Drive-In Double Feature Podcast

Nathan and Ryan close out the Heisei era with Godzilla vs. Destoroyah (1995), one of the most emotional and consequential films in the entire franchise. With Godzilla undergoing a catastrophic nuclear meltdown and facing his most terrifying enemy yet—born from the Oxygen Destroyer itself—the stakes have never been higher. The hosts discuss the film’s apocalyptic tone, its brutal monster designs, the tragic fate of Junior, and how Toho deliberately framed this as a true ending for the King of the Monsters. It’s epic, grim, and surprisingly heartfelt kaiju cinema.

Nathan and Ryan piece together Jigsaw (2017), the attempt to revive the Saw franchise with a slicker look, a new timeline trick, and a fresh batch of morally questionable victims. The hosts break down the film’s dual-story structure, its polished traps, and whether this “back to basics” approach actually works after years of escalating insanity. Is Jigsaw a clever reassembly of the franchise or just another twist for twist’s sake? Either way, the games are back on.

Nathan and Ryan don their masks and capes to talk about The Mark of Zorro (1940), the definitive cinematic version of the legendary masked avenger. Starring Tyrone Power in one of classic Hollywood’s most iconic dual performances, the film blends romance, humor, and razor-sharp swordplay into a near-perfect swashbuckler. The hosts discuss Rouben Mamoulian’s energetic direction, Basil Rathbone’s unforgettable villain turn (and fencing skills), and why this film remains the gold standard for heroic adventure nearly a century later.

Nathan and Ryan dig into Alfred Hitchcock’s most charmingly morbid film, The Trouble with Harry (1955), a dark comedy where a dead body keeps inconveniently turning up in the middle of a picturesque Vermont town. The hosts discuss Hitchcock’s playful tone, the film’s autumnal Technicolor beauty, and how its gentle humor stands in stark contrast to the director’s more suspense-driven classics. Featuring an early performance from Shirley MacLaine and a score by Bernard Herrmann, this episode explores why The Trouble with Harry is one of Hitchcock’s most underrated—and oddly comforting—films.

Nathan and Ryan head to the mean streets of New Orleans for King Creole (1958), widely considered the best film Elvis Presley ever made. Directed by Michael Curtiz, this gritty crime drama drops Elvis into a world of gangsters, broken families, and nightclub danger, letting him channel real anger and vulnerability instead of novelty musical fluff. The hosts discuss the film’s noir edge, its standout performances (including Walter Matthau as a vicious mob boss), and how King Creole shows the movie star Elvis that could have been if Hollywood had taken more risks.