Stuff We’ve Seen

The Platform: Calling all Squid Game Fans: More Social SciFi Horror for You!

Like the Squid Game? Want more dystopian futuristic societal experimentation run amok? Then try this 2019 offering from Spain, The Platform. This isn't a game, but competition for survival is fierce, and if you get out with your life you may just win yourself higher education credits.

The Movie Morlock is joined by Al Fraser, one of the co-founders of The Cambria Film Festival to discuss this thought-provoking movie that may be hard to stomach, but if you have an appetite for it, the movie may reward you.

 

The Platform is available to stream on Netflix.

The Wicker Man and Other Folk Horror Fun

Shannon, from Whatshannonwatched on Instagram, is back to discuss one of her favorite films. Shannon and James (The Movie Morlock) dive into director Ron Hardy's 1973 Folk Horror classic, The Wicker Man.

Along the way there is some discussion about John Carpenter and his finest creation, Michael Myers. James saw Halloween Kills, and has a few surprisingly nice words for the new sequel.

No Time to Die

James Bond is back after many years, and some pandemic delays. Worth the wait? The Movie Morlock shares his thoughts on Daniel Craig's final outing as 007.

Also, it's October so that means horror movies. And the Morlock watched a notorious stinker that he was always curious about. Hear the Morlock's thoughts on the legendary Exorcist II: The Heretic.

Many Saints of Newark

This week the Morlock checks in with the Soprano's prequel, The Many Saints of Newark, plus Jake Gyllenhaal is the angriest 911 operator you hope to never get in case of an emergency in The Guilty.

The Morlock also peeps a British teen exploitation film from 1960, Beat Girl, and then finishes things off with a series he's currently binging, the Netflix international sensation, Squid Game. 

There's a lot of entertainment packed in 40 minutes.

Craig Wasson is The Outsider

Actor/Musician/Voice Over Artist Craig Wasson joins James Kent (The Movie Morlock) to discuss the 1979 film, The Outsider. This little-seen gem is a stark depiction of the political turmoil in Northern Ireland during The Troubles in the early 1970s. Filmed while the conflict was still in full-force, both sides took issues with the film's unsparring portrayal of the lengths factions will go to see their goals met. Caught in the middle is Wasson's idealistic American Viet-Nam veteran who finds himself a disposal pawn to further each's cause.

Wasson gives listeners an inside peak into the making of this film, and shares some additional tales of his adventures over the years.

You'll definitely want to check out this episode.

Malignant: A Discussion with What Shannon Watched

This week on The Movie Morlock, James Wan's new horror thriller is the topic of discussion. The Morlock (James Kent) invites film and horror enthusiast, Shannon, from the Instagram account, whatshannonwatched, to discuss the movie currently playing on HBOMAX.

Shannon likes all movies, and give her time she may watch every film ever made, but horror holds a special place in her heart. And that is why listeners of this podcast can trust Shannon's opinion on this movie, even more than trusting the Morlock. But hint, hint--their opinions are similar.

 

Get set for some listening enjoyment, and a few laughs along the way.

Introducing the Movie Morlock

Welcome to the Movie Morlock. Host James Kent (formally of Stuff We've Seen) is the Movie Morlock. Each week he'll bring you a discussion on a particular film, or perhaps two. Sometimes He'll have a guest, and sometimes he'll go it alone. 

And this show is an opportunity for you, the listener, to contribute as a guest. If you have a passion for movies, and want to discuss a particular film all you need to do is get in touch with the Morlock, and he'll schedule you on the show. Reach out to moviemorlock@gmail.com and let him know what you'd like to talk about.

An Evening with Mike McQuilkin: The Suicide Squad for Dinner and Hudson Hawk for Dessert

When guest co-host Mike McQuilkin stops by Stuff We've Seen, anything can happen and usually does. Things kick off with a discussion on the new James Gunn film, The Suicide Squad. Next Jim and Mike discuss the new Nic Cage film, Pig, and then dive into a little informal A24 gab fest chat around The Green Knight.

Finally, it's time for an early 90s re-evaluation on the mega-bust, Hudson Hawk. Wait. Re-eval? Hudson Hawk? Surely you must be joking. We're not joking, and don't call us Shirley. Mike sticks to his guns on his modest appreciation for this overblown mess, but Jim is having none of it. Lots of laughs in store for you. Enjoy Hawk fans. We know you're out there.

 

 

Neo Noir Part 5: Watching the Kid Detectives

After watching 26 #NeoNoir films on #TheCriterionChannel Jim and Bill finally arrive at Part 5 of their journey. That's right, it's the final Neo Noir episode.

Concluding this series of episodes, Jim and Bill first discuss Swoon, an interesting if somewhat dubious fit into the Neo Noir genre. Next Jim and Bill dive into John Dahl's 1993 sleeper hit, The Last Seduction, featuring a delicious (to put in Billy's words) performance by Linda Fiorentino. 

With room to spare since Criterion left a big gap between 1994's The Last Seduction and their final entry, 2005's Rian Johnson Neo Noir, Brick, Jim and Bill provide several additional 90s Noirs you don't want to miss, including Zero Effect.

Brick is the debut entry from Knive's Out's Rian Johnson, and it is an impressive debut to say the least. Johnson brings the Neo Noir detective world inside a high school setting, and there he utilizes all of the traits of the Noir genre and subverts them at every turn. Is it fun to watch high schoolers act as if they are inside a Raymond Chandler story? Yes. Yes it is.

 

Finally, a listener of the Neo Noir series suggested a new Neo Noir film as a pairing with Brick. 2020's The Kid Detective starring Adam Brody. Jim checked it out, and his take is it is a darkly comic Neo Noir that could very well be your next hidden gem. 

Neo Noir Part 4: The Final Chapter

Hah, just like good old Friday the 13th, they promised us it would end at 4, and they lied! This episode is the 4th installment of our look at The Criterion Channel's 26-film Neo Noir series, but we will still bring you one more chapter next week. So look out for Film Noir Part 5: The New Blood, streaming soon.

But on this week's show Jim and his guest for this series, Bill Muir, pick up pretty much where they left off--in 1984. They touch on Brian De Palma's Body Double, and then work their way into the early 90s. Lot's of additional films along the way, including one of the best Neo Noir films of the 1980s, To Live and Die in LA.

 

So, so much to offer you faithful listener on this episode. Get ready to become a Neo Noir expert.