Cult Film Club Podcast

This month Jaime, Shawn and Pax talk about the 1985 sci-fi/fantasy/teen/high school/romantic/comedy, My Science Project.  We talk about our first exposure to the movie, we talk about the cast, we talk about our likes and dislikes.  Come join us for our discussion about this movie.

In this episode of the Cult Film Club hosts Jaime, Shawn and Pax tackle the seriously under-appreciated 80s teen comedy Just One of the Guys!  Starring Joyce Hyser, Billy Jayne (Jacoby), Billy Zabka, and Clayton Rohner, the film centers around aspiring writer Terry as she learns the hard way that sometimes it sucks to be a girl.  After having her article entry for the local paper's internship contest squashed by her journalism teacher, Terry decides that the only way she can get a fair shake is to switch schools, and genders.  Terry goes undercover as Terrance to submit her article for the contest but soon finds herself mixed up with a local bully, the romantic life of her new friend Rick, and trying to keep her little brother from getting an STD. We talk about our history with the film, the wonderful cast, the amazing soundtrack, and why this film hasn't found the appreciative audience that it really deserves...

In honor of the opening of Batman v Superman Dawn of Justice, Pax and Shawn have CT and Michael May join them in the clubhouse for a discussion on the final Christopher Reeve Superman film, Part IV, the Quest For Peace.  We talk about our initial thoughts going into the movie, the things we like (there are a few, yes) and then we talk about all the things we don't like.  We even get in some good discussion about what would have been cool to see in this movie.  Join us for our triumphant return to the clubhouse!

On this episode of the Cult Film Club hosts Shawn, Paxton and Jaime finally take the plunge into the world of Asian cinema with the 1973 revenge flick Lady Snowblood.  We talk about the flick, how it had a huge impact on the flick Kill Bill, the famous theme song, and of course arterial blood sprays. 

This month on the Cult Film Club, hosts Paxton, Jaime and Shawn gear up for a podcast crossover of post-apocalyptic proportions as they welcome the Nerd Lunch crew into the clubhouse to talk about all three films in the original Mad Max trilogy. We stripped down the extras a bit to make way for an extended conversation on this triple feature packed into a dense yet fun conversation where we touch on the actors, the fan theories that connect the films, the amazing gonzo special effects and character designs, as well as the scores and a little bit of lead up to the recent Mad Max Fury Road. This episode is part 1 of a crossover that continues in episode 196 of the Nerd Lunch podcast where we all reconvened to discuss Mad Max Fury Road.

In episode 28 of the Cult Film Club, hosts Paxton, Shawn and Jaime finally tackle one of the most quintessential cult films of the past 30 years, 1984's Repo Man! Directed by outsider auteur Alex Cox, Repo Man centers on semi-nihilistic punk Otto (Emilio Estevez) who is reluctantly recruited into the seedy world of car repossession by repo lifer Bud (Harry Dean Stanton) and his cohorts at the Helping Hands agency. If learning the ropes, "stealing" back cars from deadbeat owners, and dodging violent Mod rock bands weren't crazy enough, Otto is also on the trail of a hot (literally, sweating balls hot) Chevy Malibu that is very possibly carrying a leaking neutron bomb, though it might also be the mobile sarcophagus for the decomposing bodies of four squid-like aliens. Figuring out how this car ties into his new girlfriend Leila, a couple of rival Latin repo men, and quite possibly time travel might be too much for Otto to handle without a frontal lobotomy. In this episode we talk about the film, its place in cu

In this episode of the Cult Film Club hosts Jaime, Paxton and Shawn dip their toes back into the horror genre to cover the batshit crazy 1991 Wes Craven ghetto adventure classic The People Under the Stairs.  We talk about the insane plot, how horror in the 90s invaded the ghetto, the actors and their ties to David Lynch's Twin Peaks, the lack of a substantial soundtrack and how adorable a tounge-less, mumbling creep living in the walls of a crazy house can be.

It's officially summer and to kick things off right, Shawn, Jaime and Pax decided to cover a flick that is all about summer vacation, the beach, and, well, Ping Pong! We're breaking tradition a little bit and covering a much more recent film, one that was released in 2014 and we think is destined to become a cult classic, Ping Pong Summer! Written and directed by Michael Tully and starring Lea Thompson, John Hannah, and Susan Sarandon the film centers around 13 year-old Rad Miracle and his family on their annual summer trip to Ocean City Maryland for fun, sun, and Paul Revere-themed smorgasbords. Set in 1985, we follow Rad as he meets a new best friend Teddy Fryy, falls for the local funk punch swilling babe Stacy Summers, and makes an enemy out of Stacy's ex, Lyle Ace the local Ping Pong champion. Can Rad master his break dancing moves, win the girl, and beat Lyle in a one-on-one winner takes all table tennis match before the summer is over? In this episode we talk about the film, the cast, the amazing sound

Pax, Jaime and Shawn are back this month with the 25th episode of the Cult Film Club.  Since we've been sort of on a roll choosing some of our all time favorite flicks, we decided to cap that off with a look at the 1995 neo-noir flick, Hackers.  Directed by Ian Softley, and starring Johnny Lee Miller, Angelina Jolie, Fisher Stevens, and Matthew Lillard, the film follows Dade Murphy (aka Crash Override, aka Zero Cool) (Miller) as he transfers to a new school and is finally able to legally use a computer again after being busted as a child for one of the largest computer cracks in history.  He quickly gets in tight with a gang of fellow hackers and falls for his digital enemy Acid Burn (Jolie), all while a renegade IT security officer (The Plague) plans to bilk his company out of millions.  After a fellow hacker unwittingly discovers the Plague's plan, it's hacker against hacker in this fast-paced, visually stylistic thriller that is equal parts awesome and 90s cheese.

On this episode of the Cult Film club hosts Jaime, Pax and Shawn finally cover their first romantic comedy (FINALLY, RIGHT?!) as they take a trip to 1987 to revist the Andrew McCarthy & Kim Cattrall masterpiece Mannequin.  Okay, so it's not a masterpiece, but it's a helluva lot of nostalgic fun and we have a great time talking about the actors (James Spader especially), the insane plot, the rad soundtrack, and a janitor who was very possibly caught fapping at the end of the film.  So grab a bag of popcorn, sit back in a comfy chair and listen to us discuss Mannequin!

On this episode of the Cult Film Club hosts Pax, Shawn and Jaime take a cue from the wintery season and break out an underappreciated childhood favorite, Young Sherlock Holmes.  Directed by Barry Levinson (Diner, Wag the Dog) and written by Chris Columbus (Harry Potter, Goonies, Home Alone), the film stars a cast of young unknowns including Nicholas Rowe as Holmes and Alan Cox as Watson.  The film was one of the many spectacular teen/action films produced by Steven Spielberg in the 80s (Goonies, Poltergeist, Gremlins, and Back to the Future), and it's notable as being the one major failure, though this is due less to its quality than its failure to find its audience.  Filled with cutting edge special effects work the film is also notable for featuring the first fully rendered CG character created by the fledgling CG animation studio Pixar.  Does the film still hold up?  That's what the hosts try and figure out as they discuss the plot, the actors, the special effects, and the where the movie stands in the pan

On this episode of the Cult Film Club hosts Paxton, Jaime and Shawn get back up on the saddle and follow the Mexican Blackbird down to Old Mexico while they dodge the attempts of Pat Garrett to capture them, all while discussing the 1990 brat pack western sequel Young Guns II! Starring Emilio Estevez, Kiefer Sutherland, Lou Diamond Phillips, Christian Slater, Alan Ruck, William Petersen, and Balthazar Getty, the film surrounds the real life legend of Billy the Kid during his time after the Lincoln County War and leading up to his demise at the hands of Pat Garrett. Mixing fact, fiction, legend and the brat pack is a mighty fine way to make one hell of an interesting movie sequel. We talk about the plot, the actors, the reality behind the fiction, the fact that it actually has a true soundtrack, and Emilio Estevez’s butt, again. This is part two of a two-part, double-feature episode where we’re taking a look at the Young Guns series.

On this episode of the Cult Film Club hosts Paxton, Jaime and Shawn strap on their colts, get deputized to avenge the death of their friend, and experiment with peyote as they discuss the 1988 brat pack western Young Guns!  Starring Emilo Estevez, Charlie Sheen, Kiefer Sutherland, Lou Diamond Phillips, Dermot Mulroney, Casey Siemaszko, Jack Palance, and Terrance Stamp, the film surrounds the real life legend of Billy the Kid during his time in the Lincoln County War.  Mixing fact, fiction, legend and the brat pack is a mighty fine way to make one hell of an interesting movie.  This episode is part one of a two part discussion of the Young Guns series.

Welcome back Ghouls and Boils to our 2nd annual Cult Film Club Halloween Special. This year Jaime, Paxton and Shawn are covering their first made-for-TV cult flick, the 1985 ABC Special Presentation of The Midnight Hour! Starring Lee Montgomery, Shari Belafonte, LeVar Burton, Peter DeLuise, Dedee Pfeifer, Kevin McCarthy, and Jonelle Allen, the film centers on five teens on Halloween in the city of Pitchford Cove. After breaking into a local museum to “borrow” some 300 year-old costumes and a trunk full of spooky artifacts for their Halloween party the kids inadvertently invoke a centuries old curse that opens the gates of hell and brings a horde of the living dead, monsters and ghosts descending upon the town. Can Phil and his lovely ghost girlfriend Sandy stop their murderous rampage before the bell tolls the Midnight Hour?!? In this episode we dig into the film, discussing the great Halloween ambiance, the classic rock soundtrack, the 80s era homages, and our favorite characters and actors.

We're back with a brand spanking new episode of the Cult Film Club this week, where we collectively crap our pants over the awesomness that is Walter Hill's "rock & roll fable" from 1984, STREETS OF FIRE! Though a commercial and critical failure, this high-concept action/drama is a stylystic wonder that blends together different decades, musical styles and packs more leather and neon into 90 minutes than any 80s movie or music video we've ever seen. Plus: Motorcycles! Gang violance! Bitch slapping! Rock opera! 1950s slang! Weird fashion! Pickaxe fights! If you're not thinking to yourself right now, "HOLY SHIT THAT SOUNDS AWESOME!" you may need to re-evaluate your life. Starring a cast of campy characters that includes Michael Pare, Diane Lane, Willem Dafoe, Rick Moranis, Amy Madigan, and other Cult Film Club favorites like Bill Paxton and E.G. Daily, STREETS OF FIRE is hard to describe but easy to love--if not for the sheer ridiculousness of it all, then for the bitchin' soundtrack.

After enjoying the heck out of James Gunn's recently blockbuster hit Guardians of the Galaxy, the CFC thought it was a great opportunity to take a look at one of Gunn's first forays into the cinematic super hero genre.  Super, he also wrote and directed Super, but a decade before that he wrote and starred in a little indie flick called The Specials (2000, directed by Craig Mazin).  Starring Rob Lowe, Thomas Haden Church, Padget Brewster, Jordan Ladd and Jamie Kennedy, the movie follows a super hero team over the course of one long day right as they are about to be honored with their own line of action figures.  But can the team get over the egos and personal problems to enjoy their time in the spotlight?  Can they? We talk about the actors, Gunn and his roots in Troma through to his new hit Marvel movie, the soundtrack, and why this film is more relevant today than it's ever been.

On this episode of the Cult Film Club hosts Jaime, Pax and Shawn strap on some multicolored bandanas, pick out their favorite ninja weapons and prepare to get radical while discussing the 1990 Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles movie!  Starring Corey Feldman, Robbie Rist, Brian Tochi, Josh Pais, Kevin Clash, Judith Hoag, and Elias Koteas the film was directed by the visionary behind Ah Ha's Take On Me music video, Steve Barron and featured creature and costume effects by the legendary Jim Henson Studios.  We talk about the character's creation Kevin Eastman & Peter Laird, the comics, cartoon, and toys that preceded the flick and how this ninja turtle phenomenon effects us.  We also dig into the soundtrack, some of the familiar faces that pop up (Skeet Ulrich? Check. Sam Rockwell? Check.), as well as taking a quick look at the legacy of the Turtles on film.  So sit back, cue up and show and remember, never pay full price for late pizza!

Hello and welcome to a very special episode of the Cult Film Club. On our last episode Pax, Jaime and I broke out our BMX bikes and took a look at the 1986 sportsploitation classic Rad. To cap off that discussion we had the opportunity to chat with the star of the movie, Cru Jones himself, Mr. Bill Allen. So queue up Send Me An Angel, put on your sequined shirts, and jump on your bike as we talk to a supremely Rad dude!

On this episode of the Cult Film Club hosts Shawn, Pax and Jaime feel the Thunder in our Hearts as we Break The Ice, and break out our BMX bikes doing bunny hops and frame jumps. We’re talking about the classic 1986 sportsploitation flick Rad starring Bill Allen, Talia Shire, Lori Loughlin, Bart Connors, Jack Weston and Ray Walston. Directed by the legendary Hal Needham (Smokey & The Bandit, Cannonball Run, and Megaforce), the movie centers on BMX junkie Cru Jones who only wants to get radical on his bike with friends Becky & Luke, challenge the local cop to races in a lumber yard, and get his morning paper route finished by 7:15am. All his mom wants is for him to go to take his SATs and get into college. But when Duke Best, head of the Mongoose bicycle company, partners with the local businesses to bring a professional BMX track called Helltrack to Cochrane, Cru sees and opportunity to do what he does best, which is riding his bike. But before he can race, Cru has to prove that he can qualify, which

On this episode hosts Pax, Jaime and Shawn take on the 1994 pulp super hero flick, The Shadow. Who knows what evil lurks in the hearts of men? We know! All three hosts quit their hedonistic lifestyles as opium warlords in Asia to dig a little deeper into this flick. Directed by Russell Mulcahy and starring Alec Baldwin, Penelope Ann Miller, John Lone, Tim Curry and Ian McKellen and was part of a pulp era hero resurgence on film in the late 80s/early 90s, but unlike flicks such as Dick Tracy and the Phantom, The Shadow takes a lot of weird and wonderful turns into the strange which earns it a place in cult film history. Whether it was depicting Lamont Cranston as a bloody opium warlord, the lavish and sometime ridiculous set design or the over the top performances this movie is unlike any super hero flick. So put on your secret Shadow ring, gas up your supped-up taxi cab, and unholster your twin pearl handled .45 automatic pistols as we explore this awesomely insane film!