Cinema Cauldron

in this episode: thoughts on “Wicked – Part One,” trans themes in Gregory Maguire's original text, and how Oz envisions ‘the other' set to witchy and magickal jazz from over the rainbow. opening music by Diego Nava. tracklist 1. Oscar Peterson, "Witchcraft" 2. Sonny Stitt, "It's Magic" 3. Akira Yamaoka, "Witchcraft" 4. Thelonious Monk, "'Round Midnight" 5. Stan Kenton, "Over The Rainbow" Get full...

In this episode, I’ll review Todd Phillips anti-sequel, Joker: Folie à Deux . Along the way, I’ll touch on Warner Discovery’s multi-year string of financial busts — and the future of big-budget film with mega-fans in the chair. Put on a smile and get happy — and welcome back to Cinema Cauldron.music by George Nascimento, Chris Botti, and The Starlight Orchestra.follow the show @ madshaus.substack....

After an opening scene of S&M that sees a rose stem refashioned as a whip, Nun In Rope Hell (1984) brings viewers to the Kadowaki Suspension Bridge . I recognized it as a climactic set piece in horror sequel Sadako 3D 2 (2013), but it’s also been featured in Koji Shiraishi’s Occult (2009.) Located in the Shizuoka prefecture, the bridge is suspended right above the Jogasaki Coast. Both from the sid...

Showing rape is a taboo in film. But when it comes to breaking this taboo, Japan does it very differently than the rest of the world. On this episode, Madeline discusses ' Rape! ', a 1976 Nikkatsu Roman Porno written by 'House' scribe Chiho Katsura. Along the way, she discusses the depiction of sexual assault in film - and why it matters. Music: Grant Green - 'Idle Moments' Diego Nava - 'Chill Bro...

Mothers' Instinct arrived to Netflix this past week with little to no fanfare. In fact, its theatrical release went mostly unnoticed. But this quiet 1960s thriller starring Anne Hathaway and Jessica Chastain dishes up some worthwhile commentary with style to spare. Listen in to find out how.follow me on BlueSky @ mads.hausfollow my Substack @ madshaus.substack.com Episode music from Nature's Eye a...

On the 30th episode of Cinema Cauldron, Madeline mines "MaXXXine" and the rest of Ti West's "X" figure for dark truths about the seedy underbelly of the American Dream. Plus: 'The Goddess,' Anna Freud, and the death of Norma Jean Baker. Get full access to cinema cauldron at madshaus.substack.com/subscribe

Madame Web does not give superhero audiences what they want. It does not meet the expectations for a good comic book movie, by the classical definition. At no point does the film feel like an A-to-Z origin story for any of its characters. The craft is not here to support a linear, plot-driven script meant to introduce, develop, and embattle a central hero. On multiple levels, it fails to adapt the...

My thoughts on Mean Girls (2024,) the state of the modern musical, and the surprising queerness of Tina Fey's musical remake. read my full review @ mads.haus and Substack subscribe and support the show @ Substack music by Diego Nava Get full access to cinema cauldron at madshaus.substack.com/subscribe

Captivity & the Death of 'Torture Porn' - Part 3 of 4   16 years ago this month,  Captivity 's billboards sparked outrage across America. In this episode, I'll discuss the film's notorious reshoots, its controversial marketing, and how  Six Feet Under  producer Joey Soloway doomed the film's chances at success. Plus: where did the term 'torture porn' come from - and was it a fair label or misguide...

Moscow, Turistas , and After Dark Films In this installment:  Captivity 's complicated Moscow production, the controversy surrounding  Turistas , and a closer look at producer Courtney Solomon's After Dark Films. Plus, a taste of true crime as I discuss the real-life murder of Andres Ramos Bordalo - and how Fox Atomic used it to promote Turistas .  Follow me on Twitter! Follow the show on Twitter!...

Abu-Ghraib, Saw, and America’s Love Affair With Torture In this episode, I'll provide a brief overview of the controversy surrounding  Captivity (2007)  and trace its early origins as a Hype Williams project for 20th Century Fox. Then, I'll trace the correlation between America's fascination with torture, Iraq War era propaganda, and the anti-torture messaging in Saw ,  Saw II , and  Saw III .  pa...

Vincenzo Natali's ( Cube ) 2009 sci-fi horror film, Splice , rattled the nerves of the few that saw it on release. It was bloody, sexual, and - above all - had scary things to say about American parenting culture. Today, I'll revisit Dark Castle Productions' first flop and consider some of the themes at play. Is the film's lukewarm reputation deserved, or is there something here worth probing deep...

I Spit On Your Grave is one of the most controversial films ever made. On this episode, I'll briefly discuss the history of the original and its infamous reception. Plus: I'll walk you through each entry of this notorious franchise - and make my case for it as a feminist horror masterpiece. Support the show on Ko-Fi ! Follow Madeline on Twitter @VHSVVitch! Read this episode's script - plus sources...

This episode is dedicated to the memory of Nikki Kuhnhausen. Koji Suzuki's 1991 Ring introduced Sadako - an telepathic victim of a hate crime that, in her anger, doomed the world with a deadly curse. But over 30 years later, her origin story has been mostly forgotten. On today's Cinema Cauldron, I compare and contrast the various adaptations of Ring , discuss the origins and inspirations behind Sa...

Rose Glass' gnostic chiller Saint Maud went unseen by most, and unsung by many. On this episode, we take a deep dive into the A24 gem, and address some of the little-discussed aspects of the movie. Included are discussions of Borderline Personality Disorder, the affect of Catholic doctrine on mentally ill queer folk, and an honest discussion on sexual assault. Help me buy better equipment on Ko-Fi...

This week, I'm joined my the illustrious Rocketto Punchi co-host, Russell Alterman, to discuss Scooby-Doo in the 1980s! We dive deep into three of the best Scooby films of all time: Boo Brothers, Ghoul School, and Reluctant Werewolf. Follow the show on Twitter @cinemacauldron Follow Bella on Twitter @vhsvvitch Follow Russell on Twitter @ Get full access to cinema cauldron at madshaus.substack.com/...

After Roland Emmerich's Godzilla prompted a soft reset for the aging series, Toho took their most iconic creature for a five-movie trip down memory lane - and into the future. Rocketto Punchi co-host Preston McFarlin joins me this week to discuss Godzilla vs Megaguirus , Godzilla Against Mecha-Godzilla , and Godzilla: Final Wars . Follow Bella on Twitter @vhsvvitch Follow Preston on Twitter @robot...

To talk about The Matrix Resurrections , we need to talk about The Animatrix and Enter The Matrix - two of the most important parts of the series. I dig deep into the franchise's philosophy, the idea of choice versus destiny, and why Niobe is one of the most important characters in the series. Enjoy. Word Count: 7,017 Music by Alejandro Magana, Eugenio Mininni, Arulo, and Diego Nava. If you like t...

Last year was the worst. Let's talk about some of my favorite movies from it. That's right - a rote, standard Top 5... with a special announcement at the end. Sound good? Music by Brock Hewitt, Richard Smithson, and Walz. Opening track "Chill Bro" by Diego Nava Follow Bella on Twitter @VHSVVitch Follow the show on Twitter @CinemaCauldron Subscribe to the newsletter for scripts and more Get full ac...

In the season of the spirit, I visit the sex-crazed Christploitation classic Evil Come Evil Go , where a Tammy Faye knockoff seduces lesbians and kills "evil men." Afterwards, I take a dreamy boat ride to Lesbian Island in Girl Slaves of Morgana le Fay and revisit Jose Larraz with his twisted slasher classic, Edge of the Axe . follow Bella on Twitter + Letterboxd @VHSVVitch follow the show + subsc...

First up this week: a Larraz double feature! I discuss the director's beloved slasher classic Deadly Manor , and sink my teeth into vampire exploitation classic Vampyres . Then - I discuss unsung cult gem, Lemora , which spent years being attacked by the Catholic church for anti-Christian values. As it turns out, it's a surprisingly tender and effective coming-of-age story about a queer Southern g...