Post-Thanksgiving shopping is never quite as bad in this week’s horror film (Black Friday) and the same might be said for Abel Ferrara’s new work (Zeros and Ones). Why is Alanis Morrissette complaining about her documentary (Jagged) when a teacher has a more serious beef when her sex tape goes public (Bad Luck Banging or Loony Porn). Andrew Garfield is a wannabe composer facing 30 (tick…tick…Boom!) while Robert B. Weide was in his early 20s trying to start a documentary on one of his famous writers (Kurt Vonnegut: Unstuck In Time). Everyone deserves to be hating on Benedict Cumberbatch in Jane Campion’s latest (The Power of the Dog) while a group of survivors channel their anger against the Catholic Church into artistic healing (Procession). Will Smith portrays the father of two of the biggest sports stars ever (King Richard) and finally, Erik and Steve, offer balance to the force of criticism that has been crafted over Jason Reitman’s latest (Ghostbusters: Afterlife).

Erik Laws normally joins the show to talk comic book adaptations, but a certain 1984 film is a favorite to many of us so he joins Erik Childress for a discussion of Jason Reitman’s modern follow-up to his father’s classic. Ghostbusters: Afterlife has drawn quite the division between those nostalgic for the original and critics who believe the fan service has reached a fever pitch. Has Reitman filled the film with so many easter eggs that it is nothing but a soulless trip down memory lane or is that a preemptive narrative that many could not get out of the way of when viewing the film. Both Eriks have their own thoughts on the film and delve into the criticism and whether or not it is unfounded.

The weekly movie review edition of the show arrives with nine new films. In documentaries, Steve Prokopy looks at one about the current Secretary of Transportation (Mayor Pete) while Erik Childress looks at how Juggalo culture became synonymous with gangs by the government (The United States of Insanity) and both dig in to the life of The French Chef (Julia). Steve covers a film about human trafficking (7 Prisoners) while Erik suffers a franchise re-imagined by SNL’s Mikey Day (Home Sweet Home Alone). The pair look at one of the most-praised films out of Sundance this year (Passing) as well as a sequel to an admired film from Sundance past (The Souvenir: Part II). Speaking of the past, Sylvester Stallone has gone back to re-edit the fourth Rocky film and Erik has all the details (Rocky v Drago) and finally Steve weighs in on Kenneth Branagh’s new semi-autobiographical tale of growing up (Belfast).

Movies never stop and neither do the Blu-rays which is why Erik Childress and Sergio Mims continue to talk about them so you can build your physical media collection. It may only be on DVD but any cornucopia of Richard Pryor material is a gift and they discuss a new one from Time-Life. Sergio digs into the Arrow release of Ridley Scott’s Legend and Criterion’s The Damned. They go through a variety of titles from Kino and a pair of major 4K releases from Warner Bros. that bring both praise and reservations for their classic status. Finally they dig into the Warner Archive to discuss a problematic Errol Flynn film, a great James Stewart western, an overlooked Dustin Hoffman performances and one of the funniest comedies of all-time that is a must-have.

Eight new movies are after your attention on the weekly review episode with Erik Childress and Steve Prokopy and it’s a pretty solid lineup with at least one big exception. Erik reminds you of Stanley Nelson’s terrific documentary on the infamous prison standoff (Attica) and Steve looks at a new breed of vampire film (Dead & Beautiful). There’s a voice inside Olivia Munn’s head and its not pleasant (Violet) and Jim Cummings faces the consequences of an anonymous Hollywood sexual encounter (The Beta Test). Which do you think is the better threesome of the week? Dwayne Johnson, Gal Gadot and Ryan Reynolds (Red Notice) or Tom Hanks, a dog and a robot in the apocalypse (Finch)? Steve gets a chance to weigh in on the latest film from Marvel (Eternals) and each have a lot to say about Pablo Larrain’s new film with Kristen Stewart as Princess Diana (Spencer).

The Marvel Cinematic Universe enters the next phase of its current phase with Eternals, Chloe Zhao’s now follow-up to her Oscar-winning Nomadland. Erik Childress brings back comic book expert, Erik Laws, to dive into the comic’s history as well as the film which has drawn quite the discourse from critics. Has Marvel fatigue reached an apex where even the only second woman to ever win Best Director can’t satisfy the longing for something different? Childress leans into this part of the discussion as varying opinions about the film itself continue on the show, though maybe not the way you expect.

Aside from all their duties as film critics, journalists, radio show hosts and TV guests, Erik Childress and Sergio Mims also each produce film festivals in the city of Chicago. Erik created the Chicago Critics Film Festival, the only event curated entirely by film critics and Sergio has been producing the Black Harvest Film Festival for over 25 years. Both events are taking place this year in November and each are teaming up to tell you all about what is in store for you if you can attend either. But first they also have some films they saw at the Chicago International Film Festival and they have a little love to give there before unveiling what they have helped put together this year.

It’s a light week on the weekly review show, but there is a still a half-dozen titles to discuss between Erik Childress and Steve Prokopy. They include Michael Shannon trying to bring a collegiate rowing team together (Heart of Champions) and hypnotherapy going wrong for Kate Siegel (Hypnotic). For those who wanted an Army of the Dead prequel sans the zombies, you got it (Army of Thieves), but you may want a different Netflix throwback instead with an all-star, guns-a-blazin’ western (The Harder They Fall). Finally on Halloween weekend you have your chosen between a horror film from the director of Crazy Heart and Black Mass (Antlers) or Edgar Wright’s tribute to London horror and Italian giallo (Last Night in Soho). Are either worth your time in theaters or is Netflix your choice this week?

It’s Blu-ray time again on the podcast. Erik Childress and Sergio Mims concentrate on just a few studios but a lot of titles including films from a silent film comedian. Sergio goes over some recent musicals released by Warner Archive as well as an Errol Flynn war film. If you ever wanted to see Strother Martin in a horror film, Arrow Video has one for you along with a couple of new 4K titles. One from Dario Argento is there for your Halloween viewing and the other is there to re-evaluate David Lynch’s version of the adaptation being hyperbolized to a fault. Is the 1984 Dune as bad as its reputation or does a new sheen make its visuals as impressive as people believe the 2021 version to be?

You want movie reviews? You get them here as Erik Childress and Steve Prokopy give you the standard they love to hit with ten reviews, including revisiting the emotional powerhouse from SXSW (Introducing, Selma Blair), another documentary about the January 6th insurrection (Four Hours at the Capitol) and even another about one of the legendary makeup artists (Smoke and Mirrors: The Story of Tom Savini). They catch up on some festival horror films they did not get to on the shows from Sundance & SXSW (Broadcast Signal Intrusion, Knocking) and another trying to blend vampires with Michael Mann (Night Teeth). Families are given another theatrical offering (Ron’s Gone Wrong) while adults who like quirk with their historical tales can try Benedict Cumberbatch painting cats (The Electrical Life of Louis Wain) and the latest from Wes Anderson (The French Dispatch). Finally, it all comes down to the film fans of Frank Herbert have been waiting for over 55 years (after initially waiting 19) as Denis Villeneuve’s Dune hits the big screen (and HBO MAX). Is it worth the wait and the vast improvement over David Lynch’s version that everyone hoped it would be? The guys each have a lot to say about it.