Director Mikael Håfström joins this episode of the Movies In Focus podcast to discuss his latest film, Slingshot, a space thriller starring Casey Affleck and Laurence Fishburne.

Mikael is no stranger to crafting tense, atmospheric films, having directed works like his adaptation of Stephen King’s 1408 starring John Cusack and the Sylvester Stallone and Arnold Schwarzenegger team-up, Escape Plan . With Slingshot, he explores themes of isolation, survival, and the human spirit in the face of overwhelming odds.

In our conversation, we explore the challenges of filming a space-based thriller, working with a stellar cast, and how Mikael approached the unique visual and narrative elements of this ambitious project. So strap in and prepare for launch as we take a deep dive into the making of Slingshot.

Directed by Adam Nelson and written by Chris Watt, The Mire is a well-honed dramatic thriller which grabs your attention and draws you into its tense plot.

Essentially a one-location, three-hander, the low-budget film knows exactly what to do with its limited resources and it keeps you hooked until its surprising finale.

Returning guest Adam Nelson and newcomer Chris Watt both join this episode of the Movies In Focus podcast to talk about the origins of The Mire, how the story developed and the challenges of making a low-budget independent film.

Director Joe Stephenson joins this episode of the Movies In Focus podcast to discuss his latest film, Doctor Jekyll. This film marks a significant moment for Hammer Studios, being their first horror release since the company's acquisition by the aptly named John Gore. Starring, Eddie Izzard and Scott Chambers, the film offers a fresh take on Robert Louis Stevenson’s classic tale

Joe shares insights into the creative process behind Doctor Jekyll, the challenges of reimagining such a beloved story, and his collaboration with Eddie Izzard in bringing this gothic story to life. He also discusses Midas Man, his forthcoming biopic of Brian Epstein, the manager of The Beatles.

Dog Soldiers, The Descent and Doomsday filmmaker Neil Marshall joins the Movies In Focuspodcast to talk about his new gangster film, Duchess alongside its star, co-writer and producer Charlotte Kirk. The pair previously collaborated on the action-horror The Lair and the mediaeval thriller, The Reckoning.

With Duchess, Marshall delivers a fast-paced revenge thriller where Kirk’s working-class criminal dives into the glamorous – and sometimes not so glamorous – world of diamond smuggling. With strong visuals and explosive action, the film showcases her transformation into a fierce anti-heroine.

They pair talk the creative process behind the film, explore the characters, and discuss the challenges they faced along the way. It’s always a pleasure to hear first-hand from the people who bring stories to life, as we uncover what makes Duchess a refreshing modern-day gangster pic with an old-school charm.

On this episode, Jeff Downes and Graham O'Dwyer from the brilliant At The Flicks podcast discuss Kevin Costner's western epic, Horizon: An American Saga.

We'll be putting our collective expertise to work as we explore Costner's latest directorial effort, examining its place within the western genre and its potential impact on cinema.

So let's saddle up and ride off into the sunset with Jeff and Graham as we unpack the ambitious multi-part movie saga and what it means for Costner's legacy.

Stay tuned for an insightful discussion that promises to be as expansive as the American frontier itself.

Discover more from At The Flicks

Director Alejandro Brugués goes for old-fashioned chills and offers up some slow-burn horror with his excellent new horror, The Inheritance.

It can be difficult to have sympathy for characters who have immense wealth and privilege – especially when you’re not supposed to like them. However, The Inheritance gets the balance just right – and along with some good casting choices, you’ll be somewhat conflicted when the Abernathys start to die - and Rachel Nichols and David Walton make for a particularly entertaining dastardly duo.

Both star Rachel Nichols and director Alejandro Brugués join the Movies In Focus podcast to talk about The Inheritance. Alejandro goes into some wonderful detail about the making of the film - and Rachel delivers some truly fascinating insight into her process as an actress.

Written by Joe Russo and Chris LaMont, The Inheritance delivers old-fashioned chills and offers up some slow-burn horror.

The quick pitch is to call the Alejandro Brugués directed film a well-balanced mix of Knives Out and The House On Haunted Hill by way of The Haunting Of Hill House and Succession. There’s a sophistication and understanding of the horror genre that shows a real understanding of how these things work on a story level.

Joe Russo and Chris LaMont joined the Movies In Focus podcast to talk about their writing process and how The Inheritance made it to the screen.

Shane Dax Taylor’s Murder Company is an old-fashioned World War II men on a mission movie. On Demand now in the U.S., the film stars William Moseley, Pooch Hall, Gilles Marini, Joe Anderson and Kelsey Grammer.

The plot follows a group of US soldiers as they attempt to smuggle a member of the French resistance behind enemy lines so that he can assassinate a high-value Nazi target.

Star Gilles Marini and director Shane Dax Taylor joined the Movies In Focus podcast to talk about the film, the reasons for making it and the complexities of making a film set during the Second World War.

This is a fascinating episode - especially when Gilles Marini delves deep into his family history to talk about his grandmother’s resistance work during the war. It's heartfelt and passionate stuff.