The Next Best Picture Podcast

For this week's main podcast review, Katie Johnson and Giovanni Lago join me to review and discuss the latest film from legendary filmmaker Ridley Scott, "The Dog Stars," starring Jacob Elordi, Josh Brolin, Margaret Qualley, Guy Pearce, Allison Janney, and Benedict Wong. The film follows the survivors of a global flu pandemic as they adjust to the new world around them in the wake of this disaster. Ridley Scott may be a masterful technician with an iconic resume of many classic films, but how is his latest? Please tune in, either on video or audio only, as we discuss the story, performances, Ridley's direction, the writing by Mark L. Smith, the crafts, and more in our SPOILER-FILLED review. Thank you for listening, and enjoy!

https://youtu.be/EnD9JRaL_58

Check out more on NextBestPicture.com

Please subscribe on...

Apple Podcasts - https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/negs-best-film-podcast/id1087678387?mt=2

Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/7IMIzpYehTqeUa1d9EC4jT

YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCWA7KiotcWmHiYYy6wJqwOw

And be sure to help support us on Patreon for as little as $1 a month at https://www.patreon.com/NextBestPicture and listen to this podcast ad-free
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

"Hanging By A Wire" is a 2026 thriller documentary by Mohammed Ali Naqvi. It tells the incredible and harrowing true story of eight people, including six students, in Battagram, Pakistan, who became trapped 900 ft above a valley when their cable car malfunctioned in the mountains in 2023. As time continued to run out before the final cable failed, rescue teams worked against the clock to save the stranded passengers. The film premiered at the 2026 Sundance Film Festival, where it received positive reviews for its blockbuster style of storytelling and editing. Ali Naqvi was kind enough to spend some time talking with us about his work and experience making the film, which you can watch or listen to below. Please be sure to check out the film, which is now playing in theaters from Abramorama. Thank you, and enjoy!

https://youtu.be/JK7iB_MsGfE

Check out more on NextBestPicture.com

Please subscribe on...

Apple Podcasts - https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/negs-best-film-podcast/id1087678387?mt=2

Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/7IMIzpYehTqeUa1d9EC4jT

YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCWA7KiotcWmHiYYy6wJqwOw

And be sure to help support us on Patreon for as little as $1 a month at https://www.patreon.com/NextBestPicture and listen to this podcast ad-free
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

"Hanging By A Wire" is a 2026 thriller documentary by Mohammed Ali Naqvi. It tells the incredible and harrowing true story of eight people, including six students, in Battagram, Pakistan, who became trapped 900 ft above a valley when their cable car malfunctioned in the mountains in 2023. As time continued to run out before the final cable failed, rescue teams worked against the clock to save the stranded passengers. The film premiered at the 2026 Sundance Film Festival, where it received positive reviews for its blockbuster style of storytelling and editing. Ali Naqvi was kind enough to spend some time talking with us about his work and experience making the film, which you can watch or listen to below. Please be sure to check out the film, which is now playing in theaters from Abramorama. Thank you, and enjoy!

https://youtu.be/JK7iB_MsGfE

Check out more on NextBestPicture.com

Please subscribe on...

Apple Podcasts - https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/negs-best-film-podcast/id1087678387?mt=2

Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/7IMIzpYehTqeUa1d9EC4jT

YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCWA7KiotcWmHiYYy6wJqwOw

And be sure to help support us on Patreon for as little as $1 a month at https://www.patreon.com/NextBestPicture and listen to this podcast ad-free
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

"It Ends" is a 2025 American road-horror thriller film written, directed, and edited by Alexander Ullom in his directorial debut. It stars Phinehas Yoon, Akira Jackson, Noah Toth, and Mitchell Cole. It follows a group of graduates who go on a late-night drive but accidentally turn onto a two-lane highway that appears to go on indefinitely. The film premiered at the 2025 South by Southwest Film & TV Festival, where it received positive reviews but struggled to find a distributor. It was made available as a digital rental for a limited period in December 2025, via the Letterboxd Video Store. Due to its success on the platform, the film was later acquired by NEON. Ullom was kind enough to spend some time talking with us about his work and experience making the film, its long road to getting released, and what he has coming up next in his just beginning, which you can watch or listen to below. Please be sure to check out the film, which is now playing in theaters from NEON. Thank you, and enjoy!

https://youtu.be/K4s7OJXFLJM

Check out more on NextBestPicture.com

Please subscribe on...

Apple Podcasts - https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/negs-best-film-podcast/id1087678387?mt=2

Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/7IMIzpYehTqeUa1d9EC4jT

YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCWA7KiotcWmHiYYy6wJqwOw

And be sure to help support us on Patreon for as little as $1 a month at https://www.patreon.com/NextBestPicture and listen to this podcast ad-free
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

"Colony" (Korean: 군체) is a 2026 South Korean action horror film directed and written by Yeon Sang-ho, with Choi Gyu-seok as co-writer. It stars Jun Ji-hyun, Koo Kyo-hwan, Ji Chang-wook, Kim Shin-rok, Shin Hyun-been, and Go Soo. The film explores the harrowing struggle of isolated survivors trapped in a building, quarantined amidst an unknown outbreak, as they fight for survival against the unpredictably evolving infected. The film had its world premiere at the Midnight Screenings section of the 2026 Cannes Film Festival, where it received positive reviews for its action, makeup effects, and anxiety about the spread of technology. Yeon Sang-ho was kind enough to spend some time talking with us about his work and experience making the film, which you can watch or listen to below. Please be sure to check out the film when it opens in theaters on August 28th from Well-Go USA. Thank you, and enjoy!

https://youtu.be/keAE5LjejiM

Check out more on NextBestPicture.com

Please subscribe on...

Apple Podcasts - https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/negs-best-film-podcast/id1087678387?mt=2

Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/7IMIzpYehTqeUa1d9EC4jT

YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCWA7KiotcWmHiYYy6wJqwOw

And be sure to help support us on Patreon for as little as $1 a month at https://www.patreon.com/NextBestPicture and listen to this podcast ad-free
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices