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John Carpenter's Ghosts of Mars LIVE! w/ Nick Kroll

Oct 31, 2025
Dive into a chaotic breakdown of John Carpenter's 2001 sci-fi horror flick, packed with hilarious flashbacks and bizarre character choices. Nick Kroll joins the crew to tackle everything from Ice Cube's epic moments to why Martians might resemble orca whales. The discussion highlights the absurdity of Big Daddy Mars, the wild prop choices like Natasha Henstridge's sweater, and graphic scenes that push the envelope. June adds spice with her 'Geostorm' tale and the gang reflects on Carpenter's legacy, leaving you both amused and bewildered!
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INSIGHT

Framing Creates Purposeful Disorientation

  • John Carpenter's Ghosts of Mars deliberately layers flashbacks and framing to create disorientation.
  • The hosts treat that structure as a central reason the film feels confusing and unique.
INSIGHT

Worldbuilding Feels Decorative

  • The film's worldbuilding (2176, terraformed Mars, matriarchy) rarely impacts plot choices.
  • Hosts note the matriarchal detail feels decorative rather than narratively consequential.
INSIGHT

Inconsistent Sci‑Fi Physics

  • Transportation and gravity logic in the film is inconsistent and played for absurdity.
  • The hosts highlight slow trains, hot-air balloons on Mars, and arbitrary oxygen-goggle rules as emblematic problems.
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