Single Serving Cinema

Single Serving Cinema looks at one critical scene in a movie every other week. We explore how the scene is constructed, what the scene achieves, and what it can tell us about the movie as a whole. Hosted by Tim & Tay.

SSC 104: The Shining (Kubrick, 1980)

In The Shining, a family heads to an isolated hotel for the winter where a sinister presence influences the father into violence. The young son, gifted with psychic abilities, witnesses disturbing visions of the past and future. Starring Danny Lloyd, Jack Nicholson and Shelley Duvall and directed by Stanley Kubrick, The Shining was released May 23, 1980. Recommendations: Tim — Doctor Sleep (Flanagan, 2019)—where to watch Tay — El Orfanato (Bayona, 2007)—where to watch Follow: SSC on Instag...

09-24
01:27:35

SSC 103: Weapons (Cregger, 2025)

In Weapons, a small town is shaken when an entire third-grade class vanishes overnight, leaving only one child behind, and no clear answers as to where the children went. Starring Julia Garner and Josh Brolin and directed by Zach Cregger, Weapons was released August 8, 2025. Recommendations: Tim — The Innocents (Jack Clayton, 1961)—where to watch Tay — Place Beyond the Pines (Derek Cianfrance, 2012)—where to watch Follow: SSC on Instagram Tim on Letterboxd

08-27
01:23:55

SSC 102: 28 Years Later (Boyle, 2025)

In 28 Years Later, a father and son leave their quarantined community on a remote island to venture into the zombie-infested mainland. Starring Jodie Comer, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, and Jack O’Connell, and directed by Danny Boyle, 28 Years Later is was released June 20, 2025. Also, don't miss our other podcast, promoting the Peaks Central Asian Film Festival. Check out the latest episode here, and follow them on Instagram here. Recommendations Tim: A Bigger Splash (Guadagnino, 2015)—where to wat...

07-30
01:11:23

SSC 101: 28 Days Later (Boyle, 2002)

In 28 Days Later, a man wakes up in an abandoned hospital to find the world devastated by a mysterious virus. He soon joins a group of survivors, they face both the infected and the horrors of what humanity has become. Starring Cillian Murphy and directed by Danny Boyle, 28 Days Later was released June 27, 2003. Also, don't miss our other podcast, promoting the Peaks Central Asian Film Festival. Check out the latest episode here, and follow them on Instagram here. Recommendations Tim: Re-Anim...

07-16
01:34:22

SSC 79: American Psycho (Harron, 2000)

Synopsis The movie centers on Patrick Bateman, a handsome, intelligent and successful young professional in 1980s New York that moonlights as a psychotic killer. Starring Christian Bale, directed by Mary Harron, and based on the book of the same name by Brett Easton Ellis, American Psycho was released on April 14, 2000. Where to watch American Psycho. Scene [17:10- 20:07] - "Business Card Casualty” Recommendations Tim: The Pale Blue Eye (Cooper, 2022) —where to watch Tay:...

08-07
01:13:15

SSC 99: Prometheus (Scott, 2012)

In Prometheus, a team of explorers travels to a distant planet hoping to uncover the origins of human life. What they find instead is a threat beyond anything they imagined. Starring Noomi Rapace and Michael Fassbender, and directed by Ridley Scott, Prometheus was released June 8, 2012. Recommendations Tim: The Killer (Fincher, 2023) — where to watch Tay: Hard To Be A God (German, 2014) — where to watch Follow: SSC on Instagram Tim on Letterboxd

05-28
01:30:28

SSC 98: Alien (Scott, 1979)

Alien focuses on the crew of a commercial spaceship who investigate a distress signal and unknowingly bring a deadly alien lifeform aboard. One by one, the crew is hunted in the isolation of deep space. Starring Sigourney Weaver and directed by Ridley Scott, Alien was released May 25, 1979. Where to watch Alien. Notes Peaks Central Film FestivalChestburster in Spaceballs Recommendations Tim: The Hidden (Sholder, 1987) — where to watch Tay: Repo Man (Cox, 1984) — where to watch Foll...

05-14
01:27:24

SSC 97: Annihilation (Garland, 2018) w/ James Stacey

Annihilation is a sci-fi mystery about a group of scientists who enter the Shimmer—a strange, mutating zone to investigate a phenomenon no one understands. As they journey deeper, the landscape—and their minds—begin to unravel. Starring Natalie Portman and written and directed by Alex Garland, Annihilation was released February 23, 2018. Where to watch Annihilation. Notes Annihilation and Decoding Metaphor (Folding Ideas)MandelbulbRecommendations Tim: Evil Does Not Exist (Hamaguchi, 2023) — w...

04-30
01:35:13

SSC 96: Ex Machina (Garland, 2013)

Ex Machina is a sci-fi drama about a young programmer who’s invited to test a humanoid robot’s intelligence. As the experiment unfolds, he begins to question the motives of both the robot and its creator. Starring Domhnall Gleeson, Alicia Vikander, and Oscar Isaac, and directed by Alex Garland, Ex Machina was released April 10, 2015. Where to watch Ex Machina Notes Playhouse CinemaPeaks Film FestivalThe Idea of "Bumping The Lamp" (via kaptainkristian, not Every Frame a Painting)Recomme...

04-16
01:17:06

SSC 94: Inside Llewyn Davis (Coens, 2013) w/ Andrew Finlay Stewart

Andrew Finlay Stewart is an artist and musician, and the host of the podcast The Rules of the Show, which you can find on Instagram (@therulesoftheshow) and wherever you get podcasts. --- Inside Llewyn Davis is a melancholic drama set in the 1960s folk music scene, following a struggling musician navigating the unforgiving New York winter in pursuit of artistic success. Starring Oscar Isaac and directed by Joel & Ethan Coen, Inside Llewyn Davis was released December 6, 2013. ...

03-19
01:53:40

SSC 93: A La Carte 2024

In this special annual episode, Tim and Tay highlight a few notable scenes from 2024. Not necessarily the best or our favourites, but certainly worth seeing! Links: THR Director Roundtable: Brady Corbet, Coralie Fargeat, Denis Villeneuve, Ridley Scott & More'Dune: Part Two' Director Denis Villeneuve Breaks Down the Sandworm Scene | Vanity FairAs always, please leave us a review on iTunes and spread the word to your friends! This month: The Coen Brothers! Follow: SSC on Instagram Tim on...

03-12
01:24:01

SSC 92: Snowpiercer (Bong, 2013)

Snowpiercer is a dystopian thriller set in a frozen post-apocalyptic world, where the last remnants of humanity survive aboard a perpetually moving train—divided by a brutal class hierarchy that erupts into rebellion. Starring Chris Evans and directed by Bong Joon-ho, Snowpiercer was released August 1, 2013. Where to watch Snowpiercer Notes: "Snowpiercer - Left or Right" (Every Frame a Painting)First past the post polling Recommendations Tim: Train to Busan (Yeon, 2016) — where to watc...

02-26
01:31:59

SSC 91: Parasite (Bong, 2019)

Parasite is a social satire about a poor family infiltrating the lives of a wealthy household, leading to unexpected consequences and a scathing critique of class inequality. Starring Song Kang-ho and directed by Bong Joon-ho, Parasite was released May 30, 2019. Where to watch Parasite. Notes: "Memories of Murder (2003) - Ensemble Staging" (Every Frame a Painting)"Notes From The Underground" by Inkoo Kang Recommendations Tim: Cheap Thrills (Katz, 2013) — where to watch Tay: Kajilliona...

02-05
01:31:11

SSC 90: The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (Fincher, 2011)

The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo is a gripping mystery about a disgraced journalist and a brilliant hacker who team up to uncover a decades-old family secret involving murder, corruption, and lies on a secluded Swedish island. Starring Rooney Mara and Daniel Craig and directed by David Fincher, The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo was released Dec. 20, 2011. Where to watch The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo. Recommendations Tim: Fire Walk With Me (Lynch, 1992) — where to watch Tay: The Killing o...

01-22
01:35:15

SSC 89: Wind River (Sheridan, 2017)

Set in the remote wilderness of Wyoming, Wind River follows a skilled tracker and an inexperienced FBI agent as they investigate the mysterious death of a young woman on a Indigenous reservation. Starring Jeremy Renner and Elizabeth Olsen, and written and directed by Taylor Sheridan, Wind River was released Aug. 4, 2017. Where to watch Wind River. Recommendations Tim: True Grit (Coens, 2010) — where to watch Tay: Hell or High Water (Mackenzie, 2016) — where to watch Follow: SSC o...

01-15
01:40:49

SSC 88: Little Women (Gerwig, 2019)

Show Notes Saoirse Ronan, Timothée Chalamet, Laura Dern & Greta Gerwig Break Down a Scene from 'Little Women' (Vanity Fair)Why Greta Gerwig's Little Women is The Best (Thomas Flight)Synopsis Little Women is an adaptation of Louisa May Alcott’s classic novel, following the lives, of the four March sisters—Jo, Meg, Beth, and Amy—as they navigate personal growth, family bonds, and societal expectations in Civil War-era Massachusetts. Starring Soairse Ronan and directed by Greta Gerwig,...

12-25
01:05:23

SSC 85: Gladiator (Scott, 2000)

Show Notes The Brutalist trailerRussell Crowe on working with Ridley ScottRussell Crowe on his acting skillsSynopsis Gladiator follows Maximus, a second-century Roman general, who is betrayed and left for dead by Marcus Aurelius’ ambitious son, Commodus. In order to take revenge for his murdered family, Maximus must rise through the ranks as a gladiator. Starring Russell Crowe and directed by Ridley Scott, Gladiator was released May 12, 2000. Where to watch Gladiator Scene ...

11-13
01:30:38

SSC 84: Midsommar (Aster, 2019)

Show Notes Ari Aster @ Film at Lincoln CenterAri Aster on The Big Picture PodcastSynopsis Midsommar follows the depressed Dani as she joins her disengaged boyfriend on a trip to Sweden to attend a folk festival. The more they learn about the reclusive commune of which they are guests, the more unsettling their experience becomes. Starring Florence Pugh and written and directed by Ari Aster, Midsommar was released July 23, 2019. Where to watch Midsommar Scene [1:05:05 - 1:14:15]...

10-23
01:41:19

SSC 83: Hereditary (Aster, 2018)

Show Notes Smile's viral marketing campaignAri Aster on CBC QAlex Wolff's struggles with the roleToni Collette's career review Synopsis Hereditary follows the Graham family as they mourn their secretive grandmother, finding out more about her sinister proclivities—and how they have inherited them— along the way. Starring Toni Collette, and written and directed by Ari Aster, Hereditary was released June 8, 2018. Where to watch Hereditary Scene [25:30 - 36:05] Recommendati...

10-09
01:54:27

SSC 82: The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou (Anderson, 2004)

Show Notes The Wes Anderson Collection by Matt Zoller SeitzThe Most Difficult Shot in Movie History (And Why It Matters) Synopsis The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissuo tells of the story of the titular oceanographer, on the hunt for the rare shark that killed his friend so he can exact revenge and film his next movie. Starring Bill Murray, written by Wes Anderson and Noah Baumbach, and directed by Wes Anderson, The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissuo was released Dec. 25, 2004. Where to watch ...

09-18
01:18:28

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