Long Time Listener (2026) Review

Long Time Listener (2026) Review

When a true-crime podcaster becomes the target of a mysterious “long time listener,” fame quickly turns deadly. Pulled into a web of secrets that grow darker by the minute, she faces long-buried truths that blur the line between storyteller and victim … and raises one terrifying question: Who’s really in control of the story?

This noir-esque crime thriller marks the directorial debut of Danielle Nicolet (The Flash, Central Intelligence), who also stars as Elle. The film also stars Meagan Holder (Monarch, Pitch) as Genesis; Lyriq Bent (She’s Gotta Have it, Tyler Perry’s Acrimony) as Carter; Cleo Berry as Max; Lisha Wheeler as Ruby; and featuring a cameo by Torrei Hart (Atlanta Exes).

Long Time Listener opens with a strikingly nostalgic aesthetic, evoking a distinctly 1990s visual style that immediately captures attention and sets a promising tone. That retro sensibility suggests a tense, character-driven thriller—or perhaps even something knowingly campy. Unfortunately, while the film’s presentation intrigues, its narrative struggles to deliver on that initial promise.

At the centre is Genesis, a true-crime podcaster played by Meagan Holder, who begins as a refreshingly bold and outspoken protagonist. When threatening calls begin to disrupt her life, her sharpness and resilience make her an engaging figure to follow. For a time, the film benefits from her energy, hinting at a story that might subvert expectations by allowing its lead to remain firmly in control.

However, this potential is gradually undermined. As the plot progresses, Genesis is reduced to a far more passive role, her earlier confidence giving way to a more conventional depiction of vulnerability. By the film’s climax, she is no longer driving the action but reacting to it—culminating in a resolution that denies her the agency she initially seemed to promise. The decision to have her ultimately rescued, rather than resolve the situation herself, feels particularly disappointing and at odds with her earlier characterisation.

Narratively, the film leans on a familiar “whodunnit” framework, one that should, in theory, generate tension and keep audiences guessing. Yet the execution falls short. Instead of building suspense through escalating stakes and carefully placed revelations, the story becomes bogged down in melodramatic relationship subplots that dilute its impact. The result is a thriller that rarely thrills, lacking both urgency and genuine intrigue.

There is also a noticeable tonal hesitation. The premise lends itself well to a more heightened, even camp approach—something that might have embraced the film’s stylised visuals and injected a sense of fun into its familiar storyline. Instead, Long Time Listener plays things straight, and in doing so, feels oddly flat.

In the end, while the film shows flashes of potential—particularly in its opening and in the early portrayal of its protagonist—it fails to sustain momentum or deliver a satisfying payoff. What could have been a sharp, self-aware thriller instead settles into something far more conventional and, ultimately, forgettable.

Premiering April 2 on AMC’s ALLBLK Network