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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Aug 16, 2022 · 1 hr 32 min
TITANIC Pt 1: Building the Unsinkable Ship | James Cameron: Man of Tomorrow
In Part 1 of our deep dive into TITANIC, we look at how James Cameron went from being Hollywood’s reigning king of sci-fi to convincing Fox to bankroll a historical romance set aboard a doomed luxury liner. We’ll explore Cameron’s early fascination with shipwrecks, the pitch that sold the studio (“Romeo and Juliet on a boat”), and the massive production that would balloon into one of the most expensive films ever made. From deep-sea dives to full-scale ship sets, from casting decisions to early red flags — this episode covers the inception and pre-production of TITANIC, as well as the chaotic first half of its shoot. 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 and more, visit www.cinemashock.net.
Aug 2, 2022 · 2 hr 33 min
TRUE LIES: Spies, Stunts, and Cameron’s Big Swing | James Cameron: Man of Tomorrow
After TERMINATOR 2 became the biggest hit of James Cameron's career — and the third highest grossing movie of all time — the director felt like he needed a change of direction. Maybe a small character-based drama? Well, that didn't work out. His next film would end up being a pseudo-remake of a French comedy called LA TOTALE! that he was introduced to by his friend Arnold Schwarzenegger. Their version of the story — which they called TRUE LIES — would be Cameron's first foray into comedy, but he didn't abandon his action movie roots, using his biggest budget yet to craft some of the most ambitious action set pieces of his career. In this episode, we trace the film's production, from concept to release and reception, and we dive into the film's legacy, including a lot of the controversy that still surrounds the film to this day. Next Episode: TITANIC. 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. Episode archives, merchandise & more: cinemashock.net
Jul 19, 2022 · 3 hr 8 min
TERMINATOR 2: The Sequel That Shattered Expectations | James Cameron: Man of Tomorrow
After the modestly budgeted success of THE TERMINATOR, James Cameron spent the next few years proving himself as one of the most visionary directors in Hollywood. But when he finally returned to the franchise that launched his career, he didn’t just make another sci-fi action film — he redefined what a blockbuster could be. In this episode, we dive deep into the making of TERMINATOR 2: JUDGMENT DAY — from its record-breaking budget and revolutionary visual effects to Arnold Schwarzenegger’s return as a reprogrammed killing machine. We’ll also explore how Cameron transformed the genre, how Linda Hamilton delivered one of the most iconic performances of her career, and how the film forever changed the summer movie landscape. 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, merchandise & more, please visit cinemashock.net
Jul 5, 2022 · 2 hr 30 min
THE ABYSS: Cameron's Deep Sea Obsession Begins | James Cameron: Man of Tomorrow
After conquering the box office with ALIENS, James Cameron turned his attention to an original idea—an underwater science fiction adventure inspired by his childhood fascination with the deep sea. But making THE ABYSS would prove to be anything but smooth sailing. In this episode, we explore the turbulent production of THE ABYSS, a film that tested the limits of filmmaking technology—and the patience of everyone involved. We’ll cover how Cameron’s obsession with realism led to one of the most grueling shoots in Hollywood history, how the film’s groundbreaking digital effects changed the game, and why its release left both audiences and critics divided. From cast mutinies to leaky sets, THE ABYSS nearly sank under its own weight—but it also set the stage for Cameron’s next decade of innovation and dominance. 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.
Jun 21, 2022 · 2 hr 37 min
ALIENS: The Sequel That Changed the Game | James Cameron: Man of Tomorrow
After the surprise success of THE TERMINATOR, James Cameron was suddenly a hot commodity in Hollywood. While prepping his next project, THE ABYSS, Cameron took a detour into sequel territory—and not just any sequel, but a follow-up to one of the most beloved science fiction horror films of all time. In this episode, we’re diving deep into the creation of ALIENS, the 1986 action-horror juggernaut that cemented Cameron’s reputation as one of Hollywood’s top genre filmmakers. We’ll explore how Cameron landed the job, how he transformed Ridley Scott’s slow-burn horror into a full-blown combat film, and how Sigourney Weaver’s iconic performance as Ripley helped redefine what an action hero could look like. 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. Find more at cinemashock.net.
Jun 7, 2022 · 3 hr 20 min
THE TERMINATOR: Arnold Schwarzenegger’s Killer Breakthrough | James Cameron: Man of Tomorrow
Before he became the king of the world with TITANIC and broke box office records with AVATAR, James Cameron was just a former truck driver with a fever dream about a killer robot from the future. In this episode, we’re kicking off our new series James Cameron: Man of Tomorrow with the 1984 film that put him on the map: THE TERMINATOR. We’ll trace the story’s origins in a nightmare during Cameron’s fever-ridden trip to Rome, his early years working with Roger Corman, and how he clawed his way into the director’s chair. Plus, we’ll explore how THE TERMINATOR almost didn’t happen, the behind-the-scenes chaos, and how a scrappy low-budget sci-fi film became one of the most influential action 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. Find more at cinemashock.net.
May 24, 2022 · 1 hr 52 min
LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS: Frank Oz’s Cult Musical Misfit | Cinema Shock Roulette
For this entry in our Cinema Shock Roulette series, we’re digging into one of the weirdest cult musicals to ever sprout up in mainstream Hollywood: LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS. We’ll explore the origins of the story — from its roots as a Roger Corman B-movie, to the off-Broadway musical adaptation, and finally to Frank Oz’s lavish 1986 film version. Along the way, we’ll examine how this bizarre tale of a man-eating plant got greenlit by a major studio, how the jaw-dropping puppetry brought Audrey II to life, and how the film’s original ending proved to be way too dark for test audiences. It’s a tale of practical effects wizardry, showstopping songs, and one of the biggest compromises in cult film history. 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, & Todd Davis. Visit our website for episode archives, merchandise, and more: http://cinemashock.net
May 3, 2022 · 2 hr 28 min
THE FLY: Be Afraid. Be Very Afraid. | David Cronenberg: The New Flesh
With 1986’s THE FLY, David Cronenberg achieved something rare: a brutal, grotesque body horror film that was also a deeply emotional, tragic love story. A remake in name only of the 1958 sci-fi classic, THE FLY stars Jeff Goldblum as eccentric scientist Seth Brundle, whose teleportation experiments go horribly wrong. What follows is a horrifying — and oddly beautiful — descent into mutation, madness, and mortality. In this episode, we explore how Cronenberg came to the project, the groundbreaking effects that brought Brundlefly to life, and how this film became both a commercial hit and an enduring genre classic. Plus: Geena Davis, maggot birth nightmares, and the Oscar-winning makeup that still holds up today. 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, & Todd Davis. Visit our website for episode archives, merchandise, and more: http://cinemashock.net
Apr 19, 2022 · 2 hr 10 min
THE DEAD ZONE: Cronenberg Meets King | David Cronenberg: The New Flesh
After the hallucinatory violence of VIDEODROME, David Cronenberg took a sharp turn into more restrained territory with THE DEAD ZONE, a 1983 adaptation of Stephen King’s best-selling novel. Starring Christopher Walken as Johnny Smith — a schoolteacher who awakens from a coma with psychic abilities — THE DEAD ZONE trades visceral body horror for emotional devastation, political paranoia, and questions of fate, morality, and personal sacrifice. In this episode, we dive into how Cronenberg came to direct the project, the film’s stellar cast and evocative tone, and how it stands apart in both Cronenberg’s and King’s cinematic canons. Plus: how THE DEAD ZONE quietly helped shape the prestige horror boom we see today. ----more---- 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, & Todd Davis. Visit our website for episode archives, merchandise, and more: http://cinemashock.net
Apr 5, 2022 · 1 hr 52 min
VIDEODROME: Long Live the New Flesh | David Cronenberg: The New Flesh
With VIDEODROME, David Cronenberg pushed his signature blend of body horror and cerebral sci-fi to new heights. Released in 1983, the film stars James Woods as Max Renn, a sleazy cable-TV exec who stumbles onto a pirated broadcast called “Videodrome” — and promptly begins to lose his grip on reality. A nightmarish meditation on technology, surveillance, sex, and media addiction, VIDEODROME was dismissed by many critics upon release, but has since been re-evaluated as one of Cronenberg’s most prophetic and iconic films. In this episode, we explore the film’s wild production history, the groundbreaking special effects work by Rick Baker, and the evolving legacy of a movie that predicted the age of screen obsession, viral content, and reality distortion. Up Next: THE DEAD ZONE (1983) THE FLY (1986) Coming Soon: The films of James Cameron 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, & Todd Davis. Visit our website for episode archives, merchandise, and more: http://cinemashock.net
Mar 22, 2022 · 1 hr 54 min
SCANNERS: The Head Explosion Heard ’Round the World | David Cronenberg: The New Flesh
After the deeply personal horror of THE BROOD, David Cronenberg returned with a more commercial effort — and a bigger budget — in what would become his breakout film: SCANNERS. Released in 1981, SCANNERS blends science fiction, espionage, and psychic body horror into a film that’s perhaps best remembered for one legendary moment of practical effects: the infamous exploding head. But there’s more to this movie than just gore. In this episode, we’ll trace the film’s chaotic production, how Cronenberg had to begin shooting without a finished script, and how SCANNERS helped elevate his status as an international cult filmmaker. 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, & Todd Davis. Visit our website for episode archives, merchandise, and more: http://cinemashock.net
Mar 8, 2022 · 1 hr 32 min
THE BROOD: Birth of Rage | David Cronenberg: The New Flesh
After two successful low-budget horror films, David Cronenberg was suddenly one of Canada’s most bankable directors. But rather than immediately dive into another body horror spectacle, he took a detour with FAST COMPANY, a drag racing drama that would ultimately serve as a stepping stone to one of his most acclaimed early films: THE BROOD. Released in 1979, THE BROOD is widely considered to be Cronenberg’s first masterpiece — and his most personal film. Written during and inspired by his contentious divorce and custody battle, the film is a raw, angry piece of psychodrama dressed up in monster movie clothing. In this episode, we’ll explore how THE BROOD was financed during Canada’s short-lived “tax shelter era,” why critics accused Cronenberg of misogyny, and how the film’s nightmarish depiction of rage and repression helped cement his reputation as a provocateur of psychological horror. 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, & Todd Davis. Visit our website for episode archives, merchandise, and more: http://cinemashock.net
Feb 22, 2022 · 1 hr 29 min
RABID: Marilyn Chambers in Cronenberg’s Contagious Classic | David Cronenberg: The New Flesh
In the second episode of our series David Cronenberg: The New Flesh, we continue exploring the director’s early years with 1977’s RABID—a film that pushed the boundaries of body horror even further than its predecessor. Starring adult film icon Marilyn Chambers in her first major mainstream role, RABID tells the story of a woman who undergoes radical surgery after a motorcycle accident… and wakes up with a strange, phallic stinger under her arm that turns her into a literal carrier of disease and death. In this episode, we’ll dive into how Cronenberg followed up the controversy of SHIVERS, why Chambers was cast, and how RABID reflected his growing fascination with transformation, contagion, and the politics of the body. We’ll also explore the film’s production and release through the lens of Canada’s tax shelter era, and how RABID cemented Cronenberg’s place as a rising provocateur in horror 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, & Todd Davis. Visit our website for episode archives, merchandise, and more: http://cinemashock.net
Feb 8, 2022 · 2 hr 4 min
SHIVERS: The Birth of the New Flesh | David Cronenberg: The New Flesh
Our latest Cinema Shock series, David Cronenberg: The New Flesh, takes a deep dive into the early films of the Canadian auteur that helped define the genre of body horror. We begin with 1975’s SHIVERS, Cronenberg’s first commercial feature and a landmark in Canadian cinema. A film about a parasitic STD that turns a luxury high-rise into a sex-crazed nightmare, SHIVERS shocked audiences and critics alike—earning both condemnation in Parliament and instant cult status. In this episode, we trace Cronenberg’s origins in the Toronto underground film scene, the controversial government funding that helped launch his career, and how SHIVERS established the obsessions—flesh, disease, transformation—that would define his work for decades to come. We also explore the film’s production history, its reception, and the legacy it left in its wake—both for Cronenberg and for Canadian genre cinema as a whole. BUY OUR MERCH: http://cinemashock.threadless.com Coming Up: RABID (1977) THE BROOD (1979) SCANNERS (1981) VIDEODROME (1983) THE DEAD ZONE (1983) THE FLY (1986) 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, & Todd Davis. Visit our website for episode archives, blogs and more: http://cinemashock.net Follow us: twitter.com/cinema_shock facebook.com/cinemashocknet instagram.com/cinema_shock
Jan 25, 2022 · 1 hr 39 min
BATTLE ROYALE: Kinji Fukasaku’s Ultraviolent Cult Classic | Cinema Shock Roulette I
Our first pick in the new Cinema Shock Roulette series is a movie that needs no introduction—but it’s getting one anyway. Released in 2000, Kinji Fukasaku’s BATTLE ROYALE shocked audiences with its graphic depiction of schoolchildren forced into a government-run deathmatch. Based on the controversial novel by Koushun Takami, the film was instantly polarizing—banned in multiple countries, attacked by politicians, and impossible to ignore. In this episode, we trace the film’s journey from pulp novel to cultural lightning rod. We dive into the production, the Japanese censorship debate, the political context that made the film so dangerous, and how BATTLE ROYALE became a global cult phenomenon that still resonates today. And yes, we’ll talk about THE HUNGER GAMES comparisons, too. 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, & Todd Davis. Visit our website for episode archives, merchandise & more: http://cinemashock.net
Jan 11, 2022 · 1 hr 46 min
THE MATRIX RESURRECTIONS: How Lana Wachowski Rewrote the Code One Last Time | The Wachowskis' Cinema of Fluidity
As we reach the end of our journey through the filmography of Lana and Lilly Wachowski, we return to the world that made them household names—only this time, it’s a little different. Released nearly two decades after the original trilogy, THE MATRIX RESURRECTIONS was helmed by Lana Wachowski alone, marking the first solo directorial effort by either sibling. The result? A film that’s not just a sequel, but a reflection on legacy, grief, identity, and storytelling itself. In this final episode of The Wachowskis' Cinema of Fluidity, we explore how this fourth MATRIX film came to be—from the personal tragedy that inspired Lana’s return to the franchise, to Lilly’s decision to step away from it entirely. We also dig into the casting changes, creative choices, and meta-commentary that define RESURRECTIONS—and where it fits in the Wachowski canon. BUY OUR MERCH: http://cinemashock.threadless.com Coming Up: BATTLE ROYALE (2000) Up next: Long Live the New Flesh: The Body Horror of David Cronenberg 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, & Todd Davis. Visit our website for episode archives, blogs and more: http://cinemashock.net Follow us: twitter.com/cinema_shock facebook.com/cinemashocknet instagram.com/cinema_shock
Jan 6, 2022 · 1 hr 14 min
SENSE8: The Wachowskis’ Global, Queer, Sci-Fi Masterwork | The Wachowskis' Cinema of Fluidity
Throughout this series, we've explored the films of Lana and Lilly Wachowski—but we couldn't ignore the one project that might be the purest expression of their creative voice: the Netflix original series SENSE8. Originally intended as a quick sidebar in our upcoming MATRIX RESURRECTIONS episode, our conversation about SENSE8 quickly outgrew those confines. It’s more than just a side note in their career—it’s the culmination of their ideas about identity, interconnectedness, gender, and love. And frankly, it deserves its own damn episode. In this bonus installment, we dig into the creation of SENSE8, from its unprecedented global production to the ways it reflects and expands on the Wachowskis’ core themes. We also talk about its cancellation, the fan-led push for closure, and why the series resonates so deeply with audiences around the world. 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, & Todd Davis. Visit our website for episode archives, blogs and more: http://cinemashock.net Follow us: twitter.com/cinema_shock facebook.com/cinemashocknet instagram.com/cinema_shock
Dec 16, 2021 · 1 hr 36 min
JUPITER ASCENDING: The Wachowskis’ Space Opera Flop—or Secret Masterpiece? | The Wachowskis' Cinema of Fluidity
In the penultimate episode of our Wachowski retrospective, we take on the wildest and most maligned film in their catalog: JUPITER ASCENDING. Released in 2015, the film was intended to launch a new sci-fi franchise for Warner Bros.—a space opera that might do for the 2010s what THE MATRIX did for the turn of the millennium. Instead, it became the Wachowskis’ biggest critical and commercial failure, bewildering audiences with its dense mythology, eccentric performances, and over-the-top worldbuilding. But does it deserve its reputation as a punchline? In this episode, we trace the film’s creation and marketing struggles, explore its ambitious ideas (and baffling execution), and debate whether JUPITER ASCENDING is a misunderstood gem or simply a misfire. Either way, it marked the end of an era—their last theatrical feature before shifting to television and, eventually, one last return to the world of THE MATRIX. BUY OUR MERCH: http://cinemashock.threadless.com Coming Up: THE MATRIX RESURRECTIONS (2021) Up next: Long Live the New Flesh: The Body Horror of David Cronenberg 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, & Todd Davis. Visit our website for episode archives, blogs and more: http://cinemashock.net Follow us: twitter.com/cinema_shock facebook.com/cinemashocknet instagram.com/cinema_shock
Dec 2, 2021 · 2 hr 3 min
CLOUD ATLAS: The Wachowskis’ Ambitious, Divisive Epic | The Wachowskis' Cinema of Fluidity
If there's one constant in the careers of Lana and Lilly Wachowski, it's that their work tends to split audiences down the middle. And few of their films illustrate that better than CLOUD ATLAS. Released in 2012 and co-directed with Tom Tykwer, CLOUD ATLAS was called everything from a transcendent masterpiece to an overindulgent mess. But one thing’s certain—it was a passion project, powered into existence almost entirely by the determination of its filmmakers. In this episode, we track CLOUD ATLAS from its origins as a novel by David Mitchell through the Wachowskis’ years-long struggle to get the film made. We explore how they balanced six storylines across centuries, collaborated with Tykwer’s directing team, and created one of the most expensive independent films of all time. And we dig into how it fits thematically into the Wachowskis' body of work—touching on identity, transformation, and the interconnectedness of all things. 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, & Todd Davis. Visit our website for episode archives, blogs and more: http://cinemashock.net Follow us: twitter.com/cinema_shock facebook.com/cinemashocknet instagram.com/cinema_shock
Nov 18, 2021 · 1 hr 49 min
SPEED RACER: The Wachowskis’ Candy-Colored Cult Classic | The Wachowskis' Cinema of Fluidity
After the completion of the MATRIX trilogy, the Wachowskis took a short break from directing to write and produce V FOR VENDETTA for James McTeigue, but it wouldn't be long before they were back directing again, for their much-anticipated follow-up to their groundbreaking franchise. Their choice for a follow-up was a surprising one. In 2008, the Lana and Lilly Wachowskis released SPEED RACER, a kid-friendly live action adaptation of a 1960s Japanese cartoon. The results were divisive and the film received poor reviews and was a financial failure at the box office. But in the years since its release, SPEED RACER has garnered a significant cult following and is often called the Wachowskis most underrated and misunderstood film. In this episode, we'll track the long journey that the property took to the big screen, how the Wachowskis got involved, and how they created the film's unique visual look. BUY OUR MERCH: http://cinemashock.threadless.com Coming Up: CLOUD ATLAS (2012) JUPITER ASCENDING (2015) THE MATRIX RESURRECTIONS (2021) 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, & Todd Davis. Visit our website for episode archives and more: http://cinemashock.net Follow us: twitter.com/cinema_shock facebook.com/cinemashocknet instagram.com/cinema_shock