Kermode & Mayo’s Take Take 2 taster: why not join us on Patreon?
Feb 11, 2026
A sneak preview of the bonus Take 2 content available on Patreon. Conversation revisits unfinished topics and a charity pledge discussion. Heated debate about the moral implications of a Melania film and cultural differences in audience reactions. Film talk ranges from scary versus horrific to performance praise and the narrative purpose of controversial scenes.
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Moral Discomfort Watching Politically Charged Film
- Mark Kermode describes feeling morally compromised and distressed while watching Melania's film, finding it harder to watch than extreme horror films.
- He argues the politics are inseparable from the film so a neutral review isn't possible in this case.
Cultural References Travel Unevenly
- Cultural references mean different things across countries, so imagery that signals Jimmy Savile in the UK can read differently to American audiences.
- Filmmakers can't fully control how other cultures reinterpret stylistic choices, especially where those references lack recognition.
