106 - The Ninth Gate (1999) & The Ascent (2017) →

CW: Suicide, Rape

Read our afterthoughts for this episode at https://twitter.com/PodSematary/status/1181763562881994752

It’s Satanic Thriller Week on Pod Sematary! Chris & Kelsey make a deal with the devil (Kelsey got a new puppy in exchange for Chris’ soul). Thanks for recommending The Ascent, Peter!

The Classic Film: The Ninth Gate (1999)
"A rare book dealer, while seeking out the last two copies of a demon text, gets drawn into a conspiracy with supernatural overtones” (IMDb.com). One of many satanic thrillers from the late 90s and early 00s, The Ninth Gate tries and mostly fails to pull off the tone of The Omen but with a modern edge, but is there something there to enjoy anyway?

The Modern Film: The Ascent (2017)
"Veteran LAPD detective Henry Cardenas faces off against his toughest murder suspect yet, Vince Marins, who claims to be something other than human. Over the course of 24 hours, truths, both new and long-buried, will be revealed” (IMDb.com). This amateur-feeling attempt at a cool concept feels like it would be better off as an intimate, one-act play instead of a micro-budget, feature-length movie that the filmmakers seem ill-equipped to pull off.

Audio Sources:
“The Ascent” produced by The Ascent Movie, LLC
“The Ninth Gate” produced by Artisan Entertainment, et al.
"Pet Sematary" written by Dee Dee Ramone & Daniel Rey and performed by The Ramones
"Tom Segura: Completely Normal" produced by 3 Arts Entertainment & New Wave Entertainment Television

047 - The Dark Half (1993) & Secret Window (2004) →

Content Warning: Suicide

It's all pseudonymous folderol this week on Pod Sematary! Both movies are Stephen King adaptations about writers who are so tormented by their demons that... well, it's Stephen King, ya know? Don't get us wrong -- we love Stephen King, but is he just using us as his therapy at this point?

First up is 1993's The Dark Half starring Timothy Hutton and Timothy Hutton. Thad Beaumont buries his alter ego to avoid controversy, but George Stark just doesn't want to stay buried. Ask Mama if she believes it, but it would really make no difference to us either way.

Then it's on to 2004's Secret Window starring Johnny Depp and... Timothy Hutton again! Mort Rainey never used a pseudonym himself, but that won't stop John Shooter from taking credit for one of his stories -- and demanding that Mort fix the ending. The ending of this movie, on the other hand, doesn't do much to impress. Chris will argue that the movie is underrated, but by how much?

But stick around for some spoiler-talk about Castle Rock's 6th and 7th episodes, "Filter" and "The Queen". "The Queen" may be one of the best episodes of television this year, but why does Kelsey still feel let down?

Get more at podsematary.com!

Audio Sources:
"Chico and the Man" performed by José Feliciano
"The Dark Half" produced by Orion Pictures and George A. Romero Productions
"The Dark Half (Stephen King) - PC Game Review - Pushing Up Roses" via Pushing Up Roses @ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=apGURCNUqUA
"Got Your Money" written by Chad Hugo, Russell Jones, & Pharrell Williams and performed by Ol' Dirty Bastard
"Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2" produced by Marvel Studios and Walt Disney Pictures
"Jurassic Park" produced by Universal Pictures and Amblin Entertainment
"Once in a Lifetime" written by David Byrne, et al. and performed by The Talking Heads
"Pet Sematary" written by Dee Dee Ramone & Daniel Rey and performed by The Ramones
"A Picture is Worth 1,000 Bucks" (Family Guy S02E11) produced by Fuzzy Door Productions, et al.
"Secret Window" produced by Columbia Pictures Corporation, et al.
"Whoopi Goldberg" (Muppets Tonight S01E09) produced by Jim Henson Products and The Jim Henson Company (via Laser Time @ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PCY0aeUx-Ns)

045 - Double Feature - A Nightmare On Elm Street (1984 & 2010) →

CW: Child Molestation, Sexual Assault

Best of 2017/18 - #9 (Tied) A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984)

This week on Pod Sematary, Chris & Kelsey are excited to discuss their favorite slasher villain! The Quipping Killer! The Dream Demon! The Springwood Slasher! The Bastard Son of One Hundred Maniacs! The Orangutan Goblin himself: Freddy Krueger! It's a Double Feature of A Nightmare on Elm Street!

First up is the 1984 classic! It has the best cop-out of all time because everything happens in dreams. They can do anything! This low-budget flick almost didn't happen but writer/director Wes Craven and producer Bob Shaye wouldn't stop until it was made and the world is all the better for it! Plus, will someone please analyze Kelsey's recurring nightmare?

Then it's the 2010 disappointment... Perhaps surprisingly, we'd really like to see a good Nightmare reboot, but boy did we not get one here. Unlike the Thing premakequel, which we decided was simply unnecessary, this remake is a wasted opportunity to reinvigorate the beloved franchise. But we try to find the good in it anyway... is there any?

Get more at podsematary.com! Read our afterthoughts for this episode at twitter.com/PodSematary/status/1028774860959281152

Audio Sources:
"Celebrities Read Mean Tweets #4" via Jimmy Kimmel Live @ www.youtube.com/watch?v=nrjp6e04dZ8
"Never Sleep Again: The Elm Street Legacy" produced by 1428 Films and Panic Productions
"Never Sleep Again: The Making of 'A Nightmare on Elm Street'" produced by Automat Pictures (featurettes included in home release)
"A Nightmare on Elm Street" (1984) produced by New Line Cinema, et al.
"A Nightmare on Elm Street" (2010) produced by New Line Cinema and Platinum Dunes
"Pet Sematary" written by Dee Dee Ramone & Daniel Rey and performed by The Ramones
"Nightmare on My Street" written by Will Smith, Jeff Townes, & Pete Harris and performed by DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince (featuring "Theme from A Nightmare on Elm Street" by Charles Bernstein)
"Science Fiction/Double Feature" written by Richard O'Brien & Richard Hartley and performed by Joan Jett and the Blackhearts

027 - Häxan (1922) & Sleepy Hollow (1999) →

Best of 2017/18 - #9 (Tied) Häxan: Witchcraft Through the Ages

It's all about witches... again! This week on Pod Sematary, we go back to the silent film era for what some call the first ever documentary: 1922's Häxan: Witchcraft Through the Ages! While we're on the subject of witches, we might as well turn to Tim Burton's only true horror movie: 1999's Sleepy Hollow! Is this the last great Burton film or the first stumble in his downfall? Why not listen and find out?