Cult of Classics

It's the season finale, y'all! What a movie to end on- David Carradine, Sylvester Stallone, wacky dystopian future, alligator cars, gimp masks. This one really has it all. We're trying out a new episode format, so let us know what you think. Let's get into it!

More like Michael Manhunter, am I right? We're taking a look at the first iteration of Thomas Harris' Hannibal Lecter on screen. Let's get into it!

Whew, here we go. Plan 9 is one of the very first cult classics. Let's get into a truly and unintentionally hilarious 50s sci-fi tale, as well as the baffling real life story of Ed Wood. 

Hot beach vampires. What more can you ask for? Let's get into an icon in the realms of 80s and teen movies- The Lost Boys!

We came here to chew bubblegum and talk about movies, and we're all out of bubblegum. Here's a fun sentence- They Live is a stirring critique on Reaganism that stars WWE Hall-of-Famer Roddy Piper. Ever bought an "Obey" shirt? Let's talk about where it comes from! 

Y'all, this is a wild movie. Humanoid kangaroos, dystopian water wars, cartoon-style slapstick, actual cartoon montages- let's get into Rachel Talalay's Tank Girl!

We got Gilliam-style absurdism. We got time travel. We got special effects. We got little people. Let's get into Terry Gilliam's time farce for the ages! 

A movie that was a cult classic before its release! This week Tarver and Liam are joined by their buddy Joseph to take a look at the second run at the original version of Justice League. Let's get it!

Our first cult musical! We're getting into John Cameron Mitchell's 2001 Euro-Rock odyssey. And when we say odyssey- we mean it. There's lots to unpack in this one, so strap in and let's get weird.

Welcome to Season 2 of Cult of Classics! This week we get into Lamberto Bava's 1985 zombie classic Demons. There's a lot of great stuff to talk about with this movie. From the practical effects, to the dubbing, and the plot powered by the daydreams of a 13 year-old boy who is also on cocaine- let's get gross with it!

It's time to get on down to goblin town! Yep- we're tackling Jim Henson's Labyrinth this week. We hit the high notes of Jim Henson's genius, and wild imagination. We get up in the songs, David Bowie's performance, and the strangeness that can accompany telling a coming-of-age story. Dance, magic, dance while you LISTEN TO THESE TRACKS. 

This week the boys get deep into Kevin Smith's career-making Clerks! We talk production, indie film making, writing dialogue, and how your relationship with characters changes with age. 

Also- big announcement! That's right- we're switching to seasons. Don't worry! We'll still be releasing plenty of sweet. sweet content. We're just giving ourselves enough time to give you a better show. 

IT'S TIME! This week the boys discuss Replicants that are both benefits and hazards while we break down Blade Runner. Special guest Blake Weatherly is in the studio with Liam and Tarver! We get into miniatures, lighting, and plot alike. This is a biggie, so we go pretty deep. Will Tarver express his love for this movie perfectly? Will Liam adequately express his appreciation for the plot despite the super weird kiss scene? Will Blake become more human than human? Listen and find out!

How very? Very. This week the boys talk cliques, popularity, angst and murder as we break down Heathers! Wynona Rider is doing it big, Christian Slater is doing his best, and the plot doesn't give a fuck about reality. Let's get absurd, violent, and absurdly violent. 

All around us are familiar faces....like Liam's wife Erin! That's right, the boys are joined by a special guest this week to discuss Donnie Darko. We get into the triumphs and failings of the plot. the trouble with shooting on a tight schedule, and time travel mechanics. We also discuss Jakey G's early promise, the bangin' soundtrack, and waking up from hypnosis in compromising positions. Will we ever find out why we are wearing these stupid man suits? Are we in the cult? Listen and find out!

Waaaaaarriooorrrrs! Come out and play-ee-aaaayyyy! That's right- this week we're taking on the anti-Westside Story: Walter Hill's The Warriors (1979). Tarver and Liam get deep on stories from production, story structure, theatricality vs grit, and a lot more. It's the tale of a New York street gang outrunning, outwitting, and outfighting every other gang in the city in a desperate race for survival. Billy-boy squad, mount up! This one is a banger. 

This week it's big boo-TAY! That's right- the Peter Weller appreciation train continues as Liam and Tarver break down one of the all-time great cult classics: Buckaroo Banzai. We are joined by our good friend, director, and cinema fanatic Jay McClendon to discuss this acid trip down memory lane. We discuss the major trials in getting the film made, what happens when your protagonist has the best qualities of five people,  the absolute insanity of the plot, John Lithgow's incredible fever dream performance, the importance of taking your subject matter seriously, and Jeff Goldblum. Are we in the cult? Listen and find out! 

Can we come with you??? This week we're going hard sci-fi on that ass, tackling Christian Duguay's Screamers (1995). We get into committing to a smart protagonist, loving a movie despite how it begins and ends, and creepy vs campy. Screamers also marks our first foray into the deep well of weirdness that Peter Weller has brought to the screen. Presence? HE'S GOT IT! Movie chats? LET'S GET IT!

This week we talk Turbo Kid- gettin' in on all that 80s nostalgia. Truly just nostalgia, though, because this movie came out in 2015. Turbo Kid is the story of a young man in The Waste just trying to survive, and maybe chill with his adorable new robot friend. Things get spicy when they unintentionally run afoul of Zeus (aka Michael Ironside playing Michael Ironside), who run Bartertown. It's a post-apocalyptic adventure, baby!

Mostly this gives us a chance to talk about pastiche- art that simultaneously satirizes and honors its subject matter. We also discuss creating a realistic post-apocalyptic wasteland, and the joys of Easter eggs. Does the plot make sense? No! Does it matter? Kind of! Also there is a character named Skeletron, so it has that going for it! Listen to find out if we are in the cult.

The Ting go SKRRRRR-AH! 

Yep. Tony Jaa goes hard as fuck as Ting in this 2003 martial arts extravaganza. Tarver and Liam talk about Muay Thai, obvious padding, Humlae's double-talk, wig work, and much more as they break down Ong-Bak. Does Tony Jaa have bones or springs? Would it have rained in Ting's village if he didn't kick all of that ass? Why would you ever try a warrior monk? Most importantly- are the boys in the cult? Listen and find out. 

Uh oh! Looks like it's time to talk about Sam Raimi's horror game-changer Evil Dead! This one is a wild ride. Tarver and Liam discuss the merits of practical special effects, the effort it took to make the film, what holds up and what doesn't after 39 years, and the benefits of not really having a plot. The fandom for this franchise is THICK so it's a good place to start if you aren't extra familiar with Evil Dead or horror in general. Are we in the cult? Listen and find out!

Welcome to the Cult! Cult of Classics is your source for all that good info on the movies that have subtly shaped your favorite fandoms since before most of us were born. In this episode Liam and Tarver get right on into John Carpenter's 1982 masterpiece- The Thing. How could you not love this movie? A few words to sum it up, you ask? I'll respond in question-and-answer form: The writing? TIGHT. The special effects? GROSS AND PERFECT. The acting? PHERNERMENAL! The timing of its release? NOT GREAT. Listen and find out what the best and worst parts of The Thing are, and whether or not Tarver and Liam are in the cult. 

Has someone with a fedora made you feel less than adequate in discussing cult cinema? Tune in now and next time you're at the wine mixer or the beer festival you can put that asshole in his place. Cult of Classics is a TAP Snaps production.