Film Journal Podcast
George (Film Journal) and Ryan (Cinecrisis) dig through film history one oddball pick at a time—hopping from cult horror to forgotten blockbusters, art house to trash fire (sometimes in the same episode). Whether it’s dissecting Hammer Horror, roasting the latest Studio Flop, or revisiting 70's exploration fare- they bring sharp takes, deep trivia, and the kind of banter only good pals can pull off!
No film school snobbery. No hot take clickbait. Just smart, funny conversations for people who like movies and think they actually matter.
Episodes
27 episodes
Beam Me Outta Here! - William Shatner’s 70s Detour
Between the end of the original Star Trek in 1969 and his cinematic return as Captain Kirk in 1979, William Shatner roamed some strange territory. In this episode, George and Ryan dive headfirst into Shatner’s “wilderness years,” explo...
•
1:33:44
Fantastic Four & Superman (2025)
George and Ryan discuss the big superhero blockbusters of the summer! With special guest Vince Salerno from the Vince Salerno Podcast: https://www.youtube.com/@thebigv75
•
1:46:15
High & Low: Bela Lugosi
George and Ryan discuss the tumultuous career of the man who became famous as cinema's Dracula- Bela Lugosi. Career HIGHS like White Zombie (1932) and LOWS, Bela Lugosi Meets a Brooklyn Gorilla (1952)
•
1:03:31
The Fantastic Four film that was Buried Forever!
George & Ryan watch and review Roger Corman's infamously unreleased Fantastic Four film from the early 90's as well as the documentary "Doomed".
•
1:12:57
Hitchcock's Final Films
In this episode, George and Ryan dive into the last four films of Alfred Hitchcock’s career: Torn Curtain, Topaz, Frenzy, and Family Plot. From Cold War tension to grim London alleyways to offbeat psychics an...
•
1:47:05
Roger Corman's Star Students
George & Ryan discuss four Roger Corman produced films directed by filmmakers who went on to do big things!Martin Scorsese: Boxcar BerthaJoe Dante: Piranha Ron Howard: Grand Theft AutoFrancis Ford Coppola: Dementia 13
•
1:15:27
High & Low: Tony Curtis
Welcome to a new feature series! High and Low! On each installment Ryan and George will be discussing an actor or director. One great movie, one bad movie. Our inaugural featured player: The Great Tony Curtis! The Films: Some Like it Hot...
•
1:04:16
Pulp Comics Go Hollywood!
In order to capitalize on the blockbuster success of Tim Burton's Batman every studio in town dusted off any pulp magazine or comic strip hero they could find. A litany of lush period pieces with beautiful dames, handsome heroes and dastardly v...
•
1:50:47
It Came from Outer Space! 1950's Sci- Fi Films
What transformed science fiction from niche fantasy serials into a dominant cultural force? The answer lies in the atomic anxieties of post-World War II America. The mushroom cloud hanging over our collective consciousness created fertile groun...
•
1:35:11
2024 Year End Wrap Up: Anora, Nosferatu, The Substance and More!
What a year 2024 has been for cinema! In this deep-dive episode, we unpack the most compelling, controversial, and conversation-worthy films that defined the year in movies.We begin with "The Substance," examining how this body h...
•
2:00:08
Going a Little Mad with Psycho 1-4!
Ryan and George discuss the legacy of Alfred Hitchcock's masterpiece Psycho and its three sequels. Are they any good?
•
2:04:35
Two Thumbs Up: The Story of Siskel & Ebert
Before there was Rotten Tomatoes, before YouTube critics dominated our screens, two rival Chicago newspaper men forever changed how we talk about movies. What began as a local PBS show featuring a pair of bickering film critics evolved into a c...
•
1:44:22
Alien Romulus: Reboot or Revelation?
Alien: Romulus has ignited passionate debate among franchise devotees and casual viewers alike—is it a brilliant return to form or merely retreading familiar territory? We dive deep into what makes this latest entry work so effectively as both ...
•
1:11:25
From Civil War to Challengers: Summer 2024's Most Talked-About Films
Summer blockbuster season arrives with its usual mix of spectacle, star power, and occasional surprises, giving us plenty to dissect in this episode. We jump headfirst into Alex Garland's "Civil War," a visually striking but politically ambiguo...
•
1:47:36
Behind the Black Glove: A Journey Through Italian Horror
Step into the shadowy, glamorous world of Italian giallo cinema, where black leather gloves, gleaming blades, and stylish murder mysteries captivated audiences decades before American slashers dominated horror screens. In this deep-dive explora...
•
2:19:25
Kneel Before Pod: Superman I-IV
"You'll believe a man can fly" wasn't just clever marketing for 1978's Superman—it was the promise of a cinematic revolution that forever changed how we experience superheroes on screen. In this nostalgia-filled exploration, we chart the remark...
•
2:21:45
Mad Maxxing: The Road Warrior Legacy
George and Ryan are joined by Cobra Malibu, Montgomery Carlo, and Detective Wolfman for a high octane discussion of Mad Max! Few film franchises have captured the essence of societal collapse and human resilience quite like Mad Max. In this dee...
•
1:59:47
The Fox X-Men Trilogy: Exploring the Legacy of Singer's Mutants
Long before the MCU dominated pop culture, Fox's original X-Men trilogy revolutionized superhero cinema by treating comic book material with unprecedented seriousness and emotional depth. This deep-dive conversation explores how Bryan Singer's ...
•
2:16:52
Guns, Dames, and Atomic Briefcases: A Film Noir Expedition Part 2
Step into the shadowy world of film noir as we explore four cinematic masterpieces that defined and transformed the genre. From the maternal sacrifice of Mildred Pierce to the atomic briefcase of Kiss Me Deadly, these films reveal how noir evol...
•
2:16:23
Madame Web: The Marketing Bait-and-Switch Nobody Asked For
Sony's "Madam Web" has spun quite a web of controversy, and we're here to untangle it all. What happens when two film enthusiasts with vastly different takes on the same movie sit down to dissect it? Pure entertainment.This conversation...
•
55:14
Film Noir: Shadows in Cinema Part 1
What exactly is film noir? It's a question that has plagued film scholars and enthusiasts for decades, and one we tackle head-on in this deep dive into four classic examples of the style. While many mistakenly label film noir as a genre, it's m...
•
1:53:25
Drink the Filth! A Hammer Horror Exploration Part 2
Journey into the shadows of Hammer Film Productions as we unearth four remarkable gems from their golden age that showcase the studio's versatility beyond their famous Dracula and Frankenstein franchises. This deep dive celebrates the creative ...
•
2:34:55
