Cult Film School

Adrian Roberto & Dion Tubrett
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  • FILM REVIEWS
  • UPDATED BIWEEKLY

Join Adrian Roberto and Dion Tubrett for discussions of cult cinema; from classic to contemporary, well-known to hidden gems, and films sure to offend someone’s sensibilities. Welcome to Cult Film School: class is in session.

  1. OCT 7

    Travolta Sweats: Saturday Night Fever (1977) & Staying Alive (1983)

    Adrian & Dion return to revel in the musical joys and excesses of Saturday Night Fever (1977) and the sweaty disco-hangover sequel Staying Alive (1983). It was musical drama that defined a generation… and Staying Alive. Whether disco-era polyester and dance floors or aerobics-era baby oil and headbands, there is only one thing for sure: Travolta sweats.   Chapters: 0:00:12 - Welcome to Cult Film School 0:03:00 - Adrian & Dion’s Personal Histories of Saturday Night Fever (1977) and Staying Alive (1983) 0:08:05 - Saturday Night Fever (1977): IMDb Plot Summary 0:09:38 - A Brief Production History of Saturday Night Fever 0:16:15 - More Than a Disco Movie… 0:18:48 - The Darkness of Saturday Night Fever (1977) 0:22:38 - “A story of America” 0:24:26 - Disco Dance Floor Dynamics 0:25:25 - “… because everything is broken.” 0:26:35 - Stephanie 0:27:51 - Disco Dance Floor Dynamics (cont.) 0:31:50 - Bobby C. 0:37:28 - “There’s ways of killing yourself without killing yourself.” 0:43:26 - Saturday Night Fever (1977): Tagline 0:47:13 - Staying Alive (1983): IMDb Plot Summary 0:49:56 - A Brief Production History of Staying Alive 0:51:23 - A Guilty Camp Pleasure 0:55:09 - A Tale of Two Films 1:01:43 - Loose Ties to Saturday Night Fever (1977) & Stallone’s Influence 1:03:58 - Camp Excesses Curtailed? (or, Satan’s Alley Triumphs) 1:07:51 - Homoeroticism & Christmas Film 1:10:20 - Staying Alive (1983): Tagline 1:12:46 - A Tale of Two Tonys 1:16:11 - Next Episode Preview   Connect with Adrian & Dion: Letterboxd ~ CultFilmSchool Instagram ~ @cultfilmschool  Threads ~ @cultfilmschool X ~ @cultfilmschool Facebook  ~ Follow Us! Send an Email ~ cultfilmschoolpodcast@gmail.com  Don’t forget to leave a rating and review!

    1h 17m

  2. SEP 9 · BONUS

    Extra Credit: Captain America (1990) Director's Cut

    In this Extra Credit episode, Adrian and Dion return to Captain America (1990), but now with the newly released Director’s Cut available from Yippee Ki-Yay Mother Video. They have high hopes for this fabled Director’s Cut, but does it get a "Captain America thumbs up" seal of approval?   Chapters: 0:00:12 - Welcome to Cult Film School 0:04:35 - A Recap of the Captain America (1990) Theatrical Cut 0:05:29 - The contrast of Captain America (1990) Director’s Cut 0:06:33 - Captain America (1990) Director’s Cut: Parallels Between Captain America and Red Skull 0:07:06 - Captain America (1990) Director’s Cut: “The emotional anchor of the entire film." 0:08:26 - Captain America (1990) Director’s Cut: “It’s a completely different film.” 0:10:53 - Captain America (1990) Director’s Cut: Caricatures Made Characters 0:11:59 - Captain America (1990) Director’s Cut: Editing Makes a Huge Difference 0:13:27 - Captain America (1990) Director’s Cut: Matt Salinger, a Revelation 0:14:30 - Captain America (1990) Director’s Cut: The Film’s Ending 0:15:48 - Captain America (1990) Director’s Cut: Why Were the Best Parts Not in the Theatrical Cut? 0:16:37 - Captain America (1990) Director’s Cut: Was It Ahead of Its Time? (Or, was it Out-of-Time for a superhero film in 1990?) 0:20:26 - Captain America (1990) Director’s Cut: Random Oddities 0:21:22 - Final Thoughts Captain America (1990) Director’s Cut blu-ray (standard edition) is currently available from Yippee Ki-Yay Mother Video: https://yippeekiyaymothervideo.com/products/captain-america-standard-edition   Connect with Adrian & Dion: Letterboxd ~ CultFilmSchool Instagram ~ @cultfilmschool  Threads ~ @cultfilmschool X ~ @cultfilmschool Facebook  ~ Follow Us! Send an Email ~ cultfilmschoolpodcast@gmail.com  Don’t forget to leave a rating and review!

    25 min

  3. SEP 2

    Send in the Clowns: It (1990), It (2017) & It: Chapter Two (2019)

    Adrian and Dion are back, and in this episode they decide to visit Derry, Maine again and again and again. They return to three adaptations of Stephen King’s novel It (1986): The It (1990) telefilm, and the feature films It (2017) and It: Chapter Two (2019). Nostalgia and clownsploitation are part of the field trip, but what else will they discover along the way? They were promised floating, but aren’t going to hold their breath.   Chapters: 0:00:12 - Welcome to Cult Film School 0:02:34 - Stephen King’s It (1986): The Novel, Unread But Not Unknown 0:05:52 - It (1990): IMDb Plot Summary  0:07:31 - It (1990): A Brief (Production) History 0:10:33 - Pennywise: The Story of It (2021): Tim Curry & Pennywise Makeup Choices 0:12:04 - The Greatness of Tim Curry as Pennywise the Clown 0:14:53 - Casting as the True Strength of It (1990) 0:17:43 - It (1990): Night 1 vs. Night 2 0:19:34 - It (1990): Is Night 2 Unfairly Criticized? 0:21:54 - Criticisms of It (1990) 0:25:36 - It (1990): Tagline 0:26:47 - It (2017): IMDb Plot Summary 0:27:54 - It (2017): A Brief (Production) History (aka Cary Fukunaga’s It meets Andy Muschietti) 0:31:02 - Why It (2017) Resonated with Audiences 0:31:51 - It (2017): “I don’t think this movie works.” 0:33:52 - Bill Skarsgård’s Pennywise the Clown 0:35:35 - Why the 1980’s Setting for It (2017) Doesn’t Work 0:36:55 - Andy Muschietti’s Vision for Pennywise and It (2017): Set Pieces and Jump Scares 0:40:07 - In Defence of Bill Skarsgård 0:41:20 - It (2017) as Jump Scare Theatre 0:43:43 - It (2017): “This film feels like it has no heart.” 0:44:52 - It (2017): Purpose of Character Changes from Novel? 0:52:06 - It (2017): Henry Bowers, a “Walking Jump Scare” 0:54:20 - It (2017): Lack of Group Camaraderie in “Loser’s Club” 0:57:17 - It (2017): Tagline 0:58:00 - Between It (2017) and It: Chapter Two (2019)… 0:59:30 - It: Chapter Two (2019): IMDb Plot Summary 1:00:31 - It: Chapter Two (2019): “Stuff happens, but nothing matters.” 1:05:17 - It: Chapter Two (2019): Retcon or Legacy Sequel? 1:07:20 - It: Chapter Two (2019): “Remember the clubhouse?” 1:10:59 - It: Chapter Two (2019): Henry Bowers, an Antagonist Without Purpose or Consequence 1:13:10 - It: Chapter Two (2019): Bill Hader as the Standout, but should Richie be the Leader of the “Loser’s Club”? 1:18:03 - It: Chapter Two (2019): “Angel of the Morning” (1981) 1:20:52 - It: Chapter Two (2019): An Ending, Bloated and Underdeveloped 1:26:06 - It: Chapter Two (2019): Tagline 1:27:12 - It in the World of Streaming: It: Welcome to Derry (HBO, 2025) 1:30:07 - Next Episode Preview   Connect with Adrian & Dion: Letterboxd ~ CultFilmSchool Instagram ~ @cultfilmschool  Threads ~ @cultfilmschool X ~ @cultfilmschool Facebook  ~ Follow Us! Send an Email ~ cultfilmschoolpodcast@gmail.com  Don’t forget to leave a rating and review!

    1h 31m

  4. SEP 2 · BONUS

    Extra Credit: Semester Announcement

    In this "Extra Credit" episode of Cult Film School, Adrian and Dion give a brief update on the new Cult Film School Syllabus and episode release schedule beginning with the new semester. Get ready for a new semester of cult film appreciation and awesomeness!   Chapters: 0:00:12 - Welcome to Cult Film School 0:01:28 - New Semester Release Schedule: The New Cult Film School Syllabus    Connect with Adrian & Dion: Letterboxd ~ CultFilmSchool Instagram ~ @cultfilmschool  Threads ~ @cultfilmschool X ~ @cultfilmschool Facebook  ~ Follow Us! Send an Email ~ cultfilmschoolpodcast@gmail.com  Don’t forget to leave a rating and review!

    6 min

  5. JUL 15 · BONUS

    Extra Credit: Superman (2025)

    Adrian and Dion are back with an "Extra Credit" episode on Superman (2025). Adrian just saw it on opening weekend and wanted to tell Dion all about it. As a Superman superfan, how does Adrian see this newest iteration of the superhero? Does the film stand up to Adrian's high Superman standards, and what questions will Dion have about the film and Adrian's take?   Chapters: 0:00:12 - Welcome to Cult Film School? 0:00:47 - Adrian, the Superman fan 0:01:31 - Adrian's overall assessment on Superman (2025) 0:02:05 - Superman (2025) spolier warning 0:02:18 - Dion's just confused by the title 0:02:44 - What Adrian liked about Superman (2025) 0:14:41 - Dion asks Adrian about the film   Connect with Adrian & Dion: Letterboxd ~ CultFilmSchool Instagram ~ @cultfilmschool  Threads ~ @cultfilmschool X ~ @cultfilmschool Facebook  ~ Follow Us! Send an Email ~ cultfilmschoolpodcast@gmail.com  Don’t forget to leave a rating and review!

    21 min

  6. JAN 7 · BONUS

    Extra Credit: End of Semester Announcement

    In this Bonus "Extra Credit" episode of Cult Film School, Adrian and Dion have an end of semester announcement. Listen as they think their way through a relatively simple and straightforward update.   Chapters: 0:00:12 - Welcome to Cult Film School, I guess? 0:00:31 - Announcement: Adrian's "take" 0:01:26 - Announcement: Dion's "take"   Connect with Adrian & Dion: Letterboxd ~ CultFilmSchool Instagram ~ @cultfilmschool  Threads ~ @cultfilmschool X ~ @cultfilmschool Facebook  ~ Follow Us! Send an Email ~ cultfilmschoolpodcast@gmail.com  Don’t forget to leave a rating and review!

    3 min

  7. 12/24/2024

    Indonesian Cult Classics: Mystics in Bali (1981) & Lady Terminator (1989)

    In this episode of Cult Film School, Adrian and Dion expose themselves to some iconic cult world cinema: Indonesian Cult Classics Mystics in Bali (1981) and Lady Terminator (1989). Black magic, witchcraft, supernatural insanity, and consistently baffling English language dubbing (and other narrative and editing choices!) are a feast for the senses. Can they make sense of this wtf bounty? If only they were “anthropologists”…   Chapters: 0:00:12 - Welcome to Cult Film School 0:03:14 - Why Indonesian Cult Classics? Why now? 0:09:06 - A Little Context for Home Video Label Mondo Macabro and Indonesian Cult Cinema of the 1980s 0:13:10 -  Mystics in Bali (1981): IMDb Plot Summary 0:13:46 - The Decoder Ring for Mystics in Bali: An Adaptation of Dracula 0:20:36 - Sexual Tension (?) in Mystics in Bali 0:25:03 - Mystics in Bali: Perhaps the Most Amazing Scene in the History of Cinema 0:33:25 - The Epic Climax of Mystics in Bali 0:37:45 - Mystics in Bali (1981): Tagline 0:38:41 - Lady Terminator (1989): IMDb Plot Summary 0:45:03 - In Case You Missed It, It’s Terminator (with a splash of Lifeforce) 0:48:37 - The Good Guy Cop and His Mullet-Rocking Cop Buddies 0:52:02 - Terminator’s Famous “Eye-Cutting” Scene (but in Lady Terminator) 0:54:13 - The Explosive Climax of Lady Terminator 1:01:21 - Lady Terminator (1989): Tagline 1:02:19 - Reflections on Mystics in Bali and Lady Terminator   Connect with Adrian & Dion: Letterboxd ~ CultFilmSchool Instagram ~ @cultfilmschool  Threads ~ @cultfilmschool X ~ @cultfilmschool Facebook  ~ Follow Us! Send an Email ~ cultfilmschoolpodcast@gmail.com  Don’t forget to leave a rating and review!

    1h 6m

  8. 12/10/2024

    The Blackest of Christmases: Black Christmas (2006) & Black Christmas (2019)

    This Christmas season, Adrian and Dion return to the Winter Wonderland of Christmas trauma with the Black Christmas remakes: Black Christmas (2006) and Black Christmas (2019). Bob Clark’s 1974 film is a horror classic, so what could go wrong when these films remake it? Grab your eggnog, and get ready for plenty of Christmas decorations and confusing choices (cannibalism? message movie?). Adrian and Dion won’t be dreaming of a "Black Christmas," but, oh, the nightmares.   Chapters: 0:00:12 - Welcome to Cult Film School 0:02:42 - Why the Black Christmas Remakes?!? 0:05:01 - Black Christmas (2006): IMDb Plot Summary 0:05:44 - Black Christmas (1974): IMDb Plot Summary 0:07:01 - Black Christmas (2006): Similarities to the Original 1974 Film? 0:09:14 - Black Christmas (2006): Differences from the Original 1974 Film? 0:11:37 - “The Weinstein Touch,” or, How Bob and Harvey Weinstein Interfered in the 2006 Production 0:18:55 - The Gifts of Black Christmas (2006) 0:21:16 - The “Sort-Of” Mystery in Black Christmas (2006) 0:24:39 - The Problems with “Agnes” and the Backstory in Black Christmas (2006) 0:29:31 - The Alternate Endings of Black Christmas (2006) 0:34:07 - Black Christmas (2006): Tagline 0:36:32 - Black Christmas (2019): IMDb Plot Summary 0:37:40 - Black Christmas (2019): Similarities to the Original 1974 Film? 0:41:01 - Black Christmas (2019): Differences from the Original 1974 Film? 0:42:02 - Sophia Takal’s Always Shine (2016): A Director on the Rise? 0:44:57 - Production History of Black Christmas (2019) 0:46:51 - The Many Problems with the “Message-Movie” Black Christmas (2019) 0:52:49 - Black Christmas (2019) and its Presentation of Female and Male Characters 0:56:50 - Black Christmas (2019) as Public Service Announcement 0:59:51 - Black Christmas (2019): Alpha Males and Beta Males 1:03:42 - The Ideological “Message” of Black Christmas (2019) 1:07:16 - Black Christmas (2019): Tagline 1:09:29 - The Blackest of Christmases: A Christmas Carol of Contrasts 1:12:09 - Next Episode Preview   Connect with Adrian & Dion: Letterboxd ~ CultFilmSchool Instagram ~ @cultfilmschool  Threads ~ @cultfilmschool X ~ @cultfilmschool Facebook  ~ Follow Us! Send an Email ~ cultfilmschoolpodcast@gmail.com  Don’t forget to leave a rating and review!

    1h 13m
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About

Join Adrian Roberto and Dion Tubrett for discussions of cult cinema; from classic to contemporary, well-known to hidden gems, and films sure to offend someone’s sensibilities. Welcome to Cult Film School: class is in session.

Information

  • Creator
    Adrian Roberto & Dion Tubrett
  • Years Active
    2023 - 2025
  • Episodes
    43
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2025
  • Show Website
    Cult Film School