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! 🔔

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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! 🔔

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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

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

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

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

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

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