Josh Nealis's 19th Century Vengeance Double Feature: The Count of Monte Cristo (2002) & Abraham Lincoln - Vampire Hunter (2012)

Comic book writer and novelist ⁠Josh Nealis⁠ is on a virtual promotional tour for his latest book, "Cocaine-Stripper Stronghold: Issue 2", so a podcast called "⁠I Dig Crazy Flicks⁠" seems an obvious production to reach out to. His project's wild premise makes him seem like the ideal guest for ⁠CatBusRuss⁠, but can these two demented minds talk about films that can reach the lofty expectations they carry with themselves?

Josh is obviously a passionate man, and that took priority when he offered the podcast's host one of his favorite films, 2002's "⁠The Count of Monte Cristo⁠", ⁠Alexandre Dumas⁠'s tale of long-gestating revenge in post Napoleonic France. The film has many supporters, but it is a half hour too long for "⁠Ninety For Chill⁠" and is pretty grounded in the historic environment. Director ⁠Kevin Reynolds⁠ may have given us "⁠Waterworld⁠", but this podcast needs some insane idea(s) like that Kevin Costner flick to work.

⁠Russ⁠ still has his skills that will allow anyone to talk about any movie they want on the podcast, so he decided to offer up a movie with similar themes, but with monsters and a manageable runtime. Someday, he would love to discuss ⁠Timur Bekmambetov⁠'s Russian action-monster movie hybrids that got him to the Stateside attention, but "⁠Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter⁠" may be a great jumping off point to this director's filmography.

CatBusRuss met the founder of ⁠Cutthroat Comics & Publishing⁠ at ⁠Capital City Comic Con 2025⁠ in Lansing, Michigan. Josh's table on artist alley featured comic books and novels with titles that will grab your attention like "Pedoman and Kid Friendly" and "Stuffed Squirrels & Porcelain Angels", so our host could not resist talking shop with this talent. Comics were bought and information was exchanged. And now its Russ's turn to make something from this new friendship.