Review It Yourself

Love, grief, desire, and rebirth collide in Deb Twiss’s Crave journey
In this emotionally honest and deeply engaging episode of Review It Yourself, Sean sits down with filmmaker, writer, actor, and creative force Deb Twiss to discuss her powerful new independent film Crave (2025). Exploring themes of love after loss, emotional vulnerability, self-discovery, relationships, intimacy, and personal liberation, Crave is a bold indie drama that refuses to shy away from the complexities of real human connection.
Deb Twiss opens up about the deeply personal inspirations behind Crave, including grief, healing, and navigating life after devastating loss. Together, Sean and Deb unpack how the film balances sensuality, emotional honesty, hope, and realism while also diving into the realities of independent filmmaking, guerrilla shooting techniques, music, cinematography, and character-driven storytelling.
If you love independent cinema, emotionally intelligent drama, behind-the-scenes filmmaking discussions, or films exploring mature relationships and emotional growth, this is an essential listen.

In This Episode
Deb Twiss discusses the inspiration behind Crave (2025)
The emotional themes of grief, healing, desire, and personal rebirth
Creating authentic adult relationships on screen
How music shapes the emotional identity of the film
Independent filmmaking and guerrilla production techniques
Shooting scenes using innovative low-budget filmmaking methods

About Crave (2025)
Crave follows Abigail, a woman struggling to rebuild her life after the death of her husband. As she forms a passionate and emotionally complex connection with her friend Max, the film explores themes of grief, emotional dependency, intimacy, healing, liberation, and rediscovering identity.
Set against the backdrop of New York City, Crave combines raw emotional honesty with stylish indie filmmaking to create a mature, thought-provoking drama about what it means to truly reconnect with yourself and others.

Why You Should Listen
This episode goes far beyond a standard film review. Sean and Deb Twiss explore:

The emotional realities behind storytelling
How personal experiences shape creative work
The changing landscape of independent cinema
The importance of authentic representation in relationships
Mental health, emotional growth, and vulnerability
How filmmakers can create visually stunning work on limited budgets
Whether you are a filmmaker, film fan, writer, actor, or simply someone interested in meaningful conversations about life, art, and emotional resilience, this episode offers genuine insight and inspiration.

Guest Details – Deb Twiss
Deb Twiss is a filmmaker, writer, actor, and creative artist behind the 2025 indie drama Crave.
Follow and support Deb Twiss:

Instagram: deborahtwiss
Threads: @deborahtwiss
Crave on IMDB: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt38068899/

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Every review, share, comment, and recommendation genuinely helps independent podcasts grow and reach new listeners
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High-altitude chaos, nitro explosions, and questionable climbing decisions collide
In this second part of Review It Yourself’s deep dive into Vertical Limit, Sean and Sarah push further up the mountain—and deeper into the madness. From explosive set pieces to surprisingly brutal injuries, this episode breaks down everything that makes this cult climbing thriller unforgettable… for better and worse.

Picking up where Part One left off, the conversation explores the film’s most intense sequences, including the deadly realities of high-altitude climbing, where your body is already failing long before the danger even begins . The hosts dive into the film’s logic (or lack of it), debating whether the action holds up or collapses under its own ambition—often hilariously.
Expect plenty of sharp observations and laughs as they unpack the film’s wild choices, from characters making questionable survival decisions to the sheer physical toll of climbing up… and especially down. There’s also discussion of memorable moments that stuck with them since childhood, including some genuinely grim scenes involving injury and survival .

By the end, Sean and Sarah reflect on whether Vertical Limit deserves its place as a cult favourite, or if it’s simply an over-the-top relic of early 2000s action cinema. Either way, it’s a film that sparks strong reactions—and makes for a highly entertaining review.

If you enjoy film reviews with honest opinions, humour, and zero pretension, this episode delivers exactly that.

🎧 What you’ll hear in this episode:
A breakdown of Vertical Limit’s most intense and ridiculous moments
Discussion of realism vs spectacle in extreme climbing films
Memorable (and painful) injury scenes and survival moments
Whether the film still holds up today
Tangents, laughs, and classic Review It Yourself banter

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💬 Support the Podcast
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Follow/subscribe on your podcast platform
Leave a rating and review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify
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Engage on social media and let us know your thoughts

Every bit of support helps the podcast grow and keeps new episodes coming.
Film Reviews Without the Faff—just honest opinions, debate, and a lot of fun.
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A ridiculous climb, impossible odds, and a surprisingly fun debate

In this episode of Review It Yourself, we take on the 2000 survival thriller Vertical Limit—a film that’s equal parts intense, absurd, and weirdly unforgettable.

Hosts Sean and Sarah go head-to-head as nostalgia clashes with scepticism in a lively, funny, and surprisingly thoughtful deep dive into one of the most over-the-top mountaineering films ever made. Sean comes in with a soft spot for the film, while Sarah questions whether it deserves any praise at all. What follows is a sharp, entertaining breakdown of explosive action scenes, questionable realism, and the emotional stakes behind the story. From the infamous opening tragedy to the film’s relentless escalation, the discussion highlights just how much Vertical Limit asks its audience to suspend disbelief.

But this episode goes beyond just picking apart unrealistic climbing sequences. Sean and Sarah dig into the deeper themes—exploring ambition, ego, and the ethics of risking lives for glory. The film’s portrayal of mountaineering culture, corporate greed, and extreme decision-making becomes a springboard for wider conversation about human nature under pressure.
Along the way, there’s plenty of humour as the hosts debate whether this is the “dumbest” film they’ve covered—or simply one of the most entertaining. They also touch on standout performances, character motivations, and the film’s place in early 2000s action cinema. The result is an episode that balances critique with genuine enjoyment, making it perfect for film fans who love both analysis and banter.

If you enjoy film reviews that don’t take themselves too seriously—but still offer real insight—this episode delivers exactly that.

🎧 Why You Should Listen
A fun and honest Vertical Limit (2000) review
Debate: nostalgia vs. reality in action films
Discussion of mountaineering accuracy and cinematic exaggeration
Themes of ambition, ego, survival, and corporate greed
Plenty of laughs alongside thoughtful film analysis

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💬 Support the Podcast
If you enjoyed this episode, here’s how you can help Review It Yourself grow:
Subscribe on your favourite podcast platform
Leave a 5-star rating and review on Apple Podcasts
Share the episode with friends and fellow film fans
Engage on social media and join the discussion
Your support helps keep the show going and brings more honest, entertaining film reviews your way.
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A haunting maritime tragedy retold through gripping drama and expert insight.

In this episode of Review It Yourself, we dive deep into the powerful Polish mini-series Heweliusz—a dramatisation of one of the most devastating maritime disasters in European history. Joined by special guest Jamie from Old Shipping Lines, this episode blends historical analysis, storytelling critique, and real-world maritime expertise for a truly compelling listen.

A gripping true story beneath the waves
The series explores the tragic sinking of the Jan Heweliusz ferry, which capsized on 14th January 1993—still considered the worst maritime disaster in Polish history, with only a handful of survivors .
From the very first episode, the show establishes a sombre and haunting tone, capturing not just the disaster itself, but the human cost—families grieving, survivors haunted, and investigators searching for answers. The narrative cleverly shifts through timelines, gradually revealing the truth behind what happened .

What we discuss in this episode
Jamie brings his deep maritime knowledge to the conversation, helping unpack the realism behind the show and the real-life events that inspired it.
Expect discussion on:
The accuracy of the ship’s portrayal and conditions onboard
The political and institutional pressures surrounding the disaster
Themes of accountability, secrecy, and systemic failure
The emotional impact on victims, families, and investigators
How the series builds tension across its five-episode structure
The conversation also explores how the show handles complex topics like blame and cover-ups, with particular attention to how institutions may shift responsibility rather than confront systemic issues .

Why this series stands out
Heweliusz isn’t just another disaster drama—it’s a slow-burn investigation into truth, responsibility, and memory. The series balances technical realism with emotional storytelling, making it both informative and deeply affecting.
Jamie highlights how the show captures the reality of maritime disasters, from ship conditions to decision-making under pressure, while also pointing listeners to further resources for a deeper understanding of the tragedy.

About our guest: Jamie – Old Shipping Lines
Jamie runs the Old Shipping Lines YouTube channel, where he explores maritime history, ship disasters, and detailed breakdowns of real-world incidents. His content includes in-depth analysis and even visual reconstructions of how disasters unfolded.
👉 Check out his channel for more: Old Shipping Lines on YouTube
If you enjoyed his insights in this episode, his channel is packed with fascinating maritime deep-dives and historical investigations.

Love film and TV reviews without the faff?
You’re in the right place.
Review It Yourself delivers honest, engaging reviews and discussions on films, TV shows, and more—without overcomplicating things. Whether it’s blockbuster hits or hidden gems, we break it down so you can decide if it’s worth your time.

Support the podcast
If you enjoyed this episode, here’s how you can help the show grow:
⭐ Leave a rating and review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify
🔁 Share the episode with friends and fellow film fans
📢 Follow and engage with us on social media
Every bit of support helps us reach more listeners and keep producing great content!

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Final thoughts
If you’re interested in true stories, maritime history, or emotionally driven drama, this episode—and Heweliusz itself—are well worth your time. With expert insight from Jamie and thoughtful discussion throughout, this is one of our most in-depth and powerful episodes yet.

Hit play, and decide for yourself.
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When the sea turns deadly, every decision becomes a fight.

Dive into this week’s episode of Review It Yourself, where Sean and Sarah tackle the gripping disaster drama The Perfect Storm—a film that blends real-life tragedy, intense character drama, and jaw-dropping ocean spectacle.
Based on a semi-biographical account inspired by real events and the book by Sebastian Junger, this episode explores whether the film still holds up—and what it gets right (and wrong) about survival at sea .

🌊 What We Cover in This Episode
We break down the highs, lows, and crashing waves of this iconic maritime thriller:
The real-life inspiration behind the story and how “true” it really is
Life aboard a fishing vessel—and the brutal economics driving risk-taking decisions
Crew dynamics, tension, and the psychology of survival under pressure
The film’s most powerful sequences—and where it truly shines emotionally
Criticisms around realism, especially in the film’s final act
Whether the spectacle outweighs the storytelling
From the build-up of the storm to the devastating conclusion, we explore how the film captures the terrifying inevitability of nature—and why some moments still hit hard today.

🎬 Why This Episode Is Worth Your Time
If you’re into:
Disaster movies based on true events
Deep-dive film reviews without the faff
Honest takes on classic films
Behind-the-scenes insights and storytelling critiques
…then this episode delivers exactly what you’re looking for.
We also discuss how the film portrays a highly capable crew caught in an impossible situation—highlighting the tragic reality that sometimes survival simply isn’t an option .

⚓ Final Verdict
Is The Perfect Storm a gripping classic or a flawed blockbuster?
There’s only one way to find out—listen now and decide for yourself.

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💬 Support the Podcast
If you enjoy Review It Yourself and want to help it grow:
Follow/subscribe on your podcast platform
Leave a 5-star review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify
Share this episode with fellow film fans
Spread the word—every listen makes a difference
Review It Yourself – Film Reviews Without the Faff. Straight-talking, honest opinions, and the trademark sigh.
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