Episode 296 of Ruined Childhoods is a celebration of Jim Henson and his true cult classic, Labyrinth . Dan and Jon celebrate the genius of Henson, memories of his other projects, and imagine new possibilities for this absolutely unforgettable 1980s gem. Watch on Spotify or YouTube Next episode: Killer's Kiss (1955) • The 3rd season of Ruined Childhoods is a year-long cinematic/alphabetic yo-yo, taking listeners from A-Z and then Z-A. Contact us, follow us on social media, ...
Aug 13, 2025•1 hr 24 min•Season 3Ep. 296
This Ridley Scott hidden gem from 2003 is the perfect blend of crime, comedy, and style. It also features fantastic performances from its three leads, Nicolas Cage , Sam Rockwell , and Alison Lohman . Dan and Jon also share their thoughts on how to revisit this film, Matchstick Men , with contemporary twists. Watch on Spotify or YouTube Next episode: Labyrinth (1986) • The 3rd season of Ruined Childhoods is a year-long cinematic/alphabetic yo-yo, taking listeners from A-Z and t...
Aug 06, 2025•1 hr 4 min•Season 3Ep. 295
John Badham's 1995 thriller is probably best remembered for taking place in real time, a device often used to amplify the tension and emphasize a ticking clock. And when you have the star power of Johnny Depp and Christopher Walken , the watchability of Nick of Time is off the charts. And as always, Dan and Jon think of new fun ways to revisit this 90s gem. Watch on Spotify or YouTube Next episode: Matchstick Men (2003) • The 3rd season of Ruined Childhoods is a year-long cinematic...
Jul 30, 2025•1 hr 6 min•Season 3Ep. 294
It's hard to remember a time when George Clooney wasn't a massive film star, but before 1998's Out of Sight , he was still struggling to find his footing on the big screen. But thanks to another Hollywood juggernaut attempting to prove themselves, Steven Soderbergh , they all finally discovered the magic that would cement them both as fixtures for decades to come. And, of course, Jon and Dan take a moment to image new futures for this classic. Watch on Spotify or YouTube Next episode: Nick ...
Jul 24, 2025•1 hr 27 min•Season 3Ep. 293
It's about time Ruined Childhoods entered the Van Peeblesverse. And no matter how you pronounce the his first name, it's hard to deny the impact Mario Van Peebles had on cinema in the 1990s. This 1993 western isn't just entertaining as hell, but it also can teach you about a few real aspects of 19th century experience for Black Americans. Dan and Jon celebrate Van Peebles' career, family dynasty, and cultural impact and lend their thoughts to how Posse could be revisited for a contemporary audie...
Jul 16, 2025•1 hr 18 min•Season 3Ep. 292
It's the mods vs. the rockers on this episode of Ruined Childhoods as Dan & Jon celebrate the cinematic achievements of Franc Roddam based on the music of The Who . The 1973 album Quadrophenia set the story and the 1979 film sets it in motion with an incredible performance from Phil Daniels and memorable appearances from Phil Davis , Ray Winstone , Leslie Ash , and Sting . Dan and Jon talk about the history of the mods, the music of The Who, and how they envision a new future for Quadropheni...
Jul 09, 2025•1 hr 27 min•Season 3Ep. 291
It's episode 290 of Ruined Childhoods and Dan & Jon are ready to ROCK! On this Rocktacular episode, Dan & Jon celebrate the wild 1996 Michael Bay adventure, The Rock , a celebration of explosions, deadly gas, and Zeus's butthole. They talk about all of the elements of this 90s classic that make it memorable nearly 30 years later and imagine new ways it could be revisited in the modern era. Watch on Spotify or YouTube Next episode: Quadrophenia (1979) • The 3rd season of Ruined Childhoods...
Jul 02, 2025•1 hr 5 min•Season 3Ep. 290
Are you a Brian De Palma fan? If so, you've probably seen the 1972 thriller Sisters . No? What are you waiting for?! Margot Kidder plays conjoined twins Danielle and Dominique who have since been separated, and the struggles they face living in Staten Island, NY. Jennifer Salt also stars as a reporter who witnesses a murder linked to the twins and is determined to discover the secrets about Danielle and Dominique's past, as well as the doctor who changed their lives. Dan and Jon (brothers, but n...
Jun 25, 2025•57 min•Season 3Ep. 289
It's the year after the release of Jurassic Park - the world has dino-fever and writer/director Stewart Raffill just happens to luck into an animatronic T-Rex and is hell bent on writing a movie around the prehistoric robot. What Raffill didn't know is that his stars, Denise Richards and Paul Walker would go on to star is pivotal films in American pop culture. The film is an incredible examination of mid-90s aesthetics, humor, and character naming, thanks greatly to the role of Weasel, played by...
Jun 18, 2025•51 min•Season 3Ep. 288
287 episodes and we're only NOW covering this iconic Hughes / Candy collab?? A film that truly stands the test of time, Uncle Buck is always a fun watch and you discover new ways to love it with every watch. Celebrate the genius of the all-star cast and imagine new ways to revisit this classic just like us, despite Uncle Buck having two failed television adaptations. Next episode: Tammy and the T-Rex (1994) • The 3rd season of Ruined Childhoods is a year-long cinematic/alphabetic yo-yo, taking l...
Jun 11, 2025•1 hr 8 min•Season 3Ep. 287
In the early 60s in London, there were a cottage industry for blackmailers targeting homosexual activity, which was illegal in England until 1967. The 1961 film Victim tells the story of a rising star in London's legal system who has to face a decision - fight back against a group of blackmailers or continue to stay closeted, risking his marriage, reputation, and career. Dan and Jon celebrate director Basil Dearden's measured approach and the exquisite acting of the film's stars, Dirk Bogarde an...
Jun 04, 2025•1 hr 2 min•Season 3Ep. 286
Most known for the Michael Jackson song written for its sequel, the 1971 film Willard was a surprise box office success, leading to a sequel the following year and a 2003 remake starring Crispin Glover . Dan and Jon celebrate the ways that Willard stands out from other films of its generation, character dynamics, thematic connections, and the portrayal of isolation and revenge. They also, as always, share how they would revisit the film in the present day. Next episode: Victim (1961) • The 3rd s...
May 28, 2025•1 hr 5 min•Season 3Ep. 285
For the 2nd X film of Ruined Childhoods, we discuss the strengths and issues with the 1980 musical fantasy, Xanadu . With such a strong cast, what could go wrong? Not only is it Gene Kelly's final film, but it's the follow-up film for both Olivia Newton-John and Michael Beck after their smash successes, Grease (1978) and The Warriors (1979), respectively. Dan and Jon also share their ideas for how Xanadu could be revisited today. Next episode: Willard ( 1971 , 2003 ) • The 3rd season of Ruined C...
May 21, 2025•50 min•Season 3Ep. 284
On our 2nd Y film of this season, we celebrate Akira Kurosawa's iconic 1961 samurai smash, Yojimbo . What has become an inspiration for generations of filmmakers, Yojimbo is a prime example of the dawn of a new legacy, introducing audiences to a flawed protagonist set out to manipulate 2 rival gangs. And we've got plenty of ideas for how this film could be revisited in new and exciting ways. Next episode: Xanadu (1980) • The 3rd season of Ruined Childhoods is a year-long cinematic/alphabetic yo-...
May 14, 2025•54 min•Season 3Ep. 283
We are officially on our way BACK DOWN the alphabet in the 3rd season of Ruined Childhoods. We went from Anaconda to Zardoz and we're beginning our descent with the 1969 French/Algerian classic Z ! This is the fictionalized version of the very true story of a political assassination conspiracy carried out in Greece just a few years prior to the film's release and the novel its adapted from. But this political thriller doesn't look or feel like many others of its ilk, so definitely seek it out if...
May 07, 2025•1 hr 1 min•Season 3Ep. 282
WE DID IT! This episode marks our half-way point through season 3 where we are going A-Z and then Z-A through movie titles. We're thrilled to cap off the first half with Sir John Boorman's 1974 heady fantasy, Zardoz . What is now considered a cult classic was at the time considered a flop and embarrassment, but we're here to tell a different side of the story, celebrating what makes it special and worthy of conversation in 2025. Next episode: Z (1969) • The 3rd season of Ruined Childhoods is a y...
Apr 23, 2025•1 hr 10 min•Season 3Ep. 281
In our journey working from A-Z then Z-A in movie titles, it's hard to get to Y and not explore Barbra Streisand's 1983 directorial debut, Yentl . This adaptation from a short story is a tough nut to crach - it's the story of an Orthodox Jewish woman from a Polish shtetl who challenges the traditions of her own faith in order to better learn its very own teachings. The movie's legend perhaps surpasses its own success, but that's what we're here to do on this episode - celebrate the elements that...
Apr 16, 2025•1 hr 9 min•Season 3Ep. 280
Richard Donner . Charles Bronson . Mary Tyler Moore . Jimmy Stewart . Yup - these unlikely bedfellows teamed up for a government-funded film to market a new rocket-powered jet meant to propel the US Air Force and NASA into outer space. X-15 contains a lot of firsts - it boasts that it's the first movie filmed in space as it uses actual footage from test flights, this is the first feature film in Mary Tyler Moore's oeuvre, and it's the first movie directed by film legend Richard Donner . Dan and ...
Mar 19, 2025•51 min•Season 3Ep. 279
Willow has all the makings of a fantasy classic - top tier director, big stars, impressive special effects, and bell of the ball writer, George Lucas . But for many, this movie is nothing but a bad attempt at capitalizing on the success of Star Wars . Dan and Jon celebrate the elements of the film that make it work and come up with some fresh ways to it back, perhaps without Disney+ removing it almost instantly. Next episode: X-15 (1961) Watch this episode on YouTube or Spotify Subscribe to The ...
Mar 06, 2025•1 hr 9 min•Season 3Ep. 278
Remember Remember the 26th of February (this episode's release date, of course). V for Vendetta may not be a film classic, but it activated a generation of activism fashion. Though the design is from the V for Vendetta graphic novel, this 2005 film launched it into global collective consciousness. Paired with Natalie Portman's iconic head-shaving scene, the visuals of this film are still memorable 20 years later. Dan and Jon celebrate the film's legacy and give their thoughts on how it could be ...
Feb 26, 2025•1 hr 5 min•Season 3Ep. 277
The legend of The Usual Suspects continues to this day. Its twist ending, stories from the set, and all of the parodies that came in its wake are a big part of the film's lasting legacy. But after much deliberation, Dan and Jon have some ideas on how this 1995 crime/heist film could be revisited for a modern audience. Next episode: V for Vendetta (2005) Watch this episode on YouTube or Spotify Subscribe to The WALT! Contact us, follow us on social media, or buy some merch at linktr.ee/RuinedChil...
Feb 20, 2025•1 hr 12 min•Season 3Ep. 276
With the success of Dawson's Creek , Kevin Williamson let his freak flag fly on the big screen by writing a number of late 90s and early 2000s teen thrillers, but he only directed one - Teaching Mrs. Tingle . This film features Dawson's alum Katie Holmes up against screen legend Dame Helen Mirren , which sounds like fun, right? But with studio intervention and major edits to turn this movie into a PG-13 romp, perhaps Dan and Jon have some ideas for how the film could be revived for a contemporar...
Feb 14, 2025•56 min•Season 3Ep. 275
Fresh off the success of Teen Wolf , Back to the Future , and Family Ties , young actor Michael J. Fox was white hot and it seemed like any project he was attached to would be a success. It's no surprise that this week's movie, The Secret of my Success , would be one of the highest grossing films of the year, despite being a relatively mediocre adult comedy. Dan and Jon talk about what makes the movie fun to watch, but at times hard to get through given today's standards for workplace decorum. T...
Feb 07, 2025•1 hr 9 min•Season 3Ep. 274
Director Brian Robbins may have been head of the class, but that doesn't make him out of touch with the world of burnout numbskulls and the world of professional wrestling. The proof? 2000's Ready to Rumble , the story of two idiots who are determined to bring a disgraced pro wrestler back to his former glory. Dan tells Jon all about the world of pro wrestling, wrestlers, and how they entered and re-entered his life starting in the 1980s. Dan and Jon also share their ideas for how Ready to Rumbl...
Jan 30, 2025•1 hr 32 min•Season 3Ep. 273
Wow. If you haven't seen Q: The Winged Serpent , stop whatever you're doing, find it, and press play. With the star power of Richard Roundtree and David Carradine , the run-and-gun directing style of Larry Cohen , and mind-altering acting from Michael Moriarty , this film truly has it all. But perhaps there's an opportunity to revisit this cult classic - Dan and Jon surely have their thoughts. Next episode: Ready to Rumble (2000) Watch this episode on YouTube or Spotify Subscribe to The WALT! Co...
Jan 22, 2025•1 hr 14 min•Season 3Ep. 272
Before there was Rocky Horror , Tommy , or The Wall , director Brian De Palma and Paul Williams teamed up to bring us a genre-defining rock opera that continues to stun audiences, further cementing its cult classic status. Phantom of the Paradise tells the story of a singer-songwriter whose opus is stolen from him by Swan, the one man who controls the world's popular music, and his descent into madness. Dan and Jon celebrate the music, the stunning visuals, and brilliant direction by De Palma. T...
Jan 15, 2025•58 min•Season 3Ep. 271
Actor Tim Blake Nelson took a few breaks from acting to direct films starting in the 1990s. And with the surge in popularity of teen heartthrob Shakespeare adaptations like Romeo + Juliet (1996) , it was an obvious choice to adapt Othello for a contemporary audience. Jon and Dan celebrate this overlooked token of its time and admire the talents that brought it to life, even if it is a little over the top at times. Next episode: Phantom of the Paradise (1974) Watch this episode on YouTube or Spot...
Jan 08, 2025•1 hr 14 min•Season 3Ep. 270
One of Alfred Hitchcock's few adventure films also may be his most influential, which is saying a LOT. North by Northwest defined the look and feel for spy movies, gave us iconic set pieces, and may change the way you shave your face. Dan and Jon also have some ideas for how it can be brought back in 2025. Next episode: O (2001) Watch this episode on YouTube or Spotify Subscribe to The WALT! Contact us, follow us on social media, or buy some merch at linktr.ee/RuinedChildhoods & RuinedChildh...
Jan 01, 2025•1 hr 10 min•Season 3Ep. 269
Fritz Lang's first sound film may also be his most complex, despite having released Metropolis in 1927 to much acclaim. M is the story of a city that is worked into a frenzy when an elusive child murderer is on the loose and nobody can be trusted. The cops are determined to find the murderer and bring him to justice, but the city's criminal underworld wants to get to him first and serve their own justice so they can back to their life of crime without the cops always on their tail. Dan and Jon c...
Dec 25, 2024•59 min•Season 3Ep. 268
Director Hal Ashby's first film is a clear prototype for what he has to come with films like Being There , Shampoo , & Harold and Maude , all satires with a focus on class inequality. The Landlord is a brilliant portrayal of upper classes whites gentrifying a Black neighborhood in Brooklyn, essentially looking into Prospect Park's actual future. Dan and Jon celebrate its place in cinema history and theorize how it could be reenvisioned today, years after life imitated art. Next episode: M (1...
Dec 18, 2024•1 hr 8 min•Season 3Ep. 267
