The Next Reel Film Podcast

“In films, either you’ve got a face or you don’t got a face. You've got a face. Can I have it, please?”
A Comedic Heist Caper from an Unlikely Collaboration

In 1966, Peter Sellers sought to work with r…

“A perfect hit! And no pain for the target. Too bad the guy was only 38; just two years older, he'd have been worth three times the points.”
Roger Corman's Vision of a Dystopian Future

In 1974, Roger C…

“This was not intended to be a book-of-the-month club lunch.”
A British Heist Film That Set Early Genre Standards

In 1958, John Boland published his novel The League of Gentlemen, which quickly caught …

“When I asked for your advice, I didn't mean that you should actually speak.”
Rebooting the Jack Ryan Franchise

After the success of Patriot Games and Clear and Present Danger, Paramount Pictures aimed…

“The course of action I’d suggest is a course of action I can’t suggest.”
The Road to Clear and Present Danger

After the success of Patriot Games, Paramount Pictures was eager to continue the Jack Ryan…

“You walk into a bar, half of whose customers want you dead. You walk up to the IRA's bagman, and in front of his guys, you threaten him? You're not a field man, Jack. You never were. You are an anal…

“You’re in a house of desperate women here, and a long, long way from home.”
Roger Corman's Exploitation Cinema: The Story Behind Caged Heat

In the early 1970s, Roger Corman was producing a slew of wom…

“Andrei, you've lost another submarine?”
From Novel to Box Office Success

In 1984, Tom Clancy published his first novel The Hunt for Red October, which garnered attention from military officials for it…

“The heavens have never seen such an ignominious Patsak as you, Violinist. It grieves me deeply.”
A Satirical Take on Soviet Society

Kin-Dza-Dza!, a 1986 Soviet science fiction comedy film directed by …

“I don’t want to live among the fishes anymore. I’ll die of loneliness.”
A Soviet Sci-Fi Fairy Tale of Love and Science

In the 1960s, during the Khrushchev Thaw, Soviet filmmakers were given more creat…

“I’ve got a weird sense of humor, man.”
Pushing Boundaries in Found Footage Horror

Mark Duplass, known for his contributions to the mumblecore movement, teamed up with newcomer Patrick Brice to create …

“It’s called ‘Murdered Man’.”
Roger Corman's Comical Foray into Beatnik Horror

In the late 1950s, American International Pictures approached Roger Corman to create a low-budget horror film in just five…

“Did someone hear a woman cry?”
A Haunting Guatemalan Ghost Story

In 2019, Guatemalan filmmaker Jayro Bustamante released his third feature film, La Llorona, a haunting ghost story that explores the af…

“You know, if they take a personal belonging, something that you treasure, then there’s no escape from them. You’ll be marked and they’ll always know how to find you.”
Uncovering the Horrors of War an…

“Maybe, he suddenly just wanted to die. I get that way sometimes.”
The Rise of J-Horror in the International Spotlight

Japanese horror, or J-Horror, has a rich history dating back decades, with influen…

“You’re mine now. From now on, you must devote your whole life to me.”
A Ghost Story as a Statement on Pride and Greed

Kenji Mizoguchi's 1953 film Ugetsu, based on stories by Akinari Ueda and Guy de Ma…

“Anyone trying to leave the train by force will be stopped by force.”
An All-Star 70s Disaster Film Mash-Up

The 1970s saw a surge in the popularity of disaster films, with movies like The Poseidon Adve…

“The reason, Mr. Gashade, for the hunt is the kill.”
A Low-Budget Western from the Corman-Hellman-Nicholson Trio

After impressing producer Roger Corman with their previous work, director Monte Hellman …

“She doesn’t know it yet, but she’s hunting us.”
How a Virus Spreads Through Language

The 2008 Canadian horror film Pontypool, directed by Bruce McDonald and written by Tony Burgess, was inspired by Or…

“I think, therefore I scam.”
The Sundance Struggle of Wendell B. Harris Jr.'s Sensational Con Artist Story

In 1989, writer-director-actor Wendell B. Harris Jr. crafted a stunning debut feature, Chamele…