Day Of The Dead

We wrap up our month-long tribute to George A. Romero with the final film of the original Dead Trilogy, Day Of The Dead (1985). Dismissed by many as too talky and heavy-handed, co-host Jeffery Heatherly and I, through our discussion, come to the conclusion that this is unfair. We reflect on Tom Savini's unbelievable gore effects, the film's depiction of the military, a very '80s soundtrack and performances that include a truly hammy mad scientist and the most soulful zombie in history.

Dawn Of The Dead

Our month-long tribute to George A. Romero continues as co-host G. Warlock Vance and I discuss Dawn Of The Dead (1978), considered by many the best film of the original Dead Trilogy. The conversation takes some surprisingly intellectual turns as we discuss the inability of mankind to band together, a possible reason for our culture's current obsession with zombies and a realistic imagining of a zombie outbreak. Less philosophical topics include bad horror soundtracks, how Tom Savini created the impressive gore effects and the history of the zombie film.

Night Of The Living Dead

Today celebrated filmmaker George A. Romero, the "Grandfather of the Zombie," turns 70. To celebrate, Cinemantics is bringing you a full month of episodes devoted to his work. We start things off with the film that put Romero on the map, Night Of The Living Dead (1968). Co-host Jeffery Heatherly and I discuss its unrelenting bleakness, shocking (for the time period) violence and how it singlehandedly created the classic cultural perception of zombies. Even after all these years, they're still coming to get you, Barbra!

Bubba Ho-Tep

Co-host Jeffery Heatherly and I discuss Don Coscarelli's Bubba Ho-Tep (2002), in which Elvis Presley and J.F.K. team up to battle an ancient Egyptian mummy. It turns out Elvis isn't really dead, J.F.K. is black, and the mummy is terrorizing the east Texas rest home in which both reside. It's a wacky film with a surprising amount of soul. Hail to the King, baby!

Shoot 'Em Up

Co-host G. Warlock Vance and I discuss Michael Davis' Shoot 'Em Up (2007), a ridiculously overblown action movie with plenty of gunfire, improbable plot twists, snarky one-liners and a badass protagonist who uses carrots as weapons. Plus, Warlock does Arnold Schwarzenegger and James Cagney impressions!

Mad Max

Co-host Ryan Houser and I discuss George Miller's 1979 classic of motorbikes and leather men, Mad Max. Boasting a pre-stardom Mel Gibson, totally insane villains, subtle homoeroticism and all the car chases you could ever want, this movie gives us our heroes back.

Gojira

Here at Cinemantics, 2010 is the Year of Godzilla. Appropriately, co-host Jeffery Heatherly and I kick off the new year with Ishirō Honda's Gojira (1954), the classic film that introduced this cultural icon. Unfortunately, it's probably the most boring entry in the series. But that doesn't mean we don't relish giving its characters snide nicknames and watching guys in rubber suits trample miniatures of Tokyo.