Mason Thames

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!

The Black Phone (2022): Scott Derrickson Dials Up a Terrifying Ride

Posted on by Jack Drees

“The Black Phone” is directed by Scott Derrickson (Doctor Strange, Sinister) and stars Mason Thames (For All Mankind, Walker), Madeleine McGraw (Bones, American Sniper), Jeremy Davies (Lost, Justified), James Ransone (The Wire, Generation Kill), and Ethan Hawke (Moon Knight, First Reformed) in a film that follows a 13 year old boy who is trapped in a killer’s basement. While trying to escape, the boy receives calls from said killer’s victims.

Scott Derrickson is known for his work on multiple horror titles including “The Exorcism of Emily Rose,” “Deliver Us from Evil,” and “Sinister.” His most recent work however was through the lens of Marvel via “Doctor Strange,” which I found to be incredibly entertaining despite being out of Derrickson’s comfort zone. It also features what I contend to be some of the best 3D ever put to film. Much like the “Sinister” followup, Derrickson did not return to Marvel Studios to helm the recent “Doctor Strange” sequel, giving him more time to go a genre that defines him as a director.

Speaking of horror and “Doctor Strange,” Sam Raimi of “Evil Dead” fame ended up helming the new “Doctor Strange” film in Derrickson’s place. When Derrickson was asked about his thoughts on a trailer for the then upcoming “Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness,” he said, in admiration of Raimi, that he was excited for the movie. But the trailer also affirms that “The Black Phone” was the right film for him to make at the time.

Having seen “Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness,” Derrickson is right. Sam Raimi was the right director for that film, as I did have a good time with it. He is also right about himself because Derrickson made an epic horror that is better than some of the other recent entries to the genre. I mean, personally, it is not hard to provide me with more entertainment than what I got with “Malignant.” I make no apologies.

Part of what makes “The Black Phone” so good could be mostly attributed to its youngest cast members. The two main siblings in this film, wonderfully portrayed by Mason Thames and Madeleine McGraw, have a connection that feels evident from scene one and sticks in your head the moment the lights come back on.

Mason Thames, who is not of adult age yet, is given a lot to do in a matter of just over an hour and a half, and he carries this film like a champ. His portrayal of Finney does not feel like a “child actor” performance. The same can be said to other actors of similar age who happen to be in the film. If anything, Mason Thames is perhaps almost on par with the character viewers will likely remember the most from this film, The Grabber, played by Ethan Hawke.

Ethan Hawke is having a heck of year so far between “Moon Knight,” “The Northman,” and now this movie. This is truly Hawke’s world and we are just living in it. Although while “Moon Knight” and “The Northman” have gotten plenty of attention, part of me is not too crazy about those two projects despite Hawke’s undoubtable commitment to them. This time, I recognized Hawke’s commitment to his craft while also admiring the story at hand. Hawke is genuinely terrifying at times as The Grabber. Major props have to be given to the costume design and makeup department because not only does Hawke emit serial killer vibes through his motions and voice, but also through his looks. If I were a studio executive working today, I could see The Grabber as the next Jason Voorhees or Michael Myers or Pennywise where he becomes this generation’s big horror mascot. He has the looks for it, I could almost see the collector’s toys for it, but the problem is figuring out another story to bring Ethan Hawke back.

On paper, “The Black Phone” keeps things simple and effective. It combines a crazy, Michael Myers wannabe killer, a story that is mostly spent in a creepy basement, and also one that centers around a singular kid. Although this does not mean that there is no depth to the film whatsoever because there is also an intriguing story on the side related to the lead kid’s connection to his father. If anything, this movie reminded me of “10 Cloverfield Lane” except that the star of the show is much younger, and we spend more time focusing on one particular space than anywhere else.

“The Black Phone” is not only scary, but also somewhat disturbing. If you are easily triggered by particular topics, this movie may not the first one I recommend. Why? Because this film has a subplot dedicated to Gwen, Finney’s sister, and her psychic dreams related to The Grabber. This unhinges a rivalry of sorts between her and her father (Jeremy Davies), who happens to be an alcoholic. “The Black Phone” manages to evoke fear in its own right in terms of developing a story where a kidnapper keeps someone in his basement, which streamlines itself more to fantasy than anything else. But it is also down to earth by supplementing that story with a triggering subplot that allows us to receive more depth about the film’s events. For me, this worked, but if you are looking for “an escape,” this movie could be a slight question mark compared to say “A Quiet Place.” Speaking of “A Quiet Place,” I want to bring up that movie for a second.

The biggest compliment I can give to “The Black Phone” is one that is perhaps as massive as what I gave to “A Quiet Place” when I saw that movie. My usual routine when I go to the movies is to get a large popcorn and soda. Normally, I will leave the theater having consumed most of my food and drink. But during “A Quiet Place,” I noticed that every moment I had popcorn in my mouth, I found myself dissolving it as opposed to chewing it. I left the theater with a lot of popcorn that day. While I cannot say I left with as much popcorn for “The Black Phone,” after all, I do not think I intentionally dissolved any of it, I did end up leaving the theater taking home more popcorn than usual. Based on that alone, this shows how scary good this movie is.

In the end, “The Black Phone” is worth watching, but if you get scared or triggered easily by realistic or fantastic concepts, I would recommend straying away from this film. Despite what I said about Ethan Hawke, I do not think a sequel to “The Black Phone” would be warranted, I think it would campify The Grabber if he were revisited in the near future. Although I do admire this film for having many genuine scares and minimal cheap tricks. I really enjoyed the mystery of the film, some of the characters stand out, and I would watch it again on a Friday night with the lights out. I am going to give “The Black Phone” a 7/10.

“The Black Phone” is now playing in theatres everywhere. Tickets are available now.

Thanks for reading this review! If you enjoyed my review for “The Black Phone,” I have another review coming soon, this time for a comic book movie! That’s right! My next review is for the brand new MCU installment “Thor: Love and Thunder!” Stay tuned! If you want to see this 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 “The Black Phone?” What did you think about it? Or, what is your favorite horror villain? Let me know down below! Scene Before is your click to the flicks!