Gramercy Park Media

Idiots (2026): A Balanced, Over the Top, Sometimes Crude Road Film

Posted on by Jack Drees

“Idiots” is directed by Macon Blair (Green Room, The Toxic Avenger) and stars Dave Franco (Neighbors, Together), O’Shea Jackson Jr. (Ingrid Goes West, Straight Outta Compton), Mason Thames (Regretting You, The Black Phone), Kiernan Shipka (Mad Men, Chilling Adventures of Sabrina), Nicholas Braun (Succession, Saturday Night), and Peter Dinklage (Pixels, Avengers: Infinity War). This film is about two people who hit their lowest low and are tasked with transporting a troubled teen to rehab.

It’s funny how much marketing can do to sell you on a movie. I had no idea “Idiots” existed prior to the time I saw “Tony” in theaters, as it wound up being one of the later trailers that played. When it comes to trailers for comedies, “Idiots” is one of the best I can remember seeing. It gives a basic idea of the wild premise and vibe, but did not give too much away. It seemed to have enough gags to keep me laughing, but when it comes to the story, I wanted to know more. Plus, who doesn’t love an unhinged Dave Franco?

Some of you might be asking, does the movie reveal all the funny parts in the trailers? I would not say so. It hides quite a bit. I have seen multiple trailers and I found them all entertaining. Thankfully, the movie is just as solid.

“Idiots” is one of those movies that is not going to wind up winning any awards, but it is one that is effective in its goals. Not only did the film make me laugh, but it also delivers a little bit more. Likable characters. Good performances. An occasional sick action scene or two. Oddball concepts for scenes that end up working. The film has a clear idea of what it wants to be. It has the somewhat laid back vibe of a hangout film like “The Big Lebowski” and packs in a fun road adventure like “The Blues Brothers.” Mix in some hyped-up lines, a little blood, and some dark comedy, you have a recipe for a fun time.

What really makes this film sing is the main trio. You have Mark (Franco), Davis (Jackson Jr.), and Sheridan (Thames). Each actor plays fantastically off each other. It is also easy to root for Mark and Davis in particular as they try to keep Sheridan under control. The film shows Mark and Davis dealing with their personal work struggles, and almost from the getgo, the two have to work together to get a young man who comes from a well-off family from point A to point B.

Part of me imagines another reality where this grouping could have gone very wrong, because a couple of these characters are lunatics. Nothing ruins a road trip movie more than obnoxiously annoying characters. Not only are they likely annoyed by each other, but that annoyance is shared through the audience.

When it comes to the film’s display of lunacy, it is particularly notable with Mark and Sheridan. There is one scene early on in the film where Mark, who is transporting Sheridan to a wellness center because of his problems, is saluting him for some of his out there activities. Yet somehow this film not only works because of these three people, but it is almost hard for me to imagine almost anyone else in their shoes. Each character has a standout scene and the film channels each one of the actors’ comedic strengths.

I sometimes talk about cliches or familiar concepts in movies, and how despite those things being common, they can work if done right. When it comes to comedy, I am sure everyone has heard the “your mum” or “your momma” joke. This movie proves that the “momma” joke is an oldie but a goodie. There is a fantastic scene between Davis and a hotel employee involving the “your momma” cliche that goes in a direction that I could have never anticipated. As the scene goes on, I am laughing less because of the joke, but rather because of its repercussions, which were well written and timed.

“Idiots” is one of those oddball comedies that finds a perfect balance in its tone. It often comes close to getting serious, but never pulls the trigger and goes all the way. Throughout the story, despite it dealing with someone who has some serious issues, it is never completely heartfelt. But I refuse to think that is what Macon Blair was going for. This particular work feels like it was secretly helmed by Quentin Tarantino or the Coen Brothers. While the camerawork and overall look of the film may not entirely match their styles, Blair’s commitment to hard action and snappy moments certainly do. The more I think about it, such a comparison makes sense, as one of Blair’s most recent projects was “Brothers.” He wrote the film’s screenplay while Etan Coen had a “story by” credit. Maybe working with Coen inspired Blair with realizing his future material.

The film becomes rather twisted by its conclusion. Not just because of the crazy scenarios in which the characters find themselves, but the film makes time around acts two and three to introduce a set of new characters who perfectly match, again, the film’s uniquely balanced tone. I have no idea how well this film would play as an animation, but some of the acting in this film is quite over the top. Never once is it annoying, in fact, the cartoony nature plays well into some of these characters’ personalities, and their makeup and costumes match those personalities for a bonus.

I imagine myself looking back at “Idiots” a few years from now and thinking to myself that I had quite a few laughs. There were a few other people in my theater who wound laughing with me. Am I going to remember the film as a whole as those next few years pass? I could try, but maybe not. It almost suffers from tonal inconsistency, but it is just balanced enough to the point where the ship never sinks. While, again, the film is not likely going to win any awards, it is nevertheless clever in its delivery and makes the most of its comedic leads.

In the end, “Idiots” is a good time. It is a wild adventure that is engagingly smart as it is entertainingly dumb. The film is a successful balancing act. It has big names, but an intimate vibe. It has a grounded script that is not afraid to occasionally go over the top. One of my favorite film genres is comedy, and this film brings the funny. I needed a good comedy after seeing whatever “Spa Weekend” was. I am glad I saw “Idiots,” and I am going to give it a 7/10.

“Idiots” is now available to rent or buy on VOD.

Thanks for reading this review! I am happy to announce that my next episode of Movie Requests is going to be available Monday September 28th, and it is going to feature Rosario Dawson! You may know Dawson from movies like “Clerks II,” “Top Five,” “The LEGO Batman Movie,” and “Sin City.” She is also the star of the Disney+ original series “Ahsoka,” whose second season is on its way. The episode will be available here on Scene Before, but please subscribe to my YouTube channel if you want to see the video before anyone else!

And while you are at it, check out the previous episode of Movie Requests, which features actress Melissa Barrera. Give it a watch to see what I thought about her suggestion, “Roma.”

My next review is going to be for “Don’t Move.” Stay tuned! Also coming soon, I will be sharing my thoughts on “The Uprising” and “Forgotten Island.” If you want to see these reviews and more from Scene Before, follow the blog either with an email or WordPress account! Also, check out the official Facebook page! I want to know, did you see “Idiots?” What did you think about it? Or, what is your favorite comedy you have seen this year? Let me know down below! Scene Before is your click to the flicks!

We Bury the Dead (2025): Daisy Ridley Searches for Her Spouse in This Zombie Flick

Posted on by Jack Drees

© 2025 – Vertical Entertainment

“We Bury the Dead” is written and directed by Zak Hilditch (1922, These Final Hours) and stars Daisy Ridley (Star Wars: The Force Awakens, Chaos Walking), Mark Coles Smith (Last Cab to Darwin, Pawno), and Brandon Thwaites (The Giver, Gods of Egypt). This film is set after the U.S.’s accidental detonation of an experimental weapon off the coast of Tasmania. At first, many people die, only for a sizable amount to become undead. From that point, the story centers around a woman named Ava, who is assigned to retrieve bodies and help soldiers maintain control of Tasmania as zombies rise.

Before we begin this review, I would like to wish everyone a belated Happy New Year! “We Bury the Dead” is the first new film I saw in 2026. The first new release of the year is always an interesting watch. Not only because to some degree, it sets a tone for what the movies could bring for the rest of the year, but also because, per usual, January is a 31 day schlockfest for cinema.

I did not know what to expect with “We Bury the Dead.” I missed out on the trailers or spots related to the film, but I was delighted to see Daisy Ridley in the starring role. The actress may not have done anything as big as “Star Wars” this decade, but it is nice to see such a talented performer star in a smaller production like this. As for my thoughts on the film, I found it to be amusing. There are very few adjectives I feel could accurately describe my experience of watching this movie, but I walked out of “We Bury the Dead” won over in more ways than one.

For starters, the movie has a great hook. It kind of has a “Godzilla” feel with a big explosion to kick things off. It took me back to 2014 when I saw that particular “Godzilla” film in the theater for the first time. We find out a weapon goes off in Tasmania, tons of people die. Right from the getgo, the movie has my attention. If you read my top 10 WORST movies list of 2025, you would know that I have seen a few flicks last year that had me hooked in the first minute or two only to have the rest of the film fail to live up to what happened at the beginning. That is not the case with “We Bury the Dead.” While I cannot say the film gets significantly better than what we see at the start, it maintains a sense of quality throughout.

The story, despite having zombies in it, maintains a surprisingly grounded vibe. If you take out the zombie element, then this is simply a movie where a wife is looking for her husband. If you are looking for zombie action in this film, it does exist, though it does feel rather minimal. It essentially happens when the story allows it, but I have no complaints.

Going back to Daisy Ridley, she gives a soulful, engaging performance as Ava. I always had an appreciation for her acting chops and have found all of her portrayals to be solid, even with the couple that I have seen in the era following her “Star Wars” outings. This one is no exception. I found Ridley to blend perfectly with the film’s somewhat minimalist feel while still serving as an occasional beam of emotional power. Ava is the heart and soul of this film and Ridley is a good pick to play her.

“We Bury the Dead” also happens to be Brenton Thwaites first movie role in years. He had a brief rise to fame in the 2010s with films like “The Giver” and “Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales.” I am glad to see he is continuing to find work, and frankly, work that is superior to those recently mentioned films. Thwaites has proven that he is talented, but his resume does not quite live up to his potential. “We Bury the Dead” film may not be as recognizable as “Pirates” or as expensive as “Gods of Egypt” or based on something as positively received as “The Giver…” Say what you will on the final results of that last one… Like those previous films, Thwaites does his best here as Clay. Though as I say that, his acting chops this time around match the film’s commitment to quality.

“We Bury the Dead” is a creative flick that makes the most of its smaller budget. That budget sometimes shows, but a smaller film like this one can result in a purer experience. This is most evident in the film’s shot selection. As I write this review, I look back at some of my favorite shots of the film and a couple that come to mind are when the camera’s up high, aiming down at a road, and we see characters passing through or whatever has been left behind. From time to time, the film’s shots look like something out of an art museum. While the film is set in Tasmania, it is actually shot in Australia, and I admire the locations that were chosen for each scene. Each one looks as sweet as the last.

The film also has quite the ending. I obviously will not spoil the ending, though it is worth talking about to a degree. The film’s ending plays a lot into its constant thread of relationships. By the time we get to it, the scene feels earned and I felt for Ava based on what was encountering in the moment. There is a scene around the middle of the film between the two main characters, Ava and Riley (Coles Smith) that sees the two discussing the relationships with their spouses, sharing things they have in common, and perhaps hinting what life could be like should they have a future together. This scene ultimately plays a role in what happens to be the film’s very last moments, which allow things to close on a satisfying note. “We Bury the Dead” is not the best zombie movie, nor is it the best movie about relationships. However, when it comes to both those ideas, the film is much better than I expected it to be despite it having a decent cast. Will I remember this movie five years from now? That is hard to say. But do I regret seeing it? Absolutely not.

In the end, “We Bury the Dead” is one of those movies that gets better the more I think about it. It is not a perfect film. But I do think it makes the most of its budget, introduces some likable characters, and has some really nice cinematography. If you are looking for the scariest, most bonkers, or even the most fun zombie flick ever made, you might want to look elsewhere. Though I was surprised by how engaged I was by this film’s handling of relationships. I do think a rewatch of this film is in order at some point. While I cannot say I loved the movie, it would be wrong to suggest that it is in any way incompetent. If you get a chance, go see it. I am going to give “We Bury the Dead” a 7/10.

“We Bury the Dead” is now playing in theaters. Tickets are available now.

Thanks for reading this review! My next review is going to be for “Primate!” Stay tuned! The 2026 reviews are only getting started! But if you want relive 2025 for a moment or two, be sure to check out my end of the year countdowns where I discuss my worst films of the year, most disappointing films of the year, and best films of the year!

Also, little bit of housekeeping, Scene Before’s annual awards show, the Jack Awards, are back on February 8th! The nominations will be revealed January 25th. In less than a month, it will be time to honor the finest that 2025 has offered in cinema once more.

If you want to see this upcoming awards show and more from Scene Before, follow the blog either with an email or WordPress account! Also, check out the official Facebook page! I want to know, did you see “We Bury the Dead?” What did you think about it? Or, what movies are you looking forward to in 2026? I did not make a most anticipated list this year, but I am dying to see Christopher Nolan’s “The Odyssey.” Based on the film’s marketing so far, the film looks fantastically epic, and I am beyond happy to confirm that I already have my ticket to see the film in IMAX 70mm later this year. Let me know what you are looking forward to down below! Scene Before is your click to the flicks!