Certified Forgotten
@certifiedforgotten.com
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.
www.certifiedforgotten.com/newsletter
www.certifiedforgotten.com/newsletter
Pinned
The Rewind
This week, we celebrate six years of Certified Forgotten.
certified-forgotten.beehiiv.com
In this week's newsletter, @donatobomb.bsky.social and @monagle.bsky.social celebrate six years of Certified Forgotten.
Reposted by Certified Forgotten
Since Hellraiser is trending once more thanks to the new game, let me plug this piece I wrote on one of the true queens of Horror cinema: Julia Cotton.
certifiedforgotten.com/hellbound-he...
certifiedforgotten.com/hellbound-he...
'Hellraiser's Julia: The Underrated Villainess of Horror | Certified Forgotten
Kayleigh Donaldson returns with a love letter to Julia, the delightful villainess of 'Hellraiser' and 'Hellbound: Hellraiser II.'
certifiedforgotten.com
October 10, 2026 at 10:27 PM
Since Hellraiser is trending once more thanks to the new game, let me plug this piece I wrote on one of the true queens of Horror cinema: Julia Cotton.
certifiedforgotten.com/hellbound-he...
certifiedforgotten.com/hellbound-he...
Reposted by Certified Forgotten
Director, screenwriter, and podcaster @michaelvarrati.bsky.social talks Jersey Shore Massacre and Four Seasons of Fear with Certified Forgotten! Have a listen, then pop over to @kickstarter.com and back this incredible anthology today!
Jersey Shore Massacre (2014) with Michael Varrati
Podcast Episode · Certified Forgotten · October 10 · 1h 7m
podcasts.apple.com
October 11, 2026 at 12:46 AM
Director, screenwriter, and podcaster @michaelvarrati.bsky.social talks Jersey Shore Massacre and Four Seasons of Fear with Certified Forgotten! Have a listen, then pop over to @kickstarter.com and back this incredible anthology today!
RESIDENT EVIL has lore to spare, but Zach Cregger's adaptation reminds us that we spend most survival horror games not having enough health packs, bullets, or time.
Podcast: 'Resident Evil' Gets Uncertified
Zach Cregger knows how to write original horror, but can he still work his magic with an adaptation of 'Resident Evil'? Let's find out.
certifiedforgotten.com
October 6, 2026 at 8:01 PM
RESIDENT EVIL has lore to spare, but Zach Cregger's adaptation reminds us that we spend most survival horror games not having enough health packs, bullets, or time.
"Cregger choosing to recreate the video game experience through a singular lens – his own – is certainly a more focused approach to the material." RESIDENT EVIL is a good movie, but does its approach to video games keep it from being great? Let's discuss.
'Resident Evil' Shows the Limitations of Video Game Adaptations
Zach Cregger's 'Resident Evil' is a brilliant adaptation of the video game series - for better and for worse.
certifiedforgotten.com
October 1, 2026 at 3:42 PM
"Cregger choosing to recreate the video game experience through a singular lens – his own – is certainly a more focused approach to the material." RESIDENT EVIL is a good movie, but does its approach to video games keep it from being great? Let's discuss.
Certified Forgotten is headed back to Brooklyn, baby.
The Rewind
Certified Forgotten is headed back to the Brooklyn Horror Film Festival in October.
certified-forgotten.beehiiv.com
September 24, 2026 at 7:02 PM
Certified Forgotten is headed back to Brooklyn, baby.
Reposted by Certified Forgotten
I'm thrilled to be back at @certifiedforgotten.com to spread the word about the lovely sci-fi romance 'Same Boat,' which is like 'Before Sunrise' if Jesse was a time-traveling assassin sent to kill Celine.
'Same Boat' Marries 'The Terminator' and 'Before Sunrise'
Chris Roberti's 'Same Boat' is a time-traveling love story that makes the most of its modest budget to craft a timeless meet cute.
certifiedforgotten.com
September 18, 2026 at 9:17 PM
I'm thrilled to be back at @certifiedforgotten.com to spread the word about the lovely sci-fi romance 'Same Boat,' which is like 'Before Sunrise' if Jesse was a time-traveling assassin sent to kill Celine.
"Roberti and his collaborators are so ingenious that SAME BOAT rarely looks like a surreptitious guerrilla production, instead making full, apparently unrestricted use of its luxurious location." Great to have @signalbleed.bsky.social back at the site with some indie sci-fi love.
'Same Boat' Marries 'The Terminator' and 'Before Sunrise'
Chris Roberti's 'Same Boat' is a time-traveling love story that makes the most of its modest budget to craft a timeless meet cute.
certifiedforgotten.com
September 18, 2026 at 5:07 PM
"Roberti and his collaborators are so ingenious that SAME BOAT rarely looks like a surreptitious guerrilla production, instead making full, apparently unrestricted use of its luxurious location." Great to have @signalbleed.bsky.social back at the site with some indie sci-fi love.
Reposted by Certified Forgotten
Taking the opportunity to once again share my @certifiedforgotten.com piece on the film (has spoilers)
certifiedforgotten.com/the-horrors-...
certifiedforgotten.com/the-horrors-...
'Savageland' Offers Real-World Horrors | Certified Forgotten
Sarah Miles explains how 'Savageland' uses the faux documentary subgenre to craft a perfect political horror story for modern America.
certifiedforgotten.com
September 11, 2026 at 9:14 AM
Taking the opportunity to once again share my @certifiedforgotten.com piece on the film (has spoilers)
certifiedforgotten.com/the-horrors-...
certifiedforgotten.com/the-horrors-...
"THE WAILING artfully embodies the anguish of a generation torn between countless paths, each seemingly incapable of guiding them toward their desired sense of self." Na Hong-Jin is back in theaters this week, so why not look back at an old favorite?
‘The Wailing’ Is a Generational Identity Crisis | Certified Forgotten
Justin Kyle explains why Na Hong-jin's 'The Wailing' has as much to say about generational divides as it does about religious horror.
certifiedforgotten.com
September 9, 2026 at 9:07 PM
"THE WAILING artfully embodies the anguish of a generation torn between countless paths, each seemingly incapable of guiding them toward their desired sense of self." Na Hong-Jin is back in theaters this week, so why not look back at an old favorite?
Reposted by Certified Forgotten
I can't stop writing about movie cults!
Check out my piece on SOUND OF MY VOICE and indoctrination.
Check out my piece on SOUND OF MY VOICE and indoctrination.
"What SOUND OF MY VOICE attempts is fascinating, essentially indoctrinating the viewer alongside Peter and Lorna." New at the site: Christine Makepeace examines the spell that Brit Marling casts on audiences in this 2011 indie film.
'Sound of My Voice' Is Worth Listening To
Zal Batmanglij's 'Sound of My Voice' is a standout example of indie sci-fi storytelling and a puzzle worth unraveling.
certifiedforgotten.com
September 1, 2026 at 4:54 PM
I can't stop writing about movie cults!
Check out my piece on SOUND OF MY VOICE and indoctrination.
Check out my piece on SOUND OF MY VOICE and indoctrination.
"What SOUND OF MY VOICE attempts is fascinating, essentially indoctrinating the viewer alongside Peter and Lorna." New at the site: Christine Makepeace examines the spell that Brit Marling casts on audiences in this 2011 indie film.
'Sound of My Voice' Is Worth Listening To
Zal Batmanglij's 'Sound of My Voice' is a standout example of indie sci-fi storytelling and a puzzle worth unraveling.
certifiedforgotten.com
September 1, 2026 at 3:42 PM
"What SOUND OF MY VOICE attempts is fascinating, essentially indoctrinating the viewer alongside Peter and Lorna." New at the site: Christine Makepeace examines the spell that Brit Marling casts on audiences in this 2011 indie film.
"In the heart-wrenching chaos that unfolds, the haunting loss of self and family becomes an ever-present dread for the 'in-between' generation." Every day is a good day to consider rewatching THE WAILING.
‘The Wailing’ Is a Generational Identity Crisis | Certified Forgotten
Justin Kyle explains why Na Hong-jin's 'The Wailing' has as much to say about generational divides as it does about religious horror.
certifiedforgotten.com
August 27, 2026 at 9:07 PM
"In the heart-wrenching chaos that unfolds, the haunting loss of self and family becomes an ever-present dread for the 'in-between' generation." Every day is a good day to consider rewatching THE WAILING.
"What WHITE: MELODY OF DEATH lacks in scares, it makes up for in insight." Here's a look back at Kim Gok and Kim Sun's horror-fueled tale of K-pop gone wrong.
'White: Melody of Death' Sings the Horrors of K-Pop | Certified Forgotten
In 'White: Melody of Death,' filmmakers Kim Gok and Sun Kim create an allegory for the behind-the-scenes horrors of the K-Pop industry.
certifiedforgotten.com
August 27, 2026 at 3:42 PM
"What WHITE: MELODY OF DEATH lacks in scares, it makes up for in insight." Here's a look back at Kim Gok and Kim Sun's horror-fueled tale of K-pop gone wrong.
In our most recent podcast episode, The Matts discuss why THE END OF OAK STREET is such an earnest exercise in divorce and dinosaurs.
Podcast: 'The End of Oak Street' Gets Uncertified
'It Follows' director David Robert Mitchell returns to horror with 'The End of Oak Street,' a spirited throwback to '90s blockbusters.
certifiedforgotten.com
August 17, 2026 at 3:42 PM
In our most recent podcast episode, The Matts discuss why THE END OF OAK STREET is such an earnest exercise in divorce and dinosaurs.
Reposted by Certified Forgotten
I just watched it last night and I thought it was great.
Very '90s thriller.
I even found her motivation--the onslaught of conflicting female roles and archetypes depicted in media--to be very throwbacky.
Good stuff 👍
Very '90s thriller.
I even found her motivation--the onslaught of conflicting female roles and archetypes depicted in media--to be very throwbacky.
Good stuff 👍
"Accept the pre-release narrative that SOULM8TE is a mess – a would-be spinoff of the M3GAN franchise that tries to blend campy horror with science fiction – and odds are you’ll find what you’re looking for." Good movie is good, don't know what to tell you.
'Soulm8te' Review: '90s Smut Gets a High-Tech Reboot
Despite its rocky road to distribution, Kate Dolan's 'Soulm8te' is a fascinating mashup of the high-brow and the low-brow.
certifiedforgotten.com
August 14, 2026 at 5:41 PM
I just watched it last night and I thought it was great.
Very '90s thriller.
I even found her motivation--the onslaught of conflicting female roles and archetypes depicted in media--to be very throwbacky.
Good stuff 👍
Very '90s thriller.
I even found her motivation--the onslaught of conflicting female roles and archetypes depicted in media--to be very throwbacky.
Good stuff 👍
"Accept the pre-release narrative that SOULM8TE is a mess – a would-be spinoff of the M3GAN franchise that tries to blend campy horror with science fiction – and odds are you’ll find what you’re looking for." Good movie is good, don't know what to tell you.
'Soulm8te' Review: '90s Smut Gets a High-Tech Reboot
Despite its rocky road to distribution, Kate Dolan's 'Soulm8te' is a fascinating mashup of the high-brow and the low-brow.
certifiedforgotten.com
August 14, 2026 at 3:42 PM
"Accept the pre-release narrative that SOULM8TE is a mess – a would-be spinoff of the M3GAN franchise that tries to blend campy horror with science fiction – and odds are you’ll find what you’re looking for." Good movie is good, don't know what to tell you.
ICYMI: In this week's episode of the podcast, we're joined by podcaster and physical media expert Noel Bartocci to discuss DEAD HEAT and the glorious cheese that is zombie cops.
Podcast: Noel Bartocci on 'Dead Heat'
Podcaster and physical media expert Noel Bartocci joins the podcast to discuss 'Dead Heat,' Mark Goldblatt's goofy cult classic.
certifiedforgotten.com
August 13, 2026 at 3:42 PM
ICYMI: In this week's episode of the podcast, we're joined by podcaster and physical media expert Noel Bartocci to discuss DEAD HEAT and the glorious cheese that is zombie cops.
"With any single-location horror film, there’s also the thrill of watching the filmmakers get away with it." Brock Bodell's HELLCAT hits Shudder this week, which means you can finally catch up with this film festival standout.
Fantasia Review: 'Hellcat' Sends All the Right Signals
Brock Bodell's 'Hellcat' is a winning exercise in deception, making it an early standout at the 2025 Fantasia International Film Festival.
certifiedforgotten.com
August 12, 2026 at 9:07 PM
"With any single-location horror film, there’s also the thrill of watching the filmmakers get away with it." Brock Bodell's HELLCAT hits Shudder this week, which means you can finally catch up with this film festival standout.
"While the fridge does its best to keep Steve at work, it does everything it can to keep Eileen at home." Like all horror worth celebrating, Nicholas Jacobs's THE REFRIGERATOR is a sly mixture of camp and satire.
'The Refrigerator' Is a Standout Piece of Cult Horror
Nicholas Jacobs's 'The Refrigerator' is a surprisingly smart blend of camp horror and subversive domestic drama.
certifiedforgotten.com
August 12, 2026 at 3:42 PM
"While the fridge does its best to keep Steve at work, it does everything it can to keep Eileen at home." Like all horror worth celebrating, Nicholas Jacobs's THE REFRIGERATOR is a sly mixture of camp and satire.
"NAMASLAY has every intention in the world of blending SUSPIRA with South Asian folklore onscreen, but what works as a dark comedy never makes the leap to action-horror." NAMASLAY has a fun name and some great ideas, but falls just short of making it work.
'Namaslay' Review: Yoga Spin on 'Suspiria' Falls Just Short
Rish and Kanish's 'Namaslay' promises kitchen sink filmmaking, but struggles to deliver on its biggest ideas.
certifiedforgotten.com
August 5, 2026 at 3:42 PM
"NAMASLAY has every intention in the world of blending SUSPIRA with South Asian folklore onscreen, but what works as a dark comedy never makes the leap to action-horror." NAMASLAY has a fun name and some great ideas, but falls just short of making it work.
We're doing something different with this week's episode: we recorded the podcast in two chunks, so you can hear our thoughts both before and after watching SOULM8TE.
Podcast: 'Soulm8te' Gets Uncertified
In this special episode of Certified Forgotten, Matt Donato and Matthew Monagle record before and after seeing Kate Dolan's 'Soulm8te.'
certifiedforgotten.com
August 3, 2026 at 7:49 PM
We're doing something different with this week's episode: we recorded the podcast in two chunks, so you can hear our thoughts both before and after watching SOULM8TE.
Bear with us: we're tinkering with a new (old) format for the podcast this weekend.
The Rewind
We're mixing things up a little (A LITTLE) with the Certified Forgotten podcast.
certified-forgotten.beehiiv.com
July 31, 2026 at 9:13 PM
Bear with us: we're tinkering with a new (old) format for the podcast this weekend.
"Emily St. John Mandel had it right: to the monsters, we’re the monsters." Before STRANGER THINGS, the Duffer Brothers showed off their sci-fi bonafides in HIDDEN, their debut feature.
'Hidden' Shows the Power of a Good Twist Ending
Before 'Stranger Things,' the Duffer Brothers reminded us of the power of a good twist ending in 'Hidden,' their debut feature.
certifiedforgotten.com
July 31, 2026 at 3:42 PM
"Emily St. John Mandel had it right: to the monsters, we’re the monsters." Before STRANGER THINGS, the Duffer Brothers showed off their sci-fi bonafides in HIDDEN, their debut feature.
"The animated young ladies who attended Miss Grimwood’s Finishing School for Girls in 1988’s SCOOBY-DOO AND THE GHOUL SCHOOL hold the honor of introducing the most iconic monsters in horror to a generation of adolescent girls."
‘Scooby-Doo and the Ghoul School’ Was Universal Monsters 101 | Certified Forgotten
Hanna-Barbera introduced the Universal Monsters to a new generation of female horror fans with 1988's 'Scooby-Doo and the Ghoul School.'
certifiedforgotten.com
July 27, 2026 at 9:07 PM
"The animated young ladies who attended Miss Grimwood’s Finishing School for Girls in 1988’s SCOOBY-DOO AND THE GHOUL SCHOOL hold the honor of introducing the most iconic monsters in horror to a generation of adolescent girls."
This week on Certified Forgotten: @louispeitzman.bsky.social joins The Matts to discuss PHANTOM OF THE MALL, colon, ERIC'S REVENGE.
Podcast: Louis Peitzman on 'Phantom of the Mall'
Freelance writer and podcast host Louis Peitzman joins Certified Forgotten to discuss Richard Friedman's 'Phantom of the Mall.'
certifiedforgotten.com
July 27, 2026 at 3:42 PM
This week on Certified Forgotten: @louispeitzman.bsky.social joins The Matts to discuss PHANTOM OF THE MALL, colon, ERIC'S REVENGE.