About this episode

Paul and Amy explore the themes and production of Total Recall, discussing its impact and underlying questions about reality.

Paul and Amy jack into Total Recall, the gonzo sci-fi that turned a memory implant into a full-blown identity crisis. From Arnold Schwarzenegger’s forceful push to bring it to life to Verhoeven's mind-bending twists, they unpack the film’s practical-effects spectacle, its biting satire of power and propaganda, and the question at the center of it all: is any of this real, or just the perfect vacation? You can join the Unspooled conversation on Paul’s Discord at https://discord.gg/ZwtygZGTa6 Follow Paul and Amy on Letterboxd for more of their movie hot takes! https://letterboxd.com/paulscheer/ https://letterboxd.com/theamynicholson/ Paul’s book Joyful Recollections of Trauma is out now! Find it at https://www.harpercollins.com/products/joyful-recollections-of-trauma-paul-scheer Check out more of Paul's writing on his Substack https://substack.com/@paulscheer Episodic Art by Kim Troxall: https://www.unspooledart.com/ Learn more about the show at Unspooledpod.com, follow us on Twitter @unspooled and on Instagram @unspooledpod, and don’t forget to rate, review & subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or where you listen to podcasts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit…

More episodes of Unspooled

• The Devil Wears Prada · April 23, 2026 · 1h 29m
• Reel Confessions: Mike Mitchell · April 21, 2026 · 52 min
• The Truman Show · April 9, 2026 · 1h 33m
• Team America: World Police · April 2, 2026 · 1h 17m
• Arrival · March 26, 2026 · 1h 18m
• Project Hail Mary · March 23, 2026 · 32 min

Explore listener stats, chart rankings, contacts and more on the Unspooled podcast page.