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From 1995’s Stallone spectacle to 2012’s Karl Urban reboot, Judge Dredd straddles a bizarre line between political satire and fascist power fantasy. In this episode of The Flick Lab, Karri and Henrik break down the paradox; is Dredd a warning against authoritarianism, or a celebration of it? Even more importantly, what may be the behavioral consequences to our societies? We’ll discuss the character’s comic book origins, compare the two movies, and explore how a supposed critique of fascism can still end up fueling the very fantasy it condemns.

Films covered in this episode:
Judge Dredd (1995)
Dredd (2012)

Hosted by Karri Ojala and Henrik Telkki. Edited by Karri Ojala. The Flick Lab theme tune performed by Nick Grivell.

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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)
The Silence of the Lambs (1991)
Hannibal (2001)
Red Dragon (2002)
Hannibal Rising (2006)

Hosted by Karri Ojala and Henrik Telkki. Edited by Karri Ojala. The Flick Lab theme tune performed by Nick Grivell.

On:

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.

Films covered in this episode:
Possession (1981)

Film recommended by Nick Vaky from Mint Volcano Youtube channel.

Hosted by Karri Ojala and Henrik Telkki. Edited by Karri Ojala. The Flick Lab theme tune performed by Nick Grivell.

On:

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 talent truly impact the final product? The Flick Lab decided to explore this question by watching two of Haver’s films.

Note: This episode was recorded in November 2024, prior to Haver having released all of his films on his Youtube channel, which explains our skepticism of him being able to complete the challenge on time. Mr. Haver got the last laugh here.

Films covered in this episode:
The Text (2024)
Anyone Else But Me (2024)

Hosted by Karri Ojala and Henrik Telkki. Edited by Karri Ojala. The Flick Lab theme tune performed by Nick Grivell.

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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?

Films covered in this episode:
Alien: Covenant (2017)

Hosted by Karri Ojala and Henrik Telkki. Edited by Karri Ojala. The Flick Lab theme tune performed by Nick Grivell.

On:

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 ‘space jesus’ concept, and other topics.

Films covered in this episode:
Prometheus (2012)

Hosted by Karri Ojala and Henrik Telkki. Edited by Karri Ojala. The Flick Lab theme tune performed by Nick Grivell.

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“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 Karri argues against it.

Films covered in this episode:
Alien: Resurrection (1997)

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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 out keeps splitting the fan base to this day. Is Alien 3 actually a much better film than its reputation?

Films covered in this episode:
Alien 3 (1992)

Hosted by Karri Ojala and Henrik Telkki. Edited by Karri Ojala. The Flick Lab theme tune performed by Nick Grivell.

On:

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 reproduction, plausibility of Burke’s schemes, the differences between the Theatrical and Special Edition, Vietnam War allegories, the tech of Aliens, and more.

Films covered in this episode:
Aliens (1986)