Spooky season is upon us, folks, and this week’s Empire Podcast is even more of a horror show than usual! First up to send shivers down your spine, Chris Hewitt talks to actor Naomi Scott about her fabulous performance in Parker Finn’s scary sequel Smile 2 [23:26 — 37:26 approx]. Then, the team — this week comprising Chris, James Dyer, Ben Travis and, in a rare appearance, our news editor Beth Webb — tackle two horror-related questions from listeners, including the horror flicks they think should have been nominated for Best Picture, and an impromptu Mount Rushmore of vampire films (we can only apologise for Beth’s sacrilegious shout for the Fright Night remake over the original!)

Elsewhere, much movie news is discussed, including the addition of Krypto the Superdog to James Gunn’s Superman, new trailers for A24 fantasy adventure The Legend Of Ochi and Aardman animation Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl, and confirmation at last of a Ready Or Not sequel (that really should be called Ready Or Not: Here I Come). Plus, we have another great guest to bring you on the pod this week as Chris has a lovely chat with Woman Of The Hour director-star Anna Kendrick, [58:47 — 1:16:56 approx], and then in the reviews section we tackle that very film — plus The Wild Robot, Smile 2, and The Apprentice, with guest reviewer Alex Godfrey. Oh, and the team, alongside a very special guest, bid Ben a heartfelt farewell as he heads off on paternity leave. Good luck Ben! And listeners, as ever, please do enjoy.