Light Up the Dark — A Movie Podcast

🌟 Our heroes escape the zombie apocalypse with Dawn of the Dead, George Romero’s legendary cult classic that defined what a zombie movie could be… and what it says about us 🧟‍♂️🛒🌅 It’s Greg’s pick this week, and it's the first time Andrew has ever seen this movie! So as Andrew digests the weirdness, Greg brings the context and passion, spotlighting why this film became a true midnight movie phenomenon and a rite of passage for horror fans 🧟‍♂️🎟️🌙 Andrew reacts in real time to the film’s bizarre tone, indie spirit, and the surprising layers of depth beneath all that gore 🧠🩸✨ Together, our heroes dig into the deeper symbolism beneath the story, exploring the consumerism of the mall, the religious allegory, and the way Romero blends social commentary with crowd-pleasing horror 🎬👀🔥 What looks like a zombie movie on the surface reveals itself as a mirror of society, spirituality, and human nature 🧠⛪️✨ So lock the doors, watch the escalators, and get ready to light up the dark, one bite at a time! 🔦🧟‍♂️🌌 LightUpTheDarkPodcast@gmail.com 📩 Email us with your comments/questions and we’ll read them on next week’s show 🗣️🎙️💬 Light Up the Dark—A Movie Podcast will return next week with: Enter the Dragon.

🌟 Our heroes bend space and time inside The Matrix, the sci-fi landmark that asked a generation the ultimate question: What is reality? 🕶️💊💥 This week’s episode is thanks to one of our awakened listeners! After a passionate email declaring The Matrix “the greatest movie ever made,” Greg generously gives up his slot this week and plugs the film back in for a highly anticipated rewatch! But "Uh oh!"… Greg still acknowledges the movie’s great, but finds himself strangely tired of it, with the real question becoming... Why? 🎬🤔 Andrew, on the other hand, is fully plugged in, defending the film not just as a technical, philosophical, and cinematic breakthrough, but as a personal source of inspiration 🔥🌟💪 From the enduring power of its ideas (are we living in a simulation?) to questions like... Is Trinity actually “The One”? Andrew argues The Matrix still has the most powerful message of all: believe in yourself 🧠⚡️❤️ So follow the white rabbit, take the red pill and get ready to light up the dark… one leap of faith at a time 📝🕶️🔦✨ Email us at LightUpTheDarkPodcast@gmail.com with comments, questions, or more movie requests. Who knows? Greg might just say "Yes!" again 📩 Light Up the Dark—A Movie Podcast will return next week with: Dawn of the Dead.

🌟 In PART 2 of our Top 20 Movies of the 21st Century episode, we make Light Up the Dark history as Hazel makes her first-ever appearance on the podcast! 🎙️✨🌙 Our heroine steps into the arena with her own formidable Top 20 list, bringing a fresh perspective and sharp new insights that instantly change the tone! The dialogue expands, the definitions stretch, and the list becomes something bigger than any one perspective 🎬💡❤️ Then, in true Light Up the Dark fashion, the night refuses to end, as Greg’s longtime friend Christian calls in with his own Top 20 list! 🎙️✨🌙 Suddenly the episode transforms into an epic all-nighter for the ages… Four lists, 80 movies, wild discoveries, constant laughter, and the kind of movie talk that only happens when no one wants to hang up 📞🔥🕓❤️ This isn’t just a list episode, it’s a time capsule. It's a celebration of the films that shaped who we are, a reminder that movies don’t just entertain us, they stay with us, challenge us, and connect us across years, friendships, and long nights that stretch until sunrise 📽️🌅✨ So settle in and get ready to light up the dark… one unexpected choice at a time! 📝🎬🔦✨ Email us at LightUpTheDarkPodcast@gmail.com with your own Top 20 Movies of the Century list and we’ll read it on the next show 📩 Light Up the Dark—A Movie Podcast will return next week with: The Matrix. Follow Hazel on Instagram: @hazeoliang ✨

🌟 Our heroes make their lists and check them twice for our Top 20 Movies of the 21st Century! It's a passionate, personal deep dive into the films that have not only defined the last 25 years of cinema, but also help define who we are as people 🎥❤️📜 When QT dropped his Top 20 list, our heroes knew it was time to step into the arena. Andrew and Greg go title by title, defending their picks and learning a lot about themselves and each other. These aren’t just movie rankings, they’re life choices forged through fire... 25 years of watching, arguing, reconsidering, and growing alongside the movies. Every pick has a story behind it. It's a reminder of why movies matter 📽️⚔️❤️ So prepare to agree (or passionately disagree) as we light up the dark… one bold selection at a time! 📝🎬🔦✨ Email us at LightUpTheDarkPodcast@gmail.com with your own Top 20 of the Century list and we'll read it on the next show 📩 Light Up the Dark — A Movie Podcast will return next week with: The Matrix.

🌟 Our heroes set the traps and defend the house with Home Alone, Chris Columbus’s pitch-perfect holiday classic that sneaks big ideas about faith, forgiveness, and grace into one of the most beloved Christmas movies ever made. 🎄🏠🎯 This week, Greg arrives with some unexpected research, digging deeper than nostalgia, uncovering striking a religious allegory woven throughout the film ⛪️📖✨ Together, our heroes spotlight why the movie endures: the perfect casting, the cartoon-logic violence, John Williams’s iconic score, and the warmth beneath the mayhem 🏠❤️🎶 So grab the aftershave, scream in the mirror, and get ready to light up the dark… one flying paint can at a time 🪣😱🙏🔦✨ Email us at LightUpTheDarkPodcast@gmail.com with any questions or comments and we’ll respond on the show 📩 Light Up the Dark—A Movie Podcast will return next week with: Our Top 20 Movies of the 21st Century.

🌟 Our heroes aim straight for the heart of A Christmas Story, Bob Clark’s endlessly quotable holiday classic about childhood obsession, family chaos, and the fragile magic of believing 🎄❄️🎯 Andrew comes in with a shocking reversal. After seeing A Christmas Story once in his 20s and writing it off entirely, he returns decades later and discovers a movie that hits completely differently. What once felt annoying now feels honest, tender, and deeply familiar. Nostalgia, it turns out, ages like fine eggnog. 🕰️🎬❤️ Greg, meanwhile, has this movie burned into his DNA through endless holiday rewatches and late-night TV marathons 🧤📺🎄 Together, our heroes unpack why A Christmas Story endures: the genius of a story about wanting something so badly it becomes mythic 🎁🧠✨ So grab your Red Ryder BB gun, triple-dog-dare the universe, and get ready to light up the dark… one FRAGILÉ major award at a time 🎯🎄🔦 Email us at LightUpTheDarkPodcast@gmail.com with any questions or comments and we’ll respond on the show! 📩 Light Up the Dark - A Movie Podcast will return next week with: Home Alone.

🌟 Our heroes unzip and drop the needle on Boogie Nights, Paul Thomas Anderson’s electric, neon-lit tragicomic epic about fame, family, and the cost of chasing the spotlight 🕺💥🎥 In a last-minute holiday swap, Andrew technically picks Boogie Nights, despite not having seen it in over 20 years. While Greg arrives fully locked-and-loaded, defending one of his all-time favorite films with encyclopedic passion! 🎶🪩🔥 Greg champions PTA's bravura filmmaking, those iconic tracking shots, the retro soundtrack, and an ensemble of unforgettable performances. While Andrew wrestles with his modern-day reaction, questioning its excess, its tone, and whether it still hits the way it once did 🎄🎬⚔️ So cue the disco lights, roll the camera, and get ready to light up the dark… one legendary rubber penis at a time 🎶🎥🍆✨🪩🎬✨ Email us at LightUpTheDarkPodcast@gmail.com with any questions or comments and we’ll respond on the show! 📩 Light Up the Dark — A Movie Podcast returns next week with: A Christmas Story.

🌟 Our heroes untangle the lights, burn the turkey, and plunge headfirst into National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation, the chaotic holiday classic that gave us the Griswold's “hap-hap-happiest Christmas” 🎄💡🦌 Andrew begins by telling Greg a shocking revelation: he didn't just watch one Christmas Vacation movie, he watched ALL the Vacation movies this week! And it gave him a whole new perspective on the Griswold family. Together, our heroes unwrap Chevy Chase’s iconic performance, Beverly D’Angelo’s warmth, the revolving door of child actors who play the kids, Cousin Eddie’s unforgettable entrance, and the avalanche of mayhem that has cemented this film as a perennial Christmas favorite. They spotlight why the comedy still works, Clark Griswold as a great dad and how the movie taps into the universal desire to create the “perfect” holiday for your family 🎁🔥 They also break down the film’s visual gags, and yes... the surprisingly sweet heart beating beneath all the explosions, electrocutions, and SWAT-team invasions. So plug in the lights (carefully), warm up the eggnog, and get ready to light up the dark… one jelly-of-the-month subscription at a time 🎄✨🔦 Email us at LightUpTheDarkPodcast@gmail.com with any questions or comments and we’ll respond on the show! 📩 Light Up the Dark — A Movie Podcast will return next week with: Boogie Nights.

🌟 Our heroes strike oil with There Will Be Blood, Paul Thomas Anderson’s towering American epic of ambition, faith, greed, and one very competitive milkshake 🛢️⛪🥛 Andrew announces that the film has now rocketed into his Top 10 of All Time, while Greg wonders what took him so long to get there. Our heroes spotlight Daniel as a man relentlessly tested by God, and illuminate the film’s craft: PTA’s camerawork, Greenwood’s nerve-shredding score, and Daniel Day-Lewis’s volcanic performance. Our heroes drill into the film’s biblical tone, its Old Testament fury, and its themes of fatherhood, loneliness, power, faith and most of all... family. And yes, our heroes do their best Daniel Plainview impressions along the way. So grab your bowling pins, drink your milkshake, and get ready to light up the dark… one false prophet at a time 🛢️🎬🔦 Email us at LightUpTheDarkPodcast@gmail.com with any questions or comments and we’ll respond on the show! 📩 Light Up the Dark — A Movie Podcast will return next week with: National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation.

🌟 Our heroes crack the code of Sneakers, the 1992 tech-heist classic packed with gadgets, shadows, and one of the coolest casts ever assembled 💻🔐🕶️ Greg loves the film (it's one of his Top 30 favorite films of all time), while Andrew enters the mission a skeptic, struggling to find the target. But as the plot deepens and the passwords unlock, our heroes dig into what makes this cult classic so enduring. Together, our heroes spotlight the film’s legendary ensemble—Robert Redford, Sidney Poitier, Dan Aykroyd, Mary McDonnell, David Strathairn, and Ben Kingsley—and unravel how a movie this fun also feels prophetic. From early warnings about mass surveillance, to hacker ethics, to a world-changing black box that can crack any system, they explore why Sneakers was ahead of its time… and why it still hits today 🔍📡 They also break down the comedy, the charm, the conspiracies, and the surprisingly emotional heart at the center of it all, discovering that beneath all the espionage, Sneakers is really a story about friendship and finding the truth in a world built on lies. So pull out your Scrabble board and get ready to light up the dark… too many secrets at a time! 🔦💻✨ Email us at LightUpTheDarkPodcast@gmail.com with any questions or comments and we’ll respond on the show! 📩 Light Up the Dark — A Movie Podcast will return next week with: There Will Be Blood.

🌟 Our heroes are bewitched body and soul by Pride & Prejudice, Joe Wright’s lush 2005 adaptation of Jane Austen’s timeless romance 💃🎩🌹 Andrew loves this movie more than Lydia loves men in uniform, sharing a personal memory of seeing the film in the theater 20 years ago today, while Greg explains why this adaptation endures as a masterclass in steadicam shots and Joe Wright’s secret love letter to Kubrick’s Barry Lyndon 🎥💕📜 Together, our heroes spotlight Keira Knightley’s radiant Lizzie, Matthew Macfadyen’s charismatic Darcy, and Wright’s breathtaking direction, from that unforgettable hand flex to a rain-soaked marriage proposal to that sun-drenched finale 🌅🤝 So swallow your pride, forgive a little prejudice, and get ready to light up the dark… one passive aggressive pun at a time 💍✨❤️ Email us at LightUpTheDarkPodcast@gmail.com with any questions or comments and we’ll respond on the show! 📩 Light Up the Dark — A Movie Podcast will return next week with: Sneakers.

🌟 Our heroes check back into the Bates Motel with Psycho II, the daring 1983 sequel that defied all odds... and turned out to be far better than anyone expected 😱🏨🔪🪞 Greg proudly shares his love of Psycho II, reopening Norman Bates’s case 22 years later to explore how this unlikely sequel evolved into a beloved cult classic. Realizing the film is far from a cheap cash-in, Andrew finds himself genuinely impressed, digging into the film’s tone, tension, and surprisingly tender, sympathetic portrait of a killer trying to hold onto his sanity 😵‍💫🔪💔 Together, our heroes spotlight the film’s haunting performances, its moral gray areas, and how it transforms Hitchcock’s legacy into something deeply psychological, emotional, and tragic. Is Norman truly rehabilitated… or just haunted beyond repair? 💀🔪🩸 So grab your c-c-cutlery and get ready to light up the dark… one repurposed shower scene at a time 🚿🩸✨ Email us at LightUpTheDarkPodcast@gmail.com with any questions or comments and we’ll respond on the show! 📩 Light Up the Dark — A Movie Podcast will return next week with: Pride & Prejudice.

🌟 Our heroes escape the frozen maze of The Shining, Stanley Kubrick’s bone-chilling masterpiece of isolation and madness 🪓❄️👁️ Our heroes ride their tricycles down the haunted halls of Kubrick’s labyrinthine vision, as Greg reveals it’s his favorite movie of all-time! Meanwhile, Andrew has thoughts... lots of thoughts, as he connects The Shining to another Kubrick masterpiece, 2001: A Space Odyssey! Will Greg drink the Kool-Aid of Andrew’s theories? Find out, as our heroes reference Room 237 so often it could be a drinking game 🥃 Just, uh… keep Jack away from the booze 🩸🪓 So grab your typewriter and tell Tony you're ready to light up the dark… because you got a big surprise coming to you! Go check it out! Hahaha! Go check it out!🩸🪓✨ Email us at LightUpTheDarkPodcast@gmail.com with any questions or comments and we’ll respond on the show! 📩 Light Up the Dark — A Movie Podcast will return next week with: Psycho II.

🌟 Our heroes outrun the boogeyman with Halloween, John Carpenter’s genre-defining slasher that birthed a thousand nightmares 🎃🔪👻 Andrew and Greg rewind to their first encounters with the film, and compare it to how this rewatch feels now 📽️😱 Greg schools Andrew on ’70s horror, highlighting Carpenter’s minimalist score, his pitch-perfect direction, and how he turns simplicity into terror. Andrew, meanwhile, wants to talk about sex, specifically the movie’s pulse of sex and death, and the genius of Michael Myers as “The Shape," a motive-less evil that seems to target teenage desire itself (yeah, Michael’s got issues with kids sneaking off to hook up). Greg spotlights how Jamie Lee Curtis’s Laurie Strode became the blueprint for the "Final Girl," dissecting fear, innocence, and the primal will to survive the night. Together, our heroes illuminate why Halloween still cuts deeper than its imitators and what keeps it enduring nearly half a century later. So lock your doors, check your closets, and get ready to light up the dark… one creepy William Shatner mask at a time 🔦🎬💀 Email us at LightUpTheDarkPodcast@gmail.com with any questions or comments and we'll respond on the show! 📩 Light Up the Dark — A Movie Podcast will return next week with: The Shining.

🌟 Our heroes are bitten by the forbidden love of Twilight, the 2008 cultural phenomenon where vampires shimmer and danger wears great hair 🌧️🌲🧛‍♂️💋 This week’s movie is a special pick chosen by Andrew’s wife, whose love for Twilight runs deeper than Edward Cullen’s stare. Greg has questions… many questions, while Andrew wrestles with a shocking revelation: is Twilight actually good? 🫢❤️ Together, our heroes sink their teeth into the art of cinematic yearning, and why they think this story captured the hearts of millions. They also explore the deeper metaphor beneath the melodrama: what is Twilight really trying to say about youth, desire, and the fear of becoming who you are truly meant to be 🌒🧛‍♂️💋 So grab an apple, sit down at the table using two fingers, and get ready to light up the dark… one spider monkey at a time 🍎✨🧛‍♀️ Email us at LightUpTheDarkPodcast@gmail.com with any questions or comments and we'll respond on the show! 📩 Light Up the Dark — A Movie Podcast will return next week with: Halloween.

🌟 Our heroes try to remember the password of One Battle After Another, and fight a philosophical war unlike anything they've faced before 😬💣💥🔥 In their most divisive episode yet, Greg loves the film while Andrew struggles to survive the runtime 💀🎞️ The tension builds as our heroes clash over the film’s themes, pacing, and purpose, battling over meaning, intent, and what cinema owes its audience, pushing each other to the brink in their search for truth 🔦🎬🎭 So put on your bathrobe and sunglasses, hail St. Nick, and get ready to light up the dark… one Molotov cocktail at a time 🧨💥🔥 Email us at LightUpTheDarkPodcast@gmail.com with any questions or comments and we'll respond on the show! 📩 Light Up the Dark — A Movie Podcast will return next week with: Twilight.

🌟 Our heroes master the art of theatricality and deception with Batman Begins, Christopher Nolan’s gritty reinvention of the Dark Knight that changed superhero cinema forever 🦇🔥 This episode marks Light Up the Dark history: it's our first guest! Smüth, who wrote and performed the show's theme song, joins Andrew and Greg to share a hilarious behind-the-scenes story about writing the track before returning to Gotham City for an in-depth discussion 🎤🎶✨ Together, our heroes spotlight Nolan’s bold tone, the ripple effect it had across Hollywood, and the powerhouse cast that brings Bruce Wayne’s story to life. From the electrifying opening flashback sequence, to Bruce’s childhood trauma, his many father figures, and his ultimate quest to heal from his parents’ death, our heroes illuminate how this blockbuster isn't just about a grown man who dresses like a giant bat, it's a deeply personal story about becoming an idea, leading to triumph and transformation 💔🦇✨ So grab your cape and cowl, face your fears, and get ready to light up the dark… one Batmobile pancaking cop cars on the evening news at a time 🦇🎬🔥 Email us at LightUpTheDarkPodcast@gmail.com with any questions or comments and we'll respond on the show! 📩 Light Up the Dark — A Movie Podcast will return next week with: One Battle After Another.

🌟 Our heroes rocket into the unknown with Forbidden Planet, the groundbreaking sci-fi classic that paved the way for everything from Star Trek to Star Wars 🚀👽✨ This isn’t just a favorite, it’s Greg’s dad’s all-time favorite movie. Together, our heroes explore the film’s massive influence on future sci-fi cinema. From the commanding Walter Pidgeon to a young, dashing Leslie Nielsen and the luminous Anne Francis, the cast shines just as brightly as the groundbreaking visual effects.🌟🎭✨ No discussion of Forbidden Planet would be complete without Robby the Robot 🤖 a true icon of the genre and a clear ancestor of HAL 9000 from 2001: A Space Odyssey. Andrew and Greg also dive into the film’s unforgettable finale, where Freudian psychology takes center stage and the monstrous Id bursts to life. What does it mean to conquer the “monster” inside your own mind? 🧠👹💭 By the end, our heroes uncover why this isn’t just a landmark of sci-fi spectacle—it’s a timeless meditation on desire, repression, and the dangers within. 💫🔮⚡ So set your course for Altair IV, fire up the hyperdrive, and get ready to light up the dark… one monster from the depths of your subconscious at a time 🌌🪐💥 Email us at LightUpTheDarkPodcast@gmail.com with any questions or comments and we'll respond on the show! 📩 Light Up the Dark — A Movie Podcast will return next week with: Batman Begins.

🌟 Our heroes argue their case for My Cousin Vinny, Jonathan Lynn’s razor-sharp courtroom comedy starring Joe Pesci and Marisa Tomei ⚖️🍝 Andrew’s opening statement drops a metaphorical take that blows Greg’s mind, framing Vinny as a man trapped in his own personal hell who must fight his way out 🔥⚖️😱 From there, the case builds. Our heroes highlight what makes this film one of the most rewatchable comedies of the ’90s, spotlighting the unforgettable performances, from Pesci’s fast-talking fish-out-of-water Vinny to Marisa Tomei’s Oscar-winning turn as Mona Lisa Vito, and why every argument and courtroom meltdown plays like a masterclass in comedic timing. From Vinny’s cross-examinations to Lisa’s “dead-on balls accurate” testimony, our heroes explore why My Cousin Vinny’s humor and heart have stood the test of time, illuminating the film as more than just funny, it’s a celebration of street smarts, survival, and love 💍🎯 But what’s the verdict? Will Greg agree with Andrew’s fiery take, or does the jury remain hung? ⚖️🔨 Find out as we light up the dark… two yutes at a time 🎬⚖️✨ Email us at LightUpTheDarkPodcast@gmail.com with any questions or comments and we'll respond on the show! 📩 Light Up the Dark — A Movie Podcast will return next week with: Forbidden Planet.

🌟 Our heroes journey beyond the infinite with 2001: A Space Odyssey, Stanley Kubrick’s groundbreaking sci-fi masterpiece that forever changed the language of cinema 🚀🌌🛰️ Our heroes revisit their first encounters with the film as young movie lovers, and reflect on how their perspectives have evolved with this most recent viewing. Once Andrew’s choice for the "greatest film ever made,” he now faces the question: Does it still hold up? Together, our heroes dive deep into HAL 9000 🤖🔴, Kubrick’s haunting vision of artificial intelligence, and the film’s transcendent Star Child ending 🌟👶 But at the heart of their discussion lies the ultimate question: What does it all mean? As they explore various interpretations, Andrew dares to contribute an entirely new theory, one he believes no one has ever said before. So cue the percussion section and prepare to be transported through the monolith, it’s time to light up the dark… one stunningly symmetrical shot at a time 🌌🚀✨ Email us at LightUpTheDarkPodcast@gmail.com with any questions or comments and we'll respond on the show! 📩 Light Up the Dark — A Movie Podcast will return next week with: My Cousin Vinny.