Reel Film Chronicles – A journey in film

The Black Demon (2023)

Just when you thought it was safe to go back in the water. From the director who brought us Rambo: Last Blood comes a new terrifying vision of aquatic violence known as The Black Demon. Is it a giant shark? A mutant aberration? A zoological holdover from an ancient race of megalodons? An instrument of vengeance sent by the gods to punish humanity for our crimes against nature? An allegory for the consequences of our centuries of environmental mismanagement? The manifestation of one man’s guilt as he struggles to find his humanity and a hint of redemption in a cruel, unforgiving world? Who’s to say? No really, who? With an eclectic mix of family drama, action, shady corporate politics, violence, esoteric references to ’90s sitcoms, and a hint of the supernatural, The Black Demon seems to have a lot to say, and lucky for you, the Reel Film Chronicles is here to make sense of it all. In a topsy, turvy world it’s nice to know that there’s a podcast out there that makes everything all right. So join your…

The Super Mario Bros. Movie

It’s a me, the Real Film Chronicles review of the Super Mario Bros. Movie! After 40 years and a couple of false starts, Nintendo finally made a successful transition from video games to the silver screen (all due respect to The Wizard and 1993’s Super Mario Bros.). With an all-star cast; the full might of the animated film film titan, Illumination; Nintendo’s Scrooge-McDuck-esque coffers; and four decades of simmering nostalgia, The Super Mario Bros. Movie seems to have cemented its place in movie history, raking in over a billion dollars during its theatrical run. But does the movie do justice to the timeless tale of two plumbers from Brooklyn transported to a magical realm of princesses, sentient mushrooms, talking apes, and dinosaur despots? Listen in as your intrepid hosts explore the ins and outs of Nintendo’s first successful film and maybe also learn a thing or two about the untold film history of your old pals Mario and Luigi. So dust off that Tanookie suit, hop in your go-kart, and take a ride down rainbow road with The Reel Film Chronicles…

Operation Fortune

Strap yourself in and prepare for a non-stop, white-knuckle, action-packed thrill ride. And if that doesn’t pan out, then you can always unstrap yourself and sit down to watch Operation Fortune: Ruse de Guerre instead, the perfect movie for a lazy Sunday afternoon. Guy Ritchie’s action adventure spy movie runs at a brisk pace quite confidently down the exact middle of the road, moored as much by the obvious fun Ritchie takes in getting to tell his own stories in his own voice as by the script, cast, or action sequences. Elevated by a talented cast, the movie seems as much an excuse for Ritchie and his crew of regular contributors to hang out in exotic locations worldwide and enjoy themselves as much as to actually film a movie. Which, honestly, you can’t really get too upset about because any one of us would probably want to do the same thing given the chance. Join your intrepid hosts as they dive into the world of Operation Fortune and the filmography of one of Hollywood’s definitely A-List directors. OPERATION FORTUNE (2023)dir: Guy RitchieStarring: Jason Statham…

Cocaine Bear

If there’s one constant in the film industry, it’s that the only sure way to improve a movie is to add copious amounts of cocaine, either behind or in front of the camera. If any movie proves this, it is certainly Cocaine Bear. Unleashed upon suspecting audiences after an incredibly effective marketing campaign, the bloody, drug-fuelled mayhem of the movie ironically serves as a sort of cinematic palate cleanser, offering a ridiculously fun escape from the drudgery of the real world. Stretching even the most liberal interpretation of the oft-invoked Hollywood mantra of “Based on a true story,” Cocaine Bear is refreshing in that it makes no pretense of even trying to portray actual events, sticking mostly to the two things that make this movie such a fun ride: namely, the cocaine and the bear. Directed by the prolific Elizabeth Banks and including a colourful cast of oddball characters, Cocaine Bear is surely the kind of film that you want injected straight into your veins. Join your intrepid hosts as they break down the blood-soaked, drug-induced lunacy of Cocaine Bear. For…

Extinction

[ 2018 – Ben Young – 96 min ] The 2018 Netflix sci-fi film Extinction holds the distinction of being one of the films that I only discover by perusing the depths of the app, in what I can only describe as a terrifying gauntlet of finding a movie suitable to watch with my parents. It’s quite a daunting task to find a so-called “good” movie that satisfies the interests of both my discerning parents, and I’m sure many fellow film enthusiasts can relate to this challenge. At the beginning of every movie now, there’s a tense few minutes where I wonder if my mother will hit that pause button and ask if this “gets better” and I drag my phone out to find another candidate, as a movie is tossed to the bin of dismissal. Extinction, I’m glad to report, passed the five minute test, and seemed to hold our collective interest (save for my father, who is inevitably going to fall asleep regardless of a film’s quality). The star power of Michael Peña and Lizzy Caplan caught my attention and…

The Edge

What one podcast can do, another can do!. Welcome to The Edge. You find yourself facing an existential crisis as you try to survive in the wilderness with nothing more than your wits, the clothes on your back, a pocket knife, and your two friends. Cold, wet, and a hundred miles from anywhere remotely resembling civilization, you struggle to scrounge up food and shelter while trying to figure out who among your fellow survivors you can trust and who your wife may or may not be thanking for “all the long nights.” On top of this, you must contend with a crazed bear, a 1,500-pound behemoth with a taste for human blood and a flair for the dramatic. But on the bright side, if you make it out of this alive, your current best survival horror story about not being able to hail a cab on the streets of New York that one time will definitely get knocked down to second place. If you think you have the intestinal fortitude to brave the elements, then once you get back, treat…

Renfield

In the world of the undead, one name reigns supreme and sends a shiver down the spines of all who dare whisper it aloud: Renfield? After 90 years, the Dracula mythology continues to fascinate audiences, and now the cursed manservant of the granddaddy of all vampires is finally getting his due. Putting yet another spin on everyone’s favourite bloodsucker, the 2023 movie Renfield focuses on the toxic relationship between a centuries-old vampire and his put-upon right-hand man with a blend of horror, action, and humour all served up by Chris McKay, the visionary director who brought us Lego Batman. Join your intrepid hosts over at the Reel Film Chronicles as we dissect Renfield and the titular character’s attempts to exorcise his demons – both literal and metaphorical – amidst a blood-fuelled rampage of undead ghouls, abusive ex-boyfriends, coked-up crime families, corrupt police, and an unhinged Nicholas Cage, in a blend of on-screen insanity that gives Joe Carnahan a run for his money.. RENFIELD (2023)directed by Chris McKaystarring: Nicholas Hoult – Nicolas Cage – Awkwafina – Ben SchwartzHorror – Fantasy – Comedy | 93…

Knock at the Cabin

Throughout history, people have been called upon to make a choice. And now, that burden falls to you. The fate of the world may, for all you know, rely entirely on you listening to this episode as your intrepid hosts venture out into the woods to answer the Knock at the Cabin. The latest film from prolific director M. Night Shyamalan is an anxiety-inducing phycological horror that asks some very poignant, age-old questions about life, the universe, and everything. A family on vacation is subject to an unexpected visit from a group of strangers armed with admittedly pretty rad looking weapons. Before they know what’s happening, the family soon finds themselves tied up and forced to talk about their attacker’s religious beliefs over the course of twenty-four hours, like the world’s most aggressive Jehovah’s Witnesses or every Thanksgiving. Claiming they’ve witnessed signs of a coming apocalypse through some kind of sixth sense, this fearsome foursome put the family’s seemingly unbreakable bond to the test. Are these strangers truly the four horsemen of the apocalypse? Or have they experienced some kind of…

Day Shift

Vampires. Brooding creatures of the night that stalk their prey in the shadows. Their ideal habitat: sunny California? Welcome to the world of Day Shift, a tale of working class vampire hunters just trying to make ends meet by brutally murdering and plundering the corpses of another race of sentient beings. Gather up your garlic and the holiest water you can muster as you experience a world where the vampires are perhaps more twisted and evil than ever before as they deal not only in human blood but also in real estate, driving down prices in a vampire gentrification scheme worthy of a Policy Academy movie. Facing down these bloodsucking real estate tycoons are Bud (Jamie Foxx) and an entire underworld of vampire hunters and various associated bureaucrats, with a network and economy so vast it puts the secret assassin’s society of John Wick to shame. Join us as we take a bite out of Day Shift and explore the not-so-shadowy world of vampire hunting in the Golden State. DAY SHIFT (2022)directed by J.J. Perrystarring: Jamie Foxx – Dave Franco –…

Vampire Films

This episode is going to suck… your blood! Join your intrepid hosts in this retrospective of their personal favourite vampire movies. The vampire mythos has captured the hearts and minds of people for centuries for a variety of reasons, spawning countless books and movies and entire subcultures. Maybe it’s the dangerous lure of immortality and supernatural powers. Perhaps it’s the examination of what it means to be human through counter-example and the moral quandaries of a life in the shadows. Maybe there are just a lot more cape aficionados out there than we realized. Whatever the case may be, tune in to find out the vampire films that really get our blood pumping and revisit some old favorite’s and maybe discover a new favourite vampire tale.