Days of Horror with Mike Civins
A tour through one man's marathon of horror, horror-ish, and horrible, plus the usual streaming highlights
Dear readers and listeners,
There’s a Preston Sturges movie I love called Christmas in July, and you might call my latest podcast episode “Halloween in January.” And why not? Frigid weather is a good time to curl up with one or two or, say, 31 movies. My dear friend Mike Civins did just that last October (see below), and now we can reap the rewards. It’s a mix of horror and horror-adjacent, from the disturbing and innovatively shot Angst to the Alien movie Jean-Pierre Jeunet directed just before Amélie.
As a reminder, Sundance 2022 is nearly here, and I’ll be convening another lineup of stellar critics and programmers to bring you the latest about the new and notable movies to come this year. Fresh from the oven, like a delicious yet thought-provoking banana bread of cinema.
I’ll also be posting another new interview or two on here, plus excerpts from past work, some of it available only to paid supporters.
All of which is to say: now is another fine time to show your support for The Last Thing I Saw. So I’ve activated a special Sundance offer, which will probably trigger a Supermarket Sweep–style run through the virtual subscription store. Don’t be the one who misses to grab a ham.
Nic
NEW PODCAST NOTES
Episode 93: Days of Horror with Mike Civins
You can also find the podcast here.
Each October for the past few years, Mike Civins has watched 31 horror movies in 31 days. The marathon is conducted under safe, controlled conditions, with a support team on hand at all times.
Here are a few movies we discussed that are currently available on streaming:
Alien Resurrection (Amazon Prime)
For more information on the podcast’s opening music by The Minarets (gratefully used with permission), follow the band on Instagram
@theminaretsmusic
MY RECENT WRITING
Recently, the Criterion Collection posted a year of highlights from their editorial site, the Current, and I was pleased to have my piece on microcinemas featured. I’m still inspired by people who are working to screen good movies through thick and thin, and genuinely bringing people together.
THIS CRITIC’S PICKS
Delectable selections for home viewing.
Homework (Criterion) – Abbas Kiarostami’s clever documentary about children and homework (and a hundred other things)
The Dog Who Wouldn’t Be Quiet (MUBI) – Terrific, time-skipping movie from last year’s Sundance festival – starts streaming next week but can add it to your list now
Stormy Weather (Criterion) – featuring the incredible dancing of the Nicholas Brothers
THE END
Here I may end with a song. ESG! ESG! ESG!
ABOUT ME
Welcome to The Last Thing I Saw!
Besides hosting a podcast, I’m a writer and an editor. My features, interviews, festival dispatches, and reviews have been published in The New York Times, Sight & Sound, Artforum, Filmmaker, and W Magazine (as well as dearly departed publications such as The Village Voice, Stop Smiling, The New York Sun, and The L Magazine).
I worked as editor-in-chief of Film Comment, where I was for 15 years. I assigned and edited both the web and print editorial, hosted its podcast and talks and screenings, learned from brilliant writers, curated Film Comment Selects, and wrote a lot, including interviews with Spike Lee, Robert Pattinson, Juliette Binoche, Claire Denis, Barry Jenkins, and Frederick Wiseman. Film Comment was subsequently awarded the Film Heritage Award by the National Society of Film Critics (an honor historically awarded to the Museum of Modern Art and other institutions).
Feel free to get in touch re: writing, editing, moderating, programming, podcasting, etc.
nicolas.rapold@gmail.com