Episode 116: Normal
Mindframe(s)
Mindframes Show Notes Normal (2026) Directed by: Ben Wheatley Written by: Derek Kolstad Starring: Bob Odenkirk, Lena Headey, Henry Winkler IMDB: Episode Summary In this episode of Mindframes, Michael and Dave break down Normal (2026), a genre-blending action thriller from Ben Wheatley starring Bob Odenkirk as a temporary small-town sheriff uncovering a hidden criminal system beneath a seemingly quiet Minnesota town. The discussion explores the film’s strengths—particularly its sharp, inventive action sequences—while wrestling with its weaker character development and underdeveloped...
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Episode 115 - The Drama
Mindframe(s)
The Drama (2026) Directed by: Christopher Borgli Starring: Zendaya, Robert Pattinson, Alana Haim, Mamadou Athie Episode: 115 🎬 Episode Summary In this episode of Mindframes, Michael and Dave explore The Drama (2026), a psychologically charged romantic drama directed by Christopher Borgli. The film follows an engaged couple whose relationship is destabilized during a wedding tasting dinner when a seemingly harmless party game—confessing the worst thing you've ever done—reveals a deeply disturbing secret. What begins as an offbeat romantic setup quickly spirals into a tense moral...
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Episode 114 - Sirat
Mindframe(s)
Mindframes Show Notes: Sirat (2025) Film Credits Title: Sirat Director: Olivier Laxe Country: Spain / Morocco Starring: Non-professional cast Festival Run: Fantastic Fest, Cannes recognition (director) IMDb: (Add link once available) Episode Summary In this episode of Mindframes, Michael and Dave explore Sirat, a visually striking and spiritually immersive journey through the Moroccan desert. Following a father and son searching for a missing daughter, the film evolves from a grounded quest into something far more abstract and existential. The hosts unpack how the film uses rave culture,...
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Episode 113 - The Bride!
Mindframe(s)
Mindframes Show Notes Episode 113: The Bride (2026) Film: The Bride (2026) Director: Maggie Gyllenhaal Starring: Jessie Buckley, Christian Bale, Annette Bening, Jake Gyllenhaal, Peter Sarsgaard, Penélope Cruz Genre: Gothic Noir / Horror Reimagining IMDB: Episode Summary In this episode of Mindframes, Michael Cockerill and Dave Canfield discuss Maggie Gyllenhaal’s ambitious reimagining of the Frankenstein myth, The Bride. The film centers on the Bride of Frankenstein—here named Ida—who is resurrected in 1930s Chicago to serve as a companion for Frankenstein’s monster. What follows is...
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Episode 112- Nirvanna the Band the Show
Mindframe(s)
Mindframes Show Notes Nirvana the Band the Show the Movie (2026) Directed by: Matt Johnson Starring: Matt Johnson, Jay McCarrol Written by: Matt Johnson & Jay McCarrol Genre: Comedy / Time Travel / Meta Runtime: Approx. 100 minutes IMDb: (insert final ID) Episode Summary In this mini-episode of Mindframes, Michael and Dave review Nirvana the Band the Show the Movie, the long-awaited feature adaptation of the cult Canadian web series. When Matt and Jay’s plan to finally book a show at Toronto’s Rivoli goes catastrophically wrong, they accidentally travel back to 2008 — launching a...
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Episode 111: Good Luck, Have Fun, Don’t Die
Mindframe(s)
🎬 Mindframes Show Notes Episode 111 — Good Luck, Have Fun, Don’t Die Film Credits Film: Good Luck, Have Fun, Don’t Die Director: Gore Verbinski Writer: Matthew Robinson Starring: Sam Rockwell, Juno Temple, Michael Peña, Zazie Beetz, Haley Lu Richardson Genre: Sci-Fi / Time-Loop Thriller / Dark Comedy Release Year: 2025 IMDb: (Insert official link when available) Episode Summary Michael and Dave explore Gore Verbinski’s genre-blending sci-fi film Good Luck, Have Fun, Don’t Die, a time-loop story about a soldier attempting to stop a rogue artificial intelligence across repeated...
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Episode 110 - Send Help
Mindframe(s)
Episode 110 — Send Help Film Credits Title: Send Help Director: Sam Raimi Starring: Rachel McAdams, Dylan O’Brien, Dennis Haysbert, Chris Pang Genre: Survival Thriller / Dark Comedy / Psychological Horror Episode Summary In this episode, Michael and David examine Sam Raimi’s Send Help, a survival thriller about two corporate survivors stranded on a deserted island after a plane crash. What begins as a struggle for survival turns into a psychological battle for power, identity, and control. The discussion focuses heavily on Linda’s transformation — whether the island reveals...
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Episode 109: 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple
Mindframe(s)
28 Years Later: The Bone Temple (2026) Episode Summary: In this episode, Michael and Dave dissect 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple, the most visually ambitious and thematically rich installment in the iconic 28 Days Later franchise. They explore the film’s eerie cult narrative, psychological undercurrents, and the shifting horror dynamics that turn humans into the real monsters. With Nia DaCosta in the director’s chair and Alex Garland returning as writer, the film blends horror, satire, and surprising moments of hope. A rich conversation for fans of speculative horror and social allegory....
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Episode 108- What can we expect for 2026?
Mindframe(s)
Show Notes Film / Topic Title: Looking to 2026: The Future of Cinema Focus: Industry trends, cultural anxieties, and the most anticipated films of 2026 IMDb: N/A (discussion episode) Episode Summary In this episode of Mindframes, Michael and David look ahead to 2026 and ask a deceptively simple question: what kind of year will it be for movies? Coming off what they consider a creatively rich—but commercially uneven—2025, the conversation explores the tension between artistic vitality and economic uncertainty. From box office struggles and bloated marketing budgets to shifting...
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Episode 107 - The Mindframes top 10 of 2025
Mindframe(s)
Mindframes — Best of 2025 Episode Title Best Films of 2025 — Trends, Themes, and the State of Cinema Film Information This is a multi‑film recap episode. Primary Shared Films Discussed: Weapons Eddington Hamnet Sinners One Battle After Another Train Dreams Universal Language Frankenstein Additional Films Referenced: It Was Just an Accident Ebony and Ivory Sirât The Zone of Interest Everything Everywhere All at Once Avatar: Fire and Ash Episode Summary In this year‑end episode of Mindframes, Michael Cockerill and David Canfield look back on what they...
info_outlineMindframes Show Notes
Normal (2026)
Directed by: Ben Wheatley
Written by: Derek Kolstad
Starring: Bob Odenkirk, Lena Headey, Henry Winkler
IMDB: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt31195136/
Episode Summary
In this episode of Mindframes, Michael and Dave break down Normal (2026), a genre-blending action thriller from Ben Wheatley starring Bob Odenkirk as a temporary small-town sheriff uncovering a hidden criminal system beneath a seemingly quiet Minnesota town.
The discussion explores the film’s strengths—particularly its sharp, inventive action sequences—while wrestling with its weaker character development and underdeveloped thematic ambitions. Along the way, the hosts compare Normal to films like No Country for Old Men, Fargo, and Hot Fuzz, asking whether the film earns its ideas about morality, violence, and the illusion of “normality.”
Thematic Discussion
Normal presents the idea that “normality” is not peace or order, but a fragile illusion maintained by hidden systems of violence and compromise. The film suggests that communities—and individuals—often accept morally compromised structures in exchange for stability, even when those systems are corrupt. However, while the idea is compelling, the film struggles to fully develop or emotionally ground this thesis, leaving it more implied than earned.
⏱️ Timestamps
| Time | Segment |
|---|---|
| 00:00 | Intro & setup |
| 00:25 | Film overview + premise |
| 02:14 | Ben Wheatley career discussion |
| 05:39 | Derek Kolstad influence & action style |
| 08:05 | Cast discussion (Odenkirk, Headey, Winkler) |
| 11:20 | Odenkirk as “underestimated man” archetype |
| 13:30 | Character depth debate (Michael vs Dave) |
| 16:30 | “Should this have been a miniseries?” |
| 18:45 | Action vs drama effectiveness |
| 20:00 | Michael’s review (★★★☆☆) |
| 24:30 | Dave’s review (★★★☆☆) |
| 29:30 | Comparisons: No Country, Fargo, Hot Fuzz |
| 36:30 | ⚠️ Spoiler section begins |
| 36:40 | Reveal: the town’s Yakuza deal |
| 38:30 | Debate: Is the central mystery… boring? |
| 40:25 | Moral ambiguity discussion |
| 46:30 | Thematic breakdown: what is “normal”? |
| 50:45 | Civil War comparison (hidden violence) |
| 54:00 | Final interpretation debate |
| 58:00 | Closing thoughts |
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