As 2025 draws to a close, we’re wrapping up the year with a trip back to Barton Academy. On this final episode of The Reel Lovers, host Marley Silverbrand continues the journey through the Letterboxd Top 250 Narrative Films by diving into Alexander Payne’s 2023 masterpiece, The Holdovers. To help navigate this modern Christmas classic, we are thrilled to welcome a very special guest: Drake from The First Watch Podcast.

Together, Marley and Drake break down the film’s soulful 1970s aesthetic, the incredible chemistry between the lead trio, and why this story of "misfit toys" has already cemented itself as a holiday essential. Beyond the snowy grounds of the film, we also take a moment to look back at our favorite cinematic moments of 2025 and share our aspirations and goals for the upcoming 2026 movie season.

Of course, it wouldn't be a proper wrap-up without our signature segment, where we dive deep into our recent activity on Letterboxd for a special year-end edition of Last Four Watched.

Since this is the final episode of 2025, we want to say a heartfelt thank you to everyone who has tuned in this year. Your support means everything to us, and we are so grateful to have you along for this trek through film history. We hope you all have a very Happy New Year, and we can't wait to see you in 2026. Thank you for listening to The Reel Lovers.

Connect with Drake here

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This week on The Reel Lovers Podcast, Marley reaches a major milestone in his journey through the Letterboxd Top 250. To celebrate, he is tackling one of the most beloved films of all time: Frank Capra’s 1946 masterpiece, It’s a Wonderful Life.

He is not navigating Bedford Falls alone for this one. Joining the show for the very first time is Drake, the host of The First Watch Podcast. Together, they dive deep into George Bailey’s existential crisis, the legendary performance of Jimmy Stewart, and why this holiday classic remains one of the most harrowing and rewarding character studies in cinema history.

The conversation continues with a look at their recent Letterboxd activity in the recurring Last Four Watched segment. Marley and Drake break down the highs and lows of their latest screenings and share what has been capturing their attention in film lately.

Marley and Drake also tackle some of the biggest and most somber headlines in the film industry. They discuss the massive corporate shakeup involving the Netflix and Paramount bidding war for Warner Bros. and what that means for the future of the silver screen. Additionally, they take a moment to honor the lives and legacy of Rob and Michelle Reiner following the tragic news of their passing. They reflect on the immense impact the couple had on Hollywood and the timeless films they left behind.

Follow Our Guest Check out Drake on The First Watch Podcast for more great film discussions.

Stay Connected Follow Marley on Letterboxd for the full Top 250 progress. Subscribe to The Reel Lovers Podcast on your favorite platform so you never miss an episode.

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Merry Christmas, Reel Lovers! 🎄🍿

Wrap up your holiday festivities with a very special gift from The Lobby. Today, we are bringing our M. Night Shyamalan Retrospective to a thrilling conclusion. After weeks of twists, turns, and signature cameos, we’ve finally reached the end of the road with a movie commentary episode for Shyamalan’s 2024 suspense-thriller, Trap.

Whether you’re a longtime fan or a new listener, we want you to watch right along with us!

How to Watch With Us

To get the full "theatre-at-home" experience, make sure you have your copy of the film ready to go before you hit play on this episode. You can join the fun by:

• Physical Media: Grabbing your 4K Ultra HD or Blu-ray copy of Trap for the highest quality.
• Digital Rental/Purchase: Renting or buying the film on your favorite Video on Demand (VOD) service, such as Apple TV, Amazon Prime Video, or Fandango at Home.
• Streaming: Pulling up the movie directly on HBO Max, where it is currently available to stream.

Syncing Up

In this episode, Marley is joined by a very special guest: Peyton from The Apple Box Chronicles!

Once you have the movie loaded and paused at the very beginning (0:00), listen for the end of our introduction. Marley will give a clear countdown from 3, and when we hit "1," we’ll all press play together. From there, you'll get to experience every tension-filled moment at the Lady Raven concert with Marley and Peyton providing real-time insights, laughs, and deep-dive analysis into M. Night’s latest vision.

Ready to step into the arena? Grab your popcorn, settle in, and let’s get trapped

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The knock is polite, but the implications are world-ending. This week on The Lobby, Marley continues his extensive retrospective into the filmography of M. Night Shyamalan. We have reached the second installment of the director's "Trapped Trilogy," moving away from the sun-drenched nightmare of the beach and into the shadows of the forest for the 2023 thriller, Knock at the Cabin.

To help navigate the high stakes and apocalyptic omens, Marley is once again joined by Peyton, the insightful host of The Apple Box Chronicles. Together, they find themselves metaphorically confined within the cabin's walls to break down Dave Bautista’s career-defining performance and the film’s haunting deviation from its source material, The Cabin at the End of the World. They explore how Shyamalan manages to generate suffocating tension even in a space where the exits are visible, but the moral weight of the outside world keeps everyone rooted in place.

The conversation delves into the central, impossible dilemma presented to the family, questioning the director's career-long fascination with the intersection of faith, coincidence, and sacrifice. Marley and Peyton also discuss how this film serves as the vital connective tissue in the "Trapped" series, bridging the gap between the biological horror of Old and the upcoming tension of Trap. It is an exploration of whether we can ever truly escape the choices we are forced to make, even when the doors are wide open.

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Time is ticking away on The Lobby, and we aren’t just talking about the runtime. This week, Marley continues his ambitious journey through the twisty and polarizing filmography of M. Night Shyamalan with a look at the 2021 supernatural thriller, Old.

To help navigate the rapid aging and existential dread of "The Beach That Makes You Old," Marley welcomes back a familiar voice and fan favorite, Peyton from The Apple Box Chronicles. Together, they dive deep into whether the film's high-concept premise holds up under the magnifying glass or withers under the tropical sun. The conversation explores Shyamalan’s unique visual language, analyzing the jarring cinematography and specific framing choices that have come to define this era of his career.

Marley and Peyton also tackle the inevitable spoiler-filled discussion regarding the film’s ending, debating whether the big reveal landed a knockout punch or felt like a swing and a miss. From the theatrical dialogue to the performances of Gael García Bernal and Vicky Krieps, no stone is left unturned. Whether you think Old is a misunderstood masterpiece of "B-movie" camp or just a vacation gone wrong, pull up a chair in the lobby and join the conversation.

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In this latest chapter of our ongoing M. Night Shyamalan retrospective series, The Lobby presents an in-depth analysis of the 2019 film Glass. While our journey through Shyamalan’s filmography continues in future episodes, this installment marks the definitive conclusion to the "unofficial" superhero trilogy that began nearly two decades ago. Special guests Peyton of The Apple Box Chronicles and Kale Smith of The Youth Critic Podcast return to the show once more to help Marley navigate the complex production history and the 19-year creative journey required to bring this specific story to its end.

The conversation centers on Shyamalan's perseverance as a filmmaker and the intricate thematic threads that tie this film back to the foundations laid in Unbreakable and Split. As we bridge the gap between his earlier masterworks and his most recent projects, we take a comprehensive look at a director reclaiming his unique vision and completing a narrative arc that redefined the comic book genre. Stay tuned as our retrospective continues next time with a look at the high-concept thrills of Old.

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The Lobby's M. Night Shyamalan retrospective continues, and this week, we are locking down the chilling psychological thriller, Split (2016)! We are not facing The Horde alone, though. Joining Marley in The Lobby for a deep dive into James McAvoy's mesmerizing, multifaceted performance and Shyamalan's signature twists are Kale Smith from The Youth Critic Podcast and Peyton from The Apple Box Chronicles! Tune in as the crew looks back at the cultural impact of this massive comeback for the director and discusses how it holds up years later. They’ll explore the film's take on dissociative identity disorder, the unexpected cinematic universe reveal in the final moments, and where Split ultimately lands in the catalogue of the twist master's work.

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Welcome back to The Lobby, the podcast where movie lovers dive deep into the films we can't stop talking about.

Host Marley is joined this week by special guest and fellow film enthusiast, Andrew Herrera, as they continue their thrilling retrospective of the work of director M. Night Shyamalan.

In this episode, they're stepping into the unsettling world of The Visit (2015). After a series of polarizing releases, did this "found footage" horror/thriller mark a true return to form for the auteur? Marley and Andrew discuss the movie's jump scares, its unexpected humor, the unnerving performances of Deanna Dunagan and Peter McRobbie, and, of course, that signature Shyamalan twist.

Is this film a masterful minimalist scare-fest or just a creepy family reunion gone wrong? Tune in to hear the full breakdown, only on The Lobby!

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This week, get ready for a cinematic feast as Marley welcomes back Vikash, host of the Cinema Pursuit podcast, for a very special Thanksgiving episode!

They continue their deep dive into the Letterboxd Top 250 Narrative Films series with a discussion of Sidney Lumet's powerful 1957 directorial debut, 12 Angry Men. They will break down the courtroom classic, from the incredible ensemble cast to the timeless themes of justice, prejudice, and the burden of reasonable doubt.

But first, Marley and Vikash are airing their "Reel Beef"! They are dedicating a new segment to their most frustrating cinematic grievances, starting with a passionate rant about the appalling lack of theater etiquette they have been seeing lately. Put down your phone, seriously.

Finally, they wrap things up with a quick round of "Last Four Watched," sharing the latest movies that have been spinning in their letterboxes.

Settle in after your turkey dinner for a lively, thoughtful, and spirited discussion!

Time Stamps:

Intro: 0:05

Reel Beef: 5:05

Last Four Watched: 24:50

12 Angry Men Discussion: 48:14

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This week Marley welcomes back Peyton from The Apple Box Chronicles to continue our journey through the complex and often misunderstood filmography of M. Night Shyamalan!

This week, we reach a true crossroads in the director's career with the ambitious, effects-heavy, and star-driven sci-fi adventure: 2013's After Earth.

After Earth is famously an anomaly in the Shyamalan canon: he didn't write the story (Will Smith did), his name was minimized in the marketing, and it was a massive studio production far removed from his signature intimate thrillers.

Marley and Peyton grapple with:

• The Smith Factor: How does the real-life father-son dynamic between Will and Jaden Smith influence the film's core themes of mentorship, fear, and survival?
• The Director's Touch: Despite working with a script he didn't originate, do we find those unmistakable Shyamalan threads—from the quiet, internal focus on trauma to the stunning, nature-reclaims-Earth aesthetic?
• The Critical Abyss: Why is this film widely considered one of the director's biggest career setbacks, and is it due for a critical re-evaluation in a retrospective lens?

The question we would like to ask you though at the end of this podcast is: What is your biggest fear? Let us know your biggest fear in the comments below!

As always please support the show in anyway that you can, whether is leaving a star rating, or supporting our Patreon.

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