253 - Don't Panic (1987) & The Banana Splits Movie (2019) →

CW: Alcoholism

It’s our second Birthday Week on Pod Sematary! Chris & Kelsey use a ouija board for their birthdays and resurrect defective children's show animatronics!

Read our afterthoughts for this episode HERE!

The Classic Film: Don't Panic (1987)
"On his seventeenth birthday, Michael unwittingly unlocks the evil forces of a Ouija board” (IMDb.com). Often touted as the Nightmare on Elm Street of Mexico, this wacky "B" movie is pretty bad but in a very charming way.

The Modern Film: The Banana Splits Movie (2019)
"A family attends a live taping of The Banana Splits television series, but are forced to survive as soon as the characters go haywire and start a killing spree around the studio” (IMDb.com). There's a great concept, a lot of practical love, and some admirable spirit in this twisted resurrection of an actual 60s children's show, but while it may be respectable, the end product is not really much to look at.

Audio Sources:
"The Banana Splits Move" produced by Blue Ice Pictures & Blue Ribbon Content
"Don't Panic" produced by Producciones Galubi S.A. de C.V. & Producciones Torrente S.A.
"Don't Panic" (Cover Version) written by Jon Michael Bischof & performed by Tanner Sega (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UKtp8k2yrwQ)
"The Lost Boys" produced by Warner Bros.
"Orgazmo" produced by Kuzui Enterprises, et al.
"Total Recall" (1990) produced by Carolco Pictures & Estudios Churubusco Azteca S.A.

252 - Alison's Birthday (1981) & Book of Monsters (2018) →

It’s Birthday Rituals Week on Pod Sematary! Chris & Kelsey watch some birthday-themed horror centered around sinister rituals for Chris' special day!

Read our afterthoughts for this episode HERE!

The Classic Film: Alison's Birthday (1981)
"A young girl is subjected to a reign of terror so that her soul can be transferred to the body of an old crone” (IMDb.com). Alison's Birthday is an Australian mash-up of concepts from other, better movies, but don't miss the charming forest for the trees.

The Modern Film: Book of Monsters (2018)
"Sophie's 18th birthday becomes a bloodbath when monsters descend upon her house and start to devour the party guests” (Epic Pictures). Book of Monsters is a Kickstarter flick full of nods to horror cliché, but—unlike Alison's Birthday—with none of the charm.

Audio Sources:
"Alison's Birthday" produced by The Australian Film Commission, et al.
"Birthday" written by Lennon–McCartney and performed by The Beatles
"Book of Monsters" produced by Dark Rift Films
"The Fifth Element" produced by Gaumont & Pinewood Studios
"Judge Reinhold/10,000 Maniacs" (Saturday Night Live S13E13) produced by Broadway Video & NBC Productions
"Mad Max" (1979) produced by Kennedy Miller Productions & Mad Max Films
"Math and King Solomon" (from The Top Part) written and performed by John Mulaney
"Rosemary's Baby" (1968) produced by William Castle Productions
"Skorpio" (Archer S01E06) produced by Radical Axis
"Stonehenge" written by Christopher Guest, et al., and performed by Spinal Tap

200 - Madman (1981) & Fear Street: Part 2 - 1974 (2021) →

CW: Suicide, Self Harm, Child Abduction, Rape

It’s our 200th episode AND Kelsey's birthday! So we're having a Campground Slasher Week to celebrate for some reason! Chris & Kelsey go to summer camp and enjoy the spin cycle!

Read our afterthoughts for this episode here!

The Classic Film: Madman (1981)
"A legendary psychopathic murderer stalks a summer camp” (IMDb.com). In a movie that probably thinks it's more serious than it is, this killer—functionally a combination of Jason and Candyman—probably could have been replaced by Bigfoot and been more interesting.

The Modern Film: Fear Street: Part Two - 1978 (2021)
"Shadyside, 1978. School's out for summer and the activities at Camp Nightwing are about to begin. But when another Shadysider is possessed with the urge to kill, the fun in the sun becomes a gruesome fight for survival” (Netflix). The Fear Street trilogy just gets better as it takes us to 1978 and we learn a bit more about how the curse works and things get a bit more personal.

Audio Sources:
"Andy Samberg/St. Vincent" ("Camp Wicawabe," Saturday Night Live S39E21) produced by Broadway Video & SNL Studios
"Brother Love's Travelling Salvation Show" written and performed by Neil Diamond
"Carry On Wayward Son" written by Kerry Livgren and performed by Kansas
"Cherry Bomb" written by Joan Jett & Kim Fowley and performed by The Runaways
"Don't Leave Me This Way" written by Kenneth Gamble, et al., and performed by Thelma Houston
"Ever Fallen In Love (With Someone You Shouldn't've)" written by Pete Shelley and performed by The Buzzcocks
"Fear Street: Part One - 1994" produced by Chernin Entertainment
"Fear Street: Part Two - 1978" produced by Chernin Entertainment
"The First Cut Is The Deepest" written and performed by Cat Stevens
"Love Will Keep Us Together" written by Neil Sedaka & Howard Greenfield and performed by The Captain & Tennille
"Madman" produced by The Legend Lives Company
"The Man Who Sold the World" written and performed by David Bowie
"The Man Who Sold the World" written by David Bowie and performed by Nirvana
"Moonage Daydream" written and performed by David Bowie
"Pet Sematary" written by Dee Dee Ramone & Daniel Rey and performed by The Ramones
"(Don't Fear) The Reaper" written by Donald "Buck Dharma" Roeser and performed by Blue Öyster Cult
"Slow Ride" written by Dave Peverett and performed by Foghat
"Sweet Jane" written by Lou Reed and performed by The Velvet Underground

199 - Alien 3 (1992) & Life (2017) →

CW: Rape, Suicide, Harm to Animals

It’s Space Alien Week on Pod Sematary! Chris & Kelsey celebrate Chris' birthday by wrapping up one of his favorite franchises: Alien! Yup! There are no more Alien movies after this!

Read our afterthoughts for this episode here!

The Classic Film: Alien 3 (1992)
"After her last encounter, Ellen Ripley crash-lands on Fiorina 161, a maximum-security prison. When a series of strange and deadly events occur shortly after her arrival, Ripley realizes that she has brought along an unwelcome visitor” (IMDb.com). Alien 3 may have been an absolute mess of a production—so much so that David Fincher disowned it entirely—but it may not be as bad as you've been led to believe.

The Modern Film: Life (2017)
"A team of scientists aboard the International Space Station discovers a rapidly evolving life form that caused extinction on Mars and now threatens all life on Earth” (Sony Pictures). This movie has more than what it takes to be a banger—great actors, terrifying thrills, and a clean premise—too bad it all rests on an infuriating script.

Audio Sources:
"Alien" produced by Brandywine Productions
"Alien 3" produced by Twentieth Century Fox & Brandywine Productions
"Fight Club" produced by Fox 2000 Pictures, et al.
"Invasion of the Body Snatchers" (1956) produced by Allied Artists Pictures & Walter Wanger Productions
"Life" (2017) produced by Columbia Pictures, et al.
"Pet Sematary" written by Dee Dee Ramone & Daniel Rey and performed by The Ramones
"Spirit in the Sky" written and performed by Norman Greenbaum
"Strong Bad Email #45 - Techno" via homestarrunnerdotcom @ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JwZwkk7q25I

152 - Frogs (1972) & My Super Psycho Sweet 16 (2009) →

Read our afterthoughts for this episode here!

It’s Kelsey's Birthday on Pod Sematary! Chris & Kelsey study the psychic potential of frogs and are real brats about the sushi cake!

The Classic Film: Frogs (1972)
"A group of helpless victims celebrate a birthday on an island estate crawling with killer amphibians, birds, insects, and reptiles” (IMDb.com). Frogs is fanatical and toothless at the same time. It seems like a pale imitation of a *good* environmental horror and still doesn't offer a lot in the way of so-bad-it's-good chuckles.

The Modern Film: My Super Psycho Sweet 16 (2009)
"A spoiled teen's birthday bash turns killer after she convinces her parents to re-open a roller skating rink where murders took place” (IMDb.com). Entertaining enough to have us intrigued for a sequel, this MTV original based on its own actual reality show and about rich, teenage brats probably won't blow your skirt up unless you're into that sort of thing.

Audio Sources:
"Black Christmas" produced by Film Funding Ltd. of Canada, et al.
"Frogs" produced by American International Pictures (AIP) & Peter Thomas Productions
"Jim Gaffigan: Beyond the Pale" written and performed by Jim Gaffigan
"My Super Psycho Sweet 16" produced by POP Films
"Pet Sematary" written by Dee Dee Ramone & Daniel Rey and performed by The Ramones
"Tune Up #1" (from Rent -- Original Broadway Cast Recording) written by Jonathan Larson and performed by Anthony Rapp & Adam Pascal

151 - Madhouse (1981) & Red Velvet (2008) →

CW: Suicide, Child Abuse, Animal Abuse

Worst of 2020 - #4 (tied) Red Velvet

Read our afterthoughts for this episode here!

It’s a Birthday Week on Pod Sematary! Chris & Kelsey sic dogs on their perfect twins and make up stories about killing their friends.

The Classic Film: Madhouse (1981)
"A woman is pursued by her murderous, psychopathic twin sister in the days leading up to their birthday” (IMDb.com). Madhouse isn’t a *great* film, per se, but it’s baffling that no one seems to talk about it at all. 

The Modern Film: Red Velvet (2008)
"A man and a young woman have a chance encounter at a laundry mat which leads to a story about a birthday party where everyone has been killed by a madman in a white jumpsuit” (IMDb.com). Red Velvet has one or two clever and/or fun elements, but it isn’t nearly enough to save it from awful acting and (ironically) storytelling.

Audio Sources:
"The One with All the Wedding Dresses" (Friends S04E20) produced by Bright/Kauffman/Crane Productions & Warner Bros. Television
“Madhouse” (1981) produced by Overseas FilmGroup
"Pet Sematary" written by Dee Dee Ramone & Daniel Rey and performed by The Ramones
“Red Velvet” produced by Ulalume Films

101 - Sweet Sixteen (1983) & Happy Death Day 2U (2019) →

CW: Racism, Sexual Assault, Suicide

It’s Our Birthday Week on Pod Sematary! Chris & Kelsey celebrate the anniversaries of their births by watching two more birthday-themed horror flicks. Well, at least one of them is a horror movie… by the end.

The Classic Film: Sweet Sixteen (1983)
"Teenager Melissa moves into a small town filled with racial prejudice and bullying, and each time she meets up with one of the boys in town, they end up murdered - but who is the killer?” (IMDb.com). Sweet Sixteen has all the hallmarks of an awful slasher, but the irresistible relationships and an unbelievably campy theme song save it from the garbage abyss.

The Modern Film: Happy Death Day 2U (2019)
"Tree Gelbman discovers that dying over and over was surprisingly easier than the dangers that lie ahead” (IMDb.com). It only took two movies for this series to forget it was supposed to be horror. The renewed focus on sci-fi and low-hanging jokes turn a concept that is begging to be compelling into a sloppy disappointment.

Get more at podsematary.com! Read our afterthoughts for this episode at https://twitter.com/PodSematary/status/1170822623862784000

Audio Sources:
"Back to the Future Part II" produced by Universal Pictures, et al.
"Happy Death Day" produced by Universal Pictures, et al.
"Happy Death Day 2U” produced by Blumhouse Productions, et al.
"Knocked Up” produced by Universal Pictures & Apatow Productions
"Looper” produced by Endgame Entertainment, et al.
"The Martian" produced by Twentieth Century Fox, et al.
"Pet Sematary" written by Dee Dee Ramone & Daniel Rey and performed by The Ramones
"Sweet Sixteen” produced by Sweet Sixteen Productions & Productions Two
"Total Recall" produced by Carolco Pictures

049 - Bloody Birthday (1981) & Happy Birthday (2016) →

CW: Queerphobia, Sexual Assault, Rape

The Birthday Extravaganza continues on Pod Sematary! To celebrate Kelsey's birthday this week, the birthday-themed movies just keep coming!

First up is the forgotten 1981 classic, Bloody Birthday. Three kids are born during an eclipse by an eclipse (it makes sense, I promise) and shit goes downhill from there. This movie is simply balls-to-the-walls, unabashed murder-by-kid. Where were you people on this one? How have we never heard of this?!

Then, unfortunately, it's on to 2016's Happy Birthday... a movie that would have been derivative in the 90's and it has aged even worse. It still has promise in the form of music video-style direction, but that just can't make up for the punching-down, edge-lord humor.  It's too bad because Steven Tyler was a lot of fun.

Plus spoiler talk about Castle Rock episodes 8 ("Past Perfect") and 9 ("Henry Deaver")!

Get more at podsematary.com! 

Audio Sources:
"Chasing Amy" produced by Too Askew Prod. Inc. and View Askew Productions
"Clueless" produced by Paramount Pictures
"The Homecoming Queen's Got a Gun" written by Julie Brown, et al. and performed by Julie Brown
"Happy Birthday" produced by Darko Entertainment
"Bloody Birthday" produced by Judica Productions
"Pet Sematary" written by Dee Dee Ramone & Daniel Rey and performed by The Ramones
"The Story of Everest" (Mr. Show with Bob & David S04E04) produced by Brillstein-Grey Entertainment, et al.

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