Steve Stebbing

What The Hell Should I Watch – Oct 31

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October 31, 2025

Hey everyone! I’m back with Chloe for another stacked episode of What The Hell Should I Watch — the podcast that cuts through the noise of the new-release pile and tells you what’s actually worth your time.

We kick things off with Scott Cooper’s Springsteen: Deliver Me From Nowhere — a stripped-down, melancholic portrait of Bruce Springsteen during the Nebraska era. Jeremy Allen White gives a haunted, career-best performance as The Boss, while Jeremy Strong brings quiet precision as Jon Landau. Cooper ditches the usual music-biopic gloss for something raw, soulful, and deeply human.

Then we head into the nightmare with Dream Eater, a found-footage horror that actually gets it right. A filmmaker documents her boyfriend’s escalating sleepwalking episodes in an isolated winter cabin, only to discover something ancient and hungry lurking beneath his dreams. It’s tense, eerie, and doesn’t rely on cheap scares — one of the year’s best indie horrors.

Next up: The Best Christmas Pageant Ever — or, as I call it, The Blandest Christmas Sermon Ever. It’s another shiny, faith-based Hallmark special disguised as a movie. Judy Greer and Pete Holmes try their best, but this thing is so sanitized it could air on a church lobby TV between bake-sale announcements. Not offensive, just dull — and absolutely not my kind of Christmas movie.

Then it’s New to the Library, my weekly roundup of fresh discs and box sets to add to your shelf:
📀 Elsbeth: Season 2
📀 Hall Pass
📀 Spenser for Hire: Complete Series
📀 La Femme Nikita: Complete Series
📀 Detroit Rock City
📀 Supernova (2020)
📀 Emergency!: Complete Series
📀 The Ant Bully
📀 Being There
📀 Little House on the Prairie: Complete Series

And in Butting In, Chloe dives into The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon – The Book of Carol and The Long Walk. One’s another bloated, self-important chapter in AMC’s zombie purgatory — watchable but exhausting — while the other is a lean, brutal Stephen King adaptation that earns every blister. Cooper Hoffman absolutely kills it in The Long Walk, a dystopian survival horror that feels uncomfortably close to reality. It’s relentless, bleak, and the kind of King movie that reminds you how good this material can be when handled right.

Next week, we dive into VIFF coverage with Nouvelle Vague and Christy (the Christy Martin biopic starring Sydney Sweeney), plus full thoughts on Guillermo del Toro’s Frankenstein and Bugonia, the new Yorgos Lanthimos / Emma Stone collaboration.

🎧 New episodes drop every Friday at 9 AM PT on stevestebbing.ca
and YouTube.
👍 Like, comment, and subscribe — it really helps us out!

📱 Follow me: Twitter, Instagram, Letterboxd, Threads & Bluesky – @TheStevilDead
🎞️ Find Chloe on Letterboxd – @HoneybunChloe

🎙️ Also catch me on:

After The Credits – atcpod.ca
Tremble: The Horror Podcast – threeangrynerds.com
Shiftheads – shiftheads.ca
The Shift with Shane Hewitt – Fridays @ 8 PM ET on NewsTalk 1010 / iHeartRadio

What The Hell Should I Watch? – Oct 24

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October 24, 2025

Hey everyone! I’m back with Chloe for the Season 3 premiere of What The Hell Should I Watch — our weekly dive into what’s new, weird, and worth your watchlist in theaters and on streaming.

We kick off with Aziz Ansari’s directorial debut, Good Fortune — a supernatural comedy starring Keanu Reeves, Seth Rogen, Keke Palmer, Sandra Oh, and Ansari himself. Reeves plays a guardian angel who swaps the lives of a gig worker and a billionaire to teach them both a lesson in perspective. It’s witty, heartfelt, and a surprisingly confident debut.

Then we pick up the call for Scott Derrickson’s The Black Phone 2 — a chilling sequel that sees Ethan Hawke return as the Grabber. Four years later, Finney (Mason Thames) and Gwen (Madeleine McGraw) can’t shake their trauma… until that black phone rings again. Moody, emotional, and genuinely terrifying, this one earns its sequel status.

Next, I take on Mary Bronstein’s If I Had Legs I’d Kick You — a devastating A24 drama with Rose Byrne delivering her most powerful performance yet as a therapist and mother coming undone. Featuring Conan O’Brien, Christian Slater, Danielle Macdonald, and A$AP Rocky, this one’s a raw, claustrophobic gut punch.

We also talk about Richard Linklater’s Blue Moon — starring Ethan Hawke, Margaret Qualley, and Bobby Cannavale. Hawke plays Lorenz Hart, the forgotten half of Rodgers & Hart, reflecting on failure, fame, and love across one whiskey-soaked night. It’s tender, reflective, and pure Linklater.

Then comes Kelly Reichardt’s The Mastermind — her minimalist 1970s heist drama with Josh O’Connor, Alana Haim, Hope Davis, and Bill Camp. Reichardt transforms a simple crime setup into a meditation on guilt, futility, and small-town ennui.

We also get into Michelle Garza Cervera’s The Hand That Rocks the Cradle (2025) — now on Hulu and Disney+. Mary Elizabeth Winstead and Maika Monroe headline this sharp, feminist reimagining of the 1992 thriller that trades camp for cold, creeping dread.

Then it’s time for Chloe’s signature segment — Butting In — where she dives into the latest horror releases. She starts with V/H/S/Halloween, Shudder’s newest anthology featuring segments from Paco Plaza, Anna Zlokovic, Alex Ross Perry, and more — a wild, gory, and cohesive return to form for the franchise. Then she tears into Renny Harlin’s The Strangers: Chapter 2 — a noisy, flat follow-up that wastes a strong Madelaine Petsch performance on recycled scares.

We wrap up with this week’s 4K and streaming releases — The Life of Chuck, F1, The Bad Guys 2, and Nobody 2 — plus a sneak peek at next week’s lineup: Springsteen: Deliver Me From Nowhere, Guillermo del Toro’s Frankenstein, Bugonia, and Dream Eater.

🎧 New episodes drop every Friday at 9 AM Pacific on stevestebbing.ca and YouTube.
👍 Like, comment, and subscribe — it really helps us out!

📱 Follow me: Twitter, Instagram, Letterboxd, Threads & Bluesky – @TheStevilDead
🎞️ Find Chloe on Letterboxd – @HoneybunChloe

🎙️ Also catch me on:
• After The Credits – atcpod.ca
• Tremble: The Horror Podcast – threeangrynerds.com
• Shift Heads – shiftheads.ca
• The Shift with Shane Hewitt – Fridays at 8 PM ET on NewsTalk 1010 / iHeartRadio

The VIFF Experience – Day 7 & 8

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October 12, 2025

As the 44th Vancouver International Film Festival draws to a close, Chloe and I reflect on the final days filled with poignant tributes, compelling dramas, and a celebration of cinematic artistry.

Day 7 opened with John Candy: I Like Me, a heartfelt documentary directed by Colin Hanks. This film offers an intimate look at the life and legacy of the beloved Canadian actor, known for his roles in Planes, Trains and Automobiles, Uncle Buck, and Home Alone. Featuring rare archival footage and interviews with family and friends, the documentary paints a portrait of a man whose kindness and comedic genius left an indelible mark on Hollywood.

Following this tribute, we watched Sentimental Value, a poignant drama directed by Joachim Trier. The film delves into the complexities of family dynamics and the enduring impact of the past on present relationships. Starring Renate Reinsve as Nora, a successful stage actress, and Stellan Skarsgård as Gustav, her estranged father and a once-renowned director, the story unfolds as Gustav attempts to reconcile with his daughters after the death of their mother. His efforts to involve Nora in a film about their family’s past lead to emotional confrontations and a reevaluation of their fractured bonds.

Day 8 featured It Was Just an Accident, a gripping psychological thriller directed by Jafar Panahi. The film begins with a minor road accident that sets in motion a series of escalating consequences. Vahid, an Azerbaijani auto mechanic, believes he recognizes one of his former torturers in the driver involved in the accident. As he confronts his past, the film explores themes of guilt, revenge, and the cyclical nature of violence.

The festival concluded with The Mastermind, a 1970s-set heist film directed by Kelly Reichardt. The story follows J.B. Mooney (Josh O’Connor), an unemployed carpenter turned amateur art thief, who plans his first big heist. When things go haywire, his life unravels. The film explores themes of ambition, failure, and the consequences of one’s actions.

In our final episode, we also reflect on the standout films of the festival, sharing our personal favorites and discussing the unexpected surprises that made VIFF 2025 unforgettable. Join us as we celebrate the art of storytelling and the magic of cinema.

The VIFF Experience – Day 5 & 6

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October 11, 2025

The 44th Annual Vancouver International Film Festival rolls into its second weekend, and Chloe and I are back to cover Days 5 and 6, featuring films that range from intimate character studies to surreal, politically charged thrillers.

Day 5 opened with Father (Otec), a devastating Slovak drama by Tereza Nvotová, exploring the trauma and guilt of a father after a tragic accident. Youngblood followed — Hubert Davis’ modern, socially conscious take on Canadian junior hockey, exploring race, ambition, and identity.

Then came Clement Virgo’s Steal Away, a psychological thriller blending obsession, secrecy, and historical memory in a stylized and unsettling narrative. The night closed with Kleber Mendonça Filho’s The Secret Agent, starring Wagner Moura — a neo-noir political thriller set in 1970s Brazil, combining paranoia, surreal imagery, and historical intrigue, making it one of VIFF’s most audacious offerings.

Day 6 shifted toward introspection and literary resonance. A Private Life (Vie privée) featured Jodie Foster as Lilian Steiner, a Parisian psychoanalyst investigating a patient’s mysterious death, delivering a nuanced and captivating performance in her first French-language lead. Finally, Franz, Agnieszka Holland’s surreal Kafka biopic, used non-linear storytelling, dreamlike sequences, and inventive visuals to explore Franz Kafka’s complex emotional interior, family dynamics, and existential struggles, rounding out the festival’s mix of intense drama and cinematic artistry.

From raw emotion to stylistic experimentation, these six films reminded us why VIFF is our favorite festival of the year. Join us as we break down the standout performances, unforgettable moments, and bold cinematic choices defining VIFF 2025.

The VIFF Experience – Day 3 & 4

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October 10, 2025

Chloe and I are back for Days 3 & 4 of the 44th Vancouver International Film Festival, and these two days delivered an extraordinary mix of humor, emotional depth, and cinematic craft.

Day 3 opened with Philippe Falardeau’s Lovely Day, a Montreal-set dark comedy following a groom whose wedding day spirals into panic, family chaos, and personal reflection — a uniquely Canadian, heartfelt story. Next came the Dardenne brothers’ Young Mothers, a raw, unflinching portrait of five women navigating motherhood in a communal home, told with the Dardennes’ trademark social realism. Nouvelle Vague, Richard Linklater’s homage to Godard and the French New Wave, offered cinephiles a stylish, black-and-white ode to creativity, chaos, and the birth of modern cinema. The day closed with Park Chan-wook’s No Other Choice, a biting, darkly comedic satire of corporate competition and moral compromise starring Lee Byung-hun — tense, witty, and disturbingly relatable.

Day 4 shifted gears into the absurd, the ethereal, and the intense. Nirvanna The Band The Show: The Movie brought Matt Johnson and Jay McCarrol’s meta-comedy to the big screen, blending time-travel hijinks, heartfelt absurdity, and the chaotic spirit of Toronto’s indie music scene. Dance Of The Living (La Lucha) followed with a tender, gripping drama about a father and daughter navigating grief, generational tension, and the cultural rituals of traditional Canarian wrestling — a quiet but emotionally powerful highlight of the festival. The day wrapped with After The Hunt, Luca Guadagnino’s taut, morally complex academic drama starring Julia Roberts, Ayo Edebiri, and Andrew Garfield, exploring sexual misconduct, ethics, and hidden pasts — an intense and thought-provoking closer.

From grounded realism to meta-comedy, artful homage, and emotionally charged storytelling, these two days perfectly captured what makes VIFF magical — bold voices, daring stories, and unforgettable cinematic moments. Tune in as we break down the films, share our reactions, and celebrate the heart of VIFF 2025.

The VIFF Experience – Day 1 & 2

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October 7, 2025

Chloe and I are thrilled to share our first two days at the 44th Annual Vancouver International Film Festival, where we explored a wildly diverse lineup of films that highlight everything we love about this festival.

Day one kicked off with Christy, the much-anticipated biopic of boxing legend Christy Martin, starring Sydney Sweeney, tracing her rise in the ring, her fight for identity, and the shocking attempt on her life by her husband-coach. We also experienced The Blue Trail (O Último Azul), a moving Brazilian story following seniors fighting for freedom and adventure in later life, and If I Had Legs I’d Kick You, Mary Bronstein’s unnerving, blackly comic portrait of maternal burnout — anchored by a powerhouse turn from Rose Byrne. The day ended with Late Shift, a gripping Swiss drama about Floria (Leonie Benesch), a nurse navigating a high-pressure hospital shift, highlighting the emotional and physical toll of healthcare work under strain.

Day two opened with OBEX, a surreal, Eraserhead-like RPG fantasy directed by Albert Birney, set in pre-internet 1987 and following reclusive computer enthusiast Conor Marsh as he becomes entangled in a mysterious video game that blurs the lines between reality and the digital world. The day continued with Blue Moon, Richard Linklater’s poignant biopic of Broadway lyricist Lorenz Hart, portrayed by Ethan Hawke, set during the opening night of Oklahoma! in 1943. The film delves into Hart’s struggles with alcoholism and depression, capturing a pivotal moment in his life. The day concluded with Canada’s official submission for Best International Feature at this year’s Academy Awards, The Things You Kill. Directed by Alireza Khatami, this haunting meditation on memory, trauma, and identity follows Ali (Ekin Koç), a university professor who coerces his enigmatic gardener to execute a cold-blooded act of vengeance after the suspicious death of his ailing mother.

Join us as we break down these films — and more — during our absolute favorite time of the year: the Vancouver International Film Festival 2025!

The VIFF Experience 2025 #1

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October 4, 2025

We’re already a few days into VIFF 2025 — my tenth and Chloe’s second — and we’re kicking things off with our expectations, early impressions, and a few exciting sneak peeks leading into opening day.

In this episode, I share my thoughts on a diverse lineup of films:

Deathstalker (2025), the gory, nostalgic sword-and-sorcery reboot from Steven Kostanski (creator of Psycho Goreman) with Slash as executive producer.
Orphan (2025), László Nemes’ haunting coming-of-age drama about a boy in 1957 Budapest confronting his family history.
Our Hero, Balthazar (2025), Oscar Boyson’s dark satirical drama following a wealthy NYC teen whose social media activism spirals into a tense confrontation with an online troll in Texas.
Mile End Kicks (2025), Chandler Levack’s coming-of-age rom-com set in Montreal’s indie music scene, which I called the benchmark for Canadian films this year, praising its authentic portrayal of young artists navigating love, ambition, and self-discovery.

Chloe weighs in on two standout films:

Factory (2025), a powerful documentary by Hao Zhou that offers an unflinching look at life inside a Lenovo factory in Wuhan during and after the COVID-19 outbreak, examining the human cost of modern manufacturing.
Blue Heron (2025), Sophy Romvari’s poignant semi-autobiographical drama about a young immigrant family in British Columbia, exploring childhood, memory, and trauma with emotional depth and artistic nuance.

🎥 Join us as we kick off our cinematic journey through our favorite time of the year — the Vancouver International Film Festival! Stay tuned for fresh reviews, interviews, and festival highlights all season long.

What The Hell Should I Watch? – Sept 26

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September 26, 2025

Hey everyone, Steve Stebbing here! This week I’m flying solo while Chloe is off, but the lineup is stacked:

🏈 HIM – Jordan Peele’s Monkeypaw Productions presents a tense sports-horror thriller about fame, obsession, and power. I dig into the stunning visuals, Marlon Wayans’ incredible performance, and why it almost—but not quite—sticks the landing.

🌌 A Big, Bold, Beautiful Journey – Kogonada (Columbus, After Yang) teams up with Margot Robbie, Colin Farrell, Kevin Kline, and Phoebe Waller-Bridge for a romantic, time-bending drama. I share why it’s visually gorgeous even if it’s his weakest outing yet.

🎬 Eleanor the Great – Scarlett Johansson makes her directorial debut with a heartfelt story led by the incomparable June Squibb. I talk about its emotional core and why it’s a festival charmer.

🧟‍♂️ Marvel Zombies – Disney+ finally goes full gore! I review this violent animated series featuring voices from Awkwafina, Simu Liu, Elizabeth Olsen, Florence Pugh, and more.

📺 The Lowdown – Ethan Hawke shines in this Tulsa-set investigative drama created with Sterlin Harjo (Reservation Dogs). A must-watch new series.

💿 Blu-ray & 4K Haul – From 28 Years Later and M3GAN 2.0 to the classic Get Carter and cult oddities like Stallone’s Rebel, I share the latest additions to my physical media library.

👉 Subscribe for weekly movie & TV reviews, streaming recommendations, and Blu-ray collector picks every Friday at 9 a.m. PT.
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What The Hell Should I Watch – Sept 19

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September 19, 2025

Hey everyone, Steve Stebbing here with another packed episode of What The Hell Should I Watch? joined by Chloe! This week we dive deep into fresh movies, killer TV, and some amazing Blu-ray pickups.

🎬 Spotlight Review – The Long Walk
I share my excitement for Francis Lawrence’s haunting adaptation of Stephen King’s The Long Walk starring Cooper Hoffman, David Jonsson and Mark Hamill. I talk about the film’s bleak beauty, the incredible performances, and why this is one of the best Stephen King adaptations of all time, possibly.

🍯 Honey, Don’t
I finally caught Ethan Coen’s dark comedy with Margaret Qualley, Aubrey Plaza, Chris Evans and Charlie Day. Find out why the performances shine even when the story misses.

💛 My Dead Friend Zoe
A Sundance standout about PTSD, family and healing, featuring Sonequa Martin-Green, Ed Harris and Morgan Freeman. Powerful, emotional and worth the watch.

📱 Swiped
The true-story drama about the creation of Tinder and Bumble starring Lily James and Dan Stevens. We break down what works and what doesn’t in this tech-world tale.

🕵️ Citadel
Prime Video’s big spy series from the Russo Brothers with Richard Madden, Priyanka Chopra and Stanley Tucci. Over-the-top fun or too much? We’ve got thoughts.

💿 Blu-ray & 4K Picks
From Clint Eastwood’s Every Which Way But Loose to Sense and Sensibility (Ang Lee), Harold & Kumar Escape from Guantanamo Bay, and Lethal Weapon 2—I share the latest additions to my collection.

Plus quick takes on The Terminal List, anime smash Demon Slayer, and more streaming recommendations.

👉 Subscribe for weekly movie reviews, TV breakdowns, and physical media picks every Friday at 9 a.m. PT.
🔔 Hit the bell so you never miss an episode!

What The Hell Should I Watch – Sept 12

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September 12, 2025

Hey everyone, Steve here! Chloe and I are back with a brand-new episode packed with movies, shows, and Blu-ray picks you need on your radar.

This week I crowned what might be the funniest film of 2025—Micheal Angelo Covino’s Splitsville starring Dakota Johnson, Adria Arjona, Nicholas Braun and more. We also (at long last and finally) dive into the heartfelt indie gem The Ballad of Wallace Island with the always-brilliant Carey Mulligan, and Spike Lee’s gripping crime thriller Highest 2 Lowest starring Denzel Washington, Jeffrey Wright, and A$AP Rocky.

On the streaming side we cover:

Only Murders in the Building Season 5 (Disney+)

Joan with Sophie Turner (BritBox)

Korean crime thriller Yadang: The Snitch (WellGo USA)

Plus new Blu-ray highlights like Jurassic World Rebirth, Ballerina, Materialists, Bridehard, and Clown in a Cornfield.

Whether you’re hunting the next big theater release or a hidden streaming gem, we’ve got your weekend viewing guide.

👍 Like this video, subscribe, and let us know in the comments what you’re watching next!

📅 New episodes every Friday at 9 a.m. PT on stevestebbing.ca and here on YouTube.