Positively into Movies

"I got a rock." It's day 5 and the final day of HALLOWEEN WEEK on the podcast. We are happy to welcome, for the first time, my middle child Everett (with a brief appearance by his little brother, Wesley)! THANK YOU, Ev! HAPPY HALLOWEEN, EVERYONE!

"Stay off the moors!" Day 4 of HALLOWEEN WEEK is werewolf day! Friend and 80's horror aficionado, Mr. Greg Rankin, is back to discuss three memorable werewolf movies. THANK YOU, Mr. Rankin!

"They're coming to get you, Barbara!" It's day 3 of HALLOWEEN WEEK! The podcast welcomes former student and short filmmaker, Hunter Brockmann! Hunter and I discuss two of George A. Romero's zombie classics. Hunter also discusses his own film projects, including the award winning short about living on the autism spectrum and enduring depression: "A Month. A Day. A Year."

Hunter's Linktree (where you can find his projects too):

https://linktr.ee/Serge_hunter_B?utm_source=linktree_profile_share&ltsid=64ba8e89-96e3-4693-9bad-5c8ffae5f2f6

Sammy is back for HALLOWEEN WEEK! Sam Hahn, first guest ever on the podcast and frequent co-host, is back to talk about two 1940's cinematic Halloween staples. THANK YOU, Sam!

Friend and long time supporter of the podcast, Becca Laiveling, lights the Black Flame Candle to kick off HALLOWEEN WEEK! We have a lot of fun discussing the modern, family-friendly (?), Halloween classic Hocus Pocus (1993). THANK YOU, Becca!

Andrew Grevas was one of my first guests on the podcast! Since Halloween is one week away, check out our conversation about the Halloween movie franchise (13 films total)! Andrew is a local Cincinnati author of a recent book Horror in Haddonfield: The Untold Stories of Halloween featuring interviews with cast and crew involved in the franchise's storied history. THANK YOU, Andrew!

Purchase Andrew's book here:

https://www.tuckerdspress.com/product-page/horror-in-haddonfield-halloween-s-untold-stories

A big THANK YOU goes to comic book writer and middle school teacher, Jason Douglas! Jason brings his characteristic humor, passion, and enthusiasm to a horror classic and its fairly recent sequel. Give this one a listen! You won't be disappointed. Check out the links below to contact Jason or to purchase his books...

Jason's Linktree: ⁠linktr.ee⁠

Jane American Papercutz Comic Publishing Link: Jane American – Vol. 1

Jane American Simon and Schuster Link: Jane American

Jake Federle is back bringing his usual literary prowess to this often overlooked, thematically rich, "Dark Disney" horror film based on Ray Bradbury's novel (1962)! Do you want creepy, fall vibes? This movie has them in abundance. THANK YOU to Jake!

I bet you've never heard a priest talk about this movie before! Give it a try. THANK YOU Fr. Duns for returning to the podcast and for providing your time and insight to a horror classic.

Check out Fr. Duns' horror movie recommendations from this year and last year in the publication Marquette Today:

https://today.marquette.edu/2026/10/father-fright-reveals-top-five-horror-flick-picks-for-2026/

https://today.marquette.edu/2025/10/a-jesuit-priest-no-really-reveals-top-five-horror-movies-to-watch-this-halloween-season/

Check out Fr. Duns' Theology of Horror book here: https://undpress.nd.edu/9780268208561/theology-of-horror/

It's October! Teacher Ben Vore returns to discuss Stephen King film adaptations! A HUGE THANK YOU to Ben for joining the podcast again. We work off Ben's "Stephen King" Letterboxd list in this wide-ranging conversation.

A big THANK YOU goes to Dr. Corey Zielinski for taking the time to talk about two Hitchcock classics! Great to talk to you, brother. I look forward to more movie conversations.

A HUGE THANK YOU to film historian and scholar, Dr. Joe Horine! You don't want to miss this episode! Dr. Horine is a fount of film knowledge. We discuss Stanley Kubrick's The Killing (1956), and other heist/film noir movies, just in time for Cincinnati Esquire Theatre's Classic Heist Movie Series as well as the Playhouse in the Park's Heist stage play, both hosted by Dr. Horine!

https://www.esquiretheatre.com/events

https://www.cincyplay.com

Dr. Corey Zielinski and I discuss Shadow of a Doubt (1943) in Part 1 of our conversation about two Hitchcock films! Part 2 (Strangers on a Train- 1951) will be released soon.

Give the people what they want! My nephew and good friend, Adam Gardner, is back to discuss Paul Newman's classic drama The Hustler, one of my favorite movies of all time!

Football season is upon us! My wife, and passionate football fan, is back to discuss the yin and yang of 90s football movies: Varsity Blues and Rudy. They are not as different as you think!

This is part 2 of my conversation with Joey Reiter (@potatojoe2.0 on Instagram)! Joey is a former student, short film maker, and now high school teacher. We have a good time discussing this '87 cult classic.

In part 2 of our conversation, Jake Federle and I discuss this thematically rich Danny Boyle directed suspenseful space thriller!

Sam is back to talk about two Clint Eastwood ("spiritual") westerns! This is part 1 of our conversation; part 2 will be released in a few weeks.

Former student, friend, and short film creator Joey Reiter joins to discuss John Carpenter's wonderfully bizarre fantasy action comedy cult hit Big Trouble in Little China! This is part 1 of our conversation; part 2 will be released in a few weeks.

Jake Federle is back with thoughtful analysis of this sometimes polarizing space horror cult classic. This is part 1 of our conversation; part 2 will be released in a few weeks. You will be missed, Sam Neill.