I'm Thinking of Spoiling Things

Ep. 60: Pavements

Mon, 07 Jul 2025 04:30:03 +0000

At what point does a bit border on self-parody? Is releasing a three-sided LP consisting of experimental music meant to alienate your audience in any way similar to delaying the release of your sporadically scheduled podcast due to some form of intangible anxiety built on a nonexistent expectation of bit-laden descriptions? Can this lineage of bits be traced back to the history of long-winded run on sentences often woven by its author on the written film criticism side of his work? It's hard to say, but just to be sure, we'll be producing a feature length biopic documenting the rise and fall of the world's most important and influential podcast. How they met, the critical legacy of their work, the tumultuous lead up to the infamous Things episode, the history of their months-long hiatus, and the heartwarming story of how they've reconnected in their old age to put on some more shows for their fervent dedicated audience. Actors have painstakingly studied the hosts across their hundreds of hours of compiled work in order to faithfully create an awards contending film capable of documenting such historic moments as Stephen and Vaughn discussing Final Destination: Bloodlines, Hurry Up Tomorrow, and most importantly – Pavements. It might seem like a lot of effort for one podcast, but no expense can be spared to make someone realize that writing an episode description just really isn't that big of a deal.

Have a question, a comment, or just want to say hello? Send us a message at thinkingofspoiling@gmail.com.

Vaughn on Step Printed, Letterboxd, and Bluesky.

Stephen on Step Printed, Letterboxd, and Bluesky.

Ep. 59: The Phoenician Scheme // The Rehearsal Season 2

Mon, 16 Jun 2025 04:28:24 +0000

Two film critics sit down to discuss two films and a season of television. Novel? Not particularly. However, the curious nature of one critic's unexpected admiration for one film concerning the misadventures of Steve and his world of crafting is enough to bewilder his misanthropic cohost – aghast at the very idea that one could find amusement in such a film. A perfect in for a potential listener to gauge the dynamic between these two hosts – one British, one American – before they engage in far more engaging intellectual discussions concerning the anticipated audience response to Wes Anderson's latest emotional diorama, and furthermore the shocking twists and turns found in one Nathan Fielder's latest season of network television. Their newly revitalized regular upload schedule continues. On a trial basis, of course.

Have a question, a comment, or just want to say hello? Send us a message at thinkingofspoiling@gmail.com.

Vaughn on Step Printed, Letterboxd, and Bluesky.

Stephen on Step Printed, Letterboxd, and Bluesky.

Ep. 58: Sinners // Warfare // The Shrouds

Fri, 23 May 2025 21:00:00 +0000

May 18, 2025. The US and the UK. Two film critics take podcasting positions in support of a tactical spoiling operation. This podcast uses only their memories. Every effort has been made to recreate these critics' thoughts as they experienced them while watching these films, a revolutionary approach to podcasting that will feel as if you were actually there. In real time, the listener will be taken through the visceral experience of watching Ryan Coogler's Sinners, Alex Garland's Warfare, and David Cronenberg's The Shrouds, and when the dust settles on the windswept podcast streets you will feel exactly the same as you felt going in, probably. The Emilia Pérez podcast is officially cancelled, and Stephen has a theory on why parrying has become increasingly popular in video games. How that ties into anything else may surprise you.

Have a question, a comment, or just want to say hello? Send us a message at thinkingofspoiling@gmail.com.

Vaughn on Step Printed, Letterboxd, and Bluesky.

Stephen on Step Printed, Letterboxd, and Bluesky.

Ep. 57: Nosferatu // Anora

Tue, 28 Jan 2025 04:00:00 +0000

Wouldst thou like to live moustacheously? Rumor has it that this is the call that the mysterious Count Orlok answered in order to be granted such a magnificent and bushy 'stache - the only downside of which was an immortal existence of demonic suffering and an insatiable thirst for both blood and land. In an attempt to turn his miserable existence around he became the world's first vacation home owner, purchasing a large estate in Germany that he planned to renovate and rent out as an Airbnb when he was back home in the Carpathian Mountains. He could only make the two week journey by boat so many times in a year, especially when each journey required a fresh crop of hapless sailors to be feasted on. But despite a wildly successful rat tourism and self-driving carriage program causing rapid economic expansion and lining his pockets, no amount of money could fill the void in his heart. This week on the podcast, Stephen and Vaughn discuss heartwarming vampire romcom Nosferatu, and dissect the moral quandary of unleashing a plague upon an entire continent for the sake of a romantic gesture. We also talk about Anora. Stephen is lying all 17 times he claims this is an Emilia Pérez podcast.

Have a question, a comment, or just want to say hello? Send us a message at thinkingofspoiling@gmail.com.

Vaughn on Step Printed, Letterboxd, and Bluesky.

Stephen on The STACKs, Letterboxd, and Bluesky.

Ep. 56: Megalopolis // The Substance

Fri, 11 Oct 2024 13:00:00 +0000

Listen, I'm going to keep it real with the audience here, I think I might have peaked with the description for the last episode. I promise this isn't an increasingly elaborate, more elevated version of my normal shtick to avoid having to come up with some kind of convoluted Megalopolis related piece because I'm about to go on vacation and can't be bothered. In fact, I'm still not convinced anyone reads these, so it may not be relevant at all that I've completely given up on this one, falling from my high rise tower like I'm Adam Driver at the beginning of Megalopolis if he didn't have the ability to stop time. Is that anything? Probably not. It's fine. Enjoy the episode, we had a lot of fun recording this one. Join us as we discuss Jeremy Saulnier's Rebel Ridge, Sean McNamara's Reagan, Coralie Fargeat's The Substance, and Francis Ford Coppola's Megalopolis, a collection of films which range from worthless garbage to revolutionary filmmaking. Which one is which? Tune in to find out.

Have a question, a comment, or just want to say hello? Send us a message at thinkingofspoiling@gmail.com.

Vaughn on Step Printed, Letterboxd, and Twitter.

Stephen on The STACKs, Letterboxd, and Twitter.

Ep. 55: Alien: Romulus

Mon, 26 Aug 2024 23:00:00 +0000

On the internet, two months might as well be decades, which officially makes this podcast an I'm Thinking of Spoiling Things legacy sequel. Therefore, we have ensured that this episode will please every kind of Spoiling Things fan, and the episode is packed full of references to past episodes for listeners with a keen ear. Though certainly a controversial decision in many circles, per the suggestion of podcast creator Stephen, we have decided to resurrect the performance of The Grab Bag of Recent Releases using experimental deepfake technology*, allowing us to imitate what that segment felt like in Season 1 while maintaining key discussion points about movies that have come out since the segment was eliminated. Fans of episode 14 will be overjoyed to hear callbacks to past discussions about Pixar as Stephen and Vaughn chat about Inside Out 2, and Austin Butler stans who have been stuck listening to our Dune: Part Two episode on repeat will find updated Butlerpinions as the guys discuss The Bikeriders. The Beast, previously slated to get its own dedicated episode, has been squeezed awkwardly into the middle of the podcast to appease recent listeners who were disappointed in the lack of conclusion to that cancelled episode. For those looking for an authentic Spoiling Things experience, the bulk of this show has been produced with in-camera practical effects, and the discussion on Fede Álvarez's Alien: Romulus creates a chilling atmosphere reminiscent of the show's finest episodes. Finally, worry not - for the niche subset of listeners who have been vocal supporters of nonsensical diatribes from the hosts about completely unrelated topics, the third act of this podcast hinges entirely on these references, an abominable lurching beast made up of silly antics. If this podcast performs well enough on opening weekend, investors may just greenlight another entry into this legacy reboot series, so be sure to tune in.

Have a question, a comment, or just want to say hello? Send us a message at thinkingofspoiling@gmail.com.

Vaughn on Step Printed, Letterboxd, and Twitter.

Stephen on The STACKs, Letterboxd, and Twitter.

*To be perfectly clear, this podcast has never and will never use any form of artificial intelligence/machine learning to create any part of our show, unless Stephen isn't real and has been lying to me for several years. It's unlikely but I can't rule it out.

Ep. 54: Hit Man // Furiosa

Mon, 17 Jun 2024 12:00:00 +0000

Where do we go, we who wander this film podcast wasteland, in search of our better episodes? Spoiling Things has a new home on Step Printed, and Stephen and Vaughn reopen everyone's favorite bar and grill at the peak of the Citadel to talk about every fortress of film on the horizon. The First Fortress, led by warlord Alex Garland, whose expert extrapolation of the American political landscape has granted us the revelation of twee folk music over lo-fi montages of the east coast. The Second Fortress, led by the great Dr. George Miller, who has created a utopia of pristine franchise filmmaking and expanded it with effortless brilliance. The Third Fortress, led by former podcast guest* Luca Guadagnino, who crafted the year's most pulse-pounding thrill ride set to the exhilarating tune of Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross' driving synths. The Fourth Fortress, led by legendary American filmmaker Richard Linklater, updating and reinventing the romcom and the neo-noir with endless charm. Civil War, Furiosa, Challengers, Hit Man, and two delirious co-hosts this week on the show.

Have a question, a comment, or just want to say hello? Send us a message at thinkingofspoiling@gmail.com.

Vaughn on Step Printed, Letterboxd, and Twitter.

Stephen on The STACKs, Letterboxd, and Twitter.

Ep. 53: Monkey Man // Love Lies Bleeding

Sat, 04 May 2024 06:45:00 +0000

Release dates have become a distant, irrelevant memory in the land of Spoiling Things, now our hosts simply float around in a sort of primordial haze of vaguely recent films and sit down to chat about whatever passes by. That is to say; despite everything, in the face of all obstacles, dates or regular posting times be damned, to the detriment of every imaginable social media algorithm or rule of internet content creation, it is our solemn duty to get this show recorded. Warning: this may result in less than desirable circumstances, such as films found in the depths of the ooze being less than fresh in the mind, or the necessities of fatherly responsibility resulting in frequent background noise. Audio texture, even. To conclude, if you were hoping for a brutal attack on the incessant stupidity of Civil War or for endless praise for the electrifying energy of Challengers, you'll have to wait. For now, join Stephen and Vaughn as they discuss a swath of the latest mid budget independent sensations, from nunsploitation and devilish talk shows to bruiser action and sapphic love on steroids.

Have a question, a comment, or just want to say hello? Send us a message at thinkingofspoiling@gmail.com.Follow us:

Vaughn on The Twin Geeks, Letterboxd, and Twitter.

Stephen on The Twin Geeks, Letterboxd, and Twitter.

Ep. 52: Poor Things // Dune: Part Two

Fri, 29 Mar 2024 15:00:00 +0000

When a masterpiece is long enough in the waiting, it demands greatness, and commands a heavy air of importance surrounding its release. There's an immense pressure upon the final product to deliver, to be top of its class. When the most iconic contemporary auteurs of the medium are attached to the project, it is the only release that matters. Is a month too long in between episodes of a podcast? Are the many weeks of anticipation counter to maintaining listeners in a demanding environment constantly being flooded with content? Or can one great episode every four weeks become an experience that demands being listened to in the background during your commute, shattering all of our wildest expectations? Decide for yourself in the March edition of I'm Thinking of Spoiling Things, where Stephen and Vaughn talk Poor Things, Dune: Part Two, a dash of Drive-Away Dolls, Bionicles, the state of blockbuster cinema, and everything in between.

Have a question, a comment, or just want to say hello? Send us a message at thinkingofspoiling@gmail.com.Follow us:

Vaughn on The Twin Geeks, Letterboxd, and Twitter.

Stephen on The Twin Geeks, Letterboxd, and Twitter.

Ep. 51: Mind The Gap

Fri, 23 Feb 2024 16:00:00 +0000

The boys, once again, are back. The boys (or maybe just one of them, we'll leave it to you to decide which) are also unsure if they can live up to the bar they set with the episode descriptions they slowly escalated and built a small lore around many months ago. Just the descriptions, though. The podcast is better than ever, in that your two favorite film critics (we're deciding this one and we're definitely your favorites) have returned to spend their time discussing the latest movies. We've been renewed for season two on a new monthly schedule to better accommodate our busy lives (maybe just one of them is busy, that one's also on you to decide which), and to kick off a new season full of films, spoilers, tangents, bits, segments, and emails, we're covering everything we didn't get to cover in between seasons. All at once. Almost thirty films to cover and a race against the clock to get our thoughts out on each one. Join us and consider if this show has become too reliant on parentheticals (it hasn't).

E-mails will return as well, and we would love to hear from you on any of these many movies, or whatever else you have thoughts on. Have a question, a comment, or just want to say hello? Send us a message at thinkingofspoiling@gmail.com.

Vaughn on The Twin Geeks, Letterboxd, and Twitter.

Stephen on The Twin Geeks, Letterboxd, and Twitter.

Ep. 50: Things (1989)

Fri, 15 Sep 2023 14:00:00 +0000

They've ranked countless films with arbitrary criteria. Now, after two years, the first season of I'm Thinking of Spoiling Things has drawn to a close. The only sensible thing to do? Finally do what they've been trying to do since episode one. Spoil Things. This week, on the extended edition season finale of the show, join Stephen and Vaughn as they spoil 1989's microbudget SOV classic Things, a film so wildly incoherent that one host watched it twice and the other has very little idea what happened at all. Following an in depth breakdown of the madness of Things, the guys answer a barrage of inquisitions from the audience in our most expansive listener mail adventure yet.

Most of all, thank you all for listening over the past two years of the show. The endless support and positive feedback that has come through has been truly incredible. What started as a way to share in a collective disappointment in the latest Bond adventure turned into a bi-weekly adventure that has always been a delight to put together. Rest assured this hiatus is not permanent, and the Spoilers will return whenever possible to bring more coverage of the latest releases (and maybe, sometimes, films from 34 years ago), so stay subscribed to catch whenever we get a chance to put something new together. Until then, follow both of your hosts at the links below, and we'll see you around.

Vaughn on The Twin Geeks, Letterboxd, Twitter, and Bluesky.

Stephen on The Twin Geeks, Letterboxd, Twitter, and Bluesky.

Ep. 49: The Second Anniversary Special

Sat, 02 Sep 2023 03:00:00 +0000

It's the beginning of the end of the road here on the show. After saving the podcast landscape with seconds to spare, conquering the peak of human cinematic achievement, and gearing down from a notably unromantic journey from gamer to racer, things are winding down on the first season of the show. Before the guys commit to their final sign-off before the break on a very special episode 50, they've come together to rank their second year of coverage on the show. Just like the first ranking, they have collected every film discussed from the Horror Spooktacular following the first anniversary all the way until our journey with Gran Turismo, and now it's time to put them all in the most objective, concrete order possible, all by the firm laws of Spoiling Things lore. So sit back and listen in, it's another wonderful journey through another year of podcasts.

Please send in your comments, questions, opinions, or any thought tumbling through your head - we would love to hear from you on Episode 50 of the show, the finale of the first season of Spoiling Things. Send us a message at thinkingofspoiling@gmail.com, and we'll see you next time for a thrilling show full of surprises, your listener mail, and more!

Vaughn on The Twin Geeks, Letterboxd, and Twitter.

Stephen on The Twin Geeks, Letterboxd, and Twitter.

Ep. 48: Gran Turismo

Fri, 18 Aug 2023 16:00:00 +0000

Start your engines gamers, the summer's biggest blockbuster podcast has finally arrived. After countless hours of tireless research, months of agonizing but extremely necessary preparation, and dozens of episodes featuring thoroughly refined segments, Gear Up For Gran Turismo has reached its end. Now we arrive at the culmination of all of our hard work, a glorious, high speed adrenaline rush 135 minutes of a gamer becoming a racer. It's time to find out if Gran Turismo is Neill Blomkamp's magnum opus, a bonafide classic soon to be included on the Sight & Sound Top 100, a confused bloated overload of overly stylized grit, or maybe something somewhere in between. Putting all of their efforts into this monumental episode, Stephen and Vaughn hope to be invited to the Podcast Academy, and with enough grit and determination, their sim-conversation skills might just be put to the real test. Until then, listen to this carefully tested simulation that also includes pit stops at the Keswick Pencil Museum, Fun Island, Australia, and the bottom of a trench. Stay tuned for the end of the episode for an announcement, and an update on the future of Spoiling Things.

Timestamps:

Grab Bag of Recent Releases (Talk to Me, Meg 2: The Trench) | 4:05

Gran Turismo | 40:15

Recommendations | 1:06:10

An Announcement | 1:14:30

Have a question, a comment, or just want to say hello? Send us a message at thinkingofspoiling@gmail.com.

Vaughn on The Twin Geeks, Letterboxd, and Twitter.

Stephen on The Twin Geeks, Letterboxd, and Twitter.

Ep. 47: Barbenheimer

Sun, 06 Aug 2023 00:00:00 +0000

For thousands and thousands of years, human civilization has been building, advancing, slowly creating the foundation of the ultimate culmination of our existence. Now, it is finally upon us. Barbenheimer. The ultimate double bill. Greta Gerwig's Barbie and Christopher Nolan's Oppenheimer, releasing simultaneously to become the peak of cinematic experience. Swaths of rabid fans dressed head to toe in pink causing stampedes at local multiplexes; filmbros traveling thousands of miles and standing in line for days to experience 70mm IMAX like Christopher Nolan, father of cinema, intended them to. Theaters are back and the fervor is so intense it's like they never existed until now, but here we have gathered, where heartbreak feels good. And now, like true pioneers breaking ground on ideas nobody has even imagined, visualizing the imperceptible motions of atoms in the atmosphere, Steven and Vaughn have gathered to record a podcast about movies. They will talk about Barbie. They will talk about Oppenheimer. They will break down the respective filmmakers' careers and provide, a range of cold, tepid, and maybe even hot takes about their thoughts on various films. They will respond to questions sent in from around the globe from their many billions of listeners. They will recommend films from their recent watches. They might even have a cold open. And it will change the course of podcasting forever. Prepare yourself, and listen to this week's episode.

Timestamps:

Barbie | 3:35

Oppenheimer | 32:30

Listener Mail | 1:19:40

Recommendations | 1:31:50

Have a question, a comment, or just want to say hello? Send us a message at thinkingofspoiling@gmail.com.

Vaughn on The Twin Geeks, Letterboxd, and Twitter.

Stephen on The Twin Geeks, Letterboxd, and Twitter.

Ep. 46: Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning Part One

Sat, 22 Jul 2023 15:00:00 +0000

Good morning, dedicated listener. The Spoilers have resurfaced once again to discuss the latest releases, returning to films they have already covered and once again scrambling to scrap together anything that resembles actual content pertaining to the upcoming Gran Turismo film. These violations of podcast standards have become an immediate threat to the podcast landscape, and have put the entire world in danger of shows entirely consisting of repeated thoughts and endless weekly segments about upcoming films nobody is looking forward to. The only chance at correcting this imminent collapse of everything we hold dear is to carefully extract the actual fresh film content from this episode and pretend that the rest of it does not exist. If the hosts are properly fooled by this ruse, a completely unique and original podcast covering the so-called "Barbenheimer" will emerge and the world of podcasts will once again be an amorphous, homogeneous blob of white guys talking about movies. Your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to listen to this episode in full and then write in your questions and comments to thinkingofspoiling@gmail.com. The fate of podcasts hangs in the balance. Vaughn will self-destruct (go back to bed) in five seconds.

Timestamps:

Updated Impressions (Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse) | 7:00

Grab Bag of Recent Releases (Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny, Asteroid City) | 13:45

Gear Up For Gran Turismo | 54:30

Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning Part One | 58:00

Listener Mail | 1:20:00

Recommendations | 1:41:00

Have a question, a comment, or just want to say hello? Send us a message at thinkingofspoiling@gmail.com.

Vaughn on The Twin Geeks, Letterboxd, and Twitter.

Stephen on The Twin Geeks, Letterboxd, and Twitter.

Ep. 45: Master Gardener

Fri, 07 Jul 2023 13:00:00 +0000

We here at The Twin Geeks know this is heartbreaking new for our most dedicated fans, but the Thin Lizzy podcast has been cancelled. Stephen and Vaughn are now back to talking about recent releases, and are contractually obligated to stay on topic at all times. The consequences will be dire if there are any points at which they write and recite lengthy parodies of LL Cool J music, continually restart their recordings, or recommend movies they don’t like very much. On this episode, where the fate of the podcast hangs in the balance, the guys talk Extraction 2, also known as Tyler Rake 2, and discuss the merits of fake oners, ripping off Uncharted 2, and ripping a guy’s hand in half. They also talk Transformers: Rise of the Beasts, Stephen’s most anticipated film of the year. How are the Transformers doing? Will Bumblebee ever die? Is that Pete Davidson? Then, they get back in the driver’s seat (both of them) to gear up once again for Gran Turismo, and share all of the latest updates on Neill Blomkamp’s upcoming high octane masterpiece. Finally, it’s Facebook influencer Paul Schrader’s latest, Master Gardener, as well as Schrader’s wider catalogue as both writer and director. Find out what the guys think, get a new batch of recommendations, and send your thoughts, questions, and comments in to be discussed next time.

Timestamps:

Grab Bag of Recent Releases (Extraction 2, Transformers: Rise of the Beasts) | 3:00

Gear Up For Gran Turismo | 49:00

Paul Schrader & Master Gardener | 54:00

Recommendations | 1:24:00

Have a question, a comment, or just want to say hello? Send us a message at thinkingofspoiling@gmail.com.

Vaughn on The Twin Geeks, Letterboxd, and Twitter.

Stephen on The Twin Geeks, Letterboxd, and Twitter.

Ep. 44: The Little Mermaid

Sat, 24 Jun 2023 00:00:00 +0000

Welcome to Dino's Bar and Grill, where Stephen and Vaughn have finally made it to the same recording slot to join forces and talk about cinema, diving into whatever releases they've both managed to get their eyes on. It's been a while, so the guys spend an extended intro kicking back and catching up, covering all kinds of important updates such as the lyrics to Thin Lizzy's "The Boys are Back in Town," issuing a wise warning to prevent a very niche subset of listeners from putting themselves in the position of playing Unicron The Planet Eater, reveal the one hidden trick that actors DON'T want you to know, and so much more. Then, they jump into two new films steeped in the corporate dilution of cinematic energy, from the executive worship of Flamin' Hot to the soulless, unaffected uncanny valley of The Little Mermaid. Is this letting on too much about how they feel about these films? Does anyone read these? Send in an email if you read these. thinkingofspoiling@gmail.com. Anyway, after the films, the guys read more listener mail, from predictions about future remakes to a descent into madness as they create a tier list of every Cheeto product. The boys are back in town.

Timestamps:

Flamin' Hot | 9:20

The Little Mermaid | 27:20

Listener Mail | 59:00

Recommendations | 1:43:00

Check out the incoherent Cheetos Tier List here.

Have a question, a comment, or just want to say hello? Send us a message at thinkingofspoiling@gmail.com.

Vaughn on The Twin Geeks, Letterboxd, and Twitter.

Stephen on The Twin Geeks, Letterboxd, and Twitter.

Ep. 43: Spider-Man: Across The Spider-Verse

Sat, 10 Jun 2023 13:00:00 +0000

This week, Vaughn returns from his pilgrimage to Boston for the Motern Extravaganza, only Stephen got lost looking for him, so until he finds his way back home, Vaughn brings on a couple of guests to talk about some of the newest releases. First, friend of the show BrazyBen makes his first appearance on the podcast to discuss Shin Kamen Rider, an all out tokusatsu throwback from master director Hideaki Anno, and the guys dive into their experiences with the recent Shin films, tokusatsu as a genre, and some of their favorite Kamen Rider content. Later, returning guest Jack joins to talk Fast X and Across the Spider-Verse, both films that serve as a starting point for a multi-film journey that are both wildly different experiences with wildly different responses. We respond to listener mail, discuss a multiverse of multiverses, Vaughn tells the story of how a Jackie Chan film became part of one of the most stressful days of his life, and offer some recommendations from our most recent watches.

Timestamps:

Shin Kamen Rider with Ben | 0:45

Fast X with Jack | 48:45

Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse with Jack | 1:03:00

Listener Mail | 1:27:00

Recommendations | 1:38:30

Have a question, a comment, or just want to say hello? Send us a message at thinkingofspoiling@gmail.com.

Vaughn on The Twin Geeks, Letterboxd, and Twitter.

Stephen on The Twin Geeks, Letterboxd, and Twitter.

Ep. 42: Are You There, God? It's Me, Margaret

Fri, 26 May 2023 13:00:00 +0000

While Vaughn hits the road to experience the breathtaking majesty of Boston Johnny in person, Stephen invites frequently mentioned, now first time guest Emma on to the show to discuss the latest in both theatrical and home releases. As it goes with the often frustrating staggering of US and UK releases, Stephen finally gets a chance to view and discuss Sisu and Beau is Afraid, with varied and eye-opening results that will shock audiences who have become familiar with the previous episode's views on these films. Stephen and Emma discuss Jenny From The Block's latest cinematic endeavors with Netflix's The Mother before finishing up a veritable odyssey of parenthood cinema with Kelly Fremon Craig's Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret. Before we sign off, of course, there's no time to miss a segment, so Stephen gears up once again for our most anticipated release of the year, questions from the audience are answered, and recent viewings are offered as recommendations for the keen and attentive listener to explore on their own time. Enjoy the show, it's a good one! I might have missed the recording but I still have to write these descriptions.

Timestamps:

Grab Bag of Recent Releases (Sisu, Beau Is Afraid, The Mother) | 2:00

Are You There, God? It's Me, Margaret | 29:30

Gear Up For Gran Turismo | 1:01:50

Listener Mail | 1:06:30

Recommendations | 1:13:00

Have a question, a comment, or just want to say hello? Send us a message at thinkingofspoiling@gmail.com.

Vaughn on The Twin Geeks, Letterboxd, and Twitter.

Stephen on The Twin Geeks, Letterboxd, and Twitter.

Ep. 41: Evil Dead Rise

Fri, 12 May 2023 13:00:00 +0000

Join us... as we return for another episode packed with spoils, surprises, and so much more! It's another horror triple feature this week as we dive into a Dracula spinoff, the latest in the long running genre of exorcism cinema, and the return of everyone's favorite campy demon gorefest. We also take our first look at the brand new Gran Turismo trailer for a live reaction, Stephen offers another option to punch up the film, we discuss the current state of DTV cinema, and we dig through our diaries to find another round of fresh recommendations to offer.

Timestamps:

Grab Bag of Recent Releases (Renfield, The Pope's Exorcist) | 2:30

Gear Up For Gran Turismo | 33:50

Evil Dead Rise | 48:40

Listener Mail | 1:08:45

Recommendations | 1:15:20

Have a question, a comment, or just want to say hello? Send us a message at thinkingofspoiling@gmail.com.

Vaughn on The Twin Geeks, Letterboxd, and Twitter.

Stephen on The Twin Geeks, Letterboxd, and Twitter.

Ep. 40: How To Blow Up A Pipeline

Fri, 28 Apr 2023 13:00:00 +0000

Set the charge and light the fuse, this week the guys find themselves on an explosive odyssey through a towering pile of new films to discuss, from Ari Aster's anxiety fever nightmare Beau Is Afraid to bubblegum indie romance Rye Lane, leading into Daniel Goldhaber's razor sharp thriller How To Blow Up A Pipeline. We contemplate dissecting Renfield minute by minute, discuss Vaughn's five day binge of trips to the theater to check out as many new releases as possible (these films may be covered again in the future), pitch a concept for James Cameron's Gran Turismos, dig into the spellbinding tension of How To Blow Up A Pipeline, respond to both fascinating and thought-provoking listener mail, and as always, offer a new round of recommendations plucked from our favorite recent watches.

Timestamps:

Grab Bag of Recent Releases (Beau Is Afraid, Polite Society, Evil Dead Rise, Sisu, Tetris, Rye Lane) | 2:35

Gear Up For Gran Turismo | 37:45

How To Blow Up A Pipeline | 44:30

Listener Mail | 1:07:30

Recommendations | 1:21:00

Have a question, a comment, or just want to say hello? Send us a message at thinkingofspoiling@gmail.com.

Vaughn on The Twin Geeks, Letterboxd, and Twitter.

Stephen on The Twin Geeks, Letterboxd, and Twitter.

Ep. 39: The Super Mario Bros. Movie

Fri, 14 Apr 2023 13:00:00 +0000

Supposedly back on something of a schedule, Stephen and Vaughn return to cover a packed two weeks of new releases to tear into. Beloved childhood memories twisted into disturbingly abysmal slashers, the hazy monotony of routine splattered onto expressive celluloid, deception checks and improvised worldbuilding visualized on the big screen, and a couple of plumbers on a mission to tighten up all the loose pipes in Brooklyn. Join us as we have a miserable time listening to terrible content in an effort to glean any usable and loosely tangential information relating to a thinly constructed segment we've committed to doing for several months, dive down the rabbit hole of a potential mystery involving Stephen's blinds, break new ground in podcast firsts, and cover a sweeping range of discussion surrounding how people are responding to the Mario Brothers returning to the silver screen.

Timestamps:

Grab Bag of Recent Releases (Winnie The Pooh: Blood and Honey, Enys Men, Dungeons and Dragons: Honor Among Thieves) | 2:35

Gear Up For Gran Turismo | 39:30

The Super Mario Bros. Movie | 49:00

Recommendations | 1:22:00

Have a question, a comment, or just want to say hello? Send us a message at thinkingofspoiling@gmail.com.

Vaughn on The Twin Geeks, Letterboxd, and Twitter.

Stephen on The Twin Geeks, Letterboxd, and Twitter.

Ep. 38: John Wick: Chapter 4

Wed, 29 Mar 2023 13:00:00 +0000

We might be late but we won't miss the party, the Spoilers are back to dig into everything John Wick, joined by returning guest and friend of the show Jack. As action fans, as martial arts fans, and as Keanu fans, we're all excited to dig into the stunning, globe-trotting triumph that is Chapter 4. Before that, with new releases in full swing for 2023, we've got a grab bag with the latest in drug animal cinema and the greatest in slasher satire reboot sequels, with a mix of opinions all around on just how successful either of them are. For the main event it's all John Wick, all the time, diving through a rich history of uprooting American action cinema and shifting thoughts on the franchise as a whole over the years, we piece through each of the sequels before arriving at Chapter 4, from a referential match cut to a maybe not so definitive ending. Then we gear up once again for the cinematic event of the year, Vaughn continues to play a game he doesn't like, and Stephen once again forgets to find a recommendation ahead of time. Be seeing you, listeners.

Timestamps:

Grab Bag of Recent Releases (Cocaine Bear, Scream VI) | 2:45

John Wick: Chapter 4 | 24:30

Gear Up For Gran Turismo | 1:20:15

Recommendations | 1:29:15

Have a question, a comment, or just want to say hello? Send us a message at thinkingofspoiling@gmail.com.

Vaughn on The Twin Geeks, Letterboxd, and Twitter.

Stephen on The Twin Geeks, Letterboxd, and Twitter.

Ep. 37: The Oscars Draft

Fri, 10 Mar 2023 14:00:00 +0000

This week, awards season comes to a crescendo, and with the Oscars this weekend, Stephen and Vaughn continue their tradition of special episodes. This year, in lieu of casting prediction ballots, we look back to the past 22 years of Oscar winners and each draft a team of our favorites, and leave it up to you, the viewer, to determine who will emerge the victor. Borrowing a format from our friends over at The Twin Geeks Music Show, we go head to head in ten Oscar categories to come out the other side each with a completely unique list of films. Join us as we battle through the 21st century in awards winners!

Click here to cast your vote!

Have a question, a comment, thoughts on the draft? Send us a message at thinkingofspoiling@gmail.com and we'll get back to you on our next episode of the show.

Ep. 36: Magic Mike's Last Dance

Fri, 24 Feb 2023 15:00:00 +0000

The guys return this week for a full episode of spoils, racing, dancing, recommending, and going to Paris, as releases slowly start to gain momentum in 2023. As the grab bag returns to the show after a vacation to the Mediterranean, we talk the latest from the ever divisive M. Night Shyamalan, Knock at the Cabin, along with Brandon Cronenberg's acid trip tropical nightmare Infinity Pool. Hit the nitrous for another week of gearing up for Gran Turismo, where the saga of Stephen getting his hands on a copy of GT5 persists and we learn more about every aspect of this year's most hotly anticipated film. Hit the dance floor for this episode's central film Magic Mike's Last Dance, the third in the Magic Mike trilogy and seeing director Steven Soderbergh returning to the franchise and to the podcast as we discuss his latest retirement adventure. Then it's time to check in with the listeners as we answer more of your mail and all of your questions before we pull a gem from our recent watches for our recommendation this episode. It might be our last dance but it's not our last episode, join us this week on the show!

Timestamps:

Grab Bag of Recent Releases (Knock at the Cabin, Infinity Pool) | 1:00

Gear Up For Gran Turismo | 33:15

Magic Mike's Last Dance | 41:00

Listener Mail | 1:10:35

Recommendations | 1:30:00

Have a question, a comment, or just want to say hello? Send us a message at thinkingofspoiling@gmail.com.

Ep. 35: White Noise

Fri, 10 Feb 2023 14:00:00 +0000

On this week's episode of the show we return to the world of literary adaptations, with Noah Baumbach's White Noise, adapted from Don DeLillo's novel of the same name - a favorite book of Stephen's. We dive right into our experiences with Baumbach as a director, then discuss at length how his latest film functions on its own and as an adaptation of its source material. Stephen reads passages from the book to highlight his thoughts, we discuss what works and what doesn't, Vaughn tries to figure out what defines Jack as a character, and more. Stick around as we continue to gear up for our most anticipated film of the year, Gran Turismo, answer more listener mail, and offer another set of recommendations from our recent discoveries.

Timestamps:

White Noise | 1:00

Gear Up For Gran Turismo | 51:30

Listener Mail | 1:13:00

Recommendations | 1:29:00

Have a question, a comment, or just want to say hello? Send us a message at thinkingofspoiling@gmail.com.

Ep. 34: Babylon

Fri, 27 Jan 2023 17:00:00 +0000

We've just finished pushing the elephant up the hill and have arrived just in time for a party of a podcast, this week guest starring friend of the show Matt (host of Don't Let The Moterncast Get You). Stephen, hot off his first experience with Damien Chazelle's Babylon is yet to divulge any of his thoughts and we're eager to hear his thoughts. Before the feature film begins, it's a grab bag of a decades spanning Blaxploitation documentary and the latest lo-fi horror sensation. Previews include discussions on the filmography of Damien Chazelle, from his fuzzy jazz debut Guy and Madeline on a Park Bench (2009) to First Man (2018). Chazelle's energetic and dynamic catalog has reached us all and impacted each of our cinematic journeys in different ways - and so it's a lively discussion about his most recent work, a comprehensive dive through the rise and fall of a cinematic empire and its myriad of interconnected stories. After the credits roll we answer listener mail, share our childhood fears, sing a song, recommend some of our favorite recent discoveries, and start a new segment. Join us this week as we exit the silent era and discover the magic of cinema.

Timestamps:

Grab Bag Of Recent Releases (Is That Black Enough For You?!, Skinamarink) | 3:00

Damien Chazelle | 15:30

Babylon | 26:30

Listener Mail | 1:03:35

Recommendations | 1:30:35

Gear Up For Gran Turismo | 1:41:40

Ep. 33: Aftersun

Fri, 13 Jan 2023 16:00:00 +0000

The spoils are back in town, and Stephen and Vaughn are ready after a holiday hiatus to spend another year talking about the latest releases. There's plenty of ground to cover this week as we catch up on our stockpile of high profile films we've been eager to discuss. We chat about Steven Spielberg's latest film, The Fabelmans, alongside his history of populist cinema, how his newest work compares to his other recent output, the film's strongest and weakest moments, and more. We dive briefly into Rian Johnson's Glass Onion and its clever structure and confident presentation. Then it's Aftersun, Charlotte Wells' stunning masterpiece debut and our favorite film of 2022. We dig through every detail and explore all of its atypical construction and thematic fascinations, an expansive discussion on its subtle brilliance and our own personal connections found in the film. We return to the mailbox to find a few inquiries and missives, with a lot to be discussed about the next year of the show, before we wrap up our return with our latest recommendations from our recent viewings.

Timestamps:

Grab Bag Of Recent Releases (The Fabelmans, Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery) | 3:40

Aftersun | 44:00

Listener Mail | 1:18:25

Recommendations | 2:01:15

Check out both Stephen and Vaughn's top ten lists!

Have a question, a comment, or just want to say hello? Send us a message at thinkingofspoiling@gmail.com.

Spoiling Things Supplemental: Stephen Sees Avatar 2

Fri, 13 Jan 2023 16:00:00 +0000

In this special supplemental episode, Stephen goes to the movies, bringing all his friends to see Avatar: The Way of Water and grilling them all to find out their detailed thoughts on the franchise, the world of Pandora, and the film they just watched.

This segment is discussed on Episode 33 of the show, but has been uploaded separately for the ease of access and to keep the episode itself at a reasonable length.

As always, leave us a question, a comment, or a hello over to thinkingofspoiling@gmail.com.

Ep. 32: Bones and All

Fri, 09 Dec 2022 20:30:00 +0000

Stephen and Vaughn are back to talk about the latest film releases, this week with a wide range from the world of independent, microbudget horror to this year's Palme d'Or winner. There's a lot to discuss and a lot of strong opinions this week on the show, so join us as we fervently share our adoration for Justin Benson and Aaron Moorhead's latest twisted Lovecraftian oddity Something in the Dirt, complete with a brief spoiler free discussion to sell the uninitiated on one of our favorite films of the year before we dive into a full conversation about every little brilliant detail. Afterwards, we discuss Ruben Ostlund's Cannes victor Triangle of Sadness, and deconstruct its many faceted failures as it boldly attempts (and perhaps completely fails) to offer poignant commentary on today's failing class structure. Our main feature this week is Luca Guadagnino's Bones and All, a filmmaker both Stephen and Vaughn have very specific thoughts on - how do we feel, how does it translate to his latest film, and will a special guest make an appearance to join the conversation? Find out this week on the show, alongside some listener mail and as always, a recommendation from each of us from our pile of recently watched films throughout cinema history.

Timestamps:

Something in the Dirt Spoiler Free Sales Pitch | 2:15

Something in the Dirt Full Spoiler Discussion | 17:30

Triangle of Sadness | 35:30

Bones and All | 58:00

Listener Mail | 1:23:00

Recommendations | 1:32:00

Have a question, a comment, or just want to say hello? Send us a message at thinkingofspoiling@gmail.com.

Ep. 31: The Banshees of Inisherin

Fri, 25 Nov 2022 13:00:00 +0000

This week on the show, Stephen and Vaughn travel to the fictional Irish island of Inisherin to discuss Martin McDonagh's latest film alongside editor-in-chief Calvin and some surprise podcast party crashers. With varied thoughts across hosts on Colin Farrell and Brendan Gleeson's return to tenuous friendship duo it's a full show of digging deep into what does and doesn't work about The Banshees of Inisherin, its novelty, its presentation, and its secondary and tertiary characters. Join us as we discuss the existential struggles of male friendship, our appreciation of cows on film, messages from mysterious listeners, reviewing ourselves mid-episode, and more before we offer up our latest round of film recommendations from our recent watches and rest until the next time we return to dive into the latest releases.

Timestamps:

The Banshees of Inisherin | 3:00

Listener Mail | 43:50

Recommendations | 1:01:30

Have a question, a comment, or just want to say hello? Send us a message at thinkingofspoiling@gmail.com.

Ep. 30: Horror Spooktacular

Fri, 11 Nov 2022 13:00:00 +0000

After a brief break to celebrate our anniversary, it's once again time to spoil some of the latest movies, this week diving in to some of this season's horror releases. First, it's Damien Leone's Terrifier 2: how does this latest horror sensation stack up to its slasher inspirations, what does it do with its formula of violence established in its predecessor, and how does aspiring icon Art the Clown function as an antagonist? Next up is Ti West's Pearl: a hypersaturated establishment of early cinematic perversion alongside a fascinating character study, we explore the potential offered by this unique experiment of constructing a new horror universe. Finally, it's David Gordon Green's Halloween Ends, and to wrap up this beloved slasher franchise we explore its many entries through the years before placing our definitive stamps on this final installment - can it swing wildly at enough to be a modern schlocksterpiece or is it a fitting failure to cap off a franchise full of mediocrity? Find out about all of these (along with two fresh recommendations from a month of gory watches) on this belated spooky episode!

Timestamps:

Terrifier 2 | 4:15

Pearl | 23:00

Halloween Ends | 36:30

Recommendations | 1:15:00

Have a question, a comment, or just want to say hello? Send us a message at thinkingofspoiling@gmail.com.

Ep. 29: Anniversary Special

Fri, 28 Oct 2022 13:00:00 +0000

It's been one year since Stephen and Vaughn launched the show, and to celebrate, they're thinking of ranking things. This episode, the guys reflect on their year of putting the show together every fortnight and make their definitive list of every film they've covered, from best to worst. It's also one of the biggest listener mail segments yet, with lots of submitted questions on how the show came together, the production process, what they've learned, and the thrilling creation of what could one day be one of the best films ever. Thank you, listeners, for joining throughout year one!

Timestamps:

The Anniversary Ranking | 2:30

Listener Mail | 39:30

Recommendations | 1:58:45

Have a question, a comment, or just want to say hello? Send us a message at thinkingofspoiling@gmail.com.

Ep. 28: Blonde

Fri, 14 Oct 2022 13:00:00 +0000

Every year comes with a choice few dives into the realm of the biopic, and every year comes with a swath of varying results in how successful any given attempt is at being faithful or respectful to its subject. Andrew Dominik's Blonde is this year's latest, Netflix's newest biopic depicting the story of Marilyn Monroe as fictionalized in Joyce Carol Oates' book of the same name. This week on the show, Stephen and Vaughn along with friend of The Twin Geeks Kev go through and share their thoughts on the film and deconstruct its intricacies, fictionalizations, and failures. There's also plenty of listener mail to respond to and as always, your hosts' recommendations from what they've been watching recently.

Timestamps:

Blonde | 5:00

Listener Mail | 58:30

Recommendations | 1:09:00

Have a question, a comment, or just want to say hello? Send us a message at thinkingofspoiling@gmail.com.

Ep. 27: Moonage Daydream

Fri, 30 Sep 2022 18:00:00 +0000

It's a busy week with lots of new films to discuss, so from the worst to the best, Stephen and Vaughn get together to get through it all. Is Olivia Wilde's Don't Worry Darling as disastrous as its press tour indicated? Is the latest in a resurgence of whodunnits, See How They Run, a successful riff on the genre? Is Saloum a genre-bending masterpiece or a bold attempt at constant reinvention that doesn't quite work? Is Neptune Frost one of the most vibrant and inventive films the guys have seen all year? Find out all that and more before a full deconstruction of David Bowie, his career, our experiences with his music, and Bret Morgen's psychedelic, music-driven documentary Moonage Daydream. Plus, our latest recommendations from the last two weeks of exploring the world of cinema.

Timestamps:

Grab Bag of Recent Releases (Don't Worry Darling, See How They Run, Saloum, Neptune Frost) | 3:00

Moonage Daydream | 47:00

Listener Mail | 1:18:00

Recommendations | 1:25:00

Have a question, a comment, or just want to say hello? Send us a message at thinkingofspoiling@gmail.com.

Ep. 26: Oops, All Grab Bag!

Fri, 16 Sep 2022 13:00:00 +0000

With Stephen away for a while and two whole episodes dedicated to television, it turns out the guys have quite a few recent releases they haven't yet gotten a chance to discuss, so this week it's an entire episode of grab bag. Starting off with Ken Kwek's #LookAtMe before moving on to show favorite director George Miller's brand new Three Thousand Years of Longing along with some coverage of new horror releases Orphan: First Kill and Barbarian, and finally a highly anticipated discussion of Jordan Peele's Nope. All that, some listener mail, a couple of recommendations, and all recorded at the most inconveniently delirious hours we could pick.

Timestamps:

The Rehearsal In Review | 3:30

#LookAtMe | 12:00

Three Thousand Years of Longing | 38:00

Orphan: First Kill | 1:00:00

Barbarian | 1:10:00

Nope | 1:20:00

Listener Mail | 1:44:30

Recommendations | 2:07:00

Have a question, a comment, or just want to say hello? Send us a message at thinkingofspoiling@gmail.com.

Ep. 25: The Rehearsal - Part Two

Sat, 03 Sep 2022 13:00:00 +0000

After a chaotic first part of our series on The Rehearsal, it's time for Stephen to take what he learned from his carefully orchestrated plans and practice and put it to work. Vaughn's back (again?) to have some discussions with Stephen that may feel strangely familiar. Nonetheless it's all fresh and we're here to offer even more commentary on just how brilliant Nathan Fielder's The Rehearsal is as we deconstruct and discuss it along with its many points of inspiration, along with answering our listener mail and offering some recommendations for you all to check out.

Thanks so much to all of our wonderful collaborators who worked on this bizarre experimental podcast with us, and we hope you've had fun listening. If you'd like to check out any of our friends who worked on this with us, you can find them here: Calvin (acting as Mol), Jack (acting as Stephen), Murph (acting as Lucas), and Lucas (acting as Vaughn).

Timestamps:

Grab Bag Of Recent Releases (Bullet Train, The Novelist’s Film, Glorious, The Invitation, They/Them) | 8:50

The Rehearsal | 43:00

Listener Mail | 1:22:45

Recommendations | 1:47:00

Have a question, a comment, or just want to say hello? Send us a message at thinkingofspoiling@gmail.com.

Ep. 24: The Rehearsal - Part One

Fri, 02 Sep 2022 13:00:00 +0000

It's our most ambitious episode yet, and this week the Spoilers are leaving the familiar territory of the realm of film and entering the world of television for the first time as Stephen returns from his honeymoon to co-host once again. This week, it's Nathan Fielder's The Rehearsal, after a lengthy discussion about some of the latest releases, including David Leitch's Bullet Train, Hong Sang-soo's The Novelist's Film, Rebekah McKendry's Glorious, and John Logan's They/Them. Then, it's on to the main event of attempting to deconstruct the many fascinations and machinations of HBO's latest puzzling piece of comedic docufiction.

Timestamps:

Grab Bag Of Recent Releases (Bullet Train, The Novelist's Film, Glorious, They/Them) | 33:00

The Rehearsal | 1:02:30

Listener Mail | 1:50:00

Recommendations | 2:08:

Have a question, a comment, or just want to say hello? Send us a message at thinkingofspoiling@gmail.com.

Ep. 23: The Grab Bag of Friends Special

Fri, 19 Aug 2022 13:00:00 +0000

While Stephen is away completing a world tour of Federico Fellini's filming locations, Vaughn puts together a very special episode, featuring three guests and three films. In each segment, one of our dear friends will join to talk about a different movie; Calvin joins to figure out whodunit in Bodies Bodies Bodies, Murph to discuss the various hunting techniques utilized in Prey, and Jack hops in to kick back and reminisce on the vibes of The Lad Goodbye. With a bloody neon mystery, an adrenaline-fueled monster hunt, and a microbudget neo-noir stoner comedy for the ages, there's lots to talk about this week on the show.

Timestamps:

Calvin & Bodies Bodies Bodies | 0:00

Murph & Prey | 49:05

Jack & The Lad Goodbye | 1:30:30

Have a question, a comment, or just want to say hello? Send us a message at thinkingofspoiling@gmail.com.

Ep. 22: The Gray Man

Fri, 05 Aug 2022 13:00:00 +0000

Stephen is back to reclaim his spot as co-host and he's got a lot of movies to talk about this week. It's a lengthy Grab Bag of Recent Releases as Stephen and Vaughn discuss all the latest they've been catching up on, including the latest Jane Austen adaptation Persuasion and Claire Denis' Both Sides of the Blade. Then, it's the latest from blockbuster giants The Russo Brothers, The Gray Man, Netflix's newest chaotic action comic adaptation. Can it live up to the expectations set by their endeavors in billion dollar franchises, or is it just a hollow flop of empty action and flat performances? Find out the answers to that and more, including answers to your many burning questions and recommendations from the guys.

Timestamps:

Grab Bag of Recent Releases (The Black Phone, Lightyear, Persuasion, Happening, Both Sides of the Blade, Fast and Feel Love) | 3:00

The Russo Brothers | 27:30

The Gray Man | 30:30

Listener Mail | 56:00

Recommendations | 1:34:30

Have a question, a comment, or just want to say hello? Send us a message at thinkingofspoiling@gmail.com.

Ep. 21: Thor: Love and Thunder

Fri, 22 Jul 2022 13:00:00 +0000

This week, Vaughn and special guest Calvin tackle the MCU's latest, Taika Waititi's Thor: Love and Thunder. After the great success of his previous Thor: Ragnarok, expectations were high going in to Waititi's neon drenched stylized 80s sci-fi adventure. Before jumping into The God of Thunder's latest adventure they discuss some assorted recent releases including Sara Dosa's Fire of Love and Pixar's Lightyear, and later answer some listener mail and offer some recommendations from recent watches (including some new unprecedented territory). Between ranking daddies and designing a Thor film for this week's missing Stephen to direct, it's a busy week with plenty of chaos. Join the fun!

Timestamps:

Grab Bag of Recent Releases (Lightyear, Fire of Love, Acid Test) | 1:40

The MCU, Taika Waititi, and Thor: Love and Thunder | 27:30

Listener Mail | 1:11:00

Recommendations | 1:51:00

Ep. 20: Crimes of the Future

Fri, 08 Jul 2022 13:00:00 +0000

The godfather of body horror is back with his latest, Crimes of the Future, and Stephen and Vaughn are here to talk everything Cronenberg. Listen this week as they break down a collection of recent releases, discuss their experiences with David Cronenberg's body of work, and dive deep into his chaotically beautiful new film. In this week's listener mail they discuss the most evocative and powerful body horror, their favorites of the genre, and more.

Timestamps:

Grab Bag of Recent Releases (After Yang, Ambulance, Cha Cha Real Smooth, Flux Gourmet) | 1:40

David Cronenberg | 32:30

Crimes of the Future | 39:00

Listener Mail | 57:30

Recommendations | 1:34:00

Have a question, a comment, or just want to say hello? Send us a message at thinkingofspoiling@gmail.com.

Ep. 19: Top Gun: Maverick

Fri, 24 Jun 2022 13:00:00 +0000

Ride into the danger zone this week as Stephen and Vaughn take to the skies for Joseph Kosinski's Top Gun: Maverick. 36 years after Tony Scott's classic airborne hangout movie, Lieutenant Pete 'Maverick' Mitchell is called back to Top Gun for a high stakes mission. Find out where the guys land with their thoughts on this year's biggest legacy sequel - what works, what doesn't, and whether the big screen experience is enough to outweigh some of its shakier aspects. They also discuss a few recent releases in a new segment, offer some recommendations, and open listener mail to find a big mistake and our first fanart. It's a great show, join us!

Timestamps:

Grab Bag of Recent Releases (The Secrets of Dumbledore, RRR, MEN) | 1:30

Top Gun (1986) and Tony Scott | 14:00

Top Gun: Maverick | 19:20

Listener Mail | 47:50

Recommendations | 59:40

Ep. 18: Everything Everywhere All At Once

Sat, 11 Jun 2022 01:16:43 +0000

This week on the show, Stephen and Vaughn are joined by Jack of STACKS fame, our resident kung fu expert, ready to spoil and discuss Daniels' Everything Everywhere All At Once. One of the year's most acclaimed and wonderful films, it's a celebratory episode of nothing but love for the achievement of cinematic excess, and we're here to share our appreciation for everything from its delightful pastiche of In The Mood For Love (2000) to its absurdist journey through the multiverse of raccoon-centric Ratatouille (2007). We also discuss the film's connections to Jackie Chan and its mesmerizing rejection of the nihilism that often feels so welcoming before talking a few other recent releases we've watched recently, as well as offering some recommendations from our recent watches.

Timestamps:
Daniels, Swiss Army Man, and Everything Everywhere All At Once | 0:00
Other New Releases: Chip 'n Dale Rescue Rangers, Dark Glasses, Vortex, Magic Spot | 38:10
Recommendations | 1:00:00

Have a question, a comment, or just want to say hello? Send us a message at thinkingofspoiling@gmail.com.

Ep. 17: Doctor Strange In The Multiverse of Madness

Fri, 27 May 2022 13:00:00 +0000

This week on the show, Stephen and Vaughn return to the Marvel Cinematic Universe, this time to break down and discuss Sam Raimi's Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness. First, it's a journey through recent experiences with the MCU as well as a brief conversation about Doctor Strange's first cinematic outing before going in depth on his latest adventure. From the film's ties to the WandaVision mini-series, its multiversal implications, its abundant cameos and references, all the way to its dip into the realm of the horror genre, the guys ask if any of it is worth it before answering a litany of listener mail and doling out some more recommendations from their recent watches. Join us, no matter what universe you're visiting from!

Timestamps:
Doctor Strange (2016), The MCU, Sam Raimi | 1:00
Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness | 15:30
Listener Mail | 54:30
Pluriebus' review: The Batman
Recommendations | 1:47:20

Have a question, a comment, or just want to say hello? Send us a message at thinkingofspoiling@gmail.com.

Ep. 16: Sonic The Hedgehog 2

Fri, 13 May 2022 14:00:00 +0000

Stephen and Vaughn are ready to share their strong opinions on Sonic the Hedgehog – the character, the franchise, and his latest cinematic outing Sonic the Hedgehog 2. The guys dive deep on the extensive history of the series of games and discuss their favorite video game to screen adaptations before hopping on Tails’ biplane down to the Hawaiian beach resort where the film is tackled at length. Stick around for the continuation of our listener mail segment and hear a couple of the latest recommendations of what’s worth seeking out this week on the show.

Timestamps:
The Sonic Franchise | 3:15
Video Game Movies | 18:30
Sonic The Hedgehog 2 Discussion | 32:00
Listener Mail | 46:00
Recommendations | 1:03:00

Have a question, a comment, or just want to say hello? Send us a message at thinkingofspoiling@gmail.com.

Ep. 15: The Northman

Sat, 30 Apr 2022 18:21:21 +0000

This week, the guys embark on their longest journey yet in their attempt to discuss Robert Eggers' viking epic The Northman. From George Miller's Babe: Pig in the City to Shane Meadows' Dead Man's Shoes, we tie it all together through a myriad of discussions, including our experiences with Eggers as a director, our thoughts on retreading familiar stories, and an extensive listener mail segment. From the first to the last minute of Amleth's atmospheric and mythical adventure through the sprawling Nordic landscapes, we cover it all, and jump into discussions about up and coming directors, our latest film recommendations, and more. If you'd like to be a part of the conversation, drop us a line at thinkingofspoiling@gmail.com - we'd love to hear your thoughts on anything and everything podcast or cinema related. Rest assured, your voice will be heard.

Ep. 14: Turning Red

Fri, 15 Apr 2022 13:00:00 +0000

This week on the show, it's Pixar's latest and delightfully pastel endeavor Turning Red, and Stephen and Vaughn are here to discuss it all in depth while also doing some all important work on adding a bit of structure to the show moving forward. Not to be forgotten, before anything else it's time to discuss the results of the Oscars Special, where we'll reveal who lost the bet and had to suffer through a miserable cinematic experience. After debating the many merits and few missteps of Domee Shi's lovely coming of age adventure, it's time for a new segment - listener mail. We asked our wonderful community to send in their burning questions, their thoughts on the film, and anything else they had to say, and you all delivered. If you'd like to be a part of a future episode, send us your questions, whether it just be something you want the guys to answer, or thoughts on our upcoming coverage, Sonic The Hedgehog 2 or After Yang. Send it all over to thinkingofspoiling@gmail.com and be heard! Finally, each of us submit a recommendation of something we've watched and loved recently. Join us, won't you?

Ep. 13: The Batman

Fri, 01 Apr 2022 15:00:00 +0000

This week on the show, things get dark and gloomy as Stephen and Vaughn find themselves with opposing thoughts on Matt Reeves' The Batman. A tense battle will ensue, but before that, they dive into their history with the character of Batman and his many appearances in cinema, including the genius of Tim Burton's rocket penguins in Batman Returns (1992) and both of their recent reevaluations of Christopher Nolan's The Dark Knight (2008). In the main event, it's the caped crusader's latest epic, a sprawling journey through the streets of Gotham as he races to catch The Riddler. Is it a pitch perfect incarnation of the character that cleverly deconstructs his place as a masked vigilante, or is it a dreadful disaster with no personality and a deluge of glaring plot holes? Maybe it's both, depending on who you ask.

Ep. 12: The 2022 Oscars Special

Mon, 28 Mar 2022 00:00:00 +0000

It's Oscar night, and Stephen and Vaughn are here to render their thoughts on the nominees as well as going down the ballot and each selecting their picks for what's going to take home the awards. Listen along as they likely butcher nearly every category, and add up their points at home to find out who will end up having to watch and review something horrendous.

Ep. 11: Kimi

Wed, 16 Mar 2022 16:00:00 +0000

This week on the show it's the latest release from iconic director Steven Soderbergh, Kimi. Stephen and Vaughn explore and discuss their experiences with Soderbergh's vast catalog, from his origins as a director of subdued sexual character studies to his breakout blockbuster hits and Oscar sweeping dramas, and all the perfectly crafted genre exploration in between. After an expansive dive through his oeuvre, it's Kimi, another addition to his collection of hyperspecific genre pieces, this time focused on the onset of an overbearing surveillance state within a world ravaged by COVID. How well does it achieve its aim, and can it successfully integrate two dissonant halves, blending them into a cogent singular piece? Are the Seattle-tinted glasses strong enough for Vaughn to not care either way? Join us and find out.

Ep. 10: Texas Chainsaw Massacre

Wed, 02 Mar 2022 17:00:00 +0000

Leatherface is back, ready to tear up and chew through large groups of unsuspecting entrepreneurs and everyone's living room TV. Stephen and Vaughn cover their experiences with the Texas Chainsaw franchise from Tobe Hooper's 1974 icon and his wild ride of a follow up to the homogeneous train wreck of sequels that follow before diving deep into the latest iteration. How does it stack up against the rest of its recent horror reboot counterparts? Does it take an effective stance on anything it comments on? Can it deliver on the gruesome gore the franchise promises? Join for all this and more, including a special surprise guest, and maybe this week we'll nail that outro.

Ep. 9: Licorice Pizza

Wed, 16 Feb 2022 16:00:00 +0000

This week it's Paul Thomas Anderson's Licorice Pizza, and Calvin joins as our first guest, as an avid supporter of both PTA and his latest venture, an meandering coming of age journey through the San Fernando Valley in the 1970s. We discuss our experiences with PTA, dive into our favorites of his works (and this time we don't leave anything out), and then do our best to dissect and spoil a movie that tries its hardest to make sure nothing happens. In one way or another, PTA has been critical to all our cinephile journeys, but where does Licorice Pizza land among his wider catalogue? Tune in for all that, a secret bonus episode, and our best - or maybe worst - outro yet. Here's hoping we figure it out one day.

Ep. 8: Zeros and Ones

Wed, 02 Feb 2022 17:00:00 +0000

It's Abel Ferrara's latest, Zeros and Ones. It is indecipherable and incoherent, and we might just love it. We discuss our familiarity with Ferrara's oeuvre, express our admiration for Ethan Hawke's three performances, and why the film's definitive and impossibly muddled chaos is really its greatest strength. Despite our best efforts, we learn it's an impossible film to spoil, so join us this week on the show. Maybe we'll sell you on this manic adventure of a film, and maybe, just maybe, we'll get the outro right.

Ep. 7: The Tragedy of Macbeth

Wed, 19 Jan 2022 16:30:00 +0000

This week on the show, it’s Joel Coen’s solo debut, a towering black and white adaptation of Macbeth. With some thoroughly extensive knowledge at the ready, it’s time to dive deep into how faithfully this adaptation of the perennial text translates The Bard’s words to the silver screen. Is it too bleak, lacking some of the essential aspects of its source material, or is it a strong and evocative outing for the single Coen brother attempting to carve out his own unique style? Join Stephen and Vaughn as they delve into that and more, from the lead performances to our favorite character actor cameos. It’s a new year ready to bring lots to spoil, so let’s get started.

Ep. 6: House of Gucci

Wed, 29 Dec 2021 16:00:00 +0000

This week on the show, Stephen and Vaughn reach an important milestone before diving into House of Gucci, Ridley Scott's slick '80s crime drama, messy atonal disaster, or the funniest film of the year. Depends on who you ask. The guys break down everything from Jared Leto's bewildering performance to personality altering trips to Switzerland, as well as discussing how House of Gucci stands up to Scott's other 2021 release The Last Duel. Have they watched the same 2021 international road trip movie yet? Tune in to find out.

Ep. 5: Eternals

Wed, 15 Dec 2021 12:00:00 +0000

This week Stephen and Vaughn are thinking of spoiling Eternals, the Marvel Cinematic Universe's third of four outings in 2021, and another chapter in the still unfamiliar world of Phase 4. From our past experiences with the MCU as a whole down to individual breakdowns of the ensemble cast of the film, the guys attempt to cover it all. Does Eternals successfully live up to its long awaited hype, or will it rest in the annals of Marvel history as one of the franchise's most ambitious failures?

Ep. 4: Spencer

Wed, 01 Dec 2021 00:26:00 +0000

This week on the show, it's Pablo Larraín's Spencer, and Stephen and Vaughn are both big fans. Come along as we explore the cold and overbearing halls of Sandringham and discuss Larraín's immaculate directorial eye, Kristen Stewart's brilliant performance as Diana Spencer, Jonny Greenwood's beautifully composed score, and much, much more. Join as we delve into whether Spencer has any major missteps within its perfectly focused drama, what's up next for the show, and whether Stephen actually knows what Vaughn has recently reviewed for the site.

Ep. 3: The French Dispatch

Wed, 24 Nov 2021 18:00:00 +0000

Stephen and Vaughn are back, this week to enter the pastel world of Wes Anderson and the French town of Ennui, exploring and spoiling the myriad of stories told within The French Dispatch. Can Anderson deliver another aesthetically precise and resonantly emotional masterpiece, or has the style finally overcome the substance? From a breezy, bicycling jaunt through town to a violent shootout in the streets, where does Anderson's latest succeed in its love letter to journalism and all things French cinema, and where does it fall short? Join us for this and more on all things Anderson this week on the show.

Ep. 2: Dune

Wed, 10 Nov 2021 12:00:00 +0000

Stephen and Vaughn are thinking of spoiling things once again, this time headed to the dusty landscapes of Arrakis to discuss the triumphs and failures of Denis Villeneuve's sci-fi epic Dune.

Ep. 1: No Time To Die

Wed, 27 Oct 2021 16:55:00 +0000

Stephen and Vaughn are thinking of spoiling things - join as we launch our newest show for all things spoilers on the latest new releases. This week, it's the latest entry in the Bond canon, and Daniel Craig's final outing as the suave spy with a license to kill. Does No Time To Die live up to its numerous release delays, immense hype, and massive budget? Join us and find out our thoughts.