Frights, camera, action! For the final outing of spooky season, Curtis and John take on Zach Cregger's WEAPONS (2025), starring Julia Garner, Amy Madigan, and Josh Brolin, alongside special guests Magill and Dr Thomas Britt. The boys discussed what they watched this week before diving into the film discussion. Hot topics include the "comedic" aspects of the film, parasitism, the multiple narratives and perspectives, consumption, police corruption and complacency, Gladys, the meaning of "weapons," and so much more.

Have a spooktacular season!

Tune in next time for the final Sofia Coppola canon entry: PRISCILLA (2023)!

NEWS OF THE WEEK

Shoutouts:

• The kind folks I met in Toronto at various stores, cinemas, etc. 

• Charlottetown Film Festival

WHAT WE WATCHED THIS WEEK

Curtis: Brute 1976; Frankenstein (2025)John: Twin Peaks: The Return (Ep 7-9); Versus (2000); Ogroff; Kidnapped (2010); The American Scream (2010); The Long Walk

Magill: Microbudget movies Pater Noster and the Mission of Light and They Call Her Death, Nirvanna the Band the Show the Movie

Tommy: Tron: Ares; Roofman

TIME STAMPS

00:00:00 Introduction

00:01:10 News of the Week/What We Watched This Week

00:49:49 WEAPONS Discussion

01:37:12 Our Scores for WEAPONS

01:41:44 Coming Up Next!

CREDITS AND PLUGS

Intro: "Beware of Darkness" by George Harrison

Outro: "Locked" by Ryan Holladay, Hays Holladay, and Zach Cregger (WEAPONS OST)

Follow John on Letterboxd—@johnnycakes91

For a list of films covered at Genre Gems: https://letterboxd.com/johnnycakes91/list/genre-gems-2025-festival-lineup/

Curtis: https://www.the-back-row.com/ - check out 'Runstedler's DVD Pick of the Month'

https://curtisrunstedler.ca/

Dr Curtis Reads: https://www.youtube.com/@curtisrunstedler

Check out Magill's games here:

https://taigainteractive.itch.io

Tommy and Curtis's forthcoming publications here:

https://edinburghuniversitypress.com/book-dis-trusting-the-digital-world-in-imaginative-literature.html

New Tommy Britt publication here:

https://discovery.researcher.life/article/sleeping-through-the-big-lebowski-sleep-dreams-and-rest-in-the-coen-brothers-films-and-jeff-bridges-music/491e641b97c735e585ac3d652e42704e

And now, a little something to make your skin crawl! For the third entry of spooky season, Simon and Curtis discuss the period piece body horror THE UGLY STEPSISTER (2025) with special guest Dr Sean Travers. They chat about its connections to THE SUBSTANCE (2024) and GRAFTED (2024), literal and metaphorical parasites, the monstrosity of the transformed body, the pressures of patriarchal expectation, the horrors of indifference, and academic publishing. After the discussion, they also talk about what they watched recently (and what they want to watch for spooky season).

Stay tuned next week for a supergroup discussion of WEAPONS (2025)!

WHAT WE WATCHED THIS WEEK

Curtis: The Autumn Springs Retirement Home Massacre (Philip Fracassi Novel)

Simon: Black Phone 2

Sean: Monster: The Ed Gein Story (Netflix Miniseries); Good Boy (2025 Leonberg Film); It Chapter One; It Chapter Two

WHAT WE WANT TO WATCH

Curtis: Black Phone 2; Guillermo del Toro's Frankenstein

Sean: Black Phone 2; Welcome to Derry (TV Series); The Long Walk

TIME STAMPS

00:00:00 Introduction

00:00:56 THE UGLY STEPSISTER Discussion

00:27:15 What We Watched This Week/What We Want to Watch

00:36:21 Our Scores for THE UGLY STEPSISTER

00:37:45 Coming Up Next!

CREDITS AND PLUGS

Intro: "Blomserdansen" by Vilde Tuv (THE UGLY STEPSISTER OST)

Outro: "Dunkelheit" by Burzum

Follow John on Letterboxd—@johnnycakes91

For a list of films covered at Genre Gems: https://letterboxd.com/johnnycakes91/list/genre-gems-2025-festival-lineup/

Curtis: https://www.the-back-row.com/ - check out 'Runstedler's DVD Pick of the Month'

https://curtisrunstedler.ca/

Dr Curtis Reads: https://www.youtube.com/@curtisrunstedler

Check out Dr Sean Travers's monograph (Trauma in American Popular Culture and Cult Texts, 1980-2020) here:

https://link.springer.com/book/10.1007/978-3-031-13287-2

Pleasant screams, boils and ghouls! John and Curtis return to the spooky canon this week for its second screamy offering: 1972's DON'T TORTURE A DUCKLING, directed by Lucio Fulci and starring Barbara Bouchet (and one of Curtis's giallo favourites). The boys are also joined by their favourite librarian, the very hot and cool Katie! They discuss the film as giallo, libraries, the rural setting, misogyny and patriarchal oppression, Donald Duck, the film's taboo topics, and much more.

Next week, Simon is taking the helm with THE UGLY STEPSISTER (2025)!

WHAT WE WATCHED THIS WEEK

Curtis: One Battle After Another; Good Boy (2025 Leonberg film)

John: Grand Ciel; The Ice Tower; Dracula (2025); The Hyperboreans; #MissingCouple; Black Caesar; Megadoc

Katie: Chimp Crazy (HBO Miniseries)

TIME STAMPS

00:00:00 Introduction

00:05:28 What We Watched This Week/New Releases/Shoutouts

00:39:22 DON'T TORTURE A DUCKLING Discussion

01:15:41 Our Scores for DON'T TORTURE A DUCKLING

01:19:36 Coming Up Next!

CREDITS AND PLUGS

Intro: "Quei giorni insieme a te (Theme)" by Riz Ortolani (DON'T TORTURE A DUCKLING OST)

Outro: "The Adulteress' Punishment" by Riz Ortolani (CANNIBAL HOLOCAUST OST)

Follow John on Letterboxd—@johnnycakes91

For a list of films covered at Genre Gems: https://letterboxd.com/johnnycakes91/list/genre-gems-2025-festival-lineup/

Curtis: https://www.the-back-row.com/ - check out 'Runstedler's DVD Pick of the Month'

https://curtisrunstedler.ca/

Dr Curtis Reads: https://www.youtube.com/@curtisrunstedler

Hello, boils and ghouls! October is here, which means we kick off the first entry in our fourth annual SPOOKY CANON MONTH! We will return to our weekly cadence to cover our favourite horror films every week. For my pick, we discuss the inimitable 2021 stop-motion classic, by famed special effects guru Phil Tippett: MAD GOD! Joining Curtis and John for this discussion is our long-time recurring guest—Magill Foote! We talk about the almost 30 year long gestation process of this film, the impressive effects work, some of the deeper thematic meaning within a sometimes experimental text, and chat about stop-motion animation more broadly (and Magill shares some examples on some up-and-coming animators in this space). Before that, we run through our news and what we watched this week. John also recaps his experience at Ottawa inaugural GENRE GEMS film festival (see the list of films below in the show notes).

Next week we discuss the Fulci horror classic: DON'T TORTURE A DUCKLING.

TIME STAMPS

00:00:00 Introduction

00:03:50 Shout outs: Renting DVDs at the library (or using free streaming services like Hoopla or Kanopy!)

00:10:16 New Releases (One Battle After Another; Strange Journey: The Story of Rocky Horror; Predators; Good Boy; The Smashing Machine)

What We Watched This Week

00:17:53 Combat Shock (Magill)

00:19:31 The Toxic Avenger [2025] (Magill and Curtis)

00:26:53 Zombie Bloodbath (Magill)

00:28:39 Crawlers of Doom, and extended Tokar discussion (Magill)

00:33:41 The Wicked City (Magill)

00:35:36 The works of Joel Haver (Magill)

00:40:53 Troy (Curtis)

00:41:29 Kiki's Delivery Service (Curtis)

00:45:20 Dirty Work (John)

00:49:42 One Battle After Another (John)

00:52:42 The Heirloom (John)

00:53:35 Dead Lover (John)

00:54:42 A Useful Ghost (John)

00:57:16 Zodiac Killer Project (John)

01:00:08 Buffet Infinity (John)

01:02:03 The Last One for the Road (John)

01:03:22 Sirāt (John)

01:05:35 MAD GOD Discussion

01:46:01 Our Scores for MAD GOD

01:51:34 Coming Up Next!

CREDITS AND PLUGS

Intro: Spooky Scary Skeletons - Andrew Gold (Ginny Di cover)

Outro: 'Long Way Down' - From 'MAD GOD'

https://www.magillfoote.com/

Magill's produced podcast: https://www.trailwentcold.com/

Magill and Grant's new games store: https://taigainteractive.itch.io/

Check out Magill's contributions on Rue Morgue magazine!https://rue-morgue.com/

Check out Magill's wife's new book (The Widow's Charm): https://caitlynpaxson.com/

Check out the GENRE GEMS website, with links to their early bird passes: https://www.genregems.ca/

Follow John on Letterboxd—@johnnycakes91

For a list of films covered at Genre Gems: https://letterboxd.com/johnnycakes91/list/genre-gems-2025-festival-lineup/

Curtis: https://www.the-back-row.com/ - check out 'Runstedler's DVD Pick of the Month'

https://curtisrunstedler.ca/

Dr Curtis Reads: https://www.youtube.com/@curtisrunstedler

"I don't know why we do this"

After doing a few episodes of the works of John Casavettes, we felt it was time to go back to the start to discuss his 1959 low-budget debut: SHADOWS! Joining John for this discuss is our recurring guest John Bruni, who also wrote a recent article on this film (linked below). With reference to that article, we also discussed the background on the film's production, the performances of Lelia Goldoni and Rupert Crosse, its influence on Casavettes later works, and a brief critique of Ray Carney. Before that, we went over the usual news and what we watched this week.

We will kick off our spooky season in a few short weeks and discuss the stop-motion masterpiece MAD GOD!

TIME STAMPS

00:00:00 Introduction

00:09:32 Shout outs: RIP Robert Redford

00:14:07 New Releases (THighest 2 Lowest; The Long Walk; Spinal Tap II: The End Continues; Him)

What We Watched This Week

00:17:22 Death of a Unicorn (Curtis)

00:18:08 The Terminator (Curtis)

00:20:13 The Long Walk (Curtis)

00:22:05 Panic in Year Zero! (Bruni)

00:25:02: Faster Pussycat! Kill! Kill! (Bruni)

00:26:58 There is No 13 (Bruni)

00:28:10 Five-Minute Films" Afternoon" [TV] (Bruni)

00:29:00 Paris, Texas (Bruni)

00:31:01 92 In the Shade (Bruni)

00:33:11 The Plot Against Harry (Bruni)

00:35:51 Predator 2 (John)

00:42:21 Invasion of the Blood Farmers (John)

00:44:16 The Nun (John)

00:45:28 The Souvenir (John)

00:50:57 The Naked Gun [2025] (John)

00:53:43 Eephus (John)

00:58:02 SHADOWS Discussion

02:05:49 Our Scores for SHADOWS

02:14:00 Coming Up Next!

CREDITS AND PLUGS

Intro: Shadows theatrical trailer

Outro: 'A Real Mad Chick' - scene from 'Shadows'

Bruni's article on Shadows: https://www.mediamagpies.com/first-of-the-independents-shadows/

Check out the GENRE GEMS website, with links to their early bird passes: https://www.genregems.ca/

Follow John on Letterboxd—@johnnycakes91

Curtis: https://www.the-back-row.com/ - check out 'Runstedler's DVD Pick of the Month'

https://curtisrunstedler.ca/

Dr Curtis Reads: https://www.youtube.com/@curtisrunstedler

We've finally reached the penultimate Coppola film (at least, until her new Marc Jacobs documentary gets distribution), the 2020 A24/Apple TV+ release: ON THE ROCKS! We discuss the performances by leads, the emotional material this film touches on, our shared gripes, and we get into some extended talk on Bill Murray and the #MeToo movement. Before that, we went over the usual news and what we watched this week.

While Curtis is away, John will return soon with special guest Dr. John Bruni to discuss Casavettes debut picture: SHADOWS.

TIME STAMPS

00:00:00 Introduction

00:03:27 Shout outs: RIP Grahame Greene

00:05:13 New Releases (The Toxic Avenger, The Thursday Murder Club, Task (TV), The Conjuring: Last Rites)

What We Watched This Week

00:11:53 Dances with Wolves (Curtis)

00:13:30 The Imitation Game (Curtis)

00:14:47 Terminator Resistance [video game] (Curtis)

00:17:36 Suicide Squad (John)

00:20:40 Terminator 2: Judgement Day (John)

00:26:22 Rosewater (John)

00:30:30 The Battle of Lake Changjin (John)

00:36:20 Burial Ground (John)

00:38:40 ON THE ROCKS Discussion

010:56:40 Our Scores for ON THE ROCKS

01:02:30Coming Up Next!

CREDITS AND PLUGS

Intro: I Fall In Love Too Easily - Chet Baker

Outro: Identical - Phoenix

Check out the GENRE GEMS website, with links to their early bird passes: https://www.genregems.ca/

Follow John on Letterboxd—@johnnycakes91

Curtis: https://www.the-back-row.com/ - check out 'Runstedler's DVD Pick of the Month'

https://curtisrunstedler.ca/

Dr Curtis Reads: https://www.youtube.com/@curtisrunstedler

We're mixing things up this week. Since the next film in our Sofia Coppola Watch Series is her 2017 adaptation of The Beguiled, we decided to discuss this as a double feature in concert with the original 1971 Don Siegel adaption. Much of our discussion touches on the differences between these two films, both aesthetically and narratively, and considers which elements we think these films do well vs. not. Before that, we went over the usual news and what we watched this week.

We will be back in a week to talk the penultimate film of the Watch Series, 2020's ON THE ROCKS.

TIME STAMPS

00:00:00 Introduction

00:05:13 Shout outs: RIP Terrance Stamp; A new genre film fest in Ottawa (GENRE GEMS, see the link below); and RIP King Cobra JFS

00:13:02 New Releases (Ne Zha 2; Honey Don't!)

What We Watched This Week

00:17:47 Robocop 3 (Curtis)

00:19:34 Bring Her Back (Curtis)

00:21:11 Lee (Curtis)

00:22:14 Memoir of a Snail (Curtis)

00:23:20 Der Schuh des Manitu (Curtis)

00:26:17 Weapons (Curtis)

00:28:28 1923 [Season Two] (Curtis)

00:30:24 War of the Worlds (John)

00:32:08 The Squid and the Whale (John)

00:36:09 The House of the Devil (John)

00:38:24 Saloum (John)

00:40:29 The Taking of Jordan (All American Boy) [short] (John)

00:43:26 Shin Godzilla (John)

00:50:43 THE BEGUILED Discussion

01:24:59 Our Scores for THE BEGUILED

01:27:35 Coming Up Next!

CREDITS AND PLUGS

Intro: The Dove - Judy Collins

Outro: End scene from "The Beguiled" (2017)

Check out the GENRE GEMS website, with links to their early bird passes: https://www.genregems.ca/

Follow John on Letterboxd—@johnnycakes91

Curtis: https://www.the-back-row.com/ - check out 'Runstedler's DVD Pick of the Month'

https://curtisrunstedler.ca/

Dr Curtis Reads: https://www.youtube.com/@curtisrunstedler

"Where were you when Kennedy got shot?"

"Which Kennedy?"

"Any Kennedy."

On a special "John's Only" episode—John is joined by our recurring guest and resident Cassavetes scholar Dr. John Bruni to discuss the 1975 neo-noir NIGHT MOVES, starring the late Gene Hackman. This was the subject of some writing by Bruni on Media Magpies (link below in the description) back in March for the Criterion release. Much of our discussion centered around that, and we talked further on post-Watergate cinema, scuzzy and morally corrupt Hollywood, the film's depiction of mistreated women, the titular "knight moves" and what that means in the context of the film's mystery, the excellent Michael Small score, and much more. Before that, we went over the usual news and what we watched this week.

We will be back in a few weeks to continue our Sofia Coppola watch series, talking 2017's THE BEGUILED.

*quick correction, Night of the Hunter was directed by Charles LAUGHTON, not Charles Burnett.

TIME STAMPS

00:00:00 Introduction

00:05:13 Shout outs: John's Montreal trip; Ottawa Bad Movie Nights

00:13:22) New Releases (The Naked Gun; War of the Worlds; The Bad Guys 2)

What We Watched This Week

00:14:58 Videoheaven [w/ a Q&A with Director Alex Ross Perry] (Bruni)

00:18:28 The Heartbreak Kid (Bruni)

00:19:11 Welcome to L.A. (Bruni)

00:21:01 Choose Me (Bruni)

00:21:40 The Firm (Bruni)

00:23:20 The Devil, Probably (John)

00:30:28 The Opening of Misty Beethoven (John)

00:36:26 Fantasia Fest 2025 recap (Dui Shaw, and The Angel's Egg)

00:40:38 The Amityville Horror (John)

00:45:20 Amityville Horror II: The Possession (John)

0047:15 NIGHT MOVES Discussion

01:31:00 Our ratings for NIGHT MOVES

01:36:28 Coming Up Next!

CREDITS AND PLUGS

Intro: Night Moves Opening Theme - Michael Small

Outro: Night Moves - Bob Seger

Here's the article by John Bruni and John Anderson : https://www.mediamagpies.com/through-the-american-past-darkly-a-new-release-of-night-moves-shines-light-on-gene-hackman/

Follow John on Letterboxd—@johnnycakes91

Curtis: https://www.the-back-row.com/ - check out 'Runstedler's DVD Pick of the Month'

https://curtisrunstedler.ca/

Dr Curtis Reads: https://www.youtube.com/@curtisrunstedler

"Are you freebasing or what?"

Curtis and John celebrate years of AMERICAN PSYCHO (2000) with their deep dive into the film on this week's episode. They discuss queerness and homoeroticism in the film, Reaganism and '80s yuppie culture, serial killer fascination, Bret Easton Ellis's book, the female direction, and more. Before they talk about the film, they talk about new releases, shoutouts, and what they watched this week.

Tune in next week for the next Sofia Coppola watch series entry: THE BEGUILED (2017), starring Colin Farrell, Nicole Kidman, Kirsten Dunst, and Elle Fanning.

TIME STAMPS

00:00:00 Introduction

00:02:11 Shoutouts / New Releases/What We Watched This Week

00:41:55 AMERICAN PSYCHO (2000) Discussion

01:16:33 Our Ratings for AMERICAN PSYCHO

01:22:25 Coming Up Next!

SHOUTOUTS

• Coyote vs Acme

• Ozzy Osbourne (The Osbournes, Little Nicky) and Hulk Hogan passed away (Rocky III, Suburban Commando, Mr. Nanny, many cameos)

WHAT WE WATCHED THIS WEEK

CREDITS AND PLUGS

Intro: Excerpt from AMERICAN PSYCHO (2000), "Hip to Be Square" by Huey Lewis and the News

Outro: "Sussudio" by Phil Collins

Follow John on Letterboxd—@johnnycakes91

Curtis: https://www.the-back-row.com/ - check out 'Runstedler's DVD Pick of the Month'

https://curtisrunstedler.ca/

Check out Curtis's new book reviews series on YouTube here:

https://www.youtube.com/@curtisrunstedler

"Girls, time for your Adderall!"

This week on the pod, we jump back into the Sofia Coppola Watch Series to discuss her 2013 crime film, and one of the first distributed by A24, THE BLING RING. Since this is based on real events (or rather, the written account of such events) we spent a little bit of time talking about the real events before getting to the movie. We talked about Coppola's particular take on the heist/crime genre; its comparisons to earlier works like Marie Antoinette and Somewhere; and its status as a piece of 2010s nostalgia (with some predictions that this movie is going to become a cult film with this nascent 2010s nostalgia wave). Before that, we went over the usual news and what we watched this week.

Curtis also has a new series reviewing books on his YouTube channel. You can find the link in the show notes below.

We will be back in a few weeks to discuss a film that recently turned 25: AMERICAN PSYCHO!

TIME STAMPS

00:00:00 Introduction

00:04:22 Shout outs: RIP Michael Madsen; Curtis' new book review series on YouTube (see URL below)

00:04:13) New Releases (Jurassic Park: Rebirth; M3GAN 2.0.; F1: The Movie; Superman)

What We Watched This Week

00:09:55 Jurassic Park: Rebirth (Curtis)

00:12:52 Dancing Boys of Afghanistan (Curtis)

00:14:44 Agent of Happiness (Curtis)

00:16:50 The Hunger (John)

00:19:50 Heater (John)

00:22:10 Unforgiven (Jon)

00:24:22 Weiner (John)

00:30:22 Grand Theft Hamlet (John)

00:33:39 BLING RING DISCUSSION Discussion

01:01:36 Our Ratings for BLING RING

01:04:19 Coming Up Next!

CREDITS AND PLUGS

Intro: 212 - Azealia Banks

Outro: Super Rich Kids - Frank Ocean

Follow John on Letterboxd—@johnnycakes91

Curtis: https://www.the-back-row.com/ - check out 'Runstedler's DVD Pick of the Month'

https://curtisrunstedler.ca/

Dr Curtis Reads: https://www.youtube.com/@curtisrunstedler

This week on the pod, after some much needed rest and relaxation, John and Curtis reunite to talk another Cassavetes film: THE KILLING OF A CHINESE BOOKIE. Joining us again for this discussion is our resident scholar and honorary "fifth Beatle" Dr. John Bruni. We talked about the differences between the 1976 and '78 cuts, the electric performance by Ben Gazzara, Cassavetes dabbling with genre elements, the allegories to creating art and the different pressures that infect that process, among many other topics in our nearly hour long chat. We also made references to other Cassavetes films covered in previous episodes (check out our past discussions on HUSBANDS and A WOMAN UNDER THE INFLUENCE).

Before that, we ran through some new releases and movies we watched.

When we return later this month, we will discuss the next film in our Coppola watch series: THE BLING RING

TIME STAMPS

00:00:00 Introduction

00:04:22 Shout out: Monthly 'L’Amour à Minuit' screenings at Montreal's Cinema L'Amour

00:05:53 New Releases (Materialists; 28 Years Later; Squid Game S3)

What We Watched This Week

00:09:58 28 Years Later (Curtis)

00:14:20 Companion [2025] (Curtis)

00:15:19 The White Lotus [Season Three] (Curtis)

00:16:39 The Phoenician Scheme (Bruni)

00:20:00 Across 110th Street (Bruni)

00;18:47 Born to Win (Bruni)

00:21:06 The Swimmer (Bruni)

00:23:47 Chopping Mall (John)

00:25:08 Knife + Heart [John]

00:27:37 Resurrection [2022] (John)

00:29:44 The VelociPastor (John)

00:32:28 Presence [2024] (John)

00:33:37 CHINESE BOOKIE Discussion

01:37:08 Our Ratings for CHINESE BOOKIE

01:48:36 Coming Up Next!

CREDITS AND PLUGS

Intro: John Casavettes and Bo Hardwood - Rainy Fields of Frost and Magic

Outro: Death Grips x Timothy Carey - Beware the Chinese Bookie (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=khniHf7Jbq8)

Follow John on Letterboxd—@johnnycakes91

Curtis: https://www.the-back-row.com/ - check out 'Runstedler's DVD Pick of the Month'

https://curtisrunstedler.ca/

LAUGH IT UP, FUZZBALL! This week on the podcast it's a sibiling show, as John and recurring guest Billy talk the first sequel of the Star Wars saga (celebrating a 45th anniversary this year): The Empire Strikes Back. We discussed our own experiences watching this at home on tape (with the fabulous CBS Fox Video fanfare, who could forget?) and coming back to it throughout the years. Look, this is one of the most discussed movies on any movie podcast worth it's salt. Nothing new to be gleamed here, but we had fun talking shop and some extended Star Wars stuff between the Expanded Universe and sequel films.

Before that, we ran through some new releases and movies we watched.

We'll return soon with a return to John Cassavetes to talk THE KILLING OF A CHINESE BOOKIE.

TIME STAMPS

00:00:00 Introduction

00:07:54 New Releases (The Life of Chuck, Bring Her Back, Predator Netflix series)

What We Watched This Week

00;10:24 Megan is Missing (Curtis)

00:13:30 Ghost Dog: Way of the Samurai (Billy)

00:15:12 Star Wars Episode Three - Revenge of the Sith (John)

00:20:00 Rappin' [John]

00:22:41 Female Prisoner Scorpion #701 (John)

00:25:00 Friendship [2024] (John)

00:27:00 Jason Goes to Hell: The Final Friday (John)

00:30:56 EMPIRE STRIKES BACK Discussion

01:00:12 Our Ratings for EMPIRE STRIKES BACK

01:06:46 Coming Up Next!

CREDITS AND PLUGS

Intro: CBS Fox Video VHS Intro

Outro: Imperial March — From "The Empire Strikes Back"

Follow John on Letterboxd—@johnnycakes91

Curtis: https://www.the-back-row.com/ - check out 'Runstedler's DVD Pick of the Month'

https://curtisrunstedler.ca/

Curtis returns with John this week to cover another canon pick: Jim Mickle's neo-noir classic COLD IN JULY (2014), starring Michael C. Hall, Don Johnson, and the late (but great) Sam Shepard. The boys talk about what they recently watched, John's recent trip to Toronto and Curtis's vacation to Jordan, supporting Palestine and Palestinian films, and their shoutouts before doing a deep dive into the film.Hot topics include Joe R. Lansdale and his adaptations, DON JOHNSON, masculinity in the film, snuff films, the film's retro setting, the chemistry between actors, the synth-heavy soundtrack, and much more.

Tune in next time as the Valley brothers (John and Billy) and Curtis take on STAR WARS EPISODE V: THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK!

TIME STAMPS

00:00:00 Introduction

00:03:00 Shoutouts

00:11:15 New Releases/What We Watched This Week

00:53:40 COLD IN JULY (2014) Discussion

01:14:18 Our Ratings for COLD IN JULY

01:17:00 Coming Up Next!

SHOUTOUTS

JOHN: Prince Charles Cinema Update: Westminster Council designated as an “Asset of Community Value” (aka theatre is saved!)

CURTIS: ByTowne Cinema is saved!

• New releases: Final Destination: Bloodline; Mission Impossible: The Final Reckoning; Lilo and Stitch; The Phoenician Scheme; Friendship

WHAT WE WATCHED THIS WEEK

• CURTIS: Bad Faith; Louis Theroux: The Settlers (BBC Documentary); No Other Land; Cannibal Ferox; The Ugly Stepsister

  JOHN: The Shrouds; The Frighteners on 35mm; Vampire in Brooklyn; Sinners; Paranormal Activity; Batman Forever

CREDITS AND PLUGS

Intro: "Cosmo Black" by Dynatron (COLD IN JULY OST)

Outro: "Cowboy Mouth (For Sam Shepard)" by Roy Montgomery

Follow John on Letterboxd—@johnnycakes91

Curtis: https://www.the-back-row.com/ - check out 'Runstedler's DVD Pick of the Month'

https://curtisrunstedler.ca/

"Buddy, you're in the wrong place at the wrong time."

Curtis and John team up again with special guest Dr John Bruni for William Friedkin's neo-noir classic TO LIVE AND DIE IN L.A., starring William Petersen, John Pankow, Willem Dafoe, and John Turturro. The boys talk about what they recently watched and their shoutouts before doing a deep dive into the film. Hot topics include Wang Chung, gender and queerness, counterfeiting, and comparisons with Miami Vice, and more.

Tune in next time as the Valley brothers (John and Billy) take on STAR WARS EPISODE V: THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK!

TIME STAMPS

00:00:00 Introduction

00:10:55 Shoutouts/What We Watched This Week

00:45:31 TO LIVE AND DIE IN L.A. (1985) Discussion

01:58:00 Our Ratings for TO LIVE DIE IN L.A.

02:06:30 Coming Up Next!

SHOUTOUTS

JOHN VALLEY: Sinners - Ryan Coogler film breakdown on Kodak’s YT channel : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=78Ru62uFM0s

• New releases: Sinners; The Shrouds

WHAT WE WATCHED THIS WEEK

JOHN VALLEY: The White Lotus (Season 3); Severance (Season 1 & 2); Local Legends; Luz; One Crazy Summer; Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: Once & Always ; Butcher, Baker, Nightmare Maker

CREDITS AND PLUGS

Intro: "Dance Hall Days" by Wang Chung

Outro: "Wait" by Wang Chung (TO LIVE AND DIE IN L.A. OST)

Check out Dr John Bruni's NEW article on TO LIVE AND DIE IN L.A.:

https://www.mediamagpies.com/counterfeit-city-part-2-to-live-and-die-in-l-a/

Follow John on Letterboxd—@johnnycakes91

Curtis: https://www.the-back-row.com/ - check out 'Runstedler's DVD Pick of the Month'

After discussing the garish, expensive, shot-on-location entry from the previous episode, this week's return to the Sofia Coppola Watch Series considers her next film SOMEWHERE, which is a complete departure from those things. Instead, this plays more as slow cinema, shot on mostly on tight-focused handheld with a limited cast. We talk about our favourite moments in the story, the somewhat biographical elements, Elle Fanning and Stephen Dorff's performances, and the always excellent needle drops. Before that, we went over some shoutouts, news items, and what we watched this week.

Next month, we will return with special guest John Bruni to discuss TO LIVE AND DIE IN L.A.

TIME STAMPS

00:00:00 Introduction

00:02:21 Shout outs:

• John's Trip to Montreal
• Silent Hill f announced
• Werner Herzog set to make his animation debut

00:08:26 RIP Wings Hauser; plus happy birthdays to Bill Shatner; Michael Caine; David Cronenberg; and Debbie Harry.

00:10:50 New Releases (The Electric State; Black Bag; The Day the Earth Blew Up: A Looney Tunes Movie)

What We Watched This Week

00:17:01 Mickey 17 (Curtis)

00:18:25 Twin Peaks [TV] (Curtis)

00:20:40 Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (Curtis)

00:22:25 The El Duce Tapes (Curtis)

00:27:07 Deadpool 2 (John)

00:29:14 Wild at Heart (John)

00:31:09 Picnic at Hanging Rock (John)

00:34:14 No Other Land (John)

00:43:55 SOMEWHERE discussion

01:01:00 Our Scores for SOMEWHERE

01:07:04 Coming Up Next!

CREDITS AND PLUGS

Intro: Foo Fighters - My Hero

Outro: Gwen Stefani - Cool

John Bruni's article on To Live and Die in L.A., mentioned at the end of the episode: https://www.mediamagpies.com/counterfeit-city-part-2-to-live-and-die-in-l-a/

Follow John on Letterboxd—@johnnycakes91

Curtis: https://www.the-back-row.com/ - check out 'Runstedler's DVD Pick of the Month'

https://curtisrunstedler.ca/

"Does Barry Manilow know you raid his wardrobe?"

It's been a while, so this week John decided to celebrate the recent 40th (!) anniversary of one of the all time classic 1980s films by making this a PERSONAL CANON discussion on John Hughes' THE BREAKFAST CLUB. This was a favourite growing up, so we ended up spending a lot of time this ep just talking about what it feels like to be a teenager; our own experiences coming of age; what cliques were we win in high school (fun fact: we went to the SAME high school in suburban Ottawa); before we got to talking about the film itself and considered which elements of it still resonate in 2025, and a larger discussion on Hughes' faded legacy in the decade following his death. Before that, we went over some shoutouts, news items, and what we watched this week.

Next week, we will return to the Coppola watch series to discuss SOMEWHERE.

TIME STAMPS

00:00:00 Introduction

00:04:15 Shout outs:

• John: His 'going viral' story
• Curtis: His trip to Bosnia and Serbia

00:12:07 New Releases (Last Breath; In The Lost Lands; Mickey 17)

What We Watched This Week

00:14:06 A Complete Unknown (Curtis)

00:16:08 Detroit: Become Human [video game] (Curtis)

00:18:14 You Were Never Really Here (John)

00:20:22 Visitor Q (John)

00:24:29 The Final Year (John)

00:26:48 It's Alive! (John)

00:31:04THE BREAKFAST CLUB discussion

01:11:40 Our Ratings for THE BREAKFAST CLUB

01:16:06 Coming Up Next!

CREDITS AND PLUGS

Intro: Don't You (Forget About Me) 12' ' Version - Simple Minds

Outro: We Are Not Alone - Karla DeVito

Follow John on Letterboxd—@johnnycakes91

Curtis: https://www.the-back-row.com/ - check out 'Runstedler's DVD Pick of the Month'

https://curtisrunstedler.ca/

This week we return to the Sofia Coppola Watch Series to discuss her soft-historical biopic, MARIE ANTOINETTE. We discussed the film's rising standing over the years; how it continues to explore feminist tropes found in Coppola's earlier films, the sick 80s post-rock and new wave needle drops, and how the film's angle towards class and privilege may not be as blinkered as you may think. Before that, we went over some shoutouts, news items, and what we watched this week.

Next week, we will return with John's canon pick, discussing THE BREAKFAST CLUB.

TIME STAMPS

00:00:00 Introduction

00:03:40 Shout outs:

• Curtis: Mara sisters in a new Herzog film

00:04:01 New Releases (The Witcher: Sirens of the Deep; The Monkey; Paddington in Peru; Captiain America: Brave New World)

What We Watched This Week

00:09:20 Sex In The City 2 (Curtis)

00:10:25 Last Straw (Curtis)

00:11:18 We Are The Flesh (John)

00:14:24 Massacre at Central High (John)

00:16:26 Russ Meyer chatter (Vixen!, and Beneath the Valley of the Ultra Vixens) (John)

00:23:54 Noroi: The Curse (John)

00:27:10 MARIE ANTOINETTE discussion

0:53:00 Our Ratings for GLADIATOR II

00:57:00 Coming Up Next!

CREDITS AND PLUGS

Intro: I Want Candy - Bow Wow Wow

Outro: Killer Queen - Queen

Follow John on Letterboxd—@johnnycakes91

Curtis: https://www.the-back-row.com/ - check out 'Runstedler's DVD Pick of the Month'

https://curtisrunstedler.ca/

John and Curtis team up again with special guest (and John Cassavetes scholar) John Bruni to take on Nicolas Roeg's 1976 science fiction film, starring David Bowie. The trio talk about what they watched, shoutouts of the week, and new releases before doing a deep dive into the film. Hot topics of discussion include Bowie as an alien, capitalism, Newton's experiences on Earth, the montage, and more.

Stay tuned for the next Sofia Coppola watch series next week: MARIE ANTOINETTE!

TIME STAMPS

00:00:00 Introduction

00:02:45 News of the Week/Shoutouts/What We Watched This Week

00:47:22 THE MAN WHO FELL TO EARTH (1976) Discussion

01:30:33 Our Ratings for THE MAN WHO FELL TO EARTH

01:37:43 Coming Up Next!

NEWS OF THE WEEK

• Remembering David Lynch (1946-2025)

  • Terrifier 3/Leone drama recap

  • Scrapped Prince doc from Netflix

  • New releases: Grafted; Companion; Flight Risk; Becoming Led Zeppelin

WHAT WE WATCHED THIS WEEK

JOHN VALLEY: The Blackwell Ghost, The Shop Around the Corner; The War Wagon; The Straight Story; Universal Language

CREDITS AND PLUGS

Intro: "Starman" by David Bowie

Outro: "An Ending (Ascent)" by Brian Eno

Follow John on Letterboxd—@johnnycakes91

Curtis: https://www.the-back-row.com/ - check out 'Runstedler's DVD Pick of the Month'

Curtis, John, Simon, and special guest Ivana try to maintain the balance with THE SUBSTANCE (2024), starring Margaret Qualley, Demi Moore, and Dennis Quaid. The Fantastic Four talk about what they watched, shoutouts of the week, and new releases before doing a deep dive into the film. Hot topics of discussion include feminist angles and male gaze of the film, its satirical elements and critique of ageism and sexist beauty standards, the "monstrousness" of ageing, and the mystery of THE SUBSTANCE itself. Lots of butts and guts for all!

Stay tuned for the next Sofia Coppola watch series in February: MARIE ANTOINETTE!

TIME STAMPS

00:00:00 Introduction

00:00:55 News of the Week/Shoutouts/What We Watched This Week

00:17:40 THE SUBSTANCE (2024) Discussion

00:57:37 Our Ratings for THE SUBSTANCE

01:02:10 Coming Up Next!

NEWS OF THE WEEK

• • Shoutouts;

  • John: Cathode Cinema—check out their Linktree for resources for donations to families and individuals affected by the Los Angeles’ fires: https://linktr.ee/cathodetv 

  • New Releases: Den of Thieves 2: Pantera; Better Man; Wallace and Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl

WHAT WE WATCHED THIS WEEK

JOHN: Wobble Palace; Ghost Town Anthology; Virus (1980); Inside

CREDITS AND PLUGS

Intro: Excerpt from THE SUBSTANCE (2024)

Outro: "The Substance" by Raffertie (THE SUBSTANCE OST)

Follow John on Letterboxd—@johnnycakes91

Curtis: https://www.the-back-row.com/ - check out 'Runstedler's DVD Pick of the Month'

The Ridley Scott Watch Series refuses to die! After our 'soft' conclusion, Scott released his long awaited sequel GLADIATOR II in November of last year, so we finally got around to talking about it. Joining us this week is our old guest and Gladiator-head IN-HWAN. Cards on the table here: we had some gripes with the movie. We talk about some of the things that worked and didn't work for us. We also discussed some of the production notes, including the original and very strange Nick Cave script for a Gladiator sequel featuring a time travelling Maximus! Before that, we went over some shoutouts, news items, and what we watched this week.

For our big Episode 150 milestone, we'll be discussing the recent body horror THE SUBSTANCE with some special guest appearances.

TIME STAMPS

00:00:00 Introduction

00:05:40 Shout outs:

• John: Demi Moore winning Best Actress, and other Golden Globes news.
• Curtis: Happy Birthday Hayao Miyazaki and Clancy Brown

00:07:36 New Releases (Mufasa: The Lion King; The Damned; From Ground Zero)

What We Watched This Week

00:08:14 It Ends With Us (Curtis)

00:09:29 Silo [TV]  (Curtis)

00:10:35 Seed of the Sacred Fig  (Curtis)

00:11:50 Star Trek Prodigy (In-Hwan)

00:15:22 The Wolf of Snow Hollow (John)

00:18:38 Baby Blood (John)

00:20:36 Evil Does Not Exist (John)

00:22:51 Neon Genesis Evangelion [TV] (John)

00:25:15 Neon Genesis Evangelion: End of Evangelion (John)

00:28:54 GLADIATOR II discussion

01:03:35 Our Ratings for GLADIATOR II

01:08:40 Coming Up Next!

CREDITS AND PLUGS

Intro: From Saturday Night Live "Paul Mescal / Shaboozey" (December 7th, 2024)

Outro: Overture - Gladiator II

Follow John on Letterboxd—@johnnycakes91

Curtis: https://www.the-back-row.com/ - check out 'Runstedler's DVD Pick of the Month'

https://curtisrunstedler.ca/