Just in time for HALLOWEEN, we sit down with friend Edward Lewis to revisit John Carpenter’s 1978 classic. We discuss boogeymen, parental anxieties, fate, middle class rot, and the trio of Loomis, Laurie Strode, and Michael Myers. Sharpen your butcher knife, put on a ghost costume, and join us! Death has arrived in your littleContinue reading “HALLOWEEN (1978)”
Category Archives: Episodes
ALIEN (1979)
We sit down with Sarah Welch-Larson, author of Becoming Alien, and frequent contributor to Bright Wall / Dark Room, to discuss Ridley Scott’s ALIEN. Evil, alienation, violations, organic mechanization, corporate dehumanization… and also, aliens, yes… aliens! You still don’t understand what you’re dealing with, do you? The perfect organism. Its structural perfection is matched only byContinue reading “ALIEN (1979)”
CAPE FEAR (1991)
We journey up river with Roxana Hadadi (New York Magazine and Vulture) to explore Martin Scorsese’s 1991 film, CAPE FEAR! We explore how the film portrays the crumbling of American middle class institutions — family, religion, law — from the inside, the experiences of adolescent and middle aged women in this system, fear and desire,Continue reading “CAPE FEAR (1991)”
THE SHAWSHANK REDEMPTION (1994)
We are joined by many time guest Emily St. James (Yellowjackets) to discuss Frank Darabont’s modern Capra film about hope, defiance, cosmic injustice, Stephen King, prison, freedom, and more! Is it crazy to like Forrest Gump more than this film? Look, you probably think that’s crazy, but don’t let that stop you from tuning in!Continue reading “THE SHAWSHANK REDEMPTION (1994)”
UNCUT GEMS (2019)
We are talking Safdies with Andrew Overbye (The Authorized Novelizations Podcast)! We discuss risking it all to have it all, capitalism, addiction highs and lows, five-way parlays, striving, the Sandman, and much more! In the gem, one can see the universe! This is me! This is how I win. Howard Ratner
LOOPER (2012)
We sit down with MIT philosopher Tushar Menon to discuss Looper. Does its time travel make sense? What questions does it raise about identity, regret, parenting, and cycles of violence? Would your younger self hate you now? Tune in to find out! I guess everything comes back around. Like your goddamn ties. Abe
THE ODYSSEY (2026)
We discuss Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey with Bilge Ebiri (New York Magazine / Vulture)! We discuss Nolan’s sympathetic Odysseus, a man out of time, burdened by guilt and shame, but also a herald of a new age of science and reason. We consider how Nolan made one of the oldest and grandest stories into aContinue reading “THE ODYSSEY (2026)”
BILLY ELLIOT (2000)
Put on your dancin’ shoes, it’s time to discuss Billy Elliot with Aaron Meskin (Philosophy, U. of Georgia)! We discuss dance movies, dancing, how the film melds British working class drama with fantastical, nondiegetic dance numbers, how conformity perpetuates class structures, how the film portrays masculinity and dance, and more! I don’t want a childhood.Continue reading “BILLY ELLIOT (2000)”
PAST LIVES (2023)
Join us and Bar Luzon (Philosophy, MIT) to discuss Celine Song’s film PAST LIVES. We talk about immigration, love, irresistible freely chosen love, imagination and narrative in self understanding, counterfactual thinking, and never going home… This is where I ended up. This is where I’m supposed to be. Nora
BLADE RUNNER (1982)
The Cows journey to the future, Los Angeles 2019, to run blades with Zed Adams (Philosophy, The New School for Social Research). We discuss eyes, simulation, Hegel, Cavell, Heidegger, rain, tears, pajamas, and who among us is a replicant. I’ve seen things you people wouldn’t believe. Attack ships on fire off the shoulder of Orion.Continue reading “BLADE RUNNER (1982)”
