The Spiel

Kevin and Matthew McManus (American Vandal, Cobra Kai, Redux Redux) jump in the passenger seat for a revving chat about Steven Spielberg's Duel. Shot in 10 days, this 1971 TV movie was Spielberg's first real introduction to Hollywood.

It's an adaptation of a Richard Matheson short story that follows a spineless city boy as he's tormented by a faceless truck driver that prowls the rural roads outside of Los Angeles. Part Hitchcock, part '70s weirdo Spielberg, there's a good argument that without Duel being as good as it was Spielberg may not have broken out as quickly as he did.

The McManus Brothers help your humble host break down the movie, talk about our favorite sequences, and point out some of the more eye-catching visual storytelling moments.

Their latest film, Redux Redux, which follows a mother that jumps realities so she can torment her daughter's murderer over and over again, can be seen in theaters this Friday, February 20th.
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Legendary action director Renny Harlin (Die Hard 2, Cliffhanger) is our guest this week to talk about the latest chapter of his Strangers reboot trilogy, his collaboration with Steven Spielberg early in his career, and how much of an impact Jaws has had on many of his films, including his own killer shark flick Deep Blue Sea.

We talk color theory, visual storytelling, how and when you can lose an audience, and what can be learned from watching Spielberg's films.
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Did you know that Steven Spielberg produced the classic '80s cult film Three O'Clock High? Well, we didn't either, until our guest, writer/director Kevin Lewis (Willy's Wonderland, Pig Hill) came to the show wanting to discuss it.

It's a simple story about a high school dweeb (Casey Siemaszko) challenged to a fight by the new kid in school (Richard Tyson) and the chaos that ensues as he tries every trick he can to get out of the ass-whoopin' heading his way.

Spielberg took his name off of the movie before release, but was instrumental in bringing it to life. We talk about that decision, guess as to why he had the change of heart, and break down some of the wildest aspects of this mostly hidden gem of '80s filmmaking.
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TV Mastermind Bryan Fuller (Hannibal, Pushing Daisies) makes his feature directorial debut with Dust Bunny starring Mads Mikkelsen, Sigourney Weaver, and newcomer Sophie Sloan.

On the surface this film has nothing to do with Steven Spielberg, but it turns out that it was originally developed as an episode of the Amazing Stories reboot and Spielberg himself gave notes on the script that survived to this feature version.

Fuller talks all about that creative collaboration as well as his relationship with Spielberg's work and even gives us some of his patented "queer readings" of some unlikely contenders from Spielberg's filmography that spoke to his own queer coming of age.
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Steven Spielberg tried his hand at a Twilight Zone-ish series in 1985 that didn't exactly set the ratings world on fire, but would prove to be formative for a whole generation of imaginative kids.

Amazing Stories brought in a combination of seasoned pros like Scorsese and Clint Eastwood and exciting, young talent, including today's guest, writer and filmmaker Mick Garris.

Mick became famous for his Stephen King adaptations like The Stand and The Shining mini-series, but it was Steven Spielberg who gave him his first shot, first writing a few episodes on the first season of Amazing Stories, and then acting as head writer overseeing all the scripts coming in before eventually giving him a chance at directing an episode in Season 2.

Mick makes his first appearance on The Spiel talking about his time on Amazing Stories, collaborating with Spielberg, and writing for people like Martin Scorsese and Joe Dante.
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