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

066 - Ghostkeeper (1981) & The Children (2008) →

CW: Abortion, Pedophilia, Rape

Happy New Year from Pod Sematary! Chris and Kelsey wrap up their two-week new year celebration with two horror movies that have something surprising in common: talented direction without the resources to execute!

Our classic film is 1981's Ghostkeeper, a little-watched atmospheric horror from Canada about the legend of the Wendigo! When three friends visiting the Canadian Rockies for the new year get lost on their snowmobiles, they’re forced to find shelter in a run-down lodge. While there, they meet a strange old woman who is protecting more than her rustic way of life. Did a dwindling budget ruin what could have easily become seasonal hit?

Then it's on to our modern film, 2008's The Children, a low-budget British flick that takes the Jaws route of suggestion over more explicit gore. What happens when two loving families become the victims of a disease that makes their children violent? Will they be able to keep it together long enough to make it to the new year? Is it surprising when a talented director can't write a coherent script?

Get more at podsematary.com! Read our afterthoughts for this episode at https://twitter.com/PodSematary/status/1081663761583407104

Audio Sources:
"Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure" produced by De Laurentiis Entertainment Group, et al.
"The Children" produced by Vertigo Films, et al.
"Ghostkeeper" produced by Badland Pictures
"Pet Sematary" written by Dee Dee Ramone & Daniel Rey and performed by The Ramones