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PODCAST

Optimism Vaccine

The Optimism Vaccine Network

Optimism Vaccine’s panel of experts and idiots explore the dingy crevices between pop culture and forgotten trash in a never-ending quest to celebrate your guilty pleasures in the world of cinema and beyond.

tv & film film reviews

All Episodes

01:26:05

The Next Best Critic

Optimism Vaccine ·

2025/06/14

THIS WEEK: Day For Night (1973) and Hulk Blood Tapes (2015)It has recently come to our attention that X's foremost Oscar-knower Matt Neglia starred in a found footage horror film. Of course we're honor-bound to discuss it.Donate to Palestinian Medical Aid Support Optimism Vaccine on Patreon

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01:25:53

The Cinema of Goosenecking

Optimism Vaccine ·

2025/06/06

THIS WEEK: Twilight Zone: The Movie (1983) and Rust (2024)Well, it finally happened. Rust was unceremoniously dumped onto streaming, so we're obliged to fulfill a long-standing Patron request to look at the film. And we've decided to pair it with Twilight Zone: The Movie for... no reason. Nothing morbid happening here. Move along.Donate to Palestinian Medical Aid Support Optimism Vaccine on Patreon

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01:19:23

Unnecessary

Optimism Vaccine ·

2025/05/30

THIS WEEK: Blues Brothers 2000 (1998), Basic Instinct 2 (2006) and Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps (2010)We wrap up our tangled series of series-es with a trio of films that really left us questioning the artistic merits of the decades late, creatively bankrupt sequel.Donate to Palestinian Medical Aid Support Optimism Vaccine on Patreon

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01:26:00

She Drives Me Crazy (Jack Ketchum's Woman Trilogy)

Optimism Vaccine ·

2025/05/23

THIS WEEK: Offspring (2009), The Woman (2011) and Darlin' (2019)We're wrapping up our aughts horror binge by barely discussing Lucky McKee, whose indie horror hit The Woman was inexplicably the middle film in a trilogy of cannibal flicks. It won't make any more sense when you've watched the films.Donate to Palestinian Medical Aid Support Optimism Vaccine on Patreon

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01:16:49

Dracula: Weinstein Style (The Dracula 2000 Trilogy)

Optimism Vaccine ·

2025/05/17

THIS WEEK: Dracula 2000 (2000), Dracula II: Ascension (2003) and Dracula III: Legacy (2005)Our run of episodes on the stunted hopes of aughts horror gradually morphs into a look at secret franchises as we look at the undisputed king of the 3D horror revival, Patrick Lussier. Before there was Drive Angry, there was Dracula 2000. And two DTV sequels that apparently exist.Donate to Palestinian Medical Aid Support Optimism Vaccine on Patreon

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01:28:51

Swine Before Pearls (The Films of Ti West? Mia Goth?)

Optimism Vaccine ·

2025/05/10

THIS WEEK: X (2022), Pearl (2022) and MaXXXine (2024)No one typifies our mini-exploration into the horror aught-eurs that weren't more than Ti West. Annointed king of independent horror disappears for a decade, only to suddenly re-emerge to reign over a new, worse brand of independent horror. It's a story as old as time.Donate to Palestinian Medical Aid Support Optimism Vaccine on Patreon

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01:22:33

Charlotte Kirk, Mon Amour (The Films of Neil...

Optimism Vaccine ·

2025/05/02

THIS WEEK: The Reckoning (2020), The Lair (2022) and Duchess (2024)Have you ever found yourself rolling credits on aughts horror classic The Descent and wondering, "Whatever happened to that guy?" Would it surprise you to hear that he married a young model and spent the next five years of his career endeavoring to make her a streaming superstar? That's right. Neil Marshall is a wife guy.Donate to Palestinian Medical Aid Support Optimism Vaccine on Patreon

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01:25:05

Master of Indie Horror (The Films of Larry Fessenden)

Optimism Vaccine ·

2025/04/24

THIS WEEK: Wendigo (2001), Depraved (2019), and Blackout (2023)Too hip for the horror hounds and too committed to making monster movies for the arthouse crowd. Larry Fessenden's career is defined by moments of brilliance from a one-of-a-kind filmmaker hamstrung by budget constraints and setbacks that kept him from becoming a household name. He's also the perfect example of someone willing to do what it takes to make art that he loves without compromising his vision. And damn, did you know he had a

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01:22:35

Wolf Mode

Optimism Vaccine ·

2025/04/18

THIS WEEK: Wolfen (1981), Wolf (1994) and Wolf Man (2025)Ah, the werewolf. Perhaps the perfect vehicle for exploring the duality of man. Or in the case of this week's slate of films: urbanization, the publishing industry, and ALS.Donate to Palestinian Medical Aid Support Optimism Vaccine on Patreon

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01:12:52

Motion Sickness Episode Six: Searching/Missing feat....

Optimism Vaccine ·

2025/04/11

THIS WEEK: Searching (2018) and Missing (2023)Steve is back in the hosting chair, and the format has immediately turned to dust. It's a Pod Casty For Me crossover, as Jake and Ian join us to discuss screens, uncles, and I, Frankenstein. All very relevant in our quest to crack the found footage code.Donate to Palestinian Medical Aid Support Optimism Vaccine on Patreon

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01:37:52

Oh My Yahweh! (The Films of Tom Charley)

Optimism Vaccine ·

2025/04/04

THIS WEEK: Lucy's Law (2011), The President Goes to Heaven (2011), Song of the Blind Girl (2011) and Who Killed Aliyah? (2012)Steve and Miros were left to their own devices this week. The result? A far too comprehensive look at the sublimely toxic films of direct-to-toilet auteur Tom Charley AKA ctom.Donate to Palestinian Medical Aid Support Optimism Vaccine on Patreon

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01:35:46

The Slop Must Flow (Post-Marvel Russo Brothers)

Optimism Vaccine ·

2025/03/28

THIS WEEK: Cherry (2021), The Gray Man (2022) and The Electric State (2025)Our attempt to discuss the post-Marvel output of cinema's most profitable siblings quickly devolved into a series of shrieks and grunts, perfectly mirroring the trajectory of the modern blockbuster.Donate to Palestinian Medical Aid Support Optimism Vaccine on Patreon

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01:04:12

MENDOZAAAAA!!!!!!! (The Films of James Glickenhaus)

Optimism Vaccine ·

2025/03/20

THIS WEEK: The Protector (1985), Shakedown (1988) and McBain (1991)Optimism Vaccine has a well documented love of New York sleaze, so it was only a matter of time before we discussed James Glickenhaus, and what may well be the most overlooked action film of the 1980s.Donate to Palestinian Medical Aid Support Optimism Vaccine on Patreon

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01:15:35

Alec Baldwin Steals a Gun (The Films of George Armitage)

Optimism Vaccine ·

2025/03/14

THIS WEEK: Miami Blues (1990), Grosse Pointe Blank (1997) and The Big Bounce (2004)We try our best to avoid discussing the inexplicable 2004 disaster that ended George Armitage's lengthy Hollywood tenure, The Big Bounce. Fortunately we had two far better films to distract us.Donate to Palestinian Medical Aid Support Optimism Vaccine on Patreon

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56:52

German Michael Mann (The Films of Thomas Arlsan)

Optimism Vaccine ·

2025/03/06

THIS WEEK: In the Shadows (2010) and Scorched Earth (2024)There's a common misconception that we only do this podcast to subject ourselves to the dumbest bullshit imaginable. Not true! Every once in a while we stumble upon greatness. Do you like Michael Mann? How about Robert Bresson? Maybe a little Jean-Pierre Melville? Fantastic. It's time you join the 4 or 5 other folks who have watched the Thomas Arslan's crime dramas. Thank us later.Donate to Palestinian Medical Aid Support Optimism Vaccine on

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01:03:30

Motion Sickness Episode Five: The Borderlands feat....

Optimism Vaccine ·

2025/02/28

THIS WEEK: The Borderlands AKA Final Prayer (2013)What was Cate Blanchett thinking signing on to this turkey? Will we ever see the Roth cut? Did I watch the wrong movie again? Esteemed critic Esther Rosenfield joins us to discuss a true undiscovered gem, swept away in the ebb of the found footage wave.Donate to Palestinian Medical Aid Support Optimism Vaccine on Patreon

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01:08:31

Bigger Than Oldboy (The Films of Soi Cheang - Part 2)

Optimism Vaccine ·

2025/02/21

THIS WEEK: Accident (2009), Limbo (2021), and Mad Fate (2023)This time around, Jack let us watch the GOOD Soi Cheang movies. We're looking at a trio of films made with legendary cinematographer Siu-Keung Cheng under Johnnie To and Wai Ka-Fai's Wilkway Image production company. Has Soi Cheang grown into one of the most essential filmmakers in modern Hong Kong? Yes. But don't watch his movies on Tubi. Turns out they're still fucking up HK distribution in 2025.Donate to Palestinian Medical Aid Support

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01:38:10

Unrealistic Dick Expectations

Optimism Vaccine ·

2025/02/13

THIS WEEK: Basic Instinct (1992), Sliver (1993), and Jade (1995)Forget the Whitman's. This year we got you an Eszterhas sampler for Valentine's Day. It isn't particularly sweet, but there's a lot of cream involved.Donate to Palestinian Medical Aid Support Optimism Vaccine on Patreon

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01:06:24

Motion Sickness Episode Four: The Visit feat. Aaron...

Optimism Vaccine ·

2025/02/08

THIS WEEK: The Visit (2015)Motion Sickness welcomes back old friends as Aaron Casias of Hit Factory joins us to discuss the perpetually fascinating career of M. Night Shyamalan. I bet you all forgot that he made a Found Footage film, didn't you? We didn't forget. We never forget.Donate to Palestinian Medical Aid Support Optimism Vaccine on Patreon

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01:14:38

Choices Were Made (The Films of Soi Cheang - Part 1)

Optimism Vaccine ·

2025/01/30

THIS WEEK: Home Sweet Home (2005), Dog Bite Dog (2006), and Motorway (2012)A generous patron's request brings us back to Hong Kong to look at a more contemporary side of the HK action-industrial complex via the films of Soi Cheung. Unfortunately, Jack has returned from his sabbatical, and decided he'd rather spend the week mired in the soapy melodrama of Cheung's early career. We vow to rectify this injustice very soon.Donate to Palestinian Medical Aid Support Optimism Vaccine on Patreon

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