'The blast wave from a thermonuclear weapon has been likened to an enormous door, slamming in the depths of hell'

-Narrator, The War Game.

Sean and Sarah go from very silly (Sean has been eating too many Brandy-infused Mince Pies) to incredibly serious whilst discussing one of the most harrowing films they've ever seen: The 1966 BBC Nuclear War pseudo-documentary programme, The War Game. Banned from TV broadcast until 1984, when it was show alongside Threads (1984) this is a must-see film.

A harrowing film showing a nuclear strike on the South of England, infused with British humour alongside horrific details of the impact of radiation, this is peak British Television.

Please Note: This podcast episode contains one use of the term ‘coloured’. This is quoted directly from the film purely as part of a historical discussion and review of the film, and is not meant to cause any offence/distress. It highlights the 1960's society, which was still grappling with racial and social prejudice, and allows us to discuss the film in it's historical context.

References:

The V2 attack on Woolworths in London, occurred on Saturday 25th November 1944, and killed 168 people.

Chapters:

0:03 Welcome to the Podcast

1:16 A Heavy Discussion, a Silly Start!

1:56 The War Game

3:48 The Impact of Nuclear War

10:26 British Responses to Nuclear Threats

16:32 Society's Fragility

23:00 Exploring the Horrors

25:43 The Psychological Toll

29:10 The Aftermath of Destruction

33:09 The Reality of Survival

37:27 Triage and Resource Allocation

42:28 The Bleak Future

45:45 Children of the Fallout

49:11 The Illusion of Hope

53:42 Historical Context and Reflection

57:54 Cautionary Tales

1:01:37 Preparing for the Unknown

1:06:14 The Limits of Survival

1:08:21 Closing Thoughts and Reflections

Thanks for Listening!

Find us here: 

X: @YourselfReview

Instagram: reviewityourselfpodcast2021

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What do you get when two Titanic enthusiasts get together to geek out over one of the staples of 1990's Titanic documentary: Answers from the Abyss (1999)?

You get nerdy chaos.

Sean is joined by Ryan 'The Dalek Man' Wade this time around. Ryan brings his insight into the documentary, the Titanic disaster and lesson learned from the tragedy... when Sean let's him get a word in that is.

Chapters:

1:29 Introduction to Titanic Enthusiasts

15:09: A piece of Titanic (allegedly) fell off a truck

37:36 Captain Smith's Role in the Titanic Disaster

37:48 Exploring Titanic's Lifeboats and Safety Measures

42:37 Theories on Titanic's Final Moments

44:13 Investigating the Stern's Implosion and Explosion

47:10 Titanic's Stern: A Hidden Tragedy

49:46 Eyewitness Accounts and Historical Misunderstandings

51:30 The Debate on Titanic's Final Moments

53:47 Theories on the Ship's Breakup

57:13 The Iceberg's Impact: A Fatal Encounter

1:00:02 Lifeboat Protocols and Miscommunication

1:05:52 Societal Impact of the Titanic Disaster

1:06:35 Lessons Learned from Titanic

1:08:33 Modern Documentaries vs. Classic Approaches

1:10:50 The Personal Side of Titanic Stories

1:19:16 Current Titanic Exploration Challenges

1:20:57 Ryan's Titanic Model Making Journey

1:27:00 Future Titanic Podcast Plans

1:32:22 Wrap-Up and Farewell

Thanks for Listening!

Find us here: 

X: @YourselfReview

Instagram: reviewityourselfpodcast2021

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Katja Hoyer, German-British Historian, Author and Journalist joins Sean and Sarah to discuss the dilemma facing German actors since 1945: whether to take Nazi roles or not.

They examine 'memory politics' of the Second World War, the stereotypical Nazi portrayal seen in Hollywood over the years such as Wolf Kahler, through to modern German actors like Sandra Hüller, Daniel Brühl, Franka Potente, among others.

From Star Wars, Commando Comics to Coronation Street, this episode truly examines a rarely-discussed issue in films with the trademark humour that you've come to expect from Sean and Sarah, whilst maintaining a respectful tone given the historical context.

Question Raised:

-How quickly did this issue rear it's head in post-war Germany?

-Could a German family join Coronation Street?

-How many films/television series does Sean mention?

-When did the stereotypical Nazi villain begin?

-What was the reaction to The Untergang [Downfall] in Germany?

-Do all film villains have to be either German or well-spoken English characters?

-Will German topics other than the Nazis ever be of interest to the international film scene?

Books:

-Der Brand [The Fire] by Jörg Friedrich, published in 2002. 

The Song that Sean was trying to think of for 'Deutschland 83':

-"Major Tom (Coming Home)" by Peter Schilling.

Our Guest:

https://www.katjahoyer.uk/

Read The Article Here:

https://www.katjahoyer.uk/p/the-nazi-dilemma-facing-german-actors

Chapters:

0:05 Welcome to Review It Yourself

0:46 Introducing Katja Hoyer

2:29 The Inspiration Behind the Article

5:08 German Actors and Nazi Stereotypes

6:58 Portrayals in Film

10:44 The Impact of Historical Memory

11:10 The Modern German Actor

16:18 The Balance of Typecasting

17:57 The Complexity of Nazi Depictions

20:34 Female Actors and Their Roles

23:17 The Challenges of Representation

33:22 The Role of Nationality in Acting

36:46 The Future of German Cinema

41:01 Shifting Perspectives in Film

57:23 Cultural Stereotypes in Modern Media

1:00:48 Upcoming Projects of Katja Hoyer

Thanks for Listening!

Find us here: 

X: @YourselfReview

Instagram: reviewityourselfpodcast2021

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Preview It Yourself Returns! Sean and Sarah watch what Sean thought was the teaser trailer for Christopher Nolan's Odyssey (2026), before discussing his filmography. It turned out to be a concept trailer. Never mind.

Do you enjoy Nolan's films or endure them?

Chapters:

0:07 Introduction to Odyssey Trailer

0:27 Thoughts on Matt Damon

2:03 Concerns About the Cast

4:42 Storytelling Challenges

6:58 Nolan's Recent Films

9:45 Adapting Epic Poetry

14:25 Trailer Impressions

16:35 Character Development Issues

23:57 Anticipation and Apprehension

25:33 Final Thoughts and Farewell

*Sean meant King Ethelstan, not Ethelstad.

Thanks for Listening!

Find us here: 

X: @YourselfReview

Instagram: reviewityourselfpodcast2021

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Luke from 'Howdy Beans' has never seen 'October Sky' (1999). Sean wasn't having it.

Chapters:

0:04 Hey Luke, where's my sigh?

2:03 Housekeeping and Positivity

3:29 Trivia About October Sky

5:18 Introducing Homer Hickam

11:11 The Influence of Sputnik

27:01 The Role of Education

33:25 The Father-Son Dynamic

38:09 Understanding Each Other

44:29 The Rocket Building Journey

49:00 Homer's Growth and Learning

50:56 The Tuskegee Airmen film portrayals

52:38 Film Cameos and Trivia

55:35 The Rocket Launches Begin

1:00:45 Family Dynamics and Challenges

1:06:25 The Last Rocket Launch

1:10:10 Inspiration and Hope

1:21:05 The State of Modern Cinema

Thanks for Listening!

X:@YourselfReview

Instagram: reviewityourselfpodcast2021

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In Space No-One Can Hear You Rage, or Argue Like Hell!

Paul from 'History Rage' returns to continue the Alien series, with Alien 3 (1992), Alien: Resurrection (1997) and Alien: Romulus (2024).

Will Sean and Paul agree on anything in this one?

Listen in to find out...

Chapters:

0:05 Welcome to Review It Yourself

26:03 The Flaws of Alien 3 (1992)

26:18 A Dive into Alien Resurrection (1997)

1:01:52 The Best of the Rest? Alien Romulus (2024)

1:10:14 Anticipating the Future of the Franchise

1:11:09 Closing Thoughts and Farewells

Thanks For Listening!

X: @YourselfReview

Instagram: reviewityourselfpodcast2021

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sean and Sarah are joined by Author Fiona Dodwell to discuss her new book 'A Cursed Collection of Haunted Dolls', to try and answer the question: Can dolls truly be haunted?

The Book is Out Now!

Our Guest:

X (Twitter): @Angel_Devil982

Instagram: Fiona_Dodwell_

Chapters:

0:04 Introduction to Haunted Dolls

6:05 The Risks of Engaging with Spirits

12:38 The Cultural Perspective on Haunted Objects

16:56 The Online Market for Haunted Items

21:36 The Human Connection to Objects

29:23 Exploring Personal Paranormal Experiences

32:50 The Influence of Horror on Reality

36:29 Humour in the Paranormal

46:22 Rehoming Haunted Objects

53:00 Collecting Stories for the Next Book

58:23 Open-Mindedness in Paranormal Beliefs

1:02:33 Conclusion and Future Discussions

Thanks for Listening!

X:@YourselfReview

Instagram: reviewityourselfpodcast2021

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Dames of Doom, Tessa and Nicole from the 'Doom Generation Podcast' join Sean to rant about the cheesy, science-bereft 2003 film 'The Core'.

Chapters:

0:06 Shout-out to Luke from 'Howdy Beans podcast'

0:50 Introducing Nicole and Tessa from 'Doom Generation'

4:33 "Why The Core?" Nicole and Tessa question Sean’s film choice.

31:29 Analysing the Film's Flaws (there's a few of them)

38:19 The Mission to the Core

46:28 The films ending-Does anyone actually care?

58:15 Reflecting on Disaster Films

1:09:16 Upcoming Themes and Films

1:18:12 Wrapping Up the Episode

Thanks for Listening!

X:@YourselfReview

Instagram: reviewityourselfpodcast2021

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sean is joined by Carla and James from 'The Traumarific Podcast'. In this second part of their E.T. review, they get bored of talking about E.T. (who could blame them?) and decide to discuss films in general. They discuss a shared love of Tropic Thunder (2008), the Terrifier films, and the Halloween series.

Chapters:

0:16 E.T. Disappointment

0:23 Nostalgia vs. Reality

2:50 Watching E.T. as a Child vs. as an Adult

4:24 Themes in Kids' Films

8:06 The Poseidon Adventure (1972)

9:16 Comedic Horror

12:30 The Terrifier Films

18:46 Tropic Thunder (2008)

22:58 The Halloween Series

25:51 Unsettling Films

28:46 Music in Horror

31:52 Childhood Traumas

37:00 Podcasting Journey

39:47 Engaging with Listeners

46:28 Future Film Discussions

Thanks for Listening!

Find us here: 

X: @YourselfReview

Instagram: reviewityourselfpodcast2021

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sean is joined by Carla and James from 'The Traumarific Podcast'. Although newcomers to Review It Yourself, Sean, Carla and James bond over a shared bewilderment over how E.T. is considered a classic.

Chapters:

0:08 Welcome Everyone

0:58 The Trauma of E.T.

2:28 An Unbearably Long Slog of a film?

8:00 Modern Film Frustrations

9:32 The Art of Storytelling

11:28 Nostalgia and Influence

19:31 E.T. and Star Wars Connections

25:51 The 2002 Remastered Version of E.T.

31:30 The Value of a simple premise

37:07 Comparing E.T. to Other Films

43:18 Humour in E.T.

47:50 E.T. Merchandise Madness

53:13 Bizarre E.T. Collectibles (the finger)

58:55 Reflecting on Family Dynamics

Thanks for Listening!

Find us here: 

X: @YourselfReview

Instagram: reviewityourselfpodcast2021

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sean is joined by Author and Historian Roger Moorhouse to discuss his new book 'Wolfpack: Hitler's U-Boat War'.

Sniff up that fabled 'U-Boat Stink' and keep your hands off anyone else’s Tauchretter, and immerse yourself in the U-Boat War of 1939-1945, from the optimistic beginnings and the happy years, until the turkey shoot of the final years as Nazi Germany is beaten back on all fronts.

The book is out in the UK Now!

Our Guest:

Roger's Website: https://www.rogermoorhouse.com/

Roger Moorhouse on X: @Roger_Moorhouse

Chapters:

0:08 Welcome to Review It Yourself

1:10 Introducing Roger Moorhouse

2:23 Opening the Book with the vivid surrender of the German U-Boats in 1918

4:52 Roger explains book-ending the Story

7:57 Close Quarters Combat

9:38 German Perspective on U-Boat War

11:45 Tauchretter Training Insights

13:57 A Psychological 'Comfort Blanket'

17:00 The Solidarity of the Sea

22:42 The Myth of the U-Boat Threat & Churchill

24:11 Revising the Narrative

27:05 The Brutal Reality of U-Boat Warfare

28:43 The Laconia Incident

30:42 The Impact of the Second World War on German Society

31:45 The Axis Powers' Lack of Cooperation

42:02 The U-Boat Command Structure and Enigma

46:34 What if Dönitz was listened to by the Kreigsmarine High Command

51:41 Cinematic Representations of U-Boats

1:02:53 Accessibility of the Book

1:08:36 Closing Thoughts and Acknowledgments

Most Importantly: Thank you to you for Listening!

X:@YourselfReview

Instagram: reviewityourselfpodcast2021

Review It Yourself.

'The podcast with the sigh. Film Reviews (mostly) without the Faff'.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today, Sean and Sarah welcome Author, YouTuber, Journalist, Speaker, Podcaster, Film Critic and Baptist Minister, Peter Laws to discuss his upcoming book 'The Frighteners: Why We Love Monsters, Ghosts, Death and Gore'. The book will be published on 9th October 2025.

'The Frighteners' finds Peter on a paranormal pilgrimage to seek out what is it that draws people to both the dark and macabre, but also to the light and faith.

With a healthy dose of dark-humour including threatening a zombie in a wheelchair with a shotgun, enticing a werewolf with peppered steaks from a Sainsbury's Local, to a festival which Peter described as a sort-of meta-physical Come Dine With Me, this thought-provoking book is one not to be missed. When I say thought-provoking, mainly death if we're honest but we'll get into that.

As the book blurb proclaims: 'Grab your crucifixes, pack the silver bullets, and join the Sinister Minister on his romp into our morbid curiosities!'

Sean, Sarah and Peter share their own ghost 'experiences'.

Guest Links:

-Peter Laws Website: https://www.peterlaws.co.uk/

-Into The Fog with Peter Laws: https://www.youtube.com/@IntoTheFog

-Creepy Cove Community Church Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/3238cjOfCXGgXHI3SKI4ka

-Uncanny: https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m0010x7c

Acknowledgments: Thank You To Peter, Elle-Jay from Icon Books and Paul Bavill from the 'History Rage' podcast.

Chapters:

0:08 Welcome to Review It Yourself

1:06 Literary Exploration of the Macabre

2:25 Introducing Pleasure a.k.a. Peter Laws

3:42 Childhood Memories of Fear

8:52 The Psychology of Horror

12:20 The Cultural Significance of Death

18:01 High vs. Low Culture

22:45 The Evolution of Female Representation in Horror Films

26:03 Personal Paranormal Experiences

36:50 The Quest for the Paranormal

45:11 The Nature of Belief and Skepticism

56:07 The Role of Coincidence

1:00:00 The Intersection of Science and Supernatural

1:08:09 Blasphemy and Artistic Expression

1:11:42 Final Thoughts and Recommendations

1:18:29 Conclusion and Acknowledgements

Most Importantly: Thank you to you for Listening!

X:@YourselfReview

Instagram: reviewityourselfpodcast2021

Review It Yourself.

'The podcast with the sigh. Film Reviews (mostly) without the Faff'.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ryan Walker is back! He joins Sean to discuss the iconic film Total Recall (1990). They also swear-ily discuss 1980's/90's action films, dating fails and Jean-Claude Van Damme.

0:05 Welcome to Review It Yourself

0:44 Manifesting Nicknames

2:07 Worst Dating Stories

3:39 Total Recall Discussion

8:12 Classic Action Films

16:43 Violence and Nostalgia

17:58 Practical Effects vs. CGI

21:44 The Memorable Characters

28:48 Theories and Interpretations

37:23 The Film's Legacy

45:11 Film Recommendations

50:42 The End of an Era

1:05:39 Closing Thoughts

1:12:08 Where to Find Us

Thanks for Listening!

Find us here: 

X: @YourselfReview

Instagram: reviewityourselfpodcast2021

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sean has just got home from seeing the legacy-sequel 'I Know What You Did Last Summer' (2025) in cinemas. Clayton can't wait to see what Sean thinks of the film.

Chapters:

0:05 Welcome to Review It Yourself

1:15 Free Popcorn and Awkward Dates

3:19 Nostalgia and Killer Reveals

8:46 Cinema Renaissance and Legacy Sequels

11:49 A Dive into the Conjuring Universe

15:40 Merch and Film Memories

20:02 Throwbacks and True Crime

23:47 Flaws and Fun in Horror

26:36 Tales of Past and Present

28:50 Town Hall Meetings and Tension

29:50 Theories and Creepy Diaries

32:29 Bold Moves and Expectations

35:24 Critics and Opinions

38:50 Late to the Party?

43:04 Final Thoughts and Future Sequels

48:07 Wrapping Up and What's Next

Thanks for Listening!

Find us here: 

X: @YourselfReview

Instagram: reviewityourselfpodcast2021

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Paul from 'History Rage' continues to argue that his favourite film in the Alien series is Alien (1986). One snag: Sean and Sarah prefer Alien.

This conclusion to the Aliens (1986) review is chockful of laughs, disagreements, tangents and nit-picking.

Chapters

0:01-Sting from 'Pods Like Us'

0:15 James Cameron's Deleted Scenes

1:21 Practical Effects vs. CGI

3:43 Thematic Elements of Alien

6:06 The Complexity of Ripley's Character

10:34 The Role of Supporting Characters

13:42 Corporate Villains in Alien

17:58 Sequels: A Comparative Analysis

21:38 Robot Sentry Guns Debate

23:45 The Tension of the Motion Tracker

27:24 Ripley's Maternal Instincts

33:28 Newt: The Unexpected Hero

36:45 The Importance of Hiding

39:58 The Threat of the Aliens

42:15 The Showdown with the Queen

47:00 The Catharsis of the Final Confrontation

50:14 Concluding Thoughts on Aliens

Thanks for Listening!

X: @YourselfReview

Instagram: reviewityourselfpodcast2021

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Paul returns to discuss his favourite film in the Alien series: Aliens (1986). One snag: Sean and Sarah prefer Alien (1979).

Sean tries to derail the review by discussing his frustration with James Cameron's latest films. Paul thinks Terminator 2 "broke James Cameron".

Did Paul really prefer Barbie over Oppenheimer?

With a sting from the fantastic Marv at 'Pods Like Us'.

Chapters

1:21 Aliens vs. Alien: A Controversial Debate

2:07 James Cameron's Unique Filmmaking Style

5:50 The Last Train from Hiroshima

9:31 Directors and Their Creative Freedom

12:19 Fun vs. Tension in Filmmaking

22:23 Bureaucracy in Aliens

31:28 The Importance of Ripley's Journey

36:54 The Role of Newt in Ripley's Life

45:41 Iconic Moments and Character Development

55:55: Pods Like Us sting

Thanks for Listening!

Find us here: 

X: @YourselfReview

Instagram: reviewityourselfpodcast2021

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In Space No-One Can Hear You Rage! Sean and Sarah are joined by Paul from 'History Rage', to begin yet another franchise: The Alien Franchise. Beginning with arguably the best (at least according to Sean and Sarah), Ridley Scott's Alien (1979).

Chapters:

0:07 Welcome to Review It Yourself

0:24 Terminator Talk

1:19 The Alien: The One That Began It All

1:49 Cramming Alien

3:15 Ground-breaking Science Fiction

4:38 The Template for Horror Survival Films

5:10 The Gritty World of Alien

5:27 Comparing Worlds

7:38 Character Depth and World-Building

10:53 The Horror of Alien

17:36 The Unseen Threat

24:49 The Emotional Impact of Death

28:39 Ripley's Leadership

33:52 Strong Female Characters

37:31 The Company's Agenda

38:24 Ash's Revelation

54:14 The Alien Lifecycle

1:04:13 The Self-Destruct Sequence

1:11:41 Realism in Space

1:15:18 The Sound of Space

1:21:35 Recap and Reflection

1:22:26 Thank You

Thanks for Listening!

Find us here: 

X: @YourselfReview

Instagram: reviewityourselfpodcast2021

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Clayton and Shawn from 'Men Who Like Men Who Like Movies' return to hear what Sean thought of his first-time watching I Still Know What You Did Last Summer (1998).

Chapters:

1:28 Welcome Back, Clayton and Shawn

1:31 Thoughts on the Sequel

3:28 Voodoo and Quirky Characters

4:56 Obvious Plot Points

6:51 Recognizing Actors

7:40 The "Nice Guy" Trope

9:59 Julie's Character Shift

11:36 Jennifer Love Hewitt's Musical Career

12:56 Concealed Weapons and Survival

13:37 Carla's Love Interests

14:39 Julie's Trauma

15:16 The Importance of Character Depth

19:20 Contagion (2011)

22:14 Freddie Prinze Jr.'s Limited Screen Time

24:32 Cops in the 'I Know What You Did Last Summer' franchise

27:49 British Friendships

30:16 Seasickness Tales

32:17 Flying Fears

36:55 Karaoke and Song Choices

41:52 Justice for the House Cleaning Lady

43:45 The Pacing of Kills

45:05 Plot Holes and Confusions

49:45 Tanning Bed Trauma

1:16:31 Dissecting the New Sequel

1:32:17 Critiques and Comparisons

1:38:00 Podcast Wrap-Up and Reflections

Thanks for Listening!

Find us here: 

X: @YourselfReview

Instagram: reviewityourselfpodcast2021

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sean and Cliff continue their in-depth review of the 2012 TV Film 'Saving The Titanic'. The film focused upon the Engineers and Firemen, who fought to save the ship.

With a podcast sting from the fantastic Marv at 'Pods Like Us'.

Chapters:

1:48 Titanic's Youngest Crew Members

4:59 The Engineers Behind the Ship

8:35 Cliff's future writing projects

11:54 The Role of Music on Titanic

20:21 The Dilemma of Survival

30:18 Cliff's Book on Bruce Ismay

40:42 Upcoming Spooky Projects

Thanks for Listening!

Find us here: 

X: @YourselfReview

Instagram: reviewityourselfpodcast2021

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sean is once again joined by author of 'Understanding J. Bruce Ismay: The True Story of the Man They Called The Coward of Titanic', Clifford Ismay.

Cliff brings his life experience as an electrician to bear during this in-depth review of the 2012 TV Film 'Saving The Titanic'. The film focused upon the Engineers and Firemen, who fought to save the ship.

-The book which Sean references is 'Titanic: The Unfolding Story', by Carol King and Richard Havers, published by Haynes Publishing in 2011.

-The ship which Sean was trying to think of was the White Star Line's RMS Republic which was built in 1903, and sank in 1909, but unlike the Titanic, the lifeboats were able to ferry almost all of the passengers onto rescue ships.

With a podcast sting from the fantastic Marv at 'Pods Like Us'.

Chapters:

0:05 Welcome to Review It Yourself

0:47 Titanic Film Discussion

2:54 Engineers of the Titanic

6:40 The Role of Engineers

9:50 Heroism in Crisis

11:44 Film Reception and Awards

15:07 Behind the Scenes of Saving the Titanic

19:57 The Tragedy of Titanic

21:46 Attitude Towards the Sea

25:26 Design Flaws and Considerations

26:26 The Emergency Generator

28:38 Misconceptions of Titanic’s Fate

29:21 The Role of Luck

31:33 Character Portrayals in the Film

34:56 The Quest for Heroes

Thanks for Listening!

Find us here: 

X: @YourselfReview

Instagram: reviewityourselfpodcast2021

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.