The one where we review The Dog Stars, Insidious: Into The Further, and Mutiny

Directed by Ridley Scott and adapted from Peter Heller’s acclaimed novel, The Dog Stars takes us to a desolate Colorado in 2035. Jacob Elordi stars as Hig, a civilian pilot living on an abandoned airstrip with a survivalist ex-Marine named Bangley (Josh Brolin). When a stray radio transmission sparks a glimmer of hope beyond their fenced-in reality, Hig risks everything to fly out into the unknown. Fun Flix Fact: Ridley Scott shot much of the film's sweeping exterior sequences on location in Italy, cleverly using the Mediterranean landscape to stand in for the rugged American West. Fun Flix Fact: The canine companion Jasper was played by multiple Belgian Malinois trained specifically to match Jacob Elordi’s easygoing cockpit demeanor during the intimate flight scenes. The supernatural horror juggernaut returns with its sixth installment, directed by Jacob Chase. Insidious: Into The Further follows a young mother named Gemma (Amelia Eve) who discovers a terrifying new facet of the purgatorial realm: she doesn't just enter The Further—she has the terrifying ability to bring its malevolent spirits back into the living world. Franchise staple Lin Shaye also returns to guide the terror. Fun Flix Fact: To achieve the signature, eerie look of The Further without relying entirely on digital effects, the production crew built rotating, inverted hallway sets that disoriented the actors in real-time. Fun Flix Fact: The film's primary antagonist, a cult leader trapped in the astral plane, was designed using physical prosthetics that took over six hours to apply daily. Action icon Jason Statham is back in top form in Mutiny, directed by Jean-François Richet. Statham plays Cole Reed, a private security bodyguard who is framed for the assassination of his billionaire employer. Forced to go on the run, Reed stows away on a massive cargo ship, only to stumble upon a vast human trafficking conspiracy that he has to dismantle one punch at a time. Fun Flix Fact: Jason Statham performed the vast majority of his own stunt work during the intense, cramped container-ship brawl scenes, collaborating closely with director Jean-François Richet to keep the choreography raw and grounded. Fun Flix Fact: The production utilized a decommissioned cargo vessel docked in Southeast Asia, giving the film an authentic, claustrophobic industrial grit that soundstages simply cannot replicate. To mark a decade and a half since Steven Soderbergh’s chillingly prescient medical thriller hit cinemas, we are looking back at Contagion (2011). From its all-star ensemble cast to its hyper-realistic depiction of a global pandemic spreading through fomites and panic, it remains one of the smartest studio thrillers ever made. For our Hidden Gem this week, we are shining a light on Jane Schoenbrun’s mind-bending, surrealist slasher Teenage Sex and Death at Camp Miasma. Starring Hannah Einbinder as a young filmmaker hired to reboot a flagging slasher franchise, the film spirals into a hypnotic, queer Gothic romance when she becomes obsessed with finding the franchise's reclusive original "final girl," played brilliantly by Gillian Anderson. And if that’s not enough entertainment for you, we’ve even thrown in new trailers to watch and what you can catch on streaming. Hit that subscribe button right now so you never miss an episode of The Flixters! We’re here every week to bring you the best reviews, the wildest facts, and the greatest cinema talk in the business. 00:00 Intro 02:04 Shoutouts03:42 Movie News8:17 New on Streaming13:02 New Trailers22:13 Anniversary Corner24:53 The Dog Stars Review33:25 Insidious: Into The Further review44:10 Mutiny Review48:43 Hidden Gem Review57:10 Outro This episode is proudly sponsored by Zencastr. Create your podcast today! #madeonzencastr