The Stacks

Episode 211 - The Mummy (1932) + More

This week on The Stacks, in part one (0:00-1:24:05), we discuss the 1932 Universal Monsters classic The Mummy, directed by Karl Freund, as well as part one of Sergio Martino's highly Twin Peaks-inspired mystery/giallo TV miniseries Private Crimes. In part two (1:24:05-2:34:31) we talk in shorter form about 8 additional features: Bill Condon's enjoyably wacky conclusion to the Twilight Saga, 2012's Breaking Dawn Part 2, Caye Casas' extremely dark 2022 comedy-horror The Coffee Table, the 2013 M. Night Shyamalan sci-fi parenting adventure After Earth, the horrible 2018 Chris Columbus Adam Sandler picture Pixels, the Coen Brothers' 2008 idiots do espionage comedy Burn After Reading, the excellent 2025 Bleeding Skull film collage project Phantasmatapes (volume 1), the 2004 Coen Brothers remake of The Ladykillers, and the 1969 Henry Hathaway revisionist western True Grit. In part three, we talk briefly about the other stuff we've watched since last time, and make our picks for next week.

The live list of The Spooky Stacks is online at https://letterboxd.com/jshopa/list/the-spooky-stacks-1/

Episode 210 - Blood of Dracula's Castle + More

This week on The Stacks, in part one (0:00-1:14:39), we're talking about Al Adamson's 1969 grindhouse horror Blood of Dracula's Castle, as well as "Erlenmeyer Flask" - the final episode of X-Files' first season. In part two (1:14:40-2:26:49) we talk in shorter format about 9ish additional features: Bill Condon's zany, elevated 2011 Twilight Saga entry, Breaking Dawn Part 1, the 2025 Jake Schreier entry in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Thunderbolts, 2010's Devil - the first (and last) entry in The Night Chronicles, directed by John Erick Dowdie, the 1993 independent John De Hart production/starring vehicle Champagne and Bullets, the 1998 Alex Proyas sci-fi noir Dark City, the 6th season Flintstones episode introducing The Great Gazoo, James Wan's 2013 'based on a true story' haunted house movie The Conjuring, Shinji Somai's 1985 highly-regarded coming-of-age film Typhoon Club, Alexander Mackendrick's classic 1955 Ealing Studios black comedy The Ladykillers, and the original 1984 miniseries Challenge of the Gobots (which preceded the ongoing show). In part three, we talk briefly about the other stuff we've watched since last time, and make our picks for next week.

The live list of The Spooky Stacks is online at https://letterboxd.com/jshopa/list/the-spooky-stacks-1/

Episode 207 - Jour de Fete + More

This week on The Stacks, in part one (0:00-1:22:28), we talk about Jacques Tati's debut feature Jour de Fete (and related short "L'ecole des facteurs"), in addition to "Roland" - the 23rd and penultimate episode of X-Files' first season. In part two (1:22:29-2:28:50) we talk in shorter format about 8 additional features: M. Night Shyamalan's roundly despised 2010 Avatar adaptation The Last Airbender, David Slade's 2010 Twilight Saga entry Eclipse, Julius Onah's 2025 MCU entry Captain America: Brave New World, Todd Phillips' controversial 2019 supervillain origin story Joker, Lamberto Bava's 1984 creature feature Monster Shark (aka Devil Fish etc), Larry Fessenden's 1995 vampirism / addiction film Habit, the 2018 Travis Knight Transformers franchise soft reboot Bumblebee, and the 2001 Coen Brothers' philosophical noir The Man Who Wasn't There. In part three, we talk briefly about the other stuff we've watched since last time, and make our picks for next week.

The live list of The Stacks is online at https://letterboxd.com/jshopa/list/the-stacks/

Episode 206 - Zatoichi on the Road + More

This week on The Stacks, in part one (0:00-58:08), we talk about the 1963 Kimiyoshi Yasuda film Zatoichi on the Road, in addition to "Born Again" - the 22nd episode of season 1 of X-Files. In part two (58:08-2:17:01) we talk in shorter format about 9 additional features: season one of MCU's Daredevil: Born Again TV series, Joel Schumacher's 1983 debut picture DC Cab, the 1979 Enzo G. Castellari beach hangout adventure The Shark Hunter, the 2009 Twilight entry New Moon, directed by Chris Weitz, Lucio Fulci's many-titled 1979 gore classic Zombie, the 1991 Pete Hewitt bizarro comedy sequel Bill & Ted's Bogus Journey, the 1982 Susan Seidelman NYC new wave scene film Smithereens, the controversial 2008 James Bond entry Quantum of Solace, directed by Marc Forster, and the first episode of Hanna-Barbera's Wacky Races. In part three, we talk briefly about the other stuff we've watched since last time, and make our picks for next week.

The live list of The Stacks is online at https://letterboxd.com/jshopa/list/the-stacks/

Episode 207 - Enter the Dragon + More

This week on The Stacks, in part one (0:00-1:10:48), we talk about the 1973 Bruce Lee martial arts classic Enter the Dragon, directed by Robert Clouse, in addition to "Tooms" - the 21st episode of season 1 of X-Files. In part two (1:10-48-2:22:49) we talk in shorter format about 8 additional features: the 2025 MCU TV series Ironheart, the 2021 Nao Yoshigai semi-surrealist documentary Shari, the 2008 M. Night Shyamalan amorphous disaster film The Happening, Catherine Hardwicke's 2008 teen vampire romance Twilight, The Coen Brothers' 1998 cult comedy classic The Big Lebowski, Nick Millard's 1985 lo-fi flamenco action softcore picture Shotgun aka Gunblast, the 1988 Brett Piper homemade sci-fi sequel Mutant War, and Alex Proyas' highly influential 1994 comic book adaptation The Crow. In part three, we talk briefly about the other stuff we've watched since last time, make our picks for next week.

The live list of The Stacks is online at https://letterboxd.com/jshopa/list/the-stacks/

Episode 206 - Yakuza Papers Final Episode + More

This week on The Stacks, in part one (0:00-1:11:43), we conclude our coverage of Kinji Fukusaku's original Battles Without Honor or Humanity series, also known as The Yakuza Papers, with Volume 5 - Final Episode, in addition to "Darkness Falls" - the 20th episode of season 1 of X-Files. In part two (1:11:44-2:29:03) we talk in shorter format about seven additional features: the 2024 MCU TV series Agatha All Along, the 1996 Coen Brothers' fake true crime masterpiece Fargo, Stephen Herek's 1989 teen comedy classic Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure, Teruo Ishii's 1973 ero guro jidaigeki Bohachi Bushido: Code of the Forgotten Eight, the 1981 Filipino James Bond ripoff For Y'ur Height Only (starring Weng Weng and directed by Eddie Nicart), the 2006 M. Night Shyamalan fairytale flop Lady in the Water, and the 2006 Martin Campbell James Bond reboot smash Casino Royale. In part three, we talk briefly about the other stuff we've watched since last time, make our picks for next week.

We encountered some technical difficulties recording this week so apologies for somewhat uneven audio.

The live list of The Stacks is online at https://letterboxd.com/jshopa/list/the-stacks/

Episode 205 - The King of Comedy + 8 more

This week on The Stacks, in part one (0:00-1:29:46), we discuss the highly influential Martin Scorsese 1982 satire of fame and celebrity, King of Comedy, in addition to "Shapes" - the 19th episode of season 1 of X-Files. In part two (1:29:47-2:43:13) we talk in shorter format about eight(ish) additional features - we conclude our discussion (started last week) of the MCU TV series Secret Invasion as well as covering Nia DaCosta's 2023 MCU movie The Marvels, the 1988 finale to Teresa Woo's Iron Angels trilogy, George P. Cosmatos' 1985 peak 80s action sequel Rambo: First Blood Part II, David Ayers' 2024 Jason Statham action/revenge picture The Beekeeper, the 2019 Josh Cooley Pixar animated sequel Toy Story 4, Brett Piper's 1986 handmade sci-fi Battle for the Lost Planet, 2017's controversial Rian Johnson Star Wars film, The Last Jedi, and Enzo G. Castellari's home invasion thriller Cold Eyes of Fear. In part three, we talk briefly about the other stuff we've watched since last time, make our picks for next week.

The live list of The Stacks is online at https://letterboxd.com/jshopa/list/the-stacks/

Episode 204 - Yakuza Papers Vol.4: Police Tactics + 9 more

This week on The Stacks, in part one (0:00-1:15:47), we discuss the fourth volume of Kinji Fukasaku's epic crime series Yakuza Papers / Battles Without Honor and Humanity, with 1974's Police Tactics, as well as "Miracle Man" - the 18th episode of season 1 of X-Files. In part two (1:15:48-2:43:11) we talk in shorter format about nine-ish additional features - the 1994 psychedelic Patrick McGuinn short Desert Spirits, the 1991 Kazuhiru Kiuchi v-cinema manga adaptation Carlos, the feature-length 2007 David "Rock" Nelson free-association interview Can't Stop the Rock (as well as his 1992 The Giant Fly short), Nick Millard's 1980 action picture One-Armed Warrior (aka The Terrorists), the 2004 M. Night Shyamalan Amish twist film The Village, the 1994 Chuck Russell indie-comic movie The Mask, the 1995 Joseph F. Parda SOV giallo 5 Dead on the Crimson Canvas, the chilly 1973 Torgny Wickman sexploitation landmark Anita: Swedish Nymphet, the 1991 Coen Brothers masterpiece Barton Fink, and we discuss the first couple episodes of the widely-hated MCU TV series Secret Invasion. In part three, we talk briefly about the other stuff we've watched since last time, make our picks for next week.

The live list of The Stacks is online at https://letterboxd.com/jshopa/list/the-stacks/

Episode 203 - Vertigo + 8 more

This week on The Stacks, in part one (0:00-1:25:15), we discuss Alfred Hitchcock's influential 1958 psychosexual masterpiece Vertigo, as well as "E.B.E." - the 17th episode of season 1 of X-Files, introducing The Lone Gunmen! In part two (1:25:15-2:41:26) we talk in shorter format about 8 additional features - the 2022 MCU TV series Ms. Marvel, Dean Israelite's 2017 Power Rangers reboot film, Teresa Woo's 1988 HK action sequel Iron Angels II, Ted Kotcheff's 1982 action classic First Blood, the 1999 M. Night Shyamalan alien invasion picture Signs, Don Mancini's 2017 finale to the Chucky series, Cult of Chucky, The Coen Brothers' 1990 meditative crime drama Miller's Crossing, and Lee Unkrich's dark, intense 2019 children's movie Toy Story 3. In part three, we talk briefly about the other stuff we've watched since last time, and make our picks for next week.

The live list of The Stacks is online at https://letterboxd.com/jshopa/list/the-stacks/

Episode 202 - Tourist Trap + 9 more

This week on The Stacks, in part one (0:00-1:28:04), we discuss the 1979 David Schmoeller first-wave supernatural slasher Tourist Trap, as well as "Young at Heart" - the 16th episode of season 1 of X-Files. In part two (1:28:05-2:47:25) we talk in shorter format about nine additional features: the second season of Marvel's Loki TV series, the dire 1994 Alan Metter conclusion to the Police Academy series, Mission to Moscow, the notorious 1988 Stuart Raffill McFlop Mac and Me, the 2023 Stephen Scarlata documentary Sharksploitation, the 1966 Sande N. Johnson gangsploitation picture Teenage Gang Debs, Guy Ritchie's 2000 sophomore film Snatch, the Coen Brothers 1987 comedy Raising Arizona, the 2024 Alex Ross Perry surrealist music documentary Pavements, and a brief revisit of Kim Ki-Duk's South Korean kaiju picture Yongary, Monster From the Deep. In part three, we talk briefly about the other stuff we've watched since last time, make our picks for next week.

The live list of The Stacks is online at https://letterboxd.com/jshopa/list/the-stacks/