In the noir universe of dog killers and underground parties of film podcasts, Fear and Loathing in Cinema sets itself apart with its irreverent blend of pop culture critique, nostalgic deep-dives, and a razor-sharp, at times almost uncomfortably candid, dissection of cinematic relics that were once scorned but now, with the benefit of time, seem worthy of a second look. Hosted by a group of unpredictable yet undeniably insightful voices; Bryan Kluger, a media director with a sharp sense of irony of offensive things; Dan Moran, a lawyer who brings an often absurd legal perspective of the film industry and Kevin Costner; Preston Barta, a film critic with a taste for the heart-warmingly obscure branch of cinema; and Chelsea Nicole, a culture critic who digs into the nuances of social dynamics and horror; Fear and Loathing in Cinema Podcast thrives in that rare space between sincere analysis and gut-busting humor.
In the latest episode of Fear and Loathing in Cinema (#110), the podcast gang plunges into the kaleidoscopic oddity that is Under the Silver Lake (2018), a film from David Robert Mitchell, the auteur who made waves with his unsettling horror film It Follows. This time around, Mitchell steps into the realm of noir; a genre he reinterprets as an ever-winding fever dream, and the results are as confusing as they are captivating. In a podcast that mirrors the chaotic and often absurd ride of the film itself, the team takes a forensic approach to Mitchell’s cinematic kitchen sink, digging into the deeper currents of its noir sensibilities, its pop culture zeitgeist, and its commitment to embracing the utterly and musically strange. As ever, Fear and Loathing in Cinema is willing to sift through the wreckage for something that might make sense, while reveling in the mystery of what it all might mean.
This Week’s Highlights:
As always, the hosts of this podcast stray far from the beaten path, sidetracking in ways that somehow feel more entertaining than the very movie they’ve gathered to dissect. The absurdities that unfold become a crucial part of the show’s charm, its conversational energy the perfect counterpart to the movie under scrutiny. Among the many bizarre diversions in this week’s discussion:
- Our 2025 Oscar Break Down.
- Who is going to see JAWS on the big screen for its 50th anniversary?
- Guy Ritchie is back in the mafia with Mobland the TV series.
And, of course, the gang winds up pondering the most ridiculous hypothetical of all: Which three movie characters would you hire for your personal 24/7 body guards? If that’s not a moment of podcast gold, I’m not sure what is.
Movie Analysis: Under the Silver Lake (2018)
The film, which feels like a wild sprint through a half-remembered Los Angeles, is fueled by Mitchell’s unbridled creative freedom, buoyed by a budget large enough to let him indulge in his peculiar whims. At the heart of the madness is Andrew Garfield, who ditches the spandex of Spider-Man to dive into a role that is as convoluted as it is naked, both metaphorically and literally. The film, which unpacks a heady mix of mystery, pop culture references, and bizarre conspiracies, often seems as though Mitchell threw every genre, trope, and thought he had into a blender.
The podcast crew, in typical fashion, dissects the film’s erratic journey, attempting to decode its meaning while acknowledging that much of it may just be an elaborate cinematic prank. Under the Silver Lake presents a portrait of a city and a mind in disarray; its fragmented narrative giving the sense that Mitchell is gleefully toying with both the medium and the audience. As the gang explores the many shifting layers, some of which feel straight out of a David Lynch nightmare, they find themselves caught between admiration and bewilderment. And, of course, by the end of it, everyone, even Garfield, seems to have shed more than just their clothes.
At the end of the day, the gang’s reflections on Under the Silver Lake are as unexpected, mysterious, and awkward as the film itself; a wild, turbulent, and darkly funny look at what it’s like to live in Los Angeles and be a woman. But for fans of Fear and Loathing in Cinema, it’s the direction of the conversation that makes this episode truly unforgettable.
Overall, it’s a conversation about what we love, why we love it, and how we can reframe the old to fit into our new context. And when all is said and done, this crew might just convince you to watch Under the Silver Lake and give it another shot; or at the very least, you’ll leave with a new perspective on what the director of It Follows got to do with unchecked creativity.
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Thank you for listening.
WRITTEN BY: BRYAN KLUGER
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