After a slow start in the year of the Stichup ,Chris has gone full throttle by picking Maximum Overdrive — Stephen King's chaotic leap into the director’s chair!

Maximum Overdrive marks Stephen King’s one and only time in the director’s chair — and it shows. What was meant to be a thrilling blend of horror and action instead turned into a loud, chaotic mess that careened off the rails almost as quickly as the film’s killer machines. With King himself later admitting to being "coked out of his mind" during production, the set was plagued by technical mishaps, safety issues, and a general sense of confusion. Despite the big names like Emilio Estevez and an all-AC/DC soundtrack trying to give it some punch, the film’s directionless tone and over-reliance on noisy spectacle made it feel more exhausting than exciting.

Critics panned Maximum Overdrive on release, and even among Stephen King’s most loyal fans, it’s often cited as the low point of his career. The practical effects and stunts, while ambitious, can’t save a film weighed down by terrible pacing, thin characters, and an almost comical sense of self-seriousness. Instead of delivering scares, the movie lurches from one over-the-top set piece to another, never quite finding its footing. Over time, it’s gained a cult following, but mostly as a "so bad it's good" curiosity — a cautionary tale of what happens when a writer tries to direct while completely off the rails.

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Trailer Guy Plot Summary

In a world where machines turn against their masters, Maximum Overdrive unleashes chaos like never before! When a mysterious comet passes overhead, everyday gadgets — from trucks to toasters — come alive with a deadly agenda. Trapped in a remote truck stop, a ragtag group of survivors must band together to fight off an army of killer vehicles hellbent on destruction. It’s man versus machine in an explosive battle for survival… and in this fight, there’s no off switch! Maximum Overdrive — where the machines run wild and the terror never stops!

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This week we’re diving into a cult classic — Escape from the Planet of the Apes — and it’s all thanks to our great Patreon supporter, Leigh! Leigh’s not just a top supporter; he also runs a fantastic YouTube channel called Movie Vent where he shares his love for all things cinema with Ventriloquist dummy, Ned. Check it out at youtube.com/@ventmovies.

Escape from the Planet of the Apes (1971) marked a clever shift in the Planet of the Apes franchise, driven by budget constraints and the desire to keep the series alive after the apocalyptic ending of the previous film. Director Don Taylor stepped in to helm the project, which reversed the formula by bringing the apes into the contemporary human world instead of humans stumbling into the apes’ future. The screenplay, written by Paul Dehn, embraced elements of satire and social commentary, while working within a significantly smaller budget than its predecessors. To keep costs down, much of the action was set in familiar, modern-day Los Angeles locations, and only a few characters required full prosthetic makeup compared to the previous films’ elaborate ape societies.

The production leaned heavily on the strong performances of Roddy McDowall and Kim Hunter, reprising their roles as Cornelius and Zira, to carry the emotional weight of the story. Special effects were kept minimal, but John Chambers’ iconic makeup design for the apes remained a standout. The studio saw Escape as a gamble, pivoting the franchise from large-scale spectacle to a more character-driven drama with underlying themes of fear, prejudice, and destiny. Despite initial doubts, the movie was a financial success and breathed new life into the series, paving the way for even more sequels down the line.

If you enjoy the show we have a Patreon, so become a supporter.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.patreon.com/thevhsstrikesback⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Trailer Guy Plot Summary

In a world where the future is doomed, three apes take one last chance... and crash-land straight into 1970s America! Hailed as celebrities but hunted as threats, Cornelius, Zira, and Dr. Milo must navigate a society that's as fascinated by them as it is terrified of what they represent. Time is running out, danger is closing in, and the fate of two species hangs in the balance... in Escape from the Planet of the Apes!

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Kicking things off with a blast of ‘80s nostalgia, we’re taking on the 1986 BMX cult classic RAD, chosen by our newest Patreon supporter, Nick Bray! Packed with insane bike tricks and a Daniel LaRusso from Wish! Huge thanks to Nick for picking this one, time to dust off the old bike and practice some bunny hops.

RAD was born out of the mid-1980s BMX biking craze, with Hollywood eager to capture the spirit of the sport just as skateboarding was making its big cinematic breakthrough. Directed by legendary stuntman-turned-director, Hal Needham, the film was crafted with a genuine love for high-flying stunts and underdog stories. The production pulled together a mix of professional BMX riders and actors, staging elaborate, gravity-defying race sequences that became the movie’s signature. Shot primarily in Alberta, Canada, RAD managed to capture that small-town Americana vibe, despite the northern filming location, giving it a timeless, every-kid's-dream feel.

While RAD wasn’t a box office success at the time, it found a second life almost immediately on VHS, becoming a cult classic cherished by generations of fans. Its soundtrack, filled with upbeat anthems, and its earnest tone helped cement its status as a beloved underdog movie. Over the years, RAD developed a reputation as the definitive BMX film, inspiring countless kids to get on their bikes and dream big. Despite being out of print for years, its legend only grew, leading to a long-awaited 4K restoration and re-release decades later — proving you just can’t keep a good tailwhip down.

If you enjoy the show we have a Patreon, so become a supporter.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.patreon.com/thevhsstrikesback⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Trailer Guy Plot Summary

In a world where dreams are built on two wheels and dirt tracks, one small-town kid dares to chase the impossible! RADfollows Cru Jones, a young BMX rider with big ambitions, as he faces off against corporate heavyweights and elite racers in the ultimate test of skill and heart — Helltrack! With gravity-defying stunts, ruthless rivals, and a race that could change his life forever, Cru must risk it all to prove that sometimes, the underdog really can fly!

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠thevhsstrikesback@gmail.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://linktr.ee/vhsstrikesback⁠