The VHS Strikes Back

Whatever Entertainment

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Film Reviews
Updated weekly

Nostalgic movie review show hosted by Whatever Entertainment team, Dave and Chris. The guys go back in time to review some wonderful and truly awful movies from the days before streaming and even DVD's and had to go to the video store to pick up the latest entertainment. If you want to email the show please contact us on: thevhsstrikesback@gmail.com

13 hr ago

Ninja Condors (1987) | Insane Cult Ninja Action Classic | VHSSB

Leigh's pick takes us deep into the wonderfully unhinged world of 1980s Taiwanese ninja cinema with Ninja Condors, also known as Ninjas, Condors 13. Directed by Wu Kuo-Ren, credited on some releases as James Wu, the film was written by prolific exploitation filmmaker Godfrey Ho and produced by Chin Chang-Liang and Tomas Tang. Alexander Lo Rei leads a cast that also includes Eugene Thomas, George Nicholas, Jack Long, Li Hai-Hsing and Five Venoms veteran Lu Feng. No reliable published production budget appears to have survived, which somehow feels entirely appropriate for a film this gloriously rough around the edges. Released in 1987 as the Taiwanese ninja boom was beginning to wind down, Ninja Condors has endured as exactly the sort of cult VHS discovery we love: cheap, frantic, dubbed, frequently ridiculous and absolutely committed to delivering martial-arts action. Contemporary cult reviews have since embraced its relentless energy, inventive fights and general refusal to let narrative logic get in the way of another ninja appearing from somewhere. It may not have troubled the major awards ceremonies, but nearly forty years later people are still talking about it — which is probably a greater achievement anyway. TRAILER GUY PLOT SYNOPSIS Brian watched his father die in front of him as a child. Years later, he has become White Eagle — a deadly ninja working for a criminal organisation ruled by a man with the reassuringly subtle name of... Lucifer. But when Brian's loyalty is pushed too far, the White Eagle decides he's had enough. Now the organisation that trained him is about to discover the unfortunate consequences of employing an elite assassin who suddenly develops a conscience. There will be revenge. There will be ninjas. There will be weapons, gunfire and several moments where asking sensible questions is strongly discouraged. This is NINJA CONDORS. FUN FACTS The film is also known as Ninjas, Condors 13 and Knight Revenger, because apparently one title containing both ninjas and condors still wasn't enough. Alexander Lo Rei was something of a veteran of the Taiwanese ninja craze, with credits including The Super Ninja, Ninja Hunter, Ninja Kids, Secret of Ninja and Ninja in USA. Li Hai-Hsing didn't just appear in the film — he also handled its action choreography. The cinematography is credited to Quincy Szeto, while the music was composed by Sherman Chow. Martial-arts favourite Jack Long, known for films including The 7 Grandmasters and The Mystery of Chess Boxing, appears as Brian's ninja master. Lu Feng, one of the famous Venom Mob performers from The Five Venoms, makes an appearance early in the film. Brian's ninja identity, White Eagle, comes with the appropriate costume choice: he fights dressed predominantly in white rather than traditional black. Stealth clearly wasn't in the brief. Among the film's more imaginative action locations are a swimming pool, amusement park, shipping yard and ice rink. Ninjas on ice really is a thing. Eagle-eyed viewers may notice Alexander Lo Rei's hairstyle changing noticeably between scenes, suggesting either filming took place over an extended period or ninja hair grows quickly. SUPPORT THE SHOW If you enjoy the show and would like to support us, we have a Patreon ⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠. If you’re listening on Apple Podcasts or Spotify, leaving us a 5-star review (and a short comment) really helps more people discover the show. It’s quick, free, and makes a huge difference. Referral links also help out the show if you were going to sign up: ⁠⁠⁠NordVPN⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠NordPass⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠thevhsstrikesback@gmail.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://linktr.ee/vhsstrikesback⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
12 Aug

Wheels on Meals (1984) | Jackie Chan’s Cult Kung Fu Comedy | VHSSB

Chosen by Maff, directed and co-written by Sammo Hung, Wheels on Meals was a Hong Kong–Spanish co-production from Golden Harvest and Laurenfilm, filmed extensively on location around Barcelona and Tarragona. Reliable published budget figures are difficult to verify, but the international production gave the film a distinctive scale and sun-drenched European setting rarely seen in Hong Kong action cinema at the time. Jackie Chan, Yuen Biao and Sammo Hung reunited as the leading trio, supported by Spanish actress Lola Forner and American martial artists Benny “The Jet” Urquidez and Keith Vitali. Released in Hong Kong on 17 August 1984, the film became one of the territory’s highest-grossing local releases of the year. Its combination of acrobatic stunt work, broad comedy and carefully staged martial-arts action helped establish it as a favourite of the VHS generation. Decades later, Wheels on Meals remains celebrated for the chemistry between its three stars and for delivering fight choreography clearly enough that viewers can actually see what is happening—an increasingly revolutionary concept. TRAILER GUY PLOT SYNOPSIS In the sun-soaked streets of Barcelona, two cousins have the perfect business: fast food, four wheels and absolutely no regard for workplace health and safety. But when a mysterious young pickpocket crosses their path, Thomas and David are dragged into a dangerous plot involving ruthless criminals, a missing inheritance and one remarkably questionable private detective. This time, the meals are fast. The fists are faster. And somewhere in Spain, an insurance company is quietly refusing to cover any of it. FUN FACTS The film’s original English title was reportedly Meals on Wheels, but Golden Harvest reversed the words after two previous company releases beginning with the letter “M” performed poorly. In Japan, the film was released under the title Spartan X. Jackie Chan also supervised the film’s action choreography. Jackie Chan, Sammo Hung and Yuen Biao had all trained together as members of the Seven Little Fortunes at the China Drama Academy. Lola Forner had previously represented Spain at the Miss World competition. Benny Urquidez was a highly successful professional kickboxer nicknamed “The Jet.” Chan and Urquidez’s confrontation is frequently ranked by martial-arts cinema fans among Jackie Chan’s finest screen fights. Keith Vitali reportedly struck Jackie Chan in the throat accidentally while filming one of their fight sequences. The catering van used by Thomas and David is fitted with hidden compartments, electronic gadgets and enough custom equipment to make it the kung-fu equivalent of the Batmobile. The three leading men later reunited for another major Hong Kong action comedy, Dragons Forever, released in 1988. SUPPORT THE SHOW If you enjoy the show and would like to support us, we have a Patreon ⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠. If you’re listening on Apple Podcasts or Spotify, leaving us a 5-star review (and a short comment) really helps more people discover the show. It’s quick, free, and makes a huge difference. Referral links also help out the show if you were going to sign up: ⁠⁠⁠NordVPN⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠NordPass⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠thevhsstrikesback@gmail.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://linktr.ee/vhsstrikesback⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
5 Aug

Once Were Warriors (1994) | Brutal Māori Family Drama | VHSSB

Chosen by Dylan, Once Were Warriors was adapted from Alan Duff’s bestselling 1990 novel by screenwriter Riwia Brown. Made for approximately NZ$2 million and filmed over a demanding six-week shoot, it marked the feature-directing debut of Lee Tamahori. Much of the production took place around Ōtara in South Auckland, grounding the film’s urban Māori setting in real locations rather than a carefully polished studio version of New Zealand. Rena Owen and Temuera Morrison lead the cast as Beth and Jake Heke, supported by Julian Arahanga, Mamaengaroa Kerr-Bell, Taungaroa Emile and Cliff Curtis. The film became a major domestic success, earning approximately NZ$6.7 million and setting a new record at the New Zealand box office. It swept nine categories at the 1994 New Zealand Film Awards and collected further honours at festivals including Montreal, Durban, Venice and Rotterdam. Its international acclaim launched Tamahori towards Hollywood and helped raise the global profiles of Owen, Morrison and Curtis. More than three decades later, it remains one of New Zealand cinema’s most influential, confronting and difficult-to-forget films. Definitely not one to throw on when the family asks for “something light.” TRAILER GUY PLOT SYNOPSIS In the streets of South Auckland… one family is fighting a war that nobody outside their home can see. Beth Heke dreams of holding her family together. But her husband Jake is a man of charm, pride and explosive rage—and when the drinking starts, their home becomes a battleground. As their children search for belonging in gangs, institutions and the traditions of their ancestors, Beth must rediscover the strength of the people she came from. This time… being a warrior means knowing what is worth fighting for. FUN FACTS Once Were Warriors opened in only four New Zealand cinemas, yet still earned a record-breaking NZ$114,000 during its opening run. The house used as the Heke family home was a real state house on O’Connor Street in Ōtara. Local residents reportedly complained about the noise generated while the production filmed the Hekes’ late-night parties. Producer Robin Scholes had previously worked mainly in television; this became the first feature released by Communicado Productions. Stuart Dryburgh’s cinematography helped him build an international career that later included The Piano, The Painted Veil and The Secret Life of Walter Mitty. Temuera Morrison later became internationally recognised as Jango Fett and the clone troopers in the Star Wars franchise. Rena Owen also joined the Star Wars universe, appearing in Attack of the Clones and providing additional voices for the film. Cliff Curtis has portrayed characters from numerous ethnic backgrounds throughout his career, but Once Were Warriors gave him one of his earliest major New Zealand film roles. A sequel, What Becomes of the Broken Hearted?, arrived in 1999, with Morrison and several other cast members returning. A twentieth-anniversary documentary, Once Were the Cast of Warriors, reunited members of the cast in 2014 to examine the film’s impact and what happened after its release. SUPPORT THE SHOW If you enjoy the show and would like to support us, we have a Patreon ⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠. If you’re listening on Apple Podcasts or Spotify, leaving us a 5-star review (and a short comment) really helps more people discover the show. It’s quick, free, and makes a huge difference. Referral links also help out the show if you were going to sign up: ⁠⁠⁠NordVPN⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠NordPass⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠thevhsstrikesback@gmail.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://linktr.ee/vhsstrikesback⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
29 Jul

Glengarry Glen Ross (1992) | Cult Sales Drama with an All-Star Cast | VHSSB

Chosen by Dave, and adapted by David Mamet from his Pulitzer Prize-winning stage play, Glengarry Glen Ross was directed by James Foley and assembled one of the most formidable acting line-ups of the 1990s: Al Pacino, Jack Lemmon, Ed Harris, Alan Arkin, Kevin Spacey, Jonathan Pryce and Alec Baldwin. Made for an estimated $12.5 million, the film turns offices, restaurants and rain-soaked streets into a pressure cooker of desperation, ego and spectacularly aggressive salesmanship. Mamet reportedly received $1 million to adapt his own play, expanding the material specifically for the screen. Despite strong reviews, the film earned approximately $10.7 million at the North American box office and was not an immediate commercial success. Its reputation continued to grow through VHS, television and home-video releases, with Jack Lemmon winning the Volpi Cup for Best Actor at the Venice Film Festival and Al Pacino receiving Academy Award and Golden Globe nominations. It is now regarded as a cult classic, particularly among actors, salespeople and anyone who has ever endured a motivational meeting conducted by someone who clearly despises them. Trailer Guy Synopsis In a struggling Chicago real-estate office, four salesmen are fighting for their livelihoods. First prize is a Cadillac. Second prize is a set of steak knives. Third prize… is unemployment. With the best leads locked away and the clock running down, every conversation becomes a contest, every customer becomes prey, and every colleague becomes a possible enemy. This week, closing the deal is not merely business. It is survival. Fun Facts David Mamet based the original play partly on his own experiences working in Chicago real-estate offices during the late 1960s. Alec Baldwin’s character, Blake, does not appear in the original stage play. Mamet created him exclusively for the film adaptation. Baldwin appears in only one scene, yet his performance produced many of the film’s most quoted lines and became a lasting part of sales culture. The famous “Always Be Closing” speech has been referenced and parodied in television shows, comedy sketches, advertising and corporate training sessions—sometimes by people who may have missed the fact that the scene is not exactly presenting healthy management advice. The movie’s title refers to two fictional property developments: Glengarry Highlands and Glen Ross Farms. Al Pacino was the only member of the principal cast to receive an Oscar nomination, earning a Best Supporting Actor nomination for his performance as Ricky Roma. Jack Lemmon reportedly considered Shelley Levene one of his favourite roles, describing the character as someone who had once been successful but could no longer understand why his methods had stopped working. Jonathan Pryce’s character, James Lingk, is the only significant male customer seen in the film, making his uncomfortable conversation with Roma one of the story’s few glimpses outside the sales team’s competitive world. Much of the cast had extensive theatrical experience, helping the dialogue-heavy production retain the rhythm, precision and intensity of a live stage performance. Support the Show If you enjoy the show and would like to support us, we have a Patreon ⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠. If you’re listening on Apple Podcasts or Spotify, leaving us a 5-star review (and a short comment) really helps more people discover the show. It’s quick, free, and makes a huge difference. Referral links also help out the show if you were going to sign up: ⁠⁠⁠NordVPN⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠NordPass⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠thevhsstrikesback@gmail.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://linktr.ee/vhsstrikesback⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
22 Jul

Falling Down (1993) | Michael Douglas’ Cult Urban Breakdown Thriller | VHSSB

Chosen by Chris and released in 1993, Falling Down was directed by Joel Schumacher from a screenplay by Ebbe Roe Smith. Produced for an estimated $25 million, the film stars Michael Douglas in one of his most unsettling roles, supported by Robert Duvall, Barbara Hershey, Rachel Ticotin, Frederic Forrest and Tuesday Weld. The production filmed extensively on location across Los Angeles, using the city’s traffic jams, fast-food restaurants, convenience stores and sun-baked streets to create a sweaty urban pressure cooker. The film opened at number one in the United States and earned more than $40 million domestically, while provoking a sharply divided response from critics and audiences. Douglas’s performance received widespread praise, but the film’s treatment of unemployment, race, violence and male resentment generated considerable controversy. It was also nominated for the Palme d’Or at the 1993 Cannes Film Festival. More than three decades later, Falling Down remains a fiercely debated cult thriller: part social satire, part character study and part reminder that leaving your car during rush hour rarely leads anywhere sensible. Trailer Guy Synopsis In the suffocating heat of Los Angeles, one ordinary-looking man has finally had enough. His car is trapped. His patience is gone. And all he wants is to cross the city and reach his daughter’s birthday party. But every broken promise, inflated price and minor inconvenience pushes him further beyond the edge. As a veteran detective begins following the trail, Los Angeles is about to discover that the man in the white shirt is no longer playing by society’s rules. Fun Facts Screenwriter Ebbe Roe Smith completed the original screenplay in just ten weeks. Smith was inspired by a news report about an enraged truck driver who deliberately rammed other vehicles on a highway. Every major Hollywood studio initially rejected the screenplay, and the project came close to becoming an HBO television film before Warner Bros. intervened. William Foster is usually identified as “D-FENS,” taken from the personalised licence plate on his car rather than from a conventional character nickname. Michael Douglas said the character began to click once the production gave him the severe flattop haircut, tight white shirt, pocket pens and small plastic calculator. The white shirt was deliberately made slightly too small for Douglas, helping D-FENS appear physically restricted and permanently uncomfortable. Political posters by Los Angeles artist Michael McNielly were placed throughout the backgrounds to add another layer of social commentary. Special permission was required to film the closing sequences on Venice Pier because it had been closed to the public since 1988 and was considered unsafe. Production happened to be underway when the 1992 Los Angeles riots began, giving the film’s already tense depiction of the city an uncomfortable real-world backdrop. Ebbe Roe Smith makes a brief appearance as the frustrated motorist shouting from the traffic jam near the beginning of the film. If you enjoy the show and would like to support us, we have a Patreon ⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠. If you’re listening on Apple Podcasts or Spotify, leaving us a 5-star review (and a short comment) really helps more people discover the show. It’s quick, free, and makes a huge difference. Referral links also help out the show if you were going to sign up: ⁠⁠⁠NordVPN⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠NordPass⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠thevhsstrikesback@gmail.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://linktr.ee/vhsstrikesback⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
15 Jul

Dune (1984) | Lynch’s Cult Sci-Fi Fever Dream | VHSSB

Chosen by Mike Burton of Genuine Chit-Chat fame, Dune was released in 1984 and was David Lynch’s ambitious attempt to bring Frank Herbert’s famously dense sci-fi novel to the big screen. Produced by Dino De Laurentiis, the film had a reported budget of around $40 million and was shot largely in Mexico, with huge sets, elaborate costumes, miniature effects, and enough invented terminology to make a cinema audience quietly panic into their popcorn. The cast is absolutely stacked: Kyle MacLachlan, Francesca Annis, Jürgen Prochnow, Patrick Stewart, Max von Sydow, Sean Young, Brad Dourif, Dean Stockwell, and Sting, because apparently space needed a tiny pair of metal pants. On release, the film received mixed reviews and struggled commercially, but over time it became a cult VHS-era oddity: messy, fascinating, visually distinctive, and still discussed decades later by people trying to work out what on Arrakis just happened. Checkout Mike's Genuine Chit-Chat here and Star Wars Chit-Chat here. TRAILER GUY PLOT SYNOPSIS In a universe ruled by emperors, noble houses, secret orders, and one extremely valuable substance, a young heir is pulled into a war for control of the desert planet Arrakis. There are prophecies. There are giant sandworms. There are whispered thoughts, glowing eyes, floating villains, and political schemes so thick you may need a flowchart and a lie down. One family will fall. One boy will rise. And one 1980s sci-fi epic will ask the eternal question: what if Shakespeare, space opera, and a fever dream all shared the same VHS tape? FUN FACTS David Lynch turned down the chance to direct Return of the Jedi before taking on Dune. The film was adapted from Frank Herbert’s 1965 novel, widely considered one of the most influential science fiction books ever written. The soundtrack was mainly composed by Toto, with Brian Eno contributing the haunting “Prophecy Theme.” The famous “weirding modules” were invented for the movie, replacing some of the novel’s more internal and philosophical martial arts concepts. Several longer cuts exist, including a television version credited to “Alan Smithee,” the traditional pseudonym used when a director disowns a project. Lynch has often avoided discussing the film in detail, largely because he did not have final cut. The sandworm effects used miniatures and practical techniques, giving them that distinctive handmade 1980s fantasy look. Sting’s Feyd-Rautha became one of the film’s most memorable images, thanks partly to a costume that appears to have been designed by someone very confident in the future of underwear. Patrick Stewart’s Gurney Halleck charging into battle with a pug remains one of the most gloriously baffling images in all of vintage sci-fi cinema. SUPPORT THE SHOW Support the Show If you enjoy the show and would like to support us, we have a Patreon ⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠. If you’re listening on Apple Podcasts or Spotify, leaving us a 5-star review (and a short comment) really helps more people discover the show. It’s quick, free, and makes a huge difference. Referral links also help out the show if you were going to sign up: ⁠⁠⁠NordVPN⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠NordPass⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠thevhsstrikesback@gmail.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://linktr.ee/vhsstrikesback⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
8 Jul

Irreversible (2002) | Extreme French Arthouse Thriller | VHSSB

Chosen by Timothy and released in 2002, Irreversible was written and directed by Gaspar Noe, the Argentine-born French filmmaker already known for pushing audiences well outside the comfort zone. The film stars Monica Bellucci, Vincent Cassel and Albert Dupontel, with Bellucci and Cassel appearing together while they were married in real life, which adds an extra layer of intensity to an already very uncomfortable viewing experience. Shot in France on a relatively modest budget, Irreversible became one of the most talked-about films of the early 2000s after its Cannes Film Festival premiere, where it reportedly caused walkouts, outrage and intense debate. Its reputation has only grown since then, becoming a notorious landmark of extreme cinema, French arthouse provocation and the kind of DVD rental choice that could absolutely ruin a quiet night in. TRAILER GUY PLOT SYNOPSIS In a city that never seems to stop moving, one night spirals into panic, rage and revenge. Two men descend into the Paris underground, searching for someone they believe must pay, while the world around them twists, turns and refuses to offer anything close to comfort. But this is no ordinary thriller. Time itself has been shattered, the pieces laid out backwards, forcing us to watch consequence before cause, fury before heartbreak, and chaos before the fragile moments that came before it. Irreversible is a cinematic endurance test from 2002, where love, violence and fate collide in a film that asks one simple question: are you sure you meant to rent this? FUN FACTS Irreversible premiered at the 2002 Cannes Film Festival and quickly became one of the most controversial films of that year. The film is structured in reverse chronological order, with scenes playing out from the end of the story back to the beginning. Gaspar Noe has said the backwards structure was partly inspired by the idea that life can only be understood after events have already happened. Monica Bellucci and Vincent Cassel were married at the time of filming, making their performances together especially striking. The film is often grouped with the New French Extremity movement, a wave of French cinema known for graphic, confrontational and boundary-pushing storytelling. Much of the film’s unsettling atmosphere comes from its aggressive sound design, including low-frequency audio designed to make viewers feel physically uncomfortable. The nightclub sequence is famous for its disorientating camerawork, harsh lighting and deliberately oppressive visual style. Irreversible was banned or heavily restricted in some countries due to its explicit content and graphic violence. The film’s title refers to the idea that time destroys everything, which is also one of the film’s most quoted themes. In 2019, Gaspar Noe released a “Straight Cut” version of the film, presenting the story in chronological order. Support the ShowIf you enjoy the show and would like to support us, we have a Patreon ⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠.If you’re listening on Apple Podcasts or Spotify, leaving us a 5-star review (and a short comment) really helps more people discover the show. It’s quick, free, and makes a huge difference.Referral links also help out the show if you were going to sign up: ⁠⁠⁠NordVPN⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠NordPass⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠thevhsstrikesback@gmail.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://linktr.ee/vhsstrikesback⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
1 Jul

Summer Rental (1985) | John Candy Beach Comedy Classic | VHSSB

Chosen by new Patreon Chris! Released in 1985 by Paramount Pictures, Summer Rental gave John Candy one of his early big-screen leading roles, with Carl Reiner directing and a cast that includes Karen Austin, Kerri Green, Joey Lawrence, Rip Torn, and Richard Crenna. Written by Mark Reisman and Jeremy Stevens, the film arrived during that golden VHS-era window when a family comedy could basically be built around one exhausted dad, one bad holiday, and the quiet national fear that your summer break might involve damp walls, sunburn, and emotional collapse. Production took the crew to Florida, with filming around St. Petersburg and St. Pete Beach before later work in Atlanta. Alan Silvestri provided the score, giving the film a breezy, seaside feel that fits its sunburnt, slightly chaotic tone. While a confirmed production budget isn’t widely available, the film earned just under $25 million at the domestic box office, which is a very respectable return for a mid-80s comedy about a man slowly losing a war against relaxation. Trailer Guy Synopsis This summer… one man will leave behind the stress of the skies… only to discover that paradise has a booking error, a plumbing problem, and absolutely no interest in giving him a break. Jack Chester is an overworked air traffic controller in desperate need of rest. So naturally, he takes his family to Florida, where the sun is hot, the locals are odd, and every attempt at relaxation turns into another small humiliation. But when one holiday dad is pushed too far, he’ll have to find his confidence, protect his family’s dignity, and prove that even the world’s most frazzled man can still make waves. This isn’t just a vacation. It’s Summer Rental. Fun Facts Summer Rental was released in US cinemas on August 9, 1985. The movie was a Paramount Pictures release, arriving right in the middle of the 1980s family-comedy boom. John Candy plays Jack Chester, an air traffic controller whose job stress sets the whole holiday disaster in motion. Richard Crenna appears as Al Pellet, giving the film a perfectly smug 80s comedy antagonist. Rip Torn plays Scully, the pirate-like restaurant owner who feels as if he wandered in from a completely different, probably smellier, seaside movie. Kerri Green, who plays Jennifer Chester, also appeared in another major 1985 favourite: The Goonies. Joey Lawrence appears as Bobby Chester and was still credited as Joseph Lawrence at this stage of his career. The fictional holiday destination in the movie is Citrus Cove, Florida. The film originally came to US home video on VHS and Betamax in 1986, which feels exactly right for a movie practically designed to live on a sun-faded rental shelf. Kino Lorber later released the film on Blu-ray with a new 4K scan, giving Jack Chester’s vacation trauma a level of visual clarity no stressed dad ever asked for. Support the ShowIf you enjoy the show and would like to support us, we have a Patreon ⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠.If you’re listening on Apple Podcasts or Spotify, leaving us a 5-star review (and a short comment) really helps more people discover the show. It’s quick, free, and makes a huge difference.Referral links also help out the show if you were going to sign up: ⁠⁠⁠NordVPN⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠NordPass⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠thevhsstrikesback@gmail.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://linktr.ee/vhsstrikesback⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Trailer

The VHS Strikes Back (Trailer)

The VHS Strikes Back

Nostalgic movie review show hosted by Whatever Entertainment team, Dave and Chris. The guys go back in time to review some wonderful and truly awful movies from the days before streaming and even DVD's and had to go to the video store to pick up the latest entertainment. If you want to email the show please contact us on: thevhsstrikesback@gmail.com

Creator

Whatever Entertainment
Years Active

2019 - 2026
Episodes

379
Rating

Explicit
Copyright

© Whatever Entertainment
Show Website

The VHS Strikes Back