Film Curious

In this episode of Film Curious, Ashley, Pete, and Nicole chat about the newest Boots Riley film, I Love Boosters, starring KeKe Palmer, Taylour Paige, Naomi Ackie, and Poppy Lui, with supporting performances from Demi Moore, LaKeith Stanfield, Eiza González, Will Poulter, and last but not least, Don Cheadle.We discuss the joyride that is this movie, how the film was made (its production techniques), the standout performances and moments, the movie’s unique score and music, Riley’s directing style and upfront messaging. Plus, that LaKeith Stanfield scene that was a little out there for some people 😆Also, we have some fun film side tangents, like: movies people walked out of over the years, uncomfortable in-theater experiences, and debate what people should expect when they go into a movie. ⚠️ We do get into spoilers at 22:15! Available in theaters now 🎟️ ⏱️Timestamps00:00 Highlight Clip from Episode00:30 Intro to the Episode & Film 02:37 Overall Reactions to the Movie 04:16 Issues with the Sound Mix & Projector in Theaters 07:31 Production & Set Design BTS Info | How They Made the Film 10:26 Crowd Reactions, People Walking Out of Movies & Our Favorite Performances of the Film 18:41 Stop Motion, the Different Mediums Utilized in the Film, & The New LAIKA Film Wildwood Trailer20:03 Why You Should Experience It in Theaters 22:15 Spoiler Discussion⚠️ | That Scene with LaKeith Stanfield People Walked Out On & Knowing What You’re Getting Yourself Into with Movies27:06 Music & Score for the Movie, KeKe Palmer’s and Boots Riley’s Daughter’s EP, & Riley’s Hip-Hop Background Influence29:14 The Handling of Messaging & Riley’s Blatant Yet Refreshing Views41:16 LaKeith Stanfield’s Prince Like Impersonation & Filming That Demon Scene42:54 Wrap Up | Boots Riley Filmmaking Style & Why It Works45:20 Outro - Thanks for Listening & Don’t Forget to Subscribe! 🔔🎬Subscribe so you never miss a new film discovery!Resources & References:How Director Boots Riley Brought I Love Boosters from Big Idea to the Big ScreenBoots Riley Explains Why Capitalism is Built on Theft | I LOVE BOOSTERSBoots Riley on Art, Activism, and “I Love Boosters” | The Daily ShowIndie Wire Article | Why ‘I Love Boosters’ Also Loves Stop Motion Animation and Weird Little GuysThe Coup - “I Love Boosters” Song | I Love Boosters!I Love Boosters (Original Motion Picture Score)I Love Boosters (Original Motion Picture Score) | KeKe Palmer EPSorry to Bother You (2018)I’m a Virgo (2023)Boogie Nights (1997)#ILoveBoosters #BootsRiley #KeKePalmer #LaKeithStanfield #DemiMoore #MovieReview #FilmPodcast

In this episode of Film Curious, Pete gives a brief non-spoiler review of the latest Star Wars film installment, The Mandalorian and Grogu, directed by Jon Favreau and starring Pedro Pascal and Sigourney Weaver. The movie caps the end of The Mandalorian TV series that first premiered on Disney+ in 2019 and finished in 2023. Pete gives his overall rating of the film, its highlights (and lowlights), the massive problems he has with Mando keeping the helmet on all the time, how not much of consequence happens in the movie as related to the show, the awesome stop motion fight sequence, and why Disney needs to let Lucasfilm pick a lane going forward.Also, the group’s frustration with the amount of commercials and trailers in front of movies at AMC, how announcing and hyping up films three years before their release is unnecessary with everyone’s short-term memory these days, and how weird fandoms can be about things. ⚠️This is a non-spoiler discussion, but if you’re anything like Ashley, there is a small mention of what’s in the final fight scene at 09:51. Available in theaters now. 🎟️ ⏱️Timestamps00:00 Intro to the Episode 00:36 The Film’s Opening, Characters, and Settings02:09 The Problem with the Helmet & Not Seeing Pedro Pascal’s Full Performance04:16 Fan Service & Characters from Other Star Wars Works That Go Unexplained07:01 Grogu & Mando’s Character Arcs (or Lack of Growth) | Show to Movie09:51 Light Spoiler Warning ⚠️ | Final Fight Scene, Its Stop Motion Animation & Feelings on Ending10:58 Pete’s Final Rating of the Film12:18 The Need for the Star Wars Franchise to Pick a Road Going Forward13:22 Announcing Movies Three Years in Advance & Unnecessary Promotion14:07 Frustrations with AMC & The Amount of Pre-Show Commercials and Trailers15:52 Wrap Up - The Crazy & Weird Portion of the Star Wars Fandom16:59 Outro - Thanks for Listening & Don’t Forget to Subscribe! 🔔🎬Subscribe so you never miss a new film discovery!#MandalorianAndGrogu #StarWars #StarWarsMovie #Grogu #PedroPascal #FilmPodcast

In this episode, Ashley, Nicole, and Pete dive deep into Obsession (2026), the much-applauded and talked about psychological horror thriller written and directed by Curry Barker (former YouTube creator), starring Michael Johnston and Inde Navarrette. This little movie was made on a mere million dollar budget and is now sitting pretty at over $100 million, one of the biggest box office successes of the year.  We break down Bear’s true character, the whole dead cat thing, the wish mechanics of the One Wish Willow, what the film is saying subtly (and not so subtly), the horrifying conclusion and everything in between. ⚠️ This is a full spoiler discussion! We suggest watching it first if you haven’t already. Available in theaters now. 🎟️ ⏱️Timestamps00:00 Highlight Clip from the Episode 00:33 The Last Few Weeks on Film Curious00:49 Intro to This Week’s Film 03:48 Initial Reactions and Themes of the Film08:41 The Intricacies of 'Obsession' and Its Themes21:45 Debating What Was Working & What Wasn’t27:48 The Directorial & Story Choices Curry Barker Makes32:37 Exploring the Wish Mechanism & Consequences of Wishes and Accountability44:58 Friends & the Film’s Handling of Mental Health49:06 The Dark Ending and Its Implications01:04:30 Wrap Up - Taking a Break from Horror Films for a Bit01:05:42 Outro - Thanks for Listening & Don’t Forget to Subscribe! 🔔🎬Subscribe so you never miss a new film discovery!#Obsession2026 #HorrorMovies #BlumhouseHorror #FilmPodcast #MovieReview #CurryBarker

In this episode of Film Curious, Ashley and Nicole review the horror comedy Send Help (2026) directed by Sam Raimi, starring Rachel McAdams and Dylan O'Brien, which is now available to stream on Hulu. We explore its unique blend of humor, horror, and power dynamics, revealing how Raimi's signature style influences the film's tone and narrative choices.In this deep dive, we analyze the film's themes, visual style, and character arcs, highlighting its campy tone, dark humor, and its place within the horror-comedy genre, making predictions into its lasting appeal.We also get into the rise of horror comedy and why this campy genre might be the most honest response to the current cultural moment.⚠️This episode contains a full spoiler discussion! We suggest watching it first if you haven’t already. Available to stream on Hulu & Disney+ currently.  ⏱️Timestamps00:00 Highlight Clip from the Episode 00:30 Intro to the Film - Brief Synopsis01:37 Exploring Sam Raimi's Directing Style & Immediate Narrative Choices11:25 The Performances - Rachel McAdams' Versatility & Dylan O'Brien's Growth21:17 ⚠️Spoiler Discussion & Plot Twists⚠️33:43 Moral Ambiguity and Character Evolution47:54 The Final Showdown and Transformation - Why It Works55:30 Breaking the Fourth Wall: A Cinematic Technique58:50 Audience Expectations and Film Interpretation01:11:52 The Rise of Horror Comedies & Original Stories01:15:53 Wrap Up - Excited to See More Original Horror in the Future! Let Us Know Your Thoughts!🎬Subscribe so you never miss a new film discovery!#SendHelp #RachelMcAdams #DylanOBrien #SamRaimi #FilmPodcast

In this episode of Film Curious, Ashley and Nicole dive deep into The Starling Girl (2023), an indie drama written and directed by Laurel Parmet, starring Eliza Scanlen, Lewis Pullman, and Jimmy Simpson. A 17-year-old in a Christian fundamentalist community develops a dangerous connection with her youth pastor, and the film handles it with nuance, restraint, and visual intelligence that most films three times its budget never achieve. We get into Eliza Scanlan's micro-expression masterclass, Laurel Parmet's brilliant visual storytelling, the consent conversation the film quietly forces you to have, the small details that tell everything you need to know, and why this filmmaker deserves so much more attention. ⚠️ This is a full spoiler discussion! We suggest watching it first if you haven’t already. Available to stream on Netflix currently.  ⏱️Timestamps00:00 Highlight Clip from the Episode 00:28 Intro to the Film & How Adeptly the Story Is Handled06:39 ⚠️Spoiler Section Starts⚠️23:57 Handling of Sex Scene & the Consent Discussion29:43 Analysis of the Film & Its Themes56:06 The Surprise Turn Towards the Ending & What the Ending Means for the Main Character Going Forward01:00:00 Wrap Up - Excited and Hoping to See Laurel Parmet Make More Movies in the Future🎬Subscribe so you never miss a new film discovery!#TheStarlingGirl #ElizaScanlan #FilmPodcast

In this episode of Film Curious, Ashley and guest co-host Nicole revisit No Hard Feelings (2023), the Jennifer Lawrence comedy directed by Gene Stupnitsky, now streaming on Hulu and HBO MAX. We were missing out; it's way better than we ever expected!We break down why Jennifer Lawrence is genuinely great in this role, why Andrew Barth Feldman's surprise musical moment works so well in the film, how the movie quietly subverts every expectation you bring into it, and how this is the exact kind of comedy Hollywood doesn't make enough of anymore but should!We also get into the supporting work from Matthew Broderick and Laura Benanti, 21 Jump Street comparisons, and why this film deserves to be remembered.⚠️This review does contain a small amount of spoilers⚠️ ⏱️Timestamps00:00 Highlight Clip from the Episode 00:45 Intro & Welcoming Nicole to the Show02:16 Why Ashley & Nicole Dismissed No Hard Feelings When It Came Out05:43 Overall Review of the Film, Subverting Expectations, Jennifer Lawrence's Performance, How It Delivers a lot of Heart without Being Romantic & Reminds Us of Great Comedies From When Were Younger10:30 Spoiler Portion Begins16:17 The Supporting Cast & How Well They Worked to Supplement the Story18:38 The Slapstick Comedy Aspects That Sometimes Didn’t Work21:47 Andrew Barth Feldman & The Wonderful Musical Moment 23:29 Wrap Up - Why This Film Deserves to Be Remembered26:02 Outro - Thanks for Listening! Tune In Next Time!🎬Subscribe so you never miss a new film discovery!#NoHardFeelings #JenniferLawrence #FilmPodcast

In this episode of Film Curious, Pete chats about catching a midnight screening of Hokum at the Florida Film Festival before its wide release; Damian McCarthy's follow-up to Oddity, starring Adam Scott in a role unlike anything you've seen from him before. We discuss why this folk horror haunted hotel film genuinely scared Pete despite knowing every trick in the book, why you don't need to have seen Oddity to enjoy it but there’s a clear connection, and how Hokum fits into the recent golden era of emotional journey driven horror.And then there are a few tangents on the bizarre online criticism that certain horror films are bad because they actually deliver on their premise and there’s no “twist,” and why tells work in certain stories but not in others. 🍿Pro Tip: Skip the trailer entirely with this one and just watch the film. Guest Co-Host | Pete Tedone - Instagram⏱️Timestamps00:00 Intro - Brief Episode Info & Film Curious Theme Music00:36 Hokum Plot Overview (No Spoilers) & Seeing It in a Packed Theater03:14 Hokum: Another Great Horror Film That Is About the Emotional Journey04:41 Ashley & Pete’s Tangent on Movies Not Needing to Have a Twist13:37 Pete’s Rant on the Obvious Give Away in Marvel’s Iron Heart 14:57 Difference Between Giving the Bag Away vs. Only Catch It If You’re Paying Close Attention19:40 Wrap Up - Definitely a Must See & Try to Watch Oddity Beforehand20:49 Outro - Thanks for Listening! Don’t Forget to Subscribe! This is a spoiler-free review. ⛔⚠️🎬Subscribe so you never miss a new film discovery!#Hokum #FolkHorror #FilmPodcast

In this episode of Film Curious, we're reviewing The Mummy (2026), the latest Universal monster reimagining directed by Lee Cronin (Evil Dead Rise), starring Jack Reynor, Leah Acosta, and May Calamawy. Not to be mistaken for the 1999 Mummy starring Brendan Fraser and Rachel Weisz. This is an entirely new one. We debate whether this fresh take on The Mummy works, why Pete couldn’t shake the feeling he was watching an Evil Dead or Exorcist film, how the demon Nasmaranian has zero roots in Egyptian mythology, and whether the 2 hour and 14 minute runtime was necessary. We also briefly touch on Universal's ongoing series of monster reboots, how it compares to The Invisible Man and Wolf Man, and what Mike Flanagan’s upcoming Exorcist film might mean for this corner of horror.Guest Co-Host | Pete Tedone - Instagram⏱️Timestamps00:00 Highlight Clip from Episode00:30 Intro - The Plot (No Spoilers), Director, & Cast Breakdown03:59 Ashley’s Overall Feelings on the Film05:01 Pete’s Overall Feelings on the Film06:03 Is This Just an Evil Dead Movie? 07:30 Some Stipulations with a Major Plot Point09:44 The Movie's Success So Far & How It Compares to Universal’s Other Monster Reboots11:15 ⚠️Spoilers⚠️ - The Demon & The Ending18:39 Wrap Up - Evil Dead & Halloween Horror Nights20:49 Outro - Thanks for Listening! Don’t Forget to Subscribe! 🎬Subscribe so you never miss a new film discovery!#TheMummy #HorrorMovies #FilmPodcast

In this episode of Film Curious, we're reviewing The Christophers, the NEON dark comedy directed by Steven Soderbergh and written by Ed Solomon, starring Ian McKellen as a once famous aging artist and Michaela Coel as an art forger hired by his children (played by James Corden and Jessica Gunning) to complete some of his unfinished, long-abandoned work so they’ll have an inheritance when he dies.We discuss how McKellen and Coel's chemistry and performances are at the heart of the film, how Soderbergh quietly does some of his most superb directing through subtlety, why this feels like watching a play in the best possible way, and how this film has rightly earned its 97% score on Rotten Tomatoes. Things We Mention in the Episode:Ian McKellen in Mr. HolmesNEON Shop | The Christophers’ Art PosterGuest Co-Host | Pete Tedone - Instagram⏱️Timestamps00:00 Highlight Clip from Episode00:27 Intro - The Christophers Synopsis, Cast, + Details05:23 Steven Soderbergh’s Direction - Invisible But Brilliant07:45 ⚠️SPOILERS⚠️ The Heart of the Film - Ian McKellen + Michaela Coel’s Performances09:53 James Corden & Jessica Gunning - The Perfect Pair of Assholes10:29 Little Moments Spread Throughout the Film with Great Payoffs12:40 Ian McKellen is One of the Greats and Doing Some of His Best Work Later in Life15:18 How This Film Would Work Great as Stage Adaptation 16:35 Soderbergh Quietly Putting Together a Great Catalog of Work Over the Years18:07 NEON’s Shop Having The Christophers Artwork as a Poster Available19:57 Find and Support a Small Theater Near You and Go See This Film 22:29 Outro - Thanks for Listening! Don’t Forget to Subscribe!🎬Subscribe so you never miss a new film discovery!#TheChristophers #IanMcKellen #MichaelaCoel #FilmPodcast 

After watching Project Hail Mary (2026) in theaters and having our deep dive review of it, we decided to do a little Andy Weir novel adaptation comparison with a rewatch of The Martian (2015)—directed by Ridley Scott and starring Matt Damon eleven years ago. Same screenwriter Drew Goddard, same lone astronaut premise… but are these movies the same? We talk about what makes The Martian’s puzzle box storytelling so satisfying, why Ridley Scott’s controlled direction still holds up, the two films' major differences, and whether we prefer Project Hail Mary or The Martian.Guest Co-Host | Pete Tedone - InstagramTimestamps00:00 Highlight Clip from the Episode00:12 Intro - Why Compare The Martian to Project Hail Mary01:28 The Martian’s Storytelling & Pacing03:20 The All-Star Cast You Forgot About04:10 Where the Similarities End and Difference Begin10:52 Ridley Scott’s Direction vs. Project Hail Mary11:19 Are the stakes high enough? 12:14 Which One Do We Prefer?15:41 David Bowie Starman Needle Drop Moment18:51 The Ending of The Martian20:35 Space Travel is Wild and Terrifying - Astronauts are Impressive 25:44 Outro - Thanks for Listening! Don’t Forget to Subscribe!🎬Subscribe so you never miss a new film discovery!#TheMartian #ProjectHailMary #FilmPodcast 

This episode of Film Curious, Pete gives a brief, non-spoiler review of Merrily We Roll Along (2025)—the filmed version of the smash 4-time Tony Award-winning Broadway revival, starring Jonathan Groff, Daniel Radcliffe, and Lindsay Mendez, directed for the screen by Maria Friedman now on Netflix. He discusses the direction of the pro shot format, the actors' brilliant performances, and how this Tony-winning musical translates to the screen overall. We also chat about what these stage to screen adaptations will look like going forward since there seems to be more and more of them being made, as well as go on a little side tangent about getting quality at-home movie viewing with 4K formats and OLED TVs. Guest Co-Host | Pete Tedone - InstagramTimestamps00:00 Intro - Midweek Mini Review for Merrily We Roll Along00:53 What Is Merrily We Roll Along? Synopsis + Background02:05 Daniel Radcliffe’s Career - Harry Potter to Now03:13 Stage to Screen Shot Choices & Jonathan Groff, Lindsay Mendez, + Daniel Radcliffe's Performances12:12 Getting to Experience Theatre through Filmed Stage Performances + Filming Stage Productions Going Forward13:37 4K Releases, OLEDs and At-Home Movie Watching Tangent18:15 Outro - Thanks for Listening! Don’t Forget to Subscribe! + Upcoming Episodes🎬Subscribe so you never miss a new film discovery!#MerrilyWeRollAlong #Sondheim #FilmPodcast 

In this episode of Film Curious, we cover one of A24’s latest theatrical releases, The Drama, starring Zendaya and Robert Pattinson as a happily engaged couple who is put to the test when an unexpected revelation sends their wedding week off the rails. We do a deep dive on this story’s psychological, anxiety-driven and, at times, darkly humorous sprint down the aisle, as well as pose questions the film seems to be asking, like who really is the terrible character here and are certain thoughts ever as bad or equal to actions? Things We Mention in the Episode:“I Don’t Like Mondays” Song by Boomtown RatsBowling for Columbine (Documentary)Before Midnight (2013)Unbreakable (2000) & Split (2016)Remember Me (2010)Guest Co-Host | Pete Tedone - InstagramTimestamps00:00 Highlight Clip from Episode00:00:20 Intro - The Drama Background + Synopsis00:02:44  SPOILERS⚠️ - The Drama’s “Wild Twist” - The Inciting Incident + Emma’s Revelation00:9:08 The Drama Deep Dive Spoiler Discussion00:59:01 Does The Drama Marketing Mislead Viewers + Does Its Twist Deserve a Trigger Warning01:04:12 Side Story - Robert Pattinson Being in Another Movie w. Controversial American Moment - Remember Me01:11:15 Wrap Up + Why You Should See The Drama in Theaters01:13:26 Outro - Thanks for Listening! Don’t Forget to Subscribe! + Upcoming Episodes🎬Subscribe so you never miss a new film discovery!

In this episode of Film Curious, we’re exploring Amazon MGM Studios’ latest theatrical release, Project Hail Mary. From tangents debating Ryan Gosling’s “movie star” prowess (being at the helm of yet another major blockbuster), to fun homages and similarities to other space films, we review the joy Project Hail Mary brings to the big screen and how this story is the win we all need at the box office. Things We Mention in the Episode:Andy Weir (Author)Adam Savage Behind the Scenes of Project Hail Mary!NASA Artemis II Moon MissionClose Encounters of the Third Kind (Film)The Martian (Film)Planet of the Apes (1968)2001: A Space Odyssey (1968)Explorers (1985)Ryan Gosling Won’t Eat His Cereal Compilation by Ryan McHenryGuest Co-Host | Pete Tedone - InstagramTimestamps00:00:00 | Highlight Clip from Episode0:00:36 | Intro - Project Hail Mary Background + Synopsis00:01:49 | Guest Co-Host Intro - Pete Tedone Background00:03:59 | Project Hail Mary - Major Blockbuster + Ryan Gosling’s “Star Power”00:13:25 | Amazon MGM Studio’s Most Ambitious Project Yet - Production Budget + Production Design & VFX00:22:54 | ⚠️SPOILERS⚠️ - Project Hail Mary’s Homage to Close Encounters of the Third Kind00:24:15 | Close Encounters of the Third Kind & Project Hail Mary Comparison00:27:01 | Project Hail Mary Deep Dive Spoiler Discussion00:50:36 | Phil Lord & Chris Miller’s Next Project00:52:47 | Outro - Thanks for Listening! Don’t Forget to Subscribe! + Upcoming Episodes🎬Subscribe so you never miss a new film discovery!

Welcome to Film Curious, the movie review podcast that lets curiosity lead the way, exploring great films across genres and time. Whether you’re a devoted film buff, a casual weekend moviegoer, or someone endlessly scrolling for something to watch, this is your podcast. No gatekeeping. Just a genuine love for the craft and an open mind about where it takes us. This intro episode is for you to get to know what we’re all about and what you can expect from us. 🎬Subscribe so you never miss a new film discovery!