Indie Film Podcast

Eli Roth’s Ice Cream Man delivers plenty of blood, practical gore, and wildly campy horror imagery, but can great effects save a weak script?
In this IFP Review, we break down Ice Cream Man from a filmmaker’s perspective, including the practical effects and makeup that impressed us, the story and dialogue that didn’t, some very dated creative choices, and a villain motivation that arrives almost entirely through exposition in the third act.
We also discuss the performances, the movie’s 86-minute runtime, who this gore-filled horror comedy is actually for, and the biggest filmmaking lesson we took away from watching it.
So should you see Ice Cream Man now…or wait ‘til later?
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What does it actually cost to shoot a low-budget indie feature film? Writer/director Jack Judson joins us after wrapping Pineapple Promise to break down our real $31K indie film budget. From the cast, crew, gear, craft services, locations, all the way to the unexpected $3,000 expense we definitely didn’t see coming.
We also get into how we shot a 95-page feature film in just 14 production days with a five-person crew, what went right (and very wrong), and the production planning, compromises, sound problems, free locations, long days, and occasional uncooperative llama that made this independent film possible.
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Show Links: 
Learn more about Pineapple Promise: https://www.patreon.com/cw/BuildingAnArc 
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Has the internet finally found a zero-budget horror film capable of replacing The Room?
In this Indie Film Podcast Review, Victoria and Chuck discuss Pretty (2026), an ambitious Turkish fantasy-horror feature written, directed, shot, edited, and scored by 19-year-old filmmaker Metecan Duren.
After encountering the ghost of a murdered young woman, Pretty becomes obsessed with uncovering what happened. But strange occurrences soon pull her into a supernatural mystery filled with love, jealousy, family secrets, murder, and one deeply unsettling rabbit.
Made in Istanbul by a group of university students, Pretty combines experimental slow cinema, supernatural horror, home invasion, and wonderfully chaotic B-movie slasher energy. Victoria and Chuck examine the film’s striking cinematography, original soundtrack, creepy mythology, ambitious story, DIY production challenges, and wildly entertaining final act.
Could Pretty become the internet’s next cult-horror obsession? And should you buy it, rent it, or wait until it’s free?
Disclosure: This review was commissioned by the filmmaker. Payment guarantees an honest review, not positive coverage, a predetermined rating, or editorial approval.
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Show Links:
Watch Pretty for Free: https://youtu.be/z7sxtBMfCqM?si=unGuFG0LEQyn3cdv 
Learn More About Pretty: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt43378732/ 
Get an Indie Film Review: https://www.indiefilmpodcast.com/submit 
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Is film crowdfunding dead, or can it still work if you approach it the right way?
In this episode, writer-director Jack Judson joins us to break down how we funded a $40K indie feature film, what actually worked during our Seed&Spark campaign, and what we would do differently next time.
We get honest about the real numbers behind Pineapple Promise, including how much came from crowdfunding, why personal outreach mattered more than passive discovery, how professional branding increased donor confidence, and why we built contingency into the budget from the beginning.
Then we move beyond fundraising and into the realities of preparing a micro-budget feature: Keeping the crew lean, paying cast and crew fairly, writing around expensive production challenges, saving money on locations and travel, and deciding when it makes more sense to rewrite a scene than throw money at it.
Crowdfunding an indie film isn’t as simple as launching a campaign and waiting for strangers to find it. This is a transparent look at film funding, budgeting, marketing, and pre-production from a team about to put those plans to the test.
And after the shoot, we’ll be back to share what worked, what failed, and whether any of our carefully made plans survived production.
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Show Links: 
Learn more about Pineapple Promise: https://www.patreon.com/cw/BuildingAnArc 
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What happens when online dating gets deadly?
In this Indie Film Podcast Review, Victoria and Chuck take on The Lonely Crowd (2026), a romantic thriller produced by Jim St. Clair and co-produced, written, and directed by David St. Clair.
Jaded by online dating, Peter and Ashley agree to give romance one final chance. But when their blind date leads them into a dangerous world of murderous ex-boyfriends, corrupt cops, and stolen drug money, they must decide whether they can trust each other long enough to survive.
We discuss the film’s ambitious blend of romance, comedy, action, and crime thriller; its impressive production value; and the memorable performers who steal some of its best scenes. We also examine its sprawling story, relationship dynamics, pacing, and the delightfully chaotic moments when logic leaves the building.
Does this unusual independent film pull off its romantic-thriller premise? And should you buy it, rent it, or wait until it’s free? Check out the full review to find out!
Disclosure: This review was commissioned by the filmmakers. Payment guarantees an honest review, not positive coverage, a predetermined rating, or editorial approval.
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Show Links:
Rent on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Lonely-Crowd-David-St-Clair/dp/B0GFSDYSF1
Stream on Tubi: https://tubitv.com/movies/100059546/the-lonely-crowd 
Learn More About The Lonely Crowd: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt35508372/ 
Get an Indie Film Review: https://www.indiefilmpodcast.com/submit
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Get More Indie Film Podcast:
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Newsletter: https://indie-film-podcast.kit.com/68f74bc072 
Get Featured on the Pod: https://www.indiefilmpodcast.com/submit