'Black Christmas' with 'Night of the Comet' & 'Chopping Mall' Star Kelli Maroney
Release Date: 06/27/2019
Switchblade Sisters
Today we have the multi-talented Jenna Kanell (Terrifier) on the program. She’s a writer, director, actor, and stunt performer. And she’s on the show today to talk about 2014’s It Follows. Jenna discusses the infusion of social commentary into the horror genre. She talks about the difficulty and isolation that can go along with the acting process. And she elaborates on performing her own stunts and how that can help her feel more “in her own body” for a role. If you haven’t seen …you should! It’s good! With and .
info_outline ‘The Lost Boys’ with ‘Into the Dark: My Valentine’ Director Maggie LevinSwitchblade Sisters
We have the magnificent director Maggie Levin (Blumhouse’s Into the Dark: My Valentine, Miss 2059) on the show to discuss Joel Schumacher’s vampire-classic, The Lost Boys. Maggie and April chat about making genre films on a shoestring budget. Maggie takes us through the laborious and often entertaining process of the “name clearance phase” of filmmaking. And she emphasizes the necessity of talented actors to make a quality film. You can watch on Hulu now. And if you haven’t seen …get to it! With and .
info_outline ‘Mad Max: Fury Road’ with ‘Birds of Prey’ Director Cathy YanSwitchblade Sisters
What a FANTABULOUS episode this is! We have the magnificent Cathy Yan, director of Birds of Prey, on to talk all about Mad Max: Fury Road. Cathy discusses what it’s like making her own standalone film in a “sequalized environment.” She elaborates on the function of using practical effects and stunts. And she discusses working with Margot Robbie and further developing Harley Quinn’s character. You can watch in theaters on February 7th. And if you haven’t seen …what? With and .
info_outline ‘Adaptation’ with ‘Color Out of Space’ Star Madeleine ArthurSwitchblade Sisters
This week we are joined by the wonderful actress Madeleine Arthur (Color Out of Space, Big Eyes, To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before) to talk about 2002’s Adaptation. Madeleine discusses the craft of self-taping an audition, doing an ADR session, and grounding supernatural dialogue. She also reveals what it was like co-starring with Nicolas Cage. And she even sings the song he made up for the times when he needs to focus on set. You can watch in theaters now. And if you haven’t seen …what are you even doing with your life? With and .
info_outline ‘Bunny Lake Is Missing’ with ‘She’s Missing’ Director Alexandra McGuinnessSwitchblade Sisters
We are so lucky to be joined by the phenomenal director of the new film She’s Missing, Alexandra McGuinness. She’s on the program to talk about the aptly chosen movie, Otto Preminger’s Bunny Lake Is Missing. Alexandra discusses the significance of making films in foreign places. She elaborates on unintentionally making her work personal. And she chats about her love of collaborating with inexperienced actors – especially child actors who correct Josh Hartnett when he doesn’t remember a line. You can watch on streaming now. And if you haven’t seen …do it...
info_outline ‘Addams Family Values’ with Julia PrescottSwitchblade Sisters
This week we have one of our very own Max Fun pals on the program, writer and Round Springfield co-host Julia Prescott! She’s on the show to talk about the delectable Addams Family Values. Julia discusses her love of 90’s comedies and the genius of Joan Cusack. Plus she elaborates on her own writing mindset and the joy of taking silliness very seriously. You can listen to now. And if you haven’t seen …what are you doing?! With and .
info_outline ‘The Texas Chainsaw Massacre’ with Writer Megan AmramSwitchblade Sisters
What a great way to start off the New Year. Writer Megan Amram (The Good Place, Parks and Rec) joins April to discuss the monumental classic, The Texas Chainsaw Massacre. Megan and April explore the idea of objectifying the human body in an interesting and meaningful way. Plus Megan talks about the moral approach in her scripts for the way character’s make decisions. And it should be noted that this entire interview was conducted with Megan shrouded in her own The Texas Chainsaw Massacre blanket. You can watch NBC’s The Good Place on Thursday nights. And if...
info_outline ‘Ladyhawke’ with Janet VarneySwitchblade Sisters
A Maximum Fun crossover extravaganza! ‘The JV Club’ host Janet Varney joins host Katie Walsh to discuss the forgotten 1985 fantasy epic, Ladyhawke. Janet and Katie obsess over the score and insane romanticism of the film. Plus, Janet talks about the use of sincerity in her own work and navigating social media interactions. If you haven’t seen …good luck! With and . You can let us know what you think of Switchblade Sisters on or . Or email us at . Produced by and for .
info_outline ‘Scream’ with Clarke WolfeSwitchblade Sisters
Ladies and gentlemen, Katie Walsh is back in the booth. She’s joined by the wonderful writer, actor, and host Clarke Wolfe to talk about Scream. This is a truly in depth analysis of the film by two bonafide “Scream heads.” Plus, Katie and Clarke examine how prescient this film was with its criticism of incels, the feminization of young men, and the prediction of Columbine. Scream has layers! If you haven’t seen …run don’t walk to see it. With and . You can let us know what you think of Switchblade Sisters on or . Or email us...
info_outline 'Brazil' with 'Watchmen' and 'The OA' Writer Claire KiechelSwitchblade Sisters
We are so lucky because – A). We have Claire Kiechel, writer for Watchmen and The OA, on the show this week. And B). She’s discussing Terry Gilliam’s Brazil, which is technically a Christmas movie! She and April elaborate on all the things that make this film magical – the production design, the world building, the performances. Plus, we get a peek inside the writer’s room of Watchmen and hear Claire dissect the motivations of characters like Dr. Manhattan and Angela Abar. The entire first season of is available on HBO now. And if you...
info_outlineKelli first got her big break in daytime TV, both as the evil adolescent Kimberly in Ryan's Hope and then as vengeful Tina in One Life to Live. Her film debut as the ‘Spirit Bunny’ Cindy Carr in Fast Times at Ridgemont High caught a lot of attention, but Kelli achieved her greatest enduring cult popularity with her delightful turn as the endearingly spunky Samantha in the science-fiction end-of-the-world Night of the Comet. She’s especially memorable as the sweet, killer-robot slayer Alison Parks in the entertaining romp, cult classic Chopping Mall, and as Jamie, a strong female survivor in The Zero Boys, as well as many other films.
The movie that Kelli has chosen to discuss is especially prescient because our host April Wolfe just happens to be writing the remake of the film. That's right, Kelli has chosen to discuss the 1974 classic, Black Christmas. She and April discuss Kelli's career in horror, and how Kelli takes great joy from the fact that horror has recently received the respect it has always deserved. She also talks about "embracing her crap" and coming to terms with the fact that she is most remembered for her cult and horror films. But she also elaborates on how honored she is by the support she receives from the fans of her work, and how meaningful that relationship is to her. Plus, she has a great story about how an off-the-cuff line she said while shooting a machine gun became one of Night of the Comet's most famous lines.
If you haven't seen any of Kelli's films, Night of the Comet is a great place to start.
And go watch Black Christmas too, while you're at it.
With April Wolfe and Kelli Maroney.
You can let us know what you think of Switchblade Sisters on Twitter or Facebook.
Or email us at [email protected].
Produced by Casey O'Brien and Laura Swisher for MaximumFun.org.