Rye Smile Films

This week we wrap our time with the X/Pearl trilogy with the final divisive film in that puts Maxine Minx in 1985 Hollywood with MaXXXine. Journey with us as we discuss this horror/thriller and how it pays homage to the Italian Giallo and the films of Brian De Palma. We discuss all the unique call backs to the series and the satire on Hollywood itself. Is this the weakest film in the trilogy or is...

On this week's episode we continue our cask all around the slasher world of Maxine Minx and Pearl with the 70s era set, X. Journey with us as we discuss this film of dueling halves, the uses of music, the direction from Ti West, and moments that truly come out of nowhere. Is this the best film of the trilogy or the stagnant middle chapter? So pour some rye, load up some film in the camera, and bew...

On this week's episode we venture to the world of Ti West and Mia Goth as we dive into the prequel entry of their horror trilogy with Pearl. Journey with us as we discuss this wild origin story for a character that had already made her appearance and how this character study sheds lights on the films to come. Is this the best entry of this modern horror trilogy or is it hampered by limited locatio...

On this week's episode we wrap up our Martial Arts cask by looking at superstar Jackie Chan and one of his earlier films that best shows his unique brand of action and comedy with Police Story. Journey with us as we discuss this unique talent and his upbringing along with dissecting some of the most dynamic action scenes of all time. But is this still a good movie despite all of its praise for the...

This week we step back into the fighting arena with Jean-Claude Van Damme and the film that gave him his big break with Bloodsport. Journey with us as we discuss this wild tournament filled with so many unique fighters while also talking about Cannon Films. Is this an underrated action movie gem or is it to schlocky for its own good? So pour some rye, do the splits while overlooking Hong Kong, and...

This week we sign up for Han's Tournament and discuss one of the great legends of cinema in Bruce Lee and his seminal film, Enter the Dragon. Journey with us as we discuss the life and career of Mr. Lee and how influential this Hollywood produced martial arts film actually was. But is Enter the Dragon a good film or best when highlighting the talents of Bruce Lee? So pour some rye, get your John S...

Our adventure through Middle Earth comes to a close as we make the final trek to Mount Doom with the epic Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King. Journey with us as special guest Jonathan as we go over all those extended scenes and how Peter Jackson decided to adapt certain aspects of the book. We discuss the wide cast of characters and those legendary battle sequences. Is this the last great f...

Our quest to Mount Doom continues as we catch up with our companions and all the raised stakes with The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers. Journey with us and special guest Jonathan as we dive into this wild sequel that puts the pieces in place for its inevitable finale. We discuss everything Gollum and the show stopping scene that is Helm's Deep. Is this one of the best sequels of all time or is...

The time has come to go on a journey to destroy the Ring of Power and discuss one of the biggest film trilogies of all time and up first is the Fellowship of the Ring. Journey with us and special guest Jonathan as we discuss this dense story and the long road to get this trilogy made. This ensemble cast will be talked about along with the differences from the source text. Is this the most importan...

On this week's episode we wrap up our time with the Judd Apatow comedies and an awkward trip to Hawaii with Forgetting Sarah Marshall. Journey with us as we discuss this wild cast and the fun screenplay that comes from actor Jason Segel. Listen as we quote this film up and down and breakdown all those amazing supporting characters. Is this a modern comedy classic or is this another standard break-...

This week we venture back to high school for one crazy night with the cult comedy classic, Superbad. Journey with us as we discuss this autobiographical script from Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg and how it fits into the mold of a Judd Apatow comedy. Is this the quintessential high school comedy or is it too crass for most audiences? So pour some rye, grab your McLovin ID, and get ready for the fina...

This week we serve up some small batch film review with one of the year's most anticipated films and our first time talking about Guillermo del Toro with Frankenstein. Journey with us as we discuss this new adaptation of the classic Mary Shelley novel along with all the design elements that really make this film stand out. And what about the creature himself and his unique design? Is this a modern...

On this week's episode we start a new film review cask built all around the comedy universe of Judd Apatow and up first is his directorial debut with The 40 Year Old Virgin. Journey with us as we discuss this high concept screenplay and the scenes that made this film a sneaky box office hit. We also discuss the early starts of this comedic cast. Is this still funny 20 years later or has it aged po...

We wrap up our time with Slasher Sevens by welcoming back Jamie Lee Curtis to the Halloween franchise with Halloween H20: 20 Years Later. Journey with us as we discuss this sequel that pits Michael Myers against Laurie Strode and how it reinvents itself with a new timeline and with a post-Scream influence. Is this the sequel to finally get the series going again or is this a poor attempt to bring...

This week we return to Elm Street to do battle with Freddy Krueger once more but this time in the real world with the real actors of the film in New Nightmare. Journey with us as we discuss this wild slasher revival that brings Wes Craven back into the fold as writer/director and a story that blurs the lines with film and reality. Is this the jumpstart the franchise needs or is this meta idea too...

On this week's episode we return to the world of the big 3 slasher franchises to discuss the "Magnificent Sevens" and up first we go to Crystal Lake to discuss Friday the 13th Part VII: The New Blood. Journey with us as we discuss this wild sequel that pits Jason against a telepath in the first film to feature Kane Hodder as the hockey mask killer. Does this film represent the downward spiral of t...

This week, the 'Bowl of Horror' cask comes to a close as we look at the first film to feature the world of Hannibal Lecter with Manhunter. Journey with us as we discuss this adaptation, it's casting, and filmmaker Michael Mann for the very first time. Is this an underseen 1980s thriller or has this story been done better by other films in the series? So pour some rye, grab your tape recorder, and...

This week we go back in time to revisit our "Passport to Horror" cask with a look back at our episode on Let the Right One In. Journey with us and special guest Dan as we dive into the world of a small but might vampire and the friendship that begins with the next door neighbor. Is this still one of the best modern vampire films? So pour some rye, get your snow shoes, and looks the doors and windo...

The Savage Seventies strike again as "The Bowl of Horror" spits out a terrifying tale from director Wes Craven with the original The Hills Have Eyes. Journey with us as we discuss the Carter Family vacation gone awry and the pesky family of cannibals that they must deal with. It becomes a story of survival amidst the environment and the two nuclear families. Is this an underrated horror classic or...

"The Bowl of Horror" Month continues right along and this time we get ready for the most awkward dinner party of all time and stomach the cult pitch as we accept The Invitation. Journey with us as we discuss the single location thriller that slow burns its way to a wild little finale. Is this an under seen horror gem or is it too slow for most audiences? So pour some rye, grab a glass of expensive...

"The Bowl of Horror" horror month begins with a trip to 1942 to discuss one of the most psychologically charged horror films of all time with Cat People. Journey with us as we discuss the small budgeted film and how they had to use creative means to drum up some scares and to skirt around the explicit material. No episode would be complete without discussing the iconic bus jump scare either. Is th...

On this episode we wrap up our cask on Brian De Palma by discussing his most Hitchcockian film with the tense thriller, Body Double. Journey with us as we discuss the nods to Hitchcock, the wild plot of the film, and that insane Frankie Goes to Hollywood sequence. Why did he choose to make this film immediately after Scarface? Is this the director's masterpiece or is it too much of a slow burn? So...

We return to the world of Brian De Palma and his gangster opus that is arguably his most popular movie with our review/breakdown of Scarface. Journey with us as we discuss this wild little movie and that scene chewing Al Pacino performance. Is this De Palma's masterpiece or one of the most overrated movies of all time? So pour some rye, grab your best your best clubbin' suit, and get ready to say...

This week we serve up some small batch film review by looking at the wild and critically acclaimed second film from director Zach Cregger with Weapons. Journey with us as we discuss the interesting structure of the script and the bouts of dark comedy. Is this a modern horror classic or is it a film we've seen a dozen times before? So pour some rye, grab a bowl of chicken noodle soup, and get ready...

This week we return to one of our favorite directors in Brian De Palma to talk about three films that are long overdue and up first is The Untouchables. Journey with us as we discuss the look and style of the film and especially the iconic train steps sequence. Is this an overlooked classic or does it have too many moments that slip up? So pour some rye because the character's cant, grab your best...