Somebody's Watching

Madeleine Sims-Fewer & Dusty Mancinelli are a Toronto-based filmmaking duo who premiered their second feature HONEY BUNCH, an unconventional thriller set in a 70s medical clinic, at the Berlinale earlier this year. They're an exciting, genre-defying voice in contemporary cinema and it was great to get them on the podcast. We spoke about what it's like working as a duo, making the anti-revenge film VIOLATION, accessibility in film, and much more. Show Notes:Madeleine & Dusty's website Slap Happy (2017)Woman in Stall (2018)Chubby (2019)Violation (2020)Honey Bunch (2025)Her Friend Adam (2016)Great dm interview with Alexandra Heller-Nicholas Describe VideoHeavenly Creatures (1994)Don't Look Now (1973)Eternal Sunshine of a Spotless Mind (2004)Possession (1981)Phantom Thread (2017)Babygirl (2024)Brussels International Film FestivalFollow Somebody's Watching here:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Twitter: @somebodyspod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram: @somebodyswatchingpod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Email: somebodywatchingpod@gmail.com

“People would leave me saying, ‘She's a nice girl. What is this big thing about? She's a nice girl.' And the thing is, of course, I wasn't a nice girl. And when they found this out, they hated me all the more.”—Elaine May, 2006Elaine May is a game-changing director, writer, and actress that not enough people know about. Thankfully, I was able to talk to a May expert, writer Carrie Courogen, who wrote an Elaine May biography called 'Miss May Does Not Exist: The Life and Work of Elaine May, Hollywood's Hidden Genius.' We spoke about her significance to cinema and comedy, her fascinating career, her elusiveness, and more! Show Notes:Miss May Does Not Exist – Carrie CourogenCarrie Courogen's WebsiteCarrie Courogen's InstagramNichols & May -Teenagers in a Car Nichols & May – Examine DoctorsThe Waverly GalleryLenny BruceA New LeafNew HollywoodRoberta FindlayThe Heartbreak Kid (Full Movie on YouTube)Mikey and NickyThe BirdcageIshtarGhostbustersBack to the FutureNeil SimonElaine May's New Film?Todd SolondzJohn WatersFollow Somebody's Watching here:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Twitter: @somebodyspod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram: @somebodyswatchingpod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Email: somebodywatchingpod@gmail.com

Recorded a week and a half after David Lynch's death, this episode is a mishmash of interviews with Cinema of the Dam'd programmers Jen Bronson and Matt Cornell and clips of what we showed during our 15 hour twitch marathon. We spoke about our Lynch faves, what he means to us, and where our head was at after watching so much of his work at once (it was pretty divine). Lynch's death hit hard and this won't be the last time I feature him on Somebody's Watching.Show Notes:Cinema of the Dam'dJennifer's Bronson's InstagramMatt Cornell's InstagramThe Squid and the Whale (2005)The Straight Story (1999)Blue Velvet (1986)Blue Velvet edited for televisionTwin Peaks (1990-1991, 2017)Mulholland Drive (2001)Lost Highway (1997)Eraserhead (1977)Inland Empire (2006)Hotel Room (1993)Crash (1996)Pink Flamingos (1972)Swingers (1996)John WatersDavid Wants to Fly (2010)Angelo Badalamenti on Laura Palmer's themeFollow Somebody's Watching here:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Twitter: @somebodyspod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram: @somebodyswatchingpod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Email: somebodywatchingpod@gmail.com

Caryn Coleman is the founder of New York-based film initiative The Future of Film is Female which amplifies the work of women and non-binary filmmakers early in their career, offering short film grants. Caryn's initiative has been exponentially growing and I wanted to ask her how she made it all happen! We talk about how Caryn came to curating, her Future of Film is Female highlights, and the knots and bolts of indie distribution. Show Notes: Instagram @futureoffilmisfemale Twitter @fofif Future of Film is Female Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory (1971) Top Gun (1986) The House of Monsters Chicago Devil's Nightmare (1971) The Baby (1973) (YouTube) BFI Nitehawk Cinema Eleanor Wilson Kate Dolan You're Not My Mother (2021) Oddity (2024) Speak No Evil (2024) Nice Shoes Post Production Heard City Post Production Mosquito Lady (2024) (YouTube) I Could Just Die, And That Would Be All Right (2023) All Over Me (1997) (YouTube) Not A Pretty Picture (1976) Jennifer's Body (2009) Girlfight (2000) Fancy Dance (2023) High-Rise (2015) Free Fire (2016) The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (1974) (YouTube) Messaging the Monstrous Women Make Horror @MoMA Vidiots Alison Peirse Alexandra Heller-Nicholas The Graduates Announcement in IndieWire The Graduates (2024) I Saw the TV Glow (2024) Nightbitch (2024) Booger (2023) Hollywood 90028 (1973) Black Conflux (2019) All Dirt Roads Taste of Salt (2023) Our Father, the Devil (2021) Timestalker (2024) Mirror, Mirror (1990) (YouTube) Little Women (1994) One Timers film series at Metograph Wanda (1970) (YouTube)

There's a plethora of "eat the rich" films these days, films that relish in showing the wealthy suffer without, god forbid, rocking the status quo. My guest today is Tosha R. Taylor is quite skeptical of the trend. Tosha R. Taylor is a writer, former academic, and regularly publishes and presents on horror, extremity, and queerness. We talk about the history of class in cinema, the invisibility of class issues in the majority of films, hillbilly horror, and Tosha picks some of her favorite class-conscious horror films. Show Notes: Tosha R. Taylor's twitter Tosha R. Taylor on academia.edu Films: Lumiere Brothers – Workers Leaving the Lumiere Factory (1895) Battleship Potemkin (available on YouTube) (1925) Man With A Movie Camera (available on YouTube) (1929) Bicycle Thieves (available on YouTube) (1948) American Hollow (available on YouTube) (1999) Harlan County USA (available on YouTube) (1978) Blood on the Mountain (available on YouTube) (2016) Saltburn (2023) Triangle of Sadness (2022) The White Lotus (2021-2025) The Menu (2022) The Hunger Games (2012) Parasite (2019) The Wicker Man (1973) Calvaire (2004) Eden Lake (2008) Wake in Fright (1971) Attack the Block (2011) Funny Games US (2007) Tucker and Dale vs Evil (2010) His House (2020) Take Shelter (2011) Wrong Turn (2003) The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (1974) Figures Dardenne Brothers Maysles Brothers Ken Loach Bong Joon-ho Kimberly Crenshaw on Intersectionality Follow Somebody's Watching here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Twitter: @somebodyspod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram: @somebodyswatchingpod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Email: somebodywatchingpod@gmail.com

I spoke with fellow Anthony Perkins superfan, PhD student and podcaster Xanthe Pajarillo, all about the immensely talented and under-appreciated Anthony Perkins. Perkins was far more than Norman Bates and I wanted to delve into his interesting and eclectic career with someone who gets it. We discuss his early days as a teen idol, his career in Europe, midcentury masculinity, and chose some of our favorite Perkins performances. Show Notes: Xanthe Pajarillo's instagram twitter tiktok Xanthe Pajarillo's Website Xanthe's Anthony Perkins article My Anthony Perkins Letterboxd list Films: Psycho (1960) The Actress (1953) Friendly Persuasion (1956) Fear Strikes Out (1957) Green Mansions (1959) Hitchcock (2012) I'm Not There (2007) Weird: The Al Yankovic Story (2022) Goodbye Again (1961, movie on YouTube) The Trial (1962) The Ravishing Idiot (1964, movie on YouTube) Five Miles to Midnight (1962) Phaedra (1962, movie on YouTube) Evening Primrose (1966, movie on Youtube) Catch-22 (1970) Psycho II Psycho III Lucky Stiff (1988, movie on YouTube) The Last of Sheila (1973) The Evil Dead (1981) Winter Kills (1979) Pretty Poison (1968) Play It As It Lays (1972) Television: The Ghost Writer (YouTube) Bates Motel SNL – Anthony Perkins Episode (archive.org) Music: Podcast Interlude Anthony Perkins – How About You Anthony Perkins – A Little Love Can Go A Long Way Elvis Perkins – Ash Wednesday Books: Osgood and Anthony Perkins – Laura Kay Palmer Haunted Life: Anthony Perkins – Ronald Bergan Plays: Tea and Symphony Look Homeward, Angel Follow Somebody's Watching here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Twitter: @somebodyspod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram: @somebodyswatchingpod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Email: somebodywatchingpod@gmail.com

My friend Karolin joins me on this episode to talk about something we both really love - the coming-of-age film (and show). We spoke about why we love them, the depiction of movie high school and how they affected our own high school expectations, our list of the films and shows that mean the most to us, and a whole lot more. Apologies for my freshly post-Covid voice in this and the technical glitches! Show Notes: Karolin's website Karolin's instagram Rebel Without A Cause (1955) 400 Blows (1959)Almost Famous (2000) IT (1990)The Wonder Years (1988) The Squid and the Whale (2005) Dawson's Creek (1998) Buffy the Vampire Slayer (1997) On Matrescence 2023 Coming Of Age Retrospective @Berlinale Kids (1995, movie on YouTube) Clueless (1995) American Pie (1999) Twilight (2008) The Souvenir (2019) Grazuole (1969) Ordinary People (1980)Petite Maman (2021) River's Edge (1986) Tully (2018) Six Feet Under (2001) Gilmore Girls (2000) Heartbreak High (2022) The Cosby Show (1984) The Adults (2023) My So-Called Life (1994) Freaks and Geeks (1999) Looking for Alaska (2019) My Own Private Idaho (1991, movie on YouTube) Say Anything (1989)Heavenly Creatures (1994, movie on YouTube) Friday Night Lights (2006) Boyhood (2014) The Up Series (1964) Fame (1980)Judy Blume Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret. (2023) Molly Ringwald Eighth Grade (2018) Welcome to the Dollhouse (1995, movie on YouTube) Streetwise (1984, movie on YouTube) Lilya 4-ever (2002) Boarders (2024) Dead Poets Society (1989) The Half of It (2020) Never Have I Ever (2020) The Breakfast Club (1985) Follow Somebody's Watching here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠Twitter: @somebodyspod⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram: @somebodyswatchingpod⁠⁠⁠⁠ Email: somebodywatchingpod@gmail.com

Today's episode is all about grimy New York movies from the mid-20th century. So much was going on in that small stretch of the city and movies made in that time and place show it off so well. My guest is film historian and writer Samm Deighan, an expert on cult cinema and one of those people who really seem to have watched it all! You'll hear about Times Square history, psychotronic cinema, and Samm's list of films that best depict this iconic era. Show Notes: Samm Deighan's Instagram @sammdeighan Samm Deighan's Patreon Revolution in 35mm Book – Andrew Nette & Samm Deighan The Psychotronic Encyclopedia of Film – Michael Weldon Times Square Red, Times Square Blue – Samuel R. Delany Cinema of Transgression Caffe Cino The Rialto Report – Jamie Gillis in Europe, 1977 No Wave Cinema Roberta Findlay Lydia Lunch Nick Zedd Andy Milligan Joe Spinell Susan Seidelman Bette Gordon Lizzie Borden Films mentioned: Cruising (1980) Maniac (1980) Born in Flames (1983) Ms 45 (1981) (Film Link) Driller Killer (1979) (Film Link) Bad Girls Go To Hell (1965) Sweet Smell of Sex (1965) Fleshpot on 42nd Street (1972) Little Murders (1971) (Film Link) The New York Ripper (1982) Times Square (1980) The Warriors (1979) After Hours (1985) (Film Link) Follow Somebody's Watching here: ⁠⁠⁠Twitter: @somebodyspod⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠Instagram: @somebodyswatchingpod⁠⁠⁠ Email: somebodywatchingpod@gmail.com

In 2018, film scholar Dr. Erin Harrington wrote a vital book titled "Women, Monstrosity, and Horror Film: Gynaehorror" about the depictions of virginity, menstruation, pregnancy, motherhood, and menopause in horror. In this episode, I had the great pleasure of chatting with Erin Harrington about her book, the limits of psychoanalysis in horror, why horror is fertile ground for speaking about women's experiences, and much more. I'd like to think this conversation won't just interest the horror fans among you, I hope I'm right! Show Notes: Women, Monstrosity, and Horror Film: Gynaehorror Follow Erin Harrington on Instagram/bluesky/letterboxd - @ladyhorrors Robin Wood – Robin Wood on the Horror Film Carol Clover – Men, Women, and Chainsaws Barbara Creed – The Monstrous Feminine Hays Code Claire Dederer – Monsters Kelly Oliver – Knock Me Up, Knock Me Down: Images of Pregnancy in Hollywood Films Sarah Arnold - Maternal Horror Film: Melodrama and Motherhood Films mentioned: Rosemary's Baby Madam Satan Once Bitten Psycho Amityville Horror The Shining The Stepfather (YouTube) Nightswim The Taking of Deborah Logan Barbarian Whatever Happened to Baby Jane? The Life Zone Repulsion (YouTube) The Brood (YouTube) Lyle Grace Promising Young Woman Violation Birth/Rebirth Knives and Skin Prevenge Titane Inside Relic Men Hatching The Lure (YouTube) Huesera: The Bone Woman Follow Somebody's Watching here: ⁠⁠Twitter: @somebodyspod⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Instagram: @somebodyswatchingpod⁠⁠ Email: somebodywatchingpod@gmail.com

This is an episode that was released on my other podcast, The Bend. I talked with Lizzie Borden, director of BORN IN FLAMES and WORKING GIRLS, during the height of the pandemic. It was an honor to have a chance to talk with her about her craft. We talked about her films, of course, as well as what it was like to work with Harvey Weinstein, the #metoo movement, and quite a lot more. The book about sex work that Lizzie Borden mentions in the episode is now out, you can find it here Follow Somebody's Watching here: ⁠⁠Twitter: @somebodyspod⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Instagram: @somebodyswatchingpod⁠⁠ Email: somebodywatchingpod@gmail.com

Programmer, writer, and podcaster extraodinaire Millie De Chirico co-hosts I Saw What You Did - one of the best, most entertaining film podcasts around. Millie also worked at the classic movie channel TCM for almost 20 years and so I had the chance to talk to her about film programming, her book "TCM Underground: 50 Must-See Films from the World of Classic Cult and Late-Night Cinema," and, of course, her podcast! Show Notes: Millie‘s podcast: I Saw What You Did Millies‘ substack: Professional Sweetheart Millie‘s book: TCM Underground: 50 Must-See Films from the World of Classic Cult and Late-Night Cinema Films: Faster, Pussycat! Kill! Kill! Remember My Name Shack Out on 101 Basket Case References: Cult Movies – Danny Peary The Psychotronic Guide to Film – Michael Weldon Night Flight USA Up All Night FilmStruck Tubi @jeffreymixed

Back in October I went to Sitges Festival in Spain for the first time. Sitges is one of the largest horror festivals in the world and I got to watch a slew of fantastic films and meet some excellent people from the film horror world. Overall, it was an incredibly positive experience and I hope that comes through here. Enjoy this somewhat disjointed episode! Thank you to everyone who chatted with me at the fest! If you want to follow my guests, you can find their info is in the show notes! Show Notes: Elizabeth Schuch instagram Woman in Fan in Sitges Alessia Gasparella instagram Ilaria instagram Ravenna Nightmare Festival profondorossostore.com/ Final Girls Berlin YouTube Alexandra Heller-Nicholas website Alexandra Heller-Nicholas instagram Alex West instagram Faculty of Horror Podcast Elisa Puerto Aubel instagram Sabina Pujol instagram B-Retina Festival Heidi Honeycutt instagram Etheria Film Festival Ax Wound Film Festival Heidi Honeycutt's book I Spit On Your Celluloid Sara Neidorf instagram Sara & Eli's Sitges Faves: Sorcery Hollywood 90028 The Appointment Stopmotion O-Bi, O-Ba: The End of Civilization Riddle of Fire Poor Things The Uncle Films mentioned: Hollywood 90028 Don't Torture A Duckling Masters of Horror 3 Women The Appointment Tiger Stripes Funeral Late Night with the Devil Poor Things Braindead Videodrome Demons Appendage Talk to Me When Evil Lurks Godless Club Zero White Plastic Sky Mamantula La Venere d'Ille Contempt The Darkside of Society Satan Wants You 2023 Sitges Films directed/co-directed by women (thank you for the list, Sara!): Where the Devil Roams Tiger Stripes My Animal Birth/Rebirth La Ermita Superposition Humanist Vampire Seeking Consenting Suicidal Person Sacrifice Game Appendage Auxilio Club Zero En attendant la nuit Living with Chucky The J Horror Virus The Wrath of Becky Luka VHS/85 Wake Up We Are Zombies White Plastic Sky You'll Never Find Me Pet Sematery Siesta Hollywood 90028

I talked to the Adams Family right before the world premiere of their latest film Where the Devil Roams back in July. I've been a fan of The Adams Family, who make films as a family, for some years now, and it was a delight to have them on the podcast! In our chat, we talked about how they started making films, the overarching themes in their work, and, of course, their new film Where the Devil Roams. Show Notes: Toby Poser IMDb John Adams IMDb ⁠Hellbender – Tiny Little Pieces (music heard in the episode) Hellbender Soundtrack Follow the Adams Family: Instagram: @adams.family.films Twitter: adams_films Website: www.wonderwheelproductions.com Follow Somebody's Watching here: ⁠Twitter: @somebodyspod⁠ ⁠Instagram: @somebodyswatchingpod⁠ Email: somebodywatchingpod@gmail.com

My guest this episode is Professor Nikolaj Lübecker, a French and film studies professor at Oxford who wrote the book The Feel-Bad Film. In this conversation, we talk about the different types of feel-bad films, catharsis, the ethical value of these films, and a lot more. Show Notes: Nikolaj Lübecker's book The Feel-Bad Film What is Literature? – Jean-Paul Sartre Chroniques Du Temps Sensible – Julia Kristeva (for French speakers) Films Mentioned: Funny Games Dogville Elephant I Can‘t Sleep Cache Innocence Fat Girl The Idiots The Act of Killing Monkey Ostrich Gray Redacted The Vanishing Audition In My Skin Evolution Nectar Earwig Harmonium Show Me Love Nikolaj Lübecker's email: nikolaj.lubecker(at)sjc.ox.ac.uk Follow Somebody's Watching here: Twitter: @somebodyspod Instagram: @somebodyswatchingpod Email: somebodywatchingpod@gmail.com

I spoke with film scholar Dr. Kate Robertson about cannibalism in cinema! We talk a bit about the history of cannibalism in film, why cannibalism is considered a taboo, depictions of female cannibalism, and more! Kate is going to publish a book about female cannibalism soon, follow her on social media to receive updates! Show Notes: Kate Robertson‘s website: https://katerobertson.me/ instagram: @kate_in_bk twitter: @final_fatale https://www.theatlantic.com/entertainment/archive/2017/03/why-female-cannibals-frighten-and-fascinate/519276/ Kate discussing Trouble Every Day: https://podcast.womaninrevolt.com/episode/cb7a34a2/new-french-extremity-trouble-every-day-with-dr-kate-robertson Films mentioned in the episode: King of the Cannibal Islands Terror Island Blood Feast Cannibal Holocaust Dumplings Raw Neon Demon In My Skin The Lure Texas Chainsaw Massacre Fresh The Cannibal Club Slack Bay Jennifer‘s Body Ginger Snaps Trouble Every Day Die Weibchen (The Women) Possibly in Michigan 301/302 Yellowjackets Omnivores Bloodthirsty Eating Follow Somebody's Watching here: Twitter: @somebodyspod Instagram: @somebodyswatchingpod Email: somebodywatchingpod@gmail.com

This is part two of the top 3 horror films of the decade project, this time we talk about our favorite horror from the 2000s & 2010s. After we finished our lists, we discussed our favorite decades and certain common themes that popped up for us. Thanks to my guests Sara Neidorf & Jess Sweetman for joining me this episode! Show Notes: Top 3 Horror Films Letterboxd List Film Links: The Eyes Of My Mother Bubba Ho-Tep Sara‘s Instagram @saraneidorf Jess‘ Instagram @jesssweetman Follow Somebody's Watching here: Twitter: @somebodyspod Instagram: @somebodyswatchingpod Email: somebodywatchingpod@gmail.com

I sat down with my horror pals Sara Neidorf & Jess Sweetman to discuss our top 3 horror films of the 60s, 70s, 80s, and 90s. Predictably, this turned into quite the whopper of an episode! Stay tuned for Part 2 where we talk about our favorites from the 2000s and 2010s. Show Notes: Top 3 Horror Films Letterboxd List Film Links: Cremator The Laughing Woman Peeping Tom Martin The Haunting of Julia Texas Chainsaw Massacre Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer Hellraiser Pin Cube Funny Games Tesis Ring Sara‘s Instagram @saraneidorf Jess‘ Instagram @jesssweetman Dr. Katrin Seyler's Hagsploitation Talk at Final Girls Berlin Sara‘s band Sarratma – Tannis Root You‘re Wrong About Episode on Henry Lee Lucas You Must Remember This Episode on “The Blanks From Hell“ post Fatal Attraction Follow Somebody's Watching here: Twitter: @somebodyspod Instagram: @somebodyswatchingpod Email: somebodywatchingpod@gmail.com

This episode is from my other podcast The Bend but it's really what Somebody's Watching is about! Thanks again to horror specialist Dr. Alexandra Heller-Nicholas and film professor Professor Peter Lehman for their time, it was an honor to be able to chat with them. Enjoy! A Selection of Peter Lehman's Work: Running Scared: Masculinity and the Representation of the Male Body Masculinity: Bodies, Movies, Culture Pornography: Film and Culture Peter Lehman's Arizona State University Profile A Selection of Alexandra Heller-Nicholas' Work: Rape-Revenge Films: A Critical Study 1000 Women In Horror, 1895-2018 The Giallo Canvas: Art, Excess and Horror Cinema Alexandra Heller-Nicholas' Website Watching Rape, the book Alexandra mentions Wesley Morris' NY Times article on Black male sexuality Films mentioned: The Virgin Spring (1960) Drive, He Said (1971) Sweet Sweetback's Baadasssss Song (1971) Last House on the Left (1972) I Spit On Your Grave (1978) Sweet Savage (1979) A Room with a View (1985) Drifting Into Chaos (1989) The Pillow Book (1996) Traps (1998) Baise Moi (2000) Django Unchained (2012) PVT Chat (2020) Zola (2020) Minx (2022-) Kevin Bacon's penis PSA

Welcome to the very first episode of Somebody‘s Watching! Today you‘ll be hearing my good friend Karolin and I talk about what makes Keanu Reeves and Adam Driver such great celebrity crushes. We discuss what makes having a celebrity crush so appealing and the careers and personas of Keanu Reeves and Adam Driver. In future Somebody‘s Watching episodes, there‘ll be light-hearted fare just like this but also discussions with film scholars about dark subject matters, strange film lists, and interviews with filmmakers. Show Notes: Keanu Reeves Thirst Aid Episode The Point Break article Karolin mentions is actually from a newsletter, contact me at somebodyswatchingpod@gmail.com if you want to read it! ⁠Karolin‘s Keanu March Madness ⁠Point Break Keanu‘s Squarespace ad Adam's Squarespace ad Adam singing Adam can be funny too Paterson You can find Karolin here: www.karolinschnoor.com Instagram: @karolinschnoor Twitter: @KarolinSchnoor Follow Somebodys Watching here: Twitter: @somebodyspod Instagram: @somebodyswatchingpod Email: somebodywatchingpod@gmail.com