Welcome back to The Film Library, a Kanopy podcast where we dig into cinematic oddities, unforgettable characters, and genre gems that deserve a second look—no film degree required.  This week, hosts Kristy Puchko (Entertainment Editor at Mashable) and Jeff Rauseo (film lover, movie marathoner, and lifelong believer that the truth is out there) face off in a genre showdown between monsters that crawl from the shadows and visitors from beyond the stars. Join them as they explore everything from creature features that wreak havoc on cities to alien tales that challenge our understanding of humanity, it’s a battle of the bizarre.  Kristy unleashes a trio of monster tales that span from gothic romance and grotesque transformations to a giant river-dwelling creature that terrorizes a city. Meanwhile, Jeff takes us on a journey through alien encounters, from low-budget splatterfests and existential comedies to a linguistically rich first-contact drama that asks what it really means to communicate.  Whether you're into monster mayhem or visitors from beyond the stars, this episode is packed with thrills, chills, and a few laughs along the way.  So grab your popcorn, dim the lights, and let the genre games begin.    Follow Kristy on Instagram @thekristypuchko and Letterboxd @kristypuchko.       Follow Jeff on Instagram, TikTok, and Letterboxd @jeffrauseo.       Follow Kanopy on Letterboxd to see the full episode list.   Stream the films we mention for free at kanopy.com with a library card or university ID from a participating institution.      Episode Highlights  00:30 — Godzilla vs. Xenomorphs?  Kristy and Jeff open with a hypothetical showdown between two cinematic icons—and use it to kick off their picks for the ultimate monster and alien movies.  02:00 — The Host (2006)  Kristy praises Bong Joon-ho’s terrifying river beast and the political subtext behind this modern Korean monster classic.  05:30 — Arrival (2016)  Jeff shares why Denis Villeneuve’s emotional, linguistics-driven alien drama might be the quietest, most powerful invasion film ever made.  09:00 — Bram Stoker’s Dracula (1992)  Kristy revisits Coppola’s lush, sensual take on the vampire myth—and makes a case for why this Dracula might be the scariest and sexiest of them all.  13:00 — I’m Totally Fine (2022)  Jeff spotlights this underseen indie about grief, healing, and alien imposters—with a heartfelt performance from Jillian Bell.  17:10 — Trollhunter (2010)  Kristy celebrates the Norwegian found-footage thriller that mixes mythology, mockumentary, and monster-hunting mayhem.  24:15 — Bad Taste (1987)  Jeff goes full cult-classic with Peter Jackson’s splatter-filled alien debut—a DIY gorefest where extraterrestrials harvest humans for fast food.