Queen is Dead - A Film, TV and Culture Podcast

Cris, Varun & Ashwin wanted to talk about "Digger" & "Verity" during Dhruv's beloved Spooktober. But two of them bailed out for NO VALID REASON WHATSOEVER, so Dhruv had to subject himself to the horrifically unfunny catastrophe that is Alejandro Gonzalez Innaritu & Tom Cruise's "Digger." Arijit joins Dhruv and Cris on this episode to push back against their uncompromising hatred towards "Digger" and its brand of -- in their words -- "unfunny, anti-intellectual postmodernism." Unsurprisingly, the internet discourse surrounding "Digger" is also widely discussed, with Dhruv and Cris doing their level best to convince Arijit why most of the film's (re)appraisals don't hold up. All in all, an extended discussion about (& around) the film -- which, I suppose, is considered a win for the film's intentions, regardless of its actual (cinematic) qualities. Conversely, Cris then -- briefly -- trashes Michael Showalter's "Verity" for not being very trashy. Listen to the full episode to hear a lot of (hopefully) informed bitching and (hopefully) productive discourse. You are most welcome to tell us if it wasn't informed or productive -- we will not quote it back to you and say that you're wrong for thinking so because we intended it to be otherwise! Major spoilers for "Digger" & "Verity"! TIMECODES Introduction: [00:00 - 04:39] The "Digger" Takedown - [04:39 - 24:27] The "Digger" Defense - [24:27 - 32:30] The "Digger" Debate(s) - [32:30 - 01:15:19] The "Verity" Rant (ft. Cris) - [01:15:19 - 01:36:49] Outro - [01:36:49 - 01:39:19] Do hit 'Follow' on Spotify if you haven't already to help the podcast reach more people! Follow our Instagram page: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://instagram.com/queenisdead.filmpodcast.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ You can follow us on Instagram at: ARIJIT: https://www.instagram.com/_tentinquarantino_/. CRIS: https://www.instagram.com/criscritiques/. DHRUV: https://www.instagram.com/terminalcinema/. You can also follow us on Letterboxd at - ARIJIT: https://letterboxd.com/nostradamus/. CRIS: https://letterboxd.com/crislim/. DHRUV: https://letterboxd.com/aterminalcinema/.

You know how this looks, right? To navigate the tricky minefield that is Lance Oppenheim's narrative feature film debut "Primetime," Hemant and Cris take the help of David Osit's documentary "Predators" (2025) and introspect on the culture that produced Chris Hansen's "To Catch a Predator" and the consequences (or lack thereof) that came of it. What follows is a careful investigation of the relationship between morality and law, reality and fiction, documentary and narrative filmmaking. Osit and Oppenheim's intentions, methods, and worldviews are contrasted to make sense of how one approaches sensitive topics and critiques or indulges in society's worst impulses. For spoiler-free thoughts, check the time stamps below and trigger warnings for discussion of CSA. Do hit 'Follow' on Spotify if you haven't already to help the podcast reach more people! Follow our Instagram page: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://instagram.com/queenisdead.filmpodcast.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ TIME CODES Introduction - [00:00 - 15:45] "Predators" - [15:45 - 01:06:48] "Primetime" (Spoiler-Free) - [01:06:48 - 01:27:02] "Primetime" (Spoiler-Filled) - [01:27:02 - 02:16:30] Outro - [02:16:30 - 02:24:10] You can also follow us on Letterboxd at - HEMANT: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://letterboxd.com/ganti117/⁠⁠⁠. CRIS: https://letterboxd.com/crislim/.

"Resident Evil" has been rebooted maybe a few too many times; Cris, Amartya, and Ashwin discuss if Zach Cregger's run with the iconic gaming franchise will finally make it stick. Debate ensues on the merits (or lack thereof) of Cregger's earlier work and the 'elevated horror' genre as such—including major disagreements over "Weapons"—which is followed by surprising consensus on his ability to handle a much less complicated take on the survival horror genre. Attempts are also made to settle the age-old video game adaptation discourse. For spoiler-free thoughts, check the time stamps below but listen to the full episode for our take on the film's Themes™ and our predictions on the future of cross-genre storytelling. Do hit 'Follow' on Spotify if you haven't already to help the podcast reach more people! Follow our Instagram page: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://instagram.com/queenisdead.filmpodcast.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ TIME CODES Introduction - [00:00 - 03:56] Zach Cregger and Spoiler-Free Thoughts - [03:56 - 41:28] Spoiler-Filled Thoughts on Resident Evil - [41:28 - 01:11:40] Outro (& Other Game Adaptation) - [01:11:40 - 01:26:11] You can also follow us on Letterboxd at - ASHWIN: https://letterboxd.com/ashwindev/. AMARTYA: https://letterboxd.com/amartya/. CRIS: https://letterboxd.com/crislim/.

Cris is joined by Dhruv, Hemant, and returning guest Devarsi on a tour of LA as they talk all things Hollywood through David Lynch's most well-known and celebrated text—Mulholland Drive. Listen to the full episode to hear them try to find new ways to approach a film that has been talked about endlessly. Discussions on queerness, naive optimism, and film theory ensue, meaning the usual fare. Spoilers, of course, for "Mulholland Drive." TIME CODES Introduction : [00:00 - 04:00] "Mulholland Drive": [04:00 - 1:19:35] Outro: [1:19:35 - 1:28:17] TEXT REFERENCED REPEATEDLY HERE "Room to Dream" (David Lynch & Kristine McKenna). Do hit 'Follow' on Spotify if you haven't already to help the podcast reach more people! Follow our Instagram page: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://instagram.com/queenisdead.filmpodcast.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ You can also follow us on Instagram at: CRIS: https://www.instagram.com/criscritiques/. DHRUV: https://www.instagram.com/terminalcinema/. DEVARSI: https://www.instagram.com/devarsighosh/. You can also follow us on Letterboxd at - CRIS: https://letterboxd.com/crislim/. DHRUV: https://letterboxd.com/aterminalcinema/. HEMANT: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://letterboxd.com/ganti117/⁠⁠. DEVARSI: https://letterboxd.com/d2dag/.

Cris and Varun sit down to thrash out the remaining life from the new ‘sexy-but-sex-negative’ rom-com “One Night Only”, directed by “Easy A” helmer Will Gluck and starring Monica Barbaro (“A Complete Unknown”, “Top Gun: Maverick”) and Callum Turner (aka Mr Dua Lipa of “Masters of the Air” and “Rose of Nevada” fame). After they are done belting the new release for its many crimes, the duo turn affectionate as they talk up a favorite romcom each, Ali Abbas Zafar’s “Mere Brother Ki Dulhan” (Cris) and Peyton Reed’s “Down with Love” (Varun). TIMECODES Initial Prattle - [00:00 - 09:53] “One Night Only” - [09:53 - 01:31:17] “Mere Brother Ki Dulhan” - [01:31:17 - 01:41:14] “Down with Love” - [01:41:14 - 01:57:43] Closing Thoughts and Khatam - [01:57:43 - 02:06:09] Do hit 'Follow' on Spotify if you haven't already to help the podcast reach more people! Follow our Instagram page: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://instagram.com/queenisdead.filmpodcast.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ You can follow us on Letterboxd at - CRIS: https://letterboxd.com/crislim/. VARUN: https://letterboxd.com/varunoakbhakay/.