Forgotten Cinema

This week on Forgotten Cinema: Now Showing, the Mikes take a look at "Autonomous", a new vertical horror short from the creators of "ZombieCON Vol. 1", now streaming on Screamify.
In this bonus episode, Mike Butler and Mike Field discuss how "Autonomous" uses the growing presence of self-driving cars, and the anxieties surrounding them, as the foundation for a compact monster story. They break down the film’s plot, characters, visual style, and how effectively it builds tension within such a short runtime.
The Mikes also explore the vertical format itself and whether it works as a legitimate storytelling device rather than simply a way to watch content on a phone. For both of them, Screamify and the recent wave of vertical dramas feel surprisingly familiar, recalling the creative energy and experimentation of the web series scene from the late 2000s and early 2010s.
Be sure to check out "Autonomous" on Screamify, as well as our interview with director Kyle Valle and Erin Áine, where we discuss the making of the short, the challenges of vertical filmmaking, and the opportunities this emerging format may offer independent creators.
You can also head to Screamify.com to check out the short and everything Screamify has to offer. And don't forget to follow the creators @bigsquidfilms and of course @screamifyapp on the socials!
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🎧 Available on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and wherever you listen to podcasts.
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#ForgottenCinema #Autonomous #ErinÁine #ErinAine #KyleValle #Screamify #Interview #Horror #VerticalDrama #ShortFilm #AI #ZombieCon #Thriller #IndependentFilm #IndieFilm #Filmmaking #MoviePodcast #FilmDiscussion

In this bonus episode, the Mikes interview director Kyle Valle and star Erin Áine of the vertical horror short "Autonomous"; now showing on the new streaming service "Screamify".
Mike Field and Mike Butler ask Valle and Áine what drew them to the script, how they joined up with Screamify, the differences and challenges of filming a vertical story and of course, they check in on "ZombieCON Vol.2".
Check out this episode, see what the Mikes thought of "Autonomous" in a special Now Showing episode, or head to Screamify.com to check out the short and everything Screamify has to offer. And don't forget to follow the creators @bigsquidfilms and of course @screamifyapp on the socials!
🔔 Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and hit the bell for more Forgotten Cinema content!
🎧 Available on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and wherever you listen to podcasts.
✨ Support us on Patreon for exclusive content: www.patreon.com/forgottencinema
🛍️ Grab some Forgotten Cinema merch: www.etsy.com/shop/ForgottenCinemaShop
Check out our website: https://www.forgottencinemapodcast.com
#ForgottenCinema #Autonomous #ErinÁine #ErinAine #KyleValle #Screamify #Interview #Horror #VerticalDrama #ShortFilm #AI #ZombieCon #Thriller #IndependentFilm #IndieFilm #Filmmaking #MoviePodcast #FilmDiscussion

This week on Forgotten Cinema, the Mikes head to the penultimate episode of both Forgotten Summer and Season 25 with Ridley Scott’s "Kingdom of Heaven", specifically the Director’s Cut that both Mike Butler and Mike Field agree is far superior to the theatrical release.
The Mikes discuss how the restored version gives the story, characters, and themes the room they need to breathe, transforming the film into a richer and more complete historical epic. There is a lot being explored here, from faith and leadership, to war, tolerance, and the responsibility that comes with power.
That said, the film is still somewhat held back by its central hero. Balian can feel like a fairly generic protagonist compared to the more complex characters surrounding him, though Orlando Bloom does a very good job with the material and brings a quiet strength to the role.
The conversation also expands into what truly makes a film an “epic,” what separates a historical epic from a standard period drama, and why movies of this scale have become so difficult to produce in the modern studio system.
With stunning filmmaking, ambitious ideas, and a story greatly improved by its restored footage, "Kingdom of Heaven" is an easy recommendation from both Mikes. Just make sure you watch Ridley Scott’s Director’s Cut, because once you have seen it, there is little reason to return to the theatrical version.
What are some other more modern "historical epics" that we didn't mention this episode? Let us know in the comments!
🔔 Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and hit the bell for more Forgotten Cinema content!
🎧 Available on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and wherever you listen to podcasts.
✨ Support us on Patreon for exclusive content: www.patreon.com/forgottencinema
🛍️ Grab some Forgotten Cinema merch: www.etsy.com/shop/ForgottenCinemaShop
Check out our website: https://www.forgottencinemapodcast.com
0:00 - Introduction
4:03 - Film Facts
12:37 - Film Discussion
34:10 - Reviews
37:31 - Who Would You Recommend This To?
42:00 - Why Is This Forgotten?
48:18 - Plugs
#ForgottenCinema #KingdomOfHeaven #DirectorsCut #RidleyScott #OrlandoBloom #EvaGreen #LiamNeeson #JeremyIrons #Epic #HistoricalDrama #HistoricalEpic #ActionMovie #Drama #History #Crusades #00sMovies #ForgottenSummer #MoviePodcast #FilmDiscussion #UnderratedMovies #ClassicFilms

This week on Forgotten Cinema, Forgotten Summer continues with "Blown Away", the 1994 action thriller starring Jeff Bridges and Tommy Lee Jones.
Both Mike Butler and Mike Field find pieces of the film to enjoy. The practical explosions deliver, the final confrontation between Bridges and Jones has plenty of energy, and there is the foundation of a tense revenge thriller buried somewhere beneath all the chaos.
Unfortunately, "Blown Away" is also a complete mess. The timeline is never properly established, the shared history between its hero and villain desperately needed a clear flashback, and several characters make choices that are difficult to understand. The questionable Irish and Boston accents do not help, nor does a badly miscast Forest Whitaker in a role that never makes much sense to begin with.
Tommy Lee Jones certainly commits to the madness, and Jeff Bridges does what he can to hold everything together, but the film never develops its characters or central conflict enough to make the spectacle truly matter.
Released in the same summer as "Speed" and shortly before "True Lies", this uneven action thriller was always going to struggle to stand out. With better competition, sharper writing, and more memorable action surrounding it, "Blown Away" was ultimately destined to be...forgotten.
What's another forgotten 90's Action Blockbuster? Let us know in the comments below!
🔔 Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and hit the bell for more Forgotten Cinema content!
🎧 Available on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and wherever you listen to podcasts.
✨ Support us on Patreon for exclusive content: www.patreon.com/forgottencinema
🛍️ Grab some Forgotten Cinema merch: www.etsy.com/shop/ForgottenCinemaShop
Check out our website: https://www.forgottencinemapodcast.com
0:00 - Introduction
3:18 - Film Facts
08:13 - Film Discussion
35:08 - Reviews
38:24 - Who Would You Recommend This To?
41:11 - Why Is This Forgotten?
43:00 - Plugs
#ForgottenCinema #BlownAway #JeffBridges #TommyLeeJones #90sMovies #ActionMovie #Speed #TrueLies #ForgottenSummer #MoviePodcast #FilmDiscussion #UnderratedMovies #ClassicFilms

This week on Forgotten Cinema, Forgotten Summer continues with "War of the Worlds", Steven Spielberg's intense adaptation of the H.G. Wells classic.
After covering "Flight of the Navigator", discussing "Close Encounters of the Third Kind" in their Lead Up series, releasing a Patreon-exclusive episode on "E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial", and reviewing "Disclosure Day", it only felt right for the Mikes to tackle another one of Spielberg's unforgettable alien films.
Both Mike Butler and Mike Field love "War of the Worlds". From Spielberg's masterful direction to the relentless pacing and unforgettable set pieces, the film remains just as gripping today as it was upon release. Even after multiple viewings, Butler finds himself on the edge of his seat throughout much of the movie.
Of course, the Mikes still have a few nitpicks. Cruise's portrayal of Ray as an almost unbelievably irresponsible father feels exaggerated during the first half of the film, though both agree it ultimately pays off as his character grows over the course of the story. Butler also revisits one of the classic criticisms of the story itself: how could an incredibly advanced alien civilization spend (at least!) centuries preparing to invade Earth without accounting for the planet's microscopic dangers?
One of the film's highlights for both Mikes is Tim Robbins' unforgettable performance, which leads to one of the movie's most tense and memorable sequences. They also discuss the controversial ending that has divided audiences for years. While both are ultimately satisfied with it, Butler understands why some viewers struggle with the family's reunion. However, the Mikes point out that both the ending and the aliens' ultimate fate come directly from H.G. Wells' original novel.
Thrilling, suspenseful, and packed with unforgettable moments, "War of the Worlds" remains one of Spielberg's finest modern blockbusters and a standout entry in the alien invasion genre.
What do you think of "War of the Worlds"? Let us know in the comments below!
🔔 Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and hit the bell for more Forgotten Cinema content!
🎧 Available on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and wherever you listen to podcasts.
✨ Support us on Patreon for exclusive content: www.patreon.com/forgottencinema
🛍️ Grab some Forgotten Cinema merch: www.etsy.com/shop/ForgottenCinemaShop
Check out our website: https://www.forgottencinemapodcast.com
0:00 - Introduction
2:44 - Film Facts
11:26 - Film Discussion
35:43 - Who Would You Recommend This To?
39:28 - Why Is This Forgotten?
42:21 - Plugs
#ForgottenCinema #WarOfTheWorlds #StevenSpielberg #TomCruise #DakotaFanning #TimRobbins #ForgottenSummer #SciFi #00sMovies #MoviePodcast #FilmDiscussion #UnderratedMovies #ClassicFilms