Queen is Dead - A Film, TV and Culture Podcast

Cris, Varun & Ashwin wanted to talk about "Digger" & "Verity" during Dhruv's beloved Spooktober. But two of them bailed out for NO VALID REASON WHATSOEVER, so Dhruv had to subject himself to the horrifically unfunny catastrophe that is Alejandro Gonzalez Innaritu & Tom Cruise's "Digger."

Arijit joins Dhruv and Cris on this episode to push back against their uncompromising hatred towards "Digger" and its brand of -- in their words -- "unfunny, anti-intellectual postmodernism." Unsurprisingly, the internet discourse surrounding "Digger" is also widely discussed, with Dhruv and Cris doing their level best to convince Arijit why most of the film's (re)appraisals don't hold up. All in all, an extended discussion about (& around) the film -- which, I suppose, is considered a win for the film's intentions, regardless of its actual (cinematic) qualities.

Conversely, Cris then -- briefly -- trashes Michael Showalter's "Verity" for not being very trashy.

Listen to the full episode to hear a lot of (hopefully) informed bitching and (hopefully) productive discourse. You are most welcome to tell us if it wasn't informed or productive -- we will not quote it back to you and say that you're wrong for thinking so because we intended it to be otherwise!

Major spoilers for "Digger" & "Verity"!

TIMECODES

Introduction: [00:00 - 04:39]

The "Digger" Takedown - [00:00 - 24:27]

The "Digger" Defense - [24:27 - 32:30]

The "Digger" Debate(s) - [32:30 - 01:15:19]

The "Verity" Rant (ft. Cris) - [01:15:19 - 01:36:49]

Outro - [01:36:49 - 01:39:19]

Do hit 'Follow' on Spotify if you haven't already to help the podcast reach more people!

Follow our Instagram page: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://instagram.com/queenisdead.filmpodcast.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

You can follow us on Instagram at:

ARIJIT: https://www.instagram.com/_tentinquarantino_/.

CRIS: https://www.instagram.com/criscritiques/.

DHRUV: https://www.instagram.com/terminalcinema/.

You can also follow us on Letterboxd at -

ARIJIT: https://letterboxd.com/nostradamus/.

CRIS: https://letterboxd.com/crislim/.

DHRUV: https://letterboxd.com/aterminalcinema/.

You know how this looks, right?

To navigate the tricky minefield that is Lance Oppenheim's narrative feature film debut "Primetime," Hemant and Cris take the help of David Osit's documentary "Predators" (2025) and introspect on the culture that produced Chris Hansen's "To Catch a Predator" and the consequences (or lack thereof) that came of it.

What follows is a careful investigation of the relationship between morality and law, reality and fiction, documentary and narrative filmmaking. Osit and Oppenheim's intentions, methods, and worldviews are contrasted to make sense of how one approaches sensitive topics and critiques or indulges in society's worst impulses.

For spoiler-free thoughts, check the time stamps below and trigger warnings for discussion of CSA.

Do hit 'Follow' on Spotify if you haven't already to help the podcast reach more people!

Follow our Instagram page: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://instagram.com/queenisdead.filmpodcast.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

TIME CODES

Introduction - [00:00 - 15:45]

"Predators" - [15:45 - 01:06:48]

"Primetime" (Spoiler-Free) - [01:06:48 - 01:27:02]

"Primetime" (Spoiler-Filled) - [01:27:02 - 02:16:30]

Outro - [02:16:30 - 02:24:10]

You can also follow us on Letterboxd at -

HEMANT: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://letterboxd.com/ganti117/⁠⁠⁠.

CRIS: https://letterboxd.com/crislim/.

"Resident Evil" has been rebooted maybe a few too many times; Cris, Amartya, and Ashwin discuss if Zach Cregger's run with the iconic gaming franchise will finally make it stick.

Debate ensues on the merits (or lack thereof) of Cregger's earlier work and the 'elevated horror' genre as such—including major disagreements over "Weapons"—which is followed by surprising consensus on his ability to handle a much less complicated take on the survival horror genre. Attempts are also made to settle the age-old video game adaptation discourse.

For spoiler-free thoughts, check the time stamps below but listen to the full episode for our take on the film's Themes™ and our predictions on the future of cross-genre storytelling.

Do hit 'Follow' on Spotify if you haven't already to help the podcast reach more people!

Follow our Instagram page: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://instagram.com/queenisdead.filmpodcast.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

TIME CODES

Introduction - [00:00 - 03:56]

Zach Cregger and Spoiler-Free Thoughts - [03:56 - 41:28]

Spoiler-Filled Thoughts on Resident Evil - [41:28 - 01:11:40]

Outro (& Other Game Adaptation) - [01:11:40 - 01:26:11]

You can also follow us on Letterboxd at -

ASHWIN: https://letterboxd.com/ashwindev/.

AMARTYA: https://letterboxd.com/amartya/.

CRIS: https://letterboxd.com/crislim/.

Cris is joined by Dhruv, Hemant, and returning guest Devarsi on a tour of LA as they talk all things Hollywood through David Lynch's most well-known and celebrated text—Mulholland Drive.

Listen to the full episode to hear them try to find new ways to approach a film that has been talked about endlessly. Discussions on queerness, naive optimism, and film theory ensue, meaning the usual fare.

Spoilers, of course, for "Mulholland Drive."

TIME CODES

Introduction : [00:00 - 04:00]

"Mulholland Drive": [04:00 - 1:19:35]

Outro: [1:19:35 - 1:28:17]

TEXT REFERENCED REPEATEDLY HERE

"Room to Dream" (David Lynch & Kristine McKenna).

Do hit 'Follow' on Spotify if you haven't already to help the podcast reach more people!

Follow our Instagram page: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://instagram.com/queenisdead.filmpodcast.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

You can also follow us on Instagram at:

CRIS: https://www.instagram.com/criscritiques/.

DHRUV: https://www.instagram.com/terminalcinema/.

DEVARSI: https://www.instagram.com/devarsighosh/.

You can also follow us on Letterboxd at -

CRIS: https://letterboxd.com/crislim/.

DHRUV: https://letterboxd.com/aterminalcinema/.

HEMANT: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://letterboxd.com/ganti117/⁠⁠.

DEVARSI: https://letterboxd.com/d2dag/.

Cris and Varun sit down to thrash out the remaining life from the new ‘sexy-but-sex-negative’ rom-com “One Night Only”, directed by “Easy A” helmer Will Gluck and starring Monica Barbaro (“A Complete Unknown”, “Top Gun: Maverick”) and Callum Turner (aka Mr Dua Lipa of “Masters of the Air” and “Rose of Nevada” fame).

After they are done belting the new release for its many crimes, the duo turn affectionate as they talk up a favorite romcom each, Ali Abbas Zafar’s “Mere Brother Ki Dulhan” (Cris) and Peyton Reed’s “Down with Love” (Varun).

TIMECODES

Initial Prattle - [00:00 - 09:53]

“One Night Only” - [09:53 - 01:31:17]

“Mere Brother Ki Dulhan” - [01:31:17 - 01:41:14]

“Down with Love” - [01:41:14 - 01:57:43]

Closing Thoughts and Khatam - [01:57:43 - 02:06:09]

Do hit 'Follow' on Spotify if you haven't already to help the podcast reach more people!

Follow our Instagram page: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://instagram.com/queenisdead.filmpodcast.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

You can follow us on Letterboxd at -

CRIS: https://letterboxd.com/crislim/.

VARUN: https://letterboxd.com/varunoakbhakay/.

It's never nice to talk about a director whom you thought you loved but -- upon rewatching their films -- you realize you maybe don't...

This is the (unfortunate) framework for QID's first episode (of 3) on director Denis Villeneuve before he became THE Denis Villeneuve responsible for helming the Dune franchise (culminating with "Dune Part Three" in December), and thereafter, directing the latest iteration of 007.

Dhruv and Cris (for whom most of these films are first watches) are less than enamored by Villeneuve's French Canadian films -- especially "Polytechnique" and "Incendies" -- that catapulted him to becoming one of the most celebrated filmmakers working in Hollywood today.

So they contemplate the value (or lack thereof) of his refined style -- and why Cris, at least, prefers shabbiness of his earlier work ("August 32nd on Earth" & "Maelström") heavily inspired by the French New Wave.

Listen to the full episode to hear Dhruv rant about "Maelström" and the French New Wave, though. And then Cris talk extensively about how much Denis Villeneuve actually improves on the source material "Incendies" is adapted from.

MAJOR SPOILERS FOR ALL 4 FILMS DISCUSSED!

TIME CODES

Introduction - [00:00 - 22:52]

"August 32nd on Earth" - [22:52 - 41:56] 

"Maelström" - [41:56 - 59:16]

"Polytechnique" - [59:16 - 01:43:54]

"Incendies" - [01:43:54 - 02:29:30]

Outro - [02:29:30 - 02:39:54]

Do hit 'Follow' on Spotify if you haven't already to help the podcast reach more people!

Follow our Instagram page: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://instagram.com/queenisdead.filmpodcast.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

You can also follow us on Instagram at:

CRIS: https://www.instagram.com/prdscris/.

DHRUV: https://www.instagram.com/terminalcinema/.

You can also follow us on Letterboxd at -

CRIS: https://letterboxd.com/crislim/.

DHRUV: https://letterboxd.com/aterminalcinema/.

Co-fathers of “Queen is Dead,” Sanjeet and Hemant, join Varun for an episode on the collaborations between Rajkumar Santoshi and Sunny Deol. Beginning with the newest – “Batwara 1947” – this trio discusses the mechanism of filmmaking adopted by a pure 90s filmmaker thirty-six years after his debut feature, and how his direction of Sunny Deol has changed over time. 

Joining the Partition drama on the menu are the revenge drama “Ghayal”, the social melodrama “Damini”, and the social actioner “Ghatak”.

TIME CODES

Introduction - [00:00 - 24:00] 

“Batwara 1947” - [24:00 - 01:24:46] 

Sanjeet’s Bigger Question - [01:24:46 - 01:48:27]

Closing on “Batwara 1947” - [01:48:27 - 01:58:00]

“Ghayal” - [01:58:00 - 02:18:29]

“Damini” - [02:18:29 - 02:35:58]

“Ghatak” - [02:35:58 - 02:49:20]

Outro - [02:49:20 - 02:51:06]

Do hit 'Follow' on Spotify if you haven't already to help the podcast reach more people!

Follow our Instagram page: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://instagram.com/queenisdead.filmpodcast.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

You can follow us on Letterboxd at -

SANJEET: ⁠https://letterboxd.com/sanjeet_singh/.

VARUN: ⁠https://letterboxd.com/varunoakbhakay/.⁠

HEMANT: ⁠⁠⁠https://letterboxd.com/ganti117/⁠⁠.

Dhruv and Cris convene ten months late (oops) to unusually calmly discuss Lynch's most "experimental" film (which was his only film to be distributed by the Walt Disney Company and get a G rating): "The Straight Story."

Listen to the full episode to hear us be normal for once(?) as we talk about the slow pleasures of America's (rotting) rolling pastures and questions of mortality that hit a little too close to home.

Spoilers, of course, for "The Straight Story."

TIME CODES

Introduction : [00:00 - 03:00]

"The Straight Story": [03:00 - 50:20]

Outro: [50:20 - 55:37]

TEXT REFERENCED REPEATEDLY HERE

"Room to Dream" (David Lynch & Kristine McKenna).

Do hit 'Follow' on Spotify if you haven't already to help the podcast reach more people!

Follow our Instagram page: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://instagram.com/queenisdead.filmpodcast.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

You can also follow us on Instagram at:

CRIS: https://www.instagram.com/prdscris/.

DHRUV: https://www.instagram.com/terminalcinema/.

You can also follow us on Letterboxd at -

CRIS: https://letterboxd.com/crislim/.

DHRUV: https://letterboxd.com/aterminalcinema/.

Spider-Man is back! Again! Web-slinging his way to box-office history, as the editor of this episode is writing this description.

Two Spidey "paglus" (crazies) -- Amartya & Adithiyan -- try to convince QID's designated Debbie Downer of this year -- Cris -- about the merits of the latest Spider-Man film beyond its effective emotionality -- courtesy of director Destin Daniel Cretton -- & Tom Holland's performance as both Spider-Man & Peter Parker.

Does the MCU go too far in its universe-building for what could have just been a great standalone Spider-Man film? Should [REDACTED] have been in the film? Should [REDACTED] have forgiven [REDACTED] in the film?

Spoiler-free description and introductory section (see time codes). But listen to the full episode after watching the film (you probably have already watched it!) to hear a spoiler-filled discussion about the past, present, and future of the MCU, Spider-Man & [REDACTED].

Do hit 'Follow' on Spotify if you haven't already to help the podcast reach more people!

Follow our Instagram page: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://instagram.com/queenisdead.filmpodcast.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

TIME CODES

Introduction : [00:00 - 03:47]

Director Destin Daniel Cretton & the MCU: [03:47 - 06:27]

Spoiler-Free Review: [06:27 - 21:37]

Spoiler-Filled Review: [21:37 - 01:21:22]

Spoiler-Filled "Future of MCU" Discussion - [01:21:22 - 01:39:20]

You can also follow the Spidey lovers and the Debbie Downer on Letterboxd at -

ADITHIYAN: https://letterboxd.com/curioseradi/.

AMARTYA: https://letterboxd.com/amartya/.

CRIS: https://letterboxd.com/crislim/.

Hello Hello Hello,

It's that time of the year when QID does its mid-yearly Bollywood round-up (aka the time when Dhruv and Cris are at their bitchiest).

Rather than following our regular format, we've split our episode into 2 parts: the first one, featuring first-time guest & regular writer for The Indian Express, Anas Arif, is (hopefully) the civil one. We discuss two of the more prominent titles of this year—Anubhav Sinha's controversial Assi and Imtiaz Ali's much-revered Main Vaapas Aaunga—extensively to try and understand their appeal (or lack thereof) for a broader audience.

The second part of the episode, featuring only Cris and Dhruv, is chaos as usual because we revert to our format of picking notable honorable (or in this case, mostly dishonorable) mentions of the year (so far). We go through these categories by category - discussing performances, direction, writing, music & editing that missed (or, in the rare case, hit) the mark.

MAJOR SPOILERS FOR ASSI & MAIN VAAPAS AAUNGA

MINOR SPOILERS FOR COCKTAIL 2 & O'ROMEO

TIMECODES

PART 1 (w/ ANAS) - [00:00 - 01:39:01]

Introduction - [00:00 - 03:42]

Assi - [03:42 - 51:19]

Main Vaapas Aaunga - [51:19 - 01:39:01]

PART 2 (w/o ANAS) - [01:39:01 - 02:37:13]

Introduction - [01:39:01 - 01:41:26]

Honorable/Dishonorable Mentions

Performance - [01:41:26 - 01:47:46]

Direction - [01:47:46 - 01:54:28]

Writing - [01:54:28 - 02:00:51]

Scene - [02:00:51 - 02:07:13]

Cinematography - [02:07:13 - 02:14:52]

Editing - [02:14:52 - 02:22:16]

Music - [02:22:16 - 02:28:39]

Film - [02:28:39 - 02:37:13]

OUTRO - [02:37:13 - 02:39:07]

Do hit 'Follow' on Spotify if you haven't already to help the podcast reach more people!

YOU CAN (AND SHOULD!) FOLLOW ANAS ON HIS SOCIALS.

TWITTER

INSTAGRAM

ANAS' CRITICAL PIECE ON ASSI & MAIN VAAPAS AAUNGA

1. "MVA chronicles a country in danger of forgetting itself."

2. "The devastatingly affective tragedy of MVA's climax."

3. "Assi vs. Mardaani 3: The grammar of rage in the era of hypermasculine cinema.

Follow us on Instagram at:

Dhruv: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/terminalcinema/⁠

Cris: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/prdscris/⁠

Follow us on Letterboxd at:

Dhruv - ⁠https://letterboxd.com/aterminalcinema/⁠

Cris: ⁠https://letterboxd.com/crislim/⁠