Steve Stebbing

What The Hell Should I Watch – Aug 21

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August 21, 2026

A new week is upon us, and with it comes another great summer adventure, a biopic of a prominent figure made by a Canadian treasure and a heartbreakingly bad film from a filmmaker I hold dear to my heart and my Letterboxd top 4. I also put Chloe to work with not one but three reviews! The dadding goes hard in this episode!

First up is The End Of Oak Street, the next film in the takeover of 2026 for very pregnant lead actress Anne Hathaway. Coupled with the always likeably dreamy Ewan McGregor, this is a family adventure thriller that brings you back to that Amblin Entertainment style of filmmaking from the eighties and nineties. So much fun on the big screen.

Then there’s Tony, a biopic of the late and very great Anthony Bourdain. Good Canadian kid Matt Johnson takes on the story that focuses on The Holdovers’ Dominic Sessa as a young Tony Bourdain during the summer of 1975 when he fell in love with food and the culinary world. Without a doubt, this may be one of my favorite films of 2026 and is the real way a biopic should be tackled. I elaborate more in the episode.

Finally, after Chloe brought it last year as part of her top ten of 2025, I got to check out the very lo-fi thriller It Ends, which was streaming as a Letterboxd rental at the end of last year. Now, with Neon and Elevation picking up distribution on it, a wider audience can now take this road trip into a forest-lined purgatory. This film is ingenious, pretty darkly funny and gets under your skin from time to time; a very solid watch.

Then my heart sinks as we discuss Nicolas Winding Refn’s new film, Her Private Hell. A huge fan of the Danish filmmaker’s work, the anticipation of this Sophie Thatcher and Charles Melton thriller was at a fever pitch and just might have dampened my feelings on it. Let’s say that by the end I was less than enthused and was determined to make this episode “My Public Disdain” of this new project by someone I thought was a genius.

Then we take on the new Guy Ritchie film In The Grey that reunites him with stars Henry Cavill, Jake Gyllenhaal and Eiza Gonzalez. Slick, well written and full of tough guy bravado, I had a lot of fun with this film and argued that these characters could be used to create a franchise. Sadly, studios and distributors failed this movie, and it’s considered a box office bomb. Don’t let that deter you from a really solid action flick!

Then I get to wax poetic about 12 Monkeys, a film that was the first 14A film I saw in theaters and one that I saw as a teenager BY MYSELF, a now regular occurrence. Now with my Arrow Video 4K, I break down my adoration for this film, which I believe carries two of the best performances from stars Bruce Willis and Brad Pitt, and I’m talking the best of their careers to date. Terry Gilliam is a master; his version of the future is so unique, and this might be one of the greatest time travel films ever made, and I’ve been saying that since the mid-nineties!

Finally, I give my thoughts on the first episode of the brand new HBO and DC Studios collaboration, Lanterns. With Green Lantern having a pretty sizeable black mark against it in live-action form historically, a lot is riding on these two new space cops, Kyle Chandler’s Hal Jordan and Aaron Pierre’s John Stewart. So, how did episode one play out and is it “Brightest Day” or “Blackest Night” for this new series?

Chloe butts in with a trio of films, starting with her thoughts on the Netflix thriller, The Last House. Did her views on it align with mine, or did she like this more? One thing we always agree on: Wagner Moura is the coolest dude on screen at all times.

Next is American Carnage, a Netflix film released in 2022 that plays really relevant right now with all the ICE incidents in the United States currently. Starring Bumblebee’s Jorge Lendeborg Jr., Jenna Ortega and a villainous performance from the late Eric Dane, Chloe digs into the fun she had with the satire in the film as well as a wild third act.

And, lastly, I force Chloe to give a little insight into her viewing of Immortals she did the other day, prompted by the Henry Cavill film in the line-up this week. Yes, I fully made her give a review on a fifteen-year-old 300 rip-off, and it went hilariously.

Coming up next week:

Insidious: Out Of The Further
Mutiny
Late Fame
Spa Weekend
The Magic Faraway Tree
Finding Emily

New episodes of What The Hell Should I Watch? drop every Friday at 9 a.m. Pacific.

What The Hell Should I Watch – Aug 14

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August 14, 2026

A new episode is here to plug into your eyeballs, and it’s all being produced within a wildfire-stricken Okanagan, but I assure you, I’m in a safe place where I am. To get the ball rolling with some levity, I have some great comedy options to talk about along with a new horror favorite from Zach Kregger that is finally getting a physical release on a 4K steelbook. Long live Blu-ray! More importantly, long live the gorgeous steelbook!

Starting off, we head back to the highway beat with the iconic Vermont State Troopers crew in Super Troopers 3. Obviously being the second sequel, this one was a delightful surprise, with Disney greenlighting it after their 2019 Kickstarter-funded follow-up to the first iconic film. If you loved the first two films, then this movie is definitely up your alley, but if you don’t know these movies or, movie god forbid, hate these movies, then you should pass right on by. That said, Broken Lizard is totally my jam.

Next up is a brand new stoner comedy starring Kristen Stewart and Alia Shawkat called The Wrong Girls, a film written and directed by Stewart’s wife, Dylan Meyer. KStew fully emerges from her cocoon to deliver a wildly hilarious performance as her and her roommate get caught up in an experimental drug plot due to a case of mistaken identity. With new powers thanks to the drug that gives them telepathic powers, including an insight into the minds of their housecats, this serves to make a wild and messy drug-fueled odyssey.

Then we finally get to talk about the horror thriller and quasi-comedy Barbarian, a film from a couple of years ago that I’ve never gotten the pleasure to bring to this iteration of the show. Now on glorious 4K, Chloe and I give Zach Cregger and his crazy Airbnb film its flowers and discuss where we jumped in on the hype train that surrounded its theatrical release. Zach made his name in horror on the back of this film, and it’s worthy of the praise still.

Then, on streaming, Netflix has a new isolation thriller, and they’re trying to drag you in with A-list stars and a solid action director in The Transporter and The Incredible Hulk filmmaker Louis Leterrier. A film that focuses on a phenomenon of a mysterious torrential downpour that locks people physically in their house, using the power and charisma of Past Lives’ Greta Lee and Civil War’s Wagner Moura. Is one a must-see hit or a soggy mess?

With the air too smoky to have an outside summer at the moment, television has been my focus to pass the time, and Ryan Murphy’s new series is helping with that void. The Shards is the exaggerated story of the final year of high school for co-creator Bret Easton Ellis in a 1981 Los Angeles fueled by neon, cocaine, new wave music, fake smiles and devious intentions. Oh, there’s also a “Night Stalker” style serial killer picking off kids too, so that’s fun.

I also dipped into my love for the entire It’s Always Sunny In Philadelphia cast by finally starting on Kaitlin Olson’s fish out of water crime series High Potential. Based on a beloved French series, it has her playing a single mom and police precinct night custodian who has a knack for solving unsolvable puzzles, you know, like murders and crimes. Not usually a fan of procedurals anymore, Olson is the complete draw to this series and brings all of that “Sweet D” energy we know and love.

And finally, I pull from the video game adaptation side of things, although Like A Dragon: Yakuza is more a six-episode addition to the large story that it has told over nine different games. A more elegant crime story than you’ll see in blockbuster games like Grand Theft Auto or Saints Row, I love the lore and history that come with the territory of telling a Yakuza story so this show roped me in pretty quickly. Between this and the HBO series Tokyo Vice, we have a couple of really stand-out Japanese and American co-productions.

Coming up next week:

The End Of Oak Street
Teenage Sex And Death At Camp Miasma
Tony
The Rivals Of Amziah King
The Floaters
Seven Snipers
Don’t Say Good Luck

New episodes of What The Hell Should I Watch? drop every Friday at 9 a.m. Pacific.

What The Hell Should I Watch – Aug 7

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August 7, 2026

It’s a brand new week and Chloe and I have a brand new episode! See what we did there? Well, obviously, because we are covering the new opening weekend box office giant, a return to form for the MCU. I dig into a genre that is a bit outside my usual likes, give some love to a lo-fi horror now on physical disc, and Chloe has a couple new horror flicks to talk about to varying opinions.

First up is the hotly anticipated Spider-Man: Brand New Day, the next installment in the Tom Holland-led saga that the entire world has been on pins and needles waiting for. After the “memory erase” downer ending of No Way Home, do we get to see a loner Peter Parker reunite with his loved ones or is this really the end? I have a multitude of thoughts and definite praise for this Spider-Man, the first to see a third sequel!

Next up is the new film from rom-com architect Will Gluck, a genre that is sometimes an oil-and-water comparison for me. This one starts off on the wrong foot for me, featuring a premise that is all sorts of ridiculous: a federally mandated celibacy of single people. As much as I wanted to hate this film based on that, it really wouldn’t let me. So, what won me over to celebrating this film?

Then we move to Blu-ray for something I love with all my heart: a streaming title getting a physical disc. Dead Mail is lo-fi to the core and features a delicious synth score which is really awesome, with keyboards being central to this film’s plot. Stuck between the seventies and the eighties, this film drips with esthetique and might be that unsung hero horror watch that people are looking for.

Next up is our Now That It’s Over segment where I give my final thoughts on Lioness, just as the third season debuts on Paramount+ and give a plea to people to watch the comic book adaptation of Paper Girls, cancelled by Prime Video far too soon. Television sometimes hits the blind spot, but you’ll feel my passion here.

Lastly, I continue on my James Bond journey with a definite fan favorite that provided inspiration for many filmmakers and actors over the years, Goldfinger. Probably the top of the 007 movies that Connery made, there is a reason this film is so iconic, and it’s more than just the very on-the-nose Bond girl’s name, played by Honor Blackman. Those who aren’t in the know, just make a guess on the name!

To close out the show, Chloe brings some more fun, first off with a horror thriller right out of her favorite niche. A brand new shark movie on Prime Video, The Devil’s Mouth features an actress that is a darling on our show, but can Kathryn Newton elevate the film past what the trailer threatens it is?

Chloe then moves to a new Euro horror that features a full-on gore crowning and childbirth. If that doesn’t float your boat, it also has former Ron Weasley, Rupert Grint, in a lead role, and Chloe contends that besides that Harry Potter performance, he always plays a douche. Well, maybe it’s penance for being overshadowed by one of the world’s biggest douches, JK Rowling.

Coming up next week:

Super Troopers 3
Rosebush Pruning
Ice Cream Man
The Last House
The Shards
Ted Lasso: Season 4

New episodes of What The Hell Should I Watch? drop every Friday at 9 a.m. Pacific.

What The Hell Should I Watch – Jul 31

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July 31, 2026

Chloe is back this week as the Lower Mainland heatwave has given her a little reprieve. This week is one of those odd empty release weeks between two juggernauts, The Odyssey and the upcoming Spider-Man: Brand New Day but we’ve still managed to bring some new stuff for your eager eyeballs!

First off is Corporate Retreat, a little horror thriller that found its way into my inbox and, just based on the description, I was hooked in. Borrowing from the genre successes of films like The Belko Experiment and Mayhem, this film has the added bonus of Alan Ruck coming off the award-winning HBO series Succession playing a villainous role. Was this a little diamond in the unknown rough to join a very niche part of horror or is this a dud that will make you want to scoop your eye out with a spoon?

We then pivot to a little Canadian horror gem that Chloe had actually already talked about on the show before. Buffet Infinity is a wild experience told in the form of late-night commercials as a large restaurant company moves into town and targets one Italian sandwich maker and her special sauce-making business before turning on the town to devour it. Yeah, this one is crazy and must be seen to fully believe.

Moving to the physical media section, Arrow Video has done more of their great work and turned one of the greatest streaming shows in recent memory into a beautiful complete series set. That’s right, the world of Hawkins, Indiana in the 80s is on Blu-ray and 4K as Netflix has allowed Stranger Things to get this wonderful treatment. Chloe still hasn’t fully completed her watch, so I skirt around some spoilers for her benefit.

Finally, we head to Netflix for more as two of my passions collide, reviewing television and professional wrestling. Back for its third season, WWE Unreal takes aim at the end of a legend’s career with John Cena finishing the final few matches of his incredible over two-decade run. The intimacy and personality shown in the behind the scenes of the WWE is one of my favorite things going in reality television, and I gobble up these five-episode seasons way too quickly.

Coming up next week:

Spider-Man: Brand New Day
One Night Only
I Want Your Sex
Sheep In The Box

New episodes of What The Hell Should I Watch? drop every Friday at 9 a.m. Pacific.

What The Hell Should I Watch – Jul 24

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July 24, 2026

Back for another week of releases, but I rock the solo mode as Chloe’s recording space was too blisteringly hot to record in. After a small pivot and restructuring, I’ve got a few interesting things to talk about, starting with the giant blockbuster in theaters that has sparked debate ever since it was announced. It’s almost like people wanted us to distrust a proven and unflappable creator but we are smarter than that!

First up is Christopher Nolan’s take on The Odyssey, the Greek epic poem by Homer. With his usual director of photography, Hoyte van Hoytema, shooting on IMAX cameras exclusively and the surging score of recent Academy Award winner Ludwig Göransson, this movie has all the setup to be one of the best of the year. I break down what I think is must-see cinema in 2026.

Next up is Camp, a Canadian-made microbudget thriller from writer and director Avalon Fast, a filmmaker I’ve had the pleasure of podcasting with before. This new critically acclaimed feature delves into loss, grief and a series of mistakes that push our main character to the brink of her emotions, who is then drawn into a witches’ coven disguised as a summer camp. Flighty and totally sapphic, this film is a neat companion piece to the works of Jane Schoenbrun and Panos Cosmatos.

Then, I dig into The Furious, a film that is on the short list of the best and most exhilarating action spectacles of the year. A two-man army, featuring Joe Taslim of The Raid: Redemption, takes on an entire child trafficking ring and dispatches endless scads of bad guys in insane fight sequences. Yes, this one really left a mark on me, and the final fight is an incredible piece of cinema that needs to be seen to be believed. I’ll be talking about it until the end of 2026 for sure.

Finally, I made the regrettable decision to watch the serial killer horror thriller, Psycho Killer, streaming on Disney+. The film’s trailer gives mood flashes of red, which I love, and Georgina Campbell from Barbarian, so I was interested before its release. Duped by the resume of the writer and ignoring a dismal Rotten Tomatoes score, this is indeed just as bad as it has been reported to be. I definitely feel justified in the shots I get in on it because… yeesh.

Coming up next week:

Her Private Hell
The Dink
WWE Unreal: S3

New episodes of What The Hell Should I Watch? drop every Friday at 9 a.m. Pacific.

What The Hell Should I Watch – Jul 17

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July 17, 2026

We’re back after a couple of weeks off, recharged and ready to dive into the movies once again! It’s been a crazy crush of big films lately in theaters and a lot of it happens to fall into the comedy category. That said, this episode has its share of horror adoration as well as some well-directed fists at the world’s Manosphere, including those in the film critic community.

Coming in hot this week, we kick it all off with the next piece of a horror franchise near and dear to my heart, as well as my social media presence, Evil Dead Burn. French filmmaker and brutal sadist Sebastian Vanacek brings us into the middle of a grieving family with secrets and lies buried deep in trauma. Well, the deadites are coming to expose all of this in a nightmarish rollercoaster that gives nasty buckets of gore and a few dark chuckles as well.

Next up, I finally get to give some yellow sun to a superhero film that really needs it, the DC Universe building Supergirl. While the internet’s toxicity tried to bury the film and the lead actress, Milly Allcock’s looks since the start of production, I contend that this movie is fun, colorful and, above everything, continues that hopeful attitude that James Gunn started with his Superman film. Don’t listen to the haters and see it while you can!

Then, we bid adieu to the guys at Jackass because Jackass: Best And Last signifies the end of these guys putting their bodies on the line for our laughs and, let’s face it, their own as well. Emotions are high, especially with leader Johnny Knoxville, and I can honestly share the sentiment as I was a fan of these guys and this MTV creation since before the guys were network stars. It’s a beautiful send-off that gives love to EVERYONE in the cast, including Bam Margera and Ryan Dunn. Rest in peace, Random Hero!

Continuing on the comedy thread, one of the best films of the year is now in regular release, and it has a tiny cast of just four actors. Now, those four happen to be Seth Rogen, Edward Norton, Penelope Cruz and Olivia Wilde, who also directs, so the calibre of talent is high. After stumbling with her last set, controversy-marred thriller Don’t Worry Darling, Wilde returns to Booksmart form with a film that is hilarious, smart and, above everything else, completely unpredictable. Olivia’s back and she’s not pulling any punches!

Finishing out the comedy streak, David Wain and the rest of his The State cohorts are back to show the Wayans how spoof is supposed to be done with their new Wizard of Oz-driven comedy Gail Daughtry And The Celebrity Sex Pass. Zoey Deutch is adorable in the title role, and everyone is at their best comedy level, including John Slattery and the idol in the crosshairs, Jon Hamm, who both play themselves. This is the comedy you won’t want to miss this year, a silly film that is a laugh a minute.

Finishing out the freshness is a Canadian-made film that both Chloe and I took in at the Vancouver International Film Festival last year. From writer and director Clement Virgo, Steal Away is a steamy, future-set coming-of-age story between two girls against the backdrop of forbidden love. In a game of recall, we both lay down our reasons for this film being sort of a mess narratively, and we recount our escape from the theater before Virgo hit the stage for his Q and A.

And finally, on Criterion Collection 4K and Blu-ray, possibly one of the most important international films of the last decade and one that has the filmmaker on the run from his own country. Nominated for Best Foreign Film at this year’s Academy Awards, It Was Just An Accident might be writer and director Jafar Panahi’s most widely accessible film narratively, but it might be his most harrowingly real story as well. Tinged with tension, tragedy and scattered dark humor, I implore people to see this must-see feature and contend that it should’ve won that Oscar. Yes, I still adore Sentimental Value but still…

Coming up next week:

The Odyssey
Rose Of Nevada
Camp
Corporate Retreat
The Hawk

New episodes of What The Hell Should I Watch? drop every Friday at 9 a.m. Pacific.

What The Hell Should I Watch – Jun 26

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June 26, 2026

This week on the show, I get to revisit the thoughts and ideals of a fourteen-year-old me as a Pixar original gets its fourth sequel. Hugh Jackman delivers a performance of a lifetime in a gritty re-imagining of a folk hero, and I finally got my eyes on a fresh thriller told through the lens of blaxploitation. I dig into a classic now on 4K and some television that I’m WAY LATE to.

We start with Toy Story 5, a film that I feel preloaded with cynicism for pre-screening, just like I was with the fourth one. Was I proven wrong, and my shaken support in the Disney animation giant was unwarranted? I will say that it is super refreshing to see Joan Cusack FINALLY get a leading role for Jessie, and this story is more relevant to parents than it has ever been. Also, why did I think of Kubrick’s greatest space epic while watching it?

Next is Hugh Jackman teaming with Pig filmmaker Michael Sarnoski to do a fresh take on an infamous bandit, minus his merry men, in The Death Of Robin Hood. Beautifully shot, this film is dour, gritty and makes the assertion that the folklore has had a considerable makeover. Reckonings, redemption and brutal tooth and nail violence are at the core of this film, and it might be one of my favorites of the year.

We then pivot into the debut of writer and director Aleisha Harris for her driven revenge thriller, Is God Is. The film is a blaxploitation filtered journey for two sisters to track down their estranged father, who burnt down their house with them and their mother when they were kids, leaving them for dead. Now horribly scarred and suffering the societal plights for it, Mama sends them on a violent excursion from her deathbed, and this film really delivers on its promises. With mind-blowing stops along the way, this kept me on the edge of my seat.

To finish up the new freshness, I get to talk about a documentary about my favorite musical ever made. Yes, you read that right, and it seems I’ve been waxing poetic about a lot of musicals in 2026, but this is the OG here. In Strange Journey: The Story Of Rocky Horror, director Linus O’Brien explores the origins of his father, Richard O’Brien’s creation, The Rocky Horror Picture Show. Having grown up around it all of his life, there’s an intimacy to this film that I adored.

Moving to Blu-ray, I’m finally giving my thoughts on the 4K re-issue of Varsity Blues, months after the tragic passing of leading star James Van Der Beek. Did it age well in the twenty-five-plus years since release? I’ll let my talking on the episode give you that answer, but I have to say the crazy amount of weird trivia on this one almost overshadows everything. Remember, without this, Friday Night Lights the TV show would never exist.

Then, in, I guess, a bid to get some disappointed messages from listeners and friends alike, I have just now started my watch through of Mike White’s hugely popular HBO series, The White Lotus. That said, I’m loving season one a lot, even with it being on a lower calibre format of DVD. Brilliant casting, including Steve Zahn, Alexandra Daddario and Fred Hechinger in scene-stealing roles, this is also the gateway to the Sydney Sweeney craze too.

Now to the streaming, a couple of the boys from It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia decided to direct their comedy into a new outlet, taking aim at the video game development world in Mystic Quest: Raven’s Banquet. Having now aired four seasons, I’m just digging into this AppleTV+ series now, but it has someone great in the cast from one of the best 2000s-era series ever.

Moving on, I get to throw one of my favorite television subgenres into the mix, British crime dramas. Starring a veteran character actor who happens to have also played in the Peter Jackson Lord Of The Rings sandbox, the series Suspect features James Nesbitt as a renegade cop on his own investigation through the London underground after the death of his estranged daughter.

And finally, it’s been a while since I bought a sports docuseries to the show, and I recently started one that features professional basketball, a sport I admit isn’t part of my regular viewing. Starting 5 takes a good handful of NBA superstars and gives us an unfiltered look at their lives over the season, featuring the King, LeBron James, one of my favorites, Jimmy Butler and the trash-talking styles of Anthony Edwards. An interesting look at a side of the sport usually kept secret.

Coming up next week:
The first of TWO WEEKS OFF!!

We’re back on July 17th!!!

New episodes of What The Hell Should I Watch? drop every Friday at 9 a.m. Pacific.

What The Hell Should I Watch – Jun 19

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June 19, 2026

This week’s episode has the granddaddy of blockbusters to lead in as Steven Spielberg is digging back into his alien bag once again. We’ve got more fantastic horror within this great calendar year for the genre, released in a very appropriate month and there is a physical release of one of the most popular Broadway musicals of the modern era. I am not throwing away my shot to finally give my thoughts on this and my wife will be proud.

First up is Disclosure Day, the great master filmmaker Steven Spielberg’s whistleblower thriller that races across America to deliver the truth about extraterrestrials’ connection with Earth to the masses. The movie benefits from a great stealth ad campaign that kept everything secret but was it all worth it? No matter how polarizing, with a cast boasting Emily Blunt, Josh O’Connor, Colin Firth and Colman Domingo, this is big Spielberg spectacle here either way.

Next up is an Australian horror set in a small community with some big chills contained within. Featuring Talk To Me’s Joe Bird in the leading role, this film tackles the themes of religious indoctrination and gay conversion in a way that fleshes out completely original. This one had a lot of groans during the trailer before Backrooms from some obvious sexually confused teens in my audience but it is more than worth the watch.

Newly on 4K after getting a pandemic era release on Disney+ and a theatrical release last year, Hamilton is now available for all the uber fans out there, including the love of my life. For those looking to have this in their collection, it is an expertly crafted experience that translates beautifully to the physical disc. That stagecraft is really something to marvel at!

Streaming for a while now on Mubi, I finally got my eyes on the German film Sound Of Falling. A film that played VIFF last year, this is a haunting look at the mental illness that runs through the bloodline of a family, starting from the conscription time before World War II. The result is a harsh mosaic that will leave you stunned but with a dark chuckle every now and then. Weird thought, I know.

Finally, Chloe gets to bring her thoughts after going into the Irish woods and nearby hotel for Hokum. Easily one of my favorites of the year, Chloe is just as stoked as I am on it but starts with a pretty hilarious thought about Adam Scott being great at playing ***holes. Is it natural or is he just a fantastic actor?

Coming up next week:
Toy Story 5
The Death Of Robin Hood
Girls Like Girls
Blood Lines
House Of The Dragon
…and more.

New episodes of What The Hell Should I Watch? drop every Friday at 9 a.m. Pacific.

What The Hell Should I Watch – Jun 12

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June 12, 2026

Another week, another round of new releases, and I get to dig into some childhood nostalgia to kick it all off. Beyond that, we have not one but TWO new spoof movies, including the restoration of a creative originator to their original IP. Plus, I have a Bonnie and Clyde-style con drama featuring two of my favorite current actors, and Chloe finally entered the Backrooms!

First up is Masters Of The Universe, a big and beautiful adaptation of the Mattel icon He-Man and his adventures, that finally arrives after a long gestation period that lasted decades. Built to dazzle us kids of the eighties, the film does a pretty solid job of bringing back that Saturday morning cartoon feel, but with a bit of a modern attitude to it. Lots of unsavoury types are calling this “Woke He-Man,” but I contend that there is reasoning for that.

Next is Scary Movie, the return to the franchise for the originators, Marlon and Shawn Wayans, their first time back in the cockpit since the second film, released in 2001. After twenty-five years and three bad sequels without the brothers, is the return really worth it? I’d say there’s a lot of punching at different demographics, and a good portion is punching downwards. There are laughs, but at what cost?

Switching gears entirely, I get to put some focus on a small southern indie drama that features two current must-see stars, Samara Weaving and Kyle Gallner. A love story between two lost souls, the focus here is on character, which makes the urgency of their situation work so well. Also, if you’re looking for burning hot chemistry, look no further than this film, which may go down as one of the year’s underrated best.

Then we dig back into the VIFF 2025 bag for another little indie gem just getting its release now, Our Hero, Balthazar. This is a dark comedy that offers a chilling look into the teenage mind on either side of the gun violence in America conversation. With two fantastic performances from both Jaeden Martell and Asa Butterfield, this is a film definitely deserving of a wider audience. As a parent, it made me more than a little edgy.

Finally, we finish up the new releases with a film that smashes the reality hit of RuPaul’s Drag Race into the spoof of Airplane! but on a train. Now, if I told you that RuPaul and their queens completely outdid the Wayans in their return, you would probably call me crazy. The reality is, yes, Scary Movie was dwarfed by this hilarious and vibrant film, and the comparison isn’t even close!

Chloe gives her initial thoughts on Kane Parson’s big screen realization of a series that she is already neck deep in the lore for and has been since the beginning. Did it match up with Steve’s hyperbole from last week? Chloe gives a taste of another weird little horror flick, the inventive and insane feature Buffet Infinity. An escalating war between two restaurants is depicted through competing late-night commercials. How could this possibly end?

Coming up next week:
Disclosure Day
Leviticus
The Furious
Over Your Dead Body
I Am Frankelda
…and more.

New episodes of What The Hell Should I Watch? drop every Friday at 9 a.m. Pacific.

What The Hell Should I Watch – Jun 5

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June 5, 2026

After an unplanned week off, Chloe and I are back with a great slate of new releases currently in theatres, a couple of streaming binges and more. Many apologies go out to you, the viewer, after a head cold took me down, but trust us, you didn’t want to see me struggle through it. The result wouldn’t be pretty!

We start off with Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu, the first from the famed franchise in theatres since the very lacklustre finish to the latest trilogy, released seven years ago. While Lucasfilm seems to be hemorrhaging money out of this release, I have some fun with the family for this movie, and I implore people to give it a chance. I will acknowledge that it is a reworking of an entire season into one feature, but I’ve made my peace with that.

The money part of this episode is something that has sparked a new obsessive rabbit hole for me, Backrooms. Written and directed by a nineteen-year-old Kane Parsons, this is the A24 big-screen produced feature continuation of the YouTube he started, using the free editing app Blender. This movie is immersive, gripping and a dread-filled odyssey that will stick with you for days or weeks after.

While we celebrate the good horror, here’s another entry into the genre that isn’t as great, The Autopsy Of Jane Doe director André Øvredal’s new road trip creeper, Passenger. I argue that the film benefits from a sort of effective trailer that is more like a short film, but sadly, the end product loses all of its steam before the third act. Let me tell you, I shouldn’t be outright laughing during a horror film in its bigger setup moments!

We go out on a good one in theatres, though, as a Vancouver International Film Festival blind spot finally gets its release on the big screen. Tuner is the second film from filmmaker Daniel Roher in 2026 and, for me, cemented Leo Woodall’s status as a formidable leading star and reminded everyone of the timeless charm of Hollywood legend Dustin Hoffman. This film might go down as one of the best this year, in my opinion.

Moving on to the streaming, Nicolas Cage, personal movie god and constant in my film appreciating life, does something he has never done in his storied career: Television. Re-entering the Spider-verse again, Spider-Noir not only gives the legendary Nic his first real comic book win (aside from Kick-Ass) but also was something he called “the most satisfying work of his career”. The fact that you can choose to watch it in black and white or colour just adds to the cool factor.

Finishing up, Mindy Kaling has another new series to add to her Infinity Gauntlet of solid shows she has created, and it feels like a bit of a spiritual sequel to some of her best work. Not Suitable For Work follows a group of early twenty-something New Yorkers looking for the next step after high school. Love, work and living situations are all relatable subjects, but this pilot didn’t hit as well as Never Have I Ever did, a Netflix favourite on this show.

Chloe butts in with a real classic this week, making me a really proud father as she discovers the 90s independent films that shaped me as a movie lover. SLC Punk is the discovery this time around, and both of us give the great Matthew Lillard his flowers as Chloe praises a side of his talent she previously hadn’t seen before. It’s easy to remember that this film hits hard no matter what generation is taking it in.

Coming up next week:
Scary Movie
Masters Of The Universe
Carolina Caroline
Our Hero, Balthazar
Stop! That! Train!
The Voices Of Our Mother
Heel
…and more.

New episodes of What The Hell Should I Watch? drop every Friday at 9 a.m. Pacific.