Alexandra Schroeder is back at the slumber party, but this time, she's not talking about Kevin (or any other murder film for that matter); she's talking about the 1974 Roger Corman-produced b-movie Summer School Teachers. This saucy summer film is a great lesson in a long forgotten genre that highlighted sex, schlock, and good campy fun. Also, Brian reviews a new film this week, gets a surprise social media rallying cry from a Hollywood star, and a visit from the resident CageClub historian!
Aug 09, 2019•1 hr 43 min
Blast off with returning guest Dan Ferrara as we chat about Starship Troopers. Is it a cheesy sci-fi b-film? Is it a fascist, war glorifying propaganda film? Or is it a satire more timely than ever in 2019? What we know for sure is that the only good bug is a dead bug, and that this high school film is perfect for deep slumber party conversation. Starship Troopers features Casper Van Dien, Denise Richards, Jake Busey, Michael Ironside, and Neil Patrick Harris. Would you like to know more?
Aug 02, 2019•1 hr 30 min
She's alive! And it's all in the name of science... Weird Science, that is. Walt Hickey (Numlock News) is back to experiment with this wacky John Hughes creation. Does Weird Science, a film about two teenagers who can't get a date so they create a woman through the use of their computer, stand the test of time? Well... tune in for the answer to that equation! Also, find out which famous film composer wrote and performed the theme song with his hip 1980s band, while a special guest raises his han...
Jul 26, 2019•1 hr 31 min
Grab your deck because we're headed for some big air this slumber party, as we're chatting about the skate classic, Gleaming the Cube! Returning guests (and former high school skaters) Chris Carroll and Dan Ferrara dive deep into this strange film that's half a post-Vietnam War murder thriller and half a skateboarding showcase, starring returning hero Christian Slater and a young Tony Hawk. We look back at the skate culture of the 80s, 90s, early 2000s.
Jul 19, 2019•1 hr 40 min
Stop by the slumber party and feel like Just One of the Guys! Brian welcomes back guest Kate Hudson (Pajiba) to chat about this surprisingly re-watchable and underrated movie! How could a film with a dated gender swapping premise feel so topical? Is Billy Zabka the greatest High School bully of all time? Also: find out Kate’s take on today’s hard-hitting issues, such as The Night King’s sex appeal and the Jojo Siwa craze!
Jul 12, 2019•1 hr 45 min
Field trip time! Not just for Spider-Man, but also for Brian and guests Kyle Reinfried (P.S. I Love Hoffman) and Mike Manzi (#KeanuClub) as they swung by the theater this week to see Spider-Man: Far From Home. In this second film of the Tom Holland-led, high school-based series, our webslinger and his classmates find themselves in Europe. Listen for Brian, Kyle, and Mike’s first impressions of the summer blockbuster, including their take on Peter’s romance with M.J. (Zendaya), Jake Gyllenhaal, a...
Jul 05, 2019•1 hr 49 min
Not only does Spider-Man come home, but he’s trying his best to make it through high school less than heroically. Kyle Reinfried (Foodie Films) and Michael Manzi (Third Time’s A Charm) swing by to dive into the web that is the Marvel Cinematic Universe and chat all about Spider-Man: Homecoming in preparation for next week’s release of Spider-Man: Far From Home!
Jun 28, 2019•2 hr 18 min
The freshman superlatives are here! Welcome to a unique episode of High School Slumber Party: our Freshman Yearbook Special. Brian reveals your picks of your favorite high school films and characters from what’s been covered so far on the podcast. The Godfather, Joey Lewandowski (2 Fast 2 Forever), stops by to give his esteemed opinion on the slumberers’ picks, as well as a recommendation for whether or not our freshman class will need to go back to summer school!
Jun 21, 2019•2 hr 22 min
We can’t wait to talk about this 90s classic. Brian, forever senior Mike Manzi (#CruiseClub), and returning guest Dan Ferrera are back for the final party of the school year! The film this week is Can’t Hardly Wait and — trust us — the nostalgia is plentiful! From Smashmouth songs to Seth Green, from Trip McNeely to Paradise City, and from angle strippers to (of course) Jennifer Love Hewitt, Can’t Hardly Wait is sure to jog the memory of anyone who first saw it before the turn of the millennium....
Jun 14, 2019•2 hr 3 min
Hello, winner. The Godfather, Joey Lewandowski (2 Fast 2 Forever) stops by to break down the brand new, critically-acclaimed Booksmart! Who allowed us to be this beautiful? Directed by Joey’s longtime crush (the powerful new filmmaker Olivia Wilde) and starring Kaitlyn Dever and Beanie Feldstein, Booksmart was said by some to be this generation’s Superbad… but it is so much more. It very well could be THE high school film of 2019! Don’t knock it til you’ve seen it — or find out at the Slumber Pa...
Jun 07, 2019•2 hr 4 min
Will you go to the prom with us? Again? Old flame Mike Manzi (Third Time’s A Charm) returns to the Slumber Party to take on Hello Mary Lou: Prom Night II. In a departure from the original Prom Night (which we covered last week), Prom Night II features former Prom Queen Mary Lou Maloney, who is back from the dead to cause havoc at Hamilton High. Don’t miss the limo trip to the best night of our lives!
May 31, 2019•1 hr 51 min
Will you go to the prom with us? Brian picks up returning guest Michael Manzi (Third Time’s A Charm, Tom Tom Club) to chat about the 1980 horror camp classic, Prom Night. This Canadian-produced film includes such wonderful goodies as a flaming van explosion, a very serious Leslie Neilsen, Jamie Lee Curtis, and A LOT of disco. Pack your favorite tuxedo and don’t forget your corsage!
May 24, 2019•1 hr 45 min
Shawnee Mead returns to the Slumber Party to chat about a quirky (yet sobering) film, Me and Earl and the Dying Girl. Laughs are had and tears are shed as Brian and Shawnee dissect this 2015 indie darling about a high school slacker who befriends a dying classmate. Also, Brian peels back the curtain on his own high school filmmaking career.
May 17, 2019•1 hr 50 min
We're back for a special birthday bonus episode of High School Slumber Party. Wake up and have a post-slumber Saturday pancake with Brian to find out who, if anyone, remembered to offer the podcast best wishes on this special occasion. Also, listen for the conclusion of Brian's discussion with Jenny O'Connell on the most famous teenage birthday movie of all, Sixteen Candles, starring Molly Ringwald and Anthony Michael Hall!
May 11, 2019•1 hr 43 min
Happy birthday, High School Slumber Party! Brian celebrates the one-year anniversary of the most iconic teen film podcast this side of third period by welcoming guest Jenny O'Connell over to dissect one of the most treasured teen films of all-time: John Hughes's Sixteen Candles. Jenny and Brian talk about the greatness of Molly Ringwald -- as well as some classic moments that didn't age so well -- in this first episode of a two-part special birthday episode. Check back tomorrow for Part 2 of the...
May 10, 2019•1 hr 7 min
For the 52nd episode of High School Slumber Party, Brian welcomes back one of his original guests, his partner on P.S. I Love Hoffman and the Foodie Films man himself, Kyle Reinfried, to discuss 1998’s Rushmore. Starring Jason Schwartzman, Bill Murray and Olivia Wiliams, Rushmore is Wes Anderson in his purest form. To mark the occasion, Brian and Kyle recorded this episode from Kyle’s high school bedroom!
May 03, 2019•1 hr 55 min
It takes two to chat about our film this week as Alexa Barikian stops by to help Brian break down the film that broke the Olsen Twins: New York Minute. Mary-Kate and Ashley play two sisters who look alike... but couldn't be more different! Consider our collective minds blown. New York Minute also stars Eugene Levy, Andy Richter, his offensive asian accent, and a cameo from punk rockers Simple Plan! Is this final (and only high school) film in the star duo's catalog a forgotten classic, or is it ...
Apr 26, 2019•1 hr 45 min
Thanks to the CageClub Podcast Network I.T. team, as well as help from some mystery white hat hackers, the virus infecting the High School Slumber Party servers has been eradicated. The rest of our episode on Hackers with Mike Manzi of Third Time’s A Charm and Cara Gael O’Regan of Wistful Thinking has been saved, just in time for our 50th episode. Find out which hack in the film Brian thinks is impossible to pull off, how poor friends force Angelina Jolie to wear a dress, and which Hackers-theme...
Apr 19, 2019•1 hr 19 min
Brian welcomes back some old friends of High School Slumber Party, Cara Gael O’Regan of Wistful Thinking and Mike Manzi of Third Time’s A Charm, to chat about a film way ahead of its time: 1995’s Hackers. Starring Jonny Lee Miller and Angelina Jolie as high school computer experts living in New York City, Hackers explores the wild west atmosphere of the early days of cyberspace with a visually striking presentation. This is the film that made computer nerd-dom cool! Figure out your hacker handle...
Apr 12, 2019•1 hr 6 min
What’s scarier than a 1958 Plymouth Fury? Well, on paper, a lot of things... until you meet Christine, that is. She’s sure to frighten you a bit more than your first high school ride. Brian is joined by guest Walt Hickey of Numlock News to chat about this 1983 John Carpenter horror film. Based on a best-selling Stephen King book about a killer car, Christine exceeds both Brian’s and Walt’s expectations through its special effects and surprisingly empathetic title character.
Apr 05, 2019•1 hr 37 min
Break out the Dolly Parton for the slumber party this week! We’re joined by returning guest, author Jenna Guillaume, to chat about Netflix’s Dumplin’. With a wonderful cast led by Danielle Macdonald and Jennifer Anniston, Brian and Jenna discuss what makes this crowdpleaser so fun! Find out if Jenna thinks Dumplin’s heartthrob is hotter than Peter Kavinsky from To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before, and learn all about her new book, What I Like About Me!
Mar 29, 2019•1 hr 20 min
Brian is joined by first time guest, Pajiba writer, and accredited Rotten Tomatoes reviewer, Kate Hudson, to talk about one of her go-to films: Peggy Sue Got Married. Brian and Kate go back in time to discuss their high school experiences, the greatness of Kathleen Turner and, of course, all things Nicolas Cage — including his interesting accent choice. Find out if this Francis Ford Coppola film holds up or if there is any room to go back and change its movie destiny!
Mar 22, 2019•1 hr 52 min
You asked for it, America! This week, we welcome back the Godfather of the CageClub Podcast Network, Joey Lewandowski, to discuss Assassination Nation, his favorite movie of 2018 that did not star a marmalade-loving bear. IndieWire called the film “The most aggressive high school movie in film history”; Joey says it’s the most “2018 film” in existence. Whether you love or hate this film, you will be left with a lasting impression after seeing fictional Salem descend into a level of anarchy tailo...
Mar 15, 2019•1 hr 59 min
This week, Brian discusses The New Guy -- a film he actually saw in high school! -- with good friend Mike Rivera. This 2002 DJ Qualls vehicle (also starring Eliza Dushku, Zooey Deschanel, and Eddie Griffin) is chocked full of random cameos, gross-out moments, and a surprising amount of heart. Brian and Mike try to figure out if this film from their childhood holds up. Also, a special guest stops by to discuss her time spent in her high school marching band.
Mar 08, 2019•1 hr 47 min
Hope you brought your #2 pencil! Returning guest Erika W. Smith stops by to chat about The Perfect Score, a film about an S.A.T. heist! Everyone's hero Chris Evans stars alongside Scarlett Johansson (no, this is not a Marvel film), Erika Christensen, Matthew Lillard, and others. Brian and Erika will give you all the prep you need for this 2004 MTV-produced film. Also, March is Marching Band Month... find out what that means on today's show. Pencils down!
Mar 01, 2019•1 hr 45 min
Guys... We Need to Talk About Kevin. Alexandra Schroeder joins the slumber party once again to discuss this dark and eerie horror/drama that explores the family dynamics of a school shooter. Tilda Swinton, Ezra Miller and John C. Reilly star as Lynne Ramsay directs this chilling film that will leave you thinking... and wanting to talk all about Kevin.
Feb 22, 2019•1 hr 48 min
Ready! Set! Go! This ain’t no ten second race; this is a three podcast CageClub crossover event! Four hosts, three shows, all the The Fast and Furious: Tokyo Drift talk you will ever need. First up was 2 Fast 2 Forever, and now its Brian’s turn to take the wheel on High School Slumber Party. With mentorship from seasoned veterans Joey Lewandowski and Joe Two, as well as the steady hand of third film expert Michael Manzi, join Brian as he glides through the twists and turns of the only high schoo...
Feb 15, 2019•2 hr 6 min
With Valentine’s Day only a few days away, it’s time to add some romance of the creepiest kind of your life by listening to our episode on High School Lover! This week, our guest is self-professed Lifetime movie super-fan Joe Two. With early appearances from Lana Condor (To All the Boys I Loved Before) and Tyler Alvarez (American Vandal), this film has all those wonderfully made-for-TV cliches… and more! Oh, and James Franco is in it as a dad. Why is James Franco in this movie? Joe Two answers a...
Feb 08, 2019•1 hr 44 min
The SoHo Love Triangle is back together! Brian welcomes good friends (and high school) classmates Wesley Vena and Kyle Reinfried (the Foodie Films man himself) back to his slumber party to settle a teenage prank for the final time and to chat about Superbad, 2007's Judd Apatow produced comedy. The boys discuss the cast of Jonah Hill, Michael Cera, Bill Hader, Seth Rogen, and Emma Stone, as well all things McLovin. Also: Brian makes a heartfelt apology to tubas.
Feb 01, 2019•1 hr 53 min
This week, Brian welcomes good friend (and Shakespeare expert) John Hardin to the slumber party to dissect the surprisingly faithful -- and equally controversial -- 2001 Othello adaptation, O, staring Mekhi Phifer, Josh Hartnett, and Brian's teenage crush, Julia Stiles. John tries his best to summarize the source material in 60 seconds while Brian makes it a point to chat about the time he met Julia Stiles in person. Also, CageClub co-founder Joey Lewandowski stops by to share a different take o...
Jan 25, 2019•2 hr 3 min
