In this episode, JF and Phil discuss Ridley Scott's 1979 sci-fi/horror blockbuster Alien. Together, they wipe off the patina of familiarity that beclouds the film, restoring it to its original weirdness. What is the organism that terrorizes the Nostromo? What's its relation to technology, evolution, industry? How does it differ from the monsters of older horror classics? How does one interpret without explaining away?

Music in this episode: "Hypnagogic," from Pierre-Yves Martel's Weird Studies Vol. 3.

Events

Shannon Taggart's Lily Dale Symposium (July 23-25, 2026


Transcendence in the Age of AI, a Weirdosphere chat with Michael Garfield and JF Martel, hosted by Joel Gunz - June 25, 2026

Kickstarter campaign for Artist as Astronaut: The Otherworldly Art of Ionel Talpazan from Strange Attractor Press. The campaign closes June 27!

References

Ionel Talpazan, Romanian experiencer and artist

Ridley Scott (dir.), Alien

Peter Bebergal, All Our Famous Monsters (forthcoming) 

Malachi Martin, Hostage to the Devil

Vilhelm Hammershøi, Danish painter

H. R. Giger, Swiss artist

Simon-Max, French entertainer

Eric Wargo, Passion of the Space Jockey

Weird Studies, Episode 213 on “Eric” 

Mel Brooks (dir.), Spaceballs

Howard and Emerson, “Hello, Ma Baby”

Beowulf

Eugene Thacker, In the Dust of This Planet

Graham Harman, Weird Reality

Pierre Schaeffer, French musician

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices