The WorldFilmGeek Podcast

In October 2023, I spoke with producers Trevor Doyle and Alexa Khan, along with director Baatar Batsukh about Mongolia's first horror film, "Aberrance".

Kicking things off in 2024, Trevor and Alexa are back with some major news. First, if you missed Aberrance during its film festival circuit and limited theatrical release, you can now see it on Digital as it was released on January 16.

Second, get ready for some major news as the film is getting a prequel that is currently in post-production along with a master plan being set in motion revolving around the film.

In this exclusive interview, I talk to documentary filmmaker George Gage as he reminisces about his 1978 feature film "Skateboard". Gage is a great storyteller who talks about the concept of the film, working with the cast and crew, and we even delve into later skateboard flicks such as "Thrashin'", "Gleaming the Cube", and "Lords of Dogtown" to name some as well as talking about almost lost media unearthed for new generations.

"Skateboard" was recently remastered from a thought to be lost 35mm print thanks to lifelong fan Matt Grady of Factory 25. The film screened in New York and Los Angeles with two more set for November in Minneapolis and Dallas as the film celebrates its 45-year anniversary!

A Special Thanks goes out to Matt Grady of Factory 25 and George Gage for making this interview possible.

In the second episode of Season 3, and in our continuation of "Guns of Eden", I speak with lead star Alexandra Faye Sadeghian about the film. She plays ex-cop Megan, who while struck with PTSD goes on a camping trip with her ex-partner and friends. She soon finds herself on a road to serious redemption after she witnesses the killing of a man by the town's corrupt police, who have joined forces with a team of mercenaries. The film is coming out on DVD and Digital on December 6 from Uncork'd Entertainment. Special Thanks to October Coast PR for setting up this exclusive interview. 

In this exclusive audio interview, I speak with Matthew Gentile, who as a kid dreamed of becoming an FBI agent until he was bit by the filmmaking bug. Mehsing his passions of true crime and filmmaking, Gentile makes his feature film directorial debut on "American Murderer", the story of Jason Derek Brown, a con artist who made his way into the FBI's Most Wanted List at the end of 2004. The film, starring Tom Pelphrey ("Ozark", "Iron Fist") as Brown, is now released in select theaters, On Demand, and Digital from Saban Films and Lionsgate. 

Vinegar Syndrome's Kurtis Spieler did something ingenious. While having his love for making atmospheric horror films, Spieler had found reels of an incomplete 1984 John Liu film, "New York Ninja". Spieler took the reels and recut the footage, hired some of the big names in B-movies to redub the voices, and the film was released in late 2021.   

Spieler follows it up with his return to the horror genre, "The Dead Girl in Apartment 03", starring the original "Friday the 13th" final girl, Adrienne King.  The film will be released on Digital on August 9 from Wild Eye Releasing.   

Special Thanks to October Coast PR and Kurtis Spieler for making this interview possible.

In 2004, after making his debut film "Fungicide", Dave Wascavage decided to unleash a film he had wanted to make for years, his take on Bigfoot. That film, the shot-on-video (SOV) horror film "Suburban Sasquatch" pits a Native American warrior, a journalist, and park rangers against the legendary monster and it invades suburbia and goes on a killing spree.  

The film is being re-released on Special Edition Blu-Ray on August 9 from Visual Vengeance, Wild Eye Releasing's new label that specializes in SOV cinema.   

Special Thanks to October Coast PR and Dave Wascavage for making this interview possible.

Having worked together on the recent action film "Vendetta", actor Jackie Moore and writer/director Jared Cohn are back together only this time, they are both in front of the camera with Moore giving a performance set to scare the hell out of you and may make you think twice about taking a rideshare in the film "Dawn".  

The film will be released on Digital on August 2 from Uncork'd Entertainment.  

Special Thanks to October Coast PR, Jackie Moore, and Jared Cohn for making this interview possible.  

For LGBTQ filmmaker Addison Heimann, he makes his feature film directorial debut on "Hypochondriac", a psychological horror film about a young gay man who after receiving old voicemails from his estranged mother finds himself traversing down a spiral of chaos and madness. Based on pieces of Heimann's life, the film will be released on Demand and Digital on July 29 from XYZ Films.  

Special Thanks to Katrina Wan PR and Addison Heimann for making this interview possible.

Beginning his career as an actor in 80's cult horror films such as "Evil Spawn" (directed by Fred Olen Ray) and "Blood Diner" (directed by Jackie Kong), Drew Godderis made the transition from actor to director with the 1994 shot-on-video thriller "Jabber", which has been renamed "L.A. Aids Jabber", the story of an unhinged 19-year old's revenge on society when he is diagnosed with AIDS (starring the amazingly named Jason Majik).   

The film will be released on Special Edition Blu-Ray on August 9 from new label Visual Vengeance, Wild Eye Releasing's sister label that's focused on SOV films.  

Special Thanks to October Coast PR and Drew Godderis for making this interview possible.   s

Australian filmmaker Andrew Traucki invited fans to "The Reef" in 2010, where a group of friends are forced into open water against a great white shark. 12 years later, Traucki returns with the thematic sequel "The Reef: Stalked", which involves a PTSD-stricken lead forced to overcome her fear when she, her sister, and friends find themselves at the mercy of a great white. 

The film will debut in theaters, On Demand, Digital, and stream exclusively on Shudder on July 29 from RLJE Films.

Special Thanks to Katrina Wan PR and Andrew Traucki for making this interview possible. 

13-year old actress Hala Finley will be best known for her role as Matt LeBlanc's daugher Emme on the series "Man with a Plan" (2016-2020). Transferring to film, she pulls off a powerhouse performance as Leila, a young girl who is forced to be "cargo" for a truck driver in Anna Gutto's "Paraside Highway", starring Juliette Binoche, Morgan Freeman, and Frank Grillo.

The film will be released in select theaters, On Demand, and Digital on July 29 from Lionsgate.

Special Thanks to Katrina Wan PR and Hala Finley for making this interview possible. 

Since she was a child, Norwegian filmmaker Anna Gutto has always had a passion for the arts. She would be an actress and short film director over the past decade. She makes her feature film directorial debut on "Paradise Highway", a thriller about a truck driver who finds herself unwittingly involved in a human trafficking case and her eventual bond with the young victim. 

The film stars Juliette Binoche, Morgan Freeman, Frank Grillo, and Hala Finley. The film will be released in select theaters, On Demand, and Digital on July 29 from Lionsgate.

Special Thanks to Katrina Wan PR and Anna Gutto for making this interview possible. 

Inspired by his love of comics and sci-fi, filmmaker and animator J. Allen Williams had a passion project in mind. At the age of 12, he bought a comic book called "Fever Dreams" and one particular story would lead him on a decades-long journey. The end result is MEAD, a new sci-fi action film starring Patton Oswalt as the voice of the titular character, sci-fi legend Robert Picardo, and Patrick Warburton in a cameo as the voice of Timmy the Wunderbot.   

The film will be released on Digital on August 9 from Vision Films.  

Special Thanks to J. Allen Williams and Andrea McKinnon PR for making this interview possible.

Jennifer Linch is a multi-talented filmmaker and also a martial artist who has dabbled in various forms including Kung Fu, Kajukenbo, and Tae Kwon Do to name a few. Announced and shot in 2020, Linch's long awaited film "Kung Fu Ghost" is finally seeing the light of day when it comes out on Digital on August 2 from Vision Films. 

Special Thanks to Andrea McKinnon PR and Jennifer Linch for making this interview possible. 

For Diego and Julio Hallivis, they have been lifelong fans of horror. Diego loves horror-comedies while Julio loves sci-fi horror. The two combine their love of their genres, add a bit of social commentary about immigration, and unleash a new film called "American Carnage", starring Jorge Lendeborg Jr. and Jenna Ortega.  

The film will be released in theaters, On Demand, and Digital on July 15 from Saban Films.

Canadian actor Dana Abraham has been destined to pursue a career in the arts. The son of a prominent artist, Abraham would begin with short films and TV roles before writing and starring in his first major feature film, "Neon Lights", which is about a stressed out tech company wizard who decides on a family reunion which may end up very bad in this new thriller.

The film is now available On Demand, and Digital from Momentum Pictures.

Actor and director Daniel Benedict grew up an 80s child. His love of all things from the decade come into play in a new film based on a childhood character he created, "The Bloody Man". It tells the story of a child who after being bullied for so long discovers his favorite horror comic book character comes to life and will wreak havoc. The film is a dream project for Benedict as it stars two actors of his favorite film in the "Nightmare on Elm Street" franchise, The Dream Master's Tuesday Knight and Lisa Wilcox. The film will be coming to digital on July 12. 

The founder of production company Extreme Entertainment, Todd Sheets is considered a legend in indie horror films, spanning a career of nearly three decades. He has a low-to-no budget no holds barred approach to his films, which has gained him quite a following. Aside from his work as a filmmaker, Sheets is also a podcast host and he uses that experience for his latest masterpiece, "Final Caller", which will be released on July 5 on DVD and Digital from Wild Eye Releasing. Sheets talks the film and his love for the genre in this exclusive interview.

An actor and singer, Yulia Klass is slowly becoming a force to reckon with. Having worked with directors like James Cullen Bressack and Richard Gray, Yulia has worked alongside some A-class talent from Bruce Willis and Jason Momoa to Steven Seagal and legendary rock star turned director Glenn Danzig. She made a tour de force performance in "Captors", directed by Bressack and shows no signs of slowing down. It's time the world gets to know Yulia Klass in this exclusive interview. 

Last year, I had the pleasure to talk to director James Cullen Bressack about his Bruce Willis-led "Survive the Game" and "Fortress". This Friday, July 1, Bressack returns and brings Mel Gibson, Kevin Dillon, Shannen Doherty, and Sam Asghari along for the ride in "Hot Seat", in which Dillon's former hacker is forced to go back to his dangerous past or risk exploding in his bomb-filled chair. The film will be released in theaters, On Demand, and Digital from Lionsgate.

Special Thanks to Katrina Wan PR and James Cullen Bressack for making this interview possible.

On July 12, the new isolation thriller "Glasshouse", about a family staying for years in the titular structure due to a memory-erasing toxin and their lives soon being shaken up from the presence of a mysterious stranger, will be released on Digital from Voyage Media.  

To celebrate the film's upcoming release, I speak with director Kelsey Egan and co-star Anja Taljaard about the film, which may think is based on one thing but brings something completely different to the table.   

Special Thanks to October Coast PR, Kelsey Egan, and Anja Taljaard for making this interview possible.

Australian-born Richard Gray has had a love for Westerns and when the opportunity came for Gray to do a Western, he was intrigued after reading a script from his "Robert the Bruce" writer that meshed the Western with not only a murder mystery, but have a sense of inclusivity and diversity. With an all-star ensemble including legends Gabriel Byrne and Richard Dreyfuss along with Thomas Jane, Nat Wolff, Isaiah Mustafa, and Aimee Garcia, the film, "Murder at Yellowstone City", will be released on June 24 in select theaters, VOD, and Digital from RJLE Films.

Special Thanks to Katrina Wan PR and Richard Gray for making this interview possible. 

Actor and writer Jim Mahoney got his start as a bartender and it was during one special night where he was inspired to come up with a comedy about four friends who reunite and play a drinking game that can send them to Hell...in a literal manner! The film, "Gatlopp", is being released on VOD and Digital on June 23 from XYZ Films. 

Special Thanks to Katrina Wan PR and Jim Mahoney for making this interview possible.

Alberto Belli is a music video and short film director whose work has been recognized by the EMMYs. Looking for the right project to make his feature film directorial debut, he met with a good friend, Jim Mahoney, who gave him the perfect film: Gatlopp, an insane story of four old friends whose reunion is turned upside down when they play a drinking game that can take them to Hell...literally! The film will debut on VOD and Digital on June 23 from XYZ Films.

Special Thanks to Katrina Wan PR and Alberto Belli for making this interview possible. 

As part of the "Celebration of Pride" interview series, we talk to Wes Hurley, a filmmaker who tells his life story of being born and raised in Russia during the waning days of the Soviet Union and his adjustment to life in America as well as finding his identity as a openly gay man. He brings his story to life in the new film "Potato Dreams of America", starring Tyler Bocock and Hersh Powers as the young Hurley with Marya Sea Kaminski and Sera Barbieri as the younger version of his mother, Lena. The film co-stars Dan Lauria, Lea DeLaria, and Jonathan Bennett. The film is now available on DVD and Digital with a special edition Blu-Ray set for a June 21 release by Dark Star Pictures and Vinegar Syndrome. 

KateLynn E. Newberry is known for her work as a supporting actor in many indie films. However, she has propelled into a lead role as a woman trapped in a room in the new film "Isolated", which is now available on DVD and Digital from Uncork'd Entertainment. This could be the steppingstone for more lead roles for Newberry. Enjoy the interview. 

We're kicking off this month's "Celebration of Pride" interview series with Mark Schwab, co-founder of Diamond in the Rough Films, as we talk about his latest film "Brotherly Lies", which will premiere on June 17 on the fearless Network and some news about his previous film "Crisis Hotline", currently on DVD from High Octane Pictures.   

Get your 14-day free trail to fearless, the all-inclusive streaming network featuring LGBTQ+ movies and shows. https://fearless.li/ 

Follow Diamond in the Rough Films at:
Twitter - https://twitter.com/DITRFilms
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/ditrfilms/
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/DITRFilms/
https://www.ditrfilms.com/

Known for her work primarily as an assistant director on many films, Christine Chen takes her lifelong passion of mermaids, research a Haitian voodoo goddess, and pays homages to great Hollywood filmmakers via visuals and lines in her new horror film "Erzulie". The story of four friends who during a reunion meet the titular water goddess, who decides to help the girls in exchange for her protection. The film will be getting a one-week engagement at the Laemmle Theater in Glendale, California beginning on May 27. 

Special Thanks to October Coast and Christine Chen for making this interview possible. 

Canadian-born filmmaker Rick Dugdale has achieved something amazing. During the pandemic with a script by Cam Cannon, he took an ensemble cast, shot in 17 countries including principal shooting via Zoom and post-production and came up with the cyber thriller "Zero Contact". The film stars the legendary Anthony Hopkins along with Chris Brochu, Aleks Paunovic, and Veronica Ferres. The film will be released this Friday in select theaters, VOD, and Digital from Lionsgate. 

When it comes to DTV action films from the mid-2000s to just the past few years, Keoni Waxman is a name that will pop up thanks in part to his collaborations with Steven Seagal and Michael Jai White to name a few. He goes a different route with his latest film "The Ravine", based on the novel by Robert Pascuzzi, which Waxman adapted the screenplay. The murder-suicide mystery stars Eric Dane and Teri Polo as a couple determined to discover the truth about their family friend, who killed his family before committing suicide. The film will be released on May 6 in select theaters, On Demand, and Digital from Cinedigm. 

On the final "Movies That Need More Love" episode of April, I decided to go into a more recent film. The film is the 2019 comedy "Kathryn Upside Down", written, produced, edited, directed by, and starring Allie Loukas. The story of a young woman who meets her biological father in the strangest of situations is a fun comedy that draws inspiration from Loukas' idol, the late John Hughes. I break the film down, give some trivia, and explain why those who love Hughes' work especially will see that "Kathryn Upside Down" is a film that needs more love. 

Concluding my coverage of Seasonal Films' 1990s U.S. films, I talk about the martial arts thriller "Bloodmoon", starring Gary Daniels, Chuck Jeffreys, and the late Darren Shahlavi. An excellent meshing of serial killer flick and martial arts action, this is a precursor to the Donnie Yen-starrer "Kung Fu Jungle/Killer". I break down the film, give some trivia, and tell you why this is a Movie That Needs More Love.

*This episode is dedicated to the memory of Darren Shahlavi (1972-2015)

Continuing my coverage of Seasonal Films' U.S. films in the 1990s, I talk about Tony Leung Siu-Hung's "Superfights". The film stars Brandon Gaines (in his only major film appearance) as Jack Cody, a martial artist who after stopping a robbery at an ATM, gets the chance to live his lifelong dream to join the Superfights. However, as his fame rises, he learns that the organization and people behind it may not appear as they seem to be. Excellent fight scenes and an ensemble supporting cast including Keith Vitali ("No Retreat, No Surrender 3: Blood Brothers"), Chuck Jeffreys ("Honor and Glory"), Feihong Yu ("Beijing Rocks"), and the late Patrick Lung Kong ("Black Mask") make this one a "Movie That Needs More Love". 

Continuing my coverage of Seasonal Films' crossover films from the 80's and 90's, I talk about "American Shaolin", the story of an embarrassed karate fighter who is determined to become the first American-born Shaolin monk, learning some valuable lessons along the way. The film stars Reese Madigan, Daniel Dae Kim, and Trent Bushey. I break the film down, give some trivia, and tell you why this is a Movie That Needs More Love. 

No, we're not talking about the Sam Raimi hit film of the 2000s. In the latest edition of "Movies That Need More Love", we talk about the 1977 made-for-TV movie that served as the pilot for the short-lived series starring Nicholas Hammond ("The Sound of Music") as Peter Parker. The series lasted 14 episodes from 1977 to 1979 on CBS. I break the film down, give some trivia, and say why this is a film that needs more love. 

In this latest installment of "Movies That Need More Love", I talk about the 1987 Italian martial arts film "Karate Warrior", also known as "The Boy with the Golden Kimono", starring Kim Rossi Stuart, Ken Watanabe (not THAT Ken Watanabe of "Batman Begins" fame), Jared Martin, Janet Agren, and Enrico Torralba. Thye film is a Karate Kid ripoff with an Iron Fist style finishing move. I also talk a bit about the five, count em', five sequels with Stuart only returning for Part 2 with Ron Williams completing the rest of the franchise. The franchise was directed by Fabrizio de Angelis, who used the pseudonum "Larry Ludman". 

If you're looking for a strong survival style final girl in the horror genre, look no further than Jamie Bernadette. A lifelong horror fan, she is living the dream as one of the top stars of indie horror films today. Having a dance background, Jamie performs most if not all of her own stunts and that, combined with her intensity, makes her a force to reckon with in the genre. Some of her best known roles include Kelly in "Bunnyman 2", Jess in "4/20 Massacre", and Christy in "I Spit On Your Grave: Deja Vu" opposite Maria Olsen and the iconic Camille Keaton. We talk about her love of the genre, some of her best experiences and her ability to do her own stunts. 

In the latest episode of "Movies That Need More Love", I talk about Chang Cheh's 1982 martial arts epic "Five Element Ninjas" (aka Super Ninjas or Chinese Super Ninjas). The story of the sole survivor of a martial arts clan who becomes an expert in Ninjitsu seeks revenge with the help of three sworn brothers to face off against the titular Five Element Ninjas. I break the film down and give a few trivia tidbits and say why this is a movie that needs more love. 

DISCLAIMER: This episode's trivia features a brief insight of Chan Pui-Sai, who played kunoichi Junko, who passed away in 1987. If you or anyone you know has suicidal thoughts, please contact the National Suicide Hotline at 1-800-273-8255. Ms. Chan pulled off a great performance in this film and seemed to have a long career ahead of her, so upon hearing this news was indeed shocking but had to be addressed. 

In the second of our Women's History Month special where we celebrate the "Ladies of Horror", I speak with Maria Olsen, one of the busiest actors and producers of the genre. Originally from a small area in South Africa and her beginnings on the stage, Maria moved to Los Angeles to start a career in film and television and since then she has racked up over 200 credits. Her best known roles include Mrs. Dodds in "Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Lighting Thief", the villainous Becky Stillman in "I Spit On Your Grave: Deja Vu", and the founder of her own production company, MOnsterworks66. A lifelong horror fan, Maria is now one of indie horror's greatest talents and she was happy to talk about how the journey began, recommended some titles to me and vice versa, and I even get to learn how to properly speak Afrikaans from her! 

O-n the latest installment of "Movies That Need More Love", I talk about the 1986 horror film "Slaughter High", in which a disfigured bullied teen sets up a reunion of his bullies a decade ago with one thing in mind: revenge. Per usual, I break the film down, offers a little trivia, and tell you why "Slaughter High" is a Movie that Need More Love.

This episode is dedicated to the memory of co-star Simon Scuddamore (1956-1984).

In the first installment of the "Ladies of Horror" special celebrating Women's History Month, I talk with WorldFilmGeek Hall of Famer Reine Swart. Hailed as one of the top local actors from South Africa, Reine is now based in Texas, where she continues her prolific career. Her breakout horror film is "The Lullaby" in the role of Chloe Van Heerden, a new mother whose post partum depression leads her to a world of chaos. Since then, Swart has appeared on the TV series "Z Nation" as well as the horror-comedy "Triggered". In 2020, her writing and directorial debut came with the film "The Hex". We talk about her horror films, horror films in general, and a bit about some of the highlights of her career. 

"The Lullaby" is available to stream on TubiTV.
"Triggered" is available to stream on Hulu.
"Z Nation" is available to stream on Netflix.
"The Hex" is available to rent on various streaming platforms (Amazon Prime, Vudu, etc.)

Do you like American films with Hong Kong style action choreography? Before "The Matrix" (1999) and after "No Retreat, No Surrender" (1986) and its two sequels, Hong Kong producers William Yuen and Sally Aw ("Iron Angels") attemped an American film with HK-style action. The end result is "College Kickboxers", which stars Ken Rendell Johnson (aka Ken McLeod) and Hong Kong actor/stuntman Tang Tak-Wing. Cocky boy learns kung fu, becomes better man, and fights racism via a tournament. Need I say more? I break the film down, give some trivia, and explain why this film is one that needs more love.