Ep06: Ari Aster's Hereditary (2018) and Midsommar (2019) - Redefining Modern Horror

This week we're beginning a recurring series on the Taiwanese New Wave with one of it's earliest and best films: Taipei Story. Chris and Zach discuss globalization and modern spaces in the New Wave films, as well as the urban malaise that Yang so fabulously constructed. We plan to keep covering these films so keep checking back and we'll see you next week! Featuring: Chris Ding, Zach Chilcote

Annnnnd we're back! For the pilot episode of our new podcast, we've chosen a film that reflects our new title. Sunrise, released in 1927, was one of German Expressionist filmmaker F.W. Murnau's first and only films produced in the US. It's a simple love story told as a cinematic poem and a silent film masterpiece. This week, we have the usual suspects discussing Expressionism, silent cinema, and a whole host of other topics as we get derailed more than once. Enjoy! Featuring: Zachary Chilcote, Chris D., and Vivian Chuang Cover Art: Chris

This week Zach and Chris are taking a look at their third 2019 Best International Feature, Corpus Christi. Hailing from Poland, it's a complex and morally grey look at faith, redemption, and forgiveness. We also take a look at its place in cinema history, and compare it to other European films from various eras in cinema history. Corpus Christi is rentable on Amazon or available to stream on the Criterion Channel. Next week we'll be comparing last years controversial Best Picture nominee, Joker to its Scorsese influences Taxi Driver and The King of Comedy. Joker is currently streaming on HBO Max, Taxi Driver is available on Netflix, and The King of Comedy is rentable on Amazon. Featuring: Zach Chilcote and Chris Ding Cover Art: Chris Ding Music: Craig Cutright

This week Chris and Zach talk about an anti-establishment classic, pitting Jack Nicholson and Louise Fletcher against each other for control of a mental hospital. Prompted by the release of Ryan Murphy's new Netflix show Ratched, we do an analysis of the film's style and characters, as well discuss our own personal experiences with the film. One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (1975) is currently available on Netflix. Next week we're covering Corpus Christi, one of the few remaining 2019 Best International Feature Oscar nominees that we haven't talked about. It is currently available on Criterion Channel or rentable on Amazon. Featuring: Zach Chilcote and Chris Ding Episode Cover: Chris Ding Music: Craig Cutright

This week we're going back a few decades to check out some under appreciated films from a very important era in Hollywood's history. Sorcerer (1977) was a box office bomb after releasing a week after Star Wars, but is widely considered among the director's best and has been gaining a new (and very deserved) following. Cruising (1980) was released under a mire of controversy for dealing with some... tricky subject matter for the time while also creating a unique, eery atmosphere and starring a very subdued young Al Pacino. Both films are available to rent on Apple TV and Amazon. Next week we're talking about the classic One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (1975), coinciding with the recent release of Ratched. Both are available on Netflix. Featuring: Zach Chilcote and Vivian Chuang Episode Cover: Chris Ding Music: Craig Cutright

This week, we're talking about five of Christopher Nolan's films to celebrate the release of Tenet, the first theatrical released blockbuster in a long, long time. (No spoilers!) Specifically, we talk a lot about his fascination with time - cinematic and scientific - as well as our opinions on his particular "quirks," both on and off set. Next week we're revisiting a rare Lynch bomb and a documentary on a mystical film that was never made. Dune (1984) is on HBO Max and available to rent on Amazon Video; Jodorowsky's Dune is available on Amazon Video and IMDBtv. Memento is available on Amazon Prime and IMDb tv; Inception is available on Amazon Prime; Interstellar and Dunkirk are available to rent on Amazon Video. Check out our twitter @thecinemaniax as well as our instagram @cinemaniapodcast for updates and more! Featuring: Chris Ding and Zach Chilcote Music: Craig Cutright

This week we're talking about the two most recent films by the Safdie Brothers, two of the biggest indie filmmakers of the last few years. Known for their penchant for writing deeply human anti-heroes paired with neon sound and landscapes, it's no wonder they've become as big as they have. Good Time and Uncut Gems are both available on Netflix. Next week is the first Thursday of the month, so that means another auteur deep dive! Check out our twitter @thecinemaniax as well as our instagram @cinemaniapodcast for updates and more! Featuring: Chris Ding, Zach Chilcote, and Vivian Chuang Music: Craig Cutright

This week Chris and Zach are discussing our first impressions of I'm Thinking of Ending Things, the newest film by Academy Award winning screenwriter and director Charlie Kaufman. A deeply philosophical and thoughtful film, we couldn’t possibly touch on everything this film presents; but we hope we can open you up to some new ideas.   Next week, we're looking at two films by new A24 talents the Safdie Brothers. Good Time and Uncut Gems are both available to stream on Netflix. Co-Hosts: Chris Ding and Zachary Chilcote  Cover art: Vivian Chuang Music: Craig Cutright

This week we are focusing on two feature films by the A24 director Ari Aster. While Hereditary unravels the cryptic ancestry of a family after the death of the grandmother, Midsommar follows the heartbroken protagonist's journey into a traditional yet increasingly bizarre community; both films presents problematic familial or social relationships. Tracing his career back to his shorts, Zack, Chris, and Vivian will discuss the auteurism in Aster's films.  * Bonus content * - in this episode, we briefly expand our discussion to encompass the field of cinema studies and contemporary cinema as wider topics. Our episode next week will focus on the Safdie brothers, covering Goodtime (2017) and Uncut Gems (2019). Both films are currently available on Netflix. Co-Hosts: Chris Ding and Zachary Chilcote Guest and cover art: Vivian Chuang Music: Craig Cutright

We're hitting the Bong this week. In this episode of auteur deep dive, Chris, Zach and recurring Cinemaniac Vivian discuss the films of  Korean filmmaker Bong Joon-ho. Catch up on the films on these platforms:  Barking Dogs Never Bite, The Host, Mother, and Parasite are available on Hulu.  Snowpiercer and Okja are streaming on Netflix.  Join us next week, on a discussion about the films of A24 darling Ari Aster, his shorts can be found on YouTube and his features on Amazon Prime currently.  Co-Hosts: Chris Ding and Zachary Chilcote  Guest and cover art: Vivian Chuang  Music: Craig Cutright