Sordid Cinema Podcast

Podcast Demo: ’Free Flight’

Sordid Cinema Podcast #611: Is Nobody the Next John Wick?

Nobody Movie Review Nobody doesn’t break new ground for the action genre, but director Ilya Naishuller’s fight sequences and stunt choreography are so good— and Bob Odenkirk’s performance is so great— it’s essential viewing for any fan of action cinema. This week on the Sordid Cinema Podcast we review the bloody, crowd-pleasing, brutal, and never dull film, and debate if we would want to see a sequel or not. All this and more! Links: LinkTree Amazon Spotify iTunes Podbean YouTube Listen Not...

After Dark: Is The Book of Boba Fett a Welcome Addition to the Star Wars Universe?

The Book of Boba Fett Season One Review This week on After Dark, Marc Kariloff of The Nintendo NEXpress Podcast joined to talk about The Book of Boba Fett.   With a lot of sand and a bit of pathos, Star Wars is finally telling the story of Boba Fett’s days after falling in the Sarlacc pit… at least for the first few episodes of Disney+’s The Book of Boba Fett. Created by Jon Favreau and featuring episodes directed by Robert Rodriguez and Bryce Dallas Howard, The Book of Boba Fett is an ide...

Sordid Cinema Podcast Rewind: Sreamathon

After an 11-year gap, Wes Craven and Kevin Williamson’s megabuck meta-slasher Scream franchise came back with the fourth installment in 2011, and to mark the occasion, Ricky D, Justine Smith and Simon Howell went back and dissect the original trilogy (in complete and spoiler-filled detail) before tackling Scream 4, which was reviewed in both non-spoiler and very, very spoiler-y format. This recording comes from episode 268 of the Sordid Cinema Podcast (formerly known as Sound On Sight). Lin...

Sound On Sight Podcast Rewind: The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey

The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey Following up from our epic Lord of the Rings ‘cast, Ricky D and Simon Howell had to find a way to keep the ante high to discuss The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey. They could think of nothing better than to rope in one of their very favorite critics – and first-time guest – Nick Schager (Slant Magazine, Time Out NY, The Village Voice) to dissect the movie and its attendant technological advances in detail. Discussed: dwarf psychology, videogame aesthetics, 48...

Sordid Cinema Podcast Rewind: The Lord of the Rings Trilogy

The Lord of the Rings Trilogy Review With The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey looming, we faced a problem: how do we tackle Peter Jackson’s epic, 11-hour (if we go by Extended Editions) Lord of the Rings saga without going insane? Ricky D and Simon Howell decided the best course of action was to double down. In this episode, they’re joined by Tolkien fiend Kate Fulzick of the Televerse podcast and Steve Prokopy a.k.a. Capone of Ain’t It Cool News to consider the entire trilogy as a unified ent...

After Dark: Why Heels is the Most Under-Rated Show of 2021

Heels Season One Podcast Review This week on After Dark, we invited Mariko McDonald of the Talk AEW Podcast to discuss Heels! You don’t have to be a professional wrestling fan to fall head over heels in love with the new STARZ series starring Stephen Amell. Created by Michael Waldron (Loki) with Mike O’Malley serving as showrunner, Heels centers on a family-owned wrestling promotion (the Duffy Wrestling League) and follows brothers Jack (Amell) and Ace (Alexander Ludwig) Spade as they navig...

After Dark: How Yellowjackets Became the Surprise Sleeper Hit

Yellowjackets Season One Podcast Review Welcome to Sordid Cinema After Dark, a series of bonus episodes in which we break down our favourite shows, past and present. Join Randy Dankievitch, Ricky D, and rotating guests as they discuss the current state of television and why they love the shows they love! In our inaugural episode, we review the first season of Yellowjackets, the new series from Ashley Lyle, Bart Nickerson that became the sleeper hit of 2021. For the unfamiliar, Yellowjackets...

Sordid Cinema Podcast #610: There Will Never Be Another Movie Like The Matrix

The Matrix: Down the Rabbit Hole The Matrix is a movie made of groundbreaking special effects, superb martial arts combat, and mind-bending science fiction. It’s a movie that was not only ahead of its time but has stood the test of time and a movie that is still debated, decades later. It’s a film full of ideas, pulling from several influences ranging from Spaghetti Westerns, Hong Kong action cinema Japanese anime, Philip K. Dick, Alice in Wonderland, William Gibson’s Neuromancer, and so muc...

Sordid Cinema Podcast #609: Why Censor is one of Best Horror Films of 2021

Censor Review The act of censorship cuts deep into the heart of Censor, a slick first feature from Welsh writer/director Prano Bailey-Bond. Censor is a nostalgic treat for anyone old enough to remember the infamous “video nasties” scare of the early eighties but it’s also a film about the power of editing, memory, and dealing with traumatic events from your past. In other words, it’s a movie about the grieving process and how deep-lying emotional trauma can cloud one’s identity and judgment—...

Sordid Cinema Podcast #608: With Malignant, A New Horror Icon is Born!

James Wan’s impact on contemporary horror is undeniable. The Malaysian-born Australian filmmaker is not only the co-creator of the Saw and Insidious franchises but he’s also the creator of The Conjuring Universe, the second highest-grossing horror franchise of all time. Marking his return to horror after a detour into family-friendly blockbuster filmmaking, James Wan’s Malignant once again proves that the producer/director still knows a thing or two about making good horror films. Malignant...

Sordid Cinema Podcast #607: The Beta Test

The Beta Test Review Writer-director-actor Jim Cummings’ made a splash with Thunder Road and The Wolf of Snow Hollow, two independently produced films that were both very well received on the American indie circuit. His latest, The Beta Test, co-written and directed with its co-star PJ McCabe was 100% crowdfunded and made specifically in a way to avoid the traditional old-school corporate model of moviemaking to have complete control of the final product. The Beta Test is many things: a scat...

Sordid Cinema Podcast #606: Spider-Man: No Way Home

Spider-Man: No Way Home Podcast Review Not even the pandemic can stop millions of people from flocking to theatres to watch the third installment of John Watt’s Spider-Man trilogy starring Tom Holland as everyone’s favourite neighborhood Spider-man! Spider-Man: No Way Home unwrapped the best Holiday gift of all, becoming the first pandemic-era movie to cross $1 billion at the global box office. The numbers that Spider-Man: No Way Home is pulling in are nothing short of incredible and now tha...

Sordid Cinema Podcast #605: Why Wes Craven’s Scream Still Kicks Ass, 25 Years Later

Scream (1996) Review Wes Craven’s Scream was an unexpected smash hit in 1996, revitalizing the horror genre and inspiring a new generation of self-knowing teen slasher films. For a generation of kids, Scream provided a gateway to horror movies, but how does it hold up 25 years later? In this episode of the Sordid Cinema Podcast, we revisit Craven’s canny, witty, and surprisingly effective slasher film and explain why it not only holds up but remains one of the greatest scary films ever made....

Sordid Cinema Podcast #604: Why Succession is the Best Show of 2021!

Succession Podcast Special! Fans already buying what Succession is selling won’t need us to convince them why they should be watching the show but in this episode of the Sordid Cinema Podcast, we do our best to convince everyone else why they should be watching the popular HBO series by showrunner Jesse Armstrong. And for those who have watched all three seasons of Succession, we break down season three towards the end of the episode and speculate about what could happen moving forward. Join...

Sordid Cinema Podcast #603: Why Carl Franklin’s One False Move is one of the Best Films of the ‘90s

One False Move Spoiler Review This week on the Sordid Cinema Podcast, we explain why we agree with Roger Ebert and Gene Siskel that Carl Franklin’s low-budget crime pic One False Move, is one of the best films of 1992. Scripted by Thom Epperson and Billy Bob Thornton, the neo-noir is hard-hitting, skillfully performed, well shot, and perfectly paced. And while the film might not be a masterpiece, it sure is better than your average thriller and also features a breakthrough performance by the...

Sordid Cinema Podcast Rewind: Xavier Dolan’s Mommy

Anyone who’s even remotely familiar with Quebec cinema will know his name: Xavier Dolan is currently Canada’s chief prestige cinematic export, for better or worse. On episode 398 of the Sordid Cinema Podcast (then known as Sound On Sight), Kate Rennebohm and Justine Smith joined Simon Howell to debate the merits of his sixth feature, Mommy, for which he shared the Best Director prize at Cannes with none other than Jean-Luc Godard. Links: LinkTree Amazon Spotify iTunes Podbean YouTube Listen...

Sordid Cinema Podcast #602: How Dune Paved the Way for Star Wars, Game of Thrones and More…

Dune 2021 Review There’s a lot to like about Denis Villeneuve’s version of Frank Herbert’s Dune and this week on the Sordid Cinema Podcast we discuss what we admire about the Montreal filmmakers’ adaptation of the complex, weighty sci-fi novel and how it compares to David Lynch’s 1984 vision. We’ll tell you why Dune is a feminist film even if it revolves around a very masculine world and explain why it has some of the best sound design of any blockbuster film in recent memory. We also examin...

Sordid Cinema Podcast #597: Vincenzo Natali’s Cube is the Godfather of Puzzle-Box Thrillers

Cube (1997) Review This week on the Sordid Cinema Podcast, we revisit Vincenzo Natali’s 1997 science-fiction horror film Cube; a low-budget, high-concept, mind-bending, sci-fi-thriller that revolves around people trying to escape a giant cube made of 17,576 different rooms, some of which feature inescapable deadly traps. We debate if Cube was ahead of its time and discuss why we feel the film was so influential to other movies and TV shows like Squid Game, Battle Royale and Saw, to name just...

Sordid Cinema Podcast #596: A Detailed Analysis of Squid Game

Squid Game Podcast Review You might think we’re late with our review of Squid Game, but we swear, it was all by design. Now that the hype has whittled down, we decided to sit back and discuss the Netflix phenomenon and why we think Squid Game— despite its many flaws— is one of the best shows of 2021. Squid Game has all the characteristics we love about Korean dramas including unexpected plot twists, over-the-top characters, and a story that grapples with economic anxieties and class struggl...

Sordid Cinema Podcast #596: No Time To Die is Proof Bond is Still Alive and Well

No Time To Die Podcast Review With the help of certified Bond nut and ex-co-host Edgar Chaput, Ricky and Simon take a look at the gargantuan newest entry in the venerable (or at least very, very old) action series, which provides a definitive sendoff for its current star, Daniel Craig. Yes folks, this is our much-anticipated review of No Time To Die! Discussed: what Craig’s tenure says about the state of the character in the new century; the series’ specific and hit-or-miss style of villainr...

Sordid Cinema Podcast Rewind: Why Mulholland Drive is a Masterpiece

David Lynch Special Part 1: Mulholland Drive Review In what turned out to be one of the most epic conversations in our podcast’s history, Ricky, Simon, and Edgar Chaput were joined by David Lynch superfan and friend of the show Kate Rennebohm for a two-part dissection of David Lynch’s films: 2001’s Mulholland Drive and 2006’s Inland Empire. Discussed: rabbits, the Lincoln assassination, the significance of doorknobs, yelling at Laura Dern, and many, many more odd tangents. Here is the first ...

Midnight Mass: What Makes Mike Flanagan’s Netflix Series Great

Midnight Mass Review This week on the Sordid Cinema Podcast, we discuss Mike Flanagan’s Midnight Mass, the Netflix series which some critics are calling one of the best shows of 2021. The seven-episode creature feature smartly weaves together vampire tropes with biblical texts, blending horror with profound questions about spirituality, religion, and faith— and like Mike Flanagan’s best work, the show prioritizes characters and emotions over cheap scares and shock value. As long as expectat...

Sordid Cinema Podcast #594: Nosferatu the Vampyre

Nosferatu the Vampyre Review This week, we take a look back at Nosferatu – no, not that one! Werner Herzog’s 1979 stab at the Dracula mythos, Nosferatu the Vampyre, complete with the great and terrible Klaus Kinski as the titular ghoul, is the one we’re taking a look at this time, inspired by recent news that Robert Eggers will be making a run at the same material for his next feature. Discussed: mass rat murder, the weirdnesses of the German/English dual release, and the eternal appeal of t...

Sordid Cinema Podcast #594: Don’t Snooze On The Big Sleep

The Big Sleep (1946) Podcast Review Sex, drugs, gambling, pornography, murder — not the topics one normally thinks of when picturing a Humphrey Bogart movie, but they’re just the tip of the iceberg of dirty dealings in Howard Hawks’ adaptation of Raymond Chandler’s The Big Sleep. Sure, detective Philip Marlowe finds plenty of down time to chat up with every coquette and femme fatale that crosses his path, but that’s only in between uncovering blackmail rackets, staring down the barrels of mu...

Sordid Cinema Podcast #593: The Suicide Squad— An Exuberant, Bloody, And Hilariously Superhero Romp

The Suicide Squad Podcast Review This week on the Sordid Cinema Podcast, we discuss James Gunn’s The Suicide Squad, a movie that’s not only edgy, sharp, and funny but directed with so much style and verve, it’s one of the most entertaining comic book movies ever made. With The Suicide Squad, Gunn shows that there are ways to keep things edgy while offering enough humor and action to reach a wide audience and unlike most blockbusters, everyone here is a huge fan including Patrick Murphy, who ...

Sordid Cinema Podcast #592: To Live And Die In L.A. — The Quintessential L.A. Crime Film

To Live and Die in L.A. Review We continue our informal, intermittent series on grimy cops vs crooks genre movies (see also: Drug War, King of New York, Hard Boiled) with William Friedkin’s slick-but-gritty 1985 thriller To Live and Die in L.A. With its amoral characters, full-frontal nudity, and wildly epic car chase, this is one we (mostly) find lots to rave about.  Listen on LinkTree | Amazon | Spotify | iTunes | Podbean | YouTube | Listen Note | iHeartRadio | Pandora Follow Sordid Cine...

Sordid Cinema Podcast #591: M. Night Shyamalan’s Old

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 ...

Sordid Cinema Podcast #590: Anthony Perkins Gets Away With Murder Psycho III

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 are...

Sordid Cinema Podcast #589: A Quiet Place: Part II Feels More Like A Video Game Sequel

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 i...

Sordid Cinema Podcast #588: Sleepaway Camp Serves A Helping Of Summer Slaughter

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 ...

Sordid Cinema Podcast #587: Is Babe: Pig in the City A George Miller Masterpiece?

Babe: Pig in the City Podcast Review Originally dismissed by most critics and audiences as too dour and scary for children, George Miller’s Babe: Pig in the City holds up today as a beautiful, haunting portrait of the toll an urban existence can take on both human and hog. This week, the Sordid Cinema Podcast dives into the anachronistic, unwelcoming canals of this fantastical Metropolis, looking for a little decency in a cinematic world of cynicism. Join Rick, Simon, and Patrick as we break...

Sordid Cinema Podcast Rewind: Is Terminator 2: Judgment Day Better or Worse than Terminator

Terminator 2 Review In 1984, director James Cameron created the Terminator franchise. His film of the same name explored a war between humanity and sentient machines, in which victory could only be assured by sending a naked bodybuilder back in time. Seven years later, he returned with Terminator 2: Judgement Day, replacing the original film’s lean, gritty action with the pyrotechnics of a swollen Meatloaf video. On episode #120 of the Sordid Cinema Podcast, the Sordid Cinema crew reviewed t...

Sordid Cinema Podcast #586: Universal Soldier: Day of Reckoning

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.  Listen on LinkTree | Amazon | Spotify | i...

Sordid Cinema Podcast #585: Ben Stiller’s The Cable Guy is One of the Most Underrated Comedies of the ‘90s.

The Cable Guy Review He came…He saw…He tormented… There are plenty of overnight success stories in Hollywood, but none quite like Jim Carey’s rise to fame. After a stint on In Living Color, Carey transitioned to the big screen with Ace Ventura, which became a sleeper hit in the spring of 1994, grossing more than $100 million on a $15 million budget. Carrey followed that up with blockbusters like The Mask, Dumb and Dumber, Batman Forever, and Ace Ventura: When Nature Calls— all within a span...

Sordid Cinema Podcast #584: Pull the Wool From Your Eyes to See The Parallax View

Powerful organizations shrouded in secrecy, pulling strings from the shadows, snuffing out all who would dare expose the truth to an unsuspecting populace… It’s hard not to love conspiracy thrillers, and 1970s movie theaters were chock full of them. This week, the Sordid Cinema crew is taking a look at one of the best, the second in director Alan Pakula’s ‘Paranoia’ trilogy, The Parallax View. Clearly taking inspiration from real-life political assassinations, the story features an intrepid ...

Sordid Cinema Podcast #583: Johnnie To’s Drug War

Drug War (2012) Review Do you love crime movies but wish they’d just jettison all that junk you don’t really need? You know, love interests? Backstories? Metaphors? Who needs ’em? Johnnie To sure didn’t when he put together 2013’s grim, single-minded Drug War, a movie all three of us found something (or several somethings) to enthuse about. We get into Chinese politics, the (possible) effects of snorting heroin, and consider it as the dark, lower-key anti-mirror of John Woo’s Hard Boiled. L...

Sordid Cinema Podcast #582: ‘Raiders of the Lost Ark’ is an Action Relic Only Gaining in Value With Time

Raiders of the Lost Arc Review It’s a movie celebrating how they used to make ’em — and yet, they don’t make ’em like Raiders of the Lost Ark anymore. Steven Spielberg’s action masterpiece has aged easily as well as the most valuable cinematic artifacts, showcasing the thrilling combination of a brisk script, daring stunt work, and crisp staging. Oh, and can we forget Harrison Ford’s iconic portrayal of Indiana Jones? Good luck to the next guy who tries to don the fedora. Yes, it’s a film fi...

Sordid Cinema Podcast Rewind: J.J. Abrams’ Super 8: Personal Filmmaking or Simply Pastiche?

Super 8 Review After a year of anticipation through teasers, images, and speculation, J. J. Abrams’s third feature Super 8 (featuring his first original screenplay) was released in 2011 to much an overwhelming amount of hype. Fans expected big things while critics seemed out to tear it apart— and it didn’t take long before the film became a source of fierce debate. In episode #276 of the Sordid Cinema Podcast (then called Sound On Sight) Ricky D, Justine Smith and Simon Howell sat down to di...

Sordid Cinema Podcast #581: Stylish Action Elevates De Palma’s Mission: Impossible

Mission: Impossible 1996 Film Review The Mission: Impossible franchise may be more known today for its death-defying stunts and blistering action, but director Brian De Palma brought different sensibilities to the very first production of this longstanding Tom Cruise vehicle. 1996’s Mission: Impossible is a visually breathtaking ode to filmmaking skill over filmmaking spectacle, a spy thriller that eschews bullet fights and car chases for actual sneaking around. Cat-and-mouse surveillance, t...

Sordid Cinema Podcast: Why John Woo’s Hard Boiled is a Masterpiece of Action Filmmaking

Hard Boiled Review This week on Sordid Cinema, we travel back to 1992, and for the first time ever on the podcast, we sit down to review a John Woo film. And not just any John Woo film, but arguably one of the single greatest action movies of all time. It’s one of Woo’s masterpieces and along with A Better Tomorrow, The Killer, and Bullet in the Head, it helped revolutionize Hong Kong action cinema! That’s right folks, we finally get around to discussing the effortlessly cool Hard Boiled. I...

Sordid Cinema Podcast Rewind: 'Point Blank' is One of the Greatest Crime Films

Point Blank (1967) Review Way back on episode 126 of the Sordid Cinema Podcast, we reviewed John Boorman’s gritty, raw crime drama Point Blank, featuring superb performances by Lee Marvin and Angie Dickinson. The 1967 thriller combines elements of film noir with stylistic touches of the European nouvelle vague and features a fractured timeline (similar to the novel’s non-linear structure), disconcerting narrative rhythms, and a carefully calculated use of film space. Discussing the film is...

Sordid Cinema Podcast #579: Black Coal, Thin Ice

Black Coal, Thin Ice Review For our first non-English feature in a minute, we take a trip to Heilongjiang Province to dissect Black Coal, Thin Ice, Diao Yinan’s grim 2014 neo-noir. (Its successor, the more widely-seen The Wild Goose Lake, may, or may not be the subject of a future Sordid episode.) We get a little lost in the film’s dense and troubling plot, neon cityscapes, and many acts of cruelty and malice. But hey, at least there are fireworks! Listen on LinkTree | Amazon | Spotify | iT...

Sordid Cinema Podcast #578: Excalibur and Arthurian Myth

The legend of King Arthur has never been lacking in cinematic retellings, but none can compare to John Boorman’s gorgeous and thematically faithful Excalibur. From the vast and tangled web of source material, the director of Point Blank and Deliverance distills the epic myth down to iconic imagery backed by theatrical performances from young actors destined to be stars. This week the Sordid Cinema Podcast discusses the fantastic (and fantastical) filmmaking, dives into the lore, and admires ...

Sordid Cinema Podcast #577: White Men Can’t Jump is One of the Best Sports Movies

White Men Can’t Jump Review In 1992, Ron Shelton wrote and directed one of the greatest sports movies of all time starring a then relatively unknown Wesley Snipes and Woody Harrleslon who was previously only known for his work as the fifth lead in the popular sitcom, Cheers. On paper, White Men Can’t Jump shouldn’t have been a hit considering the lack of star power and the fact that the first 20 minutes of the movie revolves around a pickup outdoor basketball game— and yet, this unconvention...

Sordid Cinema Podcast #576: Ravenous is Hungry for Man Meat

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 you...

Sordid Cinema Podcast Rewind: The Guest is a Stylish and Entertaining Thriller

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 ...

Sordid Cinema Podcast Rewind: Mad Max Special Part 2

Beyond Thunderdome and Fury Road In what was supposed to be the very last episode of Sordid Cinema (before we decided to bring back the show), we recorded the second part of our Mad Max extravaganza. In this episode, we start by discussing Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome, the third in George Miller’s sci-fi series, and at roughly the 35-minute mark, we dive deep into the visceral feminist anthem known as Mad Max Fury Road. Take a listen and you’ll be sure to learn 50 facts about what is arguably...

Sordid Cinema Podcast Rewind: Mad Max Special Part 1

Max Max and The Road Warrior The release of Mad Max: Fury Road, George Miller’s triumphant return to the franchise he created 36 years prior (!), prompted us to record a two-part extravaganza devoted to Miller’s series of post-apocalyptic thrillers. We get to Fury Road in the second half of this special; for now, former co-host Edgar Chaput rejoined us to discuss the original Mad Max, as well as its significantly more financially impactful sequel, 1981’s The Road Warrior. Listen on LinkTree...

Sordid Cinema Podcast #576 Apocalypto Has Action-Packed Heart and Balls

Apocalypto Review This week the Sordid Cinema Podcast gets to the (ahem) heart of what makes Mel Gibson’s 2006 action-epic, Apocalypto, still such a thrilling watch. The simple story of a Mayan villager brutally kidnapped in order to be ritually sacrificed to appease the gods, who then escapes and must race home to retrieve his expectant wife and child from a flooding well, is filled with period detail, cruel violence, and intense action. Sure, there was a bit of controversy upon the film’s ...