Phoenix FM Film Reviews

This week Mark reviews:Billie Eilish Hit Me Hard and Soft: The Tour Live In 3D - Adocumentary about the Grammy-award winning singer Billie Eilish as she performs hit songs during her sold-out world tour.Send Help - When an employee and her insufferable boss become stranded on a deserted island, the only survivors of a plane crash, they must overcome past grievances and worktogether to make it out alive.Kokuho - In post-war Japan’s economic boom, son of a Yakuza Kikuo finds himself adopted by a Kabuki actor. Despite his background, Kikuo develops into a gifted performer.

This week Mark reviews:The Devil Wears Prada 2 - As Miranda Priestly nears retirement from Runway magazine, she has to compete against an old colleague for advertising revenue amid declining print media.The History of Sound - Two young men during World War I set out to record the lives, voices and music of their American countrymen.The Chronology of Water - Lidia becomes a competitive swimmer after surviving an abusive childhood.

This week Mark reviews:Michael - The story of pop superstar Michael Jackson -- from his extraordinary early days in the Jackson 5 to the visionary artist whose creative ambition fuels a relentless pursuit to become the biggest entertainer in the world.Exit 8 - A man becomes increasingly desperate when he realizes that he is trapped in a subway station, needing to complete a mission to get out.Die My Love - Grace, a writer and young mother, is slowly slipping into madness. Living in rural Montana, she starts acting increasingly agitated and erratic, leaving her partner, Jackson, worried and helpless.Surviving Earth - Vlad, a Yugoslavian refugee who now lives in Bristol, is a harmonica player that is trying to build his Balkan music band. But past traumas threaten to destroy his relationships and the delicate peace he has found with his daughter.

This week Mark reviews:Kiss of the Spider Woman - Valentin, a political prisoner, shares a cell with Molina, who was convicted for public indecency. An unlikely bond forms as Molina recounts a Hollywood musical plot starring legendary actress Ingrid Luna.The Blue Trail - To maximise economic productivity, the Brazilian government orders elderly people to move to remote housing colonies. A 77-year-old woman refuses and embarks on a journey through the Amazon that will change her destiny forever.Rebuilding - After wildfires take his ranch, a cowboy named Dusty winds up in a FEMA camp, finding community with others who have lost homes, including his daughter and ex-wife.

This week Mark reviews:Outcome - Hollywood actor Reef Hawk is forced to confront his problems and atone for his past after being threatened by a bizarre video from his past.The Stranger - In 1930s Algeria, the daily life of an indifferent Frenchman is shaken by the death of his mother and a fateful encounter on a beach.Father Mother Sister Brother - Estranged siblings reunite after years apart, forced to confront unresolved tensions and reevaluate their strained relationships with their emotionally distant parents.

This week Mark reviews:The Super Mario Galaxy Movie - Mario ventures into space, exploring cosmic worlds and tackling galactic challenges far from the familiar Mushroom Kingdom.Fuze - An unexploded World War II bomb is discovered on a busy construction site in the centre of London. Chaos ensues as the military and police begin a mass evacuation against a ticking clock.The Housemaid - A struggling young woman is relieved to receive a fresh start as a maid for a wealthy couple. Soon, she discovers that the family’s secrets are far more dangerous than her own.

This week Mark reviews:Splitsville - When Ashley asks for a divorce, the good-natured Carey runs to his friends, Julie and Paul, for support. Their secret to happiness is an open marriage: that is, until Carey crosses the line and throws all of their relationships into chaos. Anaconda - A group of friends are going through a mid-life crisis. They decide to remake a favourite movie from their youth, but encounter unexpected events when they enter the jungle.Underland - This documentary, which is based on the book by Robert MacFarlane, follows explorers into places rarely glimpsed by the human eye: caves, flood drains and underground laboratories.

This week Mark reviews:Project Hail Mary - Science teacher Ryland Grace wakes up alone on a spaceship light-years from Earth. As his memory returns, he uncovers a mission to stop a mysterious substance killing the sun, and save Earth. An unexpected friendship may be the key.La Grazia - A widowed Italian President faces moral crisis over euthanasia legislation and pardoning killers while grappling with his late wife’s infidelity during his final months in office.Arco - In 2075, a girl witnesses a mysterious boy in a rainbow suit fall from the sky. He comes from an idyllic future where time travel is possible. She shelters him and will do whatever it takes to help him return to his time.

This week Mark reviews:Resurrection - In a society where people stop dreaming to extend their lifespan, some dangerous individuals still dream, warping the fabric of time.Scarlet - A medieval princess on a quest to avenge her father’s death awakens in a realm between life and death, where she encounters an idealistic young man from the present day who shows her the possibility of a future free of bitterness and rage.Zootopia 2 - Brave rabbit cop Judy Hopps and her friend, the fox Nick Wilde, team up again to crack a new case, the most perilous and intricate of their careers.

This week Mark reviews:Hoppers - 19-year-old animal lover Mabel uses technology that places her consciousness into a robotic beaver in-order to uncover mysteries within the animal world.Dolly - Macy, a young woman, is abducted by a monstrous figure intent on raising her as its own child.Sound Of Falling - A remote German farm harbours generations of secrets. Four women, separated by decades but united by trauma, uncover the truth behind its weathered walls.

This week Mark reviews:Sirat - A father, accompanied by his son, goes looking for his missing daughter in North Africa.The Testament of Ann Lee - Ann Lee, the founding leader of the Shaker movement, is proclaimed the female Christ by her followers. She aims to build a utopian society and the Shaker’s worship through song and dance.Dead of Winter - Barb is travelling alone through snowbound North Minnesota when she interrupts the kidnapping of a teenage girl. Hours from the nearest town and with no phone service, she realises that she is the young girl’s only hope.

This week Mark reviews:Wasteman - Soon-to-be paroled Taylor finds his new cell mate Dee is putting his fresh start in danger. As Dee takes Taylor under his wing, a vicious attack in their cell tests their friendship.The Secret Agent - In 1977 Brazil, a technology expert flees from a mysterious past and returns to his hometown in search of peace. He soon realises that the city is far from being the refuge he seeks.If I Had Legs I’d Kick You - With her life crashing down around her, Linda attempts to navigate her child’s mysterious illness, her absent husband, a missing person, and an increasingly hostile relationship with her therapist.

This week Mark reviews:Wuthering Heights - Tragedy strikes when Heathcliff falls in love with Catherine Earnshaw, a woman from a wealthy family in 18th Century England. Little Amelie or the character of Rain - Amelie, a Belgian child in Japan, explores life with her companion Nishio-san. Her third birthday becomes a turning point, marking the beginning of life-altering events that shape her understanding of the world. The Day The Earth Blew Up: A Looney Tunes Movie - Porky Pig and Daffy Duck are Earth’s only hope when facing the threat of an alien invasion.

This week Mark reviews:Twinless - A young man grieving the loss of his twin brother joins a support group for “twinless twins.”The Shepherd and The Bear - An aged shepherd struggles to find a successor as bears prey on his flock. While, a teenage boy becomes obsessed with tracking the bears.100 Nights of Hero - When a charming house guest arrives at a remote castle, the delicate dynamic between a neglectful husband, his innocent bride and their devoted maid, is thrown into chaos.

This week Mark reviews:Nouvelle Vague - A behind-the-scenes look at the filming of Breathless, the French crime film that was one of the first feature films of the French New Wave of cinema.Good Fortune - A well-meaning but rather inept angel named Gabriel meddles in the lives of a struggling gig worker and a wealthy venture capitalist.Is This Thing On? - As their marriage unravels, Alex faces middle age and divorce, seeking new purpose in the New York stand-up comedy scene. Meanwhile, his wife Tess confronts sacrifices made for her family.

This week Mark reviews:Saipan - On the eve of the 2002 FIFA World Cup, the Irish captain Roy Keane forfeits his place in the squad at the team’s preparation base in Saipan, following a heated discussion with the Irish manager Mick McCarthy.No Other Choice - After being unemployed for several years, a man devises a unique plan to secure a new job: eliminate his competition.H Is For Hawk - After losing her beloved father, Helen finds herself saved by an unlikely friendship with a stubborn hawk named Mabel.

This week Mark reviews:The Rip - A group of Miami cops discovers a stash of millions in cash, leading to distrust as outsiders learn about the huge seizure, making them question who they can rely on.The Ice Tower - Jeanne, a 15-year-old orphan, witnesses the filming of a new adaptation for the fairy tale The Snow Queen. She becomes fascinated by its star, Christina, who is just as mysterious as the Queen she is playing.Rental Family - An American actor in Tokyo struggling to find purpose lands an unusual gig: working for a Japanese “rental family” agency, playing stand-in roles for strangers.

This week Mark reviews:Hamnet - William Shakespeare and his wife, Agnes, celebrate the birth of their son, Hamnet. But when tragedy strikes and Hamnet dies at a young age, it inspires Shakespeare to write his timeless masterpiece “Hamlet.”Predator: Badlands - A young Predator outcast from his clan finds an unlikely ally on his journey in search of the ultimate adversary.Giant - Prince Naseem “Naz” Hamed, a British-Yemeni boxer, rises from humble beginnings to become a world champion, aided by trainer Brendan Ingle who played a crucial role in his success.

This week Mark reviews:Song Sung Blue - Lightning and Thunder, a Milwaukee husband and wife Neil Diamond tribute act, experience soaring success and devastating heartbreak in their musical journey together.Peter Hujar’s Day - A conversation between photographer Peter Hujar and journalist Linda Rosenkrantz from 1974 sheds light on New York’s vibrant downtown art world and the introspective journey of an artist’s life.I Swear - John Davidson was diagnosed with Tourette’s syndrome at a young age. He struggled with a condition few people had witnessed, which alienated him from his familyand friends.

Presenter Spencer Carter and Film Critic Mark Searby sit down to discuss their favourite films of 2025.Will Spencer choose a Superhero movie? Or did he enjoy The Naked Gun the best?Will Mark still be gushing over Guillermo del Toro's Frankenstein to make his number 1 pick? Or is there something else that he thinks is better?

This week Mark reviews:Marty Supreme - Marty Mauser, a young man with a dream no one respects, goes to hell and back in pursuit of greatness.Sentimental Value - Sisters Nora and Agnes are reunited with their eccentric father, Gustav, a famous director who left many years previous. He returns to offer Nora the lead in his new film.Goodbye June - A fractured family must come together when sudden and trying circumstances make them question their relationships to each other.Memoir of a Snail - Grace Pudel is a hoarder of snails, romance novels and guinea pigs. This is her story.

This week Mark reviews:Avatar: Fire and Ash - Jake and Neytiri’s family grapple with grief after Neteyam’s death. They encounter a new, aggressive, Na’vi tribe, the Ash People, who are led by the fiery Varang. As the conflict on Pandora escalates, a new moral focus emerges.Shelby Oaks - A woman’s obsessive search for her missing sister leads her into a terrifying mystery at the hands of an unknown evil.Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale - When Mary finds herself in a public scandal and the family faces financial trouble, the household grapples with the threat of social disgrace. The Crawleys must embrace change with the next generation leading Downton Abbey into the future.

This week Mark reviews:Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery - Detective Benoit Blanc sifts through a series of suspects when a Monsignor turns up dead.Predators - Exploring the controversial American TV series – To Catch A Predator – that caught child predators in sting operations, leading to arrests, and the show’s eventual cancellation.Eleanor The Great - After a devastating loss, witty and proudly troublesome Eleanor Morgenstein, 94, tells a tale that takes on its own dangerous life.

This week Mark reviews:Jay Kelly - Famous movie actor Jay Kelly embarks on a journey of self-discovery, confronting his past and present with his devoted manager Ron. The Creeps - Two American youngsters who prepare to celebrate Monsterfest in a Finnish ski resort find themselves overrun by small creatures.Tinsel Town - A washed-up Hollywood action hero takes a role in a small English village’s quirky Christmas pantomime, where he finds unexpected inspiration through the show’s straight-talking dance instructor.

This week Mark reviews: Christy - Just as Christy Martin is making historic strides in the world of female boxing, she’s forced to contend with a horrendous private life.Together - Years into their relationship, Tim and Millie find themselves at a crossroads as they move to the country. With tensions already flaring, an encounter with an unnatural force threatens to corrupt their lives, their love and their flesh.Pillion - A directionless man is swept off his feet when an enigmatic, impossibly handsome biker takes him on as his submissive.

This week Mark reviews:Wicked: For Good - Now demonized as the Wicked Witch of the West, Elphaba lives in exile in the Ozian Forest, while Glinda resides in the Emerald City enjoying the perks of fame and popularity. As an angry mob rises against the Wicked Witch, she will need to reunite with Glinda to transform herself, and all of Oz, for good.Train Dreams - Robert Grainger, a logger and railroad worker, has his life alerted after the death of his wife and child. He tries to lead a life in the rapidly changing America of the early 20th Century.Game - After leaving a rave, David crashes his car and hangs upside down in the wreckage. Poacher comes across David trapped in his car. But he isn’t there to help him. Instead, a battle of wills begins between the two men.The Roses - A tinderbox of competition and resentments underneath the façade of a picture-perfect couple is ignited when the husband’s professional dreams come crashing down.

This week Mark reviews:The Running Man - Ben Richards joins a game show in which contestants, allowed to go anywhere in the world, are pursued by “Hunters” hired to kill them.Belen - A woman hospitalised for pain discovers she is pregnant. After a medical emergency, she faces criminal charges. With support from her attorney and women’s rights advocates, she fights for justice in a landmark case.In Your Dreams - Stevie and her little brother Elliot journey into the wildly absurd landscape of their own dreams to ask the Sandman to grant them the perfect family.

This week Mark reviews:Anemone - In Northern England, a man heads out on a journey into the woods to reconnect with the estranged hermit brother with whom he shared a complicated past that was altered by life-changing events decades ago.Frankenstein - A brilliant but egotistical scientist brings a creature to life in a monstrous experiment that ultimately leads to the undoing of both the creator and his tragiccreation.Dragonfly - Seeing the lack of care that her elderly neighbour Elsie is receiving from so called professionals, Colleen takes it upon herself to care for her. However, Colleen’s intentions may not be what they seem.

This week Mark reviews:Bugonia - Two conspiracy-obsessed young men kidnap the high-powered CEO of a major company, convinced that she is an alien intent on destroying the planet Earth.The Legend of Ochi - In a remote village on the island of Carpathia, a shy girl raised to fear an elusive animal species known as ochi. But when she discovers a wounded baby ochi has been left behind, she escapes on a quest to bring him home.Ballad of a Small Player - When his past and his debts start to catch up with him, a high-stakes gambler laying low in Macau encounters a kindred spirit who might just hold the key to his salvation.

The week Mark reviews:Springsteen: Deliver Me From Nowhere - Bruce Springsteen’s journey crafting his 1982 album Nebraska, which emerged as he set about to record Born In The USA with the E Street Band.Sketch - When a young girl’s sketchbook falls into a strange pond, her drawings come to life. As the town descends into chaos, her family must reunite and stop the monsters they never meant to unleash.Strange Journey: The Story of Rocky Horror - A documentary about a theatre play that evolved into a movie and then a ground-breaking cult phenomenon.

This week Mark reviews:The Twits - Two orphans join forces with a family of magical animals to save their city from the powerful Mr and Mrs Twit, the meanest, nastiest, smelliest people in the world.Borley Rectory: The Awakening - As the Bull family move into Borley’s Rectory, they start to experience strange noises and apparitions.Souleymane’s Story - A Paris food delivery cyclist and asylum seeker named Souleymane has two days to prepare hisstory for a make-or-break interview to secure legal residency.

This week Mark reviews:Tron Ares - A highly sophisticated program called Ares, is sent from the digital world into the real world on a dangerous mission.Good Boy - A loyal dog moves to a rural family home with his owner Todd, only to discover supernatural forces lurking in the shadows. As dark entities threaten his human companion, the brave pup must fight to protect the one he loves the most.John Candy: I Like Me - A documentary that explores the life and legacy of iconic funnyman John Candy, who died of a heart attack in 1994, at the age of 43.

This week Mark reviews:The Smashing Machine - The story of mixed-martial arts and UFC champion, Mark Kerr.Play Dirty - A ruthless thief and his expert crew stumble onto the heist of a lifetime.The Lost Bus - A wayward school bus driver and a dedicated school teacher battle to save 22 children from a terrifying inferno.

This week Mark reviews:One Battle After Another - When their evil enemy resurfaces after 16 years, a group of ex-revolutionaries reunite to rescue one of their own’s daughter.Riff Raff - A former criminal’s ordinary life is turned upside down when his old family shows up for a long-awaited reunion.Elio - Elio, a space fanatic with an active imagination, finds himself on a cosmic misadventure where he must form new bonds with alien lifeforms, navigate a crisis of intergalactic proportions and somehow discover who he is truly meantto be.

This week Mark reviews:The Glassworker - The life of a young glassblower in training and his relationships over the years, as his land goes through war and strife.Happyend - In near-future Tokyo, the threat of a catastrophic quake looms. Two school friends prank their headmaster before graduation, leading to the school installing a surveillance system.Sovereign - A father and son who identify as Sovereign Citizens, a group of anti-government extremists, find themselves in a standoff with a chief of Police that sets off a manhunt.

This week Mark reviews:The Long Walk - A group of teenage boys compete in an annual contest known as “The Long Walk”, where they must maintain a certain walking speed or get shot.The Golden Spurtle - In a Scottish Highland village, competitors gather for the World Porridge Championships. It is the final year under the leadership of Chieftain Charlie Miller, a competition which celebrates tradition and community through porridge-making.Bring Her Back - A brother and sister uncover a terrifying ritual at the secluded home of their new foster mother.

This week Mark reviews:The Conjuring: Last Rites - Paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren take on one last case as they try to help the Smurl family rid their house of a demonic force.The Phoenician Scheme - Wealthy businessman Zsa-Zsa Korda appoints his only daughter, a nun, as sole heir to his estate. As Korda embarks on a new enterprise, they soon become the target of scheming tycoons, foreign terrorists and determined assassins. Highest 2 Lowest - When a titan music mogul is targeted with a ransom plot, he is jammed up in a life-or-death moral dilemma.

This week Mark reviews:The Thursday Murder Club - Four irrepressible retirees spend their time solving cold case murders for fun. But their casual sleuthing takes a turn when they find themselves with a real whodunit on their hands.The Colors Within - A girl who see’s colours in people’s hearts joins a band with two other people. The Toxic Avenger - A horrible accident transforms downtrodden janitor, Winston Gooze, into a new evolution of hero: The Toxic Avenger.

This week Mark reviews:The Life of Chuck - Who is Chuck Krantz? That’s the question everyone wants to know. The Ceremony - Two troubled migrant workers in a Bradford car wash are dragged into an escalating moral crisis as night falls.Eddington - In May of 2020, a standoff between a small-town Sheriff and a Mayor sparks a powder keg as neighbour is pitted against neighbour in Eddington, New Mexico.

This week Mark reviews:The Materialists - A young, ambitious New York City matchmaker finds herself torn between the perfect match and her imperfect ex.Inside - Transferred from juvenile to adult prison, Mel is taken under the wing of both Shepard, Australia’s most despised criminal, and Warren, a soon-to-be-paroled inmate. The paternal triangle that forms between them becomes their undoing.Fixed - Bull, an average, all-round good dog, discovers he is going to be neutered in the morning. He decides he needs one last adventure with his buddies.

This week Mark reviews:Freakier Friday - Tess and Anna discover that lightning may indeed strike twice as they navigate the myriad challenges that come with two families swapping bodies.The Kingdom - Lesia, a teenager, is taken by a man to a villa where he fugitive father and his men are hiding. As war erupts, leading to death and a chase where father and daughter bond.40 Acres - In a post-apocalyptic world with food scarcity, a Black family of Canadian farmers descended from American Civil War migrants defend their homestead against cannibals trying to seize their resources.

This week Mark reviews:The Naked Gun - Following in the footsteps of his bumbling father, Detective Frank Drebin Jr. must solve a murder case to prevent the Police department from shutting down.Final Destination: Bloodlines - Plagued by a recurring violent nightmare, a college student returns home to find the one person who can break the cycle and save her family from the horrific fate that awaits them.Savages - In Borneo, at the edge of the Tropical forest, schoolgirl Keria is given a baby Orangutan. With the forest under greater threat than ever, Keria, a native tribe boy called Selai and the little Orangutan Oshi face off against many problems.

This week Mark reviews:The Fantastic Four: The First Steps - Forced to balance their roles as heroes with the strength of their family bond, the Fantastic Four must defend Earth from a ravenous space god called Galactus and his enigmatic Herald, Silver Surfer.The Bad Guys 2 - The Bad Guys are struggling to find trust and acceptance in their newly minted lives as Good Guys, when they are pulled out of retirement and forced to do “one last job” by an all-female squad of criminals. Gazer - Frankie, a young mother with dyschronometria, struggles to perceive time. Using cassette tapes for guidance, she takes a risky job from a mysterious woman to support her family, unaware of the dark consequences.

This week Mark reviews:Smurfs - When Papa Smurf is taken by evil wizards Razamel and Gargamel, Smurfette leads the Smurfs on a mission to the real world.Bring Them Down - An Irish shepherding family are thrust into battle on several fronts: Internal strife, hostility within the family, rivalry with another famer. These all take a very dark turn for everyone involved.

This week Mark reviews:Superman - Superman must reconcile his alien Kryptonian heritage with his human upbringing as reporter Clark Kent. As the embodiment of truth, justice and the human way, he soon finds himself in a world that views these as old fashioned.Modigliani: Three Days on the Wing of Madness - Through the streets of World War I Paris, Italian bohemian artist Modigliani attempts to outmaneuver bombs, Policemen, girlfriends, and critics in an increasingly desperate search for a home for his art.Sylvanian Families: The Movie - During the annual Festival of the Stars in Sylvanian Village, Freya, the Chocolate Rabbit, worries about finding a birthday gift for her mum.

This week Mark reviews:Jurassic World: Rebirth - Five years after the events of Jurassic World: Dominion, an expedition team braves isolated equatorial regions to extract DNA from three massive prehistoric creatures for a ground-breaking medical breakthrough.The Woman in the Yard - A mysterious woman repeatedly appears in a family’s front yard, often delivering chilling warnings and unsettling messages, leaving them to question her identity, motives and potential danger she might pose.The Old Guard 2 - Andy and her team of immortal warriors continue their mission to protect humanity. Now they must grapple with the resurfacing of a long-lost immortal.

This week Mark reviews:F1: The Movie - A Formula One driver comes out of retirement to mentor and team up with a younger driver.Black Dog - Released from jail, Lang returns to his hometown in Northwest China. As part of a dog patrol tasked with clearing stray dogs before the 2008 Olympics, he bonds witha black stray.Chicken Town - Two school friends join forces with a green fingered Grandad to sell a shed full of weed that the old man has accidentally grown on his allotment.

This week Mark reviews:The Last Journey - Renowned Swedish TV-duo Filip and Fredrik embark on a trip to France, aiming to rekindle the zest for life of Filip’s father.Black Bag - When intelligence agent Kathryn Woodhouse is suspected of betraying the nation, her husband – also a legendary agent – faces the ultimate test of whether to be loyal to his marriage or his country.Four Mothers - A struggling novelist who is forced to take care of three eccentric older women – and his own mother - over the course of one chaotic weekend in Dublin.

This week Mark reviews:Tornado - A Japanese puppeteers’ daughter gets caught up with criminals when their show crosses paths with a crime gang, led by Sugarman and his son Little Sugar.Echo Valley - Kate is dealing with a personal tragedy while owning and training horses in Echo Valley, an isolated and picturesque place, when her daughter, Claire, arrives on her doorstep, frightened and covered in someone’s blood.Jane Austen Wrecked My Life - A desperately single bookseller, lost in a fantasy world, finds herself forced to fulfil her dreams of becoming a writer in-order to stop messing up her love life.

This week Mark reviews:Ballerina - An assassin trained in the traditions of the Ruska Roma organisation sets out to seek revenge after her father’s death.Falling Into Place - Kira and Ian begin a romance that is set in Scotland and London. But can they run towards each other while they are running away from themselves?The Alto Knights - Two of New York City’s most notorious organized crime bosses vie for control of the city’s streets. Once best friends, petty jealousies and a series of betrayals set them on a deadly collision course.