Morally Offensive

In Part II, Bill and Stephanie get into the plot of Benedetta, and break down the story, the performances, and why this film stirred up so much controversy around Catholic mysticism, sainthood, visions, and miracles. They are once again joined by co-host of the Leave, Laugh, Love Podcast, Veronica Novotny, who once contemplated convent life. In this episode, the three address Benedetta’s ecstatic visions, the plague backdrop of the film, they address THAT Virgin Mary statue, and ask whether or not the Pear of Anguish was actually a commonly used torture device during the witch trial and heretic burning era of the Reformation and Counter-Reformation.  There’s also a closer look at Paul Verhoeven and his career, including Basic Instinct, Showgirls, RoboCop, and Flesh and Blood, and his surprsing side gig as a Jesus expert. Check out the Leave, Laugh, Love podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/leave-laugh-love/id1755663974 Support the show: FILTHY HABITS T-SHIRTS AND MERCH ARE IN! Merch: https://morallyoffensive.bigcartel.com/ SUPPORT THE SHOW JUST BECAUSE Buy Us a Coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/morallyoffensive Website and Contact info: https://www.morallyoffensive.com Follow and watch: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@MorallyOffensivepod TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@morallyoffensivepod Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/morallyoffensivepod Threads: https://www.threads.net/@morallyoffensivepod

Bill and Stephanie are joined by Veronica (Leave, Laugh, Love) to talk about Benedetta—starting with her own experience discerning religious life, and the moment that path ended when she was denied entry to a convent because she’s a lesbian. From there, the conversation moves through fundamentalist Catholic spaces and the charismatic movement, touching on ideas like vocation, discernment, religious orders, and what it actually means to be “called” in a system with hard boundaries. We also get into the reaction to Benedetta, including a harsh condemnation from Tradition, Family, Property and a more favorable take that approaches the film on its own terms. Along the way, we set the stage for Part II with some context on director Paul Verhoeven—known for films like Basic Instinct, Showgirls, and RoboCop—and why a movie about Catholic mysticism, sainthood, and alleged miracles was always going to land exactly where it did: somewhere between serious religious drama and total controversy. Check out the Leave, Laugh, Love podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/leave-laugh-love/id1755663974 Support the show: FILTHY HABITS T-SHIRTS AND MERCH ARE IN! Merch: https://morallyoffensive.bigcartel.com/ SUPPORT THE SHOW JUST BECAUSE Buy Us a Coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/morallyoffensive Website and Contact info: https://www.morallyoffensive.com Follow and watch: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@MorallyOffensivepod TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@morallyoffensivepod Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/morallyoffensivepod Threads: https://www.threads.net/@morallyoffensivepod

This week on Morally Offensive, Bill, Jess, and special guest Syd King dive into The Little Hours—a medieval comedy where the nuns are anything but devout. Set in a 14th-century convent, the film follows a group of wildly unrestrained sisters who drink, swear, and terrorize the local help…until a fugitive posing as a deaf-mute handyman shows up and turns everything sideways. What starts as a chaotic character study quickly spirals into a mix of lust, power plays, religious hypocrisy, and naked dancing in the woods. Along the way, the crew unpacks how the film pulls from The Decameron, why its anachronistic dialogue actually works, and how it gleefully pokes at the idea of holiness without completely dismissing it. Tangents include youth pastors telling us we'd go to hell if we died in a car crash, that time Jess' classmates terrorized and vandalized Holy Hill Basilica, TMI Catholic confessions about your sex life, campus ministers on the run from the law, and Syd's proximity to Ryan Gosling on Saturday Night Live. Support the show: Merch: https://morallyoffensive.bigcartel.com/ Buy Us a Coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/morallyoffensive Follow Syd King on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/syd.the.king/ Website and Contact info: https://www.morallyoffensive.com Follow and watch: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@MorallyOffensivepod TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@morallyoffensivepod Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/morallyoffensivepod Threads: https://www.threads.net/@morallyoffensivepod  

This week, Bill and Jess are joined by comedian, actor, and writer Syd King to talk The Little Hours—a movie where nuns drink too much, swear constantly, and ignore basically every rule they’re supposed to follow. Loosely based on The Decameron, it’s equal parts historical weirdness and modern comedy. We get into the Catholic angle, the controversy (or lack of it), and why this kind of story keeps coming back.  In episode one, find out why Bill Donahue called the movie "Pure Trash", why a fringe Catholic Cult protested the movie (with bagpipes!), discover the existence of a creepy Catholic nun doll museum in northern Michigan, Jess finds out about "The Shack", and Bill reviews the hot dog menu from The Gay Bar in Gay, Michigan. Support the show: Merch: https://morallyoffensive.bigcartel.com/ Buy Us a Coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/morallyoffensive Follow Syd King on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/syd.the.king/ Website and Contact info: https://www.morallyoffensive.com Follow and watch: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@MorallyOffensivepod TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@morallyoffensivepod Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/morallyoffensivepod Threads: https://www.threads.net/@morallyoffensivepod    

In Part 2 of Jesus Christ Superstar (1973), we get into what happens when Jesus stops being a mere prophet, and is named "king" by his followers. Bill, Kevin and guest Orion Couling talk fame, ego, pressure, and why nobody in this movie seems to have a handle on what’s a-happenin' (including Jesus). Diversions include: stealing from David Brubeck, why the Apostles have a Hobbit problem, what you would buy with your 30 pieces of silver, and St. Peter actor Paul Thomas' storied adult film career post-JC Superstar. This is another episode in our Filthy Habits series, which will return to focus on Nunsploitation next week, with an episode on The Little Hours. Support the show: Merch: https://morallyoffensive.bigcartel.com/ Buy Us a Coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/morallyoffensive Check Out "Shadow Carriers" Podcast with Orion Couling: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/shadow-carriers/id1533170469 Follow Orion on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nawlins_crawlins/ Website and Contact info: https://www.morallyoffensive.com Follow and watch: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@MorallyOffensivepod TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@morallyoffensivepod Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/morallyoffensivepod Threads: https://www.threads.net/@morallyoffensivepod      

Jesus Christ Superstar is the musical that dared to ask: "What if the Gospels...but hippies?" This week on Morally Offensive, Bill and Kevin are joined by actor, filmmaker, ghost tour guide (and former Judas) Orion Couling to break down Jesus Christ Superstar (1973). Along the way, expect some truly off-key singing as we dive into one of the most controversial religious films ever made. We read through Catholic reactions ranging from outright condemnation to surprising praise, including claims that even the Pope was a fan, and unpack what made the film so divisive. Then we explore the fascinating history behind director Norman Jewison and the cast, pushing back on the idea that Jewison was simply a journeyman director and making the case for him as a true auteur. Diversions include growing up Catholic on Dr. Dobson and Focus on the Family, DC Talk's "Nirvana" phase, Bill and Orion's time served on the Edmund Fitzgerald, and that one time Kevin got crucified on stage. If you’re interested in Jesus Christ Superstar, religious film controversy, Catholic reviews, or the legacy of Norman Jewison, this episode digs into how a rock opera about Jesus became a cultural lightning rod. Support the show: Merch: https://morallyoffensive.bigcartel.com/ Buy Us a Coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/morallyoffensive Check Out "Shadow Carriers" Podcast with Orion Couling: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/shadow-carriers/id1533170469 Follow Orion on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nawlins_crawlins/ Website and Contact info: https://www.morallyoffensive.com Follow and watch: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@MorallyOffensivepod TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@morallyoffensivepod Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/morallyoffensivepod Threads: https://www.threads.net/@morallyoffensivepod  

Bill and Jess continue their two part deep dive into the classic film Black Narcissus (1947) as part of the new Morally Offensive series Filthy Habits. Joining them, once again, is film director Dalila Droege (No More Time). In part two - they discuss the film’s back half, where everything starts to come apart. Sister Clodagh (Deborah Kerr) loses her grip on the order, while Sister Ruth (Kathleen Byron) finds her commitment to her vocation quickly disintegrating. The crew and their guest discuss Byron’s performance and how it reads today, especially in the context of dated portrayals of mental health and the long history of women on screen being framed as unstable or hysterical. What may have once felt intense now lands differently, and that tension becomes part of the conversation. We also look at how Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger, working as The Archers, use color, design, and stylization to mirror the characters’ unraveling. The result is a film that’s as striking as it is uncomfortable, especially in how it handles desire, repression, and collapse. Support the show: Merch: https://morallyoffensive.bigcartel.com/ Buy Us a Coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/morallyoffensive Follow Dalila Droege on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/daliladroege For the latest updates on Beauty Night, follow the official account: https://www.instagram.com/beautynight_film Website and Contact info: https://www.morallyoffensive.com Follow and watch: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@MorallyOffensivepod TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@morallyoffensivepod Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/morallyoffensivepod Threads: https://www.threads.net/@morallyoffensivepod

Bill and Jess begin a two part deep dive into the classic film Black Narcissus (1947) as part of the Morally Offensive series Filthy Habits, where the show examines religion, repression, and scandal in films about nuns and clergy. Joining them is film director Dalila Droege to help unpack one of the most visually stunning and psychologically intense films of the 1940s. This episode also introduces a new format for the show. Before diving into the movie itself, the hosts examine Catholic reactions and reviews of Black Narcissus. Religious critics have long been divided about the film’s themes of temptation, vocation, and spiritual crisis, and those responses reveal a lot about how the movie has been interpreted by faith communities over the decades. In Part One, the discussion focuses on Act I of the film. The panel explores the arrival of the Anglican nuns at a remote Himalayan palace that is being converted into a convent, the unsettling atmosphere of the mountain setting, and the early hints of emotional and spiritual tension that begin to emerge within the mission. Bill, Jess, and Dalila also discuss the filmmaking of Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger, the performances that made the film legendary, and why Black Narcissus remains one of the most provocative and talked about “nun movies” ever made. Support the show: Merch: https://morallyoffensive.bigcartel.com/ Buy Us a Coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/morallyoffensive Follow Dalila Droege on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/daliladroege For the latest updates on Beauty Night, follow the official account: https://www.instagram.com/beautynight_film Website and Contact info: https://www.morallyoffensive.com Follow and watch: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@MorallyOffensivepod TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@morallyoffensivepod Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/morallyoffensivepod Threads: https://www.threads.net/@morallyoffensivepod

In this episode of Morally Offensive, Bill and Jess are joined by horror author Ophelia Crane to dig into the Oscar-nominated film Sinners—and the very different reactions it’s sparked. The trio wades into Catholic reviews of the movie and what they reveal about how religious critics approach controversial art, while also exploring the film’s bigger ideas about religion, colonization, and the long history of cultures borrowing—sometimes stealing—stories, music, and folklore. Along the way, the conversation touches on Catholic film criticism, horror traditions, cultural ownership, and the strange moment when theology collides with awards season. It’s a lively, occasionally irreverent discussion about one of the year’s most talked-about films. *We apologize to our listeners for the slight drop in audio quality on this episode. We have been changing up how we handle remote audio, and we are still learning the ropes with our new setup for recording remote guests or co-hosts. For our upcoming series, we should have the audio quality back to where it usually is on this show. Thank you for your patience.* Support the show: Merch: https://morallyoffensive.bigcartel.com/ Buy Us a Coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/morallyoffensive Follow Ophelia Crane here Website and Contact info: https://www.morallyoffensive.com Follow and watch: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@MorallyOffensivepod TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@morallyoffensivepod Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/morallyoffensivepod Threads: https://www.threads.net/@morallyoffensivepod Keywords: sinners movie, sinners film analysis, sinners movie review, sinners oscars, sinners oscar nominations, sinners themes explained, sinners religion themes, catholic review sinners, catholic film criticism, religion in horror movies, controversial religious films, colonization in film, cultural appropriation in movies, folklore in horror movies, horror film themes, movie podcast, horror movie podcast, film analysis podcast, morally offensive podcast, ophelia crane interview  

In this episode of Morally Offensive, co-hosts Bill and Stephanie continue their series on X-rated films with Stanley Kubrick’s A Clockwork Orange. Originally released with an X rating, the film remains one of the most controversial titles in cinema history, raising enduring questions about violence, free will, censorship, and state power. Guest John Enroth, composer (Regular Show, Interior Chinatown), joins the discussion to examine Wendy Carlos’s electronic score, Kubrick’s use of Beethoven, and the role of music as psychological control and moral irony. The episode places A Clockwork Orange within the history of the MPAA ratings system, film censorship, and controversial cinema of the 1970s, asking whether Kubrick critiques violence or deliberately refuses moral resolution. And of course, it DID receive the dreaded "C" rating from "The Catholics". Keywords: A Clockwork Orange, Stanley Kubrick, X-rated films, MPAA ratings, film censorship, Wendy Carlos, Beethoven, Anthony Burgess, Malcolm McDowell, dystopian cinema, controversial movies Website and Contact info: https://www.morallyoffensive.com Follow and watch: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@MorallyOffensivepod TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@morallyoffensivepod Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/morallyoffensivepod Threads: https://www.threads.net/@morallyoffensivepod Support the show: Merch: https://morallyoffensive.bigcartel.com/ Buy Us a Coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/morallyoffensive

Beyond the Valley of the Dolls (1970) is an X-rated studio film written by Roger Ebert, directed by Russ Meyer, and still more culturally radioactive than most modern movies. So we had to talk about it. This week on Morally Offensive, the ex-Catholic hosts are joined by Matt Harding of Severin Films to dig into Meyer’s psychedelic cult classic and its strange place in American film history. We unpack Roger Ebert’s involvement in the script, Russ Meyer’s obsession with buxom women, and how that fixation shaped both the visual language and politics of his films. We get into the feminist debates around Meyer’s work, the film’s relationship to 60s counterculture, and the way Beyond the Valley of the Dolls became a cultural reference point for everything from Sublime lyrics to Austin Powers parody. We also go on a side quest through Catholic film criticism, breaking down a period review that condemned this movie while praising the morality of Seven Brides for Seven Brothers, which somehow manages to be more disturbing in its own way. If you’re into film history, cult cinema, Catholic moral panic, and movies that make everyone uncomfortable for different reasons, this episode lives right in that space. Episodes, essays, and archives: https://www.morallyoffensive.com Follow and watch: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@MorallyOffensivepod TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@morallyoffensivepod Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/morallyoffensivepod Threads: https://www.threads.net/@morallyoffensivepod Guest shoutout: Severin Films https://severinfilms.com Support the show: Merch: https://morallyoffensive.bigcartel.com/ Buy Me a Coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/morallyoffensive

This week on Morally Offensive, Bill and Kevin dig into the origins and impact of John Waters’ Pink Flamingos. The crew is joined by Bryan Wendorf of the Chicago Underground Film Festival and Thomas Bottoms of Bottoms of the Barrel to trace Waters’ early years making films in Baltimore, from DIY shorts and church-basement screenings to cultivating an audience far outside the mainstream. We break down the production of Pink Flamingos, the creation of Divine as a transgressive screen icon, and how the film’s deliberate provocation helped spark outrage, fascination, and the rise of the midnight movie phenomenon. Along the way, we discuss censorship, exhibition, and why Waters’ brand of bad taste proved so culturally disruptive, and so enduring.  Want to help us pay our bills and keep the podcast going: DONATE NOW! Check out our new Merch Store! We've got t-shirts, hats, tote bags and branded denim jackets! Follow us on our socials at Instagram and Tiktok. Check out https://cuff.org/ to find out more about the Chicago Underground Film Festival! Find out more about Thomas over at Bottoms of the Barrel: https://www.bottomsofthebarrel.com/

In this Christmas episode of Morally Offensive, Jess and Bill take a deep dive into Black Christmas (1974), the landmark horror film that helped define the slasher genre several years before Halloween. Joining them is Professor Eric D. Wesselmann, who brings an academic lens to Bob Clark’s deeply unsettling and surprisingly nuanced film. The conversation covers the film’s complex female characters, the origins of the “the call is coming from inside the house” trope, and how Roe v. Wade and second-wave feminism shaped the movie’s themes and cultural reception.  A holiday episode about horror, depictions of disability on film, the evolution of women's rights, and why Black Christmas remains one of the most influential films of the 1970s.

This week on Morally Offensive, everybody's talking (okay its just Kevin and Bill) with singer/songwriter (and former film student) Stefanie Joyce about the ONLY X-Rated Film to win Best Picture, Midnight Cowboy. The film features a young Jon Voight as an aspiring sex worker who runs from his past in a small Texas town, toward the bright city lights of Broadway and 42nd St. While unsuccessfully attempting to get into the game, he runs into Ratso Rizzo (a young Dustin Hoffman), a small-time hustler who gets by on petty theft and squating in an abandoned apartment building. The crew uncovers the shocking facts surrounding the film being screened at an international Cahtolic Film Festival, while simultanesouly receiving an A-IV rating (Adults with Reservations - so, not QUITE "C" or "O" - our bad). Diversions including pocketing cold cuts at swanky parties, Meat-and-Threes, Flannery O'Connor, Baby Bob Balaban, and the ongoing debate about THAT scene. Want to donate or buy us a coffee to keep us going? We'd really appreciate it: DONATE NOW! Check out our new Merch Store! We've got t-shirts, hats, tote bags and branded denim jackets! Follow us on our socials at Instagram and Tiktok. Check out guest Stefanie Joyce on Tiktok and her website.    

Bill and Stephanie sit down with Thomas Negovan to discuss the restoration of Caligula: The Ultimate Cut and how he and an editor pieced the film back together. Thomas explains how they uncovered hours of never-before-seen footage and used it to assemble a version of Caligula that reflects what was originally filmed, offering a clearer look at the movie’s intended narrative. The episode also explores Bob Guccione’s controversial attempt to reshape Caligula in the edit, the bizarre choice to make an additional R-rated release, and of course the Catholic Reviews from the time. The crew gets into film restoration, the lost footage, and how a movie’s meaning changes depending on who controls the final cut. Check out our new Merch Store! We've got t-shirts, hats, tote bags and branded denim jackets! Follow us on our socials at Instagram and Tiktok.  

Warning: This episode covers an actual adult movie, and contains discussions about graphic sexual topics. In this episode of Morally Offensive, the first in our "X-Rated" series, we explore the cultural earthquake sparked by the 1972 film Deep Throat with special guest Mark Covino, director of the award-winning documentary A Band Called Death. We dive into the rise of 1970s “porn chic,” the collapse of the Hays Code, the creation of the X-rating, and how a low-budget film became a mainstream phenomenon seen by public figures like Jackie Onassis and Truman Capote. We also examine the Catholic response to the mainstreaming of adult media during a period already shaped by Watergate-era anxiety. This includes a look at the Catechism’s teachings on sexual ethics—especially the debates around oral sex, where Catholics, theologians, and commentators often share conflicting interpretations. Plus, Mark shares personal stories about his father’s life as a celebrity ski instructor and his appearance in an early project by horror icons Sean Cunningham and Wes Craven. If you're interested in film history, 1970s culture, Catholic commentary, or the intersections of media, morality, and censorship, this episode has it all. Check out our new Merch Store! We've got t-shirts, hats, tote bags and branded denim jackets! Follow us on our socials at Instagram and Tiktok. Topics: X-rating, Catholicism, Ex-Catholics, Watergate, Deep Throat, Scandal, Linda Lovelace, 1970s, Indie Film, Guilt, Sex Ed, Porn Chic, Hollywood, Times Square, Comedy  

Stephanie and Bill head on up to the lab, to see what's on the slab...and it turns out it's The Rocky Horror Picture Show (celebrating it's 50th anniversary!), a cult classic that started as rebellion and transformed into a midnight movie ritual. With special guest props expert and technical theatre professional Jeffrey Rockey, they dig into the history of the movie that became a cultural touchstone, especially for Catholic school kids who found they didn't quite fit in. Jeff talks coming out, Bill shares the story of how he originated the first stage role of the Captain of the Edmund Fitzgerald, and Stephanie recounts the experience of getting into Rocky Horror as a young Jewish woman. They also revisit Richard O’Brien’s problematic remarks, the Catholic media’s moral outrage, and the often-forgotten sequel Shock Treatment. It’s a science fiction double feature of faith, fishnets, and the strange comfort of finding community in the most “morally offensive” places. Check out our new Merch Store! We've got t-shirts, hats, tote bags and branded denim jackets! Follow us on our socials at Instagram and Tiktok. Topics: Rocky Horror, Rocky Horror Show, The Rocky Horror Picture Show, LGBT issues, Catholic School, Catholic upbringing, Ex-Catholic stories, Tim Curry, Susan Sarandon, Midnight Movies, Cult Films, Cinema, Theatre, Musicals, Halloween, Science Fiction, Horror, Lou Adler  

In this episode of Morally Offensive, we revisit the 1995 cult classic Mortal Kombat, the movie that brought video game violence, bad CGI, and 90s martial arts chaos to the big screen. We dig into Catholic reviews of the film, including one that blames stuffed-crust pizza and child day planners for the future downfall of civilization. We talk about the movie, it's place in 90s pop culture, our mutual experiences with the game series, the panic surrounding video game violence, the mammoth status of its CD soundtrack, a brief history of Belgium New Beat, and a tangent about the Wisdom Tree Christian NES Videogame knockoffs, including the classic convert-the-heathens-by-throwing-fruit Zelda ripoff, Spiritual Warfare. Our guest is Aaron (aka @DivineGamerArma on Twitch), who joins us to talk video game morality, cinematic sin, and the theology of terrible movies. Check out our new Merch Store! We've got t-shirts, hats, tote bags and branded denim jackets! Follow us on our socials at Instagram and Tiktok. Topics: Mortal Kombat movie review, Catholic pop culture criticism, 90s video games, bad CGI, Hong Kong action, ex-Catholic commentary, media moral panic, Belgium new beat

Bill and Stephanie are joined by film scholar Christopher Hoppe to unlock Sergio Martino’s Your Vice Is a Locked Room and Only I Have the Key (1972), a cornerstone of Giallo cinema, laced with gothic unease, which explores the cultural anxieties of 1970s Italy. The film follows a washed-up writer, his abused wife, and the arrival of his seductive niece, as secrets, betrayals, and murders spiral inside (and outside) a crumbling villa. Lurking over it all is the ghostly presence of the writer’s domineering mother, and watching with uncanny menace is the family’s black cat named (yes, really)...Satan. Together, they trace how Italian Catholic film critics responded to the film, celebrate Edwige Fenech’s rise as a scream queen, and untangle Martino’s twisted adaptation of Poe’s The Black Cat. Along the way, Stephanie recounts her own chaotic Roman car ride with Martino, and the hosts dig into Italy’s sordid legal history, including the now-abolished “rehabilitating marriage” law that once allowed men accused of sexual assault to escape punishment by marrying their victims. It’s a conversation of black gloves, black cats, household murder weapons, and only we have the key. Check out our new Merch Store! We've got t-shirts, hats, tote bags and branded denim jackets! Follow us on our socials at Instagram and Tiktok. Check out our guest's podcast: Christopher Hoppe Presents: The Chamber

This week, Bill and Stephanie drag Atlanta filmmaker Nicole Kemper into the delivery room to talk David Cronenberg’s The Brood (1979), a horror movie which doubles as the world’s worst sex-ed film. We’re talking cinematic birth control, belly-buttonless mutant murder children, slutty vintage men's bathrobes, and why men are absolutely terrified of the female body. Diversions include Oliver Reed's drunken shenanigans, an attempted cult kidnapping, the Canadian public's outrage over finding out their tax dollars were financing gorey art, and, of course, we read another Catholic review which completely disregards the artistic merits and possibilities of the horror genre. This is definitely an episode to listen to if you're still comtemplating bringing children into a violent world which is on fire. For us, the Brood proved to be far more effective than abstinence-only sex education. Check out our new Merch Store! We've got t-shirts, hats, tote bags and branded denim jackets! Follow us on our socials at Instagram and Tiktok. Check out Nicole Kemper at Critical Crop Top!

Mae West struts into the spotlight in I’m No Angel (1933), the pre-Code sensation that saved Paramount and scandalized the censors. Co-hosts Bill and Jess welcome Sara Shea of Shea Cinema to talk about Mae’s wit, sexuality, and the double entendres that made Catholic watchdogs sweat. Along the way we meet Joseph Breen and Will Hays, the moral gatekeepers who tried to rein her in, and discover how Cary Grant was launched into stardom with her assistance. From her Broadway scandal Sex (and a stint in jail) all the way to her campy swan song Sextette, we trace Mae’s career of outsmarting the men, proving why her comedy still feels dangerous today.

Bill and Cisco take a deep dive into The Pope’s Exorcist, the horror film where Russell Crowe channels his inner Super Mario Bro, and chews scenery as Father Gabriele Amorth, the wacky, self-proclaimed "Chief Exorcist" of the Vatican (he wasn't). We unpack the real Amorth’s history and his outrageous claims about what opens the door to demonic possession,- from Harry Potter books to yoga classes, from Freemasonry to the soothing music of Yanni. Along the way we compare the movie’s Hollywood exorcisms with the actual Catholic ritual, talk about the Church’s checks and balances within the practice of exorcism, critique the FACT that children and teens can be exorcised without their consent, and laugh at the over-the-top sequel setup that plays like the Pope (played by B-movie favorite Franco Nero) is putting together a ragtag team of supernatural warriors. It’s a mix of film criticism, Catholic weirdness, and irreverent comedy that only Morally Offensive could deliver. 

The wounds of Christ. A chain-smoking atheist. Gabriel Byrne as a brooding Vatican investigator in designer black. Welcome back to Hot Priest Summer. This week on Morally Offensive, we’re going full incense-and-industrial as we revisit Stigmata; the aggressively 1999 Catholic horror film where Patricia Arquette becomes an accidental mystic and Gabriel Byrne has his faith (and sex drive) tested. It’s a heady mix of the Gospel of Thomas, the Nag Hammadi library, anti-clerical paranoia, and… Chumbawamba?  We break down the film’s chaotic theology, its obsession with silenced gospels and Vatican coverups, and why so many ex-Catholics thought they were watching something dangerous. We also take a deeper look at the real history of stigmatics, from St. Francis of Assisi to Padre Pio, and dare to ask the question: Why was Padre Pio hoarding Carbolic acid? Featuring a Billy Corgan-curated soundtrack, strobe-lit nightclubs, exorcisms of non-demons, and 90s fashion choices we can’t unsee, Stigmata is a movie best enjoyed with your Catholic brain turned off, and your popcorn thoroughly buttered. Our guest this week is film teacher Christopher Hoppe, with co-hosting duties from Kevin of A24 On the Rocks. Support us through Libro.fm here. Check out our new Merch Store! We've got t-shirts, hats, tote bags and branded denim jackets! Follow us on our socials at Instagram and Tiktok. Check of A24 on the Rocks here.

Dogma looms large in the canon of Morally Offensive films, casting a long shadow over many millennial Catholics. For those of us who were teens when it premiered, Dogma felt like the ultimate “anti Catholic” movie we were warned about, crafted by ”satanic” filmmakers from Hollywood (never mind that Smith is from New Jersey). Written and directed by Kevin Smith, it sparked national outrage and became one of the most high profile targets of Bill Donohue and the Catholic League in their crusade against media, which they viewed as attacking the Church. Starring Ben Affleck, Matt Damon, Linda Fiorentino, Salma Hayek, Jason Lee, Alanis Morrisette, George Carlin, Chris Rock, Jason Mewes, Alan Rickman, and many others, Dogma is a comedic epic which has persisted, despite attacks from religious groups and attempts by Harvey Weinstein to suppress it's re-release. In this episode of the Morally Offensive podcast, Bill and Cisco are joined by comedian Ross Childs aka Crabman732 to revisit the controversy. Was Dogma truly as offensive as the Catholic League claimed, and does it hold up? Support us through Libro.fm here. Check out our new Merch Store! We've got t-shirts, hats, tote bags and branded denim jackets! Follow us on our socials at Instagram and Tiktok.

On this episode of Morally Offensive, Cisco takes a break, so Bill is joined by frequent guest and film presenter Stephanie Sack along with television producer and writer Ken Melvoin-Berg to dive headfirst into The Devils (1971), Ken Russell’s blasphemous, banned, and still shocking masterpiece. Based on Aldous Huxley’s The Devils of Loudun, this true story of sex, power, witch hunts, and moral panic in the Catholic Church proves that real life is often stranger, and in this case even more offensive, than fiction. The crew breaks down the history behind the Loudun possessions, digs into the background of filmmaker Ken Russell, and reads scathing “Condemned” reviews from outraged Catholic news sources. Tune in to find out why some are calling Morally Offensive the "podcast equivalent of a forced enema exorcism". Support us through Libro.fm here. Check out our new Merch Store! We've got t-shirts, hats, tote bags and branded denim jackets! Follow us on our socials at Instagram and Tiktok.

This week, we were slightly concerned that we would not have our Freddy Got Fingered Episode done in time, so we prepared a backup episode to buy us time to wrap it up. As it turned out, we were able to complete both, so our listeners get a double dose of Catholic guilt this week. In an early episode covering Barbara Stanwyck's iconic performance in Baby Face, we still thought our average show length should be about an hour and a half, so we removed a large chunk of the conversation with our guests. The more we sat on the "missing" parts of this episode, the more we realized that we were sitting on some pretty relatable and heart-felt content, that really needed to released into the wild. In this "lost" material, we dig into the way Catholics scare children and teens into compliance with fear of God and damnation, the problematic quackery that is abstinence-only "sex-ed", and Bill and his wife Kelly talk about that one time they saw a DIY exorcism at a Basilica. Also in this episode, we talk with ex-Catholic producer/director Dalila Droege about her Kickstarter campaign for her latest horror movie project, with directly ties in with the themes of this week's "missing episode". To learn more about Droege's film "Beauty Night", please check out her Kickstarter campaign here: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/beautynight/beauty-night-a-horror-film-about-puberty Check out our new Merch Store! We've got t-shirts, hats, tote bags and branded denim jackets! Support us and local booksellers via Libro.fm here. Follow us on our socials at Instagram and Tiktok.

On this episode of Morally Offensive, Bill and Cisco dive headfirst into Freddy Got Fingered (2001), Tom Green’s aggressively unhinged film that might be the worst comedy of the 2000s, or a misunderstood absurdist masterpiece, according to some. Filled with horse semen, broken bones, and a wildly uncomfortable false molestation subplot, it was a critical disaster. Yet, it somehow features Rip Torn, an Oscar-nominated actor who fully commits to Green’s chaotic vision. With the release of Tom Green Country and a new stand-up special, we ask: is it time to rethink Green as a proto-absurdist innovator rather than just an MTV shock jock? We trace Green’s legacy from late-’90s shock humor to anti-comedy pioneer, clearing the path for the surreal chaos of Tim and Eric and The Eric Andre Show. The guys ask if Freddy belongs in the tradition of absurdist theater à la Ionesco and Beckett, the surrealist works of Bunuel, or if this is Tom Green using his blank check to self-sabotage his career in full public view. Either way, it’s one of the most deranged movies ever made, made with unique, original voice, and somehow, it might have changed comedy forever. Check out our new Merch Store! We've got t-shirts, hats, tote bags and branded denim jackets! Support us and local booksellers via Libro.fm here. Follow us on our socials at Instagram and Tiktok.

This week on Morally Offensive, Bill and Cisco are joined by Matt Harding of Severin Films to unpack Blood for Dracula, the 1974 cult horror film that’s part vampire flick, part Catholic fever dream, and weirdly anti-communist. Directed by Paul Morrissey (a devout Catholic and outspoken conservative) and presented by Andy Warhol, the film follows Count Dracula as he travels to Italy in search of a virgin bride, because, naturally, good Catholic girls are presumed to still be pure. We explore Morrissey's strange blend of conservative ideology and avant-garde aesthetics, his collaborations at The Factory, and his time managing the Velvet Underground and Nico. This episode dives into the film’s bizarre politics, its critique of socialism, and how Catholic values, exploitation cinema, and vampire lore collide in one of the strangest art-house horror movies ever made. Content Warning: This film includes disturbing content involving minors and sexual assault. Listener discretion is advised. Follow Severin FIlms here Check out our new Merch Store! We've got t-shirts, hats, tote bags and branded denim jackets! Support us and local booksellers via Libro.fm here. Follow us on our socials at Instagram and Tiktok.

On this episode of Morally Offensive, Bill and Cisco revisit the Y2K-era horror classic Final Destination (2000), the film that made audiences afraid to fly and introduced death as the ultimate slasher. Released just a year before 9/11 and a few years after the TWA Flight 800 disaster, its opening plane crash and creeping paranoia feel strangely prophetic in hindsight. The episode dives into horror, practical effects, the teen slasher boom, and turn-of-the-millennium anxieties. And yes, they talk about that one bathroom scene. 👕Check out our new Merch Store! We've got t-shirts, hats, tote bags and branded denim jackets! 📚Support us and local booksellers via Libro.fm here. 📲 Follow us on our socials at Instagram and Tiktok.

It’s all been building up to this. The Last Temptation of Christ is one of the most, if not the most, controversial films of the 1980s—and of Martin Scorsese’s career. Willem Dafoe plays Jesus, but this isn’t your grandmother’s technicolor epic Messiah. This Jesus wrestles with violence, lust, and self-doubt. Naturally, the film enraged many Christians. There were boycotts, bans, death threats against Scorsese, and even a terrorist bombing by Catholic Integralists. Cisco and Bill were too scared to go it alone—so they brought in fellow Detroit native Eric Kiska from A24 on the Rocks to ask: Is The Last Temptation of Christ a good film? Is it offensive to Christians—or to Jesus himself? Did people overreact? Tangents include: David Bowie’s worst haircut, Pasolini’s Gospel According to St. Matthew, Pope Gregory's lies about Mary Magdalene, and (you guessed it) another loaf of bread in cinema. 👕Check out our new Merch Store! We've got t-shirts, hats, tote bags and branded denim jackets! 📚Support us and local booksellers via Libro.fm here. 📲 Follow us on our socials at Instagram and Tiktok.  

Easter falls on 4/20 this year, so the guys decided to push their Last Temptation of Christ episode back a couple of weeks, to make room for two other culturally important, long-haired dudes, who also fought against "the man". "Cheech and Chong's Last Movie" comes out on Easter this year, which falls on April 20th, appropriately, so we decided to go back to the beginning, by reviewing 1978's "Up in Smoke". Although it's pretty obvious why this one probably offended the Catholic Church, we both share our mutual stories of being Catholic and connecting to the movies and albums of Cheech Marin and Tommy Chong. Also, Bill makes Cisco take the "know your 70's drug slang" quiz.  Check out our new Merch Store! To learn more about Libro.fm and support the podcast, check out our exclusive link here. Follow us on our socials at Instagram and Tiktok.

This was a rough one. Ben Affleck plays an autistic accountant, whose neurodivergent mind allows him to be a genius with numbers, and even better with a gun. Let's just say the guys had...takes on this movie. With The Accountant 2 coming to theatres on April 25th, it felt like the perfect time to revisit this film, and to ask "does this film actually warrant a sequel"? Bill and Cisco talk about autistic and neurodivergent representation in media, action movie tropes, what makes a good script, and debate whether or not U of C is where fun goes to die (or if it's really Kankakee, Illinois, (home of the Mazon Creek Formation). They also dig up early 90s, late Satanic Panic era Catholic writing on the "evils of New Age music" from one of Bill's favorite crazy Catholic bathroom books. Check out our new Merch Store! To learn more about Libro.fm and support the podcast, check out our exclusive link here. Follow us on our socials at Instagram and Tiktok.

Time to go deep deep down the Italian genre cinema rabbit hole, as the guys dig into Bill's birthday pick - a Mario Bava comic book adaptation and cult classic, which inspired everyone from Roman Coppola to the Beastie Boys. Diabolik is the world's greatest super-spy, and one of Italy's most famous comic book heroes. The guys talk Ennio Morricone, PVC vs. Leather bondage wear, Italian vs. English overdubs, and debate just how much Diabolik and Eva pay in property taxes on their secret lair. If you love Austin Powers, James Bond, Matt Helm, and comic book movies, you won't want to miss this wacky birthday episode.   Check out our new Merch Store! To learn more about Libro.fm and support the podcast, check out our exclusive link here. Follow us on our socials at Instagram and Tiktok.

What made Kiss Me, Stupid (1964), a comedy starring Dean Martin and directed by Billy Wilder (Some Like It Hot), so scandalous that it became the first U.S. film since Elia Kazan’s Baby Doll (1956) to receive a "Condemned" rating from the Legion of Decency? In 1964, both Kiss Me, Stupid and The Pawnbroker shocked the Catholic censors and the Hays Office, pushing the MPAA to rethink Hollywood’s entire ratings system. In this episode, Bill and Cisco dive into the controversy: Did Kiss Me, Stupid deserve its "C" rating? Adapted from a French sex farce, the film features Ray Walston (stepping in for both Jack Lemmon and Peter Sellers), Kim Novak (taking over roles originally meant for Marilyn Monroe and Jayne Mansfield), Felicia Farr, and Dean Martin playing... well, Dean Martin. Plus, there’s even a cameo from Bugs Bunny himself—Mel Blanc! Joining the conversation is novelist, YouTuber, and vintage influencer Alex DeMers to break down the film’s legacy, censorship battles, and whether it really was too risqué for 1960s audiences. 🎧 Tune in for Hollywood history, classic film scandal, and a whole lot of Catholic guilt.

Missed Valentine’s Day? No worries—we’re bringing you a heartshaped box of classic horror, featuring, as Kendrick Lamar would say, "A Minerrrrrrrrrrr!" 🔪⛏️ This week, Bill and Cisco talk Damien Leone's statements in the wake of Terrifier 3, as well as the controversy surrounding the Superbowl half-time show, in relation to censorship and pearl-clutching of the past. Plus, we go behind the scenes of this iconic slasher, deep dive into trivia and filmmaking minutae, and even dig up a hilarious Catholic review that playfully pitches “even worse” horror movies! 🔻 Listen now and subscribe for more "morally offensive" movie reviews! 🔻 #HorrorPodcast #SlasherFilms #Terrifier3 #DamienLeone #SuperbowlHalftime #HorrorCommunity #CensorshipDebate #BehindTheScenes #ClassicHorror #MovieControversy #HorrorDiscussion

"Immorality may be fun, but it isn't fun enough to take the place of one hundred percent virtue and three square meals a day." What was it about Design for Living—the film by Ernst Lubitsch, Ben Hecht, and Noël Coward—that sent critics and the Catholic Legion of Decency into an uproar? This pre-Code classic tackled themes of polyamory, infidelity, and sexuality with a wit and sophistication that became known as The Lubitsch Touch. But its bold approach was too much for Catholic censors, who saw it as a moral threat. Shortly after, the infamous Hays Code transitioned from loose guidelines to rigid Hollywood law, enforced by anti-Semitic Catholic crusader (and official enemy of this podcast) Joseph Breen. Fast forward to the 1950s: a new generation of French film critics rediscovered Lubitsch’s work, cementing its place in cinema history. By the 1960s, with the Hays Code collapsing, countercultural college students embraced these once-"Condemned" films, reassessing their impact. With President Donald Trump hinting that he wants to send Mel Gibson (another famously problematic Catholic) to be an "Ambassador" to Hollywood, it’s worth asking: Should religious groups or governments have the power to censor artists? Join us as we dive into Design for Living and the battle over artistic freedom. Please check out the latest episode of Morally Offensive, and, as always "Go and Sin No More".

Habemus Papam! We weren’t initially planning to cover Conclave, but since launching our podcast in late October, the film has sparked intense debate. Despite not receiving a "Morally Offensive" rating, Conclave has faced significant criticism from Catholic Bishops and prominent right-wing figures including Ben Shapiro and Megyn Kelly, who claim the movie is anti-Catholic. On the other hand, Conclave has earned multiple Oscar nominations and won a Golden Globe for Best Screenplay, making it a major contender this awards season. To dive deeper into this heated conversation, Bill and Cisco decided to don their metaphorical Zucchettos and watch Conclave themselves to determine if it truly deserves its controversial reputation and if they find the film morally offensive or anti-Catholic. (Spoiler alert: plenty of plot twists!) Before tackling the weighty topics of dead Popes, vaping Cardinals, petty church politics, and oppressed nuns, the hosts take a moment to reflect on how David Lynch has shaped their careers and worldviews.

Charlize Theron's action-packed cold war passion project, Atomic Blonde, was not well received by audiences when it dropped in late Summer of 2017. Some dismissed the film as a "female John Wick" knockoff, or criticized it for it's confusing, labyrinthine plot. 8 years later, the guys re-examine this singular, unique entry into the Action genre, and look at how it's reputation has grown since it's release. The film takes place in the late 80s, and centers around a British Spy, tasked with a extracting an East German Stazi defector into the West. The officer, codenamed "Spyglass" has access to a secret list, which could have terrifying ramifications for all major powers involved in the cold war. The cast is a star-studded affair, featuring James Mcavoy, Sofia Boutella, John Goodman, Toby Jones, a young Bill Skarsgård, Sam Hargrave and James Faulkner, with direction by one of the top Stunt coordinators in the field, David Leitch. As always, the guys look at the contemporary US Catholic reactions and reviews, to determine whether or not the film truly is "Morally Offensive". Bill and Cisco are joined by Chicago comedian Thomas Bottoms as well as his co-host in radio broadcasting, Mike Borden.

What do MaXXXine, Pearl, Promising Young Woman, and Midsommar have in common with a 1933 pre-code melodrama starring Barbara Stanwyck? They all fall under the banner of the "Good for Her" film. Barbara Stanwyck stars in this pre-code film that sent the Catholic "Legion of Decency" into a rage, and which gave them the firepower they needed, to force the hand of the studio moguls to self-censor their films. Bill and Cisco are joined by Milwaukee Professor, Dr. Jess Sellin-Blanc (and Bill's wife Kelly) to talk the Hayes Code and censorship in Hollywood. They get into the making of the film, as well as the social conditions which informed it's content. In this episode, they ask the question: Is it immoral for a woman to do whatever she has to do, to survive in a world which is not built for her, and which wants her to fail?

"The death ship has a new captain!" To celebrate the release of Robert Eggers' remake of Nosferatu, the guys decided to cover the original classic, in a slight deviation from the Catholic Legion of Decency "condemned" list. The film was released in the US in 1929, seven years after it's Berlin premiere, but it was still too early to be OFFICIALLY condemned by the American Catholic ratings system. However, being that Nosferatu is both the FIRST occult film AND one of the rare films to grace the Vatican's top 40 films list, it only seemed appropriate to cover it this month. Joining hosts Bill and Cisco, is the associate producer of the Chicago Horror Film Festival and film presenter, Stephanie Sack. Stephanie invited the boys down to Chicago, from Milwaukee, to take in a live accompaniment to Nosferatu by famed lutist Jozef van Wissem. Deviations include eating unconsecrated communion wafers with cheese, fake Eucharistic miracles, host desecration, that time Bill ran into a family of Bulgarians roasting an entire sheep, Catholic scapegoating of minorities, goth club visuals, and, of course, SpongeBob SquarePants.

It's Christmas time in NYC, and three friends are about to embark on their very last annual Christmas rager together. Joseph Gordon Levitt is an orphan, stuck in a dead-end job with no real career prospects and no romantic partner. Seth Rogan is coming to terms with his fears over being a father, and Anthony Mackie is a pro athlete, so obsessed with fame, that he's willing to risk his family, friendships, and integrity for his career. That's where the 2015 Holiday and Christmas future classic, The Night Before begins. What will ensue is a journey which includes Michael Shannon's weed of Christmas Past, Present, and future, a quest to deliver an illicit gift to the "messiah", and obstacles ranging from the hijinks of Ilana Glazer's "Grinch" to a psychotropic freakout during midnight mass. Diversions include that one time (or more?) Bill puked during Catholic mass, Michael Shannon skipping the Oscars to drink at Old Town Ale House in Chicago, and the very real fact that the Catholic Mass contained antisemitic language until the early 60s. So, spike your egg nog, hang your stockings by the chimney with care, and deck the halls as we join Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Anthony Mackie, Seth Rogan, Jillian Bell, Miley Cyrus, Lizzy Caplan, Nathan Fielder and more for 2015's The Night Before.  

"Why Are Men?" It's the question Bill and Cisco find themselves asking, after viewing 2010's comedy about time travel and friendship, Hot Tub Time Machine, starring John Cusack, Craig Robinson, and Daily Show alum Rob Corddry. The guys talk male friendship, the 2024 election, toxic masculinity, the butterfly effect, and the difficulties of maintaining solid friendships, as one enters middle-age. Diversions include the manosphere, Cardinal Burke's dislike of girl altar servers, Matt Walsh's fear of platonic love, the new E-Man-gelization, Crispin Glover's rat poetry, that one time Bill saw Echo and the Bunnymen spin Pink Floyd 45s, and why Chevy Chase doesn't work much these days. Will they find the answer to their question? Will Hot Tub Time Machine provide clues? Will Cisco fulfill his quest to find a copy of the film on Blu Ray? Only time will tell.

It shouldn't be surprising that an episode about William Friedkin's The Exorcist would be plagued with technical problems (if you believe in that kind of thing) but the episode is finally live! Cisco makes Bill watch a film that he has put off seeing for years, due to a deep-seated fear of the devil and the demonic. Bill gives his first reactions, and the guys get into the post-Exorcist panic over demons (and consequent spike in exorcisms in the US), the increase in the number of Exorcists in the US, and the film's troubled production. Tangents include why Bill has never played Dungeons and Dragons, Hot priests, New Age synth music as gateway to the devil, the actual Pope's Exorcist, and irrational Catholic fears over yoga.

For the pilot episode, Bill and Cisco discuss their respective Catholic upbringings, discuss censorship and the Hayes Code, and introduce the Legion of Decency and USCCB film ratings systems, before doing a deep dive into Richard Donner's The Omen.