Kermode & Mayo’s Take

Some exciting news—The Take is now on Patreon: www.patreon.com/kermodeandmayo

Become a Vanguardista or an Ultra Vanguardista to get video episodes of Take Two every week, plus member-only chat rooms, polls and submissions to influence the show, behind-the-scenes photos and videos, the monthly Redactor’s Roundup newsletter, and access to a new fortnightly LIVE show—a raucous, unfiltered lunchtime special with the Good Doctors, new features, and live chat so you can heckle, vote, and have your questions read out in real time.

On this week’s Take, Mark and Simon are back with more box fresh film reviews of the latest big screen releases. And we are still reviewing three brand new films out this week, even though it’s Easter holibobs and the show is pre-recorded—because the Good Doctors are actual time travellers now, ICYMI.

First up, they head to the Highlands for Glenrothan, Brian Cox’s whisky-soaked directorial debut family drama—does it live up to its lofty ambitions, or get lost in the Scottish mist? Then it’s Rebuilding, a quietly affecting portrait of second chances and fragile hope starring Josh O’Connor as a cowboy without a ranch. And finally, Wizard of the Kremlin—where Vladamir Putin is played by… Jude Law?!

Plus Mark talks to ‘The Pope of Trash’ John Waters, director of cult classics like Pink Flamingoes and Multiple Maniacs, and high priest of bad taste. He’s celebrating the BFI’s Trash season. Expect a gleeful and provocative conversation on the art of trash cinema, the pleasures of the disreputable, and why good bad films might just be the most honest kind of all.

Plus, as always, there’s the latest correspondence from the faithful, a few choice diversions, and the sort of cinematic enthusiasm (and exasperation) you’ve come to expect.

You can contact the show by emailing [email protected] or you can find us on social media, @KermodeandMayo

Please take our survey and help shape the future of our show: https://www.kermodeandmayo.com/survey

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And here is the link to the Faith for Holy Places article as promised in the episode: https://www.churchtimes.co.uk/articles/2026/20-march/faith/faith-for-holy-places/faith-for-holy-places

Timecodes:

00:00:00 Show starts

00:13:01 Glenrothan review

00:36:46 John Waters Interview pt 1

00:38:51 John Waters interview pt 2

00:50:51 Rebuilding review

00:57:08 Laughter Lift

01:02:29 Wizard of the Kremlin review
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Some exciting news—The Take is now on Patreon: www.patreon.com/kermodeandmayo

Become a Vanguardista or an Ultra Vanguardista to get video episodes of Take Two every week, plus member-only chat rooms, polls and submissions to influence the show, behind-the-scenes photos and videos, the monthly Redactor’s Roundup newsletter, and access to a new fortnightly LIVE show—a raucous, unfiltered lunchtime special with the Good Doctors, new features, and live chat so you can heckle, vote, and have your questions read out in real time.

Fresh film talk and finely tuned cinematic debate await in this week’s episode of Kermode & Mayo’s Take. The Good Doctors return with their trademark blend of insight and irreverence, casting a critical eye over the latest arrivals on the big screen.

Leading the lineup is Father Mother Sister Brother, the latest slanted family drama from Jim Jarmusch, with an all-star cast including Adam Driver, Cate Blanchett, and Charlotte Rampling. Then on to some moody existentialism with The Stranger, an adaptation of Albert Camus’ seminal novel, directed by François Ozon—who was our guest a couple of weeks back. And finally, The Undertone, a podcast-based, sound-forward horror—but will it resonate with Mark?

He’ll also be reviewing Glenrothan—a warming, Scottish-set tale of family reunion through whisky, directed by Brian Cox. Simon sits down with this formidable acting talent to discuss his turn to directing. Cox reflects on the changes and challenges of moving behind the camera, and what we can expect from his feature debut.

All that alongside a generous helping of listener correspondence, probably some spirited disagreement, and the familiar flickers of presenter exasperation—another essential listen for wittertainees the world over.

You can contact the show by emailing [email protected] or you can find us on social media, @KermodeandMayo

Please take our survey and help shape the future of our show: https://www.kermodeandmayo.com/survey

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Sony Music Entertainment production.

Find more great podcasts from Sony Music Entertainment at sonymusic.com/podcasts and follow us @sonypodcasts

To advertise on this show contact: [email protected]

Timecodes:

00:00:00 Show starts

00:12:02 Father Mother Sister Brother review

00:20:31 Download Chart

00:31:55 Brian Cox interview

00:45:27 Laughter Lift

00:49:49 Undertone review

01:01:30 The Stranger review
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Some exciting news—The Take is now on Patreon: www.patreon.com/kermodeandmayo

Become a Vanguardista or an Ultra Vanguardista to get video episodes of Take Two every week, plus member-only chat rooms, polls and submissions to influence the show, behind-the-scenes photos and videos, the monthly Redactor’s Roundup newsletter, and access to a new fortnightly LIVE show—a raucous, unfiltered lunchtime special with the Good Doctors, new features, and live chat so you can heckle, vote, and have your questions read out in real time.

More movie musings and cinematic chat this week on Kermode & Mayo’s Take. The Good Doctors will be reviewing this week’s biggest big screen releases—plus a bit of TV for you too today.

First up, there’s The Drama, a black comedy starring Robert Pattinson and Zendaya as a soon-to-be-married couple whose romantic bliss is derailed by a shocking confession. Then more white-knuckle stuff in Fuze—a bomb disposal meets heist thriller starring Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Theo James and Sam Worthington. On a much more colourful note, we’ve got Super Mario Galaxy—but will this latest screen outing for the videogame franchise be a level up or game over?

On the small screen, the spotlight turns to the BBC’s Twenty Twenty Six—a brand new sequel series that catches up with Hugh Bonneville’s Ian Fletcher in all his bureaucratic glory. This time he’s been appointed ‘Head of Integrity’ on the organizing committee for an international football tournament taking place in summer 2026, which definitely isn’t the FIFA World Cup. Simon sits down with the ever-charming Hugh to unpack the series—plus a word on his latest stage outing in Shadowlands, and little bit of Downton chat too.

All that, along with the usual listener correspondence and presenter cantankerousness—you won’t want to miss this one.

You can contact the show by emailing [email protected] or you can find us on social media, @KermodeandMayo

Please take our survey and help shape the future of our show: https://www.kermodeandmayo.com/survey

EXCLUSIVE NordVPN Deal ➼ https://nordvpn.com/take Try it risk-free now with a 30-day money-back guarantee!

Sony Music Entertainment production.

Find more great podcasts from Sony Music Entertainment at sonymusic.com/podcasts and follow us @sonypodcasts

To advertise on this show contact: [email protected]
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Some exciting news—The Take is now on Patreon: www.patreon.com/kermodeandmayo

Become a Vanguardista or an Ultra Vanguardista to get video episodes of Take Two every week, plus member-only chat rooms, polls and submissions to influence the show, behind-the-scenes photos and videos, the monthly Redactor’s Roundup newsletter, and access to a new fortnightly LIVE show—a raucous, unfiltered lunchtime special with the Good Doctors, new features, and live chat so you can heckle, vote, and have your questions read out in real time.

On this week’s episode of Kermode and Mayo’s Take, director François Ozon joins us to talk about his latest film, The Stranger. He sits down with Simon and Mark to discuss the inspirations behind the story, balancing ambiguity and tension, and the challenges of bringing such a distinctive vision to the screen—along with a few reflections on his wider body of work and the themes that continue to draw him in.

You’ll be able to hear Mark’s full verdict on The Stranger in two weeks’ time, and this week we have a packed slate of new releases. First up, The Magic Faraway Tree brings a beloved children’s classic to life with a mix of whimsy, adventure, and a touch of nostalgia. Then there’s Splitsville, a comedy exploring relationships in all their messy, unpredictable glory. And finally, They Will Kill You, a new horror starring Tom Felton—son of Jason Isaacs, of course. They’re really related you know, just like all the Skarsgårds and Sargaards….The

Elsewhere, we’ll have all the usual Take treats: the box office top 10, a Laughter Lift that may (or may not) brighten your week, and your ever-wonderful correspondence. Thanks for listening!

You can contact the show by emailing [email protected] or you can find us on social media, @KermodeandMayo

Please take our survey and help shape the future of our show: https://www.kermodeandmayo.com/survey

Sony Music Entertainment production.

Find more great podcasts from Sony Music Entertainment at sonymusic.com/podcasts and follow us @sonypodcasts

To advertise on this show contact: [email protected]

Timecodes:

00:00:00 Show starts

00:07:57 Splitsville

00:14:59 Box Office top ten

00:31:43 François Ozon Interview

00:44:11 They Will Kill You review

00:51:35 Laughter Lift

00:56:56 The Magic Faraway Tree

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Some exciting news—The Take is now on Patreon: www.patreon.com/kermodeandmayo. Become a Vanguardista or an Ultra Vanguardista to get video episodes of Take Two every week, plus member-only chat rooms, polls and submissions to influence the show, behind-the-scenes photos and videos, the monthly Redactor’s Roundup newsletter, and access to a new fortnightly LIVE show—a raucous, unfiltered lunchtime special with the Good Doctors, new features, and live chat so you can heckle, vote, and have your questions read out in real time.

On this week’s episode of Kermode and Mayo’s Take, Stephen Graham joins us to talk about his new film The Good Boy. It’s an unsettling thriller where he plays a father fixated on a strange rehabilitation ritual for a violent young man who he takes in and…erm… chains up in his basement. Stephen chats to Simon about navigating the film’s darker emotional undercurrents, finding the human intrigue in morally murky territory, and being his usual lovely Liverpudlian self.

You’ll be able to hear Mark’s full verdict on The Good Boy in this week’s show too, alongside a packed slate of other new releases. First up, Project Hail Mary finally lands—bringing big ideas, bigger stakes, and one very lonely astronaut to the big screen. Then there’s Ready or Not 2: Here I Come, which ups the ante on the original’s gleefully gory game of survival. And finally, Dead Man’s Wire, a tense thriller starring Bill Skarsgard that sees a desperate act spiral into a gripping standoff.

Elsewhere, we’ll have all the usual Take treats: the box office top 10, a Laughter Lift that may (or may not) brighten your week, and your ever-wonderful correspondence. Thanks for listening!

Timecodes:

00:00:00 Show starts

00:09:44 Dead Man's Wire review

00:18:12 Box office top ten

00:30:51 Stephen Graham interview

00:44:11 The Good Boy review

00:53:37 Laughter Lift

00:57:06 Ready or Not 2: Here I Come review

01:04:42 What's On?

01:09:21 Project Hail Mary

You can contact the show by emailing [email protected] or you can find us on social media, @KermodeandMayo

Please take our survey and help shape the future of our show: https://www.kermodeandmayo.com/survey



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A Sony Music Entertainment production.

Find more great podcasts from Sony Music Entertainment at sonymusic.com/podcasts and follow us @sonypodcasts

To advertise on this show contact: [email protected]


Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices