Certified Forgotten

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Matt Donato and Matt Monagle celebrate the independent horror films that RottenTomatoes critics forgot to review.

certifiedforgotten


    • May 31, 2025 LATEST EPISODE
    • weekly NEW EPISODES
    • 1h 4m AVG DURATION
    • 136 EPISODES

    Ivy Insights

    The Certified Forgotten podcast, hosted by Matt Donato and Matt Monagle, is a must-listen for any horror fan looking to discover unseen and underappreciated gems in the genre. The hosts bring their expertise and passion for horror to every episode, providing an entertaining and educational experience. With a unique concept and diverse range of guests, this podcast offers a fresh perspective on horror movies that sets it apart from others in the genre.

    One of the best aspects of The Certified Forgotten podcast is the depth of knowledge and enthusiasm that Donato and Monagle bring to each episode. As experts in their craft, they provide insightful analysis and commentary on the movies they discuss. Their love for horror shines through in their discussions, making it easy for listeners to engage with their enthusiasm. Additionally, the inclusion of diverse voices and perspectives adds richness to the conversations and allows for a more comprehensive exploration of the genre.

    Another strength of this podcast is its ability to introduce listeners to lesser-known horror films. The hosts focus on uncovering hidden gems that may have been overlooked or forgotten by mainstream audiences. This provides an exciting opportunity for fans to discover new favorites within the genre. The selection of movies covered is always unique and varied, ensuring that each episode offers something fresh and unexpected.

    While there are many positive aspects to The Certified Forgotten podcast, one potential downside is its narrow focus on horror movies. While this may be appealing to die-hard fans of the genre, it could alienate listeners who are not as familiar or interested in horror films. However, for those who enjoy horror or are looking to delve deeper into the genre, this podcast offers a wealth of content and insight.

    In conclusion, The Certified Forgotten podcast is a standout show that brings unseen horror movies to the masses with enthusiasm and expertise. With its unique concept, diverse range of guests, and deep love for the genre, it provides both entertainment and education for fans old and new. Whether you're a seasoned horror aficionado or just dipping your toes into the genre, this podcast is a fantastic resource for discovering hidden gems and expanding your knowledge of horror cinema.



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    Latest episodes from Certified Forgotten

    Terrified with Dorina aka "DJ Bruja"

    Play Episode Listen Later May 31, 2025 77:46


    Before 2023's masterfully wicked When Evil Lurks, Argentine filmmaker Demián Rugna terrified horror audiences with ... well, Terrified. We're joined on the podcast by composer, DJ, and longtime horror advocate Dorina — known to her followers as "DJ Bruja" — to discuss the film that came before Rugna's When Evil Lurks. Dorina channels her Mexican roots to talk about American horror versus Spanish-language horror, with a magnifying glass on Terrified. Evil's been lurking throughout Rugna's entire catalog, and someone on the podcast might even think Terrified has a leg up on When Evil Lurks.

    Uncertified: Final Destination Bloodlines

    Play Episode Listen Later May 23, 2025 32:34


    You couldn't find two different breeds of horror fans than Certified Forgotten hosts Matt Donato and Matt Monagle. So, how did they end up giving Final Destination Bloodlines the same score? In this week's Uncertified episode, the Matts talk about their vastly different experiences with the Final Destination franchise and how that informed their Bloodlines reactions. People are saying it's one of the best in the franchise ... [whispers] and people are right.

    Monster Man with B.J. Colangelo

    Play Episode Listen Later May 16, 2025 72:54


    Welcome to the 3-timers club, B.J. Colangelo! The intrepid co-host of This Ends At Prom and /Film staple returns with a 2000s horror comedy that is, for better and worse, a cultural time capsule: Monster Man. Misogyny runs rampant in this wannabe direct-to-video American Pie sequel, but to a comically exaggerated degree that shines a light on social norms of the period. Then the Joy Ride and Texas Chain Saw vibes take over, with eyeball chili and corpses crushed into ground beef. It's a raunchy caricature sure to give 2000s kids PTSD, but weirdly enough, and because behaviors are so significantly overstated, that's ultimately the film's "charm."

    Uncertified: The Ugly Stepsister

    Play Episode Listen Later May 9, 2025 31:38


    Think you've seen every possible version of the Cinderella story? Think again. In this episode of the Uncertified podcast series, Matt Donato and Matthew Monagle discuss Emilie Blichfeldt's The Ugly Stepsister, a mashup of regency tropes and body horror that has earned comparisons to The Substance. But whereas Coralie Fargeat's film leans into the grotesque, you may just find that The Ugly Stepsister is a surprisingly gentle take on unachievable body standards.

    Pale Blood with Matthew Jackson

    Play Episode Listen Later May 2, 2025 70:14


    Direct-to-video. Erotic thriller. Nineties vampires. Wings Hauser. These are just a few phrases we could use to describe Pale Blood, V. V. Dachin Hsu and Michael W. Leighton's underground vampire movie. Some of these descriptions — or maybe even all of them — would be enough to get the average horror fan to add Pale Blood to their watchlist. But is there more to the movie than nineties nostalgia? That, and so much more, is the focus of this episode with film critic and The Scares That Shaped Us host Matthew Jackson.

    Uncertified: Sinners

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 26, 2025 36:28


    It's Sinners time, baby. Ryan Coogler's 1930s vampire flick is one of the year's buzziest horror movies for a reason, but does it live up to the hype? The answer is yes, to varying degrees. Monagle loves it. Donato likes it. This episode discusses what the film does so tremendously right (musical themes) and where it might drag for some (Donato has pacing issues). Listen to this episode to hear the Matts give their flowers to Sinners, which are all absolutely deserved.

    Blood Punch with Megan Norman

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 18, 2025 60:49


    Is there anything more tantalizing than time loop horror? In this episode of Certified Forgotten, our hosts are joined by Megan Norman, Events Coordinator and host with Crypticon Seattle, to discuss the fun of being a later-in-life horror fan, the importance of regional conventions, and the heady horror-comedy of Madellaine Paxson's Blood Punch. 

    norman events coordinator blood punch crypticon seattle certified forgotten
    Uncertified: Ash

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 11, 2025 35:41


    This week's Uncertified episode tackles Flying Lotus' new sci-fi horror freakout, Ash. In theaters now, and coming to Shudder soon enough, the multi-hyphenate creator tells a cosmic horror tale heavily influenced by genre video games. Donato's a harder sell on space-set scariness, while Monagle couldn't be more of an Alien slash Event Horizon fanboy. Where will they land on Flying Lotus' "smaller budget, big idea" thriller starring Eiza González and Aaron Paul?

    Shatter Death with Aimee Kuge (Cannibal Mukbang)

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 4, 2025 68:40


    You may think you've seen every flavor of zombie movie, but you'd be wrong. Aimee Kuge joins Certified Forgotten to talk about the flesh-eating fun of her new film, Cannibal Mukbang, and the bleak undead nightmare that is Scooter McCrae's Shatter Dead.

    Uncertified: The Rule of Jenny Pen

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 28, 2025 31:44


    Who rules? James Ashcroft's The Rule of Jenny Pen rules. In this episode of our Uncertified podcast series, Matt Monagle and Matt Donato discuss Shudder's latest release, where pits Geoffrey Rush against John Lithgow for retirement home supremacy. At times uncomfortable, at times unforgettable, The Rule of Jenny Pen is a fascinating mash-up of elder horror themes and concepts.

    The Battery with Michelle Swope

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 22, 2025 68:11


    When you're an independent film made for less than $10,000, it doesn't matter if horror fans consider you one of the great zombie movies of the 21st Century: you're still well below the radar of the average moviegoer. In this episode of Certified Forgotten, journalist Michelle Swope discusses her lifelong love of horror and her particular appreciation for Jeremy Gardner's The Battery.

    Uncertified: The Best Horror Movies Of SXSW 2025 (w/ Meagan Navarro)

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 17, 2025 34:49


    In this week's episode, we're swapping an "M" for an "M" to keep the formula correct. Certified Forgotten's Matt Donato covered South by Southwest 2025 from start to finish, but Matthew Monagle did not. So, Donato called in backup to help with an entire episode dedicated to the horror films of SXSW. Please welcome back Bloody Disgusting's Meagan Navarro, one of the tippy-top horror journalists working today. Listen in to hear about all the rad horror titles you should keep an eye out for in the future!

    Uncertified: SXSW 2025 Special

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 10, 2025 32:39


    We're doing something a little different this week for Certified Forgotten! It's South by Southwest time for the Matts, as they check out the slate of cinematic offerings at Austin's biggest film festival. In honor of SXSW, Donato and Monagle have picked some of their favorite festival titles, old and upcoming. It's easy for festival films to fall through the distribution cracks—hopefully our picks don't suffer that same fate.

    south southwest sxsw donato certified forgotten
    Uncertified: The Monkey

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 28, 2025 35:24


    If you're a longtime Certified Forgotten listener, you know how co-hosts Matt Donato and Matthew Monagle feel about Oz Perkins. They've debated The Blackcoat's Daughter, reviewed Longlegs, and have made their stances known. So where does The Monkey fit into their discussion? It's the least "Oz Perkins" of any Oz Perkins movie, much to Donato's pleasure. The question is, will this ultra-gory, weirdly humorous, more "Midnighter" Stephen King adaptation also work for Monagle?

    daughter monkeys donato oz perkins matt donato certified forgotten matthew monagle
    Retribution with Elric Kane (The Dead Thing)

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 21, 2025 69:01


    It's a privilege and a shame that we can cover a Kiyoshi Kurosawa title on the podcast. How is Lionsgate burying a Kurosawa movie that gets 0 Rotten Tomatoes reviews upon release and only 2 more over the last decade and a half? That's the conversation O.G. horror podcaster and filmmaker Elric Kane starts on this week's podcast. We talk about Kane's new haunting release The Dead Thing (now on Shudder), and how Kurosawa's Retribution is a strange cousin (as well as Kurosawa's legacy). Dating apps, ghosts, and bones y'all!

    Spoonful of Sugar with Vannah Taylor

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 14, 2025 65:32


    No, we're not talking about Mary Poppins. This week's episode highlights an underseen Shudder original that delves into the surreal, sinister, and psychosexual. Mercedes Bryce Morgan's Spoonful of Sugar is a fairy tale that gets nasty in multiple ways, about a babysitter and family who are never what they seem. We welcome horror journalist Vannah Taylor (Fangoria, Moviejawn) as our esteemed guest, who thinks you're due for a dose of Morgan's filmic medication. Journey down the rabbit hole as we chat about hallucinations, erotic thrillers, and so much more.

    Ghostwatch with Kate Siegel (V/H/S/Beyond)

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 7, 2025 60:55


    In this very special episode of the Certified Forgotten podcast, Matt Monagle and Matt Donato are joined by actor and filmmaker Kate Siegel (Midnight Mass, Hush) who goes behind-the-scenes on the making of her V/H/S/Beyond segment "Stowaway" and then kicks off a fun discussion about Lesley Manning's Ghostwatch. What starts with references to The Human Centipede ends with a call to get active in your community, and we wouldn't have it any other way.

    Uncertified: Companion

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 31, 2025 31:32


    When is a spoiler not a spoiler? In Drew Hancock's Companion, one of the most important parts of the story is introduced in most of the marketing material, which begs the question as to whether you can talk about the movie without talking about... well, you know. In this episode of Certified Forgotten's Uncertified series, Matt Monagle and Matt Donato tackle this and other pressing questions tied to Companion. Here's a non-spoiler alert: one of the Matts absolutely loved it, but you'll have to listen to find out which one.

    companion matt donato certified forgotten
    Uncertified: Grafted

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 24, 2025 33:18


    Who's ready to talk about a movie about body horror and beauty that made headlines this week? No, the other one! In this episode of the Uncertified podcast series, Matthew Monagle and Matt Donato talk about Sasha Rainbow's Grafted, a New Zealand horror film that, like many upcoming body horror releases, will get comparisons to The Substance but actually deserves them, too.

    Rawhead Rex with Jordan Downey (V/H/S/Beyond)

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 17, 2025 68:21


    Who better to discuss a film like Rawhead Rex than the current king of low-budget horror? In this episode of the Certified Forgotten podcast, we're joined by Jordan Downey - co-writer and director of The Head Hunter, ThanksKilling, and the opening segment in the Critics' Choice Awards-nominated V/H/S/Beyond - to talk about his favorite Clive Barker adaptation - or at least, his favorite Clive Barker adaptation where an ancient Irish demon gives a deacon a golden shower. 

    Uncertified: The Damned

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 10, 2025 33:21


    A slow-burn period piece with atonal music and undertones of guilt? You heard right, it's time for the first Monagle Movie of 2025! In this episode of Uncertified, Matts Donato and Monagle discuss Thordur Palsson's The Damned, a horror film set in the Arctic circle in the 1800s. Listen now to learn why it's a perfect companion piece for films like The Wind or AMC's The Terror.

    CF94: Entrance (w/ David Dastmalchian)

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 3, 2025 57:45


    New year, new ambitions, same Certified Forgotten. We're ringing in 2025 with an absolute dream of a guest: David Dastmalchian. We're double-dipping on this episode because podcast fans would be correct to remember we covered 2012's Entrance with Jackson Stewart. We don't see that as an issue — it's pretty rad that multiple guests would want to champion such a "small" film. Plus, we have plenty to chat with David about, considering he's up for a Saturn award, releasing comic books, and appearing on goblin-led podcasts atop his fantastic acting career.

    CF93: Tammy and the T-Rex (w/ Eric Goldman)

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 27, 2024 75:53


    It was only a matter of time before Tammy and the T-Rex found its way onto Certified Forgotten. Part romantic comedy, part mad scientist experiment, part gory survival-horror flick? Paul Walker's brain ends up inside a gigantic dinosaur prop that lusts after Denise Richards? Longtime entertainment journalist Eric Goldman brings us back to the 90s with this absurd blast from the past, emphasizing this movie as a total blast. It's unquestionably a Donato movie, but is it a Monagle movie also? Tune in to find out.

    Uncertified: The Sacrifice Game

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 20, 2024 32:24


    We're turning back the clock on Christmas Horror and chatting about Jennifer Wexler's The Sacrifice Game. Why, you ask? With these Uncertified episodes, we're giving "recent" a longer leash when we say we'll highlight recent releases. The Sacrifice Game happens to be one of Donato's favorite Christmas Horror titles released in the last few years, and 'tis the season, so why not? Killers, demons, and bloody dinner parties await in Wexler's fantastic sophomore feature.

    CF92: Drive Thru (w/ Julieann Stipidis)

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 13, 2024 71:15


    Are you craving a greasy, sloppy bite of fast-food horror sleaze? This week's episode travels back to the bygone era of 2007, which feels like an alternate universe of nu-metal and poor behaviors. Horror journalist Julieann Stipidis brings The Matts what she describes as one of her "Holy Trinity of Bad Aughts Movies," ready to champion Horny the Clown. Kitchen deaths, demonic mascots, and inappropriateness galore await whoever dares watch Horny's Hella-Burger massacre — one of the most 2000s-ass slashers you probably haven't seen.

    Uncertified: Thanksgiving Special

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 30, 2024 33:15


    This week's episode is a bit of holiday fun — a chance to get to know your Matts a tad better. There's no single movie focus, no prime directive. We're just chatting about things we're thankful for this year as horror fans. It's an episode of shared reflection, highlighting what's excited us most in 2024. Listen along as you lay on your couch in a food coma, stuffed like yesterday's turkey.

    Uncertified: Heretic

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 8, 2024 31:23


    Sure, monsters and demons are terrifying, but is there anything quite as scary in 2024 as a conversation about religion? In this episode of Uncertified, Matt Monagle and Matt Donato discuss Scott Beck and Bryan Woods's Heretic, a parlor horror film with a great central performance by Hugh Grant. Come for the religious scares, stay for the crisis of faith. 

    Uncertified: Smile 2

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 2, 2024 33:13


    Skye Riley embarks on a comeback tour for the ages — but is it worth the price of admission? Co-hosts Matt Monagle and Matt Donato are covering Parker Finn's sequel Smile 2 in this week's bite-sized Uncertified episode. Is it one of the best horror movies of 2024? Does Naomi Scott give a powerhouse performance as a possessed pop star? You're damn right. The Matts share an olive branch of agreement over Smile 2, and they'd love to tell you why.

    CF91: Scary Movie (w/ Rocco T. Thompson)

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 25, 2024 74:23


    No, not THAT Scary Movie. This week's guest episode covers 1991's Scary Movie starring John Hawkes. Yes, THAT John Hawkes. The Matts bring in horror journalist and podcaster Rocco T. Thompson to discuss an underseen entry into the haunted attraction horror film canon. Plus, Rocco and Monagle address Scary Movie as a celebrated indie product of Austin's horror scene. Nothin' better than cozy regional horror.

    Uncertified: Strange Darling

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 15, 2024 32:48


    In this week's bite-sized podcast episode, Matt Donato and Matt Monagle discuss J.T. Mollner's Strange Darling. Is it a brilliant deconstruction of tired slasher tropes? Or a pretentious mashup of screenwriting tricks? The answer to both is a resounding yes, and, at the risk of spoiling the episode, it's exactly that ambition and playfulness that makes Strange Darling one of the best horror films of the year.

    Uncertified: V/H/S/Beyond

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 4, 2024 34:28


    What better way to celebrate Matt Monagle and Matt Donato's return from Fantastic Fest than with a Fantastic Fest release? In this episode of our Uncertified series, Monagle and Donato discuss V/H/S/Beyond, the latest (and potentially greatest) entry in the V/H/S series that features new films from filmmakers Justin Long, Kate Siegel, and Jordan Downey.

    Uncertified: Out Come The Wolves

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 21, 2024 31:59


    In this week's short-and-sweet podcast episode, The Matts discuss Adam MacDonald's Out Come The Wolves. It's a bit like Backcountry 2.0, except instead of a bear, it's a pack of hungry wolves. MacDonald's making a name as a wilderness horror director, which neither Certified Forgotten host sees as an issue. What do we think will be MacDonald's next animal of choice? Surely he'll at least complete a trilogy of "When Animals Attack" indies.

    CF90: 555 (w/ Sean Abley)

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 13, 2024 70:04


    Here at Certified Forgotten, we're sometimes surprised to find specific movies qualify for our "10-or-less reviews on Rotten Tomatoes" rule — 555 is not one of those titles. Joining us this week is Sean Abley (co-creator of Queer Horror: A Film Guide), who brings with him a piece of shot-on-video Chicago horror history. Wally Koz's microbudget procedural features a murderous necrophile, infamous enough to be included in the Sterling Memorial Library at the Yale University Library. Yes, a movie with fake-as-hell beheadings and extreme overacting is shelved in a Yale collection. Listen in to find out why.

    chicago yale rotten tomatoes sean abley certified forgotten
    Uncertified: Blink Twice

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 6, 2024 32:32


    In this week's mini-episode of Matt on Matt podcasting action, your Certified Forgotten co-hosts share their thoughts on Zoë Kravitz's rageful debut, Blink Twice. How did she sneak a rape-revenge movie into theaters with mainstream appeal? By wrapping it in a Glass Onion meets Get Out meets The Hunt vision — and casting Channing Tatum helps. But this isn't a movie about him. Blink Twice is an indictment of cancel culture's failings from a female perspective, which Kravitz delivers with haymakers from Naomi Ackie and the women around her. It's a battle of the sexes while trapped in paradise and one hell of a coming out for the actress-turned-filmmaker.

    CF89: Death Spa (w/Heather O. Petrocelli)

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 30, 2024 75:19


    Want a killer workout? Then come on down to Michael Fischa's Death Spa, where the equipment is automated and only a handful of people (just a handful!) are killed by the ghost in the machine. Heather O. Petrocelli, author of Queer for Fear: Horror Film and the Queer Spectator, joins Certified Forgotten to talk about '80s horror, queer film audiences, and the fading art of the movie theater experience.

    Uncertified: Alien: Romulus

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 23, 2024 37:05


    Matthew Monagle loves the Alien franchise. Matt Donato loves Fede Álvarez. But did either of them love Alien: Romulus? Listen and find out! In this week's episode of Uncertified, Matthew and Matt tackle the new Alien prequel from Álvarez, which is gorgeous, bloody, and full of creative decisions that, ah, might've looked better on paper.

    CF88: Bruiser (w/ Adam Cesare)

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 16, 2024 80:38


    Can you believe a George A. Romero title fits our "10 critic reviews or less" criteria for Certified Forgotten coverage? Neither can we! But here we are. Beloved horror author Adam Cesare of Clown in a Cornfield fame brings us another 2000s curiosity, this one by the master of zombie cinema himself, Bruiser. We'll talk about when movies felt like movies, why Jason Flemyng deserves more leading roles, and Peter Stormare doing Peter Stormare things. Come get Kentucky fried with us in this week's episode!

    Uncertified: Cuckoo

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 9, 2024 31:56


    This week's Uncertified episode is a house divided. Join the Matts as they try to stave off madness when discussing Tilman Singer's Cuckoo. Neon hopes to continue their hot streak of horror releases with an out-there Alpine tale that announces Singer in a big way. Hunter Schafer and Dan Stevens star in this kooky creature feature shrouded in mountainside mystery from a surrealist filmmaker who plays by his own rules. It's a weird one, ya'll. The question is, whose side are you on between your hosts Donato and Monagle?

    CF87: Down (w/ Jessica Scott)

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 2, 2024 70:17


    It's one killer elevator, Michael, how much could it cost? In this week's episode of Certified Forgotten, we're joined by horror critic and cosplayer Jessica Scott (Fangoria, Inverse) to talk about Dick Maas's Down (aka The Shaft), a wild mashup of '80s scripts and '90s excess -- and, given its scheduled 2001 premiere date, perhaps the worst-timed movie in the history of Hollywood.

    Uncertified: New Life

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 26, 2024 32:09


    When Matt Donato wrote his midyear article about the best horror of 2024, the one title that caught everyone by surprise was John Rosman's New Life. But you should know better than to doubt the Donato. In this week's episode of Uncertified, we break down why New Life offers a compelling mix of big ideas in a small box, and how it underscores the very important difference between trauma and grief onscreen.

    Uncertified: Longlegs

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 19, 2024 46:45


    Matt Monagle's favorite horror movie is The Blackcoat's Daughter, and he's been a defender of Oz Perkins since the filmmaker's beginnings. Matt Donato has not liked any of Oz Perkins' first three movies to varying degrees. Finally, at long last, the Matts talk about The Great Perkins Divide and, more importantly, their thoughts on Longlegs. Will there finally be peace amongst podcast cohosts? Can Daddy Longlegs be the first "Both Matts Approved" Perkins film?

    Uncertified: Infested

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 12, 2024 31:16


    Spiders. It had to be goddamn spiders. Big ol' spiders, and lots of 'em, are the subject of this week's Uncertified conversation. Listen to the Matts as they address their differing opinions on Sébastien Vanicek's full-throttle arachnid nightmare Infested, available now on Shudder. Some call it the best spider-focused horror movie since Arachnophobia (that's Matt D.). Do you agree?

    CF86: Landlocked (w/ Richard Whittaker)

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 6, 2024 77:15


    This week's main episode traps the Matts and returning gust Richard Whittaker in a home video purgatory. Paul Owens' Landlocked repurposes the filmmaker's home movies to examine grief, liminal spaces, and being stuck in the past. It's an interesting slow burn that never lets us know what plane of existence the film chooses, becoming an endearing guessing game. Owens' family affair makes the most of no-budget restrictions, blending usages of found footage and traditional narratives to increasingly disturbing degrees.

    Uncertified: Exhuma

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 28, 2024 30:35


    In this week's minisode, The Matts chat about what they agree is one of the year's best horror films (so far). Jang Jae-hyun's Exhuma is available now on Shudder, climbing to the top of the streamer's 2024 catalog despite including bangers like Stopmotion and Infested. South Korea flexes its horror muscles yet again in a culturally rich story that Matt Donato wrote: "bobs and weaves in ways American exorcism stories couldn't fathom." High praise for Matt 1 or Matt 2 (depending on your at-home ranking).

    CF85: Livid (w/ Jenn Wexler)

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 21, 2024 68:28


    How many genres is too many genres? For Julien Maury and Alexandre Bustillo, the sky itself is the limit. Writer-director Jenn Wexler (The Ranger, The Sacrifice Game) joins Certified Forgotten to discuss her path through the film industry and Maury and Bustillo's Livid, a vampire/fantasy/steampunk/slasher/something that left an indelible mark.

    Uncertified: Chime

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 14, 2024 29:42


    Japanese director Kiyoshi Kurosawa is without a doubt one of the most talented horror filmmakers of the 21st century. But would you sign up for a new NFT service just to watch his latest 45-minute movie? Matt Donato and Matt Monagle did, and they're here to tell you that Chime is, shockingly, very worth the effort.

    CF84: III: The Ritual

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 7, 2024 64:47


    In this latest episode of the podcast, the Matts look into an existential void to celebrate Matt Monagle's birthday! No, seriously. Mr. Monagle has chosen this episode's title flick, and it couldn't be more of a "Monagle Movie" (broody period vibes, religious overtones, Silent Hill parallels, slow-burn devastation). There will be horror genre talk in the back half like always, but to start, both Matts get real about getting older, their careers, and what wisdom they've learned with age. Hell yeah.

    Uncertified: In A Violent Nature

    Play Episode Listen Later May 31, 2024 30:21


    If you've seen one slasher, have you really seen them all? Chris Nash's In A Violent Nature begs to differ, which is the topic of our latest Uncertified conversation. Imagine Friday the 13th shot exclusively over Jason's shoulder. It's an experimental take on undead killers stalking victims through the wilderness, sure to divide audiences with its abstract horror approach. Let's discuss!

    CF83: Wrong Turn 2: Dead End (w/ Ariel Powers-Schaub)

    Play Episode Listen Later May 24, 2024 72:00


    What does it mean to be the best movie in the Wrong Turn franchise? In our latest podcast episode, The Matts are joined by horror journalist and author Ariel Powers-Schaub, whose upcoming book (Millennial Nasties: Analyzing a Decade of Brutal Horror Film Violence) examines the many films in the torture porn movement -- including Joe Lynch's cult classic Wrong Turn 2: Dead End.

    Uncertified: Abigail

    Play Episode Listen Later May 17, 2024 31:17


    In the first episode of Uncertified, Certified Forgotten's new series of 30-minute movie discussions, Matt Monagle and Matt Donato take on Radio Silence's Abigail. Does it get the balance between horror and comedy just right? Or does it stumble in its goal of being the best horror-comedy about ballerina vampires since, well, ever?

    radio silence matt donato certified forgotten
    CF82: When A Stranger Calls Back

    Play Episode Listen Later May 10, 2024 68:23


    In horror's illustrious history of films built around unwanted phone calls, When A Stranger Calls Back might be the oddest. This week's episode is about stalkers, sequels, final girls, and ... ventriloquism? We welcome horror journalist Gem Seddon (Vulture, Fangoria) onto the show for a discussion about a franchise continuation that is most unexpected. Our latest episode was destined to happen ever since Gem passionately wrote about When A Stranger Calls Back for Certified Forgotten: The Website, so it's a pleasure to finally make this conversation happen.

    gem fangoria stranger calls when a stranger calls back

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