Dark Discussions Podcast

The unreliable narrator trope is a common theme in many films.  The new horror film, SOMEWHERE QUIET (2024), is a film written and directed Olivia West Lloyd where she wanted to make the film after the “final girl” survives.  What would her life be like after escaping or being rescued. 

Meg (Jennifer Kim) and her husband Scott (Kentucker Audley) head out to his wealthy families Cape Cod compound in Massachusetts.  Kim has just survived a kidnapping attempt and is suffering from stress and PTSD.  A time away from the rest of the world may be good for her.  While there, Kim meets Scott’s first cousin, Madelin (Marin Ireland), and the three begin to spend a lot of time together.  As time goes by, Kim begins to have memories, nightmares, and flashbacks that begin to affect her sanity.

The Cluster A personality can cause one’s mind to see things that don’t exist and believe things that aren’t happening.  The movie takes a look at such a person and what they “feel” around their surroundings.  Co-star Marin Ireland gives an amazing performance as the eccentric cousin.  Receiving great reviews by a handful of critics but negative reviews from audiences, the crew on the podcast take a look at the movie and give their thoughts.

Welcome to Cortana’s Communiques – A weekly discussion of the Paramount+ television series HALO based on the video game series and the universe created by XBox.  Starring Pablo Schreiber and Natascha McElhone.

Series synopsis:

Aliens threaten human existence in an epic 26th-century showdown. TV series based on the video game ‘Halo’.

Emerald Fennell’s prior film, PROMISING YOUNG WOMAN (2020), received a lot of note and award nominations.  Her latest film came out late 2023.  SALTBURN (2023) is another dark thriller in same vein as such films as CRUEL INTENTIONS (1999), THE TALENTED MR. RIPLEY (1999), and even classic films such as Alfred Hitchcock’s REBECCA (1938). 

Oliver Quick (Barry Keoghan) comes from humble beginnings.  Receiving a scholarship to Oxford, he meets wealthy Felix Catton (Jacob Elordi).  After Oliver discovers his father’s passing, Felix invites him for the summer to spend with his family at their estate Saltburn.  Oliver slowly begins to ingratiate himself with the family, but as secrets begin to be exposed, are the Cattons using Oliver or is Oliver using them?

The film stars Barry Keoghan, Jacob Elordi, Richard E. Grant, Alison Oliver, and Rosamund Pike in a highly praised performance.  SALTBURN, though overlooked by some award ceremonies, the movie received excellent reviews even if the story itself may be somewhat unappealing.  Your co-hosts take a look at the movie and give their thoughts.

Welcome to Cortana’s Communiques – A weekly discussion of the Paramount+ television series HALO based on the video game series and the universe created by XBox.  Starring Pablo Schreiber and Natascha McElhone.

Series synopsis:

Aliens threaten human existence in an epic 26th-century showdown. TV series based on the video game ‘Halo’.

Gregg Araki, probably best known for THE DOOM GENERATION (1995), though not prolific, he has come out with a number of films of note including MYSTERIOUS SKIN (2004).  The script was written by Araki based off a novel of the same name written by author Scott Heim.  A Patreon pick from one of our listeners, the podcast takes a look at the film.

Brian Lackey (Brady Corbet), a young man, remembers passing out as a child for unknown reasons.  During one of his episodes he sees a shadowy figure staring down at him.  When he sees a documentary about alien abductions on televisions, he goes visits a young woman his age that claims she too had been abducted.  His discussions with her lead to him searching out Neil McCormick (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) who appears in photographs with him as a youngster.  Does Neil have an answer or is there a bigger story?

The film stars Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Brady Corbet, Mary Lynn Rajskub, Michelle Trachtenberg, Bill Sage, and Elizabeth Shue.  Due to its subject matter, the film received the “dreaded” NC-17 rating.  Controversial, the film still received fine reviews from critics including Roger Ebert.  Your co-hosts take a look at the film and give their thoughts.

Welcome to Cortana’s Communiques – A weekly discussion of the Paramount+ television series HALO based on the video game series and the universe created by XBox. Starring Pablo Schreiber and Natascha McElhone.

Series synopsis:

Aliens threaten human existence in an epic 26th-century showdown. TV series based on the video game ‘Halo’.

The “Black List” is the top screenplays that have circulated around Hollywood and producers that have not been purchased or made yet.  But the buzz follows them.  The new film I.S.S. (2024) is just that.  The script by Nick Shafir was finally purchased and made into the movie.  Distributed by Bleecker Street, the film debuted at theaters on January 19th, 2024.

Dr. Kira Foster (Ariana DeBose) joins the International Space Station crew.  With 3 Americans, and 3 Russians, the crew are to orbit earth and do research in hopes to help humanity.  But soon, a black swan event occurs on earth leaving the two national crews not sure what to do.  With friendships, and even the world in danger of ending, the six must decide whether to trust each other and even those from their own home country.

The movie’s cast also includes Chris Messina (DEVIL (2009)), Pilou Asbaek (GAME OF THRONES), John Gallagher (10 CLOVERFIELD LANE (2016)), Masha Mashkova (FOR ALL MANKIND), and Costa Ronin (THE AMERICANS).  The direction was done by Gabriela Cowperthwaite.  And reviews have generally been positive.  Your co-hosts take a look at this recently released film and give their thoughts.

Sometimes Hollywood “royalty” aren’t enough for a film to stand out and become a blockbuster.  When you have director Gregory Hoblit, behind such genre films as PRIMAL FEAR (1996) and FREQUENCY (2000), screenwriter Nicholas Kazan behind AT CLOSE RANGE (1986) and REVERSAL OF FORTUNE (1990), and Denzel Washington starring, you’d think the film FALLEN (1998) would be a blockbuster.  But it wasn’t.  Why?

Synopsis:  Detective John Hobbes (Denzel Washington) successfully captures serial killer Edgar Reese (Elias Koteas).  On the day of his execution, Reese seems to have made peace with Hobbes, shaking hands.  But while dying, he appears unrepentant.  Days later, copy cat murders begin and drag Hobbes back into a crime wave that may be more than just done by a man.

Besides Denzel Washington, the film’s cast includes John Goodman, Donald Sutherland, James Gandolfini, and Elias Koteas.  The movie was released during a wave of supernatural religious thrillers in the 1990’s that were either hit or miss.  FALLEN received mixed reviews and left the box office with little success.  A Patreon pick from one of our listeners, the podcast crew take a look at the movie and give their thoughts.

The podcast decides to try to do something different with our latest episode. Genre movies, books, video games, disc reviews, interviews, anime, art house film – that’s been our regular format. But with 2023 just wrapping up, and almost all of 2024 still to come, we decided to take a look at various films between the two years and recap and deconstruct what we know.

2023 was a pretty mediocre year when it came to genre films. Horror and superhero films were mostly forgettable with the occasional gem that hit it out of the ballpark. We go into depths of some well known films like EVIL DEAD RISE, and some lesser known gems like VENUS and MASTER GARDENER. But we also look back at televisions series like LAST OF US and ONE PIECE too.

Then we take a look at some films and television shows coming in 2024. Will the new ALIEN: ROMULUS take the franchise in a new direction? After Ryan Gosling’s performance in BARBIE and Emily Blunt nominated for an Oscar for her role in OPPENHEIMER, will their new film THE FALL GUY that’s coming be a major hit? Also discussed is how some of the 2024 movies that may not make the Dark Discussions Podcast may actually be picked up on Halloween Boutique Psychotronic Reviews as episodes. Take a listen and enjoy.

We are already half way through January in 2024, yet 2023 is now in the rearview mirror.  It’s time to take a look at the prior year and go through all the many films that came out that were considered horror and genre films.   Dark Discussions and its co-hosts puts together their review of all that was good and bad in 2023.  Was it one of the better years in genre cinema or did it have too many missteps to be remembered?

Each of your co-hosts put together a list of movies they thought were good enough to recommend. Two lists were procured.  This included a list of horror films and a list of other speculative fiction films. Afterwards we then combined those lists and came up with the Dark Discussions definitive lists in both categories as best of the year. Some obvious films like MEGAN (M3GAN) and EVIL DEAD RISE appear but also little known films like THE ARTIFICE GIRL and VENUS were too.

Also included are some of our “sometime co-hosts” choices and what they felt were the best of the year. And don’t forget our top and worst scenes, scream queens, breakout star, and anything else you can think of. Dark Discussions wraps up last year in a nice tight bow and gives their listeners a good many films to go out and search for.