Oscar season is six months away, but we’ve already seen one of the best films of 2025. And believe it or not… it’s a vampire movie. The difference is these vampires are directed by Ryan Coogler.
Michael B. Jordan plays twin brothers, Smoke and Stack, who come home to 1930’s Mississippi to start a juke joint. They gather up people from the community to each play a part, including their nephew and aspiring blues singer Sammie (Miles Caton). But their opening night festivities are soon cut short by sharp-toothed patrons who are after far more than alcohol. Ryan Coogler, fresh off directing back-to-back Black Panther movies, delivers the surprise hit of the summer.
Join Jon and Tim as they discuss Miles Caton’s acting debut, office gossip, The Last of Us season 2, Crispin Glover’s weird movies, sinner rankings, the power of word of mouth, Michael B. Jordan’s star-making performance, holy movie scenes, being in the world but not of the world, Ryan Coogler’s Hollywood metaphor, becoming wounded healers, and when the oppressed become the oppressors.
