They might as well have called Maharaj “Junaid Khan’s Launch Vehicle” because naming it after the villain makes even less sense. We discuss the film’s many irredeemable flaws, which include shaming the victim of sexual abuse, projecting a red flag male character as the protagonist, and resorting to the problematic trope of “fridging.” We also talk …

In its third and potentially final season, Kota Factory seems to be responding to past criticism. We discuss the show’s sudden bout of self-reflection, and the confused manner in which it examines the harsh realities of towns like Kota and the industries they service. We also talk about its aversion to human moments, and why the handful of them thi…

Dibakar Banerjee is going to have to make two good movies to compensate for whatever hellish assault on the senses Love Sex Aur Dhokha 2 was. We discuss the film’s muddled social commentary, the frustration oozing out of every frame, and the general incoherence of the arguments. We also compare LSD2’s aesthetic and thematic shortfalls, especially w…

Crew, the new heist movie starring Tabu, Kareena Kapoor Khan, and Kriti Sanon, effectively weaponises middle-class angst against corporate overlords. We praise the film’s dedication to punching up, the instant relatability that it is able to generate for its characters, and its tightly constructed first half. But we also criticise its endless produ…

Writer-director Kunal Kemmu’s Madgaon Express smartly avoids taking the sleazy route and mostly succeeds in finding the soul of its cartoonish characters. We talk about the film’s familiar set-up, and how it transports a Hangover-like premise to India. We also discuss the performances of Divyenndu, Pratik Gandhi and Avinash Tiwary, while noting the…

As promised, we took the chance to ask Chad Michael Murray himself about Edgar Evernever. His answers will shock you (unless they don't). We also talk about some other experiences at C2E2 2024, and digress into the sacred state of uncle-hood.Please listen to The Disappearances of Lydia Fontayne and join the mailing list at https://www.lydiadisappea…

Heeramandi: The Diamond Bazaar, director Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s big-budget streaming debut, is yet another high-profile Netflix failure. A summation and culmination of Bhansali’s lifelong ambitions, the show represents everything that is wrong with his sensibilities and style-over-substance storytelling. We discuss the show’s flawed understanding …

In addition to being a thought-provoking movie about how close we are to disintegrating as a society, Alex Garland’s Civil War is a rollicking cinematic experience. We discuss the film’s affection for journalism, the intricate character work that Garland is able to accomplish via action sequences, and the film’s stand-out moments. One of them invol…

Is Amar Singh Chamkila a long-awaited return to form for director Imtiaz Ali, or is it another let-down from the once-promising filmmaker? We discuss the film’s inventive approach to the music biopic genre, if not narratively then at least formally. We also talk about Diljit Dosanjh and Parineeti Chopra’s central performances as the slain husband-w…

Aattam, the latest Malayalam-language gem that further solidifies the industry’s artistic stronghold on the cinema landscape of the country, offers an inventive spin on the whodunnit genre. We discuss the film’s gripping narrative, ambitious social commentary, and director Anand Ekarshi’s bold voice. We also talk about the many moral quandaries tha…

Is Fighter another in the long and increasingly problematic line of hyper-nationalistic Indian action movies, or is its biggest problem that it can’t look beyond star Hrithik Roshan? We discuss the many missteps that director Siddharth Anand makes in his follow-up to Pathaan, the unnecessary songs and the momentum-killing asides, but we also talk a…

How do you say goodbye? How do you send off a period of your life, full of change, full of memories? How do you give tribute to all that came before? After Riverdale attempted its impossible task, we have tried it ourselves.It's not the song that saved our worldBut it's the song whose melodyIt keeps you in my heartIt brings you back to meThis is ou…

Murder Mubarak lowers the bar even further for Netflix India, and feels like a particularly annoying missed opportunity. We talk about the inept filmmaking, the strange structure, and the over-the-top performances of its ensemble cast. We also wonder how the finished film can look like something that was snatched away from director Homi Adajania an…

Merry Christmas, director Sriram Raghavan’s follow-up to the critical and commercial hit Andhadhun, is nothing to celebrate. We discuss the film’s lack of discernible aesthetic, the complete absence of any spark between stars Katrina Kaif and Vijay Sethupathi, and its baffling climax. Along the way, we discuss the decision to reduce an important ch…

Welcome to Sex Archie: The Riverdale Recap PodcastThis episode covers Chapter 137: Goodbye, Riverdale; written and directed by Roberto Aguirre-SacasaIt's the end, in a series of endings. What is left to say? What is left to do? (Find out next time)By SEX ARCHIE

Dune: Part Two is being called one of the greatest sequels ever made. It isn’t. We discuss the problems that we’ve had with both Dune films, our issues with their cold tone, the seemingly rushed plot despite a nearly three-hour run-time, and the sheer number of characters to keep track of. But we also appreciate director Denis Villeneuve’s handling…

All India Rank, the feature directorial debut of Varun Grover, is a refreshing change of pace for Bollywood, but still not as good as it could have been. We discuss all the ways in which the coming-of-age drama avoids making the same mistakes as 12th Fail or Kota Factory, its ability to evoke a particular time and place, and its reliance on tried-a…

Dunki, the third and final Shah Rukh Khan film of 2023, wastes all the goodwill he had built with Pathaan and Jawan. Directed by Rajkumar Hirani, Dunki ranks among the worst films we’ve covered on the podcast and is outdated to the point of being offensive. We talk about the film’s most insensitive scenes, Hirani’s disinterest in taking real-life g…

Welcome to Sex Archie: The Riverdale Recap PodcastThis episode covers Chapter 136: The Golden Age of Television by Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa & Tessa Leigh Williams, directed by Tara DafoeAlice reads a book. Veronica reads a comic. Everyone watches TV. Never end ending.By SEX ARCHIE

Bhakshak, starring Bhumi Pednekar, is the latest socially conscious call-to-action from Shah Rukh Khan’s production company, and even though it’s a more grounded film, its sensibilities aren’t too dissimilar from Jawan. We discuss what we liked and disliked about the film’s portrayal of hyperlocal journalism, its depiction of real-life atrocities, …

Joram, the fourth feature film from director Devashish Makhija, juggles multiple tones and narratives. But is it successful at it? We discuss Manoj Bajpayee’s mostly silent central performance as a displaced tribal man running for his life, and the film’s heavy handed socio-political commentary. We also wonder if the movie would’ve worked better as…

Welcome to Sex Archie: The Riverdale Recap PodcastThis episode covers Chapter 135: For a Better Tomorrow by Ted Sullivan & Greg Murray; directed by Gregory SmithIn a mad dash to beat the deadline, our most pressing plots get resolved. All at once. Like your homework was due yesterday. Palladium!By SEX ARCHIE

Animal, starring Ranbir Kapoor, is hardly as offensive as director Sandeep Reddy Vanga probably intended it to be, but it’s aggravating on many levels nonetheless. We discuss the film’s infantile approach to its themes and Vanga’s dedication to being edgy at the expense of storytelling and character development. We also talk about the film’s unbear…

Is Salaar the worst movie we’ve covered on the podcast? It might be. We discuss the incomprehensible plotting, Prashanth Neel’s overwhelming direction, and debate about the film’s three major action set-pieces. We also eat our words about Salman Khan’s dedication and Zack Snyder’s poor world-building after having seen a disengaged Prabhas and an un…

Welcome to Sex Archie: The Riverdale Recap PodcastThis episode covers Chapter 134: A Different Kind of Cat; by Ariana Jackson & Evan Kyle; directed by Kevin Rodney SullivanJosie McCoy Returns! As she does every other year. And she's great! As she is every other year. Meanwhile, Betty does some hands-on research and we talk about The Archies (2023).…

Shockingly, Tiger 3—the fifth overall instalment in the YRF Spy Universe—isn’t entirely unwatchable. But the movie could’ve been so much better with just about any other star in the lead role instead of Salman Khan, who not only struggles to emote but also seems pained to move physically. We talk about the film’s Pathaan-like progressive politics, …

Welcome to Sex Archie: The Riverdale Recap PodcastThis episode covers Chapter 133: Stag; by Ryan Terrebonne, directed by Rob SeidenglanzArchie and Reggie explore the universe inside. Toni and Cheryl pursue their hobbies. Betty gets closer and farther from her family. This one was really made for the benefit of a trailer, huh?…

Is 12th Fail actually one of the best Hindi movies of 2023 or is it massively overrated? We find ourselves wondering why writer-director Vidhu Vinod Chopra’s latest film is getting rave reviews, because all we could see was a deeply problematic, all too simplistic story about a young man let down by society. We also talk about Vikrant Massey’s perf…

Welcome to Sex Archie: The Riverdale Recap PodcastThis episode covers Chapter 132: Miss Teen Riverdale; written by Aaron Allen & Chrissy Maroon, directed by Michael GoiLets get things back on track and enter the home stretch. Ethel becomes one of the gals. Alice ascends to her final form. Evelyn is just grouchy to be here.…

Kho Gaye Hum Kahan, the new film from the team behind The Archies, is a rare Bollywood movie about millennial malaise. But like its characters, it’s too distracted by social media and the desire to say something about our addiction to it. We talk about the performances of its three leads—Siddhant Chaturvedi, Ananya Panday and Adarsh Gourav—and disc…

Rebel Moon is the worst film of Zack Snyder’s career, and that’s saying something. We talk about the director’s uninspired homage to the works of Akira Kurosawa and George Lucas, his unusually bland visuals, and the film’s wooden writing. We also wonder why the project looks so cheap, seeing as it comes from a streamer that is often willing to inve…

Sofia Coppola’s Priscilla is the antithesis of Baz Luhrmann’s terrible Elvis movie. We discuss Coppola’s sad-core storytelling, her determination never to leave Priscilla’s side, and her absolutely damning portrayal of the King of Rock and Roll. We also talk about Cailee Spaeny’s central performance as Priscilla, Jacob Elordi’s menacing turn as Elv…

In The Archies, writer-director Zoya Akhtar disguises her politics behind teen romance. But does this diffuse the impact of what she’s trying to say? We talk about the film’s coming-of-age themes, how each character is given definitive traits, and whether it’s successful in capturing teen angst. We also discuss the cast of newcomers, and wonder if …

Kaathal – The Core, directed by Jeo Baby, is shaping up to be a real word-of-mouth hit, purely on the strength of its sheer quality. We speak about the many reasons why the new Malayalam-language drama left us so moved, and highlight the two central performances by Mammootty and Jyotika. We appreciate director Baby’s command over visual storytellin…

Leo, the new Tamil-language blockbuster starring “Thalapathy” Vijay, is now on Netflix. We discuss the film’s abysmal storytelling, the charmless central performance, and poorly designed action sequences. We also talk about the larger Lokesh Cinematic Universe and how shoehorned-in the references to the franchise feel. Along the way, we attempt to …

Memory Lane winds its way to undiscovered stars as Josie and the Pussycats travel the galaxy on an endless journey home. Someone, please, save them. They're really Bleep-ing it up out there.By SEX ARCHIE

Watching The Railway Men is like taking an express train back to Netflix India circa 2019 when the bottom of the barrel would be scraped week after week. Almost unwatchable at even four episodes long, the new YRF-produced series is so inept that it makes you lose faith in the art of storytelling as a whole. We discuss the show’s bizarre approach to…

Is The Killer one of David Fincher’s most inconsequential movies? We discuss the film’s subversive approach to the conventions of assassin cinema, Fincher’s clinical treatment of the subject matter, and the odd bursts of humour that he peppers through the two-hour narrative. We also talk about Michael Fassbender’s statue-esque performance, and spen…

Is Killers of the Flower Moon a culmination of what director Martin Scorsese has been trying to achieve his entire career, or is it an overlong, overindulgent slog that general audiences will turn their backs on? We discuss the film’s simmering tone, the epic tragedy at its core, and the performances of its central cast, which includes Leonardo DiC…

OMG 2, starring Pankaj Tripathi as a saintly middle-aged man, is a bizarre concoction of ideas that ultimately comes across as a lazy attempt to pander to the Hindu majority. We discuss the film’s odd approach to a straightforward story, its stretched, preachy narrative, and the fact that the decision to package it as a religious drama feels like a…

Khufiya, the new spy movie on Netflix, might just be one of the worst things that Vishal Bhardwaj has ever done. We discuss the film’s tonal inconsistencies, incoherent plotting, odd performances, and most of all, that wild second-half. We also talk about the background score and how completely out of step with its story; the strange decision to in…

Released as four separate shorts, Wes Anderson’s Roald Dahl adaptations for Netflix are some of the best films that he has ever made. We discuss his minimalist approach to each story, the offbeat narration and stagey production, and also the deeper themes he wants to tackle. Anderson also flips through genres and tones, but presents each movie in h…

Jaane Jaan, director Sujoy Ghosh’s Hindi-language adaptation of the Japanese bestseller The Devotion of Suspect X, is a competently made thriller with a hint of playfulness. We discuss the trio of central performances by Kareena Kapoor Khan, Jaideep Ahlawat and Vijay Varma, and talk about the change in perspective that Ghosh has introduced in his a…

Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani plays like director Karan Johar’s apology for his own past filmmaking, and for the many missteps that Bollywood has made over the years when it comes to gender politics. We appreciate the film’s progressive ideas, its frank depiction of desire, and how willing it is to embrace its camp nature. But we also point out t…

Memory Lane is a long road. It even weaves its way to Greendale. Today we're talking about Sabrina the Animated Series.In a crowded lane of kids cartoons, this Sabrina was exactly our age on broadcast and boosted by a live-action sitcom. Did it help the show rise to the top? Well, it helps to be good.…

We didn’t enjoy the Shah Rukh Khan-led Jawan as much as Pathaan, but it gave us enough to chew on. We praise the film’s thrilling opening sequence, but complain about the unnecessary flashbacks and Vijay Sethupathi’s poor performance as the villain. We also talk about how effective the film’s political messaging could be, and appreciate Khan for st…

Friday Night Plan—the new Netflix movie starring Babil Khan—is the kind of film you forget the moment you turn off the TV. We discuss its eagerness to borrow from classic teen comedies, but complete inability to offer heart or pathos. We also talk about its odd perspective on teenage life, which seems like it is based more on films than actual expe…

We return from a hiatus to end an even longer hiatus, it's time to walk once more down Memory Lane. In solidarity with SAG-AFTRA we will not promote struck work, which is the perfect opportunity to look at stuff like this instead.The Archie gang returned to Saturday mornings in 1987 with a new look, and nothing else new to speak of. Everything's Ar…

Satyaprem Ki Katha, the new Kartik Aaryan and Kiara Advani movie, left us incensed. We discuss the many ways in which the movie is actively anti-feminist; its horrific treatment of Advani’s character, the obvious perspective problem, and its casual disregard for very real, and very delicate themes. We also talk about its triggering tone, the film’s…

Guns & Gulaabs is a high-profile dud from Netflix, a major step down from the surprisingly effective Kohrra. We discuss the involvement of creator-directors Raj & DK, the show’s complete lack of identity and urgency, and its failure to make the most of its outlandish setting. We also talk about the flat performances, the unfunny jokes, and speculat…