Friday, April 29, 2016

Requiem for Killer POV

by Patrick Bromley
Time to say goodbye to my favorite podcast.

RIP POV.

Today, the RONDO AWARD WINNING podcast Killer POV posted their 140th and final episode. Needless to say, I am very sad about this. As anyone who has followed our site or podcast for the last few years can attest, I have been a very vocal champion of what I think is the very best horror podcast on the internet and the show in any medium -- broadcast TV, cable, satellite radio -- to which I most look forward every week. I have written several articles about some of my favorite episodes. I reference the show or something they have said or a movie they've recommended on at least every other episode of our podcast. Killer POV has been very important in my life.

I'm proud to say that I've turned several others on to the show (including our friend/listener Dennis Atherton, who quickly became their biggest and most persistent fan), because that's the point of a site devoted to criticism and celebrating the things we love: to hopefully spread the word and turn others on to great art. The three hosts, Rob Galluzzo, Elric Kane and Rebekah McKendry -- whom I once dubbed "the Beatles of horror podcasting," a label I stand behind -- have been instrumental in making me a better movie fan, whether it's seeking out movies I otherwise wouldn't have because I prejudged them or, as was more often the case, because I wasn't even aware it existed (I'm looking at you, They're Playing With Fire). They taught me to appreciate the good aspects of movies I maybe didn't otherwise like, or to at least to celebrate the sense of fun in movies that could otherwise be dismissed. Nothing has shaped my viewing habits more in the last three years than Killer POV.
But they didn't just shape my tastes -- they influenced the horror habits of thousands of fans a week, all of whom they would interact with on social media and in the comments section on Geek Nation, creating a real sense of community. When news outlets were falling over themselves to report that St. Vincent would be directing a segment in the upcoming all-female horror anthology XX, they failed to acknowledge that the story broke during Karyn Kusama's interview on Killer POV. Bob Murawski revealed plans for a sequel to The Beyond that never happened -- brilliantly titled Beyond the Beyond -- on Killer POV. Without Killer POV, it's possible that Jeremy Gardner's The Battery wouldn't have gotten a wide release from Scream Factory, which would have been a crime as it's one of the best horror movies of the last five years. They have been written up as essential listening by none other than Entertainment Weekly. And just a few weeks ago after two years of being nominated but coming up short, Killer POV won the Rondo Award for Best Multi-Media Site (full disclosure: I have voted for the show for the last three years and probably never would have voted in the Rondos otherwise -- such is the fans' connection to the show and its hosts). Theirs was a real impact.
It's a lasting impact, too. The three hosts are not going away. Rob Galluzzo and Rebekah McKendry continue to write for Blumhouse.com every day, and I suspect we'll be seeing a feature film from Elric Kane sooner than later. Having heard the final episode (in which they graciously give a shout out to yours truly), I'm hoping we see or hear or read the three collaborating again in the near future. Their absence will be felt in the meantime, but they leave us with 140 episodes of insightful, intelligent, warm and funny conversations about horror movies. I'll repeat what I've said in the past: there are a lot of podcasts about horror movies. A LOT. I have tried to listen to many of them. None can come close to touching the knowledge, the chemistry or the sense of joy and curiosity the three Killer POV hosts have not just about horror movies but about film in general.

True story: my wife and I are planning a trip out to L.A. this summer to see family and ensure that Doug's baby daughter gets into heaven. We'll be doing some other stuff while we're out there and when Erika asked me "What's the one thing you'd like to do while we're there?" I responded "Hang out on Killer POV." Of course the show ended before that could happen, because that is my life.

So goodbye, Killer POV. You gave us hours of free entertainment and camaraderie. You shared your work and your lives with us. You deserved the loyalty and passion of the fans you cultivated and all of the accolades you received. You got me to watch Ticks, but you also introduced me to Messiah of Evil and The Pit and countless other films that I'm thankful to have in my life. Rest assured, wherever you go next, I will be there.

We all will.


30 comments:

  1. I just started listening to this great podcast, and was surprised today when the latest episode was described as being the last. At first I thought they were merely taking the summer off, but sadly this isn't the case.

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  2. I got turned on to the podcast sometime last year, after hearing them mentioned on, The Movie Crypt (another great podcast on Geek Nation). I've been getting the vibe that they were about to end the show these past few weeks. Sorry to see them go, but I'm glad for the dearth of back episodes I've yet to catch up on. The list of movies I need to watch has been getting out of hand since I started listening, and that is definitely a good thing!

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  3. Aw, man. I love that show. I've been neglecting it lately (shame on me) so I wasn't aware it's over. Well, let this be further proof that FThisMovie cannot ever, ever end because we would all die inside.

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  4. I couldn't agree more with you, Patrick. I discovered F This Movie because of Killer POV. And I'm celebrating this amazing podcast by going back to number one and starting all over! Also, thanks for all you do as well!

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  5. I couldn't agree more with you, Patrick. I discovered F This Movie because of Killer POV. And I'm celebrating this amazing podcast by going back to number one and starting all over! Also, thanks for all you do as well!

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  6. Speaking of great podcasts like Killer POV, thanks to Patrick and F This Movie and their great support for others out there in the movie podcasting genre, I was able to find another great one called "Saturday Night Movie Sleepovers." I heard of this podcast on one of the F This Movie editions and quickly checked it out. Its now one of my favs. Thank you again Patrick and F This Movie for all that you do.

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    1. Hey thank you RunawayDuelRig for the mention and the support! Viva F This Movie!

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  7. Thanks for this Patrick, you are really great with words, Wed for Fthismovie and Friday for Killerpov were my movie fix highlights each week, Fthismovie keeps me in touch with all movies and a great community of friends and Killerpov gave me my 80s horror love fix with an intelligent twist, I always felt weird and kinda like the odd one out because I love and keep watching 80s horror movies but these 3 shared and understood my love, I feel kinda empty today, this year sucks....

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  8. Hearing about this seriously broke my heart. I love Killer Pov so much and I really want to thank you Patrick because you were the one who turned me on to it and I've discovered so many horror movies that I love because of that podcast. I truly looked forward to it every week just like F This Movie and I really feel a loss today. I hope F This Movie lasts until Patrick and the crew are all elderly and can't even form a thought anymore because I don't think I could handle losing this show too. Farewell to Killer Pov.

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  9. Thanks, Patrick. I was very upset when I heard the news. I couldn't listen to their last podcast, right away. I didn't want it to end so I didn't want to listen. That lasted an hour and then I listened. I am 90% sure that the 3 of them have a different podcast lined up. The way they ended it was very anticlimactic and hurried. Either they hate each other or they are just transcending to another. They obviously don't hate each other so I have to believe they are coming back in some capacity. Maybe I'm just being hopeful but that is what I choose to believe. If it weren't for F this movie, I would have never heard of them. I have listened to all the episodes 3 times and will go back and do it again. Most of the time, I would rather listen to this podcast or KillerPOV instead of watching movies.
    I quote Vigo from Ghostbusters II:
    Death is but a doorway, time is but a window, they'll be back...

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    1. Damn I hope your right, There was lots of hints, Jason goes to hell isent the final movie, it was short and rushed, only an hour, it did not feel right for a proper ending, and I was looking forward to the Rhonda talk, they never really spoke about the awards, maybe Elric might dissappear for a while because he has traction on his movie Black Sunrise, but I have high hopes for Bekah and Rob and Blumhouse doing something why wouldn't they, free advertising for Blumhouse movies too

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    2. Michael GiammarinoMay 1, 2016 at 1:06 AM

      Blumcast, perhaps?

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    3. BlumhousePov

      Blumcast is a good callback to Bloodcast though...

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  10. Really bummed! Such a good podcast. Hope this is their version of "Empire". Please come back.

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  11. Ok update


    I have been reading all the KillerPOV tweets as soon as there out, they are planning to have Scream factory back on! "We ain't quitters have we ever let you down before". And last week Rob said we ain't doing a podcast this week but for a very good reason, quitting isent a very good reason, something is going on guys, there is hope....

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    1. Elric

      "Never fear, I have a few more thoughts left to share, stay tuned...."

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    2. Are they messing with us Dennis?

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    3. I don't think that is there style.....

      but I am a dreamer

      My guess is something is coming, most likely a Blumhouse podcast, they already have Rob and Bekah and Ryan turek, Fingers crossed

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    4. Wouldn't be the same without Elric

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  12. I agree, we need Elric too, we wil lose him at some point for his movie, but hopefully he will be back, Turek would be a good stand in for when Elric is away but we need the Killerpov three for sure, the dynamic isent there when any of them is away

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    1. Have faith, guys! I was at a 90% but now I'm at about a 99% they are coming back. I think they were leaving Geek Nation and didn't want to go out on bad terms by talking about where they're going. And all the hints they've been giving it's becoming pretty obvious. I'm betting it's all three of them, as well.

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    2. They did say they were going to stick together I'm hopeful too

      Latest tweet says

      "Death is never the end, especially with horror

      Ambiguous but positive

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  13. What a great tribute to a great podcast Patrick. This is just starting to sink in. I have to drive from Cleveland to Buffalo every couple weeks, and nothing made that drive better than a nice 2 1/2 hour Killer POV episode. I'm confident they'll be back in some format in the future, but Fridays are gonna be different for a while.

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  15. Now Rob G is posting the line from Scream

    "Because lets,face it, Nowadays you gotta have a sequel baby"

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  16. Am I reading this correctly? You're going to LA to kill Doug's daughter?

    Great write-up, Patrick and thanks - you brought this great podcast to my attention and that's why I've named the little lump of heartache I felt throbbing in my chest all weekend "Bromley".

    Also, Detective Atherton's investigations aside, we all know how final anything that "Goes to Hell" ends up being, right?

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    1. Yep, after going to hell Jason goes into space! There is no limits...

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  17. Everybody probably knows this by now (I just got off work and great, though somewhat expected, news!)

    http://www.blumhouse.com/Podcast/

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