THE FIXATE & BINGE PODCAST, with Host, Joe Curdy: Deep dives into cinema and storytelling with voices who create it

Send us Fan Mail

In the second part of this 2-part podcast series of The Fixate & Binge Podcast, host Joe Curdy sits down with filmmaker Heston Horwin — the writer, producer, and star of the hilarious new indie comedy THE MISADVENTURES OF VINCE AND HICK. 

It’s a buddy crime caper filled with wit, chaos, and heart — featuring standout performances by Chase Cargill,  Fiona Rene, Katie Parker, Logan Huffman and many, many others!  Joe and Heston dig into the film’s sharp humor, creative process, and what it takes to make a festival-ready indie that’s as smart as it is absurdly fun.

Destined to be a indie cult classic, tune in to hear the wild and crazy story about how the film came to be, why your host Joe gave the film a coveted 5 out of 5 star review on Letterboxd, how it obtained its financing and what's in store for THE MISADVENTURES OF VINCE AND HICK!

Thank you for listening! You can find and follow us with the links below!

Read our Letterboxd reviews at:
https://letterboxd.com/fixateandbinge/

Follow us on Instagram at:
https://www.instagram.com/fixateandbingepodcast/?hl=ms

Follow us on TikTok at:
https://www.tiktok.com/@fixateandbingepodcast

Send us Fan Mail

In the first part of this 2-part podcast series of The Fixate & Binge Podcast, host Joe Curdy sits down with filmmaker Heston Horwin — the writer, producer, and star of the hilarious new indie comedy THE MISADVENTURES OF VINCE AND HICK. 

It’s a buddy crime caper filled with wit, chaos, and heart — featuring standout performances by Chase Cargill,  Fiona Rene, Katie Parker, Logan Huffman and many, many others!  Joe and Heston dig into the film’s sharp humor, creative process, and what it takes to make a festival-ready indie that’s as smart as it is absurdly fun.

Destined to be a indie cult classic, tune in to hear the wild and crazy story about how the film came to be, why your host Joe gave the film a coveted 5 out of 5 star review on Letterboxd, how it obtained its financing and what's in store for THE MISADVENTURES OF VINCE AND HICK!

Thank you for listening! You can find and follow us with the links below!

Read our Letterboxd reviews at:
https://letterboxd.com/fixateandbinge/

Follow us on Instagram at:
https://www.instagram.com/fixateandbingepodcast/?hl=ms

Follow us on TikTok at:
https://www.tiktok.com/@fixateandbingepodcast

Send us Fan Mail

In this solo episode of The Fixate & Binge Podcast, host Joe Curdy dives headfirst into ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER — Paul Thomas Anderson’s most politically charged and urgent film to date. (And, on a personal note, Joe also pulls back the curtain to reveal two major reasons why he is usually very positive about rating films!)

Based on Thomas Pynchon’s 1990 novel Vineland, Anderson’s latest work unfolds as a sprawling and provocative look at revolution, authoritarianism, and the fight for human dignity in a fractured America. Through Joe’s lens, this episode explores how Anderson translates Pynchon’s chaos and satire into a modern reflection of the world today — where undocumented immigrants are hunted and forcibly deported by a draconian U.S. government under Donald J. Trump’s leadership.

With spoilers throughout, Joe shares his Letterboxd review and a deeply personal reflection on the film’s themes, visual style, and political relevance. 

ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER isn’t just another PTA epic — it’s a call to look at the moral decay beneath the surface of American life, and a cinematic act of resistance against the “New American Order.”

Whether you’re a longtime Paul Thomas Anderson devotee or simply curious how cinema can mirror our modern political reality, this episode offers a raw, unfiltered deep dive into a film that’s bound to spark conversation.

⚠️ Spoiler Disclaimer:

This episode contains major spoilers for ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER. If you haven’t seen the film yet, you may want to watch it first before listening.

Thank you for listening! You can find and follow us with the links below!

Read our Letterboxd reviews at:
https://letterboxd.com/fixateandbinge/

Follow us on Instagram at:
https://www.instagram.com/fixateandbingepodcast/?hl=ms

Follow us on TikTok at:
https://www.tiktok.com/@fixateandbingepodcast

Send us Fan Mail

On this episode of The Fixate & Binge Podcast, director JC Doler joins host Joseph Curdy to discuss his chilling new film THE TWIN, now streaming on SHUDDER. Equal parts terrifying and emotionally raw, the film confronts trauma and mental illness while keeping audiences on edge. 

Doler—who co-wrote, directed, and edited the project—pulls back the curtain on his creative process, from building atmosphere and tension to shaping a story that lingers long after the credits roll. Whether you’re a horror fan hungry for scares or a film lover curious about craft, this conversation dives deep into the art of making fear unforgettable.

Thank you for listening! You can find and follow us with the links below!

Read our Letterboxd reviews at:
https://letterboxd.com/fixateandbinge/

Follow us on Instagram at:
https://www.instagram.com/fixateandbingepodcast/?hl=ms

Follow us on TikTok at:
https://www.tiktok.com/@fixateandbingepodcast

Send us Fan Mail

In this second half of my two-part conversation, actor Sedrick Cabrera takes us inside his recent film work and the leap from stage to screen. We explore his experience on FREAKY TALES  including what it was like sharing the set with Pedro Pascal, and his role in acclaimed director Michel Franco’s DREAMS (2025) alongside Academy Award–winning actress Jessica Chastain.

Sedrick reflects on the lessons learned from collaborating with such celebrated talent, the transition from theatre to film, and the ways these projects are shaping the next chapter of his acting journey.

👉 If Part 1 gave us the roots of Sedrick’s story, this continuation reveals where that foundation is taking him in Hollywood today.

Thank you for listening! You can find and follow us with the links below!

Read our Letterboxd reviews at:
https://letterboxd.com/fixateandbinge/

Follow us on Instagram at:
https://www.instagram.com/fixateandbingepodcast/?hl=ms

Follow us on TikTok at:
https://www.tiktok.com/@fixateandbingepodcast

Send us Fan Mail

In this first half of my two-part conversation, actor Sedrick Cabrera opens up about his roots in Watsonville, California, and how his journey into acting began long before the cameras rolled on FREAKY TALES. We dive into his formative years at San Jose State University’s Theatre Arts Program, where he discovered a passion for stage acting from Shakespeare to Steinbeck.

We explore the challenges, breakthroughs, and stage experiences that laid the foundation for his career to pursue acting seriously.

Sedrick shares the pivotal moments, mentors, and performances that shaped his path toward film and television, and how his cultural heritage from a small coastal California town laid the groundwork for his success as an actor.

👉 Don’t miss next week's Part 2, where Sedrick takes us behind the scenes of FREAKY TALES— including his experiences working alongside Pedro Pascal, Oscar-winning actress Jessica Chastain, and more!

Thank you for listening! You can find and follow us with the links below!

Read our Letterboxd reviews at:
https://letterboxd.com/fixateandbinge/

Follow us on Instagram at:
https://www.instagram.com/fixateandbingepodcast/?hl=ms

Follow us on TikTok at:
https://www.tiktok.com/@fixateandbingepodcast

Send us Fan Mail

On this episode of The Fixate & Binge Podcast, host Joe Curdy welcomes actress, film producer and screenwriter Jennifer Levinson from Los Angeles to the podcast to discuss her 2022 film TRUST which she wrote, executive produced and starred in.

This in-depth conversation offers a fascinating glimpse into the filmmaking process from concept to the page to the screen. Jennifer shares what inspired her to tell this story, and why the collaborative process with her director, crew and actors worked so well.

TRUST offers audiences a searing, intimate and at times surprisingly funny glimpse at a family forced to come together after the death of their mother to divide her estate. You won't want to miss this one!

Stream TRUST now on Amazon, Mometu, Apple TV, and beyond!

Thank you for listening! You can find and follow us with the links below!

Read our Letterboxd reviews at:
https://letterboxd.com/fixateandbinge/

Follow us on Instagram at:
https://www.instagram.com/fixateandbingepodcast/?hl=ms

Follow us on TikTok at:
https://www.tiktok.com/@fixateandbingepodcast

Send us Fan Mail

On this episode of The Fixate & Binge Podcast, host Joseph Curdy sits down with novelist J.L. Flannery, whose debut novel 'Trouble in Atlantic City' plunges readers into the grit, glamour, and danger of 1927 Atlantic City -- at the height of Prohibition. Drawing inspiration from meticulous research and HBO's BOARDWALK EMPIRE, Flannery blends history and fiction to bring bootleggers, speakeasies, and political corruption to life on the page. 

We dive into the painstaking research behind the novel, Flannery's fascination with America' Prohibition era (from across the pond in England), and the timeless allure of Atlantic City's underworld. Along the way, we explore the blurred lines between history and imagination, the tremendous influence of Boardwalk Empire on Flannery's novel and the ingenious way readers are presented with two competing narratives on the truth.

Joe also shares his Letterboxd review for SOVEREIGN -- which must be seen!

Thank you for listening! You can find and follow us with the links below!

Read our Letterboxd reviews at:
https://letterboxd.com/fixateandbinge/

Follow us on Instagram at:
https://www.instagram.com/fixateandbingepodcast/?hl=ms

Follow us on TikTok at:
https://www.tiktok.com/@fixateandbingepodcast

Send us Fan Mail

This week on The Fixate & Binge Podcast, I go beyond the jump scares and alien horror of FX/Hulu’s ALIEN EARTH to uncover the deeper philosophical questions lurking beneath. 

*What does it mean to be conscious? 

*Who controls our autonomy in a world dominated by corporate titans acting as modern-day world powers? 

*And what does the pursuit of knowledge and exploration—whether into deep space or deep AI—say about humanity’s relentless drive to become gods, or perhaps greater than God Himself?

Through the prism of ALIEN EARTH, I’ll examine our present reality: corporations that rival nations, the commodification of human individuality, and the ethical risks of unchecked ambition. Along the way, I’ll weave in Ridley Scott’s BLADE RUNNER (because of course I'm never not going to drop a reference to BR when I have the chance), exploring what it means to exist when identity, consciousness, and even the soul can be manufactured.

ALIEN EARTH isn’t just about monsters—it’s about us, the monsters we may already be, and the uncertain future we’re building.

Thank you for listening! You can find and follow us with the links below!

Read our Letterboxd reviews at:
https://letterboxd.com/fixateandbinge/

Follow us on Instagram at:
https://www.instagram.com/fixateandbingepodcast/?hl=ms

Follow us on TikTok at:
https://www.tiktok.com/@fixateandbingepodcast

Send us Fan Mail

In this episode of The Fixate & Binge Podcast, I sit down sit down with director Daniel DelPurgatorio and producer Todd M. Friedman to dive deep into their critically acclaimed indie-horror gem, MARSHMALLOW.

The conversation explores the film’s clever meta-take on summer camp horror, what it was like filming with such a fantastic cast of child actors, and the unique creative energy between Daniel and Todd that brought this original and terrifying vision to life, from new production studio, Hemlock Circle. 

With influences ranging from classic slashers to modern psychological horror, MARSHMALLOW has quickly become one of the most talked-about horror films of 2025—earning a fiercely loyal fanbase, especially from yours, truly. 

Whether you’re a die-hard horror fan or just curious how indie filmmaking magic happens, this episode pulls back the curtain on one of the year’s most unforgettable genre films.

Thank you for listening! You can find and follow us with the links below!

Read our Letterboxd reviews at:
https://letterboxd.com/fixateandbinge/

Follow us on Instagram at:
https://www.instagram.com/fixateandbingepodcast/?hl=ms

Follow us on TikTok at:
https://www.tiktok.com/@fixateandbingepodcast