UHF (1989)

UHF (1989)

UHF (1989) – COMEDY SATIRE PARODY Hey Cannon Cruisers fans! This week, JD and Randy check out UHF (1989), the cult classic comedy satire directed by Jay Levy and starring Weird Al Yankovic, Michael Richards, Kevin McCarthy, David Bowe, Fran Drescher, and Victoria Jackson. The movie follows George Newman, a guy who cannot seem to keep a job until he gets the chance to manage a low-rated UHF station. He takes over the studio and turns it into a local powerhouse packed with bizarre public access programming and eccentric characters. Join JD and Randy as they break down the movie's zany humour, memorable bits like Spatula City, and how the writing stays tight without punching down. The guys chat about the film getting crushed at the box office in July 1989 by massive summer blockbusters, the stacked cast of weirdos, and behind-the-scenes trivia like Mark Knopfler playing guitar on the soundtrack. They also look at how Weird Al's long career kept this movie in the pop culture consciousness for nearly 40 years, making it a favourite example of the "save the TV station" plot.

Masterminds (1997)

MASTERMINDS (1997) – DIE HARD IN A SCHOOL Hey Cannon Cruisers fans! JD and Randy take a look at Masterminds (1997), a PG‑13 action film directed by Roger Christian and starring Patrick Stewart, Vincent Kartheiser and Bradley Whitford. The movie follows a rebellious teen who brings his stepsister to an elite prep school on the same day the campus is taken over by a security contractor demanding millions in ransom. They talk about how the film blends its “Die Hard in a school” premise with 1990s family‑friendly action, and look at the mix of traps, hacking moments and set‑pieces that shape the story. They also get into the tone, the PG‑13 limitations, and how the movie compares to other school‑siege films of the era. The conversation touches on the villains, the polished studio feel and the odd place the film occupies in the 1990s action landscape. Content Warning: This episode contains explicit content.

Spookies (1985)

SPOOKIES (1986) – HORROR CREATURE FEATURE Hey Cannon Cruisers fans! JD and Randy take a look at Spookies (1986), a horror creature feature directed by Brendan Faulkner, Thomas Doran and Jeanie Joseph, and starring Felix Ward, Alec Nemser and Maria Pechukas. The film follows a group of travellers who take shelter in an abandoned mansion, unaware that a sorcerer is using the house to trap souls while a series of monsters close in on them. They talk about how the film’s unusual production history shapes the final cut, and look at the mix of creatures, set‑pieces and ideas that appear throughout the story. They also get into the way the added footage changes the tone, the choices behind the effects work, and how the movie fits into the tradition of stitched‑together genre films like Ninja Terminator. They also bump into a few surprise zombies, something that never fails to keep Randy on his toes. Content Warning: This episode contains explicit content.

Tucker and Dale vs Evil (2010)

TUCKER AND DALE VS. EVIL (2010) – HORROR COMEDY CULT CLASSIC Hey Cannon Cruisers fans! This week we are checking out Tucker and Dale vs. Evil (2010), the beloved horror comedy directed by Eli Craig and starring Tyler Labine, Alan Tudyk, and Katrina Bowden. The film follows two well-meaning hillbillies who head to their fixer-upper vacation cabin in the woods, only to be mistaken for chainsaw-wielding killers by a group of preppy college students. Join JD and Randy as they break down this clever subversion of slasher tropes and the "comedy of errors" that drives the plot. The duo discusses the fantastic chemistry between Labine and Tudyk, the film’s brutal yet accidental gore, and how the story completely shifts depending on which character’s perspective you follow. They also touch on the film's desaturated 2010s color grading and why it remains a definitive cult favorite for fans who want to laugh at their horror. Content Warning: This episode contains explicit language.

Detention (2011)

DETENTION (2011) – SCI-FI SLASHER PARODY Hey Cannon Cruisers fans! This week we are checking out the 2011 genre-bending film Detention, directed by Joseph Kahn and starring Josh Hutcherson, Shanley Caswell, and Dane Cook. The story follows a group of high school students in Grizzly Lake who must survive a slasher killer known as Cinderhella while trapped in a 12-hour detention that involves time travel, body swapping, and a world-ending apocalypse. Join JD and Randy as they attempt to untangle the chaotic, fast-paced energy of this post-modern cult classic. The hosts discuss Joseph Kahn’s distinct music video aesthetic, the film’s relentless barrage of 90s and 2000s pop culture references, and how it deconstructs typical slasher tropes through a self-aware lens. They also weigh in on whether the movie's confusing, multi-genre plot is a brilliant piece of experimental cinema or simply too exhausting for a casual watch. Content Warning: This episode contains explicit language.