Movie Meltdown

Movie Meltdown - Episode 534 (For our Patreon "Horror Club") Join us as we kick off our month-long Halloween celebration! First, we brave the frightening endeavor that is - a Zombie Skittles taste test! Then we jump headfirst into the pool full of skeletons that is the 1982 classic Poltergeist. We discuss the legends of “the curse” that has followed this franchise. We address the Steven Spielberg vs. ‎Tobe Hooper controversy. And we just look at the ground-breaking ghost story that it is.  And as we try to decide who we have more of a crush on JoBeth Williams or Craig T. Nelson, we also address… real skeletons, the killer tree, kids and clowns, The Beast, Heather O'Rourke, Industrial Light & Magic, the taste lingers, Mr. Incredible, It, go deep, the 1988 Super Bowl, a dorky dad, face-peeling, it’s own meta-curse, Jerry Goldsmith's music score, Zelda Rubinstein, put the helmet on, it tries to kill him with a piano, Aliens, special effects, Star Wars, suburbia, Raiders of the Lost Ark, trees inside the hous

Movie Meltdown - Episode 533 This episode we talk with the famous (or infamous) Sam Drog about a lesser-known documentary - Demon Lover Diary. In the wilds of Michigan, three unsuspecting filmmakers get themselves in over their heads as they sign on to help make an independent horror film.  And as we make the obvious observation that we’ve all become lame, sad shut-ins, we also mention… missing fingers, Ted Nugent, Tenet, Basket Case 3, a Terry Gillian and/or George Orwellian nightmare, Geostorm 2, The 100, George Miller, the evil scientists, Divergent, Wargames, James Cameron, the history of movies you don’t hear about, gunplay, Charles Bronson, leather buckles everywhere, Ferris Bueller's Day Off, being so certain about something, New York vs. Michigan, New World Pictures, a bad mojo, fly on the wall, The Devil's Rain, it’s really almost like they found a movie in a box they forgot to release, with his sheer force of personality, memories of Jason Voorhees, True Lies, have a little artistic flare when you’r

Movie Meltdown - Episode 532 (For our Patreon "Horror Club") On this exclusive Horror Club episode, we discuss Elle Callahan's 2018 film Head Count. And while we admit to ourselves that we all kind of want to move into an old funeral home, we also cover… Creepypasta, tidy demons, Joshua Tree, urban legends, weird symbols, amazing cell phone service, folklore, I don’t know… fives, the Zero candy bar, multiple Joe Pescis, a funny-looking little guy, doppelgänger, being a wet blanket, creepy glowing eyes, alien Sleestak, given what you can see what the creature or the monster... can and can’t do - it always seems like web design is always outside of it’s wheelhouse, rumored witch, an advertisement for tequila, a demon-thing, making a Jackass movie, dead parents, maybe a cult, a Bic lighter, Hisji, who put coconut in this, born of the internet, it is just gorgeous, I think I unleashed this crazy internet curse, multiple suicides, peanut butter kisses and candy corn, goat man, living in a trailer and which of thes

Movie Meltdown - Episode 531 When a certain co-host that hadn't seen "The Rise of Skywalker" finally sits down and watches it… well, it opens up a whole new can of sandworms. So listen as we dig into J.J. Abrams and Rian Johnson and the overall arc of the most recent trilogy. Along the way, we get some opinions that you may not have heard on this show before - and before we're done, we look to the future of the franchise. And while we ourselves get “the toy box feeling”, we also bring up… Knives Out, the Star Trek Encyclopedia, The Mandalorian, he is an absolutely unique presence, Justin Lin, the wolfman having a drink, Super 8, none of this has to be an obstacle to having a good time at the movies, I’m going to let them do the writing for me, it’s like pure unadulterated fun, a marketing tool is a writing technique, Daisy Ridley, realizing a property for its fans, the most to do… out of any of the movies, Tales of the Bounty Hunters, nobody had done it that way before, Star Wars wish-fulfillment, it ticks th

Movie Meltdown - Episode 530 This episode we talk with Austin Trunick, author of “The Cannon Film Guide”, an in-depth series of books about the legendary 1980s B-movie studio, The Cannon Group.  And as we discuss the art and influence of Menahem Golan and Yoram Globus, we also address… The Apple, renting horror movies, Death Wish 2, Frank Langella, Exterminator 2, Sho Kosugi, Vestron Video, there’s so much craziness going on there, Chuck Norris, a post-apocalyptic universe, 10 to Midnight, the yellow Power Ranger, Michael Dudikoff, Masters of the Universe, William Sachs, Enter the Ninja, has one of the higher body counts, Charles Bronson, Avenging Force, a healthy supply of guys who could do flips, Flashdance, they’re dressed… basically as The Village People, unrelated ninja, Skeletor, re-dubbing European porno movies, the hero shoots the villain point-blank… with a bazooka, Dolph Lundgren, he had already moved on to another project, Franco Nero, Breakin', violent action movies, that was based on a stage-musi

Movie Meltdown - Episode 529 (For our Patreon "Horror Club") This episode we discuss Travis Stevens' Girl on the Third Floor starring Phil Brooks, Trieste Kelly Dunn and Sarah Brooks. Plus we kick-off our new segment... 20 Ways to Die!! And while we all try to figure out just how familiar we are with the career of CM Punk, we also mention… Parasite, haunted house law, girls just showin’ up on your back porch, don’t stick your face under there, old school wrestlers, wear PPE, a house geek, acting by himself, get out of my yard, practical special effects, things that don’t match up in life, beware of hooker ghosts, don’t shove your hand into slimy places, she knocked on the door, I won’t get brain’d by a ghost, it’s a test, it like… weirdly gave me nightmares, disclosing your ghost, the murder brothel, a fourth-grader and a cenobite costume, I want a tiny door, they didn’t say… hey, come to our orgy, having sex with a ghost, I like my references to be 40 years old, The Die Hard 2 Dilemma and don’t give marbles

Movie Meltdown - Episode 528 This episode we return to our running science fiction series to discuss "Terror Beneath the Sea"! A strange Japanese/American co-production from 1966 featuring sea creatures, an evil plot to take over the world... and a young Sonny Chiba! And while we try to figure out the mystery that is Peggy Neal, we also cover… Dr. No, Cromwell, a lot of model work, a giant space chicken, homing missile technology, Richard Harris, the leather-lined office, Japanese monster movies, a language barrier, Biloxi, Mississippi, a gaggle of reports, a healthy dose of misogyny, wearing sunglasses all the time, picaresque vs. classical storytelling, Kill Bill, these are our terror machines, they put this poor hapless dude into a tube, General of the mismatched Navy, the evil pinball machine that controls all the fish-people, Bela Lugosi, I feel like I’m watching Bergman on speed, progressive photography, Austin Powers, put into a chamber, toxic dumping, set the fish cyborgs to vibrate, well I get to get

Movie Meltdown: Episode 527 This episode we ask the disturbing question - what if they made a live-action Rick and Morty movie? We attempt to come up with casting options, choices for directors and we delve into the overall themes of the show and how that might be converted into a movie.  And while we get into the groove with some snake jazz, we also bring up… face-huggers, multi-verses, remorse, comedy, the most moral choice you make, I hope that person gets run over, power-mad, that kitty is adorable, this is a story about a Grandfather and his grandchildren and their beloved story as they tear the entire universe apart, the fabric of the universe, she is in control, the house party, I can’t save every bus, go down any dark rabbit hole, Dan Harmon, there is just no hope, brief and minimal, epic selfishness, having sex with a planet, Back to the Future, self-assured and smart, horse doctor, there are so many moments of that… that have broken my heart, that could be sold, the rapid-fire delivery, I guess I wa

Movie Meltdown: Episode 526 (For our Patreon "Horror Club") First off... we bring you a special announcement about our new running series!! Not only does it have a super geeky tie-in - but it allows everyone to get involved!   And then... The Horror Club returns to discuss a terrific film that even WE weren't fully prepared for... The Perfection. Directed by Richard Shepard and starring Allison Williams, Logan Browning and Steven Weber - this movie will more than likely impress and shock most viewers.   And while we are continually jarred by our shifting perspective, we also address… Black Sabbath, some emotional problems, in an old janky school bus, Brian De Palma, Korean revenge movies, body horror, religion, so anxiety inducing, being a prodigy, maggots, sinister and horrifying, bugs, adjusting the tracking, different parts, calmly making dinner, this look in his eye, Ransom, the twist, electroshock therapy, satisfying, cellos, Boris Karloff, crazy eyes, the entire landscape, passion projects, leaves the c

Movie Meltdown - Episode 525 This episode we try to see if it's possible to - fix the Crystal Skull. The fourth installment in the Indiana Jones franchise has frustrated fans since it's initial release. So we start with our on-going recasting question... could something as simple as recasting the role of Mutt Williams save this movie? But then we start to ask even bigger questions like... what if Indy and Marion had a daughter? And what if we remove the alien plot completely? Would fans have been happy? And what artifact would Indy be looking for? Listen as we try to figure out - just what it would take to fix the Crystal Skull! And while we wish we were climbing around in a tomb, we also mention… Marvel Comics, a CG monkey, Karen Allen, Area 51, cracking open the plastic, The History Channel, The Chronicles of Narnia, David Childress, creating the story arc, Stranger Things, Shia LaBeouf, Hitler, grabbing a snake, memorable and interesting, Lara Croft, Harrison Ford, Taken, recasting, animated series, Solo,

Movie Meltdown - Episode 524 We recently posed the question, If they made a live-action "Battle of the Planets" movie - who gets cast as the leads? So we settle in for a discussion about different options... from big-budget blockbuster choices to more age-appropriate actors. What are the best selections? And while we realize we are natural social distancers, we also cover… Cowboy and Aliens, The Great, The Gift, The Mandalorian, Green Acres, Nuada,  subtitles and overdubbed, just be polite, covered in LED screens, kept upping the drama, Legolas, weird psychic link, chaotic neutral, Jon Favreau, desperate for human interaction, changing entertainment, A Clockwork Orange, vulgar moments, snippets and code, Mel Brooks, guinea pigs wearing masks, Loki, The Wicker Man, I couldn’t hit you easily, Space-X, the much-maligned, awkward teenager, The Time Machine, creating pop culture, the idealistic view, a new accessory, The Jungle Book, a dome, alternate soundtracks, ILM, the dudes who do the thing, Ishtar, dodge and

Movie Meltdown: Episode 523 As we ease back into the real world, we sit down... in the same room… and have a discussion. Weird? Sure... but we try to overcome our adopted anti-social nature and discuss just some of the things we've been watching while locked in our homes.  And as we give things a chance that we previously wouldn't have, we also bring up… Shazam, The Lodge, Guardians, the Back to the Future trilogy, The Hustler, It: Chapter 2, Unbreakable, Castle Rock, James McAvoy, The Mentalist, Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, Gina Carano, Wreck-it Ralph, Have a Good Trip, network TV shows operating from home, underhanded plots, Kazaam, why are his arms so huge, Stephen Colbert, a sled dog, Riley Keough, streaming services and Zoom, will I remember it… no, Bruce Willis, this guy's life is ruined, dropping acid, Taika Waititi, a Gatling gun, Lizzy Caplan, leveling the playing field, Haywire, Piper Laurie, Heaven's Gated, ripped apart by evil creatures, everything about your life is kind of a waste, the trailer doe

Movie Meltdown: Episode 522 (For our Patreon "Horror Club") We’re back!! The Meltdown Horror Club rises from the quarantine crypt! And we kick things off with a recent horror outing... as we discuss the 2020 release of "The Turning" directed by Floria Sigismondi.  And as we settle into our own creepy vibe, we also address…  the spider, a very repressed upbringing, tighten my doorknobs, the reset, The Shining, CG effects, Mackenzie Davis, tension, grunge, let your theories run wild, casual mannequins, a weird twist, child therapy mode, Finn Wolfhard, a blank canvas, the hand, old-timey outfits, being real, being pulled underwater, so frustrating, Brooklynn Prince, let’s explore this relationship you had with this creepy grown man, Joely Richardson, cut scenes, gaslighting, Hammer Films and being insane.  Spoiler Alert: Full spoilers for "The Turning", so watch the movie before you listen.  “I think I would… be stuck there - and become a ghost probably.” Thank you to all our supporters! If you would like to joi

Movie Meltdown - Episode 521 The geek activities check-in continues as we virtually visit with Sam Drog and see what he's been up to and what he's been watching in these unusual times.  And as we realize most of what we say qualifies as a headline for Weekly World News, we also mention… The Black Hole, Train to Busan, The Lost Boys, The Girl with All the Gifts, Goonies Kool-Aid, Scandalous: The Untold Story of the National Enquirer, Crank, bubble gum, Waking Sleeping Beauty, Joel Schumacher, Titan A.E., Minecraft, Bo Welch, Late Phases, the same obsession, Jim Mickle, this requiem for disaster that's going on throughout the entire movie, the unspoken demon that haunts every project, young Tim Burton, over-hyperly art directed, organic in the storytelling, name your parasites, they don't make people like that in kid movies anymore, baroque, punk, biological possession, some families hold together… because they never see each other, it doesn’t all have to be Russian novels, Lance Guest, tabloid journalism, it’s

Movie Meltdown - Episode 520 This episode we continue our running check-in series as we visit with Dick Starr for a discussion about the world around us, life choices and the movies we watch along the way.  And as we peek out of our compound through our periscope, we also cover… The Fanatic, Cursed Films, conspiracy theories, Rambo: Last Blood, Kung Fury, Against the Dark, Killer Couch, Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, you coulda put Gilbert Gottfried in there, Jaws, E.T., Close Encounters of the Third Kind, Jurassic Park, Jurassic World, Piranha 3D, The Movies that Made Us, Jay and Silent Bob Reboot, Mallrats, High Tension, Tusk, Red State, Madness in the Method, Jersey Girl, trying to breach your compound, reference images, with all your hidden gadgets and booby traps, Stand By Me, killing it at parents, laser raptors, I made the devil, man it was such a baffling role, Thought Crimes, nothing but killing random people, humane and delicious, creating your own religion, The Omen, not having

Movie Meltdown - Episode 519 We're back to check in with some different Meltdown regulars... to see what they've been up to during the quarantine. And as we have candy for dinner (since there are no rules when no one is around to see), we also bring up… Tom Hardy, Mel Gibson, Knives Out, Rambo: Last Blood, Ozark, Wild Wild Country, Jojo Rabbit, Midsommar, Mirage Men, Cheers, Never Surrender, Battle of the Planets, Independence Day: Resurgence, Thundarr the Barbarian, Dracula, The Wicker Man, Signs, Tom Bombadil, you have a place to burn them in, incredible anxiety, avoiding Tiger King, The Hobbit, reality television, an avid social distancer, fantastically creepy, the aesthetic choices that they make are different, threequel Babe action, Joaquin Phoenix, Linda Moulton Howe and Stanton Friedman, Princess gets eaten by this giant flower that looks like a magnolia, George Wendt, The Transporter, Melkor has never left us, Rotoscoping, all the Hemsworths, filled with dread, have ya seen what the kids are doing, He

Movie Meltdown - Episode 518 Since everyone is trapped at home, we decide to stay in touch during these weird times with a new quarantine edition of one of our old favorite discussions... geek activities.  While we return to our standard operating procedure of ramble and say bad words, in the process we also address… Daybreak, The Witcher, Felicia Day, Locke & Key, October Faction, John Wick 3, American Horror Story: 1984, Futureman, The Strain, he doesn’t really fit into any group, Peter Weller, monster huntin', Ultraman, tiny portions, crazy people in suits kicking at each other, ghosts that are reanimating bodies, Animaniacs, death people shows, The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the 8th Dimension, Mark Dacascos, everybody had nice teeth, Emma Roberts, I don’t think she knows how dogs work, NewsRadio, it’s like Mad Max meets The Breakfast Club, virtual London, Hackers, Dylan Dog, big vampire weird-ass worms… with things that shoot out of our mouths, she’s not worth the effort, Jeffrey Dahmer met

Movie Meltdown - Episode 517 (For our Patreon "Horror Club") This episode the Horror Club attempts to reconvene in our new, semi-post-apocalyptic world. What is left in this new existence? What horrors will we discover? And will there still be cookies?! All this and more will be answered as we sit down to discuss the 2017 adaptation of Stephen King's story Gerald's Game. So remember to play responsibly in your own quarantine chamber as we mention… Carla Gugino, sweat pants, flashbacks, utilitarian makeup, Hush, they all have to shoot flames, Star Trek Into Darkness, so uncomfortable, things are weird, Moonlight Man, The Haunting of Hill House, Bruce Greenwood, furniture geek, childhood trauma, mohawks, useful feminine hygiene products, Oculus, The Shining, reading by candlelight, Mike Flanagan, pricey steak, Henry Thomas, the dog, Kate Siegel, streaming issues and the hand scene. Spoiler Alert: Full spoilers for Gerald's Game, so go watch the movie before you listen. You have been warned!  “Still kind of on-t

Movie Meltdown - Episode 516 Settle in for an extensive discussion of the sci-fi "classic" - Battle Beyond the Stars. And this is a film that definitely gives us a lot to dig into, considering the movie is produced by Roger Corman, written by John Sayles, featuring music composed by James Horner, art direction and visual effects by James Cameron… just to name a few of it's notable crew. Plus a star-studded cast including Richard Thomas, Robert Vaughn, John Saxon, George Peppard, Julia Duffy and of course Sybil Danning. And while we come to realize we are vaguely humanoid in the wrong kind of ways, we also cover… Last Woman on Earth, electric kaleidoscope, Enter the Dragon, Harlan Ellison, Vincent Price, glitter is cool, a disgraced conquistador, a back alley that also just happens to be a space ship, George Lucas, Starcrash, Hephaestus, lots of dome shapes, The Wasp Woman, Eloi, sassy consciousness, protecting the village of the innocent, analog electronic toys, stealing from Kurosawa, he's an old prospector

Movie Meltdown - Episode 515 (For our Patreon "Horror Club") This Horror Club episode we discuss "Polaroid", the 2019 film directed by Lars Klevberg. And as we run through the weird urban legends of Polaroids, we also bring up… Locke & Key, Horse Girl, Eerie, Indiana, Are You Afraid of the Dark?, Madelaine Petsch, throuples are all the rage, walking around with a kerosene lantern, there’s a lot of loose ends to this movie, Mitch Pileggi, predicts the future, there's a lot of homicidal kids, the whole scarf thing, Beta-test from the 40’s, ping pong, given my experience with photography and fire, lamp placement, there’s a deeper level to this that I never picked up on before, a lot of things in this movie that come up - that there's no payoff for, conspiracy theory, Tupperware, Instax, Goosebumps, fetchin' collarbones, somebody in this scenario needs to be creeped out by this - ‘cause I am, CGI, that noise, Joe Hill, a brandable name, surely it's not meant to be this dark, a movie so underdeveloped that you