065 - New Year's Evil (1980) & Antisocial (2013) →

CW: Suicide, Mental Illness

Worst 2017/18 - #9 Antisocial

Happy New Year, Pod Sematary Fossors! Chris & Kelsey are celebrating two weeks of New Year's horror "fun"!

First up is a New Year's classic we've seen before an totally forgot about if that tells you anything: 1980's New Year's Evil! Famous New Wave DJ Blaze is hosting a rocking celebration on the last night of the year! Meanwhile, a killer calling himself "Evil" is on the prowl murdering women every time it strikes midnight across the various time zones of the contiguous United States.

Then it's on to a movie with "a lot to say," 2013's Antisocial! This is a horror movie that thinks it's high-minded commentary on our society's connection to technology and social media. "Thinks" is the operative word here...

Plus, a Pod Sematary Year* in Review(s)!
--Our bottom ten lowest reviewed movies!
--The ten biggest disagreements with the "critical consensus"!
--Our top ten highest reviewed movies!
--The ten biggest discrepancies between Chris' and Kelsey's ratings!
(*Actually, 15 months)

Find more on podsematary.com! Read our afterthoughts for this episode at: https://twitter.com/PodSematary/status/1079570442854297600

Audio Sources:
"An American Werewolf in London" produced by PolyGram Filmed Entertainment & Lycanthrope Films
"Antisocial" produced by Black Fawn Films & Breakthrough Entertainment
"Babadook" produced by Screen Australia, et al.
"Baseketball" produced by Zucker Brothers Productions
"Beetlejuice" produced by The Geffen Company
"Cabin in the Woods" produced by Lionsgate, et al.
"Dracula Untold" produced by Legendary Entertainment, et al.
"Get Out" produced by Monkeypaw Productions, et al.
"It Follows" produced by Northern Lights Films, et al.
"New Year's Evil" produced by Golan-Globus Productions
"A Nightmare on Elm Street" produced by New Line Cinema, et al.
"Pet Sematary" written by Dee Dee Ramone & Daniel Rey and performed by The Ramones
"Rosemary's Baby" produced by William Castle Productions
"Sesame Street" produced by Children's Television Workshop (CTW), et al.
"Se7en" produced by New Line Cinema, et al.
"Silence of the Lambs" produced by Strong Heart/Demme Production & Orion Pictures
"The Wolf Man" (1941) produced by Universal Pictures

058 - Friday The 13th Part 2 (1981) & It Follows (2014) →

Best of 2017/18 - #9 (Tied) It Follows

This week on Pod Sematary, Chris and Kelsey talk about slow-moving killers that stalk people for having sex!

First up is the sequel to the classic rip-off of Halloween, 1981's Friday the 13th Part 2! Jason makes his first appearance as the villain of the series and still does have his mask, but boy does he have mommy issues. Will he be able to resist getting revenge when an entire camp counselor training facility opens up on the lake on Friday the 13th? No. Of course he won't.

Then it's on to 2014's It Follows, one of the best horror films of the past decade. A shambling terror stalks a line of sexual partners. What can a couple of teenagers from Detroit do to stop it? Can it be stopped? We often talk about "What now?" endings, but for the beautiful, nostalgic, and melancholic It Follows, that question is the entire point of the movie.

Get more at podsematary.com! Read our afterthoughts for this episode at t.co/rX0e9AGGRk

Audio Sources:
"Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy" produced by Apatow Productions, et al.
"Forgotten" (from the "Fez soundtrack) composed and performed by Disasterpeace
"Friday the 13th Part 2" produced by Georgetown Productions Inc. & Sean S. Cunningham Films
"It Follows" produced by Northern Lights Films, et al.
"Old Maid" (from the "It Follows" soundtrack) composed and performed by Disasterpeace
"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
"Stranger Things" produced by Netflix, et al.
"Title" (from the "It Follows" soundtrack) composed and performed by Disasterpeace

054 - Scream (1996) & The Cabin In The Woods (2012) →

Best of 2017/18 - #4 (Tied) The Cabin in the Woods

It's Horror Tropes Week on Pod Sematary! Chris and Kelsey get meta talking about some of the best examples of self-aware horror films that exist! (To be sure, there are more...)

First up is one we've been talking about since our first episode: 1996's Scream! Wes Craven got a bit meta with 1994's New Nightmare, but that movie only covered the one franchise: Freddy. Then along came Kevin Williamson and the two really got rolling with a film the transformed the whole genre for Generation X (for good or ill). Is this clever classic worth all of the not-so-great imposters?

Then it's on to the film that doesn't just want to observe the tropes but tear the whole genre down and start over: 2012's The Cabin in the Woods! Joss Whedon and Drew Goddard bring their experience and wit to address the big questions. Why do characters act like idiots in horror movies? Why only use that great weapon once? And what happens when the audience doesn't get what they expect?

Plus:
--a trip to Knott's Scary Farm!
--the new Pet Sematary trailer!

Get more at podsematary.com! Read our afterthoughts for this episode at https://twitter.com/PodSematary/status/1051648875990118400

Audio Sources:
"The Cabin in the Woods" produced by Lionsgate, et al.
"Ice" (The X-Files S01E08) produced by Ten Thirteen Productions in association with 20th Century Fox Television
"Jamie Kennedy Ruins E3 - Activision Press Conference 2007" via gamesradararchive @ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IifE-EAuSAI
"Like Father, Like Son" produced by Partnership for a Drug-Free America
"Pet Sematary" written by Dee Dee Ramone & Daniel Rey and performed by The Ramones
"Pet Sematary" (2019) produced by Alphaville Films & Paramount Pictures
"Red Dawn" produced by United Artists & Valkyrie Films
"Red Right Hand" written by Mick Harvey, Nick Cave, and Thomas Wydler and performed by Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds
"Roll with the Changes" written by Kevin Cronin and performed by REO Speedwagon
"Scream" produced by Dimension Films & Woods Entertainment

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

033 - se7en (1995) & Zodiac (2007) →

Best of 2017/18 - #1 se7en

It's Serial Killer Week on Pod Sematary! Entirely by chance, it's also David Fincher Week, which has Chris excited because Fincher is one of his all-time favorite directors. First up is 1995's se7en, where you can hear Chris express his love for Brad Pitt (who is as an angel). Then it's on to 2007's based-on-a-true-story Zodiac, where Kelsey admits she might just die if she were in the same situation. We've got some absolute bangers this week, folks!

Get more at podsematary.com! Read our afterthoughts for this episode at twitter.com/PodSematary/status/998377566653198336

Audio Sources:
"David Fincher - And the Other Way is Wrong" via Every Frame a Painting @ www.youtube.com/watch?v=QPAloq5MCUA
"David Fincher - Invisible Details" via kaptainkristian @ www.youtube.com/watch?v=QChWIFi8fOY
"How David Fincher Hijacks Your Eyes" via Nerdwriter1 @ www.youtube.com/watch?v=GfqD5WqChUY
"Hurdy Gurdy Man" written and performed by Donovan
"Pet Sematary" written by Dee Dee Ramone & Daniel Rey and performed by The Ramones
"se7en" produced by New Line Cinema, et al
"Star Wars" produced by Lucasfilm and Twentieth Century Fox
"True Romance" produced by August Entertainment, et al
"Zodiac" produced by Paramount Pictures, et al
"Zodiac | When Truth is Stranger Than Fiction" via Film Radar @ www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lb75EkzE24k&t=1s

029 - The Silence Of The Lambs (1991) & Memoir Of A Murderer (2017) →

Best of 2017/18 - #3 The Silence of the Lambs

This week on Pod Sematary, Chris & Kelsey Wrap up what will probably be our last Hannibal Lecter film with 1991's The Silence of the Lambs. Does it live up to the hype? Of course it does (count how many times Chris says "iconic")! Then we head overseas for 2017's Memoir of a Murderer from Korea. A serial killer has Alzheimer's and gives up the trade, but can he use his skills and fight his affliction in order stop a new killer in town and save his daughter? Man, that's still a great concept.

Attribution:
"Carry On Wayward Son" written by Kerry Livgren and performed by Kansas
"Criss Angel is a Douche Bag" (Supernatural S04E12) copyright Warner Bros. Television
"Goodbye Horses" written and produced by William Garvey and performed by Q Lazzarus
"It" copyright 1980 by Warner Bros. Television
"Memoir of a Murderer" copyright 2017 by Green Fish Pictures
"S&M Present" (Robot Chicken S01E09 - "What a Twist") copyright Cartoon Network
"Silence of the Lambs" copyright 1991 by Orion Pictures
"Silence of the Lambs - Who Wins the Scene?" via Every Frame a Painting @ www.youtube.com/watch?v=5V-k-p4wzxg
"Weird Satanist Guy" via BowserVids @ www.youtube.com/watch?v=YErFwJX0HKE 

027 - Häxan (1922) & Sleepy Hollow (1999) →

Best of 2017/18 - #9 (Tied) Häxan: Witchcraft Through the Ages

It's all about witches... again! This week on Pod Sematary, we go back to the silent film era for what some call the first ever documentary: 1922's Häxan: Witchcraft Through the Ages! While we're on the subject of witches, we might as well turn to Tim Burton's only true horror movie: 1999's Sleepy Hollow! Is this the last great Burton film or the first stumble in his downfall? Why not listen and find out?

022 - The Cabinet Of Dr Caligari (1920) & The Babadook (2014) →

Best of 2017/18 - #7 (Tied) The Babadook

This week, Kelsey and Chris go back to where it all "began" with 1920's The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari. Is this the movie that might get the Never-Silent crowd on board? And then, we spend quite a while gushing over Australia's the Babadook from 2014. We dig deep into this one and what it means to us. 
Don't forget to rate, comment, and subscribe! (That's what I'm supposed to say, right?)

018 - Double Feature - Rosemary's Baby (1968 & 2014) →

CW: Rape, Miscarriage, Suicide

Best of 2017/18 - #2 Rosemary’s Baby (1968)

Chris and Kelsey stay all up in that SJW stuff this week, moving on to feminist masterpiece(?) Rosemary's Baby from 1968. But it's a Double Feature week at Pod Sematary, so we're also tackling the existent(?) TV Miniseries from 2014! Does it have any reason at all to exist other than as an excuse for Zoe Saldana and her sisters to take a trip to Paris? Well...

017 - Society (1989) & Get Out (2017) →

Best of 2017/18 - #4 (Tied) Get Out

We step into the fire this week on Pod Sematary with two movies all about social justice. Kelsey and Chris watch 1989's Society, a body-horror flick all about the rich "sucking off" the poor. Then it's the universally acclaimed Get Out from just last year. It has four Oscar nominations, including 3 for writer/director/producer, Jordan Peele. But is it really that good? (Spoiler: Yes.)