Episode 32 - By Any Other Name

Episode 32 of the podcast shows us being too clever for our own good. Two films, both about hitmen, both with the word "mechanic" in the title, and both starring two legendary tough guys.  Surely they must both be excellent, right?  Listen in and find out just how wrong we were as we talk about 1977's Satanic Mechanic starring Lee Van Cleef ( more commonly known as The Perfect Killer ) and 1972's The Mechanic starring the amazing Charles Bronson and directed by show-favorite Michael Winner.  The storylines from these two films are very similar but the quality is worlds-apart.  We had a great time talking about both though.  Please let us know what you thought of the show by sending email to flickersfrom@yahoo.com  or flickersfrom@gmail.com or, if you'd prefer, leave a message over at our Facebook page.

iTunes Problems on PC Fixed

Several listeners were reporting issues with downloading the podcast through iTunes on PC.  The problems have been sorted and now you can download each scintillating episode without trouble!  Welcome back to the cave!

RIP Ray Harryhausen

It would not be an overstatement to say that the incredible work of Ray Harryhausen was one of the gateway drugs that made us into the rabid movie nerds we are today.  His stop motion animation brought fantastic creatures and worlds to life in away that CGI just can't.
He will be missed, but his work lives on to inspire future  generations of film makers and viewers.

Episode 31 - Winner Takes it All

In episode 31 of the podcast, we focus on two films from the massive filmography of director Michael Winner.  Winner's most famous films are probably the Death Wish series which starred Charles Bronson.  We look at two, more obscure movies, 1977's The Sentinel and 1984's Scream for Help.
The Sentinel has a huge cast of top-notch talent, with the lead roles held by Chris Sarandon and Cristina Raines.  It tells the story of woman with a mysterious past who finds herself guided by unseen forces down a dark path in 1970's New York City.  The film is full of surprises, shocks, and squirmy moments galore. With a significant budget and a script based on a successful novel, it works on many levels and has an ending that is almost certain to spur conversation.
Scream for Help is one of the most breathlessly paced films we've ever seen.  It starts with a bang and really doesn't let up until the final credits are rolling.  It is a story of a 17 year old girl played by Rachael Kelly that is confident her step-father is trying to kill her mother. It is of equal measure goofy and grim, light-hearted and brutally frank, silly and deadly serious.  The acting is decidely sub-par and the script ( by the occasionally brilliant Tom Holland ) rings true on occasion, but is far to hit and miss to really be considered "good".  Despite all these issues, the film is impossible to look away from and is almost guaranteed to entertain you. If you have the option, go for the uncut version which features a surprising amount of nudity and sex on screen, and, if you're checking the fuses, watch out for a puddle on the floor.
Let us know what you thought of the podcast by writing to us at flickersfrom@yahoo.com or flickersfrom@gmail.com or you could always leave a message over on our Facebook page.

Episode 30 - Burke to the Future

Who exactly is Martyn Burke? Listen in to this episode of the podcast to hear about two films from this Canadian director that we only recently found out about.  We start off with 1981's The Last Chase which stars the Six Million Dollar Man himself, Lee Majors.  This tells the story of a future where individual transportation has been outlawed and a former racing car driver decides to make a break for the safety of "Free California".  The second film we look at is 1978's Power Play which, at the time of the recording, was available entirely on Youtube but which seems to have been removed now.  Please excuse our constant mentioning of how it was so easy to watch for free...Trust us, it's worth the money or effort that would be required to see it, no matter what.  This film has a truly stellar cast, headlined by David Hemmings, Peter O'Toole, Barry Morse and the always impressive Donald Pleasence.  The plot centers around the attempt by a group of military men to instigate a Coup d'etat. The story is tightly paced, brilliantly written, and delivers on every level.  Please let us know what you thought by sending email to flickersfrom@yahoo.com or flickersfrom@gmail.com or by leaving us a message on our Facebook page.

Episode 29 - Hello Muddah

Episode 29 of the podcast focuses on two remarkable films, 2012's Excision and 2012's We Need to Talk About Kevin.  Both of these movies look at the complicated relationship that exists between children and their parents, specifically focusing on the mother and child in each.  These are not easy films, as they deal very frankly with uncomfortable situations in stylish and artful ways.  Excision features an outstanding performances from AnnaLynne McCord and pornorgraphy's own Traci Lords.  We Need to Talk About Kevin is lead by the phenomenal Tilda Swinton as the beleaguered mother of the eponymous Kevin and she breaks your heart at every turn. Please let us know what you thought of the films and of the episode by sending email to flickersfrom@yahoo.com or flickersfrom@gmail.com, you can also leave us a message at our Facebook page.

Episode 28 - This is the End My Friend

After the Mayan apocalypse passed, Mike and Marty emerged from the cave expecting to find chaos and a world in turmoil, but instead, we found birds chirping peacefully, and a stack of bills that needed to be paid.
In the spirit of the expected doomsday, we decided to focus our triumphant ( ? ) return on two wonderful films that seek to depict very different versions of what it would be like for the end to truly come. 
The first film we look at is 1980's Virus, which is known by several different names and which is available for FREE on the Internet Archive.  Packed with an all-star cast and a very scientific look at what would happen following the accidental release of an ill-conceived germ weapon, it packs a wallop emotionally and, despite a few clunky performances, still holds up today. 
The second film is 2007's End of the Line, a lower budget Canadian shocker that presents a group of religious zealots who are expecting Armageddon  and start "saving the souls" of prospective sinners through judicious murder.  With some delightful plot twists and a few commendable performances, this is one to watch with your slate as blank as possible to maximize the impact of a few of the revelations when they occur.
After our 6 month hiatus, we are finally back and we hope you are happy to see us return.  We are asking that you submit your choices for the best films you saw in 2012.  They do not have to be released in 2012, they just have to be films you WATCHED in 2012.  Let us know what you think of our return, of episode 28, and your film list by writing to us at flickersfrom@yahoo.com or flickersfrom@gmail.com or by leaving a post over on Facebook.