The Seat Struck Movie Podcast

"Why don't you call your INSECTS? GO ON! CALL! CALL!"

John, Curtis, and special guest supergroup Dr Thomas Britt, Pete, and Magill take on Dario Argento's batshit-mad insect extravaganza PHENOMENA (1985), starring a young Jennifer Connelly and Donald Pleasence, for this week's spooky pick. The boys discuss the latest news and what they watched before diving into the movie. Hot topics include chimp madness, the choice of music, Swiss Transylvania, monstrous children, and so much more.

Tune in next week for the next spooky episode: Joel Schumacher's queer vampire classic THE LOST BOYS (1987)!

NEWS OF THE WEEK

• New releases: Whalefall; Clayface; Wildwood; Klara and the Sun; Tenzing

• John is hosting another Twin Peaks: The Return screening at the end of November!

WHAT WE WATCHED THIS WEEK

Curtis: Saccharine; Slash/Back; North of North (Season 2); Resident Evil: Village (Video Game)

John: The History of Concrete; The Social Reckoning; Scream 4; This Night I’ll Possess Your Corpse; Things (1989); Bud Abbott and Lou Costello Meet Frankenstein

Tommy: The Only Living Pickpocket in New York; Other Mommy; Animals; Digger; Menashe

Magill: Captain Newfoundland; Ladies and Gentlemen, Brian Mulroney; Carrie (TV Series)

Pete: Resident Evil (2026); The Blair Witch Project; Older Gods; The Void; Insidious: Out of the Further

TIME STAMPS

(00:00:00) Introduction

(00:01:15) What We Watched This Week/News of the Week

(00:50:10) PHENOMENA Discussion

(01:29:29) Our Ratings for PHENOMENA

(01:34:29) Coming Up Next!

CREDITS AND PLUGS

Intro: "Phenomena" by Goblin / Claudio Simonetti (PHENOMENA OST)

Outro: "Locomotive" by Motörhead

Follow John on Letterboxd—@johnnycakes91

Curtis:https://www.the-back-row.com/ - check out 'Runstedler's DVD Pick of the Month'

https://curtisrunstedler.ca

John, Curtis, and special guest Izzy Werner get OBSESSED over the big smash (no pun intended) OBSESSION (2025), starring Inde Navarette and Michael Johnston and directed by Curry Barker. The trio discuss the latest news and what they watched before diving into the movie. Hot topics include "Creggerification," toxic masculinity, consent, communication, dark humour, the incredible soundtrack and sound design, and much more.Tune in next week for the next spooky episode: Dario Argento's PHENOMENA (1985)!

NEWS OF THE WEEK

• New releases: Musk; Digger; The History of Concrete; Other Mommy; The Social Reckoning; Run Terry Run; Forgotten Island; The Pet Cemetery Murders: A Ghost Story

• John’s Twin Peaks: The Return screenings at the Bytowne Cinema in Ottawa TONIGHT!

WHAT WE WATCHED THIS WEEK

Curtis: Robocop: Unfinished Business (Video Game); Primetime; InfirmaryJohn: Casino Royale; Digger; Hello Mary Lou: Prom Night II; Ms. 45; Until Dawn; The Thing from Another World

Izzy: Hocus Pocus; Adults (Season 2); Modern Family (TV Series)

TIME STAMPS

(00:00:00) Introduction

(00:00:55) What We Watched This Week/News of the Week

(00:34:40) OBSESSION Discussion

(01:19:50) Our Ratings for OBSESSION

(01:24:20) Coming Up Next!

CREDITS AND PLUGS

Intro: "One Wish Willow" by Rock Burwell (OBSESSION OST)

Outro: "Into Darkness" by Rock Burwell

Follow John on Letterboxd—@johnnycakes91

Curtis:https://www.the-back-row.com/ - check out 'Runstedler's DVD Pick of the Month'

https://curtisrunstedler.ca/

"Let's buzz!" Hello boils and ghouls, this week we kick off our sixth annual SPOOKY CANON MONTH, where each week of the month we cover an iconic horror classic (new and old). This week we return to to a subject we covered back in Episode 61, as we discuss the follow up sequel: SLUMBER PARTY MASSACRE II. Joining John and Curtis after some time apart is our special recurring guest Katie! We talked about the film's neon-tinged, late 80s atmosphere (and the divide between late 80s and early 90s film); the earworm musical bits; some production trivia; and how this film has a connection to one of the heirs of the Little Ceasar's fortune!

Before that, Curtis shared his experience at the Ghent Film Festival, and we went over new releases and what we watched this week.

We will be back next week to discuss our selected modern horror classic, and one of the year's most discussed films: OBSESSION!

TIME STAMPS

00:00:00 Introduction

00:06:51 Preamble chatter (Curtis at the Ghent Film Festival)

00:09:07 New Releases (I Play Rocky; Black Zombie; Shaun the Sheep: The Beast of Mossy Bottom; Verity; NAZA)

What We Watched This Week

00:17:47 Resident Evil 4 [Remake] (Curtis)

00:20:03 Joyland (Curtis)

00:21:32 Toy Story 5 (Curtis)

00:24:28 Nitram (Curtis)

00:27:25 Ghost Elephants (Curtis)

00:29:27 Adventures of Tintin [TV] (Curtis)

00:30:27 Resident Evil [2026] (John)

00:33:12 Fall 2: Deadpoint (John)

00:35:45 Primetime (John)

00:38:33 The Abominable Dr. Phibes (John)

00:40:05 Monster Dog (John)

00:42:41 Alligator (John)

00:45:21 Monster [TV] (Katie)

00:45:36 13th Warrior (Katie)

00:46:15 Scream With Me: Horror Films and the Rise of American Feminism 1968-1980 [Book] (Katie)

00:38:47 SLUMBER PARTY MASSACRE II discussion

01:08:20 Our Scores for SLUMBER PARTY MASSACRE II

01:14:00 What's Next?

CREDITS AND PLUGS

Intro: If Only - Wednesday Week

Outro: Let's Buzz - Atanas Ilitch

Come check out screenings of Twin Peaks: The Return at Ottawa's Bytowne Cinema, hosted by John!

• Oct 11, 8pm (Episode 7-9)
• Nov 22, 8pm (Episode 16-18)

Follow John on Letterboxd—@johnnycakes91

https://johnnycakes.substack.com/

https://curtisrunstedler.ca/

Check out Curtis' recent appearance on the BRAINLAND podcast talking Neuromancer:

https://shows.acast.com/brainland

Dr Curtis Reads: https://www.youtube.com/@curtisrunstedler

It's the watch series that wouldn't die! Yes, our good buddy, and soon to be nonagenarian Ridley Scott is back with a new post-apocalyptic survival thriller: THE DOG STARS (based on a novel by Peter Heller). Rather than needlessly dunk on this film like many critics, we actually had a pretty good time with this one. We talk about the performances from Elordi, Qualley, and others; the film's 'prestige TV' stylings; some thematic connections to our last episode; and we also go over some of the debates around Ridley Scott's "lazy" filmmaking.

Before that, we went over new releases, and what we watched this week.

After a short hiatus, we will return in October to kick off our sixth annual SPOOKY CANON month, where each week we discuss a horror classic (new and old). Up to bat is John's pick: SLUMBER PARTY MASSACRE II!

TIME STAMPS

00:00:00 Introduction

00:04:28 Preamble chatter (Curtis' move to Ghent, new films at TIFF)

00:07:42 New Releases (Practical Magic 2; The Uprising; Resident Evil)

What We Watched This Week

00:10:36 Code 3 (Simon)

00:12:08 Mystery Science Theatre 3000: The Rifftrax Experience (John)

00:14:00 American Sniper (John)

00:15:10 GoldenEra (John)

00:17:19 The Big Red One (John)

00:18:06 The Stuff (John)

00:19:27 Invaders from Mars [1986] (John)

00:21:30 My Best Fiend (John)

00:22:45 Broken Vessels (Curtis)

00:23:50 Bloody Muscle Builder in Hell (Curtis)

00:25:37 THE DOG STARS discussion

00:54:36 Our Scores for THE DOG STARS

00:56:34 What's Next

CREDITS AND PLUGS

Intro: Hig's First Flight - Henry Gregson-Williams

Outro: Like Real People Do - Hozier

Follow John on Letterboxd—@johnnycakes91

https://johnnycakes.substack.com/

https://curtisrunstedler.ca/

Check out Curtis' recent appearance on the BRAINLAND podcast talking Neuromancer:

https://shows.acast.com/brainland

Dr Curtis Reads: https://www.youtube.com/@curtisrunstedler

"Anger, vanity, you mix that together with liquor, you've got two brothers that haven't spoken in ten years. Ah, whatever it was that made me and Lyle so mad... don't matter anymore. I want to make peace, I want to sit with him, look up at the stars... like we used to do, so long ago!"

This week, we return to the David Lynch Watch Series to discuss his only 'G' rated film, the road drama THE STRAIGHT STORY, which is based on the real story of Alvin Straight, who drove his lawn mower 390 km from Laurens, Iowa to Blue River, Wisconsin (Mount Zion in this film). Joining John for the discussion is our recurring guest THOMAS BRITT, and joining us for the first time is SAMANTHA GODDARD, a PhD student in Counselling, Psychotherapy, and Mental Health at York St. John University (and host of The Hauntology Podcast). We discussed the film's biographical origin; our unique experiences watching their picture; the visual motifs; the narrative's darker elements; Richard Farnsworth's rich performance; and what the film has to say about aging, forgiveness, and community. We cannot stress enough how profoundly moving this film is. Before that, we went over some plugs, new releases, and what we watched this week.

Next week, we return to the Watch Series That Doesn't Die. That's right, soon-to-be nonagenarian Ridley Scott has a new feature out called THE DOG STARS, so we're back to talk yet another Ridley flick.

TIME STAMPS

00:00:00 Introduction

00:07:54 Early plugs (John's Twin Peaks screenings; Tommy's new book chapters; Sam's zine)

00:13:08 New Releases (Fall 2; Hope; Onslaught)

What We Watched This Week

00:10:00 Leviticus (Sam)

00:16:55 Teenage Sex and Death in Camp Miasma (Sam)

00:17:07 Ghostwatch (Sam)

00:18:20 Mutiny (Tommy)

00:19:00 Little Dieter Needs to Fly (Tommy)

00:19:14 The Vanishing (Tommy)

00:19:45 Mallrats and Clerks discussion (John)

00:26:28 The Basement Anthology (John)

00:28:27 Black Mamba [2016] (John)

00:33:44 Memories of Miss Aggie (John)

00:35:12 Full Moon High (John)

00:36:22 13 Ghosts [in SPOOK-O-VISION!] (John)

00:37:44 Kanehsatake: 270 Years of Resistance (John)

00:41:55 THE STRAIGHT STORY Discussion

01:58:45 Our Scores for STRAIGHT STORY

02:04:51 What's Next

CREDITS AND PLUGS

Intro: Lauren's Walking - Angelo Badalamenti

Outro: Rose's Theme - Angelo Badalamenti

Follow John on Letterboxd—@johnnycakes91

https://johnnycakes.substack.com/

https://curtisrunstedler.ca/

Check out Curtis' recent appearance on the BRAINLAND podcast talking Neuromancer:

https://shows.acast.com/brainland

Check out Samantha's podcast @thehauntologypodcast, available wherever you get your podcasts.

Curtis and Tommy's new publication here:

https://edinburghuniversitypress.com/book-dis-trusting-the-digital-world-in-imaginative-literature.html

Tommy's recent contribution to a book on Jordan Peele's NOPE:

https://www.upress.state.ms.us/Books/T/The-Impossible-Shot

Another Tommy contribution - "Going to the Movies with C. S. Lewis: Exploring Theology, Christian Imagination, and the Art of Cinema"

https://integratiopress.com/library/going-to-the-movies-with-c-s-lewis-exploring-theology-christian-imagination-and-the-art-of-cinema/

Tommy's David Lynch auteur series:

https://camera-stylo.com.au/index.php/auteur-series-lynch

In this week's installment, John, Curtis, and special guest Dr Anna McFarlane hit the road for David Lynch's LOST HIGHWAY (1997), starring Bill Pullman and Patricia Arquette, which has also seen a reappraisal in recent years. The trio discusssed what they watched and the news of the week before diving into the film, chatting hot topics such sex and sexuality in the film, the protagonist switcheroo, the experientiality of the film, masculinity and desire, and much more.

NEWS OF THE WEEK

• New releases: Spider-Man: Brand New Day; Ice Cream Man; Super Troopers 3; Tony; Coyote vs. Acme; Buddy

• Deaths: Dolly Parton, Tim Curry, Hayden Panettiere

WHAT WE WATCHED THIS WEEK

Curtis: Skateboarding is Not for Girls; The End of Oak Street

Anna: How to with John Wilson (Docuseries); IT: Welcome to Derry (Season 1); The Outsider (TV Series)

John: The Hitch-Hiker (1953); Black Zombie; Teenage Sex and Death at Camp Miasma; The Odyssey (2026); The Peril at Pincer Point; Maddie’s Secret; The End of Oak Street; Burt (2025); Places that were Anime to Me; Mangoshake; QT World: Fearless I Am

TIME STAMPS

(00:00:00) Introduction

(00:07:03) What We Watched This Week/News of the Week

(00:54:45) LOST HIGHWAY Discussion

(01:47:22) Our Ratings for LOST HIGHWAY

(01:55:35) Coming Up Next!

CREDITS AND PLUGS

Intro: Audio clip from LOST HIGHWAY

Outro: "Rammstein" by "Rammstein"

Follow John on Letterboxd—@johnnycakes91

Curtis:https://www.the-back-row.com/ - check out 'Runstedler's DVD Pick of the Month'

https://curtisrunstedler.ca/

Check out Anna's research here:

https://www.gla.ac.uk/schools/critical/staff/annamcfarlane/

"Fire...walk....with....me! MEEE!"

For the latest David Lynch canon installment, Curtis and Dr Thomas Britt join forces to take on Lynch's initially maligned feature film TWIN PEAKS: FIRE WALK WITH ME (1992), which has since had a reappraisal among its fans. The boys discuss Laura's voice and sexualisation, its links with the series,especially The Return, its prescience among COVID times and #MeToo, its prequel/sequel aspects, its connections with THE SILENCE OF THE LAMBS, and how it subverts and breaks from police procedurals and murder mystery expectations. Before their deep dive into the film, they also chat about what they watched this week.

Tune in next time for the next David Lynch canon entry (LOST HIGHWAY) with special guest Dr Anna McFarlane!

WHAT WE WATCHED THIS WEEK

Curtis: The Goonies; The Odyssey; Project Hail Mary; House of the Dragon (Season 3)

Tommy: Late Fame

TIME STAMPS

(00:00:00) Introduction

(00:03:38) What We Watched This Week

(00:16:20) TWIN PEAKS: FIRE WALK WITH ME Discussion

(01:38:24) Our Ratings for FIRE WALK WITH ME

(01:42:20) Coming Up Next!

CREDITS AND PLUGS

Intro: Audio clip from TWIN PEAKS: FIRE WALK WITH ME

Outro: "The Pink Room" by David Lynch (TWIN PEAKS: FIRE WALK WITH ME OST)

Follow John on Letterboxd—@johnnycakes91

Curtis:https://www.the-back-row.com/ - check out 'Runstedler's DVD Pick of the Month'

https://curtisrunstedler.ca/

Curtis and Tommy's new publication here:

https://edinburghuniversitypress.com/book-dis-trusting-the-digital-world-in-imaginative-literature.html

Tommy's recent TWIN PEAKS publication:

https://www.bloomsbury.com/us/theology-religion-and-twin-peaks-9798216265191/

Tommy's David Lynch auteur series:

https://camera-stylo.com.au/index.php/auteur-series-lynch

"I think about you so much, I forget to go to the bathroom!"

This week the "Council of John" reunites to discuss John Cassavetes 'revisionist' romantic comedy—MINNIE AND MOSKOWITZ—starring Seymour Cassel and Gena Rowlands in starring roles, and featuring appearances from other Cassavetes mainstays (including John himself, in his first on-screen role with his wife). We of course discussed how this film fits into the common themes and topics explored in other Cassavetes works: masculinity, America in the 1970s, the innate desire to be loved, sublimating our honest feelings into songs and bits, and many more items. As you can tell by this description, and the episode length, we had a lot of fun here.

Before that we go over some news items (RIPs!), new releases, and what we watched this week.

Next episode, Curtis and Thomas Britt will return to David Lynch and discuss TWIN PEAKS: FIRE WALK WITH ME.

TIME STAMPS

00:00:00 Introduction

00:07:15 Shout Outs (RIP Sam Neill and Chuck Russell; 2026 Fantasia Film Festival)

00:12:06 New Releases (Evil Dead Burn; The Invite; The Odyssey; Her Private Hell)

What We Watched This Week

00:13:55 I Love Boosters and Silent Friend (Bruni)

00:17:18 Mon Oncle (Bruni)

00:19:44 Desert Fury (Bruni)

00:21:05 All That Jazz (Bruni)

00:23:17 Disclosure Day (John)

00:27:57 Scary Movie [2026] (John)

00:30:05 The Invite (John)

00:32:10 Raw (John)

00:37:50 Meek's Cutoff (John)

00:39:55 Evil Things (John)

00:43:23 MINNIE AND MOSKOWITZ Discussion

01:42:36 Our Scores

01:51:42 What's coming up next.

CREDITS AND PLUGS

Intro: Minnie and Moskowitz trailer

Outro: Scene from 'Minnie and Moskowitz'

Check out John Bruni's writing on Mon Oncle (stay tuned for a new article on All That Jazz, coming soon!)

https://www.mediamagpies.com/mon-oncle-and-the-house-that-ai-built/Follow John on Letterboxd—@johnnycakes91

https://johnnycakes.substack.com/

Curtis: https://www.the-back-row.com/ - check out 'Runstedler's DVD Pick of the Month'

https://curtisrunstedler.ca/

Dr Curtis Reads: https://www.youtube.com/@curtisrunstedler

"Mommy's very angry"

This week on the show, Curtis and John are joined by recurring guest Grant to discuss a rare Steven Spielberg sequel film, THE LOST WORLD: JURASSIC PARK. A rare case of a film based on a book all of us have read, we talk a bit about the Crichton source material and talk the 'Pet Sounds / Sgt Peppers' phenomenon going on with the novels and films. We then discuss the film's action adventure vibe, and Spielberg's penchant for mixing the sentimental and sinister.

Before that we go over some news items, new releases, and what we watched this week.

Next episode, our resident Cassavetes Guru John Bruni will return to discuss MINNIE AND MOSKOWITZ.

TIME STAMPS

00:00:00 Introduction

00:08:33 Shout Outs (RIP Daviegh Chase; Sony's recent media announcements)

00:13:59 New Releases (Jackass: Best and Last; Supergirl; Citizen Vigilante)

What We Watched This Week

00:15:48 The Runner (Grant)

00:19:43 Cinema Paradise (Grant)

00:22:31 Boogie Nights (Grant)

00:24:22 The Furious (John)

00:28:53 Masters of the Universe [2026] (John)

00:32:25 CAMP [2026], and Last House on Dead End Street (John)

00:23:30 Father Mother Sister Brother (Grant)

00:32:29 Doctor Goldfoot and the Bikini Machine (John)

00:42:03 Fury of Achilles (John)

00:43:28 Kaithi (John)

00:46:36 Obsession (Curtis)

00:48:31 LOST WORLD Discussion

01:17:46 Our Scores

00:26:04 What's coming up next.

CREDITS AND PLUGS

Intro: Lost World TV spot

Outro: The Lost World - John Williams

Magill and Grant's new games store: https://taigainteractive.itch.io/

Grant, Magill, and Matt's short film, "Jurassic Park 4 (according to an 8-year-old): https://vimeo.com/112248666

Follow John on Letterboxd—@johnnycakes91

https://johnnycakes.substack.com/

Curtis: https://www.the-back-row.com/ - check out 'Runstedler's DVD Pick of the Month'

https://curtisrunstedler.ca/

Dr Curtis Reads: https://www.youtube.com/@curtisrunstedler

"If you are truly wild at heart, you'll fight for your dreams.."

This week on the podcast, we head back to the David Lynch Watch Series and discuss his beguiling, romantic road crime film: WILD AT HEART! We discuss this film's connection to the book; the very heavy Wizard of Oz references; the amazing Nic Cage/Laura Dern chemistry; the deep roster of Twin Peaks cast cameos; the soundtrack; and just how goddamn COOL this movie is.

Before that, we run through some discussion topics, new releases, and what we watched this week.

Next episode we discuss Spielberg's THE LOST WORLD: JURASSIC PARK.

TIME STAMPS

00:00:00 Introduction

00:06:24 Shout outs

• New pics released for Taika Waititi's 'Klara and the Sun' adaptation
• RIP Gene Shalit (1926-2026)

00:11:28 New Releases: Disclosure Day; Toy Story 5; The Death of Robin Hood

What We Watched This Week

00:16:08 Disclosure Day *spoiler discussion* (Magill)

00:22:41 All things BATMAN (Magill)

00:37:33 The Mandalorian and Grogu (Curtis)

00:40:33 Never Let Me Go (Curtis)

00:41:33 Fear Street: Prom Queen (Curtis)

00:44:28 Backrooms (Curtis)

00:50:22 NOCLIP (John)

00:53:14 A Self-Induced Hallucination (John)

00:56:50 The Black Tower (John)

00:59:28 The Devil and Miss Jones (John)

01:05:07 Eaten Alive (John)

01:08:10 The Boxer's Omen (John)

01:11:08: The Beyond (John)

01:13:48 Hell Up in Harlem (John)

01:17:01 WILD AT HEART Discussion

02:04:20 Our Scores for TWISTER

02:12:28 What's coming up next?

CREDITS AND PLUGS

Intro: Wicked Game (Instrumental) - Chris Isaak

Outro: Gewandhausorchester Leipzig - Im Abendrot (from Wild at Heart OST)

https://johnnycakes.substack.com

Follow John on Letterboxd—@johnnycakes91

Curtis: https://www.the-back-row.com/ - check out 'Runstedler's DVD Pick of the Month'

https://curtisrunstedler.ca/

Dr Curtis Reads: https://www.youtube.com/@curtisrunstedler

https://www.magillfoote.com/

Magill's produced podcast: https://www.trailwentcold.com/

Magill and Grant's games store: https://taigainteractive.itch.io/

Check out Magill's contributions on Rue Morgue magazine! https://rue-morgue.com/

Check out Magill's wife's new book (The Widow's Charm): https://caitlynpaxson.com/