The Substance (2024) is a nearly perfect example of what we like in movies. It’s dripping with weighty ideas about bodies and power’s putrid hold on humanity. The director is an alluring French woman who appears to be a deep fan of all the dark shit we’re into. The actors are going for it hard. The effects are practical. It’s absurdly gory and fun.

To conversate and celebrate this body horror peak, we’re joined by Monique Jenkinson–who needs little introduction to our audience–but just in case, she’s an artist, choreographer, and writer best known for her work as a Bay-Area-based drag icon. She sometimes pastes magazine photography to herself, though not always to conceal the transformative effects of black market beauty regimens.

This is a focused episode where we get deep into the film and its perennial themes. We talk about the design of biohacker products, how youth is wasted on the young, our aging aches and pains, and the differences in how the male and female gazes approach butt shots.

If you’ve been enjoying our Alien run, fear not, we will be returning to that soon enough. We needed a break from Weyland-Yutani’s corporate culture. For now, enjoy this conversation about a great film that actually came out this year.

David Fincher’s first film, Alien 3 (1992), is a notorious example of studio meddlers clashing with an auteur-minded director, leaving a franchise in the khazi.

It’s a shame, because xenomorphs are basically money makers. The film has some solid performances and a gloriously grimy setting.

But alas, the film (both cuts) is a mess. The special effects are majorly downgraded from Aliens. The plot is full of more holes than a pair of old Weyland-Yutani panties. But they did manage to give Sigourney the noble death she wanted along with a suitcase full of money.

We keep fairly on topic this episode. Marc’s hatred for the film simmers beneath, while Chad tries to conjure Kanye conjecture. It’s a solid one.

Alien$ made an enormous amount of money because James Cameron asked “What if there were a lot of aliens?” and “What if there were a ton of machine guns?” Answering “Yes, and” to these bold questions guaranteed a hit in the 80s. What a time to be alive!

In this episode, we discuss Weyland-Yutani’s corporate culture, life in the Colonial Marines, the history of Jews in Mexico and their theoretical role in space, great sci-fi industrial design, and the tyranny of Fox Studio suits.

It looks like we’re going for it with this Alien series, god help us. Though we may squeeze in a few side quests here and there. Stay tuned.