The Nextlander Watchcast

Latest Episodes:

63: The Babadook (2014) Oct 16, 2023

Show notes

We continue our venture into international horror waters this week with an Australian entry in Jennifer Kent's The Babadook! Join us as we discuss frazzled mothers, bad vibes kids, and what the real monster is: grief, or, uh, a literal monster.
CHAPTERS:

(00:00:00) - The Nextlander Watchcast Episode 63: The Babadook (2014)
(00:00:34) - Intro.
(00:02:33) - The Babadook, and the subgenre of "elevated" horror.
(00:04:40) - Initial thoughts.
(00:08:56) - Getting into the production of the film.
(00:13:23) - On the subject of our child star and raising bad vibes kids.
(00:20:35) - The concept and design of the monster.
(00:26:32) - Starting our trek through the movie.
(00:34:23) - The few people (and one dog) who try their best to help.
(00:37:44) - Break!
(00:38:05) - We're back, and here comes the Babadook!
(00:39:55) - Mom and Sam's isolation, and the movie's willingness to never definitively say what's in their head vs. real.
(00:46:39) - The book.
(00:51:31) - Some discussion of how good the central performances are.
(00:55:50) - The book comes back, and mom gets mean.
(01:01:05) - Sleep at all costs.
(01:05:47) - The possession.
(01:09:38) - Mom is officially over the edge.
(01:18:17) - The dead husband visions.
(01:19:46) - Sam goes full Home Alone.
(01:24:17) - Mom barfs some Babadook, but it ain't over yet.
(01:27:08) - The epilogue.
(01:35:33) - The Babadook's role as an LGBTQ icon.
(01:38:37) - Final thoughts.
(01:44:34) - Outro.

62: Ghostwatch (1992) Oct 09, 2023

Show notes

The greatest month of the year has arrived, and to celebrate the spooks we've got a lineup of international horror films set to terrify you within an inch of your life! First up is the once HIGHLY CONTROVERSIAL early found footage film Ghostwatch, in which some of your favorite '90s BBC presenters get tormented and possessed LIVE on Halloween!
CHAPTERS:
(00:00:00) - NOTE: Some timecodes may be inaccurate for versions other than the ad-free Patreon version due to dynamic ad insertions. Please use caution if skipping around to avoid spoilers. Thanks for listening.
(00:00:35) - Intro.
(00:02:48) - Our film for this week: The BBC's Ghostwatch!
(00:06:28) - Talking a bit up front about the controversy that came following its broadcast.
(00:12:52) - More discussion of the production and cast.
(00:18:54) - Recounting the sightings of the ghost. (00:20:50) - The aftermath, and the glory hole.
(00:25:17) - Our personal experiences with the found footage subgenre.
(00:30:46) - Break!
(00:31:10) - We're back, and it's time to actually get into the movie.
(00:35:13) - How this production lines up with the modern ghost show, and a little on the haunting the story is based on.
(00:43:30) - The slow-burn pacing, and subtle ghost insertions.
(00:47:12) - The in-show "hoax".
(00:52:26) - Why isn't this better known?
(00:55:34) - A very Brad side question.
(00:56:20) - From the wet spot to the glory hole. And our ghost: Pipes.
(01:00:49) - Sarah's ghost story.
(01:05:34) - Everything pops off.
(01:15:21) - The final breakdown of everything.
(01:21:40) - Final thoughts.
(01:29:20) - Outro.

61: Hard Boiled (1992) Oct 02, 2023

Show notes

We're closing out September with the mother of all Hong Kong action flicks in John Woo's Hard Boiled!
CHAPTERS:
(00:00:00) - NOTE: Some timecodes may be inaccurate for versions other than the ad-free Patreon version due to dynamic ad insertions. Please use caution if skipping around to avoid spoilers. Thanks for listening.
(00:00:19) - Intro.
(00:01:34) - Our film for this week: HARD BOILED!
(00:02:35) - What did our cast know about the movie going in, and early impressions.
(00:14:10) - Talking about the production of the movie.
(00:26:12) - Time to get into the film (and a brief discussion of jazz and its coolness).
(00:34:18) - John Woo's jazz club.
(00:36:08) - Tony Leung's eagerness to do undercover murders.
(00:38:13) - La Li Lu Le Lo.
(00:43:48) - The old school and new school of HK triads have different philosophies.
(00:50:31) - Break!
(00:50:55) - We're back, let's blow this warehouse to smithereens.
(00:59:40) - How did all this manage to happen less than halfway through the movie?!?
(01:04:01) - Barreling toward the hospital.
(01:07:18) - All hospital from here on out.
(01:12:52) - Let's just shoot guns and blow stuff up and fight Philip Kwok forever.
(01:22:14) - The final showdown with Mad Dog, and the exit from the hospital.
(01:26:37) - Johnny's humiliation fetish routine.
(01:31:49) - Final thoughts.
(01:36:01) - Outro.

60: Righting Wrongs (1986) Sep 25, 2023

Show notes

For the second half of September we're checking out a pair of top flight Hong Kong action flicks, kicking off with our second Cynthia Rothrock classic, Righting Wrongs!

CHAPTERS:

(00:00:00) - NOTE: Some timecodes may be inaccurate for versions other than the ad-free Patreon version due to dynamic ad insertions. Please use caution if skipping around to avoid spoilers. Thanks for listening.
(00:00:32) - Intro.
(00:02:22) - Our film for this week: Righting Wrongs!
(00:09:43) - Some background on the film's production.
(00:17:54) - On the subject of multiple endings.
(00:21:19) - Launching into the movie proper.
(00:25:26) - Meanwhile, in Hong Kong: let's blow up some kids.
(00:31:27) - Yuen Biao becomes Batman, and Cynthia Rothrock arrives.
(00:35:35) - Hello Stink Egg.
(00:45:09) - Staring at computer terminals for a while.
(00:47:04) - Break!
(00:47:23) - We're back, here's this criminal kid. He's going to die.
(00:49:13) - The parking garage scene.
(00:53:45) - Torturing a train metaphor to death.
(00:56:22) - This child is an idiot, and the reveal of the Big Bad.
(01:02:23) - If you're suspected of murder, why is court the first place you'd think to go?
(01:05:17) - Melvin Wong is going to obliterate this kid. But first he's going to obliterate his grandpa.
(01:14:05) - The assassin returns, now with high-waisted jeans.
(01:17:11) - More child assassination? More child assassination!
(01:22:03) - Another innocent dead. To the airplane hangar!
(01:27:40) - The final confrontation.
(01:33:59) - Final thoughts.
(01:35:56) - Outro.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

59: Porco Rosso (1992) Sep 11, 2023

Show notes

Our patrons voted and they wanted to see us check out Hayao Miyazaki and Studio Ghibli's airborne adventure Porco Rosso! Join us as we take to the skies with a lovably grumpy pig man as he bests his rivals and rediscovers his humanity.

CHAPTERS:

(00:00:00) - NOTE: Some timecodes may be inaccurate for versions other than the ad-free Patreon version due to dynamic ad insertions. Please use caution if skipping around to avoid spoilers. Thanks for listening.
(00:00:19) - Intro.
(00:02:55) - Our individual experiences with the works of Studio Ghibli.
(00:08:35) - Getting into the history of Porco Rosso's production.
(00:10:27) - Talking about the different casts and dubs.
(00:15:16) - Some chat about Miyazaki as a figure in animation.
(00:19:08) - Porco's more adult, real world themes.
(00:22:58) - Setting up the premise.
(00:25:51) - These are maybe not the most talented sky pirates.
(00:32:21) - Gina and Porco's relationship.
(00:35:24) - This movie's love of planes.
(00:37:31) - Curtis joins the pirates, and Porco's plane gets wrecked.
(00:40:51) - Break!
(00:41:12) - Milan and the cadre of women workers.
(00:48:33) - The air force comes calling.
(00:51:26) - Time to get the heck out of Italy.
(00:57:35) - The pirates have a plan...of sorts.
(01:01:48) - Curtis wants to duel to the death.
(01:05:32) - Porco revealed.
(01:08:55) - A mad dash to a madcap showdown.
(01:15:20) - Talking about the end and epilogue.
(01:22:48) - Final thoughts.
(01:29:50) - Outro.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

58: Serial Experiments Lain: Episodes 10-13 Sep 04, 2023

Show notes

Every layer of Serial Experiments Lain has now been explored by our intrepid Watchcasting team, and now all that's left is to put the remaining pieces together, attack and dethrone Internet God, and if that doesn't work out, we can always hit the factory reset button.

CHAPTERS:

(00:00:00) - NOTE: Some timecodes may be inaccurate for versions other than the ad-free Patreon version due to dynamic ad insertions. Please use caution if skipping around to avoid spoilers. Thanks for listening.
(00:00:27) - Intro.
(00:01:03) - Initial thoughts now that we've completed the series.
(00:11:26) - Kicking things off with Layer 10, LOVE.
(00:18:09) - Lain comes home.
(00:25:43) - Bye bye Knights.
(00:29:18) - Everybody loves Lain.
(00:35:26) - God gets a few more words in.
(00:38:37) - Onto INFORNOGRAPHY.
(00:44:32) - Flesh.exe
(00:50:57) - Don't worry Alice, Lain can fix this. She can fix anything.
(00:57:23) - Break!
(00:57:48) - We're back, and everything's fixed!
(01:01:54) - Say goodbye to the men in black.
(01:12:21) - Alice wanders through the tatters of Lain's house.
(01:21:55) - CONNECTION DENIED.
(01:28:51) - We broke Alice. Time for a factory reset.
(01:39:04) - Lain says goodbye. Lain says hello.
(01:45:03) - Final thoughts.
(01:52:25) - Our plans for next month.
(01:58:36) - Outro.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

57: Serial Experiments Lain: Episodes 07-09 Aug 28, 2023

Show notes

We've got layers upon layers to peel back this week on the Watchcast, as we cruise through some of Serial Experiments Lain's most surreal imagery and dense infodumping yet.

CHAPTERS:

(00:00:00) - NOTE: Some timecodes may be inaccurate for versions other than the ad-free Patreon version due to dynamic ad insertions. Please use caution if skipping around to avoid spoilers. Thanks for listening.
(00:00:30) - Intro.
(00:02:00) - Our layers for this week: Society, Rumors, and Protocol. Also a brother check-in on where we're all at.
(00:09:50) - Drilling down on Layer 07: Society.
(00:12:56) - Justin.tv man, and these everyday folks who seem to be up to something.
(00:19:32) - The first of many infodumps to come.
(00:33:02) - Checking in on where we're at leading into the next crazy episodes.
(00:33:59) - Break!
(00:34:16) - We're back, and it's time for some blasphemous rumors.
(00:37:55) - Mom and dad's death stare.
(00:40:44) - Alice and friends think Lain did something, and God's back.
(00:48:55) - Alice sees Lain of the Wired.
(00:55:59) - What is Lain to do?
(00:58:20) - The Metal Gear Episode.
(01:04:50) - Polling the podcast about what we know about all this freaky history.
(01:08:46) - Cyberia, and dolphin stuff.
(01:16:19) - A date with Taro.
(01:24:11) - Xanadu. Not the Olivia Newton John one. The space library one.
(01:26:32) - The Schumann Resonance.
(01:34:57) - Trying to make sense of what we've seen.
(01:39:51) - Outro.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

56: Serial Experiments Lain: Episodes 04-06 Aug 21, 2023

Show notes

We continue our journey through Serial Experiments Lain with Layers four through six this week, and if anything's for certain, it's this: we absolutely understand everything going on.

CHAPTERS:

(00:00:00) - NOTE: Some timecodes may be inaccurate for versions other than the ad-free Patreon version due to dynamic ad insertions. Please use caution if skipping around to avoid spoilers. Thanks for listening.
(00:01:06) - Intro.
(00:03:13) - Launching into our episodes for this week, and the state of Lain's bedroom.
(00:07:03) - A whole new Lain.
(00:11:32) - *Daytona USA theme voice* PHAN-TO-MAAAAAA!
(00:18:55) - Lain has friends, but her real friend is the computer.
(00:21:14) - Another kid has a phantomA freakout.
(00:26:17) - The Knights are up to something, and dad has a stern word about Lain's computer time.
(00:29:35) - Laser men are back.
(00:32:30) - Break!
(00:32:51) - We're back, and it's time for Distortion.
(00:37:02) - Lain is getting some interesting lectures, and Mika's getting messages.
(00:45:39) - Another weird dinner, and Mika's increasingly distressing visions.
(00:49:45) - Oh no, Mika. Oh no.
(00:54:25) - Moving into Kids, and Lain's unbelievable computer escalation.
(00:58:03) - These damn kids won't stop praising the sun!
(01:01:37) - Lain ain't having this nonsense.
(01:04:26) - It's time to meet Professor Loredump.
(01:14:35) - Lain gets pissed.
(01:21:23) - Final thoughts.
(01:27:20) - Outro.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

55: Serial Experiments Lain: Episodes 01-03 Aug 14, 2023

Show notes

For the first time the Watchcast moves into the wide and wild world of anime! We're christening our first anime watch with the 1998 series Serial Experiments Lain, both because it's great, and it gives us an excuse to talk about old computers.

CHAPTERS:

(00:00:00) - NOTE: Some timecodes may be inaccurate for versions other than the ad-free Patreon version due to dynamic ad insertions. Please use caution if skipping around to avoid spoilers. Thanks for listening.
(00:00:32) - Intro.
(00:02:09) - Our histories with Anime.
(00:12:35) - So what are we kicking off our great anime adventure with? Serial Experiments Lain!
(00:20:23) - The Apple Computers connection.
(00:22:36) - Soundtrack talk.
(00:27:00) - Launching into our first episodes.
(00:35:08) - Talking about our protagonist, her family, cool computers, and terrifying emails.
(00:40:56) - Lain checks her email, and decides to upgrade.
(00:50:01) - Break!
(00:50:19) - Lain's fashion sense, and our introduction to Club Cyberia.
(00:57:00) - Lain's "friends" invite her to the club.
(00:59:57) - The new Navi arrives.
(01:05:53) - Things are going down at Cyberia.
(01:09:44) - Lain's folks ain't around right now.
(01:12:39) - Weird stuff keeps happening to Lain.
(01:16:45) - Dad suddenly clams up, and Lain returns to the scene of the crime.
(01:23:26) - The Iwakuras get an unwelcome visit, and Lain's weird end-of-episode face.
(01:28:31) - Final thoughts on our first few episodes.
(01:36:40) - Outro.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

54: Twin Peaks: Realization Time and The Last Evening Aug 07, 2023

Show notes

The season one finale of Twin Peaks is upon us, so it's time to play the game of Alive, Dead, or Arrested, and address the many, many cliffhangers we've been left to reckon with.

NOTE: There's about a nine minute chunk toward the end of the show where you may notice a slight dip in audio quality. One of our tracks got messed up, so that section is taken from a backup. Nothing was lost, just wanted to give the heads-up in case you noticed the change in quality.

CHAPTERS:

(00:00:00) - NOTE: Some timecodes may be inaccurate in versions other than the ad-free Patreon version due to dynamic ad insertions. Please use caution if skipping around to avoid spoilers. Thanks for listening.
(00:00:40) - Intro.
(00:01:25) - A timely takedown of ABC Prime Time's coverage of the Twin Peaks finale.
(00:09:38) - Kicking things off with Realization Time.
(00:16:19) - A bit of production background on the episode.
(00:19:49) - Lucy's secret, and the introduction of Waldo.
(00:24:57) - Leo's stakeout, and the teens hatch a plan.
(00:30:02) - Audrey's also doing undercover work.
(00:36:54) - Cooper's philosophy, and some other miscellaneous moments.
(00:40:08) - Josie's confession, and Catherine's visit from the insurance company.
(00:48:52) - Plans (and a bird) are executed.
(01:03:26) - Break!
(01:03:55) - We're back, and it's time for the season finale!
(01:08:35) - Picking up where we left off...
(01:12:21) - Cooper sets his trap for Jacques.
(01:20:41) - Shelley gets kidnapped, and Jacques gets got.
(01:27:33) - James is sad, Leo's going to burn it all down, and Nadine is making dark plans.
(01:33:13) - Josie and Hank clarify some things.
(01:42:36) - Catherine almost makes you think she ain't terrible. Almost.
(01:46:12) - Trying to tie some of these conspiracy board pieces together.
(01:52:24) - The cliffhanger medley begins, and we play Alive, Dead, or Arrested.
(02:09:49) - Finally, the mother of all cliffhangers.
(02:24:16) - What our plans are for the Watchcast for the immediate future.
(02:30:29) - Outro.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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