The Pod Universe with Dylan & Dalton

As War of the Worlds production continues through some unfortunate delays, we're pulling a recent bonus episode out from behind the paywall to help tide you over. Enjoy Studio Mandate pitches based on Phantom of the Paradise (featuring Carol and Jenny from the Dark Universe!) and Killer Klowns from Outer Space (featuring the star-crossed warriors from Last Flight of the Stone Hammer). Plus, reviews of a few spring movie releases and a look back at Billy Wilder's 1960 classic, The Apartment.CHAPTERS00:00:00 - War of the Worlds progress update00:01:11 - Intro and Bev Check00:05:13 - Dalton's bachelor trip00:12:57 - At Da Movies: They Will Kill You00:13:54 - At Da Movies: Faces of Death00:23:08 - At Da Movies: The Drama00:27:20 - At Da Movies: Project Hail Mary00:37:49 - Studio Mandate: Phantom of the Paradise00:48:20 - The Pitch01:07:07 - The Dylterion Collection: The Apartment01:18:19 - Studio Mandate: Killer Klowns from Outer Space01:37:07 - Nominations are open!

Dylan, Dalton, and Sarah review the new non-Universal monster movie, "Lee Cronin's The Mummy," which takes the basic conceit of "What if there was a mummy?" and goes in a very different direction. We don't mind different! But does this new feature hold up as either a Mummy movie or the Exorcist movie it plainly wants to be? PLUS: A sneak preview at the forthcoming Pod Universe crossover spectacular, WAR OF THE WORLDS!CHAPTERS00:00:00 - Intro00:01:12 - Why we're here00:04:16 - What makes a Mummy movie?00:12:46 - Lee Cronin's approach00:16:31 - Unpacking the story00:22:48 - Where does it go wrong?00:28:09 - Quirky filmmaking, bland characters00:37:48 - CGI sand and CGI bugs00:47:51 - Let's talk about that ending00:55:02 - Our final verdict00:57:28 - Sneak peak at War of the Worlds01:05:00 - What's next for The Pod Universe?

A new era begins on our bonus pod, Are You Afraid of Dylan & Dalton? in which Patrons get more control over what movies we watch and what stories we tell!This month, we are pitching a Dark Universe horror movie version of THE BOSS BABY. That's right, the Patrons have spoken and the very first movie elected to the Studio Mandate queue is the Dreamworks animated feature in which Alec Baldwin plays a newborn baby who means business.You can help select our next Studio Mandate by joining the Patreon! $25/mo subscribers get to nominate a movie every month, and those nominees get voted on by all subscribers at the $8/mo level or higher. And of course, all paid subscribers get to listen to the results. Nominations for next month's Mandate open RIGHT NOW, so if you're a Studio Executive subscriber, hit us up via DM on Patreon or Discord and we'll put your choice on the ballot.

Despite Dylan's doubts, the first half of his new script "Merge Conflict" gave Dalton (and our audience) chills! But now that his first proper horror script is taking its necessary turn into the realm of science fiction, will it still satisfy? Will it fulfill the precious promise of the premise? One way to find out. This episode is brought to you by... AXOLOTL WITH A GUN - a new RPG you can support on Kickstarter: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/residentbard/axolotl-with-a-gun-2nd-edition?ref=csa26yYOUR FAVORITE BAD MOVIE PODCAST - which you can find on your favorite podcatcherAnd of course our Patreon, which you can join for $5 a month and enjoy our wonderful Discord community and bonus pod, and participate in our revamped STUDIO MANDATES program, Patreon.com/DylanAndDaltonCHAPTERS00:00:00 - Opening00:04:24 - Act Two, Part Two00:19:28 - Sponsor: Axolotl with a Gun00:21:05 - Discussion00:43:17 - Sponsor: Your Favorite Bad Movie Podcast00:44:45 - Discussion00:44:26 - Act Three00:59:25 - Mid-Credits scene01:01:11 - Post-Credits scene01:02:29 - An update about Studio Mandates01:05:54 - Discussion

Gamer and YouTuber extraordinaire TULOK THE BARBRARIAN has come to drag Dylan & Dalton back to the DARK UNIVERSE in this massive guest episode! For the first time, a guest has brought in a full-length script to read, and it’s a gnarly reinterpretation of the classic folk tale The Pied Piper. We’ve gone all out for this one!Who is this menacing musician, and how does his story connect to our thirty-part cinematic universe of monster movies? (Don’t worry, no previous Dark Universe experience is required.)SPONSORSDon’t miss our charity livestream on Friday, January 23rd at 8pm ET, over on the Tulok the Barbrarian YouTube channel! We’ll be running a one-shot game set in the same Dark Universe as this episode, guest starring fan-favorite guests Stella Sacco and Kendra Wells.You can back the new sourcebook Formula Infiniti at TTRPG.link/speedofsadAnd you can find Coffee Nick’s Movie Picks wherever you listen to podcasts.CHAPTERS00:00:00 - Intro00:03:40 - Our guest, Tulok!00:06:38 - Why the Pied Piper?00:13:05 - Tulok brought a gift00:14:00 - The Surprise00:20:31 - Announcing our upcoming charity stream00:26:52 - Trigger warnings00:27:35 - Act One00:45:01 - Discussion00:54:43 - Act Two01:06:16 - Discussion01:17:59 - Back to Act Two01:32:06 - Discussion01:39:02 - Act Three02:09:48 - Discussion02:29:24 - Coming attractions and patron acknowledgements

Months ago, Emmy-winning writer and author Daniel Kibblesmith was driving through Burbank, California when he made an astounding realization - The Grinch is a Universal Monster. Therefore, he is eligible for inclusion in the Dark Universe, the sprawling film franchise that was launched in 2017, immediately scrapped, and then continued by Dylan & Dalton on the previous incarnation of their podcast!What are Daniel's plans for the green meanie with a penchant for devilry and a hatred of Christmas? Let's find out...SPONSORSYou can search for the Frankencast wherever you listen to podcasts.Check out TOWNIE(S), a TTRPG by Jellyfishlines, at https://jellyfishlines.carrd.co/And you can find Spooky Aurora's White City at retrofit-games-company.itch.ioAnd as always you can join our Patreon - Patreon.com/DylanAndDaltonCHAPTERS00:00:00 - Intro00:03:25 - Our guest, Daniel Kibblesmith!00:06:56 - Some Grinch history00:31:10 - Sponsors: The Frankencast & TOWNIE(S)00:32:29 - Casting the Grinch 00:35:19 - Daniel's pitch00:52:46 - Workshopping the pitch01:25:26 - Sponsor: The White City01:26:40 - What's coming up on the pod?

Filmmaker Vera Drew (The People's Joker) joins Dylan & Dalton to pitch her own wild reboot to one of Hollywood's most gargantuan film franchises: Jurassic Park! How will this outsider artist interpret Universal's king-sized cash cow? How did Spielberg's popcorn classic influence her own award-winning feature film? And what the hell does Russ Meyer have to do with all of this? Tune in to find out!LINKS & SPONSORSFind out where to watch Vera's feature film at https://thepeoplesjoker.comCheck out Spooky Aurora's The White City at https://retrofit-games-company.itch.io/spooky-auroras-white-cityListen to VI Degrees of Star Wars at https://6dosw.buzzsprout.com/And use the link rpgzine.club/ZineUniverse to check out RPG Zine Club and make sure to know we sent you!As always, you can support our show at Patreon.com/DylanAndDalton or buy our merchandise at shop.thepoduniverse.comCHAPTERS00:00:00 - Introducing Vera Drew00:10:55 - Why Jurassic Park?00:22:01 - The Disappointing Sequels00:48:30 - Sponsors - Spooky Aurora's The White City, VI Degrees of Star Wars00:50:56 - Vera's Pitch01:32:49 - Sponsor - RPG Zine Club01:34:31 - Previews and Acknowledgements

In 1944, scientists in the employ of the United States Military were on the cusp of the most consequential discoveries in history. Fearing that the US might use their invention — an atomic fusion bomb — to hold the world hostage, a few of its creators attempted to leak its specifications to the Soviet Union. One tried to stop its construction altogether. This is his story — but in our Pod Universe, nothing is quite so simple as a spy drama, is it?It's Dalton's first solo pitch of the Pod Universe, and like Dylan's space opera, it's a big swing! Will this historical sci-fi thriller capture the interest of the Pod Universe faithful? Has Dalton stepped too far out of their monster movie wheelhouse?Only one way to find out.OUR SPONSORS:Ritual Deck RPG: plusoneexp.comThe FrankencastReturn to Blacktail Harbor: roguecentaur.itch.io/blacktailOUR PATREON: patreon.com/dylananddaltonOUT SHOP: shop.thepoduniverse.comCHAPTERS00:00:00 - Cold Open00:04:21 - Predictions and Expectations00:21:30 - Act One00:45:17 - Sponsor: Ritual Deck RPG00:46:05 - Discussion01:02:13 - Act Two (part one)01:26:29 - Sponsors: The Frankencast & Return to Blacktail Harbor01:29:04 - Discussion01:40:32 - Previews & Acknolwedgments

It's the (hopefully) thrilling conclusion of Dylan's space sci-fi drama, Last Flight of the Stone Hammer! Will the Ley-to and Eridai find a way to survive this cosmic calamity? And what will this mean for our Pod Universe going forward?PLUS: Check out Dalton's newest single, a refreshed and rearranged "Some Dark Magik," at the end of this episode.THIS WEEK'S SPONSORS:Vampirocene by merritt k. - When viral pop star Janie Mack "comes out" as a vampire, most people think it's just a play for attention. But when she launches a new movement to stop climate change, people start listening... - merrittk.itch.io/vampiroceneReturn to Blacktail Harbor by Rogue Centaur - A single-player murder mystery journaling game, where you play as a guest investigating the mysterious events surrounding the wedding and try to stay alive. - Roguecentaur.Itch.Io/BlacktailThe Frankencast by Mad Scientist Anthony Bowman - If you’re missing Frankenstein after the conclusion of the Dark Universe, the Frankencast has been watching a discussing Frankenstein movies for over 200 episodes.And as always you can check out our merch on shop.thepoduniverse.com or support us directly on Patreon. https://Patreon.com/DylanAndDaltonCHAPTERS00:00:00 - Discussion00:09:56 - Previously On00:14:37 - Act Two Part Two00:25:09 - Ad Break 100:26:02 - Ad Break 200:27:13 - Discussion00:38:34 - Act Three01:00:05 - Ad Break 301:00:44 - Mid-Credits Scene01:02:41 - Discussion01:22:59 - “Some Dark Magik”

CONTENT WARNING: This episode is about "The Happening," a film in which a toxin compels people to kill themselves in a variety of weird and novel ways. If you are sensitive to the topic of suicide or self-harm, this might not be for you.Emmy-winning writer and comedian Josh Gondelman visits the Pod Universe to re-examine M. Night Shyamalan's disastrous disaster movie, "The Happening." What makes this potentially poignant thriller so disappointing, and how would Josh do it differently if he could remake it after the COVID-19 outbreak?Also, should Ted from the movie "Ted" be involved? (No. No he shouldn't. We're trying to make a serious movie over here.)OUR SPONSORS: Dim Stars: A Novel of Outer-Space Shenanigans PV Guide BloodboundSign up for our Patreon!CHAPTERS 00:00:00 - Introducing our guest 00:11:30 - Let's talk about The Happening (2008) 00:55:32 - Sponsor: Dim Stars 00:56:43 - Josh's pitch 01:44:54 - Sponsor: PV Guide 01:46:04 - Trailer: Last Flight of the Stone Hammer 01:49:38 - Sponsor: Bloodbound 01:50:34 - What's coming up?

It's the opening chapter of Dylan & Dalton's original cinematic universe of imaginary sci-fi movies!Pod People is a sci-fi thriller set in Silicon Valley, where a pair of brilliant young engineers discover that their employers, their co-workers, and maybe even their friends and family are being systematically replaced by doppelgängers. But for what purpose, and how deep does the conspiracy go?It’s a modern riff on 1950s paranoid thrillers, most obviously Invasion of the Body Snatchers, but if you know us, then you know we’ve got our own wild twist on the premise.SPONSORS Has to Do With Spider-Man, I Think? - a podcast that expands on Sony's failed cinematic universe of Spider-Man characters Bloodbound - a fantasy/espionage/romance novel series by Chase McPherson Vampirocene - a horror novella by merritt k.And of course you can join our Patreon at Patreon.com/DylanAndDalton for access to our bonus podcast, Discord server, and other fun perks.CHAPTERS 00:00:00 - Cold Open 00:04:10 - Discussion 00:15:04 - Act One 00:45:07 - Sponsors: Has to Do With Spider-Man, I Think? & Bloodbound by Chase McPherson 00:54:31 - Act Two 01:22:36 - Sponsor: Vampirocene by merritt. k 01:23:24 - Discussion 01:29:37 - Patron acknowledgements