Sean Kelly on Movies Podcast

The psychological horror film Hellcat arrives on Shudder on Friday, August 14, 2026. Prior to the film's World Premiere at the 2025 Fantasia International Film Festival we spoke with writer/director Brock Bodell and stars Dakota Gorman and Liz Atwater to discuss the project.📖 Read our original Fantasia 2025 review: https://skonmovies.ca/review/hellcat-fantasia-2025/✨ KEY MOMENTS IN THIS VIDEO: 00:00 Introduction 00:15 Brock Bodell on Getting the Idea for Hellcat 00:42 Brock Bodell on Writing the Arc of the Film 01:50 Brock Bodell on the Off-Screen Character of Clive 03:05 Dakota Gorman and Liz Atwater Describe Their Characters 03:26 Dakota Gorman on the Sense of Discovery in Hellcat 04:06 Liz Atwater on Working with Dakota Gorman 04:16 The Dynamic Between Lena and Clive (Acting with a Disembodied Voice) 04:53 Wrap-Up & End Screen

Delusion 32 by Audionautix is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/Artist: http://audionautix.com/

Kick off our coverage from the 30th annual Fantasia International Film Festival!

On this episode of Sean Kelly on Movies, Sean sits down in person with director Bob Colaers and virtually with writer and star Saïd Boumazoughe to discuss their Belgian action film, Attack on Paradise.

Together, they dive into:

• The genesis of the film and its major action cinema influences

• Saïd's perspective on Arab and Moroccan representation in the action genre

• The real-world logistical challenges of shooting inside an actual high-rise building

• Crafting unique floor-by-floor sequences and animal-themed storytelling

• What’s next for the film following its Fantasia premiere

Follow & Subscribe:

Don't forget to follow the podcast and leave a rating if you enjoyed the conversation!

Timecodes: 00:00 - Introduction 00:30 - Attack on Paradise Teaser 01:07 - The Genesis of Attack on Paradise 02:36 - Action Movie Influences 03:32 - Saïd Boumazoughe on Arab/Moroccan Representation in Action 04:47 - Filming in a Real High-Rise Building 05:06 - "We Need Those Goats, Man!" 06:08 - Designing the Uniqueness of Each Floor 07:30 - Incorporating Animal Themes 08:52 - What’s Next for Attack on Paradise 09:13 - Complimenting Sean's Fantasia T-Shirt 09:25 - Outro & End Screen

Note: While we made every effort to clean up the audio from our wireless microphones, there are still a few brief instances of minor static in the interview audio. Thank you for understanding!

On this episode of Sean Kelly on Movies Interviews, I sit down with writer, director, and co-star Mark O'Brien to discuss his new psychological horror film, The Voices of Our Mother.

Mark breaks down how he subverted classic possession tropes to explore the real-world trauma of dementia, the intense (and fractured) dynamics of sibling estrangement, and what it’s really like to balance acting and directing simultaneously on set.

The Voices of Our Mother stars Canadian screen icon Sheila McCarthy and is currently playing in a limited theatrical release. You can catch it on VOD platforms in Canada and streaming internationally on Shudder starting June 19th!

If you enjoy these conversations, please make sure to follow, rate, and review the podcast on Spotify!

Episode Chapters:00:00 Introduction00:51 How Mark O'Brien Got the Idea for The Voices of Our Mother01:24 Casting Sheila McCarthy01:52 The Voices of Our Mother Using Possession as an Allegory for Dementia02:24 Mark O'Brien on Balancing Directing and Acting02:56 The Sibling Themes in The Voices of Our Mother03:50 Does Mark O'Brien Consider His Character a Villain04:35 The Use of Colour in The Voices of Our Mother05:24 The Voices of Our Mother's Subversion of Possession06:46 A Quick Comment About the Creature Effects07:10 What Does Mark O'Brien Expect Audiences to Take Away from The Voices of Our Mother07:42 "A Horror-Adjacent Family Drama"08:18 Conclusion

Gabor Pertic talks about becoming the lead programmer of the Hot Docs Canadian International Documentary Festival and what films he is most excited about from the 2026 line-up. ✨ KEY MOMENTS IN THIS VIDEO:

00:00 Introduction

00:24 Gabor Pertic on Becoming Lead Programmer

00:50 Is There Any Film Gabor Pertic is Particularly Proud Of?

01:01 What Gabor Pertic is Really Excited About

01:14 End Screen

"Eyeballs Up!" 👁️👆 We are celebrating a massive milestone: the 20th Anniversary of the Canadian Film Fest!

I caught up with Founder & Executive Director Bern Euler and Festival Director Ashleigh Rains right on the Opening Night red carpet. Amidst the premiere buzz at Scotiabank Theatre Toronto, we discussed this year's incredible lineup and the meaning behind the "Eyeballs Up" slogan.The Highlight: I surprised them both on the carpet by revealing that my pull-quote from last year’s coverage made it onto the official physical release of Vampire Zombies from Space! 🛸🧛‍♂️Chapters:0:00 Intro0:28 Bern Euler on 20 Years of the Canadian Film Fest1:03 Ashleigh Rains on This Year's Line-Up1:30 Bern Euler on the Challenges of Choosing Films2:16 Ashleigh Rains on "Eyeballs Up"2:56 Thanking CFF for my Vampire Zombies from Space! Blu-ray Quote4:16 Eyeballs Up End Screen

We sat down with director Adam MacDonald (Backcountry, Pyewacket) to discuss his latest film, This Is Not a Test, ahead of its Canadian theatrical release on February 27.We dive deep into why he chose to adapt Courtney Summers’ acclaimed YA novel, the decision to set the apocalypse in the 1990s, and how he balanced the...

The post Director Adam MacDonald Discusses “This Is Not A Test” appeared first on Sean Kelly on Movies.

We sat down with director Adam MacDonald (Backcountry, Pyewacket) to discuss his latest film, This Is Not a Test, ahead of its Canadian theatrical release on February 27. We dive deep into why he chose to adapt Courtney Summers' acclaimed YA novel, the decision to set the apocalypse in the 1990s, and how he balanced the visceral horror of a zombie outbreak with the heavy themes of teenage trauma and depression.
Content Warning: This interview includes discussions regarding depression and suicidal ideation

Timestamps:

00:00 Introduction
00:41 Adapting Courtney Summers’ Novel
01:27 Why a Zombie Film?
02:04 Balancing Horror with Teenage Trauma
03:16 Olivia Holt’s Character Arc (TW: Mental Health)
03:54 The 90s Aesthetic & The Age of Electric
05:51 Why the High School Setting Works
06:56 Where are the Adults?
08:01 Sloane and Her Sister (Minor Spoilers)
09:11 Adam MacDonald’s Next Project
09:50 Is a Sequel Possible?
10:27 Final Thoughts & Wrap Up
11:26 End Screen

Episode Summary: In this episode, we sit down with actor Caleb Landry Jones to discuss his transformative lead performance in Luc Besson’s 2026 adaptation of Dracula. Known for his immersive preparation, Jones breaks down how he approached the 15th-century prince not as a monster, but as a man defined by four centuries of grief and eternal love. We explore the technical "madness" of the role and what it’s like to serve as a muse for one of cinema's most visionary directors.

Key Takeaways:

Resources Mentioned:

Read Sean’s Full Review: https://skonmovies.ca/review/dracula-2026

Watch the Interview on YouTube: https://youtu.be/osu05kOG9mw

Timestamps:

0:00 – Introduction and Context

0:41 – Caleb Landry Jones: Balancing the Man vs. the Vampire

2:12 – How this adaptation differs from previous screen versions

3:04 – The singular "moment" that defined the character for Caleb

4:19 – Wrap-Up

Note to Listeners: This episode is a professional analysis of the film's artistry and performances. Sean Kelly on Movies does not condone the allegations against the film's director but remains committed to covering the significant work of the cast and crew.

Episode Summary: In this episode, we sit down with actor Caleb Landry Jones to discuss his transformative lead performance in Luc Besson’s 2026 adaptation of Dracula. Known for his immersive preparation, Jones breaks down how he approached the 15th-century prince not as a monster, but as a man defined by four centuries of grief and...

The post Caleb Landry Jones on the Humanity of Luc Besson’s Dracula appeared first on Sean Kelly on Movies.

EPISODE SUMMARY:

Honey Bunch is finally here! To celebrate the nationwide theatrical release, Sean Kelly on Movies Interviews brings you a deep-dive conversation recorded just before the film’s premiere at the 2025 Toronto International Film Festival (#TIFF50).

WHERE TO WATCH:

In Canada: Honey Bunch opens in cinemas nationwide via Elevation Pics starting Friday, January 23, 2026.

International: The film will begin streaming on Shudder starting February 13, 2026.

THE INTERVIEW:

In this episode, we go inside the making of this cinematic journey with the creative team that brought it to life.

First, Sean sits down with the visionary writer-director duo Madeleine Sims-Fewer and Dusty Mancinelli to discuss their unique filmmaking process. Then, we are joined by the film’s stars—and real-life couple—Grace Glowicki and Ben Petrie for a look at their collaboration on and off screen and how they navigated the complex psychology of their characters.

CONNECT WITH THE SHOW:

Subscribe: Never miss an episode by following Sean Kelly on Movies Interviews on your favourite podcast app.

Social Media: Follow us on Instagram, TikTok, and X/Twitter @skonmovies for more exclusive content and behind-the-scenes clips.