The Strange Harbors Podcast

The wildest horror movie of 2021 is here, and it's not the one you were thinking of. This week, we're talking about James Wan's latest film, Malignant, the dark horse contender for having the most jaw-dropping twist of the year. Don't let its sleepy trailer fool you, Malignant is hiding some dark secrets.

This week, we're talking about the Marvel Cinematic Universe's first Asian-led superhero movie, Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings. We break down our reactions with a full spoiler review, discussing the film's kinetic action, affecting performances, and its CGI bonanza of a third act. Rep sweats, the legendary Tony Leung, and an update to our unofficial MCU rankings, we cover it all!

Candyman, Candyman, Candyman...this week we're speaking the forbidden name as we discuss Nai DaCosta's sequel to the 1992 Bernard Rose classic. How does the new Candyman stack up against the original? How does it reconfigure its themes and mythology? Tune in and find out! Spoilers from the start on this one...

Taking a break from our regular programming, this week we're discussing what we've all been watching in between our coverages. Trending movies and series, throwbacks, and more, find out what's been on our radar lately. On this episode, we take a look at Snake Eyes, Nine Perfect Strangers, Hacks, CODA, and much, much more. PLUS, a live reaction to the new trailer for Spider-Man: No Way Home which d...

This week we're discussing director Michael Sarnoski's feature debut, Pig, Starring Nicolas Cage and Alex Wolff. A film that careens right when you think it will bank left, Pig is a tremendously tender and heartfelt film - the anti John Wick. Yes, both films feature a grizzled professional coming out of retirement to get justice for a lost animal companion, but that's where comparisons end. What d...

This week, we discuss director James Gunn's new entry into the DCEU, The Suicide Squad. We dive deep into the film's comic book roots, its wicked humor, and Gunn's signature irreverent violence. We also discuss the reasons behind its relative underperformance at the box office, and how the industry is currently shaping itself around COVID and its delta variant.

This week, we're discussing M. Night Shyamalan's new film, Old! Does Old harken back to the director's glory days? Does it continue his comeback tour? Let's travel to the beach that turns you old and find out.

It's the Loki finale and the Marvel Multiverse is here! We're capping off an extended stay in the MCU with a discussion of the final episode of Loki's first season. Does it button up a satisfying arc for our God of Mischief? What's in store for the Marvel Cinematic Universe now that we have Jonathan Majors in a key role? Tune in and find out!

Our Marvel Cinematic Universe extravaganza week continues with the second episode of this week, diving deep into Scarlett Johansson's Avengers swan song, Black Widow. Where does the film stack up within the MCU? Has the film's multiple delays impacted its effectiveness? And will the baton be passed to Florence Pugh's scene-stealing Yelena Belova? Tune in and find out!

Technical difficulties got in the way of a new episode last week, but now you're getting two this week! First up, we catch up with episodes 3, 4, and 5 of Marvel's Loki, which is now streaming on Disney Plus. Has the show kept its crown after our initial thoughts on the first two episodes? Tune in and find out!

This week, we're discussing the wild, outrageous, and logic-lite spectacle of F9, the latest installment of the Fast and Furious franchise. Has the series finally gone off the deep end? Or is it still the action series we know and love? Tune in and find out!

Is the "Pixar slump" a real thing? We sit down and investigate the movies of Disney's premier animation studio and review its latest film, "Luca," directed by Enrico Casarosa, starring Jacob Tremblay, Jack Dylan Grazer, and Emma Berman, now streaming on Disney Plus. How does this fish-out-of-water tale stack up against the rest of Pixar's library? Tune in and find out!

This week, we've got a deeper cut for you with Lawrence Michael Levine's 2020 film, Black Bear. Starring Aubrey Plaza, Christopher Abbott, and Sarah Gadon, Black Bear is a twisty, surprise-filled chamber piece with biting performances and fascinating layers. Let's talk about the film and its jaw-dropping plot twist!

"Your savior...is here!" This week, we've got a special installment of the pod as we discuss the first TWO episodes of Marvel's latest Disney Plus series, Loki. We all got a chance to see the episodes ahead of its premiere, and we'll be breaking down the first episode, while giving our general spoiler-free thoughts on the second.

Shhh...this week, we're talking John Krasinski's follow-up to his 2018 hit thriller, the twice-delayed A Quiet Place Part 2. Emily Blunt, Millicent Simmonds, and Noah Jupe return as the Abbotts, along with new addition Cillian Murphy. Is this a sequel worth making some noise over? Tune in and find out.

This week, we're discussing Zack Snyder's second film of 2021, this time for Netflix, Army of the Dead. Zombies! Heists! Robots! How does Snyder's return to undead horror fare, and how does it rank within his filmography? We've got different takes, so tune in and find out what they are!

Saw is back, baby! The ninth installment of the Saw franchise, Spiral: From the Book of Saw, makes a clean break from continuity to give us a brand new story. Injected with some star power with Chris Rock and Samuel L. Jackson, Spiral dives right back into the brutal world of the Jigsaw Killer. How does the film stack up to its predecessors? Tune in and find out!

0:53-6:16 - Cancellation of the Golden Globes 6:17-11:10 - Invincible 11:11-14:09 - Mare of Easttown 14:10-17:55 - Shadow and Bone 17:56-22:31 - Jupiter’s Legacy 22:32-23:22 - The Mitchells vs. The Machines  23:23-24:47 - Ted Lasso 24:48-26:03 - Gangs of London 26:04-29:47 - Black Bear 29:48-32:05 - House of Flying Daggers 32:06-33:12 - The Americans 33:13-36:05 - CW’s Kung Fu 36:06-39:35 - CW’s S...

Action, blood, gore, and Fatalities. What more do you want from a Mortal Kombat movie? Does the Simon McQuoid's reboot clear its low bar of expectations and requirements for an entertaining video game adaptation? Is there enough Mortal Kombat in Mortal Kombat? Tune in and find out!

This week, we wrap up our discussion of The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, the second series in the MCU's new Disney Plus slate. As we enter the finale, the conflict between Sam, Bucky, and the Flag Smashers come to a head. Will Sam finally pick up the shield? Does the series effectively tackle its themes? Listen in and find out what we thought.

A bonus episode of The Strange Harbors Podcast! A night of historic wins, marred by a disastrous gamble. What went wrong at the 93rd Academy Awards? We discuss the evenings winners, losers, and the baffling decision that upended the entire ceremony.

This week, we discuss action maestro Gareth Evans and Matt Flannery's (The Raid, The Raid 2) under-the-radar crime epic, Gangs of London, which is now streaming on AMC and AMC+. Starring Ṣọpẹ Dìrísù and Joe Cole, this British crime drama proves that Evans is still one of the best action architects in film and television.

The Falcon and the Winter Soldier passes its series midpoint, and we discuss the two eventful episodes, "Power Broker" and "The Whole World Is Watching." Things we loved, things we didn't love, and everything in between, tune in and find out our thoughts on episodes 3 and 4.

This week, we're talking about Amazon Prime Video's new animated superhero series, Invincible, a comic book adaptation with a devious twist. A show over two decades in the making, how does it compare to the source material? And how does it translate one of the best comic book swerves of all time? Tune in and find out.

Leaving WandaVision's sitcom world, Disney Plus' new series - The Falcon and the Winter Soldier - checks in on two fan-favorite Captain America pals, Sam Wilson and Bucky Barnes. Flag Smasher, John Walker, Baron Zemo, Isaiah Bradley! There's a ton to unpack, so tune in and find out what we thought of the MCU's latest.