April 28, 2019, Posted in  Podcast Comments: No comments

Episode 61 of The Electric Shadows Podcast is an epic discussion of Avengers: Endgame. But, what do the two Robs, our intrepid explorers in pod, make of the final instalment of the Infinity saga?

No spoilers here, and also no spoilers for the film itself until the podcast gets into the spoiler zone. But, there is a massive buffer, so you have more than enough time to turn off your iPhone/Android phone before then. And come back to us when you’ve seen it.

On their travels, the Robs recount the eleven year journey it took to reach this film, and what an achievement it has been...

April 14, 2019, Posted in  Reviews Comments: One comment

Director: Neil Marshall

Writers: Andrew Cosby (script), Mike Mignola (characters)

Cast: David Harbour, Milla Jovovich, Ian McShane, Stephen Graham, Sasha Lane, Daniel Dae Kim

Cert: 15

Running time: 120mins

Year: 2019

What’s the story: In modern-day Britain, Hellboy (Harbour) battles wicked witch Nimue (Jovovich), who has returned to unleash pestilential havoc on the land. Hellboy is joined by his adoptive father and demon hunter Professor Broom (McShane), the magically gifted Alice (Lane) and gruff Special Forces agent Daimio (Dae Kim).

What’s the verdict: Hellboy 2019 arrives with a diabolical number of strikes against it.

Fan backlash that it’s not a Guillermo Del Toro/Ron Perlman reteaming to tie up story threads from 2008’s Hellboy II: The Golden Army...

April 11, 2019, Posted in  Podcast Comments: No comments

The Electric Shadows Podcast reaches its 60th episode! To celebrate Robs Daniel and Wallis cram in discussions of four releases.

First up, DC’s Shazam! Has the (justice) beleaguered studio finally cracked the code for how they can make superhero films to rival those over at Marvel? The Robs swoop down to deliver their verdict.

They also dig deep into sour ground to ruminate on the latest adaptation of Pet Sematary. Based on the bonkers 1983 Stephen King bestseller, this version features Jason Clarke as the doctor who discovers he has worse things than overly acidic soil on his land. Our intrepid casters in pod reveal why this horror is plagued with unintentional giggles.

Then onto Jordan Peele’s Us, a superior slice of shiversome entertainment, though not also without issues...

March 26, 2019, Posted in  Reviews Comments: No comments

Director: Max Pachman

Writers: Max Pachman, Mark Mavrothalasitis

Cast: Lynn Collins, Rigo Sanchez, Josue Aguirre, Roberto Sanchez, Thomas Chavira, James Tupper

Cert: 15

Running time: 83mins

Year: 2019

What’s the story: Four undocumented Mexican workers take a job finishing construction work on the private land of a wealthy couple. But, they soon discover their hosts have plans for them beyond drywalling.

What’s the verdict: Director Max Pachman’s feature debut mixes social commentary and merciless suspense for a timely horror chiller.

Alejandro (Sanchez) ekes out a living day-labouring, scraping together money to bring his wife and young son to America. His brother Memo (Aguirre) arrives on his doorstep having hopped the border...

March 21, 2019, Posted in  Podcast Comments: No comments

Episode 58 of The Electric Shadows Podcast sees Robs Daniel & Wallis delivering their verdict on Captain Marvel. Is it indeed Marvel-lous? Or does the cookie cutter filmmaking bite deep? We won’t spoil the surprises, but let’s just say Brie Larson delivers one of the liveliest performances in the MCU.

The Robs also ponder why it has taken so long for Marvel to deliver a female-led superhero movie, what might be next, and go off on one or two tangents about other franchises. Yes, DC is mentioned.

Rob Daniel also reasons why Ant-Man and The Wasp is a more satisfying movie than Avengers: Infinity War, but admits Captain Marvel has got him finally excited for Endgame...

March 21, 2019, Posted in  Podcast Comments: No comments

Episode 59 of The Electric Shadows Podcast is part two in our Night of the Living Dead trilogy. In episode 53, Robs Daniel and Wallis along with special guest Ian Bird took a 50th anniversary look at George A. Romero’s 1968 horror classic.

Now, they emerge from the Night and boldly move through the Dawn into the Day of the Dead. On their travels they discuss why Romero’s original zombie triumvirate continues to hold its place as one of fright cinema’s boldest accomplishments.

They examine how Romero evolved his zombie lore across the next two films. How they reflect the attitudes of the times and remain horribly relevant today. They marvel at the filmmaking, the black humour, Tom Savini’s groundbreaking make-up, and the sharp characterisation.

Rob D effuses his love o...

March 3, 2019, Posted in  Podcast Comments: No comments

The Oscars may have occurred a week ago, but some review shows are worth the wait. In episode 57 of The Electric Shadows Podcast, Robs Daniel and Wallis deliver their verdict on Bohemian Rhapsody winning most Oscars at this year’s ceremony and Green Book picking up the Best Picture statuette.

Along the way they also discuss Roma, First Man’s consolation prize, past Oscar gaffes and, gasp, the decisions they actually agreed with this year. Trevor Noah’s Mel Gibson joke finds an appreciative audience here, despite being met with stony faces from Tina Fey and Amy Poehler on the night.

Space is also made for a brief discussion of Alita: Battle Angel and the female led blockbuster the two Robs will be looking at in episode 58.

So, if you don’t think this year’s Oscars are ...

February 25, 2019, Posted in  Podcast Comments: No comments

In episode 56 of The Electric Shadows Podcast we commemorate the 25^th anniversary of Bill Hicks’ death. Rob Daniel and Ian Bird, who are both old enough to remember the shock at discovering the comedian had died of pancreatic cancer aged 32, discuss why Hicks has remained relevant and remembered a quarter of a century later. Their chat was recorded late one night in Manchester, so it all becomes quite drunken and gigglesome by the time they recall their favourite routines.

But, there’s space before that to run through Hicks’ career, the impact his comedy has made on their lives, and broaden it out to chat about other funny men. Denis Leary, Stewart Lee, Frankie Boyle, Jerry Seinfeld, they’re all here.

As we’re a movies podcast, the Robs Daniel and Wallis debate the merits of t...

January 24, 2019, Posted in  Podcast Comments: No comments

Rob Daniel & Rob Wallis touch the sore tooth that is this year’s Oscar nominations.

They discuss the insanity of nominating Bohemian Rhapsody for Best Picture, and how safe the Best Picture nods are in general. They’re happy Spike Lee finally has his Best Director nomination, and acknowledge a few other things the Academy got right.

But, the two Robs mainly lament the omissions. No Best Actor nom for Ethan Hawke in First Reformed? No Mary Poppins Returns in Best Picture? Not a single nod for Mission: Impossible – Fallout?

As Rob Wallis points out, this is the first time the Golden Globes got more nominations right than the Oscars. A sobering state of affairs…

And we haven’t even talked about the major omission...

January 18, 2019, Posted in  Reviews Comments: No comments

Director: M. Night Shyamalan

Writer: M. Night Shyamalan

Cast: Bruce Willis, James McAvoy, Samuel L. Jackson, Sarah Paulson, Anya Taylor-Joy, Spencer Treat Clark

Cert: 15

Running time: 129mins

Year: 2019

What’s the story: In a mental institution, a doctor tries to convince the seemingly superhuman David Dunn (Willis) and Kevin (McAvoy) and the brittle-boned Elijah Price (Jackson) they are not real-life superheroes and villains.

What’s the verdict: We blame Christopher Nolan. His Dark Knight trilogy received the plaudits for bringing superheroes and villains into a world recognisably our own. And made a few billion bucks into the bargain.

No-one really mentioned M...