1-Week Rental: A Movie Podcast
Matt and Laci rent a movie from the video store, spend the week obsessing over it, and then tell you all about it. They spend the week watching, re-watching, researching, reading interviews, and reading the source material of the week's movie. Whether it's a blockbuster from the past, an all-time flop, or a cult classic, they unpack the history behind its production and the people who made it, then discuss, review, and make fun of the movie itself. New episodes every Friday. Formerly known as Load Bearing Beams.
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193. Bride Of Chucky
05/08/2026
193. Bride Of Chucky
Matt and Laci take a long look at the 1998 horror-comedy film Bride of Chucky. The Child’s Play franchise stands out among the classic horror movie series because it has, from the beginning, largely been stewarded by one man: screenwriter Don Mancini. The show goes through Mancini’s inspiration for writing the original 1988 film as a critique on the advertising industry, and the diminishing returns of the two sequels that caused the franchise to go dormant for most of the ‘90s. Then, the success of Scream led to a revitalization of horror, so Chucky was brought back from the dead, and this time, he’d have a manic gothic dream girl in the form of Tiffany (Jennifer Tilly). The history segment closes with a look at Jennifer Tilly’s legacy, and how she had no idea how much playing Tiffany would define her career, or how much love people had for her character and the Chucky franchise. Then, Laci and Matt review Bride of Chucky itself—how well does it serve as a soft reboot of the franchise? Does the humor work? Does it successfully juggle its tones? Can puppets carry a movie on their own? And does something like this even need to try to be scary? Watch the history segment in full: Next week (May 15, 2026): Sweet Home Alabama (2002)! Time stamps: 00:05:50 — History segment: Don Mancini and Child's Play origins; American horror struggles in the early '90s; Scream leads to a genre renaissance, and Chucky is revived; Mancini intentionally pivots the series into a humorous and queer-friendly direction; the career of Jennifer Tilly; Tilly's horror legacy 00:41:08 — Movie discussion 01:28:50 — Final thoughts & star ratings Bride of Chucky (1998) was directed by Ronny Yu and written by Don Mancini. Starring Jennifer Tilly, Brad Dourif, Katherine Heigl, Nick Stabile, Gordon Michael Woolvett, Alexis Arquette, and John Ritter as Uncle Warren. Sources: “Reign of Chucky” by Dustin McNeill & Travis Mullins (2022) - "Your Friend 'Til the End: An Oral History of Child's Play" by Jake Rossen | Mental Floss (2019) - "Chucky Returns to Terrorize TV. His Creator Couldn’t Be Happier." by Erik Pipenburg | The New York Times (2021) - "210 Minutes With Jennifer Tilly" by Jada Yuan | New York Magazine (2012) - "Ay, Caramba! Jennifer Tilly Scores 'The Simpsons' Earnings From Late Ex's Estate" | Radar Online (2018) - "'It’s Not All Diamonds and Roses': Jennifer Tilly Takes on the Beverly Hills Housewives" by Emily Sandstrom | Interview Magazine (2024) - Artwork by Laci Roth. Check out Laci's coloring videos on YouTube! Matt has a monthly spin-off podcast covering the James Bond films! Check out PodJob: A James Bond Podcast on Apple Podcast (), Spotify (), and YouTube (). Music by Rural Route Nine. Listen to their album The Joy of Averages on Spotify (), Apple Music (), or YouTube (). Songs by Rural Route Nine in this episode: “Winston-Salem” - “Snake Drama” - “The Bible Towers of Bluebonnet” - Follow the show! Twitter: | | Facebook: Instagram: TikTok: | Letterboxd: | Bluesky: 1-Week Rental used to be Load Bearing Beams.
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Join our summer fantasy box office league!
05/04/2026
Join our summer fantasy box office league!
Hey everybody. I'm just putting this out there on the audio feed of 1-Week Rental, of our podcast feed. You may or may not know that in the summer we do a summer box office league, fantasy box office league. Like fantasy football, but with box office. And we want to expand it and get more people involved. So I'm just putting this out there to gauge the interest of people who listen to the show: If you want to participate, if you would want to participate, we have a first prize that is $50, second prize is $30, third prize is $20, and then there's a last-place prize of $20. It would start probably after Memorial Day. I need to see how many people want to be involved to sort of figure out all the logistics—how many movies are going to be eligible to draft, when we would have the draft, etc. If you’re interested in participating, let me know. Email matt@loadbearingbeams.com or DM me or the show on any of our social media accounts, and let us know you want to participate. The only thing we would need from you is to attend the live draft, or to give someone in the league your proxy to draft for you. If we schedule it at a time that you can't attend, you'd say, "Matt (or whoever), I trust you to pick movies for me." And the draft will be a live stream, but you don't have to be on camera if you don't want to be. The live draft is a ton of fun. It'd be a great chance to meet new people, engage with the community of people who love movies and are nerds about box office and stuff. So again, if you would like to participate, it's a lot of fun. Fantasy box office league. It will run June, July, and August. There's no cost to participate. It's free. Laci and I just pay the prizes ourselves. If you win, we will literally just Venmo you some money. "Congratulations!" So yeah, if you are interested in participating, again, email matt@loadbearingbeams.com or DM me or the show at any of our social media accounts. Those are all linked in the description. All right, looking forward to hearing from you. Thanks. Twitter: | | Facebook: Instagram: TikTok: | Bluesky:
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192. The Devil Wears Prada
05/01/2026
192. The Devil Wears Prada
Gird your loins, folks! We’ve accepted the low-paying position of assistant to Miranda Priestly, the legendary editor-in-chief at Runway Magazine, the fashion crown jewel of the Elias Clarke publishing empire. A million other people would kill to have this job, but it’s sure to open up big doors for us in the future. Ms. Priestly’s a little demanding, and doesn’t like us to ask questions, and doesn’t like when we don’t understand things, and calls us fat, but all things require a learning curve. On an unrelated note: The podcast is covering The Devil Wears Prada (2006), the millennial classic about a hard-working striver who doesn’t think she can please her boss, before wouldn’t you know it, she pleases her damn boss? It might end up being the role Meryl Streep will be best remembered for, and she’s truly electric in this movie. But Emily Blunt and Stanley Tucci are also incredible! And Anne Hathaway’s doing her thing. Now, about that: During the history segment, we really try to unpack why people don’t like Anne Hathaway. Including one of the people who hosts this podcast. Also in the history segment: The life and times of Vogue editor Anna Wintour; Lauren Weisberger working for Wintour and then writing a thinly veiled novel about it; how that novel was adapted into a movie; and how playing Priestly catapulted Meryl Streep into being a box office sensation for the first time in her career. Watch the history segment in full: Next week (May 8, 2026): Bride of Chucky (1998)! Time stamps: 00:06:33 — History segment: Anna Wintour; author Lauren Weisberger works as Wintour's assistant for 10 months, writes a novel about it; the novel gets adapated as a movie by director David Frankel; casting Meryl Streep and Anne Hathaway; why do people hate Anne Hathaway? 00:51:55 — Movie discussion 02:05:15 — Final thoughts & star ratings The Devil Wears Prada was directed by David Frankel and written by Aline Brosh McKenna, based on Lauren Weisberger's novel. Starring Anne Hathaway, Meryl Streep, Emily Blunt, Stanley Tucci, Simon Baker, Tracie Thoms, Rich Sommer, Gisele Bundchen, and Adrian Grenier as "Nate." Sources: "Anna Wintour's legacy and who might replace her as Vogue editor" by Steven McIntosh | BBC (2025) - "Anna Wintour Embraces a New Era At Vogue" by David Remnick | The New Yorker (2025) - "What’s Wrong With Vogue?" by Cathy Horyn | The New York Times (2008) - "The White Issue: Has Anna Wintour’s Diversity Push Come Too Late?" by Edmund Lee | The New York Times (2020) - “When personal assistants attack!” by Elizabeth Spiers | Salon (2003) - "‘Every minute at Vogue felt like an emergency’: Devil Wears Prada author Lauren Weisberger on igniting a scandal" by Jess Cartner-Morley | The Guardian (2024) - “‘It was a year of being yelled at’: How much of The Devil Wears Prada really happened?” by Megan Agnew | The Sydney Morning Herald (2026) - "The Devil Wears Prada oral history: Cast reunites to dish on making the best-dressed hit" by Joey Nolfi | Entertainment Weekly (2021) - "‘The Devil Wears Prada’ Turns 10: Meryl Streep, Anne Hathaway and Emily Blunt Tell All" by Ramin Setoodeh | Variety (2016) - “Anne Hathaway on Tuning Out the Haters and Embracing Her True Self” by Julie Miller | Vanity Fair (2024) - "Anne Hathaway Can’t Win" by Anne Helen Petersen | BuzzFeed (2015) - "A Tale of Two Oscar-Winning Actresses: Why Has Jennifer Lawrence Become a Media Darling by Breaking All the Rules, While Well-Behaved Anne Hathaway Is Getting Flack?" by Julie Miller | Vanity Fair (2013) - "How Annoying Is Anne Hathaway: A Scientific Inquiry" by Billy Kimball | HuffPost (2013) - "The Cult of Hathahaters: Will It Hurt Anne Hathaway’s Oscar Chances?" by Kevin Fallon | The Daily Beast (2013) - Artwork by Laci Roth. Check out Laci's coloring videos on YouTube! Matt has a monthly spin-off podcast covering the James Bond films! Check out PodJob: A James Bond Podcast on Apple Podcast (), Spotify (), and YouTube (). Music by Rural Route Nine. Listen to their album The Joy of Averages on Spotify (), Apple Music (), or YouTube (). Songs by Rural Route Nine in this episode: “Winston-Salem” - “Snake Drama” - “The Bible Towers of Bluebonnet” - Follow the show! Twitter: | | Facebook: Instagram: TikTok: | Letterboxd: | Bluesky: 1-Week Rental used to be Load Bearing Beams.
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191. Showgirls (1995)
04/24/2026
191. Showgirls (1995)
Content warning: Showgirls depicts sexual violence as a central theme, and this is discussed in the podcast. The podcast tackles Paul Verhoeven's misunderstood masterpiece Showgirls (1995), and celebration the singularity of Elizabeth Berkley's incredible performance as Nomi Malone, the eternal cowboy of America. And then we bring Sex Month to a close by doling out some expert sex advice. Next week (May 1, 2026): The Devil Wears Prada (2006)! Watch Matt's video essay about Paul Verhoeven: Time stamps: 00:10:17 — History segment: The career of Paul Verhoeven; Verhoeven and Joe Eszterhas's collaboration leads to Showgirls; the career of Elizabeth Berkley; the legacy of Showgirls; a brief history of the NC-17 rating 01:02:10 — Movie discussion 02:30:25 — Sex advice questions 02:45:20 — Final thoughts & star ratings Showgirls was directed by Paul Verhoeven and written by Joe Eszterhas. Starring Elizabeth Berkley, Kyle MacLachlan, Gina Gershon, Gina Ravera, Glenn Plummer, and Robert Davi as Al. Sources: "‘Showgirls’: Paul Verhoeven on the Greatest Stripper Movie Ever Made" by Jennifer Wood | Rolling Stone (2015) - "How ‘Showgirls’ Became a Queer-Movie Classic" by Jeffrey McHale | The Daily Beast (2020) - Review of Showgirls by Roger Ebert | The Chicago Sun-Times (1995) - "Interviews | Vulgar Moralism: Paul Verhoeven’s Black Book" by Robert Koehler | Cinema Scope (2006) - "The Naked Truth About 'Showgirls' by Kenneth Turan | The Los Angeles Times (1995) - "Interview with Elizabeth Berkley" by Danielle Cantor | Jewish Women International (2011) - "Farmington Hills' Elizabeth Berkley so excited for 'Saved by the Bell' reboot" by Kurt Anthony Krug | The Detroit News (2020) - "The Staggering Transformation Of Elizabeth Berkley" by Cassie Daigle | Nicki Swift (2024) - Artwork by Laci Roth. Check out Laci's coloring videos on YouTube! Matt has a monthly spin-off podcast covering the James Bond films! Check out PodJob: A James Bond Podcast on Apple Podcast (), Spotify (), and YouTube (). Music by Rural Route Nine. Listen to their album The Joy of Averages on Spotify (), Apple Music (), or YouTube (). Songs by Rural Route Nine in this episode: “Winston-Salem” - “Snake Drama” - "24 Hours Is Like Three Weeks!" - “The Bible Towers of Bluebonnet” - Follow the show! Twitter: | | Facebook: Instagram: TikTok: | Letterboxd: | Bluesky: 1-Week Rental used to be Load Bearing Beams.
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190. Hellraiser (1987)
04/17/2026
190. Hellraiser (1987)
Matt and Laci dive deep into Hellraiser (1987). Matt, a long-time fan of the movie, and Laci, a first-time viewer, discuss the film's production history and the life and philosophy of its creator, Clive Barker. They explore Barker's background, including his early work in theater, his time as a male escort, and his unique perspective on integrating explicit sexuality and body horror into his work. Two prior adaptations of his work led Barker to want to take tight control of a third adaptation, which meant he would need to direct it himself. And what an incredible feat the film is for a first-time filmmaker. 1WR tells that story, including how Barker recruited his longtime friend Doug Bradley to play the iconic role of Pinhead. Then, a long breakdown of the movie itself. How does it play for a first-time viewer? How well do its practical effects hold up? Do its themes make sense? Has any movie character ever hated their spouse as much as Julia hates Larry? And is Hellraiser as scary as we assumed it would be when we saw the VHS box in the video store as children? Is anything? Finally, Pinhead himself joins us to give some sex advice. Next week (April 24, 2026): SEX MONTH concludes with Paul Verhoeven's Showgirls (1995)! Time stamps: 00:10:00 — History segment: The life and times of Clive Barker; production of Hellraiser; Doug Bradley; the Hellraiser franchise and its legacy 00:49:15 — Movie discussion 02:03:23 — Sex advice questions 02:11:13 — Final thoughts & star ratings Hellraiser was written and directed by Clive Barker. Starring Andrew Robinson, Clare Higgins, Ashley Laurence, Oliver Smith, Sean Chapman, and Doug Bradley as the "Lead Cenobite" (Pinhead). Sources: The Hellraiser Films and Their Legacy by Paul Kane (2015) - "How we made Hellraiser" by Phil Hoad | The Guardian (2017) - "Queer Sexuality in Clive Barker’s ‘Hellraiser’ (1987)" by Bash Ortega | Horror Press (2024) - “Eroticising The World” | Cut, Vol 2, No 10 (1987) - (republished on Clive Barker’s website) “All The Gory Details” by M. Kent Black (1989) - (republished on Clive Barker’s website) "‘Hellraiser’ Author Clive Barker on Almost Dying, Hustling, and Killing Pinhead" by Sean T. Collins | Grantland (2015) - Clive Barker on Loveline (1996) - (republished on Barker’s website) Artwork by Laci Roth. Check out Laci's coloring videos on YouTube! Matt has a monthly spin-off podcast covering the James Bond films! Check out PodJob: A James Bond Podcast on Apple Podcast (), Spotify (), and YouTube (). Music by Rural Route Nine. Listen to their album The Joy of Averages on Spotify (), Apple Music (), or YouTube (). Songs by Rural Route Nine in this episode: “Winston-Salem” - “Snake Drama” - "24 Hours Is Like Three Weeks!" - “The Bible Towers of Bluebonnet” - Follow the show! Twitter: | | Facebook: Instagram: TikTok: | Letterboxd: | Bluesky: 1-Week Rental used to be Load Bearing Beams.
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189. Can't Hardly Wait
04/10/2026
189. Can't Hardly Wait
In the late '90s, there was a revival of the teen comedy, and Can't Hardly Wait stands as one of the classics of the era. The premise couldn't be simpler: It's one night at a party, the night of graduation. We follow a handful of crazy kids and see what kind of sexy trouble they get into. And it's a lot of fun! Surprisingly, this movie is rated PG-13 and is way less raunchy than we remember, so maybe not an ideal fit for Sex Month. So we try to lewd it up in our discussion for you. Next week (April 17, 2026): SEX MONTH continues with the '80s horror-sex classic Hellraiser (1987)! Time stamps: 00:07:30 — History segment: A brief history of the "teen movie"; the writing, casting, production, and legacy of Can't Hardly Wait 00:39:50 — Movie discussion 01:45:41 — Sex advice questions 01:50:43 — Final thoughts & star ratings Can't Hardly Wait was written and directed by Harry Elfont and Deborah Kaplan. Starring Lauren Ambrose, Seth Green, Ethan Embry, Jennifer Love Hewitt, Charlie Korsmo, and Peter Facinelli as Mike Dexter. Sources: "The Beer Has Not Gone Bad: How ‘Can’t Hardly Wait’ Became a Teen Cult Classic" by Andrew Gruttadaro | The Ringer (2018) - "Whatever: a history of teen movies" by Killian Fox | The Guardian (2009) - Artwork by Laci Roth. Check out Laci's coloring videos on YouTube! Matt has a monthly spin-off podcast covering the James Bond films! Check out PodJob: A James Bond Podcast on Apple Podcast (), Spotify (), and YouTube (). Music by Rural Route Nine. Listen to their album The Joy of Averages on Spotify (), Apple Music (), or YouTube (). Songs by Rural Route Nine in this episode: “Winston-Salem” - “Snake Drama” - “The Bible Towers of Bluebonnet” - Follow the show! Twitter: | | Facebook: Instagram: TikTok: | Letterboxd: | Bluesky: 1-Week Rental used to be Load Bearing Beams.
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188. Fifty Shades Of Grey
04/03/2026
188. Fifty Shades Of Grey
Laci and Matt fall into the world of Christian Grey, a mysterious and mercurial billionaire (age: 27) who enjoys flying his helicopter and tickling womens' tummies. First, the show explores author E.L. James and how her Twilight fan fiction evolved into the worldwide bestselling Fifty Shades trilogy. Then, a cultural industry grows like a weed, trying to figure out what exactly it says about our society that we love these books, ya know? The 2010s is also when fandom completely seizes control of the production of its favorite intellectual properties. Author E.L. James was not happy with how far the first Fifty Shades film deviated from her book, and she kept a much tighter leash on the subsequent entries. But what exactly was she unhappy with? Is Fifty Shades of Grey conservative or progressive, sex-positive or prudish, feminist or retrograde, pro-BDSM or anti-BDSM? The answer, of course, is yes. I'll bet you five you're not alive if this movie about transactional law doesn't turn you on. Plus, we answer a sex advice question! Next week (April 10, 2026): SEX MONTH continues with the '90s sex comedy classic Can't Hardly Wait (1998)! Time stamps: 00:05:06 — History segment: Author E.L. James writes a Twilight fan fiction that then gets turned into Fifty Shades of Grey; the novel becomes a blockbuster, leading to huge movies and a huge cultural industry; the production of the movie is difficult; Dakota Johnson still confuses us; the #notmychristian backlash to Jamie Dornan's casting; director Sam Taylor-Johnson later expresses regret that she did the movie, claims E.L. James doesn't like her 00:43:05 — Movie discussion 01:55:19 — Sex advice question of the week: "Help! My girlfriend wants to pee on me!" 01:59:15 — Final thoughts & star ratings Sources: "Unexpected Lessons From ‘Fifty Shades of Grey’" by A.O. Scott | The New York Times (2015) - "‘Fifty Shades’ Sequel: Author E.L. James Demands Control Over Script" by Justin Kroll & Ramin Setoodeh | Variety (2015) - "Mommy porn?: Fifty Shades of Grey by EL James: review" by Laura Barnett | The Telegraph (2012) - "Sir Salman Rushdie: 'Fifty Shades of Grey makes Twilight look like War and Peace'" by Chris Irvine Chrisirvine | The Telegraph (2012) - "Sam Taylor-Johnson reveals Fifty Shades regret: 'EL James didn't like me'" by Alice Vincent | The Telegraph (2017) - "‘Fifty Shades’ Casting: Shailene Woodley and Other Surprise Names That Passed" by Tatiana Siegel & Borys Kit | The Hollywood Reporter (2013) - “50 Shades film: Charlie Hunnam and Dakota Johnson cast” by Ben Child | The Guardian (2013) - “Jamie Dornan fled to rural hideaway after ‘ridicule’ over Fifty Shades of Grey” by Vanessa Thorpe | The Guardian (2024) - "Fifty Shades Of Green: How Fanfiction Went From Dirty Little Secret To Money Machine" by Hayley C. Cuccinello | Forbes (2017) - "Christian Grey Began His Fictional Career As A Vampire" by Neda Ulaby | NPR (2015) - "Is Fifty Shades Of Grey Twilight Fan-Fiction? Origins & Inspiration Explained" by Adrienne Tyler | Screen Rant (2024) - "Fifty Shades of Grey: what BDSM enthusiasts think" by Anna Smith | The Guardian (2015) - Artwork by Laci Roth. Check out Laci's coloring videos on YouTube! Matt has a monthly spin-off podcast covering the James Bond films! Check out PodJob: A James Bond Podcast on Apple Podcast (), Spotify (), and YouTube (). Music by Rural Route Nine. Listen to their album The Joy of Averages on Spotify (), Apple Music (), or YouTube (). Songs by Rural Route Nine in this episode: “Winston-Salem” - “Snake Drama” - “The Bible Towers of Bluebonnet” - Follow the show! Twitter: | | Facebook: Instagram: TikTok: | Letterboxd: | Bluesky: 1-Week Rental used to be Load Bearing Beams.
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187. Sideways
03/27/2026
187. Sideways
Laci and Matt take a trip to Santa Barbara County, California, for a glass (or 12!) of wine with their favorite pinot-slurping pals: Miles (Paul Giamatti), Jack (Thomas Haden Church), Maya (Virginia Madsen), Stephanie (Sandra Oh), and a friendly flock of ostriches. That's right, people, we spent the week with Sideways (2004), Alexander Payne's hilarious look at two codependent losers who have one of cinema's all-time great friendships. Next week (April 3, 2026): 1-Week Rental's official SEX MONTH begins with a podcast about Fifty Shades Of Grey (2015)! Time stamps: 00:08:45 — History segment: Author Rex Pickett (the real-life Miles) writes a book; it gets adapted by Alexander Payne; the wine industry will never be the same; the little-known Sideways Extended Universe 00:44:00 — Movie discussion 02:06:00 — Final thoughts & star ratings Sources: “Taste of Success” by Oliver Burkeman | The Guardian (2004) - "A drink with… Rex Pickett" by Jonathan Cristaldi | Decanter (2024) - https://bit.ly/4rUAegu "The Hitching Post Toasts 20 Years of the Surprise Hit SIDEWAYS" by Bonnie Graves | Golden State (2024) - "'The Sideways Effect': How A Wine-Obsessed Film Reshaped The Industry" by Kristen Hartke | NPR (2017) - "The Full Giamatti" by Scott Raab | Esquire (2007) - "They’re still toasting ‘Sideways’ in Santa Barbara wine country" by Hugo Martin | The Los Angeles Times (2009) - "After 20 years, 'Sideways' has aged like a fine . . . well, you know" by Rob Thomas | Not That Rob Thomas (2024) - Artwork by Laci Roth. Check out Laci's coloring videos on YouTube! Matt has a monthly spin-off podcast covering the James Bond films! Check out PodJob: A James Bond Podcast on Apple Podcast (), Spotify (), and YouTube (). Music by Rural Route Nine. Listen to their album The Joy of Averages on Spotify (), Apple Music (), or YouTube (). Songs by Rural Route Nine in this episode: “Winston-Salem” - “Snake Drama” - “The Bible Towers of Bluebonnet” - Follow the show! Twitter: | | Facebook: Instagram: TikTok: | Letterboxd: | Bluesky: 1-Week Rental used to be Load Bearing Beams.
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186. Nothing But Trouble (1991)
03/20/2026
186. Nothing But Trouble (1991)
It's one of the most unpleasant movies we've ever covered: Nothing But Trouble, starring Chevy Chase, Demi Moore, John Candy, and Dan Aykroyd, who also wrote and directed the picture. Like a comedy version of Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2 (but less funny), it's a movie that's difficult to put into words, or even comprehend. But one way to understand it is to think of it like Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislane Maxwell taking a country drive into New Jersey and facing way more justice than they would in the real world. Next week (March 27, 2026): Sideways (2004)! Time stamps: 00:05:35 — History segment: Dan Aykroyd and his brother Peter are inspired to turn a story about his upstate New York traffic violation into a horror-comedy; they can't find anyone to direct, so he directs it himself, and it doesn't turn out well for anybody 00:29:30 — Movie discussion 01:21:30 — Final thoughts & star ratings Sources: Interview With Dan Aykroyd | The Woody Show (2023) - “‘King Ralph,’ ‘Nothing But Trouble’ just for laughs Aykroyd effort lacks wit to balance the grossness” by Jay Boyar | The Orlando Sentinel (1991) - Exploring Nothing but Trouble - The Untold Story Behind Dan Aykroyd's Notorious Production | GoodBadFlicks - Artwork by Laci Roth. Check out Laci's coloring videos on YouTube! Matt has a monthly spin-off podcast covering the James Bond films! Check out PodJob: A James Bond Podcast on Apple Podcast (), Spotify (), and YouTube (). Music by Rural Route Nine. Listen to their album The Joy of Averages on Spotify (), Apple Music (), or YouTube (). Songs by Rural Route Nine in this episode: “Winston-Salem” - “Snake Drama” - “The Bible Towers of Bluebonnet” - Follow the show! Twitter: | | Facebook: Instagram: TikTok: | Letterboxd: | Bluesky: 1-Week Rental used to be Load Bearing Beams.
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Marty Supreme | Sinners | Bugonia (Oscars Special - Part 2)
03/13/2026
Marty Supreme | Sinners | Bugonia (Oscars Special - Part 2)
1WR continues helping you prepare for Hollywood's Biggest Night(TM), as Laci and Matt stir the pot and catch up on awards season before going deep on Marty Supreme. Then, Matt is joined by his friend Caleb Hogan to discuss Sinners, and the show closes with a conversation about Bugonia with returning guest Cinema Coconut. Next week (March 20, 2026): Nothing But Trouble, where Dan Ackroyd plays dual roles: a judge with a penis for a nose and also a big diaper baby. Time stamps: 00:15:30 — Marty Supreme 00:50:45 — Sinners (with Caleb Hogan) 01:22:55 — Bugonia (with Cinema Coconut) Follow Neophyte Reviews! TikTok: Instagram: YouTube: Artwork by Laci Roth. Check out Laci's coloring videos on YouTube! Matt has a monthly spin-off podcast covering the James Bond films! Check out PodJob: A James Bond Podcast on Apple Podcast (), Spotify (), and YouTube (). Music by Rural Route Nine. Listen to their album The Joy of Averages on Spotify (), Apple Music (), or YouTube (). Songs by Rural Route Nine in this episode: “Winston-Salem” - “Snake Drama” - “The Bible Towers of Bluebonnet” - Follow the show! Twitter: | | Facebook: Instagram: TikTok: | Letterboxd: | Bluesky: 1-Week Rental used to be Load Bearing Beams.
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KPop: Demon Hunters | Train Dreams | If I Had Legs I'd Kick You | Weapons | Frankenstein | One Battle After Another (2026 Oscars Special - Part 1)
03/06/2026
KPop: Demon Hunters | Train Dreams | If I Had Legs I'd Kick You | Weapons | Frankenstein | One Battle After Another (2026 Oscars Special - Part 1)
Hollywood's Biggest Night is almost upon us, and 1-Week Rental is gonna help you get ready by discussing the movies nominated for the biggest awards. In this, the first of our two-part series previewing the awards, Matt talks to his friends about six films: Frankenstein, If I Had Legs I'd Kick You, KPop: Demon Hunters, One Battle After Another, Train Dreams, and Weapons. Next week (March 13, 2026): Part 2 of our Oscars special continues reviewing huge Oscar movies! The week after that (March 20, 2026): Nothing But Trouble, where Dan Ackroyd plays a judge with a penis for a nose, and also a big diaper baby. Time stamps: 00:01:40 — KPop: Demon Hunters (with Neophyte Reviews) 00:16:00 — Train Dreams (with Drewbie Doobie's Movies) 00:32:40 — If I Had Legs I'd Kick You (with Austin Proctor) 01:00:35 — Weapons (with Smash Trivia John) 01:27:27 — Frankenstein (with Spooky T & HFK) 01:45:45 — One Battle After Another (with Wade Hymel) Follow Neophyte Reviews! TikTok: Instagram: YouTube: Follow Drewbie Doobie's Movies! TikTok: Instagram: Follow Austin Proctor! Listen to Frightmares on Apple Podcast () or Spotify () TikTok: Instagram: Follow Smash Trivia John! Listen to Smash Trivia Presents: The Gamma Analysis on Apple Podcast () or Spotify () TikTok: Instagram: YouTube: Follow Spooky T & HFK! Spooky T on TikTok: HFK on TikTok: Follow Wade Hymel! Listen to PodJob: A James Bond Podcast on Apple Podcast ( or Spotify ( Dash Rip Rock's new album, A Song In Everyone ( A Song In Everyone on vinyl ( Wade's solo album, Who Said That? ( Lilli Lewis ( Incubators ( Rural Route Nine () Artwork by Laci Roth. Check out Laci's coloring videos on YouTube! Matt has a monthly spin-off podcast covering the James Bond films! Check out PodJob: A James Bond Podcast on Apple Podcast (), Spotify (), and YouTube (). Music by Rural Route Nine. Listen to their album The Joy of Averages on Spotify (), Apple Music (), or YouTube (). Songs by Rural Route Nine in this episode: “Winston-Salem” - “Snake Drama” - “The Bible Towers of Bluebonnet” - Follow the show! Twitter: | | Facebook: Instagram: TikTok: | Letterboxd: | Bluesky: 1-Week Rental used to be Load Bearing Beams.
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185. True Lies
02/27/2026
185. True Lies
Laci and Matt go through True Lies (1994), James Cameron's "normal" movie. The most expensive movie ever made at the time of its production. It could've just been a straightforward spy thriller, but instead Cameron and Arnold Schwarzenegger decided to put in every action movie idea they'd ever had. And the results are glorious. Well, okay, the movie goes on for one act too long, and Jamie Lee Curtis steals the show and is then shown the door. But it's fun as heck, is what we're saying. Next week: Our Oscars previews begin, as we talk about every movie nominated for a major award. Next week (March 6) is part one, and the following Friday (March 13) is part two. Time stamps: 00:03:30 — History segment: Original French film La Totale!; Arnold Schwarzenegger options film and brings his buddy James Cameron aboard; Jamie Lee Curtis's career; Eliza Dushku's allegations of abuse against a True Lies crewmember; legacy of True Lies and attempts at a sequel 00:37:25 — Movie discussion 01:39:07 — Final thoughts & star ratings Sources: "I’ll Be Bond: Arnold Schwarzenegger and James Cameron’s Everything or Nothing Shot at the James Bond Title" by Tim Pelan | Cinephilia Beyond - "Arnold Schwarzenegger “Shocked and Saddened” by Eliza Dushku’s ‘True Lies’ Assault Claims" by Abid Rahman | The Hollywood Reporter (2018) - “James Cameron addresses Eliza Dushku's claim True Lies stunt coordinator molested her" by Natalie Abrams & Dan Snierson | Entertainment Weekly (2018) - "Eliza Dushku Says ‘True Lies’ Stunt Coordinator Sexually Assaulted Her When She Was 12" by Katie Kilkenny & Jackie Strause | The Hollywood Reporter (2018) - "Jamie Lee Curtis Plants a Kiss on Arnold Schwarzenegger as They Have a True Lies Reunion 29 Years Later" by Tommy McArdle & Colleen Kratofil | People (2025) - "James Cameron Reveals the Challenges of Casting Jamie Lee Curtis in 'True Lies' by Rahul Malhotra | Collider (2025) - "How James Cameron Convinced Leonardo DiCaprio to Make Titanic" by John Ross | Vanity Fair (2025) - "Every James Cameron Movie, Explained by James Cameron" | Vanity Fair (2025) - Total Recall: My Unbelievably True Life Story by Arnold Schwarzenegger (2012) - Artwork by Laci Roth. Check out Laci's coloring videos on YouTube! Matt has a monthly spin-off podcast covering the James Bond films! Check out PodJob: A James Bond Podcast on Apple Podcast (), Spotify (), and YouTube (). Music by Rural Route Nine. Listen to their album The Joy of Averages on Spotify (), Apple Music (), or YouTube (). Songs by Rural Route Nine in this episode: “Winston-Salem” - “Snake Drama” - “The Bible Towers of Bluebonnet” - Follow the show! Twitter: | | Facebook: Instagram: TikTok: | Letterboxd: | Bluesky: 1-Week Rental used to be Load Bearing Beams.
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184. High Fidelity
02/20/2026
184. High Fidelity
Laci and Matt pay a visit to Championship Vinyl to hang out with Rob, Barry, Dick, Laura, Ian, Marie de Salle, and all the fine folks in the music scene of that windy city we like to call Chi-Town. That's right, it's High Fidelity (2000)! It's a great music movie. It's an even greater romantic comedy. In fact, it's kind of an anti-romantic comedy, because the lesson in the end is: The most romantic thing in life is being a grown-up. Plus: Our top-five songs we want played at our funerals, AND fierce debate about whether DJs are musicians and if a singer's vocal chords count as an instrument. Next week: True Lies (1994)! Time stamps: 00:03:00 — History segment: Original novel by Nick Hornby; John Cusack hired to produce, write, and star in adaptation; hiring director Stephen Frears; casting Jack Black and Iben Hjejle; legacy of High Fidelity and TV series remake 00:33:40 — Movie discussion 02:06:40 — Final thoughts & star ratings Sources: "Top Five: An Oral History of High Fidelity" by Andrew Buss | Consequence (2025) - "John Cusack: ‘Hollywood is a whorehouse and people go mad’" by Henry Barnes | The Guardian (2014) - Artwork by Laci Roth. Check out Laci's coloring videos on YouTube! Matt has a monthly spin-off podcast covering the James Bond films! Check out PodJob: A James Bond Podcast on Apple Podcast (), Spotify (), and YouTube (). Music by Rural Route Nine. Listen to their album The Joy of Averages on Spotify (), Apple Music (), or YouTube (). Songs by Rural Route Nine in this episode: “Winston-Salem” - “Snake Drama” - “The Bible Towers of Bluebonnet” - Follow the show! Twitter: | | Facebook: Instagram: TikTok: | Letterboxd: | Bluesky: 1-Week Rental used to be Load Bearing Beams.
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183. When Harry Met Sally...
02/13/2026
183. When Harry Met Sally...
Laci and Matt dive deep into When Harry Met Sally (1989), one of the all-time great romantic comedies. In a movie that could easily be dismissed as a clone of Woody Allen’s early rom-coms, the film makes its mark with two superstar lead performances from Meg Ryan and Billy Crystal, an electric script by Nora Ephron, and breezy, hilarious direction from Rob Reiner. We tell the story of how this movie came together, how it evolved during development, and how it became the classic we all know today. Then, your favorite husband-and-wife podcasting duo have a lengthy discussion about the movie itself, and folks, there are some heated battle-of-the-sexes arguments in this one. Because men do be like this, while women do be doing woman stuff, like makeup. Will they ever learn to get along??? Next week's episode (Feb. 20, 2026): High Fidelity (2000) Time stamps: 00:03:00 — History segment: Rob Reiner and Nora Ephron's initial meeting; their careers before and after When Harry Met Sally; casting Billy Crystal and Meg Ryan; the script's original, less-happy ending; legacy of When Harry Met Sally 00:40:40 — Movie discussion 01:46:45 — Final thoughts & star ratings Source: From Hollywood With Love: The Rise and Fall and Rise Again of the Romantic Comedy by Scott Meslow - Artwork by Laci Roth. Check out Laci's coloring videos on YouTube! Matt has a monthly spin-off podcast covering the James Bond films! Check out PodJob: A James Bond Podcast on Apple Podcast (), Spotify (), and YouTube (). Music by Rural Route Nine. Listen to their album The Joy of Averages on Spotify (), Apple Music (), or YouTube (). Songs by Rural Route Nine in this episode: “Winston-Salem” - “Snake Drama” - “The Bible Towers of Bluebonnet” - Follow the show! Twitter: | | Facebook: Instagram: TikTok: | Letterboxd: | Bluesky: 1-Week Rental used to be Load Bearing Beams.
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182. She-Devil (1989)
02/06/2026
182. She-Devil (1989)
Roseanne Barr is now known as a reactionary cancel-culture warrior, but she was once a beloved comedian and champion of working-class politics. What exactly happened? And, in the middle of her rocketship ride to the moon of superstardom, she co-starred in a movie with Meryl Streep! What?! And the movie is really good???? Laci and Matt tell the story of She-Devil (1989), director Susan Seidelman's black comedy that pits Barr against Streep and Ed Begley Jr., with Barr as an avenging angel for neglected and forgotten women everywhere. It's a very funny and poignant comedy that critics largely dismissed at the time. Especially British critics, who compared it unfavorably to the 1986 BBC miniseries adaptation of The Life and Loves of a She-Devil. That's right, this all starts with a seminal work of feminist literature by author Fay Weldon. We also tell that story, including her 2017 legacy sequel to She-Devil and her sad eventual evolution into a TERF. Then, we dive into She-Devil the film, heaping endless praise of Meryl Streep's hilarious physical comedy, Ed Begley's smarmy nice-guy evilness, and Roseanne's up-and-down performance in her first film role. Next week's episode (Feb. 13, 2026): When Harry Met Sally... (1989) Time stamps: 00:03:00 — History segment: Original She-Devil author Fay Weldon, an important British feminist writer, and her later unfortunate turn toward TERFdom; director Susan Seidelman's career and experience working with Meryl Streep and Roseanne Barr; career overview of Roseanne Barr, from early working-class comedy roots to sad turn toward reactionary pro-Trump politics and cancel culture warriordom 00:52:06 — Movie discussion 01:58:07 — Final thoughts & star ratings Sources: "Fay Weldon: ‘Feminism was a success, but then you lose a generation’" by Claire Armistead | The Guardian (2017) - "She-Devil returns: Fay Weldon writing 'transgender' sequel to feminist classic" by Sian Cain | The Guardian (2016) - "Transgender people become women for 'fashion or clothes', says novelist Fay Weldon" by Niamh McIntyre | The Independent (2017) - "Fay Weldon: transgender people become women for 'frivolous' reasons such as 'fashion' and 'clothes'" by Rozina Sabur & Olivia Rudgard | The Telegraph (2017) - "Desperately Seeking Something: A Memoir About Movies, Mothers, and Material Girls" by Susan Seidelman | "Roseanne: My Life As a Woman" by Roseanne Barr | Review of She-Devil by Roger Ebert | The Chicago Sun-Times (1989) - Artwork by Laci Roth. Check out Laci's coloring videos on YouTube! Matt has a monthly spin-off podcast covering the James Bond films! Check out PodJob: A James Bond Podcast on Apple Podcast (), Spotify (), and YouTube (). Music by Rural Route Nine. Listen to their album The Joy of Averages on Spotify (), Apple Music (), or YouTube (). Songs by Rural Route Nine in this episode: “Winston-Salem” - “Snake Drama” - “The Bible Towers of Bluebonnet” - Follow the show! Twitter: | | Facebook: Instagram: TikTok: | Letterboxd: | Bluesky: 1-Week Rental used to be Load Bearing Beams.
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181. Groundhog Day
01/30/2026
181. Groundhog Day
We often say it's a miracle any movie gets made, but some movies are actual miracles. Groundhog Day (1993) is a perfect example of this, because its three primary creative voices (director Harold Ramis, writer Danny Rubin, and star Bill Murray) were each pulling in different, conflicting directions throughout the movie's production. Somehow, all that dissension led to a perfect object of a film, a hilarious comedy that gets at huge philosophical questions, but not in an annoying way. And it's also a sweet and lovely little romantic comedy... so why did it ruin the decades-long friendship between Ramis and Murray? Plus: Learn all about actual Groundhog Day! Time stamps: 00:02:40 — History segment: The actual Groundhog Day holiday; screenwriter Danny Rubin writes Groundhog Day on spec and then re-lives his movie for the rest of his life; the intertwining careers of Bill Murray and Harold Ramis, as well as their falling out and eventual reconciliation 00:56:06 — Movie discussion 01:50:00 — Final thoughts & star ratings Sources: "Harold Ramis Gets the Last Laugh" by Brett Martin | GQ (2009) - "Comedy First: How Harold Ramis's movies have stayed funny for twenty-five years" by Tad Friend | New Yorker (2004) - “Going Back to ‘Groundhog Day.’ Again.” by Bruce Fretts | New York Times (2017) - "When Every Day Is ‘Groundhog Day’" by S.I. Rosenbaum | New York (2017) - "How To Write Groundhog Day" by Danny Rubin (2012) - "Wild and Crazy Guys: How the Comedy Mavericks of the '80s Changed Hollywood Forever" by Nick de Semlyen "Ghostbuster's Daughter: Life with My Dad, Harold Ramis" by Violet Ramis Stiel Artwork by Laci Roth. Check out Laci's coloring videos on YouTube! Music by Rural Route Nine. Listen to their album The Joy of Averages on Spotify (), Apple Music (), or YouTube (). Songs by Rural Route Nine in this episode: “Winston-Salem” - “Snake Drama” - “The Bible Towers of Bluebonnet” - Follow the show! Twitter: | | Facebook: Instagram: TikTok: | Letterboxd: | Bluesky: 1-Week Rental used to be Load Bearing Beams.
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Dr. No
01/23/2026
Dr. No
1-Week Rental is launching a brand-new spin-off, a monthly podcast hosted by Matt and Wade Hymel going through the James Bond franchise, one movie at a time! Introducing PodJob: A James Bond Podcast. 1-Week Rental returns next week (January 30, 2026) with an episode about Groundhog Day (1993). Subscribe to PodJob: A James Bond Podcast: Apple Podcast | Spotify | YouTube | They really had it figured out right away—the look, the sound, the feel of James Bond. Sean Connery just walking through the airport and collecting his luggage is the coolest human being you’ve ever seen. Bond dusting his attache case with talcum powder and putting a hair between his doors is exhilarating. Quarrel and Honey Rider are all-time great Pals of Bond. Unfortunately, the titular Doctor No, M.D., is kind of a let-down after all the exciting build-up. Still, the first Bond film is one of the all-time best. Time stamps: 00:02:28 — Our histories with and relationships to the James Bond franchise 00:11:06 — Our favorite eras of James Bond, favorite and least favorite movies 00:17:42 — History segment: Author Ian Fleming; attempts to adapt his novels; the strange saga of Thunderball; Dr. No, the novel 00:29:40 — History segment: Producers Cubby Broccoli and Harry Saltzman partner with United Artists to launch the Bond movie franchise 00:31:15 — History segment: Director Terence Young 00:33:55 — History segment: Sean Connery 00:41:55 — Movie discussion 01:44:56 — Final thoughts and star ratings Sources: "Ian Fleming: The Complete Man" by Nicholas Shakespeare | "When Harry Met Cubby: The Story of the James Bond Producers" by Robert Sellers | “James Bond actor breaks 60-year silence to claim Dr No director sexually assaulted her” by Alex Binley | ITV News (2022) - Artwork by Laci Roth. Produced by Matt Stokes. Music by Rural Route Nine. Listen to 1-Week Rental, Matt’s weekly movie podcast with Laci Roth on Apple Podcast () or Spotify (), and watch it on YouTube (. Listen to Wade's music: Dash Rip Rock’s new album, A Song In Everyone ( A Song In Everyone on vinyl ( Wade’s solo album, Who Said That? ( Lilli Lewis ( Incubators ( Rural Route Nine (
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180. Den Of Thieves
01/16/2026
180. Den Of Thieves
Matt brings Laci into the glorious world of Gerard Butler, who is single-handedly trying to save American movies by making throwback '90s-feeling thrillers that are actually playing in movie theaters. The best of these is Den of Thieves, a wonderful heist movie from 2018 in which the cops who chase the bad guys are maybe less honorable than the bad guys themselves, if you can believe it. Time stamps: 00:09:30 — History segment: Career overview of Gerard Butler; production and reception of Den of Thieves 00:36:15 — Movie discussion 01:42:55 — Final thoughts & star ratings Sources: "Christian Gudegast Interview: Den of Thieves" by Alex Leadbeater | ScreenRant (2018) - “Gerard Butler Talks 'Den Of Thieves,' Box Office And The $13K Paycheck That Changed It All” by Simon Thompson | Forbes (2018) - "I Think I Love Gerard Butler" by Bilge Ebiri | Vulture (2019) - “The Ordinary-Guy Action Movie Lives On, Thanks to Gerard Butler” by Bilge Ebiri | Vulture (2021) - “Gerard Butler interview for The Ugly Truth” by Chloe Fox | The Telegraph (2009) - "The Man Who Cracked the Code of L.A.'s Notorious Sheriff Gangs" by Ethan Brown | New York Magazine (2022) - Artwork by Laci Roth. Music by Rural Route Nine. Listen to their album The Joy of Averages on Spotify (), Apple Music (), or YouTube (). Songs by Rural Route Nine in this episode: “Winston-Salem” - “Snake Drama” - “The Bible Towers of Bluebonnet” - Follow the show! Twitter: | | Facebook: Instagram: TikTok: | Letterboxd: | Bluesky: 1-Week Rental used to be Load Bearing Beams.
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Get Out (2017)
01/09/2026
Get Out (2017)
Jordan Peele's modern horror-comedy classic Get Out (2017) is the subject of this bonus episode to tide you over while Laci and Matt take the week off. This discussion originally aired on our Patreon, one year ago. But here it is for the first time ever on the free feed! The show shall return in one week with a brand-new episode about Den of Thieves (2018)! 1-Week Rental used to be Load Bearing Beams.
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179. The Shining (1980)
01/02/2026
179. The Shining (1980)
Matt and Laci go through the The Shining, probably the best English-language horror movie ever made. Is it the story of a man’s battle with alcoholism, a complicated metaphor for the American ruling class’s many sins, or is it just a simple haunted house story? What if I told you… yes? The Shining started life as Stephen King’s third novel. It was a very personal novel for King, inspired by his own life and his struggles with alcoholism and fatherhood. It’s understandable that he wouldn’t like Kubrick not centering those issues in his film, but Kubrick saw something completely different in The Shining. The podcast tracks the history of their very public disagreement and King’s criticisms of the film. The Shining’s production was shrouded in secrecy and mystery. The cast and crew filmed in England for more than a year, and while Shelley Duvall was open in the press about the difficulty of the assignment, she never thought Kubrick treated her unfairly or unprofessionally, and she always pushed back whenever anyone said Kubrick mistreated her during production of the movie. Time stamps: 00:02:43 — History segment: Stephen King’s early career; early disagreements between Stanley Kubrick and King; Kubrick’s career overview; Kubrick and co-writer Diane Johnson adapt the novel; casting Jack Nicholson, Danny Lloyd, and Scatman Crothers; Shelley Duvall’s career overview 00:58:30 — Movie discussion 02:11:30 — Final thoughts & star ratings Sources: The Stephen King Companion: Four Decades of Fear from the Master of Horror by George Beahm (2024) - A Night at the Movies: The Horrors of Stephen King - TCM documentary (2011) - “Kubrick Films 'The Shining' In Secrecy in English Studio” by Aljean Harmetz | The New York Times (1978) - Kubrick: The Definitive Edition by Michel Ciment | "How Stanley Kubrick protected child actor Danny Lloyd while creating ‘The Shining’" by Swapnil Dhruv Bose | Far Out (2020) - "'No arc at all': The reason why Stephen King hated Stanley Kubrick film ‘The Shining’" by Swapnil Dhruv Bose | Far Out (2024) - "Searching for Shelley Duvall: The Reclusive Icon on Fleeing Hollywood and the Scars of Making ‘The Shining’" by Seth Abramovitch | The Hollywood Reporter (2021) - Interview with Shelley Duvall by Roger Ebert | RogerEbert.com (2012) - “No, Shelley Duvall was not traumatized by Stanley Kubrick on The Shining – she embraced it” by Tom Murray (2024) - Artwork by Laci Roth. Music by Rural Route Nine. Listen to their album The Joy of Averages on Spotify (), Apple Music (), or YouTube (). Songs by Rural Route Nine in this episode: “Winston-Salem” - “Snake Drama” - “The Bible Towers of Bluebonnet” - Follow the show! Twitter: | | Facebook: Instagram: TikTok: | Letterboxd: | Bluesky: 1-Week Rental used to be Load Bearing Beams.
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178. Elf (with In Love With Horror)
12/19/2025
178. Elf (with In Love With Horror)
Laci and Matt are joined by their friends AJ and Kristie from the In Love With Horror podcast to go through the history of the modern Christmas classic Elf (2003). First, the podcast goes through the history of the movie, starting as a spec script in the '90s with Jim Carrey vaguely attached. It entered development hell for years before being revived with Will Ferrell and Jon Favreau, before ultimately becoming the classic it is today... one that you just know Warner Bros is threatening to turn into a cinematic universe at any second. Time stamps: 0:00 — Episode opening 4:30 — History segment: Screenwriter David Berenbaum originates Elf in the '90s; Will Ferrell and Jon Favreau come aboard; working with James Caan; reception, legacy, and potential sequel 32:00 — Movie discussion 1:39:28 — Final thoughts & star ratings Sources: "‘Elf’ Turns 15: Behind the Scenes of Making the Will Ferrell Holiday Classic" by Rebecca Rubin | Variety (2018) "Elf: Meet the man behind the movie" by Mia Elkins | The Merionite (2024) - https://bit.ly/3XVTVIa "Jon Favreau Reflects on Buddy's Magical Legacy" by Gary Susman | Rolling Stone (2013) - “How Elf built a winter wonderland out of paper and department store goods” by Maureen Lee Lenker | Entertainment Weekly (2018) - “Will Ferrell” (2024) - MeSsy with Christina Applegate and Jamie Lynn Sigler podcast - Follow In Love With Horror! YouTube | Apple Podcast | TikTok | Instagram | Twitter | Artwork by Laci Roth. Music by Rural Route Nine. Listen to their album The Joy of Averages on Spotify (), Apple Music (), or YouTube (). Songs by Rural Route Nine in this episode: “Winston-Salem” - “Snake Drama” - “The Bible Towers of Bluebonnet” - Follow the show! Twitter: | | Facebook: Instagram: TikTok: | Letterboxd: | Bluesky: 1-Week Rental used to be Load Bearing Beams.
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177. Stephen King's It (1990)
12/12/2025
177. Stephen King's It (1990)
Content warning: We talk about child abuse as part of our discussion of both the 1980s “Satanic Panic” craze in the history section, and extensively in the discussion of the movie itself. Laci and Matt hop on their bicycles and rush home in time to see American Bandstand on the TV set while scarfing down mayonnaise sandwiches and whole milk. That’s right, we’re talking It! No, not the hit movie from 2017, but the made-for-TV miniseries from 1990 that traumatized a generation. Next week (Dec. 19, 2025): The lovely AJ and Kristie from In Love With Horror return to the show to meet us at the North Pole for a discussion of the Christmas classic Elf (2003)! Time stamps: 00:02:42 — History segment: Quentin Tarantino’s dumb critique of Stephen King for not originating the “fear monster” idea; the Satanic Panic of the 1980s; the origins of It; development of It for TV; reception and legacy of the TV movie; the “child orgy” scene from the book, explained 00:39:08 — Movie discussion 02:22:36 — Final thoughts and star ratings Sources: "Back to Derry: An Oral History of 'Stephen King's It'" by Ethan Alter | Yahoo! (2015) - Eli Roth's History of Horror: Uncut | Season 1, Episode 3 - "Quentin Tarantino" (2019) - "Interviewing Tim Curry, aka Pennywise, on the set of Stephen King’s IT" by Steve Newton | Fangoria (1990) - "Steve's Explanation For Loser's Sex Scene" | Stephen King Official Message Board (2013) - "Stephen King's It: 25th Anniversary" | SciFiNow Annual. Vol. 2 (2015) Artwork by Laci Roth. Music by Rural Route Nine. Listen to their album The Joy of Averages on Spotify (), Apple Music (), or YouTube (). Songs by Rural Route Nine in this episode: “Winston-Salem” - “Snake Drama” - “The Bible Towers of Bluebonnet” - Follow the show! Twitter: | | Facebook: Instagram: TikTok: | Letterboxd: | Bluesky: 1-Week Rental used to be Load Bearing Beams.
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176. The Cabin In The Woods (with Cinematic Joshua)
12/05/2025
176. The Cabin In The Woods (with Cinematic Joshua)
Laci, Matt, and returning guest Cinematic Joshua pay a visit to The Cabin In The Woods, where things are not quite as they seem. We get the feeling somebody’s watching us, and pumping chemicals into our scalps to make us stupider and hornier than we usually are, and suddenly we’re tossing around the old pigskin and vroom-vrooming on our dirtbikes. What’s going on???? Next week (Dec. 12, 2025): We revisit Derry, Maine by talking about Stephen King’s It (the 1990 TV movie starring Tim Curry as Pennywise the Dancing Clown)! Time stamps: 00:02:44 — History segment: HP Lovecraft and cosmic horror; the intertwined careers of Drew Goddard and Joss Whedon; MGM’s financial troubles delay the release of Cabin for three years; accusations against Joss Whedon; Drew Goddard’s career after Cabin in the Woods 00:26:39 — Movie discussion 01:46:355— Final thoughts and star ratings Sources: “Joss Whedon talks The Cabin In The Woods” | Total Film (2012) - "Life Goes On: Drew Goddard on The Martian" by Christopher McKittrick | Creative Screenwriting (2016) - “The Undoing of Joss Whedon” by Lila Shapiro | Vulture (2022) - Follow Cinematic Joshua! TikTok: YouTube: Instagram: Artwork by Laci Roth. Music by Rural Route Nine. Listen to their album The Joy of Averages on Spotify (), Apple Music (), or YouTube (). Songs by Rural Route Nine in this episode: “Your Ambition” - “Winston-Salem” - “Snake Drama” - “The Bible Towers of Bluebonnet” - Follow the show! Twitter: | | Facebook: Instagram: TikTok: | Letterboxd: | Bluesky: 1-Week Rental used to be Load Bearing Beams.
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BONUS: Darkness Falls (with AJ from In Love With Horror)
11/21/2025
BONUS: Darkness Falls (with AJ from In Love With Horror)
Matt and AJ discuss the 2003 tooth fairy/darkness horror film Darkness Falls. Support In Love With Horror: YouTube: Apple Podcast: Spotify: Instagram: Twitter: TikTok: Follow 1-Week Rental! Twitter: | | Facebook: Instagram: TikTok: | Letterboxd: | Bluesky: 1-Week Rental used to be Load Bearing Beams.
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Nickelodeon's Doug (with Wade Hymel & Patrick Perot)
11/14/2025
Nickelodeon's Doug (with Wade Hymel & Patrick Perot)
As Matt and Laci work on the transition from Load Bearing Beams to 1-Week Rental, they are unlocking some episodes from behind the Patreon paywall to hold you over. First up: Matt is joined by his friends and bandmates Wade Hymel and Patrick Perot to cover two episodes of Nickelodeon's Doug. “Bangin’ On A Trash Can” is one of the best songs ever written for a fictional character, right? We gush endlessly about it, as well as its “Think Big” remix, and try to find parallels between Doug’s band and our own individual musical endeavors. Plus, you’ll learn way more than you could possibly be interested in learning about the history of Rural Route Nine. And of course, it’s a larger discussion of Nickelodeon’s Doug and the wider history of Nickelodeon and Nicktoons, plus the sad migration of Doug into the greasy maw of the Walt Disney Company, where he was badassified with baggier clothes and a dog who rides a motorcycle. We also discuss the original Doug pilot, “Doug Can’t Dance.” There’s a fake Quailman at the school dance, a girl wearing a physics-defying donut costume, and Roger Klotz condemned to eternal torment like a slug on the ground. Also, we ponder how bad Doug would be at having sex for the first time. If you haven’t revisited Doug since the 1990s, you might be surprised to find how well it works on every level — it looks great, it sounds incredible, and it’s kind of hilarious. A great time is had by all, is what we’re saying. Source: "You Don't Know Doug" by Mathew Klickstein | Vulture (2012) - Time stamps: 00:02:40 — Our histories with Doug and the early Nicktoons; opening thoughts on “Doug Can’t Dance” and “Doug’s Garage Band” 00:12:01 — History of Doug: Jim Jinkins develops Doug in his head, then as a character for TV commercials, then as a children’s book star, and finally as a TV show for Nickelodeon; after its run at Nickelodeon ends, Jinkins reboots the show for Disney starting in 1996 00:35:35 — “Doug Can’t Dance” 00:58:00 — “Doug’s Garage Band” 01:26:40 — Final thoughts 01:31:28 — Impromptu “Bangin’ On a Trash Can” at band practice (2014) Follow Wade’s band Dash Rip Rock on Spotify (). And hey, while you’re at it, give a listen to Wade's amazing solo album WHO SAID THAT? on Apple Music (), Spotify (), or wherever else music is streamed. You can also purchase the album from Bandcamp (. Follow the show! Twitter: | | Facebook: Instagram: TikTok: | Letterboxd: | Bluesky:
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So, We Made This Change To Our Podcast...
11/10/2025
So, We Made This Change To Our Podcast...
Load Bearing Beams is no more. Say hello to 1-Week Rental! Honestly, it's pretty much the same show. We've just been trying to find a better way to explain what our show is, and we've realized (based on listener feedback and our own feelings on the matter) that what we do well is dive into a movie in terms of both unpacking its history and then analyzing and discussing how well it works as a movie. And since we do this with a different movie each week, you can think of it like we're renting a movie from the video store and getting to keep it for a week. You remember that, right? You'd watch it over and over, and you'd become a temporary expert on it, before saying goodbye to it, maybe forever. The show is largely staying the same, but we are going to try to make the episodes slightly shorter and we are doing away with the lengthy preambles that begin each episode before we get to the history segment. Thank you for your support of Load Bearing Beams, and here's to at least eight years with 1-Week Rental! Follow the show! Twitter: | | Facebook: Instagram: TikTok: | Letterboxd: | Bluesky: 1-Week Rental used to be Load Bearing Beams.
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175. Saw (with HFK & Spooky T)
10/17/2025
175. Saw (with HFK & Spooky T)
Laci Goth and Matt Chokes welcome their friends Tiera ( on TikTok) and Derek ( on TikTok) join the show to play the game of Saw. We all have varying degrees of affection for this franchise, and we get into the long history of its development under James Wan and Leigh Whannell first in Australia and then in Hollywood, and the major series it spawned. Then we go through the movie at length, wondering, at the end of the day, what exactly Jigsaw is trying to teach us. Watch this episode in full: Follow Tiera and Derek’s filmmaking on YouTube: Elevated Cryptid Productions ( Next week: The Cabin in the Woods (2012) with Cinematic Joshua! Bonus video: Matt talks about Rob Zombie’s Halloween (2007) for 20 minutes Subscribe to our Patreon, Load Bearing Beams: Collector's Edition for $5 a month to get two extra episodes! Time stamps: 00:03:05 — Our histories with the Saw franchise / opening thoughts on the first Saw 00:16:30 — History segment: James Wan and Leigh Whannell develop Saw, shoot a short film as proof of concept, and sell it to Evolution Entertainment; the film is bought by Lionsgate, becomes a huge hit, and spawns a major franchise 00:44:50 — Movie discussion 01:35:20 — Final thoughts and star ratings Sources: “Saw creators Leigh Whannell and James Wan” by Scott Tobias | The AV Club (2010) - "Blumhouse Buys Rights to ‘Saw’ Franchise" by Brent Lang | Variety (2025) - Artwork by Laci Roth. Music by Rural Route Nine. Listen to their album The Joy of Averages on Spotify (), Apple Music (), or YouTube (). Songs by Rural Route Nine in this episode: “Your Ambition” - “Winston-Salem” - “Snake Drama” - “The Bible Towers of Bluebonnet” - Follow the show! Twitter: | | Facebook: Instagram: TikTok: | Letterboxd: | Bluesky:
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28 Years Later (with Screen Time Kota)
10/10/2025
28 Years Later (with Screen Time Kota)
We had some scheduling snafus that caused the delay of our Saw episode, so our schedule is getting pushed back a week. Luckily, we had this beautiful podcast about 28 Years Later set to release on the Patreon later this month, and instead, we’re putting it out for free for all the fine folks out there. Matt and Kota have a very spoiler-filled discussion about Danny Boyle’s 28 Years Later. Like all zombie movies, it’s not actually about zombies, it’s about…. Well, it’s about a lot of stuff. This is a meaty, hefty movie. Not unlike what the Alpha carries around with him. Watch this episode in full: Next week: Saw with HFK & Spooky T! Bonus video: Matt reviews the 1980s Disney movie The Great Mouse Detective and wonders if it’s secretly the best Disney movie of the era Subscribe to our Patreon, Load Bearing Beams: Collector's Edition for $5 a month to get two extra episodes! Time stamps: 00:05:35 — Opening thoughts on 28 Years Later 00:10:07 — Mini-history segment on the careers of Danny Boyle and Alex Garland 00:23:45 — Movie discussion 01:52:20 — Final thoughts and star ratings Follow ScreenTimeKota: TikTok: Instagram: YouTube: Facebook: Artwork by Laci Roth. Music by Rural Route Nine. Listen to their album The Joy of Averages on Spotify (), Apple Music (), or YouTube (). Follow the show! Twitter: | | Facebook: Instagram: TikTok: | Letterboxd: | Bluesky:
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174. Interview With The Vampire (1994)
10/03/2025
174. Interview With The Vampire (1994)
Laci and Matt revisit Interview With The Vampire (1994), a movie the podcast covered back in 2018, in the Old Testament days. Much more care and attention is given this time, because there’s so much to love… and so much to be confused by. Has a movie ever been dragged down so much by its whiny-baby lead character as this movie is by Louis (Brad Pitt)? Rather than spending eternity partying with his good buddy Lestat (Tom Cruise), he just putters around and around, moaning and complaining like some unholy combination of Charlie Brown and Eeyore. And rest assured, he will tell you, at length, about how conflicted he feels about the whole “vampire” thing. So get ready. Other than that, the movie’s a blast. Tom Cruise is wonderful, Kirsten Dunst gives an all-time great kid performance, and the Stan Winston makeup can’t be beat. Watch this episode in full: Next week: 28 Years Later with Screen Time Kota! Out now on the Patreon: Matt and Austin Proctor from the Frightmares podcast discuss David Lynch’s Mulholland Drive Time stamps: 00:03:04 — Opening thoughts on Interview with the Vampire 00:16:30 — History segment: The career of Anne Rice; development of a movie adaptation of Interview with the Vampire; Rice’s feud with the production over the casting of Tom Cruise; reception and legacy of The Vampire Chronicles on film 01:00:50 — Movie discussion 02:31:47 — Final thoughts and star ratings Sources: "Anne Rice: The Extended 1995 Interview" by Mikal Gilmore | Rolling Stone (1995) - “You Asked, Anne Answered — ‘How is it that your birth name was Howard Allen?’” - “Interview with a Vampire director Neil Jordan: I had a great time making this movie, but there's a dark Catholic guilt underneath” by Una Brankin | The Belfast Telegraph (2014) - “The Anne Rice Reader” edited by Katherine Ramsland (1997) - “A look inside Hollywood and the movies: Interview With the Vampire’s Picky Creator” by Elaine Dutka | Los Angeles Times (1993) - Cruise's Vampire Turns Off Oprah - She Walks Out | The Orlando Sentinel (1994) - Artwork by Laci Roth. Music by Rural Route Nine. Listen to their album The Joy of Averages on Spotify (), Apple Music (), or YouTube (). Songs by Rural Route Nine in this episode: “Your Ambition” - “Winston-Salem” - “Snake Drama” - “The Bible Towers of Bluebonnet” - Follow the show! Twitter: | | Facebook: Instagram: TikTok: | Letterboxd: | Bluesky:
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173. Dennis the Menace (1993)
09/26/2025
173. Dennis the Menace (1993)
In the origin story of Michael Myers, the slasher killer from the legendary Halloween series of horror films, young Michael sees his sister….. Wait, what? Oh, this is Dennis the Menace? In which a little slingshot punk from the 1950s rides around on a tricycle in 1993 and torments an innocent old man? And you're telling me it’s not about Michael Myers, it was just directed by the man who originally played Michael Myers in John Carpenter’s Halloween (Nick “The Shape” Castle)? Gotcha. I see where the confusion started. Unregardless, here is our long-awaited discussion of the 1993 Dennis the Menace starring Walter Mathau as Mr. Wilson and Christopher Lloyd as a hobo killer who rides the rails and skins children alive, even though we never get to actually see that. And this was written and produced by John Hughes, during his “Let’s just do Home Alone again and again and again” period. Laci loves it, Matt does not, so this is the two-hour therapy session that results. Watch this episode in full: Next week: Our October Extravaganza begins with Interview with the Vampire (1994)! Bonus video: Matt and Laci reveal their blindspots from the IMBD Top 250 movies of all time list - Out now on the Patreon: Matt, Wade, and Patrick dive deep into Nickelodeon’s Doug, discussing its history and reviewing the episodes “Doug Can’t Dance” and “Doug’s Garage Band.” Time stamps: 00:03:15 — We read this week's Dennis the Menace newspaper comics 00:11:08 — Opening thoughts on Dennis the Menace (the movie) 00:17:30 — History segment: The Dennis the Menace comic strip created by Hank Ketcham and its long afterlife; the 1950s Dennis the Menace sitcom; the production of the 1993 movie and John Hughes’s pivot to cranking out family movies with very similar premises 00:39:45 — Movie discussion 02:00:20 — Final thoughts and star ratings Source: "Dennis the Menace and ADHD" by Matthew Smith | Psychology Today (2018) - Artwork by Laci Roth. Music by Rural Route Nine. Listen to their album The Joy of Averages on Spotify (), Apple Music (), or YouTube (). Songs by Rural Route Nine in this episode: “Your Ambition” - “Winston-Salem” - “Snake Drama” - “The Bible Towers of Bluebonnet” - Follow the show! Twitter: | | Facebook: Instagram: TikTok: | Letterboxd: | Bluesky:
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