Episodes

This week, the Bad Dads wade deep into "The Bathtub" to review Benh Zeitlin’s indie darling Beasts of the Southern Wild (2012). Facing off against apocalyptic floods, giant prehistoric boars (Aurochs), and the harsh realities of off-the-grid poverty, six-year-old Hushpuppy carries this movie on her tiny shoulders.

God's Pocket (2014) In this Pocket Week episode, the dads dig into *God's Pocket* (2014), one of Philip Seymour Hoffman's final releases. They unpack the film's bleak tone, grimy neighborhood setting, and chaotic chain of events around Leon's death, Mickey's funeral-money horse bet, and the escalating violence that follows. The verdict: strong performances (especially Hoffman), interesting moments, but an uneven film that lands as a moderate recommend.

The Conspiracy (2012) Trust no one. Question everything. And definitely don't answer your phone if it just repeats your own number back to you. This week, the Bad Dads (minus Pete, who is off skiing) review the 2012 found-footage thriller The Conspiracy. Directed by Christopher MacBride, this low-budget Canadian indie starts as a fake documentary exploring the psychology of conspiracy theorists before spiraling into a full-blown survival horror about the very secret societies it's investigating. The Setup: We meet Aaron and Jim, two documentary filmmakers who set out to profile Terrence, a stereotypical street-preaching "kook" with a megaphone and a house completely wallpapered in newspaper clippings connected by red string. Terrence is arguably the best character in the film, blending wild paranoia with genuine historical psy-ops (like the Lusitania and the Gulf of Tonkin) to make you question reality. The Disappearance: When Terrence suddenly vanishes, Aaron inherits his…

In this episode of Bad Dads Film Review, Dan and Reegs review I, Swear (2025), the BAFTA-winning biographical film about John Davidson — a Scottish man whose Tourette's syndrome shaped his entire life, and who went on to become an MBE and a prominent advocate for people living with the condition. The episode opens with the BAFTA controversy: John Davidson experienced a tic during the ceremony, saying a racial epithet while two Black actors were on stage. Dan and Reegs address the internet reaction, the BBC's editing failures, and why watching the film itself provides the clearest possible answer. The film charts John Davidson's life from 1983 in Galashiels — played as a child by Scott Ellis Watson in a debut performance both hosts describe as exceptional — through a devastating adolescence, a diagnosis with no support infrastructure around it, a remarkable friendship with Dottie and her son Murray, a series of community jobs and landmark legal moments, and ultimately a clinical …

This week the dads tackle Paul Verhoeven's infamous erotic thriller — the fourth highest-grossing film of 1992 and quite possibly the most rewound VHS tape in rental shop history. Basic Instinct turns 33 this year, and it's still just as wild as you remember. In this episode: The legendary interrogation scene and the great Wayne Knight sweating debateWhether Sharon Stone knew — and whether Paul Verhoeven is telling the truthNick Curran: the "anti-Columbo" and arguably cinema's least heroic he...

This week's Midweek Mention takes us somewhere unexpectedly moving — Bill Condon's Gods and Monsters (1998), a fictionalized account of the final days of James Whale, the British director who gave the world Frankenstein and Bride of Frankenstein. Sir Ian McKellen is extraordinary as the ageing, ailing Whale — a man whose health is failing, whose memories are fragmenting, and who has grown too tired to pretend he cares about social niceties. Into his life stumbles Clayton Boone (Brendan ...

Bad Dads Film Review goes full courtroom chaos this week with My Cousin Vinny (1992) — the fish-out-of-water legal comedy where two broke New York kids take a wrong turn into the Deep South… and somehow end up charged with murder because of a misunderstanding that starts with a can of tuna. Sidey finally ticks off a long-standing gap (he’d never seen it), and we break down why this film still works: a tight premise, a brilliant “outsider vs small-town system” vibe, and a courtroom structure t...

The premise (simple, but the film isn’t): A privileged but messy NYC teenager, Lisa (Anna Paquin), causes a moment of distraction that leads to a bus hitting and killing a woman (Allison Janney). In the immediate aftermath she lies to the police—claiming the light was green—helping the driver (Mark Ruffalo) avoid consequences. The rest of the film is Lisa spiralling through guilt, grief, anger, and a need to “make it right,” while the city and everyone around her keep moving. What we talked a...

This week we head into full remake territory with Doug Liman’s glossy, bone-crunching update of Road House. Jake Gyllenhaal steps into Patrick Swayze’s boots as Dalton: a drifter, ex–UFC fighter, and walking concussion who takes a job cleaning up a Florida Keys bar where violence isn’t a possibility — it’s a nightly guarantee. From the opening underground fight circuit to the neon chaos of the Road House itself, the film wastes no time establishing its tone: sunburnt, hyper-kinetic, knowingly...

A gritty, twisty one-night siege thriller that actually looks great (yes, you can see what’s happening). The RIP throws Matt Damon and Ben Affleck into a paranoid, internal-corruption nightmare where everyone feels suspicious and every conversation sounds like it has a second meaning. The setup Miami PD captain Jackie Veles is executed by masked hitters after sending one last message and ditching her phone in the river. The FBI descends on the TNT squad (Tactical Narcotics Team), grilling ...

This one starts the way all great cinema analysis starts: Dan’s birthday sandwich (father-in-law today, Dan tomorrow, Mrs the day after), a bit of life admin, and then straight into neon sci-fi with Tron: Ares. If your Tron knowledge is basically “glowing lines, lightbikes, and that vibe,” you’re fine — this film mostly plays in the real world, and asks a simple question: what happens when programs from the Grid step into reality? The hook Two tech giants are racing to crack the next break...

This week’s episode begins in full “Bad Dads” mode: we’re recording with barely any gear in sight, arguing about blinking lights, and realising—mid-flow—that “Island Week” might have scrambled everyone’s brains. But the chaos is fitting, because the film we tackle is The Island of Dr. Moreau (1996)… a movie so famously cursed it feels like it was assembled in a panic from whatever footage survived the production. Based on the H.G. Wells story, it follows Edward Douglas (David Thewlis), a plan...

This episode begins the only way we know how: absolute chaos. We veer from wills, tits, and Stranger Things before eventually remembering we’re meant to be talking about a film. If you’re new here, that’s the show. The film in question is Guy Ritchie’s The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare — a swaggering WWII caper based on a real black-ops unit hand-picked by Churchill and Ian Fleming. Set in 1941, it imagines the birth of modern special forces: not rules, not honour, just twenty feral speci...

Welcome back to Bad Dads Film Review! This episode is setting sail for adventure as we discuss legendary sailors in film and animation, take an inspiring look at True Spirit (2023), and revisit an iconic animated classic with Popeye the Sailor Meets Sinbad the Sailor (1936). So, grab your sea legs and join us on this nautical journey! Top 5 Sailors in Film and Animation Captain Jack Sparrow (Pirates of the Caribbean series, 2003–2017) The ultimate swashbuckler, Johnny Depp’s eccentric pirat...

Welcome back to Bad Dads Film Review! This episode is packed with legendary warriors, epic battles, and high-stakes drama as we explore the art of precision, the horrors of war, and the supernatural forces of feudal Japan. We begin by taking aim at the Top 5 Archers in Film & TV, followed by an in-depth look at the South Korean war epic Uprising (2024), and finish with a deep dive into Netflix’s much-anticipated anime adaptation of Onimusha. 🔥 Who Could Make the List? Legolas (The Lord of th...

Welcome back to Bad Dads Film Review! This episode takes us on an epic journey as we dive into the grand scale of cinematic giants and feature a review of the thought-provoking Godzilla Minus One, followed by a nostalgic trip through the Godzilla Animation series from 1978. Top 5 Giants in Film and Animation: Godzilla from various films: This iconic behemoth symbolizes both destruction and misunderstood nature, captivating audiences worldwide with its sheer scale and deep narrative resonance...

Welcome back to Bad Dads Film Review! Today, we’ve got quite the lineup. We’re starting with our Top 5 Speeding Tickets in film—a challenge that took us on a wild ride through some of cinema's fastest moments. After that, we’ll delve into the intense and thought-provoking Civil War, a 2024 dystopian action thriller by Alex Garland, and wrap up with a look at the controversial and competitive reality series Beast Games. Civil War, directed by Alex Garland and released in 2024, dives into a dys...

You can now text us anonymously to leave feedback, suggest future content or simply hurl abuse at us. We'll read out any texts we receive on the show. Click here to try it out! Welcome back to Bad Dads Film Review! Today, we've got a special episode lined up where we explore the power of words through our Top 5 Speeches in film—a testament to how cinematic monologues can inspire, provoke, and move audiences. After that, we dive into the gritty thriller Rebel Ridge, and switch gears dramatically ...

You can now text us anonymously to leave feedback, suggest future content or simply hurl abuse at us. We'll read out any texts we receive on the show. Click here to try it out! Welcome back to Bad Dads Film Review! Today, we're diving into a unique double feature: first, we're counting down our Top 5 Vices and Vice Presidents depicted in film and television. This eclectic mix showcases both literal and metaphorical takes on "vice" and "Vice Presidents." Following that, we'll review the spirited ...

You can now text us anonymously to leave feedback, suggest future content or simply hurl abuse at us. We'll read out any texts we receive on the show. Click here to try it out! Welcome back to Bad Dads Film Review! Today, we're diving into the high-stakes, action-packed thriller Carry-On. Released by Netflix on December 13, 2024, this film directed by Jaume Collet-Serra and penned by T.J. Fixman, quickly captivated audiences with its riveting plot and stellar cast, including Taron Egerton, Sofia...

You can now text us anonymously to leave feedback, suggest future content or simply hurl abuse at us. We'll read out any texts we receive on the show. Click here to try it out! Welcome back to Bad Dads Film Review! Today, we're diving into the high-octane world of The Shadow Strays, a 2024 Indonesian action crime thriller that has taken the streaming giant Netflix by storm. Directed by the acclaimed Timo Tjahjanto, this film not only showcases exhilarating action sequences but also delves into d...

You can now text us anonymously to leave feedback, suggest future content or simply hurl abuse at us. We'll read out any texts we receive on the show. Click here to try it out! Welcome back to Bad Dads Film Review! Today, we’re stepping into the ring to explore our Top 5 Wrestlers in film and television, celebrating the larger-than-life personas that have left an indelible mark on pop culture. After our power-packed countdown, we’ll review the dramatic biopic The Iron Claw and dive into the anim...

You can now text us anonymously to leave feedback, suggest future content or simply hurl abuse at us. We'll read out any texts we receive on the show. Click here to try it out! Welcome back to Bad Dads Film Review! Today, we're getting into the festive spirit with a special episode that celebrates the sounds of the season. We're counting down our Top 5 Christmas Songs, featuring tunes that have become essential to holiday celebrations around the globe. After our musical journey, we'll review the...

You can now text us anonymously to leave feedback, suggest future content or simply hurl abuse at us. We'll read out any texts we receive on the show. Click here to try it out! Welcome back to Bad Dads Film Review! This week, we’ve got a special treat lined up. We're thrilled to present an exclusive interview with the talented Milo Parker, an actor known for his captivating performances in family and fantasy films. Following our conversation with Milo, we’ll delve into the world of Midas Man, a ...