Mise en Screen
Each episode Ben Verschoor and Steven Santana will talk about a contemporary release and then two related repertory screenings. The relation can be as thin as possible or explicitly obvious.
info_outline
Episode 27: Is This Thing On?
01/15/2026
Episode 27: Is This Thing On?
Is This Thing On? is a 2025 comedy-drama directed by Bradley Cooper, written by Cooper, Will Arnett, and Mark Chappell, starring Will Arnett and Laura Dern as Alex and Tess Novak, a couple whose marriage is on the rocks, leading Alex to discover stand-up as a way of processing it. They are joined by Bradley Cooper himself as Alex’s best friend Balls, Andra Day as Balls’ wife Christine, Christine Ebersole and Ciaran Hinds as Alex’s parents, Jordan Jensen as Jill, one of the comics Alex befriends; and Blake Kane and Calvin Knegton as Alex and Tess’s twin sons Felix and Jude. Time Stamps: (04:45) Top Five (25:32) The King of Comedy (41:29) Is This Thing On? (1:15:15) Spoilers (1:47:04) Next Time: No Other Choice Works Cited: (Tim Brayton, 2018) American Sniper (Clint Eastwood, 2014) Aftersun (Charlotte Wells, 2022) Emancipation (Antoine Fuqua, 2022) Is This Thing On? (Bradley Cooper, 2025) The King of Comedy (Martin Scorsese, 1982) (Jordan Hoffman, 2023) Maestro (Bradley Cooper, 2023) Materialists (Celine Song, 2025) (Nathaniel Missildine, 2022) No Other Choice (Park Chan-wook, 2025) Orange Is the New Black (Jinji Kohan, 2013) Top Five (Chris Rock, 2014) (Sean O’Neal, 2013) [Ben here: the headline I spoke of was actually the top-rated comment of this article, but the A.V. Club’s several changes in commenting services over the years have resulted in its being scattered to the four winds. I don’t know who the commenter was, but the exact quote was, “He refused to get djiggy with it.”] Email us at ! Find us elsewhere! Ben Verschoor @benverschoor.bsky.social Steven Santana @number8axel.bsky.social Opening music is "Root Beer Rag" by Billy Joel Closing music is "G-Spot Tornado" by Frank Zappa Subscribe, rate and review us! Apple Podcasts: Spotify Podcasts: Player.fm: Podcast Addict:
/episode/index/show/15085724-3abd-4e04-addd-3cd45e55501d/id/39735350
info_outline
Episode 26: Song Sung Blue
01/08/2026
Episode 26: Song Sung Blue
Song Sung Blue is a biographical film about the married musical artist duo Lightning and Thunder, Mike and Claire Sardina, a Neil Diamond tribute act, though they refer to it as “interpretation,” while navigating the ups and downs of their regular lives. It is based on a 2008 documentary of the same name by Greg Kohs. Also starring Michael Imperioli as Mark Shurilla, a Buddy Holly impersonator; Ella Anderson as Rachel Cartwright, Claire’s daughter; King Princess as Angelina Sardina, Mike’s daughter; Fisher Stevens as Dave Watson, Mike’s dentist and manager; Jim Belushi as Tom D’Amato, another manager with connections to the local casinos and night life spots; and Mustafa Shakir as Sex Machine, a James Brown impersonator. Time Stamps: (01:02) Saving Silverman (15:56) Tribute (30:03) Amadeus (44:57) Song Sung Blue (1:19:43) Spoilers (1:28:57) Next Time: Is This Thing On? Works Cited: Amadeus (1984, Milos Forman) (2024, Tom Joudrey for the BBC) An Incredible Simulation (Jeff Economy, Darren Hacker, 2000) , , , , (Tim Merrill, 2004) (2016, Michael Simkins for The Guardian)Saving Silverman (2001, Dennis Dugan) (2025, Lauren Huff for EW) (2025, Gerrad Hall for EW) Song Sung Blue (2025, Craig Brewer) available for free to watch on YouTube (2008, Greg Kohs) available for free to watch on YouTube (2001, Kris Curry & Rich Fox) Tributary: A Study of an American Pop Culture Subculture (2002, Russ Forster) () Email us at ! Find us elsewhere! Ben Verschoor @benverschoor.bsky.social Steven Santana @number8axel.bsky.social Opening music is "Root Beer Rag" by Billy Joel Closing music is "G-Spot Tornado" by Frank Zappa Subscribe, rate and review us! Apple Podcasts: Spotify Podcasts: Player.fm: Podcast Addict:
/episode/index/show/15085724-3abd-4e04-addd-3cd45e55501d/id/39655825
info_outline
Episode 25: Marty Supreme
01/02/2026
Episode 25: Marty Supreme
Marty Supreme is a 2025 sports comedy-drama film directed, written, produced, and edited by Josh Safdie, with Ronald Bronstein co-writer, co-producer- and co-editor. In this film we follow Marty Mauser, an aspiring table tennis player who seeks to become the world champion of the sport while simultaneously outrunning the consequences of his various scams, affairs, prideful boasts, and collectors. Co-starring Odessa A’zion as Rachel Mizler, his paramour, Gwyneth Paltrow as Kay Stone, a formerly famous actress who Marty pursues, Kevin O’Leary as Milton Rockwell, a wealthy businessman and Kay’s husband, Tyler Okonma (Tyler the Creator) as Marty’s friend Wally who also plays table tennis, Abel Ferrara as a shady character with a dog named Moses, Fran Drescher as Marty’s mother Rebecca, and Geza Rohrig as Bela Kletzki and Koto Kawaguchi as Koto Endo, two other table tennis champions. Time Stamps: (00:55) Marty Supreme (56:03) Spoilers (1:28:57) Next Time: Song Sung Blue Works Cited: (Ethan Shanfield, 2024) by Sam Bodrojan (Armond White, 2025) (Miles Surrey, 2025) Email us at ! Find us elsewhere! Ben Verschoor @benverschoor.bsky.social Steven Santana @number8axel.bsky.social Opening music is "Root Beer Rag" by Billy Joel Closing music is "G-Spot Tornado" by Frank Zappa Subscribe, rate and review us! Apple Podcasts: Spotify Podcasts: Player.fm: Podcast Addict:
/episode/index/show/15085724-3abd-4e04-addd-3cd45e55501d/id/39582110
info_outline
Episode 24: 2025 Catch Up
01/01/2026
Episode 24: 2025 Catch Up
In this episode we discuss a litany of films we watched to fill in the gaps of 2025 releases, full spoilers for all films discussed. Time Stamps: (5:49) Broken Church (19:36) Star Trek Section 31 (26:07) Avatar: Fire and Ash (33:21) Black Bag (38:28) Sovereign (43:31) Eephus (49:58) Train Dreams (56:41) The Phoenician Scheme (1:01:21) The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar (1:06:15) Ballad of a Small Player (1:09:49) The Mastermind (1:13:48) Presence (1:17:37) Weapons (1:22:17) Hag (1:28:24) Novocaine (1:32:42) Flight Risk (1:37:00) One of Them Days (1:42:53) Warfare (1:51:57) Caught by the Tides Works Cited: (Max Scoville, 2025) The Best of Times (Roger Spottiswoode, 1986) Bloody Nose, Empty Pockets (Turner Ross, Bill Ross IV, 2020) The Christmas Campaign (David DeCoteau, 2025) Crank (Mark Neveldine, Brian Taylor, 2006) Days of Heaven (Terrence Malick, 1978) Die Hard (John McTiernan, 1988) Elephant (Gus Van Sant, 2003) Goodbye Dragon Inn (Tsai Ming-Liang, 2003) Saving Christmas (Darren Doane, 2014) (Sam Wigley, 2022) Email us at ! Find us elsewhere! Ben Verschoor @benverschoor.bsky.social Steven Santana @number8axel.bsky.social Opening music is "Root Beer Rag" by Billy Joel Closing music is "G-Spot Tornado" by Frank Zappa Subscribe, rate and review us! Apple Podcasts: Spotify Podcasts: Player.fm: Podcast Addict:
/episode/index/show/15085724-3abd-4e04-addd-3cd45e55501d/id/39582045
info_outline
Episode 23: Wake Up Dead Man
12/18/2025
Episode 23: Wake Up Dead Man
Wake Up Dead Man is the latest Knives Out mystery film from writer-director Rian Johnson. In this film we find Father Jud Duplenticy (Joh O'Connor) under suspicion of the murder of Monsignor Jefferson Wicks (Joshj Brolin), stabbed in the back in a storage closet during his Good Friday service. The ensemble this time is played by Glenn Close as Martha, a lifelong servant of the church, Jeremy Renner as local physician Dr. Nat, Kerry Washington as attorney Vera, Andrew Scott as author-in-exile Lee, Cailee Spaeny as Simone, a disabled woman and the church’s biggest donor, Daryl McCormack as a failed politician heel, Thomas Haden Church as Samson the groundskeeper and Martha’s lover, and Mila Kunis as the local police chief. Daniel Craig stars once again as Benoit Blanc, a private detective who takes the case to prove Jud’s innocence. Time Stamps: (01:12) Exposed (24:32) The Third Man (40:25) The Gospel According to Saint Matthew (51:57) Wake Up Dead Man (1:25:27) Spoilers (2:04:21) Next Time: Marty Supreme & 2025 catch up Works Cited: (Emma Saunders, 2023) Breaking Bad (Vince Gilligan, 2008) Brick (Rian Johnson, 2005) (Tom Waits, 1999) Conclave (Edward Berger, 2024) Daughter of God (, 2016) (James Quandt, 2023) Exposed (Declan Dale, 2016) First Reformed (Paul Schrader, 2017) (2015) Glass Onion (Rian Johnson, 2022) The Gospel According to St. Matthew (Pier Paolo Pasolini, 1964) (Tim Brayton, 2009) (Malcolm Thomas, 2017) Hot Fuzz (Edgar Wright, 2007) (Jeff Otto, 2012) (James Kenny, 2023) (Mark Olsen, 2025) Knives Out (Rian Johnson, 2019) (Tyler Huckabee, 2025) Looper (Rian Johnson, 2012) Sherlock Holmes (Guy Ritchie, 2009) Silence (Martin Scorsese, 2016) Star Wars: The Last Jedi (Rian Johnson, 2017) Twisters (Lee Isaac Chung, 2024) The Third Man (Carol Reed, 1949) Wake Up Dead Man (Rian Johnson, 2025) Email us at ! Find us elsewhere! Ben Verschoor @benverschoor.bsky.social Steven Santana @number8axel.bsky.social Opening music is "Root Beer Rag" by Billy Joel Closing music is "G-Spot Tornado" by Frank Zappa Subscribe, rate and review us! Apple Podcasts: Spotify Podcasts: Player.fm: Podcast Addict:
/episode/index/show/15085724-3abd-4e04-addd-3cd45e55501d/id/39450110
info_outline
Episode 22: Kill Bill: The Whole Bloody Affair
12/11/2025
Episode 22: Kill Bill: The Whole Bloody Affair
Kill Bill The Whole Bloody Affair is a re-release of Kill Bill Volume 1 & 2 as one four hour thirty-five minute film with one 15 minute intermission. In this film we follow The Bride, played by Uma Thurman, who is pregnant and rehearsing for her wedding when her ex-lover Bill (David Carridine) arrives with the Deadly Viper Assassination Squad (Lucy Liu, Vivica A. Fox, Michael Madsen, Daryl Hannah) and kill her. She inexplicably lives through this, wakes up four years later, and begins taking her revenge on each member. Time Stamps: (00:56) A Karate Christmas Miracle (26:41) Mishima: A Life in Four Chapters (45:15) Kiss Daddy Goodnight (57:11) Kill Bill: The Whole Bloody Affair (1:40:18) Is Quentin Tarantino washed? (1:52:46) The Lost Chapter: Yuki’s Revenge (2:19:56) Next Time: Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery Works Cited: (Santa Esmeralda, 1977) (The 5.6.7.8s, 1996) A Karate Christmas Miracle (Julie Kimmel, 2019) Cat People (Paul Schrader, 1982) Dangerous Liaisons (Stephen Frears, 1988) (Associated Press, 2009) First Reformed (Paul Schrader, 2017) Johnny Be Good (Bud S. Smith, 1988) Joker’s Poltergeist (Christopher S. Lind, 2019) Kill Bill (Quentin Tarantino, 2003-2004, 2025) (Quentin Tarantino, 2003) (Matt Zoller Seitz, 2025) (Peter Ily Huemer, 1987) Mishima: A Life in Four Chapters (Paul Schrader, 1985) (Kevin Jackson, 2008) Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind (Hayao Miyazaki, 1984) Nymphomaniac (Lars von Trier, 2013) Oh, Canada (Paul Schrader, 2024) (Maureen Dowd, 2018) Pulp Fiction (Jordan Ruimy, 2025) (The Washington Post, 2018) Taxi Driver (Martin Scorsese, 1976) The Adventures of Baron Munchausen (Treey Gilliam, 1988) (Quentin Tarantino, 2025) (Katie Rife, 2018) Wake Up Dead Man (Rian Johnson, 2025) Email us at Miseenscreenpodcast@gmail.com! Find us elsewhere! Ben Verschoor @benverschoor.bsky.social Steven Santana @number8axel.bsky.social Opening music is "Root Beer Rag" by Billy Joel Closing music is "G-Spot Tornado" by Frank Zappa Subscribe, rate and review us! Apple Podcasts: Spotify Podcasts: Player.fm: Podcast Addict:
/episode/index/show/15085724-3abd-4e04-addd-3cd45e55501d/id/39365170
info_outline
Episode 21: Rental Family
12/05/2025
Episode 21: Rental Family
Rental Family is the latest feature film by Hikari, cowritten by herself and Stephen Blahut, starring Brendan Fraser as a struggling American actor living in Japan who stumbles into a job working for a rental family agency who hire out actors to play unconventional roles for clients such as hosting a funeral for a still living individual, staging a wedding, playing a father for a mother-daughter who are trying to get into an elite school, cheerleading for an older live performer, interviewing an aging and forgotten actor, and even just to play Dreamcast games split screen with a hikikomori shut in. Takehiro Hira, Mari Yamamoto, Shannon Mahina Gorman, and Akira Emoto star in supporting roles. Time Stamps: (03:49) 37 Seconds (20:57) Tokyo Pop (33:33) Rental Family (1:13:11) Spoilers (1:37:49) Next Time: Kill Bill The Whole Bloody Affair Works Cited: 37 Seconds (Hikari, 2019) Beef (2023) Family Romance, LLC (Werner Herzog, 2019) (Marya E. Gates, 2023) (Callie Beusman, 2025) (Chris Nashawaty, 2025) (David Ehrlich, 2025) (Siddhant Adlakha, 2025) Rent-a-Cat (Naoko Ogigami, 2012) Saving Face (Alice Wu, 2004) Synecdoche, NY (Charlie Kaufman, 2008) Tokyo Pop (Fran Rubel Kuzai, 1988) (Chris Person, 2023) Tokyo Vice (2022) Email us at Miseenscreenpodcast@gmail.com! Find us elsewhere! Ben Verschoor @benverschoor.bsky.social Steven Santana @number8axel.bsky.social Opening music is "Root Beer Rag" by Billy Joel Closing music is "G-Spot Tornado" by Frank Zappa Subscribe, rate and review us! Apple Podcasts: Spotify Podcasts: Player.fm: Podcast Addict:
/episode/index/show/15085724-3abd-4e04-addd-3cd45e55501d/id/39288550
info_outline
Episode 20: Angel's Egg
11/27/2025
Episode 20: Angel's Egg
Angel’s Egg is a 1985 Japanese animated OVA film written and directed by Mamoru Oshii, best known for his work directing the animated film Ghost in the Shell in 1995. This film follows two nameless characters, a young girl who carries an egg with her and a young man with a cross-shaped sword who joins her as they travel through a ruined empty city. Because of the abstract nature of the movie’s setting and plot and its short runtime, we’re going to not bother with a spoiler alert for this episode. We can’t really talk about this film without going into detail about what happens in it. So if you want to see it completely fresh you may want to come back to this after you’ve seen it, either by hunting it down on the internet or getting the eventual Blu Ray or streaming release. But this movie really isn’t something that can be spoiled, so for those who don’t mind hearing the details, carry on. Time Stamps: (00:59) Final Fantasy: Legend of the Crystals (11:31) Ghost in the Shell (27:56) Evangelion 1.0+3.0 Thrice Upon a Time (44:37) Angel's Egg (1:31:06) Next Time: Rental Family Works Cited: Angel’s Egg (Mamoru Oshii, 1985) (Danielle Burgos) (Hideo Kojima, 2022) (Hideo Kojima, 2022) Final Fantasy: Legend of the Crystals (Shigeyuki Hayashi, 1994) (Ben Verschoor, 2024) Ghost in the Shell (Mamoru Oshii, 1995) (Carl Colpaert, 1988; ) (Maki Watanabe, 2025) (Eli Friedberg, 2025) Metal Gear Solid (Hideo Kojima, 1998) (Richard Suchenski, 2004) (Ryusuke Hikawa, 2025) Seraphim: 266613336 Wings (Mamoru Oshii, Satoshi Kon, 1994) Email us at Miseenscreenpodcast@gmail.com! Find us elsewhere! Ben Verschoor @benverschoor.bsky.social Steven Santana @number8axel.bsky.social Opening music is "Root Beer Rag" by Billy Joel Closing music is "G-Spot Tornado" by Frank Zappa Subscribe, rate and review us! Apple Podcasts: Spotify Podcasts: Player.fm: Podcast Addict:
/episode/index/show/15085724-3abd-4e04-addd-3cd45e55501d/id/39192320
info_outline
Episode 19: Die My Love
11/20/2025
Episode 19: Die My Love
Die My Love is the fifth feature film directed by Lynne Ramsay, who, alongside Enda Walsh and Alice Birch, wrote the screenplay which is adapted from the 2012 Argentinian novel written by Ariana Harwicz. Cinematography is by Seamus McGarvey. The film stars Jennifer Lawrence as Grace, a woman transplanted with her lover Jackson, played by Robert Pattinson, from New York to Montana after the death of Jackson’s uncle and they inherit his house. Grace soon gets pregnant and gives birth to a son and begins to spiral into a deep depression. The cast also includes Sissy Spacek as Jackson’s mother Pam, LaKeith Stanfield as a mysterious stranger, and Nick Nolte as Jackson’s father. Time Stamps: (02:35) Nightbitch (18:45) Now, Voyager (33:00) Die My Love (1:26:59) Spoilers (1:52:22) Next Time: Angel's Egg Works Cited: (Sarah Kane, 1999) (Fender Jackson, 2025) Angel’s Egg (Mamoru Oshii, 1985) (Jordan Ruimy, 2025) (Picturehouse, 2025) (Sam Bodrojan, 2025) (Anthony Lane, 2025) (Sheila O'Malley, 2025) (Jessica Kiang, 2025) (Jeremy Kay, 2025) (Allison Willmore, 2025) (Stephanie Zacharek, 2025) (John Prine and Iris Dement, 1999) (Jessica Kiang, 2025) (Joshua Rothkopf, 2025) (Panavision, 2025) Mother! (Darren Aronofsky, 2017) Nightbitch (novel written by Rachel Yoder, 2021; film directed by Marielle Heller, 2024) Now, Voyager (book written by Olive Higgins Prouty, 1941; film directed by Irving Rapper, 1942) (Peter Bradshaw, 2021) Repulsion (Roman Polanski, 1965) Rosemary’s Baby (Roman Polanski, 1968) We Need to Talk About Kevin (Lynne Ramsay, 2011) Email us at Miseenscreenpodcast@gmail.com! Find us elsewhere! Ben Verschoor @benverschoor.bsky.social Steven Santana @number8axel.bsky.social Opening music is "Root Beer Rag" by Billy Joel Closing music is "G-Spot Tornado" by Frank Zappa Subscribe, rate and review us! Apple Podcasts: Spotify Podcasts: Player.fm: Podcast Addict:
/episode/index/show/15085724-3abd-4e04-addd-3cd45e55501d/id/39105810
info_outline
Episode 18: Guillermo del Toro's Frankenstein
11/13/2025
Episode 18: Guillermo del Toro's Frankenstein
Frankenstein is the 992nd adaptation featuring the monster from Mary Shelley’s 1818 novel Frankenstein; or, The Modern Prometheus. It is probably the 6th that hews closer to the source novel than the 1931 Universal film adaptation. This 2025 adaptation is directed, produced, and based on a screenplay by Guillermo del Toro, best known for The Shape of Water, Pan’s Labyrinth, and Pinocchio (no not the soulless one released the same year from Zemeckis and Disney). In this film we follow Oscar Isaac as Baron Victor Frankenstein who creates life in the form of The Creature, played by Jacob Elordi. Felix Kammerer is William Frankenstein, Victor’s younger brother, and Ti West muse Mia Goth plays Lady Elizabeth Harlander, William’s fiance. Christoph Waltz supports as Henrich Harlander, Elizabeth’s uncle. We also have Lars Mikkelsen as Captain Anderson, David Bradley as the blind man, Charles Dance as Victor’s father, Ralph Ineson as Professor Krempe, and Burn Gorman as the executioner. Time Stamps: (01:11) The Rocky Horror Picture Show (Jim Sharman, 1973) (17:19) Mary Shelley's Frankenstein (Kenneth Branagh, 1994) (32:27) Frankenstein (Guillermo del Toro, 2025) (1:15:59) Spoilers (1:49:55) Next Time: Die My Love (Lynne Ramsay, 2025) Works Cited: Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein (Charles Barton, 1948) Bloodborne (FromSoftware, 2015) Bram Stoker's Dracula (Francis Ford Coppola, 1992) Crimson Peak (Guillermo del Toro, 2015) (Lauren Wilford, 2017) Frankenstein (James Whale, 1931) Frankenstein (Guillermo del Toro, 2025) Frankenstein; or, The Modern Prometheus (Mary Shelley, 1818) The Hobbit: The Motion Picture Trilogy (Peter Jackson, 2012-2014) Lisa Frankenstein (Zelda Williams, 2024) Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein (Kenneth Branagh, 1994) Peter Pan Live! (NBC, 2014) Pinocchio (Guillermo del Toro, 2025) Poor Things (Yorgos Lanthimos, 2023) “The Rocky Horror Glee Show” (Adam Shankman, 2010) The Rocky Horror Picture Show (Jim Sharman, 1973) The Sound of Music Live! (NBC, 2013) (1975) Not I (Samuel Beckett, 1972) Email us at Miseenscreenpodcast@gmail.com! Find us elsewhere! Ben Verschoor @benverschoor.bsky.social Steven Santana @number8axel.bsky.social Opening music is Root Beer Rag by Billy Joel Closing music is G-Spot Tornado by Frank Zappa Subscribe, rate and review us! Apple Podcasts: Spotify Podcasts: Player.fm: Podcast Addict:
/episode/index/show/15085724-3abd-4e04-addd-3cd45e55501d/id/39015065
info_outline
Episode 17: Bugonia
11/06/2025
Episode 17: Bugonia
Bugonia is a 2025 film directed by Yorgos Lanthimos. This is an English remake of a 2003 South Korean film called Save the Green Planet! which was directed by Jang Joon-hwan. In Bugonia Jesse Plemons stars as Teddy Gatz, who together with his cousin Don, played by Aidan Delbis, kidnap and imprison CEO Michelle Fuller, played by Emma Stone, whom Teddy believes to be an alien. Time Stamps: (04:41) Invasion of the Body Snatchers (Philip Kaufman, 1978) (18:26) The Killing of a Sacred Deer (Yorgos Lanthimos, 2017) (28:54) Bugonia (Yorgos Lanthimos, 2025) (57:13) Spoilers (1:18:34) Next Time: Frankenstein (Guillermo del Toro, 2025) Works Cited: The Body Snatchers (Jack Finney, 1955) Body Snatchers (Abel Ferrara, 1993) Bugonia (Yorgos Lanthimos, 2025) (Mary McNamara, 2025) The Conversation (Francis Ford Coppola, 1974) Close Encounters of the Third Kind (Steven Spielberg, 1977) Dogtooth (Yorgos Lanthimos, 2009) The Favourite (Yorgos Lanthimos, 2018) Fire in the Sky (Robert Lieberman, 1993) The Invasion (Oliver Hirschbiegel, 2007) Invasion of the Body Snatchers (Don Siegel, 1956) Invasion of the Body Snatchers (Philip Kaufman, 1978) The Killing of a Sacred Deer (Yorgos Lanthimos, 2017) Kinds of Kindness (Yorgos Lanthimos, 2024) Klute (Alan Pakula, 1971) (Chuck Stephens, 2005) The Lobster (Yorgos Lanthimos, 2015) The Parallax View (Alan Pakula, 1974) Poor Things (Yorgos Lanthimos, 2023) (Chloe Veltman, 2025) (Glen Weldon, 2025) Save the Green Planet! (Jang Joon-hwan, 2003) They Live (John Carpenter, 1988) Email us at Miseenscreenpodcast@gmail.com! Find us elsewhere! Ben Verschoor @benverschoor.bsky.social Steven Santana @number8axel.bsky.social Opening music is Root Beer Rag by Billy Joel Closing music is G-Spot Tornado by Frank Zappa Subscribe, rate and review us! Apple Podcasts: Spotify Podcasts: Player.fm: Podcast Addict:
/episode/index/show/15085724-3abd-4e04-addd-3cd45e55501d/id/38930995
info_outline
Episode 16: Red Rooms
10/31/2025
Episode 16: Red Rooms
Red Rooms, a 2023 psychological horror film written and directed by Pascal Plante. It follows Kelly-Anne (Juliette Gariépy), a fashion model who takes an interest in the murder trial of Ludovic Chevalier (Maxwell McCabe-Lokos). She becomes acquainted with another observer, Clementine (Laurie Babin), who will tell anyone who will listen that Chevalier is innocent. As time goes on they learn more about the case, and each other, and the things they may or may not have in common. Time Stamps: (01:15) siskelebert.org news (13:40) Red Rooms (42:40) Spoilers (58:11) Next Time: Bugonia Works Cited: DAHMER – Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story (2022, Ryan Murphy, Ian Brennan) Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile (2019, Joe Berlinger) I'll Be Gone in the Dark: One Woman's Obsessive Search for the Golden State Killer (2018, Michelle McNamara) The Jinx (2015, Andrew Jarecki) Memories of Murder (2003, Bong Joon Ho) Monster: The Ed Gein Story (2025, Ian Brennan) (2023, Matt Singer) (2025, Jonathan Volk) (2014, Sarah Koenig) Zodiac (2007, David Fincher) Zodiac Killer Project (2025, Charlie Shackleton) Email us at Miseenscreenpodcast@gmail.com! Find us elsewhere! Ben Verschoor @benverschoor.bsky.social Steven Santana @number8axel.bsky.social Opening music is Root Beer Rag by Billy Joel Closing music is G-Spot Tornado by Frank Zappa Subscribe, rate and review us! Apple Podcasts: Spotify Podcasts: Player.fm: Podcast Addict:
/episode/index/show/15085724-3abd-4e04-addd-3cd45e55501d/id/38856405
info_outline
Episode 15: Virginia Film Festival 2025
10/30/2025
Episode 15: Virginia Film Festival 2025
Ben was able to attend the Virginia Film Festival in Charlottesville, VA and saw 12 feature films and one short film collection. He recorded some onsite reactions and introductions to each film and we intercut those with our post-festival conversational Q&A. Red Rooms discussion will follow tomorrow and our regular programming will resume next Thursday with Bugonia! Sound Credit: drumroll2.aif by ddohler -- https://freesound.org/s/34258/ -- License: Attribution 4.0 Works Cited Resurrection (2025, Bi Gan) Kontinental '25 (2025, Radu Jude) The Eyes of Ghana (2025, Ben Proudfoot) SirÂt (2025, Oliver Laxe) The Plague (2025, Charlie Polinger) Ghost Elephants (2025, Werner Herzog) It Was Just an Accident (2025, Jafar Panahi) Arco (2025, Ugo Bienvenu) Train Dreams (2025, Clint Bentley) Late Shift (2025, Petra Volpe) The President's Cake (2025, Hasan Hadi) Zodiac Killer Project (2025, Charlie Shackleton) (2025, David Ehrlich) In Totality (2025, Jesse Rudoy) How She Was (2024, Jeff Luppino-Esposito) Shallow (2025, Luca Huff) Conference of the Moths (2025, Samhita, Sunya) The Lonely Dog (2024, Jacob Seltzer) Leaving the Light (2025, Steven Krueger) (2015, Edward Wong) Email us at Miseenscreenpodcast@gmail.com! Find us elsewhere! Ben Verschoor @benverschoor.bsky.social Steven Santana @number8axel.bsky.social Opening music is Root Beer Rag by Billy Joel Closing music is G-Spot Tornado by Frank Zappa Subscribe, rate and review us! Apple Podcasts: Spotify Podcasts: Player.fm: Podcast Addict:
/episode/index/show/15085724-3abd-4e04-addd-3cd45e55501d/id/38840440
info_outline
Episode 14: After the Hunt
10/23/2025
Episode 14: After the Hunt
After The Hunt is a 2025 film directed by Luca Guadagnino and written by Nora Garrett. It stars Julia Roberts as Alma Imhoff, a philosophy professor at Yale on the verge of tenure. Ayo Edebiri plays Maggie, a star student of Alma’s and Andrew Garfield as Hank, a fellow professor also on the verge of tenure. Alma is caught between the two when Maggie confides in Alma that Hank sexually assaulted her after a party one night. Michael Stuhlbarg and Chloe Sevigny star in supporting roles as Alma’s husband Frederik and a school doctor/therapist respectively. Timestamps (01:36) Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed (17:43) The Devils (31:55) The Piano Teacher (45:57) After the Hunt discussion (1:32:49) After the Hunt Spoilers (1:55:21) Next Time! Works Cited After the Hunt (2025, Luca Guadagnino) "All These Things That I've Done" (The Killers, 2004) Call Me by Your Name (2017, Luca Guadagnino) The Devils (1971, Ken Russell) Elle (2016, Paul Verhoeven) Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed (2008, Nathan Frankowski) Hell on Earth: The Desecration and Resurrection of 'The Devils' (2002, Paul Joyce) Jeanne Dielman, 23 quai du Commerce, 1080 Bruxelles (1975, Chantal Akerman) Opus (2025, Mark Anthony Green) The Piano Teacher (2001, Michael Haneke) Possession (1981, Andrzej Żuławski) Southland Tales (2006, Richard Kelly) Tár (2022, Todd Field) Email us at Miseenscreenpodcast@gmail.com! Find us elsewhere! Ben Verschoor @benverschoor.bsky.social Steven Santana @number8axel.bsky.social Opening music is Root Beer Rag by Billy Joel Closing music is G-Spot Tornado by Frank Zappa Subscribe, rate and review us! Apple Podcasts: Spotify Podcasts: Player.fm: Podcast Addict:
/episode/index/show/15085724-3abd-4e04-addd-3cd45e55501d/id/38752240
info_outline
Episode 13: Anemone
10/16/2025
Episode 13: Anemone
Anemone is a 2025 film directed by Ronan Day-Lewis, written by Ronan with his father Daniel Day-Lewis, starring Daniel Day-Lewis as Ray Stoker, and Sean Bean as Jem Stoker, with supporting performances from Samantha Morton as Nessa Stoker, Samuel Bottomley as Brian Stoker, and Safia Oakley-Green as Hattie. In this film Jem seeks out his brother Ray, who has lived in isolation for an extended period of time, in order to bring him back to help aid the young Brian through a tumultous and consequential crossroads of his life. Timestamps (01:14) Artemis Fowl (19:30) Field of Dreams (39:43) The Treasure of the Sierra Madre (51:17) Anemone introduction, skip to next stamp to avoid synopsis spoilers (55:40) Anemone discussion (1:35:10) Anemone Spoilers (1:53:41) Next Time! Works Cited Anemone (2025, Ronan Day-Lewis) Artemis Fowl (2001, Eoin Colfer) Artemis Fowl (2020, Kenneth Branagh) Fallout: New Vegas: Dead Money (2010, Obsidian) Field of Dreams (1989, Phil Alden Robinson) Magnolia (1999, Paul Thomas Anderson) The Treasure of the Sierra Madre (1948, John Huston) Email us at Miseenscreenpodcast@gmail.com! Find us elsewhere! Ben Verschoor @benverschoor.bsky.social Steven Santana @number8axel.bsky.social Opening music is Root Beer Rag by Billy Joel Closing music is G-Spot Tornado by Frank Zappa Subscribe, rate and review us! Apple Podcasts: Spotify Podcasts: Player.fm: Podcast Addict:
/episode/index/show/15085724-3abd-4e04-addd-3cd45e55501d/id/38601565
info_outline
Episode 12: The Smashing Machine
10/09/2025
Episode 12: The Smashing Machine
The Smashing Machine is a 2025 film directed, written, produced, and edited by Benny Safdie and starring Dwayne Johnson as Mark Kerr, Emily Blunt as Dawn Staples, Ryan Bader as Mark Coleman, and Bas Rutten as himself. We follow Mark Kerr from 1997-2000 as he wins his first title in a Brazilian tournament before skipping forward to focus on a fight in Tokyo, Kerr’s tumultuous relationship with his girlfriend Dawn, his addiction to painkillers, and his participation in the Pride Grand Prix 2000 again in Tokyo where his former coach Mark Coleman might end up being his final opponent if he can win each round. Timestamps (01:54) The Tooth Fairy (21:19) Find Me Guilty (34:35) Southland Tales (50:29) The Smashing Machine (1:26:36) Spoilers (1:53:41 ) Next Time! Works Cited (The Killers, 2005) (Roger Ebert, 2007) Be Cool (F. Gary Gray, 2005) Billy Lynn’s Long Halftime Walk (Ang Lee, 2016) The Chronicles of Riddick (David Twohy, 2004) (J. Hoberman, 2006) Doom (Andrzej Bartkowiak, 2005) The Expendables (Sylvester Stallone, 2010) Fast Five (Justin Lin, 2011) The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift (Justin Lin, 2006) A Few Good Men (Rob Reiner, 1991) Find Me Guilty (Sidney Lumet, 2006) Gotti (Kevin Connolly, 2018) INLAND EMPIRE (David Lynch, 2006) JFK (Oliver Stone, 1991) Megalopolis (Francis Ford Coppola, 2024) Mr. Nanny (Michael Gottlieb, 1993) Mulholland Drive (David Lynch, 2000) One Battle After Another (Paul Thomas Anderson, 2025) Pain & Gain (Michael Bay, 2013) (Jake Rossen, 2010) Race to Witch Mountain (Andy Fickman, 2009) Red Notice (Rawson Marshall Thurber, 2021) (J. Hoberman, 2007) The Scorpion King (Chuck Russell, 2002) The Smashing Machine (Benny Safdie, 2025) The Smashing Machine: The Life and Times of Extreme Fighter Mark Kerr (John Hyams, 2002) (Richard Brody, 2025) (Jacob Oller, 2025) Southland Tales (Richard Kelly, 2007) (Dennis Lim, 2007) (Steven Shaviro, 2007) Suburban Commando (Burt Kennedy, 1991) (Krista Now, 2007) Tooth Fairy (Michael Lembeck, 2010) Twelve Angry Men (Sidney Lumet, 1957) Walking Tall (Kevin Bray, 2004) (Patrick H. Willems, 2024) Find us elsewhere! Ben Verschoor @benverschoor.bsky.social Steven Santana @number8axel.bsky.social Opening music is Root Beer Rag by Billy Joel Closing music is G-Spot Tornado by Frank Zappa Apple Podcasts: Spotify Podcasts: Player.fm: Podcast Addict:
/episode/index/show/15085724-3abd-4e04-addd-3cd45e55501d/id/38519655
info_outline
Episode 11: One Battle After Another
10/02/2025
Episode 11: One Battle After Another
Leftist guerillas Perfidia Beverly Hills (Teyana Taylor) and her lover “Ghetto” Pat Calhoun (Leonardo DiCaprio) leading their revolutionary group the French 75 in storming and liberating a migrant holding facility operated by race pervert Colonel Steven Lockjaw (Sean Penn). But after a bank robbery turns deadly the group is shattered and scattered, with Perfidia vanishing and Pat going into hiding with their infant daughter Charlene. Sixteen years later Pat is living in a Colorado sanctuary city in a haze of drugs, under the assumed name of Bob Ferguson. His paranoia makes him an overbearing parent to his daughter, raised as Willa and now played by Chase Infiniti. When Colonel Lockjaw learns of their hiding place and leads a series of migrant roundup raids on the city, the remainders of the French 75 spirit Willa away to a safe house. Meanwhile Bob is forced to rely on the support of kung fu sensei and immigration activist Sergio St Carlos (Benicio Del Toro), as well as the protocol and praxis he forgot years before in order to escape capture and reunite with his daughter. Timestamps (01:48) Godzilla (11:20) Out (Deadly Drifter) (23:28) The Battle of Algiers (42:41) Salvador (53:41) One Battle After Another (1:27:16) Spoilers (1:52:01 ) Next Time! Works Cited The Battle of Algiers (Gillo Pontecorvo, 1966) Born on the Fourth of July (Oliver Stone, 1989) Children of Men (Alfonso Cuaron, 2006) Disco Elysium (ZA-UM, 2019) Deadly Drifter, a.k.a. Out (Eli Hollander, 1982) Django Unchained (Quentin Tarantino, 2012) Godzilla (Ishirō Honda, 1954) Godzilla (Roland Emmerich, 1998) (Roger Ebert, 1998) Independence Day (Roland Emmerich, 1996) Inherent Vice (Paul Thomas Anderson, 2014 movie; Thomas Pynchon, 2009 novel) JFK (Oliver Stone, 1991) Jurassic Park (Steven Spielberg, 1993) The Master (Paul Thomas Anderson, 2012) Once Upon a Time… in Hollywood (Quentin Tarantino, 2019) One Battle After Another (Paul Thomas Anderson, 2025) (Evan “Raymond Gun-Virus” Pincus, 2019) Platoon (Oliver Stone, 1986) Salvador (Oliver Stone, 1986) A Savage War of Peace: Algeria, 1954–1962 (Alistair Horne,1977) Souvenirs de la Bataille d'Alger (Saadi Yacef, 1956) The Simpsons (Matt Groening, 1989) (Gene Siskel and Roger Ebert, 1998) (Luchino Visconti, 1967) There Will Be Blood (Paul Thomas Anderson, 2007) The Wolf of Wall Street (Martin Scorsese, 2013) Thirty Years Later… (Susan Sontag, 1996) (Sam Bodrojan, 2025) , The Battle of Algiers (Jamelle Bouie and John Ganz, 2023) Find us elsewhere! Ben Verschoor @benverschoor.bsky.social Steven Santana @number8axel.bsky.social Opening music is Root Beer Rag by Billy Joel Closing music is G-Spot Tornado by Frank Zappa Apple Podcasts: Spotify Podcasts: Player.fm: Podcast Addict:
/episode/index/show/15085724-3abd-4e04-addd-3cd45e55501d/id/38436575
info_outline
Episode 10: HIM
09/25/2025
Episode 10: HIM
HIM follows Cameron "Cam" Cade (Tyriq Withers) an up and coming college quarterback star who suffers a serious head injury before the draft combine. Unable to participate, Cam finds himself singled out and selected by his idol, Isaiah White (Marlon Wayans) who invites Cam to his isolated compound to train for a week as a test to see if he is capable of succeeding White as the San Antonio Saviors next quarterback. The training quickly descends into ritualistic violence as Cam discovers a deep secret behind White's superstar career. Timestamps (00:00) The Substitute 3: Winner Takes All (24:06) Billy Lynn’s Long Halftime Walk (46:35) Foxcatcher (1:02:25) HIM (1:41:33) Next week's pick: One Battle After Another Works Cited Atlanta, Season 3 Episode 9 “Rich Wigga, Poor Wigga” (Donald Glover, 2022) The Blind Side (John Lee Hancock, 2009) BASEketball (David Zucker, 1998) Billy Lynn’s Long Halftime Walk (Ang Lee, 2016 film; Ben Fountain, 2012 novel) Brokeback Mountain (Ang Lee, 2005) Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (Ang Lee, 2000) Foxcatcher (Bennett Miller, 2014) Get Out (Jordan Peele, 2017) Gemini Man (Ang Lee, 2018) HIM (Justin Tipping, 2025) (Tasha Robinson, 2025) (Robert Daniels, 2025) (David Ehrlich, 2025) (David Fear, 2025) The Life of Pi (Ang Lee, 2012) Magic Mike (Steven Soderbergh, 2012) Metal Gear Solid (Hideo Kojima, 1998) NOPE (Jordan Peele, 2022) The Passion of Joan of Arc (Theodor Dreyer, 1928) Silver Linings Playbook (David O. Russell, 2012) The Substitute 3: Winner Takes All (Robert Radler, 1999) Together (Michael Shanks, 2025) Uncut Gems (Josh and Benny Safdie, 2019) Us (Jordan Peele, 2019) The Wrestler (Darren Aronofsky, 2008) Find us elsewhere! Ben Verschoor @benverschoor.bsky.social Steven Santana @number8axel.bsky.social Opening music is Root Beer Rag by Billy Joel Closing music is G-Spot Tornado by Frank Zappa Apple Podcasts: Spotify Podcasts: Player.fm: Podcast Addict:
/episode/index/show/15085724-3abd-4e04-addd-3cd45e55501d/id/38353865
info_outline
Episode 09: The Long Walk
09/18/2025
Episode 09: The Long Walk
The Long Walk is the latest film adaptation of a Stephen King novel and takes place in an alternate 1970s United States in which a past war has ruined the country economically. The totalitarian regime that now runs the country has devised a new annual event to encourage larger GDP growth: a marathon walk in which one kid from each state is chosen via voluntary raffle. Each individual must walk at least 3mph, should they fail to do so after three warnings they are killed and the walk lasts until only one remains. The film’s focus is mainly on Raymond Garraty as #47 (Cooper Hoffman) and Peter McVries as #23 (David Jonsson) who strike up a friendship despite the competition and its lethal end for all but one competitor. Timestamps (00:00) The Cell (22:06) Misery (41:01) Children of Men (53:10) The Long Walk (1:34:32) Next week's episode: Him Works Cited 11.22.63 (Bridget Carpenter, 2016 miniseries; Stephen King, 2011 novel) Carrie (Brian De Palma, 1976 film; Stephen King, 1974 novel) Cell (Tod Williams, 2016 film; Stephen King, 2006 novel) Children of Men (Alfonso Cuarón, 2006 film; P.D. James, 1992 novel) Dreamcatcher (Lawrence Kasdan, 2003 film; Stephen King, 2001 novel) Ghostbusters (Paul Feig, 2016) The Green Mile (Frank Darabont, 1999 film; Stephen King, 1996 novel) The Hunger Games: Catching Fire, Mockingjay - Part 1, Mockingjay - Part 2, The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes (Francis Lawrence, 2013-2015, 2023 films; Susanne Collins, 2009-2010, 2020 novels) It (Any Muschietti, 2017/2019 films; Stephen King, 1986 novel) Jurassic World (Colin Trevorrow, 2015) Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom (J.A. Bayona, 2018) Jurassic World Dominion (Colin Trevorrow, 2022) Jurassic World Rebirth (Gareth Edwards, 2025) The Long Walk (Francis Lawrence, 2025 film, Stephen King (as Richard Bachman) 1979 novel) (Cameron Kuntzelman and Michael Lutz, 2021) Neon Genesis Evangelion (Hideaki Ano, 1995) Mass Effect 3 (BioWare, 2012) Misery (Rob Reiner, 1990 film; Stephen King, 1987 novel) Needful Things (Fraser Heston, 1993 film; Stephen King, 1991 novel) The Shawshank Redemption (Frank Darabont, 1994 film; Stephen King 1982 novella) The Shining (Stanley Kubrick, 1980 film; Stephen King 1977 novel) The Stand (Stephen King, 1978) Star Wars, Episode VIII - The Last Jedi (Rian Johnson, 2017) Star Wars, Episode IX - The Rise of Skywalker (J.J. Abrams, 2019) Thinner (Tom Holland, 1996 film; Stephen King (as Richard Bachman) 1984 novel) Find us elsewhere! Ben Verschoor @benverschoor.bsky.social Steven Santana @number8axel.bsky.social Opening music is Root Beer Rag by Billy Joel Closing music is G-Spot Tornado by Frank Zappa Apple Podcasts: Spotify Podcasts: Player.fm: Podcast Addict:
/episode/index/show/15085724-3abd-4e04-addd-3cd45e55501d/id/38265290
info_outline
Episode 08: Honey Don't!
09/11/2025
Episode 08: Honey Don't!
Private eye Honey O'Donahue (Margaret Qualley) begins investigating the suspicious death of one of her clients, who turns up dead in a car accident before they can even meet. Her sleuthing, with the help of MG (Aubrey Plaza), a police officer she hooked up with, points to the Four Ways church of Reverend Drew Devlin (Chris Evans), a sleazy preacher who brings new meaning to the term ‘Come to Jesus,’ all while she is trying to help her sister keep her niece Corrine (Talia Ryder) out of trouble. Timestamps (01:35) The Ladykillers (18:44) Jennifer's Body (32:09) The Hudsucker Proxy (48:40) Honey, Don't! (1:30:27) Next week will be The Long Walk Works Cited: The Ballad of Buster Scruggs (Joel and Ethan Coen, 2018) The Big Lebowski (Joel and Ethan Coen, 1997) The Big Sleep ( Howard Hawks, 1946) Blood Simple (Joel and Ethan Coen, 1984) Burn After Reading (Joel and Ethan Coen, 2008) Drive Away Dolls (Ethan Coen, 2024) (Mike Ryan, 2025) (Naomi Fry, 2024) The Evil Dead (Sam Raimi, 1981) Fargo (Joel and Ethan Coen, 1996) Hail, Caesar! (Joel and Ethan Coen, 2016) Highest 2 Lowest (Spike Lee, 2025) Honey, Don’t! (Ethan Coen, 2025) The Hudsucker Proxy (Joel and Ethan Coen, 1994) I Love You, Phillip Morris (John Requa and Glenn Ficarra, 2009) Jennifer's Body (Karyn Kusama, 2009) Jerry Lee Lewis: Trouble in Mind (Ethan Coen, 2024) The Ladykillers (Joel and Ethan Coen, 2004) The Ladykillers (Alexander Mackendrick, 1955) No Country For Old Men (Joel and Ethan Coen, 2007) Promising Young Woman (Emerald Fennell, 2020) The Tragedy of Macbeth (Joel Coen, 2021) Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (Michael Bay, 2009) Raising Arizona (Joel and Ethan Coen, 1987) A Serious Man (Joel and Ethan Coen, 2009)
/episode/index/show/15085724-3abd-4e04-addd-3cd45e55501d/id/38175475
info_outline
Episode 07b: Ne Zha 2 Full Spoiler
09/05/2025
Episode 07b: Ne Zha 2 Full Spoiler
We get into the nitty gritty details of the back half of Ne Zha 2 as well as dive into the cultural war between the US and China and specifically China's rapid gains in dominating the worldwide box office seemingly all on its own. Timestamps (00:00) Na Zha 2 spoilers (37:20) China, America, the global box office, and international influence (1:15:05) American culture, past and future Works Cited Avengers: Endgame (Russo Brothers, 2019) The Battle at Lake Changjin (Chen Kaige, Tsui Hark, Dante Lam, 2021) Barbie (Greta Gerwig, 2023) Beowulf (Robert Zemeckis, 2007) Black Myth: Wukong (Game Science, 2024) The Boy and the Heron (Hiyao Miyazaki, 2023) (Sam B., 2023) The Creation of the Gods II: Demon Force (Wuershan, 2025) The Dark Knight (Christopher Nolan, 2008) Doctor Strange (Scott Derrickson, 2016) Detective Chinatown 3 (Chen Sicheng, 2021) (Lawrence Kasanoff, 2012) (Devan Scott, 2025) Full River Red (Zhang Yimou, 2023) Genshin Impact (MiHoYo, 2020) Hi, Mom (Jia Ling, 2021) (Renee Montagne and Kim Masters, 2013) Homefront (Kaos Games, 2011) (Leigh Alexander, 2012) (Steven Santana, 2023) Light of Motiram (Tencent, 2025) (Brabim Karki, 2025) The Investiture of the Gods (Xu Zhonglin, circa 16th century) Iron Man (Jon Favreau, 2008) Iron Man 3 (Shane Black, 2013) Journey to the West (Wu Cheng'en, circa 1592) Journey to the West (Steven Chow, Derek Kwok, 2013) The Karate Kid (Harald Zwart, 2010) Kingdom of Loathing (Asymmetric Publications, 2003) Looper (Rian Johnson, 2012) Ne Zha (Jiaozi, 2019) Ne Zha 2 (Jiaozi, 2025) (Accented Cinema, 2025) Nazha Conquers the Dragon King (Wang Shuchen, Yan Ding Xian, Xu Jingda, 1980) Oppenheimer (Christopher Nolan, 2023) The Polar Express (Robert Zemeckis, 2004) (Ok so…, 2024) Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End (Gore Verbinski, 2007) Red Dawn (Dan Bradley, 2012) Romance of the Three Kingdoms (Luo Guanzhong, 14th century) (Sahar Esfandiari, 2020) Spider-Man: No Way Home (Jon Watts, 2021) , p.77 (Matthew Ball, 2025) The Super Mario Bros. Movie (Aaron Horvath, Michael Jelenic, 2024) 3 Body Problem (David Benioff, D. B. Weiss, Alexander Woo, 2024) Transformers: Age of Extinction (Michael Bay, 2014) Total Recall (Len Wiseman, 2012) The Wandering Earth (Frant Gwo, 2019) The Wandering Earth 2 (Frant Gwo, 2023) (Shannon Liao, 2024) Water Gate Bridge (Dante Lam, Chen Kaige, Tsui Hark, 2022) (David Opie, 2025) Yolo (Jia Ling, 2024) Find us elsewhere! Ben Verschoor @benverschoor.bsky.social Steven Santana @number8axel.bsky.social Opening music is Root Beer Rag by Billy Joel Closing music is G-Spot Tornado by Frank Zappa Apple Podcasts: Spotify Podcasts: Player.fm: Podcast Addict:
/episode/index/show/15085724-3abd-4e04-addd-3cd45e55501d/id/38082520
info_outline
Episode 07a: Ne Zha 2 (Non Spoilers)
09/04/2025
Episode 07a: Ne Zha 2 (Non Spoilers)
Ne Zha 2 is the fifth highest grossing film of all time worldwide, so why hasn't anyone in the US really seen or heard about it? We talk about the awful, no good animated film Foodfight! (2012) first, followed by our guessing game for related screenings, then get into Investiture of the Gods, Ne Zha 1 from 2019 and Ne Zha 2 released earlier this year in China and subbed in the US and most recently dubbed in English for another release that has landed with a thud stateside. Our follow up episode tomorrow will get into both spoilers for Ne Zha 2 and a discussion on why it has not found success in the United States and the cultural war between these two regions. Works Cited Avengers: Endgame (Russo Brothers, 2019) The Battle at Lake Changjin (Chen Kaige, Tsui Hark, Dante Lam, 2021) Barbie (Greta Gerwig, 2023) Beowulf (Robert Zemeckis, 2007) Black Myth: Wukong (Game Science, 2024) The Boy and the Heron (Hiyao Miyazaki, 2023) (Sam B., 2023) The Creation of the Gods II: Demon Force (Wuershan, 2025) The Dark Knight (Christopher Nolan, 2008) Doctor Strange (Scott Derrickson, 2016) Detective Chinatown 3 (Chen Sicheng, 2021) (Lawrence Kasanoff, 2012) (Devan Scott, 2025) Full River Red (Zhang Yimou, 2023) Genshin Impact (MiHoYo, 2020) Hi, Mom (Jia Ling, 2021) (Renee Montagne and Kim Masters, 2013) Homefront (Kaos Games, 2011) (Leigh Alexander, 2012) (Steven Santana, 2023) Light of Motiram (Tencent, 2025) (Brabim Karki, 2025) The Investiture of the Gods (Xu Zhonglin, circa 16th century) Iron Man (Jon Favreau, 2008) Iron Man 3 (Shane Black, 2013) Journey to the West (Wu Cheng'en, circa 1592) Journey to the West (Steven Chow, Derek Kwok, 2013) The Karate Kid (Harald Zwart, 2010) Kingdom of Loathing (Asymmetric Publications, 2003) Looper (Rian Johnson, 2012) Ne Zha (Jiaozi, 2019) Ne Zha 2 (Jiaozi, 2025) (Accented Cinema, 2025) Nazha Conquers the Dragon King (Wang Shuchen, Yan Ding Xian, Xu Jingda, 1980) Oppenheimer (Christopher Nolan, 2023) The Polar Express (Robert Zemeckis, 2004) (Ok so…, 2024) Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End (Gore Verbinski, 2007) Red Dawn (Dan Bradley, 2012) Romance of the Three Kingdoms (Luo Guanzhong, 14th century) (Sahar Esfandiari, 2020) Spider-Man: No Way Home (Jon Watts, 2021) , p.77 (Matthew Ball, 2025) The Super Mario Bros. Movie (Aaron Horvath, Michael Jelenic, 2024) 3 Body Problem (David Benioff, D. B. Weiss, Alexander Woo, 2024) Transformers: Age of Extinction (Michael Bay, 2014) Total Recall (Len Wiseman, 2012) The Wandering Earth (Frant Gwo, 2019) The Wandering Earth 2 (Frant Gwo, 2023) (Shannon Liao, 2024) Water Gate Bridge (Dante Lam, Chen Kaige, Tsui Hark, 2022) (David Opie, 2025) Yolo (Jia Ling, 2024) Find us elsewhere! Ben Verschoor @benverschoor.bsky.social Steven Santana @number8axel.bsky.social Opening music is Root Beer Rag by Billy Joel Closing music is G-Spot Tornado by Frank Zappa Apple Podcasts: Spotify Podcasts: Player.fm: Podcast Addict:
/episode/index/show/15085724-3abd-4e04-addd-3cd45e55501d/id/38082485
info_outline
Episode 06b: Highest 2 Lowest (Full Spoilers)
08/29/2025
Episode 06b: Highest 2 Lowest (Full Spoilers)
This is our spoiler filled section for not only Spike Lee's Highest 2 Lowest but also the original Akira Kurosawa film High and Low. We talk about pretty much everything that happens in the second half of both films, what we liked and did not like about how each film handles the same overarching scenario and how they differ in execution. Next week we will be discussing Ne Zha 2 the Chinese animated fantasy adventure comedy film written and directed by Jiaozi, as well as the original Ne Zha. Works Cited (Every Frame a Painting, 2015) At the Movies (Gene Siskel, Roger Ebert, 1986-2010) Collateral (Michael Mann, 2004) (esther, 2015) Django (Sergio Corbucci, 1966) Do the Right Thing (Spike Lee, 1989) A Fistful of Dollars (Sergio Leone, 1964) Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas (Rockstar North, 2004) Heat (Michael Mann, 1995) High and Low (Akira Kurosawa, 1963) (TheBurningArchive, 2024) (Aiyana-Lee, 2025) Highest 2 Lowest (Spike Lee, 2025) (Brandon Zachary, 2025) Ichi the Killer (Takashi Miike, 2001) Inside Man (Spike Lee, 2006) Kill Bill (Quentin Tarantino, 2003, 2004) (Barry Levitt, 2025) Miami Vice (Michael Mann, 2006) Oldboy (Park Chan-Wook, 2003) Oldboy (Spike Lee, 2013) Once Upon a Time in Mexico (Robert Rodriguez, 2003) Public Enemies (Michael Mann, 2009) (Adriano Celentano, 1973) (Aiyana-Lee, 2025) (OnePress TV, 2025) (Edward Ongweso, Jr., 2021) Stray Dog (Akira Kurosawa, 1949) Sukiyaki Western Django (Takashi Miike, 2007) Thief (Michael Mann, 1981) Throne of Blood (Akira Kurosawa, 1957) (A$AP Rocky, 2025) Tokyo Story (Yasujirō Ozu, 1953) Yojimbo (Akira Kurosawa, 1961) Find us elsewhere! Ben Verschoor @benverschoor.bsky.social Steven Santana @number8axel.bsky.social Opening music is Root Beer Rag by Billy Joel Closing music is G-Spot Tornado by Frank Zappa Apple Podcasts: Spotify Podcasts: Player.fm: Podcast Addict:
/episode/index/show/15085724-3abd-4e04-addd-3cd45e55501d/id/37974565
info_outline
Episode 06a: Highest 2 Lowest (No Spoilers)
08/28/2025
Episode 06a: Highest 2 Lowest (No Spoilers)
In this non-spoiler episode we discuss both Spike Lee's latest joint Highest 2 Lowest which sees the famed director reteaming with Denzel Washington in a reinterpretation of the classic Akira Kurosawa film from 1963: High and Low. We discuss the first half of both films, their differences and similarities in focus and execution of the same premise (taken from the novel King's Ransom: An 87th Precinct Mystery is a novel by Evan Hunter). Tomorrow (Friday, August 29) we will premiere the spoiler section of our show and announce the next film we will be watching. Works Cited (Every Frame a Painting, 2015) At the Movies (Gene Siskel, Roger Ebert, 1986-2010) Collateral (Michael Mann, 2004) (esther, 2015) Django (Sergio Corbucci, 1966) Do the Right Thing (Spike Lee, 1989) A Fistful of Dollars (Sergio Leone, 1964) Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas (Rockstar North, 2004) Heat (Michael Mann, 1995) High and Low (Akira Kurosawa, 1963) (TheBurningArchive, 2024) (Aiyana-Lee, 2025) Highest 2 Lowest (Spike Lee, 2025) (Brandon Zachary, 2025) Ichi the Killer (Takashi Miike, 2001) Inside Man (Spike Lee, 2006) Kill Bill (Quentin Tarantino, 2003, 2004) (Barry Levitt, 2025) Miami Vice (Michael Mann, 2006) Oldboy (Park Chan-Wook, 2003) Oldboy (Spike Lee, 2013) Once Upon a Time in Mexico (Robert Rodriguez, 2003) Public Enemies (Michael Mann, 2009) (Adriano Celentano, 1973) (Aiyana-Lee, 2025) (OnePress TV, 2025) (Edward Ongweso, Jr., 2021) Stray Dog (Akira Kurosawa, 1949) Sukiyaki Western Django (Takashi Miike, 2007) Thief (Michael Mann, 1981) Throne of Blood (Akira Kurosawa, 1957) (A$AP Rocky, 2025) Tokyo Story (Yasujirō Ozu, 1953) Yojimbo (Akira Kurosawa, 1961) Find us elsewhere! Ben Verschoor @benverschoor.bsky.social Steven Santana @number8axel.bsky.social Opening music is Root Beer Rag by Billy Joel Closing music is G-Spot Tornado by Frank Zappa Apple Podcasts: Spotify Podcasts: Player.fm: Podcast Addict:
/episode/index/show/15085724-3abd-4e04-addd-3cd45e55501d/id/37974560
info_outline
Episode 05: Shin Godzilla
08/21/2025
Episode 05: Shin Godzilla
In present-day Japan, a series of destructive offshore phenomena leads to the appearance of a unidentified giant lizard-like creature. The mysterious nature of the beast and the destruction it leaves in its wake causes political confusion and paralysis within the Japanese government. A task force is created to research the creature and solve the puzzle of an enigmatic chart left behind by Goro Maki, a disgraced, anti-nuclear zoology professor, that might hold the key to stopping the creature. This week we discuss Shin Godzilla from 2016 as it is being re-released in theaters due to a 4K remaster. Next week we will be discussing Highest 2 Lowest the latest Spike Lee joint starring Denzel Washington and screenplay by Alan Fox. Works Cited: 10 Cloverfield Lane (Dan Trachtenberg, 2016) (Gene Siskel, Roger Ebert, 1997) The Batman (Matt Reeves, 2022) Cloverfield (Matt Reeves, 2008) The Cloverfield Paradox (Julius Onah, 2018) Dawn of the Planet of the Apes (Matt Reeves, 2014) The End of Evangelion (Hideaki Anno, 1997) Evangelion: 1.0 You Are (Not) Alone (Hideaki Anno, 2007) Evangelion: 2.0 You Can (Not) Advance (Hideaki Anno, 2009) Evangelion: 3.0 You Can (Not) Redo (Hideaki Anno, 2012) Gamera, the Giant Monster (Noriaki Yuasa, 1965) (Roger Ebert, 1997) Gamera 3: Revenge of Iris (Shusuke Kaneko, 1999) GAMERA1999 (Hideaki Anno, 1999) Godzilla (Ishirō Honda, 1954) Godzilla (Gareth Edwards, 2014) Godzilla Minus One (Takashi Yamazaki, 2023) Ghidorah, the Three-Headed Monster (Ishirō Honda, 1964) (Hasan Piker, 2025) Love & Pop (Hideaki Anno, 1998) Mighty Morphin Power Rangers (Haim Saban, Shuki Levy, 1993-1995) Mystery Science Theater 3000, Season 3, Episode 2, Gamera (Joel Hodgeson, Frank Conniff, 1991) Shin Godzilla (Hideaki Anno, 2016) Superhuman Samurai Syber Squad (James Rowley, 1994-1995) War for the Planet of the Apes (Matt Reeves, 2017) Twin Peaks: The Return, “Part 8 - Gotta Light?” (David Lynch, 2017) The Guns of August (Barbara Tuchman, 1962) Find us elsewhere! Ben Verschoor @benverschoor.bsky.social Steven Santana @number8axel.bsky.social Opening music is Root Beer Rag by Billy Joel Closing music is G-Spot Tornado by Frank Zappa Apple Podcasts: Spotify Podcasts: Player.fm: Podcast Addict:
/episode/index/show/15085724-3abd-4e04-addd-3cd45e55501d/id/37900185
info_outline
Episode 04: The Naked Gun
08/14/2025
Episode 04: The Naked Gun
In this episode we both watched awful, terrible, no-good films as punishment for losing the guessing game last episode. We then get back to regular scheduling with guessing and talking about two related films to our main feature: The Naked Gun, directed by Akiva Schaffer as well as written by Schaffer, Dan Gregor, Doug Mand, and starring Liam Neeson as Lieutenant Frank Drebin Jr. who is pulled off a bank robbery case due to his excessive force and reassigned to a traffic suicide whose victim's sister, Pamela Anderson, insists was actually a murder. Danny Huston plays a tech billionaire who plans to use a plot device for an evil plan. Hijinks ensue. Next week we will be discussing Shin Godzilla written and directed by Hideaki Anno and co-directed by Shinji Higuchi. Works Cited: American Criminal (Dylan Bank, 2019) Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy (Adam McKay, 2004) The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo (David Fincher, 2011) A Karate Christmas Miracle (Julie Kimmel, 2019) Battleship Potemkin (Sergei Eisenstein, 1925) Chip and Dale: Rescue Rangers (Akiva Schaffer, 2022) The Dark Knight (Christopher Nolan, 2008) Deadpool (Tim Miller, 2016) Hard Boiled (John Woo, 1992) Heat (Michael Mann, 1995) Holmes & Watson (Etan Coen, 2018) Hot Fuzz (Edgar Wright, 2007) Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery (Rian Johnson, 2022) The Lego Movie (Phil Lord and Christopher Miller, 2014) Let the Right One In (Tomas Alfredson, 2004) (Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant, 2011) “” (Tony Zhou, Every Frame a Painting, 2014) A Minecraft Movie (Jared Hess, 2025) [about which Ben's more articulate thoughts can be found .] The Naked Gun (Akiva Schaffer, 2025) The Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad! (David Zucker, 1988) Police Story (Jackie Chan, 1985) Police Story 2 (Jackie Chan, 1988) Police Story 3: Supercop (Stanley Tong, 1992) Pop Star: Never Stop Never Stopping (Akiva Schaffer, 2016) The Snowman (Tomas Alfredson, 2017) Se7en (David Fincher, 1995) Snatched (Jonathan Levine, 2017) Spaceballs (Mel Brooks, 1987) Spy Hard (Rick Friedberg, 1996) Step Brothers (Adam McKay, 2008) Taken (Pierre Morel, 2008) Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby (Adam McKay, 2006) Top Secret! (Jim Abrahams, David Zucker, & Jerry Zucker and Martyn Burke, 1984) Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy (Tomas Alfredson, 2011) The Untouchables (Brian De Palma, 1987) Venom (Ruben Fleischer, 2018) Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story (Jake Kasden, 2007) Find us elsewhere! Ben Verschoor @benverschoor.bsky.social Steven Santana @number8axel.bsky.social Opening music is Root Beer Rag by Billy Joel Closing music is G-Spot Tornado by Frank Zappa Apple Podcasts: Spotify Podcasts: Player.fm: Podcast Addict:
/episode/index/show/15085724-3abd-4e04-addd-3cd45e55501d/id/37816205
info_outline
Episode 03: Together
08/07/2025
Episode 03: Together
In this episode we discuss Together, written and directed by Michael Shanks and starring Dave Franco and Alison Brie as a couple in a relationship currently going through troubled times that is only exacerbated by a supernatural effect that begins to forcibly push the two together with horrific outcomes. Spoilers begin at 1:03:00 and end at 1:22:38 Next week we will be discussing The Naked Gun starring Liam Neeson and Pamela Anderson. Works Cited: (Mariana Colin, 2025) (Tim Brayton, 2022) Find us elsewhere! Ben Verschoor @benverschoor.bsky.social Steven Santana @number8axel.bsky.social Opening music is Root Beer Rag by Billy Joel Closing music is G-Spot Tornado by Frank Zappa Apple Podcasts: Spotify Podcasts: Player.fm: Podcast Addict:
/episode/index/show/15085724-3abd-4e04-addd-3cd45e55501d/id/37713075
info_outline
Episode 02: Opus
07/31/2025
Episode 02: Opus
In this episode we discuss Mark Anthony Green's musical thriller Opus (2025)! Starring Ayo Edebiri, John Malkovich, Amber Midthunder, and some other people. First we guess at each others repertory film and discuss followed by our general thoughts on Opus with a spoiler section afterwards. Next week we will be discussing Togther starring Dave Franco and Alison Brie. Find us elsewhere! Ben Verschoor @benverschoor.bsky.social Steven Santana @number8axel.bsky.social Opening music is Root Beer Rag by Billy Joel Closing music is G-Spot Tornado by Frank Zappa Apple Podcasts: Spotify Podcasts: Player.fm: Podcast Addict:
/episode/index/show/15085724-3abd-4e04-addd-3cd45e55501d/id/37617625
info_outline
Episode 01: Eddington (2025)
07/24/2025
Episode 01: Eddington (2025)
In this episode we discuss Ari Aster's perplexing Covid provocation Eddington (2025)! First we guess at each others repertory film and discuss followed by our general thoughts/non spoilers conversation on Eddington before diving deep into the film. Find us elsewhere! Ben Verschoor @benverschoor.bsky.social Steven Santana @number8axel.bsky.social Opening music is Root Beer Rag by Billy Joel Closing music is G-Spot Tornado by Frank Zappa Apple Podcasts: Spotify Podcasts: Player.fm: Podcast Addict:
/episode/index/show/15085724-3abd-4e04-addd-3cd45e55501d/id/37529625
info_outline
Episode 00: Letterboxd Q&A
07/14/2025
Episode 00: Letterboxd Q&A
This is our very first episode in which we introduce the concept and origin of the podcast, pull up each other's Letterboxd to do a Q&A session, and answer film, theater, and other related rapid fire questions we came up with beforehand. Our first real episode will be on Eddington (2025) directed, written, and produced by Ari Aster. Films discussed/mentioned: Green Room (2015) Love, Antosha (2019) Rebel Ridge (2024) The Matrix (1999) Back to the Future (1985) Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me (1992) Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004) Alien (1979) Alien Romulus (2024) Alien 3 (1992) Inside Llewyn Davis (2013) Frank (2014) West Side Story (1961) West Side Story (2021) Shin Gozilla (2016) Jurassic Park (1993) Treasure Planet (2002) Bambi (1942) Lion King (1994) Queer (2024) Hook (1991) Jupiter Ascending (2015) Little Shop of Horrors (1986) The Blue Dhalia (1946) Find us elsewhere! Ben Verschoor @benverschoor.bsky.social Steven Santana @number8axel.bsky.social Opening music is Root Beer Rag by Billy Joel Closing music is G-Spot Tornado by Frank Zappa
/episode/index/show/15085724-3abd-4e04-addd-3cd45e55501d/id/37387580