What If I Don’t Like It? with Kt Baldassaro

What If I Don’t Like It? – Season Two Finale: The Night of the Hunter (1955)For the season two finale, I’m joined by film critic Carl Gustafson ("@Carlthefilmcritic") to talk about The Night of the Hunter (1955), a classic horror film often called one of the greatest and most influential movies ever made. Why do filmmakers love it? Why did it fail on release? And why can it feel intimidating to first-time viewers?This episode is perfect for anyone who has avoided this classic because it feels lofty or intimidating. Carl and I break down the film’s direction by Charles Laughton, Robert Mitchum’s iconic performance, its expressionist cinematography, and why it remains a genuinely tense, emotional, and influential movie.Whether you’re a horror fan, a classic film lover, or just curious about this famous movie, this conversation is a friendly guide to The Night of the Hunter.Where You Can Find UsKt Baldassaro (@MovieRuntime) TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@movieruntime Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/movieruntime YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@MovieRuntimeCarl Gustafson (@Carlthefilmcritic) TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@carlthefilmcritic Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/carlthefilmcritic YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@CarlTheCritic00:00 Introduction to The Night of the Hunter and Episode Overview11:15 Film Reviews, TikTok, and How We Talk About Movies16:58 First Movie Memories, Comfort Films, and Horror Origins22:31 The American Dream and Classic Hollywood Themes27:32 The Night of the Hunter Plot Overview and First Reactions31:57 Film Noir, Expressionism, and Cinematic Style36:00 Cinematography, Shadows, and Visual Storytelling39:40 Influence on Modern Horror and Filmmakers42:04 Women in The Night of the Hunter: Sexuality and Power45:50 Religion, Good vs Evil, and Moral Fear48:20 Iconic Scenes and Lasting Imagery52:37 Pacing, Structure, and Narrative Choices56:07 Character Development and Child Protagonists01:00:49 Robert Mitchum’s Performance as a Horror Villain01:04:42 Film Score, Sound Design, and Atmosphere01:11:22 Why The Night of the Hunter Still Matters01:18:33 Corrections, Context, and Extended Discussion01:19:34 True Story Influences and Charles Laughton’s Direction01:21:02 Release Problems, Critical Reception, and Reevaluation01:27:14 Final Thoughts, Legacy, and Season Wrap-UpMovies Referenced in This EpisodeListed by year of releaseThe Cabinet of Dr. Caligari (1920)Nosferatu (1922)Frankenstein (1931)The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1939)Dumbo (1941)The Night of the Hunter (1955)Marty (1955)Lady and the Tramp (1955)East of Eden (1955)Cape Fear (1962)My Fair Lady (1964)Onibaba (1964)Eraserhead (1977)Suspiria (1977)The Fox and the Hound (1981)Das Boot (1981)Blue Velvet (1986)Do the Right Thing (1989)Edward Scissorhands (1990)Perfect Blue (1997)The Big Lebowski (1998)Requiem for a Dream (2000)No Country for Old Men (2007)Coraline (2009)Black Swan (2010)The Shape of Water (2017)Suspiria (2018)Midsommar (2019)Us (2019)Bo Is Afraid (2023)Lisa Frankenstein (2024)

Is Fried Green Tomatoes secretly the beginning of a Wendigo movie?A fun and heartfelt deep dive into Fried Green Tomatoes with Brian Cottington from Cinema Psychos. We break down the film’s queer subtext, Southern Gothic themes, adaptation changes, VHS nostalgia, and why this 1991 classic still resonates. Plus: Hellraiser, food in movies, 90s comfort rewatches, and way too many cannibalism jokes.We get into:• why Fried Green Tomatoes still hits emotionally• book vs. film changes (and what got censored)• queer coding, agency, abuse, and Southern Gothic vibes• VHS nostalgia, NES cartridges, and growing up on tapes• comfort rewatches, horror gateways & Brian’s love for Hellraiser• how movies shape food culture (Tampopo, Wonka bars, fried green tomatoes)• the Christina Ricci movie we absolutely blanked on• plus… more cannibalism jokes than anyone asked for 😅If you love movies, film history, weird trivia, and totally unhinged tangents—welcome home.New episodes drop monthly.Subscribe for long-form deep dives with equal parts heart and chaos.Follow Brian Cottington (Cinema Psychos)Instagram: @CinemaPsychosTikTok: @CinemaPsychosPodcast: Cinema Psychos ShowFollow KT Baldassaro (What If I Don’t Like It?)Instagram: @MovieRuntimeTikTok: @MovieRuntimeYouTube: @MovieRuntimeTimestamps00:52 – Cold Open + Intro01:41 – Guest Intro: Brian from Cinema Psychos05:44 – Writing Episodes: Script Process & Workflow08:32 – TikTok Growth, Visual Style & On-Camera Tips12:57 – Audio Quality Talk: Mics, Sound Design & Best Practices17:07 – VHS Nostalgia: Watching 2001: A Space Odyssey on Tape22:22 – Brian’s Film Habits & Comfort Rewatches28:22 – Hellraiser: Cenobites, Clive Barker & Franchise Evolution30:30 – Fried Green Tomatoes: Adaptation Choices31:21 – Oscars History: What Beat It That Year32:50 – Queer Representation: Coding, Tropes & Supermarket Sweep42:62 – Gender, Abuse, Identity & Agency55:12 – Food in Movies: Tampopo, Wonka Bars & More1:00:07 – Christina Ricci Tangent (Now and Then)1:06:73 – Cannibalism Running Gag + Ravenous1:08:24 – Righteous Gemstones: Danny McBride Archetypes1:22:42 – Final ThoughtsMovies Mentioned2001: A Space Odyssey (1968)Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory (1971)The Texas Chain Saw Massacre (1974)Tampopo (1985)Hellraiser (1987)The Little Mermaid (1989)Batman (1989)Fried Green Tomatoes (1991)A Goofy Movie (1995)Now and Then (1995)May (2002)Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants (2005)Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (2005)No Country for Old Men (2007)Avatar (2009)Batgirl (unreleased, 2022)Wile E. Coyote vs. Acme (unreleased, 2023)

Horror film reviewer Taylor Complains (@taylorcomplains) joins host Kt Baldassaro (@MovieRuntime) to dig into Frank Oz’s 1986 cult horror musical classic Little Shop of Horrors. Killer plants sing, Rick Moranis charms, and the bleak alternate ending is somehow more expensive than Aliens. Kt and Taylor dive into what happens when a horror fan with zero patience for musicals meets one of the campiest cult classics of the 1980s. From killer plants to killer performances, they debate whether Little Shop of Horrors deserves its legacy, or if it’s all just Muppet-fueled madness.We also dig into: 🎭 Frank Oz’s Muppet DNA and why his practical effects still hold up 40 years later 💀 That infamous alternate ending… the one test audiences couldn’t handle 🎥 Rick Moranis’s “lovable loser” energy and why it somehow works every time 🧵 Why horror and comedy blend perfectly, but musicals can drive even die-hard horror fans insane 🌆 The original 1960 version with Jack Nicholson, and how it evolved from B-movie to Broadway hit 😂 Taylor’s brutal honesty, his case for bleak endings, and why he rates this one a "2… maybe 2.5, but only because it eats everyone at the end.”Whether you’re a Little Shop devotee or a proud musical hater, this episode delivers sharp film analysis, chaotic humor, and a surprisingly heartfelt appreciation for practical effects and bad decisions.🔗 Follow Taylor Complains TikTok: @taylorcomplains YouTube: @taylorcomplains Instagram: @taylorcomplains🎧 Follow Kt Baldassaro (@MovieRuntime) Instagram & TikTok: @MovieRuntime Letterboxd: @MovieRuntime YouTube: @MovieRuntime#LittleShopOfHorrors #FrankOz #RickMoranis #HorrorMusical #FilmPodcast #CultCinema #MovieRuntime #WhatIfIDontLikeIt #80sMovies #PracticalEffects #SteveMartin #JackNicholson #PodcastInterview #FilmCritic #HorrorTikTok #TaylorComplains #HorrorCommunity #FilmAnalysis #ComedyPodcast #cultmovies Master Chronological List of all Films Mentioned in this EpisodeGo Ask Alice (1973)Little Shop of Horrors (1960)The Dark Crystal (1982)The Thing (1982)Gremlins (1984)Ghostbusters (1984)The Muppets Take Manhattan (1984)The Fly (1986)Little Shop of Horrors (1986)Spaceballs (1987)Who Framed Roger Rabbit (1988)Honey, I Shrunk the Kids (1989)Arachnophobia (1990)Jason Goes to Hell: The Final Friday (1993)Pulp Fiction (1994)Natural Born Killers (1994)Vampires (1998)Ravenous (1999)Magnolia (1999)Boondock Saints (1999)Rush Hour (1998)Blade (1998)The South Park Movie (Bigger, Longer & Uncut) (1999)The Descent (2005)Brokeback Mountain (2005)There Will Be Blood (2007)[REC] (2007)No Country for Old Men (2007)Repo! The Genetic Opera (2008)Quarantine (2008)Antichrist (2009)Cabin in the Woods (2011)Melancholia (2011)Evil Dead (2013The Voices (2014)The Lure (2015)Call Me By Your Name (2017)Anna and the Apocalypse (2017)The House That Jack Built (2018)Licorice Pizza (2021)Him (2024)Longlegs (2024)Sinners (2024)Chapters:00:00 Intro & Guest Introduction01:00 Why Horror Musicals Are Hard to Love03:00 Anna and the Apocalypse vs. Little Shop05:00 Theater Kids, Performance, and Authenticity08:00 Taylor’s Horror Background & Top Films13:00 Film Critique and Letting People Like What They Like17:00 Nihilism, PTA, and Modern vs. Classic Horror28:00 Why the Bleak Ending of Little Shop Works31:00 Frank Oz, The Muppet Aesthetic, and Practical Effects35:00 The Alternate Ending and Test Audiences42:00 American Audiences’ Obsession with Happy Endings44:00 Despair, Self-Indulgence, and What Makes Art Work47:00 Puppetry, Performance, and the Magic of Lip Syncing53:00 Character Voices, Archetypes, and Rick Moranis’ “Lovable Loser”01:35:00 Final Thoughts: Why the Film Endures Despite Its Flaws

Independent filmmaker Victoria Roccaforte joins host Kt Baldassaro (@MovieRuntime) to dive deep into Richard Linklater’s rotoscoped sci-fi masterpiece A Scanner Darkly and the world of Philip K. Dick. ▶️ From the mind-bending animation process to the film’s eerily prescient themes of surveillance, addiction, and identity, this conversation is packed with insight for cinephiles and casual viewers alike.We also explore: 🎬 Victoria’s award-bound short Only Time Heals, shot across all four New England seasons and premiering at LAVA Film Festival 🎥 How Linklater’s naturalistic directing style compares to filmmakers like James Cameron, Sofia Coppola, and Gus Van Sant 🎨 Rotoscoping history, Robert Downey Jr.’s improvisation, and why A Scanner Darkly remains one of the most faithful Philip K. Dick adaptations 🌈 Queer representation in cinema: from Bend It Like Beckham to Fried Green Tomatoes; and the compromises filmmakers face to get stories on screenWhether you’re here for film analysis, animation talk, or indie filmmaking inspiration, this episode has it all.🔗 Follow & Watch Victoria Roccaforte Website: victoriaroccaforte.com Films: victoriaroccaforte.com/films Letterboxd: letterboxd.com/vrocca Instagram: @vrocca_ TikTok: @vrocca YouTube: @vroccafilms Bluesky: vroccafilms.bsky.social🎧 Follow Kt Baldassaro (@MovieRuntime) Instagram & TikTok: @MovieRuntime Letterboxd: @MovieRuntime#AScannerDarkly #RichardLinklater #PhilipKDick #FilmPodcast #IndieFilm #Rotoscope #Animation #MoviePodcast #VictoriaRoccaforte #WhatIfIDontLikeIt #MovieRuntime #KeanuReeves #PodcastInterview #FilmAnalysis #IndependentFilmMaster Chronological List of all Films Mentioned in this Episode1914 – Coco the Clown (rotoscope shorts)1968 – Belladonna of Sadness1975 – Trilogy of Terror1978 – The Lord of the Rings (animated, Ralph Bakshi)1982 – Blade Runner1983 – The Big Chill1988 – Who Framed Roger Rabbit1991 – Terminator 2: Judgment Day (James Cameron reference)1994 – Anna: 6–181994 – The Lion King (quick Disney mention)1995 – Before Sunrise1997 – Titanic1997 – Perfect Blue *1998 – Quest for Camelot1998 – Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas *1998 – Run Lola Run (side mention in discussion of time/structure)1999 – The Matrix (Philip K. Dick influence discussion)1999 – Fight Club (quick cultural mention)2000 – Requiem for a Dream *2000 – American Psycho (mentioned alongside Fight Club)2001 – A.I. Artificial Intelligence2001 – Waking Life2002 – Blue Crush *2003 – Oldboy (mentioned in extreme cinema context)2004 – Before Sunset2006 – A Scanner Darkly2009 – Avatar (James Cameron’s tech/water discussion)2010 – Black Swan2013 – Before Midnight2013 – Under the Skin (Scarlett Johansson alien reference)2014 – Boyhood2015 – Ex Machina2017 – Loving Vincent2022 – Apollo 10½: A Space Age Childhood2023 – Hit Man (Linklater, Netflix)

What if a board game could trap you for 26 years… and when you finally escape, you’re Robin Williams in full survival mode? That’s Jumanji — and it’s way darker, weirder, and more heartfelt than you might remember.In this episode of What If I Don’t Like It?, Scott and I revisit the 1995 classic after traveling to Keene, New Hampshire for the 30th Anniversary celebration — inflatable animal stampede, restored theater screening, scavenger hunt, and all.We dig into:The secret lore of the Jumanji game (and its Zathura connection)Casting “what ifs” from Tom Hanks to Sean PennRobin Williams’ incredible professionalism on setThe CGI vs. practical effects magic — and the wheezing rhino that stole the showHow a movie can still shape a community 30 years laterFrom behind-the-scenes chaos to wild trivia, this is part movie deep-dive, part travelogue, and a whole lot of 90s nostalgia.Follow & rate the show so you never miss our takes on movies you think you know (but might not).