When the trailer hit last fall, it was so wildly popular that they moved the whole movie release to the summertime. Now, this week, Derek Miranda (@DerekMiranda85) and Karen Peterson (@KarenMPeterson) are finally sitting down to talk MORTAL KOMBAT II.
As always, featured reviews are done in two parts, a NON-SPOILER review with letter grade and brief discussion, followed by a more in depth SPOILER review.
PLOT SUMMARY:
The fan favorite champions - now joined by Johnny Cage himself - are pitted against one another in the ultimate battle to defeat the dark rule of Shao Kahn that threatens the very existence of the Earthrealm and its defenders.
Directed by: Simon McQuoid
Written by: Jeremy Slater, based on the videogame created by Ed Boon and John Tobias
Starring: Karl Urban, Adeline Rudolph, Martyn Ford, Tati Gabrielle, Jessica McNamee, Mehcad Brooks, Ludi Lin
*Image courtesy of Warner Bros.
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Gird your loins! Karen Peterson (@KarenMPeterson) and Derek Miranda (@DerekMiranda85) are sitting down to talk THE DEVIL WEARS PRADA 2.
As always, featured reviews are done in two parts, a NON-SPOILER review with letter grade and brief discussion, followed by a more in depth SPOILER review.
PLOT SUMMARY:
Andy Sachs reunites with Miranda Priestly as they navigate their careers amid the decline of traditional magazine publishing.
Directed by: David Frankel
Written by: Aline Brosh McKenna and Lauren Weisberger
Starring: Anne Hathaway, Meryl Streep, Stanley Tucci, Emily Blunt, Kenneth Branagh, Justin Theroux, Lucy Liu, B.J. Novack, Simone Ashley
*Image courtesy of Twentieth Century Studios
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In this episode, Derek Miranda (@DerekMiranda85) sit down to talk MICHAEL.
As always, featured reviews are done in two parts, a NON-SPOILER review with letter grade and brief discussion, followed by a more in depth SPOILER review.
PLOT SUMMARY:
The early life of musician Michael Jackson, from the discovery of his talent as the lead of the Jackson Five to the artist whose creative ambition fueled a pursuit to beomce the biggest entertainer in the world.
Directed by: Antoine Fuqua
Written by: John Logan
Starring: Jaafar Jackson, Nia Long, Colman Domingo, Juliano Valdi, Miles Teller
*Image credit: Universal Pictures
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It's springtime and Emmy season, and it's a great time for Karen Peterson (@KarenMPeterson) and Derek Miranda (@DerekMiranda85) to talk about all the TV they've been watching.
This episode includes spoiler discussions for a wide range of shows including:
Keep the conversation going:
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This week Karen Peterson (@karenmpeterson) & Derek Miranda (@DerekMiranda85) sit down to talk A24's new film, THE DRAMA.
As always, featured reviews are done in two parts, a NON-SPOILER review with letter grade and brief discussion, followed by a more in depth SPOILER review.
PLOT SUMMARY:
A happily engaged couple is put to the test when an unexpected turn sends their wedding week off the rails.
Directed and written by: Kristoffer Borgli
Starring: Zendaya, Robert Pattinson, Alana Haim, Mamoudou Athie
*Image and clip from THE DRAMA courtesy of A24.
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This week, Karen Peterson (@KarenMPeterson) and Derek Miranda (@DerekMiranda85) discuss the year's biggest film (so far!) when they sit down to talk PROJECT HAIL MARY.
As always, featured reviews are done in two parts, a NON-SPOILER review with letter grade and brief discussion, followed by a more in depth SPOILER review.
PLOT SUMMARY:
Science teacher Ryland Grace wakes up on a spaceship light years from home with no recollection of who he is or how he got there. As his memory returns, he begins to uncover his mission: solve the riddle of the mysterious substance causing the sun to die out. He must call on his scientific knowledge and unorthodox ideas to save everything on Earth from extinction… but an unexpected friendship means he may not have to do it alone.
Directed by: Phil Lord and Christopher Miller
Written by: Drew Goddard, adapted from the novel by Andy Weir
Starring: Ryan Gosling, Sandra Hüller, James Ortiz, Ken Leung, Lionel Boyce
*Clip from PROJECT HAIL MARY courtesy of Amazon MGM Studios.
*Photo credit: Jonathan Olley
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This week, Derek Miranda (@DerekMiranda85) and Karen Peterson (@KarenMPeterson) Hollywood's biggest night. We're talking all about the 98th Academy Awards. The montages, the tributes, the history-making awards. Entertaining presenters and great speeches. All around, it was a good night to be a fan of the Oscars.
Complete list of winners:
*Featured Image Credit: Paul Thomas Anderson, Sarah Murphy, Anthony Carlino, Will Weiske, Andy Jurgensen, Teyana Taylor, Michael Bauman, Cassandra Kulukundis, Regina Hall, Shayna McHale aka Junglepussy, Leonardo DiCaprio, Chase Infiniti and Benicio del Toro accept the Oscar® for Best Picture during the 98th Oscars® at the Dolby® Theatre at Ovation Hollywood on Sunday, March 15, 2026. Trae Patton / The Academy. ©A.M.P.A.S.
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This week, all that glitters is Oscar gold. Karen Peterson (@KarenMPeterson) and Derek Miranda (@DerekMiranda85) are sitting down to talk final Oscar predictions AND THE BRIDE!
We will be sharing our predictions in ALL Academy Award categories. As always, featured reviews are done in two parts, a NON-SPOILER review with letter grade and brief discussion, followed by a more in depth SPOILER review.
PLOT SUMMARY for THE BRIDE!:
A lonely Frankenstein travels to 1930s Chicago to ask groundbreaking scientist Dr. Euphronious to create a companion for him. The two revive a murdered young woman and The Bride is born. But what ensues is beyond what either of them imagined.
Written and Directed by: Maggie Gyllenhaal
Starring: Jessie Buckley, Christian Bale, Peter Sarsgaard, Penelope Cruz, Annette Bening, Jake Gyllenhaal, John Magaro, Matthew Maher, Jeannie Berlin
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It's time to go welcome back Sidney Prescott. This week, Derek Miranda (@DerekMiranda85) and Karen Peterson (@KarenMPeterson) sit down to talk SCREAM 7.
As always, featured reviews are done in two parts, a NON-SPOILER review with letter grade and brief discussion, followed by a more in depth SPOILER review.
PLOT SUMMARY:
When a new Ghostface killer emerges in the quiet town where Sidney Prescott has built a new life, her darkest fears are realized as her daughter becomes the next target. Determined to protect her family, Sidney must face the horrors of her past to put an end to the bloodshed once and for all.
Directed and written by: Kevin Williamson
Starring: Neve Campbell, Courteney Cox, Isabel May, Jasmin Savoy Brown, Mason Gooding, Anna Camp, Joel McHale, Mckenna Grace, Michelle Randolph, Jimmy Tatro, Asa Germann, Celeste O’Connor, Sam Rechner, Ethan Embry, Tim Simons and Mark Consuelos
*Clip from SCREAM 7 courtesy of Paramount Pictures.
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This week Karen Peterson (@karenmpeterson) & Derek Miranda (@DerekMiranda85) sit down to talk HOW TO MAKE A KILLING.
As always, featured reviews are done in two parts, a NON-SPOILER review with letter grade and brief discussion, followed by a more in depth SPOILER review.
PLOT SUMMARY:
Disowned at birth by his obscenely wealthy family, blue-collar Becket Redfellow will stop at nothing to reclaim his inheritance, no matter how many relatives stand in his way.
Directed and Written by: John Patton Ford
Starring: Glen Powell, Margaret Qualley, Jessica Henwick, Bill Camp, Zach Woods, Topher Grace, Ed Harris
Support the show! www.Patreon.com/TheWatchAndTalk
This week, Derek Miranda (@DerekMiranda85) and Karen Peterson (@KarenMPeterson) wade into the latest culture debate as they discuss the latest adaptation, WUTHERING HEIGHTS.
As always, featured reviews are done in two parts, a NON-SPOILER review with letter grade and brief discussion, followed by a more in depth SPOILER review.
PLOT SUMMARY:
A passionate and tumultuous love story set against the backdrop of the Yorkshire moors, exploring the intense and destructive relationship between Heathcliff and Catherine Earnshaw.
Directed and Written by: Emerald Fennell, based on the novel by Emily Brontë
Starring: Margot Robbie, Jacob Elordi, Hong Chau, Allison Oliver, Shazad Latif, Martin Clunes, Ewan Mitchell, Owen Cooper, Charlotte Mellington
*Clip from WUTHERING HEIGHTS courtesy of Warner Bros.
Support the show! www.Patreon.com/TheWatchAndTalk
It's finally here! This week, Karen Peterson (@KarenMPeterson) and Derek Miranda (@DerekMiranda85) are unveiling their Top 10 Films of 2025.
This discussion might include some of the following titles:
And it definitely WILL include so much more.
We're also catching up with some of the big stuff Karen watched at Sundance 2026, what Derek has been watching, what YOU have been watching, and more!
Support the show! www.Patreon.com/TheWatchAndTalk
A little bit late, but this week, Derek Miranda (@DerekMiranda85) and Karen Peterson (@KarenMPeterson) sit down to talk 28 YEARS LATER: THE BONE TEMPLE.
As always, featured reviews are done in two parts, a NON-SPOILER review with letter grade and brief discussion, followed by a more in depth SPOILER review.
PLOT SUMMARY:
In a continuation of the epic story, Dr. Kelson makes a discovery that could change the world as they know it -- and Spike's encounter with Jimmy Crystal becomes a nightmare he can't escape. In the world of The Bone Temple, the infected are no longer the only threat to survival -- the inhumanity of the survivors can be stranger and more terrifying.
Directed by: Nia DaCosta
Written by: Alex Garland
Starring: Ralph Fiennes, Alfie Williams, Jack O'Connell, Chi Lewis-Parry, Erin Kellyman, Emma Laird
Support the show! www.Patreon.com/TheWatchAndTalk
This week, Karen Peterson (@KarenMPeterson) and Derek Miranda (@DerekMiranda85) are delighted to bring you our 25 Most Anticipated Films of 2026.
A few of the titles we're talking about this week include (in no particular order):
Follow us for more:
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This week, Derek Miranda (@DerekMiranda85) and Karen Peterson (@KarenMPeterson) are taking time on this film and TV podcast to talk TV. Specifically, we're catching up on recent series The Beast in Me, IT: Welcome to Derry, Pluribus, and Stranger Things 5.
We are talking spoilers, so if you aren't caught up on any of these shows, here are the timestamps:
Introduction - 00:00
The Beast in Me (Netflix) - 32:50
IT: Welcome to Derry (HBO Max) - 46:10
Pluribus (Apple TV) - 1:01:18
Stranger Things 5 (Netflix) - 1:21:55
PLOT SUMMARIES and TAGLINES
The Beast in Me (Netflix)
Grief-stricken and desperate for purpose, Aggie Wiggs (Claire Danes) becomes entangled with Nile Jarvis (Matthew Rhys) — a man once accused of murder. Obsession turns toxic. Danger creeps closer.
IT: Welcome to Derry (HBO Max)
Get ready to go back to where IT all began... 🎈
Pluribus (Apple TV)
In a world overtaken by a mysterious wave of forced happiness, Carol Sturka (Rhea Seehorn), one of the immune few, must uncover what's really going on - and save humanity from its artificial bliss.
Stranger Things 5 (Netflix)
At last...we can begin.
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Is it acting? Or is it just who he is? Karen Peterson (@KarenMPeterson) and Derek Miranda (@DerekMiranda85) discuss this and so much more when they sit down to talk MARTY SUPREME.
As always, featured reviews are done in two parts, a NON-SPOILER review with letter grade and brief discussion, followed by a more in depth SPOILER review.
PLOT SUMMARY:
Marty Mauser, a young man with a dream no one respects, goes to hell and back in pursuit of greatness.
Directed by: Josh Safdie
Written by: Ronald Bronstein, Josh Safdie
Starring: Timothée Chalamet, Gwyneth Paltrow, Odessa A’zion, Kevin O’Leary, Tyler Okonma,
Abel Ferrara, Fran Drescher, Luke Manley, Koto Kawaguchi
*Clip from MARTY SUPREME courtesy of A24.
Support the show! www.Patreon.com/TheWatchAndTalk
This week Derek Miranda (@DerekMiranda85) and Karen Peterson (@KarenMPeterson) are traveling back to Pandora to talk AVATAR: FIRE AND ASH.
As always, featured reviews are done in two parts, a NON-SPOILER review with letter grade and brief discussion, followed by a more in depth SPOILER review.
PLOT SUMMARY:
Jake and Neytiri's family grapples with grief after Neteyam's death, encountering a new, aggressive Na'vi tribe, the Ash People, who are led by the fiery Varang, as the conflict on Pandora escalates and a new moral focus emerges.
Directed by: James Cameron
Written by: James Cameron, Rick Jaffa, Amanda Silver
Starring: Sam Worthington, Zoe Saldaña, Sigourney Weaver, Stephen Lang, Oona Chaplin, Cliff Curtis, Joel David Moore, CCH Pounder, Edie Falco, David Thewlis, Jemaine Clement, Giovanni Ribisi, Britain Dalton, Jamie Flatters, Trinity Jo-Li Bliss, Jack Champion, Brendan Cowell, Bailey Bass, Filip Geljo, Duane Evans, Jr., Kate Winslet
*Clip from AVATAR: FIRE AND ASH courtesy of 20th Century Studios.
Support the show! www.Patreon.com/TheWatchAndTalk
This week Karen Peterson (@karenmpeterson) & Derek Miranda (@DerekMiranda85) sit down to talk HAMNET.
As always, featured reviews are done in two parts, a NON-SPOILER review with letter grade and brief discussion, followed by a more in depth SPOILER review.
PLOT SUMMARY:
William Shakespeare and his wife, Agnes, celebrate the birth of their son, Hamnet. However, when tragedy strikes and Hamnet dies at a young age, it inspires Shakespeare to write his timeless masterpiece "Hamlet."
Directed by: Chloé Zhao
Written by: Chloé Zhao, Maggie O'Farrell
Starring: Jessie Buckley, Paul Mescal, Emily Watson, Joe Alwyn, Jacobi Jupe, Noah Jupe
Support the show! www.Patreon.com/TheWatchAndTalk
It's a good week to catch up on good movies as Derek Miranda (@DerekMiranda85) and Karen Peterson (@KarenMPeterson) sit down to talk WAKE UP DEAD MAN.
We're also catching up on WICKED: FOR GOOD and ZOOTOPIA 2.
As always, featured reviews are done in two parts, a NON-SPOILER review with letter grade and brief discussion, followed by a more in depth SPOILER review.
PLOT SUMMARY:
When young priest Jud Duplenticy is sent to assist charismatic firebrand Monsignor Jefferson Wicks, it’s clear that all is not well in the pews. After a sudden and seemingly impossible murder rocks the town, the lack of an obvious suspect prompts local police chief Geraldine Scott to join forces with renowned detective Benoit Blanc to unravel a mystery that defies all logic.
Directed and Written by: Rian Johnson
Starring: Daniel Craig, Josh O'Connor, Glenn Close, Josh Brolin, Mila Kunis, Jeremy Renner, Kerry Washington, Andrew Scott, Cailee Spaeny, Daryl McCormack, Thomas Haden Church
Support the show! www.Patreon.com/TheWatchAndTalk
It's the last Stephen King adaptation of the year this week when Karen Peterson (@karenmpeterson) & Derek Miranda (@DerekMiranda85) sit down to talk THE RUNNING MAN.
As always, featured reviews are done in two parts, a NON-SPOILER review with letter grade and brief discussion, followed by a more in depth SPOILER review.
PLOT SUMMARY:
In a near-future society, The Running Man is the top-rated show on television—a deadly competition where contestants, known as Runners, must survive 30 days while being hunted by professional assassins, with every move broadcast to a bloodthirsty public and each day bringing a greater cash reward. Desperate to save his sick daughter, working-class Ben Richards (Glen Powell) is convinced by the show’s charming but ruthless producer, Dan Killian (Josh Brolin), to enter the game as a last resort. But Ben’s defiance, instincts, and grit turn him into an unexpected fan favorite—and a threat to the entire system. As ratings skyrocket, so does the danger, and Ben must outwit not just the Hunters, but a nation addicted to watching him fall.
Directed by: Edgar Wright
Written by: Michael Bacall, Edgar Wright, based on the novel by Stephen King
Starring: Glen Powell, William H. Macy, Lee Pace, Emilia Jones, Michael Cera, Daniel Ezra, Jayme Lawson with Colman Domingo and Josh Brolin
Support the show! www.Patreon.com/TheWatchAndTalk
Guillermo del Toro is back and this week, Derek Miranda (@DerekMiranda85) and Karen Peterson (@KarenMPeterson) are ready to sit down and talk FRANKENSTEIN.
As always, featured reviews are done in two parts, a NON-SPOILER review with letter grade and brief discussion, followed by a more in depth SPOILER review.
PLOT SUMMARY:
Dr. Victor Frankenstein, a brilliant but egotistical scientist, brings a creature to life in a monstrous experiment that ultimately leads to the undoing of both the creator and his tragic creation.
Directed and written by: Guillermo del Toro, based on the novel by Mary Shelley
Starring: Oscar Isaac, Jacob Elordi, Mia Goth, Christoph Waltz, Felix Kammerer, Charles Dance, Lars Mikkelsen
Available now on Netflix.
Support the show! www.Patreon.com/TheWatchAndTalk
We're back and so is Yorgos Lanthimos as Karen Peterson (@KarenMPeterson) and Derek Miranda (@DerekMiranda85) talk BUGONIA.
As always, featured reviews are done in two parts, a NON-SPOILER review with letter grade and brief discussion, followed by a more in depth SPOILER review.
PLOT SUMMARY:
Two conspiracy-obsessed young men kidnap the high-powered CEO of a major company, convinced that she is an alien intent on destroying planet Earth.
Directed by: Yorgos Lanthimos
Written by: Will Tracy
Starring: Emma Stone, Jesse Plemons, Aidan Delbis, Stavros Halkias, Alicia Silverstone
*Clip from BUGONIA courtesy of Focus Features.
Support the show! www.Patreon.com/TheWatchAndTalk
This week Karen Peterson (@karenmpeterson) & Derek Miranda (@DerekMiranda85) sit down to talk AFTER THE HUNT.
As always, featured reviews are done in two parts, a NON-SPOILER review with letter grade and brief discussion, followed by a more in depth SPOILER review.
PLOT SUMMARY:
A college professor finds herself at a personal and professional crossroads when a star pupil levels an accusation against one of her colleagues and a dark secret from her own past threatens to come to light.
Directed by: Luca Guadagnino
Written by: Nora Garrett
Starring: Julia Roberts, Ayo Edebiri, Andrew Garfield, Michael Stuhlbarg, Chloe Sevigny
*Clip from AFTER THE HUNT courtesy of Amazon MGM Studios.
Support the show! www.Patreon.com/TheWatchAndTalk
This week, Karen Peterson (@KarenMPeterson) and Derek Miranda (@DerekMiranda85) are catching up after a week off. Instead of bringing you a regular movie review, we're talking about all the stuff we've been watching, including Anemone, House of Dynamite, The Smashing Machine, Roofman, and more.
Support the show! www.Patreon.com/TheWatchAndTalk
This week, Derek Miranda (@DerekMiranda85) and Karen Peterson (@KarenMPeterson) finally get to talk about one of the most anticipated films of the year, ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER.
As always, featured reviews are done in two parts, a NON-SPOILER review with letter grade and brief discussion, followed by a more in depth SPOILER review.
PLOT SUMMARY:
When their evil enemy resurfaces after 16 years, a group of ex-revolutionaries reunite to rescue one of their own's daughter.
Directed by: Paul Thomas Anderson
Written by: Paul Thomas Anderson, based on the novel by Thomas Pynchon
Starring: Leonardo DiCaprio, Sean Penn, Chase Infiniti, Benicio Del Toro, Regina Hall, Teyana Taylor
*Clip from ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER courtesy of Warner Bros.
Support the show! www.Patreon.com/TheWatchAndTalk