Six blackmail victims are invited to an isolated mansion by a man who knows a dark secret from each of their pasts. On arrival, each is given a pseudonym drawn from Cluedo before being introduced to the blackmailer. Each is handed a weapon, at which point the lights are switched off and the blackmailer is killed. Can the guests uncover the murderer before they all become victims?
Craig, Alan and guest Cary Gordon discuss murder mysteries, the most fun films of 2023, multiple endings and the movie “Clue” on this week’s Matinee Heroes!
Show Notes
Craig, Alan and guest Cary Gordon talk about the movies of 2023 they had the most fun watching.
Craig, Alan and Cary discuss "Clue"
Recasting
Double Feature
Final Thoughts
A preview of next week's episode "Alien3"
Next week we start a new year with a month of sequels starting with "Alien3"
Mrs. Brisby is a widowed mouse who must move her children out of their home in a field before the local farmer starts plowing. Unable to leave because her son is ill, Mrs. Brisby seeks the help of nearby rats, who have heightened intelligence after being the subjects of scientific experiments. She receives an unexpected gift from the elder rat, Nicodemus but Mrs. Brisby is soon caught in a conflict among the rats, jeopardizing her mission to save her family.
Craig, Alan and guest Rob Ervin talk dark animation, Craig’s exclusive interview with Don Bluth, breaking away from Disney and the movie “The Secret of NIHM” on this holiday edition of Matinee Heroes.
Show Notes
Craig, Alan and guest Rob Ervin discuss meeting Don Bluth and his legacy.
Craig, Alan and Rob discuss "The Secret of NIHM"
Recasting
Double Feature
Final Thoughts
Craig's exclusive interview with Don Bluth recorded live at FanX 2023 in Salt Lake City.
A preview of next week's episode "Clue: The Movie"
Next week we end the year on a mystery with a fan favorite "Clue: The Movie"
On his way to school, Bastian ducks into a bookstore to avoid bullies. Sneaking away with a book called "The Neverending Story," Bastian begins reading the novel about Fantasia, a fantasy land threatened by "The Nothing," a darkness that destroys everything it touches. The kingdom needs the help of a human child to survive. When Bastian reads a description of himself in the book, he begins to wonder if Fantasia is real and needs him to survive.
Craig and guest co-host Brendan Agnew talk about kid movie influences, nihilism in children’s tales, horse trauma and the movie “The Neverending Story” on this week's Matinee Heroes!
Show Notes
Craig and guest co-host Brendan Agnew talk about movies they grew up with.
Craig and Brendan discuss "The Neverending Story"
Double Feature
Final Thoughts
A preview of next week's episode "The Secret of NIHM"
The 80's kids movies continue with a special FanX panel with Craig and Don Bluth, creator of "Secret of NIHM"
With brothers Mikey and Brand's house slated for demolition by greedy land developers, the boys decide their only hope lies in finding a long-lost treasure. They uncover a treasure map and with their friends descend to a subterranean sea and an abandoned galleon looking for the "X" and trying to get away from a group of bad guys who also want the treasure.
Craig, guest co-hosts Elisabeth Rappe and Billy Donnelly talk about that friend with a pool, kids who save the day, films we grew up with and the movie “the Goonies” on this week’s Matinee Heroes.
Show Notes
Craig and guest co-hosts Elisabeth Rappe and Billy Donnelly talk about movies they grew up with
Craig Elisabeth and Billy discuss "The Goonies"
Double Feature
Final Thoughts
A preview of next week's episode "The Neverending Story"
The 80's kids movies continue next week with "The Neverending Story"
After finally achieving the high score on Starfighter, his favorite arcade game, everyday teenager Alex Rogan meets the game's designer, Centauri who reveals that he created the game as a training ground for developing and recruiting actual pilots to help fight a war in space. Whisked away from the banality of his trailer park life to a distant alien planet, Alex struggles to use his video game-playing skills to pilot a real ship, with real lives at stake.
Craig and guest Co-Host Rob Ervin talk about 80s nostalgia, musical adaptations, life in moderation and the movie ‘The Last Starfighter” on this week’s Matinee Heroes!!
Show Notes
Craig and guest co-host Rob Ervin of the Clubhouse Podcast talk about their recent moderating duties.
Craig and Rob discuss "The Last Starfighter"
Recasting
Double Feature
Final Thoughts
A preview of next week's episode "The Goonies"
The 80's kids movies continue next week with "The Goonies"
New Orleans District Attorney Jim Garrison launches a controversial investigation into the assassination of President John F. Kennedy. Challenging the official "single assassin" and "magic bullet" theories that have long haunted the nation, Garrison becomes suspicious of the official explanation and delves into a web of conspiracy theories, uncovering alleged government involvement and cover-ups.
Craig and Alan talk about why people believe conspiracy theories, the difficulty of cover-ups, the 60th anniversary of a tragedy and the movie “JFK” on this week’s Matinee Heroes.
Show Notes
Craig and Alan talk conspiracy theories and why people believe them.
Craig and Alan discuss "JFK"
Recasting
Double Feature
Final Thoughts
A preview of next week's episode "The Last Starfighter"
Next week we have a whole month of 80's kids movies starting with a classic sci-fi adventure "The Last Starfighter"
Alan and Craig discuss if Captain Marvel is "for them", Alan's experience with ScreenX and 4DX and the movie "Captain Marvel" on this week's Matinee Heroes!''
Next week, we remember the 60th anniversary of the Kennedy assassination with Oliver Stone's classic "JFK"
Sir Robert Beaumont is behind schedule on a railroad in Africa. Enlisting noted engineer John Henry Patterson to right the ship, Beaumont expects results. Everything seems great until the crew discovers the mutilated corpse of the project's foreman, seemingly killed by a lion. After several more attacks, Patterson calls in famed hunter Charles Remington who has finally met his match in the bloodthirsty lions.
Craig, guest co-host Brendan Agnew and Elisabeth Rappe discuss scary animals, the story of the Tsavo man-eaters, old school movies and the movie “The Ghost and the Darkness” On this week’s Matinee Heroes!
Show Notes
Craig, Brendan Agnew and Elisabeth Rappe talk about animals that scare them.
Craig, Brendan and Elizabeth discuss "The Ghost and The Darkness"
Recasting
Double Feature
Final Thoughts
A preview of next week's episode "Captain Marvel"
Next week we get excited for the release of "The Marvels" with a past patreon episode of "Captain Marvel"
David Kessler and Jack Goodman arrive in Northern England for a walking tour. One night, a beast attacks them, killing Jack. Three weeks later David awakens to a new nightmare: Jack, who was killed, returns to warn David that a werewolf was their assailant - and that David has become the last of their werewolves!
Craig, Alan and guest Rob Saucedo talk graphic novels, peanut butter powers, Where Wolf and the movie “An American Werewolf in London” On this week’s matinee Villains!!
Show Notes
Craig and Alan talk with guest Rob Saucedo about his new graphic novel "Where Wolf" available in bookstores everywhere!
Craig, Alan and Rob discuss "An American Werewolf in London"
Recasting
Double Feature
Final Thoughts
A preview of next week's episode "The Ghost and the Darkness"
Next week we talk about animals that want to eat us when we revisit "The Ghost and the Darkness"
While recording sound effects for a slasher flick, Jack Terri stumbles upon a real-life horror: a car careening off a bridge and into a river. Jack jumps into the water and fishes out Sally from the car, but the other passenger is already dead -- a governor intending to run for president. As Jack does some investigating of his tapes, and starts a perilous romance with Sally, he enters a tangled web of conspiracy that might leave him dead.
Craig, Alan and guest Brendan Agnew discuss dour endings, sleazy Travolta, Brendan’s new podcast Make Me Watch It and the movie “Blow Out” on this week’s Matinee Villains!
Show Notes
Craig and Alan talk with guest Brendan Agnew about his new podcast with another Brendan called Make Me Watch It!
Craig, Alan and Brendan discuss "Good Will Hunting"
Recasting
Double Feature
Final Thoughts
A preview of next week's episode "An American Werewolf in London"
Next week we wrap up another villainous month with guest Robert Saucedo and "An American Werewolf in London"
Two horror masters - writer Stephen King and director George A. Romero - conjure up five shocking yarns, each a virtuoso exercise in the ghouls-and-gags style of classic '50s horror comics. A murdered man emerges from the grave. A meteor's ooze makes everything ... grow. A professor selects his wife as a snack. A scheming husband plants two lovers up to their necks in terror. While A malevolent millionaire with an insect phobia becomes the prey of a cockroach army.
Craig and Alan talk villains of 2023, anthologies, multiple recasts and the movie “Creepshow” on this week’s Matinee Villains!
Show Notes
Craig and Alan talk about some of the villains of 2023 movies.
Craig and Alan discuss "Creepshow"
Double Feature
Final Thoughts
A preview of next week's episode "Blow Out"
Next week we see an all time villain actor John Lithgow in one of his first villainous performances in "Blow Out"
Craig and Alan discuss horror with gore, the movie "Black Phone" and Alan's unashamed conflict of interest concerning the movie "Sinister" on this week's Matinee Villains!''
Next week, our first anthology movie in 350 episodes with "Creepshow"
Alan and Craig know it’s not Christmas without a Shane Black movie! The two talk buddy movies, snappy dialogue and the movie Kiss, Kiss, Bang, Bang! on this week's Matinee Heroes!
Next week we start Matinee Villains month with a title that has as theme "Sinister"
Alan and Craig discuss the mundanity of porn, how families are made, remembering the great Burt Reynolds and the movie "Boogie Nights" on this this week's Matinee Heroes!
Next week it's an unsung gem "Kiss, Kiss, Bang, Bang!"
Alan and Craig discuss black face, controversy and can agents be good people while celebrating Matinee Birthdays Month with the great comedy "Tropic Thunder" on this week's Matinee Heroes!
Next week it's go big or go home with "Boogie Nights"
Alan and Craig continue there trek through 1999 and discuss keeping spoilers secret, buying your own BS, and the movie "The Sixth Sense" on this week's Matinee Heroes!
Next week we get controversial with "Tropic Thunder"
Alan and Craig discuss "old man" action heroes, charming pigs, a review of The Equalizer 2 and the movie " The Equalizer " on this week's Matinee Heroes!
Next week we see dead people with the movie "The Sixth Sense"
Will Hunting has a genius-level IQ but chooses to work as a janitor at MIT. When he solves a difficult graduate-level math problem, his talents are discovered by a professor who decides to help the misguided youth reach his potential. When Will is arrested for attacking a police officer, the Professor makes a deal to get leniency for him if he will get treatment from a therapist
Craig and Alan discuss positive representations of therapy, going home, turning the big 5-0 and the movie “Good Will Hunting” as we celebrate Craig’s Matinee Birthday!!
Show Notes
Craig and Alan talk about Craig's birthday and turning 50.
Craig and Alan discuss "Good Will Hunting"
Recasting
Double Feature
Final Thoughts
A preview of next week's episode "The Equalizer"
Next week we celebrate the latest Denzel action epic with a look back on "The Equalizer"
Craig and guest co-host Derek McCaw discuss the Hamlet influence, smart stupid movies, SCTV and the movie "Strange Brew" on this week's Matinee Heroes!
Next week we celebrate Craig's 50th birthday with one of his favorites "Good Will Hunting"
A professor, suffering from writer's block, tries to deal with the pressures of his complex love life and his troubled students' assorted problems. He finds release in his friendship with a lonely but gifted student, but the news of his lover's pregnancy further complicates his already difficult life.
Craig and Alan talk about the burden of creativity, turning 54, Harrison Ford vs Tom Cruise and the movie “Wonder Boys” as we celebrate Alan’s Matinee Birthday!
Show Notes
Craig and Alan talk about Alan's birthday and turning 54.
Craig and Alan discuss "Wonder Boys"
Recasting
Double Feature
Final Thoughts
A preview of next week's episode "The Ghost and the Darkness"
Next week we watch another Michael Douglas movie "The Ghost and the Darkness"
Ethan Hunt and the IMF team join forces with CIA assassin August Walker to prevent a disaster of epic proportions. A group of terrorists known as the Apostles plan to use three plutonium cores for a simultaneous nuclear attack on the Vatican, Jerusalem and Mecca, Saudi Arabia. When the weapons go missing, Ethan and his crew find themselves in a desperate race against time to prevent them from falling into the wrong hands.
Your mission, if you choose to accept it, is to listen to Craig, Alan and guest Mark Woodring from the Visually Stunning Movie Podcast (@VSMoviePodcast on twitter) talk about peak action, a brief "Dead Reckoning: Part One" review, having a formidable villain and the movie “Mission: Impossible – Fallout” on this week’s Matinee Heroes!
Show Notes
Craig and Alan finally review "Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning Part One" .
Craig, Alan and guest Mark Woodring discuss "Mission: Impossible - Fallout"
Recasting
Double Feature
Final Thoughts
A preview of next week's episode "Wonder Boys"
Next week we celebrate Alan's birthday with one of his favorites "Wonder Boys"
With the IMF now disbanded and Ethan Hunt out in the cold, a new threat, called the Syndicate, soon emerges. The Syndicate is a network of highly skilled operatives who are dedicated to establishing a new world order via an escalating series of terrorist attacks. Faced with what may be the most impossible mission yet, Ethan gathers his team and joins forces with a disavowed British agent who may or may not be a member of this deadly rogue nation.
Your mission, if you choose to accept it, is to listen to Craig, Alan and guest Brendan Agnew (@BLCAgnew on Twitter) talk about upping the ante, the clinking of the roller coaster, Marion’s first Rated R film and the movie "Mission: Impossible - Rogue Nation" on this week’s Matinee Heroes.
Show Notes
Craig, Alan and guest Brendan Agnew discuss the first R-rated movies they ever saw.
Craig, Alan and Brendan discuss "Mission: Impossible - Rogue Nation"
Recasting
Double Feature
Final Thoughts
A preview of next week's episode "Mission: Impossible - Fallout"
Next week we wrap up our look back on Mission: Impossible with a review of the new movie and "Mission: Impossible - Fallout"
Blamed for a terrorist attack on the Kremlin, Ethan Hunt and the entire IMF agency are disavowed by the U.S. government, while the president initiates the Ghost Protocol. Forced to go "off the grid" -- left without resources or backup -- Hunt must somehow clear the agency's name and prevent another attack. Complicating matters even more, Ethan must undertake the impossible mission with a group of fellow IMF fugitives whose actual motives are suspect.
Your mission, if you chose to accept it, is to listen to Craig, Alan and Elisabeth Rappe (@ElisabethRappe on twitter) talk about improbable bad guys, the start of something good, Brad Bird’s live action debut and the movie “Mission: Impossible: Ghost Protocol” on this week’s Matinee Heroes!
Show Notes
Craig, Alan and guest Elisabeth Rappe discuss the first half of 2023 and the movies they liked.
Craig, Alan and Elisabeth Rappe discuss "Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol"
Recasting
Double Feature
Final Thoughts
A preview of next week's episode "Mission: Impossible - Rogue Nation"
Next week we introduce a great character to the franchise when Rebecca Ferguson's Ilsa appears in "Mission: Impossible - Rogue Nation"
This week's scheduled episode has been interrupted with a special message from Craig and Alan as they try and explain the SAG-AFTRA WGA strike and why it's important to take a stand to help these important unions.
Donate to the Entertainment Community Fund, which assists all entertainment workers affected by the strike.
On this special @sagaftra @WGAWest support episode, Alan and Craig go back into the Patreon archives to 2019 and discuss the lack of physical media, poor working conditions, the timelessness of Sally Fields and the movie "Norma Rae" on this week's Matinee Heroes!
Retired from active duty, and training recruits for the Impossible Mission Force, agent Ethan Hunt (Tom faces the toughest foe of his career: Owen Davian , an international broker of arms and information, who is as cunning as he is ruthless. Davian emerges to threaten Hunt and all that he holds dear -- including the woman Hunt loves.
Your mission, if you choose to accept it, is to listen to Craig and guest co-host Avish Parashar talk about if Tom Cruise is a box office draw, mid-life milestones, mystery box misgivings and the movie "Mission Impossible III” on this week’s Matinee Heroes.
Show Notes
Craig and guest co-host Avish Parashar discuss turning 50, having a daughter and other mid-life milestones.
Craig and Avish discuss "Mission: Impossible III"
Recasting
Double Feature
Final Thoughts
A preview of next week's episode "Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol"
Next week we kick the franchise into gear and start experiencing the greatness of "Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol"