After 58 films and over a century of cinema, we’re closing the book on our Mad Science series the only way that feels right: with our very own Mad Science Film Awards. Because if there’s one thing this subgenre has taught us, it’s that science rarely goes to plan… and someone probably shouldn’t have tried it in the first place. LISTEN HERE: What makes a mad scientist? Across the series, we’ve asked the same question again and again: Is it ego? Grief? Curiosity? Loneliness? Ca

What happens when a utopian future still fears science going too far? In this episode of Journey Through Sci-Fi, we head into the Star Trek universe to explore one of its most enduring mad science taboos: genetic engineering. From “Space Seed” and the rise of Khan Noonien Singh, to Enterprise’s Augments arc and Deep Space Nine’s devastating Bashir reveal, we trace how Star Trek keeps returning to the dangers of trying to “improve” humanity. This is not just a recurring plot d

What happens when one of sci-fi’s oldest stories is reimagined for a modern audience? In this episode of Journey Through Sci-Fi , we return to the origin of mad science — Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein — through two new adaptations: Frankenstein (2025), directed by Guillermo del Toro, and The Bride! (2026), directed by Maggie Gyllenhaal. This isn’t just another adaptation. It’s a full-circle moment for the genre. From the obsessive creator who dares to make life… to the creat

Two mind transfers. Two terrifying procedures. Two of the most disturbing explorations of identity in modern science fiction horror. In this episode of Journey Through Sci-Fi , we continue our Mad Science season with a double bill that pushes the idea of scientific control over the human mind to its limits. Jordan Peele’s Get Out (2017) and Brandon Cronenberg’s Possessor (2020) both explore what happens when technology allows one person to invade and control another person

Two kidnappings. Two grotesque experiments. Two of the most disturbing mad scientists in modern horror. Listener discretion advised. In this episode of Journey Through Sci-Fi , we venture into the darkest corner of our Mad Science series as we examine The Human Centipede (2009) and Tusk (2014) — two controversial cult horror films that push the mad scientist archetype to unsettling new extremes. Both films centre on scientists whose experiments are not driven by discovery,

Superhero stories have always been closely tied to science fiction. Many of Marvel’s most famous heroes begin as scientists whose experiments transform them in unexpected ways. In this episode of Journey Through Sci-Fi , we explore two films built around brilliant scientists whose work changes their lives — and ultimately reshapes the superhero genre itself: Hulk (2003) and Iron Man (2008) . Although both characters emerge from scientific innovation, the films represent two

The ability to manipulate DNA promises incredible breakthroughs in medicine, agriculture and biotechnology — but it also raises terrifying ethical questions about what might happen if scientists push those experiments too far. In this episode of Journey Through Sci-Fi , we explore two films that imagine the darker side of genetic research: the disturbing body-horror drama Splice (2009) and Guillermo del Toro’s urban creature feature Mimic (1997) . Both films begin with scien

The 90s were a chaotic, candy-coloured moment for mad science. It was a decade where CGI boomed, fat suits became Oscar-level artistry, and Disney realised it could sell sentient green slime in Happy Meals. This week, we revisit two remakes that re-engineer 60s mad-scientist archetypes for a new era: The Nutty Professor (1996) and Flubber (1997). From Eddie Murphy’s multi-role comedic masterclass to Robin Williams’ absent-minded genius powered by digital effects, we explore

Genius, chaos, and cinematic weirdness collide as Matt and James explore two of the strangest visions of mad science ever put to screen — The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the 8th Dimension (1984) and The City of Lost Children (1995) . From rock ’n’ roll brain surgeons to dream-stealing scientists, this double bill dives into the eccentric, the surreal, and the gloriously over-designed worlds of 80s and 90s sci-fi. Expect talk of comic-book logic, baroque laboratories

Things get messy in the lab this week as we cover two different tales of reanimation — Re-Animator (1985) and Poor Things (2023) . From Herbert West’s glowing green serum to Bella Baxter’s rebirth under Dr. Godwin Baxter, we explore mad science as both grotesque horror and feminist fable. Expect chat about practical effects, literary roots, the Frankenstein legacy, and why both films celebrate the beauty (and terror) of scientific creation gone too far. “Mad science isn’t ju

Bust out your proton packs and grab that conch shell: we’re getting gloriously weird. In this Mad Science instalment, we dig into the blue-collar science of Ghostbusters (1984) and the gleefully meta lab experiment of The Cabin in the Woods (2012) . From unlicensed nuclear accelerators to office drones preventing the apocalypse on a 9-to-5, we explore how science, the supernatural, and comedy collide. We also dive into SFX wizardry, franchise tangents, Dan Aykroyd’s spooky o

This week, we dive into the deep end of consciousness with two films that push the limits of science, identity, and human connection — Altered States (1980) and Upstream Color (2013) . From Ken Russell’s psychedelic body horror to Shane Carruth’s hypnotic biological loop, these movies explore what happens when scientific obsession collides with transcendence. Expect talk of isolation tanks, sensory overloads, parasitic pigs, love as symbiosis, and whether enlightenment is ju

What happens when mad science goes from the lab to the real world? Matt and James tackle two chilling experiments in human control — The Boys from Brazil (1978) and Das Experiment (2001) . From cloning Hitler to psychological manipulation behind bars, these films expose the darkest extremes of scientific ambition. Expect moral panic, prison mayhem, cloned chaos, and the ethics of playing god in the name of research. “When science stops asking ‘should we?’ the answer is alway

From mutated vegetables to weather systems made of hamburgers, filmmakers have occasionally taken the mad-science trope in a deliciously absurd direction. In this episode of Journey Through Sci-Fi , we explore two films that turn everyday meals into science-fiction chaos: the cult parody Return of the Killer Tomatoes! (1988) and the animated adventure Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs (2009). Although wildly different in tone, both stories centre on inventions that transfor

Frankenstein for the Party Generation. Few science-fiction stories are as influential as Frankenstein — the tale of a scientist creating life through forbidden experimentation. Over the decades the concept has been reimagined in countless ways, from gothic horror to outrageous comedy. In this episode of Journey Through Sci-Fi , we explore two films that transform the Frankenstein myth into something far more chaotic and playful: the cult musical The Rocky Horror Picture Show

Science fiction often imagines journeys across galaxies and distant planets — but sometimes the most extraordinary voyage takes place inside the human body . The idea of shrinking explorers to microscopic size and sending them into the bloodstream has produced some of the most imaginative sci-fi adventures ever filmed. In this episode of Journey Through Sci-Fi , we explore two films built around this remarkable concept: the Cold War science-fiction adventure Fantastic Voyage

Since the publication of Mary Shelley’s novel Frankenstein; or, The Modern Prometheus in 1818 , the story of Victor Frankenstein and his tragic creation has become one of the most influential myths in science fiction and horror. One of the most haunting elements of the story is the creature’s desperate request for a companion — a mate who might ease his loneliness. In the original novel, Frankenstein begins constructing this second creature but ultimately destroys it, fearin

Science fiction has often warned about the dangers of scientific ambition. From Frankenstein’s monster to nuclear weapons, the genre frequently portrays scientists whose discoveries threaten to spiral beyond human control. But sometimes the best way to explore those fears is through satire and comedy . In this episode of Journey Through Sci-Fi , we look at two iconic films that mock the figure of the mad scientist: Stanley Kubrick’s Cold War satire Dr. Strangelove (1964) and

By the 1960s, the “mad scientist” had already become one of science fiction’s most recognisable characters. Earlier films often portrayed scientists as dangerous figures whose experiments unleashed monsters or catastrophic discoveries. But during the 1960s, the trope began to shift. Instead of sinister laboratories and tragic transformations, filmmakers increasingly used the mad scientist archetype for comedy and satire . In this episode of Journey Through Sci-Fi , we explore

Science fiction frequently explores the dangers of scientific ambition, especially when the human body becomes the subject of experimentation. Stories about surgeons attempting to reshape, repair or recreate human identity often reveal disturbing ethical boundaries. In this episode of Journey Through Sci-Fi , we explore two unsettling films about medical obsession and identity: the haunting French horror classic Eyes Without a Face (1960) and Pedro Almodóvar’s provocative ps

Science fiction has long been fascinated by the idea that the human brain could survive outside the body . From early pulp stories to cult horror films, the image of a brain preserved in a laboratory jar has become one of the genre’s most enduring and bizarre tropes. In this episode of Journey Through Sci-Fi , we explore two very different films built around this idea: the cult B-movie horror The Brain That Wouldn’t Die (1962) and the outrageous Steve Martin comedy The Man w

Originally based on George Langelaan’s 1957 short story, the tale has become one of the most famous examples of body horror in science fiction , exploring what happens when a brilliant scientific breakthrough turns into a grotesque transformation. In this episode of Journey Through Sci-Fi , we explore two influential versions of the story: the original film The Fly (1958) and David Cronenberg’s disturbing remake The Fly (1986). Both films tell the story of a scientist whose

One of the most imaginative ideas in science fiction is the concept of miniaturisation — the ability to shrink human beings to microscopic size. Stories built around this idea transform the everyday world into a dangerous wilderness where insects become monsters and household objects become vast landscapes. In this episode of Journey Through Sci-Fi , we explore two films that approach the idea of shrinking people from very different angles: the thoughtful 1950s science-ficti

Science fiction often explores the consequences of scientific breakthroughs that promise to change the world. Sometimes these discoveries unleash terrifying forces beyond human control; at other times they threaten powerful institutions that depend on the status quo. In this episode of Journey Through Sci-Fi , we examine two films that approach the idea of scientific innovation from very different angles: Steven Spielberg’s blockbuster dinosaur adventure Jurassic Park (1993)

Science fiction has often imagined radical changes to the human body, from invisibility to artificial life. One of the genre’s most intriguing concepts is miniaturisation — the idea that scientific technology could shrink people to tiny proportions. In this episode of Journey Through Sci-Fi , we explore two films that approach this idea in very different ways: the colourful mad-scientist thriller Dr. Cyclops (1940) and the modern social satire Downsizing (2017). Although s

Science fiction has long explored the dangers of discovery. From mysterious cosmic radiation to experimental medical breakthroughs, the genre repeatedly returns to a central question: what happens when scientific ambition goes too far? In this episode of Journey Through Sci-Fi , we examine two films that explore the tragic consequences of scientific experimentation: the classic Universal sci-fi horror film The Invisible Ray (1936) and Sam Raimi’s dark superhero origin story

Science fiction often explores the consequences of knowledge pushed beyond ethical limits. From grotesque experiments in hidden laboratories to time machines capable of altering history, the genre repeatedly asks what happens when scientific ambition collides with human morality. In this episode of Journey Through Sci-Fi , we examine two very different films that explore these ideas: the pre-Code horror mystery Doctor X (1932) and the inventive time-travel adventure Time Aft

Few science-fiction stories explore the dangers of scientific ambition as disturbingly as H. G. Wells’ 1896 novel The Island of Doctor Moreau . The story follows a scientist who attempts to transform animals into human beings through brutal experimentation, raising unsettling questions about evolution, morality and the ethics of scientific power. In this episode of Journey Through Sci-Fi , we explore two film adaptations of Wells’ story: the controversial pre-Code horror film

First introduced in H. G. Wells’ 1897 novel The Invisible Man , the story explores what happens when scientific discovery removes the social and moral limits placed on human behaviour. In this episode of Journey Through Sci-Fi , we explore two very different adaptations of Wells’ famous story: the classic Universal monster film The Invisible Man (1933) and the modern psychological thriller The Invisible Man (2020). Although separated by nearly ninety years, both films explo

Robert Louis Stevenson’s 1886 novella Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde is one of the most influential stories ever written about the dangers of scientific experimentation. The tale of a brilliant doctor who unleashes his own darker nature through a chemical formula has inspired countless adaptations across film and television. In this episode of Journey Through Sci-Fi , we explore two early cinematic versions of the story: the silent film Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde (1912)

Few characters in science fiction and horror are as iconic as Frankenstein’s Monster , first created in Mary Shelley’s 1818 novel Frankenstein; or, The Modern Prometheus . Over the past century the story has inspired countless adaptations across film, television and theatre. In this episode of Journey Through Sci-Fi , we explore two of the earliest and most influential cinematic interpretations of the story: the silent short film Frankenstein (1910) and Universal Pictures’ l