Genre Exposure: A Film Podcast

Episode 009: Promare (2019)

In this episode, Dustin drags the other hosts kicking and screaming into the deep end of the pool to talk about Japanese Animation with Studio Trigger's  2019 hyper-kinetic masterpiece Promare. Matching the zaniness of the film, we get a little goofy in this episode. Jason finds himself unable to answer even basic questions such as "how ya doing?" right out from the starting line. Dustin issues a correction about the pronunciation of the film's title and then proceeds to repeat the mistake later falling into a pit of despair leaving us a valuable lesson about how it's okay to make mistakes. Between being entirely lost about what's going on in the movie, Michael opens up about his issues with getting further into enjoying anime. And so much more!

What We've Been Watching:
-Michael: Mortal Kombat (2021)
-Jason: Forbidden World (1982)
-Dustin: The Day of Destruction (2020)

Show Notes:
-Promare Trailer
-Stream Promare on HBO MAX
-Read Dustin's review on "The Day of Destruction" at Grimoire of Horror
-Related Anime: Kill la Kill
-Related Anime: Little Witch Academia
-Related Anime: SSSS.Gridman
-Related Anime: Neon Genesis Evangelion
-Related Anime: Tetsujin-28/Gigantor
-Related Anime: Mazinger-Z
-Related Anime: Getter Robo
-Related Anime: Mobile Suit Gundam
-Related Anime: Macross/Robotech
-Related Film: Pacific Rim
-Related Anime: Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann
-Related Anime: Gundam Unicorn
-Related Anime: Gundam Narrative
-Related Anime: Voltron

Next Time:
Saint Maud (2019)

Episode 008: The Poughkeepsie Tapes (2007)

In this episode, we tackle the world of Found Footage with John Erick Dowdle's pseudo-documentary The Poughkeepsie Tapes. This is an interesting and notable film if for nothing else than its strange release history and the urban legend spawning notoriety that it gained; which we eagerly dive into. Jason charts the film's reputation of being difficult to handle and where it sits in the pantheon of "extreme" horror cinema among other infamous titles. Michael points out the various true crime connections and possible inspirations on the narrative to be found with other famous serial killers. Meanwhile, Dustin threatens to derail the whole show as he gets way too hung up on the particular events of the story and the characterization of our leading serial killer. And so much more!

What We've Been Watching:
-Jason: The Barbarians (1987)
-Dustin: Teketeke (2009)
-Michael: As Above, So Below (2014)

Show Notes:
-The Poughkeepsie Tapes Trailer
-Stream The Poughkeepsie Tapes on Pluto TV
-Related Show: Unsolved Mysteries
-Related Film: Hostel
-Related Film: Guinea Pig Series
-Related Film: August Underground
-Related Film: Terrifier
-Related Film: The Blair Witch Project
-Related Film: Curse of the Blair Witch
-Related Film: The Town that Dreaded Sundown
-Related Topic: Leonard Lake & Charles Ng
-Related Film: Creep
-Related Film: REC
-Related Show: Waco
-Related Film: Lake Mungo

Next Time:
Promare (2019)

Episode 007: A Dark Song (2016)

In this episode, we get metaphysical while diving into Liam Gavin's 2016 feature: A Dark Song. Michael drills in on the film's nuanced portrayal of grief and the power of film to impart feelings. Jason celebrates the subtlety of the story avoiding a more conventional resolution. Dustin chases down a side path charting the occult references in the film. But before that, the gang takes to task the idea of "Elevated Horror" as a label for these types of films. And so much more!

What We've Been Watching:
-Dustin: Hell Girl (2019)
-Jason: Robot Jox (1989)
-Michael: Stay Out of the Attic (2020) & Peninsula (2020)

Show Notes:
-A Dark Song Trailer
-Rent A Dark Song on Amazon
-Related Reading: The Book of Abramelin
-Related Concept: Magical Thinking
-Related History: Aleister Crowley
-Related Film: Constantine
-Related Film: Hereditary
-Related Film: The Sentinel
-Related Film: Zombie Lake
-Related Film: Dead of Night

Next Time:
The Poughkeepsie Tapes (2007)

Episode 006: Inflatable Sex Doll of the Wastelands (1967)

In this episode, we dive into the world of Japanese pink films with Atsushi Yamatoya's Inflatable Sex Doll of the Wastelands. Dustin goes insane with research and delivers a lecture on the history of pinku. Jason opens up about his distaste for freeform jazz. Michael gets lost in the surrealist labyrinth of the film's plot. We also spend a good bit of time discussing Jasper Sharp's essential book covering the genre Behind the Pink Curtain: The Complete History of Japanese Sex Cinema. And so much more!

What We've Been Watching:
-Michael: The Pale Door (2020)
-Dustin: Howling Village (2019)
-Jason: Body Count (1986)

Show Notes:
-Inflatable Sex Doll of the Wastelands Trailer
-Stream Inflatable Sex Doll of the Wastelands on MUBI
-Pick up Behind the Pink Curtain
-Check out Impulse Picture's Nikkatsu Collection
-Check out Pink Eiga inc.
-Related Film: Summer with Monica
-Related Film: Gate of Flesh
-Related Film: Apartment Wife: Affair in the Afternoon
-Related Film: Flower and Snake
-Related Film: Delinquent Girl Boss
-Related Film: Female Prisoner #701: Scorpion
-Related Film: Zero Woman: Red Handcuffs
-Related Show: The Naked Director
-Related Film: Antiporno
-Related Film: Gushing Prayer
-Related Film: The Red Spectacles
-Related Film: Versus
-Related Film: Branded to Kill

Next Time:
A Dark Song (2016)

Quick Cuts Episode 001: Who's With Me? (2021)

Today we have a very special episode kicking off a new format for Genre Exposure.

Quick Cuts will release irregularly on the off weeks between normal episodes whenever we have content and will be where we can cover any number of topics outside of our usual format. From answering listener questions, covering broader discussion topics on film, conducting interviews, reporting on conventions, or taking special time to highlight and boost the signal on indie filmmakers. 

This first episode concerns that latter topic. Indie filmmaker Austin Allan James reached out to us looking for people interested in covering his first feature. The team behind Who's With Me? recently dropped the full film to YouTube. From the start, we hoped to use the podcast as a platform to spread the love for filmmaking and so we appreciate being offered the opportunity to watch something new and also help push more eyes towards checking it out.

We planned to keep this shorter than a usual episode but found ourselves with a startling amount of things to talk about and dig in with on this movie. So listen in to hear our thoughts, but please do yourself a favor and go give the film a shot.

Show Notes:
-Who's With Me? Trailer
-Stream the film on YouTube
-Follow the film's page on Instagram

Episode 005: Dead & Buried (1981)

In this episode, we dive into classic '80s horror with Gary Sherman's Dead & Buried. Dustin questions whether the film counts as a zombie movie and what being a "zombie" movie even means. Michael digs in with the very Lovecraftian tones found in the plot. Jason breaks down the UK's Video Nasties list and the legacy of censorship against horror flicks. But before that, the episode almost derails under the imposing weight of Glenn Danzig's first feature film: Verotika. And so much more!

What We've Been Watching:
-Dustin: Cthulhu Mansion (1990) & Pacific Rim: The Black (2021)
-Jason: The Oily Maniac (1976)
-Michael: Verotika (2019)

Show Notes:
-Dead & Buried Trailer
-Stream Dead & Buried on Shudder
-Stream Dead & Buried on Amazon Prime
-Related Film: V (miniseries)
-Related Film: Eaten Alive
-Related Film: White Zombie
-Related Film: I Walked with a Zombie
-Related Film: Serpent and the Rainbow
-Related Film: Re-Animator
-Related Film: Raw Meat
-Related Song: Alien Sex Fiend - Dead & Buried

Next Time:
Inflatable Sex Doll of the Wastelands (1967)

Episode 004: Psycho Goreman (2020)

In this episode, we explore the genre-blending comedy Psycho Goreman and the general film output of Astron-6. Jason gives the film his highest praise of warranting a re-watch the very next day to share it with others. Dustin rants about the Tokusatsu genre. Michael celebrates the passion of artists creating the art they want to make. Then the hosts worry over how much they identify with Greg, the dad, in the film. And so much more!

What We've Been Watching:
-Michael: His House (2020)
-Jason: The Kid Detective (2020)
-Dustin: Psycho (1960)

Show Notes:
-Psycho Goreman Trailer
-Rent Psycho Goreman on Amazon
-Stream Psycho Goreman on Shudder
-Related Film: Guyver
-Related Film: The Void
-Related Film: The Editor
-Related Film: Manborg

Next Time:
Dead & Buried (1981)

Episode 003: The Fifth Cord (1971)

In this episode, we explore the Giallo subgenre as we check out Luigi Bazzoni's The Fifth Cord. Dustin gives a short lecture about the Giallo subgenre. Michael gushes over Franco Nero's performance as the lead: Andrea Bild. Jason questions The Fifth Cord's placement in the pantheon of great Giallo films. Then the hosts collectively get lost within the twists and turns of the film's labyrinthine plot. And so much more!

What We've Been Watching:
-Jason: The Mutilator (1984)
-Michael: Porno (2019)
-Dustin: High-Rise Invasion (2021)

Show Notes:
-The Fifth Cord Trailer
-The Fifth Cord: The Arrow Video Story
-Stream The Fifth Cord on Shudder
-Stream The Fifth Cord on Vudu
-Related Film: The Bird With the Crystal Plumage
-Related Film: Deep Red
-Related Film: The Red Queen Kills Seven Times
-Related Film: Opera

Next Time:
Psycho Goreman (2020)

Episode 002: Sorcerer (1977)

In this episode, we delve into William Friedkin's curious follow-up to The Exorcist and adaptation of the Georges Arnaud novel The Wages of Fear: Sorcerer. Hint: It's not about magic. Michael and Dustin bond over getting their shared preconceived notions, about how interesting a movie that's "just about driving trucks" could be, completely shattered. Jason breaks down the American New Wave and the situation that allowed such a film to get created. And so much more!

What We've Been Watching:
-Jason: Queen of Black Magic (1981) & Remake (2019)
-Dustin: Zero Woman: Red Handcuffs (1974)
-Michael: The Red Wolf (1995)

Show Notes:
-Sorcerer Trailer
-The Wages of Fear Trailer
-Rent Sorcerer on Amazon

Next Time:
The Fifth Cord (1975)

Episode 001: Hard Boiled (1992)

In this episode, we kick off the show with a bang quite literally as we cover John Woo's epic Hong Kong action film Hard Boiled. Jason illuminates the Heroic Bloodshed subgenre. Dustin geeks out over an unexpected Jun Kunimura appearance. Michael brings us to the heart of the matter as he suggests that for John Woo's special brand of action flick, perhaps, every bullet tells a story. And so much more!

As the first episode to be recorded, we ran into a number of technical issues but managed to squash the worst of them. Bare with us as the ball gets rolling and we continue to improve our sound going forward.

Thanks for checking us out!

What We've Been Watching:
-Dustin: Naked Lunch (1991)
-Jason: Blood Beat (1983)
-Michael: The Prestige (2006)

-Hard Boiled Trailer

Next Time:
Sorcerer (1977)