In our biggest episode to date, Mike, Brian, and Stephen strap on the proton backs and try not to cross the streams as we take on the mother of all 80s comedies: GHOSTBUSTERS. Something this funny, this quitable and this memorable could only come from a group that defined comedy in the 70s and 80s, and there's nothing like watching Bill Murray, Harold Ramis, and Dan Akroyd just hang out and do there thing. We talk about the trials and tribulations it took to bring this film to life, as nothing like it had existed before. We discuss its place in the pantheon of 80s movies and wonder where this kind of family friendly movie went. We talk about the gags and ghosts, from Stay-Puft, to Rick Moranis' loveable loser Louis, to a theme song you just couldn't get out of your head, and everything in between.  Most of all, we answer the age old question, "Does bustin' make you feel good?" If you like what you’re listening to make sure to subscribe wherever you get your podcast feeds.  Please take a moment to rate and review us on the Apple Podcast app, or rate us on the Spotify app. Reviews and five star ratings help new listeners find us every day, and we greatly appreciate the feedback and support.  Check out our website for easy access to our full catalog of shows, with hundreds of hours of free content. You can search the catalog, leave a review and even leave us feedback all from the site. Go to www.podandthependulum.com to check it out.  If you have the means, consider becoming a patron today and support the show. Patreon members get exclusive full length episodes, audio fan commentaries, exclusive mini-sodes and more. Join today at patreon.com/podandthependulum.

In space no one can hear you scream, but can they hear you podcast? This week Mike and Stephen are joined by guest Katy Terry (Fangs for the Memories podcast) to talk about Fede Alvarez entry into the Alien canon, Alien Romulus. WE discuss where the film goes right, with its adherence to practical effects and sets, fantastic set pieces that make the Xenomorph scary again, and a cracker jack cast that has a new riff on the working class and bodily autonomy themes the original did so well. When Romulus does its own thing, it shines.  We also cover the warts. From an overreliance on fan service to the ghoulish and head scratching decision to include a CGI Ian Holm, we wonder why the Alvarez  felt such a need to cling to the past rather than forge a new path forward for the franchise.

This week brings us the first half of our two-parter on David Cronenberg's remake THE FLY. Mike, Brian, and Devaughn are joined by Scored to Death author J Blake Fichera to talk about one of the true masterpieces of 80s horror.  Featuring star making turns from Jeff Goldblum and Geena Davis, THE FLY remains David Cronenberg's most successful commercial work of his storied career, and his ultimate statement on body horror, the mutation of the flesh, and how pushing past the limits of our minds and bodies can lead to tragedy. This episode we look at how this movie came to be, explore the trajectory of Cronenberg's career, discuss what made Goldblum and Davis so perfect for these roles, marvel at the groundbreaking, Oscar winning special effects from Chris Walas and more.  If you like what you’re listening to make sure to subscribe wherever you get your podcast feeds.  Please take a moment to rate and review us on the Apple Podcast app, or rate us on the Spotify app. Reviews and five star ratings help new listeners find us every day, and we greatly appreciate the feedback and support.  Check out our website for easy access to our full catalog of shows, with hundreds of hours of free content. You can search the catalog, leave a review and even leave us feedback all from the site. Go to www.podandthependulum.com to check it out.  If you have the means, consider becoming a patron today and support the show. Patreon members get exclusive full length episodes, audio fan commentaries, exclusive mini-sodes and more. Join today at patreon.com/podandthependulum.

Every time someone downloads this episode, an angel gets its wings.    For the Christmas holiday we have a special bonus for listeners. Mike and Brian break down one of their favorite holiday films, Frank Capra's Its A Wonderful Life. From its humble beginnings as a Christmas card, to it flopping so hard it shuttered the production company and ended Capra's career as a commercial filmmaker, this had a long and winding road to enjoying its beloved status. We talk about why its message about community building and treating others with dignity still resonates today. We break down the many moments that make us laugh, move us to tears or hit a bit harder as we get older ourselves. It's a different tact for us for sure, but we hope you enjoy this bonus show.    link to the Vox article from Emily St James we quote from near the end of the show

This week Jessica steps into the hosting chair and is joined by Brian, Rachel and a COVID-riddled Mike to talk about their top ten horror movies of the year. It's a massive episode as each host has a list that reflects their own varied and personal tastes, as seen by the 29 movies discussed over 40 slots. 2022 has been a banner year both creatively and commercial for horror, as it continues to prove to be one of the only genres outside superhero movies that puts asses in seats at the theaters time and time again. We also saw huge swings and outside the box movies this year, while personal and collective traumas continue to be mined for scares. What say you listener? Has this been a fantastic year for horror? Are there any movies we overlooked? What does your personal top ten of the year look like?

This week we’re kicking off a new series with a look back at Don Coscarelli’s independent horror masterpiece, PHANTASM (1979). Mike, Devaughn and Rachel are joined by first time guest Ariel Powers Schaub (Ghouls Magazine) to talk about the influence this movie has had in horror over the past four decades, as films like A Nightmare on Elm Street and televisions Supernatural owe it a great deal of debt We explore Michael’s fear of losing his big brother, the cosmic horrors of the Tall Man and the overall dreamlike qualities that have thrilled crowds for years. We talk about two of the coolest vehicles in horror history: The Barracuda and Reggie’s ice cream truck. And remember…if this podcast doesn’t scare you, you’re already dead!

This week we talked about the surprise sequel we didn’t know we wanted, but we sure as hell needed. Orphan: First Kill tells us the origins of everyone’s favorite murderous little person masquerading as an eight year old. While it could have rested on the goodwill of Isabelle Fuhrman returning to her iconic role and made folks happy just rehashing the plot of the original, First Kill managed to surprise the audience with another shocking twist, and a hell of a camp turn from the lovely Julia Stiles. Does this make you want more Esther? Mike and Devaughn are here to discuss.

Mike, Rachel and Jessica talk about what a banner year it's been for horror and a few of the things we're most grateful for about the genre and the people involved it it. This show drops Thanksgiving morning, so if you're listening to it while stuffing your bird and prepping the cranberry sauce, thank you.

It's everyone's favorite murderous little person masquerading as a tween! This week we talk the fantastic thriller from 2009 ORPHAN and why it deserves your love and a high spot on the killer-not-quite-kids movie list

We return to Haddonfield one last time for the final* chapter in the Halloween saga. Folks, this film makes some choices, and we're here to dissect them all. No matter where you fall when it comes to the Halloween movies, and the David Gordon Green entries in particular, it's fair to say everybody was left collectively scratching their hands when the last movie of a trilogy not only introduced a brand new character with Corey Cunningham, but also made him the main focus while sideling Michael and Laurie. Where do you fall, fans? Do you appreciate this bold new direction, or is Corey the "Poochie" of the franchise? Do we love a Laurie that wants to show grief her tits? How do we feel about old man Michael nearly having a heart attack mid-stab? Mike s joined by Rachel, Nichole, Jessica and special guest Jenn Adams (The Loser's Club, Psychoanalysis: A Horror Therapy podcast) to bring this series to an end.    *Until the inevitable reboot in 2025, amirite?

EVIL DIES TONIGHT! We return to Haddonfield to start wrapping up our episodes on Halloween. This week we look back at a movie that sharply divided fans, Halloween Kills. Is it an over the top slasher that delivers some of the goriest entries in the entire series? Absolutely. Does it dip its toes into social commentary regarding mob rule, cancel culture and our inability as a society to think rationally in heightened situations in the most ham-fisted and convoluted ways imaginable? Yes it does. We look at these topics, the mixed messages on how this one defines The Shape as more than a man, and whether the lesser reputation of Kills retroactively damaged fans' feelings about the 2018 entry Mike is joined by Brian Keiper and Michele Eggen of the Movies For Life podcast for a spirited discussion.

It's the last two weeks of spooky season and that means binge watching horror movies (okay, pretty much every day means that for sure). We have a special bonus show with our picks. If you're someone who is TERRIFIED of all the streaming options and end up freezing like you're were getting stared down by a pack of werewolves instead of trying to decide which Halloween movie to watch, we have our picks from a number of platforms including Shudder, Screambox, Peacock, HBO Max, and Disney+. Mike, Stephen, Jessica, and Bryan are joined by Sarah Stubbs (Final Girls Feast pod).

We put another franchise to bed with this week's look at 2022's "requel/retcon/reboot/continuation/whatever the new word is now" of Netflix's Texas Chainsaw Massacre. It's a spirited debate where we talk the politics of this movie, it's treatment of the franchise's signature final girl, protagonists that give Franklin a run for his money in the "so annoying please just kill the already" department, finally delivering on the promise of an actual chainsaw massacre and we have a very divided panel when we discuss the last scene of the movie, We're joined by special guest Sarah Stubbs of Geeks Who Eat & the Final Girls Feast podcast.

This week marks the release of Ariel's long awaited book Millennial Nasties: Analyzing a Decade of Brutal Horror. We chat about how the book came to be, why these films still stick with us twenty years later, and why horror became more brutal and often bleak at the turn of the century.  If you want your own copy of the book order it today from all major retailers, or directly from publisher Encyclopocalypse Publications: Print version  and the e-book version   If you like what you’re listening to make sure to subscribe wherever you get your podcast feeds.    Please take a moment to rate and review us on the Apple Podcast app, or rate us on the Spotify app. Reviews and five star ratings help new listeners find us every day, and we greatly appreciate the feedback and support.    Check out our website for easy access to our full catalog of shows, with hundreds of hours of free content. You can search the catalog, leave a review and even leave us feedback all from the site. Go to www.podandthependulum.com to check it out.  If you have the means, consider becoming a patron today and support the show. Patreon members get exclusive full length episodes, audio fan commentaries, exclusive mini-sodes and more. Join today at patreon.com/podandthependulum.

Folks, we don’t even know how to keep track of everything going on with this series anymore. This week we’re talking about the second prequel of the Texas Chainsaw Massacre series, which is also the second entry titled Leatherface. Alexander Bustillo and Julien Muary bring some of that French extremity vibe and a lot of style to a story that tries to answer questions no one really asked. Mike is joined by Rachel Reeves and guest Clayton from the Men Who Like Men Who Like Movies podcast. Not only do we deliver on all the Chainsaw analysis you know and love, we also ask “Which Eastern European countries are you supposed to avoid if you don’t want to get murdered and left in a dirty alley?” and “did Jessica Fletcher do butt stuff with a debonair Leslie Neilson during the third season of Murder She Wrote?” THESE are the questions you should be asking listeners.

This week we get together to talk about the most unfairly maligned film in the Chainsaw series. In a franchise filled with high peaks, and low-lows, TCM 3D seems to have few defenders. Why? We make the argument that there needs to be MORE movies where grandmas leave their grandkids palatial mansions that come fully equipped with a family graveyard,  a carnival over the backyard fence, and a 300 pound cannibal living in the basement! Maybe it's living through an era where horror can take itself too seriously, but we got our kicks watching Alexandria Daddario shout "Do your thing cuz!" and a tone that pulls back from the grim nihilism of the Platinum Dunes films. Mike and Jess are joined by Andrew from the Dead Letter Movie pod for a fun, loose conversation.

This week, Mike and Nicole talk the prequel that answers all the burning questions fans had in the wake of the 2003 TCM remake: How did Sheriff Hoyt get that sweet law enforcement gig? How did he lose his teeth? How did Uncle Monty lose his legs? Where did Tommy "Leatherface" Hewitt get his first chainsaw? How are the Sons of Anarchy involved? We talk this, plus dive into the remake boon of this era, talk torture porn and so much more. It's the first of TWO prequels in the series, lord help us all.

Is this going to be one of our most controversial episodes? Possibly. The Michael Bay produced remake is one of the most talked about horror movies of the past twenty years, and it's responsible for the deluge of remakes and reboots that followed over the course of the next decade. For some horror fans,  "Platinum Dunes" were fighting words, like someone insulted their mother. Does this movie get lumped in with the less than stellar efforts that followed it? Does it manage to stay consistent and honor the spirit of Tobe Hooper's classic original film while offering up its own unique take? That's what Mike, Nicole, Brian and Rachel are here to talk about tonight.

This week the gang is infiltrated by the Illuminati to tell you there's nothing to see here except perhaps one of the most understood slasher sequels of all time. Is this maligned, underseen, box-office bomb starring pre-stardom Rene Zellweger and Matthew Mcconaughey secretly brilliant? Listen now and find out

Mike and Jessica are joined by Andrew Fabry of The Dead Letter Movie podcast to talk Leatherface, the third entry in the Chainsaw series and the first of two movies with that title. As the 80s closed and the box office fortunes of Freddy and Jason began to taper off, New Line Cinema needed a new hit franchise. Picking the bones of Cannon films, they thought they'd have a name brand icon that they could release a string of hit horror movies on. Were they right? Well, sort of since they keep making these things. This time out we talk how studio interference and an out flor blood MPAA cut this one out at the knees before it could even get up and running.

How do you follow up one of the scariest, most unnerving movies of all time? By making a straight up comedy of course! This week, Mike and Stephen take a long look at a movie that was a decade plus in the making. From diving into the behind the scenes troubles that nearly torpedoed the movie, rating Stretch as a final girl, trying to determine just how much blow Dennis Hopper was on during filming, to examining why this one works, even if its a dramatic shift in tone and tenor. Spoiler: IT'S ALL IN THE MEAT.

The second half of our discussion gets to the good stuff. We talk about the most iconic introduction of a horror villain ever committed to the big screen, the insanity of the dinner party, have it out over Franklin, discuss the social, economic, and political factors that influenced the making of this movie and examine its legacy. With guests Brian Keiper, Devaughn Taylor and Nichole Goble. If you haven't already, go back and check out part one.

This week we kick off a brand new franchise with the greatest horror movie of all time, Tobe Hooper's The Texas Chainsaw Massacre. This episode promises to be a massive one, and we've broken our talk down into multiple parts. For part one, we talk about the confluence of events that went into Hooper and writer Kim Henkel's script, the absolute hell it was to make this movie, where Hooper ranks amongst the masters of horror and start breaking down some of the iconic moments of the movie. Mike is joined by regulars Devaughn Taylor (The Bloody Blunts Cinema Club), Brian Keiper (Movies For Life), and guest Nichole Goble (Bodies of Horror) to talk Leatherface and family. We also ask, "Is Franklin as bad as we all say he is?" (Mike says hell yes). We'll be back with another massive installment and the second half of our talk soon.

This is the bonus show Mike has wanted to record for a long time. This week, Jessica Scott comes on to talk about her love for 1999's dark comedy and cult classic Jawbreaker, a movie about some real mean girls that aren't above covering up a murder or two. After that Mike talks about the might Jawbreaker-the three piece punk/emo stalwarts from the East Bay. It's Mike's all time favorite band and while it might not be an in depth critical examination of their music, it certainly gets him right in the feels.

Mike and Brian talk about the last installment of the original FLY series. This one throws continuity out the window, and i a truly low budget affair. Still, while the lack of funds limit the sets and the performances, it offers a lot to chew on and tackles some fairly high concept ideas, even if it can't take them all that far. It's also the only FLY movie to date that seems to have a complete lack of its titular creature.  If you like what you’re listening to make sure to subscribe wherever you get your podcast feeds.    Please take a moment to rate and review us on the Apple Podcast app, or rate us on the Spotify app. Reviews and five star ratings help new listeners find us every day, and we greatly appreciate the feedback and support.    Check out our website for easy access to our full catalog of shows, with hundreds of hours of free content. You can search the catalog, leave a review and even leave us feedback all from the site. Go to www.podandthependulum.com to check it out.  If you have the means, consider becoming a patron today and support the show. Patreon members get exclusive full length episodes, audio fan commentaries, exclusive mini-sodes and more. Join today at patreon.com/podandthependulum.

We bring you the second half of our dive into 2022's SCREAM. This week we look at how the legacy characters fare, why this is Dewey's movie, explore the nature of fandom, talk about what we want next, and ask what the hell a requel is anyways?

This week we FINALLY get to sit down and talk about one of our favorite movies of the year, the fifth installment of the SCREAM series. It's a massive talk so we broke it into two pieces. This week Mike, Rachel and Stephen are joined by shoe designer and pop culture writer Andrew LaSane. Part one delves into the making of the movie, how the new crop of characters stack up and the elevated violence and gore in this entry.

This week we wrap up our latest franchise with one of the most controversial movies we've ever covered. The Child's Play remake had longtime fans of the series up in arms as the movie and characters were ripped from series creator Don Mancini in an attempt by United Artists to cash in on the Child's Play IP. This seemed to doom the reboot from the start, as horror fans wanted little to do with s Chucky that didn't feature Mancini in a creative role, or Brad Douriff as Chucky's voice. Even casting Luke Skywalker himself as the voice of the killer doll did little to appease fans.  Controversy aside, how does the movie fare on its own merits? What do we think of Chucky as an Alexa gone bad versus the product of a voodoo spell? What do we think of the over the top gore and kills? Would this movie have its stans if it was just about a killer robot that only wanted to be loved? Mike can't handle these questions on his own, so this week we have our first crossover episode with our friends Stephen and Brett from the DISENFRANCHISED podcast to talk about all this and more.    Rate, subscribe and review Disenfranchised over on Apple Podcasts: link

This week the crew talks about the last movie in Don Mancini's Child's Play franchise Cult of Chucky. We talk about Nica as the most tormented character in horror history, Mancini's original vision for putting Chucky on a train, how multiple Chuckys opened up whole new avenues for the series and how Seed feels like the middle chapter in a longer sage (now playing out on the series Chucky.)   Read Rachel's interview with Cult of Chucky composer Joseph LoDuca here

Reboot? Requel? Sequel? We're not sure but we do know we're back to talk about the time they made Chucky scary again. Mike is joined by regular panelists Jessica Scott & Devaughn Taylor along with special guest Justin Gerber (Halloweenies, The Losers' Club) to break down the 2013 slasher film Curse of Chucky. This one feels like a soft remake of the original film, yet Don Mancini retains the history of the franchise and manages to weave 25 years worth of lore into this single location chiller. We talk about what works, how Nica's disability is handled, and why having one creative team manage the series helps Childs Play maintain a level of consistency rarely found in multiple-entry slasher films. This was a fun one folks, so buckle down.

This week Mike is joined by Brian Keiper as we talk the horror comedy delight  Seed of Chucky.

This week guest Matt Donato (Certified Forgotten, Bloody Disgusting) joins  Mike, Stephen and Jessica to talk about the high point of the Child's Play series. The only thing better than one killer doll is two, especially when one is brought to life by the stunning Ms. Jennifer Tilly. This week we talk bad romance, queer horror and puppet sex and so much more.

In this special bonus episode, Mike had the chance to sit down with the filmmaking quartet the Adams family. This husband and wife directing duo of Nick and Tobey Adams have made seven feature films along with their daughter Zelda, who co-writes and co-directs with them, and their daughter Lulu Adams who appears in their latest film, Hellbender. Currently streaming on Shudder, Hellbender tells the story of a daughter isolated from the world by her mother, lest she unleash the powerful and potentially destructive force that lies dormant within her. The Adams discuss how lockdowns and COVID precautions influenced the cope of their film and how it also freed them to do almost anything they want. They also discussed composing the music together as a family, how they started making movies together in the first place, what horror influences them the most, and so much more. Make sure to watch Hellbender, along with their previous film The Deeper You Dig, streaming on Shudder now. Follow them on twitter @adams_films. You can also stream their music on Spotify under the band name H6llb6nd6r.   This show is also appearing on the Psychoanalysis: A Horror Therapy Podcast feed. That's right, I double dipped.

We're back with a new episode that asks the important question: would you buy a doll if that doll was a named Larry? That's right we're talking about Child's Play 3. This Rachel Reeves (@vinylgrrrl) swings by to discuss this underappreciated slasher movie from the early 90s. It's the one with the new Andy and it's the one that's set at military school. It earns the rare distinction of being a slasher movie that only kills male characters. We discuss whether or not child play gets enough love or if it gets overlooked as it is sandwiched between a fantastic sequel and perhaps the most popular entry in the series as a whole. Even if that's the case it is well worth any fan of the series time to check this one out as it has a lot of fun stuff to offer.

Mike & Devaughn have a brief talk about what's been on their plate lately. We talk Behind the Mask: The Rise of Leslie Vernon, Kevin Can F Himself, Yellowjackets, what the best entry  of the Big Four is, and more. Mike comes off like an old man yelling at clouds when he talks about music.

This week, the buzz is back! Brian and Mike tackle one of the great, underappreciated B-movies of the 1950s, with Return of the Fly. Vincent Price is the only cast member to return from the original cast and crew, this time getting top billing and lending his charm and winking good time of a performance style in order to deliver a mash up of a classic monster movie with more than a few nods to film noir. The end result is a movie that-for the first hour at least-truly slaps. From a great mustache twirling villain in Alan, to a plot that borrows from the Son of Frankenstein “I must redeem my father’s work” to some gorgeous black and white cinematography that hides the fact that this had half the budget of The Fly, we argue that “Return” more than deserves another look.   If you like what you’re listening to make sure to subscribe wherever you get your podcast feeds.    Please take a moment to rate and review us on the Apple Podcast app, or rate us on the Spotify app. Reviews and five star ratings help new listeners find us every day, and we greatly appreciate the feedback and support.    Check out our website for easy access to our full catalog of shows, with hundreds of hours of free content. You can search the catalog, leave a review and even leave us feedback all from the site. Go to www.podandthependulum.com to check it out.  If you have the means, consider becoming a patron today and support the show. Patreon members get exclusive full length episodes, audio fan commentaries, exclusive mini-sodes and more. Join today at patreon.com/podandthependulum.

Sorry Jack. Chucky's back. This week we cover Child’s Play 2. This week we take a fond look back at the sequel to the hit 1988 slash movie and we ask why isn't this one as fondly remembered as other beloved sequels like Friday the 13th two or Halloween two? This 1990 slasher takes all the things we love about the original movie and builds on them including with a massive finale set in a toy factory that is full of gloopy special effects. We take a look at what it would be like to be a foster kid after such a traumatic event and extol the virtues of Brad Dourif's continued excellence as he grows in the role of everyone’s favorite killer doll. We also give a lot of love to Kyle who belongs right up there on the pantheon of beloved final girls as she is plucky and smart and an absolute badass. We're joined by a very special guest from the Movies For Life podcast Michele Eggen as well as regular contributors Stephen Foxworthy (Disenfranchised podcast) and Devaughn Taylor (Bloody Blunts Cinema Club).

Do you want to play?  This week we kick off a brand new franchise with a look back at the 1988 slasher film Child's Play. Chucky might be small in stature, but this pint sized horror was no joke-at least not in this first installment which plays the horror straight. Mike is joined by Rachel Reeves, Jessica Scott and Devaughn Taylor to talk about what makes this such a classic 80s horror and why it still continues on today.    One thing that helps, having the series and character spearheaded by one person since its inception. We talk about Don Mancini's original idea for the character, what changed and how he adapted to make it work. We discuss Tom Holland's Hitchcockian flair from the director's seat, as well as Kevin Yager's MVP status in creating a true marvel in animatronics.    It wouldn't be like us if we didn't get sidetracked so tune in for discussions on how "hobo horror" had a real moment in the 80s, traumatizing children's toys, and so much more.

This week we bring you part two of our revisit of SCREAM, the 1996 slasher movie that gave the horror genre a shot in the arm. Ahead of this week's fifth installment, Mike and guests Elbe (grumpire.com) and Brian Keiper (Bloody Disgusting, Movies For Life pod) talk about what distinguishes Sydney from other final girls, reckon with the legacy of Randy and fanboy culture, what made Billy and Stu tick as murderers,  and talk about what we want out of the new movie.

Ahead of the fifth installment, this week we go all the way back to the beginning and take another deep dive into the movie that gave the horror genre a serious shot in the arm in 1996. It's no secret that SCREAM is one of Mike's favorite movies and franchises, and he's never going to skip an opportunity to talk about it. Sometimes it's fun to go back and have a do-over.   This week he's joined by Brian Keiper (Movies for Life podcast, Bloody Disgusting) and Elbee (Grumpire.com) to talk about this slasher. We covered the making of the movie and behind the scenes drama fairly deeply during out first go round, so this time we focus on the characters. Is Randy due a revaluation in 2022? Where does Sydney rank among horror heroines? What do we make of the motivations of Billy and Stu? We also talk about Scream's place in horror and the movies that sprang up in the wake of its success. We give our predictions and what we'd love to see in Scream 5. Of course, no discussion of Scream would be complete without a discussion of Wes Craven, the man who helped define the direction of horror in three seperate decades.

After the success of Gremlins, a sequel seemed inevitable. Yet despite the massive box office success and pop culture impact of the first movie, it seemed like no one aside from the accounting department at Warner Brothers wanted to make the new thing. It took a lot of coaching, a massive upgrade in pay and the promise to let him do anything he wanted as long as Gizmo and gremlins were involved to get Joe Dante behind the camera for another go-round.    The result? Perhaps the best middle finger to corporate movie making we’ve ever been blessed with. The New Batch takes everything we loved about the first movie, cranked the dial to eleven and added in heaping servings of critiques on consumerism and mass media. That the film was a minor disappointment at the box office doesn’t matter. In fact, Dante seemed to relish in the movie underperforming at the box office, as it proved his point there was no great need for more of these films.    Over the years The New Batch has received a revaluation, with critics and fans lauding Dante’s subversive and cynical sense of humor. Gremlins 2 is the closest marriage of the classic Bugs Bunny cartoons with the gross-out terror of EC Comics. Adding Rick Baker to create the gremlin creatures for the second go-round allowed for a more diverse cast of critters imbued with their own personalities and idiosyncrasies that managed to improve on an already near-flawless movie monster. It’s a classic that just gets better with every viewing.   This week we’re joined by Kay Lynch. Kay is the director of the Salem Horror Festival, which just wrapped it’s fifth season with massive in-person and virtual programs. Also joining us is Rachel Reeves, co-host of The Losers’ Club podcast and writer whose bylines have appeared on Rue Morgue, Consequence of Sound, and Dread Central among others.

We're back this week to wrap up our discussion of Joe Dante's GREMLINS. As we get deeper into the movie we talk how it nails seasonal depression and just how hard the holidays can be for some people. We also talk some of the complicated racial stereotypes that are played for laughs in this movie, how Randall Peltzer embodies the mediocre white dude, and the unbridled chaotic energy of the bar  and Snow White scenes. Brian Keiper of Movies for Life and Stephen Foxworthy of the Disenfranchised pod are back as guests.

This movie is so massive we had to break our talk about it into two shows. Mike is joined by longtime friends of the pod Brian Keiper (Movies for Life podcast, Dread Central) and Stephen Foxworthy (Disenfranchised podcast) to talk about the 1984 horror comedy classic that thrilled and scarred children for life. We’re talking Gremlins.   For the first part of our discussion, we talk about how this movie got made, where 1984 ranks in terms of best years ever for a movie and why the children’s movies from this era still resonate nearly four decades later.  We break down whether Joe Dante is Martin Scorsese for the B-movie crowd and how Spielberg lent his magic touch to this one. We discuss the rules around the Mogwai and why that kitchen scene still scares the bejesus out of us today.

As we take a break in November to relax, retool and come back, we're releasing a bit of our patreon content so you still have new-to-you shows to listen to. In December, we'll be back with GREMLINS/GREMLINS 2   This week, we're releasing Mom & Dad from the vaults. This batshit crazy jam starring Nic Cage and Selma Blair finds parents actually doing what we've all wanted to do with our children at one point: murdering them stone cold dead. It's an absolute blast of a film, and one of Cage's top-shelf genre efforts.  Please check out Petros' show Caged In, which covers the career and life of Nic Cage.   Please take a moment to rate, review and subscribe to our show wherever you enjoy your podcasts.

It's time for our third annual dad and daughter Halloween bonus show. This year Mike's daughter Ada joins him to break down the most appropriate movie of the season, the 2007 anthology and instant classic Trick 'r Treat. Along with talking about the major themes of the movie, how it taps into the holiday and what makes each segment so special, the duo have a lot more on tap. For instance, Ada gives a very detailed plan on how she'd choose her victims if she were a serial killer and which of her friend's parents would be the most likely to suggest a group pact to have all the kids in their social circle murdered off.    It's a fun episode, and our last original one for a month as we take a break to retool. Thanks to all our listeners and supporters for everything over the past two and a half years.

It's time kids. Gather around the television. It's officially Halloween week which means our horror movie viewing habits are kicking into overdrive. If you're like us, sometimes it's easy to suffer from choice paralysis when there are so many great things to choose from this season. Mike and Lindsay unveil a handful of their go-to picks as the 31st draws closer. PLUS: What do you do when there is so much content to pick from across so many streaming platforms? Sometimes the greatest nightmare of all is all the doom-scrolling for hours on end but never actually choosing something to watch. Mike takes some time to break down what the most popular streaming services are offering across their Halloween Hubs. Mike breaks down the best offerings from Netflix, Amazon Prime, Hulu, Shudder, HBO Max, and Peacock when you need something to watch and watch right now.

This week we're all "abuzz" to start on a new franchise. We're dipping our toes back into classic horror with 1958's science fiction / horror tale of experimentation gone amuck with THE FLY. This is the film that made Vincent Price a horror icon (even though he's in a supporting role) and contains marvelous special effects, a fantastic creature reveal, and one of the most disturbing finales ever in a horror movie. This week Mike, Brian, and Nicole are joined by Shawn Murphy from the Men Who Like Men Who Like Movies podcast to talk B-movies, the ethical dilemmas in science research The Fly raises, how the film reflects the status of disabled persons during this time and why those last five minutes still pack a nightmarish wallop.  If you like what you’re listening to make sure to subscribe wherever you get your podcast feeds.    Please take a moment to rate and review us on the Apple Podcast app, or rate us on the Spotify app. Reviews and five star ratings help new listeners find us every day, and we greatly appreciate the feedback and support.  Check out our website for easy access to our full catalog of shows, with hundreds of hours of free content. You can search the catalog, leave a review and even leave us feedback all from the site. Go to www.podandthependulum.com to check it out.  If you have the means, consider becoming a patron today and support the show. Patreon members get exclusive full length episodes, audio fan commentaries, exclusive mini-sodes and more. Join today at patreon.com/podandthependulum.

This week Mike and Lindsay dive into the genre films currently making the festival circuit that are sure to be on your most anticipated horror and genre titles in the coming year. We talk about what makes the festival experience so great for horror fans and dive into over a dozen titles (without getting too spoilery)  and what made them such fantastic watches. Titles covered include but aren't limited to: The Sadness, Agnes, Silent Night, Hellbender, When The Screaming Starts & more...   Plus, we address the future of the show and why we're taking a break in November...

We're continuing our "let's try some new stuff" this Halloween season, this time with an overview of the games you should be firing up if you're in the mood of scaring the bejesus out of yourself this Halloween season. Lindsay and Mike talk about what makes a great horror-themed game and talk about some of our favorites like Friday the 13th, Until Dawn, Alien: Isolation, Dead By Dawn, Bioshock, Alan Wake, Man of Medan and more. So fire up the console, stretch out those digits, load up on Mountain Dew and Bagel Bites and have your self a good old fashioned gaming night.

We’ve gathered a list of some of our most anticipated and favorite horror comics to keep you cozy this Halloween season. It’s Halloween season, my spooky friends, and the best time to curl up with a pumpkin spiced latte, thick socks, and a good book. And the best kind of book for the occasion: a spooky graphic one. To get all your warm toes and spiced tongues in the spooky spirit, here’s a collection of my favorite new and anticipated upcoming spooky comics.