Let them fight... about the 2014 reboot of Godzilla! 

Nah, not really. We're all pretty positive about this inaugural entry in the Monsterverse franchise. We discuss the unusual origins of the project and its decade-long journey to the big screen, director Gareth Edwards' less is more approach to the material, some of the most common complaints fans have about it, how it compares to subsequent entries, and much more!

Facebook | Twitter | Instagram
Apple Podcasts | Stitcher | Google Play | Spotify

Chris's Instagram & Twitter | Kristen's Instagram

Chris & Kristen's Web Series:
The Strange Case of Lucy Chandler

You’re so cool, Brewster. We can’t stand it! Join us as we investigate one of the most impressive and underrated horror films of the 80s. This week, it’s Fright Night… for real!

Topics include: how each of us was introduced to this film, getting old enough to realize just how horny every single scene is, whether or not we agree with its classification as a horror/comedy, the tight-knit cast and how close they remain to this day, practical effects that rival the other heavy-hitters from this era, the sequel, the remake, some interesting what-ifs, and much more!

Facebook | Twitter | Instagram
Apple Podcasts | Stitcher | Google Play | Spotify

Chris's Instagram & Twitter | Kristen's Instagram

Chris & Kristen's Web Series:
The Strange Case of Lucy Chandler

Heart of Ice has become the signature episode of Batman: The Animated Series, but it's just the tip of the iceberg (see what we did there?) We're using this bold reinvention of Mr. Freeze as a jumping-off point to talk about the history of this seminal show and why it remains our favorite adaptation of the Caped Crusader and his rogues. 

Topics include: Freeze's Silver Age origins (where he was known as Mr. Zero), his handful of appearances on the 60s Batman show, the perception of him prior to Batman: The Animated Series, the story behind this dramatically revamped iteration of the character, the surprisingly nuanced approach the creators took with so many of the villains, the incredible voice cast, how B:TAS successfully synthesized fifty years worth of Batman into something that felt new and familiar at the same time, Freeze's evolution across his subsequent appearances, how this depiction was eventually introduced into the comic books, why this remains the high watermark for so many of these characters, and much more!   Facebook | Twitter | Instagram
Apple Podcasts | Stitcher | Google Play | Spotify

Chris's Instagram & Twitter | Kristen's Instagram

Chris & Kristen's Web Series:
The Strange Case of Lucy Chandler

The Hitcher wasn't particularly well-received when it was released in 1986, but it has developed a dedicated following in the intervening years. And a big part of that is unquestionably due to Rutger Hauer's standout performance as the title character. It's as menacing, beguiling, and unusual as the film itself. So join us as we hitch a ride with this cult classic and open up a case file on the mysterious John Ryder.   Facebook | Twitter | Instagram
Apple Podcasts | Stitcher | Google Play | Spotify

Chris's Instagram & Twitter | Kristen's Instagram

Chris & Kristen's Web Series:
The Strange Case of Lucy Chandler

Be our guest as we dive into the enchanting world of Beauty and the Beast. In this episode, we explore the origins of the original fairy tale, Disney's prior attempts to bring it to the big screen, why the character of Gaston was instrumental in finally making this all work, how the film helped set the stage for the era known as the "Disney Renaissance", its direct-to-video follow-ups, the live-action remake from 2017, and much more!   Facebook | Twitter | Instagram
Apple Podcasts | Stitcher | Google Play | Spotify

Chris's Instagram & Twitter | Kristen's Instagram

Chris & Kristen's Web Series:
The Strange Case of Lucy Chandler

The legacy of The Crow is inextricably intertwined with tragedy. A devastating loss inspired the creation of the original comic book and then another would cast a shadow over its feature film adaptation.

But this blistering tale of love, revenge, and catharsis struck a chord with a legion of fans... and for one of your hosts, this was a story that found them at exactly the right time.   In this episode, we're doing a deep dive into all of it: the comic, the film, the accident, the aftermath, and so much more. Fire it up!   Facebook | Twitter | Instagram
Apple Podcasts | Stitcher | Google Play | Spotify

Chris's Instagram & Twitter | Kristen's Instagram

Chris & Kristen's Web Series:
The Strange Case of Lucy Chandler

Chris's Article About James O'Barr & The Crow

Fargo, eh? You're darn tootin'!   After the disappointing reception to their previous film, the Coen brothers decided to retreat into something much smaller in scope. And although they expected Fargo to have somewhat limited appeal, it would go on to become one of their biggest hits. 

Topics include: the nebulous nature of the movie's claim that this is based on a true story, the lengths William H. Macy went to in order to secure his role, how Roger Deakins' cinematography reinforces the major themes of the story, the origins of the film's unusual but iconic score, pushback on the idea that this is in any way punching down at Minnesotans, the movie's unexpected success, the first attempt to turn it into a television series back in 1997, the more successful incarnation that began in 2013, and much more!   Facebook | Twitter | Instagram
Apple Podcasts | Stitcher | Google Play | Spotify

Chris's Instagram & Twitter | Kristen's Instagram

Chris & Kristen's Web Series:
The Strange Case of Lucy Chandler

This is no dream. This is really happening! Join us as we move into the Bramford building and get to know the new neighbors. In this episode, we're investigating the history and impact of Rosemary's Baby.   Topics include: the state of the horror genre when this movie was released, why there was initially some resistance to the idea of hiring Roman Polanski to direct this, their atypical choices for the two lead roles and the more conventional names that were considered, how the decision to make the supernatural elements more ambiguous created multiple ways to interpret the film, the less successful follow-ups, the degree to which Polanski's controversial legacy hangs over all of this, and much more! Facebook | Twitter | Instagram
Apple Podcasts | Stitcher | Google Play | Spotify

Chris's Instagram & Twitter | Kristen's Instagram

Chris & Kristen's Web Series:
The Strange Case of Lucy Chandler

It's a brand new season of Rogues Gallery and we're kicking things off with what's become our most requested title... The Silence of the Lambs!   Topics include: Hannibal Lecter's first on-screen appearance in the film Manhunter, why director Jonathan Demme was an unlikely choice to helm this, alternate casting choices for the lead roles, how hard Jodie Foster campaigned for Clarice and the reason this project meant so much to her, Anthony Hopkins' transformative (and star-making) performance, whether or not Ted Levine's turn as Buffalo Bill has been overshadowed by the complicated and controversial aspects of that character, the unexpected critical and commercial success the movie received, all of the various attempts to cash in on that success (sequels, prequels, and TV shows), why certain iterations of Lecter are more effective than others, and much more!
  Facebook | Twitter | Instagram
Apple Podcasts | Stitcher | Google Play | Spotify

Chris's Instagram & Twitter | Kristen's Instagram

Chris & Kristen's Web Series:
The Strange Case of Lucy Chandler

Welcome foolish mortals... to the season finale of Rogues Gallery! To celebrate Halloween, we're investigating the history, development, and lasting legacy of the world's most famous haunted house attraction: Disneyland's Haunted Mansion.

Topics include: earlier iterations of the ride's plot, why the opening was delayed for so long, key differences between the Disneyland and Disney World versions, the surprisingly low-tech approach to many of the incredible effects, how the ride has evolved over the years, the reasoning behind some of the big changes made to the attraction for international parks, the two live-action movies, the Muppet special, unproduced screenplays, and much more!

Rogues Gallery will return with new episodes on January 10th!

Facebook | Twitter | Instagram
Apple Podcasts | Stitcher | Google Play | Spotify

Chris's Instagram & Twitter | Kristen's Instagram

Chris & Kristen's Web Series:
The Strange Case of Lucy Chandler

Chris's Substack Newsletter:
Chris Fights Demons

This one's probably not taking the top spot in anyone's ranking of the Halloween movies, but The Revenge of Michael Myers has a pretty interesting behind-the-scenes story brimming with fascinating what-ifs, missed opportunities, and cautionary tales.

Topics include: how earlier drafts tackled Part 4's cliffhanger ending, Rachel's early exit and her controversial replacement, mixed feelings about the inclusion of more overtly supernatural elements, the underdeveloped subplot about Jamie and Michael's connection, the awkward addition of The Man in Black, your answers to Ultimate Match Up, Kristen's predictions for Halloween 6, and more! Facebook | Twitter | Instagram
Apple Podcasts | Stitcher | Google Play | Spotify

Chris's Instagram & Twitter | Kristen's Instagram

Chris & Kristen's Web Series:
The Strange Case of Lucy Chandler

Chris's Substack Newsletter:
Chris Fights Demons

The leaves are changing color and the air is feeling a little crisper. Fall is here and you know what that means...

It's time for Fall Verhoeven!

It's our annual retrospective of the films of Paul Verhoeven and this year we're enlisting for a tour of duty with the brave citizens of Starship Troopers. Although it's loosely based on Robert Heinlein's seminal (and controversial) novel, the movie is less an adaptation and more of a satirical takedown of its source text. A fact that went over the heads of most critics and audiences back in 1997. Since then, Starship Troopers has undergone a fairly dramatic reappraisal and is now a beloved entry in Verhoeven's filmography for many of the same reasons it was initially panned.

Topics include: the film's development as "Bug Hunt At Outpost Nine" and the makeover it received once the studio acquired the rights to Heinlein's novel, how a scathing indictment of fascism and militarism wound up being accused of championing those ideals, some of the major cuts and alterations that had to be made in order to bring this in on budget, the many factors that contributed to its dismal box office performance, all the straight to video sequels, rumors of a more faithful adaptation, and much more!

Facebook | Twitter | Instagram
Apple Podcasts | Stitcher | Google Play | Spotify

Chris's Instagram & Twitter | Kristen's Instagram

Chris & Kristen's Web Series:
The Strange Case of Lucy Chandler

Chris's Substack Newsletter:
Chris Fights Demons

It's our 100th episode! We knew we needed a truly head-spinning rogue to mark the occasion, so we decided to investigate what many consider to be the scariest movie ever made: The Exorcist.

Topics include: the real-life case that inspired the novel, how a last-minute appearance on a late-night talk show changed the book's fate, the long road to finding the right director for the film adaptation, the controversial tactics that were used to get more authentic performances from these actors, why so many cast and crew members felt the production was cursed, our thoughts on the extended cut, which sequels are worth your time, and much more!

Here's the Reddit thread discussed in the episode.

Facebook | Twitter | Instagram
Apple Podcasts | Stitcher | Google Play | Spotify

Chris's Instagram & Twitter | Kristen's Instagram

Chris & Kristen's Web Series:
The Strange Case of Lucy Chandler

We're canceling the apocalypse and opening up a case file on Guillermo del Toro's kaiju vs. mech slugfest Pacific Rim.

Topics include: how the film reignited del Toro's passion for filmmaking after a handful of other projects fell apart, the deliberate decision to avoid any gratuitous references to its key influences,  whether or not the incredibly detailed lore is offset by occasionally thin characterization, the underwhelming sequel, some surprisingly strong comic book and animated tie-ins, a few theories on why this wasn't a bigger hit, and much more! 

Facebook | Twitter | Instagram
Apple Podcasts | Stitcher | Google Play | Spotify

Chris's Instagram & Twitter | Kristen's Instagram

Chris & Kristen's Web Series:
The Strange Case of Lucy Chandler

Chris's Substack Newsletter:
Chris Fights Demons

In honor of its 30th anniversary, we’re opening up a case file on The Fugitive! Although the film wound up being a critical and commercial hit, it first had to survive a surprisingly arduous development process and an even more chaotic production. It’s actually kind of a miracle that it turned out this good. So join us as we investigate The Fugitive’s long journey from development hell to bona fide classic.

Topics include: the 1960s TV series and the real-life case that inspired it, how drastically different earlier iterations of the film’s plot were, alternate casting choices for Kimble and Gerard, why they had to start shooting without a finished script, subplots that were cut, the new ending that was added, how the story was further transformed in editing, the forgotten sequel, other adaptations, and more!

Facebook | Twitter | Instagram
Apple Podcasts | Stitcher | Google Play | Spotify

Chris's Instagram & Twitter | Kristen's Instagram

Chris & Kristen's Web Series:
The Strange Case of Lucy Chandler

Chris's Substack Newsletter:
Chris Fights Demons

Park Chan-wook’s action/thriller Oldboy was a watershed moment for South Korean cinema. Here in the West, the film’s success led to a slew of “extreme” movies that emphasized over-the-top gore and violence. And while Oldboy certainly doesn’t skimp on bloodshed, its most disturbing aspects emanate from the taboo subject matter and dark themes it’s exploring.

Topics include: the original manga that the film is loosely based on, how Park Chan-wook’s attitude towards the depiction of sex and violence in his movies has changed over the years, the clever subversion of certain antihero tropes, different interpretations of the ending, the 2013 American remake, and more!

Facebook | Twitter | Instagram
Apple Podcasts | Stitcher | Google Play | Spotify

Chris's Instagram & Twitter | Kristen's Instagram

Chris & Kristen's Web Series:
The Strange Case of Lucy Chandler

Chris's Substack Newsletter:
Chris Fights Demons

It’s time to re-open our case film on the Springwood Slasher and investigate the chaotic production of A Nightmare on Elm Street 5: The Dream Child. We’re entering a particularly rough patch of this franchise and by all accounts, everyone involved with this entry realized pretty quickly that the deck had been stacked against them.

Topics include: the producers settling on a title and a poster before there was a script, their desire to return the series to its darker roots, how successfully this deals with the complicated issues its tackling, the continued muddling of an already confusing mythology, standout sequences, the lackluster reception, and much more!

Facebook | Twitter | Instagram
Apple Podcasts | Stitcher | Google Play | Spotify

Chris's Instagram & Twitter | Kristen's Instagram

Chris & Kristen's Web Series:
The Strange Case of Lucy Chandler

Chris's Substack Newsletter:
Chris Fights Demons

The plot of World War Z is pretty straightforward, but the film's journey to the big screen was anything but. In this episode, we investigate why the filmmakers deviated so substantially from the novel and how this became one of the most troubled productions in recent memory.

Topics include: why they rejected an initial script that was much closer to the source material, how almost everyone involved was in over their head, the disastrous first cut, the extensive reshoots, bizarre remnants of that original version, whether or not the movie succeeds on its own terms, how it became a bigger-than-expected box office hit, the frustrating reason a very promising sequel never came together, and much more!  

Facebook | Twitter | Instagram
Apple Podcasts | Stitcher | Google Play | Spotify

Chris's Instagram & Twitter | Kristen's Instagram

Chris & Kristen's Web Series:
The Strange Case of Lucy Chandler

Chris's Substack Newsletter:
Chris Fights Demons

There have been several adaptations of Patricia Highsmith's Ripley novels, but 1999's The Talented Mr. Ripley remains the definitive cinematic interpretation of the cunning con artist. And that's despite the fact that it makes some pretty substantial changes to the source text and the title character.

In this episode, we compare and contrast the book and the film, discuss Highsmith's complicated reputation and how her own personal demons infused her work, discover just how many new elements writer/director Anthony Minghella added to the story, and touch on some of the other Ripley adaptations and the upcoming TV series.    Facebook | Twitter | Instagram
Apple Podcasts | Stitcher | Google Play | Spotify

Chris's Instagram & Twitter | Kristen's Instagram

Chris & Kristen's Web Series:
The Strange Case of Lucy Chandler

Chris's Substack Newsletter:
Chris Fights Demons

For many fans of the Predator franchise, Prey was simultaneously a welcome return to form and a refreshing expansion of the mythology. In this episode, we track the film's top-secret development, detail its grueling production, and speculate where the series might go from here.   

Facebook | Twitter | Instagram
Apple Podcasts | Stitcher | Google Play | Spotify

Chris's Instagram & Twitter | Kristen's Instagram

Chris & Kristen's Web Series:
The Strange Case of Lucy Chandler

Chris's Substack Newsletter:
Chris Fights Demons

The Mist is a largely faithful adaptation of Stephen King's original novella with one major exception. It's a decision that viewers have been debating since the film was released in the fall of 2007. In this episode, we compare and contrast both versions of the story, the film's long road to the big screen, how its box office success was hobbled by its marketing and release date, where it ranks in the pantheon of King adaptations, and much more!

Facebook | Twitter | Instagram
Apple Podcasts | Stitcher | Google Play | Spotify

Chris's Instagram & Twitter | Kristen's Instagram

Chris & Kristen's Web Series:
The Strange Case of Lucy Chandler

Chris's Substack Newsletter:
Chris Fights Demons

When Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom was released in 1984, many audiences and critics felt it was too dark and too weird in comparison to its predecessor. But for a whole other subset of the fandom, those elements were precisely what made this one so special.

In this episode, we investigate the behind the scenes circumstances that led to an Indy sequel that zigged instead of zagged and see how the most divisive entry in the franchise holds up nearly forty years later. Facebook | Twitter | Instagram
Apple Podcasts | Stitcher | Google Play | Spotify

Chris's Instagram & Twitter | Kristen's Instagram

Chris & Kristen's Web Series:
The Strange Case of Lucy Chandler

Chris's Substack Newsletter:
Chris Fights Demons

Gird your loins! The Devil Wears Prada gave Meryl Streep an opportunity to sink her teeth into a deliciously villainous character, but you might be surprised to discover how different the film is from the bestselling novel it's based on.   In this episode, we investigate the real-life inspiration for the character of Miranda, how that bolstered and hindered the development of the movie, a major subplot from the book the filmmakers decided to excise, why so many fans dislike Andy's boyfriend, how the film became a surprise hit, why the novel's two sequels were never adapted, and much more!

Facebook | Twitter | Instagram
Apple Podcasts | Stitcher | Google Play | Spotify

Chris's Instagram & Twitter | Kristen's Instagram

Chris & Kristen's Web Series:
The Strange Case of Lucy Chandler

Chris's Substack Newsletter:
Chris Fights Demons

It may be imperative for the characters in this movie to stay silent, but we sure have a lot to say about A Quiet Place.   Topics include: the incredible first trailer, the substantially different original script, the alterations and contributions John Krasinski made after signing on to direct, some of the most pervasive nitpicks with the premise and these creatures, various interpretations of what the film symbolizes, its expansion into a wider franchise, and much more!
Facebook | Twitter | Instagram
Apple Podcasts | Stitcher | Google Play | Spotify

Chris's Instagram & Twitter | Kristen's Instagram

Chris & Kristen's Web Series:
The Strange Case of Lucy Chandler

 

When it was announced that Heath Ledger would be playing the Joker, a firestorm of controversy erupted. But when The Dark Knight hit theaters in the summer of 2008, naysayers found themselves with a whole heaping plate of crow to eat. This isn't just the best villain in a Batman movie, it's one of the great movie villains PERIOD.

In this episode, we're investigating the way Christopher Nolan and his team radically reinterpreted this iconic character and forever changed the perception of what comic book movies could be.

"And here. We. Go."

Facebook | Twitter | Instagram
Apple Podcasts | Stitcher | Google Play | Spotify

Chris's Instagram & Twitter | Kristen's Instagram

Chris & Kristen's Web Series:
The Strange Case of Lucy Chandler

Chris's Substack Newsletter:
Chris Fights Demons

 

Although it's one of the most beloved movies of all time, The Wizard of Oz was also nightmare fuel for a lot of us when we were kids. But while The Wicked Witch and her flying monkeys terrorized Dorothy and her friends on screen, it turns out the real nightmares were taking place behind the scenes.   Join us as we investigate the troubled production of one of Hollywood's most iconic films, the tragic life of its leading lady, and the enduring legacy of a magical land that exists somewhere over the rainbow.

Facebook | Twitter | Instagram
Apple Podcasts | Stitcher | Google Play | Spotify

Chris's Instagram & Twitter | Kristen's Instagram

Chris & Kristen's Web Series:
The Strange Case of Lucy Chandler

Chris's Substack Newsletter:
Chris Fights Demons

Try as they will and try as they might, whoever steals his gold won't live through the night! Join us for a (slightly belated) St. Patrick's Day celebration as we revisit the 1993 horror/comedy Leprechaun.   We discuss the reasons behind the bizarre tonal shifts in the film, the vaguely defined powers of the title character, how Jennifer Aniston really feels about her big-screen debut, the savage reviews, its box office success, the wild ride the sequels take viewers on, and much more!

Facebook | Twitter | Instagram
Apple Podcasts | Stitcher | Google Play | Spotify

Chris's Instagram & Twitter | Kristen's Instagram

Chris & Kristen's Web Series:
The Strange Case of Lucy Chandler

Chris's Substack Newsletter:
Chris Fights Demons

 

We're back! And on this episode, we're putting together a case file on the ghost with the most - Beetlejuice... Beetlejuice... Beetlejuice!   Our investigation digs into the original (and much darker) version of this script, the pivotal point Tim Burton's career was at, the unusual first choice for the title role, our favorite sequences, other media Beetlejuice has appeared in, whether or not the proposed sequel could still work, and much more!      Facebook | Twitter | Instagram
Apple Podcasts | Stitcher | Google Play | Spotify

Chris's Instagram & Twitter | Kristen's Instagram

Chris & Kristen's Web Series:
The Strange Case of Lucy Chandler

Chris's Substack Newsletter:
Chris Fights Demons

This week we've got a Thanksgiving Turkey Triple Play! Each of us has chosen a movie that was critically maligned upon its original release and we're going to debate whether or not they've earned a reappraisal. On the chopping block we've got Gremlins 2: The New Batch, Volcano, and Alien 3!

The RG gang is going to be taking a brief break for the holidays, but follow us on social media using the links below to stay up to date with the show and our other endeavors. 

Facebook | Twitter | Instagram
Apple Podcasts | Stitcher | Google Play | Spotify

Chris's Instagram & Twitter | Kristen's Instagram

Chris & Kristen's Web Series:
The Strange Case of Lucy Chandler

Chris's Substack Newsletter:
Chris Fights Demons

We're going all the way back to 1933 to investigate one of the most influential films of all-time: the original King Kong. The technical innovations employed here catapulted the entire industry forward by leaps and bounds, but Kong also set the template for the structure and pacing of modern action/adventure films. We explore the cinematic landscape it was released in, some interesting alternate versions of the script, the special effects wizardry that brought Kong to life, their revolutionary approach to sound design and music, how the various remakes and sequels have reinterpreted or recontextualized the material, why this one still works so well 90 years later, and much more!

Facebook | Twitter | Instagram
Apple Podcasts | Stitcher | Google Play | Spotify

Chris's Instagram & Twitter | Kristen's Instagram

Chris & Kristen's Web Series:
The Strange Case of Lucy Chandler

Chris's Substack Newsletter:
Chris Fights Demons

As part of our ongoing retrospective of the Halloween franchise, we're heading back to Haddonfield for 1988's Halloween 4: The Return of Michael Myers. After the lackluster box office performance of the Myers-less Halloween III, the mandate for this installment was simple: back to basics.

Too basic? Maybe. But at the time, Return's adherence to a tried-and-true formula was what fans were looking for and the film's success helped get the series back on track... temporarily, at least.

Topics include: John Carpenter & Debra Hill's early involvement and their original concept for resurrecting Michael, another early draft that had a much different character arc for Jamie, the story behind the new mask and the issues it created, trading in the creeping dread of the previous movies for a more action-oriented approach, the shocking ending and whether or not they ever intended to follow through on what it sets up, Halloween 4's legacy within the franchise, and much more!

Facebook | Twitter | Instagram
Apple Podcasts | Stitcher | Google Play | Spotify

Chris's Instagram & Twitter | Kristen's Instagram

Chris & Kristen's Web Series:
The Strange Case of Lucy Chandler

Chris's Substack Newsletter:
Chris Fights Demons

It's Fall Verhoeven on Rogues Gallery! This is the magical time of year where we revisit the films of Paul Verhoeven. And WOW is this one a doozy.

Showgirls was a critical and commercial failure when it was released in the fall of 1995, but the film found new life as a midnight movie and went on to become a cult favorite. So what's going on here? Is this so bad it's good? A misunderstood masterpiece? Or is it just as terrible as everyone seemed to think at the time? Let's find out.

Topics include: how the success of Basic Instinct allowed Verhoeven and screenwriter Joe Eszterhas to run wild with this project, the controversy over the NC-17 rating, the two opposing character arcs the script seems like it's trying to give its main character, the way Elizabeth Berkley's performance was singled out by critics and why none of that is really her fault, how certain audiences have reclaimed the film, the straight-to-video sequel, and much more!

Facebook | Twitter | Instagram
Apple Podcasts | Stitcher | Google Play | Spotify

Chris's Instagram & Twitter | Kristen's Instagram

Chris & Kristen's Web Series:
The Strange Case of Lucy Chandler

Chris's Substack Newsletter:
Chris Fights Demons

Domestic thrillers were all the rage after the success of Fatal Attraction in 1987, but it was the early 90s that marked the zenith of the subgenre’s popularity. Which made 1992’s The Hand That Rocks The Cradle a perfect choice for revisiting this particular trend and unpacking all of its conventions.

Facebook | Twitter | Instagram
Apple Podcasts | Stitcher | Google Play | Spotify

Chris's Instagram & Twitter | Kristen's Instagram

Chris & Kristen's Web Series:
The Strange Case of Lucy Chandler

Chris's Substack Newsletter:
Chris Fights Demons

The title alone made Snakes on a Plane an internet sensation, but by the time it finally hit theaters the whole thing had become more meme than movie. And by that point, the joke was pretty played out. So instead of the blockbuster the studio had been anticipating, Snakes became a cautionary tale about online hype not always translating to actual ticket sales.

On this episode, we're investigating the origins of this absurd premise, how the internet took hold of it, the last minute attempt to transform the movie into something more aligned with audience expectations, and what happens when Hollywood mistakes ironic enthusiasm for genuine interest. Facebook | Twitter | Instagram
Apple Podcasts | Stitcher | Google Play | Spotify

Chris's Instagram & Twitter | Kristen's Instagram

Chris & Kristen's Web Series:
The Strange Case of Lucy Chandler

Chris's Substack Newsletter:
Chris Fights Demons

It's been a long time coming and now we're finally taking on the Deadites from the Evil Dead franchise and exploring the series' most significant entry - Evil Dead 2!

Topics include: the initial plans for Army of Darkness to be the first sequel, why it was scaled back into more of a remix of the original film instead, the massive shift in tone, our favorite sequences, how they pulled off some of the most memorable effects, where this one ranks for us amongst the other entries, and much more!

Facebook | Twitter | Instagram
Apple Podcasts | Stitcher | Google Play | Spotify

Chris's Instagram & Twitter | Kristen's Instagram

Chris & Kristen's Web Series:
The Strange Case of Lucy Chandler

After an unbelievable two-year hot streak where every Jim Carrey movie was doing bang-up business at the box office, The Cable Guy became a sobering reminder that nothing lasts forever. The film was not a bomb by any means, but when compared to the performance of his previous hits, it was unquestionably a major disappointment. And there's no shortage of theories as to why - it was too dark, the marketing campaign was misleading, there was cynicism about Carrey's $20 million payday, etc.

So the film has a very interesting reputation and it also represents a key moment in Carrey's career. We wanted to dig into all of that, see how it plays nearly three decades later, and offer up some alternative explanations for the icy reception it initially received.

Facebook | Twitter | Instagram
Apple Podcasts | Stitcher | Google Play | Spotify

Chris's Instagram & Twitter | Kristen's Instagram

Chris & Kristen's Web Series:
The Strange Case of Lucy Chandler

Stanley Kubrick's adaptation of A Clockwork Orange is now regarded as an incredibly accomplished and influential film, but it was a lot more divisive upon its original release in 1971. And one of its biggest detractors wound up being the original novella's author, Anthony Burgess.

Burgess wasn't just critical of the movie, he had very complicated feelings about his own book. This wasn't like Stephen King's misgivings over The Shining, though. Burgess's relationship with A Clockwork Orange was something that eroded over time due to a variety of factors.

So we wanted to dig into exactly what happened there, parse out our own reactions to the material and how they've changed over the years, and examine the lasting impact and legacy of Alex DeLarge and his gang of droogs.

Facebook | Twitter | Instagram
Apple Podcasts | Stitcher | Google Play | Spotify

Chris's Instagram & Twitter | Kristen's Instagram

Chris & Kristen's Web Series:
The Strange Case of Lucy Chandler

Throughout the 80s and 90s, a lot of top-tier genre filmmakers took a crack at developing a modern update of The Mummy. In the end, it was writer/director Stephen Sommers who landed the gig by reimagining the story as a family-friendly Indiana Jones-esque adventure as opposed to a more straightforward horror film.

In this episode, we examine the earlier iterations that were considered, why Universal Pictures ultimately went with this version, the franchise that it spawned, and how we feel about the film two decades later.

Facebook | Twitter | Instagram
Apple Podcasts | Stitcher | Google Play | Spotify

Chris's Instagram & Twitter | Kristen's Instagram

Chris & Kristen's Web Series:
The Strange Case of Lucy Chandler

Whoever wins... we lose. That's what the poster for AVP: Alien Vs Predator proclaimed and that's certainly how most audiences probably felt walking out of the theater. That was almost two decades ago though and now that we've sat through some of the subsequent entries in both of these franchises... is this one really that bad? We decided to investigate.

Topics include: the original Dark Horse Comics mini-series, why it took over ten years to bring this concept to the big screen, how AvP disrupted plans for an Alien 5 written by James Cameron and directed by Ridley Scott, the internet's reaction to Paul W.S. Anderson being hired to helm this, the PG-13 rating and other studio mandates that seemed to immediately handicap the film, controversial changes to the look of the Predators, how the first act of this is legitimately pretty solid (and surprisingly similar to Prometheus), the future of both franchises and whether or not there's room for more AvP crossovers, and much more!

Facebook | Twitter | Instagram
Apple Podcasts | Stitcher | Google Play | Spotify

Chris's Instagram & Twitter | Kristen's Instagram

Chris & Kristen's Web Series:
The Strange Case of Lucy Chandler

On this episode, we're investigating Stanton Carlisle's rise and fall in all three versions of Nightmare Alley: the original novel, the 1947 movie, and Guillermo del Toro's 2021 adaptation.

Topics include: the eerie way in which William Lindsay Gresham's book almost foreshadowed his own demise, the incident in del Toro's past that made him connect so deeply with the source material, notable differences between each iteration, some pushback on the criticism that the most recent version favors style over substance, why the entire point is that you were supposed to see the ending coming from a mile away, and much more! Facebook | Twitter | Instagram
Apple Podcasts | Stitcher | Google Play | Spotify

Chris's Instagram & Twitter | Kristen's Instagram

Chris & Kristen's Web Series:
The Strange Case of Lucy Chandler

When you consider all of the obstacles it was up against, it's sort of a miracle that Coraline even exists. Stop-motion animation was considered a dead art form, the director's previous film was a notorious critical & commercial failure, and there were concerns that the subject matter was too dark for kids and too tame for adults. And yet...

Like the Neil Gaiman novella it's based on, Coraline was embraced by audiences of all ages (and often precisely for the reasons that the studio was initially wary of it). As faithful as the film is, it also makes several notable changes and additions to the source material. So we wanted to dig deeper into the origins of both versions and see how they compare.

Facebook | Twitter | Instagram
Apple Podcasts | Stitcher | Google Play | Spotify

Chris's Instagram & Twitter | Kristen's Instagram

Chris & Kristen's Web Series:
The Strange Case of Lucy Chandler

When describing the reaction to Bret Easton Ellis's 1991 novel American Psycho, the word "controversial" seems hilariously inadequate. The backlash to this transgressive tale of a Wall Street stockbroker who moonlights as a sadistic serial killer was intense. So when the film adaptation hit theaters in 2000, it was anticipated with a great deal of trepidation and skepticism.

As it turns out, director Mary Harron brought the satirical elements of the book front and center in a way that not only recontextualized the source material for many people, it arguably improved upon it in many ways.

Two decades later, the character of Patrick Bateman maintains a stranglehold on pop culture and we wanted to investigate why.

Topics include: the arduous road to getting the film made and some truly shocking prior iterations that almost made it to the screen, Christian Bale's "method-adjacent" approach to his performance and the effect that had on his co-stars, why the themes of the story are maybe even more relevant now, the in-name-only sequel, Bateman's appearances in other media, whether or not audiences have spent 20 years asking the wrong question about the film's ending, and much more!

Facebook | Twitter | Instagram
Apple Podcasts | Stitcher | Google Play | Spotify

Chris's Instagram & Twitter | Kristen's Instagram

Chris & Kristen's Web Series:
The Strange Case of Lucy Chandler

Well, we did it. We made it to the very last Friday the 13th movie ever! Kudos to everyone involved for going out on a high note instead of overstaying their welcome with a conveyor belt of sequels.

Jokes aside, the fact of the matter is that The Final Chapter is still a pretty significant entry in the franchise. In fact, a lot of fans would argue it’s the best one (including one of your hosts). Is it deserving of that title? And did they really intend for this to be the big finale or was it just a savvy marketing gimmick? Join us as we dig deep into those questions and so much more!

Facebook | Twitter | Instagram
Apple Podcasts | Stitcher | Google Play | Spotify

Chris's Instagram & Twitter | Kristen's Instagram

Chris & Kristen's Web Series:
The Strange Case of Lucy Chandler

Get in losers, we're going podcasting! We've been to Elm Street, Crystal Lake, and Haddonfield, but this week we're visiting the most terrifying location of all... high school.

No one's more surprised by the success of Mean Girls or the scope of its pop culture imprint than the people who made it. So we wanted to go back to the beginning and investigate how a modest teen comedy based on a self-help book became a perennial favorite and one of the most quotable films of all-time.

Topics include: the unconventional source of inspiration, some of the differences between the original R-rated version of the script and the finished film, how Mean Girls transcends its genre and taps into something a lot more universal, the musical chairs aspect of the casting process, the original ending, plans for a sequel, and much more! 

Facebook | Twitter | Instagram
Apple Podcasts | Stitcher | Google Play | Spotify

Chris's Instagram & Twitter | Kristen's Instagram

Chris & Kristen's Web Series:
The Strange Case of Lucy Chandler

The marketing campaign for Sam Raimi's 1990 action/horror movie tantalized moviegoers with the question: "Who is Darkman?" But from the studio's point of view, the bigger mystery was probably what is Darkman?

From pre-production all the way to release, there was quite a bit of confusion over the tone Raimi was aiming for. As a result, the film found itself in a tug-of-war between a director who was trying to deliver something more transgressive and executives who were attempting to turn this into a more straightforward superhero story.

The end result might not completely represent Raimi's original vision, but Darkman retains enough of his signature style for us to declare it a very underrated entry on his filmography.

Facebook | Twitter | Instagram
Apple Podcasts | Stitcher | Google Play | Spotify

Chris's Instagram & Twitter | Kristen's Instagram

Chris & Kristen's Web Series:
The Strange Case of Lucy Chandler

They came from Denton High! Join us as we seek refuge inside that spooky castle back down the road and investigate the cult phenomenon The Rocky Horror Picture Show.

Facebook | Twitter | Instagram
Apple Podcasts | Stitcher | Google Play | Spotify

Chris's Instagram & Twitter | Kristen's Instagram

Chris & Kristen's Web Series:
The Strange Case of Lucy Chandler

Back in the early aughts, Quentin Tarantino and Robert Rodriguez were enjoying an overwhelming level of success. They decided to use their clout to launch an ambitious cinematic experiment - each of them would direct one half of a double feature designed to pay homage to the exploitation flicks they grew up watching.

The result was 2007's Grindhouse and the response to it was... largely apathetic. It fizzled out at the box office and Tarantino's entry in particular seemed to divide even his most stalwart supporters.

We decided to give Death Proof another look by opening up a case file on its central antagonist: Stuntman Mike. Do our original evaluations still stand or is there more going on under the hood with this one than we initially gave it credit for? Let's find out!

Facebook | Twitter | Instagram
Apple Podcasts | Stitcher | Google Play | Spotify

Chris's Instagram & Twitter | Kristen's Instagram

Chris & Kristen's Web Series:
The Strange Case of Lucy Chandler

The Dream Master is sort of the dividing line between the first six films in the Elm Street franchise, but the question is: which side does it fall on? Is this the last good entry or the first bad one? Let’s find out!

Topics include: Wes Craven’s original pitch for the film, how a writer’s strike forced them to make a lot of this up as they went along, director Renny Harlin’s incredible persistence when it came to landing this gig and the methods he employed to separate this one from past installments, the apex of Freddy Krueger’s popularity and his expansion into other media, and much more!

Facebook | Twitter | Instagram
Apple Podcasts | Stitcher | Google Play | Spotify

Chris's Instagram & Twitter | Kristen's Instagram

Chris & Kristen's Web Series:
The Strange Case of Lucy Chandler

As controversial as it was influential, Taxi Driver remains an unflinchingly uncomfortable portrait of how one man's self-imposed loneliness spirals out into explosive violence. On this episode, we're taking a closer look at Rober DeNiro's iconic performance as Travis Bickle and investigating how he became one of cinema's defining antiheroes.   Topics include: the low point in screenwriter Paul Schrader's own life that laid the foundation for this story, why Martin Scorsese responded so strongly to the script and his dogged determination to get the film made, the ingenuity they used to overcome their lack of resources, aspects of Travis's character that had to be downplayed in the final version, how a popular interpretation of the ending ignores some of the darker aspects of the intended message, the film's unfortunate connection to a real life tragedy, the sequel that never materialized, and much more!   Quick note - there were some issues with Mike’s audio in this one. We apologize and we’re working on it.   Facebook | Twitter | Instagram
Apple Podcasts | Stitcher | Google Play | Spotify

Chris's Instagram & Twitter | Kristen's Instagram

Chris & Kristen's Web Series:
The Strange Case of Lucy Chandler

On this episode, we're heading to the idyllic town of Cradle Bay to investigate their mysterious Blue Ribbon program. Although its participants initially showed promising results, a few of them have recently been exhibiting some... Disturbing Behavior.

But the more sinister story here might be what happened to this film in post-production. The director delivered a psychological thriller in the vein of The X-Files, but the studio decided they wanted something more along the lines of Scream. As a result, numerous alterations were made and at the end of that process, the original 115 minute cut had been whittled down to an anemic 84 minute version.

So what's in that 30 minutes of additional footage? What was the thought process behind removing it? And how different would the critical and commercial response to Disturbing Behavior have been if they'd left it in?   Facebook | Twitter | Instagram
Apple Podcasts | Stitcher | Google Play | Spotify

Chris's Instagram & Twitter | Kristen's Instagram

Chris & Kristen's Web Series:
The Strange Case of Lucy Chandler