The Needle: A Film Podcast

Scott Phillips and Eddie O'Blivion

Former Forbes.com film critic Scott Phillips and filmmaker Eddie O'Blivion make the most of your streaming services by discussing and recommending the "needles" in your digital haystacks. From film fans looking to broaden their cinematic horizons to veteran cinephiles seeking festival darlings and the kinds of films not typically found in your local multiplex, The Needle has something to offer every film lover. Feel free to email us at theneedlefilmpodcast@gmail.com to recommend your favorite under-the-radar films, and we might discuss it on the show.

Episodes

  1. Jul 22

    Episode 5 -- Enter the Martial Arts Films

    In this episode, former Forbes.com film critic Scott Phillips and filmmaker Eddie O'Blivion, look at underseen films set in the world of martial arts. While there's nothing wrong with a good chopsocky Kung Fu film from the 1970s, these Needles are more than just mindless action fare. The episode kicks off with a discussion about the need to make foreign films a regular part of your film diet and getting over your fear of subtitles.  Scott kicks off the discussion with the mid-life martial arts action-comedy The Paper Tigers (2020), an astonishingly entertaining film from first-time director Quoc Bao Tran. Then Eddie takes the episode back to 1978 with his analysis of Brian Trenchard-Smith's The Man From Hong Kong, a film that famously might have starred Bruce Lee if not for his untimely death.  The episode wraps up with a look at the 2019 dark comedy The Art of Self-Defense from writer-director Riley Sterns. As with all good episodes of The Needle, your hosts stray from their game plan into a brief discussion of a pair of Sterns' non-marital arts Needles, Faults (2014) and Dual (2022). And how can you have an episode about martial arts Needles without mentioning Jackie Chan and his undersung film, Police Story 4: First Strike. The Paper Tigers can be found on Netflix, Amazon Prime, Hoopla, Kanopy, Hi-Yah (a martial arts streaming service) and various VOD platforms. The Art of Self-Defense can be found on Hoopla, Kanopy and various VOD platforms. Faults can be found Fubo, The Roku Channel, Pluto TV and various VOD platforms. Dual can be found on AMC+, Hoopla, Sundance Now, Philo and various VOD platforms. Police Story 4: First Strike can be found on Kanopy and various VOD platforms.  Remember that streaming contracts come and go, so when in doubt, consult the JustWatch app for the up-to-the-minute whereabouts of the Needles mention on the show. (No. JustWatch isn't a sponsor. We just love their app.) You can reach Scott and Eddie at theneedlefilmpodcast@gmail.com with your questions or suggestions for Needles they should discuss on future episodes. Thanks to songwriter Burt Perryman for the them for The Needle and the various music bumpers that were taken from his song "Faded Memory" with his express permission. Eddie O'Blivion Instagram: @eddie_oblivion Eddie O'Blivion Letterboxd: EddieO'Blivion Scott Phillips Instagram: @mscott_phillips Scott Phillips Bluesky: @mscottphillips.bsky.social Scott Phillips Letterboxd: ScottPhillips

  2. Jul 15

    Bonus Episode: Fantasia International Film Festival 2026 Preview

    In this bonus episode about the world of film festivals, your co-hosts Scott Phillips and Eddie O'Blivion take a look at the lineup for the 2026 Fantasia International Film Festival kicking off in Montreal on July 16th and cranking out amazing genre cinema until August 2nd. They discuss new films from Jane Schoenbrun (Teenage Sex and Death at Camp Miasma), the Adams family (The Glorious Dead), Kyoshi Kurosawa (The Samurai and the Prisoner) and a number of other potential gems playing at Fantasia 2026. Stay tuned for a follow-up episode in early August where your co-hosts will discuss their faves from the fest after their two-plus weeks of binge watching. You can reach Scott and Eddie at theneedlefilmpodcast@gmail.com with your questions or suggestions for Needles they should discuss on future episodes.  Thanks to songwriter Burt Perryman for the theme for The Needle and the various music bumpers that were taken from his song "Faded Memory" with his express permission. Eddie O'Blivion Instagram: @eddie_oblivion Eddie O'Blivion Letterboxd: EddieO'Blivion Scott Phillips Instagram: @mscott_phillips Scott Phillips Bluesky: @mscottphillips.bsky.social Scott Phillips Letterboxd: ScottPhillips

  3. Jul 8

    Episode 4 -- Sci-Fi Mindbenders

    This time around your co-hosts, Scott Phillips and Eddie O'Blivion, take a look at a pair of science fiction Needles: the 2006 Cannes Film Festival disaster from Richard Kelly, Southland Tales, and James Ward Byrkit's 2013 mindbender Coherence. During their wide-ranging discussion they touch on two more non-science fiction Needles: David Robert Mitchell's trippy 2018 L.A. crime film, Under the Silver Lake, and John Carroll Lynch's 2017 dramedy, Lucky. Southland Tales can be rented on Amazon and Apple TV ($ 3.99). Coherence can be found on Amazon Prime, Peacock, Hoopla, Kanopy, Philo, Pluto TV and various VOD platforms. Under the Silver Lake can be on Netflix, The Roku Channel, Kanopy and various VOD platforms. Lucky can be found on The Roku Channel, Hoopla, Kanopy and various VOD platforms. Remember that streaming contracts come and go, so when in doubt, consult the JustWatch app for the up-to-the-minute whereabouts of the Needles mentioned on the show. (No. JustWatch isn't a sponsor. We just love their app.) You can reach Scott and Eddie at theneedlefilmpodcast@gmail.com with your questions or suggestions for Needles they should discuss on future episodes. Thanks to songwriter Burt Perryman for the theme of The Needle and the various music bumpers that were taken from his song "Faded Memory" with his express permission. Eddie O'Blivion Instagram: @eddie_oblivion Eddie O'Blivion Letterboxd: EddieO'Blivion Scott Phillips Instagram: @mscott_phillips Scott Phillips Bluesky: @mscottphillips.bsky.social Scott Phillips Letterboxd: ScottPhillips

  4. Jun 24

    Episode 3 -- Dance to the Music

    This week former Forbes.com film critic Scott Phillips and filmmaker Eddie O'Blivion take a look at the musicial Needles hidden in the digital haystacks of your streaming services. Eddie leads off the discussion with John Carney's homage to the music of the 1980's with his 2016 gem Sing Street. Scott takes a look at Born to Be Blue, the stunning 2015 Ethan Hawke biopic of singer-trumpeter Chet Baker. For the third Needle of the show, Andrew asks: "Can a punk song save the world?" as he discusses the Japanese genre mash-up Fish Story. Things take a darker turn when your hosts discuss the 2025 film Lurker about online music stardom and the toxic fandom that often accompanies it. Sing Street can be found on Starz, Philo and various VOD platforms. Born to Be Blue can be found on AMC+, Kanopy, Philo, Sundance Now and various VOD platforms. Fish Story can only be found on physical media (DVD) at the moment, but keep it on your watch list. It's sure to hit streaming sometime soon. Lurker can be found on MUBI, HBO Max and various rental platforms. Remember that streaming contracts come and go, so when in doubt, consult the JustWatch app for the up-to-the-minute whereabouts of the films mentioned on the show. (No. They're not a sponsor. We just love their app.) You can reach Scott and Eddie at theneedlefilmpodcast@gmail.com with your questions or suggestions for Needles they should discuss on future episodes. Thanks to songwriter Burt Perryman for the theme for The Needle and the various music bumpers that were taken from his song "Faded Memory" with his express permission. Eddie O'Blivion Instagram: @eddie_oblivion Eddie O'Blivion Letterboxd: EddieO'Blivion Scott Phillips Instagram: @mscott_phillips Scott Phillips Bluesky: @mscottphillips.bsky.social Scott Phillips Letterboxd: ScottPhillips

  5. Jun 10

    Episode 2 -- Dixie Fried Noirs

    This week Scott and Eddie take a look at two underseen Dixie-fried noir gems: Jeremy Saulnier's Blue Ruin (2013) and Jim Mickle's Cold in July (2014). Then your hosts launch into their first-ever "lightning round" offering up Needles from other genres including a feature and a pair of short films from DIY action auteur Eric Jacobis along with the fantastic Thai riff on heist films, Bad Genius, and the Twilight Zone-inspired feature The Vast of Night.  As of the writing of these show notes, you can find these Needles on the following streaming services: Blue Ruin is available on Tubi, Starz, CW, Plex and various VOD outlets. Cold in July is available on AMC+, The Roku Channel, Kanopy, Sundance Now, Pluto TV, Plex and various VOD outlets. Eric Jacobis' Contour, Rope-a-dope 1 and Rope-a-dope 2 can be found on YouTube.com. Bad Genius is available on Netflix, Prime Video (with ads), Xumo Play and various VOD outlets. The Vast of Night is exclusive to Amazon Prime. Remember that streaming contracts come and go, so when in doubt, consult the JustWatch app for the up-to-the-minute whereabouts of the films mentioned on the show. (No, they're not a sponsor. We just love their app.) A huge thank you to our first-ever sponsor, the new indie horror film SOUTHERN SCARES which hits VOD on Tuesday, June 16, 2026. Mystery, horror and southern folklore collide in the 1990s when a video store worker uncovers chilling secrets hidden in her missing sister's documentary series, Southern Scares. Pre-order now on VOD platforms everywhere. You can reach Scott and Eddie at theneedlefilmpodcast@gmail.com with your questions or suggestions for Needles they should discuss in future episodes. Thanks to songwriter Burt Perryman for the theme of The Needle and various music bumpers that were taken from his song "Faded Memory" with his express permission. Eddie O'Blivion Instagram: @eddie_oblivion Eddie O'Blivion Letterboxd: EddieO'Blivion Scott Phillips Instagram: @mscott_phillips Scott Phillips Bluesky: @mscottphillips.bsky.social Scott Phillips Letterboxd: ScottPhillips

  6. May 27

    Episode 1 -- What's The Needle?

    Your co-hosts, former Forbes.com film critic Scott Phillips and filmmaker Eddie O'Blivion, open this very first episode with a mission statement of sorts. What is a Needle? Why does it matter? And why should this show be added to your regular film podcast rotation? Eddie takes a look at the 1988 real-time nuclear threat thriller MIRACLE MILE, and Scott ponders why MANHUNTER (1986), Michael Mann's foray into the world of Will Graham and Hannibal Lektor, remains the least seen film in the Hannibal canon. Then your hosts take a moment to ask TWO QUESTIONS about their film tastes, their careers and experiences in the film world or other random film-centric topics.       Miracle Mile is currently available on Tubi, Fubo, MGM+, Kanopy, Philo and various VOD outlets. Manhunter is currently available on Amazon Prime, Kanopy and various VOD outlets. Remember that streaming contracts come and go, so when in doubt, consult the JustWatch app for the up-to-the-minute whereabouts of the films mentioned on the show. (No, they're not a sponsor. We just love their app.) A huge thank-you to our first-ever sponsor, the new indie horror film SOUTHERN SCARES, hitting VOD on Tuesday, June 16, 2026. Mystery, horror and Southern folklore collide in the 1990s when a video store worker uncovers chilling secrets hidden in her missing sister's documentary series, Southern Scares. Pre-order now at VOD platforms everywhere. You can reach Scott and Eddie at theneedlefilmpodcast@gmail.com with your questions or suggestions for Needles they should discuss in future episodes. Thanks to songwriter Burt Perryman for the theme for The Needle and the various music bumpers that were taken from his song "Faded Memory" with his express permission. Eddie O'Blivion on Instagram: @eddie_oblivion Eddie O'Blivion on Letterboxd: EddieO'Blivion Scott Phillips on Instagram: @mscott_phillips Scott Phillips on Bluesky: @mscottphillips.bsky.social Scott Phillips on Letterboxd: ScottPhillips

  • 6 Episodes

Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
3 Ratings

About

Former Forbes.com film critic Scott Phillips and filmmaker Eddie O'Blivion make the most of your streaming services by discussing and recommending the "needles" in your digital haystacks. From film fans looking to broaden their cinematic horizons to veteran cinephiles seeking festival darlings and the kinds of films not typically found in your local multiplex, The Needle has something to offer every film lover. Feel free to email us at theneedlefilmpodcast@gmail.com to recommend your favorite under-the-radar films, and we might discuss it on the show.

Information

  • Creator
    Scott Phillips and Eddie O'Blivion
  • Years Active
    2026
  • Episodes
    6
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026
  • Show Website
    The Needle: A Film Podcast