Critique Revolve

This week, we discuss Mercy (2026), the new sci-fi thriller starring Chris Pratt, set in a near-future Los Angeles where an AI judge has replaced the human justice system. We unpack the film’s real-time, screen-driven structure and its engagement with AI, truth, and post-truth logic, asking whether its philosophical ambitions hold up under scrutiny. A...

Special bonus episode: Thomas’ Everything But the Kitchen Sink.In this episode, we look at what made ‘80s blockbusters like Indiana Jones, Ghostbusters, and Back to the Future feel “original”—and whether that really holds up. We also dive into how postmodern theory messes with the whole idea of originality, especially now that Hollywood is all-in on...

A spinoff podcast hosted and curated by Ryan Denton. In this special, previously Patreon-exclusive episode, Ryan leads a fan-driven discussion on John Carpenter’s 1981 action film starring Kurt Russel. This episode dives into the thrills, tropes, and lasting impact of the film, capturing the spirit of pure 80s action cinema. Host(s) Ryan, Dave, Mike

Special bonus episode: Thomas’ Everything But the Kitchen Sink. This episode interrogates Hollywood’s growing tendency to frame films around so-called “counter-narratives”—stories that challenge authority, sympathize with the outsider, and question dominant power structures. But are these films truly radical, or are they simply echoing the language and aesthetics of socialist or Marxist thought without fully...

In this episode of Critique Revolve, we examine the sudden and deeply consequential news that Netflix plans to acquire Warner Bros. Discovery—a deal that, if approved, would fundamentally reshape the film and television landscape. While Paramount’s competing $108.4 billion bid raises its own ideological and industrial concerns, Netflix’s $82.7 billion move signals something more structural:...

Critique Revolve Presents: Bullet Time – 80s Action RewindA spinoff podcast hosted and curated by Ryan Denton. In this special Patreon-exclusive early preview, Ryan leads a fan-driven discussion of the 1987 action classic starring Dolph Lundgren. This episode dives into the thrills, tropes, and lasting impact of the film, capturing the spirit of pure 80s...

In this episode, we revisit the land of Oz to break down Wicked: For Good, the highly anticipated sequel to a film that—much to our surprise—we genuinely loved. But where the first installment offered emotional weight, rich world-building, and a narrative that earned its impact, this sequel falters. The heart may be in the right...

In this episode, we examine Nuremberg (2025), James Vanderbilt’s ambitious yet uneven historical drama that charts psychiatrist Douglas Kelley’s attempt to determine Hermann Göring’s sanity during the Nuremberg Trials. Despite its powerful performances—especially Russell Crowe’s chilling turn as Göring—the film struggles with tonal inconsistency and a fractured identity that undercuts its moral and psychological depth....

In this episode, we dive into Richard Linklater’s Blue Moon, starring Ethan Hawke as lyricist Lorenz Hart, the brilliant yet self-destructive half of the legendary songwriting duo Rodgers and Hart. Host(s) Mike, Dave

In this episode, we dive into Black Phone 2 (2025), Scott Derrickson’s follow-up to his 2021 supernatural hit. We explore how the film effectively shifts from the psychological textures of 1970s horror to the visceral slasher aesthetics of the 1980s, expanding its world while maintaining its emotional and supernatural core. From its stylistic evolution to...