In Die Hard, a New York cop must single-handedly battle a group of terrorists who have seized a Los Angeles skyscraper and taken hostages during a Christmas Eve party, including his estranged wife. Die Hard was released on July 15, 1988, and stars Bruce Willis, Alan Rickman, Bonnie Bedelia, and Reginald VelJohnson, and was directed by John McTiernan. Recommendations: Tim: Police Story (Chan, 1985)Tay: Behind Enemy Lines (Moore, 2001)Follow: SSC on Instagram Tim on Letterboxd

During Christmas break, a group of sorority sisters at Pi Kappa Sigma begin receiving disturbing obscene phone calls from an unknown stranger. As the festive season continues, the mysterious caller's threats escalate from harassment to deadly violence. Black Christmas was released on October 11, 1974, and stars Olivia Hussey, Keir Dullea, Margot Kidder, and John Saxon, and was directed by Bob Clark. Links: "Recreating New York with Stanley Kubrick"TreevengeThe FearWhistle and I'll Come To ...

In Pan's Labyrinth, a young girl seeks her mythical royal heritage in a magical labyrinth during the Spanish Civil War. Starring Ivana Baquero, Sergi López and Doug Jones and directed by Guillermo del Toro, Pan's Labyrinth was released December 29, 2006. Links: ListersRecommendations: Tim: The Wizard of Oz (Fleming, 1939)Tay: Fantastic Planet (Laloux, 1973)Follow: SSC on Instagram Tim on Letterboxd

In The Shape of Water, a mute janitor working in a government laboratory forms a bond with a captive amphibious creature. Starring Sally Hawkins, Doug Jones and Michael Shannon and directed by Guillermo del Toro, The Shape of Water was released December 1, 2017. Recommendations: Tay — The Lure (Smoczynska, 2015) Tim — The Elephant Man (Lynch, 1980) Follow: SSC on Instagram Tim on Letterboxd

In Halloween, a masked killer returns to his quiet suburban hometown after escaping a mental institution and begins stalking a babysitter and her friends on Halloween night. Starring Jamie Lee Curtis and Donald Pleasence and directed by John Carpenter, Halloween was released October 25, 1978. Recommendations: Tim — The Hitcher (Harmon, 1986)—where to watch Tay — Halloween H20 (Minor, 1998)—where to watch Follow: SSC on Instagram Tim on Letterboxd

In The Shining, a family heads to an isolated hotel for the winter where a sinister presence influences the father into violence. The young son, gifted with psychic abilities, witnesses disturbing visions of the past and future. Starring Danny Lloyd, Jack Nicholson and Shelley Duvall and directed by Stanley Kubrick, The Shining was released May 23, 1980. Recommendations: Tim — Doctor Sleep (Flanagan, 2019)—where to watch Tay — El Orfanato (Bayona, 2007)—where to watch Follow: SSC on Instag...

In Weapons, a small town is shaken when an entire third-grade class vanishes overnight, leaving only one child behind, and no clear answers as to where the children went. Starring Julia Garner and Josh Brolin and directed by Zach Cregger, Weapons was released August 8, 2025. Recommendations: Tim — The Innocents (Jack Clayton, 1961)—where to watch Tay — Place Beyond the Pines (Derek Cianfrance, 2012)—where to watch Follow: SSC on Instagram Tim on Letterboxd

In 28 Years Later, a father and son leave their quarantined community on a remote island to venture into the zombie-infested mainland. Starring Jodie Comer, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, and Jack O’Connell, and directed by Danny Boyle, 28 Years Later is was released June 20, 2025. Also, don't miss our other podcast, promoting the Peaks Central Asian Film Festival. Check out the latest episode here, and follow them on Instagram here. Recommendations Tim: A Bigger Splash (Guadagnino, 2015)—where to wat...

In 28 Days Later, a man wakes up in an abandoned hospital to find the world devastated by a mysterious virus. He soon joins a group of survivors, they face both the infected and the horrors of what humanity has become. Starring Cillian Murphy and directed by Danny Boyle, 28 Days Later was released June 27, 2003. Also, don't miss our other podcast, promoting the Peaks Central Asian Film Festival. Check out the latest episode here, and follow them on Instagram here. Recommendations Tim: Re-Anim...

In Zodiac, policemen, journalists and a cartoonist become obsessed with identifying the titular killer, whose cryptic letters and brutal murders haunt the Bay Area. As the years pass, the case consumes those chasing the truth. Starring Jake Gyllenhaal, Robert Downey Jr., and Mark Ruffalo, and directed by David Fincher, Zodiac was released March 2, 2007. Also, don't miss our other podcast, promoting the Peaks Central Asian Film Festival. Check out the latest episode here, and follow the...

In Prometheus, a team of explorers travels to a distant planet hoping to uncover the origins of human life. What they find instead is a threat beyond anything they imagined. Starring Noomi Rapace and Michael Fassbender, and directed by Ridley Scott, Prometheus was released June 8, 2012. Recommendations Tim: The Killer (Fincher, 2023) — where to watch Tay: Hard To Be A God (German, 2014) — where to watch Follow: SSC on Instagram Tim on Letterboxd

Alien focuses on the crew of a commercial spaceship who investigate a distress signal and unknowingly bring a deadly alien lifeform aboard. One by one, the crew is hunted in the isolation of deep space. Starring Sigourney Weaver and directed by Ridley Scott, Alien was released May 25, 1979. Where to watch Alien. Notes Peaks Central Film FestivalChestburster in Spaceballs Recommendations Tim: The Hidden (Sholder, 1987) — where to watch Tay: Repo Man (Cox, 1984) — where to watch Foll...

Annihilation is a sci-fi mystery about a group of scientists who enter the Shimmer—a strange, mutating zone to investigate a phenomenon no one understands. As they journey deeper, the landscape—and their minds—begin to unravel. Starring Natalie Portman and written and directed by Alex Garland, Annihilation was released February 23, 2018. Where to watch Annihilation. Notes Annihilation and Decoding Metaphor (Folding Ideas)MandelbulbRecommendations Tim: Evil Does Not Exist (Hamaguchi, 2023) — w...

Ex Machina is a sci-fi drama about a young programmer who’s invited to test a humanoid robot’s intelligence. As the experiment unfolds, he begins to question the motives of both the robot and its creator. Starring Domhnall Gleeson, Alicia Vikander, and Oscar Isaac, and directed by Alex Garland, Ex Machina was released April 10, 2015. Where to watch Ex Machina Notes Playhouse CinemaPeaks Film FestivalThe Idea of "Bumping The Lamp" (via kaptainkristian, not Every Frame a Painting)Recomme...

O Brother, Where Art Thou? is a Depression-era comedic-adventure-musical that follows three escaped convicts as they journey across Mississippi in search of hidden treasure, encountering bizarre characters and unexpected twists along the way—all set to a rich backdrop of American folk and bluegrass music. Starring George Clooney and directed by Joel & Ethan Coen, O Brother, Where Art Thou? was released December 22, 2000. Where to watch O Brother, Where Art Thou? Notes Down From The M...

Andrew Finlay Stewart is an artist and musician, and the host of the podcast The Rules of the Show, which you can find on Instagram (@therulesoftheshow) and wherever you get podcasts. --- Inside Llewyn Davis is a melancholic drama set in the 1960s folk music scene, following a struggling musician navigating the unforgiving New York winter in pursuit of artistic success. Starring Oscar Isaac and directed by Joel & Ethan Coen, Inside Llewyn Davis was released December 6, 2013. ...

In this special annual episode, Tim and Tay highlight a few notable scenes from 2024. Not necessarily the best or our favourites, but certainly worth seeing! Links: THR Director Roundtable: Brady Corbet, Coralie Fargeat, Denis Villeneuve, Ridley Scott & More'Dune: Part Two' Director Denis Villeneuve Breaks Down the Sandworm Scene | Vanity FairAs always, please leave us a review on iTunes and spread the word to your friends! This month: The Coen Brothers! Follow: SSC on Instagram Tim on...

Snowpiercer is a dystopian thriller set in a frozen post-apocalyptic world, where the last remnants of humanity survive aboard a perpetually moving train—divided by a brutal class hierarchy that erupts into rebellion. Starring Chris Evans and directed by Bong Joon-ho, Snowpiercer was released August 1, 2013. Where to watch Snowpiercer Notes: "Snowpiercer - Left or Right" (Every Frame a Painting)First past the post polling Recommendations Tim: Train to Busan (Yeon, 2016) — where to watc...

Parasite is a social satire about a poor family infiltrating the lives of a wealthy household, leading to unexpected consequences and a scathing critique of class inequality. Starring Song Kang-ho and directed by Bong Joon-ho, Parasite was released May 30, 2019. Where to watch Parasite. Notes: "Memories of Murder (2003) - Ensemble Staging" (Every Frame a Painting)"Notes From The Underground" by Inkoo Kang Recommendations Tim: Cheap Thrills (Katz, 2013) — where to watch Tay: Kajilliona...

The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo is a gripping mystery about a disgraced journalist and a brilliant hacker who team up to uncover a decades-old family secret involving murder, corruption, and lies on a secluded Swedish island.Starring Rooney Mara and Daniel Craig and directed by David Fincher, The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo was released Dec. 20, 2011.Where to watch The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo.RecommendationsTim: Fire Walk With Me (Lynch, 1992) — where to watchTay: The Killing of Chin...