223 - Bride of Chucky (1998) & My Valentine (2020) →

CW: Emotionally and physically abusive relationships, Manipulation, Gaslighting, Suicide, Rape

It’s Valentine's Day and that means it's Toxic Relationships Week on Pod Sematary! Chris & Kelsey play couples-therapists to murderous dolls and a love triangle! Plus, Kelsey is very pleased with herself for coming up with so many relevant break-up songs!

Read our afterthoughts for this episode here!

The Classic Film: Bride of Chucky (1998)
"Chucky, the doll possessed by a serial killer, discovers the perfect mate to kill and revive into the body of another doll” (IMDb.com). Believe it or not: we really enjoyed the Tiffany/Chucky dynamic and the silly/serious juxtaposition, but you can see where the franchise is headed and, based on the last scene, we're not looking forward to it.

The Modern Film: My Valentine (2020)
"A pop singer's songs and artistic identity have been stolen by her ex-boyfriend/manager and shamelessly pasted onto his new girlfriend/protégé. Locked together in a small concert venue after hours, the three of them confront the emotional abuses of the past...until things turn violent” (IMDb.com). The filmmakers responsible for My Valentine may not have made the most original product themselves (especially when you know the real story), but at least the fun they were having bleeds out of the screen (and the speakers).

Audio Sources:
"Black Sheep" written by Emily Haines & James Shaw and performed by Metric
"Chicago" (2002) produced by Miramax, et al.
"Clue" produced by Paramount Pictures, et al.
"deja vu" written by Olivia Rodrigo, et al., and performed by Olivia Rodrigo
"Heartbeats" written by Karin Dreijer & Olof Dreijer and performed by The Knife
"I Want You Back" written by The Corporation and performed by The Jackson 5
"I Will Survive" written by Freddie Perren & Dino Fekaris and performed by Gloria Gaynor
"Irreplaceable" written by Beyoncé Knowles, et al., and performed by Beyoncé
"The Lion King" (1994) produced by Walt Disney Pictures & Walt Disney Animation Studios
"My Name is Bruce" produced by Dark Horse Entertainment & Image Entertainment
"My Valentine" (Into the Dark S02E05) produced by Blumhouse Television & Hulu
"Pet Sematary" written by Dee Dee Ramone & Daniel Rey and performed by The Ramones
"The Scientist" written by Chris Martin, et al., and performed by Coldplay
"Sweatpants" written by Donald Glover, et al., and performed by Childish Gambino ft. Problem
"Thank You for Smoking" produced by Room 9 Entertainment
"We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together (Taylor's Version)" written by Taylor Swift, et al., and performed by Taylor Swift
"With or Without You" written and performed by U2

208 - Child's Play 3 (1991) & Annabelle: Creation (2017) →

CW: Death of a child

It’s Haunted Doll Week on Pod Sematary! Chris & Kelsey dive back into their two "favorite" franchises with one possessed doll that lost its edge and another that still isn't possessed at all.

Read our afterthoughts for this episode here!

The Classic Film: Child's Play 3 (1991)
"Chucky returns for revenge against Andy, the young boy who defeated him and now a teenager living in a military academy” (IMDb.com). Sorry, Jack—Chucky's back... in a dull and unnecessary sequel that didn't even scare Kelsey, who is notoriously terrified of the murderous doll.

The Modern Film: Annabelle: Creation (2017)
"Twelve years after the tragic death of their little girl, a doll-maker and his wife welcome a nun and several girls from a shuttered orphanage into their home, where they become the target of the dollmaker's possessed creation, Annabelle” (IMDb.com). This is one of those rare cases where the sequel is better than the original, but that's not saying much. Unfortunately, while an upgrade for the franchise, this entry in the expansive and fluctuating Conjuring Universe is NOT more than the sum of its pretty compelling parts. Just remember: ♫It's just a doll♫

Audio Sources:
"Annabelle: Creation" produced by New Line Cinema, et al.
"Buzz Buzz Buzz" written by Bobby Day (as Robert Byrd) & John G. Dolphin and performed by The Hollywood Flames
"Child's Play 3" produced by Universal Pictures
"The Conjuring" produced by New Line Cinema, et al.
"Jesus Christ Superstar" (1973) produced by Universal Pictures
"Lonesome Ghosts" (1937) produced by Walt Disney Productions
"National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation" produced by Warner Bros., et al.
"Pet Sematary" written by Dee Dee Ramone & Daniel Rey and performed by The Ramones
"You Are My Sunshine" written by Jimmie Davis and performed by Charles McDonald

181 - The Exorcist III (1990) & Dominion (2005) →

CW: Suicide, Still Birth, Mental Illness, Ableism

It’s an Exorcist Week on Pod Sematary! Chris & Kelsey wrap up the franchise with a pleasantly bizarre surprise and... what's the opposite of a surprise?

Read our afterthoughts for this episode here!

The Classic Film: The Exorcist III (1990)
"A police Lieutenant uncovers more than he bargained for as his investigation of a series of murders, which have all the hallmarks of the deceased Gemini serial killer, leads him to question the patients of a psychiatric ward” (IMDb.com). The Exorcist III's poetic strangeness makes it feel like the precursor to some of the best prestige television of the past ten years. It's not perfect nor as good as the original, but after Exorcist II: The Heretic, it seems damned close.

The Modern Film: Dominion: Prequel to the Exorcist (2005)
"Years before Father Lankester Merrin helped save Regan MacNeil's soul, he first encounters the demon Pazuzu in East Africa. Merrin's initial battle with Pazuzu leads to the rediscovery of his faith” (IMDb.com). Dominion is better than Renny Harlin's reshot "The Beginning," but if we're honest, not by that much (and that's due in large part to the lack of support from producers Morgan Creek). It's just too bad that we didn't see it first.

Audio Sources:
"Adventures in Babysitting" produced by Touchstone Pictures & Silver Screen Partners III
"Clueless" produced by Paramount Pictures
"Dominion: Prequel to the Exorcist" produced by Morgan Creek Entertainment
"Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb" produced by Columbia Pictures & Hawk Films
"The Exorcist" produced by Warner Bros. & Hoya Productions
"The Exorcist III" produced by Morgan Creek Entertainment
"Pet Sematary" written by Dee Dee Ramone & Daniel Rey and performed by The Ramones

139 - Child's Play 2 (1990) & Annabelle (2014) →

CW: Suicide, Infanticide

Read our afterthoughts for this episode here!

It’s another doll week on Pod Sematary! Chris & Kelsey crawl around active assembly line machinery searching for an exit.

The Classic Film: Child’s Play (1990)
"While Andy's mother is admitted to a psychiatric hospital, the young boy is placed in foster care, and Chucky, determined to claim Andy's soul, is not far behind” (IMDb.com). Kelsey's exposure therapy isn’t working yet, but the Child’s Play franchise is only dipping its toe into the silliness water in this one.

The Modern Film: Annabelle (2014)
"A couple begins to experience terrifying supernatural occurrences involving a vintage doll shortly after their home is invaded by satanic cultists” (IMDb.com). Take out “involving a vintage doll” from that synopsis and you might have an interesting movie. Audiences weren’t so lucky.

Audio Sources:
“Annabelle” produced by New Line Cinema, et al.
"Child's Play 2” produced by Universal Pictures
"Donnie Darko” produced by Pandora Cinema, et al.
"Pet Sematary" written by Dee Dee Ramone & Daniel Rey and performed by The Ramones

102 - Double Feature - Child's Play (1988 & 2019)

CW: Rape, Child Abuse, Suicide

Read our afterthoughts for this episode at https://twitter.com/PodSematary/status/1171632981816922112

It’s "Give Kelsey Nightmares Week" on Pod Sematary! Chris & Kelsey get trashed so Chucky doesn't ruin Kelsey's nerves forever!

The Original: Child’s Play (1988)
"A single mother gives her son a much sought-after doll for his birthday, only to discover that it is possessed by the soul of a serial killer” (IMDb.com). The beginning of a franchise that, let's say, goes places... this 1988 original is the series at its absolutely most terrifying. With a villain that could be up on the Mount Rushmore of horror, there's a reason Kelsey suffers from Chuckiphobia.

The Remake: Child’s Play (2019)
"After moving to a new city, young Andy Barclay receives a special present from his mother -- a seemingly innocent Buddi doll that becomes his best friend. When the doll suddenly takes on a life of its own, Andy unites with other neighborhood children to stop the sinister toy from wreaking bloody havoc” (IMDb.com). This sacrilegious remake dared deign to reboot a beloved (but arguably floundering) franchise. While it does some pretty stupid stuff, for sure, it also does some pretty great stuff even better than the original. If you can give a shot to serial killer souls inhabiting dolls via voodoo, you can give this one a chance, too.

Audio Sources:
“Child’s Play” (1988) produced by United Artists
“Child’s Play” (2019) produced by Orion Pictures, et al.
"The Langoliers" produced by Laurel Entertainment Inc., et al.
"Pet Sematary" written by Dee Dee Ramone & Daniel Rey and performed by The Ramones
"Plastic Buffet" (Robot Chicken S01E04) produced by ShadowMachine
"Rosemary's Baby" produced by William Castle Productions
"Seed of Chucky" produced by Rogue Pictures, et al.
"Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home" produced by Paramount Pictures & Industrial Light & Magic