Podcast
Cinematic Doctrine: A Movie Review Podcast Hosted by Christians
Hosted by CINDOC · EN
Cinematic Doctrine is a mature, millennial-infused film/tv discussion podcast from Melvin Benson that features Movie Discussions (conversational episodes about specific movies), Party Pleasers (movies fully-summarized from start to finish to discern if its a 'Party Pleaser' or 'Party Pooper'), and Let's Talks (prepared film-or-Christian related topical episodes). Influenced by Acts 17 and Romans 2:4. Podcast Magazine says Cinematic Doctrine "uses the shared value of human life as a springboard into deeper conversations". // CinematicDoctrine.com
38episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
Loner - Underseen and Understated
6d ago01:13:11Tap to summarizeSend us a Question!MOVIE DISCUSSION:Kathryn joins Melvin to discuss Loner, an underseen in-world/found-footage, semi-horror, semi-drama film! Loner has more than its gorgeous setting to offer, from it's slow, contemplative pace to its curiously complex main character, and the two get into that and more in this episode. Tune in now! Topics:(PATREON EXCLUSIVE) 21-minutes discussing Supergirl's shockingly terrible opening box-office numbers, if the age of the Spielberg/Lucas-esque adventure blockbuster is over, and the ever-changing landscape of entertainment in 2026. (PATREON EXCLUSIVE)First things first, Loner is more than the average "man lost in woods with camera" movie; the cinematography looks beautiful.Wishing there was more horror in this horror movie, but accepting it as the horror-lite psychological drama that it is.Melvin confesses that his general bitterness toward "male loneliness epidemic" characters prevented him from enjoying the film as much as he could have, and also finds it convicting.Kathryn observed a dichotomy between fantasy and truth, and explores how the film portrayed these things.Melvin, however, approaches it a little differently. He compares the film's portrayal of technology against nature, and how that's explored through manhood; or patriarchy.Melvin, "No person has lived well alone."The ending leaves Melvin a little confused. For Kathryn, the ending seems clearer, albeit still a little strange.Did Angus learn the right lesson at the end?Recommendations:Afflicted (2013) (Movie)Go To Sleep (2026) (Movie) Support the showSupport on Patreon for Unique Perks! Early access to uncut episodes Vote on a movie/show we review One-time reward of two Cinematic Doctrine Stickers & PinsSocial Links: ThreadsWebsiteInstagramLetterboxdFacebook Group
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Frogman - Cryptids, Found-Footage, & Self-Destruction
2w ago00:59:30Tap to summarizeSend us a Question!PARTY PLEASER:Shirleon & Kathryn join Melvin to summarize Frogman, a surprise found-footage horror feature from 2023 about the Loveland Frogman! The three discuss their familiarity with Frogman, the inherent qualities of Found-Footage narratives, and whether they're frog people or rat people!Topics:(PATREON EXCLUSIVE) 33-minutes describing three cryptids, exploring their history, and deciding, "Do we believe?". (PATREON EXCLUSIVE)Asking the important questions: what's Frogman, and is he a swamp-mermaid?Each scene cleverly employs a new framing device, helping the film keep a healthy forward momentum.So... what does the gang think about the film's characters?The interview section of the film is when Melvin thought to himself, "Oh, like, this is a competent, real found-footage film, not just some Tubi-esque feature. Nice."Frogman is a real cryptid, but some of the environmental stuff in Frogman isn't. Kathryn shares why that may be.Does the Found-Footage genre typically result in a main character's self-destruction?Recommendations:Episode Thirteen by Craig DiLouie (2023) (Book)Old Gods of Appalachia (2019 - X) (Podcast)Hokum (2026) (Movie) Support the showSupport on Patreon for Unique Perks! Early access to uncut episodes Vote on a movie/show we review One-time reward of two Cinematic Doctrine Stickers & PinsSocial Links: ThreadsWebsiteInstagramLetterboxdFacebook Group
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Vertigo - The iPad Kid Killer
3w ago01:05:58Tap to summarizeSend us a Question!PATREON MOVIE DISCUSSION: This movie was selected by our Patreon Supporters over at the Cinematic Doctrine Patreon. Support as little as $3 a month and have your voice heard! Shirleon joins Melvin to discuss Vertigo, a film many consider Alfred Hitchcock's greatest achievement! From it's haunting atmosphere to its incredibly performances, the two discuss love, memory, deceit, and whether Vertigo would cause an iPad kid's head to explode! Topics:(PATREON EXCLUSIVE) 32-minutes discussing some do's and don'ts when it comes to purchasing physical media. (PATREON EXCLUSIVE)Shirl enjoys a psychological thriller, but something about Vertigo wasn't hittin' right for her.For Melvin, he finished the film and went, "That's the best f***ing movie I've seen."Vertigo is spectacular, but it has little spectacle, opting for a patient, intimate, self-controlled mystery.There's so much going on in the film, and so much that it's thematically covering, that Melvin wonders if it'd make an iPad kid's head explode.Why the title "Vertigo", and what does it mean?Meditations on the past, desires, and deceit.The ending is a multilayered gift of misery that keeps on giving.Is the ending too coincidental?Recommendations:How to Survive a Horror Story by Mallory Arnold (2025) (Novel)Squirreleon (Twitch)Buy. Physical. Media. And learn to be selective. Support the showSupport on Patreon for Unique Perks! Early access to uncut episodes Vote on a movie/show we review One-time reward of two Cinematic Doctrine Stickers & PinsSocial Links: ThreadsWebsiteInstagramLetterboxdFacebook Group
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Grant Gow on "What's Theater Programming?" at the Hiway Theater
Jun 1700:35:50Tap to summarizeSend us a Question!LET'S TALK:Grant Gow: Instagram // Letterboxd // Cult Cinema ClubGrant Gow, Assistant Programmer for Renew Theaters, joins Melvin to discuss what goes into Theater Programming. With the financial failure of Mandalorian & Grogu amidst success for both Obsession and Backrooms, Melvin's been curious about the theater-side of this whole ordeal, and asks Grant, "So, what's Theater Programming anyway?". From new-and-current run films to special screenings, Theater Programming is a nuanced curation process with legal hurdles and audience influence, and Grant shares some insight into how this whole "running a theater" thing works! Tune in now! Support the showSupport on Patreon for Unique Perks! Early access to uncut episodes Vote on a movie/show we review One-time reward of two Cinematic Doctrine Stickers & PinsSocial Links: ThreadsWebsiteInstagramLetterboxdFacebook Group
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Obsession - w/ Dreadful Digest on Female Agency and Pathetic Men
Jun 1001:16:29Tap to summarizeSend us a Question!MOVIE DISCUSSION: Dreadful Digest: Podcast // Instagram // YouTubeTessa Nelson from Dreadful Digest joins Kathryn & Melvin to discuss one of 2026's most surprising successes, Obsession! Is the film really as scary as many say it is? What about Bear: is he a "nice guy"? And who's the actual villain of the film? There's so much to explore, so tune in now! Topics:(PATREON EXCLUSIVE) 31-minutes discussing what might be attributing to the exorbitant success of horror movies, most notably with Obsession & Backrooms, over the last few years. (PATREON EXCLUSIVE)Tessa catches the gang up with what Dreadful Digest is up to during their lil' hiatus, what to look forward to, and a "bucket list" episode they want to do.Some background about Curry Barker & Cooper Tomlinson, their YouTube work, Milk & Serial, and now Obsession.Tessa isn't head-over-heels for Obsession, but she has a lot of respect for it.Kathryn stepped away wildly impressed, considering it a great experience overall.On the ride home from the theater, Melvin remarked to Kathryn, "I want to buy a ticket and see it again this weekend."These characters are layered, and even have a level of realistic antagonism amongst one another, leaving Tessa thinking about them long after the film's ended.Melvin feels Curry Barker is innovating whereas a director he looks up to, Ari Aster, is wasting time. Tessa disagrees.Talking about Bear, as well as the friend group, and whether he is a "nice guy" or not.Having true Nicky appear every-so-often is a brilliant writing choice.What's with all the "cat" imagery in the film?Talking about the incredible ending.Recommendations:Hereditary (2018) (Movie)The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (2003) (Movie)Paranormal Activity: The Marked Ones (2014) (Movie)Phantom Thread (2017) (Movie) Support the showSupport on Patreon for Unique Perks! Early access to uncut episodes Vote on a movie/show we review One-time reward of two Cinematic Doctrine Stickers & PinsSocial Links: ThreadsWebsiteInstagramLetterboxdFacebook Group
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Backrooms - The Liminal Space Between Character & Vibes
Jun 301:26:34Tap to summarizeSend us a Question!MOVIE DISCUSSION: Shirleon & Kathryn join Melvin to discuss Kane Parsons' silver-screen debut for his hugely popular web-series; Backrooms! How does Parsons handle the transition from in-world storytelling to omniscient camera storytelling? The web-series doesn't really have character-driven narratives, so what do they think of Clark & Mary as the film's leads? And most importantly... is it good? Tune in and find out!Topics:(PATREON EXCLUSIVE) 37-minutes discussing The Mandalorian & Grogu's shockingly awful 70% second-weekend drop-off against Obsession's generational box-office legs & Backrooms' incredible first weekend, and what this might signal for the industry (PATREON EXCLUSIVE)This is the first of Kane Parsons' "Backrooms" entries to be character-led, whereas the rest of the story has been largely ambient and abstract. How did it turn out?Rather than overloading the film with "lore-bloat", Backrooms cleverly adds nods to fans of the web-series through background material, visual trickery, dialogue, and much more.Thoughts on the characters of Clark & Mary.When the film ends... are they still in the Backrooms?The correlation between the Backrooms and people's consciousness.Clark's pivot in the third act feels like it jumps the shark, but the gang still thinks the ending works.Talking about Kane Parsons' appreciation of Valve and his impressive exploration of the deteriorating 90s aesthetic despite being born in the later 2000s.Recommendations:I Found a Lost Hallway in a Dying Mall by Ben Farthing (2024) (Book)The real story behind the Backrooms (2025) (YouTube Video)People Still Live Here (2025 - X) (YouTube Series) Support the showSupport on Patreon for Unique Perks! Early access to uncut episodes Vote on a movie/show we review One-time reward of two Cinematic Doctrine Stickers & PinsSocial Links: ThreadsWebsiteInstagramLetterboxdFacebook Group
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Josee, the Tiger and the Fish - "I will not remember this film."
May 2701:03:07Tap to summarizeSend us a Question!PATREON MOVIE DISCUSSION: This movie was selected by our Patreon Supporters over at the Cinematic Doctrine Patreon. Support as little as $3 a month and have your voice heard! Kathryn joins Melvin to discuss an underseen 2020 anime flick, Josee, the Tiger and the Fish! Why a tiger? What's the fish? Who's a Josee? All these questions - about romance, symbolism, and if the two even liked the movie - and more are answered in this finale episode to Ani-May! Tune in!Topics:(FREE PATREON EXCLUSIVE) 35-minutes discussing how audience interests have been changing over the years, kicking things off with The Mandalorian and Grogu's weak opening box-office numbers followed by reflecting on the last few year's tentpole flicks, both socially and commercially (FREE PATREON EXCLUSIVE)For Kathryn, Josee, the Tiger and the Fish is largely innocuous and inoffensive.For Melvin, there's a few things he enjoyed but otherwise thought the film "wasn't my thing".Too much melodrama drowns out quiet romantic moments.Melvin, "All the stuff that's working is crowded out by stuff that's annoying."Breaking down the title and what each part of it means.The ending, and how the third act is really messy.Melvin feels like a particular plot development is a little too mean when considering the character's background and possible maturity.Recommendations:Tales from the Umbrella Academy: You Look Like Death (2021) (Graphic Novel)Dead Grandma (2026) (Short Film) Support the showSupport on Patreon for Unique Perks! Early access to uncut episodes Vote on a movie/show we review One-time reward of two Cinematic Doctrine Stickers & PinsSocial Links: ThreadsWebsiteInstagramLetterboxdFacebook Group
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Serial Experiments Lain - w/ Beneath the Tangles on Loving Lain
May 2001:16:55Tap to summarizeSend us a Question!TV-SHOW DISCUSSION: Beneath the Tangles: Instagram // YouTube // X // WebsiteTwwk (Charles) from Beneath the Tangles joins Melvin to discuss a massive cult-classic sci-fi anime: Serial Experiments Lain! In this incredibly dense episode about an incredibly dense show, the two explore transhumanism, self-sacrifice, predictive fiction, and the show's wildly popular opener song, 'Duvet' by Bôa! Topics:Editor's Note: No Patreon Exclusive discussion! But, I do intend to trim this episode down from its original 1:46:37 length, so if you want to hear the UNCUT version, tune in on Patreon here!Charles catches Melvin up with his appreciation for Makoto Shinkai, Beneath the Tangles new interview series 'Something Genuine', and his thoughts on AI (LLMs & AGI).The two remark on the plethora of ideas the show covers in it's 13 episodes.Serial Experiments Lain feels intentionally confusing at times.Reflecting on the changing Anime landscape and asking, "Are there any Seinen Anime coming out?"Melvin feels Serial Experiments Lain is predictive fiction in its exploration how impressionable minds engage the internet; among other things.Talking about the opening of Serial Experiments Lain.Is love, or loving one another, the next step in human evolution?How transhumanism is a delusion antithetical to the Gospel, and therefore antithetical to loving others.Recommendations:Needy Girl Overdose (2026) (Anime)Audition (2000) (Movie) Support the showSupport on Patreon for Unique Perks! Early access to uncut episodes Vote on a movie/show we review One-time reward of two Cinematic Doctrine Stickers & PinsSocial Links: ThreadsWebsiteInstagramLetterboxdFacebook Group
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Tomie - Toxic Femininity Explored
May 1301:17:38Tap to summarizeSend us a Question!MOVIE DISCUSSION: Kathryn joins Melvin to discuss Tomie, another early Junji Ito live-action adaptation! The two talk about the film's varying quality, constantly curious ideas, and toxic-femininity; something they've rarely seen explored in film. Topics:(PATREON EXCLUSIVE) 24-minutes discussing about Zach Cregger's Resident Evil movie teaser trailer as well as responding to the surprisingly divisive online reaction. (PATREON EXCLUSIVE)Kathryn & Melvin have both read the Tomie manga, but only Kathryn has finished reading it, and the two share their thoughts.Kathryn, "[Tomie] is a good highlight reel of Tomie the manga."Tomie is playing with a lot of ideas, but very few feel fully realized.Perhaps the main idea explored in Tomie, which is inherent to the character, is toxic femininity, and a woman's ability to use their feminine power for their own desires.Toxic gender ideologies deny the truth of image-bearing; that both man AND woman bear God's image when in healthy relationship (platonic and/or romantic).Talking about Tomie as a character.Talking about flowers, and the choice to reveal Tomie's face later in the film.Trying to understand the ending, which introduces some complex ideas to an already layered film.Cross-examining Tomie and Tsukiko; what they share, how they differ, and forgiveness (or, the lack thereof). Recommendations:Black Paradox (2007-2008) (Manga)Hauntress (Zashiki Onna) (1993) (Manga) Support the showSupport on Patreon for Unique Perks! Early access to uncut episodes Vote on a movie/show we review One-time reward of two Cinematic Doctrine Stickers & PinsSocial Links: ThreadsWebsiteInstagramLetterboxdFacebook Group
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My Neighbor Totoro - w/ Paryss Bryanne on Childhood Whimsy as Adults
May 601:09:30Tap to summarizeSend us a Question!MOVIE DISCUSSION: Legacy XP CoachingParyss Bryanne: Instagram // Tiktok // YouTube // SnapchatPixel Paryss: Instagram // Tiktok // YouTube // TwitchParyss Bryanne joins Melvin to talk My Neighbor Totoro! The two kick-off Ani-May with a much-beloved Studio Ghibli classic! Nostalgia, curiosity, and a whole lotta whimsy fill this episode from start to finish! Tune in now! Topics:Editor's Note: No Patreon Exclusive discussion! But, I do intend to trim this episode down from its original 1:35:43 length, so if you want to hear the UNCUT version, tune in on Patreon here!Paryss shares about her love of Undertale, her desire to see people grow through Legacy XP Coaching, and how she's wrestling with horror media.Paryss, "[My Nieghbor Totoro] does such a good job of taking you back into the shoes of a child."Where do Paryss and Mel rank My Neighbor Totoro against other Miyazaki/Ghibli movies?On big emotions, and how emotions become more complicated as an adult.Enduring against melancholic nostalgia.Melvin, "Did you kinda just feel like [My Neighbor Totoro] was, like, really heavenly?"Talking Totoro, and wondering if he actually exists.Getting into the ending.Recommendations:The Village (2004) (Movie)Lucid Blocks (2026) (Video Game) Support the showSupport on Patreon for Unique Perks! Early access to uncut episodes Vote on a movie/show we review One-time reward of two Cinematic Doctrine Stickers & PinsSocial Links: ThreadsWebsiteInstagramLetterboxdFacebook Group
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