Sound Speed Action

“Predator: Badlands” is one of those rare movies. You already expect something good after “Prey,” but then you watch this and it turns out to be one of the most satisfying action films of the year. Disney clearly believed in it too, bumping the budget to about 105 million, which is a big jump from “Prey’s” 65 million.Dan Trachtenberg is officially three for three. “Prey,” “Killer of Killers,” (also released in2025, on Hulu and awesome) and now “Badlands.” He delivers a confident, fast, beautifully paced movie that never wastes a moment. It also works as a complete standalone. No homework required. You don’t need to be a Predator fan or even a sci-fi fan. The movie just pulls you in as a flat-out fun, kickass action experience.The details are great. The runtime is a perfect one hour and forty-seven minutes. The movie lightly introduces Yautja culture without slowing anything down, and the world-building is clear, exciting, and leaves the door open for the future. There’s even a subtle crossover nod that never pulls focus.Elle Fanning is incredible. Dimitrius Schuster-Koloamatangi brings a whole new life to the Predator character, making it both terrifying and surprisingly sympathetic. The Kalisk creature is a very fun addition. The invented language is a cool touch. And the villain is genuinely strong without giving anything away.The sound design is excellent, the VFX are top tier, and New Zealand looks unbelievable on screen. Trachtenberg blends real landscapes with massive effects in a way that makes the world feel alive.If there’s one small con: you just hope the crossover tease doesn’t jinx the success the movie has earned so far.“Badlands” is in theaters now and will likely hit digital platforms in December and stream on Hulu or Disney+ in early 2026.

Episode 59 – Halloween Spoiler Review: Weapons (2025)

IMPORTANT NOTE: This spoiler review episode focuses on an original horror film and includes language, topics, and descriptions that are dark, graphic, violent, and disturbing. Listener discretion is advised.

You are not ready. Weapons (2025) is one of the most original, creative, and unsettling movies to come out in years. From Barbarian director Zach Cregger, who also produced Companion (streaming now on HBO Max), this film proves that fresh, daring ideas are still alive in modern cinema.

In this Halloween spoiler review of Weapons, we dive into what makes it one of the standout movies of 2025. Joining me on Sound Speed Action is our returning guest Chris Cheng, and together we unpack the film’s twists, tone, and unforgettable performances.

The cast includes Julia Garner (Ozark, Fantastic Four: First Steps), Josh Brolin (Sicario, No Country for Old Men), Benedict Wong (3 Body Problem, Doctor Strange), and Amy Madigan (Gone Baby Gone). The story unfolds in a non-linear way, echoing films like Magnolia, with moments that stick in your mind long after the credits roll.

Weapons balances dark humor, tension, and originality in a way few modern movies do. It’s unpredictable, visually striking, and a reminder that the genre still has room for surprises.

🎃 Weapons is streaming on HBO Max and available to rent or buy on all major platforms.

We’ve got more movie podcasts, spoiler reviews, and film discussions coming your way. If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a review or drop a comment. It really helps the show grow.

Thanks for listening, and happy Halloween from Sound Speed Action!

Episode 58 - Special Episode: Jurassic World Rebirth (2025)

Jurassic Park is one of those franchises that I absolutely love, where Spielberg helped define the summer blockbuster movie season. The first two especially are amazing. Jurassic Park III was a flop. Jurassic World and Fallen Kingdom were chapters that brought new life and characters into the franchise. Dominion was overstuffed but had fun visuals and brought back all the characters we love from this series. Three years later we are now caught up with this one... and I am so confused by it.

You have Gareth Edwards directing. You can see his work in Rogue One, The Creator, Godzilla (2014), and Monsters (2010). The man is amazing with visual effects and knows how to work quickly and economically. Disney loves him, and I understand why. You also have David Koepp, the OG writer of Jurassic Park. You also have a rock star cast with Scarlett Johansson, Mahershala Ali, and Rupert Friend. This should have been amazing.

From an audience and review point of view, there was consensus in the reactions, and yet… this is one of the most globally successful movies of the year! I am so confused and have so many questions. The mysterious box office of Jurassic World Rebirth. This one is still bugging me and I need answers.

Jurassic World Rebirth is playing in theaters now. It is also available to rent and buy on all platforms. There is no streaming date for Peacock yet, but my guess based on its theatrical release date is that late October to early November is a safe bet.

We’ve got more episodes, reviews, and recommendations coming your way. If you’re enjoying the show, please leave a review, it really helps the podcast.

Thanks for listening. I’m really curious about your thoughts on this one if you check it out.

Episode 57 - SPOILER Review: Fantastic Four: First Steps (2025)

Just when it was starting to look pretty bleak for comic movies (over saturation, becoming extremely dark, forgettable stories, visual effects suffering from unsustainable output stretching visual FX artists too thin), it looks like studios are getting the message. First "Superman" from DC/Warner Brothers and now for today's episode we see how Marvel/Disney with "Fantastic Four: First Steps" has done an about face and put a "fantastic" crowd-pleaser of movie to die-hard comic-fans and popcorn moviegoers alike.

For today's episode our friend of the podcast, Ali-Reza Beheshti, returns and we both get into how this movie completely surprised us. A beautifully shot, wonderfully paced, thrill ride of a movie. There was a part that was a little bit of a "stretch" but the movie still was so much fun that you can almost completely let this detail go. Almost. Michael Giacchino returns as Marvel's go-to Composer but here he really crafts something epic and unique on par with John Williams music from classics such as Indiana Jones and Jurassic Park.

This one must be seen in the theaters. It will make you a believer in comic-book movies again. There is still life in this category of movies. Here is to hoping the studios continue to space these movies out enough to keep the creativity, anticipation, and quality going!

"Fantastic Four: First Steps" is playing in theaters now.

We’ve got more episodes, reviews, and recommendations coming your way. If you’re enjoying the show, please leave a review, it really helps the podcast.

Thanks for listening, and enjoy the movie.

Episode 56 – Review: The Accountant 2 (2025)

Back in 2016, Ben Affleck surprised a lot of people with "The Accountant", a sleek, mysterious action thriller where he played Christian Wolff, a math savant with deadly skills. That film, written by Ozark series creator Bill Dubuque, had an incredible cast (John Lithgow, J.K. Simmons, Jon Bernthal, Anna Kendrick, Jean Smart) and a vibe that stuck with people. For years, a sequel was teased, and now, nearly a decade later, it’s finally here.

The Accountant 2 makes the rare move of actually improving on the original. Director Gavin O’Connor returns, and Affleck is back as Wolff, joined again by Cynthia Addai Robinson and Jon Bernthal. Newcomer Daniela Pineda (playing Lena) is a total standout. One change this time around: the character of Justine (Christian’s mysterious associate) is now played by Allison Robinson, taking over voice and on screen duties from Allison Wright. And it works.

While the first movie had a haunting score by Mark Isham, this sequel switches gears with a fresh and impressive score by Bryce Dessner. The vibe is a little different, but it still pulls you into Wolff’s world.

There’s a planned third film to complete the trilogy, and both O’Connor and Affleck have hinted at wanting Anna Kendrick back for that one. Fingers crossed.

"The Accountant 2" is now streaming on Amazon Prime Video.

We’ve got more episodes, reviews, and recommendations coming your way. If you’re enjoying the show, please leave a review, it really helps the podcast.

Thanks for listening, and enjoy the movie.

Correction: In the audio, the character of Lena is mistakenly said to be played by Daniela Melchior. The role is actually played by Daniela Pineda.