When the directors of Pulp Fiction and Desperado joined forces in 1996, nobody expected the chaos that followed. From Dusk Till Dawn is part crime thriller, part vampire splatterfest, and entirely unforgettable. This week, the Born to Watch crew sinks their teeth into the film that turned George Clooney from TV doctor to Hollywood icon.

Whitey, Damo and Gow hit the road to El Rey, cocked, loaded, and possibly armed with a "dick gun." The boys dive straight into the movie's outrageous tonal shift: one moment it's a gritty outlaw chase, the next it’s a full-blown blood-soaked vampire brawl. Half road movie, half horror comedy, From Dusk Till Dawn remains one of cinema's wildest left-turns – and the lads can't get enough of it.

They reminisce about seeing it for the first time, back when nobody knew the twist. Gow remembers sitting in a dark cinema thinking it was just a stylish Tarantino heist until all hell literally broke loose. Damo recalls wearing out the VHS tape twice in a row, and Whitey laughs about taking five unsuspecting mates to see it just to watch their jaws drop. This is movie memory at its finest: the mid-'90s, Empire magazines, no spoilers, no internet, just word-of-mouth madness.

The conversation slides quickly from Clooney's charisma to Quentin Tarantino's unnerving performance as Richie Gecko, possibly his best acting turn. Damo describes him as “quiet, creepy and dangerous,” while Gow compares his brotherly chemistry with Clooney to "a bomb about to go off." The trio agree Clooney oozes movie-star presence, Harvey Keitel grounds the chaos, and Juliette Lewis somehow still looks 23 for the next 20 years.

And then there's Salma Hayek. The fellas do not hold back on the famous Titty Twister dance scene, the snake, the stumble, the hips, and Tarantino's now-infamous foot fetish. Whitey confesses it's "maybe the sexiest dance in movie history," while Damo says it's proof every song has an inner stripper. The music, the lighting, the moment – pure '90s cinematic magic.

Between the beer, blood, and banter, the boys celebrate everything that makes From Dusk Till Dawn such gleeful trash. They quote the immortal "Mexican or domestic?" gag, debate the "ugly snorbs" among the vampire horde, and burst into laughter, recalling Clooney's moral compass, the bad guy with the good heart. There's genuine affection for how the film refuses to play by any rules.

In Film School for F-Wits, Whitey goes full academic, calling the film the "ultimate tonal shift" and challenging the others to name a movie that turns harder or faster. Damo nominates a few classics, Gow brings his rugby grand-final energy, and the chat devolves into biscuits, Monte Carlos and Venetians, proof that even when the vampires attack, Born to Watch stays on brand.

From the "popcorn popping in the servo" opening to Cheech Marin's triple role and the legendary Titty Twister monologue, the episode is wall-to-wall chaos, nostalgia and laughs. By the time the guys hit The Good, the Bad and the Ugly, it's clear this flick isn't high art, but it’s pure fun. A 7.2 on IMDb? The crew say it’s worth every drop of blood and beer.

So grab a cold one, reload your dick gun, and join Whitey, Damo and Gow as they revisit From Dusk Till Dawn, the movie that proved you never know what's lurking inside the bar until the sun goes down.

#BornToWatch #FromDuskTillDawn #GeorgeClooney #QuentinTarantino #RobertRodriguez #SalmaHayek #90sMovies #MoviePodcast #FilmNerds #MovieNight

From the smoky streets of Little Italy to the milk-stained benches of a hitman's apartment, Born to Watch takes aim at one of the most unique and controversial action dramas of the '90s with its Leon: The Professional (1994) Review. In this week's episode, Whitey, Damo, and Dan on the Land dive deep into Luc Besson's stylish, unsettling, and surprisingly heartfelt film about an unlikely bond between a hitman and a 12-year-old girl.

Would this movie be made today? Probably not. But that's part of its enduring intrigue. The crew revisit the world of Jean Reno's stoic assassin, Gary Oldman's manic DEA agent, and Natalie Portman's breakout performance as Matilda, the orphan who turns vengeance into a calling.

As the boys reminisce, they take a nostalgic trip back to 1994, the year that gave us Green Day's Dookie, Nirvana's Unplugged, Pearl Jam's Vitalogy, and The Offspring's Smash. It was also the year they thought they were "arty as hell" watching French cinema in suburban multiplexes. Cue the milk, the braces, and the John Wayne impressions; this episode delivers the perfect blend of pop culture, humour, and heartfelt nostalgia that makes Born to Watch such a cult favourite.

Damo questions the fascination with milk-drinking hitmen, Dan lists the defining albums of '94, and Whitey recalls seeing the film in cinemas, not realising it would later feel very different once he had an 11-year-old daughter of his own. Together, they unpack the film's layered characters:

• Leon (Jean Reno): slow, gentle, and dangerous, with an oddly pure soul.
• Matilda (Natalie Portman): vulnerable yet vengeful, performing far beyond her age in a debut that stunned the industry.
• Stansfield (Gary Oldman): a villain so unhinged, it’s impossible to look away. His Beethoven-fuelled rampage remains one of the most gloriously overacted performances in movie history.

The trio debates whether the film's tone, which sits somewhere between action, arthouse, and morality play, could survive modern scrutiny. There's talk of Luc Besson's eccentric direction, Portman's controlled emotional performance, and the film's moral discomfort that keeps audiences divided decades later.

They also share behind-the-scenes gems, such as Portman's parents' restrictions on smoking scenes, her early mastery of on-screen crying, and Luc Besson's knack for finding raw emotion in unlikely places. Damo draws parallels to The Exorcist, Dan applauds Reno's physical subtlety, and Whitey argues that Portman should have received an Oscar nomination if not for Anna Paquin's earlier win for The Piano.

The gang laugh their way through some classic Born to Watch segments:

• The Cry-Meter: Whitey admits to misty eyes (7.5%) during the early tragedy.
• The Snorb’s Report: Featuring Elle Macpherson in Sirens, naturally.
• The Hit, Sleeper, and Dud: With shoutouts to The River Wild, Wagons East, and Legends of the Fall.

By the end, the trio agree that Leon remains both haunting and hypnotic, a masterpiece of tone, performance, and ambiguity. It’s a film that feels both dangerous and tender, and is completely unforgettable.

JOIN THE CONVERSATION

• Was Gary Oldman the most unhinged villain of the ’90s?
• Why do all hitmen love milk?
• Should Natalie Portman have won an Oscar for her debut?

Listen now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your pods. Don't forget to like, subscribe, and leave a five-star review at BornToWatch.com.au
.

#LeonTheProfessional1994Review #BornToWatch #LucBesson #NataliePortman #GaryOldman #JeanReno #MoviePodcast #90sMovies #FilmReview #CinephileHumour

Paul Verhoeven is officially a Born to Watch legend, but this week the boys go deep into his most infamous film to find out if Showgirls (1995) deserves a spot at the top of the Rank Bank or belongs buried under a mountain of glitter and regret. The Showgirls (1995) Review will be a lot of fun.

From the moment Nomi Malone hitchhikes into Las Vegas with dreams of stardom and a suitcase full of questionable choices, Verhoeven's neon-soaked disaster invites every kind of reaction. Whitey, G-Man and Damo rip through the plot with their trademark mix of outrage and disbelief, tackling everything from Elizabeth Berkeley's career-ending performance to Kyle MacLachlan's slippery pool scene that's become cinematic legend for all the wrong reasons.

Was Showgirls ever meant to be serious? Could it have worked as a satire? The crew debates whether Verhoeven's direction and Joe Eszterhas's ludicrous script are misunderstood genius or just cinematic malpractice. Damo argues that it's a "full mind-body spiritual experience," while Whitey insists it's “a masterpiece of shit." G-Man tries to stay objective, but even he can't defend dialogue this wooden or acting this drenched in baby oil.

The team delves into the film's troubled production history, including Berkeley's disastrous fallout from Saved by the Bell, Verhoeven's later confession that he pushed her into cartoonish exaggeration, and Kyle MacLachlan's stunned reaction at the premiere: "I was absolutely gobsmacked." They explore how Showgirls was panned on release, only to rise again as a cult classic, the sort of “so-bad-it's-good” masterpiece that packs midnight screenings and inspires drag-queen tributes around the world.

No Born to Watch review would be complete without the Snorbs Report, and this week it's a full-length epic. From the film's Razzie nominations to its $100 million home-video redemption, the boys chronicle how Showgirls became both an artistic failure and a commercial success. There's trivia about its banned trailer, its notorious NC-17 rating, and Verhoeven's history of pushing boundaries, from Basic Instinct to Starship Troopers.

In true Born to Watch fashion, the lads discover a few accidental highlights: Gina Gershon's camp brilliance, the hilariously terrible fight choreography, and Robert Davi's unforgettable line delivery that cements his place in movie-villain history. They even crown Showgirls the global champion of "wank-per-capita cinema", a category no one asked for but everyone understands.

By the end, they decide Showgirls is a film that must be seen to be believed. It's equal parts erotic thriller, unintentional comedy, and cautionary tale about a tragic career. Whether you love it, hate it, or just can't look away, Showgirls remains a cinematic experience unlike anything else.

JOIN THE CONVERSATION

Was Showgirls a misunderstood genius or glorious trash?
Is Nomi Malone the most unlikeable lead in movie history?
Did Verhoeven create art, or just soft-core chaos in heels?

Listen now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your pods.

Drop us a voicemail at BornToWatch.com.au and tell us where this one ranks in your guilty pleasures.

#Showgirls1995Review #BornToWatch #MoviePodcast #PaulVerhoeven #ElizabethBerkeley #CultClassic #SnobsReport #90sMovies #FilmReview #VegasNights