Cash Grab Cinema

Ho, ho, NO? In this holiday episode, Rachel, Trae, and Josh discuss the 2016 Hallmark Hall of Fame film A Heavenly Christmas , starring Kristin Davis, Eric McCormack, and Shirley MacLaine. In this somehow more bland retooling of the basic plot in the 2010 movie Christmas Mail , a talented (wink) musician is miserable because he has to take care of his orphaned niece while also running a successful...

In this episode, we explore what happens when a Rom-Com is produced that has no romance and no comedy -- it gets released as the film Table 19. Join Rachel and Josh as they wade through the passive-aggressive tones, the lifeless dialogue, and the complete lack of character development that plagues this movie and ask the question: is this a genuine attempt at art, or a soulless Cash Grab? You can s...

In this very special episode, Rachel, Trae, and Josh recount the experience of making Lookout Point, a short film for the 48 Hour Film Project. We discuss what it was like to make a film in a frantic, sweaty panic and what we think of the end result. Spoilers -- we don't consider our own film to be a shameless Cash Grab (confirmation bias abounds). You can support Cash Grab Cinema by leaving a...

Ahoy mateys! In this episode, we jump the shark and dive into the 2018 summer blockbuster The Meg! Join Rachel, Trae, and Josh on this fin-tastic adventure in which we unravel jaw-dropping scenes, dissect fishy dialogue, and of course, sit in awe of the force of nature we call Jason Statham. Does this movie gill-iver a sincere attempt at art, or is this just another smelly Cash Grab? You can suppo...

In a world full of media like 28 Days Later , Mad Max , and The Last of Us , we often forget that ancient apocalyptic IP - the book of Revelation. In this episode Rachel and Josh discuss the 2001 film Left Behind , a movie that started a direct-to-video saga that did little to inform or warn non-Christians of their fate during the end of days, and did much to comfort those who think they will be t...

Load up your favorite snack cracker with a dollop of pâté and put on your best revolutionary costume of the day! In this episode, Rachel, Trae, and Josh discuss the 1975 documentary Grey Gardens . This film focuses on a mother and daughter who were once members of the wealthy East Hampton, NY aristocracy, but have spent decades living in forgotten squalor in their ever-deteriorating estate. While...

Quan su, dudes! In this episode, Rachel, Trae, and Josh wax up their boards and head out into open water to explore the maddening mysteries and cacophony of cultural insensitivities of the 1993 film Surf Ninjas. This movie has it all: the martial arts talents of Ernie Reyes Sr. and Jr., a Sega Game Gear that can foresee the future, Rob Schneider as the unfunny sidekick, Tone Loc as a fish-out-of-w...

Squeeze into your ball gowns and sharpen your fighting blades because in this episode we discuss the horror & action & comedy film Pride & Prejudice & Zombies . It's the same old story - a family on the brink of becoming too poor to remain in the aristocratic class are desperate to marry off their daughters, all while a zombie outbreak is spreading through the English countryside....

In this episode we delve into the surreal with The Peanut Butter Solution , a 1985 children's fantasy film. Mike is a typical 11-year-old kid living in the suburbs of Montreal until he witnesses a sight so frightening that all of his hair falls out. After getting the recipe for a magic potion from a couple of ghosts in a dream, Mike is able to regrow his hair -- but it's too much too fast, and now...

In this episode Rachel and Josh discuss God's Not Dead 3: A Light in Darkness, a film that finally addresses Christian persecution in the US and pits a callous, secular educational system against the single greatest hero of our time - David A.R. White. In this final chapter of the "God's Not Trilogy" we return to Hadleigh University, where the school's administration wants to demolish the on-campu...

In this episode Rachel, Trae, and Josh attempt some good old-fashioned Hollywood clairvoyance as they try to predict the winners of the 94th Academy Awards. Along the way we discuss the artistic merits of the nominated films and ask the question: are these films a genuine attempt at art, or just a group of shameless Cash Grabs? You can support Cash Grab Cinema by leaving a review and rating us on...

Great Scott! In this episode, Rachel and Josh talk about Back to the Future, a quintessential 80's film that redefined science fiction comedy. This episode was recorded several years ago; we reached way back in the vault to unearth it. We talk about the cultural significance of the film and weigh that against the cacophony of product placement littered across the screen, ultimately asking the ques...

In this episode, we delve into the thrilling world of involuntary BASE jumping with the 2018 film What Keeps You Alive . This movie has it all: eerie atmosphere, foreshadowing that seems to be important but ends up going nowhere, romantic serenades that include violent inner demons, and characters who just can't seem to make a single rational decision. Join Rachel, Trae, and Josh as we pick apart...

In this episode we delve into the deliciously twisted 2020 film Black Lake -- an independent horror film that involves a haunted scarf, a malevolent witch, and a troubled artist wandering around Scottish moors. Rachel, Trae, and Josh analyze this incredibly unique film and ask the question: is this a genuine attempt at art, or just a soulless Cash Grab?   You can support Cash Grab Cinema by l...

It's been a long journey. Pointless? Maybe. Mind-numbing? Absolutely. Either way, we have finally come to the last two installments of the Twilight Saga, which -- unlike the cynical money-grubbing producers of these films -- we are graciously releasing as a single episode. Join Rachel, Trae and Josh as we rip apart the pieces and burn the body of this bewildering romance/action/supernatural franch...

"Could you at least *attempt* to control your thoughts?" In this episode we continue our epic quest to review all of the Twilight movies (not counting the first Twilight film -- we covered that long ago ) to try and get to the heart of why this YA series turned film franchise became such a pop culture phenomenon throughout the twenty-aughts and early teens. Join us as we giggle through the shoddy...

Grab a satchel of vampire glitter and slip into a fresh pair of jorts because in this episode we discuss Twilight: New Moon. Rachel, Trae, and Josh embark on an epic quest to review all of the Twilight movies (not counting the first Twilight film -- we covered that long ago ) to try and get to the heart of why this YA series turned film franchise became such a pop culture phenomenon throughout the...

From the depths of our dusty archives comes the very first, original episode of the show, recorded way back in 2017. In this episode Rachel and Josh discuss The Seeker: the Dark is Rising, a 2007 film adaptation of one of the Dark is Rising book series from the 1970s. With an impressive cast and sterling source material, one would expect this film to be full of adventure and a delight to the sense...

In this episode our ragtag team takes on the Galactic Empire, by which we mean the corporate media behemoth Disney. We discuss Star Wars Episode 8: The Last Jedi, a film that is incredibly divisive and prompted some diehard Star Wars fans to proclaim that this movie "broke Star Wars". Listen as we make the case for why this film is either a brilliant achievement or a dismal failure, and as always...

In this episode we explore the strange and confusing world of Guardians - a 2017 film that is Russia's answer to the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Forget about your tired old superheroes, and get pumped to see Rock Dude, Water Lady, Murder Blades, and of course, Man Bear Pig fight the forces of evil. Those aren't their actual superhero names, but it's the quickest way to sum up this motley crew. We p...

Grab your Coca-Cola and Skittles, because in this episode we explore the 1988 film and product placement powerhouse, Mac and Me. In this film, a boy named Eric befriends a mysterious visitor from beyond the stars. The federal government is after Eric's new alien friend, but will Eric, his brother, and their motley crew of neighborhood kids be able to keep Mac's whereabouts under raps? If you think...

Grab a plate of lutefisk and hold on to your Lutheran Sisterhood Gun Club membership card as we discuss the 1999 film Drop Dead Gorgeous, a mockumentary about a rural Minnesota beauty pageant that turns deadly (think Waiting for Guffman meets Heathers). This film features an ensemble cast of very funny women and is chocked full of classic lines (like "Jesus loves winners"). We ask the question: wa...

Let us pause to give thanks that Lifetime recently released 'Deadly Mile High Club' - an awkwardly constructed "sexy thriller" that asks the ultimate question: can a pink fedora actually drive a movie plot? Join us as we pick this film apart and ask the question: is this movie a cash grab or a genuine attempt at art? You can support Cash Grab Cinema by leaving a review and rating us on iTunes, App...

G'day, mates! In this episode we're heading down under to discuss the somewhat wholesome, somewhat beleaguering zombie movie Little Monsters. A schoolteacher named Audrey Caroline (played by Lupita Nyong'o) takes her class for a field trip to a local farm, which happens to be located next door to a US Army biological testing facility. When the zombies show up, Ms. Caroline has to ward off the unde...

In this episode we review a zombie movie that defies all reason: the acting is atrocious, the camerawork is awful, the plot is nonsensical, each of the characters are a combination of racist, misogynistic, or in some other way bigoted, and the zombies feel like they were an afterthought, tacked on in the third act. However, for all that is wrong with Victor McGlothlin's Texas Voodoo Zombies, we fo...