Next week is the opening day for Mortal Kombat II, and it is in IMAX. The first one came out in 2021 and surprised us with how watchable it was. An 85% audience score. But next week is also the opening weekend of The Sheep Detectives, which one of us sent a message asking, “Who the hell is the audience for this movie?” It’s currently at a NINETY FOUR PERCENT on Rotten Tomatoes and is Hugh Jackman’s HIGHEST rated movie EVER on the site. Hugh Jackman has been in BANGERS (sure, some stinkers, but a lot of bangers).

What is life? Because Josh is literally the worst at making decisions, can you all make a decision for us and let us know in the comments of this post which movie we should do for the socrecard next week? Pretty please.

Here’s what we have for you this week:

Concession Stand Scorecard: The Devil Wears Prada 2
New Pod Drop: Project Hail Mary: Spoilers #72

This week’s movie - The Devil Wears Prada 2

Letterboxd Description:

Icons reign forever.

As Miranda Priestly nears retirement, she reunites with Andy Sachs to face off against her former assistant turned rival: Emily Charlton.

Best Watched With

Someone who can tell the difference between Blue and Cerulean, and someone who couldn't care less.

End Credit Thoughts

Four presidents, three popes, two officially designated U.S. recessions, and one global pandemic. That is what has happened in the world between The Devil Wears Prada (2006) and The Devil Wears Prada 2 (2026). Two long decades waiting for a sequel we did not know was coming, or needed. We hope no one was holding their breath.

If you were wondering what happened to Andy (Anne Hathaway), Miranda Priestly (oh, we know who she is), Nigel (Stanley Tucci), and Emily (Emily Blunt) after Paris, wonder no more. The Devil Wears Prada fills you in and more. After unfortunate events, Andy and Miranda (no introduction needed) are reunited at Runway after 20 years — yes, the movie is on the same timeline as ours — dropping us back into the cutthroat world of fashion.

At first, the sequel felt heavy-handed with its characters and callbacks, seeming like fan service. Dress size comments, new assistants, different age, but same banter between all the main characters we loved and loathed in the first movie. Not to say it wasn’t enjoyable. Sometimes, fan service gets a bad wrap. If we had The Devil Wears Prada on VHS, we would have burned through the tape from all the rewatches. So yes, the callbacks and inside jokes feel special and are appreciated. However, the entire runtime of this? That can be exhausting, especially from a cultural artifact of this caliber.

But this was not the case with The Devil Wears Prada 2. We had our insider fun, but the new story uses familiar tropes from the first one, with similar consequences to make it seem like a rinse-and-repeat, only to use it against you. We knew we would have fun, but were surprised by how enjoyable, moving, and heartfelt this second installment is. Sequels are tough to do, and can be rough to watch. Not every franchise can be Toy Story. If we learned anything here, it is to never underestimate or ever try to estimate Miranda Priestly.

Everyone came back to reprise their roles and did so in stride. We couldn’t believe we were actually seeing these characters back on the screen after all this time, and even more so, how believable it was that they are still Andy, Miranda Priestly, Nigel, and Emily, just twenty years older. They use the cultural shifts from the 2000s to the 2020s so well. What could be said in the workplace, what shouldn’t have ever been allowed to be said in the past, new trends now, and how fast technology makes us feel old, all of this is well-baked into little moments and woven into the dialogue, creating a time capsule of Runway 2006.

Obviously, the queen Meryl Streep was going to be nothing short of spectacular, but the person who blew us away the most in the reprisal was Emily Blunt. Even after all this time, she nailed all of Emily’s mannerisms, spite, and insecurities as if she’s been method acting since the first movie. Hathaway was great, and we loved seeing Tucci have what seemed like more screen time this go around (14:51 in The Devil Wears Prada, according to Matthew Stewart (Screen Time Central) on X.com).

This movie was on the verge of being a full movie for us. It held us in thought; we talked about it well after on the drive home, and it definitely had the audience cackling, with some really heavy, tear-jerking scenes. If it wasn’t 1000 degrees in our theater, maybe we would have been more primed to cry. We could easily see this one getting the tear ducts working for many.

As far as whether it's worth seeing on the big screen or not…let’s be honest… we knew the theaters would be taking our money the moment they dropped that teaser trailer that literally gave us nothing but the lead actor’s names. You knew before opening this email.

Josh Jump Scare Count: 2

Want to know more about our individual ratings of movies?
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Project Hail Mary: Spoilers #72

🎧 Listen to this episode on Apple Podcasts or Spotify
🎥 Watch this episode on YouTube

Eric describes seeing the film twice, praising Ryan Gosling and saying the long runtime never felt slow; both say they laughed and cried, especially when they thought Rocky might die. They highlight Rocky’s effectiveness as a largely practical puppet voiced and puppeteered by James Ortiz, and they discuss how the movie’s length helps build the friendship between Grace and Rocky through comedic and heartfelt moments.

When we discuss that this movie is a full movie, we are talking about the ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Jimmy V 1993 ESPY Speech rubric⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ – Did it hold them in thought, make them laugh, and move their emotions to tears?

They praise the film’s hopeful tone—cooperation between governments, a non-malicious threat, and two species sacrificing to save their worlds—along with visuals, music, and specific scenes, then encourage listeners to see it in theaters and tease a future book episode while plugging their newsletter and subscriptions.

00:00 Eric Falls Asleep
01:05 Baby In The Room
02:22 Spoiler Warning Setup

If you have seen Project Hail Mary, here is a chat for us to chat about it :D

Tune in next week for | Mortal Kombat II or The Sheep Detectives

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We messed up.

Life has been lifin. Between work, work, and other things that are not work, we were not able to make it to the theaters this week. FIRST TIME maybe EVER? We might have missed one week since this newsletter’s conception, and we are SO SAD. We will make it up to you, our sweet and beloved subscribers, soon.

In the meantime, we have a new section for you: Critics vs Audience. We have looked at the initial Critics vs. Audience scores on Rotten Tomatoes for Michael and added commentary on this, thoughts on the filmmaking crew, and other musical biopics. We discovered a trend, and we think you might find it interesting. If so, let us know. If this new section isn't working, tell Eric, and we won't do it again, and we will make sure we never miss another week. (or probably come up with another potentially dumb idea to try out).

Happy reading :)

Here’s what we have for you this week:

Critics vs Audience: Michael and recent Musician Biopics
Watchlist Worthy: Maybe our favorite trailer this year thus far?
ICYMI Pod: Yap Session in Las Cruces: Film Festival, What We’ve Been Watching, and Harry Potter First Watch #72

Michael by Antonine Fuqua

Letterboxd Description:

Discover the making of a king.

Discover the story of Michael Jackson, one of the most influential artists the world has ever known, and his life beyond the music, tracing his journey from the discovery of his extraordinary talent as the lead of the Jackson Five, to the visionary artist whose creative ambition fueled a relentless pursuit to become the biggest entertainer in the world, highlighting both his life off-stage and some of the most iconic performances from his early solo career.

It was only a matter of time before the King of Pop biopic hit theaters. We have had a string of musical titans on the silver screen the past couple of years: Springsteen: Deliver Me from Nowhere (2025), Back to Black (2024), A Complete Unknown (2024), Bob Marley: One Love (2024), and Whitney Houston: I Wanna Dance with Somebody (2022). Taking on such a role seems daunting and a heavy lift, even for top-tier talent. Actors want to get it right just as much, and probably more, than the audience.

With movies, especially ones with original IP, we want solid performances, but why wouldn’t we? We love movies, and we want to enjoy every aspect of them, including the acting. However, with movies based on real life, especially those that portray icons who impacted and shifted industries in monumental ways, leaving a legacy that outlasts their time here on this side of life, we have preconceived notions and high expectations of the actors. Did they actually perform the music? Or did they lip-sync? Did they commit to learning not just their stage presence, but also their idiosyncrasies in everyday life? Will we forget the name of the actor because they truly transformed into Bob Dylan, Whitney Houston, and, this week’s release, Michael Jackson?

Michael is Jafaar Jackson’s feature film debut. He is the lead. He is Michael. And he is the nephew of one of the most influential artists this world has known. This made us curious, as we assumed the personal relationship would add to the project's passion.

Jackson is directed by the man who delivered us Training Day (2001), Antoine Fuqua, and flanked by a solid supporting cast, including the Colman Domingo. Domingo has become one of our favorites to see on screen, and a beloved who is always dressed to the nines off-screen. Fuqua, Domingo, and a Jackson relative are a force, but is it enough to commit your time and dimes to paying the price of admission at your local theater?

The critics say no. It’s currently sitting at a 40% out of 161 reviews. Rotten Tomatoes works on a binary system. It’s a yes or a no. A “I liked it” or “I didn’t like it.” Think of Commodus giving the thumbs up or the thumbs down when deciding if the men in the colosseum are to live or to die. If he gives a thumbs up, it does not mean the fight was perfect, just that he enjoyed it enough for the gladiator to live.

64 critics said they did like the movie Michael, while 97 said they did not. Is this helpful? Is this system foolproof? No. But if a movie gets a certified fresh rating (75% or higher), we will give it the benefit of the doubt and watch it. However, recently, history would say the audience (non-critics) has a wildly different response to musician biopics.

Springsteen: Deliver Me from Nowhere (2025) and A Complete Unknown (2024) received the closest scores from the critics and the audience, with the latter having only a 13% gap. The former was not certified fresh but did receive an audience score of 82% approval from 1,000+ ratings. We only covered Springsteen: Deliver Me from Nowhere in a newsletter, which we said was worth the price of admission (realizing we never did a piece on A Complete Unknown is baffling—and Josh says he is a Timmy Chalamet Stan smh). You can check that one out here:

We did not watch or cover Back to Black (2024), Bob Marley: One Love (2024), or Whitney Houston: I Wanna Dance with Somebody (2022), but by looking at the critic scores compared to the audience scores, you might see a trend. And this trend might suggest that people really, really enjoy watching these kinds of movies on the big screen. Is it the nostalgia? Is it the love of their work? Is it the fact that these folks had a radical impact on genres and industries in ways we can’t forget, regardless of the appreciation of their art or not? We do not know. But it is fun and interesting to see these trends.

Happy movie watching this weekend. Let us know what you have on the docket. If it is Michael, we’d love to hear your thoughts, and if you lean towards the critics or the audience scores.

Want to know more about our individual ratings of movies?
Follow us on Letterboxd:
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Idiots by Macon Blair

Letterboxd Description:

When two unqualified bozos are hired to transfer a rich teen to rehab, their straightforward gig quickly spirals into dangerous mayhem.

We are so psyched for Idiots directed by Macon Blair, with a trailer edited by a fucking wizard (whoever you are, BLESS YOU), this looks so fun. The cast is INSANE. Dave Franco, O’Shea Jackson Jr, Kieran Shipka, Luke Wilson, Peter Dinklage, and the up & coming (arrived?) Mason Thames.

CAN’T WAIT.

-Eric

I second what Eric said. The trailer was a short film in and of itself. My brother texted me and asked if there was a film term for this type of trailer editing. I don’t know if there is a term but their should be. That’s how incredible it is. It looks like a ton of fun, and we’ll all be seated for this one.

Added to my watchlist.

-JP :)

Also Directed by Macon Blair:
The Toxic Avenger (2023)
I Don’t Feel at Home in This World Anymore (2017)

Yap Session in Las Cruces: Film Festival, What We’ve Been Watching, and Harry Potter First Watch #72

🎧 Listen to this episode on Apple Podcasts or Spotify
🎥 Watch this episode on YouTube

Josh and Eric record while Eric is in Las Cruces with poor internet, having forgotten his microphone, and while he is attending events tied to a film festival and a grand opening.

Eric describes interrupting Steve Zahn for a photo and later apologizing, while they joke about “everything everywhere all at once” jumpers and embarrassment as narcissism.

They discuss the grim state of New Mexico film production despite festival sponsorships, bird poop “good luck,” and what they’ve been watching: Eric’s first-time Harry Potter run (including an Alfonso Cuarón “ice/eyes” anecdote), Slow Horses season five, Your Friends and Neighbors, Project Hail Mary, and the new Mario movie, while Josh recommends The Pitt and DTF and mentions seeing the new Faces of Death and excitement for the Backrooms horror film.

Tune in next week for | The Devil Wears Prada 2

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Which is your favorite Mummy movie? Including The Scorpion King spin-offs.

Here’s what we have for you this week:

Concession Stand Scorecard: Lee Cronin’s The Mummy
Watchlist Worthy: Eric puts the whore in whorror—new Zombie flick
New Pod Drop: Eric coming in not-so-live from Las Cruces and meeting Steve Zahn.

This week’s movie - Lee Cronin’s The Mummy

Letterboxd Description:

What happened to Katie?

The young daughter of a journalist disappears into the desert without a trace—eight years later, the broken family is shocked when she is returned to them, as what should be a joyful reunion turns into a living nightmare.

Best Watched With

Your pedicure pal and a New Mexican

End Credit Thoughts

Lee Cronin’s The Mummy is unrelated to any previous The Mummy movies and can be viewed as a standalone horror tale. It is set in modern times; however, it can’t be a mummy movie without ancient Egyptian myths, mysteries, and histories. Lee Cronin’s vision is gruesome and a bloody mess, but also, unexpectedly, quite funny at times. Our theater was definitely having lol moments due to humor, and a time or two because of its ridiculousness.

The movie takes place in two of the most prominent world deserts, the Sahara and whatever desert Albuquerque, New Mexico, is in (it’s the Chihuahua Desert, but we wanted an excuse to write Albuquerque because how many movies actually use Albuquerque as the movie's setting? Maybe more than we think, but we digress—also don’t fact-check the prominence of the deserts. Just trust us).

Shoutout to sandstorms in Cairo and the beautiful Sandias. We always appreciate seeing our home state represented not just on the big screen, but also named. The landscape and the foothills made us who no longer live in the 505 feel at home in the midst of grotesque body gore and haunting images.

The performances are not profound, but some stand out more than others. The leads are fine and mostly forgettable. The kids hold it down, though. Shylo Moilna (Sebastián Cannon), Billie Roy (Maud Cannon), and Natalie Grace (Katie Cannon) do the heavy lifting. Grace has the difficult task of playing a mummified eight-year-old and needing to perform some sickening body horror scenes and produce some unsettling sounds. Roy brings some shockingly hilarious humor for a child. She, alongside Veronica Falcón (Carmen Santiago, grandma), has great comedic timing and brings much-needed tension relief at key moments. And, also, contribute to the madness that takes place. We’ll probably have graphic nightmares of the funeral scene for days to come.

The story is all there. It has all the pieces to be really good, perhaps great even. A young daughter goes missing to be brought back into their lives years later, but not as the sixteen-year-old she ought to be, but as a survivor of mummification. Ancient Egyptian lore, sacredness, demonology, a solid twist, and the great Southwest. They had everything for an on-time take off, a shit load of mid-flight turbulence, and a hell of a save smooth landing by Captain Cronin. Could be the writing, the directing, or the performances, but stuff starts to fall apart fairly quickly. Most of which could have been forgiven, but the way they wrap everything up is far from a pretty bow.

The big screen definitely elevated the fright and fear; the sound was definitely loud, and the vibrations were (not) appreciated as they contributed to the eeriness. But in the end, we can’t say it’s worth the price of admission. Genre lovers might appreciate it, but most will benefit from waiting til streaming.

Jost Jump Scare Count: 13

Want to know more about our individual ratings of movies?
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Colony by Yeon Sang-ho

Letterboxd Description:

Professor Se-jeong is thrust into a bloody nightmare when a rapidly mutating virus is released during a biotech conference causing authorities to seal the facility. Trapped inside with no escape, Se-jeong along with a small group of survivors must fight to stay alive while the infected undergo horrific transformations.

FIRST AND FOREMOST - KICK ROCKS to producers and ALLLLLL our readers who are tired of hearing about horror. Don’t like it? TALK TO HOLLYWOOD.

Ahem. Sorry. Here we go:

Everyone can agree that Train to Busan, the 2016 South Korean action horror film directed by Yeon Sang-ho, truly changed the zombie game. It is an ALL TIMER (We use that term lightly around here. Get used to it).

SO with that in mind, we are STOKED to hear that Yeon is back with Colony, another zombie thriller that looks fun as HELL. See ya in theaters August 28th, bitches.

-Eri

Also Directed by Olivia Wilde:
Train to Busan (2016)
Revelations (2025)

Yap Session in Las Cruces: Film Festival, What We’ve Been Watching, and Harry Potter First Watch #72

🎧 Listen to this episode on Apple Podcasts or Spotify
🎥 Watch this episode on YouTube

Josh and Eric record while Eric is in Las Cruces with poor internet, having forgotten his microphone, and while he is attending events tied to a film festival and a grand opening.

Eric describes interrupting Steve Zahn for a photo and later apologizing, while they joke about “everything everywhere all at once” jumpers and embarrassment as narcissism.

They discuss the grim state of New Mexico film production despite festival sponsorships, bird poop “good luck,” and what they’ve been watching: Eric’s first-time Harry Potter run (including an Alfonso Cuarón “ice/eyes” anecdote), Slow Horses season five, Your Friends and Neighbors, Project Hail Mary, and the new Mario movie, while Josh recommends The Pitt and DTF and mentions seeing the new Faces of Death and excitement for the Backrooms horror film.

Tune in next week for | Michael

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Here’s non-photoshopped evidence:

Here’s what we have for you this week:

Concession Stand Scorecard: You, Me & Tuscany
Watchlist Worthy: Four incredible talented people over for a dramatic evening
ICYMI Pod: Rom-Com movie draft with Josh, Kelly, and Eric

This week’s movie - You, Me & Tuscany

Letterboxd Description:

She came for the pasta and got lost in the sauce.

A free-spirited American chef and reserved British lawyer embark on a whirlwind romance during a destination wedding in coastal Italy.

Best Watched With

Your yes, and friend who says yes to everything and finds themselves on a spontaneous adventure

End Credit Thoughts

We’ll be honest here. We didn’t know this movie existed until last week’s newsletter. We’ve fallen a touch behind on scheduling out the year, but to be honest, once again, it is so much fun to go into a movie blind and have it turn out to be a good time. You, Me & Tuscany knows what it is, has a vision, and executes. It’s not trying to be anything other than a rom-com, and it stays the course throughout.

Starts off as any good rom-com should: in New York City, living a dream—not yours but someone else’s—when the main character’s life is thrown off the rails, which leads to a serendipitous run-in with a beautifully handsome person that makes the main character take a risk and hope for high reward. It runs the classic rom-com tropes. The best friend who tries to speak sense into you, the goofy, laid-back local that becomes a confidant, and a series of decisions that get the main character further and further into stressful situations, but the glimpse of what life could be makes it impossible not to go with the flow.

The soundtrack was fire. A new best artist banger and a Mario track that brought us back IMMEDIATELY back to high school (or middle school for Eric). The tropes might be cliché, and the use of music might be a touch corny, but this is how rom-coms ought to feel. Reminiscent of feeling a real crush, and hoping it might work out, and experiencing the rush from thinking, “how is this my life?”

The performances are brought, and the casting was spot on. Halle Bailey as the lead, Anna, and Aziza Scott as Claire, we’re believable as best friends since forever. We knew they had been through it together, talk shit to each other daily, and, no matter what, would ride or die for one another. The love interests, Regé-Jean Page (Michael) and Lorenzo de Moor (Matteo), were charming and charismatic when the recipe called for it, and shitty and standoffish when the meal called for spice. And, yes, of course, there were plenty of muscles to eat up, and we’re not talking Zuppa di Cozze.

What really made the movie was the side characters. The supporting cast fulfilled the classic rom-com roles to a T. The over-the-top in law, the grandmother whose love you need to earn, the hard-shelled nougaty parent whose respect is not freely given, and the scandalous family member who’s sweet and endearing.

The movie starts off messy and stressful, and only gets messier and more stressful. But it’s warm, bright, and set mostly in Italy; rich culture, family drama, good food, and good wine. What’s not to love? Rom-com lovers rejoice, this is a solid one. More traditional than the one we got last week (both great for different audiences).

If you want a feel-good, easy watch, see this one in theaters. If romance is not your glass of vino, wait till streaming, and you’ll still enjoy it.

Want to know more about our individual ratings of movies?
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The Invite by Olivia Wilde

Letterboxd Description:

It’ll be fun.

Joe and Angela’s marriage is on thin ice. When they invite their enigmatic upstairs neighbors for a dinner party, the night spirals into unexpected places.

Have Olivia Wilde really miss as a director? She did Booksmart and Don’t Worry Darling, the latter being the more questionable one. I loved Booksmart and I feel like most do. Personally, I Enjoyed Don’t Worry Darling. I only watched it once, but it’s left a good memory of the experience. Maybe because it seemed like everyone hated on Harry Styles’ performance, saying he was a turkey surrounded by eagle thespians, and I expected a much poorer performance because of it. I thought he held his own.

I digress. The Invite.

Wilde’s third feature film and it looks like a whole lot of fun. Seth Rogen is on a tear lately with the work he’s done with The Studio and Platonic. Both are fun, he’s incredible, and I believe he’ll show up and show out here. His counterparts are Penélope Cruz, Wilde, and Edward Norton—and they are the only actors and they are all stuck in an apartment for a dinner, and Rogen and Wilde’s relationship is on thin ice, and from the trailer it seems like weird shit starts to take place between the four of them? Small plot, one location, lots of drama. Super Sold. I’ll be there opening evening.

Added to my watchlist.

Also Directed by Olivia Wilde:
Booksmart (2019)
Don’t Worry Darling (2022)

Rom-Com Movie Draft: Spontaneously Creating Our Own Rom-Com #56

🎧 Listen to this episode on Apple Podcasts or Spotify
🎥 Watch this episode on YouTube

In this episode, Kelly, Eric, and Josh decide to do an unprepared, no research rom-com movie draft with various categories like love interest, city setting, best friend, and soundtrack to create their own rom-com.

They also dive into a myriad of side conversations, ranging from judging each other’s eating habits to debate over classic films and TV shows. The episode wraps up with the announcement of a show swap, agreeing to watch ‘Gossip Girl’ and ‘Ted Lasso’ and ‘Shrinking’. With plenty of laughs, jokes, and a bit of chaos, this episode offers an entertaining blend of pop culture chat and personal anecdotes.

Tune in next week for | Lee Cronin’s The Mummy

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And either there, or somewhere else, like comment here, if you are currently watching a show weekly and/or anticipating the release of a movie! Or maybe we should even do a group rewatach of a classic. We don’t know, the sky is the limit though.

Here’s what we have for you this week:

Concession Stand Scorecard: The Drama
Watchlist Worthy: Youngest A24 Director yet

This week’s movie - The Drama

Letterboxd Description:

A happily engaged couple is put to the test when an unexpected turn sends their wedding week off the rails.

Best Watched With

Someone who can handle and enjoy dark humor, and that friend who laughs real loud when they get extremely uncomfortable.

End Credit Thoughts

Um. So. uhhhhh. Where do we start with this one…

We love a rom-com. We love a rom-com set in a city. Sure, we might prefer NYC rom-coms, but Boston has some classic hitters. Beantown is home of Fever Pitch (2005), Never Stop Wonderland (1998), and, just because we love it enough to mention this movie whenever we can—even if it’s got some other genres going like drama and coming-of-age—your not so classic-rom com Good Will Hunting (1997). Now we can add The Drama (2026) into the mix. Because there is romance. And there is comedy. But it is heavily seasoned with dark AF humor and, not to be on the nose, drama.

If you are someone who cannot handle dark humor, or watch movies with a major plot point that is a real life problem in the United States regarding violence and guns, this is very not for you. We hope this is not too much of a spoiler but if this movie has been on your radar, there is a good chance you spend a lot of time online and some things have already been revealed for you. If not, and you have never seen the trailer, then this remark gives you an idea of what you’re walking into and I don’t think you could guess what exactly this even means considering this movie is about the days leading up to a wedding.

The stars of this movie are the performances, the directing, and the editing. Let’s begin with the behemoth of talent that is Robert Patterson. Truly a generational actor we do not deserve. The amount of high grade, quality work he has put into his performances the last decade will make us consider putting Twilight into the United States of America archives. He is quirky, hilarious, emotionally off the rails, and honest as hell in this movie.

Him and Zendaya have chemistry and whatever the word is when two people are polar opposites and there’s a huge division that causes so much anxiety and stress but it is also synergetic. It doesn’t make sense, but it works so damn well. We forgot they are Zendaya and Robert Patterson, believed they are the characters, and the weirdest thing of all is that Patterson got to use his real accent for once. Shout out Alana Haim and Mamoudou Athie for being excellent supporting actors that match the leads step for step.

The story is told in a non-linear fashion and benefits from it. The movie might take place over a span of days, but the editing allows us to experience years in a way that isn’t forced but appropriately gives us context. The quick cuts in the edit either adds to the humor or contributes to the drama. It feels intentional and we benefit from it, rather than feeling like the movie is doing too much.

The story explores character and goodness. Do we place value and judgement based on things we did or thought about doing? Is premeditation without action worse than no thought with spontaneous action? Are we the sum of the worse thing we ever did, or not do but considered, or is it possible to love the present person despite past selves?

We applaud those who will go into this movie blind. We overheard some folks who did. They weren’t upset, just shellshocked. The story escalates quickly into dark territory with heavy tones and themes. Could you commit the rest of your life to someone who just admitted to the worst thing they did a half of their lifetime ago? The theater adds to the experience in that people who absolutely hootin and hollerin out loud to the absurd and outlandishness of the movie. It leans heavily into the dark humor, and if you can ride those waves, you can have as much fun as those in row H in our screening.

This movie could be enjoyed just as much streaming as far as the movie goes, but for the brave and the bold, a full theater watch is warranted. This is the kind of indie filmmaking we like to support to keep cinema alive.

Want to know more about our individual ratings of movies?
Follow us on Letterboxd:
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@ericharrison
@kellyharrison

Backrooms by Kane Parsons

Letterboxd Description:

Everything must go.

A strange doorway appears in the basement of a furniture showroom.

COME ON! A 20 year-old YouTuber named Kane Parsons is directing what looks like a BANGER. The film, based on Parsons’ web series inspired by the “Backrooms” creepypasta 4chan thread (we don’t know what half of this means), releases widely at the end of May.

Looks EERIE AS HELL and has a promising cast. Chiwetel Ejiofor? Renate Reinsve? Come on — hop in and enjoy the ride with us! We don’t know what the hell its about but we are seated.

Also Directed by Kane Parsons:
The Backrooms (Found Footage) (2022)

Tune in next week for | You, Me & Tuscany

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Here’s what we covered in March in case you missed anything!

SCORECARDS

ICYMI PODCAST EPISODES

WATCHLIST WORTHY

In The Grey by Guy Ritchie

Dune: Part Three by Denis Villeneuve

Wild Horse Nine by Martin McDonagh

Subscribe now

Here’s what we have for you this week:

Concession Stand Scorecard: They Will Kill You
Watchlist Worthy: R Patt and Zendaya
Friends We Recommend: Josh on another episode with World Beyond Worlds

This week’s movie - They Will Kill You

Letterboxd Description:

Let them try.

A woman answers a help wanted ad to be a housekeeper in a mysterious high-rise in New York City, not realizing she is entering a community that has seen a number of disappearances over the years and may be under the grip of a Satanic cult.

Best Watched With

Siblings. Or someone in the same tax bracket as you.

End Credit Thoughts

This movie is not for anyone who does not mess with Satanic stuff or bloody brawls. We knew it would be violent. We knew it would be gory. Yes, all this was either written in the description or shown in the trailer. But we underestimated Asia Reeves’ (Zazie Beetz) tenacity to ensure, by any means necessary, that her sister (Myha'la) would be safe.

The highlight of the movie is its stylized approach. The choreography of the fights is innovative, and the over-the-top deaths, like getting blasted by a sawed-off double-barreled shotgun, propel the victim across the room, setting the tone of absurdity. Limbs are lost, and there’s a mix of Wes Craven amounts of blood with Quintin Tarantino blood-mist and splatters. There is definitely a vision of unrealistic physics and an expectation of belief suspension. So we needed to buckle up and let the ride take us where it wanted.

Zazzie Beetz is a force and a bright shining star of this show. Fueled by vengeance and regret, she puts high-octane gas into this performance. Patricia Arquette is great at putting on a very punchable attitude. Tom Felton was a great surprise in this kind of movie, and a good-hearted human who can also turn into a punchable face as soon as action is called.

The story is pretty cookie-cutter. Bad things happen, family is split, and years later, the main character finds out where her sibling is and vows to find them. But after the intro scene, we were thrown into a world where we discovered how things worked and what the hell was happening, little by little. We appreciate a good show, not tell exposition. With the use of fun, quippy flashbacks, outrageous fight sequences, and a Tekken-level throwdown in the third act, we were mostly entertained the whole time. The audience was engaged and laughing out loud at the audacity.

Those who are into this style and genre will love seeing this on a giant screen. But for the most part, if your theater tickets are $17+, this movie can be enjoyably thrown on the tube on a Saturday afternoon when it streams.

Josh Jump Scare Count: 4

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Wild Horse Nine by Martin McDonagh

Letterboxd Description:

Shortly before the 1973 Chilean coup, CIA agents Chris and Lee are dispatched from Santiago to Easter Island by their bureau chief, MJ. Amongst the Island’s iconic statues, and as the longtime partners wrestle with their dark pasts and present conspiracies, Chris’s newfound bond with a pair of rebellious students threatens to send everyone’s trip to this remote paradise sideways.

MARTIN MCDONAGH AND SAM ROCKWELL ARE BACK!! I watched the trailer and I still am not too sure what is happening, but it doesn’t matter because, personally, this guy does not miss. And it’s set on Rapa Nui aka Easter Island, and what is going on out there?

I don’t know what to say other than I will be sat. I will be biased. I will say this movie is better than it is with no guilt whatsoever.

added to my watchlist

-jp :)

Also Directed by Martin McDonagh:
In Bruges (2008)
Three Billboards Outside of Ebbing, Missouri (2017)
The Banshee of Inersherin (2022)

Worlds Beyond Worlds

Worlds Beyond Worlds: Mushrooms and De-Centering Our Selves

Listen now

2 months ago · 1 like · Patrick J. D'Silva, PhD

Patrick J. D’Silva introduces the Worlds Beyond Worlds podcast with the first of three conversations with former students from his course “Race, Religion, and Science Fiction,” focused on both the course’s themes and what it felt like to have autonomy in learning.

He reunites with Kim, Josh, and Gus, who share their academic backgrounds and why they enrolled, then discuss the course’s flexible structure—choosing readings from curated options, shaping discussions, and using alternative formats like podcasts—in contrast to rigid, top-down classes that can penalize students for life circumstances.

They describe how units and peer perspectives reframed topics like cyberpunk, disability, and worldbuilding, and they explain their final creative projects: Kim’s mushroom-based fiction, Josh’s non-linear story about identity, language, and land, and Gus’s narrative critiquing Christian worldviews and oppression.

Tune in next week for | The Drama

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Here’s what we have for you this week:

Concession Stand Scorecard: Project Hail Mary
Watchlist Worthy: Denis Dune-it again
New Pod: OSCARS!!!!

This week’s movie - Project Hail Mary

Letterboxd Description:

Believe in the Hail Mary.

Science teacher Ryland Grace wakes up on a spaceship light years from home with no recollection of who he is or how he got there. As his memory returns, he begins to uncover his mission: solve the riddle of the mysterious substance causing the sun to die out. He must call on his scientific knowledge and unorthodox ideas to save everything on Earth from extinction… but an unexpected friendship means he may not have to do it alone.

Best Watched With

Fast friends, forced friends, and any buddies who will let you bump their fist.

End Credit Thoughts

Doesn’t matter how great a movie is, how cool it looks, or how much we love the actors. Someone will always pop up to say, “yeah, but it’s not realistic,” especially when it involves science and alien life. But we’re here to make the case that this might actually be the most realistic movie ever made.

The world is on the brink. Every living thing on Earth is about to be wiped out in horrific, catastrophic fashion unless we send our most intelligent human to charm the hell out of a mysterious alien rock species, somehow figure out how to communicate, collaborate, and save the planet. And if they pull it off? Instant global fame. Magazine covers. Front-page headlines. Movies made about them. This person must not only be highly capable but also insanely handsome, and someone out there is going to say it is unrealistic that we would send Ryan Fucking Gosling?! We’re not buying it.

It would be pretty rad if Ryan Gosling saved the world and played himself in a movie, because no one else is as charismatic, good-looking, and wholesome as he is.

Okay, we digress.

Project Hail Mary is the adaptation of Peter Weir’s novel with the same name, which was a finalist for the 2022 Hugo Award for Best Novel. It’s highly praised and celebrated, so the story was there. The characters are thought out and fleshed out. There’s a built-in audience. All the filmmakers had to do was not mess it up.

And they super duper did not mess up in the slightest.

The visuals are absolutely stunning. We spend a whole lot of time in space, and quite a bit of time feeling overwhelmed by the vast, ever-expanding universe while simultaneously being mesmerized by its beauty and existence. It’s as if the Northern lights and the deepest, coldest parts of the Pacific Ocean had a baby. Beautiful and also terrifying.

But it is not just the space scenes that are gorgeous. It’s everything. The spaceship, the science things, the earth facilities, whatever is on the screen, it is shot well with captivating coloring and vibrant visualization of things we know little to nothing about (not one of us is a STEM person. Shoutout 17 major changes in the humanities). The camera did a lot of heavy lifting, but the flutes, choral arrangements and strings had our smiles wide and our hearts in our throats in one of the most memorable scores we’ve heard in a long time.

Even though this movie is grounded in astrophysics, orbital mechanics, microbiology, and physics, it’s the chemistry between actors and puppets (that’s right, no CGI Rocky) that holds everything together. We get some amazing supporting cast performances from Sandra Hüller as Eva Stratt and Lionel Boyce (we first saw him in The Bear and loved him, so he was a treat when he came on screen) as Carl. And it’s no surprise that they work well with Ryan Gosling (Ryland Grace). He may be an absolute liability at the corner, but Gosling is so damn charming that we could probably have world peace by now if he wasn’t too busy making movies and being the best father to his two kids and husband to love of his life.

This is a quintessential Gosling movie. We see him at his best, showing us his range with comedic timing, heartbreaking emotions, and how fit a 45-year-old can look (there is no way we were going to leave out anatomy).

This movie is a much-needed story and timely for our day and age. End-of-the-world stories can be so cold, cautionary, and have us fearing the future. Project Hail Mary does not have us fearing the end, but believing in the best of humanity while offering alternative reactions to “the other.” Extraterrestrial life forms do not always have to be aggressors and imperialistic, depicting the worst parts of the human race. They don’t even have to like humanoids. This movie envisions something entirely new and shows us our strength and resilience in a humble, wholesome way.

This is our first full movie of 2026. Be prepared to be held in thought, to laugh, and to cry, both tears of sadness and tears of joy. A must see in IMAX or whatever the largest screen is with the loudest sound. It is worth every dollar. It may not be the best movie we see this year, but it is a good-ass movie that gets close.

Josh Jump Scare Count: 2
Classic Ryan Gosling Yelp: 2

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Dune: Part Three by Denis Villeneuve

Letterboxd Description:

The epic conclusion.

As Emperor, Paul Atreides grapples with the consequences of his rise to power as political conspiracies and a galaxy-spanning holy war threaten the future he alone can foresee.

Timmy doing a war chant, R Patt looking like the biggest intergalactic menace, and the seeming return of Duncan Idaho. What more could we ask for in the finale in what will probably be one of the best sci-fi trilogies of all time?

Also Directed by Denis Villeneuve:
There’s just too many to list

Oscars 2026: Sinners! and a Rose Byrne Snub #71

🎧 Listen to this episode on Apple Podcasts or Spotify
🎥 Watch this episode on YouTube

Josh Perez and Eric Harrison return after a hiatus to recap recent movie-world happenings and react to the Oscars, including a lively first Substack chat and confusion over ballots and voice-memo predictions.

They plug Sweet and Condense on Instagram/Substack, their newsletter and “favorite weekend watches,” and Patrick D’Silva’s new podcast . The discussion centers on Oscar wins and frustrations, especially Eric’s anger that Best Actress went to Jesse Buckley for Hamnet over his preferred Rose Byrne in If I Had Legs I’d Kick You, and on the criticism that Academy voters don’t have to watch nominees.

They praise Conan O’Brien’s hosting, Paul Thomas Anderson’s wins and speeches, and highlight Sinners’ strong night, including Autumn Durald Arkapaw becoming the first woman to win cinematography, while debating Michael B. Jordan’s Best Actor win over Timothée Chalamet.

Kelly briefly joins to share favorite theater experiences (notably Sinners and Frankenstein), and they close by predicting next year’s contenders like Project Hail Mary, Odyssey, and Digger.

Tune in next week for | They Will Kill You

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2026 Academy Awards Ballot

425KB ∙ PDF file

Download

Boom bada bing! We definitely need a real design department, but, until then, we'll make due with what we got :D

Download

Also, one of the Harrisons fell ill, so, as much as our bullying Kelly into doing Reminders of Him for the scorecard actually worked, in the end, it did not. We had to pivot. Ironically, the movie is Harrison Catnip.

Here’s what we have for you this week:

Concession Stand Scorecard: Undertone
Watchlist Worthy: Guy Ritchie’s latest
New Pod: Patrick D’Silva, PhD, back on the pod
Friends We Recommend: Patrick launched his podcast!

This week’s movie - Undertone

Letterboxd Description:

It wants to be heard.

The host of a popular paranormal podcast becomes haunted by terrifying recordings mysteriously sent her way.

Best Watched With

Your podcasting friend, your podcast co-host, a your religiously curious friend.

End Credit Thoughts

We have some good news and some bad news. And like our good friend Eddie says, bad news first always.

The writing is where the movie suffers the most. We don’t always need everything laid out for us through dialogue, and the podcast recording scenes particularly struggled hard. The co-hosts, Evy (Nina Kiri) and Justin (Adam DiMarco) did not have the chemistry that led us to believe this is a popular all-things-spooky podcast. Their podcast show came off lackluster and a stereotypical used-car-salesperson energy—you like selling things more than liking what you’re actually selling. The story has heart, but the writing was in need of some innovation and creativity that went beyond playing childhood songs in reverse and the “I don’t want to finish this/Yes, we’ve came this far/Oh no we shouldn’t have done that” resolution.

Okay. Now that we got that out of the way, and situated the rest amongst the movies weakest part. The execution of this movie is actually creative and pretty damn cool. Hear us out.

It reminded us of last years’s Presence, the movie that is shot entirely from the phantom’s POV, with each segment being one long take. The story was fine, the writing was actually sub par, but the execution of how they told story was a big swing with high risks. Undertone feels similar.

Even though there are multiple characters, we only see two actors and hear the rest over phone calls. And one of the actors is the main character, Evy’s mom who’s severely ill and unconscious. Evy goes to a party and the doctors, but we, as the audience, don’t actually leave the house. It all takes place in one location, Evy’s home, a few rooms, and a few voices. It feels like a small budget movie making the most of every dollar to achieve horror, which they do pretty damn well despite their limitations.

The use of sound is vital. While podcasting, Evy uses noise cancelling headphones which we experience when she puts them on. It is a cool experience, until we were dying to hear what the hell was happening in the house but couldn’t because Evy still had her headphones on.

Then, there’s the use of spatial and stereo audio. The audience is hearing things not just from the screen, but from the side, behind, slight forward and to the right, all around the theater. There were times when we didn’t know if it was the movie or just a loud audience member.

The use of sound and the creative swing for the fences is what makes this movie worth seeing in theaters. Is it a good movie? Divisive. Walking out of a full theater, the chatter consisted of people who loved it, hated it, “I thought it was cool, but not scary at all” was one direct quote, but, nonetheless, people we’re discussing the experience. Sure, the writing needs a serious makeover. However, it can be watched like an ode to the OG Paranormal Activity, The Blair Witch Project, and the other found footage films where people were forced to be savvy to extend the budget and squeeze every ounce of juice of what they had in front of them.

It’s a slow burn, it takes a while to get to the actual horror aspects of the movie. So if you are a horror fan, but do not want something that builds up, skip this one. Also skip if you want your mind to be blown by an amazing original story. But if you enjoy creative experiments and good use of sound design and technical skills, watch in the theater.

Last thing, when editing stereo audio tracks, the right and left sound usually mirrors one another. We felt like this was intentionally used in the camera work. They used mirrors a few times where it felt like we were bouncing from the left to the right of rooms/the house, mirroring each other…but slight off…like one was showing reality and the other was showing horrifying things that looked like reality, blurring what was real and what wasn’t.

Want to know more about our individual rankings of movies?
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In The Grey by Guy Ritchie

We finally got a trailer for the latest Guy Ritchie flick. I love Guy Ritchie films. And what I mean by “I love Guy Ritchie films” is that Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels changed my movie-watching brain chemistry and I’ve been chasing a high that I have yet to feel since my first Snatch viewing. I have not loved his latest movies, but I continue to show up for my Guy, hoping he will deliver a cinematic rush that will have me evangelizing Ritchie films again.

This one has some of his recent usual suspect collaborators—Henry Cavil, Eiza Gonzalez, and Jake Gyllenhaal—but In The Grey is introducing his first team up with Rosamund Pike who is an absolute scene stealer. When she’s called, she delivers. The history books will read one day about how humanity has made some grave mistakes, and one of them being not giving her the Oscar for her performance in Gone Girl.

I don’t want to hype this one up too much. I want to keep the expectations low. But I can’t help myself. I’ll be there opening day with my gold pan expecting to find precious minerals, with a good chance of being the fool who falls for another mid movie BUT if Mr. Ritchie happens to read this, know if I am anything, I am loyal.

When a ruthless despot steals a billion-dollar fortune, a covert team of elite operatives who live in the global shadows, as comfortable wielding power and influence as they are automatic weapons and high explosives, is sent to steal it back on what would be for anyone else a suicide mission. What begins as an impossible heist gets much worse, spiraling into an all-out war of strategy, deception and survival.

Also Directed by Guy Ritchie:
Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels (1998)
Snatch (2000)
The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare (2024)

Race, Religion, and Science Fiction: Co-Created Learning, unEssays, and the Power of Film #70

🎧 Listen to this episode on Apple Podcasts or Spotify
🎥 Watch this episode on YouTube

Josh interviews Patrick D’Silva, PhD, about his graduate special-topics course “Race, Religion, and Science Fiction,” developed from an upper-level “Religion and Science Fiction” class and expanded to foreground race alongside gender, sexuality, and disability through units on Lord of the Rings, Star Wars/Star Trek, Indigenous Futurism, Afrofuturism/Africanfuturism, cyberpunk (including Neuromancer), monsters (Frankenstein), and Jediism as a fiction-based religious movement.

Patrick’s Substack/podcast project “Worlds Beyond Worlds” is now live, where he will publish interviews with students about their projects.

Patrick launched his Podcast, and has been writing the occasional essay, on his Substack Worlds Beyond Worlds!

Patrick J. D’Silva writes about spaceships and dragons (among other things) at Worlds Beyond Worlds. An Islamicist specializing in Persian Sufism by training, he has taught in Philosophy and Religious Studies departments at several universities in Colorado. He lives in Boulder, CO, with his family.

Episode two of his current series interviewing students about the course and their final projects drops today. And I am one of the students in episode 2! If you are reading this after 6 AM MST, it should be populated below :)

Worlds Beyond Worlds

Home for explorations of how religion, race, and speculative fiction (sci-fi and fantasy) all intersect to create different visions of how to be human.

By Patrick J. D'Silva, PhD

Tune in next week for | Project Hail Mary

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Here’s what we have for you this week:

Concession Stand Scorecard: The Bride!
ICYMI Pod: Horror movie draft

This week’s movie - The Bride!

Letterboxd Description:

Here comes the mother f*%#ing bride!

A lonely Frankenstein travels to 1930s Chicago to ask groundbreaking scientist Dr. Euphronious to create a companion for him. The two revive a murdered young woman and The Bride is born. But what ensues is beyond what either of them imagined.

Best Watched With

Anyone who loves love (or sex, or violence - best if it’s all of the above).

End Credit Thoughts

Getting two brand-new Frankenstein movies released within a year of each other wasn’t on our bingo card, but Maggie Gyllenhaal delivers a capital-F Film with her sophomore outing as writer and director. The writing, acting, and general chaos on screen reminded us of a big Broadway production (in the best way). Between the standout performances and the bold stylistic choices, Gyllenhaal clearly has something to say.

The movie is set in the 1930s, and the Bonnie and Clyde meets Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde vibes are strong. The noir backdrop is accentuated by swooning orchestral strings that rise and fall with the action on screen. Highly stylized monologues and dance numbers blur the line between what’s actually happening and the warped reality of Frankenstein and the Bride.

Christian Bale as Frankenstein’s Monster is a delight. He plays a tortured immortal soul so convincingly that you can’t help but feel his pain, his longing, and his devotion to his bride. It’s all rounded out by how surprisingly funny and endearing he is throughout the film. But it’s Jessie Buckley (The Bride) who walks away with the acting crown here. She shifts between characters and accents with expert precision. We hope that since she basically played three roles she got paid three times as much. Every penny would be deserved.

Genre-wise, this movie has a little bit of everything. There’s action, crime, drama, gore, a deeply flawed love story, and a strong message about women and how they’re treated. Outside of a few familiar ingredients used in clever ways, you won’t find much of the original Frankenstein story here. But this modern direction is a weird, fever-dream blast.

Gyllenhaal is clearly making a statement about how women are viewed and treated in society, and viewers should know going in that there are scenes involving violence toward women that may be difficult to watch. Everyone’s tolerance will be different, but for us it never pulled the story off course. The movie is wild and weird, but Gyllenhaal proves she has a steady hand guiding the whole thing.

As much fun as we had, this one doesn’t demand the big screen. Save the ticket money and stream it at home when it lands.

Want to know more about our individual rankings of movies?
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Horror Movie Draft: Creating Our Own Horror Movies #65

🎧 Listen to this episode on Apple Podcasts or Spotify
🎥 Watch this episode on YouTube

Josh, Eric, and Kelly go head-to-head, building their own theoretical horror movies by drafting from nine specific categories. The episode is filled with chaotic energy, accusations of cheating , and a deep-dive analysis of why Christian Venegas doesn’t watch movies.

Let us know who had the best horror movie draft in the comments on Spotify, YouTube, Instagram, social media, email, or text message.

Draft Categories

The hosts built their movies by drafting picks in the following 9 rounds:

• Director

• Setting

• First Character to Die

• Final Girl (or Survivor)

• Two Ensemble Characters

• Soundtrack

• Villain (Outside the Horror Genre)

• Horror Subgenre

• The Twist

Tune in next week for | Reminders of Him

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Happy Birthday to our February Sweet Friend! 🎂

Greg 2/8 - Favorite Movie: Children of Men

Tell us your birthday & favorite movie here: Sweet Friends: Birthday and Fav Movie

Here’s what we covered in February in case you missed anything!

SCORECARDS

ICYMI PODCAST EPISODES & RED CAP ESSAY

WATCHLIST WORTHY

Masters of the Universe by Travis Knight

Obsession by Curry Barker

Toy Story 5 by Andrew Stanton

Scary Movie 6 by Michael Tiddes

Subscribe now

Here’s what we have for you this week:

Concession Stand Scorecard: Scream 7
Watchlist Worthy: THE WAYANS ARE BACK
ICYMI Pod: Horror movie draft

This week’s movie - Scream 7

Letterboxd Description:

Burn it all down.

When a new Ghostface killer emerges in the quiet town where Sidney Prescott has built a new life, her darkest fears are realized as her daughter becomes the next target. Determined to protect her family, Sidney must face the horrors of her past to put an end to the bloodshed once and for all.

Best Watched With

Friends who love slashers and were alive when Scream came out in 1996.

End Credit Thoughts

There aren’t too many modern franchises that have hit the seven-film mark, but the Scream series just keeps marching on. Our expectations were low, but our excitement spiked when we saw concession lines filled with elder millennial moms and their teen daughters, all rocking Ghostface shirts. Maybe — just maybe — they’d strike gold on the seventh trip back to this same well.

A few of us hadn’t seen Scream 6 (or 5… or 4), and no one felt lost. Yes, there are nods to the NYC killing spree from the sixth film and plenty of returning characters, but nothing left the less-initiated behind. That said, the only true prerequisite viewing here is the 1996 original. And while we’re not sure if the writers thought they were being clever, the shot-for-shot recreations and identical needle drops from the first film felt more cheap than cheeky.

The original ensemble — Nev Campbell as Sidney, Courteney Cox as Gale, and Matthew Lillard as Stu — brought exactly the energy we’ve come to expect. We’re happy to report that Lillard can still tap into that unhinged Stu chaos three decades later. The new generation (literally the offspring of some original characters) holds its own, but no real standouts emerged.

This franchise is built on a sturdy foundation of wild plot twists, gnarly deaths, and those big Ghostface motive reveals. Credit where it’s due: the kills here are inventive and the gore is cranked to eleven. The story, though? That’s where we started squinting. Some of the dialogue and character choices are so painfully on-the-nose that we couldn’t tell if it was intentional. Sort of like a campy inside joke for die-hard fans. That’s the generous read. The less generous one is that the script...isn’t great.

Hot take aside, we still had a blast. There are legit jump scares, outrageous deaths, callbacks, and moments so absurd the entire theater burst out laughing. If you’re a die-hard, grab your friends and head to the theater. If you’re more of a casual (like the punk rocker among us who’s skipped nearly half the franchise), this one will do just fine as a future at-home stream.

Want to know more about our individual rankings of movies?
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Scary Movie 6 by Michael Tiddes

We just watched the trailer premiere before Scream 7…

GOOD SCARY MOVIE IS BACK!

The Wayan brothers are back to producing and writing a Scary Movie since 2002. From what we saw—and the inclusion of some of our enjoyed movies in the past decade—we are hyped and love that the franchise is back in the original and very capable hands. The trailer will be releasing online soon.

Letterboxd Description:

The sixth installment in the franchise. Plot TBA.

Also Directed by Michael Tiddes:
Haunted House (2013)
Fifty Shades of Black (2016)
Naked (2017)

Horror Movie Draft: Creating Our Own Horror Movies #65

🎧 Listen to this episode on Apple Podcasts or Spotify
🎥 Watch this episode on YouTube

Josh, Eric, and Kelly go head-to-head, building their own theoretical horror movies by drafting from nine specific categories. The episode is filled with chaotic energy, accusations of cheating , and a deep-dive analysis of why Christian Venegas doesn’t watch movies.

Let us know who had the best horror movie draft in the comments on Spotify, YouTube, Instagram, social media, email, or text message.

Draft Categories

The hosts built their movies by drafting picks in the following 9 rounds:

• Director

• Setting

• First Character to Die

• Final Girl (or Survivor)

• Two Ensemble Characters

• Soundtrack

• Villain (Outside the Horror Genre)

• Horror Subgenre

• The Twist

Tune in next week for | The Bride

Follow us on:
Instagram: @_sweetandcondensed_
TikTok: @SweetAndCondensed
Youtube: @SweetAndCondensed

Here’s what we have for you this week:

Concession Stand Scorecard: How to Make A Killing
Watchlist Worthy: Another toy story
ICYMI Pod: The Muppets and Jim Henson’s Legacy

This week’s movie - How to Make A Killing

Letterboxd Description:

$28 billion inheritance. 7 relatives standing in the way.

Disowned at birth by his obscenely wealthy family, blue-collar Becket Redfellow will stop at nothing to reclaim his inheritance, no matter how many relatives stand in his way.

Best Watched With

Your wealthy cousins

End Credit Thoughts

If you do not like heavily narrated movies, this one is not for you. How to Make a Killing is one of those let’s-work-backwards kind of movies where the main character lays out, step by step, how they got to where they are. At first, it felt heavy-handed. But as the story unfolded, either we got used to it, or the narration started to work seamlessly, so we didn’t mind as much.

The movie takes some twists and turns, nothing mind-blowing, but an enjoyable, fun way to tell an inheritance plot. Becket Redfellow (Glen Powell) is a likable character, and it was easy to root for him. His backstory allowed us to feel like his plot to take out the living inheritors was a grey area, despite the morality of murder being black and white.

Over the past couple of years, Powell has proved himself a leading man, and this movie plays to his strengths. He can tell a good story and has a voice for narration. Powell can pull off pretty much any costume and wardrobe choices, making him even easier on the eyes. He’s not phoning it in playing this role, but we didn’t walk away wowed by his performance. He does a good job and gives us what we expected.

Margaret Qualley (Julia Steinway), on the other hand, is always a delight and is one of the more memorable characters. She is so great at bringing an x-factor to all her characters that draws us in, forcing us to ask questions and wonder more about them and their roles in the story. More than just Qualley, Powell is surrounded by a fun and dynamic supporting cast. Topher Grace (Pastor Steven J. Redfellow), Ed Harris (Whitelaw Redfellow), and Zach Woods (Noah Redfellow) offered different perspectives on ultra-wealthy characters who made us laugh, frighten, and frustrated. Oh, we can’t forget Bill Camp as Warren Redfellow. It is always nice to see Camp on the big screen in a good light. This man is a talent.

Is the story believable? We don’t think this matters here. Suspend disbelief, sit down and buckle up, and let the rollercoaster take you where it wants. How to Make a Killing isn’t super unpredictable, but there’s enough of a twist to make the viewing worth it. Is it worth the price of admission at the local theater? We’re siding on waiting to stream. It’s not a bad movie, just not a spectacle enough to justify a massive screen and booming sound.

Want to know more about our individual rankings of movies?
Follow us on Letterboxd:
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@ericharrison
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Toy Story 5 by Andrew Stanton

The gang is BACK!

Some of us (Eric) are lifelong fans of this incredible, timeless, treasured franchise. Some say, when he first traveled overseas in high school to Europe, he actually took his stuffed Buzz Lightyear. Rumor has it it was the same one he’s had since he was a child. Rumor goes on to say that he STILL has it and won’t let his kids give it away.

ANYWAYS. While we will ALL be seated for what looks like another timeless adventure with the gang, DAMN do the voice actors sound tired. I think this should be it. As much as I’d love to have 10 more of these bad boys, this should be the franchise swan song. We can’t wait!

Letterboxd Description:

It’s on.

When Bonnie receives a Lilypad tablet as a gift and becomes obsessed, Buzz, Woody, Jessie and the rest of the gang’s jobs become exponentially harder when they have to go head to head with the all-new threat to playtime.

Also Directed by Andrew Stanton:
Finding Nemo (2003)
Walle-E (2008)
Finding Dory (2016)

Jim Henson, The Muppets, and the Power of Puppetry w/ Special Guest Amerique Monagle #61

🎧 Listen to this episode on Apple Podcasts or Spotify
🎥 Watch this episode on YouTube

In this episode, Josh is joined by special guest Amerique Monagle to discuss the life and legacy of Jim Henson. Amerique shares her personal connection to puppetry and storytelling, and provides an in-depth look at Henson’s career, from his early days on “Sesame Street” to the creation of “The Muppet Show” and beyond.

They explore the development of iconic Muppet characters, the technical innovations Henson brought to filmmaking, and the underlying themes of creativity, collaboration, and taking care of each other that defined his work. The conversation also touches on Henson’s other projects, including “The Dark Crystal” and “Fraggle Rock,” as well as his lasting impact on pop culture.

Tune in next week for | Scream 7

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Here’s what we have for you this week:

Concession Stand Scorecard: Wuthering Heights
Watchlist Worthy: Eric’s Obsession
ICYMI Pod: Throwback to our Saltburn episode

This week’s movie - Wuthering Heights

Letterboxd Description:

Come undone.

Tragedy strikes when Heathcliff falls in love with Catherine Earnshaw, a woman from a wealthy family in 18th-century England.

Best Watched With

the best friend you never married

End Credit Thoughts

Let’s begin with the page-to-picture adaptation. If you want a one-to-one, faithful audio-visual interpretation of Emily Brontë’s classic Wuthering Heights, writer and director Emerald Fennell’s third feature will disappoint. Aside from the characters retained, the toxic romance, and the vengeful plot, the movie deviates significantly from the original story. A rendition, a re-imagination, Fennel gives us her version of the novel. Sure, it couldn’t hurt to be familiar with the book before watching. But one does not need to be well read to love (or hate) the latest Wuthering Heights for the big screen.

The opening scene sets the tone for the two-hour-plus runtime, evoking contrasting emotions. Sound was used with precision, articulating Fennel’s intention in every howling wind, and each exhale, gasp, and sigh. The score read like prose, allowing the spaces with no dialogue to communicate what to know and how to feel, pulling us into the world of Cathy and Heathcliff.

The world-building is gorgeous, grandiose, and even ghastly at times. The expansive shots of misty, green high-altitude landscape of Northern England, the riches and wealth of the 18th and 19th centuries line the halls and rooms of Edgar Linton’s estate, and the Earnshaws’ gothic and gloomy country home is beautifully captured by Linus Sandgren, the cinematographer who gave us La La Land and Saltburn’s stunning visuals. At times, we were in awe of the beauty; at times, we were unsettled. An Emerald Fennel trademark.

Margot Robbie (Catherine Earnshaw) and Jacob Elordi’s (Heathcliff) chemistry is palpable. The push and pull, the tension of societal forbidden love, is felt throughout. It was infuriating and captivating. The Australian duo has an incredible power to silently speak, shout, and spill out their souls through iris and pupil without saying a single word. They can yearn, love, hate, and be devastated with those big, beautiful, brown, and blue eyes gazing into the camera.

It’s steamy and sexual, but not gratuitous with nudity. Definitely not appropriate for youth, but it shows less skin than expected given the marketing.

We weren’t sure what we were getting into, but a classic story told by a modern filmmaker, with a top-notch cast (including Owen Cooper as Young Heathcliff, the magnificent Hong Chau as Nellie, and Alison Oliver as Isabella), it was hard not to be excited. We watched it in IMAX, and the biggest screen at AMC rewarded us. The visuals, the sound design, the set production, the acting, all around this movie have all the pieces for a great watch.

The decision to watch this on the big screen or not hinges on if the choices of the writer and director are desired or not. If you are interested in what they got right and wrong from the book, this may not be for you. If you’re interested in a gothic, dreamy, artsy interpretation from the (brilliant, in our opinion) mind of Emerald Fennel, watch this one on the big screen.

Want to know more about our individual rankings of movies?
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Obsession by Curry Barker

Obsession

Premise: A music store employee and hopeless romantic named Bear uses a supernatural novelty toy, called the “One Wish Willow”, to wish for his longtime crush and childhood friend Nikki to fall in love with him. However, the wish is granted with unexpectedly dark consequences for both of them.

This looks INSANE. The teaser trailer that dropped a few months ago had us hook line and sinker. Curry Baker is at the helm for this one and we don’t have much to go off of, but if the movie is anything like the trailer... we’re in good hands.

AND... with an unknown cast like this, S&C thinks we are in for a TREAT.

Added to my watchlist.

-Eric

Letterboxd Description:

After breaking the mysterious “One Wish Willow” to win his crush’s heart, a hopeless romantic finds himself getting exactly what he asked for but soon discovers that some desires come at a dark, sinister price.

Friendships, Funerals, Fonts: Saltburn - Amazon Prime #015

🎧 Listen to this podcast at Apple Podcasts or Spotify.

In this episode, Eric and Josh talk about Saltburn using the ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Jimmy V 1993 ESPY Speech⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ – Did it hold us in thought, make us laugh, and move our emotions to tears?

The description on Amazon Prime reads: “Academy Award winning filmmaker Emerald Fennell brings us a beautifully wicked tale of privilege and desire. Struggling to find his place at Oxford University, student Oliver Quick (Barry Keoghan) finds himself drawn into the world of the charming and aristocratic Felix Catton (Jacob Elordi), who invites him to Saltburn, his eccentric family’s sprawling estate, for a summer never to be forgotten.”

Josh and Eric discuss Saltburn. They explore its themes, performances, and their own personal reactions. The discussion then diverges into their individual experiences, encompassing subjects like friendships stemming from proximity, their past shared adventures, and even pondering their own hypothetical funerals.

Tune in next week for | How to Make a Killing

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Here’s what we have for you this week:

Concession Stand Scorecard: Dracula: A Love Tale
Watchlist Worthy: an 80’s icon drops the bowl cut
ICYMI Red Cap Essay: Ritual and Remarkable

This week’s movie - Dracula: A Love Tale

Letterboxd Description:

He renounced his faith to become immortal. Passion, anger, vengeance, and hatred will be unleashed into the modern world.

When a 15th-century prince’s wife is brutally murdered, he renounces God and damns heaven itself. Cursed with eternal life, he is reborn as Dracula–an immortal warlord who defies fate in a blood-soaked crusade to wrench his lost love back from death.

Best Watched With

a goblet of wine, or grape juice, in the comfort of your home.

End Credit Thoughts

The latest visualization of Bram Stoker’s Dracula is more of a rendition than an adaptation. Reading the book and knowing the world of Dracula would be helpful, but not necessary. Though playing similar roles, some of the characters are completely swapped out for new ones. This rendition is a reimagined perspective from the romantic and yearning side of Prince Vladimir of Wallachia aka Dracula while attempting to remain in the horror and supernatural fantasy genre.

The production does well bringing a gothic, horror, romance aesthetic vibe with the costumes, set designs, and music. Briefly in the 1400s, we get the royal gowns and full suits of armor made to intimidate and vanquish opposing armies. Despite us not believing one would actually be able to see through the dragon shaped, large helmet, Prince Vlad did look pretty cool in battle. In the 1800s, where most of the movie takes place, the period is brought to life through decadent ballrooms, carnivals, and gorgeous imagery as Prince Vlad wanders the world seeking for his lost love. The reliance on cellos and violins for the score emphasized the goth romance, adding to the dark tones of the gothic era and heavy emotions that come from a longing, broken heart.

Caleb Landry Jones looks the part and fits right in to what we would imagine a 1400s Prince from Romania would look like. Rather than a completely vengeful and wrathful Dracula, Jones brings an broken and beaten human side to the isolated Vampire that is holding on to a sliver of hope after 400 years of waiting for the reincarnation of his wife Elizabeta played by Zoë Bleu. This version of Dracula is less haunting than previous ones, and it was not our favorite, but Jones portrayal is moving at times. A birdie on a par five on the local golf course.

Bleu is stunning, and her performances of two characters is distinguishable from each other. Christoph Waltz is always fun to watch on the big screen, and this remains true for his role as the Priest. But he is capable of more than an entertaining watch. Jones get the closest to giving a wowing performance, but it’s the production that is the star of this movie.

It was fun to see a hopeless romantic Dracula in a love story version of a long told story, but the tone of the movie shifts a little too much for the movie to feel completely cohesive. The movie includes comedic moments that border parody or satire, which did not mix well with the horror and fantasy for us. It even felt a little campy at times, but lacked commitment to weaving the genres together. Where this movie falls short in its genre, the visuals, music, and performances pick up the slack, making this a decent watch. And there are, surprisingly, a few banger, poetic lines delivered that stuck with us on the drive home.

We weren’t convinced this one is worth the price of admission, and our verdict is to wait to stream at home.

Want to know more about our individual rankings of movies?
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Masters of the Universe by
Travis Knight

I remember Masters of the Universe mostly for He Man’s bangs and the meme content it generated. I don’t think I ever actually saw the show or the original movie, but this new looks fun. Despite the fact that Jared Leto is in it (basically the kiss of death for movies recently) I am hopeful this could be a fun action flick. Fun random fact: Travis Knight is Phil Knight’s (founder of Nike) son.

Added to my watchlist.

-NMD

Letterboxd Description:

Witness how he became He-Man.

After being separated for 15 years, the Sword of Power leads Prince Adam back to Eternia, where he discovers his home shattered under the fiendish rule of Skeletor. To save his family and his world, Adam must join forces with his closest allies, Teela and Duncan/Man-At-Arms, and embrace his true destiny as He-Man — the most powerful man in the universe.

Movies Directed by Travis Knight:
Bumblebee (2018)

Tune in next week for | Wuthering Heights

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Here’s what we covered in January in case you missed anything!

SCORECARDS

PODCAST EPISODES

WATCHLIST WORTHY

The Odyssey by Christopher Nolan

The Death of Robin Hood by Michael Sarnoski

Digger by Alejandro González Iñárritu

Highlander by Chad Stahelski

Subscribe now

Happy Birthday to our Sweet Friend:

🥳 Joslin 1/26 - Favorite Movie: The Princess Diaries

Tell us your birthday & favorite movie here: Sweet Friends: Birthday and Fav Movie

There is an interview out there in which Send Help star Dylan O’Brien is asked what his favorite movie his co-star Rachel McAdams has done, and he immediately laughs and puts his head down.

If you are thinking some go-to McAdam’s classics, you might be right. But it’s not Mean Girls, and it is not The Notebook.

If The Hot Chick was on your mind, you are correct! McAdam’s said that while on set, O’Brien would quote the movie to her, and she was completely lost, thinking, “What the hell are you saying?” because she had forgotten about The Hot Chick.

We just love that there is a moment in space and time when the director of Send Help yelled, “Cut!” And Dylan O’Brien would look into his co-star’s eyes and say, “It’s me…Jessica!… I’m in here.” And Rachel McAdam’s is completely dumbfounded.

Here’s what we have for you this week:

Concession Stand Scorecard: Send Help
Watchlist Worthy: Heads will roll
New Pod Drop: The Guys talk Stranger Things Season 5

This week’s movie - Send Help

Letterboxd Description:

Meet Linda Liddle… She’s from strategy and planning. She’s the boss now.

Two colleagues become stranded on a deserted island, the only survivors of a plane crash. On the island, they must overcome past grievances and work together to survive, but ultimately, it’s a battle of wills and wits to make it out alive.

Best Watched With

Your co-workers, your boss…hell, bring the whole office.

End Credit Thoughts

WELCOME BACK, SAM RAIMI!

After 17 years, the millennials’ favorite 2000’s Marvel director is back to directing horror! And comedy. At the same time. We can’t remember the last time our theater erupted in laughter as hard as they jump-scare-induced yelled (or maybe that was just Josh), and sometimes we were laughing in disbelief with our hands covering our faces from the atrocities that were taking place on screen (or maybe that was just Josh). Either way, this comedy-horror is well placed in the genre, which doesn’t always happen.

This two-hour movie felt like a tight 80-minute banger. A young asshole who ate catered breakfast with a silver spoon gets stuck on an island with the one colleague that he sees little to no value in. Power dynamics shift, survival is necessary, and somehow, blood is everywhere. A rom-com gone very wrong, but just as funny.

Whoever had the vision to cast Dylan O’Brien and Rachel McAdams in a movie with this plot needs to be hired as VP of Strategy and Planning ASAP as possible. O’Brien has the charm and the looks, but pulls off the frat house douchebag who inherited everything he owns. It shouldn’t be conflicting, but it is, and it makes it tough not to care for him in moments of vulnerability. McAdams is a goddess with unlimited range. Is there a role or genre she can’t do? Their chemistry is present when they hate each other and when they are getting along. We just know the entire crew had a blast making this one.

It sounds like a straightforward plot, but there are plenty of surprising twists and unforeseen turns on this involuntary beachside vacation. The storytelling is well executed, with Easter eggs dropped into scenes and dialogue, and it all ties into a double-ribbon bow in the end. From beginning to end, you are either hooked by the humor, furious by the frat brotherhood nonsense, tied down by the tension, or shocked by the batshit insane gore and violence. The audience audibly gasped, laughed, and gagged multiple times—one time even doing all three at once (that was definitely just Josh almost gag-vomiting his Honeycrisp he snuck in onto his lap).

This might be the most fun theater-watch January we have had in a while, and it is ending on a high note. O’Brien’s cackle and McAdam’s survival wisdom are burned into our brains, and we hope to at least not forget one of them anytime soon. Horror fans will rejoice at Raimi’s stellar comeback. Watch this one in Dolby Cinema or whatever fancy theater is near you, so you can have your seats rumble and stunning visuals. Just be prepared for the unhinged and unsettling horror stuff that makes most people squirm and queasy.

Want to know more about our individual rankings of movies?
Follow us on Letterboxd:
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@ericharrison
@kellyharrison
@newmexicodrew

Highlander by Chad Stahelski

Back in the 90s I actually watched the television series (the band Queen sang the intro - so random, so cool) before I ever saw the movies. It’s a bunch of dudes who are immortal unless you chop their heads off, so naturally they all walk around with swords. Chad Stahelski gave us some of the best gun and hand to hand action scenes in the John Wick series, so I can’t wait to see what he does with Henry Cavill and a bunch of blades.

Added to my watchlist.

-NMD

Letterboxd Description:

A comedy of catastrophic proportions.

The most powerful man in the world embarks on a frantic mission to prove he is humanity’s saviour before the disaster he’s unleashed destroys everything.

Movies Directed by Chad Stahelski:
John Wick (2014)
(All of the other John Wicks)

Stranger Things S5: Spoilers #69

🎧 Listen to this episode on Apple Podcasts or Spotify
🎥 Watch this episode on YouTube

Josh, Eric, and New Mexico Drew dive deep into the final season of Stranger Things. They discuss the highs, lows, and unexpected hair choices of the series finale. The crew breaks down character arcs, the impact of the Duffer Brothers’ direction, and whether the emotional payoffs landed or fell flat.

Tune in next week for | Still up for debate. Let us know if you have an opinion 2026 Releases

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Here’s what we have for you this week:

Concession Stand Scorecard: Mercy
Watchlist Worthy: ##
Friends We Recommend: ICYMI - Josh was the guest on a pod

This week’s movie - Mercy

Letterboxd Description:

90 minutes to prove your innocence or face execution.

In the near future, a detective stands on trial accused of murdering his wife. He has 90 minutes to prove his innocence to the advanced A.I. Judge he once championed, before it determines his fate.

Best Watched With

With someone who has to put the 3D glasses on top of their glasses

End Credit Thoughts

We watched this one in IMAX and in 3D. We have to be honest here. We went into this thinking why the hell would there be a 3D showing for this movie? We are happy and humbled to report that we found out why, and it makes a lot of sense.

In this not-so-far-off futuristic world in 2029, people accused of murder are guilty until proven innocent. Not with the help of a lawyer, and the jury, judge, and executioner are one person—well, one entity. An artificial intelligence judge, Judge Maddox (Rebecca Ferguson), plays all the roles, and the accused on trial is the defendant and the lawyer.

Detective Chris Raven (Chris Pratt) has access to the government’s cloud database, which stores pretty much any digital recording on any device that connects to the internet, to build a case, and is allowed to call anyone, but only to prove his innocence. These are the reasons why the movie calls for a 3D experience. Folders, files, and footage open and expand, immersing Detective Raven and the audience into visuals of the digital world. Detective Raven may be strapped to a chair the whole time, but we move in and out of recordings and phone calls as he sifts through evidence and FaceTimes others.

The accused has only 90 minutes to argue their innocence, which is about the movie’s runtime, so we experience the urgency and stress of the passing time alongside Detective Raven. Where the story falls short, the time aspect picks up the slack.

Chris Pratt is believable as a troubled man tied to a stake, ready to burn, demonstrating anger, restraint, care, conviction, and intelligence, but overall, the performances here are not groundbreaking. Rebecca Ferguson is a star, filled to the brim with talent, so she could play a tree, and we’d be impressed. As Judge Maddox, she does a job well done, portraying an engineered artificial intelligence that focuses on the facts and is designed without sentience.

For a movie centering on an immobile man and a projected image of a digital woman, there are quite a few other characters, settings, and a decent amount of action. Futuristic elements are present in technology, gadgets, and transportation, and the movie offers explosions, tension, and thrills we want in Sci-Fi Action films. Even though aspects of the story, particularly with this plane's landing, feel rushed and messy, Mercy is not special in what is being told but in how it’s shown.

We lean towards streaming this at home. It’s fun and entertaining enough, but if the story were stronger and the plot tighter, it would be a stronger case for spending time and extra money on it. If you are intrigued and don’t mind paying a premium, the immersive feel of IMAX and 3D is the way to go.

Want to know more about our individual rankings of movies?
Follow us on Letterboxd:
@justjoshperez
@ericharrison
@kellyharrison
@newmexicodrew

Home of the Spicy Double Feature, Movie Mavens is a podcast about movies hosted by filmmaker Annie Jaynes and pop-culture critic Carsen Greene.

Each week, the Movie Mavens compare two or more films that are related in some way in what they call a Spicy Double Feature.

They also keep a diary of recent watches and recommendations across all entertainment; film, TV, games, books, & more!

Follow them on Instagram @MovieMavens

For business inquiries, email moviemavenspodcast@gmail.com

Ep. 209: More Selfish Men (Marty Supreme & Whiplash) FEAT. Josh Perez from Sweet & Condensed

00:00 - Just Chattin’ with @justjoshperez

06:25 - New Years Resolutions

14:37 - Marty Supreme

43:32 - Whiplash

Tune in next week for | Send Help

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Here’s what we have for you this week:

Concession Stand Scorecard: 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple
Watchlist Worthy: a heavy weight director returns
Friends We Recommend: Josh was a special guest on a movie podcast!

This week’s movie - 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple

Letterboxd Description:

Fear is the new faith.

Dr. Kelson finds himself in a shocking new relationship - with consequences that could change the world as they know it - and Spike’s encounter with Jimmy Crystal becomes a nightmare he can’t escape.

Best Watched With

Eric Harrison, or a friend you can share a joint with.

End Credit Thoughts

It would be fair to say the entire crew are fans of this franchise. We all loved 28 Years Later, so we were very much looking forward to The Bone Temple. But if you, like us, go into this movie expecting more of what you got from the first 28 Years Later installment, you’re going to be left murmuring “WTF” to yourself on multiple occasions.

We’re in the same location as the first movie, and we have a handful of the same characters (yes, we see Samson, and yes, we see him in full frontal nude again). But other than the jerky POV camera shots, the camera work and editing here are much more traditional than the first movie.

Jack O’Connell as the lead villain, Jimmy Crystal, could read an instruction manual and we’d still be hooked. His diabolical antics are grounded by chilling charisma and charm, even with a mouth full of rotten teeth. As good as O’Connell is, The Bone Temple is Ralph Fiennes’ party and we’re all just invited.

We got to see his incredible dramatic performance in the first movie, but here we get Fiennes unhinged and clearly having the time of his life on screen. We honestly can’t think of another time when a man well into his sixties looked like he was having more fun than a six-year-old.

This movie might have the fewest infected in the franchise so far, and the most hard-to-stomach gore. That’s not a contradiction, because the nauseating carnage comes from the hands of uninfected humans. If you’re looking for a traditional zombie flick, this isn’t it. And if you can’t handle Satanic worship and body horror, this definitely isn’t for you.

But if you love watching actors perform completely out of their minds, lots of blood, and great accents, you’ll enjoy this movie. And if that’s you, you should see it on the big screen. If for nothing else, the final 30 minutes alone are worth the price of admission.

Want to know more about our individual rankings of movies?
Follow us on Letterboxd:
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Digger by Alejandro González Iñárritu

I know I’ve been sleeping on Alejandro González Iñárritu films like 21 Grams, Biutiful, and Amores Perros. But the one’s I have seen—Babel, Birdman, and The Revenant—make me regret not seeing his entire filmography. Iñárritu takes the risks I want to see on screen. He pushes the cinematic boundaries, and does so by directing giants of film. In this one, he has some mountains at his disposal. John Goodman, Sandra Hüller, and JESSE PLEMONS. This man is adding another talented director onto his CV.

Other actors like Riz Ahmed, Michael Stuhlbarg, and Sophie Wilde. But the biggest and most surprising one in the line up is Tom-fucking-Cruise. I watched the trailer and I have no clue what is going on here. But Cruise is vibing and the visuals look great. And I’m not going to sleep on this Iñárritu like I have the others.

Digger might be Iñárritu’s masterpiece.

Added to my watchlist.

-jp :)

Letterboxd Description:

A comedy of catastrophic proportions.

The most powerful man in the world embarks on a frantic mission to prove he is humanity’s saviour before the disaster he’s unleashed destroys everything.

Movies Directed by Alejandro González Iñárritu:
Amores Perros (2000)
Birdman (2014)
The Revenant (2015)

Home of the Spicy Double Feature, Movie Mavens is a podcast about movies hosted by filmmaker Annie Jaynes and pop-culture critic Carsen Greene.

Each week, the Movie Mavens compare two or more films that are related in some way in what they call a Spicy Double Feature.

They also keep a diary of recent watches and recommendations across all entertainment; film, TV, games, books, & more!

Follow them on Instagram @MovieMavens

For business inquiries, email moviemavenspodcast@gmail.com

Ep. 209: More Selfish Men (Marty Supreme & Whiplash) FEAT. Josh Perez from Sweet & Condensed

00:00 - Just Chattin’ with @justjoshperez

06:25 - New Years Resolutions

14:37 - Marty Supreme

43:32 - Whiplash

Tune in next week for | Mercy

Follow us on:
Instagram: @_sweetandcondensed_
TikTok: @SweetAndCondensed
Youtube: @SweetAndCondensed

Happy Birthday to our Sweet Friend:

🥳 Alex 1/3 - Favorite Movie: Dumb and Dumber

Tell us your birthday & favorite movie here: Sweet Friends: Birthday and Fav Movie

Here’s what we have for you this week:

Concession Stand Scorecard: Primate
Watchlist Worthy: Robin Hood having an existential crisis
New Pod Drop: The boys are back together for Timmy C & the Golden Globes

This week’s movie - Primate

Letterboxd Description:

Something’s wrong with Ben.

Home from college, Lucy reunites with family including pet chimp Ben. Ben contracts rabies during a pool party and turns aggressive. Lucy and friends barricade in pool, devising ways to survive the vicious chimp.

Best Watched With

non-pet owners and people who avoid vacationing.

End Credit Thoughts

We have back-to-back weeks with a tight 90-minute runtime, and this one packs a gory punch. A creature feature meets Scream, Primate blends slasher movies with a rogue animal on a rampage, terrorizing and hunting down those trapped in a luxury Hawaiian cliffside home. The plot is simple, but survival is anything but that.

The fun aspect of this movie is that Ben, the pet chimp, doesn’t go on a violent frenzy for some unbelievable reason. He contracts rabies, which makes him not himself, an understandable reason to turn against his loving human family. The movie sets you up to be emotionally connected to the attacker and the attacked, creating a conflicted tension for the characters and the audience.

Primarily set in a stunning home somewhere on a gorgeous Hawaiian cliff, the beautiful landscape and architecture, juxtaposed [just for you, Drew] with brutal and bloody, make for a tormented watch. It draws you in and catches you off guard, making the jump scares more intense and the gore too close for comfort. Relying heavily on practical effects gives the film an old-school feel, reminiscent of the slasher films that came before. Not for the queasy, and be prepared for intense imagery of brute violence and a sickening sound design.

The lead, Jonny Sequoyah (Lucy), who does well as the prodigal daughter who’s been away longer than her sister and father would like. In real life, Troy Kotsur has been deaf since birth and portrays the father. He brings a loving warmth that is greatly appreciated in such a dark and cold plot. Everyone does a good job in their roles, but it’s not surprising that it’s Miguel Torres Umba as Ben the chimp who stands out amongst the crew. Umba gives a dynamic and horrifying performance with such sinister movement.

The story may not be profound, but it’s pretty damn fun, and some of the imagery is still burned into our minds. You’ll still have to suspend some disbelief, but riding this horror wave for what it is paid off. We don’t get too many short, small-plot horror movies these days. It seems elevated horror has taken center stage. Nothing wrong with that, we love a good head scratcher that gets the brain gears gearing. But an enjoyable fright where we can take off the thinking cap and only worry about what the hell they are going to do next is appreciated.

Fans of the genre will want to see this on the big screen to appreciate the practical effects up close and hear the sounds of terror and trembling loud and clear. For everyone else, you can really enjoy this in the discomfort of your own home, preferably at night. Maybe on a floatie in a pool with it projected on a wall. Or if you have access to a giant, lovely glass home on the beautiful Hawaiian islands, you may want to hold out for an immersive experience.

Want to know more about our individual rankings of movies?
Follow us on Letterboxd:
@justjoshperez
@ericharrison
@kellyharrison
@newmexicodrew

The Death of Robin Hood by Michael Sarnoski

An A24 Robin Hood movie?! Are you joking?! Sold, sat, seated, take my money. Well, I’m an A24 member and they give me a free ticket to every A24 movie. I’m also an AMC A-List member and can see four movies a week. So, technically they won’t be taking my money. I would though if I wasn’t either members. Anyway. I digress.

Hugh Jackman, Jodie Comer, Bill Skarsgård, and Noah Jupe?! A dark and different take on the man in tights with a stacked cast is Josh catnip.

Hyped for this one.

Added to my watchlist.

-jp :)

Letterboxd Description:

He was no hero.

Grappling with his past after a life of crime and murder, Robin Hood finds himself gravely injured after a battle he thought would be his last. In the hands of a mysterious woman, he is offered a chance at salvation.

Movies Directed by Michael Sarnoski:
A Quiet Place: Day One (2024)
Pig (2021)

Marty Supreme: Spoilers #67

🎧 Listen to this episode on Apple Podcasts or Spotify
🎥 Watch this episode on YouTube

New Mexico Drew returns from the wilderness (and a year-long hiatus) to join Josh and Eric for a chaotic deep dive into Josh Safdie’s Marty Supreme.

The boys are breaking down the electric world of professional ping pong, the unique 1950s-meets-1980s aesthetic, and why Timothée Chalamet might just be playing himself.

They discuss the standout supporting cast—from Kevin O’Leary (yes, Mr. Wonderful) to Tyler, the Creator—and debate whether the film lands in their top movies of the year. Spoilers ahead!

2025 Wrap-Up & Golden Globes Nominations #68

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Josh, Eric, and New Mexico Drew break down the best movies of 2025, from the “dog water” disappointment of Guillermo del Toro’s latest to the cinematic masterpiece that is Sinners.

They debate the Golden Globe nominations, argue over whether Timothée Chalamet or Leonardo DiCaprio deserves Best Actor, and Drew tries to survive Eric’s internet connection issues. Plus, they give their final top 10 lists for the year and discuss the TV shows that took over their lives.

Tune in next week for | 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple

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