Sean Kelly on Movies Podcast

Gabor Pertic talks about becoming the lead programmer of the Hot Docs Canadian International Documentary Festival and what films he is most excited about from the 2026 line-up. ✨ KEY MOMENTS IN THIS VIDEO: 00:00 Introduction00:24 Gabor Pertic on Becoming Lead Programmer00:50 Is There Any Film Gabor Pertic is Particularly Proud Of?01:01 What Gabor Pertic is Really Excited About01:14 End Screen

"Eyeballs Up!" 👁️👆 We are celebrating a massive milestone: the 20th Anniversary of the Canadian Film Fest!I caught up with Founder & Executive Director Bern Euler and Festival Director Ashleigh Rains right on the Opening Night red carpet. Amidst the premiere buzz at Scotiabank Theatre Toronto, we discussed this year's incredible lineup and the meaning behind the "Eyeballs Up" slogan.The Highlight: I surprised them both on the carpet by revealing that my pull-quote from last year’s coverage made it onto the official physical release of Vampire Zombies from Space! 🛸🧛‍♂️Chapters:0:00 Intro0:28 Bern Euler on 20 Years of the Canadian Film Fest1:03 Ashleigh Rains on This Year's Line-Up1:30 Bern Euler on the Challenges of Choosing Films2:16 Ashleigh Rains on "Eyeballs Up"2:56 Thanking CFF for my Vampire Zombies from Space! Blu-ray Quote4:16 Eyeballs Up End Screen

We sat down with director Adam MacDonald (Backcountry, Pyewacket) to discuss his latest film, This Is Not a Test, ahead of its Canadian theatrical release on February 27. We dive deep into why he chose to adapt Courtney Summers' acclaimed YA novel, the decision to set the apocalypse in the 1990s, and how he balanced the visceral horror of a zombie outbreak with the heavy themes of teenage trauma and depression.Content Warning: This interview includes discussions regarding depression and suicidal ideation Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction00:41 Adapting Courtney Summers’ Novel01:27 Why a Zombie Film?02:04 Balancing Horror with Teenage Trauma03:16 Olivia Holt’s Character Arc (TW: Mental Health)03:54 The 90s Aesthetic & The Age of Electric05:51 Why the High School Setting Works06:56 Where are the Adults?08:01 Sloane and Her Sister (Minor Spoilers)09:11 Adam MacDonald’s Next Project09:50 Is a Sequel Possible?10:27 Final Thoughts & Wrap Up11:26 End Screen

Episode Summary: In this episode, we sit down with actor Caleb Landry Jones to discuss his transformative lead performance in Luc Besson’s 2026 adaptation of Dracula. Known for his immersive preparation, Jones breaks down how he approached the 15th-century prince not as a monster, but as a man defined by four centuries of grief and eternal love. We explore the technical "madness" of the role and what it’s like to serve as a muse for one of cinema's most visionary directors. Key Takeaways: The Man vs. The Monster: How Jones balanced the predatory nature of a vampire with a deeply human emotional core. Inspiration vs. Originality: Whether previous screen depictions of the Count influenced this 2026 version. Directorial Vision: Behind-the-scenes insights into working with Luc Besson on this operatic reimagining. Resources Mentioned: Read Sean’s Full Review: https://skonmovies.ca/review/dracula-2026 Watch the Interview on YouTube: https://youtu.be/osu05kOG9mw Timestamps: 0:00 – Introduction and Context 0:41 – Caleb Landry Jones: Balancing the Man vs. the Vampire 2:12 – How this adaptation differs from previous screen versions 3:04 – The singular "moment" that defined the character for Caleb 4:19 – Wrap-Up Note to Listeners: This episode is a professional analysis of the film's artistry and performances. Sean Kelly on Movies does not condone the allegations against the film's director but remains committed to covering the significant work of the cast and crew.

EPISODE SUMMARY: Honey Bunch is finally here! To celebrate the nationwide theatrical release, Sean Kelly on Movies Interviews brings you a deep-dive conversation recorded just before the film’s premiere at the 2025 Toronto International Film Festival (#TIFF50). WHERE TO WATCH: In Canada: Honey Bunch opens in cinemas nationwide via Elevation Pics starting Friday, January 23, 2026. International: The film will begin streaming on Shudder starting February 13, 2026. THE INTERVIEW: In this episode, we go inside the making of this cinematic journey with the creative team that brought it to life. First, Sean sits down with the visionary writer-director duo Madeleine Sims-Fewer and Dusty Mancinelli to discuss their unique filmmaking process. Then, we are joined by the film’s stars—and real-life couple—Grace Glowicki and Ben Petrie for a look at their collaboration on and off screen and how they navigated the complex psychology of their characters. CONNECT WITH THE SHOW: Subscribe: Never miss an episode by following Sean Kelly on Movies Interviews on your favourite podcast app. Social Media: Follow us on Instagram, TikTok, and X/Twitter @skonmovies for more exclusive content and behind-the-scenes clips.

We hit the red carpet at the 2025 Blood in the Snow Film Festival, catching up with filmmakers from the festival’s short film programs, festival director Kelly Michael Stewart, and the team behind the documentary Nash the Slash Rises Again! BITS 2025 Interview Timecodes 00:00 Introduction 00:13 Andrew G. Cooper on Strangers 02:23 Prasanna Paul & Gavin Downes on Sanctorum 04:23 Shelly Findlay on Donations 06:47 Juan Francisco Calero on Petit Demons 08:49 Lulu Liu & D'Arcy Quan-McGimpsey on Cherry on Top 12:24 Zach Green on cancer szn 14:30 Blood in the Snow Festival Director Kelly Michael Stewart 17:02 Tim Kowalski & Kevan Byrne on Nash The Slash Rises Again! 21:42 Closing Bumper Music Attribution Opening Bumper: Hero In Peril by Audionautix is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Artist: http://audionautix.com/

While in Toronto to promote the release of Dream Eater, writer/director/stars Jay Drakulic, Mallory Drumm, and Alex Lee Williams joined us to talk about their Lovecraftian found footage horror film. In this interview, they discuss the film’s influences — from The Blair Witch Project to Unsolved Mysteries — and share how the project was picked up for distribution by Eli Roth’s The Horror Section. Dream Eater Interview Timecodes 00:00 Introduction00:24 Where did the idea for Dream Eater come from?01:46 Was Dream Eater Always Intended as a Found Footage Film?03:46 How Dream Eater Was Influenced by Paranormal Activity and The Blair Witch Project05:11 Alex Lee Williams on Why He and Mallory Drumm Acted in the Film05:49 The Lovecraftian Inspiration for Dream Eater06:57 Unresolved Mysteries and the Sleepwalker Killing07:44 How Eli Roth Picked up the Distribution for Dream Eater09:23 The Growing Influence of Social Media on Film Promotion10:38 Conclusions

The horror-comedy Scared Shitless arrives on VOD September 2, 2025, ahead of its U.S. release on October 3. During a special Fan Expo Canada screening, we spoke with writer/producer Brandon Cohen, director Vivieno Caldinelli, and Kids in the Hall’s Mark McKinney about bringing this outrageous film to life.00:00 Titles00:13 Introduction00:54 Brandon Cohen on Writing the Original Short for Scared Shitless01:37 Vivieno Caldinelli on Getting Hired to Direct Scared Shitless03:10 Vivieno Caldinelli on Collaborating with Steven Kostanski03:59 The Casting of Scared Shitless04:42 Mark McKinney Invited to Join the Interview04:56 Mark McKinney on the Character He Plays in Scared Shitless05:31 The Influences on Scared Shitless06:50 The Practical Effects of Scared Shitless07:23 Will There Be a Sequel to Scared Shitless?08:11 Concluding NotesScared Shitless Interview Timecodes

We spoke with artist Ben Maruo (Elysium, Chappie, The Hobbit Trilogy) at Fan Expo Canada 2025 about his sci-fi graphic novel series Huxley.Ben Maruo Interview Timecodes00:00 Titles00:23 Introduction01:29 Interview with Ben Maruo.

We spoke via Zoom with animator Seth Scriver (Asphalt Watches) and his half-brother and co-director Peter Scriver about their hybrid animated family documentary ENDLESS COOKIE, now playing.Endless Cookie Timecodes00:00 Introduction00:26 Seth and Peter Scriver on the Genesis of Endless Cookie03:59 The Decade-Long Development of Endless Cookie After Asphalt Watches07:36 Coming Up with the On-Screen Depictions of the Family09:31 How Seth Scriver Settled on the Title of Endless Cookie11:18 What’s Next for Seth Scriver?12:34 Conclusions

With Queen of the Ring now playing in select Canadian theatres, we sat down over Zoom with co-writer and director Ash Avildsen to talk about his passion for professional wrestling and how he came to direct a biopic about the legendary Mildred Burke.

In this exclusive interview, Writer/Director Anne Marie Fleming and star Keira Jang sit down with Sean Kelly on Movies to discuss their latest film, Can I Get a Witness?. They delve into the film’s themes, the creative process behind its unique storytelling, and Keira’s experience bringing her character to life.Can I Get a Witness Timecodes00:00 Introduction00:21 Ann Marie Fleming on the Inspiration Behind Can I Get a Witness?03:48 Keira Jang on Her Character’s Arc in Can I Get a Witness?04:54 Ann Marie Fleming on Teenagers Being the Leads07:53 Ann Marie Fleming on Sandra Oh Being the Ideal Version of a Mother09:34 Keira Jang on the Mother-Daughter Relationship Between Kiah and Ellie10:31 The Incorporation of Animation in Can I Get a Witness?11:36 The Darker Undertones of Can I Get a Witness?12:48 Keira Jang on Her Character’s Reaction to Witnessing Death14:12 Concluding Notes on Toxic Plants15:15 Closing Bumper

Sean Kelly gives his review of "The Rule of Jenny Pen," starring John Lithgow and Geoffrey Rush. Find out if this horror film is worth watching!Read our written review - https://skonmovies.com/review/the-rule-of-jenny-pen/00:00 Introduction00:27 The Rule of Jenny Pen Synopsis01:26 Sean Kelly's Thoughts on The Rule of Jenny Pen01:59 Closing Bumper#Theruleofjennypen #johnlithgow #geoffreyrush #ifcfilms #shudder Opening Title: Big Horns Intro by Audionautix is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/Artist: http://audionautix.com/Closing Bumper: News Theme by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/Artist: http://incompetech.com/

In this exclusive interview, Atom Egoyan dives deep into the dark heart of “Seven Veils” and reveals the inspiration behind this powerful film. Learn more about his creative process and the themes of Salome in this fascinating discussion.TW: This interview contains a discussion of sexual violence, both as part of the opera Salome and within the plot of Seven Veils.SEVEN VEILS opens in theatres on March 7, 2025.Atom Egoyan Interview Timecodes00:00 Patreon Promo Bumper00:30 Introduction00:50 Atom Egoyan on Making a Film Based Around the Opera Salome03:34 Atom Egoyan on How Working with Amanda Seyfried Was Different on Seven Veils Than Chloe 15 Years Ago05:32 Salome as “The First Biblical Sex Crime”07:31 Themes of Sexual Violence in Seven Veils09:14 Does Atom Egoyan Hope Seven Veils Opens People Up to Opera?10:09 Closing Bumper

Get ready to be shocked by what Lloyd Kaufman has to say about the new Troma film #ShakespearesShitstorm in this exclusive interview recorded virtually during the 2020 Fantasia Film Festival! Tune in to hear all the juicy details about his latest release, streaming on January 15, 2025 on Troma Now.Bumpers and AsideA.I. Voiceover created using ElevenLabs.Opening Music“Big Horns Intro” by AudionautixLicensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license.Artist: AudionautixBumper Music“Hero In Peril” by AudionautixLicensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license.Artist: AudionautixNews Theme by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/Artist: http://incompetech.com/

Karl R. Hearne and Dale Dickey shed light on the dark side of elder revenge in THE G. Check out this exclusive interview from the Fantasia Film Festival 2024. The film is now playing across Canada, distributed by Level Film.The G Interview Time Codes00:00 Introduction00:28 Karl R. Hearne on a Creating a Revenge Film About Elder Abuse01:11 The Relationship Between Ann and Emma02:29 Real Life Inspiration of Court-Ordered Guardianship03:37 Ann Revisiting Her Criminal Past05:24 The Relationships That Develop in the Film07:27 The Most Challenging Aspect of Making The G09:28 Concluding with Buffalo

I was joined live on stage at Toronto’s historic Horseshoe Tavern to speak with the Trailer Park Boys of Bubbles (Mike Smith), Julian (John Paul Tremblay), and Ricky (Robb Wells), who were joined by the perpetually shirtless roadie Randy (Patrick Roach). The topic of conversation was the 25th anniversary of Trailer Park Boys and the release of their new film STANDING ON THE SHOULDERS OF KITTIES: THE BUBBLES AND THE SHITROCKERS STORY, which opened on December 6, 2024.

The dark fairy tale RITA is now available to stream on Shudder. We spoke to writer and director Jayro Bustamante about the film, which includes the real 2017 Guatemalan tragedy that inspired the narrative of the fantastical realism of this film.Jayro Bustamante Interview Time Codes00:00 Introduction00:30 Jayro Bustamante on the 2017 Guatemalan Tragedy That Inspired RITA03:30 The Balance of Fairy Tale Elements with the Dark Story of RITA05:22 The Fantastical Cliques in RITA06:36 Does Jayro Bustamante Hope RITA affects how girls are treated in Guatemala?07:51 Conclusions

In advance of the film’s Toronto premiere as part of the Blood in the Snow film festival, here is the interview we conducted with writer/director Jeffrey St. Jules (Bang Bang Baby) on his third feature THE SILENT PLANET, prior to the film’s World Premiere at the 2024 Fantasia Film Festival.Jeffrey St. Jules Interview Time Codes00:00 Introduction00:19 Jeffrey St. Jules on the Inspiration Behind The Silent Planet01:05 Jeffrey St. Jules on Casting Elias Koteas01:47 The Ambiguous Backstory of The Silent Planet02:59 Comparing The Silent Planet to Duncan Jones’ Moon03:33 Jeffrey St. Jules on Briana Middleton’s Character of Niyya04:51 The Dark Twists in the Films of Jeffrey St. Jules05:19 Jeffrey St. Jules Changing Genres with Each of His Films06:43 The Release Plan for The Silent Planet07:13 Conclusions

Meet Academy Award-winning animator Adam Elliot (Mary and Max, Harvie Krumpet) and learn about his latest stop-motion masterpiece Memoir of a Snail. Distributed in Canada by Mongrel Media, Memoir of a Snail is now playing. Don’t miss this exclusive interview with the talented animator!Adam Elliot Interview Time Codes00:00 Introduction 00:21 Memoir of a Snail Trailer02:07 Adam Elliot on the 15-Year Gap Between Mary and Max and Memoir of a Snail02:51 Adam Elliot on His Career Plan of a Trilogy of Trilogies03:40 The Inspiration for the Story of Memoir of a Snail04:50 Adam Elliot on His Use of Neurodiverse Protagonists06:32 What Type of Audience is Adam Elliot Aiming for with Memoir of a Snail07:53 What Adam Elliot Looks for When Casting10:13 Adam Elliot on Guillermo del Toro’s Support of Stop Motion and Whether He Hopes Memoir of a Snail Would Return Him to the Oscars11:41 Conclusions

In this review, Sean Kelly dives deep into Francis Ford Coppola’s Megalopolis, which he saw at TIFF 2024 and opens in wide release on September 27, 2024. Don’t miss his in-depth analysis, explaining how he saw Megalopolis so you don’t have to! Megalopolis Timecodes 00:00 Cold Open 00:10 Introduction 00:26 Megalopolis Plot Outline and Synopsis 02:34 Megalopolis Review 02:53 Megalopolis Development Timeline 05:36 The Bad Press of Megalopolis 06:22 The Experience Watching Megalopolis at TIFF 2024 and Having to Deal with Film Bro Hyperbole 07:24 Initial Impressions of Megalopolis 08:42 The Casting of Megalopolis 10:48 Trying to Describe Dislike of Megalopolis 11:40 A Fourth Wall Breaking Moment Talking About Megalopolis’ Live In-Theatre Scene 13:09 How Megalopolis is Immune to Criticism 13:42 An Irate Conclusion Where I Knock Over My Water Bottle Music Credits Big Horns Intro by Audionautix is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Artist: http://audionautix.com/https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Artist: http://audionautix.com/

I spoke via Zoom to John Adams and Toby Poser of Adams Family Films to talk about their new creature horror film Hell Hole, available to stream on August 23, 2024, on Shudder.Hell Hole Time Codes00:00 Introduction00:18 Clip from Hell Hole02:12 Interview John Adams and Toby Poser on Hell Hole02:22 The Genesis of Hell Hole03:19 Shooting the Film in Serbia03:48 Casting the Film04:33 Workings with MastersFX on the creature effects of Hell Hole06:42 The Influences of Hell Hole07:56 The “Villain for Science” of Hell Hole09:04 What Hell Hole Might Have Been Like with a Bigger Budget09:52 The Conspicuous Absence of Zelda Adams from the Film11:00 What’s Next from Adams Family Films11:54 Conclusions

We were on-site in Montreal for the World Premiere of the Satanic Cult professional wrestling horror film Dark Match at the ‪2024 Fantasia Film Festival. We hit the red carpet to interview writer/director Lowell Dean and cast members Sara Canning, Ayisha Issa, Michael Eklund, and professional wrestling superstar Chris Jericho!

The ambient slasher film IN A VIOLENT NATURE, written and directed by Chis Nash, opens in theatres this Friday, May 31, 2024, distributed by IFC Films and Shudder. In a series of Zoom interviews in promotion of the film, I spoke with both producer Peter Kuplowsky and actor Ry Barrett about this much-buzzed-about film.Make sure to support this independent Canadian horror film by getting tickets are one of the links below:https://www.inaviolentnature.com/https://www.cineplex.com/movie/in-a-violent-natureMusic AttributionBig Horns Intro by Audionautix is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Artist: http://audionautix.com/ #InaViolentNature #canadianfilm #peterkuplowsky #rybarrett #chrisnash #shudder #ifcfilms

To coincide with the film’s release onto VOD, we spoke via Zoom to Mike Cheslik, the co-writer and director of the slapstick silent film Hundreds of Beavers. We talk about the film’s successful festival and roadshow run, upcoming projects for him and his collaborator, Ryland Brickson Cole Trews, and a mutual love for releasing films on physical media!Hundreds of Beavers SynopsisIN THIS SILENT SUPERNATURAL EPIC, A DRUNKEN APPLEJACK SALESMAN IS THRUST INTO THE FRIGID WILDERNESS. CAN HE GO FROM ZERO TO HERO, BECOME NORTH AMERICA’S GREATEST FUR TRAPPER, AND DEFEAT HUNDREDS OF BEAVERS?Fundraised and shot in Wisconsin and MichiganCompleted over 4 years12 weeks of shootingFilmed in subzero temperatures1500+ effects shotsHundreds of Beavers Interview Timecodes00:00 Titles00:24 Introduction by “Billy the Beaver”00:49 Mike Cheslik on the idea for HUNDREDS OF BEAVERS01:20 The Influence of Guy Maddin02:04 How HUNDREDS OF BEAVERS differ from Mike Cheslik’s previous film LAKE MICHIGAN MONSTER02:43 The Video Game aspect of HUNDREDS OF BEAVERS03:24 How Many Beavers Were There, Actually?03:51 How difficult was HUNDREDS OF BEAVERS to edit04:45 The challenging compositions of HUNDREDS OF BEAVERS05:33 About HUNDREDS OF BEAVERS’ performative roadshow06:20 Mike Cheslik on what’s next for him07:23 Mike Cheslik on the success of HUNDREDS OF BEAVERS08:01 Mike Cheslik on a future Blu-ray release for HUNDREDS OF BEAVERS08:37 ConclusionsWatch Hundreds of Beavers Powered by JustWatchMusic AttributionsBig Horns Intro by Audionautix is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Artist: http://audionautix.com/Music licensed from Lickd. The biggest mainstream and stock music platform for content creatorsPee Wee Hero 7 (Bumper) by David Tobin, https://t.lickd.co/bpmoYlel1v2 License ID: daedrP4jxkQPee Wee Hero 10 (Sting) by David Tobin, https://t.lickd.co/9MoOvg82p4z License ID: Nx8NWP0xD3ATry Lickd FREE for 14 days for unlimited stock music and get 50% off your first mainstream track: https://app.lickd.co/r/ab0963ee745049ae8aa29f7af5688520

We spoke via Zoom with Caitlyn Sponheimer, the writer, director, producer, and co-star of the coming-of-age drama Wild Goat Surf, now playing in limited release, distributed by Vortex Media.Wild Goat Surf SynopsisSet in a rundown Penticton, Okanagan Valley RV park during the summer of 2003, Goat, a surfing-obsessed, thirteen-year-old skater girl, navigates the unbridled, unstructured, summer days of youth, dreaming about becoming a surfer like her deceased father. While her mother sublets their rental unauthorized and takes on two jobs during the bustling summer months, Goat is left to her own devices; coping with grief through rambunctious actions that soon go too far.Caitlyn Sponheimer Interview Timecodes00:00 Introduction00:21 Caitlyn Sponheimer on how she got the idea for WILD GOAT SURF01:14 Finding the right girl to play Goat in WILD GOAT SURF02:50 The casting of Nate and his friendship with Goat05:10 The relationship between Jane and Goat in WILD GOAT SURF06:51 Caitlyn Sponheimer on whether she believes Jane is oblivious to Goat’s petty crimes09:14 The importance of the RV in WILD GOAT SURF10:45 Caitlyn Sponheimer on Jane’s big moment in WILD GOAT SURF12:45 What Caitlyn Sponheimer hopes audiences take away from WILD GOAT SURF13:54 ConclusionsMusic AttributionBig Horns Intro by Audionautix is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Artist: http://audionautix.com/

I spoke via Zoom with producer, writer, and star Jonas Chernick about The Burning SeasonThe Burning Season SynopsisAlena and her husband spend a summer up at Luna Lake Resort. JB runs the place. He and Alena begin a dangerous and passionate secret affair. Summers only. That’s the rule. Until they break it. A sexy and tragic love story – told backwards.The Burning Season directed by Sean Garrity is now playing in limited release, distributed by Northern Banner.The Burning Season Timecodes00:00 Introduction00:25 Jonas Chernick on where the idea for THE BURNING SEASON came from.02:03 Jonas Chernick on the title of THE BURNING SEASON04:43 Jonas Chernick on the effect THE BURNING SEASON’s secret has on his character JB05:54 Jonas Chernick on the role of the spouses in THE BURNING SEASON07:09 Jonas Chernick on why the characters keep returning to the resort07:55 The resort as a character in THE BURNING SEASON08:58 Jonas Chernick on his working relationship with director Sean Garrity10:00 Jonas Chernick on whether he prefers writing comedies, dramas, or a mix of both11:19 The Writing Accolades of THE BURNING SEASON11:36 ConclusionsMusic AttributionBig Horns Intro by Audionautix is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Artist: http://audionautix.com/

At the 2024 Hot Docs Canadian International Documentary Festival, we sat down with Mexican-Canadian filmmaker Ilse Moreno to speak about her short documentary The Canadian Dream. The 9-minute-long short had its World Premiere as part of the Hot Docs 2024 Shorts Program 1. The film is based on an interview with Ilse’s father Alberto Moreno Sartorius and his poor experiences as a migrant worker on a farm in Leamington, Ontario. The ultimate goal of the short film is to spread awareness about the rights of migrant workers in Ontario, regardless of their status. Enjoy this short, but poignant interview.Note: The interview was recorded in Varda at the TIFF Lightbox and despite efforts to clean it up, ambient noise can still be heard in the background.

At the 2024 Hot Docs Canadian International Documentary Festival, I met with director and subject Patricia Franquesa to speak about her film My Sextortion Diary, which had its Canadian Premiere at the festival. Before listening, please note that the film’s topic involves being blackmailed over stolen personal photos, so listener discretion is advised.

With Love and A Major Organ is the debut feature film from director Kim Albright. The film is written by Julia Lederer, based on her stage play, and is set in a world where hearts are made of inanimate objects and people suppress emotions to escape into technology, the story shares the travails of a vibrant young woman deftly played by Anna Maguire (Violation), who rips out her heart for the man she loves, played to mild-mannered perfection by Hamza Haq (Transplant) who promptly disappears with it. I spoke to director Kim Albright via Zoom to discuss With Love and A Major Organ, which is now playing in limited release in Canada.With Love and a Major Organ Timecodes00:00 Introduction00:16 How Did With Love and a Major Organ Come About?01:50 How Does With Love and a Major Organ Differ from the Play?03:15 Depicting Hearts as Everyday Objects04:34 What With Love and a Major Organ Says About Lack of Interpersonal Connections06:30 The Casting of With Love and a Major Organ10:23 Anabel and George’s Character Trajectories in With Love and a Major Organ13:16 The Ultimate Message of With Love and a Major Organ14:40 ConclusionMusic AttributionsBig Horns Intro by Audionautix is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Artist: http://audionautix.com/

The independent 1970s-set talk show found footage horror film Late Night with the Devil opens in select theatres this weekend. For this extended review, I recruited Jolie Featherstone of Toronto Film Files to join the discussion on the film, as we were both in attendance last summer at the film’s Canadian premiere during Fantasia. Note: This review was recorded on March 19, 2024, before the online controversy surrounding the film’s use of A.I. interstitial images. Late Night with the Devil Review Timecodes 00:00 Introduction 00:18 Late Night with the Devil Plot Outline 01:18 Late Night with the Devil Synopsis 02:04 Introducing Jolie Featherstone 02:25 Late Night with the Devil Film Festival Accomplishments 02:50 Late Night with the Devil Non-Spoiler Review 03:58 David Dastmalchian a Leading Man 06:19 Late Night with the Devil as a Different Type of Found Footage Film 07:58 The Theatrical Experience of Late Night with the Devil 09:31 The Parallels Between Carmichael Hunt and James Randi 13:31 The Similarities Between Lilly D’Abo and Michelle Smith 15:17 Related Film Discussion: Satan Wants You (2023) 17:17 Late Night with the Devil SPOILER Review 17:34 Madeleine Delroy 18:43 A Quick Summary of Late Night with the Devil’s Big Reveal 20:36 Mr. Wriggles 22:03 Breaking Down the Finale of Late Night with the Devil 29:20 Late Night with the Devil Star Ratings 30:00 Related Film Discussion: Ghostwatch 30:43 Conclusions

Here are our highlights for the 2024 Toronto Comicon! Check out clips from the convention’s panels, including the 70th Anniversary of Godzilla, Tom Canavagh, X-Men: The Animated Series, Star Wars actor Denis Lawson, Battlestar Galactica’s Mary McDonnell, Star Trek: Strange New Worlds’ Anson Mount, Ethan Peck, and Christina Chong, Ahsoka’s Eman Esfandi and Diana Lee Inosanto, What We Do in the Shadows’ Harvey Guillén, and the premiere of the Prime Video/Hulu series Davey & Jonesie’s Locker. Toronto Comicon 2024 Highlights Timecodes 00:00 Introduction 00:25 Toronto Comicon Day 1 00:44 70th Anniversary of Godzilla – A History in Music 01:41 Tom Cavanagh Panel 03:36 X-Men: The Animated Series Panel 04:40 Denis Lawson Panel 06:44 Toronto Comicon Day 2 06:59 Xavier’s Lounge for Gifted Youngsters 07:20 Mary McDonnell Panel 08:04 Behind the Scenes of VFX 09:11 Star Trek: Strange New Worlds Panel 10:36 Toronto Comicon Day 3 10:50 Ahsoka Panel 12:55 Harvey Guillén Panel 14:24 Afternoon on Toronto Comicon Showfloor 14:37 Davey & Jonesie’s Locker Premiere Panel 15:31 Conclusion

A gym manager falls for a bodybuilder in Love Lies Bleeding. Lou (Kristen Stewart) is a manager of a gym trying to escape her past relationship with her gun smuggler father, and beetle enthusiast, Lou Sr. (Ed Harris). Despite her estrangement from her father, Lou still maintains a relationship with her sister Beth (Jena Malone), who's in an abusive relationship with her husband J.J. (Dave Franco). Lou becomes enamored with bodybuilder Jackie (Katy O'Brian), who is passing through on her way to a competition in Las Vegas. The two soon begin a passionate affair that is soon disrupted by a horrible event. Love Lies Bleeding Synopsis Love Lies Bleeding is the sophomore feature film from co-writer and director Rose Glass (Saint Maud) and is a quite trashy 1980s-set queer exploitation thriller. The film introduces us to the protagonist Lou, as she is cleaning toilets and rebutting the advances of the clingy Daisy (Anna Baryshnikov). Lou's attention soon turns to Jackie, played by Katy O'Brian (The Mandalorian, Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania), an incredibly jacked woman passing through the town on the way to a Bodybuilding Championship in Las Vegas. Lou injects Jackie from her stash of steroids, causing unnatural muscle growth, and the two begin a passionate love affair, as Jackie trains for the competition. However, Lou's past of working for her crime lord father begins to catch up with her when the FBI begins sniffing around the gym. In addition, Jackie reveals herself to have an incredibly violent temper and goes to extremes to protect Lou and her sister Beth, after the latter is hospitalized. This results in Lou having to confront both her past and her father. My Thoughts on Love Lies Bleeding Despite being set in 1989, Rose Glass' sophomore feature is very much an exploitation film that would feel right at home on the 1970s grindhouse circuit. Apart from the lesbian sex scenes, extreme violence, and rampant steroid use, Loves Lies Bleeding demonstrates its trashy nature late in the film when Ed Harris' Lou Sr., sporting one hell of a skullet, expresses his anger by grabbing one of the horned beetles he keeps as pets and eats its in a single bite. This one moment demonstrates that Love Lies Bleeding isn't a film that should be taken too seriously. While she has played a variety of roles since coming out as bisexual in 2017, ranging from J.T. Leroy to Crimes of the Future, Love Lies Bleeding is arguably a film that sees Kristin Stewart fully embrace her modern queer identity, as her character of Lou is androgynous in both name and appearance. This stands in contrast with Katy O'Brian, in a breakout role, who is quite a feminine character as Jackie, despite also being incredibly muscular. Love Lies Bleeding includes a fantastical element, where Jackie, fueled by the steroids she has been taking, experiences Hulk-like muscle growth whenever she in under duress. Jackie's “hulking out” leads to a scene of extreme violence, the end result of which is probably more gory than the casual viewer of this film might expect. This moment also marks the film's transition from being a lesbian romance into a crime thriller, as Lou has to go into damage control mode to try and save Jackie from her actions. This all builds towards a final confrontation between Lou and her father. I won't exactly call Love Lies Bleeding a sophomore slump for Rose Glass, but it does end up being somewhat less memorable than the religious horror of her 2019 debut Saint Maud. That said, both Kristin Stewart and Katy O'Brien give notable performances, with Love Lies Bleeding likely being the film that puts the latter on the radar. Now, if I can just get an answer to whose idea it was to give Ed Harris a skullet.

I am joined once again by Ulkar Alakbarova from “Let the Movie Move Us” to give our 2024 Oscar Predictions and discuss who we predict will win at the 96th Academy Awards on Sunday, March 10, 2024. Music licensed from Lickd. The biggest mainstream and stock music platform for content creators Awards Night by Chris Blackwell, https://t.lickd.co/RvkWondGk3D License ID: vpKMkwaaWge Try Lickd FREE for 14 days for unlimited stock music and get 50% off your first mainstream track: https://app.lickd.co/r/ab0963ee745049ae8aa29f7af5688520

It’s a very special episode paying tribute to late film scholar David Bordwell. I dust off my Seventh Edition copy of Bordwell and Kristin Thompson’s textbook “Film Art: An Introduction” and read his narrative theory on Plot and Story. If you want to join me for a ten-minute film lecture, give this episode a listen! Music Attribution Music licensed from Lickd. The biggest mainstream and stock music platform for content creators Shooting The Breeze by Bruce Maginnis, https://t.lickd.co/jLaqeqeeaVm License ID: YEzgDaZxQbR Try Lickd FREE for 14 days for unlimited stock music and get 50% off your first mainstream track: https://app.lickd.co/r/ab0963ee745049ae8aa29f7af5688520

Paul Atreides joins the Fremen people to get revenge against the House of Harkonnen in Dune: Part Two. After the fall of House Atreides on Arrakis, the result of a joint attack by the forces of Baron Harkonnen (Stellan Skarsgård) and Emperor Shaddam IV (Christopher Walken). Paul Atreides (Timothée Chalamet) and his mother Lady Jessica (Rebecca Ferguson) take refuge with the Fremen of Sietch Tabr led by Stilgar (Javier Bardem). Paul begins to learn the Fremen's ways and falls for Chani (Zendaya). However, Paul begins to worry that the Fremen's view of him as the prophesized messiah would bring disaster. Adopting the nicknames “Muad'Dib” and “Usul,” Paul assists the Fremen in sabotaging the spice harvesting operations overlooked by the Baron's nephew Beast Rabban (Dave Bautista). This results in the Baron bringing in Rabban's psychotic younger brother Feyd-Rautha (Austin Butler) to take over as the ruler of Arakis. Meanwhile, Paul reunites with his old mentor Gurney Halleck (Josh Brolin) and devises a plan to permanently take control of Arakis away from the Harkonnens. Dune: Part Two Synopsis Denis Villeneuve returns to co-write and direct this second half of his epic adaptation of the 1965 science fiction novel written by Frank Herbert. Picking up immediately after the conclusion of the previous film, Dune: Part Two begins with Princess Irulan (Florence Pugh) writing a diary about the Harkonnen annihilation of House Atreides, which was assisted by her father Emperor Shaddam IV. Having barely survived the attack, Paul Atreides and his mother Lady Jessica find themselves joined up with Arrakis' indigenous Fremen people. Thanks to the work of the Bene Gesserits, including Gaius Helen Mohiam (Charlotte Rampling) and Lady Margot Fenring (Léa Seydoux), a section of the Fremen people, including Stilgar, believe Paul to be the prophesized Lisan al Gaib. Lady Jessica, pregnant with a child who speaks to her from the womb, fuels these beliefs when she is made the new Reverend Mother of the Fremen. However, Paul's latest visions suggest that if he accepts this messianic path, it will bring about war and death. Dune: Part Two Synopsis Some are not a fan of book adaptations being split into multiple films, however combining the 2h35m running time of Dune: Part One with the 2h46m runtime of this film results in a complete 5h21m story, which exceeds the length of the 2000 SYFI miniseries, which was previously the most complete adaptation of the novel. Denis Villeneuve's Dune also eclipses the much-maligned 1984 adaptation directed by David Lynch, which tried to fit the entire novel into a 2h17m running time. It is amazing to think that Denis Villeneuve is a French Canadian filmmaker, who at one point was best known for directing acclaimed Quebecois dramas, such as Polytechnique and Incendies. His move to Hollywood filmmaking with 2009's Prisoners seemed to be building up to making Dune, particularly his sci-fi films Arrival and Blade Runner 2049. Now Denis Villeneuve has created what can probably be considered the definitive adaptation of Frank Herbert's novel. Even though Dune: Part Two was not yet greenlit when the first film was released, seeds for the film were already planted, with Dune: Part Two featuring much extended roles for Zendaya's Chani and Javier Bardem's Stilgar. The two are portrayed as opposites, with Stilgar being a true believer in the possibility that Paul Atreides is the messiah, while Chani is the skeptical voice of reason. This characterization helps to make Chani more than just a love interest, particularly during the second half of the film, when she becomes more concerned about Paul giving in to the prophecy. This increased character development for Chani is one of many changes that Denis Villeneuve made from the original novel. Another change from the novel is how he wanted to emphasize how Paul Atreides going down a messianic path would have grave consequences, going against interpretations that the story of Dune is a hero's journey and instead leaving questioning who you should be cheering for. These changes also help tie Dune: Part Two in better with Dune Messiah, which Denis Villeneuve wants to adapt next to conclude a trilogy, and he has already planted seeds by casting Florence Pugh as Princess Irulan, as well as a very brief cameo by Anya Taylor-Joy as a character familiar to those who have read the novels. As a whole, Dune: Part Two can be considered a darker and more epic film than the previous one. Part of the darker nature of the film comes from the addition of Austin Bulter (Elvis) as the violent and psychotic Feyd-Rautha Harkonnen. Previously best known for having been played by musician Sting wearing a speedo in the 1984 film, Butler's Feyd-Rautha adopts the similar white-skinned bald appearance of the other Harkonnen, with Butler even doing a decent job at replicating Stellan Skarsgård's speaking patterns. If there is a criticism that I have to give Dune: Part Two is that perhaps Denis Villeneuve overdoes his Dune Messiah set-up, ending the film without a full sense of resolution. However, the film is still and cinematic spectacle and should be seen on the biggest screen possible.

Join me in this exciting journey as we delve into the buzz and anticipation surrounding the 96th Academy Awards nominations. In this video, I’ll be running down the list of nominated films, sharing my reactions, and exploring the diverse cinematic landscape that has captured the attention of the Academy. Curiosity abounds as we uncover which film secured the most nominations and speculate on the potential frontrunners for the prestigious awards. Stay tuned to discover how many of these acclaimed films I have already seen, and let’s embark on this cinematic adventure together. From groundbreaking performances to compelling storytelling, we’ll navigate the intriguing lineup that defines the 96th Academy Awards. Don’t miss out – hit play and join the conversation on this celebration of excellence in the world of film!

I spoke to director Matthias Hoene about his film The Last Exit (aka Little Bone Lodge), which screened as part of the 2023 Toronto After Dark Film Festival.Get Night Theme by Rob Kelly and over 1M + mainstream tracks here https://go.lickd.co/Music License ID: Peaol7lBzWK

We spoke to Czech writer-director Robert Hloz about his science fiction film Restore Point, which screened as part of the 2023 Toronto After Dark Film Festival.Get Sci-Fi Rise by Igor Dvorkin, Duncan Pittock, Ellie Kidd and over 1M + mainstream tracks here https://go.lickd.co/MusicLicense ID: xdG6NVEdGXg

To coincide with the theatrical release of his sci-fi comedy RELAX, I’M FROM THE FUTURE, which won Best Feature Film at the 2022 Blood in the Snow Film Festival, I Zoomed in with the writer/director Luke Higginson to talk about the film.Get Mysterons by David O’Brien and over 1M + mainstream tracks here https://go.lickd.co/MusicLicense ID: p97yP1RX0no

We spoke to writer and director Cord Jefferson on the TIFF 2023 red carpet for the World Premiere of American Fiction, which would go on to win the TIFF 2023 People’s Choice Award.

Here are our highlights from the 2023 edition of Fan Expo Canada, featuring clips from panels with the cast of Scream (1996), Jason Lee, Ming-Na Wen, and Stephen Amell.

Following the Canadian premiere of their horror documentary Satan Wants You at this year’s Hot Docs Canadian International Documentary Festival, I had the chance to speak with filmmakers Sean Horlor and Steve J. Adams about the film. The film recently went on to screen at the Fantasia Film Festival and today the film is opening across Canada, including a run in Toronto at the Hot Docs Ted Rogers Cinema.I hope you enjoy our interview for Satan Wants You.

After the World Premiere of her sophomore feature The Sacrifice Game, I interviewed co-writer and director Jenn Wexler about her inspirations for the film.

Following the World Premiere of their third feature Where The Devil Roams at the 2023 Fantasia International Film Festival, I spoke with the filmmaking family of John Adams, Toby Poser, Zelda Adams, and Lulu Adams. The discussion tackled the influences of the film and the pros and cons of directing horror films as a family.

I interviewed Paris Zarcilla about his debut feature film Raging Grace, which had its Canadian premiere as part of the 2023 Fantasia International Film Festival. I talk about his inspirations behind the film and the themes involving immigrant labour.

Following its World Premiere on the opening night of Fantasia 2023, I spoke to indie horror icon Larry Fessenden about his werewolf film Blackout, rounding out his “monster trilogy” that also includes Fessenden’s 1997 vampire film Habit and his 2019 Frankenstein variant Depraved.In addition to talking about Larry Fessenden’s werewolf influences, the discussion also talks about the mumblecore movement and how it ties to the film Barbie, which opened the day the interview was conducted.

Following the Canadian Premiere of the A24 and VVS-distributed horror film Talk to Me at the 2023 Fantasia International Film Festival, we got to speak with Australian YouTubers-turned-filmmakers Danny and Michael Philippou.

The IMF team races to prevent control of a sentient A.I. from falling into the wrong hands in Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One. A powerful artificial intelligent program known as The Entity becomes sentient and infiltrates the major defence, military systems, and intelligence networks of the world. Ethan Hunt (Tom Cruise) is given a mission by CIA director Eugene Kittridge (Henry Czerny) to locate the two halves of a cruciform key that can access The Entity’s source code. Hunt and his team of Luther Stickell (Ving Rhames), Benji Dunn (Simon Pegg), and Ilsa Faust (Rebecca Ferguson) try to recover the key before it is acquired by Gabriel (Esai Morales), a mysterious man from Ethan’s past, who is working on behalf of The Entity along with French assassin Paris (Pom Klementieff). During the mission, Ethan crosses paths with expert thief Grace (Hayley Atwell), who was hired to acquire the key for the arms dealer Alanna Mitsopolis (Vanessa Kirby), aka The White Widow. Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One Synopsis Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One is the seventh entry of the now 27-year-old Mission: Impossible film franchise, which in turn is based on the 1960s TV series. The film is once again co-written and directed by Christopher McQuarrie, who was previously at the helm for 2015’s Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation and 2018’s Mission: Impossible – Fallout. Missible: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One was originally announced as being part of a two-part finale for the franchise, though it remains to be seen if this is truly the end. While the franchise always utilized technology that doesn’t exist in the world, particularly the ability to wear incredibly realistic masks, Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One crosses the line into science fiction by having the antagonist be a sentient A.I. known as The Entity, who uses to mysterious man Gabriel to ensure that it achieves world domination. It is up to Ethan Hunt and his IMF team to put a stop to Gabriel and The Entity, all while being pursued by government agents Jasper Briggs (Shea Whigham) and Degas (Greg Tarzan Davis). My Thoughts on Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One begins with perhaps the longest cold open of the franchise, with nearly half and half of the 2h43m film going by before the opening credits roll. This includes an exposition-heavy scene featuring “The Collective,” a group of representatives of various intelligence agencies led by Director of National Intelligence Denlinger (Cary Elwes). This scene marks the return of Henry Czerny as Eugene Kittridge, the director of the IMF and the CIA, who hasn’t been seen since the original Mission: Impossible film in 1996. There was a point in time when Tom Cruise seemed ready to retire from this franchise following 2011’s Mission: Impossible: Ghost Protocol, but now it seems that he is willing to keep making these films until the now 61-year-old actor physically can’t make them anymore. Indeed, as has been the case with the other entries in the franchise, Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One has been built around the insane stunts that Tom Cruise performs him. In this case, he does a base jump off of a mountain before the film’s climatic set piece on board (and on top of) a runaway train. While the action set pieces of the film remain quite spectacular and entertaining to watch, I also have to contend that Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One has me feeling franchise fatigue. Following a very solid run of films beginning with the soft reboot that was 2006’s Mission: Impossible III, both the films and their stars are starting to show their age. All three of the longest recurring actors of the franchise, Tom Cruise, Ving Rhames, and Simon Pegg, are now past 50, with Cruise and Rhames being in their 60s. While it can still be argued that Tom Cruise has visibly aged very little, it is getting harder to believe that Ethan Hunt will still be doing these dangerous missions. Without revealing too many plot details, I have to note that Rebecca Ferguson got the short end of the stick for her third film as disavowed MI6 agent Ilsa Faust. The character’s debut in Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation was a breakthrough role for Ferguson and Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One was an opportunity for the character to become a full member of Ethan Hunt’s IMF team. However, after briefly appearing in the cold open, the character ends up being MIA for much of the film and ends up essentially being replaced by Hayley Atwell (Captain America: The First Avenger) as the new character of Grace. It can also be argued that Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One is a victim of bad timing. If production wasn’t delayed as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and the film didn’t miss its originally planned summer 2021 release date, chances are that most wouldn’t have batted an eye that an evil sentient A.I. is the main threat to the film. However, it turned out that the film was released the same week SAG-AFTRA went on strike with the prospect of being replaced by A.I. technologies being one of the major issues. While I am sure this probably won’t hurt the film too much, it does make Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One closer to science fact than you would have previously expected. One major positive about Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One is that despite being the first chapter of a two-part story, it doesn’t end up feeling like half a film. While the closing narration emphasizes that this mission was only the beginning, there is still a level of resolution to the plot. As such, viewers of Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One won’t be left hanging until Part Two comes out in a year’s time.

The Lambert Family returns to travel into The Further once more in Insidious: The Red Door. It has been a decade since Josh Lambert (Patrick Wilson) and his son Dalton (Ty Simpkins) was hypnotized to forget their ability to astral project into the supernatural realm known as The Further. Josh is now divorced from his wife Renai (Rose Byrne) and has a somewhat estranged relationship with Dalton. Dalton goes away to college and is encouraged by his art teacher Professor Armagan (Hiam Abbass) to dig down for inspiration. This causes Dalton to paint a red door, which is followed by a resurgence of his astral projecting abilities. As Josh begins to experience a similar resurgence, a familiar threat reemerges to target Dalton. Insidious: The Red Door Synopsis Insidious: The Red Door is the fifth film of the supernatural horror franchise and the directorial debut for star Patrick Wilson, with the original creative team of James Wan and Leigh Whannell returning as producers, with the screenplay written by Scott Teems (Halloween Kills, Firestarter), based on a story by Whannell. With the third and fourth films having been prequels focused on the character of Elise Rainier (Lin Shaye), Insidious: The Red Door returns to the protagonists of the first two films. Beginning 9 years after the events of Insidious: Chapter 2, Josh Lambert is dealing with the grief from the recent death of his mother and is inflicted with a foggy memory as a result of being hypnotized to forget the previous supernatural events, which included being possessed and attacking his family. Josh tries to repair his relationship with Dalton by driving him to college, though it only serves to drive a further wedge between the two. At college befriends Chris Winslow (Sinclair Daniel) and together they try to get to the bottom of the supernatural experiences Dalton has when he regains his ability to astral project. My Thoughts on Insidious: The Red Door The original Insidious from 2010 was a creepy supernatural horror film, which helped to solidify the horror careers of the Australian director/screenwriter duo of James Wan and Leigh Whannell (Saw, Dead Silence). As tends to be the case with successful horror films, Insidious ended up being sequeled to death, with Wan returning to direct 2013's Insidious: Chapter 2, Whannell making his directorial debut with 2015's Insidious: Chapter 3, and Adam Robitel directing 2018's Insidious: The Last Key. While I outright skipped the fourth film, I thought that both the second and third films were mediocre follow-ups to the original, which is a trend that continues with Insidious: The Red Door. On a positive note, it was probably the right decision to make Insidious: The Red Door a direct sequel to the first two films, since the third and fourth films could be described as little more than mythology-building prequel spinoffs. Returning the focus to the Lambert Family, allows the audience to grasp faces that they were familiar with. Probably the most jarring difference is that actor Ty Simpkins is now in his early 20s and Dalton has gone from a haunted child to essentially an emo tortured artist with daddy issues. Dalton's rediscovery of The Further while in college ends up being the primary focus of Insidious: The Red Door, which includes some relatively unscary supernatural set pieces such as the ghost of a fratboy who projectile vomits into Dalton's face. Dalton and his new friend Chris investigate the former's regained ability to astral project, with the help of YouTube videos by paranormal investigators Specs (Leigh Whannell) and Tucker (Angus Sampson) and their late mentor Elise Rainier. Dalton's trips into The Further attract the attention of the Lipstick Demon (Joseph Bishara), who wants to finish what it started when Dalton was a child. It says a lot how another of Insidious: The Red Door‘s key scary scenes, involving Patrick Wilson's Josh experiencing paranormal activity during an MRI, was met with laughs in the cinema I saw the film. Wilson is probably doing his best with his directorial debut, but he is working with material that was already starting to lose its lustre with the second Insidious film a decade ago. While it's probably safe to say that audiences are not required to watch either Insidious: Chapter 3 or Insidious: The Last Key, a knowledge of the first two films is required to understand what's happening in Insidious: The Red Door. This includes the reason why Josh is seen attacking his family in flashbacks to the second film and why the Lipstick Demon is targeting Dalton while listening to “Tiptoe Through the Tulips.” It's quite sad how the Lipstick Demon has gone from the source of one of the biggest jump scares from the original Insidious to just a screaming monster in the dark. While Ty Simpkins and Patrick Wilson are present for the entirety of Insidious: The Red Door, it is interesting to note that Rose Byrne as Renai Lambert has been reduced to a bookending cameo role, appearing during an opening funeral scene and not returning until the third act. This leaves me wondering whether Byrne was reluctant to return to the role or if she was just busy with other projects, such as the Apple TV series Platonic. Hopefully, Insidious: The Red Door marks the conclusion of this franchise that has long since run its course. While the film did have promise of returning to the original protagonists, any scares this franchise generated have long since dissipated and it is just another cog in the mainstream horror churning machine.