Kino Royale

Film Lady

Kino Royale is a podcast for those who like their cinema dark, hosted by the Film Lady — a Russian émigré of dubious royal lineage, residing in Australia. Expect horror, horror-adjacent, and the occasional genre detour, alongside book-to-screen explorations when a story demands it.

  1. Ep 12 - Saccharine (2026)

    4h ago

    Ep 12 - Saccharine (2026)

    Satisfy Film Lady’s sugar cravings in exploring the Sick, Sad World of Eating Disorders in Saccharine episode! 9/10 Smokey Cadavers. CONTENT WARNING: prolonged & detailed discussions of Eating Disorders (ED), Anorexia in particular. Please take care of yourself first! SPOILERS: this is an extremely spoilerific episode, listen at your own risk. We're diving deep into the plot here! Episode extended show notes on KR website: https://kinoroyale.net/episodes/saccharine Find me: @filmladyroyal on Letterboxd, Bluesky & Instagram. Email: kinoroyalepodcast@gmail.com Discover Film Lady: https://filmladyproductions.netlify.app/ Music - via Free Music Archive — CC BY:  Universfield - Creepy Horror Background Universfield - Creepy Tension Background Universfield - Dark Mystery Atmosphere Universfield - Mystery Horror Universfield - Mystery Dark Background Universfield - Paranormal Horror Background Universfield - Spirit Horror Mark Lingard - Insect Mind Triple5 Here - Creepy PCxTC - Treehouse Of Horror Rolemusic - ZX Spectrum Ringtone Links: Dendy cinema Newtown (AU): https://newtown.dendy.com.au/ Hungry Ghost Concept: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hungry_ghost Cold Open - Sound of Silence lyrics, 1st verse: https://genius.com/Simon-and-garfunkel-the-sound-of-silence-lyrics 100 years of Winnie: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c4g9dzj1xj3o RECS: TV shows: DTF Saint Luis (FL calls it The Tiger Tiger Show): https://www.imdb.com/title/tt34385331/ Russian Winnie Pooh: https://youtu.be/Wlk7O2-rnQs?si=Uzp9HKSMZylupqpb Movies: Crimes of The Future (2022) - https://www.imdb.com/title/tt14549466 The Substance (2024) - https://www.imdb.com/title/tt17526714 Requiem for a Dream (2000)- https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0180093 To The Bone - movie about ED & Anorexia - (2017) - https://www.imdb.com/title/tt5541240 Basic Instinct (1992) - https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0103772/ Pods: Maintenance Phase by Aubrey Gordon & Michael Hobbes - eps on ‘The Food Pyramid’, ‘Ozempic’, ‘The F Factor’ & many more! What Would You Do? by Cinema IRL - ep 282 on Saccharine That Was Pretty Scary by Morbid Network - ep on Saccharine w/Natalie Erika James Sounds like a Cult by Studio 71 - all eps are ace Books: In the Realm of Hungry Ghosts by Dr. Gabor Maté  https://drgabormate.com/book/in-the-realm-of-hungry-ghosts/ Question to listeners: Who is living under your closet under the stairs (or its equivalent)?  Remember that FL has put her Depression Broody Babadook (DBB) & her ED Bitch (EDB) there, with Harry Potter (HP) to keep ‘em company. HP is a decent person (and I don’t want to bring HP’s author in this mix - if you know, you know) - so Harry keeps DBB & EDB magically sedated & somewhat entertained in there. I come & feed them all regularly (leftover roaches for DBB & skinny milkshakes for EDB, HP can conjure food via magic - what’s the spell again?). Last I checked, the trio was deep into the game of Magic Marbles. It seems that Harry is winning (go, mate!). All is well. Let me know about the inhabitants of your deranged closets (or attics, cellars, under-the-beds or any other spaces to keep your monsters in check)! Acknowledgment of Country I would like to acknowledge that I live, work, and learn on the traditional lands of the Dharug and Darkinjung peoples. I pay my respects to their Elders past and present, and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples here today.

    2h 9m
  2. Episode 11 - The Babadook (2014)

    Jun 29

    Episode 11 - The Babadook (2014)

    Come and pet my Broody Babadook in the closet under the stairs. He’s a huge drama queen! 9/10 Broody Byronic Babadooks. Content Warning: animal cruelty, mental illness, grief, PTSD, potential child abuse/neglect, monsters in the closet! Links: Episode extended show notes on KR website: https://kinoroyale.net/episodes/babadook Find me: @filmladyroyal on Letterboxd, Bluesky & Instagram. Email: kinoroyalepodcast@gmail.com Discover Film Lady: https://filmladyproductions.netlify.app/ Music - via Free Music Archive — CC BY:  Universfield - Creepy Horror Background Universfield - Creepy Tension Background Universfield - Dark Mystery Atmosphere Universfield - Mystery Horror Universfield - Paranormal Horror Background Universfield - Spirit Horror Mark Kingard - Insect Mind Triple5 Here - Creepy Cultural:  Spider - OZ drink - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ice_cream_float Russians in Turkey: https://www.quora.com/Why-do-Russians-like-to-visit-Turkey-so-much Doxa on YT on new Russian textbooks for schoolkids on how to build a ‘proper’ family: https://youtu.be/6HHkqfoniLk?si=N6ww08Hzqu1odqcT Make Russia Medieval Again: https://theconversation.com/make-russia-medieval-again-how-putin-is-seeking-to-remold-society-with-a-little-help-from-ivan-the-terrible-253812 Water pollution in Russia: https://factsanddetails.com/russia/Nature_Science_Animals/sub9_8c/entry-5064.html The State of the Black Sea Ecosystem: https://europeangreens.eu/resolutions/blacksea-ecosystem-danger/ Sources: Cold Open - excerpt from IMDB quotes from the movie: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2321549/quotes/?item=qt6339100 Warm Close - excerpt from ‘Boogeyman’, short story from Stephen King’s ‘Night Shift’, 1978, Anchor Books Edition, 2012 copy. Movie IMDB: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2321549/ Recs: Books: Brothers Grimm - "Cinderella", "The Frog Prince", "Hansel and Gretel", "Rapunzel", "Rumpelstiltskin", "Snow White".  Hans Christian Andersen - "The Emperor's New Clothes", "The Little Mermaid", "The Nightingale", "The Steadfast Tin Soldier", "The Red Shoes", "The Princess and the Pea", "The Snow Queen", "The Ugly Duckling", "The Little Match Girl", "Thumbelina."   Pods: House of CinemaBTW I found Mike Flanagan's pod - it's Directors Commentary w/MFTv shows: Lisey’s Story (2021), https://www.imdb.com/title/tt3319460 Movies: Sinister (2012), https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1922777 Talk to me (2022), https://www.imdb.com/title/tt10638522 Bring Her Back (2023), https://www.imdb.com/title/tt32246771 Boogeyman (2023), https://www.imdb.com/title/tt3427252 Leviticus (2026), https://www.imdb.com/title/tt39143902/ Acknowledgment of Country I would like to acknowledge that I live, work, and learn on the traditional lands of the Dharug and Darkinjung peoples. I pay my respects to their Elders past and present, and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples here today.

    1h 36m
  3. Ep 10 - Wake in Fright: movie (1971) & novel (1961)

    Jun 22

    Ep 10 - Wake in Fright: movie (1971) & novel (1961)

    New to the Yabba? Film Lady is not - hence she will never refuse a cold one while in the Outback. 7/10 dry dead dingo's dongers. Content Warning: strong animal cruelty, alcoholism, mentions of suicide, gambling, guns. Links: Episode extended show notes on KR website: https://kinoroyale.net/episodes/wake-in-fright Find me: @filmladyroyal on Letterboxd, Bsky & Instagram. Email: kinoroyalepodcast@gmail.com Discover Film Lady: https://filmladyproductions.netlify.app/ Music - via Free Music Archive — CC BY: Triple5 Here - Creepy Sound effect of clapping by Free Sound Community on Pixabay: https://pixabay.com/users/freesound_community-46691455/ Slang: dry as a dead dingo's donger: ⁠https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/dry_as_a_dead_dingo%27s_donger⁠ Sources: Cold Open excerpt: p. 8, Penguin edition, Wake in Fright by Kenneth Cook (1961), my own copy Other readings from the above novel edition. Movie Wiki: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wake_in_Fright Men Down Under lyrics https://genius.com/Men-at-work-down-under-lyrics Australia All Over  with Ian McNamara https://www.abc.net.au/listen/programs/australiaallover Mentions of brands - personal faves - NOT sponsored: Park Run: https://www.parkrun.com/ Brown Brothers: https://www.brownbrothers.com.au/ Shudder: https://www.shudder.com/ Recs: Pods Horror Queers ep on WiF Random Number Horror Generator ep on WiF Tv shows: Rocko’s Modern Life, 1993-96, https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0106115/ OZ Movies: Cure (1997), dir. Kiyoshi Kurosawa Seven (1995) Royal Hotel (2023) Picnic at Hanging Rock (1975) Wolf Creek (2005) Razorback (1984) Lake Mungo (2008) Eden Lake (2008) Leviticus (2026)

    2h 6m
  4. Episode 9: Leviticus (2026)

    Jun 11

    Episode 9: Leviticus (2026)

    Join Film Lady at her impressions on Leviticus & its SPOILERFIFIC discussion, as seen first-hand at Sydney Film Fest. 10/10 evil doppelgängers. Content Warning: discussions of religion & politics, swearing (lots). Links: Extended show notes: https://kinoroyale.net/episodes/leviticus Find me: @filmladyroyal on Letterboxd, Bsky & Insta. Email: kinoroyalepodcast@gmail.com Music - Free Music Archive — CC BY: Amarent - Never Let Go (Instrumental)  Amarent - To The Moon (Instrumental)  Amarent - Caught In The Middle (Instrumental) - Remastered Jake Hunter - Gentle Documentary Background Jake Hunter - Ambient Documentary Background Mindseye - Orion - Instrumental Mindseye - Spores - Instrumental Events: Dracula Ballet in Syd: https://bigliveco.com/performances/dracula/ Bloodsuckers - Nature Vampires exhibition: https://australian.museum/exhibition/bloodsuckers/ NSW State Library turns 200: https://www.sl.nsw.gov.au/200 Russian anti-LGBTQ: Meduza. "'What Even Is Propaganda?' How Russia's Murky Anti-LGBTQ Laws Fuel a Repressive Campaign." June 20, 2025. https://meduza.io/en/feature/2025/06/19/what-even-is-propaganda Human Rights Watch. "Russia: Rising Toll of LGBT 'Extremism' Designation." June 30, 2025. https://www.hrw.org/news/2025/06/30/russia-rising-toll-of-lgbt-extremism-designation Human Rights Watch. "Russia: Supreme Court Bans 'LGBT Movement' as 'Extremist.'" November 30, 2023. https://www.hrw.org/news/2023/11/30/russia-supreme-court-bans-lgbt-movement-extremist Amnesty International. "Russia: Russian LGBT Network Is Labelled 'Extremist' in Escalating Crackdown on LGBTI Rights." April 2026. https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2026/04/russia-russian-lgbt-network-is-labelled-extremist-in-escalating-crackdown-on-lgbti-rights/ The Moscow Times. "Russian Court Outlaws Top LGBTQ+ Rights Group as 'Extremist.'" April 27, 2026. https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/04/27/russian-court-outlaws-top-lgbtq-rights-group-as-extremist-a92617 Washington Blade / Uncloseted Media. "Under New Extremism Laws, LGBTQ Russians Must Fight to Survive." May 4, 2026. https://www.washingtonblade.com/2026/05/04/under-new-extremism-laws-lgbtq-russians-must-fight-to-survive/ PinkNews. "Russian Boy, 13, Charged Under 'LGBT Propaganda' Law." May 26, 2026. https://www.thepinknews.com/2026/05/26/russia-lgbt-propaganda-2026/ Book Recs: Red Notice by Bill Browder: Red Notice: A True Story of High Finance, Murder, and One Man's Fight for Justice by Bill Browder Same River, Twice: Putin's War on Women – A Feminist Investigation of Sexual Violence, Genocide, and Threats to Democracy by Sofi Oksanen Virillion: Outbreak by AJ Ville Gulliver's Travels by Jonathan Swift Codename Villanelle (Book 1) by Luke Jennings Pod Recs Emsolation podcast ep: https://open.spotify.com/episode/15qllagrmJdfkNzVfaRzoP?si=615f02a92cbb4eb6 Halloweenies ep on Backrooms & Obsession: https://open.spotify.com/episode/1UTv9YAVnZ8tpvSuPo3v9R?si=df1dde753ff84174 Tv shows: Parks & Rec, 2009–15 Killing Eve, 2018–22 Movies: Hokum (2026) Chapters: (00:00) Acknowledgement of Country (00:21) FL reads from the Book of Leviticus (01:23) What is Leviticus? (02:25) Content Warnings (03:30) Proper Welcome & Intro (06:26) July Schedule Changes (08:26) News (14:09) NSW State Library Turns 200 (17:58) Upcoming in FL's Universe (20:03) SPOILER WARNING for this ep (20:58) My attitude towards spoilers (21:40) Agenda (23:54) My ratings (24:21) Brief synopsis (25:48) My Letterboxd review (28:15) Where & why I watched Leviticus (33:37) Aspirations for next year fest (42:13) Where to find me (42:48) Themes - book of Leviticus: why does religion hate queer people? (48:23) Homophobia globally & recent anti-LGBTQ propaganda of Russian authorities (1:06:35) Adding some Levity to Leviticus - talking Young Love (1:15:17) FL's first crushes - real & fictional (1:28:45) Leviticus in Australiana context (1:30:39) Notes from the viewing (1:47:16) Recs (1:51:18) Upcoming on KR (1:53:04) Warm Close

    1h 56m
  5. Episode 8: Kath and Kim TV Show (2002-2007)

    Jun 6

    Episode 8: Kath and Kim TV Show (2002-2007)

    Hello, revolting! Oi loik what oi see… To celebrate 11 years of residing in the land of OZ, Film Lady travels to Fountain Lakes to help Kath & Kim navigate the dramas of everyday life, laughing along to the Pilot episode - ‘SEX’. Links: Episode extended show notes on KR website: https://kinoroyale.net/episodes/kath-kim Find me: @filmladyroyal on Letterboxd, Bluesky & Instagram Email: kinoroyalepodcast@gmail.com Discover Film Lady: https://filmladyproductions.netlify.app/ Music - Amarent - Never Let Go (Instrumental) via Free Music Archive — CC BY. Content: Kath & Kim, Series 1, Episode 1, "SEX" (ABC, 2002). https://iview.abc.net.au/video/CO0011V001S00 Bretty seen in Chicago musical in 2024: https://www.abc.net.au/listen/programs/canberra-afternoons/peter-rowsthorn/103997736 Selected quotes via IMDb.  https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0272397/quotes/?item=qt0283455 Checkered bags pic from Amazon: https://www.amazon.com.au/Durable-Laundry-Shopping-Travelling-Reusable/dp/B0FX3SGXPF?th=1 Also - forgot to mention - how cool is that both K&K & Vicar of Dibley have Kylie Minogue as Guest at some point :)  Recs: TV shows: OZ:  Utopia Rosehaven All Aussie Adventures, Time to hit the road with Russel Coight British/Irish/BBC: Vicar of Dibley Father Ted Gavin & Stacey Bread Keeping Up Appearances One Foot in the Grave The Royle Family Ab Fab! How could I miss that, Sweetie, Darling??? Movies OZ:  The Castle Muriel’s Wedding Picnic at the Hanging Rock Wolf Creek Babadook Wake in Fright Leviticus Pods: Australianarama pod ep: https://open.spotify.com/episode/5dvENnCZ25zwTNwhnG39op?si=0203442f42344686 Chapters: 00:00:00 Acknowledgement of country 00:00:42 Welcome & Intro 00:04:25 Facts about the show 00:07:37 My history with the show 00:09:14 Agenda 00:13:01 How does K&K fits into KR show? 00:13:48 Content warning 00:14:25 Where to find FL 00:15:57 Episode 1 Discussion starts 00:49:42 Recs 00:52:55 Conclusion - closing thoughts 00:54:15 What's upcoming in KR

    58 min
  6. Episode 7 - Obsession (2026)

    May 31

    Episode 7 - Obsession (2026)

    In the 7th episode, Film Lady gets obsessed about the newest horror fave: Obsession (2026) - 9/10 bear shrines. Listen to her post-watch rambles, as well as deep analysis of heavy topics no one asked for.  Content warning: suicide, sexual & emotional abuse, animal death, coarse language. Question for listeners - lemme know in the comments, on socials or email: What would you wish for if you had One Wish Willow? Links: Episode extended show notes on KR website: https://kinoroyale.net/episodes/obsession Find me: @filmladyroyal on Letterboxd, Bluesky & Instagram Email: kinoroyalepodcast@gmail.com Written Review on the Cinefile Blog: https://cinefileblog.com/blog/obsession Discover Film Lady: https://filmladyproductions.netlify.app/ Music - all tracks are royalty free via Free Music Archive — CC BY: Amarent - Caught in the Middle (Instrumental) - Remastered Amarent - Never Let Go (Instrumental) Jake Hunter - Scary Cinematic Background Piano Mindseye - Orion - Instrumental Mindseye - Spores - Instrumental Soularflair - Call Of The Void (soundtrack, dark, creepy, scary) Soularflair - Soundscape 35 (dark, scary, mechanized drone) Soularflair - Soundscape 36 (shrill, scary, ghostly, drone) Triple5 Here - Creepy The episode was written, recorded & edited by the author using Audacity free software. Chapters: 00:00:00 Acknowledgement of Country 00:00:30 Cold Open & Intro 00:02:53 News 00:03:23 Upcoming Schedule for 3mo 00:07:05 Agenda 00:08:37 Where to Find Moi 00:09:52 Why Obsession 00:15:04 Synopsis 00:16:40 Impressions - SPOILERS AHEAD 00:18:42 Post-Watch Impressions 00:26:23 Best Spooks 00:36:16 Themes 00:41:14 Summary of OG Monkey's Paw 00:49:32 Associations 00:57:14 Ratings 00:58:11 Recoms 01:03:29 My One Wish Willow 01:06:57 Listener Request 01:07:36 Lukewarm Close RECOMS Pods "Obsession (2026) — The Scariest Film of the Year So Far?" Evolution of Horror. "Obsession (2026)." Dead Meat. Films Talk to Me. Dir. by Danny and Michael Philippou. 2022. Paranormal Activity. Dir. by Oren Peli. 2007. The Exorcist. Dir. by William Friedkin. 1973. Possession. Dir. by Andrzej Żuławski. 1981. Misery. Dir. by Rob Reiner. 1990. Companion. Dir. by Drew Hancock. 2025. Playlists Burwell, Rock. Obsession. Spotify, 2026. https://open.spotify.com/album/295aVJ1pcfkOGRMODulEYs?si=VIvMVWGcTwG-jhuINP1c5w. "Hits to Get Obsessed To." Spotify playlist. https://open.spotify.com/playlist/2QTxVLQHLtZEqcoGXdSmur?si=b76c65ec0b0a4df0. Books Brontë, Emily. Wuthering Heights. 1847. Fitzgerald, F. Scott. The Great Gatsby. New York: Scribner, 1925. Fowles, John. The Collector. London: Jonathan Cape, 1963. Kepnes, Caroline. You. New York: Atria Books, 2014. King, Stephen. Needful Things. New York: Viking, 1991. Nabokov, Vladimir. Lolita. Paris: Olympia Press, 1955. Tolstoy, Leo. Anna Karenina. 1878.

    1h 9m
  7. Episode 6: Jane Eyre - Film (1943) + Novel (1847)

    May 27

    Episode 6: Jane Eyre - Film (1943) + Novel (1847)

    In the 6th episode of KR, Film Lady settles into Thornfield Hall & ponders which hot white Hollywood actor will play Rochester in the 2030 adaptation of Jane Eyre, while revisiting one of the most prolific texts in the feminist literature. CORRECTION: I’ve mistakenly called ‘Housemaid’ by Freida McFadden ‘Handmaid’! The movie also should be Housemaid, not Handmaid! Soz for that :) NB: Kinda messed up my sound in the closing section near the end. I held the mic too close! Sorry, I will try to be better next time ;) Episode extended show notes on KR website, including pod, movie & book recs + sources: https://kinoroyale.net/episodes/jane-eyre Find me: @filmladyroyal on Letterboxd, Bluesky & Instagram Email: kinoroyalepodcast@gmail.com Movie Reviews on Cinefile Blog: https://cinefileblog.com/ Discover Film Lady: https://filmladyproductions.netlify.app/ Music - all tracks sourced via Free Music Archive — CC BY."Endless" - Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com). Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ The episode was written, recorded & edited by the author using Audacity free software. Chapters: (00:00:00) Acknowledgement of Country (00:00:30) Cold Open - Reading (00:01:44) Royal Intro - Comments on Cold Open (00:04:28) Royal Decree - News (00:06:09) Kino Royale New Website (00:07:09) Benefits of New Website (00:08:15) Distribution - Spotify, Apple, IHeart (00:09:40) Acknowledgment of Country Explained (00:10:57) Instagram Account of FL (00:12:05) Announcing June as Australiana Month (00:12:33) Today's Agenda (00:13:37) Where to Find Film Lady (00:14:04) Royal Screening - Discussion & Movie 1943 Overview (00:16:21) Let's Talk About Orson Welles (00:18:31) Movie Production Facts (00:19:45) Boys Be Brooding, or Byronic Hero in Film & Literature (00:21:09) Accessing JE in Public Domain (00:22:07) I'm Calling Jane Janey, Like in Daria (00:23:27) Book Overview (00:23:59) JE as Bildungsroman (00:25:41) JE's Criticism When It Came Out (00:26:18) Why Am I Covering This Movie & Novel? (00:28:18) Describing My JE Book Edition (00:29:43) Royal Ramblings - Notes (00:29:55) FL Relates to Janey's Childhood Struggles (00:32:41) FL Recalls an Incident with Her Biology Teacher (00:34:17) Russian 90s-00s Schooling = Victorian Schooling (00:34:43) School as Prison for Both JE & FL (00:36:46) FL's Toilets Didn't Even Have Doors (00:40:06) FL's School Was Not at All Like Euphoria TV Show (00:42:13) Unhinged Teachers Not to Blame - Rather the System & the Ones in Power (00:44:13) Children Were Not Considered a Person in Victorian Times (00:47:27) Lowood Based on Real Institution (00:49:03) A*****e Employer & No HR - No Choice But to Fall in Love (00:49:49) Why Rochester - Is It Love or He Was Just There? (00:53:33) FL Thinks It's Unfair to Be a Dick Just Because You're Older (00:56:06) FL Thinks Western Culture Is More Equal Re: Age Differences (00:58:08) Would Jane Quit Working Upon Marriage? Not That Simple! (01:01:24) Governess as a Feminist Profession in Victorian Era (01:03:46) Rochester's Interrogation Techniques: Deliberate Destabilization (01:07:13) Jane's Feminist Mini-Manifesto & Rigby's Criticism (01:09:03) Joan Fontaine Is No Plain Jane: Casting Fail (01:09:55) Blanche Ingram & Mum Badmouthing Governesses: A Sexual Threat to the Family Unit (01:12:43) Butcher by J.C. Oates Rec (01:14:56) Rochester Evil, Bad Romance (01:15:30) Jane's Defending R Because Patriarchy (01:17:55) The Whole Cheesy 'Impediment to Marriage' Thing (01:19:36) Differences Between Movie & Novel (01:30:53) Touch of Levity - Visuals (01:34:53) Themes (01:47:46) Associations (01:51:22) Royal Ratings (01:54:30) Royal Verdict (01:56:58) Royal Recommendations (01:58:32) Royal Dismissal & Warm Close (02:01:19) Advice from the Queen - Hyacinth Bucket

    2h 6m

About

Kino Royale is a podcast for those who like their cinema dark, hosted by the Film Lady — a Russian émigré of dubious royal lineage, residing in Australia. Expect horror, horror-adjacent, and the occasional genre detour, alongside book-to-screen explorations when a story demands it.

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