Join Adrian Roberto and Dion Tubrett for discussions of cult cinema; from classic to contemporary, well-known to hidden gems, and films sure to offend someone's sensibilities. Welcome to Cult Film School: class is in session.
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Adrian and his brother Al revisit Wes Craven's Vampire in Brooklyn (1995), the horror-comedy where the only thing more mysterious than the creatures of the night is a film confused about what it wants to be. Adrian and Al consider whether the film's tone and high points of character comedy and horror set pieces have aged well, or if instead the film should be buried with a stake through its heart.
After-School SpeciAL: Dracula: Dead and Loving It (1995)
Season 5 · Episode 2
Tuesday, January 6, 2026 • Duration 38:45
Adrian and his brother Al revisit Mel Brooks's Dracula: Dead and Loving It (1995), recalling the characters, set pieces, and quotable lines that made them fall in love with it years ago, but does it still hold that same hypnotic power? Under the circumstances, a rewatch would be normal, perfectly normal.
Adrian and Dion are back with an "Extra Credit" episode on Superman (2025). Adrian just saw it on opening weekend and wanted to tell Dion all about it. As a Superman superfan, how does Adrian see this newest iteration of the superhero? Does the film stand up to Adrian's high Superman standards, and what questions will Dion have about the film and Adrian's take?
Chapters:
0:00:12 - Welcome to Cult Film School?
0:00:47 - Adrian, the Superman fan
0:01:31 - Adrian's overall assessment on Superman (2025)
In this Bonus "Extra Credit" episode of Cult Film School, Adrian and Dion have an end of semester announcement. Listen as they think their way through a relatively simple and straightforward update.
Indonesian Cult Classics: Mystics in Bali (1981) & Lady Terminator (1989)
Season 3 · Episode 10
Tuesday, December 24, 2024 • Duration 01:05:39
In this episode of Cult Film School, Adrian and Dion expose themselves to some iconic cult world cinema: Indonesian Cult Classics Mystics in Bali (1981) and Lady Terminator (1989). Black magic, witchcraft, supernatural insanity, and consistently baffling English language dubbing (and other narrative and editing choices!) are a feast for the senses. Can they make sense of this wtf bounty? If only they were "anthropologists"…
Chapters:
0:00:12 - Welcome to Cult Film School
0:03:14 - Why Indonesian Cult Classics? Why now?
0:09:06 - A Little Context for Home Video Label Mondo Macabro and Indonesian Cult Cinema of the 1980s
0:13:10 - Mystics in Bali (1981): IMDb Plot Summary
0:13:46 - The Decoder Ring for Mystics in Bali: An Adaptation of Dracula
0:20:36 - Sexual Tension (?) in Mystics in Bali
0:25:03 - Mystics in Bali: Perhaps the Most Amazing Scene in the History of Cinema
0:33:25 - The Epic Climax of Mystics in Bali
0:37:45 - Mystics in Bali (1981): Tagline
0:38:41 - Lady Terminator (1989): IMDb Plot Summary
0:45:03 - In Case You Missed It, It's Terminator (with a splash of Lifeforce)
0:48:37 - The Good Guy Cop and His Mullet-Rocking Cop Buddies
0:52:02 - Terminator's Famous "Eye-Cutting" Scene (but in Lady Terminator)
0:54:13 - The Explosive Climax of Lady Terminator
The Blackest of Christmases: Black Christmas (2006) & Black Christmas (2019)
Season 3 · Episode 9
Tuesday, December 10, 2024 • Duration 01:13:05
This Christmas season, Adrian and Dion return to the Winter Wonderland of Christmas trauma with the Black Christmas remakes: Black Christmas (2006) and Black Christmas (2019). Bob Clark's 1974 film is a horror classic, so what could go wrong when these films remake it? Grab your eggnog, and get ready for plenty of Christmas decorations and confusing choices (cannibalism? message movie?). Adrian and Dion won't be dreaming of a "Black Christmas," but, oh, the nightmares.
Chapters:
0:00:12 - Welcome to Cult Film School
0:02:42 - Why the Black Christmas Remakes?!?
0:05:01 - Black Christmas (2006): IMDb Plot Summary
0:05:44 - Black Christmas (1974): IMDb Plot Summary
0:07:01 - Black Christmas (2006): Similarities to the Original 1974 Film?
0:09:14 - Black Christmas (2006): Differences from the Original 1974 Film?
0:11:37 - "The Weinstein Touch," or, How Bob and Harvey Weinstein Interfered in the 2006 Production
0:18:55 - The Gifts of Black Christmas (2006)
0:21:16 - The "Sort-Of" Mystery in Black Christmas (2006)
0:24:39 - The Problems with "Agnes" and the Backstory in Black Christmas (2006)
0:29:31 - The Alternate Endings of Black Christmas (2006)
0:34:07 - Black Christmas (2006): Tagline
0:36:32 - Black Christmas (2019): IMDb Plot Summary
0:37:40 - Black Christmas (2019): Similarities to the Original 1974 Film?
Musical Aliens: Voyage of the Rock Aliens (1984) & Earth Girls Are Easy (1988)
Season 3 · Episode 8
Tuesday, November 26, 2024 • Duration 01:02:11
In this episode of Cult Film School, Adrian and Dion circle back to the 1980s with alien invasions that burst into song: Musical Aliens! They look to the "everything-and-the-kitchen-sink" genre parody Voyage of the Rock Aliens (1984) and the bubblegum brightness of the SoCal musical alien sex comedy Earth Girls Are Easy (1988). They'll discuss the excesses and oddities in both films, the music, the aliens, and some questionable choices, and the joys these musicals bring. Will Adrian and Dion survive these alien visitors? Maybe, but only if they could carry a tune.
Chapters:
0:00:13 - Welcome to Cult Film School
0:03:18 - Re-introductions to 1950's Aliens & Contemporary Genre Mash-ups (A CFS Primer)
0:07:26 - Voyage of the Rock Aliens (1984): IMDb Plot Summary
0:08:40 - Inspirations for & Production History of Voyage of the Rock Aliens
0:12:50 - Music Video Confusion in Voyage of the Rock Aliens
0:16:23 - Musicians as Actors as Aliens and "Comedy"
0:17:11 - The Many Narrative Confusions of Voyage of the Rock Aliens (aka "Why? Just Because!")
0:19:57 - Adrian & Dion Bond Over "Cotillion"
0:21:14 - 1980's Nostalgia for the 1950s
0:24:13 - More Music Video Confusion in Voyage of the Rock Aliens
0:29:02 - Shocking Reactions to Voyage of the Rock Aliens
0:34:37 - Voyage of the Rock Aliens (1984): Tagline
0:36:33 - Earth Girls Are Easy (1988): IMDb Plot Summary
0:37:01 - 's Production History
Bates, Norman Bates: Psycho II (1983), Psycho III (1986) & Psycho IV: The Beginning (1990)
Season 3 · Episode 7
Tuesday, November 12, 2024 • Duration 01:19:18
In this episode of Cult Film School, Adrian and Dion overstay their welcome in Fairvale to soak in the ambience of the three Psycho sequels: Richard Franklin's Psycho II (1983), Anthony Perkin's Psycho III (1986), & Mick Garris's Psycho IV: The Beginning (1990). They discuss the different attempts at returning to the 1960 film, and the different ways the sequels remake and reimagine it. They also consider the many incarnations of Norman Bates while attempting to answer the question, 'How many film references can one sequel have?' Spoiler: Probably enough to fill a bathtub.
Chapters:
0:00:12 - Welcome to Cult Film School
0:03:00 - Personal Introductions to the Psycho Sequels
0:06:38 - Psycho II (1983): IMDb Plot Summary
0:07:38 - Contexts for Psycho II: The Hitchcock Five, Robert Bloch's Sequel Novel, & Production History
0:14:45 - Psycho II: "This film has no right being as good as it is."
0:24:21 - The Ambiguous Psychology of Norman Bates
0:32:34 - Violence in Psycho II
0:36:43 - Psycho II (1983): Tagline
0:37:59 - Psycho III (1986): IMDb Plot Summary
0:39:28 - The Visual Style of Psycho III: "Blood Simple by Michael Mann" X Giallo
0:43:10 - Jeff Fahey Appreciation Society (& Crotch Lamp Sex Scene)
0:48:06 - Hysteria of Psycho III
0:52:19 - Confusion with Psycho III
0:55:34 - (1986): Tagline
Robin Wood and The American Nightmare: Psycho (1960) & The Last House on the Left (1972)
Season 3 · Episode 6
Tuesday, October 29, 2024 • Duration 01:04:21
In this episode of Cult Film School, hosts Adrian and Dion reminisce on their relationships with film critic Robin Wood, and talk about his work on the horror film, culminating in the influential The American Nightmare film program (and book) in 1979. On its 45th anniversary, they discuss Robin Wood's contributions to the critical study of horror through two films he championed: Alfred Hitchcock's Psycho (1960) and Wes Craven's The Last House on the Left (1972). They discuss personal memories as well as themes and reactions to the films, and the critical perspectives Robin Wood brought to bear on the horror film genre.
Chapters:
0:00:12 - Welcome to Cult Film School
0:02:09 - Robin Wood Stories
0:09:28 - The American Nightmare (1979)
0:11:22 - Thanks for the Film Recommendation, Daniel!
0:12:36 - Psycho (1960): IMDb Plot Summary
0:13:34 - Robin Wood's "Psychoanalysis of Psycho" (1960)
0:15:15 - Psycho as Exploitation Horror Film Experiment
0:17:30 - Film Marketing and Hitchcock as Showman
0:19:36 - Psycho as Transitional (and Seminal) Film
0:25:35 - Families in Psycho
0:29:18 - Psycho (1960): Tagline
0:32:47 - The Last House on the Left (1972): IMDb Plot Summary
0:34:26 - Robin Wood's "Neglected Nightmares" (1980)
0:38:39 - Tonal Shifts in The Last House on the Left
0:43:19 - Empathy in
David Gordon Green Kills Halloween: Halloween (2018), Halloween Kills (2021) & Halloween Ends (2022)
Season 3 · Episode 5
Tuesday, October 15, 2024 • Duration 01:21:30
In this episode of Cult Film School, hosts Adrian and Dion dissect David Gordon Green's Halloween trilogy. They discuss the successes and shortcomings of Halloween (2018), Halloween Kills (2021) and Halloween Ends (2022). The conversation spans the trilogy's themes, character arcs, and narrative choices, while also comparing the recent films to previous entries in the iconic Halloween franchise.
Chapters:
0:00:14 Welcome to Cult Film School
0:02:47 The Halloween multiverse (of continuities)
0:06:21 Halloween (2018): IMDb Plot Summary
0:10:26 2018 Michael Myers "on brand" + futile searches for motivations
0:16:29 Why comedy kills tension in Halloween (2018)
0:36:35 "Evil Dies Tonight!" (And Other Attempts at Subtlety)
0:38:29 "It's Not About You! It's About Me!"
0:42:31 Is Halloween Kills a Black Comedy or Satire?
0:52:24 Halloween Kills: Tagline
0:52:51 Halloween Ends: IMDb Plot Summary
0:53:32 A Halloween Love Story
0:55:45 Carpenter's Halloween or Carpenter's Christine?
1:00:53 A Character Arc for Laurie Strode?
1:06:17 Allyson forgotten
1:11:43 Halloween Ends: Tagline
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