Institutes of the Cinematic Religion

Heretic & The Penguin

Eric and Matt discuss the disastrous state of society evidenced by the warm reception for The Penguin then review the new film Heretic.
 
The Penguin is a tv mini-series set between Matt Reeves' The Batman and The Batman Part 2 (coming Oct. 2026). It follows the exploits of criminal Oz Cobb as he maneuvers Gotham City now that ganglord Carmine Falcone is no longer in control. The Penguin is an eight episode series, and can be watched on Max. It stars Colin Farrell, Cristin Milioti, and Rhenzy Feliz.
 
Heretic is the latest film from writer/director team Scott Beck and Bryan Woods. It follows a pair of young Mormon missionaries who find themselves trapped in a game of cat-and-mouse with a sadistic atheist. Heretic is currently in theaters and stars Hugh Grant, Sophie Thatcher, and Chloe East.
 
Matt and Eric also discuss the latest movie news and give a weekly recommendation.
 
Follow Matt: @E55LUX10N (X/Letterboxd/Instagram)
 
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Oddity & Azrael are great

Matt and Eric watched two Shudder originals: Oddity and Azrael.
 
Oddity was directed by Damian McCarthy and stars Gwilym Lee, Carolyn Bracken, and Tadhg Murphy. It follows a blind woman who goes after those responsible for the brutal murder of her twin sister by using haunted items as tools for her revenge.
 
Azrael was directed by E.L. Katz and stars Samara Weaving, Vic Carmen Sonne, and Katariina Unt. In a world where no one speaks, a devout female hunts down a young woman who has escaped her imprisonment. Recaptured by its ruthless leaders, Azrael is due to be sacrificed to pacify an ancient evil deep within the surrounding wilderness.
 
Matt and Eric also discuss recent movie news (new Star Wars trilogy, Tarantino's thoughts on Dune, and the casting of Nolan's latest film).
 
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Follow Eric: @ericpmaus (X/Letterboxd/Instagram)

Venom: The Last Dance

The guys review Venom: The Last Dance.
 
Matt and Eric watched the latest entry in Sony's lackluster Symbiote franchise. Venom: The Last Dance was directed by Kelly Marcel and stars Tom Hardy, Juno Temple, Chiwetel Ejiofor, and Rhys Ifans. This film follows Eddie Brock and his alien symbiote pal Venom as they are on the run from both the U.S. government and the sinister clutches of the evil Knull.
 
Matt and Eric also discuss the latest movie news (American Psycho new adaptation, next Nolan movie, Brutalist trailer) and give a weekly recommendation.
 
Follow Matt: @E55LUX10N (X/Letterboxd/Instagram)
 
Follow Eric: @ericpmaus (X/Letterboxd/Instagram)

Saturday Night & Poor Things

On this episode of ICR, the guys discuss Saturday Night and Poor Things.
 
Eric watched and reviewed Saturday Night (2024), the story of Lorne Michaels and the original cast of Saturday Night Live in the ninety minutes leading up to the premier of the very first episode. Saturday Night was directed by Jason Reitman and stars Gabriel LaBelle, Rachel Sennott, Dylan O'Brien, and Corey Michael Smith.
 
Matt watched and reviewed Poor Things (2023), the tale of a woman created in a lab by a mad scientist who goes on a journey of self-discovery. Poor Things was directed by the manic Yorgos Lanthimos, and stars Emma Stone (who received an Academy Award for her performance), Willem Dafoe, and Mark Ruffalo.
 
Matt and Eric also discuss the latest movie news (trailers for Electric State, The Legend of Ochi, The Monkey, the success of Terrifier 3) and give a weekly recommendation.
 
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The History of Horror Part 2: Cure & The Exorcist

In the second entry in our exploration of the horror genre, Matt and Eric discuss two films with similar themes: Cure and The Exorcist.
 
Cure (1997) was directed by Kiyoshi Kurosawa and stars Koji Yakusho and Masato Hagiwara. It follows a detective who starts to spiral out of control when a wave of gruesome murders with seemingly similar bizarre circumstances are sweeping Tokyo.
 
The Exorcist (1973) was directed by William Friedkin and stars Ellen Burstyn and Linda Blair. It follows the possession and subsequent exorcism of a twelve-year-old girl.
 
Matt and Eric also discuss the latest movie news and give a weekly recommendation.
 
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Follow Eric: @ericpmaus (X/Letterboxd/Instagram)

Joker: Folie a Deux

Matt and Eric review the much maligned Joker: Folie a Deux.
Directed by Todd Phillips, Joker: Folie a Deux is a sequel to 2019's blockbuster sensation Joker. Both a musical and a courtroom drama, Joker: Folie a Deux stars Joaquin Phoenix, Lady Gaga, Catherine Keener, and Brendan Gleeson.
Matt and Eric also discuss the latest movie news (Nosferatu trailer, Scream 7 updates, Daniel Day-Lewis un-retirement, Companion trailer) and give a weekly recommendation.
Follow Matt: @E55LUX10N (X/Letterboxd/Instagram)
Follow Eric:  @ericpmaus  (X/Letterboxd/Instagram)

Megalopolis

Megalopolis? More like megaFLOPolis, amiright?

Am I Racist? & The Substance

Matt and Eric saw Am I Racist? and The Substance.
Am I Racist? is the latest film from the Daily Wire and internet personality Matt Walsh. In this follow-up to 2022's What Is a Woman?, Matt Walsh tackles the world of DEI and race-hustling.
The Substance is the second film from director Coralie Fargeat. It stars Demi Moore, Margaret Qualley, and Dennis Quaid. It follows a fading celebrity who decides to use a black market drug to create a younger, better version of herself.
Matt and Eric also discuss the latest movie news, and give a weekly recommendation.
Follow Matt: @E55LUX10N (X/Letterboxd/Instagram)
Follow Eric: @ericpmaus (X/Letterboxd/Instagram)

Rebel Ridge & In a Violent Nature

Matt and Eric provide the definitive take on Netflix's race baiting and Shudder's nihilism.
This week, the guys review two movies: Rebel Ridge (Netflix) and In a Violent Nature (Shudder).
Rebel Ridge is the fourth film from director Jeremy Saulnier. It stars Aaron Pierre, Don Johnson, and Annasophia Robb. It follows ex-marine Terry (Pierre) who confronts police corruption in a small town.
In a Violent Nature is the first film from director Chris Nash. It follows Johnny, an undead serial killer who terrorizes a group of teenage campers. It purports to be a deconstruction of the slasher genre.
Matt and Eric also discuss the latest movie news (Spider-Man 4 director, Salem's Lot trailer, Constantine 2 announcement, Lawrence of Arabia planned mini-series), and give a weekly recommendation.
Follow Matt: @E55LUX10N (X/Letterboxd/Instagram)
Follow Eric: @ericpmaus (X/Letterboxd/Instagram)

Beetlejuice Beetlejuice

Matt and Eric saw Beetlejuice Beetlejuice (2024).
 
Beetlejuice Beetlejuice is the long awaited sequel to the 1988 classic Beetlejuice. Tim Burton returns to the director's chair, and much of the cast returns as well: Winona Ryder, Catherine O'Hara, and of course, Michael Keaton. Newcomers to the franchise include Jenna Ortega, Justin Theroux, Willem Dafoe, and Monica Belluci.
 
Matt and Eric also discuss movie news (new Jurassic World entry, Nightb*tch trailer, Wolf Man trailer, Oceans 14 announcement), and give a weekly recommendation.
 
Follow Matt: @11arm5 (X/Letterboxd/Instagram)
 
Follow Eric: @ericpmaus (X/Letterboxd/Instagram)