Caliber 9 From Outer Space

Stephen Frears is not an habitual purveyor of the sort of cult cinema we usually cover on this show. But we do love our noir, and Frears does have two outstanding neo-noirs in his filmography, so why not knock them both off the list in one episode? Bryce joins us to discuss The Grifters (1990), along with Frears' earlier effort, The Hit (1984). This is noir with an emphasis on existential. And his Oscar-nominated Grifters may have been an establishment darling, but adapted by Donald Westlake from a Jim Thompson novel, it has a hell of a crime fiction pedigree, and goes to some incredibly dark places.

We will be announcing a Spoiler Territory section for both films, so if you haven't seen them before you listen, you can nevertheless avoid spoilers for The Grifters by skipping ahead to the 1:30:59 mark, and for The Hit by skipping ahead to 2:29:02.

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Theme music: "The Cold Light of Day" by HKM. Check out HKM on #SoundCloud or Bandcamp

"Magdalena 318" by the Pixies

We're all about grimy 1970's New York crime movies this week, as Nick Langdon drops in to discuss The Taking of Pelham One Two Three (2011), directed by Joseph Sargent and The Night of the Juggler (1980), directed by Robert Butler. No two films more perfectly encapsulate the unique cinematic vibe of the crumbling, chaotic metropolis in this era like these do.

We will be announcing a Spoiler Territory section for both films, so if you haven't seen them before you listen, you can nevertheless avoid spoilers for The Taking of Pelham One Two Three by skipping ahead to the 1:25:06 mark, and for The Night of the Juggler by skipping ahead to 2:22:14.

Want to get in touch? You can reach us on [email protected]

Theme music: "The Cold Light of Day" by HKM. Check out HKM on #SoundCloud or Bandcamp

"New York City Cops" by The Strokes

Primordial legends from the mists of time and fever dreams of imminent apocalypse. Our good friend Dallas Norvell drops by Casa Calibro to discuss Excalibur (1981), directed by John Boorman and Holocaust 2000 (1977), directed by Alberto de Martino (this film is sometimes also known as The Chosen or Rain of Fire). Boorman's passion project based on Mallory's La Morte d'Artur is a heady mix of magic, myth and just a hint of disco. Meanwhile, Kirk Douglas goes completely out of his mind in an attempt to ward off the end of the world. It's a bit of a trip this week, is what I'm trying to say.

We don't think it's really possible to spoil a movie based on a 500 year old text concerning a legend more than a thousand years old, so no Spoiler Territory for Excalibur. We do, however, call out Spoiler Territory for Holocaust 2000 (although honestly, it probably doesn't matter). If you want to skip ahead from that point, you can rejoin the conversation at the 2:29:14 mark to avoid spoilers.

Want to get in touch? You can reach us on [email protected]

Theme music: "The Cold Light of Day" by HKM. Check out HKM on #SoundCloud or Bandcamp

"Albion" by Pearls

Loyal listener and true gent, Bryan joins us this week armed with a couple of underseen gems. We start off with gritty British crime thriller The Squeeze (1977), directed by Michael Apted and follow that up with some choice Philippine exploitation: Cirio H. Santiago's pirate / blaxploitation / women-in-prison mash-up The Muthers (1969). Stacy Keach as a drunk private eye having a really bad week in grim 1970's London, followed by a quartet of plucky African-American beauties pitted against some egregious Filipino thugs in the jungle and on the sea. It's a heady combination!

We don't include a Spoiler Territory for The Squeeze because, well, we kinda forgot (there aren't any huge twists anyway, but if you want to skip ahead at any point, go to 1:36:49 to get to the next movie), but we do manage to remember to call out Spoiler Territory for The Muthers. If you want to skip ahead from that point, you can rejoin the conversation at the 2:40:20 mark to avoid spoilers.

Want to get in touch? You can reach us on [email protected]

Theme music: "The Cold Light of Day" by HKM. Check out HKM on #SoundCloud or Bandcamp

"We Share Our Mother's Health" by The Knife

Bird season is OVER, butthorns!!! This week, we have lined up two films which tried to establish Gary Busey as the action movie hero du jour. Unfortunately, they kinda flopped, but we think they're more fun than leaping onto Danny Trejo from the top of a building. First up: Eye of the Tiger (1986), directed by Richard C. Sarafian, and then the wonder of Bulletproof (1988), directed by Steve Carver.

We have a full house to discuss these movies, with not one, not two, but three guests: Bryce, Dr Ethan and Sammy all drop in to take part in the fun.

Let's just say, plot is not really the reason to watch either of these films. so we won't be announcing a Spoiler Territory section for either of them.

Want to get in touch? You can reach us on [email protected]

Theme music: "The Cold Light of Day" by HKM. Check out HKM on #SoundCloud or Bandcamp

"Edge of Seventeen" by Stevie Nicks