Tag: black comedy

Cinema Smorgasbord – Cinema Smorgasbord Sells Out – Eddington (2025)

We’re selling out ONCE AGAIN with Ari Aster’s controversial neo-western thriller black comedy EDDINGTON, starring Joaquin Phoenix as sheriff Joe Cross, who runs for mayor against Pedro Pascal’s Ted Garcia in a small New Mexico town during the early days of the Covid-19 pandemic. It’s sometimes uncomfortable, occasionally hilarious, and has some real bite – though some audiences didn’t know what to make of it. On this episode we go through some recent watches, discuss the Ari Aster films we’ve seen so far, and then have the DEFINITIVE conversation about EDDINGTON (with some warning before any spoiler talk). Enjoy!

Cinema Smorgasbord – Cinema Fantastica – Big Bad Wolves (2013) & Almost Human (2013)

On this episode of CINEMA FANTASTICA were traveling to the 2014 edition of the Panic Film Festival in Kansas City, Missouri! While early in the festival’s life, this year was packed with genre films and our hosts have chosen two to BATTLE TO THE DEATH. First up is the darkly comedic Israeli thriller BIG BAD WOLVES, and then we go deep on Joe Begos’ directorial debut, the John Carpenter-influenced sci-fi horror ALMOST HUMAN. WHO REIGNS SUPREME? Listen and find out!

Cinema Smorgasbord – Bartel Me Something Good – Eating Raoul (1982)

On this episode of Bartel Me Something Good we’ve reached Paul Bartel’s Criterion Collected classic EATING RAOUL featuring Mary Woronov, Robert Beltran and Paul Bartel himself as Paul Bland. A darkly comedic social satire (/w cannibalism), it remains a gem in the Bartel filmography, and we’re delighted to be joined by EATING RAOUL’s editor Alan Toomayan to discuss his work on Bartel’s films, including LUST IN THE DUST and SCENES FROM THE CLASS STRUGGLE IN BEVERLY HILLS. Alan also regales us with stories of his early work with New World Pictures, the guerilla filmmaking that went into Eating Raoul’s production, and his transition to becoming an editor of film trailers and featurettes. CHECK IT OUT!