The Strange Harbors Podcast

This week, we're discussing M. Night Shyamalan's new film, Old! Does Old harken back to the director's glory days? Does it continue his comeback tour? Let's travel to the beach that turns you old and find out.

It's the Loki finale and the Marvel Multiverse is here! We're capping off an extended stay in the MCU with a discussion of the final episode of Loki's first season. Does it button up a satisfying arc for our God of Mischief? What's in store for the Marvel Cinematic Universe now that we have Jonathan Majors in a key role? Tune in and find out!

Our Marvel Cinematic Universe extravaganza week continues with the second episode of this week, diving deep into Scarlett Johansson's Avengers swan song, Black Widow. Where does the film stack up within the MCU? Has the film's multiple delays impacted its effectiveness? And will the baton be passed to Florence Pugh's scene-stealing Yelena Belova? Tune in and find out!

Technical difficulties got in the way of a new episode last week, but now you're getting two this week! First up, we catch up with episodes 3, 4, and 5 of Marvel's Loki, which is now streaming on Disney Plus. Has the show kept its crown after our initial thoughts on the first two episodes? Tune in and find out!

This week, we're discussing the wild, outrageous, and logic-lite spectacle of F9, the latest installment of the Fast and Furious franchise. Has the series finally gone off the deep end? Or is it still the action series we know and love? Tune in and find out!

Is the "Pixar slump" a real thing? We sit down and investigate the movies of Disney's premier animation studio and review its latest film, "Luca," directed by Enrico Casarosa, starring Jacob Tremblay, Jack Dylan Grazer, and Emma Berman, now streaming on Disney Plus. How does this fish-out-of-water tale stack up against the rest of Pixar's library? Tune in and find out!

This week, we've got a deeper cut for you with Lawrence Michael Levine's 2020 film, Black Bear. Starring Aubrey Plaza, Christopher Abbott, and Sarah Gadon, Black Bear is a twisty, surprise-filled chamber piece with biting performances and fascinating layers. Let's talk about the film and its jaw-dropping plot twist!

"Your savior...is here!" This week, we've got a special installment of the pod as we discuss the first TWO episodes of Marvel's latest Disney Plus series, Loki. We all got a chance to see the episodes ahead of its premiere, and we'll be breaking down the first episode, while giving our general spoiler-free thoughts on the second.

Shhh...this week, we're talking John Krasinski's follow-up to his 2018 hit thriller, the twice-delayed A Quiet Place Part 2. Emily Blunt, Millicent Simmonds, and Noah Jupe return as the Abbotts, along with new addition Cillian Murphy. Is this a sequel worth making some noise over? Tune in and find out.

This week, we're discussing Zack Snyder's second film of 2021, this time for Netflix, Army of the Dead. Zombies! Heists! Robots! How does Snyder's return to undead horror fare, and how does it rank within his filmography? We've got different takes, so tune in and find out what they are!

Saw is back, baby! The ninth installment of the Saw franchise, Spiral: From the Book of Saw, makes a clean break from continuity to give us a brand new story. Injected with some star power with Chris Rock and Samuel L. Jackson, Spiral dives right back into the brutal world of the Jigsaw Killer. How does the film stack up to its predecessors? Tune in and find out!

0:53-6:16 - Cancellation of the Golden Globes6:17-11:10 - Invincible11:11-14:09 - Mare of Easttown14:10-17:55 - Shadow and Bone17:56-22:31 - Jupiter’s Legacy22:32-23:22 - The Mitchells vs. The Machines 23:23-24:47 - Ted Lasso24:48-26:03 - Gangs of London26:04-29:47 - Black Bear29:48-32:05 - House of Flying Daggers32:06-33:12 - The Americans33:13-36:05 - CW’s Kung Fu36:06-39:35 - CW’s Superman & Lois39:36-40:55 - Wrath of Man40:56-44:46 - Saw Franchise44:47-48:31 - New Releases

Action, blood, gore, and Fatalities. What more do you want from a Mortal Kombat movie? Does the Simon McQuoid's reboot clear its low bar of expectations and requirements for an entertaining video game adaptation? Is there enough Mortal Kombat in Mortal Kombat? Tune in and find out!

This week, we wrap up our discussion of The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, the second series in the MCU's new Disney Plus slate. As we enter the finale, the conflict between Sam, Bucky, and the Flag Smashers come to a head. Will Sam finally pick up the shield? Does the series effectively tackle its themes? Listen in and find out what we thought.

A bonus episode of The Strange Harbors Podcast! A night of historic wins, marred by a disastrous gamble. What went wrong at the 93rd Academy Awards? We discuss the evenings winners, losers, and the baffling decision that upended the entire ceremony.

This week, we discuss action maestro Gareth Evans and Matt Flannery's (The Raid, The Raid 2) under-the-radar crime epic, Gangs of London, which is now streaming on AMC and AMC+. Starring Ṣọpẹ Dìrísù and Joe Cole, this British crime drama proves that Evans is still one of the best action architects in film and television.

The Falcon and the Winter Soldier passes its series midpoint, and we discuss the two eventful episodes, "Power Broker" and "The Whole World Is Watching." Things we loved, things we didn't love, and everything in between, tune in and find out our thoughts on episodes 3 and 4.

This week, we're talking about Amazon Prime Video's new animated superhero series, Invincible, a comic book adaptation with a devious twist. A show over two decades in the making, how does it compare to the source material? And how does it translate one of the best comic book swerves of all time? Tune in and find out.

Leaving WandaVision's sitcom world, Disney Plus' new series - The Falcon and the Winter Soldier - checks in on two fan-favorite Captain America pals, Sam Wilson and Bucky Barnes. Flag Smasher, John Walker, Baron Zemo, Isaiah Bradley! There's a ton to unpack, so tune in and find out what we thought of the MCU's latest.

One of the most anticipated streaming events of the year is finally here. With double the theatrical runtime and an infusion of $70 million, Zack Snyder's Justice League - or The Snyder Cut - is a filmmaking enterprise the likes we've never seen before, and will likely never see again. Is it hubris or is it a justified director's cut? Tune in and find out!

This week, we're discussing the brand new Best Picture nominee, Lee Isaac Chung's Minari. With equal parts melancholy, optimism, and tenderness, the film finds poetic balm within the American immigrant experience. Tune in and listen to our thoughts!

This is the last of our three episodes discussing Marvel's Disney Plus series, WandaVision. In our postmortem, we dive deep into our thoughts on: things we love, things we didn't love, and the fervent theory-crafting surrounding the show. How does WandaVision stack up against our expectations? Tune in and find out!

This week, we're taking a break from singular film and TV coverage to talk a bit about one of our favorite forms of entertainment content: the movie trailer. What makes a good trailer? What makes a bad trailer? How have trailers evolved over the years? Tune in and join our discussion!

This week, we're discussing J Blakeson's new pitch-black neo-noir, I Care a Lot, starring Rosamund Pike. Heralding the return of the villain protagonist, does our character's unrepentant immorality hinder our enjoyment of the film? How does cinema handle its unsympathetic protagonists?

"What We Lose When Biopics Cast Actors Who Are the Wrong Age" by Angie Han

Back by popular demand, we're revisiting the new Disney Plus MCU series, WandaVision. Catching up with episodes 3, 4, and 5, join us as we chat about the newest developments in this popular superhero show. Mephisto! X-Men! Theories abound!

This week, we're discussing indie darlings Justin Benson and Aaron Moorhead's time travel thriller, Synchronic. The film stars Anthony Mackie and Jamie Dornan as a pair of best friend paramedics as they deal with a mysterious street drug that allows its users to time travel. The directing duo has built quite a reputation with their micro-budget genre films (Spring, Resolution, The Endless). How does Synchronic stack up against their sci-fi filmography? Take a listen! Synchronic is out on VOD now.

TIFF 2020 Film Review: One Night in Miami by Jeffrey Zhang

TV Review: WandaVision by Jeffrey Zhang

If you can't tell, the episode order of Batman: The Animated Series on HBO Max is a little strange. That's because it's in air order, and not production order. The order in which the episodes aired makes zero sense, so we're pointing you to the correct, production order for your reference. You can find that here.

This week, we discuss filmmaker Brandon Cronenberg's sophomore feature, the gnarly and ultra-violent Possessor. Starring Andrew Riseborough, Christopher Abbott, and Jennifer Jason Leigh, Possessor takes us deep into the world of corporate espionage and assassinations by way of, well...possession. What did we think of this body horror thriller? Listen and find out!

Listening to this episode, you might come to realize that we are three men talking about a female-directed, female-led superhero film. There are many, many important voices out there talking about the film, and many women who have written reviews that cover a variety of opinions. Below, you'll find a few pieces written by women that are worth reading:Wonder Woman 1984 Overcomes Its Uneven Script with Pure '80s Escapism by Sara Clements"The Empty Spectacle of Wonder Woman 1984" by Anjelica Jade Bastien"Wonder Woman’s Middle Eastern Stereotypes Should Have Stayed in the 1980s" by Roxana HadadiThere's Not Enough Action (or Wonder Woman!) in Wonder Woman 1984 by Katie RifeWonder Woman 1984 Review: A Blockbuster Worth Waiting For by Wenlei Ma

This week, we discuss one of the most anticipated films of 2020 that not many people were able to see until recently. Of course, we're talking about Christopher Nolan's latest time-twisting epic, Tenet. How does it stack up within the famed director's filmography? Tune in and find out.

1:01 - 7:14 - Disney Investor Panel7:15 - 12:35 - The Mandalorian12:36 - 17:14 - The Boys17:15 - 23:13 - The Expanse23:14 - 28:48 - The Queen's Gambit28:49 - 31:51 - M. Night Shyamalan's The Village31:52 - 36:04 - The Leftovers36:05 - 37:19 - One Night in Miami37:20 - 41:46 - Speed Racer41:47 - 48:58 - Saved By the Bell Reboot

Season premiere. In lieu of our usual premiere topic of discussing out recent watches, we've pivoted to covering the huge, industry-changing, bombshell news of Warner Bros. releasing their entire 2021 slate of films on HBO Max concurrently with their theatrical premieres. What does this mean for theaters? What does it mean for cinema in general? We discuss this and much more.

Say farewell to The Hannibal Files with our final episode recapping the last two episodes of this wonderful show. The Red Dragon ends here, and perhaps in a way that you might not expect. We talk about the end of Dolarhyde, and of course, Will and Hannibal. What is the legacy of the show? Tune in and find out.

Welcome to the penultimate episode of The Hannibal Files. In the home stretch of the series and this podcast, we discuss the scattered yet still compelling episodes leading up to the end. Building up to the final showdown between Dolarhyde and those out to catch him, the show is reveling in Richard Armitage's feral performance and some new dynamics with old characters.

The final arc of Bryan Fuller's Hannibal starts here. Three years after Dr. Lecter's capture, a new case draws everyone back into the good doctor's orbit. Richard Armitage is Francis Dolarhyde, a monstrous new killer targeting entire families. Will Hannibal cooperate and help the FBI catch him?

Before we tackle the final arc of Bryan Fuller's Hannibal, we're going to be taking a look at Michael Mann's 1986 thriller, Manhunter. Based on the Thomas Harris novel Red Dragon, Manhunter serves as the first adaptation of the Red Dragon story, and the basis of the final six episodes of Hannibal. Widely considered as a cult classic, Manhunter is a neon injection of 80s neo-noir.

The Mason Verger arc comes to a close with the midseason finale of Hannibal. "Digestivo" buttons up a number of storylines, setting the stage for a brand new direction in the final half-season of the series. How do Will and Hannibal escape their predicament at Muskrat Farm? What fate befalls the Verger estate? Tune in and listen to our thoughts!

Hannibal and Bedelia's time together in Italy has come to an end as the good doctor is luring all his enemies to him. Jack, Will, and Pazzi close in on Hannibal in an explosive couple of episodes that sets up the mid-season finale. Tune in and find out what we thought about the latest gruesome developments!

With episodes 3 and 4, Hannibal hits a lull in the pacing in which we all agree isn't the best for the series. Will visits the infamous Lecter estate, while we catch up with the rest of the cast, whose fates are all still up in the air from last season's bloodbath.

A new chapter of The Hannibal Files begins as we follow the fugitive Hannibal Lecter and his unexpected companion to Europe. Paris! Florence! Stolen identities! What is the esteemed doctor up to after the bloodbath that ended the second season? Tune in as we begin the discussion on the third and final season of Hannibal

We've finally made it to the end of the second season of Hannibal. Get ready as Derek, Jeff, and Amir dive into one of the best episodes of television of all time, the absolutely shocking and bonkers Mizumono. It's a bloodbath at Hannibal Lecter's house as Will and Jack execute their master plan, and not everything goes smoothly. What surprise does the good doctor have in store for us? Tune in and find out!

The first Verger saga comes to a close in the penultimate episodes of Hannibal's second season, with Jack and Will's trap for Hannibal ready to be sprung. What happened to Freddie Lounds? Will Alana forgive all the betrayals coming her way? We discuss this and more before the killer season finale next week.

Robot bears and pigs in suits! We're nearing the end of Hannibal's second season, and Will Graham is playing a dangerous game. Can he bait the Chesapeake Ripper, or will he succumb to his newfound darkness? Join Derek, Jeff, and Amir as they discuss these two wild episodes.

This week, it's just Jeff and Amir as they discuss a bit of real world news before the regular Hannibal talk. More than half way into the second season, the show has wrapped one of its best arcs, and set a new status quo. Tune in to find out what we thought of all the new developments and the new direction the series is taking.

The tides are turning in Hannibal's second season. One of the series' most memorable tableaus is finally here, and the power begins to shift away from the inimitable Dr. Lecter. What other nasty twists does Hannibal have in store for us? Tune in and find out!

This week, The Hannibal Files is thrown into chaos. Will's murder trial! More Hannibal Lecter shenanigans! Two mysterious killers-of-the-week, and Beverly's investigation heats up. There's lots to talk about, so strap in and listen up!

After taking a break to talk about a few things decidedly NOT Hannibal-related, Derek, Jeff, and Amir are now back to cover the second season of Bryan Fuller's Hannibal. Springboarding from a shocking cold open, Season 2 starts with propulsive momentum. What's the new status quo? Who's the new killer of the week? We discuss all this and more in this week's episode.