The Primo Kino Podcast is back! And to celebrate our return, we have a fresh round of Picks starting with our very own Joseph! Just in time for spooky season, we discuss John Carpenter’s seminal body-horror masterpiece The Thing (1982), paired with Todd Hayne’s paranoia-filled Safe (1995). Please excuse any outdated references, as this episode was recorded in summer 2024! 

Join us next week for our annual Halloween Extravaganza! 

The Thing (1982) dir. John Carpenter

In the winter of 1982, a twelve-man research team at a remote Antarctic research station discovers an alien buried in the snow for over 100,000 years. Soon unfrozen, the form-changing creature wreaks havoc, creates terror... and becomes one of them.

Safe (1995) dir. Todd Haynes

Carol White, a Los Angeles housewife in the late 1980s, comes down with a debilitating illness with no clear diagnosis.

Where to watch Abby’s Picks

District 9 (2009) dir. Neill Blomkamp

Thirty years ago, aliens arrive on Earth. Not to conquer or give aid, but to find refuge from their dying planet. Separated from humans in a South African area called District 9, the aliens are managed by Multi-National United, which is unconcerned with the aliens' welfare but will do anything to master their advanced technology. When a company field agent contracts a mysterious virus that begins to alter his DNA, there is only one place he can hide: District 9.

V for Vendetta (2006) dir. James McTeigue

In the aftermath of a destructive world war, London is under occupation and police control. Despite the tight grip of authoritarianism, a rebellious vigilante known as V stands up to the corrupt and controlling government. Using forms of spectacle and terror, V fights back and soon discovers an ally in a woman named Evey.

Music by GRAMR