They Came From Outer Space

If there was ever a movie to convince you of the value of practical effects, this is it. John Carpenter's fantastic, ice cold invasion of the body snatchers, featuring some DOGS. Cameron speaks with editor Ben Surber about why this movie and its soundtrack have stood the test of time. originally aired on WRIR in December 2018.

"One day I got bored, so I put everything on a bagel. Everything" Enter the many dimensions of humor, family drama and Michelle Yeoh's badass kung fu skills as Cameron dives in to review EEAAO with distinguished AI researcher Dr. Kerry McInerney. If you haven’t seen Everything Everywhere All At Once , here’s a quick overview: Released in 2022, Everything Everywhere All At Once is a s...

A SPECIAL RE-AIRING OF OUR SECOND EPISODE EVER! Recorded in September 2019 in WRIR studios, Cameron sat down with cinematographer Bill Ku to talk about the visually stunning “Forbidden Planet” - a landmark film in science-fiction cinema. It's Robby the Robot time, the Tempest in Space, and who would have thought Leslie Nielsen could be such a sensitive man? Find more about Bill Ku: https://www...

It’s time to talk PRAWNS! Cameron with return super-guests Noah Scalin and Victor Koressel discuss “District 9” from 2009. This movie had just as many SFX shots as a transformers movie for  ⅕ the budget, and it packs a punch like no other sci fi film! With a totally unique approach, Neill Blomkamp and his wife Terri crafted a story of alien encounters in Johannesburg South Africa, where Aliens com...

Stephanie and Cameron discuss what is UNDER "Under the Skin" from the ethics of shooting with non-actors and hidden cameras to the art of movie posters. Have you seen this movie? What did you think of ScarJo's performance? Find us on Instagram to share your thoughts: @theycamefromouterspace_ Look at Steph's work: http://stephaniemonohan.com/ Insta: @shdwbxng Her event next Thursd...

This is EAGAN we're talking about! Cameron sits down with Seattle based 3D designer Alex Fiel to run through the many corridors of Apple TV's SEVERANCE, particularly the 3rd episode. Released in February  2022, directed by Ben Stiller and written  by showrunner Dan Erickson (+ many others,_ the third  episode of 9-episode season 1 of severance iis titled “IN PERPETUITY”. In this episode ne...

ALIENS! THEY'RE IN THE WALLS!  Released in 1986 for 20th century fox this much awaited sequel to the Ridley Scott classic was directed by James Cameron and features Sigourney Weaver with an all new cast…Ripley is discovered in cryo sleep and wakes up 57 years after the horror aboard the Nostromo, only to find those DANG DASTARDLY capitalists are at it again, and have not only gone back to LV-...

Special RE-AIRING from 2020! Can you believe I still hadn't done the BEST MOVIE EVER? Pick up your Nokia phone and you shall hear a tale of two nerds delighting in trans subtext, lighting and cinematography techniques and the wonders of Hugo Weaving (among about 50 other things). Cinematographer Andrew Daugherty shares why this is a movie you can watch every day. Aired on WRIR LP 97.3 FM Richmond...

Is this  what a sick man looks like to you? Oh boy, it's the FLY. Cameron is  joined by a  fabulous  two-guest panel to talk about the goop, the gore, the glory and the acting process that made Jeff Goldblum's performance so legendary. They also go in-dept into the short film "Chimera"  which has swept awards in festivals across the country. Director Andrew Lee Ryan shares...

Who nearly dies of pleasure? Who seduces an angel? Who's the bird in the gilded cage? Who conveys love by hand? Who strips in space? Who will save the universe?  As Julia Reingold says,  “It’s the audacity of it that we love, this movie got made!” Episode 56 explores sexuality in space through the lens of this utterly bonkers, fantastic dreamscape from Roger Vadim in 1968.  Find out...

Want to watch a movie about lower income black and brown kids that shows their humanity  while they fight aliens? Actress,  writer and award winning director Khanisha Foster offers a masterclass in storytelling as we dissect this 2011 London-based sci fi film.  Released in 2011, Attack the Block is a sci fi thriller Described by director Joe Cornish as “La Haine” meets “Alien”. Atta...

Aliens, gators and bears oh my! Cameron is joined by filmmaker Chantelle Castillo to discuss this very TRIPPY all-girl mutation sci-fi film "Annihilation".  Released in 2018 for Paramount, Annihilation was written and directed by Alex Garland, adapted from the novel by Jeff VanDerMeer. It follows Biologist Lena, played by Natalie Portman, who in her search for clues about her husband Kane (pl...

How did the production design of this film affect our internal portrayal of the future? Cameron talks with art director, filmmaker and comedian Monk Hooper about why this Tom Cruise flick still holds fast in our minds. And don't worry, we are gonna TALK about Tom Cruise! Listen in for tips on making a world feel real with details, and some laughs. ----- Guest: Monk Hooper https://www.instagram.com...

“I Kill with my c*nt. You can write about it in Midnight Magazine.” Released in 1982, Liquid Sky is a sexual sci fi thriller produced and directed by Slava Tsukerman. 40 years later and this movie is taking on things mainstream film is too afraid to touch. Women's bodies, gender, self expression, the other, all under a blaring 80s synth soundtrack. ---- Madeleine Olnek is a writer, director and pr...

Don't be afraid! This episode features 'Melly Gibs' and some spooOOoooky aliens! Filmmaker Aaron Bartuska shares why he styles himself an "M. Night Shyamalan apologist" and why this film is worth watching 20 years later! ____ Aaron Bartuska is a filmmaker from Philly, currently based in NYC.His debut feature film, “For Roger”, a slow burn horror film that takes place in the DV cam recordings of a...

"Space belongs to 007" - In this landmark 50th EPISODE OF THE SHOW, Cameron interviews New York based filmmaker Joe Rocco Plescia on why this installment of the Bond films is still worth watching, how Roger Moore compares to the Daniel Craig era, and how to do great action on a budget. You can follow Joe on Insta @jroccoplescia https://www.instagram.com/jroccoplescia/ 👽 And of course follow They...

Filmmaker Skye King shares why this 1995 cult classic is so good, and SO FUN! Lori Petty, Malcolm McDowell and ICE T navigate the post apocalypse. This film, the 2nd in TCFOS's history to be directed by a woman, asks the question "If our world doesn't make sense, why should our protagonist?" This movie is amazing and insane, and we love it. Tune in to hear about why musicals make sense in a fantas...

EPISODE 1 Re-airing! Originally aired in September of 2018, this premiere episode of the show features Jeff Roll, who was VP of the James River Film Society for 5 years. to discuss The Day The Earth Stood Still.   Directed by Robert Wise, this is the ultimate classic for sci-fi fans and starts off the show with Klaatu, the pacifist alien who lands in Washington DC to urge humans to live in pe...

ZETUS LAPETUS! Joined by the incredible Eliana, it's time to break down what is widely regarded as the greatest Sci Fi film of the 20th century, the Disney-channel original movie, Zenon.  Eliana discusses everything from horse symbolism to space capitalism, so grab your Y2K gear and tune in MAJOR!

Why does art matter? Why does independent cinema matter? Nathan Ludwig, director of the GenreBlast film festival , shares why this wild film  has stuck with him and what independent filmmakers can learn from it.  Check out Nathan's awesome podcast " The Reel '96 ".   ---- Released in 1989, Tetsuo the Iron Man was directd by Shinya Tsukamoto. It is a body horror fever dream- and a bl...

The Charlton Heston classic about overpopulation gets DISSECTED by President of Richmond's Virginia Production Alliance and professor Steve Taylor in this fascinating episode about the nature of cities and futuristic sexism. This is a repost of Episode 7, recorded almost 3 years ago PRE PANDEMIC. Aired on WRIR LP 97.3 FM in Richmond. Find out more about this podcast and see what we look like by fo...

Sci fi anime romance? Heck yes!  Cameron is joined by directing duo Emk and Anna of Captain and Captain productions to discuss this very rare anime from the early 2000s - along with PUPPETS, Hamlet, directing as a duo and what to do when your cinematographer drops out the day of your shoot.  Instagram: @captainandcaptain  Released in 2011 the one season minisereis anime adaptation o...

On our 44th episode of They Came From Outer Space we take alien drug dealers to task and bask in the glory of Dolph Lundgren's roundhouse kicks. That's right, we're talking about the cult classic sci-fi action flick "Dark Angel" released in 1990. Chad Farmer of the GenreBlast film festival and Nooga Underground Film Fest shares why this movie lives in a special place in his heart after watching th...

It's tribble madness as Cameron discusses a classic Star Trek episode with Dr. Joe Pesce from the National Science Foundation! Dr. Joe is an astrophysicist who is primarily interested in the environments of the galaxies hosting supermassive black holes (also known as Active Galactic Nuclei). Today, in addition to his work with the NSF, Dr. Joe teaches courses in astronomy at GMU and the University...

Dr. Tanya Harrison, aka @TanyaOfMars a bona fide former NASA Scientist and martian geo-morphologist at Planet Labs, answers your burning questions about our cold, red neighbor planet. Is that dust storm for real? How well did Ridley Scott represent those gullies? What about water? We discuss Dr. Tanya's groundbreaking work and this amazing movie. Aired on WRIR: 11/18/21 Released in 2015 by 20th ce...