128 - Night of the Living Dead (1968) & 28 Weeks Later (2007) →

CW: Rape, Domestic Violence

Best of 2020 - #7 (Tied) Night of the Living Dead

Read our afterthoughts for this episode at https://twitter.com/PodSematary/status/1241493086502629387

It’s another Zombie Week on Pod Sematary! Chris & Kelsey are smarter than you remember and know how to use tools!

The Classic Film: Night of the Living Dead (1968)
"A ragtag group of Pennsylvanians barricade themselves in an old farmhouse to remain safe from a bloodthirsty, flesh-eating breed of monsters who are ravaging the East Coast of the United States” (IMDb.com). This black & white classic has some rough edges, but it's better than you might expect and redefined zombies for generations to come.

The Modern Film: 28 Weeks Later (2007)
"Six months after the rage virus was inflicted on the population of Great Britain, the US Army helps to secure a small area of London for the survivors to repopulate and start again. But not everything goes according to plan” (IMDb.com). This sequel which included none of the creatives or actors from the original isn't half bad, but it fails to live up to the kinetic energy and fear of the original.

Audio Sources:
"28 Weeks Later" produced by Fox Atomic, et al.
"A Land Without Magic" (Once Upon a Time, S01E22) produced by Kitsis/Horowitz & ABC Studios
"Clue" produced by Paramount Pictures, et al
"Dec 8, 1987" (ABC News) produced by ABC News
"Halloween" produced by Compass International Pictures, et al.
"Night of the Living Dead" (1968) produced Image Ten
"Pet Sematary" written by Dee Dee Ramone & Daniel Rey and performed by The Ramones
"That Time Disney Remade Beauty and the Beast" via Lindsay Ellis @ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vpUx9DnQUkA

127 - Leprechaun 2 (1994) & Muck (2015) →

CW: Sexual Assault

Worst of 2020 - #1 Muck; #2 Leprechaun 2

Read our afterthoughts for this episode at https://twitter.com/PodSematary/status/1239073779965280256

It’s St. Patrick's Week on Pod Sematary and Chris & Kelsey drink a leprechaun under the table!

The Classic Film: Leprechaun 2 (1994)

"On his one thousandth birthday, an evil leprechaun selects the descendant of one of his slaves to have as his bride, leaving it up to the girl's boyfriend to save her” (IMDb.com). Oddly the only film in the franchise to actually take place on St. Patrick's Day, this sequel isn't good enough to deserve following the first installment, a film we didn't even like that much in the first place.

The Modern Film: Muck (2015)

"After narrowly escaping an ancient burial ground, a group of friends find themselves trapped between two evils, forcing them to fight, die, or go back the way they came” (Steve Wolsh). A story with no beginning and no end (and not all that much in between, now that we come to it), this movie was just an expensive excuse to film some Playboy models in their underwear admiring themselves in a mirror. Featuring Friday the 13th's Kane Hodder as... Grawesome Crutal? No, that can't be right.

Audio Sources:
"Freaks" (1932) produced by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
"Leprechaun 2" produced by Planet Productions
"Muck" produced by Universal Studios Sound Facilities & WithAnO Productions
"Pet Sematary" written by Dee Dee Ramone & Daniel Rey and performed by The Ramones

126 w/ Jessie - Man Bites Dog (1992) & The Houses October Built (2014) →

CW: Rape, Suicide, Infanticide

Read our afterthoughts for this episode at https://twitter.com/PodSematary/status/1236774557500964864

It’s Fake Documentary Week on Pod Sematary! Chris & Kelsey invite friend-of-the-sematary Jessie over to dish about one of the better sub-sub-genres of horror, the fake documentary! Plus, getting punched in the face at Knott's Scary Farm! Thanks for the recommendations, Harry and Anthony!

The Classic Film: Man Bites Dog [C'est arrivé près de chez vous] (1992)
"A film crew follows a ruthless thief and heartless killer as he goes about his daily routine. But complications set in when the film crew lose their objectivity and begin lending a hand” (IMDb.com). Early 90s hipster filmmakers loved making provocative, black and white, dark comedies on a shoestring budget and the Belgians were no different, apparently!

The Modern Film: The Houses October Built (2014)
"Looking to find an authentic, blood-curdling good fright for Halloween, five friends set off on a road trip in an RV to track down these underground Haunts. Just when their search seems to reach a dead end, strange and disturbing things start happening and it becomes clear that the Haunt has come to them” (IMDb.com). A sort-of-remake of a fake documentary the same filmmakers already made, this movie is very effective at evoking anxiety through its realism, but only the first time around...

Audio Sources:
"Halloween Spooks" written and performed by Lambert, Hendricks & Ross
"The Houses October Built" produced by Room 101 & Foreboding Films
"Last Exit to Springfield" (The Simpsons S04E17) produced by Gracie Films & 20th Century Fox Television
"Man Bites Dog" produced by Les Artistes Anonymes
"Pet Sematary" written by Dee Dee Ramone & Daniel Rey and performed by The Ramones
"S&M Present" (Robot Chicken S01E09) produced by Stoopid Monkey, et al. 
"This is Spinal Tap" produced by Spinal Tap Prod. & Goldcrest Films International

125 - Critters (1986) & The Bay (2012) →

CW: Suicide

Read our afterthoughts for this episode at https://twitter.com/PodSematary/status/1233948610728849409

It’s a Creature Feature Week on Pod Sematary! Chris & Kelsey watch some flicks about little animals terrorizing humanity. Thanks for the recommendations, Lou and Wes! Plus, we talk about the new Candyman trailer!

The Classic Film: Critters (1986)
"A group of small, furry aliens makes lunch out of the locals in a farming town” (IMDb.com). Almost completely harmless and a little charming, we all know we're just watching this one to get to Leo in part 3. 

The Modern Film: The Bay (2012)
"Chaos breaks out in a small Maryland town after an ecological disaster occurs” (IMDb.com). What could have been bog-standard found-footage terror, Barry Levinson's eco-horror surprised us with some clever twists on a tired presentation. 

Audio Sources:
"Adventures in Babysitting" produced by Touchstone Pictures & Silver Screen Partners III
"The Bay" produced by Automatik Entertainment, et al.
"Candyman" (2020) produced by Monkeypaw Productions, et al.
"Critters" produced by New Line Cinema, et al.
"Jaws" produced by Zanuck/Brown Productions & Universal Pictures
"Pet Sematary" written by Dee Dee Ramone & Daniel Rey and performed by The Ramones

124 - Double Feature - Suspiria (1977 & 2018) →

Best of 2020 - #6 Suspiria (1977)

Read our afterthoughts for this episode here! 

It’s a double feature week on Pod Sematary! Chris & Kelsey finally discuss the Dario Argento classic, Suspiria, and it's not-a-remake remake!

The Original: Suspiria (1977)
"An American newcomer to a prestigious German ballet academy comes to realize that the school is a front for something sinister amid a series of grisly murders” (IMDb.com). This movie should really be seen more than discussed, but we're doing it anyway!

The Remake: Suspiria (2018)
"A darkness swirls at the center of a world-renowned dance company, one that will engulf the artistic director, an ambitious young dancer, and a grieving psychotherapist. Some will succumb to the nightmare. Others will finally wake up” (IMDb.com) To paraphrase Kelsey, the Suspiria remake is a beautiful crust with a raw filling. Is that a good thing? Listen and find out! 

Audio Sources:
"Batman Returns" produced by Warner Bros. & PolyGram Filmed Entertainment
"Black Christmas" (1974) produced by August Films, et al.
"Fight Club" produced by Fox 2000 Pictures, et al.
"Pet Sematary" written by Dee Dee Ramone & Daniel Rey and performed by The Ramones
“Suspiria” (1977) produced by Seda Spettacoli S.P.A. Rome
“Suspiria” (2018) produced by Amazon Studios, et al.

123 - My Boyfriend's Back (1993) & Pontypool (2008) →

You can send us stuff now!

Pod Sematary
5753 E Santa Ana Cyn Rd Ste G #290
Anaheim Hills, CA 92807

CW: Pedophilia 

It’s Valentine's Day on Pod Sematary! Chris & Kelsey talk about two "zombie" movies, one of which is about love but doesn't take place on Valentine's Day and the other of which takes place on Valentine's Day but isn't about love.  

The Classic Film: My Boyfriend's Back (1993)
"A teenage boy comes back from the dead because he is determined to win the most beautiful girl in school” (IMDb.com). Even though everyone our age saw this 90s home video staple, it is often dismissed as forgettable tripe, but it's well-establish comedic tone and saccharine irony argue otherwise. Plus, zombie dick jokes!

The Modern Film: Pontypool (2008)
"A radio host interprets the possible outbreak of a deadly virus which infects the small Ontario town he is stationed in” (IMDb.com). This low-budget, indie darling has a lot of good ideas and taps into an existential terror unlike many others, but it fails to deliver on its clever premise due to inconsistent internal logic and an overwrought sense of its own grandiosity. Chris isn't mad; he's just disappointed.

Audio Sources:
"Magnolia" produced by New Line Cinema, et al.
"My Boyfriend's Back” produced by Touchstone Pictures & Touchwood Pacific Partners 1
"Pet Sematary" written by Dee Dee Ramone & Daniel Rey and performed by The Ramones
“Pontypool” produced by Ponty Up Pictures & Shadow Shows
"Valley Girl" produced by Valley 9000 Productions

122 - Army of Darkness (1992) & Pet Sematary (2019) →

You can send us stuff now!

Pod Sematary
5753 E Santa Ana Cyn Rd Ste G #290
Anaheim Hills, CA 92807

CW: Sexual Assault

Read our afterthoughts for this episode at https://twitter.com/PodSematary/status/1223797682021392384

It’s a franchise wrap-up week on Pod Sematary! Chris & Kelsey watch the last two movies in iconic franchises they’ve covered on the show before!

The Classic Film: Army of Darkness (1992)
"A man is accidentally transported to 1300 A.D., where he must battle an army of the dead and retrieve the Necronomicon so he can return home” (IMDb.com). Ash is at his absolute most Ash in this final film installment in the original Evil Dead franchise, all of which (and even the 2013 remake) ended up being pretty great.

The Modern Film: Pet Sematary (2019)
"Dr. Louis Creed and his wife, Rachel, relocate from Boston to rural Maine with their two young children. The couple soon discover a mysterious burial ground hidden deep in the woods near their new home” (IMDb.com). Chris has softened on this double-adaptation since they first discussed it in episode 80, but both hosts still feel like almost every change from the source material was the wrong one.

Plus! Our mild-spoiler thoughts on The Shining sequel, Doctor Sleep!

Audio Sources:
“Army of Darkness” produced by Dino De Laurentiis Company, et al.
"Break Stuff" written by Fred Durst, et al. and performed by Limp Bizkit
"My Name is Bruce" produced by Dark Horse Entertainment & Image Entertainment
"Pet Sematary" (1989) produced by Paramount Pictures & Laurel Productions 
“Pet Sematary” (2019) produced by Paramount Pictures, et al.
"Pet Sematary” (Song, 2019) written by Dee Dee Ramone & Daniel Rey and performed by Starcrawler

121 - Double Feature - The Wicker Man (1973 & 2006) →

CW: PTSD, Death of a child

Read our afterthoughts for this episode at https://twitter.com/PodSematary/status/1221604122639683590

It’s a Gaslight Double Feature on Pod Sematary! Chris & Kelsey don’t know what to believe this week, including whether Nicolas Cage’s hilarious acting is intentional or not.

The Classic Film: The Wicker Man (1973)
"A puritan Police Sergeant is sent to a Scottish island village in search of a missing girl who the townsfolk claim never existed; stranger still are the pagan rites that take place there” (IMDb.com). The little old police sergeant goes 'round and 'round. Always the same way, y'see, until it ends up right up tight to the nail. Poor old thing.

The Modern Film: The Wicker Man (2006)
"A sheriff investigating the disappearance of a young girl from a small island discovers there's a larger mystery to solve among the island's secretive, neo-pagan community” (IMDb.com). Basically, this is the first movie again but turned up to 11 and with humor (possibly?), mental disturbance, action, acting “choices,” and personal stakes thrown in. Not many people really like it, but even if you do, you can see why. 

Audio Sources:
”Pet Sematary” written by Dee Dee Ramone & Daniel Rey and performed by The Ramones
”Thank You for Smoking" produced by Room 9 Entertainment, et al.
“The Wicker Man” (1973) produced by British Lion Film Corporation
“The Wicker Man” (2006) produced by Warner Bros., et al.

120 - The Exorcist (1973) & Ava's Possessions (2015) →

CW: Child Molestation, Rape, Genital Mutilation

Best of 2020 - #7 (Tied) The Exorcist

Read our afterthoughts for this episode at https://twitter.com/PodSematary/status/1219011754568499200

It’s Demonic Possession Week on Pod Sematary! Chris & Kelsey feel compelled to discuss the supposed "Scariest movie of all time!" Thank you to @TheChickapedia for the recommendations!

The Classic Film: The Exorcist (1973)
"When a young girl is possessed by a mysterious entity, her desperate mother seeks the help of two priests to save her daughter” (IMDb.com). A creepy movie that managed somehow to actually frighten millions, The Exorcist may not be that terrifying but it's certainly an incredible film.

The Modern Film: Ava's Possessions (2015)
"Ava Dobkins is recovering from demonic possession. With no memory of the past month, she is forced to attend a Spirit Possession Anonymous support group. As Ava struggles to reconnect with her friends, get her job back, and figure out where the huge bloodstain in her apartment came from, she's plagued by nightmarish visions - the demon is trying to come back” (Momentum Pictures). A great premise and promising tone aren't enough to save this predictable surprise from its own plot.

Audio Sources:
"Ava's Possessions" produced by 
“BLAME BEELZABUB” written by Sean Lennon and Jordan Galland & performed by Foley Stewart
"Episode #11.20" (You Bet Your Life, S11E20) produced by FilmCraft Productions
"The Exorcist" produced by Warner Bros. & Hoya Productions
"Max von Sydow" via Say It Like A Swede @  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SG6TBfUD1_U
"Pet Sematary" written by Dee Dee Ramone & Daniel Rey and performed by The Ramones
"Star Wars: Episode VII - The Force Awakens" produced by Lucasfilm, et al.
"Tubular Bells" composed by Mike Oldfield

119 - The Best of 2019 →

Read our afterthoughts for this episode at https://twitter.com/PodSematary/status/1212539244993867776

While Kelsey and Chris are off on their honeymoon, start the new year off right with a look back at the best movies they covered on the podcast in 2019! Listen to Chris and Kelsey tell you that, yes, of course, you should watch these movies! 

Plus! 

• Personal best lists!

• The biggest differences between our scores and the critics!

• Several mentions of tension and patience!

• Rationalization of 100-point scores!

To listen to these episodes and check out their individual source credits, click the links below:

10: http://bit.ly/2MQ8J70
9: http://bit.ly/2QA6Dt2
8: http://bit.ly/37uH9UR
7: http://bit.ly/35nDE0V
6: http://bit.ly/2QLfvw2
5: http://bit.ly/2ufWZVd
3 (Tied): http://bit.ly/36n6G2m
3 (Tied): http://bit.ly/37vLvLp
1 (Tied): http://bit.ly/2ufWZVd
1 (Tied): http://bit.ly/37ArlQn

Additional Audio Sources:
"Disney's Halloween Treat" produced by Walt Disney Productions
"Pet Sematary" written by Dee Dee Ramone & Daniel Rey and performed by The Ramones