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Hokum brings us into the world of the supernatural in rural Ireland. With a healthy budget and solid cast the technical aspects are spot on. What we really focus on in this episode is the writing and storytelling techniques through the lens. It was a fun horror to watch, and one of the very few that actually hit on our creepiness meter. Adam Scott is brilliant as a complete a*****e who follows his own version of a Hero’s Journey. Strong performances by tertiary characters that leave an indelible impression on the viewer raise the level substantially. We also focus on the lack of backstory of the big bad. It was not needed, we did not get it, and the movie is all the better for it. Too many horror films, especially supernatural-based ones, bore us with details that make no difference whatsoever in the course of the film. In fact it can detract from it, which we discuss. Support the Podcast Visit our website

Wrymrood: Apocalypse is the sequel to Wyrmwood: Road of the Dead, which we covered some time back. Another indie film with fantastic lessons. We talk about the technical aspects that are fantastic, though we focus on the writing. Wyrmwood: Apocalypse is a great example of how you can ramp up a horror movie with some fun. Performances are excellent, particularly those that lean heavily into the campiness of their character. With a bit broader room for sets because of a larger budget, the film keeps true to its Indie origins. A few great sets, lots of outdoor locations, you can see where even with extra cash it was spent wisely. We don’t get lost in extravagance, instead we are treated to a very real-feeling practical world. And, a great helping of gore. Support the Podcast Visit our website

It’s called a new interpretation of Vampire films. While that is very misleading, The Transfiguration is a fantastic film in viewing and lessons. It does involve the topic of vampires, but it is a deep exploration of a troubled young man. The lessons are high-end. The technical aspects are spot-on at each level. The performances were great, but there is little dialogue. The true mastery is the writing and direction, where we see how to effectively bring a low-dialogue story to an audience. Also, we discuss our upcoming guesting on Talking Pondo, with our friends Cliff and Marty. This will air on 8/31. When you’re done here give them a listen. Support the Podcast Visit our website

This podcast is about lessons, and Scream of the Blind Dead has a whole bunch of them. From beginning to end it is chock full of lessons on what not to do. When we were searching for the next movie for the show we stumbled on this and it looked like an earnest effort from the trailer, so we threw it on. What we did not know was that this film was under forty minutes. So effectively, a short feature or short film. The one positive note on this is that someone wanted to make it, and they did. Beyond that it lacks structure, story, clarity. No dialogue. Modeled after characters created by Amando de Ossorio, a prominent figure in the 1970’s Spanish horror boom, it does not bring nostalgia as much as it brings in laborious counting of how not to make a film. Support the Podcast Visit our website

Dinner in America was suggested by our friends Clif and Marty of Pondo Enterprises. Took a while to finally get to it, but it was worth the wait. The technical lessons are very simple and short; it did it all right. Where we break things down beings with the characters. A fantastic example of bringing depth to what should be simple characters. Often in Indie films and even B-movies, simple characters are taken for granted. Dinner in America gives us some deep looks, all through a comedic lens, and these two primary characters connect with the viewer all through the film. The pacing is steady. Where the film shines is the excellent writing and acting coming together. The plot is simple but takes us on a grand journey. Very similar to films like Gentlemen Broncos, Napoleon Dynamite, Local Hero, where you feel like you are right there as these characters grow. It also goes without saying that this is probably one of the best films depicting the punk rock lifestyle and attitude without overdoing it. Support the Podcast Visit our website

We are lucky to be able to speak to the creator of Robotica Destructiva, Sam Gaffin, and actor Kristal Theron who played Luna. Once again we find ourselves in a fantastic conversation with two incredible creatives.  We learn how random encounters can lead to a steady friendship and filmmaking. Sam gives us some insight into the evolution of Robotica Destructiva, Kristal shares what it’s like to work on a green screen film. And from there we have a fantastically fun talk. Be sure to check out the following films and links: The Killer Robots and the Battle for the Cosmic Potato The Killer Robots! Crash and Burn I Am Robot You Are Not! (TV Series) Wrath of the Minitaur Sam Gaffin: Electro Psycho Transmutation Cop Zombie Debra Robotica Destructiva Rubber Nose Massacre Werewolf Summer The Boar Knight https://www.youtube.com/@samgaffin https://www.youtube.com/@thekillerrobots  https://www.instagram.com/thespellchecc Support the Podcast Visit our website

It has been far too long since we have had Tucky Williams on the show. This interview we celebrate a milestone for Tucky’s film Girl-Girl Scene 1984. Then we get into some great conversations on filmmaking, catching up, post-pandemic filmmaking, and more. Always a delight to speak with, Tucky gives some point-blank views on everything from indie film to daily life. If this is your first time listening to Tucky we encourage you to reach back into our episodes and dive into the first two interviews we have had with her. Especially if you’re looking for something upbeat. Support the Podcast Visit our website

Wallace Peebles: Paranormal Inspectre is a good example of how comedy can have a very narrow appeal.  We thought the trailer was sufficiently entertaining to take this one on for the show.  In the end it was just not for us.  Not our kind of humor.  There are some very valuable lessons that the movie has to offer.  Pacing being the most important among them.  Technically the film is sound.  Even with a solid technical foundation, the poor writing, puerile humor, and some unfortunate if not offensive choices make this a nearly unbearable watch.  In the end, this movie may be enjoyed by some folks, that’s how movies are. Support the Podcast Visit our website

Robotica Destructiva is a great movie, one that is truly a labor of love. It is a primary lesson in what we keep saying, Make your movies! Similar to Manborg, which we covered in the past, it is live action against a green screen world of renderings and compositing. Costume design is great, the look of the movie is very comic oriented, and at no point is it lost on you the amount of work building the digital worlds. Our only issues are with the modulation of the android voices, which most of the time makes it difficult to understand what is being said, and the pacing. It is fast. Non-stop speed all the way through. If watched without taking notes it may not have been so difficult to keep up, but in general audiences do enjoy a pause here and there to soak things in before the next action sequence. For note taking purposes, the speed was just too fast. All in all, this should be watched for both lessons and entertainment. Support the Podcast Visit our website

The Hero is a great film full of top-notch lessons. We follow Lee, an aged Western film star who has been riding the tail-end of his career for some time. With work only coming in the form of commercial voice-overs, Lee does not have much to look forward to. With a dire diagnosis, Lee starts to take inventory of his life, his situation, and what having a future really means. The cast ensemble is amazing. With Sam Elliott leading the charge, Laura Prepon, Kyrsten Ritter, and Nick Offerman join in for an incredible experience. Primary lesson in this episode is show don’t tell. So much incredible voiceless acting, with strong direction and constant movement it makes for a great watch and something to aspire to in filmmaking and writing. Support the Podcast Visit our website

This episode we confront The G, a thriller starring Dale Dickey. An elderly woman and her husband are immorally thrust into a care center under the ‘care’ of a guardian. The message of the movie confronts a terrible reality of what can only be called a form of elder abuse, but judges and the court system granting guardianship over elderly folks who have no say in the matter. The G, Dickey’s character, reaches out to some darker family connections to exact revenge on her guardian and his minions. Our only criticism about this film is how it was presented in the trailer and other media. We were expecting a balls-out ass-kicking ride of retaliation, but that never came. Overall we liked the movie and it has some great lessons, we just wish it had been presented a little closer to its true form. Support the Podcast Visit our website

PLEASE see the list below if you are dealing with trauma and you need help. That is the primary lesson behind this episode. Saint Bernard is a fantastic art-film that takes us on the downward spiral of Bernard, an orchestra conductor who is overcome by trauma. The visuals in this movie are stunning, uncomfortable, emotional. There is very little dialogue. On the technical side everything about this film is a valuable lesson. All of it. It may not be for everyone, but it is definitely a movie you will not forget if you watch it.  Listen up and decide for yourself. If you are suffering through trauma please, please make use of one of the numbers below. If you know someone who is suffering, take this list of numbers and make the call with that person. No one should ever have to handle it alone. You are not alone. Trauma Support Numbers (USA): In case of emergency dial 911 In case of mental health crisis dial 988 National Mental Health Hotline: 866-903-3787 Child Sexual Abuse. Stop It Now! Phone: 1-888-PREVENT (1-888-773-8368) National Center for Victims of Crime. Phone: 1-855-4VICTIM (1-855-484-2846) Dating Abuse. Love is Respect. Phone: 1-866-331-9474, TTY: 1-866-331-8453, or Text LOVEIS TO 22522 National Domestic Violence Hotline. Phone: 1-800-799-SAFE (1-800-799-7233), TTY: 1-800-787-3224 Missing and Abducted Children. Phone: 1-800-I-AM-LOST (1-800-426-5678), or National Center for Missing & Exploited Children. Phone: 1-800-THE-LOST (1-800-843-5678) Rape and Sexual Abuse. Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network. Phone: 1-800-656-HOPE (1-800-656-4673) Runaway and Homeless Youth. National Runaway Safeline. Phone: 1-800-RUNAWAY (1-800-786-2929), or Text: 66008 Suicide Prevention. National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. Phone: 1-800-273-TALK (1-800-273-8255), TTY: 1-800-799 4889 Support the Podcast Visit our website

Yes, it’s another shark horror this episode.  Doll Shark is brought to life by the very same group that gave us Camp Blood: Clown Shark, which we covered in the last episode.  The stuffed plushy Doll Shark is cute, and gives a couple of good laughs.  The lighting is way off kilter.  The script is just as loose and meandering.   The story is yet again seemingly a mishmash of random things thrown together with a stuffed shark in the frame.  The lessons are once again way more what NOT to do than what to do.  The watch was painful, and the craftwork from A-Z is just bad. Support the Podcast Visit our website

Camp Blood: Clown Shark has so much going for it in the name.  It was a wild concept but the writing choked out the wild and gave us instead bleh.  The ridiculous special effects are the key factor in keeping up the fun of watching.  The plot holes and deviations help to exercise your brain as you try to figure out what in the hell is going on.  Unfortunately at the end of the ride all you get is some befuddlement over the plot and unanswered questions.  Lessons are mixed in this one, but probably a little more leaning on the what not to do of it all. Support the Podcast Visit our website

Strap in B-siders.  Christmas Bloodbath is a frustratingly wild ride.  It does take place during Christmas, and there is a bath, but there is not a lot of blood. We dive into this earnest effort Indie film that gives us puppets, obscure plot devices, endless narration, and a whole lot of stuff that just does not make sense. There are some positive points to be made, but overall seeing this more than once is a labor. We clocked in two and a half views, which is more than enough for a lifetime. Lessons, laughs, and more lessons. Support the Podcast Visit our website