Explorez tous les épisodes du podcast Caliber 9 From Outer Space

It's high culture vs low culture this week! Rob St Mary drops in to discuss the great Surrealist Luis Bunuel's final film, That Obscure Object of Desire (1977) before descending into the quasi-giallo, early 80's Canuxploitation slasher jam, Happy Birthday To Me (1981), directed by J. Lee Thompson. We may have planned a female duality theme, or we may have just thrown these two contrasting flicks together just for fun. We'll let you be the judge. Either way, they may be a mouthful but they sure are delicious!

That Obscure Object of Desire is probably obscure enough in its plot to be largely unspoilable at this point, but we do call out Spoiler Territory for Happy Birthday To Me. Skip ahead to 2:31:44 to avoid spoilers for that one.

Join our Patreon! As a member of our Mario Adorf Allstars tier you get access to hours of extra content including two audiocommentaries every month and other bonus episodes! Find it here.

Want to get in touch? You can reach us on caliber9fromouterspace@gmail.com

Theme music: "The Cold Light of Day" by HKM. Check out HKM on #SoundCloud or Bandcamp

"Desire Lines" by Deerhunter

Birds. Eggs. An unusual basis for a horror-thriller, but it can be done. Marek Turner joins us to discuss a double feature of avian dread starting with what is arguably ground zero for the animal attack horror sub-genre, The Birds (1963), directed by Alfred Hitchcock. We follow that up with bizarre Italian proto-giallo, Death Laid An Egg (1968), directed by Giulio Questi.

The Birds is a classic which probably isn't spoilable at this point, but we will be calling out Spoiler Territory for Death Laid An Egg. Skip ahead to 2:05:19 to avoid spoilers for that one.

Join our Patreon! As a member of our Mario Adorf Allstars tier you get access to hours of extra content including two audiocommentaries every month and other bonus episodes! Find it here.

Want to get in touch? You can reach us on caliber9fromouterspace@gmail.com

Buy Marek Turner's new novel, The Reluctant Gardener!

Theme music: "The Cold Light of Day" by HKM. Check out HKM on #SoundCloud or Bandcamp

"Nice Bird" by Custard

The sea was angry that day, my friends. And... a little bit rapey...

Nothing beats aquatic horror - we love movies where nasties from the depths spend 80-90 minutes wreaking havoc among shrieking B-movie actors, so we've lined up a fin-tastic double feature to scratch that itch. Bryce stops by to discuss Humanoids from the Deep (1980), directed by Barbara Peeters, and Killer Fish (1979), directed by Antonio Margheriti.

We don't think these films are really spoilable so we don't bother with Spoiler Territory this week!

Join our Patreon! As a member of our Mario Adorf Allstars tier you get access to hours of extra content including two audiocommentaries every month and other bonus episodes! Find it here.

Want to get in touch? You can reach us on caliber9fromouterspace@gmail.com

Theme music: "The Cold Light of Day" by HKM. Check out HKM on #SoundCloud or Bandcamp

"Here Come More Perils From the Sea" by Mark Kozelek and Jimmy LaValle

As devoted fans of Hollywood genre and crime cinema of the 60's and 70's, we have a high appreciation for the copious output of director John Frankenheimer. Our resident Frankenfanatic, Nick Langdon, joins us this week to discuss Frankenheimer's late-career return to form, Ronin (1998), along with French Connection 2 (1975) his largely forgotten and woefully underseen sequel to William Friedkin's masterpiece. From De Niro to Hackman, from high speed car chases to one ex-junkie wheezing his way through the mean streets of Marseille, this is a kinetic and sometimes gruelling excursion for Hollywood into Frankeheimer's adopted home of France. We find much to discuss about these action procedurals, one of which endures as a cult classic while the other is still perhaps waiting for its cult to emerge.

We will be announcing a Spoiler Territory section for both films, so if you haven't seen them before you listen, you can nevertheless avoid spoilers for Ronin by skipping ahead to the 1:40:30 mark, and for French Connection 2 by skipping ahead to 2:42:02.

Join our Patreon! As a member of our Mario Adorf Allstars tier you get access to hours of extra content including two audiocommentaries every month and other bonus episodes! Find it here.

Want to get in touch? You can reach us on caliber9fromouterspace@gmail.com

Theme music: "The Cold Light of Day" by HKM. Check out HKM on #SoundCloud or Bandcamp

"French Disko" by Stereolab

What do you do when your horror franchise is running out of ideas? Well, you could send your horror villain into space. Or you could team him up with another famous horror villain for an old-fashioned monster mash. But of course, the Friday the 13th franchise would never resort to such desperate measures... would they? Al is back in the house this week as we check out Jason X (2001), directed by James Isaac, and Freddy vs Jason (2003), directed by Ronny Yu.

Let's just say, plot is not really the reason to watch either of these films. so we won't be announcing a Spoiler Territory section for either of them.

Want to get in touch? You can reach us on caliber9fromouterspace@gmail.com

Theme music: "The Cold Light of Day" by HKM. Check out HKM on #SoundCloud or Bandcamp

"these are not your dreams" by sleepmakeswaves

Actual rabid dogs would be much better behaved than these people. Sammy from the Gentlemen's Guide to Midnite Cinema comes over to our place with a sleazy movie under each arm, as is his wont. This week, we check out Rabid Dogs (1974), directed by Mario Bava and (not a sequel), Like Rabid Dogs (1976), directed by Mario Imperoli. These are two fever dreams of rampant criminality and amorality, of a kind only the Italians of the 1970's could purvey. Hold your nose, we're diving in.

We will be announcing a Spoiler Territory section for both films, so if you haven't seen them before you listen, you can nevertheless avoid spoilers for Rabid Dogs by skipping ahead to the 1:45:09 mark, and for Like Rabid Dogs by skipping ahead to 2:39:03.

Want to get in touch? You can reach us on caliber9fromouterspace@gmail.com

Theme music: "The Cold Light of Day" by HKM. Check out HKM on #SoundCloud or Bandcamp

"Dogs" by Motorhead

It's the end of the world as we know it and we feel... well, you can't complain, can you?Author and publisher AM Belsey joins us today to discuss a couple of films about the end of the world... or ARE they??? We check out Danny Boyle's Sunshine (2007), and follow it up with cult New Zealand curio, The Quiet Earth (1985), directed by Geoff Murphy. Sexy scientists, solar edging and a New Zealand with marginally less people than it usually has - this is a week for heady sci-fi concepts indeed.

We will be announcing a Spoiler Territory section for both films, so if you haven't seen them before you listen, you can nevertheless avoid spoilers for Sunshine by skipping ahead to the 1:38:24 mark, and for The Quiet Earth by skipping ahead to 2:28:51.

Want to get in touch? You can reach us on caliber9fromouterspace@gmail.com

Theme music: "The Cold Light of Day" by HKM. Check out HKM on #SoundCloud or Bandcamp

"Staring at the Sun" by TV On The Radio

We said James Bond would return... and he did! We continue our series checking out the lesser loved entries from the 007 franchise. This week, it's time to discuss George Lazenby's sole outing as the famous spy, On Her Majesty's Secret Service (1969), directed by Peter Hunt, and follow it up with one of the most maligned films in the series, Octopussy (1983), directed by John Glen. We discuss the many curious choices that were made surrounding the first non-Connery Bond film (including Lazenby's choice to throw it all away) and make a case for the very specific energy that Roger Moore brings to the role in what is undeniably a very silly Bond film.

Stick around for our Bond Tropewatch segment, where we rate each of these films against the checklist of standard Bond tropes to see which fares best!

Fair warning: we go into the plots of both films in some detail, including the endings, but we feel like James Bond is somewhat unspoilable in general, so we won't be announcing a Spoiler Territory section for either of these films.

Want to get in touch? You can reach us on caliber9fromouterspace@gmail.com

Theme music: "The Cold Light of Day" by HKM. Check out HKM on #SoundCloud or Bandcamp

"On Her Majesty's Secret Service" by The Propellerheads

Two very different genre exercises today: one an essential masterpiece of its idiom, the other a true exploitation cash-in of a much more polished and successful film. Rich Fox is with us to discuss Tenebrae (1982), directed by Dario Argento and Tentacles (1977), directed by Ovidio G. Assonitis. From the sublime to the ridiculous, perhaps, but both films are fascinating in their own way.

Tentacles is hard to spoil (especially if you've seen Jaws before), so no Spoiler Territory for that one. We do, however, call out Spoiler Territory for Tenebrae so if you want to skip ahead from that point, you can rejoin the conversation at the 1:52:31 mark to avoid spoilers.

Want to get in touch? You can reach us on caliber9fromouterspace@gmail.com

Theme music: "The Cold Light of Day" by HKM. Check out HKM on #SoundCloud or Bandcamp

"Flashing" by Claudio Simonetti, Fabio Pignatelli and Massimo Morante

Wings Hauser brings out the lunatic in us, so this week we have a suitably chaotic episode to cover a Wings double feature where the sleaze and violence are dialled right up - without skimping on the quality of film-making. Heather Drain and Ted Bennett join us this week to review Vice Squad (1982), directed by Gary Sherman and The Wind (1986), directed by Nico Mastorakis. You'll laugh, you'll cry, you'll almost certainly make that wincing face... and that's just from listening to our discussion.

Neither film is particularly spoilable, so we won't be announcing a Spoiler Territory section for either of them.

Want to get in touch? You can reach us on caliber9fromouterspace@gmail.com

Theme music: "The Cold Light of Day" by HKM. Check out HKM on #SoundCloud or Bandcamp

"Jeanny" by Falco

Sakana drops in this week to discuss a couple of early films directed by American exploitation legend, Jack Hill. First up: Pit Stop (1969), a film marketed as a demolition derby thrill ride which nevertheless contains surprising character depth and drama. Then we follow it up with cult favourite, Spider Baby (1967) which, despite its weirdo horror comedy approach, has some emotional depth of its own.

We will be announcing a Spoiler Territory section for both films, so if you haven't seen them before you listen, you can nevertheless avoid spoilers for Pit Stop by skipping ahead to the 1:27:17 mark, and for Spider Baby by skipping ahead to 2:18:58.

Want to get in touch? You can reach us on caliber9fromouterspace@gmail.com

Theme music: "The Cold Light of Day" by HKM. Check out HKM on #SoundCloud or Bandcamp

"Last Night I Dreamt That Somebody Loved Me" by The Smiths

Why do we love movies set on trains so much? Is it morally OK to love sleazy exploitation films? Both of these essential philosophical conundrums come together in a clash of tearing metal and ripping undergarments in this week's double feature. Sammy from the GGTMC joins us to discuss Night Train Murders (1975), directed by Aldo Lado and Terror Express (1980), directed by Ferdinando Baldi.

It's not really possible to spoil Terror Express but we do call out Spoiler Territory for Night Train Murders. If you want to skip ahead from that point, you can rejoin the conversation at the 1:53:01 mark to avoid spoilers.

Want to get in touch? You can reach us on caliber9fromouterspace@gmail.com

Theme music: "The Cold Light of Day" by HKM. Check out HKM on #SoundCloud or Bandcamp

"Nighttrain" by Public Enemy

This week, we're all about seminal indie horror movies - that grindhouse crackle and pop - ah, there's nothing like it. Justin Kerswell is in the house to check out a couple of lo-fi horror gems. We start off with the recently rediscovered indie experimental mind-melter Effects (1979), directed by Dusty Nelson, a film which features a whole bunch of George A. Romero's Pittsburgh indie-horror collective. It's a film that makes you think, and so we follow it up with a film for which thinking is entirely optional: proto-shocker I Drink Your Blood (1971), directed by David Durston.

We don't think you can really spoil I Drink Your Blood, which is just about being as gory and exploitative as it can, but we will call out Spoiler Territory for Effects. If you want to skip ahead from that point, you can rejoin the conversation at the 1:16:38 mark to avoid spoilers.

Want to get in touch? You can reach us on caliber9fromouterspace@gmail.com

Theme music: "The Cold Light of Day" by HKM. Check out HKM on #SoundCloud or Bandcamp

"Destroyed by Hippie Powers" by Car Seat Headrest

When Mr Tech is in town, it's time to dust off some computer game adaptations. Unfortunately, we are fast running out of game adaptations that we're all collectively willing to watch, so this week we're instead exploring a couple of films in which characters are transported into a game. We start off with the film that pioneered this sort of cinema concept, Tron (1982), directed by Steve Lisberger, and follow that up with Mamoru Oshii's non-anime, Eastern European crossover, Avalon (2001).

We don't call out a Spoiler Territory for Tron because it just didn't seem necessary but we do include one for Avalon. If you want to skip ahead from that point, you can rejoin the conversation at the 2:38:12 mark to avoid spoilers.

Want to get in touch? You can reach us on caliber9fromouterspace@gmail.com

Theme music: "The Cold Light of Day" by HKM. Check out HKM on #SoundCloud or Bandcamp

"Veridis Quo" by Daft Punk

Nothing compares to the horror of a lycanthropic female family member. The 80's knew that and so do this week's guests, Ted Bennett and Heather Drain, who are both back to talk about some more of that decade's pop film culture detritus. Under-appreciated gems or trash best forgotten? We've never been more polarised!

First up, rather odd teen comedy, My Mom's a Werewolf (1989), directed by Michael Fischa and then, is it a sequel? Is it even a werewolf movie? Philippe Mora's Howling II... Your Sister is a Werewolf (1985) provokes some passionate reactions, both positive and negative.

Let's just say, plot is not really the reason to watch either of these films, so we won't be announcing a Spoiler Territory section for either of them.

Want to get in touch? You can reach us on caliber9fromouterspace@gmail.com

Theme music: "The Cold Light of Day" by HKM. Check out HKM on #SoundCloud or Bandcamp

"Dracula" by Snips

It's a high speed episode this week, whether that's horses and stagecoaches sprinting across Apache territory or Fiats and vans driving dangerously around the narrow streets of Milan. Actor and film maker Greg Furman joins us to discuss a couple of classics from two different worlds of cinema. We start off with the seminal Hollywood western blockbuster, Stagecoach (1939), directed by John Ford and follow that up with Fernando Di Leo's The Italian Connection (1972) - during which we pay tribute to German-Italian legend, Mario Adorf, who we lost in April this year.

The statute of limitations on spoilers has probably expired for Stagecoach, but we do call out Spoiler Territory for The Italian Connection. If you want to skip ahead from that point, you can rejoin the conversation at the 2:32:43 mark to avoid spoilers.

Want to get in touch? You can reach us on caliber9fromouterspace@gmail.com

Theme music: "The Cold Light of Day" by HKM. Check out HKM on #SoundCloud or Bandcamp

"The John Wayne" by Little Green Cars

Trains of DOOM! Horror artist extraordinaire, Graham Humphreys, is in the house to talk about a couple of railbound cult horror classics. First up: Eugenio Martin's classic Hammer-adjacent gem, Horror Express (1972) - an absolute delight of the sci-fi-horror subgenre. Our B movie is famed act of cinematic weirdness, Night Train to Terror (1985), ostensibly directed by Jay Schlossberg-Cohen but incorporating film material from a whole bunch of film-makers.

We don't think it's really possible to spoil something as fundamentally incoherent as Night Train to Terror, so no Spoiler Territory for that one. We do, however, call out Spoiler Territory for Horror Express. If you want to skip ahead from that point, you can rejoin the conversation at the 1:07:35 mark to avoid spoilers.

Want to get in touch? You can reach us on caliber9fromouterspace@gmail.com

Theme music: "The Cold Light of Day" by HKM. Check out HKM on #SoundCloud or Bandcamp

Chris Collier's new documentary about the work of Graham Humphreys, Captured Souls, can be ordered on blu-ray from 24footsquare.com

"This Train Will be Taking No Passengers" by Augie March

Violence and dread on the mean streets of New York and Milan. Mike White stops by to discuss a hard-boiled double feature from two very different crime cinema traditions. First up: Across 110th Street (1972), directed by Barry Shear, followed by Gambling City (1975), directed by Sergio Martino.

We will be announcing a Spoiler Territory section for both films, so if you haven't seen them before you listen, you can nevertheless avoid spoilers for Across 110th Street by skipping ahead to the 1:16:42 mark, and for Gambling City by skipping ahead to 2:10:17.

Want to get in touch? You can reach us on caliber9fromouterspace@gmail.com

Theme music: "The Cold Light of Day" by HKM. Check out HKM on #SoundCloud or Bandcamp

"Do It Right" by Bobby Womack

Stories about lovers on the run have been captivating audiences since the classic years of Hollywood - although it feels like a long time since we've seen many notable examples. Graham Williamson of the Pop Screen podcast pops in to talk about the history of the sub-genre and also to discuss a couple of contrasting examples. First up, seminal New Hollywood classic, Bonnie and Clyde (1967), directed by Arthur Penn and then, something COMPLETELY different, James Robert Baker's shot-on-video work of backyard auteurism, Blonde Death (1984).

Bonnie and Clyde treats real life events which haven't been news since the 1930's, and Blonde Death isn't really spoilable, so we won't be announcing a Spoiler Territory section for either of the films this week.

Want to get in touch? You can reach us on caliber9fromouterspace@gmail.com

Theme music: "The Cold Light of Day" by HKM. Check out HKM on #SoundCloud or Bandcamp

"Black and Blonde" by Veruca Salt

We're checking out a couple of weird riffs on the vampire from Eastern Europe this week. Jonathan Owen joins us to discuss the beautiful and bizarre Czech New Wave classic, Valerie and Her Week of Wonders (1970), directed by Jaromil Jireš and then a curious blend of vampire and car racing, Juraj Herz's Ferat Vampire (1982). Both films explore weird psychoerotic territory both grotesque and beautiful - and whatever you think of them, they are each pretty unique.

We will be announcing a Spoiler Territory section for both films, so if you haven't seen them before you listen, you can nevertheless avoid spoilers for Valerie and Her Week of Wonders by skipping ahead to the 1:25:44 mark, and for Ferat Vampire by skipping ahead to 2:09:07.

Want to get in touch? You can reach us on caliber9fromouterspace@gmail.com

Theme music: "The Cold Light of Day" by HKM. Check out HKM on #SoundCloud or Bandcamp

"Fast Blood" by Frightened Rabbit

In the future, it's 2100. But it used to be 2027. But then, 70 years later, some people time travelled back to 1980. And after 20 years passed, our story begins. Don't worry, it doesn't matter what year it is. Just know that a very muscly lady needs to run around in the African desert while Chad Stahelski struggles not to die of heat exhaustion in a very top-heavy robot suit.

In this bonus episode, we continue Project Nemeses with the first of many sequels, Nemesis 2: Nebula (1995), directed again by Albert Pyun. Ted is with Rob and Joe again, and they all struggle valiantly (or not so valiantly, as the case may be) to make sense of what should be pretty straightforward but somehow isn't. Luckily, no one really watches one of these movies for its plot.

Given all that, we don't bother with Spoiler Territory this week. We don't even know what year it is, so don't worry about being too well informed by this episode.

Want to get in touch? You can reach us on caliber9fromouterspace@gmail.com

Theme music: "The Cold Light of Day" by HKM. Check out HKM on #SoundCloud or Bandcamp

"Search and Destroy" by Peaches

Friday night's a good night for slashing, so here comes Part 4 of our meandering trip through the Friday the 13th franchise. Al is in the house again as we check out Friday the 13th Part VII: The New Blood (1988), directed by John Carl Buechler, and then we delve into the inevitable Platinum Dunes remake effort, Friday the 13th (2009), directed by Marcus Nispel. Is it a misunderstood gem? And how could Part VII ever recover from its (ironic) evisceration at the rapacious hands of the MPAA?

Let's just say, plot is not really the reason to watch either of these films. so we won't be announcing a Spoiler Territory section for either of them.

Want to get in touch? You can reach us on caliber9fromouterspace@gmail.com

Theme music: "The Cold Light of Day" by HKM. Check out HKM on #SoundCloud or Bandcamp

"Night Train" by The Kills

Stephen Frears is not an habitual purveyor of the sort of cult cinema we usually cover on this show. But we do love our noir, and Frears does have two outstanding neo-noirs in his filmography, so why not knock them both off the list in one episode? Bryce joins us to discuss The Grifters (1990), along with Frears' earlier effort, The Hit (1984). This is noir with an emphasis on existential. And his Oscar-nominated Grifters may have been an establishment darling, but adapted by Donald Westlake from a Jim Thompson novel, it has a hell of a crime fiction pedigree, and goes to some incredibly dark places.

We will be announcing a Spoiler Territory section for both films, so if you haven't seen them before you listen, you can nevertheless avoid spoilers for The Grifters by skipping ahead to the 1:30:59 mark, and for The Hit by skipping ahead to 2:29:02.

Want to get in touch? You can reach us on caliber9fromouterspace@gmail.com

Theme music: "The Cold Light of Day" by HKM. Check out HKM on #SoundCloud or Bandcamp

"Magdalena 318" by the Pixies

We're all about grimy 1970's New York crime movies this week, as Nick Langdon drops in to discuss The Taking of Pelham One Two Three (2011), directed by Joseph Sargent and The Night of the Juggler (1980), directed by Robert Butler. No two films more perfectly encapsulate the unique cinematic vibe of the crumbling, chaotic metropolis in this era like these do.

We will be announcing a Spoiler Territory section for both films, so if you haven't seen them before you listen, you can nevertheless avoid spoilers for The Taking of Pelham One Two Three by skipping ahead to the 1:25:06 mark, and for The Night of the Juggler by skipping ahead to 2:22:14.

Want to get in touch? You can reach us on caliber9fromouterspace@gmail.com

Theme music: "The Cold Light of Day" by HKM. Check out HKM on #SoundCloud or Bandcamp

"New York City Cops" by The Strokes

Primordial legends from the mists of time and fever dreams of imminent apocalypse. Our good friend Dallas Norvell drops by Casa Calibro to discuss Excalibur (1981), directed by John Boorman and Holocaust 2000 (1977), directed by Alberto de Martino (this film is sometimes also known as The Chosen or Rain of Fire). Boorman's passion project based on Mallory's La Morte d'Artur is a heady mix of magic, myth and just a hint of disco. Meanwhile, Kirk Douglas goes completely out of his mind in an attempt to ward off the end of the world. It's a bit of a trip this week, is what I'm trying to say.

We don't think it's really possible to spoil a movie based on a 500 year old text concerning a legend more than a thousand years old, so no Spoiler Territory for Excalibur. We do, however, call out Spoiler Territory for Holocaust 2000 (although honestly, it probably doesn't matter). If you want to skip ahead from that point, you can rejoin the conversation at the 2:29:14 mark to avoid spoilers.

Want to get in touch? You can reach us on caliber9fromouterspace@gmail.com

Theme music: "The Cold Light of Day" by HKM. Check out HKM on #SoundCloud or Bandcamp

"Albion" by Pearls

Loyal listener and true gent, Bryan joins us this week armed with a couple of underseen gems. We start off with gritty British crime thriller The Squeeze (1977), directed by Michael Apted and follow that up with some choice Philippine exploitation: Cirio H. Santiago's pirate / blaxploitation / women-in-prison mash-up The Muthers (1969). Stacy Keach as a drunk private eye having a really bad week in grim 1970's London, followed by a quartet of plucky African-American beauties pitted against some egregious Filipino thugs in the jungle and on the sea. It's a heady combination!

We don't include a Spoiler Territory for The Squeeze because, well, we kinda forgot (there aren't any huge twists anyway, but if you want to skip ahead at any point, go to 1:36:49 to get to the next movie), but we do manage to remember to call out Spoiler Territory for The Muthers. If you want to skip ahead from that point, you can rejoin the conversation at the 2:40:20 mark to avoid spoilers.

Want to get in touch? You can reach us on caliber9fromouterspace@gmail.com

Theme music: "The Cold Light of Day" by HKM. Check out HKM on #SoundCloud or Bandcamp

"We Share Our Mother's Health" by The Knife

Bird season is OVER, butthorns!!! This week, we have lined up two films which tried to establish Gary Busey as the action movie hero du jour. Unfortunately, they kinda flopped, but we think they're more fun than leaping onto Danny Trejo from the top of a building. First up: Eye of the Tiger (1986), directed by Richard C. Sarafian, and then the wonder of Bulletproof (1988), directed by Steve Carver.

We have a full house to discuss these movies, with not one, not two, but three guests: Bryce, Dr Ethan and Sammy all drop in to take part in the fun.

Let's just say, plot is not really the reason to watch either of these films. so we won't be announcing a Spoiler Territory section for either of them.

Want to get in touch? You can reach us on caliber9fromouterspace@gmail.com

Theme music: "The Cold Light of Day" by HKM. Check out HKM on #SoundCloud or Bandcamp

"Edge of Seventeen" by Stevie Nicks

And the final Chuck Norris Fact is: Death has now been sentenced to life with Chuck Norris.

In this bonus episode, Rob and Joe pay tribute to one of action hero cinema’s true icons, Carlos Ray “Chuck” Norris. Along with a brief discussion of his life and career, they also dive deep into one of his less celebrated films (even by Chuck Norris fans), the late-cycle Cannon Group production, The Hitman (1991), directed by Chuck’s brother, Aaron Norris.

There’s no Spoiler Territory for this one. Why? Because it’s a Chuck Norris film. Deal with it, or he's gonna hit you with so many rights, you're gonna beg for a left.

RIP Chuck.

Want to get in touch? You can reach us on caliber9fromouterspace@gmail.com

Theme music: "The Cold Light of Day" by HKM. Check out HKM on #SoundCloud or Bandcamp

"Tomorrow Wendy" by Andy Prieboy

Have ya paid your dues, Jack? Yessir, the check is in the mail. It must be Conflict-in-Asian-Enclave Week this week, as Andy joins us in checking out a couple of well paired and much loved cult classics: Big Trouble in Little China (1986), directed by the great John Carpenter, and Showdown in Little Tokyo (1991), directed by Mark L. Lester. More bromance than romance but more than enough ass-kicking to satisfy anyone. Get ready to rumble!

Fair warning: we go into the plots of both films in some detail, including the endings, but we feel like these movies are somewhat unspoilable, so we won't be announcing a Spoiler Territory section for either of them.

Want to get in touch? You can reach us on caliber9fromouterspace@gmail.com

Theme music: "The Cold Light of Day" by HKM. Check out HKM on #SoundCloud or Bandcamp

"China Girl" by Iggy Pop

Swords. Magic. Monsters. Muscles. Boobs. Prepare to go full nerd this week (if you haven't already) as we dive headlong into a couple of sword-and-sandal epics - or is that club-and-ugg-boot? Ted Bennett drops in to check out 80's cable TV mainstay, The Beastmaster (1982), directed by Don Coscarelli. Following that, the pecs get even bigger in Ironmaster (1983), directed by Umberto Lenzi.

We really don't think these films can be spoiled, so we won't be announcing a Spoiler Territory section for either of them, even though we go into detail on the plots of both. If you can call them plots.

Want to get in touch? You can reach us on caliber9fromouterspace@gmail.com

Theme music: "The Cold Light of Day" by HKM. Check out HKM on #SoundCloud or Bandcamp

"It's A Mystery" by Toyah

Another bumper episode, another double feature of lesser-loved James Bond movies. This week we check out a Connery and a Brosnan: Diamonds Are Forever (1971), directed by Guy Hamilton, and The World is Not Enough (1999), directed by Michael Apted. Sean Connery was getting a little tired of Bond at this point (to say the least), and Pierce Brosnan's Bond films seemed tired almost before they got started... but are these films as bad as their reputations suggest?

Stick around for our Bond Tropewatch segment, where we rate each of these films against the checklist of standard Bond tropes to see which fares best!

Fair warning: we go into the plots of both films in some detail, including the endings, but we feel like James Bond is somewhat unspoilable in general, so we won't be announcing a Spoiler Territory section for either of these films.

Want to get in touch? You can reach us on caliber9fromouterspace@gmail.com

Theme music: "The Cold Light of Day" by HKM. Check out HKM on #SoundCloud or Bandcamp

"The World is Not Enough" by Straw

We love original horror poster art here at Caliber 9 From Outer Space, and this week we are honoured to host one of the true great artists of that idiom. Graham Humphreys is our guest this week, and we delve into a couple of 1960's horror gems. First up, under-seen Hammer horror-adventure-fantasy The Lost Continent (1968), directed by Michael Carreras and then we go full Lovecraft with Die, Monster, Die! (1965), directed by Daniel Haller.

We really don't think these films can be spoiled, so we won't be announcing a Spoiler Territory section for either of them, even though we go into detail on the plots of both.

Want to get in touch? You can reach us on caliber9fromouterspace@gmail.com

Theme music: "The Cold Light of Day" by HKM. Check out HKM on #SoundCloud or Bandcamp

"Lost Coastlines" by Okkervil River

Forgive us for posting a slightly ramshackle bonus episode, but we thought some of you might like to hear how this year's Joefest was going!

Joefest is a private film festival we run every year in the depths of the British wintertime, when there's nothing better to do than sit inside and watch weird movies from the wilder side of cinema. In this episode, Al and Ali join us to quickly run over the films we've watched and what we thought of them.

Want to get in touch? You can reach us on caliber9fromouterspace@gmail.com

Here's the full list of this year's feature films:

Twisted Pair (2018), dir. Neil Breen

The Outwaters (2022), dir. Robbie Banfitch

Alucarda (1977), dir. Juan Lopez Moctezuma

Champagne and Bullets (1993), dir. John De Hart

Twilight Zone: The Movie (1983), dir. John Landis, Steven Spielberg, Joe Dante, George Miller

The Cassandra Crossing (1976), dir. George P. Cosmatos

Flesh Feast (1970), dir. Brad F. Grinter

Tomorrow I'll Wake Up and Scald Myself With Tea (1977), dir. Jindrich Polak

Death Run (1987), dir. Michael J. Murphy

Junk Head (2017) dir. Takahide Hori

The Kindred (1987), dir. Stephen Carpenter & Jeffrey Obrow

Angel Dust (1994), dir. Gakuryu Ishii

Night of Death (1980), dir. Raphael Delpard

Night Angel (1990), dir. Dominique Othenin-Girard

Angel in the Night (1988), dir. Hernando Name

Take a Hard Ride (1975). dir. Antonio Margheriti

The Hourglass Sanatorium (1973), dir. Wojcech Has

The Demon's Baby (1998), dir. Kant Leung

Theme music: "The Cold Light of Day" by HKM. Check out HKM on #SoundCloud or Bandcamp

"Nightcall" by Kavinsky

As we bemoan the state of the world today and endure the anxiety of this cryptofascist, post-truth reality, we risk losing sight of the real danger to us all: savage fish men! Today we go right back where it all started, Universal's seminal entry in this monster subgenre, Creature from the Black Lagoon (1954), directed by Jack Arnold. We then skip lightly over its first sequel and focus on its under-rated third entry, The Creature Walks Among Us (1956).

Fair warning: we go into the plots of both films in some detail, including the endings, but these films are over 70 years old and the storylines don't have much in the way of twists in any case, so we won't be announcing a Spoiler Territory section for either of them.

Want to get in touch? You can reach us on caliber9fromouterspace@gmail.com

Theme music: "The Cold Light of Day" by HKM. Check out HKM on #SoundCloud or Bandcamp

"Walk Into The Sea" by Johnny Marr

In the future... it pays to be more than human. And it also pays quite well to be more than machine. What can I tell you, the future is highly discriminatory. In this bonus episode, Ted joins Rob and Joe to make a bit of a mess of explaining the plot of Nemesis (1992), directed by Albert Pyun. Cyborgs, bullets, bottoms, and dusters with shades - it's the quintessence of dystopian trashy sci-fi action.

Given how challenged we were by the impenetrable plot, which is of secondary importance at best, anyway, we simply don't bother with Spoiler Territory this week. Meaning, we do talk about the whole plot, but honestly it doesn't really matter.

Want to get in touch? You can reach us on caliber9fromouterspace@gmail.com

Theme music: "The Cold Light of Day" by HKM. Check out HKM on #SoundCloud or Bandcamp

"Killer" by CHVRCHES

We're going back to the 1960's, this time to Swinging London and the Carnaby Street scene. It's not so much groovy, man, as smashing, luv! Justin Kerswell joins us to discuss a couple of near forgotten emanations of this peculiarly British reaction to the spirit of the age. We start off with Smashing Time (1967), directed by Desmond Davis and follow that up with Haunted House of Horror (1969), directed by Michael Armstrong.

We don't think you can really spoil Smashing Time, whose plot is somewhat surplus to requirements, but we will call out Spoiler Territory for Haunted House of Horror. If you want to skip ahead from that point, you can rejoin the conversation at the 2:17:53 mark to avoid spoilers.

Want to get in touch? You can reach us on caliber9fromouterspace@gmail.com

Theme music: "The Cold Light of Day" by HKM. Check out HKM on #SoundCloud or Bandcamp

"Smash It Up" by The Damned

We're chock full of punk energy this week! RP Fox joins us as we check out Hard Core Logo (1996) directed by Bruce McDonald, and Rock 'n' Roll High School (1979) directed by Allan Arkush. A tragicomic road trip across western Canada with thrashing guitars, personal demons, toxic masculinity and lots of gobbing, followed by an absurdist slice of Greaseploitation from the house of Corman, but with added Ramones - which doesn't make much sense but is of course a wonderful thing regardless.

It's not really possible to spoil Rock 'n' Roll High School, but we will call out Spoiler Territory for Hard Core Logo. If you want to skip ahead from that point, you can rejoin the conversation at the 1:34:07 mark to avoid spoilers.

Want to get in touch? You can reach us on caliber9fromouterspace@gmail.com

Theme music: "The Cold Light of Day" by HKM. Check out HKM on #SoundCloud or Bandcamp

"I Just Want to Have Something to Do" by The Ramones

We take a sharp U-turn into Utah for a very unique cult double feature this week. Jose and Mike from the Watch Skip + podcast drop in to check out Beaver Trilogy (2001), directed by Trent Harris and infamous "bad movie", Troll 2 (1990), directed by Claudio Fragasso. From a moving work of post-modern film art to a bizarre exercise in weird acting and incomprehensible plot, we have plenty to talk about this week. And we do! Because it's a podcast.

We don't think you can really spoil Troll 2 (surely any light we can shed on the plot is as welcome before or after you watch it), but we will call out Spoiler Territory for Beaver Trilogy - or at least, we will give away details revealed in the documentary about the film, Beaver Trilogy: Part IV (2015). If you want to skip ahead from that point, you can rejoin the conversation at the 1:31:12 mark to avoid learning things about the film's subject Groovin' Gary that you might prefer to learn after seeing the film.

Want to get in touch? You can reach us on caliber9fromouterspace@gmail.com

Theme music: "The Cold Light of Day" by HKM. Check out HKM on #SoundCloud or Bandcamp

We revisit the dream of the freakadelic 60's this week with a couple of films which both celebrate and mourn the spirit of the age. Mark Evans of Sonic Coins + Icons joins us to discuss Easy Rider (1969), directed by Dennis Hopper and The Trip (1967), directed by Roger Corman. Bikes, weed, LSD, hippies and rednecks abound. Tune in, turn on, and drop out.

We don't think you can really spoil The Trip, which is literally too tripped out to bother with a storyline, but we will call out Spoiler Territory for Easy Rider. If you want to skip ahead from that point, you can rejoin the conversation at the 1:21:16 mark to avoid spoilers.

Want to get in touch? You can reach us on caliber9fromouterspace@gmail.com

Theme music: "The Cold Light of Day" by HKM. Check out HKM on #SoundCloud or Bandcamp

Our closing music this week comes courtesy of Sonic Coins + Icons and their track "Beneath the Veil" (M. Evans) © 2025. Their new album Sohar is available at all the usual places: iTunes, Spotify, etc

Mark's great music can also be explored via the following links:

https://scicons.co.uk/

https://soniccoinsicons.bandcamp.com

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It's time for us to go back to Friday the 13th for another mismatched double feature program from the franchise. Al joins us once again, this time on a trip from the sublime to the ridiculous as we start with Friday the 13th Part VI: Jason Lives (1986), directed by Tom McLaughlin. This was generally considered a return to form for the franchise and has since been lauded as an exercise in metahorror quite ahead of its time.

The flip side, of course, is our B movie, Friday the 13th Part VIII: Jason Takes Manhattan (1989), directed by Rob Hedden - a film which often vies for the title of worst in the series. We may have something to say about that. Or maybe not. But you'd hope so, as this is supposed to be a podcast about movies.

Let's just say, plot is not really the reason to watch either of these films. so we won't be announcing a Spoiler Territory section for either of them.

Want to get in touch? You can reach us on caliber9fromouterspace@gmail.com

Theme music: "The Cold Light of Day" by HKM. Check out HKM on #SoundCloud or Bandcamp

"The Crystal Lake" by Grandaddy

Days of future past - in the total utopia of 2026, we can now look back and laugh fondly at the dystopic cyberpunk visions of the 1990's... OR CAN WE??? Nick Langdon drops in this week to check out a pair of high-tech / low life visions from the mid-90s, when William Gibson's words weighed heavy on the sci-fi genre. We start with Strange Days (1995) directed by Kathryn Bigelow, and follow it up with Johnny Mnemonic (1995) directed by Robert Longo. Download, plug your SQUID in, and tune out...

It's not really possible to spoil Johnny Mnemonic, but we will call out Spoiler Territory for Strange Days (although it's possible Rob does heavily hint who the killer is early on). If you want to skip ahead from that point, you can rejoin the conversation at the 1:31:37 mark to avoid spoilers.

Want to get in touch? You can reach us on caliber9fromouterspace@gmail.com

Theme music: "The Cold Light of Day" by HKM. Check out HKM on #SoundCloud or Bandcamp

"Wires" by Athlete

Classic film noir meets sleazy Italian exploitation this week as Sakana and Dr Ethan drop by to check out The Glass Key (1942), directed by Stuart Heisler, and the magnificently named Strip Nude For Your Killer (1975), directed by Andrea Bianchi. We dive deep into the lives and travails of The Glass Key's wonderful cast (including Alan Ladd, Veronica Lake and Brian Donlevy) and the its striking similarities with Coen brothers' later masterpiece, Miller's Crossing. Then, stay tuned for Ethan, Joe and especially Rob trying hard not to embarrass themselves expressing their... appreciation for Edwige Fenech in Bianchi's lurid giallo.

This time, we manage to have a deep discussion without spoiling the plots of either film, so we won't be calling out Spoiler Territory this week.

Want to get in touch? You can reach us on caliber9fromouterspace@gmail.com

Theme music: "The Cold Light of Day" by HKM. Check out HKM on #SoundCloud or Bandcamp

"Stripped" by Depeche Mode

Happy New Year, folks! The party's heating up at our place: Luigi Pistilli is still looking a little moody, but Steve James is benchpressing Geoffrey Keen (much to his chagrin), Henry Silva and Lance Henriksen are grinning evilly at each other, and Andrea Bianchi is getting a bit gropey (I think Charles Bronson has noticed and he's about to do something violent). So we figured we'd duck out of the festivities long enough to count down our Top 5 first-time watches of 2025 for you. Just a quick episode before we head back and launch into Auld Lang Syne.

See you later this week for the first episode of Season 3!!!

Want to get in touch? You can reach us on caliber9fromouterspace@gmail.com

Theme music: "The Cold Light of Day" by HKM. Check out HKM on #SoundCloud or Bandcamp

Peace on Earth. Can it be??? No, apparently not. Angst and dread continue to reign supreme as we enter the death throes of 2025, so let's just embrace it and have a very happy Crisis-mas!

We've stuffed the stocking fit to bursting in this year's special Christmas episode. We welcome back Sammy from the Gentlemen's Guide to Midnite Cinema, and habitual Caliber 9'er, Bryce Hamilton (who never says no to a good bit of stuffing). Together, we'll be delving into a triple feature of sort-of-Christmas movies, starting with Wake in Fright (1971) directed by Ted Kotcheff, taking a detour into classic film noir with Lady in the Lake (1946), directed by Robert Montgomery and accelerating finally up into a Hong Kong action cinema frenzy with City On Fire (1987), directed by Ringo Lam.

We will be announcing a Spoiler Territory section for all these films. So if you haven't seen them before you listen, you can nevertheless avoid spoilers for Wake in Fright by skipping ahead to the 1:34:50 mark, for Lady in the Lake by skipping ahead to the 2:27:48 mark and for City On Fire by skipping ahead to 3:30:16.

Want to get in touch? You can reach us on caliber9fromouterspace@gmail.com

Theme music: "The Cold Light of Day" by HKM.

Check out HKM on #SoundCloud or Bandcamp

"The Slow Descent into Alcoholism" by The New P*rn*graphers

It's absolute chaos here this week, as Ted Bennett stands in for Joe and we welcome Heather Drain back to talk about some truly insane 1980's cult comedies. First up, little-known John Cusack and Tim Robbins vehicle, Tapeheads (1988), directed by Bill Fishman and then, hold on to your coffee cups and look out for holes in the wall, because we collectively lose our shit while discussing Jackie Kong's Night Patrol (1984).... and that may or may not be because the film is any good.

Let's just say, plot is not really the reason to watch either of these films, so we won't be announcing a Spoiler Territory section for either of them.

Obviously, you can always expect a little blue language on our show, but fair warning: we get a little... how you say?... ribald, on this one.

Want to get in touch? You can reach us on caliber9fromouterspace@gmail.com

Theme music: "The Cold Light of Day" by HKM. Check out HKM on #SoundCloud or Bandcamp

"Baby Doll" by Devo

Although James Bond is one of the most beloved film franchises in cinema history, quite a lot of the films remain rather unloved. So we're going to give those ones a closer look, starting this week with the two films that, according to Letterboxd, are the least watched entries in the official EON canon. Nick Langdon pops in and checks out For Your Eyes Only (1981), directed by John Glen, and also Glen's fourth directorial effort in the franchise, The Living Daylights (1987).

We don't think it's really possible to spoil any of the James Bond films - surely, they've all seeped fully into the pop culture consciousness by now - so we won't be calling out Spoiler Territory for either film this week.

Want to get in touch? You can reach us on caliber9fromouterspace@gmail.com

Theme music: "The Cold Light of Day" by HKM. Check out HKM on #SoundCloud or Bandcamp

"For Your Eyes Only" by Blondie

Bloody vengeance and boobs galore on the show this week. I know that could describe most weeks round here, but this time we really mean vengeance, and we've never had more boobs. Ted Bennett has come over to Casa Calibro with two fun Hong Kong genre films to watch and discuss: Taxi Hunter (1993), directed by Herman Yau and Robotrix (1991), directed by Jamie Luk. Strap in and make sure your dress isn't caught in the door, because things are going to get racey!

We don't think you can really spoil Robotrix, a movie where the actual plot doesn't really matter, but we will call out Spoiler Territory for Taxi Hunter. If you want to skip ahead from that point, you can rejoin the conversation at the 1:17:11 mark to avoid spoilers.

Want to get in touch? You can reach us on caliber9fromouterspace@gmail.com

Theme music: "The Cold Light of Day" by HKM. Check out HKM on #SoundCloud or Bandcamp

"Tricks of the Trade" by Mew

A gore-spattered double feature for the ages! We've just decided to let loose this week and tick off surely two of the greatest cult horror films in history. Andy Hunt drops by to check out Evil Dead 2 (1987), directed by Sam Raimi, and follow it up with one of the ultimate hold-my-beer moments, Peter Jackson's Braindead (a.k.a. Dead Alive) (1992).

It's not really possible to spoil these films and one would hope the average Caliber 9 From Outer Space listener will have seen both of these films multiple times by now, so we won't be calling out Spoiler Territory for either film this week.

Want to get in touch? You can reach us on caliber9fromouterspace@gmail.com

Theme music: "The Cold Light of Day" by HKM. Check out HKM on #SoundCloud or Bandcamp

Our closing music this week comes courtesy of Sonic Coins + Icons and their track "No Need to Hide" (M. Evans) © 2025. Their new album Sohar is available at all the usual places: iTunes, Spotify, etc

The past is gone. The future is not yet here. There is only ever this moment. We're all about lists this week, as James T Williams drops in to discuss Kill List (2011), directed by Ben Wheatley and Hit List (1989), directed by William Lustig. We dive deep into the exciting statement on horrific cinema psychedelia that was Wheatley's debut feature, and contrast it with Lustig's far more conventional crime procedural - which was not without existential problems of its own.

We will be announcing a Spoiler Territory section for both films, so if you haven't seen them before you listen, you can nevertheless avoid spoilers for Kill List by skipping ahead to the 1:18:37 mark, and for Hit List by skipping ahead to 2:12:07.

Want to get in touch? You can reach us on caliber9fromouterspace@gmail.com

Theme music: "The Cold Light of Day" by HKM. Check out HKM on #SoundCloud or Bandcamp

"Day of the Lords" by Joy Division

It's our 100th episode! We have a bumper edition this week to celebrate with a somewhat eclectic triple feature (as is our wont). Mike White and Sammy join us to discuss Sisters (1972), directed by Brian De Palma, The Brother from Another Planet (1984), directed by John Sayles, and Twins of Evil (1971), directed by John Hough. A sadly still very relevant critique of intolerance and division in the USA wedged between two lurid but very different tales riffing on the horror of psychological duality - there's so much to discuss and we duly do just that in our longest episode to date. Never fear though - it's all killer, no filler!

We manage to get deep into The Brother From Another Planet without really spoiling it, and although we do discuss the ending of Twins of Evil, plot is not really the point of most Hammer horror and this is no exception. We do, however, call out Spoiler Territory for Sisters. If you want to skip ahead from that point, you can rejoin the conversation at the 1:35:59 mark to avoid spoilers.

Thanks for being withus over this first hundred episodes - we aim to keep going for many hundreds more!

Want to get in touch? You can reach us on caliber9fromouterspace@gmail.com

Theme music: "The Cold Light of Day" by HKM.

Check out HKM on #SoundCloud or Bandcamp

"Big Calm" by Morcheeba