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Episode 110: There’s Nothing Like a Freudian Obsession of Mother — Vertigo (1958) with Daniel Kieckhefer
Join Alex and film studies professor Daniel Kieckhefer as they explore the deeper meaning in Alfred Hitchcock’s masterpiece Vertigo (1958). The film stars James Stewart as a boyish former SFPD detective, haunted by a near-death experience that leaves him with extreme vertigo. He’s called on as a private detective to investigate a woman, played by Kim Novak, who is seemingly possessed by a dead relative. This paper-thin mystery (as the critics at the time called it) is not what Hitchcock wanted audiences to pay attention to, however; as Daniel explains, this is classic Freudian Oedipal complex. The duo explore the explanation from a historical lens, both from a filmmaking and a clinical psychology perspective.…
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Episode 109: Grief and Guilt Can Take You on a Journey into Darkness — Herman (2025) with Dir. Andrew Vogel
Join Alex and filmmaker Andrew Vogel, director of the new psychological horror/thriller film, Herman (2025), as they discuss the themes and psychological concepts found within his directorial debut! The film follows a harrowing evening experienced by the titular character, Herman, played by Colin Ward. Herman is dealing with the grief and guilt losing his wife 40 years ago and it manifests as some form of darkness. The pair discuss these topics from a psychological perspective, including how religious psychology plays a role, as well as psychosis as meaning-making rather than a mental disorder. There’s a lot up to audience interpretation and Alex has a field day thinking up various ideas to prod the filmmaker!…
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Episode 108: Sometimes You Just Need a Frontal Lobotomy — Shutter Island (2010)
Join Alex in a solo episode as he explores the Scorsese psychological thriller Shutter Island (2010)! Starring Leonard DiCaprio as a troubled US Marshal, the film follows the Marshal’s investigation into the disappearance of a patient at a psychiatric facility and prison for the criminally insane on a desolate, rocky island in the mid-1950s. However, beneath the surface, sinister forces lurk, and the episode delves into the mysteries surrounding the case. It explores the potential psychological and psychiatric diagnoses for the characters (whether it’s schizophrenia or something else entirely). Additionally, the film sheds light on the state of psychiatric and psychological care during that era in the United States.…
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Episode 107: Believing in Angels Really Does Enhance Sports Performance! Angels in the Outfield (1994) with Corinne Hobbs
Join Alex and Corinne Hobbs as they dive into a headfirst slide in home, exploring the mid-90s Disney hit Angels in the Outfield (1994)! Corinne is working toward her doctoral dissertation about coaching and pregame speeches, and knows all things sports psychology, so this is the perfect film to explore. The pair discuss how George Knox (Danny Glover) evolves as a coach, from curmudgeon to a strong believer in his players and the truth that anything can happen. A discussion of faith in sports follows, including how superstitions play a role in an elite athlete’s sphere of influence on their sport and abilities.…
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Episode 106: No Mnemonics Detected but at Least We Have Jones — Johnny Mnemonic (1995) with Celeste Pilegard
Join Alex and Celeste Pilegard as they discuss the first of two Keanu Reeves dystopian cyberpunk future films, Johnny Mnemonic (1995). The film was directed by Robert Longo and he quit filmmaking after this one. A film having to do with storing other people’s memories in your head while others suffer from a debilitating disease caused by electronics, while set in 2021… you have to wonder if the author of the short story, William Gibson, was some sort of soothsayer! The pair discusses the interesting memory portrayals and their relation to scientists’ current understanding of memory, as well as the recent introduction of generative AI and its effects of cognition.…
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Episode 105: Defying Gravity is the Self-Actualization Anthem We All Needed — Wicked (2024) with Jill Swirsky
Join Alex and guest host Dr. Jill Swirsky as they enter the world of musical theater yet again, this time traveling to the land of Oz in Wicked (2024)! The film is an adaptation of the Broadway play, which was an adaptation of the novel by Gregory Maguire. We follow Elphaba, played by Cynthia Erivo, the eventual Wicked Witch of the West, on her journey as a child and young adult. Along the way, she learns about her true magical abilities but ultimately becomes the villain of Oz when she uncovers a terrible secret. Along for the ride is Ariana Grande’s Glinda (Galinda at the start!),…
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Episode 104: The Family That Crimes Together Stays Together — The Godfather (1972) with Jon Mandracchia
Join Alex and guest host Dr. Jon Mandracchia as they become members of the Corleone family discussing Francis Ford Coppola’s The Godfather (1972). This first part stars Marlon Brando as Vito Corleone, a mafia Don whose life is based on tradition. Also starring Al Pacino as Michael, Vito’s son, who unexpectedly, but with his full throat, becomes the new Don. Robert Duvall, James Caan, Diane Keaton, and many others bring an amazing cast of characters to life. The conversation centers around criminogenic thinking, the cognitive processes that lead to criminal behavior, and inputs into that thinking, like the Dark Triad personality traits.…
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Episode 103: Finding Love, Family, & Metaphorical Food Through Psychodynamic Therapy — Antwone Fisher (2002) with Katherine Marshall Woods
Join Alex and guest host Dr. Katherine Marshall Woods as they explore the psychodynamic themes in Denzel Washington’s directorial debut, Antwone Fisher (2002). The film also stars Washington, and in his Hollywood debut, Derek Luke plays the titular character. The film was based on the real Fisher’s autobiography, Finding Fish (2001), and is about a man with anger issues on a hair trigger. But as the two psychologists explore in this episode, perhaps its because he’s hungry for family, for a place of belonging, and to find those folks who won’t abandon him like his early family. It’s an engaging story and an even better analysis.…
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Episode 102: Hitchcock, Freudian Theory, and the Perfect Murder — Strangers on a Train (1951) with Brooke Cannon
Join Alex and guest host Dr. Brooke Cannon as they explore one of Alfred Hitchcock’s brilliant thrillers, Strangers on a Train (1951). The film stars Farley Granger as a tennis pro, Guy Haines, who meets stranger Bruno Antony on… you guessed it, a train! Bruno hates his dad, Guy wants to divorce his wife, and well, Bruno tinks they are going to share a pair of murders — criss-cross! Intrigue erupts as Bruno follows through, but Guy thought he was joking. The episode explores the Freudian theory Hitchcock was a fan of, along with the Dark Triad personality theory. The hosts also jump into film analysis mode when discussing their favorite scenes.…
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Episode 101: Basic Film Editing and Human Perception are a Match Made in Cinema Heaven! The Cinema Within (2024) with Chad Freidrichs
Join Alex and guest host Chad Freidrichs, documentary filmmakers, as they discuss one of Chad’s recent releases, The Cinema Within (2024). The documentary cleverly explores and visualizes one of film’s greatest mysteries: how humans intuitively process film editing’s most basic pieces: the cut! The pair discuss film theory and how it relates to cognitive processes and perception. While documentaries are rare on this show, it’s a great exploration of how human psychology allows the cinematic experience to work and how it has been astonishing movies goers for nearly 140 years! If you’re intrigued by cinema and film as an art form, have a listen to this film, watch the documentary and explore the science behind it!…