June Watched
Monthly recap of what I watched in June 2025.
Let me begin by stating that this week has consisted of nothing but sincerely infernal temperatures, so I am grateful for anyone willing to spend 6 minutes reading my June Watched in this fiery climate that even Dante himself couldn’t describe.
Before we get into this month’s watchlist, allow me to fill you in on what’s been going on in Emily’s World. I have been in the trenches with my job this month, but I’ve redacted any references to work from this catch up because it’s either #embargoed or #boring. At the start of the month, Del and I went on a romantic camping trip to Crewkerne, Somerset. Together we climbed a tree, wined and dined under the stars, fought over the aux and consequently smelt like smoke for a week — more so than usual.
The following weekend, I returned to Cambridge for a formal dinner with some old friends and saw a really great West End play, ‘The Fifth Step’ starring Jack Lowden and Martin Freeman — thank you to Chris for another amazing theatre trip! Jasper and I hit the mean streets of Camberwell for a good old catch up, I then completed a serious ECav Solo Mission at Lambeth County Show in Brockwell Park. Birds of prey, reggae, and vegetable sculptures; living in South London truly is the gift that keeps on giving. And my monthly dinner with Josh really upped its game at Trullo in Islington — both the scran and the gossip were off the charts.
In sadder news, I was involved in a vicious stairway entanglement at Jumbi (Peckham) when out for a mate’s birthday (I had 10 pints on an empty stomach, absolutely stacked it down three steps, scraped both my knees and twisted my left ankle). After some serious kneecap rehabilitation (2 x Snoopy plasters and 3 days of moaning), Del and I made the world’s most loaded nachos and started the Big Glee Rewatch with Soph. Finally recovered, I later ignited a love affair with face paint and/or tigers at Fulham Pier’s Opening Weekend party where Claire, Yoel, Soph, the Seans and I saw Example play a free, albeit very sweaty gig.
In true Del and Em fashion, a mid-week date night in Little Portugal ended up as a lock-in at The Phoenix with our new friends Dennis the barman and Dave the stoner. Dennis even said we could host a BBQ in the beer garden; invitations pending. During this unanticipated lock-in, Lorde’s new album ‘Virgin’ dropped and it has been On Repeat since. Last weekend, I also went to the sweatiest pub I’ve ever been to (The Greyhound, Peckham) with Claire, Laura, Tim, Austin, Alex and some Australians. As a result of the £4 pint offer, this also descended into another night of shit techno and major oversharing. Though in a more wholesome turn, Vicky’s birthday picnic brought lots of the old gang back together — although I felt deeply betrayed by the fact Victoria Park is in Hackney Wick and not Victoria…
I finished the month of June with a double date at Greenwich Peninsula Driving Range, where I came to the realisation that having 10 golf lessons at 8 years old does not make me ‘an ex-golfer’, nor does a 5 year stint working a golf club bar. However, I did manage to hit one around 132 yards, but I also missed about 132 shots, too. Sorry Nana and Grandad! A trip to the Prince Charles Cinema followed by some sun stroke left me bedbound on the final day of June, but I summoned the strength to participate in Pizza Party Competition: Round 2. If I’m honest I think I only won the vote because Del used vegetarian chicken, but to give away my crown now would be undemocratic. So let’s get on to the movies of June!
Film Club: Mission Impossible: Rogue Nation (2015)
It’s likely that there will be a TC film on every Monthly Watched from now on. You just can’t beat the airplane jumping, motorbike drifting, scuba-swimming thrills of a Mission Impossible movie. And Rogue Nation was no exception.
Echo Valley (2025)
Watched at Clapham Picturehouse with Chris. I didn’t really know what to expect from Echo Valley as it was receiving a very limited theatrical release before heading straight to Apple TV, but I was fairly impressed by this atmospheric rural thriller. If you’re a fan of Gone Girl and/or horses, I would give this a watch.
Trainspotting (1996)
Watched at the Prince Charles Cinema with Del as part of PCC’s ‘Bleak Week’. One of the best films of all time, and what a treat to see this on the big screen for the first time. Also includes my favourite line in any movie ever — let me know if you can guess it…
Film Club: Game Night (2018)
One of my top 10 comedies of all time. On a rewatch, the ensemble cast makes this film a bit messy at times but I still think it’s a smart, funny Friday night watch.
Showgirls (1995)
Watched the 4k restoration at Finsbury Park Picturehouse with Sheila. People were not ready for Showgirls then, nor are we now. But I’ll book a seat at every anniversary screening and hope that maybe one day mainstream audiences will come around to this fantastically brutal takedown of razzle dazzle culture — within which girls are forever and always just for show.
28 Years Later (2025)
Watched at Clapham Picturehouse. I am a huge fan of dream team Boyle x Garland, so it’s no surprise that I enjoyed 28 Years Later. I do think what the film is saying about post-Brexit, post-Covid British culture is far more interesting than the plot, but I think this messaging will become more integral to the actual storyline in the remainder of the trilogy.
Film Club: Sunset Boulevard (1950)
A true, inimitable classic; I just can’t believe I hadn’t seen this earlier. This viewing also confirmed that my favourite sub-genre is 100% ‘films about filmmaking’.
Booksmart (2019)
Watched at the Prince Charles Cinema. When Booksmart first came out, I fell head over heels for the film — so when I saw the Prince Charles was showing it, I knew I had to go. During the opening ten minutes, I was a bit concerned that it wasn’t as good as I remembered. Alas, as it continued, I still felt love for my woke woman Superbad after all this time. And there’s a Perfume Genius needle drop — enough said.
From Hilde, with Love (2024)
Watched at Clapham Picturehouse with Chris. A moving historical drama about two German resistance fighters — that lacked some momentum in my opinion, but still had some very powerful moments. From Hilde, With Love uses a lot of achronological storytelling which I think was a detriment to both the pace and stakes of the film.
Bugsy Malone (1976)
Bugsy Malone was one of few DVDs I had at my Dad’s house growing up, so this was a classic for any lazy Sunday morning or off-school sick days. Watching again for the first time in fifteen years, I did feel weird about Jodie Foster playing an overtly sexualised showgirl… but the rest of the film is still fantastic and the tunes are quality.
The Talented Mr Ripley (1999)
Nothing says Euro-summer like a bit of identity fraud and murder. I think if I could live in the world of any film, I would pick this one. But I guess I could just go to Italy in real life.
How To Train your Dragon (2025)
Watched at Clapham Picturehouse with Claire and Soph. The HTTYD localisation campaign was brutal, but Toothless is so cute that all is forgiven.
A Woman Under The Influence (1974)
Watched on 35mm at NFT1, BFI Southbank. Without a doubt, Gena Rowlands in A Woman Under the Influence is my favourite acting performance of all time. If you are too a neurotic Fiona-Apple-listening and/or Sylvia-Plath-wielding woman like me, please watch this film ASAP!
Old Boy (2003)
Watched on 35mm at the Prince Charles Cinema with Del, Daf, Billie and Natina. In an attempt to avoid spoiling the best plot twist ever, I will not say much aside from please, please, please watch Old Boy if you haven’t already. But maybe not with your parents.
The Elephant Man (1980)
Probably the least Lynchian David Lynch film I’ve ever seen, but I still really enjoyed it. Based on the account of Frederick Treves (‘The Elephant Man and Other Reminiscences’), this film is Edward Scissorhands meets a very bleak The Greatest Showman.
Thanks for reading my blog! July is going to be a busy, busy month, but I still hope to get some great films watched. As always, let me know what you saw in June and what I may have missed out on. Until next time…
Your friend always,
Emily