Episodes
Merry Christmas everybody! This week, we cover Lewis Jackson's cult Christmas horror, "Christmas Evil" (aka "You Better Watch Out").  We discuss the making of the film, and the star, Brandon Maggart (Fiona Apple's dad). We then get into the strange plot of this film, and end the episode with a couple of double bills for Christmas.  Thank you so much for listening! Created by Spike Alkire & Jake Kelley Theme Song by Breck McGough Follow us on Instagram: @DoubleBillChill Letterboxd:...
Published 12/20/23
This week we cover Frank Capra's holiday classic, "It's a Wonderful Life." We discuss the making of the film from the short story, and the different iterations of the story over time. We also do some Jimmy Stewart impressions and discuss the best character of the film, Nick the bartender. After we discuss the film, we each pair the film with another for a pair of double bills.  Thank you so much for listening! Created by Spike Alkire & Jake Kelley Theme Song by Breck McGough Follow us...
Published 12/13/23
This week we cover a new favorite film for Jake, Todd Haynes' "Carol." We discuss everything that makes this film magical from its Super 16mm film cinematography to the book by Patricia Highsmith. We also give a lot of airtime to the incredible performances by Cate Blanchett & Rooney Mara. After we discuss the film at length, we each pair "Carol" with another film for a double bill of double bills.  Thank you so much for listening! Created by Spike Alkire & Jake Kelley Theme Song by...
Published 12/06/23
This week we cover Curtis Hanson's ode to 50s-era Hollywood with "L.A. Confidential." We discuss the scandal of hiring two hardly known Australians in the lead roles as well as the long path to getting this film made. We then unravel the mysteries of "L.A. Confidential" by going through the plot of the film. Finally, we each pair the film with another for a pair of delightful double bills. Thank you so much for listening! Created by Spike Alkire & Jake Kelley Theme Song by Breck...
Published 11/29/23
This week we are leaving the classic Noirs behind for a 21st century Neo-Noir by Rian Johnson, "Brick." We begin the episode by discussing the background on Johnson's first feature film and the years-long attempt to get the film made at all. We then dive head first into the twisty plot and mostly explain it. Finally, we each pair "Brick" with another film for a pair of Double Bills.  Thank you so much for listening! Created by Spike Alkire & Jake Kelley Theme Song by Breck...
Published 11/22/23
This week, we cover Nicholas Ray's noir masterpiece, "In a Lonely Place." We discuss the production of the film with the recently separated Ray & Gloria Grahame, and Bogey's production company. We also discuss the themes and plot of the film. Finally, we each pair the film with another for a couple of fantastic double bills! Thank you so much for listening! Created by Spike Alkire & Jake Kelley Theme Song by Breck McGough Follow us on Instagram: @DoubleBillChill Letterboxd:...
Published 11/15/23
This week we cover one of the sexiest films ever made, "Gilda." We discuss the subtext of the film, which borders on full-on text. We also discuss the making of the film,  its haphazard preparations, and the behind-the-scenes drama that informed the script. We, then, look at the various scenes we loved with a walkthrough of the plot. Finally, we each pair the film with another for a double bill of double bills.  Thank you so much for listening! Created by Spike Alkire & Jake...
Published 11/08/23
Noir-vember begins with what Paul Schrader once called, "Film Noir's Epitaph." A strange place to start, sure, but this is one of the best noirs there is. We discuss Orson Welles' return to Hollywood and the familiar story of a troubled post-production. We also discuss the various cuts and the various stories about the film's production. After we discuss the history, we begin a discussion about the various plot elements which interested us, and end the podcast with two double bills for your...
Published 11/01/23
Have you ever heard two guys talk about "Ernest Scared Stupid" for over two hours?  Buckle up, booger lips, it's Jim Varney time! In this episode, we discuss the behind-the-scenes information on John R Cherry III's family Halloween classic.  After we go over the creation of the film, we have a discussion on the things we liked and especially the things we didn't like about the film.  Thank you so much for listening! Created by Spike Alkire & Jake Kelley Theme Song by Breck...
Published 10/25/23
This week, we cover "The Wicker Man" with our composer and Wicker fan Breck McGough. We cover a lot in this episode, including the quick production, the question of authorship, and a free-wheeling discussion of the various themes within Robin Hardy's 1973 masterpiece. After we discuss the film, all three of us pair "The Wicker Man" with another film for a total of 3 double bills! Thank you so much for listening! Created by Spike Alkire & Jake Kelley Theme Song by Breck McGough Follow...
Published 10/18/23
Our scary season continues! This week, we cover Miike Takashi's romantic comedy, "Audition." We discuss Miike's prolific career, and the three week shoot that resulted in this film. We then dive into our reading of the film and a discussion of the plot. Finally, we each pair the film with another for two double bills. Enjoy! Thank you so much for listening! Created by Spike Alkire & Jake Kelley Theme Song by Breck McGough Follow us on twitter @DoubleBillChil1...
Published 10/11/23
This week we begin our new holiday season with a very special guest, our composer and friend, Breck McGough! Join us for a free-wheeling discussion on Tobe Hooper's once-in-a-lifetime film, "The Texas Chain Saw Massacre." We cover the background of the film in detail, including the awful experience of the shoot and the smell of dead dog smoke. After we cover that, we discuss why we love this weird little film and why it has lasted to become one of the seminal American horror films.  Thank you...
Published 10/04/23
This week we wrap up our Bong Joon-ho season with our definitive ranking of his films. We discuss each film briefly and whiy we put it where it is in the rankings. After we rank our Bongs, we give a full preview of our upcoming Holiday season.  Thank you so much for listening! Created by Spike Alkire & Jake Kelley Theme Song by Breck McGough Follow us on twitter @DoubleBillChil1 https://twitter.com/DoubleBillChil1 Letterboxd: FartsDomino44
Published 09/13/23
This week we cover the most celebrated of Bong Joon-ho's films, "Parasite." We discuss the play this began as and how it quickly developed into the taut thriller/comedy it is today. After we cover the background, we get into a plot breakdown commenting on the film as we go. Finally, we each offer a double bill for the movie for a great night of movies.  Thank you so much for listening! Created by Spike Alkire & Jake Kelley Theme Song by Breck McGough Follow us on twitter...
Published 09/06/23
It's time to celebrate our 100th episode with an episode about our most requested film, Gremlins 2. We cover everything from Joe Dante's reluctance to make a sequel to how that manifests itself in the most bonkers sequel of all time. We then get into a full coverage of the film's plot and end with two pairings for the film.  Thank you so much for listening! Created by Spike Alkire & Jake Kelley Theme Song by Breck McGough Follow us on twitter @DoubleBillChil1...
Published 08/30/23
We hope you like big hippo dog pigs, because it's time for our episode on "Okja!" We discuss Bong Joon-ho's original idea and how that developed over a couple of years to become this globe spanning film about a girl and her superpig. After we discuss the creation of the film, we dive head first into an at-length discussion of the plot. Finally, we end the episode with two double bills as we each pair "Okja" with another film.  Thank you so much for listening! Created by Spike Alkire &...
Published 08/23/23
This week we cover Bong Joon-ho's English language debut, "Snowpiercer." We discuss the making of the film including special effects and casting. We then go into a plot breakdown where we discuss Chris Evans' acting & Tilda Swinton's wild looks. Finally, we each pair the film with another for two fantastic double bills! Thank you so much for listening! Created by Spike Alkire & Jake Kelley Theme Song by Breck McGough Follow us on twitter @DoubleBillChil1...
Published 08/16/23
This week, we are covering Bong Joon-ho's "Mother." Not to be confused with Darren Aronofsky's "Mother!," which must be shouted. We discuss the creation of the film and how it was written for Kim Hye-ja. We then go into a breakdown of the plot of the film, and end with pairing the film with two other films for two fantastic double bills.  Thank you so much for listening! Created by Spike Alkire & Jake Kelley Theme Song by Breck McGough Follow us on twitter @DoubleBillChil1...
Published 08/09/23
It's monster time! This week, we are covering "The Host" by Bong Joon-ho and it is a delightful film. We begin the episode discussing the background and the detail-oriented production of the film. The second half of the episode is a scene-by-scene discussion of the plot and style of "The Host." Finally, we each pair the film with another for a pair of Double Bills!  Thank you so much for listening! Created by Spike Alkire & Jake Kelley Theme Song by Breck McGough Follow us on twitter...
Published 08/02/23
This week we begin our new season covering the films of Bong Joon-ho. We start with the beginning of Bong's feature film career, "Barking Dogs Never Bite" or "Dog of Flanders." We cover the influences going into this initial feature from traumatic childhood experiences to books and films. After we cover the history of the film, we dive into an at-length discussion of the film's plot points and trivia. Finally, we each create a double bill including the film and another we think is...
Published 07/26/23
Today marks our 2nd anniversary for the podcast. We have covered 93 films in that time and paired with 186 films for 186 different double bills! We love doing the podcast and took this opportunity to look deep at the stats of the films we have chosen. We find out our top directors for pairings and many are surprises to us. Lastly, we briefly discuss things to come. We appreciate you joining us on this journey and hope you will continue to do so! Thank you so much for listening! Created by...
Published 07/14/23
Spike has just returned from Italy and the Cinema Ritrovato Festival 2023. This episode is a report on all the movies he was able to see, and one complaint about the theaters being too hot. This is an amazing film festival focused on film restoration and discovery, and Spike describes many of the films he discovered along the way.  Thank you so much for listening! Created by Spike Alkire & Jake Kelley Theme Song by Breck McGough Follow us on twitter @DoubleBillChil1...
Published 07/11/23
This week, Spike and Jake do the impossible task of picking 10 films for their Sight & Sound personal top 10. But first, we dive back into our films covered for Season 8 and rank the films.  If you've got your own Top 10 you'd like to share with us, leave it in a review or tweet it to us @DoubleBillChil1 Thank you so much for listening! Created by Spike Alkire & Jake Kelley Theme Song by Breck McGough Follow us on twitter @DoubleBillChil1...
Published 06/21/23
This week, we finish our Sight & Sound season with Powell & Pressburger's "The Red Shoes. We begin with a discussion on why this has been added to the top 100 and we look at Martin Scorsese's top 10 list. After we cover the background of the film, we dive deep into the plot and explore why this film still has so much appeal. Finally, we each pair the film with another related film.  Thank you so much for listening! Created by Spike Alkire & Jake Kelley Theme Song by Breck...
Published 06/14/23
This week we begin our two week look at Powell & Pressburger, otherwise known as "The Archers." First, we are looking into a film kicked off the Sight & Sound top 100, "The Life and Death of Colonel Blimp."  We begin by looking at the wartime production of  the film, and the various bumps along the way to getting the film made. We also establish Powell & Pressburger's working relationship and the efforts to restore their works. Next, we dive into the plot of the film and finish by...
Published 06/07/23