The Pod and the Pendulum

HELL HOUSE LLC 3: LAKE OF FIRE

Mike and Devaughn are here to debate the final chapter in the Hell House LLC trilogy. Like Russell Winn and Andrew Tully, your hosts find themselves on opposing ideological lines as we break down the strengths and the flaws of this found footage picture. 

HELL HOUSE LLC 2: THE ABADDON HOTEL

Mike and Rachel discuss Hell House 2. The middle chapter of a trilogy can always be tough, especially after a strong first act. We talk about some of the limitations of this one while also trying to highlight some reasons why you might want to make a return to the Abaddon. 

HELL HOUSE LLC

The Abaddon hotel...you can check in but you can never leave. We're back with a new franchise, kicking things off with one of the best found footage movies of the past decade: HELL HOUSE LLC. Mike and Nichole are joined by the fantastic Mary Beth McAndrews (Dread Central editor in chief, Scarred For Life podcast cohost) who just might love found footage movies more than anyone on the planet. We talk about what sets a good pseudo-documentary from the poor, have a lively discussion on the fuck boy of the film Paul, ask how many scary clowns are too many and discuss whether this becoming a franchise diluted the pure terror of this first entry. 

 

Here's a link to Mary Beth's Certified Forgotten article on Hell House LLC. 

EVIL DEAD RISE

All right you titty sucking parasites, our latest episode closes the chapter on the Book of the Evil Dead for now. We're joined by guest Matt Donato (IGN, Ceritifed Forgotten) to talk about the move on up from a cabin in the woods to a high rise apartment in LA, how the family dynamics make this latest installment special, plus what the actual hell happened at the SXSW Q&A? All that and more this week. 

THE COLLECTION

This week Mike and Ari talk The Collection, which offers less torture and more of an escape room /haunted house vibe this time around. We talk our favorite over the top set pieces; why Arkin makes for such a great returning hero; ponder the logistics of securing the real estate, equipment & manpower to set up these complex traps and murder devices. Plus, for your consideration-a  third movie in this series might be more important than a cure for cancer. 

THE COLLECTOR

This week we make our first foray into the 2000s genre of "Torture Porn" with our look back at 2009's The Collector. Starting as a potential SAW prequel, this one combines the heist genre with Rube Goldberg inspired traps and torture devices for a bloody good time. We look at the film's conflicted anti-hero and silent but deadly villain, explore the history of the torture porn subgenre and look at where horror was when this made its debut. Plus, we ask what differentiates torture porn from its forbearer, the slasher movie? 

THE PURGE Television Series PLUS Series Rankings

This week we have TWO shows wrapped up in one. First, Mike and Rachel break down the two seasons of The Purge TV show, which ran on the USA Network in 2018 and 2019. The series offers a fascinating deeper view into Purge events, especially the standout second season which mostly shows the build up in between Purges, and serves as a great lead in for Election Year. After that, Mike, Nichole and Ari deliver the crews series rankings. Which entry will come out on top, and which ones will be left sputtering and purged? 

THE FOREVER PURGE

This week Mike and Devaughn wrap up their coverage of The Purge movies with the entry that asks, "What happens when purgers decide one night of murder is no longer enough?" We explore the socio-political themes that permeate the movie, as well as the very real world policies this one takes square aim at. Fear not, we're not here to lecture as we talk about the continued action / horror dynamics and exploitation roots of the last, for now, Purge films. 

SCREAM 6

This week we’ve assembled our own “core four” to breakdown Scream 6, the latest entry in the long running slasher series / meta-commentary on horror movies themselves. Mike is joined by co-hosting regulars Jessica Scott (We Who Walk Here) & Stephen Foxworthy (Disenfranchised pod). We also welcome on to the show Reyna Cervantes (lead gaming critic Bloody Disgusting). Reyna has the enviable task of tackling this trio of Ghostface killers as she’s the only one of the group high on this year’s entry. We take a wide look at this one (and Mike STILL feels he left stuff out) such as whether the New York setting influences the larger, faster, & ultimately gorier brutal set pieces the directing duo of Radio Silence helmed. We discuss Neve Campbell’s absence as Sidney Prescott & whether its time to let the legacy characters go once and for all. Mike talks about the importance of getting mental health right, because of course he does. Plus, we talk about the way this one teases at big reveals, and game changing action but ultimately plays it safe in the name of fan service. All this and more for this week’s show.

THE FIRST PURGE

After a week off we're back, and we're going back in time to see how our latest series started. Mike, Nichole, Rachel and Devaughn are joined by Mike Scott from the Action for Everyone podcast to talk THE FIRST PURGE. In a series that has tiptoed around its politics, this 2018 entry makes the subtext the text and lays out what we've known all along: The Purge was steeped in racism from the get go, and exists to kill of those in need of the social safety net. We hit the racial and class themes hard but also talk about what a fantastic action/horror hybrid this one is.