Cinema Shock

The stories behind your favorite cult & genre films, and the people who make them.

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192 episodes
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Episodes192

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Jan 24, 2024 · 2 hr 24 min
Cinema Shock Rewind: GAME OF DEATH (1978)
In this Cinema Shock Rewind episode, we're republishing our episode covering Bruce Lee's GAME OF DEATH. The story of Bruce Lee ties in directly to our upcoming episode covering the production of ONCE UPON A TIME IN CHINA, so we're providing a refresher here for new listeners or longtime listeners who may want to revisit it. GAME OF DEATH was originally published in January 2021 as part of our series The Six Degrees of Kill Bill.
Jan 9, 2024 · 1 hr 54 min
POSSESSION (1981) | Cinema Shock Roulette
In this episode, Justin & Gary take a look at Andrzej Żuławski's controversial 1981 cult film POSSESSION! This existential relationship drama (slash body horror?), inspired by the director's own painful divorce, is an acting showcase for its stars, Sam Neill and Isabelle Adjani, and up until the last few years, was almost impossible to find in the US in its original, unedited form. This week, we'll take a detailed look at Żuławski's career in his native Poland, how he was forced to leave his home country by Poland's Communist government, and the circumstances that led to him filming a movie that Time Out called "extreme but essential viewing". Synopsis: A young woman left her family for an unspecified reason. The husband determines to find out the truth and starts following his wife. At first, he suspects that a man is involved. But gradually, he finds out more and more strange behaviors and bizarre incidents that indicate something more than a possessed love affair. Theme Song: "There's Still a Little Bit of Time, If We Hurry and I Mean Hurry" by Slasher Film Festival Strategy. This episode was written, produced and edited by Gary Horne, and Justin Bishop.. For episode archives, merch, show notes, and more, visit cinemashock.net
Dec 23, 2023 · 30 min
THE IRON CLAW with Thrillbilly Silas Mason
Gary and Justin sit down and talk with professional wrestler 'Thrillbilly' Silas Mason about being in the ring with Zac Efron and Jeremy Allen White for A24's new film THE IRON CLAW - In theaters now! Check out this interview and let us know what you think! Should we try to do more interviews? Also let us know if you've seen The Iron Claw yet! You can hit us up on all social media - @cinema_shock Silas currently wrestles for Billy Corgan's (The Smashing Pumpkins) professional wrestling promotion, The National Wrestling Alliance (NWA). Check them out at youtube.com/@nwa and @nwa on all social media. Theme Song: "There's Still a Little Bit of Time, If We Hurry and I Mean Hurry" by Slasher Film Festival Strategy. This episode was written, produced and edited by Gary Horne, and Justin Bishop.. For episode archives, merch, show notes, and more, visit cinemashock.net
Dec 22, 2023 · 48 min
SILENT NIGHT, DEADLY NIGHT PARTS 3-5 | Extras: Further Viewing
Think SILENT NIGHT, DEADLY NIGHT PART 2 was the end of the story? Oh, you sweet summer child. In this bonus episode, we take a quick detour through the rest of the franchise — from the incomprehensible SILENT NIGHT, DEADLY NIGHT PART 3: BETTER WATCH OUT! to the experimental oddity of SILENT NIGHT, DEADLY NIGHT PART 4: INITIATION, and the toy-obsessed weirdness of SILENT NIGHT, DEADLY NIGHT PART 5: THE TOY MAKER starring Mickey Rooney (yes, really). It’s a grab bag of direct-to-video holiday horror, loosely connected by name only — and we’re unwrapping them all. Theme Song: "There's Still a Little Bit of Time, If We Hurry and I Mean Hurry" by Slasher Film Festival Strategy. This episode was written, produced and edited by Gary Horne, and Justin Bishop.. For episode archives, merch, show notes, and more, visit cinemashock.net
Dec 20, 2023 · 1 hr 29 min
SILENT NIGHT, DEADLY NIGHT & PART 2: Killer Santas and Garbage Day Delights | Cinema Shock Roulette
In this holiday-themed installment of Cinema Shock Roulette, we’re decking the halls with blood and sleigh bells as we dive into the yuletide controversy of SILENT NIGHT, DEADLY NIGHT (1984) — the slasher that sparked national outrage and was pulled from theaters after just two weeks. But we don’t stop there. We’re also unwrapping SILENT NIGHT, DEADLY NIGHT PART 2, the low-budget sequel that reused nearly half the footage from the first film — and somehow gave us one of the most memeable moments in cult horror history: “Garbage Day!” From protest picket lines to killer Santas, from Catholic guilt to VHS resurrection, we’re tracing the strange and sleazy legacy of this infamously naughty franchise. Theme Song: "There's Still a Little Bit of Time, If We Hurry and I Mean Hurry" by Slasher Film Festival Strategy. This episode was written, produced and edited by Gary Horne, and Justin Bishop. For episode archives, merch, show notes, and more, visit cinemashock.net
Dec 5, 2023 · 1 hr 31 min
EVENT HORIZON (1997): The Sci-Fi Horror That Went to Hell | Cinema Shock Roulette
What if ALIEN had been directed by Clive Barker? In this episode of Cinema Shock Roulette, we’re diving into EVENT HORIZON, Paul W.S. Anderson’s cult sci-fi horror film that famously crashed and burned at the box office before becoming a late-night classic. We’ll explore the troubled production, including studio interference, a rushed edit, and the now-legendary lost footage. We’ll also dig into the film’s HELLRAISER-inspired depiction of Hell, the incredible set design, and how it ultimately found its audience among horror fans and convention goers years later. Theme Song: "There's Still a Little Bit of Time, If We Hurry and I Mean Hurry" by Slasher Film Festival Strategy. This episode was written, produced and edited by Gary Horne, and Justin Bishop.. For episode archives, merch, show notes, and more, visit cinemashock.net
Nov 21, 2023 · 1 hr 47 min
HEATHERS: The Cult Classic That Killed the Teen Movie | Cinema Shock Roulette
What if John Hughes movies did murder? In this Roulette episode, we dig into Michael Lehmann’s pitch-black 1989 teen satire, HEATHERS — a film that skewered high school cliques, weaponized sarcasm, and launched a thousand “Dear Diary” imitators. We’ll talk about how Daniel Waters’ script turned every studio exec pale, how Winona Ryder risked her rising career to play Veronica, and how a young Christian Slater channeled Jack Nicholson into a performance that’s somehow both magnetic and terrifying. From the film’s rocky road to production to its legacy as a cult classic, this is the story behind the original teenage time bomb. Theme Song: "There's Still a Little Bit of Time, If We Hurry and I Mean Hurry" by Slasher Film Festival Strategy. This episode was written, produced and edited by Gary Horne & Justin Bishop. For episode archives, merch, show notes, and more, visit cinemashock.net
Nov 8, 2023 · 1 hr 49 min
HOUSE (1977): Japan’s Surreal Horror Masterpiece | Cinema Shock Roulette
How do you describe a film like HOUSE? Equal parts haunted house horror, surrealist art film, Looney Tunes cartoon, and experimental cinema, Nobuhiko Obayashi’s HOUSE (HAUSU) is one of the wildest, most unique cult movies ever made. But behind the madness is a fascinating story of how a commercial filmmaker and former ad man channeled the imagination of his 11-year-old daughter into one of the most visually inventive horror films of the 1970s. In this episode of Cinema Shock Roulette, we take a deep dive into the making of HOUSE, exploring how Obayashi defied Japan’s studio system, weaponized pop culture surrealism, and accidentally created one of the most enduring Midnight Movies of all time. Theme Song: "There's Still a Little Bit of Time, If We Hurry and I Mean Hurry" by Slasher Film Festival Strategy. This episode was written, produced and edited by Gary Horne, Justin Bishop, and Todd A. Davis. For episode archives, merch, show notes, and more, visit cinemashock.net
Oct 24, 2023 · 2 hr 9 min
NOSFERATU: The Birth of Cinematic Horror | Cinema Shock Halloween Special
This Halloween, we’re sinking our teeth into one of the most iconic horror films ever made: NOSFERATU (1922). A few weeks ago, we had the honor of co-hosting the very first Cinema Shock live event — a special screening of F.W. Murnau’s silent horror classic, presented alongside our friends at GUTPUNCH. At the event, we scratched the surface of the film’s eerie legacy… but we knew that Nosferatu deserved a proper Cinema Shock deep dive. So in this special episode, we’re tracing the full story behind the creation — and near destruction — of Murnau’s unauthorized Dracula adaptation. From legal battles with Bram Stoker’s widow, to the groundbreaking use of shadows and location shooting, to the lasting impact on vampire cinema, this is the tale of how NOSFERATU rose from the grave to become one of the most influential horror films of all time. Theme Song: "There's Still a Little Bit of Time, If We Hurry and I Mean Hurry" by Slasher Film Festival Strategy. This episode was written, produced and edited by Gary Horne, Justin Bishop, and Todd A. Davis. For episode archives, merch, show notes, and more, visit cinemashock.net
Oct 10, 2023 · 1 hr 55 min
HAIRSPRAY (2007): From Cult Classic to Broadway Legacy | John Waters: Divine Filth
After wrapping up our look at John Waters’ early filmography, we’re back for one final spin around the block — this time with HAIRSPRAY (2007), the glossy, big-budget remake of Waters’ most mainstream hit. Adapted from the Broadway musical (which was itself adapted from the 1988 original), this version of HAIRSPRAY featured an all-star cast, splashy production numbers, and a budget big enough to make Divine spin in her grave. And yet, the film was a box office smash and earned the blessing of the Pope of Trash himself — who even shows up for a cameo. In this epilogue episode, we explore how HAIRSPRAY became a franchise, what this big-screen remake kept (and lost) from Waters’ original vision, and how the once-subversive Baltimore story found its way to the center of mainstream American pop culture. Theme Song: "There's Still a Little Bit of Time, If We Hurry and I Mean Hurry" by Slasher Film Festival Strategy. This episode was written, produced and edited by Gary Horne, Justin Bishop, and Todd A. Davis. For episode archives, merch, show notes, and more, visit cinemashock.net
Sep 26, 2023 · 1 hr 38 min
HAIRSPRAY: John Waters Goes Family-Friendly | John Waters: Divine Filth
By the late 1980s, John Waters was ready for a change. After a decade of shocking audiences with boundary-pushing midnight movies, he set his sights on something a little more… family-friendly. The result was HAIRSPRAY — a pastel-soaked 1960s dance-party satire that retained Waters’ signature weirdness while appealing to a much broader audience. In this episode, we dig into how Waters transitioned from underground cult provocateur to mainstream darling, how a then-unknown Ricki Lake became the face of the film, and how HAIRSPRAY overcame a modest box office performance to become one of the most enduring and beloved films in Waters’ entire filmography — inspiring a Broadway musical and a big-budget Hollywood remake nearly two decades later.
Sep 12, 2023 · 2 hr 21 min
POLYESTER: Odorama, Suburbia, and Waters Goes Mainstream | John Waters: Divine Filth
With POLYESTER, John Waters cleaned up his act — well, sort of. This 1981 melodrama spoof marked a major turning point in Waters’ career: a bigger budget, a suburban setting, and his first taste of (semi-)mainstream success. It was also the first time he cast 1950s teen idol Tab Hunter, a move that shocked audiences and opened doors. In this episode, we explore how POLYESTER emerged from Waters’ desire to move beyond pure shock and into broader satire. We’ll talk about his collaboration with New Line Cinema, his use of William Castle–style gimmickry with the infamous “Odorama” scratch-and-sniff cards, and why POLYESTER might be the most deceptively subversive film of his early career. Theme Song: "There's Still a Little Bit of Time, If We Hurry and I Mean Hurry" by Slasher Film Festival Strategy. This episode was written, produced and edited by Gary Horne, Justin Bishop, and Todd A. Davis. For episode archives, merch, show notes, and more, visit cinemashock.net
Aug 29, 2023 · 2 hr 20 min
DESPERATE LIVING: Waters Goes Full Anarchy | John Waters: Divine Filth
With DESPERATE LIVING, John Waters pushed his vision into wild new territory — a surreal, grotesque fairy tale set in the trash-strewn, totalitarian town of Mortville. Made without Divine for the first and only time in this era, the film instead centers on an unhinged cast of women revolting against a corrupt, fascist queen. In this episode, we explore the chaos and controversy behind the making of DESPERATE LIVING, including the film’s challenging production, its reception in the underground film circuit, and how it further expanded Waters’ mythology of filth and transgression. This is John Waters at his most unrestrained — and unhinged. Theme Song: "There's Still a Little Bit of Time, If We Hurry and I Mean Hurry" by Slasher Film Festival Strategy. This episode was written, produced and edited by Gary Horne, Justin Bishop, and Todd A. Davis. For episode archives, merch, show notes, and more, visit cinemashock.net
Aug 15, 2023 · 2 hr 37 min
FEMALE TROUBLE: Divine Goes on a Crime Spree | John Waters: Divine Filth
After the underground success of PINK FLAMINGOS, John Waters and his Dreamlanders set out to make a film that was just as transgressive — but with a more structured narrative and bigger ambitions. The result was FEMALE TROUBLE, a grotesque satire of fame, beauty, and the American obsession with crime. In this episode, we explore how FEMALE TROUBLE pushed the boundaries of taste even further, casting Divine as a teenage delinquent turned homicidal glamour icon. We dig into the production of the film, how it was received by fans and critics, and how it solidified Waters’ place as the Pope of Trash. Theme Song: "There's Still a Little Bit of Time, If We Hurry and I Mean Hurry" by Slasher Film Festival Strategy. This episode was written, produced and edited by Gary Horne, Justin Bishop, and Todd A. Davis. For episode archives, merch, show notes, and more, visit cinemashock.net
Aug 1, 2023 · 2 hr 41 min
PINK FLAMINGOS: Filth, Fame, and the Ultimate Midnight Movie | John Waters: Divine Filth
In this episode of John Waters: Divine Filth, we’re diving into the depraved, legendary cult classic that made John Waters and Divine underground icons: PINK FLAMINGOS (1972). Shot for just $10,000 on 16mm, PINK FLAMINGOS follows Divine in a grotesque and hilarious battle for the title of “Filthiest Person Alive.” With scenes of chicken sex, foot licking, public indecency, and a now-infamous final act that still repulses audiences, it quickly became a film that viewers had to dare their friends to sit through. But what really turned PINK FLAMINGOS into a phenomenon was the midnight movie circuit. After a disastrous daytime premiere, the film found its true audience in the middle of the night—where its transgressions were greeted with laughter, cheers, and sometimes walkouts. It ran for years at New York’s Elgin Theater, earning its place alongside El Topo, The Harder They Come, and The Rocky Horror Picture Show as one of the foundational films of the midnight movie movement. In this episode, we explore how John Waters turned his underground vision into a national scandal, how Divine became a drag icon, and how PINK FLAMINGOS helped launch a whole new era of transgressive cult cinema. Theme Song: "There's Still a Little Bit of Time, If We Hurry and I Mean Hurry" by Slasher Film Festival Strategy. This episode was written, produced and edited by Gary Horne, Justin Bishop, and Todd A. Davis. For episode archives, merch, show notes, and more, visit cinemashock.net
Jul 18, 2023 · 2 hr 24 min
MULTIPLE MANIACS: The Birth of Trash Cinema | John Waters: Divine Filth
"One must remember that there is such a thing as good bad taste and bad bad taste." — John Waters The filth hits the fan in the very first entry of our new series John Waters: Divine Filth, as we dive headfirst into the gloriously blasphemous chaos of MULTIPLE MANIACS (1970). Filmed on a shoestring budget with Waters’ early Dreamland crew, MULTIPLE MANIACS is a black-and-white barrage of bad taste — featuring Divine, a traveling sideshow of depravity, a giant lobster named Lobstora, and a certain unspeakable act involving a rosary. In this episode, we explore how Waters transitioned from underground Super 8 provocateur to cult cinema legend, how MULTIPLE MANIACS built on the DIY ethos of Baltimore’s art freak scene, and how Divine fully embraced her emerging status as the filthiest star alive. It’s a film that’s confrontational, hilarious, and shockingly personal — and it set the stage for everything that would follow in Waters’ career. Theme Song: "There's Still a Little Bit of Time, If We Hurry and I Mean Hurry" by Slasher Film Festival Strategy. This episode was written, produced and edited by Gary Horne, Justin Bishop, and Todd A. Davis. For episode archives, merch, show notes, and more, visit cinemashock.net
Jul 4, 2023 · 2 hr 18 min
THE STEPFATHER: Behind the Mask of 1980s Horror | Cinema Shock Roulette
He seems like the perfect husband. The ideal father. But behind that neatly trimmed mustache and suburban charm… is a body count. In this Cinema Shock Roulette episode, we’re digging into the underrated 1987 psychological slasher THE STEPFATHER, starring the terrifyingly good Terry O’Quinn as a man obsessed with building the “perfect” family — no matter how many lives he has to destroy along the way. We’ll explore the real-life crime that inspired the film, how it emerged as a sleeper hit amid a sea of 1980s horror, and why O’Quinn’s chilling performance helped the movie achieve cult status. Plus: how this sharp, satirical horror gem fits into the era’s wave of domestic thrillers. Theme Song: "There's Still a Little Bit of Time, If We Hurry and I Mean Hurry" by Slasher Film Festival Strategy. This episode was written, produced and edited by Gary Horne, Justin Bishop, and Todd A. Davis. For episode archives, merch, show notes, and more, visit cinemashock.net
Jun 20, 2023 · 2 hr 28 min
SPIDER-MAN 3: The Sequel That Broke Raimi | Sam Raimi’s Spider-Man Trilogy
After the massive success of SPIDER-MAN 2, all eyes were on Sam Raimi to deliver an even bigger third chapter. But SPIDER-MAN 3 ended up becoming one of the most divisive superhero films of its era. In this episode, we unpack how SPIDER-MAN 3 spiraled into creative conflict — from studio-mandated villains to an overstuffed narrative that left even Raimi unsatisfied. We’ll trace the production struggles, explore the backlash, and examine how the fallout derailed plans for SPIDER-MAN 4 and pushed Raimi away from the franchise altogether. Love it or loathe it, SPIDER-MAN 3 is a crucial chapter in the evolution of superhero cinema — and one that reshaped Sam Raimi’s career. Theme Song: "There's Still a Little Bit of Time, If We Hurry and I Mean Hurry" by Slasher Film Festival Strategy. This episode was written, produced and edited by Gary Horne, Justin Bishop, and Todd A. Davis. For episode archives, merch, show notes, and more, visit cinemashock.net
Jun 6, 2023 · 2 hr 14 min
SPIDER-MAN 2: The Superior Sequel | Sam Raimi’s Spider-Man Trilogy
After the massive success of SPIDER-MAN, expectations for a sequel were sky-high — and somehow, SPIDER-MAN 2managed to soar even higher. In this episode, we dive into the making of what many fans and critics still consider one of the greatest superhero films ever made. We’ll cover the behind-the-scenes drama that almost kept Tobey Maguire from returning, the casting of Alfred Molina as Doc Ock, and how Raimi balanced action, emotion, and slapstick horror to create a sequel that improved on the original in nearly every way. We’ll also explore the evolution of Peter Parker as a character, the film’s now-iconic train fight sequence, and how SPIDER-MAN 2 helped solidify the modern superhero movie as both art and commerce. Theme Song: "There's Still a Little Bit of Time, If We Hurry and I Mean Hurry" by Slasher Film Festival Strategy. This episode was written, produced and edited by Gary Horne, Justin Bishop, and Todd A. Davis. For episode archives, merch, show notes, and more, visit cinemashock.net
May 23, 2023 · 3 hr 20 min
SPIDER-MAN: The Birth of the Modern Superhero Movie | Sam Raimi’s Spider-Man Trilogy
After decades of false starts, rights battles, and abandoned scripts, SPIDER-MAN finally swung into theaters in 2002 — and changed the superhero genre forever. In this episode, we continue our series on Sam Raimi’s Spider-Man Trilogy by tracing the production of the first film in the series, from how Raimi landed the job (despite not being the studio’s first choice), to casting Tobey Maguire, and how the filmmakers balanced comic-book spectacle with real emotional depth. We’ll also explore the film’s groundbreaking visual effects, its post-9/11 marketing challenges, and the massive cultural impact that made SPIDER-MAN one of the defining blockbusters of the 2000s. Theme Song: "There's Still a Little Bit of Time, If We Hurry and I Mean Hurry" by Slasher Film Festival Strategy. This episode was written, produced and edited by Gary Horne, Justin Bishop, and Todd A. Davis.