What if one of the most iconic movies ever made just... isn't your thing?

Filmmaker, actress, and writer Lindsey Deland watched Quentin Tarantino's Pulp Fiction (1994) for the first time. Her verdict? ½ star.

I loved it. She... really didn't.

In this episode of What If I Don't Like It?, Lindsey and I take a deep dive into Pulp Fiction, Quentin Tarantino, and the very different ways we experienced one of the most influential movies of the 1990s.

Why did Pulp Fiction feel disjointed and meaningless to Lindsey? How much does knowing the older movies Tarantino references change the experience? And can you recognize that a movie is influential, beautifully constructed, and important to film history while still simply... not liking it?

Because Lindsey is a filmmaker, actress, and writer herself, we also look at Pulp Fiction from a filmmaking perspective. We talk about Tarantino's cinematic influences and use of bricolage, nonlinear storytelling, cinematography, reaction shots, monologues, iconic scenes, and the filmmaking choices Lindsey appreciated even when the story didn't work for her.

We also get into film fandom and gatekeeping, the pressure to love movies considered “masterpieces,” gender and lived experience when watching violent films, and the difference between appreciating a filmmaker's choices and actually enjoying a movie.

Before we get to Pulp Fiction, Lindsey talks about finding her path in film, screenwriting, her current creative projects, her first movie memories, and the films that shaped her.

So how does a filmmaker give Pulp Fiction half a star while I still love it? Listen and find out!

CHAPTERS

00:00 Introduction

03:24 Meet Lindsey Deland

04:20 Finding a Path in Film

18:19 Current Projects & Creative Influences

23:20 First Movie Memories & Comfort Films

37:04 First-Time Viewing: Pulp Fiction

43:26 First Reactions to Pulp Fiction

59:49 Monologues, Cinematography & Iconic Scenes

01:19:58 Fandom, Gatekeeping & Film Culture

01:38:14 Art, Artists & Interpretation

01:41:55 Final Verdict & Filmmaking Takeaways

02:00:35 Writing for Yourself & the Audience

About Lindsey Deland

Lindsey Deland is a filmmaker, actress, and writer currently developing her own feature film. You can watch her film Dark Places on Tubi.

Instagram: @lindzthenerd

Letterboxd: @lindzthenerd

YouTube: @lindzthenerd

🎬 Watch Dark Places on Tubi:https://tubitv.com/movies/100053018/dark-places

About What If I Don't Like It?

What If I Don't Like It? is a movie podcast hosted by Kt Baldassaro where people watch films they think they won't enjoy and then unpack what happens when they finally press play.

Follow Kt @MovieRuntime:

TikTok: @movieruntime

Instagram: @movieruntime

Letterboxd: @MovieRuntime

Listen to What If I Don't Like It? on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and wherever you get your podcasts.

What if one of the most important films ever made is also one of the hardest to bring yourself to watch?

Writer and filmmaker Joey Paul Calhoun joins What If I Don't Like It? to discuss Schindler's List, exploring why its reputation can feel intimidating and what makes Steven Spielberg's Holocaust drama endure more than 30 years later.

At its core, this episode is about the difference between a film's importance and the experience of actually watching it. We explore why Schindler's List carries so much emotional weight before you ever press play, how Spielberg approached one of history's darkest chapters, and why the film continues to resonate with audiences decades after its release.

Joey and I also talk about historical storytelling, filmmaking, and the responsibility of adapting real events for the screen. Rather than asking whether Schindler's List is "good," we discuss what it means to create a film that challenges, educates, and moves its audience.

In this episode we discuss:

• Why so many people put off watching Schindler's List
• The difference between an important film and an entertaining one
• Steven Spielberg's approach to telling a true story
• Oskar Schindler as one of cinema's most unexpected protagonists
• The role of hope in stories about unimaginable tragedy
• Why historical films continue to matter

Follow Joey Paul Calhoun:🎬 YouTube: @followthevoid🎥 TikTok: @v0idech0📸 Instagram: @the_vi0dech0

Joey is a writer and filmmaker whose work explores character-driven storytelling, and he brings a thoughtful perspective to one of cinema's most widely discussed films.

Films and filmmakers mentioned include Steven Spielberg, Schindler's List, The Pianist, Life Is Beautiful, Saving Private Ryan, The Zone of Interest, and other films that explore history, war, memory, and the Holocaust.

Did Schindler's List live up to its reputation? More importantly, why has this film remained essential viewing for more than three decades? Listen to find out.

🎧 Listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and wherever you get your podcasts.

Follow Kt Baldassaro / MovieRuntime:🎬 YouTube: @MovieRuntime📸 Instagram: @movieruntime🎞️ Letterboxd: @MovieRuntime

What if Interstellar isn’t actually as intimidating as its reputation suggests? Filmmaker Riley Cosby joins What If I Don’t Like It? to watch Christopher Nolan’s sci-fi epic for the first time and unpack whether its emotional core lives up to the hype or the legend around it.

At its core, this episode is about expectation versus experience, and how “big” movies often come with a lot of baggage before you ever press play. We dig into why Interstellar feels larger than life, and whether its emotional core hits harder than its science-heavy reputation suggests.

We also talk about filmmaking, film festivals, and the shift from consuming movies to creating them, as Riley shares his path from aspiring YouTuber to independent filmmaker working across horror, comedy, and experimental film.

In this episode we discuss:• Why “film bro” recommendations shape how we approach movies• Horror as a tool for processing fear and emotion• Independent filmmaking and the festival circuit• The balance between science fiction and emotional storytelling• Whether Interstellar is actually as complicated as people claim• Why every movie connects differently depending on the viewer

Was Riley won over by one of the most talked-about sci-fi films of the last decade? Listen to find out.

Riley’s work:Mercy, Queen of the UndeadThe Art of DescentOpening KillDie TogetherAizo (festival release)

Follow Riley Cosby:YouTube: @cabbageboyInstagram: @riley_is_Cabbage

🎧 Listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and wherever you get your podcasts
Follow Kt Baldassaro / MovieRuntime:🎬 YouTube: @MovieRuntime📸 Instagram: @movieruntime🎞️ Letterboxd: @MovieRuntime

Films and filmmakers mentioned include Christopher Nolan, Interstellar, The Matrix, Arrival, 2001: A Space Odyssey, and more across sci-fi and genre cinema.