The VHS Strikes Back

This week's pick comes from JAC, who takes us back to 1989 for Best of the Best, directed by Robert Radler and developed from a story by Phillip Rhee and Paul Levine. Made for an estimated $5 million, the film assembled an impressively serious cast for a martial arts tournament movie, including Eric Roberts, Phillip Rhee, James Earl Jones, Sally Kirkland, Chris Penn and Louise Fletcher. Production used locations in both the United States and South Korea, although some of the supposedly Korean tournament action was actually shot at the Olympic Stadium in Los Angeles. Released in the US on 10 November 1989, Best of the Best wasn't exactly a box-office champion, taking around $1.7 million domestically against that estimated $5 million budget. Critics weren't especially kind either, but the film found a much more appreciative audience on home video, where its mixture of martial arts, training montages, big emotions and unashamed late-'80s sincerity helped turn it into a cult favourite. It also proved resilient enough to launch three sequels and a franchise that continued throughout the 1990s. TRAILER GUY PLOT SYNOPSIS Five men have been chosen to represent the United States against the most feared martial arts team in the world. But before they can defeat Korea... they'll have to survive each other. Alex Grady is fighting through injury and responsibility. Tommy Lee is carrying the weight of the past. Travis Brickley appears to be carrying mainly anger and an urgent need to punch somebody. Under the relentless eye of Coach Frank Couzo, five individuals must somehow become one team. Because when pride, revenge and national honour collide in the ring, being good isn't enough. You have to be... the Best of the Best . FUN FACTS Phillip Rhee and Simon Rhee, who play opposing fighters Tommy Lee and Dae Han, are brothers in real life. Nothing says family bonding quite like repeatedly kicking each other in the head. Phillip Rhee isn't merely the star of the film — he also came up with the original story alongside Paul Levine. When Tommy is first shown teaching children in his dojo, the terminology and techniques are actually Taekwondo, despite the film regularly describing the competition as karate. Former UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Chuck Liddell has named Best of the Best as his favourite martial arts movie. Alex Grady's son Walter was named after Eric Roberts' real-life father, Walter Grady Roberts. Kane Hodder — best known as Jason Voorhees in several Friday the 13th films — appears as Burt in the bar sequence and returned in different roles for Best of the Best 2 and Best of the Best 3. The film was the only entry in the original four-film series to receive a PG-13 rating in the US. All three sequels were rated R. There's a spelling mistake in Alex's National Team acceptance letter: "Congratulations" is written as "congradulations." Apparently proofreading wasn't part of the selection process. Phillip Rhee returned as Tommy Lee in the subsequent Best of the Best sequels, eventually becoming the central figure of the franchise. SUPPORT THE SHOW If you enjoy the show and would like to support us, we have a Patreon ⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠.And if you’re listening on Apple Podcasts or Spotify, leaving us a 5-star review (and a short comment) really helps more people discover the show. It’s quick, free, and makes a huge difference. Referral links also help out the show if you were going to sign up: ⁠⁠⁠NordVPN⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠NordPass⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠thevhsstrikesback@gmail.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://linktr.ee/vhsstrikesback⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Chosen by Dave and Directed by Mike Hodges and produced by Dino De Laurentiis, Flash Gordon arrived in 1980 as a gloriously extravagant attempt to bring Alex Raymond’s classic comic-strip hero back to the big screen. With a budget reported at around $20–27 million, the production went all-in on enormous studio sets, lavish costumes and deliberately colourful, old-school effects. Sam J. Jones took the title role alongside Melody Anderson, Max von Sydow, Ornella Muti, Topol, Timothy Dalton and a magnificently enthusiastic Brian Blessed. And then, of course, there’s Queen. The band supplied the film’s unmistakable rock soundtrack, accompanied by Howard Blake’s orchestral arrangements, giving Flash Gordon one of the most recognisable scores of the era. The film performed strongly in the UK but struggled in some international markets, putting an end to plans for sequels. Over the decades, however, its combination of camp spectacle, huge performances and unapologetic excess has turned it into a genuine cult favourite. TRAILER GUY PLOT SYNOPSIS When Earth finds itself at the mercy of a mysterious cosmic threat, one man is about to discover that saving the world requires courage, determination... and apparently being quite good at American football. Transported to the strange world of Mongo, Flash Gordon must face the merciless Emperor Ming, survive bizarre kingdoms, forge unlikely alliances and somehow convince everyone that a bloke called Flash really might be humanity’s best hope. Prepare for spaceships, Hawkmen, ray guns, royal treachery and enough gold lamé to bankrupt an entire galaxy. FUN FACTS Producer Dino De Laurentiis originally considered Federico Fellini to direct the film. Mike Hodges later described the troubled production as essentially an improvised $27 million movie. Max von Sydow's elaborate Ming costume reportedly weighed more than 70 pounds, making it difficult for him to remain standing for long periods. Sam J. Jones had his naturally dark hair bleached blonde to play Flash, while Melody Anderson's blonde hair was dyed brown for Dale Arden. Jones was also supposed to wear blue contact lenses, but couldn't tolerate them. Dino De Laurentiis reportedly didn't know who Queen were when the band was first suggested for the soundtrack. Queen's Flash Gordon soundtrack album reached number 10 in the UK album chart. Brian May wrote the immortal “Flash's Theme”, while Freddie Mercury, Roger Taylor and John Deacon also contributed individual pieces to the score. Kenny Baker, best known as the man inside R2-D2, makes a small appearance as a dwarf in the torture chamber. The cast were originally signed for multiple Flash Gordon films, but the planned sequels never materialised. SUPPORT THE SHOW If you enjoy the show and would like to support us, we have a Patreon ⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠.And if you’re listening on Apple Podcasts or Spotify, leaving us a 5-star review (and a short comment) really helps more people discover the show. It’s quick, free, and makes a huge difference. Referral links also help out the show if you were going to sign up: ⁠⁠⁠NordVPN⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠NordPass⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠thevhsstrikesback@gmail.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://linktr.ee/vhsstrikesback⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Chris has chosen a 1995 action classic this week! Produced by action-movie heavyweights Don Simpson and Jerry Bruckheimer, Bad Boys marked Michael Bay’s feature-directing debut after cutting his teeth on commercials and music videos. Will Smith, Martin Lawrence, Téa Leoni, Tchéky Karyo and Joe Pantoliano led the cast, with Miami’s sun-soaked streets providing the film’s glossy backdrop. Estimates place the production budget between $19 million and $23 million—remarkably restrained considering the quantity of gunfire, explosions and expensive-looking shirts on display. Reviews were mixed, but audiences were considerably more enthusiastic: the film opened at number one in North America and ultimately earned approximately $141.4 million worldwide. Its combination of buddy-cop banter, music-video swagger and unapologetic ’90s excess helped turn Smith and Lawrence into major film stars, established Bay’s unmistakably explosive style and launched a franchise that was still filling cinemas nearly three decades later. TRAILER GUY PLOT SYNOPSIS IN A CITY where the sunshine is relentless, the suits are immaculate and even routine police work requires several hundred rounds of ammunition... two Miami detectives are about to have a very bad week. Mike Lowrey is smooth, wealthy and dangerously confident. Marcus Burnett is a devoted family man who would quite like to survive until retirement. When a fortune in seized heroin disappears from police custody, the mismatched partners must recover it before their careers—and possibly their entire department—go up in smoke. This time, they’ll have to swap identities, protect a vital witness and rediscover the sacred meaning of partnership. Will Smith. Martin Lawrence. Fast cars. Loud guns. Absolutely no cup holders. Bad Boys. FUN FACTS The project was originally developed at Disney under the title Bulletproof Hearts, with Saturday Night Live alumni Dana Carvey and Jon Lovitz considered for the leading roles. Arsenio Hall was approached to play Mike Lowrey before Will Smith and later described turning down the role as one of his biggest career mistakes. The black Porsche 911 Turbo seen in the opening sequence belonged to Michael Bay. The production could not afford to rent one, and Porsche initially declined to supply a car. Car and Driver Bay reportedly used $25,000 of his own directing fee to pay for additional crew time needed to complete one of the movie’s climactic action sequences. Both lead actors were still television sitcom stars during production: Smith was making The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, while Lawrence was starring in Martin. The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air later slipped in a cheeky reference to the film when young Nicky Banks mentioned that his parents would not let him watch Bad Boys. Much of the dialogue between Smith and Lawrence was improvised, including portions of the memorable opening carjacking scene. Apparently, chemistry cannot always be found in a screenplay. The familiar “Bad boys, bad boys, whatcha gonna do?” refrain comes from Inner Circle’s reggae track “Bad Boys,” already famous as the theme music for the television series Cops. SUPPORT THE SHOW If you enjoy the show and would like to support us, we have a Patreon ⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠. If you’re listening on Apple Podcasts or Spotify, leaving us a 5-star review (and a short comment) really helps more people discover the show. It’s quick, free, and makes a huge difference. Referral links also help out the show if you were going to sign up: ⁠⁠⁠NordVPN⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠NordPass⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠thevhsstrikesback@gmail.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://linktr.ee/vhsstrikesback⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Leigh's pick takes us deep into the wonderfully unhinged world of 1980s Taiwanese ninja cinema with Ninja Condors , also known as Ninjas, Condors 13 . Directed by Wu Kuo-Ren, credited on some releases as James Wu, the film was written by prolific exploitation filmmaker Godfrey Ho and produced by Chin Chang-Liang and Tomas Tang. Alexander Lo Rei leads a cast that also includes Eugene Thomas, George Nicholas, Jack Long, Li Hai-Hsing and Five Venoms veteran Lu Feng. No reliable published production budget appears to have survived, which somehow feels entirely appropriate for a film this gloriously rough around the edges. Released in 1987 as the Taiwanese ninja boom was beginning to wind down, Ninja Condors has endured as exactly the sort of cult VHS discovery we love: cheap, frantic, dubbed, frequently ridiculous and absolutely committed to delivering martial-arts action. Contemporary cult reviews have since embraced its relentless energy, inventive fights and general refusal to let narrative logic get in the way of another ninja appearing from somewhere. It may not have troubled the major awards ceremonies, but nearly forty years later people are still talking about it — which is probably a greater achievement anyway. TRAILER GUY PLOT SYNOPSIS Brian watched his father die in front of him as a child. Years later, he has become White Eagle — a deadly ninja working for a criminal organisation ruled by a man with the reassuringly subtle name of... Lucifer . But when Brian's loyalty is pushed too far, the White Eagle decides he's had enough. Now the organisation that trained him is about to discover the unfortunate consequences of employing an elite assassin who suddenly develops a conscience. There will be revenge. There will be ninjas. There will be weapons, gunfire and several moments where asking sensible questions is strongly discouraged. This is NINJA CONDORS . FUN FACTS The film is also known as Ninjas, Condors 13 and Knight Revenger , because apparently one title containing both ninjas and condors still wasn't enough. Alexander Lo Rei was something of a veteran of the Taiwanese ninja craze, with credits including The Super Ninja , Ninja Hunter , Ninja Kids , Secret of Ninja and Ninja in USA . Li Hai-Hsing didn't just appear in the film — he also handled its action choreography. The cinematography is credited to Quincy Szeto , while the music was composed by Sherman Chow . Martial-arts favourite Jack Long , known for films including The 7 Grandmasters and The Mystery of Chess Boxing , appears as Brian's ninja master. Lu Feng , one of the famous Venom Mob performers from The Five Venoms , makes an appearance early in the film. Brian's ninja identity, White Eagle , comes with the appropriate costume choice: he fights dressed predominantly in white rather than traditional black. Stealth clearly wasn't in the brief. Among the film's more imaginative action locations are a swimming pool, amusement park, shipping yard and ice rink. Ninjas on ice really is a thing. Eagle-eyed viewers may notice Alexander Lo Rei's hairstyle changing noticeably between scenes, suggesting either filming took place over an extended period or ninja hair grows quickly. SUPPORT THE SHOW If you enjoy the show and would like to support us, we have a Patreon ⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠. If you’re listening on Apple Podcasts or Spotify, leaving us a 5-star review (and a short comment) really helps more people discover the show. It’s quick, free, and makes a huge difference. Referral links also help out the show if you were going to sign up: ⁠⁠⁠NordVPN⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠NordPass⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠thevhsstrikesback@gmail.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://linktr.ee/vhsstrikesback⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Chosen by Maff, directed and co-written by Sammo Hung, Wheels on Meals was a Hong Kong–Spanish co-production from Golden Harvest and Laurenfilm, filmed extensively on location around Barcelona and Tarragona. Reliable published budget figures are difficult to verify, but the international production gave the film a distinctive scale and sun-drenched European setting rarely seen in Hong Kong action cinema at the time. Jackie Chan, Yuen Biao and Sammo Hung reunited as the leading trio, supported by Spanish actress Lola Forner and American martial artists Benny “The Jet” Urquidez and Keith Vitali. Released in Hong Kong on 17 August 1984, the film became one of the territory’s highest-grossing local releases of the year. Its combination of acrobatic stunt work, broad comedy and carefully staged martial-arts action helped establish it as a favourite of the VHS generation. Decades later, Wheels on Meals remains celebrated for the chemistry between its three stars and for delivering fight choreography clearly enough that viewers can actually see what is happening—an increasingly revolutionary concept. TRAILER GUY PLOT SYNOPSIS In the sun-soaked streets of Barcelona, two cousins have the perfect business: fast food, four wheels and absolutely no regard for workplace health and safety. But when a mysterious young pickpocket crosses their path, Thomas and David are dragged into a dangerous plot involving ruthless criminals, a missing inheritance and one remarkably questionable private detective. This time, the meals are fast. The fists are faster. And somewhere in Spain, an insurance company is quietly refusing to cover any of it. FUN FACTS The film’s original English title was reportedly Meals on Wheels, but Golden Harvest reversed the words after two previous company releases beginning with the letter “M” performed poorly. In Japan, the film was released under the title Spartan X. Jackie Chan also supervised the film’s action choreography. Jackie Chan, Sammo Hung and Yuen Biao had all trained together as members of the Seven Little Fortunes at the China Drama Academy. Lola Forner had previously represented Spain at the Miss World competition. Benny Urquidez was a highly successful professional kickboxer nicknamed “The Jet.” Chan and Urquidez’s confrontation is frequently ranked by martial-arts cinema fans among Jackie Chan’s finest screen fights. Keith Vitali reportedly struck Jackie Chan in the throat accidentally while filming one of their fight sequences. The catering van used by Thomas and David is fitted with hidden compartments, electronic gadgets and enough custom equipment to make it the kung-fu equivalent of the Batmobile. The three leading men later reunited for another major Hong Kong action comedy, Dragons Forever, released in 1988. SUPPORT THE SHOW If you enjoy the show and would like to support us, we have a Patreon ⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠. If you’re listening on Apple Podcasts or Spotify, leaving us a 5-star review (and a short comment) really helps more people discover the show. It’s quick, free, and makes a huge difference. Referral links also help out the show if you were going to sign up: ⁠⁠⁠NordVPN⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠NordPass⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠thevhsstrikesback@gmail.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://linktr.ee/vhsstrikesback⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Chosen by Dylan, Once Were Warriors was adapted from Alan Duff’s bestselling 1990 novel by screenwriter Riwia Brown. Made for approximately NZ$2 million and filmed over a demanding six-week shoot, it marked the feature-directing debut of Lee Tamahori. Much of the production took place around Ōtara in South Auckland, grounding the film’s urban Māori setting in real locations rather than a carefully polished studio version of New Zealand. Rena Owen and Temuera Morrison lead the cast as Beth and Jake Heke, supported by Julian Arahanga, Mamaengaroa Kerr-Bell, Taungaroa Emile and Cliff Curtis. The film became a major domestic success, earning approximately NZ$6.7 million and setting a new record at the New Zealand box office. It swept nine categories at the 1994 New Zealand Film Awards and collected further honours at festivals including Montreal, Durban, Venice and Rotterdam. Its international acclaim launched Tamahori towards Hollywood and helped raise the global profiles of Owen, Morrison and Curtis. More than three decades later, it remains one of New Zealand cinema’s most influential, confronting and difficult-to-forget films. Definitely not one to throw on when the family asks for “something light.” TRAILER GUY PLOT SYNOPSIS In the streets of South Auckland… one family is fighting a war that nobody outside their home can see. Beth Heke dreams of holding her family together. But her husband Jake is a man of charm, pride and explosive rage—and when the drinking starts, their home becomes a battleground. As their children search for belonging in gangs, institutions and the traditions of their ancestors, Beth must rediscover the strength of the people she came from. This time… being a warrior means knowing what is worth fighting for. FUN FACTS Once Were Warriors opened in only four New Zealand cinemas, yet still earned a record-breaking NZ$114,000 during its opening run. The house used as the Heke family home was a real state house on O’Connor Street in Ōtara. Local residents reportedly complained about the noise generated while the production filmed the Hekes’ late-night parties. Producer Robin Scholes had previously worked mainly in television; this became the first feature released by Communicado Productions. Stuart Dryburgh’s cinematography helped him build an international career that later included The Piano, The Painted Veil and The Secret Life of Walter Mitty. Temuera Morrison later became internationally recognised as Jango Fett and the clone troopers in the Star Wars franchise. Rena Owen also joined the Star Wars universe, appearing in Attack of the Clones and providing additional voices for the film. Cliff Curtis has portrayed characters from numerous ethnic backgrounds throughout his career, but Once Were Warriors gave him one of his earliest major New Zealand film roles. A sequel, What Becomes of the Broken Hearted?, arrived in 1999, with Morrison and several other cast members returning. A twentieth-anniversary documentary, Once Were the Cast of Warriors, reunited members of the cast in 2014 to examine the film’s impact and what happened after its release. SUPPORT THE SHOW If you enjoy the show and would like to support us, we have a Patreon ⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠. If you’re listening on Apple Podcasts or Spotify, leaving us a 5-star review (and a short comment) really helps more people discover the show. It’s quick, free, and makes a huge difference. Referral links also help out the show if you were going to sign up: ⁠⁠⁠NordVPN⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠NordPass⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠thevhsstrikesback@gmail.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://linktr.ee/vhsstrikesback⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Chosen by Dave, and adapted by David Mamet from his Pulitzer Prize-winning stage play, Glengarry Glen Ross was directed by James Foley and assembled one of the most formidable acting line-ups of the 1990s: Al Pacino, Jack Lemmon, Ed Harris, Alan Arkin, Kevin Spacey, Jonathan Pryce and Alec Baldwin. Made for an estimated $12.5 million, the film turns offices, restaurants and rain-soaked streets into a pressure cooker of desperation, ego and spectacularly aggressive salesmanship. Mamet reportedly received $1 million to adapt his own play, expanding the material specifically for the screen. Despite strong reviews, the film earned approximately $10.7 million at the North American box office and was not an immediate commercial success. Its reputation continued to grow through VHS, television and home-video releases, with Jack Lemmon winning the Volpi Cup for Best Actor at the Venice Film Festival and Al Pacino receiving Academy Award and Golden Globe nominations. It is now regarded as a cult classic, particularly among actors, salespeople and anyone who has ever endured a motivational meeting conducted by someone who clearly despises them. Trailer Guy Synopsis In a struggling Chicago real-estate office, four salesmen are fighting for their livelihoods. First prize is a Cadillac. Second prize is a set of steak knives. Third prize… is unemployment. With the best leads locked away and the clock running down, every conversation becomes a contest, every customer becomes prey, and every colleague becomes a possible enemy. This week, closing the deal is not merely business. It is survival. Fun Facts David Mamet based the original play partly on his own experiences working in Chicago real-estate offices during the late 1960s. Alec Baldwin’s character, Blake, does not appear in the original stage play. Mamet created him exclusively for the film adaptation. Baldwin appears in only one scene, yet his performance produced many of the film’s most quoted lines and became a lasting part of sales culture. The famous “Always Be Closing” speech has been referenced and parodied in television shows, comedy sketches, advertising and corporate training sessions—sometimes by people who may have missed the fact that the scene is not exactly presenting healthy management advice. The movie’s title refers to two fictional property developments: Glengarry Highlands and Glen Ross Farms. Al Pacino was the only member of the principal cast to receive an Oscar nomination, earning a Best Supporting Actor nomination for his performance as Ricky Roma. Jack Lemmon reportedly considered Shelley Levene one of his favourite roles, describing the character as someone who had once been successful but could no longer understand why his methods had stopped working. Jonathan Pryce’s character, James Lingk, is the only significant male customer seen in the film, making his uncomfortable conversation with Roma one of the story’s few glimpses outside the sales team’s competitive world. Much of the cast had extensive theatrical experience, helping the dialogue-heavy production retain the rhythm, precision and intensity of a live stage performance. Support the Show If you enjoy the show and would like to support us, we have a Patreon ⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠. If you’re listening on Apple Podcasts or Spotify, leaving us a 5-star review (and a short comment) really helps more people discover the show. It’s quick, free, and makes a huge difference. Referral links also help out the show if you were going to sign up: ⁠⁠⁠NordVPN⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠NordPass⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠thevhsstrikesback@gmail.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://linktr.ee/vhsstrikesback⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Chosen by Chris and released in 1993, Falling Down was directed by Joel Schumacher from a screenplay by Ebbe Roe Smith. Produced for an estimated $25 million, the film stars Michael Douglas in one of his most unsettling roles, supported by Robert Duvall, Barbara Hershey, Rachel Ticotin, Frederic Forrest and Tuesday Weld. The production filmed extensively on location across Los Angeles, using the city’s traffic jams, fast-food restaurants, convenience stores and sun-baked streets to create a sweaty urban pressure cooker. The film opened at number one in the United States and earned more than $40 million domestically, while provoking a sharply divided response from critics and audiences. Douglas’s performance received widespread praise, but the film’s treatment of unemployment, race, violence and male resentment generated considerable controversy. It was also nominated for the Palme d’Or at the 1993 Cannes Film Festival. More than three decades later, Falling Down remains a fiercely debated cult thriller: part social satire, part character study and part reminder that leaving your car during rush hour rarely leads anywhere sensible. Trailer Guy Synopsis In the suffocating heat of Los Angeles, one ordinary-looking man has finally had enough. His car is trapped. His patience is gone. And all he wants is to cross the city and reach his daughter’s birthday party. But every broken promise, inflated price and minor inconvenience pushes him further beyond the edge. As a veteran detective begins following the trail, Los Angeles is about to discover that the man in the white shirt is no longer playing by society’s rules. Fun Facts Screenwriter Ebbe Roe Smith completed the original screenplay in just ten weeks. Smith was inspired by a news report about an enraged truck driver who deliberately rammed other vehicles on a highway. Every major Hollywood studio initially rejected the screenplay, and the project came close to becoming an HBO television film before Warner Bros. intervened. William Foster is usually identified as “D-FENS,” taken from the personalised licence plate on his car rather than from a conventional character nickname. Michael Douglas said the character began to click once the production gave him the severe flattop haircut, tight white shirt, pocket pens and small plastic calculator. The white shirt was deliberately made slightly too small for Douglas, helping D-FENS appear physically restricted and permanently uncomfortable. Political posters by Los Angeles artist Michael McNielly were placed throughout the backgrounds to add another layer of social commentary. Special permission was required to film the closing sequences on Venice Pier because it had been closed to the public since 1988 and was considered unsafe. Production happened to be underway when the 1992 Los Angeles riots began, giving the film’s already tense depiction of the city an uncomfortable real-world backdrop. Ebbe Roe Smith makes a brief appearance as the frustrated motorist shouting from the traffic jam near the beginning of the film. If you enjoy the show and would like to support us, we have a Patreon ⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠. If you’re listening on Apple Podcasts or Spotify, leaving us a 5-star review (and a short comment) really helps more people discover the show. It’s quick, free, and makes a huge difference. Referral links also help out the show if you were going to sign up: ⁠⁠⁠NordVPN⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠NordPass⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠thevhsstrikesback@gmail.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://linktr.ee/vhsstrikesback⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Chosen by Mike Burton of Genuine Chit-Chat fame, Dune was released in 1984 and was David Lynch’s ambitious attempt to bring Frank Herbert’s famously dense sci-fi novel to the big screen. Produced by Dino De Laurentiis, the film had a reported budget of around $40 million and was shot largely in Mexico, with huge sets, elaborate costumes, miniature effects, and enough invented terminology to make a cinema audience quietly panic into their popcorn. The cast is absolutely stacked: Kyle MacLachlan, Francesca Annis, Jürgen Prochnow, Patrick Stewart, Max von Sydow, Sean Young, Brad Dourif, Dean Stockwell, and Sting, because apparently space needed a tiny pair of metal pants. On release, the film received mixed reviews and struggled commercially, but over time it became a cult VHS-era oddity: messy, fascinating, visually distinctive, and still discussed decades later by people trying to work out what on Arrakis just happened. Checkout Mike's Genuine Chit-Chat here and Star Wars Chit-Chat here . TRAILER GUY PLOT SYNOPSIS In a universe ruled by emperors, noble houses, secret orders, and one extremely valuable substance, a young heir is pulled into a war for control of the desert planet Arrakis. There are prophecies. There are giant sandworms. There are whispered thoughts, glowing eyes, floating villains, and political schemes so thick you may need a flowchart and a lie down. One family will fall. One boy will rise. And one 1980s sci-fi epic will ask the eternal question: what if Shakespeare, space opera, and a fever dream all shared the same VHS tape? FUN FACTS David Lynch turned down the chance to direct Return of the Jedi before taking on Dune . The film was adapted from Frank Herbert’s 1965 novel, widely considered one of the most influential science fiction books ever written. The soundtrack was mainly composed by Toto, with Brian Eno contributing the haunting “Prophecy Theme.” The famous “weirding modules” were invented for the movie, replacing some of the novel’s more internal and philosophical martial arts concepts. Several longer cuts exist, including a television version credited to “Alan Smithee,” the traditional pseudonym used when a director disowns a project. Lynch has often avoided discussing the film in detail, largely because he did not have final cut. The sandworm effects used miniatures and practical techniques, giving them that distinctive handmade 1980s fantasy look. Sting’s Feyd-Rautha became one of the film’s most memorable images, thanks partly to a costume that appears to have been designed by someone very confident in the future of underwear. Patrick Stewart’s Gurney Halleck charging into battle with a pug remains one of the most gloriously baffling images in all of vintage sci-fi cinema. SUPPORT THE SHOW Support the Show If you enjoy the show and would like to support us, we have a Patreon ⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠. If you’re listening on Apple Podcasts or Spotify, leaving us a 5-star review (and a short comment) really helps more people discover the show. It’s quick, free, and makes a huge difference. Referral links also help out the show if you were going to sign up: ⁠⁠⁠NordVPN⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠NordPass⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠thevhsstrikesback@gmail.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://linktr.ee/vhsstrikesback⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Chosen by Timothy and released in 2002, Irreversible was written and directed by Gaspar Noe, the Argentine-born French filmmaker already known for pushing audiences well outside the comfort zone. The film stars Monica Bellucci, Vincent Cassel and Albert Dupontel, with Bellucci and Cassel appearing together while they were married in real life, which adds an extra layer of intensity to an already very uncomfortable viewing experience. Shot in France on a relatively modest budget, Irreversible became one of the most talked-about films of the early 2000s after its Cannes Film Festival premiere, where it reportedly caused walkouts, outrage and intense debate. Its reputation has only grown since then, becoming a notorious landmark of extreme cinema, French arthouse provocation and the kind of DVD rental choice that could absolutely ruin a quiet night in. TRAILER GUY PLOT SYNOPSIS In a city that never seems to stop moving, one night spirals into panic, rage and revenge. Two men descend into the Paris underground, searching for someone they believe must pay, while the world around them twists, turns and refuses to offer anything close to comfort. But this is no ordinary thriller. Time itself has been shattered, the pieces laid out backwards, forcing us to watch consequence before cause, fury before heartbreak, and chaos before the fragile moments that came before it. Irreversible is a cinematic endurance test from 2002, where love, violence and fate collide in a film that asks one simple question: are you sure you meant to rent this? FUN FACTS Irreversible premiered at the 2002 Cannes Film Festival and quickly became one of the most controversial films of that year. The film is structured in reverse chronological order, with scenes playing out from the end of the story back to the beginning. Gaspar Noe has said the backwards structure was partly inspired by the idea that life can only be understood after events have already happened. Monica Bellucci and Vincent Cassel were married at the time of filming, making their performances together especially striking. The film is often grouped with the New French Extremity movement, a wave of French cinema known for graphic, confrontational and boundary-pushing storytelling. Much of the film’s unsettling atmosphere comes from its aggressive sound design, including low-frequency audio designed to make viewers feel physically uncomfortable. The nightclub sequence is famous for its disorientating camerawork, harsh lighting and deliberately oppressive visual style. Irreversible was banned or heavily restricted in some countries due to its explicit content and graphic violence. The film’s title refers to the idea that time destroys everything, which is also one of the film’s most quoted themes. In 2019, Gaspar Noe released a “Straight Cut” version of the film, presenting the story in chronological order. Support the Show If you enjoy the show and would like to support us, we have a Patreon ⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠.If you’re listening on Apple Podcasts or Spotify, leaving us a 5-star review (and a short comment) really helps more people discover the show. It’s quick, free, and makes a huge difference.Referral links also help out the show if you were going to sign up: ⁠⁠⁠NordVPN⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠NordPass⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠thevhsstrikesback@gmail.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://linktr.ee/vhsstrikesback⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Chosen by new Patreon Chris! Released in 1985 by Paramount Pictures, Summer Rental gave John Candy one of his early big-screen leading roles, with Carl Reiner directing and a cast that includes Karen Austin, Kerri Green, Joey Lawrence, Rip Torn, and Richard Crenna. Written by Mark Reisman and Jeremy Stevens, the film arrived during that golden VHS-era window when a family comedy could basically be built around one exhausted dad, one bad holiday, and the quiet national fear that your summer break might involve damp walls, sunburn, and emotional collapse. Production took the crew to Florida, with filming around St. Petersburg and St. Pete Beach before later work in Atlanta. Alan Silvestri provided the score, giving the film a breezy, seaside feel that fits its sunburnt, slightly chaotic tone. While a confirmed production budget isn’t widely available, the film earned just under $25 million at the domestic box office, which is a very respectable return for a mid-80s comedy about a man slowly losing a war against relaxation. Trailer Guy Synopsis This summer… one man will leave behind the stress of the skies… only to discover that paradise has a booking error, a plumbing problem, and absolutely no interest in giving him a break. Jack Chester is an overworked air traffic controller in desperate need of rest. So naturally, he takes his family to Florida, where the sun is hot, the locals are odd, and every attempt at relaxation turns into another small humiliation. But when one holiday dad is pushed too far, he’ll have to find his confidence, protect his family’s dignity, and prove that even the world’s most frazzled man can still make waves. This isn’t just a vacation. It’s Summer Rental. Fun Facts Summer Rental was released in US cinemas on August 9, 1985. The movie was a Paramount Pictures release, arriving right in the middle of the 1980s family-comedy boom. John Candy plays Jack Chester, an air traffic controller whose job stress sets the whole holiday disaster in motion. Richard Crenna appears as Al Pellet, giving the film a perfectly smug 80s comedy antagonist. Rip Torn plays Scully, the pirate-like restaurant owner who feels as if he wandered in from a completely different, probably smellier, seaside movie. Kerri Green, who plays Jennifer Chester, also appeared in another major 1985 favourite: The Goonies. Joey Lawrence appears as Bobby Chester and was still credited as Joseph Lawrence at this stage of his career. The fictional holiday destination in the movie is Citrus Cove, Florida. The film originally came to US home video on VHS and Betamax in 1986, which feels exactly right for a movie practically designed to live on a sun-faded rental shelf. Kino Lorber later released the film on Blu-ray with a new 4K scan, giving Jack Chester’s vacation trauma a level of visual clarity no stressed dad ever asked for. Support the ShowIf you enjoy the show and would like to support us, we have a Patreon ⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠.If you’re listening on Apple Podcasts or Spotify, leaving us a 5-star review (and a short comment) really helps more people discover the show. It’s quick, free, and makes a huge difference.Referral links also help out the show if you were going to sign up: ⁠⁠⁠NordVPN⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠NordPass⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠thevhsstrikesback@gmail.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://linktr.ee/vhsstrikesback⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Chris has gone for an Arnie classic this week. Released in 1988, Red Heat arrived right in the thick of the buddy-cop boom, pairing Arnold Schwarzenegger’s granite-faced Soviet policeman with Jim Belushi’s wisecracking Chicago detective. Directed, co-written and co-produced by Walter Hill, the film sits somewhere between Cold War curiosity, action thriller, and odd-couple comedy, with Hill bringing his usual muscular, stripped-down approach to men glaring at each other near explosions. The cast also includes Peter Boyle, Ed O’Ross, Laurence Fishburne, Gina Gershon and Brion James, which is a very 1988 way of saying, “Yes, this will involve shouting in warehouses.” Production took the film across Chicago, Los Angeles and Budapest, with Budapest doubling for Moscow, while the filmmakers were also granted approval to shoot establishing material in Moscow’s Red Square — noted by the AFI Catalog as a first for an American feature production. The film was released by TriStar Pictures on 17 June 1988, opening to just over $8.1 million domestically and finishing with around $35 million at the US box office. It may not have become the definitive Schwarzenegger classic, but it remains a fascinating VHS-era artefact: Arnie at peak stoicism, Belushi at peak “I’ve got a leather jacket and a comeback,” and Walter Hill trying to make Cold War geopolitics look like a bar fight. Trailer Guy Synopsis In a world divided by suspicion, steel, and extremely suspicious accents… one man is Moscow’s toughest cop. Ivan Danko follows the rules, respects authority, and has the facial expression of a locked filing cabinet. But when a dangerous criminal escapes to the streets of Chicago, Danko is forced into the one partnership more unstable than international diplomacy: teaming up with Art Ridzik, a loudmouth American detective with a badge, a temper, and the dress sense of a man who has personally offended several department stores. Fun Facts Red Heat was released in the same summer as Who Framed Roger Rabbit, Die Hard, Big, Coming to America and Rambo III, making 1988 a fairly ridiculous year to compete for action and comedy attention. The film’s music was composed by James Horner, who also scored Aliens, Commando, Cocoon, Willow and, later, Titanic. So yes, this film exists in the same musical universe as both xenomorph trauma and Celine Dion-adjacent iceberg sorrow. Laurence Fishburne appears in the film before his major mainstream breakthrough in the 1990s, giving Red Heat a nice bit of “spot the future legend” VHS value. Gina Gershon also appears in an early role, years before becoming a cult favourite through films like Bound and Showgirls. The screenplay is credited to Harry Kleiner, Walter Hill and Troy Kennedy Martin, with Hill also directing and producing, because apparently just directing Schwarzenegger and Belushi wasn’t enough paperwork. The movie runs 104 minutes, which is a mercifully efficient length for a film that has to cover Soviet law enforcement, American policing, drug trafficking, culture clash comedy, and Arnold learning how to tolerate Jim Belushi. Support the Show If you enjoy the show and would like to support us, we have a Patreon ⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠.If you’re listening on Apple Podcasts or Spotify, leaving us a 5-star review (and a short comment) really helps more people discover the show. It’s quick, free, and makes a huge difference.Referral links also help out the show if you were going to sign up: ⁠⁠⁠NordVPN⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠NordPass⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠thevhsstrikesback@gmail.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://linktr.ee/vhsstrikesback⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Chosen by Dave, A Shot at Glory is a Scottish football drama directed by Michael Corrente and written by Denis O’Neill, bringing together a surprisingly heavyweight cast for a film about lower-league football, club loyalty, and men shouting at each other in tracksuits. Robert Duvall stars as Gordon McLeod and also served as a producer, with Michael Keaton, Ally McCoist, Brian Cox, Cole Hauser, Kirsty Mitchell, and Morag Hood rounding out a cast that feels like someone put Hollywood, Scottish football, and a pub argument into the same blender. The film was produced around 1999/2000 and received a limited US theatrical release in May 2002, followed by a DVD release later that year. Filming took place across Scotland, with football scenes using real grounds including Boghead Park, Palmerston Park, Rugby Park, and Hampden Park, while much of the fictional town of Kilnockie was shot in Crail, Fife. The movie also has a proper Scottish football texture thanks to appearances from real players and football figures, while the soundtrack was composed by Mark Knopfler, giving the whole thing a Celtic-tinged musical polish rather than just the sound of 8,000 people shouting “man on.” Critics were mixed, the box office was modest, but over time it has become a bit of a cult curiosity for football fans, especially anyone who enjoys seeing Ally McCoist sharing screen space with Robert Duvall and Michael Keaton. Trailer Guy Synopsis In a small Scottish town, where the rain falls sideways and football is less a sport than a legally recognised emotional condition, one struggling club faces the fight of its life. Kilnockie FC has history, pride, and a fanbase clinging to hope like it’s the last pie at half-time. But when an American owner threatens to rip the club from its roots, only one thing can save them: victory, belief, and a team held together by grit, grudges, and questionable decision-making. Fun facts The film’s working title was reportedly The Cup , which is accurate, but does sound like a placeholder left on someone’s laptop until five minutes before the poster was printed. Ally McCoist plays Jackie McQuillan, a fictional footballer, despite McCoist himself being one of Scottish football’s most recognisable real-life strikers. Brian Cox appears as Martin Smith, the Rangers manager, years before a whole new generation would know him as Logan Roy in Succession . Cole Hauser, later famous as Rip Wheeler in Yellowstone , plays Kelsey O’Brian, a backup goalkeeper, despite reports noting he had no real football background. Several real footballers appear in the movie, including Owen Coyle, Andy Smith, Peter Hetherston, and Didier Agathe. Robert Duvall reportedly spent time observing Raith Rovers to help shape his performance as a Scottish football manager. The fictional Kilnockie FC was loosely inspired by the kind of improbable cup exploits associated with smaller Scottish clubs, including Airdrieonians’ runs in the 1990s. Mark Knopfler’s soundtrack album contains 11 tracks and was released in 2002, with Guy Fletcher also involved as producer. Support the ShowIf you enjoy the show and would like to support us, we have a Patreon ⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠.If you’re listening on Apple Podcasts or Spotify, leaving us a 5-star review (and a short comment) really helps more people discover the show. It’s quick, free, and makes a huge difference.Referral links also help out the show if you were going to sign up: ⁠⁠⁠NordVPN⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠NordPass⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠thevhsstrikesback@gmail.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://linktr.ee/vhsstrikesback⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Chosen by Patreon supporter Helen, Indecent Proposal is exactly the sort of glossy 90s adult drama that makes perfect VHS Strikes Back territory: stylish, morally messy, wildly debatable, and absolutely guaranteed to make everyone in the room ask what they would do for one million dollars. Directed by Adrian Lyne, the film arrived in 1993 at the peak of Hollywood’s obsession with erotic thrillers and high-stakes relationship dramas, when a soft-focus lens, a luxurious wardrobe, and a deeply questionable premise could still become a major box office event. Based on Jack Engelhard’s 1988 novel, it starred Robert Redford, Demi Moore, and Woody Harrelson, with a screenplay by Amy Holden Jones and a typically elegant score from John Barry. Filming began in Las Vegas in June 1992 before moving to Southern California, with locations including Echo Park and a Santa Barbara mansion used for John Gage’s home. The film became a major commercial hit, earning around $266.6 million worldwide against a reported $38 million budget, despite mixed-to-negative reviews and a premise that caused plenty of debate. It also became a pop culture talking point almost instantly, inspiring arguments about marriage, money, consent, class, and whether Robert Redford could make absolutely anything sound sophisticated, even a financial transaction that should really have involved several lawyers and a long walk outside. TRAILER GUY PLOT SYNOPSIS They were young. They were in love. They had dreams, debts, and the sort of architectural ambitions that scream, “we are one recession away from disaster.” But in the neon heart of Las Vegas, one night changes everything. A billionaire stranger enters their lives with charm, confidence, and a cheque book big enough to turn romance into a boardroom negotiation. FUN FACTS Indecent Proposal was directed by Adrian Lyne, who had already become the king of stylish relationship chaos with films like Fatal Attraction and 9½ Weeks. The film was adapted from Jack Engelhard’s novel, although the screen version softened and reshaped elements of the original story for mainstream Hollywood audiences. Robert Redford’s casting gave the film an unusual edge, because billionaire John Gage had to feel charming enough to be believable, but morally questionable enough to make everyone deeply uncomfortable. Demi Moore was one of the biggest stars of the early 90s, and this film landed during the same era that cemented her as a major box office name. Woody Harrelson was still best known to many viewers for Cheers, making his role as a financially desperate husband a notable move into more dramatic film work. The film’s central “one million dollars for one night” premise became one of the most talked-about movie hooks of the decade. Billy Bob Thornton has a small role in the film, appearing before he became widely known as a major Hollywood name. The movie features appearances from Sheena Easton and Herbie Hancock, adding a bit of real-world glamour to the already very shiny 90s atmosphere. SUPPORT THE SHOW If you enjoy the show and would like to support us, we have a Patreon ⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠. If you’re listening on Apple Podcasts or Spotify, leaving us a 5-star review (and a short comment) really helps more people discover the show. It’s quick, free, and makes a huge difference. Referral links also help out the show if you were going to sign up: ⁠⁠⁠NordVPN⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠NordPass⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠thevhsstrikesback@gmail.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://linktr.ee/vhsstrikesback⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Chosen by Kent and released in 1985, Brewster’s Millions was directed by Walter Hill and produced by Lawrence Gordon, Joel Silver and Gene Levy for Universal Pictures. Hill was best known for tougher, more muscular films like The Warriors, The Driver, 48 Hrs. and Streets of Fire, so seeing him take on a broad Richard Pryor comedy is one of those wonderfully odd 80s career turns that makes perfect sense only after three pints and a VHS rental card. The screenplay came from Timothy Harris and Herschel Weingrod, the writing duo behind Trading Places, adapting George Barr McCutcheon’s much-filmed 1902 novel for a new generation. The film stars Richard Pryor, John Candy, Lonette McKee, Stephen Collins and Hume Cronyn, with music by Ry Cooder. Made on a reported budget of around $15 million, it earned roughly $45 million worldwide, making it a solid box office performer even if critics were not exactly fainting into their notebooks with admiration. Over time, though, Brewster’s Millions has become a comfortable 80s comedy favourite: high-concept, fast-moving, packed with familiar faces, and built around the kind of premise that still feels weirdly irresistible. Who among us has not wondered whether we could ruin our lives with $30 million and a strict deadline? TRAILER GUY PLOT SYNOPSIS Monty Brewster is a struggling minor league baseball player with a loyal best friend, a modest bank balance, and absolutely no idea that his entire life is about to be turned into the world’s most expensive practical joke. When a mysterious inheritance lands in his lap, Monty is offered a fortune beyond his wildest dreams. But there is a catch. To claim the real prize, he must spend $30 million in 30 days, without telling anyone why, without keeping any assets, and without accidentally making a profit. Which sounds easy, until you realise money has a nasty habit of sticking around when lawyers are watching. FUN FACTS Brewster’s Millions is based on George Barr McCutcheon’s 1902 novel, which had already inspired several earlier film and stage adaptations before the 1985 version. The story had been filmed multiple times before, including silent and early sound-era versions, making this one of Hollywood’s most recycled “sudden fortune with a catch” premises. Peter Bogdanovich was originally attached to direct before Walter Hill took over the project. Walter Hill later described Brewster’s Millions as his only true comedy, which is quite the detour for a director usually associated with action, crime and tough-guy cinema. The fictional Hackensack Bulls were created for the film, giving Richard Pryor and John Candy a very 80s underdog sports-comedy setup before the inheritance plot kicks in. The baseball stadium scenes used a standing set originally built for the short-lived TV series Bay City Blues. The film’s New York setting gives it that glossy mid-80s city energy, where everyone appears to be either very rich, very stressed, or about to be shouted at by a lawyer. Rick Moranis appears in a small supporting role as Morty King, adding another familiar 80s comedy face to the cast. Support the Show If you enjoy the show and would like to support us, we have a Patreon ⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠. If you’re listening on Apple Podcasts or Spotify, leaving us a 5-star review (and a short comment) really helps more people discover the show. It’s quick, free, and makes a huge difference. Referral links also help out the show if you were going to sign up: ⁠⁠⁠NordVPN⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠NordPass⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠thevhsstrikesback@gmail.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://linktr.ee/vhsstrikesback⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Chosen by Justin, Only the Lonely arrived in 1991 as a gentler, more bittersweet John Candy vehicle than the broad comedy many audiences might have expected. Written and directed by Chris Columbus and produced by John Hughes and Hunt Lowry, the film brought together Candy, Maureen O’Hara, Ally Sheedy, Anthony Quinn, James Belushi and Kevin Dunn for a Chicago-set romantic comedy-drama with a softer heart than its VHS-era packaging probably suggested. A widely reported production budget is not readily available, but the film earned around $21.8 million domestically after opening wide through 20th Century Fox in May 1991. The production leaned heavily into real Chicago texture, with principal photography beginning on 1 October 1990 and running until 22 December 1990. Locations included North Avenue Beach, the Pump Room, St. John Cantius Church, Greektown and Comiskey Park, with additional interiors built at Chicago Metropolitan Studios. Reception was mixed-to-positive in the period, with particular praise for the performances, and the film has since picked up a modest legacy as one of John Candy’s more tender, underrated leading roles: less “falling through furniture,” more “quietly breaking your heart while still making you laugh.” Trailer Guy Synopsis In a city of crowded bars, roaring trains and overbearing family dinners, one Chicago cop is about to face the most terrifying case of his career: falling in love. Danny Muldoon is loyal, dependable, kind-hearted… and still very much under the command of his mother. But when he meets Theresa, a shy funeral home worker with a quiet charm, Danny sees the possibility of a life beyond guilt, duty and being emotionally handcuffed to the family sofa. Fun Facts Only the Lonely was Maureen O’Hara’s first feature film appearance in roughly two decades, bringing a classic Hollywood presence into a very early-90s comedy-drama. Chris Columbus reportedly wrote the role of Rose with Maureen O’Hara in mind, which is ambitious casting energy of the highest order. The film’s title comes from Roy Orbison’s famous song “Only the Lonely,” giving the movie an instant dose of old-school melancholy before anyone even says a word. John Candy plays a romantic lead here, which makes the film stand apart from many of his broader comic roles of the 1980s and early 1990s. The cast includes both Macaulay Culkin and Kieran Culkin in small roles, because apparently the early 90s had a legal requirement that at least one Culkin appear somewhere near a John Hughes production. Maurice Jarre, the Oscar-winning composer behind classics such as Lawrence of Arabia and Doctor Zhivago, provided the score. The film was shot in the same general Chicago orbit as several John Hughes-associated productions, helping give it that familiar neighbourhood feel rather than a glossy studio rom-com sheen. Anthony Quinn appears as Nick, the persistent neighbour with eyes for Rose, adding some old-school screen charisma to the film’s family chaos. The story has often been compared to Marty, the 1955 romantic drama about a lonely bachelor trying to find love while dealing with family pressure. Support the Show If you enjoy the show and would like to support us, we have a Patreon ⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠. If you’re listening on Apple Podcasts or Spotify, leaving us a 5-star review (and a short comment) really helps more people discover the show. It’s quick, free, and makes a huge difference. Referral links also help out the show if you were going to sign up: ⁠⁠⁠NordVPN⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠NordPass⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠thevhsstrikesback@gmail.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://linktr.ee/vhsstrikesback⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Released in 1986, Crocodile Dundee was directed by Peter Faiman and co-written by Paul Hogan, Ken Shadie, and John Cornell, with Hogan also starring as the now-iconic Mick Dundee. Made on a modest budget of around A$8.8 million, the film was designed to be a broad, crowd-pleasing Australian comedy that could travel internationally — which is exactly what it did, with all the subtlety of a bloke walking into a New York hotel with a knife the size of a paving slab. Filming took place across Australia and the United States, including Queensland, Kakadu National Park in the Northern Territory, and New York City. Linda Kozlowski was cast opposite Hogan as American journalist Sue Charlton, while the supporting cast included John Meillon, David Gulpilil, Mark Blum, and Michael Lombard. The film became a worldwide box-office phenomenon, earning more than US$328 million globally and turning Mick Dundee into one of the most recognisable screen characters of the VHS era. TRAILER GUY PLOT SYNOPSIS Deep in the Australian Outback, where the wildlife wants to kill you and the locals treat mortal danger as light admin, one man has become a legend. His name is Mick Dundee — hunter, survivor, charmer, and possibly the only man alive who looks at a crocodile and thinks, “G'Day” When a New York journalist travels across the world to meet him, she finds more than just a story. She finds a man who doesn’t quite fit into polite society, mostly because polite society has fewer snakes, fewer campfires, and significantly less casual knife work. But when Mick Dundee swaps the Outback for Manhattan, the jungle changes. The predators wear suits, the streets are full of noise, and our hero must face his greatest challenge yet: modern civilisation. Strewth, New York doesn’t know what’s coming. FUN FACTS Crocodile Dundee was inspired in part by the real-life exploits of Australian bushman Rod Ansell, whose survival story helped feed the mythic quality of Mick Dundee. Paul Hogan was already a major TV personality in Australia before the film, thanks to The Paul Hogan Show, but this movie made him an international star. The screenplay received an Academy Award nomination for Best Original Screenplay, which is not bad for a film best remembered by many people for one very specific knife comparison. Paul Hogan won the Golden Globe for Best Actor in a Motion Picture, Musical or Comedy for his performance as Mick Dundee. The film was released in Australia in April 1986 and in the United States in September 1986, where it became a major hit. There are different cuts of the film: the international version was slightly shorter and adjusted some Australian slang for overseas audiences. The famous “Walkabout Creek Hotel” scenes were filmed at the Walkabout Creek Hotel in McKinlay, Queensland, which became a tourist destination after the movie’s success. The film was a huge success on UK television, drawing a massive Christmas Day audience when it aired on BBC One in 1989. A restored 4K version, Crocodile Dundee: The Encore Cut, premiered in 2025 with several edits and updates for modern release. MUSIC Checkout the parody music from the show on Spotify here . SUPPORT THE SHOW Support the Show If you enjoy the show and would like to support us, we have a Patreon ⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠. If you’re listening on Apple Podcasts or Spotify, leaving us a 5-star review (and a short comment) really helps more people discover the show. It’s quick, free, and makes a huge difference. Referral links also help out the show if you were going to sign up: ⁠⁠⁠NordVPN⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠NordPass⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠thevhsstrikesback@gmail.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://linktr.ee/vhsstrikesback⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Chosen by Chris, Heat arrived in 1995 as Michael Mann’s grand, granite-jawed crime epic: a nearly three-hour Los Angeles thriller with the emotional temperature of a fridge full of loaded handguns. Produced by Mann and Art Linson, the film brought together Al Pacino and Robert De Niro on-screen for the first time, backed by a frankly ridiculous ensemble including Val Kilmer, Jon Voight, Tom Sizemore, Ashley Judd, Amy Brenneman, Wes Studi, Mykelti Williamson and Ted Levine. With a reported budget of around $60 million, this was not some cosy little cops-and-robbers caper; it was prestige crime cinema wearing an expensive suit and staring silently out over the freeway. Mann shot Heat across Los Angeles with an obsessive eye for real streets, glass towers, night skies and urban loneliness, giving the city the feel of a living, humming machine. The production became famous for its realism, its meticulous preparation and its muscular sense of place, while the film went on to earn strong reviews, solid box office returns and a lasting reputation as one of the defining American crime films of the 1990s. Its influence can still be felt in modern heist films, police thrillers and brooding men looking meaningfully at skylines. Trailer Guy Plot Synopsis In a city where every streetlight hides a secret, one master thief lives by a code: never get attached to anything you cannot walk away from in thirty seconds flat. But when a relentless detective begins closing in, two men on opposite sides of the law discover they may understand each other better than anyone else ever could. One hunts. One runs. Both are trapped by the lives they chose. This winter, Los Angeles becomes a battlefield of loyalty, obsession, coffee, suits, guns, and the sort of emotional repression that can only be solved by staring across a table like two divorced panthers. Fun Facts Heat was adapted from ideas Michael Mann had explored years earlier in his 1989 TV film L.A. Takedown . The character Neil McCauley was inspired by a real criminal pursued by Chicago police officer Chuck Adamson. Despite both appearing in The Godfather Part II , Pacino and De Niro did not share scenes in that film, making Heat their first proper on-screen pairing. The famous diner conversation was shot with multiple cameras to capture both actors’ performances naturally. The film’s long runtime meant its original VHS release had to be split across two tapes, which feels deeply appropriate for a film this committed to being massive. Dante Spinotti’s cinematography uses natural and practical lighting to give the film its cool, metallic Los Angeles atmosphere. Kate Mantilini, the restaurant used for the iconic meeting scene, later closed in 2014. Christopher Nolan has cited Heat as an influence on his approach to Gotham City in The Dark Knight . The film’s weapon handling and shootout sequences are often praised for their realism and have become a benchmark for crime-action filmmaking. MUSIC Checkout the parody music from the show on Spotify ⁠here⁠ . Support the Show If you enjoy the show and would like to support us, we have a Patreon ⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠. If you’re listening on Apple Podcasts or Spotify, leaving us a 5-star review (and a short comment) really helps more people discover the show. It’s quick, free, and makes a huge difference. Referral links also help out the show if you were going to sign up: ⁠⁠⁠NordVPN⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠NordPass⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠thevhsstrikesback@gmail.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://linktr.ee/vhsstrikesback⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

This week, Patreon supporter Matt Bates, the Black Country Vlogger, brings us Innocent Blood (1992) for our Pain and Pleasure theme -- a film that revels in the push and pull between the two. Innocent Blood (1992) came about in a roundabout way, which is fitting for a film that defies easy categorisation. John Landis had originally been developing a vampire project called Red Sleep -- a wild premise about Las Vegas being run by vampires -- before Warner Bros. passed and handed him a first-time script by Michael Wolk. The film had an entirely different trajectory before Landis came aboard -- Jack Sholder had been set to direct with Lara Flynn Boyle and Dennis Hopper in the leads before creative differences saw all three replaced. Landis cast French actress Anne Parillaud fresh off La Femme Nikita, and filmed primarily in Pittsburgh's Little Italy neighbourhood after a location visit changed his original plan to shoot in Philadelphia. The MPAA initially slapped it with an NC-17, forcing further cuts to secure an R rating. Landis described his vision as "a Hammer film directed by Scorsese." It opened in September 1992 to a modest domestic gross but has since built a devoted cult following among fans of horror-comedy and 90s vampire films. Find Matt here - https://www.youtube.com/c/blackcountryvlogger TRAILER GUY PLOT SYNOPSIS In a world where the streets of Pittsburgh run red... one woman has a code. She is Marie. She is beautiful. She is deadly. And she only eats bad people. But one night she makes a mistake. She doesn't finish the job. And now the most dangerous mob boss in the city isn't just angry... he is immortal. Sal Macelli is back from the dead and building a vampire army from organised crime. Marie has no choice but to team up with one increasingly bewildered cop. Because you cannot arrest something that cannot die. And you cannot plea bargain with a monster in an Armani suit. FUN FACTS ABOUT INNOCENT BLOOD (1992) Despite revolving around vampires, the word "vampire" is never once spoken in the film Dario Argento, Sam Raimi, Frank Oz, Tom Savini, and Steve Johnson all have cameos Scream Queen Linnea Quigley appears as a nurse alongside her then-husband Steve Johnson Landis hid his recurring "See You Next Wednesday" joke on a marquee in the film The glowing vampire eyes used reflective contact lenses combined with a beam-splitter technique A POV flying shot was lifted directly from Dario Argento's Opera -- who also has a cameo Chazz Palminteri appears in a supporting role -- a Godfather reunion crossed with The Sopranos By 1992, Landis hadn't directed horror since An American Werewolf in London -- an eleven year gap MUSIC Checkout the parody music from the show on Spotify ⁠here⁠ . SUPPORT THE SHOW Support the Show If you enjoy the show and would like to support us, we have a Patreon ⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠. If you're listening on Apple Podcasts or Spotify, leaving us a 5-star review (and a short comment) really helps more people discover the show. It's quick, free, and makes a huge difference. Referral links also help out the show if you were going to sign up: ⁠⁠⁠NordVPN⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠NordPass⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠thevhsstrikesback@gmail.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://linktr.ee/vhsstrikesback⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

This week’s pick comes from Patreon supporter Graeme—clearly a man who woke up and chose absolute emotional devastation. Directed by Shane Meadows, Dead Man’s Shoes (2004) is a raw, low-budget British drama that has steadily grown into a cult favourite. Shot primarily in and around Matlock, the film was made on a modest budget estimated at around £723,000. Meadows co-wrote the screenplay with Paddy Considine, who also stars in the lead role. The production leaned heavily on improvisation, giving the performances an unsettling realism that sets it apart from more polished revenge thrillers. Upon release, the film was praised for its intensity, authenticity, and grounded portrayal of working-class life in the Midlands. Toby Kebbell also received acclaim for his emotionally charged supporting performance. Though not a major box office hit, Dead Man’s Shoes built its reputation through word of mouth, critical appreciation, and home media circulation—firmly cementing its place as one of the most respected British films of the 2000s. TRAILER GUY PLOT SYNOPSIS He’s been away… but now he’s back. In a quiet Derbyshire town, a lone figure returns with unfinished business—and a stare that makes hardened men nervous. The locals don’t recognise him… not yet. But they will. Oh, they will. Because this isn’t just a homecoming. It’s a reckoning. And as the tension tightens like a noose, one thing becomes clear: you can run, you can hide… but you can’t escape what’s coming. FUN FACTS The film was shot in just three weeks, adding to its raw, documentary-like feel Much of the dialogue was improvised rather than strictly scripted Shane Meadows has cited the film as one of his most personal works Paddy Considine reportedly stayed in character for long stretches during filming The film’s title is a reference to the idea of facing consequences for past actions It was filmed using handheld cameras to enhance realism and immersion The movie is frequently ranked among the best British films of the 21st century Toby Kebbell landed the role after an open casting call The soundtrack features moody, atmospheric tracks that heighten the tension The film has developed a strong cult following through DVD and streaming platforms MUSIC Checkout the parody music from the show on Spotify ⁠here⁠ . SUPPORT THE SHOW If you enjoy the show and would like to support us, we have a Patreon ⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠. If you’re listening on Apple Podcasts or Spotify, leaving us a 5-star review (and a short comment) really helps more people discover the show. It’s quick, free, and makes a huge difference. Referral links also help out the show if you were going to sign up: ⁠⁠⁠NordVPN⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠NordPass⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠thevhsstrikesback@gmail.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://linktr.ee/vhsstrikesback⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠