The Happening (2008): Straitjacket Talk

We dive into The Happening (2008)—M. Night Shyamalan’s infamous eco-thriller starring Mark Wahlberg, Zooey Deschanel, John Leguizamo—to ask: is it secretly camp or truly the worst horror movie ever? Kevin, Nathan, and Gill roast the awkward dialogue (“What? No.” “Why you eyeing my lemon drink?”), break down the lawnmower scene, baffling plot logic, the box office vs. budget, and how slick marketing + a killer trailer sold a stinker. Expect a funny, spoiler-filled movie review, retrospective, and deep-dive analysis touching Rotten Tomatoes, Letterboxd, Shyamalan’s career (Signs, Sixth Sense, The Village, Old), and whether this deserves “so bad it’s good” status…Your hosts- Kevin, Nathan, and GillProduced by NathanCheck out the video format of this episode on YouTubeFollow Straitjacket Talk on InstagramFollow Straitjacket Talk on Letterboxd-Kevin (KevWrapt)Nathan (NathanEdits)Gill (livingdeadgill)Follow Gill on Goodreads“Dismember” Theme Music by Nathan

Stuck in the “elevator to hell,” the Mouths of Madness crew (Kevin, Dan, Bearclaw & Logan) crash into Episode 48 to review Jason Goes to Hell: The Final Friday (1993)—the IP tug-of-war entry where Kane Hodder returns, Creighton Duke steals scenes, the Necronomicon pops up, and that infamous Freddy vs. Jason grabbing the mask tease. Expect generational takes (’80s vs 2000s), best kills (camp scene, melting cop), budget/box-office talk, why New Line ditched “Friday the 13th” in the title, and a brutally honest verdict on lore changes, body-hopping Jason, and whether the gore FX can save a franchise detour. If you love slasher history, ’90s horror, and unfiltered banter, grab Jason’s beating heart (figuratively), hit play, and dive into the madness with us—from St. Peter’s gate… straight down.Your Hosts- Kevin, Dan, Bearclaw, and Logan. Produced by Nathan. What are your thoughts on our episode? Email Us- [email protected] The Madness!InstagramYouTubeFacebookTikTokLetterboxdMerch“We All Go Mad” Theme Music by Nathan

We revisit The Crow (1994)—Alex Proyas’ gothic revenge classic starring Brandon Lee—to ask if it’s still iconic in 2025. We dive into the tragedy and legacy, the Detroit Devil’s Night setting, cult status, graphic novel roots (James O’Barr), unforgettable soundtrack (The Cure, Nine Inch Nails, Stone Temple Pilots), and why Eric Draven remains a timeless antihero. Expect a fun, spoiler-light review & analysis with quotes, best kills, style/cinematography talk, and how the film compares to sequels/remakes. If you love ’90s cult films, goth aesthetics, comic-to-film adaptations, or Brandon Lee tributes—this one’s for you!Your hosts- Kevin, Nathan, and GillProduced by NathanCheck out the video format of this episode on YouTubeFollow Straitjacket Talk on InstagramFollow Straitjacket Talk on Letterboxd-Kevin (KevWrapt)Nathan (NathanEdits)Gill (livingdeadgill)Follow Gill on Goodreads“Dismember” Theme Music by Nathan

Digging graves, resurrecting friends, and diving deep into horror classics—welcome to The Mouths of Madness! In this chaotic, hilarious, and creepy episode, the crew returns from the dead to celebrate their 2-year anniversary with a full review of Stephen King’s Pet Sematary (1989)! From Jud’s warnings about that g*ddamn road to Gage’s chilling laughter, we explore the movie’s scares, symbolism, and shocking moments. Plus: favorite kills, hot takes, conspiracies, and our “Hall of Slain”!Grab a beer, avoid the road, and meet us in the Dungeon of Doom as we dig into one of King’s darkest tales..Your Hosts- Kevin, Dan, Bearclaw, and Logan. Produced by Nathan. What are your thoughts on our episode?  Email Us- [email protected] The Madness!InstagramYouTubeFacebookTikTokLetterboxdMerch“We All Go Mad” Theme Music by Nathan

Two guys, a girl, and a horror show dive into Mandy (2018) — the Nicolas Cage psychedelic revenge horror movie from Panos Cosmatos (producer Elijah Wood), packed with cult mayhem, Children of the New Dawn, the Black Skulls, that bonkers Cheddar Goblin ad, an all-timer chainsaw fight, neon color palettes, synth score vibes, and cosmic grief; we compare Mandy to The Crow, David Lynch, Suspiria, Hellraiser, talk Cage’s bathroom scene, Bill Duke, symbolism (planets/Jupiter/Saturn), LSD trip visuals, pagan vs. cult spirituality, and why this became a modern cult classic — with special guest Bearclaw (Mouths of Madness Podcast); stick around for quotes, favorite kills, Letterboxd ratings, plus quick recs (V/H/S, Dead Alive / Braindead) and more!Your hosts- Kevin, Nathan, and GillProduced by NathanCheck out the video format of this episode on YouTubeFollow Straitjacket Talk on InstagramFollow Straitjacket Talk on Letterboxd-Kevin (KevWrapt)Nathan (NathanEdits)Gill (livingdeadgill)Follow Gill on Goodreads“Dismember” Theme Music by Nathan

It’s time to revisit one of the most divisive slashers ever — Halloween 5: The Revenge of Michael Myers (1989). In this wild episode, the Mouths of Madness Podcast dives deep into what went wrong (and maybe what went right) with the most hated Halloween movie. From the chaotic production and bizarre mask to Donald Pleasence’s unhinged Dr. Loomis and Danielle Harris’ haunting Jamie Lloyd, we break it all down with hilarious commentary, behind-the-scenes stories, and brutal honesty. Was Halloween 5 really that bad — or is it an underrated cult gem in disguise? Grab your pitchfork, hop in your Camaro, and join the Madness as we celebrate slasher history, 80s horror chaos, and the legacy of Michael Myers himself!Your Hosts- Kevin, Dan, Bearclaw, and Logan. Produced by Nathan. What are your thoughts on our episode?  Email Us- [email protected] The Madness!InstagramYouTubeFacebookTikTokLetterboxdMerch“We All Go Mad” Theme Music by Nathan

We dive into The Black Phone (2021) — our spoiler-friendly review & analysis of Scott Derrickson’s Blumhouse hit starring Ethan Hawke as “The Grabber.” From the creepy mask design and ghost-child mythology to Joe Hill’s short story roots (20th Century Ghosts), we cover scares, themes (cycle of abuse, sibling dynamic, 1970s true-crime vibes), box-office surprise ($161M), and whether this villain is a NEW horror icon — plus sequel talk, ending explained, best kills, and where it ranks among modern horror. If you love sinister small-town vibes, tense basement escapes, and mask-iconography lore, this is for you.Your hosts- Kevin, Nathan, and GillProduced by NathanCheck out the video format of this episode on YouTubeFollow Straitjacket Talk on InstagramFollow Straitjacket Talk on Letterboxd-Kevin (KevWrapt)Nathan (NathanEdits)Gill (livingdeadgill)Follow Gill on Goodreads“Dismember” Theme Music by Nathan

Step into the chaos as the Mouths of Madness podcast crew sneaks into Freddy Fazbear’s Pizzeria for a wild Five Nights at Freddy’s (2023) horror movie review! From the security guard’s first night on the job to haunted animatronics, dream theory, and nostalgic arcade games, this episode blends comedy, chaos, and horror fandom across generations. We break down the movie’s lore, cast (Josh Hutcherson, Elizabeth Lail, Matthew Lillard), box office success, behind-the-scenes facts, and the future of the FNAF franchise. If you love horror podcasts, scary movie reviews, animatronics, haunted pizzerias, Blumhouse films, or Five Nights at Freddy’s gameplay and theories, this is your must-watch breakdown. Grab your tokens, dodge the jump scares, and join the madness today!Your Hosts- Kevin, Dan, Bearclaw, and Logan. Produced by Nathan. What are your thoughts on our episode?  Email Us- [email protected] The Madness!InstagramYouTubeFacebookTikTokLetterboxdMerch“We All Go Mad” Theme Music by Nathan

A special Spooky Season bonus! Straitjacket Talk’s Halloween III: Season of the Witch episode from 2024! The Halloween without Michael Myers..but we do get Dr. Challis. Also, some masks that turn kids heads into snakes and bugs?! Join us as review one of the most unique horror movies of all time- from being one of the most hated to now a cult classic..Your hosts- Kevin, Nathan, and GillProduced by NathanCheck out the video format of this episode on YouTubeFollow Straitjacket Talk on InstagramFollow Straitjacket Talk on Letterboxd-Kevin (KevWrapt)Nathan (NathanEdits)Gill (livingdeadgill)Follow Gill on Goodreads“Dismember” Theme Music by Nathan

Idle Hands (1999) is one of the wildest and most underrated ’90s horror comedies you probably forgot existed. Packed with over-the-top gore, dark comedy, stoner humor, and cult-classic vibes, this horror comedy gem stars Devon Sawa, Seth Green, and Jessica Alba in a bizarre mix of possession, slasher horror, and ridiculous laughs. In this episode, we dive into the chaotic fun of Idle Hands (1999), exploring why it became a cult favorite, how it fits into the legacy of ’90s horror comedies, and why it still deserves your attention today. If you love horror movies, ’90s nostalgia, or cult classics that blend scares and laughs, this is the movie breakdown for you!Your Hosts- Kevin, Dan, Bearclaw, and Logan. Produced by Nathan. What are your thoughts on our episode?  Email Us- [email protected] The Madness!InstagramYouTubeFacebookTikTokLetterboxdMerch“We All Go Mad” Theme Music by Nathan