Notes From the Back Row
354 episodes - English - Latest episode: about 1 month ago - ★★★★★ - 5 ratingsA cinema podcast brought to you by a buncha weirdos. We focus on the cult, arthouse, overlooked VHS, classics and beyond. Brought to you by www.Back-Row.com
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Episodes
Double Feature: They're Living East Coast vs West Coast (They Live & They Look Like People)
March 25, 2024 12:35It’s commonplace now for people to assume some massive conspiracy is going on behind the scenes. They Live and They Look Like People cover similar ground but with two very different tones.
In Fate's Hands: Movies About Creating One's Destiny
March 13, 2024 13:48A common question among first-year philosophy students, religious types, and stoners is: are we in control of our own destiny? Veronica explores this question through Lisa Frankenstein, She is Conann and The Iron Claw
Drive-Away Dolls Review: All Climax, No Foreplay
February 23, 2024 13:54It’s clear Coen and Cooke missed their window to ironically straddle the past while still wholeheartedly indulging in their cinematic kinks.
Dan's Top 30 "New To Me" Movies of 2023
February 02, 2024 10:02Here’s 30 movies that Dan watched in 2023 for the first time and loved to varying degrees.
Veronica's Top Twelve Movies of 2023
January 31, 2024 10:00Enjoy Veronica’s best new to her list of 2023. Featuring more mainstream than usual movies and yet still chock-full of existential dread, sexual themes and gross humor.
Jenna's Top Ten Movies of 2023
January 22, 2024 10:00Jenna gets into her favorites of 2023, a year of existential dread, rude awakenings, crushing loneliness, painful anxiety, and meditations on empathy.
Lifestyles of the Rich and Crazy: Saltburn, The House of Yes and Grey Gardens
January 12, 2024 10:00A look at three different versions of the rich and crazy over the eras to see what we pity, what we covet, and what would ultimately drive us nuts as well.
Notes from the Back Row 2023 Year End Diorama-Rama
December 20, 2023 09:00 - 133 MBIt's that time of the year again! When we cozy up to the podcast mic, sip on some egg nog and discuss the things we watched in 2023. That, and maybe sip on some haterade while we're at it. This year, we're discussing: Best New (or new-ish) Movie Best New to Us Movie Worst New to Us Movie Biggest Surprise (New or Old) Plus, was 2023 a great year for Comedies? Were the horror films of 2023 garbage?? Was the pizza in Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles bussin', no cap??? Find out all this and mo...
Body Horror Intertwined with Reproductive Healthcare: Rewatching The Fly (1986) & Dead Ringers (1988) Today
November 10, 2023 14:01While The Fly is implicitly and explicitly about abortion, Dead Ringers takes on the entire sphere of gynecological healthcare – how the patriarchy poisons even a sphere where pregnant people should feel safe and listened to.
Drama Season Recommendations for 2023
November 03, 2023 09:00Drama Season is that post-Halloween pre-Christmas time of the year where watching hard-hitting dramas just feels right. Here’s some recommendations to get you started.
We Rise, Movies About Revolution: Dumb Money, Bottoms and Lawrence of Arabia
October 06, 2023 08:08Who else but Back Row would group together Dumb Money, Bottoms and Lawrence of Arabia? Read Veronica’s latest as she makes a compelling argument to the revolutionary connection throughout all three.
Girls Just Wanna Be Weird: A Spotlight on Female-Lead Comedies
August 25, 2023 09:00The future is female… weirdos. Veronica dives into female-led comedies that don’t back away from the weirdness and the uncomfortable reality of being a woman – including Joy Ride, Please Baby Please and Mod Fuck Explosion.
Misery Breeds Corruption: Paul Negoescu's Men of Deeds
August 05, 2023 22:26Paul Negoescu's Men of Deeds (2023), is a tale of dubious morality and small town politics as filtered through a darkly comedic sensibility, reminiscent of the films of the Coen Brothers or Milos Forman.
Decade vs Decade: 60s v 80s - Oscar Winners
August 04, 2023 09:00 - 47 minutes - 87 MBDan and Jenna are back with another episode of their wheel-spinning, decade spanning movie discussion series! In this episode, they spun the wheel and landed on Oscar Winners and picked one Best Picture winner and one Best Foreign Picture winner to discuss. Jenna picked Sundays and Cybele (1962, Serge Bourguignon), a black-and-white drama about the unlikely and potentially dangerous relationship between an emotionally fragile veteran and a young orphan. Dan picked Ordinary People (1980, Ro...
Double Feature: We Live in a Society (Polite Society & Society 1989)
July 24, 2023 09:00Society supports and also confines us, so naturally this is very fertile ground for all variety of art; be it satirical, comedic, or body horror.
Cream of the Crud: Passion of the Crust
June 26, 2023 16:25 - 78.6 MBCarlo and Dan are back with another episode of Cream of the Crud, talking about some BluRay announcements, recent viewings, and much more. We've got martial arts, we've got CGI creepies, we've got ghost sex (I think?), we've got regional sci-fi... this episode has it all! Crud Recommendations / Review Corner: Shaolin Invincibles (1977) Seven to One (1973) Kung Fu Wonder Child (1986) Creepies (2003) Erotic Ghost Story (1990) The Alien Factor (1978) Don’t forget to: Follow Dan on Twit...
I Still Know What Cream of the Crud Did Last Summer
May 08, 2023 09:00 - 82 MBVideo version of this podcast available for Patreon members! Dan and Carlo are back from an accidental month or two break with more cruddy podcasting for your ears. They talk about BluRay releases from Imprint, Criterion, Shout! Factory, Arrow Video and more before chatting about new horror movies and maybe even something Tokusatsu related? Shocking, we know. All of this, plus we answer questions from the listeners! Crud Recommendations / Review Corner: Scream 6 (2023) Hellraiser (2022) ...
Double Feature: Trapped and Bothered (Certain Women & All the World is Sleeping)
April 03, 2023 21:40In this double feature, we follow a whole variety of stories about trapped women, and get to see just how universal the feeling of “where do I go from here?” really is across genders.
Cream of the Crud: Dream Warriors
March 20, 2023 09:00 - 75.2 MBOn a brand-new episode of Cream of the Crud, Dan and Carlo settle in to discuss the movies they've been watching much more. This time, they chat about a handful of new BluRay announcements, film festival introductions, Hong Kong horror movies, an 80s re-edit of a classic film and more! Blu Ray Announcements: Death Machine (1994) Stone Cold (1991) Netherworld (1994) Crud Recommendations Corner: The Seventh Curse (1986) Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla (1974) Giorgio Moroder’s Metropolis (19...
We Thought You Were One of Us: Movies About Finding Your Origin
March 17, 2023 12:40As origin and identities remain a focal point in national discourse, Veronica takes a look at films that speak to unknown origins and chosen families – Return to Seoul, Nr. 10 and I Like Bats.
Notes From the Back Row: Doubles Talk
March 08, 2023 11:00 - 1 hour - 64.9 MBWe have something-something on our mind: doubles. Specifically, unsolicited clones of yourself and all of the feelings that come with – including the clones. In this episode, Jenna and Veronica get into spoilery talk about Brandon Cronenberg's Infinity Pool (2023), Riley Stearns's Dual (2022) and Charlie McDowell's The One I Love (2014), all of which deal with a double dose of existential terror as it relates to clones and relationship drama. A new episode of Notes From the Back Row will b...
Cream of the Crud: Assignment Miami Beach
March 06, 2023 10:00 - 90.8 MBToday on Cream of the Crud, Dan and Carlo are joined by Matt from the Movie Melt podcast! They talk about the movies they've been watching, play some battle of the bands, answer your questions and much more! Movies Discussed: White Lightning (1973) Colossus: The Forbin Project (1970) The Taking of Pelham One Two Three (1974) Solarbabies (1986) Blind Rage (1976) The Inglorious Bastards (1978) Don’t forget to: Follow Matt on Letterboxd (@dukeroyal) Follow Dan on Twitter and Letterbo...
Keeping Tempo but Losing Time: TÁR (2022) Ending Explained
February 27, 2023 13:12Lydia’s obsession with legacy is in turn an obsession with control. But in this modern world of social media-driven celebrity, spaces once reserved for the self-appointed elite have shrunk significantly. So focused on her need to achieve an invulnerable standard, Lydia becomes blind to the evolving reality around her.
Cream of the Crud: The Second Story
February 20, 2023 15:15 - 77.2 MBDan and Carlo are back, talking about the movies they've seen and so much more. This episode, they discuss some Fred Williamson movies, pick movies off each other's Letterboxd diaries to review, and answer questions from the discord. Check it out! Movies discussed on this episode: Upcoming BluRay Releases Magic Cop (1990) Taxi Hunter (1993) Fred Williamson Corner Original Gangstas (1996) Hell Up In Harlem (1973) Letterboxd Diary "Roulette" Barb Wire (1996) F/X2 (1991) Joysticks (1...
Back Row's Sixth Year in Movie Reviews, Podcasts & Lists
February 20, 2023 11:00Back Row turns six! To celebrate, we’ve compiled a list of our most popular articles and podcasts from this past year – including all topics cinematic from controversial to cult, sex to abortion, murderers to comfort zones.
Cream of the Crud: The Deadly Art of Illusion
February 06, 2023 13:50 - 89.5 MBToday, Carlo and Dan are joined by Joey (of Pachinko Pop Cinema) to discuss the movies they watched during Japanuary, notable upcoming BluRay releases of Japanese films, Hong Kong actioners, plus talk about Tomisaburō Wakayama, Masaaki Yuasa, Ishirō Honda and so much more. Movies discussed: Shogun Assassin (1980) Samurai Reincarnation (1981) INU-OH (2021) Zillion: Burning Night (1988) & Dragon’s Heaven (1988) Big Time Gambling Boss (1968) Don’t forget to: Follow Joey on Letterboxd (...
Cream of the Crud: Seventh Inning Fetch
February 01, 2023 14:10 - 79.3 MBCarlo and Dan are back to talk about more of the crud they've been watching and so much more. They've got questions from the audience, Valentine's day recommendations and a lot more so strap in! Movies recommended/discussed: Morgan Stewart's Coming Home (1987) HK: Hentai Kamen 2 - Abnormal Crisis (2016) The Cat (1992) Hands of Steel (1986) Shin Ultraman (2022) Don’t forget to: Follow Dan on Twitter and Letterboxd (@yckmd_) Follow Carlo on Twitter (@carlogocarlo) and Letterboxd (@psy...
Dan's Top 30 New To Me Movies of 2022
January 25, 2023 11:00Dan’s back with 30 movies they saw for the first time in 2022! Whether it’s obscure horror gems or classics that have been a blindspot until now, there’s something for everyone in their list!
Veronica's Top 13 Movies of 2022
January 23, 2023 13:24Unable to rank them or choose less than ten, Veronica goes all in on the best new movies she watched in 2023 – including a whole lot of puking, ball busting, body horror, and murder. The good stuff.
The Cream of the Crud After Next
January 16, 2023 10:00 - 86.6 MBBack Row's movie recommendation and ramble-a-thon Cream of the Crud is back with our first episode of 2023! Jenna joins Dan and Carlo to discuss a bevvy of topics, including the Evil Dead remake and the upcoming Evil Dead Rise, movies they're looking forward to in 2023 plus recommendations, questions and answers and so much more! Movies recommended/discussed: A Kiss Before Dying (1991) The Pick-up Artist (1987) 空白 (Intolerance, 2021) Light Sleeper (1992) Don’t forget to: Follow Dan ...
Jenna's Top Ten Movies of 2022
January 13, 2023 13:51Jenna gets into her favorites of 2022, including films about Elvis, aliens, vikings, ghosts and people from New Jersey - oh my!
The American Dream and The Ark of Lilburn Documentary Review
January 09, 2023 11:00The Ark of Lilburn is a testament to how the American system often destroys the dreams of American citizens. It’s a real life Fitzcarraldo with southern accents and a business owner who’s permanently attached to his nicotine vape.
Why Can’t Cinema Satisfy Lady Chatterley’s Lover?
December 30, 2022 13:28The biggest problem with adaptations of Lady Chatterley’s Lover is not just thinly drawn characters or poorly filmed sex scenes, it is in how they leave what makes the novel intellectually provoking on the cutting room floor.
Double Feature: Death By Bureaucracy (Zerograd and The Trial)
December 19, 2022 11:00A double feature of two movies, both of which have recently been restored and re-released, that tackle the maddening maze of bureaucracy – Orson Welles’ The Trial and Shakhnazarov’s Zerograd.
Double Feature: Be Your Own Knight in Shining Armor (Catherine Called Birdy & I Capture the Castle)
December 02, 2022 11:03Jenna double features two adaptations of beloved YA novels with Catherine Called Birdy and I Capture The Castle – the first about the actual 13th-century and the second about a girl in the 1930s living in a crumbling 13th century Castle.
Double Feature: Youth In Exciting Times (Diary of a Teenage Girl & Acid Test)
November 02, 2022 12:30Veronica double features two teens experimenting with broadening their horizons in two turbulent decades – Diary of a Teenage Girl and Acid Test.
15 Horror Movies to Watch for Halloween 2022
October 26, 2022 09:00Dan’s back with another list of off-the-beaten-path or under-the-radar picks for your Halloween watchlist!
Don't Worry Darling and the Sexual Politics of Control
October 21, 2022 12:32Guest contributor Zoe Rogan explores the parallels between Olivia Wilde’s Don’t Worry Darling and Luis Buñuel’s Belle du Jour – both films set within repressive worlds, heavy on themes of control, patriarchy and sex, and feature women who seek to break free.
The Kids Are Sorta Alright: Gen Z On-Screen
October 19, 2022 11:52The platforms and buzzwords available to Gen Z can be welded as weapons or tools, depending on whose hand they’re in. The kids in Bodies Bodies Bodies , Pleasure and Medusa, approach life and adulthood as something they can opt-out of.
Whatever Happened to Teen Movies?
October 17, 2022 11:57 - 1 hour - 65.5 MBJenna has a problem with modern teen movies. These glossy, slick, monied fantasies about love and sex seem downright alien to her. Meanwhile, Veronica has no idea what she's talking about but is game to chat anyhow. Listen as the two discuss the evolution of coming of age films from the late 1970s through the 1990s and beyond. Whether or not Jenna succeeds in putting her finger on how and when exactly these films lost their emotional sincerity, the episode is certainly good for some solid mo...
Review of '223 Wick': Psychedelic Parrish, Midnight Movie Madness
October 07, 2022 16:09223 Wick is a film that will be appreciated by aficionados of the experimental, underground works of the ‘60s and ‘70s where sometimes you’re only along for the ride because of the psychedelic visuals and totally out there concepts.
Decade vs Decade: 50s v 90s - Horror
October 03, 2022 09:00 - 74 MBDan and Jenna are back again with another episode of... DECADE VS. DECADE! In an attempt to branch out of their comfort zones, we're pitting pre-1980s cinema against post-1980s cinema, spinning a wheel on a genre or theme and then daring each other to watch what we've chosen. This episode, we're talking about two Horror movies - one from the 1950s and one from the 1990s. Jenna's choice is Dementia (1955), a dialogue-less combination of experimental noir and German expressionist filmmaking. ...
See It Or Don't: Zach Cregger's Barbarian
September 23, 2022 10:00 - 1 hour - 57.6 MBJenna and Veronica sit down for an in depth conversation about Barbarian (2022) – the buzzy new horror film from director and writer Zach Cregger. What starts out as an AirBNB stay gone wrong, quickly unravels into something truly terrifying… or maybe not? With excellent performances by its three main leads – Georgina Campbell, Bill Skarsgård and Justin Long – haunting visuals and a whole lot of intriguing threads, it’s worth a watch either way. In this episode, Jenna and Veronica unpack th...
Cream of the Crud in Breaking Training
September 05, 2022 14:41 - 1 hour - 99.6 MBCarlo and Dan are back with more of the Crud they’ve been watching and so much more. First, they discuss the Crud Buddies discord and the Crud Challenge, which dovetails nicely into a chat about ZËIЯAM (1991) and the work of Keita Amemiya. Then there’s talk about newly announced BluRay titles, questions from the audience about sequels and the “Jor-El” character, plus movies like The Kid Brother (1987). And of course, no episode would be complete without some tokusatsu chat. And don’t for...
Decade vs Decade: 60s v 80s - Fantasy
July 25, 2022 11:13 - 54.4 MBFrom the minds of Dan Gorman and Jenna Ipcar comes a new segment on Notes From the Back Row: Decade vs Decade! In an attempt to branch out of their comfort zones, we're pitting pre-1980s cinema against post-1980s cinema, spinning a wheel on a genre or theme and then daring each other to watch what we've chosen. For our first episode, we're covering the fantasy genre with two wildly different and yet surprisingly similar films. Jenna's choice for the 1960s is The Fabulous Baron Munchausen (1...
Elvis Never Left the Building: A Review of Baz Luhrmann's 'Elvis'
July 18, 2022 13:02Elvis ended up being the best of what it could have been: a glittering frenzy of feverish reverence, replete with pink suits and matching Cadillac cars, hysterical hip-shaking highs and slurred, sweat-dripping lows.
A Good Day to Cream of the Crud
July 11, 2022 09:00 - 76.2 MBCarlo and Dan are back talking about a double-feature of overlooked 90s comedies: Strike! aka All I Wanna Do aka The Hairy Bird, and Dick. Plus, they take questions from listeners, discuss new BluRay release announcements plus so much more in our latest jam-packed episode! 00:00:43 - Introductions 00:13:28 - Screenings of the Crud 00:17:48 - Calls from the Public 00:18:08 - Rutledal asks: Summer Sweaty Movie Recs (bonus: also a Christmas movie) 00:23:38 - Melody asks: If you were to ha...
Tales from Skull: A Night of Terror (1987) feat. Allan Levine
June 27, 2022 09:00 - 82.2 MBIn this sequel of sorts to last year's interview with Allan Levine about their SOV Emmeritus Pictures, Allan returns to discuss stories from behind the scenes of the 1987 low-budget exploitation picture Skull: A Night of Terror. Allan expands upon the story of how the crew blew up an entire house for the finale, working with fire on set, a uniquely Canadian take on craft services, and how one ends up stealing a truck in the name of getting even the simplest of shots. Special thanks again...
Friends and Other Monsters: 'Ezrulie' Review
June 24, 2022 17:54Erzulie, a female-forward creature feature about a mythical mermaid, is a fun and unexpected indie flick that follows then subverts horror tropes in a clever, entertaining way.
Cream of the Crud: When Nature Calls
June 06, 2022 10:00 - 74.1 MBCarlo and Dan are back with another grip of crud for you to check out! Carlo's discusses their time at the biggest Japan-centric movie festival in Europe, the Nippon Connection in Frankfurt and has a few recommendations for everyone. Dan watched some Gold Ninja Video releases and a great movie released unceremoniously on Amazon Prime. All of this plus so much more in our latest jam-packed episode! 00:00:00 Introduction 00:04:03 CRUD Buddies Screenings (The P.A.C.K., 1997) 00:08:44 Ca...