Spoilerpiece Theatre

Dave keeps knives in his microwave?! Find out why this week. We kick off our reviews with ZACK SNYDER'S JUSTICE LEAGUE (4:21), a four-hour cut of the 2017 superhero film, which for better and worse, represents its original director's vision. Next, we talk about the heartwarming Oscar-nominated animated tale WOLFWALKERS (20:04). After that, we cover the three-hour documentary WOODLANDS DARK AND DAYS BEWITCHED: A HISTORY OF FOLK HORROR (28:59), which is long but offers a fascinating dissection of folk horror films. Our main event is GODZILLA VS. KONG (43:00), a kaiju movie with some entertaining fights that's unfortunately lacking in many other departments. And for our Patreon exclusive audio, we follow up on our recent PRETTY IN PINK discussion by talking about the John Hughes film SOME KIND OF WONDERFUL.

This week we open with a statement in support of the Asian American community. Then we discuss some movies that played at this year's SXSW. Evan and Megan cover SOUND OF VIOLENCE (2:52), Alex Noyer's brutal horror film about a college student who finds herself chasing a synesthetic high at all costs. Next, we talk about Keith Maitland's uneven documentary DEAR MR. BRODY (14:30), which tells the story of Michael Brody Jr., an heir to a margarine fortune who publicly promised to give away his multi-million-dollar inheritance in 1970. Last, but certainly not least, we review the delightful Natalie Morales directorial debut, LANGUAGE LESSONS (27:37), which is about a Spanish teacher and her student who form an unexpected friendship during their remote lessons. And in this week's Patreon exclusive audio, we discuss this year's Oscar nominations, including our favorites and some films we wish had been nominated.

Dave and Megan kick off this week's episode by discussing LUDI (2:09), Edson Jean's drama about a Haitian nurse chasing the American Dream. Next, everyone reviews Chris Smith's Netflix documentary OPERATION VARSITY BLUES: THE COLLEGE ADMISSIONS SCANDAL (12:38), which delves into the notorious scheme by celebrities and wealthy individuals to sneak their kids into prestigious universities. Then, we cover SLAXX (22:58), Elza Kephart's horror-comedy about a killer pair of pants...yeah that's right, pants. We wrap up with THE COURIER (37:45), Dominic Cooke's Cold War thriller about a British spy (Benedict Cumberbatch) who works with a Russian source to help stop the Cuban Missile Crisis. And in this week's Patreon exclusive audio, we talk about THE SLUMBER PARTY MASSACRE, the winner of our women-directed horror movies poll.

Evan starts this week by recapping two feature-length films he saw from the Boston Israeli Film Festival (1:29). He talks about Nir Bergman's HERE WE ARE, a drama about a father's changing relationship with his autistic son, and Yohanan Weller's LOVE IN SUSPENDERS, a romcom about finding love again later in life. Then Megan and Dave review Zoe Wittock's JUMBO (13:04), romantic drama about a woman who falls in love with an amusement park ride. Next, we all discuss Jessie Barr's SOPHIE JONES (28:25), a coming-of-age story about a teenager processing the grief of her mother's death. Lastly, we cover Amy Poehler's MOXIE (44:52), a dramedy about a teenager who takes on sexism at her high school by starting a feminist zine. And on this week's Patreon exclusive audio, we celebrate the 35th anniversary of PRETTY IN PINK with an in-depth discussion about the Howard Deutch/John Hughes 80s classic.

This week Evan opens with a plug for the Boston Israeli Film Festival, where he briefly mentions some moving shorts he saw from it (1:56). Then, Dave shares quick thoughts about the ending of I CARE A LOT (3:57). Megan starts the new movies with BOOGIE (7:58), Eddie Huang's coming-of-age story about an Asian American basketball player. Next, everyone discusses the Lee Daniels' Hulu film THE UNITED STATES VS. BILLIE HOLIDAY (17:16), a story about singer Billie Holiday's turbulent life (starring Andra Day) and the FBI's targeted campaign to harass her. After that we dig into LUCKY (31:35), Natasha Kermani and Brea Grant's horror film about a woman stalked by the same killer every night. We wrap up with Disney's RAYA AND THE LAST DRAGON (47:36), an epic animated film starring Kelly Marie Tran and Awkwafina. For our Patreon bonus audio, we continue our James Cameron kick by digging into his 1984 film THE TERMINATOR.

Dave kicks off this week's episode with a brief review of R.J. Cutler's Apple TV+ documentary BILLIE EILISH: THE WORLD'S A LITTLE BLURRY (1:43), which examines the singer-songwriter's life on the road and at home while she creates her debut album. Next, everyone reviews J Blakeson's Netflix crime drama/dark comedy I CARE A LOT (8:20), starring Rosamund Pike as a legal guardian whose scheme to take advantage of her elderly wards hits a snag when one of her marks turns out to be more than she seems. Then we talk about Keith Thomas's unique Jewish horror film THE VIGIL (23:35), about a shomer who encounters a demon while providing overnight watch to a deceased member of his former Orthodox Jewish community. We wrap up with Joe and Anthony Russo's Apple TV+ drama CHERRY (37:04), where Tom Holland portrays a soldier suffering from PTSD who turns to bank robbing after his drug addiction puts him in serious debt. And in this week's Patreon bonus audio, we talk about John Landis's 1988 Eddie Murphy film COMING TO AMERICA, in anticipation of its sequel, which comes out next week.

We kick off this week's show with SATOR (2:01), Jordan Graham's atmospheric horror film about a demon pursuing multiple generations of a forest-dwelling family. Then Megan and Evan review SHOOK (14:09), Jennifer Harrington's social-media-infused horror movie on Shudder. Next, everyone discusses the documentary FRAMING BRITNEY SPEARS (25:49), an episode of THE NEW YORK TIMES PRESENTS series that focuses on Britney Spears, the conservatorship that controls her life, and the misogyny in media that has impacted her life and career. We wrap up with Lee Isaac Chung's poignant drama MINARI (42:25), which follows a Korean American family's attempt to start a farm in 1980s Arkansas. And in this week's Patreon bonus audio, we review a Patron's choice, Walter Hill's 1979 action film THE WARRIORS.

This week Dave can't make it, so Dede Crimmins, the Alec Baldwin of Spoilerpiece, fills in! After discussing cats on Zoom, we dive into this week's movies. First up is Shudder's A NIGHTMARE WAKES (3:25), Nora Unkel's period horror flick which follows Mary Shelley as she writes Frankenstein. Next, we review THE WANTING MARE (13:00), Nicholas Ashe Bateman's surreal fantasy about dreams, longing, and yes, a mare. Then it's Netflix's MALCOLM & MARIE (26:43), Sam Levinson's movie about a couple's volatile night of arguments. Finally, we cover SAINT MAUD (46:38), Rose Glass's horror film about a pious nurse who becomes unhealthily obsessed with trying to save her patient's soul. And on this week's Patreon exclusive audio, we discuss James Cameron's 1992 film TERMINATOR 2: JUDGMENT DAY.

SUNDANCE, SUNDANCE, SUNDANCE! We cover the Sundance Film Festival for the first time so we have a LOT of movies to discuss. We kick off with films we saw individually and would recommend: FIRST DATE (3:25), FLEE (6:14), and PASSING (9:21). Then we move on to movies at least two of us have seen like MARVELOUS AND THE BLACK HOLE (15:05), HOW IT ENDS (20:47), BRING YOUR OWN BRIGADE (27:24), and THE WORLD TO COME (37:46). We end with discussions of films all three of us have seen like STREET GANG: HOW WE GOT TO SESAME STREET (48:29), and CODA (59:07), a movie which takes places here in Massachusetts. And in this week's Patreon bonus audio, it's even more Sundance. We cover all the other films we'd recommend, but couldn't squeeze into this episode.

This week we offer some thoughts on whipped cream before we get to the movies. First, Megan and Evan review Shudder's Indonesian horror flick THE QUEEN OF BLACK MAGIC (3:29), which is about three friends who visit the orphanage where they grew up. Next, everyone discusses SUPERNOVA (17:05), a road trip film where Stanley Tucci and Colin Firth play a couple grappling with the fact that one of them has dementia. Then it's on to THE LITTLE THINGS (37:48), a 90s-set noir-ish crime drama starring Denzel Washington, Rami Malek, and Jared Leto that's dropping on HBO Max. And in our Patreon exclusive audio this week we discuss RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK, a movie two of us have loved since childhood.