Movie Oubliette

Rob Hill, author of 'The Bad Movie Bible' and creator of the fabulous accompanying YouTube channel, joins Conrad and surprise guest host Melinda Mock of RetroBlasting to explore a notorious naked space vampire film that turns 40 this year. On paper, Lifeforce (1985) has everything you could possibly want for an epic cosmic horror British disaster film: an adaptation of a popular Lovecraftian novel by Colin Wilson, co-scripted by Alien co-creator Dan O'Bannon; a sizeable budget and some of the finest production technicians in London paired with ILM alumni John Dykstra's visual effects; and Tobe Hooper in the director's chair. Unfortunately, there are only two things most teens remember about Lifeforce... and both of them are attached to French actor Mathilda May. Is this a misunderstood gem of quirky British terror, or is decisive proof that Hooper didn't direct Poltergeist?

Arachnophobia scared up only $53 million at the box office when it was released in July of 1990, thanks to stiff competition from Ghost, and has largely been overlooked in the annals of monster movie horror comedies. All this despite a fine cast, including Jeff Daniels and John Goodman, and a Spielbergian pedigree. With a Christopher Landon remake in the works, we thought it was time to celebrate the original's 35th anniversary... but is it an endangered species that should be set free, or is it an ecological menace that should be left in the tepuis of Venezuela? Find out!

Continuing our theme of exploring sequels to films we cover in the main feed, it was only natural that we'd want to follow the surprisingly good Psycho II (1983) with the surprisingly bad Psycho III (1986) in our Patreon feed. On paper, it looked like a slam dunk: Anthony Perkins was returning to his iconic role as Norman Bates and taking up the director's chair for the first time; the writer is Charles Edward Pogue, who was simultaneously drawing attention for his take on The Fly (1986); and it picks up at the motel barely weeks after the shocking finale of the second film. What could go wrong? Pretty much everything, it turns out. If you like what you hear, head on over to www.patreon.com/movieoubliette and become a Patron to get hours of exclusive bonus content, nominate films for us to cover and vote on the final verdict – all for $10 or less!

Belated sequels to monumental, genre-defining classics always walk on a knife edge! They can be a worthwhile elaboration upon the original, recontextualised for a new era, or they can be cynical cashgrabs forever consigned as a footnote to cinema history. Australian director Richard Franklin's Psycho II (1983) benefits from returning cast members Vera Miles and, of course, Anthony Perkins, a twisty turny psychological mystery script from Fright Night's Tom Holland, a disturbing score from Jerry Goldsmith and cinematography from John Carpenter regular Dean Cundey. But is it just a pretender in a classic movie's clothes? Or should it be released from custody to set up a new franchise? Find out! Support us on Patreon to nominate future films, vote on whether films should be released or thrown back, and access exclusive bonus content! Follow us on Tiktok, Facebook, Instagram and Bluesky.

We challenge you to hear the title of this movie without the synth riff of a massive-haired 80s rock anthem popping into your head... Sorry, you'll be humming that all day now. Try blocking it out by listening to our examination of Don Taylor's 1980 sci-fi war fantasy, in which a U.S. aircraft carrier captained by Kirk Douglas is whisked through a James Bond title sequence into the past – the eve of the attack on Pearl Harbor, to be precise. Starring the U.S.S. Nimitz, lots of planes, more planes, and a cute dog... is this a forgotten gem of a movie that deserves to be restored to its place in film history? Or is it a waterlogged floater that deserves to be flushed?! Find out!   Support us on Patreon to nominate future films, vote on whether films should be released or thrown back, and access exclusive bonus content! Follow us on Tiktok, Facebook, Instagram and Bluesky.

Here's a sneak peek at our Patreon exclusive minisode on Princess of Mars (2009) – The Asylum's adaptation of the Edgar Rice Burroughs novel that went straight to DVD a full 3 years before Disney stank up the box office with John Carter (2012). Could it possibly be worse? Sheesh... you betchya! If you like what you hear, head on over to www.patreon.com/movieoubliette and become a Patron to get hours of exclusive bonus content, nominate films for us to cover and vote on the final verdict – all for $10 or less!

Still the biggest box office bomb of all time, adjusted for inflation, John Carter (2012) was a brave attempt to give Edgar Rice Burroughs' influential sci-fi novel 'A Princess of Mars' the summer blockbuster treatment... 40 years after George Lucas and everyone else had pretty much raided all of its ideas for space opera hits. But is the film really that bad? Does it share the 'Mars movie' curse? Or did it just get lost in the shuffle in 2012 because of poor marketing? Find out! Support us on Patreon to nominate future films, vote on whether films should be released or thrown back, and access exclusive bonus content! Follow us on Tiktok, Facebook, Instagram and Bluesky.

Here's a sneak peek at our new Patreon exclusive minisode on C.H.U.D. II: Bud the C.H.U.D. (1989). This is the first time we've covered the sequel to a film we've covered in the main feed, and we had a blast! If you like what you hear, head on over to www.patreon.com/movieoubliette and become a Patron to get hours of exclusive content, nominate films for us to cover and vote on the final verdict – all for $10 or less!