The Kulturecast

In this bonus episode, we take a look at David Cronenberg's latest film that's a possible return to the body horror aficionado, Crimes of the Future. Starring Viggo Mortensen and Kristen Stewart, the film follows Mortensen as a performance artist who has vestigial organs removed on stage in a dystopian future. Kristen Stewart plays a perfect weirdo obsessed with his art and his evolutionary advanc...

In this bonus episode, we venture back to Derry, Maine to take a look at every adaptation of Stephen King's magnum opus, It. We cover all three films, along with a light dive into the book. Did you know they're doing a prequel TV show? Yikes. Wake Up Heavy's Mark Begley joins Chris to talk about the films, the Pennywise performances, and King's works. You can follow Chris Stachiw at @ChrismasClaus...

In this bonus episode, we take a look at one of Tobe Hooper's other films that aren't Poltergeist, The Funhouse. Written by Larry Block, it takes place over one night at a carnival where a killer funhouse keeps attracting willing victims. It also features one of the most insane creature designs this side of Kothoga in Relic. Wake Up Heavy's Mark Begley joins Chris to talk about the film, Hooper's...

In this bonus episode, we journey into the farthest reaches of the known universe to find some ice and travel through time with The Ice Pirates. A spoof of everything 70s sci-fi, the film follows a rag-tag crew of titular ice pirates who are tasked with finding the mythical Seventh World which totally isn't just Earth. It's a send-up of Star Wars in the best way possible. Artist Dustin Rutledge jo...

We end Pride Month with a look at a film that chronicles one of the most infamous murders in New Zealand, Heavenly Creatures. Starring Melanie Lynskey and Kate Winslet, it follows the two young women who are looking for their places in the world and find each other. When they're forced to be separated, they hatch a plan to try and stay together that ends in tragedy. It might not sound like a Peter...

We near the end of Pride Month with a contemporary period piece that comes directly from South Korea, The Handmaiden. Starring Kim Min-hee and Kim Tae-ri, the film follows the two women as they attempt to get out from under the thumb of an oppressive Japanese-occupied Korea and the men who seek to control them. It features some fantastic performances and a three-act structure that recontextualizes...

We continue Pride Month with a look at a film that isn't nearly as positive as the last one but features another iconic performance, My Own Private Idaho. Starring River Phoenix and Keanu Reeves, it follows the two sex workers as they attempt to find Phoenix's mother and make a life for themselves. Phoenix's performance is one for the ages and a true standout of the month. The Projection Booth's M...

We kick off Pride Month with a look at John Cameron Mitchell's rock musical classic, Hedwig and the Angry Inch. Starring John Cameron Mitchell as the titular Hedwig, the film follows Hedwig as she attempts to take back her career from her former partner who stole it from her, Tommy Gnosis. It's a true cult classic with a truly iconic performance. Vocalist Andy Gnosis joins Chris to talk about the...

In this bonus episode, we take a break from Pride Month to check out one of Chris' favorite films, well at least it used to be, High Fidelity. Starring John Cusack and based on a Nick Hornby book, it follows Rob Gordon, a record store owner, who has a mid-life crisis surrounding his complicated love life. Gen-X humor and lots of alternative music should be expected! Vocalist Andy Gnosis joins Chri...

In this bonus episode, the Unholy Triumverate reunites to check out a retelling of Dracula with a decidedly '80s twist, Rockula. Starring teen crush Dean Cameron, he plays the titular vampire who attempts to win over his crush and prevent her foretold death. It's an interesting interpretation of what it means to be a vampire, featuring Toni Basil! Mondo-Heather's Heather Drain and Dark Destination...

We round out Buddy Cop Month with the buddy cop movie that may have started it all but definitely put Eddie Murphy on the map, 48 Hrs. Starring the aforementioned Murphy and the ever gruff Nick Nolte, the two must come together to stop a psychotic James Remar from wreaking havoc on San Francisco with Nolte's stolen sidearm. Aside from Freebie and the Bean, this is the birthplace of the buddy cop g...

We take yet another break from Buddy Cop Month to check out one of the year's most important films and a true cinematic classic, Morbius. Starring method king Jared Leto as the titular sucker, it follows his attempts to cure a mysterious catch-all blood disease that turns him into a living vampire. It's a film that shouldn't have been made to begin with yet feels like a throwback to the worst sins...

We take another break from Buddy Cop Month to take a look at a film that's very near and dear to yours truly, a true celebration of Rex Manning Day, Empire Records. Starring a veritable who's who of '90s up-and-comers, it follows the day in the life of the employees of Empire Records as they attempt to stay sane and also stay open. It's a coming-of-age movie that is a little slice of that sweet sw...

We near the end of Buddy Cop Month with a film that features a man with the biggest dick Brandon Lee has ever seen on a man, Showdown in Little Tokyo. Starring Dolph Lundgren and the aforementioned Lee, the two unlikely partners must take down a drug smuggler. Along the way, they learn about one another and have to put up with Tia Carrere's questionable acting. On Seagal's Trevor Gumbel and Dark D...

We take another break from Buddy Cop Movie Month to take a look at a controversial series of films by one Rob Zombie which are aptly titled the Firefly Trilogy. Starting with House of 1000 Corpses, then Devil's Rejects, and ending with 3 From Hell, the films follow the Firefly family as they take their murderous ways on the road to terrorize America. They're violent, gory, and mean-spirited, but m...

We take a break from Buddy Cop Movie Month to rejoin the Unholy Triumverate as they take a look at a '70s film featuring wily teens saving buffaloes, Bless The Beasts & Children. Starring Bill Mumy and Mile Chapin, the two lead a group of misfits to try and prevent a group of hunters from slaughtering innocent bison. It's not just an anti-gun film but also one that has a lot to say about the teen...

We continue Buddy Cop Movie Month with the film that is one of the prototypes for the genre as a whole, Freebie and the Bean. Starring James Caan and Alan Arkin as Freebie and Bean, they are tasked with closing out an investigation they are doing on a local criminal. Along the way, they discover an assassination plot and much more in the dark underbelly of '70s San Francisco. Wake Up Heavy's Mark...

We take a break from Buddy Cop Movie Month to check back in with the Marvel Cinematic Universe with the latest entry in the ongoing saga, Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness. Starring Benedict Cumberbatch as the titular character, he is tasked with protecting a girl with the power to universe hop. It's the closest Marvel has gotten to making a horror movie, and that's due to the deft hand...

We continue Buddy Cop Movie Month with another mismatched pairing of cops, this time with a spin on a golden era tv show, Dragnet. Starring Tom Hanks and Dan Aykroyd as Streebek and Friday, they are tasked with taking down a pagan cult wreaking havoc on Los Angeles. It's a comedy with a performance from Aykroyd for the absolute ages. Dark Destination's Father Malone and Mondo Heather's Heather Dra...

We kick off Buddy Cop Movie Month with a film that just happens to be one of the best examples of the genre, Lethal Weapon. Starring Mel Gibson and Danny Glover as two very different cops, they are tasked with taking down a drug syndicate in LA at the behest of a former friend. It features everything you could ever want from a buddy cop movie aside from Joe Pesci. The Projection Booth's Mike White...

We end Indian Cinema Month with a look at another Aamir Khan film that features him wearing a cool hat and dancing a whole lot: Rangeela. Starring the charismatic Khan along with Jackie Shroff, they play two men fighting over the love of Urmila Matondkar's Mili. Along the way, there's a fair amount of singing, dancing, and fun to be had! The Projection Booth's Mike White and Mondo Heather's Heathe...

On this bonus Kulturecast, we take a look at a horror movie that just happens to feature the Foo Fighters playing themselves: Studio 666. With Dave Grohl as the lead, the film follows the band as they attempt to finish their tenth album in a California haunted house. It's a lot longer than it has any right to be; it's a lot better too than it has any right to be too. Singer Andy Gnosis and Wake Up...

It's that time of year again when we venture across the Pacific Ocean to India to the world of Indian Cinema! We kick Indian Cinema month off with a look at one of the classics that also happens to feature Big B himself, Deewaar. Starring the incorrigible Bachchan as Vijay, a criminal by happenstance, whose own brother becomes a police officer. It inspired A Better Tomorrow along with cementing Bi...

On this bonus Kulturecast, we take a look at a film that's a little bit Terminator, a little bit mumbled line delivery, and a whole lot of gray: Abraxas, Guardian of the Universe. Starring wrestling legend Jesse Ventura, the film follows Ventura as the titular Abraxas who is tasked with taking down the rogue Secundus who is attempting to take over the universe with the anti-life equation. It's a l...

It's Mike White March once again, and this year, it's all Chow Yun-Fat films! We end the month with a film that is the antithesis of the thinking man's action film: Full Contact. Starring Chow as the badass Gou Fei (Jeff), he leads a group of thieves who are betrayed during a robbery only to launch a mission to get their vengeance. It's a wild ride with more action than you could ever want. The Pr...