Midday Movies

In this episode of 'Midday Movies,' hosts Laura and Stephen celebrate the 50th anniversary of the iconic summer blockbuster 'Jaws,' directed by Steven Spielberg and scored by John Williams. They delve into fascinating behind-the-scenes stories, including Spielberg's early career (and his break-in at the Universal Studios lot) and the logistical challenges of filming with a malfunctioning mechanical shark named Bruce. The discussion...

In this episode, Shea (of the Rainy Day Rabbit Holes Podcast), Laura, and Stephen gather to passionately discuss and rank their favorite and least favorite movies from the Alien franchise. From the 1979 original 'Alien' to the more recent 'Alien Romulus,' they dive into the elements that make each film unique. They also touch on the character development, special effects, and the overall impact of each movie on the franchise. The c...

In this episode of “Midday Movies,” hosts Laura, Stephen, and guest Jason from the 'Rainy Day Rabbit Holes' podcast delve into “Alien vs. Predator” (AvP, 2004). They discuss the film's setting in an Antarctic pyramid, the characters including Alexa Woods and Charles Bishop Weyland, the intriguing crossover of iconic extraterrestrial creatures, and the themes of camaraderie and conflict. Conversations also touch upon the influences ...

In this episode of 'Midday Movies,' hosts Laura and Stephen, joined by guest Jason from the 'Rainy Day Rabbit Holes' podcast, dive into “Alien Resurrection,” (1997) the final entry in the original Ripley quadrilogy. Directed by Jean-Pierre Jeunet (“Delicatessen”, “Amelie”) and written by Joss Whedon (“Buffy the Vampire Slayer,” “Firefly”), the film is praised for its unique characters, production design, and distinct 90s genre trop...

The Intriguing Case of the McMinnville UFO Photos

Laura and Stephen present a crossover episode from the Mysterious PNW podcast, where hosts Jen and Sarah delve into the 1950 McMinnville UFO photographs taken by Evelyn and Paul Trent in Oregon. They explore the history, examine the images, consider expert analyses, and discuss the impact of the photos over the years. Despite differing opinions on their authenticity, the photos have ...

In this episode of “Midday Movies,” hosts Laura, Stephen, and special guest Bryon dive into the 2017 film “Alien: Covenant,” the second installment in the 21st-century Alien franchise. Joined by Bryon Kershaw from the “Spirits and Monsters of Old Seattle Podcast”, the discussion ranges from reflections on David the Android's theological journey, the film's rich religious subtext (as embodied by Billy Crudup & Katherine Watersto...

In this episode of 'Midday Movies,' hosts Laura, Stephen, and Shea Drury from the 'Rainy Day Rabbit Holes' podcast dive into the third installment of the original Alien series, 'Alien 3.' Directed by David Fincher, 'Alien 3' is known as one of the more controversial films in the franchise. The conversation covers the unique setting of Fury 161, a decommissioned prison planet, the survivalist themes, and the complexities of Ripley's...

Join hosts Laura, Stephen, and special guest Shea from the Rainy Day Rabbit Holes podcast on Midday Movies as they delve into James Cameron's iconic film 'Aliens.' In this episode, they explore why 'Aliens' is often hailed as one of the best action films in American cinema, discussing its characters, influences, and connections to contemporary films. They also touch on the upcoming FX series 'Alien Earth,' and share insights into t...

Hosts Laura and Stephen delve into the unique Polish animated film 'The Peasants' in their podcast 'Midday Movies.' The innovative film, directed by filmmaking couple Hugh and DK Welchman, is composed of 40,000 oil paintings and based on the 1924 Nobel Prize-winning novel by Wladyslaw Stanislaw Reymont. The film uses six paintings per second to create a visually stunning narrative about Jagna (played by Kamila Urzedowska), a young ...

In this episode of ‘Midday Movies,’ hosts Laura and Stephen discuss Studio Ghibli's emotionally potent film ‘Grave of the Fireflies,’ directed by Isao Takahata and based on the acclaimed book of the same name. The film tells the harrowing tale of two children, Seita (voiced by Tsutomu Tatsumi) and Setsuko (Ayano Shiraishi), struggling to survive in Japan during the final days of World War II. Despite being an animated film, ‘Grave ...

Today we’re hosting an episode by our friend and fellow Umbrella Podcast Collective member, Rob Bradley’s “Dark History” Podcast!

As the stocky and robustly built man determinedly strode into the Houses of Parliament on June 4th, 1940, an unusual hush fell over the chamber. Front and backbenchers alike waited with bated breath as his piercing blue eyes scanned the room with unyielding intensity. Clad in his iconic dark suit, bow...

Today we are celebrating the 25th anniversary of Wong Kar-Wai’s masterpiece of doomed romance, “In the Mood for Love” (2000). An instant classic following its premiere at Cannes, “In the Mood for Love” is the story of Mrs. Chan (Maggie Cheung) and Mr. Chow (Tony Leung Chiu-wai), two married Hong Kong residents in the early 1960s whose spouses are having an affair with each other. Experimental, nonlinear, and ultimately tragic, this...

Today we’re hosting an episode by our friends and fellow Umbrella Podcast Collective members, “History Unhinged: Rainy Day Rabbit Holes.” Enjoy!

What do you do when beavers become a problem? If you're Idaho in the 1940s—you toss 'em out of airplanes, obviously.

In one of the most bizarre (and oddly effective) wildlife relocation plans in American history, Idaho officials came up with a truly unhinged solution: strap parachutes to liv...

Today we’re discussing the 1st installment of the “Alien” franchise to release in the 21st century, “Prometheus.” We are joined in this analysis by Kevin Ryan (@kevryanperson), host of the “Tyrant in Training” podcast (https://open.spotify.com/show/4POuXgP73XZkA2hKnPHgGs) (@tyrantpodcast), a weekly series where guest comedians and podcasters come on to build their own autocratic empire. Here, we will be talking about the controvers...

Today we’re discussing the sequel to the 2018 cult classic, “A Simple Favor,” namely, “Another Simple Favor” (2025). Once again directed by Paul Feig — “the nicest guy in Hollywood” — but this time, instead of taking us through a high-tone suburban noir, we are taken on an international adventure in Capri — where Emily (Blake Lively) is having the wedding of the century arm-in-arm with the Scion of a powerful Italian family (very r...

Today we are discussing the iconic 1979 sci-fi masterpiece “Alien” and we are joined by game master Bryon Kershaw of “Spirits and Monsters of Old Seattle” (https://www.spiritsandmonsters.com/) — an actual play RPG podcast that takes place in a supernatural 1800s Seattle, WA. Here we will be talking about the unique atmospheric horror, the cinematic influences on, and the wacky 1970s production stories from the original “Aliens” fil...

Today we’re discussing the final season finale of the critically acclaimed and audience-obsessed Netflix series, “You” (2018-2025). Starring Penn Badgley as Joe Goldberg, lover of literature, women, and murder, “You” is a romantic crime drama that has occupied the rarefied worlds of New York society, Los Angeles elites, Silicon Valley technocrats, and London’s landed gentry — all with a new love story to follow each season. We talk...

Today we’re discussing a film that has been widely requested by listeners, “Godzilla Minus One” (2023, dir. Takashi Yamazaki). A Godzilla movie that is also a historical drama, “Godzilla Minus One” follows a Japanese kamikaze soldier (Ryûnosuke Kamiki) plagued by survivor’s guilt and attempting to rebuild a life in the rubble of World War 2 Japan. With found family and fierce friends, this soldier navigates both the disruptive echo...

Today we’re discussing the PlayStation video game-turned-film from the team that brought you the Annabelle series, “Until Dawn” (2025, dir. David F. Sandberg). Utilizing time loops and folkloric horror tropes, “Until Dawn” follows a group of five friends on a road trip to find one friend’s missing sister. When a storm traps them in the spooky Welcome Center of the mysterious region, Glore Valley, these friends must fight monsters w...