Now Playing -- The Movie Review Podcast

With the surprise success of the original Saw, a sequel was inevitable. However who would have guessed it would come out only one year later, or that they would continue being released one-per-year for so long? In this episode, the hosts of Now Playing learn more about "Jigsaw" John Kramer and the vengeance he exacts upon a New Kid on the Block.

When Saw came out in 2004 no one expected it to rapidly become the premiere horror franchise of the 21st century, but since then Saw has laid claim to the Halloween holiday, with each year seeing the release of a new installment in this horror series. It all started with Carey Elwes and Leigh Wannell waking up in a dirty bathroom, chained at the leg, and one is told to kill the other. With Danny Glover, Monica Potter, Michael Emerson, and Shawnee Smith rounding out the cast, does this movie deserve to be the modern day epitome of the horror film? Listen to Now Playing to find out!

With the release of the latest movie in the Halloween franchise, Rob Zombie's Halloween II, the hosts of Now Playing look into Michael Myers' family scrapbook, watching and reviewing all ten Halloween movies. Knights in White Satin, Sherri Moon Zombie in a white dress, and a white horse all populate Rob Zombie's stylistic but thematically confused sequel to his 2007 remake of Halloween. If, as Loomis says, "Bad taste is the petrol that fuels the American dream" then this movie is a dream come true. Listen to the hosts of Now Playing as we conclude our Halloween retrospective series and find out if a sequel of a remake really can hold a candle to the original.

Books & Nachos is now part of Now Playing Podcast. Before our book reviews were branded as Now Playing Podcast Book Reviews, they were released under a separate show called Books & Nachos. That podcast focused on book discussions, most of which tied directly into films we were covering on Now Playing. We’ve now merged those episodes into the main Now Playing Podcast feed for easier access and a complete archive. But these older episodes still have the original Books & Nachos intro and credits on those older recordings.  It's a house with no right angles, walls meeting floors in curves, and it may just be haunted. That's the real estate listing in Joe Screiber's latest horror novel, No Doors No Windows. Arnie will tell you if this book will have you clawing the walls in fear.

Books & Nachos is now part of Now Playing Podcast. Before our book reviews were branded as Now Playing Podcast Book Reviews, they were released under a separate show called Books & Nachos. That podcast focused on book discussions, most of which tied directly into films we were covering on Now Playing. We’ve now merged those episodes into the main Now Playing Podcast feed for easier access and a complete archive. But these older episodes still have the original Books & Nachos intro and credits on those older recordings.  Avid podcaster Scott Sigler has become a novelist. Now his novels are the subject of a podcast. Is that recursive, ironic, or just a coincidence? Either way, here we review his 2008 novel Infected, which began as the podcast novel Infection in 2006. With Halloween around the corner, is this the answer to your need for scares? Join us for this book review to find out!

With the release of the latest movie in the Halloween franchise, Rob Zombie's Halloween II, the hosts of Now Playing look into Michael Myers' family scrapbook, watching and reviewing all ten Halloween movies. After a series of sequels with widely varying quality, Michael Myers follows Leatherface to have an extreme makeover for the 21st Century audience. Directed by Rob Zombie this film is a hybrid of Zombie's aesthetic previously seen on screens in House of 1000 Corpses and Devil's Rejects, and John Carpenter's original vision. It's part prequel, part remake, and all Rob Zombie, with Malcom McDowell taking on the role of Loomis. But does the remake work, or should Busta Rhymes have returned and the old story continued? Listen to find out!

Tony Stark versus three assassins. What could possibly go wrong? We dig into Iron Man: Femmes Fatales by Robert Greenberger, a prose novel that drops Tony Stark into a globe-trotting espionage thriller packed with deadly women, high-tech armor, and corporate intrigue. Femmes Fatales leans hard into the spy side of Iron Man’s world. Stark faces off against a trio of dangerous operatives with their own agenda, forcing him to rely on brains as much as repulsor blasts. Host Arnie breaks down how well the novel captures Tony’s voice outside the comic panel, whether the femme-fatale angle adds real tension or just pulp flavor, and how this story stacks up against the cinematic Iron Man. Suit up and find out.

With the release of the latest movie in the Halloween franchise, Rob Zombie's Halloween II, the hosts of Now Playing look into Michael Myers' family scrapbook, watching and reviewing all ten Halloween movies. Ever wonder what happens if you put Busta Rhymes, Karate, The Blair Witch Project, Big Brother, American Pie, and Michael Myers all in a blender? Well, this is it! It's Halloween: Resurrection and despite having his head chopped off in the last movie, Michael Myers is back to eat more rats (with Fennel!) and kill more people. Is this hip reimaging just what the series was calling for? Listen to find out!

Books & Nachos is now part of Now Playing Podcast. Before our book reviews were branded as Now Playing Podcast Book Reviews, they were released under a separate show called Books & Nachos. That podcast focused on book discussions, most of which tied directly into films we were covering on Now Playing. We’ve now merged those episodes into the main Now Playing Podcast feed for easier access and a complete archive. But these older episodes still have the original Books & Nachos intro and credits on those older recordings.  We dive into A Walk Through the Book of Matthew: Youth Style by Pastor Jamie Estes, a devotional guide that makes the Gospel of Matthew readable and relatable for young people. The book walks through the life and teachings of Jesus as presented in Matthew, but in a tone that’s approachable for youth groups or anyone looking to connect the ancient text to real-world faith. It’s written with the express goal of helping readers better understand Christ and the example He set for how w

With the release of the latest movie in the Halloween franchise, Rob Zombie's Halloween II, the hosts of Now Playing look into Michael Myers' family scrapbook, watching and reviewing all ten Halloween movies. Jamie Lee Curtis is back as Laurie Strode, 20 years after the first Halloween, but Michael Myers is back too. Produced and influenced by Kevin Williamson, will this movie make you Scream? Listen to find out!

With the release of the latest movie in the Halloween franchise, Rob Zombie's Halloween II, the hosts of Now Playing look into Michael Myers' family scrapbook, watching and reviewing all ten Halloween movies. Michael Myers is back in black...or at least with the man in black from the last Halloween movie, and we learn that Michael is cursed by a thorn and controlled by druids...oh I give up, listen to this podcast to find out if the Now Playing hosts can make sense of this movie, or the Producer's Cut alternate release.

With the release of the latest movie in the Halloween franchise, Rob Zombie's Halloween II, the hosts of Now Playing look into Michael Myers' family scrapbook, watching and reviewing all ten Halloween movies. Michael Myers is back and out for revenge in the fifth installment of the Halloween franchise, but what happened to his neice, and who is the strange mysterious man in the dark trenchcoat? Or the old woman at the barn party? We don't know, but listen anyway as we review Halloween 5!

With the release of the latest movie in the Halloween franchise, Rob Zombie's Halloween II, the hosts of Now Playing look into Michael Myers' family scrapbook, watching and reviewing all ten Halloween movies. After the debacle that was a Halloween movie without serial killer Michael Myers, the makers of this new installment want to be sure the Shatner-masked icon is front and center both in this movie and in its title. But does the return of The Shape also mean the return to the quality levels found in the first Halloween movies? Listen to find out!

With the release of the latest movie in the Halloween franchise, Rob Zombie's Halloween II, the hosts of Now Playing look into Michael Myers' family scrapbook, watching and reviewing all ten Halloween movies. Join us this week as we count down the days till Halloween (Silver Shamrock!), and discuss the entry in this film franchise that doesn't include Michael Myers, Dr. Loomis, or anything else that made the series successful in the first place.

With the release of the latest movie in the Halloween franchise, Rob Zombie's Halloween II, the hosts of Now Playing look into Michael Myers' family scrapbook, watching and reviewing all ten Halloween movies. Join us this week as we continue with The Shape's pursuit of Laurie Strode, and discuss the film that introduces the family connection that intended to finish the story but instead started the sequel machine.

With the release of the latest movie in the Halloween franchise, Rob Zombie's Halloween II, the hosts of Now Playing look into Michael Myers' family scrapbook, watching and reviewing all ten Halloween movies. Join us this week as meet The Shape and his infamous Captain Kirk mask, and discuss the movie that frightened a generation, sparked a new genre of slasher film, and made John Carpenter one of the masters of horror.

In anticipation of Rob Zombie's upcoming movie Halloween II, the hosts of Now Playing look back at Rob Zombie's initial foray into horror with the films House of 1000 Corpses and its sequel The Devil's Rejects. Join us as we go into the home of the Firefly family and follow them on the run. We conclude with Zombie's second film, The Devil's Rejects. Does the Firefly family leave us on a high note? Listen to find out!

In anticipation of Rob Zombie's upcoming movie Halloween II, the hosts of Now Playing look back at Rob Zombie's initial foray into horror with the films House of 1000 Corpses and its sequel The Devil's Rejects. Join us as we go into the home of the Firefly family and follow them on the run. We start with Zombie's first film, House of 1000 Corpses. Where do they fit all those bodies? Listen to find out!

Welcome to the Now Playing Terminator retrospective series, where we will be looking back at all the films in the Terminator franchise. Today we finish our series watching Terminator Salvation. We have a new director, a new star, and a new, conflicted Terminator model. Is this movie the series' salvation, or should this series now be terminated? Listen to find out!

Welcome to the Now Playing Terminator retrospective series, where we continue looking back at all the films in the Terminator franchise. Twelve years after Terminator 2 dominated box offices, Arnold is back as the T-101, this time fighting a female Terminatrix to save a grown up John Connor and his future wife from termination. With the threat of nuclear war looming in the background, can John Connor save the world from Judgment Day? And more importantly, is it entertaining watching him try? Listen to find out as we rate this third film and prepare for the release of Terminator: Salvation