James and Andy are back with another look at the latest releases on streamers and in cinemas for February. This episode’s handy timecodes 00:19 - Introduction 02:33 - Shudder, with Dain Said's Blood Flower 06:53 - Netflix, including Badland Hunters, Home for Rent, The Last Wife, Past Lives, The Bridge Curse – Ritual 26:08 - Amazon Prime, including Expats, Zu Warriors, The Fallen Bridge 36:57 - Cinema picks, including The Moon Thieves, Perfect Days, Evil Does Not Exist 47:46 - Outro ..read more

James and Andy ring in the New Year with another look at the latest releases on streamers and in cinemas for this month. This episode’s handy timecodes 00:33 - Introduction 01:41 - Special announcement: Focus Hong Kong's Chinese New Year screenings 06:34 - Amazon Prime, including The Long Walk, Chasing the Dragon, Sakra, The Tiger, and Derailed 27:46 - Netflix, including Bad Lands, Badland Hunters, The Abandoned, A Very Good Girl, and The Brothers Sun 41:56 - iPlayer, Decision to Leave 48:46 - Cinema picks, including In Broad Daylight, Ping Pong, and The Scent of ..read more

James and Andy curate a selection of new and recent releases from streaming platforms, cinema and more.  This episode’s handy timecodes 00:19 - Introduction 02:29 - Streaming picks... 03:43 - Netflix, including Sweet Home Season 2, Believer 2 and Hard Days 16:27 - Amazon Prime, including Ashiap Man, The Family, Kwaidan and Third Window 24:08 - Cinema picks, including Godzilla Minus One, Yoshiki: Under The Sky and Raging Grace  21:52 - Outro ..read more

In the first of a new format, James and Andy curate a selection of new and recent releases for streaming platforms, cinema and festivals. Plus Andy catches up with Geran and Walid director Areel Abu Bakar in trendy Hackney Wick.  This episode’s handy timecodes 00:00:19 - Introduction 00:02:36 - But first, what easternKicks Picks IS, and what it ISN'T 00:06:24 - Streaming picks, including Ballerina, Yellow Door 90’s Lo-Fi Film Club and In my Mother’s Skin. 00:39:44 - Cinema picks, including Back Home, Past lives and Where the Wind Blows. 00:46:49 - Areel Abu Bakar interview 01:03 ..read more

James and Andy look back on Ann Hui's unsung ghost comedy Visible Secret, newly released by Radiance Films and screening in London, as well as more Hong Kong horror in the form of new cinema release Back Home.  This episode’s handy timecodes 00:35 - Introduction 01:38 - Visible Secret introduction 06:40 - Great talent in front and behind the camera 14:09 - The plot 16:57 - Lost in the crowd - why was it overlooked? 36:20 - Back Home 44:51 - Outro ..read more

This episode Colette Balmain joins James and Andy to chat about Tokyo Melody, a 1985 documentary that recently resurfaced at Japan Cuts 2023 about Ryuichi Sakamoto, and to chat about the great musician, innovator and composer's legacy. Yonah Sichrovsky speaks to the film’s director Elizabeth Lennard. Meanwhile, Frank Djeng, king of audio commentaries, shares his thoughts on Sakamoto. Plus we have the return of the easternKicks picks! All in this bumper-packed show! This episode’s handy timecodes 00:00:32 - Introduction 00:02:09 - We discuss Tokyo Melody 00:16:30 - Yonah chats to Elizabeth ..read more

This episode James and Andy introduce the lineup for two summer events for new-ish UK festival Focus Hong Kong, curated by some rather familiar names. This episode’s handy timecodes 00:32 - Introduction 01:42 - What is Focus Hong Kong? The full disclosure... 04:55 - Memories to Choke On, Drinks to Wash Them Down 11:16 - Made in Hong Kong 15:58 - Where the Wind Blows 21:44 - A Guilty Conscience 24:43 - Let it Ghost 27:53 - Nomad (Leslie Cheung) 36:26 - Outro You can see the full details for Focus Hong Kong on the official website: focushongkong.uk ..read more

Andy chats to Filipino filmmaker Mikhail Red while at Udine Far East Film Festival, while James and Andy take a trip through highlights of his career so far and the latest hit starring Nadine Lustre, DELETER. This episode’s handy timecodes 00:33 - Introduction 02:13 - Career highlights 13:28 - Deleter 26:58 - Andy chats with Mikhail Red 54:27 - Outro Deleter had its International Festival Premiere at 25th Far East Film Festival 2023. You can find the EXCLUSIVE shots from Red's next film Friendly Fire here.    ..read more

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 - Introduction 00:02:09 - Highlights from Mark Dacascos's career 00:07:00 - Crying Freeman - Christophe Gans and Dacascos's first collab 00:12:37 - Brotherhood of the Wolf 00:47:46 - Yonah chats to Mark Dacascos 01:05:10 - Outro Brotherhood of the Wolf is released on UHD, Blu-Ray an ..read more

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 - Introduction 02:53 - The new restoration 11:24 - Background to the production and cast 15:55 - The "plot"!!! 18:10 - The missing floor mystery 19:39 - Snake carnage 22:28 - Context and style 32:01 - The unavoidable bad side 44:06 - Outro Calamity of Snak ..read more