The Pod and the Pendulum

THE TOP HORROR MOVIES OF 2022

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? 

PHANTASM

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!

ORPHAN: FIRST KILL

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.

THANKSGIVING BONUS SHOW: WHAT WE’RE GRATEFUL FOR IN HORROR THIS YEAR

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. 

ORPHAN

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 

HALLOWEEN ENDS

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?

HALLOWEEN KILLS

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.  

Halloween Streams

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). 

TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE (2022)

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. 

LEATHERFACE (2017)

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.