Netflix vs Cinema

Which is worth your time this week: a cinema trip or a night on the sofa? Tosin and Holly review Primetime, the film about To Catch a Predator starring Robert Pattinson and Merritt Wever; revisit Verity, starring Dakota Johnson and Anne Hathaway; and discuss the 2024 Witchboard remake.They also talk about Teen Titans Go! vs. Teen Titans, audience feedback on Forgotten Island and on-screen accents, plus the joys of finding a truly terrible film. Cinema takes the win this week.Join the conversation: find @NetflixvsCinema on YouTube, TikTok, Instagram and Facebook, and tell us what you’ve been watching.Search terms: Primetime movie review, Robert Pattinson, Merritt Wever, Witchboard 2024 review, Verity movie, Dakota Johnson, Anne Hathaway, Teen Titans Go vs Teen Titans, cinema vs streaming, film podcast, movie reviews.

Is it worth paying for the cinema, or should you stay on the sofa? In this episode, Tosin, Sharon Bollen and Holly review this week's new movies and TV and rate each one out of five.Cinema reviewsWildwood (Laika stop-motion animation): 3/5. The craft is five stars, but the story is familiar.Forgotten Island (DreamWorks animated movie set in the Philippines): 4/5.Ghosts: The Possession of Button House (the film of the BBC sitcom): 4.5/5.Outcome (Apple TV+, Keanu Reeves, Jonah Hill, Martin Scorsese): 3/5.Unforgettable season 1: 3.25/5.Slow Horses season 5 (Apple TV+, Gary Oldman): Holly gives it 5 and Tosin gives it 4.Wicked (Netflix): Sharon's first-watch reaction.Final score: Cinema 3.8, streaming 3.58.Keywords: movie reviews, TV reviews, film podcast, cinema vs streaming, Netflix, Apple TV+, new releases, animated movies, stop motion animation, British sitcom, spy thriller, film ratings, what to watch, UK podcastFind us on YouTube, Instagram, TikTok and Facebook, and tell us your own ratings.

This episode covers a packed week of cinema and streaming, with the team comparing three theatrical releases against three TV picks and one standout DC series. Tosin hosts as Shaun, Sharon Bollen, and Holly each bring different viewing picks and perspectives. It is a mix of film reactions, spoiler-light breakdowns, and a strong closing verdict on which side won the week.Timestamps00:00 - Opening the week: cinema versus sofa01:04 - Shaun’s cinema week: Dracula, Whalefall, Street Fighter, Clayface01:33 - Sharon catches up with Uprising03:03 - Holly’s cinema tally: nothing03:44 - Holly’s TV picks: Below and Last Scene04:08 - Sharon’s TV picks: Below and Irina’s Vow04:22 - Shaun’s YouTube documentary rabbit hole05:24 - Setting up the week’s lineup06:00 - Clayface: DC horror with a tragic actor at the center08:28 - Mike Flanagan’s script and whether Clayface works09:02 - Why Clayface succeeds as a dark, bloody DC effort09:48 - Body horror, gore, and the 18 certificate11:45 - Below: no shark, but plenty of underwater menace12:18 - Newfoundland relocation, the moving house, and the first tragedy13:16 - Bad ice, missing people, and the mystery under the sea14:52 - Below shifts genre and takes an unexpected turn15:25 - Why Holly loved the Newfoundland detail and atmosphere17:58 - Why Below earns a four-star rating19:41 - Street Fighter: a game adaptation with deep-cut fan service20:55 - Shaun on the strong opening and animated intro22:03 - Why the film works for Street Fighter fans23:12 - The first game, the second game, and the anime-style setup24:00 - Why the movie keeps stopping to start new stories25:34 - The ending and why it feels like sequel bait26:50 - Final Street Fighter ratings27:51 - Last Scene: an Australian missing-child drama28:18 - The child’s body, the father, and the reopened case29:47 - The father’s phone call and the emotional core of the story31:27 - Why Holly found Last Scene compelling and tragic32:46 - Why it may be too harrowing for some viewers33:34 - Whalefall: Josh Brolin, a whale, and an hour of oxygen34:37 - The estranged father-son setup and the diving accident35:32 - Flashbacks, paternal pressure, and survival guidance36:27 - Josh Brolin’s performance as the domineering father37:37 - The film’s stretched-out survival logic and impossible moments38:42 - Monstro, Jonah, and the whale escape fantasy39:10 - Whalefall rating and final thoughts40:38 - Lanterns: DC’s best TV work so far41:47 - Why Lanterns works as a true detective style superhero series42:17 - Hal Jordan, Jon Stewart, and the Green Lantern mythology43:06 - Rushville, Nebraska, and the multi-time-period structure43:58 - Jon Stewart, race, fear, and the show’s emotional intelligence45:04 - Why Aaron Pierre and Kyle Chandler are such a strong pairing45:35 - The aftermath of superhero spectacle done right46:02 - Who won the week: streaming or cinema46:37 - Signing off and what everyone is watching next

A weekly film discussion where Tosin Ajayi, Shaun Harris, Sharon Bollen, and Holly Nessling compare what they have seen in cinemas versus at home. This episode covers two main reviews, a long-running rant about Cineworld Isle of Wight screening issues, and a quick round-up of listener feedback.The main conversation is a panel discussion with four distinct voices, though Sharon and Holly each only contribute substantively to one review and the cinema complaints. The core topics are historical drama, streaming thriller, and local cinema scheduling frustrations.Key topicsIn this episode: Shaun reviews The Uprising, a Paul Greengrass historical drama about the Peasants’ Revolt of 1381, led by Andrew Garfield as a fictionalized ploughman figure.Shaun praises the period detail, the authentic costumes, and Cosmo Jarvis as Wat Tyler, but thinks the film’s ending compresses history too much.The biggest knock against The Uprising for Shaun is the shaky-cam style and one “silly” moment he says drags the score down.Holly shares Animals, a Netflix thriller directed by and starring Ben Affleck alongside Kerry Washington.Holly describes Animals as a tightly constructed, twisty domestic thriller with strong pacing, solid performances, and a very 1990s thriller feel.The panel notes that Animals is the kind of home-streaming film that works well on Netflix but does not really need a cinema release.The group spends a long stretch on Cineworld Isle of Wight, where Shaun and Sharon both had screenings cancelled or badly timed.Shaun says Cineworld cancelled his booking for The Social Reckoning, while Sharon says The Uprising showed at awkward times that clashed with work and caring responsibilities.They complain that smaller sites get fewer new releases, fewer showings, and that advertised films often disappear after trailers have already been shown.Listener feedback includes praise for the Hacks joke-workshopping scenes and a kind message from a US listener discovering the show through a Small Profits review.“Cinema or sofa? Big scream or big stream.”“It is so damn good.”“Cineworld sucks.”Timestamps00:00 - Cinema or sofa? The show’s premise and host introductions01:31 - Shaun’s cinema plans disrupted by cancelled screenings03:34 - Holly swaps cinema for theatre and Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?05:55 - Cinema round-up and the group’s limited theatrical options this week09:09 - Shaun’s home viewing pick: The Bed Sitting Room10:13 - The Uprising begins with the Peasants’ Revolt and poll tax corruption12:51 - Wat Tyler, John Ball, and the revolt gathering momentum15:25 - Historical compression, shaky cam, and the film’s biggest flaw17:13 - Cosmo Jarvis as Wat Tyler and the film’s period authenticity19:04 - Shaun’s score for The Uprising and why it misses a perfect mark20:53 - Holly reviews Animals and its thriller setup24:14 - Why Animals works as a streaming thriller rather than a cinema film27:47 - Comparing ratings and deciding this week’s winner28:47 - Shaun explains why Cineworld “sucks” on the Isle of Wight30:05 - Sharon describes the poor showtime scheduling for The Uprising32:23 - The broader problem with limited screenings and disappearing releases34:41 - Reading Cineworld’s cancellation email and the lack of compensation35:55 - Cineworld’s explanation for limited screenings and licensing constraints38:00 - Listener feedback on Hacks and Small Profits40:52 - Where to find the show and the call for listener interaction41:43 - Closing banter, upcoming releases, and sign-offNotable quotes

Cinema vs streaming turns into a surprisingly tight fight this week, with one horror classic, one zombie train ride, one AI comedy-drama, and two very different thrillers all landing in the same middle-of-the-road sweet spot. If you want to know where your money is best spent right now, this is the episode that breaks down the best bets and the hidden surprises.Tosin, Shaun, Sharon Bollen, and Holly Nessling compare what works on the big screen and what works at home, from a 1980s Hannibal Lecter prequel to a Korean zombie classic returning to cinemas for its 10-year anniversary. Along the way, they dig into a Tom Cruise disaster movie that keeps twisting when you think you have it figured out, and a Reacher spin-off that may actually improve on its parent show.You'll discover:Why Digger caught Shaun off guard and ended up landing much higher than expectedHow Train to Busan still delivers pace, emotion, and claustrophobic zombie chaos years after releaseWhy Neely works as a Reacher spin-off even if you've never seen the original showWhether Verity is deliciously trashy or just plain predictableHow The Blame uses a police procedural setup to tap into much darker, more uncomfortable real-world anxietiesWhat Manhunter still gets right, and why Shaun bounced off its very 1980s styleShaun gives his verdict on Digger after expecting a total write-off, while Sharon brings the case for Train to Busan as a genuinely engrossing cinema watch. Holly weighs in on The Blame and Neely, and Tosin pulls the threads together by comparing the TV versions, movie versions, and the marketing spin around each title.Tosin hosts the show, joined by Shaun Harris, Sharon Bollen, and Holly Nessling. Shaun brings the film-first, instinctive verdicts and the surprise winner of the week. Sharon adds sharp, thoughtful reactions to both cinema and streaming, especially on character work and structure. Holly keeps the TV side grounded with a clear-eye take on what makes a watchable crime drama.Perfect for listeners who want honest recommendations, spoiler-light reactions, and a no-nonsense answer to the question that matters most: cinema seat or sofa?

Big-screen monsters, Victorian murder myths, and one brutally effective documentary double bill - this week’s episode is packed with films that make you choose where your money is best spent.Tosin, Shaun, and Sharon compare the cinema and streaming releases you actually need to know about, from the South Korean monster thriller Hope to the new Sense and Sensibility adaptation, plus a deep look at Netflix’s Monster: The Lizzie Borden Story and the true-crime shock of Devil in the Family and Evil Influencer.You’ll discover:why Hope is a monster movie that keeps going long after you think it should endwhat works - and what doesn’t - in the latest Sense and Sensibilityhow Ryan Murphy’s Monster turns Lizzie Borden into a lurid, myth-heavy case studywhy the Ruby Franke and Jodi Hildebrandt documentaries are devastating as a paired watchwhich releases are worth cinema money and which are better left for streamingAlong the way, the hosts get into the details that matter most: the performances, the logic gaps, the visual style, the violence, the historical liberties, and the moments that made them laugh, wince, or argue back at the screen.If you like sharp, opinionated film and TV chat with real recommendations, this is essential listening. Perfect for anyone deciding what to watch next, what to skip, and where your hard-earned money will be best spent this week.

One film is dog propaganda, one is gloriously unhinged, and one may be the kind of TV finale that leaves you shouting at the screen. If you’re wondering what’s worth your time this week, Tosin and the panel have plenty to say.Tosin, Shauny, Sharon Bollen, and Holly compare this week’s cinema releases with the latest streaming picks. They take on Heart of the Beast, Fall Two, and Bad Apples, then get into Little House on the Prairie, Sterling Point, Silo season three, Resident Evil, and The Better Sister.Hear why Heart of the Beast didn’t work for Shauny, why Bad Apples is the film Tosin wants everyone to watch and discuss, and how the panel lands on its weekly winner. There are strong opinions, unexpected turns, and very different takes on what makes a film or series worth your time.Should you head to the cinema or stay in for a stream? Listen in for the verdict.Timestamps00:00 — Setting up the Netflix versus cinema format and this week’s lineup01:30 — Cinema picks: Heart of the Beast, Fall Two, Bad Apples, and Resident Evil02:50 — Heart of the Beast: the ex-military man, PTSD, and the dog05:32 — Why Heart of the Beast didn’t work for Shauny08:45 — David Ayer, Brad Pitt, and the film’s biggest problems10:22 — Fall Two and the Thailand mountain trek setup11:44 — The collapsing walkway and the survival gimmick13:19 — Why Fall Two didn’t land—and an accidental cinema moment15:00 — Home-viewing roundup: Little House on the Prairie, Silo, Sterling Point, and The Better Sister16:34 — The Little House on the Prairie adaptation and Laura Ingalls Wilder’s memoirs18:52 — The Ingalls family and their move west21:17 — The reboot’s layered characters and updated tone23:07 — Why Sharon enjoyed Little House on the Prairie24:15 — Sterling Point: twins, inheritance, and an island in Canada27:53 — Why Sterling Point works as a pleasant YA mystery30:32 — Bad Apples and why Tosin wants everyone to watch it33:08 — The disruptive child, the basement, and the film’s central premise36:10 — Why Bad Apples becomes unpredictable37:16 — Silo season three and its split timeline38:10 — How the silo project began40:18 — Why Silo season three works despite its complexity41:43 — Resident Evil review42:19 — The courier, organ delivery, and arctic setting44:01 — The film’s video-game-style escalation and creature mayhem46:23 — Why Shauny enjoyed Resident Evil more than expected48:22 — Final thoughts on Austin Abrams and the film’s score50:17 — The Better Sister: murder, siblings, and a son in danger53:24 — The custody and murder-mystery setup55:10 — Why Tosin thinks The Better Sister falls short57:54 — The rushed ending and unresolved questions59:05 — The weekly verdict: streaming wins by a tiny margin60:18 — Sign-off and a plea to watch Bad ApplesNotable quotes“This is the worst Brad Pitt acting I have seen in a movie.”

In this episode: Shauny’s packed cinema week included Pressure, Fall 2, Practical Magic 2, and a revisit to Raiders of the Lost Ark.Bookish gets the strongest streaming praise of the week, with Holly describing it as a beautifully made, humane, and comforting mystery series led by Polly Walker and Mark Gatiss.Shauny’s Pressure review highlights its focus on the D-Day weather forecast, with strong performances and impressive historical detail, though he felt one church scene was a bit overplayed.DTF St. Louis is described as an emotionally smart, award-winning ensemble series about loneliness, connection, and human need, with standout turns from David Harbour, Linda Cardellini, Jason Bateman, Richard Jenkins, Joy Sunday, and Peter Sarsgaard.Runner is framed as a slick, old-school action movie about moving a rare liver across Australia under a time limit, with Alan Ritchson and Owen Wilson pairing surprisingly well.In the Grey is the week’s weakest cinema pick, with Shauny calling it Guy Ritchie’s worst film and describing it as messy, lazy, and badly acted.Timestamps00:00 - Welcome, the podcast premise, and the week’s cinema versus streaming setup01:34 - Shauny’s big cinema week, including Pressure, Fall 2, Practical Magic 2, and Raiders of the Lost Ark04:38 - Holly’s week off cinema and the internet outage that kept her at home06:00 - Shauny’s streaming watches, including In the Grey and the long-delayed DTF St. Louis discussion08:22 - Why Practical Magic 2 exists and how cult fandom drove the sequel09:43 - The original curse, Sandra Bullock’s daughters, and the sequel’s core plot11:09 - Why the sequel feels boring, lazy, and far too long12:26 - Holly on the books, the lore, and why the adaptation still has a logic behind it13:46 - Lee Pace, Nicole Kidman, and the dialogue that doesn’t work16:40 - Why the film’s plot logic keeps collapsing and the bad guy is obvious early17:34 - Holly on the original film’s appeal, social conditioning, and women’s experience22:56 - Sandra Bullock and Nicole Kidman still looking remarkably unchanged after 30 years24:31 - Holly on Bookish, set after World War II with a bookseller-detective and a lavender marriage26:43 - Why Polly Walker and Mark Gatiss make Bookish such a joy to watch28:37 - The Mark Gatiss connection to Sherlock and The League of Gentlemen30:17 - Holly’s five-star enthusiasm for Bookish and why it feels kind and humane31:18 - Pressure and the D-Day weather forecast, with Churchill’s recommendation and Eisenhower’s dilemma34:24 - Authentic military detail, the strong cast, and Damian Lewis as Montgomery35:54 - The overplayed Sunday service weather scene and why it felt unnecessary37:17 - Shauny’s final rating for Pressure at 4.5 stars39:19 - DTF St. Louis and how David Harbour’s real-life image complicated the show’s publicity40:12 - The murder mystery structure, the app, and the shifting identity of the victim42:15 - Peter Sarsgaard’s brief but brilliant role and the show’s deeper theme of loneliness44:06 - Why the ensemble performances and writing make the series Emmy-worthy45:47 - Moving on to Runner and the confusion with another film called The Runner46:50 - Alan Ritchson, Owen Wilson, and a high-stakes Australian courier chase49:10 - The rare liver, the ticking clock, and the black SUV pursuit51:34 - Why Runner works better than it should, including a clever rotating tire fight scene52:34 - Alan Ritchson’s Jack Reacher energy and why the role fits him54:00 - Shauny on In the Grey: a Guy Ritchie film that feels like pure motion without spark55:56 - Why the film feels like the worst version of a Guy Ritchie template56:52 - Final scores and the week’s winner, with streaming edging cinema 3.8 to 3.458:50 - Listener feedback, Ricky Gervais debate, and the lively comments section64:52 - Coming next week, including Fall 2 and the Brad Pitt film, plus a preview of Resident Evil

Tosin is joined by Shaun Harris and Holly Nessling for a very internet-tested episode of Netflix vs. Cinema, weighing what is worth your money at the movies versus at home.In this episode, Tosin, Shaun Harris, and Holly Nessling discuss The Death of Robin Hood, a grim, muddy, blood-soaked take on the Robin Hood legend starring Hugh Jackman.Shaun explains that The Death of Robin Hood was one of his cinema watches and says it was much better seen on the big screen, even though it is slow in places.Tosin highlights how the film strips away the myth, showing Robin Hood as an older, violent man haunted by the consequences of his past.Holly says the film was not what she expected from the trailers, but she appreciated its use of light, color, and its realism about the violence behind the legend.The panel agrees The Death of Robin Hood is not for everyone, but all three rate it highly, with Holly and Tosin on 4 stars and Shaun on 3.5 stars.In this episode, the group also discusses House of the Dragon season 3, focusing on queenship, power, bad decisions, and the brutal consequences of ruling in Westeros.Holly notes that House of the Dragon is a strong adaptation of Fire and Blood, while Shaun and Holly both point out that almost nobody in the show is actually likable.Shaun then reviews Booze, Bitterness and Butlins, a documentary about The Sweet and frontman Brian Connolly, covering the band’s glam rock success, Connolly’s decline after a violent attack, and the later Butlins gigs.Holly briefly covers the latest Insidious film, describing it as a standard entry in the series: jump scares up front, then a more familiar supernatural chase through the further.The episode closes with the weekly verdict: streaming edges out cinema by a tiny margin, with the hosts noting that this was one of their most internet-afflicted recordings yet.“The peasants are revolted.”“If you can handle somebody’s jaw being ripped off by somebody else, then you’ll be fine.”“The muddiest film since the first Predator.”Timestamps00:00 - Welcome to Netflix vs. Cinema and the week’s mission00:22 - Introducing Tosin, Shaun, Holly, and the missing Sharon03:13 - Shaun’s cinema watch: The Death of Robin Hood06:35 - Shaun’s home viewing roundup and Piranha 3DD07:45 - Holly’s cinema watches and Bookish at home08:52 - Setting up The Death of Robin Hood09:21 - Hugh Jackman’s older, darker Robin Hood10:47 - A Robin Hood haunted by revenge and consequence11:56 - Little John, Bill Skarsgård, and the film’s vague setting13:24 - Why the action is brutal instead of heroic15:01 - First reactions: why the movie works on the big screen16:59 - Slow pacing, bleak tone, and the final rating debate18:15 - Holly’s take on the film’s realism and gore20:06 - Final scores for The Death of Robin Hood21:07 - House of the Dragon season 3 begins22:41 - Power, bad decisions, and the cost of ruling23:31 - The cast and the standout performance of Egon24:52 - Nobody in the show is especially redeeming25:18 - Holly on Fire and Blood and the adaptation26:30 - Final scores for House of the Dragon27:15 - Holly’s summary of the latest Insidious film28:13 - Jump scares, the further, and the film’s two halves29:09 - Why Insidious is perfectly adequate but forgettable30:10 - Final score for Insidious32:27 - Shaun’s documentary pick: Booze, Bitterness and Butlins33:10 - The Sweet, glam rock, and their early hits34:26 - Brian Connolly’s assault and its aftermath35:42 - The Butlins gigs and the band name confusion36:49 - Why the documentary mattered to Shaun personally40:06 - Final score for Booze, Bitterness and Butlins41:26 - Cinema vs. streaming: the weekly verdict43:33 - Streaming wins by a narrow margin44:13 - Final recommendation on The Death of Robin Hood45:25 - Muddiest films ever and a brief tangent46:02 - Listener prompts and closing shoutouts46:20 - Goodbye, plus one last internet delay jokeNotable quotes

This episode covers a mixed week of cinema and streaming, with the hosts weighing a post apocalyptic film, a psychological horror series, a female led comedy, and a documentary about Hammer Films. The conversation is playful, but the reviews are clear, with the strongest praise going to the streaming pick and the Hammer documentary.Key topicsIn this episode, Tosin hosts from Bromsgrove with Shaun Harris, Sharon Bollen, and London correspondent Holly Nessling joining in.The group opens with what they have been watching in cinemas and at home, including The Dog Stars, The Terror, Spa Weekend, and Hammer Legends, Heroes and Monsters.Sharon explains The Dog Stars as a post pandemic survival story set in the Colorado mountains, following Higg, played by Jacob Elordi, his life on an aerodrome, and encounters with isolated communities and hostile raiders.Shaun and Sharon both feel The Dog Stars is well made but familiar, leaning on post apocalyptic tropes from The Walking Dead, 28 Days Later, and similar stories.Holly’s home viewing focus is The Terror, starting with season 3, Devil in Silver, then working backward through seasons 2 and 1.Devil in Silver is described as a psychological horror story about being wrongly trapped in a psychiatric institution, with Dan Stevens praised for being compelling and convincing as an American lead.Season 2 of The Terror is set during Japanese internment in the United States in World War II, where the supernatural horror is overshadowed by the real world brutality of the camps.Shaun reviews Spa Weekend as an exactly as advertised ensemble comedy built around four women on a spa trip, with each playing a familiar archetype and the film clearly aiming at a middle aged female audience.Shaun’s streaming pick, Hammer Legends, Heroes and Monsters, is praised as a nostalgic documentary tracing Hammer Films from Quatermass through Dracula, Peter Cushing, Christopher Lee, and the studio’s shift through changing British cinema trends.The episode closes with a broader discussion about film distribution, sparked by a correction on Coyote vs. Acme and the role of Ketchup Entertainment in buying and releasing it.The Dog Stars - 3.25 averageThe Terror season 3, Devil in Silver - 4Spa Weekend - 3Hammer Legends, Heroes and Monsters - 4Timestamps(00:00) Opening the week and introducing the panel(01:49) Cinema round up begins with The Dog Stars(06:25) Holly’s home watch list and The Terror season 3(07:23) Shaun’s week of Hammer Legends and assorted trashy films(09:37) Sharon explains the post apocalyptic world of The Dog Stars(13:16) Why The Dog Stars feels familiar despite strong craft(17:46) Sharon’s final take on The Dog Stars(20:56) Holly breaks down The Terror season 3, Devil in Silver(25:31) Season 2 of The Terror and the horror of Japanese internment(30:09) Spa Weekend and the “female Hangover” template(35:39) Ad libbing, editing, and the film’s target audience(40:11) Hammer Legends, Heroes and Monsters and Hammer’s history(43:23) Peter Cushing, Christopher Lee, and Hammer’s serious approach(47:15) Final verdict on Hammer Legends and the Hammer House of Horror reference(48:31) Which won the week, cinema or streaming?(48:37) Update on Coyote vs. Acme and its release situation(51:17) Wrap up and sign offNotable quotesCopy“It’s a film set in contemporary Britain, but a temporary America, but after a devastating global pandemic.”Copy“The stuff of nightmares anyway, that scenario without any supernatural or any sort of other elements to it.”Copy“The film is there to give them a break in the cinema where they can go away and go, Yeah, yeah, that’s my life.”VerdictsWinner of the weekStreaming wins this week, driven by the strength of The Terror season 3 and Hammer Legends, Heroes and Monsters.