Movies In Focus

Returning guest Pen Densham joins this episode of the Movies In Focus podcast. Pen is a hugely talented writer, producer and director, who is probably best known for writing and producing Kevin Costner’s iconic 1991 adventure,  Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves alongside his film-making partner, John Watson. 

He also has a whole host of other interesting film credits to his name - including: Blown Away with Jeff Bridges and Tommy Lee Jones, cult favourite Tank Girl, Bill Murray comedy Larger Than Life and submarine thriller Phantom with David Duchovny and Ed Harris. On the TV front, Pen has also been involved in the reboot of The Outer Limits, Poltergeist: The Legacy and The Magnificent Seven, to name but a few.

This time around I talked with Pen about his fascinating photography and his new coffee table book, Qualia. We also discussed his passion for creativity, Artificial Intelligence in film - and of course, Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves.

Kathryn Ferguson’s Nostalgie is an exceptional short film that was given an Honourable Mention in the competition shorts section at the Belfast Film Festival, where it was

Based on the short story by author Wendy Erskine (and adapted by Stacey Gregg), Nostalgie follows Drew Lord Haig (Aidan Gillen), a former ’80s pop star who is given a shot at reliving his glory years by taking a gig at a gathering of a small Belfast men’s club. Things aren’t quite what they seem, and Drew’s night of glory takes a dark turn.

Nominated for Best Short Film at both the 2026 IFTA Awards and the 2026 BAFTA Awards, Nostalgie captured my attention from the moment I first watched it at the QFT in Belfast. Kathryn Ferguson joined the Movies In Focus podcast to talk about the film, chatting about everything from the film’s politics, the inspirations for the character of Drew Lord Haig, how Bastille’s Dan Smith wrote the music, and much more.

Jeremiah Kipp, the filmmaker behind the film adaptation of the video game, The Mortuary Assistant joins this episode of the Movies In Focus podcast. 

Now, as I admit in my chat with Jeremiah, I haven’t played the video game - but I did enjoy the film! It’s an atmospheric horror that reminded by quite of a bit of the 1962 genre classic Carnival of Souls. It's a small, contained chiller that creeps along and gets under your skin. 

The Mortuary Assistant sees Willa Holland star as Rebecca Owens, a newly appointed assistant to Paul Sparks’ mortician, Raymond Delver. Her first night on the job doesn’t quite go to plan and soon things begin to go bump in the night. 

I caught up with director Jeremiah Kipp for a discussion that covered video game adaptations, horror movies, independent film versus superhero epics  and a whole lot more. It was a fun chat - one that’s a worth a listen for horror movie fans and gamers alike. 

Jesse V. Johnson’s Thieves Highway is a modern day western about cattle rustling, that sees Aaron Echkart’s cow cop tracking down a a bunch of seriously bad hombres. 

Written by Travis Mills - the director of the recent Frontier Crucible - Thieves Highway has hints of Fred Zinnemann’s High Noon and Carl Franklin’s One False Move. It’s a small, character-based thriller that has a strong central performance from Eckhart - who’s always great - and the film is also notable for the odd-ball characterisation of the villains. 

As a longtime fan of both Aaron Eckhart and Jesse V. Johnson, I’m thrilled that they’ve joined this episode of the podcast to talk about Thieves Highway, action movies and a whole lot more. 

Collins' Mel Gibson starrer, Hunting Season is something of surprise. Yes, it gives you want you want from a Mel Gibson thriller, but it’s also a film that features some excellent and finely tuned performances. Gibson, as you would expect is great, but so is the supporting cast. There’s a lot going on here and it’s sure to really engage viewers. 

The plot sees a reclusive survivalist (Gibson) and his daughter (Sofia Hublitz) rescue a mysterious, wounded woman (Shelley Hennig) from a river. The pair soon become entangled in a deadly web of violence and revenge, forcing them to confront a brutal criminal to survive.

RJ Collins and Shelley Hennig join this bite-size episode of the Movies In Focus podcast to talk about Hunting Season, working with Mel Gibson and how you bring a lot of creativity to an action film of this kind.

This is an exciting episode of the Movies In Focus podcast - because I’m not only joined by the mighty Thomas Jane (The Mist, The Punisher, Deep Blue Sea), the star and producer of the new western, Frontier Crucible - but I'm also also speaking to the film’s director, Travis Mills. 

Travis Mills embraces the western and delivers an interpretation of the genre that not only looks back to the past, but also takes a punchy modern-day approach that echoes the brutality of S. Craig Zahler’s Bone Tomahawk.

I’ve been a fan of Thomas Jane’s for nearly thirty years, so it was an absolute privilege to spend time talking to him about Frontier Crucible, his career and film in general. In an equally engaging conversation, I also also spoke to director Travis Mills about the legacy of the western genre and how Frontier Crucible came to be. 

The Movies In Focus podcast is approaching its fifth year and hundredth episode - and I have to say that without a doubt, this is one of my favourite episodes. 

I hope you enjoy listening to it as much as I enjoyed recording it. 

Scott Martin, Michael Jai White, Charlotte Kirk and Stephanie Beran join this episode of the Movies In Focus podcast to discuss their new film, Exit Protocol. 

Interviewed separately, these conversations offer thoughtful insights into the production of Exit Protocol, creative decisions, and the collaborative energy that shaped the film.

It’s an interesting look at bringing the Dolph Lundgren film to the screen as each of the guests share their perspectives on filmmaking, working with the ensemble and what sets Exit Protocol apart from other action thrillers.

James Badge Dale (13 Hours, The Standoff At Sparrow Creek) and Michael Mando (Better Call Saul, Spider-Man) join this episode of the Movies In Focus podcast to talk about their roles in John Swab’s latest film, King Ivory. 

Swab’s drug thriller explores the dangerous world of fentanyl trafficking in the U.S., offering a gritty glimpse into a society fighting for survival.

In this interview, Dale and Mando discuss the challenges of portraying characters caught in the crossfire of the opioid crisis, what it was like working under Swab’s direction and the personal impact of bringing the tale to the screen. 

If you’re looking for insight into how real-world issues shape movies, then this is an episode for you.

Oh, and we also talk quite a bit about my physical media collection that was lurking behind me on our Zoom call. It would seem that I might have committed to hosting movie night on Friday!

Filmmaker and actor Caleb Alexander Smith (The Catch, Modern Family) and his co-star David Krumholtz (Oppenheimer, The Santa Clause, Supergirl) join his episode of the the Movies In Focus podcast to discuss their thought provoking new film, Forelock. It’s a work that could easily slip under the radar in today’s crowded cinematic landscape - and that would be a massive shame.

Forelock strikes an impressive balance: it deftly engages with the modern superhero conversation while simultaneously echoing the raw humanity and urban melancholy of the 1969 classic, Midnight Cowboy.

This conversation dives into the Forelock's unique rhythm, its artistic intent, and how both Smith and Krumholtz approached creating something that really manages to resonate. 

British film producer and the man behind Shogun Films, Jonathan Sothcott joins this episode of the Movies In Focus podcast to discuss his impressive and varied career in the film industry.

 One of the most prolific figures in British genre cinema, Sothcott discusses his latest horror movie Helloween, the realities of producing independent films and how he’s built a career telling stories that connect with audiences worldwide. 

This conversation offers a fascinating glimpse into the challenges and rewards of film-making, as well as Jonathan’s ongoing passion for creating bold and entertaining movies.