A24 & Midsommar (2019)

Summary

Podcast Summary: Dear Movies, I Love You

Episode: A24 & Midsommar (2019)

Hosts: Millie de Chirico & Casey O’Brien
Date: October 7, 2025

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Main Theme & Purpose

In this Halloween kickoff episode, hosts Millie de Chirico and Casey O'Brien dive deep into Ari Aster's folk-horror film Midsommar (2019) and use it as a lens to discuss A24's defining influence on the "elevated horror" genre. The discussion is wrapped in the hosts' signature wit, personal anecdotes, and a thorough examination of both film culture and seasonal obsessions. The episode also reflects on how these modern horror movies compare to horror traditions of the past, including what differentiates "elevated" horror from so-called schlocky or classic horror.

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Episode Highlights & Timestamps

Spooky Season & Halloween Traditions

[01:37–11:44]

• Millie and Casey chat about how Halloween has expanded from a single day into a months-long celebration.
• Millie: "My thing is that a couple years ago I purchased a gold skeleton... and the gold skeleton is very sassy. He sits on my bench... just kind of like, what's up to all of the FedEx and UPS drivers." [04:37]
• They reminisce on classic Halloween decor and candy strategies, with Millie voicing her love for mini candy, and Casey admitting "I eat a full candy bar five days a week." [07:00]
• Strong anti-novelty flavor sentiment: "I just stick with the original. You can change the shape, but the inside needs to be old school." – Millie [09:16]
• The "cinnamon broom update": Millie rails against scented broom inflation and the dangers of off-brand, off-flavor brooms: "Do not fuck with any other scents other than cinnamon. I'm serious." [11:32]

Haunted Houses & Halloween Horror Experiences

[13:32–17:46]

• LA's Haunted Hayride and Atlanta Zombie Apocalypse haunt experiences: both hosts recall how haunted attractions blend real-life weirdness with horror theatrics (and sometimes bug bites).
• Casey on the hayride: "One of the people gets in my face and goes, hello, Casey. And then jumps off the Haunted Hayride and runs into the woods. And I was like, did anybody else fucking hear that?" [14:49]
• The importance (and chaos) of having friends in haunted houses: "We would just all scream his name and he was trying to stay in character and we would just be fucking with him the entire time." – Millie [17:20]

Intro to A24 & The Concept of Elevated Horror

[22:52–24:22, 36:02–41:55]

• Midsommar and A24 as touchstones for "elevated horror," a controversial label Millie and Casey find both meaningful and annoying.
• Millie: "We're the first people in cinematic criticism history to discuss A24. To discuss elevated horror. The concept of elevated horror. We're the only people that have done it." [18:13] (sarcastic tone)
• Adjective rapid-fire for A24: "Hip, urban, city folk. Young contemporary, modern, chic, candles, limited edition merch, culty, zeitgeisty." – Millie [36:32]
• "There's sort of a curatorial eye ... not just putting out movies to make money. They're really trying to create a vibe." – Millie [38:01]
• Challenges the term 'elevated horror': "Feels pejorative, feels like it means other horror is dumb." – Millie [39:08]

Personal Film Diary

[24:22–34:08]

• Casey’s picks: Kieslowski’s Decalogue 1 and Jill Sprecher’s Thirteen Conversations About One Thing
• Millie’s watch: Rewatching Paul Thomas Anderson’s The Master in anticipation of his new film, with contemporary reflections on Stanford cults and mid-2010s obsessiveness.
• "Part of the subject material...that I was really amped on is the whole Scientology thing ... that was a huge iceberg, something you just did not want to talk about because you were just afraid." – Millie [31:36]

Main Film Discussion: Midsommar (2019)

[41:55–77:53]

Midsommar Plot Recap

[41:55–43:18]

• Casey: "Danny, played by Florence Pugh, is an American college student who experiences a truly horrific tragedy... and is in a very shitty relationship. Her boyfriend Christian invites her to Sweden with his friends, who are not happy about it, for the Harga midsommar festival... Soon, they learn that the commune’s traditions are a little more ancient and barbaric than expected."

First Impressions & Relationship Horror

[43:19–49:03]

• The real horror: Codependency and bad boyfriends.
• Millie: "It's the horror ... of a relationship where the boyfriend is sort of an unreliable narrator... It's that feeling of, you know, a man basically being like, 'My girlfriend is crazy and I gotta break up with her, but I can't break up with her because she's too fragile.'" [46:00]
• Comparison to Curb Your Enthusiasm and calling out the universal experience of not wanting to dump someone in distress.

At the Commune: Cultural Red Flags & Vibes

[50:18–63:28]

• The warning signs of folk horror: forced mushroom trips, shared sleeping quarters, and cultish community customs.
• Millie: "Word. These, like, stupid idiot dudes that are friends with my boyfriend are, like, making me feel bad for not wanting to do mushrooms after a 15-hour flight. I guess I'm going back to the city and going to a hotel." [53:22]
• On horror logic: "People start disappearing and they don't say bye to their friends... that is a huge, like, a red flag, like being flown off the hillside." – Millie [63:08]
• Casey admits: "If I was a 22-year-old... I feel like I could totally see myself as a young person being like, well, this is their culture and, you know, human sacrifices are kind of a part of it. ... I feel like I would have been killed in this situation." [53:56]

The Rituals: Folk Horror Mechanics, Too Much World-Building?

[63:29–68:18]

• The May Queen, ritual killings, and the rules of the commune.
• Millie calls out the arbitrary folk horror rules: "My investment in what is happening in this community is in direct proportion to how interested I am in this culture... If I feel at all that the rules become stupid and annoying, then I'm out." [61:24]
• The film’s visual iconography: "It is wonderful to see somebody covered in beautiful flowers, but looking like they want to die." – Millie [65:12]

Themes: Trauma, Community, and Humor

[67:05–70:42]

• Casey: "It's about tragedy and trauma … this community…they see her and are willing to and happy to take on and help her remove her trauma, to help her work through it and even take it. … I liked that. I thought that was moving." [67:05]
• They discuss the film's use of nudity, naturalism, and the difference between showing real bodies vs. Hollywood “perfection.”
• Millie: "We carry a lot of wisdom in these saggy tits." [69:24]

After-the-Fact Reactions & Watching Buzzed Films Late

[72:13–74:58]

• Millie wonders if, seeing it years after release, the film was unable to live up to the hype: "I wanted to like it more than I did, I think. I think it had a lot of mystique... maybe I just missed the train on this a little bit." [73:07]
• Casey notes how the context of seeing a movie at the “cultural moment” impacts perceptions (“La La Land” and “CODA” as other examples).

The "Elevated Horror" Genre Divide

[76:03–77:34]

• Casey: "There is a humorlessness to [elevated horror]... They take themselves very seriously, you know." [77:20]
• The duo jokes about what old slasher franchises would look like, A24-style: “What if they made like an atmospheric Chucky movie?” – Millie [77:09]

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Notable Quotes

• Millie de Chirico: (on scented brooms) "Do not fuck with any other scents other than cinnamon. I'm serious." [11:32]
• Casey O'Brien: "I'm an eighth Swedish. I'm 12.5% Swedish, so I think I maybe have a little bit more investment in the Swedish culture than others do." [55:16]
• Millie de Chirico: "We carry a lot of wisdom in these saggy tits. It's just the way it is." [69:24]
• Casey O'Brien: "I would never have left because I feel like I could totally see myself as a young person being like, well, this is their culture and, you know, human sacrifices are kind of a part of it." [53:56]
• Millie de Chirico: "If we're grasping at the mere mention of Austin Powers in Midsommar, that means it's not a very funny film." [77:34]

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Employee Picks

[78:01–83:28]

• Millie:

  • Manson (1973, doc) – Chilling, rough documentary about the Manson family, made very close to the actual murders, with interviews and an unsettling atmosphere. "It's a good curiosity... Especially if you're interested in the Manson family, but even if not just a historical artifact." [81:48]

• Casey:

  • Lamb (2021, A24) – "It's sort of disturbing and sweet and scary... a really creepy movie. Beautiful, and you should check it out." [82:13]

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Episode Tone & Style

• Conversational, sometimes sarcastic (“We’re the first people in cinematic history to talk about A24… the only ones who have done it.”)
• Unpretentious, with a strong undercurrent of nostalgia and pop culture savvy.
• Openly critical when it comes to film trends and fannishness, unafraid of bucking consensus.

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For Next Week

• The next episode will cover Jennifer’s Body (2009, dir. Karyn Kusama): "First time watch again for Millie, written by Diablo Cody. I'm curious to see what you think of this one." – Casey [85:08]

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Final Thoughts

A lively, critical, and highly relatable Halloween season episode that uses Midsommar as a catalyst for a wide-ranging convo on A24 branding, horror sub-genres, codependent relationships, and what makes a film "elevated." Both hosts provide memorable moments and personal insights, making this a standout for horror fans and cinephiles alike.

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Connect:

• Email questions, gripes, and gropes: [e-mail]
• Insta: @dearmoviesiloveyou
• Letterboxd: @acleobrien, @mdechirico

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Transcript

[Millie de Chirico]

This is exactly right.

[Casey O'Brien]

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[Casey O'Brien]

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[Ryan Seacrest]

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[Millie de Chirico]

Excludes Massachusetts.

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[Casey O'Brien]

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[Millie de Chirico]

Ah. Spooky season.

[Casey O'Brien]

Ooh. Millie, you're scaring me.

[Millie de Chirico]

No, I'm not. Impossible.

[Casey O'Brien]

Impossible. Hi, Millie.

[Millie de Chirico]

Hi. How's your Halloween going so far?

[Casey O'Brien]

Oh, it's great. You know, my wife Trisha and I, every Halloween, every October, we watch a horror movie every night of October. And so this is one of my favorite times of the year.

[Millie de Chirico]

Yeah. Just getting started, really. And honestly, I say Halloween meaning it covers the entire swath of time, which is the entire month of October.

[Casey O'Brien]

Yeah.

[Millie de Chirico]

And maybe a little early. Maybe like, you know, kind of like last day of September. Couple last days of September.

[Casey O'Brien]

My good friend Luce Tomlin Brenner has a podcast called It's Always Halloween.

[Millie de Chirico]

Yes.

[Casey O'Brien]

And she informed me that a lot of people start celebrating Halloween 100 days leading up to it, which starts in July, I believe.

[Millie de Chirico]

Oh, yeah.

[Casey O'Brien]

So do you feel like in recent years, Halloween has really blown up? I don't remember it being this big of a deal when I was younger.

[Millie de Chirico]

It's. I think we talked about this. Maybe.

[Casey O'Brien]

Did we?

[Millie de Chirico]

Like, maybe, like very early days of the pod. But like, yeah, it's gotten longer. The celebration has gotten longer. Like even just the week of. Many people consider the week of Halloween the Halloween, like where they dress up every night and go and do stuff. Halloween theme and it's depending on what day of the week. Also, it's almost like, you know, you always have to add the. If it's in the middle of the week, it's like prior to and after type of thing. So it's like, it's extended for sure. But then also I find that maybe to Lucy's point, that the stores get Halloween stuff way, way earlier now.

[Casey O'Brien]

Absolutely. I was at Home Depot back in early September full of Halloween stuff. Giant skeleton guy. Have you ever seen that big old skeleton guy you can buy? It's like 15ft tall. He was in there.

[Millie de Chirico]

That's like 10 years ago. Like, that's old news. Like that skeleton. When I see the skeleton guy now, I'm like, oh, yeah, that old thing. You guys just didn't put that up. That's just up.

[Casey O'Brien]

Do you ever decorate the outside of your house for Halloween?

[Millie de Chirico]

Yeah, I mean, I'm kind of in a weird transitional period right now because I'm about to move into a new house. So I'm not decorating this year because, okay, all my Halloween stuff is in boxes and I'm not getting them out because I'm moving soon. But yes, I'll do a little light. I'd like to do the less is more approach, to be honest. My thing is that a couple years ago I purchased a gold skeleton. Life size, meaning not 15ft tall, but like 6ft tall.

[Casey O'Brien]

Sure.

[Millie de Chirico]

And the gold skeleton is very sassy. And he sits on my bench on my front porch and he just is kind of like, what's up to like all of the FedEx and UPS drivers. I also am a big fan of putting fingers and hands and feet in like potted plants and like little flower beds and stuff. I always love, like, tricking the eye, Being like, is that a zombie coming out of the herb garden or what?

[Casey O'Brien]

I feel like when I see someone, even if they have just a little bit of Halloween decorations, a little ghost, the window, a pumpkin. I'm like, this person's cool. They're down to clown. They know what's up.

[Millie de Chirico]

Like, there's also one of my favorite things, and this is something that I've loved since I was a kid. Do you. Do you remember there's a company and I might be pronouncing it wrong. Is it Bistol basedl B E I S tle. And they are like the OG paper Halloween decoration cutout people.

[Casey O'Brien]

Yeah.

[Millie de Chirico]

Which you can still buy on the Internet. Like, I think you can get a lot of their stuff on Amazon, but they've been around since like the 1920s, and they're still making these, like, super cool, like, old school Halloween decorations. And it would just like, you know, put some scotch tape in the window, Man, I do that all the time. I love seeing those old school cutout decorations. They're so.

[Casey O'Brien]

That's kind of the classic Halloween cartoon look. That's great.

[Millie de Chirico]

Yeah. Because back when I was a kid, that was pretty much all you had. You didn't really have. Actually, I don't even remember, like, spiderwebs being a thing until I was like, in high school.

[Casey O'Brien]

Yeah.

[Millie de Chirico]

But in the 80s, like when I was like a elementary school kid, like late 80s, mid to late 80s, this was all people did for Halloween was these cutouts in the windows. So I have a fondness for those. What about candy? What's the candy report?

[Casey O'Brien]

Well, I wanna ask you something. How often do you eat a candy bar in your regular life?

[Millie de Chirico]

Do you want me to be completely honest with you or do you want me to lie?

[Casey O'Brien]

This is a no judgment zone. Cause I need no judgment from you when I give you my answer. So go. You can be honest.

[Millie de Chirico]

I'm woofing em down like 365. Like, I.

[Casey O'Brien]

Well, this is why we host a podcast today. Cause I was gonna say, and I'm not exaggerating here, I eat a full candy bar five days a week.

[Millie de Chirico]

Wow. Huh.

[Casey O'Brien]

There's a convenience store, like, near my house that I can walk to. And I'm like, I might just stop it for a quick little bite. It's just so easy.

[Millie de Chirico]

Well, here's the tea, though. For me. I love miniature chocolates. Like, I. I don't think. I very rarely will buy a full size Snickers, but I'll be damned if I don't polish a bag of mini Snickers in like maybe two days.

[Casey O'Brien]

Well, those don't count.

[Millie de Chirico]

That's what I feel. I'm like, oh, if I have eight of these mini Snickers, that's sort of like a full size candy bar. Even though it's probably like three. Yeah. But I. I'm like, I love the mini versions.

[Casey O'Brien]

It's best not to look into that too deeply, you know, because I don't think you're gonna like the answ that you find. But Halloween, I just, I really go, I am a candy nut. And I really go candy crazy. And it's hard for me. I can't buy Halloween candy too early either, because if it's just sitting there, you know, to hand out to children.

[Millie de Chirico]

Yeah, it's. Oh, the bowl is empty by the time it's like October 7th. And I'm like, that bowl is empty. What are your thoughts on Quickly? I know we're trying to do a podcast, but I have to ask, what are your thoughts on the, like, limited edition Halloween flavors of certain candies? Like the green Reese's pumpkins or like this green Snickers? All that stuff?

[Casey O'Brien]

I. I guess I don't have too strong of an opinion on it. Some people say the Reese the pumpkin shaped Reese's peanut butter cup is better than the actual regular peanut butter cup. To which I disagree. So. Interesting. I. I guess I just, I don't have too strong of an opinion. I prefer the regular candy.

[Millie de Chirico]

I do too. I think it's actually kind of nasty.

[Casey O'Brien]

Yeah, I think it's gross.

[Millie de Chirico]

The, like, new flavors, the new iterations of things. I'm like, no, I just stick with the original. You can change the shape, but the inside needs to be old school.

[Casey O'Brien]

Yeah. Yeah.

[Millie de Chirico]

Because I will eat a Reese's egg for. For Easter, I'll eat a Reese's pumpkin, but I don't want, like a candy corn flavored Reese's. You know what I mean? Like, I don't want the variations.

[Casey O'Brien]

Yeah, very good. There's something in the agenda that I don't understand. What? I. I mean, you talked about this and I saw. You did, but. Cinnamon broom update. You got a cinnamon broom update for us?

[Millie de Chirico]

Casey, it's like you don't even know me or something. I don't know.

[Casey O'Brien]

I'm getting to know you through the podcast.

[Millie de Chirico]

But you were there when you talked about this on. I saw what you did.

[Casey O'Brien]

I was not there. I actually started as the producer on the show after the big cinnamon broom conversation.

[Millie de Chirico]

Okay, maybe that's true, but there were ripples. There were after shocks, there were ripples.

[Casey O'Brien]

And so now this is my way of saying I'm embarrassed that you gotta explain it a little bit to me.

[Millie de Chirico]

Well, I mean, as many of you know who have listened to my other podcasts and just know me personally, I'm a huge fan of cinnamon brooms in this time of year. And what those are are cinnamon scented little brooms.

[Casey O'Brien]

Like, I think you can get them at Trader Joe's.

[Millie de Chirico]

You can definitely get them at Trader Joe's. And when I lived in LA when I was Absolutely starved for fall festival magic and got pretty much nothing. That cinnamon groom from Trader Joe's was the only thing that kept my head in the game because fucking la, no seasons, there's no fall in la. And it drove me crazy.

[Casey O'Brien]

Yeah. And It'll be like 102 degrees on Halloween. It's really hard.

[Millie de Chirico]

I know. I was like, yo, can we get like an apple spiced candle up in here? And there's like, nothing. And I was so sick. Bereft of fall sick. Um, but you can get them at Trader Joe's. Um, I have secured mine. I will say this again, underscore this. I said this last year. Do not fuck with any other scents other than cinnamon. I'm serious.

[Casey O'Brien]

Here it is. People listen up.

[Millie de Chirico]

Like I said with the candy, they're trying it. They're trying to put out, like, mojito flavored cinnamon brooms. And I'm like, this is fucking insane. Like, no, don't.

[Casey O'Brien]

Do not fall for it.

[Millie de Chirico]

Don't fall for it. Do not, you know, fall for the scented broom juggernaut. I say juggernaut every episode. But I mean it. Like, they're trying to, like, create all of these different scents. They're not even false sense. A lot of them are not false sense. And it's the original. The OG is the best. And also I think they've realized maybe this is me, maybe this was my influence. But you know that people are. Are trying to get their hands on more cinnamon brooms. And this is not the cinnamon whisk, by the way. The whisk is the tiny version that's like, handheld. But I've seen them trying to charge outrageous prices for these brooms. Like in the past couple of weeks, where my local publix, I think somebody said that the cinnamon brooms were 799. Then I spat out my candy corns and was like, absolutely not. 7.99 for a cinnamon broom. You got to be paying at least, like, bare. Bare minimum. You're trying to get that shit for 4.99. That's it. No, nothing higher. Maybe like 550. But like, you don't want to pay $8 for cinnamon broom. That's insane.

[Casey O'Brien]

You know that's a recession indicator right there. Cinnamon broom.

[Millie de Chirico]

Well, I mean, I'm sitting here going, okay, is it a tariff thing? Absolutely not. You know who's making cinnamon brooms is little old witches. Yeah, it. In the. In the forest. Yeah, but those are American witches.

[Casey O'Brien]

Yeah. And they have fallen on hard times.

[Millie de Chirico]

But they're just going to get like sticks?

[Casey O'Brien]

Yeah.

[Millie de Chirico]

In the woods. They're not like importing sticks from Scandinavia or something. Come on. Just be on the lookout. Be an informed consumer. Eyes open. Do not get a mojito flavored broom stick with a cinnamon and otherwise have an amazing Halloween.

[Casey O'Brien]

Can I tell you a quick LA Halloween story? Very quick? Did you ever go on the Haunted Hayride, which is in Griffith Park? Basically, you get on this big hayride. It's pulled by a tractor, and they pull you through, like these big Halloween scenes. It's kind of like you're in a haunted house, but you're on a tractor going through haunted house scenes. And it's really cool. I think it's cool. And it's really choreographed. You'll go through the tractor, will go through a set that's an old church or an insane asylum. And then everyone will run and jump up on the haunted hayride cart and be like, ah. And it's exciting. And it's in Griffith Park. So you're in the woods kind of.

[Millie de Chirico]

See, I want to say a friend of mine went one year and said that she got some kind of weird itch from the hay.

[Casey O'Brien]

Hmm.

[Millie de Chirico]

Like there was some kind of like sugar or like a hay flea or something.

[Casey O'Brien]

Okay. We may have had an infected batch of hay.

[Millie de Chirico]

Oh, yeah. She said that she went. She was wearing shorts, was like, that's your first problem?

[Casey O'Brien]

Yeah.

[Millie de Chirico]

But then she got some kind of itch on her leg from the hay. And I was like, you know?

[Casey O'Brien]

Yeah.

[Millie de Chirico]

Because I don't know if they're hay flea, you know, I don't know if there are hay fleas.

[Casey O'Brien]

Yeah. But anyways, I went. I went for a couple years in a row, and one time we went. I'm with Tricia, my girlfriend at the time, and a bunch of friends, and we go through one of these scenes. It was like, I don't know, an insane asylum, let's say. And a bunch of people in scary masks and makeup jump onto our heyride. Everyone's screaming. And one of the people gets in my face and goes, hello, Casey. And then jumps off the Haunted Hayride and runs into the woods. And I was like, did anybody else fucking hear that? Did anybody else hear that? Did anybody else get their name called out by one of the inmates? And everyone was like, no. I was like, that person just said my name. They said, hello, Casey. And it freaked me out.

[Millie de Chirico]

Who was it? Your friend? Who was it?

[Casey O'Brien]

Flash forward, I find out it was a friend of mine. I had no idea that they were working the haunted hayride though I had no idea. Cause I really honestly was like, I have zero idea who that was. And also it scared me because it would have had to have taken my friend did not know I was there, you know, so they must have seen me and in that instant made the decision to do that. But wow. Well, that really get me.

[Millie de Chirico]

Oh, I would be goddamn terrified. But it's also good that you didn't know that your friends was working the haunted house because I used to have friends who worked at. So in Atlanta for many years, there was a haunted house called the Atlanta Zombie Apocalypse. Nice. Because Atlanta is of course, because it's the home of the walking dead. Zombie crazy.

[Casey O'Brien]

Yeah.

[Millie de Chirico]

And they were zombie crazy for a very long time. And they basically took this dilapidated motel and made it into like a post apocalyptic zombie fallout shelter. Was actually terrifying. It felt unsafe. I'm. I'm not going to lie. Felt unsafe.

[Casey O'Brien]

Not up to code.

[Millie de Chirico]

No, I mean there was definitely trip. Trip hazards all over the place and like actual broken glass, which I was kind of like, okay, that's kind of fucked up. But yeah, we knew like half the people that worked there. And when you would go to the haunted house, it's like, oh, here's your friend who's pretending to be like some call of duty, like ops guy, like guiding you through the zombie apocalypse. And we would just all scream his name and he was trying to stay in character and we would just be fucking with him the entire time.

[Casey O'Brien]

Oh, so you were ruining it for them, not the other. I thought that was what the story was. They were going to be like going too far. But no, you were the real monster in the course.

[Millie de Chirico]

I was. And there's people behind us being like, how the fuck do these people know the soul, the super soldier that we're traveling with? I'm like, yeah, that sucks.

[Casey O'Brien]

But that's so funny. Anyways, we got a big. This was just sort of an intro to the Halloween season with our first episode. We're doing all horror movies this month.

[Millie de Chirico]

Hooray.

[Casey O'Brien]

And we're excited. And we're starting this week off with Midsommar from 2019. And we're going to talk about a 24 movies, which I believe Millie and I have some opinions on.

[Millie de Chirico]

Yes. We are the first people in cinematic criticism history to discuss A24. To discuss elevated horror. The concept of elevated horror. We're the only people that have done it.

[Casey O'Brien]

It's been untouched since now.

[Millie de Chirico]

Completely untapped and ready for vibrant new discussions. But to be completely honest with you, this is a first time watch for me. So I I am allowed to have opinions because I've never seen this shit before.

[Casey O'Brien]

I'm not allowed to have opinions because I have seen it before.

[Millie de Chirico]

You are. You're allowed to have opinions. Come on. This is our podcast, but that'll be exciting to discuss and I'm excited to.

[Casey O'Brien]

Talk to you about because I feel like this was a big movie when it came out and it'll be fun to talk to you about it all these six years after it came out.

[Millie de Chirico]

So. And I mean I know we don't look at of course because we're extremely good looking and cool, but we're kind of horror nerds, wouldn't you say?

[Casey O'Brien]

I know it is shocking for people when they find out that I watch horror movies every night of October because I'm so hot and cool and so.

[Millie de Chirico]

Well, on that note, you are listening to the spookiest podcast of all time. Dear movies, I love you. Dear Movies, I love you and I've got to know if you love me too. Yes or no?

[Casey O'Brien]

Check the box below.

[Ryan Seacrest]

Hey, it's Ryan Seacrest for Albertsons and Safeway. Spooky season is quickly approaching, so time to stock up on all your favorite treats now through October 7th. You can get early savings on your Halloween candy favorites when you shop in store and online. Save on items like Hershey's, Reese's Pumpkins, Snickers Miniatures, Tootsie Rolls, Raw Sugar, Milk Chocolate, Caramel, Jack O Lanterns, Brock's Candy Corn Charms, Mini Pops and more. Offer ends October 7th. Restrictions apply. Offers may vary. Visit albertsons or safeway.com for more details.

[Morton Buildings Announcer]

Looking to build before next spring? Order now with Morton Buildings and get site Prep savings by October 31st. Get ahead of winter weather and save big through the end of October on select projects during Morton Building's Winter Build Sales event. If you need a garage, a stall barn, a storage building for an rv, boat or other vehicles, a shop for your farm hobbies or car restoration projects or anything in between. Take advantage of this special savings now. Morton Buildings uses quality materials and expert craftsmen with an industry leading warranty to ensure your addition is built stronger, lasts longer and looks better. We'll be working all winter long, but the building spots are limited. With offers this great, why wait? Visit MortonBuildings.com and click Get Started today. Certain restrictions may apply. Savings offer a new building, Perhaps purchases by October 31, 2025. Building delivery required by April 30, 2026. Contact your local Morton office for more details.

[Lenovo/Chase Announcer]

In the heat of battle your squad relies on you. Don't let them down. Unlock elite gaming [e-mail] Dominate every match with next level speed, seamless streaming and performance that won't quit. So you can push your gameplay beyond performance with Intel Core Ultra processors for the next air of gaming. Upgrade to smooth high quality streaming with Intel Wi Fi 6e and maximize game performance with enhanced overclocking. Win the tech search power [e-mail].

[Millie de Chirico]

Hey everybody. You are listening to Dear Movies. I love you. This is a podcast for those who are in a relationship with movies. My name is Millie de Chirico.

[Casey O'Brien]

My name is Casey o'. Brien. I was just trying to think of a spooky. You know how they do that in the Simpsons credits for Treehouse of Horror? Do you have a spooky version of your name?

[Millie de Chirico]

Chili de Chirico.

[Casey O'Brien]

Chili Decherico. And mine is Casey o'. Brain.

[Millie de Chirico]

Ha ha. That's good. Now we have to save for the next three episodes.

[Casey O'Brien]

Kcl Brains. I think it'll be brains. Okay. Okay, good. We figured it out. Yes. Oh my God. Halloween season. My favorite time of year. This is great. I'm so thrilled.

[Millie de Chirico]

I am too. And we have quite an episode because we're going to try to tackle again, like we said in the intro, this huge topic which is basically elevated horror and the movie studio 824's influence and maybe creating that term.

[Casey O'Brien]

Yeah.

[Millie de Chirico]

But you know, also talking about. I don't know, I feel like it's.

[Casey O'Brien]

A controversial term even I think it is too.

[Millie de Chirico]

Oh, no, I agree with you.

[Casey O'Brien]

I don't think people even like that label.

[Millie de Chirico]

Right. Because it's, it's. It's pejorative of something else. Right. Which I'm sure we're going to talk about.

[Casey O'Brien]

Yes.

[Millie de Chirico]

But also talking about a movie like Midsommar, which became this kind of like breakout hit for them, wouldn't you say? It was a huge, huge movie.

[Casey O'Brien]

Yeah. I mean he had hereditary a few years before that and that was big. But then I just feel like Midsommar sort of cemented something. It kind of created a pattern with which we understood sort of what a 24 was as a company or like as a brand, you know.

[Millie de Chirico]

And I also think it popularized this sort of micro genre that we're going to also talk about, which is folk horror.

[Casey O'Brien]

Hell yeah.

[Millie de Chirico]

And there have been folk horror movies prior to mid summer, of course, but I think it kind of brought it to this. I don't know. I want to say Tik tok level consciousness, like where the kids were like, I love folklore, I love witches, I love hayrides, I love.

[Casey O'Brien]

Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. But before we get there, we gotta open up the film diary, the fog of 40,000 years, where we were gonna talk about the movies we both watched this last week. And I guess, full disclosure, we're not recording this in October. So I haven't started my movie watching, my horror movie watching marathon yet.

[Millie de Chirico]

Why are you telling them how the sausage is made?

[Casey O'Brien]

Well, they're gonna be like, didn't you say you watched horror movies all this month? And the movies you are saying you watched are, like, not horror movies?

[Millie de Chirico]

Sure. Okay, fine. But we're not doing it. Super.

[Casey O'Brien]

No, this is right. We're on the cusp of October right now.

[Millie de Chirico]

Well, go ahead and say yours then.

[Casey O'Brien]

Okay. Sorry if I ruined the. The magic of the show.

[Millie de Chirico]

I literally don't care who goes first or last. Does that matter to people? It doesn't matter to me.

[Casey O'Brien]

No, it doesn't matter to me either.

[Millie de Chirico]

I'll go first if it does, you can weigh [e-mail] and I'll just tell you that's dumb.

[Casey O'Brien]

Dumb. We'll just respond. Dumb. Next. Okay, I watched two movies this week. One is. Okay, so there's a Polish director, his name is Krzysztof Kieslowski, and he is, I mean, a real art house director in the hall of fame, I would say. He's done movies like the Color Blue, the color Red, the Color White. He did the movie the Double Life of Veronique. And he also did this 10 movie set called the Decalogue, which is sort of based on the Ten Commandments. And these are on television, but they are movies. They're an hour long each. They are feature films. I consider them feature films. Have you seen these, Millie?

[Millie de Chirico]

No, but I've programmed them for a thing we did on Filmstruck, which doesn't.

[Casey O'Brien]

Exist anymore, but you would consider them each a movie. Like they're not short films, but they are movies.

[Millie de Chirico]

Yeah, yeah, I would say that.

[Casey O'Brien]

So I have the Blu Ray box set from Criterion and I've watched a bunch of them, but I haven't watched all of them. So I started back on this. And they're really beautiful, they're really moving, they're emotional, they're spiritual. And he's an amazing director and I think a real artist and poet and if you like really kind of beautiful, emotional movies, he's a great filmmaker. I don't know. Anyways, I watched Decalogue 1 and wept and it was great. Then I watched there's this director. Maybe I'm giving too much insight into these filmmakers, but they're both sort of special filmmakers to me. There's this filmmaker named Jill Sprecher who did this movie in the 90s called Clockwatchers, which was all about these women who worked in an office. And it's like a boring office. It's great. It's a great movie. Came out in 1997. It has Lisa Kudrow, Toni Collette, Parker Posey and Alana Eubach. I mean that is like powerhouse all star Mount Rushmore. It's a great movie about the boredom of working in an office. And it's very like timely because I feel like people don't work in offices in the same way. Their office culture as we know it is not what it once was in the 90s. So it's great. But this is her. I watched her follow up movie which is called Thirteen Conversations about one thing from 2001 and I thought it was great. It's very kind of philosophical. It's a very good New York movie. But it's sort of these intertwining lives of these people who are all looking for happiness. And some think they have found it, some lose it, some think it's impossible to get in their lives. But it's a really smart, moving movie. It's got Matthew McConaughey, it's got John Turturro, Clea Duvall. I thought it was great. And nobody has seen this movie, but it was really good. And I wish Jill Sprecher was able to make more movies, but she hasn't really been able to. So.

[Millie de Chirico]

Yeah, I need to watch this. I've heard about it.

[Casey O'Brien]

It's really good. Yeah, I was stunned. I was like, I'm surprised more people aren't talking about this movie because it's really good.

[Millie de Chirico]

Yeah, well, I'll definitely check it out. I have a lot of your picks actually have made it onto my watch list, obviously. But then I. It was funny because the other day I was like, oh, I need to watch a fis. Because I swear to God, we've talked about aephas about 7000 times and I just recently found out that one of my. Well, actually Toya Murray, who co wrote the TCM Underground book with me, who now lives in la, she and I hung out the other night and she mentioned that one of her neighbors is the guy that directed efis.

[Casey O'Brien]

That is bizarre. I feel like it was sort of odd how we had so many guests. And that was like, not intentional at all. We had so many guests who had a close connection to that movie on our show. Yeah. So you gotta watch it.

[Millie de Chirico]

Yeah. It's crazy. So I didn't watch it this week, although I have it in, like. I was literally, like, teeing it up on my prime video or wherever I was gonna rent it from. But then I was. My eye was drawn to another section of Amazon Prime Video, which was offering Paul Thomas Anderson's 2012 film the Master, for free to watch.

[Casey O'Brien]

Ooh.

[Millie de Chirico]

And I just had to. I had to.

[Casey O'Brien]

Had you seen this before?

[Millie de Chirico]

Of course I have. I've seen it. I saw it like twice, I think, when it came out, but I had not seen it since it came out.

[Casey O'Brien]

Wow. I saw it in theaters, too.

[Millie de Chirico]

Yeah. And because in about two days, I'm about to be watching his new film, the new Paul Thomas Anderson film, which.

[Casey O'Brien]

Is called One Battle After Another.

[Millie de Chirico]

That's right. They're playing in 70 millimeter here, which I think is actually pretty exciting. Pretty exciting for Atlanta.

[Casey O'Brien]

The reviews are getting me stoked.

[Millie de Chirico]

I haven't read a damn thing about it.

[Casey O'Brien]

So I'm just the positive reviews.

[Millie de Chirico]

Oh, well, good, good. So I was like, well, fuck, if I. If I. If I'm going to watch this one, this new one, maybe I should go back and watch some of the ones that I haven't come around, because, I mean, obviously stuff like Phantom Thread, I've seen like 27 times, but then for some reason, I hadn't seen the Master in a while, and. Damn, it's a great film still.

[Casey O'Brien]

It's a great film.

[Millie de Chirico]

And the one thing that I will say about seeing it now is that back in 2012, when I saw it, I think my, you know, part of, like, the subject material of the film that I was really amped on is the whole Scientology thing. Because, as, you know, like, this movie was sort of inspired. I mean, he says it's not like a hundred percent inspired by, but it is, you know, features a character that's very close to L. Ron Hubbard, you know, and it talks about his early career and his, you know, kind of ramp up to create, you know, creating what would eventually become Scientology. And I remember back in 2012, that was a huge iceberg that was like a. Something that you just, like, did not want to talk about because you were just afraid to talk about.

[Casey O'Brien]

I feel like people weren't talking about it in the way that they do now or like, it was still. It was still sort of verboten speak to be critical or speak of it in that way.

[Millie de Chirico]

I think in 2012 we were like, I think that the whole concept of it and the whole mystique of it was still able to thrive because people weren't like doing the research that they do on things like that now. Right. Like now it's like, because so much time has passed between like that whole era where they were thriving and it was like this really secret and mysterious world that it's just like now. You know, there's like TikTok videos about everything under the sun that has like amateur sleuths and other like fact finders kind of dismantling everything. So it's like there's no way that that mystique could have thrived.

[Casey O'Brien]

Yeah.

[Millie de Chirico]

Over a certain period of time. But back in 2012, I think it was still going pretty strong.

[Casey O'Brien]

It seemed like they were getting a lot of young people still into Scientology back then too. And I don't know if that's the. I have no research on this whatsoever, but it just seems like no one would willingly join now. I don't know.

[Millie de Chirico]

Anyway, that's it.

[Casey O'Brien]

The Master all right, let's close it up.

[Millie de Chirico]

Let's close Foreign.

[Ryan Seacrest]

Seacrest for Albertsons and Safeway Spooky season is quickly approaching, so time to stock up on all your favorite treats now through October 7th. You can get early savings on your Halloween candy favorites when you shop in store and online. Save on items like Hershey's, Reese's Pumpkins, Snickers Miniatures, Tootsie Rolls, Raw sugar, milk chocolate, caramel, Jack O Lanterns, Brock's Candy Corn Charms, Mini Pops and more. Offer ends October 7th. Restrictions apply. Offers may vary. Visit albertsons or safeway.com for more details.

[Morton Buildings Announcer]

Looking to build before next spring? Order now with Morton Buildings and get site Prep savings by October 31st. Get ahead of winter weather and save big through the end of October on select projects during Morton Buildings Winter Build Sales event. If you need a garage, a stall barn, a storage building for an rv, boat or other vehicles, a shop for your farm hobbies or car restoration projects or anything in between, take advantage of this special savings now. Morton Buildings uses quality materials and expert craftsmen with an industry leading warranty to ensure your addition is built stronger, lasts longer and looks better. We'll be working all winter long, but the building spots are limited with offers this great, why wait? Visit visit mortonbuildings.com and click get Started Today. Certain restrictions may apply. Savings offer on new building purchases by October 31, 2025. Building delivery required by April 30, 2026. Contact your local Morton office for more details.

[Lenovo/Chase Announcer]

In the heat of battle, your squad relies on you. Don't let them down. Unlock elite gaming [e-mail] Dominate every match with next level speed, seamless streaming and promoting performance that won't quit. So you can push your gameplay beyond performance with Intel Core Ultra processors For the next era of gaming. Upgrade to smooth high quality streaming with Intel Wi Fi 6e and maximize game performance with enhanced overclocking. Win the tech search power [e-mail] lenovo.

[Casey O'Brien]

Lenovo all right, moving on to our main discussion. A24 and Midsummer from 2019. Now, Millie, when you think of an A24 horror movie, or maybe I'll just say A24 movie in general, what comes to mind for you?

[Millie de Chirico]

Let me throw out some adjectives. Maybe that's the best way to do it. Hip urban city. City folk. Young contemporary modern chic candles limited edition merch Culty Zeitgeisty. I think that's it.

[Casey O'Brien]

I think I would throw in like polished. They're very kind of beautifully composed and there's sort of an elegance to them.

[Millie de Chirico]

Muted colors sometimes.

[Casey O'Brien]

Sure.

[Millie de Chirico]

The directors that are making movies with them feel a little artsy, would you say?

[Casey O'Brien]

Yes, yes, it's an artsier horror movie because. And they didn't invent this, but I think they popularized a certain type of horror movie that is less schlocky and more intentional, I guess you could say. But A24 is responsible for what you referred to in the beginning of the episode as elevated horror.

[Millie de Chirico]

Right. But I also think that like, I think across the board, even, even in their non horror films.

[Casey O'Brien]

Yeah.

[Millie de Chirico]

They work with directors who are, you know, a little cool and hip and like, you know, not, you know, they're not making Adam Sandler movies or whatever. They're making, you know, movies by, you know, the Saffy Brothers and Barry Jenkins and Greta Gerwig and you know, a lot of times these are directors that, you know, some of them are foreign like Claire Denis or, you know, Gaspardoe or whatever, but it's just like it's, it's more of a curatorial eye. I think it's what it is. They're not just like putting out movies to make money. They're really trying to create a vibe.

[Casey O'Brien]

Yes.

[Millie de Chirico]

And I feel like when you extend that to the ways in which they decide to produce horror films. Yeah, I think it does create a specific type of horror that now people are calling elevated horror, which again we said this earlier, feels pejorative feels like it means other horror is dumb. Really?

[Casey O'Brien]

Yeah.

[Millie de Chirico]

Yes, but I think it's because I think that their horror films and, and I won't say every single one of them, but a lot of them don't rely on old school horror methods of like the jump scares or the slashers or you know, like the monster films. They're almost more atmospheric than horror.

[Casey O'Brien]

Yes, very atmospheric.

[Millie de Chirico]

Like more creepy and not schlocky like you said. I think with a lot of horror there's a really big tradition of horror being maligned. Right. And because of that they were made cheaply and were rough around the edges for many, many years. I mean, certainly there were well made looking horror films made by major studios over the years, you know, like Hitchcock films. And you know, even I would argue that some of the universal horror movies of the 30s and some of the like RKO valutin movies look really good, even though technically these movies are cheap movies. Right? Yeah, but it's like for the most part, you know, horror was this malign genre that they weren't gonna spend a lot of money on and they just wanted to put them in drive ins and just like have kids show up and they were putting two at a time out there and that was it. And then I think that as the decades Wore on with like 70s horror and especially 80s horror, yeah, you still have this genre that's appreciated a lot by young people. And so, you know, a major studio is just trying to like make the money, got to pump out 12 sequels, create a little universe. And it doesn't matter if they're beautiful or textured or whatever, it's just Freddy Krueger is gonna come kill a bunch of teenagers and that's what has to happen. So I think you've got the decades of this stuff, especially like in the 2000s when you had things like Saw or like, you know, these franchise movies that are just extremely violent but also like ridiculous.

[Casey O'Brien]

Yeah.

[Millie de Chirico]

A lot of times hostile in these concepts. Right. I think that that is what influenced this concept of quote unquote, elevated horror. Because it's basically being like, oh well, we're gonna make like thoughtful art films, but make them kind of scary.

[Casey O'Brien]

Yeah. Okay, synopsis time. Danny, played by Florence Pugh, is an American college student who both experiences a truly horrific tragedy, a horrific family tragedy, and also at that same time is in a very shitty relationship with her shitty boyfriend Christian, played by Jack Raynor. Now, as a result of this tragedy, Christian feels bad for her, so he invites her along on his back. Boys trip. The boys are not happy about this at all. But the trip is to Sweden and specifically it's to this ancestral commune called the Harga. And this trip is sort of led and prompted by their friend from college, Pelle, played by Wilhelm Rongdum. And he grew up in this commune. So they are going to go celebrate and be a part of their midsommar celebration. At first the American visitors think this will be more of kind of a like Oktoberfest party situation with hot Swedish babes. But soon they learn that some of these traditions are a little more ancient and a little more barbaric than they were expecting. Midsummer.

[Millie de Chirico]

Very good.

[Casey O'Brien]

That covered.

[Millie de Chirico]

That covered it. Well, why don't you tell me? I'm curious. You saw this when it came out? Yeah. You obviously thought it was a horror movie. What was it about it that you were scared of?

[Casey O'Brien]

Well, you just don't know. You think you know the intentions of these people, these Swedes. Slowly you're kind of like, huh, what's going on here? This is like different and a little more intense than maybe I thought. And I feel like just the slow revelation of the true nature of this celebration I found frightening because you don't know how far it's going to go.

[Millie de Chirico]

Right. Well, and also, too, and this was something that I had heard about throughout the years, almost became like a meme in a weird way, is the horror, I guess, if you will, of a relationship where the boyfriend is sort of an unreliable narrator. Do you know what I mean? Where. Because like you said in the synopsis, I mean, basically like Florence Pugh's character, Danny, right, is experiencing this insane family tragedy. Right? Her entire family is basically murdered.

[Casey O'Brien]

Yes. Her bipolar sister murders her entire family by carbon monoxide poisoning, by putting a hose from the car into their house. And it's horrifying. I mean, the level of tragedy that you're not used to a character experiencing like such a high level tragedy so quickly in a movie like this. I felt like. So it was shocking to me, right?

[Millie de Chirico]

And I felt like her character is being set up in a way. And this is just purely from like a narrative perspective to be questioning whether or not her feelings are real. Right. Because it's like at the very beginning, it's established she's in this relationship with her boyfriend, Christian.

[Casey O'Brien]

Yes.

[Millie de Chirico]

And he wants to break up with her. He's basically like, oh, she's such a drag. She's just a mess. And that is like a common. Actually, I don't want to say that because then I'M just hating men.

[Casey O'Brien]

No, do it, Millie. This is a good comment. I feel like I like this commentary about men in this movie because it really makes these guys look like shitheads, right?

[Millie de Chirico]

Which I have to say is true. Like, this is. I think the point I was trying to make is that. And I stopped myself because I was like, I don't know. Like, I said, I. I drag you men all the time.

[Casey O'Brien]

All the time.

[Millie de Chirico]

But it's also that feeling of, you know, a man basically being like, my girlfriend is crazy and I gotta break up with her, but I can't break up with her because she's too fragile and up and she'll kill herself if I'm not in her life. You know, it's like, that's the setup and all this. All of his bros are like, dude, your girlfriend cut weight. She sucks. Like, you know, and it almost felt like because prior to the actual reveal of. Of this murder suicide thing, they were painting her as this meaty person. Like, they were. You know, her sister was missing. You know, they were like, God, your girlfriend calls too much. And then, you know, she's popping at a van in the next scene and you're like, okay, well, you know, she's being set up as this. As this needy, crazy woman character. And then she has this horrible tragedy. And then the vibe instantly turns to, well, the boyfriend, now he has to stay because what is he gonna do? Break up with his girlfriend who just experienced this, like, family annihilation scenario?

[Casey O'Brien]

There's a Curb youb Enthusiasm episode that's sort of like this. Like, there's a guy who is gonna break up with his girlf, but her beloved aunt, I think, dies. And he's confiding in Larry. He's like, oh, it's gonna break up with her. How long do I have to wait after this tragedy to dissipate to break up with her? And I feel like the boyfriend is doing those calculations in his head. He's like, okay, yes, horrible tragedy. But how long do I gotta stay where I don't look like a shithead asshole, but can still break up with her?

[Millie de Chirico]

So well, and it's the whole reason why they, I guess, allow her to go on this boys trip because they're all like, oh, God, we feel bad. Like, you know, he's in a bind. We gotta let her come. I would walk that back a few steps and be like, why would I want to go with these fucking chuckleheads if I was going through the most horrific time of my life in the way that her character Does. Do you think I want to be with his bros in any capacity? No.

[Casey O'Brien]

Yes, I know, but she's in college, she's a child. And I feel like she really likes her boyfriend or is like, she doesn't, maybe doesn't like him, but she's in that horrible thing where I've been in this, a lot of people have been in this where they're like, I feel like this person doesn't like me and I'm doing everything in my power to appease them or to be as near them as possible so that they will like me more.

[Millie de Chirico]

Right. It's a codependency. And when you're a young person, that is all relationships are to you is like this codependent, like need to be loved by someone even if that person is a terrible person and it's not right for you. Right, I get it.

[Casey O'Brien]

Yeah.

[Millie de Chirico]

And of course, if she didn't feel that way, we wouldn't have a fucking movie. So I get. But I'm just saying, personally, after my years of wisdom and life experience, the last place that I would be is in Sweden with a bunch of dudes, 100%.

[Casey O'Brien]

I mean, it sounds like a night, it sounds like a nightmare.

[Millie de Chirico]

And here's what makes it a nightmare. From jump to where I'd be like, I made the wrong choice and I need to just go home. Okay. They enter, they basically get on this flight, fly to Sweden, then get into a car and drive to the country where Pele, right, who is their Swedish friend, is taking them to his like little community of happy sprites and creatures, right?

[Casey O'Brien]

His like little, little commune. Yes.

[Millie de Chirico]

I'm sitting there after a long ass flight and then a long ass car ride in the same clothes that I probably put on 14 hours before get out of the car. We haven't even like pulled into the main part of the thing yet. We're just like on the outskirts and there's all these people tripping in a field, like being hippy, dippy, like psychedelic fucking hippies in the, in the field, right? And they get out of the car and they're pretty much instantly offered mushrooms, okay? And these motherfuckers want to do mushrooms immediately after getting off of a fucking plane and a car ride. And I'm like, turn around and go home, girl. You don't want to do mushrooms right now. You don't even know where you are. And she even says it, she even says, like, hey, I think I want to get like my bearings first before we trip for the next 12 hours. And then of course, one of their friends who is the worst friend?

[Casey O'Brien]

Mark.

[Millie de Chirico]

Absolutely a terrible person with a terrible.

[Casey O'Brien]

Face played by Will Peltier.

[Millie de Chirico]

Yeah. He looks like the asshole of the friend group. Like his. Sorry, will you have that face for it? I'm sure you're a lovely human being, but you were. You were perfectly cast for this role. He's like, well, if you don't trip, then we're all going to be tripping at different times. And that doesn't work.

[Casey O'Brien]

We're going to be off schedule.

[Millie de Chirico]

I'm like, in what context does that even matter, dude? Like, we're in the middle of nowhere. Who cares?

[Casey O'Brien]

And then the boyfriend is like, oh, well, I'm not going to do mushrooms either. It's fine. No, it's fine. It's fine. You know, one of those situations, but it's not fine.

[Millie de Chirico]

You know, listen, I have never been into this and I don't care If I was 18 or 48 or whatever. People who, like, get pissed at you for not, like, drinking or doing drugs at their level.

[Casey O'Brien]

Yeah.

[Millie de Chirico]

Is one of the most annoying things in the world. And I have so many friends that try to pull that shit on me and I'm like, get a grip.

[Casey O'Brien]

Yeah.

[Millie de Chirico]

Okay. Like, why do I have to be as drunk as you? Why. Why do I even have to be drunk at all? Like, don't force me to be tripping with you when I don't want to be tripping. Okay. Like, have the confidence to trip on your own and don't worry about what other. Other people do. Like, give me a break. But I guess these people are in their 20s and they care.

[Casey O'Brien]

Yeah.

[Millie de Chirico]

But it just annoyed me because then she capitulated to it. Like, basically she was like, well, I guess I'll be tripping then because everybody's making me feel bad about it.

[Casey O'Brien]

Yeah.

[Millie de Chirico]

And that is where I would be. Like, hell no. I'm going back. Like, this is not my true.

[Casey O'Brien]

I was going to ask you, at what point would you turn around and get out of there? And it sounds like pretty immediately, oh.

[Millie de Chirico]

I wouldn't have even made it to the fucking gates of the commune. I'd be like, oh, word. These, like, stupid idiot dudes that are friends with my boyfriend are like, making me feel bad for not wanting to do mushrooms after a 15 hour flight. I guess I'm going back to the city and going to a hotel.

[Casey O'Brien]

Yeah.

[Millie de Chirico]

Because this is obviously their bro hang.

[Casey O'Brien]

Yeah.

[Millie de Chirico]

And I don't want to be a part of it.

[Casey O'Brien]

Well, she. Yeah, she should have seen that beforehand Anyway, but, you know, I think this, the question, if it's asked of me, when would I have left?

[Millie de Chirico]

Yes.

[Casey O'Brien]

Now, if I was a 22 year old, I think her character is like 21 or 22 in this movie. I feel like I would be doomed to death. Honestly, I would never have left because I feel like I could totally see myself as a young person being like, well, this is their culture and, you know, human sacrifices are kind of a part of it. I guess I can accept that. Like, it would have. I would have. I feel like I would have been killed in this situation, frankly.

[Millie de Chirico]

Yeah. Also not gonna lie, my. My investment in what is happening in this community is in direct proportion to how interested I am in this culture. Like, I hate it. I hate that I thought this, but I'm sure I'm not the only person that thought this. And this is such a boneheaded observation, but it was giving very IKEA to me this entire film. Like, even the words, the names, but just like the vibe of it. The vibe of, like, beautiful Swedish people in all white linens with flower crowns. I was just kind of like, not really, Karen, about this vibe.

[Casey O'Brien]

Interesting. Well, I'm an eighth Swedish. I'm 12.5% Swedish, so I think I maybe have a little bit more investment in the Swedish culture than others do. I was intrigued.

[Millie de Chirico]

Well, I'm a South side girl, meaning all my family, my ancestors come from the water. I'm not, like, I've never been one to be fascinated by, like, Viking cultures and things of this nature. Does that make sense?

[Casey O'Brien]

Yes, it does. It does. So they enter the camp. They were tripping balls. They enter the camp and it's beautiful. And it seems like a fun summer camp. And I guess the first indication that things are going wrong are the sacrifice of the two elders in the community that turned 74. Because they kill people. They kill old people that have turned 74. Right? That's the whole thing.

[Millie de Chirico]

Yes. Yes.

[Casey O'Brien]

And honestly, most of them, including Florence Pugh, it seems like they're kind of okay with staying after that point. There are two friends that are like, we're out of here. But most of them are like, oh, we'll stay. It's fine that that happened.

[Millie de Chirico]

Yeah. I mean, again, I would have left way earlier, so this is probably moot. But I mean, even when they roll up to the camp, they're just, like, meeting people. They're taking in all the sights, all of the white linens, the flower crowns, the triangle shaped creepy buildings, which I feel like is a fucking Ari Oster thing. I don't know if you thought that.

[Casey O'Brien]

Did he have a triangle shaped building? In Hereditary.

[Millie de Chirico]

There was some kind of, like, treehouse Y, like, slanted roof, maybe that's it. Slanted.

[Casey O'Brien]

Slanted roof, yeah. Yeah.

[Millie de Chirico]

But looking around, everything is real stark. Very, very scandi. It was like, very scandi, which I think is why I thought about ikea. I was like, oh, yeah, this is, like, beautifully designed. Like, most communes are disgusting, by the way. They're filled with, like, gross hippie shit. And this was this beautiful Scandinavian architecture IKEA paradise. And I was like, okay. They're walking around, you know, they realize she. They quickly realize that they all have to sleep in the same room because they're not of a certain age or something. Like, you all have to sleep.

[Casey O'Brien]

All the kids got to sleep in the same room.

[Millie de Chirico]

Yeah. And they're in these, like, rickety, tiny dollhouse beds. And I'm like, damn, this is. This looks uncomfortable. And you have to sleep open air with a bunch of kids.

[Casey O'Brien]

Yeah, that would be tough for me. I like to be alone. Even now, as a, you know, a man with a family, I like, I. My office is in my basement in, like, a little cupboard down here. I like to be removed and away from other people. So I think a commune like this situation would be hard for me.

[Millie de Chirico]

Well, even when I was like, you know, in my 20s, and I'd be like, backpacking or, like, traveling on the cheap and sleeping on people's couches, if you told me, oh, you have to sleep in this house with a bunch of babies and kids, I'd be like, fudge, no, I'm going to go sleep at the airport. Kids, they stay up all night long and cry like, no, thank you. But, you know, basically, like, they're taking it all in and I'm just like, again, I just would. I wouldn't. I'd be like, all right, I don't know if this is my vibe. This is feeling very. Not my thing. It's not very cozy. It just feels kind of like stark and creepy.

[Casey O'Brien]

Well, I feel like, you know, like we're talking about horror movies and we were talking about this movie. It's like, when would you leave?

[Millie de Chirico]

Yes.

[Casey O'Brien]

You know, when would you get out of there to survive? Because a lot of times you watch horror movies and you're like, what are they doing? They're not noticing all these red flags, you know? But do you feel like in general when you're watching a horror movie, you're like, I would not be in that situation.

[Millie de Chirico]

Correct.

[Casey O'Brien]

I would have gotten out of there.

[Millie de Chirico]

Correct? Correct, yes. Because I'm like, I'm the. I don't know about this guy's person in every horror movie. I'm not brave. I'm like a complete and utter pussy. I'm like, I don't like it. I don't like the vibe. I'm out of here. And it's usually the other people that are trying to force me to stay that I end up staying a lot of times. But for the most part, I'm like, instantly not a cool vibe. I'm out.

[Casey O'Brien]

I'm a highly sensitive person, and I feel like when the vibes are off, I can sense immediately. But I also have, in the past been victim to not wanting to make waves.

[Millie de Chirico]

Sure.

[Casey O'Brien]

You know, and so that's why I fear for my life that I will be beheaded, you know, whacked against a tree by Jason or something, because I didn't follow my instinct.

[Millie de Chirico]

Yeah, well, I'm like, this is. You know, you mentioned the people that jump off the cliffs when they're 74 or whatever.

[Casey O'Brien]

Yes.

[Millie de Chirico]

This was actually the only part of the movie that I actually thought was terrifying, which is that the ways in which people were getting their faces smashed in by those, like, big mallets, those, like, Donkey Kong Super Mario Brothers mallets. I was like, damn, that is brutal. Yeah, they show it, too, which.

[Casey O'Brien]

Ooh, they do.

[Millie de Chirico]

As a horror person, I was, all right. I appreciate that you're impressed. Yeah. But that, to me, was scary. Didn't really understand why I thought the reasoning was kind of dumb. Okay, this is. Again, I think what I want to go back to is the idea of my investment in this world is only as strong as the customs that I have to learn, that the rules of the world that I have to learn. If I feel at all that the rules become stupid and annoying, then I'm out.

[Casey O'Brien]

Oh, and you felt the rules got annoying and stupid in this movie?

[Millie de Chirico]

Yes. Sadly to say, I was like, there's a lot of meat on this bone. There's a lot going on. Very high concept. A lot of, like, weird potions and.

[Casey O'Brien]

Like, pubes in your food and.

[Millie de Chirico]

And people just, like, simply drinking stuff without questioning it at all. Like, just, yeah, I'll take a swig of this thing. It looks like actual piss. And I get that you don't want to be rude in another person's home country or their culture, but I'm also like, I don't know you. I really don't know you. And I. I don't mind tasting dishes but, like, drinking strange liquids, that feels like a poison scenario.

[Casey O'Brien]

I. I guess so. But you're. You're a guest at their. I guess I wouldn't. I just wouldn't jump to, what is this? I would be like, okay.

[Millie de Chirico]

But they're not even explaining what's in it. They're just being like, oh, it's supposed to make you really nice. I'm like, oh, cool, so I'm just gonna drink it. What does that even mean? Why don't you tell me? Like, a couple of ingredients. Tell me the. You know, give me a little bit more of an explanation than, oh, you should just drink it. It tastes good. Like, here's the thing. When people start disappearing again, I think you and I would both have been out way, way before this. But then people start disappearing, and this happens in every single movie I've ever seen about a cult or a commune or anything, is that people start disappearing and they don't say bye to their friends.

[Casey O'Brien]

Yeah. And then the other people are like, oh, they left without saying goodbye. Don't worry, they're fine.

[Millie de Chirico]

Yeah. And you're told by an elder or somebody that's in the group, oh, we dropped them off at the airport. They'll be fine. And I'm like, that is a huge. Like, a red flag, like, being flown off the hillside. I mean, you gotta get out then. Yeah, you gotta get out.

[Casey O'Brien]

Yeah.

[Millie de Chirico]

But the thing that becomes more apparent after the scene is that they're bringing these people, primarily Dani and Christian, into the rituals more, and they're basically setting them up to participate in the activities of this commune, including the May Queen Fandango.

[Casey O'Brien]

Yes. It becomes less of a celebration and more of a ritual that they didn't realize that they were a part of.

[Millie de Chirico]

Right. That may be that they were handpicked to come and participate. And I guess that's the horror part or the folk horror part.

[Casey O'Brien]

That just got. That gave me chills when you just said that.

[Millie de Chirico]

Scared me. But the May Queen is what, the princess of the.

[Casey O'Brien]

Yes.

[Millie de Chirico]

Like the Miss USA pageant of this commune. And it becomes clear that Dany is becoming part of it. She just immediately jumps in from what I saw. Like, she's just like, sure, I'll learn.

[Casey O'Brien]

The dances, I'll learn Swedish.

[Millie de Chirico]

I'll be making meat pies with y' all in no time. And then all of a sudden, she's crowned the queen. That's where you get the image of what I was, what I saw as part of the Midsummer, you know, mythology. When I, before I had Evans in The movie was seeing Florence Pugh and all the flowers and looking fucking disheveled and sad, covered in beautiful flowers, which I think conceptually is actually pretty tight. Like, I'm like, oh, yeah, it is wonderful to see somebody covered. Covered in beautiful flowers, but looking like they want to die.

[Casey O'Brien]

Yeah.

[Millie de Chirico]

But so she becomes part of this ritual. She becomes the queen. And then I suppose. Spoiler alert. She might end up last woman standing, final girl style.

[Casey O'Brien]

Yeah, she might.

[Millie de Chirico]

She might. Her beloved. Her fuck boy boyfriend, who wanted to break up with her, maybe has his own way of transcending to the next realm.

[Casey O'Brien]

Yeah. Just may.

[Millie de Chirico]

That whole scene, by the way. Wow, that was very. Like. I felt like I was watching Suspiria. The.

[Casey O'Brien]

Yeah, yeah.

[Millie de Chirico]

Also about witches. What the.

[Casey O'Brien]

There. You're. You're right on. I. You know, I think something overall, I appreciate about this movie. It is about tragedy and trauma. And Florence Pugh is carrying a lot. Danny is carrying a lot of trauma in this movie. And it's kind of like a burden upon her that her boyfriend and these bros are in no way attempting to alleviate or help. But she gets to this community, which, yes, they're murderous. Okay. But I feel like they see her and are willing to and happy to take on and help her remove her trauma, to help her work through it and to even take it. Like, there's that whole scene where the women are screaming, you know, scream. Crying with her. I liked that. I thought that was moving in a way. And I think that sort of something that I took away from the movie, enjoying.

[Millie de Chirico]

Well, I'm glad that you thought that, actually, because I was sitting there thinking I'm feeling less and less connected to her story as the movie moves on. I think it's because there was just too much going on, okay. There's too much to learn and know about what these people do and who these people are. And then there's all these other characters interacting with them that I kept thinking, oh, I forgot that she's going through this huge scenario. But now you got me thinking about, why is the black guy doing a dissertation on Swedish culture? Why is this asshole that everyone hates following this woman that he wants to fuck into the woods? And he didn't come out, like, nope. You know, there's all these, like, different side quests that I was just like, you're distracting me from what I'm here for, which is that I want this woman to get her revenge.

[Casey O'Brien]

Yeah.

[Millie de Chirico]

In some way. And, you know, it just felt like I was disconnecting slowly from her story, which Is unfortunate because I felt like obviously that's the most compelling story out of all these people.

[Casey O'Brien]

Uh huh. Yeah.

[Millie de Chirico]

Yeah. The scene with her boyfriend, I felt like, okay, well, that's interesting.

[Casey O'Brien]

Which scene where he's.

[Millie de Chirico]

Yes. When he's basically creating a new life with.

[Casey O'Brien]

Yes. He gets wrapped up. He gets kind of, I don't know, poisoned or like drugged to. And he's been chosen to fornicate with a woman to create a baby. And there's a lot of women that are a part of it, including like chanting around this woman as they're doinking in the middle of this big house. And there's even an old lady who comes behind and starts pushing his butt. I thought that was funny.

[Millie de Chirico]

Listen, between Suspiria, the remake, this movie maybe elevated Horror has done something amazing, which is that it's bringing in a lot of old lady boobs. And I love it.

[Casey O'Brien]

A lot of old lady boobs in the witch too.

[Millie de Chirico]

Yes. It's about fucking time.

[Casey O'Brien]

I'm like, I'll think of some more.

[Millie de Chirico]

If I can like those. Let's get some more droopers out. Out for these people to see. Because it's. It's important. The men need to know that this is what boobs do when you age. Okay. It's like we're not all perky. And, you know, the reality is, is that we carry a lot of wisdom in these saggy tits. It's just the way it is.

[Casey O'Brien]

And maybe the wisdom is what brings them down to earth.

[Millie de Chirico]

There's a whole. This is so such a sidebar. But like, there's this whole storyline in the valley about saggy boobs after, like giving birth. So I've got it on the brain, I suppose, but it's like, you know, at the end of the day, that is something good about elevated horror. Maybe even folk horror is. There is like a naturalism that comes into play with some of these stories that I actually think is pretty tight and I really appreciate it on that level. But it's like, you know, that was the thing, is that he's going through this entire scenario and I'm just sort of like, all right, what's up with Danny? Let's go. Let's find out what she's doing. May Queen. What does that get you? Does she. Is there a parade? You know, is she going to be a spokeswoman for Revlon? Like, what. What happens in these scenarios?

[Casey O'Brien]

Yeah, I guess. What. What do you think her life is like after this? What do you think happens to her?

[Millie de Chirico]

I mean, I Think she stays in that commune and is then getting impregnated by weird American dudes in a ritual, you know, like she just becomes a part of the. The crew.

[Casey O'Brien]

You don't think she goes back to Colorado? I guess she doesn't have a family to go back to.

[Millie de Chirico]

No. Why the fuck would she go back there if she's the May Queen, that probably gives her a little bit of clout.

[Casey O'Brien]

Yeah. You know, she can watch Austin Powers on her. Did you like that part where they're right?

[Millie de Chirico]

I was like, where are y' all even watching Austin Powers? Like, this looks like a damn dollhouse.

[Casey O'Brien]

Yeah, I guess they have electricity and I was guessing, like a VHS tape for some reason.

[Millie de Chirico]

Again, a lot of. A lot of questions when it comes to this.

[Casey O'Brien]

I'm like, that made me laugh hard because, you know, we used to have these family reunions at this cabin resort every year. Well, we still do, but we would stay at this resort and my cousins would bring their VHS TV, you know, the little TVs with the VHS player in it. And one of the movies we would watch was Austin Powers. So I was, like, very tickled that that was.

[Millie de Chirico]

Listen, I sit down in front of Austin Powers now.

[Casey O'Brien]

Yeah, I know.

[Millie de Chirico]

Anytime it's on, I'm in love. It's, you know.

[Casey O'Brien]

Oh, my goodness. Well, Millie, what else is there to say about Midsommar? Ari Aster, A24.

[Millie de Chirico]

I don't know. I wanted to like it more than I did, I think. I think it had a lot of mystique and it was a curiosity since it came out. And I was not. I had not really, like, read too. Too much about it. I had heard about it. I, you know, obviously had seen the. The flowers and the Florence Pugeness of it so many times. But I guess I just didn't really know much about it on that level of what the film could actually be about. I think I was a little like, okay, maybe I just missed the train on this a little bit. Which is unfortunate. And I feel like that's the unfortunate thing about watching movies like this much, much later is because you can't help but be informed by just the fallout of Big Juggernaut movies.

[Casey O'Brien]

That's so interesting. I think you're totally right.

[Millie de Chirico]

I mean, listen, when I. I watched Titanic, like within the past, like, year and a half for the first time, I actually. In that case, I actually liked it a lot more than I thought I would because I think everybody began to hate that movie in a weird way. And then I was like, I actually Kind of like it. So I don't know, maybe it's like.

[Casey O'Brien]

I mean, I think about movies like La La Land, when that came out, people were like, I loved this movie. And if you had seen it at the height of people being excited about it, you might think differently about it than watching it now, when everyone was like, actually, that movie sucks, and I hate it, you know, because that had, like, a big backlash to it. And not that Midsommar had a big backlash, but I think there is something to be said about seeing a movie in the window of time when it is, like, a big point of conversation or really popping off with the culture. You know what I mean?

[Millie de Chirico]

Well, that's the thing, too, about if you go back and you even watch movies that won, like, Oscars from, like, five, eight years ago.

[Casey O'Brien]

Yeah.

[Millie de Chirico]

I want to say that I was reading a letterboxd review from, like, a really good, like, reliable letterboxd follower that I have that I follow, who has great taste and is always, like, somebody that I kind of admire. And I think it was. I don't know if it was past lives or it was like, some movie that came out that was huge on the kind of indie circuit, Oscar circuit, maybe from, like, five years ago or something like that. And they were, like, shitting on it.

[Casey O'Brien]

Yeah.

[Millie de Chirico]

And I was like, whoa, that's crazy, because everybody. Everybody else had rated it, like, five stars.

[Casey O'Brien]

Yeah.

[Millie de Chirico]

You know, and then this one person, like, this movie actually fudgeing sucks and.

[Casey O'Brien]

Yeah.

[Millie de Chirico]

You know, I don't know. But it was something like that. And I was.

[Casey O'Brien]

I was thinking about that with the movie Coda. You remember the movie Coda?

[Millie de Chirico]

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

[Casey O'Brien]

It won Best Picture at the Academy Awards in 2021. And I'm like, I forgot that movie existed. No one ever brings up that movie. I didn't think that movie was particularly good, but people really liked that movie. But it has no cultural standing whatsoever, you know?

[Millie de Chirico]

Yes, absolutely. So, yeah, I mean, that's interesting. I guess it's like, your mileage may vary on this kind of stuff, but, I mean, I'm glad I watched it. I'll always be glad to watch a movie that I've never seen before. And I guess, I don't know, the horror, the elevated horror, or the A24 horror thing. I don't know if we were able to seal the deal on that. But it's, you know, it's definitely, like, an interesting conversation to have.

[Casey O'Brien]

So I'm not bummed that you don't like it. I don't care if you don't like a movie or not, But I really love this movie. I'm kind of midsommar pilled, I think. I know.

[Millie de Chirico]

You've seen it quite a bit, huh?

[Casey O'Brien]

Yeah, I've seen it like five times and I really like this movie. So it's just interesting. But I did see it in theaters, you know, so. Yeah, and the elevated horror thing, I think it. I don't know if there's much more to discuss, but it is something where there is sort of a line in the. There's like a designation that. It's like. This is elevated horror, meaning it's good and that's regular horror, and that's bad. So I don't know. It's an interesting time in the development of horror movies. I like movies that are considered elevated horror. And I like movies that are just considered schlocky, stupid horror.

[Millie de Chirico]

But imagine if they, like, remade. Think of like a. A real funny, shitty, like 80s or 90s horror movie that if they remade in the A24 elevated style would be so funny. Like.

[Casey O'Brien]

Yeah.

[Millie de Chirico]

Leprechau. Leprechaun.

[Casey O'Brien]

Leprechaun. I was gonna say critters. Yeah, the boogens.

[Millie de Chirico]

They should remake. Boogens. Or Child's Play. What if they made like an atmospheric Chucky movie?

[Casey O'Brien]

You know what I'm gonna say about elevated horror? There is a humorlessness to them.

[Millie de Chirico]

Yes.

[Casey O'Brien]

They take themselves very seriously, you know.

[Millie de Chirico]

Listen, if we're grasping at the mere mention of Austin Powers in mid summer, that means it's not a very funny film.

[Casey O'Brien]

Let's move on to employees. Pick. Yes, Millie, what do you got?

[Millie de Chirico]

Well, here's the tea. I am not going to recommend an A24 movie, nor is that a problem. Is that a problem?

[Casey O'Brien]

No, I was being silly.

[Millie de Chirico]

Okay. I was gonna say you can fire me, I guess, technically, if you want.

[Casey O'Brien]

Technically, I could fire you. No, I couldn't. If I wanted to fire you, I don't think I could.

[Millie de Chirico]

I know, but these are employee pics. Maybe you would at least tell the manager, like, this bitch.

[Casey O'Brien]

Okay, I caught Millie smoking cigarettes in the bathroom. It stinks in there.

[Millie de Chirico]

She's listening to Steely Dan in the bathroom smoking cigarettes. But here's the thing. I'm not going to recommend an A24 movie. I'm not going to recommend a horror or elevated horror movie. Really? I'm actually going to recommend a documentary which is essentially about a cult. And it is scary in a different way. It is. It is a terrifying documentary, but it's because it's about true life. Criminals and scary weirdos from our history. But also just like, the way in which it's shot, it's very raw, very rough around the edges. But it's this documentary called Manson from 1973. And it is a documentary that was essentially made in the time, like, right. The few years after the Manson murders, right? And it was directed by Robert Hendrickson and Lawrence Merrick. And it's basically like they go to, like, Spawn Ranch and they interview, like, Squeaky from me and, like, you know, Sandy. And they are in the throes of their dedication to Charles Manson and the Manson family that it is, like, pretty scary. And they're wearing, like, much, like Midsummer. They're wearing, like, animal pelts and stuff for some weird reason, and they're carrying guns and they're being interviewed by a documentary team. And they're just, like, so reverent towards the family. It just feels so, like, this is not something that's like being made, like, 20, 30 years after the fact. It's being made, like, really close. I mean, I don't know if the trial was still technically happening, but it was like all this shit had pretty much just happened. And, like, everybody, you know, Manson's in jail, all of the, you know, people who participated and the crimes are in jail. And there was just all these, like, people left that were part of the family, and they were just kind of, like, hanging out on this fucking ranch, like, trying to figure out what to do with their lives now that their leader has been, you know, convicted of these crimes. And so it was just like, felt very feral and unhinged and terrifying. But it is pretty. It's a pretty raw documentary. And, like, there's actually this part of it that is trippy. And I think it's because it's made in 1973. I mean, it's like, very psychedelic, but, like, Bobby Balsel is involved. And it's this, like, triptych of, like, they're kind of like, you know, they were making music. It was this kind of this creepy murderer music. And it was just kind of like. It's very trippy. It feels very of the era. I don't know, you might have to rent it somewhere. Like you have a video store. It might be on Internet archive. It's really hard to find, or it was for a very long time, but I don't know. When I watched Midsommar, I was kind of like, yeah, this is kind of the vibe I'm going for for employee pick.

[Casey O'Brien]

So very good.

[Millie de Chirico]

It's a good curiosity, like, to watch if you're. Especially if you're interested in the Manson family, but even if not just a historical artifact.

[Casey O'Brien]

Very good. Well, I was sort of. I'm going to recommend an 824 movie and one that I feel like may have been sort of forgotten to time. This isn't. I would not consider this a horror movie, but it does have horror movie elements to it. It's a movie called lamb from 2021. It's with Noomi Repachi. It's an Icelandic Swedish film. It's directed by Vladimir Johansson. And Nye Repatche and her husband experience a tragedy. Of course, that's what you got to do in a 24 movies. And one day they discover. And they're farmers and one of their sheep has given birth to a half lamb, half human. And it's sort of disturbing and sweet and scary. And it's set in the real farm country of Iceland. So they're out in the middle of nowhere. So it's sort of some similarities to Midsommar in that way. But it is a really creepy movie. Beautiful movie and you should check it out. And it's very A24E. You know, it's got that A24 vibe to it.

[Millie de Chirico]

So interesting.

[Casey O'Brien]

Okay. Lamb.

[Millie de Chirico]

Lamb. Okay.

[Casey O'Brien]

Saw it at the Alamo Drafthouse in LA with my friend Christian Duenas.

[Millie de Chirico]

Well, good job.

[Casey O'Brien]

That's it. Good job. And our first spooky episode.

[Millie de Chirico]

Well, I don't know if you want to email us about any of this and just other things too. [e-mail] Again, if you need film advice, if you've got a film gripe, if you've got a consensual film grope. Gripes and gropes, as we've talked about.

[Casey O'Brien]

Gripes and grets.

[Millie de Chirico]

I'm sorry. Gripes and gropes. Gripes and gropes and grits.

[Casey O'Brien]

Gripes and gropes and grits. Oh my God, that's good. I have to redo the theme song.

[Millie de Chirico]

You're gonna have to redo it. I didn't even realize that film Gross was part of it.

[Casey O'Brien]

And gropes and grits, gripes and gripes and grits.

[Millie de Chirico]

If you have the three GS, please email [e-mail] youm can also leave us a voicemail. Any of those things. Or about pretty much anything at all, including telling us that we're attractive. Just record it on your phone, make sure it's under a minute and again, email it to DearMoviesactlyRightMedia.com and you can.

[Casey O'Brien]

Follow us on our socials earmoviesiloveyou on Instagram and Facebook. Our letterboxed handles are acleobrien and Mdecherico. And please listen to Dear Movies I Love youe on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts and rate and review our show. Please. That helps get the word out there.

[Millie de Chirico]

What about next week? Let's talk about it.

[Casey O'Brien]

Have you seen this movie?

[Millie de Chirico]

Nope. First time Watch again.

[Casey O'Brien]

Another first time watch. We're watching Karen Kusama's 2009 movie Jennifer's Body, written by Diablo Cody. I'm curious to see what you think of this one.

[Millie de Chirico]

Yeah, I mean, listen, I have been wanting to watch this movie for a very long time. I'm glad we're finally doing it and I've heard so many good things about it.

[Casey O'Brien]

So spoiler alert. I like this movie too.

[Millie de Chirico]

Oh, good to know. Good to know.

[Casey O'Brien]

Millie, thank you for a great episode. It was so fun digging in to horror stuff and have a spooky week.

[Millie de Chirico]

Please wolf down as many miniature candy or non miniature candy bars as you can.

[Casey O'Brien]

I'm trying. I really am trying and succeeding.

[Millie de Chirico]

All right guys, see you next week.

[Casey O'Brien]

Bye.

[Millie de Chirico]

This has been an exactly right production hosted by me, Millie de Chirico and produced by my co host, Casey o'. Brien.

[Casey O'Brien]

This episode was mixed by Tom Breifogel. Our associate producer is quite Christina Chamberlain. Our guest booker is Patrick Cotner and our artwork is by Vanessa Lilac.

[Millie de Chirico]

Our incredible theme music is by the best band in the entire world, the Softies.

[Casey O'Brien]

Thank you to our executive producers, Karen Kilgariff, Georgia Hardstark, Daniel Kramer and Millie de Chirico. We love you. Goodbye.

[Millie de Chirico]

Be kind.

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[Millie de Chirico]

Hear ye, hear ye.

[Casey O'Brien]

Make way for the Baron of Brioche, the Sultan of Sourdough, the Lord of the Loaves.

[Millie de Chirico]

Prime member Dave yeah, hi.

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[Millie de Chirico]

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[Millie de Chirico]

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[Millie de Chirico]

To payments to credit cards, all in.

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[Millie de Chirico]

More of what's yours.

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[Ryan Seacrest]

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