Advertise on podcast: Obscure Obsessions: A Pop Culture Podcast

Do you hate trick ‘r treaters? Do you despise Jack-O’Lanterns? Do you dislike Halloween movies even more than the holiday itself? Then we’ve got two great anti-Halloween movies for you! That’s to say– two movies that have NOTHING to do with Halloween.  First, Hugh Grant plays a washed-up singer who finds inspiration in the songwriting skills of Drew Barrymore in Music and Lyrics (2007). Then, a pre-scandalous Mel Gibson volunteers for George Wendt’s cryonics project and ends up frozen for 53 years in Forever Young (1992). Come hate Halloween with these two “classic” Anti-Halloween flicks.  __________ Taylor Zaccario…Host, Director, Producer, Writer  Nick Zaccario…Host, Director, Producer, Editor

In our season finale, Taylor & Nick obsess on one of their longest obsessions. Few franchises are more dear to them than Power Rangers. Join them as they discuss the franchise’s various incarnations, rummage through their old VHS collections, and share their thoughts on the less-remembered Turbo: A Power Rangers Movie (1997).  __________ Taylor Zaccario…Host, Director, Producer, Writer  Nick Zaccario…Host, Director, Producer, Editor

Join Nick & Taylor as they take a very deep dive into one of their guiltiest pleasures: Bio-Dome (1996). Pauly Shore and Stephen Baldwin “star” as two idiotic slackers who get locked inside a closed ecological system. Your hosts dissect Shore’s relatively brief movie stardom, analyze the performances of Joey Lauren Adams and William Atherton, and get all nostalgic for the movie’s very 90s soundtrack.  __________ Taylor Zaccario…Host, Director, Producer, Writer  Nick Zaccario…Host, Director, Producer, Editor

Though it only ran for 6 episodes (and only 2 actually aired), Clerks: The Animated Series (2002) is much better than you would expect. It’s inventive, intelligent, and a whole lot of meta-fun. What other show has parodies of Temple of Doom AND The Bad News Bears in one episode? And where else will you find Gilbert Gottfried voicing Patrick Swayze? Or Judge Judge Reinhold holding court? This show will surprise you. Listen in and find out more!  __________ Taylor Zaccario…Host, Director, Producer, Writer  Nick Zaccario…Host, Director, Producer, Editor

In Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome (1985), Max Rockatansky (Mel Gibson) finds himself stranded in Bartertown, run by Auntie Entity (Tina Turner). Max strikes a deal with Auntie to fight in the gladiatorial arena known as Thunderome. Taylor & Nick discuss the evolution of Max’s character, analyze how Hollywood financing softened this installment’s tone, and obsess over George Miller’s unique filmography.  __________ Taylor Zaccario…Host, Director, Producer, Writer  Nick Zaccario…Host, Director, Producer, Editor

Taylor & Nick bum a ride with Nate Johnson (Cedric the Entertainer) and his family (Vanessa L. Williams, Bow Wow, and Solange Knowles) as they head to Carruthersville, Missouri for their family reunion. Along the trip, the Johnson family encounters everything from a nutty hitchhiker (Shannon Elizabeth) and her pet alligator to the screen debut of Jason Momoa. Though it's a blatant rip-off of National Lampoon’s Vacation, your hosts recommend you sit back and enjoy Johnson Family Vacation (2004). Mama said “crack, crack!” __________ Taylor Zaccario…Host, Director, Producer, Writer Nick Zaccario…Host, Director, Producer, Editor

Few movies are as infamous as The Island of Dr. Moreau (1996). Known for its hellish production, bedeviled with arrogant movie stars (including Val Kilmer), production calamities, and the machinations of warlocks. The truly bizarre backstory is recounted in the excellent documentary Lost Soul: The Doomed Journey of Richard Stanley’s Island of Dr. Moreau (2014). Nick & Taylor obsess over both in the final installment of their Val Kilmer marathon. __________ Taylor Zaccario…Host, Director, Producer, Writer Nick Zaccario…Host, Director, Producer, Editor

Our Val Kilmer marathon goes to the heart of Africa this week. While trying to build a railroad in Tsavo, Africa, a military engineer (Kilmer) enlists the aid of a famed big-game hunter (Michael Douglas) to fend off attacks from man-eating lions, known to the locals as The Ghost and the Darkness (1996). __________ Taylor Zaccario…Host, Director, Producer, Writer Nick Zaccario…Host, Director, Producer, Editor

Taylor & Nick kick off a marathon of Val Kilmer movies, beginning with Top Secret! (1984). In his big screen debut, Kilmer plays a rock n’ roller caught up in a wild espionage plot from the directing team behind Airplane! and the Naked Gun.  __________ Taylor Zaccario…Host, Director, Producer, Writer  Nick Zaccario…Host, Director, Producer, Editor

After lording over Chicago’s criminal underworld, Al Capone (Tom Hardy) spends the last year of his life chewing on carrots, shooting alligators, and battling incontinence as neurosyphilis ravages his brain… at least that’s according to Josh Trank’s wonderfully wonderfully bonkers biopic Capone (2020).  __________ Taylor Zaccario…Host, Director, Producer, Writer  Nick Zaccario…Host, Director, Producer, Editor

The Doc’s alive! He’s in the Old West! But he’s alive! Join Taylor & Nick as they head to Hill Valley 1885 to rescue Doc Brown from Buford “Mad Dog” Tannen in Back to the Future Part III (1990). Listen in as your hosts discuss the film’s blending of science fiction and western tropes, the simultaneous production with Part II, and why this installment ranks as Taylor’s favorite! __________ Taylor Zaccario…Host, Director, Producer, Writer Nick Zaccario…Host, Director, Producer, Editor

Despite the death of his leading man, director Blake Edwards forged ahead with yet ANOTHER attempt at resuscitating the Pink Panther series. This time, Edwards decided to replace both the late Peter Sellers and Inspector Clouseau with a new bumbling detective, New York investigator Clifton Sleigh (Ted Wass). The result: Curse of the Pink Panther (1983). __________ Taylor Zaccario…Host, Director, Producer, Writer Nick Zaccario…Host, Director, Producer, Editor

The James Bond franchise has endured for over 60 years. But it nearly ended with Pierce Brosnan’s final outing as 007: Die Another Day (2002). After Bond escapes from a North Korean prison, he searches for the traitor in MI6 who betrayed him. Ice fortresses, satellite lasers, and Madonna cameos abound in this wonderfully wretched Bond installment. __________ Taylor Zaccario…Host, Director, Producer, Writer Nick Zaccario…Host, Director, Producer, Editor

For the final movie in their Martin Campbell marathon, Taylor & Nick return to a simpler time in superhero movies. A time when heroes wore costumes made of bad CGI. A time when Michael Clarke Duncan voiced an angry space pig. A time when Blake Lively’s biggest controversy was bad acting. The time was 2011 and the movie was Green Lantern.  __________ Taylor Zaccario…Host, Director, Producer, Writer  Nick Zaccario…Host, Director, Producer, Editor

The Mask of Zorro (1998) remains one of the greatest action adventure movies ever made. Its sequel, The Legend of Zorro (2005),  remains one of the worst. Martin Campbell, Antonio Banderas, and Catherine Zeta-Jones are all back for another go, but the spirit of adventure, deeply personal stakes, and dynamic chemistry are all gone. If you thought the original film lacked enough marital discourse and divorce proceedings then perhaps The Legend of Zorro is for you!  __________ Taylor Zaccario…Host, Director, Producer, Writer  Nick Zaccario…Host, Director, Producer, Editor