Rogue Reviews

Rian Johnson’s third Knives Out whodunit: a locked-room killing inside a quiet church drags young priest Father Andrew (Josh O’Connor) into the investigation - until the police call in the one detective who can crack impossible cases, Benoit Blanc (Daniel Craig). With Glenn Close, Josh Brolin, Mila Kunis, Jeremy Renner, Kerry Washington, Andrew Scott, Cailee Spaeny and more, it’s a perfect ensemble of suspects.We rank it against Knives Out and Glass Onion (hint: this one might take the crown), celebrate the clever transitions and airtight mystery, praise Johnson’s subversive twists, and wonder whether the Benoit Blanc saga should keep solving cases or retire on this high.Rogue Reviews is produced by Urban Podcasts.Recorded on the 10 January 2026 © Rogue Reviews.

James Cameron cranks up the spectacle in the third Avatar chapter: with the Sully family now embedded among the water Na'vi, a ruthless new volcanic tribe - the Ash People - allies with the human invaders, forcing Jake, Neytiri and their kids into an all-out war across fiery new landscapes. Sam Worthington, Zoe Saldaña, Sigourney Weaver, Stephen Lang, Edie Falco, Jack Champion, Oona Chaplin and more return in this boundary-pushing, tech-driven epic.We unpack Cameron's immersive 3D wizardry (still no gimmick here), whether the endless Sully-Quaritch grudge match is getting stale, the jaw-dropping new biomes and creature designs, how it tees up even more sequels, and why we'd love to see Cameron escape Pandora for something truly original after all these years.Rogue Reviews is produced by Urban Podcasts.Recorded on the 8 January 2026 © Rogue Reviews.

Denis Villeneuve’s breathtaking take on Frank Herbert’s “unfilmable” classic: young Paul Atreides (Timothée Chalamet) inherits the deadly desert planet Arrakis, source of the priceless “spice,” only to face betrayal and exile among the native Fremen. Oscar Isaac, Rebecca Ferguson, Josh Brolin, Jason Momoa, Zendaya and more fill out a stacked cast in this monumental, slow-burn sci-fi masterpiece.We explore Villeneuve’s jaw-dropping world-building, why the deliberate pace works even as “half a story,” how it finally buries Lynch’s 1984 version, and whether the sandworms live up to the hype.Rogue Reviews is produced by Urban Podcasts.Recorded on the 5 November 2021 © Rogue Reviews.

Elizabeth Banks unleashes the most gloriously unhinged creature feature in years: when a 500-pound black bear accidentally ingests a massive stash of dropped cocaine, an ordinary Georgia forest turns into absolute chaos. Rangers, drug dealers, tourists, and one very determined Margo Martindale suddenly find themselves in the wrong place at the wrong time. Keri Russell, O’Shea Jackson Jr., Alden Ehrenreich, a fearless pre-teen, the late Ray Liotta in one of his final roles, and a bear having the absolute time of its life star in this wild horror-comedy.We debate whether it fully delivers on its insane premise, why the bear steals every scene, which moments had us laughing (and wincing), and why the world clearly needs Cocaine Honey Badger, Cocaine Shark, and Cocaine Bees next.Rogue Reviews is produced by Urban Podcasts.Recorded on the 9 March 2023 © Rogue Reviews.

We settle into full post-Christmas mode to talk about Jingle Bell Heist, Netflix’s new festive heist movie. Released perfectly for Boxing Day viewing, the film follows two stressed, down-on-their-luck strangers who team up to rob a department store owner who’s wronged them both and, as we’d expect, things don’t quite go to plan. We share our overall reactions, unpack the twists, motivations and moral gymnastics that come with any heist story.By the end, we agree on one thing: Jingle Bell Heist is an easy, inoffensive, pleasantly watchable Christmas film - the kind we throw on while eating leftovers, half-watching, half-recovering. It’s not a future festive classic, but it gets the job done.Fast-forward to hear about:05:27: Jingle Bell Heist non-spoiler review17:30: Jingle Bell Heist spoiler discussion29:36: Is Die Hard a Christmas Movie?Rogue Reviews is produced by Urban Podcasts.Recorded on the 4 December 2025 © Rogue Reviews.

In this festive episode of Rogue Reviews, we decided to lean into the chaos. As it’s the holiday season, Gary took full control of the watchlist and challenged us to sit through three notoriously bad Christmas movies - films that regularly appear on “worst of all time” lists – yet somehow keep getting watched every December.Together, we work our way through the madness of Santa Jaws, the infamous Star Wars Holiday Special, and Christmas with the Kranks, debating whether any of them qualify as “so bad it’s good” or whether some movies are simply beyond redemption. Along the way, we talk sharks in Santa hats, Wookiees without subtitles, lazy comedy writing, and why festive films often get a free pass from criticism.Whether you’re looking for a laugh, a warning, or a truly questionable Christmas watch, this episode is here to guide you (or save you) this holiday season.Fast-forward to hear about:01:17: Santa Jaws (2018)21:07: The Star Wars Holiday Special (1978)37:50: Christmas with the Kranks (2004)Rogue Reviews is produced by Urban Podcasts.Recorded on the 2 December 2025 © Rogue Reviews.

Guillermo del Toro finally brings his lifelong passion project to the screen: a lavish, heartbreakingly beautiful Netflix retelling of Mary Shelley’s classic that spans Victor Frankenstein’s entire tragic life. With Oscar Isaac as the tormented creator, Jacob Elordi as the towering Creature, and a supporting cast including Mia Goth, Charles Dance and Lars Mikkelsen, this is the most faithful and emotionally devastating adaptation yet.We explore why the story of playing God still haunts us two centuries later, how del Toro fixes the flaws of every previous version (yes, even the 1931 Boris Karloff icon), where it boldly diverges from the novel for the better, and why this slow-burn, two-and-a-half-hour epic ultimately feels like the definitive Frankenstein for our age.Rogue Reviews is produced by Urban Podcasts.Recorded on the 21 November 2025 © Rogue Reviews.

Edgar Wright takes on Stephen King’s brutal 1982 novel (written under his Richard Bachman pseudonym) and delivers a hyper-kinetic, grimly satirical chase movie that finally does the source material justice. Glenn Powell stars as Ben Richards, a framed everyman forced into America’s favourite blood-sport: survive 30 days on the run while corporate killers hunt you live on air. Lee Pace is deliciously vile as the ratings-obsessed host Damon Killian, backed by Michael Cera, Colman Domingo, Josh Brolin and a perfectly cast supporting ensemble.We break down how Wright’s trademark visual flair and breakneck editing turn a desperate urban sprint into something genuinely exhilarating, why this wipes the floor with the 1987 Arnie version, how scarily plausible its media-manipulation nightmare feels in the age of deepfakes and 24-hour outrage cycles, and whether the slower mid-section kills the momentum or deepens the stakes.Rogue Reviews is produced by Urban Podcasts.Recorded on the 25 November 2025 © Rogue Reviews.

Three years on, with final seasons looming for some of the decade’s biggest series, 2022 suddenly looks like a golden year for television. Stranger Things went supersized and scarier than ever, The Boys swung harder at superhero sacred cows, Obi-Wan Kenobi gave prequel kids the reunion they’d waited decades for, and James Gunn somehow turned John Cena in a toilet-seat helmet into one of the most compelling anti-heroes on screen.Here’s why these four shows still demand your attention (and a rewatch) before their stories close for good. Fast-forward to hear about:01:50: Stranger Things – Season 4 (2022)17:32: Obi-Wan Kenobi – Season 1 (2022)37:00: The Boys – Season 3 (2022)57:07: Peacemaker – Season 1 (2022) Rogue Reviews is produced by Urban Podcasts.Recorded on the 11 August 2022 © Rogue Reviews.

Dan Trachtenberg returns after Prey and flips the entire franchise on its head: this time the Predator himself is the protagonist – a young, exiled Yautja forced to survive on a desolate planet with only a sarcastic, broken-down android as backup. Starring Elle Fanning as the android sidekick, Badlands is the first ever 12A-rated Predator film: no humans, no blood, no gore, just heart, humour, mech-suit showdowns and a surprisingly emotional journey of growth.We dive into whether Disney has actually pulled off a family-friendly Predator that still works, if the lack of human prey is a genius workaround or a betrayal, how it sets up the inevitable Alien crossover, and whether the ruthless, testosterone-fuelled original can (or should) coexist with this new cuddly, kid-accessible version that both of us (and our kids) ended up loving.Rogue Reviews is produced by Urban Podcasts.Recorded on the 15 November 2025 © Rogue Reviews.

A House of Dynamite imagines a nightmare scenario where US government and military officials race against the clock to intercept an unidentified nuclear missile bound for American soil. Directed by Kathryn Bigelow and featuring an ensemble cast including Idris Elba, Rebecca Ferguson, Gabriel Basso, Jared Harris, and Tracy Letts, the film unfolds in near real-time, blending documentary-style realism with escalating global stakes.We break down its grounded tension, innovative three-perspective structure, exploration of nuclear policy and decision-making madness, and whether it veers into preachiness or stays balanced in portraying a world on the brink.Rogue Reviews is produced by Urban Podcasts.Recorded on the 5 November 2025 © Rogue Reviews.

Black Phone 2 is Scott Derrickson’s supernatural horror sequel to the 2021 breakout hit. Four years on, Finn battles PTSD while sister Gwen’s visions lead them to a haunted Christian camp, with Ethan Hawke’s Grabber returning in ghostly, dream-invading form.We debate whether this expansion justifies its existence and dissect its shift from subtle chills to Nightmare on Elm Street-style spectacle.Rogue Reviews is produced by Urban Podcasts.Recorded on the 27 October 2025 © Rogue Reviews.

"End of Line." Time to plug into the digital frontier with Tron: Ares and see if this third film from Disney's sci-fi franchise will be its last, or the beginning of a new era for the film series. Directed by Joachim Rønning and starring Jared Leto, Greta Lee, Jodie Turner-Smith and Jeff Bridges, Tron: Ares ventures out of the grid and into the real world, aiming to revive a legacy that began in 1982.We explore how the film dazzles visually, whether it captures the spirit of the original Tron, and why story and character depth might be where this sleek blockbuster stumbles.Rogue Reviews is produced by Urban Podcasts.Recorded on the 18 October 2025 © Rogue Reviews.

"If it bleeds, we can kill it." With Predator: Badlands arriving in theatres soon, we thought now would be a good time to share our review of Prey (2022), which we recorded three years ago. Directed by Dan Trachtenberg, the film rewinds the clock to the 1700s, following Naru (Amber Midthunder), a young Comanche warrior who must face a fearsome alien hunter to protect her people.From stripped-back storytelling and stunning landscapes to clever nods to the 1987 original, we share why Prey succeeds where so many recent franchise entries have stumbled.Rogue Reviews is produced by Urban Podcasts.Recorded on the 3 September 2022 © Rogue Reviews.

"There's one winner and no finish line.” We review The Long Walk (2025), Francis Lawrence’s tense and stripped-back adaptation of Stephen King’s dystopian novel. Set in a totalitarian America, the film follows a brutal contest where a hundred young men must keep walking - or be shot - until only one remains. Starring Cooper Hoffman, David Johnson, Garrett Waring, Charlie Plummer, Roman Griffin-Davis, Judy Greer and Mark Hamill, this is a story about endurance, control, and quiet rebellion.We explore how Lawrence turns a minimalist concept into a grim and gripping drama - relying not on spectacle, but on character, tension and the terrifying simplicity of the premise. From emotional performances to the film’s stark social commentary, we break down what works, what drags, and why this may be one of the more faithful and unsettling King adaptations in recent years.Rogue Reviews is produced by Urban Podcasts.Recorded on the 11 October 2025 © Rogue Reviews.

The knives are out and there's a mystery to solve, as we unpack the Glass Onion - Rian Johnson’s bold sequel to his modern whodunit hit. Daniel Craig returns as the irresistibly eccentric detective Benoit Blanc, this time solving a murder amid the glossy chaos of a billionaire’s Greek island getaway. With Edward Norton leading a cast of suspects including Janelle Monáe, Kate Hudson, and Dave Bautista, the film swaps dusty mansions for dazzling modern excess - and peels back the layers of wealth, power, and stupidity one by one.We explore how Glass Onion builds on (and sometimes outshines) the original Knives Out: from the colourful new cast of egos to the shift from intimate family drama to social satire. There’s sharp debate over whether its sun-drenched island and loud personalities elevate or dilute the classic whodunit feel and, of course, plenty of appreciation for Craig’s southern-fried sleuthing charm.Rogue Reviews is produced by Urban Podcasts.Recorded on the 17 January 2023 © Rogue Reviews.

Sometimes the most terrifying monster isn’t supernatural at all, but the neighbour you wave to every morning.In this episode of Rogue Reviews, we dive into The Black Phone (2021), Scott Derrickson’s chilling horror film starring Ethan Hawke. Set in the late 70s, the story follows Finney, a kidnapped boy held captive by “The Grabber,” and his desperate fight for survival aided by ghostly voices from beyond. With Derrickson’s sharp writing, a strong child cast, and a grimly authentic period setting, this is more than just another ghost story - it’s a grounded, unnerving tale of resilience and terror.From the unsettling realism of Hawke’s masked villain, to the clever narrative payoff, to the unnerving parallels with real-life fears of the era, we break down why The Black Phone works as one of Blumhouse’s most effective horror outings.Rogue Reviews is produced by Urban Podcasts.Recorded on the 4 July 2022 © Rogue Reviews.

Taking a break from the movies to dive into the world of television - we share our spoiler-free thoughts on the shows that have dominated our watchlists over the past year. From sci-fi epics to gritty thrillers, detective dramas to anime, we explore which series are worth your time in today’s crowded streaming landscape.We dive into Alien Earth, Andor, Alice in Borderland, The Assassin and many more. Think of this as your spoiler-free guide to what’s hot (and what’s not) in TV right now.Rogue Reviews is produced by Urban Podcasts.Recorded on the 18 September 2025 © Rogue Reviews.

Richard Osman's popular cosy crime novel is brought to life in this Netflix adaptation of The Thursday Murder Club. Directed by Chris Columbus and starring Helen Mirren, Pierce Brosnan, Ben Kingsley, Celia Imrie, and David Tennant, the film brings together four retirees who accidentally stumble into a real-life murder mystery.We explore whether this star-studded whodunit delivers on the charm of the books or feels more like a Sunday night ITV drama. From faithfulness to the source material, to the chemistry of the cast, to the lightness of its tone, we break down what works, what doesn’t, and why it might be best suited as a miniseries rather than a feature film.Rogue Reviews is produced by Urban Podcasts.Recorded on the 7 September 2025 © Rogue Reviews.

"Hutch is back." We both liked the first movie, so when a sequel arrived in the cinema in the form of Nobody 2 (2025), we had to have a watch. Directed by Timo Johanto and starring Bob Odenkirk, Connie Nielsen, and Sharon Stone, we break down the story of a retired assassin dragged back into chaos during a family holiday, sharing spoiler-free takes before spoiling the twists.We explore the film's wild fights, solid supporting cast like RZA and Colin Salmon, and how it stacks up to the original.Rogue Reviews is produced by Urban Podcasts.Recorded on the 25 August 2025 © Rogue Reviews.