Transcript
Speaker: Hello, hello. Hello. I was just saying pre -recording that I am in the process of cat sitting. My darling boy Tigger, my parents' cat, he...
Speaker: as being particularly lonely because I've been away at work. So I'm downstairs in a room that might be slightly more loud, but it means that I can give him some attention. To be fair, he'll probably just sleep through the whole recording, but like, I don't know. He's so cute though. He probably screams though, like he doesn't meow, he has such a like screechy meow. Oh. And also because we don't, we shut all the doors because he is a bit of a pisser. He also has the name Leaky Cauldron.
Speaker: Yeah so we shut all the doors upstairs so like he can't wake me up and he doesn't like scratch on the door or anything but the second I open it in the morning it's like where have you been?
Speaker: We're just having a big sleep. He's so adorable. He has all killed us. So, I have a ghost mug. I got it when I was a uni. Since moving back, I have not seen it. And recently, that mug has been haunting my dreams because I've been like, where is it? I'm sure I packed it and bought it back, but it's not with all the other mugs. And then the other day I finally found it.
Speaker: Oh! It goes on the shelf above all the mugs behind something else. My ghostly mug is hiding. So a travelling mug? A prodigal mug? Yes. Did you kill the fattest cow to have a feast now the mug has returned? No. Bible stories? Any last I knew? Prodigal sub?
Speaker: Yeah, I remember bits. I just, yeah, like I have such a weird gauge of how much is known and how much is not known because obviously, like I grew up very much in the church. So I'm like, oh, yes, everyone knows the story of like tropical sun. That is probably one of the more well known ones. Yeah. No, I remember I know hearing. I know it's in there somewhere because I get a nice buzz.
Speaker: And nothing else is happening today. This is a day where Mark and Kitty are recording their podcast and no other news is occurring. Yeah, this is just a pod day. Yeah, to be fair, there are some people who probably don't, people won't know what day we're recording on. In fact, this is the only time that it has been dated now. Yeah. Dated as a day where absolutely nothing happened. Yeah, nothing else has gone on today. This is the only important thing.
Speaker: Oh, definitely is here any important thing. Yeah. Nothing else important. And this week I shall try not to spill my tea. You can try.
Speaker: Well yeah, if you do spill it at arm's length, not on you. Yeah. Just not on me this time. Because that was a bit of a wet situation. I realised that I don't think I've ever actually had a full cup of tea because I always spill it. I don't know how it worked in a pub because I can not carry liquids. No, you can't. I honestly like... When you carry and you normally spill some from the top, there's a little dribbling.
Speaker: I like this is the thing like if I'm getting someone a drink I will always have to drink a little bit not because I'm like stealing from film or anything just because it's like hey dude that's the only way you're getting any of it to you we're getting new carpets put in where I live and they're gonna be brown and my first thought was like you know how did I work in a pub I probably just stayed behind the bar and did never have to carry out
Speaker: yeah because if you're just pulling them then you just put them on the counter after yeah yeah everyone had half points because by the time it got to them it's so funny i'm loving your tattoo it's so cute your way it's so cute and i'm like i'm finally oh my gosh i don't think people talk enough about where everyone's like oh my gosh you get a tattoo and you absolutely love it i got it and i was like made a terrible mistake i literally was like i don't
Speaker: want this? What am I gonna do? And then I basically just sat with myself and was like, the thing is, you have it. So get over it, essentially. It's done now, you can't undo it. Yeah, I would. Do you want to fork out for laser removal already? It's on your body.
Speaker: And now I absolutely love it. I think what it was is... I'm glad you love it now. I absolutely love it now. Like, I think what it was is like, while it was peeling and I had to have the plastic over it, it just didn't feel like my leg. Yeah. And then when it's doing that, then it doesn't also look as how it actually looks. Yeah. It just felt like really foreign. But now I'm like, hell yeah. And like, the reason I was slightly late to come down to record was like,
Speaker: i was putting my outfit on and i was fully doing that thing where you know when you're having a really good day like appearance wise you're enjoying your meet suit i was just there like look at look at you in that skirt in that jumper with that tattoo look at you it is a cute outfit i'm very cute you are very cute i never know what's tmi and what's just i but i never know either period stuff boots has now like 10 pound period underwear which like
Speaker: And, oh my gosh, the lace is really cute. Like it's kind of geometric lace. Oh, because normally periods under where I've seen in shops here, they're normally just like plain and there's nothing to them. It's like plain, but then it's got like that band of lace around the like ends kind of thing. And it's very small, but it's very kind of like not flowery. And like I'm someone who prefers not flowery lace because I don't really, I'm not flowery. And like that's always the lace that you can get.
Speaker: And it's so comfy. And also they have like a bunch of, I don't know if the brand's called Flow, but it's like, like, FLO. Yeah, I know that brand. And it's like bamboo. Yeah, yeah. And it also like, donates loads of money to like, yeah, I saw it and like, because I'm, I'm cat -sitting and I
Speaker: I didn't bring anything I needed with me. I was like, right. And they do that thing where it's really cool. Boxes for like, you know, six regular, four heavy. Yeah, they have in one. And it's nowhere else really that I've seen does that. And I love them.
Speaker: That's so useful because the amount of times you're like, well, I know I'm going to need two heavies and I'm going to need four regulars, but I'll have to buy like 16 of each. Yeah, I just thought that was really cool. And the pants are really comfortable and they're only a tenner because I love wukka to the high heavens, but it's a bit spenny. And it's probably because they're being moral and good and paying people.
Speaker: But money. Let's try to check the amount of boots then. Because also like it's just so nice to be able to buy it in person because like when you buy things online and then it's like... Yeah you never really know. Yeah and so still if it's in person I was like well hello. You're coming with me. And I love period pants because they're just like pants. Yeah it's just you're wearing pants. They're amazing.
Speaker: Big shout out to that. Oh, that's what I was going to tell you as well. You know the observatory here? No. The old observatory around the marina. I don't actually know. Continue anyway. Well, it's been as long as I've been closed. It was like the old observatory, so it's no longer used. But they've recently opened a cafe there. And I think you're very much another.
Speaker: I would. Or maybe that's why I don't know it because it's been closed. Yeah.
Speaker: Ooh, next time I'm down. Yes. Is it like the theming of it or? It's right on the seafront, beautiful views. It's got plants everywhere. It has like kayak hanging from the ceiling and it has like art around and like weird, like a teddy bear lamp thing. And it's, yeah, it's so cool. I'm down. And they have this old furnace in there.
Speaker: And you actually have to walk, to get into it, you walk through the original door, an entryway for the actual observatory. Ooh, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, let's go, let's go. Right now. Oh, I love Swansea. It's beautiful. So how did you find, finding this film? Well, the figures. It's on, it's on Amazon Prime, and it's on ITX Prime. Yeah, it's on all the primes.
Speaker: And I definitely went through legal sources to find it. I have an Amazon Prime and an ITX Prime, obviously. No, the thing is, the thing is actually about finding this film. I wanted to hook it up to my TV because I wanted to watch it big. And the only laptop that I have... So my laptop situation currently is a bit of a situation. I remember you briefly saying...
Speaker: So I've got a Chromebook, which is what I'm recording on. And if anyone listening is going to buy a Chromebook, don't fucking do it. They're pointless. You can't do anything on a Chromebook. I used to have a Chromebook. It was good for Google Docs. And that's it. That's literally it. It's really annoying. But my laptop that I got the Chromebook to replace, because I was like, oh, it's broken. I'll just replace it.
Speaker: Technically only the screen is broken, so I can hook it up to things and play it through different screens. So...
Speaker: the amount of times I've played Sims with it hooked up to the TV. I'm just lying on the floor looking at the TV playing Sims. That sounds really good though. If you're going to play Sims, have that on the big screen. That sounds good. It's a good time. But the thing is, because the screen isn't just black broken, it's really
Speaker: of colours and stuff which is really not great with this film because there are moments with this film where it's like colors and that. I was watching it like immersive.
Speaker: because my laptop's all like and i'm like and again because i'm like cat -sitting i'm the only one here i'm here like jigger this is not a good idea so you actually got spooked oh i got so spooked do you want to see the bit in my notes where i got spooked
Speaker: Where is it? And I was just, I literally, I had to
Speaker: not pause the film because again like the way the laptop was set up like once it was going it was going I could not pause it which is again scary because it felt very like you didn't have that control yeah but I had to like give Tigger he gets like a daily like treat I had to give him his treat because he was sat so far away from me and I was like baby I'm scared please come sit with me
Speaker: so I had to break out of a treat just to like bring him over and I was just like having a little like the film was still going and I was just having a little like this is a this is a Tigger treat break okay like over like no scary business on the screen I'm having a moment with Tigger and then he sat with me for the rest of the film I was like I don't mind the fact I had to bribe you okay I've given you nothing but love and affection like
Speaker: I was still living at home when my parents got him and immediately after getting him, they went travelling. So it was just the two of us. So I like to feel like we... He bonded. Yeah, because especially he was like, again, what is TMI? What is just I? He got so constipated when he first moved in. Bless you, because it's a new environment. Oh my goodness.
Speaker: so stressful and and it was like during a heat wave but we couldn't have any windows open because we were told he was a bit of a flight risk so so we were literally just like sweating in this house him constipated but with the foulest smelling thoughts ever and i'm just there like Tigger we're gonna get through this like trauma but yeah
Speaker: but like as if we weren't through all of that and he doesn't sit with me while I'm scared. I literally took him once I was so scared because he hadn't done a poo in four days I was really worried about him so I took him to the vet and literally as I got through the door as I got through the door with him I looked in the carrier and it
Speaker: done a shit in the carrier. And I was like, Tigger, what the fuck? And then obviously I had to like, I still was like, Hey, can you give him like a full one. So yeah, like I, I want my money's worth and I literally had to pay 98 pounds. The most expensive shit of this boy's life. And look at him, he's so like, smoked, he's curled up like, yep. And I do it again. Try me.
Speaker: try me but yeah i found it already how about you do you have it like on dvd or did you have to go hunting i think i did have it on dvd but i'm not sure where so i did do a little hunt
Speaker: Yeah, yeah. It's the thing that like I keep seeing and of course we don't partake in this at all and we always watch your legal streams. I keep seeing the comics that are like once Netflix and stuff came in it's like oh we don't even need to like
Speaker: do things pirate like pirate films and that because it's so easy to stream and we're perfectly fine. And then now that there's so many different streaming sites and it's and it's like all of these sites, there's still a lot of stuff that's not on them. And so it's like, okay, there was one that's like time to brush off your Jolly Roger.
Speaker: Again, of course, we don't do that. So yes, this film was called Chernobyl Liaries. It was released in 2012. I think last episode I said that it was eight tourists, but it's six tourists and one guide, so it's seven. Yes. Just wants to clear that up. No angry letters. Yeah, I have corrected the mistake. Just follows a group of these
Speaker: six tourists, four of them already know each other, two of them are new to the group. They've hired this tour guide, Yuri, because they want to go and experience Chernobyl, they want to go there, but the closest city or town they can get to is Pripyat, because of the radiation levels. And whilst they're exploring the city, the tourists find out that they're not alone.
Speaker: Oh no. Whatever's going to happen next. And then spookiness ensues. I know we're going to save this for the context of it, but how much did you know about Chernobyl before?
Speaker: Okay. Like, how much Chernobyl knowledge is in your hard drive? I knew a lot about Chernobyl. Especially, it was taught in school, and especially when I did my forensics A -levels, then we did a whole module thing.
Speaker: on Chernobyl, the whole disaster and what went down, like with the systems and the whole who was to blame type of thing. So I think yeah, I had a pretty big knowledge. What about you? Yeah, I knew quite a bit about it as well, because I feel like I remember when we did in PSHE, we were doing modules on like renewable energy and what's the best kind of renewable energy route
Speaker: or like not like energy in general. And whenever you learn about nuclear power, you have to learn about like
Speaker: the Chernobyl disaster it is. So, and then I think it is just one of those things that is so interesting. I did a bit of my own research because it is, it's this thing that like the conclusion of everyone in class, because it's the conclusion that they kind of make you have is like, nuclear energy is really good in theory, but in practice you get Chernobles, so we shouldn't do it. So I think, I think like, given that like, it's such a spoon fed conclusion, I think that's why I was like,
Speaker: Let me do some of my own research. Yeah, form your own opinions. Yeah, yeah, yeah. But again, we can like, sable that for the context.
Speaker: let's talk film okay so it starts off this bit um i forgot that it started off with that flashing bit like at the start i forgot so when i was watching it i was like i thought what's happening to my laptop because i was watching it on my laptop but then i realized oh yeah no that's that that was how it starts yeah yeah i again because my laptop is so fucked up i was like
Speaker: Yeah, and then it goes straight into the vlog style. So it's like you see them. Yeah, it's like they're filming like the travel montage. Yeah. And they're like, Oh, the Tower of London. Oh, it's Tower Bridge. And like, look at us. Yeah, that's the thing. It's one of them say, Hi, Paul, we're at the Tower of London. But behind them is not the Tower of London. It's the Tower Bridge. Yes, they're not actually at the Tower of London.
Speaker: But I think there's another bit where they do mention like, oh, be careful what you say, they'll look you up in the Tower of London. And I think it is a Tower of London. I mean, the thing with London is it is actually remarkably small. Yeah, yeah, it is. It is like very much like, you know, you're at the London Eye, you look over the bridge, you look over the river and it's like, oh, that's Parliament. Yeah. And, you know, so I think they were by, but like, again,
Speaker: a bit where they're like, oh, it's the Tower of London. No, no, Tower Bridge. We have many towers.
Speaker: Oh, but it was so, it was so sweet. I feel like it made me really want to travel with that little montage because they're all like, look where we are, look where we are. And you get to see the characters and you get to feel for them. You're like, oh yeah, they seem cool. They're like, yeah. Yeah, yeah, yeah. We don't want anything to happen to them. Well, yeah, you get introduced to for free. Yes, the three, Chris, Natalie, who are our partners, and then their friend, Amanda.
Speaker: Amanda. I was so bad with names throughout the whole of it. So was I. I felt they could have, with names, they could introduce them better. Yeah. Because you, you kind of don't really catch their names. No, to be fair though, I think I would much rather, because I think they did a good job in like showing us who they were as people. And I feel like if it was a toss up between the two, I'd much rather that. Because I don't really need to know their name.
Speaker: The only time I really need to know their name is for like this. So I could not be like brunette lady or blonde lady with the long hair, not blonde lady with the short hair. But yeah, so it's only Chris, Amanda and Natalie at this point. They're Americans traveling Europe and they're going to meet Chris's brother Paul in Kiev because that's why he's currently living.
Speaker: and he's his his older brother but he's also his like Chris is the younger one but he's also the much more responsible one he's the one who's more in charge more reasonable more I fucking hate Paul oh I was gonna say well done you found a film I like oh I'm so glad as well but it scared you yeah no the thing is though
Speaker: I'm like, I'm usually really bad at not letting myself be scared. Like I usually look up like I look up all the things. And I like I even you know, on like Netflix and stuff where you can hover to see the screen like, yeah, like I do that so much. And I don't allow myself to be scared. Like I usually have all the lights on and everything.
Speaker: But I'm trying to actually be scared because it's much more fun because... It's an experience. Yeah, I was thinking when I started it, I was like, okay, if I get scared, what's the worst that's going to happen? I don't really sleep. Well, cool, I'll just listen to podcasts or listen to music. Being scared is not bad. So I literally, I was sat on the floor, had the film on,
Speaker: I didn't even pull my curtains because the moon was really bright was why I didn't but then like by the end I was like everyone can see in there's gonna be like spooky radiation zombies coming to get me um but yeah like I really wanted to lead in and get scared and it really worked and it was very fun I'm glad you enjoyed the experience
Speaker: Yeah, it would have been better if ticker was slightly more supportive, but you can't have it alone.
Speaker: But do you know who I hate? Paul. Yeah, I hate him. He makes this comment as well. And there's like, they get to Kiev, they get to, and it's like just before they go, and they're like in town, I think they're at Paul's apartment. And I think it's Chris. He says, oh yeah, Natalie's recently single. And Paul's like, oh, well, I'll be her rebound. Yeah, yeah. He's all. Take a chill. They're kind of like,
Speaker: Oh, you know, I think he's asking how it's been so far. And I think Chris is like, oh, you know, Natalie had to really convince Amanda to come, which is that heartbreaking thing I love when films do when it's like, this person nearly didn't come, you're gonna see how much they're gonna regret changing that mind.
Speaker: But yeah, she nearly didn't come. She was absolutely heartbroken and Natalie really convinced her that it would be good. And that's when Paul's like, oh, what's that? And he's all like... She needs a rebound? Yeah, it's the best thing for heartbreak, to have a rebound with a European man. I'm like, look, you're not a European man. You're an American man.
Speaker: who's just staying in Europe. Yeah, there's a big difference. And also... You're a bit of an asshole. European men are that. Well, yeah, that too. But it's just like, it's like, and it's such a like, the way that he phrases it is so because she's emotionally vulnerable. He's all like... Oh, I'll take advantage of that then. I'll use that to my advantage. Yeah, she'll be easy prey kind of thing. It's like, I hate...
Speaker: And then he's like, oh, yeah, yeah, yeah, don't worry, fine, fine, I won't. And then they go on a night out and then the second they're on the night out, he's all like, ooh, hey. Because she's wobbling on the cobblestones, because obviously they're like in heels. Yeah, cobblestones and heels do not go well together.
Speaker: Let me tell you a wine spree. And so it's like, oh, no, no, don't worry. I won't go for her. And then the second day, yeah, she's like wobbling on the cobblestones. He's like, oh, let me help you there. It's like, fuck off. You're not helping her. Fuck off. And then what I liked as well was Chris the next morning at the Airbnb when they're having the breakfast. Oh, before the night out though.
Speaker: Chris says he's going to propose to Natalie in Moscow. But then Paul was like, hey, I found a guy we can go to Pripyat instead. No, they were going to go to Moscow the next day, but I think they were going to have one day in Kiev, I think. And then he's like, instead of being in Kiev, let's go to Pripyat.
Speaker: And then tomorrow, you can still do Moscow, you can do your plan, but just instead of exploring Kiev, let's explore Privyat instead. But yeah, he's all like, I'm gonna propose. And there's this moment where like, again, I'm not saying you're a dickhead if you don't believe in marriage, but the way that he gets to ring out and pulls like, are you serious? It's like,
Speaker: Yeah man, some people find love and they want to celebrate that through marriage. You don't have to. You don't have to be a cunt about it.
Speaker: Yeah. And then, yeah, and then the next day they're hungover. And it's the three of them at the breakfast is Chris, Natalie and Amanda. And Chris is basically apologizing for Paul's behaviour the night before and make to Natalie and to Amanda. And is just basically like, are you okay? And he's apologizing on Paul's behalf.
Speaker: And you can see that this is something that he's very used to. This is not easy because I'm doing this. And lastly, he's like, it's okay, I can handle this. As if she's just like, I can just put up with it. Don't worry. Yeah. Does she say something like, it's not for love or something? Because she's kind of like, you know, well, I'm only in Kiev for this long. Like, I can, I can suck it up for now. But he is just kind of like, you know, like, I'm here. Ever gets too much. We love Chris. He's so sweet. He is very sweet.
Speaker: And they're all hungover and they're trying to get food and pools are meant to be there so that they can know what the food is. Because it's obviously all in Ukrainian. And I can't read what the menu is and I think Nasti's like, I just want something greasy.
Speaker: He's like, you need the hang of a special babe. And then Paul runs in. That's what I was going to say. Yeah. And then Paul runs in and he's like, let's go to Pripyat. He's like, I found this guy last night when we were out in the town. Let's go. And it's like, he doesn't even know this person. No.
Speaker: The thing is, here's my question. Would you do it? Would you go to Pripyat? Because I'm yes. Yeah, I say yes, but not in the way they did it. No. That's the thing. One, not when you're hungover. Two, you research your tour guides. You want to make sure you're getting the best tour guide, the best tour, the safest, find out safety things for it.
Speaker: Like the first thing that I would do is I'd research like how long you can stay. Yeah. And I think it's about two hours. Like how much the radiation level. It's 15 days. It's 15 days. No, because this is the thing about, cause I do know a lot about Propea. And again, we can save this for context if you want, but there are people who live in. Oh yeah. It is a habitable, but I think if you actually go into like the Chernobyl nuclear site itself, it's two hours. Yeah.
Speaker: Chernobyl, two hours, Pripyat is 15 days. Basically, the people who do live and work there, because there are hotels there and stuff, you have 15 days on, 15 days off, and they check your radiation levels each time. And it's like, because iodine, iodine, I can't remember how you pronounce it, it's which you're supposed to take for radiation.
Speaker: Yeah, yeah. And it's like you've got to look into all of this to be safe. That's the thing. And also like pack your bag properly because they pretty much just go with their backpacks and it's like... They don't take food. They don't take water. Like, what are you doing? And that's again where you need to research because I'd want to know if my guide is expecting us to hike. If we're just going to be going through cities. What type of clothing would we need to wear? Yeah.
Speaker: you don't and especially not hungover like even if everything else because you do want to like be able to take it in properly as well if you yeah you're barely alive when you have no but yeah i definitely would do it i just wouldn't the way they did no the thing is i i possibly would somewhat like yeah well
Speaker: I'll point out their mistakes as we go. But I just feel like even even like if I didn't really do that much research, and I just was talking to Yuri, you just have to like, I'd ask him these questions. But they don't. Okay, so you do you do this professionally, let me know the situation.
Speaker: I want to, I want to have a conversation and I want to gauge how much you do know and what your rules are. Because if you're doing this, you need to have rules. You can't really be like, Oh yeah, we're going to go in. We're going to see how we do. I want, I want to talk to a guy who's like, what can we do? What can't we do? And what do we need to take? And yeah. And, and also like, okay, what first aid kits do you have? Just because like, like I'm,
Speaker: I'm legally a first age, like I've done my training. My training's expired now. So if you're looking for a zombie apocalypse. I need you.
Speaker: Yes. And if you, the listener, pick me, not her. She doesn't know what she's talking about. Yeah, I've done first aid. I've done first aid. I know what I'm doing. But yeah, you want to talk to him. You want to see like, okay, what, what, and also what you have in your truck. Yeah. I want to go into a snowing. And how safe is your truck? As we see it doesn't look the best. Nope, no, no. Well,
Speaker: Yeah, so they are not organised. No. And then they head off. Yeah, they just... Because it is just that. Yeah, it's like, okay, I found a tour guide. Let's go. They check him out. They ask him questions. He was ex -military special forces, which seems to bring some of the other people around like, okay, he knows what he's doing then. Yeah. Without actually asking, do you know what you're doing? Yeah.
Speaker: Yeah, and then that's when the two other people show up, Michael and Zoe, and they're Australian. He, no. Are they? She is from Norway. Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah. And he calls her his Viking princess, his Viking something. Yeah, I mean, she's Norwegian, and he's, yeah, I think he's Australian. I didn't really get where he was, but then like halfway through with him, I was like, oh, that's a bit of the accent, yeah.
Speaker: He's a bit down on them. But yeah, it's when they're meeting Yuri, outside of his building agency, there is, on the street behind them, there is a truck that says Telecom Serbia, which is this massive, it's the largest telecommunications company in Serbia, and they're in Ukraine. That truck is not supposed to be there. So is that like, they filmed in Serbia?
Speaker: I think the filming was shot partially on location, and so they filmed, I think, possibly in Serbia. I know they filmed some shots in Ukraine, and they filmed some in Hungary, so it's a bit of a... Yeah, that van behind them was not supposed to be that. No, no, no.
Speaker: Yeah and then they set off and I like that Yuri, it's the correct science because we know there's like oh yeah it was a failed safety procedure thing because they were testing something out.
Speaker: And I just love the idea of like nature reclamation. Yes, okay. So it does being mentioned a few times with the nature, like as soon as they're going in, they're like, I think you said nature has reclaimed its rightful home.
Speaker: And then one of the other characters later on says, it's like nature really has taken over. And I really like how you've done that because nature has taken over, but it's also been very beneficial the way that nature has taken over, which I shall remind me to come back to that in context. Yeah. No, but then they drive up to the checkpoint and someone in the car, someone in the car says, why would there be a checkpoint at an abandoned town?
Speaker: like it's it's an exclusion zone it's not like they just left the town and it's willy -nilly like they have checked where the radiation kind of but just the fact that they were like why is there like why is there a checkpoint and abandoned town it's like you do know what happened because it's got really yeah there's it's like it's obviously going to have a checkpoint it is
Speaker: still I think is it still illegal to go there without like signing things like it is proper you do need proper like to be like because it is dangerous for you um but I think because Yuri knows these military men then he kind of has that in with them yeah yeah and because it is like a somewhat an official tour esque it's just that they haven't signed anything
Speaker: It is somewhat alright, but it's just the fact that I was so annoyed. The thing is, I was so annoyed at these people for everything. They're so stupid. They just kept, yeah, the fact that they're like, what's this? It's like, what do you expect it to be? They turned away at the checkpoint because
Speaker: it's closed for maintenance, which means, yeah, there's people in there. So when they're in there and they hear a sound and they're like, what's that? It's like, it's closed for maintenance. There's maintenance people there. Like, you're so clean and you're not going to be alone in that. Again, they were like, what kind of maintenance would they be doing? It's like,
Speaker: Well, you have to constantly be checking how a radiation level is doing, is it going up, is it going down? Yeah, like, is it seeping out? Is there a waterway that is like diverted and is, you know, irradiating a nearby town? Like, it's not just like a theme park, it is a scientific disaster and something that has to be monitored. And constantly monitored because the effects are still changing, they're still fluctuating, it's still
Speaker: Yeah, yeah, the fact that they were like, why do you have to do it? So what's the guys? Yeah, there was a bit that kind of confused me because I was certain I mean, I'm sure I just misheard it and he said 25. But there was a moment where Yuri said that it's been 35 years since
Speaker: And I did the maths because I love maths and in 2012, it was 26 years. So I'm sure I did just miss Sarah and he said 25. I can't remember what year he said, but I know there are some factual errors throughout this film. Which is really stupid because if you're gonna say 1986, then you're gonna say 35. Unless this film is actually set in the year 2021,
Speaker: Maybe it was filmed in 2012, but actually it's set in 2021 and they didn't foresee that phones would not be flipped phones with tiny cameras. And then they're exploring. So then we kind of get in. Yeah, they turn around. He returns the van around and says, I know a secret entrance. And so he opens the barricade to drive through. But he doesn't close it behind them, which could indicate to anybody someone has come through here.
Speaker: yeah yeah i didn't notice he didn't close it you're surviving a horror movie he just and then he also makes a point says today we have to ourselves no you've just been told there's no there's like you quite clearly don't yeah and yeah and at that point where he's out and he's opening the gate we have again that kind of you can turn back now moment
Speaker: where Chris and Natalie are like, should we be doing this? Yeah, because Chris, yeah, because when they both, when they actually decided to leave, it was a vote and it was free against one. Chris was the one who didn't want to go. He was still unsure. And now that they've been turned from the checkpoint, he was still a bit, should we really be doing this?
Speaker: Yeah, he's like, guys, this is actually like illegal now. And Natalie's kind of like, are we going to end up in a Ukrainian prison because we're like doing this. But yeah, I just I like again, like in films like this, I like when
Speaker: you get that as much as it is sometimes like annoying. I like that you have those kind of like turn back now moments. Yeah. Cause it's sometimes annoying cause you're like, why aren't you turning back? But then cause they've had that like short debate being like, do we actually turn back now? Yeah. Yeah. It at least shows that they're not just people who are like, well, having a moment to pause, they may not be making the right decisions, but they're still pausing to question.
Speaker: Yeah. Yeah. And then, and then it makes it like 10 times more like heartbreaking when things do go wrong. Because you're like, oh, they could have turned back and like, you know, poor Chris wanted to. Yeah. I mean, poor Chris didn't even want to go in the first point. No, he didn't. He wants to go to Moscow. So he could propose. He just wanted to propose.
Speaker: But yeah, and then and then they go to a river. Yeah, there's like this like a lake and he's like, I want to show you something. And he turns to points like keep your eye on the water and tell me if something moves. And you're not really sure if he means that as a joke or not.
Speaker: Yeah, yeah. And he puts his hand in the water, shakes about, and pretends to be bit. And it's like, whoa. And scares the group. And then they head back to the van. And then Yuri notices something on the ground. He's like, oh, no. Come have a look at this. He moves some leaves. And it's like this dead fish. Yeah, yeah. That they then poke. And it goes, ah. Yeah, it's kind of like, ugh. Yeah, it's like, I'm not fully dead yet. Yeah, yeah. Please put me back in the water, guys.
Speaker: Yeah and they're all like oh my gosh that looks so crazy because it I guess it kind of looks like an angler fish esque like it's got the kind of like um white like yeah it's like it's got a jawline it's got a sexy tumblr man jawline um and and yeah it does kind of look a bit like fucked up and they're oh my gosh like
Speaker: Oh my gosh, that's what happens with radiation. And it's like, well, you know, again, contact and nature. But then as they're going back because Yuri Chucks.
Speaker: chucks the jerky into the water and then this bit I just love because it's you see him go back to the van he just chucks a bit of jerky in and then the camera just zooms in essentially or focuses on this one spot on the lake where the jerky's hit and caused a ripple and then you just see all these fish bodies headed straight towards her
Speaker: And it's like, it lets the viewers in on, there is something, there's something here. Yeah, yeah. It's that thing of like, you see the kind of dying fish and you're like, oh my goodness, like nothing lives in Chernobyl. But then it's like, no, no, things do live in Chernobyl. And there's the way that these fish, they all like zoom, like, you know, like piranhas do. Yeah, they are like,
Speaker: Yeah. And so there's a scene later on that involves the water. And then because these us as viewers have seen this, there's stuff living in the water. We already know like don't go in there. Don't go in there. Yeah.
Speaker: Yeah, and then they just kind of head off again. And there's, I love the montage that is here, because it's just kind of them like exploring the town, the city of Pripyat. And they go to the works as homes. And Yuri enters with Geiger counter as well. That's where we first see it. And he's just checking the radiation levels just to be on the safe side.
Speaker: And so again, he does do this for a living, he is clued in on it. But the montage is really beautiful because I feel like it really does capture the sense of the town. I don't know the song, but it's like this music and all of the sounds are muffled. So it does feel very kind of like
Speaker: it's like that thing that everyone says is the town has just been like paused yeah and it's you see like this doll at the bottom of a swing where this child because you had five minutes to leave once the morning signs went off and it's like this child didn't even on this way running out she just left so which yeah and there's like loads of things it's it's yeah like you said it's been frozen
Speaker: It's like everything is where it was. And you can see with the way chairs have been turned over and the way buildings and stuff have been moved, like things in the building have been moved, that there was a rush out. Yeah. Yeah. And it just kind of like.
Speaker: I feel like that montage is really good for showing that because yeah, again, like the way that they muffle the sounds of people and you just have like, I can't even remember what the song is like, but it's just kind of like quite like slow, but it wasn't it wasn't like super like, this is a sad song. It's just kind of yeah, it was I really like that bit of it. I feel like
Speaker: It was also quite nice to have a film where you can have that kind of like, peppy, we're tourist montage. And then like this, it showed like... The opposite side. Like this is what it looks like. This is the reality. And Yuri says about how they were like getting ready for May Day because there's a ferris wheel. Because the disaster happened like 10, 7 days before.
Speaker: April 26th. And then, yeah, so yeah, it's a few days before Mayday is when the Zas obviously amusement park didn't actually have time to open. But they take a group photo in front of the Ferris wheel. The Ferris wheel has 13 cuts on it. The actual Ferris wheel in Pripyat has 20.
Speaker: Ah, for they're like 13, it's an under cookie number. I guess also if there's less, it kind of looks a bit more somber. Yeah. I don't know. 13. Yeah, and then, and then, oh, and there's also these great wide shots, where again, it just like drives home the empty. Yeah, they do like a panoramic type.
Speaker: And then they go inside of... Yeah, they go into like one of the apartment buildings and there's a bit at the start of when they're going in and I love how there's just no sound, it's just silence to really accentuate that being like, oh yeah, everyone just had to leave. And there's a dead dog. Oh, that's in a different apartment building. That's a different one that they go into later on. No. Yeah. Well. No, no, you are right.
Speaker: I am. You are right. I was thinking of something else. You are right. My apologies. You are right. Thank you very much. Yeah, there is a, yeah, there's a dead dog at the building of the, the entrance of the building. And Yuri's like, Oh, they don't normally come this far into town. He must have been starving. And they're like, is it safe? And he's like, Oh, they only really come out at night. So yeah, it's fine. Yeah. Yeah. And he just brushes it off, steps over the dog and just carries on into the building. Pushes the door.
Speaker: I'm like, surely if you've been doing these tours, there's an apartment building that you already have an open door to, but anyway. And then they're inside this apartment and Yuri's getting really like, I really liked Yuri. He also just seemed really kind of quiet, like before he felt he seemed unsettled.
Speaker: I think it just kind of felt like, because obviously like he's a local. Yeah, he's a local. He would have felt the fallout and probably been like a child when the disaster happened. Yeah. And he's got this sad look in his eyes, especially when they go into this apartment and there's like this photo of the family on the floor. And he said they didn't have time to pack their things. They just had to leave. Yeah. Yeah.
Speaker: And then, and then like, because the guy, they see this photo cause Chris like, you know, steps on it. Cause they're just walking around and he steps on it and it is like, and I think Yuri's like, Hey, take it if you want, they're not coming back for it. And it's that thing of, you know, like it is, but then, but then he kind of says that does he say that? No, I think all the others say that. When the others say that, no, you can't touch that because of the radiation is contaminated. I think Michael must say that because then he goes to pick something up.
Speaker: and Yuri's like, don't. And he's gets really kind of like, you can't take anything. And Michael is a bit of a dickhead. He's all being like, he's like, oh, what do you mean? Like, oh, yeah, they're not coming back for it. He tries to fight him on this and Yuri's like, well, no, it doesn't matter even if they're not coming back for it. It's still contaminated. He's got this radiation and that does actually belong to someone. It's not as if it's like a prop or something.
Speaker: it's yeah this is a real thing that's happened and they're all yeah just going around la di da still being these happy tourists just being like oh isn't this exciting and and he also says about how there was like a real problem with people would go in to take things from yeah because they'd loot it because yeah straight after happens people go in they loot sell these things on the black market and and then people would get radiation sickness and so
Speaker: you know, again, him being a local, that's something that maybe he didn't have any connection to Pripyat as a town, but that's something that would have affected him. So this Australian guy being all like, oh, I'm going to take this. He's like, no. And then there's that bit of Chris and Natalie are taking a picture with
Speaker: the actual Chernobyl power plant in the background. Which, even from the tallest building in Pripyat, you cannot see because it's the trees are so high. You cannot see the reactors and the towers. Chernobyl diaries. We want some scientific. We want it to be accurate. But I mean, to be fair, I do quite, I don't mind that as a change. Yeah, I don't mind that as like an arrow. That's like a, because... Artistic licensing.
Speaker: Because I like the fact that they're there being like, he, he, he, we're in love and we're taking this picture in front of this like. Yeah, they take a photo kissing and being like, oh, yes. And then right in front of the tower and you're like, um. And then it cuts to, and Chris is like joking, like her heart's a metaphor. It's like.
Speaker: And then it cuts to Yuri and he's kind of wandering off and he's looking around and this is the moment where he looks really like sad and affected by it. And then he sees something on the floor. And then he sees like a pile of ash.
Speaker: and he like puts his hand over it so it's obviously still a little bit warm. And you can see like a steam or something rising off of it. And then he just rushes it to the side with his foot without anybody noticing. And then I think he does it, he tries to not create a mass panic amongst the group. And he just tries to be like, okay, I think we should start heading back now. Yeah, yeah. I'm like,
Speaker: Because when I was watching it, I was like, Yuri, don't be secretive. But actually, to be fair, that is probably good because you don't want to create because when the panic does set in these folks don't know. But it but I wish I wish he had been slightly more forceful instead of like, hey, we should probably go like, no, we have to start heading out. No, we should go. Because you could make up an excuse. Like they don't know anything about the task.
Speaker: So you could literally just be like, right, I've had, I started a time when we got in, we're at our radiation level, we need to leave now. And then that's like, okay, there's urgency. I wish it'd been like slightly more like, because he's just kind of like, oh, yeah, yeah, we should go, we should go. But he's slightly more forceful, because they are a bit like, oh, like, are you sure? Like we wanna, but then
Speaker: This was the first bit that I got proper spooked. I love this bit, but I just thought they heard noises in the background and then their immediate thought was something going on. But if there's maintenance workers, there will be noises. Yeah. Yeah. And Yuri's like, let me go check it out.
Speaker: and he kind of wanders off and then they're all just there and then suddenly they look down this corridor and there's just like a massive brown hole. Are they still on one of the top floors of this apartment or had they gone to the bottom at this point? Because if so that poor bear is gonna get lost.
Speaker: I'm remembering it. I think they were, they'd left that apartment. I think they'd gone down a flight, but they were still upstairs. Yeah. Yeah. Poor bear. But also this is a brown bear. Yes. It's running for its life. It's scared. Yeah. And if the animals don't normally come this far into town, what is pushing them out? This is what you got to be thinking. That's what you got to be thinking, guys. Um,
Speaker: It got me. It got me. This bit got me. And then they're like... But then the thing is, because this did also kind of annoy me, when they're like, what's this bear doing here? It's like, it's living here. Remember when you said nature's reclaimed vicinity? There's gonna be animals. Guys, they keep not realising that like,
Speaker: yeah but as well when the bear fist runs past them one of them goes what was that and you're like it's so clearly a bear yeah yeah i mean there is that moment where you first see it where i was like it's a shape and then oh it's a bear yeah but like it's a bear
Speaker: But yeah, and then the group, they, they're laughing off the fact that this bear came and they're like, Paul's like, ha ha ha, nobody else would have this story. And then Yui is still there being very serious and trying to keep the move in. But he, I think he's still trying to be like, no, because he jokes, he says, like, hey, like, this is, this is an adventure.
Speaker: he's kind of like I won't charge extra for the bear because he's kind of like hey because that's said when when Paul says no one else is going to have this story. Yuri's like yeah yeah yeah like don't worry I won't charge extra for like the adrenaline rush of that bear but he is also kind of like. Yeah and after you said that he still looks around and then you can see that switch in his face being very serious after that druggy moment and being like recently. Yeah yeah.
Speaker: You can definitely see when he's talking to the other people, he's like, ha ha, what a wonderful adventure we're having. The second they're not watching him, he's like, we gotta fucking go. And then at that point as well, Yuri mentions that in the five years he's been doing this, he's only ever seen a dog or a wolf, never a bear. Yeah, yeah. Which emphasises the fact that this is not normal. Yeah, yeah, something's occurring.
Speaker: And then they get in the car and they try to start it and it doesn't start. And then Yuri just lifts up this thing and just pulls out an engine part being like, oh, slowing down. That's not gonna come up like that. But it's like, but I, sorry, he has this, he has this pause as well, being like, he, cause I think Paul's next to him. And so he sees, and then he, they kind of look at each other like, do we tell the others? Yeah, yeah.
Speaker: But I was going to say before you see the engine, I think this is really good. It really captured the energy of it.
Speaker: Because like he's like trying the car and then you've got Michael who's like sat directly behind Yuri and you've got Paul who's riding shotgun. So those guys are there and they're like being such backstreet... backstreet boys? Backstreet drivers. They're being the backstreet boys. Let me tell you, it's gonna be me.
Speaker: And then you have everyone else in the back of the van, not realizing what's going on. And so you have this like, it made me feel so tense, because you have all the people still like laughing and joking and being like, oh my gosh, the bear, we're gonna be driving off anytime soon. And then you have the guys.
Speaker: proper like leaning in and being like, Oh, is there still gas? Is there something wrong with it? Oh, we know cars. And Yuri's just there like, can everybody can the people back shut up? Can the people there stop talking to me? I am I'm just like, Oh, honey, you were having a bad day. And then that's when he opens it and sees and and and there's even this moment where like, he's trying like
Speaker: they're then talking and I think because the people out back kind of like start realizing that the car's not going, but they're still in that jokey.
Speaker: situation. So they're kind of like, Yuri, what's the hold up? And Paul's like, can everyone shut up? And it's just like it perfectly captured that energy of when half of people are still in a funny mindset, half of people are not. And then like the tension bubbles over. And it's like, everybody shut the fuck up because this is not safe. And then and then I can't remember who it is. But one of the people at the back is kind of like, still in that
Speaker: Giggly mindset, but now tense. So there's that kind of like nervous Yeah Yeah, I just think like it was it was actually it was really good at like capturing that moment. It felt really grounded and
Speaker: because I feel like there are so many films that kind of go too big with everyone being tense at the same time. It was just that perfect thing of... Yeah, it has that gradual people get to that point at different stages, which is how it would actually happen. And it's just done very well. Yeah, it was just super, super, super realistic. I really liked that. And then, this is the moment I thought, this is why you check all... This is why
Speaker: If I was appropriate tour guide, which I wouldn't be, but if I was, I would start every tour with, hey guys, this is the situation, this is how long we can be in here, this is the dangers that we might encounter, this is the tools that we have, and I'd show them everything we'd have, and I'd always pack to be able to walk out. You cannot trust vehicles,
Speaker: But you can trust your feet, except sometimes you can't trust your feet. But generally, you can. Like the amount of times with school and stuff, I would just end up walking home, even though it would be like, I think I walked home and it was a three hour walk, because it's like an hour or so bus. But I was just like, do you know what, these feet walk. So let's, I don't know, like, you know, bus strike, train strike, all manner of things. It's like, hey,
Speaker: They can never take this mode of transport. And that's why you got to pack to be able to walk out. Yeah, you've got to have a go back. Yeah, because, or at least pack spare car parts, because they're, they're trying it and trying and trying it.
Speaker: And then suddenly it's pitch black and they're like, well, we can't go now. And I'm like, yeah, that's why you go when it's not pitch black. That's what I found annoying was like, they were, you could clearly see that the car wasn't going to work. It was about a two kilometer drive, which is about two hour walk. No, it was 13 kilometres. It was definitely 13 kilometres out because they kept saying, I think it was like something like 10 miles, 13 kilometres. I don't know if that makes sense, but I definitely noted that 13 kilometres.
Speaker: because the thing is 13 kilometres is a far walk, but it's not an impossible walk. So I think it was the 13 kilometres was one of the other times that began with a B that was mentioned, but that was actually factually incorrect because it's a lot closer than that. Okay, well, yeah, yeah, I think that's probably it. But in the film, it was definitely like a 13
Speaker: because they kept saying like okay and that's the thing like the reason why I think 13 kilometers is a good distance is like that is a long walk like I'm not gonna say I do a 13 kilometer on daily but also it's not impossible. Yeah I've done like way over a 13k walk
Speaker: It's like as someone who has Pokemon. Well, I didn't do. I love that reference point because you're talking to you and I was literally about to say Pokemon go. But like you get a heart for your body every three kilometers. So I have easily done nine kilometers like piss easy. I want to get all three hearts. Um,
Speaker: And that's just like another four on top. Like 13 kilometres is far, but it's not impossible. And if it's a situation where you could also
Speaker: don't spend their night. And it's that thing where they need to get back before it gets dark. And as well, because that's when all the animals come out, which is what Yuri also said, which is when it's dangerous. And also the radiation, they would have been there too long. And it was still daytime when the engine started going out. So as soon as that happened, as soon as they realized, okay, there's nothing more we can do.
Speaker: get your bag and go, walk. You are still able to do that at this point of time. And I think it was technically like, I don't know how long the days are because like, it did keep feeling like it was morning. Yeah, because they'd left in the morning. Yeah. So I'm kind of like, I don't know what time it's meant to be, but it did kind of feel like it was getting late and that's why they were heading. But still, like,
Speaker: I know you don't want to be walking in the dark, but the sooner you leave, the sooner you get out. And at the end of the day, that's your option. So get on, get on your feet and walk, especially because like he has a gun, you're all together. That's why you pack more things, give everyone a
Speaker: hitting stick and get gone. And he has a walkie -talkie set as well. So if he has that group, he spits them into two, but keeps them as a group together, like do a body system. That way, if the NBD does get separated... Because there's only seven of them. It's not that hard. Yeah. So you can easily do, like, you can have, you know, three and three and then he's got one and yeah, like three. It also, like,
Speaker: Yeah, the older brother is also such a fucking dickhead at this moment because he's like, oh, oh, the car's broken. What the fuck are we paying you for? It's like, you're the one. He's like, he's putting all the blame. He keeps throwing this one, putting the blame on others. And it's like, well, you did suggest this as well. So technically you are just as to blame. And also it's like, clearly,
Speaker: he like again I think Yuri should have spare car parts but you can't get angry at this guy for like how dare you have car issues it's like car issues happen yeah and you can't be like fuck you like
Speaker: Because also, is that helping Paul? No, it is not. And that's just making it, stressing out the others as well, making the tensions worse. Yeah, because he's probably shouting at him. And then in a car, it'll close his environment. And then Paul is also asking, to Yuri, are you sure we're out here alone? And then to which Yuri replies, this place is off limits. But again, they don't stop to think, maintenance people
Speaker: they are in that town too, they're doing maintenance work. Yeah, like go on your walkie talkie, scroll through the channels, odds are the maintenance people are gonna have like a control tower, like just do a thing where like, because they always stay on the same channel because they're just trying to talk between the two walkie talkies, but like if I was in that situation I would literally be like okay channel one, channel two, channel like going through every channel to see if someone can hit
Speaker: while I've got my backpack and I'm on my way out. I'm on my way out, but I'm still going to talk because I would like a bit of backup. And if someone does have a car, they can scoop us up. Yeah. But also with the whole concept of the maintenance people, I think that was possibly an excuse used by the military guys at the checkpoints to be like, something's going on here, stay out, but we don't want you to know. Yes. So we're just going to say it's maintenance. Yeah. But they don't know that. So they could still check to be like,
Speaker: Is there any maintenance people nearby? Are they still in here? Because they don't know that that was possibly a lie. Yeah and like later on I mean this is kind of jumping but um they have a map where there are like safety points. Yeah it's like why didn't you bring out that up sooner? Yeah so like look for the safety points now head there. If you're not going to head out head there at least because like
Speaker: Yeah, it's not until shit starts going down that and quite a bit later that they bring out, I think Zoe brings out the map and they're like, okay, there's a checkpoint here. And it's like, well, as soon as the van stops working, why didn't you bring out the map then? See where the checkpoint was and just went there because it was clearly within walking distance to checkpoint. Yeah. I, yeah.
Speaker: And then when Yuri gets out his gun, Chris is all like, why the fuck do you have a gun? And he gets so aggressive about having a gun. I'm like, dude, I am a pacifist. But sometimes a gun is needed. Again, I'm all for the animals taking over. I don't want to shoot an animal. But end of the day, if the bear is charging. You're going to want to protect your own life.
Speaker: you're gonna wanna have a gun to shoot the bear. Or at least scare him off. And the fact that Chris is like, why do you have that? Like, how long have you had that? Why do you have that all this time? It's like, because that's what this guy does for a living. Like, this is his... Also, you're American, shut up. Yeah, you're gonna say I'm really American. Oh, okay, so I just seen in my notes where it would have been a two -hour walk was that it was a 20 -minute drive, so that's about a two -hour walk.
Speaker: Ah, yeah, yeah. Yeah. So like from the checkpoint? So they could have just easily. Yeah, yeah, yeah. I mean, maybe Yuri fudged for drive time. I don't know. But yeah. Right. And so then Yuri, they hear noises, it sounds like a baby crying. Yeah.
Speaker: And so like, and Yuri's like, that's not a baby. It's like, okay. And he, and he gets out with his gun and then Chris is like, fuck all of y 'all I'm getting out to. Yeah. Because him and Paul are like having a testosterone fueled brother fight. He's like, well, I don't want to be.
Speaker: in here anymore, I'm gonna go and try and follow Yuri. And it's like, and he lives to regret that decision. Yes, well. Yeah. The immediate future, he lived to regret the decision. And the thing is like, as much as I'm like, guys, don't bring the negative energy, Chris is at least trying to
Speaker: like hold, because Paul is like, fuck you, fuck you, fuck you. None of this is my fault. And Paul's like, you're the one who brought us here. And that's what the argument is about. So I'm like, look, honestly, get out of it and then argue because it's not helpful. But sure, do hold him accountable. But like, don't argue when you're in the middle of dying.
Speaker: Like it's just not good. Don't use your energy for that. And also when Chris gets out of the van, he also doesn't take a torch with him. He just walked straight into darkness. But you can see Yuri with his torch looking around. Yeah. But I mean, Chris could just walk on straight face part of the tree. He does not have a torch. Yeah. I mean, I guess like it is realistic again that like,
Speaker: this is his older brother, this is what he does. And he is just at his limit and he's sick of it. Yeah, he's sick of his brother's behavior. And he's like, well, this is the worst of, I've had enough, I don't want any more to do with your shittiness. And you just constantly put me and the others in situations like this. Yeah, yeah. I think that's again, one of those things where it's realistic
Speaker: so I don't mind that it's annoying. Cause I'm like, yeah, you know, who amongst us hasn't like just power walked away from a situation when it's got too much? Don't do it in a radioactive town. But who amongst us hasn't? And then that's when shots are fired and then Paul jumps out the van to being like, oh shit, he's starting to get a reality check.
Speaker: Yeah, and he's like, that's my robot, he runs us. Yeah, and there's like a lot of screaming in fear as well from within the van. And it's like, well, if someone's going down, if something is attacking them, do not scream. Do not make your whereabouts known even more. Do not bring whatever is attacking someone else's attention towards you and the rest of the group. And most importantly, turn your car lights off. Yes.
Speaker: They have these, literally, since it goes dark. And it's like... You're draining your battery. One. Two. You're so visible. Three. Your eyes will not grow accustomed. And at this point, this film's all about nature reclamation. Hack into that monkey brain. Okay? Go full nature mode. Shit on a log and grow accustomed to the dark.
Speaker: this is we go on this well you know if you want to go full monkey yeah but like you know what I mean like yeah if
Speaker: See, this is where I feel like I'd make a fool of myself because I'd do this the second it goes like survival mode and then it would only be for five minutes and everyone's like, wow, dude, you went too hard too quick. But I just feel like if there's a situation
Speaker: where you have to survive, I'm not saying lose all decorum, because obviously, like I'm saying, you don't want to fight, you don't want to bring negative energy, but you do also have to click back at like, you're in a situation where your phone, you're like,
Speaker: your technology, your human psyche. I thought you were a chicken behind you then when he raised his leg. I thought he was a chicken. He is a big boy. Oh, my big boy. Yeah, like, like being a human in the kind of like technology, oh, science isn't gonna help you. Go full animal and like
Speaker: make your eyes accustomed to the dark because you're not going to have that light forever. And you need to be ready for when it goes. And in fact, turn it off now. So if there's a moment that you need it, i .e. when they have to patch up Chris's leg, you have it. The second this happens, you have to take stock of what you have, how it could be useful, and reserve anything
Speaker: that you have that you know is not gonna last forever, i .e. car battery. Yeah, and it's like if you are able to fix it, because I'll just fix it in the morning, so if you wanna, you can fix it, that's okay, but if you wanna actually be able to turn it on, you need that car battery, which is not gonna be there, because you're draining out the lights. Yeah, literally, they're screaming, their lights on. It's like, could you be any more of a target?
Speaker: Like, guys. And then of course they're like, they're trying to look through. And it's like, yeah, you know when you have a light and then you have glass and glasses with an active? So you can't see out. They're like trying to look to see if it's Yuri or Chris or Paul coming back. Cause there's just noises. And what I do love as well though, in one of the shots in the distance, you can see a bit of a shadowy movement. This film is very good for having moments
Speaker: that are really scary but and they are jump scares because there's people moving or things moving but it doesn't have the like it doesn't draw attention yeah which is really good because it just like it makes it even more scary because you see it and I guess it's almost like what's up there
Speaker: Was that there or was that not there? What's going on? But also because - Am I gonna die tonight? And also because it's in the shadows, you don't actually see what exactly it is. So you still have that element of the unknown. Yeah, yeah. It's so good. It's so good. But I was just so annoyed at them for keeping that car battery on. Go fool Hannibal!
Speaker: It's like, they have torches as well that they can use. They don't actually need that car light to be on. No. Because they have, if they need a light, they have a torch. Yeah, yeah. It annoyed me so much that they just kept that on. But then, yeah, there's shots, they're all looking out, they're screaming.
Speaker: And then Paul and Chris come back. Yeah, they suddenly, like, appear in front of the door, but like, no, that is it. And Chris needs help. And then you see his leg has practically been mauled. He's not in a good place. No, he's not okay. And then there's like wolves.
Speaker: like up on the, they get in and there's wolves like up on the car windows. Like it just surrounds them. And a lot of the shots, the dogs, you can't actually make out their features properly. Yeah. As if like they've been mutated and stuff. But in one shot, you can clearly see there's a German Shepherd. Yeah. And like, okay, it's just a dog.
Speaker: Is this a dog? And also, take your lights off. They're still, they're still, they're there. There's something attacking them. And Michael says, Michael says, get away from windows, get away from for windows. Why? They're still gonna see you with the lights on. Your lights on. Just turn them off. Oh my goodness. This is, this is where I said, in my notes, it says, go full nature cuties, come on. Like,
Speaker: Fuck's sake. And then this is when, after the dogs died, they shortly, that's when the car battery dies and then they put the torches on. And then they're still being attacked by these dogs, suddenly hits the van and then they're like, oh, maybe we should turn the torch off as well. Yeah, they're like, turn the lights off, turn the lights off, they'll see us. It's like, yeah, they've seen you this whole time. They've already seen you.
Speaker: You've had your light on, like a big light too. They've already seen you. They know you're there. They're already attacking you. Like, it is kind of too late. And then this is when they patch up Chris's leg. So they're having to like tarmac it. And I can't remember who it is, but one of the girls says like,
Speaker: Dogs don't do that. What attacked him? Dogs don't do that. I'm like, what, more? I'm pretty certain dogs do. I'm pretty certain that could have been done by a dog. Especially if they're wild dogs that are starving. Yeah, that line, again, there were so many lines in here for like, why is there a checkpoint? I'm like, look, I know what the film's trying to do. I know it's trying to be like, why is there a checkpoint? Is there anything else going on?
Speaker: But it's like... It's gonna be that. It's a no brainer. Yeah, like the things that they've chosen to do to put that tension in are just realistic. Yeah. Like dogs don't do that. No, they do. And the fact that it's on his leg as well. Like it's not like on his shoulder. Like it's dog height. I'm pretty certain he was mauled by a dog. Yeah. But yeah, now that having to tourniquet his leg,
Speaker: by light of torch and it's like wow man if you'd save your car battery you could have put that on again um so you could have actually like medically yeah and again there's no first aid kit, Yuri come on let's be professional and also to mention at this point Yuri didn't come back to the van with them yes they don't they don't know where he is yes
Speaker: So yeah, then basically they survive the night. Yeah, and it's the next shot, it's the next morning, and they say that Chris needs a doctor, because he's not doing well. No, and they're trying to fix the car, and Michael's like, it can't be fixed. Yeah, and Michael's like, we need to try and find another lead, and then hopefully we can try and roll start it. Because they're saying roll start, because the engine's died. Yeah, as established.
Speaker: Which is their own fault. And then they're going through the toolbox. Michael's going through the toolbox, which was a good thing to have. Well done Yuri for that. Shout out to Yuri. And Michael finds the other walkie talkie, which is how we know that there was a set of two walkies.
Speaker: Um, and then that's when Paul takes it and he tries to radio through to Yuri and there's no response. Um, and they're all like, well, we need to find Yuri because he knows the way out. Yeah. Don't forget the fact that they have a map. Yeah. Are we going to address that yet? No, let's still not have a map. I, that's the thing. Like if they,
Speaker: It almost would have worked better if they didn't have the map at the end, because then it's like, oh, they never had a map, that's fine. But the fact that at the end. And at the end where it's too late. Yeah, it's like, guys, come on, like, you would not have got your DV badge.
Speaker: And it's like, they could - Just like me. Oh. I never tried. It was fine. It was like, if they got this map out then as well in the next morning, they could have gone to the checkpoint and be like, hey, we need a doctor. A dog has like attacked one of our mates. Not a dog, it's a dog. Not a dog is attacking one of our mates, and Yuri, our tour guide, is missing. And they could have just got help, and that would have been that.
Speaker: Yeah, but no, they have to find Yuri now without the help of a map. And oh, some great USSR architecture. Like when they actually, so they basically split off into three groups. No, into two groups of three.
Speaker: Like Natalie and Zoe and Chris are staying behind in the trap because Chris can't move and Natalie isn't going to leave him and then Zoe's like, I'll stay here. I think because she doesn't want to. She's like, I'm not going out there. And then Natalie's like, well, I'm going with you guys. Amanda. Yeah, Amanda's going like, I'm going with you guys.
Speaker: Yeah. So it's, it's Amanda, Michael and Paul. And they go into this building where it's just like in this, it's like this big circular room and in the center of the room, there's like true coming and it's got like a little kind of fish fountain. Yeah. It's, it's, it's very pretty. But they're following, they're following drag marks to that point. Yeah. They're like, Oh, blood drag marks. Yes. Because they're like,
Speaker: they they they're using the walkie talkie and then they hear the other walkie talkie so they find the second walkie talkie by a bunch of blood and they're like put detective hat on this isn't good let's follow the blood drag marks yeah and so they carry on following it and then they end up in a kitchen and when all the they get attacked and all the stuff in the kitchen is going down well they find Yuri's body
Speaker: And this, and this is the first moment that I guess you could say that might not be an animal. But again, animals can pick a body apart. And they also find his Geiger counter. And they were smart for them to pick that up and keep it with them. Yes. Again, survival situation.
Speaker: pick up everything you can, have as many resources as you can. Because when they're at that fountain, they followed the drag marks through there, they stop, they have a little, they, a little conversation happens. And whilst that's happening, the drag marks are no longer visible. And then when they turn to carry on, the drag marks reappear again.
Speaker: I would be interested to see how big of a budget this film was because it did feel quite small and cute. It definitely felt like not a blockbuster.
Speaker: But yeah, they find Yuri's remains. And then they hear someone outside the door and they're like, shit, that's not gonna be Natalie or Chris or something. They pick up, once they find Yuri, they look for his gun. The gun wasn't on him, but the clip was, they pick up the clip, which I also thought smart. So when you find the gun or another gun,
Speaker: You have bullets that you can just attach and puke. Yeah, yeah. And then the thing outside comes in and the boys bounce. The boys get the fuck out. And Natalie, she hides and is like, well, the gun's got to be around to you somewhere. And she hides trying to figure out where the gun is. Amanda, I keep saying Natalie, it's Amanda.
Speaker: Yeah, because she because the thing is, 90 % of her lines is naturally because she's trying to find her friend. So again, very Pokemon. She's just saying her own name. But no, no, no.
Speaker: So she's, yeah, so she's, she's still in the room. And then this is the first bit where you see that the things in, in the town are slightly human. Again, you don't see them. You see kind of like an outline of them and you see like the feet, but it's kind of like a dragging with one of them and they, they're not really walking properly, this particular one, but you can still kind of make out that it's humanoid.
Speaker: Yeah, yeah, and they're kind of crouched over Yuri and they're eating his flesh. And Natalie, I mean, Amanda, I was good on it before.
Speaker: Amanda's like, shit, fuck, shit, how do I get out of this? And so she's like, so Paul decides to remember that he is attracted to her and like opens the door. And she pokes his head around to be like, you good? Are you being eaten? Okay, no, no, come on up. And then, Nancy, she finds the gun under one of the, because this is happening in the kitchen, they find under one of their like, table things. And she has the clips, she like,
Speaker: it assembles the gun essentially. And what I thought was very clever is Amanda, she shoots the ankle on one of them and then it falls down and then she shoots the head. Yeah, yeah, yeah. I love it. She's got her wits about her. What I noticed was she holds the group together. She's constantly calming them down or trying to, and whenever something's happening, she's going to the person who's freaking out and be like, come on, we've got to move.
Speaker: Yeah, because she could stand up and try and get the head straight away, but that is immediately exposing yourself. So she's like, I can see ankles, I'm getting ankles. And she's like, I get the ankles that mobilizes them. Yeah, so I don't know if it was her scheme to then see the head, but she's like, ankles, they can't chase after me. Oh, now I get the option of a headshot. I'm taking it, double tap.
Speaker: And then yeah, she she likes it. And obviously, there's more than one. So she has now alerted her presence. They run out of a door. They're locking the door. They're trying to. Yeah. And then obviously, Paul's like, give me the gun, give me the gun. It's like, look, she has a confirmed kill. Why is she not keeping the gun? Oh, because you're a man, you're a big drug man and you need a phallic object. She's just a weak human being, female. Yeah, she's actually taken out one of these things. I
Speaker: So, shut the fuck up, Paul. Yeah, and I feel like this whole scene, the trying to find Yuri scene, felt very video game. I don't know if this was a video game first, but it definitely had that. That scene particularly felt, had this vibe. Like you could see it from a point and click, like from a POV,
Speaker: you follow the blood trail, you find the body, you collect the objects from the body, you have like a, and like, and the bit where they're trying to squeeze through this corridor, and they have to like, push over a fridge so that they can like, because also the thing is this
Speaker: is the bit where it starts being slightly more obvious that there are people here. Yeah, yeah. So that is literally a barricade. So obviously there's been a final stand here. Yeah. And yeah, Paul takes the gun and he shoots through the door. Yeah. And then... So yeah, then they make it back to the car. Yeah. And they tell the others, we need to leave. They don't exactly say what they saw, but they just, they just emphasise facts. We need to find a way to leave and soon.
Speaker: And they're kind of like, the people back in the van are like, where's Yuri? Where's Yuri? They're like, we need to go. Yeah, I don't know. And that's the kind of answer. And then you see Chris's leg and damn is it fucked up. Yeah, and he tries to, even though he can't, he still tries to get up to move and then... They're like, you can't stand, you can't stand. He's like, no, we need to go, I will.
Speaker: And then he tries to put like, he's putting the tiniest amount of weight on it and he just absolutely can't. And they're like, okay, Paul's like, okay, we're gonna carry you. And Chris is like, no, it would take three people to carry me. And it's like, okay, at this point, make a stretcher. Yeah, that was my thought. It's not hard to make a stretcher. You have car seats.
Speaker: What you can do, very simple stretcher, put him on a car seat, take your belts off, there's a railing along the top of the car seats, attach your belts to the railings, okay, pull him. And yes, it will slow you down, but it means you won't have to come back. They're like, okay, we're gonna go, we're gonna come back. And it's like, or yes, it will be longer, but you're all going together.
Speaker: And no one needs to come back. And you'll be out. And as well, Paul is like, yes, it's, they get the decision that Chris will be staying and some will go and Paul's like, no, I'll stay with you. And then Chris emphasises the fact that no, you're the only one here who can speak the language. You need to go because only you will be able to get help. You will be able to communicate what's going on. Chris is like really good at, um,
Speaker: Chris is actually like, yeah, he's really good. He's, he's very aware of the situation. And he's as much as I'm like, dude, they can make a stretcher, like they can take you out. He's just being like, just sacrifice me. It'll be. Yeah. Yeah. Like, he's like, I know the way of this. I don't want you to
Speaker: die because of me and like, you know, this is how it's going to go down. Well then Natalie's like, well, I'm not leaving him. And so then it just ends up being Natalie and Chris in the van. Paul gives him the gun and one of the radios so they can stay in contact and protect themselves if needed. And whilst that's going on, Amanda looks... I love Natalie as well. She's so sweet. She's like, I don't care. I'm not leaving you. She really does love him.
Speaker: That's love, baby, that's love. What this is going on, we see in the back of the van that Amanda's going through her photos. Yes. And she zooms in on one of the photos and you can see this figure in one of the windows in the background. And later on, she doesn't bring it up then, but she brings it up later on and says, when I took the photo, I thought I saw something.
Speaker: yeah which was the day before and it's like if you when you were taking the photo you thought you saw something you say yeah because it's like if she had only just noticed it then like it kind of makes sense she doesn't say anything because it's like okay we're just leaving again like Yuri like we don't want to cause a panic like we're already leaving but I mean again I think it's good to say so everyone's in
Speaker: the no and everyone can be on the lookout. But, yeah. But it's just, even if it's just like a laugh, because you go in there for it to be spooky, people take photos and there's like ghosts in film over time. You can just be like, little guys, doesn't it look like that? And then Yuri can be like, we gotta go. I think she doesn't,
Speaker: She just, I think she should have mentioned it then, but then when she goes through the photos and shit's going down, um, she doesn't mention it then when they're leaving Chris and Natalie to get help because they know something's going down so that would have caused more of a mass panic. Yeah. Yeah.
Speaker: yeah i mean it makes sense i like how the film lets us see and us know you're a big fan of that yeah i am i've mentioned it quite a lot and also like other times like i remember i was because i'm obsessed with us when i listened back to our podcasts i was really listening to the thing and your version of the thing had the norwegian translated straight away
Speaker: and you were like, this is great. I personally think it works way better in that you find out as they find out, but it's interesting how you're like, I wanna be in the know. I find that I like seeing and kind of not being fully in the loop, but knowing something is up when they don't, because then it adds that suspense extra on your side of
Speaker: something's going to happen. You know, it's shit's going to go down. It's that classic Hitchcock quote of if you have a film where people are sat around the table and then a bomb goes off, you have an action film. And if, I don't know if this is actually how the quote goes, but if you have a film where people are sat around and you see that there's a bomb underneath the table, you have a thriller and it's, yeah.
Speaker: Is that a quote? I know he said a thing about a bomb on a table. I might have made it. I like my version. Yeah, that was very good. Yeah. Thank you. I need validation. I liked what you said. Yeah, and then they're kind of walking and they're trying to just fall over right now. And this is the first point where you actually see Paul feeling guilty. Yes.
Speaker: He's like, I'm his big brother, and he's always getting me out of these situations. And Amanda's like, okay, well, you know, I'm getting him. Essentially. She's like - Yeah, Amanda's like, you need to say, we're on the way to get help. You were doing what you can to try and help him. Yeah. And it's this thing of like, she's acknowledging him, but she's also kind of like, dude - You fucked up. Now is not the time to be getting in a state about it.
Speaker: The fact is you did it. So we've got to get out. It's whilst this discussion is happening, you see Michael telling them to, you see him like question something and he pauses and he tells the group to stop because he spots something moving in the distance. And then that's when there's a dog, it looks like there's roadkill in the middle of the roads. And when the dogs just comes out with the bushes towards this dad's creature on the floor.
Speaker: And then a bunch more come and it's just like a bunch of them. Yeah, and they're like, oh, we need to find another way around. We need to loop around. And then as they go off, they go off the roads into the woods to loop around and the Geiger counter goes off and it beeps quicker to indicate the radiation's getting higher. At which point it would go, oh wait, I think we need to find another way around.
Speaker: And they don't. They just go straight through. And they do this a lot. I swear they just... Yeah, they do it so much. And it's like, hey, do you know why you have a Geiger counter? Do you know how Geiger counters work? Yeah. I don't think they do though. Yeah, yeah. No, like, each click is like... The boost of radiation. So it's like, if you got that many clicks... The faster it goes, the worse it is.
Speaker: And it's even, it's even because it's like a, you know, it's like a civilian counter kind of, it even has like a kind of bell that goes off. So you have the clicks, but you also have a bit of a like, ooh, you are not in a good place. So it's like, dude, they've made it as simple as they can turn around.
Speaker: And I know it's because they're like, we just gotta go, but it's like... And they keep bringing out the guy who can't just check, and then they notice that there's a spike that clicks going faster, and they're like, oh, this is a higher radiation area. They're like, oh, well, let's just carry on through this area. Yeah, it's like, it's like, and again, it's similar to the map. It's like a film wants to be like, look, they have this, but it's also kind of like, if they're not gonna have them use it,
Speaker: because it's, it's, um, this is kind of like something that I think about in films where just because you address something doesn't mean it's all right for you to keep doing it. Because you've given them a Geiger counter doesn't mean that what they're doing isn't stupid. In fact, now you've actually drawn my attention to it. Yeah. So now you know just how stupid they're being. You give them this Geiger counter, they don't use it. You give them this map, they use it right at the end.
Speaker: It's like, come on guys. So on this loop path around, Amanda spots something in the distance. They run towards it because it looks like it's an abandoned car park. And they start looking through the vehicles then to find a piece for the van. And then that's when Paul finds a bus
Speaker: um cute little bus conversion yeah it's so cute and then notes that there are bullet holes in it and that the bullet holes are going from the inside of the van out out their exit wounds because uh they see it and michael's like who'd shoot at a bus and then nobody shot at the bus they shot out the bus yeah
Speaker: So again, similar to the barricade, you have a kind of moment where you're like, oh, this was another final stand. And then someone barricaded themselves in. And then Paul goes in, Natalie's, Amanda's a bit apprehensive. Michael carries on looking for the car part. Because Michael, no, Paul goes in, she's like, why are you going in? And he's like, there's a gun in here because of all the exit wounds. And you're like, yeah, with no ammo. Yeah.
Speaker: Clearly this was someone's last stand, if there's that many exit wounds. Like I kind of get the logic of it, but it's like, do you have ammo? Are you seeing the amount of exit wounds here? Yeah, as they go in and then he notes, so there's a lot of shells on the floor and you're like, well, yeah, there would be, you've just seen the amount of bullet wounds, like, come on. Yeah.
Speaker: Yeah, there's a casing at the other side of the bus and they're slowly creeping through and Amanda's like, maybe we just shouldn't open that casing. Maybe we should like hang back, carry on. You know, we're trying to look for this part of the car. That's the main goal.
Speaker: to get us out with you. Maybe you shouldn't be doing your little side quest nonsense. But they carry on, they look through, he opens the curtain and then that's when part of the roof crumbles in, in between them, so it misses them. And then he sees the gun and it's like a army rifle type machine gun. And then he's like, oh, there's a clip here, but the gun was broken so it wouldn't have been able to be used.
Speaker: But also the clip would not work for the gun that they've got because they've got a handgun. So it would not. It's like, well done, Paul. You wasted our time. And then that's when they noticed as well, the broken glass window with blood on it. And he points out it's part of a guard's uniform. So this was a guard who took their last stand here. Yeah, yeah. So
Speaker: visa like okay we're clearly out of our depth because people who have training and have the resources and like the weapons to be able to get through this are being yeeted out yeah yeah um so they find a part and they radio back but amanda went sorry in the bus bit amanda finds a torch there and she's like well i'll use this torch this works we could do with another torch
Speaker: And then Michael calls him out because he finds the car parked. And then they radio back and they're like, okay, Chris, don't worry. We've got the car parked. We're driving out. You stay there. And they're like, okay, we'll stay here. And then, and then she spots something with the group. And she looks into the distance to the other side of the car park and it's, you can see like movement in the bushes. And then a dog comes charging out, follows by a bunch of others.
Speaker: And then they're like, oh, we've got to run because dogs immediately see them and charge straight for them. Yeah. So now they've got to leg it and then this is where they have to leg it across. Yeah. And they find this broken, like, stepping bridge thing. And this is where Zoe's like, am I going to make it through? Yeah, she starts having a full on.
Speaker: Yikes. But my love is that again, the dogs in this bit, they come and they're like, they follow them as far as the river, but they don't go anywhere near the water. They stop and they're barking. And then it's like these dogs were prepared to pounce on them. They were hunting them. And now all of a sudden they're afraid.
Speaker: And they're afraid of what's in the water. Yeah. I feel like one of the things that I saw a lot in the kind of reviews of this is that they didn't use as much of what they could have. I do feel like the river is somewhat on the east side. Yeah, I feel like they should have used that more because all of the animals are afraid of what's in the water. Yeah, yeah. And like, especially for the like, it's a really good slow build. Like the fact that there's like,
Speaker: the scene earlier and then this, like it, it would have been nice if they'd properly used him. Yeah. But yeah.
Speaker: It is, it is good and they, so they're trying to make it across the bridge. And so she falls in. Yeah, she falls in, Michael goes, jumps in after her, Amanda's able to pull her out and then Michael gets bitten or something by it on something in the water and then he's like, because he's being like attacked and then
Speaker: Amanda just walks to the other side of the bridge and then walks into from the river like the bank and and just drags him out she's like no nonsense she's like let's just get him out yeah like we need to get gone from this place and then you can he lifts up his trousers like he sees being bit by something
Speaker: Yeah, I kind of thought it would be like leeches. Yeah, my first thought was leeches. Because it was like under his trousers and his trousers didn't seem to be affected. So I was kind of like... But it's... Yeah, but... He got caught. Yeah, he got caught by something man. And so at this point they're at the other side of the riverbed and the dogs are still barking. Yeah, and they're not crossing. Yeah, they're not crossing, they're too scared to.
Speaker: survey head off and then suddenly it's dark and I'm like okay how short are these days because you set off early yeah as soon as lights up at least I hope you should have set off early and then you're not really exactly gonna have like a brunch and what they're doing wouldn't have taken like all day no no especially because it's it's well if it's 13 kilometers out
Speaker: then it's within 13 kilometers anywhere else that they go. So, but anyway, it's dark and suddenly they're fighting. And it's like, it just felt a bit shoehorned in. It felt like we needed a bit of tension. So they're suddenly like,
Speaker: Why didn't you tell us about the pictures? And it's like, why didn't you tell us about the pictures? And then Paul says that there is noob and legend of Pripyat. And then how it really isn't abandoned. And then Michael Snarker says, well, yeah, obviously. Because the radiation hasn't killed everything. So it's clearly not abandoned. Which, yeah. Yeah. And obviously,
Speaker: we still have to do contacts when we get to contacts like it really is. Yeah and then Paul's like oh I don't believe in the urban legend and Michael's like well there's clearly something else here just look around and what attacked Yuri? Like what was that in the kitchen? And then Paul's just he's having a bit of a moment where he's in denial
Speaker: He's made a bit of a cut. And then this is the bit where Amanda's been like, there's a really, there might be something in my photo. Yeah. And there's a really good like non -jumpscare jumpscare where there's someone behind them here. Yeah. Which I really liked because again, it shows how in control these inhabitants are. Cause they like, there's just a figure just standing behind them. Yeah. And it's like, he's not running after them.
Speaker: He's watching. He's just like, eh, they will get you. And you don't really see them run. No. Yeah. There are moments where they close enough and they just charge as a group where they're like, we know we've got you. But yeah, you don't have much long distance running. In the meantime, you don't really see them. They're sprinters. Yeah.
Speaker: Um, but Amanda, she says, um, with the photos that she specifically says the other day. And I was like, you mean yesterday? Yeah. Cause it's still only just the one day. Yeah. So it hasn't, she says the other day as if they've been there for ages. And it's like, no, you mean yesterday.
Speaker: um then um yeah there's a dog yeah they're on the road there's a dog bark in the distance and you see it cross in the shadows and behind they turn around and there's nothing there so they just carry on walking and they get back to the van and it's not there there's parts there's a part from inside the van there yeah there's a chair
Speaker: And then they have a... Visibly showing that you can take the chair out to make it into it anyway. And then they find the van and it's on its side. Yeah, it's been tipped over. It's been attacked, it's gone. It's emptied and Paul just goes full, Paul goes full like, Chris, Chris!
Speaker: Michael's trying to be like hey dude like clearly something's happened like don't shout and we know there's something that's coming for us and you're screaming and it's dark where everything comes out and you're bringing attention to our location yeah and that's when Zoe finds the camera and is like guys watch this because she's like it's still recording yeah and like
Speaker: this Chris is like he has a sweet moment with nastily be like I love you and he's like I don't know if I'm gonna if we're gonna make it I just want you to know he and he shows like the ring and stuff it's just so sweet and she's like no no no like don't do this now like you're gonna do this and we're gonna do this yeah and and and then and then they hear noises outside the van and Natalie's like is that them and they're back
Speaker: And then, and again, you have similar with the dogs where you can see but you can't actually see what's attacking but you know that it's human. Yeah, you see like these shapes. Yeah. Yeah. And then and then it gets tipped and then you because it's like, it's very good filming in that it's not held well enough that you could see but you can still like you know, sometimes when found footage is like
Speaker: Yeah, that you wouldn't be able to study. Yeah, it gives kind of like the paranormal activities. Yeah, yeah. And it, um, you see, but you do see like, and again, you know, confirmation that it is very human because it's like human arms wrap around Natalie. I'm just, you just see the arms and her just go whoop. Yeah, yeah. Um, so they're big, they're strong and they're human.
Speaker: um and yeah and then they yes they it gets the end of the footage and it just carries on rolling essentially and then they just have a little look around and they i think they they find like a drag mark or something like a trail and so they just try to they just follow it into like it's like one of the closest abandoned buildings
Speaker: And Michael is like, we need to go. And Paul's like, I'm not leaving without my brother. And Michael's like, dude, we need to go. And this is where the group's kind of splitting. And Amanda is making sure that they don't split. Yeah, she's holding them all together. It shows that she is strong. Yeah, because she's like, OK, I recognize and also this is my friend Natalie. I want to find her.
Speaker: Michael please like we need to stick together and this is where like Michael did kind of I did lose him when he was a bit like why can't I do this radioactive material back then? I was like dude fuck off but like at this point he really is like I want to go and Amanda's like we need to stick together and he's like okay and it's plus it's dark we need to find a safe space yes shout out to you Michael um and this is where
Speaker: I start saying, dude, I am spooked. Home alone and freaked. And then they find, I literally, at this point, I'm living note to note because I'm freaked. I looked at my words coming from my notes just before we started filming. I have six words under 5 ,000 words.
Speaker: Hey. We love it. We love it. Yeah, they go into the... It's like a proper aspect. Yeah. They go into like this building and they hear a noise and they follow the noise because they think, oh, is this Natalie or Chris? And they find... They end up in the canteen and they like shine the torch around. It's like, okay, well, there's nothing here. The noise must come from somewhere else. They turn around to leave.
Speaker: I think it's a chair, it just comes flying past the heads and hits the door and they turn round and it's one of these humans being like, boo, I'm cute. And then they're just running through the corridors because they're like, what a thug. Yeah, and that's when they find Natalie, because she kind of comes round the corner and she looks absolutely... Like she's seen some stuff.
Speaker: yeah god bless her she is not in a good place she's just screaming she's shaking and then and they they managed to get her out of the building and this is when i know you're not okay but we need to move yeah and this is when like i hated paul from the start but this is when i was like okay this boy needs to die he is literally shouting in natalie's face where the fuck is my brother where's chris where's tell me where the fuck my brother is it's like
Speaker: Come on, dude. This woman is traumatized. She is probably in an actual state of shock. Like if she is able to get any words out. She could barely speak. Be blessed. Literally. And he doesn't. And like Amanda's having to say like, dude, back off, back off. And he is not backing down. I'm like, you're a cunt. And then when she's no disaster thing,
Speaker: When she isn't answering him, he's waving the gun in her face. Yeah, that's not gonna help. That's just gonna make her feel worse. That's gonna scare her even more out. And like, put the gun down, stop threatening her. Yeah! And also, it's like... This is... This is your brother's, like, to -be fiance? Like... I don't know. Maybe, maybe this is me being like a close sibling, but like...
Speaker: I know my sister's partners. If anything happened to them, I'd be like, are you okay? Like, obviously, where is my sister? Are you okay? Hey, dude, I also care about you because you are a loved one of someone I love. You know, like, he is literally waving a gun at his brother's girlfriend. Like, dude, who are you? And Michael's like, Hey, man, give me the gun. Yeah, you're a
Speaker: And it's, yeah, so they grab Natalie and they get out to the other side of the building and it's like this courtyard type place. And then that's when the map comes out. This is where they say, we need to leave without this. We need to go because Natalie needs help. We all need to get out. And Paul is like, I'm not leaving. And this is where Amanda keeps groups together. She's like, look, it's dark.
Speaker: If you want to save Chris, you got to stay alive. We got to go. And this is the bit where I'm like, this is where the notes say, I am very alone right now. Because they've run in through this courtyard.
Speaker: and then they're trying to look, because they're looking at the map, and they're like, where's the same point it says it's here? And then they're like, oh no, it turns out easier this way. They don't know where they are. Because obviously they're panicked. Like I said, I never did Duke of Edinburgh, but I feel like map reading is hard at the best of times. But when you're panicked and fear for your life, then it's going to be like even harder. But they start at the top of the stairs.
Speaker: at the top of the stairs with her back to some railings, some open railings. Now in here, I said, baby, don't sit by railings. I say with my back fully exposed, because I was sat in the middle of a room with nothing against my back and I was going to move, but then I was like, you know what, Natalie, I'm right here with you. You and me, baby, we're going to get through this. Because then in the distance,
Speaker: And they turn around, they see a little girl. Yeah, there's a little girl just standing there. And I think she's there as a distraction. So the rest of the group. Yeah. Yeah, this little girl. And I think her main purpose was to draw the group's attention to her. So the other guy who's at the bottom stairs can nab Natalie. And all you see is just her body just flying down. You just see her. Yeah. Yeah.
Speaker: My note just says, also don't like you traumatized friend. I don't know what that's in reference to. And this is where I had to give Tigger a treat just to break for tension. Yeah. So then at this point, it is just kind of running and mayhem and lots and lots of radioactive, not zombies, but irradiated people. Yeah. And they followed the steps down when Natalie was taken.
Speaker: Yeah. Yeah. Because they're trying to get her and they're shouting. And they're just panicking and then they enter at the bottom. There's a guard hanging upside down or bloodied. Yeah. As if on display to be like a young ex. This is going to be you. Yeah. Yeah. And then they're running. And again, like Paul is like, I'm not leaving my brother. I'm not leaving my brother. They get to this door and they're like, Michael, hurry up and just close the door.
Speaker: I'm like, I don't know the situation. I'm not pulling the door. I don't know how hard it is. But it's literally like he's going on about how it's like, I'm not literally, he's right by the door it closes. I'm like,
Speaker: But also on the scene there, as they're going down the stairs, and they're turning around, there's a, in one of the shots, you can see another cameraman just backing out. Can you see the cameraman just backing out of focus? You'd be like, oh, I'm in the shot.
Speaker: Yeah and then this is where Zoe is having a bad day because obviously Michael's just been left. She's just screaming. She is struggling to walk and Amanda's honestly having to half carry her. And also keeping Paul going like we need to keep moving as well as carrying Zoe. Yeah and they're going down these stairs. They keep going down the stairs to the underground now to these different bases. Yeah.
Speaker: But then they find a ladder because that people that they're coming. Yeah. And they're like, Oh my gosh, we know because this is where they find the engagement ring box. Yeah, they're like, Chris, and then it's one of the Yeah, they go up to the ballsy, the backs turned, and they go to poke the body to be like, Chris, and then one of these turn around and be like,
Speaker: Yeah, it's not close. And then that's when you see the group of them come out from the shadows, which I love because it highlights they are in the shadows. They are there this whole time. This whole, yeah, yeah. And then they're running and they're climbing up some ladders. So okay, we get some vertical movement going up again. That's good. Zoe's bottom of the ladder and they have her
Speaker: And Paul is really just holding on to her hand. And he's like, Zoe, come on, you got this. And it's like, Zoe's gone, kid. Zoe, let go. Get her. Yeah, if you're going to ditch Michael back quick. Yeah, come on. Cut your losses at this point. Yeah. And now it's just Amanda and Paul. And they're like, this is when he starts being like,
Speaker: Amanda, I can't see. They kind of go up into a control room. So now it's like, oh, they're in one of the reactor chambers. They're in the fourth one where it went off. Yeah. And like, Paul's like, I can't see you. I can't see you. Amanda kind of has burns on her face. And she's like, my face is burning. But again, they're so like,
Speaker: What's going on? Why can't I see? It's like, why am I, literally, it's like, why am I experiencing radiation sickness inside of a Chernobyl reactor? That's why you're inside of a Chernobyl reactor. And then they keep like trying to push each other on. They keep like, okay, we need to go, we need to go. At the same time, dude, you can't see.
Speaker: you have burns on your face. I think he still has the gun. Like, give it to Amanda. Yeah. Yeah, because you can't see. But also, there's a bit where Paul's like, we need to go, we need to get out of here before the radiation kills us. He says we need to get out of here before the radiation kills us. And it's like, oh, maybe a bit too late. Do you know how radiation works? Like, you know, you're a goner.
Speaker: You know, at the point where you were experiencing this degree of radiation sickness, even if you get out here technically alive, it's a matter of time. As much as I don't want to say it, like at this point, turn the gun on yourself. You're dead. You're dead. And then we get out the other side of the building and Paul now fully can't see his eyes are just
Speaker: closed and Amanda's face is just blistered and they're struggling to walk and then Amanda she sees these car lights in the distance and it's like there's help yeah no yeah and then and then it's like oh my gosh these cars we're saved and then as they get that okay are they actually going to give them help and then the the guards of the military man being like
Speaker: You can't come any closer to us. You need to stand there. Fires are worn and shot at their feet to be like, no, you cannot come closer because of course they're contaminated now. They're so irradiated. Obviously they cannot come closer. And you've got that... And Paul keeps walking. Yeah, he keeps going forwards and like, please, please help us. And they just... They try and go. They shoot him. They just plain up shoot him. Because of course they do.
Speaker: And then, yeah. Because he's literally walking radiation. When Amanda collapses onto the floor, and the last bit of that in being at the reactor you see is just like this, I think this bag going over her head. And then she's in the ambulance then. And she keeps asking, where am I? Where are you taking me? But they don't answer that question. No. No. And they keep asking her questions like, how many of you are there? Like, how many of you were there?
Speaker: all of this trying to just, essentially just trying to see how much damage has been done. But also the fact that they still, instead of saying, you can't come closer to us, but we will help you, they should kill him. And then the fact that they won't answer, Amanda, with the question of, why are you taking me? You've got that, they're trying to suss out the situation, they're hiding something, they're something more special. Yeah. Yeah. And then, and then yeah, they, they,
Speaker: They're taking her down these corridors. They do, I think at this point, they do say like, oh, we're going to help you. Yeah. When they get actually into this building, then they're like, yeah, the doctor's here. He's going to help you. And then they ask her again to see how many survived. And she was like, I'm the sole survivor. And then they pick her up off this trolley and drag her essentially, which gives you the first clue. They're not going to help her. And then they just shove her and lock her in this room.
Speaker: Yeah, yeah. I mean, the other thing is I'm like, these doctors are not wearing hazmat suits. And again, she would be so irradiated at this point. But yeah, they lock her in his room and she's like. And then all of a sudden from the shadows is a mass of these victims from the radiation just coming at her being, you're gone. I guess, I guess that's like, there also will be other soul survivors of previous times, possibly. But it's,
Speaker: Yeah, but then the people are supposed to, the people, the radiation people who are attacking them are supposed to be escaped victims of this government group. Okay. Yeah, yeah. Okay. I feel like, and so that's the whole thing. Yeah, that's the film. But also, hang on, did you watch to the end of the credits?
Speaker: No. Because I was... Okay. I also want to say the music in the film is good. But at the end of the credits, you have a Geiger counter going off. Like at the very end, after all the music stopped, the credits have stopped. You've got like a minute of silence, a blank screen. The Geiger counter's going off and it's just clicking rapidly. That's good. I like that.
Speaker: No, I did make a note that like, ooh, I like the credits music. And then I was like, oh no, it's Marilyn Manson. I'm cancelled. I'm cancelling myself. I didn't realise that. Yeah, it's Marilyn Manson. But yeah, yeah, yeah. So that's the whole film. I feel like I, in review of this film. What did you think? I really liked it. I think that it got me, it got me spooked.
Speaker: It got me, there were moments where I really felt for the characters, but also I don't know, I feel like this is like a dumb, fun horror movie. Like I had no notion of where these like, if these were meant to be original residents,
Speaker: of Pripyat, of these were meant to be like you say like escaped victims of this government thing. I had no clue and to be honest I didn't really care. Unlike. It doesn't really specifically say but you pick up that it's from this government and it's, the film is essentially this whole conspiracy theory. I don't know if I really picked up on that. I was just kind of like, it's spooky. I know there will make
Speaker: The main criticism of this film is it doesn't lean into it, the fact that it's cheerful as much as it should. But I would feel like I disagree with that. I feel like it didn't feel, it didn't go full, like the way it was, that had always been said. I thought it was just going to be like a straight and straight kind of zombie film. But I feel like it did feel enough, they felt isolated enough.
Speaker: And there was enough at the beginning that it did feel like it was Chernobyl. So I feel like I would disagree with those reviews. I don't think it was like a particularly clever reading of the situation. It's an action -horrible. It was spooky, it was action, it was Chernobyl is my review.
Speaker: Do you recommend it to people? Yeah, I mean like most of the people I talk to don't watch horror so I don't know who I'm gonna recommend it to but like anytime I tell someone about this podcast it's like oh I don't really watch horror films. I'm like okay, that's fine. But it is like if you want, I feel like this would be a really good film to watch like
Speaker: I think the gateway into watching horror films is probably like a party because everyone can giggle and it's more of an adrenaline rush because you're not like I think it was really fun to watch alone because it's like such an isolation film and so like watching it completely alone I was like but
Speaker: I think it is. It is just like a perfect, like I say, like it's, it's a dumb action for horror film. It's, it's high enough on the action that it isn't like, you're not gonna sleep ever again. Because the action breaks the tension. Like if they didn't have those moments of action, and if it was just like, a proper the thing, the thing with slow burn horrors, is they're so much more scary, because you don't get that relief of the tension.
Speaker: Whereas literally at the end, with the jump scare right at the end where everyone runs in on Amanda, I feel like that just like, and I'm no longer scared. You know what I mean? It's that jump scare that you're like, yeah. Yeah. You're like, cool. That was the film. It is over. I can now go to sleep and, you know, brush my teeth and look in a mirror without being scared that there's going to be a Chernobyl zombie behind me. Yeah.
Speaker: Because it is a film as well that does have its roots and basis in reality and the fact that it was such a huge disaster that happened, that some of the facts that were given in the film that were included, when he was like, oh yeah, there was this reactor four, there was like four reactors.
Speaker: when actually there was a fifth one that was nearly fully built, and there was a sixth one that had started to be built. So. Do you want your segue in perfectly into the context? Oh, I am, aren't I? And yeah, this will be a two -parter episode. Yes. The thing is, do let us know what you reckon of the two -parter. Yeah. It just kind of naturally happened last episode, but actually it does feel really good, because like,
Speaker: I'm going to need to make myself a second cuppa. Yeah, I need another cuppa. And if you don't want to be listening to us for like over three hours, then in one go. Of course you want to be listening to us for 18 hours. You love the sound of our voices. But yeah, if you don't want to like
Speaker: slog through it. We thought, yeah, it would be nice to have two parties so you can have just film and then just context. Yeah, let's know how you feel about that. Thank you so much for listening to the first half of the Chernobyl Diaries episode. That has been the full discussion on the film.
Speaker: And in the second part that shall be released at some point, we will be deep diving into the context behind the film. So make sure you give a look out for that one. We'll see you soon spooky kids.
