Episode 559 - Venom 3, Smile 2, The Wild Robot, The Ring

·1 hr 28 min·5 clips

Why do the hosts think a Venom road trip movie would be better than the actual blockbuster?

The episode opens with host Ian apologizing for the show's lateness due to work schedules and personal commitments. He outlines upcoming reviews and sets a tight runtime due to conflicting sports viewing plans. The first review is for 'Venom: The Last Dance', directed by Kelly Marcel and starring Tom Hardy. All three hosts agree the film's strength lies in the comedic, buddy-cop dynamic between Eddie and Venom, but criticize the weak, generic villains and overblown third-act action. The conversation pivots to a broader critique of the Marvel Cinematic Universe's recent quality decline. Next, they review 'Smile 2', starring Naomi Scott. Mark and Ian are highly positive, praising Scott's performance, the film's glossy aesthetic, effective jump scares, and Parker Finn's direction, though they note it feels slightly overlong. The third review is for the animated film 'The Wild Robot', directed by Chris Sanders. Ian is very positive, calling it sweet and charming with great art style, while Mark enjoys the darkly comic opening but finds the later sections overly saccharine and dislikes the sequel-teasing ending. Finally, they discuss Gore Verbinski's 2002 horror remake 'The Ring'. Becky vehemently hates it, primarily due to a graphic horse death scene, and criticizes it as a poor copy of the original. Ian and Mark, however, find elements to enjoy, such as its melancholy atmosphere, visual style, and some effective imagery, while acknowledging its flaws like Martin Henderson's performance. The episode wraps with brief audience poll results for each film and a quick preview of next week's planned reviews.

As heard by us

A brisk horror discussion on warped reality, repetition, and an ending that feels too easy to call.

Film Basterds' delayed short episode is at its best when the panel digs into how the film bends reality around its lead until she seems to be losing her grip.

Read the full review in PlayNext →

Why you'd press play

You want Smile 2 picked apart by people who enjoy the ride but will still call the ending obvious.

Read the full recommendation in PlayNext →

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