Episodes
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Daniel Myrick and Eduardo Sanchez, the directors of the iconic horror film The Blair Witch Project join this episode of the Movies In Focus podcast.
Released in 1999, the film not only essentially created the found-footage genre but it also left an indelible mark on the landscape of independent cinema. Daniel and Eduardo share their insights on the film's production - everything from its unique marketing strategy to the challenges they faced in bringing their vision to life.
This is a fascinating conversation with two filmmakers who pushed the boundaries of cinema and redefined horror storytelling. It’s an engaging discussion that will illuminate the legacy of a film that continues to inspire filmmakers and frighten audiences around the world 25 years on. that continues to inspire filmmakers and frighten audiences around the world
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Action superstar Scott Adkins joins this bite-sized episode of the Movies In Focus podcast to talk about his latest film Take Cover - a high-octane one-location action flick that’s a real must for fans of the genre.
Known for his athletic turns in films like Accident Man, Undisputed, John Wick Chapter 4 and The Expendables 2, Scott has entertained audiences with his martial arts prowess and charismatic screen presence.
Scott spoke over Zoom to discuss his work in action movies, CGI versus stunt work, his passion for film-making - as well as the potential of him suiting up as iconic superhero, Batman.
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Episodes manquant?
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Two very different directors talk about two very different films on this episode of the Movies In Focus podcast. First-up, Kevin Smith talks about his 1980s set comedy, The 4:30 Movie and then later in the episode Euros Lyn discusses his vampire-comedy, The Radleys.
Kevin Smith was one of the leading figures in the 1990s independent film scene. His self-financed low-budget comedy Clerks was a massive success and he went on to make the likes of Mallrats, Chasing Amy, Dogma Jay And Silent Bob Strike Back, Jersey Girl and others.
Working with rep company that includes the likes of Ben Affleck, Jason Lee, Jason Mewes and Matt Damon, Smith’s films have also had a strong autobiographical bent, incorporating moments and characters from his own life and adding his own style of acerbic wit.
His latest film, The 4:30 Movie is his most autobiographical yet- a 1980s set coming of age story that not only takes place within the confines of Smith’s home state of New Jersey - but also his very own SmodCastle cinema. It’s a witty and heartfelt film that delivers the goods for fans of his work and those looking for a well-honed comedy.
Kevin Smith talks about digging into his past to make the film, shooting in your own cinema - as well as the possibility of a Mallrats sequel.
To say that Welsh director Euros Lyn has had an illustrious career would be an understatement.
His career as a director is littered with some of the television’s top shows including - Casualty, Doctor Who, Torchwood, Sherlock, Broadchurch, Happy Valley, Daredevil, His Dark Materials and Heartstopper.
Lyn’s new film, The Radleys is based on Matt Haig’s book of the same name - and it stars Damian Lewis and Kelly Macdonald as a married couple with a young family - and they all just happen to be vampires.
Euros Lyn’s chat about The Radleys covers bringing the material to the screen and getting such a great cast for his vampire film.
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Director Mikael Håfström joins this episode of the Movies In Focus podcast to discuss his latest film, Slingshot, a space thriller starring Casey Affleck and Laurence Fishburne.
Mikael is no stranger to crafting tense, atmospheric films, having directed works like his adaptation of Stephen King’s 1408 starring John Cusack and the Sylvester Stallone and Arnold Schwarzenegger team-up, Escape Plan . With Slingshot, he explores themes of isolation, survival, and the human spirit in the face of overwhelming odds.
In our conversation, we explore the challenges of filming a space-based thriller, working with a stellar cast, and how Mikael approached the unique visual and narrative elements of this ambitious project. So strap in and prepare for launch as we take a deep dive into the making of Slingshot.
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Directed by Adam Nelson and written by Chris Watt, The Mire is a well-honed dramatic thriller which grabs your attention and draws you into its tense plot.
Essentially a one-location, three-hander, the low-budget film knows exactly what to do with its limited resources and it keeps you hooked until its surprising finale.
Returning guest Adam Nelson and newcomer Chris Watt both join this episode of the Movies In Focus podcast to talk about the origins of The Mire, how the story developed and the challenges of making a low-budget independent film.
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Director Joe Stephenson joins this episode of the Movies In Focus podcast to discuss his latest film, Doctor Jekyll. This film marks a significant moment for Hammer Studios, being their first horror release since the company's acquisition by the aptly named John Gore. Starring, Eddie Izzard and Scott Chambers, the film offers a fresh take on Robert Louis Stevenson’s classic tale
Joe shares insights into the creative process behind Doctor Jekyll, the challenges of reimagining such a beloved story, and his collaboration with Eddie Izzard in bringing this gothic story to life. He also discusses Midas Man, his forthcoming biopic of Brian Epstein, the manager of The Beatles.
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Dog Soldiers, The Descent and Doomsday filmmaker Neil Marshall joins the Movies In Focuspodcast to talk about his new gangster film, Duchess alongside its star, co-writer and producer Charlotte Kirk. The pair previously collaborated on the action-horror The Lair and the mediaeval thriller, The Reckoning.
With Duchess, Marshall delivers a fast-paced revenge thriller where Kirk’s working-class criminal dives into the glamorous – and sometimes not so glamorous – world of diamond smuggling. With strong visuals and explosive action, the film showcases her transformation into a fierce anti-heroine.
They pair talk the creative process behind the film, explore the characters, and discuss the challenges they faced along the way. It’s always a pleasure to hear first-hand from the people who bring stories to life, as we uncover what makes Duchess a refreshing modern-day gangster pic with an old-school charm.
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On this episode, Jeff Downes and Graham O'Dwyer from the brilliant At The Flicks podcast discuss Kevin Costner's western epic, Horizon: An American Saga.
We'll be putting our collective expertise to work as we explore Costner's latest directorial effort, examining its place within the western genre and its potential impact on cinema.
So let's saddle up and ride off into the sunset with Jeff and Graham as we unpack the ambitious multi-part movie saga and what it means for Costner's legacy.
Stay tuned for an insightful discussion that promises to be as expansive as the American frontier itself.
Discover more from At The Flicks
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Director Alejandro Brugués goes for old-fashioned chills and offers up some slow-burn horror with his excellent new horror, The Inheritance.
It can be difficult to have sympathy for characters who have immense wealth and privilege – especially when you’re not supposed to like them. However, The Inheritance gets the balance just right – and along with some good casting choices, you’ll be somewhat conflicted when the Abernathys start to die - and Rachel Nichols and David Walton make for a particularly entertaining dastardly duo.
Both star Rachel Nichols and director Alejandro Brugués join the Movies In Focus podcast to talk about The Inheritance. Alejandro goes into some wonderful detail about the making of the film - and Rachel delivers some truly fascinating insight into her process as an actress.
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Written by Joe Russo and Chris LaMont, The Inheritance delivers old-fashioned chills and offers up some slow-burn horror.
The quick pitch is to call the Alejandro Brugués directed film a well-balanced mix of Knives Out and The House On Haunted Hill by way of The Haunting Of Hill House and Succession. There’s a sophistication and understanding of the horror genre that shows a real understanding of how these things work on a story level.
Joe Russo and Chris LaMont joined the Movies In Focus podcast to talk about their writing process and how The Inheritance made it to the screen.
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Shane Dax Taylor’s Murder Company is an old-fashioned World War II men on a mission movie. On Demand now in the U.S., the film stars William Moseley, Pooch Hall, Gilles Marini, Joe Anderson and Kelsey Grammer.
The plot follows a group of US soldiers as they attempt to smuggle a member of the French resistance behind enemy lines so that he can assassinate a high-value Nazi target.
Star Gilles Marini and director Shane Dax Taylor joined the Movies In Focus podcast to talk about the film, the reasons for making it and the complexities of making a film set during the Second World War.
This is a fascinating episode - especially when Gilles Marini delves deep into his family history to talk about his grandmother’s resistance work during the war. It's heartfelt and passionate stuff.
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Writer/director Jake Allyn's film Ride is now available On Demand in the US. It’s a wonderful modern day western that sees Allyn star alongside C. Thomas Howell, Annabeth Gish & Forrie J. Smith.
It's a beautifully shot & exceptionally well acted film that has dramatic highs alongside some strong tension.
Jake Allyn joins the Movies In Focus podcast to talk about making Ride, the complexities of not only writing and directing a film but also starring in the lead role, as well as how the success of television's Yellowstone helped the film come together.
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Alexander Payne’s 1999 release Election was a film which took the filmmaker’s career to the next level. A biting satire, it features a great Matthew Broderick as a teacher with a grudge battling Reese Witherspoon‘s overly enthusiastic student, Tracy Flick.
As part of a special look back at some of the films released in 1999 - a year many believe to be one of the finest in cinema history - film critic and entertainment journalist Isy Santini joined the Movies In Focus podcast to talk about Election.
With bylines in The List, Film Stories, and Dirty Movies, Isy is a writer with a passion for feminist film analysis and 20th century cinema - which made her the ideal candidate to talk about Alexander Payne's well regarded black comedy.
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Arrow Shorts is a showcase for great short-form film-making. From the scary to the bizarre, Arrow highlights the amazing work being created by filmmakers in a shorter-length medium.
Film-maker Drew Maxwell Weiss joins this episode of the podcast to talk about his Giallo inspired short Anatomy Maestro.
With nods to the bloody thrillers of the late ‘70s and early ‘80s, this short sees a stalker become the prey, in the filthy mean streets of New York.
Anatomy Maestro is a well executed thriller that more than delivers some very powerful imagery during its short running time.
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Arrow Shorts is a showcase for great short-form film-making. From the scary to the bizarre, Arrow highlights the amazing work being created by filmmakers in a shorter-length medium.
Film-maker Alex Baro-Cayetano joins this episode of the podcast to talk about his small, but perfectly formed short, Keith.
In the film, a little girl meets someone called Keith during difficult times. She doesn't know why he's there… yet.
Incredibly short and consisting of just one scene, Keith shows how you can achieve a lot with very little.
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Darkness Of Man is a new action noir starring Jean Claude Van Damme as a former Interpol agent haunted by the actions of his past. Visually striking, Darkness Of Man sees Van Damme give a nuanced turn - and it’s once again an indicator that the action icon can deliver good performances alongside bullets and flying kicks.
James Cullen Bressack, the director, producer and co-writer of Darkness Of Man is no stranger to working for legendary action heroes, having previously worked with Bruce Willis, Steven Seagal and Mel Gibson. He joins this episode of the podcast, to talk about the making of the neo-noir, working with Jean Claude Van Damme and what it’s like directing other iconic action stars.
Darkness Of Man co-star, Kristanna Loken also joins this episode.
Loken has had a storied career having played the evil T-X opposite Arnold Schwarzenegger in Terminator 3: Rise Of The Machines and having starred in a variety of other films and TV shows including Bloodrayne, Burn Notice and Painkiller Jane.
Amongst other things, Kristanna Loken discusses how acting is changing in the face of new technologies, making Darkness Of Man and working with Jean Claude Van Damme.
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Arrow Shorts is a showcase for great short-form film-making. From the scary to the bizarre, Arrow highlights the amazing work being created by film-makers in a shorter-length medium.
Film-maker Ryan Iriving joins this episode of the podcast to talk about Bark, a witty, original and well-composed slasher pastiche which crams a lot into its short running time.
Bark sees two women desperately trying to escape a stalking axe murderer through a city park. Unfortunately for them their only eye-witness isn’t human… and he’s completely useless.
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Arrow Shorts is a showcase for great short-form film-making. From the scary to the bizarre, Arrow highlights the amazing work being created by filmmakers in a shorter-length medium.
Film-maker Izzy Lee joins this episode of the podcast to talk about her incredibly fresh and original short film Meat Friend.
Meat Friend was nominated for a 2023 Fangoria Chainsaw Award for Best Short Film, and it follows an ex-con, sentient pile of hamburger meat (voiced by Steve Johanson) who teaches after-school lessons to a child (Marnie McKendry).
It's a seriously gonzo piece of short film-making that plays like Sesame Street on acid - and it's unlike anything you've ever seen!
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The Image Of You is the screen adaptation of Adele Parks’ novel of the same name. Directed by Jeff Fisher and adapted by screenwriter Chris Sivertson, the film stars Sasha Pieterse, Parker Young, Néstor Carbonell and Mira Sorvino. It’s something of an outlier - a modern take on the erotic thriller - one with particular nods to masters of the genre like Brian De Palma and Paul Verhoeven.
Director Jeff Fisher joins this episode of the podcast to talk about The Image Of You, how he worked on the film’s visual style and was inspired by De Palma and Verhoeven and what it’s like bringing a best-selling novel to the screen.
The Image Of You will be released In Select Theatres and is Available to Buy on Digital on May 10, 2024. -
Adele Parks MBE has sold over 5 million plus copies and has been translated into over 30 different languages.
Her 19th novel, The Image Of You has now been adapted for the screen by director Jeff Fisher and screenwriter Chris Sivertson.
Starring Sasha Pieterse, Parker Young, Néstor Carbonell and Mira Sorvino, the film is a modern take on the erotic thriller that features nods to genre masters like Brian De Palma and Paul Verhoeven.
Adele Parks joins this episode of the podcast for an in-depth chat about her writing process, how The Image Of You made it to the screen and what it’s like having someone else bring your book to life. It’s a great conversation - especially if you’re interested in the craft of writing.
The Image Of You released In Select Theatres and is Available to Buy on Digital on May 10, 2024.
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