Lock up your swans and grab your Cornettos - this week, Jack and Ben rewatch Edgar Wright’s Hot Fuzz! In this high-octane episode, we dive into the second instalment of the Cornetto Trilogy, exploring why Jack picked it and how it stacks up against Shaun of the Dead. Is this the best of the trilogy? We discuss its loving homage to American cop films, its clever skewering of Hollywood clichés, and its razor-sharp self-awareness. We unpack the writing process behind Hot Fuzz: from turning off...

In this week’s episode of Bring Your Own Blockbuster, Jack and Ben take on the gloriously absurd action thriller Face/Off. With a plot as outrageous as its stars’ performances, they delve into the twisted world of face-swapping, Nic Cage’s signature overacting, and why John Travolta might just be better as a villain. Ben reveals why he picked it and challenges Jack to unpack what made the ‘90s such a unique time for movies – when reality could be conveniently ignored, terrorists were...

In this week’s BYOB, Jack and Ben dive back into Stanley Kubrick’s darkly satirical masterpiece Dr. Strangelove, examining why this 1964 classic still hits close to home in 2024. Join us as we explore Peter Sellers’ multi-role magic, the grim humour of nuclear tensions, and how Kubrick’s take on the Cold War resonates amid today’s equally absurd political landscape. We’ll discuss Sellers and Kubrick’s unpredictable collaboration, the genius behind the War Room’s iconic set, as we ponder if...

In this episode, Ben reviews Emilia Pérez, a 2024 French musical crime comedy from Jacques Audiard. With a cast including Zoe Saldaña, Karla Sofía Gascón, and Selena Gomez, the film is a quirky mix of crime, comedy, and music. Audiard brings his own opera libretto to life on screen, complete with original songs by Camille and vibrant choreography from Damien Jalet. It’s a unique blend of genres that promises something a bit different! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, we dive into The Wild Robot, a 2024 animated sci-fi survival film from DreamWorks Animation, distributed by Universal Pictures. Adapted from Peter Brown's 2016 novel, the film was brought to the screen by Chris Sanders, who directed and co-wrote it. The voice cast is led by Lupita Nyong'o, with standout performances from Pedro Pascal, Kit Connor, Bill Nighy, Stephanie Hsu, Mark Hamill, Catherine O'Hara, Matt Berry, and Ving Rhames. The story follows Roz (Nyong'o), a service...

This week, Jack and Ben revisit Misery, the chilling Stephen King adaptation that redefines horror without a single ghost or ghoul. We discuss Misery as a psychological horror classic, driven by themes of isolation, creative entrapment, and toxic fandom. Kathy Bates’s portrayal of Annie Wilkes anchors the film, blending twisted maternal warmth with terrifying instability - while James Caan's playful nods add something truly special to their dynamic... although apparently that didn't always go...

In this Halloween season special, Bring Your Own Blockbuster host Jack Hussey sits down with screenwriter Joe Barton to delve into his 2017 horror hit, The Ritual. Together, they unpack the film’s haunting character dynamics and explore Barton’s approach to crafting horror, as well as plenty of chat on that iconic monster. With insights into Barton’s writing process and the unique challenges of building psychological tension, this episode is the perfect listen for horror fans. Hosted on...

Ba - Ba. Ba - Ba. The Jaws theme is just the best isn't it? Unless you listen to our episode the other week where we very much made the case that John Williams' score for Jurassic Park was the greatest of all time. But what a film this is. We're in the heart of spooky szn and so it would be rude not to get into a film that scared off people from going into the water for an entire generation. Within the pod we ask the question - Whether this is a horror film or simply just horrifying? How on...

Jack and Ben dive into Saoirse Ronan's latest film 'The Outrun' a powerful film based on the memoirs of Amy Liptrot who detailed her issues with alcoholism and the mental health struggles of her family. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week on Bring Your Own Blockbuster, Jack and Ben take a deep dive into the 1970's British folk horror classic The Wicker Man. They debate whether it should truly be considered a horror film, as many cast and crew members believed otherwise. The pair also explore the concept of 'daylight horror' and what it represents. Additionally, they delve into the clash between Christianity and Paganism, discussing how this theological battle has influenced Britain's history. Ben shares a...

In this special episode, Jack chats with writer James Hamilton about his latest project, Murder for Dummies, a six-part comedy-horror series that’s as scary as it is hilarious. James shares the journey of bringing this crowdfunded show to life, now available to watch for free on YouTube. Together, they explore the creative process, the unique challenges of writing for yourself versus working with big players like Netflix (where James has worked previously), and what it takes to make people...

We've all got busy lives right?! So... when you're choosing what to do with your rare bit of 'me time' you want to make sure you get it right. That's why Ben and Jack are here to help you make the right choice for your trip to the cinema this week. With that in mind... should you part with your hard earned cash to go out and see 'A Different Man' at the cinema this week? Starring Sebastian Stan as Edward a man suffering from neuro-firbo-matosis who struggles with day to day life and to build...

Is The Exorcist still a spine-chiller in 2024? Hosts Jack and Ben dive into this iconic horror classic to see if it retains its scare factor decades after its release. Join them as they explore the film’s themes, asking whether faith holds relevance in today’s society. They’ll also unpack the film’s groundbreaking practical effects that made it unforgettable—and a societal phenomenon that was banned in the UK until 1999! To cap it off, they dig into the creepy on-set incidents that added to...

Welcome... TO BRING YOUR OWN BLOCKBUSTER *T REX ROARS*. But seriously, welcome to the pod... it's Jurassic Park week! There are so many reasons to love this film and we get into all of them. For starters... what a cast. Unbelievable talent on show here. A shirtless Goldblum, Richard 'Santa' Attenborough, Sam Neill, Laura Dern, Sammy L Jackson and Wayne Knight. Once again us practical effects neeks get the joy of seeing how Spielberg made the dinosaurs alongside his masterful direction. We...

Oh hello there! Welcome back to BYOB Pod. Time to delve into an absolute monster of a film as we go undercover and take on 'The Departed'. Two films to give you the scoop on this week before we get into that though! Firstly...A big thank you to Paramount for having us at the premiere of Transformers One! What an incredible experience, and a really fun film as well. Beautiful animation and an absolute throwback - Ben and Jack get stuck into the Then... the absolute chaos that is 'The...

This week, Jack and Ben head back to the swamp to revisit Shrek (2001), the animated classic that changed fairy tales forever. They’ll explore the film’s core message - we’re all a bit weird, full of flaws, but finding people who love us for who we are is what really matters. The episode kicks off with a review of James McAvoy’s latest thriller Speak No Evil, touching on similar themes of acceptance in a very different way. Why was Shrek such a massive hit? From its iconic cast and...

In this episode of BYOB, hosts Jack and Ben dive into the surreal world of Tim Burton's Beetlejuice (1988) to see how this cult classic holds up in 2024. With its bizarre blend of dark comedy and quirky horror, Beetlejuice isn't easy to fit into a particular genre. How well does it weigh itself between zaniness and genuine storytelling? Jack and Ben explore the eccentric mind of Tim Burton, how do you even begin to understand his imagination? Ben shares his personal struggle with Burton’s...

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It's double trouble for BYOB fans this week, as we're back with our second episode. Jack and Ben sit down to rewatch Christopher Nolan's Inception and chat about how it holds up in 2024. Does the CGI still blow us away, or is it starting to look a bit dated? We dive into how Nolan's clever use of practical effects might have kept the film looking sharp over the years. We also get a bit more critical, asking whether there are any plot holes in Nolan's storytelling and if the character...

In this latest episode of Bring Your Own Blockbuster (BYOB), Jack and Ben dive into the highly anticipated Alien Romulus, directed by Fede Alvarez. Does it manage to capture the eerie brilliance of Ridley Scott’s original, or does it falter like some of its predecessors? The duo also tackles the controversial decision to use CGI recreations of actors who are no longer with us—does it add to the film’s atmosphere or detract from the experience? As a special bonus, Jack and Ben take a detour...

I SEE DEAD PEOPLE! I SEE THEM ALL THE TIME... did you ever used to say this in the playground? Course you bloomin' did. This week it's a bit of an M. Night Shyamalan special - obviously he's known for his twist endings and he's certainly mixed things up with his new film 'Trap' but really it all started with the "The Sixth Sense" (1999). One of the greatest films of all time. First up then lets do Trap... a really interesting one, and we don't want to spoil the review so get stuck in on the...

Put away your pigtails, put down the shot putt and get on out of the chokey, we've got another world class episode of BYOB for you. To begin with... let's call a spade a spade. What with it being so sunny in the UK Ben and Jack have been woefully lazy and not gone to the cinema this week. Let's add a bit of context there too though, there's arguably not much new to go and see. Don't panic - we've got a big review of TRAP coming up this weekend which we're both very excited for. And having...

Get ready to get squirmy. We're delving into Ridley Scott's masterpiece from 1979, 'Alien'. Yup - buckle up with all of the chest bursting, blood spurting and milk gurgling that you can muster. Probably worth mentioning at this point - Alien is the 52nd greatest film of all time according to IMDB - spawning one of the most successful franchises of all time. First there's the small matter of Deadpool and Wolverine and how incredibly that's performed at the box office so far - but will it...

Ben, Billie and Jack dive straight in on one of the summer's biggest films, the much-anticipated Deadpool & Wolverine! Does this film live up to the hype? Is this a return to form for the MCU? If anyone can save them, surely Hugh Jackman's Wolverine can - I mean, he's in the blue and yellow ffs! Give us a listen, leave a rating, leave a review and let us know what you though of the film! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.