Since this podcast's inception, Anton Chigurh has been one of our most requested rogues. This week, we're playing a game of chance with this formidable foe as we finally dive deep into No Country for Old Men . Topics include: the origins of Cormac McCarthy's novel, the Coens process of adapting it, key differences between Chigurh's portrayal in the book vs the movie, reactions to the subversive final act, what the movie leaves out, the ways in which it might actually one-up the source material, ...
Mar 05, 2025•2 hr 19 min•Transcript available on Metacast We're back! Rogues Gallery is kicking off a brand new season with a deep dive into M. Night Shyamalan's Unbreakable . It's hard to imagine a time when an Oscar-nominated filmmaker endeavoring to make a grounded and gritty superhero film would have been regarded as a risky proposition. But back in 2000, that's exactly the situation Shyamalan found himself in. These days, you can't throw a rock without hitting half a dozen comic book movies with a similar tone, but Unbreakable was pretty ahead of ...
Feb 12, 2025•2 hr 54 min•Transcript available on Metacast "We're headed for a disaster of biblical proportions... Old Testament, real wrath of God-type stuff. Fire and brimstone coming down from the skies! Rivers and seas boiling! Forty years of darkness! Earthquakes, volcanoes, the dead rising from the grave! Human sacrifice, dogs and cats living together... mass hysteria!" Whoa whoa whoa, RELAX. It's only our season finale. ROGUES GALLERY WILL RETURN WITH NEW EPISODES ON FEBRUARY 12th. But in the meantime, let's strap on our proton packs and go out w...
Nov 13, 2024•3 hr 36 min•Transcript available on Metacast The sequel so nice they filmed it twice! The Halloween franchise is no stranger to troubled productions, but part six takes the cake... then decides it doesn't like the flavor of that cake and tries to bake an all-new one on top of it. Meanwhile, some of the producers are wondering why it has to be a cake at all and so they decide to turn it into a casserole instead. So yeah. It's a mess. But it's a wild story and we had a blast recording this one. Happy Halloween, friends! Facebook | Twitter | ...
Oct 30, 2024•2 hr 26 min•Transcript available on Metacast Let them fight... about the 2014 reboot of Godzilla! Nah, not really. We're all pretty positive about this inaugural entry in the Monsterverse franchise. We discuss the unusual origins of the project and its decade-long journey to the big screen, director Gareth Edwards' less is more approach to the material, some of the most common complaints fans have about it, how it compares to subsequent entries, and much more! Facebook | Twitter | Instagram Apple Podcasts | Stitcher | Google Play | Spotify...
Oct 16, 2024•2 hr 35 min•Transcript available on Metacast You’re so cool, Brewster. We can’t stand it! Join us as we investigate one of the most impressive and underrated horror films of the 80s. This week, it’s Fright Night … for real! Topics include: how each of us was introduced to this film, getting old enough to realize just how horny every single scene is, whether or not we agree with its classification as a horror/comedy, the tight-knit cast and how close they remain to this day, practical effects that rival the other heavy-hitters from this era...
Aug 07, 2024•2 hr 53 min•Transcript available on Metacast It's our 100th episode! We knew we needed a truly head-spinning rogue to mark the occasion, so we decided to investigate what many consider to be the scariest movie ever made: The Exorcist . Topics include: the real-life case that inspired the novel, how a last-minute appearance on a late-night talk show changed the book's fate, the long road to finding the right director for the film adaptation, the controversial tactics that were used to get more authentic performances from these actors, why s...
Jul 24, 2024•3 hr 46 min•Transcript available on Metacast It may be imperative for the characters in this movie to stay silent, but we sure have a lot to say about A Quiet Place . Topics include: the incredible first trailer, the substantially different original script, the alterations and contributions John Krasinski made after signing on to direct, some of the most pervasive nitpicks with the premise and these creatures, various interpretations of what the film symbolizes, its expansion into a wider franchise, and much more! Facebook | Twitter | Inst...
Jul 10, 2024•2 hr 52 min•Transcript available on Metacast It's been a long time coming and now we're finally taking on the Deadites from the Evil Dead franchise and exploring the series' most significant entry - Evil Dead 2 ! Topics include: the initial plans for Army of Darkness to be the first sequel, why it was scaled back into more of a remix of the original film instead, the massive shift in tone, our favorite sequences, how they pulled off some of the most memorable effects, where this one ranks for us amongst the other entries, and much more! Fa...
Jun 26, 2024•2 hr 52 min•Transcript available on Metacast They came from Denton High! Join us as we seek refuge inside that spooky castle back down the road and investigate the cult phenomenon The Rocky Horror Picture Show . Facebook | Twitter | Instagram Apple Podcasts | Stitcher | Google Play | Spotify Chris's Instagram & Twitter | Kristen's Instagram Chris & Kristen's Web Series: The Strange Case of Lucy Chandler...
Jun 12, 2024•2 hr 1 min•Transcript available on Metacast Well, here it is. The film many consider to be the nadir of the Elm Street franchise, Freddy's Dead: The Final Nightmare . It's definitely bizarre, but is this much-maligned entry really the worst one? Let's find out! Topics include: why the studio decided to kill their golden goose, the alternate universe where Peter Jackson directed a pretty interesting version of this movie, the inspirations for the controversial shift in tone, the lack of connection with previous films, its box office succes...
May 29, 2024•2 hr 47 min•Transcript available on Metacast "Pod away from her you cast!" Okay, well that doesn't really work. But this movie sure does! 45 years later and James Cameron's Aliens is still very high on the list of greatest sequels ever made. Join us as we strap in for an express elevator ride to hell and discuss why it's anything but Game Over for this action/horror classic. Topics include: why it took seven years for this follow-up to materialize, key differences between Cameron's original treatment and the shooting script, the additional...
May 15, 2024•2 hr 25 min•Transcript available on Metacast Greetings, programs! We're digitizing ourselves and entering ENCOM's mainframe to revisit the seminal sci-fi/action film Tron. Although the film pioneered some truly incredible visual effects technology, it wasn't the overwhelming box office success Disney had been hoping for. Still, Tron developed a cult following and became an enormous influence on the next generation of forward-looking artists, musicians, and filmmakers. Topics include: why the original screenwriter feels the finished product...
May 01, 2024•2 hr 50 min•Transcript available on Metacast We can't live without you... and we won't let you live without us! This week, we're revisiting Sleeping With The Enemy starring Julia Roberts and Patrick Bergin. It may not be as well-remembered as some of Roberts' other films from this era, but back in 1991, this modestly budgeted thriller about a young woman on the run from the ultimate husband-from-hell scored big at the box office. Like, really really big. Ten times its budget big. It deserves a lot of credit for attempting to approach subje...
Apr 17, 2024•2 hr 35 min•Transcript available on Metacast Heart of Ice has become the signature episode of Batman: The Animated Series, but it's just the tip of the iceberg (see what we did there?) We're using this bold reinvention of Mr. Freeze as a jumping-off point to talk about the history of this seminal show and why it remains our favorite adaptation of the Caped Crusader and his rogues. Topics include: Freeze's Silver Age origins (where he was known as Mr. Zero), his handful of appearances on the 60s Batman show, the perception of him prior to B...
Apr 03, 2024•2 hr 5 min•Transcript available on Metacast The Hitcher wasn't particularly well-received when it was released in 1986, but it has developed a dedicated following in the intervening years. And a big part of that is unquestionably due to Rutger Hauer's standout performance as the title character. It's as menacing, beguiling, and unusual as the film itself. So join us as we hitch a ride with this cult classic and open up a case file on the mysterious John Ryder. Facebook | Twitter | Instagram Apple Podcasts | Stitcher | Google Play | Spotif...
Mar 20, 2024•2 hr 37 min•Transcript available on Metacast Be our guest as we dive into the enchanting world of Beauty and the Beast . In this episode, we explore the origins of the original fairy tale, Disney's prior attempts to bring it to the big screen, why the character of Gaston was instrumental in finally making this all work, how the film helped set the stage for the era known as the "Disney Renaissance", its direct-to-video follow-ups, the live-action remake from 2017, and much more! Facebook | Twitter | Instagram Apple Podcasts | Stitcher | Go...
Mar 06, 2024•2 hr 13 min•Transcript available on Metacast The legacy of The Crow is inextricably intertwined with tragedy. A devastating loss inspired the creation of the original comic book and then another would cast a shadow over its feature film adaptation. But this blistering tale of love, revenge, and catharsis struck a chord with a legion of fans... and for one of your hosts, this was a story that found them at exactly the right time. In this episode, we're doing a deep dive into all of it: the comic, the film, the accident, the aftermath, and s...
Feb 21, 2024•3 hr 57 min•Transcript available on Metacast Fargo , eh? You're darn tootin'! After the disappointing reception to their previous film, the Coen brothers decided to retreat into something much smaller in scope. And although they expected Fargo to have somewhat limited appeal, it would go on to become one of their biggest hits. Topics include: the nebulous nature of the movie's claim that this is based on a true story, the lengths William H. Macy went to in order to secure his role, how Roger Deakins' cinematography reinforces the major the...
Feb 07, 2024•2 hr 32 min•Transcript available on Metacast This is no dream. This is really happening! Join us as we move into the Bramford building and get to know the new neighbors. In this episode, we're investigating the history and impact of Rosemary's Baby . Topics include: the state of the horror genre when this movie was released, why there was initially some resistance to the idea of hiring Roman Polanski to direct this, their atypical choices for the two lead roles and the more conventional names that were considered, how the decision to make ...
Jan 24, 2024•2 hr 52 min•Transcript available on Metacast It's a brand new season of Rogues Gallery and we're kicking things off with what's become our most requested title... The Silence of the Lambs ! Topics include: Hannibal Lecter's first on-screen appearance in the film Manhunter , why director Jonathan Demme was an unlikely choice to helm this, alternate casting choices for the lead roles, how hard Jodie Foster campaigned for Clarice and the reason this project meant so much to her, Anthony Hopkins' transformative (and star-making) performance, w...
Jan 10, 2024•2 hr 25 min•Transcript available on Metacast Welcome foolish mortals... to the season finale of Rogues Gallery! To celebrate Halloween, we're investigating the history, development, and lasting legacy of the world's most famous haunted house attraction: Disneyland's Haunted Mansion. Topics include: earlier iterations of the ride's plot, why the opening was delayed for so long, key differences between the Disneyland and Disney World versions, the surprisingly low-tech approach to many of the incredible effects, how the ride has evolved over...
Oct 18, 2023•2 hr 7 min•Transcript available on Metacast This one's probably not taking the top spot in anyone's ranking of the Halloween movies, but The Revenge of Michael Myers has a pretty interesting behind-the-scenes story brimming with fascinating what-ifs, missed opportunities, and cautionary tales. Topics include: how earlier drafts tackled Part 4's cliffhanger ending, Rachel's early exit and her controversial replacement, mixed feelings about the inclusion of more overtly supernatural elements, the underdeveloped subplot about Jamie and Micha...
Oct 04, 2023•2 hr 6 min•Transcript available on Metacast The leaves are changing color and the air is feeling a little crisper. Fall is here and you know what that means... It's time for Fall Verhoeven! It's our annual retrospective of the films of Paul Verhoeven and this year we're enlisting for a tour of duty with the brave citizens of Starship Troopers. Although it's loosely based on Robert Heinlein's seminal (and controversial) novel, the movie is less an adaptation and more of a satirical takedown of its source text. A fact that went over the hea...
Sep 20, 2023•2 hr 46 min•Transcript available on Metacast We're canceling the apocalypse and opening up a case file on Guillermo del Toro's kaiju vs. mech slugfest Pacific Rim . Topics include: how the film reignited del Toro's passion for filmmaking after a handful of other projects fell apart, the deliberate decision to avoid any gratuitous references to its key influences, whether or not the incredibly detailed lore is offset by occasionally thin characterization, the underwhelming sequel, some surprisingly strong comic book and animated tie-ins, a ...
Sep 06, 2023•2 hr 56 min•Transcript available on Metacast In honor of its 30th anniversary, we’re opening up a case file on The Fugitive ! Although the film wound up being a critical and commercial hit, it first had to survive a surprisingly arduous development process and an even more chaotic production. It’s actually kind of a miracle that it turned out this good. So join us as we investigate The Fugitive ’s long journey from development hell to bona fide classic. Topics include: the 1960s TV series and the real-life case that inspired it, how drasti...
Aug 23, 2023•2 hr 59 min•Transcript available on Metacast Park Chan-wook’s action/thriller Oldboy was a watershed moment for South Korean cinema. Here in the West, the film’s success led to a slew of “extreme” movies that emphasized over-the-top gore and violence. And while Oldboy certainly doesn’t skimp on bloodshed, its most disturbing aspects emanate from the taboo subject matter and dark themes it’s exploring. Topics include: the original manga that the film is loosely based on, how Park Chan-wook’s attitude towards the depiction of sex and violenc...
Aug 09, 2023•2 hr 35 min•Transcript available on Metacast It’s time to re-open our case film on the Springwood Slasher and investigate the chaotic production of A Nightmare on Elm Street 5: The Dream Child . We’re entering a particularly rough patch of this franchise and by all accounts, everyone involved with this entry realized pretty quickly that the deck had been stacked against them. Topics include: the producers settling on a title and a poster before there was a script, their desire to return the series to its darker roots, how successfully this...
Jul 26, 2023•2 hr 40 min•Transcript available on Metacast The plot of World War Z is pretty straightforward, but the film's journey to the big screen was anything but. In this episode, we investigate why the filmmakers deviated so substantially from the novel and how this became one of the most troubled productions in recent memory. Topics include: why they rejected an initial script that was much closer to the source material, how almost everyone involved was in over their head, the disastrous first cut, the extensive reshoots, bizarre remnants of tha...
Jul 12, 2023•2 hr 57 min•Transcript available on Metacast There have been several adaptations of Patricia Highsmith's Ripley novels, but 1999's The Talented Mr. Ripley remains the definitive cinematic interpretation of the cunning con artist. And that's despite the fact that it makes some pretty substantial changes to the source text and the title character. In this episode, we compare and contrast the book and the film, discuss Highsmith's complicated reputation and how her own personal demons infused her work, discover just how many new elements writ...
Jun 28, 2023•2 hr 43 min•Transcript available on Metacast 
