Pleasers & Punishers

Cuckoo (2024)

For week three of Animalistic April, we’re coming forward in time to talk about Tilman Singer’s sci-fi/folk-horror feature, and lauding it with praise with the help of special guest BJ Colangelo.
We’ll complain about trailers that give away too much, get into the history of bird people, shower Dan Stevens with compliments, and Mae will cry about having mommy issues!
Hashtag birdsarentreal
Disclaimer: Birds ARE real
 
Find us online:
https://www.instagram.com/pleasersandpunishers
https://bsky.app/profile/pleaserspunishers.bsky.social
pleaserspunisherspodcast@gmail.com
 
Find BJ online:
@bjcolangelo on socials
This Ends At Prom
 
Art by The Haunted David
Music by Everson Poe

Cat People (1982)

Grab your gasoline & scoop up that goop because we’re talking Paul Schrader’s unhinged remake of Cat People for our continued journey through Animalistic April.
We’re joined by Harmony Colangelo for discussions of gender dynamics, incest, & queerness, plus tangents about Star Wars & Tremors, and so, so many laughs.
 
Find us online:
https://www.instagram.com/pleasersandpunishers
https://bsky.app/profile/pleaserspunishers.bsky.social
pleaserspunisherspodcast@gmail.com
 
Find Harmony online:
@harmonycolangelo on IG & Bluesky
This Ends At Prom
 
Art by The Haunted David
Music by Everson Poe

Border (2018)

Grab your maggot snacks and put your hisiit in the fridge because we’re heading to Sweden for a really weird time!
From its roots in folklore to its modern depictions of non-humans, trans representation, and the evils of humanity, we’re covering a lot of ground and making some animal friends along the way.
CW: CSA (child sexual abuse) discussion
 
Find us online:
https://www.instagram.com/pleasersandpunishers
https://bsky.app/profile/pleaserspunishers.bsky.social
pleaserspunisherspodcast@gmail.com
 
Art by The Haunted David
Music by Everson Poe

In The Mouth Of Madness (1994)

Do you read Sutter Cane? Because we sure do! And we’ve brought along fellow expert Andy Iwancio to find our way to the ending while Amanda is exploring unspeakable horrors (in Florida).
We’ll praise the incredible practical effects, make fun of people’s inconsistent accents, and discuss everybody’s problematic fave, HP Lovecraft.
Did we ever tell you our favorite color is blue?
 
Find us online:
https://www.instagram.com/pleasersandpunishers
https://bsky.app/profile/pleaserspunishers.bsky.social
pleaserspunisherspodcast@gmail.com
 
Find Andy online:@andyiwancio
 
Art by The Haunted David
Music by Everson Poe

Identikit (1974)

This week, we continue our journey through March Madness with Elizabeth Taylor and her incredible dress in this twisty, turny 70s masterpiece for the sad, weird girlies.
We’ll talk macrobiotic diets, fashion, mannequins, and more, with plenty of tangents and laughs, but also an earnest discussion about this harrowing story.
 
CW for discussion of SI (suicidal ideation) & self-harm
 
Find us online:
https://www.instagram.com/pleasersandpunishers
https://bsky.app/profile/pleaserspunishers.bsky.social
pleaserspunisherspodcast@gmail.com
 
Art by The Haunted David
Music by Everson Poe

Crimson Peak (2015)

It’s another week of March Madness, and another episode of unrepentant giggling, because we’re once again joined by friend of the pod Jamie Alvey for our first ever four-person discussion! This should really be called “chaotic bisexuality: the podcast”
We’re lacing up our corsets and gassing up our clay harvesters to dig into Guillermo Del Toro’s oft-misunderstood and overlooked Gothic epic. From Charlie Hunnam’s accent to the astounding effects work, we’ll talk about what is and isn’t effective, play a modified version of FMK, and go on so, so many tangents.
 
Find Jamie online:
https://bsky.app/profile/jamiealvey.bsky.social
https://www.instagram.com/jamiealvey/?hl=en
https://x.com/jamieawrites?lang=en
https://jamiealvey.com/
 
Find us online:
https://www.instagram.com/pleasersandpunishers
https://bsky.app/profile/pleaserspunishers.bsky.social
pleaserspunisherspodcast@gmail.com
 
Art by The Haunted David
Theme music by Everson Poe

Gaslight (1944)

It’s time for March Madness! And what better way to start off than with our first official triple-host episode on George Cukor’s “don’t trust your husband” genre standard, featuring an Oscar-winning performance from Ingrid Bergman.
We’ll thirst over Joseph Cotton, discuss the etymology and maleable nature of language, and decide which cinematic jerk deserves the biggest punch in the face.
CW for discussion of abusive relationships
 
Find us online:
https://www.instagram.com/pleasersandpunishers
https://bsky.app/profile/pleaserspunishers.bsky.social
pleaserspunisherspodcast@gmail.com
 
Art by The Haunted David
Music by Everson Poe

Secretary (2002)

Stifle those sniffles and break out your red sharpies, because we’re delving into the indie darling that introduced kink to so many people, and solidified Maggie Gyllenhaal as one of us freaks
Closing out Fetish February, we’re joined again by Kayte Terry to discuss our personal relationships with kink, the film’s heightened reality, and comparisons to 50 Shades Of Grey
CW for discussions of abusive relationships, blood, etc.
 
Find us online:
https://www.instagram.com/pleasersandpunishers
https://bsky.app/profile/pleaserspunishers.bsky.social
pleaserspunisherspodcast@gmail.com
 
Find Kayte online:
kayteterry.com
@wormbuxx@tender_subjectfangs.zone
 
Art by The Haunted David
Music by Everson Poe

The Night Porter (1974)

This week is our first foray into the very controversial world of nazisploitation with a very messed up love(?) story.
Returning to parse this out is Amanda Jane Stern, who brings us some incredible historical insights as well as infectious and uncontrollable giggles…we had to get through it somehow, right?
Also, big content warning for discussion of SA
 
Find Amanda online:
Letterboxd - witchywanderer
Bsky & IG - @amandajanestern
Watch Perfectly Good Moment on Tubi
 
Find us online:
https://www.instagram.com/pleasersandpunishers
https://bsky.app/profile/pleaserspunishers.bsky.social
pleaserspunisherspodcast@gmail.com
 
Art by The Haunted David
Music by Everson Poe

The Handmaiden (2016)

Get ready for erotic subjugation and sapphic exploration, because we’re lacing up for Park Chan-Wook’s sexy crime/revenge thriller.
Joining us is author, programmer, video editor, and film critic Payton McCarty-Simas, who brings incredible insights into the discussion, as we go on tangents about No Other Choice and learn a lot about Korean history.
 
Find us online:
https://www.instagram.com/pleasersandpunishers
https://bsky.app/profile/pleaserspunishers.bsky.social
pleaserspunisherspodcast@gmail.com
 
Find Payton online:
@payt_place on IG
payton alexa on Letterboxd
 
Referenced works:
"Dangerous Women: Gender & Korean Nationalism", Edited by Elaine H. Kim and Chungmoo Choi
"Nationalism and Construction of Gender in Korea" by Chungmoo Choi
"Begetting The Nation" by Seungsook Moon
 
Art by The Haunted David
Music by Everson Poe