The Shock Doctors Podcast

While Zach Cregger shows a deft hand at nurturing intrigue and creeping dread, he is once again hamstrung by his penchant for hard left turns into comedy. The climax is fun, but left us wanting. Please follow us on Twitter @ShockDoctorsPod, on Facebook at facebook.com/shockdoctorspod, or check us out on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, or … Continue reading "Episode 206 – Weapons"

This latest lifeless rehash of a 90s slasher is a little less self-serious than Screams V and VI, but probably also dumber. Please follow us on Twitter @ShockDoctorsPod, on Facebook at facebook.com/shockdoctorspod, or check us out on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, or Tune In. Got an idea for the next movie you’d like us to … Continue reading "Episode 205 – I Know What You Did Last...

The Shock Doctors were already the farthest thing from M3GAN stans, but this needlessly convoluted sequel seals the deal. It’s given up on horror, and it’s an action comedy with no action and bad jokes. Please follow us on Twitter @ShockDoctorsPod, on Facebook at facebook.com/shockdoctorspod, or check us out on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, or … Continue reading "Episode 204...

Despite being kind of an odd mash-up of two movies in one, neither of which strongly resembles the series’ standout first entry, 28 Years Later is another win for Danny Boyle and Alex Garland. Please follow us on Twitter @ShockDoctorsPod, on Facebook at facebook.com/shockdoctorspod, or check us out on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, or Tune … Continue reading "Episode 203 – 28...

The sophomore feature from the Philippou Brothers underwhelmed us about as much as their debut, Talk to Me. What’s worse is that the flashes of originality in that film are almost entirely absent here, in a borrowed hodgepodge indebted most obviously to Hereditary. Please follow us on Twitter @ShockDoctorsPod, on Facebook at facebook.com/shockdoctorspod, or check us … Continue reading...

Eli Craig’s latest feature is another disappointment from the filmmaker behind Tucker and Dale vs. Evil – just bland YA claptrap with scattershot humor that mostly doesn’t land. Please follow us on Twitter @ShockDoctorsPod, on Facebook at facebook.com/shockdoctorspod, or check us out on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, or Tune In. Got an idea for the … Continue reading "Episode...

After 200 podcasts, we’ve watched some great movies and a whole lot of crap. Give a listen as we pick out our favorite and least favorite subjects of past episodes. Please follow us on Twitter @ShockDoctorsPod, on Facebook at facebook.com/shockdoctorspod, or check us out on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, or Tune In. Got an idea … Continue reading "Episode 200 – Matt and Jim&#...

Not for the first time, Gary Dauberman piles up a bunch of underwhelming monsters in an attempt to scare us by sheer volume, and not for the first time, he fails. A waste of strong source material. Please follow us on Twitter @ShockDoctorsPod, on Facebook at facebook.com/shockdoctorspod, or check us out on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, … Continue reading "Episode 199 – Until Dawn"

Ryan Coogler’s latest film is a rip-roaring good time, with a surprisingly understated dual performance from Michael B. Jordan surrounded by top-notch work from a deep supporting cast. Please follow us on Twitter @ShockDoctorsPod, on Facebook at facebook.com/shockdoctorspod, or check us out on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, or Tune In. Got an idea for the … Continue reading "Episod...

While not up to the standards of Longlegs, with some pacing issues and overly-quirky side characters, overall The Monkey is a rollicking good time, with four rock-solid performances at its center. Please follow us on Twitter @ShockDoctorsPod, on Facebook at facebook.com/shockdoctorspod, or check us out on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, or Tune In. Got an … Continue reading "Episode 197 &...

Another “horror” “comedy” from the Christopher Landon assembly line, Heart Eyes tries to mash together 90s-style romcoms and slasher movies, and fails on both counts. Please follow us on Twitter @ShockDoctorsPod, on Facebook at facebook.com/shockdoctorspod, or check us out on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, or Tune In. Got an idea for the next movie you’d … Continu...

Less a true-blue horror movie and more of a supernatural drama, Presence nonetheless packs a wallop and demonstrates the deft touch of both director Steven Soderbergh and screenwriter David Koepp. Please follow us on Twitter @ShockDoctorsPod, on Facebook at facebook.com/shockdoctorspod, or check us out on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, or Tune In. Got an idea … Continue reading "Episode...

Seemingly at war with itself and unable to settle on its core themes, Wolf Man is a big step down from Leigh Whannell’s first Universal Monster flick, 2020’s The Invisible Man. Please follow us on Twitter @ShockDoctorsPod, on Facebook at facebook.com/shockdoctorspod, or check us out on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, or Tune In. Got an … Continue reading "Episode 194 – W...

The seventh installment in the found footage anthology franchise is perhaps a half-step above the period-piece trilogy that preceded it, but as Matt says, it’s getting increasingly hard to care or sit through the undifferentiated stew we’re presented with time and again. The Flanagan-Siegel segment is an exception. Please follow us on Twitter @ShockDoctorsPod, on … Continue readi...

It may not be Eggers’ best work, but that’s a very high bar to clear. This is a beautifully shot, handsomely mounted reimagining of the landmark silent film, with standout performances all around. Please follow us on Twitter @ShockDoctorsPod, on Facebook at facebook.com/shockdoctorspod, or check us out on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, or Tune In. … Continue reading "Episode...

Robert Morgan is a gifted animator, but the stopmotion vignettes that give this film its narrative spine don’t tell enough of a story to keep us fully invested. That said, Aisling Franciosi is terrific. Please follow us on Twitter @ShockDoctorsPod, on Facebook at facebook.com/shockdoctorspod, or check us out on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, or Tune … Continue reading "Episode 191...

This Rosemary’s Baby prequel has visual style and strong performances, but fails to engender the same paranoid dread as the original. Please follow us on Twitter @ShockDoctorsPod, on Facebook at facebook.com/shockdoctorspod, or check us out on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, or Tune In. Got an idea for the next movie you’d like us to check … Continue reading "Episode 190 – Apa...

Heretic has some intelligent, though not groundbreaking, things to say about religion and society, and is built around three strong performances, Hugh Grant in particular. Unfortunately, the script’s minimal modulation of his character’s villainy leaves the movie nowhere to go. Please follow us on Twitter @ShockDoctorsPod, on Facebook at facebook.com/shockdoctorspod, or check us out on...

Gary Dauberman’s long-delayed Stephen King adaptation is pleasantly old-fashioned and shows flashes of panache, but is ultimately light on scares and pretty disposable. Please follow us on Twitter @ShockDoctorsPod, on Facebook at facebook.com/shockdoctorspod, or check us out on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, or Tune In. Got an idea for the next movie you’d like us … Continue readin...

Bigger and dumber than its predecessor, Smile 2 trudges through an interminable series of foregone conclusions while screaming its themes at the audience as loudly as possible. Please follow us on Twitter @ShockDoctorsPod, on Facebook at facebook.com/shockdoctorspod, or check us out on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, or Tune In. Got an idea for the next … Continue reading "Episode 187 &#8...

Alexandre Aja’s latest film fails to maintain enough ambiguity to sustain its middle hour, and the ending raises more questions than the audience, after 101 minutes, will really feel motivated to answer. Please follow us on Twitter @ShockDoctorsPod, on Facebook at facebook.com/shockdoctorspod, or check us out on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, or Tune In. Got … Continue reading "Epi...

The Substance is a movie with three standout performances and a lot of panache that is weighted down by its own excesses, and a habit of repeating itself. Please follow us on Twitter @ShockDoctorsPod, on Facebook at facebook.com/shockdoctorspod, or check us out on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, or Tune In. Got an idea for the … Continue reading "Episode 185 – The Substance"

This remake of the 2022 Danish film suffers from a stultifying fidelity to the original – except in two major respects, where there has been a decided downgrade. A waste of a very strong cast. Please follow us on Twitter @ShockDoctorsPod, on Facebook at facebook.com/shockdoctorspod, or check us out on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, or … Continue reading "Episode 184 – Speak No Evil...

The directorial debut of Robert Eggers’ younger brothers Max and Sam is an uneasy mishmash of influences, on top of being a tedious scatological assault on the senses. Please follow us on Twitter @ShockDoctorsPod, on Facebook at facebook.com/shockdoctorspod, or check us out on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, or Tune In. Got an idea for the … Continue reading "Episode 183 – The...

While the Shock Doctors share most of Chris Weitz’s feelings about AI and other facets of modernity, the actual film he’s assembled is a muddled hodgepodge of grievances that never coheres. Please follow us on Twitter @ShockDoctorsPod, on Facebook at facebook.com/shockdoctorspod, or check us out on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, or Tune In. Got an … Continue reading "Episode...