Review It Yourself

Before the beast awakens, discover why this divisive horror remake deserves discussion.

Sean is joined by returning co-host Sarah for an in-depth review of The Wolfman Extended Cut (2010), starring Benicio del Toro, Anthony Hopkins, Emily Blunt and Hugo Weaving. While the film was heavily criticised on release and struggled at the box office, does the extended cut reveal an underrated Gothic horror, or is it still a missed opportunity?

The conversation explores the film's haunting Victorian atmosphere, practical effects, brutal werewolf action, performances, Gothic influences, emotional storytelling, and how it compares with both the classic Universal monster movies and other werewolf favourites such as An American Werewolf in London. Sean and Sarah don't entirely agree this time, leading to one of the podcast's most interesting debates as they examine what works, what doesn't, and whether this overlooked remake deserves another chance.
If you're a fan of The Wolfman (2010), werewolf films, Universal Monsters, Gothic horror, horror remakes, Benicio del Toro, Anthony Hopkins, or in-depth film review podcasts, this episode is for you.

In this episode:
The Wolfman Extended Cut (2010) review
Differences between the theatrical and extended versions
Benicio del Toro and Anthony Hopkins' performances
Gothic horror atmosphere and production design
Practical effects, CGI and werewolf transformations
Themes of family trauma, fate and the monster within
How it compares with classic Universal horror and modern werewolf films
Sean and Sarah's final verdicts

Follow Review It Yourself
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/reviewityourselfpodcast2021
X / Twitter: https://twitter.com/YourselfReview
BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/reviewityourself.bsky.social
Threads: https://www.threads.net/@reviewityourselfpodcast2021
Email: reviewityourselfpodcast@gmail.com

Support the podcast
If you enjoy Review It Yourself, please:
Follow or subscribe wherever you get your podcasts.
Leave a ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ rating on Apple Podcasts.
Rate and comment on Spotify.
Leave a review on Goodpods.
Share this episode with a fellow film fan—it's one of the best ways to help the podcast grow.

Review It Yourself – Film Reviews Without the Faff. Honest, entertaining and spoiler-filled discussions covering classic films, cult favourites, blockbusters and hidden gems.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Honour, sacrifice, and unforgettable battles—does The Last Samurai deserve modern masterpiece status?

Sean is joined by returning co-host Sarah to take a deep dive into The Last Samurai (2003), the sweeping historical epic directed by Edward Zwick and starring Tom Cruise, Ken Watanabe, and Timothy Spall. More than two decades after its release, does this ambitious blend of action, history, philosophy, and emotional storytelling still stand among the greatest historical dramas ever made?

From Hans Zimmer's soaring score and breath-taking cinematography to unforgettable performances and emotionally devastating moments, Sean and Sarah explore why The Last Samurai continues to inspire passionate debate. They discuss Tom Cruise's much-criticised casting, the film's portrayal of the samurai tradition, the balance between historical fact and Hollywood storytelling, and why Ken Watanabe's Oscar-nominated performance remains one of the film's greatest strengths.

Expect thoughtful analysis, plenty of laughs, spoiler-filled discussion, and a passionate defence of a film that many believe deserves far more recognition than it receives.

In this episode:

Is The Last Samurai one of Tom Cruise's finest performances?
Why Ken Watanabe steals nearly every scene.
The film's themes of honour, identity, redemption, and cultural change.
Hans Zimmer's unforgettable musical score.
Historical accuracy versus cinematic storytelling.
Favourite scenes, emotional moments, and standout performances.
Final ratings and whether this modern epic still holds up today.

If you enjoy in-depth movie reviews, film analysis, classic cinema discussions, and conversations about the biggest films in movie history, subscribe to Review It Yourself – Film Reviews Without the Faff for new episodes.

Follow Review It Yourself
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/reviewityourselfpodcast2021
X / Twitter: https://twitter.com/YourselfReview
BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/reviewityourself.bsky.social
Threads: https://www.threads.net/@reviewityourselfpodcast2021
Email: reviewityourselfpodcast@gmail.com

Support the podcast
If you enjoy the show, the best way to support Review It Yourself is to:

Follow or subscribe on your favourite podcast app.
Leave a 5-star rating and review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.
Share this episode with friends and fellow film fans.
Recommend a film you'd like Sean and the team to review in a future episode by getting in touch on social media or via email.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We wanted to love Guillermo Del Toro's Frankenstein—here's why we didn't.

Guillermo Del Toro's Frankenstein (2025) has been one of the most anticipated horror films in years—but did it live up to the hype? Join Sean and Sarah as they dive deep into this bold adaptation of Mary Shelley's Frankenstein, exploring its stunning visuals, performances, themes, and where they believe the film ultimately falls short.

Despite impressive production values, practical effects, and an emotionally compelling performance from the Creature, this adaptation left us wanting more. We discuss whether the film captures the heart of Shelley's novel, if Oscar Isaac's Victor Frankenstein works, how Jacob Elordi fares as the Creature, and why Guillermo Del Toro's storytelling choices may divide audiences.

Expect an honest, spoiler-filled conversation covering the film's pacing, adaptation choices, character motivations, body horror, gothic atmosphere, and whether this version deserves its growing reputation among horror fans.

In this episode:
Our spoiler review of Guillermo Del Toro's Frankenstein (2025)
How faithfully it adapts Mary Shelley's classic novel
Oscar Isaac's portrayal of Victor Frankenstein
Jacob Elordi's performance as the Creature
The film's visuals, practical effects and gothic horror aesthetic
Why we think the Creature's story is the strongest part of the film
The pacing, runtime and storytelling choices
Whether this adaptation improves upon classic Frankenstein films
Our final verdict and rating

Whether you're a lifelong fan of Frankenstein, a lover of gothic horror, or simply curious about Guillermo Del Toro's latest film, this episode offers an in-depth discussion packed with analysis, criticism, and appreciation for one of horror's most enduring stories.

If you enjoy the episode, please follow, subscribe, and leave a 5-star rating and review wherever you listen. It really helps more people discover Review It Yourself and supports the podcast.

Follow Review It Yourself
📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/reviewityourselfpodcast2021
🐦 X / Twitter: https://twitter.com/YourselfReview
🦋 BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/reviewityourself.bsky.social
🧵 Threads: https://www.threads.net/@reviewityourselfpodcast2021
📧 Email: reviewityourselfpodcast@gmail.com

Support the Podcast
The best way to support Review It Yourself is to:

Follow the podcast on your favourite podcast app.
Leave a rating and written review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.
Share this episode with fellow film and horror fans.
Join the conversation on social media and let us know your thoughts on Guillermo Del Toro's Frankenstein (2025).
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

From classic werewolves to Dancing Wolfeman—Rick London reveals all in this interview.

What happens when classic werewolf mythology meets dancing, comedy, and heartfelt storytelling? In this episode of Review It Yourself, Sean is joined by author Rick London (Ricardo Cotto) to discuss his entertaining novel The Dancing Wolfeman: Volume One, the enduring appeal of werewolf fiction, and why monster stories continue to capture readers' imaginations.

From classic Universal monsters to modern werewolf films, Rick shares the inspiration behind his unique Wolfeman character, his writing journey, and the importance of creating stories that entertain while remaining accessible to readers of all ages. The conversation also explores favourite werewolf movies, practical effects in horror cinema, publishing, book marketing, and why reviews matter so much for independent authors.

Whether you're a fan of werewolf books, horror films, monster fiction, or simply enjoy hearing authors discuss their creative process, this episode is packed with fascinating insights and plenty of laughs.

In this episode:
The inspiration behind The Dancing Wolfeman
Rick London's lifelong love of storytelling
Why werewolves remain one of horror's most enduring monsters
Favourite werewolf movies and classic monster cinema
Writing memorable characters and accessible fiction
Independent publishing and reaching new readers
Why reader reviews make such a huge difference for authors
Sean's recommendations for essential werewolf films—including Dog Soldiers and An American Werewolf in London.

About Rick London
Rick London (Ricardo Cotto) is the author of The Dancing Wolfeman series, blending humour, adventure and classic monster storytelling into an original family-friendly horror experience.

Find Rick London online:
Website: https://dancingwolfeman.com/
Book: The Dancing Wolfeman: Volume One (available through Amazon and major online book retailers)

Follow Review It Yourself
If you enjoy honest reviews, interviews with authors and filmmakers, horror, cult cinema, books and pop culture discussions, make sure you subscribe so you never miss an episode.
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/reviewityourselfpodcast2021
X / Twitter: https://twitter.com/YourselfReview
BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/reviewityourself.bsky.social
Threads: https://www.threads.net/@reviewityourselfpodcast2021
Email: reviewityourselfpodcast@gmail.com

Support the Podcast
If you enjoyed this episode, here are the ways to support Review It Yourself:
Subscribe on your favourite podcast platform.
Leave a 5-star rating and written review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.
Share this episode with fellow horror fans, book lovers and werewolf enthusiasts.
Recommend the podcast on social media to help more listeners discover independent creators.

Every rating, review and share genuinely helps the podcast reach a wider audience.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Does Daredevil's Director's Cut redeem one of Marvel's most divisive superhero movies?

In this episode of Review It Yourself, Sean is joined by Stew from Stew World Order to revisit Ben Affleck's take on Marvel's Man Without Fear and find out whether this early superhero film deserves a second chance.

We discuss the differences between the Director's Cut and the theatrical release, Michael Clarke Duncan's unforgettable Kingpin, Colin Farrell's wonderfully unhinged Bullseye, Jennifer Garner's Elektra, and whether this darker version improves on the original.

We also explore Daredevil's place in the history of Marvel movies before the MCU, how it compares with modern comic book adaptations, and whether nostalgia has changed the way audiences view it over twenty years later.

If you've ever wondered whether Daredevil (2003) is an underrated superhero movie, a misunderstood cult favourite, or simply a relic of early 2000s comic book cinema, this episode has you covered.

In this episode, we discuss:

Daredevil (2003) Director's Cut vs theatrical version
Ben Affleck as Matt Murdock/Daredevil
Marvel films before the MCU
Michael Clarke Duncan's Kingpin
Colin Farrell's Bullseye performance
Jennifer Garner's Elektra
Early 2000s superhero movie trends
Comic book movie nostalgia
Does Daredevil deserve a reappraisal?

If you enjoy honest film reviews without the faff, subscribe to Review It Yourself and never miss an episode.

Follow Review It Yourself:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/reviewityourselfpodcast2021
X / Twitter: https://twitter.com/YourselfReview
BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/reviewityourself.bsky.social
Threads: https://www.threads.net/@reviewityourselfpodcast2021
Email: reviewityourselfpodcast@gmail.com

Support the podcast
If you enjoy the show, the best way to support Review It Yourself is to:

Follow or subscribe wherever you get your podcasts.
Leave a five-star rating and review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.
Share your favourite episodes with friends and fellow film fans.
Recommend guests, films, or TV shows you'd like us to review by getting in touch via social media or email.

Thanks for listening to Review It Yourself – Film Reviews Without the Faff.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.