Journey Through Sci-Fi: A Science Fiction Film Podcast

This week, we're tackling the theme of shipwrecks in space as we continue our journey through the history of Space Opera on screen. We'll be diving into Irwin Allen's classic 60s series Lost in Space (1965-68), exploring its impact on the Space Opera genre, and discussing its legacy. Then, we'll shift gears to The Black Hole (1979), Disney's first-ever PG-rated film, which offers a darker take on...

his week, we're continuing our journey through the fantastical world of Space Opera by looking at two of the most iconic figures from the 1930s: Flash Gordon (1936) and Buck Rogers (1939). These characters set the standard for thrilling space adventures and played a significant role in the rise of film serials. Join us as we look back at the advent of these exciting serials and discuss the 'thrill...

It's time to delve into another subgenre of science fiction—Space Opera! In this new series of Journey Through Sci-Fi , we're exploring the fantastical and epic tales that define the genre. To kick things off, we're taking a look at the origins of Space Opera and discussing the very first film in the genre, A Trip to Mars (1918), also known as Himmelskibet . Join us as we travel back to the early...

We're back on your podcast feed to discuss the biggest sci-fi blockbuster of the year, James Cameron's long awaited Avatar: The Way of Water. The perfect film to pre-empt our upcoming series on Space Opera. We discuss the film's special effects, 3D cinema, underwater filming and Cameron's return to directing.  To hear the second 'spoiler filled' half of our discussion on the film join us over on P...

Welcome to the conclusion of our dystopia series, where we recap everything we've explored with the Journey Through Sci-Fi awards show! We'll be dishing out awards to some of our favorite films and TV shows from the series and reflecting on what we've learned along the way. Categories include: Best Dystopian Protagonist, Most Absurd Dystopian Society, Worst Dystopia to Live In, and the ultimate aw...

This week, we're journeying through the Star Trek universe once again, but this time with a focus on how the show explores dystopias. We'll be discussing episodes like The Return of the Archons , A Taste of Armageddon , and Mirror, Mirror from the original series, along with Yesterday's Enterprise from The Next Generation and Inquisition from Deep Space Nine . These episodes showcase the darker si...

This week, it's an Anime Special as we dive back into the world of Japanese animation and its use of sci-fi tropes to craft unforgettable dystopian visions. We'll be exploring the groundbreaking Akira (1988) by Katsuhiro Otomo, a film that redefined anime and dystopian storytelling with its portrayal of a post-apocalyptic Neo-Tokyo. Then, we'll move on to  Metropolis (2001), Rintaro's stunning ada...

In a special bonus episode of the podcast we talk to director Rob Schroeder about his new mind-bending sci-fi film, Ultrasound. We discuss with Rob how he went about adapting Conor Stechschulte's indie comic Generous Bosom to film and what inspires him as a filmmaker.  Ultrasound is available on digital download in the UK from the 20th June.  Visit our website  https://www.journeythroughscifi.com/...

This week, we're taking a trip back to 2015, a year that seemed to bring a fresh wave of post-modern dystopian cinema. Join us as we delve into Yorgos Lanthimos'  The Lobster , a darkly comedic tale where society dictates your relationship status with surreal consequences, and Ben Wheatley's High-Rise , a visually striking film that explores class warfare within the confines of a towering apartmen...

This week, we're joined by author and academic Dr. Tiffani Angus to dive into the harrowing dystopian world of Gilead, as depicted in the 2017 television adaptation of The Handmaid's Tale , starring Elisabeth Moss. We'll explore the terrifying control and oppression that define Margaret Atwood's creation, discussing the series' chilling portrayal of a theocratic society where women's rights are st...

This week, we're joined by film and TV critic Rhianna Dhillon to delve into Alfonso Cuarón's dystopian action thriller Children of Men (2006). In a world where humanity faces extinction and hope seems all but lost, we'll explore whether there's still a glimmer of optimism in this bleak dystopian vision. Can this powerful and haunting film offer us a ray of hope, or does it paint a future too grim...

This week, we're joined by Dr. Allen Stroud, chair of The British Science Fiction Association and sci-fi author, to explore the unsettling world of genetic dystopias. We'll be diving into  Gattaca (1997), a film that explores a future where your genetic makeup determines your entire life, and Never Let Me Go (2010), a haunting tale of cloned children raised for organ harvesting. Together, we'll an...

This week, we're heading back to the 70s to explore how dystopian societies handle the concept of aging, through two camp cult classics: Zardoz (1974) and Logan's Run (1976). In Zardoz , Sean Connery stars in a bizarre and surreal world where the elite control immortality, while in Logan's Run , society mandates a lethal age limit to keep the population under control.  How can you grow old gracefu...

In a special bonus episode we are joined by Founder and festival director for the SCI-FI-LONDON film festival Louis Savy. Together we discuss what makes a great science fiction film, the joy of B-Movies and what to expect from the 2022 Sci-Fi London Festival.  For tickets and more info on Sci-Fi London head to: https://sci-fi-london.com/ For the 48 hour film challenge head to: https://48hour.sci-f...

This week, we're joined by podcaster and writer Becky Darke to dive into the theme of dystopian instruments of war. We'll be discussing Paul Verhoeven's 90's satire  Starship Troopers (1997), which offers a biting critique of militarism and propaganda through its depiction of a futuristic war against alien bugs. Then, we'll explore Alita: Battle Angel (2019), Robert Rodriguez's adaptation of the b...

This week, we're diving into the absurdity and challenges of finding the right work/life balance in a dystopian world. We'll be exploring Terry Gilliam's Brazil (1985), a film that delves into the nightmarish bureaucracy of a dystopian society, and Alex Cox's Repo Man (1984), which mixes punk rock attitude with a surreal take on modern life. How do you maintain your sanity when your work becomes y...

This week, we're joined by top genre journalists and hosts of the sci-fi podcast Robby The Robot's Waiting —Richard Edwards, Dave Bradley, and Tanavi Patel. Together, we dive into the dystopian visions of American cities depicted in John Carpenter's Escape From New York (1981) and Denis Villeneuve's Blade Runner 2049 (2017). From the lawless, prison-like Manhattan of  Escape From New York to the n...

This week, it's a bad night to be in a dystopia as we dive into The Warriors (1979) and The Purge (2013). The Warriors takes us through a night of survival as a gang must make their way across a hostile New York City, while The Purge explores a society where all crime is legal for one terrifying night each year.  Join us as we discuss how these films capture the intensity and fear of navigating a...

This week, we're offering a bit of respite from the bleak dystopian worlds we've been exploring by adding a dose of comedy into the mix. Join us as we discuss  Sleeper (1973), Woody Allen's sci-fi comedy where a man wakes up 200 years in the future to a bizarre, totalitarian world, and Idiocracy (2006), Mike Judge's satirical take on a future where society has devolved into absurdity. Both films u...

This week, we're continuing our journey through dystopias with a focus on two films that feature dramatic great escapes. We'll be discussing George Lucas's directorial debut THX 1138 (1971), where the struggle for freedom in a tightly controlled society takes center stage, and Z.P.G. (1972), starring Oliver Reed, which depicts a world where overpopulation leads to extreme measures, including the b...

This week, we're tackling the theme of overpopulation in dystopian fiction by diving into two thought-provoking films: Soylent Green (1973) and What Happened to Monday (2017). We'll be asking the big questions: What exactly is Soylent Green? And what really happened to Monday? Soylent Green offers a grim look at a future where overpopulation has led to extreme measures for survival, while What Hap...

This week, we're joined by Rob Watts, host of the Icelandic cinema podcast KVIKMYNDAPOD, to discuss more dangerous dystopian games. We'll be diving into  The Running Man (1987) and The Hunger Games (2012), two films that explore the terrifying reality of life-and-death competitions in dystopian futures. The Running Man features a brutal televised hunt where contestants fight for their lives, while...

This week, we're diving into the theme of enforcing the law in crime-ridden dystopian worlds by dissecting two iconic films: Mad Max (1979) and Dredd (2012). We'll start with  Mad Max , the cult classic that launched a franchise, exploring how it portrays a world descending into chaos where law enforcement is as brutal as the criminals. Then, we'll move on to Dredd , featuring the comic book antih...

This week, we're joined by film researcher and historian Kevin Lyons to delve into two 70's cult classics: Rollerball (1975) and Death Race 2000 (1975). These films are iconic for their brutal depictions of dystopian societies where violent games are used as tools of control and entertainment. Expect a deep dive into the satire, the car crashes, and the dangerous games that define these movies. We...

This week, we're focusing on the powerful themes of uprisings and revolutionaries in dystopian cinema with V for Vendetta (2005) and Conquest of the Planet of the Apes (1973). V for Vendetta tells the story of a masked revolutionary who challenges a totalitarian regime and inspires a nation to rise up against tyranny. Meanwhile, Conquest of the Planet of the Apes showcases the explosive rebellion...