Episode #315 The Shadow Strays (2024)

Now this is the way we like to see our Santa! An elite team of mercenaries breaks into a family compound on Christmas Eve, taking everyone hostage inside. However, they aren't prepared for a surprise combatant: Santa Claus is on the grounds, and he's about to show why this Nick is no saint. Release date: December 2, 2022 (Canada) Director: Tommy Wirkola Budget: 20 million USD Box office: $76.6 million Distributed by: Universal Pictures Cinematography: Matthew Weston

This we we catch a quick flight with one of our favourites Snipes in Passenger 57. John Cutter (Wesley Snipes) is a former policeman flying to Los Angeles to start his new job working for the anti-terrorism unit of a major airline. However, apprehended terrorist Charles Rane (Bruce Payne) is on the flight, too, being transported by the FBI. After Rane's accomplices kill the FBI agents and free him, Cutter realizes the entire flight is in danger. With the help of flight attendant Marti Slayton (Alex Datcher), Cutter tries to capture Rane and free the passengers. Release date: November 6, 1992 (USA) Director: Kevin Hooks Story by: Stewart Raffill; Dan Gordon Budget: 15 million USD Producers: Dan Paulson, Lee Rich, Dylan Sellers Distributed by: Warner Bros., Warner Bros. Pictures

This week we check a 2024 Netflix action movie with our favourite Timo Tjahjanto (The Night Comes for Us) The Shadow Strays  Skilled in the art of killing, a young assassin defies her mentor to save a boy from a ruthless crime syndicate. Initial release: September 10, 2024 Director: Timo Tjahjanto Languages: Indonesian, English Distributed by: Netflix Music by: Fajar Yuskemal Production companies: Frontier Pictures; XYZ Films; Netflix Studios    

This week for our final Spooktober episode we check out 1983's Of Unknown Origin   Bart Hughes has a pretty good life, a beautiful wife, a young son, a good job with promotion prospects, and a renovated brownstone in New York. When wife and child leave for a vacation, Bart inadvertently destroys the house while in pursuit of a rat. Release date: November 24, 1983 (USA) Director: George P. Cosmatos Distributed by: Warner Bros. Based on: The Visitor; by Chauncey G. Parker III Box office: $1.1 million (U.S.) Budget: CAD$4 million

This week we cover an all time banger in 1985's Re-Animator. At the University of Zurich, Herbert West brings his dead professor back to life. Following the horrific side-effects involved in the procedure, West moves to the USA to further his studies. Release date: October 18, 1985 (USA) Director: Stuart Gordon Story by: H. P. Lovecraft Distributed by: Empire International Pictures Adapted from: Herbert West–Reanimator Budget: $900,000-$1.3 million

We kickoff Spooktober with this delightfully gory movie about killer Slugs taking over a small town. A health inspector (Michael Garfield) and two helpers hunt mutant killer slugs that call the sewer home. Release date: February 5, 1988 (USA) Director: Juan Piquer Simón Distributed by: New World Pictures Adapted from: Slugs Music by: Tim Souster Production company: Dister Films

A train to New Delhi becomes a combat battleground as a pair of commandos faces off against an army of invading bandits. Release date: July 4, 2024 (USA) Director: Nikhil Nagesh Bhat Distributed by: AA Films Box office: est. ₹47.12 crore Cinematography: Rafey Mehmood Music by: Score: Ketan Sodha; Songs:: Vikram Montrose; Shashwat Sachdev; Haroon-Gavin

This week we cover 1988's Midnight Run When Eddie Moscone (Joe Pantoliano) hires tight-lipped bounty hunter Jack Walsh (Robert De Niro) to locate a mob accountant named "The Duke" (Charles Grodin) and bring him to L.A., Eddie tells Jack that the job will be simple, or a "midnight run." But when Jack finds The Duke, the FBI and the mob are anxious to get their hands on him. In a cross-country chase, Jack must evade the authorities, hide from the mob and prevent The Duke's erratic personality from driving him mad. Release date: July 20, 1988 (USA) Director: Martin Brest Box office: 81.6 million USD Distributed by: Universal Pictures Cinematography: Donald E. Thorin Edited by: Chris Lebenzon; Michael Tronick; Billy Weber

This week we take a trip back to Dustin's childhood and watch "Best of The Best" Martial arts drama in which a misfit team of American kickboxers must undergo rigorous training for an all-important contest against a ruthless Korean team. Along the way, the hardened fighters learn to lay their personal ghosts to rest. Release date: November 10, 1989 (USA) Director: Robert Radler Sequel: Best of the Best II Distributed by: 20th Century Studios, Taurus Entertainment Box office: $1.7 million (US) Music by: Paul Gilman  

I can't believe we haven't covered this movie yet! So this week we get on it and cover 1984's Beverly Hills Cop. After his childhood buddy is murdered while visiting Detroit, rebellious cop Axel Foley (Eddie Murphy) follows the leads to Beverly Hills, Calif., under the auspices of a vacation. He checks in with old friend Jenny Summers (Lisa Eilbacher) and starts to believe her boss, art dealer Victor Maitland (Steven Berkoff), might somehow be involved in the murder. However, Lt. Bogomil (Ronny Cox) of the Beverly Hills Police Department does not trust Foley, and hinders his search for evidence. Release date: December 5, 1984 (USA) Director: Martin Brest Distributed by: Paramount Pictures Box office: $234 million Music by: Harold Faltermeyer Produced by: Don Simpson; Jerry Bruckheimer