Adventures in VHS

What was to be the first of a series of mini Adventures in VHS episodes, this previously unreleased bonus show looks at the 1982 cult classic Basket Case. As I say, it was intended to be the first of a trilogy looking at the Basket Case films and then going on to other stuff... but as it turned out it was the last AiVHS show I ever put together!

A special, feature-length documentary podcast focusing on the life and work of a real VHS innovator, Cliff Twemlow.

Packed with action, espionage, violence, sex, horror and even sci-fi, Twemlow and his band of friends managed to create a series of films shot on video with very little money - and even less permission. And yet, despite their charm and obvious cultural significance these movies are now in real danger of disappearing forever.

With contributions from director David Kent Watson, friend and martial arts legend Steve Powell, and regional film historian Steve Balshaw, this podcast exposes Cliff and his gang's spectacular achievements and what his life means to the cultural history of the North West.

Announcements about the Adventures in VHS book, followed by a full show looking at the Robert Clouse directed, 1982 adaptation of The Rats - also known as Deadly Eyes. I dig deep into its UK VHS release on Guild Home Video and chat about the novel on which it is based - which was apparently something of a household staple back in the day!

After another of its hibernation periods, Adventures in VHS returns with a look at a roaring rampage of revenge with the inimitable Gary Busey at the mean end of a shotgun. An in depth discussion of the UK Medusa Home Video tape, its trailers and then the film itself, with clips from some of the movie's most memorable moments... it's a nice slice of AiVHS just how you like it.

In this episode I dig deep into one of the most formative VHS rentals of my youth when I take a look at the strangest, most innovative and disturbing body horror movies of the late 80s, Brian Yuzna's Society - and get the chance to interview the director himself!

Brian talks to me about the magic of the home video era, the making of Society and even talks plot details for a sequel that's in the works. It's all here folks, so come on in and join the secret club.

An in depth look at one of the wildest, funniest and most 80s film of all time - Breakdance 2: Electric Boogaloo. As always, we start off with a look at the UK VHS release of the film, in this case released on Guild Home Video and Cannon Films, before immersing ourselves in trailers and cover art - and I'm joined by my old friend and podcasting partner Mr Ian Loring for a full and frank review of the movie.

Things get raunchy as Adventures in VHS slides down the sexy slope of mayhem into Peter Markle's 1984 ski-sploitation flick Hot Dog: The Movie. As always, expect a bit of an insight into the history of the film, a look at it's UK VHS release on Entertainment in Video and a clip-fuelled review of the movie itself.

The listeners for it - and here it is, a brand new episode of Adventures in VHS focused on one of the five films under consideration as a potential rental choice.

There were plenty of votes, but the clear winner was 1988's The 13th Floor, so expect a full and frank look at the film's UK VHS rental release, its trailers and of course an in depth review of the movie.

As The 13th Floor and all four of the other tapes in the selection were from the Medusa Video label, I also talk a little bit about that company and its history.

In this episode, I thought it was about time I hit up a genuine video nasty. Join me as I chat about 1981's Evilspeak, the surreal satanic cyber shocker that was prosecuted along with 38 other titles under the Obscene Publications Act. The cuts, the controversy and the 1983 Videospace/Film Town UK VHS release are all covered here!

Adventures in VHS returns with a streamlined 'one-shot' episode looking at a movie I remember fondly as being a firm favourite as a kid. But how will Stuart Gordon's Robot Jox (1989) hold up in a post Bay/Del Toro world? As always, you can expect a bit about the history of the film, a long hard look at it's UK VHS release, a full review of the movie and much, much more besides.

In this special one-off episode I talk about how, despite growing up in an action movie household, the name Chuck Norris was somehow considered a dirty word. And I try to 'discover Chuck' by going back to two of his films I've never had the pleasure of seeing, 1984's Missing in Action and 1985's Invasion USA.

One of the greatest home video horror hits of the day in this episode in 1986's Chopping Mall! I get deep on the tape, the trailers and the movie itself, plus the film's director Jim Wynorski talks to me about the making of the movie and the remarkable story behind it's marketing.

It's a monster double feature once again on the show with a deep dive into the underrated 80s remake of The Blob (1988) and the weird and wacky sci-fi comedy Terrorvision. The show also features an exclusive interview with Terrorvision director Ted Nicolaou.

In this episode, I look at 1982's weird and very wonderful Xtro, exploring the history of the movie, it's UK VHS release - and then getting into a late night chat with its equally weird and very wonderful director Harry Bromley Davenport‎.

For this episode, I take an in depth look at Kindred (1987) before talking exclusively to the man behind its iconic cover and poster art, Graham Humphreys - the man also responsible for iconic illustrations for A Nightmare on Elm St 1 - 5, Basket Case, Creepers and Evil Dead I and II.

So join me as I talk about the history of the movie Kindred, look at it's 1987 release on Entertainment in Video, take a look at the trailer - and interview the man responsible for its glorious artwork.

I take a look at 1985’s The Coca-Cola Kid, a brand-saturated oddity starring Eric Roberts as a fish-out-of-water corporate troubleshooter at the centre of very bizarre fizzy drinks industry power struggle. It’s pretty weird.

I also have a selection of listeners’ VHS memories and select one of them to win a very special FrightFest 2012 goodie bag with additional DVDs and a mystery VHS tape.

In this episode I decide to relive some childhood trauma, by actually watching a movie I was too terrified to even look at back when it was released. 1985's mini monster franchise starter - Ghoulies.

A double feature episode, with back-to-back creatures from the deep in Lamberto Bava's Devouring Waves (1984) and Barbara Peeters' Monster (1980 - AKA Humanoids from the Deep).

In this second episode, I look at the 1986 Troma classic Class of Nuke 'Em High, a tale of a high school on the brink of complete self destruction thanks to the exploits of the nuclear power plant next door.

I look at the history of the movie, the VHS tape itself and get into a debate about the era for the film and the format with co-director, producer and Troma founding legend Lloyd Kaufman in an exclusive interview.

In this first episode, I look at 1987's Creepozoids, directed by David DeCoteau and starring genre favourite Linnea Quigley. I look at the history of the movie, the VHS tape itself and get into a debate about the era for the film and the format with its director in an exclusive interview.