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.
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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.
