Optimism Vaccine

THIS WEEK: Universal Soldier (1992), Universal Soldier II: Brothers in Arms (1998) and Universal Soldier III: Unfinished Business (1998)A tragic mistake by our unnamed director of programming led us to watching two original productions from The Movie Channel, starring a wad of chewed gum and directed by the man who (allegedly) started the Canadian wildfires. I'm not sure if that joke works, because it would involve Peter M. Lenkov conjuring some sort of spark, which is beyond the average human brain's conceptual capacity.Donate to Palestinian Medical AidSupport Optimism Vaccine on Patreon

THIS WEEK: The Relic (1997), End of Days (1999) and A Sound of Thunder (2005)The slop you were promised.Donate to Palestinian Medical AidSupport Optimism Vaccine on Patreon

THIS WEEK: Capricorn One (1978), The Star Chamber (1983) and 2010: The Year We Make Contact (1984)If you're anything like us, you probably associate Peter Hyams with a particular brand of '90s schlock (and we'll get there), but there was a time when he was a bona fide genre auteur, kickstarting decades of moon landing conspiracies and tackling an impossible sequel to the most acclaimed science fiction film ever made.Donate to Palestinian Medical AidSupport Optimism Vaccine on Patreon

THIS WEEK: Shelby Oaks (2024), Obsession (2025), Iron Lung (2026) and Backrooms (2026)Cinema has passed you by, they said. Boomers, they called us. Hey, we know of the YouTube. The kids have officially arrived to dismantle the filmic apparatus in 2026. Should you be afraid? Tune in to find out!Donate to Palestinian Medical AidSupport Optimism Vaccine on Patreon

THIS WEEK: The Passing (1983), Hard (1998) and Strangers Online (2009)John Huckert may not be a name you know, but it's a name you should. A generous patron asked us to take a look at his three decades of work on the fringes of the film industry. And while The Passing has gotten its due recognition, most of you listening won't even be able to source his other two features. Certainly not in any way that supports the filmmaker. And that's a shame. Go yell at some boutique labels. We demand Hard in 4k.Donate to Palestinian Medical AidSupport Optimism Vaccine on Patreon

THIS WEEK: Uncle Sam (1996), Bicentennial Man (1999) and The Patriot (2000)We really should have posted this yesterday. Suddenly it feels downright disrespectful to discuss whatever the fuck Bicentennial Man is. Happy 250, America!Donate to Palestinian Medical AidSupport Optimism Vaccine on Patreon

THIS WEEK: Pecker (1998), Cecil B. Demented (2000) and A Dirty Shame (2004)We're talking Minions and John Waters' late career attempt to recapture his degenerate underground aura... to varying degrees of success.Donate to Palestinian Medical AidSupport Optimism Vaccine on Patreon

THIS WEEK: Monstrosity (1987), The Weirdo (1989) and Surgikill (1989)Milligan makes one last bid for fame and glory, as he moves to California to topple the Hollywood establishment. It doesn't go especially well, if you can believe it. Donate to Palestinian Medical AidSupport Optimism Vaccine on Patreon

THIS WEEK: Hairspray (1988), Cry-Baby (1990) and Serial Mom (1994)Waters weathers the loss of his muse and becomes a true pop culture icon as we enter the 1990s. Also: Ponderosa.Donate to Palestinian Medical AidSupport Optimism Vaccine on Patreon

THIS WEEK: Nightbirds (1970), The Body Beneath (1970) and The Rats Are Coming! The Werewolves Are Here! (1972)This week Andy boards the tube and crosses the Chunnel to lend a touch of American crass to the London film scene.Donate to Palestinian Medical AidSupport Optimism Vaccine on Patreon

THIS WEEK: Female Trouble (1974), Desperate Living (1977) and Polyester (1981)Did John Waters predict the fame addiction that arose in the wake of social media? Absolutely. But his version was a lot more fun. Divine/Massey 2028!Donate to Palestinian Medical AidSupport Optimism Vaccine on Patreon

THIS WEEK: Torture Dungeon (1969), Fleshpot on 42nd Street (1972) and Blood (1973)This week we're looking at Milligan's most prolific period and his partnership with William Mishkin, as he abandons any arthouse ambitions for a slew of barely legible grindhouse cheapies.Donate to Palestinian Medical AidSupport Optimism Vaccine on Patreon

THIS WEEK: Mondo Trasho (1969), Multiple Maniacs (1970) and Pink Flamingos (1972)We've decided that the best way to break up our Andy Milligan venture is by looking at a far more gleeful trash peddler. It's well past time that we dug into the Manson-obsessed cinematic underbelly of Baltimore and the inimitable John Waters.Donate to Palestinian Medical AidSupport Optimism Vaccine on Patreon

THIS WEEK: Vapors (1965), Seeds AKA Seeds of Sin (1968) and The Ghastly Ones (1968)Steve has finally bullied us into covering his matinee idol, Andy Milligan. Does he live up to his reputation as one of the worst filmmakers in the history of the medium? Well, he's certainly one of the angriest.Donate to Palestinian Medical AidSupport Optimism Vaccine on Patreon

THIS WEEK: Find the Lady (1976), Volunteers (1985) and Only the Lonely (1991)Remember these John Candy classics? We sure don't.Donate to Palestinian Medical AidSupport Optimism Vaccine on Patreon

THIS WEEK: Class of 1984 (1982), Class of 1999 (1990) and Class of 1999 II: The Substitute (1994)This one goes out to the dads and grads.Donate to Palestinian Medical AidSupport Optimism Vaccine on Patreon

THIS WEEK: Faces of Death (1978), Faces of Death II (1981), Faces of Death III (1985), Faces of Death IV (1990) and Faces of Death (2026)Here's something that no one asked for! Left to their own devices for one week, Steve and Miros voluntarily dove into the endless slog of banned clip compilations that make up Faces of Death. Let the record show, wasting our time on this dreck makes far more sense than pitching a "reboot" of the Faces of Death "franchise," which is not a thing that really exists.Donate to Palestinian Medical AidSupport Optimism Vaccine on Patreon

THIS WEEK: Nirvanna The Band The Show The Movie (2025), Anvil! The Story of Anvil (2008)We're traveling (and time traveling) to the great white north circa 2008 to learn about the beauty of Canadian metal, friendship and Orbitz. Join us.Donate to Palestinian Medical AidSupport Optimism Vaccine on Patreon

THIS WEEK: Out of Time (1988), Cannibal Women in the Avocado Jungle of Death (1989) and Pizza Man (1991)Imagine a world without the insufferable intrusions of Club Random on your various social feeds. Imagine a world where douchebag pundit supreme Bill Maher had landed a gig as a harmless sitcom dad. We dare to imagine such a world. A world where hope is still alive.Donate to Palestinian Medical AidSupport Optimism Vaccine on Patreon

THIS WEEK: The Long Walk (2025) and The Running Man (2025)Do you remember Vietnam? Stephen King certainly does, and this week we're looking at two very faithful, very listless adaptations of his particular brand of social commentary. Donate to Palestinian Medical AidSupport Optimism Vaccine on Patreon

THIS WEEK: Backdraft (1991), Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves (1991), Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991), Boyz n the Hood (1991) and JFK (1991)It's the awards recap you've all been waiting for! We're talking nominees, snubs, stars, smooches, and - of course - Dennis Miller.Donate to Palestinian Medical AidSupport Optimism Vaccine on Patreon

THIS WEEK: The Monster Squad (1987), Robocop 2 (1990) and Last Action Hero (1993)We're continuing our Tom Noonan retrospective by looking at some of his more prominent Hollywood roles. And once again, we were unable to prevent Steve from pivoting the discussion toward YA literature.Donate to Palestinian Medical AidSupport Optimism Vaccine on Patreon

THIS WEEK: What Happened Was... (1994), The Wife (1995) and The Shape of Something Squashed (2014)To celebrate the life of beloved character actor Tom Noonan, we decided to take a look at his directorial efforts, which proved to be a trio of incisive, underseen gems. Did we do them justice? No we did not.Donate to Palestinian Medical AidSupport Optimism Vaccine on Patreon

THIS WEEK: It Couldn't Happen Here (1987), Disorderlies (1987) and The Jerky Boys (1995)Strap in, sizzlechest, because The Fat Boys are back. I should probably work the Pet Shop Boys in here somehow, but that seems downright undignified. Anyhow, we're looking at the cinematic exploits of various Boys.Donate to Palestinian Medical AidSupport Optimism Vaccine on Patreon

THIS WEEK: Lifeline (1997), Bullets Over Summer (1999) and Fulltime Killer (2001)We're back in Hong Kong, with a trio of films that showcase a changing industry in the wake of the transition from British to Chinese rule.This topic was selected by one of our most excellent patrons. You too can choose a topic or slate of films for us to cover. See the link below for details!Donate to Palestinian Medical AidSupport Optimism Vaccine on Patreon

THIS WEEK: Big Money Hustlas (2000), Death Racers (2008) and Big Money Rustlas (2010)You may know ICP as the rapping leaders of a dubious "gang" of graps-loving clowns. You may even know them for their contributions to the science of magnetism. But did you know that they're also auteur filmmakers? Donate to Palestinian Medical AidSupport Optimism Vaccine on Patreon

THIS WEEK: Hologram Man (1995), Last Man Standing (1995) and Rage (1995)Sure, you've heard of white guy karate legend Jalal Merhi, but did you know that there was a completely unrelated Merhi who was silently pumping out high-octane DTV films by the dozen throughout the 1990s? It's time our audience got to know the name Joseph Merhi.Donate to Palestinian Medical AidSupport Optimism Vaccine on Patreon

THIS WEEK: Nosferatu (2024), Dracula (2025) and Dracula (2025)Turns out this Dracula character is pretty hard to kill.Donate to Palestinian Medical AidSupport Optimism Vaccine on Patreon

THIS WEEK: The War of the Roses (1989), The Roses (2025) and War of the Worlds (2025)Bloodless incompetent regurgitation. I'm sure that's how some folks would describe our podcast, but that's just a reflection of the times we live in, baby! Let's talk about remakes. Again.Donate to Palestinian Medical AidSupport Optimism Vaccine on Patreon

THIS WEEK: Tron (1982), Tron: Legacy (2010) and Tron: Ares (2025)Tron is back again, after a fifteen year slumber. Why? I guess they thought a purported sex pest could help to quell growing societal anxieties surrounding the economical sustenance of the working class being wholly subsumed by the irresponsible deployment of artificial intelligence?Donate to Palestinian Medical AidSupport Optimism Vaccine on Patreon

THIS WEEK: Deathstalker II: Duel of the Titans (1987), Deathstalker and the Warriors from Hell (1988) and Deathstalker IV: Match of Titans (1991)The Deathstalker sequels led us down some bizarre rabbit holes, from Trump-appointed dignitaries to a bizarre A.I. infused IMDb profile hijacking? Or is it transcendence? We're still not sure. Let us know, Maria Ford.Donate to Palestinian Medical AidSupport Optimism Vaccine on Patreon

THIS WEEK: Deathstalker (1983) and Deathstalker (2025)We're opening the new year with a discussion of the Corman classic Deathstalker, its Astron-6 "remake", and the sad state of sleaze in 2026.Donate to Palestinian Medical AidSupport Optimism Vaccine on Patreon

THIS WEEK: Santa and the Ice Cream Bunny (1972), Bikini Bloodbath Christmas (2009) and The Grinch that Stole Bitches (2024)Rather than purchasing thoughtful gifts for his loved ones, Steve spent his December scrolling Tubi. Merry Christmas to none.Donate to Palestinian Medical AidSupport Optimism Vaccine on Patreon

THIS WEEK: Highlander II: The Quickening (1991), Highlander III: The Sorcerer AKA Highlander: The Final Dimension (1994) and Highlander: Endgame (2000)Turns out there is a whole lot of Highlander media. Is any of it worth a damn? No. Definitely not. But we're talking about it anyway!Donate to Palestinian Medical AidSupport Optimism Vaccine on Patreon

THIS WEEK: Meteor (1979) and Outland (1981)We were short on time this week, so we turned to Steve's list of drunken half-formed ideas. Hence we're discussing two Sean Connery that vaguely deal with outer space. Does one of them take place entirely in mundane offices right here on planet Earth? You bet.Donate to Palestinian Medical Aid Support Optimism Vaccine on Patreon

THIS WEEK: Max Headroom: 20 Minutes into the Future (1985), D.O.A. (1988) and Super Mario Bros. (1993)We've been dancing around it for years, and now seems like the ideal time to get hooked on the brothers. That's right, we're back digging through e-waste, as we take a look at the brief directorial career of U.K. cyber-enthusiasts Annabel Jankel and Rocky Morton.Donate to Palestinian Medical Aid Support Optimism Vaccine on Patreon

THIS WEEK: Don't worry about it. Nothing to see here.[DESCRIPTION REDACTED]Donate to Palestinian Medical Aid Support Optimism Vaccine on Patreon

THIS WEEK: Memories Within Miss Aggie (1974), Through The Looking Glass (1976), A Woman's Torment (1977)Does something need to be erotic to be pornographic? Do some folks just get off on misery? Maybe! Nothing says HOT AND STEAMY like isolation, grief, psychological meltdowns, art house horror, and a carrot in your butt.Welcome to the wonderful world of feel-bad films in the golden age of pornography.Donate to Palestinian Medical Aid Support Optimism Vaccine on Patreon

THIS WEEK: Nude on the Moon (1961), Bad Girls Go to Hell (1965) and Deadly Weapons (1974)Pornography is a different beast in the hot Florida sun, where everyone is melting and there's no infrastructure to support a competent film industry.Donate to Palestinian Medical Aid Support Optimism Vaccine on Patreon

THIS WEEK: Nightdreams (1981), Café Flesh (1982) and Dr. Caligari (1989)Our finest theme month returns as we examine a pair of Hustler ad men who donned the monikers Rinse Dream and F.X. Pope in the noble effort to push pornography past its gonzo, counter-culture breaking point. Donate to Palestinian Medical Aid Support Optimism Vaccine on Patreon

THIS WEEK: The Woman in the Yard (2025), Bring Her Back (2025), Weapons (2025) and 28 Years Later (2025)I mean, the title is just as applicable to this episode of our dumb podcast as it is to Zach Cregger's film, amiright?Donate to Palestinian Medical Aid Support Optimism Vaccine on Patreon

THIS WEEK: Dracula (1931), Frankenstein (1931), The Mummy (1932), The Invisible Man (1933), Bride of Frankenstein (1935), The Wolf Man (1941) and The Creature From the Black Lagoon (1954)We're breaking format for the (permanent?) finale of Shawntober, as we take a wide-ranging look at the origins of the American horror film.Donate to Palestinian Medical Aid Support Optimism Vaccine on Patreon

THIS WEEK: Society (1989), Bride of Re-Animator (1990), and The Dentist (1996)Shawn can't stop flapping his gums about The Substance, so we figured it was time to show him some real films of substance.Donate to Palestinian Medical Aid Support Optimism Vaccine on Patreon

THIS WEEK: An American Werewolf in London (1981), Innocent Blood (1992), Deer Woman (2005) and Family (2006)This week we really wanted to test Shawn's mettle by exposing him to the twisted mind behind some of the most sickening works of the 20th century: Beverly Hills Cop III and Max Landis.Donate to Palestinian Medical Aid Support Optimism Vaccine on Patreon

THIS WEEK: The Devil (1972), Possession (1981) and Under the Silver Globe (1988)For some unholy reason, Steve demanded that we kick off spooky season with the ultimate downer, as we expose Shawn Glinis to the verbose filmography of Polish philosopher king Andrzej Zulawski. You won't find any treats here. Or tricks, really. Just a great many agonized shouts.Donate to Palestinian Medical Aid Support Optimism Vaccine on Patreon

THIS WEEK: Disclosure (1994), Virtuosity (1995) and The Thirteenth Floor (1999)With the end of days imminent, we're jacking back in to look at another trio of bonkers 90s VR films and yearn for the future that wasn't.Donate to Palestinian Medical Aid Support Optimism Vaccine on Patreon

THIS WEEK: The Midnight Meat Train (2008), No One Lives (2012), Downrange (2017) and The Price We Pay (2022)What happens when a Japanese ADHD-addled wunderkind with zero interest in boring filmmaking minutiae like performance, pacing and screen geography heads to Hollywood? Redbox magic, baby!Donate to Palestinian Medical Aid Support Optimism Vaccine on Patreon

THIS WEEK: Showdown in Little Tokyo (1991), Johnny Mnemonic (1995) and I Want to Be Neenja! The Movie (2024)Ostensibly, we're still discussing the uncomfortable marriage of Japanese culture and 1990s Hollywood production. In actuality, we have gazed deep into the snarling panther's maw and emerged lesser.Donate to Palestinian Medical Aid Support Optimism Vaccine on Patreon

THIS WEEK: Black Rain (1989), Sgt. Kabukiman N.Y.P.D. (1990) and Rising Sun (1993)This week, we're revisiting the brief period of time in post-Cold War America when our great nation affixed its racist, paranoid gaze on the shores of Japan. The result was some very strange cinema.Donate to Palestinian Medical Aid Support Optimism Vaccine on Patreon

THIS WEEK: Assault on Devil's Island (1997), McCinsey's Island (1998) and The Ultimate Weapon (1998)There's no Hulkamaniacs here! Yet here we are, combing through the Hulkster's brief run as a cable crossover star. Was the big heel turn enough to awaken Terry's latent potential as a leading man? Results vary.Donate to Palestinian Medical Aid Support Optimism Vaccine on Patreon