The Needle: A Film Podcast

This week Scott and Eddie take a look at two underseen Dixie-fried noir gems: Jeremy Saulnier's Blue Ruin (2013) and Jim Mickle's Cold in July (2014). Then your hosts launch into their first-ever "lightning round" offering up Needles from other genres including a feature and a pair of short films from DIY action auteur Eric Jacobis along with the fantastic Thai riff on heist films, Bad Genius, and the Twilight Zone-inspired feature The Vast of Night.  As of the writing of these show notes, you can find these Needles on the following streaming services: Blue Ruin is available on Tubi, Starz, CW, Plex and various VOD outlets. Cold in July is available on AMC+, The Roku Channel, Kanopy, Sundance Now, Pluto TV, Plex and various VOD outlets. Eric Jacobis' Contour, Rope-a-dope 1 and Rope-a-dope 2 can be found on YouTube.com. Bad Genius is available on Netflix, Prime Video (with ads), Xumo Play and various VOD outlets. The Vast of Night is exclusive to Amazon Prime. Remember that streaming contracts come and go, so when in doubt, consult the JustWatch app for the up-to-the-minute whereabouts of the films mentioned on the show. (No, they're not a sponsor. We just love their app.) A huge thank you to our first-ever sponsor, the new indie horror film SOUTHERN SCARES which hits VOD on Tuesday, June 16, 2026. Mystery, horror and southern folklore collide in the 1990s when a video store worker uncovers chilling secrets hidden in her missing sister's documentary series, Southern Scares. Pre-order now on VOD platforms everywhere. You can reach Scott and Eddie at [email protected] with your questions or suggestions for Needles they should discuss in future episodes. Thanks to songwriter Burt Perryman for the theme of The Needle and various music bumpers that were taken from his song "Faded Memory" with his express permission. Eddie O'Blivion Instagram: @eddie_oblivion Eddie O'Blivion Letterboxd: EddieO'Blivion Scott Phillips Instagram: @mscott_phillips Scott Phillips Bluesky: @mscottphillips.bsky.social Scott Phillips Letterboxd: ScottPhillips

Your co-hosts, former Forbes.com film critic Scott Phillips and filmmaker Eddie O'Blivion, open this very first episode with a mission statement of sorts. What is a Needle? Why does it matter? And why should this show be added to your regular film podcast rotation? Eddie takes a look at the 1988 real-time nuclear threat thriller MIRACLE MILE, and Scott ponders why MANHUNTER (1986), Michael Mann's foray into the world of Will Graham and Hannibal Lektor, remains the least seen film in the Hannibal canon. Then your hosts take a moment to ask TWO QUESTIONS about their film tastes, their careers and experiences in the film world or other random film-centric topics.       Miracle Mile is currently available on Tubi, Fubo, MGM+, Kanopy, Philo and various VOD outlets. Manhunter is currently available on Amazon Prime, Kanopy and various VOD outlets. Remember that streaming contracts come and go, so when in doubt, consult the JustWatch app for the up-to-the-minute whereabouts of the films mentioned on the show. (No, they're not a sponsor. We just love their app.) A huge thank-you to our first-ever sponsor, the new indie horror film SOUTHERN SCARES, hitting VOD on Tuesday, June 16, 2026. Mystery, horror and Southern folklore collide in the 1990s when a video store worker uncovers chilling secrets hidden in her missing sister's documentary series, Southern Scares. Pre-order now at VOD platforms everywhere. You can reach Scott and Eddie at [email protected] with your questions or suggestions for Needles they should discuss in future episodes. Thanks to songwriter Burt Perryman for the theme for The Needle and the various music bumpers that were taken from his song "Faded Memory" with his express permission. Eddie O'Blivion on Instagram: @eddie_oblivion Eddie O'Blivion on Letterboxd: EddieO'Blivion Scott Phillips on Instagram: @mscott_phillips Scott Phillips on Bluesky: @mscottphillips.bsky.social Scott Phillips on Letterboxd: ScottPhillips