Film Curious

I Love Boosters Review | A Well-Crafted Looney Tunes-Esque Joyride That Isn’t Afraid to Say What It Means

Ashley Bernhardt — Thu, 11 Jun 2026 19:00:00 -0400

In this episode of Film Curious, Ashley, Pete, and Nicole chat about the newest Boots Riley film, I Love Boosters, starring KeKe Palmer, Taylour Paige, Naomi Ackie, and Poppy Lui, with supporting performances from Demi Moore, LaKeith Stanfield, Eiza González, Will Poulter, and last but not least, Don Cheadle.

We discuss the joyride that is this movie, how the film was made (its production techniques), the standout performances and moments, the movie’s unique score and music, Riley’s directing style and upfront messaging. Plus, that LaKeith Stanfield scene that was a little out there for some people 😆

Also, we have some fun film side tangents, like: movies people walked out of over the years, uncomfortable in-theater experiences, and debate what people should expect when they go into a movie.

⚠️ We do get into spoilers at 22:15! Available in theaters now 🎟️

⏱️Timestamps

00:00 Highlight Clip from Episode

00:30 Intro to the Episode & Film

02:37 Overall Reactions to the Movie

04:16 Issues with the Sound Mix & Projector in Theaters

07:31 Production & Set Design BTS Info | How They Made the Film

10:26 Crowd Reactions, People Walking Out of Movies & Our Favorite Performances of the Film

18:41 Stop Motion, the Different Mediums Utilized in the Film, & The New LAIKA Film Wildwood Trailer

20:03 Why You Should Experience It in Theaters

22:15 Spoiler Discussion⚠️ | That Scene with LaKeith Stanfield People Walked Out On & Knowing What You’re Getting Yourself Into with Movies

27:06 Music & Score for the Movie, KeKe Palmer’s and Boots Riley’s Daughter’s EP, & Riley’s Hip-Hop Background Influence

29:14 The Handling of Messaging & Riley’s Blatant Yet Refreshing Views

41:16 LaKeith Stanfield’s Prince Like Impersonation & Filming That Demon Scene

42:54 Wrap Up | Boots Riley Filmmaking Style & Why It Works

45:20 Outro - Thanks for Listening & Don’t Forget to Subscribe! 🔔

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Resources & References:

How Director Boots Riley Brought I Love Boosters from Big Idea to the Big Screen

Boots Riley Explains Why Capitalism is Built on Theft | I LOVE BOOSTERS

Boots Riley on Art, Activism, and “I Love Boosters” | The Daily Show

Indie Wire Article | Why ‘I Love Boosters’ Also Loves Stop Motion Animation and Weird Little Guys

The Coup - “I Love Boosters” Song | I Love Boosters!

I Love Boosters (Original Motion Picture Score)

I Love Boosters (Original Motion Picture Score) | KeKe Palmer EP

Sorry to Bother You (2018)

I’m a Virgo (2023)

Boogie Nights (1997)

#ILoveBoosters #BootsRiley #KeKePalmer #LaKeithStanfield #DemiMoore #MovieReview #FilmPodcast

Mando in the Middle | The Mandalorian and Grogu Non-Spoiler Review: Some Shining Spots, Some Missed Opportunities, But Mainly Decent

Ashley Bernhardt — Fri, 05 Jun 2026 16:06:10 -0400

In this episode of Film Curious, Pete gives a brief non-spoiler review of the latest Star Wars film installment, The Mandalorian and Grogu, directed by Jon Favreau and starring Pedro Pascal and Sigourney Weaver. The movie caps the end of The Mandalorian TV series that first premiered on Disney+ in 2019 and finished in 2023.

Pete gives his overall rating of the film, its highlights (and lowlights), the massive problems he has with Mando keeping the helmet on all the time, how not much of consequence happens in the movie as related to the show, the awesome stop motion fight sequence, and why Disney needs to let Lucasfilm pick a lane going forward.

Also, the group’s frustration with the amount of commercials and trailers in front of movies at AMC, how announcing and hyping up films three years before their release is unnecessary with everyone’s short-term memory these days, and how weird fandoms can be about things.

⚠️This is a non-spoiler discussion, but if you’re anything like Ashley, there is a small mention of what’s in the final fight scene at 09:51.

Available in theaters now. 🎟️

⏱️Timestamps

00:00 Intro to the Episode

00:36 The Film’s Opening, Characters, and Settings

02:09 The Problem with the Helmet & Not Seeing Pedro Pascal’s Full Performance

04:16 Fan Service & Characters from Other Star Wars Works That Go Unexplained

07:01 Grogu & Mando’s Character Arcs (or Lack of Growth) | Show to Movie

09:51 Light Spoiler Warning ⚠️ | Final Fight Scene, Its Stop Motion Animation & Feelings on Ending

10:58 Pete’s Final Rating of the Film

12:18 The Need for the Star Wars Franchise to Pick a Road Going Forward

13:22 Announcing Movies Three Years in Advance & Unnecessary Promotion

14:07 Frustrations with AMC & The Amount of Pre-Show Commercials and Trailers

15:52 Wrap Up - The Crazy & Weird Portion of the Star Wars Fandom

16:59 Outro - Thanks for Listening & Don’t Forget to Subscribe! 🔔

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#MandalorianAndGrogu #StarWars #StarWarsMovie #Grogu #PedroPascal #FilmPodcast

Obsession (2026) Review & Analysis: All the Things This Film Is Trying to Say & Do the Wish Mechanics Matter?

Ashley Bernhardt — Tue, 02 Jun 2026 07:00:00 -0400

In this episode, Ashley, Nicole, and Pete dive deep into Obsession (2026), the much-applauded and talked about psychological horror thriller written and directed by Curry Barker (former YouTube creator), starring Michael Johnston and Inde Navarrette. This little movie was made on a mere million dollar budget and is now sitting pretty at over $100 million, one of the biggest box office successes of the year.

We break down Bear’s true character, the whole dead cat thing, the wish mechanics of the One Wish Willow, what the film is saying subtly (and not so subtly), the horrifying conclusion and everything in between.

⚠️ This is a full spoiler discussion! We suggest watching it first if you haven’t already. Available in theaters now. 🎟️

⏱️Timestamps

00:00 Highlight Clip from the Episode

00:33 The Last Few Weeks on Film Curious

00:49 Intro to This Week’s Film

03:48 Initial Reactions and Themes of the Film

08:41 The Intricacies of 'Obsession' and Its Themes

21:45 Debating What Was Working & What Wasn’t

27:48 The Directorial & Story Choices Curry Barker Makes

32:37 Exploring the Wish Mechanism & Consequences of Wishes and Accountability

44:58 Friends & the Film’s Handling of Mental Health

49:06 The Dark Ending and Its Implications

01:04:30 Wrap Up - Taking a Break from Horror Films for a Bit

01:05:42 Outro - Thanks for Listening & Don’t Forget to Subscribe! 🔔

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#Obsession2026 #HorrorMovies #BlumhouseHorror #FilmPodcast #MovieReview #CurryBarker

Streaming Spotlight: Unpacking Send Help - Sam Raimi’s Signature Style Makes for a Riotously Fun Survival Horror Comedy

Ashley Bernhardt — Thu, 21 May 2026 07:00:00 -0400

In this episode of Film Curious, Ashley and Nicole review the horror comedy Send Help (2026) directed by Sam Raimi, starring Rachel McAdams and Dylan O'Brien, which is now available to stream on Hulu. We explore its unique blend of humor, horror, and power dynamics, revealing how Raimi's signature style influences the film's tone and narrative choices.

In this deep dive, we analyze the film's themes, visual style, and character arcs, highlighting its campy tone, dark humor, and its place within the horror-comedy genre, making predictions into its lasting appeal.

We also get into the rise of horror comedy and why this campy genre might be the most honest response to the current cultural moment.

⚠️This episode contains a full spoiler discussion! We suggest watching it first if you haven’t already. Available to stream on Hulu & Disney+ currently.

⏱️Timestamps

00:00 Highlight Clip from the Episode

00:30 Intro to the Film - Brief Synopsis

01:37 Exploring Sam Raimi's Directing Style & Immediate Narrative Choices

11:25 The Performances - Rachel McAdams' Versatility & Dylan O'Brien's Growth

21:17 ⚠️Spoiler Discussion & Plot Twists⚠️

33:43 Moral Ambiguity and Character Evolution

47:54 The Final Showdown and Transformation - Why It Works

55:30 Breaking the Fourth Wall: A Cinematic Technique

58:50 Audience Expectations and Film Interpretation

01:11:52 The Rise of Horror Comedies & Original Stories

01:15:53 Wrap Up - Excited to See More Original Horror in the Future! Let Us Know Your Thoughts!

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#SendHelp #RachelMcAdams #DylanOBrien #SamRaimi #FilmPodcast

Streaming Spotlight: The Starling Girl Review + Analysis - A Masterclass in Precise Visual Storytelling

Ashley Bernhardt — Thu, 14 May 2026 07:00:00 -0400

In this episode of Film Curious, Ashley and Nicole dive deep into The Starling Girl (2023), an indie drama written and directed by Laurel Parmet, starring Eliza Scanlen, Lewis Pullman, and Jimmy Simpson.

A 17-year-old in a Christian fundamentalist community develops a dangerous connection with her youth pastor, and the film handles it with nuance, restraint, and visual intelligence that most films three times its budget never achieve. We get into Eliza Scanlan's micro-expression masterclass, Laurel Parmet's brilliant visual storytelling, the consent conversation the film quietly forces you to have, the small details that tell everything you need to know, and why this filmmaker deserves so much more attention.

⚠️ This is a full spoiler discussion! We suggest watching it first if you haven’t already. Available to stream on Netflix currently.

⏱️Timestamps

00:00 Highlight Clip from the Episode

00:28 Intro to the Film & How Adeptly the Story Is Handled

06:39 ⚠️Spoiler Section Starts⚠️

23:57 Handling of Sex Scene & the Consent Discussion

29:43 Analysis of the Film & Its Themes

56:06 The Surprise Turn Towards the Ending & What the Ending Means for the Main Character Going Forward

01:00:00 Wrap Up - Excited and Hoping to See Laurel Parmet Make More Movies in the Future

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#TheStarlingGirl #ElizaScanlan #FilmPodcast

Streaming Spotlight: No Hard Feelings - Why We Miss These Kinds of Comedies & Crave More of Them

Ashley Bernhardt — Fri, 08 May 2026 19:00:00 -0400

In this episode of Film Curious, Ashley and guest co-host Nicole revisit No Hard Feelings (2023), the Jennifer Lawrence comedy directed by Gene Stupnitsky, now streaming on Hulu and HBO MAX. We were missing out; it's way better than we ever expected!

We break down why Jennifer Lawrence is genuinely great in this role, why Andrew Barth Feldman's surprise musical moment works so well in the film, how the movie quietly subverts every expectation you bring into it, and how this is the exact kind of comedy Hollywood doesn't make enough of anymore but should!

We also get into the supporting work from Matthew Broderick and Laura Benanti, 21 Jump Street comparisons, and why this film deserves to be remembered.

⚠️This review does contain a small amount of spoilers⚠️

⏱️Timestamps

00:00 Highlight Clip from the Episode

00:45 Intro & Welcoming Nicole to the Show

02:16 Why Ashley & Nicole Dismissed No Hard Feelings When It Came Out

05:43 Overall Review of the Film, Subverting Expectations, Jennifer Lawrence's Performance, How It Delivers a lot of Heart without Being Romantic & Reminds Us of Great Comedies From When Were Younger
10:30 Spoiler Portion Begins

16:17 The Supporting Cast & How Well They Worked to Supplement the Story

18:38 The Slapstick Comedy Aspects That Sometimes Didn’t Work

21:47 Andrew Barth Feldman & The Wonderful Musical Moment

23:29 Wrap Up - Why This Film Deserves to Be Remembered

26:02 Outro - Thanks for Listening! Tune In Next Time!

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#NoHardFeelings #JenniferLawrence #FilmPodcast

Hokum Non-Spoiler Review - Damian McCarthy's Folk Horror Follow-Up Is Legitimately Good, Seriously Scary

Ashley Bernhardt — Tue, 05 May 2026 07:00:00 -0400

In this episode of Film Curious, Pete chats about catching a midnight screening of Hokum at the Florida Film Festival before its wide release; Damian McCarthy's follow-up to Oddity, starring Adam Scott in a role unlike anything you've seen from him before. We discuss why this folk horror haunted hotel film genuinely scared Pete despite knowing every trick in the book, why you don't need to have seen Oddity to enjoy it but there’s a clear connection, and how Hokum fits into the recent golden era of emotional journey driven horror.

And then there are a few tangents on the bizarre online criticism that certain horror films are bad because they actually deliver on their premise and there’s no “twist,” and why tells work in certain stories but not in others.

🍿Pro Tip: Skip the trailer entirely with this one and just watch the film.

Guest Co-Host | Pete Tedone - Instagram

⏱️Timestamps

00:00 Intro - Brief Episode Info & Film Curious Theme Music

00:36 Hokum Plot Overview (No Spoilers) & Seeing It in a Packed Theater

03:14 Hokum: Another Great Horror Film That Is About the Emotional Journey

04:41 Ashley & Pete’s Tangent on Movies Not Needing to Have a Twist

13:37 Pete’s Rant on the Obvious Give Away in Marvel’s Iron Heart

14:57 Difference Between Giving the Bag Away vs. Only Catch It If You’re Paying Close Attention

19:40 Wrap Up - Definitely a Must See & Try to Watch Oddity Beforehand

20:49 Outro - Thanks for Listening! Don’t Forget to Subscribe!

This is a spoiler-free review. ⛔⚠️

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#Hokum #FolkHorror #FilmPodcast

The Mummy (2026) Review - Is Lee Cronin's Take Just an Evil Dead & Exorcist Movie in Disguise?

Ashley Bernhardt — Fri, 01 May 2026 12:00:00 -0400

In this episode of Film Curious, we're reviewing The Mummy (2026), the latest Universal monster reimagining directed by Lee Cronin (Evil Dead Rise), starring Jack Reynor, Leah Acosta, and May Calamawy. Not to be mistaken for the 1999 Mummy starring Brendan Fraser and Rachel Weisz. This is an entirely new one.

We debate whether this fresh take on The Mummy works, why Pete couldn’t shake the feeling he was watching an Evil Dead or Exorcist film, how the demon Nasmaranian has zero roots in Egyptian mythology, and whether the 2 hour and 14 minute runtime was necessary.

We also briefly touch on Universal's ongoing series of monster reboots, how it compares to The Invisible Man and Wolf Man, and what Mike Flanagan’s upcoming Exorcist film might mean for this corner of horror.

Guest Co-Host | Pete Tedone - Instagram

⏱️Timestamps

00:00 Highlight Clip from Episode

00:30 Intro - The Plot (No Spoilers), Director, & Cast Breakdown

03:59 Ashley’s Overall Feelings on the Film

05:01 Pete’s Overall Feelings on the Film

06:03 Is This Just an Evil Dead Movie?

07:30 Some Stipulations with a Major Plot Point

09:44 The Movie's Success So Far & How It Compares to Universal’s Other Monster Reboots

11:15 ⚠️Spoilers⚠️ - The Demon & The Ending

18:39 Wrap Up - Evil Dead & Halloween Horror Nights

20:49 Outro - Thanks for Listening! Don’t Forget to Subscribe!

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#TheMummy #HorrorMovies #FilmPodcast

The Christophers Review - How This Film Feels Like the Kind of Great Movies Hollywood Used to Make

Ashley Bernhardt — Thu, 30 Apr 2026 07:00:00 -0400

In this episode of Film Curious, we're reviewing The Christophers, the NEON dark comedy directed by Steven Soderbergh and written by Ed Solomon, starring Ian McKellen as a once famous aging artist and Michaela Coel as an art forger hired by his children (played by James Corden and Jessica Gunning) to complete some of his unfinished, long-abandoned work so they’ll have an inheritance when he dies.

We discuss how McKellen and Coel's chemistry and performances are at the heart of the film, how Soderbergh quietly does some of his most superb directing through subtlety, why this feels like watching a play in the best possible way, and how this film has rightly earned its 97% score on Rotten Tomatoes.

Things We Mention in the Episode:

Ian McKellen in Mr. Holmes

NEON Shop | The Christophers’ Art Poster

Guest Co-Host | Pete Tedone - Instagram

⏱️Timestamps

00:00 Highlight Clip from Episode

00:27 Intro - The Christophers Synopsis, Cast, + Details

05:23 Steven Soderbergh’s Direction - Invisible But Brilliant

07:45 ⚠️SPOILERS⚠️ The Heart of the Film - Ian McKellen + Michaela Coel’s Performances

09:53 James Corden & Jessica Gunning - The Perfect Pair of Assholes

10:29 Little Moments Spread Throughout the Film with Great Payoffs

12:40 Ian McKellen is One of the Greats and Doing Some of His Best Work Later in Life

15:18 How This Film Would Work Great as Stage Adaptation

16:35 Soderbergh Quietly Putting Together a Great Catalog of Work Over the Years

18:07 NEON’s Shop Having The Christophers Artwork as a Poster Available

19:57 Find and Support a Small Theater Near You and Go See This Film

22:29 Outro - Thanks for Listening! Don’t Forget to Subscribe!

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#TheChristophers #IanMcKellen #MichaelaCoel #FilmPodcast

The Martian Rewatch - 11 Years Later How Similar Is It Really to Project Hail Mary?

Ashley Bernhardt — Fri, 24 Apr 2026 05:00:00 -0400

After watching Project Hail Mary (2026) in theaters and having our deep dive review of it, we decided to do a little Andy Weir novel adaptation comparison with a rewatch of The Martian (2015)—directed by Ridley Scott and starring Matt Damon eleven years ago. Same screenwriter Drew Goddard, same lone astronaut premise… but are these movies the same?

We talk about what makes The Martian’s puzzle box storytelling so satisfying, why Ridley Scott’s controlled direction still holds up, the two films' major differences, and whether we prefer Project Hail Mary or The Martian.

Guest Co-Host | Pete Tedone - Instagram

Timestamps

00:00 Highlight Clip from the Episode

00:12 Intro - Why Compare The Martian to Project Hail Mary

01:28 The Martian’s Storytelling & Pacing

03:20 The All-Star Cast You Forgot About

04:10 Where the Similarities End and Difference Begin

10:52 Ridley Scott’s Direction vs. Project Hail Mary

11:19 Are the stakes high enough?

12:14 Which One Do We Prefer?

15:41 David Bowie Starman Needle Drop Moment

18:51 The Ending of The Martian

20:35 Space Travel is Wild and Terrifying - Astronauts are Impressive

25:44 Outro - Thanks for Listening! Don’t Forget to Subscribe!

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#TheMartian #ProjectHailMary #FilmPodcast

Merrily We Roll Along Review - How Well Does This Great Broadway Musical Translate from Stage to Screen?

Ashley Bernhardt — Wed, 22 Apr 2026 14:42:27 -0400

This episode of Film Curious, Pete gives a brief, non-spoiler review of Merrily We Roll Along (2025)—the filmed version of the smash 4-time Tony Award-winning Broadway revival, starring Jonathan Groff, Daniel Radcliffe, and Lindsay Mendez, directed for the screen by Maria Friedman now on Netflix. He discusses the direction of the pro shot format, the actors' brilliant performances, and how this Tony-winning musical translates to the screen overall.

We also chat about what these stage to screen adaptations will look like going forward since there seems to be more and more of them being made, as well as go on a little side tangent about getting quality at-home movie viewing with 4K formats and OLED TVs.

Guest Co-Host | Pete Tedone - Instagram

Timestamps

00:00 Intro - Midweek Mini Review for Merrily We Roll Along

00:53 What Is Merrily We Roll Along? Synopsis + Background

02:05 Daniel Radcliffe’s Career - Harry Potter to Now

03:13 Stage to Screen Shot Choices & Jonathan Groff, Lindsay Mendez, + Daniel Radcliffe's Performances

12:12 Getting to Experience Theatre through Filmed Stage Performances + Filming Stage Productions Going Forward

13:37 4K Releases, OLEDs and At-Home Movie Watching Tangent

18:15 Outro - Thanks for Listening! Don’t Forget to Subscribe! + Upcoming Episodes

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#MerrilyWeRollAlong #Sondheim #FilmPodcast

The Drama Review - A24's New Dark Comedy’s Wild Twist & Who Really Is the Worst Character Here?

Ashley Bernhardt — Thu, 16 Apr 2026 18:00:00 -0400

In this episode of Film Curious, we cover one of A24’s latest theatrical releases, The Drama, starring Zendaya and Robert Pattinson as a happily engaged couple who is put to the test when an unexpected revelation sends their wedding week off the rails. We do a deep dive on this story’s psychological, anxiety-driven and, at times, darkly humorous sprint down the aisle, as well as pose questions the film seems to be asking, like who really is the terrible character here and are certain thoughts ever as bad or equal to actions?

Things We Mention in the Episode:

“I Don’t Like Mondays” Song by Boomtown Rats

Bowling for Columbine (Documentary)

Before Midnight (2013)

Unbreakable (2000) & Split (2016)

Remember Me (2010)

Guest Co-Host | Pete Tedone - Instagram

Timestamps

00:00 Highlight Clip from Episode

00:00:20 Intro - The Drama Background + Synopsis

00:02:44 SPOILERS⚠️ - The Drama’s “Wild Twist” - The Inciting Incident + Emma’s Revelation

00:9:08 The Drama Deep Dive Spoiler Discussion

00:59:01 Does The Drama Marketing Mislead Viewers + Does Its Twist Deserve a Trigger Warning

01:04:12 Side Story - Robert Pattinson Being in Another Movie w. Controversial American Moment - Remember Me

01:11:15 Wrap Up + Why You Should See The Drama in Theaters

01:13:26 Outro - Thanks for Listening! Don’t Forget to Subscribe! + Upcoming Episodes

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Project Hail Mary Review - Are Major Blockbusters Back & Is Ryan Gosling Always at the Center?

Ashley Bernhardt — Thu, 16 Apr 2026 07:00:00 -0400

In this episode of Film Curious, we’re exploring Amazon MGM Studios’ latest theatrical release, Project Hail Mary. From tangents debating Ryan Gosling’s “movie star” prowess (being at the helm of yet another major blockbuster), to fun homages and similarities to other space films, we review the joy Project Hail Mary brings to the big screen and how this story is the win we all need at the box office.

Things We Mention in the Episode:

Andy Weir (Author)

Adam Savage Behind the Scenes of Project Hail Mary!

NASA Artemis II Moon Mission

Close Encounters of the Third Kind (Film)

The Martian (Film)

Planet of the Apes (1968)

2001: A Space Odyssey (1968)

Explorers (1985)

Ryan Gosling Won’t Eat His Cereal Compilation by Ryan McHenry

Guest Co-Host | Pete Tedone - Instagram

Timestamps

00:00:00 | Highlight Clip from Episode

0:00:36 | Intro - Project Hail Mary Background + Synopsis

00:01:49 | Guest Co-Host Intro - Pete Tedone Background

00:03:59 | Project Hail Mary - Major Blockbuster + Ryan Gosling’s “Star Power”

00:13:25 | Amazon MGM Studio’s Most Ambitious Project Yet - Production Budget + Production Design & VFX

00:22:54 | ⚠️SPOILERS⚠️ - Project Hail Mary’s Homage to Close Encounters of the Third Kind

00:24:15 | Close Encounters of the Third Kind & Project Hail Mary Comparison

00:27:01 | Project Hail Mary Deep Dive Spoiler Discussion

00:50:36 | Phil Lord & Chris Miller’s Next Project

00:52:47 | Outro - Thanks for Listening! Don’t Forget to Subscribe! + Upcoming Episodes

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Welcome to Film Curious - The Movie Podcast for Every Kind of Film Lover

Ashley Bernhardt — Wed, 15 Apr 2026 18:52:19 -0400

Welcome to Film Curious, the movie review podcast that lets curiosity lead the way, exploring great films across genres and time.

Whether you’re a devoted film buff, a casual weekend moviegoer, or someone endlessly scrolling for something to watch, this is your podcast. No gatekeeping. Just a genuine love for the craft and an open mind about where it takes us.

This intro episode is for you to get to know what we’re all about and what you can expect from us.

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