Forgotten Cinema

This week on Forgotten Cinema, the Mikes take on "The Money Pit", the 1986 comedy starring Tom Hanks and Shelley Long.
Both Mike Butler and Mike Field really enjoy the movie whenever it focuses on its disastrous house renovation. The jokes land, the slapstick works, and the escalating destruction of the house gives Tom Hanks plenty of opportunities to show off the kind of physical comedy that made his 80s films so much fun. Shelley Long is equally strong, and the movie is packed with great lines and memorable supporting characters.
Butler does have some trouble relating to Walter and Anna as struggling homeowners. Walter manages famous musicians, Anna is a concert cellist, and while money certainly becomes a problem, the movie never quite makes their financial situation feel as desperate as it might for more ordinary homeowners trapped inside an actual money pit.
The bigger issue for both Mikes is Max. Instead of allowing the house, the mounting bills, and the stress of the renovation to become the thing that nearly destroys Walter and Anna's relationship, the film shifts much of its third-act drama toward Max lying about sleeping with Anna. Anna then allows Walter to believe she cheated on him, only to become frustrated with his completely understandable reaction. Even after Max finally admits that nothing happened, the movie treats the deception surprisingly casually.
That subplot takes attention away from what both Mikes think should have been the heart of the story: two people being slowly driven insane by a house that is consuming their money, patience, and relationship. There are also several entertaining supporting characters who could have been incorporated more heavily into the renovation itself and helped keep the movie centered on its strongest material.
Still, when "The Money Pit" is being a comedy about Tom Hanks and Shelley Long desperately trying to survive the worst home purchase imaginable, it is an absolute blast. Great gags, great performances, and peak 80s comedy Hanks make it easy to recommend. Just don't expect the plot holding everything together to be nearly as sturdy as the laughs.
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0:00 - Introduction
4:12 - Film Facts
10:22 - Film Discussion
31:52 - Reviews
37:10 - Who Would You Recommend This To?
41:53 - Why Is This Forgotten?
44:51 - Plugs
#ForgottenCinema #TheMoneyPit #MoneyPit #TomHanks #ShellyLong #Comedy #ComedyMovies #80sComedy #80sMovies #MoviePodcast #FilmDiscussion #UnderratedMovies

Season 27 of Forgotten Cinema begins with the Director’s Cut of "Natural Born Killers", Oliver Stone’s chaotic satire of violence, celebrity, and the media machine built around both.
Mike Butler was not a big fan of the film when he first had to watch it in college, and on this revisit he still struggles with the first half, which feels unfocused and deliberately scattered. Once the story reaches the prison and the full cast starts colliding though, the movie clicks into place for him in a much bigger way. Mike Field is a big fan of the film in its entirety.
Both Mikes think Woody Harrelson and Juliette Lewis are fantastic, while Butler particularly enjoys Tommy Lee Jones and Robert Downey Jr. Rodney Dangerfield also makes a surprisingly strong impression in a role far removed from the persona most audiences associate with him.
The bigger discussion centers on what the film has to say about violence and the media’s role in sensationalizing not just violent acts, but the people who commit them. Decades later, those ideas still feel disturbingly relevant, making the movie’s commentary difficult to dismiss as a product of the 1990s.
Both Butler and Field agree that love it or hate it, "Natural Born Killers" remains an important film. Its subject matter, style, and willingness to confront uncomfortable ideas have kept it controversial, and perhaps helped push it out of regular conversation, but it still deserves a place in any discussion of significant American films from the 1990s.
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🎧 Available on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and wherever you listen to podcasts.
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Check out our website: https://www.forgottencinemapodcast.com
0:00 - Introduction
4:36 - Film Facts
13:38 - Film Discussion
34:30 - Reviews
43:42 - Who Would You Recommend This To?
46:27 - Why Is This Forgotten?
47:15 - Plugs
#ForgottenCinema #NaturalBornKillers #NBK #WoodyHarrelson #JullietLewis #TommyLeeJones #RDJ #RobertDowneyJr #TomSizemore #OliverStone #Drama #CrimeMovies #90sMovies #MoviePodcast #FilmDiscussion #UnderratedMovies

For our special Halloween episode of Forgotten Horror 8, the Mikes head behind the mask with "Behind the Mask: The Rise of Leslie Vernon."
Both Butler and Field like the film, but they also come away with plenty to argue about, including one major disagreement over what kind of movie it should have been.
Field thinks "Behind the Mask" should lean even harder into its comedy and fully embrace the absurdity of following an aspiring slasher villain as he explains the tricks of his trade. Butler goes in the opposite direction. He would rather see the movie become darker, more serious, and eventually much more frightening once the joke starts becoming real.
Where both Mikes completely agree is with Taylor, the documentary crew's producer and eventual final girl. The movie wants us to accept her as the moral counterpoint to Leslie, but after spending so much time watching, documenting, and at times practically celebrating his preparations for murder, has she really earned that role? Simply deciding that things have gone too far once the bodies start dropping does not erase her participation in everything that came before.
There is still plenty to enjoy in "Behind the Mask", particularly its clever deconstruction of slasher movie rules and the idea of treating an iconic horror killer like a working professional preparing for his next big night.
But for a movie built around understanding exactly what makes slashers work, Butler and Field are left wondering whether "Behind the Mask" ever completely decides what kind of slasher movie it wants to be.
Happy Halloween from Forgotten Cinema, and remember to keep it spooky y'all!
🔔 Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and hit the bell for more Forgotten Cinema content!
🎧 Available on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and wherever you listen to podcasts.
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Check out our website: https://www.forgottencinemapodcast.com
0:00 - Intro
3:35 - Facts
11:21- Discussion
31:27 - Reviews
35:37 - Recommend
40:18 - Why Forgotten
43:04 - Plugs
#ForgottenCinema #ForgottenHorror #BehindtheMask #LeslieVernon #BehindTheMaskTheRiseOfLeslieVernon #CultClassic #Slasher #00sHorror #Horror #HorrorFilms #Halloween #HorrorComedy #Comedy #FoundFootage #MoviePodcast #FilmDiscussion #UnderratedMovies

Forgotten Horror 8 continues with the cult horror classic "Re-Animator", a movie Butler enjoys more than Field, even if both Mikes have some issues with it.
One of the biggest points of discussion is the film’s reputation as a horror comedy. Field struggles with that label because, for him, most of the overt comedy does not really arrive until the final stretch. Butler sees more dark humor throughout, especially in the ridiculous situations, exaggerated gore, and deliberately schlocky nature of the horror.
Both Mikes also compare "Re-Animator" to films like "The Evil Dead" and "Braindead/Dead Alive", movies they personally prefer that operate in a similar splattery, over-the-top space. But as the conversation goes on, they realize just how early "Re-Animator" arrived and how much credit it deserves for helping shape the kind of horror comedy that followed. Its influence becomes especially noticeable when looking at the escalating insanity of "Dead Alive" years later.
One thing both Butler and Field agree on completely is Jeffrey Combs. His performance as Herbert West is the heart of the movie, and another reminder of just how good Combs is as a character actor. Herbert is also an interestingly morally gray protagonist, which makes him far more compelling than a simple mad scientist.
The Mikes are less convinced by Dan Cain, who often feels like he does not have enough to do. Both wonder whether Herbert and Dan could have been combined into one stronger central character, or whether Dan simply needed more material to justify his role in the story.
And yes, Butler spends part of the episode accidentally calling Herbert West "Harold," because apparently even reanimating the dead is easier than remembering character names.
Messy, influential, funny in ways that may depend heavily on the viewer, and anchored by a fantastic Jeffrey Combs performance, "Re-Animator" remains a cult classic for a reason, even if the Mikes do not quite worship at its altar.
🔔 Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and hit the bell for more Forgotten Cinema content!
🎧 Available on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and wherever you listen to podcasts.
✨ Support us on Patreon for exclusive content: www.patreon.com/forgottencinema
🛍️ Grab some Forgotten Cinema merch: www.etsy.com/shop/ForgottenCinemaShop
Check out our website: https://www.forgottencinemapodcast.com
0:00 - Introduction
3:26 - Film Facts
8:44 - Film Discussion
25:52 - Reviews
34:23 - Who Would You Recommend This To?
38:58 - Why Is This Forgotten?
42:36 - Plugs
#ForgottenCinema #ForgottenHorror #ReAnimator #JeffreyCombs #CultClassic #Zombies #80sHorror #Horror #HorrorFilms #Halloween #HorrorComedy #Comedy #80sMovies #MoviePodcast #FilmDiscussion #UnderratedMovies

Forgotten Horror 8 continues with "The Final Girls", a horror comedy Mike Field recommended to Mike Butler last year and one that finally made its way onto this season’s lineup.
Both Mikes really respond to the emotional core of the film, particularly its themes of grief, mother-daughter relationships, and learning how to accept loss and move forward. Taissa Farmiga and Malin Akerman give the movie a surprising amount of heart, especially during their final scene together.
The rest of the cast fits neatly into the film’s strange world. Max’s real-life friends are given enough personality before entering the horror movie to make them feel like actual characters, while the fictional 80s camp counselors are exactly the kind of broad archetypes the story needs. Tina (played by Angela Trimbur), in particular, delivers some of the funniest moments in the entire movie.
Butler does have a few issues. The limited budget occasionally shows through in the lighting, and for a horror comedy, he would have liked the movie to lean a little harder into the actual horror. Still, both Mikes love the use of color, the stylized digital skies, especially during the final confrontation, and the synth-heavy score that helps sell the film’s throwback slasher atmosphere.
Funny, heartfelt, colorful, and surprisingly emotional, "The Final Girls" is much more than just a parody of 80s horror movies. For both Butler and Field, it is absolutely worth checking out this spooky season.
🔔 Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and hit the bell for more Forgotten Cinema content!
🎧 Available on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and wherever you listen to podcasts.
✨ Support us on Patreon for exclusive content: www.patreon.com/forgottencinema
🛍️ Grab some Forgotten Cinema merch: www.etsy.com/shop/ForgottenCinemaShop
Check out our website: https://www.forgottencinemapodcast.com
0:00 - Introduction
4:13 - Film Facts
10:50 - Film Discussion
27:29 - Reviews
32:16 - Who Would You Recommend This To?
37:07 - Why Is This Forgotten?
39:53 - Plugs
#ForgottenCinema #ForgottenHorror #TheFinalGirls #FinalGirls #TaissaFarmiga #MalinAkerman #Horror #HorrorFilms #Halloween #HorrorComedy #Comedy #80sMovies #MoviePodcast #FilmDiscussion #UnderratedMovies