This week we welcome special guest Mishna Wolff to talk about her new indie horror comedy, IFC's Werewolves Within) along with the second movie in the Conjuring-verse, 2016's THE CONJURING 2. This time Ed and Lorraine Warren hop over the pond to check on a pair of cheeky moppets who claim their house is being terrorized by a belligerent old man ghost. Are their more jump scare and spooky spookies to be had? This may be the height of the series, and we dive into exactly what makes this one work s...
Jul 12, 2021•1 hr 22 min
We continue our trek through the Conjuring-verse with its first spinoff, and the first in a trilogy around that creepy-ass doll Annabelle. We're joined by Bodies of Horror host Nichole Goble to talk just why dolls are so freaky, what works in this so-so film, and what the scariest toys we ever had in childhood were. The scariest thing about this movie is just how good it is at churning out those box-office dollars, so someone out there finds her terrifying. Support our Patreon: www.patreon.com/p...
Jun 21, 2021•1 hr 41 min
This week we kick off a new franchise with the closes thing to the Marvel-verse horror has offered since the Universal films of the 30s and 40s. We're exploring THE CONJURING, James Wan's supernatural chiller based on the "true" case files of Ed and Lorraine Warren. We explore what actually constitutes truth and how much it's okay to bend it to tell a great story. We're joined by DeVaughn Taylor of The Bloody Blunts Cinema Club podcast to discuss a film we all mostly enjoy. From creepy dolls lik...
Jun 07, 2021•1 hr 40 min
Hey. We're back with another script reading of an unproduced horror script. This time our largest assembled cast yet tackles Carky Fukunaga's bug nuts second draft for Stephen King's IT. This one has it all, including baby eating. We had a blast recording this one, even if it goes off the rails by page 38. Enjoy. The players: PENNYWISE Sloane Kay (@pierogiwitch) Bill Denbrough Mike Snoonian (@mike_snoonian) Richie Tozier Julian Gardner (@juliansgardner) Beverly Marsh Nichole Goble (@NicholeInDC)...
May 31, 2021•3 hr 19 min
We're taking one last trip out to that cabin in the woods. This time we're not here for a getaway, a long weekend or a vacation. This time we've got to purge all the bad stuff out of our system. We've got to get back on the straight and narrow. This time we're here to talk about Fede Alvarez' over-the-top gore fest and extreme take on the deadites with EVIL DEAD. We're joined by Certified Forgotten's MATT DONATO to talk about why this might be the cream of the crop when it comes to the films rem...
May 23, 2021•2 hr 11 min
This episode we all hail to the king and sing the praises of Army of Darkness. The conclusion to the Evil Dead saga trilogy trades horror for high adventure and humor, and it does it with incredible flair. This week we're joined by Stephen Foxworthy, cohost of the Disenfranchised podcast, and Cat Scully, author of the YA illustrated novel Jennifer Strange (available here) to talk one liners, slapstick and boomsticks, and the joy of practical effects and puppetry. This is the one where Bruce Camp...
May 10, 2021•1 hr 52 min
This week we've packed up and are heading back out to that cabin in the middle of the woods for Evil Dead 2: Dead By Dawn. We're joined by filmmaker Brad McHargue to tackle whether this is a sequel or remake, how the passage of time and experience allowed this to be a bigger and bolder experience and the role that Stephen King played yet again in helping Sam Raimi's young career. This is the movie where it feels like Bruce Campbell becomes the knuckleheaded Ash we've come to know and love all th...
Apr 26, 2021•1 hr 34 min
After a couple months tackling the extreme and often dank and depressing world of French horror, we needed a bit of a reprieve. We need a little bit of rest and relaxation. We need to get away from all the hustle and the bustle and the grind of the everyday world. So we’ve packed up a weekend travel kit, gotten behind the wheel of our old jalopy and are taking the back roads to a little cabin in the middle of the woods. What could possibly go wrong as we set out to break down the Evil Dead franc...
Apr 12, 2021•2 hr 24 min
We wrap up our overview of French horror with a movie so upsetting, Mike made it a point to lock every door and window to his place despite living on the third floor of a building at the time. This one is A LOT, & our host is joined by Jim Rohner of the Cast of Cthulu pod to discuss what it is that's so upsetting about this home invasion flick that mixes elements of cat & mouse thrillers with slasher films and extreme body horror.
Mar 29, 2021•2 hr 2 min
RAW is a coming of age story through the lens of cannibalism and extreme body horror. Julia Ducournau's feature directing debut alternates between strikingly beautiful imagery and blood soaked horror that sickens the stomach. This week we're joined by Reyna Cervantes (co-host Horror in Session) and Sarah Anne Stubbs (co-host Geeks Who Eat) to talk the near Cronenbergian levels of body horror RAW delivers. Support our Patreon: www.patreon.com/podandthependulum Follow us on Twitter: https://twitte...
Mar 15, 2021•1 hr 52 min
It's been called The Paris Texas Chainsaw Massacre by smartasses, but Xavier Gens debut feature is a one of the most overtly political movies of French extreme horror. Inspired by the rise of right wing nationalism and violent clashes between protestors and Parisian police in the early 21st century, Frontiers is the grim tale of four Muslims that escape Paris' burning streets after committing a robbery only to fall captive to Nazi saluting cannibals on the outskirts of society. It is one of the ...
Mar 02, 2021•1 hr 47 min
This week we kick off our retrospective of French horror with one of the most nihilistic, brutal and unpleasant movies we've ever covered: Pascale Laugier's Martyrs. This unrelenting film features a final act that puts the audience front and center for one of the most horrific torture scenes in movie history. Despite all of the horror, is there a glimmer of hope in the film's ultimate message? We ask Mary Beth McAndrews (Scarred for Life) for her thoughts on extreme horror, trauma and victimhood...
Feb 15, 2021•1 hr 54 min
Feb 01, 2021•1 hr 29 min
This week, DeVaughn Taylor of the Bloody Blunts podcast joins Mike and Lindsay to talk about one of their collective favorite horror films of the past ten years: SINISTER. We travel down a pretty winding road this week as we talk about finding footage that's not found footage, killer kids, family annihilators, the problems with true crime as entertainment, the pros and cons of jump scares, suburban paranoia, Daddy Hawke and his cardigan, and so much more.
Jan 18, 2021•2 hr 8 min
This week, we're joined by the co-host of the Horror Queers Trace Thurman to talk about the final FINAL DESTINATION movie (for now). Talk about going out on a high note. This one is a return to form with a stunning opening set piece and a jaw dropper of an ending that turns the film upside down as a sneaky prequel pic. Support our Patreon: www.patreon.com/podandthependulum Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/podandpendulum Join our Facebook Group: Pod & the Pendulum Facebook Group
Jan 11, 2021•2 hr 15 min
This week we're joined by Horror Queers' host Joe Lipsett to talk The Final Destination. Mike's going to be real here for a moment. While he's on the record saying there's "not a bad movie in the series," watching this one back to back to back in preparation for the show really tests that theory. This one has become semi-affectionately known as the "one with the 'fuck your feelings' cast." Still, this episode is more proof that great talks can spring from not so great movies. Support our Patreon...
Jan 05, 2021•1 hr 32 min
This week we're joined by Ryan Larson (Ghastly Grinning, We Are Horror 'zine) & BJ Colangelo (This Ends At Prom podcast) to break down the third movie in the Final Destination series. We all feel like this is the one where the series really finds its stride. This is a wild one where we travel down a lot of winding roads while trying to embrace the sweet embrace of death. From soothing our too-scared to fly parents with all the drugs, to Mike realizing he's a bear, to working at a theme park ...
Dec 29, 2020•2 hr 27 min
Enjoy this clip from our December bonus episode on KRAMPUS. In this brief segment, Mike and Lindsay discuss whether declaring the goal to make a "classic" movie immediately sabotages the effort, how the humor of Krampus draws folks in with a false sense of comfort before going super dark, and finally, Mike tells a heartwarming story of threatening to punch out shoppers while visited by the ghosts of Black Fridays past. The complete episode is available to ALL our pateron supporters, no matter if...
Dec 28, 2020•14 min
This week we're joined by Jenny Leigh of the Austin Asian American Film Festival and Brian Keiper of Bloody Disgusting to break down Final Destination 2, the wise known as the movie that freaks everyone out about giant logs. We talk liquified goo, ignoble deaths in horror, Batman, hair dye considerations and so much more this time around. Support our Patreon: www.patreon.com/podandthependulum Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/podandpendulum Join our Facebook Group: Pod & the Pendulum...
Dec 22, 2020•1 hr 59 min
This week Mike & Lindsay start a new series with our breakdown of the 2000 "slasher without a slasher killer" Final Destination. Mike hails this as the nest franchise of the first ten years of the decade, and points to the creative Rube Goldberg machine inspired kills and creative conceit as his evidence. While death awaits us all, hopefully it'll give us time to talk with Greg Mucci (@ReelBrew) to talk about his love for this movie as well. What started as a spec script for the X-Files evol...
Dec 14, 2020•2 hr 22 min
Support our Patreon: www.patreon.com/podandthependulum Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/podandpendulum Join our Facebook Group: Pod & the Pendulum Facebook Group
Dec 07, 2020•1 hr 39 min
This week we're back to tackle 2000's Urban Legends: Final Cut, a movie Mike had no idea existed until he started this podcast. This first time viewing was a delight, as the series finds a way to weave in new urban legends with a new cast and whole new killer. Does talking about late 90s / early 00s horror mean we have to talk about Scream? Why yes it does, as Mike and cohost Lindsay Traves talk how this series stacks up with Wes Craven and Kevin Williamson's masterpiece. Speaking of masterpiece...
Nov 30, 2020•1 hr 47 min
Mike is joined by Zena Dixon (@realqueenof horror) and Molly Henery (@bloggingbanshee) to talk about their love for the 1998 suspense slasher URBAN LEGEND.
Nov 24, 2020•1 hr 32 min
Nov 16, 2020•2 hr 27 min
This week we're talking about what Mike has called "the most disappointing movie ever." That's right, no matter how we tried to avoid it, we knew we'd have to talk about the Platinum Dunes botched effort at rebooting the Elm Street series one day. Jerry skipped this episode in protest so Mike is joined by his friends. To his surprise, along with its detractors there are some defenders as well. This week's guests include Elbee (@Ghoulieschool)-the editor-in-chief of film critique site Grumpire; B...
Nov 11, 2020•1 hr 53 min
After a fun October where we just did whatever the hell we wanted to, we're back to our coverage of the Nightmare on Elm Street franchise. Since we recorded TWO shows on Freddy vs Jason way back when we covered the Friday the 13th series, we thought we'd invite our friend Nat Brehmer back onto the show to record another fan commentary. We hope you enjoy. As always, we encourage you to rate, review and subscribe to our show. It goers a long fay to helping new listeners find us. Link: https://appl...
Nov 04, 2020•1 hr 39 min
Mike is joined by his ten year old daughter Ada for a very special breakdown of an instant classic, Adam Sandler's HUBIE HALLOWEEN. This comedy just hits in all the feels, and it's going to be a yearly watch in our house. Mike and kiddo break down the film as well as the running gags like old ladies in filthy tee shirts and swiss army thermoses that make this one a surprising winner. Trust me, Mike wouldn't be more surprised if he woke up tomorrow with his face glued to the floor over how much h...
Oct 31, 2020•1 hr 2 min
Happy Halloween listeners! This year we have not one but TWO bonus shows as a way to show our appreciation for your support. Up first, we've assembled a crack team of performers to get together and knock out a performance of the Dennis Etchison's legendary unproduced supernatural take on Michael Myers. If you love The Shape but thought "What would really be cool is if he grew to twelve feet tall after eating a hail of gunfire" then boy howdy do we have the movie for you!!!! Special thanks to our...
Oct 31, 2020•2 hr 34 min
This week editor-in-chief of Daily Grindhouse, Jon Abrams joins us to talk about a movie we feel deserves more love during the October spooky season, the 2018 slasher Hell Fest. Also joining us this week is the writer of this film as well as the scribe of Leatherface & Hulu's YA show Light As A Feather, Seth M Sherman.
Oct 26, 2020•2 hr 21 min
This week we're joined by direcotr Vincente DiSanti of Womp Stomp Films to talk his Friday the 13th fan films Never Hike Alone & Never Hike in the Snow
Oct 19, 2020•1 hr 49 min
