Not Now in Theaters

The Raid was a low-budget martial arts/action film from Indonesia that rocked the genres and gained worldwide attention.

But instead of playing it safe and replaying the original's formula, The Raid 2 goes for it all.

The first movie unfolds over a few hours. But the sequel? It's a two-and-a-half-hour epic undercover cop crime saga that unfolds over two years.

And not to worry. Writer/director Gareth Evans exp...

The cult film that is like a middle finger to the feel-good vibes of corny 1980s teen movies, satirical Heathers is a masterclass in dialogue and slightly surreal.

More for adults than adolescents, the movie exposes the true underbelly of high school social games. And instead of tickling that belly, well, it pokes it.

Starring a very young Winona Ryder and Christian Slater, join me for this discussion of a highly quotable and sharp-w...

A medieval fantasy adventure, The Green Knight is a modern re-interpretation of the old poem Sir Gawain and the Green Knight by the Anonymous Poet.

From acclaimed director David Lowery and produced by A24 (among others), the film's production design and cinematography has wowed critics and captivated some audiences -- at least those that saw it.

With a release date interrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic, this spellbinding movie fa...

W.D. Richter and Earl Mac Rauch's Buckaroo Banzai is hard to explain and was challenging to market.

Facing box office competition from Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom, Ghostbusters, and Star Trek III: The Search for Spock, the off-beat, complicated science-fiction comedy action film washed out of theaters.

But after slipping onto home video, all the weirdness that made the film fail with its theatrical release won...

A Terminator knock-off that blended sci-fi, noir detective, comedy, and silly horror, Trancers is a cult film that continues to reel in new audiences.

The first in a franchise, this low-budget but inventive movie flows in a strange, off-beat tone.  

The film sends a 23rd-century Humphrey Bogart-style hardboiled detective back to the 1980s to stop a cult leader who makes people into kinda zombie followers.

And there are funky gadgets a...

Tom Holland's Fright Night is a horror comedy that sprung out of the 1980s when horror comedy was seemingly new and getting springy.

Unlike many cult classics, the movie succeeded at release, yet still had the creativity, heart, and scares to find an audience through today.

What is it about this movie's plot, characters, and writing that keeps on delivering?

Well, listening to this episode may help a...

Don Coscarelli's Phantasm is a low-budget fantasy horror and cult favorite.

An indie production, the film is the first in a franchise and introduced horror fans to iconic character The Tall Man.

Made on a shoestring budget, Coscarelli relied on family and friends for help with the production, yet the film would triumph with millions at the box office.

Known for its surreal qualities, the movie has been heralded by critics and fan...

A science-fiction film, a buddy-cop film, an action film, even a dash of horror film -- The Hidden has a lot going on but strikes the balance.

Remembered well by those that saw it, it pops up in "underrated" movie lists from time to time yet never seems to catch fire.

The movie stars Michael Nouri (Flashdance) and Kyle MacLachlan (Blue Velvet) and was directed by Jack Sholder (A Nightmare on Elm Street 2: Freddy's Reve...

The Last Dragon is a wild and totally 80s combination of martial arts, emerging hip-hop culture, and goofy comedy. 

Produced by Berry Gordy of Motown Records, the film was a roll of the dice to get people back into the magic of the label.

While it should be a forgettable glorified commercial, the film is full of heart and well-remembered by fans and continues to draw in new audiences.

Directed by the celebrated filmmaker Michael Schul...

John Woo's A Better Tomorrow was a lightbulb moment for the filmmaker and a groundbreaking film whose influence runs strong today.

The movie is a foundational work in Hong Cinema that helped birth action gun-fu choreography, the heroic bloodshed genre, and the worldwide star Chow Yun-fat's career.

John Wick, The Matrix, Max Payne, Desperado, and the works of Quentin Tarantino -- the lasting echoes of this fil...

1993's Blood In, Blood Out was supposed to be the next epic crime drama. 

Shot on location in Los Angeles and inside San Quentin Prison, a screenplay that drew on the true-life experiences of poet Jimmy Santiago Baca, it was to tell the Mexican-American tale of three young relatives pulled at by societal forces and the bonds of brotherhood.

Instead, the movie flopped. But thanks to its commitment to authenticity, it has been emb...

Tobe Hooper's Lifeforce is a sci/fi horror with off-the-wall ideas and some batshit crazy scenes. And I love it!

It's hard to stand out in the vampire and zombie genres, but this film can claim some originality points in both columns.

The movie has plenty of fans today, but it didn't fare too well at the box office or with 1980s critics.

An ambitious effort from Cannon Films, it was one of their attempts to move away fr...

Because we can't watch envelope-pushing, audience challenging films at all times I present to you Arena.

Some reviewers have called it Rocky in Space. I call it big white guy punching rubber monsters in the face.

For those of us with nostalgia for the video store, VHS era, Arena brings you back to the practical effects-rich schlocky sci-fi of the 80s and early 90s.

Written by Danny Bilson and Paul De Meo (Trancers, The Rockateer)...

Who says post-apocalyptic science fiction has to be dreary?

Stuart Gordon's Transformers-influenced Robot Jox brings mech-vs.-mech combat to life and serves its Cold War themes as a side dish.

With its eye-catching models and old school stop-motion, it's a time capsule of late 80s to early 90s production goodness.

This episode breaks down all the cartoon-like fun of this B movie minor cult classic.

Connect with us on Bl...

Made for just ~$1 million US Dollars, this Indonesian martial arts/action film garnered worldwide attention and influenced the genre ever since.

With breathless, realistic sequences and brutal, stylized action, it's an action fans' delight.

And with a slight mix of survival horror and a documentary film style, filmmaker Gareth Evans shows off some cinematic skills.

But while The Raid is well-kno...

Adapting the comic book characters the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles into a feature film looks like a no-brainer in hindsight, but back in 1990, only New Line Cinema was willing to take the bet.

The film smashed the box office and made a lot of money for a lot of people, becoming the highest-grossing independent film at that time.

But far more than a cash-in, the film made fans of both the TV series and comic books...

This gothic fairy tale, based on the story by magical realism author Angela Carter, is not your average werewolf flick.

Directed by Neil Jordan (Interview with the Vampire), this modern retelling of Little Red Riding Hood was nominated for four BAFTA awards yet quietly seems to have passed in and out of theaters.

But those who saw it back in '84 and audiences since have plenty of praise for this wicked dream....

Get your spiked elbow pads, motorcycles, and crop tops ready.

For this episode, we're flying into the 1980s Mad Max and Escape from New York influenced 1990: The Bronx Warriors.

It's a not-quite cult classic from Italy's B-movie maestro, filmmaker Enzo G. Castellari (The Inglorious Bastards).

Money is low, but creativity is high in this dystopian science-fiction actioner.

So if you...

Sci-fi took some serious steps forward in the 1970s, and Westworld was a quiet influence on franchises to come, like The Terminator.

Despite being a mega best-selling author, Michael Crichton (Jurassic Park) stepped into the director's chair to realize his first story of a theme park gone wrong.

Serving up strict warnings about technology and AI, Westworld still feels relevant 50+ years after its release.