Unfilmable 72: Heretic
Added 2025-02-26 15:00:42 +0000 UTCStop me if you've heard this one before. A house that keeps going deeper, a toxic man who overpowers vulnerable women, a first act that doesn't let you know what the third will be. Barbarian.
All stories are iterations of each other, watered down.
Comments
I don't know if this is the best place for this suggestion for Unfilmable but didn't know where else to post it. I've just watched The Void (2016) for the first time and think it would ebay a good one for you guys to cover. It's more Lovecraftian than I was expecting and think you would both enjoy it.
Gaz Darkwood
2025-03-24 12:58:03 +0000 UTCWatched it over the weekend and just listened to the show. What a great, underrated movie. And what a performance from H Grant. The movie REALLY doesn't work without him. Great episode!
Mattia Malvezzi (@fashiontarkus.bsky.social)
2025-03-17 23:57:44 +0000 UTCThe only movie that asks: what if Hugh Grant was a Reddit?
Eric
2025-03-11 19:47:11 +0000 UTCLoved the movie and the episode, I can confidently say that Gary hit the nail right on the head, as an exmormon I did indeed flip my shit. I feel like they did a great job in the film deciding what details to include regarding Mormonism and when to transition into religion more broadly for Mr. Reed to make his points. I was half expecting his explanation of iterations of Monopoly and the music to turn into another criticism of Mormonism that the Book of Mormon was essentially an iteration of the View of the Hebrews that came out like 10 years earlier, but I'm glad they chose to keep the story moving. Last thing, I think I can speak to why there was so much Mormon backlash despite it not being apparent to someone unfamiliar with the religion and history. For one they hate being called Mormons these days after they attempted their rebrand when Nelson got put in charge of the church, and they definitely don't like polygamy talk and attention on Joseph Smith's multiple wives. Reed brought up Fanny Alger as well which is a whole can of worms when brought up to Mormons. Most members of the church don't know who she is and those who do don't want others to find out, for the exact reason Reed laid out. Sorry for the essay, and thanks for the episode, I'm glad I finally got around to seeing it!
Danesthetic
2025-02-27 03:15:01 +0000 UTCGreat episode, fellas. This movie actually means quite a bit to me as a person who believed in God, then didn’t, and now does again. I want to offer my slightly different interpretation of the ending and what it says about the nature of faith. At the very beginning of the movie, the sisters ask each other how God revealed Himself in their lives, and I think that is specifically what the very end of the movie is referencing. The way I took it, the butterfly appearing in Sister Paxton’s perspective but not the audience’s was not the film saying “it doesn’t matter if it’s real or not, because it’s real to her.” I think it’s saying “it’s real to her,” period, no caveat. As discussed by the sisters early on, God appears to different people in different ways, and that principle is interwoven in faith in a way that doesn’t get talked about very often. Faith is often boiled down to the idea of “believing without evidence,” when really I think the better use of the word is in the same way we use it when we say we have faith in a friend or a loved one. It’s an affirmation of a feeling, and that feeling IS real, even if it’s only experienced by one person. Following that train of thought, the butterfly WAS real, even if only Paxton experienced it. Not trying to come across as preachy, but I felt like those last moments were such a good way of articulating the personal nature of faith and someone’s relationship with God, and underscoring how all the weird systems and rituals people have made up around God are often such bizarre horseshit. Some of my family is Catholic, I’m allowed to say that. 😊
Chapel Collins
2025-02-27 02:11:55 +0000 UTCHoping you guys plan on covering The Substance down the line for Unfilmable :)
Greg Shilton
2025-02-26 22:37:43 +0000 UTCExcited for the next movie, the Wahrammer 40k horror film
Kyle Knapp
2025-02-26 20:06:21 +0000 UTCWas looking forward to this episode to see your takes on it, I feel largely the same way and enjoyed it quite a bit - couple feelings I had coming away from it (spoilers if anyone reads this before listening to the ep/watching the movie): 1) When I described the premise to some other folks they found it a little weird that they went with Mormons as the protagonists, but I think it was pretty canny - I think a more mainstream faith would probably put more people automatically on the "this guy is talking bullshit" train, but Mormonism is an interesting choice because it does have the "this one definitely seems made up" aura to it in popular consciousness, so it's easier to accept and see the line of Reed's arguments - I think it takes more effort and subtlety to make us believe in and root for these protagonists whose faith most people probably don't take all that seriously 2) You guys talked a little about it at the end, I did like Barnes coming back to finish Reed off, because I like the ambiguity of it as a possible miracle - as Gary mentioned, you shouldn't come back from a throat slash, and I think that was a very intentionally lethal kind of injury, so that when Barnes comes back for the final blow, there's a legitimate question of whether something divine happened for a moment, or whether it was just a mundane "she held on a bit longer than people expected" (and it's a nice callback to Reed's initial assurances that she is going to come back, which he says knowing it's bullshit but comes back to bite him at the end). I interpreted that butterfly as maybe an indication of it actually being Barnes' spirit or the like passing on/reincarnating and maybe Paxton was going to make it, but that read might end up a bit too optimistic.
Jordan Parfitt
2025-02-26 18:43:45 +0000 UTCHeyoo. Apologies fellas if this gets said in the episode (haven’t seen the movie yet, and won’t be listening till I do) but I wanted to throw out a quick PSA for other listeners that Heretic will be streaming on Max starting Friday, March 7. I’m sure I’m not the only listener with an aversion to paying to rent movies digitally. Can’t wait to check it out!
Eli Leslie
2025-02-26 15:09:31 +0000 UTCNever Mind There It Is. thanks patreon
Cassandra Banner
2025-02-26 15:09:21 +0000 UTCso is this not showing up on the feed, or am i just having god's dumbest technical issues
Cassandra Banner
2025-02-26 15:08:50 +0000 UTC
