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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 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!…