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Cinema Psychos Movie Reviews: Daily Summaries Delivered
by Brian Cottington
Welcome to the madhouse where film freaks and film fans of all types come to get their fix. The Cinema Psychos Show is hosted by indie filmmakers Brian Cottington and John Wooliscroft. Every week they dig into new movie reviews, cult classics, horror films, bad movies, forgotten gems, and whatever's currently breaking (or disappointing) on streaming; all from the perspective of two guys who actually make films for a living. This isn't a recap show. Expect real film analysis, genuine comedy, deep dives into what makes movies actually work, and plenty of unfiltered opinions on why Hollywood keeps getting it wrong. New releases. Cult horror. 80s classics. Streaming disasters. If it's worth talking about or too insane to ignore; it's fair game.
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- Yesterday1h 11m
We Re-Watched Brain Damage (1988)...Is It The Greatest ANTI-DRUG Movie Ever?
Brain Damage (1988) might legitimately be one of the greatest anti-drug movies ever made — it just happens to deliver that message through a talking, brain-eating parasite pumping psychedelic blue juice directly into a guy's brain. This week on The Cinema Psychos Show, we're revisiting Frank Henenlotter's wonderfully deranged 1988 cult horror movie Brain Damage. Brian thinks he's found the ultimate escape when a mysterious creature named Aylmer gives him euphoric hallucinations — but there's a catch: Aylmer needs human brains, and Brian quickly discovers just how ugly addiction and withdrawal can get. We dig into the movie's surprisingly effective drug-addiction metaphor, its grimy 1980s New York setting, outrageous practical effects, dark comedy, and the wonderfully polite voice behind Aylmer. We also get into where Brain Damage fits alongside Henenlotter's other cult classics like Basket Case and Frankenhooker. Is this profound social commentary disguised as exploitation horror…or is it simply 84 minutes of glorious B-movie insanity? Either way: drugs are bad, kids. 🎬 In this episode: Why Brain Damage works surprisingly well as an addiction allegory Frank Henenlotter's unique brand of horror, comedy, and sleaze Aylmer, blue juice, withdrawal, and brain eating The movie's practical effects and psychedelic imagery The grimy New York atmosphere that defines Henenlotter's films Some truly unhinged Letterboxd reviews Where newcomers should start with Henenlotter's filmography What's your take on Brain Damage? Is it brilliant cult horror, complete trash, or somehow both? CHAPTERS: Introduction [00:00] Brain Damage: an 80s cult classic [02:11] A Cinema Wasteland screening turns into chaos [03:36] Frank Henenlotter's bizarre cult-film legacy [07:19] The greatest anti-drug movie ever made? [10:33] Meet Elmer, the brainstem parasite [11:59] New York's grimy streets set the stage [15:31] The blue juice turns Brian into an addict [19:33] Brian's first trip unleashes the gore [23:12] Bath time with a talking brain parasite [28:38] A punk-rock night ends in a brain feast [31:38] Withdrawal gets wonderfully disgusting [38:43] The Aylmer sings through Brian's breakdown [43:00] A public shower becomes the next hunting ground [45:25] Brian's addiction destroys his relationship [47:53] The blue juice reaches its explosive finale [52:48] Why this strange little film works [58:05] Fans weigh in on Elmer's bizarre appeal [01:00:17] Final verdict: embrace the good-bad movie [01:07:45] Where to find the hosts and follow the show [01:10:16] Frankenhooker Review: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cinema-psychos-movie-reviews/id1099474123?i=1000385887086 Follow The Cinema Psychos Show for more horror movie reviews, cult classics, B-movie insanity, and deep dives into the weirdest corners of cinema. FOLLOW THE SHOW: 🎧 Subscribe on your favorite podcast app: https://cinemapsychosshow.com/follow 📺 More movie breakdowns every week — hit subscribe + the bell 📬 Subscribe to our newsletter to vote on upcoming movies: https://the-cinema-psychos-show.kit.com/9e9a267e76
- 1 weeks ago1h 4m
We Re-Watched Adaptation…Charlie Kaufman's MENTAL BREAKDOWN Movie
Charlie Kaufman was hired to adapt a nonfiction book about orchids. Instead, he wrote himself into the script — twice — and made one of the strangest, most self-aware movies ever released by a major studio. Brian and John rewatch Adaptation (2002) and break down Nicolas Cage's dual performance as neurotic screenwriter Charlie Kaufman and his fictional twin brother Donald, Meryl Streep's Susan Orlean and her obsession with "The Orchid Thief," and Brian Cox's scene-stealing turn as real-life screenwriting guru Robert McKee. We also get into a genuinely compelling theory: what if Donald doesn't actually exist? 🎬 WHAT WE COVER • How Charlie Kaufman wrote himself into his own screenplay after struggling to adapt Susan Orlean's "The Orchid Thief" • Nicolas Cage's dual performance as neurotic screenwriter Charlie Kaufman and his fictional twin brother, Donald Kaufman • Meryl Streep as journalist Susan Orlean and her spiraling obsession with orchid poacher John Laroche • Brian Cox as real-life screenwriting guru Robert McKee, and the film's commentary on Hollywood formula • A theory that Donald Kaufman may not be a real character at all • Why the film's chaotic, McKee-mocking third act still works as a genuine ending CHAPTERS: 00:00 Introduction 02:12 Why Adaptation feels impossible to cover 04:37 A movie that turns Hollywood inside out 06:42 When adapting a book means adapting yourself 11:12 The artist versus the commercial machine 16:57 Donald Kaufman, Charlie's unleashed alter ego 21:01 The Orchid Thief and Florida's strangest obsession 27:50 Writer's block spirals into stalking 36:51 The moment the real movie finally begins 37:41 An ending engineered for total insanity 43:54 What Donald's disappearance reveals 45:15 Can you love a movie this weird? 49:35 The audience weighs in 50:08 1. Two brothers, one Nicholas Cage 51:20 2. A big brain and an even bigger shrug 52:34 3. Brilliant ideas, frustrating distance 55:40 The glorious chaos of Vampire's Kiss 58:04 Final thoughts on Kaufman's strangest journey 01:01:13 Adaptation as a cinematic palate cleanser FOLLOW THE SHOW: 🎧 Subscribe on your favorite podcast app: https://cinemapsychosshow.com/follow 📺 More movie breakdowns every week — hit subscribe + the bell 📬 Subscribe to our newsletter to vote on upcoming movies: https://the-cinema-psychos-show.kit.com/9e9a267e76
- 2 weeks ago1h 42m
We Re-watched Hellbound: Hellraiser II...It's a PERFECT Horror Sequel! | Ft. Robert Brian Taylor
Is Hellbound: Hellraiser II the best sequel in horror history? With Hellraiser back in the cultural spotlight this year — Halloween Horror Nights' 2026 and the long-awaited Hellraiser Revival game both dropping this fall — we figured it was the perfect time to revisit the film many fans consider the series' high point. Film critic Robert Brian Taylor (Collider) joins The Cinema Psychos Show to make the case for Hellbound, arguing it does exactly what a horror sequel should: expand Clive Barker's world without breaking its rules. We break down how Hellraiser 2 deepens Julia's transformation into one of horror's most compelling villains, sends Kirsty Cotton into the Leviathan's labyrinth, and expands the mythology around Pinhead and the Cenobites first introduced in the original 1987 Hellraiser. 🩸 WHAT WE COVER • Why Hellbound expands on Clive Barker's world instead of repeating it • Julia's rise as the series' central villain • Kirsty's journey through the Leviathan's labyrinth • Doug Bradley's Pinhead and the Cenobites' expanded role • Ranking Hellbound against the rest of the Hellraiser franchise CHAPTERS: Introduction [00:00] A birthday descent into Hellbound [01:23] Why the Hellraiser franchise keeps losing its way [03:10] The sterile pleasures of the Hulu reboot [06:45] How Hellbound became a horror obsession [11:09] The sequel that blows open Clive Barker's world [18:22] A perfect recap and Pinhead's human beginning [21:55] Welcome to Channard's nightmare hospital [31:40] Julia rises from the mattress [47:43] Every road leads back to Hell [54:00] Julia claims her place as Hellbound's true queen [57:27] The labyrinth and the many faces of Hell [01:04:07] The Cenobites remember who they were [01:20:50] What Hellraiser lost after Hellbound [01:29:42] Why Hellbound remains a perfect horror sequel [01:33:49] Where to find Robert Brian Taylor [01:37:20] 🎙️ ABOUT OUR GUEST Robert Brian Taylor is a film critic and editor at Collider. Read his writing at https://rbtwrites.com/ FOLLOW THE SHOW: 🎧 Subscribe on your favorite podcast app: https://cinemapsychosshow.com/follow 📬 Subscribe to our newsletter to vote on upcoming movies: https://the-cinema-psychos-show.kit.com/9e9a267e76 MAIN TITLE: "Red Alert" AUTHOR: Jack Waldenmaier PUBLISHER: Music Bakery Publishing (BMI) WARNING: UNAUTHORIZED USE OF THE MUSIC CONTAINED IN THIS PRODUCTION IS SUBJECT TO CRIMINAL PROSECUTION. All copyrights, licensing, duplication and distribution rights are held exclusively by Music Bakery Publishing (BMI). 214-636-5887 musicbakery.com
- 3 weeks ago1h 42m
We Re-watched Rocky (1976) and It Was... Weird | Ft. The Silver Linings Playlist Podcast
Sports Month closes out with the quintessential non-sports sports movie: Rocky (1976). Brian and John are joined by Dustin and Nate from The Silver Linings Playlist Podcast to break down Stallone's underdog script (allegedly written in three days), the real Chuck Wepner vs. Muhammad Ali fight that inspired it, Carl Weathers' criminally underrated Apollo Creed, and a running theory that Rocky himself reads as autistic-coded — "his special interest is punching." Plus: how this movie beat Taxi Driver, Network, and All the President's Men for Best Picture, whether the Rocky/Adrian romance holds up in 2026, and a Letterboxd reviews segment that gets weird fast. 🎙️ ABOUT OUR GUESTS Dustin & Nate host Silver Linings Playlist — new episodes weekly, plus a Patreon with bonus commentary tracks (their Austin Powers mini-series drops this September). CHAPTERS: Introduction [00:00] Rocky closes out sports month [01:39] A small-time boxer gets his impossible shot [05:46] The chaotic story behind Rocky [07:25] The myth of the three-and-a-half-day script [09:04] From soft-core scandal to the Italian Stallion [12:47] How Rocky escaped television and found a studio [14:09] Why America needed an underdog in 1976 [16:30] The racial tensions hiding beneath the Americana [20:12] Inside Rocky's grimy Philadelphia world [23:20] A button man drifting through a bleak life [28:56] Adrian and Rocky's deeply uncomfortable romance [34:11] When a date becomes a masterclass in red flags [40:46] Reading Rocky and Adrian through a modern lens [45:45] Why Apollo's gamble changes Rocky's life [47:34] Boxing as spectacle, ego, and empty promotion [48:51] Mickey, mentorship, and an unforgettable breakdown [52:45] The training montage that invented a formula [01:01:04] How Rocky helped revolutionize camera movement [01:03:01] The distance matters more than the victory [01:07:01] A brutal final fight that still feels real [01:10:42] Rocky loses the decision and wins everything else [01:15:37] Letterboxd enters the ring [01:17:22] 1. Raw eggs and the limits of training advice [01:18:35] 2. The romance that makes viewers recoil [01:20:10] 3. Rocky beats his meat [01:26:14] 4. The classic montage cannot save the movie [01:26:40] Loving Rocky while wrestling with Stallone [01:31:20] More movies, more madness, and shameless plugs [01:34:14] Share the episode and keep the spirit alive [01:41:55] FOLLOW THE SHOW: 🎧 Subscribe on your favorite podcast app: https://cinemapsychosshow.com/follow 📬 Subscribe to our newsletter to vote on upcoming movies: https://the-cinema-psychos-show.kit.com/9e9a267e76 GUEST: Dustin & Nate- The Silver Linings Playlist Podcast — https://tslppodcast.com/ MAIN TITLE: "Red Alert" AUTHOR: Jack Waldenmaier PUBLISHER: Music Bakery Publishing (BMI) WARNING: UNAUTHORIZED USE OF THE MUSIC CONTAINED IN THIS PRODUCTION IS SUBJECT TO CRIMINAL PROSECUTION. All copyrights, licensing, duplication and distribution rights are held exclusively by Music Bakery Publishing (BMI). 214-636-5887 musicbakery.com
- Aug 19, 20261h 16m
I, TONYA: Nobody in This Movie is Telling the Truth (ft. KT Baldassaro)
Tonya Harding loved skating. The skating world never loved her back — and I, Tonya (2017) is the mockumentary-style biopic that dares to ask: who's actually the villain here? Brian sits down with KT Baldassaro (MovieRunTime & What If I Don't Like It) to break down Margot Robbie's snubbed performance, Allison Janney's Oscar-winning turn as the worst mom in cinema, Sean Eckhardt's delusional hitman fantasy, and why the Academy has a track record of punishing dark comedy. CHAPTERS: Introduction [00:00] Why I, Tonya makes a surprisingly fun rewatch [02:17] A biopic that refuses to play by the rules [03:52] When every narrator tells their own truth [05:54] The uncomfortable comedy of Tonya's abuse [07:16] How the media rewrote the Nancy Kerrigan attack [09:49] The skating world's perfect underdog villain [12:59] Lavonna Harding and the making of a monster [15:20] The performances that turn cruelty into character [18:56] Jeff's obsession fuels the entire nightmare [21:18] Why leaving an abuser is never simple [23:53] Talent, trauma, and the coach who stays [28:00] When talent loses to image and corruption [30:45] Sean is the movie's most gloriously delusional creation [31:40] How the media turned a young woman into spectacle [36:56] Learning to recognize when the media is selling bullshit [39:00] The manufactured rivalry that ruined Tonya's life [42:47] We all helped make Tonya the punchline [44:30] Why dark comedy can lose the awards race [48:01] 1. Margot Robbie's unforgettable transformation [55:22] 2. The makeup scene where madness takes over [57:32] 3. Breaking the fourth wall with devastating precision [59:25] Sean's confidence is built entirely on delusion [01:02:04] The hidden craft behind I, Tonya's skating effects [01:03:47] What's coming next on Movie Runtime [01:07:43] Where to find the show and keep the conversation going [01:14:50] FOLLOW THE SHOW: 🎧 Subscribe on your favorite podcast app: https://cinemapsychosshow.com/follow 📬 Subscribe to our newsletter to vote on upcoming movies: https://the-cinema-psychos-show.kit.com/9e9a267e76 GUEST: KT Baldassaro (MovieRunTime) — Host of "What If I Don't Like It?" https://open.spotify.com/show/2iyYtsB5zeuoCJZ3D3fKJt MAIN TITLE: "Red Alert" AUTHOR: Jack Waldenmaier PUBLISHER: Music Bakery Publishing (BMI) WARNING: UNAUTHORIZED USE OF THE MUSIC CONTAINED IN THIS PRODUCTION IS SUBJECT TO CRIMINAL PROSECUTION. All copyrights, licensing, duplication and distribution rights are held exclusively by Music Bakery Publishing (BMI). 214-636-5887 musicbakery.com
- Aug 13, 20261h 11m
A League of Their Own (1992): Sibling Rivalry, Sexism & the Best Casting in Movie History
A League of Their Own (1992) is the rare baseball movie that isn't really about baseball — it's a sibling rivalry story, a look at 1940s sexism, and (we'd argue) one of the best examples of age-accurate casting in film history. Brian and John break down Penny Marshall's classic: Tom Hanks' pivot from comedy to the dramatic roles that led to Cast Away and Forrest Gump, the Kit/Dottie rivalry that drives the whole plot, what the film gets right (and skips) on race and sexism in the 1940s, and the ending debate that still splits fans. A movie reaction and deep-dive discussion for baseball fans and non-sports fans alike. 00:00 Introduction — A League of Their Own (1992) Review 03:53 A League of Their Own's Real Story: Sibling Rivalry Between Kit & Dottie 14:54 The Least "Baseball" Baseball Movie Ever Made 17:31 A League of Their Own and 1940s Sexism, Explained 25:05 Tom Hanks: Comedy vs. Drama in A League of Their Own 34:01 Did Dottie Drop the Ball on Purpose? (Ending Debate) 44:12 What A League of Their Own Gets Wrong on Race & Queer Representation 50:19 Every Character's Arc in A League of Their Own 54:52 The Best Age-Accurate Casting in Movie History 58:12 A League of Their Own: Listener Reviews 01:06:10 Final Thoughts on A League of Their Own (1992) FOLLOW THE SHOW: 🎧 Follow on your favorite podcast app: https://cinemapsychoshow.com/follow 🚨 Subscribe to our newsletter!- https://the-cinema-psychos-show.kit.com/9e9a267e76 MAIN TITLE: "Red Alert" AUTHOR: Jack Waldenmaier PUBLISHER: Music Bakery Publishing (BMI) WARNING: UNAUTHORIZED USE OF THE MUSIC CONTAINED IN THIS PRODUCTION IS SUBJECT TO CRIMINAL PROSECUTION. All copyrights, licensing, duplication and distribution rights are held exclusively by Music Bakery Publishing (BMI). 214-636-5887 musicbakery.com
- Aug 8, 202621 min
Spider-Man: Brand New Day Is a MESS...But It's GREAT! | Bonus Episode
Spider-Man: Brand New Day is a beautiful mess...and we're here for it! We weren't planning on covering this one — but after seeing Spider-Man: Brand New Day, we had to record an emergency bonus episode. Brian and John break down why this is the most grounded, consequence-driven Spider-Man movie the MCU has made yet, the surprisingly great Punisher subplot, Florence Pugh's instantly-memeable "small potatoes" scene, and how this film borrows more from Raimi's Spider-Man 2 than any prior MCU entry. ⏱️ TIMESTAMPS 0:00 – Intro: why this bonus episode exists 1:58 – Taking our kids to see it (and the No Way Home nostalgia) 3:08 – Marvel's weird, endless X-Men teasing problem 4:41 – Why this movie finally takes Spider-Man seriously 6:08 – The Punisher is back, and he's incredible in this 6:29 – Florence Pugh's "small potatoes" scene (already a meme) 10:58 – What does the Hulk actually do in this movie? 12:52 – The Punisher's chili speech (light spoilers) 15:02 – The six-armed Spider-Man that almost happened 15:22 – Organic webbing and growing into the powers 19:03 – That post-credits scene & the tease 19:25 – Final scores: do we both land on 8/10? 20:24 – Wrap-up & where to find us Light spoilers past the timestamp marked above — we keep the ending under wraps. FOLLOW THE SHOW: 🎧 Follow on your favorite podcast app: https://cinemapsychoshow.com/follow 🚨 Subscribe to our newsletter!- https://the-cinema-psychos-show.kit.com/9e9a267e76
- Aug 8, 20261h 0m
The Rutles | The Beatles Parody That Left Paul McCartney PISSED!
Eric Idle and Lorne Michaels teamed up in 1978 to make the greatest Beatles parody you've probably never seen — and it worked so well that Paul McCartney sent back a real letter saying he didn't find it funny, while John Lennon loved it so much he never returned his copy. This week on Cinema Psycho Show, Brian and John dig into The Rutles: All You Need Is Cash, the SNL-adjacent mockumentary packed with John Belushi, Dan Aykroyd, Bill Murray, Gilda Radner, Mick Jagger, and even George Harrison himself. We break down the Beatles history it's spoofing, argue about whether you need to be a Beatles fan to get the jokes, compare it to Spinal Tap and Young Frankenstein, and read your listener reviews. CHAPTERS: Introduction [00:00] The Rutles: A mockumentary history of the Beatles [01:10] The BBC mockumentary behind The Rutles [02:40] The Rutles blends Beatles history with Monty Python humor [03:59] Early SNL stars and the film's celebrity cameos [04:34] Discovering The Rutles as a child and revisiting it as a Beatles fan [07:29] Why The Rutles did not connect with every viewer [10:04] The Beatles' Hamburg years and the importance of context [14:24] The Rutles follows the Beatles' history through parody [17:21] Sight gags, archival footage, and the film's comic style [22:54] The surprisingly strong music of The Rutles [23:30] The Rutles corporation satirizes 1960s idealism [27:42] Why mockumentaries need a recognizable subject [29:04] How The Rutles compares with other mockumentaries [34:10] The Rutles' broadcast history and American reception [37:22] The sequel revisits The Rutles through celebrity commentary [39:08] Listener reviews of The Rutles [41:10] A collection of sketches with a thin plot [41:57] Chastity and the film's most outrageous joke [45:50] The music is excellent, but the parody stays close to the Beatles [51:21] Birthday wishes and final thoughts on The Rutles [56:56] Share the episode and tell us what you think [59:17] FOLLOW THE SHOW: 🎧 Subscribe on your favorite podcast app: https://cinemapsychoshow.com/follow 🚨 Subscribe to our newsletter!- https://the-cinema-psychos-show.kit.com/9e9a267e76 CO-HOST: John's Channel- https://www.youtube.com/@JDUBSVIDEONASTIES
About Cinema Psychos Movie Reviews
Welcome to the madhouse where film freaks and film fans of all types come to get their fix. The Cinema Psychos Show is hosted by indie filmmakers Brian Cottington and John Wooliscroft. Every week they dig into new movie reviews, cult classics, horror films, bad movies, forgotten gems, and whatever's currently breaking (or disappointing) on streaming; all from the perspective of two guys who actually make films for a living. This isn't a recap show. Expect real film analysis, genuine comedy, deep dives into what makes movies actually work, and plenty of unfiltered opinions on why Hollywood keeps getting it wrong. New releases. Cult horror. 80s classics. Streaming disasters. If it's worth talking about or too insane to ignore; it's fair game.
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