Movie Madness

Peter Sobczynski returns for a short week of new physical media titles with Erik Childress. On this episode for kids and most decidedly NOT for kids. To keep them busy there is a new 4K of Disney’s first landmark animated motion picture as well as a new collection of Wallace & Gromit’s short films. Then send them to bed so you can revisit the beginning of a horror franchise, Elizabeth Taylor trying to get screwed to death (literally) and James Woods mixing death, screwing and a whole lot of icky hallucinations with David Cronenberg. All that and new releases from the theatrical front for your home library. 0:00 - Intro 0:39 - Criterion (Videodrome (4K)) 16:10 - Severin (Identikit) 26:44 - Paramount (Friday the 13th (4K Steelbook)) 38:34 - Shout! Factory (Wallace & Gromit: The Complete Cracking Collection) 46:29 - Walt Disney (Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (4K)) 51:04 – Recent Theatrical Titles 56:09 – New TV Titles 58:30 – New Blu-ray Announcements 1:04:17 - Outro

A return to the weekly movie reviews brings ten new films into the fold for Erik Childress & Steve Prokopy. They include a documentary on an Oscar-winning producer (The Storms of Jeremy Thomas) and a baffling story of love featuring Peter Dinklage and two Oscar winners (She Came To Me). The horrors of October are starting to come out with another chapter in the long-running anthology (V/H/S/85), the first of two tales of families and possession this week (When Evil Lurks) plus what happens when you mix Scream with Back to the Future (Totally Killer). There is more real life horror revisiting the shifting power dynamics of a Sundance relationship (Fair Play), the true-life tale of when to remain silent (Miranda’s Victim) and the true-life-inspired tale of vacationing women and the toxic bar they get jobs in (The Royal Hotel). Finally it seems fitting that on the week that David Gordon Green attempts his own follow-up to one of the greatest horror films ever (The Exorcist: Believer), the late director of t

Steve Prokopy returned to Austin for its annual Fantastic Fest and then came back to the podcast to talk about the barrage of films he saw along with Erik Childress who got to see a few titles as well. They include a Troma reboot with Peter Dinklage, retro screenings of French giallo and Roman softcore. Pet Sematary got a prequel, stopmotion creations come to life and Joe Lynch tries on some Lovecraft with Heather Graham. Steve takes you to a river with a time loop and Erik goes down to South America for an unique chef gig with Nick Stahl. There are documentaries about cinematic A.I. and a famous Halloween theme park. There are spiders, dogs and earthquakes. Michel Gondry revisits one of his own works and the guys split on a film “based” on true events. Finally there is a real gem featuring one of our favorites, Jim Cummings, and the gathering at a remote coffee shop. 19 films in all for you to consider a look at in the future, which may be doomed. 0:00 - Intro 4:32 - The Toxic Avenger 10:07 - Infested 1

It’s the month of Halloween and studios are delivering some of their spookiest titles n physical media. Peter Sobczynski joins Erik Childress to talk you into a pair of the greatest horror endings of all-time. Speaking of which you can now pick and choose your Universal horror classics in 4K alongside another sci-fi film from the next era. They discuss what they think could be the best film in one franchise and, arguably, the last tolerable one in another. A “cable classic” gets the 4K treatment as does a Best Picture winner celebrating your 50th anniversary that will cleanse your palette after a week full of gore and frights.   0:00 - Intro 0:54 - Criterion (Don't Look Now (4K)) 8:43 - Lions Gate (Mob Land, Talk To Me, The Mist (4K)) 28:06 - Shout! Factory (Night of the Demons (4K), Night of the Demons 2-3) 36:25 - Paramount (Scream 3 (4K)) 42:17 - Fox (Prey (4K))       50:06 - Universal (The Mummy (1932) (4K), The Bride of Frankenstein (4K), The Phantom of the Opera (1943) (4K), Creature from the Black La

Peter Sobczynski guides you through the latest in physical media. They include a couple music-based films from Criterion. Getting close to October the horror is ramping up with upgrades for Argento, Halloween and even an MST3K favorite. There are 4K upgrades for Godard, Cimino, Frankenheimer, Linklater and even Gregg Araki. Peter and Erik talk about the controversies over Oliver Stone’s attack on media culture and they both love the recent upgrade of one of Brian DePalma’s best films. 0:00 - Intro 0:49 - Criterion (La Bamba, Moonage Daydream) 8:04 - Blue Underground (The Girl from Rio 4K) 11:24 - Lions Gate (Contempt (4K)) 18:14 - Kino (Thunderbolt and Lightfoot 4K, The Train 4K, Death Wish 4/5) 40:39 - Film Detective (The Giant Gila Monster) 46:36 - Synapse (Tenebrae 4K) 52:40 - Sony (I Still Know What You Did Last Summer 4K, Insidious: The Red Door) 1:00:55 - Paramount (Halloween H2O 4K, School of Rock 4K) 1:10:21 - RLJE (Sympathy for the Devil) 1:13:07 - Disney (Loki 4K, Elemental 4K,) 1:23:02

Erik Childress flies solo on this one detailing his full experience at this year’s event. He shares his thoughts on over 25 films ranging from new titles from Richard Linklater, Alexander Payne and Kitty Green to even actors getting behind the camera including Anna Kendrick, Michael Keaton and Patricia Arquette. There are films with songs, stories with cops, drug dealers, hit men and serial killers plus two of the year’s very best films about teachers. Tales of everything from WWII to Spring Break, apocalyptic combat to Chicago’s Cabrini Green. Not every film is a dream though one certainly has a fun time with them not to mention the emphasis on women’s stories and trying to find peace in a world of bad men and at least one they call their father. Good stuff, great stuff and some really bad stuff in another festival season. 0:00 - Intro 1:10 – Flipside 5:27 - We Grown Now 8:46 - Flora and Son 14:30 - The Teachers’ Lounge 18:01 – Getting To Toronto and The First Screening 20:15 - Gonzo Girl 22:39 - Working Cl

Peter Sobczynski returns for an epic round of catch-up on the latest and greatest in physical media. They include 4K upgrades of films from Orson Welles and Nicolas Roeg. The strange career of James Foley is discussed around one of his best films. Speaking of best, Lions Gate has one of the best comedies of the year and one of the year’s best period. Right in time for Cassandro this week, the first two Santo films are released. There is excellent television, an all-timer from the late, great William Friedkin as well as the Ghoulies movies and a whole trove of titles from master of disaster, Irwin Allen. Something from all the decades including an ‘80s favorite getting a major upgrade and the directorial debut of Robert DeNiro celebrating its 30th anniversary in 4K. 0:00 - Intro 2:24 - Criterion (The Trial (4K), Walkabout (4K))            14:33 - Music Box (L’Immensità) 17:56 - Indicator (Santo vs. Infernal Men, Santo vs. The Evil Brain) 21:32 - Kino (After Dark, My Sweet, The Beast, Final Cut) 42:37 - Lions

Erik Childress and Steve Prokopy return to the review beat with eight new movies this week. They include a horror anthology (Satanic Hispanics), another coming-of-age werewolf love story (My Animal) and the film that reveals the truth about Augusto Pinochet being a vampire (El Conde). Michael Pena stars in the true story of a Mexican immigrant who dreamed of becoming an astronaut (A Million Miles Away) and Michael Jai White and the makers of Black Dynamite take on the western (Outlaw Johnny Black). The great Haley Lu Richardson finds love at the airport (Love At First Sight), a bunch of amateur stock traders game the system in a recent true story (Dumb Money) and Kenneth Branagh brings the latest in his Hercule Poirot Cinematic Universe (A Haunting In Venice). 0:00 - Intro 2:23 - Satanic Hispanics 8:29 - My Animal 19:53 - El Conde 26:07 - A Million Miles Away 40:56 - Outlaw Johnny Black 50:56 - Love At First Sight 1:06:19 - Dumb Money 1:21:51 – A Haunting In Venice 1:38:32 - Outro

A half-dozen films highlight this Labor Day weekend with Erik Childress and Steve Prokopy who guide you through the spectrum of new films from Juliette Binoche (Between Two Worlds) and Frank Grillo (King of Killers). Hilary Swank is kinda involved in solving her son’s murder (The Good Mother) while Simon Pegg tries to solve the mystery of an unseen but all-knowing entity (Nandor Fodor and the Talking Mongoose). The history of the “erotic thriller” is examined in a nearly three-hour documentary (We Kill For Love) and Denzel Washington is back to provide brutal justice in Italy (The Equalizer 3). 0:00 - Intro 1:53 King of Killers 9:44 – The Good Mother 21:32 - Between Two Worlds 27:32 - We Kill For Love 47:52 - Nandor Fodor and the Talking Mongoose 1:00:52 - The Equalizer 3 1:16:54 - Outro

Erik Childress and Peter Sobczynski get you caught up on the latest in physical media for this week and the next. They include new 4K editions from two of the great directorial runs of the ‘80s and the ‘90s. Comic book movies from this summer are on tap including one that Peter genuinely loves. Though he does disagree with Erik on the latest Jennifer Lawrence vehicle. Music Box Films has a set combining expansive documentaries on the history of film, Arrow has some early Jackie Chan and Magnolia has new Paul Schrader. The pair go down the rabbit hole of Family Ties to introduce a ‘80s romcom/horror oddity and as that decade goes it does not get more ‘80s than Burt Reynolds and the sequel to Saturday Night Fever. 0:00 - Intro 1:33 - Criterion (The Princess Bride (4K), Drylongso) 15:40 - Arrow Films (New Fist of Fury) 19:21 - Shout! Factory (My Demon Lover) 29:14 - Music Box (The Complete Story of Film) 35:30 - Warner Bros. (The Flash (4K)) 42:23 - Sony (Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse 4K, No Hard Feeling

Erik Childress and Steve Prokopy have nine movies for you to consider this week. They include a powerful documentary about Alzheimer’s (The Eternal Memory) and a less than powerful faith-and-baseball tale (The Hill). A bickering couple goes on the longest hike of their lives (Brightwood) and sisters get into scuba trouble (The Dive). The Yom Kippur War is told through the makeup on Helen Mirren (Golda) and the Sandler family produce a coming-of-age comedy (You Are So Not Invited to My Bat Mitzvah). Liam Neeson goes for a drive while sitting on a bomb (Retribution) and a gamer-turned-racer is a whole other kind of bomb (Gran Turismo). Finally, they put the must-see “R”-rated comedy of the year thus far on your radar (Bottoms). 0:00 – Intro 1:05 - The Eternal Memory 7:29 - The Hill 18:24 - Brightwood 29:48 - The Dive 40:21 - Golda 50:34 - You Are So Not Invited to My Bat Mitzvah 1:01:19 - Retribution 1:13:27 - Gran Turismo: Based on a True Story 1:30:55 – Bottoms 1:44:33 - Outro

This week in physical media with Peter Sobczynski begins with a little argument over the new 4K release of another John Hughes film. There is no disagreement that the new work from Nicole Holofcener is worth grabbing. Horror fans get works from Lucio Fulci, Jean Rollin and Michael Crichton. Ralph Bakshi finally gets a Blu-ray release for his animated musical ode and you can also see Louis Malle’s controversial film with Brooke Shields and where that George C. Scott meme comes from courtesy of Paul Schrader. 0:00 - Intro 0:59 - Arrow Films (Weird Science (4K)) 15:25 - Cauldron Films (City of the Living Dead (4K)) 23:55 - Indicator (The Night of the Hunted, The Rape of the Vampire) 34:34 - Sony (American Pop) 43:33 - Universal (Elizabeth (4K), Promising Young Woman (4K)) Shout! Factory (Hackers (4K), Coma) 53:27 - Lions Gate (The Blackening (4K), You Hurt My Feelings) 59:45 - Kino (Brightwood, Two Tickets to Greece, Three Into Two Won't Go, Pretty Baby, Hardcore) 1:21:32 – New Blu-ray Announcements 1:24:32 -

Erik Childress and Steve Prokopy dig into eight new movies this week. They include revisiting a film from Sundance that they still believe to be the best horror film of the year (Birth/Rebirth). An Irish paramilitary seeks revenge for his wife (Dead Shot), an old Chinese tale gets the animated treatment from Netflix (The Monkey King) and Michael Cera stars in a dysfunctional family drama that the film’s publicist apparently did not want us to see. One of the stars of Glow gets to go all Shining at the hotel she inherits (Bad Things) and the director of Thoroughbreds and Bad Education tries out a capitalist satire with aliens (Landscape With Invisible Hand). Finally, DC comics tries again (Blue Beetle) and talking dogs with the voices of Will Ferrell and Jamie Foxx pee, poop and hump their way into laughs (Strays).   0:00 - Intro 3:52 - Birth/Rebirth 17:36 - Dead Shot 25:06 - The Adults 35:36 – The Monkey King 41:26 - Bad Things 52:17 - Landscape With Invisible Hand 1:03:01 - Blue Beetle 1:18:14 – S

Peter Sobczynski brings us up to date in the world of physical media. They include an early film from Wayne Wang, the latest from Wes Anderson and an anniversary edition of a documentary on David Bowie. There’s a collection of Audie Murphy films and others about World War II not to mention fights against woodland terrorists and staged by the Shaw Brothers. Gregory Peck and Audrey Hepburn get the 4K treatment in one of the great classic romances. But do not count out the recommendations of a spooky British Halloween special and a crazy vehicle for William Shatner back in the ‘70s.   0:00 - Intro 0:42 - Criterion (Dim Sum: A Little Bit of Heart) 4:30 - Rhino (Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars) 8:18 - Grindhouse (Impulse) 15:12 - 101 Films (Ghost Watch) 20:11 - RLJE Films (The Wrath of Becky) 23:25 - Kino (Audie Murphy Collection III, The Day and the Hour, Is Paris Burning?, Last and First Men, The Doll (and I Don't Want to Be a Man)) 39:56 - Universal (Asteroid City) 46:05 - Paramount (Roman H

After a week off, Erik Childress and Steve Prokopy return with seven new reviews including a documentary about the adaptations of the premier horror novelist (King on Screen) and a murder mystery set in the world of hairstyling (Medusa Deluxe). Emilia Clarke and Chiwetel Elijofor try to have a baby without actually having one (The Pod Generation) and the President’s son hooks up with the Prince of Britain (Red, White and Royal Blue). Gal Gadot tries to carry a film about A.I. basically made by A.I. (Heart of Stone) and Ben Kingsley has a flying saucer crash land in his backyard (Jules). Finally, Erik goes solo on telling you if the latest Dracula fan fiction is worth your time (The Last Voyage of the Demeter). 0:00 - Intro 5:16 - King on Screen 20:50 - Medusa Deluxe 27:55 - Heart of Stone 43:25 - Red, White and Royal Blue 54:25 - Jules 1:07:46 – The Pod Generation 1:15:07 – The Last Voyage of the Demeter 1:29:16 - Outro

Erik Childress and Peter Sobczynski take a quick peek into what is available to own on physical media this week. Criterion upgrades one of the late films from a master and Arbelos delivers and Peter looks at one of the first “Sundance caution tales” from the end of the ‘80s. Ida Lupino directs a ‘50s film about sexual assault and Virginie Efira becomes attached to her partner’s child. Then a pair of cult classics get the 4K treatment including Wes Craven’s comic monster movie and the quintessential Bruce Lee film.   1:56 - Criterion (Akira Kurosawa's Dreams (4K)) 9:39 - Lions Gate (Ender’s Game (4K Steelbook)) 14:24 - Universal (Fast X (4K)) 23:14 - Kino (Outrage, Scarlet (2022), Strangers in the House) 35:36 - Arbelos (Chameleon Street) 42:10 - Music Box (Other People's Children) 45:02 - MVD (Swamp Thing (4K)) 51:24 - Warner Bros. (Enter the Dragon (4K)) 1:01:01 – New Blu-ray Announcements 1:04:29 - Outro

This week in physical media brings some classics to the 4K universe along with other must-owns for your collection. Peter Sobczynski joins Erik Childress to go over new collections spotlighting Walter Hill, Sidney J. Furie and Gene Hackman. One of Disney’s greatest animated titles gets the 4K upgrade as does classics with James Dean and John Wayne. A little seen coming-of-age film with a lot of up-and-comers gets a director’s cut as does a cult film from Clive Barker. Finally, one of the great modern horror films gets its first-ever Blu-ray overhaul; a rightfully deserved one and the duo can’t wait to tell you all about it. 0:00 - Intro 1:05 - Second Sight (May) 10:04 - Imprint (Film Focus: Gene Hackman, Directed by Sidney J. Furie, Directed by Walter Hill (1975-2006)) 47:41 - Universal (2 Guns (4K)) 50:05 - Lions Gate (About My Father) 55:08 - Oscilloscope (Going All The Way: The Director’s Edit) 1:02:35 - Synapse (Invaluable: The True Story of an Epic Artist) 1:08:03 - Shout! Factory (Nightbreed (4

This week’s reviews with Erik Childress and Steve Prokopy feature nine reviews for your viewing consideration. Kiersey Clemons is an amateur sleuth trying to solve a kidnapping (Susie Searches) while Ellie Kemper goes on a hike for some reason (Happiness for Beginners). Two films that played the Chicago Critics Film Festival open including the latest from Christian Petzold (Afire) and the comic (and now tragic) story of transgender sex workers (Kokomo City). Nicolas Cage takes Joel Kinneman for a collateral ride (Sympathy for the Devil) and Ron Perlman is trying to avenge his son by making the mob lose their house (The Baker). A great cast tries to add to this year’s product launch cinema (The Beanie Bubble). Hopefully you ain’t afraid of no ghost because they look back at an acclaimed horror film from Sundance (Talk To Me) and Disney takes another shot at bringing their classic ride to the big screen (Haunted Mansion)   0:00 - Intro 1:45 - Talk To Me 11:30 - Susie Searches 19:55 - Sympathy for the Devi

This week in physical media, Erik Childress and Peter Sobczynski look at some classic genre fare, classics of the cult variety and some films still overlooked. They include films from Douglas Fairbanks, John Wayne and Howard Hughes. Harrison Ford’s screen debut can be found as can one of the better Mike Myers comedies and one of the films chosen for this year’s Chicago Critics Film Festival. For the cult crowd there is a foursome of Chucky films, two versions of a Stephen King adaptation and a cable staple from the late ‘80s. An early MST3K favorite gets a Blu-ray upgrade and even earlier music videos get themselves a collection. The discussion is bookended with a pair of must-own titles though including a sci-fi classic from the 1950s and the film which launched the great Bill Paxton into the next phase of his great career. 0:38 - Criterion (One False Move (4K)) 8:27 - Cohen Media (Robin Hood (1922) / The Black Pirate (1926)) 12:36 - Arrow Films (Blood Money: Four Classic Westerns) 17:45 - Lions Gate (M

Erik Childress and Steve Prokopy share in a weekend of greatness, even if some movies are not as great. They review seven this week including a look back at a deep dive doc from Sundance (The Deepest Breath) and another from the fest involving an expectant mother and her post-birth choices (Earth Mama). Neil LaBute puts Maggie Q up against some psychos (Fear the Night) while Lizzy Caplan’s son hears noises in the walls (Cobweb) and John Boyega comes to learn some disturbing things about his neighborhood (They Cloned Tyrone). But the weekend belongs to Greta Gerwig and Christopher Nolan whose films have been two of the most hyped releases of the year and they delivered a weekend for the ages. For all ages and everyone else. 0:00 - Intro 1:40 – The Deepest Breath 19:35 - Earth Mama 28:21 - Fear the Night 40:22 - Cobweb 50:30 - They Cloned Tyrone 1:04:20 - Oppenheimer 1:25:21 - Barbie 1:47:19 - Outro