The Average Podcast: Movie Reviews for Social Settings

The Average
  • 5.0 (3)
  • Film Reviews
  • Updated Biweekly

Welcome to The Average Podcast! We review movies based on how they would fair in social settings—meaning whether or not a general crowd would enjoy it or not. Your hosts, Jonathan and Tim, walk you through how they scored a movie according to The Average criteria. More importantly, we want to hear from YOU. Follow us on Instagram to download a scorecard, send it to us, and we'll feature you.  Follow us on all platforms: linktr.ee/theaveragereviews

  1. Jul 9 ·  Video

    S4.E11: THE BURNING (1981) Review | Summer Camp Slashers

    Pack your bags and grab your bug spray, because we are officially kicking off our brand-new themed month: SUMMER CAMP SLASHERS!   For the next few weeks, we are leaving the comfort of the studio behind to head deep into the woods, exploring the campgrounds, the urban legends, and the creative kills that defined the golden age of 1980s horror.   We are launching the series with an absolute heavyweight of the genre—the 1981 masterpiece of practical effects and summer dread: THE BURNING!   We are breaking down the legendary legend of Cropsy, Tom Savini's mind-blowing special effects makeup, and that infamous, jaw-dropping raft scene.   To help us navigate the woods and look at this film from every angle, we’ve assembled a phenomenal panel of heavy hitters in the booth: Shawn C. Baker from @thehorrorvision Chris Higgs, physical media connoisseur and host of the Beyond the Blood podcast.  Whether you're a die-hard fan of boutique Blu-ray restorations or you just love a classic 80s creature feature/slasher vibe, this is going to be an incredible deep dive into one of the absolute best independent horror films of its era.   SCORE THE KILLS WITH US! As always, your voice is the final word on the show! The Official Average Scorecard is live at the link in our bio right now. We want your ratings on the practical effects, the slasher atmosphere, and the ultimate kill count.   Submit your scores before or during the stream, and we'll read your reviews and hottest takes live on the air! #TheAveragePodcast #TheBurning #TheBurning1981 #SummerCampSlashers #SlasherMovies #TomSavini #80sHorror #PhysicalMedia #TheHorrorVision #BeyondTheBlood #MovieReview #LivePodcast #MovieScorecard #HorrorCommunity #Cropsy

    S4.E11: THE BURNING (1981) Review | Summer Camp Slashers

  2. Jul 9 ·  Video

    S4.E10: NO CGI. NO COWARDS. Breaking Down Ong-Bak! | Martial Arts May

    Welcome back to week two of Martial Arts May! Tonight, we are leaving the high-rises behind and heading straight to Thailand to witness the film that launched a martial arts revolution and introduced the absolute phenomenon that is Tony Jaa. We are reviewing the 2003 masterpiece: ONG-BAK: THE THAI WARRIOR.  When a sacred Buddha statue head is stolen from a peaceful village, a young martial artist skilled in the ancient art of Muay Boran must travel to the gritty streets of Bangkok to retrieve it. We're breaking down the gravity-defying stunts, the bone-snapping practical effects, and why this movie’s "no stunt doubles, no wires" rule changed the face of action cinema forever.   THE POWER IS IN YOUR HANDS! 🫵 This is your show, and the live chat is open! We are putting Ong-Bak through our official 9-category scorecard, and we need your input to determine the final Average. How does Tony Jaa stack up against the all-time greats? Let us know!  👉 SUBMIT YOUR SCORECARD!  📚 WANT MORE ADVENTURE? Check out our horror books on Amazon: 👉 https://a.co/d/bUtniBd  🎧 RECORD YOUR OWN QUEST WITH ZENCASTR Get 30% off your first 3 months of Zencastr Pro: 👉 https://zen.ai/theaveragereviews  📖 EXPAND YOUR LIBRARY WITH PANGOBOOKS Get $5.00 off your first purchase with code “TIMOTHYREADS”: 👉 https://pangobooks.com/TIMOTHYREADS  This is The Average, where the real review happens with your friends.  #TheAveragePodcast #OngBak #TonyJaa #MartialArtsMay #MuayThai #MuayBoran #ActionCinema #ExtraSpooky #MovieReview #LivePodcast #MovieScorecard #MartialArtsMovies #StuntWork #CultClassic

    S4.E10: NO CGI. NO COWARDS. Breaking Down Ong-Bak! | Martial Arts May

  3. Jul 9 ·  Video

    S4.E9: THE RAID: REDEMPTION (2011) | The Best Action Movie Ever Made?

    Welcome to the series premiere of Martial Arts May! This month, we are trading our horror masks for hand-to-wraps as we dive into the films that redefined action cinema. We are kicking things off with the absolute pinnacle of modern choreography: THE RAID: REDEMPTION (2011).  When an elite SWAT team becomes trapped in a high-rise tenement run by a ruthless drug lord, the only way out is through a 15-story gauntlet of pure, bone-crunching Silat. We’re breaking down the legendary hallway scene, the relentless tension, and why this film essentially reset the bar for the entire genre.  Tonight, we are joined by two special guests who usually spend their time in the dark corners of the horror genre, but they’re making a massive exception for the sheer brutality of this film: ⭐ Jerry from @horrorheadspodcast ⭐ Rich from @horrorheadspodcast  YOU ARE THE FINAL JUDGE! 🫵 This is a full-contact broadcast, and we want you in the live chat! We are putting The Raid through our official 9-category scorecard, and we need your input to determine the final Average.  👉 SUBMIT YOUR SCORECARD!  📚 WANT MORE ADVENTURE? Check out our horror books on Amazon: 👉 https://a.co/d/bUtniBd  🎧 RECORD YOUR OWN QUEST WITH ZENCASTR Get 30% off your first 3 months of Zencastr Pro: 👉 https://zen.ai/theaveragereviews  📖 EXPAND YOUR LIBRARY WITH PANGOBOOKS Get $5.00 off your first purchase with code “TIMOTHYREADS”: 👉 https://pangobooks.com/TIMOTHYREADS  This is The Average, where the real review happens with your friends.  #TheAveragePodcast #TheRaid #TheRaidRedemption #MartialArtsMay #IkoUwais #GarethEvans #ActionCinema #HorrorHeads #MartialArtsMovies #MovieReview #LivePodcast #MovieScorecard #ActionHorror

    S4.E9: THE RAID: REDEMPTION (2011) | The Best Action Movie Ever Made?

  4. Apr 21 ·  Video

    S4.E8: Dead Heat (1988) | The Ultimate Zombie Buddy-Cop Movie?

    Welcome back to The Average! Tonight, we are throwing the rulebook out the window for one of the most gloriously unhinged genre-mashups of the 1980s. We’re reviewing DEAD HEAT (1988)—the definitive, high-octane buddy-cop zombie masterpiece you never knew you needed.  When Detectives Roger Mortis (Treat Williams) and Doug Bigelow (Joe Piscopo) stumble upon a case involving a suspicious butcher shop and a villainous plot to revive the dead, things get... messy. From practical gore effects that push the limits of good taste to Vincent Price bringing pure class to this chaotic fever dream, Dead Heat is everything we love about 80s cinema.  YOUR VOTE IS THE FINAL WORD! 🫵 This is your show. We’re putting Dead Heat through our official 9-category scorecard, and we’ll be reading your audience scores and live chat comments throughout the broadcast. Is it the greatest zombie-cop hybrid ever made, or just a beautiful, undead wreck? Let us know!  👉 SUBMIT YOUR REVIEW & SCORECARD: [Insert Link to Bio/Review Form]  📚 WANT MORE ADVENTURE? Check out our horror and fantasy books on Amazon: 👉 https://a.co/d/bUtniBd 🎧 RECORD YOUR OWN QUEST WITH ZENCASTR Get 30% off your first 3 months of Zencastr Pro: 👉 https://zen.ai/theaveragereviews 📖 EXPAND YOUR LIBRARY WITH PANGOBOOKS Get $5.00 off your first purchase with code “TIMOTHYREADS”: 👉 https://pangobooks.com/TIMOTHYREADS This is The Average, where the real review happens with your friends.  #TheAveragePodcast #DeadHeat #DeadHeat1988 #TreatWilliams #JoePiscopo #VincentPrice #80sHorror #ZombieMovie #BuddyCop #CultClassic #PracticalEffects #MovieReview #MovieScorecard #LivePodcast #HorrorComedy

    S4.E8: Dead Heat (1988) | The Ultimate Zombie Buddy-Cop Movie?

  5. Apr 21 ·  Video

    S4.E7: Masters of the Universe (1987) | Fantasy meets California w/ @journerywithacinephile The Average 227 subscribers

    The journey through our Sword and Sorcery Series reaches the center of the universe tonight! We are traveling from the high-fantasy realms of Willow and Krull to the neon-soaked, cosmic world of Eternia—which, for some reason, looks a lot like 1980s California.  Joining us in the booth to navigate the cosmic keys and interdimensional rifts is our good friend David from Journey with a Cinephile! Together, we’re breaking down everything that makes MASTERS OF THE UNIVERSE (1987) a permanent fixture in the Cannon Films hall of fame. We’re diving deep into Dolph Lundgren’s physical presence as He-Man, the wild "fish-out-of-water" Earth sequences, and why Frank Langella’s Shakespearean take on Skeletor might be the greatest fantasy villain performance of all time.  THE POWER IS YOURS! 🫵 On this show, your voice is the final word. We’re putting He-Man through the gauntlet of our official 9-category scorecard, and we’ll be reading your audience scores and live chat comments throughout the entire broadcast. Did the movie capture the magic of the toys, or was it a cosmic misfire? Tell us what you think!  👉 SUBMIT YOUR REVIEW & SCORECARD: [Insert Link to Bio/Review Form]  📚 WANT MORE ADVENTURE? Check out our horror and fantasy books on Amazon: 👉 https://a.co/d/bUtniBd 🎧 RECORD YOUR OWN QUEST WITH ZENCASTR Get 30% off your first 3 months of Zencastr Pro: 👉 https://zen.ai/theaveragereviews 📖 EXPAND YOUR LIBRARY WITH PANGOBOOKS Get $5.00 off your first purchase with code “TIMOTHYREADS”: 👉 https://pangobooks.com/TIMOTHYREADS FOLLOW OUR GUEST: 📸 David: @journeywithacinephile  This is The Average, where the real review happens with your friends.  #TheAveragePodcast #MastersOfTheUniverse #HeMan #Skeletor #SwordAndSorcery #JourneyWithACinephile #80sFantasy #CannonFilms #DolphLundgren #FrankLangella #MovieReview #CultClassic #MovieScorecard #LivePodcast

    S4.E7: Masters of the Universe (1987) | Fantasy meets California w/ @journerywithacinephile The Average 227 subscribers

  6. Mar 19 ·  Video

    S4.E6: Krull (1983) | STAR WARS MEETS EXCALIBUR? w/ @thenightclubpodcast

    Welcome back to The Average! We are charging full-speed into Part 2 of our Sword and Sorcery Series, and tonight we’re traveling to the planet Krull to witness one of the most ambitious, visually stunning, and wonderfully chaotic films of the 1980s.  Joining us in the booth to navigate the shifting walls of the Black Fortress is the incredible Ricky from @thenightclubpodcast! Together, we’re breaking down everything that makes KRULL (1983) a permanent fixture in the cult cinema hall of fame. From the massive practical sets to the haunting creature designs and that iconic James Horner score, we’re leaving no stone unturned in the Swamps of Forgetfulness.  YOUR VOTE IS THE FINAL WORD!  On this show, we don't just give you our opinions—we want yours. We’re putting Krull through the gauntlet of our official 9-category scorecard, and we’ll be reading audience scores and live chat comments throughout the entire broadcast. Did the Glaive live up to the hype? Does the Beast still give you nightmares? Tell us what you think!  👉 SUBMIT YOUR REVIEW & SCORECARD: [Insert Link to Bio/Review Form]  📚 WANT MORE ADVENTURE? Check out our horror and fantasy books on Amazon: 👉 https://a.co/d/bUtniBd 🎧 RECORD YOUR OWN QUEST WITH ZENCASTR Get 30% off your first 3 months of Zencastr Pro: 👉 https://zen.ai/theaveragereviews 📖 EXPAND YOUR LIBRARY WITH PANGOBOOKS Get $5.00 off your first purchase with code “TIMOTHYREADS”: 👉 https://pangobooks.com/TIMOTHYREADS FOLLOW OUR GUEST: 📸 Ricky: @thenightclubpodcast  This is The Average, where the real review happens with your friends.  #TheAveragePodcast #Krull1983 #SwordAndSorcery #TheNightclubPodcast #TheGlaive #80sFantasy #CultClassic #MovieReview #JamesHorner #SciFiFantasy #MovieScorecard #PracticalEffects #LivePodcast

    S4.E6: Krull (1983) | STAR WARS MEETS EXCALIBUR? w/ @thenightclubpodcast

  7. Mar 5 ·  Video

    S4.E5: Willow (1988) | Val Kilmer, Deleted Scenes & The History of Tir Asleen w/ @slimeandslashers

    Welcome to Season 4, Episode 5 of The Average. Tonight, we’re putting down the pickaxes and picking up the magic wands as we kick off our Sword and Sorcery Series with the 1988 George Lucas/Ron Howard masterpiece: WILLOW.  But there’s a catch: the movie you saw on screen is only half the story. Tonight, we’re joined by the incredible Kelsi (@superkickingit / Kelsi’s Nostalgic Life) to dive deep into the official Willow novelization.  WHAT DID THE MOVIE CUT OUT? 📖 From the "Fish Boy" lake monster to the tragic, stone-cold backstory of Sorsha’s father, the Wayland Drew novelization contains world-building and grit that never made it to the final theatrical cut. We’re breaking down:  Extended Lore: The dark history of Bavmorda and Fin Raziel’s rivalry.  Deleted Scenes: The "Fish Boy" sequence and the "Tir Asleen" moments that were too big for 1988 VFX.  Val Kilmer’s Ad-libs: How Madmartigan’s best lines weren't in any script.  YOUR VOTE COUNTS! 🫵 On The Average, the final score is in your hands. We’re putting Willow through our 9-category scorecard—from the groundbreaking morphing effects to the "annoyance factor" of the Brownies. Did you watch the Disney+ series? Does the 1988 film still hold the magic?  👉 SUBMIT YOUR REVIEW: [Insert Link to Bio/Review Form]  📚 WANT MORE ADVENTURE? Check out our horror and fantasy books on Amazon: 👉 https://a.co/d/bUtniBd  🎧 RECORD YOUR OWN QUEST WITH ZENCASTR Get 30% off your first 3 months of Zencastr Pro: 👉 https://zen.ai/theaveragereviews  📖 EXPAND YOUR LIBRARY WITH PANGOBOOKS Get $5.00 off your first purchase with code “TIMOTHYREADS”: 👉 https://pangobooks.com/TIMOTHYREADS  FOLLOW OUR GUEST: 📸 Kelsi: @superkickingit (Kelsi’s Nostalgic Life)   This is The Average, where the real review happens with your friends.  #Willow1988 #SwordAndSorcery #GeorgeLucas #KelsisNostalgicLife #TheAveragePodcast #MovieReview #80sFantasy #WarwickDavis #ValKilmer #MovieScorecard #DeletedScenes #BookVsMovie

    S4.E5: Willow (1988) | Val Kilmer, Deleted Scenes & The History of Tir Asleen w/ @slimeandslashers

  8. Feb 19 ·  Video

    S4.E4: My Bloody Valentine (1981) | Love Sucks, but This Slasher Rules

    Heart-shaped boxes and gas masks: The ultimate horror summit starts NOW! ❤️⛏️  Welcome to Season 4, Episode 4 of The Average. Tonight, we are skipping the corporate romance and descending into the gritty, blue-collar mines of Valentine Bluffs to break down the 1981 cult masterpiece: MY BLOODY VALENTINE.  We are incredibly humbled to be joined by a powerhouse panel of horror creators to discuss the lasting impact, the infamous censorship battles, and the legendary legacy of Harry Warden. Joining Johnathan and Tim in the booth tonight:  🎙️ Jordan from @the_movie_den_ 🎙️ Chris (@beardedfilmguy) from @beyondthebloodpod 🎙️ Rich & Jerry from the @horrorheadspodcast  WE NEED YOUR SCORECARDS! 🫵 On The Average, the real review happens with your friends—and that includes YOU in the live chat. We want to hear your takes on the 9-category scorecard. Does the atmosphere of this Canadian slasher hold up in 2026? Where does Harry rank in the pantheon of horror icons?  👉 SUBMIT YOUR REVIEW: [Insert Link to Bio/Review Form]  📚 WANT MORE HORROR? Check out our books on Amazon and dive deeper into the genre: 👉 https://a.co/d/bUtniBd  🎧 LEVEL UP YOUR PODCAST WITH ZENCASTR Get 30% off your first 3 months of Zencastr Pro and record like a pro: 👉 https://zen.ai/theaveragereviews  📖 EXPAND YOUR LIBRARY WITH PANGOBOOKS Enjoy $5.00 off your first purchase when you use Tim Umpleby’s code “TIMOTHYREADS” at checkout: 👉 https://pangobooks.com/TIMOTHYREADS  FOLLOW OUR GUESTS: 📸 Jordan: @the_movie_den_ 📸 Chris: @beardedfilmguy / @beyondthebloodpod 📸 Horror Heads: @horrorheadspodcast   This is The Average, where the real review happens with your friends.  #MyBloodyValentine #HorrorCommunity #HarryWarden #TheAveragePodcast #SlasherMovies #TheMovieDen #BeyondTheBlood #HorrorHeads #MovieScorecard #80sHorror #LiveStream

    S4.E4: My Bloody Valentine (1981) | Love Sucks, but This Slasher Rules
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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
3 Ratings

About

Welcome to The Average Podcast! We review movies based on how they would fair in social settings—meaning whether or not a general crowd would enjoy it or not. Your hosts, Jonathan and Tim, walk you through how they scored a movie according to The Average criteria. More importantly, we want to hear from YOU. Follow us on Instagram to download a scorecard, send it to us, and we'll feature you.  Follow us on all platforms: linktr.ee/theaveragereviews

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