The Black Dog Podcast

Join Lee, Darren, Jim and Elton as they waffle, wonder and jabber on about film, geek news, video games and any other tangential rubbish that springs to mind. Before reviewing a movie from a streaming service in our feature Shut In Cinema.

Alien Earth Episode 6 The Fly 09/11/2025

Alien Earth Episode 6 The Fly This week Count Oculus makes someone jump, Darren and Elton shoot down Lee's moaning and everything on Neverland Island goes on the wonk. /episode/index/show/blackdogpodcast/id/38188015

The Man From Earth 09/09/2025

The Man From Earth This week, which is the 16th anniversary of the podcast, Jim figures out why people wear grey underwear in Alien Earth, Darren has a birthday and Lee enjoys the Dadaction movie Nobody 2 Then after some feedback the guys head to a cheap log cabin, to sit in a room and make spurious arguments about some guy who claims to be so old that he remembers when the UK was connected to France before the channel tunnel.... No, not Darren. We're talking about The Man From Earth. Media Discussed This Week Alien Earth - Disney+ Nobody 2 - Theatrical Release and VOD rental Star Trek: Strange New Worlds - Paramount Plus Resident Alien - Netflix / Now TV The Interview - Riverside Theatre Hammersmith ( The Man From Earth - Hallmark Channel / Amazon Prime /episode/index/show/blackdogpodcast/id/38150520

Alien Earth Episode 5 In Space... 09/04/2025

Alien Earth Episode 5 In Space... In Space... No one can hear you apologise to the crew of the Prometheus because they clearly have been unfairly maligned and are not the dumbest Weyland Yutani crew in this universe any more. /episode/index/show/blackdogpodcast/id/38093375

Beyond The Infinite Two Minutes 09/02/2025

Beyond The Infinite Two Minutes Welcome to this weeks episode where we start with some encouraging news from Jim, listen to Darren lament the passing of Resident Alien and hear about Lee going to watch a jolly film about marital strife with his wife. Then after some questions and answers in Asking for Trouble the guys head off to go Beyond The Infinite Two Minutes.... and as is customary for all time travel movies, arguments about how the time travel works, quickly ensue. Media Discussed this weekBeyond The Infinite Two Minutes - Amazon Prime / 4OD / Apple TV Resident Alien - Netflix / Now TV The Roses - Theatrical Release Jaws 50th Anniversary - Theatrical Release /episode/index/show/blackdogpodcast/id/38066000

Alien Earth Episode 4 Observation 08/28/2025

Alien Earth Episode 4 Observation Eye ball sheeps /episode/index/show/blackdogpodcast/id/38014730

The Monkey 08/27/2025

The Monkey This week Jim repairs a murder shed, Darren watches Blockbusters and Lee gets a mysterious phone call from someones genitalia. After that its the usual feedback and a dip in to Asking for Trouble before we turn our attention to this weeks film. Osgood Perkins returns after Longlegs to show us why you should never buy second hand toys at a garage sale, as we review The Monkey Media Discussed This Week Blockbusters - YouTube Peacemaker season 2 - HBO Banishers - Xbox / PC / Playstation The Tourist season 1 - BBC iPlayer Mass Effect 1 - Xbox / PC / Playstation War of the Worlds (2025) - Amazon Prime Mission Impossible: Dead Reckoning - Netflix The Monkey - Amazon Prime /episode/index/show/blackdogpodcast/id/37972905

Alien Earth Special Episode 3 08/21/2025

Alien Earth Special Episode 3 Due to popular demand (okay, vague interest and some feedback) Lee, Darren and Elton are back to discuss episode 3 of Alien Earth - Metamorphosis. We have feedback for last week, some non spoiler talk and then a lot of heavy spoiler talk for episode 3 and more random conspiracy theories than you can shake a roll of bacofoil hats at. The episode is not a blow by blow recounting, just discussion about things that we liked (or didn't) about this weeks episode. This episode also helps us all be in no doubt as to the pronounciation of the name of the USCSS Maginot and makes us wonder if its truly possible to make a person out of a Nokia 3210 /episode/index/show/blackdogpodcast/id/37915425

Morbius 08/20/2025

Morbius This week Jim chills out watching camping videos and eating hot sauce, Darren binge watches Resident Alien and Lee discovers a loathing for Ticketmasters practices and a new unique canvas for one of his drawings. After that its time for some feedback for The Martian and some crazy questions with Asking for Trouble until we realise we can put it off no longer as we step gingerly in to the Sony Spider-Man Without Spider-Man universe to review Morbius... Is it really THAT bad? Or had people not seen Ice Cubes War of the Worlds to truly understand the nature of terrible films? Media Discussed this week The Tourist - BBC iPlayer Alien Earth - Disney+ Resident Alien - Netflix Kent Survival - YouTube /episode/index/show/blackdogpodcast/id/37884845

Alien Earth Special Episodes 1 and 2 08/15/2025

Alien Earth Special Episodes 1 and 2 In space no one can hear you say... What is this!? Welcome to a special episode for the first two episodes of Alien Earth. Join Lee, Darren and Elton as they sift through the wreckage of the USCSS Maginot (Mango? Mongo? Um Bongo?) to discuss what they liked, what they didn't and precisely how thick one characters plot armour truely is. The first 10 mins are spoiler free, while the other 1hr 40mins is definitely not... Its totally spoilertastic. /episode/index/show/blackdogpodcast/id/37842960

The Martian 08/12/2025

The Martian This week Jim gets Bookish, Elton is outraged by dabbing AI, Darren waits for a tow truck and Lee drinks a chilli and gets inappropriate photos of Hula Hoops. Then after a lot of feedback about Ice Cubes War of the Worlds and a Asking For Trouble section that disappears down a 70s and 80s US TV nostalgia rabbit hole, we get to this weeks movie. This week we review Ridley Scotts sci fi adventure The Martian Media Discussed This Week Bookish - U & Alibi Channel / Now TV Weapons - Theatrical Release Bosch (Season 7) - Amazon Prime Wednesday (Season 2) - Netflix The Martian - Disney+ The Lost Island - In the dim and distant past reserved for old men whistfully remembering a tv show no one heard of. /episode/index/show/blackdogpodcast/id/37787340

War of the Worlds 2025 08/05/2025

War of the Worlds 2025 This week Jim shouldn't have gone to spec savers, Darren discovers that doctors have long fingers and Lee watches the Naked Gun re-quel Then its a return for Asking for Trouble before we head to the cheapest part of town, to watch a 90 min teams call and Amazon product placement advert as we get on the algorithm bandwagon to kick the hell out of the 2025 War of the Worlds. Media Discussed This Week The Naked Gun 2025 - Theatrical Release The Assassin - Amazon Prime War of the Worlds 2025 - Jeff Bezos' scraps pile by the bins /episode/index/show/blackdogpodcast/id/37696030

Parish Notice - 31-7-25 07/31/2025

Parish Notice - 31-7-25 For reasons The Lego Movie announced on episode 226 - Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare, is now off the table. So Lee gathers Jim and Elton to his dark sanctum to announce a last minute replacement film /episode/index/show/blackdogpodcast/id/37627000

The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare 07/29/2025

The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare This week, Jim recovers with some quality codine and John Lithgow being disturbing with a puppet, Darren is threatened by chickens and discusses the MCU movie of the hour Fantastic Four with Lee. There is also the briefest mention of some trailer for blue cat people that are now slightly red, as well as the vital importance of Norman Reedus to various internet services. Then after some brief feedback its on to this weeks movie. A film that wants, very much to be Inglorious Basterds but with a more comedic "boys own adventure edge" so join us as we review The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare Media Discussed This Week The Fantastic Four: First Steps - Theatrical Release Bring Her Back - Theatrical Release The Rule of Jenny Penn - Shudder The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare - Amazon Prime The Assassin - Amazon Prime /episode/index/show/blackdogpodcast/id/37602265

On The Beach 07/23/2025

On The Beach This week Jim has a run of bad luck, Elton makes a couple of fair games that might get him locked up. Darren boldly goes for a Strange New Worlds new season and Lee plays reverse charades. After that and some feedback its on to this weeks film... A film that gives you a quieter take on the end of the world without the need for leather chaps or rage monkeys. The nihilistic 1950s film On The Beach /episode/index/show/blackdogpodcast/id/37513350

Invaders From Mars (1986) 07/15/2025

Invaders From Mars (1986) The lunatics have taken over the asylum as foolishly Jim and Elton have left Lee and Darren unattended. So without adults in the room, something makes an unexpected comeback, but not before Darren tells us about Brick, the Wrath of Becky (not a sidequel to Wrath of Khan) and Ziam a bloody awful zombie flick. Lee on the other hand has problems with Wes Andersons Phoenican Scheme and gets creeped out by a 45 min short film called Chime. Then after some brief feedback its on to this weeks film. A loving kid friendly 80s homage to 1950s scifi or a movie so slow it has distant post codes on its plot beats? We'll find out soon enough as we review Tobe Hoopers Invaders from Mars Media Discussed This Week X-Men: Way of X issue 2 - Comic Wrath of Becky - Amazon Prime Brick - Netflix Superman (2025) - Theatrical Release Ziam - Netflix Phoenican Scheme - Amazon Paid Rental Chime (2024) - Cinema Equidistant Invaders from Mars (1986) /episode/index/show/blackdogpodcast/id/37421635

Superman (2025) Special 07/14/2025

Superman (2025) Special Is it a bird? Is it a plane? No! Its two old men talking about yet another superman movie after the last eight. Welcome to a special episode where Lee and Darren share their personal opinions about the latest take on the man of steel the good and bad. The cast is broken into two parts the first 30 mins is spoiler free general feelings and caveats so we don't get pulled in to any kind of internet nonsensical ideological gang warfare. While the rest is spoiler heavy as we pick through James Gunns latest film and his attempt to stamp his own style on the character. /episode/index/show/blackdogpodcast/id/37406820

Heretic 07/09/2025

Heretic Welcome back to another tech issue riddled episode. This week, Jim loses a roof, and catches up with the next film from the makers of Talk to Me, called Bring Her Back. Elton goes to the cinema to watch some flappy paddle cars going around in circles with Brad Pitt. Darren becomes Temu Jabba the Hutt, and he and Lee have a "conversation" about the new Jurassic Park. And speaking of Lee, he has some numerical issues with footwear... Then after some Humanoid feedback we move on to this week movie. Hugh Grant is at his most Hugh Granty as he becomes the world worst Religous Education teacher in the unique thriller Heretic. /episode/index/show/blackdogpodcast/id/37351120

The Humanoid 07/02/2025

The Humanoid We're back baby... But we're also cursed as the episode is repleat with issues, mic drop outs and general zencastr internet shenanigans! But we soldier on to bring you news of Jims medical treatment and his discovery of The Outer Limits. Elton has a car confession and a little rant with Lee about the quality of Glastonbury. Darren, watches Ballerina which feels strangely familiar cough Black Widow cough. While Lee, decodes the secret formula for Predator: KoK, discusses 28 Years Later with Darren and tells the thrilling exploits on Maltas "Fun bus" After that its on to this weeks film... Not so much a film as a collection of images that resemble Star Wars if it was constructed by someone who had been dropped on their head as a child... The incredibly awful "The Humanoid" Media discussed this week 28 Years Later - Theatrical Release The Outer Limits - Amazon Prime Ballerina - Theatrical Release Glastonbury - A sound engineer symposium on noise gate usage Department Q - Netflix Predator Killer of Killers - Disney+ The Humanoid - Round the back of the bins... I mean Amazon Prime. /episode/index/show/blackdogpodcast/id/37249900

Black Dog Green Room - I shall call my cat Buchu 07/01/2025

Black Dog Green Room - I shall call my cat Buchu The green room is back... To moan about how hot things are and talk about peppermint disasters and the terrible truth about mens perfume ingredients that perhaps you'd rather not know the origin of. /episode/index/show/blackdogpodcast/id/37248820

The Thing From Another World 06/03/2025

The Thing From Another World This week Elton sits this episode out because late night working. Jim updates us on his health issues plus a mouldable crash couch, predator target tattoo, and delerium satans love of paper mache globes that are lacking Tonga. Darren on the other hand finishes Last of Us on the PC and gets in on the remaster of Legacy of Kain series causing a lot of realisations that we just can't play old games any more. Meanwhile Lee, finishes Paradise and delves in to the not at all controversial topic of the latest season (and finale) of Doctor Who... and finally catches up with the brilliant Sinners. Then its on to this weeks film, the original 1951 version of The Thing From Another World aka The Thing. Media Discussed This Week Sinners - Amazon Prime (paid rental) Doctor Who (2025 season 2) - BBC iPlayer / Disney+ for international viewers Paradise - Disney + Tale Foundry - Youtube channel @TheTaleFoundry The Last of Us - PC / Playstation Legacy of Kain - All game platforms Babylon 5: The Gathering - BluRay / FreeVee TV / Amazon Prime Rental /episode/index/show/blackdogpodcast/id/36841610

Frank 05/27/2025

Frank This week Jim is off with the lurgy but eltons woes with Facebook Marketplace continues with his newly acquired "Pppppffffftttpppllpppppp" guitar pedal. Darren doubles down on zombie action playing Last of Us and Dead Island. While Lee finishes Andor, finally catches up with Thunderbolts* and binge watches the Disney+ show Paradise. After that we deal with A LOT of Last Voyage of the Demeter feedback and take time to answer (in a roundabout way) what we think our favourite post credits scene is. Then finally we review this weeks film. A dark quirkily humourous biopic / fantasy based around Frank Sidebottom or a "mental illness is a superpower" movie? We shout CHINCHILLA! as we review Michael Fassbender as Frank. Media discussed this week Thunderbolts* - Cinema Release Dead Island 2 - PC Last of us - TV and PC versions Paradise - Disney+ Andor - Disney+ Frank - Channel 4 on demand /episode/index/show/blackdogpodcast/id/36739610

The Last Voyage of Demeter 05/20/2025

The Last Voyage of Demeter This week Jim gets fancy booze from Willy Wonka, Elton has "fun" with Facebook Market Place users, Darren watches Star Trek TNG and Lee checks out Murderbot and Love, Death & Robots. After that its on to some questions and answers including novel adaptations, Pies and Banana Man before we move on to this weeks film. A masterclass in stretching out the bare minimum source material into a 2 hour film while cribbing from Alien all the way. This week we review "The Last Voyage of the Demeter" Media Discussed this Week Eurovision - BBC Star Trek The Next Generation - Netflix Dead Island 2 - PC Murderbot - Apple TV+ Love Death Robots Season 4 - Netflix Last Voyage of the Demeter - Amazon Prime /episode/index/show/blackdogpodcast/id/36650170

Tombstone 05/14/2025

Tombstone This week, Jim watches a French Dirty Harry (not a euphemism), Elton watches a documentary that he has absolutely, positively no connection to. Darren gets frustrated by Tomb Raider's tank controls and gets stranded in Grove Park on a sunday. While Lee, becomes obsessed with the video game Balatro, continues his Andor watch and confesses to a weight issue. additionally we have lots of feedback for Bull and we answer a lot of questions in this weeks Asking for Trouble... Including what film would be improved by a John Wick cameo. After that its on (or off) with the Rose Tinted Specs as we saddle up and ride in an endless montage to the western town of Tombstone... But will the film be our Huckleberry? Media discussed this week Farcry - All video game platforms Balatro - All video game platforms Tomb Raider remastered collection - PC / Xbox and Playstation Night Caller aka Fear over the city - Amazon Prime (rental) Fred and Rose West: A british horror story - Netflix Tombstone - Disney+ / iTVX /episode/index/show/blackdogpodcast/id/36571975

Bull 05/06/2025

Bull Welcome to this weeks episode. This week Jim goes fully Bear Grills teaching us how he makes his yoghurt (NOT A EUPHEMISM) and his garlic pesto. Elton gets a phone that is best used with a pencil or as a stress toy. Darren gets a desk in the face and Lee replicates being a World War 2 submarine engineer by trying to replace his car battery. Then after some feedback its on to this weeks movie. A flinty, grim and mesmerisingly violent british gangster revenge movie that is criminally (arf!) under appreciated. The 2021 movie Bull. Media Discussed This Week Girl Interupted - Cinema Re Release / Various VOD platforms Heathers - Cinema Re Release / Amazon Prime Ash - Amazon Prime Havoc - Netflix Thunderbolts* - Cinema Release Andor (seasons 1 and 2) - Disney+ Bull - Amazon Prime /episode/index/show/blackdogpodcast/id/36462490

Over the Top 04/23/2025

Over the Top This week Jim returns to give us a public service announcement regarding The Crow remake, Elton goes anti CG while watching Elvis, Darren watches a range of films and TV shows that involve music, Vampires, hamburgers and fungus zombies, while Lee tries to explain the game Blue Prince before giving up. Then tries to explain The Residence, before giving up... After that we design the perfect horse before finally reviewing... Well... Custard, music, kinder eggs, anti surprises, terrible soft metal lyrics, deadbeat dads, trucking and odd gorilla sized men talking to kids in a roadside cafe, hood polish, tyre waxing.... Frankly anything other than our movie this week... Sylvester Stallones Over The Top Media reviewed this week The Crow (2025) - Amazon Prime Elvis - Netflix Sinners - Theatrical Release Dracula - BBC iPlayer The Founder - Disney+ The Last of Us (season 2) - Sky Atlantic / HBO Max Blue Prince - PC / Xbox / Playstation Daredevil Born Again - Disney+ The Residence - Netflix Over The Top - Near the custard and condiments aisle of any major grocery store. Perhaps even the cheese counter or the makeup aisle next to the antipersperants /episode/index/show/blackdogpodcast/id/36272350

Sisu 04/15/2025

Sisu This week Jim is away, either being helped by the NHS or having cosmetics tested on him, who can say (but rose blush does suit him). So Darren attends a play, Lee gets haunted by an alexa live on the cast and Elton comes up with some novel casting choice for a remake of Casino Royal. Then after some rather random questions and feedback for last weeks film, Enemy, we move on to this weeks film which proves beyond doubt that punching Nazis will never not be entertaining as we review the movie Sisu. Media discussed this week Hold on to your butts! - Theatre Performance at The Arts Theatre Soho Bondsman - Amazon Prime Daredevil Born Again - Disney+ Mickey 17 - Theatrical release Sisu - Netflix /episode/index/show/blackdogpodcast/id/36181280

Black Dog Green Room - AUTOBAHN! 04/15/2025

Black Dog Green Room - AUTOBAHN! Elton has no idea what Kraftwerk is. And some music has too many notes in it. /episode/index/show/blackdogpodcast/id/36179780

Enemy 04/09/2025

Enemy This week Jim dips into Flesh for Frankenstein, Darren watches Death of a Unicorn while Lee enthuses over his newly night purchased Commodore 64... What follows is some nostalga bait and then some intense peer pressure for Darren as we try to make him spend money on a zx spectrum. After that with Asking for Trouble, we get into the thorny issue of time travelling and killing hitler a question that isn't quite as easily answered as you might think, before we all collectively realise that Lee hasn't really got over The Fifth Element. Then finally its on to this weeks film, a pretentious pile of arse that needs you to do the work for the writers? Or a deep challenging psychological surreal study into the nature of a broken mans desire for freedom? Or an arachnophobes nightmare? Whatever it is, we're going to review, it as we watch Denis Villeneuve's Enemy Media Discussed this week Flesh for Frankenstein - Amazon Prime Blood of Dracula - Amazon Prime Star Wars original 1977 theatrical cut - BFI film on film festival The Lincoln Lawyer - Netflix Daredevil Born Again - Disney+ Death of a Unicorn - Theatrical Release Climax - Film4 Enemy - iTVX /episode/index/show/blackdogpodcast/id/36060600

Synchronic 04/01/2025

Synchronic In this weeks epic length episode, Jim tries his hands at DIY, Elton has a bomb drill while simultaniously being Hans Gruber, Darren watches Novocaine and Lee has a child free weekend and so visits a wind turbine museum. Then its on to some more "in depth" questions with Asking for Trouble, including Dr Who, Robocop and bodily injury before moving on to this weeks film. This week we find the drugs don't work as we take a trip back in time (just don't bring the dog) with Synchronic. Media discussed this week Boston Legal - Freeview Streaming Novocaine - Theatrical Release The Lincoln Lawyer - Netflix Synchronic - Netflix /episode/index/show/blackdogpodcast/id/35968590

Black Dog Green Room - Flash ruined everything 04/01/2025

Black Dog Green Room - Flash ruined everything Can we trace back the fall of society to the removal of Macromedia Flash and the removal of Frog in a Blender /episode/index/show/blackdogpodcast/id/35965285

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