Episode 64: Interview with Michael Nachoff, writer of IN THE NAME OF THE KING 2

On this month’s interview episode, Michael Nachoff, the writer of the 2011 action-fantasy, In the Name of the King 2 dropped by the show to discuss his career in the fields of writing, visual effects, and cartooning! For the uninitiated, In the Name of the King 2 was the sequel to the 2008 film in which Lundgren took over for Jason Statham as a modern-day karate instructor and war veteran who is whisked away to medieval times! In this discussion, Nachoff and I chat his early gigs in film, including the horror-comedy, Slither! We also discuss how he began collaborating with Uwe Boll and working on many of his productions. It was here where Michael Nachoff was tapped to write sequels to two films directed by Uwe Boll — In the Name of the King 2 and Bloodrayne: The Third Reich! Nachoff has a true passion for cinema, especially these lower-budget indie action flicks that we all love and enjoy!

Major thanks to Michael Nachoff for his time. Please be sure to check out his visual effects work on SyFy’s Van Helsing, currently going into its fifth and final season! You can also follow him on Twitter @Michael_Nachoff including his online comic strip, Chi Coffee Shop!

Please feel free to rate and review the show on iTunes, Stitcher, or wherever else you go to subscribe! Please be sure to check out and follow the show’s Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/imustbreakthispodcast. The show’s intro. and outro. music is “Sports Action” by Audionautix.

Episode 63: Universal Soldier: Day of Reckoning

It’s time to jump back into the Universal Soldier saga once again, this time looking at the final (and darkest) installment in the franchise! In this wild nightmarish sequel, Jean-Claude Van Damme and Dolph Lundgren return once again, this time joining forces (!) and taking a backseat to martial arts sensation, Scott Adkins! Adkins stars as John, a family man who finds himself in the middle of a power struggle between an army of rogue Unisols and the government trying to reclaim control of them. John Hyams also returns to the director’s chair once again, and this time he brings in a Lynchian element to the Unisol franchise, combined with Apocalypse Now and The Manchurian Candidate! And if you thought Hyams’ vision in Universal Soldier: Regeneration was brutal, Day of Reckoning goes to a whole other level! Joining me to discuss this film is Ben Highton and Alex Balerdi of The Arniethology Presents podcast! Just how different is this installment from the 1992 original? How does Scott Adkins do at taking the reigns of the franchise? How bold is the direction they’re taking JCVD’s Luc Devereaux character? And does this film cross a line in terms of its unrelenting violence? Join us as Ben, Alex, and I embark on our own day of reckoning and break down Universal Soldier; Day of Reckoning!

Major thanks to Ben and Alex for joining me! Please check out their podcast, The Arniethology Presents! Their current season, Keanucopia examines the entire filmography of Keanu Reeves! And while you’re at it, check out their back catalog with previous seasons examining the filmographies of Arnold Schwarzenegger and Tom Cruise!

Please feel free to rate and review the show on iTunes, Stitcher, or wherever else you go to subscribe. Also, check out the Facebook page for the show: http://www.facebook.com/imustbreakthispodcast. New intro. and outro. music is “Sports Action” by Audionautix.

Episode 62: Interview with Chris Millis, writer of SMALL APARTMENTS

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On this month’s interview episode, I had the pleasure of speaking with screenwriter, Chris Millis, author of the novel, Small Apartments and its 2011 film adaptation! In this bizarre dark comedy, Matt Lucas portrays Franklin Franklin, an eccentric recluse who must dispose of a body all the while encountering an oddball assortment of characters residing in his apartment complex! Directed by Jonas Akerland, Small Apartments boasts an eclectic and talented assortment of actors including Billy Crystal, James Caan, Johnny Knoxville, and Dolph Lundgren (in his very first comedic performance!)! Rocking black, slicked back hair, Dolph plays Dr. Sage Mennox, a self-help guru in a performance that’s unlike anything he’s done before! In this conversation, Millis and I chat his inspiration for writing the book, its transition to the big screen, and how this little film managed to attract such a large cast. We also discuss his work in the fields of cartooning and teaching, as well as what he has lined up for 2021!

Major thanks to Chris Millis for his time! Please check out his website, http://www.chrismillis.com.

Feel free to rate and review the show on iTunes, Stitcher, or wherever else you go to subscribe. Also, please check out the show’s Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/imustbreakthispodcast. New opening intro and outro music for the show is “Sports Action” by Audionautix.

Episode 61: Universal Soldier: Regeneration

On this month’s episode we’re jumping into sequel territory and looking back at the reunion no one had expected — 2009’s Universal Soldier: Regeneration! In this direct sequel to the 1992 original, Jean-Claude Van Damme and Dolph Lundgren reunite as Luc Deveraux and Andrew Scott — resurrected soldiers who rekindle their feud, this time at a Chernobyl reactor! The clock is ticking, and the heroic (?) Luc Deveraux has just a few hours to save hostages, defuse a bomb, take out a Russian militia, and square off against not just the next upgraded universal soldier, but a clone of his mortal nemesis, Andrew Scott! Joining the podcast to help me discuss this one is David Ullman from his podcast, Long Walk for a Short Drink! David is a huge fan of the work of Jean-Claude Van Damme, so it was a pleasure bringing him on the show to help discuss the second reunion of JCVD and Dolph! But did it live up to our expectations? Let’s just say that David and I had different reactions, which made for a fun conversation… Just how cold, oppressive, and brutal is this film in comparison with the original? In what ways is this film akin to Frankenstein Meets the Wolfman? How little are Lundgren and Van Damme actually in this film? And what kinds of artistic flourishes does John Hyams bring to this one? Join us as we suit up and jump back in on the action that is Universal Soldier: Regeneration!

Major thanks to David Ullman for joining me. Check out his podcast, Long Walk for a Short Drink and his website: http://www.davidullman.net!

Please feel free to rate and review the show on iTunes, Stitcher, or wherever else you go to subscribe! Feel free to follow the show’s Facebook page:

Episode 60: Interview with Will Beall, writer of AQUAMAN

On this month’s interview episode, Will Beall, one of the writers on the 2018 smash hit, Aquaman dropped by the show to tell us his story and how he broke into the entertainment industry! Beall has an especially unique story… Before he started penning big-budget blockbusters, Beall worked as a detective for the LAPD. It was those experiences that led him to writing his novel, L.A. Rex, a gritty cop tale set in the world of the LAPD’s 77th precinct. From there, Beall’s writing caught the attention of Hollywood, where he crafted some police procedural stories for both the big and small screen including Gangster Squad, Castle, Training Day (the series), and Deputy. He was then tapped to jump on board the DC Comics superhero adaptation, Aquaman, and the rest is history! In this conversation, Beall tells us his journey how he went from detective to screenwriter and his experiences writing Aquaman. He also talks about his love and appreciation for Dolph Lundgren, and how he geeked out upon learning of his casting! Enjoy!

Please check out Will Beall’s work, both on the big screen as well as television. Also, be sure to give his debut novel, L.A. Rex a read; fans of Training Day will approve!

As always, please feel free to rate and review the show on iTunes, Stitcher, or wherever you go to subscribe. Be sure to check out the show’s Facebook page! www.facebook.com/imustbreakthispodcast.

Episode 59: Direct Contact

This month we’re DIRECTING our sights on the 2009 Dolph Lundgren-Nu Image production, Direct Contact!  In this goofy ’80’s throwback, Dolph plays Mike Riggins, an ex-Special Forces badass who’s released from prison to find a kidnapped American in Bulgaria!  Yet when it’s apparent that he’s has been manipulated and lied to by his employers, Riggins arms himself with the appropriate firepower to punish those who’ve wronged him!  Coming back to the show once again to help me break this film down is Doug Greenberg from the Rocky Minute!  How does this film compare to the other “direct” movie, Direct Action?  How heavily is this film embracing its fondness for ’80’s action cinema?  Just how unstoppable is Dolph as he lays waste to Bulgaria?  And does the film even understand what Stockholm Syndrome is?  Join us as Doug and I answer these questions and so many others as we look at Direct Contact!

Major thanks to Doug for coming on once again!  Please check out his movie-by-minute podcast, The Rocky Minute!  Stay tuned for Season 3, covering Rocky III minute-by-minute, to be released here soon!  Please feel free to rate and review the show on iTunes, Stitcher, or wherever else you go to subscribe!

Please be sure to like and follow the Facebook page for the show! https://www.facebook.com/imustbreakthispodcast/

Episode 58: Interview with Alex Merkin, director of ALTITUDE

On this month’s interview episode, director, writer, and editor, Alex Merkin stopped by the show to chat his time in Hollywood, as well as directing the film, Altitude starring Dolph Lundgren and Denise Richards!  In Altitude, Richards stars as a no-nonsense FBI agent who finds herself up against a plane hijacking headed by Lundgren!  In this discussion, Merkin and I chat working in the world of independent cinema, the troubles and successes in filming Altitude, and how he continues to add his own artistic flourishes to these independent films.  We also discuss his next film with Dolph Lundgren, which is a vast departure from a film like Altitude — a family-friendly Christmas comedy set to hopefully be released this year!  It was fun discussion with a true talent!

Major thanks to Alex Merkin for his time!  Please be sure to check out Altitude, as well as his other films, which are all available on Amazon and iTunes! Also, be on the lookout for the Christmas comedy co-starring Dolph, Eric Roberts, and more!

Please feel free to rate and review the show on iTunes, Stitcher, or wherever you go to subscribe!

“I Must Break” This Podcast · IMBTP — Interview with Alex Merkin, director of ALTITUDE

Episode 57: The Final Inquiry

If you’ve ever wondered what a biblical adventure starring Dolph Lundgren, Max Von Sydow, and F. Murray Abraham would look like, then look no further than 2006’s The Final Inquiry!  In this odd biblical period piece, Dolph stepped out of the action genre and took on a supporting role as Brixos, a warrior turned bodyguard who assists a Roman tribune in the investigation of the resurrection of Jesus Christ!  It’s a bizarre film, and even wilder to see Dolph in such a role.  Luckily, I had someone who’s quite familiar with the world of independent, direct-to-video cinema join me to help make sense of this one… Matt Poirier of the Direct to Video Connoisseur Blog and Podcast guests on the show and lends his insight on this evangelical Italian production! What does Dolph bring to essentially the role of a servant? Could this have been Dolph’s opportunity to star in something on the level of Gladiator? And is this a story that really even needs to be retold anyway? Listen in as Matt and I go to church and chat The Final Inquiry!

Major thanks to Matt Poirier for joining me. Please check out his blog and podcast, The Direct To Video Connoisseuer! Also, check out his book Chad in Accounting on Amazon. And while you’re at it, buy a DTV Connoisseur t-shirt on Threadless!

Feel free to rate and review the show on iTunes, Stitcher, or wherever else you go to subscribe! Lastly, check out and follow the Facebook page for the show!

Check out The Final Inquiry available on imdbTV and Hoopla!

“I Must Break” This Podcast · IMBTP Episode 57 — The Final Inquiry

Episode 56: Interview with Jean-Marc Piche, director of THE MINION

On this month’s interview episode, Jean-Marc Piche was gracious enough to join the show and discuss his directorial debut — the supernatural action thriller, The Minion!  In The Minion, Dolph Lundgren played Lukas, a badass warrior priest who travels to New York to stop the arrival of the Antichrist!  Piche reflects on his experiences making the film over 20 years ago, as well as his career in general!

We also chat the current state of independent cinema and how it’s drastically changed in the last 20 years. Piche also gives us hints on what he has in the works for 2021 and beyond!

Major thanks to Jean-Marc Piche for his time!  Check out his website!  Please feel free to rate and review the show on iTunes, Stitcher, or wherever else you go to subscribe!  Also, check out and follow the show’s Facebook page!

“I Must Break” This Podcast · IMBTP Episode 56 — Jean Marc Piche, director of THE MINION

Episode 55: Diamond Dogs

What if Dolph Lundgren played an Indiana Jones-esque adventurer who was tasked with finding mystical artifacts, went to exotic locales, and battled rival treasure hunting crews?  Enter Ronson in his first (and only) adventure, Diamond Dogs!  In this overly ambitious production, Dolph plays Xander Ronson — a mercenary languishing in Mongolia who’s hired as protection by a team of American explorers who are on the hunt for an ancient (and cursed!) Buddhist artitfact!  It was a promising project and character for Dolph to be a part of with the possibility of a potential franchise (a sequel was already in the works…).  But…  when the resources aren’t exactly there, and the entire production is stripped and simplified to suit the film’s dwindling budget, you get what is seen in Diamond Dogs…  All Outta Bubblegum’s Brenton Haysom joins the show once again to help discuss the film and what could have been. Could this be one of the best characters Dolph has ever had the opportunity to play?  In what ways is the production hampered by the miniscule budget?  How does the film’s use of shaky cam work to its benefit (and detriment)?  And is this film the best example of what Indiana Jones would look like if he existed in the real world?  Join us as Brenton and I accompany Ronson on the adventure that is Diamond Dogs!

Stay tuned at the end of the episode for friend of the show, Tom Jolliffe’s opinions and insight on the film!  Special thanks to Brenton Haysom for once again coming back!  As always, check out his Youtube channel, All Outta Bubblegum featuring video essays, kill counts, and yearly retrospectives.

Please feel free to rate and review the show on iTunes, Stitcher, or wherever else you go to subscribe!

“I Must Break” This Podcast · IMBTP Episode 55 — Diamond Dogs