This week on The First Run, Chris and Matt head deep into the frontier as we discuss the latest Predator sequel, ‘Prey’. In this entry, a budding Comanche warrior goes up against one of the fiercest hunters in the universe. Can she take it down? And how much Mary Sue BS does the internet stir up this time? Then our Malick Marathon continues with ‘The Thin Red Line’. Malick’s fictional story during the Guadalcanal Campaign in World War II. So how does it stack up against some of the more well-kno...
Aug 12, 2022•58 min
This week on The First Run, Chris and Matt check out the first animated feature for A24, it’s ‘Marcel The Shell With Shoes On’. Jenny Slate and Dean Fleischer-Camp bring their wildly popular shorts to the big screen in a heartwarming tale that hits all the buttons. Perhaps unremarkably so? Then Matt and Chris get their visual poetry on with ‘Days of Heaven’, the first entry in their Terrence Malick Marathon. There’s the electrifying rundown of the big Physical Media Releases, featuring the Strai...
Aug 05, 2022•1 hr 1 min
This week on The First Run, Chris and Matt discuss Jordan Peele’s third film, his third number one debut, and the most successful original IP film of the year, ‘Nope’. After the smash success of ‘Get Out’ and the thrilling, but not quite as good ‘Us’, Peele returns with his take on the alien horror, comedy, social commentary, western, sci-fi, mystery, family drama genre. Then they guys pick up the slack left my Chris’ illness last week and discuss the Norwegian killer kids thriller, ‘The Innocen...
Jul 29, 2022•1 hr 6 min
This week on The First Run, Chris is recovering from a particularly nasty bug that prevented him from venturing out to the theaters and has affected his voice. He wants his ravings to be at the crystal clear quality you've come to expect so there is no new episode for this week. But fear not, most loyal listener. Your podcast BFFs are not going to leave you high and dry. For your listening pleasure, we have a special episode of Chris' other show, ScreenRun . ScreenRun is a film podcast where Chr...
Jul 22, 2022•1 hr 12 min
This week on The First Run, Chris and Matt check in on what’s been going on in the ol’ MCU as Phase 4 continues with ‘Thor: Love And Thunder’. Taika Waititi’s ‘Thor: Ragnarok’ is a favorite around these parts and we were anxious to see what was next. Then, HemsFest continues with Joseph Kosinski’s (of Top Gun Maverick fame) reunites with Miles Teller for the paranoia thriller, ‘Spiderhead’. What experiments would you perform if provided an ample number of inmates in secluded area? There’s the ra...
Jul 15, 2022•1 hr 6 min
This week on The First Run, Chris and Matt lace up their Chuck Taylors and head down to the court to shoot some hoops as Adam Sandler returns in the Netflix original, ‘Hustle’. The sports movie is a tried and true genre, but is there enough there to make for compelling viewing? Or is it a clichéd exercise? Then it’s on to the horror import, ‘You Won’t Be Alone’, that takes a more humanist turn with the witch ethos. But does it sacrifice the terror too? There’s the shriek inducing rundown of the ...
Jul 08, 2022•44 min
This week on The First Run, Chris and Matt get their spooky time on with the latest from Blumhouse, ‘The Black Phone’. Is it the best horror movie in ages or is that more hyperbole from the desperate fan base of a genre with the lowest bar for entry and yet the highest bar for quality? Your know-it-all internet uncles are here to make the definitive call. Then they dive into the lemarchand box of stop motion animation, Phil Tippett’s ‘Mad God’, one man’s passion project 30 years in the making wi...
Jul 01, 2022•54 min
This week on The First Run, Chris and Matt discus the latest content from Disney, it’s ‘Lightyear’, the movie Andy saw that inspired his love for the Buzz Lightyear character and toys! Is it a fitting sorta’ origin for Buzz? And where is poor, poor Tim Allen? Then it’s time for the guys to grow up one more time with the latest coming-of-age film, ‘Cha Chan Real Smooth’. This time, a young man is adrift after college and falls for an older woman with her own personal challenges. And heartfelt hil...
Jun 24, 2022•57 min
This week on The First Run, Chris and Matt take one last ride around the park with ‘Jurassic World: Dominion’. Is this a fitting send off or proof that this franchise should have remained extinct? Then it’s on to discuss ‘Rise Roar Revolt’ or ‘RRR’, the Tollywood action film that was a smash hit in India and is taking the rest of the world by storm. Are we going to have another example of Chris gushing over the new hotness du jour with Matt not seeing what the big deal is or vice versa? Will our...
Jun 17, 2022•1 hr 16 min
This week on The First Run, Chris and Matt discuss Cronenberg’s return to gross, icky, body horror sex stuff with ‘Crimes Of The Future’. After a run of critically acclaimed thrillers, a shift into smaller, odder films, Daddy Cronenberg is back, but does he still got it? And it meaning Ewww and Ohhhh… Then it’s another theatrical release, IFC Midnight and Shudder presents ‘Watcher’, featuring Maika (‘It Follows’) Monroe. Does director Chloe Okuno breathe new life into the genre? There’s the edge...
Jun 10, 2022•58 min
This week on The First Run, Chris and Matt break out the aviators and cue up the Kenny Loggins for the sequel to that Tom Cruise volleyball movie, ‘Top Gun: Maverick’. 35+ years later, is the magic still there, or was the original such an artifact of its time that the past should have been left well enough alone. Then it’s on to Taiwan for the extreme horror riff on The Crazies, ‘The Sadness’. Described as “The most violent and depraved zombie movie of all time”, can it possibly live up to the h...
Jun 03, 2022•1 hr 8 min
This week on The First Run, Chris and Matt get into a philosophical discussion about Men. Specifically Alex Garland’s latest, ‘Men’. #NotAllMen, but maybe #MostMen? After the successes of ‘Ex Machina’ and ‘Annihilation’ (and the rumored ghost directing of ‘Dredd’), Garland returns with a horror film about toxic bro’s, bro. And so much more. Too much more? Then CageFest wraps with ‘Jiu-Jitsu’ featuring a bunch of people picking up some extra shifts and a drop-in by the man himself. There’s the st...
May 27, 2022•54 min
This week on The First Run, Chris and Matt discuss the latest Stephen King adaptation, scratch that, the latest adaptation remake. The film sparking our interest this time is ‘Firestarter’. We’ve long been supporters of remaking bad films, and John Lester’s original is far from a classic. So does ‘Firestarter’ light us up? Then CageFest continues with ‘Vengeance: A Love Story’. Nic Cage is a cop on the edge, who crosses the line when of punks get off. Sounds awesome. So is it? There’s the rambun...
May 20, 2022•58 min
This week on The First Run, Chris and Matt discuss the latest entry to the MCU and Sam Raimi’s directorial return to comic book movies, ‘Dr Strange In The Multiverse Of Madness’. Do we have another event MCU film with the Fox characters (X-Men, Fantastic Four, etc.) make their big debuts? Plus Chris shares his thoughts on the latest AMC Feature Drink, ‘The Sorcerer’. Then, CageFest continues with the I’m-not-sure-what-it-is-supposed-to-be ‘Kill Chain’, a Nic Cage movie that has a rather large de...
May 13, 2022•1 hr 3 min
This week on The First Run, Chris and Matt discuss the Finnish horror film, ‘Hatching’. A film that is at once unimaginable and at the same time deceptively simple. Then Cage-Fest continues with Matt “Ripping His Shirt” and I discussing the Larry Charles helmed comedy, that’s right, the Borat director’s ‘Army Of One’ has Cage on a mission to bring in Osama Bin Laden, alive! There’s the stupefyingly beautiful rundown of the big releases featuring the Streaming and Straight to DVD Picks of the Wee...
May 06, 2022•58 min
This week on the First Run, Chris and Matt go on a raid with Robert Eggers’ highly anticipated Viking revenge Hamlet (but not really) homage ‘The Northman’. After finding success with ‘The Witch’ and ‘The Lighthouse’, can Eggers’ streak of great films that begin with indefinite articles continue? Then we kick off our CageFest marathon with the meta action comedy, ‘Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent’. With the critical acclaim for his last project, ‘Pig’, does Cage capture the magic again? We’ll...
Apr 29, 2022•54 min
This week on The First Run, Chris and Matt discuss the latest (and lastest?) in the Fantastic Beasts series, ‘The Secrets Of Dumbledore’. The Harry Potter expansion returns with Eddie Redmayne, who should have lost that Best Actor statue to Michael Keaton, Dan Fogler, Jude Law, and Mads Mikkleson taking over for Johnny Depp. Can the series redeem itself from its droll cash grab roots? Then it’s on to the Netflix original ‘Choose Or Die’ as a couple of crazy kids find an old video game with a ter...
Apr 22, 2022•59 min
This week on the First Run, Chris and Matt catch up with yet another multiverse film in the Daniels’ ‘Everything, Everywhere All At Once’ with Michelle Yeoh. We also get into some Bay-hem with ‘Ambulance’, featuring Jake Gyllenhaal and Yahya Abdul-Mateen II. Can there be too much Everything-Go-Boom? There’s the discussion of the big physical media releases, featuring the Straight to DVD and Streaming Picks of the Week. Then we’ll wrap up the show with everyone’s favorite role play game, Who Dat?...
Apr 15, 2022•1 hr 4 min
This week on a special 601st anniversary episode of The First Run, initially things looked pretty bleak for your intrepid hosts. Not only do Matt and Chris discuss the latest Marvel side piece, ‘Morbius’, Chris messed up and watched ‘The Bubble’, forgetting that we all agreed last week to watch ‘Fresh’. So what did we do? We watched all three. Plus Chris debuts a new feature! So was the week redeemed? There’s the life-affirming review of the big releases on Physical Media, featuring the Straight...
Apr 08, 2022•1 hr 7 min
This week on a special 600th episode of The First Run, Chris and Matt discuss the return of the romantic adventure genre featuring Sandra Bullock and Channing Tatum in ‘The Lost City’. A historical romance writer is kidnapped as she may know certain clues to a lost treasure. Is it a genre primed for a comeback? And how is the chemistry between Bullock and Tatum? Then it’s on to this year’s Best Picture winner, ‘CODA’. The story of a hearing young woman who is the “Child Of Deaf Adults” who is de...
Apr 01, 2022•1 hr 11 min
This week on The First Run, Chris and Matt discuss the latest from Ti West, ‘X’. After the fantastic ‘House Of The Devil’, the underwhelming ‘The Innkeepers’, and the solid ‘The Sacrament’, West returns with his loving tribute to 70’s slashers. The kids seem to love it, but is it scary? Then the psychological super-hot sexy thriller featuring super sexy Ben Affleck and super-duper sexy Ana De Armas. And what does J-Lo think of all this? I bet you Ben’s in some ‘Deep Water’…There’s the thrilling ...
Mar 25, 2022
This week on The First Run, Chris and Matt discuss the latest Ryan Reynolds / Shaw Levy team up, ‘The Adam Project’. After the success of ‘Free Guy’, the two return for a sci-fi actioner for Netflix featuring Reynolds’ unending, some say unbearable, charm, drama, romance, and thrills! But does it end the drought of the star’s lack luster Netflix produced content? Then it’s on the Kenneth Branaugh’s Best Picture contender, ‘Belfast’. The family drama set during the clashes in the Irish town as Ja...
Mar 18, 2022•58 min
This week on The First Run, Chris and Matt discuss Matt Reeves’ entry in the Batman movie franchise, ‘The Batman’. Robert Pattinson dons the cowl and begins a new era for the caped crusader. But is it a good era? Then it’s on to Sean Baker’s latest slice of underbelly Americana with ‘Red Rocket’. Simon Rex won the Best Male Lead at the Independent Spirit Awards for his performance. But how’s the film itself? There’s the ever-adorable rundown of the big releases on Physical Media, featuring the S...
Mar 11, 2022•1 hr 13 min
This week on The First Run, the countdown to episode 600 begins! Chris and Matt discuss the horror-comedy ‘Studio 666’, featuring, and inspired by, the Foo Fighters. Yep. Is it this generation’s ‘Spinal Tap’/Exorcist’ mash up somebody was looking for? A complete disaster? A cult classic in the making? So much much. Chris shares his thoughts on Channing Tatum’s ‘Dog’. Is it a heartwarming family drama or is there something else going on? Then we shift to a genre Matt actually likes, the western. ...
Mar 04, 2022•1 hr 7 min
This week on The First Run, Chris and Matt venture out to parts unknown on their search for that ever-elusive cinematic treasure, the good video game adaptation with ‘Uncharted’. Tom Holland steps into the role of Nathan Drake, the lead character from the acclaimed video game series. Have we found the gold? Then it’s on to scenic Texas by way of Bulgaria for the latest legacy sequel, ‘Texas Chainsaw Massacre’, minus the indefinite article. Elsie Fischer (Yes, Elsie Fischer of ‘Eighth Grade’) and...
Feb 25, 2022•1 hr
This week on The First Run, Chris and Matt discuss Liam Neeson doing Liam Neeson things in ‘Blacklight’. Has the shine on the King of January & February Cinema’s crown started to dull? Then it’s on to the latest from Mr. Steven Soderbergh, it’s ‘Kimi’, featuring Zoë Kravitz in a Rear Window-esque thriller for the electronic assistant age. There’s the rejuvenating rundown of the big releases on Physical Media, featuring the Streaming and Straight to DVD Picks of the Week. Matt and Chris then ...
Feb 18, 2022•59 min
This week on The First Run, Chris Scalzo and Matt ‘Razzlekhan’ Howell discuss the latest disaster epic from Roland Emmerich, ‘Moonfall’. This time it’s up to Halle Berry, Patrick Wilson, Samwell himself, John Bradley to save the world from the moon crashing into the Earth. Oh, and there are some aliens and an AI gone mad. And a bunch of other stuff. Then it’s on to Ridley Scott’s second film of 2021, ‘House Of Gucci’, featuring Lady Gaga, Adam Driver, and more. And Jared Leto. There’s the incend...
Feb 11, 2022•59 min
Lots of subtitles this time. This week on The First Run, Chris and Matt discuss the latest Pedro Almodóvar and Penelope Cruz team up, ‘Parallel Mothers’. Cruz plays a single mother trying to balance her career, life, and a terrible secret. Speaking of secrets, I was certain Matt “Once Bitten, Twice Shy” Howell was going to watch the Lawrence Fishburne, Stephen Baldwin classic ‘Fled’ instead, but thankfully here we are. It’s the Danish animated documentary tearing up the charts, ‘Flee’. A tale of...
Feb 04, 2022•55 min
This week on The First Run, does Matt finally quite the show after I make him watch a Japanese drama about a guy getting chauffeured around for 3 hours? That’s right, it’s the highly regarding Best International Feature front runner from Japan, ‘Drive My Car’. Heartache, grief, plays, and road trips! Sounds like a blast. Then Matt and Chris dip their toe in the 2022 Sundance Film Festival pool with Riley Stearns’ ‘Dual’ and Justin Benson & Aaron Moorhead’s ‘Something In The Dirt’. There’s th...
Jan 28, 2022•53 min
This week on The First Run, Chris and Matt discuss the potential revitalization of one of the most popular horror franchises of the 90’s and aughts. It’s Scream! What’s with the re-using of original titles lately? TCM, Halloween, now Scream? Weird. So How have Sidney, Gale, and Dewey been? What’s up in murder town, or as we also know it, Greensboro. And who are all these young kids? Then it’s on to the Norwegian import, ‘The Worst Person In The World’. Getting lots of buzz, including a Best Actr...
Jan 21, 2022•56 min
