Okay, BOOOOmer

Tommy, our intrepid host, plunges into the abyss of existential dread this week, dragging Kyle, Kynan, and Pete along for the harrowing ride. They grapple with three films that explore the unnerving realities behind the horrors of being an adult.First up, Vivarium. Imagine, if you will, the quintessential suburban nightmare. Cookie-cutter houses stretching into an unsettling infinity, a chirping, unsettling child not your own, and the slow, creeping realization that escape is an illusion. Is it a commentary on the soul-crushing monotony of modern life? A chilling parable of alien brood parasitism? Or perhaps, a darkly comedic reflection of parenthood itself?Next, they venture into the corporate jungle with The Belko Experiment. Eighty employees trapped in a high-rise, forced to participate in a gruesome game of kill-or-be-killed. The veneer of civility shatters, revealing the primal instincts simmering beneath the surface of workplace decorum. Is it social commentary disguised as a splatterfest? A Darwinian exploration of capitalism's dark underbelly? Or simply a guilty pleasure wallowing in ultraviolence?Finally, they confront the horrors of aging and mental decline in The Father. Anthony Hopkins delivers a masterful performance as a man losing his grip on reality, the film's disorienting structure mirroring his fragmented consciousness. This isn't your typical jump-scare horror; it's a slow burn of psychological terror, a visceral exploration of a fear that resonates with us all.Film Sundries Watch the movies discussed: Vivarium: Apple • Amazon • JustWatch The Belko Experiment: Apple • Amazon • JustWatch The Father: Apple • Amazon • JustWatch (00:00) - Welcome to Sitting in the Dark (02:49) - Vivarium (34:36) - The Belko Experiment (52:43) - The Father (01:02:23) - Father 1 (01:02:32) - Father 2 (01:02:55) - Father 4 (01:03:15) - Father 7 (01:03:29) - Father 8 (01:03:45) - The Father (01:15:58) - There is no bow (01:17:41) - Coming Attractions Support The Next Reel Family of Film Podcasts: Become a member for just $5/month or $55/year Join our Discord community of movie lovers The Next Reel Family of Film Podcasts: Cinema Scope: Bridging Genres, Subgenres, and Movements The Film Board Movies We Like The Next Reel Film Podcast Sitting in the Dark Connect With Us: Main Site: Web Movie Platforms: Letterboxd | Flickchart Social Media: Facebook | Instagram | Threads | Bluesky | YouTube | Pinterest Your Hosts: Kyle | Kynan | Pete | Tommy Shop & Stream: Merch Store: Apparel, stickers, mugs & more Watch Page: Buy/rent films we've discussed Originals: Source material from our episodes Special offers: Letterboxd Pro/Patron discount | Audible