TotalCultZone Presents

This week, Me and Captain J watch a horror film produced by Cher and Directed by The guy from Powerman 5000. It's called Big Baby which is totally not a targeted attack of podcasters who just dump all over movies for clicks and likes... so instead of that we give a well rounded and thoughtfully constructed and considered review.I would usually put the press here, but I think I deleted the Email with it all in, I asked for a screener ages ago and I probably binned it.Successful horror screenwriter Adam struggles for inspiration until a terrifying nightmare about a masked killer sparks an idea for his new script. As he delves deeper into the story, the line between reality and fiction begins to blur.Written and Directed by Spider One, Produced by Cher (moonstruck)LINKS!CptSpaulding on Bluesky, follow to see him get a stew onTotalCultZone.com for all my stuffPattyron, give me a couple of quid [email protected] - To Direct message without that social media guffMusicTatami: Midnight DriveMusic from #Uppbeat https://uppbeat.io/t/tatami/midnight-drive License code: I27A9WQID9MEZUKO Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, we've got a new film... Amazing right? what's even more amazing is that I've got Nona on the show and we're not watching garbage for once.This week Totalcultzone presents... Babystar (blue tick)A German movie about the perils of celebrity in the social media age.PRESS!!!Luca lives in a big house with her loving parents, and she has millions of followers on social media. She has everything a teenage girl could wish for. Except Luca has never chosen that life - being an influencer is a family business and her parents make it very clear that although she is very dear to them, she must play her part to keep the sponsors coming. When her parents plan to extend the family, a crisis begins to loom. As Luca puts it herself: she just wants to be ‘special’. Can she remain the only ‘babystar’ or is she as expendable as her last Instagram story?Having premiered to strong reviews at the 2025 Toronto International Film Festival, Babystar has drawn comparisons to Yorgos Lanthimos and Ruben Östlund, earning a strong reviews from Screen Daily, Variety and others. While satire often mirrors reality too sharply for comfort, Babystar's release in UK & Irish cinemas comes at a time when social media is under huge scrutiny, especially in teenagers and children. In June 2026, the UK government announced legislation to ban under-16s from social media platforms including TikTok, Instagram, YouTube and Snapchat, with the bill likely to come into force later next year. The cast of Babystar include Maja Bons (Everybody is F*king Crazy), Bea Brocks, Liliom Lewald, Joy Ewulu, Maximilian Mundt (How to Sell Drugs Online (Fast)) and Verena Altenberger (Tatort).Director's Statement“We are all shaped by our parents. For better or worse, their values, desires, experiences, and habits live on in us. But what happens when that bond becomes a commodity? How do the dynamics within a family change when they run a business together, one in which the child is the star? And most importantly, how does a young woman find herself when she’s raised as both a projection and a product?In Babystar, I explore the phenomenon of family influencers and, using a psychological and satirical lens, illuminate the depths of intra-family dependency. Building on my previous work, which also examined the internet’s impact on young people, I aim to craft a portrait of a protagonist that is deeply rooted in the zeitgeist, one that offers a sharp critical perspective on our prevailing attention economy.We are now at a moment when the first YouTube babies are becoming teenagers, some of whom are publicly rebelling against their parents and questioning whether growing up in the social media spotlight was ever ethically right. Babystar anticipates and amplifies this moment to spark discussion, taking a clear stance without being didactic or moralizing. Because, as consumers, we all contribute to and reinforce the rules of internet capitalism.I wanted to tell this story because I understand the intimacy and complexity of close parent-child relationships. As a teenager and an early adopter of social networks, I was profoundly shaped by them. And my time in the YouTube industry gave me a deep understanding of the dynamics of online platforms and the people who thrive there."Joscha Bongard, DirectorLINKS! NonagoffTotalCultZone.com for all my [email protected] - To Direct message without that social media guffMusicTatami: Midnight DriveMusic from #Uppbeat https://uppbeat.io/t/tatami/midnight-drive License code: I27A9WQID9MEZUKO Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We all know how this is going to end as it's predetermined.I'm joined by Joe from Repeat or Delete and Dammit Vacant podcasts (but not Hallmark of Greatness) and John Atkins, Formerly Mr.TV "Hardcore" John Atkins, sometimes Ukulele teacher sometimes Ghost Tour guide to talk about "Kayfabe" A fake real movie about a fake real sport. A mid 00's mockumentary about the fabulous world of Pro-wrestling.Along the way we talk about wrasslin' and the guys who are featured in the film, which turns into a bit of a challenge as not many went to "the show". I do probably get a bunch of stuff wrong but hey, sourcing material for the youtube video version is going to be a lot of fun.Johns brief run as UK wrestlings "top" announcerGhostsA short dip into Canadian wrestling in the dark agesPete/Peter Smith/Brodie Steele?Tips on what to do if you mess up in ringthe Kayfabe movie reviewLINKS! TotalCultZone.com for all my [email protected] - To Direct message without that social media guffJohns StuffUkulele teachingsGhosts toursJoe thingsDammit VacantRepeat or Delete podcastRepeat or Delete youtubeMusicTatami: Midnight Drive Music from #Uppbeat https://uppbeat.io/t/tatami/midnight-drive License code: I27A9WQID9MEZUKO Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The One with Lisa Kudrow Pt. 3 is our third and final dive into the world of movies featuring Lisa Kudrow, can't say "starring" anymore as it was pretty clear after the end of the phenomenon that was Friends that none of the main cast really had any juice when it came to big time movies roles (Aniston is debatable) so she's pushed back into supporting roles playing loving mums seducing teenagers and, a nagging wife? easy to tell which of those roles was more suited. Join myself and Nona as we dive once more into the world of forgotten and obscure movies that probably no one needs to watch.In this episode:• Lisa Kudrow's post friends superstardom movie career• Unlikely Hero, why is this movie so buried with THAT cast?• Bandslam, a post High School Musical musical that's not at all like high school musical• The 5 is silentLINKS!NONAGOFF on BlueskyTotalCultZone.com for all my [email protected] - To Direct message without that social media guffMusicTatami: Midnight DriveMusic from #Uppbeat https://uppbeat.io/t/tatami/midnight-drive License code: I27A9WQID9MEZUKO#LisaKudrow #Friends #Bark #MarciX #Movies #Film #90sMovies #2000sMovies #Hollywood #FriendsCast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The One with Lisa Kudrow Pt. 2 is our second episode exploring the life and career of Lisa Kudrow — this time diving into the obscure, downright weird and thankfully forgotten side of her movie career.We all know her from Friends and her Hollywood "hits" like Analyze This, Dr. Dolittle 2 and Analyze That. But what about the films that slipped under the radar?First up is the bizarre indie oddity Bark! (2002) — a super-low-budget movie that you'd be forgiven for thinking was made while Lisa was still climbing the Hollywood ladder. In reality, it was made while she was earning a million dollars per episode, as one of the biggest TV stars in the world. And her co-stars weren't exactly nobodies either.Then we get into Marci X (2003), a much more expected film during her friends fame, where she basically gets to play Phoebe Buffay with money.In this episode:• Lisa Kudrow's kinda predictable Friends era movie career• Bark! a bizarre indie oddity• Marci X a comedy about a young female traversing black culture written by middle aged white men• Lisa Kudrow outside of FriendsLINKS! NONAGOFF on BlueskyTotalCultZone.com for all my [email protected] - To Direct message without that social media guffMusicTatami: Midnight DriveMusic from #Uppbeat https://uppbeat.io/t/tatami/midnight-drive License code: I27A9WQID9MEZUKO#LisaKudrow #Friends #Bark #MarciX #Movies #Film #90sMovies #2000sMovies #Hollywood #FriendsCast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.