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

173 - Bram Stoker’s Dracula (1992) & Crimson Peak (2015) →

CW: Sexual Assault

It’s Valentine's Week on Pod Sematary! Chris & Kelsey get all sappy and romantic with two archetypical gothic horror giants!

Read our afterthoughts for this episode here!

The Classic Film: Bram Stoker’s Dracula (1992)
"[Dracula's] lonely soul is determined to reunite with his lost love, Mina. In Britain, [he] begins a reign of terror and seduction draining the life from her closest friend, Lucy. Together they try and drive Dracula away.” (RottenTomatoes.com). Francis Ford Coppola creates a stunning visual masterpiece using almost nothing but the cinematic techniques available at the turn of the 20th century. It's certainly quite something, but is it too bizarre for fans of the popular ur-vampire?

The Modern Film: Crimson Peak (2015)
"In the aftermath of a family tragedy, an aspiring author is torn between love for her childhood friend and the temptation of a mysterious outsider. Trying to escape the ghosts of her past, she is swept away to a house that breathes, bleeds - and remembers” (IMDb.com). You'll see a lot of familiar content here, even what are becoming Guillermo del Toro's own cliches, and the scares are a little weak, but as always, del Toro produces a feast for the eyes and the soul.

Audio Sources:
"Blood Lines: Dracula - The Man. The Myth. The Movies." produced by Columbia Pictures
"Bram Stoker's Dracula" produced by American Zoetrope, et al.
"The Costumes Are the Sets: The Design of Eiko Ishioka" produced by Zoetrope Aubry Productions
"Crimson Peak" produced by Double Dare You (DDY) & Legendary Entertainment
"It's My Party" written by Walter Gold, et al., and performed by Lesley Gore
"Jurassic Park" produced by Universal Pictures & Amblin Entertainment
"Love Song for a Vampire" written and performed by Annie Lennox
"Pet Sematary" written by Dee Dee Ramone & Daniel Rey and performed by The Ramones
"Pineapple Express" produced by Apatow Productions, et al.
"Scream 4" produced by Dimension Films, et al.
"She's Not There" written by Rod Argent and performed by The Zombies

123 - My Boyfriend's Back (1993) & Pontypool (2008) →

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CW: Pedophilia 

It’s Valentine's Day on Pod Sematary! Chris & Kelsey talk about two "zombie" movies, one of which is about love but doesn't take place on Valentine's Day and the other of which takes place on Valentine's Day but isn't about love.  

The Classic Film: My Boyfriend's Back (1993)
"A teenage boy comes back from the dead because he is determined to win the most beautiful girl in school” (IMDb.com). Even though everyone our age saw this 90s home video staple, it is often dismissed as forgettable tripe, but it's well-establish comedic tone and saccharine irony argue otherwise. Plus, zombie dick jokes!

The Modern Film: Pontypool (2008)
"A radio host interprets the possible outbreak of a deadly virus which infects the small Ontario town he is stationed in” (IMDb.com). This low-budget, indie darling has a lot of good ideas and taps into an existential terror unlike many others, but it fails to deliver on its clever premise due to inconsistent internal logic and an overwrought sense of its own grandiosity. Chris isn't mad; he's just disappointed.

Audio Sources:
"Magnolia" produced by New Line Cinema, et al.
"My Boyfriend's Back” produced by Touchstone Pictures & Touchwood Pacific Partners 1
"Pet Sematary" written by Dee Dee Ramone & Daniel Rey and performed by The Ramones
“Pontypool” produced by Ponty Up Pictures & Shadow Shows
"Valley Girl" produced by Valley 9000 Productions

075 - God Told Me To (1976) & Holidays (2016) →

CW: Suicide, Mass Shooting/Killing, Transphobia, Interphobia, Miscarriage, Rape, Abortion

It's St. Patrick's Day on Pod Sematary! That means Chris & Kelsey are going to once again find some flimsy connection to the Irish holiday!

The Classic Film: God Told Me To (1976)
"A New York detective investigates a series of murders committed by random New Yorkers who claim that 'God told them to.'" This classic, exploitation-style, 70s horror flick certainly goes some places, but will it really give you nightmares... forever?

The Modern Film: Holidays (2016)
"Holidays is an anthology feature film that puts a uniquely dark and original spin on some of the most iconic and beloved holidays of all time by challenging our folklore, traditions, and assumptions." Will the hit-or-miss natures of these vignettes ruin the movie's chances of becoming an all-time anthology classic?

Get more at podsematary.com! Read our afterthoughts for this episode at twitter.com/PodSematary/status/1104211421850562561

Audio Sources:
"The Alternate Side" (Seinfeld S03E11) produced by Shapiro/West Productions & Castle Rock Entertainment 
"Atlanta" from Nice Try, The Devil written and performed by Pete Holmes 
"Beetlejuice" produced by The Geffen Company
"Clue" produced by Paramount Pictures, et al
"Dracula Untold" produced by Universal Pictures, et al.
"Fright Night" produced by Columbia Pictures Corporation, et al.
"God Told Me To" produced by Big Hit Productions & New World Pictures
"Holidays" produced by XYZ Films, et al.
"The Itchy & Scratchy & Poochie Show" (The Simpsons S08E14) produced by Gracie Films & 20th Century Fox Television
"Jingle All the Way" produced by 1492 Pictures & Twentieth Century Fox
"The Neverending Story" produced by Constantin Film, et al.
"Pet Sematary" written by Dee Dee Ramone & Daniel Rey and performed by The Ramones
"POWER" written and produced by Kanye West, et al.
"Smuckers Ad (1975)" via Chuck D's All-New Classic TV Clubhouse @ www.youtube.com/watch?v=AGAUcoBjDhU
"Split" produced by Universal Pictures, et al.
"We're the Millers" produced by New Line Cinema, et al.

071 - Play Misty for Me (1971) & Swimfan (2002) →

CW: Suicide, Depression, Borderline Personality Disorder, Drug Addictions

Worst of 2019 - #1 (Tied) Swimfan

Happy Valentine's Day from Pod Sematary! This week, Chris and Kelsey discuss films about homicidal stalkers!

The Classic Film: Play Misty for Me (1971)
A brief fling between a male disc jockey and an obsessed female fan takes a frightening, and perhaps even deadly turn when another woman enters the picture. This calls for the "Eastwood Solution."

The Modern Film: Swimfan (2002)
A high school senior with a promising swimming career has a one-night stand with consequences. But is he too big of a douche-nozzle for us to care?

Get more at podsematary.com! Read our afterthoughts for this episode at https://twitter.com/PodSematary/status/1094745281927790593

Audio Sources:
"Bill Hader" (Conan S09E03) produced by Conaco
"Carry On Wayward Son" written by Kerry Livgren and performed by Kansas
"Pet Sematary" written by Dee Dee Ramone & Daniel Rey and performed by The Ramones
"Play Misty for Me" produced by The Malpaso Company
"Runaway Bride" produced by Paramount Pictures, et al.
"Split" produced by Universal Pictures, et al.
"Swimfan" produced by Twentieth Century Fox, et al.
"Terminator 2: Judgment Day" produced by Carolco Pictures, et al.
"Zero Effect" produced by Castle Rock Entertainment, et al.

020 - Double Feature - My Bloody Valentine (1981 & 2009) →

This week on Pod Sematary, we get so close to a good horror movie remake! Kelsey and Chris check out an unsung horror classic in 1981's My Bloody Valentine. The small mining town of Valentine Bluffs is rocked by a murderous past. When the town moves on and restarts the tradition of a Valentine's Day dance, are they risking the wrath of Harry Warden? Then, it's on to the 2009 3D remake that tries some very interesting things, but ends of undercutting itself at seemingly every turn.

019 - X-Ray (1981) & Valentine (2001) →

Worst of 2017/18 - #1 (Tied) X-Ray

Warning: Do not watch X-Ray. Or whatever - we're not the boss of you. In this week's episode of Pod Sematary, Chris and Kelsey HATE a movie that some people seem to love for some reason: 1980's X-Ray (AKA Hospital Massacre; AKA Ward 13; AKA Be My Valentine... Or Else!). If you are one of those people, first seek professional help, but then write us to let us know WHY. Then it's on to 2001's Valentine with David Boreanaz, a revenge slasher that Kelsey remembers from her middle school days and Chris doesn't remember at all.