Episode 123 ~ Class of 1984 (1982)

You're probably aware of a few bizarre and even obscure trilogies in cinematic history, but are you aware of Mark L. Lester's "Class Of" trilogy? It's an over the top look at the school system through a B-movie lens, through making prediction, noticing pattern behavior, and framing it through pure entertainment.

The first entry, Class of 1984, is about the decaying school system as framed through Fear City-style exploitation somewhere between the first two Death Wish movies. It is surprisingly prescient, and also brutal, look at a world they thought might have been but ending up existing not that long after the release of the movie.

How does it hold up? That is the subject of today's episode!

Randy's Score: 3/5

JD's Score: 4/5

 

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Up Next: Class of 1999!

Episode 119 ~ Stay Tuned (1992)

Every now and and then on Cannon Cruisers we come across a hidden gem that should be far more well known than it actually is. Today's episode features one of those movies. 1992's Stay Tuned is one of the best movies you've never heard of.

Perhaps it was a bit too ahead of its time, and just outside the decade full of movies it is most similar to, but this film is one unlike any you've seen. Think if Joe Dante had decided to direct a Ray Bradbury style story about a salesman selling a satellite dish made by demons and you might get close to this one. There isn't much else like it.

So check out today's episode to learn more about this cult classic. It deserves more than it has gotten so far.

Randy's Score: 5/5

JD's Score: 5/5

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Up Next: Brink!

Episode 112 ~ Spookies (1985)

This week we watch a movie with such a troubled production history that it's a miracle there was a final product at all. 1985's Spookies is a mid-decade horror that wants to chase a few trends but can't quite settle on one. This leads it to be quite the schizophrenic watch.

That said, it still contains a good deal of entertainment value despite it's insanity. Just do not expect it to make any coherent sense.

Randy's Score: 3/5

JD's Score: 3/5

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Up Next: Masterminds!

Episode 111 ~ Tucker & Dale Vs Evil (2010)

What happens what a horror movie isn't a horror movie but just a wild series of crazy misunderstandings? That's the plot of Tucker & Dale Vs Evil, the cult movie from 2010. Despite its popularity, its never had a sequel and one might wonder why that is? That is because it has something to do with the way the movie itself is.

This is a unique film that uses horror movie conventions to make a humorous twist on the usual tropes. It works well, almost too well, which means it can't ever really be replicated again. Find out why in today's episode!

Randy's Score: 5/5

JD's Score: 5/5

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Up Next: Spookies!

Episode 110 ~ Detention (2011)

Honestly, I'm not exactly sure how to describe what Detention is. Given it's release, it was a parody of the plethora of faux-deep overindulgent teen movies from the '00s, but it's also kind of a parody of slashers movies from the same period. It's a bit hard to peg.

Outside of its context, the movie is simply nonsensically weird in a way you will either like or not. How effective is it? You'll have to listen to today's episode to find out!

Randy's Score: 3/5

JD's Score 3/5

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Up Next: Tucker & Dale Vs Evil!

Episode 106 ~ Undefeatable (1993)

Easily Cynthia Rothrock's most infamous movie, there is nothing quite like this insane fever dream of a martial arts and slasher movie mashup. The script is awkward, the direction is helmed by the infamous Godfrey Ho, and it is a tonally bizarre movie.

And despite of all that, it somehow works incredible well at what it's trying to do and is a very engaging watch. Find out what makes Undefeatable such a crazy watch in today's episode! We promise you've never seen anything like this movie.

Randy's Score: 4/5

JD's Score: 4/5

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Up Next: Dollman!

Episode 103 ~ Bubba Ho-Tep (2002)

A surprise curveball (as most of our episodes tend to be), we actually cover the first Bruce Campbell movie we've ever covered! And it's not the ones you'd think!

No, we checked out (apparent) favorite director, Don Coscarelli's 2002 cult favorite Bubba Ho-Tep, a movie about Elvis and a mummy. Despite the description, it's not quite the movie you think it is, and is actually quite the interesting watch. Find out why in today's episode!

Randy's Score: 3/5

JD's Score: 3/5

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Up Next: Quiet Cool!

Episode 101 ~ Primate (2026)

For the first time we cover a hot new release almost exactly when it releases. Not only that, but we also really liked it! Considering the problems we tend to have with modern movies, how can that be? Surely there must be a catch?

You'll have to check out today's episode to find out and see! What exactly does this simple killer monkey movie do so differently? You might be surprised.

Randy's Score: 5/5

JD's Score: 5/5

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Up Next: City of Violence!

Episode 100 ~ Cast A Deadly Spell (1991)

We did it: we made it to 100 episodes (again)! In case you aren't keeping track, combined with our pre-Bonus Feature lineup, we now have a total of 400(!) episodes Cannon Cruisers. At this rate we might even hit 500 next year for our 10th(!) anniversary. Crazy to think about.

All that aside, today's episode is also a weird one: a film that was so obscure it only aired on HBO back in the day yet might be one of the most influential films of the decade. If you haven't heard of Cast A Deadly Spell, well, now is the time to hear about it. Because even still despite so many years passing and others aping it, there is still nothing quite like it.

And that's why we give it top marks.

Randy's Score: 5/5

JD's Score: 5/5

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Up Next: Primate!

Episode 99 ~ Castle Freak (1995)

It took some time but we finally came across another stinker. Unfortunately it happened during our parsing of Stuart Gordon films, as this is easily the weakest of his efforts that we've come across so far, and it isn't even close.

1995's Castle Freak has all the ingredients to make something interesting, even with its miniscule budget, but it just doesn't manage. Unfortunately, Jeffrey Combs is not enough to salvage this train wreck of a production. Find out why in today's episode.

Randy's Score: 1/5

JD's Score: 1/5

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Up Next: Episode 100!

Episode 97 ~ Fortress (1992)

Here's a rarity for us, and a bit of a treat. Finally we get to cover another Christopher Lambert film, and it also just happened to be directed by Stuart Gordon. On top of all that, it is a futuristic prison movie with quite the build up and possibly a bit of a heist movie element(?) . . . we'll have to check with Randy on that last part.

Regardless, 1992's Fortress is a bit of a hidden gem with a lot more going for it than you might expect. It doesn't hurt to have Jeffrey Combs in it either.

Randy's Score: 3/5

JD's Score: 4/5

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Up Next: Fortress!

Episode 94 ~ Dolls (1987)

Here is a screwball pick! We decided to check out cult favorite Stuart Gordon's third movie on a whim and discovered a real gem.

A strange gothic horror picture about killer toys before they became such a favorite in the 1990s, there is a real sense of fairy tale whimsy and classic chiller vibes missing from those latter entries. Despite its lengths and its relatively unknown nature, Dolls stands well on its own. There isn't much else like it, even now, and that's what makes it a great watch.

Randy's Score: 5/5

JD's Score: 5/5

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Up Next: The Heatwave Lasted Four Days!

Episode 92 ~ Primal Rage (1988)

Welcome to 2026!

This year we don't start with a break, but go right into our new episodes! This year we start with a weird one. Is a monkey plague movie unlike any you've ever seen before! (Mostly because it's so Italian) It's time for Primal Rage!

Randy's Score: 2/5

JD's Score: 3/5

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Up Next: Alphabet City!

Episode 91 ~ Good Boy (2025)

And for the last episode of the year, we check out the most modern movie we've seen so far! Now only is it a horror movie, but this one comes with a unique bent unlike any we've covered so far. Today's flick, Good Boy, stars a dog!

In this haunted house movie, we follow our canine protagonist as he works to save his owner from a strange horror. This film isn't quite what you think!

With that, we are done with 2025! Thank you for all your support over the past eight years and we'll see you in 2026 for more cruising out catalog of bizarre films! Trust me, we've got quite a lot to look forward to.

Randy's Score: 4/5

JD's Score: 3/5

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Up Next: Primal Rage!

Christmas Special (Episode 90 ~ Black Christmas)

This is a movie we've wanted to cover for a while now, but the chance had just never arrived. Finally, we get to share with you one of the bleakest Christmas movies ever made, the horror classic (and proto slasher) Black Christmas.

What works about this movie is how it so epitomizes the bleak era it takes place in and how so much of what is truly important has been lost to create a world that . . . is still with us in a lot of ways. A surprisingly frightening movie in a way you might not expect. It's dark but not a pointless slog, though the ending while leave your jaw on the floor.

There's really nothing like Black Christmas, even in the genre it helped spawn, and that makes it stand out even now, over 50 years since its release.

Randy's Score: 5/5

JD's Score: 5/5

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Up Next: Good Boy!

Episode 88 ~ Jimmy & Stiggs (2024)

This week week we bring you another curveball! It's a modern horror film unlike any you've probably seen before. Started during pandemic lockdowns and over the course of years, 2024's Jimmy & Stiggs is not quite what you might expect.

A sort of descent into madness/hell with practical effects and actual film, this flick isn't really a throwback but it does feel ambitious. Check out today's episode to learn just why that might be, and why we liked it more than we thought we would.

Randy's Score: 4/5

JD's Score: 4/5

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Up Next: Magic Crystal!

Episode 84 ~ Nightmare at Noon (1988)

This week we come back with a curveball! In this weird western, horror, and action, hybrid, we get cult favorite Nico Mastorakis' most infamous movie, Nightmare at Noon from 1988! Starring three b-movie titans in Wings Hauser, George Kennedy, and Bo Hopkins, there isn't quite another movie like this out there.

Of course it does have its warts, so be sure to check out today's episode to see what they are! I promise you, there is nothing quite like this movie.

Randy's Score: 3/5

JD's Score: 3/5

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Up Next: Demolition Highway!

Episode 82 ~ Wolfcop (2014)

Finally out of horror season and we're back with . . . a horror movie? This crowdfunded favorite from a decade ago hasn't been discussed recently, so we're going to do it now.

Is this good as horror and comedy or does it only get one right, or perhaps neither? Check out the new episode to discover if it holds up!

Randy's Score: 3/5

JD's Score: 3/5

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Up Next: D.A.R.Y.L!

Halloween Spectacular VIII! (Episode 81)

Welcome back to our eighth Halloween Special since starting Cannon Cruisers! This year we decided on a little bit of a curveball (as we frequently do) and chose a pair of movies you might not expect from us.

This week we covered Dan Curtis' Trilogy of Terror duology! Separated by an era of horror, these two films have a lot of contrast with each other. Also, despite airing on television instead of the theater, there is quite a lot of horror on screen.

Unlike the V/H/S movies we covered, these anthologies are very different, even from each other. Find out how that is in today's special episode!

That's it for this week. Have yourself a great Halloween and All Saints' Day, and we will see you soon!

Trilogy of Terror (1975)

Randy's Score: 4/5

JD's Score: 4/5

Trilogy of Terror II (1996)

Randy's Score: 4/5

JD's Score: 4/5

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Up Next: Wolfcop!

Episode 80 ~ V/H/S/Halloween (2025)

The most recent movie we've ever covered relative to episode recording, the newest instalment in the V/H/S franchise was not even a week old when this episode was made. We decided to strike when the iron was hot and record at the same time this one released, so you almost certainly have not actually seen this one before!

That said, it's a good, despite some weird tonal issues. Find out how dark this one can get in today's episode!

Randy's Score: 4/5

JD's Score: 4/5

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Up Next: Halloween Special!