Tagged: podcast

We talk about its odd production history (including star Christopher Stryker’s tragic death before release), the bizarrely charming opening trauma, and how the film mashes together slasher tropes with “teens cause a death” and light Last House/I Spit On Your Grave vibes. From Dickens and his outcast crew to the incoherent football-game detours, swamp “slime” gathering, and a prank that turns into an unsettling assault, we break down the movie’s tonal whiplash and why the inciting incident arrives way too late. We also cover the rushed revenge ending, the goofy cover-up plan, and the final twist, plus call out Christopher Cousins (Breaking Bad) and Daniel Beer (Creepshow 2).

This week, we discuss Craig’s pick, A24’s 2024 horror film Heretic, noting its strong reviews, the writers’ long theology research, and how it rewards rewatching. We praise the film’s claustrophobic, dimly lit first half as Hugh Grant’s Reed lures Mormon missionaries Sister Barnes (Sophie Thatcher) and Sister Paxton (Chloe East) into a polite but escalating philosophical trap, using arguments against religion while the women prove smart and resourceful. We debate plot contrivances, Reed’s improvised psychopathy, and the intentionally ambiguous ending that raises existential questions without taking a firm stance.

Despite an “insane” cast packed with recognizable comedians and performers, we talk about why the movie tanked, why it feels plotless, and how its nonstop juvenile gags, dated stereotypes, and heavy improvisation don’t land for us. We dig into behind-the-scenes factors—director Alfred Sole admitting he didn’t know how to direct comedy, mismatched performance styles, and the title change from Thursday the 12th to Pandemonium—and we walk through key bits like the opening javelin kill, the cheer-camp setup, and the final reveal.

We talk about the film’s odd tone, slow pacing, and the Texas Chain Saw Massacre-style setup of Farmer Vincent’s famous smoked meats, plus the bizarre “garden” reveal where victims are buried up to their necks.

We discuss how the sequel goes meta by treating the first movie as a film-within-the-film, allowing recasts and retcons, and how the movie leans into extreme, Terrifier-style gore with a huge rave massacre and creative kills. We break down the updated creature designs—especially Owl as a mastermind and Tigger’s Freddy-inspired vibe—plus Christopher Robin’s added backstory involving a mad scientist, kidnapped children, and Pooh revealed as his brother Billy. We also cover the ending, mid-credits tease of Pooh and Piglet returning, and the franchise’s planned crossover “cinematic universe.”

We talk about why Cage is unfairly maligned, how this film captures Lovecraft’s bleak, unknowable cosmic horror, and why the movie’s cinematography and surreal color effects are such a standout. From the meteor hitting the family farm to the contaminated well water, warped time, and terrifying body-horror transformations, we break down what worked, what felt unnecessary (including some exposition), and why the film still lands as a gorgeous, disturbing ride. We also compare story vs. movie elements, discuss the ending’s lingering dread, and touch on director Richard Stanley’s comeback and hoped-for Lovecraft trilogy.