Forgotten Cinema

Forgotten Horror 8 slithers into its second episode with "The Lair of the White Worm", starring a very young Hugh Grant and Peter Capaldi.
Neither Mike Butler nor Mike Field had seen the film before, and after watching the trailer, both expected something closer to a full-blown horror comedy. While the movie certainly contains elements of both horror and comedy, neither side comes through consistently enough to match what they were anticipating.
A lot of the discussion ends up centered on director Ken Russell. Neither Mike is particularly familiar with his other work, and much of what they found while researching the film leaves Field wondering if they simply are not on the movie's wavelength because they lack that broader context. Butler pushes back on that idea, arguing that a film still needs to stand on its own regardless of how familiar the audience is with the filmmaker behind it.
That doesn't mean there's nothing to enjoy. "The Lair of the White Worm" has some memorable ideas, strange imagery, and a particularly interesting spin on vampire mythology that gives the movie an identity all its own.
And because this is Forgotten Horror 8, the episode would not be complete without another entry in the Killer Drinks series. This week, Field gets to try Butler's specially created "Bloody White Worm" cocktail while the Mikes attempt to make sense of one very strange horror movie.
We may not completely understand "The Lair of the White Worm", but there is certainly plenty to sink our teeth into.
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0:00 - Introduction
3:52 - Videodrome Drink
6:31 - Film Facts
14:49 - Film Discussion
31:13 - Reviews
39:06 - Who Would You Recommend This To?
42:04 - Why Is This Forgotten?
44:07 - Plugs
#ForgottenCinema #ForgottenHorror #TheLairOfTheWhiteWorm #LairOfTheWhiteWorm #PeterCapaldi #HughGrant #KenRussell #Horror #HorrorFilms #Halloween #80sMovies #MoviePodcast #FilmDiscussion #Vampire #UnderratedMovies

Forgotten Horror 8 kicks off with "Videodrome", David Cronenberg’s surreal blend of horror, science fiction, and media paranoia.
Both Mike Butler and Mike Field enjoy the film, especially its unforgettable imagery and the ideas running underneath it. The practical effects and body horror are a huge part of why "Videodrome" has endured as a favorite among cinephiles, but its themes may be even more striking today. Viewed through a 2026 lens, the film’s obsession with television, media consumption, manipulation, and the increasingly blurred line between reality and what we see on a screen feels remarkably prescient.
Where both Mikes struggle is the third act. The movie spends most of its runtime following a strange but recognizable narrative, then suddenly begins abandoning the rules and explanations it had established. Earlier moments of madness still feel connected to the plot. By the end, things simply start happening, leaving the finale feeling rushed and unsatisfying.
James Woods’ Max Renn suffers the most from that shift. Rather than completing a meaningful character arc, he essentially reaches the end of his life without reaching a satisfying conclusion as a character. Both Butler and Field would have preferred to see him ultimately emerge as the hero, or perhaps even more interestingly, fully transform into the villain the story had been building toward.
Even with those frustrations, "Videodrome" remains a fascinating piece of filmmaking and a movie that feels increasingly relevant as technology and media continue changing the way people experience the world.
The Mikes even wonder whether there is room for a modern spiritual sequel, one that tells its own story about today’s media landscape while leaving just enough of a connection to Videodrome for longtime fans.
All this while enjoying a themed beverage as part of their "Killer Drinks" companion series.
Long live the new flesh, and welcome to Forgotten Horror 8.
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🎧 Available on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and wherever you listen to podcasts.
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🛍️ Grab some Forgotten Cinema merch: www.etsy.com/shop/ForgottenCinemaShop
Check out our website: https://www.forgottencinemapodcast.com
0:00 - Introduction
3:12 - Videodrome Drink
6:10 - Film Facts
13:17 - Film Discussion
31:47 - Reviews
36:25 - Who Would You Recommend This To?
40:16 - Why Is This Forgotten?
43:04 - Plugs
#ForgottenCinema #ForgottenHorror #Videodrome #DavidCronenberg #JamesWoods #Horror #HorrorFilms #Halloween #80sMovies #MoviePodcast #FilmDiscussion #UnderratedMovies

This week on Forgotten Cinema, the Mikes take on the winner of the latest Audience Choice vote: "Baby Boom", starring Diane Keaton.
Both Mike Butler and Mike Field enjoy the film, especially Keaton’s performance and the first two acts. The movie is funny, earnest, and surprisingly endearing as it follows a career-driven woman suddenly forced to reevaluate the life she thought she wanted.
Where things start to lose them is in the third act. Once the story moves fully into Vermont, Keaton’s baby food business begins to take off and Sam Shepard’s doctor enters the picture, the film starts drifting a little too far into fairytale territory. What had felt grounded and relatable suddenly becomes much more convenient, as if the writers were rushing to tie everything together before the credits rolled.
Butler also questions how much Keaton’s character’s wealth softens the central conflict. Her situation is still difficult, but having the financial resources to absorb major life changes gives her an advantage that most people in a similar position simply would not have.
That leads the Mikes into a broader discussion about work-life balance, how the expectations around careers and parenting looked in the 1980s, how much has actually changed, and how a modern remake might approach the same premise differently.
Overall, "Baby Boom" remains a charming and funny movie anchored by a terrific Diane Keaton performance, even if its ending comes together a little too neatly.
And just when you think the episode is over, the Mikes leave one final warning...
Forgotten Horror 8 begins next week. Mwahahahaha!!!
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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
4:18 - Film Facts
12:24 - Film Discussion
27:23 - Reviews
40:04 - Who Would You Recommend This To?
41:43 - Why Is This Forgotten?
42:27 - Plugs
#ForgottenCinema #BabyBoom #DianeKeaton #HaroldRamis #JamesSpader #NancyMeyers #Comedy #ComedyMovie #WorkplaceComedy #80sMovies #MoviePodcast #FilmDiscussion #UnderratedMovies

This week on Forgotten Cinema, the Mikes take a look at "Nurse Betty", a film that somehow manages to be incredibly sweet and deeply mean at the exact same time.
Mike Field is a big Neil LaBute fan and has always appreciated the cruelty that runs through much of his work. Mike Butler enjoys "Nurse Betty" because it almost feels like a response to that reputation, as if LaBute wanted to prove he could make something warm and sentimental too. Of course, this is still a movie filled with violence, obsession, and some remarkably dark humor, so the meanness never disappears completely.
Both Mikes particularly enjoy Morgan Freeman as the hitman pursuing Betty while gradually developing an unhealthy obsession with an idealized version of the woman he has never actually met. His relationship with Chris Rock's character also becomes one of the most entertaining parts of the film, culminating in a reveal that adds another layer to their already strange dynamic.
The biggest question comes from Betty herself and the way the film handles her state of mind. Her belief that she is actually a nurse from her favorite soap opera works when the movie stays inside her fantasy, but certain practical realities make that illusion harder to accept. When the audience is wondering if Betty has to do something as straightforward as buy a nurse's uniform from a costume shop, it becomes difficult not to wonder how her mind is processing what is actually happening around her.
Even with those questions, Butler especially comes away appreciating just how unique "Nurse Betty" feels. The film reaches for the highest peaks of bright, happy, almost saccharine storytelling while simultaneously embracing cruelty, violence, and darkness.
Those flavors sound like they should clash completely, but somehow, "Nurse Betty" makes them work remarkably well together.
🔔 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
4:07 - Film Facts
12:05 - Film Discussion
32:11 - Reviews
37:33 - Who Would You Recommend This To?
42:23 - Why Is This Forgotten?
43:41 - Plugs
#ForgottenCinema #NurseBetty #Renée Zellweger #MorganFreeman #ChrisRock #NeilLaBute #RomanticComedy #ComedyMovie #RomanceMovie #DarkComedy #00sMovies #MoviePodcast #FilmDiscussion #UnderratedMovies

This week on Forgotten Cinema, the Mikes take a look at "Music & Lyrics", the 2007 romantic comedy starring Hugh Grant and Drew Barrymore.
Both Mike Butler and Mike Field really enjoy the film, especially its sharp dialogue, strong supporting characters, and the easy chemistry between its two leads. Hugh Grant’s Alex Fletcher is also a refreshing romantic-comedy protagonist because he is not portrayed as a completely broken man who needs to be fixed. He is largely comfortable with where he is in life, even if that life looks very different from the fame he once had.
That also gives Drew Barrymore’s Sophie a more interesting role than the typical love interest tasked with repairing the male lead. Their relationship develops through conversation, collaboration, and shared humor rather than one character simply rescuing the other.
The film’s biggest weakness comes from Sophie’s backstory involving an author who wrote about their past relationship. The movie never gives that storyline enough time or detail to make it emotionally land, and its eventual resolution is reduced to little more than a fact revealed during the end credits.
Even with that flaw, "Music & Lyrics" remains a charming, funny romantic comedy with genuinely likable leads and plenty of memorable lines.
The Mikes also use the film as a jumping-off point to discuss what actually makes a romantic comedy work, why chemistry and character matter more than formula, and why movies like this seem to have become increasingly rare.
What are some romantic comedies from the last ten years worth watching? Let us know in the comments below!
🔔 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
3:37 - Film Facts
8:47 - Film Discussion
25:40 - Reviews
31:23 - Who Would You Recommend This To?
38:34 - Why Is This Forgotten?
42:26 - Plugs
#ForgottenCinema #MusicAndLyrics #Music&Lyrics #HughGrant #DrewBarrymore #RomanticComedy #ComedyMovie #RomanceMovie #00sMovies #MoviePodcast #FilmDiscussion #UnderratedMovies