Optimism Vaccine
Optimism Vaccine’s panel of experts and idiots explore the dingy crevices between pop culture and forgotten trash in a never-ending quest to celebrate your guilty pleasures in the world of cinema and beyond.
Episodes
THIS WEEK: An American Werewolf in London (1981), Innocent Blood (1992), Deer Woman (2005) and Family (2006)
This week we really wanted to test Shawn's mettle by exposing him to the twisted mind behind some of the most sickening works of the 20th century: Beverly Hills Cop III and Max Landis.
THIS WEEK: The Devil (1972), Possession (1981) and Under the Silver Globe (1988)
For some unholy reason, Steve demanded that we kick off spooky season with the ultimate downer, as we expose Shawn Glinis to the verbose filmography of Polish philosopher king Andrzej Zulawski. You won't find any treats here. Or tricks, really. Just a great many agonized shouts.
THIS WEEK: Disclosure (1994), Virtuosity (1995) and The Thirteenth Floor (1999)
With the end of days imminent, we're jacking back in to look at another trio of bonkers 90s VR films and yearn for the future that wasn't.
THIS WEEK: The Midnight Meat Train (2008), No One Lives (2012), Downrange (2017) and The Price We Pay (2022)
What happens when a Japanese ADHD-addled wunderkind with zero interest in boring filmmaking minutiae like performance, pacing and screen geography heads to Hollywood? Redbox magic, baby!
THIS WEEK: Showdown in Little Tokyo (1991), Johnny Mnemonic (1995) and I Want to Be Neenja! The Movie (2024)
Ostensibly, we're still discussing the uncomfortable marriage of Japanese culture and 1990s Hollywood production. In actuality, we have gazed deep into the snarling panther's maw and emerged lesser.
THIS WEEK: Black Rain (1989), Sgt. Kabukiman N.Y.P.D. (1990) and Rising Sun (1993)
This week, we're revisiting the brief period of time in post-Cold War America when our great nation affixed its racist, paranoid gaze on the shores of Japan. The result was some very strange cinema.
THIS WEEK: Assault on Devil's Island (1997), McCinsey's Island (1998) and The Ultimate Weapon (1998)
There's no Hulkamaniacs here! Yet here we are, combing through the Hulkster's brief run as a cable crossover star. Was the big heel turn enough to awaken Terry's latent potential as a leading man? Results vary.
THIS WEEK: No Holds Barred (1989), Mr. Nanny (1993) and Thunder in Paradise (1993)
With the recent passing of Hulk Hogan, Steve and I felt duty bound as Real Americans to educate Jack on the phenomenon of Hulkamania. I'm not sure if his film career was particularly illustrative.
THIS WEEK: Baby Geniuses (1999) and Superbabies: Baby Geniuses 2 (2004)
Having given the Baby Assassins a deserved spotlight, it seemed only appropriate to discuss Baby Geniuses, the passion project of OV supervillain Steven Paul. In 1999, one man dared to ask the question: What if babies possessed the cognitive capacity to mentally dominate Dom DeLuise?
THIS WEEK: Baby Assassins (2021), Baby Assassins: 2 Babies (2023) and Baby Assassins: Nice Days (2024)
Jack already spends 10% of any given episode talking about Baby Assassins, so we thought we'd let him get it out of his system.
THIS WEEK: Enthiran (2010) and 2.0 (2018)
Why settle for Hollywood when Kollywood exists? Join us this week as we're dazzled by Rajinikanth and baffled by 5G conspiracies.
THIS WEEK: XX: Beautiful Weapon (1993), XX: Beautiful Target (1995) and XX: Beautiful Beast (1995)
Like the rest of the internet, we just couldn't get enough Japanese perversion. So this week we've opted to crack open the fridge and dish up a second helping of the V-Cinema franchise XX.
THIS WEEK: XX: Beautiful Hunter (1994), XX: Beautiful Prey (1996), and XX: Beautiful Killing Machine (1996)
Having already covered the adventures of Xander Cage and Ti West's misguided stab at franchise horror, it was inevitable that a sage Patron would point us toward the Japanese film series XX. It promises to be a beautiful time.
THIS WEEK: Jingle All the Way 2 (2014), Kindergarten Cop 2 (2016), and Eraser: Reborn (2022)
It was suggested that this episode was below even us, but once an idiotic idea has been introduced, you can trust that Optimism Vaccine will follow through. So here we are, discussing films had the audacity to attempt the impossible: Replacing Arnold Schwarzenegger.
THIS WEEK: Tales from the Crypt (1972), Tales from the Crypt: Demon Knight (1995), Bordello of Blood (1996) and Ritual (2002)
We decided that Jack needed more Dennis Miller in his life, which naturally led us to the cinematic world of EC Comics.
THIS WEEK: The Net (1995) and The Net 2.0 (2006)
Lord knows why, but we've decided to discuss the very relevant tech anti-thriller, The Net. And its pitiful DTV sequel.
THIS WEEK: Flexing With Monty: A Domestic Symphonie (2010) and The Evil Within AKA The Storyteller (2017)
A generous Patron asked us to look at John Albo's perpetually-in-production feature debut Flexing With Monty. Which we took as a good excuse to check out a meth-addled oil heir's posthumously released horror opus.
Apologies for Jack's occasionally choppy audio. Hey, why not request your own episode, and help us buy him a new micr...
THIS WEEK: Day For Night (1973) and Hulk Blood Tapes (2015)
It has recently come to our attention that X's foremost Oscar-knower Matt Neglia starred in a found footage horror film. Of course we're honor-bound to discuss it.
THIS WEEK: Twilight Zone: The Movie (1983) and Rust (2024)
Well, it finally happened. Rust was unceremoniously dumped onto streaming, so we're obliged to fulfill a long-standing Patron request to look at the film. And we've decided to pair it with Twilight Zone: The Movie for... no reason. Nothing morbid happening here. Move along.
THIS WEEK: Blues Brothers 2000 (1998), Basic Instinct 2 (2006) and Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps (2010)
We wrap up our tangled series of series-es with a trio of films that really left us questioning the artistic merits of the decades late, creatively bankrupt sequel.
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