The Letterboxd Show

Latest Episodes:

Four Favorites with Scott Pilgrim Takes Off’s BenDavid Grabinski: Stop Making Sense, John Carpenter, and Thanksgiving Nov 21, 2023

Show notes

Writer and Executive Producer of Scott Pilgrim Takes Off BenDavid Grabinski joins slim and Flynn to chat about Big Trouble in Little China, Stop Making Sense, Midnight Run, and The Legend of Billie Jean.

They also discuss their favorite concert experiences, Harry Potter midnight releases, forcing their relatives to watch Planes, Trains, and Automobiles every Thanksgiving, poorly marketed rom-coms, and much more.

Chapters:

Searchlight (00:00:00)
Big Trouble in Little China (00:04:44)
Stop Making Sense (00:12:16)
Scott Pilgrim Takes Off (00:20:14)
Midnight Run (00:27:53)
Legend of Billie Jean (00:37:52)
Closing credits (00:48:00)

Credits: Recorded in Los Angeles, Massachusetts, and Philadelphia. Edited by Slim. Theme music: “Vampiros Danceoteque” by Moniker. Production manager: Sophie Shin. The Letterboxd Show is a TAPEDECK production. Email us!

Four Favorites with Screen Crush’s Matt Singer: Gymkata, Siskel & Ebert, and Los Angeles Nov 14, 2023

Show notes

Editor and critic of ScreenCrush.com and writer of a brand new book on Siskel & Ebert, Matt Singer joins slim and Brian to talk Los Angeles Plays Itself, Gymkata, his new book Opposable Thumbs, Classic Albums: Steely Dan - AJA, and The Diving Bell and the Butterfly.

They also discuss their connections to LA through film, memories of reading their favorite film critics, learning to love bad films, what the heck a mixing board even does, and grappling with emotional films later in life.

Chapters:

Annual Letterboxd Sale (00:00:00)
Opening credits (00:02:00)
Los Angeles Plays Itself (00:05:55)
Gymkata (00:17:44)
Opposable Thumbs (00:30:03)
Steely Dan (00:45:11)
The Diving Bell and the Butterfly (00:53:15)
Closing credits (01:04:07)

Credits: Recorded in Los Angeles, Brooklyn, and Philadelphia. Edited by Slim. Theme music: “Vampiros Danceoteque” by Moniker. Production manager: Sophie Shin. The Letterboxd Show is a TAPEDECK production. Email us!

‘Killers of the Flower Moon’ with author David Grann, Martin Scorsese and Chief Standing Bear Nov 09, 2023

Show notes

On this very special episode of The Letterboxd Show, we focus on Martin Scorsese’s latest film, Killers of the Flower Moon. This special is structured like the book that it’s based on: in three acts. The main interview is with staff writer for The New Yorker and National Book Award finalist, David Grann, whose searing account of the Osage murders is the basis of Scorsese’s new film. We speak to not just Grann, but also include two bits from a roundtable interview with Scorsese himself, paired with Osage Chief Geoffrey Standing Bear. You’ll hear from Scorsese himself about adapting Grann’s book, then an in interview with Grann, wherein he talks at greater length about some of the broader history that he charts in his phenomenal book and about some of the Osage writing that made it into the film. And finally this special will close with some words from Chief Standing Bear about their trust in Grann and the trust that Scorsese had to earn.

Credits: Recorded in Los Angeles and New York City; produced by Brian Formo, edited by Slim; features music from Robbie Robertson’s score for Killers of the Flower Moon.

Lists & Links: Martin Scorsese’s Letterboxd account

‘The Exorcist’ Spectacular Oct 31, 2023

Show notes

The power of podcasting compels you to listen as the Letterboxd crew gathers for a roundtable discussion about The Exorcist.

Slim⁠ puts on his seasonable vestments and welcomes ⁠Gemma⁠, ⁠Mia⁠, Brian and ⁠Mitchell⁠ into the Letterboxd Studio to walk down memory lane on their first-time watches, favorite moments, and much more. They also spend time on The Exorcist: Believer, The Exorcist III, and offer up some other religious horror recommendations. Happy Halloween!

Chapters:

Opening credits (00:00:45)
The Exorcist roundtable (00:04:24)
Sequels (00:34:31)
Religious horror recommendations (00:43:16)
Closing credits (00:53:20)

Credits: Recorded in Auckland, Delaware, LA, and Philadelphia. Edited by Slim. Theme music: “Vampiros Danceoteque” by Moniker. Editorial producer: Brian Formo. Production manager: Sophie Shin. The Letterboxd Show is a TAPEDECK production. Email us!

Four Favorites with Dread Central’s Mary Beth McAndrews: found footage, righteous revenge and more Hallowe’en horrors Oct 24, 2023

Show notes

Horror maven and Dread Central editor-in-chief Mary Beth McAndrews joins Mia and Flynn to trauma bond with the girlies over her four favorite films: Joel Anderson’s Lake Mungo, Kiyoshi Kurosawa’s Cure, Bob Clark’s Black Christmas and Dusty Mancinelli & Madeleine Sims-Fewer’s Violation. Our conversation covers Mary Beth’s academic specialties in found footage horror and woman-helmed rape-revenge narratives, Hugh Grant’s shocking middle name (hidden in one of these film’s titles), the coming-of-age ritual of showing your friends The Midnight Meat Train on a high school sleepover and how all three of us have survived EMDR therapy. Plus! Read Mia’s deep-dive into Letterboxd’s most obsessively rewatched horror movies on Journal.

Chapters:

Opening credits (00:00:00)
Lake Mungo (00:04:43)
Cure (00:19:14)
Black Christmas (00:27:51)
Violation (00:37:34)
Closing credits (00:52:33)

Sponsor: Apple Original Film: Fingernails.

Credits: Recorded in Los Angeles CA, Nantucket MA and Washington DC. Edited by Slim. Theme music: “Vampiros Danceoteque” by Moniker. Editorial producer: Brian Formo. Production manager: Sophie Shin. The Letterboxd Show is a TAPEDECK production. Email us!

Lists & Links:

Mary Beth’s podcasts Scarred For Life and Watched Once, Never Again

Holli’s Black Christmas review

‘No One Will Save You’ with Brian Duffield Oct 13, 2023

Show notes

Horror and alien fans, it’s our time. Slim sits down with Brian Duffield to chat about his movie No One Will Save You. Brian wrote and directed this alien home invasion story (with much more) and since release it’s been one of the most-watched movies on Letterboxd. Aliens, no dialog, great lighting, gorgeous house, Kaitlyn Dever…what more do you need? Brian and Slim talk about his horror inspirations, Signs (of course), the design of that house, Kaitlyn’s amazing performance, how he uses his own Letterboxd account, and much more.

Credits: Recorded in Philadelphia PA and Burbank CA. Edited by ⁠Slim⁠. Music: “Into Town” by Joseph Trapanese. Editorial producer: ⁠Brian Formo⁠. Production manager: ⁠Sophie Shin⁠. The Letterboxd Show is a TAPEDECK production.

Four Favorites with Horrorville’s Brett Petersel: Waxworks, night breeds & zombies Oct 10, 2023

Show notes

It’s a match made in hell as Horrorville editor Brett Petersel joins Gemma and Slim in a basement studio surrounded by zombies to talk through four of his favorite horror films: Clive Barker’s Nightbreed, Karyn Kusama’s The Invitation, Bruce McDonald’s Pontypooland Waxwork from Anthony Hickox. We’re talking uncomfortable dinner parties, single-location horror, Gemma’s terror of wax museums, Slim’s fear of terrible podcasting etiquette and how Brett’s love of Nightbreed could rescue people from cults. Plus: that one time Brett and Slim met Tom Cruise together.

Chapters:

Sponsored by the Disney Bundle (00:00:00)
Opening credits (00:00:45)
Nightbreed (00:10:42)
The Invitation (00:24:46)
Pontypool (00:35:57)
Waxwork (00:44:47)
Brett’s stats (00:53:20)

Sponsor: Disney Bundle plans starting at $9.99 a month. Terms apply.

Credits: Recorded in Long Island NY, Philadelphia PA and Auckland NZ. Edited by Slim. Theme music: “Vampiros Danceoteque” by Moniker. Editorial producer: Brian Formo. Production manager: Sophie Shin. The Letterboxd Show is a TAPEDECK production. Email us!

Lists & Links:

List of movies mentioned

Horrorville on Letterboxd

Brett’s Letterboxd profile

Hooptober X

Reviews of Nightbreed by Cinemonster, Brett, Felix and Ryan; The Invitation by Nathan, Jeremy; PontyPool by Mr Saxon (and Graham Williamson’s Claustraphilia list); Waxwork by KaijuMan, Brian and Lucas.

Letterboxd Visits the Criterion Closet

Slim and Brett meet Tom Cruise

Weekend Watchlist: Giant-Sized Fall Preview Spectacular Oct 05, 2023

Show notes

We are so temporarily back. This time around ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Slim⁠⁠, Mia, and Mitchell discuss the upcoming Fall slate of movies and why you might need to add them to your own watchlists including Killers of the Flower Moon, Poor Things, The Killer and much more. They also look back on their favorites of the year so far and shuffle their watchlists just like old times.

⁠⁠⁠⁠Weekend Watchlist – Updated Weekly list⁠⁠⁠⁠ > movies mentioned in this episode.

Chapters:

Opening credits (00:00:00)
Fall Season preview (00:03:52)
Faves of the year so far (00:47:09)
Watchlist check-in (00:52:04)

Credits: Recorded in Philadelphia PA, Newark DE and Los Angeles CA. Edited by Slim. Theme music: ‘⁠IZON’ by Trent Walton. Production manager: Sophie Shin. The Letterboxd Show is a TAPEDECK production. Letterboxd reviews and links mentioned:

Brian’s chat with Martin Scorsese Josiah Morgan’s May December review

Steph Green’s Poor Things review

Robert Daniels’ The Burial review

Serena’s The Killer review

Pate Duncan All of Us Strangers review

Becky Rice’s Thirst review

Iana and Marya’s Watching the Detectives review

Saw X-travaganza with Kevin Greutert Oct 03, 2023

Show notes

Jigsaw’s long-term apprentice Mia Lee Vicino sat down with the director of Saw X, Kevin Greutert, to pick his brain about the long-running horror franchise. Kevin has edited the first five Saw films, directed fan-favorite Saw VI and Saw 3D, and now returns to the electric director’s chair for the tenth installment, which is—as of recording—the most critically acclaimed Saw since Lawrence and Adam initially got trapped in that fateful bathroom nineteen years ago. We chat about the beauty and brutality of New French Extremity and practical gore, which Saw traps we could most likely survive and whether or not Jigsaw’s claims of “never having killed anyone” are credible, or just delusional. Blades up, little murder puppets!

Credits: Recorded in Brooklyn NY and Los Angeles CA. Edited by Slim. Theme music: “Vampiros Danceoteque” by Moniker. Editorial producer: Brian Formo. Production manager: Sophie Shin. The Letterboxd Show is a TAPEDECK production.

Four Favorites with Flynn Slicker: Wong Kar-wai, Weerasethakul, Sing Street and lost love Sep 26, 2023

Show notes

We are Boonsong and Flynn Slicker is our Monkey Ghost. Letterboxd’s elusive social media manager joins hosts Gemma and Slim from the seaside for a deep chat about her four favorite films: Wong Kar-wai’s Fallen Angels, Apichatpong Weerasethakul’s Uncle Boonmee Who Can Recall His Past Lives, John Carney’s Sing Street and René Liu’s Us And Them. We celebrate siblings and hot people, commiserate about how hard it is to be alive, calculate how long Raphina and Cosmo would have taken to get to Wales in that tiny boat, normalize hanging out with ghosts and marvel at the genius of running other people’s businesses at night. Plus! Read Flynn’s Q&A with John Carney on Journal.

Sponsor: mubi.com/letterboxd

Credits: Recorded in Nantucket MA, Philadelphia PA and Auckland NZ. Edited by Slim. Theme music: “Vampiros Danceoteque” by Moniker. Editorial producer: Brian Formo. Production manager: Sophie Shin. The Letterboxd Show is a TAPEDECK production.

Chapters: