Burnt or Buttered: Movie Reviews

SISU Road to Revenge Discussion – Old-Man Fury, Tank Flips, and the Legend Who Won’t Die

In this episode of Burnt or Buttered, Toast and I dive into SISU: Road to Revenge, a movie that somehow escalates from emotional silence to flipping tanks in the air — and we mean literally flipping tanks.We break down Yorma Tommila’s completely wordless performance, the wild physics-defying action, and why Korpi might be the most stubborn man ever put on screen. We also get into Yomari Helander’s filmmaking choices, the gorgeous cinematography, the “house as a character” idea, and whether ridiculousness ruins the fun or just makes it better.By the end, we’re debating legend vs logic, old-man muscles vs gravity, and why this franchise might secretly work better than John Wick.⏱️ Chapters00:00 – Toast’s Trailer Opening01:24 – Welcome to Burnt or Buttered01:40 – Stetson’s First Impressions Without Seeing the Original02:30 – The Power of a Silent Protagonist03:05 – Emotional Recap Without Dialogue03:59 – Toast Explains the First SISU Film05:00 – Callbacks, Legends, and 300 Bodies06:20 – The “Home” Concept and Director Inspiration07:30 – Korpi’s Impossible Strength08:50 – The House as a Character10:00 – Nazi Legends, Russian Villains, and Exaggerated Myth11:00 – Tank Flips, Cliff Falls, and Letting Physics Die12:10 – Why the Movie Still Works13:10 – Cinematography Keeping the Movie Grounded14:30 – Comparing SISU to John Wick15:10 – Yorma Tommila’s Theatre Background16:30 – Why the Silent Performance Feels Earned17:40 – Language Barriers and Intentional Silence18:50 – Yamari Helander’s Inspirations and Next Projects19:40 – Emotional Beats vs Ridiculous Action20:50 – The Plane Ramp Scene22:00 – The Nostalgic Chuck Norris Energy23:20 – The Rambo Prequel Connection24:25 – Stetson’s Final Pop25:10 – Toast’s Final Pop26:10 – Wrap-Up and Closing

Eternity Discussion – Elizabeth Olsen, Miles Teller, and the Afterlife Love Triangle Nobody Expected

In this Burnt or Buttered episode, Toast and I talk about Eternity, the new A24 afterlife drama directed by David Frain and starring Elizabeth Olsen, Miles Teller, and Callum Turner.The film asks a heavy question — what happens when the person you love in life meets the person they loved before you in the afterlife? We break down the moral conflict, the unique “waiting area” world-building, and the weirdly capitalist idea of buying your perfect eternity.We also get into Olsen’s accent, Miles Teller’s surprisingly grounded performance, and why the movie works better as a short film than a feature.⏱️ Chapters00:00 – Toast’s Trailer-Style Opening01:12 – Welcome to Burnt or Buttered01:30 – The Premise: Choosing Your Eternity02:10 – The Afterlife as Bureaucracy03:00 – War Hero or Just Dead Guy?04:00 – Veterans Day Tangent and Real-Life Parallels05:00 – The Afterlife’s Time Rules Explained06:00 – Luke vs Larry: Who’s the Real Soulmate?07:00 – Age, Experience, and Emotional Disconnect08:00 – Relationship Philosophy and Shared Struggles09:00 – Memory Tunnels and Emotional Symbolism10:00 – The Power of Bad Memories11:00 – What Makes a Life Worth Living Together12:00 – The Eternities Debate: Heaven or Hell?13:00 – Why No One Would Actually Pick an Eternity14:00 – Luke’s Cabin vs The Beach Eternity15:00 – Avoiding the Void16:00 – Existential Themes and Hidden Meanings17:00 – Monday Mystery Movie Experience18:00 – Final Pop Ratings

Frankenstein Discussion – Guillermo del Toro, Oscar Isaac, and the Birth of a Modern Monster

In this Burnt or Buttered episode, Toast and I dive into Guillermo del Toro’s Frankenstein (2025) — a gothic masterpiece starring Oscar Isaac, Jacob Elordi, and Mia Goth.We talk about the film’s haunting cinematography, the constant camera movement, and del Toro’s obsessive attention to detail. We also unpack the themes of parenthood, creation, and obsession, and explore the moral questions at the heart of Victor’s story.From Mia Goth’s complex performance to Elordi’s silent yet heartbreaking creature, this movie gave us plenty to dissect — from the Oedipus complex symbolism to the milk glass that says more than any line of dialogue.⏱️ Chapters00:00 – Toast’s Trailer-Style Opening01:23 – Welcome to Burnt or Buttered02:01 – The Theater Experience03:00 – The Constantly Moving Camera03:45 – 24mm Lenses and the Cinematography Secrets04:50 – Guillermo del Toro’s On-Set Direction Style06:00 – Editing While Filming07:05 – Theatrical Acting and Shakespearean Energy08:00 – Does It Go On Too Long?09:20 – Oscar Isaac and The Monster’s Story Arc10:00 – Balancing Victor and the Creature’s Perspectives12:00 – Motherhood, Milk, and Symbolism13:30 – The Creature’s Humanity and Innocence15:00 – Comparing the Creature to Childhood Curiosity16:30 – Mia Goth’s Character and Mary Shelley Parallels18:00 – Themes of Death, Rebirth, and Grief21:00 – The Captain’s Leadership and Human Ambition23:00 – Parallels Between Victor and the Captain26:00 – Christoph Waltz’s Role and the Blind Ambition Motif29:00 – Behind the Scenes Makeup Details32:00 – The Oedipus Complex and Mother Symbolism33:00 – Frankenstein’s Psychological Depth35:00 – Morality, Creation, and Destruction38:00 – Final Pops and Ratings

Begonia Discussion – Yorgos Lanthimos, Alien Conspiracies, and Emma Stone’s Wildest Role Yet

In this Burnt or Buttered episode, Toast and I talk about Begonia, the bizarre new sci-fi thriller from Yorgos Lanthimos starring Emma Stone and Jesse Plemons.We dive into the alien abduction plot, the psychological layers of Teddy and Michelle, and that jaw-dropping twist ending where everything you thought you knew unravels. We also talk about the insane behind-the-scenes details—like Emma Stone shaving her head live on film and the one-of-a-kind Panavision setup used to capture it.It’s equal parts philosophical horror and dark comedy, and easily one of the strangest movies of the year.⏱️ Chapters00:00 – Toast’s Trailer-Style Opening01:09 – Welcome to Burnt or Buttered01:31 – Emma Stone Shaves Her Head Live on Film02:22 – Shooting on Rare Panavision Film Cameras03:22 – The 4:3 Aspect Ratio Debate04:44 – Audience Reaction and Theatrical Momentum05:56 – The Mystery of What’s Real06:50 – The Alien Reveal and Ambulance Scene08:04 – Violence, Psychology, and Power Dynamics09:38 – The Chemical Castration Scene10:26 – The Bees, Symbolism, and Rebirth Themes11:46 – The Greek Mythology Behind the Title “Begonia”13:15 – Psychological Layers and Family Trauma15:09 – Jesse Plemons’ Performance and Character Depth17:46 – Dream Sequences and Symbolic Imagery19:42 – Violence, Guilt, and the Cop Character21:25 – Serial Killer Parallels23:23 – Teddy’s Delusion of Being “The Savior”25:11 – Alternate Endings and Missed Opportunities27:02 – The Score and the Cinematic Tone28:10 – Production Notes and UK Filming29:05 – Dream Interpretation and Family Themes30:39 – Toast’s Final Pop31:36 – Stetson’s Final Pop

The Black Phone 2 Discussion – Ethan Hawke Returns, Dreamland Horror, and the Perfect Sequel

In this Burnt or Buttered episode, Toast and I talk about The Black Phone 2, Scott Derrickson’s follow-up to his 2022 horror hit. This time, Finn and Gwen are older, haunted by their past, and facing new nightmares that blur the line between dreams and reality.We dive into Ethan Hawke’s chilling return as The Grabber, the time jump that actually worked, and the mix of horror and emotion that makes this one of the best sequels we’ve ever seen. We also talk cinematography, behind-the-scenes facts, and the shocking brutality that had us both squirming.If you loved the first Black Phone, this sequel might just surpass it.⏱️ Chapters00:00 – Toast’s Trailer-Style Opening01:14 – Welcome to Burnt or Buttered02:00 – First Impressions and Sequel Skepticism03:00 – Scott Derrickson on Earning a Sequel04:00 – Why This Story Works05:00 – Time Jump and Character Growth06:00 – Gwen and Finn’s Emotional Evolution07:00 – The Grabber’s Return Explained08:00 – Nightmare Sequences and Dream Logic09:00 – The Freddy Krueger Parallels10:00 – The Bridge Between the Living and the Dead11:00 – Symbolism, Faith, and Horror Blends12:00 – The Graphic Kill Scenes13:00 – The Ethics of Killing Kids in Horror14:00 – Cinematography: Super 8 to Digital Magic15:00 – Dreamland Transitions and Immersive Shots16:00 – Production Challenges and Film Tricks17:00 – Why the Visuals Feel Real18:00 – Hollywood’s Problem with Gore19:00 – How This Sequel Stands Out20:00 – Emotional Payoffs and Family Themes21:00 – Ethan Hawke’s Lines That Gave Us Chills22:00 – The Hell Allegory Explained23:00 – Missing Parents and Mystery Characters24:00 – The Camp Setting and Tension25:00 – Director Trivia: Scott Derrickson’s Past26:00 – Denver, Ted Bundy, and the Real-Life Parallels27:00 – Fun Behind-the-Scenes Facts28:00 – Final Pop Ratings

The Smashing Machine Discussion – The Rock, Emily Blunt, and Benny Safdie’s Most Human Film Yet

In this Burnt or Buttered episode, Toast and I break down The Smashing Machine, Benny Safdie’s emotional biopic about MMA fighter Mark Kerr — starring Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson and Emily Blunt.We talk about The Rock’s surprising dramatic range, the film’s raw look and documentary-style storytelling, and why some scenes felt more ordinary than cinematic. We also dive into Emily Blunt’s layered performance as Dawn, the complicated love story, and how Safdie’s approach to realism made this film feel both powerful and frustrating.We discuss everything from the film’s score (which we both hated) to its emotional core, exploring whether The Smashing Machine truly lands its knockout punch or just dances around the ring.⏱️ Chapters00:00 – Toast’s Trailer-Style Opening01:00 – The Rock’s Transformation and Venice Festival Buzz02:00 – Benny Safdie’s Realism and Documentary Influence03:00 – The MMA Casting Choice Debate04:20 – Flat Performances and Real Fighters on Screen05:10 – The Rock and Emily Blunt’s Acting Depth06:10 – Ordinary vs Extraordinary: The Film’s Identity Crisis07:20 – Emily Blunt’s Dawn: Toxic, Loving, and Human08:10 – The Gun Scene and Manipulation Themes09:30 – Symbolism of Violence and Restraint10:10 – Did Mark Lose on Purpose?11:10 – Acceptance, Healing, and Ambiguous Endings12:10 – The Shower Scene and Final Moments13:00 – Filming Choices and IMAX Ending14:10 – Breaking the Fourth Wall15:00 – Ordinary Moments vs Narrative Purpose16:20 – Benny Safdie’s Filmmaking Intentions17:00 – The Jazz Score Debate18:10 – Improvised Music and the Tone Problem19:00 – Final Ratings and Reflections20:00 – Closing Thoughts

Him 2025 Discussion – Sports, Sacrifice, and the Bloodiest Football Movie Ever Made

In this Burnt or Buttered episode, Toast and I talk about Him — a sports horror film that mixes faith, fame, and the cost of greatness. From the mind of Justin Tipping and produced by Jordan Peele, this movie takes the idea of “being him” to disturbing new levels.We break down the performances from Marlon Wayans and Tyreek Withers, the religious symbolism, and whether the film’s brutal ending added anything or just went too far. We also dive into the goat imagery, Isaiah White’s twisted mentorship, and why this movie left us both frustrated and fascinated.It’s one of the strangest movies we’ve reviewed — beautiful, haunting, and impossible to fully make sense of.⏱️ Chapters00:00 – Toast’s Trailer-Style Synopsis01:16 – First Impressions and Trailer Hype02:45 – Visuals and Perfume Ad Comparisons04:10 – Performances: Tyreek Withers and Marlon Wayans05:00 – Themes of Sacrifice and GOAT Mentality06:00 – Athletic Trials and Psychological Warfare07:30 – The Bone-Crushing Breakthrough Scene08:10 – The Mentor vs Protégé Dynamic09:00 – “I’m Going to Watch Tape” – The American Psycho Parallel10:30 – The Combine Concussion Theory11:10 – Was It All in His Head?13:00 – The Creation of the GOAT Allegory15:00 – Isaiah’s Secret History and Cycles of Violence16:00 – The Father’s Death and Manufactured Drive16:30 – The Gore Debate: Too Much or Just Enough?18:30 – The Wife’s Role and the Hidden Contract20:00 – Open Loops and Missed Payoffs22:00 – The Justin Tipping Cut We’ll Never See23:10 – Final Thoughts and Ratings25:00 – Burnt or Buttered Wrap-Up

Caught Stealing Discussion – Austin Butler, Big Seatbelt Conspiracies, and Aronofsky’s Wild Ride

In this Burnt or Buttered episode, Toast and I dive into Caught Stealing, Darren Aronofsky’s gritty adaptation of Charlie Huston’s novel.We talk about the strange “Big Seatbelt” conspiracy running through the film, the shocking death of Zoe Kravitz’s character, and Austin Butler’s grounded, all-in performance. We also get into the villains, the Microbe’s unhinged scenes, and whether Aronofsky’s brutal style worked for this kind of story.This movie surprised both of us — not just with its intensity, but with how much heart it had beneath all the chaos.⏱️ Chapters00:00 – Toast’s Trailer-Style Synopsis01:03 – Welcome to Burnt or Buttered01:16 – Who Is Big Seatbelt?02:29 – Seatbelt Propaganda or Just a Running Gag?03:31 – Box Office Failure and Why It Struggled04:26 – Aronofsky’s Brutal Directing Style06:14 – Grounded but Human Characters07:12 – Villains Like Batman Rogues08:18 – The Microbe and His Wild Scenes09:19 – Austin Butler Grounds the Chaos10:57 – Running, Sliding, and Craven the Hunter Casting Jokes11:51 – Austin Butler as a Fully Real Person13:07 – Does the Movie Drag or Keep Momentum?14:20 – Zoe Kravitz’s Shocking Death15:12 – Emotional Depth, Even in the Sex Scene17:03 – Yvonne’s Death and Tone Shift18:19 – Detective Character and Series of Reveals19:12 – Car Crash Parallels and Poetic Ending20:01 – Why Audiences Might Not Have Connected20:49 – The Role of Nightmares in Hank’s Story21:05 – The Black and White Cookie Theory22:11 – Big Seatbelt Ribbons and Final Laughs22:58 – Final Pop Ratings

Weapons 2025 Discussion – Horror, Suspicion, and the Year’s Most Disturbing Small-Town Mystery

In this Burnt or Buttered episode, Toast and I dive into Weapons, Zach Cregger’s follow-up to Barbarian. This one mixes mystery, horror, and small-town paranoia into a story that’s as unsettling as it is layered.We talk about the shocking opening, the eerie White Lotus-style direction, and the Shining-inspired finale. We also dig into Julia Garner’s standout performance, the complexity of Justine Gandy’s character, and why Archer Graff might be the heart of the whole story.From hypnotized kids to abusive undertones, gore-filled chaos to deeper allegories, this movie gave us plenty to debate.⏱️ Chapters00:00 – Trailer-Style Synopsis Opening01:27 – Welcome to Burnt or Buttered01:40 – First Impressions and Barbarian Comparisons02:56 – White Lotus Vibes in the First Act04:52 – Trailer as the Opening Scene05:28 – Narration and Tone Setting06:01 – Shining-Inspired Homages07:35 – Stephen King Everywhere This Year07:48 – Julia Garner’s Teacher Role08:30 – Duality of Justine Gandy09:44 – Suspicion: Was She Involved?10:15 – Archer Graff as the Everyman11:24 – Alex’s Emotional Core and Burden12:40 – Gladys and the Witch Reveal13:08 – Why Was Alex Spared?15:11 – Final Act Chaos: Kids vs Witch16:45 – The Not-So-Happy Ending17:29 – Small-Town Fallout Questions17:53 – Brutal Gore and Face-Smashing Scenes18:50 – Too Much Horror in the Final 20 Minutes?20:39 – Horror vs Thriller Boundaries21:29 – Zach Cregger’s Symbolism and Numbers23:37 – Searching for Deeper Meanings24:21 – Allegory of Abuse in Alex’s Story25:01 – The Cop and Junkie Sequence26:49 – Final Pop Ratings

Superman 2025 Discussion – Hope Restored, Clone Battles, and Did DC Finally Get It Right?

In this Burnt or Buttered episode, Toast and I dive into Superman (2025), James Gunn’s big swing at rebuilding the DC universe with David Corenswet as the new Man of Steel.We talk through the good, the bad, and the weird: Green Lantern as a punchline, Lois Lane as Superman’s anchor, Lex Luthor as an actually believable villain, and whether the clone fight worked or fell flat.This movie gave us plenty to debate — from its episodic structure to the comic book tone and the risk of throwing so many new characters into one story. Did DC finally get its long overdue win?⏱️ Chapters00:00 – Toast’s Trailer Voice Intro01:22 – Welcome to Burnt or Buttered02:00 – Did DC Finally Do It?03:00 – Superman, Green Lantern, and DC’s Struggles05:00 – Character Moments That Stood Out06:00 – Lois Lane as Superman’s Anchor07:00 – Mr. Terrific and Scene-Stealing Surprises08:00 – Lex Luthor Done Right09:00 – Superman vs Superman: Too Soon?10:00 – Clone Problems and Missed Potential11:00 – Living in Metropolis Seems Exhausting12:00 – A New Take on Clark’s Humanity13:00 – James Gunn’s Signature Style14:00 – Hawk Girl, Hot Girl, and Guardians Vibes15:00 – The Justice Gang Setup16:00 – A Comic Book Universe That Feels Fresh17:00 – Teases for the Future of DC18:00 – Hypnosis Glasses Explained18:30 – Crypto the Superdog Debate19:00 – Fatherhood, Core Memories, and Superman’s Roots20:00 – A Risky, Middle-of-the-Story Approach21:00 – Final Pop Ratings23:00 – Thank You for 50 Subscribers