NOSFERATU

Real estate agent Thomas Hutter travels to Transylvania to meet the mysterious Count Orlok, unaware of the darkness awaiting him. Meanwhile, his young wife Ellen is haunted by disturbing visions and an overwhelming sense of dread. As an ancient evil begins to stir, their lives become entangled in a terrifying nightmare of obsession, fear, and the supernatural.

Craig, Elisabeth and guest Blake Casselman talk about types of vampires, adapting classics, uncomfortable films and the movie “Nosferatu” on this week’s Matinee Villains!

Show Notes

Craig, Elisabeth and guest Blake Cassel...

LADY IN WHITE

Nine-year-old Frankie lives in a small town haunted by a serial child killer. When a Halloween prank leaves him locked inside his school, Frankie witnesses the ghostly reenactment of the killer’s first murder. Guided by the victim’s restless spirit, Frankie sets out to expose a murderer who may be closer than he thinks.

Craig, Elisabeth and Alan talk about children’s horror, ghosts, tonal mishmashes and the movie “Lady in White” on this week’s Matinee Villains!

Show Notes

Craig, Elisabeth and Alan talk about their experi...

INTERVIEW WITH THE VAMPIRE

In modern-day San Francisco, a mysterious vampire shares the extraordinary story of his 200-year existence with a young reporter. His journey through the centuries is filled with love, betrayal, and an endless struggle with his dark nature. As he recounts his past, he reveals the loneliness and torment of living forever while the world around him changes.

Craig, Elisabeth and guest Annie Bulloch talk about depressed vampires, 1990s queer culture, vampiric werewolves and the movie “Interview with the Vampire” on this week’s Matinee Villains!

Show Notes

Cra...

Dylan McDermott has built a career by refusing to stay in one place for very long. From leading-man roles to complicated villains, television dramas to comedy, he has continued to find new ways to challenge both himself and the way audiences see him.

Recorded live at FanX Salt Lake, Dylan joins me to talk about the people and experiences that helped shape that career. He shares what it was like being a young actor opposite Clint Eastwood in In the Line of Fire, watching Sally Field work on Steel Magnolias, and why working with producers like Ryan...

SEXY BEAST

Retired safecracker Gal Dove is enjoying a peaceful new life in Spain with the wife he adores. His paradise is shattered when the volatile Don Logan arrives with an offer Gal desperately wants to refuse. Don is determined to drag him back to London for one last big score—whether Gal likes it or not.

Craig, Elisabeth and guest Derek McCaw talk about sociopaths, saying “I love you”, British tanning and the movie “Sexy Beast” on this week’s Matinee Villains!

Show Notes

To celebrate Matinee Heroes reaching 500 episodes, we’re revisiting another milestone from the show’s history. This special Encore Presentation brings back Episode 375: Field of Dreams, originally released on April 6, 2024. Craig Price and Alan Cerny look back at the 1989 classic about baseball, faith, family, and following a dream even when no one else understands it. Along the way, they discuss getting through dark times, the enduring magic of baseball, and just how sweet James Earl Jones really was. As Matinee Heroes’ 375th episode, Field of Dreams marked the final major milestone on the road to 500 and makes a fitting Encore...

To celebrate Matinee Heroes reaching 500 episodes, we’re revisiting another milestone from the show’s history. This special Encore Presentation brings back Episode 250: They Live, originally released on October 23, 2021. Craig Price and Alan Cerny are joined by Derek McCaw of Fanboy Planet to look back at John Carpenter’s 1988 cult classic, a sharp blend of science fiction, action, horror, and social satire. Originally released as part of Matinee Villains month, the episode also marked Matinee Heroes’ 250th episode, making They Live the perfect halfway-point milestone to revisit on the road to 500.

THEY LIVE

A wanderer without...

To celebrate Matinee Heroes reaching 500 episodes, we’re revisiting another milestone from the show’s history. This special Encore Presentation brings back Episode 125: Batman, originally released on May 18, 2019 and recorded live at Comicpalooza. Craig Price and Alan Cerny are joined by Heather from Nerdy Bitches to look back at Tim Burton’s 1989 Batman, the film that helped redefine the superhero movie for a new generation. Recorded in front of a live convention audience, the episode captures the energy, humor, and larger-than-life atmosphere that made this one of Matinee Heroes’ most memorable early live shows.

BATMAN

Having w...

Lucy Lawless and Renée O’Connor spent six seasons battling gods, warlords, monsters, and occasionally each other on Xena: Warrior Princess. But when they reunited at FanX Salt Lake in 2018, the conversation went well beyond chakrams and battle cries. Lucy and Renée talked about the friendship at the heart of Xena, the strange places their careers have taken them since, and why the connections we make along the way may matter more than any role.

To celebrate Matinee Heroes reaching 500 episodes, we’re going back to where it all began. This special Encore Presentation revisits Episode 1: The Incredibles, originally released on January 14, 2017. Craig Price and Alan Cerny look back at the launch of the podcast—with Elisabeth Rappe, who joined the show later—and reflect on why Brad Bird’s The Incredibles was the perfect movie to establish what Matinee Heroes was all about. Nearly a decade later, the film—and the conversation it inspired—still holds up remarkably well.

THE INCREDIBLES

What do you do when you are not allowed to b...

THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK

After the Rebel Alliance comes under attack from Imperial forces on the ice planet Hoth, the heroes are forced to scatter. While some escape aboard the Millennium Falcon, Luke travels to Dagobah to train with the Jedi Master Yoda. But his growing connection to the Force soon pulls him toward a dangerous confrontation with Darth Vader.

Craig, Alan, Elisabeth and Brendan talk about childhood influences, space drugs, podcast trivia and the movie “The Empire Strikes Back” on this 500th episode of Matinee Heroes!

Show Notes

THE GREAT MUPPET CAPER

Intrepid journalists Kermit, Fozzie, and Gonzo get an assignment to report on a British jewel heist, sending them to England and the rowdy Happiness Hotel as they search for Lady Holiday, the socialite who was robbed. Miss Piggy soon arrives hoping to work for Lady Holiday but instead finds herself framed by Lady Holiday’s scheming brother, Nicky. Kermit and the gang must then clear Piggy’s name and uncover the truth behind the theft.

Craig, Alan and Elisabeth talk about Charles Grodin’s Muppet chemistry, an encounter with Frank Oz, Craig...

BRIDESMAIDS

Annie’s life is falling apart when her best friend, Lillian, announces she’s getting married and asks Annie to be her maid of honor. Struggling with money and her own romantic problems, Annie tries to handle the costly and sometimes bizarre traditions that come with planning a wedding. Determined to give Lillian the perfect celebration, she joins the other bridesmaids on a chaotic journey toward the big day.

Craig, Elisabeth and guest Annie Bulloch talk about weddings, female led comedies, $1.99 buffets and the movie “Bridesmaids” on this week’s Matinee Heroes!

Show Notes...

IN AMERICA

The Sullivan family leaves Ireland for New York City, where Johnny hopes to make it as an actor. They settle into a cramped Hell’s Kitchen apartment and struggle to build a new life. While Johnny looks for acting work, his wife Sarah takes a job at an ice cream parlor. Both are still grieving the death of their son, Frankie, as their daughter Christie captures the family’s journey through her video camera.

Craig, Alan and Elisabeth talk about immigrations, grief, Alan turning 57 and the movie “In America” as we celebrate Alan’s Matinee...

Recorded live at Retro Expo in Plano, Texas in July 2024, Craig sits down with Harry Hamlin for a lively and genuinely engaging conversation that spans Mayfair Witches Season 2, his unforgettable Clash of the Titans stories, his viral Bolognese, and the acting lessons he learned from Laurence Olivier.

SPIDER-MAN: HOMECOMING

Thrilled by his experience with the Avengers, young Peter Parker returns home to live with his Aunt May. Guided by his mentor, Tony Stark, Peter begins embracing his new identity as Spider-Man while trying to return to his normal routine. But his desire to prove he is more than just a friendly neighborhood superhero is put to the test when the Vulture threatens everything he holds dear.

Craig, Elisabeth and guest Nick Mears talk about unnecessary origin stories, John Hughes films, the perfect Peter parker and the movie “Spider-Man: Homecoming” on this week’s Mati...

BROTHERHOOD OF THE WOLF

Something is hunting the women and children of the French countryside, leaving behind a trail of blood and terror. With the creature always one step ahead, King Louis sends a renowned scientist and his Iroquois blood brother to uncover the truth. But this is no ordinary beast, and the conspiracy behind it may be even more dangerous.

Craig, Elisabeth and guest Alex Barnhill talk about the beast of Gévaudan, sexy transitions, a full panel with Mark Dacascos and the movie “Brotherhood of the Wolf” on this week’s Matinee Heroes.

S...

THE MATRIX RELOADED

Humanity’s war against the machines continues as Neo, Trinity, and Morpheus fight to free their people from the Matrix, while Neo discovers his growing importance in the fate of mankind. The battle is no longer just about survival, but about understanding the truth behind the world they are trying to escape.

Craig, Alan and guest Mark Woodring talk about sweaty community orgies, Mark’s first Comicpalooza, the pressure of a follow-up and the movie “Matrix: Reloaded” on this week’s Matinee Heroes!

Next week the gang talks “Brotherhood of the Wolf” wi...

O BROTHER, WHERE ART THOU

Ulysses Everett McGill is serving a hard-labor sentence in Mississippi when he convinces two fellow prisoners to escape with him. Claiming that a fortune in buried treasure is waiting, he leads the trio across the state. Still shackled together, they race to find the money while staying one step ahead of the authorities.

Craig, Elisabeth and guest Brendan Agnew discuss the Odyssey, southern gothic, pomade and the movie “O Brother, Where Art Thou” on this week’s Matinee Heroes!

Show Notes

In May 2015, Craig sat down with David Anders at Comicpalooza in Houston for one of the very first convention panels he ever moderated. Anders, known for playing unforgettable villains and complicated characters in Alias, Heroes, iZombie, The Vampire Diaries, and Once Upon a Time, looked back on his career, his reputation as one of the rare American actors known for convincing British accents, and the mentors who helped shape him. The conversation moved from funny set stories to emotional reflections on rejection, persistence, and the people who gave him a chance.

HAPPY GILMORE

Happy Gilmore only wants one thing: to play hockey. But when his grandmother is about to lose her house, he discovers his slap shot gives him an outrageous edge on the golf course. Now he has to turn his anger issues into prize money, while dragging the polite world of professional golf into total chaos.

Craig, Elisabeth and guest Jeff Penn talk about golf, mannequin hands, Christopher McDonald’s induction into the William Atherton Asshole Hall of Fame and the movie “Happy Gilmore” on this week’s Matinee Heroes!

Show Notes

THE GREAT OUTDOORS

Outdoorsy Chicago family man Chet Ripley takes his wife, Connie, and their kids to a Wisconsin lakeside cabin for a peaceful vacation. But the getaway is derailed when Connie’s obnoxious brother-in-law Roman arrives with his family, turning a relaxing weekend into a battle between laid-back fun and uptight excess.

Craig, Elisabeth and guest Tami Anderson talk about family dynamics, bald butt bears, kink shows and the movie “The Great Outdoors” on this week’s Matinee Heroes!

Show Notes

THE SURE THING

Gib is a college freshman who can’t catch a break with women. When he hears a gorgeous girl in California is interested in him, he joins a cross-country carpool to meet her. The catch? Alison, the uptight classmate who already rejected him, is along for the ride. What starts as a nightmare road trip slowly turns into something neither of them expected.

Craig, Elisabeth and guest Derek McCaw talk about if opposites attract, 50-year-old undergrads, summer in central California and the movie “The Sure Thing” on this week’s Matinee Heroes!

Sh...

THE SANDLOT

In the summer of 1962, new kid Scottie Smalls moves to town and is taken under the wing of a talented young baseball player and his rowdy sandlot team. He quickly gets pulled into their chaotic summer and learns that fitting in can be just as tricky as playing the game. But when a prized baseball is hit over a fence, the boys must retrieve it from the yard of the legendary Beast.

Craig, Elisabeth and guest Rob Ervin talk about coming of age movies, convention going, PR photos and the movie “The Sandlot” on t...

THE HANGOVER

Two days before his wedding, Doug heads to Las Vegas with three friends for one unforgettable bachelor party. The next morning, his friends wake up with no memory of the night before, and Doug is nowhere to be found. With the wedding fast approaching, they must retrace their chaotic night and find him in time to get back to Los Angeles for the ceremony.

Craig, Elisabeth and guest Paul Hitchcock talk about bachelor parties, tattoo highs and lows,  Las Vegas and the movie “The Hangover” on this week’s Matinee Heroes!

Show No...

2024 FanX Animation Voice Actor Panel

Recorded live at FanX 2024, this episode of Conversations with Craig features Craig moderating a lively animation voice actor panel with Phil LaMarr, Spencer Grammer, Fred Tatasciore, Sean Chiplock, Khary Payton, and Jess Harnell. The conversation moves from career stories and fan questions to voice acting techniques, music, artificial intelligence, convention life, and the unpredictable comedy that happens when a room full of performers starts riffing off each other.

THRONE OF BLOOD

Returning to their lord’s castle, two samurai warriors are stopped by a mysterious spirit who foretells their futures. When the first part of the prophecy comes true, one warrior begins to believe the rest may follow. Urged on by his ambitious wife, he is pushed toward betrayal, murder, and the bloody pursuit of power.

Craig, Elisabeth and guest Blake Casselman talk about adapting classics, paranoia, sake and the movie “Throne of Blood” on this week’s Matinee Heroes!

Show Notes

THE LAST DUEL

A respected knight, known for his bravery and skill on the battlefield, finds himself at odds with a squire whose intelligence and eloquence have made him one of the most admired nobles in court. When the squire viciously assaults the knight’s wife, she steps forward to accuse her attacker, an act of bravery and defiance that puts her own life in jeopardy. The ensuing trial by combat, a grueling duel to the death, places the fate of all three in God’s hands.

Craig, Elisabeth and guest Brendan Agnew talk about the...

EXCALIBUR

The magical sword Excalibur begins in the hands of Uther Pendragon, but years later, it finds its way to his bastard son Arthur, the knave destined to become king. With the help of the mysterious Merlin, Arthur rises to fulfill his fate, bringing together the Knights of the Round Table at Camelot and unifying the country. But even a legendary king is still a man, and Arthur must face love, betrayal, the search for the Holy Grail, and the fight to save the kingdom he was born to rule.

Craig, Alan and Elisabeth talk a...

A KNIGHT’S TALE

Born a peasant, William Thatcher sets out to change his stars, win the heart of a noble maiden, and shake up the medieval world around him. With the help of his loyal friends, he enters the brutal world of tournament jousting, where he must prove he has the courage, skill, and heart to become a legend.

Craig and Elisabeth talk about Chaucer, naughty cross-stitching, droopy eyes and the movie “A Knight’s Tale” on this week’s Matinee Heroes!

Show Notes

Terminator Cast – Linda Hamilton, Michael Biehn and Edward Furlong – September 2024

Recorded live at FanX Salt Lake in 2024, this special episode of CONversations with Craig brings together three icons from the Terminator franchise: Linda Hamilton, Michael Biehn and Edward Furlong. The panel looks back at the legacy of Sarah Connor, the genius and intensity of James Cameron, the practical stunt work behind The Terminator and Terminator 2: Judgment Day, and how a movie about killer machines somehow feels even more relevant in the age of AI.

DUNGEONS & DRAGONS: HONOR AMONG THIEVES

A charming thief pulls together a mismatched crew of adventurers to recover a powerful lost relic. Along the way, they face deadly magic, old betrayals, dangerous enemies, and plenty of bad decisions. What begins as a simple mission becomes a chance for this band of misfits to become the heroes no one expected.

Craig, Elisabeth and guest Annie Bulloch talk about unsung movie gems, bending the rules, halfling hotties and the movie “Dungeon and Dragons: Honor Among Thieves” on this week’s Matinee Heroes.

Show Notes

ALIEN NATION

In Los Angeles, three years after an alien ship comes to Earth, humans and extraterrestrial newcomers live side by side in a city divided by fear, prejudice, and violence. When a human police detective is assigned a newcomer partner, they must learn to work together while investigating a dangerous drug ring spreading through the alien community. As the case deepens, their uneasy partnership becomes the key to exposing a larger threat.

Craig, Elisabeth and Alan talk about concepts vs execution, physical media, sour milk addiction and the movie “Alien Nation” on this week’s Mati...

STARMAN

An alien answers a NASA message and comes to Earth in peace, but his ship is shot down by the military. Stranded, he takes the form of a dead man and forces the man’s widow to drive him to Arizona so he can meet a rescue ship. As the government hunts them down, the two form an unexpected bond.

Craig, Elisabeth and guest Steve and Izzy talk about aliens on earth, road trips, Ape-ril and the movie “Starman” on this week’s Matinee Heroes!

Show Notes

MEN IN BLACK

A smart-mouthed New York cop discovers that aliens are secretly living on Earth and gets recruited into a hidden agency that keeps them under control. Paired with a stone-faced veteran, he must stop a deadly alien invader searching for a powerful object that could spark an intergalactic crisis. As he adjusts to a bizarre new world of disguises, weapons, and cosmic secrets, his first day on the job turns into a fight to save the planet.

Craig, Elisabeth and guest Tami Anderson talk about immigration, galactic pugs, neurolyser damage and the movie “Me...

Dane DeLiegro did not exactly take the usual road to Hollywood, and that is what made this live conversation at the 2024 Origins Game Fair in Columbus, Ohio so entertaining. Before becoming the Predator in Prey, he played pro basketball in Europe, spent years apprenticing under a legendary Tuscan butcher, and nearly ended up in the culinary world instead of the film business. By the time he started describing what it took to bring the Predator to life, it was clear this was not your standard actor origin story.

PAUL

For the past 60 years, a wisecracking alien named Paul has been held at a top-secret military base in America’s UFO heartland. When he decides he’s had enough of Earth, he escapes and jumps into the first vehicle he finds, a rented RV driven by two British sci-fi geeks, Graeme and Clive. With federal agents and an angry father chasing them, the two come up with a wild plan to help Paul get back to his spaceship.

Craig, Elisabeth and guest Paul Hitchcock talk about sincerity in comedy, Elisabeth’s starring role, Comic Con fa...

THE LONG GOODBYE

Private detective Philip Marlowe gives his friend Terry Lennox a ride to Mexico. But when Marlowe gets back to Los Angeles, he is pulled into the investigation of Terry’s wife’s death. Then comes word that Terry has died by suicide in Mexico but Marlowe isn’t buying it. As he starts chasing the truth, he takes on a new case from a woman who has a surprising connection to Terry’s past.

Craig, Elisabeth and Alan talk about Robert Altman’s disjointed style, candle cults, the Oscars and the movie “The Long Goo...

REAR WINDOW

Confined to his apartment with a broken leg, a newspaper photographer passes the time by watching the lives unfolding outside his window. But what starts as idle curiosity turns into something far more dangerous when he becomes convinced he has witnessed a murder. With help from his nurse and the woman he loves, he sets out to prove it, before the suspected killer realizes he is watching.

Craig, Elisabeth and Movies that Make Us cohost Tracy Mangum talk about Voyeurism, BDE, Boysenberries and the movie “Rear Window” on this week’s Matinee Heroes!

...

CHINATOWN

A Los Angeles private detective thinks he is handling a routine infidelity case, until he meets the man’s real wife and realizes he was hired by an impostor. When the husband turns up dead, the case pulls him into a web of corruption, deception, and disturbing family secrets, with the wife’s powerful father at the center of it all.

Craig, Elisabeth and guest Jeff Penn from Deep Cuts the game talk about private investigators, Canadian utopias, LA in the 30s and the movie “Chinatown” on this week’s Matinee Heroes!

Show Notes...