Total Recall - S14 E114
From Shoot The Hostage by Shoot The Hostage Podcast
April 20, 2026 · 1h 4m · Episode 158
About this episode
The episode explores Paul Verhoeven’s Total Recall, discussing its themes, characters, and the impact of 90s action cinema.
Open your mind and join us for one last ride in our Identity season as we discover Paul Verhoeven’s Total Recall (1990). We dive into the cinema of Arnold Schwarzenegger, debating if he makes a good secret agent of if he’s too conspicuous for anything other than a bodybuilding competition. Along the way, we pay tribute to the legendary Sharon Stone, the terrifying Michael Ironside, and our ultimate cinematic protector, Dean Norris, who proves he’s a daddy even when he doesn’t have a badge. We explore the corporate satire and brutalist architecture of Mars, while mourning the days when 90s action movies had enough in the squib budget to paint a whole metro station in claret. We tackle the heavy character identities at play, from Ronny Cox’s corporate greed to the dual roles that leave us wondering if you are defined by what you remember, or as Kuato says, “you are what you do”. What to expect from this episode: Discovering this hidden gem that hasn’t been covered by any other podcasts. A recap on the production of Total Recall including the early involvement of Ronald Shusett who acquired the rights from Philip K. Dick. How character identities are forged by memory and why Arnold…
People in this episode
Host: Shoot The Hostage Podcast
Topics covered
- Total Recall
- Arnold Schwarzenegger
- 90s action movies
- character identity
- corporate satire
- brutalist architecture
- practical effects
Keywords
- Total Recall
- Arnold Schwarzenegger
- Sharon Stone
- character identity
- corporate satire
- brutalist architecture
- 90s action movies
- Rob Bottin
- Priscilla Allen
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: Philip K. Dick, Ronald Shusett
Books & works: Total Recall
Places: Mars
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