Archive for the Favorite Films Category

‘Send Help’: An Analysis of the Eye-Gouging Scene(s) in Sam Raimi’s Breakaway Horror-Comedy Hit

Posted in Essays, Favorite Films, Features with tags , , , , , on 05/26/2026 by Kurt Orzeck

Just two weeks ago, we raved about the best movie of the year so far, Sam Raimi’s Send Help. But just as we can’t stop rewatching the deliriously entertaining horror-thriller-with-a-smile, we keep finding more in-jokes (or Easter eggs, if you prefer) with each subsequent viewing.

The most obvious one is the golfing motif, which is not unlike the collectible coin/button storytelling device that Raimi used in his last great horror-comedy, Drag Me to Hell. (The Bad Penny still maintains the latter flick is the better of the two discussed here.) Just as the coin/button completed the narrative circle of Drag Me to Hell with a sinister smirk, Raimi similarly introduces the golf club and brief discussions about golf at the very beginning and very end of Send Help.

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Favorite Films: Avant-Garde Trio Kilter Get Off on ‘Stalker,’ ‘Annihilation,’ ‘Street Trash’

Posted in Favorite Films, Features, Interviews, Lists with tags , , , , , , , , on 05/23/2026 by Kurt Orzeck
Credit: Malena Marquez

If your tastes in music are liberal and erudite enough to encompass Khanate and Yakuza, you are living in sin with each passing moment you fail to avail yourself to Kilter. The instrumental metal-jazz trio from Paris and Brooklyn is counting down the hours till Kilter’s new album, Ten Billion Years, arrives via Excursus Production on June 19.

“A concept album depicting nothing less than the birth and death of our solar system, Ten Billion Years unfolds with cosmic-level grandeur, its instrumental compositions exploring spaces between the sounds of John Coltrane, Sunn O))) and Meshuggah,” reads a statement in press materials about the release. That jibes with us; does it for you?

If you’re sold, mark your calendar for a week from today, when Bandcamp hosts a Ten Billion Years listening party a week from today at 1 p.m. ET. And with that sneak preview still a week away, The Bad Penny is casting the spotlight on the burgeoning band by featuring them in the latest installment of our Favorite Films series. If the title doesn’t give it away, the ongoing feature allows musicians to share their favorite movies ever (and we usually publish it on Saturdays).

Buckle up (especially in the case of the first selection) for the picks that Kilter’s Laurent David (electric bass, production); Ed Rosenberg III (bass and tenor saxophones); and Kenny Grohowski (drums) handpicked for their installment of Favorite Films.

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If Sam Raimi’s ‘Send Help’ Has You Begging for More Horror-Comedy, Watch This John Carpenter Short Film in Full

Posted in Favorite Films, Features, Videos with tags , , , , on 05/12/2026 by Kurt Orzeck

Definitely more horror than comedy, Sam Raimi nonetheless made an indelible mark in a short film that was part of master-of-the-macabre John Carpenter’s 1993’s anthology, Body Bags. (Raimi made a couple of cameos in it; keep yer eyes peeled. Horror king Wes Craven also makes a cameo, and one of the main roles.)

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Jesus Lizard Screamer David Yow’s Acting Demo Reel Is Pure Gold

Posted in Favorite Films, Features, Videos with tags , , , , , , on 05/03/2026 by Kurt Orzeck

David Yow’s penchant for physical prowess is not only evident in his four decades as noise-rock’s ultimate madman; the Jesus Lizard frontman also taps into his mesmerizing contortions and transformations as an actor. Fans of Yow and his bands – which have also included Scratch Acid, Qui and Flipper – may be aware of his various forays in film, but only a select few have seen this wacky demo reel he used to clinch acting roles.

A short list of movies on Yow’s resumé include 2017’s I Don’t Feel at Home in This World Anymore with Elijah Wood; 2023’s The Toxic Avenger with Peter Dinklage; 2018’s Under the Silver Lake with Andrew Garfield; and the 2015 cult-favorite horror anthology Southbound.

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An Easter Exultation to Cinema’s Still-Sorely-Missed King of Kings, David Lynch: Watch His ‘Rabbits’ Short Film

Posted in Favorite Films, Features with tags , on 04/05/2026 by Kurt Orzeck

Favorite Films: Did You Catch These Easter Eggs in ‘One Battle After Another’?

Posted in Essays, Favorite Films with tags , , , , on 02/15/2026 by Kurt Orzeck

Do we still have to say “spoiler alert”? Then fine: spoiler alert.

Here are observations from someone who has watched the best movie of 2025 too many times:

1. Let’s start with the obvious: Leonardo DiCaprio has said in interviews that he loosely based his character, nicknamed “Ghetto Pat,” after “The Dude” – or “El Duderino,” if you’re not into that whole brevity thing – from The Big Lebowski. For one, both Pat and Jeffrey Lebowski are essentially confused throughout the duration of each movie.

2. Both characters have goatees, occasionally tie back their hair and dress similarly with bathrobes, flannel and sunglasses. (HalloweenCostumes.com actually sells a “Big Lebowski The Dude Bathrobe Costume for Men.”)

The Big Lebowski The Dude Bathrobe
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Favorite Films: Oathbound Swear ‘Alien,’ ‘Big Lebowski,’ ‘Interstellar,’ ‘Cabin in the Woods’ Are the Bomb

Posted in Favorite Films, Interviews, Videos with tags , , , , , , on 02/14/2026 by Kurt Orzeck

Oathbound, Seattle’s most promising progressive-metalcore band, are ready to finally make their big smash with the March 6 release of Colors in Grey (Eclipse), their debut LP. Three of the band members – Taylor Harper (guitar), Steve Schwarz (bass) and Travis Morlan (drums) – generously devoted a chunk of their Friday night to participate in the latest edition of Favorite Films, one of The Bad Penny‘s ongoing series.

And we couldn’t have had more fun with the spirited, genuinely good fellas. For proof, watch the video of our lively and loose conversation.

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Favorite Films: Dummy Give Thumbs-Up to ‘Psycho Goreman,’ ‘Megan,’ ‘Creep,’ ‘Nosferatu’

Posted in Favorite Films, Features, Interviews with tags , , , , , , , , , on 01/17/2026 by Kurt Orzeck

Last March, we had the pleasure of catching up with L.A.-based psych-pop band Dummy ahead of their set at Treefort Music Fest in Boise. In addition to talking about their second album, Free Energy, and accompanying remix LP, Bubbelibrium DLC, Alex Ewell and Joe Trainor – each of whom plays multiple instruments – talked about their favorite movies. We present you with that portion of our conversation, if you’re looking for something worth watching this weekend.

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Favorite Films: Jacob the Horse Singer Digs Russ Meyer, Nolan, Tarsem Singh, William Friedkin

Posted in Favorite Films, Features, Videos with tags , , , , on 12/20/2025 by Kurt Orzeck

Aviv Rubinstien, singer for Los Angeles indie punks Jacob the Horse, reveals which movie scene inspired him to want to become a filmmaker, explains how Russ Meyer influenced his band video for “666 Chicks” and defends William Friedkin’s divisive movie “Sorcerer.”

The interview took place on December 14, 2025, less than two weeks before Jacob’s Horse dropped “666 Chicks” – and ahead of the March 20 release of their new album, At Least It’s Almost Over.

Also, don’t miss our conversation with Rubinstien as part of The Bad Penny‘s On Tyranny series.

Favorite Films: Napalm Death’s Shane Embury Picks ‘2001,’ ‘Inception,’ ‘Forbidden Planet’

Posted in Favorite Films, Features, Interviews with tags , , , , , , , , , on 12/13/2025 by Kurt Orzeck

Napalm Death bassist Shane Embury isn’t one to sit on his laurels – even if they’re extreme-metal laurels. Even though he’s played bass and backing vocals for the grindcore legends since 1987 (man, is that hard to believe), he’s also dallying with his side project Dark Sky Burial, whose new album, The Secred Neurotic, which dropped yesterday via Consouling Sounds.

We’ll have plenty to discuss about that project in the near future, but since it’s Saturday, we found it fitting to roll out a new edition of Favorite Films, in which musicians talk about the best movies they’ve ever seen and recommend some cult classics unfamiliar to most of us.

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