The Last Video Store

The Betoota Advocate & Alexei

The Betoota Advocate presents a chat show about the films you love. Join the movie maestro Alexei Toliopoulos in ‘The Last Video Store’ - located in the outback town of Betoota. Its a special hub of culture and memories with every single movie ever made lining its infinite shelves. Alexei talks with a guest about their most cherished cinematic selections, before he sends them of with a bespoke film recommendation based on their taste.

The rental combo is:
1 x New Release
2 x Weeklies
1 x Staff Pick

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20 episodes
Updated Thursday

Episodes20

Newest first

Thursday · 50 min
Demi Adejuyigbe Loved Aussie Classic LOOKING FOR ALIBRANDI and is Electrified By GREASE
Movie lover and Dropout favourite Demi Adejuyigbe returns to The Last Video Store to pick two more films he loves. Plus, he reveals whether he enjoyed Alexei’s recommendation of his favourite movie Looking For Alibrandi (I guess the title kind of gives that away). Make sure you see Demi’s show Demi Adejuyigbe Sells Out if you’re at Edinburgh Fringe! Buy tickets for Demi’s Edinburgh Fringe show here: https://www.edfringe.com/tickets/whats-on/demi-adejuyigbe-sells-out See Demi’s special ‘Demi Adejuyigbe: Is Going to Do One (1) Backflip’ here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r8W2Y_L-tRU Hit up the Last Video Store on instagram (https://www.instagram.com/lastvideostorebetoota/) for all of our guests picks
July 23 · 1 hr 10 min
Is THE ODYSSEY Christopher Nolan’s Best Film? With Justin Hamilton
Alexei joined Justin Hamilton on his podcast (The Justin Hamilton Podcast) to share their first impressions and initial readings of Christopher Nolan’s THE ODYSSEY. Follow the Justin Hamilton Podcast on SPOTIFY (https://open.spotify.com/show/4MXRpecZi22oLacpZ8hunf?si=a27ba453d10e4e8e&nd=1&dlsi=91436d56b3824a6c) or APPLE (https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/the-justin-hamilton-podcast/id1484150705) Hit up the Last Video Store on instagram (https://www.instagram.com/lastvideostorebetoota/) for all of our guests picks
July 15 · 1 hr 4 min
AUNTY DONNA’s Mark Bonanno Returns As THE SHADOWMAN
The Shadowman's Nightmare is many things: It’s Mark Bonanno’s solo project in the truest sense, it’s an homage to VHS horror boardgames, and it’s a spectacular interactive experience. We talk through how Mark made it and pick up some of the strangest cult oddities from the shelves of the Last Video Store. Hit up the Last Video Store on instagram (https://www.instagram.com/lastvideostorebetoota/) for all of our guests picks See Alexei’s solo show VHS at Comedy Republic (https://www.comedyrepublic.com.au/event/38:578/)
July 8 · 50 min
MIKE CHECK IS BACK - NEW EPISODES OF MIKE CHECK with Cameron James and Alexei Toliopoulos
The only podcast on the internet about MIKE MYERS returns. Cameron James and Alexei Toliopoulos return to check in on Mike Myers after many years. Like sleeper agents that have just been awoken because Mike is very much back and declaring there’s an Austin Powers 4. Subscribe to the SPOTIFY (https://open.spotify.com/show/3ENztcN5ZUzAOoyZ9ue4pN) and/or APPLE PODS (https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/mike-check-with-cameron-james-alexei-toliopoulos/id1148866543)feeds of Mike Check See Alexei’s solo show VHS at Comedy Republic (https://www.comedyrepublic.com.au/event/38:578/)
July 1 · 45 min
Kleber Mendonça Filho, the director of THE SECRET AGENT
Earlier this year, Kleber Mendonça Filho’s film THE SECRET AGENT garnered 4 Academy Award nominations (Best Picture, Best International Film, Best Actor and Best Casting) and won 2 Golden Globes (Best International Film and Best Actor). He’s a true cinephile and has long been a dream guest to have in the Last Video Store, so it was a pleasure to have him stop by and talk through his favourite films with Alexei Toliopoulos while he was in town for the Sydney Film Festival. See Alexei’s solo show VHS at Comedy Republic (https://www.comedyrepublic.com.au/event/38:578/) Follow ALEXEI TOLIOPOULOS on Letterboxd (https://letterboxd.com/thisisalexei/) for all the rental combo lists Hit up the Last Video Store on instagram (https://www.instagram.com/lastvideostorebetoota/) for all of our guests picks
June 24 · 1 hr 17 min
The Steven Spielberg Top 8 (from Total Reboot)
Celebrating Disclosure Day with a re-release of a classic Total Reboot Special Feature where Alexei and Cameron James discuss the top 8 films of Steven Spielberg's filmography (and assign each one to a different American Holiday). See Alexei’s solo show VHS at Comedy Republic (https://www.comedyrepublic.com.au/event/38:578/) Follow ALEXEI TOLIOPOULOS on Letterboxd (https://letterboxd.com/thisisalexei/) for all the rental combo lists Hit up the Last Video Store on instagram (https://www.instagram.com/lastvideostorebetoota/) for all of our guests picks
June 17 · 48 min
LEVITICUS is your next horror obsession with director Adrian Chiarella
Fresh of the premiere of his brilliant horror film LEVITICUS, Director Adrian Chiarella joins Alexei in the Last Video Store. It’s as sensual and emotional as it is scary… and LEVITICUS is very scary. In a small Australian town, two teenage boys must escape a violent entity that takes the form of the person they desire most — each other. See it in cinemas now. See Alexei’s solo show VHS at Comedy Republic (https://www.comedyrepublic.com.au/event/38:578/) Follow ALEXEI TOLIOPOULOS on Letterboxd (https://letterboxd.com/thisisalexei/) for all the rental combo lists Hit up the Last Video Store on instagram (https://www.instagram.com/lastvideostorebetoota/) for all of our guests picks
June 10 · 1 hr 15 min
The 6 Greatest Film Trailers of All Time with Justin Hamilton
From THE JUSTIN HAMILTON PODCAST, Alexei was tasked by Justin to think about his favourite trailers to movies (whether the film is good or not is irrelevant, this is all about the trailers). So they sat down together on Justin’s podcast to talk all about them. Make sure you check out more of Alexei’s appearances on The Justin Hamilton Podcast (https://open.spotify.com/show/4MXRpecZi22oLacpZ8hunf) See Alexei’s show with Zachary Ruane REFUSED CLASSIFICATION at SFF (https://www.sff.org.au/program/event/refused-classification/) See Alexei’s solo show VHS at Comedy Republic (https://www.comedyrepublic.com.au/event/38:578/) Follow ALEXEI TOLIOPOULOS on Letterboxd (https://letterboxd.com/thisisalexei/) for all the rental combo lists Hit up the Last Video Store on instagram (https://www.instagram.com/lastvideostorebetoota/) for all of our guests picks
June 3 · 1 hr 12 min
A STAR WARS EPISODE with Luka Muller & Angus Truskett
3 Star Wars super tragics join forces to talk about all things Grogu and all things The Mandalorian and Grogu. Luke Muller (Triple J) and Angus Truskett (Test Pattern) join Alexei to talk through the latest film from A Galaxy Far Far Away and pick out their favourite Glup Shitto. See Alexei’s show with Zachary Ruane REFUSED CLASSIFICATION at SFF (https://www.sff.org.au/program/event/refused-classification/) Follow ALEXEI TOLIOPOULOS on Letterboxd (https://letterboxd.com/thisisalexei/) for all the rental combo lists Hit up the Last Video Store on instagram (https://www.instagram.com/lastvideostorebetoota/) for all of our guests picks
May 28 · 46 min
The Lost Episode: Josh Szeps loves ANNIE HALL and THE SIXTH SENSE
At the end of 2024, Alexei was joined at The Last Video Store by podcaster, journalist and commentator Josh Szeps. However, we though we lost it soon after. The video remains a mystery but we recovered the audio, and it was such a great chat we had to release it to the world! Josh is a true film lover, and you can listen to his podcast Uncomfortable Conversations on YouTube and wherever you get your podcasts. Sorry about the wait, Josh! Join Alexei & Cameron James presenting David Byrne’s TRUE STORIES at the Sydney Opera House Saturday Film Club (https://www.sydneyoperahouse.com/vivid-live/saturday-film-club-true-stories) Follow ALEXEI TOLIOPOULOS on Letterboxd (https://letterboxd.com/thisisalexei/) for all the rental combo lists. Hit up the Last Video Store on instagram (https://www.instagram.com/lastvideostorebetoota/) for all of our guests picks
May 20 · 39 min
Genesis Owusu loves EDDINGTON, PERFECT BLUE, and an Adam Sandler film
This week a dream guest, Genesis Owusu, joins Alexei in the video store, and he has incredible taste in films! From a Japanese cult classic, to the latest Ari Aster, and even an even an Adam Sandler flick. Plus, he tells us about the surreal time he met Joaquin Phoenix. Genesis is currently on tour, and his album REDSTAR WU & THE WORLDWIDE SCOURGE is out now: https://www.genesisowusu.com/ Pick up tickets to Alexei’s comedy festival tour of his new show VHS in 2026 (https://comedy.com.au/tour/alexei-toliopoulos/) Join Alexei & Cameron James presenting David Byrne’s TRUE STORIES at the Sydney Opera House Saturday Film Club (https://www.sydneyoperahouse.com/vivid-live/saturday-film-club-true-stories) Follow ALEXEI TOLIOPOULOS on Letterboxd (https://letterboxd.com/thisisalexei/) for all the rental combo lists. Hit up the Last Video Store on instagram (https://www.instagram.com/lastvideostorebetoota/) for all of our guests picks
May 13 · 1 hr 29 min
Introducing: GOING ROGUE w. Tansy Gardam
Alexei makes a cameo on the new season of the tremendous popular culture investigation podcast GOING ROGUE. Follow GOING ROGUE on SPOTIFY (https://open.spotify.com/show/2ktZYfjxF5PwG44UC0HPvK) or APPLE (https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/going-rogue/id1636196453) A podcast about the film industry that looks at both the films, and the industry. The show covers the writing, shooting, editing and reshooting of troubled films and tries to not only find out what happened, but why, sometimes in a single episode, sometimes over an entire season. Hosted by film writer Tansy Gardam, Going Rogue is all about the context and complications of making movies, and the often wild reasons that films are... like that. Pick up tickets to Alexei’s comedy festival tour of his new show VHS in 2026 (https://comedy.com.au/tour/alexei-toliopoulos/) Join Alexei & Cameron James presenting David Byrne’s TRUE STORIES at the Sydney Opera House Saturday Film Club (https://www.sydneyoperahouse.com/vivid-live/saturday-film-club-true-stories) Follow ALEXEI TOLIOPOULOS on Letterboxd (https://letterboxd.com/thisisalexei/) for all the rental combo lists. Hit up the Last Video Store on instagram (https://www.instagram.com/lastvideostorebetoota/) for all of our guests picks
May 6 · 44 min
MORTAL KOMBAT II director Simon McQuoid and the aesthetic of action
A tournament of fatalities is how you’d have to describe the new action sequel MORTAL KOMBAT II. It’s a real pleasure to get to sit down with director Simon McQuoid to talk how you even build a film like that. Simon is a true lover of film, a video store kid and someone who may surprise you with what he picks up. MORTAL KOMBAT II is out NOW and it is a ton of ferocious fun. Pick up tickets to Alexei’s comedy festival tour of his new show VHS in 2026 (https://comedy.com.au/tour/alexei-toliopoulos/) Join Alexei & Cameron James presenting David Byrne’s TRUE STORIES at the Sydney Opera House Saturday Film Club (https://www.sydneyoperahouse.com/vivid-live/saturday-film-club-true-stories) Follow ALEXEI TOLIOPOULOS on Letterboxd (https://letterboxd.com/thisisalexei/) for all the rental combo lists. Hit up the Last Video Store on instagram (https://www.instagram.com/lastvideostorebetoota/) for all of our guests picks
April 29 · 1 hr 32 min
The Last Video Store x Spooko: The Mangler
We're popping into your feed with a special episode this week; if you haven't heard horror movie podcast Spooko you're in for a treat. Each week Peach and Shag discuss a new horror film, and we're bringing you the episode that Alexei and Emmeline guested on to discuss the bonkers 1995 Tobe Hooper film The Mangler. Check out Spooko here: https://www.instagram.com/_spooko_/ Pick up tickets to Alexei’s comedy festival tour of his new show VHS in 2026 (https://comedy.com.au/tour/alexei-toliopoulos/) Join Alexei & Cameron James presenting David Byrne’s TRUE STORIES at the Sydney Opera House Saturday Film Club (https://www.sydneyoperahouse.com/vivid-live/saturday-film-club-true-stories) Follow ALEXEI TOLIOPOULOS on Letterboxd (https://letterboxd.com/thisisalexei/) for all the rental combo lists. Hit up the Last Video Store on instagram (https://www.instagram.com/lastvideostorebetoota/) for all of our guests picks
April 22 · 1 hr
Drag Race Superstar Lazy Susan Picks Out The Best Witchy Movies
The winner of Drag Race Down Under season 4, LAZY SUSAN walks into the Last Video Store. This dream guest gets witchy to celebrate the upcoming release of their genuinely fantastic new series The Witchy Girls. You can go see the live screenings of The Witchy Girls here (https://www.thewitchygirls.com/) Pick up tickets to Alexei’s comedy festival tour of his new show VHS in 2026 (https://comedy.com.au/tour/alexei-toliopoulos/) Join Alexei & Cameron James presenting David Byrne’s TRUE STORIES at the Sydney Opera House Saturday Film Club (https://www.sydneyoperahouse.com/vivid-live/saturday-film-club-true-stories) Follow ALEXEI TOLIOPOULOS on Letterboxd (https://letterboxd.com/thisisalexei/) for all the rental combo lists. Hit up the Last Video Store on instagram (https://www.instagram.com/lastvideostorebetoota/) for all of our guests picks
April 8 · 56 min
Josh Thomas cracks up over RAT RACE & LOVE ACTUALLY and thinks CABERET is the best movie of all time
He's here! Comedian Josh Thomas joins Alexei in the Last Video Store and bypasses the New Release section altogether to pick up some of his favourite weeklies. He's recently relaunched his classic podcast Josh Thomas and Friends and You and is going on tour all around the world, so check him out in a city near you: https://joshthomas.com.au/ Pick up tickets to Alexei’s comedy festival tour of his new show VHS in 2026 (https://comedy.com.au/tour/alexei-toliopoulos/) Join Alexei & Cameron James presenting David Byrne’s TRUE STORIES at the Sydney Opera House Saturday Film Club (https://www.sydneyoperahouse.com/vivid-live/saturday-film-club-true-stories) Follow ALEXEI TOLIOPOULOS on Letterboxd (https://letterboxd.com/thisisalexei/) for all the rental combo lists. Hit up the Last Video Store on instagram (https://www.instagram.com/lastvideostorebetoota/) for all of our guests picks
April 1 · 50 min
Tonight At The Museum host Alex Lee loves cult comedies DOGMA and THE CLIMB
Finally, it is time for Alex Lee to pick out her favourite films. You know Alex from pods like Dragon Friends and Baby Shoes + the new ABC show TONIGHT AT THE MUSEUM (and our very own Alexei Toliopoulos appears on one of the episodes). Watch it on ABC iView now! Listen to Baby Shoes here: https://open.spotify.com/show/3cwDxMz5lTF0dyfTBJHb1u Pick up tickets to Alexei’s comedy festival tour of his new show VHS in 2026 (https://comedy.com.au/tour/alexei-toliopoulos/) Join Alexei & Cameron James presenting David Byrne’s TRUE STORIES at the Sydney Opera House Saturday Film Club (https://www.sydneyoperahouse.com/vivid-live/saturday-film-club-true-stories) Follow ALEXEI TOLIOPOULOS on Letterboxd (https://letterboxd.com/thisisalexei/) for all the rental combo lists. Hit up the Last Video Store on instagram (https://www.instagram.com/lastvideostorebetoota/) for all of our guests picks
March 25 · 1 hr 15 min
Cameron James returns for some gentle comedy, cult classics and weird cinema (2nd Anniversary Show)
Celebrating another year of The Last Video Store with our original first customer and best mate… it’s another return of Cameron James! Cam & Alexei are joining forces for a very special screening of TRUE STORIES the only film directed by TALKING HEADS frontman David Byrne for Saturday Film Club at The Sydney Opera House (https://www.sydneyoperahouse.com/vivid-live/saturday-film-club-true-stories). If you’ve never seen it, its a very rare screening of a true masterpiece. Pick up tickets to Alexei’s comedy festival tour of his new show VHS in 2026 (https://comedy.com.au/tour/alexei-toliopoulos/) Follow ALEXEI TOLIOPOULOS on Letterboxd (https://letterboxd.com/thisisalexei/) for all the rental combo lists. Hit up the Last Video Store on instagram (https://www.instagram.com/lastvideostorebetoota/) for all of our guests picks
March 18 · 54 min
Greg Larsen raids our war section for CIVIL WAR, ALEXANDER and DAS BOOT
Cult comedy hero and dear mate, Greg Larsen enters the video store. Greg kicks off his run at the Melbourne International Comedy Festival with his new show “Unrelenting Ultra-Violence” (https://www.comedyfestival.com.au/browse-shows/greg-larsen-unrelenting-ultra-violence/). Greg is wildly funny, bold and incisive with his comedy and his pick ups on the show reflect exactly that. AND make sure you check out Greg’s outrageous series on the Grouse House YouTube channel (https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLqS09O_7fr09IiQijTXZx_0DQzmzYmUHU). Pick up tickets to Alexei’s comedy festival tour of his new show VHS in 2026 (https://comedy.com.au/tour/alexei-toliopoulos/) Follow ALEXEI TOLIOPOULOS on Letterboxd (https://letterboxd.com/thisisalexei/) for all the rental combo lists. Hit up the Last Video Store on instagram (https://www.instagram.com/lastvideostorebetoota/) for all of our guests picks
March 11 · 48 min
Damon Herriman loves GOODFELLAS, THE ELEPHANT MAN and a Netflix documentary that made him cry
Damon Herriman is one of Australia’s most recognisable actors, working in films like TOGETHER, ONCE UPON A TIME IN HOLLYWOOD to HOUSE OF WAX (one of Producer Em’s favourites). He joins us in the Last Video Store where he picks a stack of great films, including classics GOODFELLAS and THE ELEPHANT MAN, and a surprising new release documentary. See him in Art The Play, touring now: https://arttheplay.com.au/. Pick up tickets to Alexei’s comedy festival tour of his new show VHS in 2026 (https://comedy.com.au/tour/alexei-toliopoulos/) Follow ALEXEI TOLIOPOULOS on Letterboxd (https://letterboxd.com/thisisalexei/) for all the rental combo lists. Hit up the Last Video Store on instagram (https://www.instagram.com/lastvideostorebetoota/) for all of our guests picks.