Shoot The Hostage

Shoot The Hostage Podcast
  • 4.0 (1)
  • Film Reviews
  • Updated Weekly

Welcome to Shoot The Hostage with Sarah & Dan - the movie podcast where we pick one movie at a time and take a deep dive into anything and everything we can. Each season, we dive into a new theme which we take turns in choosing. We tend to choose a diverse pick of films for each season, trying our best to cover different genres & themes. If you’re in the market for a movie podcast with hosts that don’t take themselves too seriously and love films just as much as you, then head over. Take your shoes off and come on in.

  1. 1d ago ·  Bonus

    Best of "Size Doesn't Matter" Season

    In this season roundup, we dive headfirst into all things scale-related for the last time as we revisit some of our favourite moments from Dan’s “Size Doesn’t Matter” season. In this roundup, we shrink our expectation and scale up the chaos: We dissect Hank Pym’s fake science in Peyton Reed’s Ant-Man, celebrating Corey Stoll’s massive floating face in Quantumania and Judy Greer’s three-scene mother routine. We marvel at Bong Joon-ho’s The Host, where crew members threw heavy barrels into the river just to perfect CGI creature splash physics. Sarah explains how watching Gary Oldman in Tiptoes aggravated her jaw disorder, leading straight into an unhinged John Travolta tangent. We pit Brad Dourif’s maniacal Child’s Play laugh against horror icons and roast Andy’s chaotic 6:30am birthday breakfast. We pitch recasting Sam Neill and Laura Dern in Jurassic Park 3 with Pauly Shore, mock the talking raptor, and expose a failed 2001 burner phone promo. Director Joe Dante gets his due across Gremlins 2 and Innerspace while Tim Thomerson plays a small angry man chasing a floating head. We shall return! On October 19th we're back with a brand new season. This time chosen by Sarh. The new theme is "After Death" and the first film we're looking at is Talk to Me (2022).  Would you like to see the full lineup for season 17? The only place you can see it is on Patreon but you don't need to be a paying member. Sign up for a free membership and get access to the lineup when it drops any day now. Instagram | TikTok | Threads | YouTube

  2. Sep 28 ·  Bonus

    Season Sixteen Wrap Show Preview

    Open up a cold can of Cherryade and join us for a look back the season. What started as a theme dedicated to films about size and exploring size in movies ended up expanding into a bloody long shortlist covering everything from pint-sized slasher icons to scaled-up creature features. Across the 8 episodes, we weighed up small things in movies, from Hary Oldman in Tiptoes and Chucky in Child’s Play to Marvel’s twelfth entry, Ant-Man before taking on heavyweight monster movies like The Host and Jurassic Park 3 and accidentally double-dipping on director Joe Dante with Gremlins 2 and our grand finale, Innerspace. In this wrap show we lament the tragic omission of Ray Harrhausen’s iconic stop-motion miniatures and skeletons, debate why swapping Honey, I Shrunk the Kids for shrinking Dennis Quaid and injecting him into Martin Short was the ultimate power move, and take a nostalgic detour into the lost era of recording movies off the telly and buying suspicious bags of VHS tapes on Facebook Marketplace. What to expect in this episode: We reflect on our “Size Doesn’t Matter” slate, spanning Ant-Man to Innerspace. A petition for the Prince Charles cinema to start screening Tiptoes. Confessing to the accidental Joe Dante double-dip with Gremlins 2 and Innerspace, while weighing up the alternative monster movies like Deep Rising and Lake Placid. Discover why the Honey, I Shrunk the Kids franchise was sidelined in favour of Martin Short. A wild tangent into the ethics of recording movies off the telly, buying mystery bags of VHS tapes and the monarchy’s tourist value. Sarah tests Dan’s comprehension of the seasons movies in an eight-question quiz. If you would like to listen to the full episode, head over to Patreon to get access to this and all of our previous wrap shows from seasons 1-15. We shall return! On October 19th we're back with a brand new season. This time chosen by Sarh. The new theme is "After Death" and the first film we're looking at is Talk to Me (2022).  Would you like to see the full lineup for season 17? The only place you can see it is on Patreon but you don't need to be a paying member. Sign up for a free membership and get access to the lineup when it drops any day now. Instagram | TikTok | Threads | YouTube

  3. Sep 21

    Innerspace - S16 E130

    For the eighth and final episode of our Size Doesn’t Matter season, Dan and Sarah look at director Joe Dante’s 1987 sci-fi comedy, Innerspace. Anchored in the wild experimentation of 1980s cinema, the movie tackles an absurdist concept with Dennis Quaid playing an arrogant pilot who is miniaturized and accidentally injected into a hypochondriac played by Martin Short. We dig into why this blend of comedy sci-fi and body horror flopped at the box-office back in 1987 despite it picking up an Oscar for its practical effects. From Meg Ryan’s rom-com warmth to Robert Picardo’s brilliant shape-shifting performance, it’s a standout among 80s movies with a crazy premise. We chat about how films about small things used to build giant props and double-length cars instead of relying on CGI, marvel at Martin Short movies at their slapstick peak, and question whether Dennis Quaid films ever feature a truly likable protagonist. What to expect from this episode: We explore why Martin Short’s masterclass in physical comedy makes him Dan’s all-time favourite Canadian. Sarah and Dan praise Robert Picardo’s incredible performance as The Cowboy and his brilliant face-shifting Martin Short impression. We debate whether Dennis Quaid’s arrogant pilot Tuck Pendleton is supposed to be likeable or just a total jerk. Appreciation for the Oscar-winning practical special effects, double-length car props, and forced perspective techniques that beat out Predator. We examine the film as “Cronenberg for kids” with its surprising amount of body horror, including a henchman dissolved by stomach acid. Dan provides an unnecessarily thorough breakdown of how miniaturized waste disposal and digestion would logically work inside the human body. We spot the classic Joe Dante hallmarks, including his personal cameo, Dick Miller as a taxi driver, and SCTV alumni appearances. Reflection on how 1980s studio cinema embraced wild, original concepts that modern blockbusters just can’t match. We'll be back on October 19th for Season 17 If you're a fan of the show and want more content, check out our £3.00 a month tier on Patreon where we release our end of season wrap shows and 2 reviews of brand new movies every month. Plus you'll get access to our back catalogue from 2023 onwards. Enjoy the show but can't support us financially? We get it. You could submit a review on the podcast player you're reading this on right now. Or if you listen on Spotify and you haven't given us a five-star rating yet, what are ye waiting for? It's easy. If you've done some or all of that and still want to do more, we would love it if you tell a friend about the show.   Or come find us on social media: Instagram | TikTok | Threads | YouTube

  4. Sep 14

    Dollman (1991) - S16 E129

    It’s time to shrink your expectations and doll out some pocket-sized justice because Shoot the Hostage is back for the penultimate episode in Dan’s carefully curated “Size Doesn’t Matter” season. This week, Dan and Sarah take a short journey into the 1991 sci-fi action absurdity Dollman, directed by cult b-movie maestro Albert Pyun and produced by the legendary Charles Band of Full Moon Pictures. We’re examining Brick Bardo, a 13-inch alien cop played with relentless, stoic grit by Tim Thomerson, who brings pure tiny Dirty Harry energy to the grimy streets of New York. After crash-landing from planet Arturus, Bardo finds himself locked in a low-budget showdown against South Bronx gang leader Braxton, played by a pre-Watchmen Jackie Earle Haley channelling a twitchy David Patrick Kelly. Along for the ride are local neighbourhood activist Debbie (Kamala Lopez), Bardo’s floating-head nemesis Sprug (Frank Collison), and Bardo’s frustrated precinct boss played by Nicholas Guest. We break down why Charles Band films are “the TK Maxx of the movie industry” – a bargain bin where you must dig through piles of trash to find a rare kernel of genius. We explore how Dollman inflates its diminutive run time using five uninterrupted minutes of sidewalk stock footage, Garth Marenghi style slow motion lingering, and recycled Buck Rogers space shots. Plus, we take a small detour into 1991 nostalgia – discussing 20p newsagent hair gel, scratch and sniff t-shirts, Magic Eye puzzles and SeaQuest DSV before dissecting whether Bardo’s universe shattering blaster is merely a phallic extension for a lawman of tiny proportions. What to expect in this episode: Nostalgic tangents exploring 1991 pop culture, including Global Hypercolor shirts, Magic Eye pictures and 20p tubs of hair gel. A tribute to Albert Pyun’s prolific career, Roger Corman roots and surprising historical ties to Total Recall. Celebration of Tim Thomerson’s iconic performance as Brick Bardo, the ultimate pocket-sized lawman. A breakdown of the planet Arturus opening hostage scene and its bizarre dialogue choices. Our full pitch for a modern Dollman reboot A preview of next week’s episode This season has eight episodes, concluding September 21st Would you like to see the full lineup for season 16? The only place you can see it is on Patreon but you don't need to be a paying member. Sign up for a free membership and get access to the lineup. If you're a fan of the show and want more content, check out our £3.00 a month tier on Patreon where we release our end of season wrap shows and 2 reviews of brand new movies every month. Plus you'll get access to our back catalogue from 2023 onwards. Enjoy the show but can't support us financially? We get it. You could submit a review on the podcast player you're reading this on right now. Or if you listen on Spotify and you haven't given us a five-star rating yet, what are ye waiting for? It's easy. If you've done some or all of that and still want to do more, we would love it if you tell a friend about the show.   Or come find us on social media: Instagram | TikTok | Threads | YouTube

  5. Sep 7

    Gremlins 2: The New Batch - S16 E128

    Welcome back to Shoot the Hostage for the sixth instalment of our “Size Doesn’t Matter” season where this week, Dan has dragged us to the high-tech non-functioning corridors of Clamp Tower. Yes, we’re tackling the pinnacle of chaotic movie sequels: Joe Dante’s 1990 live-action cartoon, Gremlins 2: The New Batch. What to expect in this episode: Sarah explains why her maternal instincts are triggered by Gizmo and the strange resemblance he has with her cat. We try to solve the ultimate Mogwai hygiene mystery. Praise for John Glover’s performance and why we warm to a character designed to parody a certain orange balloon man. We celebrate Rick Baker’s practical effects and debate our favourite Gremlin designs, from the Spider Gremlin to the Gargoyle Gremlin. Gizmo’s incredible Rambo-style montage and how Sylvester Stallone personally signed off on the gag. This season has eight episodes, concluding September 21st Would you like to see the full lineup for season 16? The only place you can see it is on Patreon but you don't need to be a paying member. Sign up for a free membership and get access to the lineup. If you're a fan of the show and want more content, check out our £3.00 a month tier on Patreon where we release our end of season wrap shows and 2 reviews of brand new movies every month. Plus you'll get access to our back catalogue from 2023 onwards. Enjoy the show but can't support us financially? We get it. You could submit a review on the podcast player you're reading this on right now. Or if you listen on Spotify and you haven't given us a five-star rating yet, what are ye waiting for? It's easy. If you've done some or all of that and still want to do more, we would love it if you tell a friend about the show.   Or come find us on social media: Instagram | TikTok | Threads | YouTube

  6. Aug 31

    Jurassic Park 3 - S16 E127

    Welcome back to Shoot the Hostage, the movie podcast where we tackle your favourite films one themed season at a time. We are officially five episodes deep into Dan’s “Size Doesn’t Matter” season and we’ve hit the apex of early 2000s studio chaos. This week we’re talking about Jurassic Park 3 (2001) – the shortest, weirdest and most script-deficient entry in the pantheon of dinosaur movies. To say this film had a troubled production is an understatement; director Joe Johnston famously ran the cameras without a finished script, resulting in a cast that was visibly questioning their life choices on screen. We have William H. Macy and Téa Leoni playing an estranged couple with zero romantic chemistry, whose entire parenting strategy is screaming “Eric!” and “Mr Udeski!” into the jungle. Then there’s Alessandro Nivola as Billy, a man who somehow invents 3D printing in 2001 using only a toothbrush and Michael Jeter as a highly unconvincing mercenary. This is also the first time we’re talking Sam Neill movies on the main feed. We unpack why the iconic actor turned down Lord of the Rings to get chased by Raptors, how Laura Dern secured the ultimate daily rate and why we’re still salty at the Spinosaurus bullying the T-Rex. What to expect from the episode: Why Dr. Grant agreeing to go anywhere near Isla Sorna makes zero-character sense. We discuss how Billy basically pioneered the future of 3D printing in 2001. We look at the failed 2001 marketing disaster involving a competition and 1000 Jurassic Park themed disposable mobile telephones. Why starting a $93 million blockbuster without a completed script made William H. Macy and Téa Leoni miserable. We have fun talking about that infamous talking raptor dream sequence that Stan Winston called “the great Muppet shot” We debate whether a fight against fifty tiny ankle biting dinosaurs is actually safer than facing a single Spinosaurus. Why the movie should have skipped the pro-military rescue and instead cut to a rogue rocket blowing up the helicopter, leaving the pterodactyls beautifully silhouetted against the fireball This season has eight episodes, concluding September 21st Would you like to see the full lineup for season 16? The only place you can see it is on Patreon but you don't need to be a paying member. Sign up for a free membership and get access to the lineup. If you're a fan of the show and want more content, check out our £3.00 a month tier on Patreon where we release our end of season wrap shows and 2 reviews of brand new movies every month. Plus you'll get access to our back catalogue from 2023 onwards. Enjoy the show but can't support us financially? We get it. You could submit a review on the podcast player you're reading this on right now. Or if you listen on Spotify and you haven't given us a five-star rating yet, what are ye waiting for? It's easy. If you've done some or all of that and still want to do more, we would love it if you tell a friend about the show.   Or come find us on social media: Instagram | TikTok | Threads | YouTube

  7. Aug 24

    Child's Play (1988) - S16 E126

    This week we’re slicing into the 1988 classic Child’s Play, the slasher film that proved sometimes “an annoying little s***” in dungarees is all you need to launch one of the most resilient horror icons in cinema. We dive into how creator Don Mancini managed to maintain incredible consistency and longevity by never retconning the crazy logic of the series. We discuss the creative clashes between Mancini and director Tom Holland (not the one who wears spandex), the legendary vocal work of one Brad Dourif, and how Catherine Hicks and Alex Vincent survived the most chaotic breakfast ever put to film. Plus, we marvel at the practical effects of Kevin Yagher, proving that an animatronic doll is infinitely more terrifying than any modern CGI. We also dig into the wild rumour that Gary Oldman was once considered for the voice of the slasher doll and how Fiona Dourif eventually joined the family business by playing her dad. What to expect from this episode: Find out how Sarah got Dan to watch the entire Chucky franchise way back before season 1. We discuss the ADHD breakfast from hell at great length. The mystery of the “peddler” and why buying an animatronic doll in a 1980s back alley for $30 is a total steal. Why Brad Dourif’s maniacal giggle adds two weeks to Sarah’s lifespan every time she hears it. The tension-filled car reveal where Chris Sarandon finally realises size really doesn’t matter when a doll has a knife. A look at the practical effects that allowed a Good Guy Doll to progressively look more human and haggard. The surprising revelation that legendary critic Roger Ebert gave this slasher film a thumbs up. We debate whether the “child prison” sanatorium had a ball pit and individual mini pizzas for its pint-sized inmates. Why “burnt to a crisp chucky” remains one of the coolest looking villains in horror movies. This season has eight episodes, concluding September 21st Would you like to see the full lineup for season 16? The only place you can see it is on Patreon but you don't need to be a paying member. Sign up for a free membership and get access to the lineup. If you're a fan of the show and want more content, check out our £3.00 a month tier on Patreon where we release our end of season wrap shows and 2 reviews of brand new movies every month. Plus you'll get access to our back catalogue from 2023 onwards. Enjoy the show but can't support us financially? We get it. You could submit a review on the podcast player you're reading this on right now. Or if you listen on Spotify and you haven't given us a five-star rating yet, what are ye waiting for? It's easy. If you've done some or all of that and still want to do more, we would love it if you tell a friend about the show.   Or come find us on social media: Instagram | TikTok | Threads | YouTube

  8. Aug 17

    Tiptoes (2002) - S16 E125

    We are reaching new heights in the third instalment of Dan’s “Size Doesn’t Matter” theme, and Sarah’s jaw is quite literally still on the floor. This week, we are unpacking the 2002 cult curiosity Tiptoes, a misguided movie so notorious that is has sat on YouTube for eight years without a single copyright claim. We dive into the troubled production of director Matthew Bright, exploring how a supposedly “gorgeous” three-hour cut was hacked into an 86-minute cinematic failure that effectively ended a career. For the hardcore cinephiles who love a train wreck, we analyse the perplexing casting choices that led to the legendary Gary Oldman playing a person with dwarfism. Between the rubber legs, the fake nose, and the sombre “issues” based drama that suddenly shifts into slapstick, it is a misguided directorial vision for the ages. We also take a short look at the rest of the A-list cast including Matthew McConaughey as a wall-punching firefighter trainer, Kate Beckinsale in her lucky Scrooge McDuck hat, and Peter Dinklage sporting a French accent that defies explanation. With dramatic tone shifts that rival The Room and Battlefield Earth, we ask the big questions: Why was this made? How did it cost $1.2 million? And is this truly the terrible movie to end all terrible movies? What to expect from this episode: Dan explains why he chose Tiptoes as the anchor for this season’s theme. Sarah describes the literal physical toll of watching the film with her mouth agape. We discuss the career-ending fallout for director Matthew Bright following the release. A deep dive into the technical wizardry and horror of Gary Oldman’s dwarfism prosthetics. We analyse Matthew McMconaughey’s early 2000s performance and his strange habit of punching hospital walls. The mystery of Kate Beckinsale’s lucky hat and its possible connection to her future career. Peter Dinklage and Patricia Arquette’s inexplicable subplot involving motorcycles and Marxism is dissected. We debate if the legendary three-hour director’s cut could have actually saved this. This season has eight episodes, concluding September 21st Would you like to see the full lineup for season 16? The only place you can see it is on Patreon but you don't need to be a paying member. Sign up for a free membership and get access to the lineup. If you're a fan of the show and want more content, check out our £3.00 a month tier on Patreon where we release our end of season wrap shows and 2 reviews of brand new movies every month. Plus you'll get access to our back catalogue from 2023 onwards. Enjoy the show but can't support us financially? We get it. You could submit a review on the podcast player you're reading this on right now. Or if you listen on Spotify and you haven't given us a five-star rating yet, what are ye waiting for? It's easy. If you've done some or all of that and still want to do more, we would love it if you tell a friend about the show.   Or come find us on social media: Instagram | TikTok | Threads | YouTube

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About

Welcome to Shoot The Hostage with Sarah & Dan - the movie podcast where we pick one movie at a time and take a deep dive into anything and everything we can. Each season, we dive into a new theme which we take turns in choosing. We tend to choose a diverse pick of films for each season, trying our best to cover different genres & themes. If you’re in the market for a movie podcast with hosts that don’t take themselves too seriously and love films just as much as you, then head over. Take your shoes off and come on in.

Information

  • Creator
    Shoot The Hostage Podcast
  • Years Active
    2023 - 2026
  • Episodes
    183
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2025 All rights reserved.
  • Show Website
    Shoot The Hostage

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