230 - The Sentinel (1977) & The Innkeepers (2011) →

CW: Suicide, Rape

It’s a Haunted Dwelling Week on Pod Sematary! Chris & Kelsey just moved into their new home, so they're taking this week to... I don't know, scare themselves?

Read our afterthoughts for this episode here!

The Classic Film: The Sentinel (1977)
"A young woman moves into an apartment in a building which houses a sinister evil” (IMDb.com). A Rosemary's Baby wannabe that makes several tasteless choices, The Sentinel is nevertheless a compelling tale that's generally well told.

The Modern Film: The Innkeepers (2011)
"During the final days at the Yankee Pedlar Inn, two employees determined to reveal the hotel's haunted past begin to experience disturbing events as old guests check in for a stay” (IMDb.com). As fans of Ti West's House of the Devil, Chris and Kelsey were gobsmacked that The Innkeepers could possibly have been made by the same person.

Audio Sources:
"Batman" (1966 TV Series) produced by 20th Century Fox Television & Greenway Productions
"The Innkeepers" produced by Dark Sky Films & Glass Eye Pix
"The Internet Is for Porn" (from Avenue Q) written by Jeffrey Marx and Robert Lopez & performed by Stephanie D'Abruzzo, et al.
"Pet Sematary" written by Dee Dee Ramone & Daniel Rey and performed by The Ramones
"Robin Hood: Men in Tights" produced by Brooksfilms & Gaumont
"Rosemary's Baby" produced by William Castle Productions
"The Sentinel" produced by Universal Pictures & Jeffrey Konvitz Productions
"That Thing You Do!" produced by Twentieth Century Fox, et al.

206 - Lake Placid (1999) & Host (2020) →

It’s a Recommendation Week on Pod Sematary! Chris & Kelsey have their croc-killing cake and eat it too and then they summon a demon for a conference call. Thanks to David for the recommendations!

Read our afterthoughts for this episode here!

The Classic Film: Lake Placid (1999)
"Three people attempt to stop a gigantic crocodile, who is terrorizing residents in Black Lake, Maine” (IMDb.com). Lake Placid is just a bundle of clichés in a Jaws suit, but we can see why it may be some people's comfort flick.

The Modern Film: Host (2020)
"Six friends hire a medium to hold a séance via Zoom during lockdown, but they get far more than they bargained for as things quickly go wrong” (IMDb.com). Host, a byproduct of quarantine life and socializing via Zoom, won't blow your skirt up or anything, but it's pretty impressive for its low budget, short production turnaround, and relatively non-existent time commitment.

Audio Sources:
"Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure" produced by De Laurentiis Entertainment Group, et al.
"The Heart Wants What it Wants" written by Selena Gomez, et al., and performed by Selena Gomez
"Host" (2020) produced by Shadowhouse Films
"I Think I Love You" written by Tony Romeo and performed by The Partridge Family
"I Think I Love You" written by Tony Romeo and performed by Less Than Jake
"It's Not Unusual" written by Les Reed & Gordon Mills and performed by Tom Jones
"Lake Placid" produced by Fox 2000 Pictures, et al.
"Pet Sematary" written by Dee Dee Ramone & Daniel Rey and performed by The Ramones
"Truth Hurts" written by Melissa Jefferson, et al., and performed by Lizzo
"Zero Effect" produced by Castle Rock Entertainment, et al.

179 - The Others (2001) & Lake Mungo (2008) →

CW: Suicide, Infanticide, Child Abuse, Rape

It’s Ghostly Grief Week on Pod Sematary! Chris & Kelsey watch some really depressing horror movies that share more than one specific thematic link. And Chris gets what he asked for!

Read our afterthoughts for this episode here!

The Classic Film: The Others (2001)
"A woman who lives in her darkened old family house with her two photosensitive children becomes convinced that the home is haunted” (IMDb.com). The Others takes a very interesting spin on a classic haunting story and then buries under a climactic twist. If you didn't like it the first time you watched it, maybe go back and give it another watch with a different perspective.

The Modern Film: Lake Mungo (2008)
"Strange things start happening after a girl is found drowned in a lake” (IMDb.com). Lake Mungo is a completely po-faced mockumentary about the family left behind after a tragedy and it commits to that concept in ways almost no other horror film does. It could have lost a few of its numerous ideas and spent more time developing the ones that really matter to the movie's core themes (and is it just a recreation of Twin Peaks' primary mystery?), but it's definitely worth watching to find out if it's your thing.

Audio Sources:
"Lake Mungo" produced by Mungo Productions, et al.
"The Others" produced by Canal+, et al.
"Pet Sematary" written by Dee Dee Ramone & Daniel Rey and performed by The Ramones

147 - Double Feature - The Haunting (1963 & 1999) →

CW: Suicide, Homophobia

Best of 2020 - #7 (Tied) The Haunting (1963)

Read our afterthoughts for this episode here!  

It’s a Double Feature week on Pod Sematary! Chris & Kelsey sleep on their left sides in two twin beds pushed together.

The Original: The Haunting (1963)
"Hill House has stood for about 90 years and appears haunted: its inhabitants have always met strange, tragic ends. Now Dr. John Markway has assembled a team of people who he thinks will prove whether or not the house is haunted” (IMDb.com). Based on the Shirley Jackson novel, “The Haunting of Hill House,” “The Haunting” is a surprisingly under-discussed character study that’s way better than its lack of popular notoriety might suggest.

The Remake: The Haunting (1999)
"When Eleanor, Theo, and Luke decide to take part in a sleep study at a huge mansion[,] they get more than they bargained for when Dr. Marrow tells them of the house's ghostly past” (IMDb.com). I mean. The higher they rise, the farther they fall, am I right?

Audio Sources:
"Cherish" written by Terry Kirkman and performed by The Association
"The Haunting" (1963) produced by Argyle Enterprises
"The Haunting" (1999) produced by DreamWorks & Roth-Arnold Productions
"Pet Sematary" written by Dee Dee Ramone & Daniel Rey and performed by The Ramones
"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" (from Rent -- Original Broadway Cast Recording) written by Jonathan Larson and performed by Anthony Rapp & Adam Pascal

144 - What Lies Beneath (2000) & Insidious (2010) →

Read our afterthoughts for this episode here!

It’s Haunted People Week on Pod Sematary! Chris & Kelsey really evaluate the health of their marriage compared to these two shining examples of matrimony.

The Classic Film: What Lies Beneath (2000)
"The wife of a university research scientist believes that her lakeside Vermont home is haunted by a ghost - or that she is losing her mind” (IMDb.com). A simple, but surprisingly underrated ghost story, What Lies Beneath could have used a little more time and effort, but is still pretty entertaining. The only question is: is the ghost real?

The Modern Film: Insidious (2010)
"A family looks to prevent evil spirits from trapping their comatose child in a realm called The Further” (IMDb.com). Insidious sparked a change in the horror landscape, one that brought both perfection of craft and boring imitation for the next ten years.

Audio Sources:
“The Fugitive” produced by Warner Bros. & Kopelson Entertainment
"Hot Pockets" (from "Beyond the Pale") written and performed by Jim Gaffigan
“Insidious” produced by FilmDistrict, et al.
"The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King” produced by New Line Cinema, et al.
"Pet Sematary" written by Dee Dee Ramone & Daniel Rey and performed by The Ramones
“Street Fighter” (1994) produced by Capcom Entertainment & Edward R. Pressman Productions
“What Lies Beneath” produced by DreamWorks, et al.

076 - The Changeling (1980) & Ghost Stories (2017) →

CW: Suicide, Filicide, Ableism, Depression, Pregnancy Complications

It's another Haunting Week on Pod Sematary! This time, Chris & Kelsey discuss two movies that may have stolen each other's twist structure!

The Classic Film: The Changeling (1980)
"A man staying at a secluded historical mansion finds himself being haunted by the presence of a spectre." The Changeling is responsible for many long-tested horror tropes, but is it even that scary itself?

The Modern Films: Ghost Storeis (2017)
"Skeptical professor Phillip Goodman embarks on a trip to the terrifying after being given a file with details of three unexplained cases of apparitions." Is this creatively re-inventive premise undermined by its own twist?

Plus!
--The definition of portmanteau
--Spoilers for "Stay" (2005)
--The point of this entire podcast
--Stories about watching Fight Club

Get more at podsematary.com! Check out our afterthoughts for this episode at https://twitter.com/PodSematary/status/1107120447156613120

Audio Sources:
"The Big Shot" (Ren & Stimpy S01E01) produced by Nicktoons Productions, et al.
"The Changeling" produced by Chessman Park Productions
"Ghost Stories" produced by Lionsgate, et al.
"Jurassic Park" produced by Universal Pictures & Amblin Entertainment
"Monster Mash" written by Bobby Pickett & Leonard L. Capizzi and performed by Bobby "Boris" Pickett & the Crypt-Kickers
"Pet Sematary" written by Dee Dee Ramone & Daniel Rey and performed by The Ramones

067 - The Legend Of Hell House (1973) & Winchester (2018) →

CW: Suicide

Worst of 2019 - #7 Winchester

It's another Haunted House episode of Pod Sematary! This week, Chris & Kelsey discuss two films whose endings don't earn them any favors!

The Classic Film: The Legend of Hell House (1973)
This one is incredibly well filmed with tons of dramatic angles and beautiful shots. It handles the concept of hauntings so well that the very end makes you go, "Wait, what?"

The Modern Film: Winchester (2018)
At first, we thought the hate for this film was over-blown. It didn't seem THAT bad. But as it went on, the bad editing, basic structure problems, over-arching thematic issues, and failure to execute on even simple filmmaking skills set it up to fall even flatter as a whole than the ridiculous climactic scenes.

Plus!
We talk about the popular mommy-horror Bird Box and relationship-horror You!

Get more at podsematary.com! Read our afterthoughts for this episode at https://twitter.com/PodSematary/status/1084328197334872069

Audio Sources:
"Clue" produced by Paramount Pictures, et al.
"Dungeons & Dragons" performed by The Dead Alewives
"The Legend of Hell House" produced by Academy Pictures Corporation
"Pet Sematary" written by Dee Dee Ramone & Daniel Rey and performed by The Ramones
"Poltergeist" produced by Amblin Entertainment, et al.
"Scream" produced by Dimension Films & Woods Entertainment
"Winchester" produced by Blacklab Entertainment & Imagination Design Works

061 - Burnt Offerings (1976) & Rose Red (2002)

CW: Sexual Assault

This week on Pod Sematary, Kelsey & Chris are watching two movies all about haunted houses that feed off their living inhabitants!

First up is Burnt Offerings from 1976! A small family rents a run-down mansion as a summer home that seems too good to be true. As the mother falls more and more in love with the property, the father and son find more reasons to be worried. This film was critically derided in is day and Chris & Kelsey can't for the life of them figure out why!

Then it's on to the 2002 television miniseries event, Rose Red! A team of psychics with unique skills investigate the most haunted house in America, but this dead cell is not as dormant as it seems! Stephen King wrote this one directly for the small screen, but is that combination its downfall? Not if you ask Kelsey!

Get more at podsematary.com! Read our afterthoughts for this episode at https://twitter.com/i/moments/1069815323816222722

Audio Sources:
"Billy Madison" produced by Universal Pictures & Robert Simonds Productions
"Burnt Offerings" produced by Produzioni Europee Associate & Dan Curtis Productions
"The Langoliers" produced by Laurel Entertainment Inc., et al.
"Pet Sematary" written by Dee Dee Ramone & Daniel Rey and performed by The Ramones
"Rose Red" produced by Greengrass Productions, et al.
"The X-Files (Theme)" written and produced by Mark Snow