

Hit Factory
Hit Factory
A podcast about the films of the 1990s, their politics, and how they inform today's film landscape. Exploring the output of a seemingly bottomless decade. America's first and only movie podcast.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Feb 5, 2022 • 1h 37min
But I'm A Cheerleader feat. Caroline Thompson
Caroline Thompson of the excellent movie podcast How Have You Not Seen joins us to discuss 'But I'm A Cheerleader' starring Natasha Lyonne & Clea DuVall. We talk the film's evolution from critically maligned coming-of-age comedy to Queer Canon Classic™, its sly anti-capitalist undertones, and the brilliant effect of comically satirizing one of the least funny places imaginable. Follow Caroline Thompson on TwitterSubscribe and listen to How Have You Not Seen and support the show on Patreon.Follow How Have You Not Seen on Twitter. Get access to all of our premium episodes and bonus content by becoming a Hit Factory Patron for just $5/month.....Our theme song is "Mirror" by Chris Fish

Jan 28, 2022 • 5min
The Fifth Element feat. Pacino Pod *TEASER*
Get access to this entire episode as well as all of our premium episodes and bonus content by becoming a Hit Factory Patron for just $5/month.

Jan 21, 2022 • 1h 29min
The Piano feat. Bailey Herdé
Culture writer Bailey Herdé joins us to discuss 'The Piano', Jane Campion's brilliant period drama about yearning, desire, & passion set against the lush yet foreboding New Zealand wilderness. We chat about the film's pair of (unusual, but well-deserved) Oscar-winning central performances, its potent examination of 19th century colonialism through its male characters, and praise Campion's latest awards contender 'The Power of the Dog'. Follow Bailey Herdé on Twitter....Our theme song is "Mirror" by Chris Fish

Jan 13, 2022 • 5min
Showgirls feat. Karinne Smith *TEASER*
Get access to this entire episode as well as all of our premium episodes and bonus content by becoming a Hit Factory Patron for just $5/month.

Jan 6, 2022 • 1h 32min
No Escape feat. Owen Morawitz
On our first episode of the new year, Owen Morawitz returns to discuss the 1994 action-thriller 'No Escape', a film set on the maximum security island prison of Absolom in the dystopian future of 2022. We discuss a few standout performances from the top-tier cast (including a rarely seen action hero version of Ray Liotta & best in show Stuart Wilson as the villainous Marek), how the film reflects contemporary liberalism's contradictory sympathies toward America's carceral system, and the novelty of watching an action movie with a little bit too much on its mind.Follow Owen Morawitz on TwitterSubscribe to Owen's Newsletter The Pitch of DiscontentConsider becoming a Hit Factory Patron to get access to all of our premium episodes and bonus content for just $5/month.....Our theme song is "Mirror" by Chris Fish.

Dec 30, 2021 • 7min
Strange Days feat. Dan Boeckner *TEASER*
Get access to this entire episode as well as all of our premium episodes and bonus content by becoming a Hit Factory Patron for just $5/month.

Dec 27, 2021 • 1h 54min
BONUS: The Matrix Resurrections feat. Aaron Thorpe
Aaron Thorpe, a writer and podcaster, joins the hosts to discuss 'The Matrix Resurrections'. They explore director Lana Wachowski's commentary on commodification, the insidious system of control, and the film's challenge to neoliberal blockbusters. They analyze fight choreography, discuss challenging nostalgia and formula, explore fandom and canon, critique the binary nature, and applaud the director's creative approach. They wrap up with gratitude towards Aaron's influential article and discuss supporting the Pasadena tenants union.

Dec 23, 2021 • 1h 40min
Santa with Muscles feat. Zach Vasquez
Writer and lifelong pro wrestling fan Zach Vasquez returns to discuss the 1996 Hulk Hogan holiday dud 'Santa with Muscles', executive produced by The Wolf of Wall Street himself, Jordan Belfort. Along with the film, we discuss the fractious history of the WWE, modern challengers to the promotion's hegemonic superiority, and the life and crimes of the man behind Hulkamania, Terry Eugene Bollea.Follow Zach Vasquez on Twitter.....Our theme song is "Mirror" by Chris Fish

Dec 16, 2021 • 6min
Office Space feat. Gus Lanzetta *TEASER*
Get access to this entire episode as well as all of our premium episodes and bonus content by becoming a Hit Factory Patron for just $5/month.

Dec 11, 2021 • 1h 27min
Breakdown feat. Parents Just Don't Understand
Kurt & Chris from Parents Just Don't Understand return to discuss the lean, mean and underseen 1997 thriller 'Breakdown' starring Kurt Russell, Kathleen Quinlan, and indelible character actor J.T. Walsh. We discuss the simple pleasures of discovering a great movie while watching cable TV, the film's economical mastery of multiple subgenres, and the 90s resurgence of hicksploitation cinema as managerial class gratification. Follow Kurt and Chris on Twitter. Follow Parents Just Don't Understand on Twitter. Follow Blood Knife Magazine on twitter and support the show on Patreon. For the month of December, we will be donating all of our Patreon funds to the donorbox project to Protect Pasadena Tenants. The more cities we win rent control in, the easier it is to combat bad-faith arguments about the chaos it will supposedly cause. This is an important campaign to win rent control in Pasadena for renters and housing activists everywhere, particularly as rents are being raised going into the holidays. Consider becoming a Hit Factory Patron to support the cause and get access to exclusive bi-weekly episodes and bonus content. ...Our theme song is "Mirror" by Chris Fish


