Cinema Callback

Cinema Callback

0.0 (0)
Film Reviews
Updated Weekly

Cinema Callback is a voicemail-based film podcast hosted by Andy and Michael, two lifelong movie lovers from Ireland . Each week they exchange voice messages dissecting cult classics, hidden gems, and new releases. From horror to noir, indie to blockbusters, it’s an honest, playful take on cinema’s best. New episodes weekly.

12h ago

The Phantom of the Opera (1925)

In this special Spooktober finale of Cinema Callback, Andy and Michael take a deep dive into The Phantom of the Opera (1925), the legendary silent horror film starring Lon Chaney in one of cinema's most iconic performances. Through the show's signature voice note conversation format, the hosts come at the film from very different perspectives, exploring what it means to experience a century old piece of cinema as both entertainment and cinematic history. Michael champions the film as a visceral spectacle, particularly the striking colour sequences preserved in later versions, comparing the sheer visual experience to something as immediate as Mad Max: Fury Road. Andy has a more challenging relationship with the film, describing the viewing as something closer to an "academic experience" and questioning how easily a modern audience can connect with the rhythms and conventions of silent cinema. Across their voice note exchanges, they explore Lon Chaney's legendary status as the "Man of a Thousand Faces", his extraordinary physical performance as the Phantom, and the film's inventive visual storytelling. They discuss everything from its use of onscreen letters and silent era techniques to the influence of German Expressionism and the surprisingly brutal, mob driven finale. The conversation also looks at the enormous shadow The Phantom of the Opera has cast over popular culture, finding unexpected connections between its imagery and everything from Batman to modern RPGs, while asking how much of the visual language we now associate with horror can be traced back to films like this. For the final stop of Spooktober, Andy and Michael explore whether The Phantom of the Opera remains a genuinely thrilling piece of horror cinema 100 years later, a fascinating historical artefact, or somehow both at once. Enjoying the conversation? Support Cinema Callback on Patreon for bonus content, exclusive extras, and to help us continue making in depth film discussions through our unique voice note format. Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/CinemaCallback
Aug 5

In a Violent Nature (2024)

In this episode of Cinema Callback, Andy and Michael take a deep dive into In a Violent Nature (2024), Chris Nash's striking feature debut that reimagines the slasher film by placing the audience alongside the killer rather than his victims. Through the show's signature voice note conversation format, the hosts respond to each other's ideas over time, exploring how the film challenges decades of slasher convention through its patient, observational approach to horror. Across a series of voice note exchanges, they examine the film's distinctive "slow scare" philosophy, discussing how its long, meditative takes of the killer moving through the wilderness create an atmosphere of quiet inevitability rather than conventional suspense. They explore the influence of Gus Van Sant's minimalist filmmaking, the effectiveness of the film's 4:3 aspect ratio, and how its methodical pacing rejects the familiar "teleporting killer" logic of traditional slashers in favour of something far more grounded and predatory. The conversation also delves into the film's astonishing practical gore effects, its divisive critical and audience reception, and the bold decision to shift perspective during its controversial final act. They debate whether this unexpected change strengthens or undermines the film's central experiment, before looking ahead to the announced sequel and discussing how this humble yet ambitious horror film breathes new life into one of cinema's most familiar genres. Whether you see In a Violent Nature as an art house meditation disguised as a slasher or one of the most inventive horror films of recent years, this episode explores why Chris Nash's debut has become one of the genre's most fascinating and hotly debated modern entries. Enjoying the conversation? Support Cinema Callback on Patreon for bonus content, exclusive extras, and help us continue making in-depth film discussions through our unique voice note format. Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/CinemaCallback
Jul 29

Audition (1999)

Support Cinema Callback on Patreon for bonus content, exclusive extras, and help us continue making in-depth film discussions through our unique voice note format. Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/CinemaCallback In this episode of Cinema Callback, Andy and Michael revisit Audition (1999), Takashi Miike's landmark psychological horror that famously transforms from a quiet romantic melodrama into one of the most shocking and unsettling films ever made. Through the show's signature voice note conversation format, the hosts respond to each other's ideas over time, exploring how Audition continually reframes both its characters and its audience. Across a series of voice note exchanges, they examine the film's morally ambiguous premise, questioning the ethics of the fabricated audition used to find a new wife and how Miike uses it to interrogate the male gaze, male entitlement, and the unsettling possibility that the film's seemingly sympathetic protagonist is far more complicated than he first appears. They discuss how Audition quietly exposes the assumptions and fantasies that underpin its central relationship long before the horror emerges. The conversation also explores the film's famously ambiguous narrative structure, debating the purpose of its dreamlike and hallucinatory sequences, and whether they represent the protagonist's unresolved grief and anxieties or simply heighten the terror by momentarily blurring the boundaries between reality and nightmare. Finally, they dissect the infamous "kiri, kiri, kiri" finale, examining its extraordinary technical execution, its uncompromising brutality, and whether its graphic violence is essential to the film's emotional and thematic impact. Whether you see Audition as a devastating psychological horror, a critique of gender and power, or one of the defining works of Japanese cinema, this episode explores why Takashi Miike's masterpiece continues to provoke, disturb, and fascinate audiences more than two decades after its release.
Jul 22

The Odyssey (2026)

Warning: This episode contains major spoilers for The Odyssey. In this episode of Cinema Callback, Andy and Michael discuss Christopher Nolan's The Odyssey, a sweeping reimagining of Homer's epic that blends mythological spectacle with psychological drama. Through the show's signature voice note conversation format, the hosts respond to each other's ideas over time, exploring whether Nolan has crafted his most emotionally direct film to date or simply reworked his familiar fascination with fractured narratives and subjective reality. Across a series of voice note exchanges, they unpack the film's remarkable ensemble cast, discussing Matt Damon's grounded portrayal of Odysseus, Tom Holland's coming of age journey as Telemachus, and Robert Pattinson's scene stealing performance as one of the increasingly menacing suitors. They also examine Nolan's bold creative choices, from Travis Scott's unexpected role as a modern bard to the film's deliberate use of contemporary language and accents within an ancient world. The conversation explores the film's most compelling ideas, including the possibility that Odysseus's encounters with the Cyclops, Sirens, and other mythical creatures are manifestations of post traumatic stress following the Trojan War rather than literal events. They also discuss Nolan's revisionist depiction of the Trojan Horse, the reimagining of the Sea People, the importance of xenia as the moral framework of the story, and how Ludwig Göransson's thunderous score and large format cinematography shape one of the director's most immersive cinematic experiences. Whether you see The Odyssey as Christopher Nolan's definitive masterpiece or another bold but divisive entry in his filmography, this episode explores its themes of memory, guilt, redemption, and storytelling, asking whether this epic has the lasting power to stand alongside the greatest films of the decade.
Jul 15

Longlegs (2024)

In this episode of Cinema Callback, Andy and Michael dive deep into the 2024 horror sensation Longlegs, discussing whether Osgood Perkins’ latest nightmare is a genuine modern classic or a case of “all style, no substance.” Through the show’s signature voice note format, the conversation unfolds as they debate one of the most divisive horror films of recent years — a movie surrounded by mystery, viral marketing, and massive expectations. Across their back-and-forth voice notes, Andy and Michael examine the film’s striking visuals, unsettling atmosphere, and the question of whether its “shroud of danger and dread” is enough to carry a story that some viewers have described as lacking substance. They explore the incredible cinematography, the influence of 70s rock aesthetics, and the strange connection between the film’s satanic imagery and the music of Mark Bolan and T. Rex. The discussion also turns to Nicolas Cage’s unforgettable performance as the bizarre and terrifying Longlegs. Is Cage delivering a genuinely disturbing transformation into a grotesque dollmaker, or does the character’s appearance and mannerisms distract from the horror by feeling closer to a surreal parody? Andy and Michael debate whether the performance becomes the film’s greatest strength or its biggest distraction. They also look at the genius of the film’s marketing campaign, which built anticipation through a mysterious, Blair Witch-style approach and helped create the idea that audiences were about to experience something truly “bananas.” But does Longlegs live up to the hype? Is it a worthy successor to films like The Silence of the Lambs, or is it more like a “non-alcoholic beer” — something that looks and feels right but lacks the final kick? Join Andy and Michael as they leave a message after the beep for a spoiler-filled deep dive into Longlegs, exploring dolls, psychics, the “downstairs man,” and whether this horror phenomenon truly delivers on its terrifying promise. Warning: This episode contains full spoilers for Longlegs. Listen at your own risk.
Jul 8

Suspiria (1977)

In this episode of Cinema Callback, Andy and Michael discuss Suspiria (1977), Dario Argento's visually astonishing horror masterpiece that rejects conventional storytelling in favour of pure atmosphere, emotion, and sensory experience. Through the show's signature voice note conversation format, the hosts respond to each other's ideas over time, unpacking a film that feels less like a narrative and more like a waking nightmare. Across a series of voice note exchanges, they explore Argento's uniquely stylised cinematic world, where vivid colours, expressionistic architecture, and Goblin's unforgettable score combine to create one of the most immersive experiences in horror history. They discuss how the film's deceptively simple premise of a young American dancer arriving at a prestigious German ballet academy serves as a framework for a succession of unforgettable set pieces, from its shocking opening murder to the infamous maggot infestation and the terrifying pit of razor wire. The conversation also traces their own evolving relationship with the film, examining how Suspiria transforms with age and why its connections to dance, theatre, and physical performance make its storytelling so emotionally immediate despite its dreamlike logic. They explore whether the witches should be viewed as literal supernatural forces or as manifestations of fear, anxiety, and psychological disorientation. They also discuss Argento's extraordinary visual style, the film's enduring influence on horror cinema, and why Suspiria continues to stand as one of the genre's defining works, proving that horror can be experienced as much through colour, sound, movement, and sensation as through plot.
Jul 1

The Blob (1988)

In this episode of Cinema Callback, Andy and Michael discuss The Blob (1988), Chuck Russell's gloriously gruesome remake that transformed a 1950s sci-fi B movie into one of the defining horror films of the practical effects era. Through the show's signature voice note conversation format, the hosts respond to each other's ideas over time, exploring not only the film itself but what it reveals about the different ways audiences experience horror. Across a series of voice note exchanges, they debate whether The Blob is a joyous celebration of practical effects, inventive body horror, and classic teen cinema, or whether its relentless focus on gore and spectacle leaves it feeling more like a disposable creature feature. The conversation becomes a wider discussion about horror as a genre, examining why some viewers chase the adrenaline and "genre endorphins" of films like this while others struggle to connect with their appeal. They also explore Frank Darabont's uncompromising screenplay, where no character feels safe, Chuck Russell's effects driven direction, and the film's remarkable practical effects that continue to impress decades later. Along the way, they discuss the difference between laughing at camp cinema and laughing with it, using films beyond the horror genre to examine why certain styles of filmmaking resonate so differently with different audiences. Whether you are a lifelong horror fan, a practical effects enthusiast, or someone still searching for an entry point into body horror, this episode is a deep dive into slime, gore, genre expectations, and why The Blob remains one of the rare remakes widely regarded as surpassing its original.
Jun 21

A Month in the Country (1987) — A Father’s Day Special

For this special Father’s Day episode of Cinema Callback, Andy is joined by his dad, Jim , to discuss Jim’s favourite film, A Month in the Country (1987). Using the show’s signature voice note format, father and son reflect on a film that means a great deal to one of them and is being experienced for the first time by the other, creating a unique conversation about cinema, memory, and the ways stories shape our understanding of ourselves. Set in a quiet English village in the aftermath of the First World War, A Month in the Country follows two veterans, played by a young Colin Firth and Kenneth Branagh, as they attempt to rebuild their lives in a society that has little understanding of the psychological wounds they carry. Through a series of thoughtful voice note exchanges, Andy and Jim explore the film’s themes of trauma, healing, and the act of uncovering the past, both literally and emotionally. The discussion examines how the film’s central acts of discovery—a medieval church mural and an ancient archaeological site—mirror the characters’ attempts to confront, process, or bury their own experiences. They also explore the film’s portrayal of art, craft, and ordinary village life as a form of therapy long before such language existed, and discuss how meaning can be found in quiet routines, human connection, and shared purpose. Along the way, they delve into questions of memory, identity, symbolism, and spirituality, considering how our relationship with films changes as we age and why certain stories continue to resonate across generations. The episode also reflects on the film’s deeply moving treatment of time, loss, and the feeling of returning to a place—or a memory—with a completely different understanding of who we once were. Whether you are a fan of J. L. Carr’s novel, a lover of understated British cinema, or simply interested in how films connect families across generations, this Father’s Day special offers a heartfelt and deeply personal conversation about one of Britain’s most quietly powerful films.

Cinema Callback is a voicemail-based film podcast hosted by Andy and Michael, two lifelong movie lovers from Ireland . Each week they exchange voice messages dissecting cult classics, hidden gems, and new releases. From horror to noir, indie to blockbusters, it’s an honest, playful take on cinema’s best. New episodes weekly.

Creator

Cinema Callback
Years Active

2024 - 2026
Episodes

116
Rating

Explicit
Copyright

© Cinema Callback
Show Website

Cinema Callback