
The Last Video Store
The Betoota Advocate presents a chat show about the films you love. Join the movie maestro Alexei Toliopoulos in ‘The Last Video Store’ - located in the outback town of Betoota. Its a special hub of culture and memories with every single movie ever made lining its infinite shelves. Alexei talks with a guest about their most cherished cinematic selections, before he sends them of with a bespoke film recommendation based on their taste.
The rental combo is:1 x New Release2 x Weeklies1 x Staff Pick
Follow us on Instagram @lastvideostorebetoota
Latest episodes

Apr 16, 2025 • 56min
Kriv Stenders, director of THE CORRESPONDENT, loves Aussie classics DOGS IN SPACE and LOVE SERENADE
Director and producer Kriv Stenders is a true Australian film legend, and has directed films like Red Dog and his new one, political thriller The Correspondent. He's also a The Last Video Store fan, so it's only natural he finally graced the halls of our fine establishment! Kriv lives and breathes film, especially Australian cinema, and has picked out some absolute classics to mull over with Alexei. His film The Correspondent is in cinemas now! BOOK TICKETS for Alexei’s comedy fest show REFUSED CLASSIFICATION with Zach Ruane in MELBOURNE, SYDNEY, PERTH and BRISBANE Follow ALEXEI TOLIOPOULOS on Letterboxd for all the rental combo lists. Follow Kriv on Letterboxd. GUEST PICKS: The Correspondent (Drama), Dogs In Space (Cult), Love Serenade (Cult)STAFF PICKS: Out Of The Blue (Cult)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Apr 9, 2025 • 52min
Will Gibb loves spooky cult favourites LAKE MUNGO and THE WAILING
Comedian and self-professed horror-head Will Gibb joins Alexei in The Last Video Store to chat about three of his favourite spooky films. Will is well-known for his hilarious skits on TikTok and Instagram, but he's also a bonafide cinephile, and his picks include Aussie cult classics and underground creepy Korean films. He's also touring his stand up show 'Why Am I Like This?' now so click the link below to check it out! WILL’s comedy festival show link BOOK TICKETS for Alexei’s comedy fest show REFUSED CLASSIFICATION with Zach Ruane in MELBOURNE, SYDNEY, PERTH and BRISBANE Follow ALEXEI TOLIOPOULOS on Letterboxd for all the rental combo lists. Follow Will on Letterboxd. GUEST PICKS: Red Rooms (Horror), The Wailing (Horror), Lake Mungo (Horror)STAFF PICKS: Noroi The Curse (Horror)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Apr 2, 2025 • 53min
Gracie Otto loves MULHOLLAND DRIVE & CHUNGKING EXPRESS
Weaving between narrative and documentary features OTTO BY OTTO, SERIOUSLY RED and extensive work directing some of the best television (including DEADLOCH and HEARTBREAK HIGH), Gracie Otto is one of the most skilled and in-demand filmmakers in Australia. With great stories around Wong Kar-wai and David Lynch, Gracie’s visit to the Last Video Store is one of the greats. BOOK TICKETS for Alexei’s comedy fest show REFUSED CLASSIFICATION with Zach Ruane in MELBOURNE, SYDNEY, PERTH and BRISBANE Follow ALEXEI TOLIOPOULOS on Letterboxd for all the rental combo lists. Here’s Gracie’s list. GUEST PICKS: OTTO BY OTTO (documentary), MULHOLLAND DRIVE (cult), CHUNGKING EXPRESS (cult)STAFF PICKS: HIPPO (cult)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Mar 26, 2025 • 51min
Julio Torres loves Nicole Kidman in BIRTH + his surreal comedy PROBLEMISTA
Just before he lands at the Melbourne International Comedy Festival Julio Torres joins Alexei Toliopoulos to explore the Last Video Store. Julio Torres is one of the great modern masters of surrealist comedy. Julio made his bones writing now classic sketches at Saturday Night Live (including PAPYRUS starring Ryan Gosling), he’s also the creative force on tv series LOS ESPOOKYS & FANTASMAS. Now Julio has directed his feature film debut, the brilliant comedy PROBLEMISTA, starring Tilda Swinton. JULIO’s comedy festival show link PROBLEMISTA screening with Julio & Alexei BOOK TICKETS for Alexei’s comedy fest show REFUSED CLASSIFICATION with Zach Ruane in MELBOURNE, SYDNEY, PERTH and BRISBANEFollow ALEXEI TOLIOPOULOS on Letterboxd for all the rental combo lists. Here’s Julio’s list. GUEST PICKS: PROBLEMISTA (Comedy), WHERE IS THE FRIEND’S HOUSE (Art House), BIRTH (Cult)STAFF PICKS: T BLOCKERS (Horror), LOVE SERENADE (Cult)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Mar 19, 2025 • 1h 12min
Michael Hing reveals his list of the top 50 movies of all time (from when he was 19 years old)
When comedian and podcast host Michael 'Hingers' Hing was 19 and in his 2nd year of uni, he wrote a list of what are, in his opinion, the best 50 movies of all time. And for the first time ever, he's sharing that list exclusively on The Last Video Store podcast. From Pulp Fiction to Finding Nemo, Michael and Alexei go through every movie on that list in this very special episode which will have you saying "Are you talkin' to me?" or something equally annoying. See Michael at your local comedy festival in Australia BOOK TICKETS for Alexei’s comedy fest show REFUSED CLASSIFICATION with Zach Ruane in MELBOURNE, SYDNEY, ADELAIDE, PERTH and BRISBANE Follow ALEXEI TOLIOPOULOS on Letterboxd for all the rental combo lists.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Mar 14, 2025 • 26min
BONUS: David Wenham, an original video store customer
A short and sharp visit to the Last Video Store from one of the greats of Australian cinema, David Wenham. His new film SPIT sees Wenham return to perhaps his most iconic role of ex-junkie Johnny Spitieri from GETTIN SQUARE. SPIT is out now in cinemas. BOOK TICKETS for Alexei’s comedy fest show REFUSED CLASSIFICATION with Zach Ruane in MELBOURNE, SYDNEY, PERTH and BRISBANE Follow ALEXEI TOLIOPOULOS on Letterboxd for all the rental combo lists.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Mar 12, 2025 • 50min
Cameron James returns for some hard neo noir and the classic SUNSET BOULEVARD (Anniversary Spectacular)
Celebrating a year into the pod with our original first customer and best mate… it’s the return of Cameron James! Cam has just released his new half hour special on Grouse House (the home of Finding Yeezus). See Cam at your local comedy festival in Australia BOOK TICKETS for Alexei’s comedy fest show REFUSED CLASSIFICATION with Zach Ruane in MELBOURNE, SYDNEY, ADELAIDE, PERTH and BRISBANEFollow ALEXEI TOLIOPOULOS on Letterboxd for all the rental combo lists. Here’s Cam’s list. GUEST PICKS: ONE FLASE MOVE (crime), SUNSET BOULEVARD (crime) STAFF PICKS: TWILIGHT (crime), CUTTER’S WAY (crime), ELEVATOR TO THE GALLOWS (crime)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Mar 5, 2025 • 57min
Filip Hammar & Fredrik Wikingsson directors/stars of THE LAST JOURNEY love SIDEWAYS and THE ACT OF KILLING
Their film THE LAST JOURNEY just became the highest grossing Swedish documentary ever and was selected as the Swedish entry for the Best International Feature Film at the 97th Academy Awards. The duo Filip och Fredrik are responsible for some of Sweden’s best-loved comedic journalistic innovations, THE LAST JOURNEY is no exception. A touching and hilarious comedy documentary road movie as they take Hammar’s retired father on a nostalgic trip to France to help him get back his joie de vivre! BOOK TICKETS for Alexei’s comedy fest show REFUSED CLASSIFICATION with Zach Ruane in MELBOURNE, SYDNEY, ADELAIDE, PERTH and BRISBANE Follow ALEXEI TOLIOPOULOS on Letterboxd for all the rental combo lists. Here’s Filip & Fredrik’s list. GUEST PICKS: THE LAST JOURNEY (Documentary), THE ACT OF KILLING (Documentary), SIDEWAYS (Comedy)ALEXEI’S STAFF PICK: HANDS ON A HARD BODY (Documentary), OTTO BY OTTO (Documentary)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Feb 26, 2025 • 58min
Charles Williams, director of INSIDE starring Guy Pearce, loves FAT CITY
Filmmaker Charles Williams won the Short Film Palme d'Or at the 2018 Cannes Film Festival for his his short ALL THESE CREATURES. His feature directorial debut INSIDE is in cinemas now. A superb crime thriller starring Oscar nominee Guy Pearce, Cosmo Jarvis (Shogun) and newcomer Vincent Miller is in Aus cinemas now. He’s also a former video store clerk so you know it is a banger! BOOK TICKETS for Alexei’s comedy fest show REFUSED CLASSIFICATION with Zach Ruane in MELBOURNE, SYDNEY, ADELAIDE, PERTH and BRISBANE Follow ALEXEI TOLIOPOULOS on Letterboxd for all the rental combo lists. Here’s Charles’ list. GUEST PICKS: INSIDE, FAT CITY and THE EARRINGS OF MADAM DE…STAFF PICK: PRIME CUT, THE FUNERAL (1996)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Feb 19, 2025 • 1h 9min
Zachary Ruane returns for THE SUBSTANCE, I SAW THE TV GLOW and De Palma’s BODY DOUBLE
Aunty Donna legend and film obsessive Zachary Ruane returns to the Last Video Store to reveal if Alexei’s recommendation of Brian De Palma’s BODY DOUBLE really was the perfect staff pick and to talk through a pair of the best new horror movies. BOOK TICKETS for Zach and Alexei’s comedy fest show REFUSED CLASSIFICATION in MELBOURNE, SYDNEY, ADELAIDE , PERTH and BRISBANE Follow ALEXEI TOLIOPOULOS on Letterboxd for all the rental combo lists. Here’s ZACH’s return list AND his original pick-up list (and also his actual letterboxd account) GUEST PICKS: BODY DOUBLE, THE SUBSTANCE and I SAW THE TV GLOWSTAFF PICK: DEF BY TEMPTATIONSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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