VIDEO: Shadow Wolves September 2025
The boyz discuss what they're watching and reading before getting into Alive (1993)!
Comments (52)
Re: The Long Walk — I’m a big hiker (I’ve hiked the AT, for context) and originally the required speed (the speed in King’s book) that the walkers in the Long Walk were required to walk was 4 MPH, but that speed is almost unsustainable (a good speed for endurance athletes hiking is 3.5 MPH, for example). Interestingly in the movie the minimum speed is a much more manageable—though still difficult—3.0 MPH. This apparently was the sole concession/change that King allowed for the movie to make.
It's not the sole change. 50 walkers instead of 100, 10 seconds between warnings instead of 30, not having crowds, and some other important stuff
This is the classic case on “the custom of the sea” - in an open boat, starvation situation is was considered an acceptable part of maritime life to draw lots to decide who would die, then murder and eat the person who drew the short straw. The two killers in the case were found guilty of murder, but were given clemency. The case was a huge cause celebre in Victorian England. https://www.law.msu.edu/faculty_staff/candeub/QueenvDS.Edited.pdf
I will chip in to send the Action Boyz to Boulder Outdoor Survival School, where I have learned, twice because I am stupid, that being hungry, thirsty, cold and exhausted really gets you away from your phone. https://www.boss-inc.com
Gabrus, you can snorkel with sea lions in La Paz, Mexico. I used to work on a boat that did it every week and it is hands down the best marine experience of my life and if you go during the right season the same boat will take you to swim with the biggest fish in the sea, the whale shark.
Ninjavember, eh? The Boyz might want to brush up on their kaishaku etiquette: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/06/05/science/samurai-seppuku-manual.html?smid=nytcore-ios-share&referringSource=articleShare
Sorry, I'm just commenting as I watch. My buddy Craig (aka Jonathan Janz) was one of the authors on that Stand anthology. Not sure if he was at the live event Ben went to, but check his shit out. It's super dark. He also teaches HS english.
He wasn't there. I love book stores and want them to exist, so I try to swing by stuff like this. I don’t expect much from a free promotional event, but this one was particularly awkward and would've gained quite a bit with the inclusion of a moderator. We've all been to Q&As- Relying on the audience to give a conversation any momentum works what? 1-2% of the time? Less? (Exception to the rule is comedy/ events with comedians.)
Yo, Sydney Sweeney sounded just like RFK Jr in her jeans commercial! You're onto something boys.
I assumed I had seen this one but quickly realized I had never watched it but because it was such a part of pop culture in its day I felt like I had. Also hard agree on the Crying Game being the same way.
One more https://youtu.be/Ne4kFBmDsXY?feature=shared
Gabris, smoke a bowl and listen to this. I believe you'll enjoy it. https://youtu.be/_gM2tn2gXLw?feature=shared
I know I'm saying this on the September 2025 Shadow Wolves episode but I implore all of you to go back to the Samurai Cop episode and listen to the boys talk about a gritty Babar reboot with Gerald Butler... I laughed so fucking hard I fell out my damn chair! Long time listener that has listened to every episode too many times to admit but my god somebody in Hollywood greenlight that reboot holy crap!
That episode in general is a classic but definitely agree that bit is gold
I would love a Jane and Jemi from Doughboys crossover episode. Maybe have it happen in a neutral space like Hollywood Handbook.
Or they could have the Doughboys on the pod again
For any fellow Hoke-heads out there, Willeford’s unpublished manuscript for Grimhaven, originally intended as the first sequel to Miami Blues, is out there in PDF form on Scribd. (It’s otherwise only available at a public library in Miami, but a free PDF seems in keeping with his widow’s wishes from what I’ve read.)
I was just talking about RAD last weekend with some friends on a stoned and drunk zoom get together. That's wild. I can't wait to listen.
And thanks for reminding me to get Illeana Douglas' book.
Terry Funk, genuinely, I started volunteering at a local food bank a couple of years ago and it turned into one of the most rewarding things in my life. I've got all these friends from outside my circle, it has a direct impact on my community, its been really great. I got laid off a few weeks ago and having my weekly shift get me out of the house is really good for the brain.
Gabrus getting me pumped for the harrah boyz and ninjavember bring it ooon
Hey Terry, when I’m in a funk, I find being of service to others can really boost my spirits. Try sending encouraging comments to Stanger, or helping a senior citizen. If that doesn’t do it for you, Joe Boo loves KFC. We are all here for you.
Terry, also randomly call people egg sucking dogs before you brand them. And suffocate Ric Flair with a plastic bag. It can't hurt, buddy.
I wish my mini Aussie was as chill as Jane
I fear the reaction if this was already mentioned but the Alive tv spot sounds like it has the James Horner score from the end of “Aliens” when the queen is blown out the airlock. It’s used a lot in trailers for other films.
Yeah also when they escape from the planet as it blows up.
Agree with Gabrus – Society of the Snow on Netflix is well worth watching. It's a far more effective and compelling film about this story. On the flip side, the 1976 Mexican film Survive!, is a quasi-exploitation film with comically terrible English dubbing, weird narration, and lengthy random B-roll shots of the Andes and snow tractors. It really leans into the gore, with repeated shots of a bloody arm stump following the crash, along with intestines being shoved back into a passenger’s stomach. The “meat” harvesting scene is almost comically graphic, lingering for a couple of minutes, complete with the sound of flesh tearing and being sliced into thin strips for human jerky. The trailer is on its IMDB entry, and the whole film is on Tubi for free. (Flesh harvesting starts around minute 49….) Saw it when it came out when I was in college. My friends and I were laughing hysterically at how awful it was, and when the survivors on screen were choking down their first bites of flesh, we heard a guy behind us somberly tell his date: “It would taste better if they cooked it.”
The plane crash portrayal in Society of the Snow is harrowing stuff. The way all those guys legs get snapped made my stomach turn.
I’m horny
Go for a swim
dope prince shirt on stanger
Hey Ben, re: Travis McGee. I’ve read the entire series 3 times over the years, and if I may, I’d suggest that you keep going. By your description, it sounds like you were on A Deadly Shade of Gold. The next stretch of books are really strong and some of my favorites. For one thing, one of the better recurring characters has not been introduced yet. You gotta make it to his neighbor, Meyer. Secondly, and what you might find interesting, is following how the character/themes change with time. The first books are 1964 going through 1984 so seeing what changes from starting with the hippies and ending with Reagan is a cool snapshot of America over those years. Finally, you brought up the Sam Elliot adaptation, but there was another big one that fell through like 10 years ago. DiCaprio got the rights to the first book and was planning to produce with Christian Bale playing McGee. Bale tore his ACL before shooting The Big Short and the project got scrapped. Supposedly, James Mangold was attached to direct.
cool I’ll stick it out.
of course catholics would come out in favor of cannibalism. they've mastered the dark art of covert blood rituals. they call it transubstantiation.
given this dark history, all catholics should come to realize they don't have to wait for a disastrous opportunity like a plane crashing in the andes to enjoy or not enjoy cannibalism. you've already been groomed for it..dig right in!
The song in the ALIVE trailer is from ALIENS when there’s 13 min left of the movie as Bishop flies them off the planet as it’s exploding.
You beat me to it!
Just finished reading The Running Man - so fucking fun. Excited to see Edgar Wright’s adaptation
Saw Alive in the theater with my mom when I was 12. Her very 90s reaction was "good movie made me want a cigarette".
anyone else just fast forward through cold opens cause you can't handle cringe? I can't watch more than like 2 eps of Curb in a row because of it and that's all scripted
I can’t even watch modern scripted comedy because they tend to be so damn cringe, but these cold opens are short enough that I can grit through it. I feel like it’s building up resistance.
“Johnny, eat your friend’s ass” had me rolling.
Great fucking episode. Strong recommendation for the Donner party book, The Indifferent Stars above. Very similar vibes of heroism and tragedy. Lots of good info I never knew about the story.
Gabrus vibing with the seals is so goddamn funny. “I feel a kinship with these animals”. Then Ben saying “Gabrus smokes weed every night”, dying
"... they're smooth..."
Ninjavember saved my life last year. I felt totally hopeless on 12/6/24 for some reason and then Ninjavember was there and I decided to JK livin’
Hell yea Jon talking about "church laughs" a true phenomenon for anyone who was dragged to mass every week. One time my brother just gestured to this old lady w/ blue hair who was receiving communion and i lost my shit for like 10 minutes.
I went to a church with Chick Tracks (little Bible comics) and would erase the speech bubbles and write in my own dialogue, read it, laugh out loud and get hauled off the pew. Very relatable!
Runts banana flavor is based on a banana variety that was wiped out in the 1950s.
Gros Michel!
I've got a copy of Miami Blues on its way! “Quick read” hooked me, and then ~”switching between the heroes and villains perspective” reeled me in. First Blood and Boys from Brazil, are like that. Y'all got me back into reading! P.S. Johnny Got His Gun by Dalton Trumbo is my favorite book of all time and thematically fits with the Long Walk.
First time First!!