Out in the albino bat world of film podcasts, Fear and Loathing in Cinema sets itself apart with its irreverent blend of pop culture critique, nostalgic deep-dives, and a razor-sharp, at times almost uncomfortably candid, dissection of cinematic relics that were once scorned but now, with the benefit of time, seem worthy of a second look.

Hosted by a group of unpredictable yet undeniably insightful voices; Bryan Kluger, a media director with a sharp sense of irony of offensive things; Dan Moran, a lawyer who brings an often absurd legal perspective of the film industry and Kevin Costner; Preston Barta, a film critic with a taste for the heart-warmingly obscure branch of cinema; and Chelsea Nicole, a culture critic who digs into the nuances of social dynamics and horror; Fear and Loathing in Cinema Podcast thrives in that rare space between sincere analysis and gut-busting humor.
On Episode #142 of Fear and Loathing in Cinema, we pack our khakis and emotional baggage for a journey deep into the heart of Africa, by way of Hollywood’s wildest pet detective. Yes, we’re talking about Ace Ventura: When Nature Calls, the sequel that taught us all the difference between bat guano and comedic genius.
This time, the four of us are joined by a very special guest. He's an award-winning Nashville singer-songwriter, Chris August, whose life was forever altered the moment Jim Carrey emerged from that mechanical rhino. Naturally, he had to join us for the "free parking" on this episode.
Together, the five of us don our metaphorical tutus to debate whether When Nature Calls is secretly the greatest sequel ever made, share a few truly unhinged behind-the-scenes tales, and reflect on the eternal question. Does Bumble Bee Tuna still taste funny when our balls are showing?
It’s an episode that’s wild, weird, and louder than Ace at a monastery. Stream it everywhere you listen to podcasts. Alrighty then.


FEAR AND LOATHING PODCAST APPLE PODCASTS
FEAR AND LOATHING PODCAST SPOTIFY
Thank you for listening.

 
WRITTEN BY: BRYAN KLUGER
BRYAN KLUGER, A SEASONED VOICE IN THE REALM OF ENTERTAINMENT CRITICISM, HAS CONTRIBUTED TO A WIDE ARRAY OF PUBLICATIONS INCLUDING ARTS+CULTURE MAGAZINE, HIGH DEF DIGEST, BOOMSTICK COMICS, AND HOUSING WIRE MAGAZINE, AMONG OTHERS.
HIS INSIGHTS ARE ALSO CAPTURED THROUGH HIS PODCASTS; MY BLOODY PODCAST AND FEAR AND LOATHING IN CINEMA PODCAST; WHICH LISTENERS CAN ENJOY ACROSS A VARIETY OF PLATFORMS.
IN ADDITION TO HIS WRITTEN WORK, KLUGER BRINGS HIS EXPERTISE TO THE AIRWAVES, HOSTING TWO LIVE RADIO SHOWS EACH WEEK: SOUNDTRAXXX RADIO ON WEDNESDAYS AND THE ENTERTAINMENT ANSWER ON SUNDAYS. HIS MULTIFACETED APPROACH TO MEDIA AND CULTURE OFFERS A UNIQUE, IMMERSIVE PERSPECTIVE FOR THOSE WHO SEEK BOTH DEPTH AND ENTERTAINMENT.

Out in the 23rd world of film podcasts, Fear and Loathing in Cinema sets itself apart with its irreverent blend of pop culture critique, nostalgic deep-dives, and a razor-sharp, at times almost uncomfortably candid, dissection of cinematic relics that were once scorned but now, with the benefit of time, seem worthy of a second look.

Hosted by a group of unpredictable yet undeniably insightful voices; Bryan Kluger, a media director with a sharp sense of irony of offensive things; Dan Moran, a lawyer who brings an often absurd legal perspective of the film industry and Kevin Costner; Preston Barta, a film critic with a taste for the heart-warmingly obscure branch of cinema; and Chelsea Nicole, a culture critic who digs into the nuances of social dynamics and horror; Fear and Loathing in Cinema Podcast thrives in that rare space between sincere analysis and gut-busting humor.
On Episode #141 of Fear and Loathing in Cinema, there are, depending on how many voices you hear in your head, two, possibly three people who dared to confront The Number 23, Joel Schumacher’s 2007 cinematic thriller of numerology, noir, and naked Jim Carrey angst. Yes, that Joel Schumacher. You know, the maestro behind The Lost Boys, Flatliners, and the Batman movie that introduced us to the concept of heroic rubber nipples. He was a man of texture, you might say.
Bryan and Chelsea, armed with microphones, caffeine, and questionable life choices, descend into this celluloid labyrinth of paranoia to ask the big questions. Is The Number 23 secretly brilliant, or is it just a math problem that went horribly and erotically wrong? Does Jim Carrey’s transformation from rubber-faced funnyman to trench-coated trauma poet actually work? And what happens when you let an actor best known for talking out of his butt play three versions of a tortured soul in a self-serious thriller that feels like it was written by a conspiracy theorist who just discovered algebra?
There are sex scenes, plural, with Jim Carrey. There’s a voiceover that thinks it’s in a 1930s detective movie. There’s a plot twist that, like the number itself, might make you question your sanity. And through it all, Chelsea is left muttering about how maybe, just maybe, the number is scary, at least to her therapist.
Tune in to Fear and Loathing in Cinema wherever you get your podcasts. But be warned, though. Once you start listening, you’ll start seeing 23 everywhere. In your receipts. In your clock. In your Netflix queue. And if you’re really unlucky, in your next rewatch of Batman & Robin.


FEAR AND LOATHING PODCAST APPLE PODCASTS
FEAR AND LOATHING PODCAST SPOTIFY
Thank you for listening.

 
WRITTEN BY: BRYAN KLUGER
BRYAN KLUGER, A SEASONED VOICE IN THE REALM OF ENTERTAINMENT CRITICISM, HAS CONTRIBUTED TO A WIDE ARRAY OF PUBLICATIONS INCLUDING ARTS+CULTURE MAGAZINE, HIGH DEF DIGEST, BOOMSTICK COMICS, AND HOUSING WIRE MAGAZINE, AMONG OTHERS.
HIS INSIGHTS ARE ALSO CAPTURED THROUGH HIS PODCASTS; MY BLOODY PODCAST AND FEAR AND LOATHING IN CINEMA PODCAST; WHICH LISTENERS CAN ENJOY ACROSS A VARIETY OF PLATFORMS.
IN ADDITION TO HIS WRITTEN WORK, KLUGER BRINGS HIS EXPERTISE TO THE AIRWAVES, HOSTING TWO LIVE RADIO SHOWS EACH WEEK: SOUNDTRAXXX RADIO ON WEDNESDAYS AND THE ENTERTAINMENT ANSWER ON SUNDAYS. HIS MULTIFACETED APPROACH TO MEDIA AND CULTURE OFFERS A UNIQUE, IMMERSIVE PERSPECTIVE FOR THOSE WHO SEEK BOTH DEPTH AND ENTERTAINMENT.

Out in the neon grid world of film podcasts, Fear and Loathing in Cinema sets itself apart with its irreverent blend of pop culture critique, nostalgic deep-dives, and a razor-sharp, at times almost uncomfortably candid, dissection of cinematic relics that were once scorned but now, with the benefit of time, seem worthy of a second look.

Hosted by a group of unpredictable yet undeniably insightful voices; Bryan Kluger, a media director with a sharp sense of irony of offensive things; Dan Moran, a lawyer who brings an often absurd legal perspective of the film industry and Kevin Costner; Preston Barta, a film critic with a taste for the heart-warmingly obscure branch of cinema; and Chelsea Nicole, a culture critic who digs into the nuances of social dynamics and horror; Fear and Loathing in Cinema Podcast thrives in that rare space between sincere analysis and gut-busting humor.
On Episode #140 of Fear and Loathing in Cinema, three brave souls click their ruby slippers and tumble, not into the glossy green hell of the Wicked franchise, but straight into the cracked, nightmarish cobblestones of 1985’s Return to Oz.Forget show tunes and moral lessons. This Oz comes courtesy of Walter Murch, the editing-and-sound-design sorcerer behind The Godfather and Apocalypse Now, who decided, just once, to direct a movie. And what a delirious, unhinged, possibly hallucinogenic masterpiece it turned out to be.
Bryan, Dan, and Chelsea dive headfirst into this childhood-ruiner of a film, which stars a pre-The Craft Fairuza Balk and features, no exaggeration, electroshock therapy for children, talking chickens, severed heads, and a pumpkin man with mommy issues. Bryan, ever the veteran traveler of cinematic trauma, is the only one who’s seen it before. Dan and Chelsea, bless their innocence, hadn’t even heard of it.
The conversation spirals into that perfect mix of fear, nostalgia, and disbelief, like trying to recall a dream you’re not entirely sure wasn’t a cry for help. They wonder aloud how much LSD was floating around the set, why George Lucas and Francis Ford Coppola decided to play godfathers to this Technicolor nightmare, and whether a fat mechanical army general should count as family-friendly.
By the end, you’ll be as dazed as the hosts, and maybe a little nostalgic for the days when kids’ movies actually terrified you. Listen wherever you find your podcasts, preferably while holding a talking chicken for comfort.

FEAR AND LOATHING PODCAST APPLE PODCASTS
FEAR AND LOATHING PODCAST SPOTIFY
Thank you for listening.

 
WRITTEN BY: BRYAN KLUGER
BRYAN KLUGER, A SEASONED VOICE IN THE REALM OF ENTERTAINMENT CRITICISM, HAS CONTRIBUTED TO A WIDE ARRAY OF PUBLICATIONS INCLUDING ARTS+CULTURE MAGAZINE, HIGH DEF DIGEST, BOOMSTICK COMICS, AND HOUSING WIRE MAGAZINE, AMONG OTHERS.
HIS INSIGHTS ARE ALSO CAPTURED THROUGH HIS PODCASTS; MY BLOODY PODCAST AND FEAR AND LOATHING IN CINEMA PODCAST; WHICH LISTENERS CAN ENJOY ACROSS A VARIETY OF PLATFORMS.
IN ADDITION TO HIS WRITTEN WORK, KLUGER BRINGS HIS EXPERTISE TO THE AIRWAVES, HOSTING TWO LIVE RADIO SHOWS EACH WEEK: SOUNDTRAXXX RADIO ON WEDNESDAYS AND THE ENTERTAINMENT ANSWER ON SUNDAYS. HIS MULTIFACETED APPROACH TO MEDIA AND CULTURE OFFERS A UNIQUE, IMMERSIVE PERSPECTIVE FOR THOSE WHO SEEK BOTH DEPTH AND ENTERTAINMENT.

Out in the neon grid world of film podcasts, Fear and Loathing in Cinema sets itself apart with its irreverent blend of pop culture critique, nostalgic deep-dives, and a razor-sharp, at times almost uncomfortably candid, dissection of cinematic relics that were once scorned but now, with the benefit of time, seem worthy of a second look. Hosted by a group of unpredictable yet undeniably insightful voices; Bryan Kluger, a media director with a sharp sense of irony of offensive things; Dan Moran, a lawyer who brings an often absurd legal perspective of the film industry and Kevin Costner; Preston Barta, a film critic with a taste for the heart-warmingly obscure branch of cinema; and Chelsea Nicole, a culture critic who digs into the nuances of social dynamics and horror; Fear and Loathing in Cinema Podcast thrives in that rare space between sincere analysis and gut-busting humor.
On Episode #139 of Fear and Loathing in Cinema, four brave digital explorers, Bryan, Dan, Preston, and Chelsea, once again jack into the pixelated abyss to revisit Tron: Legacy, Disney’s 2010 attempt to convince us that glowing spandex and lightcycles could carry emotional weight. It’s an apt time for such a quest, what with Tron: Ares now zipping into theaters, promising that Jared Leto, of all people, can lead us through the next neon apocalypse. Because if there’s one thing this franchise teaches us, it’s that humanity’s greatest error is trusting any man in a long leather coat.
Fifteen years ago, these same podcasters wandered into a theater expecting a nostalgic jolt from a resurrected ‘80s cult film. What they got instead was a futuristic fever dream where Jeff Bridges was digitally de-aged by about four decades, but still sounded like The Dude trying to debug his computer, man. The effect, if nothing else, was hauntingly educational. It's somewhere in that uncanny valley,where technology met hubris and had a really awkward child.
On the episode, the gang asks all the right questions. Is Tron: Legacy secretly profound or just another exercise in visual overcompensation? Does its commentary on human relationships in a digital world hold up, or does it crash somewhere around the third Daft Punk drop, before getting distracted by how godlike that score still sounds? Because no matter how much Tron: Legacy fades from cultural memory, those robots will always reign supreme in the land of glowing grids.
And then, inevitably, chaos ensues. Preston flips a table and questions Bryan if he didn’t actually rewatch the movie. There’s yelling, laughter, and an existential crisis about whether anyone’s ever truly “logged off.” It’s funny, absurd, and somehow deeply human, just like the movie they’re debating.
You can listen to Fear and Loathing in Cinema anywhere on the grid, or preferably while riding a lightcycle through your own midlife reboot.

FEAR AND LOATHING PODCAST APPLE PODCASTS
FEAR AND LOATHING PODCAST SPOTIFY
Thank you for listening.

 
WRITTEN BY: BRYAN KLUGER
BRYAN KLUGER, A SEASONED VOICE IN THE REALM OF ENTERTAINMENT CRITICISM, HAS CONTRIBUTED TO A WIDE ARRAY OF PUBLICATIONS INCLUDING ARTS+CULTURE MAGAZINE, HIGH DEF DIGEST, BOOMSTICK COMICS, AND HOUSING WIRE MAGAZINE, AMONG OTHERS.
HIS INSIGHTS ARE ALSO CAPTURED THROUGH HIS PODCASTS; MY BLOODY PODCAST AND FEAR AND LOATHING IN CINEMA PODCAST; WHICH LISTENERS CAN ENJOY ACROSS A VARIETY OF PLATFORMS.
IN ADDITION TO HIS WRITTEN WORK, KLUGER BRINGS HIS EXPERTISE TO THE AIRWAVES, HOSTING TWO LIVE RADIO SHOWS EACH WEEK: SOUNDTRAXXX RADIO ON WEDNESDAYS AND THE ENTERTAINMENT ANSWER ON SUNDAYS.

Out in the digital created world of film podcasts, Fear and Loathing in Cinema sets itself apart with its irreverent blend of pop culture critique, nostalgic deep-dives, and a razor-sharp, at times almost uncomfortably candid, dissection of cinematic relics that were once scorned but now, with the benefit of time, seem worthy of a second look. Hosted by a group of unpredictable yet undeniably insightful voices; Bryan Kluger, a media director with a sharp sense of irony of offensive things; Dan Moran, a lawyer who brings an often absurd legal perspective of the film industry and Kevin Costner; Preston Barta, a film critic with a taste for the heart-warmingly obscure branch of cinema; and Chelsea Nicole, a culture critic who digs into the nuances of social dynamics and horror; Fear and Loathing in Cinema Podcast thrives in that rare space between sincere analysis and gut-busting humor.
On Episode #138 of Fear and Loathing in Cinema, five people who still refuse to let their phones listen to them take a deep dive into one of Hollywood’s most prescient nightmares about technology,  S1M0NE, or Simone for those of us who haven’t updated our operating systems since 2002.
Most of you don’t remember this movie. In fact, most of the hosts didn’t either. Only Bryan, the resident cinephile and self-appointed defender of forgotten early-2000s curiosities, had actually seen it before. Dan, Chelsea, Preston, and returning champion of cinematic editing Kristi Shimek were venturing into uncharted Pacino territory, the kind where Al plays a frustrated filmmaker so tired of temperamental actors that he builds one from code. Yes, long before AI influencers and digital pop stars, Andrew Niccol (of Gattaca and The Truman Show fame) imagined a world where an artificial actress named Simone could outshine her flesh-and-blood peers.
The film is a satire that has aged like a fine dystopian wine. It's part sci-fi, part industry exposé, and entirely too relevant now that Hollywood’s latest digital darling, Tilly Norwood, is “acting” in films, walking red carpets, and giving interviews to late-night hosts who nod at her pixelated charm. It’s funny until you realize we’re living it.
The conversation on Fear and Loathing in Cinema oscillates between hilarity and existential dread, laughter at Pacino’s maniacal devotion to his creation, and quiet horror at how eerily predictive Niccol’s world turned out to be. It’s the kind of discussion that makes you question not only celebrity culture but also whether your co-hosts are actually real.
So tune in to Episode #138, available everywhere you still have a pulse and a questionable digital footprint.

FEAR AND LOATHING PODCAST APPLE PODCASTS
FEAR AND LOATHING PODCAST SPOTIFY
Thank you for listening.

 
WRITTEN BY: BRYAN KLUGER
BRYAN KLUGER, A SEASONED VOICE IN THE REALM OF ENTERTAINMENT CRITICISM, HAS CONTRIBUTED TO A WIDE ARRAY OF PUBLICATIONS INCLUDING ARTS+CULTURE MAGAZINE, HIGH DEF DIGEST, BOOMSTICK COMICS, AND HOUSING WIRE MAGAZINE, AMONG OTHERS.
HIS INSIGHTS ARE ALSO CAPTURED THROUGH HIS PODCASTS; MY BLOODY PODCAST AND FEAR AND LOATHING IN CINEMA PODCAST; WHICH LISTENERS CAN ENJOY ACROSS A VARIETY OF PLATFORMS.
IN ADDITION TO HIS WRITTEN WORK, KLUGER BRINGS HIS EXPERTISE TO THE AIRWAVES, HOSTING TWO LIVE RADIO SHOWS EACH WEEK: SOUNDTRAXXX RADIO ON WEDNESDAYS AND THE ENTERTAINMENT ANSWER ON SUNDAYS. HIS MULTIFACETED APPROACH TO MEDIA AND CULTURE OFFERS A UNIQUE, IMMERSIVE PERSPECTIVE FOR THOSE WHO SEEK BOTH DEPTH AND ENTERTAINMENT.

Out in the manly pregnancy world of film podcasts, Fear and Loathing in Cinema sets itself apart with its irreverent blend of pop culture critique, nostalgic deep-dives, and a razor-sharp, at times almost uncomfortably candid, dissection of cinematic relics that were once scorned but now, with the benefit of time, seem worthy of a second look. Hosted by a group of unpredictable yet undeniably insightful voices; Bryan Kluger, a media director with a sharp sense of irony of offensive things; Dan Moran, a lawyer who brings an often absurd legal perspective of the film industry and Kevin Costner; Preston Barta, a film critic with a taste for the heart-warmingly obscure branch of cinema; and Chelsea Nicole, a culture critic who digs into the nuances of social dynamics and horror; Fear and Loathing in Cinema Podcast thrives in that rare space between sincere analysis and gut-busting humor.
On Episode #137 of Fear and Loathing in Cinema, the four cinematic sperms finally find their egg, and what an egg it is. The year is 1994. America is wearing denim on denim without irony. The internet is a rumor. And somewhere in Hollywood, Ivan Reitman, the comedic alchemist behind Ghostbusters and Twins, asks a question no one dared to voice aloud. What if Arnold Schwarzenegger got pregnant?
Enter Junior, a film that was marketed as a comedy, played like a fever dream, and aged like a fine bottle of prenatal vitamins. The premise? Danny DeVito plays a fertility doctor (of course he does), and Arnold plays a scientist who injects himself with an experimental serum that results in, well, a baby bump. What follows is part sci-fi absurdity, part heartfelt melodrama, and entirely unhinged.
Now, in 1994, audiences recoiled. Critics politely suggested everyone involved take a long nap. The box office gave it the cold shoulder. But on Fear and Loathing in Cinema, Bryan, Dan, Chelsea, and Preston say otherwise. In our humble, movie-obsessed, caffeine-fueled opinion, Junior is not a disaster. It’s a misunderstood miracle.
We talk about the science (or lack thereof) behind male pregnancy, uncover the revelation that Mel Gibson was almost cast in the role (insert collective gasp here), and explore how a film about a man growing life inside him manages to be both tender and profoundly silly. Beneath the latex bellies and the hormonal outbursts, there’s something oddly sweet and something that feels like Ivan Reitman trying to sneak a love letter to vulnerability into a studio comedy.
And let’s be honest, Arnold sells it. The man who once shouted, “Get to the choppah!” now quietly whispers, “My body, my choice.” The performance is shockingly sincere, and by the time the credits roll, you believe him.
So, tune in. Listen everywhere podcasts are born. Bring a swaddle blanket, a pacifier, and maybe a box of tissues. Because Junior isn’t just a movie, it’s cinematic childbirth. And yes, it’s beautiful. We only wish Dan were there to actually watch it crown.

FEAR AND LOATHING PODCAST APPLE PODCASTS
FEAR AND LOATHING PODCAST SPOTIFY
Thank you for listening.

 
WRITTEN BY: BRYAN KLUGER
BRYAN KLUGER, A SEASONED VOICE IN THE REALM OF ENTERTAINMENT CRITICISM, HAS CONTRIBUTED TO A WIDE ARRAY OF PUBLICATIONS INCLUDING ARTS+CULTURE MAGAZINE, HIGH DEF DIGEST, BOOMSTICK COMICS, AND HOUSING WIRE MAGAZINE, AMONG OTHERS.
HIS INSIGHTS ARE ALSO CAPTURED THROUGH HIS PODCASTS; MY BLOODY PODCAST AND FEAR AND LOATHING IN CINEMA PODCAST; WHICH LISTENERS CAN ENJOY ACROSS A VARIETY OF PLATFORMS.
IN ADDITION TO HIS WRITTEN WORK, KLUGER BRINGS HIS EXPERTISE TO THE AIRWAVES,

Out in the ROTC programs of film podcasts, Fear and Loathing in Cinema sets itself apart with its irreverent blend of pop culture critique, nostalgic deep-dives, and a razor-sharp, at times almost uncomfortably candid, dissection of cinematic relics that were once scorned but now, with the benefit of time, seem worthy of a second look. Hosted by a group of unpredictable yet undeniably insightful voices; Bryan Kluger, a media director with a sharp sense of irony of offensive things; Dan Moran, a lawyer who brings an often absurd legal perspective of the film industry and Kevin Costner; Preston Barta, a film critic with a taste for the heart-warmingly obscure branch of cinema; and Chelsea Nicole, a culture critic who digs into the nuances of social dynamics and horror; Fear and Loathing in Cinema Podcast thrives in that rare space between sincere analysis and gut-busting humor.
On Episode #136 of Fear and Loathing in Cinema, the four of us Green boys decided to lace up our metaphorical combat boots and enlist, not in the Marines, but in the 1995 Damon Wayans comedy Major Payne. For some of us, this film has long been chiselled into the granite face of the Comedy Mount Rushmore, somewhere between Airplane! and Blazing Saddles. For others, namely Chelsea, the podcast’s resident conscientious objector, it was a first deployment.
And yet, against all odds and perhaps even better judgment, she had an epiphany, Major Payne is not just funny, it may in fact be the funniest film of all time. A bold claim, but a true one. But watching Wayans in full drill-sergeant drag, eyebrows arched higher than any Groucho Marx impersonator could muster, one begins to see her point.
We talked about the strange durability of this movie, a comedy pushing thirty that still hits like a push-up punishment. There’s the slapstick, sure, but also Wayans’s strangely nuanced performance, a man who could pivot from growling command to tender (if unsettlingly phrased) bedtime story without ever breaking stride. What surprised us most, perhaps, wasn’t the comedy, but the creeping pathos, the quiet moments that tug, however briefly, at the heartstrings, before Payne snaps them back into a punchline.
It’s a film where the “proverbial tiddy” gets popped (family-friendly, of course) and where lessons are learned, though not necessarily the ones the Army intended. And thirty years on, it turns out Major Payne still has the power to drill us into laughter formation.
So listen to the episode, available everywhere podcasts march and counter-march, or we’ll be forced to tell you about the Little Engine That Could. And nobody wants that bedtime story again.

FEAR AND LOATHING PODCAST APPLE PODCASTS
FEAR AND LOATHING PODCAST SPOTIFY
Thank you for listening.

 
WRITTEN BY: BRYAN KLUGER
BRYAN KLUGER, A SEASONED VOICE IN THE REALM OF ENTERTAINMENT CRITICISM, HAS CONTRIBUTED TO A WIDE ARRAY OF PUBLICATIONS INCLUDING ARTS+CULTURE MAGAZINE, HIGH DEF DIGEST, BOOMSTICK COMICS, AND HOUSING WIRE MAGAZINE, AMONG OTHERS.
HIS INSIGHTS ARE ALSO CAPTURED THROUGH HIS PODCASTS; MY BLOODY PODCAST AND FEAR AND LOATHING IN CINEMA PODCAST; WHICH LISTENERS CAN ENJOY ACROSS A VARIETY OF PLATFORMS.
IN ADDITION TO HIS WRITTEN WORK, KLUGER BRINGS HIS EXPERTISE TO THE AIRWAVES, HOSTING TWO LIVE RADIO SHOWS EACH WEEK: SOUNDTRAXXX RADIO ON WEDNESDAYS AND THE ENTERTAINMENT ANSWER ON SUNDAYS. HIS MULTIFACETED APPROACH TO MEDIA AND CULTURE OFFERS A UNIQUE, IMMERSIVE PERSPECTIVE FOR THOSE WHO SEEK BOTH DEPTH AND ENTERTAINMENT.

On Episode #135 of Fear and Loathing in Cinema, four cinephiles who, for the episode, style themselves as podcasting pornographers. They slip into something more comfortable this week with Kevin Smith’s Zack and Miri Make a Porno (2008). It was Smith’s answer to the Judd Apatovian moment, when Seth Rogen was America’s schlubby leading man and every joke was equal parts weed, sex, and sentimentality. The film, ostensibly about making a porno, was really about making rent, something even ghosts in haunted houses can relate to these days.

On episode #134 of Fear and Loathing in Cinema, the four superhero sidekicks that is Bryan, Dan, Chelsea, and Preston, voluntarily subject themselves to Superman III (1983), the cinematic equivalent of doing whippets in a RadioShack parking lot.

This is the movie where Christopher Reeve, once again donning the cape, finds himself paired with Richard Pryor. Arguably the funniest stand-up comedian of all time and, according to Warner Bros. executives in 1982, also the perfect person to anchor a family-friendly superhero sequel. The result? A film so spectacularly unhinged it feels less like a continuation of the Superman franchise and more like someone dared the writers to lose a bar bet.

On episode #133 of Fear and Loathing in Cinema, the squad piles into the back of a cop car with Martin Lawrence and Luke Wilson to revisit Blue Streak (1999), a film that now feels like both a time capsule and a comedic piece of nostalgia. Remember when buddy action comedies reliably paired the world’s stiffest white guy with the loudest, most cartoonish Black guy, and then had them bicker their way to justice? Simpler times as they would say.

By the 132nd episode of Fear and Loathing in Cinema, one begins to wonder if Bryan, Dan, Chelsea, and their revolving door of guests aren’t actually podcasters at all, but cultural archaeologists, digging through the cinematic rubble of the ’90s with the patience of Indiana Jones and the appetite of Mystery Science Theater 3000. This week, their excavation tool of choice is Operation Dumbo Drop, Disney’s 1995 attempt to stage a Vietnam War film with all the gravitas of Platoon, if Platoon had a wisecracking elephant in the starring role.

On the 131st episode of Fear and Loathing in Cinema, a podcast that has spent more time in the ‘90s than the Clinton administration. Bryan, Dan, and Preston revisit a movie that asks the big, important questions: Can an Austrian killing machine convincingly teach preschool? Is it okay to introduce children to heroin dealers before phonics? And why, exactly, was Kindergarten Cop shown at every elementary school movie day like it was Charlotte’s Web?

Yes, they’re talking about Kindergarten Cop (1990), the high-concept action comedy where Arnold Schwarzenegger, fresh from body-slamming aliens and blowing up jungles, trades his Uzi for juice boxes and circle time. The trio dive headfirst into the genre whiplash of Ivan Reitman’s wildly successful, weirdly traumatic family action-comedy. This is a film, after all, that made over $200 million by pitching itself as “Daddy Day Care meets Scarface,” except with more feral children and less Eddie Murphy in makeup.

Inside the Israeli hair styling world of film podcasts, Fear and Loathing in Cinema sets itself apart with its irreverent blend of pop culture critique, nostalgic deep-dives, and a razor-sharp, at times almost uncomfortably candid, dissection of cinematic relics that were once scorned but now, with the benefit of time, seem worthy of a second look. Hosted by a group of unpredictable yet undeniably insightful voices; Bryan Kluger, a media director with a sharp sense of irony of offensive things; Dan Moran, a lawyer who brings an often absurd legal perspective of the film industry and Kevin Costner; Preston Barta, a film critic with a taste for the heart-warmingly obscure branch of cinema; and Chelsea Nicole, a culture critic who digs into the nuances of social dynamics and horror; Fear and Loathing in Cinema Podcast thrives in that rare space between sincere analysis and gut-busting humor.
On the gloriously unhinged 130th episode of Fear and Loathing in Cinema, Bryan, Chelsea, Wade, and, making a cameo so brief it rivals Dave Matthews in Don’t Mess With the Zohan, Preston, plunge headfirst into Adam Sandler’s 2008 absurdist comedy of a movie. You remember Zohan, don’t you? The one that critics in 2008 treated as though it had personally wronged them, like a bagel shop that ran out of lox and schmear.
The plot, if you can call it that, involves Sandler as a cartoonishly invincible Israeli commando who fakes his death, defects to New York, and fulfills his true calling: cutting hair and romancing Jewish grandmothers with the sort of sensuality usually reserved for X- rated Werther’s Originals commercials. It’s a premise so deranged that even Roger Ebert, God bless him, recognized it as a minor work of genius while everyone else sharpened their critical pitchforks.
But here we are, in 2025, the year of Happy Gilmore 2, when Sandler has somehow gone from man-child to Academy Award nominee, and Bryan, ever the contrarian, has decided it’s high time to defend Zohan like it’s the Shawshank Redemption of awkward hairdresser comedies. The other podcasters, of course, balked. They sneered. They resisted. And Bryan, bless his soul, had to fight them with verbal slow-motion roundhouse kicks, attempting to prove that Zohan is, in fact, funny, sweet, and slyly smarter than anyone gave it credit for.
The episode has it all: a discussion of the script’s pre-9/11 origins, an exhaustive roll call of cameos (remember when Mariah Carey just… showed up?), and a panel-wide existential crisis about whether they still know how to laugh at ridiculous things.
Did Bryan win them over? You’ll have to listen. But one thing is certain: next time I get a haircut, I’ll be asking for the Zohan special, happy ending included.
Fear and Loathing in Cinema is available wherever you get your podcasts—because somewhere out there, a man with flowing black locks is waiting to shampoo your soul.

FEAR AND LOATHING PODCAST APPLE PODCASTS
FEAR AND LOATHING PODCAST SPOTIFY
Thank you for listening.

 
WRITTEN BY: BRYAN KLUGER
BRYAN KLUGER, A SEASONED VOICE IN THE REALM OF ENTERTAINMENT CRITICISM, HAS CONTRIBUTED TO A WIDE ARRAY OF PUBLICATIONS INCLUDING ARTS+CULTURE MAGAZINE, HIGH DEF DIGEST, BOOMSTICK COMICS, AND HOUSING WIRE MAGAZINE, AMONG OTHERS.
HIS INSIGHTS ARE ALSO CAPTURED THROUGH HIS PODCASTS; MY BLOODY PODCAST AND FEAR AND LOATHING IN CINEMA PODCAST; WHICH LISTENERS CAN ENJOY ACROSS A VARIETY OF PLATFORMS.
IN ADDITION TO HIS WRITTEN WORK, KLUGER BRINGS HIS EXPERTISE TO THE AIRWAVES, HOSTING TWO LIVE RADIO SHOWS EACH WEEK: SOUNDTRAXXX RADIO ON WEDNESDAYS AND THE E...

Inside the feline rockstar world of film podcasts, Fear and Loathing in Cinema sets itself apart with its irreverent blend of pop culture critique, nostalgic deep-dives, and a razor-sharp, at times almost uncomfortably candid, dissection of cinematic relics that were once scorned but now, with the benefit of time, seem worthy of a second look. Hosted by a group of unpredictable yet undeniably insightful voices; Bryan Kluger, a media director with a sharp sense of irony of offensive things; Dan Moran, a lawyer who brings an often absurd legal perspective of the film industry and Kevin Costner; Preston Barta, a film critic with a taste for the heart-warmingly obscure branch of cinema; and Chelsea Nicole, a culture critic who digs into the nuances of social dynamics and horror; Fear and Loathing in Cinema Podcast thrives in that rare space between sincere analysis and gut-busting humor.

Some people move to Texas for the brisket. Others come for the low taxes, wide skies, or a spiritual reawakening via H-E-B. But for Chelsea Nicole; fearless co-host, cinephile, and recent expatriate from the state that resembles a giant penis (Florida); it was the promise of freedom. And by freedom, I mean the chance to resurrect a 2001 cult classic starring Tara Reid, Rosario Dawson, and Rachael Leigh Cook in glitter eyeliner and low-rise pants: Josie and the Pussycats.

Yes, Chelsea is back and officially a Texan, meaning she’s now legally allowed to say “y’all” unironically and has probably already been gifted a gun and a pair of boots. To celebrate her Lone Star residency, we opened the vault of cinematic absurdity and dusted off Josie and the Pussycats, a film once dismissed as bubblegum fluff but now understood; by the enlightened few; as a prophetic takedown of corporate culture, mass marketing, and boy band brainwashing.

Joining the pod is none other than returning champion and editor extraordinaire Kristi Shimek, whose knowledge of the craft is only matched by her ability to say "DuJour means bus pass" with a straight face. Together with Chelsea, Dan, and myself, we deep-dive into this satirical pop-rock opus on episode #129 of Fear and Loathing in Cinema Podcast.

Inside the brutal fighting world of film podcasts, Fear and Loathing in Cinema sets itself apart with its irreverent blend of pop culture critique, nostalgic deep-dives, and a razor-sharp, at times almost uncomfortably candid, dissection of cinematic relics that were once scorned but now, with the benefit of time, seem worthy of a second look. Hosted by a group of unpredictable yet undeniably insightful voices; Bryan Kluger, a media director with a sharp sense of irony of offensive things; Dan Moran, a lawyer who brings an often absurd legal perspective of the film industry and Kevin Costner; Preston Barta, a film critic with a taste for the heart-warmingly obscure branch of cinema; and Chelsea Nicole, a culture critic who digs into the nuances of social dynamics and horror; Fear and Loathing in Cinema Podcast thrives in that rare space between sincere analysis and gut-busting humor.
There are few films that could convince four grown men in 2025 to willingly dodge the U.S. military draft, board a non-refundable flight to Hong Kong, and enter an underground full-contact martial arts tournament with zero formal training; ave, perhaps, for some light cardio and a YouTube rabbit hole of aikido fails. But in Episode #128 of Fear and Loathing in Cinema, Bryan, Dan, Preston, and special guest Wade throw themselves; emotionally, spiritually, and imaginatively; into Bloodsport (1988), the film that launched Jean-Claude Van Damme into the cultural bloodstream like a spinning heel kick to the sternum.
Ah, Bloodsport: the movie that taught a generation that you could flex your way through customs, lie about your military orders, and still win a gold medal in manliness. For a film allegedly based on a true story, it contains roughly the same amount of factual accuracy as a gas station hot dog contains meat. That "true story," of course, revolves around Frank Dux, whose claims of being an underground fighting champion turned out to be; how shall we put this?; mostly invented, possibly hallucinated, and definitely unverifiable by any serious institution, including his high school. And yet, this tangled web of fantasy and fists is exactly what makes Bloodsport so enduring.
The episode takes a deep dive into the cinematic dreamscape that is Bloodsport, breaking down its fight choreography (surprisingly effective by today’s CGI-drenched standards), its near-operatic homoeroticism (more glistening muscle glances than a Calvin Klein catalog), and its unsung supporting performances; namely, a baby-faced Forest Whitaker as a bumbling government agent, and Donald Gibb as Ray Jackson, the bear-like bar brawler who is either the film’s comic relief or emotional center, depending on your blood-alcohol level.
There is, as always, discourse. Heated, passionate discourse. Is Bloodsport the ultimate man movie? Is it a philosophical treatise on masculinity, or just an 89-minute montage of split kicks and grunting? Is Van Damme still a household name, or has he been reduced to a nostalgic meme in the collective consciousness; a kind of martial arts Baryshnikov who peaked in a JC Penney poster section? The debate rages. As does the admiration.
Because here’s the thing: with dialogue like, “Hey babe, wanna go out with a real big man?” it’s hard not to be seduced by the earnest ridiculousness of it all. This isn’t a movie that winks at the audience; it stares you dead in the eye, flexes both pecs, and does a slow-motion helicopter kick into your heart. It’s absurd. It’s sincere. It’s America.
And really, what better way to honor the true American spirit than by celebrating a movie that’s one-third myth, one-third montage, and one-third greased thigh muscle?
So tune in, dear listener. Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts. Join Bryan, Dan, Preston, and Wade as they journey into the heart of 80s action cinema and come out the other side bruised, confused, but spiritually enriched.

Out in the burning embers of a dragon scorched world of film podcasts, Fear and Loathing in Cinema sets itself apart with its irreverent blend of pop culture critique, nostalgic deep-dives, and a razor-sharp, at times almost uncomfortably candid, dissection of cinematic relics that were once scorned but now, with the benefit of time, seem worthy of a second look. Hosted by a group of unpredictable yet undeniably insightful voices; Bryan Kluger, a media director with a sharp sense of irony of offensive things; Dan Moran, a lawyer who brings an often absurd legal perspective of the film industry and Kevin Costner; Preston Barta, a film critic with a taste for the heart-warmingly obscure branch of cinema; and Chelsea Nicole, a culture critic who digs into the nuances of social dynamics and horror; Fear and Loathing in Cinema Podcast thrives in that rare space between sincere analysis and gut-busting humor.

On Episode #127 of Fear and Loathing in Cinema, a podcast that functions as both group therapy and cinematic exorcism, our scaly trio of hosts turned their collective, dragon-singed gaze toward Reign of Fire; the 2002 post-apocalyptic lizard-thon that imagined a world where dragons reemerged from the London Underground and decided that humanity had simply had enough time.

This month’s theme? Man Month. A celebration of films from that hallowed, oily era when masculinity was measured by shirtlessness, gravitas, and one’s ability to shout at mythical creatures while swinging an axe. Enter: Christian Bale, Matthew McConaughey, and Gerard Butler; three men so hyperbolically manly in this film that you could bottle their sweat and sell it as artisanal barbecue sauce.

McConaughey, in particular, is a revelation; or perhaps a an apocalyptic dream. Shaved bald, goateed, and perpetually shirtless, he plays Denton Van Zan, an American dragon slayer with the energy of a Civil War general who discovered CrossFit. There’s a moment; burned into the podcast’s collective memory; where he leaps, axe in hand, toward a dragon roughly the size of an Airbus A380. It’s equal parts testosterone and poor life choices, and it’s glorious.

On Episode #126 of Fear and Loathing in Cinema, our beloved panel of armchair cine-soldiers (who may or may not be honorary members of the IRA; the Irish Rewatching Association) don their greenest beer goggles and deep-dive into one of the more politically confused action-thrillers of the Clinton years. Somewhere between All the President’s Men and The Pelican Brief, Alan J. Pakula must have asked himself, “What if instead of Deep Throat or Julia Roberts, it’s Brad Pitt with an Irish accent trying to buy missiles in New Jersey?” Enter The Devil’s Own (1997), a film that answers no questions but asks a few truly baffling ones, like: Who thought this script was ready? Why does Brad Pitt sound like a leprechaun who studied abroad in New Mexico? And why are Harrison Ford’s eyebrows doing all the acting?

This is not your typical “two bros and a bad VHS transfer” podcast. No, these four Irish-by-spirit podcasters perform a forensic autopsy on the film’s soul, if not its utterly incoherent screenplay. They dissect with surgical precision (and Guinness-lubricated charm) the troubled behind-the-scenes warzone: multiple writers, dueling egos, and the type of on-set tension usually reserved for Thanksgiving dinner. Apparently, Ford and Pitt argued more than their characters, and while no punches were thrown, craft services did run out of potato-infused scones mysteriously fast.

On Episode #125 of Fear and Loathing in Cinema, we cracked a dozen metaphorical eggs and finally found the perfect duck. Not a perfect duck, the perfect duck: 1986’s Howard the Duck, a film so strange, so inexplicable, so duck-breasted, that it could only have emerged from the mind of George Lucas during what historians now refer to as the "Post-Ewok Malaise." The lineup this week: myself (Bryan, duck-lover, genius), Dan (duck-hater, probably allergic to joy), Chelsea (convinced this film is a PSYOP), and Wade Davis (whose facial expressions alone deserve their own audio track). Together, we swim through the feathered fever dream that is Howard the Duck, a film that made so little money and ruffled so many feathers that it inadvertently hatched an empire: Pixar. Yes, really. We owe Toy Story to Howard the Duck. You’re welcome, America.

On the F1 race tracks of film podcasts, Fear and Loathing in Cinema sets itself apart with its irreverent blend of pop culture critique, nostalgic deep-dives, and a razor-sharp, at times almost uncomfortably candid, dissection of cinematic relics that were once scorned but now, with the benefit of time, seem worthy of a second look. Hosted by a group of unpredictable yet undeniably insightful voices; Bryan Kluger, a media director with a sharp sense of irony of offensive things; Dan Moran, a lawyer who brings an often absurd legal perspective of the film industry and Kevin Costner; Preston Barta, a film critic with a taste for the heart-warmingly obscure branch of cinema; and Chelsea Nicole, a culture critic who digs into the nuances of social dynamics and horror; Fear and Loathing in Cinema Podcast thrives in that rare space between sincere analysis and gut-busting humor.

On Episode #124 of Fear and Loathing in Cinema, we revved our engines for a fast-paced thrill ride and instead crashed gently into a velvet-lined existential romance with Bobby Deerfield, Sydney Pollack’s 1977 film that stars a post-Godfather, pre-Scarface Al Pacino; looking like a haunted Calvin Klein ad and speaking at a volume normally reserved for guided meditation tapes. Our usual pit crew was one man short; Dan went MIA, possibly off racing in Austin; but we were lucky enough to be joined by The Atkin Report’s own Hillary Atkin, beaming in from L.A. and gamely taking the passenger seat with me, Preston, and Chelsea as we coasted through this curious cinematic detour. You’d think with Formula 1 in the first scene of the film, and the actual F1 racing legends behind the wheel, this would be something in the vein of Rush or whatever high-octane trailer just dropped for Brad Pitt’s shiny new speed flick. But no. Bobby Deerfield is not so much about racing as it is about... lingering. Lingering glances, lingering silences, and lingering shots of Pacino brooding in a pristine European villa like a man who forgot what he was brooding about.

Inside the halls of illusions of film podcasts, Fear and Loathing in Cinema sets itself apart with its irreverent blend of pop culture critique, nostalgic deep-dives, and a razor-sharp, at times almost uncomfortably candid, dissection of cinematic relics that were once scorned but now, with the benefit of time, seem worthy of a second look. Hosted by a group of unpredictable yet undeniably insightful voices; Bryan Kluger, a media director with a sharp sense of irony of offensive things; Dan Moran, a lawyer who brings an often absurd legal perspective of the film industry and Kevin Costner; Preston Barta, a film critic with a taste for the heart-warmingly obscure branch of cinema; and Chelsea Nicole, a culture critic who digs into the nuances of social dynamics and horror; Fear and Loathing in Cinema Podcast thrives in that rare space between sincere analysis and gut-busting humor.

On Episode #123 of Fear and Loathing in Cinema, our brave quartet; Bryan, Dan, Chelsea, and Preston; take a break from dodging dinosaurs and emotionally recovering from Fallen Kingdom to pull a rabbit out of their collective cinematic hat. Their target this week? Louis Leterrier’s 2013 Vegas-and-vodka-infused magic-heist thriller Now You See Me; a film that asks, “What if Ocean’s Eleven took a stagecraft class at the Mission: Impossible school and started doing crimes with a top hat full of plot holes?” To be fair, this movie does have everything: Mark Ruffalo sweating through conspiracies, Jesse Eisenberg explaining card tricks like he’s defending a doctoral thesis, Woody Harrelson hypnotizing people with the sheer force of his sarcasm, and Isla Fisher trying very hard not to drown in a water tank or the script. Morgan Freeman and Michael Caine show up too, presumably because they lost a bet or simply enjoy a good tuxedoed caper without a masked vigilante in a cape.