Why Wasn't It Better?

Following one of the greatest horror films ever made was never going to be easy. Poltergeist II: The Other Side brings back the Freeling family while expanding the mythology surrounding the Beast and introducing one of horror's most memorable villains in the Reverend Kane. Although the sequel has earned a mixed reputation over the years, it remains a fascinating, and deeply strange, entry. Was it an underrated follow-up, or should they have left the original alone? First time guest Phil Walsh of Phil At The Movies is here to discuss.____Please consider joining our Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/wwibofficialYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@whywasntitbetterLetterboxd: https://letterboxd.com/wwibpodcastInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/wwib_officialX: https://x.com/WWIBpodcastSubscribe! Rate! Review! Tell a friend!

The Conjuring universe was still in its infancy when Annabelle arrived in 2014. Based on the creepy doll introduced in James Wan's blockbuster a year earlier, Warner Bros. quickly spun the character into her own franchise. Critics weren't impressed, but audiences showed up in droves, turning the film into one of the most profitable horror movies ever made and proving The Conjuring was more than a one-hit wonder. Was it simply riding the coattails of its predecessor, or is there more to Annabelle than its reputation suggests? Guest Jay Skipworth of @TheFilmStripPod is back to weigh in.____Please consider joining our Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/wwibofficialYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@whywasntitbetterLetterboxd: https://letterboxd.com/wwibpodcastInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/wwib_officialX: https://x.com/WWIBpodcastSubscribe! Rate! Review! Tell a friend!

Often cited as the last of Alfred Hitchcock's classic period, The Birds is one of the most influential horror films ever made. Is it actually scary? Does it hold up 60+ years later? First time guest Carmelita Valdez McKoy joins to discuss.____Please consider joining our Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/wwibofficialYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@whywasntitbetterLetterboxd: https://letterboxd.com/wwibpodcastInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/wwib_officialX: https://x.com/WWIBpodcastSubscribe! Rate! Review! Tell a friend!

One year after its release, it's time to review Tron: Ares. Following the cult success of Tron: Legacy, fans spent over a decade waiting for a follow-up. Instead of continuing the story that film set up, Disney delivered a very different movie, one that divided audiences and flopped at the box office. What happened? Was Ares doomed by development hell and delay? Did Disney misunderstand what audiences wanted from a Tron sequel? Guest Tom Paradiso is here to sort it all out.____Please consider joining our Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/wwibofficialYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@whywasntitbetterLetterboxd: https://letterboxd.com/wwibpodcastInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/wwib_officialX: https://x.com/WWIBpodcastSubscribe! Rate! Review! Tell a friend!

It's hard to believe now but at one point in the 1980s, Disney animation was in trouble. After The Black Cauldron bombed, the studio desperately needed a hit. What they got was The Great Mouse Detective, a charming Sherlock Holmes-inspired mystery featuring one of Disney’s greatest villains, a memorable cast of characters, and some surprisingly ambitious animation. Guest Adam Hecht is back to proclaim his love. ____Please consider joining our Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/wwibofficialYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@whywasntitbetterLetterboxd: https://letterboxd.com/wwibpodcastInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/wwib_officialX: https://x.com/WWIBpodcastSubscribe! Rate! Review! Tell a friend!