Episode Summary:Grab a brown blanket and a blueberry spinach smoothie—we’re officially one week into 2026! Today, Johnny and his "extravagant" wife Alondra dive deep into the fallout of the Stranger Things season finale. *SPOILERS** Did Eleven really sacrifice herself, or are we all being gaslit by the Duffer Brothers?

We’re breaking down the "Conformity Gate" theory: from the color-changing radio dials to the eerie orange graduation gowns and those suspicious blank signs. Is there a secret Episode 9 dropping, or are we just mourning the end of an era?

Plus, we look ahead at the massive 2026 film slate, discuss our 10th-year anniversary plans (Venice?!), and Truman drops in with a very specific warning for Aunt Krissy.

In this episode, we discuss:

• New Year's Vibes: Why 2026 feels "rough" but promising, and Alondra’s quest for guilt-free self-care.

• Stranger Things Finale Spoilers: The "Rightside Up," Eleven’s fate, and why the ending felt a little too perfect.

• Conformity Gate: Every clue pointing to a Vecna-induced illusion.

• 2026 Blockbusters: Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey, Robert Downey Jr. as Doctor Doom in Avengers: Doomsday, and the Michael Jackson biopic.

• Nostalgia Trip: Why we miss the 2000s and who we’d actually invite to dinner (Shakespeare vs. Celine Dion).

Check out Alondra on TikTok: @lifewithlondri Read John’s Book: The Maw Beneath the Mane by JRJ Sellmeyer (Available on Amazon & Kindle Unlimited).

#StrangerThings #StrangerThings5 #ConformityGate #Episode9Theory #Netflix #DufferBrothers #Eleven #VecnaLives #NewYears2026 #2026Movies #ChristopherNolan #TheOdyssey #TomHolland #MattDamon #AvengersDoomsday #RobertDowneyJr #DoctorDoom #SpiderManBrandNewDay #MichaelJacksonBiopic #DunePart3 #Cinephile #PodcastLife #10YearAnniversary #LifeWithLondri #MFDoom

Because I'm John Sellmeyer: Holiday Chaos, FNaF 2, and Wally World Jokes (Feat. Alondra)

Get ready for some hilarious holiday chat as John Sellmeyer welcomes his beautiful wife, Alondra, back to the mic!

In this episode, they dive into the festive frenzy, comparing old-school Black Friday madness to today's online deals (and a trip to "Wally World" is involved!). From five Elf on the Shelf dolls, including the possibility of an autistic elf, to John's deep dive into Christmas dinner rankings (Tamales vs. Ham vs. Turkey), you'll hear what's really happening in their Kansas City Christmas.

Plus, John and Alondra talk about taking their sons to see Five Nights at Freddy's 2—their first horror movie in theaters! They break down the film's plot, discuss the rise of FNaF fan songs by artists like CG5 and The Living Tombstones, and reminisce about the nostalgia of The Grinch and those classic Claymation specials.

Key Topics & Keywords:

• Holidays

• Christmas Shopping

• Black Friday

• Five Nights at Freddy's 2 (FNaF 2)

• Elf on the Shelf

• Tamales

• Kansas City (KC)

• Christmas Movies

• Wally World / Walmart

• CG5

"Till death do us part" takes on a whole new meaning. This week, we're reviewing Ready or Not, the 2019 horror-comedy hit from directors Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett! We follow Grace (Samara Weaving), a bride whose wedding night turns into a terrifying game of survival against her rich and ritualistic in-laws, played by a stellar cast including Adam Brody, Mark O'Brien, and Andie MacDowell. Join us as we discuss Weaving's star-making performance, the film's perfect blend of gore and laughs, and that absolutely explosive ending.

Abandoned Minds: A Review of Session 9

Welcome to an hour of escalating dread as we unpack Brad Anderson's 2001 minimalist masterpiece, Session 9.

Shot on location in the chilling, decaying halls of the real Danvers State Hospital (The Danvers Asylum), this film is a masterclass in psychological horror that relies on atmosphere and mounting tension, not cheap jump scares. We join an asbestos abatement crew racing to clear the facility in a week, only to discover they're up against something far more toxic than dust.

What We Cover:

• The Descent: We track the terrifying psychological unraveling of the Hazmat crew, led by the stressed-out Gordon (a powerhouse performance by Peter Mullan), as pressure, past trauma, and the sheer weight of the asylum's history push them to their breaking point.

• The Tapes: The chilling, central mystery of the film—the discovery of old patient therapy sessions. We discuss the nine audio recordings, the case of Mary Hobbes, and the slow, shocking reveal of the dark personality known only as Simon in the titular "Session 9."

• Key Cast & Crew: Breaking down the intense, claustrophobic performances from a stellar ensemble cast, including David Caruso, Josh Lucas, Stephen Gevedon (who co-wrote the script with Brad Anderson), and Brendan Sexton III.

• Is it Haunted? We debate the film's brilliant ambiguity: is the horror in the hospital's dark past and the entity "Simon," or is it a purely psychological breakdown driven by guilt and stress?

If you're looking for an underrated horror movie, a deep dive into asylum horror and found footage elements, or a chilling psychological thriller that will stick with you long after the final credits, press play.

Keywords: Session 9, Brad Anderson, Peter Mullan, David Caruso, Josh Lucas, Danvers State Hospital, Abandoned Asylum, Psychological Horror, Simon, Mary Hobbes, Horror Movie Review, 2001 Horror, Cult Classic.

NO! NOT THE BEES! A Celebration of The Wicker Man (2006)

Forget folk songs and subtle dread. Grab your bear suit and prepare for an hour of pure Cage Rage as we dive into the hilariously disastrous and undeniably iconic 2006 remake of The Wicker Man!

Directed by Neil LaBute and starring producer Nicolas Cage as police officer Edward Malus, this film transforms a subtle folk horror classic into an unintentional masterpiece of comedy. Lured to the remote, neo-pagan island of Summersisle by his ex-fiancée Willow (Kate Beahan) to find her missing daughter Rowan, Malus encounters a matriarchal community of hostile women, mysterious rituals, and, most importantly, bees.

What We Cover:

• Hilariocity Defined: We break down the most bizarre and meme-worthy moments: the legendary "Not the Bees!" scene, the infamous bear-suit punch, Cage's aggressive questioning of the silent male villagers, and the overall unhinged performance that cemented this film's cult classic status.

• The Original vs. The Remake: Why the shift from the 1973 film's religious conflict (Edward Woodward's devout Christian) to Cage's guilt-ridden, pill-popping cop completely derails the tone—and why that failure is exactly what makes the remake so entertaining.

• The Cast of Cultists: Featuring strong women like Ellen Burstyn as Sister Summersisle and Leelee Sobieski, who manage to keep straight faces while watching a man slowly lose his mind.

• Final Destination: Summersisle: The shocking, over-the-top ending that reveals the entire search was a setup for the ultimate human sacrifice and sends Edward Malus into the Wicker Man screaming.

If you love bad movies done well, Nicolas Cage at his 'Cagest', or just want to laugh at a truly bizarre horror movie remake, this episode is your honey trap!

Keywords: The Wicker Man 2006, Nicolas Cage, Cage Rage, Not the Bees, Bad Movie Review, Cult Classic, Folk Horror, Neil LaBute, Ellen Burstyn, Hilariously Bad, Matriarchal Cult, Human Sacrifice.

Get off the ground! Join us as we grab some rocks, load the elephant guns, and dissect one of the best monster movies and purest examples of a horror-comedy hybrid: Ron Underwood's 1990 cult classic, Tremors.

In the tiny, ironically-named desert town of Perfection, Nevada, two perpetual handymen, Val McKee (Kevin Bacon) and Earl Bassett (Fred Ward), are planning to finally leave town. But their departure is interrupted by a series of mysterious, deadly phenomena. They soon discover they're up against the Graboids—giant, subterranean, worm-like predators that hunt by detecting seismic vibrations. It’s a battle of wits against creatures with an appetite for human flesh, where the only safe place is solid ground.

What We Cover:

• The Graboids: We break down the brilliance of the monster design and how the film constantly raises the stakes, turning the entire landscape into a game of "the floor is lava."

• A Perfect Cast: The undeniable chemistry between Kevin Bacon and the late Fred Ward, the unforgettable survivalist duo Burt and Heather Gummer (Michael Gross and Reba McEntire), and how the movie’s phenomenal character focus makes you root for every single resident of Perfection.

• Action-Comedy-Horror: How director Ron Underwood and writers S.S. Wilson and Brent Maddock masterfully balance genuine scares with hilarious dialogue and escalating creature feature action.

• Why It Became a Franchise: We discuss the enduring legacy of Tremors and why its simple, effective premise and unpretentious execution made it a true 90s cult classic that spawned a multi-film, decades-long series.

If you love a smart B-movie, the thrill of an escalating action sequence, or just want to hear us finally give Burt Gummer the credit he deserves, tune in now!

Keywords: Tremors, Graboids, Kevin Bacon, Fred Ward, Michael Gross, Reba McEntire, Ron Underwood, Horror Comedy, Monster Movie, Creature Feature, Perfection Nevada, Cult Classic, 90s Horror.

From Splatter to Middle-earth: A Review of Peter Jackson's Dead Alive

Before the epic battles of Middle-earth, there was the ultimate suburban bloodbath. Join us as we explore the early, gloriously gross work of Oscar-winning director Peter Jackson with a review of his 1992 splatter masterpiece, Dead Alive (also known as Braindead).

This is the film that put a new spin on splatstick (splatter + slapstick), setting a world record for the amount of fake blood used in a single scene. We are diving into the bizarre, hilarious, and stomach-churning tale of Lionel Cosgrove (Tim Balme), a mama's boy whose overbearing mother (Elizabeth Moody) is bitten by a Sumatran Rat-Monkey at the zoo, turning her into a rapidly decaying, ravenous zombie—and starting an infection that threatens to ruin his burgeoning romance with Paquita (Diana Peñalver).

What We Cover:

• Unleashing the Gore: An appreciation for the film’s legendary practical effects, including the infamous lawnmower scene, the Kung Fu priest, and the unforgettable zombie baby. This is the ultimate zombie comedy for gorehounds.

• The Director's Journey: We discuss how the mind behind Dead Alive—a hyper-violent, low-budget horror cult classic—managed to transition to helm the universally acclaimed The Fellowship of the Ring and the entire The Lord of the Rings trilogy.

• Family, Romance, and Mayhem: Breaking down the dark comedy themes of the overbearing mother, toxic masculinity, and the sweet, warped love story at the film's gooey center.

• Cast & Crew Highlights: Featuring performances from Ian Watkin and co-writer Fran Walsh (a long-time collaborator of Jackson's).

If you’re a Peter Jackson fan curious about his truly mad early work, a horror comedy aficionado, or just looking for the goriest movie ever made, grab your shears and prepare for an incredibly bloody, cartoonishly violent ride!

Keywords: Dead Alive, Braindead, Peter Jackson, Lord of the Rings, Splatter Film, Horror Comedy, Zombie Movie, Tim Balme, Elizabeth Moody, Cult Classic, 90s Horror, Lawnmower Scene, Gore.

Say His Name: Deconstructing the Original Candyman

Description:

Never say it five times. Never look in the mirror. This week, we plunge the hook deep into the haunting, visceral, and socio-politically charged horror of the 1992 classic, Candyman.

Graduate student Helen Lyle travels to the notorious Cabrini-Green housing projects to research the urban legend of a hook-handed killer. But when her skepticism leads her to dismiss the legend—and the real-world suffering that fuels it—she awakens the vengeful spirit of Daniel Robitaille (Tony Todd), the tragic victim of a brutal, racist lynching in the 19th century.

Join us as we explore the film’s complex layers:

• The Legend and the Legacy: Unpacking the tragic origin of Daniel Robitaille, a Black artist murdered for a forbidden interracial love affair, and his transformation into a boogeyman feared by a forgotten community.

  
  

• White Guilt and Urban Decay: How the film uses Helen's white privilege and academic voyeurism to critique systemic racism, housing inequality, and the intellectual appropriation of Black trauma.

• Be My Victim: Analyzing Tony Todd's mesmerizing, seductive performance and the haunting score by Philip Glass that turn this slasher film into a gothic nightmare about the terrifying power of belief.

Look in the mirror, say his name, and let the legend live. (We promise we'll only say it four times.)

"No More Mr. Nice Guy!" Wes Craven's Shocker Hits the Airwaves

Description:

Plug in and prepare for a massive power surge! This week, we're dissecting Wes Craven's electrifying, over-the-top 1989 slasher, Shocker, a glorious failure in the attempt to create the next horror icon.

Meet Horace Pinker (Mitch Pileggi), a vile serial killer who gets sent to the electric chair, but not before making a literal deal with the devil. Instead of dying, Pinker is transformed into a malicious entity of pure electrical energy, capable of possessing anyone he touches and leaping through TV sets to continue his rampage.

Join us as we discuss:

• Craven's Chaos: Why this movie is a fascinating, yet messy, hybrid of dream logic, black magic, possession horror, and slasher tropes—all set to an '80s metal soundtrack.

• The Techno-Villain: How Horace Pinker weaponized the burgeoning American obsession with television and turned the boob tube into a portal for mayhem.

• The Final Battle: Unpacking the hilariously absurd and visually bananas climax where our hero, Jonathan Parker, literally fights Pinker through the airwaves of classic TV shows.

Was Shocker too far ahead of its time, or just too chaotic for its own good? Tune in, but you might want to unplug your devices first!

Description:

Welcome to the ultimate house of horrors—and it's a commentary on class warfare! This week, we lock ourselves inside the labyrinthine mansion of the Robeson family for Wes Craven's wildly satirical and deeply unsettling 1991 cult classic, The People Under the Stairs.

When 13-year-old Fool breaks into his greedy landlords' fortified home to steal a rumored cache of gold coins, he discovers the truly sickening secret they keep hidden: a brood of tormented, cannibalistic children locked in the basement and living in the walls.

Join us as we explore the film’s unique mix of horror, dark comedy, and social critique:

• Mommy and Daddy Dearest: Analyzing the terrifying, inbred Robeson landlords—a pitch-black caricature of wealthy, conservative Americana.

• The Hero in the Walls: Discussing the film's groundbreaking use of a young Black protagonist to tackle themes of gentrification, economic exploitation, and the voicelessness of the marginalized.

• Craven's Genius: How the film’s "see no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil" mantra perfectly encapsulates a society that ignores the horrors being inflicted on the poor.

Grab your shotgun, put on your gimp suit, and prepare to confront the monsters that capitalism creates.