243 - Uncle Sam (1996) & Independence Day: Resurgence (2016) →

CW: Spousal Abuse, Rape

It’s American Independence Day on Pod Sematary! Chris & Kelsey celebrate the 4th respectfully and neither kick the tires nor light the fires.

Read our afterthoughts for this episode HERE!

The Classic Film: Uncle Sam (1996)
"Desert Storm vet who was killed in combat rises from the grave on July Fourth, to kill the unpatriotic citizens of his hometown, after some teens burn an American flag over his burial site” (IMDb.com). It's better than we ever could have expected, but that can't hide its most egregious sin: Uncle Sam is mostly a boring movie.

The Modern Film: Independence Day: Resurgence (2016)
"Two decades after the first Independence Day invasion, Earth is faced with a new extra-Solar threat. But will mankind's new space defenses be enough?” (IMDb.com). The original is by no means a masterpiece, but it made up for it in charisma. This sequel is just catastrophically bad and there's no amount of well-that-was-kinda-neat-I-guess that can make up for it.

Audio Sources:
"Firestarter" written by Liam Howlett, et al., and performed by The Prodigy
"Independence Day" produced by Twentieth Century Fox & Centropolis Entertainment
"Independence Day: Resurgence" produced by Twentieth Century Fox, et al.
"Science Fiction/Double Feature" written by Richard O'Brien & Richard Hartley and performed by Joan Jett and the Blackhearts
"South Park" produced by Braniff, et al.
"Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi" produced by Lucasfilm
"Thank You for Being a Friend" written by Andrew Gold and Performed by Cynthia Fee
"That's My Bush!" produced by Comedy Central, et al.
"Theme from Shaft" composed and performed by Isaac Hayes
"Uncle Sam" produced by A-Pix Entertainment, et al.

192 - Independence Day (1996) & I'll Always Know What You Did Last Summer (2006) →

CW: Suicide

The Worst of 2021 - #2 I’ll Always Know What Your Did Last Summer

It’s the 4th of July on Pod Sematary! Chris & Kelsey kick the tires and light the fires because today is our independence day!

Read our afterthoughts for this episode here!

The Classic Film: Independence Day (1996)
"The aliens are coming and their goal is to invade and destroy Earth. Fighting superior technology, mankind's best weapon is the will to survive” (IMDb.com). Okay, we may be pushing the definition of horror with this one, but it still counts! How can we NOT cover the quintessential 4th of July movie?

The Modern Film: I'll Always Know What You Did Last Summer (2006)
"A group of teenagers in Colorado find themselves being stalked and killed one by one by a mysterious figure with a hook, exactly one year after they covered up a friend's accidental death” (IMDb.com). In a very surprising turn from the first two entries in the trilogy, a normally okay franchise decided to end everything with one of the worst horror movies we've seen on the show. Just appallingly bad.

Audio Sources:
"Disturbia" written by Brian Kennedy, et al., and performed by Rihanna
"I'll Always Know What You Did Last Summer" produced by Destination Films, et al.
"Independence Day" (1996) produced by Twentieth Century Fox & Centropolis Entertainment
"It's the End of the World as We Know It (And I Feel Fine)" written by Michael Stipe, et al., and performed by R.E.M.
"Pet Sematary" written by Dee Dee Ramone & Daniel Rey and performed by The Ramones
"Reunited" written by Dino Fekaris & Freddie Perren and performed by Peaches & Herb

091 - Jaws (1975) & The Shallows (2016) →

Best of 2019 - #3 (Tied) Jaws

It’s Shark Week on Pod Sematary! Chris & Kelsey celebrate their nation’s Independence Day by trekking to the beach to become shark food instead of doing the sensible thing and staying indoors at all times! But it’s okay: they’re fighters!

The Classic Film: Jaws (1975)
"When a [great white] shark unleashes chaos on a beach community, it's up to the local [police chief], a marine biologist, and an old seafarer to hunt the beast down.” (IMDb.com). I mean… it’s Jaws. This is one of Chris’ favorite movies of all time, so watch it for him, won’t you?

The Modern Film: The Shallows (2016)
“A mere 200 yards from shore, surfer Nancy is attacked by a great white shark, with her short journey to safety becoming the ultimate contest of wills” (Sony Pictures Entertainment). The Shallows is more survival-thriller than the adventure-drama of Jaws, so it avoids becoming just another Spielberg wannabe. Come to this one for the beautiful landscapes and the badass silliness of the scenarios instead of quality storytelling and you may be pleasantly surprised.

Get more at podsematary.com! Read our afterthoughts for this episode at https://twitter.com/PodSematary/status/1145078763446652928

Audio Sources:
"Blow" produced by New Line Cinema, et al.
"Clerks" produced by View Askew Productions & Miramax
"Finding Nemo" produced by Pixar Animation Studios and Walt Disney Pictures
"Jaws" produced by Universal Pictures & Zanuck Brown Productions
"Jaws: The Inside Story" produced by A+E Television Networks
"Josie and the Pussycats" produced by Universal Pictures, et al.
"Kevin Spacey/Beck" (Saturday Night Live S22E10) produced by NBC Studios and Broadway Video
"The Land Before Time" produced by Universal Pictures, et al.
"Live Free or Die Hard" produced by Twentieth Century Fox, et al.
"Pet Sematary" written by Dee Dee Ramone & Daniel Rey and performed by The Ramones
"se7en" produced by New Line Cinema, et al.
"The Shallows" produced by Columbia Pictures, et al.