Broken VCR

Charles Band's 1984 lo fi sci-fi time traveling Christmas action film, TRANCERS, is our feature presentation this week. We discuss the 80s B-Movie action boom, time travel in film, director Charles Band, and much much more! We also pick our TOP 7 NON-SPACE SCI-FI MOVIES in this week's SILVER SCREEN 7. Check out the show, subscribe, and become a regular here at The Broken VCR!

Ted Kotcheff's 1971 dust-covered, sweat-drenched Aussie Christmas thriller, WAKE IN FRIGHT, is our feature presentation this week. We discuss the film nearly being lost forever, the desolate Australian setting, the steady flow of alcohol, the controversial kangaroo hunting scene, and much much more! We also pick our TOP 7 DONALD PLEASENCE MOVIES in this week's SILVER SCREEN 7. Check out the show,...

Hugh Wilson's 1984 over-the-top slapstick cop comedy, POLICE ACADEMY, is our feature presentation this week. We discuss the cast of characters that elevate the story, Kim Cattrall, how the film has faded into obscurity after a long run of sequels, the podium blow job scene, and much much more! We also pick our TOP 7 UNDER-APPRECIATED 1980s COMEDIES in this week's SILVER SCREEN 7.Check out the show...

Eli Roth's 2023 Thanksgiving-themed slasher film, THANKSGIVING, is our feature presentation this week. We discuss if this film lived up to the trailer from GRINDHOUSE, the genre's charm or lack thereof, director Eli Roth, the film's killer "John Carver", and much more! We also pick our TOP 7 HOLIDAY THEMED SLASHERS in this week's SILVER SCREEN 7.Check out the show, subscribe, and become a regular...

Woody Allen's 1986 Thanksgiving relationship dramedy, HANNAH AND HER SISTERS, is our feature presentation this week. We discuss Woody's long takes, why Mia Farrow was critical of the script, capturing New York City, the incredible cast, and much more! We also pick our TOP 7 WOODY ALLEN MOVIES in this week's SILVER SCREEN 7. Check out the show, subscribe, and become a regular here at The Broken VCR...

David Fincher's 2023 nihilistic assassin case-study, THE KILLER, is our feature presentation this week. We discuss writer Andrew Kevin Walker reuniting with Fincher, the music of The Smiths, terrible footprints, what goes on in an assassin's mind, if Fincher has a signature look and if it has grown stale, and much much more! We also pick our TOP 7 DAVID FINCHER FILMS in this week's SILVER SCREEN 7...

David S. Ward's 1993 gritty college football deep cut, THE PROGRAM, is our feature presentation this week. We discuss the heavy use of cliches and sports tropes, the big NCAA schools working with the film, the film's connection to Schindler's List, the iconic football characters of "Lattimer" and "Alvin Mack", how to not ride bitch on a motorcycle, and much much more! We also pick our TOP 7 JAMES...

Sydney Pollack's 1969 surreal, eccentric war-time allegory, CASTLE KEEP, is our feature presentation this week. We discuss the weight of Vietnam War-era World War II films, the film's ties to the real life Amityville Horror murders, Burt Lancaster bringing Sydney Pollack onto the film, the incredible castle set piece, whether the film is anti-war or pro-war,  the eccentric cast of characters (incl...

Martin Scorsese's 2023 historical period true crime behemoth, KILLERS OF THE FLOWER MOON, is our feature presentation this week. We discuss the running time, Leonardo DiCaprio & Robert De Niro's performances, Robbie Robertson's score, if Lily Gladstone's character is "one-note", and debate if the film is good or not. Spoiler: Hoch and Chad do not agree on this one. We also pick our TOP Leonardo Di...

Tobe Hooper's 1974 visceral Texas fried nightmare meat grinder, The Texas Chain Saw Massacre is our feature presentation this week. We discuss Tobe Hooper's mind set during the film, the dead rotting animal corpses on set, horror in the sunshine, Gunnar Hansen's character work, the brilliance of the opening & closing scenes, Robert Burns art direction, and much much more! We also pick our TOP 7 19...

Tom Holland's 1985 suburban "Boy Who Cried Wolf" vampire film, FRIGHT NIGHT, is our feature presentation this week. We discuss the Chris Sarandon's hesitation to star in the film, the Backlot magic of the production, the iconic movie poster, the phenomenal year in Horror that 1985 was, the horribly painful contact lenses used in the Special FX of the film, and much much more! We also pick our TOP...

Robert Rodriguez's 1996 south of the border bank robber vampire thrill ride, From Dusk Till Dawn, is our feature presentation this week. We discuss the film being Tarantino's first paid writing gig, the vampire mythology present, Salma Hayek's iconic dance & her fear of snakes, as well the character of Earl McGraw, why Robert Rodriguez pushed Tarantino to make the film, and much more! We also pick...

Roman Polanski's 1967 vampire comedy homage to Hammer Horror, The Fearless Vampire Killers, or Pardon Me, But Your Teeth Are In My Neck, is our feature presentation this week. We discuss Roman Polanski's romance with Sharon Tate beginning on the film, the set design and soundstage artistry, the charming vampire lore, The Manson Family, Murders, and why Polanski says "The film reminds me of the hap...

Kathryn Bigelow's 1987 Neo-Western vampire noir, NEAR DARK, is our feature presentation this week. We discuss the music of Tangerine Dream, James Cameron's hidden hand on the film, Bill Paxton's character "Severn", the X-Factor of the film, character actor Troy Evans, and much much more! We also pick our TOP 7 LANCE HENRIKSEN MOVIES in this week's SILVER SCREEN 7. Check out the fifth entry in our...

The case: Dawn of the Dead (1978) vs Dawn of the Dead (2004). Hoch will be arguing for Zack Snyder's remake while Chad will be defending George A. Romero's 70s original. Opening and closing statements, and four key exhibits in our Cross Examination.    Check out our fourth entry in our DOUBLE-STUFFED OCTOBER film series running through Halloween. Subscribe, become a regular, and tell your friends...

Lew Lehman's 1981 perverse creature feature revenge horror, THE PIT, is our feature presentation this week. We discuss the issues with the screenplay, the perverted 12-year old peeping Tom at the heart of the film, the Director not being allowed to film nude scenes, the Teddy Bear, the pit-dwelling Trogs, and all of the madness within. We also pick our TOP 7 SMALL MOVIE CREATURES in this week's SI...

Richard Ciupka's 1983 Canuxploitation winter slasher film, CURTAINS, is our feature presentation this week. We discuss the dysfunctional set, two creative minds clashing clashing to create a disjointed final film, Line Griffin's performance, that ice skating death scene, that doll, and much much more! We also pick our TOP 7 CANUXPLOITATION FILMS in this week's SILVER SCREEN 7. Check out our second...

The Philippou Brothers' possession film for the TikTok generation, TALK TO ME, is our feature presentation this week. We give our instant reaction to the film and talk updating the possession subgenre, the use of Practical FX, the embalmed hand, if new horror takes itself too seriously, and much much more. We also pick our TOP 7 OZPLOITATION FILMS in this week's SILVER SCREEN 7. Check out this bon...

William Asher's 1981 horrific contemporary Oedipus tale, BUTCHER, BAKER, NIGHTMARE MAKER, is our feature presentation this week. We talk the incredible performances from Susan Tyrrell and Bo Svenson, the director/cinematographer switch that saw Jan de Bont leave the production,  the portrayal of homosexual characters and the homophobic character of "Detective Carlson" and much much more. We also p...

Emile Ardolino's 1987 sexy, summer, dance phenomenon, DIRTY DANCING, is our feature presentation this week. We talk screenwriter Eleanor Bergstein's real life setting the stage for the film, the animosity between PATRICK SWAYZE and JENNIFER GREY, the movie's iconic soundtrack, Swayze's love of "These Arms of Mine" love scenes, and much much more. We also eulogize filmmaker William Friedkin and pic...

Steven Brill's 1995 summer fat camp family comedy, HEAVYWEIGHTS, is our feature presentation this week. We talk Disney's issues with the edginess of the film, Judd Apatow's involvement, the method performance of Ben Stiller, if this film could be made today, and much much more. We also pick our TOP 7 SUMMER CAMP FILMS in this week's SILVER SCREEN 7. Check out the eighth film in our BIG WEIRD SUMME...

Martin Scorsese's 1985 New York City anxious dark comedy, AFTER HOURS, is our feature presentation this week. We talk how this film saved Scorsese's career, controversy with the way women are depicted in the film, the screenplay's plagiarism, how Tim Burton connects with the film, Griffin Dunne, the weirdo world created, and much much more. We also pick our TOP 7 ONE CRAZY NIGHT FILMS in this week...

Christopher Nolan's new atomic bomb biopic drama, OPPENHEIMER, is our feature presentation this week. We give our instant reaction to the film and talk Christopher Nolan's storytelling, the screenplay, the length, that original score, the sex scenes, and the performances of Cillian Murphy, Emily Blunt, Robert Downey Jr, Matt Damon, and much much more. We also pick our TOP 7 CHRISTOPHER NOLAN films...

Jim Sharman's 1975 horror B-movie musical goliath, THE ROCKY HORROR PICTURE SHOW, is our feature presentation this week. We talk the pop culture phenomenon, Tim Curry's iconic performance, Richard O'Brien's stage play origins, the midnight movie success, Susan Sarandon, and much much more. We also pick our TOP 7 MUSICALS in this week's SILVER SCREEN 7. Check out the sixth film in our BIG WEIRD SUM...

Brian De Palma's 1974 Faustian rock opera satire, PHANTOM OF THE PARADISE, is our feature presentation this week. We talk the breakneck style and pace of the film, De Palma's trademark style, Gerrit Graham's performance as "BEEF", the music of Paul Williams, production designer Jack Fisk, the makeup design controversy, and much much more. We also pick our TOP 7 FILM FROM 1974 in this week's SILVER...