The First Run

This week on The First Run, Chris and Matt check out the latest from Guillermo the Bull Frankenstein. It gets pretty heated discussing the merits of Mia Goth so you don't want to miss this one!00:00-14:20: Intro/Frankenstein14:20-23:52: Miscellany/Wrap Up FindHelp.orgTheme music by Jamal Malachi Ford-Bey

Happy Halloween!  This week on The First Run, Matt exercised his veto on musical bio-pics, sorry ‘Deliver Me From Nowhere’.  Instead it’s the puppy perspective horror film, ‘Good Boy’! Then to keep the Halloween season going, it’s the latest in Shudder’s horror anthology, ‘V/H/S: Halloween’!  Chris has some news for Matt that make him a super happy boy too! Then Matt and Chris close out the show where the last 4 watched, Letterboxd style!  Finally, if you’re food insecure, check out FindHelp.org for assistance near you.00:00-11:22: Intro/Good Boy11:23-29:38: V/H/S: Halloween29:39-37:32: Wrap UpTheme music by Jamal Malachi Ford-Bey

This week on The First Run, Matt and Chris break out of the basement and head to camp with ghosts and dead serial killers in tow with ‘Black Phone 2’. Chris will then give you his thoughts on the latest from Jason Statham, ‘A Working Man’. 00:00-18:48: Intro/Black Phone 218:49-25:42: A Working Man25:43-30:01: Wrap-UpTheme music by Jamal Malachi Ford-Bey

This week on The First Run, the official movie podcast of Antifa, Chris and Matt return the anti-franchise that is Tron.  Does Disney finally succeed and make a good Tron movie and justify their repeated attempts to build a franchise?  And how about that Jared Leto?!?  All this and MORE!00:00-18:38: Intro/Tron: Ares18:39-24:51: Wrap UpTheme music by Jamal Malachi Ford-Bey

This week on The First Run, Chris and Matt check out ‘The Smashing Machine’, the latest from Benny Safdie and Dwayne Johnson about the life of famed MMA fighter Mark Kerr. Is this The Rock's best performance? Tune in to find out!00:00-15:45: Intro/The Smashing Machine15:46-22:26: Wrap-UpTheme music by Jamal Malachi Ford-Bey

This week on The First Run, Chris and Matt discuss the latest from auteur Paul Thomas Anderson featuring Mr. Leonardo DiCaprio, ‘One Batter After Another’.  Be described as THE film of 2025, does the film deliver on its almost universal praise? Or is it another tepid entry after ‘Licorice Pizza’?  After that, Matt and Chris do their best to rank Anderson’s films. How will their rankings stack up against yours? Listen on, patriots! 00:00-20:57: Intro/One Battle After Another20:58-29:54: Rank ‘Em: PTA29:55-34:17: Wrap Up Theme music by Jamal Malachi Ford-BeyBrooke Obie: One Fetish After Another: PTA Exploits Black Women and Averts Revolution

This week on The First Run, Chris and Matt check out the latest film from Jordan Peele's Monkey's Paw Productions, ‘HIM’. It’s a film that combines two of America's  favorite pastimes...football and Satanism. It's another confusing episode of The First Run, buckle up!00:00-16:19: Intro/HIM16:20-20:24: Wrap-UpTheme music by Jamal Malachi Ford-Bey

This week on The First Run, Chris and Matt lace up their Air Jordan’s and start stretching for the latest Stephen King big screen adaptation, ‘ The Long Walk’.  Is it the perfect time for a dystopian thriller to take our minds off of, you know, everything? Then the legendary metal band Spinal Tap returns with ‘Spinal Tap II: The End Continues’. Can the David, Nigel, and Derek still dial things up to 11?  Matt and Chris then bring back the final segment in honor of Robert Redford’s passing with their 5 Favorite Robert Redford Films.00:00-18:08: Intro/The Long Walk18:09-21:14: Physical Media Picks (?)21:15-27:48: Spinal Tap II: The End Continues27:49-41:06: 5 Favorite Robert Redford Films41:07-42:26: Wrap UpTheme music by Jamal Malachi Ford-Bey

This week on The First Run, Matt and Chris reluctantly go to the Warren well one last time with ‘The Conjuring: Last Rites’.  Can James Wan’s dwindling franchise be saved with this one last adventure into the darkness?  Then Chris will give you the skinny on Spike Lee's latest joint, ‘Highest 2 Lowest’.  How does Lee’s version of Kurosawa’s classic ‘High And Low’ fare with Denzel devouring the scenery? Finally, they wrap up the show with the definitive rankings of The Conjuring films. 00:00-15:12: Intro/The Conjuring: Last Rites15:13-24:42: Highest2Lowest24:43-35:11: Rank ‘Em: The Conjuring Franchise35:12-36:42: Wrap Up Theme music by Jamal Malachi Ford-Bey

This week on The First Run, Chris and Matt both get their own personal movie picks! First up, they get involved in a non-heist heist as they discuss Darren Aronofsky’s latest, ‘Caught Stealing’, featuring Elvis and Catwoman.  Then Macon Blair’s reboot of the classic Troma movie ‘Toxic Avenger’, in the can since 2023, finally gets a theatrical release! Can you possibly improve upon a beloved b-movie masterpiece?  All that and more on another toxic (in a good way) episode of The First Run! 00:00-12:50: Intro/Caught Stealing12:51-25:04: The Toxic Avenger 25:05-29:21: Andor/Outro Theme music by Jamal Malachi Ford-Bey

This week on The First Run, Chris and Matt take a wild ride through Ethan Coen’s latest solo mystery-comedy, Honey, Don’t! Margaret Qualley plays a private eye with a monotone, a mission, an intense sexual appetite, and zero patience for nonsense. The guys will tell you if it even gets close to reaching the heights of past Coen classics.  Then, Gotham gets a Dolby facelift as Batman (1989) swoops back into theaters. The guys revisit Burton’s brooding classic, Nicholson’s chaotic Joker, and ask the eternal question: is this the best version of the Caped Crusader on screen? 00:00-15:17: Intro/Honey Don't15:18-21:46: Batman 198921:47-23:19: Wrap Up Theme music by Jamal Malachi Ford-Bey

This week on The First Run, Chris and Matt take their kitty cat bracelet out of storage to watch the latest adventure of the Mansell family as they try and take a vacation and end up getting into all kinds of wacky trouble in ‘Nobody 2’.  Then Ari Aster returns with ‘Eddington’, the story about, well, a story that maybe serves no one, or is the hilarious satire of Covid and our deep divide we didn’t know we needed.00:00-12:46: Intro/Nobody 212:47-15:49: Chris Pratt (Now What?!?)15:50-27:13: Eddington27:14-32:13: Wrap UpTheme music by Jamal Malachi Ford-Bey

This week on The First Run, Chris and Matt lock and load for a double feature. First up is ‘Weapons’, the highly anticipated horror film from the writer/director of the still unavailable on physical media, ‘Barbarian’. Does it deserve all the hype?Then they head down under with ‘Dangerous Animals’, a film that stars Jai Courtney and might actually be the better for it. I know, Matt and Chris are shocked too. So settle in for an all new, all different First Run!00:00-19:38: Intro/Weapons19:39-28:40: Dangerous Animals28:41-33:17: Wrap UpTheme music by Jamal Malachi Ford-Bey

This week on The First Run, Chris and Matt discuss Akiva Schaffer’s reboot of the Police Squad franchise with ‘The Naked Gun’. Can the film revive the spoof genre? Is it at least worthy of the originals? There’s the always hilarious review of the big releases on Physical Media, featuring the Streaming and Viper Video Picks of the Week. Then Matt and Chris close out the show with the Horror Madness finals! Who’s coming out on top? Like a blind man at an orgy, we’re going to have to feel our way through this.00:00-12:33: Intro/The Naked Gun12:34-20:33: Physical Media Picks20:34-31:56: Horror Madness: Finals31:57-36:36: Wrap UpTheme music by Jamal Malachi Ford-BeyHorror Madness Bracket

This week on The First Run, Chris and Matt stretch, flame on, and go full clobberin’ time as we dive into the story of Marvel’s first family in ‘Fantastic Four: First Steps’. From cosmic rays to family bonds that would make Dom Toretto proud, they see if this entry is a breath of fresh air in the MCU. Or if it can make Chris care about the FF. There's the big release on physical media, the Viper Video and streaming picks of the week.Then they wrap it all up with a lengthy discussion on the 2020's for the final qualifier bracket of Horror Madness, which is weird since the decade is only half over. 00:00-21:29: Fantastic Four: First Steps21:30-32:16: Physical Media Picks32:17-50:11: Horror Madness: 2020's (so far)50:12-51:54: Wrap-UpTheme music by Jamal Malachi Ford-Bey

This week on The First Run, Chris and Matt are joined by TFR theme composer Jamal Malachi Ford-Bey to discuss James Gunn’s big swing with ‘Superman’.  After the failed Snyder-verse, Warner Bros. attempts a lighter not so dour reboot for the DC Cinematic Universe.  Does Gunn pull it off and deliver a rollicking adventure filled reset?  Do Gunn at least ‘get’ Superman?  And most importantly, is Chris happy?  Then there’s the periwinkle-esque Kryponite (that is a real thing) that is the big releases on Physical Media, featuring the Streaming and Viper Video Picks of the Week.  Then the Justice Gang continues Horror Madness with films from 2010-2019!00:00-36:17: Intro/Superman36:18-45:06: Physical Media Picks45:07-1:11:21: Horror Madness: 2010’s1:11:22-1:14:15: Wrap UpTheme music by Jamal Malachi Ford-BeyHorror Madness Bracket

This week on The First Run, Chris and Matt tag along for prehistoric chaos and painfully awkward hangouts. First up, it’s ‘Jurassic World: Rebirth’, the latest chapter in the dino-verse. Does this evolution in the franchise finally earn its place in the fossil record—or is it just another roar without bite?  Then they pivot to ‘Friendship’, the offbeat comedy pairing Tim Robinson’s cringe-inducing genius with Paul Rudd’s affable charm. It’s a buddy flick that veers into hilarious discomfort, misread signals, and painfully funny truths about adult relationships. Is it a cult classic in the making or just a masterclass in awkward silences? After that, they flip through this week’s Physical Media highlights, give you the Viper Video and Streaming Picks of the Week!  Then Horror Madness bracket moves into the Willenium with the 2000s. 00:00-13:37: Intro/Jurassic World Rebirth13:38-19:53: Physical Media Picks of the Week19:54-28:25: Friendship28:26-50:21: Horror Madness: 2000's50:22-52:58: Wrap UpTheme music by Jamal Malachi Ford-BeyHorror Madness Bracket

This week on The First Run, Chris and Matt strap in for Joseph Kinski’s next mining of 80’s pastiche with ‘F1’.  Allegedly druken abusive father Brad Pitt plays Sonny Hayes a race [insert vehicle here] driver that gets one last chance at glory that maybe provides some wisdom for the team along the way. There’s the formulaic rundown of the big releases on Physical Media, featuring the Viper Video and Streaming Picks of the Week.  Then Matt and Chris wrap up this track with another circuit of Horror Madness, this time focusing on the worn out tire treads that is the 90’s.00:00-11:24: Intro/F111:25-19:46: Physical Media Picks19:47-37:56: Horror Madness: 90’s37:57-39:40: Wrap UpTheme music by Jamal Malachi Ford-BeyHorror Madness Bracket

This week on The First Run, Chris and Matt return to the wastelands of Britain with their review of ’28 Years Later’, the long-awaited continuation of the rage-fueled trilogy by Danny Boyle and Alex Garland. Does the legacy hold up or should it have stayed locked up in its money cage? Your gallant hosts dive into the latest and greatest physical media releases as well as give you the viper video and streaming picks of the week. Then it's time to dim the lights and cue the synths for the final segment: Horror Madness Elimination Bracket with the films of the 1980's. Eight iconic films enter... only one leaves. As the bracket shrinks, the debates get bloodier and the nostalgia hits harder.Chris even gets a little wistful has some nigh impossible choices need to be made. 00:00-20:07: Intro/28 Years Later20:08-25:42: Physical Media Picks25:43-43:33: Horror Madness: The 1980's43:34-45:34: Wrap-UpTheme music by Jamal Malachi Ford-BeyFangoria article by Amber THorror Madness Bracket

This week on The First Run, Chris and Matt discuss Mike Flanagan’s latest Stephen King adaptation with the joyous and life-affirming ‘The Life Of Chuck’.  At least, that’s how it was sold to me.  Then it’s on to the latest Predator film with ‘Killer Of Killers’.  Like Flanagan and King, Dan Trachtenberg is not the Predator series leading force.  So we’ll fill you in on how the latest entry fares.  There’s the sadness-filled rundown of the big releases on Physical Media, featuring the Straight to DVD and Streaming Picks of the Week.  Matt and Chris close out the show with the latest round of Horror Madness, this time focused on the 70’s and whoa buddy.  It’s going to be a doozy!00:00-16:22: Intro/The Life Of Chuck16:23-26:55: Physical Media Picks26:56-34:13: Predator: Killer Of Killers34:14-50:10: Horror Madness: The 70’s50:11-52:31: Wrap UpTheme music by Jamal Malachi Ford-BeyHorror Madness Bracket