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PODCAST

Midnight Local

Greg Titian & Meredith Ambelang

When you spend all day in a studio shooting a YouTube series about drinking, things can run off the rails in a hurry, and carefully managing that chaos is vital if you’re going to make a show like How to Drink, and that’s what Greg & Meredith have done for years. Here at Midnight Local we give into that chaos and let the rails be damned. These are the conversations that make you pause the movie because it just can"t wait. Things like how the Hays Code destroyed cinema from 1934 - 1968, why David

tv & film film history

All Episodes

73:52

Is Funny Hanks > Serious Hanks?, "The Burbs" (1989)

Midnight Local ·

2025/07/22

Join us as we dive into the quirky world of "The Burbs," the 1989 comedy-horror film starring Tom Hanks. We explore its cult following, the suburban paranoia it humorously critiques, and the memorable performances that make it a timeless classic. Important question, did Tom Hanks break our timeline when he went from comedies to dramas? 00:00 - Introduction 02:15 - Setting the Scene 05:30 - Cult Classic Status 10:45 - Themes and Satire 15:20 - Behind the Scenes 20:00 - Memorable

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87:09

The Big 3-Oh No! Logan's Run (1976)

Midnight Local ·

2025/07/08

Last week, we talked about dystopian overpopulation, so this week we’re diving into dystopian population control with the 1976 cult classic Logan’s Run. This movie is far from perfect, but it offers a lot: stunning set design, an original (if bizarre) plot, and a healthy dose of retro-futuristic quirkiness.Of course, in the world of Logan’s Run, no one lives past 30—so both Greg and Mere are long dead by now. Luckily, they’ve dodged Carousel just long enough to bring you this

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83:09

Over population isn't real, 'Soylent Green' (1973)

Midnight Local ·

2025/07/01

Soylent Green is one of the quintessential Malthusian science fiction films with one of the most memorable endings so we thought it was time to give it a watch. Luckily we did not end up having 40 million people in NYC as of 2022 which is usually how it goes with dystopian theories. We found the movie hard to buy into because of how over the top it is. It has some cool ideas but overall it is not surprising that the movie became more of a punch line than an enduring classic. 00:00 Introduction

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70:04

'Severance' the GOAT of TV

Midnight Local ·

2025/06/17

SPOILER ALERT! We LOVE the TV show Severance so much that it has come up in three of our recent episodes! So, even though it is a little different from what we usually cover on Midnight Local, we decided to dedicate an episode to the show. We talk about how horrific we think it would be to be outside of your consciousness for most of the day, the mythology of Lumen and get into our theories of where the show could be going. Is Ricken a goat? Is everyone in Kier Severed? Is it Helena or Helly R. in

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69:13

Nothing can prepare you for 'Earth Girls Are Easy'...

Midnight Local ·

2025/06/10

We have been teasing an upcoming episode about 'Earth Girls Are Easy' (1988) for a long time and it's finally here! This movie is a wild ride. From its star filled cast, 80s defining musical numbers and cartoonish special effects it begs you to just sit back and enjoy without overthinking. We still managed to get on the topic of free speech later in the episode, but that is just how we do things on Midnight Local. Chapters 00:00 Introduction 02:57 Life Updates and Movie Discussions 06:14 The

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74:29

Revenge of the female anti-hero, Baby Face (1933)

Midnight Local ·

2025/06/03

It is both refreshing and enraging to see the great female characters of the pre-code film era. These women were central characters with agency, desires, motives and in this case deadly control over every man she meets. We lost female characters like this for 30+ years and some could argue they were never the same. Baby Face (1933) is a dark movie about an anti-hero who uses her sex appeal to exact revenge on men. This movie was heavily censored even before the code went into effect. In the early

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80:25

This movie changed the WORLD, 'Gold Diggers of 1933'

Midnight Local ·

2025/05/27

Gold Diggers of 1933 is possibly the best and most fun pre-code movie. You will be surprised how modern it feels. This movie has it all, Busby Berkley dance numbers, strong female leads, comedy, relevant political commentary, The Great Depression and a jaw-dropping grand finale. The last number in this movie left us with so much to talk about we considered giving it its own episode. IT IS THAT GOOD. Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Gold Diggers of 1933 06:04 The Context of the Great

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96:50

The Original Gangster, 'The Public Enemy' (1931)

Midnight Local ·

2025/05/20

We have spent nearly a century trying to make another gangster movie this good and some could argue we haven't done it yet. Being released before the Hay's code allows this movie to really speak it's mind and it does. With its loud commentary about the state of the US, strong female characters, sex, openly gay characters and nuance this movie is the perfect reminder of what the code took from us. It's a cliche for a reason, they don't make them like they used to. THE HAYS CODE: The "Don'ts"

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75:21

'Idiocracy' prophecy or eugenics manifesto?

Midnight Local ·

2025/05/13

In light of current events we couldn't ignore the 2006 film 'Idiocracy' any longer. People like to think of this film as something of a prophecy but unfortunately it is mostly just a eugenics movie that seems to trip over it's own feet. We are going to talk mostly about where this movie misses but can admit it does have some moments. Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Idiocracy 02:49 Themes of Eugenics and Society 06:04 Cultural Context and Humor 08:49 Character Analysis and Plot

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68:58

Tammy and the T-rex (1994), Clueless...but not.

Midnight Local ·

2025/05/06

This movie feels like it is happening at exactly the same time, but outside of the frame lines of Clueless...and in a slightly sideways universe. What's a girl to do when her boyfriend comes back to life as a Mechanical T-Rex? This movie has the answers. Greg and Mere had a ton of fun watching and talking about this film and would love to invite you to come on in and have a ton of fun with them.Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Tammy and the T-Rex 02:51 Exploring the Plot and Characters 06:00

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84:54

'Blind Date' (1984) is a Mastorakian Masterpiece!

Midnight Local ·

2025/04/29

Greg and Mere dive deeper into the film library of Nico Mastorakis with 'Blind Date' (1984). This movie is just good, not so clean fun! Is it a Thriller? Sci-Fi? Drama? Absurdist Comedy? As we have learned about the films of Mastorakis it is everything at once, nothings off the table. On the b-side we talk about film school and work experiences we have had over the years. Chapters 00:00 11am and Far Away 03:00 Exploring Nico Mastorakis' Filmography 05:51 The Nostalgia of 80s Cinema 08:59

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76:14

The Psychosexual Horror of Blood Tide (1982)

Midnight Local ·

2025/04/15

We are talking about the 1984 film 'Blood Tide,' starring James Earl Jones and the guy from Karate Kid! We analyze the film's plot and production, and discuss the implications of its psychosexual horror elements, including themes of sacrifice and insanity. This movie made us really miss the low-budget creativity of the 80s and 90s. Listen to the end for some personal anecdotes from Greg's student filmmaking days and hints into what we might be watching next.Chapters - 00:00 Opening Rituals and

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78:59

'Angel' (1984) Surprisingly good exploitation cinema

Midnight Local ·

2025/04/08

High school honor student by day, h**ker by night. In this episode we dive into the 1984 film 'Angel', exploring its place in exploitation cinema, the dynamics of sex positivity, and the representation of queer identities in the 1980s. We shift to the aesthetic appeal of low-budget films and how we could make an entire podcast just about Susan Terrell. Mere talks about her nostalgia for the pre-internet days and Greg recommends sho buy a Brick. 'Angel' has a few notable sequels so let us know if you

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79:51

Digging up Dead & Buried (1981)

Midnight Local ·

2025/04/01

Moving forward Midnight Local will be focusing on forgotten movies like the ones that show up in the unique offerings of Night Flight Plus. They explore the concept of exploitation cinema, and discuss the long lost 1981 film 'Dead and Buried'. They delve into the intricacies of horror films, the importance of special effects, and the themes of reanimation and memory. The discussion transitions into cultural commentary on punk movements and the importance of fun in society, exploring how these

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2:55

UPDATE: Season 3 Coming Soon!

Midnight Local ·

2024/12/03

This is an update! We are wrapping up this season of Midnight Local and will be back in January of 2025 with more episodes. We hope everyone has a great holidays, dee you in 2025. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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83:49

Serial Mom (1994), How did he know?

Midnight Local ·

2024/11/19

In this episode of Midnight Local, hosts Greg and Meredith dive into the cult classic 'Serial Mom' directed by John Waters. They explore the film's themes of suburban life, the duality of its main character Beverly, and the societal commentary on media and celebrity culture. The conversation highlights the absurdity of the plot, the dark humor, and the film's satirical take on American values. In this conversation, they explore various themes including the fascination with celebrity murderers, the

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77:29

Island of Lost Souls (1932), bring back smut!

Midnight Local ·

2024/11/12

In this conversation, Greg and Meredith explore the 1932 film 'The Island of Lost Souls,' a pre-code horror adaptation of H.G. Wells' 'The Island of Doctor Moreau.' They discuss the film's themes, character dynamics, and the implications of its portrayal of morality and control. The conversation also touches on the cultural and racial implications of the film, the role of women in early cinema, and the efficiency of short films compared to modern media consumption. They delve into the cinematic

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76:17

The Fly (1986), Cronenberg's Body Horror

Midnight Local ·

2024/10/29

Meredith and Greg delve into the 1986 film 'The Fly' directed by David Cronenberg, exploring its themes of body horror, transformation, and the complexities of relationships. They discuss the film's opening, character dynamics, and the implications of the protagonist's transformation into a fly. The conversation also touches on the metaphorical aspects of aging and disease, the nature of the monster, and the performance of Jeff Goldblum. The hosts critique the film's world-building and reflect on

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71:28

The Anti-Batman? Ghostbusters (1984)

Midnight Local ·

2024/10/15

Greg and Meredith delve into the 1984 film 'Ghostbusters.' They explore themes of working-class heroism, the film's problematic elements, the unique blend of comedy and horror, and the challenges of sequels and reboots. The discussion also touches on character dynamics, the role of special effects, and the social commentary embedded in the film. The conversation also touches on parental perspectives regarding the film's appropriateness for children, Dan Aykroyd's beliefs about the supernatural, and

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86:21

Psycho (1960) Changed Everything!

Midnight Local ·

2024/10/08

Continuing their series on frightening films, Meredith and Greg talk about the 1960 Alfred Hitchcock classic, Psycho. In this conversation the hosts discuss how Hitchcock used Psycho to start to break the barriers of the Hays code, the compelling performance of Anthony Perkins and walk through the plot points of the film. They also talk about the infamous shower scene and the film's attention to detail. The discussion also leads to a general conversation about their differences in what they like

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60 results

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