The Killer

The Killer

Author: Christian Sager and Charlie Bennett August 28, 2026 Duration: 2:25:24

This 2023 Netflix movie directed by David Fincher was either a stunning technical tour-de-force or a slick bit of over-processed product. (Maybe it was both.) We talk about how the filmmakers paid attention to every detail of this visceral revenge thriller, and why that didn't connect with as big an audience as you might think.

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Christian Sager and Charlie Bennett host Supercontext: an autopsy of media, a series that digs beneath the surface of the films, books, music, and shows that shape our collective experience. Rather than offering simple reviews, each episode performs a detailed examination, looking at how a piece of media is constructed, why it resonates, and the often-unseen ways it influences our conversations and behaviors. You’ll hear thoughtful discussions that connect seemingly disparate topics, revealing how a cult classic film might reflect economic anxieties or how a viral internet trend can trace its lineage back to decades-old artistic movements. This podcast operates on the belief that nothing exists in a vacuum; every artifact of culture is a product of and a catalyst for the world around it. By picking apart these works, Sager and Bennett provide listeners with a richer framework for understanding not just what they are watching or reading, but how that consumption actively informs their perspective. Tune in for conversations that are both deeply researched and casually engaging, perfect for anyone curious about the hidden mechanics of the stories we tell ourselves.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 50

Supercontext: an autopsy of media
Podcast Episodes
Spinning by Tillie Walden [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 2:01:29
This 2017 graphic novel is a memoir about growing up, figure skating, and coming out of the closet. We talk about how Walden approached the project with guidance from her editor while we look at the comics industry as a…
Dirty Computer by Janelle Monáe [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:09:02
This 2018 concept album is about reckoning, celebrating, and reclaiming what it means to be American. We discuss how Monáe uses her platform to advocate for queer and black women while working with big record labels to a…
Brian De Palma's Carrie [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:42:36
This is a special repost of the first episode of our Patreon-only series, SuperKINGcontext. Stephen King's first novel was adapted into this 1976 cautionary movie about adolescence, bullying, and female representation by…
Chapo Trap House [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:47:21
This political comedy podcast makes over a million dollars a year from its Patreon subscribers alone. We try to unpack how it gets made while learning more about the personal values associated with the "dirtbag left." Ch…
Injection by Warren Ellis, Declan Shalvey, and Jordie Bellaire [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:49:19
This 2015 comic mixes folklore and magic with science and technology. We discuss how each creator brings their own experimentation to the project, and how it's been received by the comic book industry and its more philos…
The Weird and the Eerie by Mark Fisher [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:34:19
This collection of non-fiction essays attempts to define two modes of storytelling by providing examples of each from popular culture. We talk about how Fisher's argument fits into our larger discussions of horror storie…
Joss Whedon's Dollhouse, Season 1 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:45:19
Thank you to our Co-producer patron Kevin Wetter for selecting this week's topic! This 2009 TV show, helmed by Joss Whedon, was meant to be a thematic exploration of identity and sexuality but many have argued about its…
Repost of The Dark Knight [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:21:02
THIS IS A REPOST OF A 2016 EPISODE. As the release of the film JOKER looms, we revisit our discussion about Batman, the Joker, and ambiguity. Looking back on the Batman film "The Dark Knight," does it stand for anything?…
A Zed and Two Noughts [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:38:08
Thank you to our Co-producer patron Miriam Meaney for selecting this week's topic! This 1985 Peter Greenaway film approaches storytelling with the perspective that there is no meaning to reality despite our organized att…