THIS WEEK: Wendigo (2001), Depraved (2019), and Blackout (2023) Too hip for the horror hounds and too committed to making monster movies for the arthouse crowd. Larry Fessenden's career is defined by moments of brilliance from a one-of-a-kind filmmaker hamstrung by budget constraints and setbacks that kept him from becoming a household name. He's a…

THIS WEEK: Wolfen (1981), Wolf (1994) and Wolf Man (2025) Ah, the werewolf. Perhaps the perfect vehicle for exploring the duality of man. Or in the case of this week's slate of films: urbanization, the publishing industry, and ALS. Donate to Palestinian Medical Aid Support Optimism Vaccine on Patreon…

THIS WEEK: Searching (2018) and Missing (2023) Steve is back in the hosting chair, and the format has immediately turned to dust. It's a Pod Casty For Me crossover, as Jake and Ian join us to discuss screens, uncles, and I, Frankenstein. All very relevant in our quest to crack the found footage code. Donate to Palestinian Medical Aid Support Optimi…

THIS WEEK: Lucy's Law (2011), The President Goes to Heaven (2011), Song of the Blind Girl (2011) and Who Killed Aliyah? (2012) Steve and Miros were left to their own devices this week. The result? A far too comprehensive look at the sublimely toxic films of direct-to-toilet auteur Tom Charley AKA ctom. Donate to Palestinian Medical Aid Support Opti…

THIS WEEK: Cherry (2021), The Gray Man (2022) and The Electric State (2025) Our attempt to discuss the post-Marvel output of cinema's most profitable siblings quickly devolved into a series of shrieks and grunts, perfectly mirroring the trajectory of the modern blockbuster. Donate to Palestinian Medical Aid Support Optimism Vaccine on Patreon…

THIS WEEK: The Protector (1985), Shakedown (1988) and McBain (1991) Optimism Vaccine has a well documented love of New York sleaze, so it was only a matter of time before we discussed James Glickenhaus, and what may well be the most overlooked action film of the 1980s. Donate to Palestinian Medical Aid Support Optimism Vaccine on Patreon…

THIS WEEK: Miami Blues (1990), Grosse Pointe Blank (1997) and The Big Bounce (2004) We try our best to avoid discussing the inexplicable 2004 disaster that ended George Armitage's lengthy Hollywood tenure, The Big Bounce. Fortunately we had two far better films to distract us. Donate to Palestinian Medical Aid Support Optimism Vaccine on Patreon…

THIS WEEK: In the Shadows (2010) and Scorched Earth (2024) There's a common misconception that we only do this podcast to subject ourselves to the dumbest bullshit imaginable. Not true! Every once in a while we stumble upon greatness. Do you like Michael Mann? How about Robert Bresson? Maybe a little Jean-Pierre Melville? Fantastic. It's time you j…

THIS WEEK: The Borderlands AKA Final Prayer (2013) What was Cate Blanchett thinking signing on to this turkey? Will we ever see the Roth cut? Did I watch the wrong movie again? Esteemed critic Esther Rosenfield joins us to discuss a true undiscovered gem, swept away in the ebb of the found footage wave. Donate to Palestinian Medical Aid Support Opt…

THIS WEEK: Accident (2009), Limbo (2021), and Mad Fate (2023) This time around, Jack let us watch the GOOD Soi Cheang movies. We're looking at a trio of films made with legendary cinematographer Siu-Keung Cheng under Johnnie To and Wai Ka-Fai's Wilkway Image production company. Has Soi Cheang grown into one of the most essential filmmakers in moder…

THIS WEEK: Basic Instinct (1992), Sliver (1993), and Jade (1995) Forget the Whitman's. This year we got you an Eszterhas sampler for Valentine's Day. It isn't particularly sweet, but there's a lot of cream involved. Donate to Palestinian Medical Aid Support Optimism Vaccine on PatreonBy The Optimism Vaccine Network

THIS WEEK: The Visit (2015) Motion Sickness welcomes back old friends as Aaron Casias of Hit Factory joins us to discuss the perpetually fascinating career of M. Night Shyamalan. I bet you all forgot that he made a Found Footage film, didn't you? We didn't forget. We never forget. Donate to Palestinian Medical Aid Support Optimism Vaccine on Patreo…

THIS WEEK: Home Sweet Home (2005), Dog Bite Dog (2006), and Motorway (2012) A generous patron's request brings us back to Hong Kong to look at a more contemporary side of the HK action-industrial complex via the films of Soi Cheung. Unfortunately, Jack has returned from his sabbatical, and decided he'd rather spend the week mired in the soapy melod…

THIS WEEK: Cloverfield (2008), Apollo 18 (2011) and The Devil Inside (2012) Life has once again wrought havoc with our schedule, so before we debut the regular format of Motion Sickness, we're bringing you one more genre retrospective. It's a slate featuring some of the least essential films to emerge during the latter days of the format's theatric…

THIS WEEK: Local 58, Gemini Home Entertainment, The Mandela Catalogue and The Oldest View We're leaving the dusty theater behind, as Motion Sickness looks at what the children and their dang internet have done to the found footage genre. Liminal spaces, analogue oddities, and alternate personages abound in the ever-evolving world of web horror. Don…

THIS WEEK: Cannibal Holocaust (1980), Guinea Pig: Devil's Experiment (1985), The McPherson Tape (1989), Ghostwatch (1992), The Blair Witch Project (1999) and Paranormal Activity (2007) We're kicking off our new series Motion Sickness by looking at the history of the found footage format in horror, from Ruggero Deodato murdering tortoises in the Ama…

THIS WEEK: Unknown Visitor (2019), Host (2020), Dashcam (2021), and Frogman (2023) What do you do when one of your co-hosts requires emergency surgery on Christmas Day? You pivot. And prepare to pivot again. So while Jack recovers from his "back problems", the rest of us are hard at work on our long-gestating exploration of found footage horror: Mo…

THIS WEEK: A Magic Christmas (2014), A Christmas Eve Miracle (2015) and A Husband for Christmas (2016) Somewhere along the line, noted shirtless hunk afficionado David DeCoteau was co-opted into the bland holiday film industry. This merits our attention. Steven Paul doesn't merit anyone's attention, but we're still talking about him. The stars are …

THIS WEEK: The Grey (2011), Cold Pursuit (2019) and The Ice Road (2021) This December, we've decided to trudge through the snow with Liam Neeson, charting his curious journey from celebrated thespian to Charles Bronson in a parka along the way. Donate to Palestinian Medical Aid Support Optimism Vaccine on Patreon…

THIS WEEK: Blink Twice (2024), Smile 2 (2024) and The Substance (2024) We've nearly survived 2024, but subtlety didn't make it out alive. It's cinema via blunt force trauma as we examine an eclectic slate of the year's most interesting horror films. Donate to Palestinian Medical Aid Support Optimism Vaccine on Patreon…

THIS WEEK: See No Evil (2006) and See No Evil 2 (2014) It doesn't get much worse than this, folks. We're exploring the origins of WWE Films via the limp, senseless misadventures of Jacob Goodnight. Will Vince McMahon's callous attempt to christen Glenn Jacobs the new face of fear succeed? Find out next Sunday at Survivor Series. Donate to Palestini…

THIS WEEK: Dee Snider's Strangeland (1998), Feardotcom (2002) and Cry_Wolf (2005) We’ve traveled down Route 66 and across the Australian outback but one road remains: THE INFORMATION SUPERHIGHWAY. Join us as explore the dangers of chat rooms, cyber bullying, and haunted Flash websites. Donate to Palestinian Medical Aid Support Optimism Vaccine on P…

THIS WEEK: The Cars That Ate Paris (1974), Road Games (1981) and Fair Game (1986) Roadvember heads Down Under, where four wheels and thin sheet metal are all that stand between you and imminent, excruciating death. Donate to Palestinian Medical Aid Support Optimism Vaccine on PatreonBy The Optimism Vaccine Network

THIS WEEK: Duel (1971), Freeway (1996) and Freeway 2: Confessions of a Trickbaby (1999) It didn't take long for us to foul up our road-centric theme, as the deceptively titled Freeway series sends us hurtling down a winding road toward... Danny Elfman? And we also watched Duel. For some reason. Donate to Palestinian Medical Aid Support Optimism Vac…

THIS WEEK: The Hitcher (1986), The Hitcher II: I've Been Waiting (2003) and The Hitcher (2007) No, we haven't immediately abandoned our proposed annual foray into artful smut... it's just rather overwhelming to curate. So outside circumstances have dictated a temporary pivot to a different sort of pistoning action. And let's face it, Rutger Hauer i…

THIS WEEK: Onibaba (1964) and Kuroneko (1968) For the final episode of Shawntober 2024, we expose Mr. Glinis to the gorgeous Japanese folk horror of Kaneto Shindo. Donate to Palestinian Medical Aid Support Optimism Vaccine on PatreonBy The Optimism Vaccine Network

THIS WEEK: House on Haunted Hill (1959), The Tingler (1959), Homicidal (1961) Sometimes called the P.T. Barnum of Hollywood, William Castle made his mark in the world of cinema by promoting his kitschy horror films with one of a kind gimmicks. Donate to Palestinian Medical Aid Support Optimism Vaccine on Patreon…

THIS WEEK: The Devils (1971), Gothic (1986), The Lair of the White Worm (1988) We're taking Shawn on a trip across the pond to discuss transgressive auteur Ken Russell's contributions to the horror genre. Will we cure Shawn of his disdain for grand theatrical hijinks and flat British production? Probably not. Donate to Palestinian Medical Aid Suppo…

THIS WEEK: The Evil Dead (1981), Evil Dead II (1987), Army of Darkness (1982) Like an incurable rash, SHAWNTOBER returns again so we can subject respectable film lover and Wiseman Cast host Shawn Glinis to all the horror films he's managed to avoid watching for decades. This year, we're starting off with a big blind spot: Evil Dead. Donate to Pales…

THIS WEEK: Baby Cat (2023) vs The Towel Man (2021) We're taking a little break from your regularly scheduled OpVac episode to prep for our favorite yearly tradition, Shawntober. But don't worry, we won't leave you hangin'. Enjoy a little treat from the PATRON EXCLUSIVE feed: The debut episode from Caustic Content: Season 2 - The show where Steve an…

THIS WEEK: Caged Heat (1974), Crazy Mama (1975), Last Embrace (1979) Before Jonathan Demme was hanging out with David Byrne and winning Oscars, he was pumping out exploitation flicks for Roger Corman and doing weird Hitchcock homages Donate to Palestinian Medical Aid Support Optimism Vaccine on Patreon…

Byron Reese is a futurist and an optimist. His new book We Are Agora: How Humanity Functions as a Single Superorganism That Shapes Our World and Our Future is named after the Ancient Greek marketplace and suggests that we might be part of a bigger entity that shapes our ends. Does the book have the insights we need to revitalize a sense of optimism…

THIS WEEK: Manhunter (1986), Hannibal (2001), Red Dragon (2002), Hannibal Rising (2007) After covering Jonathan Demme's Silence of The Lambs last week we decided to keep the ball rolling and cover the rest of the film adaptations of Thomas Harris' Hannibal Lecter novels. Not that any of us need an excuse to watch Manhunter for the 74726587432 time.…

THIS WEEK: The Silence of the Lambs (1991), The Cell (2000), Longlegs (2024) People keep telling us Longlegs is the new Silence of the Lambs so we figured we had better see how Osgood Perkin's screeching Nic Cage glam rock dollmaker stacks up to Hannibal Lecter. We watched The Cell too because Miros is ride-or-die for J Lo and who doesn't love Tars…

THIS WEEK: The Crow: City of Angels (1996), The Crow: Salvation (2000), The Crow: Wicked Prayer (2005) What's that? There's a brand new reboot of the Alex Proyas/Brandon Lee film, The Crow, and it stars the guy who played Pennywise in the IT remake? While the cowards make their way out of the local Hot Topic and into the AMC theater on the other si…

THIS WEEK: 300 (2006), 300: Rise of an Empire (2014), Meet The Spartans (2008) Some things are so difficult to comprehend they boggle the mind to the point of madness. Who knew Zack Snyder would create the cinematic playbook for stylized dumb guy action and modern reactionary right wing fascism? Who could have ever dreamed a wildly successful non-S…

Hello again. The podcast has been on hiatus for a bit. I'm bringing it back in video form at least for a limited season. In this episode, I will discuss why I stopped doing the show, what brought me back, and where I hope to head in context of the films Gattaca, Begin Again, and Jerry Maguire. If you're trying to find your way or just trying to sta…

THIS WEEK: Dances With Wolves (1990), Open Range (2003), Horizon: An American Story - Chapter 1 (2024) We're joined by Aaron from Hit Factory to discuss the standard bearer for the modern American western, Kevin Costner, and why sometimes you need to lose your wife of 18 years so you can make a four-part epic about the 19th-century American frontie…

THIS WEEK: I Know What You Did Last Summer (1997), I Still Know What You Did Last Summer (1998), I'll Always Know What You Did Last Summer (2006) In the late 90s, Kevin Williamson was the hottest name in horror after penning Scream for Wes Craven. Just a year later, he capitalized on his newfound fame with a script about small town teens getting th…

THIS WEEK: Golgo 13: The Professional (1983), Ninja Scroll (1993), Perfect Blue (1997) and Kite (1998) Steve and Jack are both out this week so there's never been a better time to subject Adam "Hentai Hater" Miros to some of the best anime produced in 80s and 90s. And also Kite. Donate to Palestinian Medical Aid Support Optimism Vaccine on Patreon…

THIS WEEK: Wishmaster (1997), Wishmaster 2: Evil Never Dies (1999), Wishmaster 3: Beyond the Gates of Hell (2001) and Wishmaster 4: The Prophecy Fulfilled In the horror desert of the late 90s, a group of practical effects legends and genre has-beens came together to crown Andrew Divoff as heir to the horror icons of yesteryear. We all wish that thi…

THIS WEEK: Death Race 2000 (1975), Rollerball (1975), The Running Man (1987) Recently, President Joe Biden tried to salvage his legacy after a disastrous debate performance against Donald Trump by going on national television and reassuring the American people he was fit to be the commander-in-chief. Unfortunately, he committed the ultimate gaff an…

THIS WEEK: Beverly Hills Cop (1984), Beverly Hills Cop II (1987), Beverly Hills Cop III (1994), Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F (2024) The biggest surprise of 2024 might be that there's one person John Landis can't kill despite his best efforts: Axel Foley. Join us as we dig into the Beverly Hills Cop franchise, crown Eddie Murphy the king of on-screen i…

THIS WEEK: If Footmen Tire You What Will Horses Do? (1971), The Burning Hell (1974), The Believer's Heaven (1977) Throughout the 1950s and 60s, Ron Ormond and his family made a name for themselves peddling trashy drive-in flicks across the country. After a near-fatal plane crash, the Ormonds gave up their wicked ways and dedicated their lives to Go…

THIS WEEK: Captain America (1979) and Captain America II: Death Too Soon (1979) Can you believe we were blessed with not one but TWO made for tv Captain America movies in 1979? Nothing says FREEDOM on the 4th of July like watching Reb Brown in red, white and blue spandex popping a sick wheelie on his lil motorcycle. Celebrate America’s birthday lik…

THIS WEEK: Dreamaniac (1986), Batas Impian Ranjang Setan AKA Satan's Bed (1986), Night Killer (1990), and Mahakaal AKA The Monster (1994) Knockoff month has been a dream, but sometimes you eat a supreme pizza just before bed -- and the dream curdles into nightmare. A nightmare not unlike what transpires when Wes Craven's masterpiece is entrusted to…

THIS WEEK: Slash (1984), The Intruder AKA Pembalasan Rambu (1985), Strike Commando (1987) Knockoff month marches on with a visit to Indonesia and the Philippines where we trade in Stallone’s Rambo for a Rambu, a Ransom, and a guy named Slash with a DIY rocket launcher. One of these movies was filmed in the exact same location as Apocalypse Now, but…

THIS WEEK: Creature (1985), Creepozoids (1987), Shocking Dark AKA Terminator II (1987) Knockoff Month has jumped from fake Terminators to a scene-for-scene ripoff of Aliens (1986) inexplicably marketed as a Terminator sequel in Italy. Speaking of beloved knockoff auteurs, David DeCoteau once again makes his mark on the pod with the only Alien ripof…

THIS WEEK: Assassin (1986), Lady Terminator (1989), Solo (1996) WELCOME TO KNOCKOFF MONTH Whether it's a TV movie of the week, a bizarre transmission from the shores of Indonesia, or just a pile of Mario Van Peebles trash, you can't go wrong with a classic Terminator knockoff. Or maybe these are Robocop knockoffs? Or Universal Soldier knockoffs? We…

THIS WEEK: Straight-Jacket (1964), Berserk (1967), Trog (1970) After a career resurgence with the hagsploitation classic, Whatever Happened to Baby Jane?, Joan Crawford spent the final decade of her career in kitschy William Castle films, a Circus whodunit, and a murderous monkey man pseudo-horror flick. Sure, it ain't Mildred Pierce, but how do Mo…