Movie Madness

Erik Childress

Movie Madness is a weekly podcast hosted by Chicago film critic Erik Childress presenting movie reviews, interviews, film festival coverage, DVDs, awards, box office and much more! erikthemovieman.substack.com

  1. 3d ago

    Episode 656: Who Goes There?

    The beginning of any month now seems like a light week for physical media, so Erik Childress and Peter Sobczynski only have a few titles to talk about. They include the magnificent starpower of Cary Grant and Audrey Hepburn in a comically Hitchcockian caper. Jack Nicholson does much more than order in a diner. There’s an early LBGTQ film from William Friedkin and the financially successful but creatively bankrupt attempt at a live-action cartoon. Plus a new extensive documentary on John Carpenter’s 1982 horror masterpiece tells you everything you wanted to know and then some. 1:47 - Criterion (Charade (4K), Five Easy Pieces (4K)) 24:00 -- Cinematographe (The Boys in the Band 4K) 33:16 - CreatorVC (The Thing Expanded) 48:51 - Shout (The Flintstones (4K)) 1:04:55 - New TV on Blu-ray (Covert Affairs: The Complete Series, Doctor Who (2025): Season Two, The Creep Tapes (Season Two)) 1:09:14 - New Theatrical Titles on Blu-ray (Hoppers (4K), Protector) 1:10:28 - New Blu-ray Announcements CLICK ON THE FILMS TO RENT OR PURCHASE AND HELP OUT THE MOVIE MADNESS PODCAST OR BUY FROM MOVIEZYNG Be sure to check out Erik’s Weekly Box Office Column – At Rotten Tomatoes Critics’ Classics Series – At Elk Grove Cinema in Elk Grove Village, IL Chicago Screening Schedule - All the films coming to theaters and streaming Physical Media Schedule - Click & Buy upcoming titles for your library. (Direct purchases help the Movie Madness podcast with a few pennies.) Erik’s Linktree - Where you can follow Erik and his work anywhere and everywhere. The Movie Madness Podcast has been recognized by Million Podcasts as one of the Top 100 Best Movie Review Podcasts as well as in the Top 60 Film Festival Podcasts and Top 100 Cinephile Podcasts. MillionPodcasts is an intelligently curated, all-in-one podcast database for discovering and contacting podcast hosts and producers in your niche perfect for PR pitches and collaborations. USE COUPON “MOVIEMADNESS” TO GET 10% OFF ALL DUBBY PRODUCTS SIGN UP FOR AUDIBLE This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit erikthemovieman.substack.com

    1h 12m

  2. 5d ago

    Episode 655: Do You Hear What I Hear?

    Ending May on a high note (at least in number of reviews) Erik Childress & Steve Prokopy cover 11 films for you this week. Steve looks at a documentary about an autistic dancer exploring her new diagnosis through her art (Room to Move), as well as a mother haunted by postpartum depression (Nesting). Erik took a little time to see John Travolta’s directing debut adapting his children’s book about airplanes (Propeller One-Way Night Coach). There is also the latest collaboration between Mads Mikkelsen & Anders Thomas Jensen (The Last Viking) and a WWII film about the weather forecast for D-Day (Pressure). Katie Aselton explores grieving a traumatic loss (Magic Hour) while a mother discovers her son sent his assistant to do the same after losing her husband (Miss You, Love You). A gifted pianist-turned-piano-repairman uses his unique talent for crime (Tuner) while Paul Rudd’s songwriter has one stolen by Nick Jonas in the latest from John Carney (Power Ballad). “Clean comic” Nate Bargatze makes his big-screen debut in a Mr. Mom riff (The Breadwinner) and 20 year-old Kane Parsons may have made the next horror film everyone will be talking about (Backrooms). 1:20 - Room to Move 9:29 - Propeller One-Way Night Coach 16:12 - Nesting 23:37 - Miss You, Love You 34:18 - The Last Viking 43:30 - Magic Hour 53:43 - Pressure 1:01:07 - Tuner 1:11:59 - Power Ballad 1:25:02 - The Breadwinner 1:40:37 - Backrooms CLICK ON THE FILMS TO RENT OR PURCHASE AND HELP OUT THE MOVIE MADNESS PODCAST OR BUY FROM MOVIEZYNG Be sure to check out Erik’s Weekly Box Office Column – At Rotten Tomatoes Critics’ Classics Series – At Elk Grove Cinema in Elk Grove Village, IL Chicago Screening Schedule - All the films coming to theaters and streaming Physical Media Schedule - Click & Buy upcoming titles for your library. (Direct purchases help the Movie Madness podcast with a few pennies.) Erik’s Linktree - Where you can follow Erik and his work anywhere and everywhere. The Movie Madness Podcast has been recognized by Million Podcasts as one of the Top 100 Best Movie Review Podcasts as well as in the Top 60 Film Festival Podcasts and Top 100 Cinephile Podcasts. MillionPodcasts is an intelligently curated, all-in-one podcast database for discovering and contacting podcast hosts and producers in your niche perfect for PR pitches and collaborations. USE COUPON “MOVIEMADNESS” TO GET 10% OFF ALL DUBBY PRODUCTS SIGN UP FOR AUDIBLE This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit erikthemovieman.substack.com

    1h 56m

  3. May 25

    Episode 654: Nice Goin’, Kid!

    Physical media fans from the 1980s will have a lot to rejoice upon this week (if you still carry a fondness for certain films of your youth) but Erik Childress and Peter Sobczynski have plenty from various decades to add to your library this week. They include Bob Fosse’s take on a free speech icon and the recent Academy Award winner for Best International Feature. Robert Wise’s legendary haunted house film and a collection of classic cartoons. There is early work from Brian DePalma plus Art Carney as a private eye and Tony Randall in six roles. Plus, Peter finally caught up with Harry Hole. But for the nostalgia fans there is also the complete set of Sylvester Stallone’s troubled war hero and Kevin Costner as the famed robber of the rich. John Lithgow adopts Bigfoot, Dan Aykroyd invades John Candy’s vacation and Ron Howard delivers one of the quintessential comedies about family and parenting. Horror fans can take another New Years train ride with Jamie Lee Curtis or finally watch the “real” scenes of death your parents or video store may not have let you or lent you. Finally, a look at Joe Dante’s Gremlins follow-up that 40+ years later still delights and still seeks a bigger audience. 1:10 - Criterion (Lenny (4K), Sentimental Value (4K)) 13:19 - ClassicFlix (Fleischer Cartoons: Greatest Hits, Volume 1) 15:20 - Shout Factory (The Haunting (1963) (4K)) 23:07 - Warner Archive (The 7 Faces of Dr. Lao, The Late Show) 38:39 - Radiance (Hi, Mom! (4K)) 47:40 - Universal (Parenthood (4K)) 56:46 - Arrow (Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves (4K)) 1:07:32 - Lionsgate (Rambo (Complete Collection) 4K) 1:18:35 - Kino (Brit Noir: Collection I, Terror Train (4K), The Great Outdoors (4K), Harry and the Hendersons (4K), The Snowman (4K)) 2:16:38 - Vinegar Syndrome (Faces of Death 4K, Explorers 4K) 2:42:25 - New Theatrical Titles On Blu-ray (Nirvanna the Band the Show the Movie, If I Had Legs I’d Kick You, Heel, Anything That Moves) 2:44:54 - New Blu-ray Announcements CLICK ON THE FILMS TO RENT OR PURCHASE AND HELP OUT THE MOVIE MADNESS PODCAST OR BUY FROM MOVIEZYNG Be sure to check out Erik’s Weekly Box Office Column – At Rotten Tomatoes Critics’ Classics Series – At Elk Grove Cinema in Elk Grove Village, IL Chicago Screening Schedule - All the films coming to theaters and streaming Physical Media Schedule - Click & Buy upcoming titles for your library. (Direct purchases help the Movie Madness podcast with a few pennies.) Erik’s Linktree - Where you can follow Erik and his work anywhere and everywhere. The Movie Madness Podcast has been recognized by Million Podcasts as one of the Top 100 Best Movie Review Podcasts as well as in the Top 60 Film Festival Podcasts and Top 100 Cinephile Podcasts. MillionPodcasts is an intelligently curated, all-in-one podcast database for discovering and contacting podcast hosts and producers in your niche perfect for PR pitches and collaborations. USE COUPON “MOVIEMADNESS” TO GET 10% OFF ALL DUBBY PRODUCTS SIGN UP FOR AUDIBLE This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit erikthemovieman.substack.com

    2h 49m

  4. May 22

    Episode 653: This Is Not The Way

    Erik Childress and Steve Prokopy have seven movie reviews for you this week. They include a scientist’s connection to a tree (Silent Friend) and a woman discovering the horrifying truth of a new diet pill (Saccharine). Sacha Baron Cohen wakes up in a world run by women (Ladies First) and Boots Riley puts shoplifters against the fashion industry (I Love Boosters). André Øvredal gives us the horror film version of Lost In America when “van life” meets a demonic entity (Passenger). John Krasinski’s Tom Clancy series returns with a stand-alone film (Jack Ryan: Ghost War) as does the world of Star Wars with its two breakout characters from the small screen (The Mandalorian and Grogu). 1:40 - Silent Friend 9:35 - Ladies First 22:38 - I Love Boosters 30:08 - Saccharine 38:39 - Jack Ryan: Ghost War 53:19 - Passenger 1:09:01 - The Mandalorian and Grogu CLICK ON THE FILMS TO RENT OR PURCHASE AND HELP OUT THE MOVIE MADNESS PODCAST OR BUY FROM MOVIEZYNG Be sure to check out Erik’s Weekly Box Office Column – At Rotten Tomatoes Critics’ Classics Series – At Elk Grove Cinema in Elk Grove Village, IL Chicago Screening Schedule - All the films coming to theaters and streaming Physical Media Schedule - Click & Buy upcoming titles for your library. (Direct purchases help the Movie Madness podcast with a few pennies.) Erik’s Linktree - Where you can follow Erik and his work anywhere and everywhere. The Movie Madness Podcast has been recognized by Million Podcasts as one of the Top 100 Best Movie Review Podcasts as well as in the Top 60 Film Festival Podcasts and Top 100 Cinephile Podcasts. MillionPodcasts is an intelligently curated, all-in-one podcast database for discovering and contacting podcast hosts and producers in your niche perfect for PR pitches and collaborations. USE COUPON “MOVIEMADNESS” TO GET 10% OFF ALL DUBBY PRODUCTS SIGN UP FOR AUDIBLE This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit erikthemovieman.substack.com

    1h 28m

  5. May 18

    Episode 652: Life Is On The Wire. Everything Else Is Just Waiting.

    Erik Childress and Peter Sobczynski take you through another week of physical media starting with Lawrence Kasdan’s sexy directorial debut getting an upgrade. Peter discovers a 1932 crime drama worthy of a blind buy. Hollywood is front and center in films from Peter Bogdanovich and Martin Ritt. Two of the best teenage films of the 21st century are here ranging from cheerleading to lycanthropy. Provocateurs get in front of a microphone in films from Oliver Stone and Adam Rifkin. They also take a look back at two box office misfires from major filmmakers including Robert Zemeckis’ breathtaking version on Man On Wire and the Wachowski’s Matrix follow-up that has developed quite the following over the years. 1:10 - Criterion (Body Heat (4K)) 16:39 - Sony (Nickelodeon, The Front (4K), The Dark Backward, The Walk (4K)) 1:00:52 - Kino (Night World, Swashbuckler, Talk Radio) 1:29:42 - Lionsgate (Ginger Snaps 4K) 1:42:13 - Universal (Bring It On (7-Movie Collection)) 1:49:13 - Warner (The Conjuring Universe, Speed Racer (4K)) 2:04:12 – New TV on Blu-ray (Fallout (Season 2) (4K), Looney Tunes Cartoons (The Complete Series), Snowpiercer (The Complete Series)) 2:05:28 - New Theatrical Titles On Blu-ray (Avatar: Fire & Ash (4K), Arco (4K), Scarlet (4K), The Bride! (2026) (4K), Sirat, The AI Doc: Or How I Became an Apocaloptimist, The Napa Boys, Reminders of Him) 2:07:56 – New Blu-ray Announcements CLICK ON THE FILMS TO RENT OR PURCHASE AND HELP OUT THE MOVIE MADNESS PODCAST OR BUY FROM MOVIEZYNG Be sure to check out Erik’s Weekly Box Office Column – At Rotten Tomatoes Critics’ Classics Series – At Elk Grove Cinema in Elk Grove Village, IL Chicago Screening Schedule - All the films coming to theaters and streaming Physical Media Schedule - Click & Buy upcoming titles for your library. (Direct purchases help the Movie Madness podcast with a few pennies.) Erik’s Linktree - Where you can follow Erik and his work anywhere and everywhere. The Movie Madness Podcast has been recognized by Million Podcasts as one of the Top 100 Best Movie Review Podcasts as well as in the Top 60 Film Festival Podcasts and Top 100 Cinephile Podcasts. MillionPodcasts is an intelligently curated, all-in-one podcast database for discovering and contacting podcast hosts and producers in your niche perfect for PR pitches and collaborations. USE COUPON “MOVIEMADNESS” TO GET 10% OFF ALL DUBBY PRODUCTS SIGN UP FOR AUDIBLE This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit erikthemovieman.substack.com

    2h 10m

  6. May 15

    Episode 651: Wish In One Hand And OH S**T In The Other

    Erik Childress and Steve Prokopy return from the Chicago Critics Film Festival with nine new reviews this week including a string of documentaries. Steve looks at a partnership designed to bring some care back to healthcare (The Chaplain & The Doctor) and actor Ben Mackenzie laying waste to the scam of crypto (Everyone Is Lying To You for Money). Erik looks at a tragic 2022 accident that may not have been an accident (The Crash) and Steve joins in on the life and career of a comedy legend (Marty, Life Is Short). The guy behind the guy that is Vladimir Putin is examined in a new film by Oliver Assayas (The Wizard of the Kremlin) and a middle-aged mouse believes the corporate-driven world he lives in is not what it seems (Decorado). Two sisters go on a revenge trip against the father who scarred them (Is God Is) and a pair of mercenaries plot to extract a power broker in the latest film from Guy Richie (In the Grey). Finally, a guy tries to get his best friend to love him and it may not go as you might expect (Obsession). 3:24 - The Chaplain & the Doctor 10:04 - The Crash 16:47 - Everyone Is Lying To You for Money 29:04 - Marty, Life Is Short 42:44 - The Wizard of the Kremlin 53:30 - Decorado 1:00:25 - Is God Is 1:07:15 - In the Grey 1:20:33 - Obsession CLICK ON THE FILMS TO RENT OR PURCHASE AND HELP OUT THE MOVIE MADNESS PODCAST OR BUY FROM MOVIEZYNG Be sure to check out Erik’s Weekly Box Office Column – At Rotten Tomatoes Critics’ Classics Series – At Elk Grove Cinema in Elk Grove Village, IL Chicago Screening Schedule - All the films coming to theaters and streaming Physical Media Schedule - Click & Buy upcoming titles for your library. (Direct purchases help the Movie Madness podcast with a few pennies.) Erik’s Linktree - Where you can follow Erik and his work anywhere and everywhere. The Movie Madness Podcast has been recognized by Million Podcasts as one of the Top 100 Best Movie Review Podcasts as well as in the Top 60 Film Festival Podcasts and Top 100 Cinephile Podcasts. MillionPodcasts is an intelligently curated, all-in-one podcast database for discovering and contacting podcast hosts and producers in your niche perfect for PR pitches and collaborations. USE COUPON “MOVIEMADNESS” TO GET 10% OFF ALL DUBBY PRODUCTS SIGN UP FOR AUDIBLE This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit erikthemovieman.substack.com

    1h 34m

  7. May 11

    Episode 650: Yes Virginia, You Can Loop A Chopper

    Erik Childress and Peter Sobczynski were off last week at the Chicago Critics Film Festival but return to catch you up on the world of physical media. There are serial killers played by Matt Dillon and another stopped by Charles Bronson. Criterion puts out more Kurosawa and there’s a documentary on George Stevens as well. A Disney animated film from the ‘50s gets the upgrade as does a sci-fi film from the era. A comedy classic and one of the great baseball films celebrate their 15th anniversaries. The pair look back at the lasting power of David Fincher’s adaptation of male insecurity and culminate with one of the great action films of the 1980s and the TV series it spawned in its wake. 1:36 - Criterion (Stray Dog (4K)) 5:04 - Warner Archive (George Stevens: A Filmmaker’s Journey) 7:41 - Universal (It Came from Outer Space (4K), Bridesmaids (4K)) 19:04 - Cult Epics (Girls 4K) 22:51 - Disney (Alice In Wonderland (1951) (4K), Fight Club (4K Steelbook)) 37:44 - Sony (Moneyball (4K)) 46:48 - Kino (Bend of the River, 10 to Midnight (4K), A Kiss Before Dying (1991), Charli XCX: Alone Together) 1:12:03 - Arrow (Blue Thunder (4K)) 1:26:35 - New TV on Blu-Ray) (Blue Thunder (The Complete Series), IT: Welcome to Derry (The Complete First Season), Gilmore Girls: The Complete Series) 1:28:04 - New Theatrical Titles On Blu-ray (Wuthering Heights (2026) 4K, GOAT (4K), Dracula, Obex, Solo Mio, Mistress Dispeller, I Can Only Imagine 2, Youngblood (2025), Twinless) 1:29:49 - New Blu-ray Announcements CLICK ON THE FILMS TO RENT OR PURCHASE AND HELP OUT THE MOVIE MADNESS PODCAST OR BUY FROM MOVIEZYNG Be sure to check out Erik’s Weekly Box Office Column – At Rotten Tomatoes Critics’ Classics Series – At Elk Grove Cinema in Elk Grove Village, IL Chicago Screening Schedule - All the films coming to theaters and streaming Physical Media Schedule - Click & Buy upcoming titles for your library. (Direct purchases help the Movie Madness podcast with a few pennies.) Erik’s Linktree - Where you can follow Erik and his work anywhere and everywhere. The Movie Madness Podcast has been recognized by Million Podcasts as one of the Top 100 Best Movie Review Podcasts as well as in the Top 60 Film Festival Podcasts and Top 100 Cinephile Podcasts. MillionPodcasts is an intelligently curated, all-in-one podcast database for discovering and contacting podcast hosts and producers in your niche perfect for PR pitches and collaborations. USE COUPON “MOVIEMADNESS” TO GET 10% OFF ALL DUBBY PRODUCTS SIGN UP FOR AUDIBLE This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit erikthemovieman.substack.com

    1h 33m

  8. May 1

    Episode 649: You’re Not Writing That, Are You?

    Erik Childress and Steve Prokopy will be at the Music Box Theatre handling the Chicago Critics Film Festival this week, but they managed to squeeze in seven reviews for movies you can see (after you attend the fest.) They include the latest from RZA behind the camera (One Spoon of Chocolate). Erik looks at a family on a road trip after behind evicted (Omaha) and another family with a troubled son seen through the eyes of their daughter (Blue Heron). Steve sees Adam Scott haunted by old secrets and possibly a witch (Hokum). Andy Serkis does a new animated adaptation of George Orwell’s other classic (Animal Farm). Renny Harlin returns to planes and sharks (Deep Water) and the whole team returns to the journalistic side of fashion (The Devil Wears Prada 2). 4:19 - One Spoon of Chocolate 11:58 - Omaha 19:05 - Hokum 27:35 - Blue Heron 33:15 - Animal Farm 46:09 - Deep Water 58:53 - The Devil Wears Prada 2 CLICK ON THE FILMS TO RENT OR PURCHASE AND HELP OUT THE MOVIE MADNESS PODCAST OR BUY FROM MOVIEZYNG Be sure to check out Erik’s Weekly Box Office Column – At Rotten Tomatoes Critics’ Classics Series – At Elk Grove Cinema in Elk Grove Village, IL Chicago Screening Schedule - All the films coming to theaters and streaming Physical Media Schedule - Click & Buy upcoming titles for your library. (Direct purchases help the Movie Madness podcast with a few pennies.) Erik’s Linktree - Where you can follow Erik and his work anywhere and everywhere. The Movie Madness Podcast has been recognized by Million Podcasts as one of the Top 100 Best Movie Review Podcasts as well as in the Top 60 Film Festival Podcasts and Top 100 Cinephile Podcasts. MillionPodcasts is an intelligently curated, all-in-one podcast database for discovering and contacting podcast hosts and producers in your niche perfect for PR pitches and collaborations. USE COUPON “MOVIEMADNESS” TO GET 10% OFF ALL DUBBY PRODUCTS SIGN UP FOR AUDIBLE This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit erikthemovieman.substack.com

    1h 24m
See All (661)

4
out of 5
28 Ratings

About

Movie Madness is a weekly podcast hosted by Chicago film critic Erik Childress presenting movie reviews, interviews, film festival coverage, DVDs, awards, box office and much more! erikthemovieman.substack.com

Information

  • Creator
    Erik Childress
  • Years Active
    2016 - 2026
  • Episodes
    661
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Erik Childress
  • Show Website
    Movie Madness

You Might Also Like