Video Store Podcast

We’re going all the way back to the earliest days of feature film to uncover some forgotten gems.
The Sentimental Bloke (1919)
A silent comedy from 1919, this film is generally considered the greatest Australian silent film, and one of the best Australian movies of all time. Based on the 1915 verse novel The Songs of a Sentimental Bloke by C. J. Dennis, it follows the exploits of Bill, a Woolloomooloo larrikin, known to his mates as ‘The Kid’. After meeting and falling in love with Doreen he vows to abandon his life of fighting, gambling and drinking.
After a stint in jail Bill gives up drinking and hanging out with his mate, Ginger Mick, marries Doreen and becomes a family man. They settle down on Bill’s uncle’s orchard in the country, where he and Doreen raise their baby.
A major critical and commercial success in Australia, the film was also popular in New Zealand and Britain.
The General (1926)
Inspired by a true story from the American Civil War it follows Buster Keaton’s character Johnny who loses face with his girlfriend Annabelle when he is rejected by the Confederate Army. Believing he has not enlisted because he is a coward Annabelle vows she will not speak to him again until he is in uniform.
A year later Annabelle is travelling on The General to visit her wounded father when the train is stolen by Union Army spies with Annabelle still onboard. Johnnie gives chase, first on foot, then by handcar and boneshaker bicycle, before commandeering the locomotive the Texas. In the process he rescues Annabelle, regains control of The General and foils the Union army.
Battleship Potemkin (1925)
Also inspired by a true story, the film covers the 1905 mutiny of the crew of the Russian battleship Potemkin. It covers the poor conditions under which the sailors were expected to work, their subsequent mutiny, the brutal way in which the mutiny was brought down and the support they subsequently received from their fellow servicemen.
It is widely considered one of the greatest films ever made, and is among the favourite films of Orson Welles, Michael Mann and Billy Wilder.
Sunrise: A Song of Two Humans (1927)
The first American film from celebrated German impressionist director F. W. Murnau, the film follows a married farmer who falls for a woman vacationing from the city. While he believes it is impossible for them to be together, she tries to convince him that if he can murder his wife, they can be together.
His conscience wins out, and he and his wife find a way to resurrect their marriage.
Four great films that have as much appeal today as they did when they were first released.



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Grab your Geiger counter and join us after closing time as we travel back to the 1950s, when radiation could turn almost anything into a monster, visitors from outer space were rarely friendly, and the Army was always just a phone call away. We’re revisiting four classics from the golden age of science-fiction cinema.
Them! (1954)
Atomic testing in the New Mexico desert has produced a terrifying new menace: giant ants! What begins as a mysterious police investigation escalates into an all-out military operation. It’s one of the finest giant-monster movies of the decade.
It Came from Outer Space (1953)
When a mysterious spacecraft crashes in the Arizona desert, an amateur astronomer discovers that the visitors aren’t quite what they seem. Based on a story by Ray Bradbury, this thoughtful sci-fi classic asks whether the unknown is necessarily something to fear.
The Giant Behemoth (1959)
A prehistoric sea monster, awakened and contaminated by radiation, threatens the British coastline before heading toward London. Featuring effects work by legendary animator Willis O’Brien, this atomic-age creature feature proves that giant monsters aren’t just an American problem.
Earth vs. the Flying Saucers (1956)
Hostile aliens descend upon Earth, and humanity’s only hope lies in science, military firepower, and a little ingenuity. Ray Harryhausen’s spectacular flying saucers steal the show as they unleash destruction on Washington, D.C.
Thanks for coming into the store today. Let me know what you think of my staff picks!



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Happy Spooky Month, Kids!
It’s that time of year again, when the leaves are golden, the air is crisp, the cider is fresh, and the vibe of the season is all things chilly, dark and spooky.
I’m proud to present to you some gems of fright and terror to haunt your Halloween festivities. These films are cult classics of obscurity both old and new, so if you’re looking for something to go with your annual favorite slashers or ghost stories, try these on for size…
CARNIVAL OF SOULS (1962)
A low-budget indie gem directed by Herk Harvey, where a woman named Mary (Candace Hilligoss) has her life disturbed by strange ghoulish visions after a car accident. What is real and what is not? It’s anyone’s guess in this cult drive-inn classic from the early ‘60s, which should delight anyone who appreciates the dark ambience of David Lynch, Ingmar Bergman, or surrealistic visions from French New Wave cinema.
TRILOGY OF TERROR (1975)
Made-for-television horror had a golden age in the 1970s, before the age of home video and audiences full of anxiety from the tumultuous ‘60s. Series like The Twilight Zone, Night Gallery and Dark Shadows set the tone for the brooding sense of dread these stories brought to the horror genre — and following in its wake was the scariest thing ever made for television. The final shot of this horror anthology which aired on ABC, Tuesday March 4th 1975, gave nightmares to a whole generation.
PUMPKINHEAD (1988)
The 1980s raised the bar for special effects and monsters in science-fiction, comedy and horror films — and among the best creature features of the decade was Stan Winston’s sleeper hit about a vengeance demon terrorizing a small rural American town. Lance Henriksen stars in his most tragic role as a father avenging the death of his son with unexpected and deadly consequences. A true folk horror fairy tale of darkness for a late October night.
We love PUMPKINHEAD here at the Video Store Podcast, so much that Pitfall Gary talked about last week as well! Check out his episode if you missed it. 🎃

ODDITY (2024)
One of the scariest films of the decade, this folk horror ghost story from Ireland is sure to chill and thrill you for your Halloween haunting spree. It’s a clever who-done-it, spooky psychological thriller and modern indie gem which deserves a larger audience. Strap yourself in for some perfect jump scares, vicious imagery, and ghostly sights and sounds.
“You wanna see something really scary?” audio clips are from TWILIGHT ZONE: THE MOVIE (1983)

Turn off the lights, lock the doors, and watch your back — these films will scare the pants off of you. Happy Halloween!
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Welcome to the Video Store Podcast.
Let’s kick off the Spooky Season!
It’s been a little quiet around the Video Store lately. The lights have been off, the OPEN sign has been dark, and the new releases haven’t moved in about a month.
But the lights are back on, the popcorn machine is running, and the Video Store is officially back in business. And you picked a good time to stop in.
Halloween is getting close, so we’re digging through the horror section for four movies that feel right at home in October. We’ve got a demon in the woods, werewolves stalking the countryside, ghosts invading the suburbs, and vampires hanging out on the boardwalk.
Basically, an average night here at the Video Store.
Pumpkinhead (1988)
If there was ever a movie made for the horror shelf in October, it’s Pumpkinhead. Lance Henriksen stars as a grieving father who turns to an old witch for revenge and summons the demon Pumpkinhead. Naturally, there’s a catch. There is always a catch when the creepy old witch in the swamp helps you summon a demon. Dark woods, an isolated cabin, a graveyard, a demonic ritual and Stan Winston’s fantastic creature effects give the movie the feel of an old campfire story. Somewhere out in those woods is something you really don’t want to meet.
The Howling (1981)
From demons, we move to werewolves. Joe Dante’s The Howling follows television reporter Karen White, played by Dee Wallace, to a secluded retreat called the Colony, where she discovers the residents aren’t exactly there for rest and relaxation. Rob Bottin’s practical transformation effects remain spectacularly gross, and the cabins, campfires, dark woods and things moving between the trees make this a perfect late-night October movie.
Poltergeist (1982)
What’s safer than your own home? Poltergeist showed us we were wrong. Craig T. Nelson and JoBeth Williams play parents whose ordinary suburban home becomes considerably less ordinary after their daughter Carol Anne begins communicating with something through the television. Poltergeist takes familiar things and makes them terrifying. Trees attack, toys move, closets swallow children, and television static becomes something you definitely don’t want to see at two in the morning. For a generation raised with TVs in practically every room, that last one hit especially hard.
The Lost Boys (1987)
Let’s close with one of the best vampire movies ever made, period. The Lost Boys takes vampire mythology and runs it straight into the 1980s. These vampires have mullets, wear leather jackets and ride motorcycles. Joel Schumacher turns Santa Carla into a permanent nighttime carnival of neon lights, music, fog, caves and cemeteries, while Kiefer Sutherland’s David makes being undead look dangerously appealing. It doesn’t take place on Halloween, but few movies feel more at home in October.
Grab the holy water, find some garlic, and sharpen your stakes.
The Video Store Is Open Again!
From the dark woods of Pumpkinhead to the werewolf-infested countryside of The Howling, from the haunted suburbs of Poltergeist to the vampires prowling the Santa Carla boardwalk in The Lost Boys, these are four very different kinds of monsters.
And four good reasons to leave the lights on.
That’s one of the things I love about Halloween movies. They don’t necessarily have to take place on Halloween. Sometimes it’s enough that they capture the feeling. The darkness comes a little earlier. Leaves blow across the sidewalk. There’s a bowl of candy on the counter and a cheap plastic skeleton hanging somewhere nearby.
Thanks for coming back to the Video Store.
Watch out for monsters.
And remember...
Be kind. Rewind.

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It’s a tough time for fans of cinema. You’re welcome to hang out with the video store crew tonight after we lock the doors, grab a soda from the vending machine, and share films featuring one of our favorite actors, the indomitable Tim Curry, who sadly recently passed away.
The Rocky Horror Picture Show (1975)
Ken shares his memories of this film, the one that put Tim Curry on the map. His performance as Frank-N-Furter made this movie one of the biggest cult films of all time, drawing legions of fans to dress up, bring props, and interact with the movie during midnight screenings.
Scooby-Doo! and the Witch’s Ghost (1999)
Ashley’s choice comes from the Scooby Doo series, in this direct-to-video mystery featuring Tim Curry as Ben Ravencroft. He’s a horror writer who might strike you as familiar, and he’s descended from an accused witch who was put to death hundreds of years ago. Grab the popcorn and enjoy this one, if you dare…
Clue (1985)
My own pick for discussion is a movie based on a kid’s board game. Maybe you wouldn’t expect much due to its origin, but Clue features an amazing cast, a frenetic pace, and puns and one liners galore. Tim Curry plays the butler, Wadsworth, and his performance is the highlight of the film.
Thanks for coming to the store today, and please feel free to share your own memories of Curry and his top-notch body of work.
Thanks for reading Video Store Podcast! This post is public so feel free to share it.



This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.videostorepodcast.com