The VHS Strikes Back

FearDotCom (2002) was chosen by supporter Mike, and it stands as one of the more infamous entries in early-2000s horror cinema. Directed by William Malone, the film attempted to ride the wave of techno-horror thrillers that followed in the wake of The Ring and other Y2K-era internet scare stories. Produced on a budget of around $40 million and shot in Luxembourg to cut costs, the film leaned heavily into dark, industrial set design...

Mr Ice Cream Man (1996) was chosen by Patreon supporter Helen, and is a perfect example of the kind of deep-cut oddity that makes their way into the Year of the Stitch-Up. Directed by Mack Hail and co-written with Jim Mills, this low-budget horror outing was produced by Jeremy Settles with executive production from Hail, Mills, and Yvette Hoffman. Released straight to video, the film leaned into the 1990s boom of VHS horror, servin...

Miller’s Crossing (1990) was chosen by supporter Justin, and it stands as one of the most stylish entries in the Coen Brothers’ early catalogue. After the breakout success of Blood Simple and the quirky charm of Raising Arizona, the Coens set their sights on the gangster genre, crafting a film inspired by classic Dashiell Hammett novels such as The Glass Key and Red Harvest. Their vision was to make a thoughtful, atmospheric crime ...

Long time supporter Kent has picked the 1965 experimental film Empire for this week!. True to form in the year of the stitch-up, Kent has chosen a film that’s as unconventional and divisive as it gets. Directed by Andy Warhol, Empire exemplifies the avant-garde spirit of mid-1960s New York, pushing the boundaries of traditional cinema with radical minimalism, extreme duration, and an obsessive focus on observation as art.

The produc...

The 1994 science fiction movie Stargate is Dave's selection for this week.  The film, which put director Roland Emmerich firmly on the Hollywood map, was marketed as an ambitious blend of ancient mythology and future spectacle long before it gave rise to a massive TV franchise.

 With Carolco Pictures supporting Emmerich and director Dean Devlin following their success with Universal Soldier, Stargate's production was ambitio...

The next VHS Strikes Back pick comes from Chris, and he’s gone for the high-octane 1989 comedy Cannonball Run III: Speed Zone — also known in some regions as Cannonball Fever. Chris has a history of picking sometimes questionable movies, and this one certainly fits the bill. Directed by Jim Drake, who was best known for his work in television sitcoms, the film was the third entry in the loose Cannonball Run franchise, following The...

This week’s VHS Strikes Back pick comes from Patreon supporter Timothy, and he’s chosen Out for Justice from 1991. By this point, Steven Seagal had already punched and wrist-locked his way into Hollywood as the latest in a long line of action stars. Out for Justice was his fourth movie in just a few years, with Warner Bros. doubling down on his image as a ponytailed, tough-talking enforcer. Unlike the big, explosive blockbusters of...

This week’s VHS Strikes Back pick comes courtesy of our Patreon supporter Tony Farina, who’s chosen the cult classic Death Race 2000 from 1975. Produced by the legendary Roger Corman, the film was made on a shoestring budget of around $300,000 and shot in just a few weeks — a hallmark of Corman’s efficient, low-cost production style. Director Paul Bartel brought a tongue-in-cheek, satirical flair to the project, blending dark comed...

This next movie pick comes from VHS Strikes Back Patreon Matt Bates, and he’s chosen a gritty, bloody, and proudly British cult favourite: Dog Soldiers (2002). Directed by Neil Marshall in his feature debut, this film has become a fan-favourite among horror and action enthusiasts alike, thanks to its blend of pitch-black humour, practical effects, and relentless werewolf mayhem. It’s a howling good time—and an ambitious low-budget ...

This week’s stitch-up comes courtesy of Dave, who’s chosen Universal Soldier II: Brothers in Arms from 1998. A made-for-TV sequel to the 1992 cult hit Universal Soldier, this entry was produced by Trimark Pictures and aired as part of a two-part Canadian-American miniseries.

Rather than bringing back Jean-Claude Van Damme and Dolph Lundgren, the production recast the lead roles with Matt Battaglia and Andrew Jackson, respectively. F...

The next movie pick comes courtesy of Chris, who’s known for his love of high-energy, action-packed flicks. Following on from his previous picks, Chris has chosen Universal Soldier (1992)—a film that perfectly captures that early ’90s blend of sci-fi and adrenaline-fueled spectacle.

Universal Soldier is a 1992 science fiction action film directed by Roland Emmerich in his Hollywood debut. The movie stars Jean-Claude Van Damme and Do...

This week’s pick is courtesy of Patreon supporter John Hammond—an undisputed master of chaos, who previously cursed us with the likes of For Your Height Only, Bloody Muscle Body Builder in Hell, and Devil Fetus. Now, he's reached deep into the arthouse-horror void and pulled out Santa Sangre (1989), a film beloved by critics, film students, and probably no one with a functioning sleep schedule. While some might call it a surrealist...

This week's nostalgic dive comes courtesy of Patreon supporter Lucky Looloo Green—who’s not only a proud VHS Strikes Back backer, but also a top-tier supporter of our CD Reality TV Cast! Her pick? The gloriously goofy, genre-clashing Buffy the Vampire Slayer from 1992. Before the brooding drama and Scooby Gang of the TV series, there was Kristy Swanson in neon spandex, staking vamps between cheer routines and shopping trips. It’s a...

This week’s pick comes courtesy of longtime VHS Strikes Back Patreon supporter Herb, who’s chosen the delightfully oddball Aussie gem Malcolm from 1986. It’s a film that proves even the quietest, most socially awkward tram enthusiast can have a life of crime tucked beneath his cardigans. With its quirky charm, deadpan humor, and a DIY spirit that would make MacGyver jealous, Malcolm is a criminal caper unlike any other—and it’s all...

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...