Kino Royale

The Film Lady

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FILM REVIEWS
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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.

MAY 8

Episode 5 - Best Mother's Day Horror Movies

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. *** Can you get pregnant & give birth to a baby car, even if your one-night stand is an automatic Kia Picanto? Find out in the Film Lady’s Special, Mother’s Day episode where she goes through her carefully curated Cozy Mumma Letterboxd Watchlist. Links: KR website: https://kinoroyale.net/Mothers Day Cozy Watchlist: https://letterboxd.com/filmladyroyal/list/mothers-day-cozy-watchlist-2026/Find me: @filmladyroyal on Letterboxd, Bluesky & InstagramEmail: kinoroyalepodcast@gmail.comMovie Reviews on Cinefile Blog: https://cinefileblog.com/Discover Film Lady: https://filmladyproductions.netlify.app/Intro poetry read by me - from the song 'Bohemian Rhapsody', written by Queen's lead Freddie Mercury: https://genius.com/Queen-bohemian-rhapsody-lyricsMusic - all tracks are royalty free via Free Music Archive — CC BY.

1h 43m
APR 30

Episode 4 - Happy May Day, or The Wicker Man (1973)

Who would the Film Lady put inside her Wicker Man? 8/10 Rowan Hares for 1973 folk horror classic - The Wicker Man. In the fourth episode of Kino Royale, The Film Lady goes deeper — into the ancient roots of paganism, the Slavic gods, the Russian double faith, and why the old religion never actually died. From Beltane bonfires to birthday candles, from Dazbog to the Wicker Man's final flame — plus a genuine Russian separation spell to close, because some episodes demand it. Links: KR website: https://kinoroyale.net/Visual Companion on The Cinefile Blog The Wicker Man Scenario on Royal Simulator AppYT - Ivan Kupala - Kolyada (Zainka)YT - Ivan Kupala - Pchyoly (Bees)The Collected Tales of Nikolai GogolHorror Movie 'Viy' based on Gogol's tale, watch in full on YT hereFilm Lady Productions portfolio hereComprehensive book on Slavic Paganism, AmazonFollow me: @filmladyroyal on Bluesky, Letterboxd & Instagram Drop me a line: kinoroyalepodcast@gmail.com Sources used in prep for the ep - especially 2d part, Studies: Aitamurto, Kaarina — Paganism, Traditionalism, Nationalism: Narratives of Russian Rodnoverie (Routledge, 2016)Beliefnet — "The Pagan Origins of May Day": beliefnet.comBoston Public Library Blog — "Origins and Practices of Holidays: Beltane": bpl.orgBritannica — "Paganism": britannica.com/topic/paganismCelebrate Pagan Holidays — Statistics and Studies: celebratepaganholidays.comCultural Atlas — Russian Religion: culturalatlas.sbs.com.auDavies, Owen — Paganism: A Very Short Introduction (Oxford University Press, 2011)List25 — "25 Popular Holidays With Surprisingly Pagan Origins": list25.comneo-paganism.org — Pagan Demographics & CultureOnline Etymology Dictionary: etymonline.com/word/paganismPew Research Centre — "Russians Return to Religion, But Not to Church" (2014): pewresearch.orgPew Research Centre Global Survey 2025 (via Wild Hunt): wildhunt.orgRussia Beyond — "Is Slavic Paganism a Real Power in Russia?": rbth.comThalira — "Rodnovery: Modern Slavic Paganism and the Revival of Native Faith": thalira.comThe Conversation — "From Nordic Symbols to Sledgehammer Executions: Inside the Wagner Group's Neo-Pagan Rituals" (2024): theconversation.comThrough Eternity Tours — "7 Pagan Holidays We Still Celebrate Today": througheternity.comVCIOM — "Religion and Society: A Monitoring Study" (June 2025): wciom.comWigington, Patti — "History of Beltane and May Day," LearnReligions.comWikipedia — Beltane, Easter, Halloween, Christmas, May Day, Modern Paganism, Paganism, Religion in Russia, Slavic Native Faith, Slavic Native Faith in Russia, Valentine's Day — Wikipedia entriesMusic for bg - all tracks are royalty free via Free Music Archive — CC BY. Recorded & edited via Audacity free software.

2h 2m
APR 17

Episode 3: Rebecca the Movie (1940) & Rebecca the Novel (1938)

Breeding, Bosoms & Booty. Rebecca (1940): 8/10 ghostly hairbrushes. In the 3d episode of Kino Royale, Film Lady claims she is the new Mrs de Winter & decides to dissect both the movie & the OG book. She gets the estate confused with Robbie William’s song while whinging the adaptation only has 1 dog instead of 2. Links: • Rebecca review — The Cinefile Blog • Robbie Williams, Road to Mandalay (2000) • Royal Simulator App • YouTube: MIT Lectures on Film History • YT: Watch Rebecca (1940) • The novel: Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier Find me: • Letterboxd: @filmladyroyal • Bluesky: @filmladyroyal • Email: kinoroyalepodcast@gmail.com Music (royalty free via Free Music Archive — CC BY): Jake Hunter - Classical Piano Elegance Jake Hunter - Elegant Classical Strings Jake Hunter - Majestic Classical Strings Jake Hunter - Noble Classical Strings Kevin MacLeod - Blue Feather Kevin MacLeod - Camille Saint-Saëns_Danse Macabre - Busy Strings Kevin MacLeod - Camille Saint-Saëns_Danse Macabre - Finale Kevin MacLeod - Camille Saint-Saëns_Danse Macabre - Isolated Harp Kevin MacLeod - Camille Saint-Saëns_Danse Macabre - Light Dance Kevin MacLeod - Camille Saint-Saëns_Danse Macabre - Sad Part Kevin MacLeod - Divertissement Kevin MacLeod - Erik Satie_Gymnopedie No 1 Kevin MacLeod - Ghost Dance Kevin MacLeod - J. S. Bach_Brandenburg Concerto No4-1 BWV1049 Kevin MacLeod - J. S. Bach_Toccata and Fugue in D Minor Kevin MacLeod - Snow Drop Kevin MacLeod - Sonatina Kevin MacLeod - Tiny Fugue Kevin MacLeod - Traditional_Song of the Volga Boatmen Kevin MacLeod - Trio for Piano Violin and Viola Kevin MacLeod - Wagner_Bridal Chorus - piano Kevin MacLeod - Wagner_Bridal Chorus Mystery Mammal - Asylum Jake Hunter — Scary Cinematic Background Piano Universfield — Creepy Horror Background Universfield — Mystery Horror Universfield — Paranormal Horror Background Yuri Megis — Horror Piano Trailer Joseph R. Lilore — NOVEMBER SOURCES Britannica: Rebecca (novel) Mental Floss: 11 Facts About Daphne du Maurier's Enduring Novel (2020) Literary Ladies Guide: Rebecca — original 1938 reviews Refinery29: The Real History of Rebecca Author Daphne du Maurier (2020) IMDb: Rebecca (1940) Trivia The Alfred Hitchcock Wiki: Rebecca (1940) Britannica: Rebecca (film by Hitchcock) BFI Sight & Sound: Love to death — Hitchcock, Du Maurier and Rebecca Viv and Larry: The Mysterious Mrs Danvers — Queer Subtext in Rebecca (2013) Intermission Time: Queer Reading — Rebecca (2019) Autostraddle: Thirsty Classics — Rebecca Is Hot Even in Death (2021) Lavender Menace: Du Maurier's Rebecca and Queer Culture (2020) Perisphere: Rebecca, Mrs Danvers, and Me (2023) Books & Bakes: Rebecca as Queer Tragedy (2023) Literary Hub: Obreht, T. — Mrs Danvers, Rebecca's Lesbian Feminist Hero (2025) Course Hero: Rebecca Themes The Bookish Elf: Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier — Book Review EBSCO Research Starters: Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier Mental Floss: 11 Facts About Daphne du Maurier's Enduring Novel British Comedy Guide: 30th Anniversary of Keeping Up Appearances Hollywood Reporter: Companion Review Variety: Companion Review Paste Magazine: Companion Review

1h 46m
APR 3

Episode 2 - Heretic (2024)

Religion: opium for the people. C*ntrol (spelt with U not O) for Mr. Reid. 9/10 Blueberry-Pie-Scented Candles. In the second episode of Kino Royale, the Film Lady knocks on the wrong door and gets trapped in a two-hour theological debate with Hugh Grant. Links: Heretic review @ The Cinefile Blog Everything Is a Remix — Kirby Ferguson (YouTube) The Whorrors — Episode 164: Heretic (2024) Hack or Slash — Episode 407: Heretic (2024) Dead Meat Podcast — Episode 227: Heretic Find me: @filmladyroyal at Bsky & Letterboxd Music: royalty free via Free Music Archive (https://freemusicarchive.org/), license type: CC BY Geoff Keston - Discordant Horror Strings Jake Hunter - Scary Cinematic Background Piano Kirk Osamayo - (Ambient) Horror Sounds PCxTC - Treehouse Of Horror Universfield - Creepy Horror Background Universfield - Mystery Horror Universfield - Paranormal Horror Background Yuri Megis - Horror Piano Trailer Joseph R. Lilore - NOVEMBER

45 min
MAR 25

Episode 1 - Mother of Flies (2025)

Immaculate Crab Conception: 9/10 Zoombies. In the first ever Kino Royale episode, the Film Lady turns to alternative medicine in the 2025 Adams Family folk horror, Mother of Flies. Links: Mother of Flies review — The Cinefile Blog:Poem: Lady Lazarus — Sylvia Plath: https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/49000/lady-lazarusFind me on Letterboxd: https://letterboxd.com/filmladyroyal/Find me on Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/filmladyroyal.bsky.socialMusic: royalty free via Free Music Archive (https://freemusicarchive.org/), license type: CC BY Joseph R. Lilore - NOVEMBERJoseph R. Lilore - Orchestral Miniatures #7 - Dark, Expressive, CinematicJoseph R. Lilore - Orchestral Miniatures #11 - Piano & Orchestra WaltzTriple5 Here - CreepyUniversfield - Creepy Tension BackgroundUniversfield - Dark Mystery AtmosphereUniversfield - Mysterious Dark BackgroundUniversfield - Spirit Horror

32 min
MAR 22

Kino Royale — Episode 0: An Introduction

A short pre-pilot introduction to Kino Royale — the podcast, the persona, and the lifelong horror obsession that started it all. The Film Lady will take over from Episode 1. For now, meet the woman behind the crown. Links: Find me on Letterboxd: ⁠https://letterboxd.com/filmladyroyal/⁠Find me on Bluesky: ⁠https://bsky.app/profile/filmladyroyal.bsky.social⁠The Cinefile Blog: https://cinefileblog.com/Music: royalty free via Free Music Archive (https://freemusicarchive.org/), license type: CC BY Joseph R. Lilore - NOVEMBERJoseph R. Lilore - Orchestral Miniatures #7 - Dark, Expressive, CinematicJoseph R. Lilore - Orchestral Miniatures #11 - Piano & Orchestra WaltzTriple5 Here - CreepyUniversfield - Creepy Tension BackgroundUniversfield - Dark Mystery AtmosphereUniversfield - Mysterious Dark BackgroundUniversfield - Spirit Horror

6 min

6 Episodes

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.

Creator

The Film Lady
Years Active

2K
Episodes

6
Rating

Explicit
Copyright

© The Film Lady
Show Website

Kino Royale