Have you ever wondered to yourself why a specific film is considered by many to be a “cult film”? Have you ever wondered why a particular film has the fans and legacy that it does?
Join your host, Jesse Krempel, every week as he dives into a different film from a variety of genres, and analyzes how the movie came to be, how it was released and how exactly did it become a cult classic!
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Have you ever wondered to yourself why a specific film is considered by many to be a “cult film”? Have you ever wondered why a particular film has the fans and legacy that it does?
Join your host, Jesse Krempel, every week as he dives into a different film from a variety of genres, and analyzes how the movie came to be, how it was released and how exactly did it become a cult classic!
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
"You boys take one more step, you'll be pissing lightning bolts into next week"
On today's episode, we're heading out to Spring Break and trying our best to survive the chaos that is Piranha 3D (2010). This movie is a fun watch for horror fans that want things a little stupid, a lot of gory, and just plain fun
Intro/Outro Music: "Phantom Fun" by Jonathan Boyle
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"Tell me you love me. You don't have to mean it, but just say it"
On today's episode, we're heading into November by revisiting a teen thriller remake of Fatal Attraction from the early 00s. Let's jump in the pool and try to stay out of the deep end, while we visit the movie, Swimfan (2002).
This movie isn't exactly great, but I do my best to break down these characters and plot, and try to wrap my brain around whether or not if this movie succeeds in what it's trying to do. Ultimately, it's a soapy teen thriller, and not a whole lot more.
Show E-Mail: cultcinemacircle@gmail.com
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On today's bonus episode, I talk about the films that I watched in October 2025.
Intro/Outro Music: "Phantom Fun" by Jonathan Boyle
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"I wanted to see you shoot"
On today's episode, we're closing out the Halloween season by pulling up and covering one of the only gay-themed slasher films there is, and we're heading out to the West Hollywood Halloween Parade as we cover Hellbent (2004). Joining me for this episode is fellow horror lover and podcaster, Dave White, from Bring Me The Axe! Podcast.
We go all over the place with this episode, and talk about how this movie is both a relic of the time and not the best film, but also, that it was a cool way to see some sort of overt gay characters being hacked up in a horror movie.
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"I'm in a better place"
On today's episode, we're heading down to the new local haunt and trying to keep ourselves alive in the meantime, while we revisit the found footage classic Hell House LLC (2015). Joining me on today's episode is previous guest Travis McMaster.
We talk about this fun, little found footage movie and how it has a fun Pennsylvania connection and talk about the fun that comes with local legends that we pass around oratorically. This is a fun episode right before Halloween, so grab some candy and join us as we talk about this fun little film :)
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"Being normal is vastly overrated!"
On today's episode, we're putting on our best costumes and boarding the mysterious flying bus filled with ghouls and goblins, as we revisit one of the most beloved Disney Channel Original Movies, Halloweentown (1998)
The movie kind of speaks for itself and is beloved by many folks, so I chop it up about my own experience with this film, some of the things the movie is trying to teach the youngs who've seen it, and just how wacky these special effects are.
Intro/Outro Music: "Phantom Fun" by Jonathan Boyle
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"You keep it... for good luck"
On today's episode, we're coming back to Earth as a fashionable ghost, causing some 90s mischief, and trying to help our family all at the same time, as we cover one of the penultimate Disney Channel Premiere Movies, Susie Q, starring the original US Pink Ranger herself, Amy Jo Johnson!!!
Joining me for my episode today is long time listener and first-time guest, Venus O'Hara. We chop it up about this fun, little film, and go all over the place, but we had a good discussion and I hope you enjoy it for yourself!
Intro/Outro Music: "Phantom Fun" by Jonathan Boyle
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"She gave you three minutes. People whose work she doesn't like, she usually gives one."
On today's episode, we're heading into the gritty subway system of New York City and doing some slicing and dicing while we cover an underseen splatter film from 2008, The Midnight Meat Train!! Joining me today is a new buddy of mine, Joseph, where we talk about defunct horror cable channels, what it's like in "the big city", and just how CGI bloody this movie really is!! You won't want to miss it.
Video Referenced: Splatterpunk: The Disturbing Rise of a Literary Counterculture
Intro/Outro Music: "Phantom Fun" by Jonathan Boyle
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On today's bonus episode, I talk about the films that I watched in September 2025.
Intro/Outro Music: "Phantom Fun" by Jonathan Boyle
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Show E-Mail: cultcinemacircle@gmail.com
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"Bring us a pitcher of beer every seven minutes until somebody passes out. And then bring one every ten minutes."
On today's episode, we're wrapping up our month of Back To School, by covering the literal 80s college comedy starring Rodney Dangerfield, Back to School (1986).
This movie came out in the era of the John Hughes teen films, but is ultimately dealing with the pressures that come with wanting to be different than your parents and trying to reinvent yourself in a new place.
This film also has an interesting connection to the band Sum 41, which we'll talk more about.. you don't want to miss it :)
Intro/Outro Music: "Phantom Fun" by Jonathan Boyle
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”You guys have no imagination. It’s like you’re playing checkers, and I’m playing chess”
On today’s episode, in honor of its 20th anniversary, we’re covering the teen horror film, Cry_Wolf (2005). Joining me for this episode is Marybeth McAndrews, Editor In Chief of Dread Central and all around cool person!
We talk about coming to this movie later in our respective lives and just how bonkers this movie is. We also talk about the bonkers production history of this film, and just how any movie being completed and shown is a feat in itself
Intro/Outro Music: "Phantom Fun" by Jonathan Boyle
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On today’s episode, we’re heading to the Battle Of The Bands, as we revisit the Jack Black film School Of Rock (2003)
Intro/Outro Music: "Phantom Fun" by Jonathan Boyle
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“I ain't no one's trophy, Goose.”
On today’s episode, my guest Emily and I are heading back to school and revisiting the absolute camp classic musical that is Grease 2 (1982)
Intro/Outro Music: "Phantom Fun" by Jonathan Boyle
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On today's bonus episode, I talk about the films that I watched in August 2025.
Intro/Outro Music: "Phantom Fun" by Jonathan Boyle
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“It’s Armageddon Day. The day the world’s supposed to end”
On today’s episode, we’re closing out our coverage of the Gregg Araki’s Teenage Apocalypse Trilogy by covering the final film in that trilogy, Nowhere (1997).
Joining me for this episode is my buddy and critic extraordinaire, Rocco T. Thompson. Tune in to hear us talk about this fabulous movie and why it’s still relevant to this day.
Intro/Outro Music: "Phantom Fun" by Jonathan Boyle
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This week, we dive into Gregg Araki’s The Doom Generation (1995), a neon-soaked, blood-splattered road movie that’s equal parts satire, nightmare, and Gen X fever dream. Following the nihilistic trio of Jordan, Amy, and Xavier as they spiral through a world of violence, sex, and black humor, Araki crafts a brutal portrait of lost youth at the edge of America’s cultural meltdown.
We unpack the film’s shocking violence, its biting commentary on consumerism and morality, and how it fits within Araki’s “Teenage Apocalypse Trilogy.” From its campy dialogue to its disturbing finale, we ask: is The Doom Generation pure provocation, or does it reveal something deeper about identity, alienation, and the rage of a generation?
If you’re ready to confront a film that MTV once called “the first true Gen X movie,” buckle up—this ride is messy, grotesque, and unforgettable.
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In this episode, we dive into Gregg Araki’s Totally Fucked Up (1993), the raw, DIY cornerstone of his Teenage Apocalypse Trilogy. Blurring the lines between documentary-style confessional and narrative chaos, the film follows a group of queer teens navigating love, alienation, and survival in early ’90s Los Angeles. We unpack its fragmented structure, its unfiltered portrayal of youth on the margins, and the way Araki captures both the aimlessness and urgency of adolescence. From grainy camcorder intimacy to punk-fueled rebellion, we explore how Totally Fucked Up remains a defiant, vulnerable time capsule of Gen X disillusionment
Intro/Outro Music: "Phantom Fun" by Jonathan Boyle
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In this episode, we unpack the cult classic Welcome Home, Roxy Carmichael (1990), a quirky, melancholic tale of identity, abandonment, and small-town myth-making. We follow the story of Dinky Bossetti, played by a young Winona Ryder, as she navigates her outsider status in anticipation of the return of the town’s elusive hometown hero, Roxy Carmichael. Is Roxy a savior, a symbol, or just a ghost of what never was? We’ll explore how the film blends teenage alienation with adult disillusionment, examine its portrayal of 90s-era femininity and longing, and ask whether Roxy Carmichael ever really needed to come home at all.
Intro/Outro Music: "Phantom Fun" by Jonathan Boyle
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On today's bonus episode, I talk about the films that I watched in July 2025.
Intro/Outro Music: "Phantom Fun" by Jonathan Boyle
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Show E-Mail: cultcinemacircle@gmail.com
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In this episode, we unravel the haunting psychological labyrinth of Jacob’s Ladder (1990), a film that blends horror, trauma, and existential dread into a singular cinematic experience. Directed by Adrian Lyne and starring Tim Robbins, this cult classic follows Vietnam veteran Jacob Singer as he grapples with disturbing visions, shifting realities, and the unraveling of his own identity.
We explore the film’s layered narrative structure, its eerie depiction of PTSD and grief, and its deep spiritual undertones rooted in mysticism, paranoia, and death. From its nightmarish imagery to its lasting influence on psychological horror and pop culture, Jacob’s Ladder is more than a film—it’s a descent into the fragile human psyche.
Join us as we dig into the symbolism, production history, and legacy of this unforgettable journey between life and death.
Intro/Outro Music: "Phantom Fun" by Jonathan Boyle
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