The New World Pictures Podcast

• Interview with writer/director/SFX artist Steven Kostanski (DEATHSTALKER, PSYCHO GOREMAN)

  We continue #DEATHcember with more love for DEATHSTALKER, writer, director, and special effects artist Steven Kostanski's newest film and reimagining of the sword and sorcery franchise produced by Roger Corman, the original of which was released by New World Pictures. Last week, we discussed the Daniel Bernhardt-starring film and this week we are talking to Kostanski himself about the making of the film, the state of indie filmmaking today, working with Slash as a producer and the co-writer of DEATHSTALKER's incredible theme song, the line of dialogue Patton Oswalt did NOT want to say, and Kostanski's body of work that includes PSYCHO GOREMAN, FRANKIE FREAKO, and MANBORG.  We also talk about his days with Astron-6, the filmmaking collective that kickstarted the career of Kostanski and his compatriots  Adam Brooks, Jeremy Gillespie, Matthew Kennedy, and Conor Sweeney, all of whom worked together on 2011's FATHER'S DAY and who often star or show up in Kostanski's films, including DEATHSTALKER. And if you wanted to know Kostanski's thoughts on the ROBOCOP animated series from New World Television, we got you covered on that, too. There are few filmmakers working today who are more successful in managing practical effects and genre storytelling than Kostanski and it was a thrill for us to discuss his work with him. Thanks to Steven for his time and all his movies and if you haven't yet watched DEATHSTALKER, it is available to rent from Shout! Studios and Raven Banner Entertainment! Go watch it! To keep up with Kostanski's work, follw his Instagram here. For all the shows in Someone’s Favorite Productions Podcast Network, head here: https://www.someonesfavoriteproductions.com/.

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• Bonus Episode: Deathstalker (2025)

  We are kicking off #DEATHcember with a good old fashioned Bonus Episode.  We're talking about DEATHSTAKER 2025, the reboot (?) or remake (?) of the 1983 New World Pictures classic (?) directed by Steven Kostanski (PSYCHO GORMAN, FRANKIE FREAKO).   DEATHSTALKER stars "hunk of a man", Daniel Bernhardt (NOBODY), Patton Oswalt (RATATOUILLE) and Christina Orjalo (OLDER EVERY DAY) in a movie that we can only gush about, and we do A LOT of gushing.  DEATHSTALKER is a thoroughly entertaining homage to the sword and sorcery movies of the 1980's complete with practical gore, wild creatures and a plot that you won't care about.   In addition to talking about DEATHSTALKER, we introduce new ideas for The Semanticast, discuss 1978's Piranha, and Marc's old job at bargain-basement male escort service.  There's a dome off.  Erica breaks down the hottest Franco brothers.  We talk Skyline Chili.  This episode has something for everyone including DEATHSTALKER which you should rent or buy today.  You can thank us later.

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• Nearly New World: The Drifter (1988)

  We close out #NewOIRvember 2 with a movie that New World Pictures didn't release, but they nearly could've if they hadn't chased off Roger Corman to start Concorde Pictures, where he released THE DRIFTER in 1988. starring Kim Delaney (New World's Tour of Duty) as hard-working designer who has a hard time driving from Los Angeles to San Francisco and back again, who meets a tall dark stranger in Miles O'Keeffe (ATOR, THE FIGHTING EAGLE, THE CARTEL) who - does he smell? He smells, right? He's a drifter, so...smelly is a big possibility, right? How dangerous is it to lose your sense of smell? We discuss!  Written and directed by Larry Brand, who also acts in the movie, Brand's directorial debut, and also the debut of him writing, acting, and directing a movie as well, this also brings up the problems with conducting your business at the Oki Dog and giving family heirlooms to a stranger. Also, how important is project management? Why are people not going to movie theaters anymore? And, do cats like the ocean? THE DRIFTER brings up some serious and delicate topics, and we do our best to rip the door off of them all.  So sit back and relax on that motel floor in the room you've just rented from some motel that is somewhere between the Bay Area and Los Angeles but also somehow near mountains, and enjoy this smoldering, sex-filled thriller that tears the lid off of doing your due diligence when hiring people. Background checks, folks! Don't be afraid of them!  For all the shows in Someone’s Favorite Productions Podcast Network, head here: https://www.someonesfavoriteproductions.com/.

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• Ep. 161: The Killing Time

  In a very short time, #NewOIRvember 2 has put #VIDtober to shame in the cast department, and that continues with 1987's THE KLLING TIME starring Beau bridges, Joe Don Baker, Keether, sorry, Kiefer Sutherland, and Michael Madsen! Not to say that CAGED TERROR wasn't filed with star power, but you get it. This murderer's row of a cast also has to deal with murder in a small, coastal town where Beau Bridges is a hunk and a young Michael Madsen isn't and no one questions that you are who you say you are even if you're a stranger. A local love triangle gives way to a more devious plot prompting us to wonder who the hero of the movie is, which, according to Letterboxd, is definitely Kiefer. We dig in to this little-seen thriller (less than 1K views on Letterboxd!) and discuss all the important stuff: what to do when your brakes go out,   the best way to kill a husband you don't like, and the advantages of working next to a dot matrix printer. So buckle in and get ready to kill some time with us as we enjoy one of the best casts we may ever see in a New World Pictures movie. For all the shows in Someone’s Favorite Productions Podcast Network, head here: https://www.someonesfavoriteproductions.com/.

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• Ep. 160: Foxtrot

  We are continuing #New-woirvember 2 with the noir-adjacent, FOXTROT, from 1976.  It's not often you find this much star power in a New World Pictures joint. FOXTROT stars Peter O'Toole (LAWRENCE OF ARABIA), Charlotte Rampling (DUNE) and Max von Sydow (THE EXORCIST).  They're just a bunch of fun, outgoing people giving it a go on a desert island as World War 2 looms on the horizon.  That isn't true at all, Liviu (O'Toole) and Julia (Rampling) are in a miserable marriage and Larsen (Sydow) is a disgruntled employee wishing his boss would just die already.   As it turns out, living on a desert island is just what the doctor ordered.  Literally.  They spend the day eating marmalade and drinking Brandy and wine.  They race sand crabs, see how long they can hold their breath underwater and watch movies in their tent theater.  They even have guests stop by and by "stop by" we mean take a weeks-long journey by boat for a weekend of partying and shooting all the seals on the island.  Fun! We attempt to unpack the many loose ends this movie proposes but never resolves.  For example, how do people so unprepared for island living make it so long on a desert island? Marc talks about pooping.... again.  We struggle to pronounce Jorge Luke's character name (Eusebio) so we just call him "Sussudio".  Ryan's research uncovers how Roger Corman packaged and re-packaged this movie to be something it is not. FOXTROT is part British drama, a bit of noir and a dash of John Carpenter's THE THING.  All roads return to THE THING.  All.  Roads.  

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