The Vanity Project

Whether you call it an obsession, a guilty pleasure, or a cult favorite, we all have that pop culture touchstone – a movie, a band, a book, or an idea – that occupies a place in our hearts and minds for reasons we can’t quite explain. Stephen King called it, “the love you spare for a three legged dog.” With The Vanity Project, Nicholas McCarthy delves into both sides of the equation, looking at a curious and largely unknown movie from both his perspective as fan and filmmaker, and from that of its director, the mysterious Richard Horian. It’s one thing to talk about “strange” movies, but it’s quite another to try and understand how and why such a movie was made, and still another to not resort to the same old “so bad it’s good” trope. McCarthy digs deep into the thought process that produced such unique works (and why we become obsessed with them) and does so in smart, heartfelt, and honest terms. The result is a podcast that tries to explain the mysteries of the creative process, what fuels it, and how it can turn in unexpected and inspired ways. Yes, it is about a cult movie, but it’s also about much more; whether you’re a a fan of strange cinema, you’ll find much to enjoy and even be moved by here.

Episode 1 has me locked in, love a story of a film that shouldn’t exist and obsessives who need to know why it does. B movies have so much power and that seems to be what this show is about.

Nicholas McCarthy tells the story of an obscure and forgotten film with an uncanny ability to draw the listener in. The story captures the world of strange cinema and the subculture of movie obsessives who seek it out. Can’t wait for the next episode!

No one knows weird cinema and the obsessive visionaries who make it like Nicholas McCarthy. The Vanity Project is an addictive mystery story tracking down an unbelievably strange lost movie, and an equally affecting profile of its elusive creator.