Movies In Focus

Jeremiah Kipp, the filmmaker behind the film adaptation of the video game,  The Mortuary Assistant  joins this episode of the Movies In Focus  podcast.  Now, as I admit in my chat with Jeremiah, I haven’t played the video game - but I did enjoy the film! It’s an atmospheric horror that reminded by quite of a bit of the 1962 genre classic  Carnival of Souls.  It's a small, contained chiller that cr...

Jesse V. Johnson’s  Thieves Highway  is a modern day western about cattle rustling, that sees Aaron Echkart’s cow cop tracking down a a bunch of seriously bad hombres.  Written by Travis Mills - the director of the recent  Frontier Crucible  -  Thieves Highway  has hints of Fred Zinnemann’s  High Noon  and Carl Franklin’s  One False Move . It’s a small, character-based thriller that has a strong c...

Collins' Mel Gibson starrer,  Hunting Season  is something of surprise. Yes, it gives you want you want from a Mel Gibson thriller, but it’s also a film that features some excellent and finely tuned performances. Gibson, as you would expect is great, but so is the supporting cast. There’s a lot going on here and it’s sure to really engage viewers.  The plot sees a reclusive survivalist (Gibson...

This is an exciting episode of the  Movies In Focus  podcast - because I’m not only joined by the mighty Thomas Jane ( The Mist, The Punisher, Deep Blue Sea ), the star and producer of the new western,  Frontier Crucible  - but I'm also also speaking to the film’s director, Travis Mills.  Travis Mills embraces the western and delivers an interpretation of the genre that not only looks back to...

Scott Martin, Michael Jai White, Charlotte Kirk and Stephanie Beran join this episode of the Movies In Focus podcast to discuss their new film,  Exit Protocol .  Interviewed separately, these conversations offer thoughtful insights into the production of  Exit Protocol , creative decisions, and the collaborative energy that shaped the film. It’s an interesting look at bringing the Dolph Lundgren f...

James Badge Dale ( 13 Hours ,  The Standoff At Sparrow Creek ) and Michael Mando ( Better Call Saul ,  Spider-Man ) join this episode of the  Movies In Focus  podcast to talk about their roles in John Swab’s latest film,  King Ivory .  Swab’s drug thriller explores the dangerous world of fentanyl trafficking in the U.S., offering a gritty glimpse into a society fighting for survival. In this inter...

Filmmaker and actor Caleb Alexander Smith ( The Catch, Modern Family ) and his co-star David Krumholtz ( Oppenheimer, The Santa Clause, Supergirl ) join his episode of the the  Movies In Focus  podcast to discuss their thought provoking new film,  Forelock . It’s a work that could easily slip under the radar in today’s crowded cinematic landscape - and that would be a massive shame. Forelock  stri...

British film producer and the man behind Shogun Films, Jonathan Sothcott joins this episode of the  Movies In Focus  podcast to discuss his impressive and varied career in the film industry.  One of the most prolific figures in British genre cinema, Sothcott discusses his latest horror movie  Helloween , the realities of producing independent films and how he’s built a career telling stories that...

Film composer and singer-songwriter Tom Schraeder joins this episode of the  Movies In Focus  podcast for an in-depth conversation. Known for his emotionally charged music, Schraeder has built a career that bridges the worlds of songwriting and film scoring with ease. Composing music for films like  The Dark And The Wicked, We’re Not Safe Here  and  Vicious,  Schraeder is a musician who can add mu...

Writer-director  Kiah Roache-Turner ’s  Beast Of War  isn’t just another entry in the long tradition of shark films - it’s a pulse-pounding WWII thriller that delivers on both fronts. This Australian production stands out with its commitment to practical effects over CGI, keeping viewers on edge as a group of soldiers faces both a battle-scarred predator and the harsh realities of survival at sea....

This time around, Charlotte Kirk and Zach McGowan , the stars of Neil Marshall 's new erotic thriller, Compulsion join this episode of the Movies In Focus podcast. Co-starring Anna-Maria Sieklucka , Compulsion delivers a throwback punch, homaging the shadowy style of Italian giallo and the sleazy vibe of 80s and 90s erotic thrillers. Kirk and McGowan discuss what drew them to its dark, complex cha...

Neil Marshall’s Compulsion is not only a homage to the blood-soaked Italian giallo, but also a throwback to the kind of erotic thrillers that Hollywood churned out in the 1980s and 1990s - think Dario Argento meets Brian De Palma , Starring Anna-Maria Sieklucka, Charlotte Kirk and Zach McGowan, the Malta set pic is a twisty and turny thriller that throws in a lot of left turns - and it will keep y...

Actors Hayley McFarland and Sharmita Bhattacharya , the captivating leads of writer/director Solomon Gray ’s quietly unnerving horror We're Not Safe Here , join this episode of Movies In Focus podcast. We're Not Safe Here is a horror film that sidesteps typical genre tropes, offering a carefully crafted, slow-burning chill that lingers well beyond the closing credits. Hayley and Sharmita delve int...

Action Auteur, Renny Harlin joins this special bite-sized episode of the Movies In Focus podcast. In the 1990s, Harlin delivered some of the decade’s most memorable and entertaining films like Die Hard 2, Cliffhanger, The Long Kiss Goodnight - and my favourite go-to killer shark film, Deep Blue Sea . Now he’s turning his attention back to horror with The Strangers: Chapter 2 - the follow-up to las...

n this episode of the Movies In Focus podcast, writer-director Bill Fishman talks about his sun-soaked comedy Waltzing With Brando - the true story of Marlon Brando ’s quest to build an eco-paradise in Tahiti, brilliantly brought to life by Billy Zane ’s note-perfect and layered performance. Fishman, known for celebrating quirky real-life tales, discusses how Waltzing With Brando sidesteps weighty...

Solomon Gray, writer and director of the quietly unsettling horror film, We're Not Safe Here , joins the Movies In Focus podcast for an in-depth conversation. We're Not Safe Here is deft little chiller that is notable for its ability to get under your skin with subtle psychological horror rather than cheap shocks. Solomon discusses the inspirations behind the film, the creative challenges of craft...

Director M.J. Bassett and actor Matilda Lutz join this episode of the Movies In Focus podcast to talk about their new fantasy adventure film, Red Sonja . The movie brings the cult comic-book character back to the screen, and as noted in the Movies In Focus review , it’s a bold reimagining that puts Lutz front and centre as the sword-wielding warrior. Her performance as Red Sonja grounds the film a...

Actress and filmmaker, Megan Tremethick joins this episode of the Movies In Focus podcast to discuss her acclaimed low-budget epic, The Reign Of Queen Ginnarra ( read the Movies In Focus review ). Megan explores the inspiration behind the Roger Corman-esque film and how she ended up bringing the enigmatic queen to life on screen.  Megan also discusses her journey as a filmmaker, her approach to st...

Ernesto Díaz Espinoza, the filmmaker behind the stylish and brutal new thriller Diablo joins this latest episode of the Movies In Focus podcast. Espinoza has been flying the flag for genre cinema in Chile for nearly 20 years—serving up everything from hard-hitting martial arts action to offbeat exploitation throwbacks. With Diablo , he’s crafted something lean, atmospheric, and incredibly well act...

Film scholar and returning guest James Kenney has a knack for uncovering lost and forgotten cinematic treasures. You can listen to episodes 18 and 32 of the Movies In Focus podcast to learn about his headline-making work on Peter Bogdanovich’s Squirrels To The Nuts and the rediscovery of the original version of the Keanu Reeves and Ana de Armas film, God’s Daughter . James now returns to discuss h...

Acclaimed horror author Adam Cesare joins this bite-sized episode of the Movies In Focus podcast to talk about the recording breaking film adaptation of his novel Clown In A Cornfield . Known for his mastery of slasher thrills and sharp social commentary, Adam Cesare's book - and its film adaptation - charts the chilling story of Kettle Springs-a town divided and terrorised by the homicidal killer...

Short films are difficult. It’s easy to tell a story across 90 minutes or a couple of hours, where plot and characterisation can expand and grow. However, it takes real skill to deliver something short, punchy (and more importantly) narratively cohesive within a couple of minutes. This takes us nicely along to Dakota Stone , a new short from director Sherice Griffiths and writer Alfie Scattergood...

Writer-director Torsten Ruether joins this episode of the M ovies In Focus podcast to discuss his boxing drama, Uppercut . The film marks Ruether's English-language debut, adapted from his 2021 film Leberhaken, and features an impressive cast, including Ving Rhames, Luise Grossmann, Joanna Cassidy and Jordan E. Cooper. Uppercut tells the story of Toni, a determined female boxer, and her journey wi...

First-up there's Martin Campbell, the director of the acclaimed James Bond films Goldeneye with Pierce Brosnan and Casino Royale starring Daniel Craig. This is followed by a chat with Simon West, the director of the iconic ’90s Nicolas Cage pic, Con Air and Lara Croft: Tomb Raider starring Angelina Jolie. Martin Campbell discusses his new film, Cleaner , a high-rise action pic starring Star Wars s...

Director Michael Polish joins the Movies In Focus podcast to talk about his latest action thriller, Alarum . Fresh off the heels of its January 17th release, this high-octane spy flick stars Sylvester Stallone, Scott Eastwood, and Willa Fitzgerald. The film sees two married spies - Joe and Laura Travers - who find themselves hunted by intelligence agencies after discovering a mysterious flash driv...