Podcasts
Neil Marshall’s ‘The Descent’ Explores the Concept of Female Strength [The Lady Killers Podcast]
“I’m an English teacher, not fucking Tomb Raider.”
What does it mean to be a strong woman? Is it visible muscles à la Linda Hamilton in Terminator 2: Judgment Day? Is it impressive feats of strength like climbing a mountain or braving white water? Is it putting yourself in harm’s way to save a friend? As it turns out, the answer is all–and none–of the above. There is no one way to be a “strong woman.” Sometimes it’s as simple as just showing up for the hard moments. Writer/director Neil Marshall explores the concept of female strength in his 2005 The Descent, a harrowing story of friendship and betrayal, strength and survival. In their latest episode, the Lady Killers kick off a series on Hidden Horrors by descending into the complicated themes of this terrifying film and facing off against the monsters lurking within the human heart.
One year after a tragic accident ripped her life apart, Sarah (Shauna Macdonald) rejoins her group of adventurous friends for a weekend spelunking trip in the mountains of Appalachia. Their self-proclaimed leader Juno (Natalie Mendoza) has every confidence in their abilities, but she’s hiding a deadly secret. When the group becomes trapped in the cave with dwindling supplies, they face a new threat emerging from the shadows. But who are the true monsters? Are they the humanoid beings who’ve evolved to survive in the dark or duplicitous friends who manipulate and lie for their own selfish gains?
The Descent may be a terrifying creature feature, but Marshall’s twisting story is also a powerful metaphor for grief and PTSD. Co-hosts Jenn Adams, Mae Shults, Rocco T. Thompson, and Sammie Kuykendall explore personal connections to this landmark film and highlight imagery and dialogue that have helped them make it through their own dark times. What are the benefits of a female main cast? Do they prefer the American ending or that final UK shocker? What is Juno trying to accomplish and why does she lie to her friends? How do you give a lemon an orgasm and why on earth would anyone ever willingly go into a cave? Opinions differ on the film’s true villain, but the Lady Killers are united in their love for The Descent and its amazing cast of strong female characters.
Stream below and 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.
Be sure to subscribe to the podcast to get a new episode every Wednesday. You can subscribe on iTunes/Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, Spotify, iHeartRadio, SoundCloud, TuneIn, Amazon Music, Google Podcasts, and RSS.
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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