PopaHALLics

PopaHALLics #120 "Let the Bite One In" 
Dracula's sister is undead with evil intent in "Dracula: The Count's Kin," an indie film shot in the Indianapolis area. We talk to writer/director Eric Pascarelli and actors Daisy Hickey and James Tackett for a behind-the-scenes look at this movie starring Leanne Johnson ("Extraction USA"). We also pick our favorite screen vampires!

PopaHALLics #119 "Highly Recommended"
Instead of dissing pop culture offerings, dad and daughter rave about them on this episode. Steve's a fan of "American Fiction," "The Last Repair Shop" and "Colin from Accounts." Kate really likes "All of Us Strangers," "Bottoms," and "The New Look."

Streaming:

• "American Fiction," in theaters and for purchase. In this Best Picture nominee, a black novelist (Jeffrey Wright) writes a satire of the stereotype-heavy books he despises—and it becomes a hit.
• "All of Us Strangers," Hulu and rental. In this acclaimed film, a screenwriter (Andrew Scott) develops a relationship with his neighbor while also finding an unusual way to reconcile his grief over the loss of his parents at an early age.
• "Bottoms," Prime. Kate found this 2023 satirical teen comedy a little shocking, violent, and foul-mouthed—but very funny. The plot: Two unpopular queer female high school students start a fight club to have sex before graduation.
• "Colin from Accounts," Paramount +, Prime, other streaming services. This Australian rom-com developed by its stars, Harriet Dyer and Patrick Brammell, follows two flawed people caring for a special needs dog and falling in love.
• "The Last Repair Shop," YouTube, Hulu, Disney+.  This Oscar-nominated documentary short explores how music has changed the lives of a few dedicated craftsmen who repair some 80,000 instruments in the Los Angeles school system.
• "The New Look," Apple TV+. This limited series is the true story of how Christian Dior (Ben Mendelsohn) and his contemporaries, including Coco Chanel (Juliette Binoche), navigate the horrors of World War II and launch modern fashion.
• "Upgraded," Prime.  Cinderella, anyone? In this rom-com, Camilla Mendes plays a lowly intern who fibs about her role at an art auction house to a handsome stranger and is drawn into the world of his wealthy, glamorous  mother (Lena Olin).  Marisa Tomei plays Mendes' ridiculously demanding boss.

Books:

• "Anna O," by Matthew Blake. In this dark and twisty thriller, a young woman commits a double murder while sleepwalking, and then never opens her eyes again. 
• "John Prine: In Spite of Himself," by Eddie Huffman.  A music journalist traces the the career and life of a songwriter's songwriter, from Prine's childhood to the stories behind many of his songs. There's a wealth of great ones to choose from, including "Angel from Montgomery," "Sam Stone," Hello In There" and "Paradise."

PopaHALLics #118 "It Takes Two to Tango"
Relationships can be a tricky dance, whether you're mismatched cops working a murder case ("Deadloch"), a movie star & a "civilian" falling in love ("Starstruck"), or socialites mistakenly trusting a writer who will betray them ("Feud: Capote Vs. The Swans"). Not to mention two assassins living together ("Mr. & Mrs. Smith")!

Streaming:

• "Masters of the Air," Apple +.  Austin Butler ("Elvis") and Callum Turner play pilots and friends more like siblings in this "Band of Brothers"-esque look at the 100th Bomb Group during World War II.
• "Deadloch," Prime. A local straightlaced cop (Kate Box) and a brash outsider (Madeleine Sami) reluctantly team up to solve murders in a small town in this quirky feminist noir comedy.
• "Mr. & Mrs. Smith," Prime. In a relationship dramedy inspired by the 2005 Angelina Jolie/Brad Pitt movie, Donald Glover and Maya Erskine play assassins who become a couple.
• "Feud: Capote Vs. The Swans," FX. Writer Truman Capote becomes friends with a group of rich glamorous socialites and then spills all their secrets in a magazine article. Starring Naomi Watts, Diane Lane, Calista Flockhart, Demi Moore, Chloe Sevigny, and Tom Hollander as Capote.
• "Starstruck," Max. A movie star (Nikesh Patel) and a "little rat nobody" (Rose Matafeo) try to have a relationship in this screwball BBC rom-com created by Matafeo.
• "Death & Other Details," Hulu. A young woman (Violett Beane) boards a luxury liner, only to find "the world's greatest detective" (Mandy Patinkin) who abandoned her in her childhood time of need. But she'll need the help of the hard-drinking sleuth to prove her innocence when a murder occurs.

Books:

• "Furious Hours: Murder, Fraud & The Last Trial of Harper Lee," by Casey Cep. In this true story, a rural preacher murdered five family members for insurance money until a relative shot him dead at the funeral for one of the victims. In the audience at the vigilante's trial: "To Kill a Mockingbird" author Harper Lee, hoping to write a book like her friend Truman Capote's "In Cold Blood." "Furious Hours" also follows the attorney who first defended the preacher and then his killer.
• "Capote's Women: A True Story of Love, Betrayal, & a Swan Song for an Era," by Laurence Leamer. The bestseller that inspired the miniseries "Feud: Capote Vs. The Swans" (see above).

PopaHALLics #117 "Unpleasant People"
They're self-centered ... pushy ... arrogant ... and sometimes murderous. But difficult people—an orchestra conductor, a marathon swimmer, two battling cops, even a serial killer—can make for great pop culture, as this episode attests.

Streaming:

• "Maestro," Netflix. Bradley Cooper cowrote, directs, and stars as conductor/composer Leonard Bernstein and Carey Mulligan plays his actress wife in this drama about their relationship. The film received 7 Oscar nominations.
• "Nyad," Netflix. In this true story, Annette Benning plays marathon swimmer Diana Nyad, who decides at age 60 to swim from Cuba to Florida. Jodie Foster is her long-suffering best friend and coach. Both received Oscar nominations. 
• "True Detective: Night Country," Max. In the spooky 4th season of the series, a sheriff (Jodie Foster) and state trooper (Kali Reis) frequently butt heads as they investigate the strange disappearance of 7 men from an  Alaska research station.
• "Boston Strangler," Hulu. In this 2023 movie based on a true story, reporter Loretta McLaughlin  (Keira Knightley) is the first to connect the murders of 13 women and report on the notorious serial killer. With Carrie Coon.
• "Zorro," Prime. This 2024 Spanish TV series reinterprets the avenging vigilante in black, first created in 1919.  Miguel Bernardeau plays the swordsman in a show with lots of action and a greater emphasis on indigenous and Mexican characters.
• "The Man From Nowhere," Netflix. In this intense South Korean action flick, a little girl befriends her next door neighbor, a reclusive pawn shop owner. When bad guys take her, they quickly discover he's much more than he appears.

Books:

• "Shuggie Bain," by Douglas Stuart.  In this acclaimed novel, young Hugh "Shuggie" Bain is a sweet, lonely boy who spends his 1980s childhood in run-down public housing in Glasgow. "A heartbreaking story of addiction, sexuality, and love" (Goodreads).
• "The Music Shop," by Rachel Joyce. In London in 1988, a music shop owner has the gift of connecting people with just the music they need. A beautiful young woman asks him to teach her about music—but she's not what she seems. Named one of the best books of the year by The Washington Post and The Times (UK).

PopaHALLics #116 "Moviemaking with Mike"
Last time we talked about "Extraction USA," it was a trailer for a movie that didn't exist yet. Writer/director Mike Yonts updates us on its progress toward the big screen— an interesting conversation about what it's like to make a movie. Dad and daughter also dish on Britney Spears, Mark Wahlberg, and what we think of each other's faves.

Here's the "Extraction USA" trailer.

Books:

• "The Woman in Me," by Britney Spears. Kate has a new appreciation for the pop singer after this memoir. It traces her incredible journey from childhood to international stardom, wild days, and the controversial conservatorship.

Streaming:

• "The Family Plan," Apple +.  In this action comedy,  a suburban dad's family has no clue he's a former skilled assassin. Then the bad guys start showing up. Starring Mark Wahlberg, Michelle Monaghan, Maggie Q, and Ciaran Hinds.
• "A Murder at the End of the World," FX and Hulu. Kate offers her thoughts on this Iceland-set murder mystery previously recommended by Steve. Starring Emma Corwin, Clive Owen, and Brit Marling (who co-created the miniseries).
• "The Crown," Netflix. Steve weighs on Corwin's turn as the young Princess Diana in the British monarchy series previously recommended by Kate. Also starring Olivia Colman (Elizabeth), Gillian Anderson (Margaret Thatcher) and Josh O'Connor (Prince Charles).

PopaHALLics #115 "Poppanew!"
Happy New Year! We kick off 2024 with a chat about Paul Giamatti's Oscar-buzz performance in "The Holdovers," the discomfort of "Saltburn," Stephen King's return to a favorite character—and more!

Streaming:

• "The Holdovers," theaters and rental. In this drama, Giamatti plays a much-disliked history professor at a  New England boarding school forced to oversee a group of boys with nowhere else to go for the holidays.
• "Saltburn," Prime. A university student's obsession with a rich classmate turns into a series of horrifying events when he's invited to the family castle.  Barry Keoghan, Jacob Elordi, Rosamund Pike, Richard E. Grant, and Alison Oliver star.
• "American Symphony," Netflix. In this intimate documentary, musician Jon Batiste sets out to write a symphony as his partner, author Suleika Jaouad, struggles with the return of her cancer.
• "Are You There, God? It's Me, Margaret," Hulu, Sling, other channels. In this adaptation of Judy Blume's beloved novel, an 11-year-old girl (Abby Ryder Fortson) navigates new friends, feelings, and adolescence after her family moves to the suburbs. With Rachel McAdams and Kathy Bates. 
• "Blue-Eye Samurai," Netflix. In this French-American adult animated series, a half-Japanese/half white swordswoman seeks vengeance on four white men for their wrongs to her mother.  Gorgeous visuals, violence, and sex.

Books:

• "Holly," by Stephen King. Holly Gibney is one of King's more memorable recurring characters—a vulnerable, insecure young woman overcoming a difficult upbringing to become a private detective. Here she investigates a series of disappearances caused by an unlikely pair of serial killers.

Music:
Popahallics #115 Playlist features songs such as "Le Freak," "We Are Family," "Like a Virgin" and "Let's Dance"  written,  composed and/or produced by guitarist Nile Rodgers. If you'd like to see Nile in action, this NPR Tiny Desk Concert is great. 

PopaHALLics #114 "Avoid These Shows!"
You want some turkey? We take out the knives to carve up "Obliterated," "The Buccaneers," and "Monarch: A Legacy of Monsters." But we also make two recommendations for holiday viewing—including one not traditionally thought of as a "Christmas" movie.

Streaming:

• "Obliterated," Netflix. An elite special forces team drunk and stoned from partying must find a nuclear bomb before Las Vegas is, well, obliterated. Steve says this violent, sexual dramedy is a comedy dud.
• "The Buccaneers," Apple+. A group of  American girls go to England in search of rich husbands in this period drama with modern touches—think a cross between "Bridgerton" and "The Gilded Age."  Kate kept falling asleep.
• "Monarch: Legacy of Monsters," Apple+. This action drama comes alive when Godzilla and other monsters are onscreen. Unfortunately, most of it's about the humans. Kurt Russell and son Wyatt play the same character at different ages.
• "Falling for Christmas," Netflix. In this holiday rom-com, pampered heiress Lindsay Lohan gets amnesia and is taken in by handsome widower with super-cute young daughter. Stop us if you can see where this is going.
• "Moonstruck," streaming and rental. Cher won a Best Actress Oscar for her portrayal of a widowed woman who falls in love with her fiance's estranged, hot-tempered younger brother (Nicolas Cage) in this 1987 romantic comedy drama.
• "For All Mankind," Apple +. This speculative sci-fi series depicts an escalating space race after the Russians put a man on the moon first. 

Books:

• "The Best Christmas Pageant Ever," by Barbara Robinson. This bestselliing holiday classic follows the shenanigans of  "the worst kids in the history of the world" when they get involved with a church Christmas pageant. 
• "In the Lives of Puppets," by T.J. Klune. Set in the future after robots have taken over, this novel is a charming PInocchio-inspired fable about what makes us human and the families we choose.

Music:
PopaHALLics #114 Playlist features our favorite songs from our PopaHALLics playlists this year, from Los Bitchos to Beyonce, from Leonard Cohen to Talking Heads.  Rock on!

PopaHALLics #113 "Cry Murder!"
Is that red on the holiday decorations blood? In an unplanned twist, dad and daughter both come to the show with murderous streaming and reading recommendations. A killer episode, wouldn't you say?

Streaming:

• "A Murder at the End of the World," FX & Hulu. When a reclusive tech titan (Clive Owen) holds a retreat in Iceland, his guests start getting iced, so to speak. A 24-year-old hacker turned true-crime sleuth (Emma Corrin) must figure out the killer's identity in this mystery from the makers of "The OA."
• "The Crown," Netflix. Part one of the sixth and final season focuses on the final years of Princess Diana (Elizabeth Debicki) and the impact of her life and death on the royal family. 
• "Fargo," FX & Hulu. Season 5 of this black comedy crime drama finds Juno Temple ("Ted Lasso") as a Minnesota housewife who is not who she says she is. Jon Hamm ("Mad Men") is the rule-breaking sheriff who wants to track her down.

Books:

• "Mother Daughter Murder Night," by Nina Simon. In this mix of mystery and family drama, three generations of women try to solve a murder while also learning to live together. A Reese Witherspoon Book Club Pick.
• "My Lovely Wife," by Samantha Downing.  A husband spices up his marriage by finding victims for his wife, a serial killer, in this thriller. Dark, sexy, and disturbing.
• "My Murder," by Katie Williams. In this novel named an NPR Best Book of the Year, the victim of a local serial killer is brought back to life by cloning. However, fitting back into her family and solving her murder proves harder than she thought.

Music:
Santa's bag—i.e., our Found Tree 2023 playlist—contains plenty of cool, off-the-beaten-track holiday tunes for you! A special thanks goes out to Mike Bode, our show's resident composer, and his wife Mary Kay. Their annual Cool Yule collections for family and friends introduced us to many of these tunes.

PopaHALLics #112 "More Boos for You"
Someone forgot to tell us Halloween was over! We discuss streamers about alien invaders, witches, a co-dependent Dracula, a horror-plagued family, and a novel about a witchhunt. Plus the comedy movie "Quiz Lady" and Poirot and his moustache.

Streaming:

• "The Menu," Hulu. In this horror comedy, a foodie (Nicholas Hoult) and his date (Anya Taylor-Joy) are excited to attend the island restaurant of a celebrity chef (Ralph Fiennes). Let's just say they may not be down with what he's serving up.
• "Invasion," Apple+. When an alien species threatens our existence, five ordinary people across the globe try to deal with the chaos unfolding around them in this series. Steve says the emphasis is on the humans, not those aliens.
• "A Haunting in Venice," Hulu. Kenneth Branagh directs and stars again as Agatha Christie's mustachioed detective Hercule Poirot. This time he's investigating a Halloween seance in a spooky palazzo. With Tina Fey and Michelle Yeoh.
• "Renfield," Prime. What's a guy (Nicholas Hoult) to do when his boss is super-demanding, violent, and oh yeah, Dracula (Nicolas Cage)? Awkwafina also stars in this "action comedy horror film." 
• "Quiz Lady," Hulu. Tightly wound Anne (Awkwafina) must deal with her hot mess of a sister (Sandra Oh) to help pay off their mom's gambling debts.  With Will Ferrell, Holland Taylor, and a dog named Linguini.
• "The Fall of the House of Usher," Netflix. In this limited series from horrormeister Mike Flanagan ("The Haunting of Hill House"), an unscrupulous family begins to pay for their sins in ways inspired by Edgar Allen Poe's stories and poems. With Bruce Greenwood, Carla Gugino, Mark Hamill, and more.

Books:

• "Daughters of Witching Hill," by Mary Sharratt. Inspired by an infamous witch trial in England in 1612, the novel follows a family of strong women as they try to survive "the hysteria of a witchhunt."

Our special macabre music for this episode is once again by Mike "What's that thing behind you?" Bode. Thanks, Mike!

PopaHALLics #111 HALL-oween
Time for vampires, spooky spirits, and movies with plot holes so big the wind moans through them like a ghost. Oh, and David Beckham and the brain, too.

Streaming:

• "El Conde," Netflix.  Former Chilean dictator Pinochet is actually a 250-year-old vampire who can't remember where he hid his money in this satiric arthouse flick. A French accountant nun will help him remember and/or stake him.
• "Trick r Treat," Max. This darkly comic horror anthology from the creator of "Krampus" tells four different, interwoven stories one Halloween night. With Brian Cox, Anna Paquin, and a creepy kid-sized spirit of Samhain, "Sam."
• "Beckham," Netflix. The life and career of soccer legend David Beckham is examined in this four-hour documentary from director/actor Fisher Stevens.
• "Something from Tiffany's," Prime. An engagement ring meant for someone else leads a woman (Zoey Deutch) to the person she was meant to be with in this rom-com. With Kendrick Sampson and Ray Nicholson, son of Jack.
• "Red Eye," Prime. This Hitchcockian thriller from horror maven West Craven  finds hotel manager Rachel McAdams happy to be seated next to a handsome stranger (Cillian Murphy) on a flight—until he reveals a nefarious plot.

Books:

• "Sunshine" by Robin McKinley. A young woman working as a baker becomes entangled in a vampire feud in this "near perfect fantasy" (Neil Gaiman).
• "The World Behind the World: Consciousness, Free Will, and the Limits of Science," by Erik Hoel. A scientist recognized by Forbes explores how the brain creates our conscious experiences—potentially revolutionizing neuroscience and the future of technology.

Music:
The Spooky Halloween Mix #111 playlist put together for us by Spotify's AI is scary good! It's perfect for your Halloween party or handing out candy to trick or treaters.

The Halloween-themed instrumentals in this episode are by our own Maestro of Musical Mayhem, that keyboardist who slays the 88s—Mike Bode! Fangs a lot, Mike.