Episodes
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George A. Romero’s Dawn of the Dead
Nine years, six seasons, 443 episodes, and we're still not dead! We're undead. Mwahahaha! Cinema D’Amore celebrates its ninth anniversary with a trip to the zombie-infested Monroeville Mall! Justin and Chuck revisit George A. Romero’s Dawn of the Dead (1978), the Pittsburgh horror classic that...
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The Sadness (哭悲)
What happens when a virus doesn't turn people into mindless zombies, but instead unleashes their darkest impulses? On this episode of Cinema D’Amore, Chuck and Justin dive into The Sadness (哭悲), Rob Jabbaz’s relentlessly brutal Taiwanese horror film about a mysterious infection that transforms...
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Shikoku (死国)
Love never dies… but sometimes, it really should. This week on Cinema D’Amore, Justin and Chuck dive into Shinichi Nagasaki’s Shikoku (1999), a haunting tale of lost love, restless spirits, and a mother determined to resurrect her daughter. The guys explore the film’s eerie atmosphere…
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Noroi: The Curse (ノロイ)
Chuck and Justin dive into Noroi: The Curse (ノロイ), a landmark Japanese found-footage horror film that slowly turns seemingly unrelated footage into an increasingly disturbing supernatural mystery. They discuss the film’s documentary-style structure, unsettling recurring motifs, standout scenes…
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United 93
Justin and Chuck discuss Paul Greengrass’s United 93, while reflecting on the 25th anniversary of September 11, 2001. With deep respect for the passengers and crew of Flight 93, and everyone whose lives were changed by that day, they discuss the film’s grounded realism, its use of unknown actors...
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The Long Walk
Chuck and Justin take a long walk through Francis Lawrence’s adaptation of Stephen King’s The Long Walk. The hosts compare the film to The Running Man and other King adaptations while digging into its pacing, directing choices, performances, and bleak social commentary. They praise the cast,...
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Good Will Hunting
Justin and Chuck take a fresh look at Good Will Hunting, asking why Gus Van Sant’s 1997 drama has remained so beloved, what hasn’t aged as well, and what still hits hard nearly 30 years later. They discuss Robin Williams’ unforgettable performance, Matt Damon and Ben Affleck’s Oscar-winning...
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The Ballad of Buster Scruggs
Hosts Chuck and Justin saddle up to discuss the Coen Brothers' The Ballad of Buster Scruggs, breaking down all six stories in the anthology western. From absurd comedy to haunting tragedy, they explore the film's shifting tones, unforgettable performances, breathtaking cinematography, and the...
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One Battle After Another
Justin and Chuck dive into Paul Thomas Anderson’s One Battle After Another, examining how the film evolves from its politically charged opening into a multifaceted blend of dark comedy, suspense, and heartfelt drama. They break down the standout performances, unforgettable set pieces, and the...
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Kneecap
Hosts Chuck and Justin dive into Kneecap, the wildly energetic and semi-autobiographical comedy-drama starring the real-life rap trio alongside Michael Fassbender. They discuss the film’s kinetic visual style, surreal humor, and unforgettable drug-fueled set pieces, while exploring its themes of...
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Incendies
Justin and Chuck discuss Denis Villeneuve's Incendies, a devastating mystery about twins who travel to their late mother's war-torn homeland to fulfill her final wishes and uncover long-buried secrets. They explore the film's bleak atmosphere, nonlinear storytelling, powerful scenes, and the...
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No Other Choice
This episode of Cinema D'Amore digs into Park Chan-wook’s No Other Choice, discussing its mix of dark comedy, family drama, and thriller elements, along with the director’s striking visuals and sound design. Hosts Chuck and Justin explore the film’s themes (job loss, automation, desperation), and...
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Over the Garden Wall
Justin and Chuck venture into the hauntingly charming world of Over the Garden Wall, exploring the series’ hand-painted animation, eerie autumn atmosphere, unforgettable characters like Wirt, Greg, Beatrice, and the mysterious Woodsman. From the pumpkin-filled streets of Pottsfield to the...
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Triangle
In this episode of Cinema D’Amore, Justin and Chuck step into the eerie, disorienting world of Triangle (2009), a psychological thriller that refuses to play by the rules. As the film twists and resets in unsettling ways, they unpack its shifting reality, strange character dynamics, and the…
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Bone Tomahawk
Hosts Chuck and Justin dig into the 2015 horror-western Bone Tomahawk, unpacking its surprise star power, low-budget production, and grisly practical effects. They discuss standout performances (Kurt Russell, Richard Jenkins), the film’s tonal mix of classic Western motifs with 80s-style splatter...
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Bugonia
In this episode of Cinema D’Amore, Justin and Chuck follow up their discussion of Save the Green Planet! with a deep dive into its remake, Bugonia, closing out their two-part exploration of one of the wildest genre-bending stories put to screen. They break down how Bugonia reinterprets the...
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Save the Green Planet!
In this episode of Cinema D’Amore, Justin and Chuck take on the chaotic, genre-defying Save the Green Planet!, the first of two back-to-back episodes leading into its remake, Bugonia. They unpack the film’s wild shifts between dark comedy, psychological thriller, and sci-fi, following a man...
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98th Academy Awards
Cinema D’Amore turns its attention to the 98th Academy Awards, as host Justin Morgan is joined by Grant Mayotte and Tim Tobias for a full rundown of this year’s Oscars race. The trio break down every Best Picture nominee, unpacking the performances, filmmaking craft, and bold creative choices…
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Memories
In this episode of Cinema D’Amore, Chuck and Justin discuss the 1995 anime anthology Memories, breaking down its three segments, Magnetic Rose, Stink Bomb, and Cannon Fodder. They talk about the creators behind the film, including Katsuhiro Otomo, who wrote Magnetic Rose and directed Cannon…
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Boogie Nights
Hosts Justin and Chuck revisit Boogie Nights, Paul Thomas Anderson’s 1997 breakout, a disco-charged epic of ambition, excess, ego, and collapse. They step back into the sun-soaked 1970s porn boom, into the orbit of Jack Horner, Dirk Diggler, and a makeshift family chasing fame, validation, and…
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Eddington
On this episode of Cinema D’Amore, Chuck and Justin dive into Ari Aster’s Eddington, a COVID-era small-town pressure cooker where civic order, online hysteria, and personal grievance collide. What begins as a grounded portrait of pandemic anxiety gradually mutates into something far more…
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The Adventures of Mark Twain
Cinema D’Amore hosts Justin and Chuck take on The Adventures of Mark Twain (1985), the claymation cult oddity that blends childlike fantasy with existential dread. They unpack the film’s anthology structure, drawing from Tom Sawyer, Huckleberry Finn, and the deeply unsettling Mysterious Stranger,...
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The Life of Chuck
In this episode of Cinema D’Amore, Chuck and Justin break down Mike Flanagan’s adaptation of Stephen King’s The Life of Chuck, unpacking its reverse structure, standout performances from Tom Hiddleston, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Mia Sara, and Benjamin Pajak, and the film’s meditation on memory…
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The Holdovers
Cinema D’Amore hosts Justin and Chuck dig into Alexander Payne’s The Holdovers, a bittersweet, Christmas-set drama about an isolated teacher, a troubled student, and a lunchroom companion who come together as an unlikely family over winter break. The episode unpacks the film’s mix of dark humor…
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Warfare
Hosts Chuck and Justin break down Warfare, the A24 war film from Alex Garland and Ray Mendoza starring Cosmo Jarvis and Will Poulter. They dig into its boots-on-the-ground intensity, the decision to favor raw experience over traditional character arcs, and how the film turns a single day of…
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Weapons
Hosts Justin Morgan and Chuck Phillips dive into Zach Cregger’s Weapons, exploring its blend of horror, dark comedy, and a non-linear structure that gradually links its characters and events. They spotlight the strong ensemble cast, including Julia Garner, Josh Brolin, and Benedict Wong, and look...
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Friendship
Hosts Chuck and Justin dig into Andrew DeYoung’s Friendship, starring Tim Robinson, using its strange and chaotic look at relationships to explore how messy real-life friendships can be. They break down standout scenes, the improv-heavy style, and its ties to The Chair Company, along with a few...
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La Llorona
Cinema D’Amore celebrates eight years on the mic with a brand-new season and a haunting start. The hosts dive into Jayro Bustamante’s La Llorona, a Guatemalan ghost story that mixes political horror, folklore, and slow-burn dread. They dig into the film’s deliberate pacing, eerie atmosphere, and...
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Tarkovsky’s Stalker
In the Season 4 finale, Justin and Chuck trek deep into the Zone to take on Andrei Tarkovsky’s Stalker, a haunting masterpiece that bends time, faith, and reason. They dig into the film’s hypnotic rhythm, its shifts from grime to transcendence, and the strange pull of the Room at its center.…
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Annihilation
Chuck and Justin take on Alex Garland’s Annihilation, a film that’s as haunting as it is hard to pin down. They dig into how it compares to Jeff VanderMeer’s novel, what Garland nailed, and where it falls short. From the nightmare bear to the lighthouse and those uncanny doppelgängers, they break...
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The Substance
Justin and Chuck dive into The Substance, examining Demi Moore’s career-reviving turn and Margaret Qualley’s striking counterpart. They unpack the film’s grotesque, synth-scored body horror and how it skewers fame, the male gaze, and the relentless cost of youth. The hosts celebrate the inventive...
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Alien: Romulus
Cinema D’Amore ventures into the shadows of Alien: Romulus, where survival is forged from coal dust and blood. Chuck and Justin unravel the film’s desperate human drama, its unsettling bond between flesh and machine, and the relentless swarm of xenomorph terror. From facehugger nightmares to...
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Anora
Justin and Chuck dive into Sean Baker’s Anora, tracing its journey from fairytale romance to dark, slapstick chaos. Along the way, they explore the wild Vegas marriage plot, the tonal whiplash between comedy and despair, and Baker’s distinctive filmmaking style. The conversation highlights Annie...
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Empire of Passion
Chuck and Justin explore Nagisa Oshima’s Empire of Passion, a late-19th-century Japanese drama where a married woman and her lover murder her husband and hide his body in a village well. When the villagers begin seeing the husband’s ghost, suspicion spreads, exposing erotic obsession, guilt, and...
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Decision to Leave
Join hosts Justin Morgan and Chuck Phillips as they dive into the alluring depths of Park Chan-wook’s Decision to Leave. This South Korean mystery masterfully weaves themes of obsession, longing, and moral ambiguity into a slow-burn tale of love and betrayal. In this episode, the hosts unpack the...
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The City of Violence
Welcome back to Cinema D'Amore, hosted by Chuck and Justin. In this episode, the duo dives into the high-octane world of The City of Violence, a South Korean action film brimming with bizarre gangs—from hockey players to yo-yo enthusiasts. Drawing unexpected parallels to the surreal and...
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Beau Is Afraid
In this episode of Cinema D’Amore, hosts Justin and Chuck dive deep into the strange, sprawling universe of Beau Is Afraid, the latest mind-bender from Ari Aster (until Eddington's release). They draw unexpected parallels between this surreal journey and Apostle, uncovering a surprising thread…
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Apostle
In this episode of Cinema D'Amore, hosts Chuck and Justin dive into the eerie world of Apostle, exploring its unsettling atmosphere and supernatural themes. Building on their previous discussion of The Ritual, they uncover surprising connections between the two films, highlighting director Gareth...
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The Ritual
In this episode of Cinema D’Amore, hosts Justin Morgan and Charles Phillips venture into the haunting wilderness of The Ritual (2017), currently streaming on Netflix. As part of their ongoing series on thematic connections, they draw eerie parallels to last week’s feature, The Descent, examining...
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The Descent
Dive deep into the chilling world of Neil Marshall's 2005 horror classic, "The Descent." This week's episode explores the intricate connections between "The Descent" and "Ex Machina," examining themes of isolation, betrayal, and ambiguous endings. Discover how Neil Marshall crafts a…
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Ex Machina
We connect the film Kiss Kiss Bang Bang to this week’s discussion of Ex Machina (Alex Garland, 2014). Hosted by Justin Morgan. Co-hosted by Charles Phillips. Mixing by Scratchin’ Menace with Music by Daniel Birch and Ben Pegley. Follow us on Facebook and Bluesky for the latest updates. Available…
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Kiss Kiss Bang Bang
We connect the film the Cable Guy to this week’s discussion of Kiss Kiss Bang Bang (Shane Black, 2005). Hosted by Charles Phillips. Co-hosted by Justin Morgan. Mixing by Scratchin’ Menace with Music by Daniel Birch and Ben Pegley. Follow us on Facebook and Bluesky for the latest updates.…
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The Cable Guy
We connect the film Unforgiven to this week’s discussion of the Cable Guy (Ben Stiller, 1996). Hosted by Justin Morgan. Co-hosted by Charles Phillips. Mixing by Scratchin’ Menace with Music by Daniel Birch and Ben Pegley. Follow us on Facebook and Bluesky for the latest updates. Available on…
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The 400th Episode: Unforgiven
We celebrate our 400th episode by connecting the film Grand Prix to this week’s discussion of Unforgiven (Clint Eastwood, 1992). Hosted by Charles Phillips. Co-hosted by Justin Morgan. Mixing by Scratchin’ Menace with Music by Daniel Birch and Ben Pegley. Follow us on Facebook and Bluesky for the...
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Grand Prix
We connect the film Traffic to this week’s discussion of Grand Prix (John Frankenheimer, 1966). Hosted by Justin Morgan. Co-hosted by Charles Phillips. Mixing by Scratchin’ Menace with Music by Daniel Birch and Ben Pegley. Follow us on Facebook and Bluesky for the latest updates. Available on…
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97th Academy Awards
Justin and his guests Grant and Tim share their predictions for the 97th Academy Awards. Hosted by Justin Morgan with Guests Grant Mayotte and Tim Tobias. Music and Mixing by Scratchin’ Menace. Follow us on Facebook and Bluesky for the latest updates. Available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify…
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Traffic
We connect the film Licorice Pizza to this week’s discussion of Traffic (Steven Soderbergh, 2000). Hosted by Charles Phillips. Co-hosted by Justin Morgan. Mixing and QA by Scratchin’ Menace with Music by Daniel Birch and Ben Pegley Follow us on Facebook and Bluesky for the latest updates.…
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Licorice Pizza
We connect the film Good Time to this week’s discussion of Licorice Pizza (Paul Thomas Anderson, 2021). Hosted by Justin Morgan. Co-hosted by Charles Phillips. Mixing and QA by Scratchin’ Menace with Music by Daniel Birch and Ben Pegley Follow us on Facebook and Twitter for the latest updates....
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Good Time
We connect the film Amores perros to this week’s discussion of Good Time (Josh and Benny Safdie, 2017). Hosted by Charles Phillips. Co-hosted by Justin Morgan. Mixing and QA by Scratchin’ Menace with Music by Daniel Birch and Ben Pegley Follow us on Facebook and Twitter for the latest updates....
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Amores perros
We connect the film Tokyo Godfathers to this week’s discussion of Amores perros (Alejandro González Iñárritu, 2000). Hosted by Justin Morgan. Co-hosted by Charles Phillips. Mixing and QA by Scratchin’ Menace with Music by Daniel Birch and Ben Pegley Follow us on Facebook and Twitter for the…
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