Claim OwnershipRewind or Die – Cult Movies, Trash Cinema, and Deep Dives
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© Adam Chase 2025
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Rewind or Die is a comedy podcast about movies that are weird, wild, or way more important to us than they probably should be.
Hosted by three friends with strong opinions and questionable priorities, each episode dives headfirst into a different cult classic, box office bomb, or nostalgic fever dream from the video store era. Expect deep movie breakdowns, absurd tangents, pointless arguments, unhinged theories, and the occasional debate over things like cursed action figures, haunted Chuck E. Cheeses, or whether Jack Burton could survive American Gladiators.
If you love pop culture chaos, long conversations that spiral into madness, and the kind of movie talk that feels like arguing in your friend’s basement at 1 a.m.—you’re home now.
New episodes every week. Bring snacks.
59 Episodes
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Steve Martin runs a motor pool like it’s a Vegas casino, Phil Hartman’s out for blood, Dan Aykroyd’s accidentally in charge, and somewhere in the chaos—Chris Rock’s hacking a government computer and saying “I’m in.”This week, the Rewind or Die crew reports for duty with 1996’s Sgt. Bilko—the military comedy so 90s it somehow features a hover tank, Cathy Silvers from Happy Days, and Travis Tritt for absolutely no reason.Adam, Jeff, and Steve dig deep into Jonathan Lynn’s farcical filmmaking, Steve Martin’s con-man charisma, and why this movie might secretly be the last great analog comedy before the era of irony took over.It’s scams, salutes, and sitcom energy running on government time.Highlights Include:• The Art of the Scam: why Steve Martin makes dishonesty look wholesome• Phil Hartman as a villain who’s technically right but cosmically doomed• The “I’m In” hacking scene that redefined 90s computer logic• Why Sgt. Bilko and Captain Ron might share a cinematic universe• The rise and fall of the “Dad Comedy” franchise dream• A bonus debate: Was Major Thorn actually the hero?And if you’ve ever wondered what happens when charisma outranks competence, grab your VHS copy and fall in—because this episode proves that sometimes the greatest military strategy is just talking your way out of everything.
Michael Myers is back… on basic cable. The Rewind or Die crew dives headfirst into Halloween 4: The Return of Michael Myers — the slasher sequel that refuses to die, still plays on TV every October, and somehow feels like the coziest apocalypse ever filmed.Adam, Jeff, and Steve break down the mask that looks like a haunted department store mannequin, Donald Pleasence’s all-caps performance art, and how this modest little sequel accidentally invented the modern “legacy reboot.” It’s horror comfort food — crispy, foggy, and slightly pink around the mask.Topics include:• Michael Myers: OSHA’s worst nightmare.• The great Pink Mask disaster of 1988.• Loomis: small-town prophet, large-caliber problem.• The mob that couldn’t shoot straight.• Why Halloween 4 is the VHS equivalent of pumpkin pie.Evil never dies — it just gets a sponsorship from AMC.
The Rewind or Die crew dives into Halloween III: Season of the Witch (1982) — the Halloween movie without Michael Myers but with killer commercials, cursed masks, Tom Atkins, and enough shamrock-shake chaos to melt your TV. And somehow, it’s the one that makes the most sense in 2025.This week, Adam, Jeff, and Steve break down John Carpenter’s weirdest sequel — a corporate horror fever dream of apocalyptic TV mind control, ancient druids, and pure ‘80s madness. Along the way: the rise of Tom Atkins as a hard-drinking hero, a detour through Uncle O’Grimacey’s lost Shamrock Shake commercial, and the eternal question — can you really steal Stonehenge?It’s the ultimate cult-horror redemption episode: chaotic, nostalgic, and mint-flavored.Turn it off? Not a chance.
Michael Myers never punched out — he just moved to the night shift.In this deliriously fun deep dive, the Rewind or Die crew clocks in for Halloween II (1981) — the rare sequel that doesn’t even let its characters rest. Adam, Jeff, and Steve break down Carpenter’s Budweiser-fueled script, Loomis’ screaming marathon, Jamie Lee Curtis’ nap-heavy performance, and the empty hospital with the world’s worst staffing plan.They get into why this movie accidentally invented the “immediate sequel,” how Carpenter went from suburban slasher to world-builder, and how this one film quietly shaped every horror franchise that followed. It’s smart, chaotic, and packed with the kind of delirious VHS-era energy that made you fall in love with horror in the first place.Because evil didn’t die that night — it just worked overtime.
John Carpenter made Halloween for three hundred thousand dollars and accidentally rewired the entire horror genre. In this kickoff to the Rewind or Die Halloween mega-block, Adam, Jeff, and Steve dive into the indie nightmare that turned small-town suburbia into the scariest place on Earth.They break down how Carpenter’s minimalist direction, Debra Hill’s grounded writing, and Jamie Lee Curtis’ debut created the blueprint for every slasher that followed. From the haunting simplicity of that five-note score to the camera that stalks like a ghost, the guys trace how Halloween weaponized silence, shadows, and hedges to invent modern fear itself.Expect chaos, laughter, and way too much discussion about hedges, VHS cover art, and whether Michael Myers technically has a job title. It’s the movie that cost less than a house and made terror timeless.Featuring:– The true story of how Halloween’s low-budget ingenuity changed Hollywood forever– Carpenter’s “less is more” horror math– Donald Pleasence’s “EVIL!” acting masterclass– Jamie Lee Curtis becoming the final girl prototype– And the eternal question: would Haddonfield have survived if they’d just installed streetlights?Rewind or Die: the podcast that digs deep, laughs harder, and remembers when movies were scarier because you had to rewind them.
John Carpenter’s They Live isn’t just a movie — it’s a prophecy wrapped in a suplex.Adam, Jeff, and Steve throw on the sunglasses to see the truth: the 1980s were ruled by aliens, Reaganomics, and bad cable reception.This episode’s got it all:• Rowdy Roddy Piper’s finest hour (and finest mullet)• The six-minute alley fight that changed history• Bubblegum flights, hat tier lists, and why Mr. Belvedere got hurt sitting down• Carpenter’s rage, capitalism’s collapse, and Steve ranking sunglasses like it’s March MadnessPut the glasses on, hit play, and prepare for the chaos.REWIND OR DIE: THEY LIVE — chew bubblegum, kick ass, and subscribe before the aliens do.
Grab your glow-in-the-dark chalice and kneel before the jar—because the Rewind or Die crew is cracking open John Carpenter’s Prince of Darkness (1987), aka the cursed VHS that feels like Taco Bell at 2 a.m. Adam, Jeff, and Steve dive headfirst into Carpenter’s middle-child of the “Apocalypse Trilogy,” complete with glowing slime, grad students who should’ve dropped the class, dream transmissions from 1999, and Alice Cooper stabbing people with a bike frame like it’s just another Tuesday.We’re talking Satan Goo™, Donald Pleasence screaming at liquids, Victor Wong explaining evil like it’s a Pop-Tart, VHS static that invented cursed tapes before The Ring, and the most disturbing mirror hand cameo of all time. Is this Carpenter’s weirdest horror movie? His most underrated? Or the moment he officially became the YouTube algorithm of 1987?All that plus the usual chaos: fake ad breaks, VHS banter, Taco Bell conspiracies, and the official Rewind or Die judgment. It’s slime, it’s science, it’s cosmic horror on a budget—and yes, it rules.
John Carpenter followed Halloween with glowing mist, cursed gold, and hook-wielding ghost sailors. We dive deep into The Fog (1980) — the production, the reshoots that saved it, Adrienne Barbeau’s lighthouse DJ vibes, Tom Atkins’ mustache magic, and yes… that 2005 remake disaster.It’s spooky season, Carpenter season, and VHS nostalgia chaos only Rewind or Die can deliver. Subscribe, rewind, and don’t step on the grass.
It’s 1983, John Carpenter teams up with Stephen King, and the result is… a car that straight-up murders people. Christine is part horror, part puberty metaphor, and part demolition derby.In this episode of Rewind or Die, Adam, Jeff, and Steve chase down cursed automobiles, rant about VHS rentals, Frostys in yellow cups, and why the Oakland A’s are basically the Incredible Hulk of baseball. Plus: Carpenter’s ‘director jail’ era, King’s cocaine-fueled writing spree, and more tangents than Christine has dents.
Robert Redford is gone at 89, so the guys dropped a bonus episode on his paranoid cult classic Sneakers (1992). It’s dad-heist cinema at its peak: pizza debates, dial-up hacking, Sidney Poitier staying calm, and Dan Aykroyd screaming about conspiracies.Adam, Jeff, and Steve dive into the plot, the legendary cast (Redford, River Phoenix, David Strathairn, Ben Kingsley, Mary McDonnell), and why this 90s thriller still works today. They talk the box office, its endless cable-TV run, and how Sneakers became one of those early DVDs every dad owned next to Jurassic Park and Twister.Expect VHS tangents, breadstick arguments, VHS vs DVD nostalgia, unhinged 90s pop culture references, and Jeff’s impassioned love for this as one of his true comfort movies. This is Rewind or Dieat its funniest and most chaotic—celebrating Robert Redford’s legacy and one of the greatest paranoid comedies ever made.
Carl Weathers goes full action hero in Action Jackson (1988), a movie that deserved an entire franchise but got left in the VHS aisle. We break down why this cult classic still rules, how Craig T. Nelson’s tuxedo karate is both insane and perfect, why Vanity steals scenes, and why Carl Weathers should’ve been mentioned in the same breath as Stallone, Schwarzenegger, and Willis. It’s part comedy, part tribute, all 80s action chaos.
What if a movie wasn’t a movie but a raccoon-written fever dream? That’s Weapons (2025): Julia Garner weaponizes anxiety, Josh Brolin shows up with mulch and a shotgun, and every frame looks like an A24 trailer about haunted Bass Pro Shops.Adam, Jeff, and Steve try to survive Zach Cregger’s chaos, debate whether Weapons is art or a prank, and spiral into cinematic taser metaphors. Stick around—Louis is back next week for Action Jackson.
Exploding footballs. Cigarettes in the rain. Bruce Willis at peak divorce energy.This week, the guys dive into The Last Boy Scout (1991) — the Shane Black/Tony Scott fever dream where football is corrupt, cars explode for no reason, and Bill Medley sings the most knockoff anthem in history. Adam calls it life-changing, Jeff brings the trivia (and the sighs), and Steve questions the league’s TV ratings.Follow along as we break down Bruce Willis’ weirdest career pocket, Damon Wayans’ indoor sunglasses, and whether this football league somehow connects to Shane Falco and The Replacements.
Boy bands. Demons. Glow sticks as holy weapons. That’s K-Pop Demon Hunter—a movie so insane it makes Point Break look like a documentary.Adam, Jeff, and Steve break down the glitter-soaked chaos: training montages, evil rival bands, fan calendars that seal hell itself, and a finale that might be the most accidental exorcism in film history.
Harrison Ford runs, Tommy Lee Jones doesn’t care, and The Fugitive (1993) still rules. Adam, Jeff, and Steve break down the dam jump, the train crash, the Oscar-winning marshals, and why this is the ultimate dad-thriller. Plus: mustard-on-fries discourse, forgotten TV origins, and whether U.S. Marshalsis more than just a TNT staple.Everything you love about ’90s thrillers: real stunts, real Chicago, and Tommy Lee Jones being the most competent man alive.
Rodney Dangerfield goes back to college, hires Kurt Vonnegut for his homework, and somehow beats Top Gun at the box office. In this week’s episode, we dive into Back to School (1986) — the VHS comedy classic with the legendary Triple Lindy, Robert Downey Jr. in gremlin mode, Pauly from Rocky, Terry Farrell (Star Trek: Deep Space Nine), and Billy Zabka being the ultimate 80s villain.We break down how this Rodney Dangerfield comedy made $90 million, became a Comedy Central staple in the 90s, and why it’s still a cult favorite today. Plus: listener emails, fake IMDb reviews, and a debate about Harrison Ford’s place on the Mount Rushmore of action movies.Hit play, subscribe, and get ready for a full dose of “No Respect!” nostalgia.
Keanu Reeves is Johnny Utah, Patrick Swayze is Bodhi, and Gary Busey just wants two meatball subs. This week, Rewind or Die dives into Point Break (1991) — the surfing, skydiving, bank-robbing action classic that inspired The Fast and the Furious and an entire generation of adrenaline junkies.Join Adam, Jeff, and Producer Steve as they break down Kathryn Bigelow’s cult masterpiece — from the greatest foot chase in movie history to Anthony Kiedis’ unforgettable cameo. They nitpick Johnny Utah’s terrible undercover work (shouldn’t everyone recognize the Rose Bowl quarterback from THE Ohio State?), marvel at Lori Petty’s underrated role, and argue whether Bodhi is a criminal, a guru, or both. Plus, the gang debates if Rodney Dangerfield could’ve pulled off the same assignment, why the dog-throwing scene deserves its own Oscar, and how Point Break still sets the standard for action movies three decades later.
What do you get when you mix Tom Hanks in a bathrobe, Bruce Dern with binoculars, Carrie Fisher rolling her eyes, Corey Feldman as a neighborhood hype man, and Joe Dante’s gift for suburban chaos? You get The ‘Burbs (1989), one of the weirdest and most beloved cult comedies of the late 80s.This week, Adam, Jeff, and Steve move into the cul-de-sac to break down every paranoid detail of Joe Dante’s dark comedy classic. They cover the legendary opening morning sequence, the trash-can curbside theatrics, the killer monologues, and of course—Dick Miller and Robert Picardo as the greatest garbage men in cinematic history.Along the way, they also tackle:• 7-year-old Jeff seeing The ‘Burbs in theaters (and how it shaped him forever)• Why Art’s “the guy was a killer” speech is the suburban cousin of Phoebe Cates’ chimney story from Gremlins• The insane box office year of 1989 (Batman, Indiana Jones, Ghostbusters II, Honey I Shrunk the Kids, and more)• Which Burbs character each host would actually be in real life (spoiler: Steve = the suspicious neighbor)• The surprise Peacock reboot of The ‘Burbs starring Keke Palmer (yes, it’s real!)And as always, Adam begs for Timecop questions, Jeff goes full professor on the movie’s history, and Steve quietly gives up trying to keep things organized.Next week: Point Break (1991). The real one. Swayze. Reeves. Busey. 100% Pure Adrenaline. No remakes allowed.
Jean-Claude Van Damme is a time-traveling cop with a mullet powered by grief and LA Looks gel, and we are absolutelyhere for it. This week on Rewind or Die, Adam, Jeff, and Steve go deep on 1994’s Timecop—the rocket-sled-to-a-wall sci-fi action “classic” where politicians commit time crimes, Mia Sara explodes after ten minutes, and Ron Silver gets paradoxed into hamburger soup.We cover:Why Timecop might actually be more scientifically accurate than Primer (according to Adam, which is terrifying)The lost Timecop Happy Meal toys that should’ve existedHow this movie beat Forrest Gump at the box office for one glorious weekendBruce McGill in a mesh tank top as the true hero of the future year… 2004Plus: the shocking Back to the Future fast-food conspiracy, Sloane Peterson’s brief leap from Ferris Bueller to exploding spouse, and the Timecop 2: Totino Protocol pitch you didn’t know you needed.Next week: We move from time crimes to suburban paranoia with The ’Burbs (1989).📧 Email us your movie suggestions: rewindordiepodcast@gmail.com 📲 Like, follow, and subscribe so your future self doesn’t regret it.
HELLOOOO, dear listeners! The boys are back and we’re kicking off our return with a deep dive into Mrs. Doubtfire, the heartwarming 1993 family comedy about—checks notes—identity fraud, stalking your ex-wife, and the healing power of latex prosthetics.Robin Williams delivers a legendary performance as Daniel Hillard: a man so determined to see his kids, he creates a fake Scottish nanny persona, passes a background check under false identity, and nearly kills James Bond with a lime. It’s emotional. It’s chaotic. It’s borderline criminal. And somehow, it still works.We talk: – Why Sally Field is 100% right and everyone owes her an apology – The myth of the NC-17 Doubtfire cut – Forgotten ‘90s dad jobs (toy designer, dinosaur host, air freshener mogul??) – Matthew Lawrence and the Lawrence Brother Cinematic Universe – The chaotic protagonist vs. reasonable villain problem in movies – And why this movie is basically The Fugitive in a floral cardiganAlso featuring: debates about whether this movie would or should be made today, Steve's terrifying knowledge of Beethoven, and a teaser for next week's episode: Timecop (Van Damme + time travel = instant chaos).New episodes every Monday. Like the show? Smash that follow button, rate & review, or send us your movie takes at rewindordiepodcast@gmail.com
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