Filmspotting: Streaming Video Unit (SVU)

It’s M. Night Shyamalan’s shared universe and we’re all just living in it in this episode of SVU, in which Matt and Alison debate whether SPLIT is the comeback vehicle it’s been heralded to be for the director, as well as how the movie’s late-revealed connection to another Shyamalan title changes its context. Then they offer up recommendations for some other convention-defying superhero stories on both film and television, all available to stream right now. 

On this episode of SVU, Matt and Alison consider the enchantments of Anna Biller’s retro-styled THE LOVE WITCH, in which Samantha Robinson plays a troubled witch whose romantic escapades have a tendency to turn deadly. Then, inspired by the film’s throwback color saturation, they recommend some Technicolor classics available to rent or stream at home, and discuss whether the full glory of Technicolor translates when it’s not being shown on a big screen.Opening Break: "The Salesman" "La La Land" "The Red Turtle"Listener's Choice Review: "The Love Witch"Queue Shots: Technicolor ClassicsBehind the 8-Ball: 3 New Releases2 Listener Recommendations1 Random Film From Our Netflix "My Lists"

Ken Russell’s famous/infamous 1971 horror drama THE DEVILS is available to stream for the first time ever, and so on this episode of Filmspotting: Streaming Video Unit, Matt and Alison take a look at the film (available in its US cut) and discuss how its provocations hold up. Then, with minimal rending of garments and speaking in demonic voices, they offer up some other religious horror recommendations available to rent or stream right now.Opening Break: "Lion" "Queen of the Desert" "Split"Listener's Choice Review: "The Devils"Queue Shots: Religious HorrorBehind the 8-Ball: 3 New Releases2 Listener Recommendations1 Random Film From Our Netflix "My Lists"

In honor of the recent passing of Bill Paxton, on this episode of Filmspotting: Streaming Video Unit, Matt and Alison look at the career of the actor and filmmaker. In addition to offering up some favorite roles in movies available to rent or stream right now, they do a deeper dive into his 2001 directorial debut FRAILTY, in which Paxton also stars as a single dad convinced that God has chosen him to kill demons.Opening Break: "Aftermath" "Hidden Figures" "Assassin's Creed"Listener's Choice Review: "Frailty"Queue Shots: Bill Paxton MoviesBehind the 8-Ball: 3 New Releases2 Listener Recommendations1 Random Film From Our Netflix "My Lists"

Grab your magnifying glasses and your fake badges — in this episode of Filmspotting: Streaming Video Unit, Matt and Alison do some sleuthing into the surprisingly sprawling genre of amateur detective movies. It’s all inspired by their main review of Macon Blair’s I DON'T FEEL AT HOME IN THIS WORLD ANYMORE, in which a lonely, decidedly non-law-enforcement-professional Melanie Lynskey teams up with Elijah Wood to figure out who robbed her house.Opening Break: "Fences" "Allied" "Mean Dreams"Listener's Choice Review: "I Don't Feel At Home In This World Anymore"Queue Shots: Amateur Detective MoviesBehind the 8-Ball: 3 New Releases2 Listener Recommendations1 Random Film From Our Netflix "My Lists"

In this episode of Filmspotting: Streaming Video Unit, Matt and Alison decide, once and for all, which of them is the true hootie tootie disco cutie, as they talk THE GREASY STRANGLER. Then they discuss what makes a midnight movie and offer some midnight movie recs, all available to rent or stream right now.Opening Break: "Manchester By The Sea" / "Jackie" / "Catfight"Listener's Choice Review: "The Greasy Strangler"Queue Shots: Paul DanoBehind the 8-Ball: 3 New Releases2 Listener Recommendations1 Random Film From Our Netflix "My Lists"

Can a magical farting corpse also be a metaphor for self-acceptance? In this episode of Filmspotting: Streaming Video Unit, Matt and Alison discuss whether <i>Swiss Army Man</i> pulls off its attempted combination of body function humor and therapeutic messaging. Then they look at the filmography of one of its stars, Paul Dano, recommending some highlights from the 32-year-old actor's career that are available to rent or stream.Opening Break: "The Edge of Seventeen" / "Moonlight" / "The Girl With All The Gifts"Listener's Choice Review: "Swiss Army Man"Queue Shots: Paul DanoBehind the 8-Ball: 3 New Releases2 Listener Recommendations1 Random Film From Our Netflix "My Lists"

Fresh from Park City, and feeling anything but, Matt and Alison talk the recently concluded Sundance Film Festival on this episode of the Filmspotting: Streaming Video Unit podcast — and in particular, why the dominance of Netflix and Amazon means you'll be able to stream some of the fest's most talked-about titles very soon. They also delve into cinematographer-turned-director Kirsten Johnson's beautiful meditation on what it means to make a documentary, Cameraperson.Opening Break: "Loving" / "War on Everyone" "Ouija: Origin of EvilListener's Choice Review: "Cameraperson"Queue Shots: Sundance 2017Behind the 8-Ball: 3 New Releases2 Listener Recommendations1 Random Film From Our Netflix "My Lists"

With no shortage of scary stuff happening on their home turf at the moment, Matt and Alison dedicate this episode of the Filmspotting: Streaming Video Unit podcast to some of the more enjoyable sort of horror, all from international sources. After discussion the Iranian UNDER THE SHADOW and its "Babadook"-like qualities, they recommend some other foreign horror available to be rented or streamed right now.Opening Break: "Trespass Against Us" / "Claire In Motion" / "Nerdland"Listener's Choice Review: "Under the Shadow"Queue Shots: Foreign Horror FilmsBehind the 8-Ball: 3 New Releases2 Listener Recommendations1 Random Film From Our Netflix "My Lists"

The Filmspotting: Streaming Video Unit podcast kicks off the new year with Matt and Alison trying to take refuge in the nostalgic vision of the past offered in Café Society — but Woody Allen doesn't make this easy. Then they take a look at some other movies featuring love triangles, all available to be streamed or rented right now.Opening Break: "American Honey" "Sully" "Operation Avalanche"Listener's Choice Review: "Café Society"Queue Shots: Films Featuring Love TrianglesBehind the 8-Ball: 3 New Releases2 Listener Recommendations1 Random Film From Our Netflix "My Lists"

It’s that time of year on the Filmspotting: Streaming Video Unit podcast in which Matt and Alison come up with arbitrary categories in order to hand out nonexistent prizes to movies that will never hear about them — yes, it’s the 2016 SVUvie Awards. But first, a discussion of The Lobster, as well as that all important question of which animal we’d choose to spend the rest of our lives as.Opening Break: "Train to Busan" "Equity" "Southside With You"Listeners Choice Review: "The Lobster"The 2016 SVUvie AwardsBehind the 8-Ball: 3 New Releases2 Listener Recommendations1 Random Film From Our Netflix "My Lists"

After a year packed with unwanted sequels and underwhelming big-budget studio movies, Matt and Alison take solace in last year’s pop-perfect CREED, then recommend some other second films from Sundance breakout directors that you can stream at home right now.Opening Break: "Demon" "Don’t Think Twice" "The Eyes of My Mother"Listeners Choice Review: "Creed"Queue Shots: What Directors of Sundance Breakout Debuts Did For Their Follow-up Film Behind the 8-Ball: 3 New Releases2 Listener Recommendations1 Random Film From Our Netflix "My Lists"

In their first ever Chicago live appearance at the first ever Chicago Podcast Festival, Matt and Alison take the stage at Schubas Tavern to recommend some streaming films to go to for a little comfort in tough times. And witness the debut of the awe-inspiring SVUvotron 5000!Opening BreakQueue Shots: Cinematic Comfort FoodThe SVUvotron 5000Behind the 8-Ball: 3 New Releases2 Listener Recommendations1 Random Film From Netflix "My Lists"

This week on a new Filmspotting: SVU, Alison and Matt head to Los Angeles, where Nicolas Winding Refn tells a tale of the fashion industry gone mad in THE NEON DEMON. Plus with awards season almost upon us, Matt and Alison catch up with some great movies from 2016 that are already available to rent or stream at home.

Ava DuVernay may be hard at work on Disney's $100 million "A Wrinkle in Time now, but the first thing she did after directing the Oscar-nominated 2014 Selma was to quietly make 13TH, a documentary about mass incarceration and racial injustice in the U.S. that is painfully timely. This week, Matt and Alison talk about the Netflix original and about form versus content, and recommend some other nonfiction work from directors best known for their fiction films, available right now on rental and streaming.Opening Break: "In a Valley of Violence" "Our Kind of Traitor" "USS Indianapolis: Men of Courage"Listeners Choice Review: "13th"Queue Shots: Nonfiction Films From Directors Known For FictionBehind the 8-Ball: 3 New Releases2 Listener Recommendations1 Random Film From Netflix "My Lists"