Cinematic Discomfort

Cinematic Discomfort explores disturbing films through humor, empathy, and a distinct lack of brevity. Host Charlotte – a movie-lover and student of psychology – invites guests to unpack unsettling stories and the real emotions they stir up. Expect thoughtful conversation, smart analysis, and laughter in the dark.

Episodes

Aug 2, 2026

3 hr 49 min

Two visions of witchcraft and womanhood: one drenched in neon nightmare; the other in bone and blood, both wrestling with the power and terror of transformation. In a special Double Feature episode, Charlotte and guest Forrest contemplate the feminist and cosmic implications of this classic movie and its "reimagining".
Content warnings include witchcraft, blood, violence, body horror, religious imagery, psychological distress, bugs, discussion of BDSM (including impact play and knife play).
Forrest’s website - https://www.lorselq.com/
RiteWell (app for magical practitioners) - https://www.ritewell.app/
Book recommendation -  Unsong by Scott Alexander. 
 

Aug 2, 2026

3 hr 49 min

May 8, 2026

2 hr 43 min

A True Crime tragedy that dismantles our craving for villains and heroes, and asks what happens when violence lives inside a family. In this episode, I make my friend Joseph watch a movie he knows nothing about, where the jump scare is generational trauma. (Content warnings: Child death, sexual abuse, substance abuse, mental illness, legal system, difficult parental relationships.)
“This is Actually Happening” episode 395: What if your son murdered your daughter?
 

May 8, 2026

2 hr 43 min

Apr 11, 2026

2 hr 1 min

A film where love, science, and ego collide in a tragic metamorphosis of flesh and identity. In this episode, we take a more light-hearted turn (if you can call it that) into a movie that is fun, gross, and thought-provoking. (Content warnings: body horror, gross stuff, AIDS, death, reproductive rights.)
References:
Horror Queers Podcast "The Fly (1986) feat Meagan Navarro”. August 18, 2021.
 
'DOES THIS LOOK LIKE A SICK MAN TO YOU?': The Horror of Identity and the Identity of Horror in David Cronenberg's 'The Fly' by Travis Woods
 

Apr 11, 2026

2 hr 1 min

Mar 28, 2026

1 hr 37 min

A slow-burning exploration of power, dependence, and the blurred line between nurturing and possession. In this episode, host Charlotte picks a fight with an indie movie that only grossed $30,000. Tangents include What Would Tom Hanks Do?, Rocky Mountain geography, and Canadian teen dramas. (Content warnings: child sexual abuse, grooming, pedophiles, and related topics.)

Mar 28, 2026

1 hr 37 min

Mar 14, 2026

2 min

Watch this space for more info about our upcoming show!

Mar 14, 2026

2 min

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