Daniel’s Blog

Hey guys — life’s been busy. Work’s been busy. Just a lot going on lately. But we still made time to get some movies in.

Me, Liz, and Fox all went and saw Send Help together. Then me and Liz watched Good Luck Have Fun Don’t Die. The next day, all three of us checked out the new animated film GOAT.

Honestly? They were all good films in their own way. Different tones. Different vibes. But all worth the watch.

The Send Help review is already posted, so go check that out. The other two are coming soon, so keep an eye out.

And if you’ve seen any of them, shoot me an email. I’d love to hear your thoughts.

daniel@nobodycritics.com

Me, Fox, and Liz all went and watched Send Help last night, and it was a fun-filled comedy, yet horror at the same time. Directed by Sam Raimi, it had that mix of chaos and humor that keeps you locked in. We all genuinely enjoyed it.

It’s a little misleading on some things, and it hit some expectations while missing others. I’ll break all of that down in the full review, but I wanted to say upfront that the whole family had a good time with it.

There are moments that are absolutely, genuinely funny—but not always because of the comedy itself. Sometimes it’s the actor’s laughter that’s so infectious you can’t help but laugh along with it. That kind of energy carries through certain scenes in a way that really works.

Keep an eye out for the full review where I’ll go deeper into what worked, what didn’t, and why. I am even going make sure that I get Liz and Fox's thoughts for the review.

I know Iron Lung is getting a ton of hype right now, and I really want to see it myself—I’ve had my eye on this one for a while. But there are a couple of things I didn’t realize at first that make this movie’s rise especially interesting.

For one, I didn’t initially know that the director, Mark Fischbach, is a well-known YouTuber—better known as Markiplier. This was an independent film, not a Hollywood-backed project. From what’s been reported, he self-funded the movie with a budget of around $3 million, which is impressive on its own. What’s even more impressive is that the film has already made around $20+ million at the box office, putting it well above its production cost.

Visually, everything I’ve seen—from the trailers to the still images—looks solid. And the fact that Mark didn’t just direct the film, but also starred in it and funded it himself, makes this a true passion project. This is one of those situations that’s genuinely inspiring for independent filmmakers. It shows that you don’t necessarily need Hollywood studios or massive producers behind you to get attention and success. Seeing this film gain traction like it has is encouraging, and I’m glad to see him achieve that level of success.

That said, I do find myself wondering about one thing: is Iron Lung actually a good film on its own merits, or is a big part of its box office success driven by Mark’s massive YouTube following showing up to support him? Because just having a large fanbase doesn’t automatically mean the movie itself is strong—it just means people showed up.

Personally, I didn’t even know he was a YouTuber when I first became interested in the film, so I’m going into this without any built-in bias toward him or his online content. I want to judge the movie strictly on the work itself. And I hope that’s what most of his fans are doing too—being honest about what they think of the film, rather than praising it automatically because they like him.

Did he do a great job leveraging his community? Absolutely. Seeing fans show up to support something like this is awesome, and it really highlights how powerful a dedicated audience can be. I love that aspect of it. But at the end of the day, I just want to watch Iron Lung and judge it for what it is. I want to give it an honest review and see whether the film stands on its own, beyond the hype.

I’ve been thinking a lot about Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey, which is coming out in July, and I’m genuinely excited for it. Every trailer so far looks incredible. Visually, this feels big, cinematic, and absolutely meant for the theater. Nolan knows how to tell stories through imagery, and if anyone can bring a classic like this to life in a powerful way, it’s him.

Overall, the cast looks strong. There’s a lot of talent involved, and I don’t really have concerns about performance. Acting-wise, I think this movie is in good hands. Where my concern comes in is more about how certain key characters—and the overall approach—fit visually and tonally into the world of the story.

Helen, in particular, is an iconic figure. Her role in The Odyssey is deeply tied to how she’s been visually understood through the culture and history the story comes from. When a character carries that much weight, the closer the casting aligns with the original descriptions and long-standing imagery, the easier it is for the audience to stay immersed. Any major visual departure in a role like that is going to stand out, and for some viewers, that can become distracting from the story itself.

To be clear, nothing is officially set in stone yet. Lupita Nyong’o hasn’t been formally announced as Helen, but that’s the role many people are assuming she’s being considered for, and that’s how it currently seems to be shaping up. So this is still very much a wait-and-see situation. Still, if that casting does end up being confirmed, I think it’s fair to say this is where a lot of the conversation—and potential backlash—is likely to come from, simply because of how central and visually important that character is to the myth.

Another concern I have is the possibility of modern reinterpretation creeping into the story through certain casting choices. When actors come with very strong contemporary associations, it can sometimes pull focus away from the myth itself and make the film feel more like a modern commentary than a faithful retelling. With a story as old and foundational as The Odyssey, I’d rather the characters exist fully within that ancient world, without modern perspectives or themes reshaping how the story is told.

That’s really the heart of my concern. I’m not worried about talent, and I’m not jumping to conclusions. I’m completely on board with a modern production and a visually stunning presentation. What I don’t want is a story-altering retelling. I want the myth elevated through filmmaking, not filtered through present-day lenses.

At the end of the day, I still have a lot of confidence in Nolan. He understands scale, restraint, and visual storytelling better than most directors working today. So while I have questions, I’m still optimistic. All I’m really hoping for is The Odyssey told as it was meant to be told—faithfully, powerfully, and without rewriting what already works.

We’ll see how it plays out in July.

Tonight was one of those movie nights that reminds me why I love going to the theater in the first place. We just got back from watching 28 Years Later: Bone Temple, and from the moment the lights went down, I was locked in. I went in excited, and by the time the credits rolled, I was honestly blown away. This movie is intense, confident, and absolutely built for the big screen. When it ended, I just sat there thinking, damn… that was a ride.

What made it even better was getting to experience it with my wife and my youngest son. All three of us loved it. There’s something special about a night like that — the theater, the popcorn, the soda, and sharing reactions together as the movie unfolds. It was a full-throttle, great theater experience from start to finish. No spoilers here — I’ll save the deep dive for later — but this is exactly the kind of movie night that sticks with you.

Guys, me and my daughter went and watched Primate last night, and it was fantastic. This is the kind of movie you want—gore, fear, tension, and a clear tribute to classic ’80s slasher films. It puts you trapped in a house with a rabid chimpanzee, and honestly, how does that not sound terrifying?

My daughter was curled up in her seat, trying to look away without missing anything. I was on the edge of mine, anticipating the next kill.

If you like movies that just tell a story without outside influence, go flood the box office. Don’t let this one fly under the radar—go see it and give it the box office it deserves.

Hey guys, I just want to drop in real quick and talk about some of the movies coming up in 2026 that I’m really looking forward to seeing.

First up is The Odyssey, expected to release on 7-17-2026. It’s looking really good so far. The cast looks solid, and visually it already feels like it’s going to be something special. I can’t wait to learn more about this film and see what it ends up becoming.

There’s also a body-horror film called Iron Lung, releasing January 30, 2026. It looks interesting, but I do have some concerns. I have a feeling it might lean a little too hard into symbolism. If you keep reading my reviews, you’ll probably notice I’m not a big fan of extremely slow burns packed with way too much symbolism. Hopefully, this one proves me wrong.

Another one I’m excited for is Hail Mary, releasing on 3-20-2026. I actually own the book but haven’t read it yet. I’m really hoping to finish it before watching the movie so I can go in with a better perspective.

And finally, Supergirl. I’m excited for this one because Superman actually surprised me. It did a lot right, and if they fix some of the smaller issues I had with it, this could end up being an even better film.

If you want to talk movies, send me an email or drop us a message on Instagram or Facebook. I want to hear what you’re excited for and what you think is worth keeping an eye on.

Want to talk movies? Send me an email at daniel@nobodycritics.com.

Happy New Year! Here at Nobody Critics, we want to take a moment to thank you for stopping by and being part of the site. At least I do. Not sure about Ross.

As we head into the new year, we’re wishing everyone the best of luck, good health, and plenty of great movies—and hopefully shows—to talk about. We’re excited to keep building this space and bringing you honest, thoughtful, and entertaining content throughout the year ahead.

We hope you enjoy what we create, and we genuinely want to hear from you. Your feedback helps shape what Nobody Critics becomes next. We also just like talking film. We want to know what you agree with—and what you disagree with.

Thank you for being here. We’re glad you found us, and we hope you stick around. Also, remember: I have better taste than Ross. Stick to my side of the page.