The HD Movie Podcast

Episode 162: Final Destination 3

Episode 162 of The HD Movie Podcast is here! Get ready for another thrill ride around movies of any year, any genre and any quality with your hosts Hayley Alice Roberts and Darren Gaskell.
This week, the podcast hits the midpoint of the Final Destination series. As Ronan Keating once sang, life is a rollercoaster but, in FINAL DESTINATION 3, Death is also a rollercoaster as Mary Elizabeth Winstead avoids a frightening funfair accident but then finds herself and her fellow would-be passengers on the list to be chalked off.
Your hosts gets to talk about a double kill that's possibly the nastiest of the series, a kill that Hayley doesn't think is either nasty or prolonged enough, an urban legend about a particular song on the soundtrack and the clever way the iconic Tony Todd is woven into the proceedings this time out. Darren also reveals where he first saw this movie and gets to mention Lost Letter Mysteries (that's Signed, Sealed, Delivered if you're in most places other than the UK). And there's loads more stuff besides, of course.
Want another thrill ride? Check out the music of Mitch Bain. Among his many projects, he's the writer and performer of our podcast's tunes and he's on Instagram if you look for "evertheoptimitch".
You can follow and contact the Podcast on Facebook, X and Instagram by searching for "HDMoviePodcast". We're happy to hear from you.
You can find the hosts on X and Instagram too!
Hayley: @HayleyARoberts on X, hayleyaliceroberts on Instagram
Darren: @darren_gaskell on X, darren_gaskell on Instagram
Oh, the name of that cop character...

Episode 161: Final Destination 2

Episode 161 of The HD Movie Podcast is here! What that's just up the road? It's Hayley Alice Roberts and Darren Gaskell and they're looking at movies of any year, any genre and any quality.
As your hosts are currently covering the Final Destination franchise, and as they kicked off this miniseries with the first movie last week, it's time for them to talk FINAL DESTINATION 2! This one does for driving what its predecessor did for air travel.
Hayley and Darren discuss returning (and non-returning) characters, some more on the nose soundtrack and surnames choices and a slight shift in the overall tone. There's also convincing CGI logs, vintage internet technology, an aptly-named crew member and, of course, there's the return of genre icon Tony Todd!
Rolling along like some musical juggernaut is the music of Mitch Bain. He's the writer and performer of our podcast's tunes and he's on Instagram if you look for "evertheoptimitch".
You can follow and contact the Podcast on Facebook, X and Instagram by searching for "HDMoviePodcast". We're happy to hear from you.
You can find the hosts on X and Instagram too!
Hayley: @HayleyARoberts on X, hayleyaliceroberts on Instagram
Darren: @darren_gaskell on X, darren_gaskell on Instagram
"It's over." Of course it isn't!

Episode 160: Final Destination

Episode 160 of The HD Movie Podcast is here! Some things are unavoidable, like Hayley Alice Roberts and Darren Gaskell discussing movies of any year, any genre and any quality.
For the next five episodes, your hosts are going to be discussing something else that's unavoidable and that is Death. No, they're not bringing the mood down, that's the central premise of the franchise juggernaut that is FINAL DESTINATION and this week Hayley and Darren are going to be revisiting the 2000 movie that started it all.
There's discussion of how the story could have gone to a very well known sci-fi series, as well as the various details which would become touchstones of the following movies. Darren digs out old his old R1 DVD of the movie and reminisces about extras (including the Death Clock), Hayley reveals her first experience of watching the film and there's a dive into the different ending the movie could have had, which leads to a chat about the test screening process for this film. And, of course, there's horror icon Tony Todd to worship! Plus Kristen Cloke if you're Darren (he does NOT take up most of the runtime talking about Kristen, he was warned beforehand).
Something else you can't avoid - but why would you want to? - is the music of Mitch Bain, who is the writer and performer of our podcast's tunes. He's on Instagram if you look for "evertheoptimitch".
You can follow and contact the Podcast on Facebook, X and Instagram by searching for "HDMoviePodcast". We're happy to hear from you.
You can find the hosts on X and Instagram too!
Hayley: @HayleyARoberts on X, hayleyaliceroberts on Instagram
Darren: @darren_gaskell on X, darren_gaskell on Instagram
If you didn't already know, you'll find out how much the reshoots cost too...

Episode 159: You're Cordially Invited

Episode 159 of The HD Movie Podcast is here! Movies of any genre, any year and any quality, discussed by Hayley Alice Roberts and Darren Gaskell. You folks know the drill. 
After the previous episode's 80s Arnie action, it's time to come right up to date with the Prime streaming offering YOU'RE CORDIALLY INVITED, starring Reese Witherspoon and Will Ferrell as two people who book the same venue for the wedding weekends of her sister and his daughter respectively and, as is the case in this type of thing, shenanigans ensue.
Your hosts get to grips with a film that doesn't seem entirely sure of what it wants to be and makes some questionable decisions in the name of adding a little edginess. In terms of music, Darren is keen to get involved in a karaoke duet with Reese but has thoughts about the film's score. Meanwhile, Hayley muses about the mean-spiritedness of various set pieces, including a bizarre interlude involving an alligator. Is it another romcom destined to get a thumbs down from HDMP HQ?
Someone who will always be cordially invited to our HD shindigs is Mitch Bain, who is the creative force responsible for writing and performing the music you hear on the podcast. He's on Instagram if you look for "evertheoptimitch".
You can follow and contact the Podcast on Facebook, X and Instagram by searching for "HDMoviePodcast". We're happy to hear from you.
You can find the hosts on X and Instagram too!
Hayley: @HayleyARoberts on X, hayleyaliceroberts on Instagram
Darren: @darren_gaskell on X, darren_gaskell on Instagram
"Hang on, you just f***ing mentioned Hitler!"

Episode 158: Spouse's Request #4 - The Running Man

Episode 158 of The HD Movie Podcast is here! Hayley Alice Roberts and Darren Gaskell are back and heeding the call to discuss more movies of any genre, any year and any quality. 
Our first episode of 2025 is the fourth of our ongoing, occasional Spouse's Requests. This time, it's the turn of Hayley's husband Phil to pick the movie and he was hankering for some 1980s Arnie action. Not Commando, we've already talked about that. Not Predator, although it's something we may end up covering. It's the movie that was released in the US in the same year as Predator - it's THE RUNNING MAN!
Your hosts dive into a Schwarzenegger thump-a-thon with a side order of light, futuristic satire, complete with Paula Abdul choreography and plenty of interesting casting choices. They also talk about the director merry go round experienced by this movie, a fun bait and switch concerning an on-screen fight you've been waiting the whole movie for, a stop off to mention the author of the source material, some appreciation for quiz show host from hell Richard Dawson and much more, including a sidebar about this year's remake!
New year, new episodes, but same great composer, namely Mitch Bain! Mitch, of course, writes and performs the tunes you hear on the podcast. He's on Instagram if you look for "evertheoptimitch".
You can follow and contact the Podcast on Facebook, X and Instagram by searching for "HDMoviePodcast". We're happy to hear from you.
You can find the hosts on X and Instagram too!
Hayley: @HayleyARoberts on X, hayleyaliceroberts on Instagram
Darren: @darren_gaskell on X, darren_gaskell on Instagram
We'll be back! And not just in a re-run...

Episode 157: MERRY PODMAS 2024 #5 - The Fifth Cord

Episode 157 of THE HD Movie Podcast is here! Hayley Alice Roberts and Darren Gaskell pick at the Christmas Day leftovers and start into the wine, having made sure Santa's buried in a place no one will ever find him. They'll also take a look at a movie of any year, any genre and any quality.
The final episode of 2024 is also the final offering of this year's Merry Podmas miniseries and your hosts have unwrapped a post-Xmas treat in the form of Luigi Bazzoni's 1971 giallo THE FIFTH CORD! Franco Nero stars as a boozy journo trying to unravel a series of murders which seem to be connected to a New Year's Eve party he attended.
Yes, it's taken giallo fans Hayley and Darren 157 episodes to finally cover a film from this subgenre and it was none which (inexplicably) neither of them had seen before. There's discussion of giallo tropes and how The Fifth Cord either sticks to or subverts them, Darren gets to talk about Daria Nicolodi (even though she's not in this movie) and there's Franco Nero fandom to mention. Your hosts also round off with a brief summary of their podcast year.
An auld acquaintance we won't forget is Mitch Bain! If you're one of the folks who has forgotten, Mitch writes and performs the music you hear on the podcast. He's on Instagram if you look for "evertheoptimitch".
You can follow and contact the Podcast on Facebook, X and Instagram by searching for "HDMoviePodcast". We're happy to hear from you.
You can find the hosts on X and Instagram too!
Hayley: @HayleyARoberts on X, hayleyaliceroberts on Instagram
Darren: @darren_gaskell on X, darren_gaskell on Instagram
Huge thanks to you all for listening! Have a very Happy New Year and we'll be back in 2025!

Episode 156: MERRY PODMAS 2024 #4 - Hot Frosty

Episode 156 of The HD Movie Podcast is here! Hayley Alice Roberts and Darren Gaskell have made sure the podcast will have enough spare batteries to run through the Xmas period and, as they're here, they'll be talking about a movie from any year, from any genre and of any quality.
Before Santa arrives, there's time for a Merry Podmas offering and this week your hosts head to the very festive town of Hope Springs where Lacey Chabert is about to get a yuletide surprise in Netflix's HOT FROSTY! Lacey plays Kathy, a kind-hearted widow who's about to be visited by a buff snowman who's magically come to life.
It's the time of year to discuss the merits of PG-rated lust, some terrifying medical notes in a jolly font, more than a couple of references to Brooklyn Nine-Nine, a choreographed dance sequence which threatens to stir up some bad memories and much, much more! Did it get Hayley and Darren into the Christmas spirit?
Dashing through the snow on a one horse open sleigh is our musical maestro Mitch Bain! Actually, he probably isn't, but you can find him on Instagram if you look for "evertheoptimitch".
You can follow and contact the Podcast on Facebook, X and Instagram by searching for "HDMoviePodcast". We're happy to hear from you.
You can find the hosts on X and Instagram too!
Hayley: @HayleyARoberts on X, hayleyaliceroberts on Instagram
Darren: @darren_gaskell on X, darren_gaskell on Instagram
To all of you listening out there, have a wonderful Christmas!

Episode 155: MERRY PODMAS 2024 #3 - Bad Santa

*** WARNING: This episode contains subjects which some listeners may find distressing ***
Episode 155 of The HD Movie Podcast is here! Hayley Alice Roberts and Darren Gaskell have sneaked out of their respective office Christmas parties to bring you another chat about a film of any year, any genre and any quality.
Once more, we bid you a Merry Podmas but how merry is this one going to be? This week's topic of discussion in Terry Zwigoff's BAD SANTA, starring Billy Bob Thornton as a store St. Nick who's out to rob the place, when he's not chugging vodka straight from the bottle or having sex in the changing rooms. It's comedy of the super dark variety.
Your hosts try to get to grips with one of the least Christmassy movies ever, one which also uses a certain offensive word with abandon, flirts with racism and homophobia and features a female lead that doesn't appear to have a name. There's clearly a talented cast involved and a commitment to the material but is it all a bit too nihilistic, even for Hayley and Darren? They chew the fat about it.
Oh, the weather outside is frightful, but Mitch Bain is so delightful... he writes and performs our musical interludes and you can find him on Instagram if you look for "evertheoptimitch".
You can follow and contact the Podcast on Facebook, X and Instagram by searching for "HDMoviePodcast". We're happy to hear from you.
You can find the hosts on X and Instagram too!
Hayley: @HayleyARoberts on X, hayleyaliceroberts on Instagram
Darren: @darren_gaskell on X, darren_gaskell on Instagram
You'll also find out what the three B's are...

Episode 154: MERRY PODMAS 2024 #2 - A Grandpa For Christmas

Episode 154 of The HD Movie Podcast is here! Hayley Alice Roberts and Darren Gaskell have decided to talk about world politics this week - nah, just kidding, they're here once again to look at films of any year, any genre and any quality.
For the second time this year we wish you a Merry Podmas and after last week's killer Santa mayhem it's time to look at a movie with no focus on Santa whatsoever - it's the 2007 Hallmark festive offering A GRANDPA FOR CHRISTMAS! Ernest Borgnine stars as Bert, a retired actor/song and dance man who finds himself looking after his granddaughter while his estranged daughter recuperates in hospital.
Your hosts look at how this one differs from the modern Hallmark template and take time out to appreciate a cast that's chock full of proven US TV talent. Is the kid annoying? Does Bert get to reconcile with his daughter? What's going on with the promo posters for this film? All these questions and more will not be answered on the next episode of Soap but will be answered on this very episode of The HD Movie Podcast!
Oh, the weather outside is frightful, but Mitch Bain is so delightful... he writes and performs our musical interludes and you can find him on Instagram if you look for "evertheoptimitch".
You can follow and contact the Podcast on Facebook, X and Instagram by searching for "HDMoviePodcast". We're happy to hear from you.
You can find the hosts on X and Instagram too!
Hayley: @HayleyARoberts on X, hayleyaliceroberts on Instagram
Darren: @darren_gaskell on X, darren_gaskell on Instagram
Get ready for some Hallmark-level trauma...

Episode 153: MERRY PODMAS 2024 #1 - Silent Night, Deadly Night

Episode 153 of The HD Movie Podcast is here! It's a podcast about movies of any year, any genre and any quality discussed by (H)ayley Alice Roberts and (D)arren Gaskell. We don't do clever titles.
It's time once again to bid you a Merry Podmas as your hosts bring you a short run of festive fare, beginning with the thoroughly Christmassy SILENT NIGHT, DEADLY NIGHT, featuring a serial killer dressed up as Santa, punishing those on his naughty list.
This movie stirred up a lot of controversy on its release, so Hayley and Darren get into the moral dilemmas of using the image of a beloved holiday figure as a murderer but also take a look at the interesting psychological angles the story includes, making it somewhat different than the usual slasher fare even if it still throws in a bit of sleaze from time to time.
There's also discussion of some genuinely well-mounted suspense sequences, some kid v Claus violence, an utterly crap police for, one of the most unintentionally hilarious accidental slayings ever and an early appearance of scream queen Linnea Quigley. Is this one to get our hosts into the festive spirit? Well, maybe not...
After all this time, do we need to tell you who writes and performs our music? We'll do it anyway! It's Mitch Bain and you can find him on Instagram if you look for "evertheoptimitch".
You can follow and contact the Podcast on Facebook, X and Instagram by searching for "HDMoviePodcast". We're happy to hear from you.
You can find the hosts on X and Instagram too!
Hayley: @HayleyARoberts on X, hayleyaliceroberts on Instagram
Darren: @darren_gaskell on X, darren_gaskell on Instagram
"He couldn't hear it."