Colin's Last Stand: Knockback

Truth be told, we (The Brothers Moriarty) went into The Cabin in the Woods totally blind. Unlike our other romps through horror fare this October, we've both never seen this film... at least until preparing to record this episode. While controversial in nature -- it is, after all, a Joss Whedon joint -- The Cabin in the Woods happens to be a well-respected horror film for one specific reason: It's really good. Turning the genre on its head, poking fun at its archetypes and tropes, and even laying a greater groundwork for the actual meaning behind horror itself, Cabin in the Woods is a clever and thought-provoking flick, and we're thrilled to give it its due here on KnockBack. So listen, before we bind you with ancient logics. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

1974's The Texas Chainsaw Massacre is the prototype for the teen-and-20-something slasher films that would fill up theater marquees and video store shelves for the next 40 years. All the hallmarks are there: A set of bold and clueless antagonists, a mysterious, abandoned, and rural locale, a series of situational justifications, a mask-wearing killer, and an iconic weapon. With a brisk runtime, an air of surrealism and camp, and some incredibly strong performances (particularly in the film's second half), The Texas Chainsaw Massacre is a must-see for anyone interested in the genetic makeup of the horror genre as we know it, and we're thrilled to talk about it here on KnockBack. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Beginning in the 1960s, a string of psychological-driven horror movies were released to great fanfare. A seminal film that perfectly fits the mold is none other than 1976's The Omen, starring the beloved Gregory Peck. The Omen is unique, even amongst psychological thriller and horror fare, in that it's also political. Not deeply so; it's certainly not partisan in nature. Rather, it focuses on how the supernatural can interface with the levers of power, and the disastrous potential consequences that could follow. If anything, our biggest complaints about The Omen are shared by many: It's brisk in its runtime, and it can be a little melodramatic, too. But that aside, it's chock-full of great performances, a promising narrative, and a truly spooky synopsis that asks whether the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost can be countered by the Devil, the Anti-Christ, and the False Prophet. Book of Revelation fans, get ready! It's your time to shine. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

There's something about the time The Exorcist came to theaters, in that it almost certainly made the experience a hell of a lot more frightening than it would be today. When this film launched in December of 1973, one can imagine going to see it, being completely horrified, and then sitting at home. No internet, no cable TV, no phone to keep you busy. Just whatever's over the air and your landline, and hopefully no intrusive thoughts. Based on a novel released a couple of years prior, The Exorcist is a world-class example of Catholic horror told through the eyes of a tortured family that seems to have it all and a troubled priest who knows more than he should. What makes it so scary is that, like so many works of religious-themed horror, it feels like it could happen, at least in some sense. And, well, our recent viewing has left us with much to say on the matter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

While 1977's Stephen King novel The Shining preempts (and obviously inspired) the film that would come three years later in 1980, it's the movie and not the book that's most well-regarded. That's primarily due to auteur Stanley Kubrick, who delivered a film adaptation of King's horror story for the ages, one readily celebrated and obsessed over to this day. Drawing from a unique, one-of-a-kind aesthetic, rich use of color, sound, and symbolism, and exacting expectations from cast and crew, Stanley Kubrick's The Shining is a tentpole in the long history of cinema, the realization of something both profound and unsettling, not only on-screen, but entering real life, too. That's what makes art art, though, and what makes it so easy to celebrate The Shining as the true expression of brilliance it is, even if it's uncomfortable and, at times, outright frightening. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Learning the value of a dollar is a fundamental lesson for all fully-functioning young people. While some parents choose the allowance route (with chores mandatory or not), many teens are eager to score a part-time gig as soon as they're legally allowed (and often before they're not). Today's episode of KnockBack is dedicated to our earliest forays into the world of gainful employment. Dagan worked as a produce guy, at a skateshop, and even at a bagel store. Colin cleaned stables, made egg sandwiches, and landscaped in the hot sun. Naturally, there are stories to tell and memories to re-experience. And, perhaps most importantly, this gives us a great opportunity to remember some of the characters we've worked with along the way, too. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

1989's Lethal Weapon 2 is one of the most beloved buddy-cop (and action) movies of all-time, and for good reason. A trio of excellent performances from the likes of Mel Gibson, Danny Glover, and Joe Pesci set the stage for two hours well-spent, another ride through 1980s Los Angeles full of crime, violence, and of course a never-ending stream of jokes. From straightjackets to nailguns, from tow truck chase scenes and Apartheid-era racists, Lethal Weapon 2 is a wild ride, and we're excited to talk about it in detail. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Hey yourself. The reality on the other side of 'The Hatch' has finally been revealed, but really, such an answer only multiplied the mystery. Lost's second season, which first aired on ABC in 2005 and 2006, is widely considered the strongest run of episodes in its six season arc. In all actuality, it's hard to even explain much more without spoiling the show, what with its riddles upon riddles and all. So we'll keep it short. The Others, the Numbers, the Tail, the Dharma Initiative. It's all here. And we're eager to discuss it all with you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

For school children around the world, gym class is a grueling, years-long rite of passage, and when we were growing up, it was especially arduous. Climbing ropes. Getting picked last. The dreaded Presidential Challenge. Square dancing?! Let's be honest: Gym was (and still is) complete nonsense -- a distraction from learning the fundamentals -- but it's a collective memory for most of us, and it's the perfect topic for KnockBack. So nock your arrow, pull yourself up, go watch film, and then join us for an extensive discussion about a piece of perpetual Americana: Physical education. Or the lack thereof. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

When you think of 'buddy cop'-style movies, Lethal Weapon likely comes to mind. The 1987 smash-hit film starring a young Mel Gibson and a relatively unknown Danny Glover is one of the archetypes of this subgenre of action, with two polar opposites finding out on the fly that they have much more in common than they think. Featuring the likes of a pre-accident Gary Busey and chock-full of zany moments that all somehow make sense in context, Lethal Weapon remains a master class in the once-dominant action genre, and a reminder of how movies can be a lot of fun, not take themselves seriously, and yet remain grounded, believable, intriguing, and engaging. So, you may be too old for 'this,' as it were, but you're never too old for KnockBack. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

If you were around and paying attention when Lost aired on ABC, you'll already know that it was a true television phenomenon both in the United States and around the world. Indeed, when it first started running in 2004, it immediately became a 'water cooler'-type show, and it was an especially poignant time to watch something like Lost, because this was pre-streaming, pre-social media, and, for most, pre-DVR. It was appointment viewing. Otherwise, you rented or bought the DVDs when they came out, or hoped to catch a rerun or grab a bad-quality copy from online. And, most importantly, you dodged spoilers as best you could! The mysteries of the crash of Oceanic Flight 815 are at the center of what makes the show so compelling, and so as we begin our six-episode journey through what is perhaps ABC's most famous programming ever, we encourage you to watch along with us. The numbers. The hatch. The Black Rock. Ethan Rom and the Others. The beach craft. Polar bears. Needless to say, this is no ordinary island. Lear

1994's The Shawshank Redemption is based upon a work by Stephen King, but unlike most of King's best-known work, Shawshank isn't horror-themed. At least, not in the literal sense. Instead, the movie deals with humanity, forcing viewers to see unlikable-on-paper characters through a different lens. The results are legion: An all-time famous cinema bromance, myriad theories about the work's subtext, philosophies of crime, punishment, and rehabilitation, insinuations of religiosity and heavy-handed Christian messaging, and something so ubiquitously-seen during the late-'90s and early-to-mid-'00s on cable that virtually anyone watching television at the time would have watched it multiple times through. The Shawshank Redemption is widely-considered an all-time great, and, well, we can't say we disagree. Some come on through, fresh fish, before we sing you a lullaby. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Steven Spielberg's 1998 film Saving Private Ryan is widely considered the greatest war movie of all-time, and honestly, it's hard to disagree. There's an absolutely obsessive level of detail in every single aspect of the production, and it gets just about everything right. See, in 1944, the world was a different place than it was today. The Allies were in an existential crisis against true evil. Brave people who barely knew anything about the world were asked to step up to the plate, and they did, sacrificing in ways we simply can't imagine. Their efforts helped shape the world today as we know it; the very least we can do is gush about The Greatest Generation. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

We -- the Brothers Moriarty -- loved us some Ninja Gaiden in our younger years. The NES original is actually a vague reinterpretation of an arcade title by the same name that preceded it; yet, in turning Ninja Gaiden from a beat-'em-up into an action-platformer, developer Tecmo spawned a powerhouse that easily rivals other late-'80s classics. Indeed, it belongs in the conversation of best NES games, full-stop. Our investigation into Ryu Hayabusa's retro adventure doesn't only end with the first game, though, as we explore its contemporaries on the market and wax poetic about the heyday of the fictional ninja in greater media, and how Ninja Gaiden's deeply-told story gave us context, perhaps for the first time in our then-young lives, into the deeper potential of video games. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

 In 2005, acclaimed American author Cormac McCarthy released one his most famous novels, a brisk read called No Country For Old Men. Set in 1980 in Texas' sprawling border region, No Country For Old Men is all about chance and consequence set amongst the backdrop of a brewing drug war that, in modern times, we know all too well. Our audience voted for us to cover this topic -- one about money, violence, love, and happenstance -- and we did so from two angles: We watched the movies, as you requested, but we also read the book, which is quite different in a number of ways. We're absolutely thrilled to talk about the Coen Brothers' award-winning film and the novel it was based upon alike. Just remember to call the coin. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

By 2011, Sony-owned developer Naughty Dog was firing out critically-acclaimed games from a machine gun. Only two years removed from near-unanimous Game of the Year Uncharted 2: Among Thieves and two years away from the even-more-unanimous Game of the Year The Last of Us, Uncharted 3 finds itself in a bit of a pickle, at least with some. After all, it wasn't directed by Amy Hennig, and many players felt it to be a weaker iteration than what preceded it. Yet, within its bounds is an absolutely stunning adventure, a wonderfully cinematic romp with the perfect balance of combat, puzzle-solving, and storytelling. Many at Naughty Dog think Uncharted 2 and 3 are only held at different levels of appreciation because of the order they were released in, and that if launched in the other direction, people would simply love 3 more than 2. Is that true? We discuss that -- and a whole lot more -- in our Uncharted 3-themed episode of KnockBack. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

We promised you we'd be back! A few weeks ago, we recorded an episode all about James Cameron's 1984 film The Terminator, and we figured we'd return with haste to talk about its mega-famous sequel. Launched in 1991, Judgment Day brings the co-stars of the first flick back, but turns the story on its head. This time, Arnold is a good guy, and he and Linda Hamilton act as stewards for John Connor, the all-important leader of the future resistance, after the dreaded Skynet becomes self-aware and goes haywire. Beloved to this day -- T2 is considered both one of the best sci-fi and action movies ever -- we dive into the story, setting, characters, and potential (both reached and missed) of this half-a-billion-grossing cultural phenomenon that helped further spawn and solidify an entertainment license that continues (to the chagrin of many) to this day. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

It's been a long trek, but we've finally made it through. Here is our eighth and final episode of KnockBack dedicated to the Game of Thrones television series, in particular its eighth season. These six episodes -- four of them essentially movie-length -- are contentious. Indeed, I don't think anyone would argue that this final run was blatantly rushed and not nearly as satisfying as to be expected. But it's not so much an insult to HBO's Game of Thrones as it is a compliment. We expected more. Yet, that doesn't mean there isn't much to talk about, praise, and enjoy in this final season, and we do just that. Buckle-up for the resolution not only of Game of Thrones, but of our nearly-20-hour discussion of it. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Let's be honest: Nintendo 64 isn't chock-full of excellent, must-play games. But it certainly had its reserve of classics, and 1998's The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time -- the fifth core Zelda game -- is certainly one of them. In fact, for a not-so-small subsection of gamers, Ocarina of Time is considered one of the greatest (if not the best, outright) games of all-time. So, fresh off of recent playthroughs, we're excited to talk about it. From the jump to 3D to its amazing soundtrack, from its revolutionary Z-targeting gameplay to its rosters of memorable characters, items, weapons, and dungeons, Ocarina of Time was a masterpiece then, and it still is today. It's a reminder of Nintendo's true potential as the greatest innovator our industry has ever seen, and since it's one of the most-copied titles ever released, you also get to experience its lineage in most of what you play today. So let's get caught-up in the music, quite literally, and ping-pong between a seven-year period where things go off the rail

We won't lie: The going gets a little rough from this juncture on. HBO's Game of Thrones series, by this point in its run, had far-outstripped its source material. As such, they're flying on fumes through the seven episodes of the seventh season. Released in 2017, this penultimate offering is controversial to say the least, but if anything, our problems with it amount to a backhanded compliment. The reality is: The plot, the characters, the world... they all deserved a lot more room to breathe, to reach the quality that had been met so consistently up to this point, and HBO failed in letting that happen. The result is something contentious, but not without merit. It's just a shame to think of what could have been had they really bought-in on finishing the journey as epically and strongly as they began it. And sadly, it only gets worse from here. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices