Eye of the Duck: A Film Podcast

It's literally impossible. But it's literally what we're covering this week on the show. Welcome to The Shimmer. Joining us for some very sobering (and demented) meditations on Alex Garland's UFO thriller is returning guest, Jefferson White! He's no stranger to Garland's work, having appeared in the director's most recent film, CIVIL WAR. And we're thrilled to have him here to answer some of our w...

This week we gain two new friends…and bring an old one back! It’s Abbott, Costello, and returning champion Sarah Welch-Larson for the most requested film in Eye of the Duck history! ARRIVAL is a dense one, but luckily Sarah has the linguistic expertise to help us unlock the mystery of the heptapods and save planet earth from itself. Next week we travel deep into the wacky (and evil?) Shimmer for A...

This week we are pausing our release schedule to pay tribute to the godfather of our podcast, the late, great David Lynch. Usually on our show, we talk about movie scenes. But for this dedication, we've selected a handful of clips of Lynch–the man, not his movies–to discuss. It's our hope that by sharing his voice, and connecting over his philosophy, all of us can find some comfort in the tragedy...

This week we venture deep into the abyss for Jonathan Glazer’s unnerving science fiction masterpiece, the only movie on earth that is somehow equal parts NATHAN FOR YOU and 2001: A SPACE ODYSSEY. How does this film even exist? What happens in that dark room? Is it all as real as it looks? Listeners, we tried our best to find some answers for you. Next week, it’s the most-requested film in Eye of t...

We are officially one flavor away from completing the Cornetto trilogy! It’s Edgar Wright’s thrilling and deliciously stupid body snatcher comedy this week, the third in our series to feature Mr. Nick Frost. Coming along for our apocalyptic hometown pub crawl is returning guest, Ethan Warren. Is this the perfect ending to the only film trilogy based on ice cream? Listen to find out. Next week, it’...

The aliens may be fuzzy this week… but they’re also very scary and mean. It’s our first Joe Cornish movie, and one of the great science fiction films of the 21st century! Topics discussed this week: the high expectations for Cornish’s career, the STRANGER THINGSification of all media, whether or not Terry Notary was indeed the Silver Surfer in FANTASTIC FOUR: RISE OF THE SILVER SURFER, and we try...

It’s mint! This week we hang out with a crew of teenage filmmakers…and one very big scary tarantula alien-looking guy. It’s JJ Abram’s big budget 70s throwback adventure, with a hint of BLOW-UP, and a whole lot of Spielberg influence. It’s the final Amblin movie of our series! Join the conversation on Eye of the Discord https://discord.com/invite/RssDc3brsx . References: Film Commentary The Dream...

Listeners, you didn’t ask for it, but we did it anyway. This week it’s the one alien we specifically promised we wouldn’t talk about…and he’s chill as hell. Topics covered in our very deep dive of PAUL: Seth Rogen’s new show that seems dangerously similar to ENTOURAGE, whether or not Paul smells like shit, and of course, Grandpa Stevey Spielberg. Next week, it’s JJ Abrams’s Amblin throwback, SUPER...

Can aliens and humans co-exist on this Earth? What happens when you squirt a can of alien jet fuel in your eye? This week we find out. It’s Neil Blomkamp’s debut feature, where action blockbuster meets guerrilla-style documentary. Can you believe this is Sharlto Copley’s first acting job?! Also, where the hell is DISTRICT 10?! Next week we come face to face with destiny. Yes, we’re doing Greg Mott...

It's James Gunn week on the pod, and we're (finally) talking about the DC Studio head and his origins as a down-and-dirty genre guy. Between the mouth-stuffing slugs and Michael Rooker's lovably demented performance as a human meat volcano, SLITHER has a little bit of everything. And we're all for it. Next week, we take a trip down to Johannesburg for our first Neill Blomkamp picture, DISTRICT 9....

We are so back! It’s the finale (?) of the Spielberg UFO invasion trilogy this week. Joining us once again to talk Grandpa Steve, Tom Cruise, and Janusz Kamiński, is returning champion Patrick Willems! Topics discussed: post-9/11 filmmaking, the glory of MUNICH, Patrick’s upcoming short film (!!), Gore Verbinski’s PIRATES movies, the Tom Cruise Running Score, longing for Peter Jackson’s comeback,...

The 2000s have officially arrived, and they’ve brought invisible flying saucers, depressed reverends, and some very mean green creatures who hate water. It’s our very first M. Night Shyamalan movie this week, and a favorite of UFO heads and baseball fans alike. Swing away! Next week, we round out the Spielberg alien invasion trilogy with WAR OF THE WORLDS. Join the conversation on Eye of the Disco...

Teachers stink! It’s our very first Robert Rodriguez joint this week. And perhaps the most ‘90s movie ever made. Come for the deep dive on alien imposter horror…and stay for the very academic discussion of Josh Hartnett’s terrible haircut. Next week, it’s another first for us — M. Night Shyamalan! We’re unrolling our tinfoil hats for one of his all-time greats, SIGNS. Join the conversation on Eye...

The Willenium is here, y’all. We’re hitting yet another Will Smith classic this week with the Barry Sonnenfeld buddy-alien-cop caper, MEN IN BLACK. Aliens are here among us, and it turns out, the majority of them are weird little guys who live inside other bigger weirder guys. Listen in before we all get neuralyzed. Next week, it’s another gnarly cult favorite (and our very first Robert Rodriguez)...

We're fighting for our right to live this week! It may not be July but we are very much celebrating Roland Emmerich's All-American UFO disaster epic that's sometimes called "ID4." Joining us is returning champion and co-host of the very good Die Hard on a Blank podcast, Liam Billingham! Want to know why the heck this film is called ID4? Free yourself from annihilation and listen in! Next week, it’...

Ack ack ack ack ack ack ack ack ack…ack ack Ack Ack ack ack ack! Ack ack ack Ack Ack ack ack ack! Ack ack ack Ack Ack ack ack ack ack ack ack ack ack ack ack ack ack ack ack ack. [Translated for our earthly listeners]: The earth is overrun with weird little guys from Mars…and only Tom Jones can save us! It’s our first Tim Burton and we couldn’t be more excited to unpack this truly deranged blockbu...

This week, we’re going full tin foil hat mode to investigate the mysterious (and “true”) abduction of Travis Walton. Did he really get probed? Are polygraph tests conclusive? Why didn’t Henry Thomas get any lines in this movie?! Joining us to answer these questions and more is our old friend and co-host of the Mostly Horror podcast, Sean Parker! Next week, it’s Tim Burton’s disgustingly hilarious...

Surprise! We didn’t originally have a James Cameron alien movie on the list for this miniseries…but then we fell into an abyssal trench. And we found some non terrestrial intelligence down here! We simply could not pass up the chance to explore the depths of a production so notoriously grueling, Cameron himself described it as his “nightmare.” So come on in, the water is (definitely not) warm. Nex...

What if aliens were already here? And all it took to see them was a pair of very rad 80s sunglasses? The Prince of Darkness returns one last time to answer these questions and more. And he’s bringing mullets, chewing gum, and Rowdy Roddy Piper with him. Next week, it’s a slight change of course! We’re going deep into an abyssal trench for a surprise reunion with James Cameron for his underwater od...

There are alien cocoons in the pool! And they’re making the old people horny! Our hot streak of iconic directors continues this week with this weird and wonderful sci fi classic from Ron Howard. It’s COCOON, and yes, Wilford Brimley is surprisingly young in it. Next week, we return to the dark world of John Carpenter with THEY LIVE (1988). Join the conversation on Eye of the Discord at https://dis...

The master of horror returns! John Carpenter may not be known for his romantic road comedies…but STARMAN is a damn fine (albeit underrated) gem. Joining us to spread the gospel of Carpenter is our old friend, assistant programmer, and digital producer (!) Nik Long. Next week, we’re hanging out with some extra-terrestrial-infected geezers in Ron Howard’s COCOON. Join the conversation on Eye of the...

Calling all (motorcycle) knights of the round table! On Sunday, September 15 at 7pm, Adam and Dom will be in person at the IFC Center in NYC for a special screening of George A. Romero's KNIGHTRIDERS. They'll be presenting the film and participating in a Q&A with host Matt Zoller Seitz (New York Magazine, RogerEbert.com) and author Daniel Kraus, who completed Romero's unfinished novel THE LIVING D...

Another week, another entry for the sci-fi hall of fame! Spielberg changed the game with his shiny little goblin, and we’re here to answer the most important question of all…why is he wet??! Next week, it’s John Carpenter’s massively underrated STARMAN. Join the conversation on Eye of the Discord at https://discord.com/invite/RssDc3brsx . References: Special Features Steven Spielberg & E.T. The Ex...

It's pod people, pop psychologists, mud baths, and one very grumpy health inspector this week. Philip Kaufman's iconic remake is bursting with 1970s cooky vibes, courtesy of Michael Chapman's singular cinematography, and Leonard Nimoy's very small leather glove. Best remake of all time? Next week we're going for what may be the biggest alien movie of them all...Steven Spielberg's 1982 E.T. THE EXT...

Surprise! We are interrupting our regularly scheduled broadcasting for a very special transmission: The perfect organism is back! And so are we. This week, we’ll be sharing our initial reactions to Fede Alvarez’s ALIEN: ROMULUS. No production history or duck scenes. Just raw, unfiltered Xenomorph worship. That’s right. It’s Xenomorph Summer again, baby. Next week we return to our UFO miniseries wi...