Donnie Darko (2001)

This week, Shat The Movies dives headfirst into early-2000s suburban dread with Donnie Darko, the cult classic that launched a thousand dorm-room debates and taught a generation to fear jet engines and men in bunny suits. Commissioned by listeners Wes and Fernando, this episode tackles Richard Kelly's time-bending, angst-soaked sci-fi drama that somehow feels even more relevant today. Gene and Big D unpack Jake Gyllenhaal's star-making performance, the film's iconic '80s soundtrack, and whether Donnie Darko is a brilliant meditation on fate and free will—or just an elaborate emo Rorschach test. Along the way, they debate self-help gurus, creepy motivational speakers, suburban hypocrisy, and why this movie hits differently depending on when you first saw it. Is Donnie Darko a misunderstood masterpiece or a pretentious puzzle box that gets more credit than it deserves? Grab your Philosophy of Time Travel and find out. Subscribe Now Android: https://www.shatpod.com/android Apple/iTunes: https://www.shatpod.com/apple Help Support the Podcast Contact Us: https://www.shatpod.com/contact Commission Movie: https://www.shatpod.com/support Support with Paypal: https://www.shatpod.com/paypal Support With Venmo: https://www.shatpod.com/venmo Shop Merchandise: https://www.shatpod.com/shop Theme Song - Die Hard by Guyz Nite: https://www.facebook.com/guyznite

Struggling writer and wine enthusiast Miles (Paul Giamatti) takes his engaged friend, Jack (Thomas Haden Church), on a trip to wine country for a last single-guy bonding experience. While Miles wants to relax and enjoy the wine, Jack is in search of a fling before his wedding. Soon, Jack is sleeping with Stephanie (Sandra Oh), while her friend Maya (Virginia Madsen) connects with Miles. When Miles lets slip that Jack is getting married, both women are furious, sending the trip into disarray. Commissioned by Christopher D. Subscribe Now Android: https://www.shatpod.com/android Apple/iTunes: https://www.shatpod.com/apple Help Support the Podcast Contact Us: https://www.shatpod.com/contact Commission Movie: https://www.shatpod.com/support Support with Paypal: https://www.shatpod.com/paypal Support With Venmo: https://www.shatpod.com/venmo Shop Merchandise: https://www.shatpod.com/shop Theme Song - Die Hard by Guyz Nite: https://www.facebook.com/guyznite

This week on Shat the Movies, we're heading underground with Day of the Dead (1985), the grim and gory finale to George A. Romero's original zombie trilogy. As scientists and soldiers clash in a bunker full of tension (and entrails), we break down the film's bleak tone, standout effects, and the unforgettable performance of Bub the zombie. Gene and Big D ask: Is this a zombie masterpiece, or just a depressing mess with great gore?. Subscribe Now Android: https://www.shatpod.com/android Apple/iTunes: https://www.shatpod.com/apple Help Support the Podcast Contact Us: https://www.shatpod.com/contact Commission Movie: https://www.shatpod.com/support Support with Paypal: https://www.shatpod.com/paypal Support With Venmo: https://www.shatpod.com/venmo Shop Merchandise: https://www.shatpod.com/shop Theme Song - Die Hard by Guyz Nite: https://www.facebook.com/guyznite

This week, Shat The Movies tumbles through the space-time continuum with Terry Gilliam's Time Bandits, a chaotic fantasy adventure filled with Monty Python humor, mischievous dwarves, and a cosmic battle between Good, Evil, and negligent parenting. Commissioned by listener Mark, this 1981 classic follows young Kevin as he's swept away by a crew of dimension-hopping bandits who've stolen a map of the universe and are using it to rob history blind—Napoleon, Robin Hood, and ancient kings all included. Gene and Big D debate whether the film is a brilliant kids' movie for adults or an unsettling fever dream wrapped in British absurdism. Along the way, they revisit the unforgettable Evil Genius, the Supreme Being's bureaucratic disappointment, and the ending that scarred an entire generation of children. Is Time Bandits a masterpiece of imagination or just Gilliam letting chaos do the directing? Grab your map, avoid the pure concentrated evil, and find out. Subscribe Now Android: https://www.shatpod.com/android Apple/iTunes: https://www.shatpod.com/apple Help Support the Podcast Contact Us: https://www.shatpod.com/contact Commission Movie: https://www.shatpod.com/support Support with Paypal: https://www.shatpod.com/paypal Support With Venmo: https://www.shatpod.com/venmo Shop Merchandise: https://www.shatpod.com/shop Theme Song - Die Hard by Guyz Nite: https://www.facebook.com/guyznite

This week, Shat The Movies goes back to school—literally—as we revisit Adam Sandler's breakout man-child classic, Billy Madison. Commissioned by Hot Sauce Steve, this 1995 comedy asks the eternal question: what if the heir to a hotel empire had to redo grades 1 through 12 because he's too dumb to inherit a business? Gene and Big D break down Sandler's early "shouting gibberish at adults" era, debate whether Billy is secretly sweet or just deeply concerning, and marvel at how many jokes in this movie would definitely not get greenlit today. The guys revisit iconic bits like the dodgeball massacre, the penguin, the academic decathlon, and Steve Buscemi's lipstick-fueled redemption arc. Was Billy Madison actually funny, or were we all just 12 years old once? And more importantly, does shampoo really beat conditioner? Subscribe Now Android: https://www.shatpod.com/android Apple/iTunes: https://www.shatpod.com/apple Help Support the Podcast Contact Us: https://www.shatpod.com/contact Commission Movie: https://www.shatpod.com/support Support with Paypal: https://www.shatpod.com/paypal Support With Venmo: https://www.shatpod.com/venmo Shop Merchandise: https://www.shatpod.com/shop Theme Song - Die Hard by Guyz Nite: https://www.facebook.com/guyznite

This week on Shat the Movies, we roundhouse-kick our way into Best of the Best 3: No Turning Back (1995), where Phillip Rhee takes on a small-town gang of neo-Nazis with nothing but martial arts, a leather vest, and a serious sense of justice. Forget international tournaments, this one's all shotgun blasts, burning churches, and heartfelt speeches. Gene and Big D break down the film's bizarre tone, over-the-top villains, and whether Tommy Lee is the most polite action hero of the '90s. Subscribe Now Android: https://www.shatpod.com/android Apple/iTunes: https://www.shatpod.com/apple Help Support the Podcast Contact Us: https://www.shatpod.com/contact Commission Movie: https://www.shatpod.com/support Support with Paypal: https://www.shatpod.com/paypal Support With Venmo: https://www.shatpod.com/venmo Shop Merchandise: https://www.shatpod.com/shop Theme Song - Die Hard by Guyz Nite: https://www.facebook.com/guyznite

Just when you thought our annual Shat The Movies Halloween Spooktacular was over, we've back with one more mystical mission into the macabre. Commissioner Rob is raising "Vampire Hunter D" from the '80s crypt and bracing for our darkest takes.  In this episode, voiced by Dick Ebert, Gene and Big D clash on whether the animation is delightfully nostalgic or criminally cheap. Gene asks why there's an 8-year-old wandering the post-apocalyptic countryside with a rifle; and Dick dives into the infamous shower scene. The Shat Crew also discusses why Left Hand eats dirt, what Time-Bewitching Incense actually does and who needed half-naked teen girls offering their bodies to sexually unavailable immortals.  Movie Summary:Vampire Hunter D (1985) is a cult-classic Japanese anime film set in a post-apocalyptic future where mutants, vampires, and monsters rule the night. Blending gothic horror, cyberpunk, and dark fantasy, the movie follows D, a mysterious half-human, half-vampire "dhampir" hired to rescue a young woman from the powerful vampire Count Magnus Lee. Directed by Toyoo Ashida and based on Hideyuki Kikuchi's acclaimed light novel, Vampire Hunter D is celebrated for its haunting atmosphere, striking hand-drawn animation, and groundbreaking fusion of sci-fi, horror, and anime aesthetics. A cornerstone of 1980s anime, it paved the way for darker, more adult-oriented animation like Akira and Ninja Scroll, cementing its legacy as a must-watch for fans of vampire anime and classic Japanese animation. Subscribe Now Android: https://www.shatpod.com/android Apple/iTunes: https://www.shatpod.com/apple Help Support the Podcast Contact Us: https://www.shatpod.com/contact Commission Movie: https://www.shatpod.com/support Support with Paypal: https://www.shatpod.com/paypal Support With Venmo: https://www.shatpod.com/venmo Shop Merchandise: https://www.shatpod.com/shop Theme Song - Die Hard by Guyz Nite: https://www.facebook.com/guyznite

This week on Shat the Movies, it's alive! We're dusting off Young Frankenstein (1974), Mel Brooks' black-and-white masterpiece that parodies horror classics with heart, brains, and a healthy dose of innuendo. Gene Wilder leads a pitch-perfect cast including Teri Garr, Peter Boyle, Marty Feldman, and Cloris Leachman in one of the most quotable comedies of all time. Gene and Big D dive into the film's legacy, brilliant performances, and whether this monster still has life in 2024. Movie Summary:Respected medical lecturer Dr. Frederick Frankenstein (Gene Wilder) learns that he has inherited his infamous grandfather's estate in Transylvania. Arriving at the castle, Dr. Frankenstein soon begins to recreate his grandfather's experiments with the help of servants Igor (Marty Feldman), Inga (Teri Garr) and the fearsome Frau Blücher (Cloris Leachman). After he creates his own monster (Peter Boyle), new complications ensue with the arrival of the doctor's fiancée, Elizabeth (Madeline Kahn). Commissioned by Emmett C. Support the Walk to Save Animals Donation link: http://www.tinyurl.com/shatpod Subscribe Now Android: https://www.shatpod.com/android Apple/iTunes: https://www.shatpod.com/apple Help Support the Podcast Contact Us: https://www.shatpod.com/contact Commission Movie: https://www.shatpod.com/support Support with Paypal: https://www.shatpod.com/paypal Support With Venmo: https://www.shatpod.com/venmo Shop Merchandise: https://www.shatpod.com/shop Theme Song - Die Hard by Guyz Nite: https://www.facebook.com/guyznite

In this special Spooktacular commission from Emmett, the guys dive deep into Tim Burton's 1994 biopic, Ed Wood. Starring Johnny Depp in one of his most beloved roles and Martin Landau in an Oscar-winning turn as Bela Lugosi, the film explores the life of the eccentric B-movie director often labeled the "worst" filmmaker in history. Does Burton's loving tribute to cinematic failure still hold up, or is it merely high-quality camp? Gene and Big D discuss: The genius of Martin Landau's portrayal of a faded horror icon. The film's beautiful black-and-white aesthetic. Whether Ed Wood was a visionary or just delightfully incompetent. The surprising connections this film has to another movie in our "double-decker Halloween commission." Tune in to find out if the story of the man behind Plan 9 from Outer Space is truly a glorious cinematic triumph! Support the Walk to Save Animals Donation link: http://www.tinyurl.com/shatpod Subscribe Now Android: https://www.shatpod.com/android Apple/iTunes: https://www.shatpod.com/apple Help Support the Podcast Contact Us: https://www.shatpod.com/contact Commission Movie: https://www.shatpod.com/support Support with Paypal: https://www.shatpod.com/paypal Support With Venmo: https://www.shatpod.com/venmo Shop Merchandise: https://www.shatpod.com/shop Theme Song - Die Hard by Guyz Nite: https://www.facebook.com/guyznite

This week on Shat the Movies, we're slicing into The Texas Chain Saw Massacre (1974), the gritty, low-budget horror that redefined the genre. Gene and Big D brave the sweltering heat, meat hooks, and chainsaws to figure out how this disturbing, relentless nightmare became a cultural landmark. With Leatherface, Grandpa, and a whole lot of screaming, is it still terrifying in 2025 or just a grimy relic of its time? Tune in as we tackle the madness behind the mask. Movie Plot:When Sally (Marilyn Burns) hears that her grandfather's grave may have been vandalized, she and her paraplegic brother, Franklin (Paul A. Partain), set out with their friends to investigate. After a detour to their family's old farmhouse, they discover a group of crazed, murderous outcasts living next door. As the group is attacked one by one by the chainsaw-wielding Leatherface (Gunnar Hansen), who wears a mask of human skin, the survivors must do everything they can to escape. Commissioned by Eric C. Support the Walk to Save Animals Donation link: http://www.tinyurl.com/shatpod Subscribe Now Android: https://www.shatpod.com/android Apple/iTunes: https://www.shatpod.com/apple Help Support the Podcast Contact Us: https://www.shatpod.com/contact Commission Movie: https://www.shatpod.com/support Support with Paypal: https://www.shatpod.com/paypal Support With Venmo: https://www.shatpod.com/venmo Shop Merchandise: https://www.shatpod.com/shop Theme Song - Die Hard by Guyz Nite: https://www.facebook.com/guyznite