The Seat Struck Movie Podcast

"Meg's gravy is famous. It's practically a food group."

Shine on! This week on the podcast, Curtis and John celebrate the 30th anniversary of an iconic 90s disaster movie: Twister! We discuss this film's long, troubled production cycle; our experiences with this film; John's childhood fear of tornados; Ottawa's recent experiences with tornados and other nasty storms; the stacked cast; and how a spat over the soundtrack recording sessions led to Sammy Hagar leaving Van Halen!

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

Next episode we will return to the David Lynch Watch Series to discuss WILD AT HEART.

TIME STAMPS

00:00:00 Introduction

00:05:55 John's experience at a horror convention in Toronto

00:08:15 Rise of YouTubers turned filmmakers

00:11:43 RIP Anthony Head

00:14:17 New Releases: Scary Movie; Cape Fear;  Masters of the Universe; I Love Boosters

What We Watched This Week

00:18:58 Margo's Got Money Troubles [Season One] (Curtis)

00:20:45 Palestine 36 (Curtis)

00:22:35 Bridget Jones' Baby and Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy (Curtis)

00:23:37 Bloody New Year (John)

00:25:52 The Dirties (John)

00:28:17 Freddy vs. Jason (John)

00:29:57 Shivers (John)

00:31:57 Deadly Eyes (John)

00:33:30 Lake Mungo (John)

00:36:25 The Backrooms (John)

00:42:51 Obsession (John)

00:42:51 TWISTER Discussion

01:09:32 Our Scores for TWISTER

01:15:30 What's coming up next?

CREDITS AND PLUGS

Intro: Humans Being - Van Halen

Outro: Respect the Wind - Alex Van Halen and Eddie Van Halen

https://johnnycakes.substack.com (check out John's recent Best of 2025 post)

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

That podcast you like is coming back in style! For the first time in Seat Struck history we're tackling a television series, as we deep dive into David Lynch and Mark Frost's TWIN PEAKS. Joining John and Curtis is an all-star panel of recurring guests: Simon Spiegel, Magill Foote, and Thomas Britt. We jumped right into discussion and covered a deep slate of topics, including: some notes on the production history of the show; how we were introduced to Twin Peaks; favourite characters; the iconic score; elements of the series which have aged well; the genre distinctions of "mystery" in Germany vs. North America; and many more.

Next episode we will return to discuss TWISTER, in celebration of its 30th anniversary. Want more Twin Peaks? Have no fear, we will be back for episodes on Fire Walk With Me and The Return in the upcoming months.

TIME STAMPS

00:00:00 Introduction (background on the show)

00:11:04: TWIN PEAKS discussion kicks off

• 00:34:42 - Favourite characters on the show
• 01:00:40 - Leland and Nadine chatter
• 01:10:40 - Angelo Badalamenti and Julee Cruise's contributions
• 01:21:26 - The "thesis" of Twin Peaks
• 01:30:05 - Recurring directors; Twin Peaks growing popularity
• 01:50:00 - Show and tell of Twin Peaks memorabilia.
• 02:09:04 - Quick mention of the finale

02:12:44 - Our "scores"; closing thoughts

02:18:21 What's coming up next?

CREDITS AND PLUGS

Intro: Audrey's Dance - Angelo Badalamenti

Middle: Twin Peaks scene from The Simpsons

Outro: Just You - Angelo Badalamenti (from Twin Peaks S2 E09)

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

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/

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

This week we are back on the retroactively titled "John Cassavetes Watch Series", as our recurring Cassavetes scholar returns to discuss his 1968 masterpiece: 1968. Jumping off from Jonathan Rosenbaum's brief review, we talked about the film's reaction to the "so-called sexual revolution"; (upper) middle class ennui; the film's detailed production history and long editing processes; the excellent performance by first-timer Lynn Carlin, and Cassavetes mainstay Seymour Cassell; and the film's influence on later Cassavetes flicks; among many other topics.

Before that, we run through a quick news shoutout and cover what we watched recently.

Next episode we will be joined by a BIG guest panel to discuss TWIN PEAKS.

TIME STAMPS

00:00:00 Introduction

00:07:58 Shout Out

• HORRORAMA presents TORONTOSPLOITATION 2 (https://www.suspectvideo.ca/about-3

What We Watched This Week

00:09:16 Waiting for Guffman (Bruni)

00:11:43 L'Eclisse (Bruni)

00:13:53 Bound (Bruni)

00:15:25 The Watermelon Woman (Bruni)

00:17:25 Bob & Carol & Ted & Alice (Bruni)

00:19:18 Sirāt (Bruni)

00:21:05 The Drama (John)

00:25:11 Hokum (John)

00:27:25 Best of Enemies (John)

00:31:27 Lessons of Darkness (John)

00:33:43 LBJ (John)

00:37:36 The Private Files of J Edgar Hoover (John)

00:41:10 FACES Discussion

01:43:01 Our Scores

01:52:22 What's coming up next?

CREDITS AND PLUGS

Intro: Faces Trailer

Outro: Richard Crooks - I Dream of Jeannie with the Light Brown Hair

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

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

Curtis, John, and Magill FOOTE are BACK for the latest David Lynch watch series entry: 1987's bizarro BLUE VELVET, starring Laura Dern, Kyle MacLachlan, Dennis Hopper, Brad Dourif, and Isabella Rossellini. The boys discuss the latest news and what they watched before diving into the film. Hot topics include its links to TWIN PEAKS, the psychosexual aspects, the weirdness, and its place in Lynch's filmography.

Tune in next time for John and John's deep dive into John Cassavetes' FACES (1968)!

NEWS OF THE WEEK

Shout outs

• Coyote vs. ACME trailer out now!

New releases: The Super Mario Galaxy Movie; The Drama; Undertone; They Will Kill You; Exit 8; Faces of Death; Hunting Matthew Nichols

WHAT WE WATCHED THIS WEEK

Curtis: Louis Theroux: Into the Manosphere; Lady Bird; The Testament of Ann Lee; The Lost World: Jurassic Park; Girl, Interrupted

John Valley: Send Help; Project Hail Mary; Exit 8; Faces of Death; Hunting Matthew Nichols; Equinox

Magill: Lee Cronin’s The Mummy; Short films: Skate Witches, Carts of Darkness, Dock Ellis & the LSD No-No, The Wizard of Speed and Time

TIME STAMPS

(00:00:00) Introduction

(00:01:00) Shout Outs/New Releases/What We Watched This Week

(01:01:10) BLUE VELVET Discussion

(01:52:26) Our Scores for BLUE VELVET

(01:57:57) Coming Up Next!

CREDITS AND PLUGS

Intro: "Blue Velvet" by Bobby Vinton

Outro: "In Dreams" by Roy Orbison

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

Magill Foote:

https://www.magillfoote.com/

The Trail Went Cold

https://www.trailwentcold.com/

Curtis, John, and special guest (and cyberpunk scholar) Dr Anna McFarlane (University of Glasgow) do a deep dive this week into Abel Ferrara's often underlooked NEW ROSE HOTEL (1998), which is adapted from cyberpunk wizard William Gibson's short story in Burning Chrome and stars Asia Argento, Willem Dafoe, and Christopher Walken. The gang discusses the differences between the story andthe film, its cyberpunk aspects, "low lives and high tech," thefilm's aesthetics, simulacra and ambiguities, and more.

Tune in next time for the next David Lynch watch series installment: BLUE VELVET(1986)!

TIME STAMPS

(00:00:00) Introduction

(00:01:42) NEW ROSE HOTEL Discussion

(00:48:44) Our Scores for NEW ROSE HOTEL

(00:54:56) Coming Up Next!

CREDITS AND PLUGS

Intro: "In this Hole" by Cat Power

Outro: "Mindfields" by The Prodigy

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

Dr Anna McFarlane (University of Glasgow):

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

"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