Kermode & Mayo’s Take: Brian Cox on GLENROTHAN – Will It Go Down Smoothly with Mark?

Sony Music Entertainment | April 9, 2026

Episode Overview

This packed episode of Kermode & Mayo’s Take finds Mark Kermode and Simon Mayo delving into the latest in film and TV, featuring reviews of new releases and a lively, substantial interview with acclaimed actor Brian Cox (“Succession,” “Manhunter”). The main event centers on Cox’s directorial debut, Glen Rothan—a whisky-steeped Scottish family drama. As always, the hosts’ easy banter and enthusiasm keep things buoyant, while listeners get bonus reviews, recommendations, and a top 20 film chart rundown.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Dread of Final Drafts and Name Paranoia (03:00-07:30)

Simon discusses the stresses of submitting a finished manuscript for his latest book, including “the horror of pressing go on the finished proof copy” (Mark Kermode, 04:15).
They riff on the anxiety that any mistakes are now “the cost of those mistakes will be mine” (Simon Mayo, 03:37).
Mark recounts the oddity that real people may share seemingly unique names, referencing a documentary about people named “James Bond” (06:03).

2. Film Reviews: Kermode’s Take

a. Father, Mother, Sister, Brother (Jim Jarmusch) (14:45-20:48)

Mark reviews Jarmusch’s latest portmanteau feature. Structure: Three chapters each focusing on different estranged family units, tied together by a mysterious Rolex watch and themes of hidden lives and family secrecy.
“It is subtle and quiet and funny and sad. It is also, I have to say, very uneven… The best section for me was the first section.” (Mark, 16:15)
Mark praises the opening Adam Driver–Tom Waits short, but finds subsequent sections less compelling. He calls it “an incidental work… It’s not up there with his best.” (20:05)
For Jarmusch fans interested in his melancholy, understated style, but not an essential.

b. Undertone (Ian Tuison) (56:36-66:36)

“The scariest film you’ll ever hear”—a microbudget Canadian horror, anchored almost entirely by sound and two on-screen actors.
The plot follows Evie, caring for her comatose mother, recording a podcast about a series of mysterious audio files.
Mark likens its stripped-down ingenuity to The Blair Witch Project and Host (60:11-61:35).
He delves into electronic voice phenomena, the psychology of finding order in chaos, and his own eerie experience with audio ambiguity.
“I thought it was a really effective, creepy, stripped down, single idea, well executed horror movie. And I really enjoyed it.” (Mark, 66:36)

c. Le Tranger (The Stranger) (Francois Ozon) (68:36-77:14)

Mark summarizes Ozon’s new, black-and-white adaptation of Camus’ existential classic.
Central philosophical question: Is existential detachment profound or simply immature?
“Existentialist despair is essentially infantile… There are real things really happening in the world that matter.” (Mark, 74:00)
Simon concurs: “I found it very well done… but the idea that existentialism means anything or is profound in any way to be ludicrous. That’s what I thought.” (Simon, 77:14)
They agree Ozon’s update, which gives more agency to Arab characters, is well handled and not simply “wokeism.”

3. Brian Cox Interview: Directing Glen Rothan (35:19-50:52)

Introduction to Cox’s Career (35:19-36:31)

Simon recaps Brian Cox’s storied career, from theatre to Logan Roy in Succession to his 80s/90s film highlights (Hannibal Lecter in Manhunter, Braveheart, Rushmore, The Bourne Identity, more).

On Directing Glen Rothan (37:03-47:50)

Cox didn’t set out to direct; the film's origin was a script from David Ashton and producer Neil Zeiger: “I said, ‘Do I not have any say in the matter?’ He said, ‘I’m sure you do, but you’re still directing the film.’” (Cox, 39:40)
The film is a low-key, music-infused drama about two estranged Scottish brothers (Cox and Alan Cumming) reunited by family business and history.
Cox’s philosophy: an egalitarian, collaborative approach—he’s “just the guy who says action and cut.”
The story: Whisky, grudges, lost and regained family. “It’s about the fact I wanted to leave. I never wanted to stay. I wanted to get away. I wasn’t allowed to because my brother left and under a cloud. And he lives under a very difficult situation. So I’m left holding the baby, as it were… and I run it for 40-odd years.” (Cox, 43:01)
Fun detail: Making and suffering through porridge on set (“my brother’s porridge is porridge. He made it. And then we have to eat it and it's truly horrible,” Cox, 46:27).
On his outlook: “Filmmaking is a sort of much more embracing thing because of the various skills—like a collective.” (Cox, 50:52)

Notable Quotes

“It’s essentially about the relationships… whatever you do, you give it the environment, but it's essentially about the relationships.” (Cox, 42:07)
“I was very nervous… I’m not a concept… I don’t like concept films… so I just thought, well, I’ll just make a simple film.” (Cox, 41:50)

4. Listener Correspondence & Film Club (09:46-14:16, 55:22-56:37)

Letters on Doctor Who casting—a listener remarks, “What Doctor Who needs is not pre-existing star power, just a really good actor with a few specific talents.” (11:00)
Quick debate: Would a radio presenter make a good Doctor? (“I think Steve Wright,” Simon, 13:16. “Evan Davis… he’d baffle them with facts and figures,” Mark, 13:43.)
Catriona writes in to fondly defend 90s Jared Leto as Jordan Catalano, no matter what Mark and Simon say now (55:22-56:20)—earning her the coveted Correspondent of the Week.

5. Top 20 Downloaded Films Chart (25:24-34:13)

Not box-office, but most-paid downloads: from Jurassic World: Rebirth (20) to Sinners (1).
Mark and Simon’s typical banter, e.g. "The only word in that [review] I agree with is idiot." (Mark on Jurassic World: Rebirth, 26:49)
The Ballad of Wallace Island noted as a sleeper hit with indie cinemas.
Dogma's tagline delight ("Get Touched by an Angel.") and Alanis Morissette as God reminisced.

Memorable Quotes & Moments

“The first thing that’s going to happen is… you’re going to open it and a huge mistake is going to leap off the page like the alien bursting out of John Hurt’s stomach.” (Mark, 04:15)
“Wouldn’t that be great if they chose someone who’s completely unknown [for Doctor Who]? …I just suspect… they need some star power.” (Simon, 13:07)
“You lose track? I think.” “Which was the best band you’ve been in?” (Simon & Mark, 21:23–21:26)
“It’s not that we don’t think you’re a good guitarist. We do. We just don’t like you.” (Mark, 22:03)
“You know, I was in a Travel Lodge the other day, my place of choice, and… they gave me what my mother used to refer to as an ‘old fashioned look.’” (Mark on waiting for lifts, 51:48)
“How do you invite a dinosaur to dinner if you’re Northern?” – “T-Rex.” (Simon’s Laughter Lift, 52:50)
“You are literally throwing these jokes into the wood chipper.” (Mark, 54:04)

Timestamps for Significant Segments

Paranoia and Proof Copy Nerves: 03:00
Jim Jarmusch’s Father, Mother, Sister, Brother Review: 14:45
Chart Countdown: 25:24
Brian Cox Introduction & Filmography: 35:19
Brian Cox on Glen Rothan (in-depth interview): 37:03–50:52
Undertone (Creepy Audio Horror) Review: 56:36–66:36
Le Tranger (The Stranger) Review & Existentialism Debate: 68:36–79:43
Laughter Lift (Jokes + Wood Chipper Metaphor): 51:32–54:08

Notable Listener Quotes

On Doctor Who: “What has made each new Doctor magical… has been their freshness and their lack of association with any other character.” — Casey (11:00)
On Jared Leto: “His next feature could be a three-hour epic of him standing in front of a mirror flexing his pecs… and we would still only see him with floppy hair, leaning against the school lockers in his plaid shirt.” — Catriona (55:22)

Overall Tone

Banter-heavy, good-natured, blend of deep film analysis and playful ribbing. Mark is thoughtful but droll; Simon keeps the show light and self-deprecating. Brian Cox brings gravitas, humility, and classic Scottish storytelling.

Summary

This episode is a cinephile treat: a new Jim Jarmusch, the unnerving indie Undertone, and a thoughtful critique of Ozon’s Le Tranger alongside a revealing chat with Brian Cox about creative collaboration and his directorial debut. The regular chart, listener input, and irresistible giggling make for a companionable, substantial listen—for movie fans, TV bingers, and podcast enthusiasts alike.

Kermode & Mayo’s Take: Brian Cox on GLENROTHAN – Will It Go Down Smoothly with Mark?

Sony Music Entertainment | April 9, 2026

Episode Overview

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Dread of Final Drafts and Name Paranoia (03:00-07:30)

Simon discusses the stresses of submitting a finished manuscript for his latest book, including “the horror of pressing go on the finished proof copy” (Mark Kermode, 04:15).
They riff on the anxiety that any mistakes are now “the cost of those mistakes will be mine” (Simon Mayo, 03:37).
Mark recounts the oddity that real people may share seemingly unique names, referencing a documentary about people named “James Bond” (06:03).

2. Film Reviews: Kermode’s Take

a. Father, Mother, Sister, Brother (Jim Jarmusch) (14:45-20:48)

Mark reviews Jarmusch’s latest portmanteau feature. Structure: Three chapters each focusing on different estranged family units, tied together by a mysterious Rolex watch and themes of hidden lives and family secrecy.
“It is subtle and quiet and funny and sad. It is also, I have to say, very uneven… The best section for me was the first section.” (Mark, 16:15)
Mark praises the opening Adam Driver–Tom Waits short, but finds subsequent sections less compelling. He calls it “an incidental work… It’s not up there with his best.” (20:05)
For Jarmusch fans interested in his melancholy, understated style, but not an essential.

b. Undertone (Ian Tuison) (56:36-66:36)

“The scariest film you’ll ever hear”—a microbudget Canadian horror, anchored almost entirely by sound and two on-screen actors.
The plot follows Evie, caring for her comatose mother, recording a podcast about a series of mysterious audio files.
Mark likens its stripped-down ingenuity to The Blair Witch Project and Host (60:11-61:35).
He delves into electronic voice phenomena, the psychology of finding order in chaos, and his own eerie experience with audio ambiguity.
“I thought it was a really effective, creepy, stripped down, single idea, well executed horror movie. And I really enjoyed it.” (Mark, 66:36)

c. Le Tranger (The Stranger) (Francois Ozon) (68:36-77:14)

Mark summarizes Ozon’s new, black-and-white adaptation of Camus’ existential classic.
Central philosophical question: Is existential detachment profound or simply immature?
“Existentialist despair is essentially infantile… There are real things really happening in the world that matter.” (Mark, 74:00)
Simon concurs: “I found it very well done… but the idea that existentialism means anything or is profound in any way to be ludicrous. That’s what I thought.” (Simon, 77:14)
They agree Ozon’s update, which gives more agency to Arab characters, is well handled and not simply “wokeism.”

3. Brian Cox Interview: Directing Glen Rothan (35:19-50:52)

Introduction to Cox’s Career (35:19-36:31)

Simon recaps Brian Cox’s storied career, from theatre to Logan Roy in Succession to his 80s/90s film highlights (Hannibal Lecter in Manhunter, Braveheart, Rushmore, The Bourne Identity, more).

On Directing Glen Rothan (37:03-47:50)

Cox didn’t set out to direct; the film's origin was a script from David Ashton and producer Neil Zeiger: “I said, ‘Do I not have any say in the matter?’ He said, ‘I’m sure you do, but you’re still directing the film.’” (Cox, 39:40)
The film is a low-key, music-infused drama about two estranged Scottish brothers (Cox and Alan Cumming) reunited by family business and history.
Cox’s philosophy: an egalitarian, collaborative approach—he’s “just the guy who says action and cut.”
The story: Whisky, grudges, lost and regained family. “It’s about the fact I wanted to leave. I never wanted to stay. I wanted to get away. I wasn’t allowed to because my brother left and under a cloud. And he lives under a very difficult situation. So I’m left holding the baby, as it were… and I run it for 40-odd years.” (Cox, 43:01)
Fun detail: Making and suffering through porridge on set (“my brother’s porridge is porridge. He made it. And then we have to eat it and it's truly horrible,” Cox, 46:27).
On his outlook: “Filmmaking is a sort of much more embracing thing because of the various skills—like a collective.” (Cox, 50:52)

Notable Quotes

“It’s essentially about the relationships… whatever you do, you give it the environment, but it's essentially about the relationships.” (Cox, 42:07)
“I was very nervous… I’m not a concept… I don’t like concept films… so I just thought, well, I’ll just make a simple film.” (Cox, 41:50)

4. Listener Correspondence & Film Club (09:46-14:16, 55:22-56:37)

Letters on Doctor Who casting—a listener remarks, “What Doctor Who needs is not pre-existing star power, just a really good actor with a few specific talents.” (11:00)
Quick debate: Would a radio presenter make a good Doctor? (“I think Steve Wright,” Simon, 13:16. “Evan Davis… he’d baffle them with facts and figures,” Mark, 13:43.)
Catriona writes in to fondly defend 90s Jared Leto as Jordan Catalano, no matter what Mark and Simon say now (55:22-56:20)—earning her the coveted Correspondent of the Week.

5. Top 20 Downloaded Films Chart (25:24-34:13)

Not box-office, but most-paid downloads: from Jurassic World: Rebirth (20) to Sinners (1).
Mark and Simon’s typical banter, e.g. "The only word in that [review] I agree with is idiot." (Mark on Jurassic World: Rebirth, 26:49)
The Ballad of Wallace Island noted as a sleeper hit with indie cinemas.
Dogma's tagline delight ("Get Touched by an Angel.") and Alanis Morissette as God reminisced.

Memorable Quotes & Moments

“The first thing that’s going to happen is… you’re going to open it and a huge mistake is going to leap off the page like the alien bursting out of John Hurt’s stomach.” (Mark, 04:15)
“Wouldn’t that be great if they chose someone who’s completely unknown [for Doctor Who]? …I just suspect… they need some star power.” (Simon, 13:07)
“You lose track? I think.” “Which was the best band you’ve been in?” (Simon & Mark, 21:23–21:26)
“It’s not that we don’t think you’re a good guitarist. We do. We just don’t like you.” (Mark, 22:03)
“You know, I was in a Travel Lodge the other day, my place of choice, and… they gave me what my mother used to refer to as an ‘old fashioned look.’” (Mark on waiting for lifts, 51:48)
“How do you invite a dinosaur to dinner if you’re Northern?” – “T-Rex.” (Simon’s Laughter Lift, 52:50)
“You are literally throwing these jokes into the wood chipper.” (Mark, 54:04)

Timestamps for Significant Segments

Paranoia and Proof Copy Nerves: 03:00
Jim Jarmusch’s Father, Mother, Sister, Brother Review: 14:45
Chart Countdown: 25:24
Brian Cox Introduction & Filmography: 35:19
Brian Cox on Glen Rothan (in-depth interview): 37:03–50:52
Undertone (Creepy Audio Horror) Review: 56:36–66:36
Le Tranger (The Stranger) Review & Existentialism Debate: 68:36–79:43
Laughter Lift (Jokes + Wood Chipper Metaphor): 51:32–54:08

Notable Listener Quotes

On Doctor Who: “What has made each new Doctor magical… has been their freshness and their lack of association with any other character.” — Casey (11:00)
On Jared Leto: “His next feature could be a three-hour epic of him standing in front of a mirror flexing his pecs… and we would still only see him with floppy hair, leaning against the school lockers in his plaid shirt.” — Catriona (55:22)

Brian Cox on GLENROTHAN: will it go down smoothly with Mark?

Summary

Kermode & Mayo’s Take: Brian Cox on GLENROTHAN – Will It Go Down Smoothly with Mark?

Episode Overview

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Dread of Final Drafts and Name Paranoia (03:00-07:30)

2. Film Reviews: Kermode’s Take

a. Father, Mother, Sister, Brother (Jim Jarmusch) (14:45-20:48)

b. Undertone (Ian Tuison) (56:36-66:36)

c. Le Tranger (The Stranger) (Francois Ozon) (68:36-77:14)

3. Brian Cox Interview: Directing Glen Rothan (35:19-50:52)

Introduction to Cox’s Career (35:19-36:31)

On Directing Glen Rothan (37:03-47:50)

Notable Quotes

4. Listener Correspondence & Film Club (09:46-14:16, 55:22-56:37)

5. Top 20 Downloaded Films Chart (25:24-34:13)

Memorable Quotes & Moments

Timestamps for Significant Segments

Notable Listener Quotes

Overall Tone

Summary

Summary

Kermode & Mayo’s Take: Brian Cox on GLENROTHAN – Will It Go Down Smoothly with Mark?

Episode Overview

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Dread of Final Drafts and Name Paranoia (03:00-07:30)

2. Film Reviews: Kermode’s Take

a. Father, Mother, Sister, Brother (Jim Jarmusch) (14:45-20:48)

b. Undertone (Ian Tuison) (56:36-66:36)

c. Le Tranger (The Stranger) (Francois Ozon) (68:36-77:14)

3. Brian Cox Interview: Directing Glen Rothan (35:19-50:52)

Introduction to Cox’s Career (35:19-36:31)

On Directing Glen Rothan (37:03-47:50)

Notable Quotes

4. Listener Correspondence & Film Club (09:46-14:16, 55:22-56:37)

5. Top 20 Downloaded Films Chart (25:24-34:13)

Memorable Quotes & Moments

Timestamps for Significant Segments

Notable Listener Quotes

Overall Tone

Summary