Dark Discussions Podcast

Just 20 years ago, Demi Moore was a star. Not only a star, but a superstar. Her latest film, THE SUBSTANCE (2024), is a perfect example of aging and stardom and what can happen to folks as a younger generation appears on the scene. And the old, to remain relevant, try to hang on to their glory days.

Actress Elizabeth Sparkle (Demi Moore) has transitioned from award winning actress to becoming a huge television star as she hosts an aerobics show. On her fiftieth birthday, her producer Harvey (Dennis Quaid), lets her go as he decides a new and young starlet is needed. Approached by a company called The Substance, she is offered a chance to create a younger and better version of herself using their experimental medication. Things alas don’t turn out all that well.

The film is directed and written by Coralie Fargeat (REVENGE (2017) and also stars Margaret Qualley. Released to the festival circuit and nominated for the Palme D’Or at the 2024 Cannes Film Festival while winning best screenplay. Released at theaters, the film underperformed, yet still received good reviews by audiences and reviewers alike. Your cohosts take a look at the movie and give their thoughts.

It's the new thing. And it's called the multiverse. It's the running joke of the televisions series RICK AND MORTY. Where at any point in time, your existence diverts into millions of "you" depending on what you do next. The new movie HOSTILE DIMENSIONS (2024) opens up a door (literally) into existences beyond ours.

When graffiti artist, Emily (Josie Rogers), finds a standalone door in the middle of a cellar of an abandoned building, she opens it and disappears. Two documentary filmmakers along with a college professor decide to find the truth of what happens, hoping to solve a mystery that has gone viral on the internet.

The Scottish film is written and directed by Graham Hughes. Besides Josie Rogers, the cast includes Annabel Logan, Joma West, and Paddy Kondracki. With talking dogs, flying whales, and bronze giants, Emily's dilemma may turn out to be more "supernatural" than one thought. Your co-hosts take a look at this hidden gem and give their thoughts.

A new film from the land of the Irish has arrived to streaming after a short run at the theaters. The new movie is called ODDITY (2024). Does it live up to that name? Well, it isn't as odd as the title says, but it sure is a well received supernatural movie.

Dani Timmis (Carolyn Bracken) is home alone at night as her psychiatrist husband, Ted (Gwilym Lee), is at work. When an ex-patient arrives at her front door, he warns her of a stranger that is in her house. A year later, her clairvoyant twin sister Darcy decides to find out what happened that night when she receives a talisman that may be the key to her answers.

The movie is written and directed by Damian McCarthy. Besides Gwilym Lee and Carolyn Bracken, the movie's cast includes Tadhg Murphy, Caroline Menton, Steve Wall, and Jonathan French. Picked up by IFC and Shudder, the film received a quick release at theaters after getting good reviews from critics. Your podcast hosts take a look at this new movie and give their thoughts.

Detective Comics, better known as DC, has delivered some of the most iconic superhero characters of all time such as Batman, Wonder Woman, Superman, and Harley Quinn. In 1986, the first issue of Watchmen appeared which was something altogether different. A violent, transgressive, political, and sexual take on superheroes, the series (now a graphic novel), was troubling to some but loved by others.

The talents behind the graphic novel include write Alan Moore, artist Dave Gibbons, and colorist John Higgins. Since its debut, the popularity with its alternate timeline has only grown as it became a movie simply titled Watchmen, written by David Hayter and Alex Tse, and directed by talented and enigmatic Zack Snyder.

Receiving mixed reviews, the movie may have been before its time as comic book films were just at the cusp of dominating the movie box office. In this first of two episodes, your co-hosts talk about the backstory of source material and the dream of Zack Snyder trying to make what many thought as an impossible source material to adapt into what is now considered a beloved cult film by many.

The ALIEN franchise is one of the most successful horror franchises of all time. ALIEN (1979) and the sequel ALIENS (1986) are two of the best films of all time. Others in the franchise have received fine reviews and have interesting premises. Now, the new movie in the franchise, ALIEN: ROMULUS, has arrived.

Rain (Cailee Spaeny) and her synthetic brother Andy (David Jonsson) work for the company Weyland-Yutani as essentially indentured servants. When Rain's ex-boyfriend suggests a chance to flee to a different planet, Rain and the group head to an abandoned space station in orbit to get the fuel needed. Unfortunately there is a secret onboard that may be the death of them all.

The film is directed by Fede Alvarez and co-written with his film partner Rodo Sayagues. The film takes place between the first two films in the franchise. Receiving decent enough reviews, the movie is the first from Disney and has been a financial success. Your co-hosts take a look at the film and give their thoughts.

The co-German and American film CUCKOO arrived to theaters in August of 2024. Neon, the film company that has been releasing some fairly interesting films, got it a general release. Small as it is, the film received a bit of buzz from genre fans. But what is the film about? Is it a monster film? A film about cryptozoology? Demons? Aliens? Whatever it is, many reviewers wondered as much as the audiences did.

Synopsis: 17-year-old Gretchen (Hunter Schafer) moves to a resort in the Bavarian Alps with her father, stepmother, and mute half-sister. The resort is managed by the enigmatic Herr König (Dan Stevens). As Gretchen starts working at the resort’s front desk, she encounters strange and unsettling occurrences that may put her life in danger.

The film is written and directed by German filmmaker Tilman Singer. It stars Hunter Schafer, Dan Stevens, Jessica Henwirk, Marton Csoskas, Jan Bluthardt, and Greta Fernandez. Before its theatrical release, it played at the Berlin International Film Festival, South By Southwest, and Fantasia. Your co-hosts take a look at this odd film and give their thoughts.

M. Night Shyamalan as of 2024 is now hit or miss with his movies.  There hasn’t been any further “classics” in his filmography over the last two decades, but he’s had some fairly enjoyable productions.  His latest is called TRAP (2024) and has received a large theatrical release from Warner Brothers Pictures.

Riley (Ariel Donoghue) and her dad Cooper (Josh Hartnett) are attending a Lady Raven concert in Philadelphia.  When Cooper notices that a very large and present law enforcement attendance, he asks a vendor what’s up.  There was a tip that the serial killer known as the Butcher is in attendance.  Soon a cat-and-mouse game begins where everyone, including the talent on stage, has to make decisions that will save their own skins as well as others.

Shyamalan directs from a script that he wrote.  Besides an absolutely fantastic performance by Josh Hartnett, the film also stars Hayley Mills, Saleka Night Shyamalan, and Alison Pill.  With an interesting premise, based off the mixed reviews by audiences and writers alike, the question of its success depends on the individual viewer.  Your co-hosts take a look at this recently released theatrical feature and give their thoughts.

Sometimes a horror film is called a “comedy.”  But usually they are actually dark comedies, or simply dark drama.  Well, the 2022 film THE MENU most certainly has some dark humor in it, but it is definitely a horror film through and through.  With its exaggerated caricatures of those in certain social statuses, people are going to get a chuckle.  But all in all, the frights do come through.

A well known chef has opened up an exclusive restaurant on a remote island.  Margot (Anya Taylor-Joy) has been invited to a private dinner there by her boyfriend.  The restaurant is filled with various folks from the upper class, new money and old.  When Chef Slowik (Ralph Fiennes) begins to serve each course, he brings a story with the food that is specific to each of the attendees.  A quiet dinner turns out to be much more.

The film is directed by Mark Mylod based on the script by Seth Reiss and Will Tracy.  Starring Ralph Fiennes and Anya Taylor-Joy, the movie’s cast also includes Nicholas Hoult and John Leguizamo.  Having received a theatrical release, the film has garnered fine reviews by both reviewers and audiences members alike.  Your co-hosts take a look at this commentary on the class system and people behaving badly and give their thoughts.

Serial killer movies are some of the most frightening films one can see. Whether it is a thriller or a horror film, the unhinged aspect of someone that just doesn’t follow empathy and care for their fellow human being can be pretty horrifying. The new film, LONGLEGS (2024), is another “police” procedural where the FBI has an unknown killer out in the world that endangers everyone.

FBI agent Lee Harker (Maika Monroe (IT FOLLOWS)) is a recent grad from training. She’s assigned to the Longlegs killer case because she shows signs of a sixth sense if not true clairvoyance. Longlegs (Nicholas Cage) is somehow convincing or hypnotizing a family member to murder their entire family before killing themselves. Lee begins putting the pieces together while discovering the case is much closer to home than she ever thought.

LONGLEGS is written and directed by Osgood Perkins (THE BLACKCOAT’S DAUGHTER). Besides Nicholas Cage and Maika Monroe, the film co-stars Blair Underwood and Alicia Witt. The film was produced by Nicholas Cage and released to theaters by Neon. Though receiving good reviews from reviewers, audiences seem not to be as keen on the movie. Your co-hosts take a look at the feature and give their thoughts.

Continuous darkness, outer beings, apocalypse.  What about dreams and not seeing the reality of things?  Recently Argentina has produced some fairly good horror films.  A new movie entitled INTO THE ABYSS has appeared with a pretty interesting trailer and a very cool poster.  Though releases in its home country in 2022, it finally has made its debut in North America.

In a city of complete shadows, Bannon (Martin Rispau) replays phone messages of a woman talking about the darkness falling.  Trying to survive, he hears on walkie-talkie through random survivors that there is daylight with only certain areas pocketed with the darkness.  He sets off through the streets and buildings trying to get to the outer edges of the city in hoping to finding deliverance.

INTO THE ABYSS is directed by Matias Xaier Rispau from a screenplay he co-wrote by the ambiguous Boris C. Q.  At points the movie has some interesting visual effects including giant Lovecraftian monsters and mutant humanoids.  Receiving mixed reviews from the limited number of writers that have seen the film, your co-hosts take a blind look at a random VOD release and give their thoughts.