Forgotten Cinema

On this episode of Forgotten Cinema, the Mikes are talking with Erin Áine and Kyle Valle, two of the creators of the indie horror/comedy "ZombieCON Vol. 1". We talk with them about the process of indie filmmaking, the decade long journey of "ZombieCON Vol. 1" and what's next for the world of ZombieCON. After the interview, be sure to check out our Now Showing episode where Mike Field and Mike Butl...

This week on Forgotten Cinema: Now Showing , the Mikes are fighting some really douchey zombies. After recently interviewing the filmmakers behind "ZombieCON Vol. 1", Butler and Field dive into the finished film itself. Both are impressed by the passion and craftsmanship that went into this indie horror-comedy. It’s clearly a labor of love, and the team behind it pulled off something that’s hard e...

This week on Forgotten Horror 7, the Mikes dive headfirst into one of the goriest, goofiest horror comedies ever made; "Dead Alive" (1992), also known as "Braindead". Both Mike Butler and Mike Field absolutely love this film. It’s zany, it’s silly, and it’s drenched in more blood and guts than you could possibly imagine. Like a deranged "Looney Tunes" short turned up to eleven, "Dead Alive" is a s...

This week on Forgotten Horror 7 , the Mikes take a wild trip through 80s sci-fi horror with "Lifeforce" (1985); a movie neither of them had seen before and both are still trying to fully process. Mike Field finds himself swept up in the film’s 80s charm, enjoying the practical effects, the British cast, and the sheer weirdness of it all. Mike Butler… not so much. While he admits some of the effect...

This week on Forgotten Cinema: Now Showing, Mike Butler and Mike Field take their seats inside the Grid for the long-awaited "Tron: Ares". As the follow-up to "Tron: Legacy", the film brings dazzling visuals, IMAX-ready spectacle, and a pulsating score by Nine Inch Nails—all things that both hosts enjoyed. But while the aesthetics and sound are electric, the story struggles to keep that spark aliv...

This week on Forgotten Horror 7 , the Mikes head into the woods with "Cabin Fever " (2001), Eli Roth’s debut horror film that aimed to revive the “cabin in the woods” subgenre. Unfortunately…neither Mike Butler nor Mike Field are fans. While they can appreciate the craftsmanship: some strong visuals, solid practical effects, and moments of inspired direction, the rest of the film collapses under i...

This week on Forgotten Horror 7 , the Mikes descend into the abandoned halls of " Session 9" (2001), one of the earliest horror films shot digitally—and one that still manages to feel unsettling decades later. Both Mike Field and Mike Butler admire the filmmaking craft on display. Butler especially praises the cinematography, the striking shot choices, and the eerie use of setting and color that t...

Forgotten Horror 7 kicks off with " Wes Craven’s New Nightmare" (1994), the meta slasher that dared to blur the lines between fiction and reality. Both Mike Butler and Mike Field appreciate some of the ideas here—bringing Freddy Krueger into the “real” world, playing with Heather Langenkamp as herself, and giving Wes Craven and Robert Englund roles in their own nightmare. But as the Mikes discuss,...

This week on Forgotten Cinema , the Mikes ride into Steven Spielberg’s "War Horse"(2011). It’s no surprise that Mike Butler and Mike Field are fans when it comes to Spielberg, his filmmaking skill and ability to tell a story is always front and center. But this rewatch hit especially hard for Field, who now counts "War Horse" among his favorite Spielberg films. The Mikes break down how the film lo...

This week on Forgotten Cinema , the Mikes lace up for "Slap Shot" (1977), the raunchy hockey comedy starring Paul Newman. Mike Field finds the film hilarious, a snapshot of 70’s filmmaking with its gritty, almost indie style. Mike Butler, however, doesn’t find the comedy as effective; not because of the disparaging dialogue (he gets that it’s from a different time), but because the style itself fe...

This week on a special Now Showing episode of Forgotten Cinema , the Mikes take a look at "The Conjuring: Last Rites" (2025), the final chapter for Ed and Lorraine Warren. After just completing their YouTube Lead Up series on the mainline The Conjuring films, Mike Field and Mike Butler appreciated how the film gave the Warrens a proper send-off, bringing closure to their story after more than a de...

This week on Forgotten Cinema , the Mikes roll into WWII with "Fury " (2014), David Ayer’s gritty tank drama starring Brad Pitt, Shia LaBeouf, Logan Lerman, Michael Peña, and Jon Bernthal. Mike Butler came into this rewatch with a new perspective, after not liking the film too much on his first viewing. He found a lot more to appreciate this time around, especially in a tense, uncomfortable dinner...

This week on Forgotten Cinema, the Mikes take off with "American Made" (2017), starring Tom Cruise as Barry Seal, a pilot who gets tangled up in smuggling, the CIA, and more money than he can carry. Both Butler and Field agree the movie is a fun ride, but it’s one that relies almost entirely on Cruise’s charm to keep it in the air. The film never really establishes a sense of risk or conflict, eve...

This week on Forgotten Cinema , the Mikes rev up their trucks and get ready to arm wrestle with " Over the Top" (1987), Sylvester Stallone’s unlikely mix of father-son drama and competitive arm wrestling. Both Mike Butler and Mike Field enjoy this one, even as they acknowledge the gaping plot holes and occasionally absurd storytelling. They break down why the father/son dynamic between Stallone’s...

This week on "Forgotten Cinema", the Mikes take on the 1986 cult car-fueled sci-fi action flick "The Wraith". Mike Field insists the film’s goofy charm and nostalgia make it worth revisiting, while Mike Butler flat-out hates it; declaring it the second worst film they've done on the podcast. Butler argues that it’s not campy enough to be a Troma-style guilty pleasure and too stupid to be genuinely...

In this week’s episode of Forgotten Cinema , the Mikes step into the ring for "Gladiator"! No, not the Ridley Scott epic, but the 1992 underground boxing drama starring Cuba Gooding Jr. and James Marshall. While both Mike Field and Mike Butler agree it’s an enjoyable B-movie with solid performances, they can’t ignore the flaws: high school characters who look well past graduation, a clunky mix of...

This week on Forgotten Cinema, the Mikes head back to 1980 with "Everybody Wants Some!!", Richard Linklater’s laid-back, jock-fueled follow-up (spiritually, at least) to "Dazed and Confused". Mike Field, a longtime Linklater fan, is all in on the film’s nostalgic energy, naturalistic dialogue, and character-driven charm. Mike Butler? Not so much. While he appreciates the strong direction and risin...

Mike Butler and Mike Field can officially state that "Fantastic Four: First Steps" is the greatest Fantastic Four film ever. ...which means diddly. From skipping over way too much of their lives as heroes, to a not so stellar second hour, the Mikes felt less than fantastic after watching this newest entry in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. The style is there, the family aspect is there, they even k...

This week, the Mikes are crash landing on a hostile alien planet with Radha Mitchell, Cole Hauser, and escaped murderer Vin Diesel as they discuss the 2000 sci-fi film "Pitch Black". Butler loved this movie when he was 13 and he still really likes it today, with a few logic and story issues. Field says he doesn't NOT like the film, but it kind of really seems like a hater. Along the way they'll di...

This week on Forgotten Cinema, the Mikes dive into one of Steven Spielberg’s most underrated and powerful films: "Munich" (2005). As longtime Spielberg fans, Mike Field and Mike Butler are all in on this gripping thriller, unpacking the film’s masterful direction, stunning cinematography, and the complex moral themes at its core. They explore how "Munich" handles questions of justice, revenge, and...

In this Now Showing Lite episode of Forgotten Cinema, Mike Butler takes flight solo to review James Gunn's "Superman" (2025) —the latest big-screen take on the Man of Steel. As a lifelong Superman fan, Mike dives into what worked, what didn’t, and why this more comic book–faithful approach to the character still resonated, despite a few third-act stumbles. The first half of the episode is spoiler-...

This week on Forgotten Cinema, the Mikes go back in time to grift some villagers with a dragon sidekick as they revisit "DragonHeart " (1996), the medieval fantasy adventure starring Dennis Quaid, David Thewlis, and the unmistakable voice of Sean Connery as Draco the dragon. Butler brings the nostalgia, having watched the film as a kid, and still finds plenty to enjoy—from its message of honor to...

This week on "Forgotten Cinema", the Mikes take a wrong turn into "Judgment Night" (1993), a gritty urban thriller starring Emilio Estevez, Cuba Gooding Jr., Jeremy Piven, and Denis Leary. While both Mike Field and Mike Butler agree the film is well made and well acted, they also agree it’s held back by a clunky script and characters who make some truly baffling decisions. And while Denis Leary br...

Mike Butler and Mike Field take one final leap into the world of video games turned movies with guest Russ Lyman on their limited special series "From Console to Screen" to discuss the 2005 Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson sci-fi action adaptation of "Doom" also starring Karl Urban. Does the first person action scene save this film from the other adaptations the Mikes have had to endure? What's your favo...

This week on Forgotten Cinema, the Mikes step into the quiet, brutal world of "A History of Violence" (2005), directed by David Cronenberg and starring Viggo Mortensen. Mike Field brings the praise; this is his favorite Cronenberg film. Mike Butler? Not so much. While the film’s tight runtime and strong performances are appreciated on both sides, the impact of the violence doesn’t quite land for B...