The Pod and the Pendulum

Stephen, Mike and Ariel are on and to take one final look at Omen related properties, this time turning to the small screen with two failed projects. Up first, it's a TV pilot from 1995 that would have taken the series in a strange direction. Seemingly have little to nothing to do with the Antichrist, NBC's THE OMEN was a mixture of possession horror and ecological terror staring the great character actor William Sadler. It failed to find an audience in the dog days of summer, and NBC declined to pick it up for a series. Watch it HERE if you're interested (it's not half bad!) Faring slightly better by virtue of lasting a ten-episode season was 2016's DAMIEN. Ignoring all the films after the first one, the show featured a now thirty-year-old Damien learning about and reckoning with his heritage and mission. Unfortunately, it was dull as dishwater and never hit a groove. Please take a moment to rate and review us on the Apple Podcast app, or rate us on the Spotify app. Reviews and five-star ratings help new listeners find us every day, and we greatly appreciate the feedback and support.  Patreon members get exclusive full-length episodes, audio fan commentaries, exclusive mini-sodes and more. Join today for as little as $2 at patreon.com/podandthependulum.  Check out our website for easy access to our full catalog of shows, with hundreds of hours of free content. You can search the catalog, leave a review and even leave us feedback all from the site. Go to www.podandthependulum.com to check it out.  Follow us- WEBSITE BLUESKY INSTAGRAM   Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Mike and Stephen are joined by guest Alex Paglicua for the second half of our episode on THE FIRST OMEN.  This time we're diving into the text and themes of the movie with an exploration of how scandals shifted our views of the Catholic Church and forced them into a more antagonistic role. We discuss the film in the context of other tragedies that befell children unfortunate enough to be placed in Catholic orphanages while also tackling the fantastic horror elements Arkasha Stevenson brought to the table. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

VOTE ON A FRANCHISE YOU WANT US TO COVER IN 2026 In the wake of the repeal of Roe vs Wade, it only makes sense that art would reflect the terror women feel in a world increasingly hostile to them, and the increasing loss of their bodily autonomy. In 2024, a pair of movies centered on nuns forced to give birth not only against their will, but also their knowledge were released back-to-back and seemed to be in conversation with one another. Arkasha Stevenson's feature film directorial debut not only improved on Neon's Immaculate,  but it also added depth to the film it serves as a prequel for, 1976's The Omen. This week Mike and Stephen are joined by guest Alex Paglicua to break down The First Omen, a film which goes incredibly hard. Please take a moment to rate and review us on the Apple Podcast app, or rate us on the Spotify app. Reviews and five star ratings help new listeners find us every day, and we greatly appreciate the feedback and support.  Patreon members get exclusive full length episodes, audio fan commentaries, exclusive mini-sodes and more. Join today for as little as $2 at patreon.com/podandthependulum.  Check out our website for easy access to our full catalog of shows, with hundreds of hours of free content. You can search the catalog, leave a review and even leave us feedback all from the site. Go to www.podandthependulum.com to check it out.  Follow us- WEBSITE BLUESKY INSTAGRAM Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

While the 2000s were lousy with horror remakes, perhaps none struggled to justify its existence as much as this uninspired, beat-for-beat retread of the Richard Donner Catholic shocker. It seemed to only exist because a studio executive noticed that there would be a 6/6/6 on the calendar less than 11 months before this would be dumped into theaters to a tepid if lucrative response. This week Mike, Stephen & Devaughn look back at what went wrong and what could have salvaged this Liev Schriber and Julia Stiles vehicle. Please take a moment to rate and review us on the Apple Podcast app, or rate us on the Spotify app. Reviews and five star ratings help new listeners find us every day, and we greatly appreciate the feedback and support. Patreon members get exclusive full length episodes, audio fan commentaries, exclusive mini-sodes and more. Join today for as little as $2 at patreon.com/podandthependulum. Check out our website for easy access to our full catalog of shows, with hundreds of hours of free content. You can search the catalog, leave a review and even leave us feedback all from the site. Go to www.podandthependulum.com to check it out. Follow us- WEBSITE BLUESKY INSTAGRAM   Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

This week we've got four hosts on hand to talk the fourth entry in the Omen franchise. Coincidence or the work of the Devil? You decide. We break down this 1991 FOX made-for-television reboot of the franchise. With a gender swapped AntiChrist, hopes were high the fledgling network could use their deep film archives to entice viewers to the small screen. Unfortunately, the less than stellar results here, with muted violence and a script that mirrors the beats of the original to a degree that leaves you wondering "Why am I not watching the 1976 movie instead?" killed that idea in its infancy. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Enjoy this preview of Mike and Nichole's discussion on A24's latest horror offering Undertone. Our patrons get access to this full episode, as well as over 100+ hours of exclusive bonus content for as low as two bucks a month. To get full access sign up today at patron.com/podandthependulum Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

This week Mike and Stephen are on hand to talk politics, the end of the world, and just how hot  young Sam Neill was. That’s right, it’s time for The Omen 3: The Final Conflict.  As a special bonus, you get to hear the two of us was rhapsodic about the Oscars, which ran the night before. If that’s of no interest to you, feel free to skip ahead to roughly 29:00 into the show. Please take a moment to rate and review us on the Apple Podcast app, or rate us on the Spotify app. Reviews and five star ratings help new listeners find us every day, and we greatly appreciate the feedback and support. Patreon members get exclusive full length episodes, audio fan commentaries, exclusive mini-sodes and more. Join today for as little as $2 at patreon.com/podandthependulum. Check out our website for easy access to our full catalog of shows, with hundreds of hours of free content. You can search the catalog, leave a review and even leave us feedback all from the site. Go to www.podandthependulum.com to check it out. Follow us- WEBSITE BLUESKY INSTAGRAM   Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

VOTE HERE FOR THE FRANCHISE YOU WANT US TO COVER IN 2026! This week, the only thing worse than a little tyke Anti-Christ is a pre-teen Antichrist. If the Devil doesn't kill you, then hormones surely will! Mike, Nichole and Stephen are on hand to talk about this solid second entry in The Omen franchise, which finds a young Damien at military school when he learns of his destiny as the son of Satan. Featuring an increase in graphic violence, a pair of Academy award winners, and a strong turn from young Johnathan Scott-Taylor as Damien, we found it to be a good sequel to the classic first entry. Please take a moment to rate and review us on the Apple Podcast app, or rate us on the Spotify app. Reviews and five star ratings help new listeners find us every day, and we greatly appreciate the feedback and support. Patreon members get exclusive full length episodes, audio fan commentaries, exclusive mini-sodes and more. Join today for as little as $2 at patreon.com/podandthependulum. Check out our website for easy access to our full catalog of shows, with hundreds of hours of free content. You can search the catalog, leave a review and even leave us feedback all from the site. Go to www.podandthependulum.com to check it out. Follow us- WEBSITE BLUESKY INSTAGRAM   Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

IT’S ALL FOR YOU LISTENERS! This week we kick of a new franchise with part two of a two part dive into THE OMEN, a movie that asks, “What if the Antichrist was revealed to be a cherubic five year old boy that also enjoyed cosplaying as AC/DC guitarist Angus Young?” Stephen, Brian, Nichole and Mike are joined by special guest photographer and filmmaker Rachel Schwebach to talk religious trauma, the history of cult and evil kid cinema, the dreaded Omen curse, what it has in common with 1970s political thrillers, and the twists and turns this one took to make its way to the big screen and become one of the surprise blockbusters of the year.  Please take a moment to rate and review us on the Apple Podcast app, or rate us on the Spotify app. Reviews and five star ratings help new listeners find us every day, and we greatly appreciate the feedback and support. Patreon members get exclusive full length episodes, audio fan commentaries, exclusive mini-sodes and more. Join today for as little as $2 at patreon.com/podandthependulum. Check out our website for easy access to our full catalog of shows, with hundreds of hours of free content. You can search the catalog, leave a review and even leave us feedback all from the site. Go to www.podandthependulum.com to check it out. Follow us- WEBSITE BLUESKY INSTAGRAM   Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

IT’S ALL FOR YOU LISTENERS! This week we kick of a new franchise with part one of a two part dive into THE OMEN, a movie that asks, “What if the Antichrist was revealed to be a cherubic five year old boy that also enjoyed cosplaying as AC/DC guitarist Angus Young?”Stephen, Brian, Nichole and Mike are joined by special guest photographer and filmmaker Rachel Schwebach to talk religious trauma, the history of cult and evil kid cinema, the dreaded Omen curse, what it has in common with 1970s political thrillers, and the twists and turns this one took to make its way to the big screen and become one of the surprise blockbusters of the year. Please take a moment to rate and review us on the Apple Podcast app, or rate us on the Spotify app. Reviews and five star ratings help new listeners find us every day, and we greatly appreciate the feedback and support. Patreon members get exclusive full length episodes, audio fan commentaries, exclusive mini-sodes and more. Join today for as little as $2 at patreon.com/podandthependulum. Check out our website for easy access to our full catalog of shows, with hundreds of hours of free content. You can search the catalog, leave a review and even leave us feedback all from the site. Go to www.podandthependulum.com to check it out. Follow us-WEBSITEBLUESKYINSTAGRAM Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

This week Mike and Nichole check in for the five season A&E horror-drama, Bates Motel, a creative prequel and reimagining of Psycho. Starring Vera Farmiga and Freddy Highmore as Norma and Norman Bates, the show explored the psychosexual dynamic of the mother / son duo while offering a sympathetic portrayal of a mom who would protect her increasingly unhinged and dangerous son from consequences at any cost. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Mike, Brian, and Stephen pay tribute to the late Bud Cort and look back at the failed pilot/TV movie for Bates MotelWatch the movie here-https://youtu.be/_uRu6TqIqTQ?si=RsAaeD0tJ0CvqSpl Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

This week Mike, Stephen, Devaughn, and Brian talk about one of cinema’s most head scratching disasters: Gus Van Sant’s near shot for shot remake of Psycho. From head scratching decisions when it came to casting, to the odd insert shots, and bizarre additions to the text like having Norman tug one out when watching Marion undress, everything about this one screams “bad idea.” You know what’s not a bad idea? Listening to our epic sized episode dissecting this one, from exploring the cocaine fueled boardrooms that greenlit the remake, Van Sant flushing any Oscar nomination good will right down the toilet, to the outright hostile response it received on release, we leave no stone unturned. Please take a moment to rate and review us on the Apple Podcast app, or rate us on the Spotify app. Reviews and five star ratings help new listeners find us every day, and we greatly appreciate the feedback and support. Patreon members get exclusive full length episodes, audio fan commentaries, exclusive mini-sodes and more. Join today for as little as $2 at patreon.com/podandthependulum. Check out our website for easy access to our full catalog of shows, with hundreds of hours of free content. You can search the catalog, leave a review and even leave us feedback all from the site. Go to www.podandthependulum.com to check it out. Follow us-WEBSITEBLUESKYINSTAGRAM Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

This week the crew is joined by Kinnel from Sinister Cinema to talk about the final entry in the main Psycho series. It may be the only movie ever greenlit in order to promote the opening of a theme park. This made-for-cable movie was written by the original film’s writer Joesph Stefano, but it’s clear that without Hitchcock, the screenwriter was a one trick, “boy I sure do like Sigmund Freud” pony. The crew is talking about weird incest, talk radio tomfoolery, Anthony Perkins giving director Mick Garris the what for on set, and so much more. Please take a moment to rate and review us on the Apple Podcast app, or rate us on the Spotify app. Reviews and five star ratings help new listeners find us every day, and we greatly appreciate the feedback and support. Patreon members get exclusive full length episodes, audio fan commentaries, exclusive mini-sodes and more. Join today for as little as $2 at patreon.com/podandthependulum. Check out our website for easy access to our full catalog of shows, with hundreds of hours of free content. You can search the catalog, leave a review and even leave us feedback all from the site. Go to www.podandthependulum.com to check it out. Follow us-WEBSITEBLUESKYINSTAGRAM Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

This week Mike, Stephen, and Brian are joined by Kinnell of Sinister Cinema to talk about the trashy fun of Psycho 3. Coming at the tail end of the slasher craze of the 80s, just as horror cinema was starting to cash in on repetitive sequels, this one ramps up the gore, the kills, the sex, and the camp or something that was way too overlooked and underappreciated upon its release in 1986. While it lacks the finesse of Hitchcock's classic, it remains a un, lurid watch. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

This week Mike, Brian, and Stephen take on the task of breaking down one of the most daunting sequels ever made, Psycho 2. Following in the footsteps of his idol, director Richard Franklin (with a major assist  from writer Tom Holland) crafted a two decades later follow up to Hitchcock’s horror masterpiece. The result is a better-than-it-has-any-right-to-be sequel that explores the fractured psyche of Norman Bates as he tries to maintain his sanity and live a life of normalcy. Bolstered by a stellar cast including Meg Tilly, a returning Vera Miles, a then-unknown Dennis Franz, and orange juice pitchman extraordinaire Robert Loggia, Anthony Perkins returns as the haunted Norman Bates, and delivers a performance that rivals his star-making original turn. Please take a moment to rate and review us on the Apple Podcast app, or rate us on the Spotify app. Reviews and five star ratings help new listeners find us every day, and we greatly appreciate the feedback and support. Patreon members get exclusive full length episodes, audio fan commentaries, exclusive mini-sodes and more. Join today for as little as $2 at patreon.com/podandthependulum. Check out our website for easy access to our full catalog of shows, with hundreds of hours of free content. You can search the catalog, leave a review and even leave us feedback all from the site. Go to www.podandthependulum.com to check it out. Follow us-WEBSITEBLUESKYINSTAGRAM Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

This week we kick of our first franchise of 2026 with one of the tentpoles of modern horror. Alfred Hitchcock's black and white foray into horror delivered one of cinema's all the great and most sympathetic villains in Norman Bates, played masterfully by Anthony Perkins. What was meant to be a quick, cheap B-movie became the Master of Suspense's most well-known and lucrative film. This week Mike, Nichole, and Brian are joined by guest Alex Pagliuca the history of the film, it's enduring legacy and the characters and events that make it so memorable If you like what you’re listening to make sure to subscribe wherever you get your podcast feeds. Please take a moment to rate and review us on the Apple Podcast app, or rate us on the Spotify app. Reviews and five star ratings help new listeners find us every day, and we greatly appreciate the feedback and support. Patreon members get exclusive full length episodes, audio fan commentaries, exclusive mini-sodes and more. Join today for as little as $2 at patreon.com/podandthependulum. Check out our website for easy access to our full catalog of shows, with hundreds of hours of free content. You can search the catalog, leave a review and even leave us feedback all from the site. Go to www.podandthependulum.com to check it out. Follow us- WEBSITE BLUESKY INSTAGRAM   Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

By the 1950s, not only was Alfred Hitchcock regarded as the master of suspense he became a brand himself as his smash hit television show Alfred Hitchcock Presents put the droll director in the homes of tens of millions of households every week. Over the course of the 1950s, he hit his creative peak & broke away from the constraints of David Selznick and launched his own production house.  Over the course of the decade Hitchcock directed many of his most beloved works, including Strangers on a Train, Rear Window, North by Northwest & Vertigo. While Hitchcock seemed to be on a roll, the latter film’s poor commercial and critical reception, alongside up and comers like Les Diaboliques’ Henri Clouzet being hailed as “the new Hitchcock,” and a slew of cheap horror films gaining steam at the box office left the director, now four decades into his career, looking to prove he still was the Master of Suspense. This week, before we begin our coverage of Hitchcock's most famous and commercially successful film, Mike and Brian look back on the director’s work in the 50s, as well as the outside forces that shaped him. If you like what you’re listening to make sure to subscribe wherever you get your podcast feeds. Please take a moment to rate and review us on the Apple Podcast app, or rate us on the Spotify app. Reviews and five star ratings help new listeners find us every day, and we greatly appreciate the feedback and support. Patreon members get exclusive full length episodes, audio fan commentaries, exclusive mini-sodes and more. Join today for as little as $2 at patreon.com/podandthependulum. Check out our website for easy access to our full catalog of shows, with hundreds of hours of free content. You can search the catalog, leave a review and even leave us feedback all from the site. Go to www.podandthependulum.com to check it out. Follow us- WEBSITE BLUESKY INSTAGRAM   Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Heading into the new year we take one last look back at the year that just passed. Mike, Brian, Ariel, & Devaughn are on hand to give their ten favorite horror movies from 2025. Please take a moment to rate and review us on the Apple Podcast app, or rate us on the Spotify app. Reviews and five star ratings help new listeners find us every day, and we greatly appreciate the feedback and support. Patreon members get exclusive full length episodes, audio fan commentaries, exclusive mini-sodes and more. Join today for as little as $2 at patreon.com/podandthependulum. Follow us- WEBSITE BLUESKY INSTAGRAM     Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

It's a Wonderful Orgy! Or is it? For our annual Xmas bonus show, Nichole has chosen the final film from the maestro himself, the elusive, unknowable Stanley Kubrick. Starring the Hollywood couple at the time Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman, this exhausting, 400 day shoot was marketed as an erotic thriller, but instead explored the darker, richer themes of repressed longing & desire, and the deeply ingrained but hidden insecurities of a certain kind of successful male. So gather a cup of eggnog and unwrap one of our finest episodes to date. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

This week we are taking a break but posting a little Christmas treat for all our listeners. We've opened up our patreon vault and are gifting you with this episode we recorded shortly after the release of one of if not the best not only horror movie but straight up movie of the year Ryan Koogler's Sinners. Brian and I joined forces for a quick discussion of our initial thoughts of the film as well as give our recommendation for other vampire movies fans should check out after devouring this one. Thank you once again to all our listeners for making this a fantastic year and if you're so inclined please consider becoming a patron by going to patreon.com/podandthependulum today Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

This week Mike and Devaughn are joined by guest Alex Pagliuca to rate the nine films in the Predator franchise. From alien worlds to the deepest jungles, through different historical periods, this series has taken us everywhere, now we're taking a few minutes to line it all up. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Mike and Brian are on hand to discuss the latest entry in the Predator series, BADLANDS. We both had a lot of fun with this one, and wondered about the influence another franchise from a galaxy far, far away had on this one. Add in the tie-ins to the Alien universe, and we were in scifi heaven. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Mike and Stephen are joined by special guest Hope to talk about the secret Predator animated movie that dropped earlier this year, that just maybe might be be the best Predator movie you see this year. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Mike, Devaughn, & special guest Kinnell watch AVP: Requiem, so you don't have to. If you like what you’re listening to make sure to subscribe wherever you get your podcast feeds. Please take a moment to rate and review us on the Apple Podcast app, or rate us on the Spotify app. Reviews and five star ratings help new listeners find us every day, and we greatly appreciate the feedback and support. Check out our website for easy access to our full catalog of shows, with hundreds of hours of free content. You can search the catalog, leave a review and even leave us feedback all from the site. Go to www.podandthependulum.com to check it out. If you have the means, consider becoming a patron today and support the show. Patreon members get exclusive full length episodes, audio fan commentaries, exclusive mini-sodes and more. Join today at patreon.com/podandthependulum. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

This week on the pod, what happens when you take two of the most iconic movie monsters and throw them in a long-awaited battle royale where the fate of mankind hangs in the balance? You get a pulpy B-movie that doesn’t quite live up to what could have been but is fun all the same from director Paul WS Anderson. While the end result of AVP is no doubt a little underwhelming, it’s still a fun sci-fi horror mashup, and it exemplifies the kind of movie that made spending Saturday afternoons hungover on the couch while flipping through cable channels a first class recreation activity. Twenty plus years later can we at least admit that a solid cast of characters you’ll forget about immediately, and a commitment to mostly shoot practical effects means AVP gets more right than wrong? Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

After a few weeks of one-off shows, and a well-deserved week off, we're back in franchise land. This week we're covering PREY, the streaming Hulu hit that revitalized the Predator franchise after a series of commercial and artistic disappointments. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Trick or Treat listeners as we have a very special bonus episode for you this Halloween. Mike, Stephen, & Nichole have brought our own bag of goodies as we talk about this year's latest entry in the long running horror anthology franchise V/H/S. While it seems hard to believe, this is the first time the Shudder / Bloody Disgusting coproduction has focused exclusively on the Halloween theme. Does it work? Hell yes it does as the five segments and wraparound represent some of the best work yet. From the creepy weirdness of "Coochie Coochie Coo" to the satanic panic inspired Kid Prints, and the goofy romp of Home Haunting, this one really captures what makes the holiday a blast. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

This week we have special cooking, and we get to push back talking about AVP: Requiem another week! Double Win!   Our own diabolical Devaughn Taylor has set up a draft where your crew picks five of their favorite franchise follow ups. Since it can't be that easy, there are rules! Only one franchise can be represented. We can steal a pick from another host, or we can wipe the whole slate clean. There are trivia challenges. It's surprise picks, threats of bodily harm, lots of cursing, way too personal confessions and overall pure chaos, and we wouldn't have it any other way.   Your players are Devaughn, Mike, Stephen, and Brian. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

For this week's episode we have a very special bonus for all of our listeners. With it being the scary season and with Halloween right around the corner we know that hardcore genre fans and seasonal drop ins alike are gearing up to watch as many horror movies as possible. Maybe you're getting ready for an all-nighter at your local theater as they do their yearly marathons. Maybe you're throwing an annual Halloween bash and you want to have a line up of scary favorites for all of your guests. Or maybe you just want to curl up on a cool fall evening under the blankets with that big old tub of popcorn and something nice and hot to drink while watching a bunch of horror movies on your own. no matter what your crew has a number of marathons that we planned out each featuring our own special theme.   Brian has a quartet of meta-horror titles for you to enjoy. Devaughn doubled up on his themes featuring horror from around the world along with creature classics. Stephen is so over Halloween that his choices feature holiday horror that have nothing to do with the 31st of October. Mike has a foursome of frightful anthologies to set the mood for those with shorter attention spans. Finally, Ariel has also doubled up, with a slew of movies that take place on Halloween night that aren’t part of the Halloween franchise, and also double as haunted attractions. How did we do, comment on our Spotify page, or send us a note, and if you have your own movie marathons planned, we want to hear about them.   Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

This week Mike is joined by guest Alex Pagliuca to talk about what went wrong with 2018's THE PREDATOR. From behind the scenes controversies including extensive reshoots, to the questionable casting of a sex offender (and then hiding that info from the cast) this one seemed doomed from the start, despite writer / director Shane Black coming off a bit of a hit streak. We're here to break it all down, from the dodgy CGI to the unfortunate depiction of autism. Plus, what would have been different if HAL Holbrook had been cast in the lead as opposed to Boyd? Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

After the disappointing reception of the Alien vs Predator movies (a concept so simple, only a Hollywood studio could screw it up) it was time to take the Predator back to the basics. The result is a fairly fun B-monster movie that mirrors a lot of the beats of 1987's Predator, while moving the action off planet. Mike, Stephen, and Brian are on hand to talk about what goes right while also scratching our heads over whoever thought "Adrian Brody, action star" could be a real thing. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Proving he is not too old for this shit (and we're not above mixing up our movie puns) Mike is back this week with guest Alex Pagliuca to talk about how the Predator fares in a different kind of jungle: the asphalt jungle. Turns out this oft-neglected sequel has more going on for it than expected at first blush. While it doesn't reach the action/horror/sci-fi heights of the original, it still features a stellar cast and practical effects while giving us the first tease of an eventual showdown with the Xenomorphs. If you like what you’re listening to make sure to subscribe wherever you get your podcast feeds. Please take a moment to rate and review us on the Apple Podcast app, or rate us on the Spotify app. Reviews and five star ratings help new listeners find us every day, and we greatly appreciate the feedback and support. Check out our website for easy access to our full catalog of shows, with hundreds of hours of free content. You can search the catalog, leave a review and even leave us feedback all from the site. Go to www.podandthependulum.com to check it out. If you have the means, consider becoming a patron today and support the show. Patreon members get exclusive full length episodes, audio fan commentaries, exclusive mini-sodes and more. Join today at patreon.com/podandthependulum. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

This week, we ain't got time to bleed.... because we're too busy breaking down one of the most iconic action/sci-fi/horror movies of all time, PREDATOR. Starring the one and only charisma machine Arnold Schwarzeneggar, who himself is surrounded by the manliest of men in Carl Weathers, Jesse The Body Ventura, Bill Duke (among others) this remains a just as vital nearly 4 decades later. Mike, Stephen & Devaughn are on hand to talk how this came to life, why the Predator remains so iconic, why it lives on in the memes and how John McTiernan put himself on the Mt. Rushmore of "dad cinema." Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Mike and Brian take one last look back at the summer of George, and deliver our crew's rankings of the six Romero films alongside the two remakes. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The Title says it all! This week we're celebrating our 300th episode with a supersized countdown of the best horror movies of the century so far. It's an all hands on deck episode and as a bonus, we welcome back former cost Lindsay Traves as a special guest! In order to come up with such a momentous list, not only did we all weigh in, but a special thanks goes out to Joe Lipsett, Sarah Stubbs, Kinnell, Richard Newby, Kat Hughes, Alex Pagicula, Mae Shultz, Rocco Thompson, Jay Krieger, Tori Potenza, Zoe Rose Smith, Amber T, & Garrett McDowell for taking part. Special Thanks to our listeners, from those who have been wit us since day one, to anyone who is hopping on for the first time today. If you like what you’re listening to make sure to subscribe wherever you get your podcast feeds. Please take a moment to rate and review us on the Apple Podcast app, or rate us on the Spotify app. Reviews and five star ratings help new listeners find us every day, and we greatly appreciate the feedback and support. Check out our website for easy access to our full catalog of shows, with hundreds of hours of free content. You can search the catalog, leave a review and even leave us feedback all from the site. Go to ⁠www.podandthependulum.com⁠ to check it out. If you have the means, consider becoming a patron today and support the show. Patreon members get exclusive full length episodes, audio fan commentaries, exclusive mini-sodes and more. Join today at ⁠patreon.com/podandthependulum⁠. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

This week we tackle one of the best remembered remakes of the 2000s with the directing debut of a young Zac Snyder as he teams up with writer James Gunn for the remake of Dawn of the Dead. Mike Ariel and Devaughn  break down what makes this one so fondly remembered as it manages to update the George A Romero classic but puts its own style and signature on this new movie with an emphasis on action over horror at times. Along with 28 Days Later it sparked the Great “should Zombies run?” debate. Stacked with a fantastic cast and some exhilarating moments and will always be in our hearts for the introduction of the zombie baby. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

This week Mike and Ariel are joined by Tucker (Disenfranchised podcast) to talk about the often maligned official remake of NOTLD, penned by Romero himself, with special effects guru Tom Savini stepping into the director's chair.   Stacked with a cast of horror royalty, and building on more than two decades of modern horror (which the original film helped kickstart), this one deserves the critical reappraisal it has received since its underwhelming release. We talk the updated themes, what worked and where we thought it disappointed at time. This remake does what far too many don't as it manages to honor the spirit of the original while managing to do its own thing and even surprise the audience more than a few times. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The Summer of George hits the dog days of august with a dog of a movie. Romero's last film ever, and the final film in the original Living Dead canon lacks the creative spark of his original trilogy, and is marred even further by shoddy effects, stock characters, and wooden performances. While there's not much to recommend here, Mike, Devaughn and Stephen do their best to keep it entertaining. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

This week Mike, Stephen & Devaughn go back to the beginning with George A Romero's Diary of the Dead. A reboot of sorts of the Living Dead series, Diary finds Romero dabbling in the found footage with mixed results. Clunk performances, unlikable characters and a reliance on CGI mar a solid social commentary on the emerging online media, which is a message that still resonates today. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Mike and Brian are joined again by guest Sarah J Miles to talk George Romero's return to the subgenre he created after a two decade absence with 2005's Land of the Dead. Working with a larger budget and a recognizable cast, Romero increased the scale and scope of his vision with another timely parable of a corrupt world where the walking dead aren't the worst thing humanity had to overcome. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In this episode of The Pod and the Pendulum, host Mike Snoonian and Brian Kieper welcome film blogger Sarah Miles on to delve into the 1985 horror classic Day of the Dead. They explore the film's production challenges, Romero's directorial choices, and Tom Savini's finest work in creating the best looking zombies ever on screen. We discuss the film's lackluster initial reception, and the reappraisal it's earned over the years as a thoughtful critique on the Reagan years, military expansion, and the breakdown of community. If you like what you’re listening to make sure to subscribe wherever you get your podcast feeds. Please take a moment to rate and review us on the Apple Podcast app, or rate us on the Spotify app. Reviews and five star ratings help new listeners find us every day, and we greatly appreciate the feedback and support. Check out our website for easy access to our full catalog of shows, with hundreds of hours of free content. You can search the catalog, leave a review and even leave us feedback all from the site. Go to www.podandthependulum.com to check it out. If you have the means, consider becoming a patron today and support the show. Patreon members get exclusive full length episodes, audio fan commentaries, exclusive mini-sodes and more. Join today at patreon.com/podandthependulum. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

When there's no more room in Hell, it's tome to podcast. The Summer of George continues as Mike is joined by Brian and Nichole to talk about what many consider the greatest zombie movie of all time, George Romero's Dawn of the Dead. We explore its significance in the zombie genre and its cultural commentary on consumerism and societal issues, along with the long road to getting it made. We also talk about why there are so many dan versions of this movie and analyze the portrayal of disability, gender dynamics, and consumerism within the film, while also discussing the impact of Romero's legacy in the horror genre. Pack a lunch folks, it's a big one. If you like what you’re listening to make sure to subscribe wherever you get your podcast feeds. Please take a moment to rate and review us on the Apple Podcast app, or rate us on the Spotify app. Reviews and five star ratings help new listeners find us every day, and we greatly appreciate the feedback and support. Check out our website for easy access to our full catalog of shows, with hundreds of hours of free content. You can search the catalog, leave a review and even leave us feedback all from the site. Go to www.podandthependulum.com to check it out. If you have the means, consider becoming a patron today and support the show. Patreon members get exclusive full length episodes, audio fan commentaries, exclusive mini-sodes and more. Join today at patreon.com/podandthependulum. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

We proclaim this The Summer of George (Romero)! Your favorite horror podcast crew are barricading themselves in the basement in order to break down all six films in Romero's Living Dead series, as well as the 1990 NOTLD remake, and 2004 Dawn remake (which we're sure will be a very chill affair, with no one getting mad about it online).   Mike, Brian, & Stephen are on hand to talk about what is widely considered the birth of both the modern horror movie, and the zombie subgenre itself. While we focus on the way Night hit like a meteor with unsuspecting audiences (including little kids!) on its release, we also explore how the major themes of Night remail relevant today. From the generational clash that's just as dangerous as the dead outside, along with the political overtones as the country became entrenched in Vietnam, to Romero's own circuitous path to becoming the godfater of the zombie subgenre, we explore it all in today's breakdown of NOTLD. If you like what you’re listening to make sure to subscribe wherever you get your podcast feeds. Please take a moment to rate and review us on the Apple Podcast app, or rate us on the Spotify app. Reviews and five star ratings help new listeners find us every day, and we greatly appreciate the feedback and support. Check out our website for easy access to our full catalog of shows, with hundreds of hours of free content. You can search the catalog, leave a review and even leave us feedback all from the site. Go to www.podandthependulum.com to check it out. If you have the means, consider becoming a patron today and support the show. Patreon members get exclusive full length episodes, audio fan commentaries, exclusive mini-sodes and more. Join today at patreon.com/podandthependulum with more than 100 hours of bonus content and growing. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Mike and Devaughn give our crew's rankings for all six Final Destination Movies along with the opening set pieces. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

After almost fifteen years away, Final Destination is back with it's most successful entry to date: Bloodlines! Far be it from us to turn down those sweet, sweet clicks as we tiptoe through the minefields of death and try to keep that pesky Rube Goldberg machine from going off and decapitating us with a handful of Q-tips. If we're not careful will Death will come for this podcast, and wipe out all our previous episodes one by one? That's the risk we are willing to take for our listeners. Mike, Devaughn, Stephen, and Brian are all on hand to talk about why this franchise is so fun, even if we can't take it too serious, why cock piercings are just plain a bad idea, why Grandma Lois' whole plan was a crock, and we ask how come no one seems too broken up when their loved ones are getting offed? We've heard of Irish Wakes, but do the come with frozen margs and trampoline backflips? All this and more!   If you like what you’re listening to make sure to subscribe wherever you get your podcast feeds. Please take a moment to rate and review us on the Apple Podcast app, or rate us on the Spotify app. Reviews and five star ratings help new listeners find us every day, and we greatly appreciate the feedback and support. Check out our website for easy access to our full catalog of shows, with hundreds of hours of free content. You can search the catalog, leave a review and even leave us feedback all from the site. Go to www.podandthependulum.com to check it out. If you have the means, consider becoming a patron today and support the show. Patreon members get exclusive full length episodes, audio fan commentaries, exclusive mini-sodes and more. Join today at patreon.com/podandthependulum. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Mike, Ari and Devaughn find their last wish is granted with a shockingly solid entry to close out the Wishmaster franchise. With solid performances all around and frank discussions on sex and romance, the mental wear and tear of caretaking for a disabled loved one, and a Djinn that finally says, "Maybe I shouldn't be such a dick if I want to actually get my plan to come to fruition" all three of us enjoyed this one. No existential crisis this week dear listener.   If you like what you’re listening to make sure to subscribe wherever you get your podcast feeds. Please take a moment to rate and review us on the Apple Podcast app, or rate us on the Spotify app. Reviews and five star ratings help new listeners find us every day, and we greatly appreciate the feedback and support. Check out our website for easy access to our full catalog of shows, with hundreds of hours of free content. You can search the catalog, leave a review and even leave us feedback all from the site. Go to www.podandthependulum.com to check it out. If you have the means, consider becoming a patron today and support the show. Patreon members get exclusive full length episodes, audio fan commentaries, exclusive mini-sodes and more. Join today at patreon.com/podandthependulum. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Note to the listeners: Due to some computer snafus onMike’s end, the first five minutes of this episode are lost. We join this one as it is already in progress.   This week, Mike and Ariel are on hand to talk Wishmaster 3Beyond the Gates of Hell. While we were warned we might experience something on par with the lows of the worst Wrong Turn franchise, this one is, just sort of there. It’s not the worst thing we’ve ever watched, but it isn’t all thatmemorable either. What is memorable is the mid-episode existential crisis Mike has as he ponders whether eternity would ever get boring, or if there is capitalism in the Afterlife, and if so, does Jesus make people toil in factoriesputting little screws into “Footprints” framed posters? We do talk about the movie a bit, and whether this is the same Djinn as the same movie, ponder why the Djinn doesn’t act a little nicer when granting wishes in order to get the prophecyto come true, and wonder if Angels would ride public transportation. Good times. Mike also makes the argument again that Wishmaster 2 laid the groundwork for the landmark Supreme Court case of Citizens United. All that, plus a little bit of Buffy talk. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

This week Mike and Devaughn are joined by guest Matt Konopka (Killer Horror Critic) for a boys night on the town. Along with our fun-loving, wish-granting Djinn, we're hitting our two favorite hotspots the casino, and jail! Join us for a spirited discussion on how this straight to video sequel might be responsible for the downfall of American democracy, why the Djinn should just follow every good grandma's plan of "you catch more flies with honey than vinegar," and how Mike discovered that goth/punk art thieves that are deadly with a pistol are the kind of lady that leave him weak in the knees. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

This week we're making dreams come true with 1997's throwback creature feature WISHMASTER. Featuring a who's who of horror both in front and behind the camera, the birth of the Djinn makes for a fun romp in the vein of not only 80s splatter horror, but also the classic Universal Monsters of yore. With FX from KNB and appearances from Robert Englund, Tony Todd, Kane Hodder, Reggie Bannister, Ted Raimi, the voice of Angus Scrimm along with an executive production credit by Wes Craven, this is a Dream Team of creatives for a B-movie. Mike, Brian and Devaughn are joined by guest John Seavey of the Half Priced Horror podcast but be careful what you wish for, because dreams can turn to nightmares pretty quick. Also, what's with all the smoking? Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.