66: Paranormal Activity with Emily Hughes

This week on Podcast Like It’s The 2000s, Phil and Emily welcome writer Emily Hughes to discuss Paranormal Activity — the micro-budget phenomenon that redefined horror for a generation. Together they dig into the film’s scrappy origins, the ingenious use of found footage to build dread, and how Oren Peli’s minimalist approach reshaped studio thinking about what a blockbuster could be.From its DIY filmmaking roots to its massive cultural impact, the conversation examines why Paranormal Activity remains one of the most effective and influential horror movies of the 2000s — and how it kicked off a wave of imitators that could never quite match its eerie simplicity.If you want to watch the full video of this conversation, hear bonus episodes, and access exclusive mini-series and behind-the-scenes content, join the Podcast Like It’s Patreon community for all that and more. 👻 👉 patreon.com/PodcastLikeIts Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week on Podcast Like It’s The 2000s, hosts @pmiscove and @emilystjams kick off a brand new Halloween miniseries, Somebody Scare Phil, with guest Louis Peitzman (Chasing Amy Adams). Together, they dive into the bloody brilliance and DIY spirit of James Wan and Leigh Whannell’s 2004 indie phenomenon Saw a film that reshaped horror on a shoestring budget and gave rise to a genre-defining franchise.The trio break down Saw’s grimy aesthetics, moral puzzles, and the line between psychological thriller and full-blown torture horror. Plus, Phil reveals how the franchise both terrifies and fascinates him (and why Emily might just make him watch all nine sequels).Recorded as part of the Somebody Scare Phil miniseries where Emily forces Phil to face his horror movie blind spots this episode’s a twisted treat for cinephiles who love a good scream and a good think. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Phil and Emily continue their deep-dive into Mike Nichols’ work from the 2000s with Wit , the acclaimed HBO adaptation of Margaret Edson’s Pulitzer Prize–winning play. Joined by writer and producer Eliza Clark (Y: The Last Man, Animal Kingdom), they explore how Nichols recalibrated his directorial voice after What Planet Are You From? with this intimate, emotionally devastating story of a scholar facing terminal illness.The conversation digs into the film’s powerful performances led by Emma Thompson and the delicate balance Nichols strikes between theatricality and cinematic storytelling. Together, they unpack Wit’s themes of mortality, intellect, vulnerability, and humanity, while tracing how this project set the stage for his monumental follow-up, Angels in America.If you want access to full video episodes, exclusive bonus content, and more conversations like this one, head over to our Patreon and join the community today. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Phil and Emily kick off a brand-new miniseries exploring the films and television of legendary director Mike Nichols in the 2000s. First up: the notorious 2000 sci-fi romantic comedy “What Planet Are You From?”, starring Gary Shandling, Annette Bening, and John Goodman.Joined by critic and returning guest Emma Stefansky, the trio dive deep into this infamous box-office bomb unpacking its chaotic tone, lack of internal logic, and bizarre premise about an alien sent to Earth to impregnate a woman. They discuss how the film reflects a turning point for Nichols, why it derailed Gary Shandling’s movie career, and what it reveals about Hollywood’s early-2000s obsession with “blank check” comedies.From alien sex jokes to comedy-career implosions, this episode is a hilarious, insightful breakdown of one of the strangest films of the decade and the perfect start to our Mike Nichols retrospective. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Phil and Emily wrap up their Oscar-winning Best Director follow-ups mini series with Joel and Ethan Coen’s Burn After Reading. They’re joined by Brooke Solomon and Jordan Gustafson, from the podcast The Queer Quadrant, to dig into this razor-sharp dark comedy that skewers espionage, bureaucracy, and human foolishness in equal measure.From the Coens’ tonal whiplash to the film’s biting satire of post-9/11 paranoia, the conversation unpacks the brilliance of a story where no one really knows what they’re doing but the chaos still matters. Along the way, they revisit the stacked ensemble of Clooney, Pitt, McDormand, and Malkovich, while situating the film within the Coens’ endlessly inventive career.If you enjoy this episode and want more exclusive deep dives, bonus content, and special mini series, join our Patreon at patreon.com/PodcastLikeIts. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Phil and Emily continue their Oscar-Winning Best Director Follow-Ups miniseries with Ang Lee’s provocative espionage drama Lust, Caution. Joined by Danette Chavez (Editor-in-Chief of The A.V. Club), they dig into the film’s bold mix of eroticism, politics, and moral ambiguity, exploring how Lee followed Brokeback Mountain with a risky and divisive project that tested both audiences and censors. From the performances of Tony Leung and Tang Wei to the film’s place in Lee’s eclectic career, this conversation examines the ways Lust, Caution both fulfills and defies the expectations of a “prestige” follow-up.If you want more deep dives, bonus episodes, and exclusive content, join us on Patreon at patreon.com/PodcastLikeIts. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Phil and Emily continue their mini series on Oscar-winning Best Director follow-ups from the 2000s with Clint Eastwood’s Flags of Our Fathers. Joined by Mitchell Beaupre, editor and podcast host at Letterboxd, they dig into Eastwood’s haunting take on the Battle of Iwo Jima and the myth making around Joe Rosenthal’s famous photograph of soldiers raising the flag.The conversation unpacks Eastwood’s bold decision to explore both the battlefield and the uneasy homefront tours, the fractured narrative structure, and the film’s relationship to its companion piece, Letters from Iwo Jima. Along the way, they discuss Eastwood’s casting instincts, his recurring themes of masculinity, guilt, and heroism, and how the movie reflects broader questions about American war films and cultural memory. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Phil and Emily continue our Patreon mini series on Oscar-winning Best Director follow-ups from the 2000s with Peter Jackson’s ambitious epic King Kong. Joined by critic, screenwriter, and podcaster Drew McWeeny, they revisit Jackson’s sprawling remake of the 1933 classic and unpack how the film reflects both his greatest strengths and his boldest excesses in the wake of The Lord of the Rings.From Naomi Watts’s luminous performance to the groundbreaking visual effects that brought Kong to life, they discuss how Jackson poured his lifelong obsession into a film that feels both deeply personal and unwieldy in scope. The conversation explores Kong’s emotional depth, the film’s place in mid-2000s blockbuster culture, and why its mix of grandeur and messiness makes it one of the most fascinating entries in Jackson’s career.If you want more exclusive deep-dive episodes, Q&As, and mini series, support the show on Patreon: patreon.com/PodcastLikeIts. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Phil and Emily continue their mini series on Oscar-winning Best Director follow-ups from the 2000s with Oliver Twist (2005), Roman Polanski’s adaptation of Charles Dickens’ classic. They’re joined by writer and producer Bryan Cogman, who may be one of the few people to have actually seen the film in theaters.The conversation dives into Polanski’s unexpected choice to follow The Pianist with this family-oriented Dickens adaptation, why it feels strangely muted compared to both the director’s darker films and other Dickens adaptations, and how Ben Kingsley’s nuanced turn as Fagin stands out amidst an otherwise flat production. Together, they unpack Dickens’ enduring influence, the many Oliver Twist adaptations across history, and how this version fits into Polanski’s complicated legacy and the cinematic landscape of 2005.If you want more deep-dive discussions, exclusive mini series, and bonus content, join our Patreon at patreon.com/PodcastLikeIts. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Phil and Emily continue their miniseries on Oscar winning Best Director follow ups from the 2000s with Ron Howard’s The Missing. With guest Patrick Cotnoir (The George Lucas Talk Show), they revisit this overlooked Western thriller starring Cate Blanchett and Tommy Lee Jones.The discussion explores Blanchett’s powerful performance, Jones’ turn as an estranged father, Daniel Craig’s early role, and why the film faded from memory despite prestige ambitions after A Beautiful Mind. They also look at Ron Howard’s career pivots and the awards landscape of the early 2000s.For exclusive episodes and bonus content, join at patreon.com/PodcastLikeIts. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.