The Psychopomps Are Flying Again (ft. guests Aaron Taylor-Johnson and David Mackenzie)

This week's Empire Film Podcast dives into a whirlwind of movie news, Easter-themed trivia, and deep dives into three new releases. The hosts, Chris Hewitt and Helen O'Hara, kick off with a playful naming contest for their colleague James Dyer, settling on 'The Mad Titan' after a series of absurd suggestions. They then tackle a fan-driven question about the best film featuring an egg, leading to a spirited debate on resurrection in cinema—ranging from Chev Chelios in Crank to Gandalf, Spock, and even the cryptic concept of psychopomps. The episode transitions into a lively review of David Mackenzie and Aaron Taylor-Johnson’s new thriller *Fuse*, a high-stakes heist film set during a World War II bomb defusal in London. The hosts praise the film’s tense real-time structure and performances, particularly Taylor-Johnson’s accent work, though they question its tonal shifts and structural choices. They also offer mixed to negative reviews for the A24 drama *The Worst Thing You’ve Ever Done*, which explores marital secrets with uncomfortable, cringe-heavy intensity, and a scathing critique of the *Super Mario Galaxy* movie, which they call creatively bankrupt and cynically driven by IP farming. Finally, they praise the underrated Disney+ original *Mike and Nick and Nick and Alice*, a time-traveling gangster comedy with strong performances and inventive staging. The episode ends with a chaotic, comedic attempt to force a group hug—embodying the show’s signature blend of wit, passion, and absurdity.