Alright, here's a question: would you rather be trapped overnight in an enclosed space with a pack of psychotic murder clowns OR kill-crazy mall security robots? This two films up for review on this episode should help you make up your mind! Up first is the 80s-tastic cult flick Chopping Mall, and while we love its breezy 77-minute running time, we think there's a lot more to appreciate in this sci-fi/horror/comedy hybrid than brevity alone. In a wide-ranging discussion of a B-movie that repeatedly delivers the goods while refusing to take itself seriously, Chris and Nick reminisce about the malls of their youth, discuss the illustrious career of exploitation veteran Jim Wynorski, and marvel at just how much mall mayhem you could make on a sub-million-dollar budget back in 1986. Then, it's on to our review of Rob Zombie's 31, one of the director's least-loved films -- but also one that features a lot of VERY distinct Rob Zombie-ness (like him or not, the guy is definitely an auteur!) in its production design, casting, and all-around depravity. We've got a lot of thoughts about Zombie's film career to date, and with his latest effort, The Munsters, just about to debut, we thought it might be a good time to point our critical lens at his "hillbilly horror" oeuvre for the first time. Dig through the ditches and burn through the witches and enjoy!
Alright, here's a question: would you rather be trapped overnight in an enclosed space with a pack of psychotic murder clowns OR kill-crazy mall security robots? The two films up for review on this episode should help you make up your mind! Up first is the 80s-tastic cult flick Chopping Mall, and while we love its breezy 77-minute running time, we think there's a lot more to appreciate in this sci-fi/horror/comedy hybrid than brevity alone. In a wide-ranging discussion of a B-movie that repeatedly delivers the goods while refusing to take itself seriously, Chris and Nick reminisce about the malls of their youth, discuss the illustrious career of exploitation veteran Jim Wynorski, and marvel at just how much mall mayhem you could make on a sub-million-dollar budget back in 1986. Then, it's on to our review of Rob Zombie's 31, one of the director's least-loved films -- but also one that features a lot of VERY distinct Rob Zombie-ness (like him or not, the guy is definitely an auteur!) in its production design, casting, and all-around depravity. We've got a lot of thoughts about Zombie's film career to date, and with his latest effort, The Munsters, just about to debut, we thought it might be a good time to point our critical lens at his "hillbilly horror" oeuvre for the first time. Dig through the ditches and burn through the witches and enjoy, everybody!