The 2025 Oscar nominees were announced yesterday, and there were quite a few film nerds (*cough* Josh *cough*) who were really upset by some of the snubs (to be fair to Josh, did the academy even listen to the Challengers soundtrack!?)—looking past the blind outrage, who’s planning on watching the Oscars this year? Hit reply and let us know if you’ll be there to watch Anora sweep.
Here’s what we have for you this week:
Concession Stand Scorecard: Presence
Watchlist Worthy: Who’s up for a creepy cult flick?
New Pod Drop: Eric & Josh apologize for their hiatus

This week’s movie - Presence
Letterboxd Description:
In this house there is a PRESENCE.
A family moves into a suburban house and becomes convinced they’re not alone.
Best Watched With
Your friends who use Zillow like it’s a social media.
End credit thoughts
In a month known to be full of mediocre movies, director Steven Soderbergh (Ocean’s 8, 11, 12, 13 & the Magic Mike movies) teams up with writer David Koepp (Panic Room) to continue a strong start to 2025. Presence might be a typical haunted suburban house story, but it’s told in an untypical way that sets this ghost story apart.
The filmmakers take a massive risk with the camera work by shooting the movie from the Presence’s point of view. Going into the movie, we could see how this could be gimmicky and corny, but it is well-executed and feels fresh. Rather than the suspense coming from not knowing where the Presence is, the point of view aspect creates suspense and anxiety by making us feel like we are unknowingly observing a family within their own home.
Other than Lucy Liu (Rebekah) and Chris Sullivan (Chris), everyone else is a relatively newer face—this even being Eddy Maday’s (Tyler) debut. Everyone gave a decent performance, Liu slightly pulling ahead from the pack, but the Presence and its creative point of view make it the stand-out character. It constantly made us think about what was happening, how this invisble entity thing works, and where is the story was going—even when the acting or writing felt flat and trite.
If you’re expecting a horror movie, it leans more on the thriller/drama/psychological thriller side of the scary scale. This is not to say there aren’t a few good jump scares, but it doesn’t watch like a Hereditary, Paranormal Activity, or Insidious.
Overall, we think the risks paid off, and this movie works. The visuals are solid, even beautiful at times—the colors and set design might make you want to scroll Zillow or Movoto. The big screen and loud sound make the point-of-view choice more effective, enhancing the experience.
Watch this one on the big screen.
Watch the trailer here
Opus by Mark Anthony Green
Anytime I see the A24 logo, I’m prepared for weirdness, but I’m not sure I’m ready for someone-let-John-Malkovich-off-his-leash weird. Maybe it’s because I accidentally joined a cult one time, but this movie looks messed up. Alas, the power of Ayo compels me, so I will be there, and I will not be square.
-NMD
Letterboxd Description:
There’s no cult like celebrity.
A young writer is invited to the remote compound of a legendary pop star who mysteriously disappeared thirty years ago. Surrounded by the star’s cult of sycophants and intoxicated journalists, she finds herself in the middle of his twisted plan.
Also Directed by Mark Anthony Green:
Trapeze, U.S.A. (2017)
Bye 2024, Hello 2025: Looking Forward to Another Great Year #048
🎧 Listen to this episode on Apple Podcasts or Spotify
🎥 Watch this episode on YouTube
In this episode, Eric and Josh discuss a variety of topics, from personal anecdotes about haircuts to the TV series Succession. They reflect on the past year in movies and TV shows, highlight their favorite films of 2024, and share their excitement for the movie and TV lineup in 2025.
Notable mentions include the gripping narrative of 'Severance', and anticipated releases like 'Mickey 17', 'The Monkey', 'Happy Gilmore 2', and more. They also discuss rewatchable qualities of certain shows and movies, emphasizing the nuanced details that become apparent on subsequent viewings. Tune in for insights, humor, and a look ahead at what filmmakers have in store for us in 2025.
Tune in next week for | Companion
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