Tag: Free Episode

054 – Immortel, ad vitam

Egyptian gods in Immortel, ad vitem (2004)

Niel Jacoby (@fuckinalpamare on Twitter) joins us to ask: just what the hell is Immortel, ad vitam? It appears to be an incomprehensible dystopian flick based on an incomprehensible graphic novel. We spend a lot of time mocking the movie’s incredibly cavalier attitude towards sexual assault.

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The film is based on a graphic novel by Enki Bilal. Remarkably, Bilal was allowed to direct the film in spite of having only one feature and a couple of shorts under his belt.

Along with films like Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow and Sin City, Immortel, ad Vitam was part of a new wave of “digital backlot” movies. This refers to movies made entirely in a green screen environment.

We highly recommend Niel’s very funny podcast (and maybe the only one about Timothy Spall), Spall Talk!

For some much better big-budget sci-fi, try our episode on Event Horizon.

052 – Incubus

William Shatner embraces Allyson Ames at the climax of Incubus (1966)

Jen and Tim are joined by author and podcaster R.S. Benedict to discuss one of the few movies ever shot entirely in Esperanto: Incubus. It is also the only movie ever shot entirely in Esperanto and starring William Shatner.

Anthony M. Taylor, producer of Incubus (1966), poses in front of a poster for the film
Anthony M. Taylor, producer of Incubus

R.S. Benedict is a writer of speculative fiction. She also hosts a writing podcast called Rite Gud, which Tim and Jen have both appeared on. Find it on Patreon!

For more weird independent film, try our episode on The Evil Within!

048 – Beautiful Boxer

Asanee Suwan in Beautiful Boxer (2003)

Jen welcomes special guest Julia Schiwal to discuss a wonderful Thai biopic called Beautiful Boxer. It’s about a trans woman who becomes a fighter in order to forge her own path.

YouTube has a highlight reel of Nong Toom’s career.

The movie Julia recommends at the end of the show is Adam barfi (1995)

You may also enjoy our interview with martial arts superstar Cynthia Rothrock!

047 – The Silent Scream with Mellie Macker

The Silent Scream is an especially pernicious example of pro-life propaganda. Reproductive justice activist Mellie Macker guests to dissect the mendacious thinking behind this ghoulish artifact.

You can see the original film in its entirety on Vimeo.

If you’re looking for more controversy, listen to our episode on David Cronenberg’s Crash!

046 – Mazes and Monsters

Tom Hanks in the TV movie Mazes and Monsters (1982)
Yeah, Tom, we know

Jen and Tim look at Mazes and Monsters, a slapdash TV movie with roots in moral panic. Oh and it was also the first feature role for Tom Hanks, wow.

TV Guide ad for 1982 TV movie Mazes and Monsters
Ehh, let’s watch Three’s Company instead

We drew heavily on William Dear’s book The Dungeon Master. Dear is also the author of a book arguing that Nicole Brown and Ron Goldman were actually killed by O.J. Simpson’s son.

For more nostalgia TV, check out our episode on Marlo Thomas’s brainchild, Free to Be…You and Me!

044 – Roar

Noel Marshall bleeding for real amongst angry lions, from the movie Roar (1981)
That’s probably real blood, by the way

Jen and Tim talk with animal expert Emma Bowers about Roar, a movie which stars 50 or 60 mostly wild animals and a handful of terrified humans. The movie was produced by Hitchcock blonde Tippi Hedren and her insane husband Noel Marshall, who also play the hapless chew toys masquerading as characters. The film flopped on its initial release. However, in 2015 Drafthouse Films picked it up and cemented Roar’s place in cult movie history.

Jan de Bont shows the lion attack scar he received on the set of Roar (1981)
Cinematographer Jan de Bont displays the scar he received from a lion attack on the set of Roar

As of 2020, Roar producer/star Tippi Hedren still runs her her wild cat sanctuary, Shambala. As well as wildlife advocacy, Hedren is also known for being the godmother of the nail industry in the United States. In the 70s, Hedren worked with Vietnamese refugees in California. She hit on the idea of encouraging them to learn the art of the manicure and open nail salons. Today, people of Vietnamese descent own and operate about half of all nail salons in the United States.

If you enjoyed Emma’s appearance, check out our episode on the Animal Planet series Fatal Attractions!

039 – The Devils

Oliver Reed and Vanessa Redgrave in Ken Russell's The Devils
oh man, I have BEEN there

Jen and Tim are joined by laser-sharp media critic Gretchen Felker-Martin (@scumbelievable on Twitter) to talk over a movie that close to 50 years later is still too hot for TV: Ken Russell’s The Devils!

Gretchen has a Patreon; go support her if you love horror writing!

For more on some top-notch British filmmaking, listen to our episode about Alan Clarke’s The Firm (we also talk about the remake, but don’t hold that against us).

037 – Return of the Ghostbusters

Jen, Tim, and guest Kristian Boruff dissect something even more pointless than Funko Pops: a Ghostbusters fan film from 2007! It’s called Return of the Ghostbusters, and Kris does not care about burning bridges in this episode.

If you must see it for yourself, it’s on YouTube.