What If I Don’t Like It? – Season Two Finale: The Night of the Hunter (1955)

For the season two finale, I’m joined by film critic Carl Gustafson ("@Carlthefilmcritic") to talk about The Night of the Hunter (1955), a classic horror film often called one of the greatest and most influential movies ever made. Why do filmmakers love it? Why did it fail on release? And why can it feel intimidating to first-time viewers?

This episode is perfect for anyone who has avoided this classic because it feels lofty or intimidating. Carl and I break down the film’s direction by Charles Laughton, Robert Mitchum’s iconic performance, its expressionist cinematography, and why it remains a genuinely tense, emotional, and influential movie.

Whether you’re a horror fan, a classic film lover, or just curious about this famous movie, this conversation is a friendly guide to The Night of the Hunter.

Where You Can Find Us

Kt Baldassaro (@MovieRuntime) TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@movieruntime Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/movieruntime YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@MovieRuntime

Carl Gustafson (@Carlthefilmcritic) TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@carlthefilmcritic Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/carlthefilmcritic YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@CarlTheCritic

00:00 Introduction to The Night of the Hunter and Episode Overview

11:15 Film Reviews, TikTok, and How We Talk About Movies

16:58 First Movie Memories, Comfort Films, and Horror Origins

22:31 The American Dream and Classic Hollywood Themes

27:32 The Night of the Hunter Plot Overview and First Reactions

31:57 Film Noir, Expressionism, and Cinematic Style

36:00 Cinematography, Shadows, and Visual Storytelling

39:40 Influence on Modern Horror and Filmmakers

42:04 Women in The Night of the Hunter: Sexuality and Power

45:50 Religion, Good vs Evil, and Moral Fear

48:20 Iconic Scenes and Lasting Imagery

52:37 Pacing, Structure, and Narrative Choices

56:07 Character Development and Child Protagonists

01:00:49 Robert Mitchum’s Performance as a Horror Villain

01:04:42 Film Score, Sound Design, and Atmosphere

01:11:22 Why The Night of the Hunter Still Matters

01:18:33 Corrections, Context, and Extended Discussion

01:19:34 True Story Influences and Charles Laughton’s Direction

01:21:02 Release Problems, Critical Reception, and Reevaluation

01:27:14 Final Thoughts, Legacy, and Season Wrap-Up

Movies Referenced in This Episode

Listed by year of release

• The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari (1920)

• Nosferatu (1922)

• Frankenstein (1931)

• The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1939)

• Dumbo (1941)

• The Night of the Hunter (1955)

• Marty (1955)

• Lady and the Tramp (1955)

• East of Eden (1955)

• Cape Fear (1962)

• My Fair Lady (1964)

• Onibaba (1964)

• Eraserhead (1977)

• Suspiria (1977)

• The Fox and the Hound (1981)

• Das Boot (1981)

• Blue Velvet (1986)

• Do the Right Thing (1989)

• Edward Scissorhands (1990)

• Perfect Blue (1997)

• The Big Lebowski (1998)

• Requiem for a Dream (2000)

• No Country for Old Men (2007)

• Coraline (2009)

• Black Swan (2010)

• The Shape of Water (2017)

• Suspiria (2018)

• Midsommar (2019)

• Us (2019)

• Bo Is Afraid (2023)

  Lisa Frankenstein (2024)

Is Fried Green Tomatoes secretly the beginning of a Wendigo movie?A fun and heartfelt deep dive into Fried Green Tomatoes with Brian Cottington from Cinema Psychos. We break down the film’s queer subtext, Southern Gothic themes, adaptation changes, VHS nostalgia, and why this 1991 classic still resonates. Plus: Hellraiser, food in movies, 90s comfort rewatches, and way too many cannibalism jokes.

We get into:• why Fried Green Tomatoes still hits emotionally• book vs. film changes (and what got censored)• queer coding, agency, abuse, and Southern Gothic vibes• VHS nostalgia, NES cartridges, and growing up on tapes• comfort rewatches, horror gateways & Brian’s love for Hellraiser• how movies shape food culture (Tampopo, Wonka bars, fried green tomatoes)• the Christina Ricci movie we absolutely blanked on• plus… more cannibalism jokes than anyone asked for 😅

If you love movies, film history, weird trivia, and totally unhinged tangents—welcome home.

New episodes drop monthly.
Subscribe for long-form deep dives with equal parts heart and chaos.

Follow Brian Cottington (Cinema Psychos)Instagram: @CinemaPsychosTikTok: @CinemaPsychosPodcast: Cinema Psychos Show

Follow KT Baldassaro (What If I Don’t Like It?)Instagram: @MovieRuntimeTikTok: @MovieRuntimeYouTube: @MovieRuntime

Timestamps

00:52 – Cold Open + Intro01:41 – Guest Intro: Brian from Cinema Psychos05:44 – Writing Episodes: Script Process & Workflow08:32 – TikTok Growth, Visual Style & On-Camera Tips12:57 – Audio Quality Talk: Mics, Sound Design & Best Practices17:07 – VHS Nostalgia: Watching 2001: A Space Odyssey on Tape22:22 – Brian’s Film Habits & Comfort Rewatches28:22 – Hellraiser: Cenobites, Clive Barker & Franchise Evolution30:30 – Fried Green Tomatoes: Adaptation Choices31:21 – Oscars History: What Beat It That Year32:50 – Queer Representation: Coding, Tropes & Supermarket Sweep42:62 – Gender, Abuse, Identity & Agency55:12 – Food in Movies: Tampopo, Wonka Bars & More1:00:07 – Christina Ricci Tangent (Now and Then)1:06:73 – Cannibalism Running Gag + Ravenous1:08:24 – Righteous Gemstones: Danny McBride Archetypes1:22:42 – Final Thoughts

Movies Mentioned2001: A Space Odyssey (1968)
Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory (1971)
The Texas Chain Saw Massacre (1974)
Tampopo (1985)
Hellraiser (1987)
The Little Mermaid (1989)
Batman (1989)
Fried Green Tomatoes (1991)
A Goofy Movie (1995)
Now and Then (1995)
May (2002)
Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants (2005)
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (2005)
No Country for Old Men (2007)
Avatar (2009)
Batgirl (unreleased, 2022)
Wile E. Coyote vs. Acme (unreleased, 2023)

Horror film reviewer Taylor Complains (@taylorcomplains) joins host Kt Baldassaro (@MovieRuntime) to dig into Frank Oz’s 1986 cult horror musical classic Little Shop of Horrors. Killer plants sing, Rick Moranis charms, and the bleak alternate ending is somehow more expensive than Aliens. 

Kt and Taylor dive into what happens when a horror fan with zero patience for musicals meets one of the campiest cult classics of the 1980s. From killer plants to killer performances, they debate whether Little Shop of Horrors deserves its legacy, or if it’s all just Muppet-fueled madness.

We also dig into:

 🎭 Frank Oz’s Muppet DNA and why his practical effects still hold up 40 years later

 💀 That infamous alternate ending… the one test audiences couldn’t handle

 🎥 Rick Moranis’s “lovable loser” energy and why it somehow works every time

 🧵 Why horror and comedy blend perfectly, but musicals can drive even die-hard horror fans insane

 🌆 The original 1960 version with Jack Nicholson, and how it evolved from B-movie to Broadway hit

 😂 Taylor’s brutal honesty, his case for bleak endings, and why he rates this one a "2… maybe 2.5, but only because it eats everyone at the end.”

Whether you’re a Little Shop devotee or a proud musical hater, this episode delivers sharp film analysis, chaotic humor, and a surprisingly heartfelt appreciation for practical effects and bad decisions.

🔗 Follow Taylor Complains

 TikTok: @taylorcomplains

 YouTube: @taylorcomplains

 Instagram: @taylorcomplains

🎧 Follow Kt Baldassaro (@MovieRuntime)

 Instagram & TikTok: @MovieRuntime

 Letterboxd: @MovieRuntime

 YouTube: @MovieRuntime

#LittleShopOfHorrors #FrankOz #RickMoranis #HorrorMusical #FilmPodcast #CultCinema #MovieRuntime #WhatIfIDontLikeIt #80sMovies #PracticalEffects #SteveMartin #JackNicholson #PodcastInterview #FilmCritic #HorrorTikTok #TaylorComplains #HorrorCommunity #FilmAnalysis #ComedyPodcast #cultmovies 

Master Chronological List of all Films Mentioned in this Episode

Go Ask Alice (1973)

Little Shop of Horrors (1960)

The Dark Crystal (1982)

The Thing (1982)

Gremlins (1984)

Ghostbusters (1984)

The Muppets Take Manhattan (1984)

The Fly (1986)

Little Shop of Horrors (1986)

Spaceballs (1987)

Who Framed Roger Rabbit (1988)

Honey, I Shrunk the Kids (1989)

Arachnophobia (1990)

Jason Goes to Hell: The Final Friday (1993)

Pulp Fiction (1994)

Natural Born Killers (1994)

Vampires (1998)

Ravenous (1999)

Magnolia (1999)

Boondock Saints (1999)

Rush Hour (1998)

Blade (1998)

The South Park Movie (Bigger, Longer & Uncut) (1999)

The Descent (2005)

Brokeback Mountain (2005)

There Will Be Blood (2007)

[REC] (2007)

No Country for Old Men (2007)

Repo! The Genetic Opera (2008)

Quarantine (2008)

Antichrist (2009)

Cabin in the Woods (2011)

Melancholia (2011)

Evil Dead (2013

The Voices (2014)

The Lure (2015)

Call Me By Your Name (2017)

Anna and the Apocalypse (2017)

The House That Jack Built (2018)

Licorice Pizza (2021)

Him (2024)

Longlegs (2024)

Sinners (2024)

Chapters:

00:00 Intro & Guest Introduction

01:00 Why Horror Musicals Are Hard to Love

03:00 Anna and the Apocalypse vs. Little Shop

05:00 Theater Kids, Performance, and Authenticity

08:00 Taylor’s Horror Background & Top Films

13:00 Film Critique and Letting People Like What They Like

17:00 Nihilism, PTA, and Modern vs. Classic Horror

28:00 Why the Bleak Ending of Little Shop Works

31:00 Frank Oz, The Muppet Aesthetic, and Practical Effects

35:00 The Alternate Ending and Test Audiences

42:00 American Audiences’ Obsession with Happy Endings

44:00 Despair, Self-Indulgence, and What Makes Art Work

47:00 Puppetry, Performance, and the Magic of Lip Syncing

53:00 Character Voices, Archetypes, and Rick Moranis’ “Lovable Loser”

01:35:00 Final Thoughts: Why the Film Endures Despite Its Flaws

Independent filmmaker Victoria Roccaforte joins host Kt Baldassaro (@MovieRuntime) to dive deep into Richard Linklater’s rotoscoped sci-fi masterpiece A Scanner Darkly and the world of Philip K. Dick.

▶️ From the mind-bending animation process to the film’s eerily prescient themes of surveillance, addiction, and identity, this conversation is packed with insight for cinephiles and casual viewers alike.

We also explore: 🎬 Victoria’s award-bound short Only Time Heals, shot across all four New England seasons and premiering at LAVA Film Festival

🎥 How Linklater’s naturalistic directing style compares to filmmakers like James Cameron, Sofia Coppola, and Gus Van Sant

🎨 Rotoscoping history, Robert Downey Jr.’s improvisation, and why A Scanner Darkly remains one of the most faithful Philip K. Dick adaptations

🌈 Queer representation in cinema: from Bend It Like Beckham to Fried Green Tomatoes; and the compromises filmmakers face to get stories on screen

Whether you’re here for film analysis, animation talk, or indie filmmaking inspiration, this episode has it all.

🔗 Follow & Watch Victoria Roccaforte Website: victoriaroccaforte.com Films: victoriaroccaforte.com/films Letterboxd: letterboxd.com/vrocca Instagram: @vrocca_ TikTok: @vrocca YouTube: @vroccafilms Bluesky: vroccafilms.bsky.social

🎧 Follow Kt Baldassaro (@MovieRuntime) Instagram & TikTok: @MovieRuntime Letterboxd: @MovieRuntime

#AScannerDarkly #RichardLinklater #PhilipKDick #FilmPodcast #IndieFilm #Rotoscope #Animation #MoviePodcast #VictoriaRoccaforte #WhatIfIDontLikeIt #MovieRuntime #KeanuReeves #PodcastInterview #FilmAnalysis #IndependentFilm

Master Chronological List of all Films Mentioned in this Episode

• 1914 – Coco the Clown (rotoscope shorts)

• 1968 – Belladonna of Sadness

• 1975 – Trilogy of Terror

• 1978 – The Lord of the Rings (animated, Ralph Bakshi)

• 1982 – Blade Runner

• 1983 – The Big Chill

• 1988 – Who Framed Roger Rabbit

• 1991 – Terminator 2: Judgment Day (James Cameron reference)

• 1994 – Anna: 6–18

• 1994 – The Lion King (quick Disney mention)

• 1995 – Before Sunrise

• 1997 – Titanic

• 1997 – Perfect Blue *

• 1998 – Quest for Camelot

• 1998 – Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas *

• 1998 – Run Lola Run (side mention in discussion of time/structure)

• 1999 – The Matrix (Philip K. Dick influence discussion)

• 1999 – Fight Club (quick cultural mention)

• 2000 – Requiem for a Dream *

• 2000 – American Psycho (mentioned alongside Fight Club)

• 2001 – A.I. Artificial Intelligence

• 2001 – Waking Life

• 2002 – Blue Crush *

• 2003 – Oldboy (mentioned in extreme cinema context)

• 2004 – Before Sunset

• 2006 – A Scanner Darkly

• 2009 – Avatar (James Cameron’s tech/water discussion)

• 2010 – Black Swan

• 2013 – Before Midnight

• 2013 – Under the Skin (Scarlett Johansson alien reference)

• 2014 – Boyhood

• 2015 – Ex Machina

• 2017 – Loving Vincent

• 2022 – Apollo 10½: A Space Age Childhood

• 2023 – Hit Man (Linklater, Netflix)

What if a board game could trap you for 26 years… and when you finally escape, you’re Robin Williams in full survival mode? That’s Jumanji — and it’s way darker, weirder, and more heartfelt than you might remember.

In this episode of What If I Don’t Like It?, Scott and I revisit the 1995 classic after traveling to Keene, New Hampshire for the 30th Anniversary celebration — inflatable animal stampede, restored theater screening, scavenger hunt, and all.

We dig into:

• The secret lore of the Jumanji game (and its Zathura connection)

• Casting “what ifs” from Tom Hanks to Sean Penn

• Robin Williams’ incredible professionalism on set

• The CGI vs. practical effects magic — and the wheezing rhino that stole the show

• How a movie can still shape a community 30 years later
  

From behind-the-scenes chaos to wild trivia, this is part movie deep-dive, part travelogue, and a whole lot of 90s nostalgia.

Follow & rate the show so you never miss our takes on movies you think you know (but might not).

Independence Day Special NEW Episode!

You’ve seen the memes. You’ve heard the line: “I’m gonna steal the Declaration of Independence.” If you’re anything like me, that alone might’ve convinced you National Treasure wasn’t for you. I thought it was going to be overly patriotic, too Disneyfied, or worse—Nicolas Cage screaming about ancient glasses. I was wrong.

In this special July 4th episode, I sit down with the one and only National Treasure superfan, Harry Marks, to dig into the movie’s historical roots, wild character chemistry, and why this film manages to be both brilliantly smart and hilariously dumb—in the best way possible.

We unpack everything from cultural impact and historical accuracy (or lack thereof), to the underrated brilliance of Cage’s quiet sincerity and the thrill of puzzle-box storytelling. Whether you're a die-hard fan or a skeptic like I was, there’s something here for you.

📌 Follow the show, rate it if you loved it, and share it with someone who still thinks The Da Vinci Code is peak treasure cinema.

📖 Check out Harry’s books:

➡️ Cabinet of Curiosities – Buy Here

➡️ Library at the Center of the Earth – Buy Here

For more from Harry, visit: linktr.ee/hcmarks

🗺️ Up for an adventure? Try the Green Mountain Adventure Challenge

00:00 Why Might Someone Not (Think) They’ll Like National Treasure?

05:59 Welcome to the Episode!

08:40 Historical Context and Authenticity

11:28 Character Dynamics and Performances

14:16 Comparisons to Other Films

17:02 Engaging with History and Adventure

19:53 Cultural Impact and Legacy

24:23 Exploring Mystery Genres

28:05 The Evolution of Adventure Films

31:47 Cultural Reflections in Treasure Hunting

35:41 Nicolas Cage's Subtle Performance

40:19 The Impact of Historical Context on Film

49:23 Historical Accuracy in Film: A Double-Edged Sword

53:41 The Art of Storytelling: Balancing Fact and Fiction

58:48 Casting the Next Nicolas Cage: The Future of Movie Stars

01:03:07 Cinematography and Set Design: Crafting Visual Narratives

01:05:48 Favorite Scenes: Moments that Captivate

Join filmmaker and film critic Kt Baldassaro (@MovieRuntime) as she welcomes guest Crystal Justine (@HeyCrystalJ)—creator of TheCinemaNook.com—for a deep dive into Joe Wright’s Pride & Prejudice (2005). From manic pixie dream girls and horror community drama to ADHD writing chaos and the enduring power of practical effects, this episode is a warm, chaotic, and cinematic deep cut.

In this episode, we explore:• Why the Pride & Prejudice rain scene still emotionally wrecks us• What it means to “monetize your breakdown” in digital film culture• How horror communities are unexpectedly healing• The creative mess of ADHD voice notes and Letterboxd rants• Red-pen editing of Fifty Shades fanfic• And why The Fellowship of the Ring is the ultimate comfort film

Watch this episode on YouTube:

https://youtu.be/rq0Dvp1GA4g

Follow Crystal JustineTikTok: @heycrystaljInstagram: @heycrystaljWebsite: TheCinemaNook.com

Follow Kt Baldassaro / MovieRuntimeTikTok: @movieruntimeInstagram: @movieruntime

YouTube: @MovieRuntime

Paprika (2006) Is Better Than Inception?
Talking Satoshi Kon, Dreams, and Fandoms with Aaron Wood

This week, we’re diving into a movie I love with someone I think you’re going to love too—illustrator, designer, and board game artist Aaron Wood.

We’re talking Paprika (2006), Satoshi Kon’s visually wild, brain-bending anime that’s basically Inception before Inception—but weirder, and honestly, better.

Aaron had never seen it before, so we use that as a jumping-off point to explore:

• The ethics of dream-sharing

• The strange line between identity and avatars (online and in dreams)

• Why animation might be the only way to tell this kind of story

• Aaron’s work in fandom from the inside out—WPA-style fantasy posters, sci-fi tourism art, and board game design for games like Twilight Imperium

Topics we hit include:
🎭 The uncanny valley vs. hand-drawn magic
🎤 Why Vocaloids are both cool and unsettling
📺 The live-action Paprika remake (we're already anxious)
🌐 How fandoms, internet identities, and dreams blur together
😱 That time Aaron’s parents betrayed him… with Return of the Jedi
🎬 Why sometimes we just need a little nudge to finally watch a movie

This episode’s full of heart, nerdy insights, and plenty of sidetracks about art, animation, and how we experience stories.

—

Follow the host:
Kt Baldassaro (MovieRuntime)
TikTok: @movieruntime
Instagram: @movieruntime
Letterboxd: movieruntime
Bluesky: movieruntime.bsky.social

Follow the guest:
Aaron Wood – Illustrator, graphic designer, and board game artist
Etsy: JustOneScarf
Instagram: @aaronwooddesigns
TikTok: @aaronwooddesigns
Twitter/X: @justonescarf

—

🎧 Listen on your favorite platform:
Spotify: tinyurl.com/mr8ct67c
Apple Podcasts: tinyurl.com/3rarkktx
Other platforms: tinyurl.com/y43c2cc7

In this recut mini-episode from Season One, we revisit our conversation with guest Rocky Calsetta—but this time, we skip the setup and go straight to the post-watch reveal.

Rocky finally saw Raiders of the Lost Ark... and you might be surprised by his take.

We’re trimming down the two-part episodes from our early days and spotlighting the moments that matter most: how people feel after facing the films they’ve long avoided.

🎙 Hosted by Kt Baldassaro 📅 Mini-episodes drop on the 1st, full episodes every 15th

#IndiePodcast #MovieCritique #RaidersOfTheLostArk #FilmPodcast #CinephileLife #PodcastRecommendation #WatchList2025 #PopCulturePod #WomenInPodcasting #FirstWatchReaction #CultMovieClub #PodcastHighlight #ClassicFilmReview

🎙️ Birthday Special: Revisiting The Last Unicorn (1982) w/ Marta McFly | MovieRuntime Podcast✨ In this heartfelt birthday episode, host Kt (@MovieRuntime) is joined by film critic and nostalgia queen Marta McFly (@marta.mcfly) to take a wild, emotional, and insightful journey through the animated cult classic The Last Unicorn (1982).

We’re talking unicorn theology, feminist fantasy, lost innocence, harpy trauma, and why this film hits differently as an adult. Whether you grew up with it or just discovered it, this episode is for every sad girl, cinephile, and animation lover who’s ever Googled "unicorn tapestries at The Cloisters."

🎧 In this episode:

• The feminist, existential soul of The Last Unicorn
• Book vs. movie: deeper lore, fan theories, and characters you never met
• Mia Farrow’s fragile vocals, Jeff Bridges’ chaotic energy, and why Christopher Lee brought his own copy of the book
• Why Molly Grue is an icon and how this film unpacks femininity, aging, grief, and transformation
• A look at Japanese animation before Ghibli and how it shaped this dreamlike film

💥 Bonus chaos:

• Harpy boobs and the Madonna–whore complex in animation
• Red Bull trivia you didn’t know you needed
• Is King Haggard… a unicorn? And other unhinged theories
• Letterboxd hot takes & the power of a one-liner review

📌 Listen if you love:

• Studio Ghibli, Rankin/Bass, 80s animated fantasy
• Cult classics & weird childhood scars
• Feminist and queer film theory
• Movies that make you cry and then research medieval symbolism
  

🔗 Connect with Us:

🎙️ Marta McFlyFilm critic, journalist, and host of Rewind & Revive — a podcast & film publication diving into cinema history, production stories, and film culture.→ Website & Podcast: ⁠https://rewindandrevive.com⁠ →YouTube: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/@marta.mcfly⁠→ Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/marta.mcfly⁠→ TikTok: ⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@marta.mcfly⁠→ Letterboxd: ⁠https://letterboxd.com/martamcfly⁠→ Bluesky: ⁠https://bsky.app/profile/marta.mcfly.bsky.social

🎙️ Kt (MovieRuntime) → TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@movieruntime→ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/movieruntime→ Letterboxd: https://letterboxd.com/movieruntime→ Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/movieruntime.bsky.social

💬 Liked this episode? Follow us, leave a review, and share with your film friends. It helps more than you know 💖👉

Drop a voice note or comment: What movie traumatized you as a kid—but you still think about it all the time? Let’s build the canon of weird cinematic scars.