132 - The Blair Witch Project (1999) & Hell House LLC (2015) →

CW: Suicide

Read our afterthoughts for this episode here!

It’s a Found Footage Documentary Week on Pod Sematary! Chris & Kelsey get into really heated arguments in the middle of the woods!

The Classic Film: The Blair Witch Project (1999)
"Three film students vanish after traveling into a Maryland forest to film a documentary on the local Blair Witch legend, leaving only their footage behind” (IMDb.com). This film got strong reactions from audiences (and our hosts), and changed the landscape of horror cinema for over a decade, whether we like it or not.

The Modern Film: Hell House LLC (2015)
"Five years after an unexplained malfunction causes the death of 15 tour-goers and staff on the opening night of a Halloween haunted house tour (Hell House), a documentary film crew visits the scene of the tragedy to investigate what really happened that night” (IMDb.com). Despite coming towards the end of the glut of found footage films over the past two decades, this small, independent project has been the darling of some horror fan circles. We can see why, even if it does make Chris irrationally angry.

Audio Sources:
"The Blair Witch Project" produced by Haxan Films
"Hell House LLC" produced by Cognetti Films
"Pet Sematary" written by Dee Dee Ramone & Daniel Rey and performed by The Ramones
"Scream" produced by Dimension Films & Woods Entertainment

126 w/ Jessie - Man Bites Dog (1992) & The Houses October Built (2014) →

CW: Rape, Suicide, Infanticide

Read our afterthoughts for this episode at https://twitter.com/PodSematary/status/1236774557500964864

It’s Fake Documentary Week on Pod Sematary! Chris & Kelsey invite friend-of-the-sematary Jessie over to dish about one of the better sub-sub-genres of horror, the fake documentary! Plus, getting punched in the face at Knott's Scary Farm! Thanks for the recommendations, Harry and Anthony!

The Classic Film: Man Bites Dog [C'est arrivé près de chez vous] (1992)
"A film crew follows a ruthless thief and heartless killer as he goes about his daily routine. But complications set in when the film crew lose their objectivity and begin lending a hand” (IMDb.com). Early 90s hipster filmmakers loved making provocative, black and white, dark comedies on a shoestring budget and the Belgians were no different, apparently!

The Modern Film: The Houses October Built (2014)
"Looking to find an authentic, blood-curdling good fright for Halloween, five friends set off on a road trip in an RV to track down these underground Haunts. Just when their search seems to reach a dead end, strange and disturbing things start happening and it becomes clear that the Haunt has come to them” (IMDb.com). A sort-of-remake of a fake documentary the same filmmakers already made, this movie is very effective at evoking anxiety through its realism, but only the first time around...

Audio Sources:
"Halloween Spooks" written and performed by Lambert, Hendricks & Ross
"The Houses October Built" produced by Room 101 & Foreboding Films
"Last Exit to Springfield" (The Simpsons S04E17) produced by Gracie Films & 20th Century Fox Television
"Man Bites Dog" produced by Les Artistes Anonymes
"Pet Sematary" written by Dee Dee Ramone & Daniel Rey and performed by The Ramones
"S&M Present" (Robot Chicken S01E09) produced by Stoopid Monkey, et al. 
"This is Spinal Tap" produced by Spinal Tap Prod. & Goldcrest Films International

084 - A Nightmare on Elm Street 2: Freddy's Revenge (1985) & The Nightmare (2015) →

CW: Rape, Suicide, Homophobia, Sleep Paralysis

It's Nightmare Week on Pod Sematary! Kelsey & Chris dip back into the Freddy Krueger well with the second film in the classic series along with a Netflix documentary about the most nightmarish scenario anyone could dream up!

The Classic Film: A Nightmare on Elm Street 2 - Freddy's Revenge (1985)
"A teenage boy is haunted in his dreams by deceased child murderer Freddy Krueger, who is out to possess him in order to continue his reign of terror in the real world" (IMDb.com). This second installment in the Freddy Franchise is more than just one big camp reference to queer youth, even if they struggle to pin down exactly what makes Freddy "Freddy".

The Modern Film: The Nightmare (2015)
"A look at a frightening condition that plagues thousands: sleep paralysis" (IMDb.com). This horrifying documentary acts out the stories of eight sleep paralysis sufferers, but it doesn't go quite as deep as we would have liked.

Plus: Kelsey & Chris talk about what happens after you die!

Get more at podsematary.com! Read our afterthoughts for this episode at https://twitter.com/PodSematary/status/1127683549698519040

Audio Sources:
"Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure" produced by De Laurentiis Entertainment Group, et al.
"Bring it On" produced by Beacon Communications, et al.
"Clueless" produced by Paramount Pictures
"Family Affair" written by Mary J. Blige, et al and performed by Mary J. Blige
"The Fifth Element" produced by Gaumont
"A Nightmare on Elm Street Soundtrack: Prologue/Main Title" composed by Charles Bernstein
"Never Sleep Again: The Elm Street Legacy" produced by 1428 Films & Panic Productions
"The Nightmare" produced by Zipper Bros Films, et al.
"A Nightmare on Elm Street 2: Freddy's Revenge" produced by New Line Cinema, et al.
"A Nightmare on My Street" written by Will Smith, Jeff Townes, and Clarence Holmes & performed by DJ Jazzy Jeff and the Fresh Prince
"Pet Sematary" written by Dee Dee Ramone & Daniel Rey and performed by The Ramones
"Pool Party" written & performed by The Aquabats
"The Shining" produced by Warner Bros., et al.
"Touch Me (All Night Long)" produced and arranged by Patrick Adams and Greg Carmichael & performed by Wish featuring Fonda Rae