They Came from the North
Steve, Jon, Gabriel, and Andrew deconstruct a filmmaker's body of work from a uniquely Canadian perspective.
Each episode the hosts take a deep dive into the career of a single director, examining their filmography through a distinctly Canadian lens. From blockbuster auteurs to cult favorites, no filmmaker is off limits.
Browse Archives
About the Show
They Came from the North brings together four Canadian film enthusiasts who share a passion for thoughtful, in-depth analysis of cinema. Rather than reviewing individual releases, the show dedicates each installment to a single filmmaker, unpacking themes, stylistic signatures, and the cultural context that shapes their work.
The Canadian perspective isn't just a gimmick — it informs how the hosts approach everything from Hollywood blockbusters to international art-house fare, offering listeners a fresh angle on familiar directors.
The show's format offers a refreshing alternative to standard movie review programming. Rather than rating the latest releases, each episode builds a comprehensive portrait of one director's artistic journey. The hosts examine how a filmmaker's background, recurring themes, and stylistic choices evolve across their entire career. This approach reveals patterns and connections that casual viewers might miss, deepening appreciation for the craft of cinema. For listeners who enjoy film criticism that goes beyond surface-level takes, this series provides thoughtful conversation that treats movies as serious art worthy of sustained analysis and discussion.
What makes this podcast distinctive is its proudly Canadian perspective. The hosts bring their own cultural context to every discussion, considering how nationality, geography, and identity shape both the filmmakers they study and their own viewing experience. This viewpoint adds a layer of insight that sets the show apart from the many film podcasts produced from a Hollywood-centric angle. Whether analyzing a Canadian director or an international auteur, the conversation benefits from the panel's unique vantage point. The result is film criticism that feels both personal and culturally aware, grounded in a specific place while remaining globally relevant.
The show's deep-dive structure rewards dedicated listeners who enjoy immersive critical analysis. Each episode builds a thorough case study of a director's body of work, drawing connections between early experiments and later masterpieces. The four hosts bring complementary perspectives to the table, creating lively discussion that balances enthusiasm with critical thinking. This format allows for the kind of nuanced exploration that shorter reviews cannot accommodate. For fans of cinema who want to understand not just what a film means, but how a filmmaker thinks and grows over time, this podcast offers a consistently engaging and rewarding listening experience.
Meet the Hosts
Steve
Co-founder and regular panelist. Steve brings an encyclopedic knowledge of genre cinema and a sharp critical eye to every discussion.
Jon
A film scholar at heart, Jon specializes in tracing thematic through-lines across a director's body of work, connecting early efforts to later masterpieces.
Gabriel
Gabriel contributes a keen sense of visual storytelling and often highlights cinematography, editing, and production design in the roundtable debates.
Andrew
Andrew rounds out the panel with a focus on screenwriting and narrative structure, frequently challenging the group to reconsider conventional readings.
"Deconstructing a filmmaker's body of work from a uniquely Canadian perspective."
Directors Covered
The show has tackled an eclectic range of filmmakers across its run. Past episodes have explored the works of:
- Kenneth Branagh — Episode 1522 examined the Shakespearean actor-turned-director's transition from stage to screen and his evolving visual style.
- John Milius — The hosts discussed the rugged, mythic quality of Milius's filmography and his influence on action cinema.
Notable Episodes
| Episode | Topic | Date |
|---|---|---|
| 1522 | Kenneth Branagh | 2015 |
| — | John Milius | — |