Bad Movies Rule Podcast: When Bad Films Produce A Good Podcast

 Here's the irony surrounding podcasts about movies. Every year, there are 125 major films released each year. The number has decreased over the decades. Yet, there are tens of thousands of movie podcasts. 

The attraction to doing a movie podcast is easy to understand. You don't need a degree, a certification, or even extensive knowledge of films to record and release a movie podcast.

The setup that has dominated this genre for years goes as such: three dudes in their 20s who were in a fraternity get together over some IPAs and try to be funny while discussing movies. Fart and tit jokes fly, and movie criticism is perhaps secondary to having a good time. 

A few of the best movie podcasts include Filmspotting, hosted by Adam Kempenaar and Josh Larsen, which has producing shows since 2005, Verbal Diorama by Em, and Every Single Sci-Fi Film Ever by Ayesha Khan. 

Every once in a while, however, a podcast crashes through its own trope and succeeds where others have failed. That movie podcast is Bad Movies Rule.

This excellent movie podcast began in September 2021 and has 170 episodes in the can. The show's premise -- unique because it focuses on bad movies like The Razzies -- foes as such: "We’re a bunch of blue-collar folks that talk about all the movies that don't get enough love. We give out awards to each film and try to determine whether they are actually bad, good-bad, or straight-up good! We hope you will enjoy being part of our group and hanging out with us."

This twist on a familiar trope usually separates a podcast from the crowded podverse. Bad Movies Rule is a solid example that found a unique premise and executed its essence with superb discipline. 


The podcasting team of Bad Movies Rule continues: "We are a group of friends and filmmakers who started a sketch comedy group back in 2005 in Chicago. That eventually turned into a string of independent movies from 2006 to 2010. We approach talking about films from the standpoint of having made them (on a much smaller scale), and can commiserate with some of the challenges. Bottom line - we love movies, and many of the movies we love wouldn’t be called good by the common arbiters of quality (critics/award shows).

"We’ve all gone on and started families, but this podcast became a way to get the band back together and bring in some new friends as well."

Understanding who's talking during an episode is a problem except for the most faithful. I listened to ten episodes and was still a bit fuzzy on the shifting lineup. Apparently, the podcast has James Hauser, Joe Goratowski, TWO Ryans --Mattila and Mueller, somebody named Bob, and the lone female named Jen. 

Despite the musical chairs hosting situation, the group mesh well together with minimal talking over one another, and each person is free to display their comedy chops, film analysis acumen, and social commentary.

 

Let's face it. Dissecting any form of art that's bad is much more fun than, say, trying to define the genius of the Mona Lisa or a great film like Rear Window by Alfred Hitchcock. 

The format of the show is simple yet effective. The team's chosen bad movie is dissected scene by scene, with plenty of comedic interludes and caustic comments throughout the scene-by-scene review of the film. At the end, the team gives out awards for overacting, bad acting, and underrated performance with names for actors that exemplify that skill. For example, the bad acting award is named for Steven Seagal, who, I agree, may be one of the worst actors of all time. Can we also add Chuck Norris to that list?

Some of my favorite episodes include the January 2, 2024, show about Jaws 2. In the episode, the co-hosts imagine what the film would be like if Arnold Schwarzenegger played one of the teens trapped in the raft and in danger of becoming a shark snack. With their talents on full display, all the co-hosts break out their "Arn-old" impersonations and, as TV Guide used to write, hilarity ensued. 

In the Tremors 3 episode on December 22, 2023, the co-hosts ridicule the silly six million-dollar budget, which the producers seemingly wasted on a few special effects, as the co-hosts poke copious holes in the ludicrous plot, and reuse of the footage from earlier films in the franchise to save money. 

 

The episode from March 2023 on the 1986 film Cobra with Sylvester Stallone is a can't miss. It's Stallone with a matchstick in his mouth, which doesn't help his muddled diction and sunglasses that he wears day and night.

In a welcome departure in January 2024, the show actually reviewed an excellent movie -- Predator -- which was a special preview of the first episode of their Patreon-exclusive show, Good Movies Rule, that originally aired on June 1st, 2023.

 What I like about this movie podcast include:

1. The co-hosts have a genuine affection for one another

2. Unlike some movie podcasts, the co-hosts raise the level of the wit and humor above that of middle-school level.

3. The co-hosts invest the time in studying and assessing these bad films and explaining why they are so bad.  

4. The show had a "good nose" for bad films that are ripe for the peeling.

5. The awards they give out for acting in these flicks are both silly and well scrutinized. Plus, making fun of Putin's buddy, Seagal the actor, is deliciously satisfying.

What I also like about the show is that the hosts do not take themselves too seriously. This comment is on their website.“From the beginning, we’ve been very honest about the quality of our show. You can listen….but it’s not good”

 

Check out Bad Movies Rule. The movies are often so bad, and the podcast is so good.