Filmspotting

Chris Klimek convenes a showdown between arguably the two most influential slasher films ever made: John Carpenter's "Halloween" and Wes Craven's "A Nightmare on Elm Street."

One helped define the modern slasher, introducing audiences to the silent, implacable force of Michael Myers and transforming suburban streets into sites of terror. The other revitalized the genre six years later with Freddy Krueger, a wisecracking dream stalker who turned sleep itself into a death sentence.

Arguing for "Halloween" is Jason Zinoman (Shock Value, The New York Times), who contends that Carpenter's film remains the genre's most influential and enduring achievement. Defending "Nightmare" is Deirdre Barrett, a Harvard dream researcher, psychologist, and author, who makes the case that Freddy Krueger taps into some of our deepest and most universal fears.

Choose your winner at moviedeathmatch.com.

(Times will not be precise with ads.)
Intro / Meet the Advocates (00:00:00-00:16:41)
Rd. 1 – The Movies in Their Time (00:16:42-00:41:49)
Rd. 2 – The Movies in Our Time (00:41:50-01:06:16)
Rd. 3 – The Movies for All Time (01:06:17-01:37:03)
The Verdict / Credits (01:37:05-01:45:23)

More From Jason:

-‘Halloween’ 1978: The Times Finally Reviews a Horror Classic

https://www.nytimes.com/2018/10/17/movies/halloween-1978-review.html

-Book: Shock Value: How a Few Eccentric Outsiders Gave Us Nightmares, Conquered Hollywood, and Invented Modern Horror

https://www.amazon.com/dp/0143121367

-Instagram

@zinomanj

More From Deidre:

-deirdrebarrett.com

http://www.deirdrebarrett.com/

-Book: Pandemic Dreams

https://www.amazon.com/dp/0982869533

-Instagram

@deirdre_barrett_dreams

Follow Chris: 

-Instagram | Bluesky | X

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

For the debut episode of their new sport and film podcast, Adam Kempenaar and University of Iowa Journalism and Mass Communication colleague Travis Vogan, PhD, are joined by scholar Seán Crosson, PhD, to discuss Harold Lloyd’s 1925 silent comedy The Freshman. Together, they explore the massive box-office hit’s treatment of masculinity and football, and how the film helped shape the underdog and American Dream narratives that remain central to the genre a century later.

Next Episode:

–Hoop Dreams with Samantha Noelle Sheppard, PhD, Cornell University

Links:

–Email the show at [email protected].

–Learn more about Seán Crosson

–Sport in European Cinema

–Sport and Film (2nd Edition)

Theme Music:

–King of the Corpse Flowers by Oxykitten | Spotify

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Two weeks after their Pantheon Project review of David Lynch’s Blue Velvet, Adam and Josh take on the director’s 2001 mind-bender, Mulholland Drive, to celebrate its 25th anniversary. For a film with a reputation for being impenetrable, they find it surprisingly rich with clues while retaining all of its singular power. Plus, a Golden Brick nomination for If I Go Will They Miss Me, and thoughts on the new doc You Had To Be There: How the Toronto Godspell Ignited the Comedy Revolution.

This episode is presented by⁠ Regal Unlimited⁠⁠, the all-you-can-watch movie subscription pass that pays for itself in just two visits.⁠ Use code FILMSPOT26 to take 15% off.
⁠
(Timecodes will not be precise with ads.)
Intro (00:00:00-00:02:28)
Mulholland Drive (00:02:29-0:30:28)
Filmspotting Family (0:30:29-00:32:31)
Mulholland Drive, cont. (00:32:32-0:58:43)
If I Go Will They Miss Me (0:58:44-01:03:44)
You Had To Be There (01:03:45-01:13:54)
Notes (01:13:55-01:24:52)
Massacre Theatre (01:24:53-01:30:51)
Credits / New Releases (01:30:52-01:34:58)

Notes:

-David Lynch Ranked | Adam

https://boxd.it/Xk5q6$rM7TfIkSmbYwC11L

-David Lynch Ranked | Josh

https://letterboxd.com/larsenonfilm/list/david-lynch-ranked/

-Golden Bricks

https://www.filmspotting.net/bricks

-New Podcast! Field of Scenes

https://www.filmspotting.net/fieldofscenes

Feedback:

-Email us at [email protected]⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠-⁠Ask Us Anything⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and we might answer your question in bonus content.

Support:

-Join the Filmspotting Family for bonus shows, archive access, and more.

http://filmspottingfamily.com

-Filmspotting Shop for T-shirts and more.

⁠https://www.filmspotting.net/shop⁠⁠⁠⁠

Follow:

-Watch Filmspotting on YouTube:

⁠https://youtube.com/filmspotting⁠

-Adam/Filmspotting

⁠Letterboxd⁠ |⁠ Instagram⁠ |⁠ Facebook⁠ | ⁠Bluesky⁠

-Josh/LarsenOnFilm

⁠Letterboxd⁠ | ⁠Instagram⁠ |⁠ Facebook⁠ | ⁠Bluesky

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There’s a lot to enjoy about The Weight: the tactile 1930s Oregon setting, strong performances from Ethan Hawke and Russell Crowe, a premise that allows for multiple suspense sequences. But Padraic McKinley’s directorial debut is arguably lacking in thematic heft and visceral grit, particularly when compared to the other film in this pairing. So after considering how The Weight succeeds and struggles on its own terms, we bring William Friedkin’s 1977 cult classic Sorcerer back in to consider how these two films about desperate men given a deadly opportunity differ in their approach to flawed protagonists, bridge-based action scenes, and lone female characters of consequence, and the one plot hole they have in common. Then our returning guest, Vulture critic Roxana Hadadi, offers a Your Next Picture Show recommendation for another 2026 film involving the transportation of dangerous cargo, The Rivals of Amziah King.

Please share your thoughts about Sorcerer, The Weight, or anything else in the world of film, by sending an email or voice memo to [email protected], or leaving a short voicemail at (773) 234-9730.

Next Pairing: Lance Oppenheim’s Primetime and Alexander Mackendrick’s Sweet Smell of Success

This episode is presented by⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Regal Unlimited⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, the all-you-can-watch movie subscription pass that pays for itself in just two visits. Use code NEXTPIC26 for 15% off.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ahead of December's Doomsday, Avengers: Endgame is back in theaters. Here's Adam and Josh with their original 2019 review—including spoilers.

Unlock the full archive, Filmspotting Discord, ad‑free + bonus episodes, and more when you ⁠join the Filmspotting Family⁠. 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Starring Russell Crowe and an all-grown-up Jacob Tremblay (“Room” “”Wonder”), Netflix’s Unabomber was a promising title on the fall streaming slate. Unfortunately, director Janus Metz’s exploitative biopic about the notorious domestic terrorist (and manifesto author) comes up well short of expectations. But Matt and Jordan use the film as an excuse to recommend a couple of films as alternatives—one, an underseen, decade-old indie about a controversial mid-20th century social scientist; the other a stone-cold classic from the ‘90s. Plus, a listener request for contemporary films that look like the period in which they take place. And a ‘90s crime thriller game hosted by Jordan.  

Intro / Blumhouse Cheetos (00:00:00–00:07:44)

Unabomber (00:07:45–00:32:46)

Rec Seg! (00:32:47–00:51:27)

Listener Req Seg! (00:51:28–01:06:25)

Game: LLLE (01:06:26–01:23:58)

New to Streaming / Credits (01:23:59–01:39:02)

Show Notes

Now Streaming on Bazooga - A Filmspotting: SVU Archive⁠ https://letterboxd.com/samvanhallgren/list/now-streaming-on-bazooga-a-filmspotting-svu/⁠

Pre-Order Matt's book "Funny Business: The Old-School Wedding Crashers and Knocked-Up Virgins Who Changed Comedy Forever" (Coming October 6th):⁠ https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/790241/funny-business-by-matt-singer/⁠

Matt’s book tour!

matt-singer.net

For what film should Alison Willmore make her triumphant return to SVU?

https://poll.fm/17448084

Feedback: Email us at [email protected]

Follow Matt on Blue Sky: @mattsinger.bsky.social

Follow Jordan on Blue Sky: @jhoffman.bsky.social

Follow the Show:⁠ https://www.instagram.com/superpulse/⁠⁠ https://www.facebook.com/FilmspottingSvu⁠

Follow the Show:⁠ https://www.instagram.com/superpulse/⁠⁠ https://www.facebook.com/FilmspottingSvu⁠

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Film critic and author Marya E. Gates joins Michael to explore perhaps the simplest, most influential direction ever given to an actor: "Be natural."

The phrase is associated with pioneering filmmaker Alice Guy-Blaché, who posted the reminder in her New Jersey studio more than a century ago. As one of cinema's earliest storytellers, Guy-Blaché helped establish film as a distinct art form, separate from the theatrical traditions that shaped many of its first performers.

From Guy-Blaché's silent shorts to the work of Greta Garbo, Janet Gaynor, John Garfield, Nicolas Cage, and Lupita Nyong'o, Michael and Marya examine what "natural" acting really means, and why some of the most truthful screen performances can also be the most stylized.

Links:
-"Cinema Her Way" | Marya E. Gates
https://maryaegates.com/cinemaherway/

-Be Natural: The Untold Story of Alice Guy-Blaché | VOD
https://www.justwatch.com/us/movie/be-natural-the-untold-story-of-alice-guy-blache

-There is one Murnau, Borzage, and Fox Box available on Amazon… for $1,336.

Join the conversation by emailing [email protected].

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Adam and Josh welcome Filmspotting SVU co-host Matt Singer for the Top 5 Comedy Boom Movies. Singer’s new book, “Funny Business: The Old-School Wedding Crashers and Knocked-Up Virgins Who Changed Comedy Forever” documents the Frat Pack era of studio comedies that dominated the box office from the early 2000s to the mid-2010s—and gave a generation a lifetime’s worth of movie quotes. Plus, reviews of Zach Cregger’s Resident Evil and the new Scottish indie The Incomer. 

This episode is presented by⁠ Regal Unlimited⁠⁠, the all-you-can-watch movie subscription pass that pays for itself in just two visits. Use code FILMSPOT26 to take 15% off.

(Timecodes will not be precise with ads.)

Intro (00:00:00-00:02:17)

Top 5 Comedy Boom Movies (00:02:18-1:01:58)

Filmspotting Family (1:01:59-01:05:34)

Top 5, cont. (01:05:35-01:38:31)

Polls (01:38:32-01:52:09)

Resident Evil (01:52:10-02:23:50)

The Incomer (02:23:51-02:27:36)

Credits / New Releases (02:27:37-02:32:25)

Notes: 

Matt Singer’s “Funny Business"

https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/790241/funny-business-by-matt-singer/

Feedback:

-Email us at [email protected]⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠-⁠Ask Us Anything⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and we might answer your question in bonus content.

Support:

-Join the Filmspotting Family for bonus shows, archive access, and more.

http://filmspottingfamily.com

-Filmspotting Shop for T-shirts and more.

⁠https://www.filmspotting.net/shop⁠⁠⁠⁠

Follow:

-Watch Filmspotting on YouTube:

⁠https://youtube.com/filmspotting⁠

-Adam/Filmspotting

⁠Letterboxd⁠ |⁠ Instagram⁠ |⁠ Facebook⁠ | ⁠Bluesky⁠

-Josh/LarsenOnFilm

⁠Letterboxd⁠ | ⁠Instagram⁠ |⁠ Facebook⁠ | ⁠Bluesky

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

With Ethan Hawke back in theaters in the period adventure The Weight, we're sharing Adam's 2018 interview with the always thoughtful and insightful actor.

Unlock the full archive, Filmspotting Discord, ad‑free + bonus episodes, and more when you ⁠join the Filmspotting Family⁠. 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The new Netflix comedy Best of the Best introduced Matt and Jordan to the world of collegiate competitive Bollywood dance, and they left converts: to the dancing, to stars Maitreyi Ramakrishnan and Priyanka Kedia, and to director Lena Khan’s winning movie (which has a joke-filled script written by comedian Hassan Minhaj and writing partner Prashanth Venkataramanujam). In the Best of the Best-inspired Rec Seg, they recommend an entry-level Bollywood classic and an obscure NYC-set dance movie. Then it’s a pair of single-setting (“bottle”) movies for listener Steven, and Producer Sam hosts a “Let’s Dance!” round of trivia. 

Intro (00:00:00–00:02:28)

Best of the Best (00:02:29–00:20:55)

Rec Seg! (00:20:56–00:36:45)

Listener Req Seg! “Bottle Movies” (00:36:46–00:52:14)

Game: Let’s Dance! (00:52:15–01:08:55)

New to Streaming / Credits (01:08:56–01:26:39)

Show Notes

For what film should Alison Willmore make her triumphant return to SVU?

https://poll.fm/17448084

Now Streaming on Bazooga - A Filmspotting: SVU Archive⁠ https://letterboxd.com/samvanhallgren/list/now-streaming-on-bazooga-a-filmspotting-svu/⁠

Pre-Order Matt's book "Funny Business: The Old-School Wedding Crashers and Knocked-Up Virgins Who Changed Comedy Forever" (Coming October 6th):⁠ https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/790241/funny-business-by-matt-singer/⁠

Feedback: Email us at [email protected]

Follow Matt on Blue Sky: @mattsinger.bsky.social

Follow Jordan on Blue Sky: @jhoffman.bsky.social

Follow the Show:⁠ https://www.instagram.com/superpulse/⁠⁠ https://www.facebook.com/FilmspottingSvu⁠

Follow the Show:⁠ https://www.instagram.com/superpulse/⁠⁠ https://www.facebook.com/FilmspottingSvu⁠

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.