The Cannon Cruisers

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.

The Last Match (1991)

THE LAST MATCH (1991) – ITALIAN ACTION SPORTS EXPLOITATION Hey Cannon Cruisers fans! This week we are covering the 1991 Italian cult film The Last Match, directed by Fabrizio De Angelis and featuring an ensemble cast including Oliver Tobias, Ernest Borgnine, Henry Silva, and Charles Napier. The story follows a professional football player whose daughter is wrongfully imprisoned in a corrupt Caribbean country, leading him to recruit his entire team for a daring military-style prison break conducted like a championship game. Join JD and Randy as they discuss the bizarre origins of this script and the sheer absurdity of watching a football team in full pads and helmets engaging in a violent skirmish. The hosts break down Ernest Borgnine’s performance as the coach, the film's surprisingly slow law-thriller buildup, and the ludicrous final twenty minutes where sports plays are used to coordinate a prison raid. They also weigh in on the film’s "vaguely Cuba coded" setting and debate whether the entertaining climax makes up for the wooden acting and confusing editorial choices found in the first two thirds.

Zu Warriors from the Magic Mountain (1983)

Zu Warriors from the Magic Mountain (1983) – Wuxia Fantasy Action Hey Cannon Cruisers fans! This week we are checking out the 1983 Wuxia classic Zu Warriors from the Magic Mountain, directed by Tsui Hark and starring Yuen Biao, Sammo Hung, Adam Cheng, Bridget Lin, and Moon Lee. Set in ancient China amidst a landscape of constant civil war, the film follows a young soldier who stumbles into a supernatural conflict and must team up with a group of powerful masters to prevent a vengeful spirit from destroying mankind. Join JD and Randy as they discuss how this groundbreaking production bridged the gap between traditional Hong Kong cinema and modern Hollywood special effects. The hosts break down the film’s chaotic energy, the legendary cast's physical performances, and the specific visual elements that famously inspired John Carpenter’s Big Trouble in Little China. They also explore the film's themes of unity and explore whether the fast-paced, imaginative action still holds up as a high recommendation for fans of the fantasy genre.