Threads (1984)

"Could you turn it off? This is important. This is not art, this is life!" This week on Film Junk we are revisiting another film that was way ahead of its time. There was nothing like Ross McElwee's documentary Sherman's March back when it came out in 1985 but now we live in a world where everyone is capturing their life on video. Was this movie an influence on the work of people like Nathan Fielder and John Wilson? What do General Sherman, nuclear war, Burt Reynolds and the search for love all have in common? Is Charleen one of the great documentary characters of all time? Do leg squats actually get rid of cellulite? Find yourself a nice Southern girl and check out this week's episode below.

Six little pumpkins sitting on a gate. The first one said, "Oh my, it's getting late!" The second one said, "There are witches in the air!" The third one said, "But we don't care!" The fourth one said, "Let's run, let's run!" The fifth one said, "Isn't Halloween fun?" And the sixth one said, "I'M GONNA FUCKIN' CUMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM"

Look out that window... Eden isn't burning, it's burnt. This week on the Film Junk Podcast we are jumping out of planes during magic hour as we dig hard, dig deep and look back on another post-apocalyptic world. This time Christian Bale and Matthew McConaughey are leading humans in a last stand against dragons in the 2002 cult classic Reign of Fire. Should this movie have been a bigger hit than it was? How do the special effects hold up over 20 years later? Does the fictional biology of dragons make any scientific sense? Can we improvise a better screenplay for this movie during the course of this podcast? Keep two eyes on the sky and download this week's episode of Film Junk below.

Sick of sloughing through shit from the Netflix doc-slop trough? FEAR NOT! It's time to crack open the Tickle Trunk and dig out your formal attire, because we've got two beautifully crafted entrees that will wipe that "premium doc" format aftertaste out of your stupid mouth: John Wilson’s The History of Concrete and Ross McElwee’s Remake.

Jesus Christ! They've done it... They've done it! After previously covering one of the most joyful movies of all time, this week we are tackling what could very well be the bleakest. Threads is a British docudrama that goes into brutal detail on the effects of nuclear war on the general population. But is this movie scientifically accurate? How would future generations learn to survive and rebuild society? Would Threads have been better if it starred Steve Guttenberg? Which members of the Film Junk crew would actually survive the apocalypse? Take shelter and soil yourself in fear while listening to this week's episode of Film Junk.

In honour of Star Trek Day, we are taking an episode of Treknobabble out of the Patreon vault! On this one, Reed Farrington joins us to discuss season 5 episode 18, Cause & Effect (aka The Time Loop Episode). Must be deja vu... or is it vuja dej?

Come Rain, come shine, come snow, come sleet, the show must go on! We are dancing our way through an all-time classic this week on Film Junk with the 1952 Gene Kelly musical Singin' in the Rain. The genre and era are a bit of a blind spot for us so we also brought in an "expert" to help us with our analysis. Does any of the humour still work for modern audiences? Which of the song and dance numbers are the most impressive? Is Donald O'Connor an unsung hero or is he just creepy? Is the movie truly a masterpiece or is it another case of classitosis? Make love to a bush and download this week's episode of Film Junk.

"What are you gonna do, tough guy? You gonna make a citizen's arrest?" This week on Film Junk, we are ending the summer season off with a fun '90s thriller starring Kurt Russell, Ray Liotta and Madeleine Stowe. Unlawful Entry is not necessarily a masterpiece but it is watchable in the best way possible. Does this movie have a deeper social commentary or is it just a shallow genre exercise? Is Ray Liotta's performance deserving of more praise than an MTV Movie Award nomination? What would you do if you got the chance to beat up the man who broke into your house and terrorized your wife? Try and guess our seven-letter password on this week's episode of Film Junk.

"COME SEPTEMBER, YOU CAN SUCKING ON MY BIG FAT MEMBER" - Dolly Parton, RIP. Listen, this month gets dark in a few spots, but honestly, it's about time you WAKE UP and consider the atomic sword of Damocles hanging over ALL of our heads EVERY SINGLE DAY. When those missiles strike, it's not as simple as popping an umbrella and tip-tapping carefree and gay as can be in a REIGN OF FIRE. Unless that umbrella is made from some SERIOUS fire retarded material, that umbrella ain't DOIN' SHIT. All that and a documentary.

"I am not a vigilante. I am just trying to get home to my little girl's birthday party and if everyone will just stay out of my way, nobody will get hurt." This week we revisit Joel Schumacher's 1993 dark comedy / thriller Falling Down and find out whether it has gotten more or less controversial over the years. Is D-Fens a relatable anti-hero or just an entitled asshole? Is Prendergast's character arc satisfying or weirdly regressive? Does this movie feel out of place in Joel Schumacher's filmography? Should fast food restaurants just serve breakfast all day long? Go past the point of no return... this week's episode of Film Junk is not economically viable.