The Film Jury deliberates on Watcher from 2022 starring Maika Monroe and directed by Chloe Okuno in her directorial debut.

The jurors dive into the plot of the film, the cinematography, acting, pacing as well as hidden gems throughout the movie.

James and Kat both judged the film as not guilty while Kristina gave a barely passing not guilty verdict.

In this episode of Film Jury, we put Possession on trial.

Directed by Andrzej Żuławski and starring Isabelle Adjani and Sam Neill, this cult psychological horror has built a reputation as one of the most disturbing films ever made. But is it brilliant… or just unhinged?

James votes GUILTY.
Kat votes GUILTY.
Kristina stands alone with a bold NOT GUILTY.

We break down:

• The Berlin Wall as a metaphor for emotional division
• The infamous subway scene and what is actually happening
• The monster, the doubles, and the collapse of identity
• Whether Heinrich is a real rival or a stepping stone
• The espionage subplot and the meaning of the pink socks
• And the explosive ending that leaves no one untouched

Is this film a masterpiece about divorce and psychological annihilation?
Or an indulgent spiral of hysteria dressed up as art?

The jury debates performance intensity, symbolism overload, and whether the chaos is intentional genius or emotional excess.

One thing is certain. Nobody walks away neutral.

Court is in session.

Court is back in session.

In this episode of Film Jury, James Patrick is joined by Kat Reynolds and Heidi Romans to dissect Crimson Peak, directed by Guillermo del Toro. As part of the show's "Love Hurts" series, the jury debates whether this lush Gothic romance was misunderstood at release… or simply overindulgent.

Was it wrongly marketed as a horror film?
Is it a love story in disguise?
And does stunning production design make up for underwritten characters?

• Improper Marketing: Sold as a haunted house horror, delivered as a Gothic romance in the tradition of Bluebeard.

• Visual Brilliance vs. Narrative Depth: Jaw-dropping cinematography, saturated reds and greens, meticulous costuming… but are the characters fully developed?

• CGI vs. Practical Effects: A heated debate over the film's ghost design and whether del Toro's reliance on CGI undercuts the immersion.

• The Real Monster: In classic del Toro fashion, are the true villains supernatural… or human?

• The symbolic use of color and costume to track Edith's transformation.

• Del Toro's recurring themes of reframing "monster" versus "human," seen in films like Pan's Labyrinth and The Shape of Water.

• Tom Hiddleston's baronet energy and whether Sir Thomas is a romantic lead or something far more sinister.

• The underwritten Alan debate. Romantic hero or narrative afterthought?

• Why this film might have worked better as a limited series.

• Tom Hiddleston as Sir Thomas Sharpe

• Jessica Chastain as Lucille Sharpe

• Charlie Hunnam as Alan McMichael

• Mia Wasikowska as Edith Cushing

Strong opinions.
Respectful disagreement.
One host threatening to flip a metaphorical table.

Is Crimson Peak a misunderstood Gothic masterpiece?
A visually stunning but emotionally thin experience?
Or a film that deserves admiration even if it doesn't earn affection?

The verdict is final.

🎧 Warning: Major spoilers ahead.

On this episode of Film Jury, jurors James, Kat, and Kristina put It Follows on trial. What begins as a minimalist horror premise unfolds into a deeply unsettling meditation on inevitability, trauma, sexuality, and time.

The jury breaks down the film scene by scene, unpacking its symbolic language. The walking entity. The role of water and blood. The use of classic monster movies. The anachronistic setting. The way fear invades classrooms, bedrooms, pools, and family homes. Nothing is accidental, and nothing offers easy answers.

Is It Follows a morality tale, a coming-of-age nightmare, or an existential horror about death itself?

After examining its themes, symbolism, and lasting impact, the jury delivers a unanimous verdict.

James: Not Guilty.
Kat: Not Guilty.
Kristina: Not Guilty.

It Follows walks away free, still following, and still haunting long after the credits roll.

In this episode of The Film Jury Podcast, we put The Ritual (2017) on trial.

Directed by David Bruckner and adapted from Adam Nevill's novel, The Ritual follows four friends who venture into the forests of Sweden to honor a fallen companion. What begins as a grief-driven hiking trip quickly becomes a descent into isolation, psychological terror, and ancient horror rooted in Norse mythology.

Jurors James, Kat, and Meagan examine the film's slow-burn approach, unsettling atmosphere, creature design, and thematic focus on guilt, trauma, and survival. We debate the effectiveness of the mythology, the shift in tone during the final act, and where The Ritual fits within the modern folk horror landscape.

After deliberation, all three jurors return NOT GUILTY verdicts, finding The Ritual to be a haunting and effective entry in contemporary horror that earns its reputation through mood, tension, and mythic dread.

If you enjoy thoughtful horror breakdowns, courtroom-style verdicts, and deep dives into what makes a genre film work or fail, this episode is for you.

Subscribe to The Film Jury Podcast for more horror trials and final verdicts.

This week on The Film Jury, we put the 1986 cult classic Critters on trial. Furry aliens, bounty hunters with questionable disguises, and small town chaos are all entered into evidence as jurors James, Kat, and Meagan revisit the horror comedy that helped define a generation of VHS rentals.

Does Critters hold up as a clever genre mashup, or is it pure nostalgia fueled chaos? We examine the film's creature effects, tone, scares, humor, and overall execution, then debate whether it deserves cult status or a cinematic conviction.

After careful deliberation, all three jurors return the same verdict. Not guilty.
Critters walks free, claws and all.

Tune in for sharp analysis, fun arguments, and a verdict that might surprise you if you have not revisited this one in years.

In this episode of The Film Jury Podcast, jurors James, Heidi, and Kat put the cult horror-comedy Feast (2005) on trial and unanimously deliver a Not Guilty verdict.

Directed by John Gulager and produced through Project Greenlight with backing from Ben Affleck, Matt Damon, and Wes Craven, Feast is a chaotic, blood-soaked monster movie that gleefully breaks horror rules. Set almost entirely inside a remote desert bar, the film traps a group of strangers as they fight for survival against relentless and grotesque creatures with no interest in playing fair.

The jury breaks down the film's bold tonal swings between horror and comedy, its unapologetic gore, and its meta approach to character archetypes and on-screen "rules." They also discuss Gulager's fast-paced, aggressive directing style and how the film embraces shock value as part of its identity rather than a gimmick.

The episode dives into performances from Balthazar Getty, Navi Rawat, Krista Allen, Henry Rollins, and Judah Friedlander, along with memorable cameos that helped cement Feast as a cult favorite. From creature design to editing choices and audience expectations, the jury examines why this scrappy, no-holds-barred horror film still resonates with genre fans nearly two decades later.

Is Feast crude, chaotic, and excessive? Absolutely. And according to the Film Jury, that is exactly why it works.

Verdict: Not Guilty.

Welcome to The Film Jury, where your jurors of cinema—James, Kat & Heidi—deliver verdicts on some of the most fascinating films in genre history. In this episode, we drop into the claustrophobic, terrifying world of The Descent (2005).

Directed by Neil Marshall and starring Shauna Macdonald, Natalie Mendoza, Alex Reid, MyAnna Buring, Nora Jane Noone, and Sadie Frost, The Descent redefined modern horror with its blend of psychological dread and raw, subterranean terror.

All three jurors returned not guilty verdicts, but that only scratches the surface of our conversation. We dig deep into:

• Directing choices that keep tension unrelenting
• Cinematography and how darkness becomes a character
• Sound design & score that messes with your nerves
• Hidden Easter eggs you probably missed
• Character arcs, feminist horror elements, and more

Whether you're a longtime fan or hearing about this horror classic for the first time, this breakdown has something for every cinephile.

Hit play and step back into the cave—if you dare.