Four Play

Vampire films from the 1980s take the stage as the next genre for Four Play, kicking off with Tony Scott's The Hunger from 1983. The movie relishes in emerging Goth music, culture, and aesthetics during the period while simultaneously exploring the torturous downsides of eternal life. The Hunger is beautifully shot and paced, allowing it to provide an excellent viewing experience in spite of an understated plot and hokey ending. David Bowie, Catherine Deneuve, and Susan Sarandon feature in the film as it uses its star-power to explore the fleeting nature of fame. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Our Cosmic Horror arc wraps up with Stuart Gordon's 1986 film From Beyond, based off a short story by H.P. Lovecraft. While more niche, and certainly lower-budget, than other films Four Play reviewed in this genre, From Beyond squeezes the most out of its story and actors to provide a satisfying, if campy, experience. Jeffrey Combs, Barbara Crampton, Ken Foree, and the rest of the cast deliver excellent performances in a film that explores the limits of human perception and sexuality. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Many of us have fond memories of Event Horizon (1997), considered Paul W.S. Anderson's best film, but how does it hold up over 25 years later? Richard, Monte, and Thorin discuss the excellent concept and set-up of the movie, which gets unfortunately bogged down by a clunky ending and hilariously bad dialogue. The film liberally steals visuals and scenes from other, better movies and ultimately fails to deliver on an intriguing premise. Sam Neill turns in a wonderfully cheesy performance as one of the high points alongside some enduring production design and visual imagery that has aged relatively well. The boys wrap up with re-evaluating Event Horizon's legacy and place in the cosmic horror genre. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Alex Garland's 2018 film Annihilation continues the Cosmic Horror theme on Four Play, as Richard, Monte, and Thorin discuss the themes that evolve beyond the shimmer. Is the film about trauma, the experience of cancer, the fundamental human drive toward self-destruction? The Four Play crew also digs deep into the symbolism embedded in the film and how the beauty of the production design, soundtrack, and cinematography helps to create a compelling alien world. The ending has been critiqued as enigmatic, but if feels a bit too straightforward for our hosts, who left this film wanting a bit more mystery. And also more of Oscar Isaac's acting. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In the inaugural episode of Four Play, the theme is Cosmic Horror and the subject is the iconic 1982 film The Thing directed by John Carpenter. Richard Lewis, Thorin, and MonteCristo guide you through the premise of their new show, the four films they will review in the Cosmic Horror genre, and why they made these selections. They provide historical context for the release and reception for The Thing, the reasons they adore the film, the political and Cold War undertones, and the fantastic ambiguous ending. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.