- 33 minutes 7 secondsGreat Soundtrack, Shame About the Film
Recorded in the mosquito-infested fields of Latitude Festival, Mark and Jack dig into film music to mark the paperback release of Mark's book Surround Sound: The Stories of Movie Music, co-written with Jenny Nelson.
They talk composer-director shorthand including John Williams and the "shark" scene from Jaws, Hans Zimmer and Christopher Nolan's one-page brief for Interstellar; they discuss the "great soundtrack, shame about the film" phenomenon referencing S. Darko, Cannibal Holocaust, Exorcist II: The Heretic; and how Jack worked with composer Benjamin Squires on his own short film The Second Time Around.
Mark also talks about Mike Oldfield's Tubular Bells and the eerie 15/8 time signature that makes The Exorcist's theme feel so wrong, and gives some hard-won advice on sticking with a creative career when nobody's paying you yet.
Titles mentioned in this episode include:
Spider-Man
The Social Network
Drive
Interstellar
Man of Steel
Superman
The Lord of the Rings
Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy
The Wolfman (2010)
Jennifer 8
S. Darko
Donnie Darko
Cannibal Holocaust
Exorcist II: The Heretic
The Exorcist
Don't Look Now
E.T.
Jaws
Jurassic Park
You Were Never Really Here
There Will Be Blood
The Zone of Interest
Wicked / Wicked: for Good
Mary Poppins (Blunt-era)
Twin Peaks: Fire Walk with Me
Blade Runner
Drive My Car
Psycho
Suspiria
The Shining
The Odyssey
The Second Time Around (Jack Howard's brilliant short film, now available on Channel 4)
This episode was produced by Hedda Lornie Archbold and Nicki Glossop, and edited by Jack Howard.
Recorded by Richard Gay.
Kermode on Film and MK3D are HLA Agency productions.
© HLA Agency
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
11 August 2026, 4:30 am - 42 minutes 47 secondsJason Isaacs says hello and Imran Peretta talks about his feature ISH
In this episode of Kermode on Film, Mark talks to Imran Perretta about his moving debut feature ISH and to Jason Isaacs about the eight projects he's filmed back to back recently
If you missed the first half of this edition of Mark Kermode Live in 3D at the BFI Southbank, listen to episode 290, in which Mark talks to founder of the Straight 8 Film Competition Ed Sayers about his documentary feature SUPER NATURE, a stunning exploration of the natural world filmed on Super 8 Film by 40 filmmakers from all across the world. And he talks to Sian Clifford about her surreal mockumentary LADY.
MK3D shows happen live every month. Head over to the BFI website if you’d like to join us in the audience at the BFI Southbank.
Opening title quotes from:
· Mary Poppins (Robert Stevenson, Walt Disney Productions – featuring Julie Andrews)
· Nope (Jordan Peele, Universal Pictures – featuring Keke Palmer)
· Withnail & I (Bruce Robinson, HandMade Films – featuring Richard E. Grant)
· The Exorcist (William Friedkin, Warner Bros. – featuring Ellen Burstyn and Linda Blair)
This episode was produced by Hedda Lornie Archbold and Nicki Glossop, and edited by Alex Jones.
Image by Julie Edwards.
Kermode on Film and MK3D are HLA Agency productions.
© HLA Agency
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
4 August 2026, 5:30 am - 45 minutes 32 secondsThe Odyssey: Mark and Jack discuss
Mark Kermode and Jack Howard discuss Christopher Nolan's The Odyssey at the Sun Pub on Drury Lane
Other films mentioned in this episode:
Silent Running (1972)
2001: A Space Odyssey (1968)
The Dark Knight (2008)
Dunkirk (2017)
Society (1989)
Oppenheimer (2023)
Spirited Away (2001)
Interstellar (2014)
Inception (2010)
The Ninth Configuration (1980)
The Lord Of The Rings trilogy (2001-3)
With thanks to Richard Gay and The Sun Pub on London's Drury Lane.
Kermode on Film is an HLA Agency production
Produced by Hedda Lornie Archbold and Nicki Glossop
© HLA Agency
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
28 July 2026, 5:30 am - 47 minutes 2 secondsEd Sayers on SUPER NATURE, and Sian Clifford on LADY
In this episode of Kermode on Film, Mark talks to the founder of the Straight 8 Film Competition, Ed Sayers about his documentary feature SUPER NATURE, a stunning exploration of the natural world filmed on Super 8 Film by 40 filmmakers from all across the world.
Next, he welcomes Sian Clifford to talk about her new feature LADY, a surreal mockumentary which follows a lonely aristocrat's attempt to find the spotlight. Sian discusses her love for comedy, ten years of FLEABAG and her childhood fascination with Laura Dern.
Tune in to next week's Kermode on Film to hear the other half of July's MK3D when Mark talks to Imran Perretta about his debut feature ISH and to Jason Isaacs about the eight projects he's filmed back to back.
Take a front row seat for the 115th edition of MK3D at the BFI Southbank. Enjoy!
MK3D shows happen live every month. Head over to the BFI website if you’d like to join us in the audience at the BFI Southbank.
Opening title quotes from:
· Mary Poppins (Robert Stevenson, Walt Disney Productions – featuring Julie Andrews)
· Nope (Jordan Peele, Universal Pictures – featuring Keke Palmer)
· Withnail & I (Bruce Robinson, HandMade Films – featuring Richard E. Grant)
· The Exorcist (William Friedkin, Warner Bros. – featuring Ellen Burstyn and Linda Blair)
This episode was produced by Hedda Lornie Archbold and Nicki Glossop, and edited by Alex Jones.
Image by Julie Edwards.
Kermode on Film and MK3D are HLA Agency productions.
© HLA Agency
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
21 July 2026, 2:04 pm - 24 minutes 12 secondsNirvanna the Band the Show the Movie: Is Mark too old for this?
Mark Kermode and Jack Howard discuss Matt Johnson's Canadian comedy Nirvanna the Band the Show the Movie at the Sun pub in London's West End.
Other films mentioned in this episode:
Back To The Future (1985)
Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure (1989)
The Hangover (2009)
Borat (2006)
Backrooms (2026)
Obsession (2025)
Bo Burnham: Inside (2021)
The Holdovers (2023)
Blackberry (2023)
With thanks to Richard Gay and The Sun Pub on London's Drury Lane.
Kermode on Film is an HLA Agency production
Produced by Hedda Lornie Archbold and Nicki Glossop
© HLA Agency
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
14 July 2026, 5:30 am - 38 minutes 49 secondsAll Christopher Nolan Films Ranked (Worst to Best)
Mark Kermode and Jack Howard talking about Christopher Nolan's films at The Sun Pub on Drury Lane.
Films mentioned in this episode:
The Odyssey
Oppenheimer
The Dark Knight
Inception
Tenet
Interstellar
The Prestige
Dunkirk
Batman Begins
Memento
The Dark Knight Rises
Insomnia
Following
Silent Running
The Exorcist
Knowing
With thanks to Richard Gay and The Sun Pub on London's Drury Lane.
Kermode on Film is an HLA Agency production
Produced by Hedda Lornie Archbold and Nicki Glossop
© HLA Agency
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
7 July 2026, 4:26 pm - 1 hour 1 minuteRonni Ancona on EASTENDERS, Olivia Cooke on HOUSE OF THE DRAGON + the Provence Arts Film Festival
In this episode of Kermode On Film, Mark talks to Olivia Cooke about HOUSE OF THE DRAGON series 3, and about working with Steven Spielberg.
Next, he welcomes Ronni Ancona to the stage to talk about comedy, impressions, EASTENDERS and her new feature THINK OF ENGLAND.
Finally, in a special pre-record, Mark talks to Lucy Darwin, founder and curator of the Provence Arts Film Festival.
The festival runs from 29th July - 1st August. Tickets are available now from https://provencearts.com/en/book/
If you missed it, you can hear the other half of June’s MK3D on last week’s Kermode On Film when Mark talked to Ellen E. Jones about radio 4 series BOMBSHELL: FIVE FACES OF MARILYN MONROE (available on BBC Sounds) and to filmmaker Jeanie Finlay about her documentary feature ALL RIVERS SPILL THEIR STORIES TO THE SEA, about beleaguered Teesside fishers whose journey through grief to finding power in community, is full of wry humour.
Take a front row seat for the 114th edition of MK3D at the BFI Southbank. Enjoy!
MK3D shows happen live every month. Head over to the BFI website if you’d like to join us in the audience at the BFI Southbank.
Opening title quotes from:
· Mary Poppins (Robert Stevenson,
Walt Disney Productions – featuring Julie Andrews)
· Nope (Jordan Peele, Universal
Pictures – featuring Keke Palmer)
· Withnail & I (Bruce
Robinson, HandMade Films – featuring Richard E. Grant)
· The Exorcist (William Friedkin,
Warner Bros. – featuring Ellen Burstyn and Linda Blair)
This episode was produced by Hedda Lornie Archbold and Nicki Glossop, and edited by Alex Jones.
Image by Julie Edwards.
Kermode on Film and MK3D are HLA Agency productions.
© HLA Agency
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
30 June 2026, 3:00 pm - 51 minutes 30 secondsMarilyn Monroe with Ellen E. Jones, plus Jeanie Finlay on ALL RIVERS SPILL THEIR STORIES TO THE SEA
In this episode of Kermode On Film, Mark talks to journalist, broadcaster and film critic, Ellen E. Jones about celebrating 100 years of Marilyn Monroe in her radio 4 series BOMBSHELL: FIVE FACES OF MARILYN MONROE (available on BBC Sounds). The series coincides with a BFI Season celebrating Marilyn's centenary, titled MARILYN MONROE: SELF-MADE STAR.
Next, Mark talks to filmmaker Jeanie Finlay about her documentary feature ALL RIVERS SPILL THEIR STORIES TO THE SEA, in which Jeanie worked with the beleagured Teeside fishers, charting their journey through grief and wry humour to finding power in community. ALL RIVERS SPILL THEIR STORIES TO THE SEA will screen in cinemas in autumn 2026.
Tune in to next week’s Kermode On Film to hear the other half of June’s MK3D when Mark talks to Olivia Cooke about HOUSE OF THE DRAGON (season 3) and to Ronni Ancona about comedy, impressions, EASTENDERS and her new feature, THINK OF ENGLAND. Plus Mark talks to Lucy Darwin, founder and curator of the Provence Arts Film Festival.
Take a front row seat for the 114th edition of MK3D at the BFI Southbank. Enjoy!
MK3D shows happen live every month. Head over to the BFI website if you’d like to join us in the audience at the BFI Southbank.
Opening title quotes from:
· Mary Poppins (Robert Stevenson, Walt Disney Productions – featuring Julie Andrews)
· Nope (Jordan Peele, Universal Pictures – featuring Keke Palmer)
· Withnail & I (Bruce Robinson, HandMade Films – featuring Richard E. Grant)
· The Exorcist (William Friedkin, Warner Bros. – featuring Ellen Burstyn and Linda Blair)
This episode was produced by Hedda Lornie Archbold and Nicki Glossop, and edited by Alex Jones.
Image by Julie Edwards.
Kermode on Film and MK3D are HLA Agency productions.
© HLA Agency
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
23 June 2026, 5:00 am - 29 minutes 36 secondsDisclosure Day is Dividing People
Mark and Jack discuss Disclosure Day, the new Spielberg film that raises some big questions. Not least: who's right?
Other films and people mentioned in this episode:
Disclosure Day
Jaws
Jurassic Park
Jurassic World
Indiana Jones
X-Files
Star Wars
Roswell
Close Encounters of the Third Kind
Josh O'Connor
Arrival
The Butterfly Effect
Donnie Darko
Kurt Vonnegut
Mission Impossible
Beggars of Life
Wallace Beery
Jodie Foster
Matthew McConaughey
Silent Running
Doug Trumbull
With thanks to Richard Gay and The Sun Pub on London's Drury Lane.
Kermode on Film is an HLA Agency production
Produced by Hedda Lornie Archbold and Nicki Glossop
© HLA Agency
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
16 June 2026, 12:10 pm - 32 minutes 28 secondsAre YouTube Filmmakers Taking over Hollywood?
Mark Kermode and Jack Howard talk about indie horror movies BACKROOMS and OBSESSION taking the box office by storm.
Other films mentioned in this episode:
Together
Keeper
Hellraiser
Nightbreed
Citizen Kane
Evil Dead
Booksmart
Superbad
The Drama
Videodrome
The Exorcist
Hereditary
Weapons
Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu
With thanks to Richard Gay and The Sun Pub on London's Drury Lane.
Kermode on Film is an HLA Agency production
Produced by Hedda Lornie Archbold and Nicki Glossop
© HLA Agency
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
9 June 2026, 4:17 pm - 33 minutes 52 seconds"Cinematic foreplay"!?
Part 2 of Mark Kermode and Jack Howard talking about Christopher Nolan's films at The Sun Pub on Drury Lane.
Films and books mentioned in this episode:
Tenet
The Prestige
Interstellar
The Odyssey
Inception
Oppenheimer
Insomnia
Batman Trilogy
Ray Harryhausen's Sinbad Movies
The Devils
Metropolis
Trainspotting
The Passion of Christ
The Death of Stalin
Troy
Minions
Books:
A Hard Day's Night by Samira Ahmed
Mark Kermode's Surround Sound: The Stories of Movie Music by Mark Kermode and Jenny Nelson
Kermode on Film is an HLA Agency production
Produced by Hedda Lornie Archbold and Nicki Glossop
© HLA Agency
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
2 June 2026, 6:00 am - More Episodes? Get the App