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Spoilerpiece Theatre

Evan Crean, Megan Kearns, and David Riedelwww.spoilerpiece.com
Boston film critics Evan Crean, Megan Kearns, and David Riedel help you decide what to watch by sharing spoiler-filled reviews of the latest blockbusters and independent films, across genres, including films by women, nonbinary, LGBTQ+, and BIPOC filmmakers. Opening music: "My Life as a God" by Augean Stables. Closing music: "Pants Party" by Oilhead. Show edited by Otto Klammer. Logo design by Rita Csizmadia.
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Episodes

Trailer: Welcome to Spoilerpiece Theatre

Hey Everybody! We're Dave Riedel, Megan Kearns, and Evan Crean, and we're Spoilerpiece Theatre: The weekly film podcast that doesn't give a shit about spoilers, we just wanna talk about the movies! Join us each week as we help you decide what to watch by reviewing movies without letting spoilers get in the way of our discussion. Let us spoilerpiece you into wanting to see the movies we love. Find us wherever you get podcasts or at our website spoilerpiece.com . Music: No Hook (Instrumental) by P...

Jul 01, 20211 min

Episode #363: "F9: The Fast Saga," "Werewolves Within," "I Carry You With Me," and "Zola"

This week we kick off by reviewing ZOLA (2:15), Janicza Bravo's crime drama and dark comedy starring Taylour Paige and Riley Keough, which is based on a series of Tweets. Next, we cover I CARRY YOU WITH ME (17:48), Heidi Ewing's queer hybrid narrative/documentary film about a chef who leaves his soulmate in Mexico for a better life in New York, but must make serious sacrifices along the way. Then we talk about F9: THE FAST SAGA (34:10), Justin Lin's latest entry in the FAST & FURIOUS franchi...

Jun 25, 20211 hr 6 minEp. 363

Episode #362: "Luca," "Les Notres," and "Plan B"

This week we review our second Natalie Morales film of the year, PLAN B (1:54), a hilarious road trip comedy on Hulu about best friends (Kuhoo Verma and Victoria Moroles) trying to track down emergency contraception in middle America. Next, we discuss LES NOTRES (24:38), Jeanne Leblanc's difficult to watch French Canadian drama, which prompts us to issue a trigger warning about the sexual abuse depicted in the film. Then we cover Pixar's LUCA (45:55), Enrico Casarosa's animated Italian adventure...

Jun 18, 20211 hr 7 minEp. 362

Episode #361: "In the Heights," "Holler," "Caveat," and "The Mitchells vs. the Machines"

On this week's show we open with THE MITCHELLS VS. THE MACHINES (2:28), a wild animated movie featuring a regular ol' American family struggling to save humanity from a robot apocalypse. It's a hoot. Next up is CAVEAT (18:12), an Irish horror film that says, "Oh, you're not afraid of rabbits? Get a load of this shit" (Dave watched it in broad daylight if that tells you anything). Then there's HOLLER (34:36), written and directed by Nicole Riegel, about a high school senior (Jessica Barden) who j...

Jun 11, 20211 hr 17 minEp. 361

Episode #360: "Army of the Dead," "Undine," "Changing the Game," and "The Amusement Park"

This week we open by discussing George Romero's recently restored long-lost film, THE AMUSEMENT PARK (2:21), an extremely unsettling commentary on aging and ageism. Next, we review CHANGING THE GAME (13:01), Michael Barnett's compelling Hulu documentary about trans athletes in the U.S. Then we dig into UNDINE (27:48), Christian Petzold's moving and tragic modern fairy tale. We wrap up with Zack Snyder's Netflix zombie heist flick ARMY OF THE DEAD (39:38), which offers us plenty of bones to pick....

Jun 04, 20211 hr 9 minEp. 360

Episode #359: "Cruella," "Seance," "Riders of Justice," and "Skull: The Mask"

This week we start by reviewing Armando Fonseca and Kapel Furman's SKULL: THE MASK (2:09), a Brazilian slasher film that can't decide on its tone. Then we cover SEANCE (13:04), Simon Barrett's boarding school-set horror flick that has us split. Next, we discuss RIDERS OF JUSTICE (26:24), Anders Thomas Jensen's thoughtful and endearing action film starring Mads Mikkelsen, which Evan caught at IFFBoston. Finally, we wrap up with CRUELLA (40:46), Craig Gillespie's Disney villain origin story starri...

May 28, 20211 hr 9 minEp. 359

Episode #358: "The Dry," "Those Who Wish Me Dead," "The Woman in the Window," and "Psycho Goreman"

We start this week by reviewing Steven Kostanski's uneven horror comedy PSYCHO GOREMAN (2:08). Next, we cover Joe Wright's derivative and inert Netflix thriller THE WOMAN IN THE WINDOW (13:22), which wastes Amy Adams and a great supporting cast. Then we discuss Taylor Sheridan's THOSE WHO WISH ME DEAD (28:43), an Angelina Jolie forest fire thriller that really divided us. Lastly, we review Robert Connolly's Australian murder mystery THE DRY (41:20) from IFFBoston 2021, which features a compellin...

May 21, 20211 hr 4 minEp. 358

Episode #357: "The Killing of Two Lovers," "The Djinn," and "The Reckoning"

This week Megan is on vacation so we're joined by guest Lady Wan from the Screen Run podcast! First, we review Neill Marshall's torturous period horror film THE RECKONING (2:24) about a woman falsely accused of being a witch. Next, we cover David Charbonier and Justin Powell's tense horror film THE DJINN (16:44), about a mute boy who asks a dark entity to grant his wish. Then, we wrap up with Robert Machoian's claustrophobic relationship drama THE KILLING OF TWO LOVERS (24:58), about a couple tr...

May 14, 202147 minEp. 357

Episode #356: "Silo," "Golden Arm," and "Mortal Kombat"

Dave is off this week, so Megan and Evan talk about the movies. First, we review Marshall Burnette's sporadically intense thriller SILO (2:31) about the frantic attempt to rescue a teenager who's stuck in a grain silo. Then we discuss Maureen Bharoocha's charming comedy GOLDEN ARM (16:01), about a trucker (Betsy Sodaro) who trains her timid friend (Mary Holland) to compete in the National Ladies Arm Wrestling Tournament. Finally, we test our might with MORTAL KOMBAT (29:59), Simon McQuoid's adap...

May 07, 20211 hr 2 minEp. 356

Episode #355: "Tom Clancy's Without Remorse," "Limbo," "Four Good Days," and 2021 Oscars recap

This week we start by recapping our thoughts on the 2021 Oscars! We talk about the ceremony's format, the nominees we wished won, the winners we loved, and the heartfelt acceptance speeches that moved us. Next we discuss Rodrigo García's FOUR GOOD DAYS (22:47), a challenging mother/daughter drama about addiction, starring Glenn Close and Mila Kunis. After that, we review LIMBO (37:11), Ben Sharrock's poignant and compelling drama about a Syrian refugee stuck in rural Scotland while he awaits his...

Apr 30, 20211 hr 9 minEp. 355

Episode #354: "Together Together," "Concrete Cowboy," "The Banishing" and films from Wicked Queer, Boston's LGBTQ+ Film Festival

We start this week by covering films from Wicked Queer, Boston's LGBTQ+ Film Festival (1:46). Evan reviews the Israeli picture KISS ME KOSHER, and Megan offers quick takes on drama SEE YOU THEN, horror film BLOODTHIRSTY, and Taiwanese psychological thriller NINA WU. Then we all discuss Christopher Smith's horror film THE BANISHING (10:53), a disappointingly by-the-numbers haunted house story. Next, we talk about Ricky Staub's moving Netflix coming-of-age tale CONCRETE COWBOY (26:08) starring Cal...

Apr 23, 20211 hr 8 minEp. 354

Episode #353: "Jakob's Wife," "Monday," "Voyagers," and "Tina"

We start the show this week with TINA (1:41), the comprehensive HBO Max documentary about music icon Tina Turner, who we all love, but one of us much more than the others. Next, we review VOYAGERS (16:07), Neil Burger's LORD OF THE FLIES on a spaceship, a sci-fi thriller that gets us all extremely riled up. Then we discuss MONDAY (31:23), the Argyris Papadimitropoulos romantic drama starring Sebastian Stan and Denise Gough, which two of us HATE and one of us likes. Lastly, we dig into JAKOB's WI...

Apr 16, 20211 hr 7 minEp. 353

Episode #352: "Moffie," "The Power," and "The Truffle Hunters"

This week, we kick off with THE TRUFFLE HUNTERS (1:39), a beautifully shot documentary about the quirky men and their beloved dogs who hunt rare white Alba truffles in Northern Italy. Next, we discuss THE POWER (15:45), Corinna Faith's predictable, yet compelling horror film about a rookie nurse in 1974 London, who encounters a terrifying spirit while working at a hospital during a planned blackout. After that, we review MOFFIE (36:02), Oliver Hermanus's moving and brutal period drama about a cl...

Apr 09, 20211 hrEp. 352

Episode #351: "Godzilla vs Kong," "Zack Snyder's Justice League," "Wolfwalkers," and "Woodlands Dark and Days Bewitched: A History of Folk Horror"

Dave keeps knives in his microwave?! Find out why this week. We kick off our reviews with ZACK SNYDER'S JUSTICE LEAGUE (4:21), a four-hour cut of the 2017 superhero film, which for better and worse, represents its original director's vision. Next, we talk about the heartwarming Oscar-nominated animated tale WOLFWALKERS (20:04). After that, we cover the three-hour documentary WOODLANDS DARK AND DAYS BEWITCHED: A HISTORY OF FOLK HORROR (28:59), which is long but offers a fascinating dissection of ...

Apr 02, 20211 hr 6 minEp. 351

Episode #350: "Language Lessons," "Dear Mr. Brody," and "Sound of Violence" from SXSW 2021

This week we open with a statement in support of the Asian American community. Then we discuss some movies that played at this year's SXSW. Evan and Megan cover SOUND OF VIOLENCE (2:52), Alex Noyer's brutal horror film about a college student who finds herself chasing a synesthetic high at all costs. Next, we talk about Keith Maitland's uneven documentary DEAR MR. BRODY (14:30), which tells the story of Michael Brody Jr., an heir to a margarine fortune who publicly promised to give away his mult...

Mar 26, 202154 minEp. 350

Episode #349: "The Courier," "Slaxx," "Ludi," and "Operation Varsity Blues: The College Admissions Scandal"

Dave and Megan kick off this week's episode by discussing LUDI (2:09), Edson Jean's drama about a Haitian nurse chasing the American Dream. Next, everyone reviews Chris Smith's Netflix documentary OPERATION VARSITY BLUES: THE COLLEGE ADMISSIONS SCANDAL (12:38), which delves into the notorious scheme by celebrities and wealthy individuals to sneak their kids into prestigious universities. Then, we cover SLAXX (22:58), Elza Kephart's horror-comedy about a killer pair of pants...yeah that's right, ...

Mar 19, 202157 minEp. 349

Episode #348: "Moxie," "Sophie Jones," "Jumbo," and films from the Boston Israeli Film Festival

Evan starts this week by recapping two feature-length films he saw from the Boston Israeli Film Festival (1:29). He talks about Nir Bergman's HERE WE ARE , a drama about a father's changing relationship with his autistic son, and Yohanan Weller's LOVE IN SUSPENDERS , a romcom about finding love again later in life. Then Megan and Dave review Zoe Wittock's JUMBO (13:04), romantic drama about a woman who falls in love with an amusement park ride. Next, we all discuss Jessie Barr's SOPHIE JONES (28...

Mar 12, 20211 hr 13 minEp. 348

Episode #347: "Raya and the Last Dragon," "Lucky," "The United States vs. Billie Holiday," "Boogie," and shorts from The Boston Israeli Film Festival

This week Evan opens with a plug for the Boston Israeli Film Festival , where he briefly mentions some moving shorts he saw from it (1:56). Then, Dave shares quick thoughts about the ending of I CARE A LOT (3:57). Megan starts the new movies with BOOGIE (7:58), Eddie Huang's coming-of-age story about an Asian American basketball player. Next, everyone discusses the Lee Daniels' Hulu film THE UNITED STATES VS. BILLIE HOLIDAY (17:16), a story about singer Billie Holiday's turbulent life (starring ...

Mar 05, 20211 hr 17 minEp. 347

Episode #346: "Cherry," "I Care A Lot," "The Vigil," and "Billie Eilish: The World's a Little Blurry"

Dave kicks off this week's episode with a brief review of R.J. Cutler's Apple TV+ documentary BILLIE EILISH: THE WORLD'S A LITTLE BLURRY (1:43), which examines the singer-songwriter's life on the road and at home while she creates her debut album. Next, everyone reviews J Blakeson's Netflix crime drama/dark comedy I CARE A LOT (8:20), starring Rosamund Pike as a legal guardian whose scheme to take advantage of her elderly wards hits a snag when one of her marks turns out to be more than she seem...

Feb 26, 20211 hr

Episode #345: "Minari," "Framing Britney Spears," "Shook," and "Sator"

We kick off this week's show with SATOR (2:01), Jordan Graham's atmospheric horror film about a demon pursuing multiple generations of a forest-dwelling family. Then Megan and Evan review SHOOK (14:09), Jennifer Harrington's social-media-infused horror movie on Shudder. Next, everyone discusses the documentary FRAMING BRITNEY SPEARS (25:49), an episode of THE NEW YORK TIMES PRESENTS series that focuses on Britney Spears, the conservatorship that controls her life, and the misogyny in media that ...

Feb 19, 20211 hr 6 minEp. 345

Episode #344: "Saint Maud," "Malcolm & Marie," "The Wanting Mare," and "A Nightmare Wakes"

This week Dave can't make it, so Dede Crimmins, the Alec Baldwin of Spoilerpiece, fills in! After discussing cats on Zoom, we dive into this week's movies. First up is Shudder's A NIGHTMARE WAKES (3:25), Nora Unkel's period horror flick which follows Mary Shelley as she writes Frankenstein. Next, we review THE WANTING MARE (13:00), Nicholas Ashe Bateman's surreal fantasy about dreams, longing, and yes, a mare. Then it's Netflix's MALCOLM & MARIE (26:43), Sam Levinson's movie about a couple's...

Feb 12, 20211 hr 11 minEp. 344

Episode #343: Sundance 2021

SUNDANCE, SUNDANCE, SUNDANCE! We cover the Sundance Film Festival for the first time so we have a LOT of movies to discuss. We kick off with films we saw individually and would recommend: FIRST DATE (3:25), FLEE (6:14), and PASSING (9:21). Then we move on to movies at least two of us have seen like MARVELOUS AND THE BLACK HOLE (15:05), HOW IT ENDS (20:47), BRING YOUR OWN BRIGADE (27:24), and THE WORLD TO COME (37:46). We end with discussions of films all three of us have seen like STREET GANG: H...

Feb 05, 20211 hr 15 minEp. 343

Episode #342: "The Little Things," "Supernova," and "The Queen of Black Magic"

This week we offer some thoughts on whipped cream before we get to the movies. First, Megan and Evan review Shudder's Indonesian horror flick THE QUEEN OF BLACK MAGIC (3:29), which is about three friends who visit the orphanage where they grew up. Next, everyone discusses SUPERNOVA (17:05), a road trip film where Stanley Tucci and Colin Firth play a couple grappling with the fact that one of them has dementia. Then it's on to THE LITTLE THINGS (37:48), a 90s-set noir-ish crime drama starring Den...

Jan 29, 20211 hr 6 minEp. 342

Episode #341: "The White Tiger," "Identifying Features," "Breaking Fast," and "Outside the Wire"

After a everyone talks a little bit about the inauguration and plugs recent guest appearances on the Screen Fix podcast, Evan and Megan review OUTSIDE THE WIRE (5:05), a Netflix sci-fi film starring Anthony Mackie. Next, Dave and Megan discuss the dramedy BREAKING FAST (18:18), Mike Mosallam's directorial debut about a gay Muslim man navigating romantic challenges during the month of Ramadan. Then, Megan and Evan dig into IDENTIFYING FEATURES (33:59), Fernanda Valadez's drama about a mother trav...

Jan 22, 20211 hr 10 minEp. 341

Episode #340: "The Marksman," "Hunted," "Don't Tell a Soul," and "MLK/FBI"

Megan and Evan start this week's show with MLK/FBI (3:55), Sam Pollard's documentary about the FBI's campaign to intimidate and discredit Martin Luther King Jr. during the Civil Rights movement. Next, they cover Alex McAulay's DON'T TELL A SOUL (12:52), a crime drama about teen brothers (Fionn Whitehead and Jack Dylan Grazer) matching wits with a man at the bottom of the well (Rainn Wilson). Then everyone reviews Vincent Parronaud's HUNTED (26:44), a wild modern take on the Red Riding Hood tale....

Jan 15, 20211 hr 3 minEp. 340

Episode #339: "One Night in Miami," "Herself," and "Shadow in the Cloud"

Because we recorded this episode on January 6, 2021, we take a moment to acknowledge the day's events before we talk about any movies this week. After we do that, Megan kicks things off with SHADOW IN THE CLOUD (3:25), Roseanne Liang's WWII action/horror film starring Chloë Grace Moretz. Then everyone reviews HERSELF (14:18). This film tackles difficult content so we offer a trigger warning before discussing Phyllida Lloyd's drama about a single mother (Clare Dunne) who escapes an abusive ex and...

Jan 08, 202158 minEp. 339

Episode #338: Our Top 10 Films of 2020

Happy New Year Spoilerpeeps! We say hello to 2021 by saying goodbye to 2020, a year that was terrible, but pretty great for movies, if you ask us. We have a blast sharing our respective top 10 films from the year. We also had fun discussing the similarities and differences between our lists. Tune in for Evan's list at 4:35, Megan's at 15:10, and Dave's at 36:23. Then hear us briefly touch on why we loved films like THE ASSISTANT , NEVER RARELY SOMETIMES ALWAYS , SHE DIES TOMORROW , FIRST COW , a...

Jan 01, 20211 hr 1 minEp. 338

Episode #337: "Wonder Woman 1984," "Sylvie's Love," "Soul," and "Mank"

Merry Christmas Spoilerpeeps! This week we start off by discussing David Fincher's Netflix film MANK (3:18), which tells the story of how screenwriter Herman J. Mankiewicz (Gary Oldman) wrote CITIZEN KANE. Then it's onward to SOUL (14:37), Pixar's latest movie about a musician (Jamie Foxx) who must help an infant soul (Tina Fey) learn about herself. Next, we discuss Eugene Ashe's period romance SYLVIE'S LOVE (27:59), which stars Tessa Thompson and Nnamdi Asomugha. We close with WONDER WOMAN 1984...

Dec 25, 20201 hr 8 minEp. 337

Episode 336: "Promising Young Woman," "News of the World," "Ma Rainey's Black Bottom," and "The Midnight Sky"

This week we open with the Netflix musical biopic MA RAINEY'S BLACK BOTTOM (3:34), starring Viola Davis and Chadwick Boseman. Then we review George Clooney's post-apocalyptic Netflix sci-fi film THE MIDNIGHT SKY (15:18) with Felicity Jones and David Oyelowo. Next, we discuss the first-ever Tom Hanks Western NEWS OF THE WORLD (29:21) directed by Paul Greengrass. We wrap up with Emerald Fennell's darkly comedic revenge tale PROMISING YOUNG WOMAN (42:42) starring Carey Mulligan. And in this week's ...

Dec 18, 20201 hr 8 minEp. 336

Episode #335: "I'm Your Woman," "Nomadland," "Freaky," and "Lovers Rock"

Happy Hanukkah Spoilerpeeps! This week we start with NOMADLAND (3:43), Chloe Zhao's film starring Frances McDormand as a woman living in her van as a "modern-day nomad." Next is LOVERS ROCK (18:00), a slice-of-life film following a reggae house party from Steve McQueen's SMALL AXE series on Amazon. Then we review Christopher Landon's body swap horror comedy FREAKY (26:47), starring Kathryn Newton and Vince Vaughn. We wrap with Julia Hart's 70s crime drama I'M YOUR WOMAN (42:09), which stars Rach...

Dec 11, 20201 hr 8 minEp. 335
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