Classic American Movies

Catching Dusty Saunders’ flick Big City Pizza at the Amazing Fantasy Film Fest blew me away. The setup is pretty straightforward: Boney, a skeleton pizza delivery guy, navigates Big City on the night of the massive Omni Ball Championship. Blotto Films takes you on a surreal, mind-bending ride exploring what it really means to exist, landing somewhere far outside of sanity.
If you’re hitting the festival circuit, do yourself a favor and check out Big City Pizza. Head over to the Blotto Films YouTube channel right now to dive into Saunders’ wild universe and watch the rest of their...

After watching Mia’Kate Russell's latest movie Penny Lane is Dead, I was fully prepared to write a review. It’s totally clear she’s a massive horror junkie who has a serious passion for the genre and knows exactly how to make a story work. But then I figured... why write a review when I can just talk to her directly?
So, I brought Mia’Kate onto the pod to chat about all things filmmaking, makeup effects, and how she crafted this spooky season gem! This was an excellent convo. I felt like I was talking to an old frie...

The Insidious series is six movies strong and 15 years old. Really? 
From dental hygienist horror and endless living room forts to the tattooist mapping out plans on grapefruits, this movie is... well, it’s a Part 6! Is there still life in this $815 million franchise, or has it finally run out of steam? I discuss Amelia Eve’s striking resemblance to Naomi Watts, Lin Shaye’s glorious return as Elise, and whether "Cyrus" makes for a memorable villain. One thing is for sure: There will be another sequel.

Review and interview!
What happens when a quiet 1982 Michigan suburb is suddenly transported back to prehistoric times? You get The End of Oak Street—the intensely fun new film from David Robert Mitchell, the brilliant mind behind It Follows.
Touted as the best dinosaur movie since 1993's Jurassic Park, this flick stars Anne Hathaway and Ewan McGregor navigating a neighborhood overrun by feathered dinos, giant bugs, and unexpected suburban drama. Somehow, it all works.“Oak Street” was filmed in Georgia and I knew the 2nd 2nd AD, Riley Flanagan, who was a former guest.  On my 100th episode, he was p...

Happy 40th Anniversary to Jason Voorhees! 
A little while ago, I decided to re-release older episodes that are uncut. Back when I first started podcasting, having sharp, finely trimmed episodes were all the rage. Since nothing is recorded that way, it needs to be edited. Now, everyone wants to hear everything about the interview, wrinkles and all. So, here are classic episodes of Classic American Movies: Uncut. Can you believe it's been four decades since “Friday the 13th Part VI: Jason Lives” slashed its way into our hearts? When I first kicked off the podcast during the pandemic, I was i...

Uwe Boll is no stranger to controversy. I first heard of him about 20 years ago when he challenged his harshest critics to a boxing match. Well, he’s back in everyone’s sights with his latest film, Citizen Vigilante, due to it’s politically charging nature. Some recent interviews only focused on the politics. Others clearly never saw the movie and just wanted to attack him. However, I wanted to treat Uwe like how I would want to be treated and we just talked. Turns out he’s one of the nicest people I interviewed!  Tune in as we discuss German fo...

I’m not a historian—I’m just a guy who loves movies—but I’ve got to say, this was an interesting ride. Before George Washington was the face on the dollar bill, he was a raw, unpolished surveyor-turned-commander taking an absolute ass-whipping from reality. 
What I really dig about this is the way it was made. Angel Studios is giving the big Hollywood machines a run for their money with this crowdfunded, indie approach, and honestly? That’s the most punk rock thing I’ve seen in cinema in years.
Is it perfect? No. There are some noticeable...

It’s been 26 years since Jackass first hit our screens, and I can’t believe we’re here. From the early days of Big Brother magazine to the insanity of Jackass: Best and Last, this group of idiots turned "getting the crap kicked out of each other" into an art form.
They weren't just stuntmen; they kickstarted the DIY approach to entertainment that defines a generation. Whether you grew up watching them on MTV or you're just discovering the legacy, Best and Last feels like waiving goodbye to an old friend. I
t’s finite, it’s funny, and yes, i...

Forget the swashbuckling, tights, and the lighthearted folk hero we grew up with. This isn't the Errol Flynn classic. We’re looking at an aging, broken Hugh Jackman trying to survive in a medieval world that is, frankly, just as brutal as you’d imagine. It’s dark, it’s dirty, and it’s arguably the only "revisionist" film lately that doesn't feel like a total slog. It trades the myth for the man—a guy haunted by a lifetime of violence and just looking for a way out.
It’s a far cry from the Saturday matinee legends, but if you’re...

I’m back from the Underground Film Festival in Orlando, fresh from wining best feature script and I’m ready to talk about He-Man! Masters of the Universe is the best movie no one is watching in the theaters and I’m ready to talk about it. After Mattel missed the opportunity to make Star Wars  toys, they were ready to try something fresh (well, kinda). The toys were a massive success, as well as the cartoon, which all quickly fell apart. Smash cut to 40 years later, Mattel is hot off of their success with Barbie and are ready to try ano...

If you haven’t seen Backrooms (2026) yet, you’re missing out on one of the most intriguing horror experiences in recent years. Directed by Kane Parsons, this film takes the viral creepypasta concept and turns it into a dread-filled, must-watch nightmare.
With an 89% on Rotten Tomatoes and a massive box office draw, it’s proof that original, low-budget storytelling is becoming  the future of film. 
My short film, “Bishop’s Day” is available to check out on YouTube, and make sure to check out my written reviews at www.ClassicAmericanMovies.com

“The Killing Cell” is an awesome found footage film that’s been tearing up the festival circuit with awards and nominations! Writer/director/producer and actor Karsen Schovajsa and his crew pulled together a nostalgic horror flick that captures the same eerie energy as “Hell House LLC” and “Grave Encounters.” I was lucky enough to check out a screener, absolutely loved it, and had to bring Karsen onto the podcast to talk all about the making of this soon-to-be cult hit! Make sure to follow TheKillingCellMovie, DeadRenegadeFilms, ScreenSanctity (James Bessey, co-director)and Karsen_Thomas3 for updates on the film. 

If you are...

***This podcast contains light spoilers***
If you miss the era of grimy 2000’s horror movies with practical effects, real locations, and wild behind-the-scenes stories, you should check out Passenger. Watching it felt like stumbling onto a lost horror flick from 20 years ago. Then while the credits were rolling, I spotted a familiar name — my old friend Coalin Smith as the 2nd AD. Naturally, I texted him immediately and asked if he wanted to come on the podcast to talk about what it was actually like making it … and thankfully, he said yes. So after my review, stick around for storie...

It feels nice to finally have the podcast studio up and running. For my first film, I’m covering Curry Barker’s Obsession. Since seeing his first film, Milk & Serial , I knew Barker was someone special. What he can create with no money is amazing and I’ve said numerous times that if given the budget, he would be the next big name. Well, with about $750k, he made one kick ass horror flick.

If you’re not doing so already, please like and follow Classic American Movies on Instagram and Facebook. I do free movie giveaways, mini movie re...

As renovations are nearing their end, I figured I would release another un-cut episode! Arguably one the biggest name in zombie history, John A Russo is one of the last people alive who co-created “Night of the Living Dead.” I was head over heels listening to his stories, and I could have gone on for hours, but sadly, John only gave me 30 mins. This interview took a political turn that didn’t make the original cut, and listeners have noted that out convo ends abruptly. But, that’s how it was! Although the story of “Night” has been told thousands of times, th...

My next short, “The Dinner” has approved for crowdfunding at Seed&Spark! Check out the link here to learn how you can be a part of the film. 

Since I’m building my podcast studio, I’ve decided to unearth some old interviews and release them unedited. The Chiodo Bro’s were interviewed on June 23, 2020 and it truly was a lot of fun. Like a lot of people in their 40’s and older, I grew up watching “Klowns,” “Ernest Scared Stupid” and “Critters,” so this was like interviewing my childhood icons. The brothers talk in-depth about the history of the Klowns...

I had interviewed Mark Jones on June 15, 2020. During the pandemic, nearly every filmmaker I reached out to was eager to talk and loved the idea of the podcast. Mark Jones was one of my first interviews and after sending him an e-mail, he agreed to come on the pod. Although he was well known in the cult world, few really knew how much of a genius he was or know of his cultural impact.  At the time of the interview, there was no talk of a “Leprechaun” 4K release, or a blu-ray stacked with special features and Jones explained to me th...

The pod and blog are going to go dark because my wife and I are buying a new house and I'm building my own podcast studio! I figured I would chop up another BS episode until then for everyone to enjoy. So, bare with me as I get everything situated.
Like my other episodes about BS, this is just my friends and I talking about things in general. No controversies, no hot takes, just us talking about life, movies, comedy, food, flowers, the Spartans, MK Ultra trials and more! If you’re not doing so already, please like and fo...

***This episode contains light spoilers***
I had met Ken while working on vertical movies in Georgia and I found out he had made a hilarious and violent Christmas restaurant flick called We’re So Dead. During the Atlanta Horror Film Festival in October I got the pleasure of checking it out and I loved it! We both won Best Local film (he, feature and me, short) and I had to bring him on to talk.  Check out We’re So Dead on www.weresodeadmovie.com and use the first name of the actors for $2 off your purchase (Bitchy...

Assistant Director Riley Flanagan (ByADsforADs) has been working in the film industry for many years. He started out in Cleveland, Oh., then moved to Georgia to work on The Hunger Games in 2014, which is where I met him. Recently, Riley created apps to help make working on set smoother.  Check out his apps available for download at http://byadsforads.com 

AD Roll Call - Easily schedule Set PAs on the fly: https://apps.apple.com/app/id6751911400
AD Background - Keep up with BG numbers on the go: https://apps.apple.com/app/id6753729078
AD Pumpkin - T...

Predator: Badlands has hit the theater world hard and all the critics love it. What’s the catch? Well, there’s not a lot going on other than cool gadgets and some jokes. Even though the action packed flick promised a good time, I felt like it was blah ride into a by-the-books Disney-bought IP. Ho-hum.
If you’re not doing so already, please like and follow Classic American Movies on Instagram and Facebook. I do free movie giveaways, mini movie reviews and more!
Also, I decided to dabble in making my own slasher film called “Bishop’s Day”. Ch...

Yorgos Lanthimos has a new movie dropping and this time Emma Stone isn’t naked. Bugonia is a solid flick that relies heavily on the actors and light on the plot, so much so I was interested in how the movie interested me so much. Jesse Plemmons plays Teddy, a tin foil hat guy who listens to too much Joe Rogan and is convinced Michelle (Stone) is an alien who wants to eliminate the human race, one bee colony at a time. Is Teddy nuts or is Michelle not who the world thinks she is? Lanthimos delivers the goods with th...

YouTube film critic Chris Stuckmann has decided to put his money where his mouth is and made a horror flick. “Shelby Oaks”, the latest NEON release is hitting the theaters hard and critics are split, but, what do they know? I found the film to be charming in its own way and really enjoyed the simplicity. After listening to the pod, please check out Chris’ channel and be sure to mention you heard about it from here! 
If you’re not doing so already, please like and follow Classic American Movies on Instagram and Facebook. I do free movie giveaways...

Arguably one of the biggest names in slime cinema is Gregory Lamberson. However, it wasn’t all fun and slop. Gregory managed movie theaters in New York City for many years and he blessed me with a brief history lesson on a forgotten time. I loved hearing all of his stories! As a fellow film lover, I could listen to his stories for hours. If you love movies, b-movies, movie history or just love hearing film lovers talk: This podcast is for you!   Check out GregoryLambersonFilm.com for links to his movies. Please check him out on Tubi, YouTube or whe...

Today is my birthday! To celebrate, I’m going to do a podcast on something I’ve wanted to do for a long time: Comparing the novel to the film of a movie I like. Now, I know that I've been pretty critical of Stephen King’s IT in other podcasts, but to be honest, it wasn’t until I read the novel (or rather listened to the audiobook) that I really loved the story. After talking to a million people about the differences and similarities (online and in person), I figured I would go ahead and make a podcast on it. <...

All actors will want to listen to this episode: Growing up in Long Valley, NJ, Brett was encouraged to pursue his dreams, and pursue he did! Residing within driving distance of New York City, he sought after theater, became a professional tap dancer and theater acting before making his move to Los Angeles by the age of 19. Over the years, he’s enhanced his craft to include a professional actor, producer and director, with hundreds of credits. With his company LA Reels, he and his former business partner created one of the first demo reel companies (shooting original content for ac...

I was thrilled to see that Tubi movies are finally getting their chance in the theaters. Why not? All the strikes, super hero movies, MCU, remakes, reimaginings, sequels, prequels, DCEU and everything in between, let’s have the little guys have their time. 
Run is arguably the best time in the theater I’ve had in a few months and it’s solely on the unintentional humor, acting, directing and everything that made me love seeing bad movies in the theaters!
If you’re not doing so already, please like and follow Classic American Movies on Instagram and Facebook...

I came across Grazia’s masterpiece of cinema Body Odyssey and was immediately blown away. The story, the acting and everything was like if David Lynch and David Cronenberg made a film about female body building. I know how that sounds and, I had to have her on the pod to talk. Because I was part of multiple people interviewing her, I only had 20 mins to chat, but, as you could tell I could easily talk for another hour. If you can get a chance, check out Body Odyssey, now making the rounds at film festivals. 
If you’re not d...

What in the name of Tubi Original’s is this? Just when you thought Flight Risk was the biggest stinker of the year, Trust says “Hold my beer!” Sophie Tuner’s latest movie about disgusting men grooming children in the film industry to lure them into sexual relationships is getting the thumbs down from almost all critics. Why? Well, because no one sees that part in the movie and are too busy focussed on all the silly aspects of it like the logistics of how doors work and rats carrying hammers. I wish that was a joke. 
If you’re not doin...

In a world of sequels, requels, remakes and reimaging, is there any surprise that “The Naked Gun” wouldn’t come back? Well, this one was really good and I had a blast watching and recording it! If you like slapstick and silly, then please go see this movie ASAP. It's fun, self aware and, dammit, it’s the movie we need today. Kick back and be prepared to laugh. 
If you’re not doing so already, please like and follow Classic American Movies on Instagram and Facebook. I do free movie giveaways, mini movie reviews and more! Finally, all this talk a...

Wow! This movie was bad. Has it been 28 years since the original I Know What You Did Last Summer? Well, the movie I thought was going to be the hit of the summer turns out to be a giant stinker filler with unlikable characters, dumb dialogue (even for slashers) and dumber situations. The whole Summer is a mess of a movie and although I hate talking bad about movies, it’s impossible with this one.
If you’re not doing so already, please like and follow Classic American Movies on Instagram and Facebook. I do free movie giveaways, mini movi...

We’re back to discuss more Cannon and Carolco movies! Ukrainian film critic, author and now podcaster, Davyd Klimov joins me to discuss our favorite films from the cult companies. It's hard not to love 80's action flicks and it's about time I had a discussion on them.
When you’re done with the pod, check out his book To Watch, or Not To Watch, which is filled with reviews that Klimov recommends and … doesn’t. Klimov is very knowledgable critic and if this podcast doesn't convince you to buy his book, then check it out anyways.
If you’re no...

A few years back I did a thorough breakdown of one of my favorite slasher flicks of the 90’s: “I Know What You Did Last Summer”. To celebrate the requel coming out, I decided to rerelease the episode! Kick back and enjoy a classic episode as my wife Miriam and I talk about all things 90’s horror, who Freddie Prinze Jr. is and everything you should know about “I Know What You Did Last Summer”!
If you’re not doing so already, please like and follow Classic American Movies on Instagram and Facebook. I do free movie giveaway...