Movie Review: The Exorcist Believer

Our new favorite demonic jester is back and has found itself a new host to torture.  Naomi Scott displays an amazingly horrified performance as Skye Riley, a pop star struggling to keep her grasp on reality in the face of grinning figures who do anything but give her something to smile about.  Smile 2 picks up right where we left off in the last film, with bigger set pieces, interesting cinematography choices, and many creepy performances all set to a bop of a soundtrack.  Listen as Ro and Phenom discuss Smile 2 and somehow manage to keep it spoiler-free Smile 2 opens in theaters Friday, October 18th. ♦♦ Director: Parker Finn Writers: Parker Finn Starring: C Noami Scott, Rosemari DeWitt, Lukas Gage, Peter Jacobson, Raul Castillo Runtime: 2 Hours 9 Minutes Synopsis: While preparing for a new tour after a tragic accident, fresh out of rehab, a young pop star witnesses a horrific event putting in motion a cycle of hallucinations brought on by a Smiling demonic entity that can take the form of anyone.  As her time and grasp on reality is running out, Skye Riley desperately tries to regain control of her life as it terrifyingly spirals out of control. Like what you hear? Subscribe so you don't miss an episode! Follow us on Twitter: @Phenomblak @InsanityReport @TheMTRNetwork   Our shirts are now on TeePublic.  https://teepublic.com/stores/mtr-network   Want more podcast greatness? Sign up for a MTR Premium Account!

Killers of the Flower Moon is an incisive commentary on the ideology of "manifest destiny" in furtherence of white supermacy as justification for murder. Adapated from the 2017 nonfiction book, Killers of the Flower Moon: The Osage Murders and the Birth of the FBI by journalist David Grann, Killers pulls audiences into the heart of a plot against wealthy members of the Osage Nation in Osage County, Oklahoma.    The narrative of the book, however, uses the murders as a vehicle to detail how the bureau of federal investigators (FBI) came into being. Like most stories rooted in US history, and told by white American writers, its non-white actors take a back seat to the elements and aspects of the tale deemed "more fitting" to focus on. Thankfully, the story of the creation of the FBI isn't the one that interested co-writer/director Martin Scorsese. The film shfts away from being an account told from the persepctive of one of the burea investigators, Tom White, to being a slowly unfolding murder consipriacy viewed primarily through the lens of co-conspiratior, Ernest Burkhart (DiCaprio).  It, along with the many other narrative shifts, is a wicked decision. Being forced to watch these events unfold through an utterly loathsome character leverages the tropes of the American Western into a biting commentary of how white people can justify anything - including multiple murder- to seize what they believe is their by right of desity. There are few more cutting indigments of the sense of entitlement than watching the scam unravel in real time.    This revisionsist western epic reinserts historical truth into a well acted, beautifully shot and paced tale that also exposes the underbelly of the criminal procedural as its third act widens the lenghts to make it clear the horrid motivations of the power hungery were in no way limited to Osage County. Killers of the Flower Moon is insanely well casting and beautifully acted. It's got depth, brutal honesty, and a building tension that holds up through the end. It's deliberately off-putting to realize the primary lens is through DiCaprio's character but damned if that realization doesn't balance out to a net positive for a story. It subtle but this story framing isn't just a shift in order to focus on the white man's life. Viwer's are constantly left feeling some type of way every second; even to the parts where they may initially be "can't relate" about. It's far more thoughtful and unflinching than usual and successfully frames its narrative as a tale about the evil that white men do without infantlizing its vicitms.    Scorsese knew it wasn't his place and he didn't have the range to tell the story from an Indigenous perspective but he damn well knows how to tell a story about the evil men do in plain sight that's beyond compelling. By staying in his narrative lane, so to speak, Killers of the Flower Moon draws stark comparrison how comfortable white people are with stories that stack white opinions on non-white bodies by with a tale blatantly driving the narrative through white man's greed and insatiable sense of entitlement. Towards that end. Lily Gladstone's portrayal of Mollie Burkart is undertstated yet evocative perfectly frames exactly how despicable everything going on around her truly is. Her calm center a perfect foil for DiCaprio's more agitated performance as well as an riviting juxtaposistion to the insidious sevngalieque nature of DeNiro's brilliant turn as wealthy landowner uncle William Hale.    It's impossible to come away from Killers intensely engaging storytelling - that makes the most of everything Scorsese knows about building a crime thriller - without wanting more insight from the perspective of Gladeston's Mollie. But depsite the obvious positive impact the Osage consultants had on everthing from setting, costuming, production, to dialogue, it's clear that story belongs in the hands of an Indegious (hopefully Osage) storyteller.

Director: David Gordon Green Writers: Peter Sattler, David Gordon Green, Scott Teems Starring: Leslie Odom Jr, Tracey Graves, Lidya Jewett, Danny McCarthy, Ann Dowd Runtime: 1 Hour 51 Minutes Synopsis: When two girls disappear into the woods and return three days later with no memory of what happened to them, the father of one girl seeks out Chris MacNeil, who's been forever altered by what happened to her daughter fifty years ago. The crew review The Exorcist: Believer.  Like what you hear? Subscribe so you don't miss an episode! Follow us on Twitter: @Phenomblak @InsanityReport @TheMTRNetwork   Our shirts are now on TeePublic.  https://teepublic.com/stores/mtr-network   Want more podcast greatness? Sign up for a MTR Premium Account!

Kriss makes his return to covering the Toronto Film Festival in person for his second time. While this year was a bit different because of the Writers and Actors strike, the film festival itself was still packed full of film lovers. There was also a solid contingent of International films and stars that attended.  This year Kriss focused on a reduced schedule but got a good mix of films. From International Midnight Madness films to Thrillers to Comedy/Satire, there was a pretty good mix.  Ro joins Kriss as he recaps some of the  films he watched at the film festival and makes his recommendation for films to check out. Films discussed during this podcast: Reptile Kill Boy Kills World Gonzo Girl Dumb Money Knox Goes Away The Critic Rustin American Fiction Make sure you check out the MTR Network TIFF Press Page as there will be additional reviews for films dropping closer to their release dates (Anatomy of a Fall, The Boy & the Heron, The Holdovers and more). Follow more of our Toronto Film Festival 2023 Reviews and Coverage on our Press Page Page: https://press.mtrnetwork.net Follow us on Social Media: MTRNetwork MTRNetwork @InsanityReport @TheMTRNetwork

Sports movies are tricky. So are video game adaptations. Thankfully for Gran Turismo, rather than attempt to spin a narrative out of gameplay, the plot capitalizes on the unique opportunity to showcase its game (that's actually an extremely advanced driving simulator) through Jann Mardenborough's extraordinary real-life journey from gamer-to- professional race car driver.  In Neill Blomkamp's (District 9) hands Gran Turismo is slick, well-paced, and visually engaging. The storytelling weaves the game creation by Kazunori Yamauchi (Takehiro Hira) backstory in but really revolves around British teenager Jann Mardenborough (Archie Madekwe). It's a highly relatable story of a young man who dreams of a career that seems beyond his means to achieve. He gets a once-in-a lifetime opportunity to prove his worth and make his dreams a reality. His adventure starts with winning a competition designed to identify the best Gran Turismo drivers in the world. The prize: access to a specialty racing academy run by Nissan and a chance to earn a spot on their professional racing team.  Gran Turismo's solid ensemble performances, dynamic race sequences (based on real races Mardenborough participated in) and the light Hollywood gloss on the chronology keep you invested right through until the end. It's imminently watchable as racing movie. This is a move based on a marketing ploy turned Cinderella story so expect to see the products in question on screen. However, you'll be pleasantly surprised that Blomkamp stayed the narrative course all the way through.  Listen as Ro and Kriss discuss Gran Turismo now. ** Writers: Jason Hall, Zach Baylin Runtime: 2h 15m Starring: Sophie Wilde, Joe Bird, Alexandra Jensen, Otis Dhanji, Miranda Otto Synopsis: Based on the true story of Jann Mardenborough, the film is the ultimate wish fulfillment tale of a teenage Gran Turismo player whose gaming skills won a series of Nissan competitions to become an actual professional racecar driver. Gran Turismo: Based On A True Story opened wide in theaters August 25, 2023. Like what you hear? Subscribe so you don't miss an episode! Follow us on Twitter: @Phenomblak @InsanityReport @TheMTRNetwork   Our shirts are now on TeePublic.  https://teepublic.com/stores/mtr-network   Want more podcast greatness? Sign up for a MTR Premium Account!

Highly anticipated release, Infinity Pool, marked writer/director Brandon Cronenberg's (Possessor, 2020 Sundance) festival return in the Midnight section lineup. It's taking a few more steps off the beaten path in his twisted exploration of the ravages to human soul. So buckle up because there's so much to unpack... ♦♦ Director: Brandon Cronenberg Screenwriters: Brandon Cronenberg Starring: Alexander Skarsgård, Mia Goth, Cleopatra Coleman Runtime:  118 minutes Sundance Synopsis: James and Em Foster take off to an all-inclusive beach getaway in the fictional state of Li Tolqa to help jump-start his writer’s block. Their lazy days are spent relegated to their pricey resort, isolated from the surrounding land. Gabby introduces herself and her partner, Al, as she’s a fan of James’ last novel, and they would like to spend some time together with the Fosters. The couples plan a secret daytrip outside the compound that ends in a fatal accident with James to blame. For a hefty price, there are loopholes to aid foreign travelers convicted of crimes there, which is how James is first introduced to a perverse subculture of hedonistic tourism. *originally run on January 29, 2023 as part of the MTR Network's Sundance 2023 coverage ♦♦ Snapshot Review:  Don't be fool by the slick cinematic treatment and debauchery, Cronenberg's here to push you to think about how you justify your choices. Infinity Pool's a vulgar, darkly humorous, incisive commentary on privilege, enticement, and the destruction of soul. Horror movies set at a travel destination open the door for an almost unimaginable spiral into violence that only seems to happen when you exist in a reality vacuum. Infinity Pool leans into that vacuum to create an environment ripe for corruption. There's a persistent forceful disconnect in the narrative that results in one chaotic-as-hell allegory.  Listen and Ro and guest critic Richard Newby dig into Infinity Pool.  Infinity Pool opened in theaters January 27, 2023 and is currently streaming on Hulu.  Follow more of our Sundance Film Festival 2023 Reviews and Coverage on our Press Page Page: https://press.mtrnetwork.net Follow us on Social Media: @BookBlerd @TheMTRNetwork

Snapshot Review: Talk to Me is a brilliant take on a classic possession movie for the modern age. It's a cautionary tale masquerading as a haunting minimalist horror film who's strength lies in its emotionally gifted ensemble.  This directorial debut of twin brothers Danny and Michael Philippou demonstrates both their love of horror and a faith in relying on impactful, yet gnarly, practical effects, stellar sound design, a wicked use of dark humor in a twisted well-written narrative to carry the story. If you like your movies to drop you directly into the mix, then Talk To Me's opening is for you. Built for the meme and chronically online generation, Talk to Me leans into genre conventions and an incisive script about grief, depression, youthful disregard of danger. Just know that opening is all foreshadowing. Thankfully it's the kind where the pay-off is not only worth it but never proves more interesting than the movie you ultimately get. The reactions are constantly age-appropriate. So prepare for teenage angst and stupidity to abound. The visuals are murky, occasionally out of focus, and constantly building a sense of unease and foreboding. But there's a profoundness in its simplicity. So lean into the sense of inevitable and the horrific trainwreck that is Mia's (Sophie Wilde) journey into the supernatural.  Listen as Ro and Brandon dig (spoiler-free) into Talk to Me ♦♦ Director: Danny Philippou, Michael Philippou Writers: Bill Hinzman, Danny Philippou| Runtime: 1 hour 35 minutes Starring: Sophie Wilde, Joe Bird, Alexandra Jensen, Otis Dhanji, Miranda Otto Synopsis: When a group of friends discover how to conjure spirits using an embalmed hand, they become hooked on the new thrill, until one of them goes too far and unleashes terrifying supernatural forces. Originally part of MTR's Sundance 2023 coverage - January 23, 2023 ♦♦ Talk to Me opens in theaters July 28, 2023   Like what you hear? Subscribe so you don't miss an episode! Follow us on Twitter: @Phenomblak @InsanityReport @TheMTRNetwork   Our shirts are now on TeePublic.  https://teepublic.com/stores/mtr-network   Want more podcast greatness? Sign up for a MTR Premium Account!

Director: Christopher Nolan Writers: Christopher Nolan, Kai Bird, Martin Sherwin Starring: Cillian Murphy, Emily Blunt, Matt Damon Runtime: 3 hours Synopsis: The story of American scientist J. Robert Oppenheimer and his role in the development of the atomic bomb. Kriss, Ro and Brandon talk about the latest from director Christopher Nolan, Oppenheimer. This is a star studded cast in a very long but good movie. The first hour is a bit challenging but overall everything comes together. Not to mention, there's also a lot of Florence Pugh...assets...to admire.   Like what you hear? Subscribe so you don't miss an episode! Follow us on Twitter: @Phenomblak @InsanityReport @TheMTRNetwork   Our shirts are now on TeePublic.  https://teepublic.com/stores/mtr-network   Want more podcast greatness? Sign up for a MTR Premium Account!

Director: Christopher McQuarrie Writers: Bruce Geller, Erik Jendresen, Christopher McQuarrie Starring: Tom Cruise, Hayley Atwell, Ving Rhames, Simon Pegg, Rebecca Ferguson Runtime: 2 hour 43 minutes Synopsis: Ethan Hunt and his IMF team must track down a dangerous weapon before it falls into the wrong hands. We discuss our problematic cult leader fave Tom Cruise in yet another great action film, Mission Impossible Dead Reckoning Part One.  Ro's convinced that Dead Reckoning-Part One resets the bar consistently leveraging its own lore & action choreography without undercutting the intrigue & character dynamics driving the narrative. Nobody does globetrotting spy-craft escapades like the Mission Impossible franchise Like what you hear? Subscribe so you don't miss an episode! Follow us on Twitter: @Phenomblak @InsanityReport @TheMTRNetwork   Our shirts are now on TeePublic.  https://teepublic.com/stores/mtr-network   Want more podcast greatness? Sign up for a MTR Premium Account!

Director: James Mangold Writers: Jez Butterworth, John-Henry Butterworth, David Koepp Starring: Harrison Ford, Phoebe Waller-Bridge, Antonio Banderas, Karen Allen Runtime: 2 hour 34 minutes Synopsis: Archaeologist Indiana Jones races against time to retrieve a legendary artifact that can change the course of history. It's 2023 and we're talking about an Indiana Jones movie. Who would have thunk it? Well, at least there's Nazis being punched in the face. So maybe that's worth checking out Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny. Listen to our review and let us know. Like what you hear? Subscribe so you don't miss an episode! Follow us on Twitter: @Phenomblak @InsanityReport @TheMTRNetwork   Our shirts are now on TeePublic.  https://teepublic.com/stores/mtr-network   Want more podcast greatness? Sign up for a MTR Premium Account!