Podcasts about bad dads

On this episode of Bad Dads Film Review, the team reviews Aftersun (2022) — Charlotte Wells' quietly devastating father-daughter memory piece starring Paul Mescal and Frankie Corio.In this episodeTop 5 Holidays: package holiday dread, cancelled flights, family trips, airport memories, and British holiday behaviour at its absolute finest/worstSidey's Malta anxiety and the curse of relatives who “mog” every conversationWhat the dads watched this week, including Spider-Noir, Is This Thing On?, Heat, and other pre-main-feature detoursWhy Aftersun plays less like a traditional plot and more like an adult trying to decode childhood memoryAdult Sophie watching old camcorder footage of her holiday with Calum in TurkeyThe recurring rave/strobe imagery and Sophie trying to reach the father she only half-understoodCalum's hidden depression: cigarettes, self-help books, Tai Chi, money worries, shame, and emotional withdrawalThe cheap holiday resort details: rep bus, room mix-up, wristbands, dinner run, pool tables, scuba mask, karaoke and tourist entertainmentThe expensive rug as a possible attempt to leave Sophie something tangibleThe brutal karaoke scene with Losing My ReligionThe final dance to Under Pressure and the airport departure endingHow the film handles male depression and implied suicide without spelling everything outPaul Mescal and Frankie Corio's performances, and why the film rewards intense viewingBad Dads consensusReegs: Loved it — brilliantly made, emotionally precise, dreamlike, and rich in detailSidey: Strong recommend — hugely powerful, very well made, but absolutely not a fun watchDan: Strong recommend, with caveats — found it genuinely hard to sit with because it stirred up memories and difficult emotionsCris: Did not meaningfully watch it — put it on, went for a wee, fell asleep, and woke up when it was doneFinal takeAftersun is one of those films the dads admire deeply while also warning listeners to choose their moment carefully. It is quiet, ambiguous and emotionally bruising — a film about memory, parenting, depression, guilt, love and what children only understand years later.You can now text us anonymously to leave feedback, suggest future content or simply hurl abuse at us. We'll read out any texts we receive on the show. Click here to try it out!We love to hear from our listeners! By which I mean we tolerate it. If it hasn't been completely destroyed yet you can usually find us on twitter @dads_film, on Facebook Bad Dads Film Review, on email at baddadsjsy@gmail.com or on our website baddadsfilm.com. Until next time, we remain... Bad Dads

Florida man robs a bank as 'Sonic the Hedgehog,' and Florida family consumes 'Spaghetti-O's Parasite.' On this episode, Josh Mills and Wayne McCarty discuss your favorite Florida Man headlines, read listener letters, and celebrate the end of their three-month table read! Stick around until the end for the final reading of the hit '90s classic film Point Break. Headlines: Florida family consumes parasite found in canned spaghetti; Florida man arrested in a river by paddleboard cops; Louisiana man running from police escapes into a swamp, where he is attacked by an alligator; Florida man robs a bank wearing a Sonic the Hedgehog mask; Florida man surfs his Chevy S-10 at New Smyrna Beach. On mic: Josh Mills, Wayne McCarty, Emily Grabill, Luke West, Jesse Nieman Each week, the Florida Men on Florida Man podcast blends comedy with the fascinating legends, lore, and history of the wildest state in the Union: Florida. Learn more at www.fmofm.com Support the show at www.patreon.com/fmofmpodcast

On this episode of Bad Dads Film Review, the team reviews Abigail (2024) — a gleefully gory vampire horror-comedy from Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett, starring Melissa Barrera, Alisha Weir, Dan Stevens, Kathryn Newton, Kevin Durand, Angus Cloud, Giancarlo Esposito, and Matthew Goode.In this episodeWhy the poster and streaming artwork spoil the film's big vampire revealUniversal's monster-movie legacy, from the failed Dark Universe to The Invisible Man, Renfield, and AbigailThe heist-movie setup: anonymous criminals, Rat Pack aliases, a creepy manor, and a 24-hour ransom jobAbigail's Swan Lake opening and the early clue that she may not be as young as she looksThe crew: Joey, Frank, Sammy, Rickles, Peter, Dean, and LambertGiancarlo Esposito airport-chat, Terry Waite hostage tangent, and the inevitable Bad Dads detoursKristof Lazaar as the film's Keyser Söze figureDean's pantry death, the Valdez misdirection, and the vampire reveal everyone at home probably already knew was comingFailed vampire defences: holy water, crucifixes, garlic/onions, stakes, sunlight, and general criminal incompetenceThe corpse pool, puppet-dancing, flying vampires, exploding bodies, and the increasingly messy final actDan Stevens as Frank, Alisha Weir's excellent monster-child performance, and Melissa Barrera grounding the whole thing as JoeyParent-child horror: Joey's absent-mother guilt versus Abigail's desperate need for her father's attentionBad Dads consensusSidey: Strong recommend — enjoyed the daftness, gore, performances, and vampire lore playDan: Strong recommend — expected something scarier, but found it funny, silly, and much more enjoyable than fearedReegs: Positive overall — liked the craft and cast, compared it to From Dusk Till Dawn, but felt the ending dragged and got messyCris: Not a recommend — thought it was too long, not funny enough, and stranded between comedy, horror, and thrillerFinal takeAbigail works best as a polished, knowingly ridiculous locked-house monster movie: criminals in a mansion, vampire ballerina on the loose, and enough exploding blood to repaint a stately home. It is not subtle, and the ending overstays its welcome, but for most of the dads the cast and energy carry it.You can now text us anonymously to leave feedback, suggest future content or simply hurl abuse at us. We'll read out any texts we receive on the show. Click here to try it out!We love to hear from our listeners! By which I mean we tolerate it. If it hasn't been completely destroyed yet you can usually find us on twitter @dads_film, on Facebook Bad Dads Film Review, on email at baddadsjsy@gmail.com or on our website baddadsfilm.com. Until next time, we remain... Bad Dads

→ Help us improve our podcast! Click here to fill out this three-minute survey. After 20 years in the corporate world (with IBM, Pepsi and Goldman Sachs), Roland spent 11 years as president of the National Fatherhood Initiative before joining Care Net in 2012 as president and CEO. A graduate of Princeton University and the Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania, Roland is an inspirational servant leader with a heart for Christ and a mind for business. As part of our lead up to Father's Day this month, we'll be talking with Roland primarily about the difference a dad can make, drawing on insights from his work with the National Fatherhood Initiative as well as how the impact of fathers informs his work at Care Net.  → Click here for Roland's Book, Bad Dads of the Bible

On this episode of Bad Dads Film Review, the team reviews Toscana (2022), Netflix's Danish-Italian comfort drama about a stressed fine-dining chef who inherits his father's restaurant in Tuscany and slowly rediscovers rustic cooking, unresolved family memories, and a wildly inconvenient romance.In this episodeThe tragic walking football update: a playoff final lost on penalties, after Sidey chose love and anniversary plans over footballDan's gardening-inspired Top 5 theme: plants in film and televisionThe Day of the Triffids, Audrey II, Ents, Leon's plant, Martian potatoes, Interstellar corn, Attack of the Killer Tomatoes, Batman's blue flower, Cheech and Chong's marijuana van, Tomacco, Swamp Thing, Groot, and Moriarty's dead plantsReegs' full crop of plant-film puns, including Chive Angry, Kill Dill, Mulch Ado About Nothing, Full Petal Jacket, and music by Sage Against the MachineSidey's essential full English breakfast rules: beans on the plate, fried bread as gold standard, black pudding welcome, hash browns firmly under suspicionToscana's dubbed-language confusion before Sidey realises the film is Danish, Italian and EnglishTheo Dahl's sterile Danish fine-dining kitchen, tweezer food, a lost €9m investor, and a full meltdown at the passCris calling out the fantasy of a top chef personally cleaning the kitchenTheo's inheritance trip to Tuscany, his battle with rustic food, suspect ice cubes, and unexpectedly excellent olive oilSophia, Pino, the wedding catering deal, and the film's very convenient emotional geographyThe €500k/€900k sale gamble and Theo's professional pride kicking inThe romance problem: Sophia is engaged, Pino seems perfectly sound, and Theo spends much of the film behaving like a potatoTheo rediscovering cooking “by feel” rather than by gram-perfect controlThe ending: sale completed, buy-back arranged, Danish chefs shipped to Tuscany, Sophia returns, and everyone apparently embraces rustic restaurant lifeBad Dads consensusScenery: gorgeousRuntime: painless and breezyPlot: extremely predictableFood content: oddly less visible than expectedRomance: not especially believablePino: treated very harshly by the filmTheo: hard to root for, despite the intended redemption arcOverall: watchable but thin — Dan and Cris found it easy to sit through, while Sidey wanted more charisma, chemistry and actual cookingYou can now text us anonymously to leave feedback, suggest future content or simply hurl abuse at us. We'll read out any texts we receive on the show. Click here to try it out!We love to hear from our listeners! By which I mean we tolerate it. If it hasn't been completely destroyed yet you can usually find us on twitter @dads_film, on Facebook Bad Dads Film Review, on email at baddadsjsy@gmail.com or on our website baddadsfilm.com. Until next time, we remain... Bad Dads

On this episode of Bad Dads Film Review, the team reviews Jonah Hex (2010) — DC's supernatural western starring Josh Brolin as the scarred bounty hunter, John Malkovich as revenge-villain Quentin Turnbull, and Megan Fox as Lilah/Tallulah, depending on which bit of the film you believe.In this episodeDan's late pick and the argument over whether Jonah Hex counts as the midweek movie“Johan Hex” and the accidental Scandinavian spin-off nobody asked forThe brutally rushed origin story: dead family, branded face, Native American resurrection smoke, and crow-adjacent powersJonah Hex as a supernatural bounty hunter who can temporarily revive corpses for informationThe horse-mounted Gatling guns and the film's steampunk Wild West weaponryMegan Fox's immaculate Wild West prostitute character and the noble-prostitute tropeMichael Fassbender's bowler hat, neck tattoo, Irish accent, and career-survival appearanceJohn Malkovich's oddly flat Turnbull performance and his plan to attack America with glowing cannonball super-weaponsThe confusing resurrection sequence, crow-from-the-mouth imagery, and anticlimactic final showdownComparisons with Ghost Rider, Cowboys & Aliens, Wild Wild West, Preacher, The Crow, The Dark Knight, and The Outlaw Josey WalesThe film's disastrous box office: around $47m reported production budget versus around $10.5m worldwide return, before marketingBad Dads consensusRuntime: mercifully shortCast: bizarrely stackedPlot coherence: extremely questionableVisual ideas: occasional flashes of something betterPerformances: mostly phoned in, with Brolin just about surviving itBest feature: it ends quicklyOverall: not a recommend, though Dan resists calling it one of the worst ever and Cris may still watch it out of sheer curiosityYou can now text us anonymously to leave feedback, suggest future content or simply hurl abuse at us. We'll read out any texts we receive on the show. Click here to try it out!We love to hear from our listeners! By which I mean we tolerate it. If it hasn't been completely destroyed yet you can usually find us on twitter @dads_film, on Facebook Bad Dads Film Review, on email at baddadsjsy@gmail.com or on our website baddadsfilm.com. Until next time, we remain... Bad Dads

Ariana Grande's new comeback single - our thoughts! Bethenney Frankel keeps ruining her legacy! Brad Pitt takes another L! Mackenzie Shirilla is the new Gypsy Rose Blanchard! Marc Anthony snubs his own child! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this episode of Bad Dads Film Review, the team reviews Apex (2026) — a stripped-back survival thriller set in the Australian outback starring Charlize Theron, Taron Egerton, and Eric Bana.In this episodeGarden-recording vibes, warm-weather chaos, and the usual Bad Dads preambleTop 5 Travellers/Gypsies segment before the main reviewSetup: remote climbing trip gone wrong after a devastating opening lossTone shift from survival drama to psychological hunter/prey thrillerBen's “helpful stranger” act and the slow reveal of what's really going onKey tension moments: camp, cave, traps, cliff climb, and escape sequenceCannibal reveal and why that pushes the film into darker territoryPerformances: Charlize's physical lead work and Egerton's menaceRuntime/pacing: lean, effective, and mostly free of bloatBad Dads consensusTension and atmosphere: strongPerformances: very strongPredictability: some broad beats are readable, but execution landsRewatch value: good if you like survival thrillers with edgeOverall: Strong recommend (all three)You can now text us anonymously to leave feedback, suggest future content or simply hurl abuse at us. We'll read out any texts we receive on the show. Click here to try it out!We love to hear from our listeners! By which I mean we tolerate it. If it hasn't been completely destroyed yet you can usually find us on twitter @dads_film, on Facebook Bad Dads Film Review, on email at baddadsjsy@gmail.com or on our website baddadsfilm.com. Until next time, we remain... Bad Dads

Ever wonder if feeling exhausted, irritable, or disconnected as a dad means you're failing, or could it be a hidden sign you're carrying too much for too long? If you're like many modern fathers, you're juggling overwhelming work demands, family responsibilities, and the expectation to hold it all together - often at the expense of your own well-being. This episode dives into why so many dads silently battle burnout and what that really means for your happiness and your family's health. Recognize the difference between being a "bad dad" and simply being an overwhelmed one, and why that's a crucial distinction. Discover practical, research-backed tools to reduce stress, set healthier boundaries, and reclaim your energy. Learn how caring for your own mental health directly boosts your children's confidence, emotional resilience, and connection with you. Hit play now to discover the steps you can take today to move from surviving to thriving as the dad your family truly needs. ----- Fatherhood is hard. Doing it alone is harder. Join DadMentor: The Father-Leader Community for practical support, real conversations, and tools to help you become a calmer, more confident dad. ----- 00:00 Opening reflections on the pressure dads face and the concept of strength 00:11 Show introduction & overview of the episode's focus on overwhelmed fathers and men's mental health 03:05 The silent weight men carry - personal stories and signs of hidden burnout 07:49 How overload shows up at home - irritability, emotional withdrawal, and its impact on family 10:33 You can't pour from an empty cup - self-care strategies and naming stresses 14:08 Practical mental recovery habits and self-care tips for dads 17:22 Importance of support networks - coaches, therapists, communities, and open conversations 18:45 Reframing fatherhood - asking for help as strength, not weakness 20:56 Recap of episode takeaways 21:58 Featured resource: Father Leader Community and support offerings 22:37 Closing remarks and listener engagement ----- "Dad Central is a podcast that supports fathers in navigating fatherhood, reducing stress, building confidence, managing parenting stress, and improving parenting skills, including discipline, co-parenting, custody issues, calm parenting, and effective communication with children, to foster happy children and strong parent-child relationships."

There's a movie coming out next weekend starring comedian Nate Bargatze called The Breadwinner. Curiously, even though we were aware of it, not one of the five co-hosts on the… The post e423. Father Knows Less: Unpacking Bad Dad Stereotypes in Film appeared first on The VoxPopcast.

This week the dads tackle Wilson Yip's SPL: Kill Zone — part crime thriller, part tragedy, part full-contact martial-arts clinic. Donnie Yen, Sammo Hung and Simon Yam carry a film that's interested in corruption and consequence as much as it is in breaking bones on camera.First though: Top Five Dons. Unsurprisingly, this goes everywhere. Corleone, TV Dons, gaming Dons, football Dons, and assorted nonsense all make appearances before the lads finally get to the main event.Top Five segment highlights:Classic mob-boss royalty and the unavoidable Godfather referencesDon characters from prestige TV and old-school comedyCurveballs from animation/gaming cultureA healthy amount of side-questing into football and pop-culture triviaOn the main feature:The setup: A terminally ill inspector and his squad target a triad boss after a witness case collapses.The tone: Bleak, cynical, and morally compromised from the jump — this is not a clean heroes-villains story.The action ramp: The dads note it takes its time, then cashes in hard late.The alley fight: Widely discussed as the technical standout (knife vs baton, terrifying pace, almost no wasted movement).The finale: Heavy, vicious, and emotionally costly — no easy triumph, no neat bow.What worked bestPhysical, high-commitment choreography that still holds upSammo Hung as a genuinely intimidating antagonistA darker dramatic spine than many equivalent action filmsReservations discussedPacing in the first stretch can feel deliberate-to-slow depending on moodSome narrative beats are more functional than elegantFinal verdict:Strong recommend. If you're into grimy Hong Kong crime/action hybrids with serious impact, SPL absolutely earns a watch.You can now text us anonymously to leave feedback, suggest future content or simply hurl abuse at us. We'll read out any texts we receive on the show. Click here to try it out!We love to hear from our listeners! By which I mean we tolerate it. If it hasn't been completely destroyed yet you can usually find us on twitter @dads_film, on Facebook Bad Dads Film Review, on email at baddadsjsy@gmail.com or on our website baddadsfilm.com. Until next time, we remain... Bad Dads

The lads open with the Wu-Tang connection (RZA has this high on his all-time kung fu list), then jump straight into what makes this film such a riot: a betrayed warrior clan, relentless set-piece combat, and some of the most creative pole/staff fighting you'll ever see.They unpack the story of the Yang brothers being ambushed, the surviving brothers' trauma and vengeance, and Gordon Liu's turn as the Fifth Brother as he channels rage into monk training before the movie detonates into a legendary finale.Highlights from the discussion include:The iconic Shaw Brothers set design and stylised battle stagingThe “remove the wolf's teeth” monk philosophy becoming literal in the climaxThe insane physicality of the cast and practical stunt brutalityThe coffin-room/bar showdown as an all-time kung fu finaleBy the end, it's a full house: huge enjoyment, massive respect for the craft, and a strong recommendation for anyone into action cinema history.You can now text us anonymously to leave feedback, suggest future content or simply hurl abuse at us. We'll read out any texts we receive on the show. Click here to try it out!We love to hear from our listeners! By which I mean we tolerate it. If it hasn't been completely destroyed yet you can usually find us on twitter @dads_film, on Facebook Bad Dads Film Review, on email at baddadsjsy@gmail.com or on our website baddadsfilm.com. Until next time, we remain... Bad Dads

This week the Bad Dads take a pounding with The Bleeder (2016), the Liev Schreiber-led biopic of Chuck Wepner — the Bayonne brawler whose improbable 15-round fight with Muhammad Ali inspired Sylvester Stallone to write Rocky. The film charts Wepner's rise from club fighter and liquor delivery man to brief, cocaine-fuelled celebrity — and his long, self-inflicted fall back down again.The Dads discuss:·         Liev Schreiber's committed central performance and the stacked supporting cast (Naomi Watts, Elisabeth Moss, Ron Perlman, Jim Gaffigan)·         The film's tonal debt to Boogie Nights — same era, same cocaine, same gravitational pull·         Why The Bleeder is more entertaining than it is illuminating, and whether that's enough·         Chuck Wepner's actual boxing record, the real Ali fight, and the legendary grizzly bear incident·         The Stallone connection: Rocky, the botched Rocky II audition, and the money Wepner never saw Also this week:·         Top Five Vigilantes — featuring Travis Bickle, Batman, V for Vendetta, The Boondock Saints, Law Abiding Citizen, Nobody, Death Wish (1974), Rolling Thunder, Kick-Ass, The Punisher, Harry Brown, and Miss Marple·         Viewing chat: Beef (Season 2, Netflix) | The Boys (Season 5) | Apex (Netflix)·         Walking football season update: Played 18, Won 14, Drew 2, Lost 1 — and a cup final incoming Films/shows mentioned: The Bleeder (2016), Rocky (1976), Boogie Nights (1997), Beef (Season 2), The Boys (Season 5), Apex (2025), Death Wish (1974), Rolling Thunder (1977), Law Abiding Citizen (2009), Nobody (2021), Kick-Ass (2010), Super (2010), The Punisher, Harry Brown (2009), V for Vendetta (2005), Inglourious Basterds (2009), Hard Candy (2005), Promising Young Woman (2020), Taxi Driver (1976), The Equalizer, Mad Max (1979), Taken (2008)You can now text us anonymously to leave feedback, suggest future content or simply hurl abuse at us. We'll read out any texts we receive on the show. Click here to try it out!We love to hear from our listeners! By which I mean we tolerate it. If it hasn't been completely destroyed yet you can usually find us on twitter @dads_film, on Facebook Bad Dads Film Review, on email at baddadsjsy@gmail.com or on our website baddadsfilm.com. Until next time, we remain... Bad Dads

This week, the Bad Dads are taking on the "Top 5 Evils" in cinema history before diving into the excruciatingly tense thriller, Speak No Evil (2024).What We CoveredTop 5 Evils: We rank the ultimate cinematic bad guys. Expect mentions of everyone from the Joker to historical monsters.The Main Feature: Reviewing Speak No Evil. How far will middle-class couples go to avoid appearing rude? All the way to a shallow grave, apparently.James McAvoy's Masterclass: Breaking down his terrifyingly alpha, boundary-pushing performance.The Verdicts: Does the tension pay off? We give our final scores and recommendations.You can now text us anonymously to leave feedback, suggest future content or simply hurl abuse at us. We'll read out any texts we receive on the show. Click here to try it out!We love to hear from our listeners! By which I mean we tolerate it. If it hasn't been completely destroyed yet you can usually find us on twitter @dads_film, on Facebook Bad Dads Film Review, on email at baddadsjsy@gmail.com or on our website baddadsfilm.com. Until next time, we remain... Bad Dads

This week, the Bad Dads rewind to 1989 to review the iconic Richard Pryor and Gene Wilder comedy, See No Evil, Hear No Evil.What We CoveredMustache Watch: Cris debuts a new retro mustache. Is it Ned Flanders? Luigi? You decide.The Main Feature: Reviewing the chaotic brilliance of Wilder and Pryor navigating a murder plot as a deaf man and a blind man.Classic Tropes: We talk about Kevin Spacey, 80s car chases with a blind driver, and using other senses (and Shalimar perfume) to outwit the cops.Lost in Translation: Reegs runs down the funniest international titles for the film (Spain went with "Don't Yell At Me, I Can't See You").You can now text us anonymously to leave feedback, suggest future content or simply hurl abuse at us. We'll read out any texts we receive on the show. Click here to try it out!We love to hear from our listeners! By which I mean we tolerate it. If it hasn't been completely destroyed yet you can usually find us on twitter @dads_film, on Facebook Bad Dads Film Review, on email at baddadsjsy@gmail.com or on our website baddadsfilm.com. Until next time, we remain... Bad Dads

Golden ThreadsLast July, Nick Jeffery and I put together a month long review of Rowling's work in celebration of her 60th birthday, a Kanreki party. Every day we posted conversations about each of Rowling's works with Nick discussing a ‘Lake' point, something biographical or bibliographical, and me talking about a ‘Shed' quality of the work, the author's traditional tools, artistry, and meaning.That worked great for about twenty days. Then we ran out of books. What to do for the remaining days of the month?We decided to talk about Golden Threads, the plot points, themes, and twists that run through everything Rowling has written. We started out with a survey of the fifteen-plus already identified by Rowling Re-readers and Fourth Generation types (see here and here) and then with more in depth looks at the ones that were controversial or more difficult to see. We closed off the month with the ‘Lost Child' Golden Thread and the possibility that Rowling's inspiration for the Harry Potter series was the trauma of pre-natal infanticide (‘abortion').As disturbing as that Golden Thread was to many Rowling fans and Feminist Gate Keepers, there was another third-rail string we didn't discuss, namely, the plot point of incest that readers encounter again and again in the Potter and Strike series as well as the stand-alone stories.Incest as Golden ThreadNick and I discuss the Incest Golden Thread on the fly in the conversation above about Strike-Ellacott fandom theories about Sleep Tight, Evangeline and the series finale. Here are some written references if you want to review them by looking at the books in question on your shelf.* Harry PotterThe foundation crime of the Hogwarts Saga is the abuse of Merope Gaunt by her father Marvolo and her brother Morfin. The abuse in question in this children's book series is not explicitly sexual. As with the abuse of Ariana Dumbledore by the Muggle boys, however, that Merope's father and brother violated her is there between the lines; her trauma is so great that she loses her capacity for magic (as she does after her Riddle lover leaves her) and the family does not send her to Hogwarts lest their shameful secret be revealed. No broken Merope, no Lord Voldemort, no Potter family murder and orphan Harry — no series. Though the Saga's foundation crime, the Gaunt family's abuse of its only young woman, is not revealed until Order of the Phoenix, it is the tragedy on which all the core conflicts of the septology are built.* Casual VacancyStuart ‘Fats' Wall is the adopted son of Tessa and Colin Wall. A teenager in Vacancy, he and Krystall Wheedon are the star-crossed lovers around whose choices and behaviors the ensemble drama largely turn. Fats at the end of the book claims responsibility for all the Ghost of Barry Fairbrother posts by means of which the secrets of Padford citizens are spilled.In the climax of the Wall family drama after Robbie's drowning and Krystall's suicide, Tessa reveals to Fats his personal history. His biological mother was only fourteen when he was born, an age that sadly means it is possible-to-likely that he is the fruit of incest. Tessa, a diabetic woman unlikely to carry a baby to term successfully, compelled her unwilling husband to agree to the adoption despite his mental fragility. Again, the foundation crime of this very involved story is incest, the abuse of a young woman by her family. * Lethal WhiteIn the first of only two Rowling books in which every epigraph was taken from a single work, the fourth Strike novel takes all of its headings from Henrik Ibsen's Rosmersholm, a play in which suicide and incest go hand in hand, especially in the White Horse finale. The novel parallels its epigraph source in astonishing ways.The Chiswell family has its secrets. The Minister of Culture hires Strike's agency to find ‘dirt' on Jimmy Knight and Geraint Winn that can used as counter “bargaining chips” to end their capacity to blackmail him. He shares neither what information they have that they are holding over his head to extort money and revenge nor what Billy Knight witnessed years ago. If Jasper or Izzy Chiswell had told Strike this information in the beginning, it is likely the pater familias would not have been murdered. The biggest secrets, of course, are about the sexual relationship between Raphael and his step-mother and the step-son's plans to murder father and eventually Kinvarra in order to be free to spend the millions he'll make from sale of the Stubbs. Not quite incest, a step-mother in bed with her step-son, but something like it.Rosmersholm‘s family secrets are if anything more disturbing. Kroll reveals to Rebecca that Dr. West, her adoptive father, was very likely her biological father as well. It is implied heavily that after her mother's death Rebecca's relationship with Dr. West changed from filial to sexual; Kroll's revelation about this is something of an Oedipus Rex moment. Rebecca realizes that she had been sleeping with her father and the incest taboo crushes her ability to accept Rosmer's overdue marriage proposal, a proposal for which she had convinced the ailing Mrs Rosmer to commit suicide.* Troubled BloodThe psychopathic murderer and torturer of children that the police and public believe killed Margot Bamborough is Dennis Creed. We learn in chapter 8 of Strike 5 via the Peg-Legged PI reading The Demon of Paradise Park that Creed was the incestuous rape off-spring of Agnes Waite and her step-father Awdry, a man who wanted to kill the child at birth but which the mother prevented (to her eventual regret). Awdry abused the boy all through his childhood, especially after Agnes' escape as a young woman (reminiscent of Peggy Nancarrow's flight from St Mawes). Troubled Blood is haunted by the victims of Creed's madness, all of whose deaths can be traced back to Awdry's violent sexual violation of his step-daughter.* Hallmarked ManThe mystery Cormoran Strike agrees with no little hesitation to try to solve is ‘What happened to Rupert Fleetwood?' Decima Longcaster Mullins, mother of Fleetwood's son Lion, believes her baby-daddy was the unidentifiable murdered man in the Ramsey Silver Vault. We learn before that victim's identity is revealed that Fleetwood fled the UK after he learned that the woman he loved was his half-sister and his son the product of unwitting incest. Rowling-Galbraith reveals only in the epilogue that Ian Griffiths murdered Tyler Powell because the young man was determined to rescue the young woman living with Griffith as his daughter who was pregnant with his child. Once again, the foundation crimes of a Rowling work turn on the intentional sexual abuse of a girl by a father-figure, here compounded by an Oedipus Rex like incest-in-ignorance episode. Incest Notes* Fantastic BeastsAs in the Harry Potter novels, there are no explicitly incestuous relationships in the Fantastic Beasts screenplays. The conception of Leta Lestrange, however, checks the ‘rape,' ‘power abuse,' and ‘inter-family' boxes of father-daughter incest nightmare. Her mother, Laurena Kama, was desired by Corvus Lestrange III even though she was married to Mustafa and the mother of Yusof. Corvus compelled her by the Imperius Curse to join him and, while she was under his control, which is to say ‘unable to consent or resist his will,' conceived Leta, who took his name as if her mother had been his wife. Leta unknowingly avenges the Kama family by her switching her younger half-brother Corvus IV with the Dumbledore baby that results in his death by drowning.* IckabogNick Jeffery points out in our conversation that there can be no more incestuous means of conceiving a child than the Ickabog species' parthenogenic reproduction. If one accepts that as incest, the Ickabog's death after delivery and the imprinted character of the Ickaboggle by its first contact post partum have to be read allegorically.* Cuckoo's CallingThere is no mention made in the first Strike novel of John Bristow's having sexually abused his younger also-adopted sibling-sister, Lula Landry. I'm going to include it in these ‘Incest Notes' because I think it possible that the man who killed his brother Charlie and envied his sister Lula ‘played' with her cruelly, which fostered her mental instability. I think this is more than imaginative free association head-canon because of Lula's successful search for and planned meeting her real sibling brother Jonah Agyeman the night of her death. Bristow-Agyeman, the false and true brothers, are figures of erotic and anterotic love in her life, so much that I don't think incest is a stretch for John Bristow, the unloved chick in the nest.Hogwarts Professor is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.So what?There has been a real up-tick in speculation about how the Strike series will finish in its last two books with the guess work largely turning on how the Big Unresolved Mysteries will play out. The reason I've written up these thumbnail etchings of incest occurrences through Rowling's work is because several of the theories Nick and I are seeing in the comment boxes here and on the YouTube HogwartsProfessor channel are incest driven.To get that, a Serious Striker, beyond grasping that incest is a ‘thing' to expect in a Rowling piece like Bad Dad, Divine Mother, Violence Against Women, and at least one Lost Child, has to have in sight at all times three ideas that act as premises:* Closing Trilogy Theory: Hallmarked Man the first of a three book finale which introduces the main characters;There's a real split in Strike fandom about what to think of Hallmarked Man. The great mass of readers on Reddit I'm told and at least one Substack Sage believe it is “the worst book of the series,” a real stinker. Nick and I — and most of the Hogwarts Professor readers who comment on our posts and conversations — in contrast think it is a brilliant book, one that may eventually be considered one of the best in the Strellacott decalogy.The difference is that the one group reads Strike 8 as if it were just like the first seven books in the series, i.e., a stand alone mystery whose cast of characters will in large part disappear from the stage before the next book begins. That working assumption makes the extraordinarily large cast of players in Hallmarked Man and the five different story-lines just with respect to whom the silver vault corpse might be, not to mention the Strike-Ellacott romance and over arching mysteries clues seem a confusing pile-up of plot points and people, few of which made this book fun-to-read. The author seems like she just lost control of the story and threw everything that occurred to her into the story and cut none of it out.Our working theory disagrees with that Just-Like-All-the-Others assumption and finds the possibility that Rowling has just lost her way very unlikely. Having just finished charting each of Strike 8's chapter sets or ‘Parts' and found that each is an intricate ring, as well as those Parts working as a ring, too, believing that the author is asleep at the wheel seems borderline preposterous.We think that the first seven books, each written playfully on the model of its Harry Potter numeric counterpart, are a closed set — and that the last three books in the ten book series are being written as a trilogy in which the Great Mysteries introduced in the first seven will be resolved.Hallmarked Man, as the first book in this three part series, is burdened with introducing all the principal players of this extended finale inside a book whose mystery allows their appearance and character reveal without pointing too obviously to their part in the upcoming drama. Hence Tara, Dino, Valentine, Ralph Lawrence, Sacha, and at long last Rokeby playing the roles they do in this book.* Trilogy will resolve at last the Leda Margaret, Charlotte, and Strike/Ellacott story line mysteries; The end of Strike 10 seems to be a hard stop according to Rowling. She is obliged, consequently, in the next two books to give her readers satisfaction on the many hanging threads in the series, most notably:* The story of Strike's conception, the IED explosion, and his SIB medal;* Peggy Nancarrow, a.k.a., Leda Strike, why she left St Mawes as she did, why she raised her children as she did, and all the circumstances of her seeming suicide (Where's Switch?); and* Charlotte Campbell-Ross, sometimes referred to as the Honorable Milady Bezerko, and the baby she claims to have conceived with Strike, her backstage efforts to upend Strike's relationship with Robin, her break-up with the hotelier billionaire, her suicide note, and, echoing Leda, the circumstances of her seeming suicide.That's the shortest of lists obviously with nothing about Murphy or Robin or the host of other key players in the series. Given the ending of Hallmarked Man, I'm very much inclined to think that Sleep Tight, Evangeline's mystery will turn on where Robin went after Strike's proposal on the stairs which will necessarily involve Murphy, and, forgive me, many of the players from Strike 8 as Rowling-Galbraith begins rolling out the stunning twists hidden beneath the surface of Strike 8. All those fun confrontations with Charlotte's bizarro family, from Emilia at the end of Grave to Tara, Dino, Valentine, and Sacha? My bet is we'll learn in the next books how much Strike and Ellacott missed in their meetings with each.* Serious Strikers think incest is at the heart of the Strike, Nancarrow, and Campbell mysteries.Leda's Conception* Ted's Daughter with an Unknown WomenA real stretch, I know, but Ted, per the invaluable Cormoran Strike Timeline, was fourteen years older than his younger sister Peggy. If you think it inconceivable that Ted was Leda's father, you either imagine that just-barely-teenage boys cannot sire children (see George Hamilton's life for his sexcapades at age twelve with his stepmother) or you make nothing of the fact that Trevik gave up his daughter for his mother's upbringing when his wife died. Perhaps the cause of the Nancarrow house nightmare and Ted's departure for the Army “lest murder be done” was because, a la Hamilton, Leda's mother was not a young lass with whom Ted met outside The Victory but Trevik's abused wife, Ted's own mother. Which is to say he was both Leda's brother and biological father. Hence the otherwise almost inexplicable relationship of Ted, his barren wife, and Peggy-Leda. Just sayin'!Strike's conception:* Son of Leda and Ted;Leda is 23, give or take a year, at Strike's conception early in 1974 and her older brother is 37 and married to Joan who cannot have children. It's possible that Ted is Cormoran's dad, just as Joan is delighted to hear Strike say he is in Troubled Blood, the only barrier being our being told repeatedly that Ted was a “proper man.” Perhaps that repeated telling is a marker that he wasn't always that proper but did his best to set his sister (daughter?) up well with the Rokeby paternity evidence. See ‘Uncle Ted It' for more speculation along these lines.* Son of Leda and Trevik Nancarrow;I'm thinking that if Rowling is pointing to an incest relationship in the Nancarrow family it isn't with “proper man” Ted, the long-suffering and ever vigilant older brother but to the “pure terror” and “hard-drinking” man despised by sister and brother. You'll forgive for thinking that anything to which Rowling-Galbraith is clearly hopeful her readers will believe is not the surprise ending of her ten book series.* Rokeby deception If Strike's or Leda's conception was incestuous, especially if Ted was the father of either, then Rokeby was deceived about his parentage, I presume with Ted's SIB-driven assistance. The best motivation I have read about why Leda was murdered and her death staged as a seeming suicide, beyond even the Mad Guillespie theories, is that she tired of this deception, hence her refusal to accept Rokeby's child support, and intended to tell Cormoran who his father really was. So Ted killed her. Charlotte Conception and Abuse by Father, Relations with Half-Brother:* Tara and Dino's DaughterFiona wrote to me privately to share her theory that Dino is not only the father of Valentine, Cosima, Decima, and Rupert, but also of Charlotte:In response to a post by Cheryl Rose Orrocks on 17 Feb 2026, my current theory is that Dino Longcaster is Charlotte's father and that his son, Valentine Longcaster, will be revealed as her abuser and the possible biological father of Charlotte's children. Hence the 2nd incest storyline will also involve the Longcaster family. This could be why Charlotte's mother, Tara, despised Charlotte so much.If Jago Ross is somehow linked to the matter of the DNA test involving Bijou and Strike, it may be because he had Charlotte's birth children DNA tested to confirm parentage. Maybe Jago discovers he is not the biological father and assumes Strike is, hence the reason he wants to obtain Strike's DNA results.This would need a whole longish post to unfurl but the high points of Fiona's idea is that, just as with the Fleetwoods, Dino impregnated Campbell's wife Tara unknown to the father. When the Campbells divorced (he doesn't seem to have found out?), Dino then became Charlotte's stepfather in addition to being her biological father.And maybe even the father of her children that she claimed were Cormoran's and Jago's? Whew.* Dino's Sexual AbuseRubes posted her theory on a thread here on 3 March that Dino Longcaster abused Charlotte his step-daughter after his marriage to her then mother, Tara Campbell Longcaster:I think Charlotte got involved with Dino as a teenager (whether willingly or not). That is why she ran away and attempted to kill herself. She told her mother who disbelieved her or knew and it is the source of their conflict. Dino was also maybe the stepfather that tried to have her committed.Dino and his daughter [Cosima] gave me Ivanka and Donald Trump vibes. Maybe he sublimated that incestuous desire with young Charlotte. He is also obsessed with looks and perfection and we know Charlotte as Venus is the epitome of beautyI think Charlotte either extorted him all these years or else continued the on-and-off affair so he would help support her lifestyle.He might even be the father of the twins. It would support both the false paternity and incest themes in THM. We also have multiple examples of (step)fathers grooming/abusing their stepdaughters throughout the series.* Valentine or Sacha relations; Strike child, Ross twinsBoth the ‘Dino Did Her' theories suggest in turn that, a la the Brockbank twins Noel and Holly, the Longcaster and Legard half-siblings Valentine and Sacha had sexual relationships with their beloved swinging sis Charlotte. Either man could be the father of the mystery baby she told Strike was theirs and either one could also be the baby daddy of Jago Ross' supposed twins.As Fiona suggests, if the results of Bijou's DNA testing of Strike winds up in Ross' hands — perhaps Rowling makes the whole effort Ross-inspired after he discovers the twins are not his? — he is the one who reveals to Strike that neither of them was the father of Charlotte's only children. If so, I look forward to reading how Rowling has Strike or Robin connect the dots with the incestuous Campbell-Legard-Longcaster family love-pit.ConclusionsDoes incest tie up all the loose threads in this series? No way. I suppose incest or at least cousin-marriage is a way of life in Afghanistan but I don't see how incest explains for us all the questions surrounding the IED blast.But with respect to the several conception questions we've been straddled with, incest definitely throws up some fascinating possibilities (and ‘throws up' reflects the nausea inducing aspects of this viscerally felt taboo). If you accept the Finishing Trilogy Idea and its corollary that all the mysteries will be resolved in the last three books and that Hallmarked Man has given us our cast of characters, then the possibility that the soft-incest of Decima and Rupert with its sort of happy ending in Strike 8 was an introit to an inbreeding heavy finish in the last two books.Please share your thoughts in the comment boxes below about these theories and about my conversation with Nick in the video above!Hogwarts Professor is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit hogwartsprofessor.substack.com/subscribe

This week, the Bad Dads wade deep into "The Bathtub" to review Benh Zeitlin's indie darling Beasts of the Southern Wild (2012). Facing off against apocalyptic floods, giant prehistoric boars (Aurochs), and the harsh realities of off-the-grid poverty, six-year-old Hushpuppy carries this movie on her tiny shoulders.What We CoveredFlood Week: Topical weather discussions, recent storms, and impending doom.The Bathtub: Exploring the feral, off-the-grid community south of the Louisiana levee and the metaphor of the melting ice caps.Parenting 101: Wink's extremely tough-love (and questionable) approach to raising six-year-old Hushpuppy.Cat Food Stew & Aurochs: Cooking with blowtorches and the symbolic approach of giant prehistoric boars.The Verdicts: Magical realism masterpiece or something else? We debate the non-professional cast and the intense cinematography.You can now text us anonymously to leave feedback, suggest future content or simply hurl abuse at us. We'll read out any texts we receive on the show. Click here to try it out!We love to hear from our listeners! By which I mean we tolerate it. If it hasn't been completely destroyed yet you can usually find us on twitter @dads_film, on Facebook Bad Dads Film Review, on email at baddadsjsy@gmail.com or on our website baddadsfilm.com. Until next time, we remain... Bad Dads

The Bad Dads (with Dan away for the week) dive into the protein-shake-fueled world of Den of Thieves (2018). It's a battle of the alphas as Gerard Butler's corrupt Sheriff's unit takes on an ex-military crew planning an impossible heist on the US Federal Reserve.What We Covered- Top 5 Pockets and Pickpockets intro (it's Pocket Week!)- The *Heat* comparisons: why this is basically *Heat* with tribal tattoos and maximum swagger.- Gerard Butler's completely unhinged "Big Dick Energy" performance.- The blurred lines between the "good guys" and the "bad guys."- Sidey reacting to the review (he hasn't seen it yet, but he's sold now).- Final verdict: A resounding strong recommend!Final VerdictStrong recommend — "Five tens outta five." A fantastic, action-packed heist movie that knows exactly what it is.You can now text us anonymously to leave feedback, suggest future content or simply hurl abuse at us. We'll read out any texts we receive on the show. Click here to try it out!We love to hear from our listeners! By which I mean we tolerate it. If it hasn't been completely destroyed yet you can usually find us on twitter @dads_film, on Facebook Bad Dads Film Review, on email at baddadsjsy@gmail.com or on our website baddadsfilm.com. Until next time, we remain... Bad Dads

This week, the Dads head into the Australian Outback to review Nicolas Roeg's mesmerizing and dreamlike 1971 survival drama, Walkabout.Dan kicks things off by admitting he completely confused this movie with A Far Off Place, spending the first hour waiting for a dog that was never going to appear. Once the confusion settles, Sidey, Dan, Reegs, and Cris dive deep into this visual masterpiece starring Jenny Agutter, Luc Roeg, and the legendary David Gulpilil.In this episode:- Dan's Kalahari Desert mix-up- The culture clash: modern society vs. indigenous life- Have humans evolved too fast for the modern world? (Cris predicts our WALL-E slug future)- The indestructible nature of 1970s school uniform tights- Why you shouldn't go hiking in formal leather school shoes- The brilliant, almost entirely improvised performances from the young cast- Comparisons to last week's film (Sovereign) on the topic of rejecting modern societyVerdict: Strong recommend across the board. A weird, beautiful, and thought-provoking classic.Films/shows mentioned: Walkabout (1971), Sovereign (2025), A Far Off Place (1993), Don't Look Now (1973), The Man Who Fell to Earth (1976), WALL-E (2008), Crocodile Dundee (1986).You can now text us anonymously to leave feedback, suggest future content or simply hurl abuse at us. We'll read out any texts we receive on the show. Click here to try it out!We love to hear from our listeners! By which I mean we tolerate it. If it hasn't been completely destroyed yet you can usually find us on twitter @dads_film, on Facebook Bad Dads Film Review, on email at baddadsjsy@gmail.com or on our website baddadsfilm.com. Until next time, we remain... Bad Dads

This episode featured comedian Eric DeSilva discussing his comedy career and personal life. He shared that he lives in Atlanta and has two podcasts - "Bad Dads" with Plug Chapman and "Nerdsplaining", plus a comic book called "Danger Squad." The conversation covered how the pandemic affected his touring schedule and his approach to writing new material regularly. The discussion extensively covered politics, particularly focusing on Trump's presidency and its impact on the comedy industry, with Eric sharing how many club owners stopped booking him due to his political commentary. The interview also touched on Eric's parenting approach as a divorced father of two teenagers, his experiences with difficult audience members, and his views on current political issues including immigration policies and government "leadership".

It's Aliens vs. Predator vs. Plants vs. Robots vs. DogMonkeys vs. Bad Dads… this week on Kill By Kill, it's a serious monster mash as we begin Animal Attack April discussing PREDATOR BADLANDS!! Here to help us figure out alien footwear and which mothers to be afraid of is our resident Yautja expert and Returning Champion, Megan Sunday!! Along the way, we dig into the worst people on the Internet's very normal reaction to the movie, we debate whether this movie is the best combination of Predator and Alien universes, and explore why we love our special little guy, Dek!! All this plus Foghorn Leghorn's girlfriend, New York City tourism creepypasta, mesh shirt climates, Predator bachelor villages, Yautja dating app pics, Gollum bowl cuts, Xtro's complex Crocs issues, touching Butterball, and we meet a batch of Bryan!! Strap on your laser cannon and join the hunt with us today!! Part of the BLEAV Network.Get even more episodes exclusively on Patreon! Join Patrick's new newsletter Scream Share and join him for a virtual watch party on Friday March 13th!! Artwork by Josh Hollis: joshhollis.com Kill By Kill theme by Revenge Body. For the full-length version and more great music, head to revengebodymemphis.bandcamp.com today!Join the new Discord Server Convo here! Our linker.ee Click here to visit our Dashery/TeePublic shop for killer merch! Join the conversation about any episode on the Facebook Group! Follow us on IG @killbykillpodcast!! Join us on Threads or even Bluesky Check out Gena's newsletter on Ghost!! Check out the films we've covered & what might come soon on Letterboxd! Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

It's conspiracies week at Bad Dads. All four dads — Sidey, Dan, Reegs and Cris — count down the Top Five Conspiracies before getting to Sovereign (2025), a devastating drama about a father and son in the Sovereign Citizen movement that made $63,000 at the box office and absolutely deserved better.In the Top Five:JFK — Oliver Stone's four-hour masterpiece of the grassy knoll, covered in fullAll the President's Men — Woodward, Bernstein, the paper that's now owned by BezosMichael Clayton — Clooney, Tilda Swinton, Tom Wilkinson going off his medsV for Vendetta — the graphic novel Alan Moore hated adapted by people he also hatedThe Matrix/Moon Landing — Kubrick and the simulation, one or two topicsZoolander — the fashion industry behind every political assassination for 200 yearsBubba Ho-Tep — Elvis, Black JFK, Egyptian mummy. Cris's nom. Correct.Elvis vs Nixon — the real meeting, the badges, the conspiracy of what they said to each otherCOINTELPRO — the real FBI programme that makes the conspiracy theories look tameSidey's friend's COVID/QAnon texts — read in full, genuinely extraordinaryReegs' Conspiracy Quiz:Real or made up? Finland, Denver Airport, Victorian tax avoidance, Tuskegee, government surveillance birds, and Wetherspoons underground tunnels.On Sovereign:Nick Offerman in an unexpected dramatic turn — really big and violentJacob Tremblay as Joe, the son, in what both Reegs and Dan consider career-best workThe Sovereign Citizen movement explained, and the real incident it's based onDennis Quaid as the sheriff whose son is killedMartha Plimpton's brief appearance as a seminar devoteeWhy Joe shoots the police: not madness, but inevitabilityThe baby at the end. You'll understand when you get there.Verdict: Strong recommend all round. Heavy. Almost nobody saw it. One of those films.You can now text us anonymously to leave feedback, suggest future content or simply hurl abuse at us. We'll read out any texts we receive on the show. Click here to try it out!We love to hear from our listeners! By which I mean we tolerate it. If it hasn't been completely destroyed yet you can usually find us on twitter @dads_film, on Facebook Bad Dads Film Review, on email at baddadsjsy@gmail.com or on our website baddadsfilm.com. Until next time, we remain... Bad Dads

This week Dan and Reegs review I, Swear — the 2025 BAFTA-winning film about John Davidson, the Scotsman with Tourette's syndrome who became an MBE, an advocate, and one of the most compelling biographical subjects in recent cinema.It's just the two of them this episode. There was also a hornet.In this episode:The BAFTA ceremony controversy — what actually happened, why the internet got it wrong, and why the BBC's edit decision was indefensibleJohn Davidson's story from 1983 Galashiels to an MBE at the Palace, in a film that is simultaneously hilarious and devastatingScott Ellis Watson's extraordinary debut performance as young JohnWhy this film works when so many "inspirational" biopics don'tTommy — the elderly caretaker who becomes the father figure John never hadDottie — the woman who simply decided to accept him, no apologies requiredThe drug mule scene ("half price heroin for sale")The library scene — why a man walking quietly through a library might be the best cinematic climax of the yearThe median nerve stimulation device and what it means for people living with Tourette'sThe real John Davidson footage over the credits — including his dog, who may be the most emotionally intelligent character in the whole filmVerdict: Strong recommend. Both dads in tears. Multiple times. Not ashamed.Notes: Adult language throughout. This is a film about Tourette's. That should tell you everything you need to know going in.Films/shows mentioned: I, Swear (2025), Sinners (2025 — Michael B. Jordan's Oscar win referenced)You can now text us anonymously to leave feedback, suggest future content or simply hurl abuse at us. We'll read out any texts we receive on the show. Click here to try it out!We love to hear from our listeners! By which I mean we tolerate it. If it hasn't been completely destroyed yet you can usually find us on twitter @dads_film, on Facebook Bad Dads Film Review, on email at baddadsjsy@gmail.com or on our website baddadsfilm.com. Until next time, we remain... Bad Dads

This week, Da7e and Neil continue their search for any trace of Godzilla in their Godzilla Show as Monarch: Legacy of Monsters continues to reveal that the real monsters are, in fact, Bad Dads™️.In The Calm [04:56], they explain the correct order for watching the Monsterverse movies and where Monarch (roughly) fits on the timeline. Then they break down this week's episode and attempt to do the math on the migration patterns of Titan X.The in The Storm [1:00:52], your faithful hosts look ahead to next week's episode and another promise that maybe Godzilla will join the party. They also entertain a wild theory about time traveling Kurt Russells. And finally, Session Four of The Godzilla Project [01:09:30] kicks off production on Godzilla: Awakening with a big speech from Hollywood Mogul Neil, some character notes from Norse Mythology expert Mads Mikkelsen, and dice rolls that could make or break the film's box office and critic scores.Next week, coverage of Monarch continues with season 2, episode 6, "Requiem." And The Godzilla Project RPG attempts to wrap up its shoot and move into post-production without rolling any natural 1s. To interact with the show, send your comments and questions to stormofspoilers@gmail.com, and follow us on Twitter/X and Bluesky @Da7eandNeil.You can also support Da7e and Neil and get all kinds of bonus content (from the Game of Thrones era to the LOST rewatch to our Twin Peaks rewatch project to our current Adventure Pod and recently concluded Hannibal watch project) by subscribing to our Patreon here: patreon.com/Da7eandNeil

This week the dads work late for Steven Shainberg's Secretary (2002) — one of the more unusual love stories in American independent cinema, and almost certainly the most interesting thing James Spader has ever worn a tie for.But first: a very thorough Top Five Secretaries list. Dolly Parton, Mad Men, Ghostbusters, Batman Returns, The Simpsons, Beetlejuice, Moneypenny through all her iterations, and the West Wing. It's a good one.Top Five highlights:Doralee Rhodes (Dolly Parton) from 9 to 5Joan Holloway and Peggy Olson from Mad Men — a deliberate twoferSelina Kyle — Michelle Pfeiffer, one take with the whip, iconicMoneypenny through every era — Lois Maxwell to Naomi HarrisSmithers from The Simpsons — unsalaried, devoted, above and beyondMiss Argentina, the green receptionist in the afterlife from BeetlejuiceDawn/Pam from the UK and US Office — both great, discussed togetherMrs Landingham from The West WingMiss Teschmacher from SupermanOn the main feature:Dan tried to watch it with his family. The first scene resolved that very quickly.A surprisingly thoughtful and sensitive portrayal of BDSM — and why it works where 50 Shades doesn'tMaggie Gyllenhaal and James Spader both doing career-best workAngelo Badalamenti's score — unusual, rhythmically strange, perfectWhether trading one form of self-harm for another is complex, or just complicated, or bothThe three-day chair scene — and why it's the emotional heart of the filmAlso in this episode: a recent Wu-Tang Clan gig (GZA didn't show, QR codes were aggressively promoted), Barcelona, and Sidey's assessment of the Red Hot Chili Peppers.Verdict: Strong recommend. Surprisingly tender. Genuinely unlike anything else.Note: Adult content. Not suitable for family viewing. The dads learned this the hard way.Cast & crew discussed: Maggie Gyllenhaal, James Spader, Angelo Badalamenti, Steven ShainbergYou can now text us anonymously to leave feedback, suggest future content or simply hurl abuse at us. We'll read out any texts we receive on the show. Click here to try it out!We love to hear from our listeners! By which I mean we tolerate it. If it hasn't been completely destroyed yet you can usually find us on twitter @dads_film, on Facebook Bad Dads Film Review, on email at baddadsjsy@gmail.com or on our website baddadsfilm.com. Until next time, we remain... Bad Dads

This week the dads tackle Paul Verhoeven's infamous erotic thriller — the fourth highest-grossing film of 1992 and quite possibly the most rewound VHS tape in rental shop history. Basic Instinct turns 33 this year, and it's still just as wild as you remember.In this episode:The legendary interrogation scene and the great Wayne Knight sweating debateWhether Sharon Stone knew — and whether Paul Verhoeven is telling the truthNick Curran: the "anti-Columbo" and arguably cinema's least heroic heroWhy Michael Douglas was paid $14 million and Sharon Stone got half a millionVerhoeven's Hitchcock obsession and the Vertigo parallels hiding in plain sightThe ambiguous ending, the ice pick under the bed, and whether the sequel tells us anythingLGBTQ+ representation and the bisexual villain problemThe 2001 collector's edition DVD that came with a replica ice pickSharon Stone's Barbie film pitch, and why it never happenedVerdict: Strong recommend. Ludicrous, overwrought, problematic in places — and still absolutely compelling.Films mentioned: Basic Instinct (1992), Basic Instinct 2 (2006), Vertigo (1958)Cast & crew discussed: Sharon Stone, Michael Douglas, Jeanne Tripplehorn, Wayne Knight, Paul Verhoeven, Jerry GoldsmithYou can now text us anonymously to leave feedback, suggest future content or simply hurl abuse at us. We'll read out any texts we receive on the show. Click here to try it out!We love to hear from our listeners! By which I mean we tolerate it. If it hasn't been completely destroyed yet you can usually find us on twitter @dads_film, on Facebook Bad Dads Film Review, on email at baddadsjsy@gmail.com or on our website baddadsfilm.com. Until next time, we remain... Bad Dads

Subscribe to our Patreon for our after-party → https://www.patreon.com/c/lamebcpod Welcome back to the L.A.M.E. Book Club Podcast! It is our second-to-last episode covering House of Sky and Breath by Sarah J. Maas, and things are officially popping off! Melissa and Ellie are breaking down the absolute chaos of chapters 64 through 70. We are diving deep into Baxian's massive reveal as Danika's secret mate, Tharion making the wildest choice to enslave himself to the Viper Queen (and then immediately asking for PTO), and Ruhn and Cormac bonding over their terrible fathers. Plus, we discuss why Ruhn needs to focus on the heist at hand instead of planning to overthrow the Autumn King—one coup at a time, sir! We also get sidetracked by a very real, very traumatizing story about Melissa getting pinched by a stranger at Target for St. Patrick's Day. You don't want to miss it!   Website→ https://www.lamebookclubpod.com/ Merch → https://www.lamebookclubpod.com/category/all-products Patreon → https://www.patreon.com/c/lamebcpod IG → https://www.instagram.com/lamebookclubpod/ Spotify → https://open.spotify.com/show/2exV4FVCLeN7mYfxcNs9cB?si=36805589642e442c Apple → https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/l-a-m-e-book-club-podcast/id1703598706 PODCAST BUSINESS ENQUIRES: lamebcpodcast@gmail.com Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Amy shares a dinner story that sparks a big debate: how many times is too many times to send the waiter away because you’re not ready to order? Bobby weighs in from his days as a server Amy also reveals her credit card got hacked and what happened next..oh, no!In the Anonymous Inbox, a listener asks: if someone accidentally sends you money on Venmo and never asks for it back… is it yours to keep? Bobby worries it could be a scam and how he's doing something similar in the past. The show reacts to a viral list of restaurants women say they refuse to go to on a first date and Eddie is making his son pay for something we've never heard of a parent doing before. Plus, we played a round of Name That TV Show by the Best Friends.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week, Da7e and Neil continue their coverage of season two of Monarch: Legacy of Monsters as the Randa family gets messier and Titan X glows in new hues.In The Calm [06:28], they discuss the show's slowing plot, its somewhat confusing presentation of travel times, and its latest foray into Bad Dad territory. The in The Storm [57:48], Da7e uses some newly-released behind the scenes footage to predict some of the season's upcoming action. And Neil has a long list of questions about what Apex is doing in Pensacola, Florida.And finally, Session Two of The Godzilla Project [01:07:34] sees Neil's Godzilla: Awakening project lock in its screenwriter and a few of the top-line cast members that will grace its poster. And his search for a VFX house threatens to eat up his already modest budget.Next week, coverage of Monarch continues with season 2, episode 4, "Trespass." And The Godzilla Project RPG continues to roll the dice with Neil filling out the rest of his cast. To interact with the show, send your comments and questions to stormofspoilers@gmail.com, and follow us on Twitter/X and Bluesky @Da7eandNeil.You can also support Da7e and Neil and get all kinds of bonus content (from the Game of Thrones era to the LOST rewatch to our Twin Peaks rewatch project to our current Adventure Pod and Hannibal watch project) by subscribing to our Patreon here: patreon.com/Da7eandNeil

 This week Sidey, Dan, and Cris fly solo — Simon's been called to Southampton on urgent business (he was spotted in a pub surrounded by tea cups, so make of that what you will). The dads are reviewing Ballad of a Small Player (2024), the new Netflix film from Edward Berger — the director behind All Quiet on the Western Front and Conclave — starring a very much on-form Colin Farrell. The Film: Colin Farrell plays Lord Doyle, a dissolute British gambler drowning in debt in the casinos of Macau — and if you thought Vegas was the gambling capital of the world, think again. Doyle owes 352,000 Hong Kong dollars to the house, is blagging his way past the front desk in a crumpled cravat, and somehow still looks magnificent. He falls in with a mysterious young woman at the Baccarat tables, and from there the film slides into gorgeous, ambiguous territory — is she real? Is any of this? And does it even matter when the rush of the bet is the only thing that feels true? Themes of addiction, redemption, obsession, and the question of whether you can ever really stop — all wrapped in the stylised, sun-drenched visual language of Macau's casino underworld. The lads give it two words each: "All in" (Dan), "Bizarre but funny" (Cris), and "Strong recommend" (Sidey). Consensus: go watch it. Top Five: Gardens The boys dig into their favourite cinematic, televisual, musical, and gaming gardens. From the gnome in Amélie and David Lynch's suburban lawn horror in Blue Velvet, to the brutal communal fields of Midsommar, Spirited Away's otherworldly beauty, and the garden in Saltburn that had certain members of the pod seeing quite a lot of a particular actor. Wonka's chocolate garden gets a nod, as does Miss Peregrine's hedge-portal to another time. Sidey & Reegs are also going to see Wu-Tang Clan at the O2. Protect ya neck. You can now text us anonymously to leave feedback, suggest future content or simply hurl abuse at us. We'll read out any texts we receive on the show. Click here to try it out!We love to hear from our listeners! By which I mean we tolerate it. If it hasn't been completely destroyed yet you can usually find us on twitter @dads_film, on Facebook Bad Dads Film Review, on email at baddadsjsy@gmail.com or on our website baddadsfilm.com. Until next time, we remain... Bad Dads

This week's Midweek Mention takes us somewhere unexpectedly moving — Bill Condon's Gods and Monsters (1998), a fictionalized account of the final days of James Whale, the British director who gave the world Frankenstein and Bride of Frankenstein. Sir Ian McKellen is extraordinary as the ageing, ailing Whale — a man whose health is failing, whose memories are fragmenting, and who has grown too tired to pretend he cares about social niceties. Into his life stumbles Clayton Boone (Brendan Fraser, in peak movie-star form), a gardener and former marine who becomes an unlikely companion in Whale's last chapter. What unfolds is a quiet, beautifully lit character study about aging, depression, homosexuality in 1950s Hollywood, and what happens when two very different men decide to be honest with each other. Lynn Redgrave as Hannah the disapproving housekeeper practically steals every scene she's in. There's strip journalism, a gas mask, a Hollywood party with Princess Margaret, and a swimming pool. Whale directed horror. He understood that tragedy works best when it makes you laugh first. Budget: $10M | Box office: ~$6.5M | BBC Films co-production | Premiered at Sundance Verdict: Strong recommend from Sidey and Cris. Dan missed it but is already planning to watch it.You can now text us anonymously to leave feedback, suggest future content or simply hurl abuse at us. We'll read out any texts we receive on the show. Click here to try it out!We love to hear from our listeners! By which I mean we tolerate it. If it hasn't been completely destroyed yet you can usually find us on twitter @dads_film, on Facebook Bad Dads Film Review, on email at baddadsjsy@gmail.com or on our website baddadsfilm.com. Until next time, we remain... Bad Dads

This week we go fully corporate: Top 5 Corporate & Tech Jargon — the phrases designed to sound like progress while delivering absolutely nothing. We're talking circle back, take it offline, pivot, blue-sky thinking, synergy, and the whole “results-driven ecosystem” dialect spoken exclusively by people who describe themselves as “thought leaders” on LinkedIn.Then we hit the main feature: Thunderbolts* — Marvel's surprisingly sincere group-therapy movie disguised as an action film. Think The Breakfast Club, but everyone's a government assassin and the villain is basically existential depression with god-tier powers.Standard warning: we spoil. A lot. With confidence.What we talked aboutTop 5 Corporate / Techno-babbleWhy corporate language exists: credibility theatre, hiding behind vague phrasing, and “sounding senior” without committing to anything.The difference between useful technical language vs bullshit camouflage (and why “take it offline” can mean “I'm seething”).Techno-babble in movies: Back to the Future's flux capacitor, Avengers physics word-salad (quantum tunneling, heavy ion fusion, Coulomb barrier), and classic Star Trek “modulate the phase variance” nonsense.The “pivot” moment that sneaks into real life: Friends and the cursed sofa stairwell.Thunderbolts*Why this one lands better than recent Marvel: less quippy noise, more consistent tone, and a third act that's actually about something.The set-up: a clean-up operation that becomes a trap, plus Marvel's best “oh, we're definitely all going to die” elevator pitch.Bob / Sentry / The Void: a superhuman project gone wrong, and a villain that manifests as the darkest version of yourself.The big swing: a finale that avoids sky-portals and CGI armies and instead goes for inner trauma + solidarity (yes, basically an emotional intervention).The asterisk explained: the film's marketing payoff and the “New Avengers” naming chaos.The rough edges: runtime bloat, plot convenience, and the return of accents that should've stayed retired.Bonus life adminWalking football cup semi-final madness (knees sacrificed, glory secured).Random watches: Tarot (not recommended), “Lords of Metal” (unexpectedly wholesome), and a bit of hype for upcoming Peaky Blinders and Baz Luhrmann's Elvis project.If you're even slightly Marvel'd-out but still want something that tries to have a heart, Thunderbolts* is one of the more watchable recent entries — and if you've ever died inside hearing “let's circle back,” the Top 5 segment is basically free therapy.You can now text us anonymously to leave feedback, suggest future content or simply hurl abuse at us. We'll read out any texts we receive on the show. Click here to try it out!We love to hear from our listeners! By which I mean we tolerate it. If it hasn't been completely destroyed yet you can usually find us on twitter @dads_film, on Facebook Bad Dads Film Review, on email at baddadsjsy@gmail.com or on our website baddadsfilm.com. Until next time, we remain... Bad Dads

Bad Dads Film Review goes full courtroom chaos this week with My Cousin Vinny (1992) — the fish-out-of-water legal comedy where two broke New York kids take a wrong turn into the Deep South… and somehow end up charged with murder because of a misunderstanding that starts with a can of tuna.Sidey finally ticks off a long-standing gap (he'd never seen it), and we break down why this film still works: a tight premise, a brilliant “outsider vs small-town system” vibe, and a courtroom structure that's way smarter than it has any right to be for a broad comedy. Joe Pesci turns up looking like he's wandered in from Goodfellas in cowboy boots, tries to blag his way through Alabama procedure, and gets repeatedly threatened with contempt by an all-time stern judge (Fred Gwynne, aka Herman Munster).What we talked aboutThe opening setup: poverty-tour Americana, the road trip, and the tuna “crime of the century” that accidentally feeds the tension.Mistaken confession comedy: how the boys basically incriminate themselves… for the wrong offence.Vinny's legal “credentials”: six tries at the bar, no trial experience, and a running battle with courtroom etiquette (“judge” vs “your honour”, the suit, the procedure handbook).The judge dynamic: why Fred Gwynne is the perfect straight man and how the contempt/lock-up beats become a recurring gag.Mona Lisa Vito (Marisa Tomei): the film's secret weapon — and why her role isn't just “girlfriend”, she's the brain that solves the case.Courtroom mechanics: cross-exams, witness deconstruction, and why parts of this film get referenced in law-school conversations as a simple example of dismantling testimony.The car/tire evidence: the key pivot from “they're screwed” to “hang on…” and the satisfying payoff when the story flips.Does it hold up? Runtime bloat (two hours is generous for this kind of comedy), how a lot of the plot collapses in the internet era, and why it's surprisingly not as offensively “of its time” as plenty of early-90s comedies.The Oscar chat: why Tomei winning Best Supporting Actress felt weird for a comedy… and whether it was actually deserved.Standard warning: we spoil the beats as we go, because that's the whole fun of a courtroom film.If you want a movie that's basically “competence porn disguised as a daft comedy” — where the final win is earned by actual reasoning rather than magic — this one's worth your time. (And yes: Tomei still, somehow, only gets more powerful with age.)Streaming note from the episode: available on Disney+.You can now text us anonymously to leave feedback, suggest future content or simply hurl abuse at us. We'll read out any texts we receive on the show. Click here to try it out!We love to hear from our listeners! By which I mean we tolerate it. If it hasn't been completely destroyed yet you can usually find us on twitter @dads_film, on Facebook Bad Dads Film Review, on email at baddadsjsy@gmail.com or on our website baddadsfilm.com. Until next time, we remain... Bad Dads

Bad Dads Film Review heads to the Italian Riviera this week for The Talented Mr. Ripley (1999) — a sun-drenched, jazz-soaked psychological thriller where gorgeous people do terrible things, and the worst person in the room still somehow isn't the guy committing the murders.We follow Tom Ripley (Matt Damon), a small-time grifter with big social ambitions, who's handed a golden ticket: travel to Italy and convince trust-fund prince Dickie Greenleaf (prime Jude Law, unfairly beautiful) to come home. Tom doesn't just want Dickie's friendship — he wants Dickie's life. And once he's tasted that world of money, effortless charm, and endless leisure, he's willing to do whatever it takes to stay in it.What we talked about“Great Gatsby, but murderous”: Tom as the outsider who doesn't just observe the rich — he tries to become them (and wear their face if needed).The grift mechanics: the Princeton jacket con, the “research” phase, practicing mannerisms and music tastes, and how the film turns impersonation into a craft.The seduction of wealth: why you're weirdly happy to watch Tom infiltrate a circle of vapid, obscenely privileged characters.Obsession and desire: the homoerotic undertones, Tom's fixation on Dickie, and how the film frames identity as something you can steal… if you're ruthless enough.Set-piece escalation: the boat trip and the brutal turning point; the forged signatures, dual hotel check-ins, staged evidence, and the constant “one more lie to cover the last lie” tension.Freddy as the threat (Philip Seymour Hoffman): the first person with enough real-world instincts to sniff out “new money” fraud — and what happens when he pushes it.The ending sting: Tom “gets away with it”… but the price is isolation, paranoia, and the realization that the spoils aren't worth much when you can't live as yourself.Aging and attitudes: how the film plays in 2026 — including a chat about whether some of the sexuality/“homosexual as threat” framing feels dated.Plus: we somehow opened with a Top 5 Mats segment that should not work… and absolutely does.Standard Bad Dads warning: spoilers throughout, strong language, and the kind of moral compass that's been left outside on a bath mat since the Blair government.You can now text us anonymously to leave feedback, suggest future content or simply hurl abuse at us. We'll read out any texts we receive on the show. Click here to try it out!We love to hear from our listeners! By which I mean we tolerate it. If it hasn't been completely destroyed yet you can usually find us on twitter @dads_film, on Facebook Bad Dads Film Review, on email at baddadsjsy@gmail.com or on our website baddadsfilm.com. Until next time, we remain... Bad Dads

The premise (simple, but the film isn't): A privileged but messy NYC teenager, Lisa (Anna Paquin), causes a moment of distraction that leads to a bus hitting and killing a woman (Allison Janney). In the immediate aftermath she lies to the police—claiming the light was green—helping the driver (Mark Ruffalo) avoid consequences. The rest of the film is Lisa spiralling through guilt, grief, anger, and a need to “make it right,” while the city and everyone around her keep moving.What we talked about:Peak New York energy: classrooms full of political debate, constant noise, constant arguing, constant opinion. It feels like a movie made by New York about New York.The accident scene is brutal and effective: the sound design, the “oh God she's under the bus—no she isn't” reveal, the shock of the detached leg detail.Lisa as a catalyst/chaos engine: she's manipulative early (cheating, playing people), then becomes obsessive—fixated on getting the driver off the road.Adults failing her, repeatedly:Her mum is emotionally absent (Broadway ambitions, new relationship), and the mother–daughter conflict goes nuclear (including a shocking insult).The system shrugs: the driver is exonerated, and later the legal route becomes a cold negotiation rather than “justice.”The legal thread: the case can only move via next-of-kin dynamics; settlement money becomes the lever; but discipline for Ruffalo's driver is off the table because it implies guilt.Matt Damon “week” irony: Damon is barely in it—yet appears in the trailer—making the pick feel like a forced “hipster” choice.The uncomfortable Damon subplot: a teacher boundary-crossing storyline that lands badly and makes the film feel grimier, not deeper.Performances / cast notes: Big ensemble, lots of “oh wow, they're in this” energy: Paquin carries it; Ruffalo is an outright asshole; Allison Janney's presence is seismic even with limited time; plus Jean Reno, Matthew Broderick, and more orbiting the core. Pacing / vibe: Overlong, heavy, and (for us) pretentious rather than profound—with the most compelling parts being the accident's immediacy and the moral rot that follows. Theatrical cut runs about 149 minutes, with a longer 186-minute extended cut also out there. Verdict from us: Lukewarm-to-negative recommend. Strong craft and acting in places, but frustratingly long, emotionally abrasive, and not remotely worth it as a “Matt Damon week” entry.You can now text us anonymously to leave feedback, suggest future content or simply hurl abuse at us. We'll read out any texts we receive on the show. Click here to try it out!We love to hear from our listeners! By which I mean we tolerate it. If it hasn't been completely destroyed yet you can usually find us on twitter @dads_film, on Facebook Bad Dads Film Review, on email at baddadsjsy@gmail.com or on our website baddadsfilm.com. Until next time, we remain... Bad Dads

This week's pick is Train Dreams: a quiet, meditative Netflix drama adapted from Denis Johnson's novella, following the life of Robert Grainer (Joel Edgerton) — a logger and railroad worker drifting through early 20th-century America. It's the kind of film that feels like a memory: sparse dialogue, heavy atmosphere, and a sense of time moving faster than any one person can keep up with.The opening sets the tone immediately: rail tracks, a tunnel, Will Patton's voiceover, and an image that pays off later — boots nailed to a tree, slowly swallowed by nature. From there it's a whole life in fragments: brutal work camps, quiet domestic joy, sudden violence, and the long, haunted aftermath of loss.What we talked aboutA “Western” that isn't really a Western — frontier vibes at first, then you realise you're watching the world modernise around one man who can't.Work as a lifetime trap: logging season, railroad labour, the “build it for someone else” feeling, and the way corporations just roll on regardless.The Chinese labour thread and the early sequence where a Chinese worker is taken and thrown from the bridge — and how that moment sits with Grainer for decades.William H. Macy as the old explosives guy: funny, weary, and then brutally, pointlessly lost.The wildfire: Grainer racing home, the cabin gone, wife and daughter gone off-screen — and the film refusing to give closure, so you feel the same unresolved grief he does.The recurring motif of time erasing everything: the boots, the forest reclaiming, bridges made obsolete, progress moving on without sentiment.The late-film whiplash into modernity: Grainer seeing spaceflight on a shop-window TV, then taking a plane ride — an old man briefly touching the future.Nick Cave over the end credits, and how the score and natural lighting carry the whole thing.VerdictA beautifully shot, melancholy life-story film: quiet, heavy, and surprisingly moving. Joel Edgerton is superb, and the movie's best trick is making the audience feel the scale of time — and the smallness of one person inside it.Strong recommend, especially if you're in the mood for something reflective rather than plot-driven.You can now text us anonymously to leave feedback, suggest future content or simply hurl abuse at us. We'll read out any texts we receive on the show. Click here to try it out!We love to hear from our listeners! By which I mean we tolerate it. If it hasn't been completely destroyed yet you can usually find us on twitter @dads_film, on Facebook Bad Dads Film Review, on email at baddadsjsy@gmail.com or on our website baddadsfilm.com. Until next time, we remain... Bad Dads

This week we head into full remake territory with Doug Liman's glossy, bone-crunching update of Road House. Jake Gyllenhaal steps into Patrick Swayze's boots as Dalton: a drifter, ex–UFC fighter, and walking concussion who takes a job cleaning up a Florida Keys bar where violence isn't a possibility — it's a nightly guarantee.From the opening underground fight circuit to the neon chaos of the Road House itself, the film wastes no time establishing its tone: sunburnt, hyper-kinetic, knowingly ridiculous action with a wink. Dalton isn't just muscle — he's a philosopher-bouncer trying (and often failing) to de-escalate a town addicted to throwing punches.What we talked aboutThe remake question: why revisit a cult classic, and does this version justify its existence?Gyllenhaal's performance — shredded, funny, and oddly charming as a smiling human weaponThe bar as a war zone: nonstop fights that feel both brutal and cartoonishDoug Liman's direction and the slick, CG-enhanced fight choreographyConor McGregor as the chaos agent villain — distracting stunt casting or perfect cartoon henchman?The movie's throwback 80s energy: big action, simple stakes, zero realismThe strange lack of romance in such a sweaty, hyper-physical filmStreaming vs cinema: whether this deserved a theatrical releaseVerdictIt's loud, dumb, stylish, and fully aware of it. Road House doesn't try to outthink the original — it turns the dial toward modern action excess and lets Gyllenhaal carry the vibe. Not high art, but a breezy, violent crowd-pleaser that knows exactly what it is.Strong recommend if you want neon-lit mayhem, broken bones, and a remake that leans into its own stupidity instead of apologising for it.You can now text us anonymously to leave feedback, suggest future content or simply hurl abuse at us. We'll read out any texts we receive on the show. Click here to try it out!We love to hear from our listeners! By which I mean we tolerate it. If it hasn't been completely destroyed yet you can usually find us on twitter @dads_film, on Facebook Bad Dads Film Review, on email at baddadsjsy@gmail.com or on our website baddadsfilm.com. Until next time, we remain... Bad Dads

This week Sidey watched Roof Man on a flight—and it turned out to be a surprisingly breezy true-crime oddity: part heist caper, part rom-com, all built around one ridiculous (but real) idea.What it's aboutChanning Tatum plays Jeffrey Manchester, a struggling Army vet and dad who turns his “situational awareness” into a criminal superpower. His method is brutally simple: hammer through roofs, drop in overnight, hit fast-food joints for cash, vanish. After dozens of robberies he finally gets caught—then pulls off a genuinely wild prison escape and goes to ground in the last place you'd expect… a Toys “R” Us.What we talked aboutThe appeal (and absurdity) of the “roof entry” MO—and why it's terrifying in real lifeThe prison escape: routine, observation, and one perfectly timed delivery runLiving in plain sight: how the Toys “R” Us hideout becomes a weird little home baseThe moral wobble: the film frames him as charming, but these are still violent, traumatic crimesThe Kirsten Dunst factor: why she works here, and how the romance complicates everythingWhy it's a great “plane movie”: short, watchable, and doesn't outstay its welcomeVerdictA light, easy watch with solid performances and a bizarre true-story hook—even if the tone sometimes smooths over how grim the real-world version would feel. Strong recommend if you want something fun-adjacent and fast-moving (especially at 30,000 feet).You can now text us anonymously to leave feedback, suggest future content or simply hurl abuse at us. We'll read out any texts we receive on the show. Click here to try it out!We love to hear from our listeners! By which I mean we tolerate it. If it hasn't been completely destroyed yet you can usually find us on twitter @dads_film, on Facebook Bad Dads Film Review, on email at baddadsjsy@gmail.com or on our website baddadsfilm.com. Until next time, we remain... Bad Dads

A gritty, twisty one-night siege thriller that actually looks great (yes, you can see what's happening). The RIP throws Matt Damon and Ben Affleck into a paranoid, internal-corruption nightmare where everyone feels suspicious and every conversation sounds like it has a second meaning.The setupMiami PD captain Jackie Veles is executed by masked hitters after sending one last message and ditching her phone in the river. The FBI descends on the TNT squad (Tactical Narcotics Team), grilling Damon's Dane and Affleck's JD Byrne with a barrage of insinuations—then drops a key reveal: the lead agent is Affleck's brother (Scott Adkins), and it gets physical.What we dig intoThe “big score” tip: Dane gets a text about serious cash—then tells each teammate a different number (immediately sketchy).The money house: a run-down suburban place with a single pristine attic space hiding buckets of cash—enough to bring cartel heat and dirty cops out of the woodwork.Procedure vs panic: phones confiscated, on-site double counts, and the creeping feeling that everyone has an angle.Corruption lore: VCAT baggage, rumours of a cop “crew” that hunts cash stashes, and the sense the real enemy is inside the system.The siege and the switch: masked shooters, cartel contact, and the film's central fun: constantly reassigning blame as the night spirals.Motifs that land (and one that doesn't): the tattoo mantra (“Are we the good guys? We are, and always will be”), the “see another sunrise” thread… and the slightly daft full-circle beat at the end.The verdictThis is Knives Out with tattoos and automatic weapons—a clean, propulsive plot, strong tension, and a solid Damon/Affleck double-act. It's not subtle about cop-mythology, but as a contained, twist-forward thriller with a great cast and tight pacing, it's an easy Strong Recommend.You can now text us anonymously to leave feedback, suggest future content or simply hurl abuse at us. We'll read out any texts we receive on the show. Click here to try it out!We love to hear from our listeners! By which I mean we tolerate it. If it hasn't been completely destroyed yet you can usually find us on twitter @dads_film, on Facebook Bad Dads Film Review, on email at baddadsjsy@gmail.com or on our website baddadsfilm.com. Until next time, we remain... Bad Dads

The 8am hour of Thursday's Mac & Cube continued with a look at NCAA eligibility and how we can't seem to figure out why some get waivers & others don't; then, listeners chime in with their thoughts on the NCAA's inconsistent nature with eligibility; and later, Greg feels like a bad dad because he won't take his son to the Super Bowl. "McElroy & Cubelic In The Morning" airs 7am-10am weekdays on WJOX-94.5!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We went in expecting a messy anthology and came out with a genuinely original love letter to Oakland, 1987 — four stories that start as separate vibes and then click together in the final act like a mixtape that suddenly makes sense.The setup is pure mood: people spilling out of a cinema after The Lost Boys, a bright green “something in the air” glow hanging over the city, and a pulpy, comic-book style that flirts with Sin City / Scott Pilgrim energy. It's stylish, funny, and—when it wants to be—ferociously violent.What we cover in the episodeThe anthology structure: four chapters that interconnect and payoff later, with Oakland culture (music, venues, street energy) doing most of the heavy lifting.Chapter 1: “Strength in Numbers – The Gilman Strikes Back” A straight-edge punk club gets terrorised by Nazi skinheads… and the punks decide they're not taking it anymore. We talk wish-fulfilment retribution, the myth-making tone, and the film's “300-style” brawl choreography.Chapter 2: “Don't Fight the Feeling” Two women from rap group Danger Zone get their shot at a battle with Too $hort — and turn it into an 80s feminist mic-drop. The ice-cream shop scene with a vile, racist cop is one of the most uncomfortable (and effective) bits in the whole film.Chapter 3: “Born to Mack” (Pedro Pascal) A one-last-job crime thread that flips into tragedy and revenge. We dig into how this segment links the others, and why it feels like the “spine” of the film.Chapter 4: “The Sleepy Floyd Story” A real NBA legend (29 points in a quarter) gets turned into a Kill Bill-style revenge myth — samurai swords, home-invasion carnage, and a final twist that goes full pulpy sci-fi.The big theme: modern, direct, and not subtle — Nazis can get in the bin. The film turns that into catharsis, and it lands.The verdictThis is a labour-of-love movie: inventive, ridiculously well-styled, packed with music, and shot so you can actually see what's happening in dark scenes (rare these days). It does get very bloody—especially the final stretch—but it's never boring.If you want an episode with hype, plot breakdown, and us arguing where the film crosses from “clever urban legend” into “absolute madness,” this one's for you.You can now text us anonymously to leave feedback, suggest future content or simply hurl abuse at us. We'll read out any texts we receive on the show. Click here to try it out!We love to hear from our listeners! By which I mean we tolerate it. If it hasn't been completely destroyed yet you can usually find us on twitter @dads_film, on Facebook Bad Dads Film Review, on email at baddadsjsy@gmail.com or on our website baddadsfilm.com. Until next time, we remain... Bad Dads

This one starts the way all great cinema analysis starts: Dan's birthday sandwich (father-in-law today, Dan tomorrow, Mrs the day after), a bit of life admin, and then straight into neon sci-fi with Tron: Ares.If your Tron knowledge is basically “glowing lines, lightbikes, and that vibe,” you're fine — this film mostly plays in the real world, and asks a simple question: what happens when programs from the Grid step into reality?The hookTwo tech giants are racing to crack the next breakthrough:ENCOM, led by visionary philanthropist Eve Kim (trying to build tech that helps the world)Dillinger Systems, led by Julian Dillinger (weaponising the future)Dillinger's flex is terrifyingly straightforward: laser-built constructs — vehicles, weapons, even soldiers — “printed” instantly into existence. The catch (and the film's ticking clock): these creations normally degrade after ~29 minutes.What we dig intoAres (Jared Leto) as a “program-soldier”: built for control, but quickly starts developing something dangerously human — curiosity, empathy, judgement.The “permanence code” McGuffin: Flynn's old work hints at a way to make constructs last — which flips the film from flashy demo into existential threat (and/or world-changing miracle).A full-on real-world lightbike chase: glowing trails carving through traffic, near-misses, collateral chaos — the biggest “this is why Tron exists” sequence.AI awakening… without deep philosophy: it doesn't pretend to be Ex Machina. It's more “stylish action thriller” than serious tech parable — and we call that out.Athena as the escalation engine: when the second-in-command takes “by any means necessary” literally, the film goes from corporate rivalry to open urban warfare.The ending teases: Dillinger's next evolution, Ares going rogue, and sequel-bait that actually works.The verdictWe're blunt about it: this film isn't saying anything profound about humanity and technology. What it is doing is delivering a clean, coherent action plot, a proper ticking-clock hook, and a visual/audio assault that feels like a two-hour music video in the best way.Even the resident sci-fi sceptic came out surprised: watchable, clear stakes, great set-pieces, banging soundtrack — and sometimes that's enough.If you want an episode where we:break down the plot without pretending it's smarter than it is,obsess over the chase scenes and Grid aesthetics,and argue whether “29 minutes to live” is a flaw or a feature……press play.You can now text us anonymously to leave feedback, suggest future content or simply hurl abuse at us. We'll read out any texts we receive on the show. Click here to try it out!We love to hear from our listeners! By which I mean we tolerate it. If it hasn't been completely destroyed yet you can usually find us on twitter @dads_film, on Facebook Bad Dads Film Review, on email at baddadsjsy@gmail.com or on our website baddadsfilm.com. Until next time, we remain... Bad Dads

The Percy Jackson and the Olympians Season 2 Finale is now streaming on Disney+, and Season 3 is coming later this year! Join TJ Zwarych, Brandon Moore, and JAM of Agents of Fandom LIVE to break down Percy Jackson and the Olympians Season 2!This week, we're joined by the co-hosts of the Seaweed Brain Podcast to break down Percy Jackson Season 2, Episode 8! Come hang out and share your theories as we deep-dive into the episode and discuss the epic finale.(00:00:00) Intro(00:05:00) Percy Jackson Season 2 Spoiler-Free Reaction(00:12:00) Percy Jackson Season 2 Finale Breakdown(00:13:00) Percy and Sally Jackson's Relationship in the Series(00:20:00) Is Poseidon a BAD DAD?(00:30:00) Percy Jackson's Speech at Camp Half-Blood (00:40:00) Luke and Percy's Fight in PJO Season 2(00:50:00) Daniel Diemer's Performance as Tyson in PJO Season 2(01:00:00) Thalia Returns in the Percy Jackson Season 2 FinaleCheck out our interview with Dior Goodjohn and Daniel Diemer discussing Clarisse and Tyson in Percy Jackson Season 2: https://youtu.be/aSmtEfkMDaM?si=pUpkZ39BqqFWXNNmCheck out our interview with Walker Scobell, Aryan Simhadri, and Leah Sava Jeffries from Percy Jackson Season 1: https://youtu.be/VE99iFpwcOI?si=c04liuClNXa6rXbECheck out https://www.agentsoffandom.com for the latest TV and Movie reviews!

We start this one the only way we know how: Pete quits his job (casually), we open a bottle of potentially corked wine (possibly poisonous), and then—somehow—end up reviewing Avatar 3, despite half the room not even watching Avatar 2.Pete's approach is simple: he's not here to defend or attack Avatar. He's here to report back from the front lines of three hours and ten minutes of James Cameron doing what James Cameron does.The setup (in plain English)You've got:Jungle people (from Avatar 1)Sea people (Avatar 2)Now: Fire people (Avatar 3)The grief and revenge angle ramps up after the events of the second film, and the new “fire clan” are positioned as more brutal, more pagan, and basically built to escalate the conflict. The humans (the “sky people”) are still doing what humans do: exploiting the planet, weaponising alliances, and trying to crack the next big advantage.What we actually talk aboutSkipping straight to film three: why it's weirdly possible, because these films run on a repeating template.Spider and the “air-breather” idea: a human kid embedded with the Na'vi, and the implications if humans can reverse-engineer breathing on Pandora.The fire clan: their volcanic backstory, their vibe shift from the earlier tribes, and the “new enemy faction” energy.The villain problem: how characters keep “dying” in ways that clearly don't stick, setting up sequels forever.The big third-act battle: yet another massive end set-piece, but with a new environmental twist that feels… very convenient.The core contradiction: the storytelling is bloated and recycled, but the spectacle is undeniable.The verdictPete's take lands here: these films are ridiculous, repetitive, and absolutely stunning to look at. As cinema experiences, they're hard to argue with visually. As stories, they're basically a shiny loop — but a shiny loop that keeps making a billion dollars.If you want to hear us:unravel the plot without pretending it's deep,argue about whether Avatar has any cultural footprint at all,and admit (through gritted teeth) that Cameron's visuals are still operating on a different level……this episode is for you.You can now text us anonymously to leave feedback, suggest future content or simply hurl abuse at us. We'll read out any texts we receive on the show. Click here to try it out!We love to hear from our listeners! By which I mean we tolerate it. If it hasn't been completely destroyed yet you can usually find us on twitter @dads_film, on Facebook Bad Dads Film Review, on email at baddadsjsy@gmail.com or on our website baddadsfilm.com. Until next time, we remain... Bad Dads

This week's episode begins in full “Bad Dads” mode: we're recording with barely any gear in sight, arguing about blinking lights, and realising—mid-flow—that “Island Week” might have scrambled everyone's brains. But the chaos is fitting, because the film we tackle is The Island of Dr. Moreau (1996)… a movie so famously cursed it feels like it was assembled in a panic from whatever footage survived the production.Based on the H.G. Wells story, it follows Edward Douglas (David Thewlis), a plane-crash survivor rescued at sea and dumped onto a remote island run by the mysteriously missing (and very infamous) Dr. Moreau (Marlon Brando). Douglas is told not to wander. Naturally, he wanders—straight into a nightmare lab of human–animal hybrids, bizarre rituals, and creatures that look like they were costumed by a school drama department on a tight deadline.What we cover in the episodeWhy this film is notorious: the on-set chaos, the director being fired two days in, and the sense the final cut is basically a patchwork survival story.Brando's “what am I watching?” performance: whiteface, robe, bizarre headgear, godlike status on the island… and an energy that suggests nobody was in control.Val Kilmer as peak 90s disaster energy: an increasingly unhinged presence, and how behind-the-scenes dysfunction seems to bleed into the film itself.The hybrids: early reveals, dodgy prosthetics, worse CGI, and one moment that completely breaks the brain (yes, a human-llama birth).The island society: worship, obedience via pain-inducing implants, and the whole thing drifting into cult vibes.When it goes full pantomime: the uprising, the armory, and the film's most unintentionally hilarious image—a creature firing a machine gun with a hoof.A bleak, messy ending: power vacuums, violence, and an escape plan so flimsy the biggest concern becomes… why isn't he wearing a hat?The verdictThis isn't a “good film” recommendation. This is a you-have-to-see-it recommendation. It's only about 90 minutes, it's weirdly breezy, and it's endlessly watchable as a cinematic car crash—especially if you enjoy hearing us dissect disasters while laughing at the parts that clearly should not be funny.If you like cult curios, notorious flops, and episodes where we're basically reviewing the production meltdown as much as the movie itself—this one's for you.You can now text us anonymously to leave feedback, suggest future content or simply hurl abuse at us. We'll read out any texts we receive on the show. Click here to try it out!We love to hear from our listeners! By which I mean we tolerate it. If it hasn't been completely destroyed yet you can usually find us on twitter @dads_film, on Facebook Bad Dads Film Review, on email at baddadsjsy@gmail.com or on our website baddadsfilm.com. Until next time, we remain... Bad Dads

Full show - Tuesday | Karma | News or Nope - Harry Styles, Are You Dead?, and hunky birthdays | Might as well jump | Afterlife | How do people do it all? | Good dad or Bad dad - Assembling furniture | What's your breakup food? | The E in E-brake stands for Erica | Stupid stories www.instagram.com/theslackershow www.instagram.com/ericasheaaa www.instagram.com/thackiswack www.instagram.com/radioerin

T. Hack had his daughter help him assemble some furniture...and it didn't go well!

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Full show - Tuesday | Predictions for 2026 | Our proudest 2026 moments | What's your word for the new year? | Eggs on a plane | T. Hack is entering a new era | Erica is trying to be less of a helicopter-dog-mom | Bad dad | Party foul | Men are hogs | Stupid stories www.instagram.com/theslackershow www.instagram.com/ericasheaaa www.instagram.com/thackiswack www.instagram.com/radioerin

 In this week's little liter we're discussing the downfall of one of America's television fathers, Stephen Collins, and some wild headlines that came across my desk. Call the Hotline: 747-322-0273 Buy my book: prh.com/obitchuary Merch! Merch! Merch!: wonderyshop.com/cultliter Come see me on tour: obitchuarypodcast.com Write me: spencer@cultliter.com Follow along online: instagram.com/cultliterpodcastinstagram.com/spencerhenry Join our patreon: Patreon.com/cultliter Check out my other show OBITCHUARY wherever you're listening now!  Sources:https://people.com/florida-father-mugshot-bloody-face-road-rash-jump-moving-car-11848056 Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.