Join Kaylia and Matthew for a deepish dive into The Big Sleep. They talk mystery vs noir vs detective genres, and how a depressing man against the world taking solace in his booze turned into a screwball rom-com less worried about the plot and more interested in showcasing a romantic happy ending story for its stars. Plus, Star Trek trivia, the sexy bookseller, a few notes about epilepsy vs mental illness, and an extensive amount of title-name dropping. Enjoy!
Author Archives: kayliametcalfe
20. The Less Than Impressive
There are ghost stories that will keep you up at night in fright. There are ghost stories that make you question your most basic assumptions about the world around you. There are ghost stories that you can’t shake, no matter how far in the past they were told to you. This episode isn’t about those stories. This episode is about the ghost stories that never get invited to any ghost story parties and go somewhere to sulk. The stories in the episode aren’t good, but they are fun.
56. Minority Report
Kaylia and special guest Shawn talk revisionist history, the “fat guy, skinny wife” trope, the varied religious overtones, the symbolism of the color red and of water…. and of course… Are our fates written in stone? Yeah, this sci-fi action flick is rather layered and deep. Plus we name-drop a zillion movie titles and have Star Trek trivia. Enjoy!
19. The Woman In White At White Rock Lake
The ghost of White Rock Lake is said to take on many forms ranging from the merely unnerving to the outright terrifying. If you are traveling near Dallas, it may be worth looking at the location….but if you see a woman in white, don’t let her get too close. Also, Matt is in fine -overthinking- form on this one.
55. Brokeback Mountain
Chris and Kaylia talk about the “gay cowboy” movie that was so much more… We discuss how it holds up in a post marriage-equality world, whether the parodies were helpful or harmful, the symbolism of cultivation, and much much more. Plus some trivia that is sure to make you snicker.
18. Himuro Mansion
It is said that on the outskirts of Tokyo there is a haunted mansion that is cursed due to the terrifying occult rituals once practiced there. Made famous in the video game Fatal Frame, you cannot find the house on a map, but there are those who claim to have traveled to it and regret having done so. Poet and video game enthusiast, James Tyner, joins Matt to discuss this story.
54. The Woman In The Window
Join Jennifer and Kaylia as we discuss this 2018 version of “Female Protagonist In Some Sort Of Container” We revisit some of Kaylia’s childhood traumas and present-day adult fears (but in a fun way), discuss the importance of tone and committing to a style, and try to figure out if the book was a well-done thriller or a schlocky “copycat”? Also, can a stellar cast and interesting story make a good movie when there is just SO MUCH behind-the-scenes drama? (The answer is… not really)
17. Jacob Cooley’s Conjure Chest
A cruel slave owner beats a man to death due to displeasure over a piece of carpentry. This sets the stage for a series of misfortunes for the slave owner’s descendants and the legend of a cursed object. This story is steeped in American folklore traditions and cannot help but be soaked in the racial politics that continue to influence Americans to this day.
53. Divine Secrets of the YaYa Sisterhood
Join Jennifer and Kaylia for a discussion of this sisterhood book that is actually a mother/daughter book which is actually about serious issues but actually isn’t because it is more fun to romanticize the South and drink cocktails with no consequences. Clink!
16. The Dark Watchers
For at least a century, possibly longer, people have claimed that the Santa Lucia Mountains of California’s central coast have been home to strange humanoid entities, garbed in black, who keep a silent watch, seeming to care little about the humans who witness them. Their nature and purpose is unknown, but they have appeared in both local legends and works of literature. In this episode, we look into the Dark Watchers.
