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PODCAST

Tentpole Trauma

Tentpole Trauma

A podcast where we look at movies that came with hype and high hopes, but left with crushing disappointment, either critically, at the box office, or both.

tv & film film history

All Episodes

01:08:24

The Mummy (2017)

Tentpole Trauma ·

2022/07/01

Hopes were high for the launch of Universal’s “Dark Universe”, a full slate of high profile, interconnected, big budget blockbusters that would revive the classic line-up of Universal Monsters. With mega-star Tom Cruise tapped to headline the first official effort — an action packed reboot of The Mummy directed by A-list writer Alex Kurtzman — success seemed all but inevitable, and yet the film tanked badly with audiences and critics. Join Sebastian and Jennifer as they crack open the sarcophagus

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01:41:25

The Predator

Tentpole Trauma ·

2022/06/24

The Predator franchise was in something of a fallow period by the end of the previous decade, so when it was announced that genre hotshot Shane Black would be resurrecting the series, along with former collaborator Fred Dekker, there was cause for excitement among film fans. Sadly the end result was not the action/sci fi horror film most had hoped for — so what went wrong? Join badasses Sebastian, Chris and Rodney as they get to the chopper and hunt down this confused and frustrating flop.

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01:16:07

Phantom of the Paradise

Tentpole Trauma ·

2022/06/13

In hindsight the odd marriage of burgeoning director Brian De Palma and superstar songwriter Paul Williams seems a recipe for 70s era success, but sadly their Faustian collaboration Phantom of the Paradise met with little appreciation at the time. Since then it has grown into a cult classic among genre fans, but is this twisted, glam rock take on The Phantom of the Opera worthy of such status? (Spoiler: it is!) Join Sebastian, Jennifer and special guest Beth Topping as they sell their souls for

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01:10:08

Firestarters

Tentpole Trauma ·

2022/06/06

Cinematic adaptations of bestselling author Stephen King are often a safe bet, and yet neither attempts at bringing his novel Firestarter to the big screen have generated significant heat at the box office. Join Sebastian and Jennifer as they discuss both the Drew Barrymore 1984 version and the recent Zac Efron 2022 attempt and see if there’s any potential to be kindled from this pyrokinetic intellectual property.

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01:33:19

The Northman

Tentpole Trauma ·

2022/05/30

Possibly the most interesting director to emerge in the last decade is Robert Eggers, so the news that he was crafting a 90 million dollar Viking blockbuster with his tireless penchant for verisimilitude was cause for celebration among film fans. Featuring hulking Norse god Alexander Skaarsgard as well as Nicole Kidman, Ethan Hawke and Willem Dafoe, the movie did not disappoint — except at the box office. Join Sebastian and Troy as they ride with the Valkyrie to Valhalla by heaping praise on this

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01:23:51

Mortal Engines

Tentpole Trauma ·

2022/05/16

Riding the trend of YA dystopian adaptations and with the power of Peter Jackson behind it, Christian Rivers’ big budget steampunk extravaganza was poised to crush the competition when it hit theaters in 2018. But this engine stalled badly, racking up an embarrassing box office take and crashing the hopes of a fresh new sci fi franchise. Join Sebastian and Steve as they steamroll through the good, the bad, and the bonkers of the maligned and overlooked Mortal Engines.

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01:00:46

The Brothers Grimm

Tentpole Trauma ·

2022/05/09

The stories of the Brothers Grimm have endured throughout history, and arguably no director is better suited to adapting them than the wildly imaginative and irreverent Terry Gilliam. And yet, when his take on the material, starring hot stars Matt Damon and Heath Ledger, hit screens in 2005, it went virtually unnoticed. Join Sebastian and Jennifer as they journey into the enchanted forest and try to find the magic in this big budget, fairytale failure.

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01:52:06

Robocop (2014)

Tentpole Trauma ·

2022/05/03

A resurrection of the Robocop franchise was in the works for nearly a decade, and the post Marvel superhero boom seemed a perfect time to debut a new take on a crime fighting cyborg cop. But despite the best efforts of director Jose Padilha and a stellar cast featuring Gary Oldman, Michael Keaton and Joel Kinnaman, the 2014 remake missed the mark with fans and ticket buyers. Join Rodney and Sebastian as they crack the case on why this big budget reboot roboflopped.

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01:03:26

Death to Smoochy

Tentpole Trauma ·

2022/04/26

In 2001 both Robin Williams and Edward Norton were at the peak of their careers, so a black comedy team-up that lampoons the Barney the dinosaur phenomenon seemed a solid concept on paper. Add Danny DeVito as director and co-star, as well as a 50 million dollar budget — what could possibly go wrong? Join Sebastian and Jennifer as they sing joyous songs for the children and try to understand why Death to Smoochy was such a critical and financial failure.

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01:03:21

Streets of Fire

Tentpole Trauma ·

2022/04/18

Director Walter Hill was riding high off the success of The Warriors and 48 Hrs when he was given the green light to make his high budget rock n’ roll fable Streets of Fire. But despite the presence of rising stars Diane Lane and Willem Dafoe and a heavy presence on MTV thanks to Dan Hartman’s hit single “I Can Dream About You”, the film flopped hard with critics and audiences. Join Sebastian and Jennifer as they get ready to rumble with this surreal and stylish cinematic street fight.

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01:25:47

Tank Girl

Tentpole Trauma ·

2022/04/04

In 1995 the post apocalyptic genre was in full swing, so an adaptation of a hip, grunge friendly indie comic book property like Tank Girl looked like a good idea. Sadly, the resulting film from Rachel Talalay, built around the strange charisma of star Lori Petty, was a critical and box office cataclysm. Join Sebastian, Chris and Rodney as they fire up the heavy artillery and get down with Ice T as a mutant kangaroo for this bizarro but weirdly entertaining cinematic bomb.

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01:41:26

The Green Hornet

Tentpole Trauma ·

2022/03/28

The prospect of grafting an outdated radio serial superhero onto a Seth Rogen comedy by way of surrealist filmmaker Michel Gondry seemed dicey by the most generous metrics, and the resulting effort, 2011’s The Green Hornet, failed to live up to even modest expectations. But is it really the trainwreck its poor box office take and critical reception suggests? Join Sebastian, Jennifer and superfan Matt Anderson as they delve deep into Green Hornet lore and ask the eternal question — do we make you

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01:22:36

Birds of Prey and the Fantabulous Emancipation of One...

Tentpole Trauma ·

2022/03/21

Considering the success of 2016’s Suicide Squad, a solo outing focusing on Margot Robbie’s celebrated portrayal of super villainess Harley Quinn seemed a no-brainer for the struggling DCEU. But despite a winning female team both in front and behind the camera, Birds of Prey and the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn failed to deliver the box office windfall the character deserved. Join Sebastian and Jennifer as they try to have the last laugh with this irreverent and enjoyable superheroine

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01:50:01

Double the Dredd

Tentpole Trauma ·

2022/03/14

It’s always a challenge to bring a cult comic book character to the big screen successfully; in the case of 2000 AD’s gruff, helmeted lawgiver Judge Dredd, the attempt was made twice, both in 1995 and 2012. Despite the presences of Sylvester Stallone and Karl Urban in the titular role neither attempt drew in big box office, but at least one take emerged from the scorched earth as something of a cult classic. Join Sebastian and Malcontent Media’s Sean Farina as they try to determine who is the law

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01:02:14

Donnie Darko

Tentpole Trauma ·

2022/03/07

While no one was expecting Richard Kelly’s 2001 sci fi brain-boiler Donnie Darko to be a tentpole film, it’s meager box office returns were disappointing even for such a low budget genre feature. But the film has garnered a significant legacy by introducing the world to both Jake and Maggie Gyllenhaal, and is now revered as a cult classic by lovers of gonzo cinema. Join Sebastian and Jennifer as they close the time loop on this delightfully dark and funny lightning in a bottle film.

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01:48:11

Krull

Tentpole Trauma ·

2022/02/28

Excalibur meets Star Wars — in 1983 that elevator pitch was all that was needed to green light the big budget sci fi fantasy epic Krull.But despite a seasoned director at the helm and high production values — as well as then unknown Liam Neeson and Robbie Coltrane in supporting roles — the film landed with a thud at the box office. Join Sebastian, Troy and Richard as they wield the Glaive to conquer the convoluted world-building of Krull!

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01:23:42

Gemini Man

Tentpole Trauma ·

2022/02/21

Double the Will Smith means double the boffo box office, right? Well, when it came to Ang Lee’s 2019 sci fi spy thriller Gemini Man, not so much. Despite Lee’s assured direction and the star power of Big Willy in dual roles, the film failed to generate any action at the box office or with critics. Join Sebastian, Jennifer and Viewer Discretion Advised’s VQ as they battle their younger selves to determine why this high concept thriller suffered a financial and critical headshot.

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02:01:11

A Tale of Two Terminators

Tentpole Trauma ·

2022/02/14

We’re doubling down on trauma this week by discussing two Terminator films in one episode! How can a once blockbuster sci fi franchise that sprang from the mind of James Cameron fail to revive itself twice in a row? Join a sent from the future Sebastian and Malcontent Media’s Sean Farina as they say hasta la vista baby to both 2015’s Terminator Genisys and 2019’s Terminator Dark Fate!

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00:52:52

R.I.P.D.

Tentpole Trauma ·

2022/02/07

A Men in Black ripoff starring Ryan Reynolds and Jeff Bridges as mismatched afterlife cops — who wouldn’t want that right? Well, it turns out pretty much no one, but that doesn’t mean that Robert Schwentke’s 2013 box office bomb isn’t worth discussing! Join Sebastian and Jennifer as they exhume the nearly forgotten exquisite corpse of this ill-conceived Boston based supernatural action comedy.

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01:24:43

Cutthroat Island

Tentpole Trauma ·

2022/01/31

Ahoy mateys! The careers of director Renny Harlin and star Geena Davis were as hot as their romance in 1995, so what better way to celebrate their love than to make a mega budget pirate movie? Unfortunately for the couple, the resulting effort was a box office bomb so massive it landed in the Guinness Book of Records, but is it really that much of a shipwreck? Join Sebastian, Jennifer and Richard as they hoist up the old Jolly Roger and set sail for Cutthroat Island!

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160 results

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