Films at First Sight

Joe and Graham celebrate and explore cinema, new and old, through the lens of the first time viewer. Such a wide angle includes popular films, cult classics, rare films, genre films, the woefully-underserved medium of shorts, as well as glancing into the future through film festivals and upcoming releases!

Death of a Gunfighter (1969) | Ep 110 10/13/2026

Death of a Gunfighter (1969) | Ep 110 We have a brand new theme for the month and are kicking things off with a bang! Our dive into the filmography of the ever-notorious Alan Smithee starts at the very beginning with the Richard Widmark led western, Death of a Gunfighter. Will this tense and dusty standoff mark the beginning of a new era or will it serve as a warning to all who see the name Smithee etched across the screen? /episode/index/show/filmsatfirstsight/id/43274463

Sorry to Bother You (2018) | Ep 109 10/06/2026

Sorry to Bother You (2018) | Ep 109 We are wrapping up our month of power and control with Boots Riley's feature debut, Sorry to Bother You, a wildly imaginative comedy about telemarketing, labor rights, and finding one's place in the world. Will the maximalist satire woo us with its wicked sense of humor or will it all just fall on deaf horses' ears? /episode/index/show/filmsatfirstsight/id/43191653

Bad Timing (1982) | Short Ends Ep 19 09/29/2026

Bad Timing (1982) | Short Ends Ep 19 In this episode of Short Ends, we chat about Nancy Savoca's student film, "Bad Timing", a story of two adolescents with dreams of bigger and better lives, that learn some tough lessons while trying to make it on their own. Tune in to find out if Graham and Joe buy into their Hollywood aspirations or if it was all a bust from the start! /episode/index/show/filmsatfirstsight/id/43070818

They Shoot Horses, Don’t They? (1969) | Ep 108 09/25/2026

They Shoot Horses, Don’t They? (1969) | Ep 108 The sounds of power and control are still being broadcast to the masses as we dive into the world of exploitative dance marathons with Sydney Pollack's They Shoot Horses, Don’t They?. Will Joe & Graham have enough stamina to make it to the final round or will they collapse under the weight of stiff competition that has nothing to lose? /episode/index/show/filmsatfirstsight/id/43028303

Dogs Don't Wear Pants (2019) | Ep 107 09/18/2026

Dogs Don't Wear Pants (2019) | Ep 107 Join Joe and Anya in the real back room where they talk about the grief & kink symposium that is J-P Valkeapää's Dogs Don't Wear Pants. Will the Finnish black comedy stand up on its own two feet in the corridors of power & control or will it all just be a kinky facade? /episode/index/show/filmsatfirstsight/id/42950963

Black Zombie (2026) | Ep 106 09/11/2026

Black Zombie (2026) | Ep 106 This week we are joined by director, David Dylan Thomas to discuss Maya Annik Bedward's new documentary Black Zombie, a formative look at how Haitian Vodou as well as the Haitian Revolution helped create one of the most iconic monsters in cinema history, the zombie. So, tune in as we discuss the documentary at large, the importance of understanding and recontextualizing the past, and we check in on David's work-in-progress feature film, White Meat. /episode/index/show/filmsatfirstsight/id/42870825

Investigation of a Citizen Above Suspicion (1970) | Ep 105 09/01/2026

Investigation of a Citizen Above Suspicion (1970) | Ep 105 Joe is joined by Steve and new guest to the show, Sarah Beck from the West Chester Film Festival, to kick off a series of four films intertwined in various themes of power & control. First up is Elio Petri's masterful blend of suspense and black comedy, Investigation of a Citizen Above Suspicion. Will the gang fall under the spell of Gian Maria Volonté's self-assured police inspector, or will the rampant corruption just hit too close to home? /episode/index/show/filmsatfirstsight/id/42640365

La Jetée (1962) | Short Ends Ep 18 08/30/2026

La Jetée (1962) | Short Ends Ep 18 Joe is joined by Steve to go on one last journey in our trek through post-apocalyptic cinema with La Jetée, a French experimental short film that tells the tale of a man sent back through time to help find a solution to the end of mankind as we know it, all through a singularly narrated series of still-frame images. Will the fellas survive the experimental exploration of time? /episode/index/show/filmsatfirstsight/id/42608225

Lady Champagne (2026) | Ep 104 08/25/2026

Lady Champagne (2026) | Ep 104 Joe is joined by Rachel and Tillie from the Zombie Grrlz Horror Podcast Network to discuss the explicit joy that is the slapstick comedy of the year, Lady Champagne. It’s a night of big hair and bigger euphemisms with the latest adventures of Champagne Horowitz Jones Dickerson White (It's none of your f***ing business!). Will the silly onslaught be too much for the gang or will they live on see what other disasters await San Francisco’s most fabulous exotic dancer? /episode/index/show/filmsatfirstsight/id/42547780

The World, the Flesh and the Devil (1959) | Ep 103 08/18/2026

The World, the Flesh and the Devil (1959) | Ep 103 It may not be the end of the world as we know it, but it is the end of our monthlong look at post-apocalyptic cinema. Wit from Another '80s Podcast joins us to chat about Ranald MacDougall's The World, the Flesh and the Devil. Will this late '50s sci-fi flick hit all the right notes or will the crew wish it were still trapped in a small mine in Pennsylvania? /episode/index/show/filmsatfirstsight/id/42474060

2019: After the Fall of New York (1983) | Ep 102 08/11/2026

2019: After the Fall of New York (1983) | Ep 102 Deke from Sidetrackd16 enters the post-apocalyptic fray as we discuss a film that is an audacious blend of Mad Max, Escape from New York, and Planet of the Apes. That's right! It's Sergio Martino's 2019: After the Fall of New York from 1983. So, grab a seat as we dive into the singular thing that is Italian Cinema, pay a small tribute to the legend that is George Eastman, and try to get out with our minds and bodies intact. /episode/index/show/filmsatfirstsight/id/42388680

Chattanooga Film Festival 2026 08/06/2026

Chattanooga Film Festival 2026 What's a film festival without friends and off-beat cinema? Find out as we recap this year's Chattanooga Film Festival with a gaggle of some of the most excellent folks that we know! Podcast pals Rachel (Bloody Good Horror and the More Deadly podcast), Allison (Who's There?), and Jody & Mando (Dads from the Crypt) join Joe to breakdown all of their highlights, surprising lowlights, "Red Eyes", and short films from the best damn genre festival out there. /episode/index/show/filmsatfirstsight/id/42343370

Kin-dza-dza! (1986) | Ep 101 08/04/2026

Kin-dza-dza! (1986) | Ep 101 The fellas are heading to another planet in a far-off galaxy as they continue to explore post-apocalyptic cinema. Luckily, they have proper representation as they are joined by Space Lawyer Adam while they discuss the Soviet dystopian sci-fi comedy Kin-dza-dza!. Will the gang make it back home and regale the world with far-out stories or will the entire experience make them wanna Pluke? /episode/index/show/filmsatfirstsight/id/42309860

The Beast (2023) | Ep 100 07/28/2026

The Beast (2023) | Ep 100 Levi from the Well-Adjusted Horror Podcast, joins us to kick off a new theme for the month as we dive into the speculative world of post-apocalyptic cinema. First up is the French/Canadian sci-fi romance/drama The Beast AKA La Bête from 2023. Will the fellas fall head over heels for Léa Seydoux's Gabrielle, or will they wish the twisted journey could be scrubbed from their DNA? /episode/index/show/filmsatfirstsight/id/42239645

Blind Woman's Curse (1970) | Ep 99 07/21/2026

Blind Woman's Curse (1970) | Ep 99 We are wrapping up our "Star Search" month with a woman responsible for one of the most intense stares in cinema history, Meiko Kaji. Thanks to Graham, we are talking Teruo Ishii's ballad of erotic violence, Blind Woman's Curse. Will the fellas survive this feline onslaught of revenge, or will this early piece of Japanese cinema miss its mark? /episode/index/show/filmsatfirstsight/id/42142435

Cockfighter (1974) | Ep 98 07/14/2026

Cockfighter (1974) | Ep 98 Our "Star Search" is still shining bright as we dive into Graham's star selection, Harry Dean Stanton. Unfortunately for him, Joe is at the reins and is taking them into the Deep South with Monte Hellman's Cockfighter AKA Born to Kill. Will their journey into the violent sporting world of cockfighting tear the show apart? /episode/index/show/filmsatfirstsight/id/42068900

Chattanooga Film Festival 2026: Frogman Returns 07/09/2026

Chattanooga Film Festival 2026: Frogman Returns It's summertime and that must mean one thing, we are headed down South to visit that special "Summer Camp for Cinephiles" that sits along a bend of the Tennessee River, the Chattanooga Film Festival!! Joe and Rachel kick things off with a special look at Anthony Cousins's Frogman Returns. That's right, the green guy is back! And so is Dallas, Amy, the Children of Frogman, and some new unfortunate souls that are set to witness the horrors that lie in wait. Will the crew survive another journey to Loveland, OH or will they wish they turned around when they stopped for gas at Frog-ee's? /episode/index/show/filmsatfirstsight/id/42021560

Far from Heaven (2002) | Ep 97 07/07/2026

Far from Heaven (2002) | Ep 97 Caitlin from the Plug It Up! podcast joins us to chat about Julianne Moore and Todd Haynes' historical melodrama, Far from Heaven. Will the crew be swept away by the lush technicolor musings on life in America circa the 1950's or will the dive into the interstitial space of gender, race, class, and sexuality be too much? /episode/index/show/filmsatfirstsight/id/41992190

The Blue Diamond (2024) | Short Ends Ep 17 07/04/2026

The Blue Diamond (2024) | Short Ends Ep 17 Jody and Mando from the Dads from the Crypt podcast join Joe to talk about Sam Fox's funny and colorful short film, "The Blue Diamond". Throw on your best ski goggles and see if this farcical funeral will indoctrinate the fellas or will the slopes be a bit too slippery for their taste? /episode/index/show/filmsatfirstsight/id/41961255

Secret Ceremony (1968) | Ep 96 06/30/2026

Secret Ceremony (1968) | Ep 96 Deke from Sidetrackd16 joins us for our "Star Search" month which kicks off with Robert Mitchum! Oh, and we're throwing in Elizabeth Taylor and Mia Farrow as well in Joseph Losey's Secret Ceremony! So, join us for an escapade in questionable relationships and even more questionable facial hair. Will Deke discover a thrilling masterpiece, or will some secrets just be too much? /episode/index/show/filmsatfirstsight/id/41904945

Wildwood, NJ (1994) | Ep 95 06/25/2026

Wildwood, NJ (1994) | Ep 95 We're celebrating the start of summer with friends and intimate stories from the South Jersey Shore. Rachel and Tillie join Joe to discuss AGFA's recent release of Carol Weaks Cassidy and Ruth Leitman's documentary Wildwood, NJ, a wild and captivating look at the lives of various women in Wildwood, New Jersey in 1994. So, grab a seat and soak in the Super 8 vibes with us as we dive into our own childhood seaside experiences while marveling at the authentic snapshot of Americana that was captured over a sizzling New Jersey summer! /episode/index/show/filmsatfirstsight/id/41791260

The Astrologer: Steve Hacker | Ep 93.8 06/23/2026

The Astrologer: Steve Hacker | Ep 93.8 We celebrate the end of our insanely vain dive into Craig Denney's The Astrologer with good friend of the show Steve, who has more than a few questions for us about the movie. Will the tables be turned on us or will Steve realize there is no point in fighting the cosmic current that has swept us all out to sea? /episode/index/show/filmsatfirstsight/id/41708975

The Astrologer: Ariel from More Deadly Podcast | Ep 93.7 06/16/2026

The Astrologer: Ariel from More Deadly Podcast | Ep 93.7 We are at our penultimate episode where we invite people to be interviewed after watching/experiencing Craig Denney's The Astrologer. Ariel from the More Deadly Podcast had a feeling she was in for something weird, but certainly didn't anticipate so much random murder. Will the film leave a lasting impression or will it be just another Tuesday afternoon for her? /episode/index/show/filmsatfirstsight/id/41668215

Rainbow Girls (2025) | Short Ends Ep 16 06/11/2026

Rainbow Girls (2025) | Short Ends Ep 16 Short Ends is back, and we have a brand-new guest to help us celebrate the short film format. Tillie from the Zombie Grrlz Podcast Network joins Joe to chat about Nana Duffuor's "Rainbow Girls", a tale of finding community through the transgressive action of shoplifting, which is based on real-life events that occurred in the Bay Area. Will we connect with the colorful trio or will things fall apart before they ever had a chance to truly be free? /episode/index/show/filmsatfirstsight/id/41609610

The Astrologer: Thor from Thor's Hour of Thunder | Ep 93.6 06/10/2026

The Astrologer: Thor from Thor's Hour of Thunder | Ep 93.6 “The art of our necessities is strange. That can make vile things precious.” The end of our weird and awesome dive into Craig Denney's The Astrologer is nigh, so who better to turn to than the well-behaved Norse God, Thor? Actually, he is really the host of the podcast Thor's Hour of Thunder. Will lightning strike with this outrageous epic or will the rise and fall of an everyday conman just be too much? /episode/index/show/filmsatfirstsight/id/41597025

I Love Boosters (2026) | Ep 94 06/08/2026

I Love Boosters (2026) | Ep 94 We've escaped the cosmic insanity of The Astrologer and somehow things have gotten even more strange and awesome. William Kroll, the designer and craftsman behind Tender Co.'s designs and wares, joins us to talk about Boots Riley's latest film, I Love Boosters. Will the maximalist heist film bring the crew together in solidarity or will they wish they brought in some scab-ass busters to do the dirty work? /episode/index/show/filmsatfirstsight/id/41569840

The Astrologer: Whitney Lynn from Oh My Horror Challenge | Ep 93.5 06/05/2026

The Astrologer: Whitney Lynn from Oh My Horror Challenge | Ep 93.5 Our globetrotting adventures continue thanks to Craig Denney's The Astrologer. And much like our hero/villain, we circle back around and find ourselves on the California coast to check in with Whitney Lynn, creator of the Oh My Horror Movie Challenge. Will the cosmic mirror bring her the fortune she seeks or she find a new philosophy of nihilism and proclaim that God is Dead, Shit on Life, Hell is Earth? /episode/index/show/filmsatfirstsight/id/41553575

The Astrologer: Space Lawyer Adam | Ep 93.4 06/02/2026

The Astrologer: Space Lawyer Adam | Ep 93.4 There are crimes and there are legal crimes. Luckily, we have Adam Space Lawyer on retainer and he's here to help sort out Craig Denney's The Astrologer for us. Will he provide the answers that we seek, or will it just be an emotional meeting that lacks any clear dialogue? /episode/index/show/filmsatfirstsight/id/41507295

The Astrologer: Rachel Shatto from More Deadly Podcast | Ep 93.3 05/30/2026

The Astrologer: Rachel Shatto from More Deadly Podcast | Ep 93.3 The carnival lights are still bright but our dreams are even brighter. And yet, our guest's hair outshines them all. Rachel Shatto from the More Deadly Podcast as well as Bloody Good Horror, joins us to be asked a series of questions inspired by Craig Denney's The Astrologer. Will she wistfully sail the high seas or will she get stuck in a questionable bit of quicksand? /episode/index/show/filmsatfirstsight/id/41473755

The Astrologer: Brian McKenzie | Ep 93.2 05/28/2026

The Astrologer: Brian McKenzie | Ep 93.2 It's another SPECTACULAR! THRILLING! DIFFERENT! episode of Films at First Sight as our journey with Craig Denney's The Astrologer sails on. And what would an epic be without an appearance from somebody from the past? Brian McKenzie returns, but will he make it out of the Kenyan jungle alive? /episode/index/show/filmsatfirstsight/id/41450070

Films at First Sight

TOPICS