InSession Film Podcast

On this episode, we discuss the great Guillermo del Toro and his recent work, including FRANKENSTEIN, CRIMSON PEAK and THE SHAPE OF WATER! Panel: Kristin Battestella, Megan Kearns Visit insessionfilm.com for merch and more! Thanks for listening and be sure to subscribe on your podcast app of choice! insessionfilm.com/subscribe

On this episode, JD and Megan break down Maggie Gyllenhaal's latest film THE BRIDE! The conversation around the film has been understandably polarized, but we are grateful for the ambitious swings the film takes. The setup to the film is kind of wild, some of it makes no sense at all, and yet we had a bunch of fun with it. Visit https://insessionfilm.com for merch and more! Thanks for listening and be sure to subscribe! Become an ISF VIP today to get exclusive bonus content! Follow us on X/Twitter! @InSessionFilm | @RealJDDuran | @BrendanJCassidy

On this episode, JD and Brendan discuss Pixar's latest film HOPPERS! Pixar last decade or so has been all over the place in terms of quality and audience reception, but this seems to be one of Pixar's better efforts of late. But there is one key element that we debate quite heavily in this conversation. Visit https://insessionfilm.com for merch and more! Thanks for listening and be sure to subscribe! Become an ISF VIP today to get exclusive bonus content! Follow us on X/Twitter! @InSessionFilm | @RealJDDuran | @BrendanJCassidy

On this episode, Shadan is joined by Mark Johnson to discuss their final predictions to the 98th Academy Awards happening this weekend! We've been debating and dissecting awards season for months now, and it's finally here. The Oscars are upon us and it's time to make our final predictions! Visit https://insessionfilm.com/store for merch and more! Thanks for listening and be sure to subscribe! Become an ISF VIP today to get exclusive bonus content! Follow us on X/Twitter! @InSessionFilm | @ShadanLarki

On this episode, with the 98th Academy Awards taking place this weekend, we talked about the top 5 things we want to see at this year's Oscars! Whether it be the awards themselves, the ceremony or anything in-between, we discuss our hopes and what could make the Oscars memorable.  We also delve into our Pixar Draft results from last week, and dive into the box office numbers for both HOPPERS and Maggie Gyllenhaal's THE BRIDE! As we do, there's also some conversation around Pixar itself and the discourse around THE BRIDE! and why Warner Bros.' gamble was worth it. - Pixar Draft Results (2:15) - Hoppers Box Office / Pixar Talk (6:01) - The Bride! Box Office & Discourse (32:43) - 2026 Oscars Wishlist (47:02) Visit insessionfilm.dashery.com to support the show with InSession Film merch! Episode sponsor: koffeekult.com - Get 15% OFF with the code: ISF26 Thanks for listening and be sure to subscribe! Become an ISF VIP today to get exclusive bonus content! Follow us on Twitter! @InSessionFilm | @RealJDDuran | @BrendanJCassidy

On this episode, we discuss the Richard Attenborough musical film adaptation of A CHORUS LINE! It's been a divisive movie throughout the years, and maybe it doesn't all work as a movie, but there's plenty to it as an adaptation that is quite compelling.  Panel: Kristin Battestella, Amy Thomasson Visit insessionfilm.com for merch and more! Thanks for listening and be sure to subscribe on your podcast app of choice! insessionfilm.com/subscribe

In this episode, Shadan is joined by Gerald of The Awards Garage to discuss this year's Actor Awards! We saw some big surprises and have three acting categories that are completely up in the air now. It also means Best Picture is a big race as well going into the Oscars.  Visit https://insessionfilm.com/store for merch and more! Thanks for listening and be sure to subscribe! Become an ISF VIP today to get exclusive bonus content! Follow us on X/Twitter! @InSessionFilm | @ShadanLarki

On this episode, JD and Brendan dive into Zak HIlditch's new(ish) zombie film WE BURY THE DEAD, starring an incredible Daisy Ridley! We're a little late to the party here, but the premise here is quite fascinating and the film uses a buffet of zombie lore to establish something unique.  Visit https://insessionfilm.com for merch and more! Thanks for listening and be sure to subscribe! Become an ISF VIP today to get exclusive bonus content! Follow us on X/Twitter! @InSessionFilm | @RealJDDuran | @BrendanJCassidy

This week on the InSession Film Podcast, inspired by HOPPERS jumping into theaters this weekend, we did our Pixar Movie Draft! Pixar's top-end filmography is about as good as it gets, with some of the very best animated movies ever made. This was a competitive and very fun conversation.  We also talk about Paramount buying Warner Bros. and why we think it's a very bad move for the industry. And with the Actor Awards happening over the weekend, we wanted to give some thoughts on the current Oscars race. - No Scream 7 (2:52) - Paramount / Warner Bros. (9:18) - Oscars Race (44:20) - Pixar Draft (1:13:14) Visit insessionfilm.dashery.com to support the show with InSession Film merch! Episode sponsor: 28 YEARS LATER: THE BONE TEMPLE - Follow us on social media for your chance to win a FREE digital code! Episode sponsor: THE RUNNING MAN - Follow us on social media for your chance to win a FREE Blu-ray! Thanks for listening and be sure to subscribe! Become an ISF VIP today to get exclusive bonus content! Follow us on Twitter! @InSessionFilm | @RealJDDuran | @BrendanJCassidy

On this episode, we discuss some of our favorite vampire movies and why it's one of the best subgenre's in horror! From NOSFERATU to DRACULA to SINNERS, there are so many great vampire movies that not only make for great thrills, but often it's full of incredible queer subtext and eroticism that make them even more captivating. Panel: Kristin Battestella, Megan Kearns Visit insessionfilm.com for merch and more! Thanks for listening and be sure to subscribe on your podcast app of choice! insessionfilm.com/subscribe

In this episode, Shadan is joined by Zak Ahmed and Robin Write to break down this year's BAFTA awards and the stirring discourse that sprouted in the ceremony's aftermath! There is plenty to talk about regarding the winners and how many categories feel even more up in the air now, but we of course had to also address the show's controversy as well.  Visit https://insessionfilm.com/store for merch and more! Thanks for listening and be sure to subscribe! Become an ISF VIP today to get exclusive bonus content! Follow us on X/Twitter! @InSessionFilm | @ShadanLarki

This week on the InSession Film Podcast, inspired by SCREAM 7 hitting theaters this weekend, we discuss our favorite horror movie kills! The horror genre is full of all kinds of death and carnage, featuring some of the most gnarly thrills that cinema has to offer, and we thought it would be fun to parse though the best sequences that define horror film. JD also opens the show by talking about the Olympics, USA Hockey, Miracle and some of the fallout from the Gold Medal game. Plus, we update our Gore Verbinski ranking from a  few week's ago. - Olympics / Hockey / Miracle (0:59) - Gore Verbinski / Pirates Trilogy (35:10) - Top 5 Horror Movie Kills (59:11) Visit insessionfilm.dashery.com to support the show with InSession Film merch! Visit episode sponsor: koffeekult.com - Get 15% OFF with the code: ISF26 Thanks for listening and be sure to subscribe! Become an ISF VIP today to get exclusive bonus content! Follow us on Twitter! @InSessionFilm | @RealJDDuran | @BrendanJCassidy

On this episode, JD and Erica discuss Michael Mann, oh I'm sorry, I mean Bart Layton's new film CRIME 101! Starring Chris Hemsworth and Mark Ruffalo, Layton deeply leans into his inner Mann to deliver a captivating crime thriller. Visit https://insessionfilm.com for merch and more! Thanks for listening and be sure to subscribe! Become an ISF VIP today to get exclusive bonus content! Follow us on X/Twitter! @InSessionFilm | @RealJDDuran | @BrendanJCassidy

On this episode, we discuss our favorite live-action Disney films! Understandably most might think of their animated canon first, but Disney has a surprisingly great variety of live-action films that we love just as much and we had a great time parsing through the films that resonate the most with us. Panel: Megan Kearns, Zita Short Visit insessionfilm.com for merch and more! Thanks for listening and be sure to subscribe on your podcast app of choice! insessionfilm.com/subscribe

In this episode, Shadan is joined by Doug Jamieson to discuss their final predictions to the 2026 BAFTA's! Are all the major categories locked up? Could HAMNET surprise with these awards being on their home turf? We talk about all this and more with our winner predictions.  We also spend a few moments discussing last weekend's Indie Spirit Award winners! Where to watch every Oscar nominee: https://insessionfilm.com/chasing-the-gold-how-to-watch-almost-every-2026-oscar-nominee/ Visit https://insessionfilm.com for merch and more! Thanks for listening and be sure to subscribe! Become an ISF VIP today to get exclusive bonus content! Follow us on X/Twitter! @InSessionFilm | @ShadanLarki

On this episode, JD and Brendan discuss Gore Verbinski's new film GOOD LUCK, HAVE FUN, DON'T DIE! Starring a really fun Sam Rockwell and always underrated Haley Lu Richardson, the film is brazen with its satire and darkly very humorous. But its messaging on AI is striking and quite clever.  Visit https://insessionfilm.com for merch and more! Thanks for listening and be sure to subscribe! Become an ISF VIP today to get exclusive bonus content! Follow us on X/Twitter! @InSessionFilm | @RealJDDuran | @BrendanJCassidy

On this episode, JD and Brendan discuss Emerald Fennell's latest film WUTHERING HEIGHTS! As it has been with Fennell, this film has been quite polarizing and given her approach to the material, it's quite understanding why fans of the book would find it off-putting. But she does have cinematic flair that's undeniable.  Visit https://insessionfilm.com for merch and more! Thanks for listening and be sure to subscribe! Become a Member today to get exclusive bonus content! Follow us on X/Twitter! @InSessionFilm | @RealJDDuran | @BrendanJCassidy

This week on the InSession Film Podcast, Megan Kearns fills in for JD as we discuss our Top 5 epic romance movies! With Valentine's Day over the weekend, we wanted to linger in the spirit of love by talking about the cinematic romances that have resonated the most with us. We also discuss the sad passing of the legendary Robert Duvall and heartbreaking death of James Van Der Beek. - Opening Banter (0:30) - Robert Duvall / James Van Der Beek (2:34) - Top 5 Epic Romance Movies (10:53) Visit insessionfilm.dashery.com to support the show with InSession Film merch! Visit episode sponsor: koffeekult.com - Get 15% OFF with the code: ISF26 Thanks for listening and be sure to subscribe! Become an ISF VIP today to get exclusive bonus content! Follow us on Twitter! @InSessionFilm | @RealJDDuran | @BrendanJCassidy

On this episode, we discuss our favorite movies and performances from the great Dutch actress Carice van Houten! She's had a fascinating career and some extremely notable roles in GAME OF THRONES, BLACK BOOK and BLACK BUTTERFLIES especially. We dig into those and much more in this conversation.  Panel: Kristin Battestella, Jaylan Salah Visit insessionfilm.com for merch and more! Thanks for listening and be sure to subscribe on your podcast app of choice! insessionfilm.com/subscribe

On this episode, JD and Megan discuss the French animated LITTLE AMÉLIE OR THE CHARACTER OF RAIN! Oscar-nominated and featuring the most striking visuals, this little gem of a movie is really beautiful and poignant, even if it's at times ambitious to a fault.  Visit https://insessionfilm.com for merch and more! Thanks for listening and be sure to subscribe! Become a Member today to get exclusive bonus content! Follow us on X/Twitter! @InSessionFilm | @RealJDDuran | @BrendanJCassidy