Nerds Against Normality

We review Wake Up Dead Man, Netflix’s latest entry in the Knives Out franchise, breaking down the mystery, performances, twists, and whether Benoit Blanc still has the magic.
We dig into the locked-room church murder, debate the runtime, unpack the cast, and argue over how this stacks up against Knives Out and Glass Onion. Is this a worthy sequel — or the first real misstep for the franchise?
Before the murder kicks off, things get chaotic with Our One Thing: indie film recommendations, retro gaming nostalgia, and a full spoiler-filled debate on Stranger Things Season 5 — including the ending, Will’s arc, and whether it actually worked.
Then it’s back to murder as we lock in killer predictions, argue over motives and red herrings, and unleash our deranged game of the week: Bible or Bt?** — featuring ridiculous religious laws, fake commandments, and one brutally personal bonus round aimed directly at Ben.
If you love Knives Out, Netflix movies, murder mysteries, and chaotic comedy podcasts where no one is safe (especially Ben), this episode is very much for you.
New episodes every Wednesday. Follow Nerds Against Normality for movie, TV, and video game reviews — plus pop-culture debates that spiral wildly out of control.

We review The Adventures of Tintin: The Secret of the Unicorn, Steven Spielberg’s motion-capture adventure, and ask whether this underrated blockbuster deserves far more love than it ever got.
We break down the film’s action set-pieces, its strange relationship with Belgium, the questionable accents, and why Tintin himself might be the most suspiciously perfect protagonist ever created.
Ben enters his full Tintin defender era, Stacey is openly baffled by everything from the plot to the geography, and Harry spends most of the episode questioning whether Belgium is real, why everyone sounds Cockney, and how Tintin can apparently do everything without a single flaw.
Along the way, we also compare Tintin to Indiana Jones, Uncharted, and modern adventure films, debate motion capture and the uncanny valley, unpack the film’s budget and box office, and ask why a sequel never happened.
Things finally derail completely with our trivia game “Belgium or Bollocks”, before we end the episode arguing about accents until the podcast collapses under its own weight.
Is Tintin a misunderstood classic?
Is it just a kids’ film pretending to be clever?
Or is it secretly flawless… like Tintin himself?
New episodes every Wednesday. Follow Nerds Against Normality for movie, TV, and video game reviews — plus pop-culture debates that spiral wildly out of control.

🎙️ Nerds Against Normality – End of Year Review
One last look back before we pretend we’re organised next year.
We’re closing out the year the only way we know how: arguing, reflecting, misremembering films, and bullying Ben.
In this special end-of-year review episode, the Nerds take a chaotic walk down memory lane, revisiting the films, games, and moments that defined our year on the podcast — from surprise hits and stone-cold classics to absolute disasters we’d quite happily never mention again (looking at you, Wild Wild West).
We break down:
The best and worst films we reviewed this year
Which movies we’d retroactively approve or bin off
Our favourite episodes and guest appearances
The running jokes that refused to die (Nosferatu, we’re sorry… sort of)
Our Games of the Year, including indie surprises and big-name disappointments
Bold (possibly stupid) predictions for next year’s films, TV, and games
And a time capsule of hot takes we’ll absolutely be judged on in 12 months
It’s honest, loud, occasionally insightful, and very much not dignified — but it is a love letter to another year of nerdy nonsense, brilliant listeners, and far too many hours spent watching things “for the pod”.
If you’re new here, this is the perfect episode to jump in.
If you’ve been with us all year — thank you. Seriously. 💙
🎧 New episodes every Wednesday
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📲 Follow us for clips, polls, and questionable opinions
Long live the nerds.
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We review Bad Santa, the infamous anti-Christmas comedy, and ask whether it’s actually funny in 2025 — or just shock humour that’s aged like milk.
We dig into Billy Bob Thornton’s nihilistic Santa, the film’s failed redemption arc, how the jokes land (or don’t), and whether Bad Santa deserves a spot in your yearly Christmas movie rotation… or a permanent ban.
Before the review, things go fully festive and immediately derail. Stacey hosts a rapid-fire Christmas quiz packed with Elf, Home Alone, Die Hard, Love Actually, The Office, Friends, and Brooklyn Nine-Nine — complete with impressions, arguments, and absolutely no respect for time limits.
From there, we spiral into cursed territory: hot takes, nostalgic reality checks, brutal honesty, and the most deranged question of the episode — “How many people are weirdly horny for Santa?”
We also tumble into bizarre global Christmas folklore, from Krampus and Iceland’s Yule Lads to the Yule Goat, Sinterklaas, La Befana, and the deeply unsettling Christmas pickle tradition.
If you like movie reviews, dark comedies, Christmas films, and chaotic friend banter that goes wildly off-topic but somehow stays on brand, this one’s for you.
New episodes every Wednesday. Follow Nerds Against Normality for movie, TV, and video game reviews — plus pop-culture debates that spiral wildly out of control.

We review Champagne Problems, Netflix’s glossy festive rom-com, and ask the big Christmas question: is this the ultimate comfort film — or just a Hallmark movie with better lighting and worse decisions?
Join Harry, Stacey, and Ben as we wade through Christmas in France, bookshop meet-cutes, vineyard drama, and enough rom-com clichés to fill an entire château.
Along the way, things derail fast. We somehow detour into Stranger Things Season 5, Welcome to Derry, and Harry having a full existential meltdown after being forced to play The Sims 3 (yes, the fridge caught fire).
We also debut our brand-new game “Cliché or Cabernet”, which goes exactly as responsibly as you’d expect — right up until Audacity rage-quits mid-episode and we limp over the finish line with verdict voice notes and festive chaos.
If you like Christmas movies, Netflix rom-coms, comfort-watch debates, and chaotic friend banter that spirals wildly off course, this episode’s for you.
New episodes every Wednesday. Follow Nerds Against Normality for movie, TV, and video game reviews — plus pop-culture chaos we absolutely refuse to keep tidy.

🎮 BONUS EPISODE: Stacey vs Ben – Game Awards 2025 Predictions 🎮
 
It’s bonus episode time on Nerds Against Normality, and we’ve turned the 2025 Game Awards into a full-blown rivalry.
 
Stacey and Ben locked in their Game Awards predictions weeks in advance — no changes, no do-overs… and probably no AI assistance (although that remains up for debate 🤖). With the winners now revealed, it’s time to find out who actually knows their games — and who’s about to face a forfeit.
 
Before settling the score, we break down the biggest talking points from the night. Which trailers lived up to the hype, which reveals genuinely surprised us, and which long-rumoured games still didn’t show up. We also talk about the projects we were hoping to see, and what’s got us most excited going forward.
 
Will Expedition 33 clean up this year?
Did Silksong have a real shot at the spotlight?
Did Nintendo walk away with any major wins?
Why did Hideo Kojima walk out in a huff?
 
Expect Game Awards reactions, trailer breakdowns, bold predictions, friendly trash talk, and the looming threat of punishment.
Press play and decide for yourself… was it Stacey vs Ben — or Stacey vs The Machine?
 
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We review Clueless, the endlessly quotable 90s teen classic, exploring why it became a cult favourite — and the surprisingly dark subtext people still argue about today.
We unpack whether Clueless really is a modern adaptation of Emma, debate whether Cher Horowitz is a misunderstood hero or low-key high-school villain, and look at why the film’s fashion, quotes, and cultural impact refuse to die.
We also dig into the behind-the-scenes trivia, cast glow-ups, and the things fans still get wrong — before settling the eternal debate: Clueless vs Mean Girls vs Legally Blonde. Who actually rules the teen-comedy throne?
Before the review, we catch up on what we’ve been watching and playing: early impressions of Ghost of Yōtei on PS5, Stacey dives into Squid Game: The Challenge Season 2, and Ben tackles Netflix’s Devil May Cry anime and whether it does Dante justice.
Whether you’re here for the nostalgia, the fashion, the cast throwbacks, or just to hear us argue about whether Cher is secretly the villain, this is the Clueless review for you.
New episodes every Wednesday. Follow Nerds Against Normality for movie, TV, and video game reviews — plus pop-culture debates that spiral wildly out of control.

In this week’s episode of Nerds Against Normality, we sit down with Marlene Sharp — former Sega of America producer of Sonic Boom Season 2, and a key contributor to the beloved Sonic Mania.
 
Marlene takes us through her incredible career journey across animation, gaming, and entertainment, while sharing her deep love for Barbie, storytelling, and fandom culture. We also explore her meaningful work supporting the neurodivergent community, where she champions representation, accessibility, and inclusive creative spaces.
 
If you’re passionate about Sega, Sonic, gaming history, animation, industry insights, or uplifting creative journeys, this is an unmissable episode.
 
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We review Frankenstein, Guillermo del Toro’s long-awaited adaptation, exploring its gothic atmosphere, emotional weight, and why this might be the most personal monster story he’s ever told.
With a stacked cast including Oscar Isaac, Mia Goth, Christoph Waltz and David Bradley, we break down the performances, del Toro’s obsession with tragic monsters, and how this version compares to earlier Frankenstein adaptations.
Before we unleash the monster, we kick things off with a proper catch-up: Stacey gives her verdict on Alice in Borderland Season 3, Harry finishes Attack on Titan and shares the emotional damage, and Ben somehow derails everything with an early-90s documentary in classic Ben fashion.
Then it’s back to the main event as we dig into del Toro’s directing style, the film’s themes of creation and suffering, and whether Frankenstein cements itself as a modern gothic classic.
If you love movies, monster lore, Guillermo del Toro’s weird brilliance, or just enjoy hearing us roast each other while talking cinema, this episode is very much for you.
New episodes every Wednesday. Follow Nerds Against Normality for movie, TV, and video game reviews — plus pop-culture debates that spiral wildly out of control.

This week on Nerds Against Normality, we’re doing something completely different!
Stacey takes the host’s chair and puts Harry and Ben through a chaotic head-to-head quiz featuring playground insults, finish-the-quote challenges, wild impressions, and plenty more unexpected rounds.
 
Play along at home, shout out the answers, and see if you can beat the lads—because the loser faces a brutal forfeit… and Stacey made sure it’s a good one.
 
A fun, competitive break from our usual movie and gaming deep dives—get ready for maximum chaos, friendly fire, and some of our funniest moments yet.
 
New episodes every Wednesday. 🎧✨
 
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