The Daily Beasts
For theme projects (like #Kaijuly, #Mocktoberfest, and #SeasonsBeatings—for example),
a new film/show is profiled every day by a different writer.
MOTHER TRUCKIN’ MAY: TWISTER’S REVENGE! (1988)
Regional cinema shines with this delightful comedy about a sentient monster truck.
MOTHER TRUCKIN’ MAY: SMOKEY AND THE BANDIT PART III (1983)
An attempt to retread in the steps of greatness has some diminishing returns.
MOTHER TRUCKIN’ MAY: ROADGAMES (1981)
A taut trucking thriller with Stacy Keach and Jamie Lee Curtis is also an undersung piece of Ozploitation.
MOTHER TRUCKIN’ MAY: BIG TROUBLE IN LITTLE CHINA (1986)
It was a long, strange road to get to John Carpenter’s trucker vs supernatural martial artists film.
MOTHER TRUCKIN’ MAY: MAXIMUM OVERDRIVE (1986)
Stephen King’s directorial debut pits humans against sentient machines, including some pissed off trucks.
MOTHER TRUCKIN’ MAY: OVER THE TOP (1987)
A divorce drama wrapped in the sweaty world of arm-wrestling, delivered by multiple big rigs? That’s OVER THE TOP, baby!
GODZILLA VS. BIOLLANTE (1989)
One of the most beloved Godzilla films finds the monster facing off against…a flower?!?
DOLLS (1987)
How Stuart Gordon’s film lays a path of what might have been (…with Disney?).
CHILD’S PLAY (1988)
Doll-O-Ween kicks off with a look at Chucky’s first appearance on screen.
NO RETREAT, NO SURRENDER (1985)
Bonkers film only has a bit of Van Damme, but it’s still worth watching.
KICKBOXER (1989)
The Muay Thai may not be right, but everything else is a winner about this JCVD film!
The Pumpkin King: APT PUPIL (1998)
A look at the monsters living among us and the gruesome bonds they can form with each other.
Fred Olen May: HOLLYWOOD CHAINSAW HOOKERS (1988)
Fred Olen Ray’s infamous film lives up to its outrageous title thanks to lots of comedy, chainsaws, and charismatic actors.
Fred Olen May: CYCLONE (1987)
A super bike, a Re-Animator, an Oscar winner and more come together in this delightful action flick.
Fred Olen May: EVIL TOONS And Its Many, Many References
A look at a favorite Fred Olen Ray film, bursting with nods to other works.
LETHAL WEAPON (1987)
Heather Wixson on how Richard Donner’s direction and Shane Black’s writing helped redefine the action hero in the 1980s.
Rambo: The Force Of Freedom, “When SAVAGE Stole Santa” (1986)
Yes, there was a Rambo cartoon. Yes, there was a Christmas episode. And yes, it is awesome.

