Tv/Movie Rewind

Today, Matt & Todd are joined by Mike to discuss the 1997 box office flop turned cult classic, Event Horizon. Despite arriving with a strong cast, and a unique blend of science fiction and horror, Event Horizon failed to find an audience in theaters. The film struggled to recoup its budget and was quickly overshadowed by Paramount's next massive release: James Cameron's Titanic. Studio interference and difficult test screenings resulted in a somewhat muddled final cut, but beneath those compromises remains an outstanding example of cosmic sci-fi horror. While its theatrical run was disappointing, Event Horizon gradually found new life through home video, cable, and streaming. Over the years, word of mouth transformed this unsettling experience into a cult favorite. Directed by Paul W. S. Anderson, Event Horizon stars: Laurence Fishburne Sam Neill Kathleen Quinlan Joely Richardson Richard T. Jones Jack Noseworthy Jason Isaacs, Whit Bissell Award Winner Sean Pertwee, Whit Bissell Award Winner Like the lost starship from which it takes its name, Event Horizon drifts through the darkness waiting to be discovered, revealing unimaginable cosmic horrors to anyone brave enough to come aboard. Join us as we revisit one of science fiction horror's most enduring cult classics and explore why its reputation has only grown stronger with time. _____________ Matt has over 100+ lists for movie suggestions on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Letterboxd⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and on Bluesky: @MovieMattSirois Terrible movies often find him, even under under the alias Marcus, at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Movie Asylum of the Weird, Bad and Wonderful⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Follow who we follow at the⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Once Upon a Geek⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TheFade Out Podcast⁠⁠⁠s⁠

Today Matt & Todd kick off Halloween season by delving into The Gate, a 1987 supernatural horror film directed by Tibor Takács. When The Gate hit HBO, it quickly became an instant rewatch for us, we're surprised it took us so long to get to it. As 1980s horror films go, this one is fairly tame. It is PG-13, after all, but don't let that turn you off. The Gate is a lot of fun. What it lacks in sex, drugs, and splatter, it makes up for with story, atmosphere, and practical effects that still hold up nearly 40 years later. Whether you're discovering it for the first time or revisiting an old favorite, it's well worth your time. One of the things that makes The Gate stand out is that it features a cast of surprisingly likable characters. Unlike many horror films, you're not simply waiting for everyone to be picked off one by one. There's genuine heart here, which gives the story emotion often missing from the genre. We like to call it a "starter horror film." There is some genuinely creepy material that still works today, but it's accessible enough for a wide audience. The Gate stars: Stephen Dorff as Glen Christa Denton as Alexandra "Al" (Whit Bissell Award Winner - Todd) Louis Tripp as Terry Chandler Kelly Rowan as Lori Lee Jennifer Irwin as Linda Lee Deborah Grover as Mom Scot Denton as Dad Ingrid Veninger as Paula (Whit Bissell Award Winner - Matt) Sean Fagan as Eric Linda Goranson as Mrs. Chandler Carl Kraines as The Workman Andrew Gunn as Brad A few years later, Tibor Takács returned with The Gate II: Trespassers. It's a fun sequel in its own right, though a bit more uneven than the original. While it doesn't resonate as strong, or hit the mark as well as the first film, there's still plenty to enjoy. The original is an enduring cult-classic, a status well deserved. While Trespassers may not be quite as good, it offers enough creativity and charm to make it worth a watch on its own merits. _____________ Matt has over 100+ lists for movie suggestions on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Letterboxd⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ You can reach out on Bluesky:@MovieMattSirois Terrible movies often find him, even under under the alias Marcus at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Movie Asylum of the Weird, Bad and Wonderful⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Follow who we follow at the⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Once Upon a Geek⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TheFade Out Podcast⁠⁠⁠s⁠

The TV/Movie Rewind Podcast, with Matt & Todd, returns this week with a returning guest, Gabe Crate, for our return to the Planet of the Apes franchise with: Return to the Planet of the Apes (1975). This is the 6th and final installment of the series that began in 1968 and branched into at least three different timelines from its Charlton Heston beginnings, now arriving at its final, animated end. What Return lacks in animation frames, it more than makes up for in stunning art detail headed by Director Doug Wildey, settling on a more modern look at life on Earth in the 3000s. The Apes have established modern cities complete with movies, TV, radio, airplanes, the works of William Apespeare, and even a bit of kaiju action. Return to the Planet of the Apes (1975) features the voices of: Bill Hudson — voiced by Tom Williams and Richard Blackburn Dr. Zaius — voiced by Richard Blackburn Jeff Allen — voiced by Austin Stoker Judy Franklin — voiced by Claudette Nevins General Urko — voiced by Henry Corden (…wait, is that Fred Flintstone?) Cornelius — voiced by Edwin Mills and Henry Corden Zira — voiced by Philippa Harris Despite its short run (13 episodes), the series is a fascinating artifact: a high‑fantasy, high‑concept reinterpretation of Apes lore that feels like a Saturday‑morning cartoon filtered through the aesthetics of pulp sci‑fi paperback covers. It’s weird, ambitious, and absolutely worth revisiting as the final animated echo of the original Apes saga. And as peculiar as the advanced Ape society might seem to fans of the film and TV installments, these elements more closely reflect aspects of the novel (and the original Rod Serling treatment) that were hindered by film‑budget constraints. _____________ Matt has over 100+ lists for movie suggestions on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Letterboxd⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ You can reach out on Bluesky:@MovieMattSirois Terrible movies often find him, even under under the alias Marcus at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Movie Asylum of the Weird, Bad and Wonderful⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Follow who we follow at the ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Once Upon a Geek⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TheFade Out Podcast⁠⁠⁠s⁠

Today Matt & Todd explore two historically linked war epics: Zulu (1964) and Zulu Dawn (1979) We’re tackling them in reverse order of release because that’s the chronological order of the battles themselves. It’s a rare case where watching the films backwards actually gives you the forward momentum of history. Zulu Dawn (1979): The Disaster at Isandlwana Directed by Douglas Hickox, Zulu Dawn dramatizes the catastrophic British defeat at the Battle of Isandlwana in a moment that shattered the myth of imperial invincibility. The film features an enormous cast, including: Burt Lancaster Peter O’Toole Simon Sabela Simon Ward Nigel Davenport Ronald Lacey Bob Hoskins …and thousands of Zulu extras whose presence gives the film its sweeping, overwhelming sense of scale. Though critically the weaker of the two films, Zulu Dawn is the necessary first chapter: a portrait of arrogance, miscalculation, and political maneuvering that pushed the British Army into an ill‑conceived invasion of Zululand. The Zulu kingdom had been cooperating with colonial authorities to that point — but the British government’s desire for expansion, coupled with manufactured provocations, set the stage for one of the empire’s most humiliating defeats. The film leans into the tragedy of command failures: scattered forces, poor reconnaissance, and a fatal underestimation of Zulu strategy. When the Zulu impis finally strike, the British camp collapses under the sheer force and coordination of the attack. It’s a war epic, but also a cautionary tale about hubris. Zulu (1964): The Stand at Rorke’s Drift Directed by Cy Endfield, Zulu is technically the “sequel,” though released 14 years earlier. It depicts the Battle of Rorke’s Drift in a desperate defensive action occurring just hours after the disaster at Isandlwana. The film stars: Stanley Baker Jack Hawkins Chief Mangosuthu Buthelezi Ulla Jacobsson James Booth Michael Caine (in his breakout role) …and, again, thousands of Zulu extras. Where Zulu Dawn is about collapse, Zulu is about endurance. A tiny British outpost, barely fortified, poorly supplied, and shaken by news of the earlier massacre, suddenly becomes the target of a massive Zulu strike. The film’s tension comes from the contrast: the Zulu forces are disciplined, coordinated, and relentless, while the British defenders are a mix of professionals, malcontents, and men simply trying to survive. The film is famous for its choreography of battle: shield walls, rifle volleys, chants, and the haunting rhythm of Zulu war songs. It’s also more character-driven, exploring class conflict, leadership under pressure, and the uneasy admiration between two sides locked in mortal combat. Neither film is a documentary. Both take liberties: compressing timelines, inventing characters, reworking the entire embodiment and sentiment of others, and shaping events for dramatic effect. But taken together, they form a compelling cinematic diptych: one battle lost through overconfidence, the next survived through grit, desperation and guile. What they absolutely nail is the sense of place: the sweeping hills of KwaZulu-Natal, the stark beauty of the African landscape, and the sheer physicality of the battles. These are rousing adventure epics, filled with unforgettable imagery and some of the fiercest large-scale combat sequences ever put on film.

Today Matt and Todd are Joined by Logan to discuss the great Jack Palance. Jack Palance wasn’t just any actor, he was a force of nature who lived more lives than most people could fit into a century. Before he ever stepped in front of a camera, he was:A coal miner, a boxer, a college football star, a United States Army veteran, a sportswriter, a short‑order cook, a waiter, a lifeguard, a model… and then one of the finest actors of his generation. Commercials, stage, television, film... Jack Palance could do anything. He even recorded a country‑western album! His career spans over fifty years, dozens of genres, and a level of intensity and charisma that few performers have ever matched. Today we’re diving into some of the highlights we’ve come to love over the years and roles that show the full spectrum of what Palance could do. Know that even in the worst films of his catalogue, his performances were always top‑notch. A true professional. A legend. If you’re not familiar with him, we hope this inspires you to check out some great movies and discover why Jack Palance remains one of the most unforgettable presences in cinema history. Shane Attack! 10 Seconds to Hell Kill a Dragon Monte Walsh Chato’s Land Dracula Without Warning Alone in the Dark Young Guns City Slickers Tango & Cash Few actors could combine menace, charm, humor, and gravitas the way Jack Palance did. Few ever will.Thanks as always for listening—and we hope you enjoy revisiting one of cinema’s true originals. _____________ Matt has over 100+ lists for movie suggestions on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Letterboxd⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ You can reach out on Bluesky: @MovieMattSirois Terrible movies often find him, even under under the alias Marcus at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Movie Asylum of the Weird, Bad and Wonderful⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Follow who we follow at the ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Once Upon a Geek⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TheFade Out Podcast⁠⁠⁠s⁠