Dead Formats: An Obscure Movie Podcast

Chris is joined by DK and Dan Like Bands to discuss Edward Furlong's bizarre 1992 Japanese pop album Hold on Tight and its accompanying documentary I'll Be Waiting. They explore the backstory of the album's creation, its peculiar place within Japanese idol culture, and the forced involvement of a young Furlong. The trio also shares their top three tracks from the album, reminisce about their own teenage celebrity crushes, and reflect on the rarely discussed music careers of various celebrities including Vin Diesel, Paris Hilton, and Leonard Nimoy. The episode highlights the strangeness and awkward charm of Furlong's foray into music and his uncomfortable interactions within the documentary.
 
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Chris is joined by Dan from TYTD Reviews and Triv from Trivial Theater to discuss the world of lost media. They explore the drama surrounding the lost pilot of the Backyardigans and the behavior of film collectors who hoard rare media. The trio also reviews two German splatter films: Zyklus: Der blutige Sommer von 1999 (2004) and Splotsch: Ordnung Muss Sein! (1994). They analyze the practical effects, storytelling, and humor of the films while also drawing comparisons to works by Peter Jackson and Monty Python. The episode concludes with a trivia game on evil corporations in movies.
 
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Chris is joined by Jim and Steve from Waxing The Porpoise to discuss the 1996 made-for-TV movie Project: ALF. They delve into the movie's plot, its standing as a series finale for the ALF TV show, and share personal anecdotes about the franchise. The conversation explores various facets, including Martin Sheen's surprising role, the film's humor (or lack thereof), and ALF's cultural impact, particularly in Germany. The episode includes a humorous game segment in which Jim and Steve compete to answer geography questions based on an the MS-DOS computer game, ALF's U.S. Geography.
 
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Dead Formats is joined by Dakota and Chris from the Two in the Pinku podcast to explore the niche genre of groper train films from Japan, with a focus on the obscure 1983 film Groper Sucking Train (痴漢おしゃぶり電車). They discuss the history and characteristics of the genre, the societal and cultural context, and share insights into the challenges of archiving and subtitling these films. The episode also touches on the careers of key actors and directors, and the impact of these films on both Japanese and Western audiences.
 
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Chris is joined by Bones of 5 Day Rentals and DK from Nerds, Geeks, and the Kitchen Sink/DK & Dan Like Bands to explore the 1993 Russian novel Alien: Contact (ЧУЖИЕ КНИГА 4: КОНТАКТ), an unofficial continuation of the Alien saga. The trio discusses the process of translating this work, the bizarre plot and character choices, and the larger implications of fan fiction within the Alien franchise. A thorough analysis of the novel’s narrative elements and structural complexities is offered, providing a unique insight into a rare and fascinating piece of Alien lore.
 
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Chris is joined by Murph from The Weekly Podcast Massacre and Dan from 5 Day Rentals/DK & Dan Like Bands to explore the 1979 made-for-TV movie, The Jericho Mile, directed by Michael Mann. They discuss the film's production challenges, thematic elements, and draw parallels between this and Mann's later works like Thief and Heat. The conversation also touches on the acting performances, particularly of Peter Strauss and Brian Dennehy, and debates whether the film's ending is triumphant or tragic. The episode concludes with a game called The Greenbow Mile where Murph and Dan guess if a series of 1-star reviews were written for The Jericho Mile or Forrest Gump.
 
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Chris is joined by Greg from The Weekly Podcast Massacre and Kron from 5 Day Rentals as they discuss the 1990 Japanese film Yellow Fangs (リメインズ　美しき勇者たち aka Remains: Beautiful Heroes) directed by Sonny Chiba. They cover the film's background, including its inspiration from the real-life 1915 Sankebetsu brown bear incident (三毛別羆事件). The conversation explores the film's thematic depth, blending of genres, and notable performances, particularly by Hiroyuki Sanada. They also examine why the film was a critical and commercial failure and resulted in Sonny Chiba never directing another film. The episode ends with a game called Grisly Men, where participants identify whether a series of quotes came from either Timothy Treadwell or a famous serial killer.
 
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Chris is joined by Bones, Dan, and Kron from the 5 Day Rentals podcast to discuss the 2002 Japanese film TOYD, a made-for-satellite TV movie about a murderous toy. Notably, this film was previously unavailable anywhere and lacks entries on IMDB or Letterboxd. The group talks about the plot, character dynamics, and the cultural context of the film. They also delve into various trivia and controversies surrounding toys in a game called FacTOYD. The episode includes insights into the archival challenges and niche appeal of such obscure films.
 
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Chris is joined by Dan from TYTD Reviews and Triv from Trivial Theater to explore the 1996 SOV film Feeders directed by the infamous Polonia brothers and Jon McBride. They discuss the unique regional aspects, filmmaking techniques, and distinct features of this low-budget sci-fi horror. The conversation covers various highlights, including practical effects, CGI, and the quirky alien design, before comparing it to other notable low-budget films. They wrap up with an appreciation for the film's heart and ingenuity despite its technical limitations.
 
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Chris is joined by Brantley from Horror Drafts and George from The Best Little Horror House in Philly to explore the quirky and bizarre world of Japanese V-Cinema. They examine three films: Miracle Bunny 1 & 2 and Cyclops, discussing their surreal plotlines, the origins of these unique movies, and appreciating the blend of campy humor and practical effects. The conversation also delves into the challenges of screening these rare films in theaters, setting the stage for an upcoming event showcasing these eccentric masterpieces.
 
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