MC and Spro take a second look at The Thing From Another World (1951), the Howard Hawks-produced cult sci-fi film that laid the groundwork for The Thing (1982). Sparked by Jayson Dumenigo’s recommendation, this conversation examines the film’s groundbreaking stunt work, its commentary on authority and knowledge, and why it remains resonant today. From heated debates over the value of colorization to playful acrostic poems, this episode blends film history with creativity for a fresh take on a genre landmark. #SecondChanceCinema #TheThingFromAnotherWorld #SciFiClassics #HowardHawks #FilmPodcast #MoviePodcast #CultCinema #TheThing #GoldenAgeCinema #ClassicMovies

In this episode of Second Chance Cinema, Matt and MC take on Sisu (2023), the Finnish action-thriller where one man’s unbreakable will—and a whole lot of sharp objects—stand between him and a Nazi death squad. Recommended by filmmaker Geoff Wolfe (Outbreak, 2024), Sisu gives us brutal, over-the-top violence shot with stunning cinematic beauty, a near-silent protagonist who feels more myth than man, and a story that embodies the Finnish spirit of resilience. We explore its pulp roots, its grindhouse energy, and why this stripped-down style of action hits harder than most modern blockbusters.

Jayson Dumenigo is a veteran stunt coordinator and rigger with 25+ years in the industry and over 300 film/TV credits. Founder of Action Factory, he’s best known for breaking the Guinness World Record for the longest no-oxygen full-body burn and for his work on major titles like Avengers: Endgame, Black Widow, Deadpool 2, and multiple Marvel series. A respected innovator in fire stunt safety and motion-capture rigging, Jayson continues to push the limits of what’s possible in stunt performance.

What if you couldn’t escape your own mistakes… no matter how many times you tried? Triangle (2009) barely made a ripple in theaters but has quietly become a cult favorite for fans of time loops and psychological horror. In this episode, we unpack its mind-bending structure, haunting themes, and why Melissa George gave one of the most underrated performances in modern horror. #TriangleMovie #SecondChanceCinema #TimeLoop #PsychologicalThriller #UnderratedMovies #CultClassic #HorrorPodcast #MindBendingMovies #WhatDidIJustWatch #MelissaGeorge #HorrorRewind #IndieThriller #HiddenGems #TimeLoopMovie #FilmAnalysis #MovieBreakdown #TwistEnding #CreepyCinema #LowBudgetHorror #DeepDivePodcast #PsychologicalHorror #ThrillerMovies #MovieObsessed #MovieTalk #MysteryMovie #CinemaTwists #WTFMovies #IntenseCinema #MovieDiscussion #MoviesThatMakeYouThink

Remember when comedies didn’t hold back? EuroTrip (2004) bombed at the box office but found a second life as a sleepover staple. This week, we break down why this raunchy romp across Europe deserved better—and why “Scotty Doesn’t Know” is still stuck in our heads. Join us as we toast to train mishaps, robot fights, and the sheer chaos of early-2000s comedy. #EuroTrip #ScottyDoesntKnow #SecondChanceCinema #MoviePodcast #CultClassic #2000sComedy #UnderratedMovies #ComedyGold #ThrowbackMovies #RoadTripMovie #TeenComedy #MattDamonCameo #AbsintheAdventures #EuropeOnFilm #MovieRewatch #ComedyFans #DVDClassics #SoundtrackGoals #RRatedComedy #MovieNerds #RetroCinema #MisunderstoodMovies #CinemaUnderdogs #PodcastRewind #Early2000sVibes #CultMovieClub #MovieLaughs #OnTheRewatch #MovieDeepDive #ScottysRevenge

You might not know his face, but you’ve definitely seen his work. Jeff Wolfe is an Emmy Award–winning stunt coordinator, second unit director, and performer with over three decades of experience shaping the most iconic action sequences in film and television. He’s worked on blockbuster franchises like John Wick, Rush Hour, and The Fast and the Furious, and helped redefine what’s possible on the small screen with shows like Westworld, 24, and The Terminal List. In this exclusive interview, Jeff joins Second Chance Cinema to talk about the evolution of stunts in Hollywood—from practical effects to digital enhancements, from risk management to storytelling through action. We dig into the physical and creative demands of being a stunt double, why some of the best performances never happen in front of the camera, and what it means to earn a second chance in an industry that rarely slows down. Whether you’re a fan of action movies or curious about the craft behind the chaos, this is a deep dive into the grit, precision, and artistry of stunt work with one of the best in the business. #JeffWolfe #SecondChanceCinema #StuntCoordinator #HollywoodStunts #StuntDouble #ActionMovies #FilmStunts #BehindTheScenes #WestworldHBO #JohnWickSeries #RushHourMovie #EmmyWinner #StuntLegend #SecondUnitDirector #MovieStunts #ActionDesign #MartialArtsMovies #FightChoreography #MovieMagic #FilmIndustry #MoviePodcast #StuntWork #UnsungHeroes #FilmmakerInterview #TVAction #ActionDirecting #CinemaCraft #MakingMovies #StuntTalk #HollywoodInsider

MC and Spro exploit a Second Chance loophole to talk about the late, great Val Kilmer’s less talked about gem. If you’re in the mood for a sleek ’90s action thriller with a bit of espionage, a touch of romance, and a wildly entertaining performance by Val Kilmer, The Saint is worth a watch. Kilmer plays a master of disguise and international thief who gets pulled into a Cold War-style conspiracy involving stolen technology and Russian politics. It’s got that stylish, globe-trotting vibe, a moody soundtrack (including some standout ’90s electronica), and Kilmer clearly having fun switching personas. It’s not perfect, but it’s an enjoyable ride — especially if you like your thrillers with a bit of camp and charm. #TheSaint1997 #ValKilmer #SimonTemplar #TheSaintMovie #ElisabethShue #SpyThriller #MasterOfDisguise #ColdFusion #SaintWithManyFaces #KilmerClassic #90sMovies #90sThriller #NostalgiaCinema #RetroMovieNight #ThrowbackMovie #MoviePodcast #FilmDiscussion #PodcastEpisode #NowPlayingPodcast #MovieTalk #SpyMovies #ActionThriller #EspionageFilm #SecretIdentities #MovieSpies #90sSoundtrack #ElectronicaVibes #ScoreAndSoundtrack #RewatchAndReview #HiddenGemMovie

If you’re in the mood for a psychological thriller that blends emotional depth with zombie horror, Outbreak (2024) might be just what you’re looking for. Now available on Amazon, this indie film offers a fresh take on the genre by focusing on the human psyche amidst chaos. Set in the eerie expanse of Mourning Rock State Park, the story follows park ranger Neil Morris (Billy Burke) and his wife Abby (Alyshia Ochse) as they grapple with the mysterious disappearance of their teenage son, Ben. Their personal turmoil is compounded when a bizarre outbreak begins to affect the local population, blurring the lines between reality and delusion. As the couple delves deeper into the mystery, they must confront not only the external threats but also the internal demons that threaten to consume them. Billy Burke as Neil Morris Alyshia Ochse as Abby Morris Jessica Frances Dukes as Helen Raoul Max Trujillo as Chief Mike Cortez Taylor Handley as John Gibson Directed by stunt veteran Jeff Wolfe in his directorial debut, Outbreak showcases his ability to craft suspenseful narratives on a modest budget. The film was produced under challenging conditions, including labor strikes, and was shot over 19 days around Los Angeles. While Outbreak features elements of a zombie outbreak, it’s more of a character study exploring the depths of grief and psychological deterioration. The film has been noted for its effective makeup effects and the portrayal of zombies that are both unsettling and agile. Billy Burke’s performance as a man consumed by loss has been particularly praised. Outbreak is available for streaming on Amazon. If you’re interested in a horror film that delves into the complexities of the human mind while delivering suspense and chills, this might be a compelling choice. #SecondChanceCinema #MoviePodcast #FilmDiscussion #CinemaLovers #HiddenGems #Outbreak2024 #OutbreakMovie #JeffWolfe #BillyBurke #ZombieThriller #HorrorMovies #PsychologicalThriller #IndieFilm #SupportIndieFilm #ZombieApocalypse #GriefHorror #HorrorCommunity #ThrillerFans #CreepyCinema

TJ Storm is an American actor, martial artist, and motion capture performer known for his dynamic presence both on-screen and behind-the-scenes in major film productions. Born Juan Ricardo Ojeda in Indiana and raised in Honolulu, Hawaii, Storm grew up studying martial arts, dance, and gymnastics, disciplines that would later define his career. He is widely recognized for his motion capture performances, portraying iconic characters like Godzilla in Godzilla: King of the Monsters (2019) and Godzilla vs. Kong (2021), as well as roles in the Avatar franchise and numerous video games, including the Resident Evil and Devil May Cry series. In addition to his motion capture work, Storm has appeared in live-action roles in films like Punisher: War Zone, Green Lantern, and The Martial Arts Kid. A respected martial artist, he holds black belts in multiple disciplines, including Arashi-Ryu Karate, Taekwondo, and Jujitsu. Storm is also a sought-after motion capture coach and stunt coordinator, contributing his expertise to help shape action scenes for film, television, and games. His work is celebrated for blending physical power with emotional depth, making him one of the top performers in the specialized world of performance capture. Mind’s Eye Tribe: https://mindseyetribe.com/ #TJStorm #ActorLife #MartialArts #MotionCapture #MoCap #ActionStar #StuntPerformer #HollywoodAction #BehindTheScenes #FilmIndustry #MovieMagic #Godzilla #GodzillaKingOfTheMonsters #GodzillaVsKong #MartialArtist #ActionMovies #FilmInterview #ActorInterview #LegendInTheMaking #PerformanceCapture #MoCapMaster #StuntActor #MonsterVerse #KaijuKing #MartialArtsLife #ActingJourney

Second Chance Cinema is about to evolve. That’s right-- MC and Spro will still be breathing life back into the movies that you may or may not have heard of their first go around, Rudy will still be reading our reviews to open the show, but for Year 7-- we’re going to be focusing half of our episodes into STUNTS. That’s right. The world the Academy is about to start acknowledging, we want to prepare you for all the high-octane, world-of-wonders stunt designers put together and performers risk their lives for.  So, for Year 7, stick around-- it’s going to be our most exciting year, yet!

Thomas Cruise Mapother IV (born July 3, 1962) is an American actor and producer. Regarded as a Hollywood icon, he has received various accolades, including an Honorary Palme d’Or and three Golden Globe Awards, along with nominations for four Academy Awards. His films have grossed over $12 billion worldwide, placing him among the highest-grossing actors of all time. He is considered one of Hollywood’s most bankable stars and is consistently one of the highest-paid actors in the world. Cruise began his acting career in the early 1980s and gained recognition with leading roles in *Risky Business* (1983) and *Top Gun* (1986). He received critical acclaim for his performances in the dramas *The Color of Money* (1986), *Rain Man* (1988), and *Born on the Fourth of July* (1989). For his portrayal of Ron Kovic in *Born on the Fourth of July*, he won a Golden Globe Award and received an Academy Award nomination for Best Actor. As a leading star in the 1990s, he starred in several commercially successful films, including the drama *A Few Good Men* (1992), the thriller *The Firm* (1993), the horror film *Interview with the Vampire* (1994), and the romance *Jerry Maguire* (1996). He won a Golden Globe Award for Best Actor for the latter. Cruise’s performance in *Magnolia* (1999) earned him another Golden Globe Award and a nomination for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor. He later established himself as a star of science fiction and action films, often performing his own stunts. Cruise has portrayed the fictional agent Ethan Hunt in the *Mission: Impossible* film series since 1996. Other films in this genre include *Vanilla Sky* (2001), *Minority Report* (2002), *The Last Samurai* (2003), *Collateral* (2004), *War of the Worlds* (2005), *Knight and Day* (2010), *Jack Reacher* (2012), *Oblivion* (2013), *Edge of Tomorrow* (2014), and *Top Gun: Maverick* (2022). Cruise holds the Guinness World Record for the most consecutive $100-million-grossing movies, a record achieved between 2012 and 2018. In December 2024, he was awarded the U.S. Navy’s highest civilian honor, the Distinguished Public Service Award, in recognition of his outstanding contributions to the military through his screen roles. Forbes ranked him as the world’s most powerful celebrity in 2006. He was named People’s Sexiest Man Alive in 1990 and received the distinction of ”Most Beautiful People” in 1997. Outside of his film career, Cruise has been an outspoken advocate for the Church of Scientology.

”Trojan War” is a 1997 American teen comedy film directed by George Huang and starring Will Friedle, Jennifer Love Hewitt, and Marley Shelton. The film was both a critical and box office failure. Produced on a budget of $15 million, it grossed only $309 in ticket sales, as it was shown in just two theaters in the United States and was pulled from screens after only one week. The film premiered in the fall of 1997, with one of the theaters located in Boulder, Colorado. Interestingly, the only attendees were Friedle and Huang, who had traveled to Colorado for the screening. As of 2007, ”Trojan War” was recorded as the fifth lowest-grossing film since modern box office tracking began in the 1980s.

Compliance is a 2012 American thriller film written and directed by Craig Zobel and starring Ann Dowd, Dreama Walker, Pat Healy, and Bill Camp. The plot of the movie is closely based upon an actual strip search phone call scam that took place in Mount Washington, Kentucky in 2004, although the names of the real-life figures were changed. In both the film and the real-life incident, a caller posing as a police officer convinced a restaurant manager and others to carry out unlawful and intrusive procedures on an innocent employee. The film received generally positive reviews and Dowd’s performance as the manipulated restaurant manager was met with critical acclaim, earning her the National Board of Review Award for Best Supporting Actress. The review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes reports an 89% approval rating with an average rating of 7.5/10 based on 140 reviews. The website’s consensus reads, ”Anchored by smart, sensitive direction and strong performances, Compliance is a ripped-from-the-headlines thriller that’s equal parts gripping and disturbing.” On Metacritic, it has a score of 68 out of 100 based on 32 reviews, indicating ”generally favorable reviews”. At the premiere at the 2012 Sundance Film Festival, Compliance was met with controversy, as the audience’s response included several walkouts and shouting matches during the film’s question and answer session.

Cedar Rapids is a 2011 American comedy film directed by Miguel Arteta. The script, written by Phil Johnston, was included on the 2009 Black List, a Hollywood list of the most popular unproduced screenplays of the year. The film stars Ed Helms, John C. Reilly, Anne Heche, Isiah Whitlock Jr., and Sigourney Weaver. The film grossed $6,861,102 in the United States and Canada, and $867,834 in other territories, for a worldwide total of $7,728,936. On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, 86% of 167 critics’ reviews are positive, with an average rating of 6.7/10. The website’s consensus reads: ”It’s as conventional as its Midwestern setting, but Cedar Rapids boasts a terrific cast and a script that deftly blends R-rated raunch and endearing sweetness.” Metacritic, which uses a weighted average, assigned the film a score of 70 out of 100, based on 38 critics, indicating ”generally favorable” reviews.

Michael Chaturantabut (born April 30, 1975) is a Thai American actor, martial artist and stuntman, best known for his role as Chad Lee, the Blue Ranger in Power Rangers Lightspeed Rescue. He was born in Rayong Province, Thailand. Extreme martial art Xtreme Martial Arts or XMA is a brand name owned by Chaturantabut. Chaturantabut’s XMA is a combination of elements from martial arts, acrobatics and gymnastics, with an emphasis on showmanship. The concept of adding gymnastics-like tumbling moves to elements of traditional martial arts is otherwise known as ”tricking (martial arts)”. XMA makes these exhibition moves the focus of the sport. Open hand and weapons choreography are often accompanied by dramatic dance or programmatic music. The goal is to command the attention of the audience. Currently there are schools of martial arts or similar XMA styles based in the United States, Australia, Canada, New Zealand and the United Kingdom, the World Headquarters being in North Hollywood, California. Many of the moves are high-flying aerial acrobatic maneuvers. These stunning movements attain the goal of capturing the crowd, improving physical agility, balance, strength, coordination, and endurance, as well as performing an artistic display of talent. He feels that there are many basic moves that can be specialized to be more acrobatic, flashy and artistic, so as to give the impression of complexity and difficulty for showmanship purposes. It is for this reason that he feels that even the basic athlete or beginner can learn the progression from basic moves to highly complex acrobatic sequences.

Coherence is a 2013 American surreal science fiction psychological thriller film directed by James Ward Byrkit in his directorial debut.[2] The film had its world debut on September 19, 2013, at Fantastic Fest and stars Emily Foxler as a woman who must deal with strange occurrences following the close passing of a comet. Byrkit came up with the idea for Coherence after deciding that he wanted to test the idea of shooting a film ”without a crew and without a script”. He chose to shoot in his own home and developed the film’s science fiction aspect out of necessity, as he wanted to ”make a living room feel bigger than just a living room”. While Byrkit did have a specific idea for how the film would unfold, he selected improvisational actors and gave them the basic outline of their characters, motivations, and major plot points. Emily Foxler as Em Maury Sterling as Kevin Nicholas Brendon as Mike Lorene Scafaria as Lee Hugo Armstrong as Hugh Elizabeth Gracen as Beth Alex Manugian as Amir Lauren Maher as Laurie

Frailty is a 2001 American psychological horror film directed by and starring Bill Paxton, and co-starring Matthew McConaughey and Powers Boothe. It marks Paxton’s directorial debut. The plot focuses on the strange relationship between two young brothers and their father, who believes that he has been commanded by God to kill demons disguised as people. Released on April 12, 2002, the film received generally positive reviews from critics and grossed $17 million.

The War is a 1994 American drama film directed by Jon Avnet and starring Elijah Wood, Kevin Costner, and Mare Winningham. It is a coming-of-age tale set in Mississippi in the 1970s. Despite a weak box-office opening and negative reviews, the film gained praise from critics for Wood’s performance. Elijah Wood was nominated for a YoungStar Award in the category of Best Performance by a Young Actor in a Drama Film while Lexi Randall was nominated for a Young Artist Award in the category of Best Performance by a Young Actress Co-Starring in a Motion Picture.

Concussion is a 2015 American biographical sports drama film written and directed by Peter Landesman, based on the exposé ”Game Brain” by Jeanne Marie Laskas, published in 2009 by GQ magazine. Set during the 2000s, the film stars Will Smith as Bennet Omalu, a forensic pathologist who fights against the National Football League trying to suppress his research on chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) brain degeneration suffered by professional football players. The film premiered at AFI Fest on November 11, 2015 and was released by Columbia Pictures on December 25, 2015. The film grossed $48 million worldwide and received mixed reviews, although Smith earned a Golden Globe nomination.

Airheads is a 1994 American comedy film directed by Michael Lehmann and written by Rich Wilkes. It stars Brendan Fraser, Steve Buscemi, and Adam Sandler as the members of a struggling rock band who hijack a Los Angeles radio station in order to get their demo aired. The supporting cast includes Chris Farley, Michael McKean, Judd Nelson, Michael Richards, Joe Mantegna, Ernie Hudson, Amy Locane, Nina Siemaszko, Marshall Bell, Reg E. Cathey, and David Arquette. Airheads was a critical and commercial failure, but has since come to be viewed as a cult film.