048 - Happy Birthday To Me (1981) & Happy Death Day (2017) →

CW: Discussions of rape and rape culture

It's a Two-Week Birthday Extravaganza on Pod Sematary! 

For Chris' birthday, we're starting off with an underrated and underrepresented 1981 could-be-classic, Happy Birthday to Me! It's a bit cluttered, plot items are forgotten, and the ending is slightly cheaty, but the twists and inventive kills keep coming! Why isn't anyone talking about this movie?

Then it's on to the 2017 might've-been-classic, Happy Death Day - basically the Groundhog Day Slasher. It has TONS of potential, but seems to squander it with misstep after misstep and sometimes feels like it was meant for another era... and not in a good way. It can be genuinely interesting and funny and maybe has an important lesson after all, but is it worth it?

Plus!
The Jim Henson Exhibition! (https://www.henson.com/events.php)
Slash Cards! (https://www.playslashcards.com/)

Get more at podsematary.com! Read our afterthoughts for this episode at https://twitter.com/i/moments/1036731804319772672

Audio Sources:
"Carrie" (1976) produced by Red Bank Films
"Dead Bodies Everywhere" written and performed by Korn
"Happy Birthday to Me" (1981) produced by The Birthday Film Corporation, et al.
"Happy Birthday to Me" (song) written by Lance Rubin Lyrics & Molly-Ann Leikin and performed by Syreeta
"Happy Death Day" (2017) produced by Universal Pictures, et al.
"In da Club" written by Curtis Jackson, Andre Young, & Mike Elizondo and performed by 50 Cent
"Pet Sematary" written by Dee Dee Ramone & Daniel Rey and performed by The Ramones

047 - The Dark Half (1993) & Secret Window (2004) →

Content Warning: Suicide

It's all pseudonymous folderol this week on Pod Sematary! Both movies are Stephen King adaptations about writers who are so tormented by their demons that... well, it's Stephen King, ya know? Don't get us wrong -- we love Stephen King, but is he just using us as his therapy at this point?

First up is 1993's The Dark Half starring Timothy Hutton and Timothy Hutton. Thad Beaumont buries his alter ego to avoid controversy, but George Stark just doesn't want to stay buried. Ask Mama if she believes it, but it would really make no difference to us either way.

Then it's on to 2004's Secret Window starring Johnny Depp and... Timothy Hutton again! Mort Rainey never used a pseudonym himself, but that won't stop John Shooter from taking credit for one of his stories -- and demanding that Mort fix the ending. The ending of this movie, on the other hand, doesn't do much to impress. Chris will argue that the movie is underrated, but by how much?

But stick around for some spoiler-talk about Castle Rock's 6th and 7th episodes, "Filter" and "The Queen". "The Queen" may be one of the best episodes of television this year, but why does Kelsey still feel let down?

Get more at podsematary.com!

Audio Sources:
"Chico and the Man" performed by José Feliciano
"The Dark Half" produced by Orion Pictures and George A. Romero Productions
"The Dark Half (Stephen King) - PC Game Review - Pushing Up Roses" via Pushing Up Roses @ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=apGURCNUqUA
"Got Your Money" written by Chad Hugo, Russell Jones, & Pharrell Williams and performed by Ol' Dirty Bastard
"Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2" produced by Marvel Studios and Walt Disney Pictures
"Jurassic Park" produced by Universal Pictures and Amblin Entertainment
"Once in a Lifetime" written by David Byrne, et al. and performed by The Talking Heads
"Pet Sematary" written by Dee Dee Ramone & Daniel Rey and performed by The Ramones
"A Picture is Worth 1,000 Bucks" (Family Guy S02E11) produced by Fuzzy Door Productions, et al.
"Secret Window" produced by Columbia Pictures Corporation, et al.
"Whoopi Goldberg" (Muppets Tonight S01E09) produced by Jim Henson Products and The Jim Henson Company (via Laser Time @ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PCY0aeUx-Ns)

046 - Double Feature - House On Haunted Hill (1959 & 1999) →

It's a House on Haunted Hill Double Feature this week on Pod Sematary!

Chris and Kelsey start off with the 1959 Vincent Price classic, House on Haunted Hill (with EMERGO Technology)! Guests are invited to stay the night in this haunted abode in exchange for $10,000! Are the ghosts (and scary, floating maids) coming for you next?

Then it's on to the remake from 40 years later, *1999's* House on Haunted Hill! As loyal listeners will know, this movie disturbed Kelsey something fierce when she was a tween - will it still hold such sway over her nerves in her thirties?

Get more at podsematary.com!

Audio Sources:
"Batman Forever" produced by Warner Bros. and PolyGram Filmed Entertainment
"Corky Romano" produced by Touchstone Pictures and Robert Simonds Productions
"Dungeons and Dragons" written by Dan Harmon and performed by The Dead Alewives
"House on Haunted Hill" (1959) produced by William Castle Productions
"House on Haunted Hill" (1999) produced by Dark Castle Entertainment
"John Hamm/Coldplay" (Saturday Night Live S34E06, "Vincent Price's Halloween Special") produced by Broadway Video & NBC Productions
"Science Fiction/Double Feature" written by Richard O'Brien & Richard Hartley and performed by Joan Jett and the Blackhearts
"Thriller" written by Rod Temperton, produced by Quincy Jones, and performed by Michael Jackson

045 - Double Feature - A Nightmare On Elm Street (1984 & 2010) →

CW: Child Molestation, Sexual Assault

Best of 2017/18 - #9 (Tied) A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984)

This week on Pod Sematary, Chris & Kelsey are excited to discuss their favorite slasher villain! The Quipping Killer! The Dream Demon! The Springwood Slasher! The Bastard Son of One Hundred Maniacs! The Orangutan Goblin himself: Freddy Krueger! It's a Double Feature of A Nightmare on Elm Street!

First up is the 1984 classic! It has the best cop-out of all time because everything happens in dreams. They can do anything! This low-budget flick almost didn't happen but writer/director Wes Craven and producer Bob Shaye wouldn't stop until it was made and the world is all the better for it! Plus, will someone please analyze Kelsey's recurring nightmare?

Then it's the 2010 disappointment... Perhaps surprisingly, we'd really like to see a good Nightmare reboot, but boy did we not get one here. Unlike the Thing premakequel, which we decided was simply unnecessary, this remake is a wasted opportunity to reinvigorate the beloved franchise. But we try to find the good in it anyway... is there any?

Get more at podsematary.com! Read our afterthoughts for this episode at twitter.com/PodSematary/status/1028774860959281152

Audio Sources:
"Celebrities Read Mean Tweets #4" via Jimmy Kimmel Live @ www.youtube.com/watch?v=nrjp6e04dZ8
"Never Sleep Again: The Elm Street Legacy" produced by 1428 Films and Panic Productions
"Never Sleep Again: The Making of 'A Nightmare on Elm Street'" produced by Automat Pictures (featurettes included in home release)
"A Nightmare on Elm Street" (1984) produced by New Line Cinema, et al.
"A Nightmare on Elm Street" (2010) produced by New Line Cinema and Platinum Dunes
"Pet Sematary" written by Dee Dee Ramone & Daniel Rey and performed by The Ramones
"Nightmare on My Street" written by Will Smith, Jeff Townes, & Pete Harris and performed by DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince (featuring "Theme from A Nightmare on Elm Street" by Charles Bernstein)
"Science Fiction/Double Feature" written by Richard O'Brien & Richard Hartley and performed by Joan Jett and the Blackhearts

044 - Double Feature - The Thing (1982 & 2011) →

It's a Thing Double Feature this week on Pod Sematary and it's not at all confusing!

First up, Chris & Kelsey tackle that amazing original-- no, wait... remake? Does The Thing From Another World count as the original? No, screw it. Chris & Kelsey tackle THE ORIGINAL John Carpenter classic from 1982: The Thing! Sure, it's a classic now, but it wasn't always so beloved; have we just been watching with rose-tinted glasses?

Then it's on to the sequel-- no, wait... remake? No, wait... prequel. Then it's on to the premakequel from 2011 starring Mary Elizabeth Winstead! It's perfectly alright but ultimately forgettable and unnecessary. Are we just way off base here?

But that's not all! At the end of the episode, stick around for some Castle Rock talk! We discuss our thoughts on the first three episodes of the new Stephen King series and there's no restraint on spoilers. We each throw out a prediction on events to come, so be sure to share yours, too!

Plus!
--Manly Men
--The bottom of the Uncanny Valley
--Tormund Giantsbane
--#diabeetus
--Discussion on how trailers undermine a film literally 100% of the time
--A primer on how Netflix works and why all of their original horror films are bad

Get more at podsematary.com! Read our afterthoughts for this episode at https://twitter.com/PodSematary/status/1024371768033665024 

Audio Sources: 
"Pet Sematary" written by Dee Dee Ramone & Daniel Rey and performed by The Ramones
"Science Fiction/Double Feature" written by Richard O'Brien & Richard Hartley and performed by Joan Jett and the Blackhearts
"The Thing" (1982) (incl. Commentary with John Carpenter and Kurt Russell) produced by Universal Pictures & Turman-Foster Company
Thing
"The Thing" (2011) produced by Morgan Creek Entertainment Group, et al.

043 w/ Bob Ramos - Christine (1983) & Oculus (2013) →

It's Material Possessions Week on Pod Sematary and we have our first guest ever! It's Howdy Price from Championship Wrestling from Hollywood and the voice of Full Moon Features' Gingerdead Man: Bob Ramos!

First up is a personal favorite of Chris & Kelsey: the haunted car movie of all haunted car movies, John Carpenter and Stephen King's Christine from 1983! We absolutely love this movie and you will, too. It's over 20 years old so it's officially an antique!

Then it's on to the criminally underrated Oculus from 2013. This movie is the first foray into American cinema for Guardians of the Galaxy's Nebula, Karen Gillan. It didn't get nearly enough credit when it came out and it seemed to disappear pretty quickly. Don't let it pass you by again!

Audio Sources:
"Beach Blanket Bunker: The Untold Story of Hitler & His Prize Surfboard" (Conan, 9/27/12 S02E146) produced by Conaco
"Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure" produced by De Laurentiis Entertainment Group (DEG), et al.
"The Brave Little Toaster" produced by Hyperion Pictures, et al.
"Christine" produced by Columbia Pictures, et al.
"Christine/Silkwood/Sudden Impact/Thriller" (At the Movies with Gene Siskel and Roger Ebert S02E13) produced by Tribune Entertainment
"Guardians of the Galaxy" produced by Marvel Enterprises, et al.
"M1 A1" written by John S. Harrison Jr., Damon Albarn, & Jamie Hewlett and performed by Gorillaz
"Oculus" produced by Blumhouse Productions, et al.

042 - Carnival Of Souls (1962) & Closed For The Season (2010) →

CW: Sexual Assault, Rape (Because of course...)

Worst of 2017/18 - #4 Closed for the Season

It's Fair Week on Pod Sematary! Kelsey is a big fan of fairs, but will she still be by the end of this episode? (Hint: Yes.) 

First is 1962's Carnival of Souls, a classic psychological horror that may have influenced more in the genre than you think. But just because it did some things first, does that mean it did them well?

Oh, but the real star of this episode is 2010's Closed for the Season, which prompted Chris to shout, "Kelsey, what did you DO!?" The "And Then" nightmare is the worst we've had in a while and Chris has never been angrier. You may want to turn the volume down in this half of the episode.

Get more at podsematary.com! 

Audio Sources:
"Carnival of Souls" produced by Harcourt Productions
"Closed for the Season" produced by Shadowcast Pictures
"Pet Sematary" written by Dee Dee Ramone & Daniel Rey and performed by The Ramones
"Writing Advice from Matt Stone & Trey Parker @ NYU | MTVU's 'Stand In'" via
user Fabian Valdez @ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vGUNqq3jVLg
"Zoolander" produced by Paramount Pictures, et al.

041 - Puppetmaster (1989) & The Boy (2016) →

CW: Rape, Suicide, Miscarriage

It's all haunted dolls on this week of Pod Sematary!

First up is the 1989 Full Moon classic, Puppetmaster! Or is it Puppet Master? THE Puppetmaster? Oh, don't worry, we solve this one definitively. This movie is a poorly-paced and edited mess, but we love it. Let us tell you why.

Then on to the SEO Nightmare itself: 2016's The Boy. It's a movie full of great ideas that don't taste great together, plus fake jump scares and a failing visual motif about being watched. Find out what makes Chris ask, "Is Brahms possessed by a worm from Hell?" You know what, maybe just watch House of the Devil instead.

Plus:
--We decide once and for all if American Psycho counts as a horror movie
--Kelsey tells us how she really feels about Cannibal Holocaust
--We discuss if one can ever truly be friends with people who like Torture Porn.
--And so many Ruperts! 

Get more at podsematary.com! 

Audio Sources:
"The Boy" produced by Huayi Brothers Media, et al
"George Wendt/Elvis Costello" (Saturday Night Live S16E20, "Bill Swerski's Super Fans: Da Bears in the Indy 500") produced by Broadway Video & NBC Productions
"Hellraiser" produced by Cinemarque Entertainment BV, et al
"National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation" produced by Hughes Entertainment & Warner Bros.
"Pet Sematary" written by Dee Dee Ramone & Daniel Rey and performed by The Ramones
"Puppetmaster" produced by Empire Pictures & Full Moon Entertainment
"Snatch" produced by Columbia Pictures Corporation & SKA Films
"Wet Hot American Summer" produced by Eureka Pictures & North Coast Group ("Day b'Day")

040 - Double Feature - The Evil Dead (1981) & Evil Dead (2013)

CW: Sexual Assault, Rape

It's another Double Feature! This week, Chris & Kelsey get groovy with the indie-horror classic from 1981, The Evil Dead! Does Sam Raimi and Bruce Campbell's baby still hold up? Are we all really just remembering the other two films in the series? Or did it spawn a cult franchise for a very good reason?

Then we skip the sequels and go right to the remake (because that's how Double Features usually work!) with 2013's Evil Dead! It was directed by Fede Alvarez and stars Jane Levy, both of whom wowed us in Don't Breathe just a couple weeks ago... was that a fluke or are these two a great combination? Is it all really just a metaphor for addiction? Does it do the original justice?

Plus, we nearly melt.

Get more at podsematary.com! 

Audio Sources:
"Clue" produced by Paramount Pictures, et al
"The Evil Dead" (1981) produced by Renaissance Pictures
"Evil Dead" (2013) produced by TriStar Pictures, et al
"Pet Sematary" written by Dee Dee Ramone & Daniel Rey and performed by The Ramones
"Science Fiction/Double Feature" written by Richard O'Brien & Richard Hartley and performed by Joan Jett and the Blackhearts

039 - Hellraiser (1987) & We Are Still Here (2015) →

In this episode of Pod Sematary, Chris and Kelsey explore the further reaches of experience!

First up is the 1987 Clive Barker classic, Hellraiser! See the introductions of Pinhead, Chatterer, Butterball, and... uh... Female Cenobite? Also, hear how the movie traumatized a young Kelsey by opening her mind to an experience beyond limits, of pain and pleasure, indivisible.

Then it's on to the universally praised (for some reason) We Are Still Here from 2015. The hippies are great, but does the rest of the cast stack up? Chris doesn't understand the backstory because it's dumb, and the misses are disappointing because the hits are just so fun. Where do we end on this one?

Plus! Chris complains about the MPAA, Kelsey shares her concerns about the future of horror, and we discuss our non-spoiler thoughts on Hereditary (which we'll cover in full once it's available to stream at home). Join us! We have such sights to show you!

Get more at www.podsematary.com!

Audio Sources:
"Hellraiser" produced by Cinemarque Entertainment BV, et al
"Pet Sematary" written by Dee Dee Ramone & Daniel Rey and performed by The Ramones
"We Are Still Here" produced by Snowfort Pictures in association with Dark Sky Films