Why the Flick?

There’s an icy chill in the air and with it comes seasonal depression—so when we decided our next flick needed to capture those sad winter vibes we knew we had to go with Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004). Recognized by critics and film nerds as one of the best movies of the 21st century, this breakup story starring acting favorites Jim Carrey and Kate Winslet was revolutionary at the time for its existential meaning and emotional impact. But does it still hold up with a 2025 lens? We’re getting to the bottom of this question and more in our newest episode that unpacks the unique narrative structure, Michel Gondry’s questionable directing style, and how it fits within the sci-fi genre.

Resources

https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2019/03/eternal-sunshine-of-the-spotless-mind-anniversary-jim-carrey-michel-gondry

https://cintiar.medium.com/forget-me-not-eternal-sunshine-of-the-spotless-mind-and-the-trouble-with-wanting-to-forget-d5b65bfc3530

https://screenrant.com/eternal-sunshine-spotless-mind-ending-explained-joel-clementine/

https://www.focusfeatures.com/article/eternal-sunshine-of-the-spotless-mind_20th-anniversary

https://reactormag.com/eternal-sunshine-of-the-spotless-mind-navigating-the-landscape-of-human-emotion/

https://theasc.com/articles/forget-me-not-eternal-sunshine-of-the-spotless-mind

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/3664683.stm

It seems only right that since we started this season with The Substance it was time to circle back to her campy, slapstick sister Death Becomes Her (1992). Serving up more body comedy than body horror, this cult classic starring Meryl Streep, Goldie Hawn, and Bruce Willis is rife with cultural impact. It’s a flick that walked (or tumbled down a staircase) so others could run, inspiring generations of artists from Broadway to Sabrina Carpenter and most iconically the drag community. On a new episode of Why the Flick?, we’re going bottoms up into the Robert Zemeckis comedy to explore its relevance to anti-aging fads, groundbreaking special effects, and the living dead in Beverly Hills.

Resources

Sabrina Carpenter - Taste: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KEG7b851Ric⁠

⁠https://creepycatalog.com/death-becomes-her-1992-trivia/⁠

⁠https://people.com/death-becomes-her-revolutionized-special-effects-8730702⁠

⁠https://washingtoncitypaper.com/article/756545/retro-review-before-the-substance-there-was-death-becomes-her/⁠

⁠https://www.reddit.com/r/MovieDetails/comments/hpdm6c/in_death_becomes_her_1992_a_womans_figure_can/

Spooky season might be over, but we’re keeping the vibes going…and with a certain cinematic conclusion on the horizon, we felt it was the perfect time to revisit another sequel in the same universe (albeit less critically acclaimed) with Return to Oz (1985). Released during Disney’s experimental phase, this beautiful weirdo is a far cry from its OG predecessor—think less technicolor musical, more 80s fantasy meets 19th-century fairy tales. It’s a faithful adaptation to L. Frank Baum’s books complete with fever dream horrors ranging from electroshock therapy to creatures with wheels for hands and feet. Despite its creep factor being misunderstood at the time, it’s since amassed a loyal cult following for its dark tone and surprisingly paved the way for films like The Nightmare Before Christmas and the Star Wars prequels. In celebration of this flick’s 40th anniversary, we’re teaming up with movie milestone expert Release Date Rewind on our newest episode that covers Oz parallels, impressive practical effects, and all the fabulously dressed villains.

Listen to Release Date Rewind on Apple and Spotify. Follow @releasedaterewind on Instagram and YouTube.

Resources

https://www.bbc.com/culture/article/20250616-the-darkest-childrens-film-ever-made

https://www.womansworld.com/entertainment/movies/return-to-oz-six-things-that-made-the-1985-movie-a-cult-classic

https://theasc.com/articles/a-return-to-oz

Halloween is almost here so obviously our Season of the Witchtober had to end on theme. No witchy flick fits the holiday as perfectly as Hocus Pocus (1993) and no trio of diabolical witches is as iconic as the Sanderson sisters. After all, when you’ve got the combined powers of Bette Midler, Kathy Najimy, and Sarah Jessica Parker you’re practically unstoppable (critics be double damned). This cult classic is the definition of spooky camp complete with a mid-act musical number and weird virgin plot lines that only the ‘90s could pull off. And after three decades, it’s brewed tons of behind-the-scenes stories and fun facts we couldn’t resist diving into. For the finale episode of our themed month, we’re talking cast crushes, All Hallows’ Eve nostalgia, and why Doug Jones continues to be the absolute best.

Resources

https://screenrant.com/hocus-pocus-behind-scenes-details-making-trivia/

https://ew.com/movies/hocus-pocus-cast-reunion-best-behind-scenes-stories/

https://www.hollywoodancestry.com/post/sarah-jessica-parker-descended-from-accused-witch

https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/hocus-pocus-actor-doug-jones-recalls-how-billy-butcherson-almost-took-costume-inspiration-from-michael-jackson-4083947/

https://www.slashfilm.com/1579992/hocus-pocus-billy-moths-real-doug-jones-star-trek/

https://variety.com/2025/film/news/bette-midler-hocus-pocus-3-script-disney-1236556265/

Everyone knows witches and woods go hand in hand. So for the second installment of Season of the Witchtober, we’re taking it back to a film that sparked all our deeply-rooted fears of camping—The Blair Witch Project (1999). This culturally significant flick catapulted the found footage genre in a way that no one has been able to capture since. From the method filming experience to the viral marketing campaign, its release was perfectly timed with the early days of the internet, making everyone from boomers to babies think it might actually be real. In this episode of Why the Flick?, we’re speculating on all the theories and interpretations over the years as we deep dive the most famous witch never to be seen on camera (while also spiraling off into more than one unrelated movie tangent).

Resources

https://www.vice.com/en/article/blair-witch-project-oral-history-20th-anniversary/

https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/movies/story/2024-07-30/the-blair-witch-project-marketing-25th-anniversary-1999-project

https://collider.com/the-blair-witch-project-monster-design/

https://variety.com/2024/film/news/blair-witch-project-cast-robbed-financial-success-1236033647/

https://www.slashfilm.com/606498/the-blair-witch-project-ending-explained-as-maddening-and-mysterious-as-it-was-20-years-ago/

Here at Why the Flick? we love to get a little spooky. And with October right around the corner, we felt it was only right to celebrate the supernatural with our newest theme—Season of the Witchtober. All month long, we’ll be tapping into our witchy side and to kick things off we’re dabbling in The Craft (1996). This flick is the epitome of ‘90s witchcore aesthetic, complete with goth fashion, an ethereal soundtrack, and real-life inspired spells. Featuring an iconic female cast that includes Robin Tunney, Fairuza Balk, Rachel True, and a pre-Scream Neve Campbell, it not only defined a vibe but also popularized the teen witch genre, making it the perfect first pick in our lineup. This episode, we’re embracing our weirdo selves while breaking down teen girl friendships, elemental symbolism, and the logistics of summoning 10,000 snakes.

Resources

https://www.huffpost.com/entry/the-craft-oral-history_n_5734f7c9e4b060aa7819d362

https://screenrant.com/the-craft-movie-behind-scenes-details-trivia/

https://www.vice.com/en/article/revisiting-the-craft-the-film-that-realised-the-monstrous-power-of-teen-girls/

https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/rachel-true-the-craft-only-black-star-mvps-of-horror-191804543.html

https://collider.com/neve-campbell-the-craft/

https://www.ghoulsmagazine.com/articles/calling-the-corners-and-representing-the-elements-in-the-craft-1996

What is it about being a kid and just wanting to be cool? It’s that universal dream we all low-key wished for and no early-aughts movie exudes absolute coolness more than Spy Kids (2001). Robert Rodriguez had his finger on the pulse when he debuted his first kid flick and launched the child espionage genre into popularity. Whether you watched it on repeat on cable TV or collected the McDonald’s Happy Meal toys, it’s a Y2K pop culture staple featuring an A-list cast and tons of surprise cameos—everyone from Cheech Marin to Danny Trejo and even George Clooney. In our latest episode, we’re unlocking core memories while discussing Latino representation, reminiscing on sibling rivalries, and unraveling all the nightmare-fuel visuals.

Resources

https://www.reddit.com/r/Millennials/comments/11pw1fg/younger_millennials_do_you_remember_the_spy_kids/

https://www.latimes.com/delos/story/2023-09-22/robert-rodriguez-spy-kids-film-director-armageddon

https://www.syfy.com/syfy-wire/spy-kids-anniversary-latinx-representation

https://movieweb.com/spy-kids-robert-rodriguez-so-popular/

Sometimes when you’re the reincarnation of a mythical princess and fighting facism, you gotta disobey a few rules. That’s the lesson we’re gleaning, anyway, from the dark fairy tale that is Pan’s Labyrinth (2006)—a movie all three of your hosts had never seen before, but one that’s instantly recognizable for its iconic visuals and nightmarish creatures. Guillermo del Toro is no stranger to fantasy and this one certainly cemented him as a genius in the genre. It’s a rich parable packed with enough symbolism to keep the internet ruminating with fan theories and interpretations for years. On our newest episode, we’re doing our part to unpack its many meanings while diving into our love of Doug Jones, the real vs imagined debate, and what the hell is up with the Pale Man.

Resources

https://www.cmucollege.com/blog/oscars-lookback-inside-the-world-of-pans-labyrinth/

https://www.slashfilm.com/1131730/why-doug-jones-thought-he-was-going-to-ruin-pans-labyrinth/

https://www.cbr.com/pans-labyrinth-underworld-real-or-imagined/

https://www.theotherfolk.blog/dissections/pans-labyrinth

https://medium.com/@culturalcurfew/the-hidden-meaning-behind-pans-labyrinth-1c06086919d

https://www.vivianasimos.com/incidental-mythology/the-meaning-of-the-pale-man

https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/lists/25-best-horror-movies-of-the-21st-century-ranked/

The time has come, Twihards. We've reached the end of Twilight Summer so obviously we had to go big for our series finale. This episode, we’re closing out the epic conclusion of the saga with a double feature of Breaking Dawn Part 1 and 2. Like many book adaptations of the 2000s era, this franchise split the last installment into a two-part cinematic event and for good reason. Because it turns out there’s a lot to unpack—from the wedding that turned A Thousand Years into the official aisle walk song, to the Renesmee/Chuckesmee debacle, and that famous bold choice ending. We also knew we couldn’t tackle these dual flicks alone which is why we invited actor and friend of the pod Abby Walburn to help make sense of all the chaos. So grab your blood cups, assemble your vampire Avengers, and join us for one last trip to Forks.

Follow Abby Walburn on ⁠Instagram⁠ and watch her TikTok video ⁠Pride and Prejudice: Unscripted⁠

Resources

https://www.theguardian.com/film/2013/nov/05/chuckesmee-twilight-toddler-puppet-movie

Stephanie Meyer New Book Rumors

New Book Theory

How many ways can you call a worm a worm? Turns out quite a few if Tremors (1990) has anything to say about it. This horror comedy wiggled its way from box office bust to beloved cult classic thanks to the golden age of home video. And it’s no surprise considering it’s packed with a star-studded ensemble that includes Kevin Bacon, Fred Ward, and THE Reba in her film debut. Now 30 years later, this OG creature feature has spawned a franchise so unhinged we low-key want to binge the whole thing. On the latest episode of Why the Flick?, we’re digging into what makes the movie so endearing, comparing cinematic worms, and pitching the next sequel (spoiler: it involves graboids in space).

Resources

Kevin Bacon Talks Tremors

⁠Designing the Graboids

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tremors_(franchise)

https://www.esquire.com/entertainment/movies/a30457996/tremors-30-anniversary-reba-mcentire-interview/

https://www.quora.com/What-was-Reba-doing-when-she-put-her-bullets-with-dirt-and-decided-to-mix-them-in-the-film-Tremors-Is-that-a-form-of-maintaining-their-bullets