Episodes
Episodes



Friday May 12, 2023
Episode 48 - Mark Dacascos interview / Brotherhood of the Wolf
Friday May 12, 2023
Friday May 12, 2023
This episode Andy and James are joined by Yonah Sichrovsky to chat about Brotherhood of the Wolf, returning to home media in a new 4K restoration. Yonah also chats to star Mark Dacascos himself about the film, appearing in John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum and Iron Chef!
This episode’s handy timecodes
00:00:33 - Introduction00:02:09 - Highlights from Mark Dacascos's career00:07:00 - Crying Freeman - Christophe Gans and Dacascos's first collab00:12:37 - Brotherhood of the Wolf00:47:46 - Yonah chats to Mark Dacascos01:05:10 - Outro
Brotherhood of the Wolf is released on UHD, Blu-Ray and DVD from 15th May by Studiocanal.



Friday Apr 21, 2023
Episode 47 - Calamity of Snakes special
Friday Apr 21, 2023
Friday Apr 21, 2023
Oh, the Calamity! The Calamity of Snakes! Andy and James discuss the controversial exploitation flick, released by Unearthed Films in a glorious 2K restoration, and wonder... just where is the fourth floor? Listen in if you dare, but don't get too distracted knitting. That might not be a bundle of wool...
This episode’s handy timecodes
00:33 - Introduction02:53 - The new restoration11:24 - Background to the production and cast15:55 - The "plot"!!!18:10 - The missing floor mystery19:39 - Snake carnage22:28 - Context and style32:01 - The unavoidable bad side44:06 - Outro
Calamity of Snakes is released on Blu-Ray and DVD from April 25th by Unearthed Films



Tuesday Mar 07, 2023
Episode 46 - Lunana: A Yak in the Classroom special
Tuesday Mar 07, 2023
Tuesday Mar 07, 2023
This episode Kay Hoddy chats to the director of 2022 Oscar nominated Lunana: A Yak in the Classroom, Pawo Choyning Dorji. Meanwhile, James gives us a rundown of recent releases on the streaming platforms.
This episode’s handy timecodes
00:00:33 - Introduction00:01:58 - Lunana: A Yak in the Classroom intro00:05:46 - Pawo Choyning Dorji interview00:34:25 - Review of the film00:45:07 - James Mudge's streaming roundup01:12:37 - Outro
Lunana: A Yak in the Classroom is released in UK cinemas from 10th March by Peccadillo Pictures.



Thursday Mar 02, 2023
Episode 45: The Horror of Junji Ito
Thursday Mar 02, 2023
Thursday Mar 02, 2023
With the new series Junji Ito Maniac: Japanese Tales of the Macabre debuting on Netflix, James and Andy are joined by self-confessed Ito fans Colette Balmain and Niina Doherty to chat about his works and how they've been adapted to film and television over the years. Has anyone done him justice...?
This episode’s handy timecodes
00:00:33 - Introduction00:01:37 - Junji Ito in context 00:10:46 - Early adaptions00:12:34 - Tomie film and TV series00:34:12 - Uzumaki (2000)00:40:05 - Other adaption in early 2000s 00:44:22 - Gyo Tokyo Fish Attack (2012)01:47:37 - Junji Ito Collection (2018) and Junji Ito Maniac (2023)01:00:50 - Uzumaki, Tomie and other potential adaptions01:13:55 - Outro
Junji Ito Maniac: Japanese Tales of the Macabre is streaming now on Netflix.



Thursday Dec 29, 2022
Episode 44: the End of Year Show 2022
Thursday Dec 29, 2022
Thursday Dec 29, 2022
It's time for the End of Year Show! James and Andy look back on 2022, the highs and lows. Did anything change for Asian film? What were the big releases and trends? Will there be ranting about that certain recent survey? There's only one way to find out: listen!!!
This episode’s handy timecodes
00:00:32 - Introduction00:01:53 - What were the big releases?00:08:25 - Decision to Leave, innit?00:25:16 - Other key cinema releases00:41:37 - Trends, what have we seen from different countries00:50:22 - The home entertainment renaissance 00:47:46 - Legacy and influence01:01:45 - The Sight and Sound '100 Greatest Films of All Time'01:26:35 - Takeaways from 2022?01:32:36 - The end of the End of the Year Show!



Sunday Dec 11, 2022
Episode 43: Infernal Affairs 20th Anniversary Special
Sunday Dec 11, 2022
Sunday Dec 11, 2022
To celebrate the 20th Anniversary of its original release, Stephen Palmer joins Andy and James to discuss the Infernal Affairs Trilogy starring Tony Leung and Andy Lau. Meanwhile, Phillip O'Connor shares his thoughts on the inevitable fates of our protagonists.
This episode’s handy timecodes
00:00:32 - Introduction00:03:00 - Context and concept00:08:25 - Creative team00:11:50 - Infernal Affairs00:25:19 - Infernal Affairs II00:40:29 - Infernal Affairs III00:47:46 - Legacy and influence00:51:53 - Phillip on the inevitability of fate01:05:42 - The Departed01:18:09 - Conclusions01:23:39 - Outro
The Infernal Affairs Trilogy is available now on Blu-ray from The Criterion Collection.



Wednesday Oct 05, 2022
Episode 42: London Film Festival roundup
Wednesday Oct 05, 2022
Wednesday Oct 05, 2022
James and Andy take a look at Asian films screening at the 66th BFI London Film Festival 2022, and Andy chats to the director of Liquor Store Dreams, So Yun Um.
This episode’s handy timecodes
00:00:32 - Episode introduction00:01:27 - On to the festival, and the many films from Korea (?)00:18:14 - So Yun Um interview, Liquor Store Dreams00:37:18 - Films from Japan00:39:09 - Films from Thailand and beyond, plus documentaries and more00:52:25 - Thoughts on the festival01:06:07 - Outro
The BFI London Film Festival 2022 takes place from 5th to 16 October. See the official site for listings.



Thursday Sep 15, 2022
Episode 41: Happy Anniversary, Squid Game?
Thursday Sep 15, 2022
Thursday Sep 15, 2022
On the first anniversary of the show debuting on Netflix and with a big win at the Emmys, we look back at the impact of Squid Game and ask what it really means for the future of both the creators and cast, and Korean film and TV in general...
This episode’s handy timecodes
00:32 - Episode introduction02:13 - For those that missed it...(what?)14:02 - The success of the show, and creators and cast26:40 - What does that mean for other shows?44:57 - Wrapping up48:37 - Outro



Saturday Jun 25, 2022
Episode 40: Making Waves
Saturday Jun 25, 2022
Saturday Jun 25, 2022
James and Andy chat exclusively about Focus Hong Kong's Making Waves, a Hong Kong screening programme coming to London from 8 to 10 July. Full disclaimer, they might have had something to do with it...
This episode’s handy timecodes
00:31 - Episode introduction01:43 - An introduction to Focus Hong Kong05:00 - The Making Waves programme06:19 - Comrades, Almost A Love Story and Peter Chan holo-presence13:41 - July Rhapsody18:32 - Anita22:34 - Hand Rolled Cigarette24:51 - Breakout Brothers26:48 - The First Girl I Loved28:24 - Tales from the Occult35:43 - Outro
Making Waves takes place at the Soho Hotel and Garden Cinema from 8th to 100th July. Check the website for more details.



Wednesday May 11, 2022
Episode 39 - The Sadness special
Wednesday May 11, 2022
Wednesday May 11, 2022
To celebrate the global release of gruesome horror The Sadness on Shudder, James and Andy chat through the film, with an exclusive interview with the films director, Rob Jabbaz.
This episode’s handy timecodes
00:31 - Episode introduction01:54 - The Sadness, a quick explainer08:39 - Rob Jabbaz interview28:11 - Reactions to the interview34:52 - easternKicks Picks!42:40 - Outro
The Sadness is available to exclusively stream on Shudder from 12th May.

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Now over 20 years old, easternKicks continues to be the World's number one source for reviews, interviews and news on East Asian cinema. The podcast was launched in 2020.