Movie Gumshoes

Case File: "Kang Fu" - Warriors of Virtue (1997)

Assigned to give an anti-drug presentation to a class of impressionable third graders, rookie detective Jonathan "Sourdough" Manno makes the catastrophic mistake of preparing by watching Warriors of Virtue (1997), a fantasy film about a disabled boy who is transported to the mystical land of Tao and learns lessons about virtue, self-discipline, and resisting evil from a band of kung-fu kangaroos. Unfortunately, Jonathan also supplements his research with several hours of motivational videos and, under circumstances that remain under investigation, becomes convinced he has been chosen to lead the next generation of moral warriors. His presentation inspires the children far beyond its intended scope, resulting in dozens of elementary school crusaders marching through town to "purify Tao," picketing liquor stores, staging sit-ins at local dispensaries, and attempting to recruit citizens into the Virtue Patrol. As chaos erupts across Apache Junction, the Movie Gumshoes must determine whether Warriors of Virtue is an overlooked family fantasy, a gateway to motivational extremism, or simply the unfortunate catalyst for Jonathan's brief but disastrous reign as the self-proclaimed Kangaroo King of Temperance.

Case File: "Yoyohawk" - Prey (2022)

In this thrilling episode of Movie Gumshoes, the detectives crack the case file to investigate Prey, the explosive 2022 science-fiction action horror film directed by Dan Trachtenberg and written by Patrick Aison. Set in the Northern Great Plains in 1719, the film serves as a gripping prequel to Predator and follows Naru, a fierce young Comanche played by Amber Midthunder, as she hunts a deadly alien wandering the great plains. The Gumshoes are fired up from the jump, geeking out over the rich Comanche history, the brutal survival action, and the return of one of their favorite franchises. As they dig deeper into the case, the detectives can’t contain their excitement watching two elite warriors, one human, one extraterrestrial, collide in an intense showdown packed with suspense, heart, and savage combat.

Case File: "The Grabber" - Black Phone (2022)

In this episode of Movie Gumshoes, Jared and his overeager rookie partner Jonathan “Sourdough” Manno crack open the case file on The Black Phone, which Jonathan insists isn’t just a movie, but “evidence hiding in plain sight.” As they investigate the film, Jared lays out the facts: it’s a 2021 American supernatural horror film directed by Scott Derrickson, co-written with C. Robert Cargill, and based on a short story by Joe Hill. The story follows Finney (Mason Thames), a kidnapped teen trapped by a masked child killer known as “the Grabber” (Ethan Hawke), who uses a mysterious disconnected phone to communicate with the killer’s past victims. Jonathan, of course, latches onto this immediately, convinced the Grabber’s patterns, psychological tactics, and even the idea of victims “reaching back” could connect to their real-life hunt for the Panty Face Killer back in Apache Junction. As Jared tries to keep things grounded by noting the film’s Blumhouse Productions backing and distribution by Universal Pictures, Jonathan is already building a conspiracy board linking fictional murders to real ones. By the end, Jared is forced to admit one unsettling truth: even if the ghosts aren’t real, the patterns might be, and that’s enough to keep their investigation dangerously alive.

Case File: Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves (2023)

In this episode of Movie Gumshoes, Jared and Jonathan investigate Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves starring Chris Pine, zeroing in on Edgin’s tragic mistake of stealing cursed gold from the Red Wizards, a decision that ultimately cost him his family. As they dig deeper, they’re sidetracked by the bizarre late-added cameo from Bradley Cooper, filmed after production wrapped, which Jared treats like a “patch job” not unlike the excuses cops make when they bend the rules. That spirals into a moral dilemma back at the precinct, where loose cash from drug busts tempts Jonathan to justify skimming a little off the top, only for Jared to draw a hard parallel: cursed gold or dirty money, it all carries consequences, and once you take it, it takes something from you in return.

Case File: "Graboids" - Tremors (1990)

In this episode of Movie Gumshoes, tensions flare when veteran detective Jared grows increasingly irritated with his rookie partner, Jonathan “Sourdough” Manno, who is more focused on perfecting his tap dancing routine for the precinct talent show than on their cases. The constant clatter of tap shoes echoing through the station pushes Jared to his limit, sparking a plan to regain Jonathan’s attention. Determined to pull his partner back into detective work, Jared fabricates a case involving mysterious underground seismic activity, framing it as a real-life version of Tremors. He spins an elaborate theory that the so-called “monster movie” may actually be based on true events, hoping Jonathan’s curiosity, and sense of duty will outweigh his passion for dance. As Jared builds the case, he backs it up with suspiciously accurate “evidence,” referencing real facts from the 1990 film: how it was directed by Ron Underwood, starred Kevin Bacon and Fred Ward, and featured underground creatures, later dubbed “Graboids” that hunt by sensing vibrations through the ground. He even points out that the movie was filmed in the desert town of Lone Pine, using practical effects and puppetry to bring the creatures to life details that make his fabricated case feel just believable enough to hook Jonathan. As Jonathan begins to take the bait, the line between fiction and reality blurs in classic Movie Gumshoes fashion, blending absurd investigative work with cinematic analysis. Meanwhile, Jared’s scheme risks spiraling out of control as the fake case gains momentum, especially as Jonathan starts applying real detective logic to the “Graboids,” all while still trying to squeeze in rehearsal time. In the end, the duo must decide what matters more: cracking a case that may not exist, or nailing a tap routine that definitely does.