Heeeeere’s Danny! On the penultimate episode of our “Superior Sequels” kick, horror writer Molly Henery nominates “Doctor Sleep,” the 2019 sequel to “The Shining.” A bold take? Perhaps! But Stephen King certainly agrees, and Molly goes deep on the film’s sweeping character development as now-adult Danny Torrance (Ewan McGregor) faces down a vampire cult and […]
Author Archives: Chance Solem-Pfeifer
‘House II: The Second Story’ with Susan Tomorrow
“Like a kids’ movie for adults,” Susan Tomorrow describes the joyful anarchy of “House II: The Second Story.” For her Superior Sequel, the Clinton Street Theater programmer and co-owner nominates this 1987 horror-comedy where any dimension, genre, or plot U-turn is possible in the next room over. Zombie grandpas, crystal skulls, pterodactyls, Bill Maher—there truly […]
‘The Bourne Supremacy’ with Bennett Campbell Ferguson
Sometimes, “superior sequel” status is declared right in the movie’s title. This week, Bennett Campbell Ferguson is here to nominate “The Bourne Supremacy” (2004) for its frenetic action, underrated love story, and Matt Damon’s cargo shorts. We also break down Greengrass vs. Liman, sing the Bourne theme almost immediately, and get *this close* to remembering […]
‘Home Alone 2: Lost In New York’ with Noah Ballard
To some folks, “Home Alone 2” is just the same movie again (and they’re right). But to others, it’s an “obscene artifact”—and a superior sequel at that. On today’s show, old podcast pal and literary agent extraordinaire Noah Ballard makes his case for why Kevin McCallister’s Christmas déjà vu succeeds in going darker, showcasing unforgettable […]
‘Avatar: The Way of Water’ with John DiLillo
You hear that? … Is it Eywa’s heartbeat? Or the birth of a new podcast, maybe? Let it be both. Today, we start our first “kick” with Avatar: The Way of Water (2022)—a sequel with twice the cast, twice the mo-cap, and twice the reasons for Jim Cameron to believe in himself. Joining us is the […]
Introducing ‘The Kick’ — A New Movie Podcast
Still missing “Be Reel”? Well, Chance is launching a new movie pod to fill that hole in your weekly listening diet. “The Kick” will debut on Jan. 31 and unfold in themed miniseries—the first of which is “Superior Sequels.” Every guest is bringing a sequel they consider better than its original film and breaking down […]
Dolly de Leon on Her Life-Changing ‘Triangle of Sadness’ Performance
It’s rare for a journey-woman actor to suddenly garner an international spotlight in her 50s, but equally rare to grab a film by the horns the way Dolly de Leon does in “Triangle of Sadness.” The Golden Globe-nominated de Leon swung by the podcast to talk about crafting character backstory that altered Ruben Östlund’s biting, […]
Bye Bye, Barbarians
After nearly 8 years, dear listeners, ‘Be Reel’ is riding off into the sunset. But not before we talk about one of the year’s most intriguing horror films (and maybe films, period)—”Barbarian.” If basements and plot twists aren’t your thing, you can skip to 37:28 to hear a retrospective game/quiz we whipped up to celebrate […]
Man vs. Alaska
Man vs. beast movies often make for electric Hollywood skirmishes, but Alaskan settings heighten the conflict even further. On today’s Be Reel, Chance and Noah discuss “The Edge,” “The Grey” and “Hold The Dark”—a trio of films about how outsiders to The Last Frontier find their lives (and masculinity) threatened by howling winds and howling […]
David Fincher’s Serial Killers
One of Hollywood’s foremost chroniclers of obsession and a legendary obsessive himself, David Fincher has made serial killers and their pursuers central to his career in films like “Se7en” (1995), “Zodiac” (2007) and “The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo” (2011). Ahead of Fincher’s 60th birthday, Be Reel investigates all the absurd kinship, crippling loneliness and […]