Hosts Vin and John break down Guillermo del Toro’s 2025 Frankenstein, assessing its faithfulness to Mary Shelley’s novel, standout performances (especially Jacob Elordi), and striking production design.

They praise the costumes, music, and Elordi’s soulful turn, but criticize the film’s slow first hour, digital look, uneven pacing, and an ending that doesn’t fully land.

Timestamps

00:00 - Intro

Host Brian Kitson speaks with cast members from the North American touring production of Dungeons & Dragons: The Twenty-Sided Tavern, RJ Christian and Cassidy Sledge! In this exclusive interview, these two discuss what drew them to the show and how it blends the elements we know and love of the tabletop role-playing game (TTRPG) into a stage show!

Dungeons & Dragons: The Twenty-Sided Tavern arrives in Detroit at the Fisher Theatre for one day only! So get your tickets for the Saturday, November 1st performances (2 pm and 7:30 pm) from Broadway in Detroit!

Timestamps for Dungeons & Dragons: The Twenty-Sided Tavern Interview:

00:00 - Intro, Cassidy Sledge and RJ Christian on their introduction to Dungeons & Dragons 02:45 - How they are bringing Dungeons & Dragons to the stage with The Twenty-Sided Tavern 06:30 - Playing with the audience as "the 4th player." 09:10 - How they have prepared for a show that requires a lot of improv 11:50 - Talking about guest stars they've had doing the show and making exciting things happen on stage 16:00 - Keeping on your toes during a performance and other skills needed 18:41 - All audiences can enjoy this show, not just D&D fans. 22:50 - Is it more fun to have a successful mission or one that fails during this show? 28:24 - Outro

Vin and Cam return to talk about season 1 of Alien: Earth and its finale as well as the new Marvel Zombies series, weighing bold ideas against messy execution. They discuss hybrid androids, underused xenomorphs, standout creature concepts, and pacing issues that left both shows leaning on potential rather than payoff.

They also break down Marvel Zombies' highlights along with the lowlights and debate the need for Marvel Studios to go to tighter, more emotional storytelling and better season finales for their shows. 

Alien: Earth (2025)

Marvel Zombies (2025)

Peacemaker Season 2 (2025)

Timestamps

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Vin and Vic break down the Marvel Zombies franchise, covering the core comics (Marvel Zombies 2005, Dead Days, Marvel Zombies 2, Return) and detailing the infection storyline, and creator Robert Kirkman’s influence.

They share personal reactions, comparing zombies to vampires, discuss the What If... adaptation and MCU tie‑in potential (Secret Wars), assess the TV‑MA animated series, and offer bonus reading and crossover recommendations, including the new Marvel Zombies Red Band miniseries.

A video version of this podcast is available on our YouTube channel @TheCosmicCircus

Vin and John discuss The Old Woman With The Knife, a 2025 South Korean action film about an aging female assassin. They praise the film's visuals, score, performances, and action choreography but note the story's confusing timelines, a late emotional payoff, and an underdeveloped resolution. Overall, they find it stylish and promising, with room for improvement and franchise potential.

John and Vin also discuss their love of action movies like Shaw Bros, Jackie Chan, Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, and the John Wick franchise.

THE OLD WOMAN WITH THE KNIFE (2025) - Directed by Min Kyu-dong - Screenplay by Kim Dong-wan & Min Kyu-dong - Based on the novel by Gu Byeong-mo - Starring Lee Hye-young and Kim Sung-cheol

Timestamps 00:00 - Intro

00:52 - Details about The Old Woman with the Knife

03:00 - General thoughts on this movie, comparisons to Ballerina and the John Wick films, as well as other influential films discussed

17:00 - More on the comparisons with the John Wick films

21:34 - Spoilers for The Old Woman with the Knife review discussion

26:00 - Final thoughts on the film. Ideas for stars who might be able to be the American version of the "Old Woman" assassin/killer role, like a female John Wick.

28:21 - Outro and some action movie recommendations

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Cam & Vin share their reactions to the first two episodes of Alien: Earth, focusing on highlights and surprises in the new FX/Hulu series. The two talk about whether or not they'd like to see more than one season of this series, challenges to the series, parallels with Blade Runner, and how Star Wars handles film and show connections vs. how the Alien franchise handles it. Listen in to find out what they think of the series so far and see if it lines up with what you think or not!

Find the video version of this podcast on YouTube @TheCosmicCircus

Alien: Earth (2025) S1 E1-2 

Timestamps 

00:00 - Intro

Vin and Cam revisit Peacemaker's first season with its off-the-wall humor, surprising heart, Vigilante highlights, and a finale that clicks, before sharing early, spoiler-light impressions of the first 5 episodes of Peacemaker season 2. They discuss what effect James Gunn's busy schedule and the new DCU may have had on the hit DC/HBO series, who was a highlight in season 2 and more. Season 2 discussion starts at about the 10-minute mark.

Find the video version of this discussion on YouTube @TheCosmicCircus and you can find and follow our podcast most places you listen, such as Apple, Spotify, Podbean and many more!

Visit TheCosmicCircus.com for more reviews, interviews, editorials, and opinions on Peacemaker, Superman, DC, Marvel, and much, much more!

Timestamps

00:00 - Intro

In this episode, Vin and Cam review the long-awaited sequel to The Naked Gun. The new film, directed by Akiva Schaffer and starring Liam Neeson, Pamela Anderson, Danny Huston and Paul Walter Hauser is currently in theaters. 

Join Vin and Cam as they discuss their personal experiences with the franchise, laugh at their favorite gags in the movie, and compare the performances of Liam Neeson and Leslie Nielsen. 

Timestamps

00:00 - Intro

01:00 - History with the franchise

03:08 - The story... Wait? Is there a story?!

05:58 - A welcome return to the slapstick spoof comedy genre. The Pink Panther comparisons/inspiration.

07:05 - That hilarious opening that had Vin cackling in his seat. Making fun of more recent movies made since the original films. Best jokes.

09:00 - The original vs. the 2025 movies. Leslie Nielsen vs. Liam Neeson. 

11:10 - Hoping for more The Naked Gun sequels, more fun satire and spoof comedies, and less poorly written superhero movies.

16:45 - Anything we didn't like about the new movie?

22:38 - Other old franchises we'd like to see make a comeback. Airplane and the disaster spoof movies. 

24:55 - Final thoughts

26:02 - Outro

26:55 - Bonus

In this new episode of The Cosmic Circle, Uday and Wiktor have a spoilery chat about the latest Marvel Studios film The Fantastic Four: First Steps, along with some discussion of what it might mean for Avengers: Doomsday. They compare this new Fantastic Four to previous live-action incarnations, including the comics, who their favorite character was in the film, and where they had issues with the story. They compare First Steps to DC's Superman (2025) and discuss how each film hit them this summer. In addition, they talk about cuts and changes to the movie, the implications of Franklin Richards powers for Avengers: Doomsday, along with *that* post-credit scene. 

The Fantastic Four: First Steps was directed by Matt Shakman, and stars Pedro Pascal, Vanessa Kirby, Joseph Quinn, Ebon Moss-Bachrach, Julia Garner, and Ralph Ineson. Now in theaters. 

00:00 - Intro

01:00 - Is this the best live-action Fantastic Four movie to date?

02:00 - Feelings about the 60s aesthetic of the film

05:30 - Favorite characters in The Fantastic Four: First Steps

08:33 - Superman (2025) and First Steps comparisons

11:30 - The POV of a CBM lover who is not a comics fan. 

13:00 - Cuts and changes to the movie, reasons being possibly linked to Avengers: Doomsday 

14:40 - Is Franklin the most powerful being in the multiverse now? Discussing his place in the story and going forward

18:20 - MCU movies under 2 hours

19:30 - Shalla-Bal aka The Silver Surfer (Julia Garner) 

25:49 - Galactus

28:35 - New F4 suits vs. MCU suits

29:39 - Doctor Doom and Doomsday

35:00 - Sue Storm (Vanessa Kirby) in the movie

39:00 - Ben Grimm, aka The Thing (Ebon Moss-Bachrach)

40:15 - Was that post-credit scene a last-minute add-on?

42:40 - Discussing leaked images from Avengers: Doomsday, and do Franklin's powers erase the stakes for dangers in Doomsday? Is he too powerful?

46:50 - Johnny Storm's powers (Joseph Quinn), Reed's powers (Pedro Pascal). Differences from the comics.

49:00 - The balance of a more serious story that is still fairly comic-booky.

49:50 - The need for more Galactus to be featured

53:53 - Reed's plan to defeat Galactus/save Earth

55:45 - More on Ralph Ineson as Galactus

59:35 - Final thoughts and how we're feeling about Avengers: Doomsday now

01:05:49 - Why Uday says Michael Waldron needs to stay away from Wanda/Scarlet Witch (Elizabeth Olsen)

01:06:00 - Outros

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Vin and Cam discuss The Fantastic Four: First Steps! What did the boys think of the new F4 movie? Is it worth checking out in 3D IMAX? How does it compare to their expectations, and what could come next for the MCU? Tune in to find out!

Find the video version of this podcast on YouTube @TheCosmicCircus

The Fantastic Four: First Steps (2025)

Timestamps:

oo:oo - Intro

For more content and to support The Cosmic Circus and this channel please join our Patreon: https://patreon.com/cosmiccircus