The VHS Strikes Back

This week’s pick is courtesy of Patreon supporter John Hammond—an undisputed master of chaos, who previously cursed us with the likes of  For Your Height Only ,  Bloody Muscle Body Builder in Hell , and  Devil Fetus . Now, he's reached deep into the arthouse-horror void and pulled out  Santa Sangre  (1989), a film beloved by critics, film students, and probably no one with a functioning sleep sche...

This week's nostalgic dive comes courtesy of Patreon supporter Lucky Looloo Green—who’s not only a proud VHS Strikes Back backer, but also a top-tier supporter of our CD Reality TV Cast! Her pick? The gloriously goofy, genre-clashing Buffy the Vampire Slayer from 1992. Before the brooding drama and Scooby Gang of the TV series, there was Kristy Swanson in neon spandex, staking vamps between cheer...

This week’s pick comes courtesy of longtime VHS Strikes Back Patreon supporter Herb, who’s chosen the delightfully oddball Aussie gem Malcolm from 1986. It’s a film that proves even the quietest, most socially awkward tram enthusiast can have a life of crime tucked beneath his cardigans. With its quirky charm, deadpan humor, and a DIY spirit that would make MacGyver jealous, Malcolm is a criminal...

Strap in and set phasers to “tense banter” — this week’s pick comes from Dave, who’s boldly going where Chris would frankly rather not:  Star Trek: First Contact  (1996). As a lifelong Trekkie, Dave’s diving into one of the most action-packed, fan-favourite entries in the franchise, while Chris braces for a full-on warp-speed assault of technobabble and space diplomacy. It’s the Next Generation’s...

The second episode of our Halloween weekend is Tony Farina and Chris Phelps discussing James O'Barr's 1989 Caliber Press masterpiece comic, The Crow . Crossover episode with Indie Comics Spotlight on Comics In Motion. If you want to talk with Tony about comics or to suggest any future shows, please connect with him on Twitter @Tricycleboombox . You can read his reviews of multiple Independent and...

Buckle up, because this episode’s pick comes straight from co-host Chris, who’s chosen to take us on a nostalgic joyride with  The Gumball Rally  (1976). With a fondness for high-octane chaos and old-school ensemble comedies, Chris dives into the rubber-burning madness of this pre- Cannonball Run  classic, where the only rule is there are no rules—unless you're talking about car stunts, in which c...

This week’s throwback VHS gem comes courtesy of long-time Patreon supporter Gareth—who clearly knows his way around a good roundhouse kick. Gareth has chosen  China O’Brien 2  (1990), the Cynthia Rothrock martial arts sequel that kicks just as hard as the first. With small-town justice, explosive action, and some delightfully dated hairdos, this one’s a real time capsule of straight to video actio...

We're going off the beaten track for this one! This latest pick by JAC is quite a unique one in that it's a fan made film, Raiders of the Lost Ark: The Adaptation. Technically shown for the first time in 1989 and an additional scene added in 2014, this is the movie that was the inspiration for the documentary, Raiders!: The Story of the Greatest Fan Film Ever Made. Checkout JAC's Lette...

We're diving headfirst into high-flying mayhem with  Con Air , a chaotic symphony of explosions, one-liners, and mid-air madness—handpicked by our awesome Patreon supporter Susan from the Geek Girl Soup podcast! Con Air  (1997) was born out of the mid-90s action movie boom, with producer Jerry Bruckheimer riding high from previous hits like  The Rock  and  Crimson Tide . Wanting to blend testoster...

Young Dave, armed with a love for Star Wars and a soft spot for everyone's favourite scruffy-looking nerf herder, thought he was in for another dose of Han Solo heroics when switching on Blade runner. What he got instead was something a little moodier, a lot rainier, and less exciting than Songs of Praise. The production of Blade Runner (1982) was as tumultuous and moody as the rain-soaked, neon-l...

After a slow start in the year of the Stichup ,Chris has gone full throttle by picking  Maximum Overdrive  — Stephen King's chaotic leap into the director’s chair! Maximum Overdrive  marks Stephen King’s one and only time in the director’s chair — and it shows. What was meant to be a thrilling blend of horror and action instead turned into a loud, chaotic mess that careened off the rails almost as...

This week we’re diving into a cult classic —  Escape from the Planet of the Apes  — and it’s all thanks to our great Patreon supporter, Leigh! Leigh’s not just a top supporter; he also runs a fantastic YouTube channel called  Movie Vent  where he shares his love for all things cinema with Ventriloquist dummy, Ned. Check it out at  youtube.com/@ventmovies . Escape from the Planet of the Apes  (1971...

Kicking things off with a blast of ‘80s nostalgia, we’re taking on the 1986 BMX cult classic  RAD , chosen by our newest Patreon supporter, Nick Bray! Packed with insane bike tricks and a Daniel LaRusso from Wish! Huge thanks to Nick for picking this one, time to dust off the old bike and practice some bunny hops. RAD  was born out of the mid-1980s BMX biking craze, with Hollywood eager to capture...

New Patreon supporter Greig has reached back into the 1970's for his first pick and it from the year of the gang movie, 1979's The Wanderers! The production of  The Wanderers  (1979), directed by Philip Kaufman and co-written with his wife Rose Kaufman, was an adaptation of Richard Price’s debut novel. Set in the Bronx of 1963, the film aimed to authentically portray the era's street gang culture....

There can be only one! Well, unless there's a bunch of money up for grabs in making a sequel! Or that was the plan at last. Dave's next entry for the year of the stitch-up is the 1991 sequel to the cult classic, Highlander II: The Quickening. The production of Highlander II: The Quickening is often cited as a masterclass in cinematic chaos. Shot primarily in Argentina, the film was plagued by fina...

It's taken a bit of time for Chris to get on board with the year of the Stitch-up, but this week he's fully on board with the pick, Smokey and the Bandit 3. The production of  Smokey and the Bandit Part 3  (1983) was plagued by confusion, last-minute changes, and a noticeable lack of direction—both literally and creatively. Initially conceived as  Smokey IS the Bandit , the film was supposed to ce...

Blake has done it again! After bringing us cinematic gems like Surf Nazis Must Die ,  Bad Taste , and the legendary disasterpiece  The Room , our resident connoisseur of chaos has picked another fever dream for us to unravel—Peter Jackson’s  Meet the Feebles . If  Bad Taste  showed Jackson’s love for over-the-top gore,  Meet the Feebles  proves he was just as committed to pushing the boundaries of...

Sometimes, you can see a stickup coming a mile off. Other times, they come in the dressing of a movie with lots of awards and credibility. But Maff might've just played a blinder here in The Year of the Stichup. Naked Lunch  (1991) was a challenging and experimental adaptation of William S. Burroughs' novel, helmed by Canadian director David Cronenberg. The film’s production was marked by its comp...

When it comes to supporters of the show, Tony Farina is the OG. And when it comes to stitch ups, the same could be said! Back when Chris and Dave were still finding their way with Comics In Motion, Tony found the podcast and suggested both Speed Racer and Tank Girl. And at the time, Chris believed these were the worst movies he'd ever seen. Fast forward to 2025, Tony has chosen a favourite of his....

Though it's the Year of the Stitch-up, John Hammond has been building up a repertoire of picks for some time that would fit the bill! Previous picks include Samurai Cop, For Your Height Only, Hard Ticket to Hawaii, New York Ninja and Devil Fetus. So this week is totally on brand with the 1995 Japanese horror, Bloody Muscle Body Builder In Hell. Bloody Muscle Body Builder in Hell is a fascinating o...

The year of the stitch up has had a couple of misfires for Dave's picks, with Chris unfortunately declaring Cloud City's for both sword and sorcery adventures - Gor and The Barbarians. So this is the time to roll out the cult classic sci-fi movie from 1984, Trancers. Trancers was a low-budget sci-fi film produced by Charles Band’s Empire Pictures, a company known for its B-movie output during the...

Chris does love a good car movie, though whether this one hits that description is up for debate. This week's movie is Gone in Sixty Seconds from the year 2000. Gone in Sixty Seconds was a high-octane production that aimed to modernize the 1974 cult classic while capitalizing on Hollywood’s growing appetite for stylish car heist films. Produced by Jerry Bruckheimer, the film assembled a star-studd...

This week's pick was made supporter Dylan, who's previous picks have ranged from the gritty realism of Training Day to the surreal comedy The Big Lebowski. And this pick is going back to 1978 on on the serious side of the scale with, The Deer Hunter. The Deer Hunter was an ambitious and challenging endeavor, driven by director Michael Cimino’s meticulous vision. Initially conceived as a smaller wa...

Timothy's picked some belters in the past with the likes of the Hitcher, Scarface, Nighthawks and others. And this time, he's gone for the iconic 1992 action crime thriller, Hard Boiled. Hard Boiled (1992), directed by action maestro John Woo, is a landmark in the Hong Kong action genre, known for its hyper-stylized violence and stunning gunplay choreography. The film was a departure from Woo’s ty...

Patreon Justin has picked some gems and corkers before, like Blood Simple and Hard Eight, and this time he's chosen the little known 1992 comedy, Brain Donors. "Brain Donors" was produced during a time when Hollywood was revisiting and paying homage to classic comedy styles, and its production was heavily influenced by the desire to recreate the Marx Brothers' iconic brand of humor. The film was w...