Why the Flick?

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...

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 Ha...

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...

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...

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...

OK listeners. It’s that time in the Twilight Summer series we’ve all kind of been dreading. Every franchise has its low point and in this case Eclipse (2010) is no exception. Despite the third installment in the saga delivering peak Edward-Bella-Jacob love triangle, its commitment to nonsense leaves us begging the question, “are you sure, Stephanie?” Whether it’s the lack of a decent wig budget or...

There’s nothing like that summer camp feeling. The friendships. The outdoor activities. The accidental discovery of a secret twin sister. OK maybe not that last one, unless you’re in The Parent Trap (1998). In our latest episode, we’re getting nostalgic over the iconic remake that introduced Lindsay Lohan to the world so convincingly, we all believed there really were two of her. Rom-com queen Nan...

Twilight Summer is back, baby! All season long, we’re diving into the wacky, wild world of Stephanie Meyer and next up is New Moon, the second installment and emo middle child of the franchise. Sure it might not be as fun as the original (it’s certainly the most depressing of the bunch) but despite bad breakups and dramatic paper cuts there’s still a lot to keep us entertained. Like the iconic cha...

Happy Pride Month! This episode, we’re celebrating the moment with one of the most iconic films in queer cinema: But I’m a Cheerleader (1999). This cult classic redefined LGBTQ+ representation with its authentic portrayal of the femme lesbian experience and satirical commentary on the absurdity of conversion camps. Despite critics (and the rating system) not getting it at the time, Jamie Babbit’s...

All good things must come to an end. Or do they? As we finally close out Monster Mania May with the movie that inspired the whole theme, we’re also kicking off a brand new event. Welcome to…Twilight Summer! For four months, we’ll be diving into the moody, sparkly, and supernatural saga so naturally we have to begin with the one that started it all—Twilight (2008). Before it became a worldwide phen...

Have you been absolutely loving Monster Mania May? We know you are, which is why we’re continuing our themed lineup with one of the most iconic creature features of all time: Alien (1979). That’s right, it’s the Ridley Scott genre-defining original that sparked a whole film franchise and launched Ellen Ripley into final girl fame. And with a new TV series on the horizon, one thing is certain—this...

It’s been a hot minute since Why the Flick? had a monthly theme. Thankfully your three favorite accidental geniuses have come up with something special to keep you entertained over the next four weeks: introducing Monster Mania May! To kick things off, we knew we had to take it back to the classic universal monsters. Our first pick may not be one of the cinematic OGs, but it certainly was inspired...

It’s a certain someone’s birthday on the pod! We’re celebrating our Taurus queen Danielle and gifting her the pick of this episode. So naturally, we chose a flick that’s quite literally the opposite of birth—The Death of Stalin (2017). Following the posthumous events of the Soviet dictator, it leans less historical drama and more political satire in a way that proves fact is often stranger than fi...

We never planned on picking the perfect April Fools’ Day movie. But when it features one of the biggest twist endings in cinema what can we say? Sometimes these things *~magically~* happen. We’re doing our best to unpack all the trickery and deception in The Prestige (2006). This Christopher Nolan masterpiece didn’t get as much love as some of his other blockbuster hits (although the hundreds of R...

Sometimes you just need a good cry. Like a REALLY good cry. Well listeners get those tissues ready because we’re sobbing our way through the beloved classic Homeward Bound (1993). That’s right, it’s the heartwarming story we all know of Shadow, Chance, and Sassy trekking across wilderness to find the way back to their owners. Whether it brought you pure joy as a kid or leaves you emotionally wreck...

OK so here’s the thing. When we recorded this episode weeks ago, we may have been a ~little~ presumptuous in predicting Demi Moore would win the Oscar for Best Actress. We even had a whole other episode description written just in case. But even though she didn’t take home the golden statue, her performance is nothing short of remarkable which brings us to the first flick of our season 5 lineup: T...

Did you miss us? We’re back with a brand new season of Why the Flick? and some exciting news to share. They say good things come in threes so our podcast is officially growing to a trio as our friends Danielle and Alex join Claire to take on the hosting mantle together! To kick off this new year new us vibe, we’re serving up the perfect appetizer: a get to know us minisode. Whether you’re a long-t...

When Christmas Eve and our finale happened to fall on the same day, it felt only right to close out on theme. We're wrapping up season 4 and our festive lineup with an OG favorite that gifted us one of the best portrayals of Saint Nick in cinema—The Santa Clause (1994). John and Georgia from Comfort Films Podcast join us to bring the holiday spirit and explore the legal ramifications of replacing...

The holiday season is upon us and there’s something about this time of year that makes us feel holly, jolly…and just a little bit chaotic. So it only made sense we bring that energy to Why the Flick? with the unconventional favorite Gremlins (1984). For the first flick in our festive lineup, we’re joined by Kyle from I Know Movies and You Don’t to unwrap all the madness of this beloved cult classi...

There’s been a lot of talk about extraterrestrials lately. Like A LOT of talk. If there is definitive proof that aliens are living in the ocean, it might just be found in the Robert Zemeckis sci-fi classic Contact (1997). Joining us are Spro and Lee Take on the Academy to take a cosmic leap (and maybe a leap of faith) into whether or not we’re alone in the universe. Despite the lack of spaceships,...

There’s only one way we can get out of our post-Halloween seasonal depression slump. It may have been season one when we last covered a Robin Williams flick, but we’re righting that wrong this episode by revisiting the comfort classic Jumanji (1995). Claire, Danielle and Alex play their way through this children’s book-turned-children's movie about a sentient board game that takes fun to a whole n...

Our Spooky Month series is coming to an end so for our finale it only made sense we cover THE scariest movie of all time (or so science says). It’s been over a decade since Sinister (2012) first terrified audiences and elevated heart rates, but does it still hold up to the No. 1 spot? We debate that question and more with guests Antonio, Dalia, and Quetzal from Sit Down Loser, We’re Watching a Mov...

Spooky Month is in full swing and for the second movie in our lineup we knew we had to take it back to a classic. This episode, we’re putting some *~shine~* on one of the most famous horror movies ever brought to life: The Shining (1980). Steven King may not have loved Stanley Kubrick’s take on his beloved novel, but that didn’t stop the film from becoming a genre favorite. From the “Here’s Johnny...

There are certain rules one must follow during the Halloween season. Always check your candy. Never blow out a Jack O'Lantern before midnight. And listen to Why the Flick? celebrate Spooky Month! That’s right, it’s horror movies all October and kicking us off is a film that’s a love letter to the holiday in every way—Trick ‘r Treat (2007). Sarah from Popcorn Chat joins us to discuss how this antho...

Starting a high school band is an experience Why the Flick? can relate to. Sure our musical stardom was extremely short-lived, but the three of us are still bringing that novice expertise into our next episode with Sing Street (2016). This Irish indie darling may have flown under the radar when it first released so Claire, Danielle, and Alex are here to put it back into the zeitgeist. Because desp...