Unsung Cinematics

Off The Record - 6 - 2026

This episode of Off the Record is for all the horror buffs out there as we venture into the month of remembering the dead. The front of center of this Episode is Ken’s Shudder pick The Cycle from 2026 directed by Jordan Downey, starring Deborah Ann Woll and Jeffrey Donovan. A violent werewolf horror with nudity, ketchup and murder mystery. Ken was thoroughly impressed with the gnarly practical effects. The film runs 111 minutes long. Ken enjoyed it despite some of the questionable plot elements. Followed by up Rastos horror thriller I See You from 2019. Directed by Adam Randall and starting Helen Hunt which you may know from other TV and film. Rasto enjoyed the script, but suggests the film is can only be watched once as you figure out the mystery. Stewart checks in to 2026 Irish film Hokum from 2026. Loosely based on a haunted hotel mystery with some supernatural twists. Directed by Damian McCarthy and Adam Scott as the main character who is a bit of a side detective and popular writer. Stewart gave it a positive review about a man finding his ultimate purpose. Ken then says ‘He has a bit more family film’ despite it being a film called Ouija: Origin of Evil from 2016. A somewhat more toned down film set in 1967. Directed by Mike Flanagan and starring Elizabeth Reaser. The protagonists discover the occult through the use of this newly popularized game. Ken was impressed. Rasto goes into ‘Barbarian’ mode from 2022. Directed by Zach Cregger, starring Georgina Campbell and Bill Skarsgard. The film is about a unassuming house, but turns out to be anything but as there are many hidden secrets. Rasto was disturbed and scared by this film. And finally Stewart delves back into his hobby-horse by comparing more Carrie adaptations. The new Carrie 2026 TV series and the Carrie 2 Sequel the Rage from 1999. The TV series is also directed by Mike Flanagan, while the film is directed by Katt Shea. Emily Bergl plays the half sister of Carrie, and Summer H. Howell plays Carrie in the TV Series. As far as Carrie adaptations go, they are starting to drift away from the Stephen King source material. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit unsungcinematics.substack.com

• Transcript

Bullet in the Head - 1990

Stewart, Rastislav and Ken have survived the carnage of director John Woo’s Bullet in the Head, a 1990 release from Golden Princess Film Distribution. This, along with other Hong Kong action classics, has been released on disc by Shout Factory (North America) and Arrow Video (Europe). It is also available to stream on Plex. The story follows Ben, Frankie and Paul, three friends from the streets of Hong Kong who have grown tired of trying to make their lives better amidst the poverty and civil unrest all around them. When Frankie is badly beaten after trying to get a loan to cover the cost of Ben’s wedding, they go after the thugs responsible and accidentally kill the thugs’ leader. They’re forced to leave their loved ones behind and go on the run; they decide to try and smuggle a cargo of penicillin to a crime lord named Leong in Saigon but it’s destroyed by a suicide bomber. After this, they meet Luke, a shadowy underworld figure who agrees to help them rescue Sally, a Hong Kong singer from their youth who is now more or less a slave to Leong. The rescue goes badly, resulting in a shootout during which Sally is injured. Paul finds a box of gold inside which is hidden intelligence photos which Leong was planning to sell to the North Vietnamese army. They escape and in the morning are waiting for a boat to take them to freedom but are captured by the Viet Cong. Sally dies, Ben, Frankie and Paul are captured and Luke escapes. The trio are interrogated and forced to kill POWs before Luke returns with a group of American special ops to rescue them and the POWs. The battle that follows leads to a bad result between Frankie and Paul. Luke takes Frankie to safety while Ben pursues Paul but is injured. He is helped to recover by monks who find him, and he and Luke eventually help Frankie find peace, and show Paul that some things are worth more than gold. Stewart, Rastislav and Ken are in agreement that this is an intense ride; a bit sentimental and hard to follow at the start but as the story progresses, the action and brutality hit hard. They appreciated the examination of how friendship can be eroded by greed and harsh conditions. High marks were also given for the large scale, kinetic action scenes. They recommend that fans of Woo’s style and storytelling seek this out, as it doesn’t seem to have gotten the attention reserved for The Killer or Hard Boiled. Written by John Woo, Patrick Leung and Janet Chun, and directed by John Woo. Starring Tony Leung Chiu-wai as Ben/Siu Bun, Jacky Cheung as Frank/Fai Jai, Waise Lee as Paul/Sau Ming, Simon Yam as Luke/Lok, Chung Lam as Leong, Fennie Yuen as Jane/Siu Jan, and Yolinda Yam as Sally Yan Sau Ching. Not rated but has violence, gore, mature situations and profanity. The theatrical cut runs 131 minutes, and the festival cut runs 136 minutes. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit unsungcinematics.substack.com

• Transcript

Off The Record - 5 - 2026

In this end of Summer Episode of Off the Record we have a big mix of genres to report on. Ken, Stewart and Tyler sit down to watch Exit 8 from 2025. A curiosity by Tyler, the film starts off on a nice foot, but soon becomes repetitive and not too interesting. Exit 8 is a video game puzzle film that is popular among the young and in Japanese culture. Directed by Genki Kawamura and written by himself as well as Kotake Create and Kentaro Hirase. The film pretty much follows the same concept as the popular video game, which is available on steam. Ken and Stewart were not impressed, while Tyler seem more on board with this lost in a train tunnel exit (pun not intended.) Rasto then gives his short review on American Gods the TV series from 2017 and on. Created by Bryan Fuller and Michael Green with Ricky Whittle, Emily Browning and Yetide as starring actors. The series is about a new set of pagan gods who are not too happy that humanity no longer worships them. In their desperation they come up with new titles of modern culture to become the new gods. However the former god of war has other plans for the group. Rasto was somewhat hopeful for the series, despite not getting through the entirety of it and instead focused on the first two seasons. As the episode progresses, Stewart does his comparison of the 2021 film The Trip by Tommy Wirkola which is the original film that Over Your Dead Body is based on (English American Remake.) The film seems to be a bit more savage and serious than the American remake. Ken then burns what is left of the film ‘ASH’ which is a 2025 Sci-Fi horror. Directed by the Flying Lotus and staring Eiza Gonzalez. Unfortunately the film left a burnt taste in both Ken’s and Stewart’s mouth. It seems the plot may of been thrown into the fire. Ken however would still like the praise the Flying Lotus for his attempts at making this film look good and his abilities. Finally Rasto brings us back to a common genre we have covered numerous times with the film Deliver Us from Evil from 2014. According to Rasto this is a somewhat faithful attempt at how an Exorcist clone or style should be, unlike most of the slop out there. Written and Directed by Scott Derrickson starring Eric Bana. Stewart wraps up the episode with a hot take on Star Trek Strange New Worlds, and this indeed is one strange new world we live in with this mess of episodes that range from bad to good and good to bad. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit unsungcinematics.substack.com

• Transcript

Over Your Dead Body - 2026

Rastislav, Stewart and Ken return with a pick that is sure to please. Over Your Dead Body from 2026 was recently released on Amazon Prime as a freebie but was originally released to independent film festivals and 1500 theatres. This is a 2021 adaptation of the Tommy Wirkola film The Trip. Wanting an English version of this film, he came on to get the production going. By 2024 the film was taken over by Jorma Taccone as director, and Nick Kocher and Brian McElhaney as screen writers. The film was then renamed to ‘Over Your Dead Body.’ Like Tommy Wirkola’s other films, this is a gory, violent, over the top horror/thriller with plenty of goofy moments with a pinch of no matter how bad things get, things can be worked out. The film starts with the married couple, who have marital differences, and begin to plot the others murder behind the others’ back. Jason Segal who plays Dan intends to take her to a remote cabin on a lake for a vacation and then have her dumped into the lake after killing her. Unknown to him, his wife Lisa, played by Samara Weaving also has a plan to murder him by telling her friends they are going on a hunting trip, and to plan a ‘hunting accident.’ The two find each other’s plan and begin an all-out war for survival, but their plans become sidetracked when 2 recently escaped convicts and their corrupt corrections officer break into the cabin and hide in the attic. Now the war is not only between husband and wife, but also between husband, wife, and the convicts. The consensus is that this film is worthy of its name. There are plenty of goofy moments, over the top gore, and ketchup to satisfy lovers of this genre. This is not a film for families or those sensitive to violence. But for everyone else, it is an easy to watch film with great actors. If you like our over review of Dead Snow also by Tommy Wirkola, then this film is for you. Directed by Jorma Taccone and originally written by Tommy Wirkola, Nick Ball and John Iven. Major actors are Jason Segal, Samara Weaving, Timothy Olyphant, Keith Jardine, Juliette Lewis and Jake Curran. Rated 18A for violence, gore, some nudity and swearing. It has runtime of 1 hour and 45 minutes. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit unsungcinematics.substack.com

• Transcript

Off The Record - 4 - 2026

Stewart, Rastislav and Ken brave the summer heat to bring you their June 2026 (reboot-heavy) picks; Stewart and Ken lead off with their takes on Masters of the Universe, this summer’s big budget reboot of the Mattel toy property. They both enjoyed the Travis Knight-directed film more than the 1987 film (even though they liked Dolph’s cameo!) and would be happy to watch a sequel if it can overcome its lacklustre box office earnings. They had some misgivings about the overabundance of jokey dialogue but the action, music and special effects kept them amused. Rastislav follows with his greater pick, the 2022-2025 Netflix series The Recruit; he enjoyed this story of a CIA lawyer dealing with attempts to expose classified information and being thrown in at the deep end. He praises stars Noah Centineo and Vondie Curtis-Hall, noting that Centineo has progressed from his earlier, youth-oriented projects. He also enjoyed that it felt less like a conventional spy thriller and more like a chaotic legal drama/comedy. Moving on to lesser picks, Ken gives his still-favourable view on another 80s reboot, specifically 2025’s Canadian production Deathstalker. Starring Daniel Bernhardt and Patton Oswalt, it has a much lower budget than MOTU but that is part of its video store era charm. There isn’t as much female nudity as in earlier genre efforts, which may disappoint aficionados; the practical effects-driven approach makes it worth a watch nonetheless. Stewart’s lesser pick is M3GAN 2.0; he was not amused by its hard left babyface turn, making M3GAN into a Terminator-like hero fighting a government conspiracy and internet memes. He calls it an AI slopfest and says “AV01D!” Rastislav’s lesser but still worthwhile pick is the 2018-2020 AT&T series Condor starring Max Irons, Leem Lubany and the late William Hurt. It is an update of the classic Robert Redford thriller Three Days of the Condor. He felt that the current state of surveillance technology is well-suited for a modern retelling. He also enjoyed Irons and Lubany as substitutes for the adversaries originally played by Redford and Max von Sydow. Stewart ends this edition with a dishonourable mention for 2025’s Nuremberg; he suggests watching the original Judgment of Nuremberg instead as he questions the accuracy of this version. More picks to come as summer rolls on! This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit unsungcinematics.substack.com

• Transcript

Vivarium - 2019

Stewart, Rastislav and Ken are back to decipher the conspiracy of Vivarium, a 2019 release from Fantastic Films and Screen Ireland. Stewart and Ken watched it on Shudder, where at the time of review it was the number one film on the service. The screenplay is by Garret Shanley and Lorcan Finnegan, and Finnegan also directed. The story follows young couple Tom and Gemma, a handyman/landscaper and teacher respectively, looking to purchase their first home together in an unnamed town (possibly in Ireland, where filming took place). They meet an eccentric sales agent named Martin who bids them to follow him to the new development called Yonder, where he promises to show them the first and last home they’ll ever own. No sooner has he shown them around, then he vanishes; Tom and Gemma grow frustrated and decide to leave and try again another day. However, what at first seems to be a confusing neighbourhood layout is revealed to be a strange landscape that will not allow them to leave, no matter which way they turn. They eventually run out of gas and decide to stay in the house overnight. Soon, they begin receiving packages of food and other necessities from out of thin air; one package contains an infant boy, who grows at an accelerated pace and gradually takes on the role of their son. Tom literally throws himself into a hole as he tries to dig an escape tunnel in their front yard; he and Gemma grow distant as their new “son” grows into a strange adolescent. More time passes and their son becomes a sinister adult; Tom and Gemma have now realized how trapped they truly are, and receive hints that they aren’t the only couple subjected to this experiment. Stewart, Rastislav and Ken all agree that actors Jesse Eisenberg and Imogen Poots as the couple have good chemistry and do their best with the material. They also liked aspects of the production design, visual effects and music. However, they were underwhelmed with the story, and felt that the passive attitudes of the main characters made it difficult to be invested in their fate. There are only vague hints given as to who is pulling the strings in the vivarium, and what these entities hope to learn in order to possibly conquer humanity. Written by Garret Shanley and Lorcan Finnegan, and directed by Lorcan Finnegan. Starring Jesse Eisenberg as Tom, Imogen Poots as Gemma, Jonathan Aris as Martin, Senan Jennings as Young Boy, and Eanna Hardwicke as Older Boy. Rated R by the MPA for language and some sexuality/nudity. Runtime is one hour and 37 minutes. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit unsungcinematics.substack.com

• Transcript

Off The Record - 3 - 2026

In this 3rd recording of Off the Record in 2026, Rastislav, Stewart and Ken bring some new films into the picture. In our feature Rastislav compares two films about evil. I Saw the Devil from 2010, and Blue Velvet from 1986 represent stark opposites in how evil can be portrayed. I Saw the Devil being a Korean film directed by Kim Jee-woon and Blue Velvet by David Lynch. Both are well liked and are highly praised. One is more of a dark and psychological evil, while the other is a chaotic type. Stars include Kyle MacLachlan and Isabella Rossellini. The Korean film has Lee Byung-hun and Choi Min-sik as their main characters. Rasto gives us his impression of both films. Stewart’s Greater pick Dangerous animals from 2025 directed by Sean Byrne — starring Hassie Harrison and Jai Courtney. The Dangerous animal in question are blood thirsty sharks off the gold coast, but the antagonist has a dark secret to be revealed to his would be captors. The film takes us slightly into the psyche of a serial killer, but remains true to the genre of a survivalist film. Ken gives us a run-down of his man vs machine pick, Unstoppable from 2010. Directed by Tony Scott and featuring Denzel Washington with Chris Pine. The film is about a run-away train carrying dangerous chemicals and the efforts made to get the train under control. Based on real life events while still filled with action and suspense. This was Tony Scott’s last film unfortunately before he passed on. Ken gave it a fair assessment. The Lesser pick by Stewart had an interesting premise, but fell way short in the delivery department. American Sweatshop from 2025 directed by Uta Briesewitz and starring Lili Reinhart attempts to give us an inside look into the lives of social media content moderators. The film is set in modern day Florida and the main character becomes obsessed with one of the recordings she saw while moderating. She hopes to get justice for the possible victim in the video. And finally Ken recounted his experience with the 2016 sci-fi pick Colossal directed by Nacho Vigalondo and Anne Hathaway as the lead actor. Unfortunately there was a bit of a bait and switch as the film had a darker edge than Ken expected, rather than the whimsical sci-fi comedy he was expecting. And one final note from Stewart is the disappointing 2026 series finale of Good Omens that left a bad taste for Stewart and seemingly the fans. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit unsungcinematics.substack.com

• Transcript

The Italians - 2025

Disclaimer: The publicist for The Italians contacted the Unsung Cinematics team and asked them to review this film. They received no compensation in return for their review, and their opinions are their own. In this family, everything is on the table! For their new full length episode, Stewart, Rastislav and Ken review The Italians, a 2025 release from All In Pictures. It played at several film festivals and has been available on VOD since April 2025. The screenplay is by Lisa Phillips Visca, and Michelle Danner is the director and lead actress in the role of Angelina. The story follows Angelina and Vincenzo, a California-based couple whose marriage definitely has its share of ups and downs. The newest shake-up arrives when their son Nico brings his new girlfriend Lily to a family dinner; she is a vegetarian atheist, which of course conflicts with Angelina and Vincenzo’s old school values. Vincenzo sees Nico’s affection for her and is more welcoming, but friction between Angelina and Lily soon becomes evident. Unfortunately, this won’t be the only trial for Angelina; a health challenge, a secret held by Vincenzo and a reunion with her estranged mother will need to be faced. With enough humour and heart, this dysfunctional family can hopefully get back to bonding at the dinner table. Stewart, Rastislav and Ken all agree that the cast elevated the material; their line deliveries were very clear, which was appreciated in light of how dialogue can be hard to distinguish in some modern films. There was some feeling that Visca’s experience with stage plays needs further adaptation to the craft of screenwriting. There are some story stumbles early on, but more of a groove is found as the film progresses. They felt that Danner (who is also an acting coach) was effective in her portrayal, likely informed by her family experiences. Written by Lisa Phillips Visca, and directed by Michelle Danner. Starring Danner as Angelina, Rob Estes as Vincenzo, Matthew Daddario as Nico, Abigail Breslin as Lily, Perrey Reeves as Min, Luca Riemma as Father Joe, and Lainie Kazan as Lucia. Unrated, but has some coarse language and suggestive content. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit unsungcinematics.substack.com

• Transcript

Off The Record - 2 - 2026

Welcome to the second Off the Record of 2026! This time, Stewart, Rastislav and Ken have an assortment of films and shows with timely topics. Stewart brings us his feature review of 2025’s Oscar nominee Bugonia, directed by Yorgos Lanthimos. He was pleasantly surprised by this film’s conspiracy angle, involving aliens and the mass death of bees. Emma Stone as a “suit” is victimized by Jesse Plemons and Aiden Delbis, playing brothers who raise bees off the grid and believe that Stone’s company is bringing aliens to earth and consequently poisoning their bees. Ken follows with a look at 2009’s US immigration drama Crossing Over, directed by Wayne Kramer. Harrison Ford, Cliff Curtis, Ashley Judd and Ray Liotta are some of the actors. Ken felt there were some story problems, but one sequence in a convenience store and a thoughtful examination of the immigration process help counter this. Rasto then leads us to The Path, a 2016 Hulu series created by Jessica Goldberg. Aaron Paul, Michelle Monaghan and Hugh Dancy are the leads in this cult-themed drama; Rasto found Dancy’s performance worthy of particular praise. He enjoyed the examination of how different cults or sects operate and attract followers. Starting into the lesser picks, Stewart shines (moon)light on 2020’s The Wolf of Snow Hollow, written and directed by its star Jim Cummings. Robert Forster, Riki Lindhome and Chloe East also star. Stewart doesn’t think this werewolf-themed comedy/drama is worth howling over, but appreciated the practical effects and unexpected creation of suspense during the daytime. Ken’s lesser pick is another Oscar nominee and also immigration-themed, 2025’s One Battle After Another directed by Paul Thomas Anderson. Leonardo DiCaprio, Teyana Taylor, Benicio del Toro, Chase Infiniti and Sean Penn. Ken felt that Anderson’s quirky style didn’t mesh well with the examination of immigration and white supremacists; however he did enjoy the action and some of the performances. Rastislav second cult-themed entry is unfortunately disappointing; the 2025 Netflix miniseries Wayward, created by Mae Martin and starring Martin alongside Toni Collette. Rastislav didn’t feel this Toronto-area set drama was as substantive in its examination of cult activity as The Path was, choosing instead to focus on topics that have already been looked at in better films. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit unsungcinematics.substack.com

• Transcript

Old Henry - 2021

SPOILER WARNING: This film has a pretty major twist in the third act and we couldn’t help talking about it early in our podcast. You may wish to watch Old Henry before listening to our review! He may seem like a mild old sodbuster, but think twice before you slap leather against Old Henry. Stewart, Rastislav and Ken are back to review this western that has a few tricks up its sleeve. While not a box office success (perhaps due to its theatrical release during the recent pandemic), Old Henry has nonetheless garnered solid reviews, a growing fanbase, and notice from major Hollywood studios for its writer/director Potsy Ponciroli. His new project The Rescue (starring Brandon Sklenar) is due in theatres from Paramount Pictures in January 2027. The story begins in 1906 Oklahoma; widower Henry McCarty is a world-weary farmer who works his acreage and tends his hogs alongside his son Wyatt and occasionally his brother-in-law Al. Their life is arduous but Henry wants Wyatt to learn the value of hard work. Wyatt doesn’t always agree with this mindset; Al advises him that he will have plenty of time in the future to see the world but for now, it’s best he stays on the farm. Things change when Henry discovers the unconscious sheriff Curry on his property; Curry has with him a satchel of money that he had to protect, and against his hesitation Henry brings Curry back to the farm so that he and Wyatt can bring him back to relative health. Curry eventually tells them he was set upon by Ketchum, Stillwell and Dugan, a trio of outlaws posing as lawmen. Ketchum and company pay an initial “visit” to Henry and leave, with the intent to get information from Al, who they’ve figured out is Henry’s brother-in-law. Curry slowly improves, and Wyatt snoops around and finds the money and hints about his father’s past. Henry is forced to kill Dugan, who is surveilling their farm. Curry tells them more about Ketchum’s doings, and eventually Ketchum, having hired several more guns, returns to the farm with Al as his captive. When Ketchum tries to use Al to force Henry to turn over Curry and the money, the final reckoning begins. Henry shows Ketchum and his men his true skillset and Wyatt is forced to become his father’s son sooner than he expected... Stewart, Rastislav and Ken all agree that this is an enjoyable film that belies its $1.5 million budget through the dedication and creativity of its director, actors and crew. The cinematography is expansive, and the music enhances the story without overpowering it. The actors do great work in realizing Ponciroli’s well-researched and plotted story. Listeners are encouraged to join this film’s growing posse of fans. Written and directed by Potsy Ponciroli. Starring Tim Blake Nelson as Henry, Gavin Lewis as Wyatt, Scott Haze as Curry, Stephen Dorff as Ketchum, and Trace Adkins as Al. Unrated, but equivalent to an R for violence and language. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit unsungcinematics.substack.com

• Transcript

Off The Record - 1 - 2026

In our first 2026 Off the Record we boldly feature Star Trek Academy the brand new feature from Paramount and Alex Kurtzman. Stewart Rips into the new series starring Holly Hunter as Captain Nahla Ake and Sandro Rosta who becomes the new chancellor to the recently resurrected Star Fleet Academy. Sandro the other main character plays a renegade who was upset with Starfleet’s nefarious ways. As far as flops go this one beams you right into the dead of space, with just 90k views on their free premiere on YouTube. Rasto then reviews his TV series Archive 81 which is a fairly recent 2022 adaptation of various horror like series such as Rosemary’s Baby and other copycats in the last few decades. Cancelled after just 1 season Rasto believes it was wrapped up nicely. Rebecca Sonnenshine developed this series and the main character is played by Mamoudou Athie. Ken leaps into action with his Clean Shaven pick from 1993 written and directed by Lodge Kerrigan and starring Peter Greene. It takes a serious look at mental illness and the consequences of letting people run free with such disabilities. With our lesser picks out of the way we move on to Stewart’s better pick Together from 2025, which is a film based on the Greek Mythology of the better half, where people originally had 2 heads, 4 arms, and four legs. In this horror we see what would happen if two people were split, and were to suddenly start to meld together to become one. Directed by Michael Shanks, and starring Dave Franco with Alison Brie who are a real life couple. This film managed to get itself into a copyright dispute with another production company. Rasto then gives us his take on the 1966 French film Au hasard Balthazar. The film is unique because it follows around a donkey from the perspective of said animal, and how it interacts with the various humans and owners in it’s life. Directed by Robert Bresson and starring Anne Wiazemsky who has a unique acting ability. Ken finally wraps up his 2021 pick Old Henry. This western seems to be unique in a way, and Ken enjoyed it. Directed and written by Potsy Ponciroli and starring Tim Blake Nelson. Stewart also has a quick follow-up on the Toxic Avenger Reboot. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit unsungcinematics.substack.com

• Transcript

Macross Plus Movie Edition - 1995

Top Gun with Mecha and reckless fighter pilots, involved in a love triangle involving a 4th party AI, ‘plus’ the kitchen sink. Macross Plus is an anime film from 1995 based on the 4 part miniseries cartoon of the same name. This is a continuation from the Macross Franchise also called Robotech from the 80’s. This Shōji Kawamori directed film is set in the year 2040, 3 decades after the previous situation with the war between Humans and the Zentradi Aliens. The three main characters are Isamu, Guld, and Myung who were high school friends on a planet called Eden, but after an incident that happened years prior they went their separate ways. Years later they met back up again, as the two boys were now highly respected fighter jocks who flew experimental mechas (hybrid robot/jets.) Also back on the scene is Myung who was the prior love interest of the men, and despite their friendship from years prior, there is now a hostility that exists between them. Through the film they are constantly fighting with each other, but a much worse threat looms on the horizon and that is a new AI model that is set to take over the masses through pop culture and its deceptive ways. Little did the boys know, but Myung was actually the one who was using her own experiences to train this new artificial intelligence. Sharon Apple the AI begins to have plans of her own and the three come together to stop it. This film had some very good reviews on IMDB and has a bit of a cult following. The four of us all have a different take on the film, when it comes to the plot, the music, and the animation. There seems to be many references to other films, one being that the AI might be based on the actor Sharon Stone. By the Creators of Cowboy Bebop and written by Keiko Nobumoto, Takumi Yamazaki as Isamu, Unshou Ishizuka as Guld, Rica Fukami as Myung, Megumi Hayashibara as Lucy McMillan, and Mako Hyōdō as Sharon Apple. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit unsungcinematics.substack.com

• Transcript

B'Twixt Now and Sunrise - 2022

Out of the normal and into the paranormal in this 2011 supernatural murder mystery by Francis Ford Coppola. Twixt now rebranded as B’Twixt Now and Sunrise which was recut as the ‘Authentic Cut’ in 2022. Will his changes make a difference in this box office flop? Big guns were brought on board for this film, Val Kilmer, Bruce Dern, Elle Fanning and Ben Chaplin in their respected rolls as author, Edgar Allan Poe, the animated sheriff and the vampire/ghoulish girl. Hall Baltimore writes books about witch hunting and is in a slump so he travels to a small US town for a book signing in the hopes are reinvigorating himself. Nobody knows who he is except the sheriff who hopes that his latest idea is suitable for Baltimore’s latest book. He tells a twisted tale about the murder of kids, vampires across the lake, and a ghost that haunts the town to this day. Will Hall Baltimore and Sheriff Bobby LaGrange solve this mystery and get the book written? Baltimore gets a little help along the way from a mysterious 13 year old girl and the ghost of Edgar Allan Poe who appears in his dreams. This film bombed at the box office, but was also trashed by critiques and the average movie goer alike. Stewart, Rastislav and Ken take a deep dive into the film and uncover some of the symbolism but also criticize the plot which didn’t make much sense. Even with the big name actors and the comical moments, it seems this is a ghastly tale indeed. Written and Directed by Francis Ford Coppola and shot mostly at his own estate. Based on some of real events of Coppola’s life. Film Rating: R for Graphic Scenes and Blood This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit unsungcinematics.substack.com

• Transcript

Off The Record - 6 - 2025

After some downtime Stewart, Rastislav and Ken make their return for Off The Record number 6 of 2025. Kens feature pick is Rampage from 1987 Directed by William Friedkin and starring Michael Biehn. A mostly sombre film about the vampire killer Richard Chase and what the experience was like in the courtroom for the jurors. Even though this was a serious film, Ken recounts a few memorable and funny moments and is on his recommended list. Stewart’s greater pick Friendship from 2024 is a story about two neighbours who become great friends, but through the struggles of everyday life have a falling out because the main character is a bit of a born loser. Andrew DeYoung take this classic tale and puts a modern twist on it. The main character played by Tim Robinson is very good in his role. Rasto decides to go the documentary route this time with his 2022 pick called Louis Armstrong’s Black & Blues, which explores the life and times of this pioneer of jazz. Directed by Sacha Jenkens using actual footage of Louis Armstrong. Rasto was very pleased with this film and the controversy surrounding Louis Armstrong at the time. We slide back to Ken for another semi-court room drama called Juror No. 2 directed by Clint Eastwood in 2024. Ken was somewhat impressed but also let down at a key moment in the film. Nicholas Hoult stars in the film, And Ken decides this film is worth a better score than our recent review of Cry Macho. After all these serious picks, Stewart from out in left field brings us his tale of the Toxic Avenger from 1984, which in all manor of speaking is a B Movie done so wrong, that it turns out alright! Tons of gore, red ketchup and brutal scenes, not for the faint of heart. Directed by Michael Herz starring Mitch Cohen. This bad boy falls under the classic Troma over the top film. As the name says a nerdy janitor turns into a toxic vigilante after falling into some toxic waste. You can watch the kill count on Youtube if you are brave enough. Rasto brings us back to reality with Three Pines from 2022 which he still gave a half descent score. Created by Emilia di Girolamo and starring Alfred Molina. This is a Canadian Film, from Montreal that explores the life of a small towns sins and how the residents navigate each others crimes while still trying to remain neighbours. There is one other ‘Meh’ film that Rasto brought to our attention and that is sleeping Dogs starring Russell Crowe from 2024 which was in his opinion just meh.... This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit unsungcinematics.substack.com

• Transcript

Cry Macho - 2021

Stewart, Rastislav and Ken are back to review Clint Eastwood’s 2021 neo-western Cry Macho. This film had a lengthy development journey; the late N. Richard Nash originally intended this as a screenplay, but retooled it into a novel published in 1975. There were several attempts to bring it to the screen with potential leading men such as Eastwood, Robert Mitchum, Roy Scheider and even Arnold Schwarzenegger! It was finally realized with Eastwood pulling double duty in the lead role and in the director’s chair. Mike Milo is a retired rodeo and ranch hand who was fired by his old boss and ranch owner for what appears as Mike ‘being too old’. A year later he is approached by his old boss to journey into Mexico to retrieve the ranch owners son from his delinquent mother and bring him back to the US. Along the way they meet some interesting people and create a bond with each other and the boys rooster named ‘Macho’. Stewart enjoyed the easygoing wholesomeness of this film, but Rastislav and Ken felt the story and character development were half-baked in comparison to other Eastwood films such as Unforgiven and Gran Torino. They all appreciated the cinematography, music and production design. There were other bright spots including some of the incidental characters (to Rastislav’s amusement) and the song “Find a New Home” written by the film’s composer Mark Mancina and performed by Will Bannister. Written by Nick Schenk and N. Richard Nash (based on Nash’s novel) and directed by Clint Eastwood. Starring Eastwood as Mike, Eduardo Minett as Rafo, Dwight Yoakam as Howard, Natalia Traven as Marta and Fernanda Urrejola as Leta. Film Rating: PG This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit unsungcinematics.substack.com

• Transcript

Off The Record - 5 - 2025

Stewart, Rastislav and Ken return for Off the Record, and speak on the memory of Ozzy Osbourne. Ken begins with a glowing review of 2020’s Rockfield: the Studio on the Farm; Ozzy, Tony Iommi and many others were interviewed for this documentary on the studio built by Charles and Kingsley Ward. The Welsh farming brothers provided the backdrop for Black Sabbath and other UK bands to create enduring pop and rock classics, and have weathered industry changes to continue operating.Stewart continues with a review of the 2023 sci fi thriller Simulant, a low budget affair that nevertheless utilized its actors and story to impress Stewart; he favourably compares this film to Blade Runner. Robbie Amell, Jordana Brewster, Simu Liu and Sam Worthington headline.Rastislav then brings more UK praise with his review of the Ricky Gervais series After Life (2019-2022). He enjoyed Gervais’ abrasive, uncompromising humour and observations of human nature.Moving to lesser picks, Ken reviews an early Mike Flanagan effort called Absentia (2011). While he found value in the character development between actors Katie Parker and Courtney Bell, he feels the low budget prevented Flanagan from creating a film with the intensity of his later releases.Stewart then expands on his Dead Like Me series review to administer last rites to its 2009 sequel movie Life After Death. Actors Ellen Muth and Callum Blue couldn’t enliven this finale to Stewart’s satisfaction.Rastislav concludes with his analysis of the recent Netflix sensation You (2018-2025), starring Penn Badgley, Victoria Pedretti and others. He felt the change in story backdrops kept the series from being consistently entertaining. And if that wasn’t enough, Twisted Metal Season 2 leaves us with a bitter taste in Stewart’s mouth. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit unsungcinematics.substack.com

• Transcript

Nate and Hayes - 1983

If ye scurvy landlubbers decide to visit the savage islands of the South Pacific, Nate and Hayes are the best guides you could have. Arrr! This 1983 film bombed big in the box office, and bombed big with Siskel and Ebert! Nate and Hayes is based on the two real life characters Captain Bully Hayes and Ben Pease. Nate being the missionary type and Hayes being the rapscallion he is. Both team up to save Nate's wife who was kidnapped by the Pirate Ben Pease. They get into trouble, chase after what seems to be turn of the century warships, to get the lady back. The film features plenty of would be jokes, although some seemingly timed poorly. Ken picked the film for review as it is our first swashbuckler review that he saw when he was 10. Rasto had some choice words to say about the film, and Stewart seemingly enjoyed what he deemed as 'Indiana Hayes and the Grumpy Fisherman.' The film had some suspicious elements that are seen in another Indiana Jones film, and also the modern Pirates of the Caribbean. Written by the two famous writers Lloyd Phillips and John Hughes and directed by Ferdinand Fairfax. Starring Tommy Lee Jones as Bully Hayes, Michael O'Keefe as Nate, Max Phipps as Ben Pease and Jenny Seagrove as Sophie. Film Rating: PG Audio Clip from Nate and Hayes Original Text Interview Siskel and Ebert Subscribe to our Substack. Share this post with all your friends. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit unsungcinematics.substack.com

• Transcript

Off The Record 4 - 2025

In this edition of Off the Record Rastislav Miklos and Stewart Rathje take a look at films we watched recently. Unfortunately Ken was not able to make it this time. Rasto enlightens us with his TV series that ran from 2016 to 2021. Rasto believes that four seasons is the perfect amount of time before a series goes stale. Billy Bob Thornton plays a disgraced lawyer, and ambulance chaser mixed with his keen cleverness. Stewart then gives his take on the 1988 film The Couch Trip, featuring an escaped mental patient and convict played by Dan Aykroyd. This Crimedy didn’t deserve the ratings it did, and is full of laughs. Dan Aykroyds sidekick is played by Walter Matthau. Rasto continues on the True Crime kick with the TV series Bosch from 2014 to 2021 but only managed to watch 2 seasons. The series continues to confuse Rasto on how they came up with the name of the show. He believes it was based on the famous painter from the 16th century, Hieronymus Bosch. And finally Stewart’s lesser pick The Very Excellent Mr. Dundee from 2020 is parody of a film that pokes fun at retired actors and the high jinx they can get into. Featuring Paul Hogan as the main character, but graced with many cameo appearances from other actors such as Chevy Chase and John Cleese. Share this post with all your friends! This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit unsungcinematics.substack.com

• Transcript

Mother! 2017

Mother! from 2017 is not a typical movie you would show to your mother or father as the screenplay was written in just 5 days. The viewers were divided down the middle on ratings and it was considered a controversial film. Filled with religious symbolism that was loosely based on key moments of the old and new testament scriptures. Whether you consider this film good or bad, it will certainly will force you to dig deeper into it. Written and Directed by Darren Aronofsky. Starring Jennifer Lawrence as the mother, Javier Bardem as Him, Ed Harris as Man (Adam), and Michelle Pfeiffer as Woman (Eve). You can Watch the Trailer Below: It is not often that myself (Stewart) and Rasto disagree this much on a film, but here we are. Not only did we disagree on the Directors ability in this film, but also on the choice to cast Jennifer Lawrence as main character. Give the podcast a listen! Below is a short clip from the film, where Mother had just given birth to her son, and the fanatics have taken him away from her. Subscribe to our Substack for all our film reviews. Share this post with all your friends! This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit unsungcinematics.substack.com

• Transcript

Off The Record - Episode 3 (2025)

In this edition of Off the Record we take a peak at the following films and give tribute to Gene Hackman and Val Kilmer who have recently died. Thunderheart from 1992, Nocturne from 2020, The Hole from 2009, Uncommon Valor from 1983, 11:14 from 2003,...