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On our Cinema Smorgasbord HALLOWEEN HORROR SPECIAL we’re taking a break from our many themed episodes to instead look at two well-regarded horror films from 2021! We start with the fourth in the V/H/S found footage series: V/H/S 94! Is this a return to form for the often erratic collection of shorts from acclaimed filmmakers? Then we look at the critically acclaimed CENSOR, which focuses on the mental deterioration of a film censor in 80s Britain. We also chat about some of our other recent horror favorites and our thoughts on the state of horror as we reach the end of 2021. CHECK IT OUT!

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On an explosive episode of ERIC ROBERTS IS THE MAN we’re joined by Effin’ Birds and Swear Trek creator Aaron Reynolds to discuss the Keenen Ivory Wayans-starring action film MOST WANTED from 1997! We also discuss doughnuts as breakfast food, worst first dates, Home Alone (with dogs!), and all the latest Eric Roberts news! CHECK IT OUT!

You can find Aaron Reynolds on Twitter @AaronReynolds, and don’t forget to check out the @EffinBirds and @Swear_Trek accounts as well.

Aaron’s latest book Greetings From Effin’ Birds can be purchased right now from your book retailer of choice. Pick it up in the US, Canada and the UK. Makes a great holiday gift!

For all other updates, be sure to check out https://www.effinbirds.com/

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On this premiere episode of GEORGE KENNEDY IS MY COPILOT we’re diving into one of George Kennedy’s most iconic roles: chief mechanic Joseph “Joe” Patroni, from the legendary 1970 disaster film AIRPORT! We’re going to talk about the movie, its legacy, George Kennedy’s performance and why the hell anyone would create a George Kennedy-themed podcast.

CHECK IT OUT!

Check out Sarah Jane on Twitter @FookThis, as well as the White Slaves of Chinatown YouTube page.

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On this episode of HOW DO YOU DO, FELLOW KIDS? we’re looking at the Sundance Grand Jury Prize winning comedy IN THE SOUP from 1992, featuring a dynamite performance from the late Seymour Cassel, small appearances from Jim Jarmusch, Sam Rockwell, Stanley Tucci and Carol Kane, and – of course – Steven Buscemi as aspiring filmmaker Adolfo Rollo! We also chat about Buscemi’s recent appearance on the WTF podcast, his near-fatal barfight from years back and SO MUCH MORE. CHECK IT OUT!

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Convicted of a crime he didn’t commit, John Merill (kickboxing champ Jerry Trimble) is sent to a brutal island prison run by the sadistic Warden Acosta (Vic Diaz!) in 1993’s LIVE BY THE FIST, a straight up remake of 1991’s BLOODFIST III! This one has George Takei, though! On this episode of WHATEVER HAPPENED TO VIC DIAZ? we took a close look at this Roger Corman-produced, Cirio H. Santiago-directed action film which features some pretty decent action and.. not much else! CHECK IT OUT!

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Following the worldwide success of El Topo and The Holy Mountain, Alejandro Jodorowsky connected with Michel Seydoux to pursue any project he wished. The answer? An adaptation of the beloved, expansive science fiction novel by Frank Herbert. What followed was an epic collaboration involving the director and a collection of legendary collaborators (or “spiritual warriors”) including Dan O’Bannon, Jean “Moebius” Girard, Chris Foss, H.R. Giger, Pink Floyd, Salvador Dali, Orson Welles, and that’s just the beginning! On this episode we look at how the project developed, how it fell apart, and whether it’s truly the greatest film never made. We also look at some of the criticism of the project, the adaptations of Dune that were to follow and – of course – the 2014 documentary JODOROWSKY’S DUNE that helped bring the story to the world.

Coming NEXT WEEK is a discussion with the director of JODOROWSKY’S DUNE Frank Pavich!

On this episode we refer to the essay JODOROWSKY’S DUNE DIDN’T GET MADE FOR A REASON… AND WE SHOULD ALL BE GRATEFUL FOR THAT by Emmet Asher-Perrin

Check that out here.

Your hosts are Cinema Smorgasbord regulars Doug Tilley (@Doug_Tilley) and Liam O’Donnell (@LiamRulz), but they are joined on this adventure by the always wonderful and incisive Julia Marchese!

Julia is a filmmaker, actor, writer, film programmer and podcaster. Julia’s first film was Out of Print, a documentary about the importance of revival cinema and 35mm to culture. The film has played all over the world in film archives, art house cinemas and universities. The 35mm print of the film is now housed at The Academy Film Archives. Her next project is a short film adaptation of Stephen King’s short story “I Know What You Need”. She is the co-host of Horror Movie Survival Guide, a weekly podcast that takes a deep dive into a different horror film each week, focusing on how to become the final girl. You can follow her on her social media platforms

juliamarchese.com

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On this episode of PRAISING KANE we’re back in the silent era with Carol Kane, but this time in a broad Mel Brooks-ian comedy! Gene Wilder directed, wrote and starred in 1977’s THE WORLD’S GREATEST LOVER, a silent-era chuckler about a baker (Wilder) who travels to Hollywood in order to become the next Rudolph Valentino, despite an unfortunate collection of nervous tics. It’s plenty wacky, and awfully corny, but does it hit the mark or fall flat? Listen and find out!

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On Forgotten Gems we look at festival favorites that have been cast aside or fallen out of favor. On this episode we’re looking at the 1994 Sundance sensation WHAT HAPPENED WAS…, which won the Grand Jury Prize and the Waldo Salt Screenwriting Award at the 1994 Sundance Film Festival. Directed, written and starring Tom Noonan it examines one painfully awkward date between two co-workers (the other played by an amazing Karen Sillas) and the confrontations and revelations that occur throughout their evening. Spoiler alert: our two hosts have VERY differing opinions on the qualities of this movie! Check it out.

What Happened Was is currently streaming on The Criterion Channel.

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We’re getting Wild In The Streets with Umberto Lenzi’s gleefully exploitative 1974 crime thriller ALMOST HUMAN (aka THE DEATH DEALER, aka Milano odia: la polizia non può sparare). Featuring a stand-out slimy performance from Tomas Milian, the film follows small-time scumbag Giulio Sacchi as he goes on a spree of murder and mayhem throughout Milan while tough cop Walter Grandi (Henry Silva) is hot on his trail. It’s filled with chaos and bloodshed, but is it fascist? Let’s talk about it.

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On this episode of Cinema Fantastic (a trip to the genre film festivals around the world) we’re traveling to the 2009 London Frightfest film festival in London, England to check out two ultra-violent heavy-hitters: Dario Argento’s GIALLO and The Mo Brothers’ MACABRE. The tenth anniversary of Frightfest, 2009 marked a big expansion in terms of the festival, which featured plenty of unique, international offerings. Was Argento’s Adrien Brody-starring thriller a return to form? Did The Mo Brothers (Killers, Headshot) succeed with their Indonesian spin on The Texas Chain Saw Massacre? Who reigns supreme? Let’s find out!