Now Playing - The Movie Review Podcast

Clive Barker exploded onto the horror scene in the mid '80s, bringing a fleshy physicality to his tales and pushing body horror to new extremes. His landmark creation is Hellraiser -- his directorial debut. 30 years later it stands as a seminal horror film and Barker's greatest achievement. The series' biggest star is Pinhead who's pierced visage has graced countless toys, T-Shirts, and tattoos. Ironically, he and his cenobites were but bit players in Barker's original tale of terror. Now, open the box--DONATE to Now Playing Podcast--and you won't get chains, you'll get bonus podcasts: Arnie, Stuart, and Jakob will bring you untold pleasures with this review of Hellraiser!

Seven Year's Later...it's again Halloween; it's again Now Playing reviewing Saw! The "torture porn" genre had fallen out of vogue, and Saw's grosses fell to match. Now, not quite a decade later, is the world ready for more traps and (plot) twists? Does the Saw cut as deep in its eighth iteration? Strap on your bucket and join Arnie, Jakob, and Marjorie to find out!

Texas Chainsaw 3D was a success in 2013, but the fast-tracked sequel got mired in studio bureaucracy and changes in creative teams. Finally, nearly five years later, comes Leatherface--a prequel to Tobe Hooper's original The Texas Chain Saw Massacre. It has been available to DirecTV customers for the past month, but now it's streaming through all major platforms. Can this new prequel give a better origin story for Leatherface than Platinum Dunes' attempt? Join Arnie, Stuart, and Brock to find out!

The Tall Man has a message for you! Want to hear it? Join him, Arnie, Stuart, and Jakob in this special preview for their bonus review of Phantasm: RaVager. Then go to Now Playing's Website to hear the entire retrospective series!

Paul Kersey has returned to New York (or London). He didn't come intending to fight a gang war, but he finds his war buddy gunned down. It's a fight Kersey didn't start, but he intends to finish it in Death Wish 3.  It's the first Death Wish that is officially a Cannon film. Does their Over the Top aesthetic help Charles Bronson's franchise? Join the Now Playing Podcast hosts to find out!

Before February, 2017 Jordan Peele was best known as the comedian partner of Keegan-Michael Key. But his unexpected feature directorial debut Get Out--a horror film--was a smash hit that changed how fans thought of Peele.  It was a critical success, and broke several box-office records. Now the Now Playing hosts Get In on the conversation. Now Playing Patrons can hear their review of the year's most-talked-about horror film.   You can get this review now and help support Now Playing! It is available with all other Patron exclusive reviews on our Podbean page to Patrons pledging $10 or more.

The fourth Phantasm film was shaping up to be major. Written by Pulp Fiction Academy Award Winning writer Roger Avary, the film would be a post-apocalyptic action film starring Bruce Campbell!  But...that's not the film that was made. Unable to find the money for that film, Don Coscarelli and company made a film that didn't go to the future, but instead to the past. Is this The Tall Man's Oblivion? Donate to Now Playing and hear all about the film that was made, and the film that wasn't!

In the early '80s, the dawn of home video, it would be easy to think movies had a lifespan of only four years. But Ridley Scott's creation Blade Runner escaped box-office failure to find its own life. Its imagery still influences artists 35 years after being released, and it's spawned novels, video games, and more. But now this dystopian vision returns to big screens with a sequel: Blade Runner 2049. Harrison Ford returns as Deckard, a man with secrets sought after by a new Blade Runner played by Ryan Gosling.  Can director Denis Villeneuve craft a vision that we'll still be discussing in 2052? Listen to this review to find out!

After Phantasm II the series' theatrical releases came to an end, but that didn't stop The Tall Man's plot. Here in the third Phantasm the cast has grown, the gore is more graphic, and original star A. Michael Baldwin is back. Is the third time the charm for this sci-fi horror series? Donate to Now Playing to find out!

Paul Kersey has lived a peaceful life for years in Los Angeles with his girlfriend, his daughter, and his housekeeper. Yet his tranquil existence will once more be shattered by a group of criminals who will assault his family. Now Paul is back on the streets, stalking the streets of Skid Row, looking for revenge. Does this Death Wish hit as hard as the original? Listen to this episode of Now Playing to find out!

Nine years had passed since Mike's first dream of The Tall Man in 1979's Phantasm. Now, thanks to the seemingly endless appetite of fans for horror franchises, "the ball is back"--with a 10x bigger budget! Under Universal Pictures there was more money, and a new actor as Mike. Does this ball shine greater than the original? Thanks to your donation to Now Playing Podcast you can join Arnie, Stuart, and Jakob to find out!

Three children were all born during the solar eclipse. Does that mean these little sociopaths have no soul? Their birthday wish...is for you to die! That's the plot of Bloody Birthday, a 1981 film "so shocking" it couldn't see wide release until 1986! How does this Birthday surprise stack up against similar-themed slashers? Wish co-host Stuart a happy birthday as we cut into this Patron-selected film!

Fledgling spy Eggsy Unwin (Taron Egerton) barely had time to assume his place as Galahad before chirpy drug czar Poppy Adams (Julianne Moore) reduced the whole Kingsman Round Table to rubble. Now the English gentleman must dust off his suit and accept assistance from newfound American allies Jeff Bridges, Halle Berry, Channing Tatum, and Pedro Pascal.  How many shots of whiskey will it take to ply recommends from Yank hosts Stuart, Arnie, and Jakob?  Their review of this highly anticipated sequel is finally available to listeners who missed the September live-stream podcast!     

Phantasm was a horror hit in 1979, standing out among a slew of Halloween horror trend followers. But Phantasm's success belied its indie production, shot on weekends for a meager $300,000 budget. The film's legacy endures nearly 40 years later with a fifth film recently released. Does this first movie have the balls to still work decades after its release? Donate to keep indie podcast Now Playing going and find out!

In 1974 Charles Bronson made his entry in the self-defense/revenge genre with Death Wish. The film is a gritty look at a New Yorker who is pushed to the breaking point by the city's rampant crime. Based on a novel, is this just another grim exploitation flick, or does it Wish to be something more? Load up with Stuart, Arnie, and Jakob as they begin their series reviewing all the Death Wish films--ending with the Eli Roth/Bruce Willis reboot this November!