Unsung Cinematics

Stewart and Rastislav

3.7 (3)
Film Reviews
Updated Semimonthly

The Unsung Cinematics podcast reviews some of the best kept secrets in TV and Film. Your hosts Stewart and Rasto provide insight to a misunderstood movie to see if it deserves the title of being “unsung”. We dust off and discuss films and television shows that are considered underrated, forgotten, and even neglected. unsungcinematics.substack.com

Jul 13

Off The Record - 4 - 2026

Stewart, Rastislav and Ken brave the summer heat to bring you their June 2026 (reboot-heavy) picks; Stewart and Ken lead off with their takes on Masters of the Universe, this summer’s big budget reboot of the Mattel toy property. They both enjoyed the Travis Knight-directed film more than the 1987 film (even though they liked Dolph’s cameo!) and would be happy to watch a sequel if it can overcome its lacklustre box office earnings. They had some misgivings about the overabundance of jokey dialogue but the action, music and special effects kept them amused. Rastislav follows with his greater pick, the 2022-2025 Netflix series The Recruit; he enjoyed this story of a CIA lawyer dealing with attempts to expose classified information and being thrown in at the deep end. He praises stars Noah Centineo and Vondie Curtis-Hall, noting that Centineo has progressed from his earlier, youth-oriented projects. He also enjoyed that it felt less like a conventional spy thriller and more like a chaotic legal drama/comedy. Moving on to lesser picks, Ken gives his still-favourable view on another 80s reboot, specifically 2025’s Canadian production Deathstalker. Starring Daniel Bernhardt and Patton Oswalt, it has a much lower budget than MOTU but that is part of its video store era charm. There isn’t as much female nudity as in earlier genre efforts, which may disappoint aficionados; the practical effects-driven approach makes it worth a watch nonetheless. Stewart’s lesser pick is M3GAN 2.0; he was not amused by its hard left babyface turn, making M3GAN into a Terminator-like hero fighting a government conspiracy and internet memes. He calls it an AI slopfest and says “AV01D!” Rastislav’s lesser but still worthwhile pick is the 2018-2020 AT&T series Condor starring Max Irons, Leem Lubany and the late William Hurt. It is an update of the classic Robert Redford thriller Three Days of the Condor. He felt that the current state of surveillance technology is well-suited for a modern retelling. He also enjoyed Irons and Lubany as substitutes for the adversaries originally played by Redford and Max von Sydow. Stewart ends this edition with a dishonourable mention for 2025’s Nuremberg; he suggests watching the original Judgment of Nuremberg instead as he questions the accuracy of this version. More picks to come as summer rolls on! This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit unsungcinematics.substack.com
Jun 29

Vivarium - 2019

Stewart, Rastislav and Ken are back to decipher the conspiracy of Vivarium, a 2019 release from Fantastic Films and Screen Ireland. Stewart and Ken watched it on Shudder, where at the time of review it was the number one film on the service. The screenplay is by Garret Shanley and Lorcan Finnegan, and Finnegan also directed. The story follows young couple Tom and Gemma, a handyman/landscaper and teacher respectively, looking to purchase their first home together in an unnamed town (possibly in Ireland, where filming took place). They meet an eccentric sales agent named Martin who bids them to follow him to the new development called Yonder, where he promises to show them the first and last home they’ll ever own. No sooner has he shown them around, then he vanishes; Tom and Gemma grow frustrated and decide to leave and try again another day. However, what at first seems to be a confusing neighbourhood layout is revealed to be a strange landscape that will not allow them to leave, no matter which way they turn. They eventually run out of gas and decide to stay in the house overnight. Soon, they begin receiving packages of food and other necessities from out of thin air; one package contains an infant boy, who grows at an accelerated pace and gradually takes on the role of their son. Tom literally throws himself into a hole as he tries to dig an escape tunnel in their front yard; he and Gemma grow distant as their new “son” grows into a strange adolescent. More time passes and their son becomes a sinister adult; Tom and Gemma have now realized how trapped they truly are, and receive hints that they aren’t the only couple subjected to this experiment. Stewart, Rastislav and Ken all agree that actors Jesse Eisenberg and Imogen Poots as the couple have good chemistry and do their best with the material. They also liked aspects of the production design, visual effects and music. However, they were underwhelmed with the story, and felt that the passive attitudes of the main characters made it difficult to be invested in their fate. There are only vague hints given as to who is pulling the strings in the vivarium, and what these entities hope to learn in order to possibly conquer humanity. Written by Garret Shanley and Lorcan Finnegan, and directed by Lorcan Finnegan. Starring Jesse Eisenberg as Tom, Imogen Poots as Gemma, Jonathan Aris as Martin, Senan Jennings as Young Boy, and Eanna Hardwicke as Older Boy. Rated R by the MPA for language and some sexuality/nudity. Runtime is one hour and 37 minutes. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit unsungcinematics.substack.com
May 21

Off The Record - 3 - 2026

In this 3rd recording of Off the Record in 2026, Rastislav, Stewart and Ken bring some new films into the picture. In our feature Rastislav compares two films about evil. I Saw the Devil from 2010, and Blue Velvet from 1986 represent stark opposites in how evil can be portrayed. I Saw the Devil being a Korean film directed by Kim Jee-woon and Blue Velvet by David Lynch. Both are well liked and are highly praised. One is more of a dark and psychological evil, while the other is a chaotic type. Stars include Kyle MacLachlan and Isabella Rossellini. The Korean film has Lee Byung-hun and Choi Min-sik as their main characters. Rasto gives us his impression of both films. Stewart’s Greater pick Dangerous animals from 2025 directed by Sean Byrne — starring Hassie Harrison and Jai Courtney. The Dangerous animal in question are blood thirsty sharks off the gold coast, but the antagonist has a dark secret to be revealed to his would be captors. The film takes us slightly into the psyche of a serial killer, but remains true to the genre of a survivalist film. Ken gives us a run-down of his man vs machine pick, Unstoppable from 2010. Directed by Tony Scott and featuring Denzel Washington with Chris Pine. The film is about a run-away train carrying dangerous chemicals and the efforts made to get the train under control. Based on real life events while still filled with action and suspense. This was Tony Scott’s last film unfortunately before he passed on. Ken gave it a fair assessment. The Lesser pick by Stewart had an interesting premise, but fell way short in the delivery department. American Sweatshop from 2025 directed by Uta Briesewitz and starring Lili Reinhart attempts to give us an inside look into the lives of social media content moderators. The film is set in modern day Florida and the main character becomes obsessed with one of the recordings she saw while moderating. She hopes to get justice for the possible victim in the video. And finally Ken recounted his experience with the 2016 sci-fi pick Colossal directed by Nacho Vigalondo and Anne Hathaway as the lead actor. Unfortunately there was a bit of a bait and switch as the film had a darker edge than Ken expected, rather than the whimsical sci-fi comedy he was expecting. And one final note from Stewart is the disappointing 2026 series finale of Good Omens that left a bad taste for Stewart and seemingly the fans. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit unsungcinematics.substack.com
Apr 2

The Italians - 2025

Disclaimer: The publicist for The Italians contacted the Unsung Cinematics team and asked them to review this film. They received no compensation in return for their review, and their opinions are their own. In this family, everything is on the table! For their new full length episode, Stewart, Rastislav and Ken review The Italians, a 2025 release from All In Pictures. It played at several film festivals and has been available on VOD since April 2025. The screenplay is by Lisa Phillips Visca, and Michelle Danner is the director and lead actress in the role of Angelina. The story follows Angelina and Vincenzo, a California-based couple whose marriage definitely has its share of ups and downs. The newest shake-up arrives when their son Nico brings his new girlfriend Lily to a family dinner; she is a vegetarian atheist, which of course conflicts with Angelina and Vincenzo’s old school values. Vincenzo sees Nico’s affection for her and is more welcoming, but friction between Angelina and Lily soon becomes evident. Unfortunately, this won’t be the only trial for Angelina; a health challenge, a secret held by Vincenzo and a reunion with her estranged mother will need to be faced. With enough humour and heart, this dysfunctional family can hopefully get back to bonding at the dinner table. Stewart, Rastislav and Ken all agree that the cast elevated the material; their line deliveries were very clear, which was appreciated in light of how dialogue can be hard to distinguish in some modern films. There was some feeling that Visca’s experience with stage plays needs further adaptation to the craft of screenwriting. There are some story stumbles early on, but more of a groove is found as the film progresses. They felt that Danner (who is also an acting coach) was effective in her portrayal, likely informed by her family experiences. Written by Lisa Phillips Visca, and directed by Michelle Danner. Starring Danner as Angelina, Rob Estes as Vincenzo, Matthew Daddario as Nico, Abigail Breslin as Lily, Perrey Reeves as Min, Luca Riemma as Father Joe, and Lainie Kazan as Lucia. Unrated, but has some coarse language and suggestive content. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit unsungcinematics.substack.com
Mar 25

Off The Record - 2 - 2026

Welcome to the second Off the Record of 2026! This time, Stewart, Rastislav and Ken have an assortment of films and shows with timely topics. Stewart brings us his feature review of 2025’s Oscar nominee Bugonia, directed by Yorgos Lanthimos. He was pleasantly surprised by this film’s conspiracy angle, involving aliens and the mass death of bees. Emma Stone as a “suit” is victimized by Jesse Plemons and Aiden Delbis, playing brothers who raise bees off the grid and believe that Stone’s company is bringing aliens to earth and consequently poisoning their bees. Ken follows with a look at 2009’s US immigration drama Crossing Over, directed by Wayne Kramer. Harrison Ford, Cliff Curtis, Ashley Judd and Ray Liotta are some of the actors. Ken felt there were some story problems, but one sequence in a convenience store and a thoughtful examination of the immigration process help counter this. Rasto then leads us to The Path, a 2016 Hulu series created by Jessica Goldberg. Aaron Paul, Michelle Monaghan and Hugh Dancy are the leads in this cult-themed drama; Rasto found Dancy’s performance worthy of particular praise. He enjoyed the examination of how different cults or sects operate and attract followers. Starting into the lesser picks, Stewart shines (moon)light on 2020’s The Wolf of Snow Hollow, written and directed by its star Jim Cummings. Robert Forster, Riki Lindhome and Chloe East also star. Stewart doesn’t think this werewolf-themed comedy/drama is worth howling over, but appreciated the practical effects and unexpected creation of suspense during the daytime. Ken’s lesser pick is another Oscar nominee and also immigration-themed, 2025’s One Battle After Another directed by Paul Thomas Anderson. Leonardo DiCaprio, Teyana Taylor, Benicio del Toro, Chase Infiniti and Sean Penn. Ken felt that Anderson’s quirky style didn’t mesh well with the examination of immigration and white supremacists; however he did enjoy the action and some of the performances. Rastislav second cult-themed entry is unfortunately disappointing; the 2025 Netflix miniseries Wayward, created by Mae Martin and starring Martin alongside Toni Collette. Rastislav didn’t feel this Toronto-area set drama was as substantive in its examination of cult activity as The Path was, choosing instead to focus on topics that have already been looked at in better films. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit unsungcinematics.substack.com
Feb 28

Old Henry - 2021

SPOILER WARNING: This film has a pretty major twist in the third act and we couldn’t help talking about it early in our podcast. You may wish to watch Old Henry before listening to our review! He may seem like a mild old sodbuster, but think twice before you slap leather against Old Henry. Stewart, Rastislav and Ken are back to review this western that has a few tricks up its sleeve. While not a box office success (perhaps due to its theatrical release during the recent pandemic), Old Henry has nonetheless garnered solid reviews, a growing fanbase, and notice from major Hollywood studios for its writer/director Potsy Ponciroli. His new project The Rescue (starring Brandon Sklenar) is due in theatres from Paramount Pictures in January 2027. The story begins in 1906 Oklahoma; widower Henry McCarty is a world-weary farmer who works his acreage and tends his hogs alongside his son Wyatt and occasionally his brother-in-law Al. Their life is arduous but Henry wants Wyatt to learn the value of hard work. Wyatt doesn’t always agree with this mindset; Al advises him that he will have plenty of time in the future to see the world but for now, it’s best he stays on the farm. Things change when Henry discovers the unconscious sheriff Curry on his property; Curry has with him a satchel of money that he had to protect, and against his hesitation Henry brings Curry back to the farm so that he and Wyatt can bring him back to relative health. Curry eventually tells them he was set upon by Ketchum, Stillwell and Dugan, a trio of outlaws posing as lawmen. Ketchum and company pay an initial “visit” to Henry and leave, with the intent to get information from Al, who they’ve figured out is Henry’s brother-in-law. Curry slowly improves, and Wyatt snoops around and finds the money and hints about his father’s past. Henry is forced to kill Dugan, who is surveilling their farm. Curry tells them more about Ketchum’s doings, and eventually Ketchum, having hired several more guns, returns to the farm with Al as his captive. When Ketchum tries to use Al to force Henry to turn over Curry and the money, the final reckoning begins. Henry shows Ketchum and his men his true skillset and Wyatt is forced to become his father’s son sooner than he expected... Stewart, Rastislav and Ken all agree that this is an enjoyable film that belies its $1.5 million budget through the dedication and creativity of its director, actors and crew. The cinematography is expansive, and the music enhances the story without overpowering it. The actors do great work in realizing Ponciroli’s well-researched and plotted story. Listeners are encouraged to join this film’s growing posse of fans. Written and directed by Potsy Ponciroli. Starring Tim Blake Nelson as Henry, Gavin Lewis as Wyatt, Scott Haze as Curry, Stephen Dorff as Ketchum, and Trace Adkins as Al. Unrated, but equivalent to an R for violence and language. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit unsungcinematics.substack.com
Jan 20

Off The Record - 1 - 2026

In our first 2026 Off the Record we boldly feature Star Trek Academy the brand new feature from Paramount and Alex Kurtzman. Stewart Rips into the new series starring Holly Hunter as Captain Nahla Ake and Sandro Rosta who becomes the new chancellor to the recently resurrected Star Fleet Academy. Sandro the other main character plays a renegade who was upset with Starfleet’s nefarious ways. As far as flops go this one beams you right into the dead of space, with just 90k views on their free premiere on YouTube. Rasto then reviews his TV series Archive 81 which is a fairly recent 2022 adaptation of various horror like series such as Rosemary’s Baby and other copycats in the last few decades. Cancelled after just 1 season Rasto believes it was wrapped up nicely. Rebecca Sonnenshine developed this series and the main character is played by Mamoudou Athie. Ken leaps into action with his Clean Shaven pick from 1993 written and directed by Lodge Kerrigan and starring Peter Greene. It takes a serious look at mental illness and the consequences of letting people run free with such disabilities. With our lesser picks out of the way we move on to Stewart’s better pick Together from 2025, which is a film based on the Greek Mythology of the better half, where people originally had 2 heads, 4 arms, and four legs. In this horror we see what would happen if two people were split, and were to suddenly start to meld together to become one. Directed by Michael Shanks, and starring Dave Franco with Alison Brie who are a real life couple. This film managed to get itself into a copyright dispute with another production company. Rasto then gives us his take on the 1966 French film Au hasard Balthazar. The film is unique because it follows around a donkey from the perspective of said animal, and how it interacts with the various humans and owners in it’s life. Directed by Robert Bresson and starring Anne Wiazemsky who has a unique acting ability. Ken finally wraps up his 2021 pick Old Henry. This western seems to be unique in a way, and Ken enjoyed it. Directed and written by Potsy Ponciroli and starring Tim Blake Nelson. Stewart also has a quick follow-up on the Toxic Avenger Reboot. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit unsungcinematics.substack.com
12/30/2025

Macross Plus Movie Edition - 1995

Top Gun with Mecha and reckless fighter pilots, involved in a love triangle involving a 4th party AI, ‘plus’ the kitchen sink. Macross Plus is an anime film from 1995 based on the 4 part miniseries cartoon of the same name. This is a continuation from the Macross Franchise also called Robotech from the 80’s. This Shōji Kawamori directed film is set in the year 2040, 3 decades after the previous situation with the war between Humans and the Zentradi Aliens. The three main characters are Isamu, Guld, and Myung who were high school friends on a planet called Eden, but after an incident that happened years prior they went their separate ways. Years later they met back up again, as the two boys were now highly respected fighter jocks who flew experimental mechas (hybrid robot/jets.) Also back on the scene is Myung who was the prior love interest of the men, and despite their friendship from years prior, there is now a hostility that exists between them. Through the film they are constantly fighting with each other, but a much worse threat looms on the horizon and that is a new AI model that is set to take over the masses through pop culture and its deceptive ways. Little did the boys know, but Myung was actually the one who was using her own experiences to train this new artificial intelligence. Sharon Apple the AI begins to have plans of her own and the three come together to stop it. This film had some very good reviews on IMDB and has a bit of a cult following. The four of us all have a different take on the film, when it comes to the plot, the music, and the animation. There seems to be many references to other films, one being that the AI might be based on the actor Sharon Stone. By the Creators of Cowboy Bebop and written by Keiko Nobumoto, Takumi Yamazaki as Isamu, Unshou Ishizuka as Guld, Rica Fukami as Myung, Megumi Hayashibara as Lucy McMillan, and Mako Hyōdō as Sharon Apple. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit unsungcinematics.substack.com

3.7

out of 5

3 Ratings

Very cool niche

03/20/2020

itswaynebradybish

I love the idea of this show, its a cool niche for cinema buffs

The Unsung Cinematics podcast reviews some of the best kept secrets in TV and Film. Your hosts Stewart and Rasto provide insight to a misunderstood movie to see if it deserves the title of being “unsung”. We dust off and discuss films and television shows that are considered underrated, forgotten, and even neglected. unsungcinematics.substack.com

Creator

Stewart and Rastislav
Years Active

2020 - 2026
Episodes

119
Rating

Explicit
Copyright

© Stewart Rathje & Rastislav Miklos
Show Website

Unsung Cinematics