Total Reboot With Cameron James & Alexei Toliopoulos

Splitsville, it’s a incisive comedy about modern relationships with particular style and a fight sequence most action movies would envy. It’s the second film from star/filmmaker Michael Angelo Covino who joins Alexei Toliopoulos in the Last Video Store to pick up a few of the films that influence his cinematic voice and style + he’ll get a couple of staff pick recommendations in the form of a pair of comedic oddities from Australian film history.SPLITSVILLE arrives in Australian cinemas on September 11th. Alexei’s screening at the Sydney Opera House - Saturday Film Club: Bram Stoker’s Dracula Nov 1 Follow ALEXEI TOLIOPOULOS on Letterboxd for all the rental combo lists. Hit up the Last Video Store on instagram for all of our guests picks.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Actor Dacre Montgomery (Stranger Things) and filmmaker Samuel Van Grinsven (Sequin in a Blue Room) might just be the two most passionate film lovers to enter the Last Video Store. They’ve just collaborated on the exquisite new film WENT UP THE HILL, a ghost story quite unlike any you may have seen before. Also starring Vicky Krieps (Phantom Thread), the film explores death and grief in inventively dreamlike way. It’s a fantastic episode with some of the best film talk we’ve had in the Last Video Store.WENT UP THE HILL arrives in Australian cinemas next week on September 11th. Alexei’s screening at the Sydney Opera House - Saturday Film Club: Children of Men, 6 September 2025 Follow ALEXEI TOLIOPOULOS on Letterboxd for all the rental combo lists.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

From Superman’s origins in Smallville, to modern day Adams Family in Wednesday and a list of the most tonally diverse sequels (including Herbie: Fully Loaded and Spiderman 2), Al Gough and Miles Millar are Hollywood’s experts on adaptation and sequels. Alexei Toliopoulos sits down with the creators of Wednesday to talk video store memories, working with Tim Burton and hopefully sling a staff pick recommendation at them. Follow ALEXEI TOLIOPOULOS on Letterboxd for all the rental combo lists. Alexei’s screening at the Sydney Opera House - Saturday Film Club: Children of Men, 6 September 2025See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Recommending a film to Col Needham is no easy task… His personal film diary literally evolved into THE comprehensive catalogue of all films, the Internet Movie Database. The founder of IMDb and quite possibly the most supreme movie loving guest we’ll ever have on The Last Video Store to pick up his favourite films. Alexei joins Col on one of the great adventures of movie watching to find out how a mobile travelling video store van helped shape his love of film.Follow ALEXEI TOLIOPOULOS on Letterboxd for all the rental combo lists. Alexei’s screening at the Sydney Opera House - Saturday Film Club: Children of Men, 6 September 2025 Our huge thank you to the Melbourne International Film Festival for getting Col to visit the Last Video Store GUEST PICKS: Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning (action), Vertigo (thriller), Touch of Evil (crime)STAFF PICKS: Limbo (2023) (crime)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

She wrote the book on Tom Cruise (for Cahiers Du Cinema) and has examined cinema greatness with Paul Scheer on the great film podcast UNSPOOLED, now while in Australia for the Melbourne International Film Festival, Amy Nicholson enters the Last Video Store to talk big screen movie musicals with Alexei Toliopoulos. Follow ALEXEI TOLIOPOULOS on Letterboxd for all the rental combo lists and follow Amy here. Alexei’s screening at the Sydney Opera House - Saturday Film Club: Children of Men, 6 September 2025 GUEST PICKS: BETTER MAN (music), FOOTLIGHT PARADE (music), HAIRSPRAY (cult)STAFF PICKS: WOMEN HE’S UNDRESSED (Documentary)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jaxon and Lachlan Fairbairn are comedians, creatives, brothers and huge film lovers, who you might recognise from their huge following on YouTube or Instagram. And we lied in the title; only one of them loves horror films. The other would prefer to cosy up with a classic action film (we'll leave you to find out which one).They join Alexei this week to chat about some of their favourite films, from the creepy ODDITY to the classic THE KARATE KID, and how the ball torture scene in CASINO ROYALE ties into it all. Listen to The Fairbairn Podcast Follow ALEXEI TOLIOPOULOS on Letterboxd for all the rental combo lists. GUEST PICKS: SPIDERMAN: ACROSS THE SPIDER-VERSE (adventure), THE KARATE KID (adventure), ODDITY (horror)STAFF PICK: THE LAST DRAGON (action)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

All-round icon and legendary frontman of THE CRUEL SEA, Tex Perkins steps into The Last Video Store to pick out some gritty classics, unexpected gems and the stunning new remake of a century old classic. We dig into the cinematic moments that shaped him, swap tales about VHS treasures, and explore how The Cruel Sea’s “The Honeymoon Is Over” found its way onto the soundtrack of EMPIRE RECORDS. It’s a rollicking conversation about movies, music, and the moods that connect them. Alexei has not stopped listening to the new album from Tex and The Cruel Sea, STRAIGHT INTO THE SUN, all year… it comes highly recommended. Follow ALEXEI TOLIOPOULOS on Letterboxd for all the rental combo lists. GUEST PICKS: NOSFERATU (horror), MCCABE & MRS. MILLER (western), HELL IN THE PACIFIC (war)STAFF PICKS: FIRST COW (western)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week, we’re joined by Aussie hip hop royalty, Hilltop Hoods, for a cinematic hangout with Alexei in the Last Video Store. Pressure cracks open some true video store nostalgia in the Adventure section, DJ Debris gets geeky over Guy Ritchie and Suffa takes us to one of the greats of independent French cinema with a point that will redefine how you think about La Haine.Pick up the new album and tour tickets from hilltophoods.com Follow ALEXEI TOLIOPOULOS on Letterboxd for all the rental combo lists. GUEST PICKS: Raiders of the Lost Ark (Adventure), La Haine (Cult), The Gentlemen (Crime)STAFF PICKS: The Secret Agent (Thriller) and Bacurau (Western)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Hitting cinemas next week, TOGETHER marks the brilliant feature debut of filmmaker Michael Shanks. Before teaming up with Alison Brie and Dave Franco for this inventive blend of horror and relationship comedy-drama, Shanks built a cult following online through his YouTube comedy channel timtimfed and the hilarious series The Wizards of Aus. Now, he steps into The Last Video Store to chat with Alexei about some of his all-time favourite films and his new film TOGETHER. BOOK TICKETS for Alexei’s comedy fest show REFUSED CLASSIFICATION with Zach Ruane in CANBERRA, SYDNEY ENCORE and MELBOURNE ENCORE in JULY Follow ALEXEI TOLIOPOULOS on Letterboxd for all the rental combo lists. GUEST PICKS: TOGETHER, ETERNAL SUNSHINE OF THE SPOTLESS MIND, SIGNSSTAFF PICKS: SEEDING OF A GHOSTSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Aotearoa’s own Marlon Williams steps into the Last Video Store alongside filmmaker Ursula Grace Williams to talk about Marlon Williams: Two Worlds – Ngā Ao E Rua, a stunning portrait documentary about the making of Marlon’s most ambitious musical project yet, an album sung entirely in te reo Māori. Host Alexei Toliopoulos calls it not only one of his favourite films of the year, but one of the greatest music documentaries he's ever seen (and this a guy that has seen a lot of fricking movies). The film is screening at MIFF this August - tickets here BOOK TICKETS for Alexei’s comedy fest show REFUSED CLASSIFICATION with Zach Ruane in CANBERRA, SYDNEY ENCORE and MELBOURNE ENCORE in JULY Follow ALEXEI TOLIOPOULOS on Letterboxd for all the rental combo lists. GUEST PICKS: Marlon Williams: Two Worlds - Ngā Ao E Rua (Documentary), Kill List (horror), The Eternal Memory (Documentary)STAFF PICKS: Woodlands Dark and Days Bewitched: A History of Folk Horror (Doc

Australia is known for it's horror movies, but for every Wolf Creek and The Babadook there are dozens of freaky films that you might not be on your radar yet. This week, Alexei is joined by horror direction Kane Senes (Sissy, For Now) to trawl through the horror section and uncover some lesser known Aussie gems, from the 1970s to the 2000s…right up to the New Wave of Australian horror cinema BOOK TICKETS for Alexei’s comedy fest show REFUSED CLASSIFICATION with Zach Ruane in CANBERRA, SYDNEY ENCORE and MELBOURNE ENCORE in JULY Follow ALEXEI TOLIOPOULOS on Letterboxd for all the rental combo lists. Here are Kane and Alexei's picks from this episode.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

While touring his comedy show, DEMI ADEJUYIGBE IS GOING TO DO ONE (1) BACKFLIP, Demi Adejuyigbe stopped by the Last Video Store to pick up some of his favourite films from little Alexei Toliopoulos. Genuinely one of the most exciting comedians in the fricking world right now, you might know Demi from GAME CHANGER, writing for THE GOOD PLACE or even as one of the best Letterboxd users. Demi could not be a more perfect guest to slide into the Last Video Store to talk MOVIESSSSS, DUDE! BOOK TICKETS for Alexei’s comedy fest show REFUSED CLASSIFICATION with Zach Ruane in CANBERRA, SYDNEY ENCORE and MELBOURNE ENCORE in JULY Follow ALEXEI TOLIOPOULOS on Letterboxd for all the rental combo lists. GUEST PICKS: SINNERS (horror), LADY BIRD (drama), WHAT’S UP DOC? (comedy)STAFF PICKS: LOOKING FOR ALIBRANDI (comedy)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the 25th anniversary of their classic debut album REFLECTOR, rockstar siblings Ella Hooper and Jesse Hooper join Alexei in the LAST VIDEO STORE to pick up some of their favourite films. From the all-timer classic space odyssey from a galaxy far far away to turn of the millennium zombie nightmares, Ella and Jesse are true video store connoisseurs with a rich history of loving cinema. PLUS they talk about having songs on the iconic LOOKING FOR ALIBRANDI and SPIDER-MAN 2 soundtracks.  Catch them on tour with 25 YEARS OF REFLECTOR right now! BOOK TICKETS for Alexei’s comedy fest show REFUSED CLASSIFICATION with Zach Ruane in CANBERRA, SYDNEY ENCORE and MELBOURNE ENCORE in JULY Follow ALEXEI TOLIOPOULOS on Letterboxd for all the rental combo lists.  GUEST PICKS: 28 DAYS LATER (horror), STAR WARS (adventure), CITY OF LOST CHILDREN (cult), MEET THE FEEBLES (cult) STAFF PICKS: ATTACK THE BLOCK (action)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

From Eurovision to collaborating with THE David Byrne from Talking Heads (and the movie masterpiece TRUE STORIES), Montaigne is a truly creative artist with a distinct style… and yes that is very apparent in their picks on the Last Video Store. Montaigne stacks their favourite movie picks on the counter and chats about loving mucked-up absurdist world-building.  Montaigne’s new album “it's hard to be a fish” is out right now! And check out the music videos on YouTube.  BOOK TICKETS for Alexei’s comedy fest show REFUSED CLASSIFICATION with Zach Ruane in CANBERRA, SYDNEY ENCORE and MELBOURNE ENCORE in JULY Follow ALEXEI TOLIOPOULOS on Letterboxd for all the rental combo lists.  GUEST PICKS: MICKEY 17 (sci-fi), SWISS ARMY MAN (comedy), SPEED RACER (cult)STAFF PICKS: TOMORROW I’LL WAKE UP AND SCALD MYSELF WITH TEA (cult)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week on The Last Video Store, Alexei Toliopoulos dusts off a well-worn VHS and welcomes a true icon of Australian music into the store: Robert Forster, co-founder of The Go-Betweens, acclaimed solo artist with the new album STRAWBERRIES.Together, they rummage through Robert’s cinematic memories. From the art-house films that shaped his songwriting with creative collaborator Grant McLennan, to the immersive recreations of Bob Dylan’s early electric days as performed by Timothée Chalamet. BOOK TICKETS for Alexei’s comedy fest show REFUSED CLASSIFICATION with Zach Ruane in CANBERRA, SYDNEY ENCORE and MELBOURNE ENCORE in JULY Follow ALEXEI TOLIOPOULOS on Letterboxd for all the rental combo lists. GUEST PICKS: A COMPLETE UNKNOWN (music), BELL BOOK & CANDLE (comedy), SUNSET BOULEVARD (crime)STAFF PICKS: TOO LATE (crime)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Perusing the shelves this week is Calum Hood, best known as the bassist of 5 Seconds of Summer, he’s about to release debut solo album “ORDER chaos ORDER”. A very funny episode that sees Calum and Alexei chat through childhood oddities like ANTZ and forgotten Aussie dog movie Napoleon. BOOK TICKETS for Alexei’s comedy fest show REFUSED CLASSIFICATION with Zach Ruane in CANBERRA, SYDNEY ENCORE and MELBOURNE ENCORE in JULY Follow ALEXEI TOLIOPOULOS on Letterboxd for all the rental combo lists. GUEST PICKS: HELL OF A SUMMER (Comedy), TRAINSPOTTING (cult), MOULIN ROUGE (music)STAFF PICKS: HUMAN TRAFFIC (cult)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Twin brothers Danny and Michael Philippou are the most excited voices in Australian genre cinema since the release of their horror hit TALK TO ME. Their latest film, BRING HER BACK is another emotionally resonant horror exploration of grief and loss that, in many ways, surpasses their remarkable debut. Starring Oscar nominee Sally Hawkins (THE SHAPE OF WATER), Billy Barrat (RESPONSIBLE CHILD), Jonah Wren Phillips (HOW TO MAKE GRAVY) and newcomer Sora Wong, BRING HER BACK is poised to be the horror event of 2025. It’s more than a pleasure to have RackaRacka peruse the shelves of the Last Video Store and pick out some of the films that influenced them.  BOOK TICKETS for Alexei’s comedy fest show REFUSED CLASSIFICATION with Zach Ruane in CANBERRA, SYDNEY ENCORE and MELBOURNE ENCORE in JULY Follow ALEXEI TOLIOPOULOS on Letterboxd for all the rental combo lists. Here’s the RackaRacka pick-up list.  GUEST PICKS: BRING HER BACK (HORROR), WHATEVER HAPPEND TO BABY JANE (THRILLER), BRAI

From the MISH & ZACH podcast, comedian Mish Wittrup wanders into the Last Video Store, and the desk is manned by both Alexei Toliopoulos & Zachary Ruane. A passionate and opinionated movie buff and film lover Mish appropriately picks out the 2 best films that prominently feature video stores. BOOK TICKETS for Alexei’s comedy fest show REFUSED CLASSIFICATION with Zach Ruane in CANBERRA and SYDNEY ENCORE show in JULY Follow ALEXEI TOLIOPOULOS on Letterboxd for all the rental combo lists. Here’s Mish’s list and here’s her actual letterboxd profile. GUEST PICKS: MURIEL’S WEDDING (Comedy), SCREAM (Horror), EARTH GIRL’S ARE EASY (Comedy)STAFF PICKS: CELIA (Horror), Shirley Valentine (Comedy)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Danielle Walker is one of the funniest people in the country, and brings an eclectic mix of films to The Last Video Store. The comedian and winner of Taskmaster loves everything from the instant cult classic Pearl to the family friendly shenanigans of Andre (The Seal, not My Dinner With). Danielle is touring her show 'Mundane' at the Sydney Comedy Festival now so make sure you check it out! BOOK TICKETS for Alexei’s comedy fest show REFUSED CLASSIFICATION with Zach Ruane in CANBERRA and SYDNEY ENCORE show in JULY. Follow ALEXEI TOLIOPOULOS on Letterboxd for all the rental combo lists.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Australian pop music royalty and star of teen comedy classic THE RAGE IN PLACID LAKE, Ben Lee roams through the Last Video Store. Ben is a true cinephile whose tastes range from the surreal to the whacky. Ben’s seminal album “Awake Is the New Sleep” is celebrating its 20th anniversary (stay tuned for cool stuff around that, I’m sure) and you can listen to him and Ione Skye every week on their excellent podcast WEIRDER TOGETHER. BOOK TICKETS for Alexei’s comedy fest show REFUSED CLASSIFICATION with Zach Ruane in CANBERRA and SYDNEY ENCORE show in JULY Follow ALEXEI TOLIOPOULOS on Letterboxd for all the rental combo lists. Here’s Ben’s list. GUEST PICKS: Psychomagic: A Healing Art (Documentary), Adam Green’s Aladdin (Art house), Defending Your Life (Comedy)STAFF PICKS: Local Legends (cult)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.