Prison

We talk about how impressive the filmmaking is, Malkovich’s unexpectedly convincing pop-star performance (including a full in-movie album), and the movie’s strong, tense, twisty atmosphere that sometimes evokes The Menu. We walk through the plot’s creepy compound setting, escalating cult behavior, and the violent reveal, then debate the ending’s explanation that everything was orchestrated so Ariel could escape and publish an exposé. One of us loved the ride and performances, while the other found the message and payoffs frustratingly vague, though we still recommend checking it out.

While the story feels convoluted and the setup is thin, the movie is slickly shot and packed with memorable, creative kill sequences—dead lights, superheated cells, sentient barbed wire, and an outrageous finale. We talk through Viggo Mortensen’s early role as brooding inmate Burke (and how much of the movie he spends nearly naked), the prison’s chaotic reopening, the warden’s melodrama, and the bizarre supernatural “rules” that make little sense but still deliver some great effects. It’s messy, weird, and surprisingly fun—worth a watch on YouTube while it’s there!

We talk about its infamous cover art and how it helped spark the UK “video nasties” panic, then dig into the movie’s grimy New York atmosphere, disjointed character-study structure, and aggressive sound design—including the repeated band-rehearsal sequences and heavy use of music. We break down Reno’s unraveling as financial pressure, an unexplained church encounter, and surreal flashes build toward a sudden, graphic drill-fueled rampage, along with moments of dark humor and ambiguity. We also discuss the added footage in the longer cut and the unsettling, open-ended finale.

We talk through the creepy catfishing premise, the overbearing mom luring women to her house, and Henry’s memorable monster design, along with the movie’s mix of gross-out shocks, dark humor, and some frustrating “why would you do that?” character choices. Despite the cliches and suspension-of-disbelief moments, there’s plenty to discuss—from the Buffy-like mid-movie team-up and standout kills to the bizarre music-soothing motif and an especially brutal finale. If you’re in the mood for something dumb, goofy, and competently made, this one might be worth the watch on free, ad-supported Tubi.

We talk about the oddball cast—especially a very young Brad Pitt—plus Jill Schoelen, Martin Mull, and Roddy McDowell, and why so many scenes feel bizarrely staged or played too straight for the gags. From killer POV moments and death-by-kiln to the Xerox kill and that trampoline flag impalement, the movie delivers creative set pieces even when the plot and character motivations don’t track. It’s not a good movie, but we still had fun with it and think it plays best with friends.

We talk about why the movie has been so well received, how the effects and cinematography elevate it, and how the central relationship feels unusually intimate and honest. From moving to a rural house and the couple’s growing tension to the disturbing cave, the mysterious “water,” and the escalating physical and psychic bonding, we walk through the major plot turns.

We talk about how derivative it feels of films like Bad Dreams, Halloween-style stalking, and other late-’80s horror beats, while still appreciating the moody lighting, strong visuals, and some fun practical effects.

This movie has a lot going for it: ’80s time-capsule vibe, TV-heavy cast (including Jamie Farr, Sidney Lassick, and Brion James), and practical body-horror effects by Screaming Mad George. The plot follows a young couple on a road trip after Clark is bitten by a mutant snake, leading to an escalating transformation into a snake-armed—and eventually snake-spewing—monster, while Farr’s character pursues them after giving the wrong antidote.

We're finally covering William Lustig’s 1980 cult horror film Maniac - a gritty, guerrilla-shot New York character study starring Joe Spinell as Frank Zito,

From the humor and horror to the film's low-budget charm and its dialogue style, there was lots to discuss. Issa Rose from the 'Sleepaway Camp' series prominently features as a memorable character with a standout performance. Help us kick off the new year with this intriguing horror flick.