Reel Trash Cinema

What happens when a scientist decides that death is merely a technical problem? This week on Reel Trash Cinema, we dive into Headsome (2013), the bizarre indie sci-fi thriller where a catastrophic accident leaves a scientist alive as a disembodied head, and his twin brother decides to play God. With mad science, questionable medical ethics, robotics, practical effects, and plenty of weirdness, Headsome is exactly the kind of obscur...

Welcome back to Reel Trash Cinema! This time we're stepping into the twisted world of Waxwork (1988), the cult horror classic where a mysterious wax museum brings some very real nightmares to life. From vampires and werewolves to killers, monsters, and some seriously bizarre horror movie mayhem, Waxwork takes us on a wild trip through the history of horror. We break down the movie, the practical effects, the cast, the crazy kills, ...

Wizards (1977) is a bizarre and unforgettable animated cult movie from legendary filmmaker Ralph Bakshi. Set in a post-apocalyptic future where magic has returned to Earth, this strange blend of fantasy, science fiction, and counterculture animation features mutants, fairies, elves, robots, ancient technology, dark magic, and two powerful twin brothers destined to become enemies.

Marc, Bill, and Rena break down Bakshi’s distin...

Parents (1989) is a bizarre psychological horror comedy starring Randy Quaid as the seemingly perfect suburban father hiding a very disturbing secret. When young Michael begins to suspect that his parents aren't quite what they appear to be, his picture-perfect home becomes increasingly sinister. What follows is a strange mix of suburban horror, dark comedy, family paranoia, and cannibalistic nightmare fuel.

Marc, Bill, and Rena dig...

Swamp Thing (1982) is a strange early comic book movie directed by horror legend Wes Craven and based on the DC Comics character created by Len Wein and Bernie Wrightson. Starring Adrienne Barbeau and Louis Jourdan, this unusual blend of superhero movie, science fiction, horror, and creature feature follows scientist Alec Holland after a disastrous experiment transforms him into the monstrous Swamp Thing.

Marc, Bill, and Rena break ...

Microwave Massacre (1983) is a bizarre cannibal horror comedy starring Jackie Vernon as a construction worker whose increasingly strange appetite leads him down a very disturbing culinary path. This low-budget ’80s B-movie combines gruesome horror, outrageous comedy, questionable special effects, and the kind of bizarre premise that made VHS-era cult movies so memorable.

Marc, Bill, and Rena dig into the movie’s twisted ...

Trancers (1984) is a cult science fiction action movie starring Tim Thomerson and Helen Hunt that blends time travel, futuristic technology, noir detective fiction, and cyberpunk influences into one of the most entertaining low-budget sci-fi movies of the 1980s. Produced by Charles Band, this Full Moon favorite introduced audiences to the hard-boiled time-traveling cop Jack Deth.

Marc, Bill, and Rena break down the movie’s str...

Space Truckers (1996) is a bizarre ’90s science fiction cult movie starring Dennis Hopper, Stephen Dorff, and Debi Mazar. Set in a strange future where interstellar truckers haul cargo across the galaxy, the film throws space pirates, corrupt corporations, killer robots, bizarre technology, and plenty of ’90s B-movie cheese into one very strange adventure.

Marc, Bill, and Rena break down the movie’s outrageous worl...

Critters (1986) is a classic ’80s sci-fi horror comedy that unleashes a pack of hungry alien creatures on a small Kansas town. These furry little monsters—known as Crites—escape from an asteroid prison and quickly turn an ordinary family’s home into a feeding ground. With practical creature effects, dark humor, and plenty of B-movie fun, Critters has become a beloved cult creature feature.

Marc, Bill, and Ren...

They Live (1988) is a cult science fiction classic directed by John Carpenter and starring Roddy Piper as a drifter who discovers that humanity is being controlled by hidden alien forces. With its combination of science fiction, action, horror, and sharp social satire, the movie has become one of Carpenter’s most enduring cult films.

Marc, Bill, and Rena break down the movie’s story, alien conspiracy, iconic sunglasses, ...

976-EVIL (1988) is a bizarre ’80s supernatural horror movie directed by horror icon Robert Englund, best known for playing Freddy Krueger in A Nightmare on Elm Street. The movie follows a troubled teenager who discovers a mysterious 976 phone number that promises to reveal the future—and gradually leads him down a very dark path.

Marc, Bill, and Rena break down the movie’s satanic hotline premise, practical effects...

Death Race 2000 (1975) is a bizarre dystopian sci-fi cult classic starring David Carradine and Sylvester Stallone in a futuristic cross-country race where drivers score points by running down pedestrians. Directed by Paul Bartel, this outrageous exploitation movie mixes dark comedy, social satire, violence, and over-the-top ’70s B-movie spectacle.

Marc, Bill, and Rena break down the movie’s ridiculous premise, memorable ...

The ’Burbs (1989) is a dark suburban comedy starring Tom Hanks as an ordinary neighborhood dad who becomes convinced that the strange new family next door is hiding something sinister. Directed by Joe Dante, this cult ’80s movie mixes comedy, mystery, paranoia, and surprisingly dark horror elements into one of the decade’s strangest neighborhood nightmares.

Marc, Bill, and Rena dig into Tom Hanks’ performance...

April Fool’s Day (1986) is a unique ’80s horror movie that takes the classic slasher formula and turns it into something much stranger. Directed by Fred Walton, this cult horror film follows a group of college friends spending the weekend on a remote island, where disappearances, strange behavior, and mounting paranoia make it clear that something is very wrong.

Marc, Bill, and Rena break down the movie’s mystery, ...

Big Trouble in Little China (1986) is a wildly entertaining cult action movie directed by John Carpenter and starring Kurt Russell as the legendary Jack Burton. Mixing martial arts, supernatural horror, fantasy, comedy, and ’80s action, this bizarre genre mashup takes us deep into San Francisco’s Chinatown for a battle involving ancient magic, monsters, and the mysterious Lo Pan.

Marc, Bill, and Rena break down the movie...

Spider Baby (1967) is a bizarre black comedy horror cult classic directed by Jack Hill and starring legendary horror actor Lon Chaney Jr. Also known as The Maddest Story Ever Told, this strange 1960s horror movie follows the twisted Merrye family, whose hereditary condition known as “Merrye Syndrome” turns their isolated household into a disturbing nightmare of violence, dark humor, and bizarre family traditions.

Marc, B...

Maximum Overdrive (1986) is the only movie ever directed by horror legend Stephen King, starring Emilio Estevez and featuring an army of killer machines, runaway trucks, and an absolutely insane soundtrack from AC/DC. Based on King's short story “Trucks,” this bizarre 1980s horror movie turns ordinary machines into murderous monsters after a mysterious comet passes over Earth.

Marc, Bill, and Rena break down the movie's ...

The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the 8th Dimension (1984) is one of the strangest cult sci-fi movies of the 1980s. Starring Peter Weller, John Lithgow, Jeff Goldblum, and Christopher Lloyd, this genre-bending adventure throws rock-and-roll, aliens, mad scientists, secret organizations, and comic-book insanity into one wonderfully bizarre package.

Marc, Bill, and Rena break down the movie's wild story, eccentric characters, a...

Masters of the Universe (1987) is the live-action He-Man movie starring Dolph Lundgren as He-Man and Frank Langella as Skeletor. Instead of staying on Eternia, this strange ’80s fantasy adventure sends its heroes to Earth, mixing sword-and-sorcery, science fiction, superheroes, and plenty of questionable 1980s filmmaking choices.

Marc, Bill, and Rena break down the movie's production history, Dolph Lundgren's performance, Fran...