Last Podcast On The Left
Last Podcast On The Left
"Well, first of all, I don't like to call them B movies. I call them exploitation movies and that's because, you know, back in the '80s, somebody came out with a book called King of the Bees and one of the guys in the book was Roger Corman." — Joe Bob Briggs
"The drive-ins and the grindhouses were heavily dependent on guys like Roger Corman and Samuel Arcoff and the great indie producers of the '50s, '60s, '70s and '80s and then what replaced it was the video store during the VHS revolution, certainly in the '80s, where suddenly they just wanted as many titles as they could get." — Joe Bob Briggs
"It's the urgency, it's because you literally had to spit out the movie, you had it inside and you had to. I have no money, I call up my friends in the business, I say we're going to shoot this in six days, show up in Glendale on Tuesday and they would rough out a script and make the movie and so that kind of wild west feeling, it's like I don't know why we don't have that today because the technology got so cheap." — Joe Bob Briggs
The episode opens with hosts Ben Kissel and Henry Zabrowski reflecting on their recent tour experiences, with Zabrowski humorously detailing his exhaustion and a peculiar interaction during press for "Your Pretty Face is Going to Hell" in Toronto. They then transition to listener-submitted stories, including an unusual case of an elderly couple using Iron Maiden to deter noisy neighbors in a retirement community and reports of a ghost at a Massachusetts Market Basket grocery store.
The main segment features an in-depth interview with veteran film critic and host Joe Bob Briggs. Briggs discusses his preference for the term "exploitation films" over "B-movies," elaborating on how independent and genre films often surpass mainstream productions in creativity and impact. He analyzes the shifting perception of horror cinema, from its grindhouse and drive-in origins to its increasing mainstream acceptance and even Oscar recognition. Briggs also touches on the role of controversial content in making films impactful and the challenges faced by filmmakers in achieving genuine shock value in contemporary media.
The conversation delves into the decline of drive-in theaters and video stores, highlighting their crucial role in distributing independent and low-budget films. Briggs contrasts this with the current digital landscape, noting how technological advancements have made filmmaking more accessible yet seemingly haven't led to a proportional increase in compelling independent productions. He emphasizes the urgency and raw creativity characteristic of the VHS era as a model for impactful filmmaking. The interview concludes with Briggs offering recommendations for aspiring horror fans, suggesting starting points like "Night of the Living Dead" and highlighting the enduring appeal of '80s horror.