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Certified Forgotten is a 60-minute biweekly horror movie podcast with a focus on underseen films. Hosts Matt Donato and Matt Monagle 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 aggregator site Rotten Tomatoes.
Previous guests include April Wolfe (screenwriter, Black Christmas); Tyler MacIntyre (writer-director, Tragedy Girls); Brad Henderson (Acquisitions, Vinegar Syndrome); and Ariel Fisher (managing editor, Fangoria). Special episodes of Certified Forgotten have been included as part of the programming of the 2021 Reel Love Film Festival, the 2021 North Bend Film Festival, and the 2022 Brooklyn Horror Film Festival.
Art by Zach Henson | Theme Song by Analise Nelson [with shreds by Jason Kaye]
Previous guests include April Wolfe (screenwriter, Black Christmas); Tyler MacIntyre (writer-director, Tragedy Girls); Brad Henderson (Acquisitions, Vinegar Syndrome); and Ariel Fisher (managing editor, Fangoria). Special episodes of Certified Forgotten have been included as part of the programming of the 2021 Reel Love Film Festival, the 2021 North Bend Film Festival, and the 2022 Brooklyn Horror Film Festival.
Art by Zach Henson | Theme Song by Analise Nelson [with shreds by Jason Kaye]
168 Episodes
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"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!
'Twas the (almost) fortnight before Christmas at Certified Forgotten, and the boys had a chat to see if the Silent Night, Deadly Night remake is rotten. [Poor attempt at poetic rhythm ends.] Mike P. Nelson's new take on a Christmas horror classic gives Billy Chapman a new purpose, and with it, a fresh take that brings both romanticism and exploitation vibes. Co-hosts Matthew Monagle and Matt Donato dig into Nelson's big storytelling swings, shining a light on Rohan Campbell in another unique genre role. Plus, how can you dislike a Christmas horror movie that violently hates Nazies and denounces gun violence while also spreading holiday cheer?
Hold off on the pizza party, kiddos. Freddy Fazbear might be returning to the big screen, but it's not a cause for celebration. In this Uncertified episode, Certified Forgotten co-host Matt Donato has invited back friend of the show BJ Colangelo to talk about the unfortunate state of Five Nights at Freddy's 2. The first was critically savaged, but not by Donato and Colangelo. The same cannot be said for Emma Tammi's sequel, and there's a big ol' Scott Cawthon shaped reason why (among other disappointing reasons).
This (day after) Thanksgiving, we're thankful for a returning guest who is the best of all of us. Fangoria's Senior Editor Meredith Borders notches her second guest spot on Certified Forgotten to chat about an oddball Canadian gateway horror film. The Peanut Butter Solution has become a cult favorite, but only in smaller circles. Meredith joins the Matts to chat about Fangoria's upcoming initiatives and shed light on exciting new company evolutions, as well as evil Bob Ross actin' villains who kidnap children to use as child labor in their magic paintbrush factories. Giddy-up!
Welcome to another episode of "The Great Oz Perkins Debate" here on Certified Forgotten. Your hosts, Matt Donato and Matthew Monagle, couldn't agree on Perkins' catalog until Longlegs, and then again with The Monkey. It looked like there might finally be peace between the Matts, but then Perkins went back to "basics" for his latest film, Keeper. Once again, your Matts are at odds over a new Perkins release—like it was always meant to be. The saga continues with our Uncertified review of Keeper.
Do you like your cosmic horror with a dash of folklore? Or perhaps you prefer your folk horror with a dollop of the cosmic? Either way, you're the right audience for Nick Szostakiwskyj's Black Mountain Side, a wintry horror film that is one part aliens and one part elder gods. On this week's episode of Certified Forgotten, we're joined by tabletop designer Colin Le Sueur to talk about his Canadian roots, his love of Stephen King's Dark Tower series, and how the cosmic horrors found in films like Black Mountain Side are a major influence in his game design.
To quote Donato's Predator: Badlands review: "It's official: Dan Trachtenberg is the Yautja whisperer." Between Monagle's love of the Alien universe and Donato's incessant quoting of Predator, the Matts dedicated this week's Uncertified episode to gushing about Trachtenberg's latest Yautja adventure. Does the heavy use of digital animation hold up? Can the inclusion of Weyland-Yutani stay in the background enough not to dominate a Predator film? All those questions and more are answered by the Matts, who once again find common ground on a new release.
What happens when two podcasts that prioritize underseen horror movies collide? You get a crossover episode dedicated to Michael Schroeder's "frighteningly erotic thriller" Out of the Dark (1988). Certified Forgotten welcomes Puppet Masters/Castle Freaks co-host Jarrod Hornbeck, who brought his love for an underseen '80s slasher in full force. We'll talk about sleazy exploitation, killer clowns, and phone sex hotlines because Schroeder's movie has it all. If you haven't seen this one, which chances are you haven't, make it part of your Halloween rotation this year!
Hot on the heels of their conversation with writer-director Tina Romero at the Brooklyn Horror Film Festival, Matt Donato and Matthew Monagle are jumping into their own conversation about Queens of the Dead. Romero's debut feature might borrow heavily from the zombie tropes created by her father, George A. Romero, but the queer horror-comedy that the younger Romero has crafted is a story all her own.
Is The Pit (1981) one of the crazier films we've covered on the podcast to date? Absolutely. You can thank filmmakers Micheline Pitt-Norman & R.H. Norman, the duo behind the runaway favorite V/H/S/Halloween segment, "Home Haunt." Micheline and R.H. graciously shed light on what it took to create their endlessly entertaining anthology segment, then dive into all the silly and perverted weirdness that is The Pit. Only in the '80s, lol.
It isn't often that a guest brings us a no-doubt future classic, but that's certainly the case on this episode of Certified Forgotten. This week, Matt Donato and Matthew Monagle are joined by author Jonathan Janz (Veil, The End of the World as We Know It) to talk about Erik Kristopher Myers's Butterfly Kisses. Join us for a wide-ranging conversation about writing, letting monsters be monsters, and the unexpected greatness of a found footage film within a found footage film.
When the first reviews for HIM were posted, Certified Forgotten's Matt Donato found himself on an island. He loved the film, but an overwhelming majority of critics took an opposing stance. Surprisingly, co-host Matthew Monagle is not one of those negative reviewers. In fact, HIM is a rare instance where both Matts can agree. Frankly, this is probably the only podcast episode about HIM where it's nothing but love for Justin Tipping's stylish, in-your-face takedown of the NFL's darker side. Listen in to see if Team Certified Forgotten can change your mind.
Somehow, by the might of too many individuals, another Fantastic Fest is in the books. This year marks the festival's 20th anniversary, which both Matts were able to cover. Donato was in Austin, soaking in all the cinematic goodness, while Monagle watched screeners from afar. In this episode, the Matts run down their favorite movies from Fantastic Fest, while also touching on as many other highlights as possible. Listen in to hear about what upcoming genre releases you should prioritize!
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