Episodes

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

    Falling Down (1993) | Michael Douglas’ Cult Urban Breakdown Thriller | VHSSB
    Jul 22 2026
    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 SynopsisIn 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 FactsScreenwriter 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:⁠⁠⁠NordVPN⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠NordPass⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠thevhsstrikesback@gmail.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://linktr.ee/vhsstrikesback⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
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    1 hr and 6 mins
  • Dune (1984) | Lynch’s Cult Sci-Fi Fever Dream | VHSSB

    Dune (1984) | Lynch’s Cult Sci-Fi Fever Dream | VHSSB
    Jul 15 2026
    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 SYNOPSISIn 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 FACTSDavid 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 SHOWSupport 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:⁠⁠⁠NordVPN⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠NordPass⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠thevhsstrikesback@gmail.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://linktr.ee/vhsstrikesback⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
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    1 hr and 4 mins
  • Irreversible (2002) | Extreme French Arthouse Thriller | VHSSB

    Irreversible (2002) | Extreme French Arthouse Thriller | VHSSB
    Jul 8 2026
    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 SYNOPSISIn 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 FACTSIrreversible 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:⁠⁠⁠NordVPN⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠NordPass⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠thevhsstrikesback@gmail.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://linktr.ee/vhsstrikesback⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
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    58 mins
  • Red Heat (1988) | Schwarzenegger Buddy Cop Action Classic | VHSSB

    Red Heat (1988) | Schwarzenegger Buddy Cop Action Classic | VHSSB
    Jun 24 2026
    Chris has gone for an Arnie classic this week. Released in 1988, Red Heat arrived right in the thick of the buddy-cop boom, pairing Arnold Schwarzenegger’s granite-faced Soviet policeman with Jim Belushi’s wisecracking Chicago detective. Directed, co-written and co-produced by Walter Hill, the film sits somewhere between Cold War curiosity, action thriller, and odd-couple comedy, with Hill bringing his usual muscular, stripped-down approach to men glaring at each other near explosions. The cast also includes Peter Boyle, Ed O’Ross, Laurence Fishburne, Gina Gershon and Brion James, which is a very 1988 way of saying, “Yes, this will involve shouting in warehouses.”Production took the film across Chicago, Los Angeles and Budapest, with Budapest doubling for Moscow, while the filmmakers were also granted approval to shoot establishing material in Moscow’s Red Square — noted by the AFI Catalog as a first for an American feature production. The film was released by TriStar Pictures on 17 June 1988, opening to just over $8.1 million domestically and finishing with around $35 million at the US box office. It may not have become the definitive Schwarzenegger classic, but it remains a fascinating VHS-era artefact: Arnie at peak stoicism, Belushi at peak “I’ve got a leather jacket and a comeback,” and Walter Hill trying to make Cold War geopolitics look like a bar fight.Trailer Guy SynopsisIn a world divided by suspicion, steel, and extremely suspicious accents… one man is Moscow’s toughest cop. Ivan Danko follows the rules, respects authority, and has the facial expression of a locked filing cabinet.But when a dangerous criminal escapes to the streets of Chicago, Danko is forced into the one partnership more unstable than international diplomacy: teaming up with Art Ridzik, a loudmouth American detective with a badge, a temper, and the dress sense of a man who has personally offended several department stores.Fun FactsRed Heat was released in the same summer as Who Framed Roger Rabbit, Die Hard, Big, Coming to America and Rambo III, making 1988 a fairly ridiculous year to compete for action and comedy attention.The film’s music was composed by James Horner, who also scored Aliens, Commando, Cocoon, Willow and, later, Titanic. So yes, this film exists in the same musical universe as both xenomorph trauma and Celine Dion-adjacent iceberg sorrow.Laurence Fishburne appears in the film before his major mainstream breakthrough in the 1990s, giving Red Heat a nice bit of “spot the future legend” VHS value.Gina Gershon also appears in an early role, years before becoming a cult favourite through films like Bound and Showgirls.The screenplay is credited to Harry Kleiner, Walter Hill and Troy Kennedy Martin, with Hill also directing and producing, because apparently just directing Schwarzenegger and Belushi wasn’t enough paperwork.The movie runs 104 minutes, which is a mercifully efficient length for a film that has to cover Soviet law enforcement, American policing, drug trafficking, culture clash comedy, and Arnold learning how to tolerate Jim Belushi.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:⁠⁠⁠NordVPN⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠NordPass⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠thevhsstrikesback@gmail.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://linktr.ee/vhsstrikesback⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
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    53 mins
  • A Shot at Glory (2000) | Scottish Football Underdog Drama | VHSSB

    A Shot at Glory (2000) | Scottish Football Underdog Drama | VHSSB
    Jun 17 2026
    Chosen by Dave, A Shot at Glory is a Scottish football drama directed by Michael Corrente and written by Denis O’Neill, bringing together a surprisingly heavyweight cast for a film about lower-league football, club loyalty, and men shouting at each other in tracksuits. Robert Duvall stars as Gordon McLeod and also served as a producer, with Michael Keaton, Ally McCoist, Brian Cox, Cole Hauser, Kirsty Mitchell, and Morag Hood rounding out a cast that feels like someone put Hollywood, Scottish football, and a pub argument into the same blender. The film was produced around 1999/2000 and received a limited US theatrical release in May 2002, followed by a DVD release later that year.Filming took place across Scotland, with football scenes using real grounds including Boghead Park, Palmerston Park, Rugby Park, and Hampden Park, while much of the fictional town of Kilnockie was shot in Crail, Fife. The movie also has a proper Scottish football texture thanks to appearances from real players and football figures, while the soundtrack was composed by Mark Knopfler, giving the whole thing a Celtic-tinged musical polish rather than just the sound of 8,000 people shouting “man on.” Critics were mixed, the box office was modest, but over time it has become a bit of a cult curiosity for football fans, especially anyone who enjoys seeing Ally McCoist sharing screen space with Robert Duvall and Michael Keaton.Trailer Guy SynopsisIn a small Scottish town, where the rain falls sideways and football is less a sport than a legally recognised emotional condition, one struggling club faces the fight of its life.Kilnockie FC has history, pride, and a fanbase clinging to hope like it’s the last pie at half-time. But when an American owner threatens to rip the club from its roots, only one thing can save them: victory, belief, and a team held together by grit, grudges, and questionable decision-making.Fun factsThe film’s working title was reportedly The Cup, which is accurate, but does sound like a placeholder left on someone’s laptop until five minutes before the poster was printed.Ally McCoist plays Jackie McQuillan, a fictional footballer, despite McCoist himself being one of Scottish football’s most recognisable real-life strikers.Brian Cox appears as Martin Smith, the Rangers manager, years before a whole new generation would know him as Logan Roy in Succession.Cole Hauser, later famous as Rip Wheeler in Yellowstone, plays Kelsey O’Brian, a backup goalkeeper, despite reports noting he had no real football background.Several real footballers appear in the movie, including Owen Coyle, Andy Smith, Peter Hetherston, and Didier Agathe.Robert Duvall reportedly spent time observing Raith Rovers to help shape his performance as a Scottish football manager.The fictional Kilnockie FC was loosely inspired by the kind of improbable cup exploits associated with smaller Scottish clubs, including Airdrieonians’ runs in the 1990s.Mark Knopfler’s soundtrack album contains 11 tracks and was released in 2002, with Guy Fletcher also involved as producer.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:⁠⁠⁠NordVPN⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠NordPass⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠thevhsstrikesback@gmail.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://linktr.ee/vhsstrikesback⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
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    1 hr and 8 mins
  • Indecent Proposal (1993) | 90s Erotic Drama & Moral Meltdown | VHSSB

    Indecent Proposal (1993) | 90s Erotic Drama & Moral Meltdown | VHSSB
    Jun 10 2026
    Chosen by Patreon supporter Helen, Indecent Proposal is exactly the sort of glossy 90s adult drama that makes perfect VHS Strikes Back territory: stylish, morally messy, wildly debatable, and absolutely guaranteed to make everyone in the room ask what they would do for one million dollars. Directed by Adrian Lyne, the film arrived in 1993 at the peak of Hollywood’s obsession with erotic thrillers and high-stakes relationship dramas, when a soft-focus lens, a luxurious wardrobe, and a deeply questionable premise could still become a major box office event. Based on Jack Engelhard’s 1988 novel, it starred Robert Redford, Demi Moore, and Woody Harrelson, with a screenplay by Amy Holden Jones and a typically elegant score from John Barry.Filming began in Las Vegas in June 1992 before moving to Southern California, with locations including Echo Park and a Santa Barbara mansion used for John Gage’s home. The film became a major commercial hit, earning around $266.6 million worldwide against a reported $38 million budget, despite mixed-to-negative reviews and a premise that caused plenty of debate. It also became a pop culture talking point almost instantly, inspiring arguments about marriage, money, consent, class, and whether Robert Redford could make absolutely anything sound sophisticated, even a financial transaction that should really have involved several lawyers and a long walk outside.TRAILER GUY PLOT SYNOPSISThey were young. They were in love. They had dreams, debts, and the sort of architectural ambitions that scream, “we are one recession away from disaster.”But in the neon heart of Las Vegas, one night changes everything. A billionaire stranger enters their lives with charm, confidence, and a cheque book big enough to turn romance into a boardroom negotiation.FUN FACTSIndecent Proposal was directed by Adrian Lyne, who had already become the king of stylish relationship chaos with films like Fatal Attraction and 9½ Weeks.The film was adapted from Jack Engelhard’s novel, although the screen version softened and reshaped elements of the original story for mainstream Hollywood audiences.Robert Redford’s casting gave the film an unusual edge, because billionaire John Gage had to feel charming enough to be believable, but morally questionable enough to make everyone deeply uncomfortable.Demi Moore was one of the biggest stars of the early 90s, and this film landed during the same era that cemented her as a major box office name.Woody Harrelson was still best known to many viewers for Cheers, making his role as a financially desperate husband a notable move into more dramatic film work.The film’s central “one million dollars for one night” premise became one of the most talked-about movie hooks of the decade.Billy Bob Thornton has a small role in the film, appearing before he became widely known as a major Hollywood name.The movie features appearances from Sheena Easton and Herbie Hancock, adding a bit of real-world glamour to the already very shiny 90s atmosphere.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:⁠⁠⁠NordVPN⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠NordPass⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠thevhsstrikesback@gmail.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://linktr.ee/vhsstrikesback⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
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    57 mins
  • Brewster's Millions (1985) | Richard Pryor 80s Comedy Classic | VHSSB

    Brewster's Millions (1985) | Richard Pryor 80s Comedy Classic | VHSSB
    Jun 3 2026
    Chosen by Kent and released in 1985, Brewster’s Millions was directed by Walter Hill and produced by Lawrence Gordon, Joel Silver and Gene Levy for Universal Pictures. Hill was best known for tougher, more muscular films like The Warriors, The Driver, 48 Hrs. and Streets of Fire, so seeing him take on a broad Richard Pryor comedy is one of those wonderfully odd 80s career turns that makes perfect sense only after three pints and a VHS rental card. The screenplay came from Timothy Harris and Herschel Weingrod, the writing duo behind Trading Places, adapting George Barr McCutcheon’s much-filmed 1902 novel for a new generation.The film stars Richard Pryor, John Candy, Lonette McKee, Stephen Collins and Hume Cronyn, with music by Ry Cooder. Made on a reported budget of around $15 million, it earned roughly $45 million worldwide, making it a solid box office performer even if critics were not exactly fainting into their notebooks with admiration. Over time, though, Brewster’s Millions has become a comfortable 80s comedy favourite: high-concept, fast-moving, packed with familiar faces, and built around the kind of premise that still feels weirdly irresistible. Who among us has not wondered whether we could ruin our lives with $30 million and a strict deadline?TRAILER GUY PLOT SYNOPSISMonty Brewster is a struggling minor league baseball player with a loyal best friend, a modest bank balance, and absolutely no idea that his entire life is about to be turned into the world’s most expensive practical joke.When a mysterious inheritance lands in his lap, Monty is offered a fortune beyond his wildest dreams. But there is a catch. To claim the real prize, he must spend $30 million in 30 days, without telling anyone why, without keeping any assets, and without accidentally making a profit. Which sounds easy, until you realise money has a nasty habit of sticking around when lawyers are watching.FUN FACTSBrewster’s Millions is based on George Barr McCutcheon’s 1902 novel, which had already inspired several earlier film and stage adaptations before the 1985 version.The story had been filmed multiple times before, including silent and early sound-era versions, making this one of Hollywood’s most recycled “sudden fortune with a catch” premises.Peter Bogdanovich was originally attached to direct before Walter Hill took over the project.Walter Hill later described Brewster’s Millions as his only true comedy, which is quite the detour for a director usually associated with action, crime and tough-guy cinema.The fictional Hackensack Bulls were created for the film, giving Richard Pryor and John Candy a very 80s underdog sports-comedy setup before the inheritance plot kicks in.The baseball stadium scenes used a standing set originally built for the short-lived TV series Bay City Blues.The film’s New York setting gives it that glossy mid-80s city energy, where everyone appears to be either very rich, very stressed, or about to be shouted at by a lawyer.Rick Moranis appears in a small supporting role as Morty King, adding another familiar 80s comedy face to the cast.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:⁠⁠⁠NordVPN⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠NordPass⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠thevhsstrikesback@gmail.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://linktr.ee/vhsstrikesback⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
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    59 mins
  • Only the Lonely (1991) | John Candy Romantic Comedy Drama | VHSSB

    Only the Lonely (1991) | John Candy Romantic Comedy Drama | VHSSB
    May 27 2026
    Chosen by Justin, Only the Lonely arrived in 1991 as a gentler, more bittersweet John Candy vehicle than the broad comedy many audiences might have expected. Written and directed by Chris Columbus and produced by John Hughes and Hunt Lowry, the film brought together Candy, Maureen O’Hara, Ally Sheedy, Anthony Quinn, James Belushi and Kevin Dunn for a Chicago-set romantic comedy-drama with a softer heart than its VHS-era packaging probably suggested. A widely reported production budget is not readily available, but the film earned around $21.8 million domestically after opening wide through 20th Century Fox in May 1991.The production leaned heavily into real Chicago texture, with principal photography beginning on 1 October 1990 and running until 22 December 1990. Locations included North Avenue Beach, the Pump Room, St. John Cantius Church, Greektown and Comiskey Park, with additional interiors built at Chicago Metropolitan Studios. Reception was mixed-to-positive in the period, with particular praise for the performances, and the film has since picked up a modest legacy as one of John Candy’s more tender, underrated leading roles: less “falling through furniture,” more “quietly breaking your heart while still making you laugh.”Trailer Guy SynopsisIn a city of crowded bars, roaring trains and overbearing family dinners, one Chicago cop is about to face the most terrifying case of his career: falling in love.Danny Muldoon is loyal, dependable, kind-hearted… and still very much under the command of his mother. But when he meets Theresa, a shy funeral home worker with a quiet charm, Danny sees the possibility of a life beyond guilt, duty and being emotionally handcuffed to the family sofa.Fun FactsOnly the Lonely was Maureen O’Hara’s first feature film appearance in roughly two decades, bringing a classic Hollywood presence into a very early-90s comedy-drama.Chris Columbus reportedly wrote the role of Rose with Maureen O’Hara in mind, which is ambitious casting energy of the highest order.The film’s title comes from Roy Orbison’s famous song “Only the Lonely,” giving the movie an instant dose of old-school melancholy before anyone even says a word.John Candy plays a romantic lead here, which makes the film stand apart from many of his broader comic roles of the 1980s and early 1990s.The cast includes both Macaulay Culkin and Kieran Culkin in small roles, because apparently the early 90s had a legal requirement that at least one Culkin appear somewhere near a John Hughes production.Maurice Jarre, the Oscar-winning composer behind classics such as Lawrence of Arabia and Doctor Zhivago, provided the score.The film was shot in the same general Chicago orbit as several John Hughes-associated productions, helping give it that familiar neighbourhood feel rather than a glossy studio rom-com sheen.Anthony Quinn appears as Nick, the persistent neighbour with eyes for Rose, adding some old-school screen charisma to the film’s family chaos.The story has often been compared to Marty, the 1955 romantic drama about a lonely bachelor trying to find love while dealing with family pressure.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:⁠⁠⁠NordVPN⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠NordPass⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠thevhsstrikesback@gmail.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://linktr.ee/vhsstrikesback⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
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    56 mins