Death By Movies
Nick Sanford
Who will survive movie discourse and what will be left of them?
Episodes
SAVE FILM ROW - Why YOUR Help Is Needed To Preserve A Historic Piece Of Film History
Send a textOne of the very last original American film exchanges exists in Oklahoma City, and after a century of being used as a movie theater it's now less than a month away from being discontinued. Luckily, the Oklahoma Film Exchange has been created to keep that from happening.Why should Oklahomans and non-Oklahomans alike care about preserving this piece of film history?Well, Dalton Stuart and Nick Sanford are here to give you the big pitch - the historical context of this little theater, the cultural importance of keeping it going, and why the Oklahoma Film Exchange, with a little bit of financial help, can turn it into a hub for movie lovers inside and outside of the state for the foreseeable future.Go to SaveFilmRow.com to learn more, or go straight to the Indiegogo to donate now, and remember to spread the word! The help is needed, the help is appreciated!Nick on InstagramNick on LetterboxdElusive | Official WebsiteElusive | Stream Free on TubiElusive | Rent/Buy on Prime Video
E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial and Why We Need Movies
Send a textHappy 2025! All things must end, and Death By Movies says farewell and rings in the new year with a mammoth, star-studded celebration of one of the most emotionally impactful movies of all time - Steven Spielberg's E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial - and why we need movies, both individually and culturally.Thank you all so much for listening to and supporting the show. Talk movies with the people you love - there's nothing better in the world.00:00 - Intro and waxing poetic.21:24 - Chat Pile frontman Raygun Busch returns to talk about why E.T. means so much to him, argue about Close Encounters and the Avatar movies, rank his ten favorite Spielberg movies, and more!(Instagram and Letterboxd)1:36:34 - OKC film and music reviewer Brett Fieldcamp (KGOU and The Oklahoma City Free Press) had insanely never seen E.T. before, but with great authority still sheds some light on the musical approach of John Williams, talk about fatherhood and the depiction of children in Hollywood movies, deconstruct Papa Steve's strengths and weaknesses, and more!(Instagram)03:20:50 - Artist/philosopher Shawn Barfield interrogates the mood setting of the early 1980s, comparing and contrasting Spielberg's work to Ridley Scott's Blade Runner and George Lucas's Star Wars, considers what kind of art changes the world, and more!(Instagram)03:47:16 - Kirsten Therkelson had also insanely never seen E.T. before, and things sure get kooky as we get into safety practices for children on set in Hollywood movies, Mac and Me, the cycles of sincerity and irony reflected in pop culture, and more!(Instagram and Letterboxd)04:52:30 - Resident little stinker and GoodTrash co-host Dalton Stuart helps land the plane by answering absolutely cocaine-fueled mailbag questions, how cinema has and hasn't evolved, where film culture and discourse is now, and what we hope the future holds.(Instagram and Letterboxd)Movie podcast recommendations:GoodTrash GenreCastHow I Met Your MonsterBeyond The ScreenplayThe Big PictureBlank CheckNick on InstagramNick on LetterboxdElusive | Official WebsiteElusive | Stream Free on TubiElusive | Rent/Buy on Prime Video
The Lord of the Rings with Andrew McDonald
Send a textAndrew McDonald (andrewww.mp4) stops by to bid a final farewell to the podcast he helped build with the second to the last episode of the feed, and of course we're talking about Peter Jackson's J.R.R. Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings.We dig into foundational things, like Tolkien's preference of applicability over allegory, what his background as a linguist did in shaping the story, the bazooka this fires at Joseph Campbell's hero's journey, the interconnectedness of existence, and why The Lord of the Rings might be the best story ever told.We also dive into Peter Jackson and team's adaptation choices, his directorial style (or lack thereof), Howard Shore's transcendent score, the simple structure of The Fellowship of the Ring, the insane structure of The Two Towers, the ethics of the Return of the King post-production, and much, much more.Follow Andrew on Letterboxd, stupid!Lord of the Rings: How Music Elevates StoryWhy TV Is Wrong For TolkienHelm's Deep: How To Film An Epic BattleHow Ian McKellen Acts With His EyesMiddle Earth and The Perils of WorldbuildingThe Hobbit: The Desolation of TolkienTolkien's Secret ViceThe Complete Philosophy of The Lord of the RingsHeroism and Moral Victory - The Lord of the RingsPeter Jackson's Most Profound Change to the Lord of the RingsA Mythology of Hope - The Lord of the RingsNick on InstagramNick on LetterboxdElusive | Official WebsiteElusive | Stream Free on TubiElusive | Rent/Buy on Prime Video
Titanic commentary
Send a textThe Sandman flies solo to yell at you for over three hours about James Cameron's pop culture phenomenon Titanic.Sync the movie up with this episode and listen along as the acting styles of Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet are examined, why Big Jim is a great storyteller and absolute maniac of a human being, the haunting nature of the real life wreck site, boobs, screenplay structure, the sterilization of modern Hollywood romances three decades later, and the meaning of life.Titanic: Melodrama Done RightIs Titanic Good, Actually?Mr. Plinkett's Titanic ReviewNick on InstagramNick on LetterboxdElusive | Official WebsiteElusive | Stream Free on TubiElusive | Rent/Buy on Prime Video
Transcendental Style in Film with Dustin Sells
Send a textTranscendental style in film! What is it? Can it actually use the mechanics of film grammar to give the viewer the feeling of the transcendent? And most importantly, what is it?Luckily Dustin Sells (GoodTrash GenreCast!) is here to take our hands and explain it to us like we're five!We delve into madman Paul Schrader's book on the subject, discuss intention, film techniques used to portray the transcendent, and look at three films that fall into this category in particular: Carl Dreyer's Ordet, Robert Bresson's A Man Escaped, and the contemporary Ida, written and directed by Paweł Pawlikowski.We also talk about the beauty of mundanity, the importance of boredom, Yasujirō Ozu's use of space, why directors like Ingmar Bergman and Andrei Tarkovsky don't fall under the "transcendental style" umbrella despite having scenes of dudes lumbering around while fretting about God, and the different ways cinema can portray the transcendent. Also...David Lynch and M. Night Shyamalan?Follow Dustin on Letterboxd and Instagram, stupid!Why Did Ozu Cut To A Vase?When Movies Are A Religious JourneyNick on InstagramNick on LetterboxdElusive | Official WebsiteElusive | Stream Free on TubiElusive | Rent/Buy on Prime Video
Apollo 13 commentary with Sam Scovill
Send a textSam Scovill (former stand up open micer with Nick Sanford, Jeopardy winner, and NASA expert) stops by to do a commentary on Ron Howard's 1995 classic and arguably greatest "dad movie" ever Apollo 13 -- you know, starring Tom Hanks, Kevin Bacon, Bill Paxton, Ed Harris, Kathleen Quinlan, Gary Sinise, and many other sTaRs ha ha ha hadhkdh -- and talk about why this movie rules despite some historical inaccuracies while the movie plays out before our very eyes!And this isn't just some 'Cinema Sins' bullshit, no no no. There are many historical inaccuracies portrayed, sure, but we dive into the context of why good faith concessions must be made sometimes in the spirit of streamlined storytelling.Sam also talks about the wonders of space exploration, the insane amount of work it takes to get a rocket off the ground, and the importance of humanity banding together to reach for the stars.Follow Sam on Instagram!Sam's recommended book list!A Man on the Moon - Andrew ChaikinHow Apollo Flew to the Moon - W. David WoodsLost Moon - Jim Lovell and Jeffrey KlugerApollo 8 - Jeffrey KlugerCarrying the Fire - Michael CollinsFirst Man - James R. HansenFailure Is Not An Option - Gene KranzTough and Competent - Gene KranzFlight - Christopher C. KraftNever Panic Early - Fred HaiseNick on InstagramNick on LetterboxdElusive | Official WebsiteElusive | Stream Free on TubiElusive | Rent/Buy on Prime Video
Interstellar with David McEntire
Send a textHas it already been ten years of Christopher Nolan's Interstellar? Where has the time gone?Time just keeps going forward, and we're all prisoners to its ceaseless march.David McEntire (Objects In Space frontman!) orbital-slingshots back to the podcast to talk Christopher Nolan's silent film influences, visual poetry that harkens to directing giants like Andrei Tarkovsky and Stanley Kubrick, how Steven Spielberg plays into all of this, Matthew McConaughey's performance, Matt Damon jumpscare, Hans Zimmer's music...and so much more. So much movie, so much to talk about, god it made us so tired.Also touched upon are simple, easy topics like love and loss, transcending time, the dangers of nostalgia, and the melancholy of Albert Einstein.Follow David on Instagram!Transcending Time | Interstellar's Hidden Meaning Behind Love and TimeInterstellar Is About The Death of FilmChristopher Nolan vs. Interstellar - The Nolan CrosscutInterstellar: When Spectacle Eclipses StoryNick on InstagramNick on LetterboxdElusive | Official WebsiteElusive | Stream Free on TubiElusive | Rent/Buy on Prime Video
Signs commentary
Send a textThe Sandman flies solo to talk what's ostensibly his favorite film ever - M. Night Shyamalan's Signs.It gets and stays kooky, as subjects such as spirituality, how normal Mel Gibson and Joaquin Phoenix have turned out to be, miracles, synchronicity, processing disasters, the influence of Spielberg's Jaws and Close Encounters of the Third Kind, and all sorts of other shit are delved into.Movie starts at 02:33!The Essence of Faith - What Signs Was Really AboutM. Night Shyamalan's 2018 Drexel Commencement SpeechNick on InstagramNick on LetterboxdElusive | Official WebsiteElusive | Stream Free on TubiElusive | Rent/Buy on Prime Video
The Golden Age of Physical Media and DVD Extras with Kenny Madison and Jon Rhoads
Send a textDVD extras helped shape media literacy and pulled the curtain of filmmaking back for an entire generation -- and then the bubble popped and Hollywood had to change gears. But there are still a few freaks out there that appreciate physical media and the joys it can bring us.Jon Rhoads (filmmaker!) and Kenny Madison (co-host of the Trek Wars Podcast!) stop by to stroll down memory lane to talk about how exciting the initial DVD boom was and how director's commentaries and bonus features helped shape our development as artists and entertainers, as well as make the case for why physical media should still be an integral part of film culture.Follow Jon on Letterboxd and Instagram and YouTube!Follow Kenny on Letterboxd and Instagram!Nick on InstagramNick on LetterboxdElusive | Official WebsiteElusive | Stream Free on TubiElusive | Rent/Buy on Prime Video
Dumb & Dumber with BradChad Porter
Send a textOKC comedy legend BradChad Porter stops by to discuss how much of a masterpiece the 1994 hit comedy Dumb & Dumber actually is.Has the humor aged well, and what does it even mean for humor to "age"? Why is the snowball scene the most cinematic moment in a comedy ever? Is Jim Carrey's character a sociopath? Is Jeff Daniels' character actually a little more (relatively) mature? Is Jim Carrey a sociopath?And DIARRHEA!Follow BradChad on Instagram and Letterboxd!Nick on InstagramNick on LetterboxdElusive | Official WebsiteElusive | Stream Free on TubiElusive | Rent/Buy on Prime Video
The Blair Witch Project with Adam Hampton
Send a textIn October of 2024 two dipshits disappeared in the woods near Shawnee, Oklahoma, while recording a podcast...A week later their episode was found.Nick on InstagramNick on LetterboxdElusive | Official WebsiteElusive | Stream Free on TubiElusive | Rent/Buy on Prime Video
M. Night Shyamalan's Six Best Scares with the How I Met Your Monster Crew
Send a textM. Night Shyamalan is a normal director who everyone has normal opinions about, and when the man wants to, he can really construct a moment that makes you shit your pants. But what are his best six scares, and in what order? The American people demand to know.Luckily, the crew from the How I Met Your Monster podcast - Danny Salemme, Casey Brewer, and Zach Wincik - stop by to help put the list together. And this isn't some boring everyone throw out your personal favorites list bullshit. No, the American people deserve better, and they get better, because everyone must come to a consensus on what the ranking of Shyamalan's six best scares are. Things get spicy as debates are had over what's a scarier film overall - The Sixth Sense or Signs. What scare from The Village seems distinct enough like it could wind up on this list? Do any scary moments from more recent films like The Visit or Old wind up here, or is the past where the true gold lies? Is George Bush an alien?The only way to find out is to find out, so get spooky and listen now!Follow Danny on Instagram and Letterboxd and check out his official website!Follow Zach on Instagram!Follow Casey on Instagram!Follow How I Met Your Monster on Instagram!Nick on InstagramNick on LetterboxdElusive | Official WebsiteElusive | Stream Free on TubiElusive | Rent/Buy on Prime Video
Young Frankenstein Scares Ernest Stupid with Andrew McDonald
Send a textAndrew McDonald (andrewww.mp4!) helps celebrate spooky season by stopping by to talk about Mel Brooks' minor classic Young Frankenstein and the vastly superior Ernest Scared Stupid!What do these movies have in common? How are they different? How is the character of Ernest P. Worrell a little like Donald Trump? Did Ernest Scared Stupid go too far with its scariness, or are kids movies these days too soft?Follow Andrew on Letterboxd and Instagram, stupid!Nick on InstagramNick on LetterboxdElusive | Official WebsiteElusive | Stream Free on TubiElusive | Rent/Buy on Prime Video
Universal Monsters with Keegan Parrish
Send a textKeegan Parrish (Monsterful Media) stops by to talk the "big eight" Universal Monster movies --DraculaFrankensteinThe Invisible ManThe MummyBride of FrankensteinThe Wolf ManPhantom of the OperaCreature From the Black Lagoon-- to dissect how they hold up scare-wise compared to each other, ruminate on how they show us how cinema has changed in the near century since they first hit screens, and celebrate their very existence. Some are better than others, and there's at least two and a half full on masterpieces in here, but we're glad they were made and that we have them forever. Thanks, Universal.Buy Bryan D. Dietrich's Universal Monsters!Follow Keegan on Instagram and Letterboxd!Nick on InstagramNick on LetterboxdElusive | Official WebsiteElusive | Stream Free on TubiElusive | Rent/Buy on Prime Video
The Unholy Trinity - Psycho, The Texas Chain Saw Massacre, and Halloween with Raygun Busch
Send a textSpooky season rolls right along with the Unholy Trinity - Alfred Hitchcock's Psycho, Tobe Hooper's The Texas Chain Saw Massacre, and John Carpenter's Halloween!Raygun Busch (frontman of Chat Pile!) stops by to dive into three stabbing movies that are all in conversation with each other.Psycho hit theaters in 1960, scaring the shit out of audiences across America, suggesting that maybe the kids were not all right. A decade and a half later come the children of Psycho, The Texas Chain Saw Massacre and Halloween, on a different side of American history, taking what Hitchcock had done and expanding upon it in their own ways.What are the differences between the three films and their makers, and what do they have in common? Which one's the best? Which is the scariest? How are different films frightening in different ways?And...is it okay to admit that Psycho is Alfred Hitchcock's best movie? These two guys seem to think so.Follow Raygun on Letterboxd and Instagram!Buy Chat Pile's Cool World!Nick on InstagramNick on LetterboxdElusive | Official WebsiteElusive | Stream Free on TubiElusive | Rent/Buy on Prime Video
George A. Romero's Dead Trilogy with Dalton Stuart and Luther Manhole
Send a textZombie freaks! We're kicking off spooky season right by talking about George A. Romero's first three zombie motion pictures - Night of the Living Dead, Dawn of the Dead, and Day of the Dead!Dalton Stuart (GoodTrash Media!) and Luther Manhole (guitarist for Chat Pile!) stop by to compare and contrast the first three Romero films, dive into the social issues, sick gore effects, DIY filmmaking, and much, much more!Further learning!Where Zombies Come FromNight of the Living Dead - Horrors of CopyrightBuy Chat Pile's Cool World!Follow Luther on Letterboxd and Instagram!Follow Dalton on Letterboxd and Instagram!Nick on InstagramNick on LetterboxdElusive | Official WebsiteElusive | Stream Free on TubiElusive | Rent/Buy on Prime Video
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The Searchers and Rio Bravo
Send a textThe Sandman flies solo this episode. It's late at night, he's sleepy, and he simply must tell you about two great westerns he watched back to back: John Ford's The Searchers and Howard Hawks' Rio Bravo!But what makes these two John Wayne starring classics great? How are they different and sort of similar? One is a definitive Dudes Suck movie and the other is one of the first Dudes Rock movies.AND FURTHER IMPORTANT QUESTIONS ARE ASKED, SUCH AS: Why are westerns so inherently lonely? What does a halfway healthy dude relationship look like? Vera Miles? (spoiler alert, the answer to that last one is a resounding yes)So saddle up and listen to one sleepy, unqualified man try to make sense of the two classic westerns he crammed in one day!Nick on InstagramNick on LetterboxdElusive | Official WebsiteElusive | Stream Free on TubiElusive | Rent/Buy on Prime Video
Megalopolis with Dalton Stuart
Send a textOKC's bad boy/cool uncle/resident little stinker Dalton Stuart (GoodTrash Media) stops by to talk about Francis Ford Coppola's normal new movie Megalopolis! And since Lionsgate had that whole marketing snafu based around "Hey guys, don't judge this thing too quickly," we recorded this in the car of the theater parking lot immediately after walking out! We're that committed to the bit!Important things are discussed such as begrudgingly admitting Shia LaBeouf might give the best performance of the movie? Also, Coppola's ambitions are clearly admirable, but has he turned into an out of touch old guy who's been rich for too long? This is sort of the end of the movie brats era in many ways, so where does cinema go from here? Should we be sad or hopeful?And stupid recording-in-a-parking-lot-to-stick-it-to-Lionsgate bit aside, what is the actual value of talking about movies?Follow Dalton on Instagram and Letterboxd!Nick on InstagramNick on LetterboxdElusive | Official WebsiteElusive | Stream Free on TubiElusive | Rent/Buy on Prime Video
Steven Spielberg's Ten Best Set Pieces with Keegan Parrish
Send a textSteven Spielberg is one of the most ubiquitous filmmakers to ever emerge out of Hollywood, and he changed the game forever because he's just so damn good at what he does. And one of the things he does best are set pieces, when Papa Steve really gets to flex his muscles and make a meal out of an important moment, such as the introduction of the T-rex in Jurassic Park, or the intersection sequence in War of the Worlds.But what are his best ten? And in what order would they be ranked?And who would be stupid enough to try and rank them?Nick Sanford and Keegan Parrish, of course! Two Spielberg nerds who bonded over a decade ago at film school over their shared love of Papa Steve (gross, what a cliche) sit down and must hash out and come to a consensus on what The Beard's best set pieces are, and there are more than a few disagreements!The films discussed and pulled from are:JawsClose Encounters of the Third Kind1941Raiders of the Lost ArkE.T.: The Extra-TerrestrialIndiana Jones and the Temple of DoomIndiana Jones and the Last CrusadeJurassic ParkSchindler's ListThe Lost World: Jurassic ParkSaving Private RyanAI: Artificial IntelligenceMinority ReportCatch Me If You CanWar of the WorldsMunichIndiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal SkullThe Adventures of Tin TinWar HorseMore than ten movies, all filled with great set pieces. But there can be only ten. This was harder to do than you'd think. But it's important work that the American people demanded.Follow Keegan on Letterboxd, Instagram, and check out his Monsterful Media channel!Videos that give fun context!See With Your Ears: Spielberg and Sound DesignThe Spielberg Oner(and in the podcast itself we discuss The Nerdwriter's video over the Omaha Beach sequence in Saving Private Ryan and how we'll put a link to it in the show notes; well, it seems to have disappeared entirely from The Nerdwriter's channel, possibly due to YouTube's new bullshit whatever rules)Nick on InstagramNick on LetterboxdElusive | Official WebsiteElusive | Stream Free on TubiElusive | Rent/Buy on Prime Video
Friday the 13th with Raygun Busch
Send a textRaygun Busch, frontman of Chat Pile and lover of all things Jason Voorhees, stops by to celebrate and interrogate the Friday the 13th franchise and tell the world and God WHY IT RULES.Sean S. Cunningham's Friday the 13th doesn't exist without John Carpenter's Halloween, but what did the saga of Jason Voorhees and his vengeful mother actually help codify for mainstream audiences in a way no other slasher had at that point?Raygun delves into the behind the scenes history of the franchise and bares all about why the original Friday the 13th may be his favorite movie ever. The different director's are discussed, with Sandy trying to make the case for why Steve Miner should be canonized as a great director, while Mr. Busch has a bone to pick with Jason Lives director Tom McLoughlin for disrespecting the mythology.Also, is the Michael Bay produced 2009 remake actually a worthy film in the franchise?And this barely scratches the surface of what all these nerds dive into and talk about. Shit gets kooky, so pitch your tent and get ready for a deep dive into one of the totemic slasher franchises.Follow Raygun on Instagram and Letterboxd, stupid!Nick on InstagramNick on LetterboxdElusive | Official WebsiteElusive | Stream Free on TubiElusive | Rent/Buy on Prime Video
The Eastrail 177 Trilogy with Matthew Price
Send a textSuperhero summer comes to an end with M. Night Shyamalan's Eastrail 177 trilogy - Unbreakable, Split, and Glass, the very normal trilogy that had very normal audience reactions!And who better to dive into Shyamalan's attempt to deconstruct superhero mythology than with actual comic book shop owner (Speeding Bullet Comics in Norman, Oklahoma!) Matthew Price?The origins of the contemporary superhero are laid out, such as vigilantism's racist roots and Fredrich Nietzsche's ubermench's Hitler/Nazi hijacking being repurposed and repackaged by Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster in Action Comics #1, as well as the comics boom of the 80s and 90s, and one comic shop owner's perspective on how lovely the empathy that reading inspires can be.Also discussed are the pros and cons of the comics and film mediums, and the individual strengths of both.And then, WE GET INTO IT. What was M. Night Shyamalan actually trying to explore with this trilogy? How much does Unbreakable have in common with Spider-Man 2 with regards to middle-aged impotence? Why does it sound like Sanford's trying to justify the cannibalism in Split? Matthew Price saw Glass for the first time about twelve hours before recording this, and boy does he have some questions.And just what sort of philosophy or messaging does this trilogy land with by the end of Glass? Is it a nightmarish vision of a lack of agency and not being able to see your place in the world? Is it an uplifting and hopeful love letter to the interconnectedness of humanity? Is it neither and both? Some truly wild stuff!Follow Matthew Price on Substack and Instagram!Watch these videos for more learning and context!Not Just About Superheroes - The Hidden Metaphor In GlassM. Night Shyamalan 2018 Drexel Commencement SpeechHow Marvelman Changed SuperheroesLogan: Superhero Movies Get OldMaus: How To Design A Comic Book PageNick on InstagramNick on LetterboxdElusive | Official WebsiteElusive | Stream Free on TubiElusive | Rent/Buy on Prime Video
The Cinema of The Avengers with Caleb Masters and Dalton Stuart
Send a textPodcast listeners, assem--*falls down an elevator shaft*Superhero summer nears its end with its penultimate episode, looking at the legacy of the mega-blockbuster Avengers films.Caleb Masters (The Cinemetropolis) makes his debut on this very podcast, alongside Dalton Stuart (GoodTrash Media) who makes his fifth appearance and is newly-anointed as Death By Movies' Resident Little Stinker, a very serious responsibility, and they join Stupid Sandy to discuss how the Avengers movies hold up half a decade later as movies, what the experimental form of the MCU did for mainstream serialized storytelling and media literacy, and wondering if the MCU might jerk off militaristic thinking a little too much?It gets super weird and kooky! So snap your fingers together (or press play) and see if these movies are just light fun or if society is doomed!Follow Caleb on Instagram and Letterboxd, stupid!Follow Dalton on Instagram and Letterboxd, stupid!Further learning:What's Next For Superhero MoviesThe Marvel Symphonic UniverseThe Avengers - Defining an ActNick on InstagramNick on LetterboxdElusive | Official WebsiteElusive | Stream Free on TubiElusive | Rent/Buy on Prime Video
The Cinema of Spider-Man with Andrew McDonald
Send a textAndrew McDonald (fixer of Madame Web!) swings by to visit the podcast he helped build to keep our superhero summer rolling along by talking about our friendly neighborhood Spider-Movies!We deep-dive into all ten theatrically released films dealing with The Human Spider, starting with Sam Raimi's 2002 paradigm-shifting Spider-Man all the way through 2023's paradigm-shifting Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse, answering important questions like:Does Spider-Man 3 really need to be fixed? Are the two Amazing Spider-Man movies abominations that must be thrown into the sun? Do the MCU/Tom Holland-verse movies focus too much on Iron Man and nostalgia for other Spider-Men? What do Into the Spider-Verse and Across the Spider-Verse do to explore the fundamental ideas of what makes a Spider-Man, and how do they push the boundaries of mainstream animation?And there are even a few atrocities committed, such as Sanford comparing the stories of the first Spider-Man to puberty and Spider-Man 2 to a mid-life crisis filled with impotence and frustration, and he just keeps going and everyone gets uncomfortable.Like, god, stop.And finally, we try to break down the various wants and desires of each iteration of Peter Parker (and beyond!) such as his romantic interests and commitment to responsibility and how those relate or kick against the movies around them, as well as the magic that the normal person Danny Elfman brought to the cinematic legacy.Strap in, because this shit gets kooky!Baked In A Buttery Flaky CrustFollow Andrew on Instagram and Letterboxd, stupid!Further learning:The Horror Short Film in Spider-Man 2Nick on InstagramNick on LetterboxdElusive | Official WebsiteElusive | Stream Free on TubiElusive | Rent/Buy on Prime Video
The Cinema of Batman with BradChad Porter
Send a textBat-freaks! An extra-stuffed episode awaits you as legendary comedian BradChad Porter grapple-guns by to try and unpack why Batman seems tailor made for the big screen!Important questions are raised, such as: what does Batman have in common with Zorro and Davy Crockett? Has any actor had as much fun as Jack Nicholson did while making Tim Burton's Batman? Why does the character seem to thrive so much on reinterpretation? What made Batman Begins feel so revolutionary? Is Batman Forever actually kind of a secret masterpiece?BradChad shares why he thinks animation is "cinema perfected," mass shootings and real-life violence in relation to Batman's ever-moving stature in culture are unpacked, and Will Arnett is given his rightful due in the Bat-canon.It gets personal and kooky, sometimes all at once, so settle in with some popcorn WINK WINK.Find BradChad on Letterboxd and Instagram, stupid!Further learning:The Problem With DC Action ScenesThe Evolution of Batman's Gotham CityThe Dark Knight - Creating the Ultimate AntagonistWhy The Batman's Sound Is DifferentWhy Vigilantes Can't Deliver Meaningful JusticeNick on InstagramNick on LetterboxdElusive | Official WebsiteElusive | Stream Free on TubiElusive | Rent/Buy on Prime Video
The Cinema of Superman with Adam Hampton
Send a textSuperman's arrival was the apotheosis of the contemporary comic book superhero, the character all superheroes after were measured against or reacting to.Yet for the character's massive pop cultural footprint across the decades, his cinematic legacy has been largely wonky at best and divisive at worst. What is it about the design of the character that makes him so tricky to adapt in the film medium?Actor, filmmaker, and fellow Superman nerd Adam Hampton (Play It Loud and Out of Exile) stops by to help dissect the live-action Superman movies and ruminate on the importance of the character and why he means so much to so many.Important questions are asked, such as: why does it not matter that Christopher Reeve isn't super jacked? What exactly the hell is going on with Lois Lane's son in Superman Returns? What does, despite its flaws, Man of Steel "get right," and what even is "getting it right" with this particular character?And looking ahead, what are our hopes and fears for James Gunn's take on Superman, starring David Corenswet and Rachel Brosnahan?Follow Adam Hampton on Instagram!Further learning:Superman 2: What Happens When You Change Directors Mid-MovieBatman v Superman: The Fundamental FlawNick on InstagramNick on LetterboxdElusive | Official WebsiteElusive | Stream Free on TubiElusive | Rent/Buy on Prime Video
The Jaws Sequels with Marnie Vinge
Send a textJaws is one of the most effective and consequential motion pictures in this history of the medium, and an absolute staple around Fourth of July, so naturally we're giving the people what they want by devoting time to unpacking Jaws' three widely dismissed and maligned sequels - Jaws 2, Jaws 3-D, and Jaws: The Revenge. Marnie Vinge (Eerie Okie Podcast and author of I Remember Everything and Cold Blood) stops by to help try and give The Jaws Sequels their due and see what value can be found in them. What deleted scene from Jaws 2 is one of the most moving moments in the entire franchise? What's Dennis Quaid got on his nose in Jaws 3-D? And would Jaws: The Revenge have been better if they could've been more like another certain long running holiday-based horror franchise?Then, Marnie and Nick dig into their personal five favorite Non-Fourth of July Fourth of July movies - movies that aren't specifically set around Independence Day but are still solid viewing around the holiday anyway!Order Marnie Vinge's books here and find her on Instagram!Nick on InstagramNick on LetterboxdElusive | Official WebsiteElusive | Stream Free on TubiElusive | Rent/Buy on Prime Video
The 1999 Movie Hall of Fame
Send a text1999 is regarded as one of the most consequential Hollywood movie years ever - bold films about identity and perception that play with the cinematic form (The Matrix, Being John Malkovich, The Sixth Sense, just to name a few), and many from major studios connecting broadly with audiences. What a time! But a quarter century later, which major releases still hold up and admirably define the year, which get close, and which have aged like milk?Frightful Femme Kirsten Therkelson and Good Trash Media's Dalton Stuart stop by to look back on a formative year with Dick Sanford - but wait...they've been tasked by the U.S. government to build a MOVIE HALL OF FAME for 1999, or else there will be serious geopolitical consequences! These three podcasters must bravely become arbiters of culture and decide together on the NINE best or most culturally representative films of 1999 in order to save the world! The stakes have never been higher!There are over thirty films to choose from! How will they ever do it and come out with their sanity intact?!The Hall of Fame ShortlistStar Wars: Episode I - The Phantom MenaceAustin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged MeThe MummyAmerican BeautyWild Wild WestAmerican PieDeep Blue SeaJawbreakerGalaxy QuestBowfinger The Blair Witch ProjectThree KingsEyes Wide ShutThe Green MileCruel Intentions Toy Story 2 The Sixth SenseGirl, InterruptedThe Talented Mr. Ripley 10 Things I Hate About YouFight ClubMan on the MoonLake PlacidThe InsiderThe Iron GiantBeing John MalkovichMagnoliaBringing Out the Dead Big DaddyElection Boys Don’t Cry Office SpaceThe Straight StoryThe MatrixFollow Kirsten on Instagram and Letterboxd, stupid!Follow Dalton on Instagram and Letterboxd, stupid!Nick on InstagramNick on LetterboxdElusive | Official WebsiteElusive | Stream Free on TubiElusive | Rent/Buy on Prime Video
Furiosa with James Oster
Send a textJames Oster (Jimmy O from JoBlo.com!) stops by on his spiky dirt bike thing and we ride away from the Podcast of Inaccessibility and across the wastelands of Internet movie discourse to talk George Miller's Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga, and have a wide-ranging conversation of topics including:How does Anya Taylor-Joy follow in the footsteps of movie stars like Lauren Bacall and Marlene Dietrich? Is Furiosa some sort of bizarrely beautiful hybrid of The Wizard of Oz and For A Few Dollars More? How much does Chris Hemsworth rule as a villain? And what does the perceived box office failure of Furiosa mean for the moviegoing landscape in general - and is it even the movie's fault?Find James Oster on Instagram!Nick on InstagramNick on LetterboxdElusive | Official WebsiteElusive | Stream Free on TubiElusive | Rent/Buy on Prime Video
The Shining with Marlena Williams
Send a textMarlena Williams (author of Night Mother: A Personal and Cultural History of The Exorcist) shines in from across the country to talk about Stanley Kubrick's The Shining!Are the conspiracy theories about the ghastly Overlook saga overblown, or is there any truth to them? Was Stanley Kubrick actually a cinematic puzzle maker, or was he actually more of a "vibes" guy? What's the value of how "boring" the opening of the film is? Was The Shining kind of the first A24 horror film? Did The Shining kind of break film discourse and culture? How do the differences in Shelley Duvall and Jack Nicholson’s acting styles make the film unique? What does the Tippi Hedren film Roar (you know, the movie where tigers and lions are mauling the cast and crew on film) have to do with any of this bullshit?All these topics and so many more are delved into, so hang your weird naked lady artwork on the wall and strap in for a conversation about one of the wildest and most totemic horror films in modern Hollywood history!Buy and read Night Mother: A Personal and Cultural History of The Exorcist from Amazon or The Ohio State University Press today!Find Marlena on Instagram and Letterboxd!Nick on InstagramNick on LetterboxdElusive | Official WebsiteElusive | Stream Free on TubiElusive | Rent/Buy on Prime Video
Skinamarink with David McEntire
Send a textHow much sense does it make to try and recall Skinamarink a year and a half after seeing it? Is it truly a cursed film with the power to leave long lasting psychological scars or are these two grown-ass men just being little babies about it? What does it mean that filmmaking is entering a phase where filmmakers can now replicate and redesign basically any aesthetic from history?David McEntire and Nick Sanford sit down (in this house) to try and answer all these questions and more!Some of the videos we talk about in this episode:Why The Ring Didn't Use Color GradingMandy: The Art of Film GrainAtemporality: Our Relationship To History Has ChangedCheck out David's Instagram, stupid!Nick on InstagramNick on LetterboxdElusive | Official WebsiteElusive | Stream Free on TubiElusive | Rent/Buy on Prime Video
96th Academy Awards of the 2024 Oscars About Films From 2023 Telecast wait what
Send a textAfter watching the 96th Academy Awards, Sanford flies solo to ruminate on and pontificate about one single question: are the Academy Awards a laughable and out of touch circle jerk or is there value to be found in one of Hollywood's oldest institutions?Nick on InstagramNick on LetterboxdElusive | Official WebsiteElusive | Stream Free on TubiElusive | Rent/Buy on Prime Video
Dune: Part Two - Inherent Spice
Send a textThe takes must flow!Actor/comedian Alex Sanchez (The Praisedown) and Dalton Stuart (GoodTrash GenreCast) stop by to talk about Denis Villeneuve's epic sci-fi film Dune: Part 2 with Nick Sanford, and shit gets WEIRD astonishingly quickly.What's the value of enjoying spectacle that gets real dark? Did this adaptation sand off too many edges from Frank Herbert's text, or is it great just the way it is? Did Alex Sanchez really cry at Hot Tub Time Machine? Is Zendaya or Rebecca Ferguson the true MVP of the movie? Okay, for real, what's the deal with Sanchez and Hot Tub Time Machine?Also discussed is where the series could go from here: how do they continue this film series with the text of Dune: Messiah, and where do things like Children of Dune and God Emperor fit into the increasingly bizarre mythology?It's an incredibly normal conversation about incredibly normal things!Find Alex Sanchez on Instagram!Find Dalton Stuart on Instagram and Letterboxd!Nick on InstagramNick on LetterboxdElusive | Official WebsiteElusive | Stream Free on TubiElusive | Rent/Buy on Prime Video
Sometimes I Think About Dying
Send a textNick Sanford flies solo to tell you why you should watch Rachel Lambert's Sometimes I Think About Dying, the new film starring Daisy Ridley from those space trek movies, by any means possible, be it at your local arthouse theater or renting it at home.This film and podcast episode deal peripherally with death and suicide ideation. If you’re thinking about suicide, are worried about a friend or loved one, or would like emotional support, the 988 Lifeline network is available 24/7 across the United States. Click here for more information.Nick on InstagramNick on LetterboxdElusive | Official WebsiteElusive | Stream Free on TubiElusive | Rent/Buy on Prime Video
Febru-scary Movie Draft!
Send a textScary movies aren't just for October. They can also be appreciated during the coldest month of the year - February! The Silence of the Lambs kicked off a Hollywood trend of releasing high powered horror films in the month of February, and Nick Sanford is joined by two distinguished guests - Keegan Parrish (Monsterful Media) and Dalton Stuart (GoodTrash GenreCast) - to draft and rank our favorite cold-month spooky movies from five weird categories! But films can only be drafted once, and there's a lot of good movies here we like, so how competitive will it get?Sequel/Remake/RebootScream 3HannibalFriday the 13th (2009)The Wolfman (2010)The Invisible Man (2020)The CraziesThe Woman in BlackBrahms: The Boy IIFinal Destination 3RingsThe Eye (2008)When A Stranger CallsThe VanishingFantasy IslandArmy of DarknessCertified FreshGet OutThe Invisible Man (2020)The Silence of the LambsThe WitchAnnihilationWarm BodiesBlockbusterGet OutFriday the 13th (2009)The Wolfman (2010)Shutter IslandHannibalThe Silence of the LambsCocaine BearScream 3The Invisible Man (2020)January Sloppy SecondsBrahms: The Boy IIBoogeyman (2005)Cursed (2005)When A Stranger CallsThe MessengersRingsFantasy IslandThe Lazarus EffectValentine (2001)Dark SkiesLisa FrankensteinPitch BlackWild CardIn The Mouth of MadnessQueen of the DamnedLisa FrankensteinThe Cursed (2022)Knock at the CabinThe Number 238mmThe VanishingKeegan Parish is on Instagram and Letterboxd! And Dalton Stuart is also on Instagram and Letterboxd!Nick on InstagramNick on LetterboxdElusive | Official WebsiteElusive | Stream Free on TubiElusive | Rent/Buy on Prime Video
The Exorcist
Send a textThe Exorcist shocked audiences upon its initial release 50 years ago, but why and how? What made William Peter Blatty and William Friedkin the perfect dudes at the perfect time to bring this film to life? Is there a way to reverse-engineer the filmmaking of The Exorcist to find out why it was able to cast such a spell on moviegoers? Is that a worthy endeavor, or something only an idiot would try? If your answer is "yes" to either half of that last sentence, this is the podcast for you!Nick on InstagramNick on LetterboxdElusive | Official WebsiteElusive | Stream Free on TubiElusive | Rent/Buy on Prime Video
Godzilla Minus One & The Nuclear Nightmarathon with Keegan Parrish
Send a textGodzilla Minus One sure is a good movie! What does it have in common with early Steven Spielberg blockbusters? Why is Godzilla such an enduring character? How do we fix Roland Emmerich's 1998 attempt at Godzilla? Keegan Parrish (Monsterful Media) stops by to talk the latest big lizard cinematic achievement as well as the history of the franchise. We also dive into Nick's "nuclear nightmarathon," where he watched too many nuclear related movies in a row to set the stage for Godzilla Minus One, including Fail Safe, Dr. Strangelove, and White Light/Black Rain: The Destruction of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.Watch The Silent Witness: A Survivor's Story of Hiroshima.Nick on InstagramNick on LetterboxdElusive | Official WebsiteElusive | Stream Free on TubiElusive | Rent/Buy on Prime Video
Film Culture & Discourse with Dalton Stuart
Send a textHas Rotten Tomatoes ruined two decades worth of film discourse and reappraisal? Is Letterboxd the angel descended from movie heaven to save us all? How much do memes affect box office, and Jesus Christ how did we get here to even have to ask that question?Dalton Stuart (co-host of GoodTrash GenreCast) and Nick Sanford hash out all of the above and plenty more, diving into the history of film criticism, contemporary toxic fandoms, and hypothesize about where film culture is and can optimistically go from here! But don't expect them to have all the answers or fix everything themselves!Follow Dalton on Instagram and Letterboxd, stupid!Nick on InstagramNick on LetterboxdElusive | Official WebsiteElusive | Stream Free on TubiElusive | Rent/Buy on Prime Video
Smokey and the Bandit
Send a textIs it scientifically possible to become pregnant by looking at Burt Reynolds' mustache?Nick on InstagramNick on LetterboxdElusive | Official WebsiteElusive | Stream Free on TubiElusive | Rent/Buy on Prime Video
Barbie World, Destroyer of Deaths
Send a textIs Margot Robbie the perfect movie star? What sets Barbie’s approach to meta storytelling apart from other recent examples? What eye-rolling mental gymnastics can be used to connect Barbie to the 2019 film Joker?If you love Barbie, this podcast is for you. If you hate Barbie, this podcast is for you.Nick on InstagramNick on LetterboxdElusive | Official WebsiteElusive | Stream Free on TubiElusive | Rent/Buy on Prime Video
Comfort Movies
Send a textIs there a science or psychology to the way we choose comfort movies, or are we insane and overthinking this? Is Titanic our generation's Star Wars? Why does Regal Cinemas?Nick on InstagramNick on LetterboxdElusive | Official WebsiteElusive | Stream Free on TubiElusive | Rent/Buy on Prime Video
Oppenheimer or: How I Learned To Stop Worrying And Love Security Clearance Scenes
Send a textDoes the non-linear structure help or hurt this film’s impact? What makes the Trinity test sequence feel so real and scary? Is Tom Conti the most important actor to ever happen in this history of the world?So put on your protective welder’s goggles and strap in, as we dig into all this and more, including the decision to not directly show the aftermath of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Oppenheimer’s moral convictions, and Nolan’s first foray into onscreen baby-making.Nick on InstagramNick on LetterboxdElusive | Official WebsiteElusive | Stream Free on TubiElusive | Rent/Buy on Prime Video
Mission: Impossible (all of them, but mostly Dead Reckoning)
Send a textCan the "auteur theory" apply to actors like Tom Cruise? Is Rogue Nation the best of the franchise? Can an entire franchise be fairly covered in a single podcast episode? Was 1996 the best year to be John Travolta? Let's dive in (to the water server thing) and find out together!(Spoilers for all the M:I movies!)Nick on InstagramNick on LetterboxdElusive | Official WebsiteElusive | Stream Free on TubiElusive | Rent/Buy on Prime Video