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. 2d ago

    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

  2. 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

  3. 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

  4. 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

  5. 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

  6. Aug 10

    The Host (2006) - S16 E124

    Don’t be a bad host – grab some stolen squid legs and pull up a chair for the second instalment of our Size Doesn’t Matter season! This week, we’re hitting the Bong Joon-ho hard to discuss his 2006 South Korean movie masterpiece, The Host. Is it a monster movie? A family drama? A fearless satire on bureaucratic incompetence? It’s all the above, plus a healthy dose of anarchic slapstick and a very critical look at international relations. We dive into the murky waters of the McFarland Incident, the real-life catalyst where the US military decided the Han River was a great place for a formaldehyde dump. Featuring the legendary Song Kang-ho as a borderline narcoleptic hero, the film brings together a dysfunctional family including Byun Hee-Bong, Park Hae-il, Bae Doona and Ko Ah-sung to fight a creature that was apparently named Steve Buscemi on set. It’s a fearless juggling act of tones that will leave you wondering why American remakes always pull their punches. What to expect from this episode: We speculate whether the baby who played the sun from the Teletubbies is a Patreon subscriber. A look at the McFarland Incident, the real-life event that inspired The Host. We discuss why South Korean movies like The Chaser and I Saw the Devil respect the audience way more than western movies. Dan explains how Bong Joon-ho made him sympathise with a “CGI blob” and nudged him toward veganism. A fun coincidence involving Scott Wilson and a previous season. A critical look at the film’s anarchic family dynamics and why a Molotov cocktail is a great sibling-bonding tool. We discuss the fearless social commentary regarding “Agent Yellow” and the anti-American sentiment. A terrifying warning about next week’s film choice. 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 3

    Ant-Man (2015) - S16 E123

    We’re back for a brand-new season of Shoot the Hostage, and Dan has officially established a theme that Sarah finds entirely hypocritical: “Size Doesn’t Matter.” To kick things off, we’re looking at a cinema entry where scale is quite literally the only thing that matters, Ant-Man (2015). This episode marks our first full-length dive into the Marvel Cinematic Universe, specifically during the era before the quality dropped off a cliff. We spend a fair amount of time sifting through the wreckage of Edgar Wright’s Ant-Man, debating whether his standalone vision would have been superior to the more by the numbers heist-lite movie we ended up with. We also attempt to make sense of the shrinking technology, though we eventually conclude that the quantum realm is mostly just the place Marvel writers smash two words together to make it sound real.   What to expect from this episode: A breakdown of why Dan’s “Size Doesn’t Matter” theme is fundamentally ironic given the film choices. The reason why Thomas the Tank Engine was legally required to keep smiling while crushing a police car. A mourning period for the Edgar Wright Ant-Man we’ll never get to see. Misplaced optimism over the possibility of quantum immortality eventually propelling us into the reality where Edgar Wright did direct Ant-Man. The scientific realisation that “Quantum” is just a prefix Marvel uses to make magic sound like physics. Appreciation for the innate charisma of Paul Rudd. Recognition for a suit well-tailored. The reason why Michael Douglas’s wig in Endgame was for more distracting than any de-aging effects. 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. Jul 27 ·  Bonus

    Backrooms

    We managed to find time to wander aimlessly through the fluorescent lit yellow wallpapered nightmare of Kane Parsons’ Backrooms. Join Dan and a moderately functional Sarah as she recounts the joy of following a horror movie with a 3am trip to a real-life liminal hospital corridor for a CT scan. In this episode we dive into: The rise of Kane Parsons and how a 20-year-old turned a creepy pasta inspired YouTube series into a feature film. Why 75% of the budget was seemingly spent on suspended ceilings and why that works. The unusual vibes of the film. How Dan managed to connect with this one while filling his disenfranchised man quota. Why movies like Obsession and Backrooms are dominating the box-office now. We shall return! On August 3rd we're back with a brand new season. This time chosen by Dan. The new theme is "Size Doesn't Matter" and the first film we're sizing up is Ant-Man (2015). 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 when it drops any day now. 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
    180
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2025 All rights reserved.
  • Show Website
    Shoot The Hostage

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