The Pod and the Pendulum: A Horror Movie Podcast

We’re back to finish our discussion on THE BRIDE OF FRANKENSTEIN. We had a lot to talk about this week, including the abundance of religious iconography present in this film, along with the myriad of ways the Hays Code took a hatchet to this movie but a ton of cheeky humor and themes still slipped through. We discuss the first true villain, the absolutely delicious Doctor Pretorious (Doctor Pretorius?) and how he offers the gateway to the many queer themes and suggestions that are front and center here. We talk the lovely Elsa Lanchester and how she makes a meal out of her five minutes of screentime as the Bride remains one of the most iconic fixtures in horror history. It’s the second part of massive episode so make sure you go back and listen to part one. Mike is joined by cohosts Brian and Stephen along with special guest Ygraine from the What a Scream podcast, Ghouls Magazine, and the Moving Pictures Film club.

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This week we're back to discuss what some have called the greatest horror movie of all time, and what might be the birth of queer cinema: THE BRIDE OF FRANKENSTEIN. In the years following Frankenstein's success, James Whale would go on to put his campy, humorous touch on horror classics The Old Dark House and The Invisible Man before returning to create his masterpiece. Meanwhile Boris Karloff elevated from a struggling bit player to receiving top-of-the-bill status in a string of successes. Of course, no discussion would be complete without discussing the immeasurable impact Elsa Lanchester made with mere minutes of screen time as the titular Bride. With her lightning bolt updo, and a hiss inspired by protective swans, Lanchester delivered one of the most memorable monsters i Universal cannon. The sequel adds humor to the gothic horror, and goes bigger in every way: there's a larger body count, a larger cast, more elaborate sets, and even more fantastical special effects. We're joined by guest Ygraine (What a Scream Podcast) for the first half of our two-parter on Bride. 

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The Monster is loose! We’re back with the second half of Universal’s FRANKENSTEIN. This week we talk about the masterful innovations director James Whale brought to the screen. We discuss how Frankenstein is an example of a horror movie with no true villain, and how Boris Karlof gives one of the most sympathetic performances in genre history. We talk about the tropes this movie started ( the hunchback side kick in Dwight Frye’s Fritz, the rampaging villagers armed with torches and pitchforks) and movies core themes such as parental abandonment, and the dangers of progress without accepting responsibility can have dangerous outcomes. We touch on the queer and darkly humorous aspects of the movie and talk about the shocking aspects such as the murder of young kids. It’s one of our best discussions to date, and if you haven’t already, make sure you go back to listen to the first half of our episode with Mike, Brian, Devaughn and guest Garrett McDowell. 

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This week we embark on a new cinematic journey and for the first time we travel back to one of the foundations of horror as we begin our exploration of the Frankenstein franchise. Adapted from the classic novel by Mary Shelley, James Whale created one of the true masterpieces of early horror cinema. Alongside Dracula, Frankenstein demonstrated that genre films could not only be artistic masterpieces but proved such box office successes that they could keep studios afloat. For the first of our two episodes on the original Frankenstein movie Mike is joined by Brian Keiper and Devaughn Taylor in the co-host chairs along with special guest Garrett McDowell who is Devaughn’s cohost on the Spector Cinema pod. On this episode we talk about our personal histories with the Universal Monsters and relationship with Frankenstein and why Frankenstein called to us during our formative journeys as budding horror fans. After that Brian and Mike discuss the long and laborious road Frankenstein took to the silver screen. From a twenty-one-year-old nepo-baby, Carl Laemmelle Jr, getting handed the keys to Universal and making monster movies when no one else believed in them to an unknown journeyman named Boris becoming one of the first icons of horror, it’s a fascinating trip to the screen. Join us for part two in a  few days as DeVaughn and Garrett return to discuss their thoughts on the film as a whole.

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Before we get dragged kicking and screaming into 2024, Mike, Brian, Nichole and Rachel take a look back at what has been a solid year yet again or horror. From the creation of "meme horror" we loved in M3GAN and Talk To Me, to a continuation of "Fuck 'dem Kids" nastiness in Where Evil Lurks, Evil Dead Rise and others to classic monsters getting reimagined and reborn in Godzilla Minus One it was a strong year all around. We each give our top ten picks, and want to hear from you-what did you love about horror in 2023 and what are you looking forward to in the coming year? 

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Happy holidays everyone. For our second annual non-horror Christmas movie deep dive, we're covering the greatest adaptation of Charles Dickens' classic. What do you get when you cross a miserly, penny hoarding, vindictive Scrooge with the loveable Muppets? You get the absolute holiday classic The Muppet Christmas Carol.  Featuring Michael Caine in the starring role, it was the first Muppet motion picture after the tragic passing of Jim Henson in 1990. By playing Dickens' material mostly straight, Brian Henson manages to capture the ghostly, and often downright scary elements of the story, and hammering home the timeless message of charity, goodwill and community. Featuring a secret weapon in the form of music from a rejuvenated Paul Williams, the picture bangs out incredible songs such as "It Feels Like Christmas" "Marley and Marley" and "Thankful Heart." The Muppets themselves, from Kermit as the put upon Bob Cratchit, Fozzie Bear as Fozziwig, and Gonzo the Great as our author and narrator Charles Dickens are perfectly utilized as well.  

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You better watch out...he's made his list and he knows who is naughty and who is nice.

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NOTE: Mike uploaded the incorrect file yesterday so all apologies. We'll leave the 2020 patron episode up as a thanks, but here our actual episode for the week)

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Quick note: Mike uploaded the wrong file and this is the Patreon episode we recorded way back in 2020. For giggles, let's leave it up. 

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It's the end of the world as we know it, and we feel fine. This week we're talking the Christmas-set 2021 British horror comedy Silent Night.  When the Earth spits up a toxic gas that promises to wipe out humanity, a posh family and their closest friends and loved one gather at the family manor for one last holiday party before taking their suicide pills. Hijinks are sure to ensue, right? We were mixed on whether the comedy landed, but had a spirited discussion on the themes of class, privilege, and trust in institutions and institutional expertise that director Camille Griffin raises. Filmed just before the pandemic lockdowns went into effect, and released just as the world started to emerge into a weary "new normal" it's impossible to not view this one through the lens of COVID, and that comes up here as well.

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