257 - Hellraiser III (1992) & Hellraiser (2022) →

It’s Hellraiser Week on Pod Sematary! Chris & Kelsey once again explore the further reaches of experience!

The Classic Film: Hellraiser III: Hell on Earth (1992)
"An investigative reporter must send the newly unbound Pinhead and his legions back to Hell” (IMDb.com). After the initial classic and the better-than-you-might-expect sequel, the scope of the Hellraiser mythos spreads to the city streets, but has the series jumped the shark yet?

Get more on Patreon! Read our afterthoughts for this episode HERE!

The Modern Film: Hellraiser (2022)
"A take on Clive Barker's 1987 horror classic where a young woman struggling with addiction comes into possession of an ancient puzzle box, unaware that its purpose is to summon the Cenobites” (Hulu). A complete refresh of the series, Hulu's Hellraiser joins the small collection of modern reboots that actually aren't that bad.

Audio Sources:
"Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure" produced by De Laurentiis Entertainment Group, et al.
"Hellraiser" (1987) produced by New World Pictures, et al.
"Hellraiser" (2022) produced by 20th Century Studios, et al.
"Hellraiser III: Hell on Earth" produced by Fifth Avenue Entertainment & Trans Atlantic Entertainment
"Hellraiser (VNV Nation Remix)" written by Johan van Roy and performed by Suicide Commando
"Jim Gaffigan: Beyond the Pale" produced by Chimichanga Productions, et al.

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

216 - Angel Heart (1987) & Midnight Kiss (2019) →

CW: Sexual Assault, Rape, Incest

It’s New Year's Week on Pod Sematary! Chris & Kelsey spend the last show of the year looking for someone to kiss at midnight.

Read our afterthoughts for this episode here!

The Classic Film: Angel Heart (1987)
"A private investigator is hired by a man who calls himself Louis Cyphre to track down a singer named Johnny Favorite. But the investigation takes an unexpected and somber turn” (IMDb.com). Mickey Rourke gets really melodramatic in probably one of his best roles opposite a Robert De Niro the likes of which you've likely never seen before. Angel Heart doesn't really stick the landing, but it's a beautiful and troubling movie.

The Modern Film: Midnight Kiss (2019)
"Midnight Kiss follows a group of longtime gay best friends and their straight female bestie as they head to a beautiful desert home to celebrate New Year's Eve. One of their annual traditions is to play a game called Midnight Kiss... [but] the group faces another challenge when a sadistic killer wants in on the game” (IMDb.com). Part of Hulu's Into the Dark series of holiday horror movies, Midnight Kiss does what no other movie in the series we've seen so far has been able to do and actually delights us.

Audio Sources:
"Angel Heart" produced by Carolco International N.V., et al.
"Anything Can Happen Day" (from The Mickey Mouse Club) written and performed by Jimmie Dodd
"Anything Could Happen" written by Ellie Goulding & Jim Eliot and performed by Ellie Goulding
"Chitty Chitty Bang Bang" produced by Dramatic Features & Warfield
"James McAvoy/Meek Mill" (Saturday Night Live S44E11) produced by Broadway Video & SNL Studios
"Midnight Kiss" (Into the Dark S02E04) produced by Blumhouse Television & Hulu
"Pet Sematary" written by Dee Dee Ramone & Daniel Rey and performed by The Ramones
"psa if youre a shit talking director make sure to mute ur shit on zoom mtgings" via @lukasgage at https://twitter.com/lukasgage/status/1329891756020695041?s=20
"The Santa Clause" produced by Walt Disney Pictures, et al.

201 - Return to Horror High (1987) & School Spirit (2019) →

CW: Rape, Abortion, Alcoholism

It’s Back to School Week on Pod Sematary! Chris & Kelsey join the other teenage archetypes for Saturday School and must escape a for-real, not-at-all-fake ghost!

Read our afterthoughts for this episode here!

The Classic Film: Return to Horror High (1987)
"In the early 1980s, a series of gruesome murders occurred at Crippen High School. A few years later, a film crew uses the now-abandoned Crippen High as the set for a film, but an uninvited guest makes an appearance on the set” (IMDb.com). Return to Horror High is a parody of horror movies, but also not? It's a movie within a movie but there're even more layers? Basically, it's the Inception of horror comedies—an admirably ambitious affair without the chops to hold that lofty title.

The Modern Film: School Spirit (2019)
"A group of social outcasts stuck in weekend detention is confronted by the school's legendary hauntings” (IMDb.com). The Breakfast Club but "haunted," School Spirit is a low-stakes, campus horror from the Hulu and Blumhouse Into the Dark series that disappoints in how uninspired it is. Even the opportunity of a haunted high school is completely abandoned in favor of a pretty predictable twist. When is Into the Dark supposed to get good?

Audio Sources:
"145 - Bad Ronald (1974) & The Evil Within (2017)" produced by Pod Sematary
"All My Life" written by Rory Bennett & JoJo Hailey and performed by K-Ci & JoJo
"Blurred Lines" written and performed by Robin Thicke, et al.
"The Day the Violence Died" (The Simpsons S07E18) produced by Gracie Films & 20th Century Fox Television
"Dead Man on Campus" produced by MTV Films, et al.
"The Godfather" produced by Paramount Pictures & Alfran Productions
"Mario Twins" written and performed by Gröûp X
"Pet Sematary" written by Dee Dee Ramone & Daniel Rey and performed by The Ramones
"Return to Horror High" produced by Balcor Film Investors & New World Pictures
"Scary Movies" written by Larry Weir and performed by Pleasant Company
"School Spirit" (Into the Dark S01E11) produced by Blumhouse Television & Hulu

117 - Bloody New Year (1987) & New Year, New You (2018) →

CW: Suicide, Bullying

Worst of 2019 - #8 Bloody New Year

Read our afterthoughts for this episode at https://twitter.com/PodSematary/status/1211413429241597952

It’s New Year's on Pod Sematary! This week, Chris and Kelsey get trapped in a time loop and go DF!

The Classic Film: Bloody New Year (1987)
"Five shipwrecked English teenagers take refuge in an island hotel that is decorated for New Years. The problem is, it's early summer, and soon enough, even the walls themselves are striking out against them” (IMDb.com). Even the director gave up on this movie, and we can see why.

The Modern Film: New Year, New You (2018)
"A group of old friends gather for a girls' night on New Year's Eve. But as they begin to rehash old memories, many of the gripes they've been harboring manifest in murderous ways” (IMDb.com). Part of “Into the Dark,” a Hulu Original horror anthology series produced by Blumhouse, this New Year’s episode explores what can happen when alpha-female bullies become internet influencers. 

Audio Sources:
“Bloody New Year” produced by Cinema and Theatre Seating Limited & Lazer Entertainment
“New Year, New You” (Into the Dark, S01E04) produced by Blumhouse Television
"Pet Sematary" written by Dee Dee Ramone & Daniel Rey and performed by The Ramones