Cinema Flow Podcast

We are joined by filmmaker Kirill Sokolov to discuss his new horror/comedy/action film, They Will Kill You, distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures.   He talks about the film's origins, Sokolov's transition from Russia to Hollywood, and the challenges of crafting such a visually bold and action-packed movie.   From inventive cinematography and wide-shot stunt work to insane practical effects and unforgettable set pieces, this is a deep dive into one of the most entertaining films of the year.   They Will Kill You is now playing in cinemas worldwide, don't miss this conversation.   Follow Kirill Sokolov on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kusok_kirla/   Link to watch They Will Kill You trailer: https://youtu.be/AqNFJUihSHg?si=-KBcHgEaDy6K7pTN   Rate and review They Will Kill You on IMDb: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt31728330/   Rate and review They Will Kill You on Letterboxd: https://letterboxd.com/film/they-will-kill-you/

This week, we're joined by filmmakers Sean McGrath and Jon Westling for part two of a March Madness style bracket to determine the greatest found footage horror movie of all time.   Subscribe to Sean's Substack: https://substack.com/@seankymcg   Watch "Rodge's Horror Lodge" on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@RodgesHorrorLodge   Send an Email to Rodge: rodgeshorrorlodge@gmail.com   Follow Rodge on Letterboxd: https://letterboxd.com/rodgelodgeguy/   Follow "Brainbugs" on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brainbugsmovie/   Watch Jon's film "Road Trip Runaway" on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zClHt0NBuwQ   Follow Jon on Insta: https://www.instagram.com/dadsradplaid/   Follow Sean on Insta: https://www.instagram.com/sean.mcg/   Watch "The Man Who's Seen RIPD 47 Times" on YouTube: https://youtu.be/FKmC5kZc2wk?si=nVO8wXhcukyEM9Mn

This week, we're joined by filmmakers Sean McGrath and Jon Westling for part one of a March Madness style bracket to determine the greatest found footage horror movie of all time.   We also chat about their upcoming projects, including "Rodge's Horror Lodge" and their films "Wildman" and "Brainbugs".   The bracket starts at 14:52   Subscribe to Sean's Substack: https://substack.com/@seankymcg   Watch "Rodge's Horror Lodge" on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@RodgesHorrorLodge   Send an Email to Rodge: rodgeshorrorlodge@gmail.com   Follow Rodge on Letterboxd: https://letterboxd.com/rodgelodgeguy/   Follow "Brainbugs" on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brainbugsmovie/   Watch Jon's film "Road Trip Runaway" on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zClHt0NBuwQ   Follow Jon on Insta: https://www.instagram.com/dadsradplaid/   Follow Sean on Insta: https://www.instagram.com/sean.mcg/   Watch "The Man Who's Seen RIPD 47 Times" on YouTube: https://youtu.be/FKmC5kZc2wk?si=nVO8wXhcukyEM9Mn

On this episode, Angelique Acuña, Sean McGrath, and Zack Abdulbaki break down the 98th Academy Awards.   After Angelique and Zack made their predictions last week, they are joined by Sean McGrath to review the ceremony, react to the big winners, and discuss the biggest surprises of the night.   Did our predictions hold up, or were there some major upsets?   Tune in for our full recap and reactions to Hollywood's biggest night.   Plus, be sure to check out Angelique's Substack for more great film writing and Survivor coverage. 🎬🏆 Link: https://shorturl.at/bOjGo   Angelique Acuña's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/angelique.acuna/   Angelique Acuña's Letterboxd: https://boxd.it/35YDZ   Subscribe to Sean's Substack: https://substack.com/@seankymcg   Watch "Rodge's Horror Lodge" on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@RodgesHorrorLodge   Send an Email to Rodge: rodgeshorrorlodge@gmail.com   Follow Rodge on Letterboxd: https://letterboxd.com/rodgelodgeguy/   Follow Sean on Insta: https://www.instagram.com/sean.mcg/   Watch "The Man Who's Seen RIPD 47 Times" on YouTube: https://youtu.be/FKmC5kZc2wk?si=nVO8wXhcukyEM9Mn   Zack's Linktree: https://linktr.ee/zackbaki   Don't forget to check out Angelique Acuña's Substack. Here's a link: https://angeacunamatata.substack.com

Rising actress Emma Halleen joins the show to talk about her breakout role as Bella Grant in The Beauty, now streaming on Hulu in the U.S. and Disney+ internationally.   Emma discusses stepping into the spotlight during the show's final episodes, her process for building the character, and what it was like working with an all-star cast and director Michael Uppendahl.   She also reflects on her earlier work in the Ryan Murphy universe, including her lead role in the American Horror Stories Season 3, Episode 1, "Bestie".   She also shares stories from projects like Monster: The Ed Gein Story, AFI short films The Erl King and Children of Change, and her upcoming features Glance and Gettysburg 1863.   It's a great conversation about acting, career growth, and the exciting projects ahead for one of Hollywood's promising young talents.   Timecodes: 00:30 The Beauty 21:23 American Horror Stories: Season 3, Episode 1 "Bestie" 29:32 Monster: The Ed Guin Story 32:25 The Erl King 34:15 Children of Change 36:34 Glance 38:17 Gettysburg 1863 40:12 Dream Roles   Links: Emma Halleen's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/emma.halleen/ Emma's IMDb: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm11495673/ Variety article about The Beauty: https://variety.com/2026/tv/news/the-beauty-prosthetics-bloody-transformation-scenes-1236679006/ The Erl King: https://watch.afi.com/movie/the-erl-king Children of Change: https://watch.afi.com/movie/children-of-change

On this episode of Cinema Flow, Angelique Acuña and Zack Abdulbaki share their final predictions for the winners of the 98th Academy Awards.   If you've got an Oscars betting pool or you're filling out your ballot, consider this your last-minute cheat sheet.   Listen to the show, copy our homework, and see if our predictions help you take home the win. 😉   Plus, be sure to check out Angelique's Substack for more great film writing and Survivor coverage. 🎬🏆 Link: https://shorturl.at/bOjGo   🎧 Listen now and get ready for the Oscars!   Angelique Acuña's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/angelique.acuna/   Angelique Acuña's Letterboxd: https://boxd.it/35YDZ   Zack's Linktree: https://linktr.ee/zackbaki   Don't forget to check out Angelique Acuña's Substack. Here's a link: https://angeacunamatata.substack.com    

This week, we're diving into the short film categories for the 98th Academy Awards: Live Action, Animated, and Documentary.   Joined by Angelique Acuña, we break down the standouts and our predictions for who might take home the Oscar.   Also, we share our reactions to the 32nd Actor Awards. Timecode for that is 17:39   Please check out Angelique Acuña's Substack. Here's a link: https://angeacunamatata.substack.com   Angelique Acuña's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/angelique.acuna/   Angelique Acuña's Letterboxd: https://boxd.it/35YDZ   Zack's Linktree: https://linktr.ee/zackbaki   Streaming Guide for the short films:   Documentary: All the Empty Rooms - Netflix The Devil is Busy - HBO Max Armed Only with a Camera - HBO Max   Live Action: A Friend of Dorothy - YouTube, Disney+ Jane Austen's Period Drama - YouTube The Singers - Netflix   Animated: Butterfly - YouTube Forevergreen - YouTube Returement Plan - YouTube   Don't forget to subscribe to Angelique's Substack: https://substack.com/@angeliqueacuna?fbclid=PAQ0xDSwNt5xNleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABp6Th8XgWeg7CYqBjAqTV9p8z51bHPK_-gDo5KkTghcvIeE2yYjydQ1pY7h8S_aem_-Ovns0-PDFaQqgLyp4GHkA&utm_source=ig&utm_medium=social&utm_content=link_in_bio

Angelique Acuña joins the show to break down the 2026 movie release calendar. She and Zack rate each upcoming film as a "smash" or "pass," sharing their excitement, skepticism, and bold predictions for the year ahead. Please subscribe to Angelique's Substack. Here's a link: https://angeacunamatata.substack.com   Angelique Acuña's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/angelique.acuna/   Angelique Acuña's Letterboxd: https://boxd.it/35YDZ   Zack's Linktree: https://linktr.ee/zackbaki   The 35 movies covered (with timecodes):   February 27th Scream 7 - (1:32)   March 6th Hoppers - (2:39) The Bride - (4:00)   March 20th Project Hail Mary (5:20) Ready or Not 2: Here I Come (6:20)   April 1st The Super Mario Galaxy Movie (7:18)   April 3rd The Drama (8:25)   April 24th Michael (9:02)   May 1st The Devil Wears Prada 2 (10:09)   May 8th Mortal Kombat 2 (10:42) The Sheep Detectives (11:13)   May 15th Poetic License (12:16) May 22nd I Love Boosters (12:54) The Mandalorian and Grogu (14:14)    June 12th Disclosure Day (15:02) Scary Movie 6 (16:26)   June 19th Toy Story 5 (17:05)   June 26th Jackass 5 (18:23) Supergirl (20:00)   July 1st Minions and Monsters (21:55)   July 10th Moana (23:20)   July 17th The Odyssey (24:37)   August 7th Teenage Sex and Death at Camp Miasma (26:00)   August 28th Coyote Vs Acme (26:44) The Dog Stars (28:05)   September 18th Resident Evil (29:15)   October 2nd Digger (29:50)   October 9th The Social Reckoning (31:12)   November 20th The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping (32:38)   November 25th Hexed (34:38)   November 26th Narnia: The Magician's Nephew (35:39)   Netflix: The Adventures of Cliff Booth (37:19)   December 18th Avengers Doomsday (38:06) Dune Part 3 (38:06)   December 25th Werwulf (41:16)   Angelique and Zack's most anticipated: (42:06) Substack plug / Outro: (43:02)   Don't forget to subscribe to Angelique's Substack: https://substack.com/@angeliqueacuna?fbclid=PAQ0xDSwNt5xNleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABp6Th8XgWeg7CYqBjAqTV9p8z51bHPK_-gDo5KkTghcvIeE2yYjydQ1pY7h8S_aem_-Ovns0-PDFaQqgLyp4GHkA&utm_source=ig&utm_medium=social&utm_content=link_in_bio  

We are joined by entertainment journalist and The InSneider publisher Jeff Sneider co-host of The Hot Mic and FYC: For Your Consideration.   To celebrate the 10-year anniversary of 2016's incredible movie lineup, Zack and Jeff go head-to-head in a fantasy-style 2016 Movie Draft. They revisit one of the best years in modern film, picking ten films each.   Who built the better roster? Tune in to find out — and don't forget to check out The Hot Mic, FYC, and Jeff's newsletter, The InSneider. 🎬   Timecodes: 03:14 Movie Draft 2016 33:06 Next Year's Oscar Predictions 40:32 Below the Line Oscar Predictions   Links: The InSneider Newsletter: https://www.theinsneider.com/ The Hot Mic: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLWhZZEYoeaYDnefV6OuvQBaMudPxARbPa&si=FzthjeqznIlQyfrW FYC: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLPlwQzXEf5ypOLgG9NSSBJrJCegurGHbY&si=xt4Uoch57yXvQIox Jeff Sneider's Twitter: https://x.com/TheInSneider?lang=en Jeff Sneider's Blogspot: https://theinsneider.blogspot.com/ Jeff Sneider's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theinsneider/?hl=en

Zack sits down with one of his favorite filmmakers, Matt Johnson, to discuss Matt's new film, Nirvanna the Band the Show the Movie, distributed by Neon. They talk about the film's production and the challenges of indie filmmaking. Nirvanna hits theaters on February 13th, don't miss this inspiring conversation. Follow Nirvanna on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ntbtstm/ Link to watch Nirvanna trailer: https://youtu.be/y2K9ccMREOI?si=qByi-9l5Vnp0LFyG Rate and review Nirvanna on IMDb: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt35522483/ Rate and review Nirvanna on Letterboxd: https://letterboxd.com/film/nirvanna-the-band-the-show-the-movie/ Nirvanna fan website: https://nirvannathebandthe.show/

Awards season is officially here! Boone Haslerud joins the show to predict the winners of this year's Academy Awards.   Boone Haslerud's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/boonehaslerud/  

On this episode of the Cinema Flow Podcast, host Zack Abdulbaki sits down with writer, director, and rising creative Juss Thrasher, creator of the breakout web series Unrequited,   He shares his approach to self-distribution, grassroots marketing, and building an audience independently.   The conversation also looks ahead to what's next for the series, including the possibility of a season two, and Juss's long-term goals as a filmmaker.   Links:   Juss Thrasher Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/juss.thrasher/   "Unrequited" Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/unrequited.series/   Watch "Unrequited" on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iSWfTemQjAg

On this episode of the Cinema Flow Podcast, host Zack Abdulbaki sits down with actor, writer, filmmaker, and all-around creative force Eric Toms.   Eric takes us back to the very beginning, sharing his experience as a stand-up comedian, including unforgettable experiences touring the world and opening for comedy legends like Norm Macdonald, Tracy Morgan, and Lewis Black.   The conversation also explores Eric's work in television, including Reality Binge, his love for sketch comedy, and the podcast "Making Movies Is Hard" which he produces. Eric also chats with us about his debut play My Dad's Kid which premiered at the Beverly Hills Playhouse, a hilarious and heartfelt story about family, rivalry, and long-buried secrets.   Plus, Eric shares how he got into photography, the origins of Night of Shorts Night, and his passion for championing short filmmakers, where he and Zack first crossed paths. It's a wide-ranging, funny, and insightful conversation about creativity, persistence, and carving your own lane in the film industry.   Eric's Website: www.erictoms.com Eric's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tomsfunny/?hl=en Making Movies is Hard! Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/making-movies-is-hard-the-struggles-of-indie-filmmaking/id1006416952 Submit your film to Night of Shorts Night: https://www.erictoms.com/night-of-shorts-night Eric's Merchandise: https://www.redbubble.com/people/tomsfunny/explore?page=1&sortOrder=recent  

On this special episode of the Cinema Flow Podcast, host Zack Abdulbaki is joined by actor, writer, and filmmaker Eric Toms to react to the 98th Academy Awards nominations. Zack and Eric dive into the biggest surprises, snubs, and headline-making nominees across the major categories, sharing honest reactions, industry insight, and plenty of laughs along the way.  Whether you're an awards-season junkie or just love talking movies, this episode is a must-listen. Eric's Website: www.erictoms.com Eric's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tomsfunny/?hl=en Making Movies is Hard! Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/making-movies-is-hard-the-struggles-of-indie-filmmaking/id1006416952 Submit your film to Night of Shorts Night: https://www.erictoms.com/night-of-shorts-night Eric's Merchandise: https://www.redbubble.com/people/tomsfunny/explore?page=1&sortOrder=recent

Adam Elara and Andrew Vaughan join the podcast to conduct the 2026 box office draft.   Adam, Andrew, and Zack each draft eight blockbuster movies set to be released in 2026 with the goal of making the most money possible against the production budget.   Adam Elara's Linktree: https://linktr.ee/adamelara   Listen to "Brown Man Down" by Sikeen: https://sikeenmusic.com/en-usd/pages/music   Follow Sikeen music on Instagram: https://linktr.ee/Sikeenmusic   Adam Elara's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/adamelara/   Andrew Vaughan's Production Company: https://www.shaywanproductions.com   Andrew Vaughan's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/avproshots/   Kanopy: https://www.kanopy.com/en   Internet Archive: https://archive.org/

This week we're putting one of modern cinema's biggest stars to the test in "Timothée Chalamet: Smash or Pass."   Joined by returning guests Sean McGrath and Angelique Acuna, we dive into Timothée Chalamet's filmography, breaking down the hits, the risks, and the roles that sparked debate.   From indie breakthroughs to blockbuster moments, we revisit Chalamet's most talked about performances and decide which ones truly deliver and which ones miss the mark.   Please check out "Brainbugs". The new film that Sean McGrath worked on as a cinematographer. It will be shown at Look Cinemas in Glendale.   Tickets available here: https://tinyurl.com/mspm276   "Rodge's Horror Lodge" on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@RodgesHorrorLodge/videos   Trailer for "Wildman" starring Sean McGrath: https://youtu.be/ZZ7k_qwb9_Y?si=0H0-1QHr7HYovck5   Sean McGrath's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/p/DS8WVyQkSkp/?img_index=1   Angelique Acuna's Substack: https://angeacunamatata.substack.com/   Angelique Acuna's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/angelique.acuna/

Angelique Acuna and Isabella Caron return to the Cinema Flow Podcast to share their top ten favorite films of 2025. Please check out their previous appearance on the podcast in the "Film Stud Gorls" reunion episode.   You can also check out the Film Stud Gorls archive below.   Links: Film Stud Gorls YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/filmstudgorls Film Stud Gorls on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/filmstudgorls Film Stud Gorls on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/filmstudgorls/ Angelique Acuna Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/angelique.acuna/

This week on the Cinema Flow Podcast, we're joined by filmmaker Matthew Gentile, writer and director of American Murderer, now streaming on Hulu.   In our conversation, Gentile breaks down the journey of bringing American Murderer to life from researching the real life story and crafting tension on the page to directing performances and navigating the challenges of independent filmmaking.   Matthew Gentile's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/matthewgentiledirector/   "American Murderer" Trailer: https://youtu.be/VGBkLhI-vAg?si=V9iYkPG4kqFskVuj   Matthew's AFI short film "Frontman": https://watch.afi.com/movie/frontman   Matthew's AFI short film "Lawman": https://watch.afi.com/movie/lawman-1   "American Murderer" on Hulu: https://www.hulu.com/movie/5098d9ea-32fe-45ca-8a3c-c692aff61ed2

Roy Farrell joins the show to review Joaquim Trier's new film "Sentimental Value," winner of the Grand Prix at Cannes. Distributed by Neon.   He discusses the movie's themes of family trauma and artistic self-reflection, standout performances from Renate Reinsve, Stellan Skarsgård, and Elle Fanning, and which moments resonated most.   Links to Roy's podcast, "Vs. the Odds":   Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/65vsvHVKIkXLnA1UhO3UFe   Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/vs-the-odds/id1573129297

The Film Stud Gorls are back! We reunite Angelique Acuna, Hunter Freedman, and Isabella Caron for a nostalgic crossover episode.   The "gorls", reflect on their three-year podcast run, then give us their Oscar predictions for the forthcoming Academy Awards. Oscar Predictions start at 8:26   Links: Film Stud Gorls YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/filmstudgorls Film Stud Gorls on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/filmstudgorls Film Stud Gorls on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/filmstudgorls/ Angelique Acuna Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/angelique.acuna/ Hunter Freedman Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hunterreine/?hl=en