247 - Kiss the Girls (1997) & The Black Phone (2021) →

CW: Suicide, Rape, Homophobia, Child Abuse

It’s Serial-Kidnappers-in-Masks Week on Pod Sematary! Chris & Kelsey talk to strangers... and dead kids!

Read our afterthoughts for this episode HERE!

The Classic Film: Kiss the Girls (1997)
"Police hunting for a serial kidnapper are helped when a victim manages to escape for the first time” (IMDb.com). Despite its status as the first film appearance of Doctor/Detective Alex Cross, Kiss the Girls is still just one of a slew of mediocre, serial-killer thrillers churned out by the 90s.

The Modern Film: The Black Phone (2021)
"After being abducted and locked in a soundproof basement, a 13-year-old boy starts receiving calls on a disconnected phone from the killer's previous victims” (IMDb.com). A recent critical darling of the genre, Joe Hill and Scott Derrickson's The Black Phone is pretty compelling... if a tad overrated.

Audio Sources:
"American History X" produced by New Line Cinema, et al.
"The Black Phone" produced by Blumhouse Productions, et al.
"Boombastic" written by Orville Burrell, et al., and performed by Shaggy
"Deadpool" produced by Twentieth Century Fox, et al.
"Kiss the Girls" produced by Paramount Pictures & Rysher Entertainment
"Leonardo Leonardo Returns and Dante Has an Important Decision to Make" (Clerks S01E01) produced by View Askew Productions, et al.
"The Little Mermaid" produced by Walt Disney Pictures, et al.
"Robin Hood: Men in Tights" produced by Brooksfilms & Gaumont
"The Sixth Sense" produced by Spyglass Entertainment, et al.

109 - The Terminator (1984) & Morgan (2016) →

Best of 2019 - #7 The Terminator

Read our afterthoughts for this episode at https://twitter.com/PodSematary/status/1191101921525940224

It’s Manufactured Assassin Week on Pod Sematary! Chris gets pedantic about robot terminology (what else is new?) and Kelsey sings Burnin' in the Third Degree! Thanks to listener Harry for the recommendation!

The Classic Film: The Terminator (1984)
"A seemingly indestructible robot is sent from 2029 to 1984 to assassinate a young waitress, whose unborn son will lead humanity in a war against sentient machines, while a human soldier from the same war is sent to protect her at all costs” (IMDb.com). The first film in the Terminator franchise is probably the closest the series ever gets to straight-up slasher-horror. Don’t worry; we don’t bicker about the logic of time travel.

The Modern Film: Morgan (2016)
"A corporate risk-management consultant must decide whether or not to terminate an artificially created humanoid being.” (IMDb.com). Chris & Kelsey saw this movie when it came out and subsequently forgot everything about it beyond the premise. After they watch it again, this entirely passable flick (that doesn’t seem at all concerned with being anything beyond superficial) reinforces precisely why it doesn’t stick in your brain.

Audio Sources:
"Arnold Schwarzenegger and Linda Hamilton Respond to IGN Comments" via IGN @ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z1d_CtQOh54
"Arnold Schwarzenegger Breaks Down His Most Iconic Characters | GQ" via GQ @ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=srksXVEkfAs
"Beverly Hills Cop" produced by Paramount Pictures, et al.
“Morgan” produced by Scott Free Productions, et al.
"Pet Sematary" written by Dee Dee Ramone & Daniel Rey and performed by The Ramones
“The Terminator” produced by Hemdale, et al.
"Terminator 2: Judgement Day" produced by Carolco Pictures, et al.
"Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines" (Deleted Scene & Arnold Schwarzenegger Commentary) produced by C-2 Pictures, et al.

096 - Double Feature - Ringu (1998) & The Ring (2002) →

CW: Suicide, Filicide, Distressing Sequences involving Animals (Horses)

It’s a Double Feature Week on Pod Sematary! Chris & Kelsey only have seven days left since they watched two films with ticking death clocks! Thanks for the recommendation, Lou!

The Original: Ringu (1998)
“A reporter and her ex-husband investigate a cursed video tape that is rumored to kill the viewer seven days after watching it” (IMDb.com). With much more subtle storytelling than it's famous gaijin remake (if you discount all of the psychic stuff), this incredible original might have you wondering why they bothered remaking it in the first place.

The Remake: The Ring (2002)
“A journalist must investigate a mysterious videotape which seems to cause the death of anyone one week to the day after they view it” (IMDb.com). This very Americanized remake cuts the fat but adds on more mystery and visual flair. Is it more your cup of tea?

Get more at podsematary.com! Read our afterthoughts for this episode at https://twitter.com/PodSematary/status/1158569361973448704

Audio Sources:
"Bitch" (Key and Peele S01E01) produced by Monkeypaw Productions, et al.
"Feels Like 'Heaven'" written and performed by HIIH
"Monty Python and the Holy Grail" produced by Python (Monty) Pictures, et al.
"Pet Sematary" written by Dee Dee Ramone & Daniel Rey and performed by The Ramones
"Pete's Dragon" produced by Walt Disney Productions
“The Ring” produced by Dreamworks, et al.
“Ringu” produced by Basara Pictures, et al.
"Science Fiction/Double Feature" written by Richard O'Brien & Richard Hartley and performed by Joan Jett and the Blackhearts
"Split" produced by Universal Pictures, et al.
"Tune Up #1" written by Jonathan Larson and performed by Anthony Rapp, Adam Pascal
"Tune Up #2" written by Jonathan Larson and performed by Anthony Rapp, Adam Pascal
"Urban Legend" produced by Phoenix Pictures, et al.
"Weird Satanist Guy" via BowserVids @ www.youtube.com/watch?v=YErFwJX0HKE
"Why So Serious?" composed by Hans W. Zimmer