Really Awful Movies: Ep 452 – The Taking of Pelham One Two Three

This week on the podcast, a trip back to arguably the greatest decade in cinema, the 70s, for the caper, The Taking of Pelham One Two Three.

A Tokyo transit delegation is visiting the Big Apple, getting a tour of the MTA headquarters, and learning how the city runs its transit.

Against this backdrop, Hijackers commandeer a New York City subway train near Central Park, and threaten to kill a passenger a minute if their demands aren’t met.

Rip-roaring stuff, starring Walter Matthau and Robert Shaw.

This one uses naming character conventions of Mr. Blue, Mr. Green, etc., which Quentin Tarantino paid homage to (err, ripped off) in Reservoir Dogs.

Accept no substitutes, and no crummy remakes with Travolta and Denzel.

The doors are now closing, stand clear of the doors!

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New episodes of the show are uploaded every Friday.

Really Awful Movies: Ep 451 – Shakma

On this episode of the podcast, the killer monkey movie, Shakma!

We turn our gaze to the 90s, and to this animal / nature run amok flick, which, all things considered, remains a lesser known sub genre entry.

Roddy McDowall plays a research scientist, and he’s working at a facility doing strange experiments. All the while, his colleagues are obsessed with live action role play and some elaborate game on the premises.

Shakma has its moments, though can’t be considered Olympic podium-worthy, when it comes to animal attack movies (that’s reserved for Jaws, Back Country, Alligator, etc).

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Really Awful Movies: Ep 423 – Influencer

Broadly, when it comes to the genre’s modern era, “travel horror” dates back to The Hills Have Eyes and includes the likes of Tourist Trap, Hostel, Turistas, Wrong Turn, The Rental (feel free to check out that podcast) and of course, more recently, the hit film, Midsommar.

Influencer is the latest entry in what could be described as tourist horror, directed by Calgarian Kurtis David Harder, and has a neo-noir-ish feel and a super unique local that really puts it a cut above and definitely makes it worth your time (currently streaming on Shudder).

Set in Thailand, the movie focuses on a bored, titular influencer (Madison, played by Emily Tennant), who is experiencing Lost in Translation ennui while abroad ’cause her boyfriend is too busy to join her. She lolls about in a hotel bar and eventually connects with a mysterious figure, CW, expertly portrayed by Canadian actress, Cassandra Naud, who shows her the ropes.

Tune into this episode of the podcast and subscribe.

Discussion includes:

  • Whether travel really broadens the mind
  • Travel writers like Pico Ayer
  • Alberta, Canada as a focal point for the genre recently, and horror movies including Skinamarink
  • Whether there is anything new to experience abroad given social media’s broad reach
  • Travel influencers like Sarah Funky, Here Be Barr who offer travel trips to those wishing to visit New York, and others
  • Travel proclivities by Americans in Europe
  • Cassandra Naud and the film narrative
  • Inspiration for Influencer and back-backer culture in Thailand