THIS WEEK: Yes, Madam! (1985) and Righting Wrongs (1986) Ronda Rousey might call herself "the baddest woman on the planet" but we all know that can't be true as long as Cynthia Rothrock is still breathing. This week, we're exploring a pair of Hong Kong action classics from the five-time martial arts champion turned underappreciated action queen of 80s and 90s. Support Optimism Vaccine on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/optimismvaccine...
Aug 11, 2022•1 hr 8 min•Ep. 193
THIS WEEK: Ravenous (1999), The Proposition (2005), Lawless (2012) Nobody pulls off the "exhausted Australian in dire need of a bath" look quite like Guy Pearce. Maybe that's why when it comes to contemporary westerns he's been a go-to actor for decades. This week, we're watching three films starring our guy, Guy, and making an official statement on whether or not Ravenous is a lost classic or just something horror film nerds won't stop talking to you about. Support Optimism Vaccine on Patreon: ...
Aug 04, 2022•1 hr 2 min•Ep. 192
THIS WEEK: The Butcher/Le Boucher (1970), Just Before Nightfall/Juste Avant la Nuit (1971), and The Ceremony/La Cérémonie (1995) Every once in a while we need Shawn Glinis to jump in and make our show classy again. This week, we're dissecting three films from the underrated French New Wave master, Claude Chabrol. Over the course of six decades, Chabrol made nearly 60 films. While he was never afraid to branch out beyond genre fare, he often returned to Hitchcock-inspired thrillers which later in...
Jul 28, 2022•1 hr 4 min•Ep. 191
THIS WEEK: Mad God (2021) and The Thief and the Cobbler (1993) Colin Tanner drops in for a scintillating discussion on the minutiae of process. Is a creative work ever truly complete? Is Harvey Weinstein the enemy of all art? Is Aladdin actually terrible? All questions will be answered. Eventually. Support Optimism Vaccine on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/optimismvaccine
Jul 21, 2022•1 hr 8 min•Ep. 190
THIS WEEK: WarGames (1983) and Cloak and Dagger (1984) Whether you're a young Mathew Broderick or just the kid from E.T., the only surefire way to protect America from a nefarious foreign power is with a little dab of Dabney Coleman. Join us as we confront 1980s cold war anxiety and Russophobia the only way we know how: By watching a pair of 40-year-old movies made for children. Support Optimism Vaccine on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/optimismvaccine...
Jul 14, 2022•1 hr 10 min•Ep. 189
THIS WEEK: Crimes of the Future (2022), Crimes of the Future (1970), eXistenZ (1999) David Cronenberg is back with more body horror because the man can't resist a good goopy bone machine. Plus, it's been a while since he's tried to make a film with the title Crimes of the Future so he needs to check that box. Grab a big ol' bar of tasty synthetic waste to munch on, kick your feet up, and see if you're ready to get on Dave's level.
Jul 07, 2022•1 hr 10 min•Ep. 188
Steve and Stephen endured cross-state travel and sweltering heat to check out Tears for Fears on their 2022 tour in support of The Tipping Point. How do the new songs translate live? More importantly, did the OV squad finally make it backstage or did Tears For Fears melt into a pile of black long sleeve shirts and perspiration? Support Optimism Vaccine on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/optimismvaccine
Jul 01, 2022•54 min
THIS WEEK: Thriller: A Cruel Picture AKA They Call Her One Eye (1973) and Breaking Point (1975) Swedish director Bo Arne Vibenius may have gotten his start working with Ingmar Bergman, but he made his mark on cinema with the grindhouse classic, Thriller: A Cruel Picture . He's also the only director who has been breathlessly lauded by Quentin Tarantino and had multiple films completely banned in his home country. This week we're unraveling the slow-mo cruelty of Thriller and trying to wrap our h...
Jun 23, 2022•1 hr 3 min•Ep. 187
THIS WEEK: The Guyver (1991) and Guyver: Dark Hero (1994) Brian Yuzna sure did make a pile money off of Honey I Shrunk the Kids. That's the only explanation for this franchise based on an incomprehensible manga that boldly toes the line between body horror and Barney. Support Optimism Vaccine on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/optimismvaccine
Jun 16, 2022•1 hr 14 min•Ep. 186
THIS WEEK: Scanners 2: The New Order (1991), Scanners 3: The Takeover (1991), Scanner Cop (1994), and Scanner Cop 2: Volkin's Revenge (1995) We celebrate the release of Crimes of the Future by examining the only franchise to emerge from a David Cronenberg film: Scanners. Surely, each sequel will prove more cerebral than the last. Support Optimism Vaccine on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/optimismvaccine
Jun 09, 2022•1 hr 30 min•Ep. 185
THIS WEEK: RRR (2022) With Steve marooned on a godless island, we've called Jake Tropila away from his fatherly duties to discuss the best film of the... year? Decade? Century? All answers are valid. Support Optimism Vaccine on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/optimismvaccine
Jun 02, 2022•1 hr 3 min•Ep. 184
THIS WEEK: Mad Dog Time (1996) and Hell Ride (2008) Larry Bishop rubbed shoulders with the Hollywood elite at a young age and made a name for himself among cult film fans with roles in classic biker exploitation movies like The Savage Seven and Wild in the Streets . So what happens when Larry cashes in his clout and connections to write and direct his own feature films? Support Optimism Vaccine on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/optimismvaccine...
May 26, 2022•1 hr 13 min•Ep. 183
THIS WEEK: The Haunting of Morella (1990), The Demolitionist (1995), Amanda and the Alien (1995), and Blown Away (1993) Nicole Eggert was an American television mainstay with roles on Who's the Boss, Charles in Charge, and later alongside Pamela Anderson on Baywatch. TV made her a star but what happened when Eggert became a leading lady in feature-length films? Let's just say your mileage with her movies may vary (unless you're a big Jim Wynorski fan). Support Optimism Vaccine on Patreon: https:...
May 19, 2022•1 hr 30 min•Ep. 182
THIS WEEK: Father Stu (2022) Sometimes God calls you to do something extraordinary. Maybe he wants you to get blackout drunk and carbo load until you're accepted into the priesthood. Maybe he wants you to team up with Mel Gibson and his girlfriend to make the Catholic biopic every major studio has already declined. Either way, nothing beats mop top Marky Mark on the silver screen teaching us about redemption and how to uppercut the blessed virgin to show her you mean business. Support Optimism V...
May 12, 2022•1 hr 22 min•Ep. 181
THIS WEEK: The Laughing Dead (1989) and Shatter Dead (1994) From the fringe corners of the zombie film spectrum comes a pair of movies that might have "dead" in the title but couldn't be further from anything George A. Romero has cooked up. One is a bleak, shot-on-video masterpiece proudly proclaiming that "God hates you." The other is about catholic romance, kaiju battles, and basketball. Normal stuff, really. Support Optimism Vaccine on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/optimismvaccine...
May 05, 2022•1 hr 11 min•Ep. 180
THIS WEEK: High Risk (1995) and The Red Wolf (1995) Steve is sick, Miros is hung over, and Jack is fending off a feral dog. Ideal recording conditions for discussing two Hong Kong Die Hard clones. Does one of them exist solely to spite Jackie Chan in surprisingly vulgar fashion? You betcha! Support Optimism Vaccine on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/optimismvaccine
Apr 28, 2022•1 hr•Ep. 179
THIS WEEK: Champagne and Bullets AKA Geteven AKA Road to Revenge (1993) How do you measure greatness? When do you know you're watching an unimpeachable masterpiece? What is it like to touch the hand of God? The closest any of us can really get is John DeHart's 1993 movie, Champagne and Bullets . Originally released to little fanfare and then re-edited and re-released multiple times by writer/director/actor/producer/composer John DeHart under alternate titles, Champagne and Bullets is an unforget...
Apr 21, 2022•1 hr 11 min•Ep. 178
THIS WEEK: Snapdragon (1993), Raw Force (1994), Barb Wire (1996), Naked Souls (1996) From Playboy centerfold to first-run syndication starlet and tabloid fodder, only one woman can claim the title of THE definitive cultural icon of the 1990s: Pamela Anderson. Sure, you're probably familiar with Anderson's big-budget studio film, Barb Wire , but what about the rest of her cinematic oeuvre? Join us as we dissect the 90s movies that made Pam Anderson (not so) famous, read excerpts from her semi-aut...
Apr 14, 2022•1 hr 32 min•Ep. 177
THIS WEEK: Fatal Exam (1990), Beyond Dream's Door (1989), Winterbeast (1992) From the crusty bowels of middle America to a crisp HD Vinegar Syndrome boxset, Homegrown Horror Volume 1 collects three regional horror films from the 80s and 90s. Join the OV boys as we wax poetic about goopy monsters shot on 16mm, claymation stop motion action, and hanging out with your St. Louis buds. Support Optimism Vaccine on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/optimismvaccine
Apr 07, 2022•1 hr 11 min•Ep. 176
THIS WEEK: Nothing But Trouble (1991), Cool As Ice (1991), Return to the Blue Lagoon (1991), Hudson Hawk (1991), and Dice Rules (1991) The morning zoo crew tackles the hottest awards show in tinsel town. Support Optimism Vaccine on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/optimismvaccine
Mar 31, 2022•1 hr 11 min•Ep. 175
After seven years of podcasting and 18 years since Everybody Loves a Happy Ending, a day we never thought would come has arrived. There's finally a brand new Tears for Fears album. Steve and Stephen dive headfirst into The Tipping Point, share their initial impressions, expectations vs reality, and more. Support Optimism Vaccine on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/optimismvaccine
Mar 25, 2022•1 hr 23 min
THIS WEEK: Boardinghouse (1982) and Pathogen (2006) The OV Team turns their keen critical eyes to the world of shot-on-video horror films. First up, Boardinghouse, the film that dared to combine murder, music and man thongs. It also holds the distinction of being completely incomprehensible AND the first SOV film released theatrically. The chaser to this shot of 80's sleaze is Pathogen; a homegrown zombie film written, directed and starring an actual 12-year-old. Support Optimism Vaccine on Patr...
Mar 17, 2022•1 hr 1 min•Ep. 174
When inspiration fails to strike, the siren’s call of our unwatched physical media shelves beckons. Recently restored by Vinegar Syndrome, the OV gang examines a pair of early 90s actioners that co-star the indomitable Cynthia Rothrock in tales of broken familial bonds and illegal sports car smuggling. If our criminal justice system were to ever fail, rest easy, because a shape-shifting supercop occasionally known as “Martial Law” will always be there to take down the bad guys. This week: Martia...
Mar 10, 2022•1 hr 9 min•Ep. 173
THIS WEEK: Man to Man with Dean Learner (2006), Submarine (2010), The Double (2013) I bet you saw the title of this episode and thought "Damn, the OV boys got Ayoade on the pod?" Boy, wouldn't that be great? But you should know better. This week, we're talking Ayoade's contribution to the world of film and television + maybe taking a brief aside to educate Miros on what Jeff Dunham's puppets mean to the American heartland. Support Optimism Vaccine on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/optimismvacc...
Mar 03, 2022•1 hr•Ep. 172
THIS WEEK: Garth Marenghi's Darkplace (2004), A Gun for George (2011), The Snipist (2012), Smutch (2016), Possum (2018) Here at Optimism Vaccine, we've always loved the great tragedies: King Lear, The Poseidon Adventure, Superman 2. The greatest tragedy of all though is the lack of widespread respect and admiration for the work of writer, director and actor, Mathew Holness. Support Optimism Vaccine on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/optimismvaccine...
Feb 24, 2022•1 hr 23 min•Ep. 171
THIS WEEK: Who's Minding the Store? (1963), The Ladies Man (1961), Smorgasbord A.K.A. Cracking Up (1983) Jerry Lewis was the king of comedy and the only person named Jerry Lewis who didn't marry his 13-year-old cousin in 1958. He was also a cinematic pioneer and by the end of his career, a broken (but still hilarious) unchained lunatic.
Feb 17, 2022•1 hr 10 min•Ep. 170
Question: What do severed heads, secret stashes of marijuana, and Wings Hauser have in common? They are all featured in Tough Guys Don’t Dance, the film adaptation of Pulitzer Prize-winning author Norman Mailer’s murder mystery novel of the same name. What was once widely known as one of the first internet video memes has since been lovingly restored by Vinegar Syndrome, in all of its incomprehensible glory. Steve, Jack, and Jake took it upon themselves to hunker down and attempt to crack this b...
Feb 11, 2022•1 hr 1 min•Ep. 169
We've got a detour from our usual film-centric content (and acceptable recording fidelity) for a very special episode. Stephen and Steve return to Discourse From The Big Chair after two years of slowly losing their minds during a global pandemic because a new Tears for Fears album is just weeks away. We've gushed about our favorite Tears For Fears songs and listened to what it sounds like when they cover contemporary pop acts, but what about when bands cover them? We also dive into the first thr...
Feb 03, 2022•1 hr 12 min
2021 was a great year for roller skating ninjas, wholesome paternal love and people named Ryusuke Hamaguchi. Join us as we talk about the best films of 2021 and once again try to convince you to watch Me You Madness . THIS WEEK: New York Ninja (2021), Me You Madness (2021), Pig (2021), Titane (2021), The Worst Person in the World (2021), Drive My Car (2021), Wheel of Fortune and Fantasy (2021), Red Rocket (2021), Licorice Pizza (2021) France (2021) Support Optimism Vaccine on Patreon: https://ww...
Jan 27, 2022•1 hr 28 min•Ep. 168
OV pours one out for comedic genius/movie anti-star, Norm MacDonald, and beloved sitcom dad/penguin voice, Bob Saget THIS WEEK: Dirty Work (1998), Screwed (2000), Half Baked (1998) Support Optimism Vaccine on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/optimismvaccine
Jan 21, 2022•1 hr 21 min•Ep. 167
