This week on The Film Jury, we put the 1986 cult classic Critters on trial. Furry aliens, bounty hunters with questionable disguises, and small town chaos are all entered into evidence as jurors James, Kat, and Meagan revisit the horror comedy that helped define a generation of VHS rentals.

Does Critters hold up as a clever genre mashup, or is it pure nostalgia fueled chaos? We examine the film's creature effects, tone, scares, humor, and overall execution, then debate whether it deserves cult status or a cinematic conviction.

After careful deliberation, all three jurors return the same verdict. Not guilty.
Critters walks free, claws and all.

Tune in for sharp analysis, fun arguments, and a verdict that might surprise you if you have not revisited this one in years.

In this episode of The Film Jury Podcast, jurors James, Heidi, and Kat put the cult horror-comedy Feast (2005) on trial and unanimously deliver a Not Guilty verdict.

Directed by John Gulager and produced through Project Greenlight with backing from Ben Affleck, Matt Damon, and Wes Craven, Feast is a chaotic, blood-soaked monster movie that gleefully breaks horror rules. Set almost entirely inside a remote desert bar, the film traps a group of strangers as they fight for survival against relentless and grotesque creatures with no interest in playing fair.

The jury breaks down the film's bold tonal swings between horror and comedy, its unapologetic gore, and its meta approach to character archetypes and on-screen "rules." They also discuss Gulager's fast-paced, aggressive directing style and how the film embraces shock value as part of its identity rather than a gimmick.

The episode dives into performances from Balthazar Getty, Navi Rawat, Krista Allen, Henry Rollins, and Judah Friedlander, along with memorable cameos that helped cement Feast as a cult favorite. From creature design to editing choices and audience expectations, the jury examines why this scrappy, no-holds-barred horror film still resonates with genre fans nearly two decades later.

Is Feast crude, chaotic, and excessive? Absolutely. And according to the Film Jury, that is exactly why it works.

Verdict: Not Guilty.

Welcome to The Film Jury, where your jurors of cinema—James, Kat & Heidi—deliver verdicts on some of the most fascinating films in genre history. In this episode, we drop into the claustrophobic, terrifying world of The Descent (2005).

Directed by Neil Marshall and starring Shauna Macdonald, Natalie Mendoza, Alex Reid, MyAnna Buring, Nora Jane Noone, and Sadie Frost, The Descent redefined modern horror with its blend of psychological dread and raw, subterranean terror.

All three jurors returned not guilty verdicts, but that only scratches the surface of our conversation. We dig deep into:

• Directing choices that keep tension unrelenting
• Cinematography and how darkness becomes a character
• Sound design & score that messes with your nerves
• Hidden Easter eggs you probably missed
• Character arcs, feminist horror elements, and more

Whether you're a longtime fan or hearing about this horror classic for the first time, this breakdown has something for every cinephile.

Hit play and step back into the cave—if you dare.