The author Jacob Bacharach returns for a show about the new film about the Nobel Prize-winning scientist Dr. Michael Morbius.

The failure of Morbius, both critically and commercially, is interesting to ponder: why did this particular Marvel movie bomb? Why did this film inspire so many viral memes that Sony Pictures decided to re-release it in cinemas to cash in on Morb Fever? And is the ironic online Morbius Cult our contemporary equivalent to the Juggalos?

Jacob and I discuss Morbius in detail, but along the way we also talk about Jared Leto as a “risk-taking” actor, including his notorious Joker, his Oscar-winning role as a trans woman in the frustrating Dallas Buyers Club, and his laboured bid for another Oscar nomination in House of Gucci.

Follow Jacob Bacharach on Twitter and visit jacobbacharach.com

Patrons of the Junk Filter podcast receive at least two additional exclusive episodes a month: some of our notable previous guests include Jared Yates Sexton, David Roth, Bryan Quinby, Sooz Kempner, and Will Sloan. More to come! Sign up at https://www.patreon.com/junkfilter

International trailer for Dallas Buyers Club (Vallée, 2013)

The first teaser for Morbius (Espinosa, 2022), from 2020

ESKE - Off the Meds (aka The Morbin’ National Anthem), 2020