Cheer and Loathing

In honor of Casey's triumphant (or, let's just call it tragic) return to the workforce, we're celebrating the horrors of earning a living. As if just having to show up each day to that evil place where they keep our paycheck isn't horrifying enough, these films show us what happens when things get much, much worse. For each of our first-time watches, Casey picked an indie horror classic out of Canada (big surprise), 2009's Pontypool. And Stephanie hates teambuilding, so she visited a recent horror-comedy from one of her favorite indie filmmakers, 2019's Corporate Animals.

What is it about "you'll die if you do X" urban legends that leave us dying to do X?! Say his name five times; visit a sketchy internet chat room; purchase a ticket for a cursed film. We know we shouldn't do it, but we just can't help ourselves. Kind of like listening to this podcast. We warn you it's going to be a trainwreck, but you just can't help yourself, can you? Speaking of trainwrecks, Casey picks the infamous 2012 debacle known as Smiley while Stephanie hails Satan with 2018's Antrum.

We're back! It's a new season, and we're mixing things up. Tune in to hear what you can expect from Cheer and Loathing 2.0. And join us as we explore a couple of modern horror anthologies helmed by some heavy hitters, like Joe Dante and Kevin Smith. Enjoy a sadistic celebration of most major holidays, from Valentine's Day to New Year's Eve, with 2016's HOLIDAYS. Then grab a seat for a showing at NIGHTMARE CINEMA, a high-profile 2018 anthology from one of the original Masters of Horror.

Well, we've come to the end of devils and demons month on the podcast. It was Stephanie's turn to pick the films, and she did her damndest to go out with a bang by picking a couple of recent, lesser known indie horror comedies: the animated film ATTACK OF THE DEMONS and the (debatable) so-bad-it's-good schlock fest BUS PARTY TO HELL. It was a hell of an episode, but not quite in the way she was intending. Instead, Casey brings the heat by way of unfettered rage. It's probably good we're taking a little vacation after this one, because we definitely need to exorcise these demons!

If you asked the average person what the biggest holiday in July is, most would say it's Independence Day — or, perhaps, Canada Day for Canucks like Casey. But for the freaks who host this podcast, it's National Nude Day! It's such a big deal that we even decided to host a special bonus episode to properly celebrate. And, since this is also devils and demons month on the podcast, there was only one choice when it came time to pick a film to discuss. Of course, we're talking about "Nude for Satan". The film is weird. REALLY weird. But it's not nearly as weird as how fired up Stephanie gets about bad porn. It's a hot one, and you don't want to miss it!

It's hotter than Hades, so we might as well hail Satan while we burn. All month long, we are talking about movies featuring devils and demons. This week, it's Casey's picks. He has us talking about the evils of technology with "Sinister", a twisted tale about a demon who possesses young souls through Super 8 video, and "Nektrotronic", an Australian horror-comedy about demons who use the internet and smartphones to destroy humanity. Kind of like a documentary, but a lot more fun. Press play and open a portal to hell with us.

Happy July! We'll be hailing Satan all month, talking about movies that revolve around the theme, "The Devil Made Me Do It." This week, we've got two recently released horror-comedies, both of which happen to feature a main character who chews the HELL out of scenery without saying a word. In PORNO, we have a wickedly sexy succubus who tempts the pious and takes more than their chastity. In WILLY'S WONDERLAND, we have a man known only as The Janitor who takes out the trash in more ways than one. This week also brings the triumphant return of Nic Cage. It's a hot one this week...don't miss it!

It's the end of remake/reboot month on the cast, and we're going out with a bang. This week, we’re chatting about the 2011 remake of Tom Holland’s 1985 film FRIGHT NIGHT as well as EVIL DEAD, the 2013 remake of the 1981 film written and directed by Sam Raimi. In one corner, we've got tight leather pants, A-list actors bringing their A-game, and a Brewster who's so cool we can hardly stand it. In the other corner, we've got buckets of blood, atmosphere for days, and a young scream queen who goes to hell and back for her craft. Many remakes are trash, but are some worthy of recycling? Tune in to find out!

It's remake/reboot month on Cheer and Loathing. In honor of Father's Day, we discuss two modern remakes revolving around father figures. In "The Amityville Horror", George Lutz becomes a new dad to three kids when he marries a beautiful widow. But winning their approval becomes a hell of a lot harder when the family's new home comes complete with demonic possession, turning George into a very scary (but very sexy) psychopath. In "The Omen", a well-connected U.S. ambassador gets offered a handy replacement baby when his son is stillborn. Seems like a great deal, until he discovers he's raising the spawn of Satan. Are these remakes of horror royalty hellacious...or a hell of a good time? Tune in to find out!

This week's podcast themes are traumatic childhoods, devoted moms, the high price of bullying, and the pastiche of a good mask. Find out what happens when two horror icons of the slasher heyday get reimagined for modern audiences. It's an absolute bloodbath — and we're not just talking about what happens on screen. So leave the kids with the horny babysitter and gather 'round the campfire while we regale you with two timeless tales of terror.