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

142 - Silver Bullet (1985) & Wer (2013) →

CW: Suicide, Ableism

Worst of 2020 - #8 Wer

Read our afterthoughts for this episode here!

It’s Werewolf 4th of July on Pod Sematary! Chris & Kelsey are charming, family werewolf hunters but then they decide to become an action movie because reasons.

The Classic Film: Silver Bullet (1985)
“A werewolf terrorizes a small city where lives the paralytic Marty Coslaw, his uncle, and his sister, the story's narrator” (IMDb.com). An adaptation of Stephen King’s "novelette,” “Cycle of the Werewolf,” Silver Bullet is a surprisingly tense, small-town horror flick with endearing characters and a charming world.

The Modern Film: Wer (2013)
"A defense attorney begins to suspect that there might be more to her client, who is charged with the murders of a vacationing family, than meets the eye” (IMDb.com). One of the best examples of a movie dropping the ball, Wer starts with an incredible premise and tone before deciding it would rather be a terrible, nonsensical, action movie.

Audio Sources:
"Pet Sematary" written by Dee Dee Ramone & Daniel Rey and performed by The Ramones
"Split" produced by Universal Pictures et al.
“Silver Bullet” produced by Dino De Laurentiis Company, et al.
"The Secret of NIMH" produced by Don Bluth Productions
"Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone" produced by Warner Bros. et al.
"An American Werewolf in London" produced by Polygram Pictures, et al.
“Wer” produced by FilmDistrict, et al.

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