Explorez tous les épisodes du podcast CinemaHounds - A Lorehounds Podcast
| Titre | Date | Durée | |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Drama (2026) – the wildest wedding of the year | 11 Apr 2026 | 01:50:31 | |
Elysia is joined by Lisa to spill all the tea on everything that went down in Kristoffer Borgli's The Drama (2026). After giving their spoiler-free takes and general thoughts on the power of dark humor to unlock uncomfortable discussions, they talk about the film's opening sequence (00:21:14) without spoiling the twist, and then finally launch into a full-spoiler discussion of the rest of the film (00:37:40). Warning: This film (and thus this podcast episode) will not be for everyone. Heed the (spoiler-free, and then later spoiler-filled) content warnings within. Patreon, Supercast, Discord, and Network Affiliates: linktr.ee/thelorehounds Send your questions and feedback to lorehounds@thelorehounds.com. Any opinions stated are ours personally and do not reflect the opinion of or belong to any employers or other entities. | |||
| Hamlet (2025) – the Asian prince of London | 10 Apr 2026 | 01:54:56 | |
David and Elysia dive into Shakespeare's Hamlet, opening with a discussion of the play itself and some of the most classic film and stage adaptations, not to mention the whole sub-genre of films loosely adapting and referencing the Bard's longest work. With that foundation laid, they turn their attention to the new adaptation starring Riz Ahmed, directed by Aneil Karia, that debuted at Telluride last year and is opening in theaters across North America today, April 10. How faithful is this new incarnation of the story, set in London's Asian community in the modern day? And what does and doesn't work when breaking down the source material to create what they call "the boldest adaptation to date"? Links discussed:
Hamlet adaptations discussed:
Other films discussed:
Patreon, Supercast, Discord, and Network Affiliates: linktr.ee/thelorehounds Send your questions and feedback to lorehounds@thelorehounds.com. Any opinions stated are ours personally and do not reflect the opinion of or belong to any employers or other entities | |||
| Oscars 2026 – International Film – Nominees and beyond | 28 Feb 2026 | 02:09:50 | |
Elysia is joined by Mexican film critic Héctor Serrano to tour the best cinema of the year from around the world, from this year's five Oscar nominees to highlights from the shortlist and beyond:
Note: All film discussion in this episode is spoiler-free. Find Héctor Serrano at: El Cinéfilo Latino Nominees Discussed: International Film nominees:
Other films discussed: A Useful Ghost (Thailand; to rent), The Sea (Israel; to rent), No Other Choice (South Korea; to rent), “Close Your Eyes, Hind” (The Netherlands [Palestine]; NPO [NL only]), Four Daughters (2023, Tunisia; Hoopla, Kanpoy, Kino), The President’s Cake (Iraq), Sound of Falling (Germany), Left-Handed Girl (Taiwan; Netflix), Kokuho (Japan), Homebound (India; Netflix), All That’s Left of You (Jordan [Palestine]; to rent), Nouvelle Vague (France; Netflix), On Becoming a Guinea Fowl (Zambia; HBO Max), A Poet (Colombia), Rietland (The Netherlands; to rent [NL]; Elysia’s review), The Propagandist (The Netherlands; NPO [NL]), We Shall Not Be Moved (Mexico; Disney/Hulu, Kanopy), The Things You Kill (Canada [Turkey]; Hoopla, Filo), Banzo (Portugal), Sore: Wife from the Future (Indonesia), The Ugly Stepsister (Norway; Hulu, AMC+, Shudder, Mubi, Philo), The Last Viking (Denmark), Resurrection (China; Elysia’s review), Magellan (The Phillippines [Portugal]) The 98th Academy Awards will air Sunday, March 15, 2025 at 7 pm ET (on ABC/Hulu in the US) – where it's aired around the world Check how many Oscar nominees you've seen at OscarsDeathRace.com – or with extended stats and access to the animated shorts via DeathRaceTracking.com Oscars 2026 coverage Nominations + Best Picture preview Live-Action, Animated, & Documentary Shorts Production Design, Costumes, Makeup & Hair International Features (this episode) Documentary Features Score & Original Song Cinematography, VFX, Editing, Sound Animated Features Adapted & Original Screenplay, Director Lead & Supporting Actor & Actress, Casting Ceremony reactions + Best Picture rankings Deep dives into 2026 Oscar nominees One Battle After Another – pt. 1, pt. 2, pt. 3 Shorts: “Two People Exchanging Saliva,” “Jane Austen’s Period Drama,” “The Singers,” “Retirement Plan,” and “The Girl Who Cried Pearls” For subscribers: Leiden IFF – WhachaWachin (Sentimental Value, If I Had Legs I Would Kick You, Arco + Rental Family, Left-Handed Girl) Imagine Fantastic FF – WhachaWachin (The Last Viking) Additional awards coverage Revisit Oscars 2024 & 2025: links in these show notes Contact Us Questions or comments? Visit us at our website where you can use the contact form or use the voicemail feature. Or, send an email to lorehounds@thelorehounds.com. Links to Patreon, Supercast, Discord, and Network Affiliates Any opinions stated are ours personally and do not reflect the opinion of or belong to any employers or other entities. | |||
| Oscars 2026 – Production Design, Costumes, Makeup & Hair | 24 Feb 2026 | 01:54:19 | |
Elysia is joined by Lisa (aka RedZippy) to put her theater and costume expertise to work evaluating this year's line-up in the 2026 Oscars' three art-direction categories: Production Design, Costume Design, and Makeup & Hairstyling – the last of which especially is secretly one of the most exciting list of nominees in the race. Note: All film discussion in this episode is spoiler-free. Nominees Discussed: Production Design (00:04:35)
Other films discussed: The Fantastic 4: First Steps (our coverage), Tron: Ares, Wicked: For Good (our coverage), Hedda, The Testament of Ann Lee, Kiss of the Spider Woman Costume Design (00:50:13)
Makeup & Hairstyling (01:12:19)
The 98th Academy Awards will air Sunday, March 15, 2025 at 7 pm ET (on ABC/Hulu in the US) – where it's aired around the world (last year's link) Check how many Oscar nominees you've seen at OscarsDeathRace.com – or with extended stats and access to the animated shorts via DeathRaceTracking.com Oscars 2026 coverage Nominations + Best Picture preview Live-Action, Animated, & Documentary Shorts Production Design, Costumes, Makeup & Hair (this episode) International Features Documentary Features Score & Original Song Animated Features Cinematography, VFX, Editing, Sound Adapted & Original Screenplay, Director Lead & Supporting Actor & Actress, Casting Ceremony reactions + Best Picture rankings Deep dives into 2026 Oscar nominees One Battle After Another – pt. 1, pt. 2, pt. 3 Shorts: “Two People Exchanging Saliva,” “Jane Austen’s Period Drama,” “The Singers,” “Retirement Plan,” and “The Girl Who Cried Pearls” For subscribers: Leiden IFF – WhachaWachin (Sentimental Value, If I Had Legs I Would Kick You, and Arco) Additional awards coverage Revisit Oscars 2024 & 2025: links in these show notes Contact Us Questions or comments? Visit us at our website where you can use the contact form or use the voicemail feature. Or, send an email to lorehounds@thelorehounds.com. Links to Patreon, Supercast, Discord, and Network Affiliates Any opinions stated are ours personally and do not reflect the opinion of or belong to any employers or other entities. | |||
| British Academy Film Awards 2026 preview – BAFTAs Bonus | 21 Feb 2026 | 02:35:49 | |
The 2026 British Academy Film Awards (better known as the BAFTAs) are airing this Sunday, February 22nd at 5 pm GMT (11 am ET) – and, in this episode, Elysia will ensure that you recognize all of the nominees so you can make your own picks and predictions as to who will win, and how that will affect the Oscar voting that begins four days later. Or just listen along to find out what's been dubbed the best British (and international) films of the year and discover which titles you need to add to your own watchlist. Chapters
Elysia's top 10 BAFTA-only films for Lorehounds
*From the longlists / not nominated. Find the full list of 2026 BAFTA nominees here The 79th British Academy Film Awards (BAFTAs) will air Sunday, February 22, 2025 at 5 pm GMT (11 am ET) – check where you can watch in your country! Check your extended stats (including the BAFTA nominees and longlists) on DeathRaceTracking.com BAFTA films covered One Battle After Another (pt. 1, pt. 2, pt. 3), Sinners, Frankenstein, Wicked: For Good, 28 Years Later, Weapons*, The Fantastic 4: First Steps*, Superman* For subscribers: Leiden IFF – WhachaWachin: Sentimental Value, Arco, Left-Handed Girl*, Rental Family* *From the longlists / not nominated. Non-Oscars awards coverage Independent Spirit Awards preview BAFTAs preview (this episode) Oscars 2026 coverage Nominations + Best Picture preview Live-Action, Animated, & Documentary Shorts Production Design, Costumes, Makeup & Hair International Features Documentary Features Animated Features Score & Original Song Cinematography, Editing, Sound, VFX Director, Original & Adapted Screenplay Lead & Supporting Actor & Actress, Casting Ceremony reactions + Best Picture rankings Deep dives into 2026 Oscar nominees One Battle After Another – pt. 1, pt. 2, pt. 3 Shorts: “Two People Exchanging Saliva,” “Jane Austen’s Period Drama,” “The Singers,” “Retirement Plan,” and “The Girl Who Cried Pearls” For subscribers: Leiden IFF – WhachaWachin (Sentimental Value, If I Had Legs I Would Kick You, and Arco) Revisit Oscars 2024 & 2025: links in these show notes Contact Us Questions or comments? Visit us at our website where you can use the contact form or use the voicemail feature. Or, send an email to lorehounds@thelorehounds.com. Links to Patreon, Supercast, Discord, and Network Affiliates Any opinions stated are ours personally and do not reflect the opinion of or belong to any employers or other entities. | |||
| Independent Spirit Awards 2026 preview – Awards Season Bonus | 14 Feb 2026 | 02:07:44 | |
Whether or not you plan to watch along when the 2026 Spirit Awards air this Sunday, February 15 (or later), Elysia will walk you through everything you need to know: what's nominated in what categories, what overlaps are there with the Oscars, and what hidden gems might you want to check out. Chapters
Elysia's top 10 Spirit Awards films for Lorehounds
Find the full list of Spirit Award nominees here The 41st Independent Spirit Awards will air Sunday, February 15, 2025 at 5 pm ET – watch on YouTube as it airs and join us in the Lorehounds Discord (see linktree) for a live-watch chat! Check your extended stats (including the Spirit Awards and jury prize nominees) on DeathRaceTracking.com Spirit Award nominees covered The Baltimorons (ContraZoom blog) Friendship (Properly Howard podcast) For subscribers: If I Had Legs I Would Kick You (Leiden IFF – WhachaWachin) Fucktoys (Imagine Fantastic FF – WhachaWachin) Non-Oscars awards coverage Independent Spirit Awards preview (this episode) BAFTAs preview Oscars 2026 coverage Nominations + Best Picture preview Live-Action, Animated, & Documentary Shorts Production Design, Costumes, Makeup & Hair International Features Documentary Features Animated Features Score & Original Song Cinematography, Editing, Sound, VFX Director, Original & Adapted Screenplay Lead & Supporting Actor & Actress, Casting Ceremony reactions + Best Picture rankings Deep dives into 2026 Oscar nominees One Battle After Another – pt. 1, pt. 2, pt. 3 Shorts: “Two People Exchanging Saliva,” “Jane Austen’s Period Drama,” “The Singers,” “Retirement Plan,” and “The Girl Who Cried Pearls” For subscribers: Leiden IFF – WhachaWachin (Sentimental Value, If I Had Legs I Would Kick You, and Arco) Revisit Oscars 2024 & 2025: links in these show notes Contact Us Questions or comments? Visit us at our website where you can use the contact form or use the voicemail feature. Or, send an email to lorehounds@thelorehounds.com. Links to Patreon, Supercast, Discord, and Network Affiliates Any opinions stated are ours personally and do not reflect the opinion of or belong to any employers or other entities. | |||
| Oscars 2026 – Animated, Documentary, & Live-Action Shorts | 06 Feb 2026 | 01:34:01 | |
Elysia is joined by Brandon from ShortStick blog and podcast for a look at the five nominees for each of the three short-film Oscar categories: Animated Shorts (00:08:29), Documentary Shorts (00:29:07), and Live-Action Shorts (00:54:48). They lay out what each short film is, what makes it stand out, and where you can see them (when possible), as they discuss how short films works differently from feature films and the more difficult path to nomination, and also call out other top shorts from this awards season that they think Lorehounds listeners will also love. Find Brandon at: Shortstick Films blog & podcast (on Spotify) ShortStick's Top 75 Short Films of 2025 Nominated Shorts: Animated Shorts
Other shorts mentioned: Snow Bear (full film*), Playing God, The Night Boots, Hurikán, The Shyness of Trees (full film*), Autokar (to rent*), Two Ships, Ovary-Acting (previous film: Night of the Living Dread; full film) Note: All nominated (and shortlisted) animated films are available on Animation Showcase, available to (free) members of DeathRaceTracking.com Documentary Shorts
Other shorts mentioned: Bad Hostage, All the Walls Came Down (LA Times Docs), Classroom 4 (PBS, US only), We Were the Scenery (on FestivalScope until Feb 22), Neil Armstrong and the Langholmites, Shanti Rides Shotgun (Vimeo) Confession Live-Action Shorts
Other shorts mentioned: Beyond Silence, Dad’s Not Home, Extremist (full film*), The Pearl Comb (Disney+), Pantyhose, Blondi, Wonderwall, One Day This Kid (Criterion), A Bear Remembers, Nervous Energy, The Second Time Around *Watch quickly! May be taken offline without warning. The 98th Academy Awards will air Sunday, March 15, 2025 at 7 pm ET (on ABC/Hulu in the US) – where it's aired around the world (last year's link) Check how many Oscar nominees you've seen at OscarsDeathRace.com – or with extended stats and access to the animated shorts via DeathRaceTracking.com Oscars 2026 coverage Nominations + Best Picture preview Live-Action, Animated, & Documentary Shorts (this episode) Production Design, Costumes, Makeup & Hair International Features Documentary Features Animated Features Score & Original Song Cinematography, Editing, Sound, VFX Director, Original & Adapted Screenplay Lead & Supporting Actor & Actress, Casting Ceremony reactions + Best Picture rankings Deep dives into 2026 Oscar nominees One Battle After Another – pt. 1, pt. 2, pt. 3 Shorts: “Two People Exchanging Saliva,” “Jane Austen’s Period Drama,” “The Singers,” “Retirement Plan,” and “The Girl Who Cried Pearls” For subscribers: Leiden IFF – WhachaWachin (Sentimental Value, If I Had Legs I Would Kick You, and Arco) Additional awards coverage Independent Spirit Awards preview BAFTAs preview Revisit Oscars 2024 & 2025: links in these show notes Contact Us Questions or comments? Visit us at our website where you can use the contact form or use the voicemail feature. Or, send an email to lorehounds@thelorehounds.com. Links to Patreon, Supercast, Discord, and Network Affiliates Any opinions stated are ours personally and do not reflect the opinion of or belong to any employers or other entities. | |||
| The evolution of practical VFX – An interview w/ Lee Romaire | 28 Jan 2026 | 00:53:02 | |
Elysia talks to practical VFX artist Lee Romaire about everything he's learned from a 25-year career covering everything from Emmy-winning special-effects makeup and Frankenstein animal gore to Disney park animatronics and robotic red-carpet accessories. Links from the discussion:
Contact Us Questions or comments? Visit us at our website where you can use the contact form or use the voicemail feature. Or, send an email to lorehounds@thelorehounds.com. Links to Patreon, Supercast, Discord, and Network Affiliates Any opinions stated are ours personally and do not reflect the opinion of or belong to any employers or other entities. | |||
| Oscars 2026 – Nominations: the Best Picture 10, surprises, & stats | 26 Jan 2026 | 02:11:58 | |
David and Elysia officially kick of this year's awards-season coverage with their reactions to the 2026 Oscar nominees, including all the new records set by this year's crop. After talking through the headlines (00:11:40), they preview this year's 10 Best Picture nominees (00:30:30) before discussing the biggest surprises and snubs (01:29:19) and the four acting categories (01:49:33). Stick around until the end for a preview of the rest of the coverage plans. The 98th Academy Awards will air Sunday, March 15, 2025 at 7 pm ET (on ABC/Hulu in the US) – where it's aired around the world (last year's link) Check how many Oscar nominees you've seen at OscarsDeathRace.com – or with extended stats and access to the animated shorts via DeathRaceTracking.com Oscars 2026 coverage Nominations + Best Picture preview (this episode) Live-Action, Animated, & Documentary Shorts Production Design, Costumes, Makeup & Hair International Features Animated Features Documentary Features Score & Original Song Cinematography, Editing, Sound, VFX Lead & Supporting Actor & Actress, Casting Director, Original & Adapted Screenplay Ceremony reactions + Best Picture rankings Deep dives into 2026 Oscar nominees One Battle After Another – pt. 1, pt. 2, pt. 3 Shorts: “Two People Exchanging Saliva,” “Jane Austen’s Period Drama,” “The Singers,” “Retirement Plan,” and “The Girl Who Cried Pearls” For subscribers: Leiden IFF – WhachaWachin (Sentimental Value, If I Had Legs I Would Kick You, and Arco) Additional awards coverage Independent Spirit Awards preview BAFTAs preview Revisit Oscars 2024 & 2025: links in these show notes Contact Us Questions or comments? Visit us at our website where you can use the contact form or use the voicemail feature. Or, send an email to lorehounds@thelorehounds.com. Links to Patreon, Supercast, Discord, and Network Affiliates Any opinions stated are ours personally and do not reflect the opinion of or belong to any employers or other entities. | |||
| 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple (2026) – Hope-punk heavy metal | 01 Apr 2026 | 01:53:20 | |
Elysia and Riley kneel at the alter of Ralph Fiennes' Iron Maiden, discuss why Jimmy Crystal is scarier than Sinners' vampire Remmick, and glean hope from this film's not-so-hidden messages of humanity, sacrifice, and teasings of radical forgiveness in the second film in the game-changing 28 Years Later zoombie trilogy. Previous coverage: 28 Days & Weeks Later (subscribers) & 28 Years Later (2025) Find Riley online: YouTube – Bluesky Patreon, Supercast, Discord, and Network Affiliates: linktr.ee/thelorehounds Send your questions and feedback to lorehounds@thelorehounds.com. Any opinions stated are ours personally and do not reflect the opinion of or belong to any employers or other entities | |||
| Oscars 2026 – Ceremony, Winners, & Best Picture rankings | 19 Mar 2026 | 01:56:39 | |
David joins Elysia for their now traditional Oscars' season wrap! After talking through the highs and lows of the show itself, they share their own rankings of the Best Picture nominees, and discuss where some other high-profile awards-season snubs and other nominees would fit into that list.
Links discussed: Conan O’Brien’s Aunt Gladys opening It’s a tie! Watch “The Singers” (Netflix) & ”Two People Exchanging Saliva” (YouTube) Doug Orleans’s Best Picture commentary Best Picture nominees: Bugonia, F1, Frankenstein (our coverage), Hamnet (our coverage [subscribers]), Marty Supreme, One Battle After Another (our coverage: pt. 1, pt. 2, pt. 3), Sentimental Value (our coverage [subscribers]), Sinners (our coverage), The Secret Agent, Train Dreams Other films discussed: No Other Choice, The Blue Trail, Manas, The Smashing Machine, Jay Kelly, Weapons (our coverage), If I Had Legs I’d Kick You, It Was Just an Accident, Sirāt, Project Hail Mary (2026, coverage soon), Hoppers (aka Jumpers [EU], 2026), 28 Years Later (our coverage), 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple (2026, coverage next week) Check how many Oscar nominees you've seen at OscarsDeathRace.com – or with extended stats via DeathRaceTracking.com Oscars 2026 coverage Nominations + Best Picture preview Live-Action, Animated, & Documentary Shorts Production Design, Costumes, Makeup & Hair Cinematography, VFX, Editing, Sound Adapted & Original Screenplay, Director Lead & Supporting Actor & Actress, Casting Ceremony reactions + Best Picture rankings (this episode) Deep dives into 2026 Oscar nominees One Battle After Another – pt. 1, pt. 2, pt. 3 Shorts: “Two People Exchanging Saliva,” “Jane Austen’s Period Drama,” “The Singers,” “Retirement Plan,” and “The Girl Who Cried Pearls” For subscribers: Hamnet – WhachaWachin (with spoilers) Leiden IFF – WhachaWachin (Sentimental Value, If I Had Legs I Would Kick You, Arco) Additional awards coverage Revisit Oscars 2024 & 2025: links in these show notes Contact Us Questions or comments? Visit us at our website where you can use the contact form or use the voicemail feature. Or, send an email to lorehounds@thelorehounds.com. Links to Patreon, Supercast, Discord, and Network Affiliates Any opinions stated are ours personally and do not reflect the opinion of or belong to any employers or other entities. | |||
| Oscars 2026 – Acting (Lead & Supporting) + Casting | 14 Mar 2026 | 02:37:54 | |
Elysia wraps up the CinemaHounds pre-Oscars prep series with special guest Paulo from the Oscar's Death Race Podcast and a deep dive into the acting categories: Best Actress, Best Actor, Supporting Actor, and Supporting Actress. Who's nominated, who should have been nominated, and who will win? And then they conclude with a look at this year's brand new category: Casting. What is it, why is it here, and who will take home the first statue? Join us on the Lorehounds Discord (see link.tree below) to discuss all this and more in the #awards-season channel – plus a live chat while the ceremony is airing! And send your hot takes about the ceremony to lorehounds@thelorehounds.com to be included in the wrap-up discussion! Note: All film discussion in this episode is spoiler-free. Check out the Oscars Death Race Podcast w/ Paulo! The nominees: Best Actress (00:16:37)
Best Actor (01:05:52)
Best Supporting Actor (01:40:53)
Best Supporting Actress (01:58:26)
Best Casting (02:14:46)
Other performances discussed:
The 98th Academy Awards will air Sunday, March 15, 2025 at 7 pm ET (on ABC/Hulu in the US) – where it's aired around the world Check how many Oscar nominees you've seen at OscarsDeathRace.com – or with extended stats via DeathRaceTracking.com Oscars 2026 coverage Nominations + Best Picture preview Live-Action, Animated, & Documentary Shorts Production Design, Costumes, Makeup & Hair Cinematography, VFX, Editing, Sound Adapted & Original Screenplay, Director Lead & Supporting Actor & Actress, Casting (this episode) Ceremony reactions + Best Picture rankings Deep dives into 2026 Oscar nominees One Battle After Another – pt. 1, pt. 2, pt. 3 Shorts: “Two People Exchanging Saliva,” “Jane Austen’s Period Drama,” “The Singers,” “Retirement Plan,” and “The Girl Who Cried Pearls” For subscribers: Hamnet – WhachaWachin (with spoilers) Leiden IFF – WhachaWachin (Sentimental Value, If I Had Legs I Would Kick You, Arco) Additional awards coverage Revisit Oscars 2024 & 2025: links in these show notes Contact Us Questions or comments? Visit us at our website where you can use the contact form or use the voicemail feature. Or, send an email to lorehounds@thelorehounds.com. Links to Patreon, Supercast, Discord, and Network Affiliates Any opinions stated are ours personally and do not reflect the opinion of or belong to any employers or other entities. | |||
| Oscars 2026 – Original & Adapted Screenplay + Best Director | 13 Mar 2026 | 02:21:15 | |
Writer and photographer Katherine Oktober Matthews joins Elysia to discuss this year's writing and directing nominees for the 2026 Academy Awards. After they each unleash some of their hottest takes breaking down the three categories, they reconvene after the credits for a separate spoiler-filled discussion of eight of the nominees (01:47:05). Note: All film discussion in this episode is spoiler-free (until the separate post-credits spoiler section)! Links discussed:
Subscriber bonuses:
The nominees: Best Original Screenplay (00:10:37.453)
Best Adapted Screenplay (00:45:19.607)
Best Director (01:25:21)
Other films mentioned: Fruitvale Station (2013, Starz), Creed (2015, to rent), Uncut Gems (2019, Netflix), The Smashing Machine (Prime), The Worst Person in the World (2021, Kanopy / Tubi / etc.), Me and Orson Welles (2008, Plex / to rent), Twinless (Hulu), No Other Choice (to rent), The Long Walk (Starz, to rent), Civil War (2024, Prime / Hulu, our coverage), Shakespeare in Love (1998, Paramount+ / etc.), Frankenstein & Bride of Frankenstein (1931 & 1935, YouTube, our coverage), Sing Sing (2024, Prime), CODA (2021 [BP winner], Apple), La Familie Bélier (2014, YouTube), Phantom Thread (2017, Mubi [NL] / to rent), Nonnas (Netflix); hive minds (TV): Star Trek: The Next Generation (Paramount+) & Pluribus (Apple) The 98th Academy Awards will air Sunday, March 15, 2025 at 7 pm ET (on ABC/Hulu in the US) – where it's aired around the world Check how many Oscar nominees you've seen at OscarsDeathRace.com – or with extended stats via DeathRaceTracking.com Oscars 2026 coverage Nominations + Best Picture preview Live-Action, Animated, & Documentary Shorts Production Design, Costumes, Makeup & Hair Cinematography, VFX, Editing, Sound Adapted & Original Screenplay, Director (this episode) Lead & Supporting Actor & Actress, Casting Ceremony reactions + Best Picture rankings Deep dives into 2026 Oscar nominees One Battle After Another – pt. 1, pt. 2, pt. 3 Shorts: “Two People Exchanging Saliva,” “Jane Austen’s Period Drama,” “The Singers,” “Retirement Plan,” and “The Girl Who Cried Pearls” For subscribers: Hamnet – WhachaWachin (with spoilers) Leiden IFF – WhachaWachin (Sentimental Value, If I Had Legs I Would Kick You, Arco) Additional awards coverage Revisit Oscars 2024 & 2025: links in these show notes Contact Us Questions or comments? Visit us at our website where you can use the contact form or use the voicemail feature. Or, send an email to lorehounds@thelorehounds.com. Links to Patreon, Supercast, Discord, and Network Affiliates Any opinions stated are ours personally and do not reflect the opinion of or belong to any employers or other entities. | |||
| Oscars 2026 – Tech awards: Cinematography, VFX, Editing, & Sound | 12 Mar 2026 | 02:24:06 | |
Assistant directing and lighting industry professional, and the host of the ContraZoom podcast, Dakota Arsenault joins Elysia to get into the technical details behind this year's Oscar nominees for Cinematography, Visual Effects, Film Editing, and Sound. They look at why a movie is nominated, what makes it special, and others they would have liked to see make the cut. Stick around after their conversation for updates (02:17:37) on these races! Note: All film discussion in this episode is spoiler-free. Links discussed:
Cinematography nominees (00:05:01)
Other films mentioned: The French Connection (1971, Disney+ [EU] / to rent, our coverage [subscribers]), Sound of Falling (eventually Mubi), Ballad of a Small Player (Netflix), Resurrection (to rent), No Other Choice (to rent / Netflix [Korea] / later Hulu [US]), The Long Walk (Starz / to rent), Materialists (Netflix) Visual Effects nominees (00:51:46)
Other films mentioned: Tron: Ares (Disney+), The Creator (2023, Prime, our coverage), Monsters (2010, Prime / Tubi / etc.), The Electric State (Netflix), Superman (HBO Max, our coverage), Predator: Badlands (Disney+, our coverage), Thunderbolts* (Disney+, our coverage), The Fantastic 4: First Steps (Disney+, our coverage), Warfare (Prime), Mickey 17 (HBO Max) Film Editing nominees (01:29:57)
Other films mentioned: If I Had Legs I Would Kick You (HBO Max, our coverage [subscribers]), Better Man (2024, Prime / Paramount+), Black Bag (Prime [USA] / Skyshowtime [EU]), 28 Years Later (Netflix, our coverage), Good Boy (AMC+ / Shudder / etc.), Sore: A Wife from the Future (YouTube) Sound nominees (01:55:54)
Other films mentioned: Wicked: For Good (to rent, our coverage), Superman (HBO Max, our coverage), Predator: Badlands (Disney+, our coverage), Warfare (Prime) The 98th Academy Awards will air Sunday, March 15, 2025 at 7 pm ET (on ABC/Hulu in the US) – where it's aired around the world Check how many Oscar nominees you've seen at OscarsDeathRace.com – or with extended stats and access to the animated shorts via DeathRaceTracking.com Oscars 2026 coverage Nominations + Best Picture preview Live-Action, Animated, & Documentary Shorts Production Design, Costumes, Makeup & Hair Cinematography, VFX, Editing, Sound (this episode) Adapted & Original Screenplay, Director Lead & Supporting Actor & Actress, Casting Ceremony reactions + Best Picture rankings Deep dives into 2026 Oscar nominees One Battle After Another – pt. 1, pt. 2, pt. 3 Shorts: “Two People Exchanging Saliva,” “Jane Austen’s Period Drama,” “The Singers,” “Retirement Plan,” and “The Girl Who Cried Pearls” For subscribers: Leiden IFF – WhachaWachin (Sentimental Value, If I Had Legs I Would Kick You, Arco) Additional awards coverage Revisit Oscars 2024 & 2025: links in these show notes Contact Us Questions or comments? Visit us at our website where you can use the contact form or use the voicemail feature. Or, send an email to lorehounds@thelorehounds.com. Links to Patreon, Supercast, Discord, and Network Affiliates Any opinions stated are ours personally and do not reflect the opinion of or belong to any employers or other entities. | |||
| Oscars 2026 – Best Original Song & Score – Nevermind the Oscars Music | 10 Mar 2026 | 02:17:41 | |
Mark returns to the CinemaHounds Oscars coverage series for the second annual "Nevermind the Oscars Music" crossover special discussing not only this year's crop of Original Song and Original Score nominees but also their musical influences, lookalikes, and others they would have liked to have seen on the ballot. Expect plenty of clips from an eclectic collection of genre with deep-digging analysis of their role in this year's nominated films.
Note: All film discussion in this episode is spoiler-free. Links discussed:
Max Richter's "Undiscovered Country" and Hamnet / Arrival (AV Club) Best Original Song nominees:
Also discussed:
Best Original Score nominees:
Also discussed: Tron: Ares (Disney+) – soundtrack – from the shortlist The 98th Academy Awards will air Sunday, March 15, 2025 at 7 pm ET (on ABC/Hulu in the US) – where it's aired around the world Check how many Oscar nominees you've seen at OscarsDeathRace.com – or with extended stats and access to the animated shorts via DeathRaceTracking.com Oscars 2026 coverage Nominations + Best Picture preview Live-Action, Animated, & Documentary Shorts Production Design, Costumes, Makeup & Hair Score & Original Song (this episode) Cinematography, VFX, Editing, Sound Adapted & Original Screenplay, Director Lead & Supporting Actor & Actress, Casting Ceremony reactions + Best Picture rankings Deep dives into 2026 Oscar nominees One Battle After Another – pt. 1, pt. 2, pt. 3 Shorts: “Two People Exchanging Saliva,” “Jane Austen’s Period Drama,” “The Singers,” “Retirement Plan,” and “The Girl Who Cried Pearls” For subscribers: Leiden IFF – WhachaWachin (Sentimental Value, If I Had Legs I Would Kick You, Arco) Additional awards coverage Revisit Oscars 2024 & 2025: links in these show notes Contact Us Questions or comments? Visit us at our website where you can use the contact form or use the voicemail feature. Or, send an email to lorehounds@thelorehounds.com. Links to Patreon, Supercast, Discord, and Network Affiliates Any opinions stated are ours personally and do not reflect the opinion of or belong to any employers or other entities. | |||
| Oscars 2026 – Animated Features – the year 2025 in animation | 08 Mar 2026 | 02:28:33 | |
Elysia and guest Logan take a tour that begins with this year's five Oscar-animated features before turning to other highlights from the surprisingly short eligibility list, the most surprising exclusions from the eligibility list, and Logan's thoughts on this year's animated shorts and a few final recommendations and general Oscar picks and predictions.
Note: All film discussion in this episode is spoiler-free. Links discussed: This year's 35 Oscar-eligible features Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes (with Logan) Last year's Tech categories (with Logan) Animated Feature nominees:
Other films discussed: Marcel the Shell with Shoes On (2021, USA, Plex / to rent), Hoppers (2026, USA, in theaters) Lost in Starlight (Korea, Netflix), The Bad Guys 2 (USA, Peacock / SkyShowtime), Scarlet (Japan, to rent soon), The Girl Who Leapt Through Time (2006, Japan, HBO Max), Belle (2021, Japan, HBO Max), In Your Dreams (USA, Netflix), Boys Go to Jupiter (USA, HBO Max), Endless Cookie (Canada, to rent), Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Infinity Castle (Japan, to rent soon), Chainsaw Man – The Movie: Reze Arc (Japan, to rent), 100 Meters (Japan, Netflix) Ne Zha 2 (China, HBO Max), Lesbian Space Princess (Australia, various streamers), The Colors Within (Japan, HBO Max), Predator: Killer of Killers (USA, Disney+/Hulu, our coverage [subscriber bonus]), Predator: Badlands (live action, USA, Disney+/Hulu, our coverage [public]), Prey (2022, live-action, USA, Disney+/Hulu, our coverage [subscriber bonus]) “The Three Sisters”* (Russia/”Cyprus” [no spoken language], trailer), “Butterfly”* (France, YouTube), “Forevergreen”* (USA, YouTube), “Retirement Plan”* (Ireland, YouTube [US] / Disney+ [NL]), “The Girl Who Cried Pearls”* (Canada, YouTube: English, French), “Snow Bear” (USA, YouTube), “Playing God” (Italian / French, Vimeo), “Hurikán” (Czechia, Vimeo) The Girl Who Stole Time (China, trailer, our coverage [subscriber bonus]), Another World (Hong Kong, trailer, our coverage [subscriber bonus]), The Witcher: Sirens of the Deep (USA, Netflix) *Nominated in the Animated Shorts category. The 98th Academy Awards will air Sunday, March 15, 2025 at 7 pm ET (on ABC/Hulu in the US) – where it's aired around the world Check how many Oscar nominees you've seen at OscarsDeathRace.com – or with extended stats and access to the animated shorts via DeathRaceTracking.com Oscars 2026 coverage Nominations + Best Picture preview Live-Action, Animated, & Documentary Shorts Production Design, Costumes, Makeup & Hair Animated Features (this episode) Score & Original Song Cinematography, VFX, Editing, Sound Adapted & Original Screenplay, Director Lead & Supporting Actor & Actress, Casting Ceremony reactions + Best Picture rankings Deep dives into 2026 Oscar nominees One Battle After Another – pt. 1, pt. 2, pt. 3 Shorts: “Two People Exchanging Saliva,” “Jane Austen’s Period Drama,” “The Singers,” “Retirement Plan,” and “The Girl Who Cried Pearls” For subscribers: Leiden IFF – WhachaWachin (Sentimental Value, If I Had Legs I Would Kick You, Arco) Additional awards coverage Revisit Oscars 2024 & 2025: links in these show notes Contact Us Questions or comments? Visit us at our website where you can use the contact form or use the voicemail feature. Or, send an email to lorehounds@thelorehounds.com. Links to Patreon, Supercast, Discord, and Network Affiliates Any opinions stated are ours personally and do not reflect the opinion of or belong to any employers or other entities. | |||
| Oscars 2026 – Documentary Features – All the year's best docs | 05 Mar 2026 | 01:53:49 | |
Elysia is joined by documentary and TV editor Rebecca June Lane (IMDb) to break down highlight's from the year in documentary filmmaking, starting with this year's Oscar nominees and expanding to recommendations (or anti-recommendations) for more of the most talked about 2025 documentaries and beyond.
Note: All film discussion in this episode is spoiler-free. Documentary Feature nominees:
Other films discussed: André Is an Idiot (USA, in theaters: Mar 6 [US]), Viva Verdi! (Italy, Jolt.film), Prime Minister (New Zealand, HBO Max), My Undesirable Friends: Part I – Last Air in Moscow* (Russia, Mubi: Apr 3), 2000 Meters to Andriivka* (Ukraine, to rent), Coexistence, My Ass!* (Israel/Palestine, on tour), Holding Liat* (Israel/USA, NPO [NL] / select theaters [US]), The House I Live In (2012, USA, to buy), “Classroom 4” (USA, PBS), “Armed with Only a Camera: The Life and Death of Brent Renaud” (USA/global, HBO Max), Apocalypse in the Tropics* (Brazil, Netflix), Yanuni* (Brazil, to rent: Eventive), Predators (USA, Paramount+), The Librarians (USA, PBS), “The ABCs of Book Banning” (2023, USA, Paramount+ / Roku), I’m Not Everything I Want to Be (Czechoslovakia/Japan, Metrograph), Cover-Up* (USA/global, Netflix), Vice Is Broke (USA/global, Mubi), Riefenstahl (Germany, Hoopla / Kanopy / Kino / to rent), The Propagandist (The Netherlands, NPO [NL] / to rent: OVD [US]), Afternoons of Solitude (Spain, Mubi / to rent), “Marion” (2024, Spain, Vimeo), Grand Theft Hamlet (USA, Mubi), Diane Warren: Relentless (USA, Hoopla / Kanopy / to rent), The Life Ahead (2020, fiction, Italy, Netflix), Tell it Like a Woman (2022, fiction, various countries, YouTube / etc.), Sally (USA/space, Disney+/Hulu), Marlee Matlin: Not Alone Anymore (USA, Kanopy / Kino / to rent), Deaf President Now! (USA, Apple), My Mom Jayne (USA [mostly], HBO Max), LIZA: A Truly Terrific Absolutely True Story (USA, NPO [NL] / Hoopla / Kino / to rent), Secret Mall Apartment (USA, Netflix), Unknown Number: The Highschool Catfish (USA, Netflix) *Other shortlisted doc features: Folktales (Norway, Kanopy / to rent), Mistress Dispeller (China, Kanopy / to rent), Seeds (USA, on tour) The 98th Academy Awards will air Sunday, March 15, 2025 at 7 pm ET (on ABC/Hulu in the US) – where it's aired around the world Check how many Oscar nominees you've seen at OscarsDeathRace.com – or with extended stats and access to the animated shorts via DeathRaceTracking.com Oscars 2026 coverage Nominations + Best Picture preview Live-Action, Animated, & Documentary Shorts Production Design, Costumes, Makeup & Hair Documentary Features (this episode) Score & Original Song Animated Features Cinematography, VFX, Editing, Sound Adapted & Original Screenplay, Director Lead & Supporting Actor & Actress, Casting Ceremony reactions + Best Picture rankings Deep dives into 2026 Oscar nominees One Battle After Another – pt. 1, pt. 2, pt. 3 Shorts: “Two People Exchanging Saliva,” “Jane Austen’s Period Drama,” “The Singers,” “Retirement Plan,” and “The Girl Who Cried Pearls” For subscribers: Leiden IFF – WhachaWachin (Sentimental Value, If I Had Legs I Would Kick You, Arco + Rental Family, Left-Handed Girl) Imagine Fantastic FF – WhachaWachin (The Last Viking) Additional awards coverage Revisit Oscars 2024 & 2025: links in these show notes Contact Us Questions or comments? Visit us at our website where you can use the contact form or use the voicemail feature. Or, send an email to lorehounds@thelorehounds.com. Links to Patreon, Supercast, Discord, and Network Affiliates Any opinions stated are ours personally and do not reflect the opinion of or belong to any employers or other entities. | |||
| Disclosure Day (2026) – Spielberg's alien empathy | 17 Jun 2026 | 01:49:25 | |
David and Elysia work through their own and the community's mixed-but-leaning-positive feelings about Steven Spielberg's new alien-focused movie Disclosure Day (currently in theaters). They get into the greatest cinematic moments, the cast and performance(s) they loved best, and (yes) the lore holes nagging at them after the fact – and why this film is worth seeing in theaters, and even if it engages the heart more than your critical thinking skills. Contact Us Or, send us a voicemail! You can use the voicemail tool on our website, thelorehounds.com/contact OR record a note on your smartphone and email it to us at the same address. Links to Patreon, Supercast, Discord, and Network Affiliates https://linktr.ee/thelorehounds Any opinions stated are ours personally and do not reflect the opinion of or belong to any employers or other entities. | |||
| The Conversation (1974) - Gene Hackman - Into the West | 11 Jun 2026 | 01:31:45 | |
David, Lisa, and Bryan conclude their Gene Hackman coverage with a deep dive into The Conversation, Francis Ford Coppola's 1974 psychological thriller and the film chosen by community vote. The trio explores Gene Hackman's portrayal of Harry Caul, a surveillance expert whose paranoia, guilt, and isolation unravel him as he becomes convinced his latest recording may lead to a murder. The conversation covers the film's remarkable production history as Coppola's decade-long passion project made between the two Godfather films, its uncanny resonance with the Watergate scandal, and the contributions of editor and sound designer Walter Murch and composer David Shire, whose manipulated piano score mirrors Harry's own distorted perception of reality. From the iconic Union Square opening shot to the film's deliberately unresolved ambiguities, the hosts examine how a 50-year-old film about eavesdropping and the power of information remains strikingly relevant in an era of digital surveillance and post-truth uncertainty. Contact Us Questions or comments? Send emails to: intothewest@thelorehounds.com Links to Patreon, Supercast, Discord, and Network Affiliates https://linktr.ee/thelorehounds Any opinions stated are ours personally and do not reflect the opinion of or belong to any employers or other entities. | |||
| Gene Hackman Filmography - Into the West | 24 Mar 2026 | 01:27:16 | |
David is joined by community members Lisa and Bryan to launch Into the West, a new show on The Lorehounds Network dedicated to celebrating the careers of filmmakers and actors who have passed on. In this inaugural episode, the trio explores the life and legacy of Gene Hackman, from his Depression-era roots and early breakthrough in Bonnie and Clyde through his defining role in the New Hollywood movement with The French Connection and The Conversation to later triumphs like Hoosiers, Mississippi Burning, Unforgiven, and The Royal Tenenbaums. Lisa and Bryan share personal memories of growing up with Hackman's films, discuss his reputation as a fiercely prepared and principled actor, and walk through an essential filmography spanning his remarkable 79-film career before each host picks a film for the community vote. Contact Us Questions or comments? Send emails to: intothewest@thelorehounds.com Links to Patreon, Supercast, Discord, and Network Affiliates https://linktr.ee/thelorehounds Any opinions stated are ours personally and do not reflect the opinion of or belong to any employers or other entities. | |||
| Backrooms (2026) | 05 Jun 2026 | 02:09:00 | |
David and Elysia venture into the Horror Hounds to discuss Backrooms (2026), A24's creepypasta-turned-feature film directed by Kane Parsons and starring Chiwetel Ejiofor and Renate Reinsve. They trace the film's remarkable origin — from an anonymous 2019 post on 4chan to Kane Pixels' three-year YouTube web series — and unpack how a 19-year-old first-time director delivered a confident, visually stunning film on a $10M budget with a 14X box office return. The conversation digs into the film's rich thematic layers, including the backrooms as a Jungian mirror of shared anxiety and mental illness, the AI-as-mimicry subtext, the literary connection to Charlotte Perkins Gilman's The Yellow Wallpaper, the psychological character studies of Mary and Clark, and what this film signals about a new generation of internet-native storytellers reshaping the horror genre. Contact Us Questions or comments? Send emails to: lorehounds@thelorehounds.com Or, send us a voicemail! You can use the voicemail tool on our website, thelorehounds.com/contact OR record a note on your smartphone and email it to us at the same address. Links to Patreon, Supercast, Discord, and Network Affiliates https://linktr.ee/thelorehounds Any opinions stated are ours personally and do not reflect the opinion of or belong to any employers or other entities. | |||
| BAFTA 2026: Longlisted Shorts – Britain's best cinema snacks | 16 Jan 2026 | 00:47:31 | |
The awards season is also heating up in Europe, with Round Two of BAFTA (British Academy of Film and Television Arts) voting underway. With the longlists announced, Elysia takes you on a tour of the 16 short films longlisted in two categories – what makes each special, which can you find where to watch yourself, which might you have already seen, and which short has turned up in a Lorehounds episode again, for the third time? Previous episode: 2026 Oscar-Qualified Shorts – Top 20 for Lorehounds Films discussed this episode: British Short Animation
British Short Film Documentaries:
Fiction:
*May be taken down (e.g., if nominated). Contact Us Questions or comments? Send emails to: lorehounds@thelorehounds.com Or, send us a voicemail! You can use the voicemail tool on our website, thelorehounds.com/contact OR record a note on your smartphone and email it to us at the same address. Links to Patreon, Supercast, Discord, and Network Affiliates https://linktr.ee/thelorehounds Any opinions stated are ours personally and do not reflect the opinion of or belong to any employers or other entities. | |||
| Frankenstein (2025) – The Creature's final form? | 31 Dec 2025 | 02:17:50 | |
Jean joins Elysia to discuss Guillermo del Toro's final form of filmmaking – the movie he's been making in his head for 50 years. They break down the book changes, links to the films from the '30s, and inspirations from Del Toro's own life – plus the costumes, casting, production design, and the rest as they ponder the film's many philosophical questions. Learn more about the novel, its writer and other contributors, and the films from the 1930s* in the Wool-Shift-Dust feed. *Featuring Ayesha from Every Single SciFi Film Ever. Contact Us Questions or comments? Send emails to: horror@thelorehounds.com Links to Patreon, Supercast, Discord, and Network Affiliates Any opinions stated are ours personally and do not reflect the opinion of or belong to any employers or other entities. | |||
| Violent Night (2022) - Elevenses - Dec'25 | 20 Dec 2025 | 00:52:38 | |
David, John, and Elysia spread some Holiday Cheer and Fear in the start of their action-packed Christmas Elevenses coverage. They discuss David Harbour's entry into the Santa canon with Violent Night. Subscribe in the linktree below to hear their upcoming coverage of Die Hard. Contact Us Questions or comments? Send emails to: lorehounds@thelorehounds.com Or, send us a voicemail! You can use the voicemail tool on our website, thelorehounds.com/contact OR record a note on your smartphone and email it to us at the same address. Links to Patreon, Supercast, Discord, and Network Affiliates https://linktr.ee/thelorehounds Any opinions stated are ours personally and do not reflect the opinion of or belong to any employers or other entities. | |||
| Wicked: For Good (2025) – w/ musical & book differences | 19 Dec 2025 | 02:27:49 | |
The witches are back! Meaning, of course, Marilyn, Nichole, and Elysia – the trio returns, one year later, to talk about the second and final (?) Wicked musical adaptation: How does it compare to the first? To the second act of the musical? And the books it's based on? And, most importantly, what does it mean to be changed for the better...for good? They begin with a quick spoiler-free comparison with the first movie before their full spoiler breakdown. Stick around after the outro music for an even more spoiler-filled comparison with the Gregory Maguire book. Recommended: Catch up first on Wicked: Part I (2024) – incl. musical & book comparisons Contact Us Questions or comments? Visit us at our website where you can use the contact form or use the voicemail feature. Or, send an email to lorehounds@thelorehounds.com. Links to Patreon, Supercast, Discord, and Network Affiliates Any opinions stated are ours personally and do not reflect the opinion of or belong to any employers or other entities. | |||
| 2026 Oscar-Qualified Shorts – Top 20 for Lorehounds | 09 Dec 2025 | 00:51:42 | |
Today, voting for the 2026 Oscar shortlists began, lasting all week – these 20 (or, er, 26) Oscar-qualified live-action and animated shorts are all eligible. Whether or not they make the shortlist (some of them will), here's why you might want to watch – from mermaid folk horror or brutal griffin hunts to gentle tales of the lists we make in life, or coming of age as an immigrant. Letterboxd lists Eligible live-action shorts – category analysis Eligible animated shorts – category analysis The Rankings
*May disappear when shortlists / nominations are announced (or sooner). Contact Us Questions or comments? Send emails to: lorehounds@thelorehounds.com Or, send us a voicemail! You can use the voicemail tool on our website, thelorehounds.com/contact OR record a note on your smartphone and email it to us at the same address. Links to Patreon, Supercast, Discord, and Network Affiliates https://linktr.ee/thelorehounds Any opinions stated are ours personally and do not reflect the opinion of or belong to any employers or other entities. | |||
| Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu (2026) | 03 Jun 2026 | 01:35:12 | |
Elysia and John continue the journey of the galaxy's favorite father and son in The Mandalorian and Grogu. They catch up with the New Republic before meeting Hutts of various sizes, watching stop motion and puppetry showcases, and overall having a fun, standalone adventure. Contact Us Questions or comments? Send emails to: starwars@thelorehounds.com Or, send us a voicemail! You can use the voicemail tool on our website, thelorehounds.com/contact OR record a note on your smartphone and email it to us at the same address. Links to Patreon, Supercast, Discord, and Network Affiliates https://linktr.ee/thelorehounds Any opinions stated are ours personally and do not reflect the opinion of or belong to any employers or other entities. | |||
| Predator: Badlands (2025) - Oneshot | 26 Nov 2025 | 01:44:04 | |
Jean and Elysia (with an appearance from David) join Dek and Thia's clan for a full breakdown of the good, the objections, the great, and the Yautja lore of Predators: Badlands Contact Us Questions or comments? Send emails to: lorehounds@thelorehounds.com Or, send us a voicemail! You can use the voicemail tool on our website, thelorehounds.com/contact OR record a note on your smartphone and email it to us at the same address. Links to Patreon, Supercast, Discord, and Network Affiliates https://linktr.ee/thelorehounds Any opinions stated are ours personally and do not reflect the opinion of or belong to any employers or other entities. | |||
| Weapons (2025) - Spooktober Special | 29 Oct 2025 | 01:56:08 | |
The Lorehounds and Lore Masters voted, and this year's Spooktober special is: Zach Cregger's 2025 horror hit Weapons. Elysia walks John and David through this darkly humorous, layered tale of missing children, addiction, grief, intergenerational trauma, and the ultimate Naruto run of death. Contact Us Links to Patreon, Supercast, Discord, and Network Affiliates Any opinions stated are ours personally and do not reflect the opinion of or belong to any employers or other entities. | |||
| One Battle After Another (2025) - Part 3 w/Jean & Anthony | 25 Oct 2025 | 01:19:30 | |
David reconvenes with Jean and Anthony for a thoughtful examination of Paul Thomas Anderson's film, focusing on questions of character motivation and revolutionary authenticity. Jean offers measured critique while acknowledging the film's stunning visuals and exceptional performances, arguing that the comedic middle section represents the movie's strongest material. The conversation explores whether Bob and Perfidia are true believers in their cause or simply thrill-seekers along for the ride, with Jean questioning how someone from "a long line of revolutionaries" would behave so recklessly. The trio discusses PTA's evolution in depicting women and people of color, the film's relationship to real-world police state experiences, and whether certain stories belong to certain storytellers. Through reflections on desensitization to police violence, the absurdism of white supremacist organizations, and comparisons to other films examining racial justice, this conversation demonstrates how One Battle After Another has sparked genuine debate about representation, authenticity, and the responsibilities of filmmakers tackling revolutionary narratives. Contact Us Questions or comments? Send emails to: lorehounds@thelorehounds.com Links to Patreon, Supercast, Discord, and Network Affiliates Any opinions stated are ours personally and do not reflect the opinion of or belong to any employers or other entities. | |||
| One Battle After Another (2025) - Part 2 w/Ron & JD | 23 Oct 2025 | 01:22:42 | |
David welcomes back Ron and JD from the Dungeons 'n' Durags podcast for a lively, free-flowing conversation about Paul Thomas Anderson's latest film. With good-natured debate and playful energy, the trio examines the film's portrayal of Black women revolutionaries, the controversial dynamics between Perfidy and her handler, and whether PTA successfully navigated telling this story. The conversation gets spirited as they passionately disagree about character motivations—is there genuine affection or pure manipulation at play?—and explore connections to real-world revolutionaries like Assata Shakur. Through all the back-and-forth (and a few technical mishaps), the hosts demonstrate why this film has sparked so much cultural conversation while ultimately celebrating it as significant cinema. It's an entertaining discussion that showcases how great art generates passionate responses, even among friends who can't quite agree on what they just watched. Guest Links Dungeons 'n' Durags: www.youtube.com/@dungeonsndurags Ron Dawson and all things Blerd Ronner: linktr.ee/blerdronner Contact Us Questions or comments? Send emails to: Links to Patreon, Supercast, Discord, and Network Affiliates Any opinions stated are ours personally and do not reflect the opinion of or belong to any employers or other entities. | |||
| One Battle After Another (2025) - Part 1 w/Anthony | 21 Oct 2025 | 01:29:43 | |
David and Anthony dive deep into Paul Thomas Anderson's latest film, exploring its surprising comedic elements, technical achievements, and rich thematic complexity. This opening conversation examines the father-daughter relationship at the film's core, PTA's bold production choices including VistaVision filmmaking, and the movie's unexpected hopefulness despite its action-thriller framework. With full spoilers throughout, this first installment sets the stage for ongoing discussions about a film that demands multiple viewings and reveals new layers with each watch. Contact Us Questions or comments? Send emails to: lorehounds@thelorehounds.com Links to Patreon, Supercast, Discord, and Network Affiliates Any opinions stated are ours personally and do not reflect the opinion of or belong to any employers or other entities. | |||
| Heat Death: From Tolkien's Orcs to Star Wars' Empire - Asher and Saul Elbein Interview | 10 Sep 2025 | 01:39:12 | |
David sits down with brothers Asher and Saul Elbein, the journalist duo behind the fascinating newsletter and website Heat Death. In this wide-ranging conversation, they explore the intersection of pop culture and politics through two major lenses: Tolkien's orcs and the decline of the Star Wars galaxy. The discussion begins with their viral article "Orc is Man to Orc," examining the problematic nature of irredeemable species in fantasy and how colonial thinking shapes our understanding of the "other." From there, they dive into their ambitious "Decline and Fall" series, which traces Star Wars as an imperial chronicle - weaving together in-universe history, real-world American politics, and corporate IP ownership from Lucas to Disney. The brothers bring their unique perspective as working journalists to bear on everything from anthropological theory to the "enshittification" of modern media. They discuss their approach to cultural criticism, the challenge of finding nutrition versus junk food in contemporary entertainment, and why they believe fiction serves as a crystal facet reflecting every aspect of our culture. Check out Heat Death here: You can find Asher at his website and on BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/asherelbein.bsky.social And, you can find Saul under his byline at The Hill and also on BlueSky: https://thehill.com/author/saul-elbein/ https://bsky.app/profile/saulelbein.bsky.social Contact Us Questions or comments? Send emails to: lorehounds@thelorehounds.com Links to Patreon, Supercast, Discord, and Network Affiliates https://linktr.ee/thelorehounds Any opinions stated are ours personally and do not reflect the opinion of or belong to any employers or other entities. | |||
| The Fantastic Four: First Steps (2025) + The road to Secret Wars - MCUniverse | 07 Aug 2025 | 02:21:24 | |
Jean and Elysia herald the coming of Galactus in their deep dive into the newest Marvel movie, The Fantastic Four: First Steps. After laying out what this incarnation got right where so many have failed before, as well as the key comic lore to help you understand the whole cast of characters, they end with a look at what's planned so far for the rest of the MCU's Phase IV, with new details about the key projects coming in the road to Secret Wars (01:48:44). Contact Us Questions or comments? Send emails to: mcu@thelorehounds.com Links to Patreon, Supercast, Discord, and Network Podcasts Any opinions stated are ours personally and do not reflect the opinion of or belong to any employers or other entities. | |||
| Going Dredd - Interview w/Tansy Gardam | 23 Jul 2025 | 01:21:18 | |
David sits down with Tansy Gardam, creator of the Going Rogue podcast, to discuss her latest episode analyzing the 2012 film Dredd and its connection to The Raid as "twin films." Tansy argues that Alex Garland effectively "shadow directed" Dredd, challenging traditional notions of auteur theory while exploring the collaborative nature of filmmaking. The conversation covers Garland's evolution from novelist to screenwriter to director, examining how his approach to authorship reflects broader industry trends toward TV-style showrunner models in film production. The discussion expands to explore Garland's recent controversial work including Warfare, which Tansy describes as "borderline evil," and his creative trajectory from the satirical critique of Dredd to more troubling militaristic themes. They delve into the technical aspects of both Dredd and The Raid's production, from 3D filming techniques to Indonesian martial arts choreography, while examining how these "twin films" illuminate the complex realities of modern film production and the tendency to oversimplify creative processes by focusing solely on directors. Guest Links:
Contact Us Questions or comments? Send emails to: lorehounds@thelorehounds.com Links to Patreon, Supercast, Discord, and Network Affiliates Any opinions stated are ours personally and do not reflect the opinion of or belong to any employers or other entities. | |||
| Superman (2025) – DCUniverse | 14 Jul 2025 | 02:24:05 | |
Jean and Elysia go super-sized on the lore for the first official film entry of the new DCU, from character backstories to key comic and movie-history references to what's next. Loathsome Lex, T-sphere domination, and going off the record in interviews – here's why James Gunn's new Superman works for them. Links to Patreon, Supercast, Discord, and Network Affiliates Questions, comments, and/or thoughts to share? Send us an email at lorehounds@thelorehounds.com Check out Oscha Slings and use the code LOREHOUNDS for a great deal: oschaslings.com Any opinions stated are ours personally and do not reflect the opinion of or belong to any employers or other entities. | |||
| 28 Years Later (2025) – The evolution of the infected | 01 Jul 2025 | 01:56:52 | |
28 years after the events of Danny Boyle & Alex Garland's groundbreaking horror classic, Britain is a quarantine wasteland, and the zombie-fueling Rage virus has evolved. Elysia, Jean, and Riley are back (after their Supercast / Patreon look at the original movies 28 Days and 28 Weeks Later) to talk through the laughs, the tears, the wtf moments, and the lingering questions from Boyle & Garland's massive swing to reshape zombie cinema...again. Find Riley online: Links to Patreon, Supercast, Discord, and Network Affiliates Send your questions and feedback to lorehounds@thelorehounds.com. Any opinions stated are ours personally and do not reflect the opinion of or belong to any employers or other entities | |||
| Project Hail Mary (2026) – Hope for humanity | 13 May 2026 | 01:38:57 | |
John, Elysia, and Marilyn follow Ryan Gosling to the far reaches of space to save humankind from destruction. They discuss the impressive puppetry and visuals, the hopepunk core of the film, and the parallels to other sci-fi worlds. Patreon, Supercast, Discord, and Network Affiliates: linktr.ee/thelorehounds Send your questions and feedback to lorehounds@thelorehounds.com. Any opinions stated are ours personally and do not reflect the opinion of or belong to any employers or other entities. | |||
| Thunderbolts* (2025) – MCUniverse | 18 May 2025 | 01:33:00 | |
The New Avengerz have stolen Elysia and Jean's hearts – and inspired a conversation exploring not only the coolest and funniest moments in the film, but also the deeper questions it raises: What is the difference between grief and depression? And what does it take to fight your way out of that...Void? Contact Us Questions or comments? Send emails to: mcu@thelorehounds.com Links to Patreon, Supercast, Discord, and Network Podcasts Any opinions stated are ours personally and do not reflect the opinion of or belong to any employers or other entities. | |||
| Sinners (2025) – The best vampire movie ever? | 08 May 2025 | 02:08:14 | |
Elysia talks history and filmmaking, Jean brings insights from the Haitian-American experience, and Anthony blesses us with his religious studies knowledge in a conversation sorting through the many layers of Ryan Coogler's sexy vampire bluesical Sinners. The conversation begins with spoiler-free reviews and real talk about the media "controversy," before the trio dive into the key characters and greatest musical moments. Choctaw culture in Marvel's Echo Links to Patreon, Supercast, Discord, and Network Affiliates Questions, comments, and/or thoughts to share? Send us an email at lorehounds@thelorehounds.com Any opinions stated are ours personally and do not reflect the opinion of or belong to any employers or other entities. | |||
| Deconstructing the Meaning of "Into the West" w/Marilyn R. Pukkila - Into the West | 29 Apr 2026 | 01:05:54 | |
David, Lisa, and Bryan are joined by Tolkien scholar Marilyn R. Pukkila for a special episode exploring the meaning behind the podcast's name and the deep cultural associations between the West and human mortality. The conversation traces how civilizations from the ancient Egyptians and Greeks to the Maori, the Celts, and the indigenous Wabanaki have connected the setting sun with death, transition, and what lies beyond. Marilyn draws on John Garth's research into how the phrase "going West" entered the English lexicon through Celtic-speaking soldiers in the trenches of World War I and became a foundational element in Tolkien's myth-making, while the hosts reflect on how art, storytelling, and community create spaces for renewal, shared grief, and the celebration of lives well lived. Contact Us Questions or comments? Send emails to: intothewest@thelorehounds.com Links to Patreon, Supercast, Discord, and Network Affiliates https://linktr.ee/thelorehounds Any opinions stated are ours personally and do not reflect the opinion of or belong to any employers or other entities. | |||
| Going Jurassic - Jurassic Franchise Deep Dive w/ Tansy Gardam and Asher Elbein | 21 Apr 2026 | 02:04:03 | |
David is joined by Tansy Gardam, host of the acclaimed Going Rogue podcast, and Asher Elbein, journalist and co-creator of the newsletter and website Heat Death, for a deep dive into the Jurassic film franchise — all seven films across 32 years. The conversation spans the paleontological promise of the original Park trilogy, the stagnation and franchise anxiety of the Jurassic World era, and the ways mega-franchise pipeline thinking has constrained the series' creative evolution. Asher brings his background as a science journalist to examine how Hollywood arrested popular dinosaur science in amber while the real field moved on, and Tansy unpacks the franchise mechanics that kept the series reaching back to the first film rather than forward into new territory — including the quietly radical queerness encoded in the very biology of the dinosaurs themselves. Check Out Our Guests Tansy Gardam - Going Rogue Podcast Asher Elbein - Heat Death Contact Us Questions or comments? Send emails to: lorehounds@thelorehounds.com Or, send us a voicemail! You can use the voicemail tool on our website, thelorehounds.com/contact OR record a note on your smartphone and email it to us at the same address. Links to Patreon, Supercast, Discord, and Network Affiliates https://linktr.ee/thelorehounds Any opinions stated are ours personally and do not reflect the opinion of or belong to any employers or other entities. | |||