CinePunked

Exploring the groundbreaking 1992 BBCtv drama mockumentary Ghostwatch. With Robert JE Simpson, Ben Simpson and David L Rattigan.

Who is to say what we should and shouldn't read? Should we ban books? Which books would you like to eradicate? Inspired by Ray Bradbury's novel and the François Truffaut film adaptation of Fahrenheit 451, CinePunked explores issues of censorship on screen and in literature. With Robert JE Simpson, Dr Rachael Kelly, Neil Sedgewick and Steven Rainey.

Todd Phillips' 2019 film Joker is a comic book superhero film without a superhero. A dark portrayal of mental illness that divided critics. CinePunked's Robert, Rachael and Ben explore its dark recesses, the evolution of the Joker in the Batman films, issues of gatekeeping, and other problems.

CinePunked presents a special live recording of the touring show A Comedy of Madness - an exploration of comedy, and mental illness, with an emphasis on male mental health. Devised and presented by acclaimed comedy historian Robert Ross and film historian Robert JE Simpson with special guest, comedian and actor Tony Slattery. The heritage of comedy is a troubled one - littered with the shells of t...

Comedian and actor Tony Slattery rose to fame in the 1980s as a star of the comedy improv scene, and part of the phenomenally successful Whose Line Is It Anyway on Channel 4. With appearances on the big and small screen including Just A Gigolo, Kingdom, The Crying Game, How to Get Ahead in Advertising and Peter's Friends, Slattery was ubiquitous. In the early 2000s Slattery had a very public menta...

CinePunked have just walked out of the cinema in 1967 after watching Casino Royale and have woken up in 1997 and watched Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery... Thirty years may have passed between films, but what else? Robert, Rachael and Ben explore the sexual and cultural representations of Austin Powers and its links to Casino Royale.

Not all James Bond films are equal - CinePunked explores the psychedelic cinema of the original Casino Royale from 1967 and its lasting influence on popular culture.

CinePunked celebrates Easter with Monty Python's Life of Brian - exploring the controversial film, its connections to the historical epic, and what it means to be Pythonesque.

CinePunked delve into the origins of 'gaslighting' via Patrick Hamilton's play and subsequent film adaptations, and its modern day useage in politics and domestic abuse situations. Recorded in front of a live audience.

CinePunked explores the 1947 Orson Welles noir The Lady From Shanghai, the screen image of Rita Hayworth and the mythology of Welles.

Marking the centenary of Charlie Chaplin's first directorial feature film, the CinePunked squad discuss the production of The Kid, and the joys of silent cinema.

Robert, Rachael and Ben take a cinematic trip to 1990s San Francisco, a world of coffee houses and poets - it can only be the Mike Myers classic So I Married an Axe Murderer!

Join Robert JE Simpson, Dr Rachael Kelly, Dr Aaron Hunter and Conor Smyth for a discussion on cult classic Harold and Maude - the genius of Hal Ashby, representations of May to December romances, and the counter-cultural clashes with the film. Recorded in front of a live audience!

Comedy historian Robert Ross joins CinePunked's Robert JE Simpson backstage at the Slapstick Festival, Bristol, for a personal reminiscence about writer, actor, director and member of Monty Python - Terry Jones, following his death in January 2020.

The CinePunked crew get obsessive over Alfred Hitchcock's classic thriller Vertigo... Robert, Rachael and Ben debate its merits as the best film ever made (according to the BFI), and the chilling appeal of San Francisco. © 2020 Avalard / CinePunked

Robert and Ben celebrate the pre-fab four and the genius of Neil Innes with a look at Innes and Eric Idle's The Rutles, mockumentaries and the grim reality of the music business. (C) 2020 Avalard / CinePunked

Robert, Rachael and Ben dive into the twisted macabre world of Roald Dahl's family classic Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory. You'll never look at a golden ticket the same way again.

Robert, Rachael and Ben kick off another season of the CinePunked podcast with a look at festive feature Jingle All the Way, useless dads, and memories of toys from Christmases past.

Hugely quotable. Undeniably offensive. For some it's a work of surrealist genius. For others it's one of the worst films ever made. CinePunked take a trip to the bizarre world of Tom Green's Freddy Got Fingered, via Chaplin and the nouvelle vague.

Rocky Horror Picture Show. Frankenstein and The Monster From Hell. Young Frankenstein. In the mid-1970s, Mary Shelley's most famous creation saw a new lease of life - and a radical makeover. Join CinePunked's Robert JE Simpson and Dr Rachael Kelly for an interactive discussion about cinematic homage, parody and reworking. And monsters in stilettos. Recorded live at Octocon 2018.

CinePunked's resident film historians Robert JE Simpson and Dr Rachael Kelly plus writer Conor Smyth discuss and debate Alan Clarke's 1989 Troubles film Elephant, and it's influences on Gus Van Sant's 2003 Columbine-focused appropriation of the same name. They're joined by very special guest Kevin Jackson, who was location manager on Clarke's original BBC film. Recorded as part of the Belfast Film...

Robert JE Simpson meets with director, broadcaster and author Alex Cox to talk academia, writing, fair use and of course Moviedrome.

After a couple of days soaking up the atmosphere of Tinseltown, CinePunked's Robert JE Simpson meets up with old friend, the acclaimed film historian, critic and presenter David Del Valle for a chat about what's left of old Hollywood, David's career, their shared love of horror films, freelancing and the art of the commentary track.

Richard Elfman is a filmmaker, musician, writer, surrealist. His 1980 film Forbidden Zone has gained a cult following for its bizarre plotting, outlandish characters and breaking of stereotypes. Four decades on and a sequel is in pre-production, hot on the heels of Richard's new film (due out later in 2019), the equally bizarre Hipsters, Gangsters, Aliens and Geeks. Robert met up with Richard at h...

Robert and Rachael discuss Alain Resnais' chilling documentary about the concentration camps - Night and Fog. What makes it so impactful, over 60 years later, and why should everyone see it?