Unwatchables with Marc & Seth

Today we’re going back to 1928 for what might be the most harrowing film of the silent era. Carl Theodor Dreyer’s intense, claustrophobic THE PASSION OF JOAN OF ARC was like nothing at the time and arguably still isn’t; we’ll talk about the film’s controversial history, what makes it so radical, and whether it might be too much for some viewers. Unwatchables is hosted by Marc Dottavio and Seth Troyer, produced by Tony Scarpitti, featuring artwork by Micah Kraus. You can support us on Patreon at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/unwatchables⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to get access to exclusive bonus content and weigh in on what we watch next. Find us online at www.unwatchablespod.com or shoot us an email at unwatchablespodcast@gmail.com. We're on Instagram and Twitter under @unwatchablespod. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/unwatchablespod/message

Unwatchables welcomes Erik Davis, managing editor of Fandango.com, to discuss possibly the most heart-wrenching film we’ve yet covered. Erik wrote the first review of 2008’s true crime doc DEAR ZACHARY: A LETTER TO A SON ABOUT HIS FATHER after its Slamdance premiere, and anyone who’s seen it knows it’s not the kind of movie you ever forget. We discuss what makes it so uniquely devastating, how it holds up after all these years, and whether the way it handles its big “secret” is shamelessly exploitative. Unwatchables is hosted by Marc Dottavio and Seth Troyer, produced by Tony Scarpitti, featuring artwork by Micah Kraus. You can support us on Patreon at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/unwatchables⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to get access to exclusive bonus content and weigh in on what we watch next. Find us online at www.unwatchablespod.com or shoot us an email at unwatchablespodcast@gmail.com. We're on Instagram and Twitter under @unwatchablespod. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/unwatchablespod/message

Today we welcome back Jetta Weinstein, aka Letterboxd's theironcupcake, to discuss the film that scarred a generation of HOME ALONE fans. Macaulay Culkin was at the height of his child stardom when his father/manager signed him on for HOME ALONE 2 under one condition… that his next role be the murderous child sociopath in 1993’s R-rated thriller THE GOOD SON. We’ll talk about who this movie was possibly made for, whether it was actually responsible for the end of Culkin’s career, and if it has THE most insane ending we’ve ever seen. You can find more from Jetta at https://letterboxd.com/theironcupcake/ Unwatchables is hosted by Marc Dottavio and Seth Troyer, produced by Tony Scarpitti, featuring artwork by Micah Kraus. You can support us on Patreon at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/unwatchables⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to get access to exclusive bonus content and weigh in on what we watch next. Find us online at www.unwatchablespod.com or shoot us an email at unwatchablespodcast@gmail.com. We're on Instagram and Twitter under @unwatchablespod. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/unwatchablespod/message

Today’s film is so controversial it’s never actually been released. In 2017, comedian Louis CK wrote, directed, and starred in I LOVE YOU, DADDY, which was pulled just a week before release after a New York Times article detailed his sexual misconduct; as if that timing wasn’t bad enough, the film itself concerns a director known for his sexual indiscretions with minors. We talk about how it fits into the #MeToo movement, whether CK had a future as a director, and if the movie really is as cursed as it sounds. Unwatchables is hosted by Marc Dottavio and Seth Troyer, produced by Tony Scarpitti, featuring artwork by Micah Kraus. You can support us on Patreon at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/unwatchables⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to get access to exclusive bonus content and weigh in on what we watch next. Find us online at www.unwatchablespod.com or shoot us an email at unwatchablespodcast@gmail.com. We're on Instagram and Twitter under @unwatchablespod. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/unwatchablespod/message

Unwatchables is thrilled to welcome back Amy Hensarling of Watch This List for our special pre-Oscars episode! Jonathan Glazer’s harrowing Holocaust drama THE ZONE OF INTEREST may be the most unconventional Best Picture nominee in years, if not ever; we discuss Glazer’s entire career, his uniquely unsettling approach to a familiar unsettling subject, and whether in this case he went far enough. You can find more from Amy at https://letterboxd.com/amyhensarling/ and you can check out her podcast, Watch This List, at https://t.co/UWxbDl7Rnj Unwatchables is hosted by Marc Dottavio and Seth Troyer, produced by Tony Scarpitti, featuring artwork by Micah Kraus. You can support us on Patreon at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/unwatchables⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to get access to exclusive bonus content and weigh in on what we watch next. Find us online at www.unwatchablespod.com or shoot us an email at unwatchablespodcast@gmail.com. We're on Instagram and Twitter under @unwatchablespod. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/unwatchablespod/message

Today’s Unwatchables looks back at a stretch of the 2000’s when seemingly every grimy horror classic was getting a slick, ultra-gory remake. Author and podcaster Mallory Smart joins us to discuss contemporary updates of two of the most iconic and disturbing guerilla horror films of the 70’s, and whether they might actually be *more* sadistic than the originals. They are Marcus Nispel’s glossy 2003 THE TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE, and Alejandre Aja’s brutal 2006 THE HILLS HAVE EYES. You can find more from Mallory at https://mallorysmart.com/ Unwatchables is hosted by Marc Dottavio and Seth Troyer, produced by Tony Scarpitti, featuring artwork by Micah Kraus. You can support us on Patreon at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/unwatchables⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to get access to exclusive bonus content and weigh in on what we watch next. Find us online at www.unwatchablespod.com or shoot us an email at unwatchablespodcast@gmail.com. We're on Instagram and Twitter under @unwatchablespod. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/unwatchablespod/message

Today’s Unwatchables is all about the loquacious, shockingly brutal modern exploitation films of S. Craig Zahler. Special guest Matt Belenky helps us discuss Zahler’s artful approach to extreme violence, the controversy around his perceived politics, and whether his films are actually as regressive as their inspirations. On deck are 2015’s grisly horror Western BONE TOMAHAWK, and 2017’s face-smashing prison flick BRAWL IN CELL BLOCK 99. You can find more from Matt at https://letterboxd.com/saveferris71/ Unwatchables is hosted by Marc Dottavio and Seth Troyer, produced by Tony Scarpitti, featuring artwork by Micah Kraus. You can support us on Patreon at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/unwatchables⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to get access to exclusive bonus content and weigh in on what we watch next. Find us online at www.unwatchablespod.com or shoot us an email at unwatchablespodcast@gmail.com. We're on Instagram and Twitter under @unwatchablespod. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/unwatchablespod/message

Unwatchables kicks off Season 3 with one of the most notorious outsider cult films of the 2000’s. With help from video essayist Jacob Sleezer, we dissect the surreal provocations of filmmaker Damon Packard, starting with his epic, vomit-drenched, copyright-infringing magnum opus, 2002’s REFLECTIONS OF EVIL. Topics include Packard blowing his inheritance, whether he might actually be unwell, and his years-in-the-making sci-fi whatsit FOXFUR. You can find Jacob on Letterboxd at https://letterboxd.com/wormwould/ and on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCh-IwbDtNPL6T6zrngXpOCw Unwatchables is hosted by Marc Dottavio and Seth Troyer, produced by Tony Scarpitti, featuring artwork by Micah Kraus. You can support us on Patreon at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/unwatchables⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to get access to exclusive bonus content and weigh in on what we watch next. Find us online at www.unwatchablespod.com or shoot us an email at unwatchablespodcast@gmail.com. We're on Instagram and Twitter under @unwatchablespod. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/unwatchablespod/message

For the Unwatchables Season 2 finale, we’re tackling the highest-grossing— and we do mean gross— documentary series of all time. In this special “Producer’s Pick” episode, our producer Tony Scarpitti helps us discuss the JACKASS phenomenon, how the films evolved over the years, and which parts we found too painful to endure. In the end, we rank all four theatrically-released films… a stunt that should not be performed at home. Unwatchables is hosted by Marc Dottavio and Seth Troyer, produced by Tony Scarpitti, featuring artwork by Micah Kraus. You can support us on Patreon at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/unwatchables⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to get access to exclusive bonus content and weigh in on what we watch next. Find us online at www.unwatchablespod.com or shoot us an email at unwatchablespodcast@gmail.com. We're on Instagram and Twitter under @unwatchablespod. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/unwatchablespod/message

Film critic Mike D’Angelo returns to Unwatchables with our most unexpected guest pick yet: Bobcat Goldthwait’s 2006 dark comedy SLEEPING DOGS LIE. We discuss what makes it so queasy yet unexpectedly moving, how Mike’s opinion has shifted over the years, and whether this is the first rom-com to pivot on an act of bestiality. ALSO: Stay tuned after the discussion for our first Unwatchables guest questionnaire, including Mike’s most unpopular opinion and most Unwatchable film. You can find more from Mike at https://www.patreon.com/gemko Unwatchables is hosted by Marc Dottavio and Seth Troyer, produced by Tony Scarpitti, featuring artwork by Micah Kraus. You can support us on Patreon at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/unwatchables⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to get access to exclusive bonus content and weigh in on what we watch next. Find us online at www.unwatchablespod.com or shoot us an email at unwatchablespodcast@gmail.com. We're on Instagram and Twitter under @unwatchablespod. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/unwatchablespod/message

Today’s guest is Robert Daniels, associate editor of http://RogerEbert.com, to help us discuss a controversial fugitive drama that takes a provocative look at police violence against Black Americans. 2019’s QUEEN & SLIM is the feature debut of Melina Matsoukas— director of the iconic music video for Beyonce’s “Formation”— and stars Oscar-winner Daniel Kaluuya. So why has it become potentially overlooked? We discuss how it holds up today, Snoop Dog’s hostile reaction at the screening Robert attended, and the online discourse over its ending. You can find more from Robert at https://www.rogerebert.com/contributors/robert-daniels Unwatchables is hosted by Marc Dottavio and Seth Troyer, produced by Tony Scarpitti, featuring artwork by Micah Kraus. You can support us on Patreon at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/unwatchables⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to get access to exclusive bonus content and weigh in on what we watch next. Find us online at www.unwatchablespod.com or shoot us an email at unwatchablespodcast@gmail.com. We're on Instagram and Twitter under @unwatchablespod. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/unwatchablespod/message

Who better to join our Halloween special than film critic Katie Rife, aficionado of all things horror? She proves her strong stomach by exposing us to two of the most harrowing serial killer films ever made, starting with 1986’s hugely influential HENRY: PORTRAIT OF A SERIAL KILLER. We discuss its revolutionary approach to depicting violence, how it comments on the true crime genre, and one of its most repulsive descendants: Fatih Akin’s 2019 stomach-churner THE GOLDEN GLOVE. You can find more from Katie at https://x.com/RifewithKatie Unwatchables is hosted by Marc Dottavio and Seth Troyer, produced by Tony Scarpitti, featuring artwork by Micah Kraus. You can support us on Patreon at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/unwatchables⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to get access to exclusive bonus content and weigh in on what we watch next. Find us online at www.unwatchablespod.com or shoot us an email at unwatchablespodcast@gmail.com. We're on Instagram and Twitter under @unwatchablespod. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/unwatchablespod/message

We’ve already tackled two films from KIDS’ Larry Clark on our previous “Kids Aren’t All Right” episode— who’d have thought he had more unwatchable in him? Today we’re joined by B.R. Yeager, author of the acclaimed horror novel NEGATIVE SPACE, for further evidence that the kids still aren’t, in fact, all right. Both of these films show the dark side of coming of age in all its potential trauma and violence, though only one offers any glimmer of hope: Clark’s 2001 true crime story BULLY, and Gregg Araki’s 2004 sex abuse drama MYSTERIOUS SKIN. You can find more from B.R. Yeager at https://www.bryeager.com/ Unwatchables is hosted by Marc Dottavio and Seth Troyer, produced by Tony Scarpitti, featuring artwork by Micah Kraus. You can support us on Patreon at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/unwatchables⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to get access to exclusive bonus content and weigh in on what we watch next. Find us online at www.unwatchablespod.com or shoot us an email at unwatchablespodcast@gmail.com. We're on Instagram and Twitter under @unwatchablespod. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/unwatchablespod/message

Today’s films take us deep into the subjective sensory experience of extreme mental illness, including at least one character with paranoid schizophrenia. Chicago film critic Isaac Feldberg (of http://RogerEbert.com, Paste Magazine, and more) joins us to discuss the very different— but equally harrowing— approaches of two superficially similar films, both by writer/director Lodge Kerrigan: his auspicious, disturbing 1993 debut CLEAN, SHAVEN, and its 2004 spiritual remake KEANE. You can find more from Isaac at https://linktr.ee/isaacfeldberg Unwatchables is hosted by Marc Dottavio and Seth Troyer, produced by Tony Scarpitti, featuring artwork by Micah Kraus. You can support us on Patreon at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/unwatchables⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to get access to exclusive bonus content and weigh in on what we watch next. Find us online at www.unwatchablespod.com or shoot us an email at unwatchablespodcast@gmail.com. We're on Instagram and Twitter under @unwatchablespod. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/unwatchablespod/message

Today we’re joined by Bob McCully from the film podcast Split Your Head to discuss two of the first films to violently tear up the notion that puppets are just for kids. Back when puppetry was mostly the domain of children’s entertainment, these movies brought enough graphic sex, drugs, and violence to traumatize any child unlucky enough to stumble upon them: Peter Jackson’s 1989 ultra-dark comedy MEET THE FEEBLES, and Gerard Damiano’s 1976 pornographic musical LET MY PUPPETS COME. You can follow Bob on Letterboxd at https://letterboxd.com/bobmccully/ and check out his podcast, Split Your Head, at https://www.youtube.com/@splityourheadpodcast Unwatchables is hosted by Marc Dottavio and Seth Troyer, produced by Tony Scarpitti, featuring artwork by Micah Kraus. You can support us on Patreon at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/unwatchables⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to get access to exclusive bonus content and weigh in on what we watch next. Find us online at www.unwatchablespod.com or shoot us an email at unwatchablespodcast@gmail.com. We're on Instagram and Twitter under @unwatchablespod. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/unwatchablespod/message

Today we’re tackling two controversial landmarks in gay cinema with help from Guy Lodge, film columnist for The Observer and chief UK film critic for Variety. Both films were scandalous for the early 1980’s, pushing boundaries with their unflinching depictions of the lives of gay men just before the AIDS crisis. First up is 1982’s QUERELLE, the final and most provocative film from legendary German director Rainer Werner Fassbinder; followed by 1980’s even more daring (and graphic) cult classic TAXI ZUM KLO (aka TAXI TO THE TOILET). You can find more from Guy at https://www.filmoftheweek.co.uk/ --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/unwatchablespod/message

This week’s Unwatchables is a double feature of “NYC cop movie sleazecore”— a term coined by guest Jason Bailey, film critic, author, and host of the popular film podcast A Very Good Year. Both of these films were mired in controversy for their explicit content; both are by directed by legendary, and legendarily cranky, auteurs; and both star iconic New York actors navigating the city’s seedy underbelly. The films are William Friedkin’s (R.I.P) 1980 undercover crime thriller CRUISING, and Abel Ferrara’s 1992 morality play BAD LIEUTENANT. You can hear more from Jason at tinyurl.com/avgy-pod and find his latest book at amazon.com/Jason-Bailey/ Unwatchables is hosted by Marc Dottavio and Seth Troyer, produced by Tony Scarpitti, featuring artwork by Micah Kraus. You can support us on Patreon at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/unwatchables⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to get access to exclusive bonus content and weigh in on what we watch next. Find us online at www.unwatchablespod.com or shoot us an email at unwatchablespodcast@gmail.com. We're on Instagram and Twitter under @unwatchablespod. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/unwatchablespod/message

Today we’re joined by Bilge Ebiri, one of the country’s leading film critics for Vulture and New York Magazine, to tackle Peter Greenaway’s most disturbing film. The British director may be best known for his 1989 arthouse classic THE COOK, THE THIEF, HIS WIFE & HER LOVER, but he made several other singular, controversial, and often shocking films in the 80’s and 90’s. Perhaps the most shocking of all is 1993’s THE BABY OF MÂCON, which distributors found so disturbing that it wasn’t seen for years in the U.S. and has still never had an official North American release. Now that it can finally be streamed, we see what all the fuss is about and if there’s any saving this baby from the bathwater. You can find more from Bilge at https://www.vulture.com/author/bilge-ebiri/ Unwatchables is hosted by Marc Dottavio and Seth Troyer, produced by Tony Scarpitti, featuring artwork by Micah Kraus. You can support us on Patreon at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/unwatchables⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to get access to exclusive bonus content and weigh in on what we watch next. Find us online at www.unwatchablespod.com or shoot us an email at unwatchablespodcast@gmail.com. We're on Instagram and Twitter under @unwatchablespod. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/unwatchablespod/message

Today’s guest is Christopher Norris aka Steak Mtn, the visual artist behind album art for bands like Against Me!, the frontman of Combatwoundedveteran, and now the author of the new book THE HOLY DAY. He’s here to help us figure out what happened to Lindsay Lohan, former teen idol from films like FREAKY FRIDAY and MEAN GIRLS, who seemed on her way to working with legendary directors like Robert Altman. Instead her career took some strange turns before fizzling out, and we’re talking two of the most Unwatchable examples: 2007’s horror fiasco I KNOW WHO KILLED ME, and Paul Schrader’s 2013 “erotic thriller” THE CANYONS. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/unwatchablespod/message

Unwatchables welcomes author and film/TV critic Charles Bramesco to discuss one of the most intimidating of all cinematic rites of passage. Bela Tarr’s SATANTANGO is 7 hours and 20 minutes long, and at least one of our hosts endured the entire film in one butt-numbing sitting. And lest you think that 7+ hours flies by, it’s also a quintessential example of slow cinema at its bleakest and most punishing. We discuss the nature of “endurance cinema,” how best to endure this particular example, and the scene that Marc found to be the hardest to watch in all of Unwatchables history. You can find Charles' book, COLORS OF FILM, at https://www.quarto.com/books/9780711279384/Colors-of-Film Unwatchables is hosted by Marc Dottavio and Seth Troyer, produced by Tony Scarpitti, featuring artwork by Micah Kraus. You can support us on Patreon at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/unwatchables⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to get access to exclusive bonus content and weigh in on what we watch next. Find us online at www.unwatchablespod.com or shoot us an email at unwatchablespodcast@gmail.com. We're on Instagram and Twitter under @unwatchablespod. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/unwatchablespod/message