Out in the undead world of film podcasts, Fear and Loathing in Cinema sets itself apart with its irreverent blend of pop culture critique, nostalgic deep-dives, and a razor-sharp, at times almost uncomfortably candid, dissection of cinematic relics that were once scorned but now, with the benefit of time, seem worthy of a second look.
Hosted by a group of unpredictable yet undeniably insightful voices; Bryan Kluger, a media director with a sharp sense of irony of offensive things; Dan Moran, a lawyer who brings an often absurd legal perspective of the film industry and Kevin Costner; Preston Barta, a film critic with a taste for the heart-warmingly obscure branch of cinema; and Chelsea Nicole, a culture critic who digs into the nuances of social dynamics and horror; Fear and Loathing in Cinema Podcast thrives in that rare space between sincere analysis and gut-busting humor.
On our first Fear and Loathing in Cinema episode of 2026, we do what any sensible group of adults would do to welcome a new year. We consecrate January to Gerard Butler. Or, as it will now be known in perpetuity, Gerarduary. This is not a bit so much as a lifestyle choice. And what better way to kick things off than Dracula 2000, the movie that announced Butler to the world with the subtlety of a leather trench coat snapping in the wind as the titular character. This was a film greenlit less because of artistic necessity and more because someone, somewhere, apparently said, “It’s called Dracula 2000, what more do you want?” History is complicated like that.
The movie was widely despised upon release and dismissed as loud, ridiculous, and aggressively turn-of-the-millennium garbage. Which is to say, it is now perfect.
Rewatching it all these years later, Bryan, Dan, and Preston discover that Dracula 2000 isn’t bad so much as profoundly misunderstood. It’s a glorious artifact of quick cuts, heavy-metal needle drops, and that very specific era when the mid ’90s were still clinging to relevance like a frosted-tip hangover. It features Danny Masterson (yes, that Danny Masterson), a cinematographer named Paul Lau, who somehow also shot Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon the same year, and an energy that suggests everyone involved thought Y2K might actually end civilization. We couldn’t invent a more “2000” movie if we tried. So give this episode a listen wherever you get your podcasts. It’s Gerarduary. Resistance, like tasteful restraint, is futile.
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Thank you for listening.
WRITTEN BY: BRYAN KLUGER
BRYAN KLUGER, A SEASONED VOICE IN THE REALM OF ENTERTAINMENT CRITICISM, HAS CONTRIBUTED TO A WIDE ARRAY OF PUBLICATIONS INCLUDING ARTS+CULTURE MAGAZINE, HIGH DEF DIGEST, BOOMSTICK COMICS, AND HOUSING WIRE MAGAZINE, AMONG OTHERS.
HIS INSIGHTS ARE ALSO CAPTURED THROUGH HIS PODCASTS; MY BLOODY PODCAST AND FEAR AND LOATHING IN CINEMA PODCAST; WHICH LISTENERS CAN ENJOY ACROSS A VARIETY OF PLATFORMS.
IN ADDITION TO HIS WRITTEN WORK, KLUGER BRINGS HIS EXPERTISE TO THE AIRWAVES, HOSTING TWO LIVE RADIO SHOWS EACH WEEK: SOUNDTRAXXX RADIO ON WEDNESDAYS AND THE ENTERTAINMENT ANSWER ON SUNDAYS. HIS MULTIFACETED APPROACH TO MEDIA AND CULTURE OFFERS A UNIQUE, IMMERSIVE PERSPECTIVE FOR THOSE WHO SEEK BOTH DEPTH AND ENTERTAINMENT.
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