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Certified Forgotten is a weekly podcast with a focus on underseen horror films. Hosts Matthew Monagle (@mattmonagle) and Matt Donato (@DoNatoBomb) speak with creators, filmmakers, and critics about their lifelong relationships to the horror genre. Each episode also highlights another unique genre title with ten or fewer reviews on the aggregator site Rotten Tomatoes.
Previous guests include April Wolfe (screenwriter, Black Christmas); Tyler MacIntyre (writer-director, Tragedy Girls); Brad Henderson (Acquisitions, Vinegar Syndrome); and David Dastmalchian (actor-creator). Special episodes of Certified Forgotten have been included as part of the programming of the Brooklyn Horror Film Festival, 2021 Reel Love Film Festival and the 2021 North Bend Film Festival.
Episodes
2 hours ago
2 hours ago
33 min
This week on the podcast, the Matts are digging into what some are calling the best dinosaur movie since Jurassic Park. David Robert Mitchell's The End of Oak Street features a 1980s family trying to survive against the law of the jungle, with carnivorous dinos at their doorstep. It's a good-time popcorn flick with a thin script, but plenty of thrills. Can the Matts agree on turning off your thinky-brain to enjoy some action-forward dinosaur cinema?
About The End of Oak Street
About The End of Oak Street
The Platt family bands together to navigate their new surroundings after a cosmic event transports their suburban neighborhood to someplace unknown.
You can follow Certified Forgotten on Bluesky and Instagram at:
You can follow Certified Forgotten on Bluesky and Instagram at:
About Certified Forgotten
Certified Forgotten is a writer-owned horror publication focused on the little movies that leave a big impression. We publish essays on the underseen and underappreciated horror films of the 21st Century. To learn more, visit www.certifiedforgotten.com.
Aug 7, 2026
Aug 7, 2026
1hr 10 min
"You can't keep a good cop dead." The tagline for Dead Heat, this week's selection for yet another Certified Forgotten guest episode. We welcome Noel Bartocci of the CultPOP! podcast, who's here to champion a 1980s buddy-cop flick with an undead twist. Does execution meet the hype of the concept? Not always. But do Treat Williams and Joe Piscopo have to fight off reanimated Peking duck zombies? You bet your buttox! And for that, we're grateful.
About Dead Heat
About Dead Heat
A cop (Roger Mortis, played by Treat Williams) is killed investigating a bizarre case of resurrected corpses. His partner (Joe Piscopo) and a pathologist resurrect him, but he has a limited time before he starts to decompose, so he uses it to chase down the diabolical man who killed him.
You can follow Certified Forgotten on Bluesky and Instagram at:
You can follow Certified Forgotten on Bluesky and Instagram at:
About Certified Forgotten
Certified Forgotten is a writer-owned horror publication focused on the little movies that leave a big impression. We publish essays on the underseen and underappreciated horror films of the 21st Century. To learn more, visit www.certifiedforgotten.com.
Aug 3, 2026
Aug 3, 2026
41 min
Once upon a time, Blumhouse planned an entire M3GANVERSE. Then M3GAN 2.0 bombed at the box office, and the concept was scrapped. Kate Dolan's companion-bot spinoff, SOULM8TE, vanished from the release calendar. You hate to see any film become a casualty of business decisions, but here we are, with SOULM8TE unceremoniously dumped on digital instead of its planned theatrical run. Could it be as bad as the inside baseball of a film losing its release plan, forgoing any critics' screenings, and just plopping on rental platforms with almost no notice? One of the Matts thinks so—listen in to find out which one!
About SOULM8TE
About SOULM8TE
A man (David Rysdahl) acquires an Artificially Intelligent android (Lily Sullivan) to cope with the loss of his recently deceased wife. In an attempt to create a truly sentient partner, he inadvertently turns a harmless lovebot into a deadly soulmate.
You can follow Certified Forgotten on Bluesky and Instagram at:
You can follow Certified Forgotten on Bluesky and Instagram at:
About Certified Forgotten
Certified Forgotten is a writer-owned horror publication focused on the little movies that leave a big impression. We publish essays on the underseen and underappreciated horror films of the 21st Century. To learn more, visit www.certifiedforgotten.com.
Jul 24, 2026
Jul 24, 2026
1hr 6 min
Hey, two guest episodes in the same month! Certified Forgotten is back on track, and with that, we're pandering to the mall-culture millennials out there. This week, the Matts are joined by writer and podcaster Louis Peitzman, who brings a Phantom of the Opera riff born from the Sherman Oaks Galleria. Phantom of the Mall: Eric's Revenge pulls Morgan Fairchild and Pauly Shore into a shopping mall haunted by a gym-bro phantom who wants to burn it all down. Does this adaptation stand the test of time, or will it be lost, like the empty storefronts where FYE and Sam Goody customers once visited?
About Phantom of the Mall: Eric's Revenge
About Phantom of the Mall: Eric's Revenge
A man loses his home and suffers life-threatening burns from a fire deliberately set by commercial real estate developers vying for his property. One year later, a shopping mall opens on the land, and a series of murders begins.
You can follow Certified Forgotten on Bluesky and Instagram at:
You can follow Certified Forgotten on Bluesky and Instagram at:
About Certified Forgotten
Certified Forgotten is a writer-owned horror publication focused on the little movies that leave a big impression. We publish essays on the underseen and underappreciated horror films of the 21st Century. To learn more, visit www.certifiedforgotten.com.
Jul 17, 2026
Jul 17, 2026
35 min
Welp, there's a new Evil Dead movie, and horror fans have their opinions. Sébastien Vanicek's Evil Dead Burn is turning out to be one of the more divisive Evil Dead titles, which makes it a layup for an Uncertified episode. Join the Matts as they chat about where Evil Dead Burn ranks in their franchise takes, the film's volcanic rage, and most of all, if the kills deliver. At the end of the day, is there such a thing as a bad Evil Dead movie?
About Evil Dead Burn
About Evil Dead Burn
After the loss of her husband, Alice (Souheila Yacoub) seeks solace with her in-laws. As one by one they transform into deadites, she comes to discover that the vows she took in life survive even in death.
You can follow Certified Forgotten on Bluesky and Instagram at:
You can follow Certified Forgotten on Bluesky and Instagram at:
About Certified Forgotten
Certified Forgotten is a writer-owned horror publication focused on the little movies that leave a big impression. We publish essays on the underseen and underappreciated horror films of the 21st Century. To learn more, visit www.certifiedforgotten.com.
Jul 10, 2026
Jul 10, 2026
1hr 11 min
Have you really lived until you've seen a Damon Packard film? That's the question this week's guest asks us, Certified Forgotten, and you, our devoted listeners. Filmmaker Mike Mendez brings Reflections of Evil to the table, a two-plus-hour endurance test described as a full-blown mental breakdown put to screen. It's nothing you've ever seen, which is either a blessing or a curse. But that's why we love discovering these oddball gems at Certified Forgotten. You might just find your new favorite cult classic!
About Reflections of Evil:
About Reflections of Evil:
Julie (Nicole Vanderhoff), who died of a PCP overdose as a teen in the early '70s, searches from beyond the ethers for her little brother, Bob (Damon Packard), an obese watch-seller, who is dying of sucrose intolerance, in the early '90s.
You can follow Certified Forgotten on Bluesky and Instagram at:
You can follow Certified Forgotten on Bluesky and Instagram at:
About Certified Forgotten
Certified Forgotten is a writer-owned horror publication focused on the little movies that leave a big impression. We publish essays on the underseen and underappreciated horror films of the 21st Century. To learn more, visit www.certifiedforgotten.com.
Jun 29, 2026
Jun 29, 2026
34 min
Just recently, Certified Forgotten celebrated its 7th anniversary as a podcast. In thinking of ways to celebrate, I convinced my co-host Matthew Monagle to record an episode where we look back on everything we've accomplished, and talk about our favorite movies that we've covered over 100+ guest episodes. Not to say we're playing favorites or anything—we love our guests equally! But we're two film critics with widely different taste profiles who have very different lists of favorite guest selections from the show. Listen in to see if yours gets mentioned?
You can follow Certified Forgotten on Bluesky and Instagram at:
You can follow Certified Forgotten on Bluesky and Instagram at:
About Certified Forgotten
Certified Forgotten is a writer-owned horror publication focused on the little movies that leave a big impression. We publish essays on the underseen and underappreciated horror films of the 21st Century. To learn more, visit www.certifiedforgotten.com.
Jun 22, 2026
Jun 22, 2026
39 min
It's that mid-point time of year, so we decided to take stock of 2026's horror crop (so far). The Matts discuss their favorite first-half flicks and highlight a few titles still to come that have them most hyped. We've got guest episodes on the horizon, but for at least one more consecutive week, you're stuck with us. Don't worry, we'll make it up to y'all soon enough!
You can follow Certified Forgotten on Bluesky and Instagram at:
You can follow Certified Forgotten on Bluesky and Instagram at:
About Certified Forgotten
Certified Forgotten is a writer-owned horror publication focused on the little movies that leave a big impression. We publish essays on the underseen and underappreciated horror films of the 21st Century. To learn more, visit www.certifiedforgotten.com.
Jun 12, 2026
Jun 12, 2026
34 min
Horror has been killing it at the box office these last few weeks, with A24's Backrooms being the second punch after Obsession. Kane Parsons, who rose to fame for his viral "Backrooms" YouTube videos, brings his uncanny creation to life on the big screen. But does this liminal psychological thriller live up to the hype that comes with being the first feature-length Backrooms adaptation? It's a ponderous flick, and maybe too much so. Listen in to our discussion.
About Backrooms
After a therapist's patient (Clark, Chiwetel Ejiofor) disappears into a dimension beyond reality, she (Mary, Renate Reinsve) must venture into the unknown to save him.
You can follow Certified Forgotten on Bluesky and Instagram at:
About Backrooms
After a therapist's patient (Clark, Chiwetel Ejiofor) disappears into a dimension beyond reality, she (Mary, Renate Reinsve) must venture into the unknown to save him.
You can follow Certified Forgotten on Bluesky and Instagram at:
About Certified Forgotten
Certified Forgotten is a writer-owned horror publication focused on the little movies that leave a big impression. We publish essays on the underseen and underappreciated horror films of the 21st Century. To learn more, visit www.certifiedforgotten.com.
May 23, 2026
May 23, 2026
35 min
Obsession fever is sweeping the nation. Look at what you've done, Curry Barker! On the podcast this week, we had to dive into what's the talk of Horrortown these days—and with good reason. Inde Navarrette is a powerhouse in Obsession, and that's just the tip of the iceberg. Hit the episode to hear our thoughts on why Navarrette should be in awards conversations come the end of the year, and more observations.
About Obsession
After breaking the mysterious "One Wish Willow" to win his crush's heart (Nikki, played by Inde Navarrette), a hopeless romantic (Bear, played by Michael Johnston) finds himself getting exactly what he asked for but soon discovers that some desires come at a dark, sinister price.
You can follow Certified Forgotten on Bluesky and Instagram at:
About Obsession
After breaking the mysterious "One Wish Willow" to win his crush's heart (Nikki, played by Inde Navarrette), a hopeless romantic (Bear, played by Michael Johnston) finds himself getting exactly what he asked for but soon discovers that some desires come at a dark, sinister price.
You can follow Certified Forgotten on Bluesky and Instagram at:
About Certified Forgotten
Certified Forgotten is a writer-owned horror publication focused on the little movies that leave a big impression. We publish essays on the underseen and underappreciated horror films of the 21st Century. To learn more, visit www.certifiedforgotten.com.