The 80s Movie Podcast

Dr. Heckyl and Mr. Hype (1980): Inside Cannon Films’ Forgotten Shelved Horror-Comedy - The 80s Movie Podcast

This week on The 80s Movie Podcast, host Edward Havens revisits Dr. Heckyl and Mr. Hype (1980), the offbeat comedy that gave Oliver Reed the chance to play both a shy, awkward doctor and his outrageous alter ego. Directed by Charles B. Griffith and loosely inspired by Robert Louis Stevenson’s classic story, the film follows Dr. Adrian Heckyl as he creates a formula that transforms him into the loud, confident, and wildly inappropriate Mr. Hype. Alongside Reed, the cast includes Sunny Johnson, Jackie Coogan, and character actor staples from late 1970s and early 1980s comedy.

In this episode, Edward digs into the film’s unusual mix of satire, broad comedy, and horror influences while exploring how Dr. Heckyl and Mr. Hype tried to modernize Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde for a different era. He also examines Oliver Reed’s dual performance, the film’s troubled critical reception, and why its humor divided audiences even as it carved out a small following among fans of strange studio comedies.

What happens when a familiar literary story collides with 1980s sex comedy, celebrity culture, and social satire? Edward revisits the creative choices behind Dr. Heckyl and Mr. Hype and considers where the film fits within the larger wave of eccentric comedies released at the start of the decade. Whether you remember it from cable television or have never heard of it before, this episode of The 80s Movie Podcast takes a closer look at a movie that rarely enters conversations about 1980s comedy.

Host Update Of Why The 80s Movie Podcast Was Paused 8 Months (Apology & Thanks)

Edward Havens, host of The 80s Movie Podcast, issues a brief apology and explains why the show paused for the past eight months. This 2m52s host update thanks listeners and provides a candid explanation of the hiatus. Thank you for sticking with the neon-lit rewind. Your support matters.

The Brotherhood of Justice (1986): Young Keanu Reeves, Kiefer Sutherland and a True Story Vigilante Movie - The 80s Movie Podcast

This week on The 80s Movie Podcast, host Edward Havens revisits the little-seen 1986 television thriller The Brotherhood of Justice, a mostly forgotten ABC movie starring a young Keanu Reeves and Kiefer Sutherland years before they became major Hollywood stars. Inspired by real events at a Texas high school, the film follows a group of students who form a vigilante organization to fight crime and drugs, only to watch their movement spiral dangerously out of control. Based loosely on the real-life “Legion of Doom” case in Fort Worth, Texas, the movie blends teen drama with cautionary crime thriller in a way that feels both deeply 1980s and surprisingly relevant today.

Edward explores the production history behind The Brotherhood of Justice, its status as an overlooked made-for-TV movie, and why early performances from stars like Billy Zane and Lori Loughlin make it a fascinating time capsule. Plus: personal memories from Edward’s own connection to the filming locations and high school where the movie was shot, reflections sparked by his 40th high school class reunion, and why this forgotten piece of 1980s television deserves rediscovery.

 

Brat Pack Movies at 40: The History, the True Members, and the Ultimate 1980s Teen Film - The 80s Movie Podcast

Look back at 40 years of the Brat Pack, the unofficial group of young actors whose films fundamentally defined 1980s teen culture. Host Edward Havens explores the origins of the infamous nickname from David Blum's 1985 New York Magazine cover story. We trace how media hype, intense friendships, and behind-the-scenes rivalries turned a handful of rising Hollywood stars into an iconic pop-culture movement.

 

Dive deep into the ultimate debate over who actually qualifies as a true "Brat Packer" and who gets excluded. Learn why key actors like Andrew McCarthy and Rob Lowe spent decades pushing back against the label. We unpack the legacy of the core members and the surrounding circle of stars who continually shaped the era's definitive cinematic identity.

 

Revisit a gauntlet of classic films including The Breakfast Club, St. Elmo's Fire, Pretty in Pink, Sixteen Candles, Weird Science, and The Outsiders. Edward tackles the ultimate question: what is officially the best Brat Pack movie of all time? Tune in to find out why the crown might not belong to the most obvious choice, and how this legacy still drives movie nostalgia forty years later.

Making Mr. Right (1987): Inside Susan Seidelman and John Malkovich's Cult Sci-Fi Android Rom-Com - The 80s Movie Podcast

This week on The 80s Movie Podcast, host Edward Havens continues his retrospective on the films of director Susan Seidelman with a deep dive into her quirky 1987 sci-fi romantic comedy, Making Mr. Right. Following her massive breakout success with Desperately Seeking Susan, Seidelman used her three-picture deal with Orion Pictures to craft this unique cinematic blend of classic screwball romance, retro-futuristic satire, and 1980s workplace comedy.

 

The episode explores the film's production, detailing how Seidelman transformed the screenplay into a Frankenstein-inspired comedy and the gamble of casting John Malkovich in a dual role. Alongside Malkovich, we look at the incredible ensemble cast, including standout performances from Ann Magnuson, Laurie Metcalf, and Hart Bochner, who navigate this highly colorful, neon-soaked production.

 

Finally, we analyze the vibrant Miami setting that gave the film its signature aesthetic and break down why this initial box-office disappointment eventually developed into a beloved cult classic. We close out the discussion by evaluating where this offbeat sci-fi feature stands in the larger legacy of 1980s feminist cinema and Seidelman's overall filmography.

Top 5 Fantasy Films of the 1980s with Author Todd Downing - The 80s Movie Podcast

Step into a world of sword-and-sorcery, dark fairy tales, and practical effects on The 80s Movie Podcast as host Edward Havens welcomes author Todd Downing. Celebrating his new book Return of the Calico Kids, Downing joins the show for an expansive deep dive into the absolute best fantasy films of the 1980s.

 

The conversation tracks the incredible evolution of fantasy filmmaking during Hollywood's most imaginative decade, unpacking how ambitious world-building and larger-than-life storytelling birthed a true golden age for the genre. Together, Edward and Todd explore behind-the-scenes anecdotes, hidden thematic layers, and the unique practical magic that allowed these features to become enduring touchstones for generational film fans.

 

From beloved mainstays to obscure cult favorites, this nostalgic retrospective evaluates what truly elevates an '80s fantasy movie to classic status. Tune in to discover Todd's personal top five ranking, get essential curated watchlist recommendations, and explore why these specific cinematic worlds still capture our imaginations decades later.

Collision Course (1987): Inside Jay Leno and Pat Morita's Forgotten Buddy Cop Action-Comedy - The 80s Movie Podcast

This week on The 80s Movie Podcast, host Edward Havens takes a deep dive into the chaotic history of Collision Course, the bizarre buddy-cop action-comedy starring late-night giant Jay Leno and The Karate Kid legend Pat Morita. Filmed at the height of the 1980s mismatched-partner craze, this forgotten cinematic curiosity paired a fast-talking Detroit detective with an investigator from Tokyo, resulting in a fascinating cultural time capsule that struggled to find its footing.

 

The episode tracks the film's incredibly troubled production journey, which was helmed by director Lewis Teague. Havens unpacks the financial turmoil behind the scenes, specifically detailing how the sudden bankruptcy and collapse of Dino De Laurentiis’s Entertainment Group (DEG) trapped the completed film in legal limbo, shelving its release for years.

 

Finally, we analyze the movie's stellar supporting cast, including Chris Sarandon and Ernie Hudson, and explore how it eventually bypassed theaters entirely for a quiet home video release in 1992. We close the retrospective by evaluating why this heavily delayed project ultimately became a footnote in the careers of its main stars and where it ranks among the era's saturated buddy-cop landscape.

The 1980s Films of Susan Seidelman: Desperately Seeking Susan (1985) - The 80s Movie Podcast

This week on The 80s Movie Podcast, host Edward Havens continues his retrospective on the films of director Susan Seidelman with a look back at her biggest commercial success: Desperately Seeking Susan (1985), the stylish downtown comedy-mystery that helped turn Madonna into a pop-culture phenomenon and cemented Seidelman as one of the defining female filmmakers of the 1980s. Starring Rosanna Arquette as a bored New Jersey housewife swept into Manhattan’s bohemian underground after a case of mistaken identity, the film captured the fashion, music, and free-spirited energy of downtown New York at the height of the MTV era.

Edward explores the fascinating production history behind Desperately Seeking Susan, from Madonna’s then-exploding music career and the film’s unexpectedly sharp feminist perspective to how Seidelman brought authentic 1980s New York culture to the screen. Plus: why the movie became a fashion touchstone, how its influence can still be felt in later stories about women reinventing themselves, and why many fans consider it one of the smartest, and coolest, cult movies of the decade.

Brat Pack Documentary: Andrew McCarthy & the June 1985 New York Magazine Article's Impact on Careers - The 80s Movie Podcast

This week on The 80s Movie Podcast, host Edward Havens pauses his retrospective on the films of director Susan Seidelman to examine Brats (2024), actor Andrew McCarthy’s Hulu documentary revisiting the rise, backlash, and legacy of the so-called Brat Pack. Nearly 40 years after a single 1985 magazine article transformed a loose group of young actors into a pop-culture phenomenon, McCarthy reconnects with former peers including Rob Lowe, Demi Moore, Emilio Estevez, Ally Sheedy, and Jon Cryer to explore how the label shaped both their careers and public identities.

Edward explores the origins of the “Brat Pack” nickname, the complicated relationship many actors had with the label, and why some major figures such as Molly Ringwald and Judd Nelson chose not to participate directly in the documentary. Along the way: whether the infamous label actually harmed careers, how nostalgia has reshaped public perception of these films, and why movies like The Breakfast Club, St. Elmo’s Fire, Pretty in Pink, and Sixteen Candles continue to define 1980s teen cinema decades later.

Smithereens (1982): Susan Seidelman, Richard Hell and a Punk Rock New York Masterpiece - The 80s Movie Podcast

This week on The 80s Movie Podcast, host Edward Havens begins a new mini-series exploring the films of director Susan Seidelman, with a look back at her groundbreaking 1982 debut, Smithereens. Starring Susan Berman and punk icon Richard Hell, the film follows Wren, a restless New Jersey drifter determined to reinvent herself inside New York City’s fading downtown punk scene. Shot guerrilla-style on the streets of Manhattan, Smithereens captured a gritty version of early 1980s New York that has long since disappeared.

Edward explores how Smithereens became the first American independent film invited to compete for the Palme d’Or at the Cannes Film Festival, helping establish Seidelman as one of the most distinctive filmmakers of the decade and paving the way for her later breakthrough, Desperately Seeking Susan. Along the way: Richard Hell’s memorable performance, the movie’s authentic downtown punk energy, its unexpectedly modern themes of self-invention and fame, and why this overlooked indie classic still feels strikingly relevant today.