Rogues Gallery

Kristen, Mike, and Chris investigate pop culture's most memorable villains, antiheroes, and misunderstood monsters to find out how they make being bad look so good. New episodes every other Wednesday. OUR NEXT SEASON BEGINS FEBRUARY 12th

Case File 104: Ghostbusters 11/13/2024

Case File 104: Ghostbusters "We're headed for a disaster of biblical proportions... Old Testament, real wrath of God-type stuff. Fire and brimstone coming down from the skies! Rivers and seas boiling! Forty years of darkness! Earthquakes, volcanoes, the dead rising from the grave! Human sacrifice, dogs and cats living together... mass hysteria!" Whoa whoa whoa, RELAX. It's only our season finale. ROGUES GALLERY WILL RETURN WITH NEW EPISODES ON FEBRUARY 12th.But in the meantime, let's strap on our proton packs and go out with a bang. Topics include: the original intergalactic version of the story that took place in the future, the process of reworking it into the film we know and love, why this one still feels so unique compared to a lot of other Ghostbusters media, alternate casting choices, the cartoon, the toys, the sequels, where we'd like to see this franchise go next, and much more! | | | | | Chris's | Kristen's Chris & Kristen's Web Series: /episode/index/show/roguesgallery/id/33895937

Case File 103 - Halloween: The Curse of Michael Myers 10/30/2024

Case File 103 - Halloween: The Curse of Michael Myers The sequel so nice they filmed it twice! The Halloween franchise is no stranger to troubled productions, but part six takes the cake... then decides it doesn't like the flavor of that cake and tries to bake an all-new one on top of it. Meanwhile, some of the producers are wondering why it has to be a cake at all and so they decide to turn it into a casserole instead. So yeah. It's a mess. But it's a wild story and we had a blast recording this one. Happy Halloween, friends! | | | | | Chris's & | Kristen's Chris & Kristen's Web Series: /episode/index/show/roguesgallery/id/33666287

Case File 102: Godzilla (2014) 10/16/2024

Case File 102: Godzilla (2014) Let them fight... about the 2014 reboot of Godzilla! Nah, not really. We're all pretty positive about this inaugural entry in the Monsterverse franchise. We discuss the unusual origins of the project and its decade-long journey to the big screen, director Gareth Edwards' less is more approach to the material, some of the most common complaints fans have about it, how it compares to subsequent entries, and much more! | | | | | Chris's & | Kristen's Chris & Kristen's Web Series: /episode/index/show/roguesgallery/id/33471902

Case File 101: Fright Night 08/07/2024

Case File 101: Fright Night You’re so cool, Brewster. We can’t stand it! Join us as we investigate one of the most impressive and underrated horror films of the 80s. This week, it’s Fright Night… for real! Topics include: how each of us was introduced to this film, getting old enough to realize just how horny every single scene is, whether or not we agree with its classification as a horror/comedy, the tight-knit cast and how close they remain to this day, practical effects that rival the other heavy-hitters from this era, the sequel, the remake, some interesting what-ifs, and much more! | | | | | Chris's & | Kristen's Chris & Kristen's Web Series: /episode/index/show/roguesgallery/id/32463897

Case File 100: The Exorcist 07/24/2024

Case File 100: The Exorcist It's our 100th episode! We knew we needed a truly head-spinning rogue to mark the occasion, so we decided to investigate what many consider to be the scariest movie ever made: The Exorcist. Topics include: the real-life case that inspired the novel, how a last-minute appearance on a late-night talk show changed the book's fate, the long road to finding the right director for the film adaptation, the controversial tactics that were used to get more authentic performances from these actors, why so many cast and crew members felt the production was cursed, our thoughts on the extended cut, which sequels are worth your time, and much more! Here's discussed in the episode. | | | | | Chris's & | Kristen's Chris & Kristen's Web Series: /episode/index/show/roguesgallery/id/32262382

Case File 099: A Quiet Place 07/10/2024

Case File 099: A Quiet Place It may be imperative for the characters in this movie to stay silent, but we sure have a lot to say about A Quiet Place. Topics include: the incredible first trailer, the substantially different original script, the alterations and contributions John Krasinski made after signing on to direct, some of the most pervasive nitpicks with the premise and these creatures, various interpretations of what the film symbolizes, its expansion into a wider franchise, and much more! | | | | | Chris's & | Kristen's Chris & Kristen's Web Series: /episode/index/show/roguesgallery/id/32067307

Case File 098: Evil Dead 2 06/26/2024

Case File 098: Evil Dead 2 It's been a long time coming and now we're finally taking on the Deadites from the Evil Dead franchise and exploring the series' most significant entry - Evil Dead 2! Topics include: the initial plans for Army of Darkness to be the first sequel, why it was scaled back into more of a remix of the original film instead, the massive shift in tone, our favorite sequences, how they pulled off some of the most memorable effects, where this one ranks for us amongst the other entries, and much more! | | | | | Chris's & | Kristen's Chris & Kristen's Web Series: /episode/index/show/roguesgallery/id/31884632

Case File 097: The Rocky Horror Picture Show 06/12/2024

Case File 097: The Rocky Horror Picture Show They came from Denton High! Join us as we seek refuge inside that spooky castle back down the road and investigate the cult phenomenon The Rocky Horror Picture Show. | | | | | Chris's & | Kristen's Chris & Kristen's Web Series: /episode/index/show/roguesgallery/id/31701882

Case File 096: Freddy's Dead: The Final Nightmare 05/29/2024

Case File 096: Freddy's Dead: The Final Nightmare Well, here it is. The film many consider to be the nadir of the Elm Street franchise, Freddy's Dead: The Final Nightmare. It's definitely bizarre, but is this much-maligned entry really the worst one? Let's find out! Topics include: why the studio decided to kill their golden goose, the alternate universe where Peter Jackson directed a pretty interesting version of this movie, the inspirations for the controversial shift in tone, the lack of connection with previous films, its box office success but critical thrashing, and much more! | | | | | Chris's & | Kristen's Chris & Kristen's Web Series: /episode/index/show/roguesgallery/id/31502817

Case File 095: Aliens 05/15/2024

Case File 095: Aliens "Pod away from her you cast!" Okay, well that doesn't really work. But this movie sure does! 45 years later and James Cameron's Aliens is still very high on the list of greatest sequels ever made. Join us as we strap in for an express elevator ride to hell and discuss why it's anything but Game Over for this action/horror classic. Topics include: why it took seven years for this follow-up to materialize, key differences between Cameron's original treatment and the shooting script, the additional scenes included in the Special Edition and which version we prefer, how these incredible effects were achieved on a fairly modest budget, our favorite characters, the mystery of Kenner's "Aliens" toy line from the early 90s, alternate timeline sequels, and much more! | | | | | Chris's & | Kristen's Chris & Kristen's Web Series: /episode/index/show/roguesgallery/id/31294987

Case File 094: Tron 05/01/2024

Case File 094: Tron Greetings, programs! We're digitizing ourselves and entering ENCOM's mainframe to revisit the seminal sci-fi/action film Tron. Although the film pioneered some truly incredible visual effects technology, it wasn't the overwhelming box office success Disney had been hoping for. Still, Tron developed a cult following and became an enormous influence on the next generation of forward-looking artists, musicians, and filmmakers. Topics include: why the original screenwriter feels the finished product is weaker than earlier iterations of the story, how the character of Flynn was reimagined after Jeff Bridges was cast, a few issues with the first act that ripple across the entire movie, some of the surprisingly low-tech techniques that were used to create the innovative effects, our thoughts on Tron: Legacy, and much more! | | | | | Chris's & | Kristen's Chris & Kristen's Web Series: /episode/index/show/roguesgallery/id/31059673

Case File 093: Sleeping With The Enemy 04/17/2024

Case File 093: Sleeping With The Enemy We can't live without you... and we won't let you live without us! This week, we're revisiting Sleeping With The Enemy starring Julia Roberts and Patrick Bergin. It may not be as well-remembered as some of Roberts' other films from this era, but back in 1991, this modestly budgeted thriller about a young woman on the run from the ultimate husband-from-hell scored big at the box office. Like, really really big. Ten times its budget big. It deserves a lot of credit for attempting to approach subject matter like this in a more realistic way, but like many first steps, the results are a little awkward. Just a heads up - it probably goes without saying if you're familiar with the film, but please be aware that some sensitive topics are broached here concerning abusive relationships. | | | | | Chris's & | Kristen's Chris & Kristen's Web Series: /episode/index/show/roguesgallery/id/30854403

Case File 092: Mr. Freeze (Batman: The Animated Series) 04/03/2024

Case File 092: Mr. Freeze (Batman: The Animated Series) Heart of Ice has become the signature episode of Batman: The Animated Series, but it's just the tip of the iceberg (see what we did there?) We're using this bold reinvention of Mr. Freeze as a jumping-off point to talk about the history of this seminal show and why it remains our favorite adaptation of the Caped Crusader and his rogues. Topics include: Freeze's Silver Age origins (where he was known as Mr. Zero), his handful of appearances on the 60s Batman show, the perception of him prior to Batman: The Animated Series, the story behind this dramatically revamped iteration of the character, the surprisingly nuanced approach the creators took with so many of the villains, the incredible voice cast, how B:TAS successfully synthesized fifty years worth of Batman into something that felt new and familiar at the same time, Freeze's evolution across his subsequent appearances, how this depiction was eventually introduced into the comic books, why this remains the high watermark for so many of these characters, and much more! | | | | | Chris's & | Kristen's Chris & Kristen's Web Series: /episode/index/show/roguesgallery/id/30649553

Case File 091: The Hitcher 03/20/2024

Case File 091: The Hitcher The Hitcher wasn't particularly well-received when it was released in 1986, but it has developed a dedicated following in the intervening years. And a big part of that is unquestionably due to Rutger Hauer's standout performance as the title character. It's as menacing, beguiling, and unusual as the film itself. So join us as we hitch a ride with this cult classic and open up a case file on the mysterious John Ryder. | | | | | Chris's & | Kristen's Chris & Kristen's Web Series: /episode/index/show/roguesgallery/id/30445088

Case File 090: Beauty and the Beast 03/06/2024

Case File 090: Beauty and the Beast Be our guest as we dive into the enchanting world of Beauty and the Beast. In this episode, we explore the origins of the original fairy tale, Disney's prior attempts to bring it to the big screen, why the character of Gaston was instrumental in finally making this all work, how the film helped set the stage for the era known as the "Disney Renaissance", its direct-to-video follow-ups, the live-action remake from 2017, and much more! | | | | | Chris's & | Kristen's Chris & Kristen's Web Series: /episode/index/show/roguesgallery/id/30243588

Case File 089: The Crow 02/21/2024

Case File 089: The Crow The legacy of The Crow is inextricably intertwined with tragedy. A devastating loss inspired the creation of the original comic book and then another would cast a shadow over its feature film adaptation. But this blistering tale of love, revenge, and catharsis struck a chord with a legion of fans... and for one of your hosts, this was a story that found them at exactly the right time. In this episode, we're doing a deep dive into all of it: the comic, the film, the accident, the aftermath, and so much more. Fire it up! | | | | | Chris's & | Kristen's Chris & Kristen's Web Series: /episode/index/show/roguesgallery/id/30038673

Case File 088: Fargo 02/07/2024

Case File 088: Fargo Fargo, eh? You're darn tootin'! After the disappointing reception to their previous film, the Coen brothers decided to retreat into something much smaller in scope. And although they expected Fargo to have somewhat limited appeal, it would go on to become one of their biggest hits. Topics include: the nebulous nature of the movie's claim that this is based on a true story, the lengths William H. Macy went to in order to secure his role, how Roger Deakins' cinematography reinforces the major themes of the story, the origins of the film's unusual but iconic score, pushback on the idea that this is in any way punching down at Minnesotans, the movie's unexpected success, the first attempt to turn it into a television series back in 1997, the more successful incarnation that began in 2013, and much more! | | | | | Chris's & | Kristen's Chris & Kristen's Web Series: /episode/index/show/roguesgallery/id/29829278

Case File 087: Rosemary's Baby 01/24/2024

Case File 087: Rosemary's Baby This is no dream. This is really happening! Join us as we move into the Bramford building and get to know the new neighbors. In this episode, we're investigating the history and impact of Rosemary's Baby. Topics include: the state of the horror genre when this movie was released, why there was initially some resistance to the idea of hiring Roman Polanski to direct this, their atypical choices for the two lead roles and the more conventional names that were considered, how the decision to make the supernatural elements more ambiguous created multiple ways to interpret the film, the less successful follow-ups, the degree to which Polanski's controversial legacy hangs over all of this, and much more! | | | | | Chris's & | Kristen's Chris & Kristen's Web Series: /episode/index/show/roguesgallery/id/29619293

Case File 086: The Silence of the Lambs 01/10/2024

Case File 086: The Silence of the Lambs It's a brand new season of Rogues Gallery and we're kicking things off with what's become our most requested title... The Silence of the Lambs! Topics include: Hannibal Lecter's first on-screen appearance in the film Manhunter, why director Jonathan Demme was an unlikely choice to helm this, alternate casting choices for the lead roles, how hard Jodie Foster campaigned for Clarice and the reason this project meant so much to her, Anthony Hopkins' transformative (and star-making) performance, whether or not Ted Levine's turn as Buffalo Bill has been overshadowed by the complicated and controversial aspects of that character, the unexpected critical and commercial success the movie received, all of the various attempts to cash in on that success (sequels, prequels, and TV shows), why certain iterations of Lecter are more effective than others, and much more! | | | | | Chris's & | Kristen's Chris & Kristen's Web Series: /episode/index/show/roguesgallery/id/29418253

Case File 085: The Haunted Mansion (The Ride) 10/18/2023

Case File 085: The Haunted Mansion (The Ride) Welcome foolish mortals... to the season finale of Rogues Gallery! To celebrate Halloween, we're investigating the history, development, and lasting legacy of the world's most famous haunted house attraction: Disneyland's Haunted Mansion. Topics include: earlier iterations of the ride's plot, why the opening was delayed for so long, key differences between the Disneyland and Disney World versions, the surprisingly low-tech approach to many of the incredible effects, how the ride has evolved over the years, the reasoning behind some of the big changes made to the attraction for international parks, the two live-action movies, the Muppet special, unproduced screenplays, and much more! Rogues Gallery will return with new episodes on January 10th! | | | | | Chris's & | Kristen's Chris & Kristen's Web Series: Chris's Substack Newsletter: /episode/index/show/roguesgallery/id/28341458

Case File 084 - Halloween 5: The Revenge of Michael Myers 10/04/2023

Case File 084 - Halloween 5: The Revenge of Michael Myers This one's probably not taking the top spot in anyone's ranking of the Halloween movies, but The Revenge of Michael Myers has a pretty interesting behind-the-scenes story brimming with fascinating what-ifs, missed opportunities, and cautionary tales. Topics include: how earlier drafts tackled Part 4's cliffhanger ending, Rachel's early exit and her controversial replacement, mixed feelings about the inclusion of more overtly supernatural elements, the underdeveloped subplot about Jamie and Michael's connection, the awkward addition of The Man in Black, your answers to Ultimate Match Up, Kristen's predictions for Halloween 6, and more! | | | | | Chris's & | Kristen's Chris & Kristen's Web Series: Chris's Substack Newsletter: /episode/index/show/roguesgallery/id/28213754

Case File 083: Starship Troopers 09/20/2023

Case File 083: Starship Troopers The leaves are changing color and the air is feeling a little crisper. Fall is here and you know what that means... It's time for Fall Verhoeven! It's our annual retrospective of the films of Paul Verhoeven and this year we're enlisting for a tour of duty with the brave citizens of Starship Troopers. Although it's loosely based on Robert Heinlein's seminal (and controversial) novel, the movie is less an adaptation and more of a satirical takedown of its source text. A fact that went over the heads of most critics and audiences back in 1997. Since then, Starship Troopers has undergone a fairly dramatic reappraisal and is now a beloved entry in Verhoeven's filmography for many of the same reasons it was initially panned. Topics include: the film's development as "Bug Hunt At Outpost Nine" and the makeover it received once the studio acquired the rights to Heinlein's novel, how a scathing indictment of fascism and militarism wound up being accused of championing those ideals, some of the major cuts and alterations that had to be made in order to bring this in on budget, the many factors that contributed to its dismal box office performance, all the straight to video sequels, rumors of a more faithful adaptation, and much more! | | | | | Chris's & | Kristen's Chris & Kristen's Web Series: Chris's Substack Newsletter: /episode/index/show/roguesgallery/id/28085009

Case File 082: Pacific Rim 09/06/2023

Case File 082: Pacific Rim We're canceling the apocalypse and opening up a case file on Guillermo del Toro's kaiju vs. mech slugfest Pacific Rim. Topics include: how the film reignited del Toro's passion for filmmaking after a handful of other projects fell apart, the deliberate decision to avoid any gratuitous references to its key influences, whether or not the incredibly detailed lore is offset by occasionally thin characterization, the underwhelming sequel, some surprisingly strong comic book and animated tie-ins, a few theories on why this wasn't a bigger hit, and much more! | | | | | Chris's & | Kristen's Chris & Kristen's Web Series: Chris's Substack Newsletter: /episode/index/show/roguesgallery/id/27948927

Case File 081: The Fugitive 08/23/2023

Case File 081: The Fugitive In honor of its 30th anniversary, we’re opening up a case file on The Fugitive! Although the film wound up being a critical and commercial hit, it first had to survive a surprisingly arduous development process and an even more chaotic production. It’s actually kind of a miracle that it turned out this good. So join us as we investigate The Fugitive’s long journey from development hell to bona fide classic. Topics include: the 1960s TV series and the real-life case that inspired it, how drastically different earlier iterations of the film’s plot were, alternate casting choices for Kimble and Gerard, why they had to start shooting without a finished script, subplots that were cut, the new ending that was added, how the story was further transformed in editing, the forgotten sequel, other adaptations, and more! | | | | | Chris's & | Kristen's Chris & Kristen's Web Series: Chris's Substack Newsletter: /episode/index/show/roguesgallery/id/27824256

Case File 080: Oldboy (2003) 08/09/2023

Case File 080: Oldboy (2003) Park Chan-wook’s action/thriller Oldboy was a watershed moment for South Korean cinema. Here in the West, the film’s success led to a slew of “extreme” movies that emphasized over-the-top gore and violence. And while Oldboy certainly doesn’t skimp on bloodshed, its most disturbing aspects emanate from the taboo subject matter and dark themes it’s exploring. Topics include: the original manga that the film is loosely based on, how Park Chan-wook’s attitude towards the depiction of sex and violence in his movies has changed over the years, the clever subversion of certain antihero tropes, different interpretations of the ending, the 2013 American remake, and more! | | | | | Chris's & | Kristen's Chris & Kristen's Web Series: Chris's Substack Newsletter: /episode/index/show/roguesgallery/id/27693549

Case File 079: Freddy Krueger (A Nightmare on Elm Street 5: The Dream Child) 07/26/2023

Case File 079: Freddy Krueger (A Nightmare on Elm Street 5: The Dream Child) It’s time to re-open our case film on the Springwood Slasher and investigate the chaotic production of A Nightmare on Elm Street 5: The Dream Child. We’re entering a particularly rough patch of this franchise and by all accounts, everyone involved with this entry realized pretty quickly that the deck had been stacked against them. Topics include: the producers settling on a title and a poster before there was a script, their desire to return the series to its darker roots, how successfully this deals with the complicated issues its tackling, the continued muddling of an already confusing mythology, standout sequences, the lackluster reception, and much more! | | | | | Chris's & | Kristen's Chris & Kristen's Web Series: Chris's Substack Newsletter: /episode/index/show/roguesgallery/id/27565125

Case File 078: World War Z 07/12/2023

Case File 078: World War Z The plot of World War Z is pretty straightforward, but the film's journey to the big screen was anything but. In this episode, we investigate why the filmmakers deviated so substantially from the novel and how this became one of the most troubled productions in recent memory. Topics include: why they rejected an initial script that was much closer to the source material, how almost everyone involved was in over their head, the disastrous first cut, the extensive reshoots, bizarre remnants of that original version, whether or not the movie succeeds on its own terms, how it became a bigger-than-expected box office hit, the frustrating reason a very promising sequel never came together, and much more! | | | | | Chris's & | Kristen's Chris & Kristen's Web Series: Chris's Substack Newsletter: /episode/index/show/roguesgallery/id/27391809

Case File 077: The Talented Mr. Ripley 06/28/2023

Case File 077: The Talented Mr. Ripley There have been several adaptations of Patricia Highsmith's Ripley novels, but 1999's The Talented Mr. Ripley remains the definitive cinematic interpretation of the cunning con artist. And that's despite the fact that it makes some pretty substantial changes to the source text and the title character. In this episode, we compare and contrast the book and the film, discuss Highsmith's complicated reputation and how her own personal demons infused her work, discover just how many new elements writer/director Anthony Minghella added to the story, and touch on some of the other Ripley adaptations and the upcoming TV series. | | | | | Chris's & | Kristen's Chris & Kristen's Web Series: Chris's Substack Newsletter: /episode/index/show/roguesgallery/id/27289827

Case File 076: Prey (2022) 06/14/2023

Case File 076: Prey (2022) For many fans of the Predator franchise, Prey was simultaneously a welcome return to form and a refreshing expansion of the mythology. In this episode, we track the film's top-secret development, detail its grueling production, and speculate where the series might go from here. | | | | | Chris's & | Kristen's Chris & Kristen's Web Series: Chris's Substack Newsletter: /episode/index/show/roguesgallery/id/27136944

Case File 075: The Mist 05/31/2023

Case File 075: The Mist The Mist is a largely faithful adaptation of Stephen King's original novella with one major exception. It's a decision that viewers have been debating since the film was released in the fall of 2007. In this episode, we compare and contrast both versions of the story, the film's long road to the big screen, how its box office success was hobbled by its marketing and release date, where it ranks in the pantheon of King adaptations, and much more! | | | | | Chris's & | Kristen's Chris & Kristen's Web Series: Chris's Substack Newsletter: /episode/index/show/roguesgallery/id/26993277

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