I'm Thinking of Spoiling Things

After a contentious hiatus following the harrowing experience of watching Hurry Up Tomorrow, your hosts return to Toronto's hottest live music venue to discuss films in front of an incidental studio audience. In an enduring effort to maintain nothing more than the utmost authenticity to our format, a plan has been put into action to save populist cinema from sliding back into a nightmare of 2010s era aimless millennial quirk. By taping a show live at the Rivoli and invoking the postmodern chaos of Nirvanna The Band The Show The Movie's inimitable way of resurfacing the past in a way that authentically mines nostalgia without losing its ability to be earnest and endearing, we can effectively deconstruct the parallel failures of Wuthering Heights and Project Hail Mary as vessels for different forms of emotional yearning in a world absent sensuality or hope. Also, why are the Piantas mysteriously absent from The Super Mario Galaxy Movie? We're stunt casting Glen Powell as Star Fox before we even get to Isle Delfino? We demand answers from Illumination.

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Stephen on Step Printed, Letterboxd, and Bluesky.

At what point does a bit border on self-parody? Is releasing a three-sided LP consisting of experimental music meant to alienate your audience in any way similar to delaying the release of your sporadically scheduled podcast due to some form of intangible anxiety built on a nonexistent expectation of bit-laden descriptions? Can this lineage of bits be traced back to the history of long-winded run on sentences often woven by its author on the written film criticism side of his work? It's hard to say, but just to be sure, we'll be producing a feature length biopic documenting the rise and fall of the world's most important and influential podcast. How they met, the critical legacy of their work, the tumultuous lead up to the infamous Things episode, the history of their months-long hiatus, and the heartwarming story of how they've reconnected in their old age to put on some more shows for their fervent dedicated audience. Actors have painstakingly studied the hosts across their hundreds of hours of compiled work in order to faithfully create an awards contending film capable of documenting such historic moments as Stephen and Vaughn discussing Final Destination: Bloodlines, Hurry Up Tomorrow, and most importantly – Pavements. It might seem like a lot of effort for one podcast, but no expense can be spared to make someone realize that writing an episode description just really isn't that big of a deal.

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Stephen on Step Printed, Letterboxd, and Bluesky.

Two film critics sit down to discuss two films and a season of television. Novel? Not particularly. However, the curious nature of one critic's unexpected admiration for one film concerning the misadventures of Steve and his world of crafting is enough to bewilder his misanthropic cohost – aghast at the very idea that one could find amusement in such a film. A perfect in for a potential listener to gauge the dynamic between these two hosts – one British, one American – before they engage in far more engaging intellectual discussions concerning the anticipated audience response to Wes Anderson's latest emotional diorama, and furthermore the shocking twists and turns found in one Nathan Fielder's latest season of network television. Their newly revitalized regular upload schedule continues. On a trial basis, of course.

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Stephen on Step Printed, Letterboxd, and Bluesky.

May 18, 2025. The US and the UK. Two film critics take podcasting positions in support of a tactical spoiling operation. This podcast uses only their memories. Every effort has been made to recreate these critics' thoughts as they experienced them while watching these films, a revolutionary approach to podcasting that will feel as if you were actually there. In real time, the listener will be taken through the visceral experience of watching Ryan Coogler's Sinners, Alex Garland's Warfare, and David Cronenberg's The Shrouds, and when the dust settles on the windswept podcast streets you will feel exactly the same as you felt going in, probably. The Emilia Pérez podcast is officially cancelled, and Stephen has a theory on why parrying has become increasingly popular in video games. How that ties into anything else may surprise you.

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Vaughn on Step Printed, Letterboxd, and Bluesky.

Stephen on Step Printed, Letterboxd, and Bluesky.

Wouldst thou like to live moustacheously? Rumor has it that this is the call that the mysterious Count Orlok answered in order to be granted such a magnificent and bushy 'stache - the only downside of which was an immortal existence of demonic suffering and an insatiable thirst for both blood and land. In an attempt to turn his miserable existence around he became the world's first vacation home owner, purchasing a large estate in Germany that he planned to renovate and rent out as an Airbnb when he was back home in the Carpathian Mountains. He could only make the two week journey by boat so many times in a year, especially when each journey required a fresh crop of hapless sailors to be feasted on. But despite a wildly successful rat tourism and self-driving carriage program causing rapid economic expansion and lining his pockets, no amount of money could fill the void in his heart. This week on the podcast, Stephen and Vaughn discuss heartwarming vampire romcom Nosferatu, and dissect the moral quandary of unleashing a plague upon an entire continent for the sake of a romantic gesture. We also talk about Anora. Stephen is lying all 17 times he claims this is an Emilia Pérez podcast.

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Stephen on The STACKs, Letterboxd, and Bluesky.

Listen, I'm going to keep it real with the audience here, I think I might have peaked with the description for the last episode. I promise this isn't an increasingly elaborate, more elevated version of my normal shtick to avoid having to come up with some kind of convoluted Megalopolis related piece because I'm about to go on vacation and can't be bothered. In fact, I'm still not convinced anyone reads these, so it may not be relevant at all that I've completely given up on this one, falling from my high rise tower like I'm Adam Driver at the beginning of Megalopolis if he didn't have the ability to stop time. Is that anything? Probably not. It's fine. Enjoy the episode, we had a lot of fun recording this one. Join us as we discuss Jeremy Saulnier's Rebel Ridge, Sean McNamara's Reagan, Coralie Fargeat's The Substance, and Francis Ford Coppola's Megalopolis, a collection of films which range from worthless garbage to revolutionary filmmaking. Which one is which? Tune in to find out.

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Stephen on The STACKs, Letterboxd, and Twitter.

On the internet, two months might as well be decades, which officially makes this podcast an I'm Thinking of Spoiling Things legacy sequel. Therefore, we have ensured that this episode will please every kind of Spoiling Things fan, and the episode is packed full of references to past episodes for listeners with a keen ear. Though certainly a controversial decision in many circles, per the suggestion of podcast creator Stephen, we have decided to resurrect the performance of The Grab Bag of Recent Releases using experimental deepfake technology*, allowing us to imitate what that segment felt like in Season 1 while maintaining key discussion points about movies that have come out since the segment was eliminated. Fans of episode 14 will be overjoyed to hear callbacks to past discussions about Pixar as Stephen and Vaughn chat about Inside Out 2, and Austin Butler stans who have been stuck listening to our Dune: Part Two episode on repeat will find updated Butlerpinions as the guys discuss The Bikeriders. The Beast, previously slated to get its own dedicated episode, has been squeezed awkwardly into the middle of the podcast to appease recent listeners who were disappointed in the lack of conclusion to that cancelled episode. For those looking for an authentic Spoiling Things experience, the bulk of this show has been produced with in-camera practical effects, and the discussion on Fede Álvarez's Alien: Romulus creates a chilling atmosphere reminiscent of the show's finest episodes. Finally, worry not - for the niche subset of listeners who have been vocal supporters of nonsensical diatribes from the hosts about completely unrelated topics, the third act of this podcast hinges entirely on these references, an abominable lurching beast made up of silly antics. If this podcast performs well enough on opening weekend, investors may just greenlight another entry into this legacy reboot series, so be sure to tune in.

Have a question, a comment, or just want to say hello? Send us a message at [email protected].

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Stephen on The STACKs, Letterboxd, and Twitter.

*To be perfectly clear, this podcast has never and will never use any form of artificial intelligence/machine learning to create any part of our show, unless Stephen isn't real and has been lying to me for several years. It's unlikely but I can't rule it out.

Where do we go, we who wander this film podcast wasteland, in search of our better episodes? Spoiling Things has a new home on Step Printed, and Stephen and Vaughn reopen everyone's favorite bar and grill at the peak of the Citadel to talk about every fortress of film on the horizon. The First Fortress, led by warlord Alex Garland, whose expert extrapolation of the American political landscape has granted us the revelation of twee folk music over lo-fi montages of the east coast. The Second Fortress, led by the great Dr. George Miller, who has created a utopia of pristine franchise filmmaking and expanded it with effortless brilliance. The Third Fortress, led by former podcast guest* Luca Guadagnino, who crafted the year's most pulse-pounding thrill ride set to the exhilarating tune of Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross' driving synths. The Fourth Fortress, led by legendary American filmmaker Richard Linklater, updating and reinventing the romcom and the neo-noir with endless charm. Civil War, Furiosa, Challengers, Hit Man, and two delirious co-hosts this week on the show.

Have a question, a comment, or just want to say hello? Send us a message at [email protected].

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Vaughn on Step Printed, Letterboxd, and Twitter.

Stephen on The STACKs, Letterboxd, and Twitter.

Release dates have become a distant, irrelevant memory in the land of Spoiling Things, now our hosts simply float around in a sort of primordial haze of vaguely recent films and sit down to chat about whatever passes by. That is to say; despite everything, in the face of all obstacles, dates or regular posting times be damned, to the detriment of every imaginable social media algorithm or rule of internet content creation, it is our solemn duty to get this show recorded. Warning: this may result in less than desirable circumstances, such as films found in the depths of the ooze being less than fresh in the mind, or the necessities of fatherly responsibility resulting in frequent background noise. Audio texture, even. To conclude, if you were hoping for a brutal attack on the incessant stupidity of Civil War or for endless praise for the electrifying energy of Challengers, you'll have to wait. For now, join Stephen and Vaughn as they discuss a swath of the latest mid budget independent sensations, from nunsploitation and devilish talk shows to bruiser action and sapphic love on steroids.

Have a question, a comment, or just want to say hello? Send us a message at [email protected] us:

Vaughn on The Twin Geeks, Letterboxd, and Twitter.

Stephen on The Twin Geeks, Letterboxd, and Twitter.

When a masterpiece is long enough in the waiting, it demands greatness, and commands a heavy air of importance surrounding its release. There's an immense pressure upon the final product to deliver, to be top of its class. When the most iconic contemporary auteurs of the medium are attached to the project, it is the only release that matters. Is a month too long in between episodes of a podcast? Are the many weeks of anticipation counter to maintaining listeners in a demanding environment constantly being flooded with content? Or can one great episode every four weeks become an experience that demands being listened to in the background during your commute, shattering all of our wildest expectations? Decide for yourself in the March edition of I'm Thinking of Spoiling Things, where Stephen and Vaughn talk Poor Things, Dune: Part Two, a dash of Drive-Away Dolls, Bionicles, the state of blockbuster cinema, and everything in between.

Have a question, a comment, or just want to say hello? Send us a message at [email protected] us:

Vaughn on The Twin Geeks, Letterboxd, and Twitter.

Stephen on The Twin Geeks, Letterboxd, and Twitter.