Theatrical Release – The Shock Doctors Podcast

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

Alexandre Aja’s latest film fails to maintain enough ambiguity to sustain its middle hour, and the ending raises more questions than the audience, after 101 minutes, will really feel motivated to answer. 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 "Epi...

The Substance is a movie with three standout performances and a lot of panache that is weighted down by its own excesses, and a habit of repeating itself. 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 185 – The Substance"

This remake of the 2022 Danish film suffers from a stultifying fidelity to the original – except in two major respects, where there has been a decided downgrade. A waste of a very strong cast. 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 184 – Speak No Evil...

The directorial debut of Robert Eggers’ younger brothers Max and Sam is an uneasy mishmash of influences, on top of being a tedious scatological assault on the senses. 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 183 – The...

While the Shock Doctors share most of Chris Weitz’s feelings about AI and other facets of modernity, the actual film he’s assembled is a muddled hodgepodge of grievances that never coheres. 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...

Alien: Romulus is not without its merits – set design and visual style in particular – but it suffers from an excess of fanservice callbacks, and the AI revenant of Ian Holm was a serious misstep. Please follow us on Twitter @ShockDoctorsPod, on Facebook at facebook.com/shockdoctorspod, or check us out on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, … Continue reading "Episode 181 –...

Buoyed by a committed, charismatic lead performance from Josh Harnett, Trap nonetheless suffers from a lack of commitment to its initial single-location conceit. 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 reading "Episode 18...

Given the background of the material and the people involved, The Exorcism qualifies as a serious disappointment. Turgid, incoherent, and riddled with cliches, this film should have stayed on the shelf. 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...

Our first great horror experience in recent memory, Longlegs is a slam-dunk early candidate for our favorite of the year. Oz Perkins, Nicolas Cage, and Maika Monroe have never been 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 an … Continue reading "Episode 178 – L...

Marred by the superficiality of its sleazy 80s atmosphere, and the bizarre absence of heft in its central character, Ti West’s third X entry ends this franchise with a whimper. 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 177 – Ma...

Michael Sarnoski’s prequel shares some of the pitfalls of earlier entries in the series, but his indie sensibilities add a new character-driven flavor to this film – and Lupita Nyong’o is characteristically excellent. Please follow us on Twitter @ShockDoctorsPod, on Facebook at facebook.com/shockdoctorspod, or check us out on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, or Tune In. …...

Ishana Night Shyamalan’s feature directorial debut unfortunately shares a lot of DNA with her father’s worst work, particularly Lady in the Water. The result, like that film, is rather tedious. 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...