The Last Video Store

We're popping into your feed with a special episode this week; if you haven't heard horror movie podcast Spooko you're in for a treat. Each week Peach and Shag discuss a new horror film, and we're bringing you the episode that Alexei and Emmeline guested on to discuss the bonkers 1995 Tobe Hooper film The Mangler. Check out Spooko here: https://www.instagram.com/_spooko_/ Pick up tickets to Alexei’s comedy festival tour of his new show VHS in 2026 (https://comedy.com.au/tour/alexei-toliopoulos/) Join Alexei & Cameron James presenting David Byrne’s TRUE STORIES at the Sydney Opera House Saturday Film Club (https://www.sydneyoperahouse.com/vivid-live/saturday-film-club-true-stories) Follow ALEXEI TOLIOPOULOS on Letterboxd (https://letterboxd.com/thisisalexei/) for all the rental combo lists. Hit up the Last Video Store on instagram (https://www.instagram.com/lastvideostorebetoota/) for all of our guests picks

He's here! Comedian Josh Thomas joins Alexei in the Last Video Store and bypasses the New Release section altogether to pick up some of his favourite weeklies. He's recently relaunched his classic podcast Josh Thomas and Friends and You and is going on tour all around the world, so check him out in a city near you: https://joshthomas.com.au/ Pick up tickets to Alexei’s comedy festival tour of his new show VHS in 2026 (https://comedy.com.au/tour/alexei-toliopoulos/) Join Alexei & Cameron James presenting David Byrne’s TRUE STORIES at the Sydney Opera House Saturday Film Club (https://www.sydneyoperahouse.com/vivid-live/saturday-film-club-true-stories) Follow ALEXEI TOLIOPOULOS on Letterboxd (https://letterboxd.com/thisisalexei/) for all the rental combo lists. Hit up the Last Video Store on instagram (https://www.instagram.com/lastvideostorebetoota/) for all of our guests picks

Celebrating another year of The Last Video Store with our original first customer and best mate… it’s another return of Cameron James! Cam & Alexei are joining forces for a very special screening of TRUE STORIES the only film directed by TALKING HEADS frontman David Byrne for Saturday Film Club at The Sydney Opera House (https://www.sydneyoperahouse.com/vivid-live/saturday-film-club-true-stories). If you’ve never seen it, its a very rare screening of a true masterpiece. Pick up tickets to Alexei’s comedy festival tour of his new show VHS in 2026 (https://comedy.com.au/tour/alexei-toliopoulos/) Follow ALEXEI TOLIOPOULOS on Letterboxd (https://letterboxd.com/thisisalexei/) for all the rental combo lists. Hit up the Last Video Store on instagram (https://www.instagram.com/lastvideostorebetoota/) for all of our guests picks

Damon Herriman is one of Australia’s most recognisable actors, working in films like TOGETHER, ONCE UPON A TIME IN HOLLYWOOD to HOUSE OF WAX (one of Producer Em’s favourites). He joins us in the Last Video Store where he picks a stack of great films, including classics GOODFELLAS and THE ELEPHANT MAN, and a surprising new release documentary. See him in Art The Play, touring now: https://arttheplay.com.au/. Pick up tickets to Alexei’s comedy festival tour of his new show VHS in 2026 (https://comedy.com.au/tour/alexei-toliopoulos/) Follow ALEXEI TOLIOPOULOS on Letterboxd (https://letterboxd.com/thisisalexei/) for all the rental combo lists. Hit up the Last Video Store on instagram (https://www.instagram.com/lastvideostorebetoota/) for all of our guests picks.

Best known for her provocative comedy ATTENBERG and the unnervingly satirical CHEVALIER, Athina Rachel Tsangari helped define what critics dubbed the “Greek Weird Wave,” alongside longtime collaborator Yorgos Lanthimos. A longtime filmmaking hero of host Alexei, he hailed her latest film, HARVEST, as one of the very best of 2025. HARVEST is a medieval tale of modernity swallowing up tradition, it stars Caleb Landry Jones and is shot by the now legendary Sean Price Williams. There’s no greater honor to have Athina Rachel Tsangari join us in The Last Video Store while she was serving on the Melbourne International Film Festival’s jury. Pick up tickets to Alexei’s comedy festival tour of his new show VHS in 2026 (https://comedy.com.au/tour/alexei-toliopoulos/) Follow ALEXEI TOLIOPOULOS on Letterboxd (https://letterboxd.com/thisisalexei/) for all the rental combo lists. Hit up the Last Video Store on instagram (https://www.instagram.com/lastvideostorebetoota/) for all of our guests picks

What an immense privilege to chat with true visionary filmmaker Baz Luhrmann about his new film EPiC: ELVIS PRESLEY IN CONCERT. Baz's maximalist imagination meets its perfect subject and energizes the mythology of Presley. It’s like a cinematic mosaic that evokes legend. Epic is a truly mesmerizing concert film and an inspired step into factual filmmaking and documentary storytelling - it’s safe to say Alexei, the ever the Elvis tragic, absolutely frothed it. Pick up tickets to Alexei’s comedy festival tour of his new show VHS in 2026 (https://comedy.com.au/tour/alexei-toliopoulos/) Follow ALEXEI TOLIOPOULOS on Letterboxd (https://letterboxd.com/thisisalexei/) for all the rental combo lists. Hit up the Last Video Store on instagram (https://www.instagram.com/lastvideostorebetoota/) for all of our guests picks.

We’re revisiting our hilarious and insightful chat with filmakers and twin brothers Danny and Michael Philippou! Their latest film, BRING HER BACK is an emotionally resonant horror exploration of grief and loss that, in many ways, surpasses their remarkable debut. Starring Oscar nominee Sally Hawkins (THE SHAPE OF WATER), Billy Barrat (RESPONSIBLE CHILD), Jonah Wren Phillips (HOW TO MAKE GRAVY) and newcomer Sora Wong, BRING HER BACK is poised to be the horror event of 2025. It’s more than a pleasure to have RackaRacka peruse the shelves of the Last Video Store and pick out some of the films that influenced them. Pick up tickets to Alexei’s comedy festival tour of his new show VHS in 2026 (https://comedy.com.au/tour/alexei-toliopoulos/) Follow ALEXEI TOLIOPOULOS on Letterboxd (https://letterboxd.com/thisisalexei/) for all the rental combo lists. Hit up the Last Video Store on instagram (https://www.instagram.com/lastvideostorebetoota/) for all of our guests picks.

With perhaps more films in The Last Video Store than any other performer (all located behind the beaded curtain), what better episode to rewind to than our chat with legendary adult film superstar Angela White. The AVN Hall of Famer was the first to win Female Performer of the Year 3 times in a row earner her the honorary moniker the Meryl Streep of porn. From modern crime masterpieces, a bonafide video store cult classic and a relationship drama with unsimulated sex Alexei weaves the perfect staff pick for Angela.Pick up tickets to Alexei’s comedy festival tour of his new show VHS in 2026 (https://comedy.com.au/tour/alexei-toliopoulos/)Follow ALEXEI TOLIOPOULOS on Letterboxd (https://letterboxd.com/thisisalexei/) for all the rental combo lists. Come see ALL ABOUT MY MOTHER at the Sydney Opera House Saturday Film Club January 24th (https://www.sydneyoperahouse.com/cinema/saturday-film-club-all-about-my-mother-todo-sobre-mi-madre) Hit up the Last Video Store on instagram (https://www.instagram.com/lastvideostorebetoota/) for all of our guests picks.

Once again we’re celebrating some of the best films, movies and cinema of 2025 with Melbourne International Film Festival programmer and film critic Kate Jinx. This time we’re diving into the best documentaries, Australian films, comedies and honourable mentions. Pick up tickets to Alexei’s comedy festival tour of his new show VHS in 2026 Follow ALEXEI TOLIOPOULOS on Letterboxd for all the rental combo lists. Hit up the Last Video Store on instagram for all of our guests picks.

One of Australia’s most gifted singer songwriters, Meg Mac stops by The Last Video Store to chat to Alexei in the middle of a tour intimate pop up gigs. With songs like Roll Up Your Sleeves and Low Blows, Meg has been able to tap into lyrical feelings that resonate so deeply. Her next album ITS MY PARTY is another display of immense talent for musical storytelling. What we didn’t expect from this chat was for Meg to make Alexei laugh harder than possibly any other guest. Pick up tickets to Alexei’s comedy festival tour of his new show VHS in 2026 Follow ALEXEI TOLIOPOULOS on Letterboxd for all the rental combo lists. Hit up the Last Video Store on instagram for all of our guests picks. PICKS MEG: Better Man, Toy Story, Good Morning Vietnam STAFF PICK: Popeye (1980)

A breakthrough artist collaborating with the likes of Troye Sivan, Nick Ward has recently actualised his film obsessed dreams… composing the score for the upcoming John Lithgow & Olivia Coleman film JIMPA. Nick also has the rare distinction of supplying the Last Video Store with some great film donations from his private collection. A true blessing! Listen to Nick Ward’s stunning album THE HOUSE WITH THE BLUE DOOR Follow ALEXEI TOLIOPOULOS on Letterboxd for all the rental combo lists. Hit up the Last Video Store on instagram for all of our guests picks. PICKS (only because a few people have asked very nicely) NICK: The Beast (2024), Morvern Callar (2002), Risky Business (1983), Magnolia (1999), The Color of Money (1986) STAFF PICK: The Hourglass Sanatorium (1973) 00:03:04 INTRO 00:09:23 NEW RELEASE - THE BEAST 00:16:39 WEEKYL - morvern callar 00:25:44 Risky business 00:30:31 MAGNOLIA 00:35:39 Color of money 00:41:07 STAFF PICK - the hour glass sanatorium 00:46:32 OUTRO

Mary Bronstein’s new film IF I HAD LEGS I’D KICK YOU, is a feature length surrealist panic attack surrounding the performance of a lifetime from Rose Byrne. For Alexei, this is one of the most exciting discoveries of the year and with the rare dramatic turn from Conan O’Brien, it’s a must see off kilter experience. Mary Bronstein takes us through her favourite films and learns about an Aussie Rose Byrne classic. IF I HAD LEGS I’D KICK YOU is in Australian cinemas NOW Follow ALEXEI TOLIOPOULOS on Letterboxd for all the rental combo lists. Hit up the Last Video Store on instagram for all of our guests picks.

At just 22, REUL has already scored over 3 billion global streams, earned platinum and gold singles, and sold out tours worldwide. Now, the hitmaker is finding new inspiration in the darkened glow of the cinema. In a truly great chat Ruel and Alexei genuinely reawaken the inspired nostalgia of falling in love with film for the first time. Alexei and Maria’s screening at the Sydney Opera House - Saturday Film Club: Bram Stoker’s Dracula Nov 1 Follow ALEXEI TOLIOPOULOS on Letterboxd for all the rental combo lists. Hit up the Last Video Store on instagram for all of our guests picks.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.