A retro pop culture podcast exploring 80s & 90s movies, cult classic cinema, nostalgic TV, toys, and gaming deep dives with Kevin, Brad, and Justin.
Part of The Lions Den Podcast Network
Back to the Past Podcast: Sometimes Dead Is Better: Revisiting Pet Sematary (1989)
This week on Back to the Past Podcast, we dig up one of the most unsettling horror films of the late '80s: Mary Lambert's Pet Sematary (1989), adapted from Stephen King's novel. Louis Creed moves his family to rural Maine, where a creepy burial ground beyond the pet cemetery promises to bring back what you've lost. It doesn't go well.
We look at why this movie still gets under people's skin and why it holds a special place in the VHS-era horror boom. Along the way we share our own first-viewing memories and decide whether it holds up today.
Key Topics Covered:
The plot and the Creed family's move to Ludlow, Maine
How Stephen King wrote the screenplay himself, and what changed from the novel
Fred Gwynne as Jud Crandall, and the film's strong cast
Zelda, Victor Pascow, and some of the most memorable scares in '80s horror
The film's themes of grief, death, and the lengths people go to for the ones they love
The Ramones' "Pet Sematary" and its place in the film's legacy
Behind-the-scenes trivia and filming locations
Gage, and why that storyline still disturbs people decades later
Our final verdict: does it still hold up?
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To share your memories about Pet Sematary from 1989, visit us at BacktothePastPodcast.com (https://backtothepastpodcast.com)!
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23 Sept 2026
Back to the Past Podcast: Back to School (1986) – Rodney Dangerfield's Comedy Masterclass
Get ready for no respect and big laughs! On this episode of the Back to the Past Podcast, we're heading back to campus with the 1986 comedy classic Back to School, starring the legendary Rodney Dangerfield.
Join us as we breakdown self-made millionaire Thornton Melon's hilarious return to college to help his struggling son pass his classes, survive fraternity life, and master the legendary Triple Lindy dive. We dive deep into Rodney's signature comedic timing, the iconic supporting performances by Robert Downey Jr. and Sam Kinison, behind-the-scenes trivia, and why this '80s movie favorite still holds up today.
Whether you're an '80s movie nostalgia fan, a standalone Rodney Dangerfield enthusiast, or just looking for a good laugh, press play and hit the books with us!
Key Topics Covered:
Thornton Melon's best one-liners and classic Rodney Dangerfield comedy style
Early career standout performance by Robert Downey Jr. as Derek Lutz
Sam Kinison's unhinged, unforgettable history teacher scene
Deep dive into the famous "Triple Lindy" dive sequence
How Back to School compares to other classic 1980s college comedies
Don't forget to subscribe, rate, and leave a review wherever you listen to podcasts!
To share your memories about Back to School, visit us at BacktothePastPodcast.com (https://backtothepastpodcast.com)!
There you can do the following and more:
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Support the show by shopping the great products that we have added via affiliate links
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If you have any feedback or questions about The Lions Den Podcast Network, please email Spanky at: thelionsdenpodcast32@gmail.com
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9 Sept 2026
Transformers: the Movie (1986)
In 1986, Hasbro changed childhood forever by bringing The Transformers: The Movie to the big screen—and traumatizing an entire generation by killing off Optimus Prime. In this episode, we dive deep into the 1986 animated classic that bridged the gap between Season 2 and Season 3 of the original G1 series.
Join us as we break down:
The Voice Cast & Characters: From Orson Welles' final role as the planet-eating Unicron to Leonard Nimoy as Galvatron, plus Rodimus Prime, Megatron, Ultra Magnus, and Soundwave.
The Traumatizing Plot Points: The Battle of Autobot City, the passing of the Matrix of Leadership, and the shocking character deaths that rewrote 80s pop culture.
The Iconic Soundtrack: Vince DiCola's synth score, Stan Bush's "The Touch," and Weird Al Yankovic's "Dare to Be Stupid".
Legacy & Nostalgia: Why this toy-selling feature film became a beloved cult classic, "more than meets the eye".
Whether you're a die-hard Generation 1 fan or discovering Cybertron for the first time, light your darkest hour and hit play!
For all things Back to the Past Podcast, including all of our social media links, topic suggestions and our shop full of great items (affiliate links), please visit us at BacktothePastPodcast.com!
Please support our sponsors:
Stark Roofing LLC (https://www.starkroofingllc.com/)
AllStar Fence STL (https://www.facebook.com/AllStarFenceStl)
Granite Pros, LLC
Comfortable Carla's Heating & Cooling
Terri Anne The Moon & Back Photography and Doula Services
Spanky's Tote Rental
If you have any feedback or questions about The Lions Den Podcast Network, please email Spanky at: thelionsdenpodcast32@gmail.com
Also please "Like" and DM The Lions Den Podcast Facebook Page here.
You can also follow The Lions Den Podcast on:
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Feel free to DM us at The "2 Dumb Dads" Show Facebook Page.
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