Previous Next Spooky season is back and with it, comes a spooky Top Five. So, grab a seat by the campfire and cuddle up under a blanket because the Bitesize crew has put their brains together to compile Bitesize Breakdown's consensus Top Five Ghost Stories. As per usual, each writer ranks their top 15 releases in the category. Those lists are then weighted on a reverse point system. After all the points are tallied up, the entries with the most total points make up the Bitesize Top Five. 5. POLTERGEIST (1982) Being one of the defining horror films of the late 20th century, it's hard to overstate the brilliance of Poltergeist . There is a lot to be afraid of in this classic, as this inventive ghost story maintains a consistent eerie dread throughout that's only exacerbated by the mortifying thrills that come, but many ghost movies and horror films share this quality. What makes Poltergeist so special is its focus on the suburban family life being threatened, if not to prove the love the family has for each other, making Poltergeist not just scary but also bizarrely endearing. There is some dispute about how involved Steven Spielberg was in directing this, but either way, Poltergeist has that Spielbergian magic that makes many of his films stand the test of time. Given that it's 2025 and it remains a horror staple, director Tobe Hooper deserves all the credit for this spooky masterpiece. - Adriano 4. GHOSTBUSTERS (1984) Is there a better feel-good ghost story than Ghostbusters ? Usually, the concept portends something harrowing and eerie, possibly dreary, but with this, you get quirkiness, snark, and fun in 105 minutes. Even though it isn't credited as a Saturday Night Live film, it inhabits the spirit of the show with its writing and actors, and Ivan Reitman leaned into an improvisational style to keep it playful. Everyone is at the top of their game, and when linked with special effects that surprisingly hold up and one of the greatest singles ever recorded for film (how it didn't win an Oscar is a crime), you get a cultural phenomenon. Nothing will touch Ghostbusters as a comedy revolving around spectres, but beyond that, it is a touchstone of pop culture with nary a bad word uttered or written about it since busting can only make you feel good. - Robert 3. THE SHINING To me, The Shining is without a doubt the pinnacle of modern ghost stories. The film itself feels haunted and mean-spirited, epitomising everything that’s unsettling about ghosts. It's a matter of interpretation whether the ghostly presence at the Overlook Hotel is a manifestation of Jack’s descent into madness or not, but either way, the terrifying identical twins and horrifying woman in the bathtub spring to mind when speaking about the best of ghosts in film. The impact of The Shining is clear throughout pop culture as it has influenced countless other films, and it's unique in its enduring imagery and strangely unsettling atmosphere. Although it encompasses various genres, including slashers, gothic horror, and haunted house movies, The Shining is the ultimate ghost story. - Katie 2. THE SIXTH SENSE One could make the case that The Sixth Sense was both a blessing and a curse for M. Night Shyamalan. The kind of success it had meant that critics and audiences would, fairly or not, have high expectations for his subsequent projects. While I wouldn’t say this is my absolute favourite in Shyamalan’s filmography (it’s a toss-up between Unbreakable and The Village ), that doesn’t mean that I don’t get why this became such a cultural phenomenon. In embracing some of the tropes associated with studio horror, Shyamalan transcended them in the process, delivering audiences a moody ghost story about learning to find closure in this cruel world. Beyond all his filmmaking tricks, like his impeccable blocking and ability in directing children (Haley Joel Osment really is incredible in this), his unabashed humanity is the real driving force behind this. It’s why the scares hit as hard as they do. It’s why that famous twist ending is as heartbreaking as it is. It’s why the film as a whole endures to this day. - Bode 1. BEETLEJUICE “Daylight come and me wan' go home!” As a horror fan, Tim Burton’s Beetlejuice was a huge staple of my childhood. Danny Elfman’s eerie and whimsical score and the film’s memorable cast pair perfectly with Burton’s strange and stylish direction. I still find it astounding that Michael Keaton, who plays the iconic poltergeist Betelgeuse, only has about 20 minutes of screen time, yet he was still able to deliver one of his most unforgettable and best performances to date. And while the film may not be the scariest ghost movie on this list, there's no denying that it has some chilling visuals and bizarre practical and special effects (the sandworms still haunt me in my dreams from time to time). All in all, this cult classic captures the heart and soul of a haunting ghost story while blending it with humor and a weirdly unique take on the afterlife. - Paige HONORABLE MENTIONS THE OTHERS A GHOST STORY THE FRIGHTENERS THE CONJURING THE HAUNTING OF HILL HOUSE

THE STICKY Starring: Margo Martindale, Chris Diamantopoulos, Guillaume Cyr, Gita Miller, Guy Nadon, Suzanne Clément, Mickaël Gouin, and Jamie Lee Curtis Creators: Brian Donovan and Ed Herro QUENTIN Given that The Sticky is about the great Canadian maple syrup heist, the not-at-all-serious, “look at these bumbling idiots” tone makes a lot of sense. It’s not unlike The Coen Brothers’ The Ladykillers in that way, for better or worse. However, even at six, half-hour episodes, there just isn’t enough story, character development, or outright quirkiness to make it anything more than a half-hearted distraction. Also, it all just feels too cheap and slight (or too Canadian?) despite Jamie Lee Curtis (also a producer) showing up in a bit role to inject some recognizable clout. Props to all the French covers of American rock classics, though.

THE LAST OF US: SEASON ONE Starring: Pedro Pascal and Bella Ramsey Creators: Neil Druckmann and Craig Mazin AMARÚ HBO’s The Last of Us is a brilliant adaptation that validates many gamers’ claim that it’s the greatest video game ever made. Writer/creators Craig Mazin and Neil Druckmann knew exactly when to adapt faithfully and when to stray, including this season’s sparsity of cordycep zombies. Forfeiting that overarching threat allowed the layered characters and excellent pacing to generate the show’s ominous tone. Pedro Pascal (Joel) and Bella Ramsey (Ellie) are outstanding together, and the supporting cast elevates their story’s gripping intensity. Every action scene, every quiet moment, and every second of this season is utilized to perfection. JACOB It cannot be overstated the degree to which HBO’s The Last of Us will likely go down as the greatest video game adaptation ever put on screen, but when your show is this stellar, that description is more than apt. The most stunning thing about it isn’t the production value, pitch perfect performances from Pedro Pascal and especially Bella Ramsey, or even its ace supporting cast; it’s in how the series adapts the game, knowing when to leave things out, weave things in, and add entire story beats to further enhance the narrative. I cannot emphasize enough how well they did. QUENTIN In a vacuum, The Last of Us is a good show, maybe even a great one; however, it’s very similar to The Walking Dead (TWD ). The same themes of survival, family-by-circumstance, and “mankind is the real monster” are prevalent, and as someone who begrudgingly hate-watched TWD for a few seasons before finally giving up around Season Eight, The Last of Us is just more typical zombie tropes. Although the acting is great, Episode Three is profound, and there are effective emotional and suspenseful beats throughout, it still feels like a retread of something I had already found tiresome (even if it is an overall improvement). PAIGE HBO has once again delivered the golden standard for television because, hot damn!, The Last of Us is a masterpiece in tense storytelling, world-building, and character development. This show just got better and better each week. Sure, it took some liberties, but it made just the right amount of changes to keep the story fresh while also remaining true to its beloved source material. Pedro Pascal and Bella Ramsey completely embodied and breathed new life into their characters while delivering A+ performances. What else can I truly say besides this series has to be one of the greatest video game adaptations ever done! ADRIANO Even by the standards of it being an amazing adaptation of the video game, The Last Of Us ’s first season is an astonishing season of television. The violence and action you’d typically see in a zombie survival story is mostly cast aside in exchange for a story of humanity and how it reacts to a world where death looms at every corner. This approach is anchored flawlessly by the performances of Pedro Pascal and Bella Ramsey, and the world-building and emotional depth is crafted to perfection, creating what is sure to wind up being one of the year's most captivating watches.

Previous Next October 10, 2022 WRITTEN BY: QUENTIN I’ll be honest, I had a hard time coming up with an idea of how to distill my TIFF experience into words. Many of the things I’ll remember about my two weeks in Toronto weren’t even movie related. I was visited by friends and family, hit up several excellent bars and restaurants, went vintage shopping and crate digging, checked out a Blue Jays game, and even caught a Kid Cudi concert. Oh, and yeah, I also met and spoke to NIC FUCKING CAGE on the red carpet! But most of those things don’t jive with what we do here at Bitesize Breakdown. We are all about the movies, not my boozy shenanigans. I also didn’t want to lazily post an overly long ranking of every movie I saw, bombarding you with review after review of movies that may not come out for months. No one wants to read that. So, understanding that full reviews will drop at a time closer to each movie’s release date, I decided to break down the almost 40 movies I saw into tiers. It’s an imperfect science, to be sure, but I think it will give you a general idea about what I loved, what I hated, and what I was kinda blah about. More importantly though, I’m only telling you about the movie, giving you the synopsis, cast, director, and release information (if known) so you can decide if it’s something you want to put on your radar or not. If it looks good, keep an eye out for the full review. If it sounds terrible, forget about it and move on. Under each tier, movies are ordered based on known release date. Now, it’s been a long couple of weeks, and to quote Memphis Raines (Cage) from Gone in 60 Seconds , “I'm a little tired, little wired, and I think I deserve a little appreciation!" THE MUST-SEES Whether you’re a casual movie fan or a true cinephile in it for the “art of film,” I genuinely believe that each of the movies listed in this tier will satisfy 99% of moviegoers. Sure, there could be some genre issues at play – Pearl clearly won’t be for people who don’t enjoy horror and gore – but all said and done, these movies blur the line between pretentious awards fare and blockbuster entertainment for the everyman. These were the absolute Best of TIFF for me. PEARL Synopsis: Shrewdly set in 1918, when war was raging in Europe and a deadly pandemic was stoking both prejudice and paranoia throughout the United States, Pearl sees director Ti West return to the Texas ranch from his hit slasher X to tell the twisted origin story of Mia Goth’s memorable murderess. Cast: Mia Goth, David Corenswet Director: Ti West When & Where to Watch: In theaters now THE WOMAN KING Synopsis: Featuring thrilling performances from Oscar winner Viola Davis, Thuso Mbedu, Lashana Lynch, and John Boyega, this epic tale of struggle and liberation brings to life the galvanizing true story of the Agojie, the all-female military regiment charged with protecting the embattled West African Kingdom of Dahomey from adversarial neighbours, European colonizers, and the horrors of the slave trade. Cast: Viola Davis, Thuso Mbedu, Lashana Lynch, Sheila Atim, Hero Fiennes Tiffin, John Boyega Director: Gina Prince-Bythewood When & Where to Watch: In theaters now THE BANSHEES OF INISHERIN Synopsis: From the vibrant imagination of Oscar-winning writer/director Martin McDonagh comes this pitch-black comic fable of wounded friendship and the perils of petty grievance. Reuniting McDonagh with his ingenious In Bruges stars Colin Farrell and Brendan Gleeson, The Banshees of Inisherin is enchanting, poignant, and relentlessly entertaining. Cast: Colin Farrell, Brendan Gleeson, Kerry Condon, Barry Keoghan Director: Martin McDonagh When & Where to Watch: October 21, 2022, in theaters THE MENU Synopsis: The culture of haute cuisine gets thoroughly roasted in this sizzling satire about a destination dining experience seasoned with surprises that get spicier with every plating. Featuring a sumptuous ensemble led by Anya Taylor-Joy and Oscar nominee Ralph Fiennes, The Menu offers us a seat at the table with some one-percenters about to be served more than they bargained for. Cast: Ralph Fiennes, Anya Taylor-Joy, Nicholas Hoult, Hong Chau, Janet McTeer, Judith Light, John Leguizamo Director: Mark Mylod When & Where to Watch: November 18, 2022, in theaters THE WHALE Synopsis: Brendan Fraser gives a career-defining performance in this arrestingly intimate drama from director Darren Aronofsky. The Whale invites us to identify with an obese man in a precarious state of isolation that has been exacerbated by a potentially lethal mix of technology and our culture of body shaming. Cast: Brendan Fraser, Sadie Sink, Hong Chau, Ty Simpkins, Samantha Morton Director: Darren Aronofsky When & Where to Watch: December 9, 2022, in theaters GLASS ONION: A KNIVES OUT MYSTERY Synopsis: In what is undoubtedly one of the year’s most anticipated films, director Rian Johnson brings us a new installment in the exploits of detective Benoit Blanc, played with singular flair and aplomb by Daniel Craig. A cinematic cousin to Agatha Christie’s Hercule Poirot, Blanc’s well-mannered, gently eccentric exterior cloaks a sharp, observant eye and an instinct tuned to sniffing out misdeeds — and possibly murder. Cast: Daniel Craig, Edward Norton, Janelle Monáe, Kathryn Hahn, Leslie Odom Jr., Jessica Henwick, Madelyn Cline, Kate Hudson, Dave Bautista Director: Rian Johnson When & Where to Watch: December 23, 2022, on Netflix SISU Synopsis: In the twilight of World War II, a solitary prospector strikes a rich vein of gold in the wilderness of Northern Finland. Making tracks for the nearest town with his newfound bounty, the man runs afoul of a retreating detachment of Nazi soldiers who set their sights on claiming the gold for themselves. Unfortunately for these stormtroopers, this is no ordinary miner, but rather a mythic one-man army who epitomizes the quintessential Finnish concept of “sisu” — a white-knuckled form of courage and unimaginable determination in the face of overwhelming odds. (Note: This film is in English.) Cast: Aksel Hennie, Jack Doolan, Jorma Tommila, Mimosa Willamo, Onni Tommila Director: Jalmari Helander When & Where to Watch: TBD THE GOOD (BUT PROBABLY NOT FOR THE CASUAL MOVIE FAN) This tier of movies includes the ones that I thoroughly enjoyed, but, if I’m being honest, they probably aren’t for people looking for escapist entertainment on a Saturday night. Not that they aren’t worth watching, but they feature the heavy subject matter, palpable weirdness, and/or indie vibes that you would expect to find at a film festival. The kind of movie that has the festival logo in a wreath on the poster; that normal people rent on the recommendation of pretentious critics, then feel like they wasted their money because it’s art over entertainment (looking at you, Roma and Phantom Thread ). Also, there is a documentary about whales here because, frankly, I didn’t know where else to put it. TRIANGLE OF SADNESS Synopsis: Director Ruben Östlund’s latest Palme d’Or–winning satire explores hypocrisy, greed, and the thirst for power amongst the idle rich and the luxury-cruise industry. Cast: Harris Dickinson, Charlbi Dean, Zlatko Buric, Woody Harrelson, Iris Berben, Vicki Berlin, Henrik Dorsin, Jean-Christophe Folly, Amanda Walker, Oliver Ford Davies, Carolina Gynning, Arvin Kananian Director: Ruben Östlund When & Where to Watch: In theaters now SANCTUARY Synopsis: As Hal Porterfield (Christopher Abbott) prepares to take over his late father’s hotel empire, he arranges one last session with Rebecca (Margaret Qualley), a ravishing and skilled dominatrix who has proven capable of carrying out his fantasies to a T. Over the course of their relationship, she has transformed him from a mewling repressive to someone that actually has the confidence to ask for what he wants — and now, he wants to show her the door. Cast: Christopher Abbott, Margaret Qualley Director: Zachary Wigon When & Where to Watch: TBD ALICE, DARLING Synopsis: Anna Kendrick captures the anxious psychology of a woman in an abusive relationship as her friends try to reconnect with her while on a cottage vacation away from her boyfriend. Cast: Anna Kendrick, Kaniethiio Horn, Wunmi Mosaku, Charlie Carrick Director: Mary Nighy When & Where to Watch: TBD PATRICK AND THE WHALE Synopsis: Most of us can only dream of swimming with whales. Patrick Dykstra has devoted his life to doing it, and now we can vicariously share the experience in this film. The images on screen — sperm whales, killer whales, humpback whales, blue whales, and more — will take your breath away. Sperm whales can grow to weigh 30,000 pounds and possess a brain larger than any other mammal on earth. Patrick wonders, “What are they thinking?” Cast: Patrick Dykstra Director: Mark Fletcher When & Where to Watch: TBD BIOSPHERE Synopsis: In the not-too-distant future, the last two men on earth must adapt and evolve to save humanity. Cast: Sterling K. Brown, Mark Duplass Director: Mel Eslyn When & Where to Watch: TBD THE BAD You saw The Good tier, so here is The Bad (any guess what the next tier will be?). Despite some admirable aspects, be it a great performance, stunning cinematography, or a truly intriguing idea, these movies left me struggling in the theater. For the most part, they were extremely slow or wholly uninteresting. I Like Movies is an exception, as its central character is so unlikeable that it pained me to spend 90 minutes with him. To be fair, I admit that, maybe, I’m being harsher on these movies than I should be; perhaps I just wasn’t in the mood for these particular offerings after seeing so many movies in so few days. That said, I won’t be recommending them to anyone either. NANNY Synopsis: A young Senegalese newcomer to New York is haunted by violent visions while working as a nanny and planning for the arrival of her own son, in this mystical feature exploring the dangerous allure of the American Dream in the immigrant experience. Cast: Anna Diop, Michelle Monaghan, Sinqua Walls, Morgan Spector, Rose Decker, Leslie Uggams Director: Nikyatu Jusu When & Where to Watch: December 16, 2022, on Prime Video. DALILAND Synopsis: Boasting dazzling performances from Ben Kingsley and Barbara Sukowa, the latest from director Mary Harron ( American Psycho ) ushers us into the rarified milieu of one of the greatest — and most eccentric — artists of the 20th century. Viewed through the starstruck gaze of a young assistant, Dalíland pulls back the curtain on the larger-than-life union of Spanish painter Salvador Dalí and his spouse Gala, conjuring a seductive sphere where imagination and reality seem indistinguishable. Cast: Sir Ben Kingsley, Barbara Sukowa, Christopher Briney, Rupert Graves, Alexander Beyer, Andreja Pejic, Mark McKenna, Zachary Nachbar-Seckel, Avital Lvova, Suki Waterhouse Director: Mary Harron When & Where to Watch: TBD FIXATION Synopsis: Maddie Hasson stars as Dora, a young woman who has been committed to an unorthodox institution for a crime she cannot remember. Persistently drugged and subjected to a series of rigorous psychiatric evaluations, which include intricate recreations of her past, Dora is asked by her enigmatic captors to confront an elusive truth. But can they be trusted? Can Dora even trust her own mind? And what is the cost of accepting the realities she is being presented with? These questions — and the many methods in which a patriarchal system can gaslight women — are at the heart of director Mercedes Bryce Morgan’s stylish psychological thriller. Cast: Maddie Hasson, Genesis Rodriguez, Atticus Mitchell, Stephen McHattie Director: Mercedes Bryce Morgan When & Where to Watch: TBD THE ETERNAL DAUGHTER Synopsis: The latest feature from Joanna Hogg ( The Souvenir I & II) confirms the filmmaker as one of cinema’s great excavators of memory. A surprising and suspenseful take on the Victorian Gothic, Hogg’s film weaves in her signature spaces haunted by the past, complex family dynamics, and traces of autobiography into a spellbound, expressionist vision that features Tilda Swinton in dual roles. Cast: Tilda Swinton, Joseph Mydell, Carly-Sophia Davies Director: Joanna Hogg When & Where to Watch: TBD SUSIE SEARCHES Synopsis: An ambitious college student’s plot to boost her podcast’s reach by investigating the disappearance of a popular rival backfires, in this darkly funny feature based on the 2020 short of the same name. Cast: Kiersey Clemons, Alex Wolff, Jim Gaffigan, Ken Marino Director: Sophie Kargman When & Where to Watch: TBD I LIKE MOVIES Synopsis: I Like Movies is a funny, touching, and empathetic look at a film- and self-obsessed teenaged curmudgeon pursuing his dreams and testing personal connections in early-2000s suburban Ontario. Cast: Isaiah Lehtinen, Romina D'Ugo, Krista Bridges, Percy Hynes White, Alex Ateah, Andy McQueen Director: Chandler Levack When & Where to Watch: TBD THE EHHH-GLY Did you pick up on my theme? No, it’s not quite The Ugly, but we do have The Ehhh-gly. These movies are the ones I felt the most blah about. They aren’t really good or bad; they just…exist, deserving little more than a shrug and a high-pitched “ehhh.” The kind of movie that you start forgetting soon after you finish watching it because it didn’t do anything special. Perhaps they improve on the rewatch, but as it stands right now, they are too derivative, formulaic, and bland. Weird: The Al Yankovic Story was a tough one to place here because it has a strong start and premise that I can’t call even remotely bland, but the joke becomes tiresome fairly quickly. ON THE COME UP Synopsis: Bri (Jamila C. Gray) wants to carry on after her father, a local hip-hop legend who was killed when he was on the verge of making it big. That’s no easy task. It’s a world of big personalities and harsh words, but she is hellbent on breaking in. Based on the New York Times bestseller by Angie Thomas ( The Hate U Give ). Cast: Jamila C. Gray, Da'Vine Joy Randolph, Lil Yachty, Mike Epps, Miles Gutierrez-Riley, Justin Martin, Titus Makin, Michael Cooper Jr., GaTa, Sanaa Lathan, Cliff "Method Man" Smith Director: Sanaa Lathan When & Where to Watch: In theaters and streaming on Paramount+ now BROS Synopsis: Part satire, part rom-com — brilliantly disguised as anti-rom-com — Bros is outrageous, insightful, and celebratory. This inspired look at the dating scene of queer New York is a laugh-out-loud good time that strides its way into even the most cynical heart. Cast: Billy Eichner, Luke Macfarlane Director: Nicholas Stoller When & Where to Watch: In theaters now RAYMOND AND RAY Synopsis: Featuring audacious gallows humor, this drama stars Ewan McGregor and Ethan Hawke as long-estranged half-brothers who reunite to bury their father. Chronicling a journey of grief, secrets, and a lifelong bond, Raymond and Ray has insight and wisdom to spare. Cast: Ethan Hawke, Ewan McGregor, Maribel Verdú, Tom Bower, Vondie Curtis Hall, Sophie Okonedo Director: Rodrigo García When & Where to Watch: October 21, 2022, in theaters and on Apple TV+ WENDELL & WILD Synopsis: Featuring the voices of Jordan Peele, Keegan-Michael Key, Angela Bassett, and Lyric Ross, this animated comedy-adventure from director Henry Selick (The Nightmare Before Christmas , Coraline ) follows a pair of demon brothers who ally with a goth teenager to defeat their archnemesis. Cast: Keegan-Michael Key, Jordan Peele, Lyric Ross, Angela Bassett, James Hong, Tamara Smart, Natalie Martinez, Tantoo Cardinal, Gabrielle Dennis, Igal Naor, David Harewood, Maxine Peake, Ramona Young, Sam Zelaya, Seema Virdi, Gary Gatewood, Ving Rhames Director: Henry Selick When & Where to Watch: October 28, 2022, on Netflix WEIRD: THE AL YANKOVIC STORY Synopsis: Born from writer-director Eric Appel’s 2010 viral video which dared to tease the unvarnished, “true” account of ”Weird Al” Yankovic’s meteoric rise from a humble accordion player to a famous celebrity accordion player, Weird: The Al Yankovic Story is an uproariously entertaining tell-all about the comedy and music legend, as well as a side-splitting skewering of all the musical biopics that preceded it. Cast: Daniel Radcliffe, Evan Rachel Wood, Rainn Wilson, Toby Huss, Arturo Castro, Julianne Nicholson Director: Eric Appel When & Where to Watch: November 4, 2022, on The Roku Channel DEVOTION Synopsis: An inspiring tale of friendship, courage, and sacrifice, this visceral war film tells the story of the U.S. Navy’s first Black aviator. Set during the early days of the Korean War, Devotion stars Jonathan Majors ( Da 5 Bloods ) and Glen Powell ( Top Gun: Maverick ) as pilots who confront both geopolitical uncertainty and racist hostility with uncommon valor. Cast: Jonathan Majors, Glen Powell, Christina Jackson, Thomas Sadoski, Joe Jonas Director: JD Dillard When & Where to Watch: November 23, 2022, in theaters EMPIRE OF LIGHT Synopsis: Olivia Colman and Micheal Ward star in this poignant story about human connection and the magic of cinema, directed thoughtfully by Sam Mendes and captured brilliantly by cinematographer Roger Deakins. Cast: Olivia Colman, Micheal Ward, Tom Brooke, Tanya Moodie, Hannah Onslow, Crystal Clarke, Toby Jones, Colin Firth Director: Sam Mendes When & Where to Watch: December 9, 2022, in theaters SICK Synopsis: We all remember where we were during the peak of the pandemic. It sucked. But perhaps not as much as it sucks for Parker (Gideon Adlon) and Miri (Beth Million), whose carefully planned quarantine in a remote country estate gets interrupted by a mask-wearing interloper who wants to stab them with something far sharper than a cotton swab up their noses. Cast: Gideon Adlon, Dylan Sprayberry, Beth Million, Jane Adams Director: John Hyams When & Where to Watch: TBD THE BLACKENING Synopsis: Based on 3Peat Comedy’s acclaimed sketch of the same name, this savvy and vicious skewering of horror film tropes poses the sardonic question: if the entire cast of a horror movie is Black, who dies first? Cast: Grace Byers, Jermaine Fowler, Melvin Gregg, X Mayo, Yvonne Orji, Dewayne Perkins, Jay Pharoah, Antoinette Robertson, Sinqua Walls Director: Tim Story When & Where to Watch: TBD THE END OF SEX Synopsis: In this comedy, husband Josh (played by the film’s writer, Jonas Chernick) and his wife Emma ( Schitt’s Creek ’s Emily Hampshire) have an empty house for one week. With their daughters off at a winter-break sleepaway camp, they attempt to recapture the magic of their now-comfortable marriage and boring sex life with increasingly wild developments. Cast: Emily Hampshire, Jonas Chernick, Gray Powell, Lily Gao, Melanie Scrofano Director: Sean Garrity When & Where to Watch: TBD THE PERFECTLY CROMULENT The Perfectly Cromulent is the yin to The Ehhh-gly’s yang. I didn’t feel anything close to blah about these movies, but I didn’t exactly love them either. I enjoyed the viewing experience in the moment, I respect what they did, and I’d even understand if they win some major awards, which The Fabelmans is sure to do. But they also aren’t movies I ever need to see again or would go out of my way to rave about. They are fine, some are even good, and you could certainly do worse than one of these on any given night. Will they leave a lasting impression, though? I highly doubt it. THE GREATEST BEER RUN EVER Synopsis: Following the success of Best Picture winner Green Book , director Peter Farrelly returns with this amazing true story of solidarity in wartime, political awakening, and beer by telling the tale of a U.S. veteran on the audacious escapade to bring liquid support to the troops in Vietnam. Cast: Zac Efron, Russell Crowe, Bill Murray Director: Peter Farrelly When & Where to Watch: In theaters now THE GOOD NURSE Synopsis: Jessica Chastain plays a hospital nurse faced with the growing suspicion that her co-worker and friend (Eddie Redmayne) is quietly killing off patients in this true-crime story set in the world of the American health care system. Cast: Jessica Chastain, Eddie Redmayne, Nnamdi Asomugha, Kim Dickens, Malik Yoba, Alix West Lefler, Noah Emmerich Director: Tobias Lindholm When & Where to Watch: October 26, 2022, on Netflix CAUSEWAY Synopsis: Causeway peers deep into the wounds soldiers retain from armed conflict — and those they carried with them going in. With an understated but penetrating performance from Oscar winner Jennifer Lawrence, Causeway is a character study, a tale of friendship, and an intimate portrait of the great city of New Orleans. Cast: Jennifer Lawrence, Brian Tyree Henry, Linda Emond, Jayne Houdyshell, Stephen McKinley Henderson, Russell Harvard, Fred Weller, Sean Carvajal, Will Pullen, Neal Huff Director: Lila Neugebauer When & Where to Watch: November 4, 2022, in theaters and on Apple TV+ THE FABELMANS Synopsis: Director Steven Spielberg’s most personal film yet is based on the master director’s childhood passion for moviemaking and the family dynamics that found their way into his work. Cast: Michelle Williams, Paul Dano, Seth Rogen, Gabriel LaBelle, Jeannie Berlin, Julia Butters, Robin Bartlett, Keeley Karsten, Judd Hirsch Director: Steven Spielberg When & Where to Watch: November 23, 2022, in theaters BUTCHER'S CROSSING Synopsis: Set in the 1870s, this adaptation of John Williams’ literary western stars Nicolas Cage as a buffalo hunter who lures a naïve young man on an ambitious expedition to the Colorado Rockies in this tale of how one of America’s most awe-inspiring natural wonders was lost. Cast: Nicolas Cage, Fred Hechinger, Rachel Keller, Xander Berkeley, Jeremy Bobb, Paul Raci Director: Gabe Polsky When & Where to Watch: TBD PRISONER'S DAUGHTER Synopsis: Granted a compassionate release, a dying convict (Brian Cox) tries to reconnect with his daughter (Kate Beckinsale) and the grandson he’s never known — but his violent past comes back to haunt them all. Cast: Kate Beckinsale, Brian Cox Director: Catherine Hardwicke When & Where to Watch: TBD THE BIGGEST SURPRISES This should be self-explanatory. Going into TIFF, I had never heard of these three movies. At best, I looked at the cast and thought, “oh, that guy!” Still though, they won me over. The interesting thing is that they are wildly different. A violent pseudo-slasher in Korean, a multi-layered movie about relationships and power dynamics that I’ve yet to stop thinking about, and a very small, very sweet coming-of-age story. Truth be told, Sisu should also be here, but it was so damn good that it was elevated to The Must-Sees. It’s hard to say when or where you’ll be able to find these movies (it could literally be years), but check them out if you get a chance. PROJECT WOLF HUNTING Synopsis: When efforts to extradite notorious convicts from the Philippines to South Korea are stymied by a deadly airport bombing, the Korean authorities commandeer a cargo freighter for their next transfer. As a rogues’ gallery of lowlifes board the titanic vessel, they are escorted by two dozen hardened detectives and a hot-headed Coast Guard captain. Despite the heavy security, a plot to seize control of the ship percolates among the prisoners and soon boils over, but what neither cop nor crook appear to be privy to is that they are not the freighter’s only cargo. (Note: in Korean with English subtitles.) Cast: SEO In-guk, JANG Dong-yoon, CHOI Guyhwa, Sung Dong-il Director: Kim Hongsun When & Where to Watch: In theaters now ROOST Synopsis: A teenager and her cellphone. It’s a worrying combination for many parents, and when Anna (Grace Van Dien) tells her mother that she has met a boy online, Mom goes on full alert. It turns out Anna’s new crush is not a boy, but a 28-year-old man who is saying all the right things to a girl on the verge of 17. Then, without invitation, there he is, on the family’s doorstep. A game of cat and mouse ensues, and nothing and no one are as they seem.... Cast: Summer Phoenix, Grace Van Dien, Kyle Gallner, Jesse Garcia Director: Amy Redford When & Where to Watch: TBD WILDFLOWER Synopsis: Wildflower is a funny and compassionate coming-of-age story about a young woman caring for her intellectually disabled parents while seeking an independent life. Cast: Kiernan Shipka, Dash Mihok, Charlie Plummer, Alexandra Daddario, Brad Garrett, Reid Scott, Erika Alexander, Samantha Hyde, Jacki Weaver, Jean Smart, Ryan Kiera Armstrong Director: Matt Smukler When & Where to Watch: TBD Photo Credits: TIFF

Previous Next April 25, 2024 WRITTEN BY: PRESTON The year was 2003 (or thereabouts) and being a new soldier who had just enough time under his belt to start dreaming of other things and enough money to be dangerous, I started consistently watching Emeril Live with Emeril Lagasse. His made-for-television personality and signature catchphrases “Bam!” and “Oh, yeah baby!” were enough to draw a cocky young man into the cooking world. Just so you know, I didn’t grow up with a lot of money, so the idea of being able to create fine-dining, restaurant-quality dishes of my own seemed like a dream too far until he first showed me it was possible (thanks TV!). It was official, I was a foodie! It wasn’t until later that I learned about the real rough and tumble culinary world from other heroes like Anthony Bourdain. In his book Kitchen Confidential , he discusses how Emeril (or at least “TV Emeril”) was a bit of a façade; however, I later found out that Emeril actually is the real deal, just don’t trust the TV version…no wonder I have trust issues. Either way, there are culinary shows on 24/7 nowadays, with a myriad of cooking challenges and scenarios to feed the food fantasist. Upon retiring from the Army, I was able to live out a lifelong dream by enrolling in culinary school. Now, I work part-time for the University of Tennessee, cooking at their conference center. I have my own set of knives and everything! All I’ve said so far is to say that, even if things lose their luster a bit when you dive deeper, you can never really lose it for food. I mean, you still need to eat three times a day. So, here’s a shout out to the people who are doing it for real every day. It is an extremely tough career that pays very little, except to those at the very top and the recent trend of lucky social media chefs. For my fellow foodies, I want to feed you some delicious films to satisfy what you might be hankering for. I am choosing to ignore some of the ridiculously good documentaries out there, but if you managed to somehow miss Jiro Dreams of Sushi or Roadrunner: A Film about Anthony Bourdain , stop and watch both now. Just kidding, finish my article and then watch them. Then, maybe decide to cook something tonight; just look up a recipe and jump in. It doesn’t have to be fancy, just fresh; or maybe you decide to support those who are out there throwing down on the line every day by dining out locally! Either way, the menu is looking good! CHEF (2014) Chef is probably the most realistic of the more popular fictional foodie films. Jon Favreau plays the passionate chef to a T, and the rest of the cast is star-studded. Most importantly, though, the romantic notion of traveling the country with visions of the associated food porn is enough to make anyone contemplate quitting their job to open their own high-risk food truck venture. Oliver Platt plays the daunting and unflappable food critic, whose eventual friendly turn gives me hope for my own associated guilt as a sideline critic. Of note: the spinoff television series, The Chef Show , is brilliant in its own right, as it showcases the real-deal chef and owner of the popular Kogi restaurant, Roy Choi, who inspires much of the realism we get to appreciate in the film. SIDEWAYS (2004) Sideways might not be strictly in the food realm, but most would include winos into the foodie scene since they are often one and the same. It also is an excuse to shamelessly plug 2023’s The Holdovers as Paul Giamatti continues to act so aptly as writer/director Alexander Payne’s drunken muse. Set in Napa Valley, expectations are upset as the true imperfect nature of our humanity is demonstrated by how we sometimes can take things just a little too far. Be sure to splurge on a good bottle of wine, at least $18 (or at least don’t go boxed this time, you heathen!), when you sit down to watch because you will regret not having one once you’ve started. RATATOUILLE (2007) Ratatouille is the greatest Pixar film of all time, and if you are a chef knife-wielding fiend like me, I think you can agree. Yeah, yeah, Toy Story is good, but Ratatouille is a movie for the people, no matter your age. It features the most unlikely of characters, Remy (Patton Oswalt) — a rat who realizes his dream of becoming a top French chef. There are few films that can have us cheering for a rat to succeed, yet that is exactly where we find ourselves. The underlying story inspires us all to follow our dreams, and as a simultaneous bonus, it features a pretty accurate account of the challenges one faces in the world’s best kitchens. Incidentally, the Ratatouille ride at Disney’s Epcot is a pretty good time too! JULIE & JULIA (2009) Julie & Julia tells the simultaneous story of how Julia Child (Meryl Streep) got her start in the culinary world and how the late Julie Powell (Amy Adams) worked her way through the famous Mastering the Art of French Cooking . Streep and Stanley Tucci (playing Child’s husband, Paul) play the epitome of what a couple should be, sublimely displaying their quirkiness, love for food, and adoration for each other. Admittedly more saccharine than other culinary cinematic outings, it is still a terrific true story that features some very adorable people displaying their affection by way of something so many of us do: cooking for others. BURNT (2015) Full disclosure, Burnt released to very mixed reviews. Yes, it is filled with clichés, with Bradley Cooper playing a “burnt-out” high-level chef in yet another redemptive tale. However, despite people’s criticism of its superficiality, I happen to love it. I have watched this movie over and over, and although it may be trope-tastic, it’s that way for a reason. It reveals what it is often really like in the high-stakes, high-pressure kitchens of the world’s very best restaurants. The script may be lacking some seasoning, and the romantic subplot could have been left out, but none of that matters because this is right up the kitchen-obsessed foodie’s alley. PIG (2021) Pig features Nicolas Cage at his absolute best, and it is a complete departure from the more cliché films that have been listed so far. Cage plays Rob, a former top executive chef turned reclusive hermit. We find that he has left the superficial and hedonic culinary world to live a simpler life, but he is still tied to his past by hunting truffles with his treasured pig. When his cherished pet-turned-friend goes missing, he must to step away from the simple life and back into the world he left behind, forcing him to deal with his trauma and loss. The film is a terrific surprise in its multi-layered, complex, and nuanced approach. Essentially, it’s a measured John Wick for foodies. THE MENU (2022) The Menu is perhaps the most unique offering of those served up here. It is an extremely dark comedic satire that makes fun of the pretense that often precedes self-proclaimed foodies, at least the more serious ones. Its thematic messaging attempts to focus on the “why” behind our infatuation with food in the first place as it violently does away with the ridiculous artsy-fartsy crap. Anya Taylor-Joy delights as always, and I can’t help but think that righteous justice is ultimately served up in the end. BONUS: THE BEAR (2022-PRESENT) I know it’s not a film, but I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention The Bear . If you were a fan of Shameless, particularly Jeremy Allen White’s character Lip, AND you’re a foodie, you need not look any further than FX’s The Bear for your tailor-made amalgamation of jacked-up awesomeness. This is hands-down the most real portrayal of what the twisted, wonderful back kitchen is really like, especially as it examines the personalities that choose to “bear” it (I had to). Attention to detail is of the utmost importance, from the fantastic culinary books displayed on the kitchen’s bookshelves to the cleverness of having the maintenance man, Neil Fak (played by legit chef Matty Matheson), forbidden from cooking. If you haven’t seen it, try Season One as an amuse bouche. I promise you will be locked in for the second season course, then impatiently waiting for the third. Photo Credits: Photo 1 - Open Road Films; Photo 2 - Fox Searchlight Pictures; Photo 3 - Walt Disney Studios; Photo 4 - Sony Pictures Releasing; Photo 5 - Lantern Entertainment; Photo 6 - Neon; Photo 7 - Searchlight Pictures; Photo 8 - FX

SECRET LEVEL: SEASON ONE Starring: Arnold Schwarzenegger, Patrick Schwarzenegger, Kevin Hart, Laura Bailey, Heaven Hart, Keanu Reeves, Gabriel Luna, Ariana Greenblatt, Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje, Elodie Young, Temuera Morrison, Michael Beach, Emily Swallow, and Claudia Doumit Creator: Tim Miller QUENTIN If you enjoy Love, Death & Robots , you should give Secret Level a chance, especially if you’re a big gamer. Both series come from Tim Miller, so the connective tissue is immediately obvious, with both featuring short, tremendously animated stories told in various worlds. Like most anthologies, some episodes are better than others, and a little more variety in the animation styles would have been nice, but with episodes that mostly run under 15 minutes, it’s not a huge time commitment. Those familiar with the games being referenced, ranging from Dungeons & Dragons to Pac-Man , likely will get even more from the series than I did.

CURB YOUR ENTHUSIASM: THE FINAL SEASON Starring: Larry David, Jeff Garlin, Susie Essman, Cheryl Hines, and J.B. Smoove Creator: Larry David QUENTIN After 12 seasons and 25 years(!) of irreverent crankiness, Larry David has finally decided to lower the curtain on Curb Your Enthusiasm , and he does so by embracing everything that has made the series so successful for so long: hilariously abrasive observations, a parade of A-list guest stars, the tackling of current events, and beautifully relatable outrage (even if we don’t always want to admit just how much we relate). On top of that, the finale feels like David’s apology and do-over for the much-maligned Seinfeld finale. All said and done, this final season, much like Curb ’s entire run, was prettay, prettaaay, prettaaaaay…pretty good.

Previous Next May 21, 2026 Jon Bernthal is back to his guttural Frank Castle screams in The Punisher: One Last Kill , which may have left us with more questions than anything. Join Nick, Amarú, Matt, and Harrison as they wonder how this short glimpse into a day with The Punisher affects not only his story, but also the greater Daredevil and Marvel Cinematic Universe as a whole. Click HERE to subscribe to our YouTube channel for all of our latest video content including our interviews, and be sure to give us a thumbs up and comment your thoughts!

Previous Next March 2, 2025 Welcome to A Bigger Bite, the podcast series where we take a deeper dive into some of our favourite films of the year (spoilers included). With the Oscars coming up, we've decided to launch with an episode for each film the Academy Awards have nominated for Best Picture, releasing an episode each day leading up to the big ceremony. Join as we tackle our final Best Picture nominee (and frontrunner), Anora ! Click HERE to subscribe to our YouTube channel for all of our latest video content including our interviews, and be sure to give us a thumbs up and comment your thoughts!

THE BOYS: SEASON FIVE Starring: Karl Urban, Jack Quaid, Antony Starr, Erin Moriarty, Laz Alonso, Jessie T. Usher, Tomer Capone, Karen Fukahara, Chace Crawford, Nathan Mitchell, Cameron Crovetti, Susan Heyward, Valorie Curry, Colby Minifie, Daveed Diggs, Jensen Ackles, and Giancarlo Esposito Creator: Eric Kripke AMARÚ The Boys ’ fifth season being written before November 2024 is simultaneously hilarious and scary. Showrunner Eric Kripke has clearly been disgruntled with reality because this final season is even less subtle than its already idiocratic reputation, but that doesn’t make it any less poignant. This season continues its consistently excellent run since its 2019 release, the action still bombastic, the acting on point, the storyline relevant, the surprises refreshing, and the satire as outlandishly gory as ever. Kripke’s send-off landed the plane with predictable but well-played endings that surprisingly felt more abrupt than rushed. It was a good run to a great show that I felt satisfied with through its finale. NICK If you take away the superhero aspects, The Boys is a frightening look into the possibilities an unstable and maniacal leader can introduce. Apt. The final season looks at good and evil on a spectrum as it questions how far is too far while maintaining the series' signature violence and humour. After an underwhelming role in Season Four, Jensen Ackles' Soldier Boy is better utilized here while Karen Fukuhara's Kimiko finally gains her voice to great results. That said, it was clear it was time to end things as the season showed some diminishing returns as it made its way to a somewhat lacklustre finale. ADRIANO I adore The Boys , but I have to admit, they’re ending at a good time. Not only has reality lapped this series, but its initial novelty might have worn off. Honestly, for the first few episodes of the final season, I feared it had run out of steam as it went in narrative circles, but it was still entertaining and sporting its reliably great cast (Antony Starr NEEDS that Emmy). Thankfully, it eventually got on track, getting me both excited and scared for the finale. So while I’m sad to see it go, I’m glad it’s going at the right time. PAIGE Oi, I’d be lying if I said this final season of The Boys wasn’t a bit rocky. The storytelling felt messy and unfocused, as at times it seemed more set on building momentum for the upcoming spinoff series, Vought Rising , than serving as a grand finale to the central conflict between Homelander and The Boys that the series had been building towards. That said, at its core, it still delivered the brutality and sadistic humor fans have come to expect and love. Overall, the final season was somewhat predictable and underwhelming, but at least the show gave its characters a proper send-off. ROBERT I remember when the narrative on Eric Kripke’s Supernatural was that it was intended for a five-season arc, which was perfect. Its popularity portended many, many more seasons, and that show overstayed its welcome. When it was announced The Boys would end after five, I figured Kripke and Amazon had learned a lesson, but they didn’t, since three seasons were the plan. This final go-round was not without charm and laughs, and the conclusion was satisfying enough, but it buckled under the weight of expectation. I wish some characters and threads weren’t given short shrift, but it happened enough to elicit one common reaction: oy vey! KATIE The impact of this season of The Boys is accidentally exacerbated by its worrying proximity to reality. It confronts the danger of unquestioned authority and highlights the insidious way fascist ideals can slowly infect and then maintain a grip on a society, whilst still maintaining its signature dark satire and comically intense violence. Antony Starr is thrilling as Homelander, especially in those terrifying moments where he is pushing the limits of barely suppressed insanity. However, I found the last few episodes oddly paced and slightly dull, as if they were just going through the motions of setting up the finale, which was unsatisfying and predictable. Check out our reviews for Season Four HERE . Want to hear even more of our thoughts? Paige and Adriano join Nick to take A Bigger Bite out of The Boys: Season Five HERE .

HEARTSTOPPER: SEASON TWO Starring: Joe Locke, Kit Connor, William Gao, Yasmin Finney, Tobie Donovan, Sebastian Croft, Corinna Brown, Kizzy Edgell, and Olivia Colman Creator: Alice Oseman PHILL Heartstopper : Season Two continues to go from strength to strength, remaining a beacon of affirmation for LGBTQ+ people and one of the most important shows in queer culture. The representation remains incredibly authentic as Alice Oseman’s exceptional writing balances positivity and light-heartedness whilst the show tackles mental health issues in a delicate, realistic manner. Nick (Kit Connor) and Charlie (Joe Locke) continue to have some of the best on screen chemistry in terrific performances, and they are supported by an equally outstanding cast. However, Tobie Donovan’s performance as Isaac, who discovers what his own sexuality means, is the real standout this season.

Previous Next May 21, 2025 The Studio is the latest (and strongest) collaboration between Apple and Seth Rogen. So, we're doing a collaboration of our own as Matt's WAT Reel partner Geoff Alterman joins the discussion. Let us all dive into all the cameos and anxieties of this debut season. Click HERE to subscribe to our YouTube channel for all of our latest video content including our interviews, and be sure to give us a thumbs up and comment your thoughts!