Nerds Against Normality

This week we're reviewing Cloverfield (2008), the found-footage monster film directed by Matt Reeves, written by Drew Goddard, and produced by J.J. Abrams. We discuss whether this modern creature feature still deserves its cult-classic status, how the found-footage style holds up today, and whether the mystery surrounding the monster makes it even better.   We also dive into the film's legacy, sha...

Think you know your movies, video games, and books? Time to put that confidence to the test.   This week on Nerds Against Normality, Ben takes over as quizmaster, challenging Harry and Vic with one simple premise: he reads the very first line from a famous movie, video game, or book, and they have to guess where it's from.   Some are absolute giveaways. Others are far trickier than you'd expect. P...

This week on Nerds Against Normality, we're reviewing Netflix's new comedy film Ladies First (2026), directed by Thea Sharrock and starring Sacha Baron Cohen, Rosamund Pike, Richard E. Grant, Emily Mortimer, Charles Dance and Fiona Shaw. When a smug advertising executive suddenly wakes up in a world where women hold all the power, he's forced to experience life from a very different perspective.  ...

This week on Nerds Against Normality, we're reviewing Netflix's latest survival thriller, Apex.   Directed by Baltasar Kormákur (Everest, Adrift) and starring Charlize Theron, Taron Egerton, and Eric Bana, Apex throws audiences into the unforgiving Australian wilderness for a tense game of cat and mouse. But does this adrenaline-fuelled thriller deliver the suspense and thrills it promises, or doe...

This week on Nerds Against Normality, we're diving into our full review of Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (2001) – the magical beginning of one of the biggest film franchises of all time.   Directed by Chris Columbus and based on the beloved novel by J.K. Rowling, this fantasy classic introduced audiences to Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson and Rupert Grint, alongside an incredible supporti...

This week on Nerds Against Normality, we're reviewing Shaolin Soccer (2001), Stephen Chow's legendary martial arts comedy that combines kung fu, football and outrageous humour to create one of cinema's most unique cult classics.   More than twenty years after its release, does Shaolin Soccer still deserve its reputation? We break down the story, characters, comedy, action, visual effects and unfor...

Zoinks! This week on Nerds Against Normality, we’re reviewing Scooby-Doo (2002), the live-action comedy directed by Raja Gosnell and written by James Gunn, starring Freddie Prinze Jr., Sarah Michelle Gellar, Matthew Lillard, Linda Cardellini, and Rowan Atkinson. Does Scooby-Doo still hold up, or is it just pure early-2000s nostalgia? We break down the plot, the performances, the surprisingly weird...

This week on Nerds Against Normality, we’re reviewing Mean Girls (2004), the iconic teen comedy directed by Mark Waters and written by Tina Fey, starring Lindsay Lohan, Rachel McAdams, Amanda Seyfried, and Lacey Chabert. Nearly 20 years later, does Mean Girls still hold up as one of the greatest high school comedies ever made, or has the hype finally faded?   Join Harry, Ben, and Vic as they dive...

Lethal Weapon (1987) Review! This week on Nerds Against Normality, we dive into Richard Donner’s iconic buddy-cop action classic starring Mel Gibson as Martin Riggs and Danny Glover as Roger Murtaugh. From explosive shootouts and chaotic car chases to the unforgettable chemistry between Riggs and Murtaugh, we break down why Lethal Weapon became one of the defining action movies of the 1980s.   We...

Hosts Harry, Ben and guest Nathan deliver a spoiler-heavy review of Resident Evil 9: Requiem, breaking down Grace Ashcroft and Leon S. Kennedy’s contrasting playstyles, key set pieces, and the game’s blend of slow horror and high-octane action. They discuss story strengths and weaknesses, boss design, technical performance, bugs, replayability, and even run a fun hypothetical cast for a live-actio...

In this episode of Nerds Against Normality, Harry and Vic go head-to-head in a Disney Princess Debate — building full governments using heroines from animated Disney movies. Each of us drafts a full cabinet: Defence. Economy. Culture. Foreign Affairs. Prime Minister. Simple enough… until we start tearing each other’s picks apart. Some choices make perfect sense. Others would ruin a country in abou...

Together (2025) review — this week we’re diving into a relationship horror that genuinely caught us off guard. Directed by Michael Shanks and starring Alison Brie and Dave Franco, Together takes a simple idea and pushes it into some seriously uncomfortable territory. In this episode of Nerds Against Normality, we break down the story, characters, and whether the film’s unsettling approach actually...

The Super Mario Galaxy Movie Review (Spoilers) — masterpiece or overhyped? 👀🎮 We’re diving into a full spoiler review of The Super Mario Galaxy Movie, the ambitious follow-up that sends Mario into full-on cosmic madness — bigger worlds, bolder swings, and a lot to argue about. From genuinely stunning animation to some… questionable character choices, we break down whether this is the best Mario...

In this episode of Nerds Against Normality, we’re reviewing Ready or Not (2019) — the dark comedy horror starring Samara Weaving, Adam Brody, Mark O’Brien, and Andie MacDowell, directed by Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett (Radio Silence). We dive into whether this cult-favourite horror still holds up, breaking down its brutal premise, standout performances, and chaotic final act. Before tha...

The Crow (1994) review — Brandon Lee’s iconic cult classic, directed by Alex Proyas, gets a full breakdown as we revisit one of the most influential gothic revenge films ever made. Harry’s “one thing” this week is Stellar Blade on PS5 — a spoiler-free take after finishing the game, covering gameplay, feel, and whether it lives up to the hype. Nearly 30 years on, does The Crow still hold up? Is it...

Oscars 2026 predictions — Harry vs Ben. Loser takes the forfeit. We’re predicting the winners of the Academy Awards, covering Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor, Best Actress, and the biggest categories of the night. This isn’t just an Oscars breakdown — it’s a head-to-head battle. Every correct pick scores a point. Every wrong call has consequences. From shock upsets to “it’s already won” lo...

This week we’re reviewing About Time (2013), the Richard Curtis time-travel romance starring Domhnall Gleeson, Rachel McAdams, and Bill Nighy — and this one was a fan request! It’s also a big episode as we introduce our new co-host, Victoria Francis, making her debut on the podcast. No “One Thing” this week — instead we answer Lauren’s question: if you could go back in time and relive one day, wha...

This week on Nerds Against Normality, we dive into The Truman Show (1998) — the Jim Carrey classic that predicted reality TV, social media obsession, and our love of watching other people’s lives unfold. But before we get into the review, we have a bittersweet announcement: this is Stacey’s final episode for a little while as she prepares for an exciting new chapter. Don’t worry though — a brand-n...

🗺️ How long would it take to walk across your favourite fantasy worlds? In this quiz episode of Nerds Against Normality, Ben takes over hosting duties and challenges Harry and Stacey to estimate the travel time between famous locations across some of the biggest fictional worlds in film, TV and gaming. There’s just one rule: you’re travelling at a steady 3 miles per hour. From the kingdoms of Game...

This week on Nerds Against Normality, we’re back in a world ravaged by the rage virus with a full spoiler review of 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple. Directed by Nia DaCosta and written by Alex Garland, The Bone Temple stars Ralph Fiennes, Jack O’Connell, Erin Kellyman, Alfie Williams, and Chi Lewis-Parry. ⚠️ SPOILER WARNING ⚠️ This is a full spoiler discussion. We break down the entire plot, analy...

We dive into Netflix’s action crime thriller The Rip — the 2026 film directed and written by Joe Carnahan and starring Matt Damon, Ben Affleck, Steven Yeun, Teyana Taylor, Sasha Calle, Catalina Sandino Moreno, Scott Adkins, and Kyle Chandler — as we review its gritty story of Miami narcotics officers whose trust unravels after discovering millions in hidden cash and facing betrayal within their ow...

Is The Devil Wears Prada secretly one of the most iconic films of the 2000s? This week on Nerds Against Normality, we step into the world of high fashion, impossible bosses, and endlessly quotable moments as we review The Devil Wears Prada. Directed by David Frankel and starring Meryl Streep, Anne Hathaway, Emily Blunt, and Stanley Tucci, the film remains one of the most quotable comedies of its e...

This week on Nerds Against Normality, we’re blind ranking classic cartoons from the 1980s, 1990s, and 2000s — with one ruthless rule: once a cartoon is placed, it’s locked in forever. Stacey throws out iconic animated shows at random, and Ben and I have to decide exactly where they belong on a six-tier ranking system, without knowing what’s coming next. No reshuffling. No second chances. Just perm...

This week on Nerds Against Normality, we’re reviewing Lara Croft: Tomb Raider, the early-2000s video game movie that helped define the genre — for better and worse. Released in 2001 and starring Angelina Jolie as the iconic Lara Croft, this was one of the first big-budget attempts to turn a massively popular game into a blockbuster film. But over twenty years later, does it still hold up… or is it...

We review Predator: Badlands, breaking down the plot, expanded Predator lore, survival tactics, and whether this bold new chapter actually reinvigorates the iconic sci-fi franchise. Plus, we tackle the most important question of all: could SpongeBob SquarePants actually survive against a Predator? The answer is unhinged, surprisingly tactical, and somehow very on-brand for us. Before the hunt begi...