The Shock Doctors Podcast

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...

Alien: Romulus is not without its merits – set design and visual style in particular – but it suffers from an excess of fanservice callbacks, and the AI revenant of Ian Holm was a serious misstep. Please follow us on Twitter @ShockDoctorsPod, on Facebook at facebook.com/shockdoctorspod, or check us out on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, … Continue reading "Episode 181 –...

Buoyed by a committed, charismatic lead performance from Josh Harnett, Trap nonetheless suffers from a lack of commitment to its initial single-location conceit. 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 reading "Episode 18...

Given the background of the material and the people involved, The Exorcism qualifies as a serious disappointment. Turgid, incoherent, and riddled with cliches, this film should have stayed on the shelf. 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...

Our first great horror experience in recent memory, Longlegs is a slam-dunk early candidate for our favorite of the year. Oz Perkins, Nicolas Cage, and Maika Monroe have never been better. 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 178 – L...

Marred by the superficiality of its sleazy 80s atmosphere, and the bizarre absence of heft in its central character, Ti West’s third X entry ends this franchise with a whimper. 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 177 – Ma...

Michael Sarnoski’s prequel shares some of the pitfalls of earlier entries in the series, but his indie sensibilities add a new character-driven flavor to this film – and Lupita Nyong’o is characteristically excellent. Please follow us on Twitter @ShockDoctorsPod, on Facebook at facebook.com/shockdoctorspod, or check us out on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, or Tune In. …...

Ishana Night Shyamalan’s feature directorial debut unfortunately shares a lot of DNA with her father’s worst work, particularly Lady in the Water. The result, like that film, is rather tedious. 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...

This disposable, drab, tension-free nothing of a requel is only the first entry in a trilogy that’s already been shot. God help us. 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 reading "Episode 174 – The Strangers:...

Reminiscent of both halves of Twin Peaks and redolent with curdled 90s nostalgia, I Saw the TV Glow nonetheless provoked a Siskel-and-Ebert disconnect between Matt and Jim. 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 173 –...

This is pretty bottom-of-the-barrel, disposable stuff. When the movies coming to mind are Wish Upon, Countdown, and Imaginary, that’s a very bad sign. 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 reading "Episode 172 &#8...

A step down from Ready or Not – mostly because it recycles many of the same beats less effectively – Abigail nonetheless features a fun cast and a few neat tricks. We just wish it maintained its momentum following a strong opening. Please follow us on Twitter @ShockDoctorsPod, on Facebook at facebook.com/shockdoctorspod, or check us … Continue reading "Episode 171 – Abigail...

A handsomely-crafted legacy prequel that features great performances, oodles of atmosphere, and some solid scares, even if some of its departures from the original don’t quite gel. 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 "Episo...

The latest installment in the long-running anthology franchise is a step back up from V/H/S/99, but still doesn’t hit the same sweet spot as the first two films. 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 169 – V/H/S/85"

While the ending isn’t quite as balls-to-the-wall as some of the buzz might have you believe, Immaculate is buoyed by a strong central performance and atmosphere to spare. 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 168 –...

Unlike Fantasy Island, the last Jeff Wadlow film we reviewed, the whackadoo third-act shenanigans on offer here aren’t fun-bad… they’re just a chore. 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 reading "Epis...

A taut, engaging thrill ride with gorgeous visuals and impressive sound design, Out of Darkness almost completely overcomes an ending that might not work for some. 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 … Continue reading "Episode 166 – Ou...

Strong sound and creature design fail to overcome a no-dialogue gimmick that doesn’t always work and an ending that, while conceptually interesting, remains flawed. 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 … Continue reading "Epis...

There wasn’t enough meat on these bones to turn this short into a viable feature, and yet Bryce McGuire left some behind in favor of a grab-bag of tired and disconnected horror tropes. 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 164 – Night...

William Brent Bell’s latest is a cut above most of his other work, which is to say it’s a run-of-the-mill folk horror film with a lousy ending. 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 163 – Lord of Misrule"

An improvement over some of Eli Roth’s more risible work, Thanksgiving is a refreshingly old-fashioned slasher that nonetheless feels rather predictable and thin. 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 reading "Epi...