The Final Girl on 6th Ave

Lars von Trier has been called a visionary, a sadist, and a self‑mythologizing provocateur—sometimes all in the same breath. In this episode, we unpack how an anxious kid from Copenhagen became one of the most controversial figures in world cinema, and why his work looms so large over modern horror and “extreme” art‑film. Focusing on  Antichrist ,  Melancholia ,  Nymphomaniac , and  The House That...

In this episode, we explore why we willingly scare ourselves — unpacking the neuroscience of fear, the psychology of personality and anxiety, and the surprising ways horror can function as emotional regulation and rehearsal for real-life uncertainty. From classic films like Psycho to modern social horror like Get Out, we examine how fear reflects culture, mirrors identity, and reveals what our ner...

The Final Girl looks a little different for 2026... in the best way! Join in for the first episode of 2026 where we uncover what it really means to be in the horror genre, where the term "elevated horror" came from, and what I believe it means to have so many different types of fear depicted on screen. SOURCES/INFORMATION Laing, R.D. The Divided Self. Kristeva, Julia. Powers of Horror: An Essay on...

Don't you find the paradox that loneliness is common but isolating interesting? Yeah, me too. Listen in as I discuss 5 of my favorite examples of the human condition, including Requiem for a Dream (2000) , The Death of Mr. Lazarescu (2005) , and Happiness (1998) . 

Based on Andrew Neiderman's novel by the same name, Pin (1988) is a dark and emotional journey of a family as they navigate Leon's growing relationship with an anatomy dummy.  SOURCES/INFORMATION IMDB:  https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0095871/   Wikipedia:  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pin_(film)   Starburst Article:  https://www.starburstmagazine.com/reviews/dvd-review-pin-1988/#:~:text=Pin%2C%20ho...

These films don't just challenge you, they change you. Join me in questioning reality and sanity.    SOURCES/INFORMATION Inland Empire:  https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0460829/ Salo:  https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0073650/ The Holy Mountain:  https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0071615/   Dancer in the Dark:  https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0168629/   Mirror:  https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0072443/  

Beneath the peeling wallpaper and flickering lights lurks something sinister—an evil force tied to their past and the choices they made to survive. Unpack Remi Weekes’s haunting directorial debut, His House —a psychological horror film that blends supernatural terror with the real-life trauma of displacement with me.   SOURCES/INFORMATION IMDB:  https://www.imdb.com/title/tt8508734/   The Anglo-Eg...

In this electrifying episode, we dissect Danny Boyle’s post-apocalyptic masterwork—from its hauntingly deserted London to its jarring moral dilemmas. Rage never rests.   SOURCES/INFORMATION IMDB:  https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0289043/ Rage:  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rage_(emotion)   Mad Cow Disease:  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bovine_spongiform_encephalopathy#Spread_to_humans   Mad Cow Dis...

RIP to your comfort zones, people. Some stories are so harrowing, they blur the line between reality and nightmare. In this gripping episode, we dive into ten of the most unsettling documentaries ever made—films that shook audiences, sparked outrage, and left psychological scars that linger long after the credits roll.   SOURCES/INFORMATION Voyeur: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt7588790/ Who Took Jo...

Lately, we cannot even watch the news or go to a work conference without talking about AI. AI is being utilized everywhere, all the time, whether you know it or not. Alex Garland's 2014 film  Ex Machina warns us of the evolution of AI, what it is capable of, and being careful what you wish for. ** this podcast episode was generated using an AI cloned version of my voice using ElevenLabs ** SOURCES...

Directed by Thomas Vinterberg and shot in raw Dogme 95 style, The Celebration is a blistering critique of family, trauma, and denial—where truth is the most explosive guest. Raise your glasses, folks, and brace for impact, because this film changed what indie films look like forever.   SOURCES/INFORMATION IMDB:  https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0154420/ Dogme 95:  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dogme_9...

Curtis is a hardworking family man haunted by apocalyptic visions—ominous clouds, deafening thunder, and a sense that something terrible is coming. Is it a supernatural warning or the onset of mental illness? As he builds a shelter in his backyard, tension mounts within his family and his community.   SOURCES/INFORMATION IMDB:  https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1675192/ Paranoid Schizophrenia:  https:/...

Michael Haneke's  The Seventh Continent  (1989) is a harrowing look into a seemingly normal family. Haneke's first feature film will leave you shocked, appalled, and change your perspective on life in a way that you never could have imagined. SOURCES/INFORMATION IMDB: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0098327/   The Criterion Collection: https://www.criterion.com/boxsets/6323-michael-haneke-trilogy?srs...

In 1992,  Benny's Video would have absolutely rocked my world. I can tell you that today, it still does. This timeless and gut-wrenching film highlights what it means to be a person in the world today of continuous and increasingly violent media. If nothing else, watch this film to learn about yourself.   SOURCES/INFORMATION IMDB: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0103793/   Narcissus: https://www.worl...

I fear that presenting any context before listening will spoil everything that is in store for you in this episode, so I will not. Here is my first David Lynch episode, and I will ensure it is not my last.    SOURCES/INFORMATION IMDB: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0074486/#:~:text=Henry%20Spencer%20tries%20to%20survive,of%20his%20newborn%20mutant%20child .  Spermatozoon: https://en.wikipedia.org/wi...

Wish you had gone to Sundance Film Festival this year? Never fear! I attended during the opening weekend and am here to provide you with all of the films I was able to see. Kick back, relax, and let me provide you with a Sundance 2025 recap.   SOURCES/INFORMATION April (2024): https://festival.sundance.org/program/film/67531c96707ccd6b2d08815e LUZ (2025): https://festival.sundance.org/program/film...

Hello dear listeners! Welcome back to another wonderful year together. Let's start 2025 off right together by talking about Curry Barker's award winning short film, The Chair (2023). SOURCES/INFORMATION The Film:  https://youtu.be/mhazCS14Tas IMDB:  https://www.imdb.com/title/tt15408560/ Alzheimer's:  https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/alzheimers-disease/symptoms-causes/syc-20350447#:~...

Are you ready to take  The Substance ? I, for one, would never ever in a million years. Listen along as I review this impactful satire about the experience of aging as women.   SOURCES/INFORMATION IMDB: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt17526714/    The Cut Article: https://www.thecut.com/article/review-the-substance-movie-gets-aging-wrong.html IPSOS Article: https://www.ipsos.com/en-us/news-polls/most...

Perfect Blue is a groundbreaking psychological thriller that blurs the lines between reality and illusion in a way that I previously thought only David Lynch could do. Tune in, turn on, and drop out, as I guide you through the themes of identity, mental illness, and how those around us can impact both.    SOURCES/INFORMATION IMDB:  https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0156887/   Susan J. Napier Essay: Nap...

In this episode, I take a deep dive into Stanley Kuckbrick's controversial classic,  A Clockwork Orange , exploring the controversy of free will, societal control, and violence. Whether you are a longtime fan of the film or a first time viewer, this episode will challenge and shape your perception.   SOURCES/INFORMATION IMDB:  https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0066921/   Aversion Therapy: https://www.b...

Ever since Kinds of Kindness hit the scene, my love and passion for Yorgos has been reignited. Please enjoy this special rebroadcast episode of the 2009 masterpiece, Dogtooth.

LONGLEGS  is a film that blends psychological tension, the paranormal, and haunting atmosphere. I explore the unique narrative structure, the themes of identity, societal presentation, and the significance of all of the white houses.    SOURCES/INFORMATION Longlegs Timeline: https://www.reddit.com/r/longlegsmovie/comments/1f0gw0c/finally_made_a_timeline/   Cuckoo Birds: https://www.forestwildlife....

This episode is a slight deviation from my normal episode format. I was feeling incredibly passionate about this topic and felt compelled to share it with you all. I am sure you will enjoy it and learn, nonetheless.    SOURCES/INFORMATION Clover, Carol J. “Her body, himself: Gender in the slasher film.” Representations , vol. 20, 1987, pp. 187–228, https://doi.org/10.2307/2928507 Cowan, Gloria and...

Roman Polanski redefined the horror genre when he put  Rosemary's Baby  on the map. This chilling masterpiece includes paranoia, motherhood, and manipulation. The film is still completely relevant today, standing the test of time and illustrating that women's issues were not completely resolved in the 1960s.   SOURCES/INFORMATION IMDB:  https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0063522/   Women, Monstrosity, a...

If you have already seen this film, my sincerest apologies in advance to make you relive it with me today. Listen in as I discuss the absolute horror of Jacob's Ladder and Tim Robbins' journey to death.   SOURCES/INFORMATION IMDB: https://m.imdb.com/tt0099871/   Walking Corpse Syndrome:  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cotard%27s_syndrome   Sam Woolfe:  https://www.samwoolfe.com/2023/10/jacobs-ladde...