Movie Madness

Steve Prokopy went to Austin for this year’s annual Fantastic Fest and he talks about a number of the titles he saw along with Erik Childress who caught up with some as well. They range from documentaries about Christopher Lee and The Texas Chainsaw Massacre to the latest from the directors of Bodied and Psycho Goreman. There is action, sexual games along with other body merging and munching. They talk the latest anthology in the V/H/S series and find a real family adventure charmer with Elijah Wood.  0:00 - Intro 4:20 - Ghost Killer 8:22 – Get Away 14:07 – Bone Lake 18:59 – Gazer 22:03 – House of Spoils 29:59 – V/H/S Beyond 38:28 – Else 40:38 – Ick 43:29 – Chain Reactions 49:05 – The Life and Deaths of Christopher Lee 56:35 - Frankie Freako 1:03:58 – Little Bites 1:08:28 – Bookworm 1:16:56 - Outro This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit erikthemovieman.substack.com

It’s a light week for physical media as we prepare for the onslaught of horror to arrive in October. The month does start off with a couple decent titles in the thrills department including a package Peter Sobczynski and Erik Childress catch-up on featuring the works of Lewis Allen. Paramount has put together the second of their “Scares” package which features at least one title worth getting in 4K that may also be more of a thriller than a horror film. Kino does deliver some witchy fun along with one of the best boxing films as well a young romance that may have you repeating the title of the episode. Finally, they look back on a series receiving numerous celebrations recently for its 25th Anniversary. 0:00 - Intro 1:40 - Kino (Body & Soul, First Love, Burn Witch Burn) 22:13 - Shout Factory (As Above, So Below) 27:20 - Imprint (The Uninvited) 35:00 - Paramount (Paramount Scares Vol. 2 4K) 58:59 – Warner Bros. (The West Wing: The Complete Series) 1:05:50 – New Blu-ray Announcements 1:07:23 - Outr

Erik Childress and Steve Prokopy are back on the review beat this weekend with eight new releases, many of them from the festival circuit. Horror comes in the form of sleepwalking for a couple (Sleep), for the woman that came before Rosemary (Apartment 7A) and creatures after a silent Samara Weaving (Azrael). Joseph Gordon-Levitt investigates a potential murder for Shailene Woodley (Killer Heat). Will Ferrell accompanies his newly transitioned friend on a road trip (Will & Harper) while Kate Winslet is the war photographer who captured the Holocaust (Lee). The director of How To Train Your Dragon has another heartwarming adventure (The Wild Robot) and the one who brought us The Godfather, The Conversation and Apocalypse Now finally delivers his passion project and the duo make no apologies for the final effort. 0:00 - Intro 4:29 - Sleep 12:47 - Apartment 7A 23:08 - Azrael 33:49 - Killer Heat 41:39 - Will & Harper 52:53 - Lee 59:16 - The Wild Robot 1:09:22 – Megalopolis 1:28:06 - Outro This is a publi

It’s a 4K-packed week with classics of the genuine and cult variety with Peter Sobczynski catching you up on the week’s physical media releases. There are titles from the emerging queer cinema of the ‘90s as well as, arguably, the best of the Todd Solondz oeuvre. There will be little argument about the best of British comedies and Peter makes one for what he considers may be the finest final film of any directorial career. Sidney Lumet does Agatha Christie justice and John Carpenter remakes a sci-fi classic. There is Woody Allen, Bob Hope and Elisabeth Shue facing off against a chimpanzee. Finally, Brian DePalma gets an upgrade on one of his most underappreciated, albeit controversial, films.  0:00 - Intro 1:08 – Criterion (Happiness 4K, Gregg Araki Teen Apocalypse Trilogy 4K) 27:08 – Mediabook (Go Fish 4K) 33:42 – Paramount (Stardust 4K) 38:44 – Kino (My Favorite Spy, The Ladykillers 4K, Murder on the Orient Express 4K, Link 4K) 1:11:16 - Warner Archive (Journey Into Fear, Conflict, A Prairie Home Com

Erik Childress spent six days at this year’s Toronto Film Festival and is here to dish on a bunch of the films he saw. They include the latest works from Francis Ford Coppola, Pedro Almodovar, Ron Howard and Sean Baker. Films about the aging plight of women in entertainment with Demi Moore, Elisabeth Moss and Pamela Anderson run the gamut from great to dismal. The Vatican and religion have their share of bad guys too. Erik splits his votes on a pair of relationship dramas as well as films about Press Your Luck and Saturday Night Live. Nicole Kidman and Amy Adams handle their unsatisfying home lives in wildly different manners. Plus, the latest Stephen King adaptation from Mike Flanagan wins both the festival’s Audience Award as well as Erik’s heart. All this and more on a recap of this year’s fest. 0:00 - Intro 2:21 – The Luckiest Man In America 8:09 - The Substance 15:24 - The Last Showgirl 19:28 - The Life of Chuck 25:28 - We Live in Time 28:22 - Anora 34:06 - Eden 38:41 - Nightbitch 44:36 - Shel

Peter Sobczynski returns to catch you up on a couple weeks of physical media releases with Erik Childress. They include one of the great British crime thrillers with Bob Hoskins. They dive into the Friday the 13th and Riddick series while highlighting an even better ‘80s horror film. One of the great stand-up concerts ever filmed gets the 4K upgrade and a new film noir set highlights one of the inspirations for Top Secret. Peter highlights an overlooked Scorsese and goes Doomsday on Neil Marshall. One of the films featured in It Came From Hollywood gets the Blu-ray treatment as does the infamous Caligula whose history is documented this week as well. 0:00 - Intro 1:40 – Criterion (The Long Good Friday 4K) 9:02 - Arrow (Torso 4K, Friday the 13th 4K, The Chronicles of Riddick 4K) 38:01 - Sony (Richard Pryor Live on the Sunset Strip 4K) 47:33 - Shout (The Stepfather 4K, Clockwatchers, Doomsday, The Strangers 4K, Man of the Year) 1:17:33 - Kino (Film Noir XXI, Two Weeks in September, Rolling Vengeance) 1:

Erik Childress returns to the Toronto Film Festival this week and he has some films worthy of putting on your schedule if you are attending or to keep an eye out for the future. He also has a schedule in place that he walks through letting you know what he plans on seeing day-by-day providing a little preview of both the daily grind of a festival and even more films that caught his eye and may catch yours as well. 0:00 - Intro 1:20 – Shook 3:26 – Shepherds 5:29 – Mr. K 10:19 – Matt and Mara 14:38 - Do I Know You From Somewhere 19:18 – Day-by-Day Schedule Plan 38:10 - Outro This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit erikthemovieman.substack.com

Peter Sobczynski returns to offer up some of this week’s Blu-ray offerings with Erik Childress. They include Alex Cox’s cult classic debut, the role that Gregory Peck was not crazy about and one of the enduring baseball classics getting an upgrade. There is also Brigitte Bardot, Margot Robbie and a Woman from a Lucky McKee film that you do not want to mess with. Speaking of which there is also a ghostly horror film worth rediscovering and the ‘80s ick fest involving Michael Caine and his best friend’s daughter. 0:00 - Intro 0:54 - Criterion (Repo Man 4K) 10:31 - Sony (A League of their Own 4K) 19:11 - WB (Focus 4K) 24:03 – Kino (Naughty Girl) 28:04 – Sandpiper (Blame It on Rio, Moby Dick (1956), Lady in White) 56:29 – Arrow (The Woman/Offspring 4K) 1:06:12 – Shout (The Amityville Horror (2005) 4K, The Boy 4K) 1:19:56 – New Blu-ray Announcements This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit erikthemovieman.substack.com

The Movie Madness Podcast is celebrating its 500th episode with a conversation 20 years in the making. Erik Childress has had many conversations with his guest over the years, but this one is a look back at where Nick Digilio and him were in their lives in 2004 when they, respectively, named Sideways and Garden State as their favorite films of that year. They talk about why those films were so personal to them, almost exactly ten years apart in their respective ages, at the time and if revisiting them two decades later is the same experience. The conversation veers into personal struggles, “manic pixie dream girls”, lost opportunities and soundtracks. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit erikthemovieman.substack.com

As the summer ends with a bit of a whimper, Erik Childress and Steve Prokopy delve into eight films and try to find something worth your time. The director of Backcountry goes back into the woods with Missy Peregrym to face a different threat (Out Come the Wolves) while the filmmakers behind Howards End and The Remains of the Day get a documentary in their honor (Merchant Ivory). Tyrese Gibson gets caught up in a heist during the Rodney King riots (1992) and Lee Daniels takes Andra Day through an exorcism (The Deliverance). Naomie Harris and Natalie Dormer plot a murder (The Wasp) and Casey Affleck tries to keep his sanity in space (Slingshot). Finally, John Cho discovers a new AI is dangerous (AfrAId) and Dennis Quaid and the director of 3 Ninjas: High Noon At Mega Mountain give Republicans a greatest hits tale about their God (Reagan). 0:00 - Intro 1:18 - Out Come the Wolves 13:10 - Merchant Ivory 21:01 - 1992 32:49 – The Deliverance 43:06 – The Wasp 54:05 - Slingshot 1:07:20 - Afraid 1:16:53 – Reagan 1:3

Pretty big week on the physical media front as Peter Sobczynski joins Erik Childress to spark your blu-ray budget. It’s always a cause for celebration when Albert Brooks can go from DVD straight to 4K and Criterion has a pair of his films for you. Not to mention an upgrade on a film that Brooks should have been nominated for. Robert Rodriguez’s Mariachi films also get the upgrade as does one of Robert Altman’s less-discussed ‘70s crime films. There are arcane French narratives, an early Philip Kaufmann film, one of Jean Claude Van Damme’s better efforts and a barrage of eco-horror the likes of which you have never seen or may even want to see. Yeah, you want to see them. 0:00 - Intro 1:00 – Criterion (Real Life 4K, Mother 4K) 27:21 - Sony (Drive 4K) 34:20 - Vinegar Syndrome (Reptilicus 4K, Thieves Like Us 4K) 48:21 – Arrow (Mexico Trilogy 4K) 1:02:24 – Shout Factory (Poltergeist II 4K) 1:07:57 – Kino (Last Year At Marienbad 4K, Alphaville 4K, The White Dawn, Frogs, Kingdom of the Spiders, Squirm, Food

Erik Childress and Steve Prokopy have eight movie reviews for you including two from their fest coverage the past year. Jason Schwartzman and Carol Kane star in a Sundance fave (Between the Temples) and a game of cat-and-mouse between a serial killer and their prey that debuted at Fantastic Fest in 2023 (Strange Darling). Also on tap are three lifelong friends and the hardships they endure over a lifetime (The Supremes At Earl’s All-You-Can Eat) while a small town turns to crime over a pile of money (Greedy People). The Adams Family is back with their latest horror offering (Hell Hole) while John Woo remakes one of his all-time classics (The Killer) and Bill Skarsgard steps into the role made infamous by Brandon Lee (The Crow). Finally, Zoe Kravitz makes her directorial debut with an island party that some will want to forget (Blink Twice).  0:00 - Intro 1:27 - Between the Temples 11:00 - Strange Darling 21:28 – The Supremes At Earl's All-You-Can Eat 31:48 - Greedy People 44:01 - Hell Hole 53:49 – The Killer

Peter Sobczynski joins Erik Childress again to talk physical media. This week you can go an early, personal work from Martha Coolidge and the debut western from Robert Benton. They talk thrillers that were ultimately remade with Amber Heard and Josh Hartnett plus the baffling dark comedy from Danny DeVito. Generational favorites range from an animated film from the ‘80s and a teen comedy from the ‘90s, but also don’t forget one of the great conspiracy films of the ’70s with some timely real-world publicity. Wes Craven delivers one of his leanest thrillers and Michael Ritchie has, arguably, the most messed up film of his career with Lee Marvin up against Gene Hackman. 0:00 - Intro 2:30 – Criterion (Not a Pretty Picture) 8:18 - Fun City (Bad Company 4K) 20:50 – Shout Factory (The Last Unicorn 4K, Death to Smoochy) 39:11 – Sony (The China Syndrome, Can’t Hardly Wait 4K) 1:01:26 – Universal (Let Him Go, Tremors 7-Film collection) 1:10:29 - Paramount (Red Eye) 1:19:02 - Kino (And Soon the Darkness/Sudden T

Erik Childress and Steve Prokopy have ten reviews this week including going back into the archive to check out a new version of an infamous epic (Caligula: The Ultimate Cut). Jean Reno gets a special visitor (My Penguin Friend) and a mother must protect her child from a creature and Devon Sawa (Consumed). Eliot Page is reluctant to return home after embracing his identity (Close to You) and Neil Marshall keeps making movies with Charlotte Kirk (Duchess). Elizabeth Banks has internet problems in Hollywood (Skincare) while Halle Berry montages Mark Wahlberg into being a secret agent (The Union). One of the best documentaries of the year from Sundance debuts on Netflix (Daughters) while Awkwafina and John Cena are hunted – but in a funny way – after winning the lottery (Jackpot). Finally, has a 45 year old franchise delivered its best film in decades (Alien: Romulus)? Erik and Steve weigh in with their thoughts. 0:00 - Intro 1:16 - Caligula: The Ultimate Cut 11:05 - My Penguin Friend 18:04 - Consumed 25:44 - Clo

Lots on the Blu-ray front this week and Peter Sobczynski joins Erik Childress to talk you through it. Criterion has a clean sweep nine-time Oscar winner in 4K and Arrow has something for the Sam Worthington fans out there. They talk fondly of a dark Seth Rogen effort and a much lighter comedy with violence that has given Rachel McAdams a line delivery for the ages. They’ve got some Mellville, Bava and Elvis. Peter has an early ‘90s horror film you may want to look at again. Dick Tracy gets a collection and they are all-in on a new Stooges collection. (Find out who their favorite Stooges are.) Plus, another week, another Chuck Norris. And this time one of the better ones. 0:00 - Intro 1:12 – Criterion (The Last Emperor 4K) 8:33 – Arrow (When Titans Ruled The Earth 4K) 19:49 – Sony (Three Stooges Collection) 29:15 – Shout Factory (The Delta Force 4K, Observe and Report) 51:20 – VCI (Dick Tracy RKO Pictures Collection) 57:10 – Kino (99 River St., Bob le Flambeur, Le Dolous) 1:08:32 - Warner Archive (Haru

After a three-week hiatus involving vacations and other commitments, Erik Childress and Steve Prokopy are back on the weekly movie review stint. Naturally they begin with a film they reviewed at Sundance eight months ago but with good reason for reminder cause the title says it all (Good One). Steve looks at a film about Samuel Beckett (Dance First) and Erik handles a biopic of Milli Vanilli (Girl You Know It’s True). Matt Damon and Casey Affleck try to rob a corrupt politician (The Instigators) and Hunter Schafer tries to solve the weird goings-on at a secluded resort (Cuckoo). Erik offers his thoughts on Blake Lively and the adaptation of Colleen Hoover’s popular novel about abuse (It Ends With Us) and the pair get their eyes on Eli Roth’s three-year-old video game adaptation (Borderlands). 0:00 - Intro 3:53 - Good One 14:17 - Girl You Know It's True 25:42 - Dance First 35:20 – The Instigators 48:11 - Cuckoo 57:16 - It Ends With Us 1:09:37 – Borderlands 1:25:59 - Outro This is a public episode. If yo

Films are getting the 4K upgrade this week on the physical media show. Peter Sobczynski joins Erik Childress to talk about why Orson Welles made his fourth film along with the great fun of Run Lola Run. Perhaps the craziest tales are reserved for what became and almost became of one of Chuck Norris’ mid-80s Cannon fodder. There’s also a little Gucci, a little Lasso, some Babes and a breakdown of one of the most unlikeliest trilogies ever from its subject matter, its sweet endurance and ingenuity and how all of them seem to have barely gotten released. 0:00 - Intro 1:20 - Sony (The Lady from Shanghai 4K, Run Lola Run 4K) 22:50 - Vinegar Syndrome (Invasion USA 4K) 42:10 - Shout (House of Gucci 4K, Bill and Ted’s Most Triumphant Trilogy 4K) 1:07-12 – New TV & Theatrical Titles 1:10:02 – New Blu-ray Announcements This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit erikthemovieman.substack.com

On a special episode of the podcast, comic book expert Erik Laws returns to join Erik Childress to discuss the much ballyhooed release of Marvel’s team-up of Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman meant to correct past sins and hopefully plug the creative and success leak of their recent output. Does the film live up to its promise? Are the stakes there or is it just a service for the fans? How does its cameos and surprises measure up and is it weird to take shots at what is supposed to be an ally now? They also weigh in on the latest news of Robert Downey Jr. returning to the MCU, what his appearance as Victor Von Doom could mean and is it just an act of desperation to combat the comic book fatigue which may finally be real? This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit erikthemovieman.substack.com

This week in physical media expands the gauntlet between masterpieces, greatness, exploitation and outright garbage. In other words, Erik Childress and Peter Sobczynski have a little something for everyone. They include a film from the ‘60s that was lost until the ‘90s, one of the first films from Jonathan Demme, one of the last films of Howard Hawks and hopefully not the last from Philip Kaufmann. There’s a box set of the works of Nico Mastorakis and a director’s cut featuring David Bowie and Rosanna Arquette. Two films from the great runs of Frank Oz and Kevin Costner get 4K upgrades and Peter tells you about one of the sexiest scenes he’s ever seen. Spoiler that it involves neither an infamous 1980 musical with The Village People or any of the Jaws sequels; both of which practically get their own episodes here. 0:00 - Intro 1:00 – Arrow (Red Line 7000, The Nico Mastorakis Collection, The Man from U.N.C.L.E. 4K) 16:09 - The Film Desk (The Plot Against Harry) 24:07 - Media Book (Last Embrace 4K) 29:07 –

Some great titles to put into your physical media library this week and Peter Sobczynski is here with Erik Childress to help guide you through them. It all begins with one of the great films of the 1980s that put Tom Cruise on the path to stardom. Tom Hanks missed an Oscar nom but delivered one of his best performances for Paul Greengrass and Ang Lee did get the Oscar but the Academy went for another film in 2005. There are also vehicles for Burt Reynolds, Dirk Benedict and the film that Ben Affleck was the bomb in. Other underground dwellers can be found at bikini bottom and Criterion also has a pair of Wim Wenders films. Finally there are new 4K editions of one of the great sci-fi classics and the entire series that carries the name of the beloved character created by Sylvester Stallone. 0:00 - Intro 1:07 - Criterion (Risky Business, Perfect Days, Anselm) 24:52 – Kino (Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1956) 4K, Underground Aces, Paternity, Columbo: The Return, Brokeback Mountain 4K) 1:03:39 – Paramount (