Girls, Guts, and Giallo

Happy Pride to perverts only! Back when I first started this show, I released an episode on William Friedkin's controversial film based on the Mineshaft murders, Cruising. I have gained so much knowledge and experience since 2019! So to celebrate the season, it felt appropriate to revisit this classic piece of leather history. I am joined by Andy Campbell (author of Bound Together) and Morgan Woolsey (who did her PhD on the soundtrack!) We work through our scene by scene analysis of Cruising, injecting history lessons about the leather scene, real life murders, infamous protests, incredible punk soundtrack, and more. This is one of my favorite episodes to date! I love when I get to go really deep and hard in it. It being the joys of cinema, of course. As always, consider signing up at patreon.com/girlsgutsgiallo to support the work.

Society waits for you! Artist and filmmaker Ian Deleón joins me to talk about Brian Yuzna's body horror classic. We deep dive and do a scene by scene analysis of the film and discuss larger themes, like how sexual perversion has become coded as a decadent failure of the rich. We also link the film back to our current cultural moment and the recent release of the Epstein files and the ensuing moral panic. For more juicy content sign up at patreon.com/girlsgutsgiallo

Recurring guest Lucé Tomlin-Brenner is back to talk about every weird millennial girl's filmic awakening, Ghost World! While not the kind of film I typically cover on the show, I think our deep dive ended up being full of topics that are quite relevant to GGG. This is a meaty episode full of discussions about subculture, poser violence, hipster ethos in the early aughts, girlhood and friendship, why having a job fucking sucks, age gap relationships, and so much more.This is the free version of this episode. For the full version, sign up at patreon.com/girslgusgiallo

“I like to dissect girls. Did you know I'm utterly insane?”Happy Belated XXXMas! Cult film YouTuber Celeste De La Cabra joins me to discuss Mary Harron's take on Bret Easton Ellis's controversial novel about evil 1980s finance bros. We DISSECT every aspect of the film, including the differences between movie and novel, conservative masculinity in the 80s vs. now, why men idolize Patrick Bateman, and much more! Check out Celeste on YouTube @celestedelacabraSign up at patreon.com/girlsgutsgiallo for bonus content

Musician and curator of the Final Girls Film Festival in Berlin, Sara Neidorf, joins me to discuss one of our favorites. Nicolas Roeg's Don't Look Now is a gothic masterpiece of horror and we dive completely into it's depths. We talk about the figure of the hag, psychic ability and gender, Donald Sutherland as a male pinup, grief, and so much more. For bonus episodes sign up at patreon.com/girlsgutsgialloFollow Sara's musical projects:@mellowdeath_band@sarattma@madkate_thetide

Happy Halloween, freaky cuties! This one is a long time coming and I can't believe I haven't covered it yet. I just needed the perfect guest. Queer horror academic and scholar Morgan Woolsey joins me to discuss John Carpenter's low budget opus, Halloween. We talk about gender and sex in the slasher genre, the perils and definition of the final girl trope, why the iconic soundtrack works so well, and much more. For bonus episodes and commentaries, sign up at patreon.com/girlsgutsgiallo

The final part of a two part episode on Alfred Hitchcock's horror masterpiece, Psycho. In this installment, Lucé Tomlin-Brenner and I talk in depth about the infamous shower scene and reckon with the film's legacy in queer horror. For bonus episodes and my newsletter, check out patreon.com/girlsgutsgiallo.

I am back after a hiatus. I discuss some housekeeping items at the top of the show and encourage listeners to check my social media for a statement I made regarding what has been going on with me. My instagram is @girlsgutsgiallo Tis the season! Recurring guest and Halloween historian Lucé Tomlin-Brenner joins me for part I of a four hour discussion about Alfred Hitchcock's horror masterpiece, Psycho. In this part we discuss the making of the film as well as the first half of the movie in a traditional GGG scene by scene analysis. We discuss movie going culture in pre 1960, censorship, and how much we love Anthony Perkins.

Morbid YouTuber/tattoo artist Darby Valentine joins me for the first GGG discussion! We chat about this infamous West German horror nasty. We discuss female necrophiliacs, punk culture in 1980s Germany, and romantic gore. Sign up for bonus episodes, including one on Nekromantik 2 at ⁠patreon.com/girlsgutsgiallo

Morbid YouTuber/tattoo artist Darby Valentine joins me for a discussion about this infamous West German horror nasty. We chat about female necrophiliacs, punk culture in 1980s Germany, and romantic gore. Sign up for bonus episodes, including one on Nekromantik 2 at patreon.com/girlsgutsgiallo

This episode is dedicated to the iconic David Lynch. The first two hours are FREE, but to listen to the entire four hour long episode, sign up at Patreon.com/GirlsGutsGiallo!Carr Conaway is back to discuss another David Lynch masterpiece. This is one of favorite movies and we leave no stone unturned. We analyze the film scene by scene and discuss various theories about the plot, symbolism, and iconography. We attempt to unravel the mystery of this enigmatic work and take our time discussing topics like lesbian yearning, old Hollywood legends, dream logic, and so much more.

Pro Domme and artist Micha Malvada joins me to discuss George Franju's horror masterwork. We discuss the political climate of France post-WWII, George Franju's politics, medical horror, and more. You can find Micha Malvada at luxuryevil.com Support the podcast at patreon.com/girlsgutsgiallo

Not feeling the holiday spirit? Neither are we! Comedian Honey Pluton joins me for an episode that will surely land us on some kind of list (if we aren't on there already!) We discuss a collection of films that embody the anti-Amerikkkan insurgent spirit. We also rant about our unhinged political beliefs.

Happy Halloween, perverts! Recurring guest and Halloween historian Lucé Tomlin-Brenner joins me for a chat about horny horror. What is the difference between horror that is simply psychosexual vs. erotic? Why are we horny for fear and violence? What is the state of erotic horror today? We discuss these questions as well as our personal canon of horny horror icons like Jean Rollin, Jess Franco, Paul Morrissey, and David Cronenberg. Sign up for my content at patreon.com/girlsgutsgiallo Check out Lucè's podcast It's Always Halloween! and sign up for more of her content at patreon.com/itsalwayshalloween

We are celebrating Folsom Weekend on Girls, Guts, & Giallo! Director/artist Michelle Handelman joins me for an interview about her paradigm shifting, transgressive documentary on the leatherdykes of San Francisco. BloodSisters: Leather, Dykes and Sadomasochism (1995) is screening at the Roxie Theater Saturday 9/28, which is one of the theaters it originally was shown at back when it was first released. It’s a very special screening. Michelle and I talk about the making of the film, San Francisco in the 90s, leather culture then vs. today, and much more. The first part of this interview is available for free. To hear the whole conversation, sign up at patreon.com/girlsgutsgiallo. Watch the film over on bloodsistersthemovie.com where you’ll find it available through Kino Lorber and Kanopy.

Video artist Liz Zito joins me to discuss a film whose killer bears her name: the infamous Maniac! We talk Italian-American horror, masculinity, women who love grindhouse, and more.

This is the free version of my episode with Vita Breva on the cult classic film, The Wicker Man. To access the full episode, subscribe to my Patreon at patreon.com/girlsgutsgiallo or sign up on Spotify or Apple subscriptions. You don't want to miss the full version!

As a director associated with the Cinema of Transgression movement, Charles Pinion made three SOV horror classics in the late 80s/early to mid 90s: Twisted Issues (1988), Red Spirit Lake (1993), and We Await (1996). In this interview, Charles and I discuss his filmmaking career, as well as his foray into the porn industry. The director generously shares his stories in this full two hour interview, the first part of which is available for free. For the whole interview, sign up at patreon.com/girlsgutsgiallo.

Recurring guest Tina Horn joins me to discuss Derek Jarman's controversial punk film, Jubilee. We talk about the punk movement, Derek Jarman's career, and the scandalous aftermath of the film.

This is part two of a two part episode. Filmmaker Carr Conaway guests on this highly requested episode. A titan of the neo-noir movement, Blue Velvet is one of David Lynch's masterpieces. This is a traditional GGG episode with a scene by scene analysis. Join us for discussions of Freudian theory, the neo-noir genre, and David Lynch's career in the 1980s.

This is part one of a two part episode. Filmmaker Carr Conaway guests on this highly requested episode. A titan of the neo-noir movement, Blue Velvet is one of David Lynch's masterpieces. This is a traditional GGG episode with a scene by scene analysis. Join us for discussions of Freudian theory, the neo-noir genre, and David Lynch's career in the 1980s.

Part I of II! My gay goth brother Travis Merriman guests on the show to gush blood over Neil Jordan's homoerotic vampire classic.

Part II of my discussion with Annaliese about Ms. 45. We continue to analyze the film in full!

Annaliese joins me for a rigorous, sometimes emotional, discussion of Abel Ferrara's famous rape revenge exploitation film starring Zoe Lund. This is Part I. Part II comes out next week. This was a great discussion and I know you all will enjoy it. We talk about what the film means to us as survivors, why we dislike most discourse about survivorship, and begin to discuss the film in depth. Happy Halloween, freaks!

Scottish critic Michael Gillespie joins me for a discussion about this subversive '90s sleeper hit. Sign up for my Patreon for the full episode. Patreon.com/GirlsGutsGiallo

I have a new episode for you! Only my patrons have access to the full episode I recorded with Katrina Kemp (@kueenkatrina)! Sign up on patreon.com/girlsgutsgiallo for the full experience. The first hour and a half is available for free Katrina Kemp, a prolific actress and little person rights advocate, joins me for a thorough discussion about Tod Browning's controversial Hollywood film: Freaks (1932). We talk about the history of side shows, the history of people with dwarfism in art and film, Tod Browning's life and background, as well as give a traditional GGG scene by scene analysis of the film. And of course since both Kat and I are queer as fuck, this analysis is also GAY.

Kamikaze Jones returns for the third installment in our series about important directors of gay porn from the 1970s!

In a stunning reevaluation of a film I once called "indefensible," trans therapist and femme sadist Maeve Martin joins me for an episode about Brian De Palma's most controversial film. This a traditional GGG episode, meaning we go scene by scene and do a deep analysis of the subversive themes and history of the film. Maeve provides much needed insights on psychiatric history in regards to gender dysphoria.

Kamikaze Jones and I return for a liminal episode of Anal Auteurs to discuss the late experimental filmmaker, Kenneth Anger. We chat about sex magic, James Dean as a human ashtray, the whore of Babylon and Scientology, the fraught history of occult mysticism and the aesthetics of fascism…and more! Note: we were very tired recording this and at one point say “the isle of Dr. Caligari” instead of “the cabinet.” We combined Moreau and Caligari, oops!

Fellow perverted film writer Travis Woods talked to me for three and a half hours about voyeurism in Brian De Palma's oeuvre. This is part I of that conversation, part II will be available on my patreon. Listen to us get hot and horny for looking and being looked at. Sign up for my patreon to get part II when it drops! patreon.com/girlsgutsgiallo Bibliography: Keesey, Douglas . 2015. Brian De Palma's Split-Screen: A Life in Film. University Press of Mississippi. Woods, Travis. "A Shot in the Dark: Syncing the Personal, Political, and Perverse of Brian De Palma’S Blow Out." Bright Wall/Dark Room. https://doi.org/brightwalldarkroom.com/2021/11/03/a-shot-in-the-dark-blow-out-1981/. Woods, Travis. "De Palma Does Hollywood: Fleshing Out the Split-Screened Study of Voyeurism & Illusion in Body Double." Bright Wall/Dark Room. https://doi.org/https://www.amazon.com/Brian-Palmas-Split-Screen-Life-Film/dp/1628466979.

Kamikaze Jones joins me again for part II in a four-part mini-series about important gay porn directors from the 1970s. In this episode we discuss two works directed by Fred Halsted, L.A. Plays Itself and Sextool. We talk leather, top vs. bottom cinema, and anal voids.  *correction: Annie says the Halsted blu ray release is from Kino Lorber, but it’s actually from Vinegar Syndrome.

I'm trying out a new venture where I review new movies with guests. I promise that the fact that I've hated everyone so far is a complete coincidence! Caleb Luna joins me to discuss Darren Aronofsky's lauded new film, The Whale. We cover fat archetypes in film, Brendan Fraser's comeback, and the tyranny of the fat suit.  Sign up for more me at patreon.com/girlsgutsgiallo  Bibliography:  Gay, Roxane. "The Cruel Spectacle of ‘The Whale’." The New York Times, December 10, 2023. https://www.nytimes.com/2022/12/10/opinion/the-whale-film.html

The first part in a special series about gay pornography in the 1970s-1980s. Brother in filth and host of the podcast Pure Garbage, Kamikaze Jones, joins me for a four part deep dive into the work of four different gay porn film directors. We begin our journey with an anal-ysis of two Peter de Rome films.  Sign up for my patreon and join my discord community at patreon.com/girlsgutsgiallo

The prolific Kat Ellinger joins me for a thorough discussion on a sub category within the giallo genre: GOTHIC GIALLI (also called giallo fantastico and chamber gialli). We discuss a suite of films, why we love them and the psycho-sexual perverse themes they explore. We even foray into Italian film industry history and rant about ape sex.  You should follow Kat and all the brilliant work she does on her patreon: patreon.com/confessionsofacineslut And subscribe to my patreon at patreon.com/girlsgutsigallo

SPOILER HEAVY! Film critic Angelica Jade Bastién joins me to discuss the new Hellraiser reboot! We didn't love it, to say the least.  Check out Angelica's writing here! 

Macy Rodman, the hilarious hostess of Nymphowars, joins me for a good old fashioned roast. Just kidding! Kind of. We discuss Andrew Dominik's controversial new film about the life and times of Marilyn Monroe, Blonde. We cover the Joyce Carol Oates novel the film is based on, why we didn't like this movie as lovers of extreme cinema, and we make fun of Australians (sorry, Australian fans!)  To support me and all the work I do, join my Patreon! Bibliography:  The Many Lives of Marilyn Monroe by Sarah Churchwell Marilyn Monroe: My Little Secret by Tony Jerris  Goddess: The Secret Lives of Marilyn Monroe by Anthony Summers  Bette and Joan: The Divine Feud by Shaun Considine  “I’m not interested in reality, I’m interested in the images”: Andrew Dominik on Blonde by Christina Newland  The Hollow Impersonation in Blonde by Angelica Jade  Review: ‘Blonde’ isn’t really about Marilyn Monroe. It’s about making her suffer by Justin Chang 

I'm not sure what possessed me. I blame COVID madness. Apologies in advance for my singing voice. If I made you laugh, sign up at patreon.com/girlsgutsgiallo

I'm back with a new season of Girls, Guts, & Giallo! Did you miss me? Let me know by signing up for my Patreon. To celebrate Daddy Cronenberg's new film Crimes of the Future, Mistrexx Mars joins me to discuss the film that introduced many of the concepts we associate with the director: Videodrome! 

The full version of this episode is only available through Patreon or Spotify Subscriptions. Video art professor Sid Branca joins me once again for a lengthy discussion, this time on the elusive concept of "The Female Gaze?" The full version of this episode is only available to Patrons. Edited by Alice Wiche Music: Sans Toi and La Joueuse from the film Cleo 5 to 7

For this special episode, film and video art professor Sid Branca joins me for a nearly 2 and a half hour rigorous discussion on the concept of the "Male Gaze." We use Laura Mulvey's famous essay "Visual Pleasure and Narrative Cinema" and take it to task. The first part is available for free, but you'll need to sign up for my Patreon for the rest: patreon.com/girlsgutsgiallo. 

Queer NOLA Witch Lizxnn Cobalt Chrome joins me in celebration of SINISTER SISTERS month to discuss this legendary horror film. This was a juicy 2 hour episode. I’m offering the first hour free for your enjoyment, but if you want the whole discussion, you’ll have to sign up for my Patreon at Patreon.com/girlsgutsgiallo or through Spotify subscriptions. Remember on my Patreon I offer a whole host of bonus content, including bonus episodes, a newsletter with my recommendations of the month in reading, music, film, and kink, and live film screenings hosted by yours truly. And I now have a Discord and a Book Club! We have our own little community there. I hope you’ll join us. That’s patren.com/girlsgutsgiallo. Enjoy the show!

Queer artist, hole enthusiast, and instigator Nayland Blake joins me for a gooey discussion on the first four Alien films. We use Barbara Creed's seminal text "The Monstrous Feminine" as a framework for our analyses. Holes are wrecked, primal scenes are witnessed, and it's all very slimy. 

Lucé and I return with the rest of our discussion about Rosemary's Baby. Content note for discussions of rape and abuse.  Subscribe to my Patreon at Patreon.com/girlsgutsgiallo

I'm back after a much needed break from main podcast episodes! For this new episode, I talked to music journalist Suzy Exposito about Harmony Korine's film, "Spring Breakers." We discuss themes related to whiteness and cultural tourism, culture at the beginning of the 2010s, and what Britney Spears represents to millennials. If you're missing more podcast episodes from me, be sure to subscribe to my Patreon at patreon.com/girlsgutsgiallo for bonus episodes and screenings. 

Horror writer Gretchen Felker-Martin joins me to discuss her favorite film, Ken Russell's extremely controversial nasty, "The Devils." We talk about the ethics of the film's production, horny nuns, and why we love this outrageous movie so much. 

Artist and writer Drusilla Adeline joins me for a discussion on Dario Argento's most famous film. This episode was originally a bonus episode on my Patreon that I've decided to release in honor of the late Daria Nicolodi. If you love giallo history and lots of gender analysis, give it a listen. 

Tina Horn returns to dissect Terry Gilliam's cult classic about failed, dystopian bureaucracy. It's a long one, folks! Buckle up. 

Maria De Paula Vázquez, one of the programmers and volunteers at London Deptford Cinema, joins me to discuss the blaxploitation horror film Sugar Hill. We discuss hybrid horror/blaxploitation, the difference between voodoo zombies and contagion zombies, and revenge film cycles. 

Video artist and filmmaker Danica Uskert joins me to discuss the controversial masterpiece directed by Nagisa ōshima. I give a brief history on erotic Japanese cinema, Danica enlightens us on the details of the real Abe Sada case, and we dive deep into the plot and symbolism of one of our favorite films. 

Recorded pre-quarantine, I join film critic Sarah Fonseca in her luxurious Brooklyn bedroom to dish about this film noir classic. We talk femme fatales and the specific way gay men objectify women as "muses." This episode pairs nicely with the June Patreon bonus episode Sarah and I recorded on the work of director Shirley Clarke. Sign up at patreon.com/girlsgutsgiallo to hear it!