Pop Culture Happy Hour

Guy meets whale; complications ensue. That's basically the plot of the new survival thriller Whalefall. It stars Austin Abrams as Jay, who goes diving in search of his deceased father (Josh Brolin) – and is swallowed by a whale. Based on the book by Daniel Kraus, the movie also has a lot to say about fathers and sons, as well as the lessons they have to teach each other.

If you’re looking for more with Austin Abrams, check out these episodes:

‘Resident Evil' is a grisly, funny fight to survive
In 'Weapons', the kids aren't at all right, not in the slightest, nope
High school is hazardous in the stylish 'Do Revenge'

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About a month before Theranos founder Elizabeth Holmes went to prison for defrauding her investors, she and her partner Billy Evans invited a film crew to document their lives at home with their kids. And they didn't make a deal with a conventional filmmaking team. They connected with Nathan Fielder and Lance Oppenheim. Fielder’s unusual nonfiction work blurs the lines between truth and artifice, so the resulting documentary, You Can See Everything, depicts Fielder's efforts to figure her out using some very unusual methods. 

Check out these episodes next:

‘Primetime’ sits you down with sleaze
'The Rehearsal' is about reality... and surreality
'The Dropout' finds the voice of Elizabeth Holmes

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The great FX series The Lowdown stars Ethan Hawke as a freelance investigative reporter with a knack for sticking his nose where it doesn't belong and getting that nose punched. He gets drawn into the seedy goings-on of one of Tulsa's most prominent families. Created by Sterlin Harjo (Reservation Dogs), the modern-day Western noir comedy has an excellent ensemble including Kyle MacLachlan, Keith David, Jeanne Tripplehorn and Killer Mike. The Lowdown just returned for a second season, so today we’re revisiting our conversation about the series.

If you need more comedies with great casts, check out these episodes: 
‘Widow’s Bay’ is an island in the scream
Lisa Kudrow returns in 'The Comeback,' and we did need to see that
Gen Z awkwardly transitions into 'Adults'
‘The Fall and Rise of Reggie Dinkins’ is (30) Rock-solid

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The trailer for the movie Other Mommy went viral when it dropped a few months ago. It dominated the box office this weekend, but was panned by critics. But is it really one of the worst movies of the year? It’s about a 7-year-old girl who is visited by a mysterious entity who takes the form of her mother, played by Jessica Chastain. It’s a lean, intense horror film full of dark family secrets and grisly body horror.

Looking for more horror films? Check out these episodes:
‘It Ends’ is horror as hangout
'Backrooms' brings YouTube horror to the big screen
In ‘Obsession,’ love hurts. It really, really, really hurts.

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The new series Carrie updates the Stephen King book for the digital age, and plays with what we think we know in some surprising ways. Streaming on Prime Video, it follows a young Carrie who has led a sheltered life with her overbearing mother. But as Carrie enters high school, she has a rough go of it. The signposts are familiar – the showers, the prayer closet, the prom, the pig’s blood – but showrunner Mike Flanagan (The Haunting of Hill House and Midnight Mass) builds out the world around those events.

Looking for more TV and movies inspired by Stephen King? Check out these episodes:
Glen Powell is ‘The Running Man’ in the latest Stephen King adaptation

A new generation is down to clown in ‘IT: Welcome to Derry’

‘The Long Walk’ is a long walk to nowhere

Dance with Tom Hiddleston through 'The Life of Chuck'

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Support public media with NPR+ and enjoy perks for over 25 podcasts like this one. This show’s perks include bonus episodes and sponsor-free listening. Learn more at plus.npr.org.

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