Episode 250 – Eric Roberts is the Man – Runaway Train: or, The Story of My Life So Far (2024) (/w Will Sloan)

It's episode 250(!!) of Cinema Smorgasbord, and what better way to celebrate than a brand new episode of ERIC ROBERTS IS THE MAN covering Eric Roberts' recently released autobiography Runaway Train: or, The Story of My Life So Far, as well as the slew of media Eric has been doing around it - including appearing on Dancing With the Stars! For such a monumental episode we needed a monumental guest, so joining us will be fellow Eric Roberts enthusiast (and co-host of The Important Cinema Club and Michael & Me podcasts) Will Sloan, who has some big thoughts on the book, DWtS and SO MUCH MORE. All that and the latest Eric Roberts news, so CHECK IT OUT! Read more

Episode 249 – Cinema Smorgasbord Sells Out – The Shadow Strays (2024)

On this bloodthirsty episode of CINEMA SMORGASBORD SELLS OUT we're sitting down with Timo Tjahjanto's epic, gore-filled action film THE SHADOW STRAYS, currently streaming on Netflix! Starring actress/model Aurora Ribero as "13", a 17-year-old assassin who gets suspended after a botched mission and befriends 11-year-old Monji. But when Monji gets kidnapped 13 gets some very, very, very blood revenge on his kidnappers while getting on the wrong side of her assassin group. UH OH! We also chat about Indonesian action as a whole because WHY NOT? Check it out!Read more

Episode 248 – Wild in the Streets – Rulers of the City (1976) (aka Mister Scarface)

A trio consisting of fun-loving Tony (Harry Baer), the more serious minded Ric (Al Cliver) and the bombastic Napoli (Vittorio Caprioli) take on the vicious Mazari (Jack Palance) in the 1976 Italian action film RULERS OF THE CITY (aka MISTER SCARFACE), another poliziotteschi classic from genre master Fernando Di Leo which includes a surprising amount of comedy amongst the usual array of car (and foot!) chases, motorcycle stunts and gunfights. Tony years for a relaxing life in Brazil but gets on the bad side of the mob, while Ric wants revenge for the murder of his father, which means they have to stay one step ahead of baddies as they play pool, have group sex and get themselves in deeper and deeper trouble. It's fun! All of this and a little introductory summary of our experience with Italian crime films over these last few years. Check it out!Read more

Episode 247 – Whatever Happened to Vic Diaz? – The Deathhead Virgin (1974)

On this episode of WHATEVER HAPPENED TO VIC DIAZ? we're with two American lunkheads (played by Jock Gaynor and Larry Ward) exploring shipwrecks in the Philippines when one of them happens upon the skeleton of an ancient Moro princess.. UH OH! Soon we've got possession, murder, cock fighting, nude underwater photography and a whole lot more (including Vic Diaz)! It even has a fun twist thrown in for good measure. All that and a conversation about sexploitation films and how they make us feel (the answer may surprised you). ENJOY!Read more

Episode 246 – JodoWOWsky Part 16 – Madwoman of the Sacred Heart (1992), Bouncer (1997-2003), The Shadow’s Treasure (1999)

COMICS! WE LOVE 'EM! And so does Alejandro Jodorowsky, and on this episode of the world's finest Jodorowsky-themed podcast JodoWOWsky we're going deep on three of Jodo's most impressive comic works of the 90s and 2000s. We start by checking out his post-Incal collaboration with the legendary Jean "Moebius" Giraud: the mind-bending satire MADWOMAN OF THE SACRED HEART! Next up are two collaborations with the ALSO legendary François Boucq, starting with his epic violent western BOUNCER, and finishing with the playful collection of fables THE SHADOW'S TREASURE. All that and all of the latest Jodorowsky news. Who could ask for anything more? Enjoy! Read more

Episode 245 – Halloween Horror Special – Strange Darling (2023) & Daddy’s Head (2024)

We were working in the lab, late one night.. recording a brand new HALLOWEEN HORROR PODCAST SPECIAL featuring two recent horror(ish) features to put HEAD TO HEAD! We start with a conversation about some of our recent favorite (and least favorite) horror films before moving onto a discussion on the twisty crime horror STRANGE DARLING from 2023 and ending with the moody British horror DADDY'S HEAD from 2024! CHECK IT OUT!Read more

Episode 244 – Praising Kane – Transylvania 6-5000 (1985)

It's the SPOOOoooOOOkiest month, so why not check out the surprisingly un-spooky (and, honestly, pretty unfunny) TRANSYLVANIA 6-5000 on the world's finest chronological Carol Kane podcast PRAISING KANE? Starring Jeff Goldblum and Ed Begley Jr. as two hapless tabloid reporters forced to go to Transylvania to work on a story about monster sightings, the film has supporting performances from Joseph Bologna, John Byner, Michael Richards, Jeffrey Jones (ugh), an extremely underutilized Geena Davis and - of course - Carol Kane! Directed by frequent Mel Brooks collaborator Rudy De Luca and bankrolled by the Dow chemical company (?) it's plenty weird. How weird? Let's find out!Read more

Episode 243 – How Do You Do, Fellow Kids? – Things to Do in Denver When You’re Dead (1995)

On a returning HOW DO YOU DO, FELLOW KIDS? (the world's finest Steve Buscemi-themed podcast) we're looking at the stylized 90s crime caper THINGS TO DO IN DENVER WHEN YOU'RE DEAD, featuring a cast full of recognizable faces: including Andy Garcia, Christopher Lloyd, William Forsythe, Bill Nunn, Treat Williams, Christopher Walken, Fairuza Balk and - of course - Steve Buscemi as "Mr. Shhh". But is it just a Tarantino rip-off, or does it have more to offer? LET'S FIND OUT! We also check out the latest Buscemi news because WHY THE HECK NOT? Read more

Episode 242 – George Kennedy is My Copilot – Earthquake (1974)

What's a George Kennedy-themed podcast without a DISASTER? On this episode of George Kennedy is My Co-Pilot California is hit by the BIG ONE in 1974's EARTHQUAKE where an all-star cast (including Charlton Heston, Ava Gardner, Richard Roundtree, Lorne Greene, Geneviève Bujold and - of course - George Kennedy) have to deal with the after-effects of a massive tremor that destroys most of California. Of course, before the quake hits there's plenty of melodrama and complex relationships (script by Mario Puzo!), but once the earth starts to move things get properly apocalyptic. Our EARTHQUAKE talk is preceded by a short chat about a late-era episode of the television sitcom WINGS featuring George playing a put-upon version of himself! ENJOY! Read more

Episode 241 – We Do Our Own Stunts – Winners & Sinners (1983)

CUT THE CRAP! We're post-American excursion and post-Lo Wei scraps and things are about to POP OFF with the first of the Five Lucky Stars series WINNERS & SINNERS starring Sammo Hung, Richard Ng, Charlie Chin, Stanley Fung and John Shum. Oh, and Jackie Chan is here as well, reconnecting with his "big brother" (and Yuen Biao in a tiny part) for the first time in years and transitioning to martial arts/comedy hybrids with higher production values and bigger stunts. This one might lean a bit TOO heavily on the comedy, but you get roller skating stunts, car stunts, and some dynamite action to whet your appetite for what's to come. Enjoy! Read more

Episode 240 – Further Reeding – Women in Love (1969)

You can't have an Oliver Reed-themed podcast without eventually dipping into the works of the legendary Ken Russell, and we stick our toes in for the first time with his 1969 melodramatic adaptation of D. H. Lawrence’s beloved - and controversial - 1920 novel, Women in Love. Starring Reed alongside Alan Bates, Glenda Jackson and Jennie Linden, the film examines love, sex and death in all manner of permutations, and manages to fit in some notorious nude man-on-man grappling just for fun. We go deep on the film's explicit queerness, the difficulty of working with temperamental actors (and directors) and so much more. ENJOY!Read more

Episode 239 – Cinema Smorgasbord Sells Out – Rebel Ridge (2024)

Jeremy Saulnier (MURDER PARTY, BLUE RUIN, GREEN ROOM) returns after a lengthy hiatus with the long-in-development Netflix original revenge movie REBEL RIDGE! Starring Aaron Pierre as a marine facing off against the corrupt law enforcement of a small Louisiana town, it's not quite the FIRST BLOOD-riff that the initial trailers suggested, but its mix of crooked cops, a righteous cause, racial politics and a dynamite performance in the lead creates something very special. On this episode of CINEMA SMORGASBORD SELLS OUT we restrain ourselves from delving into spoilers while discussing the film, responding to some of the critiques we've heard since its release, and so much more. Check it out!Read more

Episode 238 – Wild in the Streets – The Suspicious Death of a Minor (1975)

Claudio Cassinelli plays a man on the edge in Sergio Martino's unique eurocrime oddity THE SUSPICIOUS DEATH OF A MINOR which mixes comedic elements, the elaborate (and stylish) murder sequences from the popular giallo films of the time - including a knock-off Goblin-style score almost as good as the real thing - and the usual Poliziotteschi trappings of the era to create something a bit scattershot, but totally unique. Filled with odd flourishes and bizarre choices, it's equally confusing and enthralling - just like our hosts! Check it out! Read more

Episode 237 – You Don’t Know Dick – The Wild Angels (1966) (/w The New World Pictures Podcast)

On our first episode of YOU DON'T KNOW DICK since Roger Corman's passing at the age of 98 we've brought in those ringers from The New World Pictures Podcast to help us discuss Corman's lasting legacy, their favorite Roger Corman-directed films, biker gangs and biker movies, and - specifically - 1966's THE WILD ANGELS featuring Peter Fonda, Nancy Sinatra, Bruce Dern, Diane Ladd and - OF COURSE- the legendary Dick Miller. Check it out, you squares! Read more

Episode 236 – Whatever Happened to Vic Diaz? – Blood Thirst (1971)

On this episode of WHATEVER HAPPENED TO VIC DIAZ? (the world's finest podcast devoted to "the Filipino Peter Lorre" Vic Diaz) we're checking out the oddball 1971 (though filmed in 1965) B&W sorta-spy horror film BLOOD THIRST featuring a wise-cracking cop in a foreign land, a monster that looks like a diseased testicle, many legitimate - and accidental - red herrings and, of course, the legendary Vic Diaz playing a rare good guy. It's pretty entertaining with some nice photography, and also consistently strange for its brief 75-minute run time. We also chat about diseases, FLETCH, and SO MUCH MORE! Check it out!Read more

Episode 235 – Bartel Me Something Good – The Comic Strip Presents: Demonella (1993) & Clueless Episodes (1996)

On this episode of BARTEL ME SOMETHING GOOD (the world's finest Paul Bartel-themed podcast) we're finishing up the directorial career of Paul Bartel with some television odds & sods! First up are two episodes of the TV show CLUELESS, based on the popular 1995 film starring Alicia Silverstone. This 1996 series is a cut above the sitcoms of the time and brought along a surprising amount of the film's cast, and not only has Paul Bartel behind the camera.. but in front of it as well, playing a crusty old principal in one of the episodes! Then we talk about an interesting rarity; an episode of the British alternative comedy anthology series THE COMIC STRIP PRESENTS directed and co-written by Paul Bartel called DEMONELLA, starring a whole slew of familiar faces in the realm of UK comedy, including Adrian Edmonson, Jennifer Saunders, Robbie Coltrane and a beardless Paul Bartel playing Oscar Wilde! Listen and enjoy!Read more

Episode 234 – Praising Kane – The Secret Diary of Sigmund Freud (1984) & Tales From The Darkside Season 1, Episode 14 ‘Snip Snip’

Who loves Bud Cort? We (being the hosts of Praising Kane, the world's most beloved Carol Kane-themed podcast) do! On this episode we're doing a FULL CORT PRESS with not one but TWO Kane/Cort pairings (and some bonus Bud in the news section). We start with a spooky episode of 80s anthology favorite Tales From the Darkside putting Cort against Kane in a light-hearted magic battle. Then we move onto the startlingly unfunny 1984 comedy THE SECRET DIARY OF SIGMUND FREUD featuring Cort as Freud, Kane as his (eventual) wife and some of the most disturbing IMDB trivia involving Klaus Kinski you're likely to ever hear! Can you resist listening after all that? NOPE! Read more

Episode 233 – How Do You Do, Fellow Kids? – The Listener (2022)

An episode of HOW DO YOU DO, FELLOW KIDS? without Steve Buscemi?! Well, not quite! Though Buscemi doesn't appear in 2022's THE LISTENER, which concerns a help line worker (played by Tessa Thompson) dealing with the trials and tribulations of (unseen) callers in the time immediately following Covid lockdown, it's directed by the man himself! It's a unique film, and we go through its strengths and weaknesses and if it feels tied to a very specific period in history. We also discuss all the latest Buscemi news, including TRANSFORMERS ONE! Check it out! Read more

Episode 232 – We Do Our Own Stunts – Fearless Hyena 2 (1983)

One stage of Jackie Chan's career comes to an awkward conclusion in FEARLESS HYENA 2, with producer Lo Wei taking old footage (from the first Fearless Hyena, along with some bits from Spiritual Kung Fu) along with some a few new scenes filmed before Jackie's controversial move to Golden Harvest to create something predictably incoherent. Filled with actors doubling Jackie (in disguise), pieces that don't quite fit together, and the introduction of Austin Wai as Tung, a mechanical genius with an automatic house, it makes for a bizarre and often baffling viewing experience without ever becoming entirely unwatchable. Have a listen and see if you agree!Read more

Your Hosts

    Doug Tilley

    Co-host of the No-Budget Nightmares and The Flight Stuff podcasts, as well as former co-host of Eric Roberts is the Fu**ing Man. He likes movies and stuff.

      Liam O'Donnell

      Founder of Cinepunx.com and co-host of the Cinepunx and Horror Business podcasts, as well as former co-host of Eric Roberts is the Fu**ing Man.