David is joined again by Nathan Ledbetter, Instructor of Asian History in the Department of Humanities at Rider University and Lorehounds Community Co-Host, for the second part of our three part series ahead of Godzilla Minus Zero. This installment is a full spoiler discussion of the 1954 original and Godzilla Minus One (2023), with some commentary on the 1956 American version, Godzilla King of the Monsters. Please note that the conversation also covers trailer observations and speculation for Minus Zero near the end, so skip the last section if you want to go in completely fresh.

They begin with the postwar context behind the 1954 film, including the American occupation, Article 9 of Japan’s constitution, the Lucky Dragon No. 5 incident, and the creative team of Ishiro Honda and Eiji Tsuburaya. From there they walk through the story and its themes of scientific hubris and self sacrifice, along with the changes made for American audiences in 1956. The conversation also includes clips from Yuki Miyamoto, professor of religious studies at DePaul University and an ethicist whose work focuses on nuclear discourse, featured on the Every Single Sci-Fi Film Ever podcast. She offers insight on Lucky Dragon No. 5 and on the themes of Godzilla Minus One.

The second half turns to Godzilla Minus One and what it does differently. David and Nathan explore survivor’s guilt, forgiveness, collective action, and the contrast between sacrifice in 1954 and the message of survival in 2023, along with the film’s historical backdrop and the plot choices that did and did not work for them. Part 1 covered the history and context of Godzilla and the morphology of his body, and Part 3 will be a regular movie review of Godzilla Minus Zero once the film is in wide release.

Links Mentioned in This Episode

Links Mentioned in This Episode

• Godzilla Minus Zero (2026) - Part 1 of 3 - The History and Context of Godzilla
• Every Single Sci-Fi Film Ever: Godzilla in 1954: Japan’s Nuclear Nightmare and Sci-Fi Legacy
• The Semiotics of Godzilla: How to Read a Monster’s Body (David’s blog post)

Contact Us

Questions or comments? Send emails to: lorehounds@thelorehounds.com

Or, send us a voicemail! You can use the voicemail tool on our website, thelorehounds.com/contact OR record a note on your smartphone and email it to us at the same address.

Links to Patreon, Supercast, Discord, and Network Affiliates

https://linktr.ee/thelorehounds

Any opinions stated are ours personally and do not reflect the opinion of or belong to any employers or other entities.

This year’s Elevenses film club Spooktober special goes deep into the first horror film ever to be nominated for an Academy Award for Best Picture: The Exorcist (1973). Elysia, David, and John bring their range of experiences – from lifelong aficionado to first-time watcher – into a discussion delving into the special collaboration between book author / screenwriter William Blatty and director William Friedkin, and how this movie helped to define their already exceptional careers. Along the way, they discuss the franchise as a whole, the alleged “curse” behind the production, behind-the-scenes stories, and what’s coming next in The Exorcist universe.

The Exorcist franchise:

• The original trilogy: The Exorcist (1973), Exorcist II: The Heretic (1977), Exorcist III (1990)
• William Blatty’s Trilogy of Faith books: The Exorcist (1971), The Ninth Configuration (1978) [1980 film adaptation], Legion (1983, adapted into Exorcist III)
• The dueling prequels: Exorcist: The Beginning (2004) vs. Dominion: Prequel to the Exorcist (2005)
• Alternative sequels: The Exorcist TV series: (2016-2017, 2 seasons, 10 eps ea.) vs. The Exorcist: Believer (2023)
• The Mike Flanagan “reboot” (partial sequel to Exorcist III): The Exorcist: Martyrs (2027) [trailer]

Other key links discussed:

• SNL parody: The Exorcist 2 (feat. Richard Pryor)
• Documentaries about the original film: The Fear of God: 25 Years of The Exorcist (1998) and Leap of Faith: William Friedkin on The Exorcist (2019)
• The Exorcist II documentary: Boorman and the Devil (2026) [trailer]

Contact Us

Questions or comments? Send emails to: lorehounds@thelorehounds.com

Links to Patreon, Supercast, Discord, and Network Affiliates

linktr.ee/thelorehounds

Any opinions stated are ours personally and do not reflect the opinion of or belong to any employers or other entities.

David is joined by Nathan Ledbetter, a graduate student in East Asian Studies at Princeton University, and new Lorehounds Community Co-Host, to begin a three part series ahead of Godzilla Minus Zero.

This first installment explores the history and context of Godzilla, from the 1954 original and the nuclear anxieties that shaped it to the legacy that followed, before turning to the morphology of the monster’s body and what its physical design communicates. The conversation is completely spoiler free for Godzilla Minus Zero and for any other movies discussed, so it is safe listening whether or not you have seen the films.

In Part 2, David and Nathan will take a full spoiler discussion of the 1954 film, with some commentary on the 1956 version, and compare it with the 2023 film Godzilla Minus One. Part 3 will be a regular movie review of Godzilla Minus Zero once the film is in wide release.

Links Mentioned in This Episode

Every Single Sci-Fi Film Ever* Podcast

• Godzilla in 1954: Japan’s Nuclear Nightmare and Sci-Fi Legacy

Lorehounds Blog Post

• The Semiotics of Godzilla: How to Read a Monster’s Body

Nathan Ledbetter’s Academic Page

• https://princeton.academia.edu/NathanLedbetter

Contact Us

Questions or comments? Send emails to: lorehounds@thelorehounds.com

Or, send us a voicemail! You can use the voicemail tool on our website, thelorehounds.com/contact OR record a note on your smartphone and email it to us at the same address.

Links to Patreon, Supercast, Discord, and Network Affiliates

https://linktr.ee/thelorehounds

Any opinions stated are ours personally and do not reflect the opinion of or belong to any employers or other entities.

Lorehounds Host David and Lorehounds Community Co-host Stewart (Doove71) are joined by special guest Marilyn R. Pukkila for the first publicly available Eagle Eyes episode, a deep dive into the 2026 film Pressure. The conversation covers the film’s remarkable portrait of the 72 hours before D-Day, centered on Scottish meteorologist Group Captain James Stagg’s pivotal and contested weather forecast to Supreme Allied Commander Eisenhower, exploring how the production distills a vast, complex military operation into an intimate and claustrophobic character piece. The trio bring their combined perspectives to the film’s historical accuracy, its origins as a 2014 stage play, the transatlantic tensions mirrored at every level of command, and the quietly essential role of Kay Summersby in navigating the enormous egos in the room.

Further Reading

The General’s Women by Susan Wittig Albert

https://susanalbert.com/the-generals-women/

Contact Us

Questions or comments? Send emails to: eagleeyes@thelorehounds.com

Or, send us a voicemail! You can use the voicemail tool on our website, thelorehounds.com/contact OR record a note on your smartphone and email it to us at the same address.

Links to Patreon, Supercast, Discord, and Network Affiliates

https://linktr.ee/thelorehounds

Any opinions stated are ours personally and do not reflect the opinion of or belong to any employers or other entities.

Elysia is celebrating Filipino-American History Month with the help of Paulo from The Oscars Death Race Podcast, with a deep dive into Dreamworks' new animated adventure Forgotten Island.

The first half of the episode is dedicated to a spoiler-free intro to Filipino culture and mythology and discussion of the movie production, setting the stage for the film and discussing who this is for and why listeners might want to watch. And then, after the spoiler warning, they discuss how Filipino culture and mythology is woven into the plot of this '90s-tinged magical tale of friendship that transcends time and distance.

Special links:

• The Forgotten Island trailer

• The Oscar's Death Race Podcast (Paulo)

Filipino media recommendations:

• Series: Trese – Netflix animated supernatural detective, 6 eps

• Movie: ZsaZsa Zaturnnah (2026) – Animated gender-bent superhero

• Movie: 10s Across the Borders (2025) – Asian ballroom

• Movie: Moonglow (2026) – Filipino Noir

• Movie: Lingua Franca (2019) – Trans immigrant drama

• Movie: Filipiñana (2026) – This year's Oscar submission from the Philippines

• Movie: First Light (2026) – Australian submission this year, first in Tagalog

• Graphic Novel: Maharlika

• Docuseries: BINI and SB19 (Netflix)

• Letterboxd list: Recent Filipino / Diaspora Films

• Letterboxd list: Older list of specifically Filipino cinema

Contact Us

lorehounds@thelorehounds.com

Or, send us a voicemail! You can use the voicemail tool on our website, thelorehounds.com/contact OR record a note on your smartphone and email it to us at the same address.

Links to Patreon, Supercast, Discord, and Network Affiliates

https://linktr.ee/thelorehounds

Any opinions stated are ours personally and do not reflect the opinion of or belong to any employers or other entities.

David, Lisa, and Bryan celebrate the life and career of Catherine O'Hara, who passed away in January 2026. The trio traces her path from waitressing at Toronto's Second City at 19, where she understudied for Gilda Radner, through her Emmy-winning years on SCTV alongside future comedy giants John Candy, Martin Short, Eugene Levy, and Rick Moranis. The conversation moves through her collaborations with Tim Burton on Beetlejuice and The Nightmare Before Christmas, her breakout to household fame in Home Alone, her celebrated improv work in Christopher Guest's mockumentary films, and the career renaissance of Schitt's Creek, where decades of character work culminated in the unforgettable Moira Rose. The hosts reflect on how O'Hara elevated everything she touched, from dramatic turns in The Last of Us and The Studio to her fearless willingness to let the awkward moment sit for one extra beat, before selecting three films for the community vote.

Catherine O'Hara Community Movie Poll

Vote for the film we'll cover in our deep dive episode!

Best in Show (2000) | For Your Consideration (2006) | ACOD (2013)

Vote here: https://strawpoll.com/e6Z2Axlw6gN

Poll closes Saturday, October 4, 2026 at 11:59pm EDT

Contact Us

Questions or comments? Send emails to: intothewest@thelorehounds.com

Links to Patreon, Supercast, Discord, and Network Affiliates

https://linktr.ee/thelorehounds

Any opinions stated are ours personally and do not reflect the opinion of or belong to any employers or other entities.

David, Lisa, and Bryan light a candle for two icons lost just 48 hours apart. The first half celebrates Dolly Parton, from her childhood in Appalachian poverty through her breakout on the Porter Wagoner Show and into a career that stretched far beyond country music. The hosts trace her film roles in 9 to 5, The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas, and Steel Magnolias, her production company's surprising connection to Buffy the Vampire Slayer, and a philanthropic legacy that includes the Imagination Library, COVID vaccine research funding, and wraparound services that cut her hometown's school dropout rate in half.

After the break, the trio turns to Tim Curry, whose fearless portrayal of Dr. Frank-N-Furter in The Rocky Horror Picture Show became a cultural landmark for self-expression and nonconformity. The hosts explore his eclectic range from Legend and IT to Clue, Muppet Treasure Island, and three Tony-nominated Broadway roles, and reflect on how Rocky Horror created space for generations of nonconformists to gather, play, and express themselves freely. Community voices from the Lorehounds Discord share their own memories throughout, including the inevitable question: which Tim Curry role was your awakening?

Contact Us

Questions or comments? Send emails to: intothewest@thelorehounds.com

Links to Patreon, Supercast, Discord, and Network Affiliates

https://linktr.ee/thelorehounds

Any opinions stated are ours personally and do not reflect the opinion of or belong to any employers or other entities.

Jean and Elysia dive into the characters, action, and moments that triggered tears in Spider-Man: Brand New Day, the start of a new MCU Spider-Man trilogy that's currently setting box office records. (Comic-book comparisons, of course, included.)

Stick around under after the credits for our reactions to the just-released X-Men casting and other Marvel news from D23!

Marvel at D23: X-Men casting & VisionQuest / Doomsday trailers

Contact Us

Questions or comments? Send emails to: mcu@thelorehounds.com

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linktr.ee/thelorehounds

Any opinions stated are ours personally and do not reflect the opinion of or belong to any employers or other entities.