Skip to Content

Episode 28: The Matt Donato Horror-igin Story

Matt Donato Certified Forgotten

Matt Donato

Last month, one of our listeners asked us a very good question: when are you going to take a deep dive into your horror origins? While we may talk all things horror with our guests, we'd never really turned the microphone back on ourselves. So what better time to share some of the experiences that shaped us as hosts?

In the first of this special two-part series, Matt Donato opens up about his early experiences with horror, including the group of friends that brought him into the horror community. And if that wasn't enough, Donato also shares how his serial-killer-catching father (true story) helped influence his upbringing.

If you're in the mood for more personal commentary from Matt, check out these articles:

"How I Conquered My Fears of Chucky" (/Film)
In this article, Donato shares how influential - and, at times, terrifying - the Child's Play series has been throughout his life.

"How 'The Farewell' Helped Me Say Goodbye" (/Film)
Donato pays homage to the wonderful life of his grandmother - and the award-winning movie about family that helped him find his closure.

"The 10 Movies That Saved Us This Decade" (/Film)
In this year-end list, Donato shares the ten movies that helped him both survive and thrive during the 2010s.

Want to learn even more about the founders of Certified Forgotten? Listen to the Matthew Monagle episode on Spotify or Apple Podcasts and check out the rest of our podcast episodes on our Podcasts page.

If you enjoyed this article, please share it on social media! Word of mouth is everything for independent publications likes ours.

Stay in touch

Sign up for our free newsletter

More from Certified Forgotten

In ‘Cam,’ Everyone’s a Copy and Nobody Cares

Christine Makepeace explains why Daniel Goldhaber and Isa Mazzei’s 'Cam' is a prescient warning against a digital dystopia.

‘Backrooms’ Review: An Empty Exercise in Liminal Storytelling

Kane Parsons may have hit it big with 'Backrooms,' but his debut feature is still an exercise in style without substance.

June 1, 2026

‘The Unknown’ Review: An Unnerving Body-Swap Slow Burn

With 'The Unknown,' 'Anatomy of a Fall' co-writer Arthur Harari directs a masterclass in unnerving tension.

May 27, 2026

‘Passenger’ Review: The Spirit of the ’90s Is Alive in Your Van

André Øvredal's 'Passenger' is a throwback to '90s horror that is always just clever enough to never overstay its welcome.

May 26, 2026

Podcast: ‘Obsession’ Gets Uncertified

In this episode of the Certified Forgotten podcast, Matt Donato and Matt Monagle fall in love with Curry Barker's 'Obsession.'

May 23, 2026

‘Killer Karaoke’ Seeks a Bloody Harmony Between the Goofy and the Sincere

In this edition of his Hopping Mad series, Rob Hunter sings his own love song to Siwakorn Charupongsa's 'Killer Karaoke.'

May 22, 2026
See all posts