Spoilerpiece Theatre

This week Dave braved writer-director Mike Flanagan's adaption of Stephen King's THE LIFE OF CHUCK (3:19) and deems it strangely affecting despite not being in love, generally, with the weird maudlin nostalgia of King's non-horror work. Then Megan, Evan, and Dave weigh in on (this is actually its full title) FROM THE WORLD OF JOHN WICK: BALLERINA (20:47). It largely works for Evan, kind of works for Dave, and Megan didn't like it much at all, though they all agree it has some great action set pieces and it's always good to see the late Lance Reddick. Over on Patreon, we discuss the 1985 slasher-legal thriller JAGGED EDGE.

Megan is off this week, so Evan and Dave tackle LOST IN STARLIGHT (2:14), an animated romantic sci-fi drama about a dedicated scientist determined to go to space - but she meets the love of her life just before her departure. Then it's TORNADO (19:13). Set in the 1860s Scottish highlands, it's part western, part Samurai film, part heist flick, and all killin'. Over on Patreon, our second May poll movie is FRACTURE (2007) starring Anthony Hopkins and Ryan Gosling.

This week, Dave and Megan talk about FOUNTAIN OF YOUTH (2:47), Guy Ritchie's incredibly derivative and frustrating adventure film, starring John Krasinski and Natalie Portman as siblings on a globe-trotting trek for (you guessed it) the mythical Fountain of Youth.

Then, we all (Evan, Dave, and Megan) discuss FEAR STREET: PROM QUEEN (29:21), a slasher horror film and the latest entry in the franchise based on the R.L. Stine novel. Directed by Matt Palmer and starring India Fowler, Suzanna Son, and Fina Strazza, it follows high school prom queen finalists dying one by one. One of us had a lot of fun, but two of us were disappointed. Yet we all agree on some of the good performances and the excellent 80s soundtrack.

And on this week's Patreon bonus episode, we cover the winner of our sci-fi horror poll: James Ward Byrkit's 2013 film, COHERENCE!

This week, we review two international films featuring unconventional women protagonists. First, Evan and Megan talk about SISTER MIDNIGHT (1:56), Karan Kandhari's "genre-bending" dark comedy (from the UK and India) about a woman in India (Radhika Apte) in an arranged marriage who experiences strange events. One of us loved the weird and bold film for Radhika Apte's excellent performance as the defiant protagonist, Kandhari's assured direction, the film's vivid cinematography and soundtrack, its irreverent humor, and horror genre subversion. But one of us initially liked it but found it too strange and ultimately tedious.

Next, we all (Dave, Evan, and Megan) discuss THE OLD WOMAN WITH THE KNIFE (21:16), Min Kyu-dong's South Korean action film (based on the novel) about an iconic woman assassin in her sixties (Lee Hye-young) following a moral code clashing with a young hitman (Kim Sung-cheol). One of us really enjoyed the film for the film's exciting action sequences and Lee Hye-young's excellent lead performance. We all agreed she's fantastic and that the film offers a great premise. But two of us couldn't get onboard with the film due to its convoluted yet predictable narrative and tedious pacing.

And on this week's Patreon exclusive bonus episode, we talk about WITNESS, Peter Weir's 1985 thriller, starring Harrison Ford and Kelly McGillis!

This week, the whole gang is back together! Yay! Evan and Megan start out by reviewing Paul Feig's whodunnit dark comedy, ANOTHER SIMPLE FAVOR (2:33), a sequel to you guessed it, A SIMPLE FAVOR. While it retains the crackling chemistry between its leads, Anna Kendrick and Blake Lively, the movie doesn't have much going for it other than its gorgeous location and fashions; its writing and dialogue are abysmal, and it's glacially paced. Next, we all discuss Eli Craig's horror film CLOWN IN A CORNFIELD (19:43), which is set in a small midwestern town that's terrorized by a killer clown in a cornfield. There's a lot more to this slasher than it seems from the title; it's well-paced, funny, features memorable kills, and has smart social commentary. And in this week's Patreon exclusive audio, we talk about Drew Hancock's sci-fi thriller COMPANION, starring Sophie Thatcher and Jack Quaid!

Dave can't make it this week, so Megan and Evan review this week's very different films as a duo. First, Megan covers the Ami Canaan Mann's biopic AUDREY'S CHILDREN (2:32), which chronicles a period in the life of world-renowned children's doctor Dr. Audrey Evans (Natalie Dormer), as she works to revolutionize treatment of childhood cancer during the late 1960s and helps co-found the first Ronald McDonald House. Come for Natalie Dormer's excellent performance. Next, they discuss Jon Kasbe and Crystal Moselle's disappointing documentary MY ROBOT SOPHIA (17:41), which follows inventor David Hanson's attempts to build life-like AI. The film features a fascinating topic, but fails to delve deep enough into it to be worthwhile. Lastly, Evan reviews Jake Schreier's THUNDERBOLTS* (37:08) the latest Marvel film, which follows a ragtag group of anti-heroes led by Florence Pugh who must confront a powerful force: their traumas and darkest secrets. It's not your typical Marvel movie, and that's a very good thing because it has a lot of heart and soul. And in this week's Patreon exclusive audio, we talk about the Coen Brothers' 1984 directorial debut, BLOOD SIMPLE!

Unfortunately, Dave can't make it this week (we miss you), but we (Evan and Megan) carry on in his stead. First we cover Michael Angarano's dramedy SACREMENTO (2:14), where a free-spirited guy (Angarano) cons his anxiety-ridden best friend (Michael Cera) into taking a road trip to, you guessed it, Sacramento. The movie, which co-stars the vastly underused Maya Erskine and Kristen Stewart, has the occasional poignant moment or funny line but is too scattershot for our taste. Next, we review Christopher Landon's thriller DROP (23:02), which stars Meghann Fahy as a widowed, domestic abuse survivor and mother who is terrorized by anonymous threatening messages on her first date in years. We really dig its central mystery, lead performance, intense atmosphere, and sharp commentary on abuse. And in this week's Patreon exclusive audio, we talk about Martha Coolidge's 1985 comedy REAL GENIUS in honor of the late Val Kilmer!

This week Evan and Megan watched (and Dave partly watched) the micro budget thriller GAZER (2:22), directed by Ryan J. Sloan, and written by Sloan and star Ariella Mastroianni. Frankie (Mastroianni) has dyschronometria, a neurological condition where an individual struggles to perceive and track the duration of time. So when Frankie accepts a high-risk job for a decent chunk of money, it's safe to say things don't work out like she expects. Then everyone watched FREAKY TALES (21:20), one movie made up of four sci-fi/action/martial arts anthology bloodfests that features lots of characters killing neo Nazis. Oh, and it takes place in 1987, which makes everyone (especially Evan) very happy. And we're all extremely happy that it has a whole lot of Pedro Pascal. Over on Patreon, we watched PRINCESS MONONOKE in honor of its 4K restoration.