In this episode of Film Curious, Ashley and Pete review and break down the latest Steven Spielberg sci-fi action thriller, Disclosure Day, starring Emily Blunt, Josh O’Connor, Eve Hewson, Colman Domingo, and Colin Firth.

We kick off the episode with how this film fits in with Spielberg’s other alien movies. Then move onto a spoiler discussion of the movie’s special effects, the uneven balance of great scenes and average ones, odd choices that weren't working for us, and the film’s greatest strengths, as well as debate how people would react to a real life disclosure day and much more.

⚠️ We get into spoilers at 5:18! Available in theaters now 🎟️

⏱️Timestamps

00:00 Intro to the Episode & Film

00:45 Steven Spielberg’s Other Alien Films & How They Compare to Disclosure Day

02:29 Pete’s Overall Reaction to the Film | Non-Spoiler Review

05:18 Spoiler Discussion Begins⚠️

06:04 The Film’s CGI | Would It Have Been Better with More Practical Effects?

09:15 Some Odd Choices Made | What Was and Wasn’t Working

14:53 The Film’s Greatest Strength | How Would Humanity React Debate

26:09 The Parts of the Movie That Are Absolutely Brilliant

29:18 The Alien & UFO Stories the Movie Is Based On & Uses in Its Story

31:57 Accepting the Film’s Ups and Downs & Trying to Understand “The Device”

35:37 A Complete Miss That Wasn’t Working at the Start of the Film

42:42 The Action Sequences & the Lack of Music During Them | John Williams Age & Last Film

45:14 Would People Believe Disclosure Day & Needing a Second Watch of Films

51:01 Hearing Dialogue & Sound System and Streaming Compression Side Tangent

56:50 Wrap Up | Final Consensus and Thoughts & Upcoming New Releases

01:00:00 Outro - (Go Knicks!) Thanks for Listening & Don’t Forget to Subscribe! 🔔

🎬Subscribe so you never miss a new film discovery!

Resources & References:

On Film…with Kevin McCarthy | Steven Spielberg Podcast Interview Disclosure Day, ET, Close Encounters, Jaws, Raiders, Private Ryan

NY Times The Daily | Steven Spielberg on the Real Life Evidence That Inspired 'Disclosure Day'

E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial (1982)

Close Encounters of the Third Kind (1977)

War of the Worlds (2005)

Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull (2008)

A.I. Artificial Intelligence (2001)

Minority Report (2002)

The Dark Tower (2017)

The Fugitive (1993)

Stranger Than Heaven (2027) | Tupac Appearing in an Upcoming Video Game

Troll 2 (1990)

Sound of Metal (2019)

Sinners (2025)

Nope (2022)

*Editors Note: Hey folks! Apologies for a couple strange glitches for a few seconds at around the 31:00 and 52:30 marks (you'll here a repetition of a phrase several times from Nicole pulled from another part of the episode). Something strange happened with the editing software while processing and exporting.

In this episode of Film Curious, Ashley, Pete, and Nicole dissect the latest A24 psychological horror film, Backrooms, directed by 20-year-old Kane Parsons and starring Renate Reinsve (The Worst Person in the World) and Chiwetel Ejiofor (12 Years a Slave).

We start off with the movie’s success at the box office and others of its kind, our initial impressions of the movie, and then onto a deep dive, spoiler discussion of what we felt was missing story wise (if anything, depends which of us you ask), its nailing of the 90s aesthetic, and our theories on the backrooms: what they are, how they work, and what they represent for different characters.

⚠️ We get into spoilers at 8:09! Available in theaters now 🎟️

⏱️Timestamps

00:00 Highlight Clip from Episode

00:47 Intro to the Episode & Film

02:40 The Success of the Movie & What’s Hollywood Going to Take Away from Its Success

03:51 How Original the Story Really Is & Issues with Its Storytelling

07:02 Arguments for What Was Working in the Film

08:09 Spoiler Discussion Begins⚠️

08:42 The Film’s Atmosphere & Aesthetic, Ability to Build Dread and Unease, & Bigger Messages

18:33 Debating Whether the Movie Was Overly Vague

20:22 Our Theories on the Backrooms, the Story Contradictions, & Understanding the Ending

31:52 The Parts of the Story That Didn’t Feel Fleshed Out Enough

40:09 Is a Rewatch Necessary? Will There Be Sequels to Backrooms?

47:25 Wrap Up | Getting Some AI Critique Vibes from the Movie & Final Thoughts

53:57 Outro - Thanks for Listening & Don’t Forget to Subscribe! 🔔

🎬Subscribe so you never miss a new film discovery!

Resources & References:

Variety Article | ‘Backrooms’ Becomes A24’s First Movie to Surpass $200 Million Globally, Overtaking ‘Marty Supreme’ as Studio’s Highest-Grossing Release

Kane Pixels | The Backrooms (Found Footage)

Marty Supreme (2025)

A24 Films

Obsession (2026)

Channel Zero (2016-2018)

The Blair Witch Project (1999)

Pan’s Labyrinth (2006)

The Worst Person in the World (2021)

Sentimental Value (2025)

I Love Boosters (2026)

Piranesi | Novel by Susanna Clarke

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! 🔔

🎬Subscribe so you never miss a new film discovery!

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