyder revealed that a different, longer cut of the film existed - The Snyder Cut.
Once a rumor and a myth, Zack Snyder's Justice League has finally arrived, and has quickly become a sensation among film fans clamoring few new content in a time of shuttered theaters and postponed blockbusters. In this SPOILER-LADEN review, we take a look at what works about the new cut, what doesn't, and whether The Snyder Cut was ultimately worth the wait.
In our second (and final, we promise) episode on Mad Max: Fury Road, the Videstore Junkies dissect the last half of the film and then give their final ratings and thoughts on this installment - and the franchise as a whole. If you haven’t already listened to it, go back and check out Episode 006, where we kick off our coverage on Fury Road with background information on the film and our thoughts on the first act-and-a-half.
For more Videostore Junkies, visit us at www.videostorejunkies.com, or on Twitter @VideoJunkiesPod
When it comes to unique monsters, killer pants are are pretty high on the novelty scale. Director Elza Kephart's Slaxx has one of the most original premises in recent memory, but does the final film belong in a boutique - or in the bargain bin? Renee, Paul, and Zachary take a spoiler-free look at the latest Shudder exclusive and give their thoughts on the highs and lows of this fashion-horror film, along with their final ratings.
Much like podcasts about movies, it seems like streaming services are a dime-a-dozen these days. Except most of them cost way more than a dime (the streaming services, not the podcasts), so we're here to tell you which ones are actually worth your hard-earned cheddar and which ones should go the way of actual videostores.
In this episode, Paul, Renee, and Zachary discuss the newly launched Paramount+, home of content from CBS, MTV, BET, and more. Functionality, content, overall presentation - the Videostore Junkies look at each aspect of this service, and then give their overall thoughts on whether it's worth the monthly subscription fee.
George Miller began his life as a filmmaker with the release of Mad Max in 1979, and throughout a long and varied career as the director of such films as The Witches of Eastwick, Babe: Pig in the City, and Happy Feet, it seems that the world of Mad Max is one that he’s never entirely left. 30 years after the release of Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome - and almost 20 years after originally conceiving of the project - Miller finally released the next installment of his beloved series with Mad Max: Fury Road.
With a new actor in the titular role - not to mention the 3 decades between installments - would Miller be able to recapture the magic of the original films, or would this be another example of an aging director trying - and failing - to revisit the ground that they broke in their younger years? If you’ve seen Fury Road, you likely already know the answer to that question, but come along with the Videostore Junkies anyways as we ruminate on what works about this film, what doesn’t, and what its ultimate place is in the pantheon of Mad Max stories.
For the weekend of 3/19/21, Renee, Zachary, and Paul offer up 6 recommendations for your weekend viewing pleasure, ranging from an animated classic, to psychopathic babysitters, to vintage 70s rock romps.
The advent of online streaming services has given the average film fan instant access to more viewing options than at any time in history (no matter how big your local videostore was), but sometimes it can be hard to settle on something to watch. But fear not, the Videostore Junkies have you covered, offering up a fresh batch of picks every week that you can add to your queue on almost every major streaming platform.
For the weekend of 3/12/21, Renee, Zachary, and Paul offer up 6 recommendations for your weekend viewing pleasure, ranging from a classic sci-fi revenge saga, to the futuristic wasteland of 1990, to...Shrek?!
The advent of online streaming services has given the average film fan instant access to more viewing options than at any time in history (no matter how big your local videostore was), but sometimes it can be hard to settle on something to watch. But fear not, the Videostore Junkies have you covered, offering up a fresh batch of picks every week that you can add to your queue on almost every major streaming platform.
Several installments of the Mad Max series are generally considered to be among the best action films of all time. And then there's Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome - a film beloved by some and derided by others. It's understandable that this is the most divisive sequel in the series: much to the chagrin of many fans, the brooding Max from The Road Warrior is replaced with a slightly softer, more human character, and the second act turns in white-knuckle action for a completely different take on a post-apocalyptic world struggling to maintain the last vestiges of civilization.
In this episode, the Videostore Junkies debate the merits of this film, as well as discussing why the third part of this series may have diverged so much from the tone of The Road Warrior. Who are the Beyond Thunderdome defenders among the junkies, and who wishes this one had been left to die in the wastelands?
For the weekend of 3/5/21, Renee, Zachary, and Paul offer up 6 recommendations for your weekend viewing pleasure, ranging from British comedy to 70s exploitation to one of the greatest horror comedies of the 80s.
The advent of online streaming services has given the average film fan instant access to more viewing options than at any time in history (no matter how big your local videostore was), but sometimes it can be hard to settle on something to watch. But fear not, the Videostore Junkies have you covered, offering up a fresh batch of picks every week that you can add to your queue on almost every major streaming platform.
The advent of online streaming services has given the average film fan instant access to more viewing options than at any time in history (no matter how big your local videostore was), but sometimes it can be hard to settle on something to watch. But fear not, the Videostore Junkies have you covered, offering up a fresh batch of picks every week that you can add to your queue on almost every major streaming platform.
For the weekend of 2/26/21, Renee, Zachary, and Paul offer up 6 recommendations for your weekend viewing pleasure, ranging from sci-fi schlock to euro horror to coming-of-age dramedy.
Horror films have existed almost as long as the medium itself, and horror fans have existed almost as long as the films which inspire their hobby. One of the most devoted fanbases in the world, it was inevitable that a subgenre would emerge which would simultaneously examine and celebrate the tropes which have thrilled generations of horror hounds.
Drew Goddard's 2012 The Cabin in the Woods remains a unique installment in the world of meta-horror: part dark comedy, part gruesome thrill-ride, and part epic monster mash, it seems to offer something for horror fans of every stripe. Does it achieve its audacious goals of breathing fresh air into a genre which seems to reinvent itself every generation, or is it another horror misfire which should be relegated to the graveyard of forgotten features? The Videostore Junkies dive in to meta-analyze this meta-analysis, and determine whether The Cabin in the Woods is still worth a visit!
It's rare that a franchise is known primarily for its second installment, but Mad Max 2: The Road Warrior is the exception to the rule that the sequel is always a carbon copy of the original. Bigger, more audacious, and ultimately more impactful on the world of cinema and pop culture, The Videostore Junkies take a deep dive into what makes George Miller's sophomore outing one of the greatest action films ever made.
Robert Zemeckis. Bob Gale. Steven Spielberg. John Milius. How did a film created by four of the greatest filmmaking forces of the 1980s end up mostly forgotten? Is this a hidden gem of 80s comedy, or was it rightfully buried in the sands of time? The Videostore Junkies convene to discuss these questions and more in this episode!
Is "The Maximum Force of the Future" still relevant over 40 years after its release? In our inaugural episode we tackle one of the most influential action films of all time, from the players on screen to the creators behind the camera. And don't forget: that thing in there...that's not the Goose! No way!