In the canon of Final Destination imitators, Whistle is a gift. Corin Hardy's ode to teen slashers is a nifty blend of "artifact horror" and young-adult perspectives. There are many films based on the inability to cheat Death, but writer Owen Egerton finds a unique twist to keep us hooked. It's a cozy late-night programmer that fits alongside other Shudder titles like Clown in a Cornfield, one that's respectful of its audience yet focused on easy-breezy genre entertainment. Hardy keeps it simple and aims to put a smile on horror fans' faces, which is just fine in our book.

Didn't ever think we'd cover a Criterion Collection release on Certified Forgotten, didja? That's what makes our podcast so special, and why we love these guest episodes. Journalist and Brooklyn Horror's own Tori Potenza returns with a 1960s Czechoslovak "dark comedy" that too succinctly predicted today's alt-right basement-bro uprising. Juraj Herz's "dark comedy" (emphasis on DARK), The Cremator, is a phenomenal look not only into the horrors of Nazi occupations, but also how easily these genocidal movements sway the most manipulatable, spineless schlubs. Promise the right person power, and they'll turn into a monster. Is it any coincidence we recorded this episode during Trump's most recent State of the Union?

Can a science fiction thriller about exploding, bile-bloated corpses and intergalactic spores be described as delightful? Well, Cold Storage had us grinning like kiddos on Christmas morning. Filmmaker Jonny Campbell helms this whacked-out fungal horror-comedy written by the prolific David Koepp, adapted from his own novel (of the same name). It’s begging for a bigger budget, with some underwhelming digital effects employed, but that’s hardly a dealbreaker. Listen in to hear us gush about ... well ... all the gushing gore in Cold Storage.

"Good Luck, Have Fun, Don't Die." Is it the mantra we're repeating to get through 2026? Absolutely. Is it also a wickedly entertaining and intensely relevant sci-fi comedy about the horrors of artificial intelligence? Also correct! Gore Verbinski returns to the big screen after almost a decade with his fantastic warning against algorithms, datacenters, and mind-rotting technology. We'll dive into all the beeps and bloops of this gonzo flick, which deserves every dollar of your support.

You've seen Ghost Ship, but how bout Death Ship? Or maybe you've seen Death Ship, and not Ghost Ship. EITHER WAY, we've got another banger of a guest episode, with our newly crowned queen of repeat guests, one half of the This Ends At Prom podcast—and B-movie aficionado—Harmony Colangelo. Join us for a conversation that starts with a spirited chat about bartenders and drink orders, then dives headfirst into a thoughtful discussion about possessed Nazi boats and the forever fight against fascism. Here at Certified Forgotten, we contain multitudes!

While the Sundance Film Festival is often synonymous with prestigious releases, it's always been a breeding ground for great horror filmmakers, too. So with Matt Donato wrapping his attendance at the 2026 Sundance Film Festival, we sat down to discuss his favorites from this year's horror lineup. From Leviticus to Saccharine, this was a particularly strong year for Sundance's Midnight lineup, and we break down what to keep an eye out for (and why) in the months ahead.

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It might be underwhelming at the box office, but it's overwhelmed our hearts! That's right, this week on the podcast, Matt Donato and Matthew Monagle discuss Nia DaCosta's 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple, a chamber piece set in the 28 Days Later universe. Learn why both Matts believe DaCosta's feature to be the polar opposite of Danny Boyle's 28 Years Later - and why those changes are the right step forward for the franchise.

You know what's worse than vampires? Racist cop vampires. That's the basis of Ryan Prows' new release, Night Patrol. The filmmaker joins us to discuss his first theatrical release and champions a nasty little film that fits with his career's thematic DNA thus far: Los Bastardos (2008). Join us for another guest episode of Certified Forgotten that gets deep into a creator's mind, and brings to light another underseen horror film that slipped through the cracks. 

Johannes Roberts' Primate answers a very important question: "What if Halloween, but instead of Michael Myers, it was a killer chimp?" It's C-oo-oo-ahh-ahh-jo, 100%. All creature, all feature. Suffice it to say, Roberts' relentlessly gory animal-attack flick sounds more like a "Donato Movie," and yet, Certified Forgotten's keeping the new year in agreeable spirits. Tune in to hear Donato and co-host Matthew Monagle share their thoughts on a fun-filled start to 2026's horror canon, because this one goes ... bananas! (Don't blame Monagle for the wordplay, Donato's got this write-up.)

Alex Ullom’s feature debut, It Ends, wants to be a "hangout" horror movie. Certified Forgotten's Matt Donato and Matthew Monagle put that descriptor to the test, hanging out and chatting about Ullom's existential road trip. Like The Battery or Dead End, It Ends relies on conversational, generational horrors that unfold on an empty stretch of road. It's a representation of life, death, and everything in between, that asks the most important question of all: one man with a gun, or fifty hawks?

Somehow, against all odds, we've made it through 2025. Maybe not unscathed, but we did it. With that in mind, it's time for Certified Forgotten to highlight some of the year's best horror films. Here to help is friend of the show and frequent guest co-host, Bloody Disgusting's Meagan Navarro. With no Matthew Monagle this week, it's up to Meagan and CF's Matt Donato to throw as many worthwhile titles at you to clean up before we start anew in 2026. Strap in!