Ruined Childhoods

The mid-90s were surely a treasure trove of disaster movies and you can’t talk about them without mentioning Twister . This star-filled cast is only shadowed by the incredible effects, both digital and practical, that hold up at the time of this episode’s release in 2022. And with direction from this month’s Ruined Childhoods Hero, Jan de Bont , Twister is certainly one to revisit. Contact us, fol...

It’s JANuary where we’re celebrating the films of Jan de Bont - both as a Cinematographer and as a Director What makes a classic isn’t necessarily rave reviews, but sometimes it’s the shockwave it sends through the zeitgeist. Such is the case with Basic Instinct , as Jon and Dan discuss on this episode, and then theorize how it could be brought back today. Contact us, follow us on social media, or...

The Summer of 1988 gave us a lot of really fantastic movies and one that’s flown a bit under the radar was Jonathan Demme’s Married to the Mob , starring Michelle Pfeiffer . Dan and Jon talk about this movie and some of the other hits from 1988, many of which feature Alec Baldwin . Does Married to the Mob deserve a new life or should it sleep with the fishes? Dan and Jon figure it all out. Next ep...

There are some movies that are simple and cliche, but when the lead actors have unparalleled chemistry, a simple movie just works. That’s the case with Tommy Boy , the simple story of a screw-up trying to save his family business at all costs. But for a podcast like this where the mission is to imagine a future for a movie, how do you do it when the legendary lead actor is no longer alive? Dan and...

Adapted from a stage play, this historical fan fiction is ripe for new ways to imagine the life and death of one of the most famous classical composers. Are Dan & Jon up to the task? Referenced: https://youtu.be/GsTZ0eFJMLY Next episode: Tommy Boy (1995) Contact us, follow us on social media, or buy some merch at linktr.ee/RuinedChildhoods

Finding yourself inside of a movie sounds incredible, but not in the middle of a high-speed chase scene. On this episode, Dan and Jon find themselves considering Last Action Hero in a whole new way, largely with the support of a particular Gizmodo article . But what they come up with as ways to bring this movie back might make you think of new ways to appreciate this 1993 meta gem. Next episode: A...

On this outlier episode, Dan and Jon talk about their personal histories with film, go over some remake/reboot/sequel/prequel news, and ask each other about some of the iconic elements of movies that are often overlooked or under-appreciated. Next episode: Last Action Hero (1993) Contact us, follow us on social media, or buy some merch at linktr.ee/RuinedChildhoods

On this episode, Dan and Jon get into Alfred Hitchcock’s 1935 spy thriller, The 39 Steps , and ruminate on how it could be brought back today. PLUS, Dan details how he has worked with this story as a stage adaptation for the students at West Seattle High School . Next episode: Getting to Know Your Armed Assailants Contact us, follow us on social media, or buy some merch at linktr.ee/RuinedChildhoo...

James Cameron wasn’t always a bananas director with an obsession with traveling to the bottom of the ocean. First, he was just plain ol’ bananas. On the set of The Abyss , he was abusive and reckless and learned a thing or two about exploring the ocean and visual effects that would shape the rest of his life and career. Next episode: The 39 Steps (1935) Contact us, follow us on social media, or bu...

In this bizarre pro-Confederacy love-triangle run-from-the-law double-crossing western, we see the film debut of Elvis Presley and the dawn of rock stars making their turn as actors. Dan and Jon have a few thoughts, to say the least. Next episode: The Abyss Contact us, follow us on social media, or buy some merch at linktr.ee/RuinedChildhoods

BANGARANG! Dan and Jon are excited to talk about the 1991 fantasy classic, Hook , and how it could be brought back today. Big shout-out to the TriStar Pictures pegasus ! Next episode: Love Me Tender (1956) Contact us, follow us on social media, or buy some merch at linktr.ee/RuinedChildhoods

Not too many people think about SpaceCamp these days, but the actual camp was raging with popularity in the 80s and 90s due to brilliant marketing tie-ins with Nickelodeon game shows. But for those of us who grew up with this movie, we typically remember it with fondness. With an all-star cast and a totally unreal plotline, looking back at SpaceCamp is a great way to imagine new ways to bring it b...

On this episode, Dan and Jon posit the idea that Michael Keaton’s post-Multiplicity career perhaps improves Multiplicity . This is a movie that has gotten a lot of flack over the years, most of which is probably deserved, but how does hindsight factor into some of the larger themes of this movie? Also, Dan and Jon think up some ideas that could bring Multiplicity back to life and also celebrate on...

In 1986, Kurt Russell released his 26th movie - his 3rd with director John Carpenter - a modern supernatural western taking place in San Francisco’s Chinatown called Big Trouble in Little China . Dan and Jon celebrate the good, the bad, and the weird about this cult classic and theorize how it could appropriately be brought back today. Next episode: Multiplicity (1996) Contact us, follow us on soc...

Few films have had a much of a cultural impact as Grease . And Grease 2 carved its own path to become a true cult classic. On this episode, Dan and Jon break them down and talk about where Grease came from and where it’s going, making sure to take a pit stop to discuss their ideas of where it could go. Next: Big Trouble in Little China (1986) Contact us, follow us on social media, or buy some merc...

After a career of slapstick antics and a few zany character moves, Peter Sellers caps off his career with Being There , the story of an emotionally stunted gardener who finds himself advising the president, living in a mansion, and appearing as a guest on late-night TV. It’s one of the most iconic and analyzed satirical political dramedys of the 70s and Dan & Jon are ready to share their thoug...

Nicolas Cage is the actor who best straddles the worlds of schlocky movies and high-brow art cinema. His work in films like Raising Arizona , Adaptation , and Moonstruck is acting on a higher level. His work on films like A Score to Settle , Kill Chain , and Pay the Ghost feels like quick money-grabs. And his work on Face/Off , Mandy , and The Wicker Man lie somewhere in the middle. This remake of...

1960s teen sweethearts Frankie & Annette ruled the silver screen’s representation of the chill California surfer vibe. 20 years later, they brought us Back to the Beach , an odd meta cameo-filled romp. It may not be a classic, but it certainly goes down in history for Dan, Jon, and their guest, Ray DeJohn . Next episode: Bangkok Dangerous (2008) Contact us, follow us on social media, or buy so...

Dan & Jon go back to 1955 to explore this classic. Though it’s inspired MANY films, actors, and filmmakers, but perhaps one of these ideas to bring it back would be one that makes as much of an impact as the original. Next episode: Back to the Beach (1987) Contact us, follow us on social media, or buy some merch at linktr.ee/RuinedChildhoods

Comedian & Actor Cesar Gracia joins Jon and Dan for a thorough conversation about both Scarface (1983) and Scarface (1932) and how they could be brought back today. Next episode: Rebel Without a Cause (1955) Contact us, follow us on social media, or buy some merch at linktr.ee/RuinedChildhoods

Body swap movies have been around since the days of early cinema, but there was a major resurgence in the 1980s and Dan & Jon break each one down. They cover All of Me (1984), Like Father Like Son (1987), Vice Versa (1988), 18 Again! (1988), and Dream a Little Dream (1989). Next episode: Scarface (1983) Contact us, follow us on social media, or buy some merch at linktr.ee/RuinedChildhoods

After 1978’s Animal House , National Lampoon co-founder Douglas Kenney and friends created one of the most famous and bizarre sports comedies of all time. On this episode, Jon & Dan look back at the Caddyshack movies and figure out ways that it could be brought back today. Dan also has an opportunity to chat with Chris Nashawaty, who penned Caddyshack: The Making of a Hollywood Cinderella Stor...

A tribute band singer gets plucked from obscurity to replace his idol - Dayenu! On this episode, Dan & Jon talk about the September 2001 metal spectacle, Rock Star Next episode: Caddyshack (1980) Contact us, follow us on social media, or buy some merch at linktr.ee/RuinedChildhoods

Dan & Jon summon the ghost with the most to celebrate this star-packed 1988 classic. But with a broadway musical, theme park live shows, an animated series, video games, and more, Dan & Jon attempt to find new ways to exorcise this film from beyond the grave. Next episode: Vertigo (1958) Contact us, follow us on social media, or buy some merch at linktr.ee/RuinedChildhoods

Dan & Jon are feelin’ lucky as they cover the 5-film Dirty Harry series. Though there are issues with depictions of race, sex, law enforcement, and Clint Eastwood that are certainly problematic, Dan and Jon focus on what these films did well, notably coining phrases that are ripe for parody. Next episode: Beetlejuice (1988) Contact us, follow us on social media, or buy some merch at linktr.ee/...