Queen is Dead - A Film, TV and Culture Podcast

Rounding out our Spooktober celebration, Dhruv, Cris, Arijit, and (joining us actually for the second time, it's complicated) Devika discuss two major horror titles of 2026—Curry Barker's "Obsession," and Kane Paronson's "Backrooms"— diving deep into their formal and cultural relevance, and possible reasons for their astronomical box office successes. They also do a quick round-up of the horror films of the year, available theatrically and on VOD, focusing on "Hokum," "Hope," and "The Bride!" amongst others. Honourable and dishonorable mentions galore (along with more -ists and -isms allegations).Listen to the full episode to hear more about the flavour of horror this year, where the genre could possibly be headed, what's new and exciting vs what's stale and redundant about it, and more!Spoilers for basically everything we talk about.TIME CODESIntro - [00:00 - 04:01]"Obsession" - [04:01 - 53:32] "Backrooms" - [53:32 - 01:37:30] "2026 Horror Catch-Up" - [01:37:30 - 02:38:00]Outro - [02:38:00 - 02:40:13]Do hit 'Follow' on Spotify if you haven't already to help the podcast reach more people!Follow our Instagram page: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://instagram.com/queenisdead.filmpodcast.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠You can follow us on Instagram at:ARIJIT: https://www.instagram.com/_tentinquarantino_/.CRIS: https://www.instagram.com/criscritiques/.DHRUV: https://www.instagram.com/terminalcinema/.DEVIKA: https://www.instagram.com/devika.la/.You can also follow us on Letterboxd at -ARIJIT: https://letterboxd.com/nostradamus/.CRIS: https://letterboxd.com/crislim/.DHRUV: https://letterboxd.com/aterminalcinema/.

Final stop on Lynch Lane—until we convene sometime next year to cover "Twin Peaks" in its entirety!Dhruv and Cris are joined by up-and-coming experimental filmmaker Rushnan Jaleel (last heard in our "Lost Highway" episode!) to discuss "Inland Empire" -- Lynch's most "difficult" film that the director describes simply as a film about "a woman in trouble."Listen to the full episode to hear how differently Rushnan and Dhruv see the film across their repeated viewings, and why -- on his first viewing -- Cris is the "gurl who doesn't get it."Spoilers, of course, for "Inland Empire."TIME CODESIntroduction : [00:00 - 02:11]"Inland Empire": [02:11 - 01:01:21]Experimental Cinema Reccs.: [01:01:21 - 01:06:25]Final Thoughts on David Lynch: [01:06:25 - 1:15:37]TEXT REFERENCED REPEATEDLY HERE"Room to Dream" (David Lynch & Kristine McKenna).RUSHNAN'S WORK⁠You can watch Rushnan's 17-minute experimental short film, "The Angel of Forms" (2023), on Vimeo for free.Do hit 'Follow' on Spotify if you haven't already to help the podcast reach more people!Follow our Instagram page: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://instagram.com/queenisdead.filmpodcast.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠You can also follow us on Instagram at:RUSHNAN: https://www.instagram.com/rushnanjaleel/.CRIS: https://www.instagram.com/prdscris/.DHRUV: https://www.instagram.com/terminalcinema/.You can also follow us on Letterboxd at -RUSHNAN: https://letterboxd.com/sculptingin0001/.CRIS: https://letterboxd.com/crislim/.DHRUV: https://letterboxd.com/aterminalcinema/.

Cris, Dhruv, and Ashwin (officially this time) kick off Spooktober by exploring Jane Schoenbrun's take on queer horror in light of the release of their latest offering, 'Teenage Sex and Death at Camp Miasma'. As is tradition, they discuss not only what their filmography brings to the current horror landscape, but also how their films (re)define the genre narratively and aesthetically.Broad agreement is reached on their first two features, 'We're All Going to the World's Fair' and 'I Saw the TV Glow', before disagreements emerge over 'Camp Miasma'. Alejandro Gonzalez Innaritu's 'Digger' is also (unfortunately) mentioned. Listen to the full episode for a mix of (TMI warning) embarrassingly personal admissions, lots of (hopefully understandable) academic references, and some (possibly unfounded) shots at other horror films and filmmakers. Spoilers for all three, of course. TIME CODESIntro - [00:00 - 25:09]"We're All Going to the World's Fair" - [25:09 - 01:03:56] "I Saw the TV Glow" - [01:03:56 - 01:37:07] "Teenage Sex and Death at Camp Miasma" - [01:37:07 - 02:29:45]Outro - [02:29:45 - 02:35:43]Do hit 'Follow' on Spotify if you haven't already to help the podcast reach more people!Follow our Instagram page: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://instagram.com/queenisdead.filmpodcast.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠You can follow us on Letterboxd at -CRIS: https://letterboxd.com/crislim/.ASHWIN: https://letterboxd.com/ashwindev/.DHRUV: https://letterboxd.com/aterminalcinema/.

Cris, Varun & Ashwin wanted to talk about "Digger" & "Verity" during Dhruv's beloved Spooktober. But two of them bailed out for NO VALID REASON WHATSOEVER, so Dhruv had to subject himself to the horrifically unfunny catastrophe that is Alejandro Gonzalez Innaritu & Tom Cruise's "Digger."Arijit joins Dhruv and Cris on this episode to push back against their uncompromising hatred towards "Digger" and its brand of -- in their words -- "unfunny, anti-intellectual postmodernism." Unsurprisingly, the internet discourse surrounding "Digger" is also widely discussed, with Dhruv and Cris doing their level best to convince Arijit why most of the film's (re)appraisals don't hold up. All in all, an extended discussion about (& around) the film -- which, I suppose, is considered a win for the film's intentions, regardless of its actual (cinematic) qualities.Conversely, Cris then -- briefly -- trashes Michael Showalter's "Verity" for not being very trashy.Listen to the full episode to hear a lot of (hopefully) informed bitching and (hopefully) productive discourse. You are most welcome to tell us if it wasn't informed or productive -- we will not quote it back to you and say that you're wrong for thinking so because we intended it to be otherwise!Major spoilers for "Digger" & "Verity"!TIMECODESIntroduction: [00:00 - 04:39]The "Digger" Takedown - [04:39 - 24:27]The "Digger" Defense - [24:27 - 32:30]The "Digger" Debate(s) - [32:30 - 01:15:19]The "Verity" Rant (ft. Cris) - [01:15:19 - 01:36:49]Outro - [01:36:49 - 01:39:19]Do hit 'Follow' on Spotify if you haven't already to help the podcast reach more people!Follow our Instagram page: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://instagram.com/queenisdead.filmpodcast.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠You can follow us on Instagram at:ARIJIT: https://www.instagram.com/_tentinquarantino_/.CRIS: https://www.instagram.com/criscritiques/.DHRUV: https://www.instagram.com/terminalcinema/.You can also follow us on Letterboxd at -ARIJIT: https://letterboxd.com/nostradamus/.CRIS: https://letterboxd.com/crislim/.DHRUV: https://letterboxd.com/aterminalcinema/.

You know how this looks, right?To navigate the tricky minefield that is Lance Oppenheim's narrative feature film debut "Primetime," Hemant and Cris take the help of David Osit's documentary "Predators" (2025) and introspect on the culture that produced Chris Hansen's "To Catch a Predator" and the consequences (or lack thereof) that came of it.What follows is a careful investigation of the relationship between morality and law, reality and fiction, documentary and narrative filmmaking. Osit and Oppenheim's intentions, methods, and worldviews are contrasted to make sense of how one approaches sensitive topics and critiques or indulges in society's worst impulses. For spoiler-free thoughts, check the time stamps below and trigger warnings for discussion of CSA.Do hit 'Follow' on Spotify if you haven't already to help the podcast reach more people!Follow our Instagram page: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://instagram.com/queenisdead.filmpodcast.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TIME CODESIntroduction - [00:00 - 15:45]"Predators" - [15:45 - 01:06:48]"Primetime" (Spoiler-Free) - [01:06:48 - 01:27:02]"Primetime" (Spoiler-Filled) - [01:27:02 - 02:16:30]Outro - [02:16:30 - 02:24:10]You can also follow us on Letterboxd at -HEMANT: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://letterboxd.com/ganti117/⁠⁠⁠.CRIS: https://letterboxd.com/crislim/.

"Resident Evil" has been rebooted maybe a few too many times; Cris, Amartya, and Ashwin discuss if Zach Cregger's run with the iconic gaming franchise will finally make it stick. Debate ensues on the merits (or lack thereof) of Cregger's earlier work and the 'elevated horror' genre as such—including major disagreements over "Weapons"—which is followed by surprising consensus on his ability to handle a much less complicated take on the survival horror genre. Attempts are also made to settle the age-old video game adaptation discourse. For spoiler-free thoughts, check the time stamps below but listen to the full episode for our take on the film's Themes™ and our predictions on the future of cross-genre storytelling.Do hit 'Follow' on Spotify if you haven't already to help the podcast reach more people!Follow our Instagram page: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://instagram.com/queenisdead.filmpodcast.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TIME CODESIntroduction - [00:00 - 03:56]Zach Cregger and Spoiler-Free Thoughts - [03:56 - 41:28]Spoiler-Filled Thoughts on Resident Evil - [41:28 - 01:11:40]Outro (& Other Game Adaptation) - [01:11:40 - 01:26:11]You can also follow us on Letterboxd at -ASHWIN: https://letterboxd.com/ashwindev/.AMARTYA: https://letterboxd.com/amartya/.CRIS: https://letterboxd.com/crislim/.

Cris is joined by Dhruv, Hemant, and returning guest Devarsi on a tour of LA as they talk all things Hollywood through David Lynch's most well-known and celebrated text—Mulholland Drive.Listen to the full episode to hear them try to find new ways to approach a film that has been talked about endlessly. Discussions on queerness, naive optimism, and film theory ensue, meaning the usual fare. Spoilers, of course, for "Mulholland Drive."TIME CODESIntroduction : [00:00 - 04:00]"Mulholland Drive": [04:00 - 1:19:35]Outro: [1:19:35 - 1:28:17]TEXT REFERENCED REPEATEDLY HERE"Room to Dream" (David Lynch & Kristine McKenna).Do hit 'Follow' on Spotify if you haven't already to help the podcast reach more people!Follow our Instagram page: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://instagram.com/queenisdead.filmpodcast.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠You can also follow us on Instagram at:CRIS: https://www.instagram.com/criscritiques/.DHRUV: https://www.instagram.com/terminalcinema/.DEVARSI: https://www.instagram.com/devarsighosh/.You can also follow us on Letterboxd at -CRIS: https://letterboxd.com/crislim/.DHRUV: https://letterboxd.com/aterminalcinema/.HEMANT: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://letterboxd.com/ganti117/⁠⁠.DEVARSI: https://letterboxd.com/d2dag/.

Cris and Varun sit down to thrash out the remaining life from the new ‘sexy-but-sex-negative’ rom-com “One Night Only”, directed by “Easy A” helmer Will Gluck and starring Monica Barbaro (“A Complete Unknown”, “Top Gun: Maverick”) and Callum Turner (aka Mr Dua Lipa of “Masters of the Air” and “Rose of Nevada” fame).After they are done belting the new release for its many crimes, the duo turn affectionate as they talk up a favorite romcom each, Ali Abbas Zafar’s “Mere Brother Ki Dulhan” (Cris) and Peyton Reed’s “Down with Love” (Varun).TIMECODESInitial Prattle - [00:00 - 09:53]“One Night Only” - [09:53 - 01:31:17]“Mere Brother Ki Dulhan” - [01:31:17 - 01:41:14]“Down with Love” - [01:41:14 - 01:57:43]Closing Thoughts and Khatam - [01:57:43 - 02:06:09]Do hit 'Follow' on Spotify if you haven't already to help the podcast reach more people!Follow our Instagram page: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://instagram.com/queenisdead.filmpodcast.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠You can follow us on Letterboxd at -CRIS: https://letterboxd.com/crislim/.VARUN: https://letterboxd.com/varunoakbhakay/.

It's never nice to talk about a director whom you thought you loved but -- upon rewatching their films -- you realize you maybe don't...This is the (unfortunate) framework for QID's first episode (of 3) on director Denis Villeneuve before he became THE Denis Villeneuve responsible for helming the Dune franchise (culminating with "Dune Part Three" in December), and thereafter, directing the latest iteration of 007.Dhruv and Cris (for whom most of these films are first watches) are less than enamored by Villeneuve's French Canadian films -- especially "Polytechnique" and "Incendies" -- that catapulted him to becoming one of the most celebrated filmmakers working in Hollywood today.So they contemplate the value (or lack thereof) of his refined style -- and why Cris, at least, prefers shabbiness of his earlier work ("August 32nd on Earth" & "Maelström") heavily inspired by the French New Wave.Listen to the full episode to hear Dhruv rant about "Maelström" and the French New Wave, though. And then Cris talk extensively about how much Denis Villeneuve actually improves on the source material "Incendies" is adapted from.MAJOR SPOILERS FOR ALL 4 FILMS DISCUSSED!TIME CODESIntroduction - [00:00 - 22:52]"August 32nd on Earth" - [22:52 - 41:56] "Maelström" - [41:56 - 59:16]"Polytechnique" - [59:16 - 01:43:54]"Incendies" - [01:43:54 - 02:29:30]Outro - [02:29:30 - 02:39:54]Do hit 'Follow' on Spotify if you haven't already to help the podcast reach more people!Follow our Instagram page: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://instagram.com/queenisdead.filmpodcast.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠You can also follow us on Instagram at:CRIS: https://www.instagram.com/prdscris/.DHRUV: https://www.instagram.com/terminalcinema/.You can also follow us on Letterboxd at -CRIS: https://letterboxd.com/crislim/.DHRUV: https://letterboxd.com/aterminalcinema/.

Co-fathers of “Queen is Dead,” Sanjeet and Hemant, join Varun for an episode on the collaborations between Rajkumar Santoshi and Sunny Deol. Beginning with the newest – “Batwara 1947” – this trio discusses the mechanism of filmmaking adopted by a pure 90s filmmaker thirty-six years after his debut feature, and how his direction of Sunny Deol has changed over time. Joining the Partition drama on the menu are the revenge drama “Ghayal”, the social melodrama “Damini”, and the social actioner “Ghatak”.TIME CODESIntroduction - [00:00 - 24:00] “Batwara 1947” - [24:00 - 01:24:46] Sanjeet’s Bigger Question - [01:24:46 - 01:48:27]Closing on “Batwara 1947” - [01:48:27 - 01:58:00]“Ghayal” - [01:58:00 - 02:18:29]“Damini” - [02:18:29 - 02:35:58]“Ghatak” - [02:35:58 - 02:49:20]Outro - [02:49:20 - 02:51:06]Do hit 'Follow' on Spotify if you haven't already to help the podcast reach more people!Follow our Instagram page: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://instagram.com/queenisdead.filmpodcast.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠You can follow us on Letterboxd at -SANJEET: ⁠https://letterboxd.com/sanjeet_singh/.VARUN: ⁠https://letterboxd.com/varunoakbhakay/.⁠HEMANT: ⁠⁠⁠https://letterboxd.com/ganti117/⁠⁠.