The Flick Lab

The Silence of the Lambs catapulted Anthony Hopkins to global stardom. Thomas Harris' novels have lead the series forward, even by forcing the writer's hand to continue the story. What has made the films resonate? Has the series been standing largely on his shoulders, or is there more to it? Why do audiences and even the author increasingly sympathize with a serial killer character?

Films covered in this episode:
Manhunter (1986)
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At its surface, Possession (1981) can be described as an exploration of identity dissolution, grief, and transformation. However, this characterization scarcely captures the film's psychological intensity, depth and impact. It stands as one of the most disturbing films we've analyzed on The Flick Lab.

Joel Haver is a Canadian indie filmmaker and YouTuber known for his experimental film projects. In an ambitious move last year, he set out to create 12 films in 12 months. What might have motivated such a demanding challenge? And how could this rapid production schedule influence the perceived quality of the films? With modern technology drastically lowering the barrier to entry for aspiring filmmakers, how much do tools versus tal...

Following Ridley Scott's Alien-prequel-spinoff Prometheus came Alien Covenant. It was expected to deliver both on audience expectations (Aliens appearing in an Alien franchise) and to provide some answers to the questions presented by Prometheus. In a way, neither would be delivered on. What's the legacy of Alien Covenant, now that the further sequels to Ridley Scott's storyline have been effectively cancelled...

Prometheus is the return of director Ridley Scott to the Alien franchise. This is in fact a standalone story based on the same Alien universe, but not an Alien movie per se. It provides ample story elements, but are most of them driven to any conclusion? Do the writers and the director even know the meaning of their own plot threads? Karri and Henrik also discuss the film's atmosphere, the character's decision-making, Ridley's 'spa...

"Alien: Resurrection" is often considered the black sheep of the franchise, and the passing decades have not been kind to it, at least among some fans. What could be behind the venomous hate towards "Alien: Resurrection"? Is this the lowest point in the franchise, or is that still yet to come? Is "Alien: Resurrection" successful at its self-parody? Hear how Henrik makes his case for "Alien: Resurrection" and K...

Alien 3 was a nightmare production for the first-time feature director David Fincher. As the young master was trying to put together the best film he could under the circumstances, the studio and even scriptwriters kept interfering with his attempts at applying his vision to a material that he had only few weeks to mull over before shooting had to begin. This combined with onset antics and disagreements between actors. What came ou...

The Flick Lab rarely indulges in hyperbolic adulation or labels films as masterpieces. However, we do consider James Cameron's Aliens (1986) to be a masterpiece. This landmark film in the sci-fi genre transformed the Alien franchise into a global phenomenon. In this episode, we delve into the film’s themes, the shift from slow burn to action, the bug hunt aspect, character dynamics, Alien genetics and reproduc...

Karri and Henrik delve into their personal experiences from their artistic roots and TV/media industry. Among the discussion points are Karri's loss of interest in the industry, the industry's brutality, the tools they've utilized in media, advancements in editing on Linux, the debate over high-framerate in the film industry, challenges with high-resolution remasters of old films, AI enhancement, and other topics.

Hosted by Karri O...

In this podcast episode, Karri and Henrik discuss the movies and TV series they've watched over the past year or so, ones that haven't received dedicated coverage in previous episodes. This segment marks the second part of a two-part series.

Films covered in this episode:

For All Mankind (TV Series, 2019-)
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt7772588

Moonfall (2022)
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt5834426

Home Alone (1990)
https://www.imdb.co...

In this podcast episode, Karri and Henrik discuss the movies and TV series they've watched over the past year or so, ones that haven't received dedicated coverage in previous episodes. This episode marks the first part of a two-part series.

Films covered in this episode:
Reacher (TV Series, 2022-)
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt9288030

White Fang (1991)
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0103247

Bullet Train (2022)
https://www.imdb.com/tit...

The Flick Lab podcast recently had the pleasure of watching 'Healing Plan', a short film by two recent NYU graduates. Actress Matilde Silva and Director Samantha Joia joined us to discuss their new film. Luna, a Portuguese teen struggling with insomnia and her recent move to America, is sent to a celebrity doctor to help cope with her adjustment. His revolutionary sleep therapy brings her back to the beginning of her move and sever...

In this episode of the podcast, the hosts Karri and Henrik compare the original Howard Hawkes / Christian Nyby 1951 version of The Thing to John Carpenter's 1982 reimagining and finally to the 2011 prequel / remake, directed by Matthijs van Heijningen Jr. There's also a discussion on the original source novella by John W. Campbell from 1938. Each film version is a time capsule, reflecting their respective zeitgeist. Which film adap...

In this episode of the podcast, the director of Jävla pappa ('Goddamn Dad'), Niklas Gyberg Ivarsson, joins to discuss his documentary film about his complicated relationship to his alcoholic father. While they're building an RV together, the two are forced to confront their complicated feelings. This directorial debut of Niklas, published by the Swedish public broadcasting company SVT, has gained recognition in Swedish film festiva...

In this episode of the podcast, filmmaker and podcaster Martin Kessler joins the show to discuss the film The Ear, also known as Ucho. This Czechoslovakian classic, directed by Karel Kachyňa, unravels a Czech couple (Radoslav Brzobohatý, Jirina Bohdalová) consumed by fear and paranoia, vividly depicting the psychological toll of living in a communist surveillance state, "the all-hearing ear". Throughout the ni...

In this episode of the podcast, musician Pat Smith joins Karri and Henrik to delve into the critically acclaimed film Whiplash. Is it a story about transcending mediocrity to achieve brilliance in your chosen art, in this case, drumming? Alternatively, is Whiplash a gripping tale of a descent into madness, fueled by a mentorship gone awry? Perhaps it is neither, and instead, a narrative that simply observes ambiguity. Does Whiplash...

Filipino cinema is in a state of emergency. It is grappling with an artistic gridlock that confines new films to a limited spectrum between rom-coms and slapstick. Amidst this cinematic stagnation, the cinema-goers gravitate towards Hollywood blockbusters, meanwhile relegating the rich Filipino cinematic heritage to neglect. However, a resurgence is underway as initiatives emerge to salvage and revive the remnants of this cinematic...

In this episode of the podcast, Karri and Henrik delve into the origins of 'Friday the 13th,' exploring the first three films that birthed the iconic Jason Voorhees phenomenon. While the hockey mask-wearing serial killer has become a cultural staple, the question arises: do the initial entries in this enduring franchise truly merit their place in cinematic history? They also examine the enduring power of nostalgia in shaping the se...