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Host Manika sits down with returning guest Alta (Alta’s Oyster) for a full, spoiler-heavy review of 40 Acres (2025)—the post-apocalyptic thriller about a Black and Indigenous family protecting their farmland after a fungal pandemic. We cover Danielle Deadwyler’s commanding lead, the film’s take on isolation vs. community, firearm pragmatism, and why land—not ammo—is the scarce currency here. We also weigh the script’s weaknesses (underwritten family members, a flat foil) and why the movie still stands apart from typical doomsday fare.

In Media Mania, we unpack the Jimmy Kimmel suspension following commentary on Charlie Kirk’s shooting and what that signals for late-night, media pressure, and speech norms headed into 2026. We close with a Watch List: October Scaries picks, Weapons, The Long Walk, Highest to Lowest, The Man in My Basement, and more.

• 00:00 – Intro music

• 00:09 – Welcome + returning guest Alta (Alta’s Oyster)

• 01:29 – Media Mania opens

• 03:20 – What Kimmel said about the Kirk shooting; FCC reaction; suspension

• 10:11 – “Martyr” discourse, job losses after on-air comments

• 12:44 – Joy Reid/Melissa Harris-Perry precedent; late-night context

• 19:35 – Late-night future speculation and platform shifts

• 24:04 – Main Segment: 40 Acres — premise & setup (farmland as currency)

• 25:52 – Why this doomsday story feels different; initial reactions

• 27:12 – Alta’s rating and first take (3/5; “it’s actually thrilling”)

• 37:32 – Themes: guns, defense vs. offense, “stay on your land” ethics

• 40:02 – Performances: Haley (Deadwyler), Galen, Emmanuel; family dynamics

• • 1:07:01 – 1:12:30 — World-building & politics done right (how 40 Acres weaves stakes without soapboxing).

  • 1:12:31 – 1:20:30 — Family dynamics & leadership (why Manny was never ready; Rain vs. Manny; who should lead).

  • 1:20:31 – 1:37:24 — Survival ethics (“help no one vs. help some”—where Haley draws the line, why it isn’t selfish).

  • 1:37:25 – 1:42:43 — Side track: Civil War critique (journalism portrayal, shallow allegory).

  • 1:42:44 – 1:45:06 — Back to 40 Acres: verdict (good film with weaknesses; desire for more Black women in thrillers).

  • 1:45:07 – 1:49:05 — Current thrillers roundup (G20, Viola Davis/Kerry Washington vehicles—writing vs. performance).

  • 1:49:06 – 1:51:59 — Danielle Deadwyler focus (craft, role choices; what we want next).

  • 1:52:00 – 1:56:37 — ‘Weapons’ vs. Civil War (suspense done well vs. empty messaging).

  • 1:56:38 – 2:00:24 — Reviews culture & “overhyped” talk (why you review without telling people to go/skip).

  • 2:00:25 – 2:03:10 — What’s next: Spike Lee, DaCosta (respect for Spike; TIFF title, The Marvels production realities).

  • 2:03:11 – 2:09:14 — Black love on screen (why interracial dominates; representation patterns).

  • 2:09:15 – 2:10:29 — Watchlist names & actors (Corey Hawkins, John David Washington, The Piano Lesson).

  • 2:10:30 – 2:11:17 — October ‘Scaries’ plan (Bride, Jennifer’s Body setup).

  • 2:11:18 – 2:12:35 — Sign-off & outro music (where to find Alta; show plugs; music fade).

  Check out Alta's TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@altasoyster?lang=en

  
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