Cf3: Cult Fans, Films & Finds

This is it: the final episode of CF3 that we will posting as a podcast to our old RSS feed. You know the drill - we are creating full video talk shows on YouTube now for Project-Nerd and have given up the audio only podcast game. We are continuing to recruit incredible guests and interview them for fully-produced videos with images, graphics and fancy overlays. Wave of the future type stuff! To keep hearing us, subscribe at youtube.com/project-nerd and looks us up project-nerd.com Brian Trenchard-Smith directed BMX Bandits (1983), the debut feature of Nicole Kidman and one hell of an Australian adventure caper that's fun for the whole family. Brian is amazing and wrote an autobiography that you can buy on Amazon (Adventures in the B Movie Trade). We leave no wheel un-turned in this epic episode.

IMPORTANT: CF3 has transitioned to a video talk series on YouTube. This episode with scream queen and all-around sweetheart Kelli Maroney reviewing Chopping Mall (1986) is best experienced via video due to the high number of visual cues used in its production. Please subscribe to see and hear this episode in its native format @ youtube.com/project-nerd

NOTE: This is the second to last episode that will appear on this RSS feed. We have transitioned over to video on YouTube, and this episode (which features Mel Johnson, Jr. aka "Benny the Traitorous Mutant Cab Driver" and a video game review of the NES tie-in title by The Game Beaters, the latter of which is EXCLUSIVE to the YouTube episode) is a highly visual episode that does not entirely translate as an audio podcast. Going forward, you should subscribe to https://www.youtube.com/project-nerd to see & hear our future content. Our forthcoming episode in March (Don't Tell Mom the Babysitter's Dead w/Keith Coogan) will be the final one posted to this feed.

NOTE: CF3 is now a "video-first" show broadcasting on YouTube. Visual cues from the show do not translate well to podcasts. Please subscribe at youtube.com/c/CF3TV FANS: Ernie Trinidad and Michael Kallio are the producer and director of Howard the Doc, Or: How I Learned to Start Quacking and Love the Bomb (2021), the forthcoming documentary about legendary box office bomb Howard the Duck (1986). We chat with them about the origin of the documentary, the bizarre nature of Howard the Duck, and their experiences landing interviews with Lea Thompson, Phil Tippett, and more. FILMS: We review Howard the Duck (1986) with an assist from Ernie and Michael in the Total Recast and Cult Filmometer segments. We also debut Rev It Up w/Jeff, Playboy Watch and MAD About the Movies mini-segments on video for the first time.

Where the heck has CF3 been the past 5 months??? Other than taking some much needed time off for R&R, changing jobs, dealing with the effects of COVID-19 on life as we know it (ordering lots of Door Dash), we've been working behind the scenes to transition CF3 into a YouTube talk show/web series. Now you'll be able to see our smiling faces and watch our wild assortment of celebrity and industry guests on sparkling video (with a retro twist). This is why we've redesigned our logo and branding, put ourselves up on IMDb, and started learning the daunting task of video editing. And we REALLY need you to join us in this new endeavor. Learn more by listening to this brief episode and, by all means, help us out by subscribing to our page now: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC5h-3Z5PntqUwjmdP4hOSAQ

FANS: Melissa Jo Murphy (Horrid, Incest Death Squad trilogy) talks about her favorite cult films, her entry into acting in Wisconsin, hanging out with Troma's Lloyd Kaufman while making IDS, and transitioning to working behind the camera. Laughter ensues. FILMS: It's the first musical reviewed on CF3! Melissa nails her Audrey impersonation en route to this breakdown of Frank Oz's Little Shop of Horrors (1986), which has us discussing all the songs, singing many of them, pondering which cameo player stole the show, and recasting the movie without stepping on the toes of the already-in-development reboot. Dames shares a fascinating fact about Orin Scrivello's dentistry tools. Finally, we discover a new sound effect for all future Dopplegasms! FINDS: HBO Max launches with a gaudy price point and the promise of a Justice League recut/do-over from Snyder, RIP Richard Herd, Together Apart reunites the cast and crew of Splash, Dane says you should watch Mythic Quest: Raven's Banquet, and GoT alums Momoa & Dinkla

FANS & FILMS: We've assembled 9 friends for a breakdown of Police Academy (1984), complete with a discussion of the films of 1984 and a character-by-character breakdown of this incredible ensemble. The epic cast is not exempt from our sprawling Total Recast endeavors. You'll hear Skeeter Slater debut on CF3 with the most bad-ass Michael Winslow impersonation ever recorded. You'll hear Steve Fodor (Too Much Scrolling) walk around his house! You'll find out how Jon Cohorn (Modern Horrors) earned the middle name "Comedy Sucks." Matt Miller (Team Mayh3m) joins us from the Blue Oyster. Will Nexii's back hurts. Shitty Kevin Smith starts the FTP movement. There's no doubt it--this truly IS an episode of CF3 Podcast. There, we said it. FINDS: Future guest Melissa Jo Murphy joins us and learns that Dames is a Scooby Doo fan. Jamie Lee Curtis directs, Snowpiercer spawns a TV series, the sequel to Mad Max: Fury Road evolves, and we pay tribute to Fred Willard and Ken Osmond.

FANS: He was Robbie Freeling in Poltergeist (1982) and Poltergeist II: The Other Side (1986) and few cult films get bigger than this! Yes, the great Oliver Robins joins us to discuss his biggest fears--cue lots of bees, trees and clown talk--the alleged Poltergeist "curse," and working with Sonny Bono in Airplane II: The Sequel (1982). Then we get the exciting scoop about the new horror/black comedy that Oliver wrote, directed and stars in: Celebrity Crush (2019). It hits VOD this month, and you won't want to miss it! FILMS: We get so deep into Poltergeist (1982) that we almost cross over to the other side. This review is NOT clean. Or is it? And will Oliver use his film school background to assign it an unbiased rating on the Cult Filmometer, or will he let his "Freeling feelings" take hold? Is this episode a blessing or a curse? Listen and decide. FINDS: Development news, Hamilton on Disney+, Together Apart with Josh Gad goes Back to the Future, the new docuseries Prop Culture is right up our alley, and we

FANS: Anthony "Right Boot" De Longis talks about his experiences portraying thug Ketcham in Road House, including his terrible audition, working with the late Patrick Swayze, and driving that sweet monster truck. Find out how you can hang out with Anthony at his ranch! FILMS: Be nice. We "roundhouse" kick Road House (1989) directly into our Cult Filmometer with two special guest reviewers, Ryan Osbahr (Pony Creek) and Dan Olsen (Sack of Lions)--two musicians who have certainly played their share of road house gigs. The things people will do to get a JC Penney in their town will blow your mind. Watch out for polar bears and bring your college transcripts for this one! FINDS: The Goonies cast and crew reunite on Zoom, Parks & Recreation returns for one night only, The Walking Dead, RIP Irrfan Khan, and Universal Studios takes on the chin from AMC and Regal in a move that might ultimately backfire on the theater industry.

FANS: Anthony De Longis (Road House, MOTU, The Sword & the Sorcerer) is an actor, weapons expert, fight choreographer, voiceover artist and so much more with a decades long career in the business, having trained Harrison Ford to use Indy's bullwhip, dueled with Lundrgren's He-Man in Masters of the Universe, and gone toe-to-bladed toe with Patrick Swayze's Dalton in Road House. He talks a lot about weaponry, fight choreography and his time on set as Blade and Skeletor's double in the 1987 Cannon Films He-Man movie. NOTE: This is Week 1 of a back-to-back De Longis doubleheader! FILMS: Kevin Smith (nope, not that Kevin Smith) joins us for a review of Masters of the Universe (1987) that finds us all obviously upset to this to day by the direction the filmmakers took when adapting our childhood favorite. It all makes for a great time with our TOTAL RECAST segment! How does Anthony De Longis--Blade himself--think the film holds up all these years later? And what do we all think of Meg Foster? BONUS: Hear Anthon

FANS: Lisa Wilcox (A Nightmare On Elm Street 4 & 5) tells us about her early days onstage that led to UCLA and her eventual casting as leading lady Alice Johnson in parts 4 and 5 of the popular A Nightmare On Elm Street franchise opposite Robert Englund. We also hear fun stories about convention life, the jewelry business she ran with Elm Street co-star Tuesday Knight, and learn some exciting news about upcoming work, including a film with Michael Madsen! FILMS: After spending nearly an hour with Lisa Wilcox rapping about Elm Street 4 and 5, we recruit Kevin Smith to help us close out our official reviews of The Dream Master (1988) and The Dream Child (1989), including recasting Alice's dad, our favorite lines from both movies (many of which include Freddy calling someone a bitch), and quite a bit of disagreement over which of these is the superior movie. FINDS: Although Coronavirus has its foot on the throat of the entertainment industry, we still manage to discuss their efforts to go online to entertain

FANS: Musician and YouTube gamer Dan Bobek (The Game Beaters, Bobobot) talks about a new musical concept album based on the singularity. He also tells us about his time studying in France under legendary Nirvana record producer Steve Albini before the conversation shifts to his YouTube channel The Game Beaters and talk of classic NES games! FILMS: We head to New Angeles (got that, Dames?) for a review of Double Dragon (1994), mainly to see if it's any better than Super Mario Bros (1993). Can the script and special FX escape the crossfire? Then find out NES which games we all would have liked to have seen adapted into a film back in the heyday of the platform. FINDS: We really try to power through with news in a world that has suddenly hit the pause button on most everything. New reboots that include The Others and Doogie Howser, M.D. plus several notable deaths to cover (from both COVID-19 and other causes).

FANS: Film blogger and podcaster Kyle Hickman joins us to demonstrate the model employed by his new podcast, Munsons At the Movies, which assesses the career of randomly-chosen actor each episode by grading them on a number of interesting criteria. For this demo, we are discussing the career of none other than Kane Hodder (Friday the 13th series, Hatchet)! FILMS: We don't do anything halfway on CF3, which is why we go all in on Over the Top (1987) and discuss the plot holes, trucker hats, Valvoline guzzling, stilted performances and the incredible music of Kenny Loggins. I've always wanted to be a milkshake! FINDS: Things to stream while in quarantine, COVID-19 claims lives of notable actors and musicians, and RAD comes to Blu-ray and 4K because we made it happen! Right?

FANS & FILMS: Dames removes his shirt and things just get out of hand from there when your 3 hosts are under the influence and joined by eight gentlemen to discuss the masterpiece (of shit) that is Commando (1985). Arnie, bad accents, one-liners, explosions, Rae Dawn Chong, Freddie Mercury, Joel Silver's alleged coke habit, Dames' affection for children, James Horner getting "horny" on the soundtrack, 80s malls, rocket launchers and TOTAL RECAST are all part of this ridiculous episode. Guests are first timers Warren Hicks & Mark Rigby of Munsons At the Movies along with podcast regulars Kevin Smith, Jon Cohorn, Matt Miller, Robert Yaniz, Jr., Will Nexii and Steve Fodor, who elected not to watch the movie! FINDS: Skeeter Slater listened to every episode of CF3 and wrote us an email about it. We read and react to that email to close out this wild ride!

FANS: Writer/producer Frank Farel (Spookies, Street Trash) discusses his early film influences and his trip to Pittsburgh to earn a walk-on cameo in George Romero's Dawn of the Dead. We then discuss the conception and writing/filming processes for Twisted Souls, the film that was eventually taken from him and his partners and mangled into what we now know today as Spookies. We discuss its ultimate legacy and Frank's plan for a sequel. FILMS: With Jon Cohorn of Modern Horrors alongside us, we review the monster-filled mess that is Spookies (1986). We name our favorite creatures, favorite lines and recast the film with some actors we'd love to have seen in the film. Frank Farel contributes a controversial score to the Cult Filmometer, leaving the remaining four to decide how to best approach our own ratings. FINDS: Fargo finds an interesting new lead for its next season, Blumhouse will tackle a new Universal monster on the heels of its successful The Invisible Man treatment, and we talk about some new Blu-rays

FANS & FILMS: In addition to your 3 hosts, we've assembled a dream team of 8 more participants to get sloppy drunk and stuff their faces with Taco Bell while reviewing the suddenly prescient Sly Stallone actioner Demolition Man (1993). Our team includes Shitty Kevin Smith (MST3K Motivation), Jon Cohorn (Modern Horrors), Robert Yaniz, Jr. (Crooked Table Podcast), Steve Fodor (Too Much Scrolling), Kyle Hickman (Munsons at the Movies), Matt Miller (Team Mayhem), Emily Marvin (daughter of Dames Marvs) and Will Nexii (your mom's house). We cover everything from the Pizza Hut controversy to that hand towel Huxley gives Spartan before...well, you know. Listen and be well! FINDS: Nothing to see here, as this is an extra episode for the week. Now go find yourself a manual for how to use the three seashells.

FANS: Michael Ray Bower makes his long-awaited return to CF3, and we catch up with him about life in quarantine during the Coronavirus pandemic. We talk about his cooking videos on YouTube, his new bachelor pad that he dubs "The Bower Box," and hear about his anticipated acting comeback! FILMS: Dude, where's my film of the week? It's right here and it's stoner comedy Dude, Where's My Car? (2000). Michael tells us about wearing the expensive AF bubble wrap suits, reading for one of the lead roles and being loathed by Kristy Swanson. Andy Dick pops in to reminisce about being the freak in the cage. Hear Michael recast HIMSELF in our Total Recast segment. And then? And then? Well, you'll just have to listen to find out. FINDS: Coronavirus colors everything we discuss here, including things to binge while you're stuck at home! Plus: Charles Band will be delivering the film Corona Zombies to the viewing public very soon.

FANS: Actor-turned-filmmaker Tim Bartell (Society, Dirty Beautiful) guides us through his journey in film, as we discuss his Wisconsin origins (and Wisconsin cult film history), his break into acting in films like Meatballs 2, and his transition to writer/director, now working on a feature with Kirstie Alley attached to star. FILMS: It's shunting season! With the help of stars Tim Bartell (Blanchard) and Devin DeVasquez (Clarissa), we guide you through the grotesque and fascinating Society (1989). We discuss with them the casting process, the parallels to Best Picture winner Parasite (2019), and the film's relevance today. We also get firsthand testimony on the infamous shunting orgy, play Total Recast, and rate this movie for the Cult Filmometer! FINDS: Coronavirus, aka COVID-19, dominates the news cycle, as we discuss canceled events like SXSW and various sports, delayed film productions, and mourn the loss of each of our planned European vacations. We close it down with an update on Corey Feldman's documen

FANS: Devin DeVasquez (Can't Buy Me Love, Society) tells us how she was discovered by Playboy, won $100k on Star Search, and wound up acting in a slew of late 80s cult classics. Then in a surreal moment in CF3 history, she tells us how she believes her pint-sized Chihuahua Yorkie came into her life as a posthumous gift from late great ex-boyfriend Prince. Yes, that Prince. You don't want to miss this. FILMS: Like a football game in which "everyone punts," we keep passing the egg to one another and to stars Devin DeVasquez & Lar Park Lincoln during our exhaustive and hilarious review of House II: The Second Story (1987). We share our favorite Gramps moments and recast the film before asking Devin and Lar to help us rate this one for the Cult Filmometer! FINDS: Genesis reunion, Coronavirus affects the entertainment industry, Matt Reeves show us the new Batmobile, Corey Feldman will name his abusers, Overboard from Severin, RIP James Lipton.

FANS: Jackey Neyman Jones is an artist, actor and author who will forever be tied to one of the worst films of all-time... Manos: the Hands of Fate (1966). Jackey played young Debbie and her father, the late Tom Neyman, played The Master. She delivers production details, recounts the film's premiere, and shares how she rediscovered it via MST3K. She also discusses the props and costumes she recreates for sale, her acclaimed Manos autobiography, and upcoming film projects, including the long-awaited Manos sequel! FILMS: While The Master is away, we set about dissecting the atrocity known as Manos: The Hands of Fate (1966). We are perplexed by the editing, nauseated by the music, share our favorite lines, ask Jackey to rate the movie with us for the Cult Filmometer, and recast all the roles in our now famous Total Recast! segment. Also: lots of Torgo talk! FINDS: Indiana Jones 5 names its director, The Rock as Black Adam, Chris Evans and The Little Shop of Horrors remake, cult Blu-ray news, and much more!