Fanomenal

Kicking off the first in our In Dreams series of the CinePunked Podcast, a semi-regular exploration of dreams on screen is our exploration into Frederico Fellini's 1963 surrealist classic Otto E Mezzo (aka 8 1/2). A film within a film, an exploration of creativity, mental health crisis and hedonism, an Academy Award winner, a hugely influential work, and a discourse on the line between dreams, memory and reality. With Robert JE Simpson and Neil Sedgewick

CinePunked returns to the Gremlins franchise with Gremlins 2: The New Batch. Sequels are often seen as the poorer siblings, does Gremlins 2 follow that trend, or does it do something else? How did merchandising impact the film? And do we need or want a Gremlins 3? With Robert JE Simpson and Neil Sedgewick

Its the CinePunked Christmas special, and this time we're celebrating the 40th anniversary of Joe Dante's cute-but-terrifying Gremlins. Is it a Christmas film? Is it for children? Just what is the magic that has made this a perennial classic? With Robert J.E. Simpson and Neil Sedgewick

Marking the centenary of writer/director/actor Edward D Wood Jr, CinePunked examine his reputation as the 'worst filmmaker of all time' via his iconic sci-fi horror Plan 9 From Outer Space. Will they survive unchanged by the experience? With Robert JE Simpson and Neil Sedgewick

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.