The Kick

Chance Solem-Pfeifer

Go on a themed movie kick with host Chance Solem-Pfeifer. We're currently on Kick #6 ... "Vampires of America." It all leads up to Ryan Coogler's "Sinners."

  1. 'The Lost Boys' with Noah Ballard | Vampires of America

    01.05.2025

    'The Lost Boys' with Noah Ballard | Vampires of America

    Our “Vampires of America” kick has one last burning question—what if vampires were teen fashion icons? "The Lost Boys" (1987) gives us a vampire corruption tale that mixes post-hippie paranoia with a dash of "The Goonies," Peter Pan, music video sheen, and the costume-conscious filmmaker who later bravely put nipples on the Batman suit. Noah Ballard (Verve) is here to close out this series in style. We cover best performances, dangly earrings, and the life story of Sexy Sax Guy. Let's get to it.

    54 Min.
  2. 'Sinners' with Bennett Campbell Ferguson | Vampires of America

    24.04.2025

    'Sinners' with Bennett Campbell Ferguson | Vampires of America

    I’ll put it this way — “Sinners” has everything you could want as the centerpiece of a “Vampires of America” podcast series. Tommy guns, blues guitars, two Michael B. Jordans, vampires as jig-dancing cult leaders, and visually entrancing commentary on folk art and oppression. Bennett Campbell Ferguson (Fools Who Dream) is back for a deep dive into Ryan Coogler’s strikingly original horror musical.

    1 Std. 3 Min.
  3. 'Near Dark' with Sarah Welch-Larson | Vampires of America

    17.04.2025

    'Near Dark' with Sarah Welch-Larson | Vampires of America

    Brimming with vicious bloodletting, neon beer signs, and Bill Paxton hootin’ and hollerin’, “Near Dark” might be the high watermark for vampire Westerns. I’m elated to have film critic and author Sarah Welch-Larson (Bright Wall/Dark Room) on the pod this week. She’s a “Near Dark” turbofan, with as many deep thoughts on what the film suggests about Manifest Destiny as she has musings on whether these Oklahoma vampires have ever tried roadkill. Let’s ride! Read Sarah’s “Near Dark” essay here: https://www.brightwalldarkroom.com/2022/08/03/youre-gonna-give-me-back-my-spur/ Keep up with all her writing here: https://www.dodgyboffin.com/

    50 Min.
  4. 'Ganja & Hess' with Lea Anderson | Vampires of America

    09.04.2025

    'Ganja & Hess' with Lea Anderson | Vampires of America

    Forget the vampire tropes this week; let’s hallucinate and appreciate. Horror scholar Lea Anderson (Fangoria, Shudder) is here to look deep into 1973’s "Ganja & Hess" (and honestly, help me understand it). This beguiling Black vampire story stars Marlene Clark and Duane Jones as a pair of cursed, blood-craving immortals reckoning with the beauty and horror of forever togetherness. We break down ‘70s movie blood, this film's complex take on theology, and why Marlene Clark’s performance “is everything” to Lea.

    46 Min.
  5. 'Blacula' with Odie Henderson | Vampires of America

    02.04.2025

    'Blacula' with Odie Henderson | Vampires of America

    Today, this “Vampires of America” kick lifts the coffin lid on the Blaxploitation era and 1972’s "Blacula." I’m thrilled to be joined by Odie Henderson, author of “Black Caesars and Foxy Cleopatras” and film critic for The Boston Globe. We analyze William Marshall’s Shakespearean performance as Blacula, speculate on why the backhand is his weapon of choice, and explore the key film history around “Dracula’s soul brother.” I strongly recommend both Odie’s book and his criticism: https://store.abramsbooks.com/products/black-caesars-and-foxy-cleopatras “Ganja & Hess” (1973) next week!

    48 Min.
  6. 'Fright Night' with Susan Tomorrow | Vampires of America

    26.03.2025

    'Fright Night' with Susan Tomorrow | Vampires of America

    I'm not breaking news by saying that seduction often factors into vampire movies. But has it ever been done better than by Chris Sarandon in "Fright Night" (1985)? This horror-comedy toys with suburban paranoia by casting the vampire as the debonair stranger next door and drinking in his charisma "from toe to tip," as returning champion Susan Tomorrow puts it. So happy to have Susan, a programmer at Portland's Clinton Street Theater, back on the show to talk Roddy McDowall, how "Fright Night" effectively references older vampire films, and, oh yeah, Chris Sarandon's neckline. Follow Susan at @kingvidiot on Instagram and pick your next night out at Clinton Street here: https://cstpdx.com/

    35 Min.
  7. 'From Dusk Till Dawn' with Matthew Jackson | Vampires of America

    19.03.2025

    'From Dusk Till Dawn' with Matthew Jackson | Vampires of America

    Awaken, my friends. We’re on a stateside vampirism kick—no Transylvanian castles allowed. This run begins south of the border with “From Dusk Till Dawn” (1996) a horror-action romp that begs the question, what if pistol-toting outlaws stumbled into a biker bar run by the undead? Matthew Jackson (host of “The Scares That Shaped Us” podcast) kicks off this series. He’s here to talk about George Clooney’s first starring role, anoint the hottest on-screen vampire of all time, and reflect on just how seismic it was when Quentin Tarantino and Robert Rodriguez joined forces in 1996. Listen to Matthew’s podcast here: https://thescaresthatshapedus.com/

    41 Min.
  8. 'Furiosa' with Ian Berry | 2024 Passion Projects

    31.12.2024

    'Furiosa' with Ian Berry | 2024 Passion Projects

    We close out Year 1 of this podcast with my favorite movie of 2024. Luckily, Ian Berry (artist, programmer, trivia host, and all-around Astoria film hero) is even more into "Furiosa" than I am. We talk about what it means to have Chris Hemsworth's villain almost steal the show, why the Mad Max movies are like the Gospels, and break down the difference between George Miller's myth-making and Hollywood's usual world-building. I also spend a few minutes at the beginning sharing my Top 10 films of 2024. Thank you all very kindly for spending any amount of time with The Kick. See you in 2025!

    1 Std. 5 Min.
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Go on a themed movie kick with host Chance Solem-Pfeifer. We're currently on Kick #6 ... "Vampires of America." It all leads up to Ryan Coogler's "Sinners."

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