Movie Trailer Reviews

The Wild Robot is a master class in blending ground breaking technology with animation to give us a gorgeously, heartwarming film that understood the assignment.  Lupita (Roz)  and Pedro Pascal (Fink) are a sensationally addictive duo surrounded by an amazing ensemble of voice actors who bring to life a wild tale of finding strength in family, protecting the things you love, and embracing heroism. Streaming now on Youtube, Apple TV, FandangoAtHome, Amazon Video, etc ♦♦   Director: Chris Sanders Writers:  Starring: Lupita Nyong'o, Pedro Pascal, Kit Connor, Stephanie Hsu, Ving Rhames, Mark Hamill, Bill Nighy,  Runtime:  1 Hour 42 Minutes Synopsis:  A Robot abandoned on earth who is initially treated like an outcast until she adopts a duckling who mistakes her for it's mother, fights to protect her forrest family when her makers return and wage war in an attempt to retrieve her.   Like what you hear? Subscribe so you don't miss an episode! Follow us on Twitter: @Phenomblak @InsanityReport @TheMTRNetwork   Our shirts are now on TeePublic.  https://teepublic.com/stores/mtr-network   Want more podcast greatness? Sign up for a MTR Premium Account!

A film that lives and dies by it's leading cast made up of a Mother, her daughter, and a magic Macaw, Tuesday is a dark fantastical tale about how people cope with terminal illness and impending Death.  Lola Petticrew really gives an amazing performance here that will charm the audience audience even more than Tuesday is able to charm Death.  Arinze Kene voices Death and does some very captivating motion capture with his portrayal of the stuttering Macaw.  The film really hits the ground running especially when you toss in the unhinged performance from Julia Louis-Dreyfus switching gears and turning this into a dark comedy.  But ultimately the film falls flat when it doesn't fully capitalize on the real world ramifications of Zora's actions, and instead lulls it's audience to very anticlimactic ending.  It's almost like the director knew exactly where he was going but didn't fully grasp where things were headed.  Streaming now on Youtube, Apple TV, FandangoAtHome, Amazon Video, etc ♦♦   Director: Daina O. Pusić Writers: Daina O. Pusić Starring: Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Lola Petticrew, Arinze Kene, Leah Harvey Runtime:  1 Hour 50 Minutes Synopsis:  When Death comes knocking at the door of a terminally ill teenager named Tuesday, she uses her quick wit and insatiable charm to befriend the creature.  But when her Mother discovers the Macaw, she takes matters into her own hands and makes an unhinged decision that puts the entire world in dire straits.    Like what you hear? Subscribe so you don't miss an episode! Follow us on Twitter: @Phenomblak @InsanityReport @TheMTRNetwork   Our shirts are now on TeePublic.  https://teepublic.com/stores/mtr-network   Want more podcast greatness? Sign up for a MTR Premium Account!

Rachel Morrison and Barry Jenkins come together beautifully here to craft a big screen polished adaptation of the 2016 PBS Documentary, "T-Rex: Her Fight For gold".  The chemistry between Ryan Destiny and Brian Tyree Henry portraying Claressa Shields and Coach Jason Crutchfield is so palpable.  A lot of heart and care went into this project.  So, while it may feel like the film doesn't tell enough of Claressa's story,  which continued far beyond her Olympic years, the gritty biographical story of a naturally gifted boxing phenom we do get here is unapologetically as inspirational as the real life boxing champion herself.  This is the story of T-Rex. Streaming now on Youtube, Apple TV, FandangoAtHome, Amazon Video, etc ♦♦   Director: Rachel Morrison Writers: Barry Jenkins Starring: Ryan Destiny, Brian Tyree Henry Runtime:  1 Hour 49 Minutes Synopsis: Based on the PBS Documentary "T-Rex: Her Fight For Gold", The Fire Inside tells the story of Claressa Shields, a young black female boxer from Flint, Michigan who's will and determination take her all the way to the Olympics yet somehow not far enough away from the dangers of her home life.    Like what you hear? Subscribe so you don't miss an episode! Follow us on Twitter: @Phenomblak @InsanityReport @TheMTRNetwork   Our shirts are now on TeePublic.  https://teepublic.com/stores/mtr-network   Want more podcast greatness? Sign up for a MTR Premium Account!

If Disney is going to take a made for streaming series project and whip it up into a last minute theatrical release, they could at least give us Return of Jafar instead of Bambi 2.  Moana does a poor job of catching the audience up on what some of our favorite characters have been up too since we last saw them through an adventure in such a superficial way.  And once the film reveals itself to actually not be one-dimensional we're sailing midway through the 3rd act of a story that hopefully James Cameron won't feel the need to be inspired by since he's already made a billion dollars doing it with less heart.  The songs aren't really memorable.  The new characters aside from one we only get in the 2nd act aren't very memorable.  The story we now know is actually part of a trilogy that might actually be going back to streaming after these box office numbers drop is also not memorable.  And the Rock sings.  There's still a lot of people's favorite things about Moana here, but this film deserved to be better and just doesn't feel like it was treated as such by the House of Mouse.  Streaming now on Youtube, Apple TV, FandangoAtHome, Amazon Video, etc ♦♦   Director: Dana Ledoux Miller, Jason Hand, David Derrick Jr. Writers: Jared Bush, Dana Ledoux Mille Starring: Auliʻi Cravalho,Dwayne Johnson, Awhimai Fraser, David Fane, Rose Matafe, Hualālai Chung Runtime:  1 Hour 40 Minutes Synopsis: Moana returns as a young adult encouraged by the water spirits to set sail on a new adventure to find the other lost tribes of the sea beyond her side of the reef.  Like what you hear? Subscribe so you don't miss an episode! Follow us on Twitter: @Phenomblak @InsanityReport @TheMTRNetwork   Our shirts are now on TeePublic.  https://teepublic.com/stores/mtr-network   Want more podcast greatness? Sign up for a MTR Premium Account!

Francis Ford Coppola has definitively proven that no amount of wine country monies can be thrown at a 30 year passion project to justify wasting two extra long hours of your life aging away in an IMAX theater struggling to watch it.  Megalopolis is so bad it couldn't make it's money back in a game of tic tac toe against a blind man.  A Megalodon of a mess, Coppola beats his audience over the head with his shallow progressive messaging literally carved in stone connecting some beautiful cinematography and provocative performances with some of the ugliest CGI and convoluted story progression I've ever experieneced.  Streaming now on Youtube, Apple TV, FandangoAtHome, Amazon Video, etc ♦♦   Director: Francis Ford Coppola Writers: Francis Ford Coppola Starring: Adam Driver, Nathalie Emmanuel, Laurence Fishburne, Shia LeBeouf, Aubrey Plaza, Jon Voight, Giancarlo Esposito, Dustin Hoffman Runtime:  2 Hours 18 Minutes Synopsis: Set in New New Rome, an idealistically driven, widowed scientific genius with the power to control time pushes back against the regressive regime in an attempt to create a golden utopia causing a violent social and political uproar.    Like what you hear? Subscribe so you don't miss an episode! Follow us on Twitter: @Phenomblak @InsanityReport @TheMTRNetwork   Our shirts are now on TeePublic.  https://teepublic.com/stores/mtr-network   Want more podcast greatness? Sign up for a MTR Premium Account!

MaXXXine is the ending to a trilogy we welcomed but didn't ask for, and it almost took the director from Ti West to You Tried West.   Luckily, Pearl and X are just so strong that it pretty much makes MaXXXine the 3rd Back to the Future film.  A film that's just as far from worthless as it is from worth it, mainly due to a nothing new here story, an unearned reveal, but still somehow a variety of perfectly casted supporting role performances.  MaXXXine gets so many things right yet still does nothing to push the genre forward.  Streaming now on Youtube, Apple TV, FandangoAtHome, Amazon Video, etc ♦♦   Director:  Ti West Writers:  Ti West Starring: Mia Goth, Kevin Bacon, Sophie Thatcher, Moses Sumney Runtime:  1 Hour 44 Minutes Synopsis: A porn star lands her first big Hollywood break while being black mailed by a dirtbag PI who knows her dark X past, and stalked by an L.A. serial killer murdering everyone close to her.    Like what you hear? Subscribe so you don't miss an episode! Follow us on Twitter: @Phenomblak @InsanityReport @TheMTRNetwork   Our shirts are now on TeePublic.  https://teepublic.com/stores/mtr-network   Want more podcast greatness? Sign up for a MTR Premium Account!

Alien Romulus is proof that anything with a Xenomorph in it should only allow Ridley Scott on set as a Producer.  It's a much needed return to the Xenomorph-verse that gives the audience nonstop nerve-wrecking action, just enough sci to fi, nostalgic easter eggs, and fun elements adapted directly from the more recent Aliens videos game like Alien: Isolation.  This film does an amazing job if amping up the anticipation for the upcoming FX TV Series, Alien: Earth. Cailee Spaeny fills the shoes of Ripley very well and David Jonsson deserves all the praise for his performance as Andy, an android who gets an upgrade in autonomy.  Streaming now on Youtube, Apple TV, FandangoAtHome, Amazon Video, etc ♦♦   Director: Fede Alvarez Writers: Fede Alvarez, Rado Sayagues Starring: Cailee Spaeny, David Jonsson, Aileen Wu, Archie Renaux Runtime:  1 Hour 59 Minutes Synopsis: Rain and her android Andy join a group of young workers and attempt to escape their indefinite indentured servitude by boarding an abandoned Weyland-Yutani  space station only to discover the station is the home of a Xenomorph with some new toys to impregnate.    Like what you hear? Subscribe so you don't miss an episode! Follow us on Twitter: @Phenomblak @InsanityReport @TheMTRNetwork   Our shirts are now on TeePublic.  https://teepublic.com/stores/mtr-network   Want more podcast greatness? Sign up for a MTR Premium Account!

Sebastian Stan gives us a complex and riveting performance in this psychological, dark comedy character study, A Different Man, directed by Aaron Schimberg and also staring an arguably Best Supporting Actor performance from Adam Pearson.  A Different Man is the Uglies we deserve. Streaming now on Youtube, Apple TV, FandangoAtHome, Amazon Video, etc ♦♦   Director: Aaron Schimberg Writers: Aaron Schimberg Starring: Sebastian Stan, Adam Pearson, Renate Reinsve, Michael Shannon Runtime:  1 Hour 52 Minutes Synopsis:  Aspiring actor Edward undergoes a radical medical procedure to drastically transform his appearance. But his new dream face quickly turns into a nightmare, as he loses out on the role he was born to play and becomes obsessed with reclaiming what was lost.     Like what you hear? Subscribe so you don't miss an episode! Follow us on Twitter: @Phenomblak @InsanityReport @TheMTRNetwork   Our shirts are now on TeePublic.  https://teepublic.com/stores/mtr-network   Want more podcast greatness? Sign up for a MTR Premium Account!

If you're unfamiliar with the plot of Broadway stunner, Wicked, fear not, director Jon M. Chu's (Crazy Rich Asians) big screen adaptation is a splashy note-for-note faithful interpretation of the acclaimed musical. If your gateway is Gregory Macguire's book by the same name, however, expect more committment to the musical's book than his source material. Wicked, a prequel to the Wizard of Oz, tells the backstory of the classic's central villian Elphaba, The Wicked Witch of the West and it's symbol of goodness, Glinda the Good Witch of the South. It's story opens with a Glinda arriving in Munchkinland in a glimmering bubble. To confirm for the citzenry that the witch is dead. It's a majestic start complete with a spectacular ensemble number.  Under Chu's stewardship OZ comes to sparkling life. There are recognizable set pieces as well as a more expansive look at the land of OZ.  The film adaptation retains the "PG" light touch by inferring much more than showing the darkness decending upon the land. Cynthia Erivio and Ariana Grande-Butera are hands down a triumph as the film's Elphaba and Glinda. Both their vocals and dramatic interpretation of the characters distinguish their performances previous iterations. In this meticulously built world the duo lead their talent-packed ensemble to create one of the best film-adaptation of a stage production ever. Wicked offers plenty for those longing for bright and colorful escapism. You'll laugh, gasp, and be amazed at each cinematic success (perhaps enough to forgive its varied visual effects shortfalls).  The narrative leans heavily on its cast for its emotional peaks and valleys and they than more ably respond. Christopher Scott's propulsive choreography delivers again and again. Erivo's blend of stoicism and defensive boldness aid a growing necessary edge. While Grande's pitch perfect switches between self-absorption, ambition, and perky benevolence adds the bounce and flair. Each balancing out the other in a delightful chemistry. But Holzman and Fox' decision to add only hints of the novel's deeper themes, and darker direction, expose a script that fails to fully serve the narrative underpining all the visual pizzazz. Every shallow plot point and thin (secondary) character development between musical numbers turns into glaring oversight in the spotlight of Wicked's exhaustive runtime. So. if you were hoping that 2 hours 40 minutes - and cutting the story into two films - meant more (extremely important) parts of Macguire's Wicked would find its way into the screenplay, well then you'll likely come away disappointed. Perhaps the second half of this story coming November of 2025 will fill in those gaps. But despite this missed opportunity hindering Wicked from truly defying gravity, its technical prowess behind and in front of the camera are worth a watch. Chu's sprawling production brings this origin story to life such verve and vibrancy your inner song-and-dance loving kid will not leave dissatisfied. Listen as Ro and Phenom discuss Wicked and somehow manage to keep it spoiler-free Wicked opens in theaters Friday, November 22. ♦♦ Director: Jon M. Chu Writers: Winnie Holzman, Dana Fox Starring: Cynthia Erivo, Ariana Grande, Jonathan Bailey, Ethan Slater, Bowen Yang, Marissa Bode, Peter Dinklage, Michelle Yeoh, Jeff Goldblum Runtime: 2 Hour 40 Minutes Synopsis: Misunderstood because of her green skin, a young woman named Elphaba forges an unlikely but profound friendship with Glinda, a student with an unflinching desire for popularity. Following an encounter with the Wizard of Oz, their relationship soon reaches a crossroad as their lives begin to take very different paths. Like what you hear? Subscribe so you don't miss an episode! Follow us on Twitter: @Phenomblak @InsanityReport @TheMTRNetwork   Our shirts are now on TeePublic.  https://teepublic.com/stores/mtr-network   Want more podcast greatness?

It's What's Inside is a visual and visceral psychological rollercoaster playing out on screen over 103 minutes of just wacky cinematography and mind games.  With a goofy ensemble of untrustworthy friends, playing an insanely dangerous game this story goes every which way but right.     Director:  Greg Jardin Writers:  Greg Jardin Starring:  Brittany O'Grady, James Morosini, Gavin Leatherwood, Nina Bloomgarden, Alycia Debnam-Carey, Madison Davenport, Devon Terrell, David Thompson Runtime:  1 Hour 43 Minutes Synopsis: When a group of mismatched friends meet up the night before a wedding for one last hoo-rah, an estranged friend from their past randomly shows up to help them celebrate with a freaky out of body mind game he's invented.  Things quickly spiral out of control when his true intentions are revealed, while animosity and old grudge amongst members of the group erupt and nobody is who they claim to be.    Like what you hear? Subscribe so you don't miss an episode! Follow us on Twitter: @Phenomblak @InsanityReport @TheMTRNetwork   Our shirts are now on TeePublic.  https://teepublic.com/stores/mtr-network   Want more podcast greatness? Sign up for a MTR Premium Account!

Our new favorite demonic jester is back and has found itself a new host to torture.  Naomi Scott displays an amazingly horrified performance as Skye Riley, a pop star struggling to keep her grasp on reality in the face of grinning figures who do anything but give her something to smile about.  Smile 2 picks up right where we left off in the last film, with bigger set pieces, interesting cinematography choices, and many creepy performances all set to a bop of a soundtrack.  Listen as Ro and Phenom discuss Smile 2 and somehow manage to keep it spoiler-free Smile 2 opens in theaters Friday, October 18th. ♦♦ Director: Parker Finn Writers: Parker Finn Starring: C Noami Scott, Rosemari DeWitt, Lukas Gage, Peter Jacobson, Raul Castillo Runtime: 2 Hours 9 Minutes Synopsis: While preparing for a new tour after a tragic accident, fresh out of rehab, a young pop star witnesses a horrific event putting in motion a cycle of hallucinations brought on by a Smiling demonic entity that can take the form of anyone.  As her time and grasp on reality is running out, Skye Riley desperately tries to regain control of her life as it terrifyingly spirals out of control. Like what you hear? Subscribe so you don't miss an episode! Follow us on Twitter: @Phenomblak @InsanityReport @TheMTRNetwork   Our shirts are now on TeePublic.  https://teepublic.com/stores/mtr-network   Want more podcast greatness? Sign up for a MTR Premium Account!

Director Josh Cooley's (Toy Story 4, Inside Out) Transformers One weaves the vast (and varied) backstorys and lore into a top-tier re-introduction that sweeps away all previous attempts to repackage this longstanding property. And the best part? This orign story blends unique characters and set peices into a engrossing friends-to-enemies journey into exciting, yet familiar, galaxy-spanning territory. Live-action could never. Seriously, Transformers One follows best friends, a low-ranking minors, Orion Pax (Chris Hemsworth) and D-16 (Bryain Tyree Henry) as they uncover their society's hidden history and the real reasons for its class divisons. Each revelation sets the duo on collision course with their enemies, and each other.  Whether you're steeped in the lore, a fan of the live-action franchise, or a coming in with zero knowledge, Transformers One is a vivid adventure certain to capture - and keep - your attention until the credits roll. Listen and Ro and DPalm discuss how Cooley - and this suprisinging fitting A-list voice cast - perfectly threads the action-comedy needle turning an epic bromance gone wrong into an incredibly immersive parable about liberation, friendship, and the cost of losing faith.  Transformers One released in theaters September 20, 2024 and arrives on VOD and digital Tuesday, October 22, 2024.    Like what you hear? Subscribe so you don't miss an episode!   Follow us on Twitter: @TheMTRNetwork Our shirts are now on TeePublic:  https://teepublic.com/stores/mtr-network   Want more podcast greatness? Sign up for a MTR Premium Account!

If a random couple you met on vacation invited you to their rural area farm to stay with them, would you accept and also bring your kids?  Speak no Stupid asks this of it's audience and shows you exactly why it's a diabolically idiotic idea. McAvoy gives the audience an amazing performance as the host from hell, in this The Shinning inspired psychological cat and mice escape thriller.  If you enjoy playing with you food, you'll enjoy this dish.  Listen as Ro and Phenom discuss Speak No Evil and somehow manage to keep it spoiler-free Speak No Evil opens in theaters Friday, November 22. ♦♦ Director: James Watkins Writers: James Watkins Starring: C James McAvoy, Mackenzie Davis, Aisling Franciosi, Alix West Lefler, Dan Hough, Scoot McNairy Runtime: 1 Hour 50 Minutes Synopsis: An American couple suffering from marital issues is invited to vacation at a rural farmhome of a world renowned British Doctor and his wife in Devon, England.  The family quickly realizes after meeting the couple's mute son, things are not what they seem with this Doctor. Like what you hear? Subscribe so you don't miss an episode! Follow us on Twitter: @Phenomblak @InsanityReport @TheMTRNetwork   Our shirts are now on TeePublic.  https://teepublic.com/stores/mtr-network   Want more podcast greatness? Sign up for a MTR Premium Account!

Quick Take: Deadpool and Wolverine is the unlikely team-up that makes all Deadpool's most fervent wishes come true. From the irreverent fourth-wall break that sets the stage for both the rather straightfoward quest to come and hyper-meta poke at the superhero character's past as prologue.  Longtime collaborators Ryan and Reynolds and director Shawn Levy enter the MCU with a song in their hearts and sway in their hips. If you're expecting being under the Disney mantel to tone down the violence, raunchiness, or Deadpool's sexpest ways, go on ahead and put that notion aside. Reynolds and the rest of the writing team cagily stare the Disney "no-no" list in the face then kick it in the shin. Despite some pacing issues, unfortunate visual ticks, and more than a few songs that stay past far past their usefulness, Deadpool and Wolverine tells a slippery story that underutilizes its original ensemble choosing instead to traverse the multi-verse as only Deadpool can. The narrative holding this buddy comedy being suprisingly straightforward it refuses to abandon the cheekiness what this franchise is best known for. So, if you're looking for a Deadpool adventure that's unabashedly madcap and makes the most of its leads then you're in the right place.  ♦♦♦ Director: Shawn Levy Writers: Ryan Reynolds, Rhett Reese, Paul Wernick, Zeb Wells, Shawn Levy Starring: Ryan Reynolds, Hugh Jackman, Emma Corrin, Matthew MacFadyen,  Runtime:  2 Hour 7 Minutes Synopsis: Deadpool's peaceful existence comes crashing down when the Time Variance Authority recruits him to help safeguard the multiverse.   Deadpool & Wolverine opeans nationswide (US) theaters July 26, 2024 Like what you hear? Subscribe so you don't miss an episode! Follow us on Twitter: @Phenomblak @InsanityReport @TheMTRNetwork   Our shirts are now on TeePublic.  https://teepublic.com/stores/mtr-network   Want more podcast greatness? Sign up for a MTR Premium Account!

Quick Take: Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga is both the origin story Citdal renegade, Furiosa, and volatile trek across the wasteland.  The fifth installment revolves around laying the ground work to how, the Furiosa of Mad Max: Fury Road came to be and the unveiling of the major settlements across the wasteland. Furiosa throttles down the action, just a notch, to make room to understand the true dysfunction of this dystopian hellscape. In typical George Miller fashion, chronology matters less than the homeretic journey through the world of Max. It's bold, violent, and emotionally complex. The trails and tribulations of Furiosa are equally matched by the havoc and upheaval between the wasteland factions. Buckle up because Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga's one hell of a ride.  Director: George Miller Writers: George Miller, Nick Lathouris Starring: Anya Taylor-Joy, Chris Hemsworth, Tom Burke, Alyla Browne Runtime: 2h 28m Synopsis: Snatched from the Green Place of Many Mothers, young Furiosa falls into the hands of a great biker horde led by the warlord Dementus. Sweeping through the Wasteland, they come across the Citadel, presided over by the Immortan Joe. As the two tyrants fight for dominance, Furiosa soon finds herself in a nonstop battle to make her way home.   Like what you hear? Subscribe so you don't miss an episode! Follow us on Twitter: @Phenomblak @InsanityReport @TheMTRNetwork   Our shirts are now on TeePublic.  https://teepublic.com/stores/mtr-network   Want more podcast greatness? Sign up for a MTR Premium Account!

Richard Donner's The Omen (1976) follows American diplomat Robert Thorn (Gregory Peck) as he investigates his adopted son’s, Damien, background once tragedy befalls those close to him. Thorn's quest for answers ultimately leads him to Italy and the unsettling revelation that his son may be the Antichrist. Sadly the subsequent installments never quite duplicated the impact of the first chapter in this genre-disrupting religious horror saga. So he idea of a compelling legacy-prequel seems like a non-starter. Well, director and co-writer Arkasha Stevenson would like a word. Because, The First Omen is an absolute master class on how to create a stunning in-canon prequel to a horror classic. Fresh Eyes Brings Fresh Perspective on the Horrific Stevenson's feature debut follows Margaret (Nell Tiger Free), a young American novitiate, as she arrives in Rome, Italy (1971) to complete her probationary period at a Roman orphanage before taking vows. For those new to the Omen universe, this prequel is a fresh-eyed, gnarly lure into the dark and twisted world of religious horror and one of the foundational storylines in the genre. Margaret encounters Carlita (Nicole Sorace), a troubled orphan, living in practical isolation. Reminded of her own turbulent childhood, she befriends the young girl in the hopes of acting as her champion. As increasingly disturbing happenings swirl around Carlita, Margaret stumbles into a dark and gruesome unfolding conspiracy. Just as Margaret connects with Carlita, a rogue priest (Ralph Ineson) approaches, demanding her help. He's on the hunt for proof of a plot by a corrupt sect within the Church. Margaret soon second-guessing herself. Nowhere is safe. Unlike in The Omen, the women carry the bulk of the plot development. Tiger Free's Margaret is a convicing mix of ingénue and fervent acolyte. Shifting the story progression to her point of view adds layers to the terror of being in a new city, trying to integrate into an established social dynamic and feeling unsettled by a sense of danger dogging your every step. Stevenson relies less on the obvious jumpscares and more on discomfort, paranoia and the pay off is utterly next level.  The First Omen breathes menacing new life into religious horror  Under Stevenson's direction The First Omen comfortably resides at the intersection of fanatical secret societies and unholy dark arts. From the period-accurate production design and costuming, to the religious iconography and symbolism deftly sets the stage for a harrowing spiral into the heart of darkness with precision. Cinematographer Aaron Morton employs an earthy color palette and savvy use of light, shadow, and scene staging ably assisting Stevenon’s unabashed commitment to blending its paranoid-thriller and supernatural horror roots into a trauma-inducing story. Through a combination of awkward physicality, unworldliness, and bouts of inexplicable agitation Tiger Free creates a captivating picture of a woman pushed to the absolute brink.  There's an increasingly demented energy of danger driven by the score and sound desighn that, alongside her character development, that acts as razor then thin tether to realty and a visually entralling fever dream.  Listen as Ro and special guest Richard Newby discuss (spoiler-free) the thematically rich and incisive allegories baked into The First Omen.  The First Omen opens in theaters, April 5, 2024 Director: Arkasha Stevenson Writers: Tim Smith, Arkasha Stevenson, Keith Thomas Starring: Nell Tiger Free, Tawfeek Barhom, Sonia Braga, Ralph Ineson, Bill Nighy Runtime:  2 Hours Synopsis: A young American woman is sent to Rome to begin a life of service to the church, where she encounters a darkness that outs her own faith in jepardy,  Like what you hear? Don't miss an episode. Subscribe today. Follow us on Twitter: @Phenomblak @InsanityReport @TheMTRNetwork   Our shirts are now on TeePublic.  https://teepublic.

Quick Take: Dev Patel's directorial debut, Monkey Man, is a full-throttle, heartbreaking, brutal quest for vengeance. Patel and his co-writers weave ancestral lore and a biting challenge to the socio-political status quo into a underdog tale that wears its cinematic influences and cultural aesthetic on its sleeve. What starts as tale of a street-smart grief-striken man living only for revenge slow morphs into the journey of a man who learns to stand for something greater than himself. Monkey Man pulls no punches and takes no prisoners. Although far from technically flawless and clearly not attempting to reinvent the revenge tropes, in Monkey Man Patel firmly establishes his ability to straddle the line of action star and beguiling leading man with an almost supernatual grace.  Come for the fights and stay for the intense character arc.  Listen as Phenom and Ro discuss (spoiler-free) just how brash Monkey Man is from start to finish.  Monkey Man opens (wide) in theaters, April 5, 2024 Director: Dev Patel Writers: Dev Patel, Paul Angunawela, John Collee Starring: Dev Patel, Sharlto Copley, Pitobash, Vipin Sharma, Sikandar Kher, Sobhita Dhulipala, Ashwini Kalsekar, Adithi Kalkunte, Makarand Deshpande Runtime:  1 Hour 53 Minutes Synopsis: After years of suppressed rage, Kid discovers a way to infiltrate the enclave of the city’s sinister elite. As his childhood trauma boils over, his mysteriously scarred hands unleash an explosive campaign of retribution to settle the score with the men who took everything from him. Note for podcast episode: Monkeypaw Productions and Jordan Peele came on board towards the end of shooting.  Like what you hear? Subscribe so you don't miss an episode! Follow us on Twitter: @Phenomblak @InsanityReport @TheMTRNetwork   Our shirts are now on TeePublic.  https://teepublic.com/stores/mtr-network   Want more podcast greatness? Sign up for a MTR Premium Account!

Director: Denis Villeneuve Writers:  Denis Villeneuve, Jon Spaihts, Frank Herbert Starring: Timothée Chalamet, Zendaya, Rebecca Ferguson, Javier Bardem, Josh Brolin, Austin Butler Runtime:  2 Hour 46 Minutes Synopsis: Paul Atreides unites with Chani and the Fremen while seeking revenge against the conspirators who destroyed his family. Kriss, Ro, Brandon review Dune Part 2. Like what you hear? Subscribe so you don't miss an episode! Follow us on Twitter: @Phenomblak @InsanityReport @TheMTRNetwork   Our shirts are now on TeePublic.  https://teepublic.com/stores/mtr-network   Want more podcast greatness? Sign up for a MTR Premium Account!

Quick Take: Madame Web should've been a fun and fantastical origin story for a dynamic comic character with real spin-off potential. Instead it’s a mishmash of barely interesting plot points, disjointed visual trickery, and underwhelming performances. More than anything else, Madame Web proves it’s not enough to throw all the “expected” set pieces in a movie, you actually need to know what to do with them. ** Official Synopsis: Cassandra Webb develops the power to see the future. Forced to confront revelations about her past, she forges a relationship with three young women bound for powerful destinies, if they can all survive a deadly present. Director: S.J. Clarkson Writers: Matt Sazama, Burk Sharpless, Claire Parker, S.J. Clarkson Starring: Dakota Johnson, Sydney Sweeney, Isabela Merced, Celeste O'Connor, Tahar Rahim, Mike Epps, Emma Roberts, Adam Scott ** Madame Web, Sony’s third standalone spin-off of a Marvel comic character, opened the door for the studio to fully reimagine the origins of its titular character and set the stage for robust worldbuilding in its Spider-Man Universe. The Cassandara Webb of the comics is an elderly woman, with a neuromuscular disease, connected to a life support system that resembles a spider web. She’s fully in control of her clairvoyance and precognition.  Webb’s an exceptionally powerful mutant and infrequent supporting character in the Spider-Man comic book series. There’s very little known of her beginnings. When carving a lane for future stories, it doesn’t get much better than having firm grounding in source material but an otherwise clear field to play.  There’s something to be said for nostalgia in movie styling (we won't talk about those reshoot blunders). Setting a story in the recent past opens the way for the sleight-of-hand of soft revisionist storytelling often beneficial when telling a story with supernatural elements. For audiences, everything feels familiar and contemporary but the edges are just blurry enough to make way for a world full of magic, mystery, and untold danger existing alongside the mundane. What Madame Web gets right(ish) is blending an intentionally pulp-esque vibe into a recognizable version of the contemporary New York City circa 2003. The story moves at a digestible (and thankfully relatively quick) pace of a thriller. So it’s a shame that absolutely nothing else; not direction, editing, character arcs, visual effects, cast performances, or story direction, amounts to more than a “comic movie” checklist neither the screenwriters nor the director knew how to navigate. The movie opens with a flashback, because of course it does, of a pregnant Constance Webb (Kerry Bishé) deep in the Peruvian Amazon in 1973. She’s on the hunt for a spider said to have miraculous healing properties. She’s whip smart, driven, and desperate. So desperate she misses all the glaring red flags that her impatient head of security, Ezekiel Sims (Tahar Rahim), isn’t really there to protect her waving in her face. Through hamfisted dialogue, a lore info-dump about a secretive indigenous people with powers, known as Las Aranas, (that would’ve carried more weight as naturally occurring revelations), and scenes of a furtive tent search practically lifted from Tomb Raider, it’s obvious Sims’ intends to acquire the spider for his own ends. The action sequences that follow shortly after the expected doublecross are a reminder that staging and filming action and stunts is a skill not all directors possess. Director S.J. Clarkson relies on quick cuts, odd camera angles, and bouncing shots of rustling foliage and blurred glimpses of people leaping from great heights to simulate action and fast-moving “spider people” traveling through the trees coming to the rescue. It’s the first sign, of many, that Madame Webb’s practical and visual effects are a detriment to an already poorly conceived storyline. And although the flashback is a smart entry point for Webb’s origin story,

Director: Todd Haynes Writers: Samy Burch, Alex Mechanik Starring: Natalie Portman, Charles Melton, Julianne Moore, Gabriel Chung, Andrea Frankle Runtime:  1 Hour 57 Minutes Synopsis: Twenty years after their notorious tabloid romance gripped the nation, a married couple buckles under pressure when an actress arrives to do research for a film about their past. 2023 was really the year of the terrible parent when it comes to movie. In May December, Julianne Moore and Natalie Portman have a "terrible off" to see which one plays the worst person. Charles Melton's character unfortunately is the one taking the brunt of just how terrible those other characters are. This is a very solid film that's bound to make your skin crawl because of just how realistic it is. The gaslighting and victimization that Julianne Moore's character Gracie does in this film is top notch. You're definitely going to need to take a shower after this one. Listen as the crew review May December. Like what you hear? Subscribe so you don't miss an episode! Follow us on Twitter: @Phenomblak @InsanityReport @TheMTRNetwork   Our shirts are now on TeePublic.  https://teepublic.com/stores/mtr-network   Want more podcast greatness? Sign up for a MTR Premium Account!