The Pod and the Pendulum

SAW VI

This week our SAW VI episode talks about the turn towards social issues, and how this could be subtitled “Occupy Jigsaw” as predatory lenders and insurance companies get put to the test. The discussion gets emotional as we share our own personal experiences within the hellscape that is the American healthcare system. We also talk about the ways that Hoffman is like 1980s Ric Flair, dive into the sibling rivalry between Amanda and Hoffman as they vie for the position of John's favorite acolyte, and things get awkward when Mike talks about which cohosts he would save and which would not make the cut if we were all placed in the carousel shotgun trap. We talk franchise fatigue and how even the most ardent fans may have found themselves distracted by the shiny newness of the first Paranormal Activity film in the fall of 2009. Mike, Ari, DeVaughn, and Stephen are joined by longtime listener Lucy for one of our this can’t miss episode.

[PATREON CLIP] DEATH WISH

In this clip from our latest patreon exclusive episode, Mike and Rachel talk the origins of the Charles Bronson classic Hollywood exploitation film Death Wish. To unlock this nearly two hour episode along with dozens of more hours of content, go to patreon.com/podandthependulum and become a supporter today. 

SAW V

After the dramatic reveal at the end of SAW IV, it’s now Detective Hoffman’s world and we’re just living in it. Mike, Ari, Nichole and DeVaughn are joined again by Kat Hughes of Ghouls Magazine to talk abut the midpoint in the SAW franchise. The fifth entry is typically where things go off the rails (Roy the ambulance driver, the Man in Black, demon baby Freddy) for franchises, will SAW V fall into the same “trap”? We’re taking about how Hoffman runs a game as opposed to Jigsaw, and the wary relationship between the two frenemies. Plus, we commend the series for leaning into its thesis statement: “all law enforcement officials are idiots” as evidenced by Agent Strahm’s baffling decisions and exterior monologue we get to enjoy through the movie. We talk about the fantastic traps, the not-so-great retconning that’s going on, and we stan for Jill Tuck. All this and more, this week with SAW V.

SAW IV

Mike, Ari, Rachel & Nichole are joined by Alison (Who's There? A Podcast About Horror Fans) for our fourth trip to Saw City (three more punches of our frequent travel card and I think we get a medium sized grape flavored Slurpee). This time we talk about the definitive death of Jigsaw and whether the flashback structure benefits the experience or just gives Tobin Bell a nice payday. We talk about the mystery box nature of this entry as it bridges the first trio of films with a follow-up trilogy. Spoiler warning: we talk the dual twists that close the film: Hoffman's reveal and the fact that this takes place alongside the previous entry. Plus, we speculate: what if the traps in Saw X are thirst traps, and what if Paddington 3 finds the titular bear eating racist children? 

 

All this and more! 

SAW III

This week we cover the controversial SAW 3, and friends, this episode goes to some places. From Jigsaw slash fiction to what Mr. Rogers and Mr. Kramer have in common, we promise you there isn't another show that covers this movie like we do. 

Mike, Nichole, DeVaughn, & Ari are joined by longtime listener and patron Lucy to talk about the above, plus, what we think about this round of traps, whether the creative team would come to regret definitively killing off their villains, and the parent / child relationship at the heart of the movie. This, and so much more. 

SAW II

We're back to play another game. This week Mike, Devaughn and Ariel are joined by Kat Hughes (Ghouls Magazine) to talk about the return of Billy the Puppet. Coming just one year after the surprising success of SAW, its sequel up the traps, ups the carnage, ups the victims, ups the gore, and ups what we learn about ya boi Jigsaw. All these are good things! Unfortunately it also ups the Wahlberg, giving us a former New Kid on the Block in the "corrupt cop/pissed off divorced dad" in its central role. We were hangin' tough though, and delivered a hell of an episode. 

SAW (2004)

This week we kick off a new franchise and dig into one of the most divisive yet successful series of the past 20 years. We kick off our SAW coverage with James Wan and Leigh Whanell’s debut effort and we discuss the merits of this movie and  why it gets harshly judged on what it wrought in the aftermath of its success. We talk about the struggle it took to bring this low budget thriller to the big screen, and how it almost wound u on the dustbin of the direct to DVD pipeline before being rescued by a strong series of test screenings. We examine its influence in horror, and how it served as a reaction to the tamer fare of the late 90s and early 00s, while also reflecting the culture and politics of its day. From Jigsaw’s dicey motivations and tactics that are routed in harsh Catholic doctrine, to the use of traps, predicting the surveillance state, whether its fair to classify as torture porn at all, and the sometimes dicey acting choices (was Danny Glover in fact too old for this shit?) Mike, Brian, and Ariel have you covered.

”BARBENHEIMER” Our BARBIE & OPPENHEIMER Episode

This week Mike is joined by old podcasting pal Jennferatu (The Losers Club, Girls On the Boys, Psychoanalysis, Dread Central, Bloody Disgusting) to talk about the twin headed beast that is slaying all at the box-office right now: Bsrbie and Oppenheimer. Along with speculating why these two movies are more connected than they appear on the surface, and why they're resonating with audiences at the moment, we talk about the themes of masculinity and patriarchy as portrayed in each movie. We discuss the search for identity in both movies and the moral crises addressed in Oppenheimer. We also wonder why Christopher Nolan, for all his genius, (still) struggles to write women. It was great sitting down to talk to Jenn about movies for the first time in a long time, and we hope you enjoy this discussion.

 

(If you dug Oppenheimer and want to dig further into the story, or want to hear more from the perspectives of the victims of the atomic bombing, Mike suggests the following: BOOKS AMERICAN PROMETHEUS, FALLOUT: THE HIROSHIMA COVER-UP & THE REPORTER WHO REVEALED IT TO THE WORLD, FIVE DAYS IN AUGUST: HOW WORLD WAR II BECAME A NUCLEAR WAR FILM THE DAY AFTER TRINITY, BLACK RAIN, HIROSHIMA, HIROSHIMA NAGASAKI AUGUST 1945)

JAWS THE REVENGE

Horror fans are a forgiving bunch, and its rare that a movie's reputation is so bad that it sours viewers forever, and effectively kills the franchise. Jaws The Revenge is that special exception-the critical and commercial bomb that serves as the death knell for the Jaws series. This week Mike and Devaughn are joined by Shawn Murphy (Men Who Like Men Who Like Movies) have a lively debate on this one, and we think it's far more entertaining than watching the movie itself. From the logistics of sharks that not only roar, but understand travel schedules and the concept of personal vendettas, we have you covered. We talk the kernel of a good idea that's here with a story about a grieving widow finding new love in the arms of a scoundrel...but with sharks, to the troubled history of the movie, we break it all down. 

JAWS 3

This week Mike is joined by Sarah Stubbs (Geeks Who Eat, Final Girls Feast) to talk about Jaws 3. We talk about the spoof movie that could have been, the prominent role cocaine played in this movie, not-so special effects, the Oscar curse, the logistics of a shark entering a landlocked city and so much more. Enter the third dimension of...something.