Kermode & Mayo’s Take

Rachel Weisz and Alice Birch discuss remaking David Cronenberg's chiller ‘Dead Ringers’ and the importance of depictions of birth on screen. Super subs Rhianna Dhillon and Robbie Collin stand in whilst Mark and Simon are away. Robbie reviews ‘How To Blow Up A Pipeline’ - about a group of environmental activists who want to make their voices heard and disrupt an oil pipeline; ‘Evil Dead Rise’ an Am...

Siobhan Roy has it all: a high flying career, a man who adores her, and a private jet at her disposal. And still it’s not enough. This week we explore the most dysfunctional of family dynamics, how power is mistaken for love, and why the need for parental approval... never quite goes away. Don’t forget to check out Season 1 of Succession to avoid spoilers. If you have been affected by any of the i...

Super subs Rhianna Dhillon and Anna Bogutskaya stand in whilst Mark and Simon are away. Nicholas Hoult talks to Rhianna about taking center stage as Dracula’s long-suffering servant in ‘Renfield’, plus he discusses sharpening his craft alongside Nicholas Cage once again. Anna reviews ‘One Fine Morning’ - a French film about a single mother struggling to take care of her father who has a neurodegen...

We look at the Geller siblings: Ross and Monica. We explore why Monica said “If I could choose my parents, I’d choose yours” to her brother and whether her obsessive neatness is a problem. Plus, we ask why Ross’ intellectualism is a defence mechanism and how friends really can be your support network. Don’t forget to check out Season 1 of Friends to avoid spoilers. If you have been affected by any...

Prolific French director Mia Hansen- Løve speaks to Simon about her deeply personal new film ‘One Fine Morning’ - and how it was inspired by her own experience of her father going into a care home. Mark reviews ‘Lola’ - a science fiction film directed by Andrew Legge – the film is set in 1940 is about a machine called ‘LOLA’ that can intercept radio from the future; ‘Godland’ which is set in the 1...

Thanks to heycar – this bonus episode is all about the best road trip films out there. Mark fills us in on his notorious road trips of the past, including his most memorable road trip which started in Moscow, and finished in Ukraine – all done in a Lada with a flat tyre.   You can hear the listeners' favourite road trip movies, plus Mark’s Top 5 of all time.   This episode is brought to you by hey...

Thrills, state secrets, and international assassins. Eve Polastri has always been wanted to be a MI6 spy. When she stumbles across Villanelle, she gets just that. We explore what happens when a romantically charged obsession goes too far and what happens when people start to want different things out of a relationship. Don’t forget to check out Season 1 of Killing Eve to avoid spoilers. If you hav...

Emily Watson stars alongside Paul Mescal in new psychological drama ‘God’s Creatures’. She joins Simon and Mark in the studio to talk about what it was like playing Paul’s mother in the film where her sense of right or wrong is well and truly put to the test. Mark reviews new Iranian crime movie ‘Law of Tehran’, ‘Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves’ - starring a stellar cast including Chris Pi...

Meet the Rayburn’s. They are upstanding pillars of the community, hugely admired, and entirely dysfunctional. We delve into why Danny is actually the scapegoat, what the sympathetic ghost signifies, and just how sticky familial roles can be. Do you have a character suggestion for us? Get in touch! Please email shrinkthebox@somethinelse.com Don’t forget to check out Season 1 of Bloodlines to avoid...

Keanu and Chad tell Simon about the most difficult stunts to film in the latest John Wick installment in a fascinating interview. Mark reviews the new satirical horror from Brandon Cronenberg - ‘Infinity Pool’  about a writer (Alexander Skarsgård) and his wife, who find themselves in a strange and dangerous situation on holiday when they’re involved in a fatal accident, ‘The Beasts’ - about a midd...

Black, British and kind of famous, Michaela Coel’s Arabella colours outside of the lines; misses deadlines, and, can’t *quite* remember what happened to her last night? One woman’s search for the truth raises questions around agency, relationships and whether or not there’s ever such a thing as shades of grey - when it comes to consent. Don’t forget to check out Season 1 of I May Destroy You to av...

The Multifaceted Daveed Diggs tells Simon how his role as Marshall Zucker in the start studded ‘Extrapolations’ was deeply personal. Mark reviews South London rom- com ‘Rye Lane’ - starring David Jonsson and Vivian Oparah, ‘Pearl’ Ti West’s prequal to horror film ‘X’ which sees Mia Goth reprise her role as the title character, ‘80 for Brady’- which is a comedy starring Jane Fonda, Lily Tomlin, Sal...

Transporting viewers to the idyllic, suburban world of Westview, New Jersey, but all is not how it seems. Despite her otherworldly powers, Wanda experiences grief and loss, just like the rest of us. Plus a deep dive into the strength of nostalgia, what the mysterious beekeepers mean, and how sometimes, destruction is the only thing that helps us heal. Don’t forget to check out Season 1 of Wandavis...

Andy Serkis tells Simon about playing his darkest role yet, and why he decided to take on the challenge. Mark reviews the new horror/slasher take on a child’s classic ‘Winnie the Pooh: Blood and Honey’ which follows a bloodthirsty Winnie-the-Pooh and Piglet as they terrorise their former friend Christopher Robin; ‘Champions’ - a heartwarming new comedy/drama starring Woody Harrelson about a former...

Advertising sells - and Don Draper knows how to sell it better than anyone: a product, the American dream, and even himself. We look at why the ad-men of the ‘60s were so terrified of therapy, how sex is power, and why faking who you are - is actually the hardest sell of all. Don’t forget to check out Season 1 of Mad Men to avoid spoilers. Do you have a character suggestion for us? Get in touch! P...

Michael B. Jordan talks about his directorial debut – he discusses how he feels about Danielle Deadwyler missing out at the Oscars, and working with Jonathan Majors (who interrupted Jordan’s directing playing his music). Mark reviews new MUBI release ‘Close’ which follows two teenage boys whose friendship is thrown into disarray when their schoolmates point out their intimacy. New slashes/splatter...

Falling in love with a priest - whilst being deathly afraid of intimacy? What’s that about? Join us as we delve into the world of Phoebe Waller-Bridge’s Fleabag and find out why she is so intent on being quite so ‘naughty’. Don’t forget to check out Season 1 and 2 of Fleabag to avoid spoilers. If you have been affected by any of the issues discussed in this episode: For the UK, call SAMARITANS on...

Simon speaks to Hugh Jackman about how filming ‘The Son’ changed him as a parent, plus he talks about reprising his role as Wolverine! Mark reviews ‘Cocaine Bear’, a film about a 500-pound black bear who goes on a murderous rampage after unintentionally ingesting cocaine. ‘What’s Love Got To Do With It’ starring Lily James and Shazad Latif, centering around an arranged marriage; ‘The Independent’...

Omar is only Barack Obama's favourite fictional character of all time. And perhaps ours too? We find out why we're on the side of the gun-toting, duster-coat wearing stick-up badass who robs drug dealers for a living. Don’t forget to check out Season 1 of The Wire to avoid spoilers. Do you have a character suggestion for us? Get in touch! Please email shrinkthebox@somethinelse.com If you have been...

Simon speaks to Hollywood royalty Michael Douglas about the return of Ant-Man - Michael recommends the best way to watch his new film... Mark reviews drama ‘Nostalgia’ about a man named Felice who returns to his hometown, Naples, after a 40-year absence; ‘Marcel the Shell with Shoes On’ - the feature adaptation of the animated short, Marcel (voiced by Jenny Slate) is a 1-inch-tall shell that lives...

The often enigmatic chess genius that is Beth Harmon - is the Queen of this week’s episode. Ben and Sasha explore why Beth feels so compelled to clean up after parties - and how her controlled prowess at the chessboard, becomes utter chaos away from it. Do you have a character suggestion for us? Get in touch! Please email shrinkthebox@somethinelse.com Don’t forget to check out Season 1 of The Quee...

We learn about the making of ‘Till’, and what Danielle thinks about the Awards. Mark reviews ‘Women Talking’ - a harrowing American drama about a religious isolated community starring Jessie Buckley, Rooney Mara and Claire Foy, ‘Epic Tails’ - which tells the story of a super smart mouse named Pattie and her feline friend Sam, who embark on an exciting adventure through ancient Greece. ‘Blue Jean’-...

Sliding on their gloves, and stepping into their Hazmat suits, Ben and Sasha distil one of TV’s most infamous characters: The mighty Heisenburg. On this week’s Shrink the Box we uncover why Walter White is often in his underpants, how he taps into his ‘shadow side’ and we explore if the ‘Revenge of the Nerd’ is really a thing. Don’t forget to check out Season 1 of Breaking Bad to avoid spoilers. D...

Telegraph critic Robbie Collin stands in for Simon this week as he’s unwell. Mark reviews ‘EO,’ Jerzy Skolimowski’s harrowing new film about a donkey that encounters happiness and sorrow along his journey through life, ‘Knock at the Cabin’ - M Night Shyamalan’s apocalyptic film – which tells the story of a same sex couple who are held hostage and asked to make an unthinkable choice, from the Shrek...

Unravelling the complex (and surprisingly endearing) layers of the OG mobster: Mr Tony Soprano, all roads lead to New Jersey on the first episode of Shrink the Box! We find out why talking to a therapist is a ‘whackable’ offence, how falling in love with your shrink is not THAT uncommon and why his mother, Livia Soprano could be the real villain of the show. Don’t forget to check out Season 1 of T...