Category Archives: Theatrical Release

Episode 197 – The Monkey (2025)

March 9, 2025Cursed Object Movie, Horror Comedy, New Release, Period Piece, Theatrical ReleaseChild’s Play, Monkey Shines, Osgood Perkins, Oz Perkins, Puppet Master, Stephen King, Tatiana Maslany, Theo Jamesshockdoctors

While not up to the standards of Longlegs, with some pacing issues and overly-quirky side characters, overall The Monkey is a rollicking good time, with four rock-solid performances at its center.

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Episode 196 – Heart Eyes

February 26, 2025Horror Comedy, New Release, Serial Killer, Slasher, Theatrical ReleaseChristopher Landon, Crawlspace (2012), Jamie Blanks, Jordana Brewster, Josh Ruben, Lisa Frankenstein, Mason Gooding, Olivia Holt, Targets, Valentine (2001), Your Monster (2024)shockdoctors

Another “horror” “comedy” from the Christopher Landon assembly line, Heart Eyes tries to mash together 90s-style romcoms and slasher movies, and fails on both counts.

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Episode 195 – Presence (2025)

February 9, 2025Haunted House, New Release, Theatrical ReleaseA Ghost Story (2017), Chris Sullivan, David Koepp, Heaven Is Still Far Away, Lake Mungo, Lucy Liu, Steven Soderbergh, The Mothman Propheciesshockdoctors

Less a true-blue horror movie and more of a supernatural drama, Presence nonetheless packs a wallop and demonstrates the deft touch of both director Steven Soderbergh and screenwriter David Koepp.

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Episode 194 – Wolf Man (2025)

February 5, 2025Body Horror, Creature Feature, New Release, Remake, Theatrical Release, Universal MonstersAntlers, Christopher Abbott, Daddy’s Head, Julia Garner, Leigh Whannell, Pacific Northwest, Ravenous, The Barrens (2012), The Fly (1986), The Invisible Man (2020), The Strain, The Wolfman (2010), Wendigo, Werewolvesshockdoctors

Seemingly at war with itself and unable to settle on its core themes, Wolf Man is a big step down from Leigh Whannell’s first Universal Monster flick, 2020’s The Invisible Man.

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Episode 192 – Nosferatu (2024)

January 5, 2025Amazon Prime Original, Body Horror, Folk Horror, Found Footage, Listener Request, Netflix Original, New Release, Period Piece, Remake, Shudder Original, Theatrical Release, Vampires, VOD ReleaseAaron Taylor-Johnson, Bill Skarsgard, Emma Corrin, Lily-Rose Depp, Nicholas Hoult, Ralph Ineson, Robert Eggers, Schalcken the Painter, Shadow of the Vampire, Simon McBurney, Willem Dafoeshockdoctors

It may not be Eggers’ best work, but that’s a very high bar to clear. This is a beautifully shot, handsomely mounted reimagining of the landmark silent film, with standout performances all around.

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Episode 189 – Heretic (2024)

November 24, 2024New Release, Serial Killer, Theatrical ReleaseBarbarian, Bryan Woods, Chloe East, Creep, Haunt (2019), Hugh Grant, Monopoly, Scott Beck, Sophie Thatcher, The Air That I Breathe, The Caller (1987), The Prestige, The Sacrament (2013), Topher Graceshockdoctors

Heretic has some intelligent, though not groundbreaking, things to say about religion and society, and is built around three strong performances, Hugh Grant in particular. Unfortunately, the script’s minimal modulation of his character’s villainy leaves the movie nowhere to go.

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Episode 187 – Smile 2

October 27, 2024Body Horror, New Release, Possession, Sequel, Theatrical ReleaseAll That Jazz, Apocalypse Trilogy, Black Swan, Cat’s Eye, Firestarter (1984), In the Mouth of Madness, Naomi Scott, Parker Finn, Peter Jacobson, Prince of Darkness, Ray Nicholson, The Thing (1982), Vox Luxshockdoctors

Bigger and dumber than its predecessor, Smile 2 trudges through an interminable series of foregone conclusions while screaming its themes at the audience as loudly as possible.

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Episode 186 – Never Let Go (2024)

October 20, 2024New Release, Theatrical Release10 Cloverfield Lane, Alexandre Aja, Arcadian, Bird Box, Crawl (2019), Frailty, Halle Berry, Run, The Hills Have Eyes (2006), The Villageshockdoctors

Alexandre Aja’s latest film fails to maintain enough ambiguity to sustain its middle hour, and the ending raises more questions than the audience, after 101 minutes, will really feel motivated to answer.

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Episode 185 – The Substance

October 6, 2024Body Horror, New Release, Theatrical ReleaseAltered States, Angst (1983), Antiviral, Black Swan, Braindead, Coralie Fargeat, Demi Moore, Dennis Quaid, Giallo Murder Gnome, Margaret Qualley, Requiem for a Dream, Seconds (1966), Society (1989), The Double (2013)shockdoctors

The Substance is a movie with three standout performances and a lot of panache that is weighted down by its own excesses, and a habit of repeating itself.

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Episode 184 – Speak No Evil (2024)

September 30, 2024New Release, Remake, Serial Killer, Theatrical ReleaseAisling Franciosi, Eden Lake, James McAvoy, James Watkins, Mackenzie Davis, Scoot McNairy, The Ring (2002), The Vanishing (1988), The Vanishing (1993), The Woman in Black (2012)shockdoctors

This remake of the 2022 Danish film suffers from a stultifying fidelity to the original – except in two major respects, where there has been a decided downgrade. A waste of a very strong cast.

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