Sean Kernan Freelance Writer

05/06/2026

Beyond the music, Purple Rain was a cultural phenomenon. It topped charts, redefined fashion, and launched Prince into superstardom, becoming a time capsule of 80s energy and musical innovation. It's more than a movie; it's an era.

04/15/2026

Discover John Huston's 1984 masterpiece, "Under the Volcano," a poetic adaptation of Malcolm Lowry's novel. Filmed during real Day of the Dead celebrations, it's a slow-burn character drama exploring addiction, spiritual collapse, and fascism's shadow. Essential for lovers of literary adaptations and rich character studies.

03/23/2026

John King tried to cast a movie to existence by announcing a coup, he'd cast Johnny Carson to make his feature film debut. The only problem? Johnny Carson had no idea who John King was. Oh, and the movie didn't exist in any way.
https://open.substack.com/pub/moviesoftheeighties/p/the-man-who-wanted-to-make-johnny?utm_campaign=post-expanded-share&utm_medium=web

In 1983, The Eileen Ford Story was supposedly going to be Johnny Carson's feature film acting debut. The only problem, the movie never really existed.

03/15/2026

The 80s Were Equal Opportunity offenders as the story of Eric Brown attests.

Check out my new post! We’ve documented the cases of teenage girls being exploited but Hollywood in the 1980s was an equal opportunity offender. The story of Eric Brown, Private Lessons and They’re Playing with Fire.

03/15/2026

What if the Greatest Marketing Blunder of All Time Wasn't a Blunder at all?

Check out my new post! We love a good story but sometimes the story isn’t as true as the legend that enveloped it. What if Mars/M & M’s didn’t make a mistake passing on E.T?

03/04/2026

Who were the 12 Couples who won their very own Krull Fantasy Wedding in 1983? Movies of the 80s investigates.

12/18/2025

The I Hate Critics podcast team discusses the unbelievable news of Rob Reiner's son's arrest for murdering his parents. Can you separate the art from the artist when something like this happens? Tune in to hear our thoughts!

12/17/2025

Jeff from I Hate Critics Movie Review Podcast recounts his Quad City Toy Show experience. Celebrities were there! But the atmosphere? Not so great. Listen for all the details!

12/17/2025

This movie made a satisfying switch from "Kill Delphine" to "Kill N***s." Listen to I Hate Critics Movie Review Podcast for more satisfying movie reviews. ***s

12/16/2025

Join the I Hate Critics Movie Review Podcast as we celebrate the incredible life and work of Tom Stoppard, the legendary playwright and screenwriter. His genius will be deeply missed. Listen now! Hate Critics