Zebras In America
Film, TV & Pop Culture
About
“Dude, you can get past a dog. Nobody f's with a lion.” - Grandma's Boy“You notice things if you pay attention.” - In The Mood For LoveMarcus Pinn likes movies. Scott Thorough likes movies. Marcus writes about movies (Pinnland Empire, The Pink Smoke), and Scott sometimes scores movies (Newlyweeds, Manos Sucias). They both have a background in hyper underground rap music, and enjoy sandwiches. Through a deep love of rap music, wrestling, and dissecting low and high brow cinema, Marcus and Scott developed an interesting kinship. After a bar conversation about movies where a stranger interrupted to tell them how much they enjoyed listening, they decided, “hey let's see if other people want to listen to our zany thoughts about film”. “Zebras In America” is a stream of consciousness rap on film and anywhere it may take a conversation."Zebras In America Opening Theme" music by Scott, scratches by Marcus.Logo created by DJ SNAFU
Episodes
- Popcorn Eschaton 79 - 'Reunion'
On this episode, Scott and John take a look at the Jerry Schatzberg film 'Reunion.' They discuss the quiet power of its story of friendship during the rise of Nazism in Germany, why the film isn't currently accessible, and the insight it h…
- Popcorn Eschaton 78 - 'Solaris' (2002)
It's another Zebras in Eschaton crossover as Scott and John welcome the brilliant Marcus Pinn to discuss the Steven Soderbergh version of the Stanisław Lem novel 'Solaris'! They get into how it compares with the Andrei Tarkovsky original,…
- Popcorn Eschaton 77 - 'Stalker'
The Popcorn Eschaton Boys return to legendary Russian filmmaker Andrei Tarkovsky with one of Scott's favorite films, 'Stalker'! They discuss the deeply personal nature to Tarkovsky's work, the joy of art that challenges us, and the bleak b…
- Popcorn Eschaton 76 - 'Defending Your Life'
Popcorn Eschaton is joined by the wonderful Becky D'Anna to discuss one of her favorite films, the Albert Brooks comedy of the afterlife, 'Defending Your Life'! They discuss the creative voice of Albert Brooks, how the film finds humor in…
- Zebras In America Episode 180 - Darko The Super
The Zebra boys are back with the excellent Darko The Super find his music at https://darkothesuper.bandcamp.com/ He is the best dude. Expect more Zebras this year
- Popcorn Eschaton 75 - 'Hellboy' and 'Hellboy II - The Golden Army'
The Popcorn Eschaton Boys achieve the podcasting dream of talking about Guillermo del Toro (and comics) for over an hour! They've done so before and they will again! They discuss the 2004 superhero classic of Nazi-crushing and self-actuali…
- Popcorn Eschaton 74 - 'Lionheart' and 'Beau Travail'
It's a French Foreign Legion, arthouse/grindhouse double feature on Popcorn Eschaton! Scott and John discuss the Jean-Claude Van Damme classic 'Lionheart' and pair it with Claire Denis's mesmerizing 1999 film 'Beau Travail.' They get into…
- Popcorn Eschaton 73 - 'Repo Man'
Scott and John continue their excursion into nihilism on film, but this time coming from an anti-consumerist, comedic perspective. It's aliens, time travel, punk rock, and not paying for sushi as Popcorn Eschaton enters the realm of Alex C…
- Popcorn Eschaton 72 - 'Dragged Across Concrete'
Scott and John planned on making this a double feature with Alex Cox's 'Repo Man,' but the conversation went in so many fruitful directions, it will have to wait for another episode! For this podcast, they discuss S. Craig Zahler's 2018 ac…
- Episode 179 - The Zebras Unite
We are back! forever? We never left. Thank you for understanding. We love you.
- Popcorn Eschaton 71 - 'Scrooged' and 'The Muppet Christmas Carol'
It's the holidays on Popcorn Eschaton! On this episode, Scott and John discuss two adaptations of Charles Dickins's 1843 novella 'A Christmas Carol:' Richard Donner's 'Scrooged' and The Jim Henson Company's 'The Muppet Christmas Carol'! Th…
- Popcorn Eschaton 70 - 'Ghost Dog - The Way of the Samurai'
It's another Zebras in Eschaton crossover as we discuss another Jim Jarmusch classic! Scott, Marcus, and John explore the samurai, hip-hop, and literary influences that make up Jarmusch's film genre bouillabaisse that is 'Ghost Dog: The Wa…
- Popcorn Eschaton 69 - 'Bugonia'
Scott and John are joined once again by the brilliant Marcus Pinn as they discuss the new Yorgos Lanthimos 'Bugonia'! They get into where the film stacks among Lanthimos's impressive filmography, the stunning performances, what this film h…
- Popcorn Eschaton 68 - 'Eddington'
It's another Popcorn in America crossover as the brilliant Marcus Pinn joins Scott and John to discuss Ari Aster's 2025 dark pandemic satire, 'Eddington.' They get into the hypocrisy the film points out, the film's political stance (or lac…
- Popcorn Eschaton 67 - 'Cool Hand Luke'
Returning guest and friend of the pod Noah joins Scott and John to discuss the 1967 classic 'Cool Hand Luke' (hey, a 1967 film for our 67th episode! Serendipitous!). They get into Luke as a Christ figure, how the film demonstrates the dehu…
- Popcorn Eschaton 66 - 'Eight Men Out'
In the midst of autumn, we're all in the mood to celebrate the Fall Classic and America's pastime! And on Popcorn Eschaton, that also means interrogating worker exploitation! Scott and John discuss John Sayles's 1988 adaptation of the Elio…
- Popcorn Eschaton 65 - 'Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3' and 'Au hasard Balthazar'
The brilliant Jon Laubinger joins Scott and John to discuss an unlikely pairing of films that deal with animal cruelty and the question of sentience: James Gunns's 'Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3' and Robert Bresson's 'Au hasard Balthazar'…
- Popcorn Eschaton 64 - 'Porco Rosso'
Scott and I return to the world of animation and Studio Ghibli! What a treat! We take a look at the exceptional and underrated film from director Hayao Miyazaki, 'Porco Rosso'! We discuss fascism, survivor's guilt, and the pleasure of allo…
- Popcorn Eschaton 63 - 'Superman' (2025)
It's time to exalt kindness! On this Popcorn Eschaton, Scott and John discuss the most recent cinematic iteration of Superman. They explore James Gunn's perspective on the Man of Tomorrow, the impeccable cast, and how Superman has been a p…
- Popcorn Eschaton 62 - 'The Legend of the Holy Drinker' and 'The Fire Within'
The fantastic Carmelita Valdez McKoy returns to Popcorn Eschaton to discuss a pair of films about addiction: Ermanno Olmi's 'The Legend of the Holy Drinker' and Louis Malle's 'The Fire Within.' Carmelita, Scott, and John explore how these…
- Popcorn Eschaton 61 - Ozzy Osbourne tribute
Due to technical difficulties, Popcorn Eschaton had to pivot guests, topics, and even host! But because we try to go with the flow as best we can, and are blessed with wonderful friends, we march on! On this episode, John is joined by frie…
- Popcorn Eschaton 60 - 'Dead Man' and 'Star Trek III The Search for Spock'
What could be more Popcorn Eschaton than pairing Jim Jarmusch with Star Trek? On this episode, Scott and John head west to explore the poetic violence and self-discovery of 1995's 'Dead Man,' then they return to The Final Frontier as they…
- Popcorn Eschaton 59 - 'Uncle Boonmee Who Can Recall His Past Lives' and 'The Room Next Door' (1)
On this Popcorn Eschaton, Scott and John embrace living in liminal spaces as they journey through death and the boundaries between this world and the next. First, they explore Apichatpong Weerasethakul's 2010 spiritual drama 'Uncle Boonmee…
- Popcorn Eschaton 58 - 'Excalibur'
Popcorn Eschaton welcomes the brilliant Carmelita Valdez McKoy to discuss medieval mythology and Catholic/Pagan sycheticism! The conversation dives into 'Excalibur,' John Boorman's classic of Arthurian myths, Dark Age Disco costumes, as we…
- Popcorn Eschaton 57 - 'Southland Tales'
On this Popcorn Eschaton, Scott and John tackle one of the most discombobulating, bravura, and labyrinthian science fiction movies ever made: Richard Kelly's 'Southland Tales'! They discuss how the film succeeds and fails in reflecting Ame…
- Popcorn Eschaton 56 - 'The Blood of Jesus' and 'The Nun'
Scott and John are joined by the brilliant writer and podcaster Spencer Seams! They discuss the emblematic race film from 1941 'The Blood of Jesus,' as well as Jacques Rivette's harrowing 1966 examination of institutional abuse within the…
- Popcorn Eschaton 55 - 'Conclave'
It's CONCLAVE time! It was inevitable that Scott and John would cover this stylish thriller about hermetic power, faith vs. certainty, conservatism vs. generosity, and how utterly terrifying it would be to have Isabella Rossellini disappoi…
- Popcorn Eschaton 54 - 'Belladonna of Sadness' with Heather Drain
Scott and John welcome the brilliant Heather Drain to Popcorn Eschaton as they discuss the Japanese cult animated feature 'Belladonna of Sadness!' They explore the difficult subject matter of the film, the wildly stylized and beautiful ani…
- Popcorn Eschaton 53 - 'The Insider' and 'The Big Sick'
On this Popcorn Eschaton, Scott and John dive into the infinite morass that is the American health care system, as seen through cinema. First, they look at how public policy is interwoven with corporate interests, as well as how journalism…
- Popcorn Eschaton 52 - 'The Seventh Seal' (1)
Scott and John are joined by the world's greatest Ingmar Bergman advocate, the brilliant Becky D'Anna, to discuss 1957's 'The Seventh Seal'! They dive into the collision of medieval religious traditions with the cinema of the mid-20th cent…
- Popcorn Eschaton 51 - 'Bound for Glory'
"This Land is Your Land" is an anthem to community and the rights all humans have to the earth they walk on, but what truths are there for us in the life of the song's composer, the legendary Woody Guthrie? On this Popcorn Eschaton, Scott…
- Popcorn Eschaton 50 - 'Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade' and 'Being There'
It's the 50th Popcorn Eschaton! For this special occasion, Scott and John pick their respective favorite movies and reflect on how they came to start this spiritually cinematic journey. John's pick for his favorite is 'Indiana Jones and th…
- Popcorn Eschaton 49 - 'Blue Velvet'
Because we at Popcorn Eschaton love the immortal spirit of David Lynch so very much, we just wanted to talk about him some more! Let us journey to a small town out of time, the liminal suburbia that is the Lumberton of 'Blue Velvet'! We ar…
- Popcorn Eschaton 48 - 'Dune' and 'The Straight Story'
With the passing of the one-and-only David Lynch, Scott, John, and Marcus wanted to explore two of the director's films that are least discussed in cinema circles: 'Dune' and 'The Straight Story.' One extravagent, overstuffed, and finished…
- Popcorn Eschaton 47 - Bruno Dumont's Joan of Arc Musical Duology
Scott and John are joined once again by the brilliant Marcus Pinn as they discuss one of Marcus's favorite filmmakers: Bruno Dumont! They focus on Dumont's pair of musicals about 15th Century saint and martyr Joan of Arc, the anachronistic…
- Popcorn Eschaton 46 - 'Léon Morin, Priest' and 'The Prisoner'
It's priests taking on authoritarianism on Popcorn Eschaton! Scott and John take a look at two different perspectives of Catholic priests having their faith tested by unjust persecution and how those priests respond to that repression. Fir…
- Popcorn Eschaton 45 - 'Rumble Fish' and 'Bram Stoker's Dracula'
It's a Francis Ford Coppola double feature on Popcorn Eschaton! Scott and John each discuss their respective personal favorite Coppola movies, 'Rumble Fish' and 'Bram Stoker's Dracula'! They talk about why these atypical picks are importan…
- Popcorn Eschaton 44 - 'The Shawshank Redemption'
On this Popcorn Eschaton, Scott and John are joined by prison reform professional Noah Barth. to discuss the modern classic 'The Shawshank Redemption.' They examine the film's take on the prison system as an institution, hope, and the rela…
- Popcorn Eschaton 43 - 'Lady In The Water'
It's time for Scott and John to take a dive into M. Night Shyamalan's 2006 fantasy 'Lady in the Water,' the much-maligned fairytale of community and redemption. They discuss how the film has its heart in the right place but is also extreme…
- Popcorn Eschaton 42 - 'Prince Of Darkness'
It's spooky season, so Scott and John are diving into John Carpenter's underappreciated, philosophical, theological, and science-obsessed horror movie, 'Prince of Darkness'! They discuss Carpenter's brilliant music, the big questions the m…
- Popcorn Eschaton 41 - 'Brute Force' And 'High Life'
On this Popcorce Eschaton, Scott and John take a look at two drastically different, but complimentary, prison films: the raging ember of empathy for inmates, 1947's 'Brute Force,' directed by Jules Dassin, and Claire Denis's 'High Life,' a…
- Popcorn Eschaton 40 - 'Harlan County, USA'
Scott and John are joined once again by the brilliant Marcus Pinn as they discuss one of the most important documentaries ever made and one of the greatest testaments to the power of unions, 'Harlan County, USA.' They explore the enduring…
- Popcorn Eschaton 39 - 'Transformers The Movie' And 'Ghost In The Shell'
Robots! The insatiable maw of capitalism! Awesome tunes! Scott and John dive into the glorious 1980s toy commercial... that is also a beautifully scored and animated ride through the galaxy with wonderfully realized characters, 'Transforme…
- Popcorn Eschaton 38 - 'The Spirit Of The Beehive' And 'The Devil's Backbone'
Scott and John take a trip to the Spanish Civil War to look at two profound meditations on death, conflict, and childhood, Victor Erice's 'The Spirit of the Beehive' and Guillermo del Toro's 'The Devil's Backbone.' They discuss how each fi…
- Popcorn Eschaton 37 - 'Valhalla Rising' And 'Escape' (aka 'Flukt')
On this Popcorn Eschaton, Scott and John take a journey to medieval Scandinavia for tales of flight both physical and spiritual. First they discuss Nicolas Winding Refn's 2009 film 'Valhalla Rising,' then focus on the 2012 post-Black Death…
- Popcorn Eschaton 36 - 'The Witch' And 'Häxan'
It's time to rail against the patriarchy and celebrate the power of conjuring on Popcorn Eschaton! Scott and John take a look at the 2015 Robert Eggers horror film 'The Witch,' how it ushered in a new wave of anxiety-filled horror films, a…
- Popcorn Eschaton 35 - 'Grave Of The Fireflies' And 'Zone Of Interest'
On this Popcorn Eschaton, Scott and John take a hard look at two very hard-to-watch films. First, they discuss Isao Takahata's animated classic of war, suffering, and the love between siblings, 'Grave of the Fireflies.' Then they shift foc…
- Popcorn Eschaton 34 - 'The Bingo Long Traveling All - Stars & Motor Kings' With Marcus Pinn
It's America's pastime on another Popcorn in America crossover! The great Marcus Pinn returns, this time to discuss a movie from his childhood, 'The Bingo Long Traveling All-Stars & Motor Kings!' He, Scott, and John get into how baseball c…
- Popcorn Eschaton 33 - 'Civil War' With Marcus Pinn
It's another Popcorn/Zebras crossover as Scott and John are joined by the great Marcus Pinn to discuss Alex Garland's new film 'Civil War'! Is there substance to its violent imagery? Does Garland, as an Englishman, have any special insight…
- Popcorn Eschaton 32 - 'Only Yesterday' And 'My Neighbor Totoro'
Scott and John continue to explore the world of animation, this time journeying to the Japanese countryside to celebrate a pair of Studio Ghibli films. First, they discuss the 1991 Isao Takahata-directed classic film of nostalgia and self-…