Certified Forgotten

Here's the reality. We Matts—Monagle and I—are dorks. Worse, we're corporate day job dorks. We sit at desks sending emails, handling meetings, and going about quarterly business reviews ... which inspired this episode. We decided, since the first quarter of 2026 is behind us, to look back and do a little "review" of the output so far, but, most importantly, give you a recap of horror films you might have missed (that you shouldn't).

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About Certified Forgotten

Certified Forgotten is a writer-owned horror publication focused on the little movies that leave a big impression. We publish essays on the underseen and underappreciated horror films of the 21st Century. To learn more, visit www.certifiedforgotten.com.

The film festival life is not for everyone, especially when you cover as press. Luckily, here at Certified Forgotten, we have two individuals who push their bodies and sanity for the sake of screenings, reviews ... maybe a party or seven? This week, Matt Donato is joined by columnist Molly Henery to chat about their favorite horror films from 2026's SXSW slate. There were, my gosh, so many genre films on the schedule—listen in to find out which broke out and stole the event.

You can follow Certified Forgotten on Bluesky and Instagram at:

About Certified Forgotten

Certified Forgotten is a writer-owned horror publication focused on the little movies that leave a big impression. We publish essays on the underseen and underappreciated horror films of the 21st Century. To learn more, visit www.certifiedforgotten.com.

One of the best things about horror sequels? They’ll often surprise you if you let them. In this episode of Certified Forgotten, Matt Donato and Matthew Monagle sit down to discuss Ready or Not: Here I Come, sequel to 2019’s Ready or Not. With more bloodshed and a lot more bickering, the new movie certainly dials up the formula the second time out. But is it better than the original?

About Ready or Not: Here I Come

Samara Weaving returns as our favorite bad-luck bride and must survive the night against the richest families in the world. Ready or Not: Here I Come is directed by Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett (Radio Silence) and stars Samara Weaving, Kathryn Newton, Sarah Michelle Gellar, Shawn Hatosy, Elijah Wood, and more.

You can follow Certified Forgotten on Bluesky and Instagram at:

About Certified Forgotten

Certified Forgotten is a writer-owned horror publication focused on the little movies that leave a big impression. We publish essays on the underseen and underappreciated horror films of the 21st Century. To learn more, visit www.certifiedforgotten.com.

In the canon of Final Destination imitators, Whistle is a gift. Corin Hardy's ode to teen slashers is a nifty blend of "artifact horror" and young-adult perspectives. There are many films based on the inability to cheat Death, but writer Owen Egerton finds a unique twist to keep us hooked. It's a cozy late-night programmer that fits alongside other Shudder titles like Clown in a Cornfield, one that's respectful of its audience yet focused on easy-breezy genre entertainment. Hardy keeps it simple and aims to put a smile on horror fans' faces, which is just fine in our book.

Didn't ever think we'd cover a Criterion Collection release on Certified Forgotten, didja? That's what makes our podcast so special, and why we love these guest episodes. Journalist and Brooklyn Horror's own Tori Potenza returns with a 1960s Czechoslovak "dark comedy" that too succinctly predicted today's alt-right basement-bro uprising. Juraj Herz's "dark comedy" (emphasis on DARK), The Cremator, is a phenomenal look not only into the horrors of Nazi occupations, but also how easily these genocidal movements sway the most manipulatable, spineless schlubs. Promise the right person power, and they'll turn into a monster. Is it any coincidence we recorded this episode during Trump's most recent State of the Union?

Can a science fiction thriller about exploding, bile-bloated corpses and intergalactic spores be described as delightful? Well, Cold Storage had us grinning like kiddos on Christmas morning. Filmmaker Jonny Campbell helms this whacked-out fungal horror-comedy written by the prolific David Koepp, adapted from his own novel (of the same name). It’s begging for a bigger budget, with some underwhelming digital effects employed, but that’s hardly a dealbreaker. Listen in to hear us gush about ... well ... all the gushing gore in Cold Storage.

"Good Luck, Have Fun, Don't Die." Is it the mantra we're repeating to get through 2026? Absolutely. Is it also a wickedly entertaining and intensely relevant sci-fi comedy about the horrors of artificial intelligence? Also correct! Gore Verbinski returns to the big screen after almost a decade with his fantastic warning against algorithms, datacenters, and mind-rotting technology. We'll dive into all the beeps and bloops of this gonzo flick, which deserves every dollar of your support.

You've seen Ghost Ship, but how bout Death Ship? Or maybe you've seen Death Ship, and not Ghost Ship. EITHER WAY, we've got another banger of a guest episode, with our newly crowned queen of repeat guests, one half of the This Ends At Prom podcast—and B-movie aficionado—Harmony Colangelo. Join us for a conversation that starts with a spirited chat about bartenders and drink orders, then dives headfirst into a thoughtful discussion about possessed Nazi boats and the forever fight against fascism. Here at Certified Forgotten, we contain multitudes!

While the Sundance Film Festival is often synonymous with prestigious releases, it's always been a breeding ground for great horror filmmakers, too. So with Matt Donato wrapping his attendance at the 2026 Sundance Film Festival, we sat down to discuss his favorites from this year's horror lineup. From Leviticus to Saccharine, this was a particularly strong year for Sundance's Midnight lineup, and we break down what to keep an eye out for (and why) in the months ahead.

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It might be underwhelming at the box office, but it's overwhelmed our hearts! That's right, this week on the podcast, Matt Donato and Matthew Monagle discuss Nia DaCosta's 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple, a chamber piece set in the 28 Days Later universe. Learn why both Matts believe DaCosta's feature to be the polar opposite of Danny Boyle's 28 Years Later - and why those changes are the right step forward for the franchise.