Speed (1994) — Keanu Reeves, Sandra Bullock & the Culture of Spectacle

Pop quiz, hotshot: what happens when you put Keanu Reeves, Sandra Bullock, and Dennis Hopper on a runaway bus that can’t drop below 50 mph? You get Speed (1994),  the ultimate ‘90s adrenaline rush.

📝 What You’ll Hear in this Episode:

• 🚨 Keanu Reeves, unlikely action hero — how his quiet intensity worked against the musclebound stereotype of the era.
• 💥 Sandra Bullock’s breakout role — why Annie flipped the “damsel in distress” trope upside down and turned her into America’s sweetheart.
• 🎥 The culture of spectacle — how Speed reflected (and predicted) our obsession with televised chaos, from the OJ chase to viral media today.
• 🎲 Behind-the-scenes trivia — from Keanu’s buzzcut to the secret ghost writer, plus a few set secrets that will blow your mind.
• 🏎️ A pure action movie — no Marvel quips, no CGI overload, just relentless thrills that defined the genre.

🎙️ Hosts:

• Mary Meyst-Huset – true crime critic
• Teddy Micklos – Keanu’s BFF

🔗 Links & References:

• Follow us on Instagram: ⁠@vhs_therapy_pod⁠
• Follow us on TikTok: @vhs_therapy
• Movie trailer / IMDb page: ⁠Speed
• Where to watch: HBO Max | Amazon Prime | Apple TV | Google Play | Fandango at Home

 

📌 Where to Listen:

Spotify | Apple Podcasts | Amazon Music | Anywhere you hid your VHS tapes

 

🙌 Support the Show:

• Subscribe and leave us a 5-star review (it helps other 90s kids find us!)
• Share this episode with your childhood BFFs who also watched movies way too young