Podcasts about Toro

Sheila O'Malley, film critic and author of Art and Making of Frankenstein, shares tales of being on the set of the Guillermo del Toro movie, as well as insights on the original story by Mary Shelley herself and how the whole monster myth came to be. Plus, the scariest movies we've ever seen! A fun and insightful conversation filled with chills, thrills and woo woo! Hosts: Rachel Dratch, Irene Bremis Guest: Sheila O'Malley Follow us on Instagram! @raedratch @irenebremis [Guest Insta] https://www.youtube.com/@WooWooPodcast Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This Postmodern Realities episode is a conversation with JOURNAL author Cole Burgett about his article, “The God Who Looks Back: A Review of ‘Avatar: Fire and Ash'”. Coming Soon! This also part of Cole's ongoing column, Cultural Apologetics.[Editor's Note: This review contains spoilers for Avatar: Fire and Ash .]One way you can support our online articles and podcasts is by leaving us a tip. A tip is just a small amount, like $3, $5, or $10, which is the cost of a latte, lunch out, or coffee drink. To leave a tip, click here.Related podcasts and articles by this author:Episode 472: The Man and the Monster: A Review of Guillermo del Toro's Frankenstein The Man and the Monster: A Review of Guillermo del Toro's ‘Frankenstein'.Episode 466: All's Well That Ends Well: A Review of ‘The Conjuring: Last Rites'All's Well That Ends Well: A Review of ‘The Conjuring: Last Rites'Episode 457: Family First: A Film Review of ‘The Fantastic Four: First Steps'Family First: A Film Review of ‘The Fantastic Four: First Steps' Don't miss an episode; please subscribe to the Postmodern Realities podcast wherever you get your favorite podcasts. Please help spread the word about Postmodern Realities by giving us a rating and review when you subscribe to the podcast. The more ratings and reviews we have, the more new listeners can discover our content.  

#ELOsoFumarTakes – #351stTake It's that time of year again… my Top Ten Cigars of 2025 are about to be revealed.       WELCOME BACK! HAPPY NEW YEAR! The night is here! The time is right! It's time for the #ELOsoFumarTakes Top 10 Cigars of 2025! Once again, the legendary George Brightman joins us for the Top 10 Countdown for the ages! I've sent George my top ten cigars for him to sample and taste test blind. He gives an honest breakdown alongside my own assessments. Enjoy! Criteria: It's vitola based. I had to have smoked the cigar for the first time in the last year and a half.* It must not suck. No limited edition cigars (i.e. TAA, shop exclusive) are eligible. A previous number 1 cigar winner (blend-specific, i.e. 2017 Winner Espinosa Habano) cannot be on this year's Top 10 or repeat as winner.* A company cannot have more than 1 cigar on the Top 10, however, may be considered for honorable mention.* THE BIG ONE: frequency of smoke. Basically, I had to have the means AND opportunity AND did, in fact, smoke the cigar frequently.   Just to review, here is last year's list: Top 10 Cigars of 2024: Tatuaje Havana VI Verocu Blue No. 1 Toro Grande BLK WKS Killer Bee Robusto Room101 Johnny Tobacconaut Robusto (2023 Edition) Joya de Nicaragua Cinco de Cinco Robusto Gordo Dunbarton Tobacco & Trust Umbagog Bronzeback Plascencia Cosecha 149 Azacualpa Powstanie Connecticut Belicoso La Aroma de Cuba Connecticut Corona Micallef Blue Robusto Ferio Tego Summa Torpedo       Top 10 Cigars of 2025 (this year): 1) Kristoff Veinte Twentieth Anniversary Toro (Timestamp: 02:49:37) The Veinte Cigar follows the recipe template of incorporating tobacco from many regions. Blend-wise, the Veinte Anniversary consists of a Brazilian Arapiraca wrapper over an Indonesian binder and a combination of Nicaraguan and Pennsylvania fillers. Wrapper: Brazilian Arapiraca Binder: Indonesian Filler: Nicaraguan, Pennsylvania Country of Origin: Dominican Republic Factory: Tabacalera Von Eicken S.R.L. Size: 6.25 x 54 2) Powstanie Connecticut Justice (Timestamp: 02:35:57) The Powstanie Connecticut features an Ecuadorian Connecticut shade wrapper over a Pennsylvania Broadleaf binder and aged Nicaraguan fillers. Production for Powstanie Connecticut comes from the Fábrica de Tabacos Nica Sueño S.A. factory in Estelí, Nicaragua. Wrapper: Ecuadorian Connecticut Binder: Pennsylvania Broadleaf Filler: Nicaraguan Country of Origin: Nicaragua Factory: Fabrica de Tabacos Nica Sueño Size: 5.5 x 46 3) Perdomo 30th Anniversary Connecticut Epicure (Timestamp: 02:27:51) Produced at Tabacalera Perdomo in Estelí, Nicaragua, the Perdomo 30th Anniversary Connecticut features 100% Nicaraguan tobaccos grown on the Perdomo family farms in Condega, Estelí, and Jalapa. The cigar is highlighted by a 15-year-old Ecuadorian Connecticut Shade wrapper aged in bourbon barrels. Wrapper: Ecuadorian Connecticut Binder: Cuban-seed Nicaraguan Filler: Cuban-seed Nicaraguan Country of Origin: Nicaragua Factory: Tabacalera Perdomo Size: 6 x 54 4) United Gold Star Robusto (Timestamp: 01:54:14) The Gold Star features a Habano 2000 Intermedio wrapper from the Quevedo region of Ecuador. The blend also features a Sumatra binder and is composed of Connecticut Broadleaf and Dominican filler. The blend is slightly tweaked from the original limited edition. Wrapper: Ecuadorian Habano 2000 Intermedio (Quevedo) Binder: Sumatra Filler: Dominican (Ligeros, Criollo '98, Corojo '98), Connecticut Broadleaf Country of Origin: Dominican Republic Factory: Tabacalera William Ventura Size: 5 x 52 5) Gran Habano Corojo No. 7 Toro (Timestamp: 01:49:49) The Gran Habano No. 7 is a Nicaraguan puro – namely, it uses 100% of the tobaccos grown in Nicaragua. In addition to the special hybrid wrapper used, the remainder of the blend uses Corojo tobaccos grown in Nicaragua. Wrapper: Hybrid (Nicaraguan) Binder: Corojo, Nicaragua Filler: Corojo, Nicaragua Country of Origin: Honduras Factory: G.R. Tabacaleras Unidas S.A. Size: 6 x 54 6) Trinidad Espiritu No. 3 Toro by Altadis USA (Timestamp: 01:40:05) Keeping to the release's theme, the Espiritu Series No. 3 features a Mexican wrapper from the San Andrés region. The Trinidad Espiritu No. 3 uses all Nicaraguan tobaccos for the remainder of the blend. Production comes from AJ Fernandez's factory in Estelí, Nicaragua. Wrapper: San Andrés (Mexico) Binder: Nicaragua Filler: Nicaragua Country of Origin: Nicaragua Factory: Tabacalera AJ Fernandez Cigars de Nicaragua S.A. Size: 5 x 50 7) BLK WKS Studio Rorschach Sumatra (Timestamp: 01:31:42) This short robusto (4.5 x 48) delivers a robust, flavor-rich smoking experience. Featuring a Sumatra wrapper with Nicaraguan binder and filler, it opens with bold charred wood notes, followed by black pepper, and finishes with an underlying sweetness. A medium-plus cigar that consistently delivers. Wrapper: Sumatran Binder: Nicaraguan Filler: Nicaraguan Strength: Medium-plus Tasting Notes: Charred wood, black pepper, subtle sweetness Size: 4.5 x 48 8) Aladino Fuma Noche Super Toro by JRE Tobacco Co. (Timestamp: 01:09:00) JRE Tobacco keeps the blend close to the vest, but the cigar features a Maduro wrapper with Honduran binder and filler. Production comes from the Fabrica de Puros Aladino at Las Lomas Jamastran in Honduras. Wrapper: Maduro Binder: Honduran Filler: Honduran Country of Origin: Honduras Factory: Fabrica de Puros Aladino Size: 6.25 x 54 9) Cohiba Riviera Perfecto (Timestamp: 00:56:39) The Cohiba Riviera features a San Andrés Tuxtla wrapper over a Honduran Connecticut binder, with filler tobaccos from Honduras and Nicaragua. Production takes place at the STG Estelí factory in Nicaragua. Wrapper: San Andrés Tuxtla Binder: Honduran Connecticut Filler: Honduran (Jamastran, La Entrada), Nicaraguan (Condega, Estelí) Country of Origin: Nicaragua Factory: STG Estelí Size: 6 x 60 10) Bentley White Edition Robusto (Timestamp: 00:41:24) Vitola: Robusto Length: 5" Ring Gauge: 50 Country of Origin: Nicaragua Wrapper: Ecuadorian Connecticut Binder: Nicaragua Filler: Nicaragua Factory: Joya de Nicaragua Blender: Undisclosed Price: $14.00 Release Date: September 2024    

Venezuelan expert Quico Toro explains why the removal of Nicolás Maduro feels historic—and yet leaves Venezuela largely unchanged, with the regime's machinery fully intact.  Toro warns that Washington's belief in Rodríguez as a workable "moderate" badly misreads her ideological lineage and incentives. Plus: a spiel on Trump's lies and bombast—why presidential exaggeration is a poor proxy for judging whether high-risk foreign operations actually succeed. And the thickness of Venezuelan oil, Trump blood, and maybe Trump himself. Produced by Corey Wara | Coordinated by Lya Yanne | Video and Social Media by Geoff Craig Do you have questions or comments, or just want to say hello? Email us at ⁠⁠⁠⁠thegist@mikepesca.com For full Pesca content and updates, check out our website at https://www.mikepesca.com/ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ For ad-free content or to become a Pesca Plus subscriber, check out ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://subscribe.mikepesca.com/ For Mike's daily takes on Substack, subscribe to The Gist List https://mikepesca.substack.com/ Follow us on Social Media:⁠⁠⁠⁠ YouTube https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC4_bh0wHgk2YfpKf4rg40_g⁠⁠⁠⁠ Instagram https://www.instagram.com/pescagist/ X https://x.com/pescami TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@pescagist To advertise on the show, contact ⁠⁠⁠⁠ad-sales@libsyn.com⁠⁠⁠⁠ or visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://advertising.libsyn.com/TheGist

Happy New Year, EMTs! We hope you all made it through the holiday season as intact as possible. Now, normally we'd be covering a New Year's rom-com with Vicky, but she has written a persuasive essay on why we should cover something else so be on alert for that! In the meantime, enjoy our episode on the second half of the Guillermo del Toro's "Frankenstein."  We covered the first half two episodes ago in #543. Yes, it has been nearly a month. Yes, we are bad at this. You can support us at patreon.com/werewolfambulance and listen to a ton of action movie episodes and three episodes of our third podcast, "Nice One, Mate!" Get in now to vote for our next movie! leave us a message at 412-407-7025 hang out with some cool listeners at https://discord.gg/DutFjx3cBD buy merch at www.teepublic.com/user/werewolfambulance the best place to reach us is at werewolfambulance@gmail.com we're on Reddit at r/werewolfambulance sorta on Twitter @werebulance sorta on Instagram @werewolfambulance www.werewolfambulance.com if you feel you really must lodge a complaint with us, please do it on Facebook at facebook.com/werewolfambulance because we are probably not gonna see that, ever. If you liked this, please leave us a review on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen! It helps others find us and allows us to continue to grow. Intro song is by Alex Van Luvie Outro song is A. Wallis- "EMT" Seriously, we have the best listeners, hands down.

https://bbvproductions.co.uk/products/Faction-Paradox-The-Confession-of-Brother-Signet-AUDIO-DOWNLOAD-p389922366 The first season of the American science fiction horror drama television series Stranger Things premiered worldwide on the streaming service Netflix on July 15, 2016. The series was created by the Duffer Brothers, who also serve as executive producers along with Shawn Levy and Dan Cohen. This season stars Winona Ryder, David Harbour, Finn Wolfhard, Millie Bobby Brown, Gaten Matarazzo, Caleb McLaughlin, Natalia Dyer, Charlie Heaton, Cara Buono, and Matthew Modine, with Noah Schnapp, Joe Keery, and Shannon Purser in recurring roles. The first season of Stranger Things received critical acclaim, in particular for its originality, homages to the 1980s, characterization, tone, visuals, and performances (particularly those of Ryder, Harbour, Wolfhard, Brown, Heaton and Modine). Premise The first season begins on November 6, 1983, in a small town called Hawkins. Researchers at Hawkins National Laboratory open a rift to the "Upside Down," an alternate dimension that reflects the real world. A monstrous humanoid creature escapes and abducts a boy named Will Byers and a teenage girl. Will's mother, Joyce, and the town's police chief, Jim Hopper, search for Will. At the same time, a young psychokinetic girl who goes by the name "Eleven" escapes from the laboratory and assists Will's friends, Mike Wheeler, Dustin Henderson, and Lucas Sinclair, in their efforts to find Will.[1] Cast and characters See also: List of Stranger Things characters Main cast Winona Ryder as Joyce Byers[2] David Harbour as Jim Hopper[2] Finn Wolfhard as Mike Wheeler[3] Millie Bobby Brown[3] as Eleven ("El") Gaten Matarazzo as Dustin Henderson[3] Caleb McLaughlin as Lucas Sinclair[3] Natalia Dyer as Nancy Wheeler[3] Charlie Heaton as Jonathan Byers[3][4][5] Cara Buono as Karen Wheeler[6] Matthew Modine as Martin Brenner[7] Recurring Noah Schnapp as Will Byers Joe Keery as Steve Harrington Shannon Purser as Barbara "Barb" Holland[8] Joe Chrest as Ted Wheeler Ross Partridge as Lonnie Byers[9] Rob Morgan as Officer Powell John Paul Reynolds as Officer Callahan Randy Havens as Scott Clarke Catherine Dyer as Connie Frazier Aimee Mullins as Terry Ives[10] Amy Seimetz as Becky Ives Peyton Wich as Troy[11] Tony Vaughn as Principal Coleman Charles Lawlor as Mr. Melvald Tinsley and Anniston Price as Holly Wheeler Cade Jones as James Chester Rushing as Tommy H. Chelsea Talmadge as Carol Glennellen Anderson as Nicole Cynthia Barrett as Marsha Holland Jerri Tubbs as Diane Hopper Elle Graham as Sara Hopper Chris Sullivan as Benny Hammond Tobias Jelinek as lead agent Robert Walker-Branchaud as repairman agent Susan Shalhoub Larkin as Florence ("Flo") Episodes See also: List of Stranger Things episodes No. overall No. in season Title Directed by Written by Original release date 1 1 "Chapter One: The Vanishing of Will Byers" The Duffer Brothers The Duffer Brothers July 15, 2016 On November 6, 1983, in Hawkins, Indiana, a scientist is attacked by an unseen creature at a U.S. government laboratory. 12-year-old Will Byers encounters the creature and mysteriously vanishes while cycling home from a Dungeons & Dragons session with his friends Mike Wheeler, Dustin Henderson and Lucas Sinclair. The following day, Will's single mother Joyce Byers reports his disappearance to the police chief Jim Hopper, who starts a search but assures Joyce that almost all missing children are quickly found. The lab's director, Dr. Martin Brenner, investigates an organic substance oozing from the lab's basement, claiming that "the girl" cannot have gone far. A nervous young girl wearing a hospital gown wanders into a local diner. The owner, Benny, finds a tattoo of "011" on her arm and learns that her name is Eleven. Brenner, monitoring the phone lines, sends agents to the diner after Benny calls social services. The agents kill Benny, but Eleven manages to escape using telekinetic abilities. Joyce's phone short circuits after receiving a mysterious phone call that she believes is from Will. While searching for Will in the woods, Mike, Dustin, and Lucas come across Eleven. 2 2 "Chapter Two: The Weirdo on Maple Street" The Duffer Brothers The Duffer Brothers July 15, 2016 The boys bring Eleven to Mike's house, where they disagree on what to do. Mike formulates a plan for Eleven to pretend to be a runaway and seek help from his mother, Karen. Eleven refuses, however, revealing that "bad men" are after her. Will's brother Jonathan visits his estranged father Lonnie in Indianapolis to search for Will, but Lonnie rebuffs him. Hopper's search party discovers a scrap of hospital gown near the lab. After recognizing Will in a photograph and demonstrating her telekinesis, Eleven convinces the boys to trust her, as they believe she can find Will. Using the Dungeons & Dragons board, Eleven indicates that Will is on the "Upside Down" side of the board and is being hunted by the "Demogorgon" (the creature). Mike's sister Nancy and her friend Barbara 'Barb' Holland go to a party with Nancy's boyfriend Steve Harrington. Searching for Will near Steve's house, Jonathan secretly photographs the party. Joyce receives another call from Will, hears music playing from his stereo, and sees a creature coming through the wall. Left alone by the swimming pool, Barb is attacked by the Demogorgon and vanishes. 3 3 "Chapter Three: Holly, Jolly" Shawn Levy Jessica Mecklenburg July 15, 2016 Barb awakens in the Upside Down: a decaying, overgrown alternate dimension. She attempts to escape but is attacked by the Demogorgon. Joyce believes Will is communicating through pulses in light bulbs. Hopper visits Hawkins Lab, and the staff permits him to view doctored security footage from the night Will vanished, leading Hopper to investigate Brenner and discover his involvement with Project MKUltra and that a woman named Terry Ives alleged years earlier that Brenner took her daughter. Eleven recalls Brenner, whom she calls "Papa," punishing her for refusing to hurt a cat telekinetically. Steve destroys Jonathan's camera after discovering the photos from the party. Nancy later recovers a photo of Barb, simultaneously realizing that Barb is missing. Returning to Steve's house to investigate, Nancy finds Barb's untouched Volkswagen and encounters the Demogorgon but manages to escape. Joyce paints an alphabetic board on her wall with Christmas lights, allowing Will to sign to her that he is "RIGHT HERE" and that she needs to "RUN" as the Demogorgon comes through the wall. Believing Eleven knows where Will is, the boys ask her to lead them to him. Eleven leads them, to their frustration, to Will's house. From there they follow emergency vehicles to a nearby quarry just as Will's body is recovered from the water. 4 4 "Chapter Four: The Body" Shawn Levy Justin Doble July 15, 2016 Joyce refuses to believe that the body found at the quarry is Will's. Mike feels betrayed by Eleven until she proves that Will is still alive, channeling his voice through Mike's walkie-talkie. The boys theorize that Eleven could use a ham radio at their school to communicate with Will. Nancy notices a figure behind Barb in Jonathan's photo, which Jonathan realizes matches his mother's description of the Demogorgon. Nancy tells the police about Barb's disappearance. She later fights with Steve, who only cares about not getting in trouble with his father. Hopper has suspicions regarding the authenticity of the body found in the quarry when he learns that the usual coroner was sent home. Hopper confronts the state trooper who found it and beats him until he admits he was ordered to lie. The boys sneak Eleven into their school to use the radio, while Joyce hears Will's voice through her living room wall. Tearing away the wallpaper, she sees him. Eleven uses the radio to channel Will talking to his mother. Hopper goes to the morgue and finds that the body is a fake, and, suspecting that Brenner is responsible, breaks into the lab. 5 5 "Chapter Five: The Flea and the Acrobat" The Duffer Brothers Alison Tatlock July 15, 2016 Hopper searches the lab before being knocked out by the lab's guards. The boys ask their science teacher, Mr. Clarke, if it would be possible to travel between alternate dimensions, to which he answers that there could be a theoretical "gate" between dimensions. Hopper awakens at his house and finds a hidden microphone, realizing that Joyce was right the whole time. The boys follow their compasses, searching for a gate that could disrupt the Earth's electromagnetic field. Eleven recalls memories of being placed in a sensory-deprivation tank to telepathically eavesdrop on a man speaking Russian; while listening, she came across the Demogorgon. Fearing another encounter with the Demogorgon, Eleven redirects the compasses. Lucas misinterprets this as an act of betrayal, leading Mike and Lucas to fight and Eleven to telekinetically fling Lucas away from Mike. While Dustin and Mike tend to the unconscious Lucas, Eleven runs off. Nancy and Jonathan formulate a plan to kill the Demogorgon. While searching in the woods, they come across a small gate to the Upside Down. Nancy crawls through it but inadvertently draws the Demogorgon's attention. Jonathan unsuccessfully tries to look for Nancy, as the gate to the Upside Down begins to close. 6 6 "Chapter Six: The Monster" The Duffer Brothers Jessie Nickson-Lopez July 15, 2016 Jonathan pulls Nancy back through the gate. That night, Nancy is afraid to be alone and asks Jonathan to stay in her bedroom. Steve, attempting to reconcile with Nancy, sees them together through her bedroom window and assumes they are dating. Joyce and Hopper track down Terry Ives, who is catatonic and tended by her sister Becky. Becky explains that Terry was a Project MKUltra participant while unknowingly pregnant and that Terry believes Brenner kidnapped her daughter Jane at birth due to her supposed telekinetic and telepathic abilities. Nancy and Jonathan stockpile weapons to kill the Demogorgon, theorizing that it is attracted by blood. Steve is brutally beaten up in a fistfight with Jonathan after he insults Will and calls Nancy a slut. Jonathan is arrested and held at the police station for beating up Steve and inadvertently punching one of the responding officers in the face. Eleven walks into a grocery store and shoplifts several boxes of Eggo waffles. Searching for Eleven, Mike and Dustin are ambushed by two bullies but are rescued by her, as she uses her powers to break one bully's arm after he attempts to kill Mike. Eleven collapses and recalls being asked by Brenner to contact the Demogorgon and, in her terror, inadvertently opening the gate. She tearfully admits to Mike that she is responsible for allowing the Demogorgon to enter this dimension. Lucas sees agents, who have tracked down Eleven, preparing to ambush Mike's house. 7 7 "Chapter Seven: The Bathtub" The Duffer Brothers Justin Doble July 15, 2016 Lucas warns Mike that agents are searching for Eleven. Mike, Dustin, and Eleven flee the house. Eleven telekinetically flips one of the vans that block their path as the kids escape. Lucas reconciles with Mike and Eleven, and the kids hide in the junkyard. Nancy and Jonathan reveal their knowledge of the Demogorgon to Joyce and Hopper. Hopper also learns that Eleven is with the kids. The group contacts the kids, and everyone meets at the Byers' house. Joyce and Hopper realize that Eleven is Jane Ives. The group asks Eleven to search for Will and Barb telepathically, but her earlier feats have weakened her. They break into the middle school and build a makeshift sensory deprivation tank to amplify Eleven's powers. After telepathically entering the Upside Down again, Eleven finds Barb dead and Will alive, hiding in the Upside Down version of his backyard fort. Realizing that the gate is in the basement of the lab, Hopper and Joyce break into the lab and are apprehended by security guards. Nancy and Jonathan sneak into the police station to retrieve the weapons they purchased previously, planning to lure and kill the Demogorgon. In the Upside Down, the Demogorgon breaks into Will's fort. 8 8 "Chapter Eight: The Upside Down" The Duffer Brothers Story by : Paul Dichter Teleplay by : The Duffer Brothers July 15, 2016 Hopper, haunted by the death of his daughter Sara from cancer years earlier, gives up Eleven's location to Brenner, who in exchange allows Hopper and Joyce to enter the Upside Down to rescue Will. Nancy and Jonathan cut their hands to attract the Demogorgon at the Byers' house. Steve, intending to apologize to Jonathan about their fight, arrives just as the Demogorgon appears. Steve, Nancy, and Jonathan fight the Demogorgon and light it on fire, forcing it to retreat to the Upside Down. Meanwhile, Eleven and the boys hide in the middle school when Brenner and his agents arrive to kidnap Eleven; she kills most of them before collapsing from exhaustion. As Brenner and his remaining agents pin Eleven and the boys down, the Demogorgon appears, attracted by the dead agents' blood, and attacks Brenner and the remaining agents as the boys escape with Eleven. Hopper and Joyce enter the Upside Down's version of the Hawkins library, where they encounter several corpses of the Demogorgon's victims, including Barb, and find Will unconscious with a tendril down his throat. Hopper revives him using CPR after removing the tendril. The Demogorgon corners the kids, but Eleven recovers from her exhaustion and disintegrates it, causing them both to disappear. Will recovers in the hospital, reuniting with his family and friends. One month later, it is Christmas and Nancy is back together with Steve, and both are friends with Jonathan. Will coughs up a slug-like creature and has a vision of the Upside Down, but hides this from his family. Production Development Ross (left) and Matt Duffer, the creators of the series Stranger Things was created by Matt and Ross Duffer, known professionally as the Duffer Brothers.[12] The two had completed writing and producing their 2015 film Hidden, which they had tried to emulate the style of M. Night Shyamalan, however, due to changes at Warner Bros., its distributor, the film did not see a wide release and the Duffers were unsure of their future.[13] To their surprise, television producer Donald De Line approached them, impressed with Hidden's script, and offered them the opportunity to work on episodes of Wayward Pines alongside Shyamalan. The brothers were mentored by Shyamalan during the episode's production so that when they finished, they felt they were ready to produce their own television series.[14] The Duffer Brothers prepared a script that would essentially be similar to the series' actual pilot episode, along with a 20-page pitch book to help shop the series around for a network.[15] They pitched the story to a number of cable networks, all of which rejected the script on the basis that they felt a plot centered around children as leading characters would not work, asking them to make it a children's show or to drop the children and focus on Hopper's investigation in the paranormal.[14] In early 2015, Dan Cohen, the VP of 21 Laps Entertainment, brought the script to his colleague Shawn Levy. They subsequently invited The Duffer Brothers to their office and purchased the rights for the series, giving full authorship of it to the brothers. After reading the pilot, the streaming service Netflix purchased the whole season for an undisclosed amount;[16] the show was subsequently announced for a planned 2016 release by Netflix in early April 2015.[17] The Duffer Brothers stated that at the time they had pitched to Netflix, the service had already been recognized for its original programming, such as House of Cards and Orange Is the New Black, with well-recognized producers behind them, and were ready to start giving upcoming producers like them a chance.[15] The brothers started to write out the series and brought Levy and Cohen in as executive producers to start casting and filming.[18] The series was originally known as Montauk, as the setting of the script was in Montauk, New York and nearby Long Beach locations.[17][19] The brothers had chosen Montauk as it had further Spielberg ties with the film Jaws, where Montauk was used for the fictional setting of Amity Island.[20] After deciding to change the narrative of the series to take place in the fictional town of Hawkins instead, the brothers felt they could now do things to the town, such as placing it under quarantine, that they really could not envision with a real location.[20] With the change in location, they had to come up with a new title for the series under the direction from Netflix's Ted Sarandos so that they could start marketing it to the public. The brothers started by using a copy of Stephen King's Firestarter novel to consider the title's font and appearance and came up with a long list of potential alternatives. Stranger Things came about as it sounded similar to another King novel, Needful Things, though Matt noted they still had a "lot of heated arguments" over this final title.[21] Writing The idea of Stranger Things started with how the brothers felt they could take the concept of the 2013 film Prisoners, detailing the moral struggles a father goes through when his daughter is kidnapped, and expand it out over eight or so hours in a serialized television approach. As they focused on the missing child aspect of the story, they wanted to introduce the idea of "childlike sensibilities" they could offer and toyed around with the idea of a monster that could consume humans. The brothers thought the combination of these things "was the best thing ever". To introduce this monster into the narrative, they considered "bizarre experiments we had read about taking place in the Cold War" such as Project MKUltra, which gave a way to ground the monster's existence in science rather than something spiritual. This also helped them to decide on using 1983 as the time period, as it was a year before the film Red Dawn came out, which focused on Cold War paranoia.[14] Subsequently, they were able to use all their own personal inspirations from the 1980s, the decade they were born, as elements of the series,[14][22] crafting it in the realm of science fiction and horror.[23] The Duffer Brothers have cited as influence for the show (among others): Stephen King novels; films produced by Steven Spielberg, John Carpenter, Wes Craven, Robert Zemeckis, George Lucas and Guillermo del Toro; films such as Alien and Stand by Me; Japanese anime such as Akira and Elfen Lied; and video games such as Silent Hill and The Last of Us.[21][24][25][26][27][28][29][30][31] With Netflix as the platform, The Duffer Brothers were not limited to a typical 22-episode format, opting for the eight-episode approach. They had been concerned that a 22-episode season on broadcast television would be difficult to "tell a cinematic story" with that many episodes. Eight episodes allowed them to give time to characterization in addition to narrative development; if they had less time available, they would have had to remain committed to telling a horror film as soon as the monster was introduced and abandon the characterization.[15] Within the eight episodes, the brothers aimed to make the first season "feel like a big movie" with all the major plot lines completed so that "the audience feels satisfied", but left enough unresolved to indicate "there's a bigger mythology, and there's a lot of dangling threads at the end", something that could be explored in further seasons if Netflix opted to create more.[32] While explaining their intentions for the show, the Duffers adamantly stated their intentions to not explain the mythology in the show so they could leave a mystery and lot for the audience to speculate over their lack of understanding by the season finale, which they accepted but asked to be explained about at the very least, which they found like a really good exercise as they spent quite a bit of time with their writers' room figuring out exactly what the Upside Down would actually consist for, writing a 20-page mythology document whose details wouldn't be clarified for the audience until the show's fifth and final season.[33] Regarding writing for the children characters of the series, The Duffer Brothers considered themselves as outcasts from other students while in high school and thus found it easy to write for Mike Wheeler and his friends, and particularly for Barbara "Barb" Holland.[21] Joyce Byers was fashioned after Richard Dreyfuss's character Roy Neary in Close Encounters of the Third Kind, as she appears "absolutely bonkers" to everyone else as she tries to find her son Will Byers.[34] Other characters, such as Billy in the second season, have more villainous attributes that are not necessarily obvious from the onset; Matt explained that they took further inspiration from Stephen King for these characters, as King "always has really great human villains" that may be more malicious than the supernatural evil.[35] Casting The Duffers cast David Harbour as Sheriff Hopper believing this was his opportunity to play a lead character in a work. In June 2015, it was announced that Winona Ryder and David Harbour had joined the series as Joyce and as the unnamed chief of police, respectively.[2] The brothers' casting director Carmen Cuba had suggested Ryder for the role of Joyce, which the two were immediately drawn to because of her prominence in 1980s films.[14] Levy believed Ryder could "wretch up the emotional urgency and yet find layers and nuance and different sides of [Joyce]". Ryder praised that the show's multiple storylines required her to act for Joyce as "she's out of her mind, but she's actually kind of onto something", and that the producers had faith she could pull off the difficult role.[36] Upon being offered the role, Ryder felt intrigued at being given the pilot's script due to know knowing what streaming was and finding it "terrifying", with her sole condition to the Duffers for accepting the role being that, if a Beetlejuice sequel ever materialized as she and Tim Burton had been discussing since 2000, they had to let her take a break to shoot it, a condition the Duffers agreed and ultimately proved to work out when Beetlejuice Beetlejuice was greenlighted years later.[37] The Duffer Brothers had been interested in Harbour before, who until Stranger Things primarily had smaller roles as villainous characters, and they felt that he had been "waiting too long for this opportunity" to play a lead, while Harbour himself was thrilled by the script and the chance to play "a broken, flawed, anti-hero character".[21][38] Additional casting followed two months later with Finn Wolfhard as Mike, Millie Bobby Brown in an undisclosed role, Gaten Matarazzo as Dustin Henderson, Caleb McLaughlin as Lucas Sinclair, Natalia Dyer as Nancy Wheeler, and Charlie Heaton as Jonathan Byers]].[3] In September 2015, Cara Buono joined the cast as Karen Wheeler,[6] followed by Matthew Modine as Martin Brenner a month later.[7] Additional cast who recur for the first season include Noah Schnapp as Will,[3][5] Shannon Purser as Barbara "Barb" Holland,[8] Joe Keery as Steve Harrington,[39][5] and Ross Partridge as Lonnie Byers,[9] among others. Actors auditioning for the children's roles read lines from Stand By Me.[14] The Duffer Brothers estimated they went through about a thousand different child actors for the roles. They noted that Wolfhard was already "a movie buff" of the films from the 1980s period and easily filled the role, while they found Matarazzo's audition to be much more authentic than most of the other audition tapes, and selected him after a single viewing of his audition tape.[15] As casting was started immediately after Netflix greenlit the show, and prior to the scripts being fully completed, this allowed some of the actors' takes on the roles to reflect into the script. The casting of the young actors for Will and his friends had been done just after the first script was completed, and subsequent scripts incorporated aspects from these actors.[32] The brothers said Modine provided significant input on the character of Dr. Brenner, whom they had not really fleshed out before as they considered him the hardest character to write for given his limited appearances within the narrative.[34] Filming The brothers had desired to film the series around the Long Island area to match the initial Montauk concept. However, with filming scheduled to take place in November 2015, it was difficult to shoot in Long Island in the cold weather, and the production started scouting locations in and around the Atlanta, Georgia area. The brothers, who grew up in North Carolina, found many places that reminded them of their own childhoods in that area, and felt the area would work well with the narrative shift to the fictional town of Hawkins, Indiana.[20] The filming of the first season began on September 25, 2015, and was extensively done in Atlanta, Georgia, with The Duffer Brothers and Levy handling the direction of individual episodes.[40] Jackson served as the basis of the fictional town of Hawkins, Indiana.[41][42] Other shooting locations included the Georgia Mental Health Institute as the Hawkins National Laboratory site, Bellwood Quarry, Patrick Henry High School in Stockbridge, Georgia, for the middle and high school scenes,[43] Emory University's Continuing Education Department, the former city hall in Douglasville, Georgia, Georgia International Horse Park, the probate court in Butts County, Georgia, Old East Point Library and East Point First Baptist Church in East Point, Georgia, Fayetteville, Georgia, Stone Mountain Park, Palmetto, Georgia, and Winston, Georgia.[44] Set work was done at Screen Gem Studios in Atlanta.[44] The series was filmed with a Red Dragon digital camera.[34] Filming for the first season concluded in early 2016.[41] While filming, the brothers tried to capture shots that could be seen as homages to many of the 1980s references they recalled. Their goal was not necessarily to fill the work with these references, but instead to make the series seem to the viewer like a 1980s film.[21] They spent little time reviewing those works and instead went by memory. Matt further recognized that some of their filming homages were not purposely done but were found to be very comparable, as highlighted by a fan-made video comparing the show to several 1980s works side by side.[14][45] Matt commented on the video that "Some were deliberate and some were subconscious."[14] The brothers recognized that many of the iconic scenes from these 1980s films, such as with Poltergeist, was about "taking a very ordinary object that people deal with every day, their television set, and imbuing it with something otherworldly", leading to the idea of using the Christmas light strings for Will to communicate with Joyce.[21] The brothers attributed much of the 1980s feel to set and costume designers and the soundtrack composers that helped to recreate the era for them.[14] Lynda Reiss, the head of props, had about a $220,000 budget, similar to most films, to acquire artifacts of the 1980s, using eBay and searching through flea markets and estate sales around the Atlanta area. The bulk of the props were original items from the 1980s with only a few pieces, such as the Dungeons & Dragons books made as replicas.[46] Visual effects To create the aged effect for the series, a film grain was added over the footage, which was captured by scanning in film stock from the 1980s.[34] The Duffers wanted to scare the audience, but not to necessarily make the show violent or gory, following in line with how the 1980s Amblin Entertainment films drove the creation of the PG-13 movie rating. It was "much more about mood and atmosphere and suspense and dread than they are about gore", though they were not afraid to push into more scary elements, particularly towards the end of the first season.[34] The brothers had wanted to avoid any computer-generated effects for the monster and other parts of the series and stay with practical effects. However, the six-month filming time left them little time to plan out and test practical effects rigs for some of the shots. They went with a middle ground of using constructed props including one for the monster whenever they could, but for other shots, such as when the monster bursts through a wall, they opted to use digital effects. Post-production on the first season was completed the week before it was released on Netflix.[14] The title sequence uses closeups of the letters in the Stranger Things title with a red tint against a black background as they slide into place within the title. The sequence was created by the studio Imaginary Forces, formerly part of R/GA, led by creative director Michelle Doughtey.[47] Levy introduced the studio to The Duffer Brothers, who explained their vision of the 1980s-inspired show, which helped the studio to fix the concept the producers wanted. Later, but prior to filming, the producers sent Imaginary Forces the pilot script, the synth-heavy background music for the titles, as well as the various book covers from King and other authors that they had used to establish the title and imagery, and were looking for a similar approach for the show's titles, primarily using a typographical sequence. They took inspiration from several title sequences of works from the 1980s that were previously designed by Richard Greenberg under R/GA, such as Altered States and The Dead Zone. They also got input from Dan Perri, who worked on the title credits of several 1980s films. Various iterations included having letters vanish, to reflect the "missing" theme of the show, and having letters cast shadows on others, alluding to the mysteries, before settling into the sliding letters. The studio began working on the title sequence before filming and took about a month off during the filming process to let the producers get immersed in the show and come back with more input. Initially, they had been working with various fonts for the title and used close-ups of the best features of these fonts, but near the end the producers wanted to work with ITC Benguiat, requiring them to rework those shots. The final sequence is fully computer-generated, but they took inspiration from testing some practical effects, such as using Kodalith masks as would have been done in the 1980s, to develop the appropriate filters for the rendering software. The individual episode title cards used a "fly-through" approach, similar to the film Bullitt, which the producers had suggested to the studio.[48] Music Main articles: Music of Stranger Things and Stranger Things (soundtrack) The Stranger Things original soundtrack was composed by Michael Stein and Kyle Dixon of the electronic band Survive.[49] It makes extensive use of synthesizers in homage to 1980s artists and film composers including Jean-Michel Jarre, Tangerine Dream, Vangelis, Goblin, John Carpenter, Giorgio Moroder, and Fabio Frizzi.[50] According to Stein and Dixon, The Duffer Brothers had been fans of Survive's music, and used their song "Dirge" for the mock trailer that was used to sell the show to Netflix.[49][51] Once the show was green-lit, the Duffers contacted Survive around July 2015 to ask if they were still doing music; the two provided the production team with dozens of songs from their band's past to gain their interest, helping to land them the role.[49] Once aboard, the two worked with producers to select some of their older music to rework for the show, while developing new music, principally with character motifs.[51] The two had been hired before the casting process, so their motif demos were used and played over the actors' audition tapes, aiding in the casting selection.[51][52] The show's theme is based on an unused work Stein composed much earlier that ended up in the library of work they shared with the production staff, who thought that with some reworking would be good for the opening credits.[49] The first season's original soundtrack, consisting of 75 songs from Dixon and Stein split across two volumes, was released by Lakeshore Records. Digital release and streaming options were released on August 10 and 19, 2016 for the two volumes, respectively, while retail versions were available on September 16 and 23, 2016.[53][54] In addition to original music, Stranger Things features period music from artists including The Clash, Toto, New Order, The Bangles, Foreigner, Echo and the Bunnymen, Peter Gabriel and Corey Hart, as well as excerpts from Tangerine Dream, John Carpenter and Vangelis.[54][55] In particular, The Clash's "Should I Stay or Should I Go" was specifically picked to play at pivotal moments of the story, such as when Will is trying to communicate with Joyce from the Upside Down.[54] Music supervisor Nora Felder felt the song "furthered the story" and called it an additional, unseen, main character of the season.[56]

Coming in at #8 Cigar of the Year for 2025 is the Kristoff Veinte Twentieth Anniversary Toro. Kristoff Veinte Twentieth Anniversary made its debut in 2024. The year 2024 marks the 20th anniversary of owner Glen Case's entry into the cigar industry. Until now, there hasn't been an anniversary cigar in Kristoff's lineup, but the Veinte has taken on that role. It is a regular production cigar within the Kristoff brand. The name “Veinte” means “twenty” in Spanish. Full Details: https://wp.me/p6h1n1-ysP

Coming in at #8 Cigar of the Year for 2025 is the Kristoff Veinte Twentieth Anniversary Toro. Kristoff Veinte Twentieth Anniversary made its debut in 2024. The year 2024 marks the 20th anniversary of owner Glen Case's entry into the cigar industry. Until now, there hasn't been an anniversary cigar in Kristoff's lineup, but the Veinte has taken on that role. It is a regular production cigar within the Kristoff brand. The name “Veinte” means “twenty” in Spanish. Full Details: https://wp.me/p6h1n1-ysP  

Welcome to Episode 254 of The Burning Bush Podcast, where we share the message of the Bible while enjoying a good cigar. In this episode we're reading the New Testament book of 2 Corinthians Chapter 7 with commentary from the notes in the Charles Spurgeon Study Bible, and I'm smoking the Torano Exodus Gold 1959 Toro 6x50.Charles Spurgeon Study Bible: https://csbspurgeonstudybible.csbible.com/Torano Exodus Gold 1959 Toro 6x50: https://www.cigarsinternational.com/p/torano-exodus-gold-1959-cigars/1412092/Listen and subscribe at: https://www.theburningbushpodcast.comYouTube: https://music.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL2xuUIvnTwNsmlHN2fxlidI6Zhgt-GPB7&si=t0IqlNyWtCYOiSwHRumble: https://rumble.com/user/SteveMcHenryEmail: steve@theburningbushpodcast.com#TheBurningBush #Podcast #Scripture #Theology #Jesus #Bible #Christian #GroundworksMinistries #Cigars #BOTL #SOTL #HolySmokes #TreatsNTruth #LogosBibleSoftware #CharlesSpurgeon #SpurgeonStyle #ToranoCigarsSUPPORT THE SHOW & OUR PARTNERSCash App - http://cash.app/$StevenJMcHenryVenmo - https://www.venmo.com/u/Steve-McHenry-3Paypal - http://paypal.me/SteveMcHenrySend me a Text MessageGroundworks MinistriesPromoting the "chapter-a-day" reading of God's Word.Treats-N-Truth MinistryHelping those in need through the love & grace of God.The Burning Bush Merchandise StoreGet your Burning Bush Podcast swag here!Logos Bible SoftwareA digital library and Bible study platform for in-depth study, sermon prep, and academic research.Instacart - Groceries delivered in as little as 1 hour.Free delivery on your first order over $35.Buzzsprout - Let's get your podcast launched!Start for FREEDisclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.Support the show

Happy New Year, Task Force! We're starting off 2026 with Movie Club, and this was a SOLID one. We watched Guillermo del Toro's Netflix film Frankenstein. What did you think of the movie? If you've read the book, how do you think it compares? Let us know in the comments! Sensitive topics: death, gore, child abuse, physical abuse, animal death, disfigurement "Awkward Meeting", "Crypto", "Echoes of Time v2", "Redletter", "Stay the Course"Kevin MacLeod (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠incompetech.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠)Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It's the final update of 2025! The So Many Sequels crew empties their holiday watchlists in this jam-packed episode. We break down the craftsmanship of Guillermo del Toro's Frankenstein on Netflix and argue over whether it should have stayed in theaters longer. Garrett survives a stomach bug to bring us his take on Five Nights at Freddy's 2 (and the scary new Marionette villain). Plus, we discuss the surprising box office numbers for Avatar: Fire and Ash.somanysequels.com

KCAA: Water Zone by Toro on Thu, 1 Jan, 2026

Guillermo del Toro's Frankenstein reimagines Mary Shelley's classic Gothic tale through a richly visual, character-driven lens. The story follows the brilliant but obsessive scientist Victor Frankenstein (Oscar Isaac), who defies nature by assembling and animating a living being from the dead. When his creation—a sensitive, intelligent Creature (Jacob Elordi)—awakens, Victor recoils in horror and abandons it, setting off a tragic chain of events. As the Creature seeks understanding, acceptance, and purpose in a world that fears him, the bond between creator and creation becomes deeply strained, leading to heartbreak, confrontation, and ultimately a poignant reckoning about humanity, responsibility, and forgiveness. Chad-Large                 Jordan-Large    

The gang's all here to bid 2025 a fond (?) farewell. We're ranking the year's horror offerings, from Guillermo del Toro finally delivering the Frankenstein film Levi's waited 30 years for, to Sinners' hot-and-bothered vampires that some of us couldn't be bothered to finish.Weapons confused us until it didn't. The Long Walk made Levi cry. 28 Years Later pissed off Jonathan because The Walking Dead ruined everything. And somewhere in there, we imagined Lloyd the bartender giving Jack Torrance relationship advice.Films Discussed: Frankenstein, Sinners, Weapons, The Long Walk, 28 Years Later, Bring Her Back, Companion, The Monkey, The Ugly Stepsister, Silent Night Deadly Night, Welcome to Derry, Nosferatu, and—of course—Maximum Overdrive.Coming in 2026: Werwolf (it's spelled that way, we checked), Clayface, and whatever nightmare the Pinocchio public domain is cooking up.Give Caleb's wine podcast Natural State of Wine a listen—he's a level two sommelier and will make you a better person, probably.

On the second episode of Film Seizure: Now Playing, the guys discuss a foursome of movies streaming currently on Netflix - Guillermo del Toro's Frankenstein, the latest Knives Out mystery, Wake Up Dead Man, Train Dreams, and George Clooney's Jay Kelly. Episodes release on Wednesday at www.filmseizure.com "Beyond My Years" by Matt LaBarber LaBarber The Album Available at https://mattlabarber.bandcamp.com/album/labarber-the-album Copyright 2020 Like what we do? Buy us a coffee! www.ko-fi.com/filmseizure Follow us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/filmseizure/ Follow us on BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/filmseizure.bsky.social Follow us on Mastodon: https://universeodon.com/@filmseizure Follow us on Instagram: www.instagram.com/filmseizure/ You can now find us on YouTube as well! The Film Seizure Channel can be found here: https://www.youtube.com/c/FilmSeizure

""Life Is" by Jessica Pratt from Here is the Pitch; "Iceland" by Dreamend from May You Die Well; "Sometimes" by Spellling from Portrait of My Heart; "First Wisteria (Bottle Magic Mix)" by Certain Slant of Light from It Isn't But It Is; "Garmonbozia (Instrumental) by Flying Lotus from Spirit Box; "Qw4nt0hmw3b" by Discovery Zone from Quantum Web EXP; "7-21-17_substitute_hifi_v3" by Toro y Moi from Soul Trash; "Flyboat" by Frunk29 from The Fifth Season. Courtesy of Not Not Fun; "Milestones" by GIFT from Illuminator. Courtesy of Captured Tracks; "Silver Bells" by Grails from Miracle Music; "Escape Lounge" by heith from Escape Lounge; "Blackoak" by Maribou State from Hallucinating Love; "Cotes de Cachalot a la Psilocybine" by Heldon from It's Always Rock 'n' Roll (Heldon III); "Skylarking" by Bitchin Bajas from Inland Sea; "The Opinion of the Lamb, Pt. 1" by Smote from A Grand Stream

The latest episode and final episode of 2025 of Sound Speed Action is live, and what a way to end the year. One Battle After Another caps off an incredible run of movies and stands as our clear favorite of the year. What a film.Marc and I break down this ambitious, unsettling, and often darkly funny work from director Paul Thomas Anderson, and the more we talk about it, the more impressive it becomes. This is one of those rare movies that genuinely gets better with repeat viewings.The performances across the board are phenomenal. Leonardo DiCaprio delivers a fascinating, off-balance turn. Chase Infinity, in her first film role, is an absolute revelation. Teyana Taylor is terrific, and Sean Penn is unforgettable as the antagonist Lockjaw, a performance that feels destined to dominate awards season. Benicio del Toro appears briefly as Sensei and somehow steals every moment he's in. Regina Hall continues to prove we need far more movies built around her. Tony Goldwyn is deeply unsettling, playing once again against typecasting he somehow always elevates. And James Ratterman, a real former Homeland Security official, is genuinely chilling in a role that feels uncomfortably authentic.The score, composed by Jonny Greenwood, marks his sixth collaboration with Anderson, and it is astonishing. The music doesn't just support the film, it drives it, becoming a constant, pulsing engine that keeps everything in motion.Loosely inspired by Vineland, the film takes a single thread from the novel and spins it into something entirely its own. It's timely, disturbing, sharply funny, and deeply confident. With an estimated budget between $130 and $170 million, this is a movie that likely never made financial sense on paper. Its existence feels like a small miracle, and a reminder that there are still producers and executives willing to back original, risky storytelling simply because it's worth making.One Battle After Another is now playing in theaters and is also available to rent on demand and stream on HBO. That said, if you can see this in a theater, do it. You will not regret it.Thanks for listening. This marks our final episode of 2025. Sound Speed Action will be back soon. See you at the movies.

Some of what we will tell you is fact. Some is not, but it is all true. The bros have created a monster with this one...Ev's score: 8.7 / Al's score: 9 / Ky's score: 8.9Musical term: Adagio Instrumental Instrument: Silver violinIf you like what you hear, follow us on Spotify and opt-in to get notified when we drop future episodes. Better yet, get in touch and keep up with our score-settling antics on TikTok or Instagram.00:00 Introduction and Setup00:18 Hollywood Drama and Streaming Debate01:20 Theater Experience vs. Streaming02:41 Guillermo del Toro's Vision05:36 Gripes and Critiques11:16 Composer and Score Discussion17:54 Meta Narrative and Themes22:25 Analyzing the Leitmotif23:34 The Role of the Violin24:10 Character Dynamics and Symbolism27:14 Casting and Performances30:02 Musical Themes and Score Critique34:39 Final Thoughts and Ratings39:56 Closing Remarks and Future Content

Acclaimed Mexican filmmaker and director Guillermo del Toro's long-awaited “Frankenstein” arrives at last. We review the new film now streaming on Netflix. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Coming in at #13 Cigar of the Year for 2025 is the Aladino Fuma Noche Super Toro by JRE Tobacco Co. This was a bit of a change of pace project for JRE Tobacco. The Aladino Fuma Noche made its debut at 2024 Premium Cigar Association (PCA) Trade Show. Fuma Noche was presented as a bold, rich, and dense cigar. The cigar itself has a dark wrapper. Fuma Noche is also a cigar that was designed to be smoked at the end of the day. This concept combined with the dark wrapper led to the name Fuma Noche which means “night smoke”. Full Details: https://wp.me/p6h1n1-yqC

Coming in at #13 Cigar of the Year for 2025 is the Aladino Fuma Noche Super Toro by JRE Tobacco Co. This was a bit of a change of pace project for JRE Tobacco. The Aladino Fuma Noche made its debut at 2024 Premium Cigar Association (PCA) Trade Show. Fuma Noche was presented as a bold, rich, and dense cigar. The cigar itself has a dark wrapper. Fuma Noche is also a cigar that was designed to be smoked at the end of the day. This concept combined with the dark wrapper led to the name Fuma Noche which means “night smoke”. Full Details: https://wp.me/p6h1n1-yqC

Coming in at #14 Cigar of the Year for 2025 is the Black Works Studio Intergalactic Event Horizon Toro. In 2022, Black Works Studio released a limited batch of cigars known as the Intergalactic. The cigar was quite eye-catching, featuring a skeleton in an astronaut suit. From a tobacco standpoint, the Intergalactic featured a Sumatra wrapper.  The cigar quickly became a favorite among Oveja Negra fans. In 2024, Black Works Studio announced the release of another cigar from the Intergalactic line, called the Intergalactic Event Horizon. This cigar features a unique blend, highlighted by a Pennsylvania Broadleaf wrapper. Full Details: https://wp.me/p6h1n1-yqa

Coming in at #14 Cigar of the Year for 2025 is the Black Works Studio Intergalactic Event Horizon Toro. In 2022, Black Works Studio released a limited batch of cigars known as the Intergalactic. The cigar was quite eye-catching, featuring a skeleton in an astronaut suit. From a tobacco standpoint, the Intergalactic featured a Sumatra wrapper.  The cigar quickly became a favorite among Oveja Negra fans. In 2024, Black Works Studio announced the release of another cigar from the Intergalactic line, called the Intergalactic Event Horizon. This cigar features a unique blend, highlighted by a Pennsylvania Broadleaf wrapper. Full Details: https://wp.me/p6h1n1-yqa

The Hidden Labor Gap In Modern FamiliesEven as dual-income households become more of the norm across America, women often still shoulder more of the work at home. We explore why this imbalance persists and what real equity moving forward could look like.Host: Gary Price Producer: Amirah Zaveri Guest: Kate Mangino, gender expert, author of Equal Partners: Improving Gender Equality at Home. Locked Out Of Work: Women, Criminal Records & The Will To RebuildA criminal record can follow someone for years, or even decades, by chronically limiting job options and career paths at every turn. As Illinois moves forward with a new Clean Slate law, we examine how these barriers shape lives nationwide, disproportionately affect formerly incarcerated women and what record-clearing policies could change for the tens of millions of Americans stuck in limbo.  Host: Marty PetersonProducer: Amirah Zaveri Guests: Chanell Burnette, writer, advocate, former prisoner; Marlon Chamberlain, founder, executive director, Illinois Coalition to End Permanent Punishments, former prisoner; Colette Payne, director, Reclamation Project, Women's Justice Institute, former prisoner.   Viewpoints Explained: A Global Threat That's Slowly FadingWe focus on highlighting more positive news, we cover how one global problem is moving in the right direction and how this positive change didn't happen by accident but required global cooperation.  Host: Ebony McMorris.  Producer: Amirah Zaveri   Culture Crash: Guillermo Del Toro Finally Meets “Frankenstein”Acclaimed Mexican filmmaker and director Guillermo del Toro's long-awaited “Frankenstein” arrives at last. We review the new film now streaming on Netflix.  Host:  Evan RookProducer: Evan Rook Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

We wrap up 2025 and Season 10 of Radio Labyrinth with a special guest and a little reflection. This week we're joined by Emmy-winning special effects artist Lee Romaire, whose work spans film, television, and cutting-edge animatronics. Lee talks practical effects, realism in creature design, and his work connected to Guillermo del Toro's Frankenstein — plus why physical effects still matter in a CG-heavy world. Since this is S10-Ep50, we also look back at some of our favorite guests of the year and talk about what's ahead as we roll into Season 11.

Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/cw/NeonicVoidProductionsInquiries can be sent to hausofthevoid@gmail.comCheck out the NeonicVoid Productions network of podcasts! -https://linktr.ee/neonicvoidproductionsBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/spookocalypse--5342254/support.

DIALOGUES: Short Cuts to First Features" is a Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) Industry program featuring conversations with emerging directors who transitioned from making acclaimed short films (Short Cuts alumni) to directing their debut features, sharing insights on script development, collaboration, and overcoming challenges to build their filmmaking careers. It's a key part of the TIFF Industry Conference, focusing on practical advice and inspiration for filmmakers aiming to make that crucial jump to feature-length projects.  I had the grand pleasure to join alumni directors of TIFF Short Cuts and Industry Talent, Lloyd Lee Choi (Lucky Lu), Sasha Leigh Henry (Dinner with Friends), Taratoa Stappard (Mārama), and Eva Thomas (Nika & Madison), as they discuss their journeys from making short films to developing and directing their first features. Learn how they honed their scripts, found the collaborators and supporters they needed, and coped with practical challenges while protecting their creative visions. Lloyd Lee Choi is a Korean-Canadian filmmaker based in Brooklyn. He has directed the short films Same Old (22), which played the Festival, and Closing Dynasty (23). Earlier this year he received the TIFF–CBC Films Screenwriter Award for his screenplay Yakult Ajumma. Lucky Lu (25) is his feature film debut. Sasha Leigh Henry is a Toronto-based writer, director, and producer. Her short films include Love Bent (14), To Love and Back (16), Bitches Love Brunch (18), and the Festival Official Selection Sinking Ship (20). She also created, wrote, and directed the television show Bria Mack Gets a Life (22), which premiered at the Festival. Dinner With Friends (25) is her latest film. Taratoa Stappard was born in Aotearoa and lives in London. He has directed the shorts Eight for Eight Thirty (96), Strip (98), Euston Road (04), Goalie (16), and Emkhatsini: Between (18). Mārama (25), his latest film, is his feature debut. Eva Thomas is a writer and filmmaker from Walpole Island First Nation based in Wallaceburg, Ontario. Her production credits include the Festival Official Selections Night Raiders (21) and Kaniehtiio Horn's Seeds (24). She directed the short film Redlights (23) and co-directed the feature Aberdeen (24), both of which played the Festival. Nika & Madison (25) is her latest film. Moderated by: Jason Anderson is the International Programmer for Short Cuts. A member of TIFF's Programming team since 2015, he's also worked on TIFF Kids and Canada's Top Ten. He's been the director of programming for the Kingston Canadian Film Festival since 2008 and the programming director for Aspen Shortsfest since 2019. A longtime journalist and critic who graduated from the University of Toronto with a B.A. in English literature, he was a film critic and columnist for the Toronto weeklies The Grid and Eye Weekly, and regularly contributed to such publications as The Globe and Mail, The Toronto Star, Toro, and Saturday Night. He currently writes about music and film for Uncut magazine, Sight & Sound, and Cinema Scope. He has taught a course on film criticism for the University of Toronto since 2008 and has taught journalism courses at Toronto Metropolitan University. His least useful areas of expertise include the Step Up franchise, show business memoirs, and the discography of Nile Rodgers. Stay connected with me here: https://www.instagram.com/shesallovertheplacepodcast    

Send us a textA romantic anniversary trip to a secluded cabin turns sinister when a dark presence reveals itself, forcing old friends to confront their podcast's haunting past. On Episode 700 of Trick or Treat Radio we eschew the normal pomp and circumstance of a milestone show for our normal format and continue on with December Double Feature Cram Jam. This week we discuss films from two of our favorite directs; Keeper from Osgood Perkins, and Eddington from Ari Aster! We also get inducted into the 700 Club, react to trailers for the films; Amityvillenado and 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple, and are faced with the ghosts of 2020 all over again. So grab your jar of honey, post an angry rant online, and strap on for the world's most dangerous podcast!Stuff we talk about: Fickle horror fans, Hellraiser, dinner scene, smoking without burning your mouth, Trish Stratus, scenes in horror that drive you nuts, gimmick as a personality, the 700 Club, fitness sponsors, snikts and krakadooms, roman chairs and russian fingers, gathering of the Juggalos, fluff it up, 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea, James Mason, The 7th Voyage of Sinbad, Scars of Dracula, Christopher Lee, Hellbound: Hellraiser II, The Bone Snatcher, Death Machine, Pulse 3, Solomon Kane, Hazmat, Evil Remains, Estella Warren, Corey Haim, The Lost Boys, Dario Argento's Trauma, King Kong, John Northpole, Mega Huge Pictures, Amityvillenado, 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple, Nia DeCosta, Danny Boyle, gratuitous gratuity, Bee Gees, Barry Gibb - the handsome one, Keeper, Osgood Perkins, the 700 Club, nefarious, Tatiana Maslany, breaking the cycle of patriarchy, Ready or Not, folk horror, body horror, Guillermo del Toro, subtle satisfaction, films flipping the script, Joaquin Phoenix, Deirdre O'Connell, Emma Stone, Pedro Pascal, Austin Butler, Ari Aster, Midsommar, Hereditary, Beau is Afraid, Eddington, Christopher Nolan, Odyssey, WWE vs AEW, Ben Affleck, James Gunn's DCU vs Zack Snyder's DCEU, Honey Ripple head cream, and Before and Aster.Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/trickortreatradioJoin our Discord Community: discord.trickortreatradio.comSend Email/Voicemail: mailto:podcast@trickortreatradio.comVisit our website: http://trickortreatradio.comStart your own podcast: https://www.buzzsprout.com/?referrer_id=386Use our Amazon link: http://amzn.to/2CTdZzKFB Group: http://www.facebook.com/groups/trickortreatradioTwitter: http://twitter.com/TrickTreatRadioFacebook: http://facebook.com/TrickOrTreatRadioYouTube: http://youtube.com/TrickOrTreatRadioInstagram: http://instagram.com/TrickorTreatRadioSupport the show

Merry Frankensteinian Christmas from Jay of the Dead's New Horror Movies, The Christmas Morning of Horror Movie Podcasts! Releasing on December 25, 2025, the festive Horror Avengers bring you a magnificent monster mash stitched together from October and November recordings and joyfully re-gifted as a full-blown holiday special. This memorable episode earns its place in show history by featuring one Horror Avenger's Specialty Segment twice(!) in the same episode! While holiday lights glow and carols echo, your favorite hosts chime in interstitially with seasons greetings. Nearly everyone shows up to celebrate (with a couple of absences blamed on a suspicious trip to the dog track). The entire affair is capped by Jay's own original dark Christmas carol, "The Tiny King," a grim yet hopeful closer that might be the closest thing to a Horror Christmas carol. The episode itself is packed tighter than Santa's sack, har har, with new Horror movie reviews recorded "in the field," classic black-and-white chills, and a centerpiece deep dive into Guillermo del Toro's Frankenstein — complete with a clear spoiler warning for listeners. Jay of the Dead, Dr. Walking Dead, Dr. Shock, Gillman Joel, and Mackula gather around the slab to debate monsters, their meaning, and modern myth-making, while Mackula's enthusiasm climbs sky-high in true festive fashion across the episode's classic and contemporary picks. From an in-person recording of Jay and Dr. Bishop as they review "Shelby Oaks" and "Dream Eater" inside Jay's car together — to vintage chills and a surprisingly merry detour into "Predator: Badlands" — Episode 174 feels like a snowy marathon of bolts, bells, snowballs, and body parts — equal parts reverent, ridiculous, and heartfelt. By the time the bubble lights stop bubbling and the final notes of "The Tiny King" fade out, listeners are left with a warm glow, a few scorch marks, and the firm belief that this really is The Gold Standard of Holiday Horror Movie Podcasts. Join us!

En este episodio, exploramos el emocionante mundo de los Premios Globo de Oro 2025 con el periodista colombiano Mario Amaya, quien comparte su experiencia como votante en esta prestigiosa ceremonia. Desde la importancia de los Globos de Oro como antesala a los Oscars hasta las nominaciones destacadas de este año, Mario nos ofrece una visión única sobre las películas que están en la mira. Hablamos de 'Frankenstein' de Guillermo del Toro, 'Bugonia', y 'Sinners', entre otras, analizando sus tramas y el impacto que podrían tener en la temporada de premios. Además, discutimos el proceso de votación y la creciente inclusión del cine internacional en Hollywood. Únete a nosotros para descubrir qué películas podrían brillar en la próxima entrega de premios y cómo la industria cinematográfica está evolucionando en un mundo cada vez más globalizado.

KCAA: Water Zone by Toro on Thu, 25 Dec, 2025

Frank podcasts from bed after surgery, so Tim drinks for two while the guys compare recovery teas and questionable hot-cocoa experiments. They swap their favorite new-to-them watches of the year, from the surreal dystopia of The Lobster to del Toro's richly detailed Frankenstein, plus sci-fi obsessions with Pluribus and Alien: Earth. Hive minds, film clubs, and xenomorphs all make an appearance. Cheers! Beers of the Week Quarter Horse Kentucky Dry Whiskey Traditional Medicinals Organic Immune Zoom

Listen up as Matt and Ginny review Guillermo del Toro's Frankenstein.  Matt and Ginny will explore Matt's complex feelings towards Jacob Elrodi so it's definitely worth a listen.  

Guillermo del Toro has yet to find any boundaries when it comes to intimacy within a story or the scope of its telling. He uses genre like a stained palette, leaving residue of fusions and clear-cut influences.So it makes sense that his debut, CRONOS, is no different. Del Toro reinvents the vampire using alchemy, entomology, Gothic principles, the mixture of Medevial and Renaissance periods. But anchoring this smattering of ideas is the simplest one: the unconditional love between a grandfather and granddaughter.Jesus Gris (Federico Luppi) is a Mexican antique shop owner raising his granddaughter Aurora (Tamara Xanath). One day, they discover a golden egg-shaped device hidden in one of the shop's archangel statues. After fumbling with the device's dial, Jesus is wounded when the Cronos machine pops out sharp, insect-like legs and latches itself into his hand, Facehugger-style. What starts as mere accident lingers in Jesus' mind as he finds himself not only drawn to the device but also its method of doling out pain. The more Jesus uses the Cronos device, the more vivacious and young he feels. But this newfound rejuvenation comes with an aching appetite for flesh, for blood.CRONOS introduces many of the subjects found throughout Del Toro's 30+ year career: death, fatherhood, the clash between an archaic past and promising future, Ron Perlman. It sometimes feels as though the movie is incapable of holding all the thought that went into its world's development but that's part of what I enjoy about Del Toro. His movies are never complete after first viewing. In a way, they're the amuse bouche to the boundless mind that hides beneath, a mere foyer to a curious mansion.---Please rate and review The Movies wherever you listen to podcasts!Financially support the show using the tip jar.Follow The Movies on Instagram & Letterboxd

Isaac del Toro, el subcampeón del Giro de Italia, los y las campeonas de la Liga MX y el sorteo del Mundial 2026, con Alberto Verdusco y Tlatoani Carrera.00:00 Introducción01:12 Isaac del Toro, de superhéroe sobre ruedas a subcampeón del Giro de Italia05:34 Liga MX en 2025: Toluca se corona y las campeonas de la liga femenil10:57 F1 2025: Norris campeón, Verstappen y el regreso de Checo15:15 ¿Quiénes se coronaron en este 2025? Deportes nacionales e internacionales18:30 Sorteo del Mundial 2026

Peter and Rob return for a festive episode of the Talking Toro podcast as they discuss the 1-0 victory over Sassuolo and hopes for the January transfer window. Toro once again have an opportunity to win three successive games as they face Cagliari after Christmas, so this game is discussed. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hey Flixers, What's New to Netflix is closing down 2025 with all of the new titles coming in December, and you won't want to miss it! Then we take a peek at a troubled doctor's super secret creation, which just so happens to be a misunderstood scientific abomination in Guillermo del Toro's Frankenstein from 2025. Next, Richard Linklater gives us a look into the filming of the iconic French classic Breathless in Nouvelle Vague from 2025. And also from 2025, Joel Edgerton is a logger dealing with the loss of his family in Train Dreams. All of this plus the other Troll 2, Robert Zemeckis movies, not one but two Mean Girls, YouTubers and Muppets, Man vs. Baby, Christmas on the Alpaca Farm, and a dumpster that transports people. got a suggestion for the show?: whatsnewtonetflix@gmail.com

Quico Toro joins to discuss Charlatans: How Grifters, Swindlers, and Hucksters Bamboozle the Media, the Markets, and the Masses, distinguishing the "parasitic" nature of the charlatan from the hit-and-run tactics of the scammer. He traces the lineage of the grift from the official alchemists of 16th-century Venice to the upsell tactics of Trump University, arguing that loneliness and the internet have created a "target-rich environment" for swindlers. Then, a pivot to the environment: Mike and Quico debate whether the "green halo" around solar and wind constitutes its own form of elite misinformation, and why the villainization of nuclear energy—and the partisanship of climate policy—has stalled real progress. Produced by Corey Wara Email us at ⁠⁠⁠⁠thegist@mikepesca.com⁠⁠⁠⁠ To advertise on the show, contact ⁠⁠⁠⁠ad-sales@libsyn.com⁠⁠⁠⁠ or visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://advertising.libsyn.com/TheGist⁠⁠⁠⁠ Subscribe to The Gist: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://subscribe.mikepesca.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠ Subscribe to The Gist Youtube Page: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC4_bh0wHgk2YfpKf4rg40_g⁠⁠⁠⁠ Subscribe to The Gist Instagram Page: ⁠⁠⁠⁠GIST INSTAGRAM⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow The Gist List at: ⁠⁠⁠⁠Pesca⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠Profundities | Mike Pesca | Substack⁠⁠⁠⁠

¡Uy que frío! Grab your wolf furs! Jonny and Aileen continue the discussion of Guillermo del Toro's Frankenstein. The tale's finale is at hand, of an arrogant scientist attempting to defeat death and the creature he violently brings into the world. Jonny and Aileen also talk about the lovely and talented Oscar Isaac.Remember to subscribe, rate and review!Follow our redes sociales:BlueSky: @uyquehorror.bsky.socialTikTok: @uyquehorrorInsta: @uyquehorrorTwitter: @Uy_Que_HorrorFind all the películas we cover on our LinkTree.Join our Patreon!

Coming in at #20 Cigar of the Year for 2025 is the Viva La Vida Connecticut Toro by Artesano Del Tobacco. The Viva La Vida Connecticut has been on Artesano Del Tobacco's radar for several years now. One thing the company prides itself on is engaging with customers to find out what they want. One recurring piece of feedback the company received was a request for a Viva La Vida with a Connecticut wrapper. Artesano Del Tobacco then went to work with AJ Fernandez, and the result was Viva La Vida Connecticut. Full Details: https://wp.me/p6h1n1-ynr

Coming in at #20 Cigar of the Year for 2025 is the Viva La Vida Connecticut Toro by Artesano Del Tobacco. The Viva La Vida Connecticut has been on Artesano Del Tobacco's radar for several years now. One thing the company prides itself on is engaging with customers to find out what they want. One recurring piece of feedback the company received was a request for a Viva La Vida with a Connecticut wrapper. Artesano Del Tobacco then went to work with AJ Fernandez, and the result was Viva La Vida Connecticut. Full Details: https://wp.me/p6h1n1-ynr

In Episode 2, Cody and Ari are back in the studio with Tony Toro for an honest, laid-back conversation that blends humor with real fight talk. Cody shows up in a full grandma suit, setting the tone early, while Ari guides the discussion with thoughtful questions that keep things grounded and focused.Tony opens up about his recent loss to Sean King, breaking down what went wrong, what he learned from it, and how it's shaping his mindset moving forward. The episode balances laughs with reflection, giving a real look at the mental side of fighting, accountability after a loss, and what comes next.

Get in the Jaeger, it's time to kick some kaiju butt! We're cancelin' the apocalypse with Guillermo del Toro's love letter to the mecha and kaiju genre. But is the film entirely drift compatible? Or are we easily impressed by practical effects, intricate cinematography, and big space swords? Joining this monster mash is Sean Childers (Big Mecha But Not Huge; Toku For Two), ready to swing an oil tanker at any kaiju that crosses his path.And thank YOU all for being a part of the team! Follow on patreon.com/campkaiju, leave a rating and review, follow on Instagram, send an email at campkaiju@gmail.com, or leave a voicemail at ⁠⁠⁠(612) 470-2612⁠⁠⁠.We'll see you next time for our SPECIAL SEASON 6 ANNOUNCEMENT!TRAILERS Pacific Rim (2013; Mighty Morphin' Power Rangers: The Movie (1995); Robot Jox (1989); Toonami G-Gundam TV Spot; The Raven (1963)SHOUT OUTS & SPONSORSSubstack ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Film Criticism by Matthew Cole Levine⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Plays by Vincent S. Hannam⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Zack Linder & the Zack Pack ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Big Mecha But Not Huge podcast with Sean ChildersCamp Kaiju: Monster Movie Podcast. Pacific Rim (2013) Movie Review. Hosted by Vincent Hannam, Matthew Cole Levine, Sean Childers © 2025 Vincent S. Hannam, All Rights Reserved.

Season 9, Episode 19 (Originally released on December 18th, 2025) Hello and welcome to another episode of The Shame List Picture Show. Today, Jason Hillman returns to the pod to talk Frankenstein — not just Guillermo del Toro's latest opus, but the monster and myth across its many adaptations. Michael and Jason wax philosophically on what works (and doesn't) in Frankenstein on film. Spoiler: Michael is far more forgiving than Jason. One point of total agreement, however, is their shared love for Kenneth Branagh's Mary Shelley's Frankenstein. We dig into all of it. Be sure to check out our Patreon at www.patreon.com/shamelistpictureshow Edited by: Austin Proctor Produced by: Michael Viers Theme Music by: Austin Proctor Opening Narration by: Nick Richards Credits Music by: Ten-Speed Logo Design by: Amanda Viers

Tamara has devoted her talents as a Production Designer and Art Director to a wide range of projects spanning multiple genres, periods, and visual styles. As Art Director, Tamara worked on Crash and eXistenZ for David Cronenberg, Guillermo del Toro's Mimic, and X-Men with Oscar–winning designer John Myhre.  Tamara's feature film work as Production Designer includes: Still Mine, Priscilla, Nightmare Alley, and Frankenstein. Tamara's television credits include: Suits, The Strain, Incorporated, Star Trek: Discovery, and Guillermo del Toro's Cabinet of Curiosities.

The boys muse on the nature of ghosts in Guillermo del Toro's masterpiece, The Devil's Backbone.Outro: DIIV - "In Amber" Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Send us a textA stitched body, a sharpened mind, and a creator who won't claim what he made. We dive into Guillermo del Toro's Frankenstein on Netflix with fresh eyes and full hearts, exploring how the film restores Mary Shelley's original genius while reshaping a century of monster-movie expectations. From the icebound framing device to the creature's own testimony, the story gives the “monster” his voice back—and with it, a moral authority that turns the tables on Victor.We talk about the texture of creation: the unsettling, hyper-real gore that makes every cut feel consequential, and the cinematography tricks that make key encounters float with eerie grace. Oscar Isaac's Victor is magnetic and cold, driven by ambition he can't control, while Jacob Elordi's creature evolves from bewildered newborn to eloquent judge, his slender, powerful frame reading as reassembled personhood instead of prop. Mia Goth's Elizabeth cuts through the gloom with presence that grounds the stakes. We also trace Del Toro's love of cinema history, from the inclusion of an Igor archetype to the blend of gothic realism that separates his style from the baroque and the camp.The heart of the episode is the ethics: What do we owe what we create? If the creature is functionally immortal, does denying him a companion become the cruelest act? We follow the thread of generational harm—from Victor's father to Victor himself—and the way indifference breeds monstrosity more reliably than lightning ever could. It's not a perfect film; the pacing stretches in places. But the ideas, performances, and design make this a rare adaptation that feels both faithful and new.If you love smart horror, literary roots, and craft on screen, hit play. Then share your take, subscribe for more deep dives, and drop us a review so others can find the show.Twitter handles:Project Geekology: https://twitter.com/pgeekologyAnthony's Twitter: https://twitter.com/odysseyswowDakota's Twitter: https://twitter.com/geekritique_dakInstagram:https://instagram.com/projectgeekology?igshid=1v0sits7ipq9yYouTube:https://www.youtube.com/@projectgeekologyGeekritique (Dakota):https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCBwciIqOoHwIx_uXtYTSEbASupport the show

Welcome back to Movie Boi! This podcast will feature discussions on movies, new and old alike, as well as some broader movie topics and conversations.In this episode:(00:00) - Gareth and I discuss the Netflix acquisition of Warner Bros. and all the surrounding news on that topic. We also talk about the future of movies being show in theaters. (32:00) - Discussing Netflix's winter slate, leading off with Frankenstein by Guillermo del Toro (no spoilers). (49:00) - Train Dreams (no spoilers). (1:01:00) - Jay Kelly (no spoilers). If you want to share your thoughts on the movie(s) or send in a mailbag question, contact MovieBoyJack@gmail.com.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

From queue changes to construction walls to nighttime lagoon testing, the parks offer plenty to parse this week. The guys then pivot from the Epic Universe lagoon to Universal's classic monsters, using the buzz around Guillermo del Toro's Frankenstein to explore how the 1931 film lurched into existence. Expect lost projects, studio pivots, and a Monster role Bela Lugosi famously refused. NEWS • VelociCoaster ends its single rider line, likely due to party sorting and load-efficiency issues. • Warner Bros. Discovery is reportedly shopping DC theme park rights to Universal, raising big questions for Marvel, Six Flags, and international parks. • Removal of Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit sparks speculation, though new construction-wall posters suggest general theming rather than a specific IP. • Nighttime testing at the Epic Universe lagoon shows projection effects featuring a bird-or-dragon silhouette. • Universal Studios Hollywood opens sales for FanFest Nights and a late-night New Year's Eve event, prompting questions about noise control before Fast & Furious: Hollywood Drift debuts. FEATURE • Guillermo del Toro's long-gestating Frankenstein began as a Universal concept more than a decade ago. • Jim walks through how Universal's early monster era took shape under financial pressure following the 1929 crash. • The studio acquired stage rights to Frankenstein after Dracula's success, initially planning it for Bela Lugosi, who rejected the role. • The episode ends as Universal begins hunting for a new star, eventually leading James Whale to discover Boris Karloff in the studio lunchroom. HOSTS • Jim Hill - IG: @JimHillMedia | X: @JimHillMedia | Website: JimHillMedia.com FOLLOW • Facebook: JimHillMediaNews • Instagram: JimHillMedia • TikTok: JimHillMedia SUPPORT Support the show and access bonus episodes and additional content at Patreon.com/JimHillMedia. PRODUCTION CREDITS Edited by Dave Grey Produced by Eric Hersey - Strong Minded Agency SPONSOR This episode is sponsored by Be Our Guest Vacations, a platinum-level earmarked travel agency offering concierge planning for Universal, Disney, cruises, and more. If you would like to sponsor a show on the Jim Hill Media Podcast Network, reach out today. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Rebecca chats with Jacob Elordi, who plays the creature in Guillermo del Toro's moving film. He reveals how he prepared for the unique role, his biggest concerns with the hours-long prosthetics process, and why it was, in a way, a religious experience. "I suppose maybe it takes a mask sometimes for people to see the truth of something," he says of his experience. Plus. the Australian actor talks about filming the third season of Euphoria, and reflects on how his career has transformed since the first season of HBO's hit series. Finally, he reveals why he hates talking about AI -- and would rather be kissing on the beach. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices