The Shock Doctors Podcast

Another go-around with Ethan Hawke’s Grabber is bound to be at least a little fun, but there’s not enough of him, and Derrickson can’t fully commit to the protagonist switch he’s stumbled into. 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...

The eighth installment in the found footage anthology franchise is a half-step up from the period-piece trilogy, but until they extricate themselves from this splatstick rut, these films will never live up to the promise of the first two. Please follow us on Twitter @ShockDoctorsPod, on Facebook at facebook.com/shockdoctorspod, or check us out on Apple … Continue reading "Episode 210 –...

The saggy midsection of a trilogy that should only have been one movie – or none at all – this latest installment is shapeless, bottom-of-the-barrel stuff. Just woeful. 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 209 – The Stra...

Not as much of a trainwreck as The Devil Made Me Do It, the final(?) installment in The Conjuring series still suffers from the same storytelling pitfalls and overall churchiness as the rest. The first remains really the only one worth watching. Please follow us on Twitter @ShockDoctorsPod, on Facebook at facebook.com/shockdoctorspod, or check us … Continue reading "Episode 208 – The C...

If you were trying to create the world’s most generic, lifeless, bog standard exorcism film, you’d be hard pressed to do better than The Ritual. Al Pacino and Dan Stevens deserved 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 … Continue reading "Episode 207 &...

While Zach Cregger shows a deft hand at nurturing intrigue and creeping dread, he is once again hamstrung by his penchant for hard left turns into comedy. The climax is fun, but left us wanting. 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 206 – Weapons"

This latest lifeless rehash of a 90s slasher is a little less self-serious than Screams V and VI, but probably also dumber. 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 to … Continue reading "Episode 205 – I Know What You Did Last...

The Shock Doctors were already the farthest thing from M3GAN stans, but this needlessly convoluted sequel seals the deal. It’s given up on horror, and it’s an action comedy with no action and bad jokes. 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 204...

Despite being kind of an odd mash-up of two movies in one, neither of which strongly resembles the series’ standout first entry, 28 Years Later is another win for Danny Boyle and Alex Garland. Please follow us on Twitter @ShockDoctorsPod, on Facebook at facebook.com/shockdoctorspod, or check us out on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, or Tune … Continue reading "Episode 203 – 28...

The sophomore feature from the Philippou Brothers underwhelmed us about as much as their debut, Talk to Me. What’s worse is that the flashes of originality in that film are almost entirely absent here, in a borrowed hodgepodge indebted most obviously to Hereditary. Please follow us on Twitter @ShockDoctorsPod, on Facebook at facebook.com/shockdoctorspod, or check us … Continue reading...

Eli Craig’s latest feature is another disappointment from the filmmaker behind Tucker and Dale vs. Evil – just bland YA claptrap with scattershot humor that mostly doesn’t land. 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...

After 200 podcasts, we’ve watched some great movies and a whole lot of crap. Give a listen as we pick out our favorite and least favorite subjects of past episodes. 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 200 – Matt and Jim&#...

Not for the first time, Gary Dauberman piles up a bunch of underwhelming monsters in an attempt to scare us by sheer volume, and not for the first time, he fails. A waste of strong source material. Please follow us on Twitter @ShockDoctorsPod, on Facebook at facebook.com/shockdoctorspod, or check us out on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, … Continue reading "Episode 199 – Until Dawn"

Ryan Coogler’s latest film is a rip-roaring good time, with a surprisingly understated dual performance from Michael B. Jordan surrounded by top-notch work from a deep supporting cast. 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 "Episod...

While not up to the standards of Longlegs, with some pacing issues and overly-quirky side characters, overall The Monkey is a rollicking good time, with four rock-solid performances at its center. 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 197 &...

Another “horror” “comedy” from the Christopher Landon assembly line, Heart Eyes tries to mash together 90s-style romcoms and slasher movies, and fails on both counts. 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 … Continu...

Less a true-blue horror movie and more of a supernatural drama, Presence nonetheless packs a wallop and demonstrates the deft touch of both director Steven Soderbergh and screenwriter David Koepp. 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...

Seemingly at war with itself and unable to settle on its core themes, Wolf Man is a big step down from Leigh Whannell’s first Universal Monster flick, 2020’s The Invisible Man. 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 194 – W...

The seventh installment in the found footage anthology franchise is perhaps a half-step above the period-piece trilogy that preceded it, but as Matt says, it’s getting increasingly hard to care or sit through the undifferentiated stew we’re presented with time and again. The Flanagan-Siegel segment is an exception. Please follow us on Twitter @ShockDoctorsPod, on … Continue readi...

It may not be Eggers’ best work, but that’s a very high bar to clear. This is a beautifully shot, handsomely mounted reimagining of the landmark silent film, with standout performances all around. 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...

Robert Morgan is a gifted animator, but the stopmotion vignettes that give this film its narrative spine don’t tell enough of a story to keep us fully invested. That said, Aisling Franciosi is terrific. Please follow us on Twitter @ShockDoctorsPod, on Facebook at facebook.com/shockdoctorspod, or check us out on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, or Tune … Continue reading "Episode 191...

This Rosemary’s Baby prequel has visual style and strong performances, but fails to engender the same paranoid dread as the original. 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 to check … Continue reading "Episode 190 – Apa...

Heretic has some intelligent, though not groundbreaking, things to say about religion and society, and is built around three strong performances, Hugh Grant in particular. Unfortunately, the script’s minimal modulation of his character’s villainy leaves the movie nowhere to go. Please follow us on Twitter @ShockDoctorsPod, on Facebook at facebook.com/shockdoctorspod, or check us out on...

Gary Dauberman’s long-delayed Stephen King adaptation is pleasantly old-fashioned and shows flashes of panache, but is ultimately light on scares and pretty disposable. 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 readin...

Bigger and dumber than its predecessor, Smile 2 trudges through an interminable series of foregone conclusions while screaming its themes at the audience as loudly as possible. 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 187 &#8...