Spoilerpiece Theatre

This week just in time for the holiday, we kick off our show with Stephen Karam's Thanksgiving family drama THE HUMANS (1:41), which underwhelms despite its stacked cast. Next we discuss Halle Berry's directorial debut BRUISED (16:32) a formulaic sports film about a down on her luck queer MMA fighter trying to find redemption. Then we review KING RICHARD (34:45), Reinaldo Marcus Green's engaging sports biopic, which looks at how Venus and Serena Williams' father Richard (Will Smith) propelled them into tennis superstardom from birth. And in this week's Patreon exclusive audio, we talk about the winner of our November film noir poll, Robert Altman's 1973 film THE LONG GOODBYE, starring Elliott Gould!

This week we picked two VERY different movies about food to discuss. First, we cover Julie Cohen and Betsy West's delightful documentary JULIA (2:12), about chef Julia Child, which is chock full of great interviews, insights, and shots of food. Next, we review Lee Haven Jones's Welsh folk horror film THE FEAST (15:12), which features some gruesome moments that we have varying reactions to. To completely change gears, we close with Destin Daniel Cretton's entertaining Marvel movie SHANG-CHI AND THE LEGEND OF THE TEN RINGS (35:40) in honor of its arrival on Disney+. And in this week's Patreon exclusive audio, we talk about David Fincher's 2002 home invasion thriller PANIC ROOM, starring Jodie Foster, Kristen Stewart, and Forest Whitaker. 

This week we start by reviewing Tal Michael's BUKRA FIL MISH-MISH (3:59), a fascinating documentary playing at the Boston Jewish Film Festival about three Jewish brothers who were pioneers of Egyptian animation. Next, we discuss Danis Goulet's NIGHT RAIDERS (16:41), a smart Indigenous sci-fi film about a mother (Elle-Máijá Tailfeathers) trying to rescue her daughter (Brooklyn Letexier-Hart) from a fascist state. After that we review Jeymes Samuel's THE HARDER THEY FALL (32:25), a bold Black Western with a stacked cast. And in this week's Patreon exclusive audio, we talk about Lou Adler's 1982 film LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, THE FABULOUS STAINS! 

Happy Hanukkah! This year the holiday is coming early in real life and on the show. Our gift to you is a bonus episode where Evan and his co-host in life, Shauna, review the shorts programs from the 2021 Boston Jewish Film Festival. First up is the FreshFlix block, where they concentrate on THE MOHEL (1:25), PARADISE (10:46), and THE BINDING OF ITZIK (17:42), with brief comments on DEVEK, GANEF, SCUM BOY, and IMMERSION. Next they discuss Shorts Made in Quarantine with a focus on TANGLED UP IN JEWS (27:13), LONG DISTANCE (29:15), and DIALOGUES AND MONOLOGUES (32:07), and brief nods to VOICES FROM THE BALCONIES and YOM KIPPUR IN LOCKDOWN. They wrap up with the In 32 Minutes or Less! block, engaging in discussions about NEVER AGAIN / PARA NADIE (39:11), BECOMING NAKUSET (47:55), MOM'S IN TOWN AND SHE DIDN'T TELL ME (47:55), and A JEW WALKS INTO A BAR (51:15), while briefly mentioning THE COLLECTION and ZAIDA. Hopefully these reviews inspire you to check out the shorts at the Boston Jewish Film Festival, which ru

We get a good laugh about how the one-word titles we're reviewing form a sentence, but after that we get serious about this week's movies. First, we discuss Tracey Deer's BEANS (2:22), a layered coming-of-age drama set against the real-life 78-day standoff between the Mohawk community and government forces in 1990 Quebec. Next, we cover Rebecca Hall's PASSING (22:39), a compelling 1920s drama about race and class starring Tessa Thompson and Ruth Negga. Lastly, we review FINCH (42:21), Miguel Sapochnik's moving post-apocalyptic sci-fi drama about a man (Tom Hanks) who builds a robot that he must teach to take care of his dog. And on this week's Patreon exclusive audio, we talk about Penny Marshall's 1992 baseball film A LEAGUE OF THEIR OWN starring Geena Davis, Lori Petty, and Tom Hanks! 

Praise be that film festivals are back! To kick things off, Megan talks about IFFBoston's Fall Focus, and her experiences watching SPENCER (2:03), BELFAST (6:12), HAPPENING (8:32), and MEMORIA (10:31). Evan joins her to talk about PETITE MAMAN (14:21) and THE WORST PERSON IN THE WORLD (20:52). Then Evan (with an assist from Megan) takes everyone through Shudder's HORROR NOIRE (30:25), an anthology film with six horror stories from Black directors and screenwriters. Lastly, Dave and Evan review the 4K restoration of Wendell B. Harris Jr.'s CHAMELEON STREET (44:13), which won the 1990 Sundance Grand Jury Prize and has been hard to find since. And in this week's Patreon exclusive audio, we feature the monthly poll winner - we asked you to choose from FRANKENSTEIN films and the winner is THE BRIDE, starring Sting and Jennifer Beals. We had a blast talking about it, so check it out and consider becoming a patron!

Welcome to the Blumhouse isn't just a horror series on Amazon, it's also a song Dave is singing on this week's episode, because we're discussing two more films from the series. First, we review Axelle Carolyn's unsettling horror film THE MANOR (2:19), about an older woman (Barbara Hershey) who enters a nursing home, only to discover supernatural forces are killing off her fellow residents. Next, we cover Aharon Keshales's incredibly tense crime thriller SOUTH OF HEAVEN (15:56), starring Jason Sudeikis as a recently released ex-con trying to do right by his cancer-stricken girlfriend (Evangeline Lilly). After that we review Ryan Zaragoza's sharp and surprising horror film MADRES (33:08), about a Mexican-American couple (Ariana Guerra, Tenoch Huerta) expecting their first child, who find out terrifying things are happening to pregnant women in the town they just moved to. And in this week's Patreon exclusive audio, we talk about Michael Dougherty's 2007 horror anthology TRICK 'R TREAT! 

We start off this week with S.K. Dale's entertaining thriller TILL DEATH (2:37), which stars Megan Fox as a woman who must outwit two men trying to find her...while handcuffed to her dead husband. Next we discuss Frida Kempff's thriller KNOCKING (19:10), an effective commentary on gaslighting about a woman tortured by knocking sounds in her apartment. Finally, we review Denis Villeneuve's DUNE (30:25), the first part in a proposed two-part adaptation of Frank Herbert's famous sci-fi novel. We dig its scope, its cast, and its take on the story. And in this week's Patreon exclusive audio, we talk about Adam Wingard's YOU'RE NEXT, a home invasion horror film we all enjoy! 

To kick things off, Dave offers his brief take on Cary Joji Fukunaga's NO TIME TO DIE (2:30), Daniel Craig's satisfying final outing as James Bond. Next, we all review BINGO HELL (11:55), Gigi Saul Guerrero's brief, yet heavy-handed horror comedy that's part of Amazon's 2021 WELCOME TO THE BLUMHOUSE series. After that we cover Antoine Fuqua's THE GUILTY (22:41), a frustrating and problematic thriller about a 911 operator played effectively by Jake Gyllenhaal. Finally, we dig into THE MANY SAINTS OF NEWARK (40:49), Alan Taylor's extremely disappointing Sopranos prequel about the rise of Tony Soprano. And in this week's Patreon exclusive audio, we have a blast discussing Joe Cornish's 2011 sci-fi comedy ATTACK THE BLOCK, starring John Boyega and Jodie Whittaker.   

It's October, so of course we start off this week by reviewing NIGHTBOOKS (2:19), David Yarovesky's surprisingly enjoyable Netflix horror film, about a boy (Winslow Fegley) who must tell scary stories to survive after he's imprisoned by a witch (Krysten Ritter). Next, we discuss Maria Schrader's delightful and layered German sci-fi romance I'M YOUR MAN (21:40), starring Maren Eggert and Dan Stevens (yes, THAT Dan Stevens). Lastly, we cover V/H/S/94 (37:31), the uneven fourth film in the V/H/S horror anthology franchise. And in this week's Patreon exclusive audio, we talk about the winner of our train movie poll, Sang-ho Yeon's 2016 horror film TRAIN TO BUSAN!

Megan is on vacation, so Dede Crimmins, the Alec Baldwin of Spoilerpiece, is back to fill in! Before we talk about this week's movies though, Dede has a bone to pick with Dave about MALIGNANT. After that we review John Pollono's gritty New England drama SMALL ENGINE REPAIR (6:32), about three lifelong friends (Pollono, Jon Bernthal, and Shea Whigham) faced with an ethical dilemma inside a small engine repair shop. Next, we discuss Clint Eastwood's slow period drama CRY MACHO (25:40), which follows an old cowboy who heads down to Mexico to retrieve his boss's son. Lastly, we dig into DEAR EVAN HANSEN (44:23), the big-screen adaptation of the Broadway musical that everyone's talking about. And in this week's Patreon exclusive audio, we cover Clint Eastwood's 2008 drama GRAN TORINO! 

We open the show by reviewing Julie Cohen and Betsy West's compelling documentary MY NAME IS PAULI MURRAY (2:01). The film celebrates the life of Pauli Murray, a non-binary lawyer, poet, and priest, who you've probably never heard of, but definitely should have because of their enormous impact on civil rights in the U.S. Next, we take on Jonah Feingold's DATING & NEW YORK (20:04), a disappointingly derivative rom-com that's neither rom nor com to any of us. Lastly, we cover James Wan's MALIGNANT (38:48), a bonkers film that we all had a blast watching, and have just as much fun spoiling, but has us arguing whether it qualifies as "horror" or a "psychological thriller." And on this week's Patreon exclusive audio, we talk about the 2009 Richard Curtis film PIRATE RADIO aka THE BOAT THAT ROCKED. 

We head over to MARTYRS LANE (2:14) to learn the meaning of the word "vicarage" and to discuss Ruth Platt's eerie and allegorical horror film (now on Shudder), about a girl who's visited nightly by another girl who slowly reveals shocking secrets about her family. Next, we delve into Cedric Nicolas-Troyan's bloody and entertaining Netflix action film KATE (18:25), which stars Mary Elizabeth Winstead as a poisoned assassin trying to get revenge on the gangsters who betrayed her before she dies. Lastly, we review Jonathan Butterell's charming and glamorous Amazon musical EVERYBODY'S TALKING ABOUT JAMIE (35:26), a queer coming-of-age tale about a teenager who wants to be a drag queen. And in this week's Patron exclusive audio, we cover Norman Jewison's 1987 rom-com MOONSTRUCK starring Cher and Nicolas Cage!

Two out of the three of us give our regards to Broadway as we review Oren Jacoby's ON BROADWAY (2:59), a talking head documentary about the history of Broadway, from its lowest point in the early 1970s through its revival and renaissance in the 80s and 90s to present day. Next, we discuss BOB ROSS: HAPPY ACCIDENTS, BETRAYAL & GREED (22:17), Joshua Rofe's salaciously titled documentary, which sweetly chronicles the life of beloved painter Bob Ross, through interviews which reveal how his son was unfairly cut out of his father's legacy. We wrap up with Sean King O'Grady's WE NEED TO DO SOMETHING (41:13), a frustrating and agonizing horror film about a family that gets trapped together after seeking shelter from a storm. And in this week's Patreon exclusive audio, we're excited to talk about Ida Lupino's 1953 film noir THE HITCH-HIKER.

This week we start by discussing Lisa Joy's platitude-filled sci-fi noir REMINISCENCE (2:14), starring Hugh Jackman. One of us enjoyed it, one thought it was "meh," and one found it utterly insufferable. Next, we cover David Lowery's epic fantasy film THE GREEN KNIGHT (18:29), starring Dev Patel as Gawain from Arthurian legend. Overall, we dug this gorgeous film that both honors the tale of Sir Gawain and the Green Knight. Next, we tackle Nia DaCosta's CANDYMAN (38:23), a sequel to the 1992 film, which features lots of visually stunning and unsettling moments, but two of us thought it didn't dig as deep into social commentary as it could have. And on this week's Patreon exclusive audio, we talk about the winner of our amusement park movie poll, Herk Harvey's 1962 horror film CARNIVAL OF SOULS.

We kick off this week's show by reviewing Neill Blomkamp's disappointing digital horror film DEMONIC (01:34), a movie that lacks a lot of things like cohesive story and mythology, but most surprisingly, it lacks his usual great production design and special effects. Next, we discuss CONFETTI (17:42), Ann Hu's moving yet ableist immigrant tale about a Chinese mother (Zhu Zhu) trying everything she can to give her daughter with dyslexia a proper education in the U.S. We wrap up with THE NIGHT HOUSE (33:43), David Bruckner's atmospheric horror movie about a wife (Rebecca Hall) haunted by the increasingly disturbing secrets she learns about her recently deceased husband. And in this week's Patreon exclusive audio, we talk about Joseph L. Mankiewicz's 1950 showbiz drama ALL ABOUT EVE starring Bette Davis and Anne Baxter.

Get ready for a singing animated kinkajou, a ragtag group of antiheroes blowing up a fake Latin American country, and a clueless American getting the crap kicked out of him in Greece! We start this week with Brandon Jeffords and Kirk DeMicco's sweet but saccharine Netflix animated film VIVO (0:55), starring Lin-Manuel Miranda, Ynairaly Simo, Zoe Saldana, and Gloria Estefan. Next, we discuss James Gunn's THE SUICIDE SQUAD (15:36), not to be confused with that other awful DC movie about a task force of supervillains. Gunn's adaptation is much better, but still has us split. And lastly we review Ferdinando Cito Filomarino's Netflix thriller BECKETT (37:11) starring John David Washington, which has some strong action, yet weak writing. And in this week's Patreon exclusive audio, we talk about Sam Raimi's 2009 horror film DRAG ME TO HELL! 

This week we start by discussing Kristine Stolakis's compelling Netflix documentary PRAY AWAY (1:33), which chronicles the "pray the gay away" movement and forces its former leaders to confront the damage it did to the LGBTQ+ community. Next, we cover Pascual Sisto's frustrating and listless film JOHN AND THE HOLE (21:14), about a boy who holds his family (Michael C. Hall, Jennifer Ehle, and Taissa Farmiga) captive in a hole. We wrap up with Leos Carax's bizarre and grating musical ANNETTE (35:14), starring Adam Driver, Marion Cotillard, and Simon Helberg (or as two of us know him, that guy from THE BIG BANG THEORY). And in our Patreon exclusive audio, we travel back to 1941 to talk about the Preston Sturges comedy SULLIVAN'S TRAVELS, starring Joel McCrea and Veronica Lake! 

What if souls had to interview to be born? That's the premise of the first film on our docket this week, Edson Oda's moving drama NINE DAYS (1:59), starring Winston Duke and Zazie Beetz. Next, we review FEAR STREET: Part Three - 1666 (16:14), the satisfying conclusion to Leigh Janiak's Netflix horror trilogy, which we've really enjoyed discussing over the past two episodes. We wrap up with Jaume Collet-Serra's JUNGLE CRUISE (37:18), the latest Disney ride turned movie starring Emily Blunt and Dwayne Johnson that borrows too heavily from other adventure films, including some of Disney's. And on this week's Patreon exclusive audio, we discuss the winner of our video game movie poll: the 2006 Christophe Gans film SILENT HILL! 

Spoilerpiece celebrates its 7th anniversary this week! After we all offer a huge thank you to everyone who has supported us over the years, Megan leads off with a review of M. Night Shyamalan's OLD (5:52), a horror movie about people aging rapidly, which is exactly what we expected in the worst way. Next, we talk about Navot Papushado's GUNPOWDER MILKSHAKE (17:44), a stylized Netflix action film with a stacked cast (Karen Gillan, Lena Headey, Carla Gugino, Angela Bassett, and Michelle Yeoh), that isn't used to its fullest. After that, we dig into SETTLERS (33:47), Wyatt Rockefeller's brutal sci-fi Western that we struggled through. We wrap up with FEAR STREET: Part Two - 1978 (44:04), the second film in Leigh Janiak's Netflix horror trilogy, which we were all excited to see (it doesn't disappoint). And in this week's Patreon exclusive audio, we talk about Robert Luketic's 2001 rom-com LEGALLY BLONDE starring Reese Witherspoon! We have a blast talking about this movie, which recently marked its 20th anniversar