239 - Damien: Omen II (1978) & Devil (2010) →

CW: Suicide, Alcoholism

It’s the Devil's Day on Pod Sematary! Chris & Kelsey read their bibles because what else are they going to do locked in this elevator?

Read our afterthoughts for this episode HERE!

The Classic Film: Damien: Omen II (1978)
"Damien the Antichrist, now about to turn thirteen years old, finally learns of his destiny under the guidance of an unholy disciple of Satan. Meanwhile, dark forces begin to eliminate all those who suspect the child's true identity” (IMDb.com). This sequel to the incredible original is better than you might have anticipated, but there's not a lot of meat on the bones.

The Modern Film: Devil (2010)
"A group of people are trapped in an elevator and the Devil is mysteriously amongst them” (IMDb.com). M. Night Shyamalan co-produced this bottle episode of a movie about the devil on an elevator, and it's better than his track record at the time might have suggested. But it wasn't good enough to get a Night Chronicles Part Two.

Audio Sources:
"Damien: Omen II (1978)" produced by Twentieth Century Fox, et al.
"Devil" (2010) produced by Night Chronicles, et al.
"The Exorcist in 30 Seconds (and Re-enacted by Bunnies)" produced by Angry Alien Productions, LLC
"A Fish Out of Water" (Family Guy S03E10) produced by 20th Century Fox Television, et al.
"Forrest Gump" produced by Paramount Pictures, et al.
"The Lion King" (1994) produced by Walt Disney Pictures & Walt Disney Animation Studios
"May 7, 1992" (Entertainment Tonight) produced by Paramount Domestic Television, et al.
"A Night at the Roxbury" produced by Broadway Pictures, et al.
"When the Lights Go Out" written by Eliot Kennedy, et al., and performed by Five
"Your Love" written by Onika Maraj, et al., and performed by Nicki Minaj

220 - Pumpkinhead (1988) & A Quiet Place (2018) →

CW: Suicide

It’s a Creature Feature Week on Pod Sematary! Chris & Kelsey finally find out why he's called Pumpkinhead when his head isn't shaped like a pumpkin!

Read our afterthoughts for this episode here!

The Classic Film: Pumpkinhead (1988)
"After a tragic accident, a man conjures up a towering, vengeful demon called Pumpkinhead to destroy a group of unsuspecting teenagers” (IMDb.com). Famed creature creator Stan Winston's directorial debut is the sort of film that most people outside the general horror fandom probably haven't even heard of, but it garners a certain respect among the faithful and for good reason. We wouldn't say it's "stellar" but it's certainly charming and very enjoyable. Oh, and Pumpkinhead be throwin' folks.

The Modern Film: A Quiet Place (2018)
"In a post-apocalyptic world, a family is forced to live in silence while hiding from monsters with ultra-sensitive hearing” (IMDb.com). A Quiet Place may be a motherlode for pedants, but to fall down that hole would be to miss the incredible performances and atmosphere that make the movie pretty dang good. Plus, it makes Chris cry.

Audio Sources:
"The Exorcist in 30 Seconds (and Re-enacted by Bunnies)" produced by Angry Alien Productions, LLC
"Gin and Juice" written by Calvin Broadus and performed by Snoop Dogg
"London Calling" written by Joe Strummer & Mick Jones and performed by The Clash
"Pet Sematary" written by Dee Dee Ramone & Daniel Rey and performed by The Ramones
"Pumpkinhead" produced by De Laurentiis Entertainment Group & Lion Films
"A Quiet Place" produced by Paramount Pictures, et al.
"Redneck Rampage" (PC) developed by Xatrix and produced by Interplay Entertainment
"Rock-A-Doodle" produced by Goldcrest Films International & Sullivan Bluth Studios
"Thank You for Smoking" produced by Room 9 Entertainment
"Too Little Too Late" written by Billy Steinberg, et al., and performed by JoJo

199 - Alien 3 (1992) & Life (2017) →

CW: Rape, Suicide, Harm to Animals

It’s Space Alien Week on Pod Sematary! Chris & Kelsey celebrate Chris' birthday by wrapping up one of his favorite franchises: Alien! Yup! There are no more Alien movies after this!

Read our afterthoughts for this episode here!

The Classic Film: Alien 3 (1992)
"After her last encounter, Ellen Ripley crash-lands on Fiorina 161, a maximum-security prison. When a series of strange and deadly events occur shortly after her arrival, Ripley realizes that she has brought along an unwelcome visitor” (IMDb.com). Alien 3 may have been an absolute mess of a production—so much so that David Fincher disowned it entirely—but it may not be as bad as you've been led to believe.

The Modern Film: Life (2017)
"A team of scientists aboard the International Space Station discovers a rapidly evolving life form that caused extinction on Mars and now threatens all life on Earth” (Sony Pictures). This movie has more than what it takes to be a banger—great actors, terrifying thrills, and a clean premise—too bad it all rests on an infuriating script.

Audio Sources:
"Alien" produced by Brandywine Productions
"Alien 3" produced by Twentieth Century Fox & Brandywine Productions
"Fight Club" produced by Fox 2000 Pictures, et al.
"Invasion of the Body Snatchers" (1956) produced by Allied Artists Pictures & Walter Wanger Productions
"Life" (2017) produced by Columbia Pictures, et al.
"Pet Sematary" written by Dee Dee Ramone & Daniel Rey and performed by The Ramones
"Spirit in the Sky" written and performed by Norman Greenbaum
"Strong Bad Email #45 - Techno" via homestarrunnerdotcom @ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JwZwkk7q25I

170 - Scream 3 (2000) & Scream 4 (2011) →

CW: Sexual Assault

Read our afterthoughts for this episode here!

It’s a Scream Week on Pod Sematary! Chris & Kelsey finish the last half of the Scream franchise all in one go and also talk too much about Josie & the Pussycats.

The Classic Film: Scream 3 (2000)
"While Sidney and her friends visit the Hollywood set of Stab 3, the third film based on the Woodsboro murders, another Ghostface killer rises to terrorize them” (IMDb.com). Scream 3 isn't as bad as we remembered, but that doesn't mean it's very good. Despite the fact that there are some very lovable characters and moments, it's obvious that no one's heart was in this one.

The Modern Film: Scream 4 (2011)
"Ten years have passed, and Sidney Prescott, who has put herself back together thanks in part to her writing, is visited by the Ghostface Killer” (IMDb.com). Scream managed to get to four entries without having a terrible one, but we still haven't captured the magic of the first again, despite how hard this movie tries.

Audio Sources:
"Is This The End" written by Mark T. Tremonti & Scott A. Stapp and performed by Creed
"Music of the Heart" produced by Craven-Maddalena Films & Miramax
"Pet Sematary" written by Dee Dee Ramone & Daniel Rey and performed by The Ramones
"Scream 3" produced by Craven-Maddalena Films, et al.
"Scream 4" produced by Dimension Films, et al.
"Tune Up #1" (from Rent -- Original Broadway Cast Recording) written by Jonathan Larson and performed by Anthony Rapp & Adam Pascal
"What If" written by Mark T. Tremonti & Scott A. Stapp and performed by Creed

146 - Aliens (1986) & Alien: Covenant (2017) →

Best of 2020 - #1 Aliens

Read our afterthoughts for this episode here!

It’s another Alien week on Pod Sematary! Chris & Kelsey creep deeper into the Alien Franchise with what some refer to as the best installment. Chris is not one of those people.

The Classic Film: Aliens (1986)
“Ellen Ripley is rescued by a deep salvage team after being in hypersleep for 57 years. The moon that the Nostromo visited has been colonized, but contact is lost. This time, colonial marines have impressive firepower, but will that be enough?” (IMDb.com). I mean, come on, it’s Aliens. You know what’s up.

The Modern Film: Alien: Covenant (2017)
“The crew of a colony ship, bound for a remote planet, discover an uncharted paradise with a threat beyond their imagination and must attempt a harrowing escape” (Twentieth Century Fox). With Prometheus and its place in the Alien timeline winding up a little too bizarre and esoteric for the average Alien fan, it seems Ridley Scott and Fox felt compelled to compromise and bring its sequel closer to general expectations. In doing so, they’ve managed to make a relatively good movie that’s the worst of both worlds.

Audio Sources:
"Alien: Covenant" produced by Scott Free Productions, et al.
"Aliens" produced by Twentieth Century Fox, et al.
"Blade Runner" produced by The Ladd Company, et al.
"Clerks" produced by View Askew Productions & Miramax
"It's Raining Men" written by Paul Jabara & Paul Shaffer and performed by The Weather Girls
"Mad About You" written by Paula Jean Brown, James Whelan, & Mitchel Young Evans and performed by Belinda Carlisle
"Mystery Science Theater 3000: The Movie" produced by Best Brains & Universal Pictures
"The Naked Now" (Star Trek: The Next Generation S01E03) produced by Paramount Television
"Pet Sematary" written by Dee Dee Ramone & Daniel Rey and performed by The Ramones
"Take Me Home, Country Roads" written by Bill Danoff, Taffy Nivert, & John Denver and performed by John Denver
"The Terminator" produced by Cinema '84, et al.
"Thank You for Smoking" produced by Room 9 Entertainment
"Tombstone" produced by Hollywood Pictures, et al.

109 - The Terminator (1984) & Morgan (2016) →

Best of 2019 - #7 The Terminator

Read our afterthoughts for this episode at https://twitter.com/PodSematary/status/1191101921525940224

It’s Manufactured Assassin Week on Pod Sematary! Chris gets pedantic about robot terminology (what else is new?) and Kelsey sings Burnin' in the Third Degree! Thanks to listener Harry for the recommendation!

The Classic Film: The Terminator (1984)
"A seemingly indestructible robot is sent from 2029 to 1984 to assassinate a young waitress, whose unborn son will lead humanity in a war against sentient machines, while a human soldier from the same war is sent to protect her at all costs” (IMDb.com). The first film in the Terminator franchise is probably the closest the series ever gets to straight-up slasher-horror. Don’t worry; we don’t bicker about the logic of time travel.

The Modern Film: Morgan (2016)
"A corporate risk-management consultant must decide whether or not to terminate an artificially created humanoid being.” (IMDb.com). Chris & Kelsey saw this movie when it came out and subsequently forgot everything about it beyond the premise. After they watch it again, this entirely passable flick (that doesn’t seem at all concerned with being anything beyond superficial) reinforces precisely why it doesn’t stick in your brain.

Audio Sources:
"Arnold Schwarzenegger and Linda Hamilton Respond to IGN Comments" via IGN @ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z1d_CtQOh54
"Arnold Schwarzenegger Breaks Down His Most Iconic Characters | GQ" via GQ @ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=srksXVEkfAs
"Beverly Hills Cop" produced by Paramount Pictures, et al.
“Morgan” produced by Scott Free Productions, et al.
"Pet Sematary" written by Dee Dee Ramone & Daniel Rey and performed by The Ramones
“The Terminator” produced by Hemdale, et al.
"Terminator 2: Judgement Day" produced by Carolco Pictures, et al.
"Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines" (Deleted Scene & Arnold Schwarzenegger Commentary) produced by C-2 Pictures, et al.

094 - Double Feature - When a Stranger Calls (1979 & 2006) →

Worst of 2019 - #6 When a Stranger Calls (2006)

It’s a Double Feature Week on Pod Sematary! Chris & Kelsey decide whether or not to check the children in this urban-legend-turned-feature-film combo recommended by listener Alex!

The Original: When a Stranger Calls (1979)
“A psychopathic killer terrorizes a babysitter, then returns seven years later to menace her again" (IMDb.com). It’s everyone’s favorite UL: The Babysitter and the Man Upstairs! Plus, we talk way too much about gender dynamics and dating.

The Remake: When a Stranger Calls (2006)
“During a babysitting gig, a high-school student is harassed by an increasingly threatening prank caller" (IMDb.com). In 1979, Fred Walton added about 70 or so minutes of content to a 20-minute concept to make a pretty awesome film; in 2006, Simon West tried to get about the same length without adding ANYTHING. It goes about as well as you could expect.

Get more at podsematary.com! Read our afterthoughts for this episode at https://twitter.com/PodSematary/status/1153434017313640448

Audio Sources:
"Black Christmas" (1974) produced by Film Funding Ltd. of Canada, et al.
"Down Once More/Track Down This Murderer" written by Charles Hart, Richard Stilgoe, & Andrew Lloyd Webber and performed by Michael Crawford, Mary Millar, Steve Barton, and the Original London Cast
"Forgetting Sarah Marshall" produced by Universal Pictures & Apatow Productions
“Grandma’s Boy” produced by Happy Madison Productions, et al.
"New in Town" written and performed by John Mulaney
"Old Town Road" written and performed by Lil Nas X
"Pet Sematary" written by Dee Dee Ramone & Daniel Rey and performed by The Ramones
"The Princess Bride" produced by The Princess Bride Ltd., et al.
"S&M Present" (Robot Chicken S01E09) produced by Stoopid Monkey, et al.
"Scrooged" produced by Paramount Pictures & Mirage Productions
"Split" produced by Universal Pictures, et al.
“The Three Caballeros” produced by Walt Disney Pictures & Walt Disney Productions
"Urban Legend" produced by Phoenix Pictures, et al.
"Weird Satanist Guy" via BowserVids @ www.youtube.com/watch?v=YErFwJX0HKE
"When a Stranger Calls" (1979) produced by Melvin Simon Productions
"When a Stranger Calls" (2006) produced by Screen Gems & Davis Entertainment
"zendaya is meechee" via Gabriel Gundacker @ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xx5YqFKjTCY