Pop That!

Spooky season is in full effect! So, let's dive back in and return to Elm Street! Bringing back elements that made the original entry so stellar, A Nightmare on Elm Street 3 manages to give us more of what we love, while expanding the mythology in authentic and exciting ways. Directed and co-written by up-and-comer Chuck Russell, with screenwriting involving original creator Wes Craven and a young Frank Darabont, this Elm Street entry is not just a keeper, it’s one of the best horror sequels of all time. Grab your Hypnocil, it’s time to Pop That! on A Nightmare on Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors!

Spooky season is in full effect! So, let's dive back in and return to Elm Street! 1985’s A Nightmare on Elm Street 2 served as New Line Cinema’s attempt to establish a new horror franchise with their main villain: Freddy Krueger. And while initial audiences might not have known what to make of this delightfully queer-coded and oddball outing, lucky for us time (and a fresh reappraisal) have turned the film into a bonafide cult classic. Get ready to scream, queen! It’s time to Pop That! on A Nightmare on Elm Street 2: Freddy’s Revenge.

In 1988, budding director Tim Burton brought to life a horror-comedy featuring a unique and memorable foil surrounded by a talented cast of characters, and 1980s children (like me) would never be the same. In this special episode, Chris Calilung and Susan Pickover join the show to pay tribute to the original movie just in time for the release of the belated sequel. Listen in as we break down the goth details, revel in the nerdy facts and alternate castings, and talk about our love for Winona, Catherine, Burton, and, of course, Michael Keaton. So say it once, say it twice, third time’s the charm - it’s time to Pop That! On Tim Burton’s Beetlejuice!

40 years ago, Wes Craven introduced audiences to the first entry in what would become one of the greatest horror movie franchises of all time. Special guests Aaron Haughton and Dave Berman join the show to celebrate the 40th anniversary, as we kick off our tribute to the entire Elm Street series. Stay caffeinated and grab that hall pass, and whatever you do DON’T. FALL. ASLEEP. It’s time to Pop That! on 1984’s A Nightmare on Elm Street.

Almost 30 years ago, the summer movie box office got a shot of adrenaline from Jan de Bont’s Twister. As the new legacy sequel prepares to take audiences by storm (ahem) Chris Calilung joins the show to break down why we love this film and its enduring legacy. Buckle up, and make sure that truck carries full coverage, it’s time to Pop That! on 1996’s TWISTER.

We're baaack! Our 2024 season kicks off with some emotionally resonant, gut-punching Queer cinema. Aaron Haughton joins the show from Viddy Well Film Blog to help us break down 2023's ode to gay ghostly love - All Of Us Strangers. Ghost stories are nothing new in the film world, yet leave it to Andrew Haigh to remix the fantasy elements of this well-worn trope with his quintessential emotional beats. Prepare to be treated to an offbeat, stirring, and fresh spin on spiritual cinematic specters. It’s time to Pop That! on All of Us Strangers.

For our fourth and final Slasher Summer episode this season, Viddy Well Film Blog’s Aaron Haughton returns once more to break down our last “Remake That Rocks”: Chuck Russell’s funhouse sci-fi gross-out The Blob. Russell’s late-80s remake of 1958’s “The Blob” proves the old adage: if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. Acting as a sort of counter-programming to the onslaught of teen slashers and franchise horror movie villains popular during the time period, “The Blob” is content just to scare the hell out of you with a gooey monster and a ridiculously fun premise. It’s time to Pop That on 1988’s The Blob.

For our third Slasher Summer episode this season, Viddy Well Film Blog’s Aaron Haughton returns to break down our next “Remake That Rocks”: David Cronenberg’s mental- and physical-disintegration masterpiece The Fly. Cronenberg’s mid-80s remake of 1958’s “The Fly” is part gothic horror romance, part ethical sci-fi allegory, and features the body horror that is a trademark of the maestro director. Outdoing the original film by leaps and bounds, Cronenberg dares us to care about the main characters before showing us how vanity to be superhuman turns deadly - and stomach churning. It’s time to Pop That on 1986’s The Fly.

For our second Slasher Summer episode this season, Viddy Well Film Blog’s Aaron Haughton is back to break down our next “Remake That Rocks”: John Carpenter’s seminal 1982 masterpiece The Thing.   Carpenter’s remake of the 1950s sci-fi B-movie The Thing From Another World isn’t just one of the greatest remakes of all time; it’s an awe-inspiring creature feature with next-level practical FX, featuring a story with influences that can be felt in horror and science-fiction to this day. What do we do when we can’t trust the people around us, or even our own bodies? It’s time to Pop That on 1982’s The Thing.

We're baaaack! We're relaunching Pop That! Podcast with a new logo and a fresh attitude, so buckle up, listeners.  For our first episode back, Aaron Haughton joins the show from Viddy Well Film Blog. That's right, it's our seasonal tradition: Slasher Summer. This year, we're breaking down the best horror remakes of all time, starting with Philip Kaufman's 1978 version of Invasion of the Body Snatchers.   Kaufman’s late 70s remake of 1956’s Body Snatchers is a meditation on post-war paranoia that manages to scare up one helluva punch in terms of story and characters, resonating even by modern standards. How do we survive the inevitability of change, when adaption means losing who we are? It’s time to Pop That on 1978’s Invasion of the Body Snatchers.

Remember the days when summer camp meant death by machete and not death by pandemic? 40 years ago, the granddaddy of all slasher films debuted, and summer camp shenanigans would never be the same. Aaron Haughton joins the show to POP THAT on Friday the 13th (2009)!  PART 12 of a 12-PART SPECIAL (SLASHER SUMMER 2020)

Remember the days when summer camp meant death by machete and not death by pandemic? 40 years ago, the granddaddy of all slasher films debuted, and summer camp shenanigans would never be the same. Aaron Haughton joins the show to POP THAT on 2003's Freddy Vs. Jason! PART 11 of a 12-PART SPECIAL (SLASHER SUMMER 2020)

Remember the days when summer camp meant death by machete and not death by pandemic? 40 years ago, the granddaddy of all slasher films debuted, and summer camp shenanigans would never be the same. Aaron Haughton joins the show to POP THAT on 2001's Jason X! PART 10 of a 12-PART SPECIAL (SLASHER SUMMER 2020)

Remember the days when summer camp meant death by machete and not death by pandemic? 40 years ago, the granddaddy of all slasher films debuted, and summer camp shenanigans would never be the same. Aaron Haughton joins the show to POP THAT on 1993's Jason Goes to Hell - The Final Friday! PART 9 of a 12-PART SPECIAL (SLASHER SUMMER 2020)

Remember the days when summer camp meant death by machete and not death by pandemic? 40 years ago, the granddaddy of all slasher films debuted, and summer camp shenanigans would never be the same. Aaron Haughton joins the show to POP THAT on 1989's Friday the 13th Part VIII - Jason Takes Manhattan! (Kinda. Sorta.) PART 8 of a 12-PART SPECIAL (SLASHER SUMMER 2020)

Remember the days when summer camp meant death by machete and not death by pandemic? 40 years ago, the granddaddy of all slasher films debuted, and summer camp shenanigans would never be the same. Aaron Haughton joins the show to POP THAT on 1988's Friday the 13th Part VII - The New Blood!  PART 7 of a 12-PART SPECIAL (SLASHER SUMMER 2020)

Remember the days when summer camp meant death by machete and not death by pandemic? 40 years ago, the granddaddy of all slasher films debuted, and summer camp shenanigans would never be the same. Aaron Haughton joins the show to POP THAT on 1986's Friday the 13th Part VI - Jason Lives! PART 6 of a 12-PART SPECIAL (SLASHER SUMMER 2020)

Remember the days when summer camp meant death by machete and not death by pandemic? 40 years ago, the granddaddy of all slasher films debuted, and summer camp shenanigans would never be the same. Aaron Haughton joins the show to POP THAT on 1985's Friday the 13th Part V: A New Beginning!  PART 5 of a 12-PART SPECIAL (SLASHER SUMMER 2020)

Remember the days when summer camp meant death by machete and not death by pandemic? 40 years ago, the granddaddy of all slasher films debuted, and summer camp shenanigans would never be the same. Aaron Haughton joins the show to POP THAT on 1984's Friday the 13th: The Final Chapter!  PART 4 of a 12-PART SPECIAL (SLASHER SUMMER 2020)

Remember the days when summer camp meant death by machete and not death by pandemic? 40 years ago, the granddaddy of all slasher films debuted, and summer camp shenanigans would never be the same. Aaron Haughton joins the show to POP THAT on Friday the 13th Part 3!  PART 3 of a 12-PART SPECIAL (SLASHER SUMMER 2020)