Movie Postmortem

Godzilla turned 70, and somehow he was more terrifying than ever before. This week on Movie Postmortem, we’re reviewing Godzilla Minus One. We discuss how the film makes its kaiju story deeply personal through Shikishima, a failed kamikaze pilot carrying enormous guilt and shame, and how his choices make this film feel like more than just a story about a monster destroying cities. We also talk abo...

We discuss our favorite episodes from the past before diving into Twilight: Breaking Dawn - Part 2 for our 100th episode! We discuss Bella’s transformation into a vampire, the increasingly strange collection of vampire superpowers, the infamous CGI used to bring Renesmee to life, and the surprisingly funny moments. We also get into the Volturi’s extremely unnecessary trip to Forks, and the movie’s...

This week, we’re reviewing M. Night Shyamalan’s Signs. We discuss why the combination of aliens and horror works so well, the film’s incredible buildup of tension, and some of its perfectly timed scares. We also talk about interesting family dynamic, the surprisingly funny moments scattered throughout the movie, and how the film uses grief, faith, and coincidence to tell a much more personal story...

This week on Movie Postmortem, we’re covering Ari Aster’s Hereditary. We discuss the film’s cinematography, Toni Collette’s devastating performance, and the overwhelming grief that hangs over nearly every scene. We also talk about how the movie feels more like a drama than a horror film for most of its runtime. Tune in! Follow us on ⁠BlueSky⁠ Find us at MoviePostmortem.com

This week, we’re dissecting The Silence of the Lambs, one of the most memorable psychological thrillers ever made. We discuss how the film builds Hannibal Lecter’s terrifying reputation before we even meet him, Sir Anthony Hopkins’ cold and unsettling performance, and the visual choices that constantly emphasize how Clarice Starling is navigating a world dominated by men. We also talk about the fi...

Our journey through Middle-earth comes to an end! In this episode, we’re discussing The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King. We discuss Gollum’s disturbing origin story, Pippin and Gandalf’s adventures in Gondor, the incredible battle of Minas Tirith, Denethor’s gloriously over-the-top descent, and some of the trilogy’s most memorable moments. We also talk about the theatrical cut’s baffling...

This week, we’re discussing Zach Cregger's Resident Evil. We discuss the film’s nervous and completely out-of-his-depth hero, its effective early scares, gruesome creature designs, and the clever ways it recreates the feeling of actually playing a survival-horror video game. We also talk about the film differs from the others in the long running franchise Tune in! Find us at MoviePostmortem.co...

This week on Movie Postmortem, we’re dissecting 2002’s The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers. We talk about Gollum as a landmark visual-effects character, Andy Serkis’ performance, the massive Battle of Helm’s Deep, and how the film expands the story with new characters. We also get into Aragorn and Arwen’s very complicated age gap, whether Gimli’s increased comic relief works, and, why we think y...

In this episode, we begin our journey through Middle-earth with The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring, Peter Jackson’s popular adaptation that set a new standard for fantasy filmmaking. We discuss the incredible cinematography, Howard Shore’s unforgettable score, the practical effects, and how the movie makes us care about a huge cast of characters embarking on an increasingly dangerou...

In this episode of Movie Postmortem , we review Novocaine , the action-comedy that asks a simple question: What if a guy who couldn’t feel pain had to rescue the woman he loves? We discuss Jack Quaid’s performance as Nate, a cautious bank employee living with congenital insensitivity to pain, and how the movie cleverly establishes all the little precautions required to keep him safe in everyday li...

In this episode of Movie Postmortem , we review Quentin Tarantino’s Django Unchained , a bloody, deliberately provocative, and surprisingly funny revenge Western set in the backdrop of American slavery. We discuss Christoph Waltz’s charismatic Dr. King Schultz, Jamie Foxx’s transformation from enslaved man to bounty hunter as Django, and Samuel L. Jackson's unforgettable Stephen. We also talk...

In this episode of  Movie Postmortem , we return to Forks for  Twilight: Breaking Dawn Part 1 , where Bella and Edward finally get married, have their honeymoon, and learn what happens if you never had sex ed classes in school. We discuss some surprisingly well shot scenes, Jacob's multiple embarrassing moments, and the major theme that this script handled poorly. Join us for our plot run-down...

In this episode of  Movie Postmortem , we revisit  The Mummy  (1999), the blockbuster that gave us ancient curses, flesh-eating scarabs, and perhaps one of the best casts ever assembled on-screen. We discuss Fraser’s perfect combination of action-hero charisma and comedy, Rachel Weisz’s endlessly charming Evelyn Carnahan, and a supporting cast packed with memorable characters like Jonathan, Beni,...

In this episode of  Movie Postmortem , we review  Black Dynamite  (2009), one of the funniest and smartest spoof films ever made. More than just a parody, the film lovingly recreates the look, feel, and wonderfully rough edges of 1970s blaxploitation cinema. We discuss the films and actors that inspired the movie, why Michael Jai White's performance is so incredibly layered, and how  Black Dyn...

In this episode of  Movie Postmortem , we revisit  Man of Steel , Zack Snyder's ambitious reboot that reintroduced Superman to a new generation and launched the DC Extended Universe. We discuss Henry Cavill's performance as Clark Kent, Michael Shannon's General Zod, and the film's destructive action sequences. But we also ask whether the screenplay truly understands what makes Supe...

In this episode of  Movie Postmortem , we review Mortal Kombat II , the long-awaited sequel that finally delivers more of the characters, tournaments, and over-the-top action fans were hoping for. But does fixing the biggest complaint about the first movie automatically make this a better film? We break down the expanded roster of fighters, the brutal fatalities, and the movie's embrace of the...

In this episode of  Movie Postmortem , we are joined by Kellie from  The Final Girls Podcast  to revisit  Spider-Man  (2002), the superhero movie that launched the comic-book franchise that continues to this day. Together, we discuss Tobey Maguire’s earnest performance as Peter Parker, Willem Dafoe’s delightfully unhinged Green Goblin, and why this film still holds up. We also explore Sam Raimi’s...

In this episode of  Movie Postmortem , we revisit  Thor. We discuss Chris Hemsworth's effortlessly charismatic performance, Tom Hiddleston's turn as Loki, and why the father-son conflict between Thor and Odin remains the emotional centerpiece of the film. We also break down Kenneth Branagh's Shakespearean approach to this comic book film, the movie's infamous love of Dutch angles,...

In this episode of  Movie Postmortem , we fire up the grill and celebrate  Independence Day , the blockbuster that dominated the box office during the summer of 1996! With monument-destroying aliens and one of the greatest presidential speeches in movie history, this film delivers spectacle on an epic scale. We discuss how this film helped cement Will Smith's movie-star status, why some of the...

In this episode of  Movie Postmortem , Reggie and Isaiah revisit  Jurassic Park , the blockbuster that inspired Reggie to become a scientist. We discuss how Spielberg's masterful direction, groundbreaking visual effects, and John Williams' iconic score made this film something that holds up even after more than 30 years. Join us as we examine the Causes of Celebration of this film! Follow...

In this episode of  Movie Postmortem , we are joined by the hosts of the  Vaguely Nerdy Podcast  to discuss  Disclosure Day , the alien-contact film that had all of us excited long before it ever reached theaters. We debate the film's biggest strengths and weaknesses, rank our favorite Spielberg alien movies, and even discuss if we've experienced a real-life alien encounter ourselves. We a...

In this episode of  Movie Postmortem , we revisit Bumblebee, the  Transformers  movie that brought a smaller, more character driven story to the screen. Set in the 1980s, the film follows Charlie and Bumblebee as they form a friendship that feels like a mashup of  E.T.  and  The Iron Giant . We discuss why the smaller scale works so well, how Hailee Steinfeld carries the emotional core of the stor...

In this episode of  Movie Postmortem , we revisit  Hook  (1991), Steven Spielberg’s sequel to the Peter Pan story that asks a surprisingly grown-up question: what happens when Peter Pan grows up? We discuss Robin Williams’ journey from work-obsessed father back to the Pan we all know, Dustin Hoffman’s delightfully theatrical Captain Hook, and why the film hits very differently as an adult than it...

In this episode of  Movie Postmortem , we review Princess Mononoke, Hayao Miyazaki’s epic fantasy about humanity, nature, and the impossibly difficult task of trying to do the right thing when others yearn for fighting. We discuss the breathtaking animation, the morally complex characters in Iron Town and the forest, and why Ashitaka may be one of the most genuinely noble protagonists we’ve ever c...

In this episode, we review Akira, the groundbreaking cyberpunk anime that changed animation forever. We break down the film’s jaw-dropping animation, why the iconic bike slide still gets copied decades later, and how  Akira helped shape everything from  The Matrix  to modern sci-fi anime. We also discuss the friendship and rivalry between Kaneda and Tetsuo, the film’s themes of power and corruptio...