I Hate Critics Movie Review Podcast

This week on I Hate Critics, we're discussing three new movies and revisiting a modern classic. It's a strong week for movies, with all four films getting positive reactions from the hosts.

We kick things off with Wicker, Clayface, and A Talent for Murder, sharing our thoughts on each film, what stood out, and why they're worth checking out.

For our Classic Movie of the Week, we're revisiting Anthony Minghella's The Talented Mr. Ripley (1999), starring Matt Damon, Jude Law, Gwyneth Paltrow, Cate Blanchett, and Philip Seymour Hoffman. Set against the beautiful backdrop of Italy, this psychological thriller explores obsession, jealousy, identity, and the lengths someone will go to in pursuit of a life that isn't theirs.

Movies Discussed:

• Wicker

• Clayface

• A Talent for Murder

• Classic Movie of the Week: The Talented Mr. Ripley (1999)

Join us as we break down all four films, discuss what makes them work, and share our recommendations.

Thanks for listening to I Hate Critics! Be sure to subscribe, rate, and review the podcast wherever you listen, and join us next week for more movie discussions.

Directed by John Frankenheimer Starring Marlon Brando, Val Kilmer, David Thewlis The Island of Dr. Moreau follows a plane crash survivor who reaches a remote island, only to uncover a reclusive scientist's disturbing quest to merge human and animal DNA. The film features striking makeup and creature effects by Stan Winston and an A-list cast including Marlon Brando, Val Kilmer, and David Thewlis. Despite its ambitious concept and memorable visuals, it suffered from chaotic production and earned largely negative reviews, though some now find its eccentricity oddly fascinating.

This week, Sean and Jeff talk Friday the 13th by way of Crystal Lake, and Sean's love for a little seen 80s animated feature called The Plague Dogs.

New Movies

The Social Reckoning

Directed by Aaron Sorkin Starring Jeremy Allen White, Mark Strong and Mikey Madison The Social Reckoning follows Facebook engineer Frances Haugen and journalist Jeff Horwitz as they join forces to expose the company's hidden practices impacting user safety. The drama offers a behind-the-scenes look at investigative work and corporate crisis, with strong performances from Mikey Madison and Jeremy Allen White. Critics found it informative for newcomers but lacking depth and emotional impact, making it worth watching mainly for its cast and timely subject matter.

Other Mommy

Directed by Rob Savage Starring Jessica Chastain Other Mommy follows young Bela, who in the midst of her parents' strained marriage encounters an entity resembling her mother that seeks to enter her heart. Initially comforting, this presence manipulates her vulnerabilities, blurring love with danger. Worth watching for Jessica Chastain's dual performance, unsettling atmosphere, and psychological themes. Although critics gave it negative reviews, it achieved commercial success and offers tense supernatural suspense.

Street Fighter

Directed by Kitao Sakurai Starring Noah Centineo, Andrew Koji, and Roman Reigns Street Fighter follows estranged martial artists Ryu and Ken, reunited when Chun-Li recruits them for the World Warrior Tournament, which hides a dangerous conspiracy. The film offers dynamic fight sequences, a colorful cast from the game series, and elements of comedy, drama, and brotherhood. While performances, especially by Andrew Koji and Noah Centineo, are praised, critics note tonal inconsistencies and mixed reviews, making it a watch for fans of action and the franchise.

Whalefall

Directed by Brian Duffield Starring Austin Abrams, Josh Brolin Whalefall follows Jay Gardiner, a young diver who searches for his late father's remains but is swallowed by a massive sperm whale, forcing him into a one-hour fight for survival deep underwater. The tense premise blends oceanic suspense with an emotional father-son conflict, making it more than just a creature thriller. Critics praise Austin Abrams' gripping performance, inventive set design, and Brian Duffield's balance of thrills and heartfelt drama, though some note pacing dips. Worth watching for its originality and emotional depth.

You Can See Everything

Directed by Lance Oppenheim and Nathan Fielder Starring Nathan Field and Elizabeth Holmes Thirty-four days prior to starting her eleven-year prison sentence for investor fraud linked to Theranos, Elizabeth Holmes and her partner, Billy Evans, host directors Nathan Fielder and Lance Oppenheim at a Del Mar, California beach home in 2023 to chronicle their daily routine. Even with unfettered access, Fielder questions if the pair is keeping secrets. Holmes insists she never meant to deceive anyone regarding the capabilities of Theranos's blood-testing system, while Evans pitches a revised iteration of the technology to potential backers.

Attempts by Fielder to clarify the discrepancy between Holmes's pitch terminology and investor interpretations only lead to further misunderstanding. In an effort to convey his communication difficulties, Fielder plays Abbott and Costello's "Who's on First?" sketch. Holmes finds it funny yet acknowledges she does not catch the joke, prompting Evans to frame her reaction as an example of how she "thinks differently". A viewing of the miniseries The Dropout, featuring Amanda Seyfried portraying Holmes, is cut short when an upset Holmes requests to turn it off. As her surrender date approaches, Holmes undergoes a 3D body scan and voices anxiety regarding potential misuse of her image. Following a final farewell to Fielder, she turns herself in at Federal Prison Camp, Bryan. Evans and their two children subsequently move to Texas to remain close to her.

On this edition of the I Hate Critics Movie Review Podcast... Sean and Jeff talk about the first pieces of media that genuinely terrified them. New in Theaters Verity Directed by Michael Showalter Starring Anne Hathaway and Dakota Johnson Verity follows struggling writer Lowen Ashleigh, who is hired to complete a bestselling author's series after an accident leaves her incapacitated. Moving into the author's home, Lowen uncovers a disturbing manuscript that blurs the line between truth and fiction, pulling her into a tense web of secrets, obsession, and mistrust. Digger Directed by Alejandro G. Inarritu Starring TOm Cruise, Jesse Plemons, Sandra Huller Digger follows an ultra-wealthy oil magnate whose Greenland drilling causes a crack in an ice shelf, triggering a looming global disaster he scrambles to spin as proof of his heroism. This satirical black comedy blends farce and climate crisis commentary, with Tom Cruise delivering a transformative, prosthetic-heavy performance alongside a strong ensemble cast Classic Favorite Dystopian Future Movies

Box Office Update: Avengers Endgame stuns in return to top of the box office Victorian Psycho shifts to November release Fockers sequel moved off of Thanksgiving New Movies The Heart of the Beast Directed by David Ayer Starring Brad Pitt After surviving a plane crash, a former special forces soldier finds himself trapped in the unforgiving Alaskan wilderness with his combat dog. Together, they battle the elements and other animals in a harsh landscape that would likely kill any other man or dog. Primetime Directed by Lance Oppenheim Starring Robert Pattinson Chris Hansen, host of "To Catch a Predator," sets out to make television history in 2006. Classic M Directed by Fritz Lang Starring Peter Lorre In this classic German thriller, Hans Beckert, a serial killer who preys on children, becomes the focus of a massive Berlin police manhunt. Beckert's heinous crimes are so repellant and disruptive to city life that he is even targeted by others in the seedy underworld network. With both cops and criminals in pursuit, the murderer soon realizes that people are on his trail, sending him into a tense, panicked attempt to escape justice.

Camp Miasma is going on tour Resident Evil Wins the Box Office The Weight Directed by Padraic McKinley Starring Ethan Hawke and Russell Crowe Imprisoned in a labour camp run by an unscrupulous overseer, a man becomes entangled in a perilous gold smuggling scheme in his pursuit to regain custody of his daughter. Resident Evil Directed by Zach Cregger Starring Austin Abroams A medical courier finds himself in a desperate fight for survival against bloodthirsty, mutated creatures. Classic This Week Zombie Movies Night of the Living Dead Day of the Dead Dawn of the Dead 28 Days Later 28 Years Later Italian Zombi movies

Box Office Talk: Practical Magic 2 underwhelms despite knocking Spider-Man out of the top spot at the box office. Practical Magic 2 Directed by Susanne Bier Starring Nicole Kidman, Sandra, Bullock, Maisie Williams and Joey King Two witches must confront the dark curse that threatens to unravel their family once and for all. The Uprising Directed by Paul Greengrass Starring Andrew Garfield, Jamie Bell, and Thomasin Mackenzie In 1831 plague swept across Europe, killing half the population of England. As King Richard II and the oligarchs impose a brutal tax on the poorest members of society, a farmer's simmering discontent erupts into full-blown anger. Within days, he leads a ferocious rebellion as thousands of commoners march on London in the name of justice and freedom. Classic Practical Magic (1998) Directed by Griffin Dunne Starring Sandra Bullock and Nicole Kidman Sally and Gillian Owens, born into a magical family, have mostly avoided witchcraft themselves. But when Gillian's vicious boyfriend, Jimmy Angelov, dies unexpectedly, the Owens sisters give themselves a crash course in hard magic. With policeman Gary Hallet growing suspicious, the girls struggle to resurrect Angelov -- and unwittingly inject his corpse with an evil spirit that threatens to end their family line.

This Week Sean and Jeff talk about the return of the movie theater. Box office numbers are through the roof even as new movies flopped over the weekend. New Movies Onslaught Directed by Adam Wingard Starring Adria Arjona An Army sniper unleashes her lethal skills to protect her young daughter from a rogue squad of genetically engineered soldiers. By Any Means Directed by Elegance Bratton Starring Yahya Abdul Mateen and Mark Wahlberg An FBI agent teams up with mob hit man Greg Scarpa to investigate the murders of civil rights leaders in the 1960s Mississippi. Classic Just Before Dawn Directed by Jeff Lieberman Starring Gregg Henry and Chris Lemmon Five young people venture into the backwoods of Oregon to claim a property, and find themselves being stalked by a hulking, machete-wielding psychopath.

Blue Beetle is getting a second chance as a supporting character in Man of Tomorrow Coyote Vs. Acme Directed by Dave Green Starring Will Forte, Lana Condor, John Cena, and Wile E Coyote When ACME products fail him one too many times in his dogged pursuit of the Road Runner, Wile E. Coyote decides to hire a down-on-his-luck lawyer to sue the corporation. Finding Emily Directed by Alicia MacDonald Spike Fearn and Angourie Rice When a lovesick musician is given the wrong number for his dream girl, he teams up with a driven psychology student to find her. Together, they spark a hilarious, campus-wide frenzy that tests their own hearts and ambitions along the way. It Ends Directed by Alexander Ullom Starring Phinehas Yoon Out for a late-night drive, friends turn onto a never-ending, two-lane hellscape surrounded by untold horrors and cosmic forces beyond their understanding. Crammed inside a jeep with miles stretching infinitely ahead, they face a choice: embrace their new existence or fight to escape it. Buddy Directed by Casper Kelly Starring Cristina Milioti, Keegan Michael Key Dressed as a unicorn, a beloved children's TV host reveals his true self as a dark and violent force of nature. Classic The Career of Tim Curry

1996 Jack Starring Robin Williams After an unusually short pregnancy, Karen Powell (Diane Lane) gives birth to a baby boy whose body ages much faster than the normal rate. With her husband, Brian (Brian Kerwin), Karen raises their son, Jack (Robin Williams), who appears to be a 40-year-old man when he is only 10. Though Jack ages rapidly physically, he is mentally and emotionally still a young boy, which causes him considerable difficulty. Eventually, Jack gains the support of his peers, which helps him live a fuller life.