The HD Movie Podcast

Episode 143: SUMMER OF SHARKS AND FRIENDS #6 - Lake Placid

Episode 143 of The HD Movie Podcast is here! If it's a film of any year, any genre and any quality, there's a good chance Hayley Alice Roberts and Darren Gaskell will want to discuss it.
Five down, five to go in our Summer And Sharks And Friends miniseries and our aquatic menace this week is a croc in Steve Miner's LAKE PLACID! This 1999 flick was written by the prolific David E. Kelley and once we've made our way through just some of his many credits, it's on with the chat! 
Your hosts discuss Steve Miner's early movies, they play Does The Cow Die?, let Brendan Gleeson's accent slide and ponder why someone would ever cheat on Bridget Fonda. There are also the delights of an increasingly foul-mouthed Betty White, a twinge of nostalgia for Hayley as she casts her mind back to experiencing one of her first gore sequences and a look at this film's SyFy sequels.
Tell you what isn't a crock - it's the Summer Of Sharks theme by Mitch Bain, who also writes and performs the other tunes you hear on the podcast. 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
Friday The 13th Part 3 is under-appreciated and you all know it!

Episode 142: SUMMER OF SHARKS AND FRIENDS #5 - Under Paris

Episode 142 of The HD Movie Podcast is here! Hayley Alice Roberts and Darren Gaskell are here too, ready to discuss movies of any year, any genre and any quality.
Summer Of Sharks And Friends pivots back to sharks this week, with the recent Netflix hit UNDER PARIS under scrutiny. The movie is literally In Seine as the French capital is under attack from a predator which has clearly watched Jaws: The Revenge.
Aside from Darren's dodgy French pronunciation, your hosts talk about how Euro shark fare can differ from that from the good old U. S. of A., as well as the alternate viewing experiences of dubbing versus subtitles, how this film seems to suggest that environmentalists are a bunch of twats and whether or not Kiki The Dog makes it to the end credits. Plus a whole lot more, of course.
Synonymous with our shark movie coverage is the cracking Summer Of Sharks theme by Mitch Bain. You can find him on social media: @whoelsebutmitch on X, evertheoptimitch on Instagram.
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
Mon Dieu! Zut alors! And so on...

Episode 141: SUMMER OF SHARKS AND FRIENDS #4 - Piranha (2010)

Episode 141 of The HD Movie Podcast is here! Any movie. Any genre. Any quality. But not just any hosts: you're getting Hayley Alice Roberts and Darren Gaskell.
After last episode's look at 1978's PIRANHA, Summer Of Sharks And Friends continues with a look at 2010's, er, Piranha. Alexandra Aja took on a few remakes, of which this is one, and upped the ante with more blood, more boobs and more of other stuff beginning with "b"!
Your hosts talk about the various items which are shoved in the face of the audience, the effect of soundtracking gratuitous nudity with classical music, some canny casting choices and how it stacks up against Joe Dante's original. There's also a revelation as to whether or not the Pixies are cool and Darren plays a game of Spot The Adult Movie Star. 
Do you think "That Summer Of Sharks theme tune is good"? You'd be right. It's composed and performed by Mitch Bain and you can find him on social media: @whoelsebutmitch on X, evertheoptimitch on Instagram.
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
Amity Beer...

Episode 140: SUMMER OF SHARKS AND FRIENDS #3 - Piranha (1978)

Episode 140 of The HD Movie Podcast is here! If a movie is being discussed by Hayley Alice Roberts and Darren Gaskell, it could be from any year, from any genre and of any quality.
Our Summer Of Sharks And Friends miniseries continues with the first detour into the "And Friends" portion of the title. The focus is still on a fishy menace, but a smaller one and with hundreds, if not thousands, of their mates in tow. We take a look at Joe Dante's PIRANHA from 1978!
The year should suggest that this Roger Corman production was an attempt to cash in on the Jaws movies and your hosts get into that lawsuit bait, as well as the general Corman ethos regarding low-budget movie making and the Oscar-winning talent those films spawned. Hayley and Darren also play spot the horror icon, shout out their love for practical effects, discover if the dog dies and talk remakes.
We might not be covering sharks this week but that's no excuse not to feature our awesome Summer Of Sharks theme tune by our Cap'n of composing that is Mitch Bain! You can find him on social media: @whoelsebutmitch on Twitter, evertheoptimitch on Instagram.
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 Twitter and Instagram too!
Hayley: @HayleyARoberts on Twitter, hayleyaliceroberts on Instagram
Darren: @darren_gaskell on Twitter, darren_gaskell on Instagram
"Terror. Horror. Death. Film at 11."

Episode 139: SUMMER OF SHARKS AND FRIENDS #2 - Deep Fear

Episode 139 of The HD Movie Podcast is here! Hayley Alice Roberts and Darren Gaskell cover movies of any genre, any year and any quality. They're not especially choosy.
It's time for the second of our Summer Of Sharks And Friends miniseries and we're sticking to the sharks this week as the movie in question is 2023's DEEP FEAR! Naomi's solo yacht trip turns into a nightmare as she rescues some folks who turn out to be drug traffickers and they want their product back! Trouble is, it's in shark-infested waters...
Made by Brilliant Pictures, did this actually turn out to be a brilliant picture? Well, not exactly. Your hosts discuss the various ways Deep Fear went wrong (and a couple of ways it went right), including a lead character with a traumatic past, a boyfriend that's kind of dull, an opportunity to go full Cocaine Shark that isn't even considered and a lot more besides. The Beaster Bunny gets another mention too, as does Surrounded. Remember that one? We do.
Speaking of deep fear, there's another chance to hear Mitch Bain's atmospheric Summer Of Sharks theme tune! You can find him on social media: @whoelsebutmitch on Twitter, evertheoptimitch on Instagram.
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 Twitter and Instagram too!
Hayley: @HayleyARoberts on Twitter, hayleyaliceroberts on Instagram
Darren: @darren_gaskell on Twitter, darren_gaskell on Instagram
Yeah, the music's all right...

Episode 138: SUMMER OF SHARKS AND FRIENDS #1 - Swim

Episode 138 of The HD Movie Podcast is here!
It's that time of year - Summer Of Sharks is back! The format is ever so slightly different this year as we have expanded our aquatic terror remit to include other water-based menaces in SUMMER OF SHARKS AND FRIENDS!
For the first episode of this new miniseries, your hosts aren't stepping away from the sharks just yet as they take a look at 2021's SWIM, a movie from The Asylum that's written by Anthony C. Ferrante, the director of the Sharknado films. Yes, Mel Gourlay, that does mean I say the word "Sharknado".
Joey Lawrence stars - kind of - as the dad of a family who's up against a watery home invader as their idyllic holiday home floods during extreme weather. Sounds good? Well, Hayley and Darren got plenty of enjoyment out of it, let's say that. With some astonishing acting choice, a shark which appears to change size throughout the movie and a subplot which involves rental car driving, how could they not have been entertained?
As we say hello to the sharks for 2024, it's also time to roll out Mitch Bain's menacing Summer Of Sharks theme tune! You can find him on social media: @whoelsebutmitch on Twitter, evertheoptimitch on Instagram.
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 Twitter and Instagram too!
Hayley: @HayleyARoberts on Twitter, hayleyaliceroberts on Instagram
Darren: @darren_gaskell on Twitter, darren_gaskell on Instagram
I. Know. It. Hurts.........Becky.

Episode 137: We'll Be There For You #6 - The Pallbearer

Episode 137 of The HD Movie Podcast is here! Hayley Alice Roberts and Darren Gaskell discuss movies of any year, any genre and any quality. It's their M.O.
For the final time - at least for this miniseries - We'll Be There For You as the Friends-related discussion reaches its ultimate destination with David Schwimmer starring as THE PALLBEARER! Tom is asked to give the eulogy of classmate Bill Abernathy but there's a problem - Tom doesn't remember Bill at all. He's also distracted by the re-appearance of his high school crush Julie, played by Gwyneth Paltrow.
With an excellent cast and a somewhat melancholy approach to the romcom, does this early effort from blockbuster director Matt Reeves hit the spot? Your hosts discuss comedies which lean into the cringe factor of everyday situations, they look at the obvious comparisons to The Graduate and dig into a movie which may not be trying to alienate its audience but might end up doing anyway.
Also, as it's the final film of this miniseries, Hayley and Darren rank the movies covered from worst to best. If you've been listening over the last few weeks, it probably won't come as a surprise when you find out what's been picked as the worst one. 
Tom may not remember Bill, but we have the unforgettable Mitch Bain on board, supplying us with our tunes. You can find him on social media: @whoelsebutmitch on Twitter, evertheoptimitch on Instagram.
You can follow and contact the Podcast on X and Instagram by searching for "HDMoviePodcast". We're happy to hear from you.
You can find the hosts on Twitter and Instagram too!
Hayley: @HayleyARoberts on Twitter, hayleyaliceroberts on Instagram
Darren: @darren_gaskell on Twitter, darren_gaskell on Instagram
Does the nightmare chimp get a mention this time? Of course it does!

Episode 136: We'll Be There For You #5 - Fools Rush In

Episode 136 of The HD Movie Podcast is here! Hayley Alice Roberts and Darren Gaskell are here to discuss all of your gardening queries! Actually, that's not true. The subject is, as usual, movies of any year, any genre and any quality.
For the penultimate time in this miniseries, We'll Be There For You and in this episode our Friends-related film review features the late, great Matthew Perry in FOOLS RUSH IN! Salma Hayek also stars in this 1990s romcom about two mismatched folks who hit it off in Las Vegas and have to make some very big decisions.
Can Hayley cope with yet another romcom on the podcast? Can Darren cope with Killer Klowns From Outer Space actress Suzanne Snyder being in the cast? Can they both cope from the continuing fallout from last week's episode on Ed? All of these questions and many more will be answered and you'll also find out which song was chosen for the first dance when Darren got married. Not that you needed to know that, but it's here. All in all, it's an emotional one.
The movie may posit the idea that "dating is stupid" but if you want to do something smart, get Mitch Bain involved with your podcast! He writes and performs our music and you can find him on social media: @whoelsebutmitch on Twitter, evertheoptimitch on Instagram.
You can follow and contact the Podcast on X and Instagram by searching for "HDMoviePodcast". We're happy to hear from you.
You can find the hosts on Twitter and Instagram too!
Hayley: @HayleyARoberts on Twitter, hayleyaliceroberts on Instagram
Darren: @darren_gaskell on Twitter, darren_gaskell on Instagram
Thanks for all of the laughs, Matthew. RIP.

Episode 135: We'll Be There For You #4 - Ed

Episode 135 of The HD Movie Podcast is here! Hayley Alice Roberts and Darren Gaskell hit the airwaves once again to talk about movies of any year, any genre and any quality.
We'll Be There For You once more as our Friends-related miniseries switches from the female cast members to the male ones and do we have something special for you this week - it's ED, starring Matt Le Blanc as a promising baseball pitcher whose life is changed with the arrival of a chimpanzee who is meant to be the team mascot but ends up playing at third base.
With a synopsis like this, how could Ed fail? Well, in any number of ways, and your hosts cover quite a lot of those in between marvelling at just how bad this film is. There's also the matter of some questionable humour in a PG film, some incorrect adjectives courtesy of Google, some well known faces in the cast and some doubt as to how proud the studio was of the end product. There's also the quite frankly terrifying title character to discuss too.
Someone who always hits a home run for us is Mitch Bain, who writes and performs the music your hear on the podcast. You can find him on social media: @whoelsebutmitch on Twitter, evertheoptimitch on Instagram.
You can follow and contact the Podcast on X and Instagram by searching for "HDMoviePodcast". We're happy to hear from you.
You can find the hosts on Twitter and Instagram too!
Hayley: @HayleyARoberts on Twitter, hayleyaliceroberts on Instagram
Darren: @darren_gaskell on Twitter, darren_gaskell on Instagram
We rented this.

Episode 134: We'll Be There For You #3 - Romy And Michele's High School Reunion (Guest: Faye Ellis)

Episode 134 of The HD Movie Podcast is here! If it's a movie, Hayley Alice Roberts and Darren Gaskell will consider covering it regardless of genre, year or quality.
For the third time, your hosts will be there for you (when the rain starts to fall etc.) as they continue their miniseries on films featuring one of the main cast of Friends! This time, it's a film which Darren has been looking to cover on the podcast since pretty much day one - it's ROMY AND MICHELE'S HIGH SCHOOL REUNION starring Lisa Kudrow, who is obviously Phoebe Buffay in that very well known sitcom. Duh.
We also have a special guest this week to talk about David Mirkin's 1997 comedy - it's one third of the I Spit On Your Grades crew, it's none other than Faye Ellis! Faye and Darren are big fans of Romy and Michele so it was amazing than Hayley got a word in edgeways and the whole thing didn't turn into a quote fest.
In addition to finding out what first time viewer Hayley thought of the film, Darren reveals which Romy and Michele character he is (it's NOT Romy or Michele). There's coverage of the different UK versions of the film, further connections to not only Friends but also Quentin Tarantino, what to say when someone is eliminated from Masterchef and when you can't be angry at someone. Plus loads more besides!
A popular guy at the HDMP reunion would certainly be Mitch Bain, who writes and performs our tunes. You can find him on social media: @whoelsebutmitch on Twitter, evertheoptimitch on Instagram.
You can follow and contact the Podcast on X and Instagram by searching for "HDMoviePodcast". We're happy to hear from you.
You can find the hosts on Twitter and Instagram too!
Hayley: @HayleyARoberts on Twitter, hayleyaliceroberts on Instagram
Darren: @darren_gaskell on Twitter, darren_gaskell on Instagram
A big thank you to Faye for joining us on this episode!