Blood and Black Rum Podcast - A Cult Film / Horror Podcast

Amidst the current political climate we thought it would be fun to cover the most iconic film about a troubled pregnancy, Roman Polanski's Rosemary's Baby. Itself an adaptation of Ira Levin's novel, the film covers a range of themes including the sense of alienation during pregnancy, lack of agency as everyone tells you what to do and feel about the upcoming child, and a lack of self as your entire world becomes about raising a child. We talk about all these themes, what it means to have Polanski in the context of this feministic portrayal, and a whole lot more. Women - so hysterical when they're growing a demon child!

We're drinking Scantic River Brewing's Raspberry Streamsicle IPA with vanilla, raspberry, and lactose.

Approximate timeline

0:00-13:00 Intro

Up next: Smokey and the Bandit

On this week's episode, we take on Sam Raimi's return to the director's chair with Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness! We talk all kinds of things - the amount of homework you have to do for this movie, the new multiverse exploration, how it fits into the Marvel canon, the changes that Raimi brings to the table, and a whole lot more. We're also drinking Tree House Brewing Company's King Julius double IPA!

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0:00-20:00 Intro

Next up: Rosemary's Baby

Since we're coming up on Father's Day, we thought it would be appropriate to cover one of the best fathers in film in Stanley Kubrick's The Shining! We're fans of this movie but we do offer some important critiques and talk about understanding where Stephen King's criticisms come from. However, we cover a lot of ground on this episode including the element of shining, Scatman Crothers, the score and atmosphere of the intimidating scope of the Overlook Hotel, and a lot more!

Also, we're drinking Greater Good Imperial Brewing's Nelson Pulp Daddy NEIPA!

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0:00-15:00 Intro

We finish out our first Difficult Films month with Lars von Trier's Antichrist. It's our first time with a von Trier film and the first time seeing this one, and we have to say that we were both left a little hard-pressed to say whether we actually liked the film or not. We talk through all that, including the trollish onscreen mutilation and violence, the very hushed moments of philosophizing, the various melange of themes, and those two scenes... yes, you know. We're also drinking Sloop Brewing Co.'s West Coast Juice Bomb IPA!

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0:00-10:00 Intro

Our third Difficult Film probably comes as no surprise; Requiem for a Dream is often considered a tough film to sit through, especially when you know the spiral of four people's lives is coming. Since neither of us had seen the film, it was certainly an eye-opening experience to check out Darren Aronofsky's breakthrough film about drug addiction and the unintentional chaos it reeks on those involved. We talk about these tough topics, Keith David, the Donnie Darko connections, and more! Also, we're drinking the Ommegang/Thin Man Brewing collaboration beer Neon Boodles, a tropical raspberry NEIPA.

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0:00-12:00 Intro

On the finale: Antichrist

We continue Difficult Films month playing the Funny Games of Michael Haneke. Here we discuss the ominous tension that is built with virtually no music, the offputting dynamic of the movie, the duality of its difficultness, the impact of violence, and a whole lot more!

We're also drinking Genesee Brewing Company's Tropical Pineapple Kolsch.

Approximate timeline

0:00-12:00 Intro

Next up: Requiem for a Dream

We're starting Difficult Films off with one that... seems to be a divide between the two hosts! Hereditary is well-known as Ari Aster's gut-punching directorial debut, and we discuss just what makes this film a slow-burn disturbing jaunt into family trauma. This also happens to coincide with Mother's Day, so you know... happy Mother's Day being reminded about the grief you potentially carry for your children. We get into all kinds of things here, including that memorable early scene, Toni Colette's performance, and more. We're also drinking Fidens' NM4NM4NM Triple IPA!

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0:00-15:00 Intro

Next up: Funny Games (original)

Finally, we were able to see The Batman thanks to it streaming on HBO Max and we've gotta say, we were pleasantly surprised to be completely enamored with the film. Both of us have strong Batman feelings, but Matt Reeves' film is the best of all worlds. It's gritty, grim, and smart; it compiles many different elements of Batman and Bruce Wayne; and it ends unexpectedly, with the Batman learning something about himself. We talk about all this and more on an extended episode. Also, we're drinking Beer Tree Brewing Co.'s Layered: Mango, Coconut, Granola, Vanilla Parfait Fruited Sour.

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0:00-9:00 Intro

Coming soon: Difficult Films month!

What better way to blaspheme the requel of Jesus Christ than to celebrate with Critters 2: The Main Course, a sequel directed by Mick Garris that sees the Crites resuming their attack on a small town, this time on Easter! While neither of us are huge fans of the Critters series, we certainly make it known why this movie falls short of more likely resembles a Leprechaun sequel - we talk the bounty hunters, the Easter setting, the lack of critters attacks, and more! We're also drinking Fiddlehead's Aetherium White Ale and making jokes about the resurrection.

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0:00-13:00 Intro

Next up, The Batman and 3 hours of our life.

We've got some time to kill before our Easter episode so we thought, why not cover An American Werewolf in London? The movie recently got a new 4K UHD release from Arrow Video and for good reason; it's one of the best contemporary werewolf movies. We talk about John Landis' foray into horror, the transformations, the differences between wolfmen and werewolves, the downer ending, and a whole lot more! We also have Boddington's English Pub Ale on the show, for obvious reasons.

Approximate timeline

0:00-15:00 Intro

Next episode: Easter massacres with Critters 2