306. Mercy VS The Great Flood; Is this thing On VS Shiva Baby; H is for Hawk VS Children of the Corn (2020)

2 days ago

In this episode of Netflix vs. Cinema, hosts Tosin Ajayi, Shaun Harris, and Sharon Bollen debate the ultimate question: is it better to stay on the sofa or head to the local theater? The team reviews a mix of blockbuster sci-fi, international disasters, and indie dramas to help you decide where to spend your time and money.

The Cinema Selection

Mercy : The crew breaks down this Chris Pratt-led thriller set in a near-future Los Angeles. They discuss the film’s "screen-life" aesthetic, its surveillance-state premise, and whether the third-act car chases ruin the tension.
H Is for Hawk : Tosin reviews this adaptation of Helen Macdonald’s memoir, exploring themes of grief and the "majestic" cinematography of a goshawk in flight.
Is This Thing On? : Shaun shares his take on the Bradley Cooper-directed film about the life of comedian John Bishop.

The Streaming Lineup

The Great Flood (Netflix) : Sharon introduces this South Korean disaster film, praising its massive "paradigm shift" in the final act that flips the script on the ecological disaster genre.
Shiva Baby (Channel 4/Streaming) : Tosin dives into this claustrophobic indie hit, comparing its social tension to a "domestic Uncut Gems ."
Children of the Corn (2020) : Shaun revisits the latest iteration of the horror franchise, focusing on the "creepy" performance of its child lead.

The Verdict

Between the high-concept world-building of Mercy and the inventive storytelling found on Netflix, the hosts crown a winner for the week. Plus, stick around for the "Correspondence" segment where the team addresses listener feedback regarding filming locations and the logic of their 5-star rating system.

Is Netflix killing cinemas? Each week we weigh up what we've seen in cinemas with what we've watched online at home and figure out which provided the best time. At least, we did before COVID jumped in and declared Netflix, Amazon Prime, Disney + and friends the winner.

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