Episode 75 - The Kindred Dorm That Pranked Blood

We are back to the 80's...again...and probably not for the last time, with two movies from the duo of Stephen Carpenter and Jeffrey Obrow. We start off with a film from 1982 that is known by a handful of titles, but most frequently "The Dorm That Dripped Blood".  A solid slasher-who-dunnit, it perfectly captures those genres with fairly solid performances and shows a good deal of technical skill as well.  Later the pair teamed up again for our second film, 1987's "The Kindred" where they show total mastery of their medium. With touches of Lovecraft, Alien, and every mad-scientist movie ever made...this is a true gem. It is a gem covered in slime and sprouting hundreds of tentacles, but a gem nonetheless.  Please let us know what you thought of the show by writing to us at flickersfrom@yahoo.com or flickersfrom@gmail.com or just leave us a message on our Facebook page.

Episode 74 - Flickers from the Mausoleum

We are back to the 80s, again, with two more fine examples of what it was like to wander into a theater while we were in high school. We start off with 1983's Mausoleum, starring a gorgeous Bobbie Bresee and the show-favorite Marjoe Gortner.  It is not, in any defensible way, a good film, but we have each seen it multiple times so there must be something about it. We follow that up with 1982's One Dark Night which features the fantastic Meg Tilly. Now THIS is something special. Rated PG-13, it still packs in the chills and delivers a lot of movie for what must surely have been a microscopic budget.Let us know what you thought of the show by writing to flickersfrom@yahoo.com or flickersfrom@gmail.com, or just leave us a message on our Facebook page.

Episode 73 - Rad Bandits from the Cave

It's time to strap on your helmets and grease up the chains, we're going offroad on our BMX bikes! We look at two movies from the 80's that focus on the BMX craze that was sweeping the world then. We start with 1986's Rad, directed by Hal Needham. It is an achingly-sincere and earnest film. Set in small-town America, with a plot that borrows heavily from dozens of sources, it is stupidly charming. We follow that up with 1983's BMX Bandits, from director Brian Trenchard-Smith.  Shot in Sydney, Australia, it is similarly wide-eyed and innocent. It does have an undercurrent of threat though, from a gang of miscreants who are constantly after the titular bandits, which includes the very young Nicole Kidman in one of her first film roles! These were both wonderfully nostalgic and we think you'll enjoy them, especially if you are in your 40s like we are. Let us know what you thought of the show and offer any suggestions for future movies for us to look at by writing to flickersfrom@gmail.com or flickersfrom@yahoo.com. You can also leave us a message on our Facebook page.

Episode 72 - Carry On Flickering

Thanks to listener Jason, we were turned on to an amazing string of British movies known as the "Carry On Films". This series of cheeky comedies were unknown to us and we are very happy to have found them. We picked two of the 31 theatrically released films as our introduction, starting with 1966's Carry On Screaming! and then following that up with 1969's Carry On Camping. All of the films in the franchise were directed by Gerald Thomas, and each are similar in certain ways, but different enough that they stand on their own.  This was a wonderful  surprise for us to find this treasure trove of wonderful British humor, so we send big thanks out to Jason for the recommendation and we implore the rest of you to do as he did and send us your own recommendations. Let us know what you think of the Carry On films and of the show by writing to flickersfrom@yahoo.com or flickersfrom@gmail.com or leave us a message on our Facebook page.

Episode 71 - Pack of Cammells

In this epic episode we turn our attention to three films from British director Donald Cammell.  We start with Demon Seed from 1977, starring Fritz Weaver, Julie Christie and an un-credited Robert Vaughan as the voice of Proteus 4, a new, cutting-edge ( for 1977 ) Artificial Intelligence that has a "curiosity" about mankind and a desire to break out of it's "box".  Based on a novel by Dean Koontz, it is an interesting look at issues that are probably even more pertinent now than in the time the film was made. With great performances and a compelling storyline, it comes highly recommended. We follow that with 1987's White of the Eye, starring David Keith and Cathy Moriarty as Paul and Joan White who live in the American southwest. This is essentially a murder-mystery but it throws in issues of living dual-lives, and infidelity along with large bits of police procedural elements as well. It tries new things but only marginally succeeds for the most part. Interesting but maybe not something you should go out of your way to pursue.  We wrap up the show with 1970's Performance, which was Cammell's directorial debut. It stars James Fox and introduces Mick Jagger as Turner, a reclusive former rock star.  Cammell co-directed with the amazing Nicolas Roeg and, together, they created a truly stunning work of art. A trippy artifact from long ago, this film still has significant impact on multiple levels.  It starts with a gangster tale that evolves into a hallucinogenic story of personal identity, gender, and self-expression.  This is good, heavy, important stuff and it needs to be seen. We recommend multiple viewings as this is a film that reveals more of itself each time.
In 1996 Cammell committed suicide, so we only have a handful of films that he had anything to do with. We've actually covered most of them in this show. We are fascinated by the man and by his work and we hope that you enjoy this look at an artist who truly had something to say.
We also hope that YOU have something to say and that you'll tell us by writing to us at flickersfrom@yahoo.com or flickersfrom@gmail.com or post a message on our Facebook page.

 

Episode 70 - Psychopaths Ahoy

Slasher films were a hugely popular genre and a mainstay of the theaters during our favorite decade, the 80's.  This episode focuses on two films from 1982 that are basically part of that genre but which approach the theme from radically different directions.  We start off with Madman, which tells the tale of Madman Marz, an evil farmer who murders his family one night  in a fit of bloodlust and then haunts the forest around his home whenever someone is foolish enough to say his name. It just so happens that a summer camp for exceptional children is next door...A fairly normal, by-the-numbers film, it is beautifully shot and evokes the mood of a dark fairy-tale at times.  We follow this up with Visiting Hours, with a stellar cast including Lee Grant, William Shatner and Michael Ironside in a very dark turn as Colt Hawker. Slasher films are frequently misogynistic, but Visiting Hours makes this it's central theme, with strong female characters and a sinister male presence that torments them. It descends at times to very dark places, but it does so in very smart and thoughtful ways. This is an exceptional movie and we urge you strongly to seek it out. Let us know what you thought of the show by writing to flickersfrom@yahoo.com or flickersfrom@gmail.com or you can leave us a message on our Facebook page.

Episode 69 - Flickers from the Libido

Welcome back to the cave everyone, for a very special episode. Some podcasts hold up the 100 episode mark as the measure of accomplishment, but here, deep in the bowels of the earth, we use a different scale. For us, the magik number is 69! That's right folks, we have at last reached full aural penetration with our listeners. We felt like episode 69 would be an appropriate time to revisit some films that had ignited a lustful spark in us as younger men. First up we take a look at The Perils of Gwendoline from 1984, featuring fresh faced ingenue Tawny Kitaen. This wanna be swashbuckling adventure is one bat shit crazy mix of action, travelogue and fetish party. It is a blast to behold. Next up we have 1988's Two Moon Junction with the impossibly gorgeous Sherilyn Finn. This marks Zalman King's directorial debut, and an auspicious debut it is. A smoking hot potboiler filled with lust and small town intrigue, this little gem is sure to satisfy. Lastly, we look at Wild Things from 1998. Directed by John McNaughton of Henry Portrait of a Serial Killer fame and featuring an amazing cast, Matt Dillon, Kevin Bacon, Denise Richards (oh yeah!), Neve Campbell and Bill Murray! With an insanely dense plot and twists a plenty plus the appeal of Richards and Campbell, this is a must see flick. So sit back and prepare yourselves for a trip into the sexual subconscious of the cave dwellers. You may never be the same again! Let us know what you thought of the show by sending email to flickersfrom@yahoo.com or flickersfrom@gmail.com or by posting a message on our Facebook page.

Episode 68 - Nightmares and Trains

Welcome back to the cave and also back to the gorgeous country of Italy!  Both films this time are Italian productions though the first, 1971's A Lizard in Woman's Skin, comes from Italy by way of London. Directed by the maestro himself, Lucio Fulci ( yes, we went back to that well AGAIN! ),  this tells a story full of bizarre dreams and mysterious hippies.  This one will keep you guessing and is full of brilliant flourishes and  moments.  We follow that up with 1975's Night Train Murders ( thought it is known by many different names ).  Directed by Aldo Lado, it is as grim and vicious as almost anything we've seen, with a tone that is truly depressing and bleak. Touching throughout on issues of classism and how society should deal with it's most violent members, this is also at times a thoughtful study on what can go wrong when things get horribly out of whack.  We loved both these movies and recommend them, to those with strong constitutions.  Let us know what you thought by writing to flickersfrom@gmail.com or flickersfrom@yahoo.com or by leaving a message on our Facebook page.

Episode 67 - Blue Oyster Cave

We are back for a little more dark and mysterious doings on this episode of the podcast. This time we focus on groups who want to rob their members of their freewill and to change them in profound and fundamental ways.  Some people would call them cults, but  others would just call them families.  We start with 2014's Faults, featuring Leland Orser and Mary Elizabeth Winstead.  This is a stunning film, with powerful performances and very sure-handed direction from Riley Stearns ( who also wrote the script ). We wrap up the show with another film from 2014, the shocking thriller Starry Eyes, from directors Kevin Kolsch and Dennis Widmyer,  With a brave and powerful lead performance from Alex Essoe, this is a dark tale indeed.  Let us know what you thought of the show by writing to flickersfrom@yahoo.com or flickersfrom@gmail.com or by posting a message on our Facebook page.

Episode 66 ( 6 ) - My Sweet Satan

We go deep this week, all the way to smoldering depths of hell, to bring you three incredible movies that feature devil worship in all it's black-eyed, cat-murdering, car crushing, RV driving glory!  We start off with 1971's The Brotherhood of Satan which has a great cast, including Strother Martin, LQ Jones and Alvy Moore, and tells the story of a small California town that is under a sinister dark power. We follow that up with 1975's The Devil's Rain, with another stellar cast including William Shatner, Tom Skerrit and Mr. Ernest Borgnine as the Devil's right hand man.  We also get to see an extremely young John Travolta in a throw-away part as a servant of evil.  We finish up with a delightfully thrilling confection, also from 1975, called Race With The Devil.  Starring Warren Oates and Peter Fonda, it is a nail-biting adventure tale of two couples being pursued around the southwest by a murderous gang of cultists. These are all great movies, and your soul will be sorely tested by the various delights that are on display here. Please let us know what you thought of the show by sending email to flickersfrom@yahoo.com or flickersfrom@gmail.com or by leaving a message on our Facebook page.

Episode 65 - Flickers from the Backroads

Yeehaw! We are heading back into the woods this time, for some demon-whiskey and fast driving.  We focus on two movies from the 70's that have moonshine-making at their core. The first is 1976's Dixie Dynamite, with a great cast including Christopher George, R.G. Armstrong and show-favorite Warren Oates.  The titular "Dixie" is played by the stunning Jane Anne Johnstone in her only known role.  She and her sister patsy wear fabulous outfits and blow up the bad guys in this entertaining revenge story. Highly recommended and available for free if you know where to look. We follow this up with 1975's Moonrunners.  Written and directed by Gy Waldron, who would later adapt the story and characters into the immensely popular TV series, The Dukes of Hazzard.  Taking a more serious approach to very similar material, Moonrunners is a compelling and surprisingly thoughtful movie, especially when you consider the television program it would later spawn. We thought this one was streaming as well, but can't find it now. Sorry for the misinformation.  We recommend both of these and think you could do a lot worse on a lazy summer afternoon than to sit, with a jar of moonshine and go to a distant place and time, where car tires squeal on dirt roads and the girls all wear gingham.  Let us know what you thought of the show by sending email to flickersfrom@yahoo.com or flickersfrom@gmail.com or leave us a message on our Facebook page.

Episode 64 - Fulci's Follies

We couldn't keep ourselves away from legendary Italian director Lucio Fulci. A favorite of ours ( for some reason ), the man has made some very influential films throughout his career. We talk about two of them on this show. Both films are part of his "Gates to Hell" trilogy, which started with 1980's City of the Living Dead ( also known as "The Gates of Hell" ).  We start the show with what many believe to be his masterpiece, 1981's The Beyond.  Telling the tale of a mysterious hotel in swampy Louisiana, it boggles the mind. A mix of brilliance and a parade of WTF moments, we found ourselves asking "WHY?" again and again. We follow that up with the final chapter in the trilogy, also from 1981, The House By The Cemetery.  It also features a mysterious building, with something sinister going on in the basement.  Claiming to be inspired by the works of H.P. Lovecraft, there are few of his trademark elements in the movie. It is not quite as full of the WTF moments, but it is also more mundane than The Beyond.  We hash it out and spend some time at the end of the show talking about what we are going to cover next. Please send us your thoughts and suggestions via email to flickersfrom@yahoo.com or flickersfrom@gmail.com or leave us a message on our Facebook page.

Episode 63 - When You Wish Upon Z'Dar

Welcome back to the cave everyone for episode 63! This one is a bit of a sad occasion unfortunately, as we are remembering the late Robert Z'Dar. You may not know the name but you'll never forget the face. First up we look at 1987s The Night Stalker. A totally boiler plate tale of a crazed killer murdering prostitutes, it features Charles Napier playing the most unlikable screen detective icon since Mitchell. Next we look at William Lustig's Maniac Cop. Written by Larry Cohen and jam-packed with genre stalwarts,  this 1988 flick does everything right. Making the most of a low bedget and sporting style to spare, Maniac Cop will not disappoint. Rest in peace Mr. Z'Dar,  you may be gone but you will not be forgotten.

Episode 62 - Rich, Chocolatey, Evil-Teens

SEE! outcast, misunderstood and bullied teens summon the power of pure EVIL to reap sweet revenge on their tormentors.
SEE! the unbelievable range of expressions Clint Howard can achieve with his incredibly elastic face.
SEE! way more teenage boys in the shower than you ever wanted to ( I guess that last one is up to personal preference, to each their own).
Welcome back to Flickers everyone. In this edition we dig into a couple of tasty low budget nuggets from 1981. First up, we discuss Fear No Evil. Truly an ambitious effort, which results in a reach-exceeding-grasp situation. We still found ourselves rooting for this thing like the little engine that could. Director Frank LaLoggia manages to create some truly arresting visuals despite a plot that wanders more than a tribe of hunter-gatherers. Coming in next, we delve into Evilspeak, a flick that is a textbook example of how to take a tiny budget and stretch it into something that, while not perfect, is totally satisfying. With a star turn by Clint Howard and a cast packed with "hey, it's that guy!' character actors, not to mention a healthy dose of juicy, practical, gore effects, you will not be disappointed.  As ever, please post comments on our Facebook page or email us at flickersfrom@gmail.com or flickersfrom@yahoo.com.

Episode 61 - Flickers and the Cave Man

Are you getting too old for this shit? Is your fishing boat sitting in your driveway just waiting for you to finally retire from the force? Are you paired up with some loose cannon oddball hotshot young punk who takes too many unnecessary risks? Friend, have I got the solution for you! Plug in the wireless device of your choice and give a listen to episode 61 of the Flickers From the Cave podcast! In this edition we take a look at two prime examples of the buddy cop movie, well, sort of. Our first offering is 1991's Harley Davidson and the Marlboro Man, starring Don Johnson in fine form and Mickey Rourke apparently trying to remember how to act. Although not really a buddy cop flick, our heroes are low level criminals fighting big corporate corruption, it manages to feature pretty much every cliche associated with buddy cop movies. Moving on, we take a look at Tango & Cash from 1989, starring power house duo Sly Stallone and Kurt Russell. With a cast rounded out with an impressive array of character actors, from Clint Howard and Michael J. Pollard to Brion James and Robert Z'dar, this movie had everything it needed to be the definitive buddy cop movie. Everything that is except a script that made any sense what so ever! Faults be damned, these are both way more entertaining than they have any right to be, considering how utterly devoid of common sense they are. If you want to watch a really good buddy cop picture, go get Lethal Weapon or 48 Hrs. If you want to see characters named after cigarettes and an epic super truck versus monster truck battle, turn off your brain and settle in with these two. As ever, please post comments on our Facebook page or email us at flickersfrom@gmail.com or flickersfrom@yahoo.com.

Episode 60 - Kinji: Off the Leash

Welcome one and all, back to the cave for episode sixty! We have a really interesting examination of some of the films of acclaimed Japanese auteur Kinji Fukasaku. Beginning in the early sixties Fukasaku embarked on a career that would go on to span four decades and see him try his hand in nearly every genre. First up for us is 1968's The Green Slime. This is a gloriously action packed chunk of cinematic cheese, and I mean that in the best possible way. Lantern-jawed heroes, smoking hot ladies in shiny mini-dresses, awesome miniature work and a theme song for the ages, this has something for everyone. Then we move on to 1978's Message From Space. Clearly an effort to capitalize on the success of Star Wars, Fukasaku and his crew threw elements from everything that was hot in the late seventies into the slow-cooker and came up with pretty much a hot mess! Not without some charms, and absolutely worth a look, this disco, Star Wars, Dukes of Hazzard smash up will either delight or confound you. Lastly, we look at 2000's Battle Royale. I think it's safe to say that if Mr. Fukasaku ever created something that could truly be called a masterpeice, this is it. The progenitor of what has pretty much become a genre unto itself, the "teens fighting for survival in a post apocalyptic world" genre that has seen films like Maze Runner, Hunger Games and many others, Fukasaku's take on this concept still seems sharper and fresher than all of the copycats that have followed it's wake. Strap on your ear buds and hunker down with us for some in-depth discussion of a film maker that should be on any film-fans radar. As ever, please post comments on our Facebook page or email us at flickersfrom@gmail.com or flickersfrom@yahoo.com.

Episode 59 - Pyun-tang

Welcome one and all to episode 59 of Flickers. On this episode we are looking at three films from prolific genre director Albert Pyun. Right out of the gate we dig into Pyun's debut effort, The Sword and The Sorcerer. An insanely ambitious project to start your career with/ It is done with such youthful exuberance and ingenuity it became an almost instant cult classic. Next up, we look at one of his collaborations with JCVD, 1989s Cyborg. A straightforward post-apocalyptic pot-boiler, it delivers enough foot-face-way action to keep you interested. Finally we check out Pyun's much maligned Captain America from 1990. Filled with cheese in the best possible way, it harkens back to the classic serials of the 30s and 40s much as Raiders of the Lost Ark did. Don't believe what you read on IMDB, check it out for yourself and you'll be happy you did. As ever contact us on Facebook or at flickerfrom@gmail.com or flickersfrom@yahoo.com and thanks for coming back to the cave!

Episode 58 - The Spy Who Spoofed Me

Welcome back to the cave everyone! On this episode we slink into the world of spies and super villains. First up, we look at 1966's Kiss The Girls and Make Them Die starring Mannix himself, Mike “Touch” Connors. Featuring some amazingly bizarre 60's fashions and a solid supporting cast, including Terry-Thomas, this is a solid Bond rip off with something for everyone! Then we move on to 1968's Danger: Diabolik directed by Italian maestro Mario Bava and starring stalwart ex-patriot John Phillip Law! With spectacular production values and slam bang action, this is a sure fire crowd pleaser! If not, you need to find a new crowd. Sit back, plug in and get ready for some sixties era espionage action. Remember, leave us a review on Itunes, and thanks again for coming back to the cave. Send us email at flickersfrom@yahoo.com or flickersfrom@gmail.com or just post a message on Facebook.