CinePunked

Christmas wouldn't be Christmas without the CinePunked team casting their eyes over a festive film. This time out the 2010 Finnish horror/comedy Rare Exports: A Christmas Tale. Fusing traditional tales of Santa Claus, with a sci-fi monster twist - the perfect antidote to the usual saccharine fare. With Robert JE Simpson and Dr Rachael Kelly.

CinePunked goes rummaging through the film archives via acclaimed Cold War documentary The Atomic Cafe, revealing a frightening concoction of propaganda, deception, delusion, and fear linked by America's presentation of the perceived benefits and risks of the atomic bomb and a nuclear war. With memories of the cold war stirred up in 2022 by recent action in eastern Europe we find ourselves wondering if anything has really changed in the last eight decades...With Robert JE Simpson, Dr Rachael Kelly, Neil Sedgewick and Ben 'Blademan' Simpson.

Marking the 110th anniversary of the Titanic disaster, the CinePunked team assemble to discuss the definitive screen version of the incident – Roy Ward Baker's 1958 film A Night to Remember. Gathering just outside of Belfast, where the ship was built, Robert, Rachael and Neil consider the legacy of the night, Belfast's relationship with the story, generational trauma and just what we'd do if faced with the same situation.

Segei Eisenstein's film Battleship Potemkin is often hailed as one of the best films ever made. It tells the story (based on a real-life incident) of the crew of a Russian battleship mutinying in 1905, leading to a bloody confrontation in the streets of Odessa.CinePunked gather to assess its value to a modern audience and pick apart the propeganda from the truth.

Prompted by a screening of Eric Steel's 2006 documentary The Bridge, about those who choose to end their lives at San Francisco's Golden Gate Bridge, the CinePunked team engage in a frank and sensitive panel discussion examining the issues raised by the film, in particular the wider topic of suicide and mental health struggles. For the conversation, Robert JE Simpson and Dr Rachael Kelly are joined by Stuart McChesney – a volunteer with the Community Rescue Service in NI. Listener discretion is advised.

Via everything from The X Files to Welsh rugby, 'Fanomenal' sees CinePunked's Robert JE Simpson and special guest Dr Bethan Jones discuss the wide world of fandom including academic fandom studies, anti-fandom, gatekeeping and more.

CinePunked's Robert JE Simpson is joined by Dr Paula Blair for a conversation around their responses to the experience of influential, Ukranian-born, avant garde filmmaker Maya Deren, with particular attention to her debut Meshes of the Afternoon, and At Land.

Concluding their Orphic journey, Robert and Neil follow Jean Cocteau into the underworld for his cinematic farewell Testament d'Orphée - a complex, meta-layered film mixing poetry, time-travel, fact and fiction and the complexities of legacy. Will Neil make it through? Does any of it make sense? And how will the experience change the CinePunked team?

CinePunked continue their exploration of Jean Cocteau's sublime Orphic Trilogy of films with a study of Orphée, in a conversation steering through love, legacy, sleep and death.

Have you ever stayed awake for three days and start hallucinating? If you have, you might just tap into the mindset behind Jean Cocteau's influential avant-garde film Le Sang d'un Poète (aka. The Blood of a Poet). CinePunked look to the stars for guidance as they step through Cocteau's mirror...

CinePunked's Robert and Neil take a trip to Free City to explore the themes of free will and social revolution that lie hidden in the code of Ryan Reynolds vehicle Free Guy.

CinePunked's Robert and Rachael fight against the distorted reality of their own sleep deprivation for a conversation exploring the 1920 German Expressionist film classic The Cabinet of Dr Caligari - and its lasting impact on contemporary cinema and goth culture.

CinePunked break rules 1 and 2 as they talk about David Fincher's 1999 film Fight Club - an iconic piece that challenged our ideas of masculinity and perceptions of reality. Robert and Rachael meander through its imagery, meaning and legacy.

Marking two decades of The Matrix franchise and the release of the fourth film in the series - The Matrix Resurrections, CinePunked ponder the deeper meanings of Lana Wachowski's new film, including its religious and binary symbolism, and the blurring of lines between what's real and constructed.

Paying their respects to critic, actor and filmmaker Peter Bogdanovich, CinePunked explores his debut feature - Targets (1968) - a bold and arresting story that combines the stories of a mass shooting with the retirement of a cinematic legend, played by Boris Karloff

Marking what would have been David Bowie's 75th birthday the CinePunked team delve into a world of predators, childlike innocence and Muppets as they revisit Jim Henson's Labyrinth (1986)

The second of two CinePunked Christmas specials for 2021 sees the team revisit a childhood of cartoons and toys via the spectacle of 1980s favourite The Transformers: The Movie (1986).

It's the CinePunked annual Christmas special - and for 2021 the gang delve into the Richard Donner-directed adaptation of A Christmas Carol - Scrooged, starring Bill Murray

On July 21 2021 actor Robin Williams would have turned 70. To mark the occasion, CinePunked take a look at one of his more unusual roles - that of Sy the photo guy in One Hour Photo (2002).

CinePunked mark the 86th birthday of Elvis Presley with a discussion of his screen career, iconic status, and arguably his most acclaimed film - King Creole (1958).

CinePunked mark the holiday season with an appraisal of one of the most iconic family film franchises of the 1990s - Home Alone. Is Kevin McCallister the luckiest or unluckiest boy in the world? What is the bond between mother and son? And where does one draw the line with slapstick? All this and more as we explore Home Alone 2: Lost In New York. © 2020 CinePunked Ltd.

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 those whose genius is inextricably linked with mental health struggles. From Spike Milligan to Marty Feldman, Tony Hancock to Stephen Fry, Kenneth Williams to Robin Williams, their comedy pushed boundaries while they struggled in their private life. From sectioning to suicide, debasement to depression, this show explores the genius and instability of some of our comedy legends. Of changing attitudes to mental health language and treatment and the challenges of owning conditions of the mind in the public gaze.

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 mental breakdown, which has threatened to overshadow him since. In this exclusive interview, Tony Slattery is in conversation with Robert JE Simpson, exploring his career and his mental health experiences. Recorded in front of a live audience.

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 Festival 2016.

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 his home in Hollywood for an informal chat about Richard's work earlier this year. During a candid conversation, fuelled by fine cigars and whiskey (or was it whisky?) they talk about life on the fringes of Hollywood, working with family, the highs and lows of the industry, Forbidden Zone, Ireland and Hollywood history.WARNING: Listener discretion is advised. Some of the language used may cause offence. We have elected not to edit out any of the content so as to present the conversation as frankly as possible.

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?

Are the iconic Carry On film comedies simply a stream of innuendo and saucy postcard humour? Special guest Robert Ross joins CinePunked's Robert and Rachael for a reappraisal of the brand as they examine Carry On Sergeant, Carry On Columbus, and rumours of a reboot.

To mark Hitchcock Day 2019, Robert and Rachael explore the darker side of Alfred Hitchcock's work - his brushes with psychoanalysis and allegations of misogyny.

Robert and Rachael are obsessed with a film obsessed with an image, and they can't quite agree what it means... Join them as they navigate Chris Marker's sci-fi classic La Jetée, and delve into a discussion about the power of the image and film itself.With Robert JE Simpson and Dr Rachael Kelly.Produced by Robert JE Simpson

CinePunked presents Robert JE Simpson in conversation with filmmaker Anna Biller. In this exclusive chat, Biller discusses her films Viva and The Love Witch, the challenges of filmmaking in Hollywood, #metoo, and female representation on screen.

Anna Biller's The Love Witch prompts a rare unified praise from the CinePunked team as they explore feminism, the male gaze, auteurs, and more present in one of the most distinctive and provocative films of the last few years. With Robert JE Simpson, Dr Rachael Kelly and Ben Simpson.