This week’s pick comes courtesy of longtime VHS Strikes Back Patreon supporter Herb, who’s chosen the delightfully oddball Aussie gem Malcolm from 1986. It’s a film that proves even the quietest, most socially awkward tram enthusiast can have a life of crime tucked beneath his cardigans. With its quirky charm, deadpan humor, and a DIY spirit that would make MacGyver jealous, Malcolm is a criminal caper unlike any other—and it’s all thanks to Herb's impeccable taste for the weird and wonderful. D...
Jul 09, 2025•49 min
Strap in and set phasers to “tense banter” — this week’s pick comes from Dave, who’s boldly going where Chris would frankly rather not: Star Trek: First Contact (1996). As a lifelong Trekkie, Dave’s diving into one of the most action-packed, fan-favourite entries in the franchise, while Chris braces for a full-on warp-speed assault of technobabble and space diplomacy. It’s the Next Generation’s big-screen showdown with the Borg... and maybe with Chris’s patience too. Directed by Jonathan Frakes ...
Jul 02, 2025•1 hr 7 min
The second episode of our Halloween weekend is Tony Farina and Chris Phelps discussing James O'Barr's 1989 Caliber Press masterpiece comic, The Crow . Crossover episode with Indie Comics Spotlight on Comics In Motion. If you want to talk with Tony about comics or to suggest any future shows, please connect with him on Twitter @Tricycleboombox . You can read his reviews of multiple Independent and DC comics at DC Comics News or at Fantastic Universes . You can find him online and send him an emai...
Jun 30, 2025•1 hr 2 min•Season 1Ep. 125
Buckle up, because this episode’s pick comes straight from co-host Chris, who’s chosen to take us on a nostalgic joyride with The Gumball Rally (1976). With a fondness for high-octane chaos and old-school ensemble comedies, Chris dives into the rubber-burning madness of this pre- Cannonball Run classic, where the only rule is there are no rules—unless you're talking about car stunts, in which case, safety was more of a polite suggestion. Directed by Charles Bail, a veteran stuntman turned filmma...
Jun 25, 2025•50 min
This week’s throwback VHS gem comes courtesy of long-time Patreon supporter Gareth—who clearly knows his way around a good roundhouse kick. Gareth has chosen China O’Brien 2 (1990), the Cynthia Rothrock martial arts sequel that kicks just as hard as the first. With small-town justice, explosive action, and some delightfully dated hairdos, this one’s a real time capsule of straight to video action cinema. China O'Brien 2 was filmed back-to-back with the original film in 1988, though it wasn’t rel...
Jun 18, 2025•53 min
We're going off the beaten track for this one! This latest pick by JAC is quite a unique one in that it's a fan made film, Raiders of the Lost Ark: The Adaptation. Technically shown for the first time in 1989 and an additional scene added in 2014, this is the movie that was the inspiration for the documentary, Raiders!: The Story of the Greatest Fan Film Ever Made. Checkout JAC's LetterBoxd review here: https://letterboxd.com/iamjacsmusings/ And also JAC's podcast, Back to the Filmography, where...
Jun 11, 2025•1 hr 4 min
We're diving headfirst into high-flying mayhem with Con Air , a chaotic symphony of explosions, one-liners, and mid-air madness—handpicked by our awesome Patreon supporter Susan from the Geek Girl Soup podcast! Con Air (1997) was born out of the mid-90s action movie boom, with producer Jerry Bruckheimer riding high from previous hits like The Rock and Crimson Tide . Wanting to blend testosterone-fueled chaos with a high-concept premise, Bruckheimer and the team crafted a story about a maximum-se...
Jun 04, 2025•1 hr 2 min
Young Dave, armed with a love for Star Wars and a soft spot for everyone's favourite scruffy-looking nerf herder, thought he was in for another dose of Han Solo heroics when switching on Blade runner. What he got instead was something a little moodier, a lot rainier, and less exciting than Songs of Praise. The production of Blade Runner (1982) was as tumultuous and moody as the rain-soaked, neon-lit world it depicted. Directed by Ridley Scott, fresh off the success of Alien, the film was envisio...
May 28, 2025•1 hr 8 min
After a slow start in the year of the Stichup ,Chris has gone full throttle by picking Maximum Overdrive — Stephen King's chaotic leap into the director’s chair! Maximum Overdrive marks Stephen King’s one and only time in the director’s chair — and it shows. What was meant to be a thrilling blend of horror and action instead turned into a loud, chaotic mess that careened off the rails almost as quickly as the film’s killer machines. With King himself later admitting to being "coked out of his mi...
May 21, 2025•50 min
This week we’re diving into a cult classic — Escape from the Planet of the Apes — and it’s all thanks to our great Patreon supporter, Leigh! Leigh’s not just a top supporter; he also runs a fantastic YouTube channel called Movie Vent where he shares his love for all things cinema with Ventriloquist dummy, Ned. Check it out at youtube.com/@ventmovies . Escape from the Planet of the Apes (1971) marked a clever shift in the Planet of the Apes franchise, driven by budget constraints and the desire t...
May 14, 2025•1 hr 5 min
Kicking things off with a blast of ‘80s nostalgia, we’re taking on the 1986 BMX cult classic RAD , chosen by our newest Patreon supporter, Nick Bray! Packed with insane bike tricks and a Daniel LaRusso from Wish! Huge thanks to Nick for picking this one, time to dust off the old bike and practice some bunny hops. RAD was born out of the mid-1980s BMX biking craze, with Hollywood eager to capture the spirit of the sport just as skateboarding was making its big cinematic breakthrough. Directed by ...
May 07, 2025•58 min
New Patreon supporter Greig has reached back into the 1970's for his first pick and it from the year of the gang movie, 1979's The Wanderers! The production of The Wanderers (1979), directed by Philip Kaufman and co-written with his wife Rose Kaufman, was an adaptation of Richard Price’s debut novel. Set in the Bronx of 1963, the film aimed to authentically portray the era's street gang culture. Filming took place on location in various Bronx neighborhoods, including Fordham Road, the Grand Conc...
Apr 30, 2025•1 hr 2 min
There can be only one! Well, unless there's a bunch of money up for grabs in making a sequel! Or that was the plan at last. Dave's next entry for the year of the stitch-up is the 1991 sequel to the cult classic, Highlander II: The Quickening. The production of Highlander II: The Quickening is often cited as a masterclass in cinematic chaos. Shot primarily in Argentina, the film was plagued by financial problems from the outset. The country's volatile economy led to massive inflation during produ...
Apr 23, 2025•1 hr 4 min
It's taken a bit of time for Chris to get on board with the year of the Stitch-up, but this week he's fully on board with the pick, Smokey and the Bandit 3. The production of Smokey and the Bandit Part 3 (1983) was plagued by confusion, last-minute changes, and a noticeable lack of direction—both literally and creatively. Initially conceived as Smokey IS the Bandit , the film was supposed to center entirely around Jackie Gleason playing both Sheriff Buford T. Justice and the Bandit himself. Univ...
Apr 16, 2025•53 min
Blake has done it again! After bringing us cinematic gems like Surf Nazis Must Die , Bad Taste , and the legendary disasterpiece The Room , our resident connoisseur of chaos has picked another fever dream for us to unravel—Peter Jackson’s Meet the Feebles . If Bad Taste showed Jackson’s love for over-the-top gore, Meet the Feebles proves he was just as committed to pushing the boundaries of decency, this time with puppets. Meet the Feebles was envisioned as a satirical take on the entertainment ...
Apr 09, 2025•58 min
Sometimes, you can see a stickup coming a mile off. Other times, they come in the dressing of a movie with lots of awards and credibility. But Maff might've just played a blinder here in The Year of the Stichup. Naked Lunch (1991) was a challenging and experimental adaptation of William S. Burroughs' novel, helmed by Canadian director David Cronenberg. The film’s production was marked by its complex narrative and the integration of surreal, often disturbing imagery, which reflected Burroughs' un...
Apr 02, 2025•1 hr 2 min
When it comes to supporters of the show, Tony Farina is the OG. And when it comes to stitch ups, the same could be said! Back when Chris and Dave were still finding their way with Comics In Motion, Tony found the podcast and suggested both Speed Racer and Tank Girl. And at the time, Chris believed these were the worst movies he'd ever seen. Fast forward to 2025, Tony has chosen a favourite of his. The much maligned, Hudson Hawk. Hudson Hawk was an infamously chaotic and overblown affair, marked ...
Mar 26, 2025•1 hr
Though it's the Year of the Stitch-up, John Hammond has been building up a repertoire of picks for some time that would fit the bill! Previous picks include Samurai Cop, For Your Height Only, Hard Ticket to Hawaii, New York Ninja and Devil Fetus. So this week is totally on brand with the 1995 Japanese horror, Bloody Muscle Body Builder In Hell. Bloody Muscle Body Builder in Hell is a fascinating oddity in the realm of low-budget Japanese horror, with a production history almost as legendary as i...
Mar 19, 2025•53 min
The year of the stitch up has had a couple of misfires for Dave's picks, with Chris unfortunately declaring Cloud City's for both sword and sorcery adventures - Gor and The Barbarians. So this is the time to roll out the cult classic sci-fi movie from 1984, Trancers. Trancers was a low-budget sci-fi film produced by Charles Band’s Empire Pictures, a company known for its B-movie output during the 1980s. Directed by Charles Band and written by Danny Bilson and Paul De Meo, the film was conceived ...
Mar 12, 2025•52 min
Chris does love a good car movie, though whether this one hits that description is up for debate. This week's movie is Gone in Sixty Seconds from the year 2000. Gone in Sixty Seconds was a high-octane production that aimed to modernize the 1974 cult classic while capitalizing on Hollywood’s growing appetite for stylish car heist films. Produced by Jerry Bruckheimer, the film assembled a star-studded cast led by Nicolas Cage, Angelina Jolie, and Robert Duvall, with Dominic Sena directing. Unlike ...
Mar 05, 2025•1 hr
This week's pick was made supporter Dylan, who's previous picks have ranged from the gritty realism of Training Day to the surreal comedy The Big Lebowski. And this pick is going back to 1978 on on the serious side of the scale with, The Deer Hunter. The Deer Hunter was an ambitious and challenging endeavor, driven by director Michael Cimino’s meticulous vision. Initially conceived as a smaller war film, the project expanded dramatically as Cimino rewrote the script, emphasizing the emotional an...
Feb 26, 2025•1 hr 5 min
Timothy's picked some belters in the past with the likes of the Hitcher, Scarface, Nighthawks and others. And this time, he's gone for the iconic 1992 action crime thriller, Hard Boiled. Hard Boiled (1992), directed by action maestro John Woo, is a landmark in the Hong Kong action genre, known for its hyper-stylized violence and stunning gunplay choreography. The film was a departure from Woo’s typical themes of brotherhood and loyalty, focusing instead on a relentless, hard-edged cop named Tequ...
Feb 19, 2025•52 min
Patreon Justin has picked some gems and corkers before, like Blood Simple and Hard Eight, and this time he's chosen the little known 1992 comedy, Brain Donors. "Brain Donors" was produced during a time when Hollywood was revisiting and paying homage to classic comedy styles, and its production was heavily influenced by the desire to recreate the Marx Brothers' iconic brand of humor. The film was written by Pat Proft, known for his work on the "Naked Gun" series, and produced by David Zucker, Jer...
Feb 12, 2025•1 hr
After being exposed to the so-called bad boys of bodybuilding with Double Trouble last year, Dave decided to pick the breakthrough movie for Peter and David Paul. The Canon Films sword-and-sorcery adventure, The Barbarians. The Barbarians (1987) was a quintessential example of 1980s sword-and-sorcery filmmaking, helmed by cult director Ruggero Deodato, best known for his controversial work on Cannibal Holocaust. Shot on location in Italy and Yugoslavia, the film embraced the rugged landscapes an...
Feb 05, 2025•58 min
Tough Guys was a Phelps family household favourite in the late 1980's and this week we take a look back at a movie long since forgotten. Tough Guys brought together two Hollywood legends, Kirk Douglas and Burt Lancaster, marking their seventh on-screen collaboration and injecting star power into this comedy crime caper. Directed by Jeff Kanew, who had worked with Douglas on Eddie Macon’s Run, the film aimed to blend comedy and nostalgia with action. Set against the backdrop of the rapidly changi...
Jan 29, 2025•1 hr 3 min
Never one to take the easy choices, supporter and friend of the show Spider-Dan has chosen a sequel by German Director Jörg Buttgereit, in Nekromantic 2. Buttgereit, building on the underground success of the first Nekromantik film, aimed to create a sequel that delved deeper into themes of love, death, and societal taboos. Shot on a modest budget with a crew of close collaborators, the film maintained its predecessor's grim aesthetic while incorporating more surreal and darkly comedic elements....
Jan 22, 2025•1 hr 28 min
Helen's pick this week is the 2000 movie which really put Christian Bale on the map, is American Psycho! American Psycho was a journey marked by controversy, creative vision, and a touch of chaos. Initially, the project faced significant challenges, with multiple directors and actors attached to the adaptation of Bret Easton Ellis's infamous novel. Mary Harron eventually took the helm, bringing a sharp satirical perspective to the material. Her insistence on Christian Bale as the lead, despite s...
Jan 15, 2025•1 hr 3 min
This week's pick is the turn of one of our longest supporters, Kent! And he's chosen THE road trip movie that spawned a franchise and influenced all that came after. It's the 1983 black comedy, National Lampoon's Vacation! The movie began as an adaptation of John Hughes's short story, “Vacation '58,” published in National Lampoon magazine. The screenplay was penned by Hughes himself, marking one of his early ventures into Hollywood comedy. Directed by Harold Ramis, the film starred Chevy Chase a...
Jan 08, 2025•1 hr 1 min
Gor is a planet, a counter Earth, that sits in orbit at the opposite side of the Sun to the Earth we inhabit. And on the Vernal Equinox, this marks the New Year for most Gorean cities. This is the kind of sci-fi, fantasy sword and sorcery that Chris despises, and Dave loves. So it's only right that Dave's pick to see us into the new year would be Gor! But there might be a wildcard in this 1987 loose adaptation which has the review for this much maligned Canon picture going a different way. The m...
Jan 01, 2025•1 hr
Recently described as the worst ever Christmas movie, Chris has chosen movie starring Thunder Lips himself, Terry Gene Bollea, or better known as Hulk Hogan. It's the Christmas movie oddity you've never heard of. And probably for good reason, until now. Directed by John Murlowski, the film was produced on a relatively modest budget, which was probably spent entirely on Hogan’s appearance fee and the special effects, none of which were convincing enough to make this a holiday classic. Attempting ...
Dec 25, 2024•1 hr
