For the eighth and final episode of our Size Doesn’t Matter season, Dan and Sarah look at director Joe Dante’s 1987 sci-fi comedy, Innerspace. Anchored in the wild experimentation of 1980s cinema, the movie tackles an absurdist concept with Dennis Quaid playing an arrogant pilot who is miniaturized and accidentally injected into a hypochondriac played by Martin Short.

We dig into why this blend of comedy sci-fi and body horror flopped at the box-office back in 1987 despite it picking up an Oscar for its practical effects. From Meg Ryan’s rom-com warmth to Robert Picardo’s brilliant shape-shifting performance, it’s a standout among 80s movies with a crazy premise. We chat about how films about small things used to build giant props and double-length cars instead of relying on CGI, marvel at Martin Short movies at their slapstick peak, and question whether Dennis Quaid films ever feature a truly likable protagonist.

What to expect from this episode:

• We explore why Martin Short’s masterclass in physical comedy makes him Dan’s all-time favourite Canadian.
• Sarah and Dan praise Robert Picardo’s incredible performance as The Cowboy and his brilliant face-shifting Martin Short impression.
• We debate whether Dennis Quaid’s arrogant pilot Tuck Pendleton is supposed to be likeable or just a total jerk.
• Appreciation for the Oscar-winning practical special effects, double-length car props, and forced perspective techniques that beat out Predator.
• We examine the film as “Cronenberg for kids” with its surprising amount of body horror, including a henchman dissolved by stomach acid.
• Dan provides an unnecessarily thorough breakdown of how miniaturized waste disposal and digestion would logically work inside the human body.
• We spot the classic Joe Dante hallmarks, including his personal cameo, Dick Miller as a taxi driver, and SCTV alumni appearances.
• Reflection on how 1980s studio cinema embraced wild, original concepts that modern blockbusters just can’t match.

We'll be back on October 19th for Season 17

If you're a fan of the show and want more content, check out our £3.00 a month tier on Patreon where we release our end of season wrap shows and 2 reviews of brand new movies every month. Plus you'll get access to our back catalogue from 2023 onwards.

Enjoy the show but can't support us financially? We get it. You could submit a review on the podcast player you're reading this on right now. Or if you listen on Spotify and you haven't given us a five-star rating yet, what are ye waiting for? It's easy.

If you've done some or all of that and still want to do more, we would love it if you tell a friend about the show.

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It’s time to shrink your expectations and doll out some pocket-sized justice because Shoot the Hostage is back for the penultimate episode in Dan’s carefully curated “Size Doesn’t Matter” season. This week, Dan and Sarah take a short journey into the 1991 sci-fi action absurdity Dollman, directed by cult b-movie maestro Albert Pyun and produced by the legendary Charles Band of Full Moon Pictures.

We’re examining Brick Bardo, a 13-inch alien cop played with relentless, stoic grit by Tim Thomerson, who brings pure tiny Dirty Harry energy to the grimy streets of New York. After crash-landing from planet Arturus, Bardo finds himself locked in a low-budget showdown against South Bronx gang leader Braxton, played by a pre-Watchmen Jackie Earle Haley channelling a twitchy David Patrick Kelly. Along for the ride are local neighbourhood activist Debbie (Kamala Lopez), Bardo’s floating-head nemesis Sprug (Frank Collison), and Bardo’s frustrated precinct boss played by Nicholas Guest.

We break down why Charles Band films are “the TK Maxx of the movie industry” – a bargain bin where you must dig through piles of trash to find a rare kernel of genius. We explore how Dollman inflates its diminutive run time using five uninterrupted minutes of sidewalk stock footage, Garth Marenghi style slow motion lingering, and recycled Buck Rogers space shots. Plus, we take a small detour into 1991 nostalgia – discussing 20p newsagent hair gel, scratch and sniff t-shirts, Magic Eye puzzles and SeaQuest DSV before dissecting whether Bardo’s universe shattering blaster is merely a phallic extension for a lawman of tiny proportions.

What to expect in this episode:

• Nostalgic tangents exploring 1991 pop culture, including Global Hypercolor shirts, Magic Eye pictures and 20p tubs of hair gel.
• A tribute to Albert Pyun’s prolific career, Roger Corman roots and surprising historical ties to Total Recall.
• Celebration of Tim Thomerson’s iconic performance as Brick Bardo, the ultimate pocket-sized lawman.
• A breakdown of the planet Arturus opening hostage scene and its bizarre dialogue choices.
• Our full pitch for a modern Dollman reboot
• A preview of next week’s episode

This season has eight episodes, concluding September 21st

Would you like to see the full lineup for season 16? The only place you can see it is on Patreon but you don't need to be a paying member. Sign up for a free membership and get access to the lineup.

If you're a fan of the show and want more content, check out our £3.00 a month tier on Patreon where we release our end of season wrap shows and 2 reviews of brand new movies every month. Plus you'll get access to our back catalogue from 2023 onwards.

Enjoy the show but can't support us financially? We get it. You could submit a review on the podcast player you're reading this on right now. Or if you listen on Spotify and you haven't given us a five-star rating yet, what are ye waiting for? It's easy.

If you've done some or all of that and still want to do more, we would love it if you tell a friend about the show.

Or come find us on social media:

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Welcome back to Shoot the Hostage for the sixth instalment of our “Size Doesn’t Matter” season where this week, Dan has dragged us to the high-tech non-functioning corridors of Clamp Tower. Yes, we’re tackling the pinnacle of chaotic movie sequels: Joe Dante’s 1990 live-action cartoon, Gremlins 2: The New Batch.

What to expect in this episode:

• Sarah explains why her maternal instincts are triggered by Gizmo and the strange resemblance he has with her cat.
• We try to solve the ultimate Mogwai hygiene mystery.
• Praise for John Glover’s performance and why we warm to a character designed to parody a certain orange balloon man.
• We celebrate Rick Baker’s practical effects and debate our favourite Gremlin designs, from the Spider Gremlin to the Gargoyle Gremlin.
• Gizmo’s incredible Rambo-style montage and how Sylvester Stallone personally signed off on the gag.

This season has eight episodes, concluding September 21st

Would you like to see the full lineup for season 16? The only place you can see it is on Patreon but you don't need to be a paying member. Sign up for a free membership and get access to the lineup.

If you're a fan of the show and want more content, check out our £3.00 a month tier on Patreon where we release our end of season wrap shows and 2 reviews of brand new movies every month. Plus you'll get access to our back catalogue from 2023 onwards.

Enjoy the show but can't support us financially? We get it. You could submit a review on the podcast player you're reading this on right now. Or if you listen on Spotify and you haven't given us a five-star rating yet, what are ye waiting for? It's easy.

If you've done some or all of that and still want to do more, we would love it if you tell a friend about the show.

Or come find us on social media:

Instagram | TikTok | Threads | YouTube