Den of Cin

13/10/2023

Happy Halloween and Merry Friday the 13th! To celebrate the rare occasion of double horror holidays this October, Devin & James have invited pal Casey O'Connor back to the DEN OF CIN to discuss some of their favorite scary two-fers, three-fers, and... you get the idea. From the classic Universal Monster days, through the slasher and splatstick evolutions of the 80's, and ever after, sequels have always been something of a specialty for the horror genre. In this freewheeling conversation, the guys discuss some of their favorite returning creepers of all time. What are some of yours? Listen now on SPOTIFY, or wherever you find your podcasts! https://open.spotify.com/episode/436o6JPRZvs477GmQhfkWy?si=7a321b8ca7c74f80

08/08/2023

We're back in the Den of Cin to celebrate the fantastic streak of artistic triumphs of director HAL ASHBY IN THE 1970s! A complicated man with a gentle soul, Hal Ashby has seemed to fall out of the conversation of being one of the most vital filmmakers of all time, based on this run of films alone. Not even most of the modern greats can stake claim to this kind of hot streak. While not always box office hits, every one of the films we discuss here has had an influence on everything that's come since. From his boldly artistic start with 1970's THE LANDLORD, through instant cult classics like HAROLD & MAUDE and THE LAST DETAIL, political statements such as SHAMPOO, BOUND FOR GLORY, and COMING HOME, and closing out this winning decade with 1979's mind-blowing BEING THERE, Hal Ashby proved that his themes of class struggle, racial relations, abuse by authority, haves and have not's, and good old fashioned anti-war sentiment shines through the very different styles and approaches he brings to each film. Any film is almost impossible to compare to the next, yet they all unmistakably carry the Ashby touch. https://open.spotify.com/episode/3d8R8UL7lKsRP3lyeIng9D?si=4c6de84551964303

18/07/2023

Devin and James are back in the Den for another episode! This time we are deep diving into the FRENCH CONNECTION films of the 1970's! We examine whether NYPD detective Popeye Doyle (masterfully played by Gene Hackman) was ever intended to be seen as a hero in the Oscar-winning 1971 original based on the true story of a rough, racist cop's obsession to thwart a French drug kingpin. We also dig into its totally fictional sequel, released in 1975, and discuss whether it's a worthy watch to see Popeye pursue the villain who escaped him in real life (it is). And we also explore 1973's THE SEVEN-UPS, which we argue is at least a spiritual sequel, in which many of the original artists involved follow up with a closer look at Roy Scheider's character, who was Popeye's partner in the first film. These films still pack a punch decades later. They have proven to still be controversial, yet they shaped what we still know as the police procedural genre to this day, as well as daring to ask the question, "Ever pick your feet in Poughkeepsie?" And, oh yeah... THE CAR CHASES!!!! https://open.spotify.com/episode/15C0VDqzv9dm2cLJIyos5r?si=159312bdfa5e4225

09/06/2023

Telly Savalas just wants you to relax, have a sweet cocktail, and head to YouTube to listen to the latest DEN OF CIN PODCAST, featuring VIOLENT CITY, starring Savalas and Charles Bronson, as well as the classic Eurocrime film, CALIBER 9! https://youtu.be/U15Pxxk01YM

05/06/2023

Devin & James are back in the Den of Cin with another action-packed double feature! This time, we are taking on the classic Italian crime films, VIOLENT CITY (1970), starring Charles Bronson & Telly Savalas, and CALIBER 9 (1972), known as one of the greatest crime films ever produced! Both of these films are prime examples of the Italian sub-genre, Poliziotteschi, and we dive a bit into the intense political movements behind these films, as well as what this genre represents to Italian and world cinema culture, as well as offer some... shall we say unique?... ways to pronounce the word (literally translated to "police-esque"). They discuss how they discovered these films themselves, the fortunate current (and possibly fleeting) availability of uncut copies of these important films on home media in the United States, and the huge ways they have influenced modern filmmakers (looking at you, Tarantino!). Buckle in and take the ride! https://open.spotify.com/episode/0bCzp0Xn6h4XeSd1na9hbo?si=131c275485b64fa6

13/03/2023

Our special double episode on movies about KILLER COUPLES is now available on YOUTUBE! Check it out here, or wherever you listen to podcasts. In the meantime, you can find us here at the Sonny Chiba triple feature! https://youtu.be/kj7YKHSwayc

07/03/2023

Devin & James are finally back in the DEN OF CIN! We've been gone a while, but we have a great topic being covered in a double-length episode to make it up. A grab bag of movies about KILLER COUPLES! We each picked 5 films about people in love, who just also happen to make people die. From recognized masterpieces like BONNIE & CLYDE, through controversial classics like HEATHERS, and well beyond, we found that this underlooked sub-genre really packs a punch in pop culture! Whether our couples are running from a murderous mistake, or robbing banks for kicks, or simply trying to affect population control, we have murderers for every mood. Join in to hear how many different times names like John Dall, Christian Slater, Quentin Tarantino, and even Brad Pitt show up on our lists! This sub-genre really seems to bring in repeat offenders. Check us out on Spotify! https://open.spotify.com/episode/5a1wJ9pX4u8ihxISsAJeXX?si=210134aee20f4846

06/12/2022

Devin & James are sliding down the chimney of the DEN OF CIN to deliver their thoughts on a couple of Holiday perennials! This time we're taking on a couple of cynical satires, SCROOGED with Bill Murray and BAD SANTA with Billy Bob Thornton. These films are at once so rude and raunchy, yet filled to the brim with the Christmas Spirit. A delicate balance that has never quite been perfected as well as it is in these two yule classics by master directors Richard Donner & Terry Zwigoff. So trim your tree, grab your smokes, and pour the eggnog heavy for a couple of flicks to watch after the kiddies go to bed! https://open.spotify.com/episode/5cNLcMdgQNgfZEgkvKESUo?si=fe04b2c70e4a49fc

22/11/2022

Devin & James are back in the DEN OF CIN with a doozy of a double feature! This time we're driving along the wrong side of the tracks with a couple of hard-nosed, highly-stylized neo-noir crime movies. THIEF (1981) and DRIVE (2011) feel like they share DNA (along with THE DRIVER (1978), which gets more than an honorable mention from us). With plots that seem deceptively simple on the surface, these films feature characters with a ton of rage brewing beneath what's visible up top. James Caan and Ryan Gosling are at their peak here, as are the rest of the brilliant ensemble casts, which features the likes of Robert Prosky, Tuesday Weld, Willie Nelson, James Belushi, Albert Brooks, Carey Mulligan, Bryan Cranston, Ron Perlman, Christina Hendricks, and Oscar Isaac! Under the expert direction of Michael Mann and Nicolas Winding Refn, respectively, these films are must-sees for everybody who loves cinema where the rubber meets the road. https://open.spotify.com/episode/3ov7hZqNSUdSKrCL5SEacw?si=fc8ca8926f494e39

27/10/2022

Happy Halloween, Cinemaniacs!! Devin & James are back in the DEN OF CIN, and they've brought along BFF of the show Casey O'Connor! In honor of our favorite holiday, we're discussing the film adaptations of STEPHEN KING!!!! Possibly the only American author to become his own sub-genre in the cinema canon, King adaptations have been a part of the celluloid landscape since 1976's CARRIE, and they are still coming fast and frequent! We try to hit all of our favorites, especially those 80's and 90's classics, and we have to say, we got a lot of them in. We even managed to get in a few less-than-favorites... but at the end of the day, even a bad Stephen King movie is still a freakin' Stephen King movie. NOTE: There were some technical difficulties while recording this episode. They go in and out, but it's very noticeable in the last ten minutes. Sorry 'bout that! https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/stephen-king-rules/id1517919612

13/10/2022

"Beware of The Blob! It creeps, and leaps, and glides, and slides across the floor. Right through the door, and all around the wall. A splotch, a blotch. Be careful of The Blob." So warns the catchiest pop tune ever to open a monster movie. Devin & James are celebrating the start of the Halloween Season with a look back at one of the most fun, and underrated, horror/sci-fi series of the 20th century. From the indie charm of the classic 1958 original (Steve McQueen as a teenager?) through its bizarre, nearly forgotten 1972 sequel (Larry Hagman as a director?) and finishing up with the unfairly maligned 1988 remake (Kevin Dillon as... anything?), every aspect of this gelatinous creeper is covered. Is The Blob an icon, or a side note in horror history? We make the case that there is still some life in this one, ripe for rediscovery. https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/beware-of-the-blob/id1517919612

21/09/2022

Devin & James are back in the DEN OF CIN just in time to finish out the summer of 2022 with a look back at the summer of 1982! And they've brought along special guest CASEY O'CONNOR to share his memories of one of the most influential summers the box office has ever seen. E.T., The Thing, Blade Runner, Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan, Tron, Rocky III, The Road Warrior, Poltergeist, and Fast Times at Ridgemont High are but a sampling of what the summer of 1982 had to offer with a side of buttered popcorn. Come on in to find out about all these films and surprisingly A LOT more! Is it possible that 1982 could have been the best movie summer of all time? https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/summer-of-1982/id1517919612?i=1000580210436

24/08/2022

Devin & James are back in the DEN OF CIN to analyze a sample of classic Plague Movies: Taiwan's brutal THE SADNESS from 2021, and vintage David Cronenberg with 1977's RABID! We also make a quick examination of the contagions and parasites unsealed in George A. Romero's THE CRAZIES and Cronenberg's own SHIVERS, and how these films all feed upon each other so nicely. Are these films as depraved as their reputations? What qualifies as a Plague Movie? Can experimental plastic surgery really cause someone to grow a hungry, spiked phallus from their armpit? The answers to these burning (you should have that checked out) questions and much more are here in this infectious edition of the Den of Cin! https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/plague-double-feature-the-sadness-2021-rabid-1977/id1517919612

24/05/2022

Devin & James are back at Crystal Lake for the conclusion of our deep dive into the FRIDAY THE 13th SERIES! https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/friday-the-13th-part-2-devin-james-go-to-hell-parts-6-12/id1517919612?i=1000563542166
Love 'em or hate 'em, the back half of this iconic film series has given us plenty to talk about. From the start of the Zombie Jason era, to a lake trip to NYC, to Hell and back, to outer freakin' space, and then back to meet an old foe in need of a severe manicure, these films really take viewers all over the place. Plus, we finally realize the 2009 franchise reboot is maybe the best entry since the earlier days of the classic Paramount originals! And we give some fan service to a couple of particularly good fan films. Plus Stephen King and Kane Hodder... this episode has everything a classic gorehound could dream of!

13/05/2022

HAPPY FRIDAY THE 13th!!! Don't forget, it's not what's IN your boat. It's what's UNDER it that matters. Hope you are all able to celebrate safely, and listen to our latest episode of DEN OF CIN on the early years of the Friday the 13th franchise. https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/friday-the-13th-the-beginning-parts-1-5/id1517919612?i=1000560797403

12/05/2022

Devin & James bring you a Friggatriskaidekaphobic's nightmare. If you don't know your phobias, that's the fear of FRIDAY THE 13th!! https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/friday-the-13th-the-beginning/id1517919612
In our first deep dive into a particular film franchise, we visit Pamela Voorhees and her son JASON deep in the forest (for now) to find out what makes these first movies in the series so influential. One of our favorite series of all time, we found so much to say about what happens at Crystal Lake that we'll have to come back for a sequel to finish it off. Enjoy your Friday the 13th with our look back at the first FIVE MOVIES in this iconic film series. Ki ki ki - ma ma ma

08/05/2022

30/04/2022

Make sure you check out our latest episode on actor MICHAEL BIEHN! You love him from Terminator, Aliens, & Tombstone (and so many more) but his 1993 neo-noir DEADFALL was a true discovery. Awful in so many ways, yet so totally bonkers at points that it becomes cult cinema. Biehn plays the lead, and is seen here with co-stars Sarah Trigger and... Nicolas F*@ Cage! https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/michael-biehn/id1517919612?i=1000558675520

25/04/2022

Devin & James return to the DEN OF CIN to discuss action icon MICHAEL BIEHN! https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/michael-biehn/id1517919612?i=1000558675520
From his breakout one-two punch in THE TERMINATOR & ALIENS, through his bad guy turn in TOMBSTONE, to his current slate as writer/director/star of indie horror flicks, Biehn has always been one of the more interesting, and perhaps misunderstood, of 80's action stars. We get into a few of his early and mid-career highlights too, like 1981's THE FAN and 1993's gleefully insane DEADFALL. You don't wanna miss this one, or Angus Scrimm's weird robo-claw hand in Deadfall!

29/03/2022

Cinemaniacs, this is one of the most underrated directors of his generation, PAUL BARTEL. We delve into his masterpiece EATING RAOUL in the latest DEN OF CIN, but do yourself a favor and check out other Bartel titles like DEATH RACE 2000, PRIVATE PARTS, CANNONBALL, & LUST IN THE DUST. We'll bring the wine. https://open.spotify.com/episode/6hRG4qpe1ShI2PzPD2cVre?si=d45a4c23fed54ada

26/03/2022

Paul Bartel's EATING RAOUL may not be a common first pick for a CANNIBAL DOUBLE FEATURE, but it's hard to ignore the magic Paul & Mary can create with their frying pan. Hear more about it in the DEN OF CIN! https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cannibal-double-feature-fresh-2022-eating-raoul-1982/id1517919612?i=1000555257351

25/03/2022

Devin & James are serving up a treat in the DEN OF CIN. It's an unlikely and weird double feature of CANNIBAL FILMS! https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cannibal-double-feature-fresh-2022-eating-raoul-1982/id1517919612?i=1000555257351
First we get into Paul Bartel's 1982 cult comedy EATING RAOUL, starring Bartel, his longtime collaborator Mary Woronov, and Robert Beltran in the title dish... er, we mean role. Then we dive into a very recent film for a change, the 2022 Hulu "meat cute", FRESH. Directed by Mimi Cave, starring the excellent Daisy Edgar-Jones, as well as Sebastian Stan in a role sure to make your skin crawl (and braise, broil, or roast). All this, plus a huge rant about the current state of the Academy Awards Ceremony. We just couldn't fit any more on the plate! Enjoy!

09/03/2022

Why check out the new DEN OF CIN on IVAN REITMAN now that it's also available on YouTube? Cause bustin' makes ya feel good! https://youtu.be/VPEO8qOuybY

07/03/2022

Before anybody busted a ghost or traveled up Schitt's Creek, EUGENE LEVY, Eugene Levy's splendid mustache, and future SCTV co-star ANDREA MARTIN took on the Canadian cannibal problem in IVAN REITMAN'S Grindhouse oddity CANNIBAL GIRLS! Hear more about it in the DEN OF CIN! https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ivan-reitman-with-special-guest-casey-oconnor/id1517919612?i=1000552747374

03/03/2022

Okay... we all know nothing about 1988's TWINS should work, but Arnie, Danny, and Ivan somehow managed to fill the shakiest of premises with heartfelt comedy gold (and into this brilliant ad campaign). To hear more about it, check into the DEN OF CIN for our tribute to director IVAN REITMAN. https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ivan-reitman/id1517919612?i=1000552747374

02/03/2022

Devin & James have brought their ol' buddy Casey O'Connor back to the DEN OF CIN to pay tribute to yet another legend we recently lost, IVAN REITMAN. https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ivan-reitman/id1517919612?i=1000552747374

Reitman was prolific as a writer/director/producer, and to try listing all his accomplishments in this space would be an exercise in futility. We do our best to jam in as much as we can, from his trashy exploitation roots through some of the most incredible and important mainstream work the art form has ever seen. For the director whose film Meatballs gave us the immortal chant of "It Just Doesn't Matter," looking back... yeah, it kinda does.

17/02/2022

Be sure not to miss the latest DEN OF CIN PODCAST to hear how young PETER BOGDANOVICH got a career-best performance (in a 52 year career!) out of classic horror icon BORIS KARLOFF, in Bogdanovich's feature debut "TARGETS," a film James points out has sadly never stopped being timely since 1968.

Hear all about it here on Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen to Podcasts! https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/early-bogdanovich/id1517919612?i=1000551207785

15/02/2022

Devin & James are back in the DEN OF CIN. 2022 has already been a rough year for all entertainment lovers, with the loss of so many heavies in their respective genres and mediums. In this episode, we discuss film historian/writer/director/actor PETER BOGDANOVICH, who passed away on January 6, 2022. https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/early-bogdanovich/id1517919612?i=1000551207785

From his start with Roger Corman, into his meteoric rise from "The Last Picture Show" through "Paper Moon," into some of his very famous friendships with the very famous, and on to his works during the personal and professional lows he carried with him through the late 1970s-early '80s (much of which is highly underrated once you clear past the tragic headlines and scandals). Peter Bogdanovich is one of our all-time favorites here in the Den, and if you're only familiar with his better known films, we aim to tell you why they are all worth another look.

Keep looking here for future tributes celebrating the works of Sidney Poitier and Ivan Reitman.

16/01/2022

Who wouldn't wanna head into the back yard with one of these? Mego's Planet of the Apes figures (don't DARE call them dolls) were one of the very first movie toy phenomenons. Hear more about them in the new episode, and about which sci-fi toy license Mego passed on a couple years later that basically shut the company down (cue "The Imperial March"). https://open.spotify.com/episode/4znBytl8PzXqJSaF29zhgA?si=6f64bdf0094d4aeb