Unsung Cinematics

Stewart, Rastislav and Ken are back to decipher the conspiracy of Vivarium, a 2019 release from Fantastic Films and Screen Ireland. Stewart and Ken watched it on Shudder, where at the time of review it was the number one film on the service. The screenplay is by Garret Shanley and Lorcan Finnegan, and Finnegan also directed. The story follows young couple Tom and Gemma, a handyman/landscaper and t...

In this 3rd recording of Off the Record in 2026, Rastislav, Stewart and Ken bring some new films into the picture. In our feature Rastislav compares two films about evil. I Saw the Devil from 2010, and Blue Velvet from 1986 represent stark opposites in how evil can be portrayed. I Saw the Devil being a Korean film directed by Kim Jee-woon and Blue Velvet by David Lynch. Both are well liked and are...

Disclaimer: The publicist for The Italians contacted the Unsung Cinematics team and asked them to review this film. They received no compensation in return for their review, and their opinions are their own. In this family, everything is on the table! For their new full length episode, Stewart, Rastislav and Ken review The Italians, a 2025 release from All In Pictures. It played at several film fe...

Welcome to the second Off the Record of 2026! This time, Stewart, Rastislav and Ken have an assortment of films and shows with timely topics. Stewart brings us his feature review of 2025’s Oscar nominee Bugonia, directed by Yorgos Lanthimos. He was pleasantly surprised by this film’s conspiracy angle, involving aliens and the mass death of bees. Emma Stone as a “suit” is victimized by Jesse Plemon...

SPOILER WARNING: This film has a pretty major twist in the third act and we couldn’t help talking about it early in our podcast. You may wish to watch Old Henry before listening to our review! He may seem like a mild old sodbuster, but think twice before you slap leather against Old Henry. Stewart, Rastislav and Ken are back to review this western that has a few tricks up its sleeve. While not a b...

In our first 2026 Off the Record we boldly feature Star Trek Academy the brand new feature from Paramount and Alex Kurtzman. Stewart Rips into the new series starring Holly Hunter as Captain Nahla Ake and Sandro Rosta who becomes the new chancellor to the recently resurrected Star Fleet Academy. Sandro the other main character plays a renegade who was upset with Starfleet’s nefarious ways. As far...

Top Gun with Mecha and reckless fighter pilots, involved in a love triangle involving a 4th party AI, ‘plus’ the kitchen sink. Macross Plus is an anime film from 1995 based on the 4 part miniseries cartoon of the same name. This is a continuation from the Macross Franchise also called Robotech from the 80’s. This Shōji Kawamori directed film is set in the year 2040, 3 decades after the previous si...

Out of the normal and into the paranormal in this 2011 supernatural murder mystery by Francis Ford Coppola. Twixt now rebranded as B’Twixt Now and Sunrise which was recut as the ‘Authentic Cut’ in 2022. Will his changes make a difference in this box office flop? Big guns were brought on board for this film, Val Kilmer, Bruce Dern, Elle Fanning and Ben Chaplin in their respected rolls as author, Ed...

After some downtime Stewart, Rastislav and Ken make their return for Off The Record number 6 of 2025. Kens feature pick is Rampage from 1987 Directed by William Friedkin and starring Michael Biehn. A mostly sombre film about the vampire killer Richard Chase and what the experience was like in the courtroom for the jurors. Even though this was a serious film, Ken recounts a few memorable and funny...

Stewart, Rastislav and Ken are back to review Clint Eastwood’s 2021 neo-western Cry Macho. This film had a lengthy development journey; the late N. Richard Nash originally intended this as a screenplay, but retooled it into a novel published in 1975. There were several attempts to bring it to the screen with potential leading men such as Eastwood, Robert Mitchum, Roy Scheider and even Arnold Schwa...

Stewart, Rastislav and Ken return for Off the Record, and speak on the memory of Ozzy Osbourne. Ken begins with a glowing review of 2020’s Rockfield: the Studio on the Farm; Ozzy, Tony Iommi and many others were interviewed for this documentary on the studio built by Charles and Kingsley Ward. The Welsh farming brothers provided the backdrop for Black Sabbath and other UK bands to create enduring...

If ye scurvy landlubbers decide to visit the savage islands of the South Pacific, Nate and Hayes are the best guides you could have. Arrr! This 1983 film bombed big in the box office, and bombed big with Siskel and Ebert! Nate and Hayes is based on the two real life characters Captain Bully Hayes and Ben Pease. Nate being the missionary type and Hayes being the rapscallion he is. Both team up to s...

In this edition of Off the Record Rastislav Miklos and Stewart Rathje take a look at films we watched recently. Unfortunately Ken was not able to make it this time. Rasto enlightens us with his TV series that ran from 2016 to 2021. Rasto believes that four seasons is the perfect amount of time before a series goes stale. Billy Bob Thornton plays a disgraced lawyer, and ambulance chaser mixed with...

Mother! from 2017 is not a typical movie you would show to your mother or father as the screenplay was written in just 5 days. The viewers were divided down the middle on ratings and it was considered a controversial film. Filled with religious symbolism that was loosely based on key moments of the old and new testament scriptures. Whether you consider this film good or bad, it will certainly will...

In this edition of Off the Record we take a peak at the following films and give tribute to Gene Hackman and Val Kilmer who have recently died. Thunderheart from 1992, Nocturne from 2020, The Hole from 2009, Uncommon Valor from 1983, 11:14 from 2003, Conclave from 2024, and the dishonorable mention of The Brutalist. Notable Actors include. Val Kilmer, Sydney Sweeney, Madison Iseman, Chris Massogli...

Does John Die at the End? This 2012 mashup of various film and horror genres is as unique as it comes. Based on the novel and web series of the same name, and written by the same author.   John and Dave are a couple of young slackers, with seemingly nothing going on in their life. However a chance encounter with a Bob Marley look-a-like sets them off in a tailspin as he knows things about their li...

We are here celebrating our 100th episode of the combined Off the Record and Full Length Editions. We go back to our earliest memories of cinema that had influenced us in our life. In this edition we look at Star Wars Episode 4 - A New Hope, Star Wars Episode 5 - The Empire Strikes Back, Permanent Vaction from 1980, PI from 1998, Upgrade from 2018 and finally Army of Darkness: Evil Dead 3 from 199...

David Lynch created many films that shocked us, but he also knew how to give us...The Straight Story. Join us as we review this lesser viewed gem.   The Straight story from 1999 follows the real life events of an elderly man named Alvin Straight who has had a falling out with his brother many years prior. He finds out his brother has had a stroke and decides he needs to make amends. Due to Alvins...

Episode 1 of 2025: In this edition we look at the following films: Nosferatu (2024), The Day of the Jackal (2024) Tv Series, Von Ryan's Express (1965), Arcadian (2024), Dinner in America (2021), The First Deadly Sin (1980) and The Lobster as an honorable mention. Notable Actors Include: Willem Dafoe, Eddie Redmayne, Lashana Lynch, Ursula Corbelo, Frank Sinatra, Trevor Howard, Nicholas Cage, Kyler...

Based on 1570's Feudal Japan, this historical epic was a masterpiece of its time. Akira Kurosawa was near the end of his career, and hadn't made a film in some time, but this was his valiant return with the Film Kagemusha: the Shadow Warrior. The film almost never seen the light of day if it weren't for the Western counterparts to cover the remaining budget and distribution. Based on the true even...

In this edition of 'Off the Record' we take a look at the following films: Hundreds of Beavers (2022), The Primevals (2023), Red One (2024), Thelma (2024), A time to Kill (1996), Mississippi Burning (1988).   Notable Actors include Matthew McConaughey, Sandra Bullock, Samuel L Jackson, Gene Hackmann, Willem Dafoe, Ryland Brickson, Cole Tews, Juliet Mills, Dwayne Johnson, Lucy Lui, J.K. Simmons, Ch...

Is this a Murder Mystery? A Pretty Woman prequel? Perhaps it is a Romantic Drama. We aren't quite sure, but Klute from 1971 was certainly praised.   Set in what was the modern day early 70's, a detective, a high class call girl, and a corporate chief have their lives entangled as they try to solve a murder mystery. Bree Daniel runs afoul with John Klute who is investigating the death. She is deter...

In this edition of 'Off the Record' we take a look at the following films: Featured is Klute (1971), Wyrmwood Road of the Dead (2014), Get Thrashed (2006), Locke (2013), The Girl in the Pool (2024), The 4:30 Movie (2024). Notable Actors include Jane Fonda, Donald Sutherland, Jay Gallagher, Lee Altus, Tom Hardy, Freddie Prinze Jr., and Kevin Smith This is a public episode. If you would like to disc...

Wyrmwood Apocalypse is a brainless zombie horror from 2021 that features most of the same characters as the original Wyrmwood film.   Set in the near future, this dystopian terror, is different than other films in this genre as of late due to the fact that it uses mostly practical effects for the savage amusement of the fans. Even though many of the original fans were critical of this hack and sla...

In this episode of 'Off The Record' our feature pick was Apartment 7A and the following films: Future 38', The Boat that Rocked, Civil War, VHS Beyond and About A Boy and Beetlejuice Beetlejuice as a honorable mention. Notable actors include: Michael Keaton, Julia Garner, Betty Gilpin, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Kirsten Dunst, Brian Baker and Hugh Grant. This is a public episode. If you would like to...