Episodes
Tuesday Aug 10, 2021
Sordid Cinema Podcast #591: M. Night Shyamalan’s Old
Tuesday Aug 10, 2021
Tuesday Aug 10, 2021
It shouldn’t come as a surprise that Old, the latest thriller from the endlessly inventive — if not always successful — director M. Night Shyamalan, has critics divided. Some argue the film features an intriguing concept, but its execution is extremely flawed. Others call it an entertaining thought exercise from one of Hollywood’s most invigorating filmmakers that is never, not fun. Love him or hate him, as cinephiles, we can at least admire how Shyamalan has adjusted to the ebb and flow of his career by self-financing when the money isn’t there. Old is in every respect, an M. Night film— written, directed, funded, and produced by the man himself— and that folks, is enough reason to spend 60 minutes discussing the movie, even if some of us absolutely hate it.
Thursday Aug 05, 2021
Sordid Cinema Podcast #590: Anthony Perkins Gets Away With Murder Psycho III
Thursday Aug 05, 2021
Thursday Aug 05, 2021
Psycho III Review
Reviving Norman Bates for the decade of slasher movies was a no-brainer, but Psycho II dove too deep into irrelevant lore and forgot about the fun. Thankfully, director and star Anthony Perkins righted the wrongs of Norman’s past with the wickedly entertaining Psycho III, an overlooked gem lost in a sea of sequel apathy. Artful filmmaking, economical storytelling, a talented cast, and a wonderful lead performance don’t care that movies with the number three in the title aren’t supposed to be good. Psycho III might not live up to the legendary reputation of Hitchcock’s masterpiece, but it’s a genuinely fascinating look at an iconic character from the man who knew him best. It’s also a solid slasher flick with a dark sense of humor .
This week, Rick, Simon, and Patrick don’t make the same mistake 80s audiences did — we spend a night at the Bates Motel, soaking in all the weirdness. Topics up for discussion include brilliant callbacks, creative transitions, the burden of predecessors, bloody ice cubes, and very well-placed lamps. Sure, there’s one scene most of us would change (exposition dump), but so much more we’d keep preserved like a stuffed bird. For all this and more, have a listen!
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Friday Jul 30, 2021
Friday Jul 30, 2021
A Quiet Place: Part II Review
New movie! Remember new movies? Those still come out on occasion. Simon decided it was time to treat the Sordid Cinema audience to something a little more contemporary than usual, so it’s time to dissect John Krasinski’s A Quiet Place: Part II, which swaps out Office Jim in favor of a very haunted Cillian Murphy. We take this as an opportunity to look at the Quiet Place Cinematic Universe and ponder its future as one of the few major movie series (soon to have its own spinoff!) to not be based on pre-existing intellectual property. Also discussed: the influence of video games, the blessing of short runtimes, and the enduring appeal of family stories set in apocalyptic hellscapes.
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Tuesday Jul 27, 2021
Sordid Cinema Podcast #588: Sleepaway Camp Serves A Helping Of Summer Slaughter
Tuesday Jul 27, 2021
Tuesday Jul 27, 2021
Sleepaway Camp Review
This week on the Sordid Cinema Podcast, Ricky D, Patrick Murphy, and Simon Howell travel back to 1983 and review Richard Hiltzik’s deeply gay-coded Sleepaway Camp. The crew discusses the many different interpretations of the film and breaks down the very famous theory citing two killers, not one. Meanwhile, Ricky explains why Ricky is one of his all-time favourite characters in a slasher film. Of course, we couldn’t review the seminal 80s classic without addressing the controversial, shocking, and some would say brilliant twist ending. All this and more!
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Tuesday Jul 13, 2021
Sordid Cinema Podcast #586: Universal Soldier: Day of Reckoning
Tuesday Jul 13, 2021
Tuesday Jul 13, 2021
Universal Soldier: Day of Reckoning Review
When is a direct-to-video beat-’em-up also a brutally dark meditation on mortality, identity, and the cyclical nature of violence? When it’s John Hyams’ Universal Soldier: Day of Reckoning! This hyperviolent action-horror-sci-fi hybrid divides us: is it a schlocky Z-grade knockoff or a compelling concoction all its own? The always-welcome JCVD and Dolph Lundgren are along for the ride as we hash it out.
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Monday Apr 19, 2021
Sordid Cinema Podcast #576: Ravenous is Hungry for Man Meat
Monday Apr 19, 2021
Monday Apr 19, 2021
Ravenous (1999) Review
In one of our most spirited episodes in recent memory, the gang unites with guest Mike Worby to sing the praises of Antonia Bird’s gonzo 1999 cannibal shocker Ravenous. Is it a horror movie, a western, a cannibalism drama, a homoerotic fable, a survival story, a historical epic, a black comedy, or a satire? The answer is yes. Also: lots of talk about Michael Nyman and Damon Albarn’s oddball score, the brilliant cast, Robert Carlyle’s demonic antics, and how to sell your friends on this one-of-a-kind movie.
Saturday Apr 17, 2021
Sordid Cinema Podcast Rewind: The Guest is a Stylish and Entertaining Thriller
Saturday Apr 17, 2021
Saturday Apr 17, 2021
The Guest Review
Way back in 2014, we sat down to discuss The Guest, a pretty crafty genre pastiche written by Simon Barrett and directed by Adam Wingard of You’re Next fame. The film follows a soldier who introduces himself to the Peterson family, claiming to be a friend of their son who died in action. After the young man is welcomed into their home, a series of accidental deaths seem to be connected to his presence leaving everyone questioning who he really is. Joining us for this review was Sound On Sight’s then managing editor, Deepayan Sengupta.
Saturday Mar 13, 2021
Sordid Cinema Podcast: 'Slaxx' is Comfortable, Loose-Fitting Horror Satire
Saturday Mar 13, 2021
Saturday Mar 13, 2021
Slaxx Movie Review
This week on the Sordid Cinema Podcast, we review Elza Kephart‘s Slaxx, a playful horror-comedy about possessed jeans that come to life and go on a killing spree at a chic retail store the night before their big release! It sounds silly and it is, but Slaxx is also a sharp satire of consumerism, corporate wokeness, and colonial capitalism. If you’re looking for a fun, witty, satirical new b-movie with plenty of gore; look no further. SLAXX is comfortable, loose-fitting horror satire.
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Saturday Mar 06, 2021
Sordid Cinema Podcast Rewind: Richard Kelly Special
Saturday Mar 06, 2021
Saturday Mar 06, 2021
Donnie Darko, Southland Tales, and The Box Review
In episode 167 of the Sordid Cinema Podcast (then called Sound On Sight), we discussed not one, not two, but three Richard Kelly films.
At the time, writer-director Richard Kelly wasn’t around too long, but his three features had all been the subject of intense debate: Is Donnie Darko the great sci-fi fable of the 2000s or a teen angst pretension pit? Is Southland Tales, as the Village Voice’s J. Hoberman contends, a “visionary” film, or creative control gone horribly wrong? And is The Box an incomprehensible sci-fi mishmash or a return to form? Al Kratina, Mariko McDonald, and Simon Howell attempt to answer all these questions without falling into any aquatic time portals.
Tuesday Mar 02, 2021
Tuesday Mar 02, 2021
The Empty Man Review
Have you heard the call of The Empty Man? Writer-director David Prior’s weird and wild movie has snuck its way into the hearts and minds of a select few in the months since it was (barely) released. Now, Ricky, Simon, and Patrick face a dilemma: how the hell do you describe a movie seemingly designed to simulate losing your mind? Note: We strongly recommend renting The Empty Man before listening! This movie is best served cold.