Once Upon A VHS - 80s and 90s Fantasy

We're off on a fruity adventure with stop-motion animated insects in yet another dark delight discarded by Disney, an adaptation of the Roald Dahl novel helmed by Henry Selick, director of The Nightmare Before Christmas.

The Stinky Cheese Man, a very c***y spider, Tim Burton drama, suprisingly sobering themes, Revolting Recipes, the power of Pete Postlethwaite, a mechanical shark, Andy Partridge from XTC vs Randy Newman, a fabric rhino puppet in a tank, Joanna Lumley, the New York City set looking like a pop-up book, Microsoap and Callum's Miriam Margolyes story await.

...

A real horror show aimed at a younger audience, this very 80s Canadian kindertrauma classic opens a portal to Hell in the backyard - and demons both fun-size and massive are coming to disrupt the pizza party with disturbing visions of death! We're not "f***ing off"!

The Satanic Panic, supernatural experiences, Stephen Dorff in his debut, swear words, spectacular stopmotion animation and special effects, and the Stranger Things of it all await.

We share our thoughts on the movie and its themes, some behind the scenes gossip, delve into the nightmarish moments...

"Will you turn that bloody racket down?"

Time for some Girl Power! Who said anything about Space Ghettos? We celebrate the British pop phenomenon with a great big episode about their smash hit turned cult classic feature film Spiceworld and the Lynchian video for their single Viva Forever in which two children are spirited away by Aardman animated tin-toy fairies resembling Scary, Sporty, Ginger, Baby and Posh Spice.

Our renditions of notable ad libs, Michael's pitch for a biopic centred on Geri Halliwell, the presence of literal aliens, Spice Force 5, Trap Door, the...

We're crashing into our new season with an action-packed adaptation of Mary Norton's classic children's books.

Comparisons with the 1992 and 2011 TV versions and Studio Ghibli's 2010 anime The Secret World of Arrietty, the Trocadero Centre, post-war allegory, the incredible filmography of visual effects supervisor Peter Chiang, ice cream made of mashed potato, Penelope Wilton delivering an impassioned speech in Bob & Rose, product placement, a hat on a hat, Celia Imrie's enormous Chappell Roan wig, an officious Ruby Wax, a cheese-eating dog, John Goodman getting tied up by a ceiling fan, Smack the Pony, Jane Norman carrier bags...

It's time for a Christmas VHS classic - the first instalment of the BBC's adaptation of The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis.

Thank you so much to all our guest contributors on this special episode: Richard, Daniel, Cullen, Sophie, Paul, Rob, and Daniel Boxyteeopatra.

We share our thoughts on the series and its themes, some behind the scenes gossip, delve into the nightmarish moments and dream up some ridiculous merch.

Which weapons would Father Christmas hand out to us? Listen and find out!

Art by...

It's time to wrap up the Season of the Witch by opening a magic bag full of listener questions, updates and also-rans.

Ursula K. Leguin's Carrier Bag Theory, Tilly from Tots TV, the population of Iceland, Bette Davis, Halloweentown, Poison for the Fairies, Hilary Duff, Grotbags and Wizadora await.

Want to find out our favourite fantasy novels? Listen and find out!

Art by Ashleigh Jane Cosgrove. Music by Karl Casey at White Bat Audio.

https://linktr.ee/onceuponavhs

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for m...

I've heard it said that podcasts come into our lives for a reason...

SPOILER ALERT! This epic bonus episode features our extended and detailed discussion of the new movie Wicked: For Good, scene by scene.

Art by Ashleigh Jane Cosgrove.

https://linktr.ee/onceuponavhs

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It's time for one of the most infamous entries in the 80s dark fantasy canon - Disney's boldly ambitious animated epic, The Black Cauldron. Joining our discussion of the film's merits and shortcomings is actor, writer and horror icon James Swanton.

Three wayward witches, an oracular pig, green mist, Welsh mythology, Elmer Bernstein's ondes martenot-heavy score, and one bonechilling villain in the Horned King await.

We share our thoughts on the movie and its themes, some behind the scenes gossip, delve into the nightmarish moments and dream up some ridiculous merch.

Anything can happen on Halloween... Celebrating Once Upon A VHS icon Fairuza Balk, we have a special double-dunter!

First up, an addendum to last year's episode about our beloved Return to Oz. We saw the 40th anniversary screening of Return to Oz at the DCA in Dundee as part of the Dundead horror and cult film festival lineup, and give our reactions to seeing on the big screen as well as expanding on our thoughts and theories about this gothic and gorgeous movie.

Then we join Mildred Hubble for a whole lot of...

As you're pretty, so be wise - wolves may lurk in every guise...

Rachel Lydia Barker, film critic, video essayist and creator of the Girl on Film YouTube channel joins us in straying from the path to discuss a truly wild film. It's not just a dark and edgy reworking of Little Red Riding Hood, but a surreal and sensual gothic fairytale overflowing with symbolism, feminist allegory and sharp commentary about gender and power dynamics.

Literary trailblazer Angela Carter and The Bloody Chamber, roadtrips with a Brothers Grimm soundtrack, a boy named Howell...

With Michael lost in the woods, Callum calls upon returning guest co-hosts Pete and Scott from the fabulous Movies That Made Us Gay podcast to dive into discussion, dissection and dissemination of the Cannon Films "package" of fairy tale films, focusing in on Hansel and Gretel - it is the season of the witch, after all!

We also discuss a few other adaptations of Hansel and Gretel including Shelley Duvall's Faerie Tale Theatre, Tim Burton's kung fu influenced 1983 short, the 2020 horror film Gretel and Hansel from Osgood Perkins and a nightmare-inducing episode of the 1987 anime Grimm's...

Witches of England... you are a disgrace!

Robert Berg, writer and copy editorial director of Bona Books, a queer press specialising in fantasy, science fiction and horror, joins us to peel back the layers of weirdness with this unsettling adaptation.

The complicated legacy of Roald Dahl, loving a sad wash, the performance of gender, gay gasps at the long list of women who might have played the Grand High Witch, feminist filmmaking pioneer Mai Zetterling and her missing finger, feelings about the different endings of the book and film, the children's horror space...

We are the weirdos, mister. Light as a feather, stiff as a board. I bind you, Nancy, from doing harm... It's October, it's an iconic performance from Fairuza Balk, it's time to celebrate Fairuzaween with THE millennial mall-goth high school witch horror, 1996's The Craft. 

Our special guest Juno Dawson, bestselling author of the bewitching Her Majesty's Royal Coven series, screenwriter, actress and cohost of So I Got To Thinking podcast, joins us to call the corners.

Sarah's cement-front wig, invoking Manon from KATSEYE, comparisons between The Craft: Legacy and The L Word: G...

Before the hugely popular 90s sitcom, Sabrina the Teenage Witch had something of a trial run with this tonally very different TV movie. The delightful Alice Boyd-Leslie of Drunken Horror and Not Another Teen Podcast joins us for a trip down Memory Lane in enchanted super-fast sneakers. We also discuss other incarnations from her 60s Archie Comics origin to the Chilling Adventures of Sabrina on Netflix.

Melissa Joan Hart portraying two of the greatest teen girl characters of all time, Channel 5 vibes, Ryan Reynolds' butt, Filmation's proposed Bewitched cartoon, Salem being gay, the Paul Lynde Halloween...

Come on, you poor unfortunate souls! We've got gadgets and gizmos aplenty, and our first Disney animated classic deep dive brings us a real Renaissance woman for the season of the witch - Divine meets Joan Collins, the diva doll herself, Ursula. We have a sincere love for this one - just don't ask us to give up our voices for it.

Hans Christian Andersen crying on Charles Dickens' lawn, the queer genius of Howard Ashman, desire, the gorgeous art of Kay Nielsen, soft masculinity, a surprise appearance by Ambrosius from Labyrinth, reasons why we don't...

A Kiki is a party for calming all your nerves, and we have a special delivery coming!

The Pippi Longstocking connection, Hayao Miyazaki's perfectionism, coming of age, British publishing jargon, the origins of Ursula's painting, San Francisco apparently being a European city, Totoro on stage, variations between dubs, His Dark Materials, grief, geese, not being the baby any more, herring and pumpkin pie, built-in obselence, etiquette, neurodiverse readings, freelancer burnout, women mentoring women, Jiji and Miss Puss, the value of community, mutual aid, various pronunciations of Ghibli, a dusty as hell bedroom, an ungrateful mean girl...

Pick your soul pumpkin and grab a corner of a cape as we hurtle into the second part of our Ray Bradbury double bill with this Hanna-Barbera animated treat.

Lollygagging, the Roseanne Halloween special, TV quality animation, "that mortician woman on YouTube" (Caitlin Doughty), edutainment, a slingshot on a sarcophagus, purple prose readings, Carmen Sandiego, the gargoyles of Notre Dame, transatlantic traditions, a big sombrero for Dia de Los Muertos, a beastly kite with lots of eyes and fangs, Mari Lwyd, collars for bin bag Dracula capes, Samhain, the categorisation of Hard Magic and Soft Magic...

Roll up, roll up! In this first part of our Ray Bradbury double bill, we take a ride on the creepy carousel of the October People in a dark and moody film that Disney would probably rather keep secret.

Our thoughts on Ray Bradbury's writing, the politics in the Dark Pandemonium Carnival, extreme Pam Grier appreciation mania, Grandpa Simpson's onion on his belt which was the style at the time, schmoozing with celebs, nostalgia as a sickness, the Vogue rap, American boyhood, 7 Faces of Dr. Lao, spiders in the bed, reshoots with terrible wigs, Michael not k...

The Brothers Grimm get even grimmer with this gothic horror dark fairytale with possibly the most metal trailer in existence, Snow White: A Tale of Terror (1998). Writer, artist, coin-operated fortune teller and marketing and design superstar at indie perfumery Black Phoenix Alchemy Lab, Tom Bloom, joins us for a deep dive into the old ways.

Sigourney Weaver being mother, the grunge roots of the Grimmification movement, whimsygoth culture, escaping from the Superstition Mountains, hagsploitation, the dark affirmations of fairytales, a child in a bad wig and a great cape, reclaiming Y2K fear, male filmmakers unconsciously...

Is it feminist? Is it queer? It's Cher, bitch! Seduced by this wayward success story of the witch film canon, we join forces with our longtime friend, writer, historian, artist and activist Morgan M Page, to mull over this oddball outlier.

Barbra Streisand's fateful wig that led to giant mechanical spiders, everyone wanting a boyfriend who looks like a lesbian, zucchini, squirty cheese and cherry pits, deleted footage of an upsetting Veronica Cartwright animatronic, penis curvature conversations, VOLUME, "punk hun" Kathy Acker interviewing the Spice Girls, laughing to break a fall from a high balcony, Lilith...

Get your jelly sandals on and your magic wands at the ready - we're not in Manhattan any more! The wickedly talented Tara Tagliaferro of Down the Yellow Brick Pod returns to chat with us about this quirky little number that captivated a micro-generation with its peculiar charms, and highlights some favourite fantasy books from her childhood.

Truth-speaking 90s family movie icon Mara Wilson, preposterous auditions, Kathleen Turner's witch-to-conductor costume change, characters being flattened with early CGI magic, Lucy Simon giving us Broadway mega-musical pastiche with Two Cities, a giant rabbi, fairy godmother exams, Boots, Martin...

We're back - and it's the season of the witch! Join us as we fly over Salem with the Sanderson sisters for this Hallowe'en classic that is creepy, comedic, camp and a few other words beginning with "c".

Pop culture witchcraft (and drag) reemerging in turbulent times, inflating a squashed cat puppet, "kiss me I'm Alison!", Bette Midler going on Zoom, an apology to David Kirschner, a virgin lighting the Black Flame Candle, remarkable musical numbers, a book bound with human skin, retro company logos, Callum impersonating Rosie O'Donnell singing For Good, boo boxes, Michael's ghost...

A preview of our brand new Patreon exclusive coverage of Jim Henson's The Storyteller featuring the pilot episode, Hans My Hedgehog. To hear the whole thing, our Star Wars and Lord of the Rings episodes and much more to come, check out our Patreon: https://patreon.com/onceuponavhs

Join our Clamshell Club for $5 or £4 per month to gain access to three strands of exclusive bonus episodes:

Boxset - reviewing 80s and 90s fantasy TV (including Jim Henson's The Storyteller)

Rewind - looking back at fantasy films from before 1980 (including Star Wars)

Hello Podlings, it's time for a chat! Join us as we talk a load of rubbish and have a rummage in the hero's knapsack. We answer listener questions, look back on our journey so far, share some exciting news about our Clamshell Club and crown this season's Miss Fan Favourite.

The Once Upon A Time magazine and audio cassette carrycase, Gobbolino the Witch's Cat, Michael's mum reading 50 Shades of Grey, our thoughts on the first episodes recent TV continuations Willow (2022) and The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance (2019), sword sapphics, pretending to like Rent, our pitch and...

In the Age of Wonder, everybody loves puppets! We're journeying through Thra, somewhere between the Land of Gorch and Fraggle Rock, on a quest to restore balance to a broken world. Or at least make an entertaining podcast.

To celebrate this iconic movie in the spirit of collaboration, community and The Great Conjunction, we invited our listeners and guests from previous episodes to contribute shards of their experiences with the film, scattered throughout the episode. A huge thank you to everyone who responded to the Crystal's call - Alice, Cullen, Daniel, Paul, Pete, Robert and Scott.<...

We're joined by fabulous artist and writer Rose Ruane to unpick this oft-reviled movie about an unruly, uncouth and uncanny imaginary friend in the form of a surprisingly sexy Rik Mayall. Heads up: while packaged as a comedy caper, this film deals with some heavy topics of otherness, mental health and overcoming abuse, and we discuss its suprising emotional impact.

Queer failure, the hauntology of British public information films, mother's power-dressing, a tennis ball with a bit of fluff stuck on it, Carrie Fisher having a river condominium, the looming spectre of Tim Burton's Beetlejuice, and...

Kodama-rama! We finally cover a Studio Ghibli anime classic with this brutal and brilliant film from Hayao Miyazaki.

Gorgeous foliage, graphic violence, a wolf goddess with the voice of a drag queen, the curse of generative AI, Uncle Boonmee-coded apes, the "No Cuts" story, Final Fantasy VII, Lady Eboshi serving Creation Destruction Charisma Uniqueness Nerve and Talent, and a star-studded dub await.

We share our thoughts on the movie and its themes, some behind the scenes gossip, delve into the nightmarish moments and dream up some ridiculous merch. Is Michael an amoeba or...

We're feeling the romantasy with this swoonworthy effort from Richard Donner. We also insist that Michelle Pfeiffer needs to get her flowers.

Great casting, gorgeous cinematography, grappling with the commodification of nostalgia, a horse in a wig, a detour to the origins of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, the curse of desire, deleted monsters, reverse penetration, a hot take about Grease 2 and our thoughts about that infamously divisive Alan Parsons produced score await.

We share our thoughts on the movie and its themes, some behind the scenes gossip, delve into the nightmarish moments and...

Radical Ryan Hunter, hilarious host of Radical Retro Rewind?! podcast, joins us to dissect one helluva frog prince-turned-secret-agent in a deeply peculiar British animated adventure.

Chekhov's Nessie, shrinking monuments, Blockbuster nostalgia, a revealing behind-the-scenes documentary, Boy George's disdain for the Ninja Turtles, bemusing musical numbers, Electric Soldier Porygon, interspecies romance, the Queen's concealed face, and a screaming snake sorceress with the singing voice of Grace Jones await.

We share our thoughts on the movie and its themes, some behind the scenes gossip, delve into the nightmarish moments and dream up some ridiculous merch...

We're joined by actor, writer and 90s afficionado Josh Tonks to revisit the oft-shaded original movie incarnation of an iconic heroine.

Gay vampire Pee Wee Herman's improvised death scene, the cultural significance of Tokyo Pop, Hilary Swank's stank face, Luke Perry's soul patch, Spike on a rollercoaster with Lisa Loeb, yellow jackets (but not those ones), Josh's musical pitch, Cher's home decor catalogue, and the latest in a long line of Chappell Roan wigs await.

We share our thoughts on the movie and its themes, some behind the scenes gossip, delve into the...

Super-talented writer, director and Superman aficionado Raisah Ahmed swoops in for a chat about a very peculiar entry in the superhero movie canon.

The magic of escapism, being starstruck at the BAFTAs by Christopher Reeve's kids, clingfilm walls, Dolly Parton not wanting to play a witch, making an entrance on a ghost train, Peter O'Toole waving around a bong in his H&M cardigan, "squirt", flying around in a hideous bumper car, Faye Dunaway's big rubber monster and a surprise reappearance from Gwildor's bucket of non-Popeye's fried chicken await.

We share our thoughts o...

RELEASE THE KRAKEN!

The Harry Hamlin M&M (husband of the Lisa Rinna M&M), anachronistic garage door eyeshadow, Maggie Smith's face crack of the century, simping for Bubo, the Argos catalogue, grandad watching Teen Wolf, a Mia Goth household, a tangential trip to Gregory Maguire's island of Maricoor, Ray Harryhausen being gagged and gooped, and the greatest stop motion sequence of all time await. #susanalbumparty

We share our thoughts on the movie and its themes, some behind the scenes gossip, delve into the nightmarish moments and dream up some ridiculous merch. Which...

We were excited to revisit this oft-quoted smash from our childhoods but did NOT care for it on a rewatch! Ruh-roh! Awooga!

The peplum on Cameron Diaz's jacket, an electric pencil sharpener, green men issues, Anna Nicole Smith and Vanessa Williams entries in the multiverse, Canada's Walk of Fame, 2025 goggles, Caggie from Big Brother's single Prince Charming, Loki's greasy hair, the hugeness of Jim Carrey and a surprise recommendation await.

We share our thoughts on the movie and its themes, some behind the scenes gossip, delve into the nightmarish moments and dream up...

Our good friend Chris O'Brien joins us for an epic episode encompassing the Mattel toys, the various animated He-Man and She-Ra series, and the Cannon Films feature.

Skeletor's set of "boobs", The Eyes of Evil-lyn, Stinkor, Raspberry Pi powered Cosmic Key synths, Courtney Cox's grisly gash, Orko's glow up, BBQ on Gwildor's beard, the inaugural use of the Star Trek alarm, Filmation, financial fiascos and even more elephants in the room await.

We share our thoughts on the movie and its themes, some behind the scenes gossip, delve into the nightmarish moments and...

We're joined by Scott and Pete from the brilliant Movies That Made Us Gay podcast to grab the Glaive (ouch) for an epic sci-fi-infused fantasy adventure.

Dungeons and Drag Queens, British institution Todd Carty, Fighting Fantasy gamebooks, Princess Chappell Roan with the voice of Professor Maggie Walsh, a Beast of ambiguous scale, the Genre aisle, being bothered by Liam Neeson, a smidge of Star Wars influence and a host of connections to other 80s fantasy classics await.

We share our thoughts on the movie and its themes, some behind the scenes gossip, delve...

Hold on to your animated amulets as we explore Don Bluth's visually vibrant and emotionally potent directorial debut.

Mouse peril, scabby owls, Scissor Sisters, acid trips, divine intervention, magical twinkly stuff, gay rats, Charlotte's Web, the sartorial excellence of Vincent Valentine and lots of string await.

We share our thoughts on the movie and its themes, some behind the scenes gossip, delve into the nightmarish moments and dream up some ridiculous merch. Can we forgive Jeremy the stupid bird? Listen and find out!

Art by Ashleigh Jane Cosgrove. Music by...

Uh-oh, we're in trouble! In addition to tackling the movie, we backflip into a potted history of the TV phenomenon and its Super Sentai tokusatsu origins.

Extensive discussion of Kimberley the Pink Power Ranger, Witch Bandora's flying Penny Farthing, hench Cenobite Lord Zedd, papier mache dinosaur bones, totally radical skydiving, Alpha's Magical Christmas, Ivan Ooze's gorgeous garments and Lady Gaga egg perfume await.

We share our thoughts on the movie and its themes, some behind the scenes gossip, delve into the nightmarish moments and dream up some ridiculous merch. Is Amy Jo Johnson...

We're back and Warwick Davis has a trick up his sleeve!

Tonka toys, the Ebert and Siskel dragon, the Lord of the Rings of it all, George Lucas being Alexandra Burke's elephant in the room, the joy of DVD extras, giant fairy queens in bad wigs and transformation trauma await.

We share our thoughts on the movie and its themes, some behind the scenes gossip, delve into the nightmarish moments and dream up some ridiculous merch. Who do we meet in the deleted scenes? Listen and find out!

Art by...

A bawdy, bewitching and bewildering end-of-season festive celebration - adults only! Join us as we look back, answer listener questions and empty out Santa's Sack full of 80s and 90s fantasy Christmas goodies including Santa Claus: The Movie (1985), Beauty and the Beast: The Enchanted Christmas (1997), A Smoky Mountain Christmas (1986), Pee-wee's Playhouse Christmas Special (1988), the ITV pantomime Jack and the Beanstalk (1998) and The Snowman (1982).

Dolly Parton, David Bowie, Grace Jones, Dudley Moore, Zsa Zsa Gabor, puppet reindeer, Tim Curry's impressive organ, Bernadette Peters, a can of Irn Bru, Paul Reubens, Denise Van Outen, Charo, the mountain witch...

Fellow Ozians! By "Popular" demand, here's an epic bonus episode - our unedited discussion of this year's fantasy blockbuster movie, going song-by-song through Wicked, Part One. Spoiler warning - see the film before you listen, but we don't spoil anything about next year's Part Two.

We waffle on for nearly the whole duration of the movie - our thoughts on the Gregory Maguire books, the stage musical, Jonathan Bailey's Goblin Winkie, Gelphie shipping with Ariana Grande, and defying gravity with Cynthia Erivo's 80s dark fantasy film picks for Elphaba await. Jon M. Chu...

Join us once upon a December on an animated journey to the past, historically accurate or otherwise.

A potted history of the Romanovs, Don Bluth's Dragon's Lair, Disney pettiness, Russia's greatest love machine Rasputin having a mouth in a place it doesn't belong, and Bartok Burger King toys await.

We share our thoughts on the movie and its themes, some behind the scenes gossip, delve into the nightmarish moments and dream up some ridiculous merch. Does Paris hold the key to our hearts? Listen and find out!

Art by Ashleigh...

Daniel Lammin, theatremaker, film critic and host of Ink & Paint podcast, joins us to roll the dice on this wild and intense blockbuster about a brutal boardgame, anchored by Robin Williams.

Plants with hair, Stephen King comparisons, Australian children's TV, Bebe Neuwirth's cleaning prowess and the Jurassic Park of it all await.

We share our thoughts on the movie and its themes, some behind the scenes gossip, delve into the nightmarish moments and dream up some ridiculous merch. You just saw three monkeys go by on a motorcycle, didn't you? Listen and find...

Kim Morrison, writer and creator of Little Red Horror, joins us for a spell to discuss this witchy wonder.

Midnight margaritas, floating petals, being born under a diva sign, inappropriate whipped cream, Ceefax (or Teletext) and a surprising number of references to classic horror await.

We share our thoughts on the movie and its themes, some behind the scenes gossip, delve into the nightmarish moments and dream up some ridiculous merch. Who put the lime in the coconut and drank it all up? Listen and find out!

Art by Ashleigh...

We're looking for mini-contributions to a special podcast episode all about The Dark Crystal (1982)! It won't be completed and released until the new year, but we wanted to give plenty of time for your submissions, so get them in by Tuesday 31st December.

If you'd like to take part, please make an audio recording (with the best quality audio you are able to) briefly introducing yourself and answering at least one of the three following questions:

1. Nostalgia Nook: what are the memories or feelings The Dark Crystal conjures up for you?

2. Nightmare...

Joshua Conkel, writer, filmmaker and one of the hosts of arthouse horror movie podcast Bloodhaus, joins us to discuss this brutal and often beautiful banger.

The riddle of steel, James Earl Jones in a Bettie Page wig, representation metadiscourse, Arnie's cheekbones, Cruella's mother getting knocked off a cliff by dalmatians and THE iconic score await.

We share our thoughts on the movie and its themes, some behind the scenes gossip, delve into the nightmarish moments and dream up some ridiculous merch. What is best in life? Listen and find out!

...

Nicole and Tessa, the hilarious hosts of Doom Generation podcast, join us through the looking glass for a chaotic whirl around the second part of an all-star TV movie musical extravanganza.

Carol Channing turning into a sheep, skibidi toilet, CATS, Pound Puppies, mother's crispy Aquanet hair, treacle, and the impressive resume of writer/director/Jabberwocky/mime Tom McLoughlin await.

We share our thoughts on the special and its themes, some behind the scenes gossip, delve into the nightmarish moments and dream up some ridiculous merch. Why is there jam tomorrow, jam yesterday but...

Simon Eilbeck, Hot Mess DJ and queer dance party king, joins us to discuss this bizarre and boisterous beast of a film with one of the wildest endings we've ever seen.

Evil washing lines, jaunty George Harrison, diva antics, exploding dogs, Sean Connery impressions, philosophical questions and atmospheric smoky cinemas await. But not Baldrick.

We share our thoughts on the film and its themes, some behind the scenes gossip, delve into the nightmarish moments and dream up some ridiculous merch. What do we think of the recent Apple TV series? Listen and find...

Tara and EmKay, hosts of Down the Yellow Brick Pod, join us to discuss this proto-Ghibli anime adaptation of the beloved story.

Aileen Quinn's Playbill shenanigans, surreal sound effects, Godzilla, a giant crow on fire, plenty of pie, turkey slices on a Pocahontas plate and a very purple Wicked Witch of the West await.

We share our thoughts on the film and its themes, some behind the scenes gossip, delve into the nightmarish moments and dream up some ridiculous merch. Is it strictly up to you to take your dreams and make your...

James Dewar, star of The Great British Bake Off, joins us to discuss the director's cut of Clive Barker's misunderstood monster melange, Nightbreed.

Stop-motion animation, queer allegory, big demon statues, David Cronenberg in a gimp mask and furry jump scares await.

We share our thoughts on the film and its themes, some behind the scenes gossip, delve into the nightmarish moments and dream up some ridiculous merch. Do we stan Sheryl Ann? Listen and find out!

Art by Ashleigh Jane Cosgrove. Music by Karl Casey at White Bat Audio.

We're back for Season 2 with some special guests! Cullen and Hannah from Not My Fantasy podcast join us to discuss this much beloved movie.

Mixtapes for Fred Savage, the Blorpo alien empire, storytelling as an act of love, Nicole-Bertha the Ancient Booer, and watching a lime-green Shrek VHS cassette on a TV that has an ass await.

We share our thoughts on the film and its themes, some behind the scenes gossip, delve into the nightmarish moments and dream up some ridiculous merch. Does anybody want a peanut? Listen and find out!

It's our end-of-season celebration! Join us as we look back, answer listener questions and rip open a Lucky Bag of 80s and 90s fantasy mini-topics including Starla and the Jewel Riders, The Pirates of Dark Water, Through the Dragon's Eye, Heroes of Might and Magic 3, Final Fantasy 7 and Highland Mysteryworld

Plus, we remember Faerie Tale Theatre legend Shelley Duvall, pick our theme song Top of the Pops, and crown Miss Fantasy!

Thank you for listening - we hope you'll join us soon for the next season of the podcast along with some special...

We return to Fantasia for The NeverEnding Story 2: Electric Boogaloo before a beard-flight to The Land of Faraway based on Astrid Lindgren's Mio min Mio.

Prepare for Christopher Lee's Sasha Fierce claw, Power Rangers meets Encarta 95 vibes, Benny and Bjorn from ABBA, a draggy sorceress, swimming pools, and Geiger counters.

We share our thoughts on the films and their themes, some behind the scenes gossip, delve into the nightmarish moments and dream up some ridiculous merch. Will we get vaporised by a Sphinx? No, because we forgot to do a Sphinx question this...

Dance, magic dance! There is a spark inside us! Our goblin double bill brings us Henson hot takes, magic phone cards, a rotten Hoggle, the twelve tapdancing toes of the Goblin Queen, the best and worst of David Bowie's costume and a very special grandma ghost. Oh, and singing.

We share our thoughts on the films and their themes, some behind the scenes gossip, delve into the nightmarish moments and dream up some ridiculous merch. Will we get vaporised by a Sphinx? Who do? You do? Do what? Listen and find out!

Art...

Episode 7 is a hot mess express with a lot of love for Stan Winston, special makeup effects artist and creature creator extraordinaire, but less so for his second feature as director, a bizarre buddy comedy with a puppet gnome. Derailing from our usual format, we share our thoughts on the film in the first half (with tangents about Mr Blobby's Blobbyland and the Psammead), and in the second half we chat about Stan Winston's movie magic throughout the years, from the Reese's peanut butter cup noses of The Wiz to the killer mermaid of She Creature, with Aliens, Predator...

Well, excuuuuuuse me princess - our sixth episode is our wildest wander yet! With a tip of the hat to Brian Froud and Alan Lee's Faeries book and TV special, we find ourselves in the ridiculously glittery sets of Ridley Scott's Legend. The devilish Darkness, dancing dresses and Tom Cruise's thighs. Big nostalgic memories of the Atmosfear VHS board game and the Clarks Magic Steps shoe commercial.

We share our thoughts on the film and its themes, some behind the scenes gossip, delve into the nightmarish moments and dream up some ridiculous merch. Will we get...

Episode 5, how she sparkles, The Last Unicorn! Melancholy mythical creatures, surprising celebrity superfans, internalised unicorniphobia and more misguided impersonations.

We share our thoughts on the film and its themes, some behind the scenes gossip, delve into the nightmarish moments and dream up some ridiculous merch. Will we get vaporised by a Sphinx? Listen and find out!

Art by Ashleigh Jane Cosgrove. Music by Karl Casey at White Bat Audio.

https://linktr.ee/onceuponavhs

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Bangarang! Spielberg's sequel to Peter Pan is our episode four focus. Maggie Smith's old age makeup, floating Carrie Fisher, moppet dirges and OG gay pirates. Rufio-no-they-didn't!

We share our thoughts on the film and its themes, some behind the scenes gossip, delve into the nightmarish moments and dream up some ridiculous merch. Will we get vaporised by a Sphinx? Listen and find out!

Art by Ashleigh Jane Cosgrove. Music by Karl Casey at White Bat Audio.

https://linktr.ee/onceuponavhs

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for...

Episode 3 - Extreme Return to Oz Appreciation Mania. Fractured identities, Fairuzaween, blinged-out Tik-Tok, the Nome Queen of Chromatica, Mombi's head complaints and more. Beware the Wheelers...

We share our thoughts on the film and its themes, some behind the scenes gossip, delve into the nightmarish moments and dream up some ridiculous merch. Will we get vaporised by a Sphinx? Listen and find out!

Art by Ashleigh Jane Cosgrove. Music by Karl Casey at White Bat Audio.

https://linktr.ee/onceuponavhs

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for...

The library is open for episode 2. Power ballads, scroll beards, the McDonalds coffee lawsuit and Whoopi Goldberg as an anthropomorphic book adjusting her pantyhose.

We share our thoughts on the film and its themes, some behind the scenes gossip, delve into the nightmarish moments and dream up some ridiculous merch. Will we get vaporised by a Sphinx? Listen and find out!

Art by Ashleigh Jane Cosgrove. Music by Karl Casey at White Bat Audio.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

From Falkor fur coats to Fergie from the Black Eyed Peas and a big warehouse full of fairies, join us in the magical land of Fantasia for our first episode.

We share our thoughts on the film and its themes, some behind the scenes gossip, delve into the nightmarish moments and dream up some ridiculous merch. Will we get vaporised by a Sphinx? Listen and find out!

Art by Ashleigh Jane Cosgrove. Music by Karl Casey at White Bat Audio.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.