The Pod and the Pendulum

ALIEN ROMULUS

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. 

V/H/S BEYOND

This week we're back with the latest from long running found footage horror anthology series V/H/S. Two out of three cohosts agree this is one of the stronger entries into the franchise, with the shift to sci-fi horror being a welcome change. However, is there enough variety between our segments and wraparound or does it rely too heavily on the familiar alien invasion tropes? 

WE explore all the segments, from a Terminator-esque Bollywood musical (??) to an alien hunting police squad, to a skydiving trip gone wrong, a UFO enthusiast that should have been careful for what they wished for to the first possible entry in the Tusk Cinematic Universe. 

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. 

SCARIEST CLOWNS IN HORROR PLUS FESTIVAL FAVORITES

Happy Halloween listeners! Coming off our Terrifier series we still have clowns on the brain so Stephen and Mike are counting down the top ten scariest clowns in horror history as voted on by your band of grease paint and squirting flower fearing podcasters. 

 

Plus, Mike and Ariel sat down during the last day of the Telluride Horror Show to talk about some of their favorite films from Fantastic Fest and Telluride Horror. 

TERRIFIER 3

This week we wrap up another franchise with a giant discussion on what is now the highest grossing unrated movie of all time: TERRIFIER 3.

Mike and Ari are joined by guest Jacob Harper (Talking Terror podcast, 1428 Elm Street) to talk about the Christmas horror of it all, the live action "Itchy & Scratchy" antics of Art the Clown, the welcome reintroduction of Victoria, and discuss why this entry has been so successful. Plus we ask what does Damien Leone have against true crime. Also, while we love the over the top gore and kills scenes that border on straight up comedy. Mike critiques the areas where this film drags a it whenever Art is on screen, despite another excellent performance from Laura LaVera as final girl Sienna Shaw. While Mike doesn't love the writing, and we all feel there's connective tissue that's been left out, Ariel has a bone to pick with a few horror fans. 

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.

TERRIFIER 2 (part two of two)

This week concludes our supersized review of TERRIFIER 2. We dig into the movie and explore the moments that made this an indie horror sensation. Brian, Mike, Nichole and Ariel talk not just why Art the Clown is such an icon, but also how Laura LaVera has quickly entered the pantheon of best final girls as Sienna Shaw. Plus all the kills, chills, laughs, and stomach turning gore is explored. 

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.

TERRIFIER 2 (part one of two)

This week we finally get to talk about the indie horror sensation TERRIFIER 2. What was supposed to be a one-night theatrical event went on to become one of the most successful independent horror movies of all time as audiences could not get enough of Art the Clown’s return. This time our master of mayhem in greasepaint isn’t alone as he’s joined by a demonic sidekick in The Pale Girl, while also getting a worthy adversary in Sienna Shaw, played wonderfully by Laura LaVera. Damien Leone upped the ante in not only the gore, but also added more lore, mythology, and backstory to Art this time around. The end result is an audacious slasher that pushed the boundaries of what was acceptable for cinemas with a multitude of some of the sickest deaths committed on screen, including one that is still talked about two years later as one of the nastiest yet most crowd pleasing kills in horror history. For the first part of our two part episode, Mike is joined by Nichole Goble, Ari Hellraiser, and Brian Keiper an we talk about why we loved this movie in all its bloody, gloopy, sticky glory. So head on down to the Clown Cafe, pour yourself a bowl of Art Crispies and enjoy this in depth discussion of Terrifier 2. 

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.

TERRIFIER

This week we kick off our coverage of the TERRIFIER franchise with the 2016, over the top infamous slasher film. While Art the Clown got his start in a pair of short films that became the anthology All Hallows' Eve, its really this one where he started down his path to iconic status. Mike and Ariel are joined by author Josh Millican (Teleportasm) to do what we do best: dive into the back story of how this came to be, from its humble beginnings as the short The Ninth Circle, to the feature films debut at Telluride Horror, to the litany of people that told writer/director Damien Leone that the film was too bloody, too gory, too offensive, and just too damn much. Whatever your opinion on the first film (and its one where your hosts' opinions vary to a degree) Terrifier is a story about an artist betting on himself, and that' something we'll always respect. 

THE FLY II

This week we wrap up another franchise with 1989's sci-fi monster movie THE FLY II, starring Eric Stoltz. While it doesn't reach the creative heights or thematic depths of Cronenberg's earlier remake, there's still a  lot of fun to be had with this oozy, oddball straight up monster movie. Mike and Devaughn are joined by guest Jay Krieger to talk its charms and where it falls a bit flat. We do have to warn folks, this can be a tough watch for all of us who love dogs. 

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.

THE FLY (1986) part two of two

We're back with the second half of our massive episode on David Cronenberg's THE FLY. If you haven't already make sure you go back and listen to our previous episode on the background and elements of this movie. This time around Mike, Brian, Devaughn, and guest J Blake Fichera dive into the movie proper. We examine the romance between Seth and Ronnie that makes the horror all the more unbearable. We argue over the various themes and implications Cronenberg explored over what it means to be human along with the disease and aging metaphors that are front and center with Brundle's own horrific transformation. We discuss how The Fly ends up as Cronenberg’s ultimate dissertation on biological horror after a decade of mining the body for material in his work. All this and more on this week’s show. 

If you can, we encourage listeners to head over to Blakes  Scored to Death merchandise page for exclusive items that will help him fund his upcoming documentary. Follow the link here.

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.

THE FLY (1986) (part one of two)

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.