”Den of Cin” is a movie podcast by Devin Lucas & James Dufresne, two friends since high school and movie nerds for life. Coming from their own backgrounds in writing & art, Devin & James bring their uniquely qualified perspectives to their favorite obsessions. This is a podcast for all lovers of cinema, from the mainstream classics to the most obscure cult films. Devin & James share a passion for all forms of film and pop culture history. Hyperbole ensues.
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Gene Hackman - Part One
Devin & James are back in the DEN to pay tribute to one of the greatest performers of all time, GENE HACKMAN! Gene Hackman may have retired from acting 20 years before his unfortunate passing earlier this year, but in his five decades of filmmaking, he created a filmography that's impossible to match. In fact, we had to extend this out to two episodes. In this first of two, we discuss some of Hackman's earlier work, such as MAROONED and CISCO PIKE. We get into some of his heavy hitters, like HOOSIERS, MISSISSIPPI BURNING, UNCOMMON VALOR, and UNFORGIVEN. We also cover some of his lesser-seen titles, like the masterpiece SCARECROW, and the bizarre EUREKA. We even get close to his retirement, with HEARTBREAKERS, RUNAWAY JURY, and, of course, THE ROYAL TENENBAUMS. Add a few mentioned along the way, and we are still just getting started. For deeper dives on a few of Hackman's other classics, please look up our episodes on THE FRENCH CONNECTION series, and our episode on Killer Couples, which explores BONNIE & CLYDE.
Off-Brand Draculas
Devin & James are back in the Den, and it's full of bats! In this episode, we are covering a very specific type of vampire... OFF-BRAND DRACULAS! These vampires may have castles in Transylvania, look hot in a cape, or have an unnatural interest in foreign real estate, but they all owe their cinematic existence to the literary existence of Bram Stoker's Dracula. We start with NOSFERATU, covering Murnau's 1922 silent classic, through Herzog in 1979, and to Eggers in 2024. We then move on to a couple of Bela Lugosi films, where he plays a bloodsucker who is "definitely NOT Dracula" (legally speaking) with 1935's MARK OF THE VAMPIRE and 1943's THE RETURN OF THE VAMPIRE. We then head to AIP in the groovy 70's, when they redefined the old legend with 1970's COUNT YORGA, VAMPIRE, featuring the underrated Robert Quarry as the titular count with a mouthful of fangs, as well as 1972's BLACULA, featuring a dignified performance by William Marshall that deserves much more credit than it's punny title suggests.
Tour of Italy: Poliziotteschi Eurocrime
Devin & James are back in the Den to bid a final "ciao" to the TOUR OF ITALY series with a look at the violent world of POLIZIOTTESCHI movies! (or Eurocrime, for the pronunciation challenged.) Italy had a special touch with crime thrillers during their politically tumultuous "Years of Lead," and we go over some of the genre's highest points, starting with Enzo G. Castellari's HIGH CRIME (1973), starring Franco Nero, and Franco Nero's mustache. We follow that with Lucio Fulci's only crime film, the gloriously bloody CONTRABAND (1980). Then we get into the sticky details around the release of Mario Bava's underseen and underrated RABID DOGS/KIDNAPPED, and why two different cuts of this movie were finally released over 20 years after the movie was shot and abandoned in 1974. We follow that with some fun in Umberto Lenzi's THE CYNIC, THE RAT, AND THE FIST (1977), which matched up 3 of the genre's most iconic stars (Milian, Merli, & Saxon). Finally, we cover the influential second entry of Fernando Di Leo's "Milieu Trilogy," THE ITALIAN CONNECTION (1972), where actor Mario Adorf outshines hitmen Henry Silva and Woody Strode to give the most heart-pounding and heartbreaking pimp performance we've ever seen. We're sad to finally be leaving Italy behind (for now), but we closed out with some of our favorite movies ever committed to celluloid. Buckle in and hold on for some off-the-wall Italian mayhem.
Tour of Italy: The Knock-Offs
Devin & James are back in the Den with their penultimate visit to Italy! This time we shift from focusing on one genre to examining a type of film that is not uniquely Italian, but they sure put their own style on: THE KNOCK-OFF. Low-budget films ripping off box office hits has always been a popular way for Producers to make a buck. Still, the filmmakers themselves can sometimes bring their own spin to a popular trope or trend and create works that rise above being called simply imitations. And then... there are the imitations. We make the case that there is plenty to enjoy about all the approaches, as long as you know what you're getting into. We start with the sharksploitation film that Universal Studios successfully took off the market for lifting the plot of Jaws in 1981, Enzo G. Castellari's THE LAST SHARK (with a bonus look at CRUEL JAWS). If imitation is flattery, then Bruno Mattei must be one of the most complimentary filmmakers ever to play the game, and we dive into his back-to-back sci-fi knocks-offs from 1989, ROBOWAR (Predator featuring a Robocop) and SHOCKING DARK (Aliens featuring a Terminator). We finish up with a couple of films that are inspired by the head-spinning, pea soup-spitting world of The Exorcist, but that build their unique plots and bizarre twists to create works that stand on their own, Alberto De Martino's THE ANTICHRIST, and Ovidio G Assonitis and Roberto D'Ettorre's BEYOND THE DOOR, both from 1974. Grab a can of Campbell's Pea Soup and a straw, and buckle in.
Tour of Italy: Science Fiction
Devin & James are back in the Den, and are go for launch! As we return to our Tour of Italy, this time the action will take us right into the stratosphere with ITALIAN SCIENCE FICTION! We start with the doomed visitors to Mario Bava's PLANET OF THE VAMPIRES, a still underappreciated film that inspired a generation of Sci-Fi writers and directors. We then swing into more action with the utterly bizarre, early body horror, Antonio Margheriti's WILD, WILD PLANET (it's wild enough to deserve it twice in the title). Then we take off for a galaxy far, far away-ish with Luigi Cozzi's Star Wars wannabe, STARCRASH. Finally, we follow up with more Luigi Cozzi with the (occasionally) explosive CONTAMINATION. Strap in, folks... this is gonna be a messy ride.
Halloween PODcast: Invasion of the Body Snatchers ('56, '78, '93, & '07)
Devin & James are back, and we've brought fun size candy! We're taking a short detour from our Tour of Italy to celebrate Halloween, and what better way than by running a movie marathon? We take on one of the most unique series in film history: All four of the INVASION OF THE BODY SNATCHERS films! The pod people first invade in 1956, then make an even more gruesome return in 1978, creating two undisputably beloved and influential Sci-Fi Horror classics. Then things stray from the storyline with 1993's BODY SNATCHERS, a lost classic worth another look (or a first look, for most people), and 2007's THE INVASION, which is... almost good? But fun to discuss. With both Halloween and Election Day near, it feels like we are ready for the Pods to appear on our silver screens again. They're here! You're next!!
Tour of Italy: Supernatural Horror
Devin & James are back in the DEN OF CIN, and it's getting a little spooky in here as we continue our TOUR OF ITALY. This time we are taking on SUPERNATURAL HORROR. There were a lot of ghouls, goblins, ghosts, and witches lurking around Italy during their classic horror period, and we get things started with one of the first: Mario Bava's iconic BLACK SABBATH, starring Boris Karloff! We follow that up with the Dario Argento oddity PHENOMENA (known here in the U.S. as CREEPERS, with about 34 minutes butchered out!), before moving into lesser-seen Lucio Fulci territory with the maestro's bizarre AENIGMA. We end things on a film that defines what a forgotten cult classic can be, with Gianfranco Giagni's brain-melting SPIDER LABYRINTH. Join us to get Spooky Season started off with a BOO!
Tour of Italy: Spaghetti Westerns
Devin & James are back in the saddle for another roundup of Italian flicks. A sampling of the cultiest of all cult genres, the SPAGHETTI WESTERNS! When Clint Eastwood rode through Spain and called it Mexico in 1964's Fistful of Dollars, it started a legit European phenomenon that would produce over 600 titles in barely over ten years! Whereas the American Westerns often whitewashed and mythologized its own westward history, the idea of the good guys always wearing white was losing steam by the 1960s, and the Italians had no sentimentality toward the Earp or James clans as historical figures. The Italian Western hero was the epitome of the anti-hero. Not so much straddling the line between good and bad, but rather stomping on it with their spurred boots. The settings may have been North American, but the politics were purely Italian. We start our discussion with the G.O.A.T., the transformative masterpiece that is Sergio Leone's ONCE UPON A TIME IN THE WEST. We then move on to the sub-sub-genre of the Zapata Westerns (set within the Mexican Revolution) with Damiano Damiani's criminally underappreciated A BULLET FOR THE GENERAL. Then we lighten the mood a bit with a couple of Westerns that border on comedies while still being bloody and wild. The master Sergio Corbucci (so much more than "The Other Sergio") takes us on a wild ride across the border and back in COMPANEROS, and we finish up with the first film in Gianfranco Parolini's super-stylized hero-in-black series, SABATA! We've wrangled all your favorite Spaghetti West heroes: Nero, Milian, Van Cleef, Bronson, Fonda, Volonte, Kinski, and so many more. But when you hear the harmonica or banjo begin playing, you better run!
Tour of Italy: Religious Horror
Devin & James are back in the Den for more Italian scares! This time our focus is on RELIGIOUS HORROR, which has been possessing Italian horror since nearly the beginning of the genre during the sound era. We start with the immortal masterpiece, Mario Bava's BLACK SUNDAY (without which Tim Burton movies would have been very different). We then move on to our first legacy film of the series, DEMONS, the ultimate what-the-fuck popcorn demon movie by Lamberto Bava (Mario's son). Then we swing toward Michele Soavi's more artful (but still seriously gory and gross) THE CHURCH. And finally, what trip through the Gates of Hell would be complete without Lucio Fulci's classic THE BEYOND (which will burn your eyeballs out of your face, if the tarantulas don't get to them first)? Plus we get into honorable mentions for Lisa & The Devil, Demons 2, The Sect, and the other bloody entries in Fulci's GATES OF HELL trilogy. We've packed a lot into this pop culture sermon.
Tour of Italy: Post-Apocalypse
Devin & James are back in the Den, and this time they brought their leather vests and switchblade boots cause they're ready for the Italian POST-APOCALYPSE. The post-atomic wasteland became all the rage globally after the success of films like Mad Max 2: The Road Warrior and Escape from New York, and clever (and not-so-clever) copycats began to pop up everywhere. But, as usual, the Italian filmmakers did take the proverbial yellowcake. In this episode we focus on Enzo Castellari's 1990: THE BRONX WARRIORS, Joe D'Amato's ENDGAME, Lucio Fulci's WARRIORS OF THE YEAR 2072, and finally, Sergio Martino's HANDS OF STEEL. Don't forget your spiked wristbands!
Tour of Italy: Cannibals & Zombies
Devin and James are back in the Den, and ready to take you on an Italian picnic! (If you can stomach it.) As we continue our sampling of Italian genre films, we finally hit on a few legit Video Nasties with two of the most popular and trigger warning-worthy subgenres, CANNIBALS and ZOMBIES. We start things off with scandal right away in Ruggero Deodato's CANNIBAL HOLOCAUST, followed by a visit to Umberto Lenzi's NIGHTMARE CITY (Don't you dare call them zombies!). Then we move from living flesh eaters to the undead ones with Andrea Bianchi's super bizarre BURIAL GROUND, and top off the meal with (what else?) Lucio Fulci's legendary ZOMBIE! (or is it Zombie 2?) There will be something to explore for every taste but good taste. Bon appetit!
Tour of Italy: Sword & Sandal & Sorcery
Devin & James are back in the Den, and the Den is still in Italy! In our second Tour of Italy episode, we are going back to the roots of the Italian genre/cult film era with the SWORD & SANDAL films of the 1950s and 60s, introducing film fans to the hero Hercules for the first time, and giving us our first film of the evening, Mario Bava's colorful HERCULES IN THE HAUNTED WORLD. From there, we move to the SWORD & SORCERY era of the 1980's, where we examine some films that owe an awful lot to Conan the Barbarian and The Beastmaster, starting with Joe D'Amato's ATOR, THE FIGHTING EAGLE, followed closely by Lucio Fulci's CONQUEST, and ending the show (and kind of the entire genre) with Ruggero Deodato's THE BARBARIANS (yes, the one starring the Barbarian Twins)! Join us on our quest! We promise plenty of feats of strength, loincloths, snakes, spiders, naked women, gore, and head bashing.
Tour of Italy: Giallo
Devin & James are back in the Den with a new topic! We are taking a TOUR OF ITALY, an 8-episode long series, each featuring a different sub-genre created or perfected by Italian filmmakers. We begin with a journey through the shadowy dream territory of GIALLO films. These films are highly stylized murder mysteries, most with a heaping helping of gore. We offer up a sample of some great specimens, and specifically some of the great directors, in this uniquely Italian movement, with a focus on Mario Bava's BLOOD & BLACK LACE, Lucio Fulci's DON'T TORTURE A DUCKLING, Sergio Martino's TORSO, and of course, Dario Argento's DEEP RED. We also go over a few other titles, as well as define the tropes that make a Giallo easy to spot, even if it's not so easy to spot that gloved killer sneaking up from behind!
Wes Craven: The Scream Years
DO YOU LIKE SCARY MOVIES? Devin & James are back in THE DEN to finish their four-part series on the career of WES CRAVEN! We review the final films we ever got from him as a director, deep dive into CURSED and RED EYE, and top it all off with a discussion on his second major franchise, the SCREAM series. A lot of highs and lows in this period, and we go over a lot of the studio drama that resulted in a couple of these films being far less than what they could have been, but we end on a high note with one of the most beloved slasher franchises ever created.
Wes Craven: The Lost Years
Devin & James are back in the Den with the third in their series on the career of writer/director Wes Craven. This time they turn their focus to the period between Freddy and Ghostface (1985-1995). We discuss all of his theatrical films during this era but put a spotlight on THE SERPENT AND THE RAINBOW, SHOCKER, and THE PEOPLE UNDER THE STAIRS. Not so much "lost" as underappreciated, Craven shows that in many ways he was at a certain creative peak during this time, and being unfairly held up to what Freddy Krueger had become as the 1980's wore on.
Wes Craven: A Nightmare on Elm Street (The Nancy Trilogy)
Devin & James are back in the Den for the second episode in their series on WES CRAVEN, and this time we are taking on one of the most influential villains of all time... Freddy Krueger from A NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET. We are focusing on the series installments that Craven participated in, covering the story arc of his ultimate Final Girl, Nancy (played by Heather Langenkamp). We'll dive into the original NIGHTMARE from 1984, as well as 1987's NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET 3: DREAM WARRIORS, and 1994's NEW NIGHTMARE, and discuss the ways Craven turned the slasher genre on its head, then twisted it again, and then gave it the ultimate meta twist to finish it off.
Wes Craven: The Grindhouse Years
Devin and James are back in the Den with a new topic! This time we'll explore the career of horror pioneer WES CRAVEN! And, of course, we are starting at the beginning with Craven's roughest films, THE LAST HOUSE ON THE LEFT and THE HILLS HAVE EYES. (TRIGGER WARNING: These films are very graphic.) Then we follow the course of his career into writing/directing one of the first comic book adaptations of the post-Donner's Superman era, DC's SWAMP THING! And this is just the beginning, as we'll have three more Wes Craven-centered episodes following in the weeks ahead!
1994: The Oddballs
Devin & James are back in the DEN OF CIN to wrap up their series on the year in cinema that was 1994. This time we take a more personal approach. Rather than one theme tying them together, Devin & James have each picked 2 movies from 1994 that they want to discuss... just because. James gives us a backstory on why 1994 was such an important year for Hong Kong action movies becoming popular in the United States with Jet Li's FIST OF LEGEND and Jackie Chan's epic DRUNKEN MASTER 2 (aka Legend of the Drunken Master). Devin goes in a much more random direction, choosing the nearly-forgotten prison action trope-fest, NO ESCAPE, starring Ray Liotta, and makes a case for rediscovering the criminally underseen masterpiece, THE HUDSUCKER PROXY, from the Coen Brothers! Plus we name-drop a whole lotta other '94 movies that deserve to be mentioned before we close out our first series!
1994: Jim Carrey, Movie Star
Devin & James are back in the Den of Cin for another installment of our series on the year 1994! And there is no way to discuss this year without bringing up the rising star of Jim Carrey! Not only was he still the hot comic from In Living Color on TV, but he was having one of those "best year ever" scenarios on the silver screen as well, with gigantic hits ACE VENTURA: PET DETECTIVE, THE MASK, and DUMB AND DUMBER. Join us as we dive into these three comedy fan favorites, and to track this rising star from unlikely gamble to becoming the highest-paid actor in Hollywood within just two years! (with The Cable Guy in 1996).
1994: The Best Picture Losers
Devin & James are back in the Den to take another look at the films of 1994! 1994 gave us some of the most notable contenders for the Oscar race we've ever seen. This week, we take a look specifically at the Best Picture race at the Academy Awards. Forrest Gump took the top award, but we dive into some of the other films that were nominated and didn't take home statues, specifically THE SHAWSHANK REDEMPTION and QUIZ SHOW. What do you think should have taken the top prize in a year like this?
1994: The Indie Darlings
Devin & James are back with something new for 2024! In our FIRST of FOUR episodes covering the year in cinema that was 1994, we are taking on a handful of the indie films that changed the cinematic world forever: Kevin Smith's CLERKS, Terry Zwigoff's CRUMB, and Quentin Tarantino's PULP FICTION! It's a great way to ring in the new year with some movie gods before they were movie gods.
Horror Sequels
Happy Halloween and Merry Friday the 13th! To celebrate the rare occasion of double horror holidays this October, Devin & James have invited pal Casey O'Connor back to the show to discuss some of their favorite scary two-fers, three-fers, and... you get the idea. From the classic Universal Monster days, through the slasher and splatstick evolutions of the 80's, and ever after, sequels have always been something of a specialty for the horror genre. In this freewheeling conversation, the guys discuss some of their favorite returning creepers of all time.
Hal Ashby in the 70's
We're back in the Den of Cin to celebrate the fantastic streak of artistic triumphs of director Hal Ashby in the 1970s! A complicated man with a gentle soul, Hal Ashby has seemed to fall out of the conversation of being one of the most vital filmmakers of all time, based on this run of films alone. Not even most of the modern greats can stake claim to this kind of hot streak. While not always box office hits, every one of the films we discuss here has had an influence on everything that's come since. From his boldly artistic start with 1970's THE LANDLORD, through instant cult classics like HAROLD & MAUDE and THE LAST DETAIL, political statements such as SHAMPOO, BOUND FOR GLORY, and COMING HOME, and closing out this winning decade with 1979's mind-blowing BEING THERE, Hal Ashby proved that his themes of class struggle, racial relations, abuse by authority, haves and have nots, and good old fashioned anti-war sentiment shines through the very different styles and approaches he brings to each film. Any film is almost impossible to compare to the next, yet they all unmistakably carry the Ashby touch.
The French Connection Series
Devin and James are back in the Den for another episode! This time we are deep diving into the FRENCH CONNECTION films of the 1970's! We examine whether NYPD detective Popeye Doyle (masterfully played by Gene Hackman) was ever intended to be seen as a hero in the Oscar-winning 1971 original based on the true story of a rough, racist cop's obsession to thwart a French drug kingpin. We also dig into its totally fictional sequel, released in 1975, and discuss whether it's a worthy watch to see Popeye pursue the villain who escaped him in real life (it is). And we also explore 1973's THE SEVEN-UPS, which we argue is at least a spiritual sequel, in which many of the original artists involved follow up with a closer look at Roy Scheider's character, who was Popeye's partner in the first film. These films still pack a punch decades later. They have proven to still be controversial, yet they shaped what we still know as the police procedural genre to this day, as well as daring to ask the question, "Ever pick your feet in Poughkeepsie?" And, oh yeah... THE CAR CHASES!!!!
Crime, Italian Style Double Feature - Violent City (1970) & Caliber 9 (1972)
Devin & James are back in the Den of Cin with another action-packed double feature! This time, we are taking on the classic Italian crime films, VIOLENT CITY (1970), starring Charles Bronson & Telly Savalas, and CALIBER 9 (1972), known as one of the greatest crime films ever produced! Both of these films are prime examples of the Italian sub-genre, Poliziotteschi, and we dive a bit into the intense political movements behind these films, as well as what this genre represents to Italian and world cinema culture, as well as offer some... shall we say unique?... ways to pronounce the word (literally translated to "police-esque"). They discuss how they discovered these films themselves, the fortunate current (and possibly fleeting) availability of uncut copies of these important films on home media in the United States, and the huge ways they have influenced modern filmmakers (looking at you, Tarantino!). Buckle in and take the ride!
Killer Couples
Devin & James are finally back in the DEN OF CIN! We've been gone a while, but we have a great topic being covered in a double-length episode to make it up. A grab bag of movies about KILLER COUPLES! We each picked 5 films about people in love, who just also happen to make people die. From recognized masterpieces like BONNIE & CLYDE, through controversial classics like HEATHERS, and well beyond, we found that this underlooked sub-genre really packs a punch in pop culture! Whether our couples are running from a murderous mistake, or robbing banks for kicks, or simply trying to affect population control, we have murderers for every mood. Join in to hear how many different times names like John Dall, Christian Slater, Quentin Tarantino, and even Brad Pitt show up on our lists! This sub-genre really seems to bring in repeat offenders.
Bah Humbug Double Feature - Scrooged (1988) & Bad Santa (2003)
Devin & James are sliding down the chimney of the DEN OF CIN to deliver their thoughts on a couple of Holiday perennials! This time we're taking on a couple of cynical satires, SCROOGED with Bill Murray and BAD SANTA with Billy Bob Thornton. These films are at once so rude and raunchy, yet filled to the brim with the Christmas Spirit. A delicate balance that has never quite been perfected as well as it is in these two yule classics by master directors Richard Donner & Terry Zwigoff. So trim your tree, grab your smokes, and pour the eggnog heavy for a couple of flicks to watch after the kiddies go to bed!
Neo-Noir Heist Double Feature - Thief (1981) & Drive (2011)
Devin & James are back in the Den with a doozy of a double feature! This time we're driving along the wrong side of the tracks with a couple of hard-nosed, highly-stylized neo-noir crime movies. THIEF (1981) and DRIVE (2011) feel like they share DNA (along with THE DRIVER (1978), which gets more than an honorable mention from us). With plots that seem deceptively simple on the surface, these films feature characters with a ton of rage brewing beneath what's visible up top. James Caan and Ryan Gosling are at their peak here, as are the rest of the brilliant ensemble casts, which features the likes of Robert Prosky, Tuesday Weld, Willie Nelson, James Belushi, Albert Brooks, Carey Mulligan, Bryan Cranston, Ron Perlman, Christina Hendricks, and Oscar Isaac! Under the expert direction of Michael Mann and Nicolas Winding Refn, respectively, these films are must-sees for everybody who loves cinema where the rubber meets the road.
Stephen King Rules
Happy Halloween, Cinemaniacs!! Devin & James are back in the DEN OF CIN, and they've brought along BFF of the show Casey O'Connor with them! In honor of our favorite holiday, we're discussing the film adaptations of STEPHEN KING!!!! Possibly the only American author to become his own sub-genre in the cinema canon, King adaptations have been a part of the celluloid landscape since 1976's CARRIE, and they are still coming fast and frequent! We try to hit all of our favorites, especially those 80's and 90's classics, and we have to say, we got a lot of them in. We even managed to get in a few less-than-favorites... but at the end of the day, even a bad Stephen King movie is still a freakin' Stephen King movie. NOTE: There were some technical difficulties while recording this episode. They go in and out, but it's very noticeable in the last ten minutes. Sorry 'bout that!
Beware of The Blob
"Beware of The Blob! It creeps, and leaps, and glides, and slides across the floor. Right through the door, and all around the wall. A splotch, a blotch. Be careful of The Blob." So warns the catchiest pop tune ever to open a monster movie. Devin & James are celebrating the start of the Halloween Season with a look back at one of the most fun, and underrated, horror/sci-fi series of the 20th century. From the indie charm of the classic 1958 original (Steve McQueen as a teenager?) through its bizarre, nearly forgotten 1972 sequel (Larry Hagman as a director?) and finishing up with the unfairly maligned 1988 remake (Kevin Dillon as... anything?), every aspect of this gelatinous creeper is covered. Is The Blob an icon, or a side note in horror history? We make the case that there is still some life in this one, ripe for rediscovery.
Summer of 1982
Devin & James are back in the Den of Cin just in time to finish out the summer of 2022 with a look back at the summer of 1982! And they've brought along special guest Casey O'Connor to share his memories of one of the most influential summers the box office has ever seen. E.T., The Thing, Blade Runner, Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan, Tron, Rocky III, The Road Warrior, Poltergeist, and Fast Times at Ridgemont High are but a sampling of what the summer of 1982 had to offer with a side of buttered popcorn. Come on in to find out about all these films and surprisingly A LOT more! Is it possible that 1982 could have been the best movie summer of all time?
Plague Double Feature - The Sadness (2021) & Rabid (1977)
Devin & James are back in the Den to analyze a sample of classic Plague Movies: Taiwan's brutal THE SADNESS from 2021, and vintage David Cronenberg with 1977's RABID! We also make a quick examination of the contagions and parasites unsealed in George A. Romero's THE CRAZIES and Cronenberg's own SHIVERS, and how these films all feed upon each other so nicely. Are these films as depraved as their reputations? What qualifies as a Plague Movie? Can experimental plastic surgery really cause someone to grow a hungry, spiked phallus from their armpit? The answers to these burning (you should have that checked out) questions and much more are here in this infectious edition of the Den of Cin!
Friday the 13th Part 2 - Devin & James Go To Hell (parts 6-12)
Devin & James are back at Crystal Lake for the conclusion of our deep dive into the FRIDAY THE 13th SERIES! Love 'em or hate 'em, the back half of this iconic film series has given us plenty to talk about. From the start of the Zombie Jason era, to a lake trip to NYC, to Hell and back, to outer freakin' space, and then back to meet an old foe in need of a severe manicure, these films really take viewers all over the place. Plus, we finally realize the 2009 franchise reboot is maybe the best entry since the earlier days of the classic Paramount originals! And we give some fan service to a couple of particularly good fan films. Plus Stephen King and Kane Hodder... this episode has everything a classic gorehound could dream of!
Friday the 13th - The Beginning (parts 1-5)
Michael Biehn
Devin & James return to the DEN OF CIN to discuss action icon MICHAEL BIEHN. From his breakout one-two punch in THE TERMINATOR & ALIENS, through his bad guy turn in TOMBSTONE, to his current slate as writer/director/star of indie horror flicks, Biehn has always been one of the more interesting, and perhaps misunderstood, of 80's action stars. We get into a few of his early and mid-career highlights too, like 1981's THE FAN and 1993's gleefully insane DEADFALL. You don't wanna miss this one, or Angus Scrimm's weird robo-claw hand in Deadfall!
Cannibal Double Feature - Fresh (2022) & Eating Raoul (1982)
Devin & James are serving up a treat in the DEN OF CIN. It's an unlikely and weird double feature of CANNIBAL FILMS! First we get into Paul Bartel's 1982 cult comedy EATING RAOUL, starring Bartel, his longtime collaborator Mary Woronov, and Robert Beltran in the title dish... er, we mean role. Then we dive into a very recent film for a change, the 2022 Hulu "meat cute", FRESH. Directed by Mimi Cave, starring the excellent Daisy Edgar-Jones, as well as Sebastian Stan in a role sure to make your skin crawl (and braise, broil, or roast). All this, plus a huge rant about the current state of the Academy Awards Ceremony. We just couldn't fit any more on the plate! Enjoy!
Ivan Reitman with Special Guest Casey O'Connor
Early Bogdanovich
Devin & James are back in the Den for another tribute. 2022 has already been a rough year for all entertainment lovers, with the loss of so many heavies in their respective genres and mediums. In this episode, we discuss film historian/writer/director/actor PETER BOGDANOVICH, who passed away on January 6, 2022. From his start with Roger Corman, into his meteoric rise from "The Last Picture Show" through "Paper Moon," into some of his very famous friendships with the very famous, and on to his works during the personal and professional lows he carried with him through the late 1970s-early '80s (much of which is highly underrated once you clear past the tragic headlines and scandals). Peter Bogdanovich is one of our all-time favorites here in the Den, and if you're only familiar with his better known films, we aim to tell you why they are all worth another look. Keep looking here for future tributes celebrating the works of Sidney Poitier and Ivan Reitman.
Chuck Heston's Apocalypse Trilogy
Devin & James are back in the DEN OF CIN with another damn, dirty podcast! To ring in 2022, we're going on a casual Apocalypse Safari with Charlton Heston, through his strangely beautiful, and highly influential unofficial trilogy dealing with man's own self-destruction. With PLANET OF THE APES, THE OMEGA MAN, and SOYLENT GREEN (set in the futuristic hellscape of 2022), Chuck dropped a pop culture bomb that rippled through the American psyche, forever influenced sci-fi, sparked philosophical debates, advanced the action figure industry, and led to some of the most popular Simpsons references and SNL sketches of the '90s. The Terror! The Humanity! The '70s Fashions!
Christmas Double Feature - Emmet Otter's Jug-Band Christmas (1977) & Christmas Evil (1980)
Devin & James are back in the Den of Cin, just in time to deck the halls with perhaps our oddest double feature yet! So many Holiday movies, so little time. We debate what it is that makes a Christmas movie a CHRISTMAS MOVIE (Yippi-ki-yay). Then we take a closer look at a couple of more obscure holiday perennials around our own homes. James takes on the melancholy cuteness of Jim Henson's "Emmet Otter's Jug-Band Christmas," while Devin digs into why the yuletide thriller "Christmas Evil (a.k.a. You Better Watch Out)" is worthy of a closer look. MERRY CHRISTMAS!
Scary Stuff with Special Guest Casey O'Connor
Devin & James promised you more shows in October, and here we are in the DEN OF CIN for our second HALLOWEEN SPECIAL! Special guest CASEY O'CONNOR trick or treats us again for a general geek-out over our favorite holiday, and we've all come equipped with "fun size" grab bag lists and memories to make suggestions for your own Halloween Watch Lists. So grab your popcorn and Snickers, turn down the lights, and start searching Roku for these titles guaranteed to tingle all the right nerves. HAPPY HALLOWEEN!
HALLOWEEN GUESTS!! - Count Gore De Vol & Dick Dyszel
Halloween is so close, we can already taste the candy (mostly 'cause we've already dipped into our trick or treat supply). To celebrate, Devin & James are opening up the DEN OF CIN to their first CELEB GUESTS!
We are honored to have as our first guest Horror Host Hall-of-Famer COUNT GORE DE VOL! www.countgore.com The Count flies in to talk to us about his 1970's-80's Washington D.C. show CREATURE FEATURE, and his even longer-running online show. He even brought his own Grab Bag of COUNT GORE'S TOP SCARY MOVIES!
Then we get a visit from the TOTALLY UNRELATED, NOT THE SAME PERSON, Emmy Award winner DICK DYSZEL! Dick tells us about his celebrated radio, TV, and film career (and how he got to know The Count), as well as discussing with us the films he appeared in for Cult Movie Legend DON DOHLER (NightBeast, Alien Factor, Galaxy Invader, and many more).
Plus so many more surprises, including Celeb Stories, Spacemen, and Bozo himself!
Two with Nicolas Cage - Pig (2021) & Bad Lieutenant - Port of Call: New Orleans (2009)
Devin & James are back in the Den of Cin with a new DOUBLE FEATURE episode featuring the one, the only (thank goodness) NICOLAS CAGE! First we take on his now iconic 2009 turn in BAD LIEUTENANT - PORT OF CALL: NEW ORLEANS, a movie containing so much crazy, it seems impossible that director Werner Herzog caught it all in one film. We follow that up with a discussion on his latest film, PIG, which brilliantly spins the Nicolas Cage persona through a bizarre Portland underworld of chefs and waiters, and into emotional directions you never expected (no, it is not "John Wick with a pig"). SPOILERS AHEAD!
Marlowe & Dracula - Two Characters by Ten Actors
Devin & James are back in the DEN OF CIN with more lists! This time they've each come with their own lists of five actors who have all played the same character. Devin examines the dark alleys and seedy nightclubs of DETECTIVE PHILIP MARLOWE, and James explores the open crypts and damp castles of COUNT DRACULA! A lot of fine (and not so fine) performers have played these iconic roles, and we lay out the ones we find most important, or just damn weird. Will your favorites make the list?
Two with Barbara Crampton - Jakob's Wife (2021) & Castle Freak (1995)
Devin & James are back in the DEN OF CIN with something new! This is our first of what we hope are many DOUBLE FEATURE episodes, where we will discuss one newer film along with an older one that shares themes or artists with the other. And boy do we have a doozy for our first double... 2021's spin on a vampire awakening, JAKOB'S WIFE, and the underrated straight-to-video gore classic CASTLE FREAK from 1995, both featuring a stellar performance by BARBARA CRAMPTON! Getting her start in the '80s with soap operas and parts in some of the biggest horror films of the time, her career renaissance the last few years has hit a new peak with JAKOB'S WIFE, a film she not only rocks with her performance, but produced as well! Please join us as we celebrate her work, and do check out the movie. You'll be glad you didn't ignore Jakob's Wife.
Richard Donner
Devin & James are back in the DEN OF CIN! In our new PODCAST, we celebrate one of the most admired filmmakers of our lifetime, RICHARD DONNER, who the world lost on July 5th. From THE OMEN to SUPERMAN: THE MOVIE, and THE GOONIES to LETHAL WEAPON, and everything in between and beyond... Richard Donner's attention to (his and my favorite word) VERISIMILITUDE in his movies made him one of the most influential storytellers to ever call "ACTION!" From his start in the pioneering days of Television, through being one of the chief architects of modern popular Cinema (rightfully the 3rd part of a trifecta with Spielberg and Lucas), Donner delivered with his uncanny sense of humor, grounded approach to fantasy material, and the believability of his characters even in the craziest situations. He was arguably the only director who could make us all believe a man could fly.
Movies About Movies
Devin & James are back in the DEN OF CIN, this time with something new! If there's one thing Hollywood loves, it's Hollywood. So we've each brought to the table our own lists of movies about films and filmmakers! Devin has brought 5 fictional films about movies that don't really exist, and James has brought 5 true stories about the making of some of the most popular films of all time. We'll be back to our regular deep dives into all things cinema soon, but from time to time we'll be coming back to this concept of focusing on just a handful of flicks so we can record more often.
1989 - Part Three (Comedy & Drama)
Devin & James are back to wrap up their deep dive into 1989 with the year's Comedy & Drama entries! Be ready to swing wide, as some of the most important dramas ever made came out in 1989, along with some of the wildest and most absurd comedies we love. All the major players from Spike Lee to "Weird Al" Yankovic are discussed as we put a cap on the crazy year that put a cap on the craziest decade for filmmaking. The creative shifts of 1989 would provide us with classic films representing major movements in the creation of Big Studio "Summer Blockbuster" culture, as well as propelling us into the Indie-lovin' 1990s.
1989 - Part Two (Action & Thriller)
ROADHOUSE. For some of you, that's all we have to say to get you to listen to the new DEN OF CIN about the Action & Thrillers of 1989. But it wasn't just Swayze and Sam Elliott's facial hair kicking butt in '89. Devin & James also rant about TANGO & CASH, BLIND FURY, Burton's BATMAN, Indy's LAST CRUSADE, ACTION U.S.A., and so many more. You'll also find out about Don Johnson vomiting on his suspect, The Hulkster vs. a limousine, Gary Busey hiding in your house, and John Woo's white doves. This is not one to miss! (Sorry for the slight audio issues in the first few minutes. It smooths out quickly, and still feels better than a graceful roundhouse kick to the ear.)
1989 - Part One (Horror & Sci-Fi)
Devin & James are back for another exploration of a year in film! This time we take a deep dive into the year 1989. In this first of a three-part series, we begin with the horror and science fiction entries of '89. So many major horror titles came to life this year, including deep-sea adventures The Abyss and Leviathan, bizarre foreign entries like The Church, Santa Sangre, and Tetsuo: The Iron Man, and American oddities like Society and Parents. Plus Stephen King took us on our first cinematic visit to a Pet Semetary. And 1989 was packed with slashers too, with introductions to some new maniacs, and visits from all three of our favorite classic madmen Michael, Jason, and Freddy! Oh my!
Time Travel - Part Two
Devin & James are back in their time-traveling phone booth to discuss the TIME TRAVEL films they couldn't catch in the first installment. This must be one of our favorite topics because this is the longest episode yet. Join in to hear our take on an essential H. G. Wells classic, time-spanning romances, budget-bending indies, the future via the 1990s, and major actors stuck in the "time loop" conundrum. Bill & Ted meet Socrates. Captain Kirk meets the whales. Plus Terry Gilliam takes us back twice, and we discuss a few damn, dirty apes. We didn't catch every time travel film ever made, but you'll agree we got pretty damn close.
Time Travel - Part One
Devin & James take a cue from Huey Lewis and go "Back in Time" to escape 2020 and investigate the best films about Time Travel. In Part One, we visit with Doc & Marty, Peggy Sue, Jack the Ripper, Lyle Swan, the T-800, The Unmarried Mother, and face the Army of Darkness (and more!). But time takes its toll on those who travel it, and your exhausted hosts will have to refuel their Mr. Fusion and take another trip in our next episode.
Revenge Films - Part Two
Just like one of the best examples of the genre itself, it took Devin & James two volumes to explore the seedy underbelly of REVENGE FILMS. In our new episode, we take on Tarantino, Revenge Westerns, Nicolas Cage at his most unhinged (if that's possible), and a few other surprises we missed on our first go-round. Please join us as we take a fun look at some rough freakin' movies.
Revenge Films - Part One
Devin & James are back in THE DEN OF CIN!! In our new episode, we take on our most challenging topic yet with REVENGE FILMS! This sub-genre is chock full of cruelty and brutality, but it can also be full of style, thoughtfulness, and even elegance. We get into the (sometimes unimaginable) humanity found in these films and discuss the reasons they are worthy of examination. Devin & James always have fun talking about movies, but to be fair, this episode (and all the films discussed) should come with a TRIGGER WARNING. Proceed with love and caution.
John Carpenter - Part Two with Special Guest Casey O'Connor
In lucky number Episode 13, Devin & James continue trick or treating through John Carpenter's career with their old buddy Casey. Unlike our other two-parters, which were recorded on separate days, this became a chat that lasted nearly 4 hours about 1 filmmaker who we could have gone even longer on if we weren't getting sleepy and slaphappy! But like sugar-high kids at a Halloween sleepover, we never lose our energy as we get through invisible men and body mutilation on Mars before a real deep dive into our favorites (and probably yours) involving the ultimate masked killer and one very pissed off alien. Happy Halloween, everyone!!
John Carpenter - Part One with Special Guest Casey O'Connor
It's our first Halloween in the Den of Cin, and there's no better topic for the season than brilliant writer/director/composer John Carpenter! Along with special guest and long time friend Casey O'Connor, Devin & James pick apart the tricks and the treats in this subversive auteur's filmography. Our conversation went so long that we had to separate it into two packed episodes! Again! Many of Carpenter's best films are here in our first installment, including a few with collaborator Kurt Russell. Be sure to listen, and then check out Episode 13: John Carpenter - Part Two for the whole bloody enchilada!
Willem Dafoe
Devin & James dig into the massive filmography of Willem Dafoe, one of the greatest and most distinctive actors working today. From his start as the ultimate tough guy in 80's flicks like "Streets of Fire" and "To Live and Die in LA," through more mainstream work in major hits like "Spider-Man," and into some of the most physically and emotionally intense art and horror films ever committed to celluloid in masterworks like "Anti-Christ" and "The Lighthouse," we try to catch as much as we can (and still miss a few) of his 136 IMDB acting credits!
Cannon Film Group - Part Two: Electric Boogaloo
Devin & James are back to debunk the cry, "There can be only one!" In our second deep dive into the 1980's cinema of The Cannon Film Group, we take on elite writers & directors, immortals, nuclear men, the power of Grayskull, Van Damme's dance moves, the way Cobra eats his pizza, and fiercely debate who makes the better father: Sly Stallone or Robert Loggia. We even saved some time to discuss the greatest Cannon film that never was, about a certain friendly neighborhood web-slinger.
Cannon Film Group - Part One
Devin & James have done it again! This week's topic, an examination of 80's cinema from the CANNON FILM GROUP, has proven too big to contain in one podcast. After discussing ninjas, disco and hip hop musicals, holiday slashers, and the Two Chucks (Bronson and Norris), there still wasn't enough time to get near the full scope of what producers Menahem Golan and Yoram Globus delivered to eager popcorn lovers throughout the decade. Enjoy our nostalgic look back at the early years of one of the most iconic and prolific independent movie studios to ever print on celluloid, and check back later this week for the sequel!
1974 - Part Two
Devin and James continue their examination of the year in cinema that was 1974. This time we get into everything from the pain of love, the power of the spoken word, and the extreme danger of a robot imposter of Godzilla! Badass Women, Vigilantes, Mimes, Buddy Cops, the Fonz, and the ultimate Drag Queen... 1974 had something for everyone. If we missed your favorite 1974 movie last time, we picked it up here!
1974 - Part One
Devin and James bite off more than they can chew when looking back on the year in cinema that was 1974! So much essential cinema hit in 1974, we had to break this one up into two episodes! Part One dives into topics ranging from The Corleone's to Leatherface. From Oscar-winning classics to the core of independent and cult cinema, 1974 is truly one of the greatest years in filmmaking history! Move over films of 1939... you've been bested by a mile!
Carl Reiner
On June 29, 2020, the world lost legendary writer/director/performer/humanitarian/all-around-great-guy Carl Reiner. Even while wearing so many hats, Mr. Reiner's head never seemed weighed down. Focusing on the impressive list of screen Comedies he directed, Devin & James celebrate the great man along with the tremendous influence and joy his work has given us and the world.
Jamie Lee Curtis
Devin & James take a look at the life and career of the multi-talented Jamie Lee Curtis! From her career start as the ultimate Scream Queen to the more refined murder and mayhem of "Knives Out," the Right Honourable Lady Haden-Guest (yes, she IS actually a British baroness by marriage!) has cemented her place as Cinema Royalty!
Werewolves
Devin & James take on a topic close to their furry little hearts, Werewolf Movies! From Wolf Men to Wolf Cops, and even a few Cat People in between, we cover the full history of this beloved yet somehow frequently overlooked horror sub-genre.
1980
Devin & James change it up for their latest deep dive, focusing on a whole year of cinema rather than a particular career. And what a year they've chosen! 1980 proves to be one of the most dynamite years of all time across all genres, with horror and comedy having a particularly iconic year. This topic proves to be so big, it may require a second episode to catch what we couldn't cover. Will your fave 1980 flick be featured?
Brian DePalma
Devin & James take on the career of writer/director Brian DePalma. Few artist's careers have proven to be as divisive as Mr. DePalma, and our boys take on the good, the bad, the ugly, and everything in between.
Burt Reynolds
In their inaugural episode, Devin & James deep dive into the life and career of Mr. Burt Reynolds. Few movie stars have enjoyed the enormous popularity of Burt, followed by such a spectacular artistic fall. Devin & James discover where to find the good stuff, and how to enjoy the not-so-good stuff.
Fler poddar
Podcasten Den of Cin är skapad av Devin Lucas & James Dufresne. Podcastens innehåll och bilderna på den här sidan hämtas med hjälp av det offentliga podcastflödet (RSS).
En liten tjänst av I'm With Friends. Finns även på engelska.