Sean Kelly on Movies Podcast

Sean Kelly on Movies
Sean Kelly on Movies
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The ultimate destination for film fans. The Sean Kelly on Movies master feed combines every episode from across our network into one stream. From in-depth filmmaker interviews and critical reviews to Oscar recaps and convention floor coverage, this is the complete archive of everything we produce.

  1. Jun 14

    Mark O’Brien on Subverting Horror in 'The Voices of Our Mother'

    Note: While we made every effort to clean up the audio from our wireless microphones, there are still a few brief instances of minor static in the interview audio. Thank you for understanding! On this episode of Sean Kelly on Movies Interviews, I sit down with writer, director, and co-star Mark O'Brien to discuss his new psychological horror film, The Voices of Our Mother. Mark breaks down how he subverted classic possession tropes to explore the real-world trauma of dementia, the intense (and fractured) dynamics of sibling estrangement, and what it’s really like to balance acting and directing simultaneously on set. The Voices of Our Mother stars Canadian screen icon Sheila McCarthy and is currently playing in a limited theatrical release. You can catch it on VOD platforms in Canada and streaming internationally on Shudder starting June 19th! If you enjoy these conversations, please make sure to follow, rate, and review the podcast on Spotify! Episode Chapters:00:00 Introduction00:51 How Mark O'Brien Got the Idea for The Voices of Our Mother01:24 Casting Sheila McCarthy01:52 The Voices of Our Mother Using Possession as an Allegory for Dementia02:24 Mark O'Brien on Balancing Directing and Acting02:56 The Sibling Themes in The Voices of Our Mother03:50 Does Mark O'Brien Consider His Character a Villain04:35 The Use of Colour in The Voices of Our Mother05:24 The Voices of Our Mother's Subversion of Possession06:46 A Quick Comment About the Creature Effects07:10 What Does Mark O'Brien Expect Audiences to Take Away from The Voices of Our Mother07:42 "A Horror-Adjacent Family Drama"08:18 Conclusion

    Mark O’Brien on Subverting Horror in 'The Voices of Our Mother'

  2. Apr 22

    Inside Hot Docs 2026: Lead Programmer Gabor Pertic on This Year's Lineup

    Gabor Pertic talks about becoming the lead programmer of the Hot Docs Canadian International Documentary Festival and what films he is most excited about from the 2026 line-up. ✨ KEY MOMENTS IN THIS VIDEO: 00:00 Introduction 00:24 Gabor Pertic on Becoming Lead Programmer 00:50 Is There Any Film Gabor Pertic is Particularly Proud Of? 01:01 What Gabor Pertic is Really Excited About 01:14 End Screen

    Inside Hot Docs 2026: Lead Programmer Gabor Pertic on This Year's Lineup

  3. Mar 28

    20 Years of Canadian Film Fest! Red Carpet Interviews with Bern Euler & Ashleigh Rains

    "Eyeballs Up!" 👁️👆 We are celebrating a massive milestone: the 20th Anniversary of the Canadian Film Fest! I caught up with Founder & Executive Director Bern Euler and Festival Director Ashleigh Rains right on the Opening Night red carpet. Amidst the premiere buzz at Scotiabank Theatre Toronto, we discussed this year's incredible lineup and the meaning behind the "Eyeballs Up" slogan.The Highlight: I surprised them both on the carpet by revealing that my pull-quote from last year’s coverage made it onto the official physical release of Vampire Zombies from Space! 🛸🧛‍♂️Chapters:0:00 Intro0:28 Bern Euler on 20 Years of the Canadian Film Fest1:03 Ashleigh Rains on This Year's Line-Up1:30 Bern Euler on the Challenges of Choosing Films2:16 Ashleigh Rains on "Eyeballs Up"2:56 Thanking CFF for my Vampire Zombies from Space! Blu-ray Quote4:16 Eyeballs Up End Screen

    20 Years of Canadian Film Fest! Red Carpet Interviews with Bern Euler & Ashleigh Rains

  4. Feb 27

    Director Adam MacDonald Discusses "This Is Not A Test"

    We sat down with director Adam MacDonald (Backcountry, Pyewacket) to discuss his latest film, This Is Not a Test, ahead of its Canadian theatrical release on February 27. We dive deep into why he chose to adapt Courtney Summers' acclaimed YA novel, the decision to set the apocalypse in the 1990s, and how he balanced the visceral horror of a zombie outbreak with the heavy themes of teenage trauma and depression. Content Warning: This interview includes discussions regarding depression and suicidal ideation Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction 00:41 Adapting Courtney Summers’ Novel 01:27 Why a Zombie Film? 02:04 Balancing Horror with Teenage Trauma 03:16 Olivia Holt’s Character Arc (TW: Mental Health) 03:54 The 90s Aesthetic & The Age of Electric 05:51 Why the High School Setting Works 06:56 Where are the Adults? 08:01 Sloane and Her Sister (Minor Spoilers) 09:11 Adam MacDonald’s Next Project 09:50 Is a Sequel Possible? 10:27 Final Thoughts & Wrap Up 11:26 End Screen

    Director Adam MacDonald Discusses "This Is Not A Test"

  5. Feb 6

    Caleb Landry Jones on the Humanity of Luc Besson's Dracula

    Episode Summary: In this episode, we sit down with actor Caleb Landry Jones to discuss his transformative lead performance in Luc Besson’s 2026 adaptation of Dracula. Known for his immersive preparation, Jones breaks down how he approached the 15th-century prince not as a monster, but as a man defined by four centuries of grief and eternal love. We explore the technical "madness" of the role and what it’s like to serve as a muse for one of cinema's most visionary directors. Key Takeaways: The Man vs. The Monster: How Jones balanced the predatory nature of a vampire with a deeply human emotional core. Inspiration vs. Originality: Whether previous screen depictions of the Count influenced this 2026 version. Directorial Vision: Behind-the-scenes insights into working with Luc Besson on this operatic reimagining. Resources Mentioned: Read Sean’s Full Review: https://skonmovies.ca/review/dracula-2026 Watch the Interview on YouTube: https://youtu.be/osu05kOG9mw Timestamps: 0:00 – Introduction and Context 0:41 – Caleb Landry Jones: Balancing the Man vs. the Vampire 2:12 – How this adaptation differs from previous screen versions 3:04 – The singular "moment" that defined the character for Caleb 4:19 – Wrap-Up Note to Listeners: This episode is a professional analysis of the film's artistry and performances. Sean Kelly on Movies does not condone the allegations against the film's director but remains committed to covering the significant work of the cast and crew.

    Caleb Landry Jones on the Humanity of Luc Besson's Dracula

  6. Jan 23

    Honey Bunch: Madeleine Sims-Fewer, Dusty Mancinelli, Grace Glowicki & Ben Petrie

    EPISODE SUMMARY: Honey Bunch is finally here! To celebrate the nationwide theatrical release, Sean Kelly on Movies Interviews brings you a deep-dive conversation recorded just before the film’s premiere at the 2025 Toronto International Film Festival (#TIFF50). WHERE TO WATCH: In Canada: Honey Bunch opens in cinemas nationwide via Elevation Pics starting Friday, January 23, 2026. International: The film will begin streaming on Shudder starting February 13, 2026. THE INTERVIEW: In this episode, we go inside the making of this cinematic journey with the creative team that brought it to life. First, Sean sits down with the visionary writer-director duo Madeleine Sims-Fewer and Dusty Mancinelli to discuss their unique filmmaking process. Then, we are joined by the film’s stars—and real-life couple—Grace Glowicki and Ben Petrie for a look at their collaboration on and off screen and how they navigated the complex psychology of their characters. CONNECT WITH THE SHOW: Subscribe: Never miss an episode by following Sean Kelly on Movies Interviews on your favourite podcast app. Social Media: Follow us on Instagram, TikTok, and X/Twitter @skonmovies for more exclusive content and behind-the-scenes clips.

    Honey Bunch: Madeleine Sims-Fewer, Dusty Mancinelli, Grace Glowicki & Ben Petrie

  7. 11/27/2025

    On the Red Carpet at BITS 2025: Filmmakers, Directors, and Nash the Slash Rises Again!

    We hit the red carpet at the 2025 Blood in the Snow Film Festival, catching up with filmmakers from the festival’s short film programs, festival director Kelly Michael Stewart, and the team behind the documentary Nash the Slash Rises Again! BITS 2025 Interview Timecodes 00:00 Introduction 00:13 Andrew G. Cooper on Strangers 02:23 Prasanna Paul & Gavin Downes on Sanctorum 04:23 Shelly Findlay on Donations 06:47 Juan Francisco Calero on Petit Demons 08:49 Lulu Liu & D'Arcy Quan-McGimpsey on Cherry on Top 12:24 Zach Green on cancer szn 14:30 Blood in the Snow Festival Director Kelly Michael Stewart 17:02 Tim Kowalski & Kevan Byrne on Nash The Slash Rises Again! 21:42 Closing Bumper Music Attribution Opening Bumper: Hero In Peril by Audionautix is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Artist: http://audionautix.com/

    On the Red Carpet at BITS 2025: Filmmakers, Directors, and Nash the Slash Rises Again!

  8. 10/25/2025

    Jay Drakulic, Mallory Drumm & Alex Lee Williams on the LOVECRAFTIAN found footage DREAM EATER

    While in Toronto to promote the release of Dream Eater, writer/director/stars Jay Drakulic, Mallory Drumm, and Alex Lee Williams joined us to talk about their Lovecraftian found footage horror film. In this interview, they discuss the film’s influences — from The Blair Witch Project to Unsolved Mysteries — and share how the project was picked up for distribution by Eli Roth’s The Horror Section. Dream Eater Interview Timecodes 00:00 Introduction 00:24 Where did the idea for Dream Eater come from? 01:46 Was Dream Eater Always Intended as a Found Footage Film? 03:46 How Dream Eater Was Influenced by Paranormal Activity and The Blair Witch Project 05:11 Alex Lee Williams on Why He and Mallory Drumm Acted in the Film 05:49 The Lovecraftian Inspiration for Dream Eater 06:57 Unresolved Mysteries and the Sleepwalker Killing 07:44 How Eli Roth Picked up the Distribution for Dream Eater 09:23 The Growing Influence of Social Media on Film Promotion 10:38 Conclusions

    Jay Drakulic, Mallory Drumm & Alex Lee Williams on the LOVECRAFTIAN found footage DREAM EATER
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The ultimate destination for film fans. The Sean Kelly on Movies master feed combines every episode from across our network into one stream. From in-depth filmmaker interviews and critical reviews to Oscar recaps and convention floor coverage, this is the complete archive of everything we produce.

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