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Podcast: Psyop Cinema
Episode: The Thing and Other Carpenter Films, with Geoff Shullenberger and James Ellis
Description: Thomas is joined by two returning guests, James Ellis of Hermitix and Geoff Shullenberger of Outsider Theory, to discuss several John Carpenter films. We talk about the struggle against paranoia and inhuman monstrosity in The Thing, Gnostic-Catholic conspiracies and pop-science in Prince of Darkness, the insights and shortcomings of They Live's critique of consumer capitalism, and we disagree about whether there's anything of cinematic and thematic value in Vampires. Overall, we come to a mixed assessment of Carpenter's work, appreciating some pro-human notes despite his darkly apocalyptic and boomer liberal tendencies. Geoff and James also offer some bonus thoughts on...