The VHS Strikes Back

Strap in and set phasers to “tense banter” — this week’s pick comes from Dave, who’s boldly going where Chris would frankly rather not: Star Trek: First Contact (1996). As a lifelong Trekkie, Dave’s diving into one of the most action-packed, fan-favourite entries in the franchise, while Chris braces for a full-on warp-speed assault of technobabble and space diplomacy. It’s the Next Generation’s big-screen showdown with the Borg... ...

The second episode of our Halloween weekend is Tony Farina and Chris Phelps discussing James O'Barr's 1989 Caliber Press masterpiece comic, The Crow. Crossover episode with Indie Comics Spotlight on Comics In Motion.

If you want to talk with Tony about comics or to suggest any future shows, please connect with him on Twitter @Tricycleboombox. You can read his reviews of multiple Independent and DC comics at DC Comics News or at Fant...

Buckle up, because this episode’s pick comes straight from co-host Chris, who’s chosen to take us on a nostalgic joyride with The Gumball Rally (1976). With a fondness for high-octane chaos and old-school ensemble comedies, Chris dives into the rubber-burning madness of this pre-Cannonball Run classic, where the only rule is there are no rules—unless you're talking about car stunts, in which case, safety was more of a polite sugges...

This week’s throwback VHS gem comes courtesy of long-time Patreon supporter Gareth—who clearly knows his way around a good roundhouse kick. Gareth has chosen China O’Brien 2 (1990), the Cynthia Rothrock martial arts sequel that kicks just as hard as the first. With small-town justice, explosive action, and some delightfully dated hairdos, this one’s a real time capsule of straight to video action cinema.

China O'Brien 2 was filmed b...

We're going off the beaten track for this one! This latest pick by JAC is quite a unique one in that it's a fan made film, Raiders of the Lost Ark: The Adaptation. Technically shown for the first time in 1989 and an additional scene added in 2014, this is the movie that was the inspiration for the documentary, Raiders!: The Story of the Greatest Fan Film Ever Made.

Checkout JAC's LetterBoxd review here: https://lette...

We're diving headfirst into high-flying mayhem with Con Air, a chaotic symphony of explosions, one-liners, and mid-air madness—handpicked by our awesome Patreon supporter Susan from the Geek Girl Soup podcast!

Con Air (1997) was born out of the mid-90s action movie boom, with producer Jerry Bruckheimer riding high from previous hits like The Rock and Crimson Tide. Wanting to blend testosterone-fueled chaos with a high-concept premis...

Young Dave, armed with a love for Star Wars and a soft spot for everyone's favourite scruffy-looking nerf herder, thought he was in for another dose of Han Solo heroics when switching on Blade runner. What he got instead was something a little moodier, a lot rainier, and less exciting than Songs of Praise.

The production of Blade Runner (1982) was as tumultuous and moody as the rain-soaked, neon-lit world it depicted. Directed by Ri...

After a slow start in the year of the Stichup ,Chris has gone full throttle by picking Maximum Overdrive — Stephen King's chaotic leap into the director’s chair!

Maximum Overdrive marks Stephen King’s one and only time in the director’s chair — and it shows. What was meant to be a thrilling blend of horror and action instead turned into a loud, chaotic mess that careened off the rails almost as quickly as the film’s killer machines....

This week we’re diving into a cult classic — Escape from the Planet of the Apes — and it’s all thanks to our great Patreon supporter, Leigh! Leigh’s not just a top supporter; he also runs a fantastic YouTube channel called Movie Vent where he shares his love for all things cinema with Ventriloquist dummy, Ned. Check it out at youtube.com/@ventmovies.

Escape from the Planet of the Apes (1971) marked a clever shift in the Planet of th...

Kicking things off with a blast of ‘80s nostalgia, we’re taking on the 1986 BMX cult classic RAD, chosen by our newest Patreon supporter, Nick Bray! Packed with insane bike tricks and a Daniel LaRusso from Wish! Huge thanks to Nick for picking this one, time to dust off the old bike and practice some bunny hops.

RAD was born out of the mid-1980s BMX biking craze, with Hollywood eager to capture the spirit of the sport just as skateb...

New Patreon supporter Greig has reached back into the 1970's for his first pick and it from the year of the gang movie, 1979's The Wanderers!

The production of The Wanderers (1979), directed by Philip Kaufman and co-written with his wife Rose Kaufman, was an adaptation of Richard Price’s debut novel. Set in the Bronx of 1963, the film aimed to authentically portray the era's street gang culture. Filming took place on location in var...

There can be only one! Well, unless there's a bunch of money up for grabs in making a sequel! Or that was the plan at last. Dave's next entry for the year of the stitch-up is the 1991 sequel to the cult classic, Highlander II: The Quickening.

The production of Highlander II: The Quickening is often cited as a masterclass in cinematic chaos. Shot primarily in Argentina, the film was plagued by financial problems from the outset. The ...

It's taken a bit of time for Chris to get on board with the year of the Stitch-up, but this week he's fully on board with the pick, Smokey and the Bandit 3.

The production of Smokey and the Bandit Part 3 (1983) was plagued by confusion, last-minute changes, and a noticeable lack of direction—both literally and creatively. Initially conceived as Smokey IS the Bandit, the film was supposed to center entirely around Jackie Gleason pla...

Blake has done it again! After bringing us cinematic gems like Surf Nazis Must Die, Bad Taste, and the legendary disasterpiece The Room, our resident connoisseur of chaos has picked another fever dream for us to unravel—Peter Jackson’s Meet the Feebles. If Bad Taste showed Jackson’s love for over-the-top gore, Meet the Feebles proves he was just as committed to pushing the boundaries of decency, this time with puppets.

Meet the Feeb...

Sometimes, you can see a stickup coming a mile off. Other times, they come in the dressing of a movie with lots of awards and credibility. But Maff might've just played a blinder here in The Year of the Stichup.

Naked Lunch (1991) was a challenging and experimental adaptation of William S. Burroughs' novel, helmed by Canadian director David Cronenberg. The film’s production was marked by its complex narrative and the integration of...

When it comes to supporters of the show, Tony Farina is the OG. And when it comes to stitch ups, the same could be said! Back when Chris and Dave were still finding their way with Comics In Motion, Tony found the podcast and suggested both Speed Racer and Tank Girl. And at the time, Chris believed these were the worst movies he'd ever seen. Fast forward to 2025, Tony has chosen a favourite of his. The much maligned, Hudson Hawk.

Hud...

Though it's the Year of the Stitch-up, John Hammond has been building up a repertoire of picks for some time that would fit the bill! Previous picks include Samurai Cop, For Your Height Only, Hard Ticket to Hawaii, New York Ninja and Devil Fetus. So this week is totally on brand with the 1995 Japanese horror, Bloody Muscle Body Builder In Hell.

Bloody Muscle Body Builder in Hell is a fascinating oddity in the realm of low-budget Jap...

The year of the stitch up has had a couple of misfires for Dave's picks, with Chris unfortunately declaring Cloud City's for both sword and sorcery adventures - Gor and The Barbarians. So this is the time to roll out the cult classic sci-fi movie from 1984, Trancers.

Trancers was a low-budget sci-fi film produced by Charles Band’s Empire Pictures, a company known for its B-movie output during the 1980s. Directed by Charles Band and ...

Chris does love a good car movie, though whether this one hits that description is up for debate. This week's movie is Gone in Sixty Seconds from the year 2000.

Gone in Sixty Seconds was a high-octane production that aimed to modernize the 1974 cult classic while capitalizing on Hollywood’s growing appetite for stylish car heist films. Produced by Jerry Bruckheimer, the film assembled a star-studded cast led by Nicolas Cage, Angelin...