Guess who's coming for dessert. A written review of The Invite (2026).

 

The Invite

Cast: Seth Rogan, Olivia Wilde, Penelope Cruz, Edward Norton

Writers: Will McCormack, Rashida Jones, Cesc Jones(original screenplay)

Director Olivia Wilde

**** and a ½ *’s out of Five Stars

 

What happens when a frustrated married couple(Seth Rogan and Olivia Wilde) invites their openly romantic adventures neighbors (Penelope Cruz and Edward Norton) over for dinner.  You get pure comedy gold in this updated version of the Spanish language film, The People Upstairs. But even if you are not familiar with that one, The Invite could be seen as a newer version of Bob & Carol &Ted & Alice meets Carnage.

Wet Paper Bag 2026 (written review)

 

Wet Paper Bag

Cast:  Nicole Weber, Adam Burke, Mike Bredon

Writer: Adam Burke

Directors  Jud Nichols, Adam Burke

*** and a 1/2 *s out of Five 

A host of a podcast and her producer pose as a married couple to investigate a wellness center where her sister was last seen.

Hypnotic (2023) w/ Cam Sully of Jacked Up Review Show.

 

Ever have one of those days where you go to work and then realize you have no controll over what you do. It's like some person is controlling all your actions. Worst yet, all of your friends are under some sort of spell and you can't help because some jerk is able to hypnotize someone with little effort. What do you do?

Well you let film experts like The Vern and his guest Cam Sully of Jacked Up Review Show Podcast to talk about the film, Hypnotic. Directed by Robert Rodriguez & Starring Ben Affleck, William Fichtner, and Alice Brega. 

The Rotten Truth: Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas (Sneak Peek)

 

Here is a preview of The Rotten Truth where Donnie Roberts and The Vern talk about Terry Gilliam's film adapation of Hunter S Thompson's book, Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas. It has a 50 % rating on Rotten Tomatoes which means some think it's utter trash and while others hail it as a masterpiece. Where do you lie?

"Get Over Here" and watch Motral Kombat II (2026) The Vern's Written Review.

Mortal Kombat II

Cast  Karl Urban, Adeline Rudolph, Jessica McNamee

Writer: Jeremy Slater,

Director: Simon McQuoid

**** out of Five Stars

From Dusk til Dawn (1996) w/ Aaron Neuwirth

 

While they were promoting Reservoir Dogs and El Mariachi. Robert Rodriguez and Quentin Tarantino met and soon after they would begin working together on projects. One of them is a little horror movie about two bank robbers(George Clooney, Quentin Tarantino) who just wanted a safe spot to lay low for a few hours.

PTA Meetings: Licorice Pizza(2021)

 

Continuing our series on the films of Oscar winning director, Paul Thomas Anderson. The Vern brings back on film critic and composer, David Rosen of Piecing it Together to talk about Licorice Pizza. A slice of life rom com in the 70's featuring outstanding debut performances from Cooper Hoffman and Alana Haim.

Spy Kids(2001) w/ Robert of Franchise Detours

 

Our next episode in our series on director Robert Rodriguez switches gears to talk about his first (but not last) family feature, Spy Kids.

Desperado(1995) w/ Isabel of Hearsing Around

 

We are starting a brand new series on a filmmaker who did so much himself before the studios got involvded and even after they were involved he still kept his signature style. Yes folks we are honering the works of Robert Rodriguez.

On this episode we are talking about the movie that really opened him up for a whole wide audience who didn't want to be bothered to read subtitles for his debut film. We are talking about the follow up to El Mariachi with Desperado. The action movie estravganza starring Antonio Banderas and Salma Hayek

The Bride(2026) is a Future Cult Classic (Video Review)

 

The Bride starring Oscar Winner Jesse Buckley and Christian Bale is very divisive amongst movie fan and The Vern is here to help explain this unique movie from director Maggie Gylllenhaal to you.

Ready or Not 2: Here I Come. 2026 (Video Review)

 

Samara Weaving returns and she still has those damn in laws to deal with in Ready or Not 2: Here I come. Joining the cast is Kathryn Newton, Sarah Michelle Gellar, Elijah Wood and David Cronenberg.

Is this follow up worth a trip to the cinemas or should you wait til streaming?

The Oscars on DDI Films & Graveyard Shift on The Rotten Truth

 

For this bonus episode, Im playing sections from two podcast shows Im co hosting.

For the first half, it's the⁠ DDI Films Podcast⁠. A new podcast that I started working for this past year. On this episode. Andrew, Sarah and myself go over the Oscar nominations and list who we think got snubbed.

Become a Patreon Member to see full video uncut

⁠https://www.patreon.com/c/cinemarecallpod⁠

Shift (2025) Written Review

 

Shift

Cast:  Conner McGill, Sean O'Bryan, Allison McAtee, Angela Alise)

Writer and Director: Max Neace

*** and a 1/2*'s out of Five *'s

When Tom(McGill) takes a job as a late night security gaurd at a storage unit.  He had no idea that he would get inolved with a mysterious blonde (McAtee) and her random affairs.  A boss(O'Bryan) who wants him to stay out of other people's business, a talk show host(Alise) who is interested in his tales of scandal, and than there is Grace but you'll have to see the movie yourself to understand that important character.

Random Thoughts of a Movie Insomniac (February Edition)

 

The Vern retruns to give you his quick thoughts on these recent flicks

Send Help

How to Make a Killing

Sirat

Mr. Nobody Against Putin

Wuthering Heights(2026)

The Moment

Random thoughts of a Movie Insomniac (Reviews of The Testament of Ann Lee, Marty Supreme & more)

 The Vern gives short reviews to these movies on this episode

The Running Man (2025)

  Marty Supreme 

The King of Comedy

 The Testament of Ann Lee and more

My Recent Podcast Guest Spots on St. Paul Filmcast and That's Da Bomb Yo.

 

I was a recent guest on a few different podcasts and I want to take the time and highlight a few of them here.

Over on Rabbit Hole Podcasts.  Jason Soto bringe me on to That's Da Bomb You(Hella Rad Movies of the 90s) to talk about the contraversial film from the 90's, Kids.  A movie about disaffected teenagers living in New York City that features a young Chloe Sevingy and Rosario Dawson.    Listen below.

Random Thoughts of a Movie Insomniac( It Was Just a Smashing Whole Bloody Eternity of Hamnet)

In this episode of the Cinema Recall Podcast, host Vern discusses recent movie releases and their potential for awards recognition. He reviews 'Hamnet', a poignant film about Shakespeare's life, and ' It Was Just an Accident', a thought-provoking narrative on revenge and ambiguity. The conversation continues with 'The Smashing Machine', a dramatic portrayal of UFC's early days, and 'Eternity', a romantic drama reminiscent of 90s films. Finally, Vern shares his experience watching 'Kill Bill: The Whole Bloody Affair' in theaters, emphasizing its cinematic brilliance and the importance ofsupporting films in theaters.

Tangerine(2015) w/ Howard Casner of Pop Art Podcast

 

We finish up our series on director Sean Baker by discussing the film that people took notice of first, Tangerine. The story of two transgender sex workers in Hollywood, CA. Where one finds out that her pimp has been cheating on her while she was away in jail.  Filmed only with an Iphone at the time. This wonderful holiday fable gets covered with special guest, Howard Casner of Pop Art podcast.

Random Thoughts of a Movie Insomniac(A Sentimental Alpha Hunt w/ Anemone Spider Woman)

 

On this episode of Random Thoughts of a Movie Insomniac.  The Vern reviews current movies that are either in theaters or coming to a streaming platform near you soon.

 

Featuring reviews of

Sorry Baby(2025) Written Review

 

Sorry, Baby

Cast: Eva Victor, Naomi Ackie, John Carroll Lynch

Writer and Director: Eva Victor

** & a ½ *’s out of Five

 

 There is a scene near the end that had me laughing when I shouldn’t have been.  In this scene, our main character is visited by a former colleague of hers.  While in school together, this other girl was clearly jealous that our protagonist got this big teaching job over her.  The punch line comes when the jealous girl admits to having sexual relationships with a mentor of both of theirs.  Only because she thought it would help her secure the job she wanted and it didn’t.  It went to the other girl instead and she is very jealous

It’s when this former peer just casually shrugs off having sex with this guy when it has caused our lead person such great trauma is what I found funny.  It’s humorous, because one person’s tragedy is mundane to another and it’s that  juxtaposition of what the other finds tragic is what was funny.  For the one girl not getting the job was tragic.  For the other hearing someone not be upset about the actions this guy did was tragic.  Im sure this wasn't the intent of the scene but it almost reminded me of something I would see in an early Todd Solendz(Happiness) feature