The Film 89 Podcast

On Episode 141 of The Film ‘89 Podcast, Steve and Skye are joined by returning guest-host, John Arminio to give you their in-depth and spoiler-filled review and analysis of director Guillermo del Toro’s latest film, his adaptation of Mary Shelley’s 1818 novel, Frankenstein, a book and character that’s arguably seen more big screen adaptations than any other. Starring Oscar Isaac, Jacob Elordi and Mia Goth, the Netflix produced film, which saw a very limited theatrical run before its release on the streaming platform a few days ago, has a budget of $120 million and aims to be the definitive adaptation of Shelley’s novel. Guillermo del Toro is one of Steve and John’s favourite filmmakers and they’ve been eagerly awaiting the opportunity to celebrate his filmography. The guys also discuss previous adaptations of Shelley’s book, from the James Whale/Boris Karloff films of the 1930’s to the Hammer Films version starring Christopher Lee.

It’s that time of year again on The Film ‘89 Podcast as we bring you our 2025 Halloween Horror Special. Joining Skye are two returning co-hosts, Stephen Simpson and John Arminio, and the horror film they’ve picked as the focus of this episode is Tom Holland’s 1985 cult classic, Fright Night, starring Chris Sarandon, William Ragsdale, Amanda Bearse and Roddy McDowell. Based on an original script by Holland, Fright Night blends elements of Alfred Hitchcock’s Rear Window with Hammer horror and vampire lore as it tells the tale of teenager, Charley Brewster, who suspects that his new next door neighbour, Jerry Dandridge, may be a vampire. With outstanding practical makeup effects and assured direction from first time director Holland, Fright Night would go on to become a beloved cult classic and one of the very best horror films of the 1980s.

On Episode 139 of The Film ‘89 Podcast, Skye is joined by frequent co-host Leighton Winstone as well someone making her long awaited return to Film ’89 after she first appeared 5 years ago on Episode 55, our very good friend, Leanne Kubicz. This battle-hardened trio will be smearing axle grease across their brows and packing as much water as they can carry as they head into a post-apocalyptic wasteland to celebrate the 10th anniversary of director George Miller’s fourth entry in his long-running Mad Max saga that began in 1979, had sequels in 1981 and 1985 and then a 30 year gap before the 72 year old director went on a years long odyssey in the Namibian desert with $150 million of Warner Bros’ money. Through strife and hardship he returned with a film widely regarded as one of the greatest action films ever made and one of the greatest films of the 21st century, Mad Max: Fury Road. Starring Tom Hardy, Charlize Theron and Nicholas Hoult, Fury Road is a film unlike any other in terms of the level of on-screen mayhem and carnage it displays. As fascinating as the film is the story of it’s long and arduous production and our team delve into how the incredible assembled talent both in front of the camera and behind the scenes helped craft one of the most visually astonishing films ever made and an example of big screen action-spectacle like no other.

It’s become something of a recurring theme on The Film ‘89 Podcast of late where the film being discussed has been described as “one of the big ones”, a film of such significance to the hosts that it fills them with an almost dread anticipation that they might not do it justice. No film fits that bill more than the one being discussed on Episode 138, an episode that Neil and Skye have been teasing and putting off for the longest time. That film is Michael Mann’s epic tale of crime and obsession from 1995, starring Al Pacino and Robert De Niro and an astonishing supporting cast, it is of course, Heat. An original idea of Mann’s and based on the real life exploits of former Chicago Detective, Chuck Adamson, and bank robber, Neil McCauley, Heat is a sprawling crime saga where character development is as important as any other aspect of of the story being told, whilst also featuring some of the most technically astounding action ever committed to film. Not only was it the film that brought together arguably the two greatest actors alive at the time, but it also showcased a director at the very top of his creative game. It’s been the guys’ intention to cover some of 1995’s best films this year for their 30th anniversary, and this is the second of three such episodes but there’s every chance that they’ll declare Heat not just the best film of that year, but one of the very best ever made.

Episode 137 of The Film ‘89 Podcast marks the first time that the guys revisit a film that’s already been covered on a previous episode. 5 years ago on Episode 52, Neil and Skye recorded an audio commentary for the 45th anniversary of Steven Spielberg’s 1975 masterpiece, Jaws. That episode remains one of Film ‘89’s most downloaded episodes and one that regularly gets mentioned by listeners as one of their favourites. The commentary focussed mainly on the making of Jaws along with Skye and Neil’s analysis of the film, but this episode is going to be a companion piece to the that first episode focussing more on a celebration of Jaws’ legacy as it turns 50 and its impact upon the guys (now joined by Steve), and what they feel makes it a genuine contender for the title of greatest film ever made. But it won’t just be Steve, Skye and Neil talking as this episode features many of the regular Film ‘89 co-hosts, guests, friends from Film Twitter and more, so input from more people than any other episode of Film ‘89 so far, all experts on film, chiming in with their testimonies as to why they feel Jaws is one of the greatest motion pictures ever made.

On Episode 136 of The Film ‘89 Podcast, Steve and Skye are joined by a mighty trio of film experts, returning Film ‘89 co-hosts, Bill Scurry, John Arminio and Martin Kessler And this episode, your five hosts will be wearing their underpants over their trousers as they give their in-depth and spoiler-filled review and analysis of director James Gunn’s Superman, the 2025 big screen reboot for the caped crusader that’s intended as a launching point for Gunn’s new cinematic take on the DC Comics Universe. As well as the new film, the guys will be discussing the cinematic legacy of Superman through the ages.

On Episode 135 of The Film ’89 Podcast, Neil, Skye and Steve celebrate the 35th anniversary of yet another Arnold Schwarzenegger film, this time it’s the 1990 action-science-fiction classic, Total Recall. Following on from the recent success of our Commando episode, the guys are once again giving their in-depth analysis of a film starring one of the Film ’89 team’s favourite movie stars, but this time, they’re also discussing one of their favourite directors, Dutch filmmaker Paul Verhoeven. They discuss the source short story by Philip K. Dick upon which Total Recall is based as well as the making of this big budget special effects spectacle - at the time, one of the most expensive films ever made. The guys also dissect the film’s fiendishly complex plot and the many themes, layers and socio-political commentary that Verhoeven weaves into the film. Featuring a superb supporting cast including Sharon Stone, Rachel Ticotin, Michael Ironside and Ronny Cox, an incredible score by Jerry Goldsmith and incredible special effects that hold up 35 years on, Total Recall is a timeless classic and is given the usual Film ’89 treatment.

After a longer than expected Spring hiatus, The Film ’89 Podcast is back and on Episode 134, returning co-hosts Matthias Van De Roest and Bill Scurry join Steve and Skye to celebrate the 40th anniversary of acclaimed director William Friedkin’s 1985 crime drama To Live and Die in L.A. Something of a return to form for Friedkin after a number of critical and commercial failures, the film would tap into the same gritty police procedural approach that made his 1971 masterpiece The French Connection so successful. Starring William Petersen, John Pankow, Debra Feuer, Darlanne Fluegel, Dean Stockwell, John Turturro and featuring a brilliantly threatening turn from Willem Dafoe as counterfeiter Eric Masters, To Live and Die in L.A. also features gorgeous cinematography by Robby Müller and a stunning new wave soundtrack by Wang Chung. As well as giving their usual in-depth analysis, the guys also dig into the making of the film, paying particular attention to its incredible car chase sequence. So fasten your seatbelts and hold on tight as the Film ’89 team explore one of the quintessential crime dramas of not just the 1980s, but any decade.

It is with much regret that we come to the end of the journey that has been The Film ’89 Podcast, as tonight’s episode marks for the guys a peak of sorts, a culmination of the last 7 years which has all led to the film we’re covering on this monumental episode. Steve, Neil and Skye are joined by a returning co-host who hasn’t been on Film ’89 since Episode 40, way back in November 2019, when he and Steve reviewed The Irishman, it’s our good friend, Tony Sower. Tony joins us to discuss his all-time favorite film, a film that we’ve been threatening to cover on the podcast for the longest time. If the name of this podcast takes influence from the ‘80s and nostalgia for movies we grew up with, then this film in a way typifies that era. And if the 1980s will be remembered for particular types of film, then the high concept action film is surely one of those types, born out of a decade where excess was celebrated. That film is the 1985 Arnold Schwarzenegger action classic, Commando. Some frankly hyperbolic opinions are going to be put forth on tonight’s episode, opinions as big as the Austrian Oak himself. Commando sees Arnie, after the fantasy heroics of Conan The Barbarian and the sci-fi horror of The Terminator, playing a more grounded, contemporary role as retired Army Commando, John Matrix. Yet there’s ultimately nothing grounded when it comes to Commando, a film that takes over the top machismo to hitherto unseen levels in a film that may be the action film distilled to its purest form. We hope you’ve enjoyed The Film ’89 Podcast, we’d love to carry on, but after a peak like Commando, there’s nowhere to go but down, and we always intended to go out on a high. Adios.

On Episode 132 of The Film ’89 Podcast, Steve and Skye are joined by returning co-hosts, Jacob Rivera and Leighton Winstone to discuss a film from the director who has had the most coverage on Film ’89, with no less than 5 episodes dedicated to his films and one of those being a double bill, it’s legendary filmmaker, Martin Scorsese. The film being discussed is one that the guys have desperately wanted to cover since the podcast began, Scorsese’s 1980 biopic of former World Middleweight boxing champion, Jake La Motta, starring Robert De Niro, it is of course Raging Bull. Shot in back and white and featuring a staggering, Oscar winning central performance by De Niro, Raging Bull also features stellar turns from Cathy Moriarty, in her debut acting role as La Motta’s long suffering second wife, Vickie and Joe Pesci as La Motta’s put upon brother, Joey. Raging Bull has become an enduring classic of cinema, hailed by many critics as one of the greatest films ever made and here it’s given the in-depth Film ’89 treatment for its 45th anniversary.

On Episode 131 of The Film ‘89 Podcast, Steve, Neil and Skye are joined by returning co-hosts, Bill Scurry and Matthias Van De Roest to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the Academy Award winning crime thriller, The Usual Suspects (1995). Critically acclaimed upon its release and making a considerable worldwide box office haul on a meagre $6 million budget, it’s amazing ensemble case, incredible Oscar winning script, precise editing and sharp direction would make it an endearing classic of the 1990s. Unfortunately the film doesn’t get spoken about as frequently as it once did, likely due to the controversy that arose in the intervening years surrounding its director and one of its stars. But putting aside those issues and examining it purely as a work of collaborative art, The Usual Suspects remains one of the greatest crime dramas ever conceived and is a film that’s endlessly rewarding and rewatchable.

On Episode 130 of The Film ‘89 Podcast, Neil & Skye will be grabbing their glow-rods and avoiding physical contact greetings as they jump forward in time from a crime ridden Los Angeles of 1996, to a seemingly harmonious, but borderline fascist utopian 2032 San Angles as they discuss the 1993 action-science-fiction cult classic, Demolition Man, from producer Joel Silver and then first time director, Marco Brambilla. It stars Sylvester Stallone, Wesley Snipes and Sandra Bullock in her breakout role. The guys discuss how this seemingly by-the-numbers ‘90s action film has transcended its roots due to it having layers of subtly clever social commentary and a level of mind boggling prescience that has helped it continue to age like a fine wine with each passing decade.

Episode 129 of The Film ‘89 Podcast, our first of 2025, is a companion piece to our episode from last February, Episode 112, where Steve, Skye and John Arminio discussed Bram Stoker’s 1897 novel, Dracula, and both Tod Browning’s 1931 film adaptation as well as Francis Ford Coppola’s 1992 version, Bram Stoker’s Dracula. For this episode, the same trio will be giving you their in-depth and spoiler filled review and analysis of director Robert Eggers’ remake of F.W. Murnau’s 1922 German expressionist silent horror classic, Nosferatu: A Symphony of Horror, this new version titled simply, Nosferatu. As well as Murnau’s film, the guys will also be discussing acclaimed German director Werner Herzog’s 1979 remake, Nosferatu the Vampyre.

On Episode 128 of The Film ‘89 Podcast, Neil and Skye are joined by returning co-host, filmmaker, producer and master cinephile, Adam Rackoff. When planning what films to cover on Film ‘89, we invariably aim to choose films that we love and want to talk about but always consider whether you, our valued listeners would want to hear us discuss those same films. Well, for the film we’ve chosen for this episode, we’ve been wholly self indulgent for once. Christmas is coming so we’ve decided to treat ourselves and pick a film that Neil and Skye have wanted to champion and discuss on the podcast since it first started. That film is a Star Trek film and it’s the first big screen outing for The Next Generation crew and something of a passing of the torch between the original series crew and the TNG gang, Star Trek: Generations. Generations is often regarded as one of the lesser loved Trek films and as much as it seems to have been more positively reappraised in recent years, it’s not going to feature on most fans’ lists of their favourite Star Trek films, but for Neil, Skye and Adam, the opposite is true. So as well as giving the film the usual in-depth Film ‘89 analysis for its 30th anniversary, our trio of hosts are going to try and get to the bottom of just why they love this oft-maligned film so much.

On Episode 127 of The Film ‘89 Podcast, Skye and returning guest host, acclaimed film poster artist, Tony Stella, continue their annual coverage of the long running James Bond series of films with 1964’s Goldfinger. Directed by Guy Hamilton, Goldfinger is the third film in the series and is based on the seventh James Bond book by author Ian Fleming. This time Bond is tasked by the Bank of England and Mi6 to investigate gold magnate Auric Goldfinger, who they suspect is building up a vast inventory of gold by nefarious means. Sean Connery’s third outing as the British super spy is regarded by many as the pinnacle of the franchise, now the longest running in film history, and features a superb cast including Gert Fröbe as the titular villain as well as Honor Blackman and Shirley Eaton as two of the most memorable Bond girls. The word iconic is often overused in the realm of film criticism, but Goldfinger is filled with moments and situations that truly earn that description. So join the guys as they give their usual passionate, in-depth analysis of the film for its 60th anniversary.

On Episode 126 of The Film ‘89 Podcast, Steve and Skye are joined by returning co-host Becky D’Anna. Becky is a marketing executive for Sony Pictures, a seasoned podcaster and an expert on film and the film industry, making her the ideal guest-host with which to celebrate the 70th anniversary of Alfred Hitchcock’s 1954 thriller, Rear Window, starring James Stewart, Grace Kelly, Thelma Ritter and Raymond Burr. Shot on just one location, a huge set built on the Paramount Studios backlot, Rear Window is the ultimate tale of voyeurism as Stewart’s wheelchair bound photographer, L.B. Jeffries, ropes in his beautiful socialite girlfriend Lisa (Grace Kelly) and his insurance company appointed nurse Stella (Thelma Ritter) into his personal investigation into what he believes is the murder of one of the residents of his bustling tenement block. A masterclass in visual storytelling, Rear Window is one of the Master of Suspense’s most beloved films and certainly one of several peaks in a staggering filmography, a movie that would influence filmmakers for decades to come.

Episode 125 of The Film ‘89 Podcast is our 2024 Halloween Horror Special and joining Skye and regular co-host John Arminio, is author, podcast producer, filmmaker and expert in all things horror related, J. Blake Fichera. Last year it was The Exorcist, and the focus of this year’s Halloween episode is a celebration of the 50th anniversary of another equally remarkable, influential and iconic horror classic, Tobe Hooper’s, The Texas Chain Saw Massacre (1974). Made on a meagre budget with a cast of unknowns, Hooper’s film would quickly achieve iconic status and go on to permeate popular culture like few other horror films before it. It would become hugely influential but would never be equalled in terms of its almost documentary approach to the fictional events it depicts, inspired by the exploits of real life killers such as Ed Gein. The guys discuss the making of the film and explore the many layers of sociopolitical commentary that Hooper intentionally or even subconsciously weaved into this macabre work of art, a stunningly shot, meticulously crafted, grimy and unsettling masterpiece of horror cinema, laid bare by the experts at Film ‘89.

On Episode 124 of The Film ‘89 Podcast, Steve, Neil and Skye return to the films of James Cameron and his directorial debut (not counting Piranha 2), starring possibly the most prominent megastar of their childhood, Arnold Schwarzenegger. That film is Cameron’s gritty, action-science-fiction smash hit, The Terminator, which celebrates its 40th anniversary this month. The product of a fever dream Cameron had whilst in Rome during the Piranha 2 debacle, The Terminator represents one of the most cost effective filmmaking endeavours of the 1980s, whereby a potentially pulpy science fiction yarn was bolstered by some truly defining star turns, none more so than the titular character himself. Schwarzenegger’s portrayal of a killer cyborg from the future would define his career like no other role. Coupled with precise filmmaking from a young, driven, perfectionist director, some stunning effects work from artists such as Stan Winston, a stunning, synth-filled, percussive and atmospheric score from composer Brad Fiedel, and some gorgeous cinematography and tight editing, these ingredients would come together to create a film that the Film ‘89 team regard as one of the most important films of their upbringing, one that holds up today as a true masterpiece of genre filmmaking.

On Episode 123 of The Film ‘89 Podcast, Steve, Skye and returning co-hosts, Leighton Winstone and filmmaker Kyle Reardon are covering another all-time classic, The Shawshank Redemption, a film that, according to the long-running IMDB Top 250, is the greatest film of all time. A big screen adaptation of the Stephen King Novella and directed by Frank Darabont, The Shawshank Redemption was released 30 years ago and was met with muted critical and commercial success and no wins despite 7 Academy Award nominations. But upon it’s release on home video, it became a huge success and in the years since has become a perennial favourite and a film cited by many as one of the greatest films ever made. The guys chart the making of the The Shawshank Redemption , the changes that Darabont made from King’s book and give their usual in-depth analysis of this remarkable film for its 30th anniversary.

On Episode 122 of The Film ‘89 Podcast, Steve and Skye are joined once again by filmmaker, podcast host and producer, Martin Kessler, as the show continues its in-depth coverage of some of the greatest films ever made. And this episode it’s the turn of director Ridley Scott’s 1979 sci-fi/horror masterpiece, Alien, a film our trio have been eager to discuss since the podcast began. They discuss the film’s inception, it’s production and the incredible creative talents that would craft one of the most visually astounding films ever made with a level of set design and an overall aesthetic like no film before it. At the forefront of this was the incredible work of Swiss surrealist, H.R. Giger, whose creature designs would birth a new type of nightmare fodder that would terrify audiences the world over. They discuss composer Jerry Goldsmith’s majestic score, the incredible practical effects and a cast of just seven actors that surely ranks as one of the greatest ever assembled. So suit up, strap in and enjoy Film ‘89’s celebration of the 45th anniversary of a motion picture that’s widely regarded as one of the most influential, genre defining, and arguably, most perfect films ever made.