The Pod and the Pendulum: A Horror Movie Podcast

This week it feels like we’re covering familiar territory. It feels like we’re playing the greatest hits. It feels like the activity is less paranormal and more all too familiar with its fourth entry in the series Paranormal Activity gives us a true sequel for the first time, but instead of forging ahead, the series feels stuck in neutral for the first time. Despite an excellent early performance from Kathyrn Newton, it relies on the same tropes and scares of the first three movies while rehashing and recycling plot lines like a day-old meatloaf. Did fans still want to get this served up to them? We discuss all the above, plus so much more this week.

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This week we're going back in time with what Mike calls the "Dream Warriors" of the Paranormal Franchise with its third installment. Rather than continue the cliffhanger ending of its sneak prequel, directors Henry Joost and Ariel Schulman travel back to the 80s to show audiences just how Katie and Kristi got mixed up with Tobi the demon to begin with (spoiler alert: it's those damned witches). The end result might be the most entertaining entry of the series, with scares coming from start to finish, and great additions like an oscillating fan ratcheting up the tension even further. Plus, we get Dennis, the first positive male role model in the franchise to date, as he does his best to get to the bottom of the mystery and protect his two step children. This week we're joined once again by Mary Beth McAndrews to talk about a movie she says "had to walk so Hereditary could run"

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This week we're back with more found footage, more spooky cameras, more demonology, and more things that go bump in the night with 2010's Paranormal Activity 2. Even better we double down on the toxic masculinity and toss in some casual racism towards are poor, amazing housekeeper to boot! (Daniel, you're the worst). This sequel does manage to build on the framework of the first film not only in how it captures footage, but also in building out the mythology and world that will follow over the course of the series. We're joined by photographer Rachel Schwebach(@indiesmutpeddler) for another spirited discussion

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This week we begin a new franchise. We are talking about Paranormal Activity which is arguably the most successful series of the 2000 tens. From its humble beginnings as a tiny independent movie meant to be shown small audiences to a global phenomenon that raked in hundreds of millions of dollars this is the series that launched so many other found footage titles over the next decade for better or worse. Along with special guest Mary Beth McAndrews (Dread Central, Scarred For Life) your cohosts discuss how creator Oren Peli self-taught himself the basics of filmmaking and with a minimal cast and crew, made this supernatural chiller in his own home. We also dive into the themes present throughout the movie such as the toxic relationship between Katie & Micah that only makes the haunting worse, the way the film predicts our growing acceptance of constant surveillance, and the demonic as a microcosm of rampant consumerism and an economic system on the edge of collapse. All this, plus a debate over just what separates a classic found footage movie from hand held garbage.

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We have a special treat for you this week this episode was originally recorded for the GHOULS MAGAZINE podcast with hosts Rebecca McCallum  (Talking Hitchcock) and our own Ariel Hellraiser. While ghouls is on a temporary hiatus Ari was kind enough to offer this conversation between two of the brightest minds in horror on the 1st two Human Centipede films. They dive deep into the body horror of it all along with the gender dynamics in the history of the mad scientist archetype. It's a really fun conversation and we'll hopefully tide listeners over while we get ready for our next franchise. We hope you enjoy this bonus show and we'll be back next week.

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This week we wrap our Frankenstein coverage with the movie that gave birth to the horror comedy. In just over a decade and a half, we're far from the serious, often somber tones of the original Frankenstein, and the most famous trio of Universal Monsters become punchlines to the madcap antics of the famous comedy duo. Still, this movie treats the Monsters with reverence, and contains a lot of laughs to this day. Mike, Brian, & Stephen talk about the careers of Bud Abbott & Lou Costello, how this one came together, why it works as a blend of spooky scares and farcical comedy, and ponder why this seemingly light little movie features a character that's a Nazi war criminal who serves as the love interest for Lou Costello. Oh yes, we also deal with Lou Costello, heart throb, and marvel at Bud Abbott's skill at playing it straight.

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This week we get another horror mashup as Dracula opens up his home to the Wolf Man, Frankenstein's Monster and a riff on Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde. While it plays like a retread of the previous installment, there's a lot of fun to be had in this campy creature feature that gives us the bare minimum of Frankenstein on screen. We dive deep into the history of this one, say goodbye to some long standing featured  characters and creative types, and talk about how the sands were shifting at Universal and horror in general by the time this came out in 1946. Mike and Brian are joined again by guest Andrew Fabry of the Dead Letter Movie pod.

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This week we're back with a true monster mashup as Frankenstein's Monster meets up with the Wolf Man and Dracula, along with a mad scientist and hunchback for good measure. By 1944 it was clear to Universal they had squeezed all thw juice out of their horror lineup as they could in solo adventures. What to do then but have them combine forces in some decidedly not-scary, but highly campy adventures? Mike, Brian, and Devaughn break down what should feel like an epic monster smash up, but plays out more like an anthology where each creature gets a moment to shine.

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Our first team up! This week finds two Universal icons getting together for one motion picture in the first of what will be a troubling trend for the back half of the Frankenstein movies as the creature takes a back seat in this Wolf Man sequel. Still, it's a fun affair as our two monsters play pretty nice together for a while before brawling as the castle blows up and floods around them. Brian, Mike and Steven team up to talk about what works in cinemas first attempt at a shared universe.

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We’re back to finish our discussion on THEGHOST OF FRANKENSTEIN. Joining us this week is Andrew Fabry of the Dead Letters movie podcast. Universal once again pairs two of its iconic performers in one film. This time a returning Bela Lugosi as Ygor is joined by Lon Chaney Jr as the Monster. Would the man better known for turning into a wolf be able to fill Karloff’s boots? We have a fun discussion of what, to be honest, might be the nadir of the Frankenstein series. 

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