Pass, Pirate, Pay with Ken Franco
Get ready to dive into the latest flicks and shows! Join host Ken Franco and his hilarious co-hosts as they dive deep into the world of film, TV, and beyond. From blockbusters to hidden gems, we're grading it all: Pass, Pirate, or Pay. So, grab your popcorn, settle in, and let's get this party started! At the end of each segment a grade is given: Pass: No need to see this thing at all Pirate: See it, but don't spend your hard earned money on it Pay: Go see this and pay for it, you cheap bastard
Episodes
Ken and Andy return to Castle Rock for another round of Stephen King adaptations, and this time the ride gets weird. The boys tackle the early-’90s CGI trip The Lawnmower Man in a full Better Than Gigli segment, asking the hard question: is this cyber-thriller a misunderstood gem or just lawn clippings? Then it’s on to two very different King stories — the claustrophobic, nerve-wracking Gerald’s Game and the long-rumo...
This week, Ken and Andy dive headfirst into the wild world of animation! We’re rolling through three very different animated adventures: the trippy cult-classic Heavy Metal (1981), Pixar’s latest family-friendly cosmic quest Elio (2025), and the neon-fueled, music-powered chaos of K-Pop: Demon Hunters.
From hard rock space operas to heartfelt alien misunderstandings to magical idol battles, we cover it all—while asking...
This week Ken and Andy open the nursery door into the world of evil offspring and spine-tingling child terror. Our theme: Creepy Kids.
👶 First up, we take on The First Omen (2024), a stylish prequel that tries to recapture the devilish dread of the classic franchise.
🧸 Then we move into chilling psychological territory with Bring Her Back, where parental fears and supernatural twists collide.
🔪 And finally...
This week on Pass, Pirate, Pay, Ken and Andy dive headfirst into the spooky, swoony world of Horroromance—where scares meet love stories. We’re breaking down three very different entries in the genre: the Norwegian supernatural coming-of-age thriller Thelma (2017), the heartfelt Your Monster, and the quirky indie romance Together.
Joining us for the ride is film producer Thomas Mahoney, whose work spans indie features ...
In this one-off Better Than Gigli deep dive, we grab our space helmets and bandanas to explore the inexplicable, unproduced fever dream that is Ice Cube’s War of the Worlds. We talk alien invasions with West Coast swagger, debate whether tripod walkers would be improved with hydraulics and spinning rims, and imagine what happens when “Today Was a Good Day” meets “The End of the World as We Know It.” Join us as we brea...
🎙️ New Episode: Red, White & Reel — Right-Wing Cinema Explored
This week on Pass, Pirate, Pay, Ken and the gang dive headfirst into the world of right-wing cinema with a triple feature that’s as ideologically loaded as it is conversation-worthy. First up, the vigilante fantasy Sound of Freedom — a box office juggernaut that sparked a culture war. Then it's on to Sovereign, a lesser-known indie film wit...
This week, Ken dives deep into the world of lighthearted documentaries—but things get weird fast. From a secret apartment hidden in a mall to the uniquely charming life of “My Mom Jayne,” and finally, the truly unforgettable saga of the Trainwreck: Poop Cruise, we’re peeling back the curtain on some of the quirkiest true stories out there.
Expect laughter, disbelief, and maybe a few mild existential crises.
🍿 Doc...
🧟♂️ This week on Pass, Pirate, Pay, Ken and Andy are crawling out of the grave to sink their teeth into three undead entries in the zombie genre: the quiet heartbreak of Maggie (2015), the meditative Scandinavian dread of Handling the Undead (2024), and the surprise resurrection sequel 28 Years Later… (2025).
Do these flicks breathe new life into the genre, or are they just more shambling corpses in a crowded graveya...
🎙️ This Week on a very special Pass, Pirate, Pay
We’re heading for high altitudes and low morals with Mountainhead, Jesse Armstrong’s HBO satire about four tech bros trapped in a luxury chalet while the world burns (because of them). Steve Carell, Jason Schwartzman, and Ramy Youssef lead this dark, weirdly funny spiral into AI, ego, and snowbound insanity. Is it biting social commentary or just a bunch of billi...
We dive into three very different slices of the Stephen King cinematic universe — the prison epic The Shawshank Redemption, the haunted sequel Doctor Sleep, and the meditative mind-bender The Life of Chuck. From hope and horror to heartache and hallucinations, we’re breaking down which of these adaptations are worth your time… and which ones should’ve stayed buried in Derry.
Will we Pass, Pirate, or Pay? Tune in and fi...
🎃 This week on Pass, Pirate, Pay, Ken and Andy creep down the haunted hallway of horror cinema—where the floorboards creak with trauma and the wallpaper is peeling in dread. First up is 1985's House, the gonzo ghost-fest where Vietnam flashbacks share a two-bedroom with flying garden tools. Then we check into His House, a bone-chilling blend of immigration drama and supernatural terror—because trauma always find...
🎙️ Pass, Pirate, Pay dives deep into the neon-lit VHS vault for Forgotten '80s Favorites! This week, Ken and Andy are joined by longtime pal and pop culture savant Danny Jackson to revisit three offbeat gems that deserve a rewind.
We’ve got Lucas (1986), the tender teen heartbreaker that made us all protective of Corey Haim and suspicious of jocks. Then it’s Cloak & Dagger (1984), a spy-kid fantasy with enoug...
Saddle up and keep your trigger fingers loose—Ken and Andy are riding back into the wild, weird West! This week on Pass, Pirate, Pay, the fellas tackle the dusty trail of The Cowboys (1972), where John Wayne herds up some preteen ranch hands; the grisly horror-western Bone Tomahawk, where things get downright cannibalistic; and the brand-new frontier slow-burn Rust (2025), a film with a production saga nearly as dram...
🦇🕺💉 This week on Pass, Pirate, Pay, we’re throwin' on our capes and creepin’ through the crypt of Black vampire cinema! First up, the OG fang daddy himself in Blackula 🧛🏿—smooth, spooky, and rocking a velvet collar. Then we hit the streets with Vampire in Brooklyn 🕷️, where Eddie Murphy does everything (including the wigs). And finally, we dig into the indie cult madness of Sinners 🎤🩸—twin brothers, a juk...
This week, Ken and Andy reach deep into the cinematic grab bag and pull out three wildly different flicks for your reviewing pleasure in an episode we’re calling… Mixed Bag.
🌀 Twisted (2004) – Ashley Judd, Samuel L. Jackson, and Andy Garcia star in this forgotten thriller that gets our full “Better Than Gigli?” treatment. Spoiler: the bar is low, but the laughs are high.
🕵️♂️ Black Bag – A slick, shadowy espion...
Batter up! This week, Ken and Andy are sliding headfirst into the world of baseball movies, covering three films that span decades of dugouts, dreams, and devilish deals.
⚾ The Bad News Bears (1976) – The original misfit little leaguers with beer, cursing, and just enough heart to win you over.
🧢 Damn Yankees (1958) – A musical take on America’s pastime, where one man literally sells his soul to beat the Yankees....
Grab a pint and cue the fiddle—it's our St. Patrick's Day Special! Ken and Andy are diving into three Irish-themed films that span magic, music, and immigration, as we celebrate the Emerald Isle on screen.
🍀 Darby O'Gill and the Little People – Disney's mischievous leprechaun classic, complete with banshees and baby-faced Sean Connery.
🇮🇪 In America – A heartfelt immigrant story about an Iri...
This week, Ken and Andy salute one of cinema’s greatest and most versatile actors—the legendary Gene Hackman. From tough-as-nails detectives to drifters and naval officers, Hackman brought grit, depth, and undeniable presence to every role.
We’re diving into three of his most iconic performances:
🚓 The French Connection – The gritty cop thriller that won him an Oscar.
🎭 Scarecrow – A raw, underrated road mo...
Hollywood’s biggest night is upon us, and Ken and Andy are here to break it all down! In this special episode, we’re diving into the 2024 Academy Award nominees—who will take home gold, who got snubbed, and which films had us cheering or snoozing.
Plus, we’re giving out our own awards as Ken and Andy reveal their Top Movies of 2024—some Oscar-worthy, some… maybe not, but all worth discussing.
Will the Academy get it rig...
In this week’s episode, Ken and Andy dive deep into the future of love, lust, and artificial intelligence as they review three films about robotic romance gone awry: Cherry 2000 (1987), Subservience (2024), and Companion (2024). From Melanie Griffith battling wasteland warlords to Megan Fox playing the ultimate dream (or nightmare) companion, we break down the sci-fi, satire, and sheer absurdity of these mechanical mu...
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