"You may be a one-eyed jack around here, but I've seen the other side of your face"

This week we continue the long-awaited follow up entry in our 'Movies By Actors' series by discussing Marlon Brando's sole directorial feature: ONE-EYED JACKS. We go over the troubled pre-production of this film, and the events which led to Brando taking the reins. We discuss his performance in the film, the atypical West coast setting, the revenge narrative, and John raises some crackpot theory about WHY David Lynch named the Canadian brothel in Twin Peaks after this film. Hard to believe this is the first proper Western we've ever discussed on the show and we're almost at episode 200. The world of cinema sure is ocean wide AND ocean deep.

Before that, we run through some Oscars chat and a couple of RIPs, before over some new releases and talking about what we watched recently.

Next episode we will be joined by a special guest to discuss Abel Ferrara's NEW ROSE HOTEL

TIME STAMPS

00:00:00 Introduction

00:07:40 Shout Outs (Oscars recap; RIP Chuck Norris and Nicholas Brendon)

00:17:58 New Releases (Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man; Spacewoman; Project Hail Mary; The Bride!; Ready or Not 2: Here I Come)

What We Watched This Week

00:22:07 Dances with Wolves (Curtis)

00:22:51 F1: The Movie (Curtis)

00:24:24 Frybread Face and Me (Curtis)

00:25:03 The Last Horror Film (Curtis)

00:26:40 Marty Supreme (Curtis)

00:31:46 We Are Pat (John)

00:37:16 Nash the Slash Rises Again! (John)

00:40:17 Montreal, Ma Belle (John)

00:42:18 Point of Order! (John)

00:45:04 Mile End Kicks (John)

00:42:09 Careful (John)

00:49:15 Where to Land? (John)

00:50:46 ONE-EYED JACKS Discussion

01:10:22 Our Scores

01:14:21 What's coming up next?

CREDITS AND PLUGS

Intro and Outro: One-Eyed Jacks theatrical trailer

https://www.transgendermediaportal.org/

Read part one of John's best of 2025: https://johnnycakes.substack.com/p/best-of-2025-part-one-favourite-first

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

"The sleeper has awakened."

This week we continue our David Lynch Watch Series and discuss his third feature, DUNE. Curtis is away, but we're pleased to be joined again by Simon and our recurring sibling guest, Billy. Considered a bête noire in the Lynch canon—we all sort of made the case for why we kind of like this surreal, industrial, grandiose, yet messy sci-fi epic. We also went over the different cut, the Lynch touch, notable cast and crew, and the film's famously production and pre-production. Of course, we also juxtaposed this against the more recent Villeneuve flicks, but tried to stay closer to this material as we could.

Before that, we run through some news itemsbefore going over some new releases and talking about what we watched recently.

Next episode we will return to discuss Marlon Brando's ONE EYED JACKS.

TIME STAMPS

00:00:00 Introduction

00:07:57 Shout Outs (IFFO 2026 starts next week; Curtis back in Ottawa; Paramount-Warner Bros. merger woes)

00:014:15 New Releases (EPIC: Elvis Presley in Concert; Pillion; Good Luck, Have Fun, Don't Die + Simon's comments; Scream VII)

What We Watched This Week

00:17:09 Hoppers (Simon)

00:18:03 Psycho Killer (Simon)

00:18:31 The Burbs (Billy)

00:19:46 Umamusume: Pretty Derby - Beginning of a New Era (Billy)

00:25:33 Manchester By The Sea (John)

00:30:27 The Haunted Palace (John)

00:32:27 The House by The Cemetary (John)

00:33:57 Fear [1996] (John)

00:36:04 The Art of Dying (John)

00:38:34 Vice Squad (John)

00:40:19 DUNE Discussion

01:15:50 Our Scores

01:20:14 What's coming up next?

CREDITS AND PLUGS

Intro: Dune OST - Main Title

Outro: Dune OST - Big Battle

https://www.iffo.ca/ - check out the upcoming films!

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

"Who's in here? NO ONE!"

This week, John Valley, Curtis, and special guest Dr John Bruni honour the legacy of beloved director Rob Reiner with a deep dive into THIS IS SPINAL TAP (1984), his first film and arguably the best rockumentary of all time! The boys discuss what they watched this week before diving into the film, talking about its many points of satire, rock celebrity culture, and much more.

Tune in next time for the next David Lynch installment: DUNE (1984)!

NEWS OF THE WEEK

Shout outs

• Lots of RIPs (James Van Der Beek, Robert Duvall, Frederick Wiseman. Tom Noonan)

• IFFO 2026 slate announced 

New releases: Return to Silent Hill; Nirvanna the Band the Show the Movie; Dracula; The Strangers: Chapter 3; Wuthering Heights

WHAT WE WATCHED THIS WEEK

Curtis: Wuthering Heights (2025); Spinal Tap II: The End Continues; Task (HBO Miniseries); The Thursday Murder Club

John Valley: 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple; Primate (2026); Minnie and Moskowitz; Meet the Feebles; Daddy Longlegs; Nirvanna the Band the Show the Movie; Jason X

John Bruni: Marty Supreme; Father Mother Sister Brother; Stalker; Sorry, Baby; McCabe & Mrs. Miller; Peter Hujar’s Day; If I Had Legs I’d Kick You; No Other Choice

TIME STAMPS

(00:00:00) Introduction

(00:01:08) News of the Week/What We Watched This Week

(00:48:05) THIS IS SPINAL TAP Discussion

(01:36:06) Our Scores for THIS IS SPINAL TAP

(01:43:49) Coming Up Next!

CREDITS AND PLUGS

Intro: "Tonight I'm Gonna Rock You" by Spinal Tap

Outro: "Stonehenge" by Spinal Tap

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

Curtis's forthcoming publication here:

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

"My life is full because I know I am loved."

This week we continue our David Lynch Watch Series and discuss his second feature, THE ELEPHANT MAN. Joining us again for the discussion is recurring guest GRANT! We went over some background on this film's origins before getting into a larger discussion on the story. We touch on the historical accuracies (and inaccuracies), the warmth and humanity at the heart of the picture, John Hurt's sublime performance, and consider where it lands among the Lynch canon.

Before that, we pay quick tribute to the late Catherine O'Hara before going over some new releases and talking about what we watched recently.

Next week we will return to Lynch to discuss his follow up classic, THE ELEPHANT MAN.

TIME STAMPS

00:00:00 Introduction

00:07:23 RIP Catherine O'Hara

00:08:40 New Releases (Send Help; Iron Lung; Shelter)

00:12:24 Quick plug for Grant

What We Watched This Week

00:13:22 The Voice of Hind Rajab (Curtis)

00:15:07 Send Help (Curtis)

00:16:06 Spinal Tap II: The End Continues (Curtis)

00:17:09 The President's Cake (Curtis)

00:19:31 Memories of Murder (Grant)

00:21:03 Nouvelle Vague (Grant)

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

00:25:20 The Instructor [1981] (John)

00:27:42 Kimi (John)

00:29:45 Metal Detector Maniac (John)

00:32:18 Aniara (John)

00:34:18 ELEPHANT MAN Discussion

01:17:19 Our Scores, and What's coming up next.

CREDITS AND PLUGS

Intro: If I Had a Million Dollars - Barenaked Ladies

Outro: Adagio for Strings

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

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

"In Heaven

Everything is fine

You got your good things

And I've got mine"

Salutations, loyal Seat Struck listeners. This week we're proud to kick off our long anticipated DAVID LYNCH WATCH SERIES, starting with an introduction to the filmmaker and then chatting about his debut, avant-garde body horror: ERASERHEAD. Joining John and Curtis for the discussion is Dr. Simon Spiegel, a Professor and Senior Researcher at the Department of Film Studies of the University of Zurich. Since this is our first episode on Lynch, we spent a lot of time talking about his films writ-large, but also covered our thoughts on this surreal subject matter, its biographical leanings, the fascinating production history (well documented in the Criterion release) and the various elements which would re-occur in later Lynch works.

Before that, we covered some new releases before talking about what we watched recently.

Next week we will return to Lynch to discuss his follow up classic, THE ELEPHANT MAN.

TIME STAMPS

00:00:00 Introduction

00:08:55 New Releases (Dead Man's Wire; No Other Choice; 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple)

What We Watched This Week

00:10:39 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple (Curtis)

00:12:26 Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence (Curtis)

00:13:59 Rental Family (Curtis)

00:15:48 Train Dreams (Curtis)

00:17:17 Father Mother Sister Brother (Simon)

00:19:54 The Housemaid (Simon)

00:23:15 Lancelot D'Lac (John)

00:28:32 Predator: Badlands (John)

00:32:11 The Lost Boys (John)

00:34:27 The Strange Vice of Mrs. Wardh (John)

00:37:42 Brain Damage (John)

00:40:42 Trick r' Treat [2007] (John)

00:42:15 The Unknown Known (John)

00:49:17 ERASERHEAD Discussion

01:32:28 Our Scores

02:02:44 An extended discussion on spoilers, and what's coming up next.

CREDITS AND PLUGS

Intro: Eraserhead Trailer from 1982

Outro: In Heaven - The Lady in the Radiator from 'Eraserhead'

Dr. Spiegel's text on spoilers (THE FEAR OF KNOWING): https://www.rombach.de/shop/article/57304375/the_fear_of_knowing.html

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

“Preacher? That motherfucker got God and technology ass/backwards! He’ll kill anybody for money just to keep his body full of implants!” J-Bone

Curtis, John, and Simon team up for 1995's JOHNNY MNEMONIC, the pre-MATRIX cyberpunk adaptation of William Gibson's short story starring Keanu Reeves, Dina Meyer, Henry Rollins, Ice T, Dolph Lundgren, and Takeshi Kitano. The boys discuss what they watched this week before diving into the film discussion. Hot topics include Gibson's source material, the B&W version, CYBERPUNK 2077, THE MATRIX, Keanu Reeves's acting, and the film's cyberpunk elements.

Tune in next time as John and Curtis kickstart a new David Lynch watch series with ERASERHEAD (1977)!

NEWS OF THE WEEK

New releases: Primate; Is This Thing On?; Greenland 2: Migration

WHAT WE WATCHED THIS WEEK

Curtis: Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix; Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince; Manchester by the Sea

John: The Sting; The Amusement Park; Ghostly Revenge; Rise of the Animals; PVC-1; All Monsters Attack

Simon: The SpongeBob Movie: Search for SquarePants

TIME STAMPS

(00:00:00) Introduction

(00:01:11) News of the Week/What We Watched This Week

(00:24:11) JOHNNY MNEMONIC Discussion

(01:00:57) Our Scores for JOHNNY MNEMONIC

(01:06:18) Coming Up Next!

CREDITS AND PLUGS

Intro: "Memory Johnny" by Black Rain (JOHNNY MNEMONIC OST)

Outro: Excerpt from JOHNNY MNEMONIC

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

Curtis's forthcoming publication here:

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

The Sofia Coppola watch series concludes this week as John and Curtis take on PRISCILLA, Coppola's latest feature-length film starring Cailee Spaeny as Priscilla Presley and Jacob Elordi as the King. The lads discuss what they watched this week before diving into the film discussion. Hot topics include Elvis's secondary role in the film, DODGER, the Presley family's response to the film, and more.

Tune in next time for a special discussion of the often maligned JOHNNY MNEMONIC (1995)!

NEWS OF THE WEEK

Shoutouts:

• New releases: Resurrection

WHAT WE WATCHED THIS WEEK

Curtis: Hamnet; Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban; Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire

John: Marty Supreme; Kill Bill: The Whole Bloody Affair (on 35mm); Alien; The Mist; Monsters, Marriage, and Murder in Manchvegas; Motel Hell; Unsane; Too Young to Die!; Carrion (video game)

TIME STAMPS

00:00:00 Introduction

00:01:11 News of the Week/What We Watched This Week

00:32:53 PRISCILLA Discussion

00:55:32 Our Scores for PRISCILLA

01:05:49 Coming Up Next!

CREDITS AND PLUGS

Intro: "My Elixir" by Sons of Raphael (PRISCILLA OST)

Outro: "Blue Moon of Kentucky" by Elvis Presley

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

Curtis's forthcoming publication here:

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

(Minus Marty Supreme, which I saw a couple of days after I recorded this lol).

Enjoy this piece of year-end bonus content—the audio minisode of my Best of 2025.

Here's my Letterboxd list for reference: https://letterboxd.com/johnnycakes91/list/best-of-2025/

Happy Holidays! As everyone winds down for end of the year celebrations, we decided to gather a special SUPERGROUP for a discussion on FOUND FOOTAGE MOVIES. Curtis is back from Japan, and joining the boys are our recurring guests MAGILL and TOMMY BRITT, and special guest RICHARD WATERS, a filmmaker from Ireland most known for his found footage horrors (IN A STRANGER'S HOUSE, DISTORT). With the team assembled, we went deep on the subject of found footage. First and foremost, what IS a found footage film? Do found footage films always have to be horror films? Is 'The Ring' a found footage film? What about the 'Trailer Park Boys' or other series? We try to help clarify things. Following this we talked about Richard's experience making found footage, and asked a few questions about making his films and on distributing independent film in the streaming age more broadly. He was also kind enough to share a sneak mention of his upcoming feature (a SEAT STRUCK SCOOP!). We also gave some select recommendations on notable found footage movies (see the Letterboxd list below if you want to check these out).

Before that, we paid tribute to the great Rob Reiner before talking about what we watched recently.

Next week we will return to conclude the Sofia Coppola Watch Series, chatting PRISCILLA.

TIME STAMPS

00:00:00 Introduction

00:03:27 RIP Rob Reiner

00:06:27 New Releases (Elle McCay; Sentimental Value; Nouvelle Vague; Wake Up Dead Man)

What We Watched This Week

00:08:53 "The Twelve Days of Christina Ricci-mas" (Magill)

00:18:03 The Secrets We Bury (Tommy)

00:19:27 A Curious Man (Tommy)

00:19:45 Man Finds Tape (Tommy)

00:20:13 Horror in the High Desert 4: Majesty (Richard)

00:21:42 Beetlejuice Beetlejuice (Curtis)

00:24:25 Enigma (Curtis)

00:25:23 Die My Love (Curtis)

00:26:21 Hogwarts Legacy [video game] (Curtis)

00:26:36 Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets [and a mention of 'Wizard People, Dear Reader] (Curtis)

00:31:03 Man Finds Tape (John)

00:32:34 .ask (John)

00:33:45 Tomorrow Never Dies (John)

00:39:02 Mr. Holland's Opus (John)

00:41:34 Predators [2025] (John)

00:50:01 Found Footage Discussion (and interview with Richard)

01:59:17 Recommendations

02:08:22 Richard speaks about his new film!

02:11:04 Plugs, wrap up, and what's coming p next?

CREDITS AND PLUGS

Intro: 'You Just Can't Beat a Good Film' 70s Bumper - The Prince Charles Cinema

Outro: Auld Lang Syne - Guy Lombardo and His Royal Canadians.

Richard's production company: https://www.weirdprettypictures.com/

Richard's socials

https://www.instagram.com/richmwaters

https://x.com/RichMWaters

Richard's films can be streamed on platforms like TUBI, PLEX, and FOUNDTV. Availability determined by region!

https://www.magillfoote.com/

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

Magill and Grant's new 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/

For a list of noteworthy found footage films, including ones mentioned in this episode: https://boxd.it/R8VY2

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

Tommy and Curtis's forthcoming publications here:

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

New Tommy Britt publication here:

https://discovery.researcher.life/article/sleeping-through-the-big-lebowski-sleep-dreams-and-rest-in-the-coen-brothers-films-and-jeff-bridges-music/491e641b97c735e585ac3d652e42704e

This week on the pod, special guest John Bruni returns to discuss a Robert Redford vehicle—the political satire film THE CANDIDATE. We had a long discussion on Redford's performance, how the film's satire has aged, whether McKay is a sympathetic character, and also consider this film in comparison to D.A. Pennebaker's Election and The War Room, and through Andrew Sarris' pointed, yet somewhat blinked critique. Before that, we went over the usual news and what we watched this week.

(Note, my audio feed was coming in low so it has been amplified for consistent volume. Expect some drops during overlapping discussion).

Next week, we welcome back Curtis for a roundtable discussion on 'found footage' films (with a special guest filmmaker).

TIME STAMPS

00:00:00 Introduction

00:05:11 Shout outs: Netflix's plans to acquire Warner Bros.

00:12:05 New Releases (Five Nights at Freddy's 2; Jay Kelly; Hamnet; Train Dreams)

What We Watched This Week

00:13:12 One Battle After Another (Bruni)

00:17:35 Season of the Witch (Bruni)

00:19:33 The Mastermind (Bruni)

00:21:09 The Last Waltz (Bruni)

00:24:26 The Ice Storm (Bruni)

00:26:59 Nouvelle Vague (Bruni)

00:28:20 Sentimental Value (Bruni)

00:26:00 Tangerine (Bruni)

00:31:30 28 Years Later (John)

00:36:09 Tangerine (John)

00:42:44 Bone (John)

00:44:54 Carnival of Souls (John)

00:47:11 Long Weekend (John)

00:48:40 Shivers (John)

00:49:48 Fast Company (John)

00:53:51 Wendy and Lucy (John)

00:53:51 THE CANDIDATE discussion

01:59:07 Our Scores for THE CANDIDATE

02:12:50 Coming Up Next!

CREDITS AND PLUGS

Intro: Marquee Our Feature Presentation Snipe - 1975

Outro: Hail to the Chief

Read more from John Bruni at: https://www.mediamagpies.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