Reel Lit Podcast

Reel Lit Podcast

di Reel Lit Podcast
LibriTV e Film
Stagione 2
"That Is Mahogany!": The Hunger Games
The odds are in our favor this week as Reel Lit enters the arena with Suzanne Collins’s The Hunger Games (2008) and its 2012 film adaptation. Stephen and McKenzie welcome very special guest Dr. Sidney Blaylock (UNA Department of English) for a conversation about tributes, the Reaping, and the blurred line between performance and survival. We cover it all: Katniss’s missing inner monologue, Jennifer Lawrence’s remarkable facial acting, Effie Trinket’s bonkers Capitol energy, Wes Bentley’s villainous beard, and why the Cornucopia opening sequence still shocks. From panopticons to nightlock berries, spectacle to surveillance, this film is, as Stephen puts it, “scholar catnip, Katniss.” May the odds be ever in your favor, and Panopticon (just in case).
S2 · E2
11 set 2025
59:41
"Aim Careful & Look the Devil in the Eye": Sin City
Fans and followers rejoice! We're back! To kick off Season 2, Stephen and McKenzie descend into the inky shadows of Frank Miller and Robert Rodriguez’s Sin City, a graphic novel adaptation so faithful it required Rodriguez to quit the DGA just to give Miller co-director credit. From the cherry-red pop of Dwight’s Converse to the monochrome moralities of Marv, Hartigan, and Gail’s army of dominatrix enforcers, we’re unpacking a film that’s equal parts visually stunning and thematically... complicated. Topics include: Millerian morality and the myth of individualized virtue Hobbesian justice in a world without a Leviathan Performative masculinity and the "white knight" complex Nancy as the final girl whose trauma is dressed up as titillation Brittany Murphy appreciation (with a side of Cherry Falls) The very real absurdity of naming your silent cannibal ninja... Kevin. Plus, our segment favorites return: FMK: Academic Style – Do we Enjoy it, Teach it, or Write a journal article about it? Geek Out Moment – Dwight’s red Chucks, Brittany Murphy’s brilliance, and a film that makes you feel like you’ve been chain-smoking in the rain. "Sponsor" Break – This episode brought to you by The Salesman: solving problems with discretion since... well, that’s confidential. Whether you’re a noir aficionado or just here for the chiaroscuro and gunfire, join us as we ask the important questions: Is virtue still virtue when it comes with a body count (not that kind, you pervert)? And why does every man in this movie fall in love after one night?
S2 · E1
4 giu 2025
52:48
Parliament after Dark: Hooting about Slumber Party Massacre
Bonus
Grab your daiquiris and power drills! the Owls are back for a night of synth-soaked screams and feminist subtext. Stephen and McKenzie turn their gaze (and talons) toward Amy Holden Jones’s The Slumber Party Massacre, the Roger Corman–produced cult classic that manages to be both sleazy and strangely self-aware. They dissect the world’s least convincing basketball scene, two hapless Peeping Toms who get exactly what they deserve, and a killer who wields his drill like a Freudian thesis statement. McKenzie highlights how the film’s female characters, from Trish and Valerie to Coach Jana, emerge surprisingly competent, kind, and capable in a genre that usually punishes them for existing. Come for the feminist analysis, stay for the snail-smashing neighbor, and the longest shower scene this side of Psycho.. Theme music: “City of Neon Lights” by Turtle Beats Produced by: Mordecai Myles for Owls of Pallas Productions
S2
31 ott 2025
50:25
Stagione 1
"Sad Destinies": Wide Sargasso Sea
Before she was the infamous "madwoman in the attic," she was Antoinette Cosway—a woman caught between cultures, identities, and the suffocating control of the man she married. This month on Reel Lit, we’re diving into Jean Rhys’s Wide Sargasso Sea and its two film adaptations (1993 & 2006) to examine how this novel reclaims the silenced story of Jane Eyre’s Bertha Mason. McKenzie offers an ecocritical interpretation, arguing that the island itself is more than just a setting—it’s an active force, shaping Antoinette’s identity and sealing her fate. Meanwhile, Stephen takes a genre-focused approach, analyzing how the 2006 film manipulates the language of romance to lull viewers into false security—only to shatter those expectations. Along the way, we’ll discuss Rochester’s hypocrisy, Christophine’s power, Coco the doomed parrot, and whether the 1993 film leans into the erotic thriller genre in ways that subtly alter Antoinette’s characterization. Plus, we’ll break down which adaptation gets it right—and which Antoinette delivers the most haunting performance. 🌿 Is the island a character in its own right? 🎭 Is Rochester’s early tenderness sincere, or just another layer of control? 🔥 And what does Granbois look like as an Airbnb listing? (Oh yes, you know we’ve got a fake ad for this one.) Join us as we untangle love, power, and identity in Wide Sargasso Sea. 🎧 Now streaming wherever you get your podcasts!
S1 · E10
8 feb 2025
1:08:04
"Welcome to the Party, Pal": Nothing Lasts Forever/Die Hard
Yippee-ki-yay, podcast listeners! In this special holiday episode of Reel Lit, Stephen and McKenzie take on the ultimate Christmas controversy: Die Hard. Is it a Christmas movie, or is it just an action flick with tinsel on the side? While McKenzie grapples with the gritty prose and cynical tone of Roderick Thorp’s Nothing Lasts Forever, Stephen unpacks the Reagan-era geopolitics, cowboy archetypes, and capitalist critiques that make Die Hard a cultural touchstone. Together, they explore how the film adapts and transforms the novel’s nihilistic antihero into the wisecracking, everyman John McClane. McKenzie’s close read dives into Joseph Leland’s Straw Nihilist archetype, contrasting it with McClane’s relatable antiheroism. Meanwhile, Stephen connects Hans Gruber’s greed to 1980s anxieties about globalism, Japanese economic dominance, and the blurred lines between capitalism and villainy. With a side of Argyle’s Limo Service, festive banter, and debates about Christmas film canon, this episode delivers action, analysis, and a whole lot of holiday cheer. Join us for a critical interrogation of one of the most enduring—and debated—holiday classics!
S1 · E9
22 dic 2024
59:04
"All the Matches Inside": Like Water for Chocolate
In this delectable episode of Reel Lit, Stephen and McKenzie stir up some conversation about the lush world of Like Water for Chocolate, Laura Esquivel’s sensual tale of love, family, and food. Join them as they explore the novel and its faithful film adaptation, examining themes of magical realism, rebellion against tradition, and the powerful connection between food and emotion. From Tita’s transformative cooking to the unforgettable Quail in Rose Petal Sauce (and that scene), they discuss how Esquivel’s storytelling blends the extraordinary with the everyday. Along the way, they tackle questions of the male gaze, the intersection of empowerment and objectification, and what it means to honor legacy through creativity. Whether you’re here for the romance, the recipes, or the revolution, this episode has something for everyone. Light a candle (but maybe not all the matchbooks at once) and tune in!
S1 · E8
1 dic 2024
47:33
"Chasing Shadows": The Woman in Black
In this Halloween special of Reel Lit, Stephen and McKenzie dive into Susan Hill's chilling novel The Woman in Black and its eerie 2012 film adaptation. They explore the haunting isolation of Eel Marsh House, examine the atmospheric use of silence, and discuss how mirrors and doubling underscore the lingering impact of grief and trauma. With their unique blend of wit and analysis, they uncover the unsettling elements that make The Woman in Black an enduring classic of ghostly horror.
S1 · E7
31 ott 2024
49:54
"What Do Stars Do Best?": Stardust
In this episode of Reel Lit, we're literally shooting for the stars! Join us as we dive into Neil Gaiman's 1999 novel Stardust and its whimsical 2007 film adaptation. We explore the contrasting tones of the book's darker, more mature themes with the film's lighter, comedic adventure. From costume symbolism and the significance of the characters' names to a rogues' gallery of familiar faces (Henry Cavill, anyone?), we leave no stone—or star—unturned. We also geek out over the surprising cast cameos and dissect the intricacies of Captain Shakespeare’s flamboyant wardrobe. Plus, we dig into the moral ambiguity of Stardust's so-called 'heroes' in our 'Most Hated Character' segment. And, of course, we can’t resist a little banter about Halloween preparations and a tease for our next spooky episode. So, grab your Bubbling ... err ... Babylon candle and get ready for a journey to the land of Faerie!
S1 · E6
2 ott 2024
53:41
"More Literary Than Cinematic": Wonder Boys
After being robbed of an Oscar with L.A. Confidential, director Curtis Hanson bounced back with the 2000 film Wonder Boys, based on Pulitzer-Prize winner Michael Chabon's 1995 novel. Join us on Reel Lit as McKenzie and Stephen take a look at the novel and the film, examining both the concept of the doppelgänger in the novel and analyzing Grady Tripp's spells ("You make it sound like we're in a Tennessee Williams play"). There is so much to cover: hood jumping, parenthood, and just how darn difficult it is to pronounce "Monongahela." Will Dimaggio's 56-game hitting streak ever be broken? Can you ever forget an Oola? Join us as we explore even more mysteries of Pittsburgh.
S1 · E5
29 ago 2024
55:57
"They're Not Fussy Chickens": The Birds (featuring Dr. Brenna)
In this thrilling episode of Reel Lit, join Stephen and McKenzie as they swoop into the world of Daphne du Maurier’s chilling novella (1952) and Alfred Hitchcock’s iconic film adaptation (1963), The Birds. This week, we’re excited to welcome our special guest, Dr. Brenna Wardell, a distinguished expert in film studies and Hitchcockian suspense.
S1 · E4
8 ago 2024
1:13:47
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