Hey everybody, hope you've been well. Thanks for watching this one, I hope you liked it. I'm going to be making a view videos like this one that focus on single movies in the next few weeks and maybe one on a comic as well. I'm starting to put together something fun for the Halloween season coming up also so I'm excited for that. Stay safe, and I will see you next time!

Also this is where all the dads that went out to get some 'milk' went.

Genuinely thought the final monologue about learning new skills was gonna segue into a Skillshare ad

I love seeing people discuss old films but really analyzing them, and not just over glorifying them or discussing their "influence" in a very vague way. Fantastic video

As I sit here in my 1-bed apartment, approaching my 5th decade in life, in self-isolation, looking out the window at the sun-lit blue sky, just a little too close to home. Woof.

My dad does this shit to me all the time where he'll ponder out loud about how different his life could have been if he had gone a different direction after he graduated, or after he left the navy, or whatever and he seems so callously unaware that what he's saying, to me, to my face, is that he wishes he never met my mom and never had me. There's something about old men and identity crisis that turns them into... well... jerks!

Seems like consent is a big part of this movie. 1. Arthur goes to The Company; he DOESN'T want to go through with it; finds he's locked-in and has no choice in the matter. 2. Arthur r*ped a woman whomst was locked up and didn't consent in any way. 3. Arthur did not want to go through that "grape-squishing" orgy; but, he was forced into it. 4. Arthur was tied up and screaming at end of the movie, only to be used as a dead-body for the next guy. 5. Arthur didn't want the life he had; and he didn't want the life he got; then, he had his life AND memories taken from him. Also, the scenes in which he was going through the laundromat and meat-processing plant were fore-shadowing of what was about to happen to him. The laundromat represented the clean start The Company offered him. The meat-processing plant represents how they cut him up (literally) like a piece of meat; then, put him through a grinder (metaphorically). And, getting into the back of that van represented the death of Arthur Hamilton; the closing door of the van representing the closing of a coffin. And, finally, when the doors of the van re-open, it represents his re-birth as he entered into the world as Tony Wilson.

Can we just Agree that this thumbnail is AMAZING.

For a 60s movie, that's some slick camerawork.

"The dream of youth is an illusion standing in the way of us realizing our own artistic potential" Brilliant

Absolutely amazing. The connection between "Rock Hudson" playing the re-birthed man is truly chilling, given his EXACT real life parallel of how Hollywood erased and hid a massive part of his identity to make him the ideal leading man. I got chills when you said that.

So this is basically a film version of the adage, "No matter where you go, there you are."

Yeah I think everybody says, if they could only start over again but more than likely you would just make the same mistakes again. Just in a slightly different way.

I would argue that since the film is about depression that it’s a good thing the movie didn’t explore Arthur’s family reactions. Because ultimately other people’s feelings for us aren’t a factor in our depression. in a sense there is something self-centered to the nature of depressive ideation the belief that’s we should be something more for our own sake. Our true relationships are irrelevant in the face of that, so if you want a happier ending you might have the character figure out the way out of that self-centered realm to see the other people in their life, but I don’t think it’s that kinda film. Instead the point is as you said the things we think that are making us unhappy usually aren’t you have to make bolder choices to get past a mental block and if you don’t take them unhappiness builds.

Your narration of the movie synopsis reminds me of Rod Serling's narrations from "The Twilight Zone." 😁😁😁 Amazing work

The daughter’s reaction to her father’s ‘death’ would be huge for the main character to behold.

You should consider a podcast. You paint a vivid picture.

My family used to move a lot when I was a kid. I was a pretty awkward child, the class weirdo, so moving to a new place always felt like a relief. Like a chance to start over with people who had not seen all my goofs and eccentricities. It never lasted, though. I was still me at the end of the day, and all these new faces would see me for what I was almost immediately. You can leave your old life, but not yourself.

The song at the end is Pyramid by Jason Webley if anyone was wondering.

This video may have just changed me. I'm depressed, I'm struggling. But I need to stop making excuses for why I'm not doing what I want to do. So genuinely thank you! I hope to come back to this video in a year and say this was when I decided to finally start doing something.

I thought your perspective on it is very interesting. I don't see, though, the wife characters as being neglected or portrayed as evil, when in fact in the first scenes she even tries to comfort her husband (and maybe even engage in sexual activities) just to release him from his state of distress, but her advances were refused. Later Arthur himself would complain that there was no sex in the relationship - and here the narrative expresses that he's the maker of his own evil. Also, I get that you wanted a broader picture of things, or a story that walked to a lighter or more constructive conclusion, but that would be a detour from what the movie really is: a guy that wasted his life by refusing to make the choices himself, a guy that is dead and believed he could go back to the living. That feels very powerful and that's why the movie remains so impactful to this day: the conclusion is that there's no going back, and the brutality of that afirmation mustn't be ignored.

Honestly, the biggest tragedy of this movie is that he didn't choose to be selfish. He literally turned down the offer and walked away before finding out he can't. He never really had a choice.

In the scene where Arthur visits his "widow" Emily, I got a pretty clear picture of how she reacted to losing her husband. I recall her saying that Arthur had already "died" a long time ago, which implies he was an empty, joyless bastard that she's not missing too much. Even when he was there, he wasn't really there, so she had grown accustomed to his absence long before his fake death.

This video hit hard. As someone who worked hard in college to not only be the first in his family to graduate but also do so with honors, only to end up doing the exact same type of job my parents did, I've definitely felt like I've been trapped in a soulless cycle of repetition and that I'm owed more. The irony is that my degree is in psychology so I KNOW that I'm capable of changing my thoughts and behaviors and I KNOW that my life won't instantly change once I do but the monotony of life just makes it seem inescapable. Long personal rant aside, this was a fantastic video showcasing why horror/sci-fi are genres rich with commentary about all sorts of topics, and not just a shallow commentary (although those do exist) but deep with themes that, if one gets a little introspective, can really change how they think or even act. You are definitely one of the horror/media video essay-ists I respect the most.

Very nice video. I've seen a number of stories where "a new life" pops up, with their old life either fake-deathed, replaced by a clone, a robot surrogate, etc. Just once I'd love to see one of these stories where the company is obsessed with new-lifeing someone who, while stressed and tired, genuinely loves their life and wouldn't trade it for anything.

wow, this old movie hits deep and its timeless, every one can relate to this movie, the struggle to understand and accept who we are. as always great analysis! thank you for making this video essay, youtube channel like these enhanced my life

I don't care if this movie is mysoganistic. I think the wife not being expanded upon adds to Arthur's story, it's about him. Not his wife.

In 15-20 years from now, you'll understand... and it will hit you with the force of an entire galaxy... and it will never leave you.

I see In Praise of Shadows, I click.

Portraying the impact on the main characters significant others would simply make the movie a sci-fi “It’s a Wonderful Life”.

How have I never heard of this film?! I will be watching, something about this really resonates with me.

I feel like wishing for more coverage of how Arthurs absence impacts his wife is missing the point of the film. It's supposed to be a lesson about how achieving or realizing fantasies and dreams won't make you happy automatically. Many people live in their heads thinking "If only I had this or if only I could do this and that, then I would be happy" but fail to see that those things won't change what makes them unhappy or unsatisfied. Maybe they could've included more set-up to the beginning of the film about what Arthur feels is keeping him from happiness and what it is he thinks could bring him that happiness. I'd still be interested in a remake, as long as it keeps in mind the core ideas.

A minute in and I'm already terrified

Thank you for this amazing work. I’m currently kind of depressed (not sure if it’s bipolar or something). His perspective on life in this movie is so relatable to me. It’s not like I don’t know that I’m mistreating people in my life, I always know there something wrong with me. But I’m just too selfish to change. I genuinely thank you for telling this story and help me realize it again. I’ll seek help and try. I hope I will come here again but better. I’ll make a appointment soon. Thank you.

I am absolutely ecstatic to see appreciation of Seconds. It is one of my favorite films to examine, especially through a queer lens of Rock Hudson's performance and life. It is fantastic and sad to watch all at once.

I can't agree with stated reasons for your ambivalence towards Seconds; I think it is a brilliant depiction of the midlife crisis of the sort of "mature" adult that the likes of Jordan Peterson is urging young men to become -- hierarchy-climbing status seekers. Arthur has been a conformist to society's expectations all his life -- the rational RIGHT thing to do, I suppose, considering the horrors of what can happen to individuals who don't. But we aren't expressly taught this fear of the "horror" of not fitting-in, especially not as motivation; our society is too egotistical to admit that attaining the big car, body or other material must-haves is like attaining armour -- armour that protects you from that "horror" fate -- of being judged a worthless nobody. Upon attaining this armour Arthur finds it empty, because he -- the one inside it -- is also empty, a void encased by persona rather than a person. Seconds is a scathing examination of the values society takes for granted as much as it's the examination of a hollow man's life, perhaps even more the former. Every misery minor or major -- from tooth decay resulting from humanity's switch from a hunter-gatherer diet to the grain based diet that made civilization possible, to depressions partly engendered by society's demands -- is society's money-making opportunity. Arthur is a victim of his own egotistical/fearful ascent/conformity to society's "proper" standards, but as such is a victim of society aswell; even the company's "cure" for his ills is just another shot at the same thing, so he's twice a victim and thrice when recycled. I really didn't see any blame to the wife from Arthur -- he seemed severely disappointed with HIMSELF actually, in light of the wife's positive amorous feelings early on. And Arthur seemed genuinely devastated at his own admissions to the old man, like he was as remorseful of his loss of attraction to his stalwart partner as he was certain that it was so -- he felt guilty. When Arthur/Tony speaks to his wife about a painting "Arthur" did, a last vestige of ego is displayed when Tony is a little disappointed that she gave it to charity, that SHE let go of Arthur and wasn't devasted by the loss; but as she talks about her "dead" husband -- about his emotional distance -- you see acceptance without rancour cross Tony's face because he accepts that their former love died of HIS neglect, and if she wasn't grieving NOW, that was because she'd done all her grieving when Arthur was "alive" yet dead inside...I see no blame given to the wife by any character or by the movie itelf. And the "dragging" middle section is necessary -- it shows just how lost without his former routine Arthur/Tony is. The tense music while Tony is attempting to resurrect his artistic leanings...well why not, because such an encounter -- with a maybe true, maybe bullshit -- presumption/fantasy about the "true self" would be tense...he was on edge. Saying all this, I still respect your interesting analysis of a great movie.

definitely my favorite youtuber, he just puts so much passion and effort into his videos flawlessly.

Wait something similar to this is happening in South Korea, where a service actually hosts a pretend-funeral so people can feel like they've "started over".

Rock Hudsons acting is so amazing.

Some interesting side notes. - The doctor was played by Richard Anderson. Best known for his role in The Six Million Dollar Man and for saying the words, "We can rebuild him." - Another interesting character is Jeff Corey who played Mr. Ruby (the man who does the interviewing and tries to convince him to go through the process.) Corey later went on to play a similar character on Babylon 5 named Justin. kzfaq.info/get/bejne/frCEaLtzuZzTgoE.html He worked for a race called the Shadows. Who if they couldn't get to convert to their line of reasoning would brainwash them into doing so.

I just love Shadows's voice, it creates a great atmosphere.

Damn son, this is deep. What's in it for the company though?

"this is entirely about how this event impacts Arthur" there you go as to why the wife was not important and how she feels about his death was unimportant and why she is just there to show us how he is just using her to project his frustrations, all explained in that sentence. This doesn't mean the movie is misogynistic, same thing with the rape, if it was okay it wouldn't be something they would use against him and could have resorted to any other form of threat to guarantee liability, throwing the word misogyny around just to attack the movie or time period is a little harsh.

I remember watching this on TV late at night when I was a teenager and it really effected me. To this day remember the closing shots. A movie ahead of it's time in many ways.

An interesting essay on a movie that has intrigued me for decades.

God damnit, I love you're work so much!!! I recently turned 46 and this hit me in the face like a brick. It may sound odd, but thank you. Reality checks can come from surprising places sometimes....

Hey Zane, I just wanted to thank you for this channel. I have always had a bit of interest in darker media and darker themes, but only experienced dissatisfying horror while growing up (and was easily spooked). I expressed my interest instead in science fiction. As time has gone on, many channels - especially yours- has given me an analytic mind for media. Specifically, I am given a vocabulary and framework to judge and enjoy different medias, especially now horror, in the context of self and culture. I used to say it was my least favorite genre, and now it’s one of my favorites. Thank you for that gift of renewed interest!

Truly, one the greatest films ever made, and Rock hudson's best film. Fantastic review btw 👍

This is such an interesting movie. Had I not seen a video about it a couple of years back I would never had heard of it. That is what channels like this one and film critics do at their best: they point to a lesser known thing and say: "hey, this is great, you should check it out".

Fantastic Video and analysis. You touched so many true topics that I subconciously fealt when watching the Film, but wasnt able to verbalise them. Well done Sir. Thank you.

Moments in and the filmography has me shocked. For a second I couldn't tell if this movie was legitimately from 1966. So 50s/60s movies have such a flat feel to them, nothing like the wide angle steady-cam shots at the beginning.

I feel like this is a great story format for a series. Perhaps it starts as an anthology where a new person gets the surgery each week. Subtly integrate the patients into each other's stories.

I keep coming back to this video. You have serious talent. And I believe your video transcend the medium. Please don’t stop creating. I disagree with your politics, and I think you might disdain me for my beliefs. But I see you as a bright light on this website.

The depression and artistic frustration commentary really hits the nail on the head for me! Great video as always!!!

Absolutely FANTASTIC piece ! Extremely fleshed out, detailed and analyzed. 👏💯 Thanks sooo much for your hard work & attention to detail on this. 👍

Good use of the theme from “the High and the Mighty”. Learned how to whistle that theme for my Grandfather. Helped him some while he passed from cancer.

watching the recap is a strange mixture of "goddamn i wish this was real" and "wait no go back"

This has become one of my favourite channels. Great job once again!

13:50 I do want to argue that, at least how you described it, I don't believe that plot point is misogynistic, because the corporation that does this in the storyline is in fact evil, not heroic. The fact they would do something so horrible as to abuse a woman just to make a video they could use as black mail is a foreshadowing of the true nature of their corporation that later is shown to essentially be a murderous cult. It seems to me its portrayed as a horrific thing to do? I know I'm nitpicking but it feels like that specific point would actually be the opposite of misogyny. Hard to watch though for sure. I do agree with the other points though. Maybe if there was a remake, it could illustrate these points better.

I always interpreted the final image of the man on the beach is that of the man Arthur is dying for. The new life created from his death.

Thank you so very much for another thorough, thought provoking video. You are such a gem on this platform . (I especially loved the reference to Roland from The Dark Tower series) 💕

Terrific backstory of Seconds and the symbolic references of aging and dissatisfied lives that people don't really understand how lucky they are to be "normal'.

please, one day I'd like to hear you try to piece together a memory of your own past as vividly as you can remember.

Reminds me of the quote " wherever you go, there you are"

Great analysis. Hudson is great in this, I'm glad for him he got to make this movie (flawed as it is) and get away from endless light romantic comedy. The pre-op actor is very good too and it is kind of believable he could be transformed into Hudson, there's just enough similarity

I love this channel so much. Never die

Top quality material here. Sincerely appreciate the effort you put into this.

i absolutely love the background music. the vid is so so well-done. good job ma man.

Actually, the modern seconds you're yearning for, exists : Edmond, by Stuart Gordon, in which a middle aged man goes on a selfish odyssey to wildly not learn a thing. Check it out, it's wonderful.

very thoughtful! I love your commentary on depression, happiness and the subconscious

An outstanding, thoughtful review. Thanks for posting it.

Seconds is basically The Twilight Zone Meets The Manchurian Candidate (with some of Frankenstein thrown in) In the opening scenes you expect to see the camera pan on Rod Serling. Rock Hudson said that it was almost a horror movie, but no its a bona fide horror film!

Your uploads make my day man. Your passion and interest really shines through 😊

I really want to thank you for this video. Got it in my recommended and thought it'd probably be another fine if not semi self aggrandizing discussion of an old film that probably wasn't really that good but your video has gotten me very genuinly interested in it and the discussion of how we self project onto people at the end I thought was very well said. I recently just moved away thinking a fresh start would be the life altering change I needed and how this new found freedom would change me but it really hasn't. Its funny I in fact find myself overwhelmed with the sheer potential to go anywhere or do anything and make up an abritary excuse to not do so. Perception really is everything, great video man I can't wait to watch more of your stuff

I love Seconds. I love watching movies on DVD then watching them again with the commentary turned on and this on was certainly worth watching with the commentary.

Remember, a statue has never been erected in honor of a critic. This was a great film. Let the critic try to remake it. He can't.

They should have gone for Cosmic Horror : man changes face and integrates himself perfectly into new environment. Family is forgotten, depression evaporates. The experiment points at a simple truth : whatever men consider deep is really only skin deep.

Nicely done and well summarized. The visit to his wife at least allows us to hear her point of view where she talks about him being withdrawn and celibate. Whereas he initially blamed her.

I like your take on a projecting our feelings on others, and psychology has actually proved that most of our anger we throw at other people is misdirected, not exactly the same but interesting nonetheless. I also like how you point out that what’s holding us back is probably jus in our head, and I’ll do my best to remember that message in the future

Hot damn, I've been there. I'm a lot better about coping with depression now, but I still get frustrated about work and my lack of creative endeavors. Beautiful video

Your videos are a sadness cure

Misogyny aside, to show both halves of his life, the one he's living and the one he left being, would make for a different movie. The commitment to the one-sided point of view strengthens the narrative because it's realistic; people are inherently narcissistic, selfish. To show his wife and daughter's reaction to his death would be a drastic change, to the point of changing the message and evoking different emotions. For example, you might feel less discomfort watching him in his new life if you found out the wife was, say, happier that he's gone. The daughter may feel the burden of her father's expectations is lifted. And suddenly you feel sympathy for this man who threw his life away. He deserves none.

Your videos are so refreshing! Very interesting commentary

I love your content. Truly a pleasure to watch and listen.

I never comment on videos I like, but omg this video was so SO good! Good job man!

yr videos are incredible. i always watch them as soon as they come out

Incredible video, your content is the best! So appreciate your content

i have never heard of this movie and it looks stunning, especially for such an old movie. the story seems fantastic! thank you for sharing and analyzing this movie!

Damn, this dude gets it. Mad respect. This vid taught me several new lessons that I could do well with to carry on. Was very pleasantly surprised by this vid. New sub

Excellent analysis.

Keep up the good work my man, your analysis on your subjects is top notch. I hope you get many more views and subscribers on your future videos you deserve way more than you get at the moment. Best channel on KZfaq by far in my opinion

I was looking for this vid !!!!! I'm happy that I found it

Probably the second best plastic surgery transformation in movie history, just behind Myra Breckinridge. Gotta love those movie plastic surgeons. You'll never see one of their cases on Botched.

Man, the conclusion hit me like a brick. You don't have to hurt me like that bro 😢.

Very good analysis. Thanks!

This was a great video to watch!

Have to ask what font you used for the dialogue cards, it’s gorgeous and perfect for the video.

i really appreciated this whole video, especially when you talked about how the film ignores how Arthur's actions affect the people who cared about him. the whole video, i kept thinking about this 'trend' lately telling people to follow their own happiness no matter what (cough-eatpraylove-cough) - there's just never any talk or consideration of what "follow your own happiness no matter what" means for our families, our friends, and the people who depend on us. its assumed that if you're happy, then everything will work out and your friend/family will be totally understanding and happy for you even if they're badly hurt by your choices. definitely going to watch this film thanks to all the thinking you've inspired

This is the first full video I have watched by you and it is excellent! Subbed.

So it's about midlife crises. I hadn't heard of this before. Thanks for the tip. Re: your remarks about his wife, etc. this seems to me completely beside the point. You want a sudden shift of protagonist, a new POV. We aren't being asked to approve of this character, but it is HIS story. The fact he doesn't care how this affects his wife is information about him and the story we're following. It was enough for you to understand her situation. Why you'd want to suddenly intercut with her story, I don't know. As for your proposed 'update' on the story, it's actually an entirely different story. This one is clearly about midlife crisis, and how who he is cannot be fit into what is a perfectly legitimate more youthful culture. Your idea instead villifies the youth and suggests that the problem is with them.