Now Playing - The Movie Review Podcast

Incoming Podcast!

By 1986, horror had gone mainstream. Freddy and Jason were minting money, and it was time to bring Leatherface back into the arena. Tobe Hooper returned to his own creation with The Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2, aiming to revive the Sawyer clan for a decade that demanded bigger, louder sequels. With Dennis Hopper chewing scenery as a vengeance-driven lawman, Bill Moseley turning Chop-Top into a cult icon, and Jim Siedow reprising his role from the original, the film had pedigree and attitude. But Hooper didn’t just repeat 1974. He swerved hard into horror-comedy, dialing up the grotesque satire and turning the family’s madness into something louder and stranger. Did that tonal shift elevate the sequel into something daring, or undercut the raw terror that made the first film legendary? Brock, Stuart, and Arnie fire up the chainsaw to decide whether this follow-up earns its place among the 80s slasher heavyweights.

It's gonna be FUUUUUUNNNN!

In 1974, Tobe Hooper unleashed horror unlike any seen before and started the modern slasher genre with the seminal horror film The Texas Chain Saw Massacre. Audiences watched in terror as Sally and Franklin Hardesty and their three friends travel through a rural Texas town and pick up a hitchhiker, beginning their terrifying encounter with a crazed, cannibalistic family. It can easily be said that without Leatherface, we would not have had Michael Myers, Jason Voorhees, or even Freddy Krueger. Join Now Playing Podcast hosts Arnie, Brock, and Stuart as they journey with Sally and Franklin deep into the heart of Texas and review all six Texas Chainsaw Massacre films, starting with the 1974 original. It is classic horror, but does it hold up in the 21st century? Listen to find out!

[Insert growl here]

After Lost Boys: The Tribe became one of Warner Bros.’ top-selling DVDs of 2008, another sequel was inevitable. Enter Lost Boys: The Thirst, with Corey Feldman once again suiting up as Edgar Frog. This time, Edgar is strapped for cash and forced to infiltrate a vampire-run underground rave scene led by head bloodsucker DJ X. Does this latest chapter recapture even a fraction of the 1987 film’s attitude and energy, or is it another case of direct-to-video diminishing returns? The hosts load up on holy water and decide whether the Frog Brothers still have bite.

It's ironic...usually you pay more for Angus, but here it was all they could afford.

After two decades and more than a few false starts, the franchise returned in Lost Boys: The Tribe. Instead of Santa Carla, the action shifts to a new California beach town, where Chris Emerson (Epic Movie's Tad Hilgenbrink) battles a fresh pack of bloodsuckers led by surfer-vampire Shane (Angus Sutherland, Kiefer's half-brother) to keep his sister from turning fully undead. Direct-to-video sequels don't exactly have a sterling reputation. Still, this one stacks the deck with a few familiar hooks: Corey Feldman returns as gravel-voiced Edgar Frog and horror icon Tom Savini pops up for good measure. But does The Tribe revive the swagger and bite of the '87 classic, or does it prove that some cult favorites are better left undisturbed? Our hosts sink their teeth into whether this long-delayed sequel earns its fangs or just coasts on nostalgia.

Have you ever looked up from his oiled breasts to notice how bad he's lip syncing?

Before he was Jack Bauer, Kiefer Sutherland was David, the charismatic leader of The Lost Boys, a motorcycle-riding vampire gang in sun-bleached Santa Carla, California. When single mom Lucy Emerson moves there with her sons Michael and Sam, a beachside romance pulls Michael straight into David’s orbit, and into a world of blood, boardwalks, and bad decisions. Directed by Joel Schumacher (St. Elmo's Fire), the film mixes teen angst, horror, comedy, and a heavy dose of ’80s cool, turning its undead villains into leather-clad rock stars. It became a cult favorite for its style, soundtrack, and quotable moments. But decades later, does The Lost Boys still have bite, or does it feel like a relic of its era? Our hosts head to Santa Carla to decide whether this vampire classic still rules the night.

Next week, Now Playing will defeat the 7 evil movie podcasts

Scott Pilgrim leaps from the pages of a cult comic series to the big screen in Scott Pilgrim vs. the World, directed by Edgar Wright. Blending video game logic, indie rock attitude, and hyper-stylized action, the film follows slacker bassist Scott (Arrested Development's Michael Cera) as he battles his new girlfriend’s seven evil exes in increasingly absurd showdowns. With rapid-fire editing, comic-book visuals, and a star-studded cast, the movie aims to translate its source material’s quirky energy into cinematic form. But does the adaptation level up into something special, or does all the flashy style leave you reaching for a reset button? The hosts plug in to decide whether this one earns extra lives or fades to black.

They should have quit while they were a head (hah!)

When The X-Files ended, Mulder was a fugitive, Scully had left the FBI, and the alien colonization plot was still unresolved. After years in development limbo, the franchise returned to theaters with The X-Files: I Want to Believe, reuniting David Duchovny and Gillian Anderson for another case. Instead of diving back into the dense alien mythology, the film opts for a standalone investigation involving a psychic former priest and a grim organ-transplant mystery. It’s a deliberate pivot from global conspiracy to intimate thriller. But does stepping away from the overarching plot make for a stronger summer movie, or does it sidestep the very questions fans waited years to have answered? The hosts examine whether this one-off X-File satisfies longtime believers or leaves the truth still frustratingly out there.

We can't handle (or understand) the truth.

Federal buildings exploding. FEMA conspiracies. Alien colonists working with shadowy government figures. That dense mythology fueled The X-Files throughout the 1990s, as FBI agents Mulder and Scully chased paranormal cases while slowly uncovering a larger plot to enslave humanity. In 1998, the phenomenon went cinematic with Fight the Future, reuniting David Duchovny and Gillian Anderson for a big-screen chapter designed to satisfy die-hard fans while drawing in newcomers. Expanding the conspiracy and amplifying the spectacle, the film raises the stakes from television mystery to blockbuster event. But does this mythology-heavy story function as a standalone movie, or does it assume too much prior knowledge? And does the leap to theaters deepen the intrigue or simply inflate it? The hosts examine whether this cinematic case file earns its place in the franchise’s legacy.

All these movies with dreams, and yet still no going to school without your pants on.

Bursting onto the scene with Memento, Christopher Nolan has become one of the most-watched genre directors, breaking the box office with The Dark Knight as well as warping minds with The Prestige. So when one of this summer's biggest and most mysterious films of the summer is written and directed by Nolan, we at Now Playing Podcast take notice. With a dense plot concerning a malleable dream world, the film could be a revelation or an incomprehensible mess. Our hosts went on opening day to tell you if this is the film of your dreams or a total nightmare!

Yo, Adrien. Christian Bale called. He wants his Batman voice back.

It's been 20 years since they've had their own film, but thanks to Robert Rodriguez, the Predators are back on the big screen! Producer Rodriguez and director Nimrod Antal are taking the alien hunter back to his jungle roots, and with the Predators going up against Adrien Brody, Laurence Fishburne, and Danny Trejo, it's bound to excite both sci-fi and action fans. But this time are the Predators right on target, or have they again missed their mark? Listen as Arnie, Stuart, and Brock review this final film in the Now Playing Predator Retrospective Series!

How cool would it have been if the alien chest-bursted out of a Bigfoot? We could have seen a sasqualien!

Paul W.S. Anderson's match-up between Aliens and Predators may have left many fans of both franchises out in the cold, but the box office tallies made a rematch inevitable; thus, 20th Century Fox gives us Aliens vs Predator: Requiem. Attempting to right past wrongs, the studio made this film with a "hard R" rating, including an unrated cut on DVD, and handed the directing reins to special-effects duo The Brothers Strause. Was the battle so much sweeter the second time around? Listen to Stuart, Arnie, and Brock to find out!

A pyramid under the Antarctic ice sounds like a James Bond villain's lair.

After Freddy vs. Jason proved that horror crossovers could rake in serious cash, 20th Century Fox fast-tracked another long-anticipated showdown: Alien vs. Predator. Having already clashed in comic books and video games, cinema’s most iconic extraterrestrials finally shared the screen in a battle set beneath the Antarctic ice. Blending the mythology of the Alien and Predator franchises, the film centers on an ancient Predator rite of passage, with a team of human explorers caught in the middle, including Charles Bishop Weyland, played by Lance Henriksen. But does this cinematic face-off deliver the ultimate fan fantasy, or does combining two distinct horror legacies dilute what made each great? Arnie, Brock, and Stuart enter the pyramid to decide whether this crossover earns its place in genre history or collapses under the weight of its own concept.

Arnold isn't available? Then get me Danny Glover!!

Remember 1997? The heat was 105 degrees, gangs ruled the streets of Los Angeles, and everyone was packing serious firepower. Relive those days along with Arnie, Stuart, and Brock as they review the period piece Predator 2. This sequel swaps jungle foliage for urban warfare as the alien hunter sets its sights on L.A., targeting what it sees as the city’s toughest prey: Danny Glover. With Bill Paxton and Gary Busey joining the cast, the film aims to escalate the action and expand the Predator mythology beyond the original’s jungle showdown. But does moving the hunt to the city streets make for a worthy follow-up, or does it prove that lightning rarely strikes twice? Arnie, Stuart, and Brock patrol the concrete jungle to decide whether Predator 2 is an underrated continuation or a sequel that misses its target.

Starring...Rich Little as the Predator!

An invisible alien hunter stalks a squad of elite commandos in the jungle in Predator. And it’s no lightweight prey. The creature takes on a lineup that includes Arnold Schwarzenegger, Carl Weathers, Bill Duke, Richard Chaves, and Jesse Ventura in a showdown that blends macho action with sci-fi horror. What starts as a straightforward military mission turns into a survival thriller that introduces one of the most enduring monsters of the last few decades. The Predator would go on to headline sequels, comic books, video games, and even crossover franchises. But does the original film earn that legacy on its own merits, or is its reputation built more on the creature than the story? The hosts head into the jungle to decide whether this hunt still delivers the heat.

Let that be a lesson to you kids - always hang up your jacket!

More than 25 years after Daniel LaRusso swept the leg and crane-kicked his way into pop culture, The Karate Kid arrives as a new-generation reboot. This time, the story moves to China, trades karate for kung fu, and stars Jaden Smith (The Pursuit of Happyness) alongside Jackie Chan (Rush Hour) in the mentor role made famous by Pat Morita in the 1984 original. Filmed on location in Beijing and aiming for a broader international scale, the remake keeps the underdog framework but shifts the cultural backdrop and fighting style. Does this retelling capture the heart and emotional punch that made the original a classic, or is it another remake that understands the moves but not the meaning? The hosts step onto the mat to decide.

One, two, Arnie's interviewing you...

As part of our Nightmare on Elm Street retrospective, Arnie sits down with franchise icons Heather Langenkamp and Robert Englund for two candid, revealing interviews that go far beyond boiler room scares. Heather reflects on stepping back into Nancy’s world as executive producer and star of the documentary I Am Nancy, what it meant to revisit New Nightmare and play a version of herself, and how the character of Nancy Thompson evolved from final girl to feminist horror icon. She also discusses her complicated relationship with horror, the responsibility of legacy, and why the Elm Street fanbase continues to matter decades later.

Then Robert Englund joins the show to talk Freddy’s cultural staying power, the tonal shift of the sequels, voice acting in projects like animated superhero series, and the strange, wonderful career that followed putting on the fedora and glove. From low-budget horror comedies to comic-con crowds, Englund is sharp, funny, and surprisingly reflective about what Freddy represents and whether the character should be reborn for a new generation.

Two legends. One franchise. And a look at how a dream demon turned into a cinematic institution.

Repeat after me - the sun is warm, the grass is green.

In 1994, The Karate Kid tried to be the comeback kid in this soft reboot of the series. Gone is Ralph Macchio's aging protagonist, replaced by future Academy Award-winning actress Hillary Swank (Boys Don't Cry) in her first starring role. And back is Mr. Miyagi (Pat Morita) with his wisdom and unlikely training methods. This film failed to catch on in theaters, but with a new reboot of The Karate Kid coming out next week, was The Next Karate Kid an unappreciated classic? Listen in and find out!

We will never be able to think about Mac and Cheese the same way again...

Three years after the release of The Karate Kid Part II, Daniel LaRusso (My Cousin Vinny's Ralph Macchio) and Mr. Miyagi (Pat Morita) were back in California, and in theaters with the aptly named The Karate Kid Part III. Now, Daniel must defend his Karate title against "Karate's Bad Boy" Mike Barnes, and when Mr. Miyagi refuses to help him train, Daniel turns to toxic waste dumper Terry Silver for help. With a subplot involving Mr. Miyagi's Little Trees, this film has been generally panned by critics. But is this movie as bad as everyone remembers? Listen in and find out!

Some drunk people think the drum technique is a great dance move!

In 1984, The Karate Kid crane-kicked the box office, and it didn't take Mr. Miyagi to realize a sequel would be fast-tracked. Released in the summer of 1986, The Karate Kid Part II took Daniel LaRusso (Outsiders' Ralph Macchio) from California to Okinawa. Mr. Miyagi (Happy Days' Pat Morita) faces his former rival Sat,o and Peter Cetera delivers a theme song that still monopolizes light-rock radio the world over. The sequel grossed even more than the original, but does that make The Karate Kid Part II the better film? Listen in and find out!

I doubt this is actually 100% Medically Accurate, but I could be full of sh*t

Warning: This podcast deals with subject matter that will be objectionable to the vast majority of listeners. No one under the age of 18 should listen, and those over the age of 18 should listen with caution.

It's the underground horror hit of the year: The Human Centipede. Playing only at midnight showings in select theaters and on demand, this film promises to be one of the raunchiest horror films ever. With the tagline "100% Medically Accurate," you know you're in for something more than your standard slasher, but how extreme is this film, and, more to the point, is it any good? Stuart, Arnie, and Marjorie have watched this film and now review every gross detail in this podcast!

Fear does not exist on this podcast! Pain does not exist on this podcast!

Did you want to take Karate lessons in 1984? If so, you weren't alone! When The Karate Kid first came out, it was a smash hit, earning an Oscar nomination for Pat Morita and entering "Wax on, Wax off" into the cultural lexicon of movie phrases. Now, with this classic story being reinterpreted for modern audiences with this summer's remake starring Jackie Chan and Jaden Smith, we at Now Playing Podcast will "wax on" with our Karate Kid retrospective series. Is this first installment worth the legacy? Listen in and find out!

Why are you wearing headphones? You haven't downloaded us yet.

Nine, ten... Freddy’s back in theaters again.

Now Playing Podcast concludes its Nightmare on Elm Street retrospective with a new Nightmare. This time, Robert Englund and Wes Craven step aside, replaced by Jackie Earle Haley (Watchmen) under the burned makeup and music video director Samuel Bayer behind the camera, delivering a darker, more grounded take on the dream stalker. With a new cast of Springwood teens and a modern horror aesthetic, the reboot aims to reintroduce Freddy Krueger to a generation raised on grittier remakes. Stuart, Arnie, and Brock approach the film from three angles: as a horror fan, a Freddy devotee, and a newcomer to the genre. They compare the reboot to the 1984 original, reflect on the franchise as a whole, and weigh Freddy’s standing among horror’s all-time icons. Does Haley’s interpretation restore the menace and danger some felt had faded over the sequels, or does this reboot prove that some nightmares can’t be recreated? The hosts deliver their final verdict as the Elm Street saga comes to a close.

This is a whole new episode of Now Playing. No, really, it is!

The movie so nice we reviewed it twice!

Having already spent time with the strong, silent type during last year’s Friday the 13th retrospective, Now Playing Podcast switches allegiances to the wisecracking dream demon for a fresh look at Freddy vs. Jason. This time the focus is squarely on Freddy Krueger and how this long-awaited crossover fits into the Nightmare on Elm Street legacy. With Robert Englund donning the glove for what would become his final big-screen turn as Freddy, the film pits cunning against brute force in a battle fans had debated for years. But does this clash give Freddy the send-off he deserves, or does sharing the spotlight dilute what made Elm Street special? The hosts examine whether this slasher showdown honors the dream stalker’s legacy or leaves Nightmare fans feeling like the real casualties.

Doesn't Wes Craven realize the trail of breadcrumbs got Hansel and Gretel hopelessly lost?

With the reboot of A Nightmare on Elm Street hitting theaters this April, Now Playing Podcast continues its retrospective with Wes Craven's New Nightmare. A decade after the original film launched the franchise, Freddy had become a pop culture icon, complete with catchphrases, sequels, and a merchandising empire. But in this bold reinvention, Wes Craven pulls Freddy out of the movie world and into our own. Heather Langenkamp and Robert Englund play versions of themselves as a darker, more primal incarnation of the dream demon begins invading reality. No longer content with sequels, The Evil Formerly Known As Freddy (TEFKAF) wants control. Is Craven's post-modern reinvention an inspired new direction for the series, or a trail of breadcrumbs leading nowhere? Listen and find out!

Now, wait a minute...hasn't Freddy been dead this entire series?

After the lukewarm response to The Dream Child, New Line knew Freddy’s box office reign might be slipping. So for the sixth entry, they went big. Freddy's Dead: The Final Nightmare promises the ultimate showdown, complete with 3-D gimmicks, celebrity cameos, and a deep dive into Freddy Krueger’s origin story. With the marketing declaring this the definitive end of the dream demon, the film throws everything at the screen in an attempt to close the book on Elm Street. But does piling on spectacle and backstory create a fitting send-off, or does it expose how far the series has drifted from its nightmarish roots? The hosts examine whether this Final Nightmare delivers a proper farewell or feels more like a flashy wake for a once-terrifying icon.

Good to see Quato is getting some work

Nine, Ten. Never sleep again.

Freddy returns once again in A Nightmare on Elm Street 5: The Dream Child, picking up after Alice defeated him in The Dream Master. This time, the dream demon finds a new way in, manipulating the nightmares of Alice’s unborn child and turning prenatal dreams into deadly playgrounds for a fresh group of Springwood teens. Leaning even further into surreal imagery and darker fairy-tale symbolism, The Dream Child pushes the mythology into stranger territory. But does this fifth chapter build on the series’ momentum, or does it stumble under increasingly convoluted ideas and diminishing scares? The hosts step into the nightmare once more to decide whether this sequel earns its place in the franchise legacy.

I wonder if the Roach Motel was a brokered product placement...

7, 8... Better stay up late.

After Dream Warriors turned Freddy into a box office powerhouse, New Line wasted no time bringing him back. Despite a writer’s strike and a rushed production schedule, A Nightmare on Elm Street 4: The Dream Master hit theaters in 1988 with a bigger budget, flashier dream sequences, and an even more wisecracking Freddy. With a new group of Springwood teens and a shift toward a lighter, more action-oriented tone, the film became the franchise's top-grossing solo entry. But does commercial success equal quality? The hosts step back into the dream world to decide whether The Dream Master truly earns its crown.

The only thing that can defeat Freddy is a good mix of hair metal and holy water

5, 6... Grab your crucifix.

Freddy is back, and this time he’s larger than life. Now Playing Podcast continues its retrospective with A Nightmare on Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors, the sequel that pushes the franchise deeper into surreal dream logic and bigger spectacle. Returning from the original are Heather Langenkamp and John Saxon, joining a new group of teens who discover they can fight back inside their nightmares. With Freddy cracking more jokes and the dream sequences growing increasingly elaborate, Dream Warriors aims for an epic showdown between imagination and evil. Does this entry elevate the series into fantasy-horror greatness, or does it tip into camp and excess? In the name of Lowrek, Prince of Elves, listen now to find out!

Revenge? Really? Seems more like a return or a reprisal...

3, 4… Better lock your door.

As the reboot of A Nightmare on Elm Street approaches theaters this April, Now Playing Podcast continues its retrospective with A Nightmare on Elm Street 2: Freddy's Revenge. After the original scorched the box office in 1984, New Line rushed out a sequel that takes a very different approach to the dream demon’s return. This time, Freddy doesn’t just haunt dreams; he tries to break into the real world by possessing new Elm Street resident Jesse and turning him into his instrument of terror. With a darker tone, strange subtext, and some of the franchise’s most debated moments, Freddy’s Revenge stands as one of the series’ most controversial entries. Is this sequel blazing with twisted energy, or does it leave audiences wishing for a cold shower with Coach? The hosts step back into the nightmare to decide whether this follow-up fuels the fire or fizzles out.

We're your boyfriends now, Nancy!

1, 2… Freddy’s coming for you.

With the reboot of A Nightmare on Elm Street arriving in theaters this April, Now Playing Podcast begins a full retrospective of the franchise that turned sleep into a death sentence. The journey starts with the original A Nightmare on Elm Street, the low-budget shocker from Wes Craven that introduced the world to dream-stalking killer Freddy Krueger. Marking the big-screen debut of Johnny Depp (Pirates of the Caribbean), the film follows four teens terrorized by a burned man with a bladed glove who can kill them in their dreams. Blending surreal imagery, inventive kills, and a premise that still feels dangerously clever, this original entry became a defining horror classic of the 1980s. Does it still haunt decades later, or has time dulled Freddy’s claws? The hosts revisit the nightmares to find out, and whatever you do… don’t fall asleep.

Shutter Island? Whaddya wanna go theah foah?

Opening this weekend, Shutter Island reunites Martin Scorsese and Leonardo DiCaprio for a dark, paranoid descent into madness. Set on a remote island housing the criminally insane, the film follows U.S. Marshal Teddy Daniels (DiCaprio) as he investigates a disappearance that quickly spirals into something far more unsettling. With storm-lashed cliffs, locked wards, and Leo’s revived Bah-stan accent front and center, Shutter Island arrives as Scorsese’s most overtly commercial thriller in years, drawing comparisons to his earlier suspense work like Cape Fear. But is this moody noir a gripping psychological puzzle, or does it lose its footing as the mystery deepens? Stuart, Arnie, and Jakob head to the island to decide whether this is a movie you’d be crazy to miss.

The rat symbolizes obviousness

Now Playing Podcast takes on The Departed, Martin Scorsese’s return to organized crime after Goodfellas. With an all-star lineup that includes Jack Nicholson, Alec Baldwin, Martin Sheen, Matt Damon, and Leonardo DiCaprio, the film drops viewers into a tense game of cops and criminals trying to unmask each other in Boston’s underworld. Loaded with double crosses, bravado, and more than a few questionable Bah-stan accents, The Departed became the film that finally earned Scorsese his long-awaited Academy Award for Best Director. But was the Oscar recognition truly for this film, or did it feel like a career victory lap? Arnie, Jakob, and Stuart dissect the performances, the pacing, and whether this crime thriller stands tall on its own merits.

Including an interview with book editor and entertainment journalist Alex Ben Block!

Books & Nachos is now part of Now Playing Podcast.

Before our book reviews were branded as Now Playing Podcast Book Reviews, they were released under a separate show called Books & Nachos. That podcast focused on book discussions, most of which tied directly into films we were covering on Now Playing. We’ve now merged those episodes into the main Now Playing Podcast feed for easier access and a complete archive. But these older episodes still have the original Books & Nachos intro and credits on those older recordings. 

George Lucas's Blockbusting may sound like a book chronicling George Lucas's rise to box office dominance, first through his Star Wars films, and then through Indiana Jones and the other movies he's been a part of; however, this book is actually a cultural and financial look at movies through history, including what Lucas and the editors deemed the 300 "Blockbuster" movies from 1913 through 2005. On this Now Playing Podcast Book Review, Arnie interviews Alex Ben Block to discuss how the included films were selected, and then reviews this book to see if it deserves a place on your bookshelf!

DON'T DRINK THAT! IT'S NOT LEMONADE!

Now Playing Podcast turns its attention to The Aviator, Martin Scorsese’s lavish biopic chronicling the rise and unraveling of aviation pioneer and Hollywood mogul Howard Hughes. Starring Leonardo DiCaprio (Titanic) in a physically and emotionally demanding role, the film charts Hughes’ ambition, innovation, romance, and growing battle with obsessive-compulsive disorder. With sweeping production design, old-Hollywood glamour, and high-stakes business drama, The Aviator arrived as prestige filmmaking in full throttle. But does Scorsese’s grand scale storytelling soar, or does the film get lost circling its own excess? The hosts examine the performances, the technical tricks, and whether this biographical epic truly flies.

Lucky, this is Cameron Diaz. Cameron, this is Lucky. Now, Lucky, put down the cereal and teach Cameron an Irish accent, please.

Only a year after 9/11, Martin Scorsese released Gangs of New York, an epic about the violent birth of modern Manhattan. Set against the backdrop of the Civil War draft riots, the film stars Leonardo DiCaprio (The Beach) as a young man seeking revenge and Daniel Day-Lewis (My Left Foot) as the towering, mustachioed Bill the Butcher, with Cameron Diaz (Charlie's Angels) rounding out the central trio. With massive sets, period detail, and prestige ambitions, Gangs of New York arrived carrying serious awards expectations. But does the movie live up to its epic scope, or does it feel more impressive than compelling? And does DiCaprio manage to shake off the lingering shadow of Titanic, or is he outmatched by Day-Lewis at every turn? The hosts dig into the performances, the pacing, and whether this historical saga earns its reputation.

Listen, or we'll hunt you down like a duck.

Now Playing Podcast wraps up its Back to the Future retrospective with Part III. This time, the DeLorean heads to 1885, where Marty McFly must ride into the Old West to save Doc Brown from a date with destiny courtesy of Mad Dog Tannen. Leaning into western tropes while tying up long-running character arcs, the final chapter shifts tone, but can it keep the heart of the series intact? The hosts saddle up to decide whether this finale rides off into the sunset or stumbles before the credits roll.

Great Scott! A Pair O' Docs!

Now Playing Podcast continues its Back to the Future retrospective with Part II. Picking up seconds after the original ends, Marty McFly (Michael J. Fox) and Doc Brown (Christopher Lloyd) blast forward to 2015, then backward to 1955, in a sequel that doubles down on time-travel logic and narrative ambition. With Fox juggling multiple roles and timelines colliding in clever ways, Part II expands the mythology while taking bigger creative risks. Does this darker, more intricate follow-up successfully build on the original’s magic, or does the added complexity tangle the fun? Listen now to find out!

What are you listening to, butthead?

Now Playing Podcast fires up the DeLorean for a full Back to the Future retrospective. Brock, Stuart, and Arnie revisit all three films in the time-travel trilogy that turned a flux capacitor into a household term and made 1.21 gigawatts part of the cultural vocabulary.

The journey begins with Back to the Future, starring Michael J. Fox (Teen Wolf) and Christopher Lloyd (Clue). Blending sci-fi, comedy, and heart, the original film became an instant classic and a defining movie of the 1980s. But decades later, does it still feel electric, or has familiarity dulled its spark? The hosts examine the performances, the script, and whether Marty and Doc remain timeless icons or relics of a different era.

I thought King was retiring years ago....

Books & Nachos is now part of Now Playing Podcast.

Before our book reviews were branded as Now Playing Podcast Book Reviews, they were released under a separate show called Books & Nachos. That podcast focused on book discussions, most of which tied directly into films we were covering on Now Playing. We’ve now merged those episodes into the main Now Playing Podcast feed for easier access and a complete archive. But these older episodes still have the original Books & Nachos intro and credits on those older recordings. 

Stephen King's latest work, Under the Dome, is his third-longest novel to date, bested in page count only by his classic works The Stand and It. Does this new novel, about a small Maine town cut off from the rest of the world by an unseen force, meet the standards of those books? Listen to find out in this totally spoiler-free review!

(Note: There is a spoiler-ish conversation AFTER the review regarding one of the book's larger plot twists, but you will have plenty of warning so you can listen to the review and still remain totally spoiler-free.)

How can the graphics have more dimensions than the characters?

Two years after his last theatrical release, "King of the World" James Cameron returns with Avatar, a sci-fi epic promising to redefine blockbuster filmmaking. Shot with groundbreaking performance capture and touted as a revolution in digital 3-D, the film drops audiences onto the lush alien world of Pandora for a story of conflict, colonization, and transformation. With massive hype, sky-high expectations, and visuals unlike anything currently playing in theaters, Avatar arrives as a full-scale cinematic event. But does the story rise to meet the technological leap, or is it spectacle in search of substance? Arnie, Marjorie, and Stuart step into the world of the Na’vi to decide whether Cameron has once again changed the game, or simply dazzled us with shiny new tools.

A steam cage maze? Remember the good old days when it was just two guys, a crap-filled toilet, and a gun?

Now Playing Podcast completes our Saw retrospective series (for now...) with Saw VI. This sequel takes Jigsaw’s moral crusade in a surprisingly topical direction. Though John Kramer is dead, his final plans target a new set of "players," this time zeroing in on the cold calculus of insurance executives and corporate decision-making. With traps designed to force those who profit from denying coverage to confront the human cost of their policies, Saw VI leans harder into social commentary than previous entries. Some may see Jigsaw’s warped sense of justice as timely, others as heavy-handed. Does this entry sharpen the series’ themes, or does it stretch the premise too far? The hosts examine whether this latest game hits its mark or pushes the concept past its breaking point.

Thank GOD he had a ballpoint pen handy!

Now Playing Podcast continues the game with Saw V, a chapter that shifts focus from elaborate set pieces to the growing legacy of Jigsaw’s work. With John Kramer gone, the spotlight turns to those carrying out his philosophy, and whether they truly understand the rules he claimed to live by. As a new group of victims faces traps that demand cooperation rather than selfish survival, the film digs deeper into the idea that the real test may not be physical endurance, but moral choice. Meanwhile, the investigation tightens around Jigsaw’s inner circle. Does Saw V meaningfully expand the mythology, or does the series start to feel like it’s running on borrowed time?

Jigsaw puts a New Kid on the Ice Block!

At the end of Saw III, Jigsaw was dead. So how does the game continue in Saw IV? This fourth installment rewinds, overlaps, and twists the timeline as Detective Rigg becomes the latest player forced to navigate a deadly moral maze. Meanwhile, Donnie Wahlberg finds himself in serious jeopardy, hanging in the balance as Rigg (Skinwalkers' Lyriq Bent) races against the clock to learn Jigsaw’s lesson before it’s too late. With John Kramer gone, the franchise leans harder into apprentices, legacy, and increasingly complex storytelling. But can Saw IV sustain the series without Jigsaw at the center, or does the absence of the mastermind expose cracks in the formula? The hosts untangle the traps, the timeline, and whether this chapter keeps the game alive.

Jigsaw's brain is exposed in a room THAT dirty? Even if it helps the tumor, the infection will be terrible!

Now Playing Podcast continues its descent into Jigsaw’s world with Saw III. John Kramer, played by Tobin Bell, is dying from a brain tumor, but that doesn’t mean the games stop. This time, Dr. Lynn Denlon (Crash's Bahar Soomekh) is forced to keep him alive while another victim, Jeff (Braveheart's Angus Macfadyen), endures a brutal series of tests designed to confront his grief and thirst for revenge. Why would Lynn cooperate with a serial mastermind? Because if Jigsaw’s heart stops, the device strapped to her head detonates. Stakes escalate, traps grow more elaborate, and the mythology deepens as the franchise pushes its interconnected storytelling further than ever. Does Saw III raise the series to a new level of psychological complexity, or does it collapse under the weight of its own intricacy?

You throw me the novel, I'll throw you the whip!

Books & Nachos is now part of Now Playing Podcast.

Before our book reviews were branded as Now Playing Podcast Book Reviews, they were released under a separate show called Books & Nachos. That podcast focused on book discussions, most of which tied directly into films we were covering on Now Playing. We’ve now merged those episodes into the main Now Playing Podcast feed for easier access and a complete archive. But these older episodes still have the original Books & Nachos intro and credits on those older recordings. 

Indiana Jones is back! With the revival of the Indiana Jones franchise in 2008, Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, the original novelized adventures of Indy continue with Indiana Jones and the Army of the Dead. Taking place between the 3rd and 4th Indiana Jones movies, we get to see our hero back in action. But as Crystal Skull did not appease many fans of the franchise, will the book fare better? Choose wisely...listen to our review!

Wouldn't you try to find a mirror before slicing off a piece of your own neck?

Now Playing Podcast continues its dive into Jigsaw’s world with Saw II, the sequel that expands the game from one grimy bathroom to an entire house full of traps. This time, Detective Matthews (Dreamcatcher's Donnie Wahlberg) finds himself pulled into Jigsaw’s latest test, while a group of strangers scramble to survive a nerve gas–filled nightmare. With Tobin Bell (Rudy) returning as the calm, calculating mastermind and the mythology growing more intricate, Saw II aims to prove the original wasn’t a one-off shocker. Does this sequel smartly escalate the concept and deepen the puzzle, or does it trade tension for bigger, bloodier set pieces? The hosts examine the twists, the traps, and whether this second round ups the stakes or simply repeats the game.

Somehow, I don't see the Betty Ford clinic adopting Jigsaw's methods for "curing" drug addicts.

When Saw hit theaters in 2004, few predicted it would ignite one of the defining horror franchises of the 21st century. Yet within a few short years, Saw had staked its claim on Halloween, launching an annual tradition of increasingly elaborate traps and moral games. It all begins with Cary Elwes and Leigh Whannell waking up chained in a filthy bathroom, given a simple but impossible choice: one must kill the other to survive. With Danny Glover, Monica Potter, Michael Emerson, and Shawnee Smith rounding out the cast, the film blends low-budget ingenuity with psychological cruelty. Does Saw earn its reputation as the modern standard-bearer for horror, or was its success more about shock than substance? Our hosts dissect the twists, the traps, and whether this first game still cuts as deep now, as they cut into Now Playing Podcast's Saw retrospective series!

White horses could drag me away...

White horses. "Knights in White Satin." Sherri Moon Zombie drifting through dream imagery. Halloween II is Rob Zombie at his most stylized and divisive, a sequel to his 2007 remake that doubles down on brutality, trauma, and surreal symbolism. Abandoning much of the structure of Halloween, this follow-up pushes deeper into psychological horror, fractured identities, and a Loomis who may be as monstrous as the killer he chases. If, as Loomis declares, "Bad taste is the petrol that fuels the American dream," then this movie runs on premium. As Now Playing Podcast concludes its Halloween retrospective series, the hosts examine whether this sequel to a remake can justify its existence or if it proves some legends should remain untouched.

If there are no doors, how do you get in?

Books & Nachos is now part of Now Playing Podcast.

Before our book reviews were branded as Now Playing Podcast Book Reviews, they were released under a separate show called Books & Nachos. That podcast focused on book discussions, most of which tied directly into films we were covering on Now Playing. We’ve now merged those episodes into the main Now Playing Podcast feed for easier access and a complete archive. But these older episodes still have the original Books & Nachos intro and credits on those older recordings. 

It's a house with no right angles, walls meeting floors in curves, and it may just be haunted. That's the real estate listing in Joe Screiber's latest horror novel, No Doors No Windows. Arnie will tell you if this book will have you clawing the walls in fear.

A podcast about a novel written by a podcaster. Huh.

Books & Nachos is now part of Now Playing Podcast.

Before our book reviews were branded as Now Playing Podcast Book Reviews, they were released under a separate show called Books & Nachos. That podcast focused on book discussions, most of which tied directly into films we were covering on Now Playing. We’ve now merged those episodes into the main Now Playing Podcast feed for easier access and a complete archive. But these older episodes still have the original Books & Nachos intro and credits on those older recordings. 

Avid podcaster Scott Sigler has become a novelist. Now his novels are the subject of a podcast. Is that recursive, ironic, or just a coincidence? Either way, here we review his 2008 novel Infected, which began as the podcast novel Infection in 2006. With Halloween around the corner, is this the answer to your need for scares? Join us for this book review to find out!