First Look, Final Word

Pete and Trevor were both murdered in the car on the drive to see Wake Up Dead Man. It was the perfect crime and there are no suspects. Anyways, Rian Johnson’s third entry in the Knives Out mystery franchise finds Daniel Craig return as Benoit Blanc who is tasked with solving a locked room mystery. As always, Johnson brings an all-star cast with Josh O’Connor, Glenn Close, Josh Brolin, Mila Kunis, Jeremy Renner, Kerry Washington, Andrew Scott, Cailee Spaeny, Daryl McCormack, and Thomas Haden Church. This week also marks the beginning of our light and breezy Project Weird Christmas. First up is Lethal Weapon, staring Mel Gibson and Danny Glover. Next week we will be covering Black Christmas along with the rename of Silent Night, Deadly Night. Lethal Weapon (14:00)Wake up Dead Man (41:00)Netflix is ruining my life (55:00)Spoilers (1:06:38)Spoilers for The Murder of Roger Ackroyd (1:08:00)

Pete and Trevor brave the rough weather to finally, finally see The Running Run. Edgar Wright’s remake of the 1987 Arnold Schwarzenegger cult favourite (or more accurately described as a more faithful adaptation of the King novel) stars Glen Powell as Ben Richards, with an all-star supporting cast including William H. Macy, Lee Pace, Michael Cera, Emilia Jones, Daniel Ezra, Jayme Lawson, Sean Hayes, Colman Domingo, and Josh Brolin. This episode also wraps up our Project Last Action Heroes with a double billing. First up is Supercop (Police Story 3) with Jackie Chan and Michelle Yeoh, followed by Passenger 57, with Wesley Snipes. Tune in next week for the start of our series on Weird Christmas movies.Supercop (14:40)Passenger 57 (22:35)The Running Man Review (44:35)Spoilers (01:03:00)

Pete straps an excited Trevor to his back as they set off on their journey to see Predator: Badlands. Starring Elle Fanning and Dimitrius Schuster-Koloamatangi, the movie follows a young “Yautja” navigating through a hostile planet with the help of a dismembered android. On the way to the theatre, we discuss our history with Predator and Dan Trachtenberg’s role in reviving the franchise through Prey and Killer of Killers.We also enter week 8 of our ongoing Project Last Action Heroes. This week we discuss Steven Seagal through the lens of 1992’s Under Siege (Tommy Lee Jones, Gary Busey, Erika Eleniak, and Colm Meaney). Don’t forget to enter our ongoing contest to win a subscription to Letterboxd Patron: https://boxd.it/OT9rwUnder Siege (17:28)Predator Review (40:31)Spoilers (1:06:27)

Pete and Trevor shaved their heads, lathered themselves up in antihistamine, and hit the road to see Bugonia. The film stars Emma Stone (in her fourth collaboration with Yorgos Lanthimos), Jesse Plemons, Aidan Delbis, Stavros Halkias, and Alicia Silverstone. Listen to hear our immediate reaction after leaving the theatre.We also returned to our ongoing Project Last Action Heroes. This week we examine the career of Chuck Norris through his breakout Lone Wolf McQuade. Don’t forget to enter our ongoing contest to win a subscription to Letterboxd Patron: https://boxd.it/OT9rwIntro and our history with Yorgos (0:00)Lone Wolf McQuade (16:05)Bugonia spoiler-free review (35:14)Spoilers (50:38)

Pete and Trevor did not record their episode on House of Dynamite from a bunker built to withstand a nuclear holocaust. There is no need to worry. House of Dynamite, featuring an ensemble casts including Rebecca Ferguson, Idris Elba, Jared Harris, Tracy Letts, Greta Lee, and Anthony Ramos, is director Kathryn Bigelow’s first feature film in 8 years. These people are also not in a bunker, again, everything is fine. We return to our ongoing project Last Action Heroes with a focus on Sigourney Weaver (Alien, Ghostbusters, Starship Troopers), specifically her role in James Cameron’s Aliens. Next week we will be covering Steven Segal, please comment below or email us at firstlookfinalwordpod@gmail.com with your suggestions on what movie to cover. Don’t forget to enter our ongoing contest to win a subscription to Letterboxd Patron: https://boxd.it/OT9rwIntroduction - 0:00Aliens Chat - 11:10House of Dynamite review - 41:00Spoilers - 59:50

Pete and Trevor step into the octagon, well mostly a boxing ring, to see Benny Safdie’s The Smashing Machine, starring Dwayne Johnson and Emily Blunt. The A24 produced movie focuses on the life Mark Kerr, an early MMA and UFC fighter, and marks a clear transition in Johnson’s career to more serious roles. Does the gambit pay off? Continuing our Project Last Action Heroes, we discuss the career of Bruce Willis through the lens of Tony Scott’s The Last Boyscout. Don’t forget to enter our ongoing contest to win a subscription to Letterboxd Patron: https://boxd.it/OT9rwIntro: 0:00Last Boy Scout: 15:54Smashing Machine Review: 40:13Spoilers: 1:00:57

Pete and Trevor, and special stowaway Justin, set off to catch One Battle After Another, Paul Thomas Anderson’s modern thriller/drama/satire starring Leonardo DiCaprio, Sean Penn, Benicio del Toro, Regina Hall, Teyana Taylor, and Chase Infiniti. We also met our friend Anthony at the theatre who was able to join us for a quick recap. Like good cinephiles, we saw this in 70mm IMAX. Did this movie live up to the hype? Spoiler: yes, it’s very excellent. Listen to our immediate spoiler-free reactions after leaving the theatre, before we give plenty of warning when heading into spoiler-talk. This was week three of our ongoing project ‘Last Action Heroes’. We talk about the careers of Jean-Claude Van Damme and Dolph Lundgren via Roland Emmerich’s Universal Soldier. Tune in next week for our discussion of a Bruce Willis movie, comment below or email firstlookfinalwordpod@gmail.com to weigh in on what movie we should cover. Don’t forget to enter our ongoing contest to win a subscription to Letterboxd Patron: https://boxd.it/OT9rwIntro and our history with PTA (0:00)Review of Universal Soldier (16:35)Review of One Battle After Another (45:29)Anthony jumps out of the car (56:37)Spoilers (1:11:00)

Pete and Trevor watched Spike Lee’s new movie Highest 2 Lowest, a bold reimagining of Kurosawa’s classic High and Low. Starring Denzel Washington, Jeffrey Wright, and A$AP Rocky, we’re asking the question: will this remake be worth it?We’re also continuing our ongoing project Last Action Heroes, where we track the big guns of action cinema one film at a time. This week we’re riding shotgun with Sly Stallone, diving into the neon-soaked, leather-jacketed, pizza scissor cutting chaos of Cobra.Don’t forget to enter our ongoing contest to win a subscription to Letterboxd Patron: https://boxd.it/OT9rwIntro (00:00)Cobra Review (16:17)Spoiler-free review of Highest 2 Lowest (46:27)Spoiler-talk (59:00)

Pete and Trevor lace up their shoes and step onto the endless road for this week’s feature: The Long Walk. Adapted from one of Stephen King’s earliest and most enduring stories, the film stars Cooper Hoffman, David Jonsson, Garrett Wareing, Tut Nyuot, Charlie Plummer, Ben Wang, Roman Griffin Davis, Judy Greer, and Mark Hamill.As a coincidence, we’re also kicking off our new series, Project: The Last Action Heroes, beginning with Arnold Schwarzenegger in The Running Man—another King tale adapted for the big screen, though with a very different kind of energy. Next week we will be talking Sylvester Stallone. Comment below or write to firstlookfinalwordpod@gmail.com to suggest what movie best sums up Sly’s action career. Intro (00:00)The Running Man (04:40)Spoiler-free review of The Long Walk (43:40)Spoiler-talk (01:04:54)

Pete and Trevor step through the looking glass and into the shadows of the Conjuring Universe for the grand finale: The Conjuring: Last Rites. With Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga returning as the Warrens, does this send-off stick the landing for one of horror’s biggest franchises, or does it creak under the weight of its own lore?As prep for the finale, we are bringing Project Conjuring to a close. We watched The Nun II and The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It to get the full picture before diving into Last Rites.Intro (0:00)Review of The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It (3:10)Review of The Nun II (22:34)Spoiler-free review of Last Rites (39:17)Spoiler talk (56:45)Next project (1:17:05)

Pete and Trevor are back from their career ending injuries to see Darren Aronofsky’s Caught Stealing, his pivot into comedy-crime-thriller territory starring Austin Butler, Regina King, Zoë Kravitz, Matt Smith, Liev Schreiber, Vincent D’Onofrio (and Bad Bunny apparently?). How does this film fits into Aronofsky’s unpredictable career? Is it a calculated retreat, or is he just cutting loose with something pulpy and violent?Meanwhile, Project Conjuring continues. This week we discuss The Curse of La Llorona and Annabelle Comes Home, and next week we’ll close things out with The Nun II and The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It, all leading up to the feature of the series, The Conjuring: Last Rites.Intro and history with Aronofsky (0:00)Review of The Curse of La Llorona (15:13)Review of Annabelle Comes Home (26:40)Spoiler free review of Caught Stealing (39:38)Spoiler-talk (55:00)

Pete and Trevor dive into one of the buzziest films of 2025: Relay, the stylish new crime thriller from David Mackenzie (Hell or High Water), starring Riz Ahmed, Lily James, Sam Worthington, and Ariyon Bakare.We’re also pushing forward with Project Conjuring, our deep dive through every film in the Conjuring universe. This week we’re covering The Nun (2018), Corin Hardy’s gothic horror that expands the mythology of Valak. Next week, we’ll be tackling The Curse of La Llorona (2019) and Annabelle Comes Home (2019).Intro (0:00)Review of The Nun (2018) (9:20)Spoiler-free review of Relay (34:27)Spoiler talk (49:21)

Pete and Trevor get swept up in one of the most talked-about films of the year: Weapons, the new ensemble horror-drama from Zach Cregger (Barbarian), starring Josh Brolin, Julia Garner, Alden Ehrenreich, and Benedict Wong.We’re also continuing Project Conjuring, our journey through every film in the Conjuring universe. This week we tackle The Conjuring 2 (2016), with James Wan reuniting Vera Farmiga and Patrick Wilson as the Warrens in one of the franchise’s most chilling cases, and Annabelle: Creation (2017), David F. Sandberg’s prequel that gives the infamous doll her dark origin story.Intro and our history with Zach Cregger (0:00)Review of The Conjuring 2 (2016) (12:15)Review of Annabelle: Creation (2017) (25:45)Spoiler-free review of Weapons (40:18)Spoiler talk (58:05)

Pete and Trevor fire up the ol’ Fantasticar and blast off to see The Fantastic Four: First Steps. Will this one launch Phase 6 into greatness—or should it have stayed in the Negative Zone? Unfortunately, a dose of cosmic rays knocked Trevor out of commission, so Pete is joined by a surprise guest for the review section instead.Meanwhile, the Conjuring project lurches forward with Annabelle. Did Pete make it through the spooky doll chaos, or did he nope out before the third jump scare?Intro and our history with The Fantastic Four (0:00)Review of Annabelle (2014) (26:00)Spoiler-free review of The Fantastic Four: First Steps (52:34)Spoiler talk (1:03:00)

Pete and Trevor drove straight into some political controversy with Ari Aster’s new Covid-era black comedy western Eddington, starring Joaquin Phoenix, Pedro Pascal and Emma Stone. Note: one of us did not like this at all and another one loved it. This episode also marks the start of Project Conjuring, where we review every movie in the expanded conjuring universe. This week we talk James Wan’s megahit The Conjuring, starring Patrick Wilson, Vera Farmiga, Ron Livingston, Lili Taylor, and that loveable scamp Annabelle. Intro and our history with Ari Aster (0:00)Review of The Conjuring (2013) (8:45)Spoiler-free review of Eddington (35:14)Spoiler talk (53:50)

Superman is here. And we’re not going to be coy, WE LOVED THIS MOVIE. As the conclusion of our project to watch every live action Superman film, we were given the movie we have been waiting for. Listen for our immediate spoiler-free reactions after leaving the theatre, before giving lots of warning before heading into spoiler-talk. This episode we welcome Wil and Katelyn from the Marvelous Marathon podcast. Check out their episode on Superman (2025): https://open.spotify.com/episode/2wIuvNp4ASvSmAtdkBuviF?si=DeAufa5qRTmolyGOMYCIRgJULY 14 IS THE FINAL DAY OF OUR LETTERBOXD PATRON GIVEAWAY. CLICK HERE TO LEVEL UP TO PATRON: https://boxd.it/Gbt3OIntro, summary of Project Superman, All-Star Superman and some of our favourite comics, James Gunn’s vision for DCU (0:00)Spoiler-free reactions to Superman (2025) (43:00)Spoiler-talk (1:05:10)Segment with guests Wil and Katelyn (1:27:35)Goodbye, Superman (2:05:27)About Superman (2025):The man known as Clark Kent, Superman, and Kal-El grapples with who he is. Clark Kent / Superman / Karl-El: David CorenswetLois Lane: Rachel BrosnahanLex Luthor: Nicholas HoultJimmy Olsen: Skyler GisondoPerry White: Wendell PierceThe Engineer: María Gabriela de FaríaGuy Gardner / Green Lantern: Nathan FillionMetamorpho: Anthony CarriganHawkgirl: Isabela MercedMister Terrific: Edi GathegiDirector: James GunnWriter: James GunnExecutive Producer: Peter SafranCinematographer: Henry BrahamComposer: John Murphy and David FlemingEditor: Craig Alpert and William Hoy

Hold onto your butts, Pete and Trevor spared no expense in seeing Jurassic World Rebirth. Can this ScarJo vehicle fill in the holes to complete the code and reboot this long-in-the-tooth franchise? Listen to our immediate reactions after leaving the theatre to find out. This also makes the 10th (10th!) episode of Project Superman, wherein we review every single live action Superman film. This week we talk Justice League, primarily the Zack Synder version, with Pete pointing out the prime differences between the cuts. Next week is the conclusion of the project, with James Gunn’s Superman, and the official reset of the DC universe. Don’t forget to enter our ongoing contest to win a subscription to Letterboxd Patron: https://boxd.it/Gbt3OIntro and our history with Jurassic Park (0:00)Review of Zack Synder’s Justice League (13:18)Spoiler-free review of Jurassic World (40:50)Spoiler-talk (1:02:05)About Jurassic World Rebirth:Scarlett Johansson stars as Zora Bennett, a covert-ops expert sent to retrieve rare dinosaur DNA from a remote island. When her mission collides with a shipwrecked family and a dangerous hidden agenda, survival becomes more than just escaping the island.Scarlett Johansson as Zora BennettJonathan Bailey as Dr. Levi CalderMahershala Ali as Commander RourkeLuna Blaise as Camila ReyesManuel Garcia-Rulfo as Diego NavarroRupert Friend as Felix MaddoxDavid Iacono as Eric VossDirected by Gareth EdwardsWritten by David KoeppProduced by Frank Marshall, Patrick CrowleyExecutive Producers Steven Spielberg, Alexandra DerbyshireMusic by Alexandre DesplatCinematography by John MathiesonAbout Justice League:Batman and Wonder Woman assemble a team of metahumans—Aquaman, Cyborg, and The Flash—to face a looming threat following Superman’s death. As an ancient force seeks to plunge the world into darkness, the newly formed Justice League must overcome their differences to stand as Earth’s last line of defense.Ben Affleck as Bruce Wayne / BatmanGal Gadot as Diana Prince / Wonder WomanHenry Cavill as Clark Kent / SupermanJason Momoa as Arthur Curry / AquamanEzra Miller as Barry Allen / The FlashRay Fisher as Victor Stone / CyborgAmy Adams as Lois LaneJeremy Irons as Alfred PennyworthCiarán Hinds as SteppenwolfDirected by Zack Snyder (original vision and Synder Cut), Joss Whedon (2017 theatrical reshoots and completion)Written by Chris Terrio and Joss Whedon (theatrical), Chris Terrio (Snyder Cut)Story by Zack Snyder and Chris TerrioProduced by Charles Roven and Deborah SnyderMusic by Danny Elfman (2017), Tom Holkenborg aka Junkie XL (Snyder Cut)Cinematography by Fabian WagnerEdited by David Brenner, Richard Pearson, and Martin Walsh (2017); David Brenner (Snyder Cut)

Pete and Trevor opted for an overcut strategy to take an early pole position in their trip to see F1. Will Joseph Kosinski strike gold again and give us another Top Gun: Maverick? Not quite, but it was pretty close! Listen to our immediate reactions to F1 after leaving the theatre.This is also the ninth week for our ongoing Project Superman, wherein we watch every single live-action theatrical Superman movie. Today we are discussing Batman v Superman: The Dawn of Justice. Tune in next week for Zack Synder’s Justice League.Don’t forget to enter our ongoing contest to win a subscription to Letterboxd Patron: https://boxd.it/Gbt3OIntro, expectations for F1 in 4DX (0:00)Review of Batman v Superman (15:53)Spoiler free review of F1 (43:00)Spoiler-talk (56:31)Anthony’s corner (1:16:06)About FI: A former Formula 1 driver is pulled out of retirement to help a struggling team make a comeback on the world stage. As he mentors a rising rookie and faces unfinished business from his past, the race becomes more than just about speed—it’s a shot at redemption.Brad Pitt as Sonny HayesDamson Idris as Joshua PearceJavier Bardem as Ricky CarreraKerry Condon as RuthTobias Menzies as GarlandDirected by Joseph KosinskiWritten by Ehren KrugerProduced by Jerry Bruckheimer, Brad Pitt, Dede Gardner, and Lewis HamiltonCinematography by Claudio MirandaMusic by Lorne BalfeEdited by Eddie HamiltonProduction companies include Apple Studios, Plan B Entertainment, Jerry Bruckheimer Films, with Warner Bros. Pictures handling distributionAbout Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice:Haunted by the destruction of Metropolis during Superman’s battle with Zod, Bruce Wayne sees the Kryptonian as a dangerous god and prepares to take him down. Meanwhile, Lex Luthor manipulates both heroes into conflict while unleashing a monstrous force that threatens to destroy them both.Ben Affleck as Bruce Wayne / BatmanHenry Cavill as Clark Kent / SupermanGal Gadot as Diana Prince / Wonder WomanJesse Eisenberg as Lex LuthorAmy Adams as Lois LaneJeremy Irons as Alfred PennyworthDiane Lane as Martha KentLaurence Fishburne as Perry WhiteHolly Hunter as Senator FinchScoot McNairy as Wallace KeefeCallan Mulvey as Anatoli KnyazevTao Okamoto as Mercy GravesDirected by Zack SnyderWritten by Chris Terrio and David S. GoyerProduced by Charles Roven and Deborah SnyderCinematography by Larry FongMusic by Hans Zimmer and Junkie XLEdited by David BrennerProduction companies: Warner Bros. Pictures, DC Entertainment, Atlas Entertainment, Cruel and Unusual Films

Pete and Trevor went to see 28 Years Later, approximately 26 years later than when Danny Boyle’s 28 Days Later first debuted in 2002. Can Britain’s rage infected screaming running people still be angry all these so very many years later? Listen to our immediate reactions after leaving the theatre to find out. This is also the eighth week for our ongoing Project Superman, wherein we watch every single live-action theatrical Superman movie. Today we are entering the Synderverse with 2013’s Man of Steel. Next week is Batman v Superman: The Dawn of Justice. Don’t forget to enter our ongoing contest to win a subscription to Letterboxd Patron: https://boxd.it/Gbt3OIntro and history with 28 Days Later, 28 Weeks Later and Danny Boyle (0:00)Review of Man of Steel (20:17)Spoiled-free reactions to 28 Years Later (46:01)Spoiler-talk (1:03:45)About 28 Years Later: 28 Years Later (2025) is set nearly three decades after the initial Rage Virus outbreak. It follows young Spike and his father Jamie, residents of a fortified island community, on a perilous journey to the infected mainland.Jodie Comer as Isla, Aaron Taylor-Johnson as Jamie, Alfie Williams as Spike, Ralph Fiennes as Dr. Kelson, Jack O’Connell as Sir Jimmy Crystal, Erin Kellyman as Jimmy Ink, Edvin Ryding as Erik SundqvistDirected by Danny Boyle, written by Alex Garland, produced by Danny Boyle, Alex Garland, Andrew Macdonald, Peter Rice, and Bernie Bellew, cinematography by Anthony Dod Mantle, editing by Jon Harris, music by Young FathersAbout Man of Steel:Man of Steel (2013) follows Kal-El, a Kryptonian sent to Earth as a baby, who grows up as Clark Kent and struggles to find his place in the world while hiding his incredible powers. When General Zod arrives threatening Earth’s survival, Clark must embrace his destiny as Superman to save humanity.Henry Cavill as Clark Kent / Superman, Amy Adams as Lois Lane, Michael Shannon as General Zod, Russell Crowe as Jor-El, Kevin Costner as Jonathan Kent, Diane Lane as Martha Kent, Laurence Fishburne as Perry White, Antje Traue as Faora-Ul, Ayelet Zurer as Lara Lor-Van, Christopher Meloni as Colonel Nathan Hardy, Harry Lennix as General Swanwick, Richard Schiff as Dr. Emil HamiltonDirected by Zack Snyder, written by David S. Goyer, story by David S. Goyer and Christopher Nolan, produced by Christopher Nolan, Emma Thomas, Charles Roven, and Deborah Snyder, cinematography by Amir Mokri, editing by David Brenner, music by Hans Zimmer

Pete and Trevor want to take this opportunity to thank Charles Krantz for 39 great years! Thanks Chuck! And thanks for Mike Flanagan for making this little miracle of a movie that we were lucky enough to see in theatres. Listen to hear our immediate reactions (while giving you plenty of warning before heading into spoilers). This is also the seventh week for our ongoing Project Superman, wherein we watch every single live-action theatrical Superman movie. Today we talk Superman Returns, the forgotten early 2000s entry into reviving the Superman franchise. Don’t forget to enter our ongoing contest to win a subscription to Letterboxd Patron: https://boxd.it/Gbt3OIntro and history with Stephen King and Mike Flanagan (0:00)Review of Superman Returns (9:28)Spoiler-free review of The Life of Chuck (39:40)Spoiler-talk (53:30)About The Life of Chuck:The Life of Chuck is a 2024 film inspired by Stephen King’s novella from his collection If It Bleeds. The story unfolds in three parts, told in reverse, tracing the seemingly ordinary life of Charles “Chuck” Krantz against a backdrop of strange cosmic events.Charles “Chuck” Krantz – Tom HiddlestonYoung Chuck – Jacob TremblayMarty Anderson – Chiwetel EjioforFelicia Gordon – Karen GillanSarah Krantz – Mia SaraAlbie Krantz – Mark HamillAlso starring – Carl Lumbly, David Dastmalchian, Matthew Lillard, Q’orianka Kilcher, Annalise Basso, Rahul Kohli, Violet McGraw, Kate Siegel, Benjamin Pajak, Cody Flanagan, Heather LangenkampMike Flanagan – Director / Screenwriter / Editor / Producer Trevor Macy – Producer Stephen King – Story (original novella) Eben Bolter – Cinematographer The Newton Brothers – ComposerAbout Superman Returns:Superman returns to Earth after a five-year absence to find that the world has moved on without himBrandon Routh – Clark Kent / SupermanKate Bosworth – Lois LaneKevin Spacey – Lex LuthorJames Marsden – Richard WhiteFrank Langella – Perry WhiteSam Huntington – Jimmy OlsenEva Marie Saint – Martha KentParker Posey – Kitty KowalskiKal Penn – StanfordTristan Lake Leabu – Jason WhiteMarlon Brando – Jor-El (archive footage and CGI)Bryan Singer – Director / Story / ProducerMichael Dougherty – Screenwriter / StoryDan Harris – Screenwriter / StoryJon Peters – ProducerGilbert Adler – ProducerNewton Thomas Sigel – CinematographerJohn Ottman – Editor / ComposerElliot Goldenthal – Additional Music