Dice Camera Action!

Trick Taking + Horror Movie Binge!

In this episode of Dice Camera Action, Mat Cousineau and Steven discuss their shared passion for board games and movies, focusing on horror films and game design. They explore the evolution of horror cinema, the significance of recent films, and share insights on various board games, including Steven's recent designs. The conversation explores various horror films, discussing their themes, storytelling techniques, and personal impressions. The hosts share their experiences with different movies, highlighting what makes each unique and engaging. The conversation delves into various horror films, focusing on themes of grief, storytelling, and the unique approaches of directors like Ari Aster. It also explores the nuances of character development and thematic elements in films like 'Obsession' and 'Hereditary', while discussing the mechanics and appeal of board games related to these themes. The conversation explores various board games, focusing on their mechanics and themes, particularly in trick-taking games. The discussion transitions into the concept of a 'Shelf of Shame' in both gaming and movies, reflecting on personal preferences and the pressures of curating experiences. The conversation explores various themes related to movies and board games, highlighting personal preferences and experiences. The hosts discuss their favorite films, the significance of certain genres, and their gaming collections, emphasizing the joy of discovering new games and films. Takeaways Horror genre renaissance Game design insights Diverse horror film themes Impact of storytelling techniques Exploration of grief in horror Unique storytelling techniques Exploration of trick-taking games Shelf of Shame concept in media Passion for film and gaming Importance of personal preferences Chapters 00:00 Introduction and Technical Setup Board Game Bliss Ad 04:40 Welcoming Steven and Game Design 09:35 Shout Outs and Recent Plays 11:03 Exploring Horror Movies 16:51 Diving into DTF St. Louis 24:24 Game Review: Dark Pact 32:09 Connecting Through Card Games 32:57 Exploring Teenage Sex and Death 34:51 The Meta Narrative of Horror 38:16 Diving into Horror Movie Recommendations 41:00 Reflecting on Iconic Horror Films 44:41 The Unique Experience of A Quiet Place 45:55 Jordan Peele's Unique Horror Vision 48:03 The Concept of It Follows 51:51 The Thrill of Talk to Me 58:02 The Unsettling Nature of Midsommar 01:03:38 The Grief Narrative in Horror 01:06:54 Diverse Perspectives in Modern Horror 01:11:02 Character Complexity in 'Obsession' 01:19:37 Religious Themes in 'Heretic' 01:26:21 Board Games and Thematic Storytelling 01:38:56 Diving into Trick-Taking Games 01:45:35 The Shelf of Shame: Games and Movies 01:56:52 Curating Experiences in Film and Games 02:11:16 Exploring Cinematic Masterpieces 02:15:48 The Alien Franchise Dilemma 02:16:05 Tracking Game Collections 02:22:21 Exciting Upcoming Board Games 02:27:11 Anticipated Movies of the Year 02:32:15 Wrapping Up with Time Zones

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Daddy Issues (My Father's Work - Young Frankenstein)

This week on Dice Camera Action, Tom from Tabletop Misfits and Isaac Hirschfeld play mad scientist. They review My Father’s Work, a three-generation worker-placement game from Renegade Game Studios, then stick around to talk about Mel Brooks’ classic spoof Young Frankenstein.

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Wrong Lever!!!! (Altera - Emperor's New Groove)

*recorded pre-gencon (FYI) On this episode, Mat is joined by Tom from Tabletop Misfits for a delightfully chaotic pairing. First up is Altera, IV Studio's gorgeous new fantasy strategy game filled with tracks, exciting dice bag building, and stunning table presence. Then it's off to ancient Peru to revisit Disney's comedy masterpiece The Emperor's New Groove—a movie that, despite having an infamously troubled production, somehow manages to be Disney's most underrated masterpiece. The conversation bounces between clever game design, Disney animation's history and an unhealthy number of Kronk impressions. Pull the lever... it's podcast time.

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Wish Gone Wrong (Jekyll&Hyde - Obsession)

Mat is joined by Chris Preston and special guest Darren Reckner of Durdle Games. Darren has worked on Unmatched Adventures, the upcoming Super Collider, and is part of the team at Rowdy Partners, making him the perfect guest for a deep dive into trick-taking games. Together, the trio explores both Jekyll vs. Hyde and Jekyll & Hyde vs. Scotland Yard, using them as a jumping-off point for a broader discussion about what makes trick-taking games so compelling. Then they shift gears to review the breakout indie horror film Obsession, unpacking its unsettling themes, memorable moments, and why it's been generating so much buzz.

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Mad Max Thunder Vendetta: Fury Dome Warrior

Strap in. Kevin McAlexander from Blue Peg, Pink Peg joins Mat for an episode fueled by gasoline, chaos, and bad decisions. After covering a wide variety of games and movies, they take a deep dive into Thunder Road: Vendetta before settling the important question: which Mad Max film reigns supreme? Along the way you'll meet unforgettable characters like Dusty Darlene, Master Blaster, and The People Eater. Witness us!

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Gimmicks & Layers (Ruins - The Mummy 1999)

Mat is joined by Josh Bowman — game designer of Beach Day, publisher at Cake Pie Games, and host of the Tabletop Submarine podcast — for an episode full of ancient ruins, layered cards, and poorly considered archaeological decisions. Together they explore Allplay’s clever ladder-climbing shedding game Ruins before revisiting 1999’s The Mummy Evil books, layers, gimmicks and maybe the best looking cast of a movie ever?

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Fist My Bump (Anachrony - Project Hail Mary)

Mat is joined by Shawn Hoult from the YouTube channel Allies or Enemies for a sci-fi-heavy episode packed with time travel, impossible decisions, and one very lovable space engineer. We dive into the mind-bending worker-placement masterpiece Anachrony and pair it with Project Hail Mary, the story of one man desperately trying to science the apocalypse away with a little help from an unexpected friend. Along the way, we play a ridiculous game where we give board games and movies completely unnecessary subtitles, because apparently that’s what happens when you spend too much time thinking about timelines and astrophage. An episode full of time travel, questionable humour, and one very important fist bump. Good, good, good.

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Cards, Kings & Consequences - The Old King's Crown / Kingdom of Heaven

Mat is joined by Isaac Hirschfeld for an episode that gets off to a… less-than-smooth start. Some early technical difficulties quickly turn into comedy gold, setting the tone for a conversation that only gets more delirious from there. Despite running on low energy (and maybe a little too much caffeine), we dive into The Old King’s Crown and Kingdom of Heaven, exploring themes of power, leadership, and what it really takes to claim—and keep—a crown. It’s thoughtful, a little chaotic, and occasionally unhinged in the best way. Come for the medieval strategy and epic battles, stay for two very tired hosts just trying to do their best.

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Crashes, Cons & Cardboard

It’s a solo episode as Mat recaps a truly chaotic few weeks—featuring a massive snowstorm, a car wreck that took him off the road, and somehow… two board game conventions. Through it all, there were still games to be played and (more importantly) games to be bought. Mat runs down the highlights from both cons, including what hit the table, what stood out, and what made its way into the collection.

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I could eat a peach for hours - Fav 2P Games-Face/Off

Mat is joined by Jeff Madigan (The Mad Board Gamer) for an episode all about the magic of two-player games—tight decisions, head-to-head tension, and just the right amount of friendly rivalry. We break down some of our favorite 2-player experiences and what makes them shine. Then things get completely unhinged as we dive into Face/Off, the gloriously over-the-top action classic where identities are swapped, doves are in slow motion and subtlety is nowhere to be found. It’s a tale of two players, two faces, and way too much face touching—because sometimes the best matchups are strictly 1v1… even if you come out the other side as someone else. https://linktr.ee/dicecameraactionpod

Print. Die. Repeat. (Moon Colony Bloodbath-Mickey 17)

On this episode, Mat is joined by acclaimed board game designer Daryl Andrews for a deep dive into space capitalism gone wrong. We’re pairing the chaotic survival strategy of Moon Colony Bloodbath with the existential, clone-filled corporate nightmare of Mickey 17. We talk expendable employees, hostile environments, and the implications of swapping worker placement for worker replacement. Daryl brings designer insight to the table, breaking down the mechanics behind surviving (or not surviving) on the moon, while Mat tries to determine whether it’s worse to mismanage your colony… or to be printed as Employee #17. https://linktr.ee/dicecameraactionpod

Best of 2025!

It’s our big 2025 wrap-up episode! Mat and Joel team up as cohosts for a special year-end rundown of our Top 5 Movies and Top 5 Games of 2025. From cinematic standouts to tabletop obsessions, we break down what stuck with us, what surprised us, and what completely took over our free time. Of course, we couldn’t stop at five—so we’re also handing out honorable mentions and shining a spotlight on our favorite non-movie, non-game media of the year. And to make it even better, friends of the show drop in via short video messages to share their own favorites of 2025.

How to Gain your Looot (Looot-How to Train Your Dragon)

Mat is joined by game designer Danielle Reynolds for an episode that’s all about Vikings, dragons, and really funny names. Together they revisit How to Train Your Dragon—both the animated classic and its live-action counterpart—before turning their attention to Looot, a clever board game about collecting axes, gold and sheep while politely pillaging everything in sight. It’s a friendly clash of film and cardboard as the crew talks adaptation, design, and why training a dragon might actually be easier than collecting the perfect tiles. https://linktr.ee/dicecameraactionpod

The Most Awkward of Donut Holes (Awkward Guests - Wake up Dead Man)

Mat is back in the host’s chair and Jason finally returns from a long, mysterious hiatus—just in time for an episode all about lies, logic, and confidently accusing the wrong person. This week we break down Awkward Guests, the deduction board game that turns polite conversation into weaponized information, and pair it with Netflix’s Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery. Clues are exchanged, theories are formed, and confidence is misplaced—often. Whether at the table or on the screen, we explore why solving a mystery is never as easy as it looks… especially when Jason’s been gone this long. Rian Johnson's "Q" interview: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LyUsVMBT4cU https://linktr.ee/dicecameraactionpod

Pax-U Recap!

Mat, Isaac and Joel get together for a Pax-U Recap and somehow discover a hidden talent for re-naming random things. https://linktr.ee/dicecameraactionpod

In Space, No one can hear you place tiles (Planet Unknown-Alien)

Join Mat and Chris as they dive into Planet Unknown, breaking down what makes this polyomino game stand out. Then they head into deep space for a rewatch of Ridley Scott’s Alien — exploring why it still stands as one of the greatest sci-fi horror films ever made. A mix of strategy, suspense, and maybe even a little screaming… https://linktr.ee/dicecameraactionpod

Not all heroes wear capes (Origin Story/Chronicle)

This week, Mat is joined by guest host Ryan Campbell from the Trick Talkers podcast — a true trick-taking expert — as we dive into Stonemaier’s brand new trick-taking release, Origin Story. We break down how it plays, how it fits in the trick-taking landscape, and why this one might actually feel like a “superpower draft” in card form. To pair with it, we revisit Chronicle — the found-footage superhero film where ordinary teens discover extraordinary powers… and then, predictably, use them in all the wrong ways. Card powers, psychic chaos, and a surprising amount of thematic overlap — "Do I look like a guy with a plan?"

The Island of Misfit Citizens (Citizens of the Spark - Island of Dr. Moreau

This week, Mat and Joel (aka The Diced Onion) dive deep into Citizens of the Spark, where players build cities powered by invention, teamwork, and probably some questionable safety standards. To pair with all that mad science energy, we’re watching The Island of Dr. Moreau — a movie so bonkers it makes you wonder who let the monkey have final cut? We talk about the fine line between creativity and chaos, what makes a “good” citizen, and why Marlon Brando’s ice bucket hat might just be cinema’s greatest invention. https://linktr.ee/dicecameraactionpod

Vantage Giveaway Mini Episode!

To enter the giveaway listen to this episode and head to : https://www.instagram.com/p/DPjf6o8AOnL/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==

A Vantage Point with Jamey Stegmaier (Vantage - 65)

In this episode, Mat, Jason, and Jim take on Vantage, the hot new release from Stonemaier Games, and dive into the prehistoric chaos of Adam Driver’s 65. But the real highlight? A special interview with Jamey Stegmaier himself—where he not only shares insights on design and publishing but also drops a surprise announcement about a brand-new Stonemaier game. https://linktr.ee/dicecameraactionpod