Shoot The Hostage

Trainspotting - S11 E83

Get ready to Choose Life (and a podcast!), because Season 11 is officially here, and we're kicking off our brand-new theme of 'Drugs' movies with a true behemoth of 90s films: Danny Boyle's iconic Trainspotting (1996).
Join us as we unpack why Trainspotting has captivated audiences for decades, despite its characters being, well, mostly "assholes". We dive deep into the film's gritty depiction of heroin use – a portrayal that absolutely, objectively does not glamorize addiction, no matter what Bob Dole (who hadn't even seen it!) might have thought. We'll explore how Danny Boyle's visionary direction, heavily influenced by Kubrick's A Clockwork Orange, delivers a visually experimental and energetic experience despite its heavy subject matter. You’ll hear about the famous "Worst Toilet in Scotland", which still manages to skeeve Sarah out to this day and wonder if there is "too much poo" in this movie.
We’ll dissect the infamous "Choose Life" monologue, which turns out to be far more cynical than many might initially believe. We’ll also give our two cents on the film’s unique cast, from Ewan McGregor's smug Renton, Robert Carlyle's terrifying Begbie, Jonny Lee Miller's Sick Boy, and Ewen Bremner's surprisingly pure Spud.
Here’s what you can expect from this episode:
We discuss why Trainspotting was chosen to kick things off in season one.
Expect a deep dive into the controversial accusations of the film "glamorizing" drug use.
We break down the unlikable, yet entertaining, ensemble of characters including Ewan McGregor's Renton, Robert Carlyle's Begbie, and Ewen Bremner's Spud.
We consider Trainspotting as a coming-of-age narrative, particularly for Renton.
Hear about the infamous feud between Danny Boyle and Ewan McGregor.
Season 11 runs until August 11th with 8 episodes
Would you like to see the full lineup for season 11? The only place you can see it is on Patreon but you don't need to be a paying member. Sign up for a free membership and get access to the lineup.
If you do have some loose change consider signing up as a paid member. Our £3 a month Patreon tier will grant you access to all of our end of season wrap shows for seasons 1-10 and a minimum of 2 reviews of brand new movies each month. Plus the back-catalogue of reviews from 2023 and 2024. 
Enjoy the show but can't support us financially? We get it. You could submit a review on the podcast player you're reading this on right now. Or if you listen on Spotify and you haven't given us a five-star rating yet, what are ye waiting for? It's easy.
If you've done some or all of that and still want to do more, we would love it if you tell a friend about the show.  
Or come find us on social media:
Instagram | TikTok | Threads | YouTube

Bonus : Thunderbolts

Before we return next week with our new season, it's time for our bonus show picked from the archives of our Patreon feed. This time we talk the MCU and Thunderbolts .
We are back next Monday June 23rd for season 11!
Would you like to see the full lineup for season 11? The only place you can see it is on Patreon but you don't need to be a paying member. Sign up for a free membership and get access to the lineup.
This episode as a preview of our season 10 wrap show which is available in full, over on our £3 a month Patreon tier. If you sign up for that you'll get access to all of our end of season wrap shows for seasons 1-10 and a minimum of 2 reviews of brand new movies each month.  
Enjoy the show but can't support us financially? We get it. You could submit a review on the podcast player you're reading this on right now. Or if you listen on Spotify and you haven't given us a five-star rating yet, what are ye waiting for? It's easy.
If you've done some or all of that and still want to do more, we would love it if you tell a friend about the show.  
Or come find us on social media:
Instagram | TikTok | Threads | YouTube

Best of Flops Season

We're back for one last look at last season in our end of season "best of" clips show.
Join us as we revisit some of our favourite moments of our season of films that were considered box-office flops 
Make sure to mark June 23rd in your calendar as that is when we return for season 11!
Would you like to see the full lineup for season 11? The only place you can see it is on Patreon but you don't need to be a paying member. Sign up for a free membership and get access to the lineup when it drops on June 9th.
This episode as a preview of our season 10 wrap show which is available in full, over on our £3 a month Patreon tier. If you sign up for that you'll get access to all of our end of season wrap shows for seasons 1-10 and a minimum of 2 reviews of brand new movies each month.  
Enjoy the show but can't support us financially? We get it. You could submit a review on the podcast player you're reading this on right now. Or if you listen on Spotify and you haven't given us a five-star rating yet, what are ye waiting for? It's easy.
If you've done some or all of that and still want to do more, we would love it if you tell a friend about the show.  
Or come find us on social media:
Instagram | TikTok | Threads | YouTube
 

Season Ten Wrap Show Preview

Join us for one last round of flops discussion as we embark on our traditional end of season wrap show. The full episode is available over on Patreon on our £3.00 a month tier. 
We're sad that our flops season has come to an end but what a journey it was. From terrible films to objectively brilliant movies and everything in between. 
As this was our 10th season, this time we decided to cover 10 movies which were : 
The Thing (1982)
Masters of the Universe (1987)
Empire Records
Battlefield Earth
Nightbreed
The King of Comedy
Tank Girl
Driven (2001)
Labyrinth
Super Mario Bros (1993)
We talk about our favourite movies and discussions in the season and also try to justify why we sometimes enjoy objectively terrible films. 
Make sure to mark June 23rd in your calendar as that is when we return for season 11!
Would you like to see the full lineup for season 11? The only place you can see it is on Patreon but you don't need to be a paying member. Sign up for a free membership and get access to the lineup when it drops on June 9th.
This episode as a preview of our season 10 wrap show which is available in full, over on our £3 a month Patreon tier. If you sign up for that you'll get access to all of our end of season wrap shows for seasons 1-10 and a minimum of 2 reviews of brand new movies each month.  
Enjoy the show but can't support us financially? We get it. You could submit a review on the podcast player you're reading this on right now. Or if you listen on Spotify and you haven't given us a five-star rating yet, what are ye waiting for? It's easy.
If you've done some or all of that and still want to do more, we would love it if you tell a friend about the show.  
Or come find us on social media:
Instagram | TikTok | Threads | YouTube
 

Super Mario Bros. (1993) - S10 E82

Calling all questionable mushroom-based life-forms. This week on Shoot the Hostage, Dan and Sarah are hitting the reset button on reality and plummeting into the bonkers world of the Super Mario Bros. (1993). As we reach the final level of our "Flops" season, we're asking the essential questions about this infamous film adapted from a computer game: Was it doomed from the start? How did this become one of the most notorious flops of all time?... And why is Fisher Stevens in white-face?
Join us as we traverse Dinohattan's fungal landscapes and try to make sense of the troubled pipe-line of production that saw directors Annabel Jankel and Rocky Morton (yes, the creators of Max Headroom) reportedly clashing with the studio. We dive headfirst into the legends surrounding the set: Bob Hoskins's well-documented hatred for the film and Dennis Hopper's baffling T-Rex inspired mannerisms and alleged Trump-like ego.
Despite being a massive box office failure, we debate if there's merit in its sheer ambition and bizarre ideas, like de-evolution or people turning into fungus. Is it a total s*** sandwich, or does it hold up as a weirdly compelling slice of bizarre 90s cinema? If you're nostalgic for the days when video-game movies were finding their feet (or just tripping over them), or just curious about movies that make you feel nostalgic for poor life choices, this episode is your Power Up!
Expect discussion on:
Comparing this flop to other season entries like Tank Girl and Battlefield Earth.
The bizarre notion of dimensional rifts caused by sound waves.
The lasting impact this film had on Nintendo's handling of their IP.
Why the song "Walk the Dinosaur" makes absolutely no sense.
Luigi's surprisingly sweet rainbow belt.
That's it for season 10! Stay tuned until the end to find out the plan for season 11, which begins June 23rd.
Would you like to see the full lineup for season 11? The only place you can see it is on Patreon but you don't need to be a paying member. Sign up for a free membership and get access to the lineup.
If you do have some loose change consider signing up as a paid member. Our £3 a month Patreon tier will grant you access to all of our end of season wrap shows for seasons 1-9 and a minimum of 2 reviews of brand new movies each month. Plus the back-catalogue of reviews from 2023 and 2024. 
Enjoy the show but can't support us financially? We get it. You could submit a review on the podcast player you're reading this on right now. Or if you listen on Spotify and you haven't given us a five-star rating yet, what are ye waiting for? It's easy.
If you've done some or all of that and still want to do more, we would love it if you tell a friend about the show.  
Or come find us on social media:
Instagram | TikTok | Threads | YouTube

Labyrinth - S10 E81

In the penultimate episode of the season, we're diving headfirst into the dark fantasy movie that defined 80s childhoods (for some of us, Dan included, maybe?) but was a complete box-office flop: Labyrinth (1986). Settle in for spoilers, swearing, and probably a tangent or two about where babies go when Jareth steals them.
Was it just a logistical nightmare with all those puppets, animals, and babies? Yes. Does Jareth's portrayal raise some eyebrows today? Absolutely, he's the villain, you muppet! But despite its initial failure as a movie that flopped at the box-office, Labyrinth’s unique blend of whimsy, darkness, and catchy songs (dance, magic, dance!) has cemented its status as a cult classic. We talk about the worm, the door knockers, the Bog of Eternal Stench, and why Jim Henson took the flop so hard.
What to expect from this episode:
Speculation on the film's deeper themes and interpretations, from it being a coming-of-age story about Sarah letting go of childhood things, an anti-hoarding message via the Garbage Lady, a metaphor for life's journey and friendship, or even the darker fan theory that the entire event is a result of Sarah's mental illness
A deep dive into the incredible puppet work and practical effects, highlighting characters like Hoggle and the technical challenges of the "Swiss cheese" set
Discussion about the confirmed sequel in development, touching on previous directors attached (Scott Derrickson, Fede Alvarez) and the current attachment of Robert Eggers (EGGERS!)
Season 10 runs until May 26th with 10 episodes this time
Would you like to see the full lineup for season 10? The only place you can see it is on Patreon but you don't need to be a paying member. Sign up for a free membership and get access to the lineup.
If you do have some loose change consider signing up as a paid member. Our £3 a month Patreon tier will grant you access to all of our end of season wrap shows for seasons 1-9 and a minimum of 2 reviews of brand new movies each month. Plus the back-catalogue of reviews from 2023 and 2024. 
Enjoy the show but can't support us financially? We get it. You could submit a review on the podcast player you're reading this on right now. Or if you listen on Spotify and you haven't given us a five-star rating yet, what are ye waiting for? It's easy.
If you've done some or all of that and still want to do more, we would love it if you tell a friend about the show.  
Or come find us on social media:
Instagram | TikTok | Threads | YouTube

Driven (2001) - S10 E80

Buckle up because this week on Shoot The Hostage, we're hitting the track with a film that definitely ran out of gas at the box office! Dan and Sarah dive headfirst into the glorious box-office flop that is Driven (2001)
We brake down the bewildering plot involving characters played by Kip Pardue, Burt Reynolds, Estella Warren, Gina Gershon (making her second appearance on the podcast) and Robert Sean Leonard. We pull back the curtain on the film's massive budget, chaotic production (including casting just 3 days before shooting), and truly head-scratching moments that lead to "first day on Earth performances".
If you're desperately searching for a podcast covering movies that flopped at the box-office, diving into guilty pleasure movies, or are specifically curious about movies about motorsports and racing, especially a spectacularly bad racing movie, then this is your checkered flag! We tackle everything from the absurd dialogue ("What am I, a piece of wood?" and "You old fish") to Renny Harlin's questionable directing methods. Find out why even Sylvester Stallone himself might regret making this one.
In this episode, expect:
An apology from Dan (it's apology season, after all) for introducing Sarah to this particular film.
Analysis of the film's inaccuracies, from unrealistic race tactics to physics-defying stunts
Commentary on the film's portrayal of women and its overall testosterone driven nature
A brief tangent on mammals
Ideas for how a Driven remake could actually cross the finish line successfully
Season 10 runs until May 26th with 10 episodes this time
Would you like to see the full lineup for season 10? The only place you can see it is on Patreon but you don't need to be a paying member. Sign up for a free membership and get access to the lineup.
If you do have some loose change consider signing up as a paid member. Our £3 a month Patreon tier will grant you access to all of our end of season wrap shows for seasons 1-9 and a minimum of 2 reviews of brand new movies each month. Plus the back-catalogue of reviews from 2023 and 2024. 
Enjoy the show but can't support us financially? We get it. You could submit a review on the podcast player you're reading this on right now. Or if you listen on Spotify and you haven't given us a five-star rating yet, what are ye waiting for? It's easy.
If you've done some or all of that and still want to do more, we would love it if you tell a friend about the show.  
Or come find us on social media:
Instagram | TikTok | Threads | YouTube

Tank Girl - S10 E79

This week on Shoot the Hostage, Dan and Sarah brave the wasteland of cinema history to grapple with the undisputed heavy artillery of our big old floppy flop season, Tank Girl (1995). Be warned, as is tradition, we swear and spoil.
Sarah chose this one and frankly, it feels like some kind of revenge after Battlefield Earth.  Released in 1995 this film doesn't just qualify as a flop, it lives in the flop house and pays rent with lint and disappointment. It somehow made more than Empire Records and Police Academy 7, which, let's be honest, is our primary metric for success.
Based on the very British, very anarchic comic book series and directed by Rachel Talalay, this 1990s comic book movie should have been a slam dunk, or at least a solid ground rule double. We get into the nitty-gritty of why this felt like such missed potential.
Here’s what you can expect from this week’s episode:
Discussions on Lori Petty as Tank Girl (aka Rebecca) and who else lobbied for the role
The uncredited, sophisticated (yet visually questionable) work of Stan Winston Studios on the Rippers
The surprisingly great soundtrack curated by Courtney Love
Dream casting for a potential reboot
Ramblings that connect this film to The Warriors, Scott Pilgrim... and, bizarrely, Roy Scheider in seaQuest DSV.
Why this comic book movie adaptation ultimately crashed and burned at the box office
If you're searching for podcasts about movie flops or maybe just a podcast reviewing box office bombs, retro comic book films, or trying to understand why a film featuring a kick-ass female lead and directed by Rachel Talalay failed so spectacularly, this is the episode for you. Or maybe you just need someone to talk about the fact they made a kangaroo penis for a movie? Look no further!
Season 10 runs until May 26th with 10 episodes this time
Would you like to see the full lineup for season 10? The only place you can see it is on Patreon but you don't need to be a paying member. Sign up for a free membership and get access to the lineup.
If you do have some loose change consider signing up as a paid member. Our £3 a month Patreon tier will grant you access to all of our end of season wrap shows for seasons 1-9 and a minimum of 2 reviews of brand new movies each month. Plus the back-catalogue of reviews from 2023 and 2024. 
Enjoy the show but can't support us financially? We get it. You could submit a review on the podcast player you're reading this on right now. Or if you listen on Spotify and you haven't given us a five-star rating yet, what are ye waiting for? It's easy.
If you've done some or all of that and still want to do more, we would love it if you tell a friend about the show.  
Or come find us on social media:
Instagram | TikTok | Threads | YouTube

The King of Comedy - S10 E78

Alright, film fanatics, gather round your audio devices! Dan and Sarah are back on Shoot the Hostage, and this week we’ve finally braved a cinematic experience that’s less blockbuster and more… well, block-bust. We're talking about Martin Scorsese’s 1982 gem (that the world collectively ignored), The King of Comedy. Settle in as we dissect this certified box office flop, a movie so unloved by initial audiences that, according to Entertainment Tonight, was the biggest flop of 1983.
We'll be trying to unravel why this incredible film, starring the one and only Robert De Niro as the intensely awkward and delusional Rupert Pupkin, alongside the incomparable Jerry Lewis as the beleaguered talk show host Jerry Langford, somehow failed to connect with audiences despite the Scorsese touch. Was the world simply not ready for its cringe comedy and profoundly uncomfortable exploration of fame and obsession?
We'll also be singing the praises (as we see fit) of Sandra Bernhard’s gloriously unhinged performance as Masha, a character who redefines the term 'stan'.... We’ll be tackling the burning questions: Was Rupert the proto-incel? Is his stand-up actually… good? And just how much inspiration did Joker shamelessly borrow from this criminally underseen cult film? (Spoiler: a metric tonne)
What to expect from this episode:
A deep dive into the mystery of why The King of Comedy was a certified box office flop yet has ascended to cult classic status.
Our unfiltered opinions on the unforgettable performances of Robert De Niro, the surprisingly serious Jerry Lewis, and the absolute revelation that is Sandra Bernhard.
A look at the film’s unsettlingly contemporary themes of celebrity worship, the desperate pursuit of fame, and the dark side of parasocial relationships.
Our reliably questionable humour and Dan’s ongoing battle with basic pronunciation.
So, if you're a devotee of Martin Scorsese, fascinated by movies that flopped at the box office, or simply seeking a podcast that appreciates a truly unique and disturbingly prescient film, then congratulations, you’ve found your tribe! Subscribe now so you don't miss our descent into the delusional world of a wannabe comedy king!
Season 10 runs until May 26th with 10 episodes this time
Would you like to see the full lineup for season 10? The only place you can see it is on Patreon but you don't need to be a paying member. Sign up for a free membership and get access to the lineup.
If you do have some loose change consider signing up as a paid member. Our £3 a month Patreon tier will grant you access to all of our end of season wrap shows for seasons 1-9 and a minimum of 2 reviews of brand new movies each month. Plus the back-catalogue of reviews from 2023 and 2024. 
Enjoy the show but can't support us financially? We get it. You could submit a review on the podcast player you're reading this on right now. Or if you listen on Spotify and you haven't given us a five-star rating yet, what are ye waiting for? It's easy.
If you've done some or all of that and still want to do more, we would love it if you tell a friend about the show.  
Or come find us on social media:
Instagram | TikTok | Threads | YouTube

Nightbreed - S10 E77

Damn the man! Save the Nightbreed! This week on Shoot the Hostage Dan and Sarah dive headfirst into the gloriously bonkers world of Clive Barker’s 1990 cinematic oddity, Nightbreed!
Based on Barker's own 1988 novella, Cabal, Nightbreed throws us into a world where the real monsters might not be the ones with the gnarly prosthetics. Speaking of gnarly, this film certainly delivers on the creature front, showcasing Barker's unique and utterly twisted imagination. We'll be asking the big questions, like: why does the guy with the face on his stomach get so little screen time? Which creatures are Nightbreed and which aren’t? And what we could do with an army of miniature Clive Barker clones!
In this episode you can also expect:
Spoiler-filled discussion of Nightbreed (1990)
Enthusiastic (and possibly biased) opinions on the film’s merits
The usual digressions and tangents that may or may not be relevant
Unpacking of Nightbreed’s status as a box-office flop and its subsequent cult following
Analysis of the film’s themes of otherness and societal prejudice
A surprising connection to Red Dwarf
So, if you're after a deep dive into a horror movie that dared to be different, a film about monsters you might actually root for, and a chat that's as messy and enthusiastic as a rave in Midian, then you've come to the right place!
Season 10 runs until May 26th with 10 episodes this time
Would you like to see the full lineup for season 10? The only place you can see it is on Patreon but you don't need to be a paying member. Sign up for a free membership and get access to the lineup.
If you do have some loose change consider signing up as a paid member. Our £3 a month Patreon tier will grant you access to all of our end of season wrap shows for seasons 1-9 and a minimum of 2 reviews of brand new movies each month. Plus the back-catalogue of reviews from 2023 and 2024. 
Enjoy the show but can't support us financially? We get it. You could submit a review on the podcast player you're reading this on right now. Or if you listen on Spotify and you haven't given us a five-star rating yet, what are ye waiting for? It's easy.
If you've done some or all of that and still want to do more, we would love it if you tell a friend about the show.  
Or come find us on social media:
Instagram | TikTok | Threads | YouTube