preview
It takes an ex-believer to make a film as holy as Wake Up Dead Man (preview)
A preview of Emily St. James's essay on the third Benoit Blanc film
Emily St. James
Emily St. James is a writer and critic whose work has appeared in Vox, The A.V. Club, and the New York Times. She is the co-creator of the podcast Arden and a writer on the TV series Yellowjackets.
movies
It takes an ex-believer to make a film as holy as Wake Up Dead Man
The latest Benoit Blanc mystery offers a bracing look at what makes faith so necessary and so dangerous, writes Emily St. James.
Rundown
Episodes Monday Rundown November 24–30 2025
This week: holiday classics, webs of lies, and a game designed to irritate your friends and loved ones.
open thread
What's the best movie from the year you were born?
Discuss amongst yourselves! (And/or, read our answers below.)
Rundown
Episodes Monday Rundown November 17–23 2025
In this week's Monday Rundown: summer blockbusters, feel-bad Bible cinema, and a cake.
Mailbag
November mailbag!
This month: Food! So many questions about food! Also, the Criterion Closet, stage plays, and Pluribus.
Rundown
Episodes Monday Rundown November 10–16 2025
This week: a better-late-than-never binge watch, Emily's favorite romance author, and two plays of wildly varying quality.
Episodes 6.0
Submit your November mailbag questions!
It's that time again!
Rundown
Episodes Monday Rundown November 3–9 2025
This week: a great concert, a new obsession, and a mildly frustrating romance read.
newsletter
A November hiatus
An announcement
Rundown
Episodes Monday Rundown October 27–November 2 2025
This week: KPop Demon Hunters, del Toro's Frankenstein, and two different Paranormal Activities
horror
Shelby Oaks, Bring Her Back, and the context collapse of YouTube horror
The video platform has been influencing films for years. That's only going to happen more, writes Emily St. James.