Cash Grab Cinema

In this very special episode, Rachel, Trae, and Josh recount the experience of making Lookout Point, a short film for the 48 Hour Film Project. We discuss what it was like to make a film in a frantic, sweaty panic and what we think of the end result. Spoilers -- we don't consider our own film to be a shameless Cash Grab (confirmation bias abounds).

Ahoy mateys! In this episode, we jump the shark and dive into the 2018 summer blockbuster The Meg! Join Rachel, Trae, and Josh on this fin-tastic adventure in which we unravel jaw-dropping scenes, dissect fishy dialogue, and of course, sit in awe of the force of nature we call Jason Statham. Does this movie gill-iver a sincere attempt at art, or is this just another smelly Cash Grab?

In a world full of media like 28 Days Later, Mad Max, and The Last of Us, we often forget that ancient apocalyptic IP - the book of Revelation. In this episode Rachel and Josh discuss the 2001 film Left Behind, a movie that started a direct-to-video saga that did little to inform or warn non-Christians of their fate during the end of days, and did much to comfort those who think they will be taken that if nothing else, at least they'll no longer have to share a planet with Kirk Cameron. We chuckle through the ridiculous plot, poor writing, discount special effects and absence of acting talent (not including Clarence Gilyard, of course) and we ask the question: is this film is a genuine attempt at art or just a soulless Cash Grab? 

Load up your favorite snack cracker with a dollop of pâté and put on your best revolutionary costume of the day! In this episode, Rachel, Trae, and Josh discuss the 1975 documentary Grey Gardens. This film focuses on a mother and daughter who were once members of the wealthy East Hampton, NY aristocracy, but have spent decades living in forgotten squalor in their ever-deteriorating estate. While this film and its directors are widely celebrated, this film raises many issues around misogyny, exploitation, and the ethics of filmmaking. We discuss these topics and more, and ask the question: is this film a genuine attempt at art, or a shameless Cash Grab?

Quan su, dudes! In this episode, Rachel, Trae, and Josh wax up their boards and head out into open water to explore the maddening mysteries and cacophony of cultural insensitivities of the 1993 film Surf Ninjas. This movie has it all: the martial arts talents of Ernie Reyes Sr. and Jr., a Sega Game Gear that can foresee the future, Rob Schneider as the unfunny sidekick, Tone Loc as a fish-out-of-water LAPD detective, and Leslie Nielsen as a cyborg samurai warlord who eats up 10 minutes of the movie doing answering machine gags. Is this messy melange of goofy dialogue, chaotic plot points, random action set pieces, and awkward silences after Rob Schneider's character says something racist a genuine attempt at art, or a soulless Cash Grab?

Squeeze into your ball gowns and sharpen your fighting blades because in this episode we discuss the horror & action & comedy film Pride & Prejudice & Zombies. It's the same old story - a family on the brink of becoming too poor to remain in the aristocratic class are desperate to marry off their daughters, all while a zombie outbreak is spreading through the English countryside. Rachel and Josh investigate this derivative piece of cinema and ask the question: was this a genuine attempt at art or just a soulless Cash Grab?

In this episode we delve into the surreal with The Peanut Butter Solution, a 1985 children's fantasy film. Mike is a typical 11-year-old kid living in the suburbs of Montreal until he witnesses a sight so frightening that all of his hair falls out. After getting the recipe for a magic potion from a couple of ghosts in a dream, Mike is able to regrow his hair -- but it's too much too fast, and now he can't get it to stop! Join Rachel, Trae, and Josh as we comb through the strands of this odd piece of cinema and ask: is this a genuine attempt at art or just a shameless cash grab? 

In this episode Rachel and Josh discuss God's Not Dead 3: A Light in Darkness, a film that finally addresses Christian persecution in the US and pits a callous, secular educational system against the single greatest hero of our time - David A.R. White. In this final chapter of the "God's Not Trilogy" we return to Hadleigh University, where the school's administration wants to demolish the on-campus chapel, partly because of the controversy that the resident clergy member (Pastor Dave) brings to the school. In a carnival of faulty logic, straw man arguments, and hilarious misrepresentations of reality, Pastor Dave and his entourage of spunky fundies stand up to the school's administration to save the chapel. We discuss this theologically bewildering movie and ask the question: was this a divine attempt at art or just a soulless Cash Grab?

In this episode Rachel, Trae, and Josh attempt some good old-fashioned Hollywood clairvoyance as they try to predict the winners of the 94th Academy Awards. Along the way we discuss the artistic merits of the nominated films and ask the question: are these films a genuine attempt at art, or just a group of shameless Cash Grabs?

Great Scott! In this episode, Rachel and Josh talk about Back to the Future, a quintessential 80's film that redefined science fiction comedy. This episode was recorded several years ago; we reached way back in the vault to unearth it. We talk about the cultural significance of the film and weigh that against the cacophony of product placement littered across the screen, ultimately asking the question: is this a genuine attempt at art, or just a shameless Cash Grab? 

In this episode, we delve into the thrilling world of involuntary BASE jumping with the 2018 film What Keeps You Alive. This movie has it all: eerie atmosphere, foreshadowing that seems to be important but ends up going nowhere, romantic serenades that include violent inner demons, and characters who just can't seem to make a single rational decision. Join Rachel, Trae, and Josh as we pick apart this Canadian psychological thriller and ask the question: was this a genuine attempt at art, or just a soulless Cash Grab?

In this episode we delve into the deliciously twisted 2020 film Black Lake -- an independent horror film that involves a haunted scarf, a malevolent witch, and a troubled artist wandering around Scottish moors. Rachel, Trae, and Josh analyze this incredibly unique film and ask the question: is this a genuine attempt at art, or just a soulless Cash Grab?  

It's been a long journey. Pointless? Maybe. Mind-numbing? Absolutely. Either way, we have finally come to the last two installments of the Twilight Saga, which -- unlike the cynical money-grubbing producers of these films -- we are graciously releasing as a single episode. Join Rachel, Trae and Josh as we rip apart the pieces and burn the body of this bewildering romance/action/supernatural franchise. As ever, we ask the question: are these films a genuine attempt to create art, or just a soulless Cash Grab? 

Remember that we have some exciting giveaways during our harrowing Twilight Saga episodes! So be sure to keep up with our social medias (links below) to enter for a chance to win movie memorabilia that will delight, baffle, or enrage you.

From the depths of our dusty archives comes the very first, original episode of the show, recorded way back in 2017. In this episode Rachel and Josh discuss The Seeker: the Dark is Rising, a 2007 film adaptation of one of the Dark is Rising book series from the 1970s. With an impressive cast and sterling source material, one would expect this film to be full of adventure and a delight to the senses... We are here to confront those expectations with grim, brutal reality. We ask the question: is The Seeker a genuine attempt at art, or a shameless Cash Grab?

In this episode our ragtag team takes on the Galactic Empire, by which we mean the corporate media behemoth Disney. We discuss Star Wars Episode 8: The Last Jedi, a film that is incredibly divisive and prompted some diehard Star Wars fans to proclaim that this movie "broke Star Wars". Listen as we make the case for why this film is either a brilliant achievement or a dismal failure, and as always we ask the question: was this film a true attempt at art or a soulless Cash Grab?

In this episode we explore the strange and confusing world of Guardians - a 2017 film that is Russia's answer to the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Forget about your tired old superheroes, and get pumped to see Rock Dude, Water Lady, Murder Blades, and of course, Man Bear Pig fight the forces of evil. Those aren't their actual superhero names, but it's the quickest way to sum up this motley crew. We pick apart the disparate madness of this movie which can only be described as "Bargain Bin Avengers" and ask the question - is it a Cash Grab?