Hit Factory

Aaron Thorpe, a writer and podcaster, joins the hosts to discuss 'The Matrix Resurrections'. They explore director Lana Wachowski's commentary on commodification, the insidious system of control, and the film's challenge to neoliberal blockbusters. They analyze fight choreography, discuss challenging nostalgia and formula, explore fandom and canon, critique the binary nature, and applaud the director's creative approach. They wrap up with gratitude towards Aaron's influential article and discuss supporting the Pasadena tenants union.

Writer and lifelong pro wrestling fan Zach Vasquez returns to discuss the 1996 Hulk Hogan holiday dud 'Santa with Muscles', executive produced by The Wolf of Wall Street himself, Jordan Belfort. Along with the film, we discuss the fractious history of the WWE, modern challengers to the promotion's hegemonic superiority, and the life and crimes of the man behind Hulkamania, Terry Eugene Bollea.Follow Zach Vasquez on Twitter.....Our theme song is "Mirror" by Chris Fish

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Kurt & Chris from Parents Just Don't Understand return to discuss the lean, mean and underseen 1997 thriller 'Breakdown' starring Kurt Russell, Kathleen Quinlan, and indelible character actor J.T. Walsh. We discuss the simple pleasures of discovering a great movie while watching cable TV, the film's economical mastery of multiple subgenres, and the 90s resurgence of hicksploitation cinema as managerial class gratification. Follow Kurt and Chris on Twitter. Follow Parents Just Don't Understand on Twitter. Follow Blood Knife Magazine on twitter and support the show on Patreon. For the month of December, we will be donating all of our Patreon funds to the donorbox project to Protect Pasadena Tenants. The more cities we win rent control in, the easier it is to combat bad-faith arguments about the chaos it will supposedly cause. This is an important campaign to win rent control in Pasadena for renters and housing activists everywhere, particularly as rents are being raised going into the holidays. Consider becoming a Hit Factory Patron to support the cause and get access to exclusive bi-weekly episodes and bonus content. ...Our theme song is "Mirror" by Chris Fish

Get access to this entire episode as well as all of our premium episodes and bonus content by becoming a Hit Factory Patron for just $5/month.

We're joined by film writer and filmmaker Jonah Koslofsky to go long on the 1997 neo-noir mindbender Lost Highway, a turning point in the career of David Lynch which would lay the stylistic groundwork that would come to define his output through the next 20+ years. We discuss the filmmaker's singular (and unexpectedly humanist) aesthetic, the futile endeavor of talking about David Lynch literally, and how the director's ideological influences propagate art that antagonizes the thresholds of the neoliberal imaginary.Follow Jonah Koslofsky on TwitterRead Jonah's Philip Seymour Hoffman column 'P.S.H. I Love You' at The SpoolRead Nick Pinkerton's 'Lost Highway' piece "Switchback" on Substack (Subscriber read only)....Our theme song is "Mirror" by Chris Fish. 

Get access to this entire episode as well as all of our premium episodes and bonus content by becoming a Hit Factory Patron for just $5/month.

We're guestless first the first time in a while to discuss Wes Anderson's feature directorial debut, 'Bottle Rocket'. We detail the film's turbulent origins from a 16mm short film that played Sundance to a DOA box office dud, praise the breakout performances from fledgling stars Owen & Luke Wilson, and position the movie adjacent to other 90s indie breakouts about the listlessness of youth at The End of History. Then, we briefly consider the case of Anderson's staunchest detractors and try to articulate a case in defense of those left cold by the director's storytelling. Consider becoming a Hit Factory Patron to get access to all of our premium episodes and bonus content for just $5/month.....Our theme song is "Mirror" by Chris Fish

Get access to this entire episode as well as all of our premium episodes and bonus content by becoming a Hit Factory Patron for just $5/month.

What's your favorite scary movie? Culture writer Lindsay Lee Wallace joins us to revisit Wes Craven's slasher-reinvention "SCREAM" as it nears its 25th anniversary. We discuss the film's sensational cast of rising stars, its brilliant subversion of well-worn (and fundamentally conservative) slasher tropes, and the distinctively personal meditation on grief and loss that elevate the film beyond its genre constraints. We also talk the most recent developments in the ongoing IATSE negotiations and the recent tragedy on the set of "Rust". Follow Lindsay Lee Wallace on Twitter.Read Lindsay's piece "Why Women Watch Horror" for Blood Knife MagRead Lindsay's piece "Culture of Fear: 10 TV and Film Workers Call Out Hollywood Exploitation" for Bitch MediaSome Resources to support IATSE and its members (courtesy of Lindsay):- Fundraiser for Halyna Hutchins’ family, from IATSE Local 600: https://gofund.me/4ed44435 - The Halyna Hutchins Memorial Scholarship Fund at the American Film Institute: https://afi.com/halyna-hutchins-scholarship-fund/…- Aggregated petitions related to IATSE worker issues: https://iatse.net/take-action/- IATSE Safety Hotline: If you are on a film set, you can call to report unsafe conduct on any set with an IATSE contract, even if you’re not a union worker: 844-422-9273 (IATSE safety hotline also has an app, IATSE Safety Info, available for Apple and android devices)- Follow the @ia_stories Instagram account to read firsthand accounts of experiences people have had working in the industryFor the month of October, we are donating all of our Patreon proceeds to the UAWD Reform fund for John Deere workers on strike. Please also consider donating to the fund directly. John Deere workers are already being arrested, going without health insurance, medical care & need picket line provisions. Solidarity with all workers!....Our theme song is "Mirror" by Chris Fish