"Santa Claus Conquers The Martians" is often considered the Granddaddy of all bad Christmas films. A cheaply made kiddie flick from 1964, it is perhaps most well known for being the screen debut of a young Pia Zadora. Film critic Dave Canfield returns to the show to dissect the film's notoriety, the filmmakers' misguided intentions and what makes this public domain favorite so special. They also discuss a lesser-known yuletide oddity for kids along the same lines, "The Christmas Martian." A Canadian production made for television, it is made up of so many odd elements that don't quite go together, but that's what makes it such a fascinating watch. Finally, Dave's TV Special pick is Berke Breathed's Bloom County/Outland one-off Christmas special "Opus n' Bill's A Wish For Wings That Work," perhaps Collin's favorite Christmas special of all time.

Watch "Santa Claus Conquers The Martians"

Watch "The Christmas Martian" (sorry, only the French version is available on YouTube)

Watch "Opus n' Bill's A Wish For Wings That Work."

Last year, film critic Nick Digilio came onto the show to talk about the crime comedy "The Ref." This year, he returns to talk about a film that feels like a close cousin to that film, Harold Ramis' "The Ice Harvest," starring John Cusack, Billy Bob Thornton, Connie Nielsen and Oliver Platt. Like "The Ref," it is an underseen gem about criminals trying to get out of town on Christmas Eve, with too many obstacles--including family, cops and other criminals--getting in the way. What was it like to hang out with John Cusack when he lived in Chicago? Is this his best performance? How does this film fit into the rest of Harold Ramis work? All this, plus a look at Nick's book, "40 Years, 40 Films" where we dive into what makes a good film critic and what your Top 10 says about you. Finally, Nick's TV Christmas pick is "The Honeymooners" - Season 1, Episode 13 - "'Twas The Night Before Christmas," one of the coveted 39 episodes of the show that remains timeless and classic.

Buy Nick's book "40 years, 40 Films" here.

Every year, Netflix kicks off the Christmas movie season with a little trifle of a rom-com that stars an actress whose name used to be commonly above the title in past decades. This year, it's Alicia Silverstone's turn in the formulaic "A Merry Little Ex-Mas," a tension-less comedy in which a married couple call it quits on their marriage, but decide to stay together, more or less, through the holidays. Does the script give Silverstone anything to do? Should we all have two Christmas trees up in our houses in case one of them catches fire? How is it that a real-life father and son have no father-and-son chemistry in a movie? All this, plus a Santa Beard rating for the Chet character and three more movies "You Must See Before Your Die. "

Book movies covered:

"The Traveling Players" (1975)

"The Wicker Man" (1973)

"An American Werewolf In London" (1981)

Author Ed Daly (The Christmas Book) returns to talk about easily one of the most celebrated holiday movies ever, John Hughes' Thanksgiving classic "Planes, Trains and Automobiles." This movie was the career-changer for the late, great John Candy and this episode gets into the hows and whys of that turning point, as well as how the movie was ultimately saved in the editing (as many films often are, but here especially). Would you consider yourself more of a Neal or a Del? What is the most important deleted scene that could've been left in? Which country still rates the movie a PG-13 in spite of the legendary nineteen F-bombs? What is everyone's favorite John Hughes movie? All these questions and more, plus It's the Blu-ray Gift Exchange, Charlie Brown!

Buy Ed Daly's book "The Christmas Book" (2025 edition)

Blu-rays covered:

Warner Bros.:

"Weapons" (2025) - 4K

"A Nightmare On Elm Street" 7-disc set - 4K

"Peanuts - Ultimate TV Specials Collection"

"Curb Your Enthusiasm" - The Complete Series

Criterion:

"Eyes Without A Face" (1960) - 4K

Warner Archive:

"The Curse of Frankenstein" (1957)

"A Summer Place" (1959)

"Rafferty and the Gold Dust Twins" (1975)

With all the Silent Night, Deadly Night films complete (or are they?), Kerry, Collin and their frequent guest at this time of year, Patick Ripoll, take a look at another slasher film from the same era, the less controversial, but just as violent Don't Open Till Christmas, directed by (kind-of) and starring Edward Purdom. There's not a whole lot that makes sense here, but that's what makes it so fun to dissect. Why is one character hanging up random strands of garland in random places in her apartment? Does the killer only want to kill male Santa Clauses in the area? What exactly is the killer's motivation? What prompted re-shoots and re-edits of the final product? All this, plus three films from the Book that more-or-less (mostly less) tie in with the topic.

Book films covered:

"The War Game" (1966)

"The Bride of Frankenstein" (1935)

"Targets" (1968)

Collin and Kerry correct a mistake from last year by focusing on a movie that actually does take place during Halloween. Christine Sellin returns to talk about "Monster House," a subversive and hilarious animated from from 2006 that sneaks up on the viewer with a poignant story of love that durns dark and foreboding when you look back on it. Is this the best of the motion-capture animated films of this era? How does the animation hold up today? What was trick-or-treating like when you were a kid? Has it changed over the years?

All this, plus a Blu-ray Gift Exchange segment for both dog and cat lovers (and lion lovers, too).

Blu-rays covered:

Warner:

"Superman" 4K (2025)

Criterion:

"Flow" 4K - (2024)

Lionsgate:

"Little House On the Prairie" - The Complete Series

Warner Archive:

"Get Carter" 4K (1971)

The Judy Garland Collection

Hollywood Legends of Horror Collection

"Black Samson" (1974)

"Huckleberry Hound Show" The Complete Series

"Touche Turtle and Dum Dum - The Complete Series

Unfortunately, our episode on "The Apartment" has to be postponed until next year. Our apologioes for that. Fortunately, author John Zukowski was able to step in at the last minute and introduce a new Christmas gem to us, "Remember The Night," a film starring Barbara Stanwyck and Fred MacMurray that pretty much set the template for many Christmas romances to come. The first (but certainly not the last) of its kind, "Remember The Night" fits in perfectly with our last two episodes that touched on Christmas romance movies that have real wit and class, with a touch of melancholia to ground them. This is a film well worth discovering if you get the chance; hilarious and heartfelt, with a truly memorable ending.

Buy John's books Christmas On the Screen: Reviewing The Evolution Of American Spirituality and The Only Music That Mattered: A Guide To Punk, Post-Punk and Second Wave Ska (1976 - 1983).

Book movies discussed:

The Snake Pit (1948)

A Passage To India (1984)

The White Balloon (1995)

The director and stars of the wonderful comedy "The Baltimorons" (currently/soon in theaters) join the show briefly to discuss the film's evolution and its purpose as a Christmas movie. Before that, though, Kerry and Collin discuss the film after seeing it a second time. What other movies come to mind with this kind of premise? Can anyone do improv? What are the favorite Christmas movies of the guests featured? Tune in to find out. Also, new blu-rays, a couple of which tie into some very recent episodes.

"The Baltimorons" opens in New York on 9/5 and expands to other cities on 9/12.

Blu-rays covered:

"Sense and Sensibility" 4K (Sony)

"The Conjuring" 4K (Warner)

"You Can Count On Me" (Criterion)

"Fire On The Plain" (Criterion)

"The Burmese Harp" (Criterion)

"The Greta Garbo Collection" (Warner Archive)

"The Errol Flynn Collection" (Warner Archive)

"The '50s Sci-Fi Collection" (Warner Archive)

"Invasion U.S.A." / "Rocket Attach U.S.A." (FilmMasters)