Explorez tous les épisodes du podcast Journey Through Sci-Fi: Science Fiction Film History
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| A Message from Mars (1913): The First Friendly Alien | 09 Sep 2026 | 00:50:04 | |
Where does the friendly alien begin? Not with E.T., but with a Martian exiled to Edwardian London to reform the most selfish man alive. Journey Through Sci-Fi returns with a brand new series. We Come in Peace traces the history of friendly aliens on screen. In this opener we set out the stall: what makes a visitor friendly rather than hostile, why everything gets measured against E.T., and how one mistranslated Italian word put Martians in our heads. Then we go back to 1913 and A Message from Mars, widely held to be the first British science fiction film. Ramiel, a Martian stripped of his rank and banished to Earth, has to reform a selfish London bachelor called Horace Parker. It is A Christmas Carol with a spaceman, and almost every benevolent visitor since owes it something. In this episode:
Also discussed: E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial, Cocoon, Batteries Not Included, Earth Girls Are Easy, It Came from Outer Space, Aelita: Queen of Mars, A Princess of Mars, Project Hail Mary and Armageddon. Watch along with us. A Message from Mars is free on BFI Replay: https://replay.bfi.org.uk/video/7f470ecc-3ccd-5cde-aca0-ac97153f8ecd Lizards or courtiers? Tell us what you saw. Next time: The Day the Earth Stood Still (1951) meets its 2008 remake. Hosted and produced by James Payne and Matt Willcock. Edited by James Payne. Bonus episodes on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/journeythroughscifi Join the JTSF Logbook our free newsletter: https://journeythroughscifi.beehiiv.com Full back catalogue and everything else: https://journeythroughscifi.com Follow the show so you never miss an episode, and if you can a review or a share costs nothing and helps a lot. Journey Through Sci-Fi is part of the Evolution of Horror Network. | |||
| We Come in Peace! Series Trailer | 26 Aug 2026 | 00:01:39 | |
Some of them came to warn us. Some of them just wanted to go home. We Come in Peace is a new series from Journey Through Sci-Fi, tracing the friendly alien across a century of film and television. We start in the earliest days of visitors from other worlds and work our way to the present, asking how and why that image kept changing. Along the way: The Day the Earth Stood Still, It Came from Outer Space, Warning from Space, Close Encounters of the Third Kind, E.T., Starman, Cocoon, Alien Nation, Coneheads, Men in Black, The Iron Giant, Arrival and plenty more. Episode one arrives (in peace) on 10 September, with new episodes every other week. Journey Through Sci-Fi is part of the EOH network. Hosted by James Payne and Matt Willcock. Follow the show wherever you get your podcasts so you don't miss the first episode. | |||
| Sci-Fi Starter Pack: Star Wars, Blade Runner, The Matrix, Mad Max & More | 30 Jul 2026 | 00:26:31 | |
New to Journey Through Sci-Fi? Start here. Before we launch our next full series on friendly aliens, we're taking a journey back through the archive with a special starter pack episode, featuring some of our favourite clips from past series. Across this episode, we revisit some of the biggest ideas in sci-fi cinema: the mythic storytelling of the original Star Wars trilogy, the artificial intelligence and uneasy humanity of Blade Runner, the time-loop perfection of Groundhog Day, the simulated reality of The Matrix, the collapsing world of Mad Max, and the haunted-house-in-space horror of Event Horizon. Featuring discussions of:
Whether you're a longtime listener revisiting old favourites or a new listener looking for the best place to begin, this episode is a guided tour through the many worlds, subgenres and strange obsessions of Journey Through Sci-Fi. Our new series, We Come in Peace, exploring the history of friendly aliens on screen, begins soon. Follow Journey Through Sci-Fi now so you don't miss it. | |||
| Disclosure Day: Spielberg and the Return of Friendly Aliens | 24 Jun 2026 | 00:08:22 | |
A little bonus transmission from the JTSF Patreon feed. We've been chatting about Spielberg's Disclosure Day, and because our next main-feed series is all about the history of friendly aliens in sci-fi cinema, this felt like the perfect thing to share. In this spoiler-light extract, we talk Spielberg returning to alien territory, why big first-contact movies feel rarer now, and how Disclosure Day turns the friendly alien story into something closer to a conspiracy thriller for the misinformation age. The full spoiler episode is available now on Patreon, where we get into the ending, the film's bigger ideas, and whether good old Stevie has still got it when it comes to visitors from the stars.
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| The Mad Science Movie Awards: 58 Films, So Many Bad Ideas | 06 May 2026 | 01:34:00 | |
We close out our Mad Science series the only way we know how: with a very serious, deeply prestigious and completely unofficial Mad Science Film Awards. After 58 films and more than a century of sci-fi cinema, we look back at the scientists, monsters, labs, experiments and terrible decisions that defined the season. From Frankenstein, Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde and The Invisible Man to The Fly, Re-Animator, Jurassic Park, Get Out and Poor Things, we trace how mad science evolved from gothic cautionary tales to atomic-age anxiety, body horror, corporate genetics, surveillance, consent and control. Categories include Best Mad Scientist, Biggest Ego in a Lab Coat, Most Unethical Experiment, Best Creation, Best Lab, Hidden Gem and the big one: Best Mad Science Movie. 🚀 Join The JTSF Logbook
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| Mad Science in Star Trek: Khan, Bashir and the Eugenics Wars | 22 Apr 2026 | 00:59:37 | |
This week on Journey Through Sci-Fi, we head into the Star Trek universe to explore one of its most enduring mad science taboos: genetic engineering. From Space Seed and the rise of Khan to Enterprise's Augments arc and Deep Space Nine's shocking Bashir reveal, we trace how Star Trek keeps returning to the dangers of trying to "improve" humanity. Along the way, we get into the Eugenics Wars, creator-creation relationships, scientific hubris, and why a utopian future still casts a long shadow over forbidden science. Plus: Brent Spiner being superbly awful, Bashir's identity crisis, and why this theme runs through Star Trek for more than 200 years of in-universe history. Episodes discussed: Also referenced: | |||
| Frankenstein (2025) & The Bride! (2026): Mad Science Comes Full Circle | 09 Apr 2026 | 01:32:05 | |
What happens when one of sci-fi's oldest stories is reimagined for a modern audience? In this episode of Journey Through Sci-Fi, we return to the origin of mad science — Mary Shelley's Frankenstein — through two new adaptations: Frankenstein (2025), directed by Guillermo del Toro, and The Bride! (2026), directed by Maggie Gyllenhaal. This isn't just another adaptation. It's a full-circle moment for the genre. From the obsessive creator who dares to make life… to the creation who refuses to belong to him, these films show how the Frankenstein myth has evolved over 200 years of science fiction. In this episode we explore: • Why Frankenstein is still the blueprint for every mad scientist story From gothic horror roots to modern sci-fi storytelling, this is the evolution of one of the genre's defining ideas. And a fitting end point for our Mad Science series. Because sometimes the most important sci-fi story isn't about the future… …it's the one we've been retelling all along. | |||
| Get Out (2017) & Possessor (2020): Losing Control of Your Own Body | 26 Mar 2026 | 01:06:32 | |
In this episode of Journey Through Sci-Fi, we dive into the terrifying idea of mad science controlling the human mind through two modern sci-fi horror films: Get Out (2017) and Possessor (2020). Jordan Peele's Get Out hides a chilling science-fiction twist beneath its social horror story, revealing a sinister procedure designed to take over another person's body and consciousness. Meanwhile, Brandon Cronenberg's brutal cyberpunk thriller Possessor imagines a world where corporations use technology to possess people's minds and carry out assassinations. We explore how both films tap into classic sci-fi ideas about identity, consciousness and control, while pushing the mad scientist trope into disturbing new territory. Expect discussion on:
🎧 Listen now for our deep dive into mind control, body swapping and the dark side of scientific ambition. | |||
| The Human Centipede (2009) & Tusk (2014): Turning People into Monsters | 12 Mar 2026 | 01:00:51 | |
Two kidnappings and two grotesque transformations. Listener discretion advised... This week on Journey Through Sci-Fi, we head into the grisliest corner of our Mad Science season as we explore The Human Centipede (2009) and Tusk (2014). From Tom Six's clinically cold, torture-era nightmare to Kevin Smith's surreal walrus transformation, both films twist the mad scientist archetype into something deeply insular... not driven by progress, but by obsession. In The Human Centipede, Dr Heiter's experiment is cold, clinical and cruel - a Frankenstein figure filtered through torture cinema. In Tusk, Howard Howe isn't chasing science at all - he's chasing memory, trauma and a warped sense of redemption. We unpack: • The torture-porn moment of the 2000s and its legacy From surgical body horror to psychological conditioning, this is mad science stripped of romance and left with nothing but obsession.
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| Hulk (2003) & Iron Man (2008): When Scientists Become the Experiment | 26 Feb 2026 | 01:08:08 | |
Two Marvel origin stories. Two very different mad scientists. Only one built a cinematic empire. This week, we revisit Hulk (2003) and Iron Man (2008) to explore the science behind the superheroes and why one experiment failed while the other changed blockbuster cinema. Ang Lee's Hulk is a tragic tale of inherited trauma, gamma radiation and fractured identity, a full-blown mad science horror hiding inside a superhero movie. Iron Man flips the formula: no monster, no accident, just a billionaire engineer weaponising his own genius and building the future in a cave. From Frankenstein echoes to high-tech spectacle, this is the moment Marvel transformed mad science into the foundation of the MCU.
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| Splice (2009) & Mimic (1997): Playing God with DNA | 12 Feb 2026 | 01:14:12 | |
This week on Journey Through Sci-Fi, we're heading into murkier, creepier territory as we pair Mimic and Splice - two films that take mad science out of the lab and straight into body-horror nightmare fuel. Directed by Guillermo del Toro and Vincenzo Natali, they arrive from very different moments in sci-fi cinema. Mimic comes out of the late-90s creature-feature era, mixing practical effects with early CGI and big studio ambition. Splice, released over a decade later, taps into anxieties around gene splicing, biotech, and scientists who really should know better.
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| The Best Sci-fi of 2025: Future Frontiers | 18 Dec 2025 | 00:32:33 | |
We look back at the biggest sci-fi moments of 2025 — franchise returns, standout TV, Marvel's slump, DC's revival, and the auteur films that kept the genre interesting. From Superman and 28 Years Later to Severance and Alien: Earth, we break down what landed, what didn't, and what comes next for JTSF.
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| Flubber (1997) & The Nutty Professor (1996): The 90s CGI Boom | 04 Dec 2025 | 01:04:15 | |
This week on Journey Through Sci-Fi, we revisit Flubber (1997) and The Nutty Professor (1996) to explore how both films became showcases for the 90s CGI boom. We look at how early digital effects, morphing tech, ILM's rubbery animation, and ambitious makeup and prosthetics reshaped the mad-scientist trope for a family audience. From Eddie Murphy's multi-character transformations to Flubber's bouncy CGI flying rubber, we break down the moment Hollywood shifted from practical FX to digital spectacle and what effect it had on the depiction of Mad Science.
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| Buckaroo Banzai (1984) & The City of Lost Children (1995): Rockstar Scientists & Stolen Dreams | 20 Nov 2025 | 01:04:58 | |
"Remember, no matter where you go… there you are."
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| Predator: Badlands, Bugonia & Del Toro's Frankenstein: Future Frontiers | 13 Nov 2025 | 00:32:02 | |
We're back with another Future Frontiers episode, covering all the latest sci-fi hitting screens this month. We chat about Predator: Badlands, Guillermo del Toro's Frankenstein, Yorgos Lanthimos' Bugonia and the upcoming Running Man remake from Edgar Wright - plus we try to decode what on earth Vince Gilligan's mysterious new series Pluribus might be. We also talk about what we've been watching lately - Peacemaker S2, Gen V, Foundation, and Demon Slayer - and tackle your big listener questions. Should The Thing and Predator start one minute later? Chapters
Subscribe for deep-dive sci-fi chat every other Thursday, and join us on Patreon for exclusive bonus episodes.
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| Re-Animator (1985) & Poor Things (2023): Reanimated & Reimagined | 06 Nov 2025 | 01:16:10 | |
"Who's going to believe a talking head? Get a job in a sideshow!"
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| Prey (2022): How It Re-Energised the Predator Franchise | 03 Nov 2025 | 01:03:24 | |
To celebrate the upcoming Predator: Badlands and the big-screen re-release of Prey on November 5th (for a very limited cinema run) we're bringing one of our favourite Patreon episodes to the main feed. In this bonus epsiode we revisit Prey (2022), and discuss how it re-energised the franchise, why it works as sci-fi horror, and where it fits in the Predator legacy. 🩸 Predator: Badlands lands Nov 7 — we'll be covering it exclusively on Patreon.
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| Ghostbusters (1984) & The Cabin in the Woods (2011): Science vs. the Supernatural | 22 Oct 2025 | 01:23:19 | |
What happens when unlicensed nuclear accelerators meet ancient rituals? This week we look at what happens when mad science collides with the world of ghosts, gods, and monsters. From proton packs in Ghostbusters (1984) - Oh the nostalgia! - to underground experiments in The Cabin in the Woods (2011), we explore how science and the supernatural crash together in hilarious and horrifying ways. A perfect pairing for the spooky Halloween season! Visit our website https://www.journeythroughscifi.com/ Email Us! Add us on INSTAGRAM Like us on FACEBOOK Follow us on LETTERBOXD | |||
| Tron: Ares (2025): It's Tronin' Time! Spoiler-Free Chat | 16 Oct 2025 | 00:17:51 | |
As we've just revisited Tron and Tron: Legacy, you knew we couldn't resist jacking back into the Grid for Tron: Ares. This is a spoiler-free sneak peek of our full Patreon episode, where we talk Jared Leto's turn as Ares, the film's take on AI, and whether that Nine Inch Nails soundtrack hits as hard as promised. Does this long-awaited sequel push the Tron universe forward, or just coast on nostalgia? That's what we plan to find out... 👉 Hear the full spoiler-filled episode on Patreon: patreon.com/JourneyThroughSciFi Visit our website https://www.journeythroughscifi.com/ Email Us! Add us on INSTAGRAM Like us on FACEBOOK | |||
| Tron (1982) & Tron: Legacy (2010): Inside the Machine | 08 Oct 2025 | 01:15:15 | |
What happens when humanity steps inside the machine? This week we're diving back into the grid! In anticipation of Tron: Ares, we revisit both Tron (1982) and Tron: Legacy (2010). Two landmark films that imagined what life might look like inside a computer. From the neon glow of 80s cyberspace to Daft Punk's sleek digital symphony, we explore how these films evolved our ideas about artificial intelligence and virtual reality. Featuring archive clips from our AI and VR series, this episode connects the dots between man, machine, and the legacy of Tron. Visit our website https://www.journeythroughscifi.com/ Support the podcast on PATREON Add us on INSTAGRAM Find us on TIKTOK Like us on FACEBOOK Follow us on LETTERBOXD | |||
| Altered States (1980) & Upstream Color (2013): Primordial Goo & Psychic Pigs | 24 Sep 2025 | 01:28:32 | |
What happens when mad science pushes the human mind and body to their absolute limits? Our latest journey through sci-fi takes us from swirling cosmic vortices to larval mind-control worms. We explore how Ken Russell's Altered States (1980) turns science into body horror and how Shane Carruth's Upstream Colour (2013) transforms trauma into an arthouse mystery about love and memory. Visit our website https://www.journeythroughscifi.com/ Email Us! Add us on INSTAGRAM Like us on FACEBOOK Follow us on LETTERBOXD | |||
| The Boys from Brazil (1978) & Das Experiment (2001): Are Monsters Born or Made? | 10 Sep 2025 | 01:07:39 | |
Would you kill baby Hitler? That classic moral dilemma sits at the heart of The Boys from Brazil (1978), where Gregory Peck's Josef Mengele pursues a chilling plan to revive the Reich. Adapted from Ira Levin's Nazi-hunter thriller, the film blends real history with speculative science fiction in unsettling ways. After that, we tackle Das Experiment (2001), a dramatic take on the Stanford Prison Experiment. We talk through how the film captures the terrifying speed at which normal people can be dehumanised, corrupted, and broken by power. Visit our website https://www.journeythroughscifi.com/ Email Us! Add us on INSTAGRAM Like us on FACEBOOK Follow us on LETTERBOXD | |||
| Alien: Earth First Reactions, Tron: Ares & Superman - August Sci-Fi Catch-Up | 27 Aug 2025 | 00:42:06 | |
We've been on a little break over the summer, but we're back for a brand-new Future Frontiers episode! In this episode, we catch up on everything sci-fi we've been watching (and missing) while the Mad Science series has been on pause. We chat about the big blockbusters of the summer that we caught - Superman, Jurassic Park: Rebirth, and Fantastic Four – plus horror highlights Weapons and Together. On TV, we get into The Studio, Slow Horses, Upload, and share our first thoughts on Alien: Earth. Looking ahead, we break down the latest trailers for Tron: Ares (with a Nine Inch Nails soundtrack!), Edgar Wright's Running Man, Project Hail Mary, Afterburn, and French indie gem Meanwhile on Earth. We also touch on Guillermo del Toro's long-awaited Frankenstein, Yorgos Lanthimos's new sci-fi project, and the next Skyline sequel. And to wrap up, we tackle a big listener question: how will AI change the future of sci-fi storytelling? Visit our website https://www.journeythroughscifi.com/ Email Us! Add us on INSTAGRAM Like us on FACEBOOK Follow us on LETTERBOXD | |||
| Top 5 A.I. in Sci-Fi - From HAL 9000 to Her (Who Else Made the List?) | 13 Aug 2025 | 00:49:38 | |
Who knew artificial intelligence could get so emotional? In this bonus compilation, we count down our Top 5 A.I. characters in sci-fi cinema - from HAL 9000 in 2001: A Space Odyssey to Samantha in Her, the replicants of Blade Runner, and the lovable WALL-E. If you enjoyed this episode make sure you go back and listen to our previous epsiodes in full:
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| Predator's Back, M3GAN Upgrades & 28 Years Later - Your Summer Sci-Fi Preview | 11 Jun 2025 | 00:46:51 | |
This month's Future Frontiers is stacked with killer creatures, AI dolls gone rogue and one of the most anticipated sequels in sci-fi horror. We preview the biggest upcoming sci-fi movies and TV shows hitting in June and July - from Predator: Killer of Killers and 28 Years Later to M3GAN 2.0, Ironheart, and the return of Foundation. Visit our website https://www.journeythroughscifi.com/ Email Us! Add us on INSTAGRAM Like us on FACEBOOK Follow us on LETTERBOXD | |||
| Return of the Killer Tomatoes (1988) & Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs (2009): When Dinner Fights Back | 04 Jun 2025 | 01:07:33 | |
From sentient tomatoes plotting global domination to meatballs falling from the sky - is it delicious, disgusting… or both? Want to watch the classics we're chatting about on the podcast? Grab your copies of the movies through our affiliate links 🎬 Visit our website https://www.journeythroughscifi.com/ Email Us! Follow us on TWITTER Add us on INSTAGRAM Like us on FACEBOOK Follow us on LETTERBOXD Support the podcast on PATREON | |||
| The Rocky Horror Picture Show (1975) & Weird Science (1985): Born Sexy Yesterday | 21 May 2025 | 01:08:56 | |
In this week's episode of our Mad Science series, we slip into our fishnets and fire up the floppy disks as we delve into the horny world of The Rocky Horror Picture Show (1975) and Weird Science (1985). From Frank-N-Furter's glitter-soaked lab to an '80s teenage boys pervy fantasy, we explore two more takes on the Frankenstein myth. Expect cult cinema, born-sexy-yesterday tropes, and a lot of talk about Tim Curry. Want to watch the classics we're chatting about on the podcast? Grab your copies of the movies through our affiliate links 🎬 Visit our website https://www.journeythroughscifi.com/ Email Us! Follow us on TWITTER Add us on INSTAGRAM Like us on FACEBOOK Follow us on LETTERBOXD Support the podcast on PATREON | |||
| Murderbot Arrives, Andor Returns & AI Dubbing | 14 May 2025 | 00:43:19 | |
In this month's bonus Future Frontiers episode, we dive into the future of AI-dubbed films, featuring the Swedish sci-fi Watch the Skies hitting cinemas. We also discuss the highly anticipated returns of Andor and The Last of Us, take a closer look at Thunderbolts (what's up with the asterisk in the title?), and unpack Apple's intriguing new Murderbot series, based on Martha Wells' novel (don't let the title fool you!). Plus, we explore the growing trend of video games adapted into films and answer your latest questions in the mailbag. Visit our website https://www.journeythroughscifi.com/ Email Us! Add us on INSTAGRAM Like us on FACEBOOK Follow us on LETTERBOXD
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| Fantastic Voyage (1966) & Innerspace (1987): Attack of the Tiny Tourists | 07 May 2025 | 01:07:35 | |
Two films. One mind-blowing concept: what if you could go inside the body? Want to watch the classics we're chatting about on the podcast? Grab your copies of Fantastic Voyage and Innerspace through our affiliate links 🎬 Visit our website https://www.journeythroughscifi.com/ Email Us! Follow us on TWITTER Add us on INSTAGRAM Like us on FACEBOOK Follow us on LETTERBOXD Support the podcast on PATREON | |||
| Bride of Frankenstein (1935) & Mary Shelley's Frankenstein (1994): Monstrous Mates | 24 Apr 2025 | 01:13:44 | |
It's alllliiiiiiiive!...again This week, we continue our journey through mad science examining two continuations of the Frankentesin cinematic legacy: James Whale's Bride of Frankenstein (1935) and Kenneth Branagh's Mary Shelley's Frankenstein (1994). We delve into how Whale's Gothic flair and camp sensibility redefined the story, while Branagh's Shakespearean touch added tragic depth and a fair share of melodrama to the tale. Want to watch the classics we're chatting about on the podcast? Grab your copies of Bride of Frankenstein and Mary Shelley's Frankenstein through our affiliate links 🎬 Visit our website https://www.journeythroughscifi.com/ Follow us on TWITTER Add us on INSTAGRAM Like us on FACEBOOK Follow us on LETTERBOXD Support the podcast on PATREON | |||
| Dr. Strangelove (1964) & Young Frankenstein (1974): Satirising Mad Science | 09 Apr 2025 | 01:06:39 | |
This week on Journey Through Sci-Fi, we examine how Stanley Kubrick's Doctor Strangelove (1964) and Mel Brooks' Young Frankenstein (1974). cleverly parody the mad scientist archetype. Whether it's triggering global catastrophe or reanimating the dead, these films remind us that playing god can lead to comedic—and catastrophic—consequences. Want to watch the iconic films we're discussing on the podcast? Check out Dr. Strangelove and Young Frankenstein through our affiliate links 🎬 Visit our website https://www.journeythroughscifi.com/ Follow us on TWITTER Add us on INSTAGRAM Like us on FACEBOOK Follow us on LETTERBOXD Support the podcast on PATREON | |||
| The Absent-Minded Professor (1961) & The Nutty Professor (1963): Swinging Scientists of the '60s | 27 Mar 2025 | 01:01:14 | |
In this episode, we take a comedic detour into 60s sci-fi as we revisit Disney's "The Absent-Minded Professor" and Jerry Lewis' "The Nutty Professor." From gravity-defying Flubber to the egotistical Buddy Love, we unpack how these eccentric inventors helped shape the mad scientist archetype. Expect flying cars, chaotic labs, and a surprising amount of heart as we explore the cultural legacy of these iconic sci-fi comedies. Visit our website https://www.journeythroughscifi.com/ Follow us on TWITTER Add us on INSTAGRAM Like us on FACEBOOK Follow us on LETTERBOXD Support the podcast on PATREON | |||
| Mickey 17, The Electric State & Daredevil Born Again: Future Frontiers | 20 Mar 2025 | 00:43:29 | |
Bong Joon-ho's Mickey 17 is here—but can it live up to the hype? Meanwhile, Netflix drops The Electric State with a mind-blowing $250M budget… and audiences aren't impressed. Plus, Daredevil: Born Again gets brutal, The End gives us a sci-fi musical, and we dig into Wheel of Time season 3. All that, plus listener questions! (Oh, and gold star if you catch Matt's cat's podcast cameo) Want to be a part of the podcast? Got a burning sci-fi question, recommendations for movies or shows, or thoughts on past episodes? Share your personal experiences, predictions, or debates with us! Drop us a message on our social channels or email us at journeythroughscifi@gmail.com. We can't wait to hear from you! Visit our website https://www.journeythroughscifi.com/ Follow us on TWITTER Add us on INSTAGRAM Like us on FACEBOOK Follow us on LETTERBOXD Support the podcast on PATREON
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| Eyes Without a Face (1960) & The Skin I Live In (2011): Sinister Surgeons & Stolen Skin | 13 Mar 2025 | 01:19:50 | |
When science and obsession collide. We break down Eyes Without a Face (1960) and The Skin I Live In (2011), two chilling films about stolen faces, extreme body modifications, and the horror of losing yourself—literally. With guest Mike Muncer (Evolution of Horror), we discuss mad scientists, surgical nightmares, and the disturbing legacy of these two films. Want to watch the films we're covering on the podcast? Grab your copies of Eyes Without a Face and The Skin I Live In through our affiliate links 🎬 Visit our website https://www.journeythroughscifi.com/ Follow us on TWITTER Add us on INSTAGRAM Like us on FACEBOOK Follow us on LETTERBOXD Support the podcast on PATREON | |||
| The Man with Two Brains (1983) & The Brain That Wouldn't Die (1962): Love, Lust & Loose Brains | 27 Feb 2025 | 01:08:15 | |
From The Brain That Wouldn't Die's predatory surgeon to The Man with Two Brains's lusty neurosurgeon, mad science films often mix unethical experiments with unchecked libido. We examine how these films handle (or fail to handle) their problematic gender dynamics and how exploitation cinema shaped the portrayal of scientists on screen. Visit our website https://www.journeythroughscifi.com/ Follow us on TWITTER Add us on INSTAGRAM Like us on FACEBOOK Follow us on LETTERBOXD Support the podcast on PATREON | |||
| The Fly (1957) & The Fly (1986): When Science Turns to Horror | 13 Feb 2025 | 01:24:19 | |
This week, we're discussing The Fly—both the 1958 and 1986 versions—to talk about teleportation experiments gone very, very wrong. From the old-school murder mystery of the original to Cronenberg's stomach-churning body horror, we dissect what makes these films ultimate mad science nightmares. Listen now... before your DNA gets scrambled Visit our website https://www.journeythroughscifi.com/ Follow us on TWITTER Add us on INSTAGRAM Like us on FACEBOOK Follow us on LETTERBOXD Support the podcast on PATREON | |||
| Dune: Prophecy, Star Trek: Section 31, Captain America & More | 06 Feb 2025 | 00:40:55 | |
We're back with our sci-fi check-in! This month, we dive into Dune: Prophecy, Kraven, and Wallace & Gromit's latest adventure (yes, really). We also break down new releases, including Star Trek: Section 31, Companion, and Captain America: Brave New World. Plus, we debate whether Mary Poppins is secretly sci-fi and answer your listener mail! 🛸💥 🎧 Tune in now – and yes, Matt still hasn't watched Dark. Want to be a part of the podcast? Got a burning sci-fi question, recommendations for movies or shows, or thoughts on past episodes? Share your personal experiences, predictions, or debates with us! Drop us a message on our social channels or email us at journeythroughscifi@gmail.com. We can't wait to hear from you! Visit our website https://www.journeythroughscifi.com/ Follow us on TWITTER Add us on INSTAGRAM Like us on FACEBOOK Follow us on LETTERBOXD Support the podcast on PATREON | |||
| Honey, I Shrunk the Kids (1989) & The Incredible Shrinking Man (1957): When Science Gets Small | 30 Jan 2025 | 01:12:01 | |
What happens when science makes you way too small? This week, we're diving into accidental shrinking in sci-fi, from the eerie existential crisis of The Incredible Shrinking Man (1957) to the backyard-sized adventure of Honey, I Shrunk the Kids (1989). Join us as we explore the thrills, fears, and fun of shrinking stories—why they captivate us, what they say about our place in the universe, and why a simple ant can become the scariest movie monster of all. Visit our website https://www.journeythroughscifi.com/ Follow us on TWITTER Add us on INSTAGRAM Like us on FACEBOOK Follow us on LETTERBOXD Support the podcast on PATREON | |||
| Jurassic Park (1993) & The Man in the White Suit (1951): Science for Sale | 16 Jan 2025 | 01:21:47 | |
From high-tech fabric to genetically engineered dinos, we discuss The Man in the White Suit (1951) and Jurassic Park (1993), as Mad Science meets commerce in this weeks episode. What happens when groundbreaking inventions threaten the balance of power—and profits? We explore the ethical dilemmas, corporate greed, and unintended consequences behind these sci-fi classics. Visit our website https://www.journeythroughscifi.com/ Follow us on TWITTER Add us on INSTAGRAM Like us on FACEBOOK Follow us on LETTERBOXD Support the podcast on PATREON
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| Severance Season 1 Recap: Theories, Spoilers & Unpacked Secrets | 02 Jan 2025 | 00:59:38 | |
Get ready to step back into the office… if you dare! With Severance season 2 just around the corner, we're releasing our deep dive into the mind-bending first series! While we enjoy our festive break (before reality and work hit), this spoiler-filled recap is the perfect refresher for all you fans gearing up for more Lumon Industries intrigue. We unpack the sci-fi thriller that had everyone buzzing—Apple TV+'s twisty take on workplace weirdness. Visit our website https://www.journeythroughscifi.com/ Follow us on TWITTER Add us on INSTAGRAM Like us on FACEBOOK Follow us on LETTERBOXD Support the podcast on PATREON | |||
| Dr. Cyclops (1940) & Downsizing (2017): Tiny Terrors | 05 Dec 2024 | 01:03:12 | |
This week on Journey Through Sci-Fi, we're tackling the science of shrinking with two unique takes on mad experiments. First, the technicolor terror of Dr. Cyclops (1940), where a power-mad scientist shrinks his colleagues to doll-sized proportions. Then, the satirical Downsizing (2017), where miniaturization is pitched as a solution to society's woes—with some bizarre twists. Join us as we explore the science, the ethics, and why shrinking remains such a big deal in sci-fi. Visit our website https://www.journeythroughscifi.com/ Follow us on TWITTER Add us on INSTAGRAM Like us on FACEBOOK Follow us on LETTERBOXD Support the podcast on PATREON
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| Kraven the Hunter, Sonic 3, Star Wars Skeleton Crew: Future Frontiers | 02 Dec 2024 | 00:39:21 | |
It's Christmaaaaas! (well almost). This episode, we're unwrapping December's sci-fi and genre releases — Kraven the Hunter, The Lord Of The Rings:The War of the Rohirrim, Sonic 3, Star Wars: Skeleton Crew and Squid Game: Season 2. Plus, we're talking festive sci-fi classics, sharing what we've been watching, and answering your big questions. It's a jam-packed sleigh ride through all things sci-fi! 🚀🎅✨ Want to be a part of the podcast? Got a burning sci-fi question, recommendations for movies or shows, or thoughts on past episodes? Share your personal experiences, predictions, or debates with us! Drop us a message on our social channels or email us at journeythroughscifi@gmail.com. We can't wait to hear from you! Visit our website https://www.journeythroughscifi.com/ Follow us on TWITTER Add us on INSTAGRAM Like us on FACEBOOK Follow us on LETTERBOXD Support the podcast on PATREON | |||
| Darkman (1990) & The Invisible Ray (1936): Supervillains & Antiheroes | 21 Nov 2024 | 01:07:15 | |
This week on Journey Through Sci-Fi, we're disussing a couple of scientists who lose the plot thanks to their own experiments. First up, it's a 1930s classic—The Invisible Ray (1936)—where Boris Karloff and Bela Lugosi team up for a tale of cosmic rays, glowing death touches, and some tense scientific rivalry. Then, we fast-forward to Sam Raimi's Darkman (1990), where Liam Neeson stars as a disfigured anti-hero who takes matters (and masks) into his own hands after a lab explosion. We're unpacking the film history, the genre tropes, and why these stories of mad science still hold up. So grab your goggles and join us for another double dose of sci-fi madness. Visit our website https://www.journeythroughscifi.com/ Follow us on TWITTER Add us on INSTAGRAM Like us on FACEBOOK Follow us on LETTERBOXD Support the podcast on PATREON | |||
| Doctor X (1932) & Time After Time (1979): Time-Traveling Killers & Synthetic Flesh | 07 Nov 2024 | 01:12:28 | |
In this week's episode of Journey Through Sci-Fi, we're taking a look into the minds of scientists on the trail of killers and unraveling the mysterious motives of mad doctors! Join us as we explore Doctor X (1932), directed by Michael Curtiz. The pre-Code thriller in which Dr. Xavier and his team of scientists search for the notorious "Moon Killer." Then, we fast-forward to Time After Time (1979), where H.G. Wells must hunt down Jack the Ripper in 1970s San Francisco. Visit our website https://www.journeythroughscifi.com/ Follow us on TWITTER Add us on INSTAGRAM Like us on FACEBOOK Follow us on LETTERBOXD Support the podcast on PATREON | |||
| Sci-Fi Buzz – Dune: Prophecy, Megalopolis & Venom 3 | 04 Nov 2024 | 00:48:41 | |
In this month's Future Frontiers bonus episode, we're diving into the sci-fi screenings we caught in October and sharing our thoughts on Megalopolis, Joker: Folie à Deux, Venom 3: The Last Dance, The Wild Robot, and Transformers One. We're also spotlighting our indie pick for November, Things Will Be Different, directed by Michael Felker, a frequent collaborator of Benson and Moorhead. Looking ahead, we're gearing up for November's big releases, with early thoughts on Dune: Prophecy, Silo Season 2, and Red One. Join us for all the latest sci-fi buzz in this month's Future Frontiers. Want to be a part of the podcast? Got a burning sci-fi question, recommendations for movies or shows, or thoughts on past episodes? Share your personal experiences, predictions, or debates with us! Drop us a message on our social channels or email us at journeythroughscifi@gmail.com. We can't wait to hear from you! Visit our website https://www.journeythroughscifi.com/ Follow us on TWITTER Add us on INSTAGRAM Like us on FACEBOOK Follow us on LETTERBOXD Support the podcast on PATREON
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| Island of Lost Souls (1932) & The Island of Dr. Moreau (1996): Mad Experiments On & Off Screen | 24 Oct 2024 | 01:34:34 | |
This week on Journey Through Sci-Fi, we cover another of H.G. Wells' works brought to the big screen—The Island of Dr. Moreau—and examine two film adaptations: Island of Lost Souls (1932) and The Island of Dr. Moreau (1996). One is a haunting masterpiece from the 1930s, known for its eerie atmosphere and groundbreaking makeup effects, while the other is infamous for its chaotic production, behind-the-scenes drama, and a story as wild as the mad science it depicts. NB: We also make a lot of references to Lost Soul: The Doomed Journey of Richard Stanley's Island of Dr. Moreau Directed By David Gregory - Which we highly recommend! Visit our website https://www.journeythroughscifi.com/ Follow us on TWITTER Add us on INSTAGRAM Like us on FACEBOOK Follow us on LETTERBOXD Support the podcast on PATREON | |||
| The Invisible Man - From Classic Horror to Modern Thriller (1933 & 2020) | 10 Oct 2024 | 01:15:59 | |
On this episode of Journey Through Sci-Fi, we cover The Invisible Man from the father of sci-fi himself ,H.G. Wells. We're tackling both the 1933 classic movie directed by James Whale and the 2020 modern reimagining from Leigh Whannell. From groundbreaking special effects to intense psychological horror, we explore how this sci-fi mad scientist evolved across the decades. Visit our website https://www.journeythroughscifi.com/ Follow us on TWITTER Add us on INSTAGRAM Like us on FACEBOOK Follow us on LETTERBOXD Support the podcast on PATREON | |||
| Looking Ahead - October's Biggest Sci-Fi & Your Questions Answered | 03 Oct 2024 | 00:32:50 | |
This week, we're kicking off a brand-new monthly special on the podcast—Future Frontiers! Join us as we gaze into the crystal ball of October to uncover all the exciting sci-fi coming your way! We'll be diving into the month's lineup on both our main feed and Patreon so you can get a head start on your film homework! We'll keep you up to date with the latest movies hitting cinemas in October and share our current TV obsessions and must-watch recommendations. Plus, we'll be opening up our mailbag! We'll answer some of your sci-fi questions, hear your recommendations, and share our thoughts. Want to be a part of the podcast? Got a burning sci-fi question, recommendations for movies or shows, or thoughts on past episodes? Share your personal experiences, predictions, or debates with us! Drop us a message on our social channels or email us at journeythroughscifi@gmail.com. We can't wait to hear from you! Visit our website https://www.journeythroughscifi.com/ Follow us on TWITTER Add us on INSTAGRAM Like us on FACEBOOK Follow us on LETTERBOXD Support the podcast on PATREON IN CINEMAS THIS MONTH
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| Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde - The First Split Personality (1912 & 1931) | 26 Sep 2024 | 01:14:03 | |
In this episode of Journey Through Sci-Fi, we dive into the cinematic history of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. From the early 1912 silent film to the groundbreaking 1931 adaptation, we explore how filmmakers brought Robert Louis Stevenson's classic story to life on screen. We'll break down the incredible visual effects, dive into the pre-code era's bold storytelling, and discuss why this tale of good versus evil became a cornerstone of genre cinema. Join us for a deep dive into one of film history's most iconic transformations! Visit our website https://www.journeythroughscifi.com/ Follow us on TWITTER Add us on INSTAGRAM Like us on FACEBOOK Follow us on LETTERBOXD Support the podcast on PATREON | |||
| Journey Through Sci-Fi: Mad Science (Trailer) | 12 Sep 2024 | 00:02:24 | |
Welcome to Journey Through Sci-Fi, the science fiction film podcast that explores the history and meaning of sci-fi cinema, one theme at a time. Hosted by (us!) James and Matt, two lifelong movie fans, the show takes a closer look at the films, directors, and ideas that shaped science fiction - from Metropolis to The Matrix, Blade Runner to The Fly. Each series focuses on a different sci-fi subgenre, including AI and artificial intelligence, time travel, virtual reality, space exploration, dystopian futures, and more. This season, we go inside the world of Mad Science, exploring mad scientists, unhinged experiments, and the ethical limits of human curiosity through classic and modern sci-fi movies. If you love film history, cult cinema, and in-depth movie analysis, this is the science fiction podcast for you. Subscribe and start your Journey Through Sci-Fi today. Visit our website https://www.journeythroughscifi.com/ | |||