In this episode of Cinema D’Amore, hosts Justin and Chuck dive deep into the strange, sprawling universe of Beau Is Afraid, the latest mind-bender from Ari Aster (until Eddington's release). They draw unexpected parallels between this surreal journey and Apostle, uncovering a surprising thread that links the two films.
Follow Beau Wassermann—played with haunted brilliance by Joaquin Phoenix—on a darkly comic odyssey shaped by anxiety, mother issues, and a world that only gets weirder the farther he travels. Justin and Chuck dissect the film’s offbeat tone, its nightmare logic, and Aster’s bold narrative swings, exploring how discomfort, dread, and absurdity collide to create something oddly mesmerizing.
This episode is best enjoyed after watching the film—Beau Is Afraid demands attention, and Justin and Chuck are here to help you make sense of the chaos. Or at least revel in it.
Hosted by Justin Morgan Co-hosted by Charles Phillips Mixing by Scratchin’ Menace Music by Daniel Birch and Ben Pegley
Follow us on Facebook and Bluesky for updates. Listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, and all major platforms. Please subscribe, rate, and review—we appreciate the support!
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com
CrimeLess: Hillbilly Heist
It’s 1996 in rural North Carolina, and an oddball crew makes history when they pull off America’s third largest cash heist. But it’s all downhill from there. Join host Johnny Knoxville as he unspools a wild and woolly tale about a group of regular ‘ol folks who risked it all for a chance at a better life. CrimeLess: Hillbilly Heist answers the question: what would you do with 17.3 million dollars? The answer includes diamond rings, mansions, velvet Elvis paintings, plus a run for the border, murder-for-hire-plots, and FBI busts.