240 - Stepfather 3 (1992) & The Wailing (2016) →

CW: Rape, Abuse of a Child with Disabilities, Harm to Animals

It’s Father's Day on Pod Sematary! Chris & Kelsey get back-alley plastic surgery and second families. Look, it's all very confusing.

Read our afterthoughts for this episode HERE!

The Classic Film: Stepfather 3: Father's Day (1992)
"That psycho stepfather has escaped from the insane asylum and had his face surgically altered. Now he's married again, this time to a woman with a child in a wheelchair. He goes on a killing spree once again” (IMDb.com). It's Stepfather again, only cringier and even more prudish, and this time we don’t even get Terry O'Quinn. It's the epitome of the unnecessary sequel.

The Modern Film: The Wailing (2016)
"Soon after a stranger arrives in a little village, a mysterious sickness starts spreading. A policeman, drawn into the incident, is forced to solve the mystery in order to save his daughter” (IMDb.com). The Wailing is a beautiful and very well-made but entirely too long movie with, ultimately, not a lot to say of substance about its subjects of choice.

Audio Sources:
"Eat Like an American" (from "Beyond the Pale") written and performed by Jim Gaffigan
"Happy Together" written by Gary Bonner & Alan Gordon and performed by the Turtles
"Hellraiser" (1987) produced by New World Pictures, et al.
"Jacob's Ladder" (1990) produced by Carolco Pictures
"Skyfire Cycle" (Brooklyn Nine-Nine S04E08) produced by Fremulon, et al.
"Stepfather" (1987) produced by Incorporated Television Company
"Stepfather 3" produced by Incorporated Television Company & Trimark Pictures
"The Wailing" produced by Fox International Production, et al.
"Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory" produced by Wolper Pictures

190 - Stepfather II (1989) & Insidious: Chapter 2 (2013) →

CW: Transphobia, Child Abuse, Gaslighting

It’s Father's Day on Pod Sematary! Chris & Kelsey learn the soundtrack to Cats and move houses for you AGAIN! Plus, our spoiler-free thoughts on The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It!

Read our afterthoughts for this episode here!

The Classic Film: Stepfather II: Make Room for Daddy (1989)
"After escaping the insane asylum in which he was incarcerated, Jerry Blake (Terry O'Quinn) impersonates a marriage counselor and manages to win over a patient (Meg Foster) and her young son (Jonathan Brandis)” (IMDb.com). Stepfather II is a low-effort and less-thrilling re-hash of the plot beats of the original. You know what? Just watch the original.

The Modern Film: Insidious: Chapter 2 (2013)
"The Lamberts believe that they have defeated the spirits that have haunted their family, but they soon discover that evil is not beaten so easily” (IMDb.com). In stark contrast to Stepfather, this follow-up complements the original in a way that few horror sequels do. Watch 'em both together!

Audio Sources:
"Hellraiser" (1987) produced by New World Pictures, et al.
"Insidious: Chapter 2" produced by Blumhouse Productions, et al.
"Pet Sematary" written by Dee Dee Ramone & Daniel Rey and performed by The Ramones
"Stepfather II: Make Room for Daddy" produced by Incorporated Television Company, et al.
"What Ever Happened to Baby Jane?" (1962) produced by The Associates & Aldrich Company

088 - Double Feature - The Stepfather (1987 & 2009) →

CW: Rape, Domestic Abuse

It's Father's Day on Pod Sematary... AND it's a Double Feature! Chris & Kelsey discuss a creepy classic about an overly strict stepfather along with its teen-thriller remake. Listen along with YOUR stepfather!

The Classic Film: The Stepfather (1987)
"After murdering his entire family, a man remarries a widow with a teenage daughter in another town and prepares to do it all over again" (IMDb.com). This cult classic turned out to be much better than we were expecting. Plus, you get to see Terry O'Quinn's stepfatherly dong.

The Modern Film: The Stepfather (2009)
"Michael returns home from military school to find his mother happily in love and living with her new boyfriend. As the two men get to know each other, he becomes more and more suspicious of the man who is always there with a helpful hand" (Sony Pictures). We posit that this remake wouldn't have seemed so bad if it wasn't being held up against a far superior version, but we still wouldn't take it over the original.

Get more at podsematary.com!

Audio Sources:
"Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure" produced by De Laurentiis Entertainment Group, et al.
"Fast & Furious 6" produced by Universal Pictures, et al.
"Fast Five" produced by Universal Pictures, et al.
"Hellraiser" produced by Cinemarque Entertainment BV, et al.
"No More I Love Yous" written by David Freeman & Joseph Hughes and performed by Annie Lennox
"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
"The Stepfather" (1987) produced by Incorporated Television Company (ITC) Productions
"The Stepfather" (2009) produced by Screen Gems, et al.
"The Yada Yada" (Seinfeld S08E19) produced by Shapiro/West Productions & Castle Rock Entertainment