Podcasts
‘Ready or Not’ Is a Bloody Confluence of Capitalism and Clue [The Lady Killers Podcast]
“You’ll have to hide better than that.”
We’ve all got that one bad ex in our past. At first they seemed like a dream come true – an angel sent straight from heaven to be our perfect match. They were attractive, spontaneous, generous, kind … We spent most of our time indulging in months-long bone-a-thons and we just figured the future would take care of itself! And then we met the inlaws. Fortunately, no matter how stressful these “meet the parents” occasions may have been, they probably don’t hold a candle to what Grace (Samara Weaving) endures in Ready or Not. This gorgeous bride has just married the man of her dreams at a lavish estate wearing god’s gift to wedding dresses only to find out that she’s unwittingly entered into a bizarre gaming ritual that might end up costing her life.
This 2019 film from Radio Silence is not only a star-making vehicle for Weaving, it’s also a brutal evisceration of capitalism and the birthplace of one of the greatest memes of all time. After all, who among us can’t relate to a gorgeous woman lighting up on the steps of a burning mansion in her blood-soaked wedding dress? The Lady Killers certainly can. Hosts Jenn Adams, Sammie Kuykendall, Mae Shults, and Rocco T. Thompson draw their cards and pass out the medieval murder weapons to talk about beloved board games, fancy maids, deals with the devil and “fuckin’ rich people” in a desperate attempt to survive until sunrise.
Does Grace belong with this evil clan or has she been sent by a mysterious force to destroy them? Could Emily’s incompetence be a symptom of her privilege or is she just the family fuck-up? Is Adam Brody the hottest heir to a gaming dynasty we’ve ever seen? Just how many goats do the Le Domases go through in a year and is it possible to root against Andie MacDowell? The Lady Killers will search high and low for answers to these questions and more as they put on their fanciest wedding attire and try not to explode.
Ready or not, here we come!
Stream the episode below or subscribe now via Apple Podcasts and Spotify for future episodes that drop every Thursday.
Game Loop.
Trace and I inadvertently bookended our April discussions of John Landis’ An American Werewolf in London (listen) and Ciarán Foy’s Eli (listen) with Jude Law films. At the start of the month, we tackled Matt Damon’s Italian grifter in The Talented Mr. Ripley (listen) and now we’re closing out April with David Cronenberg‘s eXistenZ (1999).
The unofficial sequel to Videodrome (listen) and precursor to Crimes of the Future, eXistenZ takes place in the world of virtual reality and simulation. Game goddess Allegra Gellar (Jennifer Jason Leigh) is forced to go on the run with PR nerd Ted Pikul (Jude Law) through the Canadian backwoods when ‘Realist’ terrorists declare open season on her life.
Featuring no shortage of strange encounters and oddball characters, including Willem Dafoe‘s queer-coded Gas and Canadian film royalty like Don McKellar and Sarah Polley, Allegra and Ted must travel between the real world and the game world, all the while keeping track of who is friendly…and who is foe.
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Episode 279: eXistenZ (1999) feat Vannah Taylor
Lube up your industry standard bio-port because we’re playing David Cronenberg’s eXistenZ (1999) with someone friendly: Vannah Taylor!
David Cronenberg’s meditation on the dangers of gaming and simulation is the middle entry of an unofficial trilogy. It’s also a film that gets real confusing, real fast, so good luck figuring out if we’re still in the game!
Plus: criticisms of a “bland” game world, praise for Jennifer Jason Leigh, Canadian royalty, comparisons to Serenity, disgusting gristle guns, and Pikul getting his back blown out (several times!)
Cross out eXistenZ!
Coming up on Wednesday: We’re continuing our celebration of 1999 films with a look at Stephen Sommers’ bisexual awakening, action adventure film, The Mummy (1999).
P.S. Subscribe to our Patreon for over 306 hours of Patreon content including this month’s new episodes on Hannibal S01E04, Late Night with the Devil, The First Omen, Femme, Abigail and a brand new audio commentary on the original The Omen (1976).
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