Dark Discussions Podcast cover art

Dark Discussions Podcast

Dark Discussions Podcast

By: Dark Discussions Podcast
Listen for free

Dark Discussions, your place for the discussion of horror films, fiction, and all that's fantastic.© 2020 Dark Discussions Podcast Art
Episodes
  • Dark Discussions Podcast – Episode 711 – COBWEB (2023)
    Jun 18 2026

    Sometimes a movie comes along that refuses to sit neatly in any one box, and COBWEB (2023) is exactly that kid at the genre lunch table — the one stirring their mashed potatoes while whispering, “I’m totally a horror film… probably.” Is it supernatural? Is it psychological? Is it just your imagination tapping politely on the wall at 3 a.m.? No one seems to know, and your co‑hosts certainly don’t pretend to. They’re just along for the ride, clutching their popcorn and questioning their life choices.

    Rotten Tomatoes offers a synopsis that is equal parts spooky and “should we call someone?”: eight‑year‑old Peter keeps hearing a mysterious tap, tap from inside his bedroom wall, which his parents insist is nothing but his imagination. Naturally, as Peter’s fear grows, he begins to suspect that Mom and Dad — played by Lizzy Caplan and Antony Starr — might be hiding a terrible secret. And honestly, for a child, what’s more terrifying than realizing your parents might be the real monsters? Forget ghosts; try explaining that at show‑and‑tell.

    Directed by Samuel Bodin and written by Chris Thomas Devlin (yes, the same mind behind Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2022), the film stars Lizzy Caplan, Cleopatra Coleman, Antony Starr, and young Woody Norman. Critics were split, audiences were slightly kinder, and the box office… well, the box office politely declined, with the movie earning under $8M on a $10M budget. But financial success isn’t everything — sometimes a film is just weird enough, creepy enough, and ambiguous enough to earn a cult following. Your co‑hosts dive into this odd little cinematic riddle and share their thoughts, tapping gently on the walls of the plot to see what answers fall out.

    Show More Show Less
    2 hrs and 12 mins
  • Dark Discussions Podcast – Episode 710 – 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple
    Jun 11 2026

    So here it is at last: the sequel, the fourth entry, the cinematic cousin twice removed — 28 YEARS LATER: THE BONE TEMPLE (2026). Whereas its predecessor strutted into theaters and made off with a tidy profit, The Bone Temple stumbled in, tripped over its own shoelaces, and spilled popcorn everywhere. Whether it was secretly brilliant or just misunderstood, the numbers don’t lie: $58.5M earned on a $63M budget. In Hollywood terms, that’s the equivalent of showing up to a potluck with an empty casserole dish and hoping no one notices. A flop it was.

    IMDB offers a plot description so brief it feels like it was written on a Post‑it: “As Spike is inducted into Jimmy Crystal’s gang on the mainland, Dr. Kelson makes a discovery that could alter the world.” Short, sweet, and suspiciously vague — like the cinematic equivalent of someone whispering, “Trust me, it’ll make sense later,” while backing slowly into the shadows. But hey, sometimes mystery is part of the charm, or at least part of the marketing.

    And was it actually a great film, despite audiences collectively deciding to stay home and alphabetize their spice racks instead? Well, it was directed by Nia DaCosta, working from a script by the ever‑brilliant Alex Garland, which is already a promising cocktail. Jack O’Connell throws himself into a gloriously unhinged role, only to be effortlessly overshadowed by Ralph Fiennes, who returns as the enigmatic doctor and proceeds to act like he’s in a much better movie — which, according to critics, he might have been. Your cohosts dive into this critically adored, commercially ignored entry in the franchise and share their thoughts, with all the enthusiasm of people who definitely did not skip it in theaters.

    Show More Show Less
    2 hrs and 8 mins
  • Dark Discussions Podcast – Episode 709 – THE HOUSEMAID (2025)
    Jun 4 2026

    Sometimes a book-to-film adaptation tiptoes onto the big screen and politely asks for your attention — and then there’s THE HOUSEMAID, which in late 2025 kicked down the door, winked at the audience, and became a runaway hit. What began as a novel marketed squarely to women suddenly transformed into a blockbuster for, well, anyone over 18 with a taste for psychological chaos and Sydney Sweeney giving the camera that “I know something you don’t” stare. Amanda Seyfried joined the party, too, because why not make things even more deliciously unhinged.

    IMDB sums it up with admirable restraint: Millie, a struggling young woman, becomes a live‑in maid for a wealthy couple, Nina and Andrew, and promptly finds herself in a mansion stuffed with secrets, manipulation, and psychological games. In other words, it’s less “dust the shelves” and more “try not to get emotionally vaporized by your employers.” The house itself practically deserves its own billing — every hallway feels like it’s whispering, “Turn back now,” but of course Millie does not.

    Directed by Paul Feig — yes, the same Paul Feig who gave us Bridesmaids and apparently woke up one day and chose psychological warfare — and written for the screen by Rebecca Sonnenshine, the film also stars Brandon Sklenar as the male lead who may or may not be part of the problem (spoiler: he is). With a modest $35M budget and a swaggering $400M box‑office haul, the movie charmed critics, thrilled audiences, and probably made Freida McFadden, the author of the novel, do a very happy victory lap. Now your cohosts dive into the madness and share their thoughts, hopefully without getting pulled into any dangerous relationship dynamics themselves.

    Show More Show Less
    2 hrs and 5 mins
adbl_web_anon_alc_button_suppression_t1
No reviews yet