Unspooled

Tim Blake Nelson (Old Henry, O Brother Where Art Thou?) talks to Paul and Amy about three of his all time top films, including a documentary about a radical artist and a period piece that takes the "period" elements seriously.

Amy & Paul get revved up over 1974's archetypal slasher film The Texas Chain Saw Massacre! They draw parallels between the film and post-Vietnam America, examine the Sawyer family's relatable drive to survive in a harsh capitalist world, and prepare themselves for the next remake. Plus: Amy tells the story of the Candy Man murders. Next week Unspooled’s Scaretober series continues with Raw! You can join the conversation for this series on the Unspooled Facebook Group at https://www.facebook...

Paul & Amy get hypnotized by 1920's German silent horror film The Cabinet Of Dr. Caligari! They learn about the history of German Expressionism, discuss the relative importance of realism and stylization in film, and watch a trailer for a bizarre 80's remake. Plus: Who are Paul & Amy's favorite Garbage Pail Kids? Next week Unspooled’s Scaretober series continues with The Texas Chainsaw Massacre! You can join the conversation for this series on the Unspooled Facebook Group at https://www...

Amy & Paul make heads turn with 1973's horror classic The Exorcist! They praise Ellen Burstyn's quiet but strong take on a desperate celebrity mother trying to save her 'sick' daughter, coin the term "cinematic one night stand" for one-off iconic performances, and grimace over the grotesque special effects inspired by real-life medical procedures. Plus: Amy accidentally cursed her ex-boyfriend with a Santeria candle! Next week Unspooled’s Scaretober series continues with The Cabinet of Dr...

Melanie Lynskey (Lady Of The Manor, I Don't Feel At Home In The World Anymore) tells us three of her favorite films, including the breakthrough film of a fellow New Zealander and a retro camp classic.

Paul & Amy close the book on Unspooled's second season with some hard choices - which movies covered during the past year of the podcast are going to space? They agree on the fate of a low budget horror classic, disagree on including a groundbreaking romance, and Josh & Devon get in the mix to advocate for an indie auteur's most poignant film...

Amy & Paul race through 2015's post-apocalyptic action masterwork Mad Max: Fury Road! They learn why director George Miller brought on feminist playwright Eve Ensler as an advisor, praise the film's playful and careful worldbuilding, and ask whether Miller comes from the 'tyrant' school of directing...

Paul & Amy go deep into 2010's mind-bending Christopher Nolan heist film Inception! They gawk at the protagonist's name, learn the origin of the famous "braaam" sound, and ask whether Nolan's cerebral vision of blockbuster filmmaking has aged well. Plus: What's the actual longest-lived parasite in the human body? Next week Unspooled's summer blockbuster series concludes with Mad Max: Fury Road! You can join the conversation for this series on the Unspooled Facebook Group at https://www.facebook...

Amy & Paul let loose with 2011's breakthrough Kristin Wiig comedy Bridesmaids! They praise Wiig's nuanced lead performance, break down the dynamics of the airplane scene, and discuss how Bridesmaids transcends tokenistic conversations about women in comedy. Plus: What happened in Vegas in an early draft of the film? Next week Unspooled's summer blockbuster series continues with Inception! You can join the conversation for this series on the Unspooled Facebook Group at https://www.facebook...

Paul & Amy blearily remember 2009's Todd Phillips black comedy The Hangover! They praise the film's star-making casting choices, discuss how to improvise within a carefully storyboarded script, and ask whether a mainstream comedy this transgressive can (or should) be made today. Plus: Is Mike Tyson actually a bad singer? Next week Unspooled's summer blockbuster series continues with Bridesmaids! You can join the conversation for this series on the Unspooled Facebook Group at https://www...